Karina and Lightning-Flower took Ben home; Ben woke up on the way. When they got there, Karina took Ben to his room and went downstairs to speak with his parents. "So it is unhappiness?" Sandra asked. "I'm afraid so," Karina sat on the couch with Lightning-Flower asleep in her lap. "Oh God what do we do?" Carl asked worryingly. The three vampires sat in a small silence. "Well I always thought Ben was pretty strange, but at least he has one normal vampire trait," Sandra broke the silence ", at least we can be glad about." "But why did it have to be misfortune?" Carl asked sadly.
"You knew this could work in Ben's favor," Karina smiled. Sandra and Carl were confused ", how?" "This universe is full of misfortunate and unhappy people so Ben can pretty much feed on anyone he wants," she explained petting her sleeping Pikachu genetic experiment. Sandra perked up a little ", of course! I never thought about it like that." "Oh Karina we knew you would find a bright side to this." "Yes, but still if Ben reacts to unhappiness he'll be in danger with his blood increasings since they will happen more often," Sandra said frowning. "Oh well, everyone must deal with things they cannot change."
Meanwhile with Ben... So it is unhappiness Ben thought as he hugged a pillow to his body; he changed into his pajamas a while ago. So that means all I have to do is make Rook happy so my blood doesn't increase when I'm around him! Ben smiled, but he then quickly frowned. But wait, I don't even know what makes Rook happy. Maybe I can ask him. He shook his head and blushed. No I can't ask him! It'll be too embarrassing! He sighed and laid back on his bed. I wonder what mom, dad, and Karina are talking about. Oh well I'll ask them tomorrow. Ben closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day at Rook's apartment... Bralla was humming sweetly as she made breakfast for everyone. Rook Da and Rook's siblings questioned the other night why Rook Bralla was acting the way she was. Rook didn't know what to say since he didn't really know why she was either. "Here we are," his mother said happily as she placed the last plate on the dining table. "Thank you mother," Rook said a little nervously ", you are oddly cheerful today." "Huh? What do you mean Rook Blonko?" Bralla asked ", I am no different today."
No different? Rook thought as he starred at the bite mark on his mother's neck,something is very different. I just have to know why she is like this. I tried to visit Ben's home. But, for some reason I could not find his house. Rook sighed quietly at the memory of walking around in circles for several minutes. That mark, the Revonnahgander looked closely at the bite mark, it looks like a bite mark of a creature known as a Vampire. Rook's eyes widened a bit, could this mean Ben is a vampire? Perhaps I should do more research on vampires to be sure.
"Mother, who was that young boy you were with at the park last night?" Rook asked. Bralla and the others were all surprised by the sudden question. Then Da and the others turned their attention towards the eldest female. "Young boy in the park?" Bralla was confused, but then smiled at what she thought Rook meant. "Oh! I understand now. You had found a mate! Who is he?" Rook jumped a little in surprise, she does not remember anything. "I see. So you found a mate!" "You did Blonko!?" Shar asked in excitement as the others turned to Rook and gave him questioning looks. Rook blushed ", w-what?! No! I-" then he started stuffing his face to stop talking. His family simply laughed.
Meanwhile with Ben... "I'm going to work!" Ben closed the front door and walked to the base. Since I respond to unhappiness, how can I make Rook happy? Ben thought.Bump! Oh no just thinking about him is makingmy blood..., he shook his head in frustration, just stop thinking about him. This will all work itself out in the end. Ben smiled and started to walk faster until he walked into someone. The brunette covered his nose and mouth and muttered ", excuse me. I'm sorry! My fault!" Then Ben saw the person he walked into was actually Rook as the Revonnahgander turned around to face him. "Ben?" Of all people it had to be Rook. Bump! "Umm... Actually," Rook said nervously.
Oh no my blood level's increasing! Ben thought as his fangs started growing. "Ben, I wanted to ask you a question... Umm," Rook started scratching the side of his face nervously. But, how do I ask him about something like that? Rook thought as a quick image of Ben biting his mother came to him. "Well, never mind. It is not important." Rook said and noticed Ben ran off ", huh?" Ben was running as fast as he could while his entire face and neck turns bright red. I can't hold it in! And I don't think I can ask Karina for help at this hour. "Oh no." He ran towards a near by bush and jumped behind it. "NOOO!" Ben yelled as he had one of his massive nosebleeds.
Two hours later... Ben was exiting the medical wing at Plumber HQ. "Are you feeling better now?" a doctor asked Ben before he left the room. "Yes I'm feeling much better now," Ben said sadly ", I'm sorry to put you all to all this trouble." He closed and sighed ", I really need to come up with an 'Anti-Rook' plan as soon as possible." The petite bruentte decided to talk to his grandfather so he went to his kitchen. "Hey grandpa," he said after sliding down the stair.
"Hey kiddo," the older man smiled at him, but then frowned as he saw the depressed look on his grandson's face ", what's wrong?" The brunette sighed in frustration ", how can I get rid of Rook's unhappiness?" Max was surprised by the question, but he knew why Ben was upset, since he was so attracted to Rook's blood, but for some reason he didn't want to bite him.
"I'm not sure kiddo," the elder simply said. Ben sighed tiredly. "Why don't you just bite him?" The brunette's eyes widen and blushed slightly ", because... Well, I don't know." Max nodded and asked ", why don't you ask Karina? She told me about this a hour ago." Ben knew he shouldn't be surprised since Karina talked to his parents the night before.
"Ok I guess." Ben left to search for his Vampire best friend. He found her training nonstop in the Training room. "Hey Karina!" He called out. In flash, Karina ran up to her 'little brother', frightening him a little, as Ben squeaked a little. "Oh sorry Ben," Karina said then noticed he looked a little nervous ", what's wrong?" "I need to talk to you," Ben simply said. The maroon haired girl was surprised, but sat on a nearby bench, ready to listen. Ben sighed and sat next to his 'big sister', blushing a little.
"Alright what do you want to talk about?" The older girl asked. "Umm... Do you know what happiness is?" The brunette asked. Karina's eyed widen in surprise at the question, then she started laughing uncontrollably. "Karina I'm being serious!" "*Giggle* Seriously? You mean it? *Laughs*"
"Karina, didn't you always say I could talk to you about anything?" Ben asked feeling embarrassed. Karina calmed down long enough to remember when she said that to Ben when they were kids. "Well yeah I did say that," Karina then took a deep breath to calm down ", well, there are many different ways to describe happiness. Love, for example, is one way of describing happiness." She explained with a slight smirk.
Ben blushed at the example ", that's not really helpful." "Well if you want to, I could help you find the meaning of happiness," Karina offered. Ben smiled and nodded. "Alright just let me get Lightning-Flower and my stuff and we'll go." "Ok!" Ben exclaimed happily and ran back to the kitchen. Karina waved ", it's good to see you again little sister."
"It's good to see you too, big sister," Gwen greeted walking out of shadows, holding Lightning-Flower in her arms. Gwen stood next the older girl and handed her, her Pokémon partner. "Are you sure you want to trust this 'cat boy' with your family's big secret?" Karina asked not looking at the younger girl. "First, I want to test him to be absolutely sure," Gwen answered ", you should go." Karina nodded, grabbed her stuff, and ran out of the Training room. I hope Gwen knows what she's doing.
Ben and Karina spent some time looking up on the Internet and the Extranet for the meaning happiness, but didn't really find anything useful. Ben decided to go to the library in Bellwood, after Karina left him alone to do some Pokémon training. Ben sat at empty table with a few different dictionaries and continued his 'happiness research'. Little did he know that he was the only Plumber in there doing some research.
Ben heard the chair in front of him squeak, looked up, and saw Rook sitting in the chair.Bump! What is Rook doing here?! Ben thought panicking. "Hello Ben," Rook said calmly and opened up a book. Ben looked at the book and was shocked to see it was a book about Vampires!
"H-Hey Rook," he greeted breathing heavily ", I didn't know you read those kind of books." "Yes, I have started becoming more interested in them recently," Rook replied.Ben could not actually be a vampire, Rook thought, according to this book: he would not be able to walk in daylight, he could not eat garlic or touch a cross, and he would not be able to swim in water. But I have seen him do all those things.
I have to get out of here, Ben thought. Bump! Aww man could Rook actually be figuring out that I'm really a vampire?!
~Flashback~
Ben and his mother were sitting in the living room, Ben was around the age of 14. "Ben, you're going to be an adult soon," Sandra started ", which means you're going to start feeding on people. You have to make sure your identity's never exposed."
"Why?" Ben asked ", why do I have to keep my identity a secret?" "Stupid little boy, humans will always see us as nothing but monsters. Don't you remember the history of ancestors, who were forcibly driven out of their homeland?" Sandra questioned as Ben gasped. "If you are ever exposed you must erase that person's memory no matter who ever they are."
~End of Flashback~
I have to try to change the subject, Ben thought panting a little. "Umm... Hey Rook." The Revonnahgander looked up from the book ", yes?" "Umm, Grandpa Max showed me your test scores from the Plumber academy," the Un-Vampire started ", and I saw they were really high, so I was wondering how do you study so hard and have free time?"
Rook was surprised by the question, but replied ", well my goal is to become a great Plumber to represent my home world." "Represent your home world?" Ben was confused. "Yes," Rook nodded ", many species believe that Revonnahganders are nothing but simple farmers. I want to prove to them that we are much more than that by working as I can to be the greatest Plumber that has ever lived!"
Wow, that's a big goal, Ben thought surprised by Rook's statement. They sat in a small silence that was broken by the sound of Rook's stomach growling. "Rook, did you eat lunch?" Come to think of it, I've never seen Rook eat before! Rook blushed a deep lavender ", umm... No. I did not have anything to eat." "Well do you want my lunch?" Ben pulled out his wrapped up lunch box ", I just hope you don't leftovers, I made too much-" "Thank you so much!" Rook interrupted quickly grabbing the lunch box and looking at it hungrily.
Ben was a little by Rook's sudden behavior and got up and grabbed the dictionaries ", well... Just return the box whenever you can ok?" "Y-Yes, thank you," the older boy answered rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Ben went to put the books back away. Wow it's hard to believe Rook has such a big goal, he was awe, but why do I sense so much unhappiness from him? Now that I think about it, my blood didn't increase when I gave him my lunch box! Ben's eyes widened and started getting a big grin on his face, wait is that what makes Rook happy? A lunch box? Then maybe I should make Rook lunch every day. Ben stood there near the library exit. Suddenly, a small romantic fantasy came to his mind of him playfully feeding Rook a piece of chicken while the two were acting all lovey-dovey and sweet. Ben quickly ran out of the library screaming in his head NO! ITS NOT LIKE THAT!
Back with Rook... Rook left the library about an hour or so later. Rook had to put a book over his head to protect him from the sudden rain storm. I did not get a chance to talk to Ben about my mother. Perhaps I should try asking him tomorrow, I will have to wash this lunch box without my family seeing it. He was walking to his truck when he saw a young red headed girl with a black umbrella, standing under the tree he was passing by. What is that young girl doing outside?
"Big brother," the girl said. Rook stopped, thinking the girl was talking to him, turned his attention to her. "Big brother you have a lot of questions that you want answered, is that right?" "Huh?" Rook was now completely confused. "He isn't doing anything wrong so you shouldn't prosue him too much, ok?" The girl asked. "What are you talking about?" The Revonnahgander was really lost. "Be careful or else I will be forced to erase everything," she warned ", if you find out the truth, what will you do to my cousin then big brother?" She started walking away. "Wait!" Rook chased after her ", who is your cousin?!"
He ran to the corner, she walked around and saw that she was gone. "If you find out the truth, what will you do to my cousin?"
Next morning at Rook's apartment... "I already warned you, if you prosue my cousin I will erase everything." The mysterious girl said. Rook was laying on the ground in fear ", wait! I don't understand! Who is cousin?!" "Your problem not mine," the girl's umbrella turned in to a shot gun and fired. "AHHH!" Rook shot out of bed screaming and looked around to see he was in his room, oh it was just a dream. Young One was standing by his older brother's bed ", are you alright Rook Blonko?" Rook nodded slightly ", yes I just had a night terror."
Rook Bralla walked and happily said ", good morning my sons!" "Good morning," the two males said. "You are going to be late Blonko," Bralla said cheerfully. Our mother is still too cheerful.
Rook walked to Max's kitchen when Ben walked out of the kitchen. The two partners stood there, the feeling of awkwardness in the air. "Oh! Good morning Ben." "I uhh..." The petite brunette ran past the older boy to the infirmary, Rook watched in surprise. In the infirmary... "How you feeling Mr. Tennyson?" Ben was laying in one of the beds with a thermometer in his mouth, he turned his attention to the doctor who walked next to the bed. "You've become our customer," she took the thermometer out of Ben's mouth and shook it. "I'm sorry." "It's okay, have a good rest now." The doctor walked away.
Why did I run away like that? Ben asked himself as he turned to his side. He'll only be more suspicious of me. But my blood level increases whenever I'm near him. I couldn't give him the lunch box I made for him today. I'll have to try harder to make happy tomorrow.
A few hours later... "Hey kiddo," Max greeted Ben as his grandson walked into the kitchen to grab his things to leave ", how you feeling now?" "A little better but my blood's still increasing," Ben went to grab his phone then saw the lunch box he gave Rook yesterday sitting right next to it! "My lunch box." "Oh yeah Rook asked me to return it to you." "He did?" Ben asked picking up the rag wrapped box.
"Yeah, he washed it so you wouldn't have to worry about it," Grandpa Max explained ", he said it was the best food he ever tasted! And that you're an amazing chef when I told him that you made it!" Ben was surprised, but smiled warmly at the box and left the base without another word. It gets a little better in the early evening, the brunettethought as he was walking through town, but my blood increase will reach its limit soon. I'm depending on you, Karina. He sent his friend a text message for help.
Suddenly an older man, about in his late 20s, walked behind Ben and put his arm around. "Hey I've been looking for you," the mysterious man said. "What? Sorry, do I know you?" Ben was completely confused by this stranger. "Don't worry pretty boy," the man looked Ben up and down with a hungry look in his eyes ", hmmm you're a real babe you know that?" The man grabbed the back of his shirt and Ben realized what was happening. "Hey! Get away from me!" "Get your hands off-" "Stop! You're making a scene!" Ben was struggling and was about to go for the Omnitrix, but the man grabbed his wrists and started pulling him towards an alley.
He was still struggling against the pervert and was screaming at him. Gwen saw what was happening from the top of the building near the alley. Her eyes turned a golden color, her pupils thinned to sickly shaped lines as she sent a bat to help her cousin. However, Rook beat the bat to the punch! "Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" The man screamed. "I have found you at last!" Rook turned his head to Ben ", I have been looking all over for you!" "You were looking for me?" Ben asked.
The man broke out of Rook's hold and turned to him ", how dare you! I'm gonna-" "Gonna what?" Rook gave the man a deadly glare that frightened him so much that he ran away! "What was that about?" Rook felt his partner hugging his right arm and turned his attention to Ben ", Ben, he's gone now. Are you alright?" The shorter boy had tears in his eyes ", t-that was scary! He was trying to take me with him!" The Un-Vampire was now crying softly.
What was I thinking? Rook thought as he looked at the boy, Ben is completely terrified after being harshed by that jerk. There is no way he is a vampire or an under age escort. And all this time, I was thinking terrible things about him and following him all around. Rook clenched his left fist in anger, I should be ashamed of myself. "Rook?" "I am so sorry Ben!" Rook quickly pulled his arm from Ben and bowed his head in shame ", it is all my fault!" Ben was really shocked ", w-why are you apologizing, Rook? You just rescued me! You shouldn't apologize. Come on, let's go! This is so embarrassing!" "I am apologizing for my own stupidity," Rook explained ", there is nothing embarrassing about it."
Ben smiled ", oh Rook." Bump! Ben gasped and covered his nose and mouth. Bump! Bump! Bump! "Ben?" Rook looked at the Un-Vampire with concern. Bump! Bump! Bump! "What is wrong with you, Ben?!" Bump! "Are you alright?" Ben quickly ran away from the Revonnahgander. "Hey wait a minute!" Rook watched as the younger boy ran off.
"Big Brother," a voice said. Rook turned around to locate the source of the voice and saw Gwen standing right behind him. He jumped back in shock ", y-you are... You are that young girl!" "I've been watching you," Gwen said ", and you know, big brother, I think you might just pass the test." "Pass the test? What test is that?"
Meanwhile with Ben... The sun was set and Ben was wondering around a park. It's hot. My body feels like its on fire. How did I end up here? Ben was looking for a new victim,I can't remember. That's right... I ran into Rook, my blood level started to increase. Why am I here? Since I'm attracted to Rook's blood, I should just bite him, right? Why can't I just do that then? He saw a woman wondering in the park, she had an aura of unhappiness. "Oh look," he told himself. I feel it. My senses are awake. The scent of misfortune. I can't stand it anymore. Karina or whoever, I'll leave the rest to you.
The woman was screaming angrily at the sky as Ben was walking slowly towards her. Ben grabbed her shoulder, turned her around, and sank his fangs into her. He closed his eyes as he gave his extra blood, then he heard footsteps coming towards him. So his eyes and saw it was Rook! Ben gasped in horror, which caused him to pull out his fangs, and the woman collapsed to the ground. "Oh no Ben it's true you really are a vampire, are you not? Then what I saw...," the images of Ben biting Psyphon and his mom came to Rook's mind ", now I know what this is all about."
"What is... Rook doing here?" Ben quickly covered his mouth and nose. He saw everything! He saw me biting someone! Suddenly memories of the day Ben got his first nosebleed and awakened into an Un-Vampire quickly flashed in the mind. It's all over. Everything that everyone was trying so hard... to hide. Rook walked up to the frightened brunette, pulled grabbed his flushed cheeks, and pulled them to see inside his partner's mouth. "You have fangs," the Revonnahgander simply said. Ben pushed Rook's arms ", don't!" He saw me! He saw it all! He saw me bite! And he saw my fangs! He saw everything!
Ben tried to run away, but Rook grabbed his wrist ", Ben wait!" "GWEN! Gwen are you out there?! I need you! This is really bad! Erase Rook's memory! Erase it all!" Ben yelled even though he knew Gwen couldn't hear from her college. Little did he know, Gwen was actually sitting in the tree right next to the two, reading a book, and Lightning-Flower was with her! "He's calling you," Experiment 758 said to Gwen ", are you sure about this?"
Ben stopped struggling and was panting in exhaustion. "I have no idea what you are talking about," Rook loosened his grip ", but will please stop running away from me?" Ben didn't respond, he just collapsed to his knees and began crying uncontrollably so Rook let go of Ben. After several minutes, Rook kneeled down next to Ben ", are you done crying?" Ben sniffled and looked at Rook, who was a little surprised to see Ben's nose was running. "I guess so." "Here," the older boy took out a tissue and gave it to him. Ben took the tissue and blow his nose into it.
"Ben, you are a real vampire, are you not?" "Uh-huh," Ben nodded. "I see." "Rook, please don't... tell anyone. If you do ... my family will have to... leave our home forever. So please." And if that happens I could never face Dad he went through so much to save me. Not to mention Gwen and the others, who've always looked out for me. "I wouldn't be able to live with that!" Rook was shocked, sighed, and gently took Ben's hand. "Come on. Stand up," the two slowly stood up and Rook let go of Ben. "Ben, do I seem like a person who would ever give up anybody's secret once they have trusted me with it?" "But I'm-I'm a monster. You must think I'm sickening. You want to drive me out or exterminate me? And drive my whole family away!"
"DON'T BE AN IDIOT!" Rook screamed/growled. "Now listen, I would never do something like that!" Rook grabbed Ben's shoulders and shook him ", Ben, if you're human, an alien, or a monster it doesn't matter! Those who force people out of their homes are worse than garbage! They're complete succumb! Don't ever say ever that I'd ever do something like that!" "Rook I..." Ben was in total shock at what Rook said. Rook realized his behavior, let go of Ben, and blushed ," my apologizes, Ben. I did not mean for it to came out sounding so harsh."
Suddenly Ben noticed the woman on ground was awakening, so he quickly pushed Rook into the bushes and jumped in with him. "Ben! What are you doing?!" Rook mumbled as Ben covered his mouth. "Shh!" Ben whispered ", I think she's waking up!" A gold glowing bat landed on the woman's face and erased her memory. "Why am I lying in this place?" She wondered sitting up. Then she stood up, stretching a bit ", ah well, I guess now's a good time to find myself a good man!" The two boys peeked through the bushes and saw her leave. It's just like what happened to mother, Rook thought, so that means, if a vampire sucks your blood...
His thoughts were interrupted by Gwen falling on top of him. "Huh?" Ben turned to Rook ", Gwen?!" Ben quickly pulled his cousin off his partner. The Revonnahgander got up and picked the unconscious girl up and carried her on his back, Ben stood up and help him. "So... Is she a friend of yours, Ben?" Rook asked. "That's Gwen, she's my cousin." "Your cousin?" Rook looked away and muttered ", I do not see it." Ben glared at the taller boy ", what did you say?" "Me? Oh nothing," Rook said sheepishly ", actually it's because of her that I came here in the first place." The shorter boy was surprised ", what the-? Why would Gwen-?"
The two decided to forget about and started walking towards Ben's house. Gwen sighed in her sleep and started rubbing her nose against the back of Rook's neck. "Ahh! That tickles!" Rook yelled ", ask her to stop, Ben." "Come on, Gwen cut it out," Ben glared slightly at his red headed cousin. "Oh that reminds me," Rook turned to the brunette ", hey Ben." "Oh! Yes? What is it?" Ben focused his attention to Rook. "With everything going on here, I forgot to ask... But people who get bitten by you they uhh..." The two then noticed a swarm of bats coming towards them.
The bats moved towards the sides to reveal Karina and Lightning-Flower! "It looks like," the Vampire spoke ", you've gone and complicated things for us, haven't you?" Karina reached out her hand ", May I have my brother and sister back now, young man?" "Big sister?!"
To be continued...