SZ: *winces* Ooh...hoo boy...this episode…
GT: The headaches...the punches...it's insane. ...Ya sure we need to do this chapter?
SZ: Yes...we've already fixed quite a few bad episodes from Omniverse and already nixed one of the most HATED arcs in it...might as well nip ths ne in the bud and change it with a better outcome. Also be honest...you KNOW you've wanted to change this one for quite some time…
GT: Honestly, been trying to avoid this one with those earlier chapters having Ben figure it out sooner than this episode...But right. This is one pill I have to swallow...just like the ones for my gallbladder stones…
SZ: True...but we've toughed it out before with certain other chapters in our stories, and we fixed the episodes those are based on...and were received rather well.
GT: Fair enough. Alright...since Z0's not here to help start the chapter off with us, let's get on with disclaimers. We do not own any series used for this story. They are owned by their respective companies/corporations/etc. Let's move on. *calmly turns to SZ* ...
SZ:...what?
GT: *removes mask, revealing Segata Sanshiro*
SZ:...oh no...
Segata Sanshiro: Sega Saturn, shiro! *grabs SZ*
GT: *playing Sonic R on the Sega Saturn with Toy Freddy, hearing the screaming* Should've had a Sega Saturn with him like me. *Toy Freddy nods before fanfare goes off on the game* Oh, come on! Best 8 out of 15! I will beat you one day, you crafty bear you! *looks at the readers* Also, trigger warning for those who might think this chapter feels feminist. Any complaints and we'll sic our security team…*points to all the animatronics of FNaF wearing night guard badges*...on you.
SZ: And sorry….if the chapter...feels a bit...rushed...
It had been six months since the Incurseans were driven off of Earth, and things had finally gotten back on track...well...a few things had changed since then. For one, humans have been slowly becoming more and more relaxed around peaceful aliens coming to Earth given they've fought alongside one another during the war...and no Will Harangue with his smear campaign as he was fired and blacklisted from every news station for not only siding with the Incurseans, but also what he had admitted to under the Bronze Boots of Truth on live television. People still hear from him with his online podcast...but they just brush it off and pay little mind to it. As for Ben and the others, things have changed as well...but let us turn attention to said transforming hero and a certain squirrel girl as they were currently stopping a robbery at a local jewelry store.
"Ben Tennyson, I will crush you!" Fistina shouted, attempting a downward punch from the air at XLR8...only for him to blur out of the way as her fist slammed into the road.
"Seriously? Robbing a jewelry store?" XLR8 asked with a smirk, "What? Is Psyphon so desperate, he needs to steal human jewelry just to make some money?"
"Nyet," she replied, "Is very nice looking."
"Oh, I can understand that. I mean...I'm more of an Alexandrite girl, but…" Fistina quickly turned before she was slugged by Makoto, "Everyone's got their preference."
"That wasn't a hint on a gift for your birthday, was it?" XLR8 asked.
"May~be...may~be not," Makoto teasingly smirked before jumping back from Fistina's fist, "But let's focus on dealing with Fistina here."
"...If you are thinking of doing that strategy again...Ha! Tough luck…" Fistina laughed before tapping the side of her head, causing a panel to move down before her face, "I am prepared for the unconscious air trick."
"...Ben, may I?" Makoto asked, looking over at XLR8.
"Uh no way. I called dibs, remember?"
"True...but...I guess you don't want to see that cheerleader outfit I picked out for ya, Mr. Soccer Champ~" Makoto teased.
"...You're bluffing….I know you, and I can tell you're bluffing…"
"That's not what you said when you saw me in my swimsuit at the beach~"
"..."
"Uh...are you two forgetting that we are f-?" Fistina began before two blurs shot past her, her head spinning in place before it fell off, "...da...again…"
"You seriously like pulling that one out, don't you?" XLR8 asked Makoto as he changed back into Ben.
"Hey. Least we did a double whammy and took her down," Makoto shrugged as she tapped the collar of her uniform, changing her back to show she was wearing a brown shirt with an acorn on the right breast and hip-hugging light-brown shorts, "So win win."
"Yeah yeah…" Ben rolled his eyes with a chuckle, Fistina's body about to grab him before an energy net wrapped around it and knocked it over, "Thanks for the save, partner."
"Of course," Rook nodded, standing near the Proto-TRUK as he put his ProtoTool away, "Now to take her in," he said as he walked over and picked up Fistina's head.
"Think she'll even f….no no. That's a loaded question," Ben muttered.
"Grr...this is embarrassing...though…" Fistina paused as she looked up at Rook, "I like the way you move, little man~"
"He's already got someone, so swing and a miss," Makoto stated while looking at the necklace on Ben's neck, "Mmm...Nah. Not your style, Ben."
"Fair," Ben shrugged, "Still, let's get this back to the store she swiped it from."
"Then we can resume our date at th…" Makoto began before she noticed Ben looking at a nearby TV Screen, "...uh Ben?"
"...Julie's back in town," Ben whispered.
"...Ooh~ Hoo boy…" Makoto cringed before looking at Rook, "You go take Fistina back to HQ, Rook. This is gonna be a bit heavy…"
"...Understood…" Rook nodded, reading the 'room' as he walked back to the Proto-TRUK, "...and like Makoto said, I already have someone," he interrupted Fistina before she could say anything.
"Poo…"
"So that's Julie, huh?" Makoto pondered once Rook was gone to the truck while she looked at the screen, showing a young woman around Ben's age with her black hair pulled into a hime cut wearing a pink sweater/hoodie with orange and cream bands on the upper sleeves and a cream shirt with orange trim beneath and a white skirt, "She looks nice."
"Yeah...and I really screwed that relationship up…" Ben sighed, "No doubt she has that boyfriend of hers with her…"
"...You want to try and patch things up, don't you?"
"Considering the last time we talked and I ended up ruining our relationship over a video game? Yeah...I want to at least try…" Ben admitted, "Though...not sure if we're even on talking terms…"
"Always tricky," Makoto nodded, "Still...It's better to always try. Otherwise, it'll just keep eatin' at ya like beetles when they infect fruit trees."
"Beetles when they what?"
"Oh, sorry. Something my mom says since our family grows crops like fruit and nut trees," Makoto noted.
"That is another bridge I am dreading to cross when we find your family," Ben muttered before shaking his head, "One problem at a time."
"Agreed. For now...any idea where Julie might be?"
"Yeah. The tennis stadium is not too far from here."
"Perfect. Then let's go!"
"Right."
"Excellon cherie. Exquisite. You are even better on the outcourt!" a tall young man with short blond hair called out, a French accent in his voice as he took a few pictures of Julie while she swatted away at a few tennis balls, "Okay, break. We do not want you to be too tuckered out."
"Right…" Julie nodded, panting a bit as she moved off the court, walking over to a bench to grab a towel before a bottle of water was offered to her, "?"
"Uh...hey…" Ben awkwardly greeted, "Thirsty?"
"...Oh. Hey…Long time no see…" Julie said, grabbing the towel and began to walk away.
"...Hoo boy...She really is that mad…" Ben cringed, "...l...look. I'm sorry okay."
"Hmm? Sorry for what?"
"For what I said over the phone...I was in the middle of a game and ended up answering and...Look. I'm sorry, okay?"
"...Ugh. Honestly Ben...I wish you'd be more truthful around me…" Julie sighed.
"Oof~ That...yeah. This is gonna be rough," Makoto winced, standing near the bleachers near Ben as she hopped down.
"Okay...look. We...we know I'm bad at this…" Ben sighed.
"Understatement." Both girls spoke in unintended unison.
"I just...want to clear the air...we used to be friends...and I'd like that. I mean we've both moved on." Ben spoke.
"Hit the breaks. You're nearing a potential hazard." Makoto warned.
"Oh shoot I am...See?! I told you I was bad at this!" Ben panicked.
"You dated him...you know that." Makoto sighed.
"Yes. I have," Julie admitted, "I guess...it was kinda stupid. And we were friends...but it's just...weird. Our...new significant others aside."
"Oh good we're acknowledging it." Makoto sighed.
"Oui…" the french young man nodded simply.
"Okay see? I brought you for emotional support…" Ben sighed, "Not sideline commentary."
"Babe I do what I do." Makoto countered.
"...hmm. So you've moved on rather quickly," Julie noted, looking at Makoto.
"Quick nothing…" Ben argued, "It took us months to even say anything...and we were locked in a space pod for most of that talk!"
"Wow you've actually gotten worse at this," Julie blinked.
"He got worse!?" Makoto laughed.
"I did not…" Ben muttered, "But look...I just want to patch things up a-"
"Ahh...but we all must move on with life," the french man spoke as he walked over, "Where as you have left here, she has chosen me so she could think about herself."
"...Seriously? This guy?" Ben deadpanned, pointing at the french man.
"Ben…" Makoto sighed.
"Wha...but…."
"Mmm…"
"But I…"
"Hmph…"
"Oh fine...sorry." Ben sighed.
"You...you can control him?" Julie blinked.
"Eh. Someone has to keep him from putting his foot in his mouth," Makoto shrugged.
"I don't do it…"
"Hmm…" Makoto countered with a look.
"I'll shut up now…" Ben sighed.
"Huh...I expected to hate this...but I'm oddly enjoying it." Julie muttered.
"I'm amazed at how alike they are." the French man muttered.
"I didn't think anyone could...rein him in."
"It's not that hard…" Makoto muttered.
"No offense...but you saying that is not exactly a sign that you're normal." Julie argued.
"Wha...no…" Makoto muttered, "Huh...you have a point…Then again, is anyone normal?"
"Looks who.." Ben began before his Omnitrix went off, "..."
"...I'll get it," Makoto sighed as she turned her communicator on, "What is it?"
=I got a Emergency Call from Ester down in Undertown= Tsubaki's voice answered =...Princess Looma's back, and she's looking for Ben=
"...Oh boy," Ben and Makoto whispered at that.
"...what did you get mixed up in now, Ben?" Julie asked with a sigh.
"Kevin's fault!" Ben declared.
"Kinda was...but I mean you took his car…" Makoto muttered.
"It's not enough!" Ben snapped before groaning, "We'll be there shortly."
=Please do…=
"Great...today of all days…" Ben groaned, facepalming before looking at Julie, "Look. I...need to hurry and stop before something big happens. Just...please wait so we can talk, okay?"
"...Okay. But I want you to promise me you'll be back by the end of the day," Julie stated, "If you can do that, then I'll hear you out. If not...it'll prove you haven't changed."
"Little harsh…" Makoto whispered.
"I...I promise to try…" Ben sighed, "How am I still saying that?"
"Eh. There are certain phrases that never leave us," Makoto shrugged, "Anyway, let's stop alien-Xena from destroying the Hot Spot and...inadvertently Undertown before an intergalactic incident happens."
"Hopefully Ragna has her busy…"
"AAH!" Ragna screamed as he crashed into the walls of the Hot Spot, "OW!"
"Where is my beloved?" Looma demanded, one of her arms holding a Kraaho male before tossing him away, "If you do not bring him to me, I will decimate this little village piece by piece!"
"Lady I don't care who your boyfriend is...you toss me through a wall again, we're gonna have problems…" Ragna growled, standing up, "Thank god the Old man sprang to get me these indestructible versions of my clothes…"
"I'm just glad we got someone like you looking after Undertown, sheriff," Ester spoke as she landed near him, "Hopefully you'll buy some time until Ben gets here."
"Please let him get here...and drop that stupid dinosaur form he likes so much on this…" he looked around, "Ah good...no kids….Let Ben drop his dino ass on this bitch!"
"You have issues don't you?"
"Oh trust me, that is a well best not peeked into. Now if only my dumbass brother would be useful!"
"She blindsided me…" Jin groaned from a whole in the wall.
"Well you should've kept closer attention, dumbass!"
"Grr…"
"I mean it. If Ben Tennyson is not brought here, I…" Looma began before a large iron ball crashed into her, sending her flying as she crashed into the opposite wall.
"Ha! Knew I could hit her from that far!" Makoto laughed as she and Ben ran in.
"'Bout time you love birds made it." Ester sighed happily.
"We would have been here sooner...but we were like halfway across town dealing with some emotional business." Makoto explained quickly.
"Ooh...how bad?" Ester asked.
"Oh it's pretty bad." Makoto answered, making her cringe a bit.
"Women…" Jin spoke as he climbed himself out of the hole.
"He does not speak for us!" Ben and Ragna declared, rushing forward.
"Raaa!" Looma roared as she forced the iron ball off her, "Who…?!" she blinked when she noticed Ben, "...Ben Tennyson!"
"GH?!" Ben tensed as he skidded to a halt, about to turn and run before Looma grabbed and hugged him.
"Good Battle, Beloved!" Looma beamed.
"Huh...you know...I think I'm the jealous type." Makoto spoke, her fist clenched up as it shook.
"Duck and cover!" Ester panicked.
"Duck a-WOAH!" Makoto yelped as she and the others ducked under a thrown boulder.
"You stay out of this, vermin," Looma frowned before smiling at Ben, "I have been looking all over for you, my beloved. I've been getting rather lonely not seeing you."
"Oh god someone get me out of here!" Ben panicked, slapping the Omnitrix as he turned into Ghostfreak and vanished, "I am not liking where this is going!"
"Mmm…" Looma pouted, "Why must you tease me so….oh! While I am here, I might as well conquer this little village and find its strongest warrior to present for our wedding."
"...Wedding?" Ester blinked.
"Blame his best friend for getting him into this," Makoto explained.
"...Yeah no," Ester frowned at that, shooting up as she stretched over to in front of Looma, "As the leader of the Kraaho, I insist you stop."
"Leader? Ooh~~ That's the best one!" Looma grinned excitedly at that, raising her fist as she charged.
"Oh that's never good." Ghostfreak and Makoto sighed.
"I hate everything about this." Ragna complained, "Jin...we're doing the fast ball!"
"I dislike the fastball, brother!" Jin argued.
"Too bad!" Ragna barked, grabbing Jin and spinning around before tossing him at Looma.
"Gah!" Jin screamed as he crashed into Looma...to no effect as Looma grabbed him.
"How...ooh~! Something blue!" Looma beamed.
"Huh?"
"It's Tetramandian customs for the bride to be to bring something to the wedding," Looma explained, "Something conquered, something bruised, something severed, and something blue."
"Why does the last one oddly seem the most normal…" Makoto asked.
"Uh yeah. Pretty sure we got the same thing here on Earth." Ragna spoke, "Only we don't take people!"
"Brother help!"
"You have a sword!" Ragna snapped.
"Yes, but you made me drop it before you tossed me!"
"I…" Ragna began before noticing Yukianesa on the ground, "...Oh...so I did…"
"Okay...I draw the line at hurting my friends...and my Co-worker." Ghostfreak spoke as he flashed to Humungousaur.
"Thank you for not including me as your friend!" Jin complained before Looma tossed him into a large bag, "And now I'm in a sack!"
"And seriously Looma, stop before you…"
"But I wanted to make sure I had something from the groom's side..and conquering the Earth will be really conscientious," Loom countered.
"I am not letting the Earth get conquered again!" he complained.
"I am having it…." Makoto jumped onto Humungousaur's shoulders as she put her hand up, "Up to here with this! I have had alls I can take with this topic! You want this doofus...well tough luck! He's my doofus now!"
"Hey~" Humungousaur complained
"...what?" Looma's eyes narrowed at that.
"Also aww..." he beamed before blocking Looma's punch, "I mean ah man!"
"You heard me! I claim this doofus in the name of Makoto!" Makoto barked on top of Humungousaur.
"She is really hamming it up…" Ester muttered as Ragna helped her up.
"Either she's so jealous she's become stupider...or...and this is a big or...she has a plan." Ragna countered.
"...This is perfect then…" Looma frowned, cracking her knuckles, "I know what to bring as something severed...the vermin's head and tail!" she roared as she tried to grab Makoto with her free arms.
"Why antagonize her!?" Humungousaur groaned as he jumped back, causing Looma to miss.
"I've had enough with entitled space princess' trying to take my boyfriend! Sue me!" Makoto argued as she jumped off Humungousar's shoulder and slammed her feet into Looma's face before jumping and flipping away.
"I'd cheer, but I think that just makes it worse." Ester sighed.
"Please don't encourage them…" Ragna ordered.
"Ha!" Makoto shouted, slamming another boulder on Looma making her stagger back.
"I really wish today was a normal date day!" Humungousaur complained, punching Looma and sending her flying.
"This is a normal Date day!" Makoto cheered.
"No! A normal date...ugh! Nevermind!" he groaned.
"I love you too!" Makoto laughed enjoying her small victory.
"Can someone get me out of the sack?!" Jin complained.
"Silence!" Looma snapped.
"Hey! Only we…" Makoto began before her communicator went off, "...uh one sec," she held a finger up as she dodged another punch, "Yo."
=Please tell me you chased off Looma…= Tsubaki sighed.
"It's...it's a work in progress...wait. Why this sigh?"
=Attea...and she has hostages=
"Wh-?! Seriously?!" Makoto snapped, jumping over a lung from Looma, "What is everyone wanting to take my boyfriend toda-wait...what hostages?"
=Okay so this is were things really get awkward…=
"No…" Makoto realized.
"Oh what now?!" Humungousaur groaned, grappling with Looma as their fists clashed.
"It's Attea...and I think she has Julie and her boyfriend," Makoto answered.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" he roared, growing until he towered over Looma, "One day with my girlfriend...enjoying a nice day...is that too much to ask!?" he picked Looma up in his now giant hand, "I'd also like to clear the air with my Ex so we can at least be friends again! But no!~!~! I have to deal with alien invaders who want to turn me into a trophy husband!" he leaned his arm back and with all his strength swung sending Looma flying out the entrance to the Hotspot and through Undertown and crashing into the river.
"...ugh…" Ragna groaned, walking over to the dropped sack and tore it open, letting Jin out, "You watch the place with Ester. I gotta go help Ben deal with those damn frogs again…"
"Grr…"
"Oi...don't give me that look. Besides…" Ragna paused as he handed Jin his katana, "You can keep the Tetramand princess in check."
"...very well...but hurry."
"Fine…" Ragna sighed as he stood up and looked over at Makto and Humungousaur, the latter turning back into Ben, "Come on. Let's hurry before we have space frogs invade Earth...again."
"And rescue Julie so I can make it up with her later and finally get my and Makoto's date back on track," Ben added.
"The fact you are doing all this just to get back to a date is sweet." Makoto smiled, "But you know we got plenty of time to have alone time, so we can just focus on the normal stuff."
"We get it you two are literally a perfect couple...go!" Ester complained in a sarcastic tone as she smiled.
"Gotcha, Es-chan!" Makoto beamed as the three ran off.
"Ugh….what a pain," Jin groaned as he stood up, dusting himself off.
"Hey. Be glad Ben handled the problem before things could get worse," Ester argued before an explosion went off, a few Kraaho being sent flying, "..."
"...ugh. Now what?" Jin groaned in annoyance, the two turning towards a smoke cloud with a female figure being seen within it.
"Where is he?" the figure demanded, a fiery and fierce look in their eyes, "Where is Ben Tennyson?"
"..."
"That man has horrible luck with women…" Jin spoke simply.
"You are not wrong...oh man!" Ester panicked as the figure jumped towards them.
"...You know, when I hold people fer ransom, I expect t' see Ben come runnin' in and rescuin' them," Attea muttered, standing near a tied up Julie and her boyfriend.
"Well I'm sorry for the inconvenience...but you kinda picked the worst time ever." Julie spoke.
"Julie, is now the time to taunt the frog lady?"
"Hon...let me worry about that." Julie responded.
"Yes…"
"Wow. All Earth men are easy to whip ain't they?" Attea muttered.
"Some are easier then others." Julie sighed.
"Should I feel insulted?" her boyfriend asked.
"No...it just means you and I are a better match. Just like Ben and his new girlfriend are." Julie explained.
"Oh...so that was all just a bit...wait why?"
"Partly make sure Ben has changed for her sake…"
"Yeah...well I'm gonna change his mind about da rodent when I see…" Attea began before a green flash went off, "Oh. Perfect timing."
"One day…" Heatblast sighed, "Just one…"
"Ben...we talked about the anger issues against villains." Makoto spoke as the two ran over.
"Can't I go Supernova just the once?" Heatblast pleaded.
"Uh and risk your ex and her boyfriend getting major sunburn? No thank you," Makoto shook her head.
"This is why you're the smart and pretty one." Heatblast sighed.
"Damn right I am!" Makoto laughed before ducking under a laser shot, "And hello to you too, frog twerp."
"Rat," Attea frowned before looking at Heatblast, "Ben, great to see ya...but let's speed dis up, okay? I release dese two, and in return, ya come back wit' me for a date...as Bullfrag. Sound good?"
"Yeah how about no?" Heatblast countered.
"Ya sure? It be a shame i-"
"Surprise suplex!"
"Wh-oh not aga-!" Attea began before Makoto slammed her into the ground via suplex, "Fribbit…"
"My man! Not yours...mine!" Makoto barked at the downed female Incursean.
"Yeesh...not touching that hornets nest," Ragna muttered, currently untying Julie and her boyfriend.
"Oh your new." Julie noted.
"Why is the hair…" the french man began.
"One word about the hair Frenchy, and you can fly yourself to safety." Ragna cut him off, "This is why I prefer aliens…"
"Least we took her down...hopefully," Heatblast muttered as he changed back to Ben, "And Julie...I am so sorry for what happened. I…" an explosion went off, "..."
"OH NOW WHAT?!" Makoto snapped as they looked at a newly made hole in the stadium, a figure being seen within the smoke.
The figure in question was a woman with tan skin, short and spiky gray hair, golden eyes, and a scar across her nose. She was taller than Makoto's 5'4", standing at 5'9", with large breasts and hips which didn't fit her clothing very well. Said clothing consisted of a black jacket with gold trim and buttons, a small white shirt with several unbuttoned to expose the entirety of her cleavage, brown steel-toed boots, brown fingerless gloves, and denim hot pants. Her jacket had a badge with an unusual emblem resembling a gauntlet of sorts on the right sleeve, and she wore a belt which was much too large for her waist and thus dangled behind her in a manner resembling a tail. She wore a bulky golden metal gauntlet on her left arm with a scorpion carved onto it, and a golden metal gauntlet with a round spiked elbow guard on her right arm.
"Okay...which of you is Ben Tennyson?" the woman asked, a serious look in her eyes.
"...I swear to the Celestialsapiens I don't know who she is," Ben instantly replied, holding his hands up when Julie and Makoto gave him a look.
"I do…" Ragna sighed.
"Huh?"
"Met her once in Undertown a few weeks back…" Ragna answered, "Given her look...despite how revealing it is, she's a mercenary."
"Oh...it's you," she spoke, looking at Ragna.
"Sup Butt-floss?"
"My name is Bullet...not 'Butt-floss,'" she frowned.
"You can correct me all you want...but won't change the fact you are running around in a denim thong!" Ragna argued.
"This is my uniform."
"Woman, we can see your entire ass!"
"Oh…" Ben and Makoto realized how familiar this bit felt.
"Were we ever that bad?" Ben whispered.
"I hope not…" Makoto whispered back.
"...Tch. Getting off topic," Bullet shook her head before looking at Ben, "You are Ben Tennyson...correct?"
"I am...why?" Ben cautiously asked back.
"I was hired…" Bullet began as she quickly got into a pouncing position, "To terminate you," she stated before pouncing at Ben.
"Oh thank god. I thought...Oh Geez!" he panicked as Makoto picked him up and jumped out of the attack, which cracked the ground...before an explosion went off as debris was sent flying.
"Woah!" Makoto yelped, using one of the flying rocks to propel herself and Ben back further, "Okay...so she has explosive punches too…"
"Tch…Missed," Bullet frowned, standing in a small crater as she pulled her armed fist out.
"This is just peachy…" Ben sighed, "But at least...it's just an assassin…"
"That is not a good thing…" Makoto muttered.
"I'll take that over all the other nonsense of today," Ben explained, "...Wait. Who hired her?"
"How should I know?" Makoto shrugged.
"Hey butt-floss!" Ragna shouted before quickly pulling his sword out and blocked Bullet's punch, "Who hired you to take Ben out?"
"Some reporter...he promised me he'd get the information I require," Bullet answered before swinging her leg at Ragna's head, making him duck, "He also informed me how much of a threat Ben Tennyson is to Earth."
"...Harangue," Ben and Makoto groaned.
"Oh my god you are so goddamn stupid!" Ragna snapped as he threw a punch at her, only to miss when Bullet sidestepped it before punching him in the gut, "Guh!".
"And you are in the way of my mission…" Bullet countered, jumping over him as she leapt at Ben and Makoto.
"That may be...but you are still really freakin' stupid…" Ragna grunted getting back to his feet, "Ugh...I hate annoying women like that."
"Oh?" Makoto smirked teasingly at that as she quickly dodged another punch from Bullet.
"Don't read into that!" Ragna barked.
"Could've fooled m-ack!" Makoto gagged out when Attea's tongue wrapped around her, making her drop Ben.
"If anyone ish daking Tennyson, ish me," Attea argued as she pulled Makoto into the ground.
"Oh come on! Seriously?!" Ben groaned, turning to Kickin Hawk as he landed, "Okay...let's do this…" he sighed, raising his hands.
"Perfect. I…" Attea began before the wall beside her exploded, making her tense before she was slugged, making her let go of Makoto.
"No...Ben Tennyson is my beloved!" Looma argued, carrying the sack she had Jin in with one arm.
"Wh-?! Goddamnit Jin! You had one job!" Ragna snapped.
"Not important, brother!" Jin snapped from inside the sack.
"Ow! Watch where you're stabbing that thing!" Ester yelped from in the sack.
"Ester?" Makoto blinked, "How did that happen?"
"I'm not proud of it...but she tangled me up with my own arms…"
"Me too!"
"Oh yeah like I enjoy being wrapped around a guy whose powers are a temperature I hate…!"
"Don't blame me for being jumped by that mercenary!"
"Says the man who got the black eye from both her and the Tetramand princess!"
"Jin shut up…" Ragna sighed, "Ester...we'll help you out in a bit but...shit's gotten real crazy...and that Mercenary is a god damn dumbass! Who by the way...YES! Is wearing a freakin thong in public!"
"GH?!" Bullet tensed in mid-pounce, a blush forming as she fell to the ground, "Th-these are not a thong!"
"Chance!" Makoto cheered as she shoulder checked Bullet, sending her flying into Looma.
"Gh!" Looma grunted as she staggered back a bit and smacked Bullet away, "Out of my way!"
"You are the one in my way…" Bullet growled, getting annoyed with these bits.
"I am starting to regret coming here with you, Julie…" the french man muttered as the two hid behind some debris.
"Well I did warn you things would get weird, Ervet…" Julie replied.
"You should have stayed in France!" Ragna spoke, drop kicking Looma into Bullet, who punched her away in anger, "Crap Baskets!" he frowned blocking Bullet's next punch with his sword.
"Seriously today i-ack! Not again!" Makoto gagged when Attea's tongue wrapped around her neck.
"Shoulda been aying at-" Attea began before she felt a stinging sensation on her tongue, making her quickly let go of Makoto's tongue and reel it back, "Ow! D...did ya jush bit mah tongue?!"
"How do you think I feel?!" Makoto shouted in disgust, rubbing her tongue, "Ew ew ew! Frog spit!"
"I have been fighting an urge to comment on that!" Kickin Hawk spoke as he spun and kicked Attea, sending her flying away, "But I also know better…"
"...ugh. What did you ever see in him, Julie?" Ervet asked Julie, "No class whatsoever…"
"You know, Ervet...despite all his faults…" Julie began as she looked at her boyfriend with a small frown.
"And he has quite a few," Makoto chimed in as she ducked under a thrown boulder from Looma.
"Ben never asked to be a hero...but at the end of the day, he does a lot of good...to protect the people close to him," Julie continued, "Give him a break."
"It's all I ever ask for." Kickin Hawk spoke as he jumped and kicked Attea again, sending her flying away, "Seriously one day where aliens and assassins…"
"Stupid assassins…" Ragna spoke.
"I will kill you!" Bullet snapped.
"Get in line Butt-Floss!"
"Grrr…!"
"Don't get in the way of my date wi-" Kickin' Hawk continued.
"Gah! Why must I deal with such annoyance?!" Looma exclaimed, "I came to greet my beloved and present him with gifts, but instead I have to deal with...with...rivals in the form of a weak frog and mutant rodent..."
"Hey!" Attea and Makoto snapped at that.
"Some assassin and-and-and…" Looma began before noticing Julie, "...some weak human! GAH! If any of you interfere with me and my beloved, your entire planet will suffer my fury!"
"I apparently still get no say in any of this!" Kickin' Hawk complained before his Omnitrix began to bleep red, "...OH F-" he began before flashing back to Ben, "...Come on!-!-!"
"Okay...dis is gettin' annoying…" Attea growled as she got up, pulling her blaster, looking back between Makoto and Julie, pondering who to shoot at first...before ending on Makoto as she was tangling with Bullet, "Die rodent!"
"Wh-" Makoto began as she turned..only for Ben to quickly push her out of the way as the laser hit him in the shoulder, "?!"
"Gah!" Ben grunted in pain, holding his shoulder as he hit the ground.
"?! ...Shoot! I...d'oh…!" Attea fumed before glaring at Makoto, "You stupid rat! Look what you made me do!"
"Oh don't you blame me! I…" Makoto began before Looma slugged her hard in the face, "...Ragna, mind dealing with that merc?"
"What do you think I'm doing?!" Ragna barked, blocking another of Bullet's punches as the explosion sent him skidding back.
"Good…" Makoto nodded, picking Ben up as she carried him near Julie and Ervet, "Mind watching him for me? I have an upstart princess to teach reality to."
"I...feel...dizzy…" Ben groaned before a flash went off as he turned to Swampfire, "Oh...the defense system turned on...I must have been dying...ugh…"
"Don't worry Ben...you rest up," Julie assured as she moved over to Makoto's side, "We can handle them."
"Hmm?" Makoto raised a brow at that.
"I'm not entirely defenseless," Julie explained before whistling, causing her gym bag nearby to burst as a small Galvanic-Mechamorph hopped around a bit.
=Ship! Ship-Ship-Ship-Ship!= it beamed before eyeing both Attea and Looma..and immediately growled at the two.
"Oh, now that's just adorable," Makoto cooed.
"Ship...Battle Mode," Julie commanded in a simple tone.
=Ship! Ship-Ship!= it beamed at her.
"Eh? Battle Mode?" Makoto blinked as Ship bounced over to Julie.
Ship rippled before collapsing into a puddle of itself. The puddle then engulfed Julie before reshaping and solidifying into a suit of armor. It added roughly a foot and a half to her height with bulky angular armor on her lower legs, lower arms, torso, and head. Her helmet was blocky and her face was exposed behind a green-tinted visor. Ship's 'eye' formed on the center of her chest armor.
"...That is so cool!" Makoto squeed, stars in her eyes.
"Focus," Julie scolded.
"Right, right, right," Makoto assured.
"So how many times has she had to pull that out?" Swampfire asked.
"More often than you'd think," Ervet replied, "But that's what we get with dating strong girls like ours, no?"
"Yep…" Swampfire agreed.
"I get the frog, you handle the spoiled brat?" Makoto asked Julie.
"Wh-?! I am not a spoiled…!" Looma began.
"Mmm...Nah. You can have her…" Julie answered before looking at Attea, "I'd like to pay her back for earlier. Ship...sic her."
"...Ahh fribbit," Attea paled a bit before yelping when she barely avoided a green laser.
"Don't ignore me! I am a princess a-" Looma began before Makoto slugged her hard in the face, sending her crashing to the other side of the stadium.
"Did ya forget that I'm who you're fighting, spoiled princess?" Makoto asked, cracking her knuckles.
"...You I will enjoy taking down the most for stealing my beloved from me, vermin," Looma scowled as she climbed out of the hole, cracking all four sets of her knuckles before she charged, "RAAAGH!"
"Bring it on!" Makoto shouted as she charged in return.
"I'm fighting a gal in a thong that throws explosions when she punches. A Tetramand princess is fighting a squirrel girl strong enough to punch people into orbit when she's got enough Seithr in the air, and another girl in a Galvanic-Mechamorph that can turn into armor is fighting an Incursean princess," Ragna muttered, dodging another punch from Bullet, "...Is it Tuesday already?" he tensed when Bullet's legs wrapped around him before he was suddenly slammed down hard into the ground, "GH! Great...She didn't skip leg-day either! ...Still doesn't change th-"
"Don't say it..." Bullet warned with a frown, aiming her weapon at his face as she looked down at him.
"Yep. Really thinking it's Tuesday," Ragna noted.
"AHH!" Attea yelped as she dodged an enlarged fist Julie, "Ya know...when I came here t' Earth, I was expecting to leave with Ben...not deal with a human decked out in Galvanic-Mechamorph Armor!"
"Yeah, well, what did you expect considering Incurseans invaded us just a few months ago with mutated To'kustars?" Julie replied.
"It was rhetorical! And dat was mostly my dad! Not me! Him!"
"I feel there's a lot of baggage there…" Ester muttered from inside the sack.
"Yer not involved in dis, Kraaho!"
"I'm feeling pretty involved…"
"You do realize what she called you, right?" Jin asked.
"I don't...oh...now I get it."
"I don't…" Jin blinked before whispering was heard, "That's disgusting...it's disgusting…"
"Oh shut it."
"RAh!" Makoto roared as she slammed a hook punch across Looma's face before grunting a bit when Looma punched her in turn.
"You think you can defeat me?" Looma laughed.
"I don't know give me a minute…" Makoto muttered, "I think I've gotten pretty good at taking out jerks bigger than me. I'm sure Kajun could explain it in Nerd...but I know your two ton ass is gonna go down hard..."
"...You think you're cute...don't you, rodent?" Looma frowned as she summoned her weapon.
"Bitch…" Makoto began before her tonfa began to convert into gauntlets, an energy fist beginning to engulf one of them before she punched forward, sending Looma flying and crashing through the stadium wall, "I'm adorable."
"Whoa that's new!" Ragna exclaimed as he punched Bullet across the face making her stumble back.
"Yeah...Azmuth paid a visit after the invasion and gave us a lot of upgrades...but yet with me, he just implemented a stronger spring so I can stop messing with the settings each time I slap the watch." Swampfire muttered, reverting to Ben who just had a hole in his shirt shoulder now.
"Yup! And I am loving my new weapon!" Makoto beamed, ducking under a beam from Looma's weapon before she swung and punched, sending out a energy ball as it slammed into the female Tetramand.
"Oh that's just not fair…" Attea complained before she was blasted into a wall.
"Your mistake was coming back here…" Julie laughed.
"Will you just stop blowing me up, Striperella!?" Ragna complained.
"I...what?" Bullet blinked, stopping mid-punch, "St...stripperwhat?"
"I get it…" Ben and Makoto spoke.
"Wh-what is it!?" Bullet panicked, only to be shoulder checked into a wall.
"Holy crap...this talking shit works." Ragna muttered.
"Told ya!" Ben and Makoto cheered.
"Oh just sh-" Attea began, about to lash her tongue out at Makoto before an enlarged hand grabbed her, making her croak out in a gasp.
"You are really bad at this, aren't you?" Julie asked swinging Attea around before slamming her into Looma.
"Oh trust me. She tries to put up a huge cocky front," Makoto nodded before doing a rising punch on the two, sending them flying further, "Think Ben for froggy here...only if his Ego was amped up by a lot."
"So after Ben first started getting his awards then."
"I wasn't that bad…" Ben deadpanned.
"Hahahhaha!" Makoto laughed, "Sorry...sorry...just...oh...knowing you, it was probably awful."
"Hey!"
"Sorry, still love ya!" Makoto cheered.
"Oh come on…" Ben sighed.
"I refuse to allow you any wins when you used to be an ass." Makoto argued.
"Isn't it enough you own a control for my watch, woman!?" Ben complained.
"Holy shit she has that?!" Ragna gawked as Julie couldn't help but laugh at their dynamic.
"It was Magsiter's orders after coming fully public of their relationship." Jin explained, "Also...get me out of this sack now!"
"I'm...working on it." Ragna spoke blocking Bullet's next punch, "Damn it woman...is the thong cutting off circulation of much needed oxygen to your brain?"
"Grr...this. Is my team's uniform!" Bullet snapped
"I highly doubt all of them wore jean short so short you should be arrested for public indecency!" Ragna snapped back, "For god's sake woman! They are called pants! Buy them!"
"We can't have been that bad…" Makoto spoke to Ben, jumping over a beam.
"God no." he nodded.
"Ahh! Cold cold!" Ester yelped.
"Out...now!" Jin demanded.
"Oh fine…!" Ben groaned as he rushed over and opened the sack, letting the two out as he untied Ester's arms, letting her and Jin free, "There...happy?"
"No. He's only moody," Ragna quipped.
"Grr…"
"I only need one moody bitch in my life!" Ragna snapped at that, "And it's either my brother or the pole dancing merc! But not both!"
"I do not understand what you are inferring!" Bullet snapped, a blush on her face as she stopped mid-punch once more.
"Ha!" Ragna roared kicking Bullet, sending her flying and into Jin, "That was unintentional...but cathartic."
"Stop using me as a target!" Jin snapped.
"Maybe if you were less of an ass, people would treat you better," Ben deadpanned.
"Kinda got you there, Kisaragi-senpai," Makoto added before ducking under Looma's swing and uppercutted her with an energy fist, "Spoon!"
"Wh-?! Who goes shoutin' spoon?!" Attea snapped before she was grabbed and tossed away by Julie once more, "Stop! It! I aint a ragdoll!"
"Oh I don't want to hear that from the idiot who runs in with no plan and needs his life partner to save his ass when he runs out of power." Jin argued to Ben.
"Hey...it is mutual." Ben argued back.
"Ben...sweetie…" Makoto began.
"Oh let me argue…" Ben complained.
"Yes but you know how you and senpai get."
"Now you know how I feel when dealing with his shit!" Ragna shouted.
"Yeah but with you it's worse 'cause he's a creepy brocon...with us, he's just an ass," Ben argued.
"I will murder you!"
"Hah! Yeah you've been trying for six months, Frosty!"
"Our score is still 50-50 Tennyson..and I will beat you one day."
"He's very anti-social, isn't he?" Julie asked, firing another laser at Attea.
"You have no idea," Ben and Ragna deadpanned.
"...Grr! Screw dis!" Attea snapped, whistling as her personal ship hovered overhead, "Dis day ain't worth t! So..another time, Ben!" she shouted before hopping up to her ship as it flew off.
"Yeah that's right! He's my doofus!" Makoto shook her fist.
"That I am." Ben sighed.
"No! He is mine!" Looma roared, lifting her weapon up before she was blasted back by a laser from Julie's Galvanic-Mechamorph suit.
"...Team up?" Makoto offered as Julie moved up beside her.
"Team up," Julie nodded just as Looma bursted out of the rubble once more.
"I will decorate my room with your corpses!" Looma snapped.
"You ain't the first psycho-space bitch to say that to me." Makoto smiled, "And probably will not be the last."
"I'd believe it," Ester muttered before noticing Bullet getting back up, getting ready to pounce at Ben, "..Oh no you don't!"
"Raaa-!" Bullet began as she pounced, only for Ester's stretched limb to grab her leg and pulled her to the ground, "Gh! Grr...let go! I need t-" she began before Ester pulled her arm away just as Jin froze the mercenary in a block of ice, leaving only her head unfrozen, "..."
"No...no more nonsense…" Jin frowned, sheathing his kanata as he had an annoyed look on his face, "I've had enough of today….Nanaya, you and Tennyson's Ex wrap it up. Now."
"Well thank you very much," the two nodded before dodging one of Looma's swings.
Looma roared as she tried slamming her hammer on the two, only for Makoto to jump over it and punch her hard in the face, causing her to stagger back before julie shoulder checked her, sending her staggering back further. Looma blinked as Julie punched her, sending her skidding back. She quickly shook off the attack as she prepared to fire at her, only for a large shadow to loom over her as she looked up...to see Makoto raised her clasped fist up as they were engulfed in giant energy fist.
"Here's something I've been practicing out. Cosmic Hammer!" Makoto roared as she lowered her combined energy fist, driving Looma hard into the ground as a large dust cloud filled the area.
"Ugh…" Looma stood there for a moment before falling to her knees.
"And with this…" Makoto picked her up slightly, "Now Ben is mine...so beat it!" she shouted, tossing her out through the roof.
"Why am I the object to be won in all this?" Ben complained.
"To be fair, you're not much of a prize...except to me." Makoto smiled, "Plus...it was really sweet when you took that laser for me."
"Well...not like I could just stand there and let you get hurt," Ben shrugged, "We're partners after all, both in work and romantically."
"Aww~" Makoto cooed as she ran over and hugged him.
"...Huh. You really have changed," Julie noted as Ship moved off of her, "I was afraid you were still..well you when the ego was still over the top, but…let me ask you something then."
"Huh? Oh. Well...shoot," Ben replied as Makoto released the hug.
"That call I made and those things you said...were you really playing a video game?" Julie asked for clarification.
"Yes...actually…" Ben began as he pulled his phone out, "Turns out...I ended up turning the camera on by accident after I dropped the phone just as you called me."
"So you more or less buttdialed," Makoto smirked before Ben shot her an annoyed look, "Fine fine...shutting up for now."
"Thanks," Ben muttered, looking through his phone before he found the video in question, "Here we go. Just as you called me."
"?" Julie blinked at that as she watched the video, realization soon hitting her as she watched on, "So...you really were…"
"Yup."
"...Oh lord…" Julie facepalmed before sighing, "I guess...the breakup was more or less both our faults."
"Yeah...it really was…" Ben replied, sheepishly rubbing his arm as the two tried not to look at one another, "I get it was easily the stupidest break up ever...probably in the history of ever. But...I don't want us to be those ex' who hate each other for the rest of their lives. I want us to still be friends. You were an amazing friend in spite of all the weirdness being friends with me entailed."
"...Yeah. And you were an amazing friend to...despite your faults," Julie admitted, "And even though you were late at times for certain reasons…like a certain movie incident."
"Still gonna hang that one over my head, aren't you?"
"Yup..but your faults at times is what makes you...you," Julie smiled a bit, "And I'll never forget all the times we spent together."
"Same. I'm just happy we both found someone who makes us happy." Ben added.
"Same." Julie smiled, "And with the air cleared...I hereby absolve you of your guilt, Ben Tennyson." she joked.
"Oh thank god…" Ben sighed.
"Now I leave him to you." she smiled at Makoto.
"Don't worry...I got him whipped." Makoto cheered leaning against Ben.
"No you don't…" Ben deadpanned.
"I do~" Makoto cheered leaning against him further.
"...Know what? I was gonna take you to this new all-you-can-eat after all the stuff we dealt with, but now...forget it," Ben smirked.
"Hah?! But...I...ooh~" Makoto whined at that, "No fair, Ben-kun~!"
"Don't do that. You know it makes me cave!" he complained.
"Well don't tease me with stuff like that!" Makoto argued back.
"Oh like you did when you tempted me with the cheerleader outfit?"
"I...well you…" Makoto muttered, trying to find the right word to say, "...Shoot!"
"Ahh~ I finally won a round," Ben grinned.
"Ahh mou~!"
"Huh...Ervet's right. You two are a lot alike," Julie noted before walking over to said mentioned boyfriend, Ship hopping into her arms as she did, "But glad to know you have each other's back...and making sure to keep the other in line."
"They seem perfect for one another, no?" Ervet agreed.
"Yeah. They do," Julie nodded
"I'm not explaining this shit…" Ragna muttered, picking up his sword before leaving as fast as he could.
"Hey. You forgot…" Ester began, pointing to the frozen Bullet.
"Nope!"
"Grr…" Bullet growled at that.
"Uh...I'll just call Ben's grandpa about you...crazy lady." Ester spoke, walking away.
"...Ugh. I didn't need this…" Jin sighed as he walked away as well, "If anyone needs me...don't call me."
"Wait...are you just…" Bullet began as the lights inside began turning off, "...Damn it."
"Ugh...finally today's over with…" Ben sighed in relief, sitting at Mr. Smoothie's with Makoto, "Finally managed to patch things up with Julie...but thanks to certain elements that won't be mentioned, I had to change the spot for our date, so...sorry, Makoto."
"Eh, it's fine. Not like we could've expected such madness," Makoto shrugged before grinning, "But at least I finally beat that stuck up princess Looma."
"Yeah...but she threatened you and thanks to their customs, you're now my fiance," Ben countered.
"Why'd you have to bring that up?" Makoto sighed.
"Hey. She stated it. Besides, I'd rather have it come naturally," Ben stated, "As far as I see it...you've saved me from that madness...so that's some serious girlfriend points there."
"..Heh...yeah," Makoto chuckled, making Ben raise a brow, "S...sorry. Just...I still can't believe that this is a thing. Me...a girl from the future, falling in love with a boy from the past. Feels like something out of Noellie's Romance movies."
"Please don't give her ideas to sell her stuff as movies…" Ben smiled.
"Like I'd do that. Plus...well, she's been pretty busy with her new part-time job," Makoto added, "Also she's been really getting out of that shy little shell of hers."
"Guess we have Robotboy and Jenny to help with that," Ben nodded, "Still...whatever the story...I'm just happy it happened." he laughed, "I mean...you're the first person I met after my two best friends left... and it ended up me getting both a new best friend, partner...and girlfriend. Sounds like the greatest deal ever."
"Yeah...it really does," Makoto smiled softly, placing her hand on top of his.
The two began to lean in only to stop as Makoto's communicator went off. She groaned and chucked it into a garbage can. She then turned back before grabbing Ben by his shirt before pulling him into a kiss, surprising Ben slightly before he returned the kiss just as Makoto let go of his shirt.
=Guys...I need a report…= Tsubaki spoke, =Guys...Guys...I know you can hear me...oh please tell me you're not ignoring me while making out again…=
"Hmm? You hear something?" Makoto asked, pausing from kissing Ben.
"Nope."
"Good," Makoto grinned before resuming the kiss, her tail swaying gently.
"Mmm... Honestly, those two," Tsubaki sighed, standing before a computer while dressed in a slightly more armored version of her uniform, a small cape over her shoulders, "Ah well…"
"At least you're not 'Aunt Tsubaki' yet," Kajun smiled while walking up beside her, her lab coat decorated with stripes on her shoulders to denote a higher rank, "They have that much restraint."
"Thank the Celestialsapiens…" Tsubaki sighed before smiling a bit, "They do deserve this after today."
"True," Kajun nodded, "So...How's the search going for anyone else possibly from our time?"
"Still no luck…" Tsubaki answered as she looked back at the screen, "Hopefully we'll be able to find them, especially...our families."
"We've had to rebuild a lot...and those from our era were likely hiding during the invasion. Finding them will take time. But with how well I've expanded our information network system." Kajun smiled.
"Ehem…"
"Yes, and you and the others expanding agent resources and teams…" Kajun sighed, "It's thanks to my work they can even stay in contact…" she mumbled.
"That is true...Ms. Head of the Science and R&D department," Tsubaki smiled a bit.
"Aye," Kajun giggled a bit, 'Me...Head of Science and R&D...I wonder how Kokonoe would react to that?"
=Achoo!...That was odd= a female voice spoke from a communicator =...Nevermind. Tager, did you arrive safely?=
"Affirmative. Though I had to switch to alternate fuel sources for my flight since there's no Seithr in the air to let me replenish my normal fuel through conversion," a rather large figure spoke, standing inside what looked like an abandoned military base.
The figure was tall, roughly as big as Rath, roughly eight feet in height. His muscular skin was a deep tan to the point it seemed to be nearly turning red. Tager had a square jaw with two sharp canine protruding from his lower teeth and sported pointy, black hair with a singular white streak on the side. A pair of small orange-tinted glasses hid his eyes as he looked around. On his forearms were large, magnetic gauntlets that come up past his wrists; Tager's hands were covered in metal gloves with a single red dot on their palms. Complimenting his muscular physique, Tager wore a tight fitting, sleeveless jacket that left his thick arms bare. The jacket was a light red in front and cinnabar on the sides, separated by white zips with two metal zippers. He wore a large brown belt attached to a red skirt and two metal pleats that covered his thighs. Finally, Tager's look was completed by a pair of beige boots with red metallic toe caps.
=Good. I'll be there shortly so we can set up base= the voice stated =After that and once you're refilled...We'll be searching for Agents Nanaya, Natsume, and Faycott, along with anyone else who was time displaced=
"It is quite surprising, ending up well over two hundred years in the past, Kokonoe," Tager noted, "Though I would have preferred to not deal with those frog aliens on their invasion."
=Me neither, but those are the least of our worries= Kokonoe stated =The moment the Master Unit senses something's amiss...forget about time resetting. It'll most likely reset the entire universe itself to make sure things are correct=
"Affirmative," Tager replied as he walked by an old sign reading 'LOS SOLEDAD MILITARY BASE.'
GT: Yep. We did a time skip. But it was needed since no one tends to read about rebuilding efforts and the like. And now I shall be drowning myself in eggnog to forget this episode ever existed...again. *walks off*
SZ: Same here...be glad we finally got this out of the way! Now we can move onto better things for this story...but not yet! We are taking a break from this story to give it time to rest..and work on newer ideas.
Z0: *sleeping in the corner* No...no...I didn't blow up that police station...stop hassling me...that's it...Pig grab the shotguns...
GT: And with that, please read and review.