"A Wish"

" I Had a Simple Wish"

"Even that was stripped from me, In the world I ended up in"

"I suddenly found myself the one cleaning up the mess "

"Over and Over again I repeated and corrected every mistake."

"I did whatever was necessary in order to achieve that goal"

"before I knew it... I lost count "

"I killed... Over One Hundred Million Times."

"I killed and I killed and I killed...I killed without ceasing."

"Until I found myself numb to it all."

"I fought Over and Over, whenever I was needed"

"Again...And Again...And Again...AND AGAIN!"

"Every life I took meant Billions more would survive."

"Billions more would secure their future."

"And my reward? A life filled with regret," Benjamin muttered, his gaze unwavering, fixed on the vast expanse of endless white sand stretching as far as the eye could see. "And yet, despite that... there's still a place I must reach," his voice carried the weight of countless eons. He stood tall, his body bearing the scars of a seasoned warrior, a soldier who had endured numerous battles. Clad in a tattered black plumber suit, he spoke with an emotionless resolve, "A wish I must fulfill, no matter the cost."

"I have walked through these planes for what felt like an eternity " "This power..." he spoke, his words trailing off as he seemed to address an unseen presence. There, behind him, stood a bewildered 10-year-old Ben, gazing at his older counterpart in disbelief. he had no idea where he was or how he got here, he desperately tried to remember what happened but his mind came up blank. The older Ben turned to face the younger one, his appearance marked by a prominent scar that ran from his brow to his chin, and his long, unruly hair that ended at his shoulders.

Ben blinked as Benjamin raised his hand in front of him and suddenly there was a massive white tree with endless branches spreading out into nothingness. Young Ben was shocked at the sight for it was breathtaking.

"It has shown me the paths ahead," the elder Ben continued, his voice hollow and laden with the knowledge of ages. The younger Ben, eyes wide, tried to speak but was interrupted as the older version of himself continued, "Branches of things that have passed, what could have been." In response, they both watched an image of a future where Ben and Gwen were married, a sight that left the young Ben in shock and the older Benjamin Silent, sad even. One could see the trembling in his fists.

"Wha-," he began, but the older man's words pressed on, "And what can't be changed." Suddenly, the scene shifted to one of destruction and flames, where everyone he knew lay lifeless, their bodies strewn across the wreckage. "And that is what opened my eyes to the fatal error of this failed reality," He said with determination "The paths built on their plans that I reject, leaving only one." he glared ahead "Through the combined power of our Celestial Body and our Chronosapien forms," the elder Ben spoke dispassionately, "I learned to control what I saw, I saw peace but also endless destruction over and over. seeing it I knew I had to be the one to finish it."

The older Ben's intense gaze locked onto the younger one, taking a step forward he kneeled before his younger self"My chance passed me by but you can still redeem yourself,...redeem us all". Young Ben flinched at the hollowed look in the older man's eyes. "When you wake up, you'll forget what you learned, but not what you felt here. This will all feel like a long dream until that moment." The young Ben, overwhelmed with questions, tried to stop the unfolding events. "Wait," he called out, but the space around them began to fracture, and the older Ben concluded, "Only then will you begin to understand." he placed a hand on his younger self"You must succeed where we all failed so a mistake such as myself will vanish into the wind." young ben was frozen stiff at the cold gaze that was directed at him.

"It's for this Reason. You... are here" he said with a gruff voice.

The darkness shattered, and the younger Ben plummeted through the floor, leaving behind the older version of himself with blood running down his mouth."It's all on you now." he said as he faded away." And whatever you do from this point forward know this..."

"Don't try to do everything by yourself because if you do...You will surely fail."

The fall through the darkness continued, and as Ben plummeted, he reached out instinctively for the familiar presence of his Omnitrix. However, his heart sank as he discovered his right wrist bare, the watch's absence sending a wave of fear and panic coursing through him.

Just then, a blinding light pierced through the darkness, enveloping him. Amid the light, he was subjected to a surreal and horrifying vision. Before his eyes, he watched the world he loved, his family, and even himself being subjected to endless cycles of death and destruction, a tormenting loop that seemed to have no end. Every repetition etched deeper into his psyche, instilling an overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair.

As the nightmarish visions continued, Ben struggled to make sense of it all. His heart raced, and he felt the crushing weight of responsibility bearing down on him. What did it all mean, and what could he do to escape this torment? These questions and more haunted his thoughts as he descended further into the unknown.

Amidst the chaos and torment, Ben's screams echoed, pleading for the nightmarish visions to cease. However, his cries fell on deaf ears as the dreams grew more intense, spiraling into a disorienting maelstrom of voices and fragmented images that swirled chaotically around him. The descent into madness seemed never-ending, and it was becoming increasingly challenging for him to distinguish reality from the distorted nightmare. Each passing moment further eroded his sanity as he grappled with the overwhelming, incomprehensible onslaught of sensations and memories.

The nightmare twisted and contorted, forcing Ben into different roles, each one more helpless than the last. He desperately fought to protect his loved ones, but every effort ended in failure and despair. Gwen's name tore from his throat like a wounded animal, but it was always followed by a symphony of tragedies that were his family. The face of his nemesis, His shadow was cast over every scene, an ever-present reminder of the malevolent force that plagued his nightmares. "Listen closely, Tennyson," his voice dripped with menace. "I foretold that this day would come, a day from which you could not flee or hide. You were bound to me, and the Omnitrix was destined to be mine."

"I believe that leaving you to wander is a fate more cruel than any mere death... HAHAHAHHA," his laughter echoed with chilling malice. "Without your planet, without your cherished friends, your beloved parents, your kind-hearted grandfather, and your precious Gwendilyon..."

"There is no one left to DIE for you"Hahahahaha

The dream morphed his identity, stripping him of his Omnitrix, and altering his appearance, but the outcome remained unchanging—a parade of death and destruction, a relentless barrage that shattered his spirit with each iteration.

The voices were constantly around him like jumbled music that could not be understood.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!" a lingering voice cried out. "That's too risky! You could die!""you'll never make it!"

"I don't care," came the resolute reply. "I've lost too much, come too far to lose now." The second voice spoke emotionlessly, "I refuse to let their deaths be in vain."

"I will keep moving forward until all my enemies are destroyed."

There were flashes of vivid images, and a multitude of voices, chaotic and disordered. "I've failed, there's no other option then," the voice said weakly. "The rest is in your hands."

"... don't worry, I will make things right, no matter the personal cost," the emotionless voice replied once again.

"I won't make it." the voice said weakly

"I ...have...to use... tha-" the voices died out.

...

A piercing scream woke all the residents of the rustbucket. Gwen's eyes shoot open in alarm. the sound of her cousin's voice sent her into overdrive as she jumped out of the lower half of the bunk bed. She searched frantically for any potential threats but found none. Without hesitation, she ascended the bunk bed's ladder to check on her cousin. Each step synchronized with her racing heartbeat. Upon reaching the top, she found her cousin clutching his head, his nails digging into his flesh. His screams grew increasingly intense, and then his body started to sway violently.

"Ben!" Gwen yelled, realizing he was trapped in a nightmare. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him, trying to awaken him. She could hear him muttering something under his breath, and Ben began to thrash around, punching and kicking in all directions. "No! No!" were his frenzied words.

"Ben!" Gwen called out again, attempting to rouse him, but his wild movements blocked her completely. "I'll rip your heart out!" Ben yelled in distress. Gwen turned her head to see her grandpa stumbling out of his small bedroom. He asked, panicked and out of breath, "What's going on?"

"He's having a nightmare, and I don't know what to do!" Gwen shouted. Grandpa Max rushed to the cupboard, grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and hurried back to the bunk bed. "Here," he said, handing her the cup, "pour it over his face." Gwen nodded and poured the cold water over Ben's screaming face. Instantly, Ben jerked awake in a panic, his wide eyes filled with fear, and he was hyperventilating. He sprang up like a coiled spring, his frantic gaze scanning for potential danger. The alien watch on his right hand emitted a green glow, as if it were alive as if it too could sense the fight-or-flight response Ben was currently in. Grandpa Max let out a sigh and switched on the lights, temporarily blinding everyone. As they adjusted to the sudden brightness, Ben continued to breathe heavily, his eyes darting around in panic. He then looked down at his trembling hands. Gwen noticed his dilated pupils and the constant shaking, which was reminiscent of someone with PTSD.

For a full minute, there was utter silence. Gwen couldn't bear it any longer and placed her hand on Ben's shoulder. "Hey, doofus. What was—" The moment she touched him, he jerked and stumbled back, ending up in the corner of his bed. His back hit the wall hard, his eyes wide with terror, and his left hand hovered over his Omnitrix. The alien device glowed even brighter as the top part shot out, ready to transform Ben into one of his aliens.

Gwen was shocked; she had never seen him like this. "Doofus, it's me." It took a moment for Ben to process who this person was before he stammered, "G-Gwendolyn?" His voice was hoarse and shaky. "Gwendolyn?" she thought, her mind racing. That was the name her future self used, but why would Ben call her that?

"Welcome back to reality, doofus," she said as the words left his lips. Gwen glared at him, attempting to maintain her usual tough act. "Your yelling scared the daylights out of me!" she said with a scowl, glaring at the boy, " I told you that watching that movie at night was a bad idea, but noooo, apparently, your brain couldn't comprehend common sense."

Ben looked at her with a blank expression devoid of any emotion, the recent flashes of terror still haunting his thoughts caused expression, and his shoulders shook. Gwen was about to launch into another rant, but she paused when she saw tears welling up in his eyes, Everything she was going to say instantly vanished as she stared with her mouth open.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked calmly. "It was just a night—" Her words were cut short as Ben rushed to give her a bone-crushing hug. Taken off guard by the sudden force, the two ten-year-olds tumbled to the hard floor of the Rustbucket. Grandpa Max tried to catch them, but the distance between the bunk beds and the mini kitchen was too great.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Gwen yelled at her cousin, but she quickly stopped when she noticed tears streaming down the boy's face. She was once again taken aback by the vulnerability she had never witnessed before, not even on Ben's worst days.

"Y-you're alive," he muttered repeatedly as he clung to her, as if he feared she'd vanish if he let go. Gwen stared at the boy on top of her, feeling the dampness on her shirt and unsure of how to react. She slowly raised her hand to pat Ben's head, saying, "There, there, doofus." This was new to her; she had never comforted anyone like this, especially not Ben.

"It was just a dream," she whispered softly, wondering what kind of dream could frighten him so deeply. She glanced up to see Grandpa Max frozen in place, also at a loss for words, clearly not expecting this.

"Grandpa," Gwen said gently, snapping the old man out of his daze. He moved closer to the two kids and knelt down beside them, slowly placing his hand on Ben's back. He frowned as he noticed Ben's reaction, the way he twitched at his touch. Ben then turned his head from Gwen's shirt to the old man, trying to process who he was. Grandpa Max's gentle smile seemed to trigger recognition.

"Grandpa?" Ben asked hesitantly.

Grandpa Max's smile brightened. "It's me, Ben." Ben's lips trembled as he uttered random words before he leaped off Gwen and threw himself into Grandpa Max's arms.

"Grandpa!" Ben cried out. "You're alive! I can't believe it!" He continued to sob as Gwen got up. Gwen and Grandpa Max exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting briefly before they both looked back at the crying boy.

Gradually, the crying died down until all expression left Ben's face, leaving a blank, empty stare. It was a gaze that conveyed the story just by looking at it, but to Gwen, it held a hidden rage and determination. This subtle shift unsettled her slightly.

Grandpa Max, concerned, leaned closer to Ben and asked, "Are you alright, Ben?" Ben nodded absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on something only he could see. His blank expression remained as he sat at the table inside the Rustbucket. His head tilted up to the ceiling, and his eyes seemed hollow as if the very life within him had been extinguished. He appeared like a living body with a soul yearning to fade away.

Grandpa Max's concern deepened as he recognized these symptoms. He had witnessed this type of behavior from his old comrades who had fought in alien invasions and served the Plumbers. The haunted look in Ben's eyes raised an unsettling question – what had he experienced in that dream, and how deeply had it affected him?

he wondered if dreams could really cause something like this. he even considered if it were some kind of mental attack

."I'm so tired of this nonsense, doofus!" Gwen's voice quivered as she expressed her frustration"Stop moping around and tell us what your problem is!". She had yelled and demanded answers, but Ben remained unresponsive while he continued to stare at her from the corner of his eyes, the vivid dream still haunted him, which made it difficult to put his feelings into words. He didn't want to bother with anyone right now not after-(There is nobody left to die for you) the words echoed in his mind and froze, wide-eyed.

With every passing minute, the weight of his unspoken experiences seemed to press down on Ben, and it was evident that he was struggling to find the right words. Gwen's heart ached as she watched his trembling arms and the tears that were beginning to form as he wrestled with the memories of those haunting dreams.

"Ben" Gwen said softly, her anger giving way to empathy. "I just -" she stopped herself "We just want to help you. Please, share with us what's bothering you."

Ben's eyes met Gwen's, and for a brief moment, his haunted gaze met her concerned one, and his heart started beating faster like a drum. He saw her concern, her worried look that looked so much like- and something inside him just clicked into place and he felt as though it was okay to tell her, his grandfather too. He took deep breaths and sighed. The room was filled with tension, but it was clear that the walls he had built around his experiences were slowly starting to crumble he was about to open his mouth.

But the green glow on Ben's Omnitrix instantly caught her attention. It was beeping persistently as the faceplate spun, displaying silhouettes of the various aliens Ben had encountered, each flashing across its surface. This usually happened when Ben either unlocked a new alien or utilized a DNA strand to add one to the watch.

"Your watch is acting up," Gwen said, her concern evident in her voice. Ben's eyes still lingered on her before they slowly shifted toward his watch. The yellow flashes on the device piqued his interest as multiple silhouettes of his aliens flashed across the screen before stopping on a humanoid figure. This figure was outlined on the screen, with three distinct horns atop its head. Ben's eyes narrowed in mild shock.

"It's the same Alien" he mumbled as he continued to stare at his watch with a million questions running through his head.

Grandpa Max stored this piece of information away for later use. "Alien?" Gwen and Grandpa Max asked in unison. Ben gazed at his watch, his expression a mix of terror and confusion. "It really was real then..." he mumbled softly.

Gwen and Grandpa Max exchanged puzzled glances before Gwen, growing impatient with being left in the dark, demanded, "Speak sense, doofus." Ben, disregarding her insult, continued, "This alien, his name is Alien X." He said it with a hint of uncertainty. "Alien X," Gwen and Grandpa Max repeated simultaneously.