Disclaimer: I don't own any Ben 10 characters or Melody (Skellington Girl's OC)

FYI: Due to the rules of (Which this one rule where lyrics are not allowed is a total load of garbage), I will no longer add music in order to avoid trouble. However, I will be putting indicators as to where the music begins and ends so that you will have a little imagination in how the story will proceed.

Song choice: This Day Aria (Male version)

Enjoy!

Two Hearts Becoming One

Chapter 3: The Terrible Duel

Melody was in her room pacing. She has to save Ben but in order to do that, she must give herself up to her father's killer.

"What should I do? No matter what I do, I just can't seem to help myself or anyone." She then went to her bed and placed her hand in her heart as she sighed. "Oh father, if you are with me now, please come to me. If ever there was a time I needed the benefit of your wisdom, it is now."

Suddenly, she sensed something appearing in front of her and saw her father's spirit right in front of her eyes.

"Yes, my daughter. I am here."

"Lord Transyl has issued me a choice to whether turn myself in for the safety of my love ones or let them die should I refuse. What should I do?"

"This time had to come, the time to face your past and the future. You must face Lord Transyl in a final battle to defend your right as the true heir."

"Yes, but is it the right time? Am I ready to face him alone on his own terms?"

"There's only one person who can answer that question, Melody: YOU. You must search within yourself for the answer and you will know when the time is right."

She nodded in agreement. "Of course, Father. What you say makes sense. If I am to assume the mantle of Queen, I must be responsible for this decision myself. No one else can help."

"Wise words, my daughter. And whatever happens, I want you to know that I will always be proud to have had such a daughter."

She then saw her father disappearing into thin air as she shed some tears. "Thank you, father, and goodbye."

It's just three hours away before midnight and time is running out. In the Plumber's ship, everyone was discussing their plans to save Ben.

"We have to save Ben!" Gwendolyn argued to the group.

"We know, but we can't agree to Lord Transyl's terms. It's blackmail!" Frankenstrike declared.

Then Whampire came to the group after tending his uncle's wounds.

"How's Lord Shade?" Snare-Oh asked his friend.

"He'll be fine, but he needs a lot of rest. The injury is taken care of, but his strength needs time to recover," Whampire answered solemnly.

"Your uncle is lucky to be alive. He couldn't have been killed!" Kevin declared. "Don't you want to avenge him, dude?"

"I follow Melody! For now, she's in charge," Whampire argued with Kevin.

"I long for the day Lord Transyl is gone for good!" Dr. Viktor shouts out his thoughts.

"I hear you loud and clear!" Kuphulu agreed as well.

Everyone shouted out their suggestions until Rook interrupted them. "Everyone, the longer we wait, the more powerful our enemy grows."

"Rook's right. We have to find a way to save Ben and stop him for good!" Whampire agreed.

Nobody noticed Melody coming towards them as she made her decision. "There's only one solution: I have to defeat Lord Transyl once and for all!"

Everybody gasped as her decision. "How would you do that?" Blitzwolfer asked her.

"Maybe you could exile him," Blukic declared his idea as Melody nodded.

"That may work, but first I have to find a way to face him alone. I'm going to suggest his terms in order to get closer to him and challenge him to a duel."

The whole crowd stared in shock as she finished her speech.

"You can't challenge him. I won't let you!" Whampire argued to her. "Because of Transyl, I've lost Alexander, my dear friend. I won't lose you too!"

Melody smiled softly as she then hugged Whampire. He was surprised at first but hugged her in return. "You won't lose me. I have to try for my family, my home, and my love. Let me face him!" She declared as everything thought for a moment.

"I understand, Melody." Max Tennyson agreed. "For your father's sake, we will stand aside and leave this to the daughter of Alexander."

Melody smiled as everyone knew that she is capable of taking care of herself.

"Thank you." She then saw that the time for her to decide was drawing near. "It's time."

Inside the Castle, Lord Transyl was in his throne room, watching the chaos that is occurring outside through his window. He grinned evilly at the sight.

"Soon, this whole planet will be mine," he said to himself. Ben was struggling to retain control of his body, but as long as the corruptura was on him, he is trapped in the vladat's control.

"You won't get away with this! Melody and the Plumbers would never give in to your terms!"

"Oh, she will. After all, she will give anything to ensure your safety," Lord Transyl taunted as he continued viewing his evil work in process.

xx(Music Begins)xx

Meanwhile, Melody was running towards the castle with her mind providing herself encouragement and her heart longing for her true love. All she ever wanted was one beautiful wedding and all she ever needed was to live her life with Ben by her side. She knew it was too much to ask for peace and quiet, especially with the Omnitrix wielder for a husband, but she would not change anything for the world.

Back at the castle, Ben secretly tried to think of a way to protect Melody and stop Lord Transyl, but it was futile. This was supposed to be their special day and the beginning of their new life together. How he long to love and cherish her each day. One way or another, he'll find a way for him to be by her side.

Lord Transyl looked out his window and grinned as he saw Melody entering his castle alone, letting out an evil laugh.

xx(Music Ends)xx

Inside the Castle, Melody opened the doors to the throne room and came face to face with the Vladat.

"So, Princess. You decided to turn up."

"Did you doubt that I would?" She glared at him.

The vladat chuckled at her bravery. "So what is your choice?"

"Personally, I would have said 'Over my dead body!' but I decided this: since we are rulers, I challenge you to a duel. Winner gets the throne!"

"You think you could waltz in here and take right over?" He growled at her. "Very well, but you asked for it! Let it be known that this battle is for the crown of Anur Transyl."

"I accept on one condition: that the loser accept the outcome of the duel and respects the winner as the true ruler!"

"Very well, I accept your terms!" He said as he set Ben free from his control.

Both vladats then charged with their claws and clashed. Ben cringed as the battle begun. This is the battle that will determine the fate of the planet and they both knew it. The battle kept on for a few minutes with either side winning. Melody clashed with Transyl and managed to slice his chest when she got the chance. The captain chuckled evilly as he underestimated his foe.

"Don't think I'm going easy on you just because you're a girl," he taunted.

"I didn't think so. Although I don't know what would be more humiliating for you: being beaten by a girl or being beaten by the true heir to the throne?" She taunted back.

Lord Transyl growled as he charged at her but she blocked him just in time and shove him off.

"Had enough?" Melody shouted out.

"What? One lucky strike and you think I'm finished?" The vladat growled. "You're just like your pitiful father. And it seems that you're dying to be like him! Let's see if I can help you out!"

Melody was about to strike but Transyl dodged at the last minute. He took this chance and slashes at her left arm. She was breathing heavily as she holds her arm in pain and glared at Transyl.

Ben was about to help her but was stopped by Melody's eyes piercing his own, reminding him that this fight is personal. She then saw the Vladat charging at her, but she grabbed him and threw him across the room hard. She kept him on the ground with her claws on his neck as he struggled to get up, despite his injuries.

"Mercy," he spoke in a raspy voice.

"You have some nerve asking for mercy!" She spoke angrily at him. "You're responsible for taking away my father, Transyl! Do you really think I can forgive that? You showed no mercy for him or his family. You don't deserve any!"

"But that is all in the past, now."

"Yet I'm still fatherless, aren't I? And I promised myself that you would pay for that someday!" She declared.

Lord Transyl then saw threw some ashes from the rubble and threw them at her face, blinding her as he escaped from her grasp. "You want to meet Alexander? Then I will take you there, ON THE OTHER SIDE!" He then charged at her with claws extended for a finishing move.

"Melody!" Ben cried out to warn her.

She quickly counterattacked by dodging his strike on time and used her claws to slash out Lord Transyl's right eye, thus winning the duel.

Melody breathed heavily as she came towards the wounded vladat. "All right, Princess, you win. Get it over with. One swipe and I am out of your life forever!"

She stared at him but shook her head. "That would be the easy way out. You don't deserve it! I am not going to become the monster that killed my father. It ends here."

Lord Transyl sighed in defeat. Ben came over Melody and hugged her.

"Are you okay?" He asked her.

"Better than ever," she replied as she then kissed him on the lips which he accepted it.

The war was over. Vilgax escaped, but not without receiving some injuries and humiliation on his journey home, and the drones were located and destroyed, thanks to the plumbers.

Once they were done, the group went towards the castle hoping to find the couple unharmed, only to find them both waking towards them while dragging the wounded Lord Transyl behind them.

"Ben, you're alright!" Gwendolyn came towards her cousin and hugged him tightly.

"Melody!" Whampire came to her and hugged her as well. He saw that she had some cuts, bruises, and a large scratch on her arm. "You're hurt!"

"I'll be fine. Hey Max, I got another one for you," she said, handing Lord Transyl to the plumber as he shackled the Vladat. She also saw Lord Shade whom had recovered as well, only bandaged on his back.

"Shade! How you feeling?" She asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine. It takes more than a scratch like that to kill me, Princess. I see that you have won the battle."

She nodded until she said, "If I may, I would like to say a few words."

"Go ahead." The kind ruler let the princess speak as she rose to the entrance while getting the inhabitants' attention.

"I, Princess Melody, am now the rightful heir to the throne and Queen of Anur Transyl! I promise to rule with the same justice and wisdom as did my father, the great Prince Alexander. I do further decree that Transyl's life be spared, but he is to be banished from this planet forever. He may seek other worlds but he is never to return to my kingdom again!"

Transyl heard the speech and sighed. "I accept your conditions, Melody, as we agreed. I acknowledge Melody as the true Ruler of Anur Transyl!"

Everyone cheered for Melody's victory as well as the defeat of the Vladat.

As the Plumbers took the evil vladat away for good, Whampire then came to the couple. "It looks like the wedding's is ruined," he sounded disappointed.

"No, the wedding's still on and after today, our love have grown much stronger, didn't it?" Ben said to Melody as she smiled.

"We'll prepare it once more just like the old one, except better," she said.

She and Ben locked their lips, sharing one more kiss before they joined their friends to celebrate.

The dark time was over now the real wedding can finally begin.

Find out on the final chapter!

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