Ben squirmed like a worm as he floated on some kind of floating like device and wiggled to get the gag and blindfold off! Little did he know, he was beginning the initiation. The initiation was to teach anyone the courage they needed for living on a planet sure as Anur Transyl
"Mey! Met me mout mof mis!" Ben said, now wiggling even more. Once he squirmed the blindfold off, he saw that Vamps and Whampire were nowhere to be found. He was floating on a pillow like object in a very large pool and was in a dimly lit room. Gulping a bit, he looked down and saw the water was dark, navy blue and it appeared that large and black looking fish were swimming in it. Ben gasped and jumped back, but then felt something grab his ankle.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ben yelled, now turning, but seeing nothing. Ben fell back in the water and was immediately feeling petrified! Once he surfaced, he saw now that bats were flying around his head. But instead of cowering in fear, he grabbed a nearby floating object and swatted them both hard! Both went tumbling in the water. Ben's eyes gasped as the bats began transforming! Whampire came to the surface laughing and holding his head and then he saw Vamps' legs sticking up and flailing. After a moment, Vamps surfaced and wiped his face.
"It appears you are slowly but surely learning bravery Ben. You would need it if you were living here," Whampire said. "But my gosh did you have to hit so hard?!"
"I didn't know you guys were the bats!" Ben said in shock.
"Why you little troublemaker. Granted you didn't know those bats were us, but still…." Vamps smiled evilly, now swimming towards him. Ben swam back in fear and began splashing water at Vamps, but he only continued to come forward, ready to grab him. Ben then began laughing as Vamps went underwater and grabbed his foot.
"W-Whampire help!" Ben laughed, now feeling Vamps gently scraping his claws against his feet under the water.
"I'm afraid I cannot." Whampire smirked, now sitting back. Soon Vamps surfaced and grabbed Ben to his chest.
"You're not going anywhere young one," Vamps chuckled, now wiggling his claws on his stomach, making the teen howl in pure laughter. Ben hadn't laughed this hard in ages. But suddenly Ben remembered something! He felt the keys in his pocket; the same keys from the petshop and to Vamps' collar! He had no idea if they would still work since they were soaked in water, but he wanted to try. He reached in and pressed the button.
"HEY!" Vamps yelped, now getting on his knees and the water was pooling up to his upper chest. "BEN! You still have those keys?! Give them to me or you are asking for it!" He growled without heat.
"Maybe just one more time!" Ben smiled, now pressing it again, effectively dunking Vamps. Now his legs and backside were flailing in the air and Ben couldn't help but laugh. Whampire was laughing too until Ben gasped as he felt a clawed hand grasp his ankle and knock him down under the water too! Ben pouted as Vamps gave him a confident smirk under the water. Once Ben pressed the button they both gasped as they surfaced and Vamps gave a great tug and broke the collar off his neck! Ben was surprised, but Vamps only smirked.
"Now that you've had your fun, I could take it off!" Vamps smirked.
"You could have broken it off all that time?! Why didn't you?!" Ben asked. Vamps only grinned and walked away. Ben was about to ask more, but he yelled as the fish began to get closer to him. The dark, black creepy fish now were swimming right for him. Ben panicked and tried to get out of the water as fast as he could but Vamps swam over quickly and grabbed his legs, pulling him back in.
"H-Help!" Ben pleaded.
"Remain calm Ben; these fish can be dangerous, but you have to show no fear. That is also why you were brought here. You must learn to be brave and courageous despite what happens, especially on this planet." Vamps said, now holding him in a bear hug from behind. "These fish are a main source of food here, but you have to know how to deal with them first."
"Do not be afraid. We are here to help you with your fears." Whampire said, now standing by him.
"B-But I can't," Ben gasped.
"Yes you can." Vamps whispered in his ear in a brotherly way. "You want to stay correct?"
"O-Of course I do!" Ben said.
"Then you must be strong and remain calm. These fish have been known to deliver very painful bites. If you're afraid, they will know it and you will be in even more danger. If you show no fear, you have a better change of catching them. Remember they are a great source of food on this planet." Vamps said.
"Remember Ben. You are the same boy that protected us when we needed you," Whampire said.
"And tried to defend us with your own life," Vamps said.
"And used the Omnitrix for only the ones you cared about?" Whampire said.
The fish slowly swam up to Ben and one nipped him, but Ben remained calm. Some even hissed like snakes, but Ben remained calm despite the fact that he wanted to yell in terror. Within a few minutes, the fish swam around his legs and left him be. Ben gasped out and Vamps released him.
"See? You did fine," Vamps replied. "You will slowly overcome your sensitivity and fear in due time."
Ben let out a sigh of relief but his eyes widened as both Vamps and Whampire's eyes glowed red and as they began to drain his energy.
"Are you ready to run now?" Vamps said, now slowly draining the energy.
"I-I trust you," Ben panted, now clenching his fists.
"You look rather tasty Ben," Whampire smirked.
"More like delicious and I haven't eaten in a few hours," Vamps added, now draining a bit more. "Your last chance to run Ben."
"I-I won't run," Ben said, now closing his eyes and briefly passing out. Vamps used his super speed and caught him as he wrapped a warm towel around him and placed him on the soft carpet outside the pool.
"Vamps…no human has ever withstood that. They have always run away." Whampire said in surprise.
"Yes, I know." Vamps said, eyeing him carefully.
"Vamps…give him a chance. Please?" Whampire said. "He's proven himself."
"Yes, he has proven himself," Vamps said, now looking at him carefully. But then he looked away in despair. Whampire then gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ben loves you like a brother. Don't be afraid to care for someone Vamps." Whampire said. "He needs you."
At that moment, Ben slowly opened his eyes and watched as Vamps was contemplating his decision. Their energy drain didn't harm him; he just passed out due to fear!
"You guys are definitely dangerous when you want to be," Ben smirked, but noticed Vamps' melancholy face. Vamps was trying really hard to let go of the past but it wasn't easy. Ben suddenly got the courage to sit up and he pounced on the large Vladat!
"HEY!" Vamps gasped.
"Look Vamps! I'm not gonna let you guys fight these battles alone," Ben said, now looking at them both. "I-I want to be a part of your family now."
"Family…a human and Vladats?" Whampire smiled, just teasing him. He really wanted Ben to stay too.
"Yes! I consider you both my family and I am not going to leave here because we are all a family now," Ben said, now digging his fingers into Vamps' sides and making the Vladat laugh hard. Ben then grabbed Whampire's arm and pulled him into the commotion too! For the first time in years, the brothers had a little brother to have a playful romp with and Ben felt like he had a family.
"You little rascal!" Whampire laughed, now turning Ben over on his back and hugging the hero to him! Vamps sat up after breathing a bit and ran a hand over the young teen's head. "Vamps? What do you say brother?"
Vamps looked at Whampire and then to Ben. He then placed his forehead against Ben's and closed his eyes. For a brief moment, Ben could hear Vamps' voice in his head.
"Welcome Ben Tennyson to Anur Transyl." Vamps said softly.
"Am…I really able to stay now?! Forever?!" Ben grinned happily.
"Yes Ben," Vamps replied telepathically, now sitting back and breaking the connection. He then stood up and both Whampire and he looked at the teen with love and admiration.
"Welcome to our home Ben," Whampire said. Ben looked at them both and then hugged them very, very tightly as tears poured down his face. "Now, now…calm down. Shhhhh."
"T-Thank you! Thank you!" Ben gasped out.
But for the next few moments, no one said anything. They just allowed Ben to hug them and to glow in the fact that he was finally home. And for the first time in years, Vamps was able to let go of the past and let someone into his heart as a member of his family.
guestsurprise: What do you think? Final chapter is on the horizon! Stay tuned!