Anti-Ben 10 ch8: Lucky Girl
"Alright, this shit isn't as boring as I thought" Ben thought to himself as he looked through the various display cases showing off old voodoo ritual knifes, masks and diagrams to show how they were used.
He, Gwen and Max were in New Orléans and it was the perfect place to have a few relaxing days before going back on the road and continue their lucrative business venture.
Right now they were in a small museum at Gwen's insistence, it displaying items related to the history of the town and its legends, Ben having never voluntarily stepped inside a museum before immediately thought it was a waste of time but then he found pointy things.
Max and Gwen were now with a small group being guided around the museum, the curator guiding them around and informing them of the items names and history.
"And behind this impenetrable glass is the recently discovered, and only known copy, of the Arkarmida book of Spells" she pointed to an old yet surprisingly well-kept blue covered book which held a symbol on the front the resembled a one-eyed minatour head
"It contains ancient witchcraft and rituals from the late sixteen hundreds" Gwen spoke at the same time as the curator word for word, earning her an angry look
"Maybe you should work her, dear," the curator said as she fixed her already well-positioned glasses and moved on to the next item, Gwen giving her a scathing look at the back of her head
"Don't let the Crypt Keepers mom get to you," Ben snook up behind Gwen making her jump slightly "last time she got some was probably before that book was written"
Gwen suppressed her laughter as best she could, suddenly the room started shaking and slowly people started floating into the air unable to do anything but screams until they reached the ceiling.
"Something tells me this isn't on the tour" Max said as Gwen and Ben floated up next to him, his cigars slowly slipping out of his pocket and rolling onto the ceiling.
Down below thick white smoked seemed to slip through the diamond-shaped window of the building, as it disappeared a grey skinned man appeared wearing white robes with a black outline, on his face was black and white paint to look more like a skull, he had a staff that looked like it had a bird's head carved on top of it and he wore a sash around his chest holding several talismans each with a different glyph on them.
"At last, the Arkarmida book of spells. Its evil powers will no long threaten this world"
He spoke a few weird words no one understood as one of his talismans began to glow; suddenly in a flash of bright light the so-called impenetrable display case shattered giving him free access to the book.
Above him Ben activated the watch, turning the screen and looking through his selection of aliens as Gwen asked
"Ben what are you doing?"
"I'm about to kick the ass of a mysterious magic man" Ben smiled as he slammed the screen down as the book levitated into the mans hand.
As the green light disappeared in Ben's place was XLR8, running across the ceiling Ben managed to get enough speed to run down the walls and onto the floor before charging at the mysterious man, sending him flying into a display case and dropping the book, above the people dropped slightly before they began to float again.
"Foolish creature," the man shouted as he pushed the debris of himself "You would get in the way of Hex, the protector of magic and this world?"
"I'd get in your way just to piss you off" Ben chuckled as he picked up the Arkarmida "not to mention taunt you with the thing you want"
Hex growled slightly before looking at the people stuck to the ceiling, suddenly his staff started glowing and they began to float slowly down to the ground. The only reason Ben didn't charge at him and attack was because he knew if he did Max and Gwen would get hurt.
"Begone, this fight does not concern you" Hex said to the people once they touched the floor, instantly people began to run outside, some screaming as they did.
"Be careful Ben, we don't know what tricks he's got up his sleeve" Max warned as he passed Ben, grabbing a cigar from the air and placed it in his mouth
"No worries grandpa" Ben smiled as his visor closed and he threw the book over his shoulders "I'll finish this in a flash"
As Ben ran towards Hex one of the talismans began glowing, chanting a few strange words fire suddenly shout out of the mouth of the bird's head on top of the staff making Ben change his course but the fire followed, slamming into the wall as he ran up it
"Ha, your fire's hot but too slow" Ben laughed over his shoulder, seeing out of the corner of his eye as Hex raised his staff and shot red crystals out of it.
Still running up the wall Ben zigzagged left and right to dodge the crystals as the flew at him, leaping off the wall Ben flipped and righted himself as he landed on the floor and ran straight for Hex again who simply stood his ground.
Suddenly a bright beam of light shot out from the eyes of the bird's head straight at Ben, it didn't hurt him but it did blind him making him shield his eyes and lose his balance, tripping over his own feet as he flew past Hex and into some display shelves.
"None shall stop me from doing my duty" Hex raised and pointed his staff at the graoning pile that was wood and Ben, his staff beginning to glow. Suddenly he felt something hit him in the back, then a second and a third. Looking over his shoulder he saw Gwen and Max standing there
"Looks like we've got his attention" Gwen gulped as Hex looked at them, suddenly the felt themselves get blasted backwards sending them sliding across the floor
"Enough of this foolishness" Hex demanded
"I couldn't agree more" Ben called as he jumped and slammed his knee into Hex's face making him stumble backwards
Running around in a circle Ben hit Hex at every angle he could before making a small cyclone and slamming him into the ground, a talisman coming loose and rolling across the floor.
"Nice job" Max picked himself and Gwen off the floor before lighting his cigar, Ben noticed the talisman and picked it up adding it to the small collection he was building.
"Whether its robots, aliens or weird magic men I'm still the best" Ben chuckled as he turned back to normal, flicking the talisman in the air and grabbing it.
"Oh please dweeb, if it weren't for me and grandpa you would've been toast long ago" Gwen hated the look of smugness on Ben's face; it made her want to break it.
"Yeah you play your role as meat-shield very well," Ben laughed as he pocketed the talisman
"Ben I swear I'm-" Gwen grabbed Ben's shirt but was stopped by Max, pulling them apart
"We can continue this routine elsewhere, we need to leave before the police arrive"
*Break*
"All I'm saying is you didn't stop that creep by yourself, in fact every fight you've had since you got that thing me and grandpa have helped you" Gwen stared daggers at Ben from across the small table of the Rust Bucket as Max drove them away from the museum
"Like I said, you make a great meat shield" Ben laughed until he heard Gwen scream as she grabbed two tight fists full of hair and slammed his face against the table before pinning him there with one arm and grabbing his wrist holding the Omnitrix with the other.
"If it wasn't for this watch you'd just be the pathetic asshole you were before this summer began, if I'd found it I would've taken down your enemies quicker and better, not to mention stole a lot more things that you have" letting go of him Gwen stood up and moved to the back of the R.V, looking out the window and ignoring everyone else
"I think Gwen's saying she feel's a little underappreciated" Max said as he looked into his rearview mirror at Ben "she has helped a lot with the heist and fights"
Sighing Ben dug into his pockets and pulled out the talisman he picked up and looked at Gwen, before throwing it and hitting her on the head with it and sitting back down before she could turn around.
*Break*
Outside the town an ambulance sped down the road to the hospital, inside it were two paramedics and Hex who was still unconscious after the fight with Ben. As the paramedic checked the equipment a talisman started to glow and Hex opened his eyes, the restraints hon his hands, feet and chest began glowing and snapped
"My duty shall be fulfilled" Hex sat up and held out his hand, his staff flying unto his hand from the side of the ambulance and he aimed it at the doors, blowing them open and the drive to slam on the brakes.
As the driver looked out of his mirror he saw Hex float away across the swamp.
*Break*
"In all my years of travel, I've never seen a craw fish crawl up someones nose" Max laughed as he ruffled Ben's hair, Ben laughing mokingly
"Glad I could be of some amusement now drop it, it was just some bad luck was all" Ben pushed Max's hand away and saw Gwen staring at the talisman that now hung around her neck
"Actually I think it was good luck, for me. I saw this glowing when it was all going on and in the end I got what I wanted, and Ben got a shell-fish up his nose" Gwen said letting the talisman hang back around her neck
"So what? You think that thing sucked up my luck and gave it to you? That's just stupid and impossible," Ben laughed earning him a slap across the back of the head from Gwen
"Turning to aliens and giant robots from outer space are supposed to impossible doofus, our summer hasn't exactly been normal so far" Gwen pointed out "I'll prove it, if this thing really does make me lucky then all I've got to do is throw... This over my shoulder, hold out my hand and some money will fall into it"
Gwen fished into her pickets and pulled out some coins, closing her eyes she threw the change over her shoulder and kept very still hearing the commotion behind her as people complained about something hitting them, people tripping into each other, something bouncing off something metal and finally something heavy landed into Gwen's hand. Opening her eyes she saw a wallet thick with cash and Ben with a shocked look on his face and his mouth hanging open.
*Break*
Back at the museum the guards floated upside down and watched as Hex searched through the books on display and on the shelves. Once the last book was searched Hex growled in frustration and pulled a guard over to him.
"Where is the Arkarmida?" Hex asked as the guard gulped
"In... in the vault"
Leaving the guard where he was Hex walked over to the large metal door, chanting some words the eyes of the bird's head began to glow and inside the door metal began to move as it slowly unlocked itself and opened, the book floating out and into Hex's hand.
"At last my duty can be completed" slamming the staff on the ground the bird's head began to glow as did Hex, golden magic moved from him to the book as the talismans began to glow. Suddenly they stopped and the magic removed itself from the book and went back to Hex as the staff's head dimmed and stopped.
Not understanding what went wrong Hex looked at his chest and saw an empty space where the unnoticed missing talisman was supposed to be
"One charm is missing? Of course, the battle with that speed creature" grabbing the book Hex began floating and disappeared in thick white smoke and left, the guards dropping to the ground.
*Break*
Ben thumped his own face through his pillow unable to decide with he should try to knock himself out or smoother himself, Max's loud snoring from the front of the R.V having kept him up most of the night.
"Gwen how can you sleep through this? Did you get to grandpa's booze again? Did you fall a sleep looking like twelve guys pulled a train on you? You know? 'cause you're a whore" Ben laughed over the snores but stopped when no reply came, not even a shoe to the face or a kick to his bed "Gwen?"
Looking over the edge of his mattress he saw Gwen's bed empty and looked like it had been for a while, looking outside he saw her on the basketball court that was next to the R.V.
Watching Ben saw Gwen through the ball over her head missing the hoop completely, he heard the ball landed on top of the Rust Bucket and roll into something that sent it flying through the air, straining her neck from the angle he saw the ball land on top a telephone poll and roll down the wire until it stopped just above the court and dropped.
"Nothing but the bottom of the net, again" Gwen laughed hearing it the rust Bucket door opening and slamming closed
"Ok we are not play one-on-one later" Ben said as he grabbed the ball "how did you do that?"
"I told you last night it's the talisman, when it glows everything goes my way. I've been out here for hours and no matter where I throw the ball it always goes in, hell with this thing I could rob a bank just by walking into it" Gwen smiled kissing the talisman, moving her head to the side expertly as Ben threw the ball at her face.
"You think you can walk into a bank, grab some money and walk out again without stopping you? No one is that good, you'd be caught in a second" Ben scoffed as Gwen flipper up her middle finger
"Your balls big enough to bet on it?" Gwen smiled like a predator about to take down its prey
*Break*
"I still don't like this" Max said as he, Ben and Gwen, who wore a skin-tight black costume with a black cat mask, hid in an ally across the road from a bank
"It'll be fine grandpa" Gwen smiled as she wrapped a sash around her waist and pulled on a pair of gloves "worst case scenario Ben goes alien and has to come rescue me"
"That wasn't what I was talking about, I'm proud of you for testing your skills and making us a profit, I was talking about the bet" Max had no idea how they okayed it by him, they'd ambushed him when he'd first woken and hadn't even had coffee, or a cigar.
Walking out into the street Gwen's talisman started glowing as she stepped onto the road, keeping a calm but brisk pace the cars zoomed past Gwen honking as they nearly hit her but always seemed to just miss. As she reached the other side she got step-for-step behind a fat man as he entered the bank with a 32oz Big Gulp and a large tray of nachos. The security guards instantly stopping him and telling him he couldn't bring food into the bank.
As the guards were distracted Gwen kept her pace unhindered not even having to step around people as she walked, a few people noticing her but ignored her.
A man carrying and checking paperwork caught Gwen out the corner of his eye as he nearly walked into her, dodging around her at the last second stumbling into the line of people wanting to put money in or take it out of the bank, his paper work flying into the air as people fell to the floor.
As people complained and tried to stand back up some helped collect the paper, onlookers stopping and staring at the spectical including the people behind the counters.
With the large distraction going on Gwen had no problem jumping over the counter and heading to the vault unhindered. Inside the open vault a man in an expensive suit and a security guard, the man in the suit with a clipboard and the guard putting small bags of money on a trolley. Gwen reached out to grab several bags as the guard bent down to grab another bag, his back turned to her, when the suit man had a powerful sneeze. By the time he'd blown his nose and looked back at the trolley the bags had been replaced and Gwen had gone.
Back up front of the bank people were still arguing about whose fault it was and collecting the scattered papers, totally ignoring the red-haired girl in a black mask carrying two full money bags, all except one guard who noticed her as she walked through the doors.
Stepping onto the road Gwen ignored the traffic again simply walking between the cars again, this time she stepped in front of a large truck carrying various building materials, seeing Gwen the driver panicked slamming on the brakes and turning the steering wheel as far as he could cause the truck to tip over and send the materials flying through the air and landing in front the bank doors, blocking them and stopping the guard from pursuing her.
*Break*
"And as seen in the video experts conclude one of two theories, either all the people were somehow involved in the bank heist, or the young girl was working alone and is the luckiest girl in the world" the news presenter said before Gwen turned off the TV
"You got to admit Ben, that was better than any of your jobs" Gwen smiled as she took a large sip of her drink that Ben had given her, while enjoying fanning herself with the complete collection of Sumo Slammers cards and enjoying a foot bath by Ben. In other words Ben had lost the bet and had to do everything Gwen told him to, no matter how much he wanted to throttle her.
"I admit nothing and deny everything you say" Ben growled as he roughly dried Gwen's feet "that was pure luck"
"Duh that's what I'm telling you dumbass, this little beauty gives me all the luck I need" Gwen kissed the talisman before tucking it into her shirt "I never did thank you for that by the way, who knew a good deed from you would be so beneficial for me"
"Oh yeah my pleasure" every word Ben spoke dripped with sarcasm, he had a plan though, he'd wait till Gwen was a sleep then take the talisman then throttle her in her sleep.
"I think my feet a dry enough now, go get my nail polish" Gwen removed her feet from Ben's rough drying and pushed him over
"I'll tell you now if I have to put then stuff on for you I'm going to do a terrible job" Ben warned
"Oh the nail polish isn't for me" Gwen smiled evilly "do you prefer cherry red, or electric pink?"
*Break*
As Hex walked down the street most people ignored him thinking he was just another store owner or charlatan practising his trade on unwitting tourists with the get up to draw them in.
As he passed a store with TV's on display he caught out of the corner of his eye the news feature on the bank robbery and as the footage expanded to fill the screen he saw something glowing around the girls' chest, pausing and looking closer he could just make out the glowing markings on the fuzzy image.
As the Rust Bucket traveled down the freeway Gwen typed on her laptop clicking on promising websites and taking notes, comparing them to make sure that at least some of what she was finding was truth. Ben, having been given no task from Gwen and not having anything to do, drummed his cherry pink nails on the table.
"I cross referenced the Arkarmida book of Spells with magical charms and look," Gwen told Ben even though he hadn't asked, spinning her laptop around so Ben could see what was on her screen "the book has something to do with the Charms of Bezel, the charm I have is Luck, there's also charms for Fire, Levitation, Reincarnation and Healing."
"Those are the things that mysterious magic man had when XLR8 kicked his ass" Ben smiled as he took a closer look at the screen
"That's why he wanted the Book of Spells, he was going to destroy the dark magic in the book with the charms. But it says here he needs all the charms to vanquish the dark magic in the book forever or else it'll just build back up over time." Closing her laptop Gwen leant back in her seat and smiled, putting her hands behind her head "oh well sucks to be skull-face, his loss my gain"
"Gwen I'm disappointed in you, you're supposed to be the smart one" Max called back to them, having listened in on their conversation he had an idea that would help them all in the future and was surprised neither Gwen or Ben had suggested it "I'm surprised either of you are happy with one charm, and an incomplete set"
"What are you talking about grandpa? You sound like you want us to track down that Hex guy, kick his ass and take all the charms. Oh" Ben realised what Max was getting at and liked the sound of it, the charms with the watch would make him practically unstoppable. He'd be able to take what he wanted in any form and no one would be able to stop him, glancing over to Gwen he could tell by the look on her face she was thinking the same thing.
"Don't even think about it dweeb, those charms are mine" moving her laptop out-of-the-way so it wouldn't get damaged Gwen stood up and leant on the table leaning in on Ben.
"Oh yeah? And why's that?" Ben stood up and leaned in as well, both glaring unblinkinginto each others eyes
"Because you've got the watch from outer-space that turns you into aliens, so I get the magic charms that let me fly, shoot fire and heal super quick"
Both Gwen and Ben straightened up and clenched their fists waiting for the other to make a move, Gwen with her formal karate training and Ben with his playground smarts and street fighting. Even though their eyes stung and begged to blink neither would give the other the satisfaction of showing weakness.
"Need I point out that neither of you are going to be able to use the charms until we get them?" Max pointed out instantly breaking the tension between his grandkids. He didn't mind them having their usual scraps but he could tell if they had fought now it would have been bigger than usual and he didn't want Ben doing something stupid like activating the Omnitrix and turning into a large alien like Four-Arms or Diamondhead. "First we need to find Hex"
"Or he finds us" Gwen suggested as she sat back down "he found the book so he must have someway of finding magical items"
*Break*
"Are you sure about this? I don't want you to hurt yourself" Max leant on a mausoleum smoking a cigar as Gwen stood on top of a tome juggling knives, the charm glowing constantly around her neck
"Don't worry grandpa as long as I'm wearing the charm I'll be fine" Gwen had never really juggled before and had to admit she was surprised she could keep it up for over fifteen minutes, she hadn't grabbed any of the blades once and while for a pro it was easy, she was a total ameatur.
"Then you are in trouble child" a voice called out, looking in the direction it came from Gwen and Max saw Hex floating towards them between the graves, the Arkarmida Book of Spells in his hand. "Give me the charm" Hex demanded
"Sorry magic man, but I'm the problem child," Ben shouted as he appeared on top of a mausoleum "and you're going to give us the rest of your charms"
"Foolish boy, my duty cannot be stopped" the eyes of the bird's head began to glow, slamming his staff on the ground a shock wave blasted across the area knocking Max, Ben and Gwen back the charm snapping off its string and being caught by Hex's magic, flying through the air into his hand.
Fixing the charm in place the book floated up in front of Hex and opened to a random page "at last my duty can be fulfilled" floating up in to the air Hex's eyes began to glow along with the birds, chanting strange words Hex's magic began to build and wrap around the book.
Suddenly Four-Arms flew through the air and slammed into Hex, who managed to get a protective shield up in time sending Four-Arms bouncing off him but the force of the hit still made Hex land on top of a large mausoleum
"You fool, my work is to protect this world. You would dare interfere?" Hex called as his staff fly back into his hand as Four-Arms was joined by Gwen and Max
"Give us the charms and we'll leave you alone" Ben cracked his knuckles threateningly
"I have no time for this idiocy, the charms are not for people such as you" again chanting strange words Hex slammed the staff on the roof of the mausoleum and a red mist spewed from the birds' mouth on his staff. The mist moved and entered three gargoyles, two large minotaur like gargoyles and one smaller with wings, the eyes started to glow red and they started moving.
Roaring the gargoyles charged and flew towards Ben, the smaller quicker dodging his fists and attacking his face, as it scratched him Ben grabbed it and threw it away from him to see one of the larger ones leap over him and wrap its tail around his throat and bite him in the shoulder. As Ben struggled to pull the tail from around his neck he used his other two arms to try to keep it from biting him again, he was surprised when it suddenly unwrapped its tail and leapt away from him but understood as the large minotaur one tackled him, charging through several gravestones and using him as a pillow as they slammed into a mausoleum.
As the dust cloud settled the other large gargoyle got closer to investigate, having to dive to the floor as the large minotaur one was sent flying and crashing through gravestones. Stepping out from the rubble Ben spat out some blood and grabbed a large stone sword that had decorated the now destroyed mausoleum.
"You fuckers aren't getting the drop on me this time" Ben growled at the gargoyle who roared at him and charged, leaping left and right to try to confuse Ben who rested the large sword on his shoulder. As the gargoyle leapt around Ben it pushed off the wall and flew straight towards him, unable to stop itself as Ben spun around slashed it with the sword in one clean motion smashing both it and the sword.
Standing on top of the mausoleum Hex watched the spectacle slightly before turning back to the book, his staff glowing again as he concentrated only for it to be broken again as a rock hit him on the shin.
"You know even without the luck charm," Gwen smiled as she picked up another rock "I've got excellent aim." Throwing the rock as hard as she could it flew through the air and struck its target dead between the eyes, knocking him out and fall off the mausoleum.
Dropping the sword handle Ben easily dodged a punch by the large minotaur, which now had half a horn missing. As it swung again Ben smashed his own fist into the minotaur making the stone crack and crumble, as it swung its other fist Ben repeated his action and got the same result. Roaring the armless minotaur lowered its head and charged at Ben who slammed all four powerful fists into its back and head making it slam onto the ground and crumble.
Rubbing his head Hex tried to clear his vision, looking around trying to find his staff he saw Gwen pick up the sash holding the charms. Realising they weren't around his chest anymore he raised his hand and his staff flew into it "No, you cannot be allowed to have the charms" he cried out as he pointed the staff at Gwen, suddenly the small flying gargoyle dived out of nowhere grabbing the sash and pulling it out of Gwen's hands.
"Hey give those back" Gwen called out as the creature flew towards Hex "Ben stop it" she shouted
Charging through some gravestones Ben tackled and grabbed the creature slamming it into the ground, as he raised his fists he heard Hex and Gwen call out "NO" at the same time before smashing the stone gargoyle and the charms with all his strength.
As the charms were smashed a shockwave blasted through the graveyard throwing everyone backwards and making all the graves, tomes and mausoleums crumble and collapse. Groaning Ben picked himself up and after a bright flash of light returned to normal, only to hear someone growling at him, racing towards him as fast as she could.
"Ben you dumbass" she cried out as she dived on top of him trying to wrap her fingers around his throat, accept Ben managed to grab her wrists and struggled to keep her hands away from him "you destroyed the charms, you destroyed the magical items that would've made us unstoppable"
"I didn't know they would break, I thought only magic stuff could break magic stuff" Ben grunted as he tried to roll Gwen off him only for her to roll back on top of him "I didn't think-"
"You've never done that before in your life so why start now" Gwen screamed cutting him off "if you thought I was torturing you before just you wait Ben Tennyson"
Gwen was suddenly lifted off Ben and into the air, she tried kicking and screaming but it did nothing.
"Leave that till later, we've got to go" Max put Gwen over his shoulder as Ben stood up, now neither of them were shouting he could hear the sirens of police getting closer "we don't want to be here when they arrive"
As they ran through the mess of the graveyard Ben saw a grey arm sticking out of a pile of rubble.