Galactic Shift Extend

by Seanzilla1988

A familiar Beastkin goes through a familiar abandoned Cauldron. However, she doesn't end up in another timeline, but Bellwood, home to a teen with a watch he wears on his arm that can change his shape to save the world from harm.

61. Underground Reunions

SZ: We are back...and keeping this train a rolling.

GT: *playing Ace Attorney Trilogy* Seems folks enjoyed the last chapter. Though...what Jojo reference did that one review refer to? No clue since I know barely anything.

SZ: I'd suggest to ask z0, but I think he's still working on his idea

GT: *looks at door Z0 is behind, hearing ominous Latin chanting, Celtics preaching, and the scent of lake water and the sound of hammer on metal* I think he is.

SZ: Yeah...best to keep away from him for now while he's busy...lest we get hit with the sleep darts again

GT: Eeyup.

SZ: aye...we own nothing aside from original content

Z0: *a sphere covers the area as I suddenly teleport in* You rang? *pulls out odachi* If it's for nothing…*pulls the blade out as it begins tinting black* Well...you took me away from an important side project, Kakugo…

GT: …*goes back to his game* Ben summoned you, not us.

Z0: *fully pulls out sword*

SZ: Oh shit….*pulls screen down*BEGIN STORY!

Z0: Mes! *screen is cut to pieces and falls down*

---

"Makoto...Makoto calm down!" Mai exclaimed as she, the rest of the girls in Team Remix Heart-minus Kajun as she had to stay behind for the time being-, Ben, and Rook were driving down the road leading out of Bellwood.

"I don't think she can hear you," Noel muttered, seeing the excited and energetic face Makoto had as her tail was wagging like crazy to the point it blurred.

"She's been like this since this morning…" Ben sighed, "I just gave up, mainly cause I got slapped around by her tail by accident and now math is hard...harder…"

"Makoto, please calm down," Tsubaki sighed.

"Can't! I'm still so nervicited here!" Makoto exclaimed out of pure excitement.

"You've been impossible since we finally learned where those people came from." Tsubaki sighed.

"Can you blame me?"

"Well no...but still...you've been too much to deal with even compared to normal." Tsubaki sighed, "You nearly scared me to death when I found you sitting next to my bed this morning!"

"I still don't know how she snuck in that quietly...I took my eyes off her for like a second…" Ben added.

"I think she even ate everything for breakfast this morning...including the plate," Mai added.

"Oh! She must've had those pancake plates me and Sari-chan made," Noel realized.

"It was mostly Sari," Rook whispered to the others, having been there when the two were cooking said food.

"For the sake of her stomach...I hope it was…" Tsubaki muttered.

"I think she's finally reached the limits of her own positivity...she has too much!" Skurd spoke up, "She can't handle her own happy positive energy anymore! Ben, you know what you must do!"

"R-right!" Ben nodded as he quickly got up, reaching behind Makoto's ear as he began to softly scratch behind it.

"?!" Makoto tensed up at that, a content goofy smile growing on her face as she sat down while her tail stopped wagging, "Mmm~"

"Calmed down?"

"Mmm hmm~"

"Why didn't you do that sooner?" Mai asked.

"I wanted to see if any of you were smart enough to remember this trick is always on the table…" Skurd spoke up, "Spoiler...you're all a little stupid."

"Hey~" Mai and Noel complained a bit at that.

"Though to be fair...we should have seen it coming last night after that elderly gentleman woke up and gave us the location," Rook pointed out.

---

-flashback-

"AH!" Ben screamed in shock as Makoto grabbed and dragged him through the HQ to the Medical wing, "Babe?!"

"Can't talk! Need to talk to the old man now!" Makoto shouted.

"She's determined, my boy...you and I know it's hard to stop her when she's like this!" Skurd exclaimed.

"We're here!" Makoto shouted, skidding to a halt, she was able to handle the sudden stop...but the momentum shot Ben out of her hand and into a wall, "AH! I'm sorry!"

"...Ggg…" he groaned, sliding down the wall.

"And that's a concussion...I swear your love gives this boy so much brain damage…" Skurd muttered he currently turned to Diamondhead crystal to protect himself and the Omnitrix.

"Quiet you," Makoto frowned a bit as she helped Ben up, "And I am so sorry, Ben…"

"It's fine babe…" Ben assured with a grunt, rubbing his head a little, "Let's just see what we can learn from him…"

"Hai," Makoto nodded as they approached a door, slowly opening it to reveal the old alien they had rescued.

"Hmm? Ahh...it's you again," he noted with a small smile once he saw Makoto, "I wanted to thank you for freeing me and my fellow aliens, young lady….I haven't had a peaceful night's sleep in weeks…."

"He's right on that," a doctor stated as he held up some medical records for the old alien, "It would seem he was fed something that prevented him from sleeping and affected his immune systems. We gave him some drugs to help counteract it and he fell asleep almost instantly."

"Just being able to rest felt like all my pain vanished." he sighed.

"I'm glad to hear that." Makoto smiled, "I...I know it's probably too early to be asking you. But...you are kind of the only lead I've had to finding my family in months...so...where ya from?"

"Ahh...I see now," the old alien noted with a nod, "Well to answer your question, young lady...I happen to be from the Undertown over in...I believe you Earthlings call it North Carolina...which is odd as you have a South Carolina as well."

"There's another Undertown?" Makoto blinked.

"There are Thousands," he admitted, "Aliens live all over Earth, both refugees, runaways and anything else in between. Not all of us can alter forms or pass for human, and many can't afford an ID mask. We've taken roots in all sorts of hidden towns across the globe. We also enjoy living in ghost towns humans have found inhospitable. Heard of Chernobyl? Place is filled with aliens who live off absorbing radiation for nourishment."

"Seriously?! There are that many hidden alien towns?!" Makoto gawked.

"We are really good at hiding," he chuckled, "Honestly I hear some of the Undertown's are actually very nice compared to the one I'm from and the one around here. I heard tale that the one under Tokyo is like a First class city compared to our dumps."

"...that explains why Tsubaki and the others couldn't find them…" Makoto whispered in realization, "It's because they've been...sir."

"Yes?"

"Thank you...thank you so much for telling us this," Makoto said as she bowed.

"It's the literal least I could do for all you've done for us." he chuckled.

"Hey Doc...I think I got a concussion again…" Ben talked to the Doctor.

"Again, Mr. Tennyson? Hah...fine, I'll get the medicine…" he sighed walking off, "I swear this is becoming bi-weekly."

-End-

---

"Is anyone else interested about Tokyo Undertown?" Skurd asked, in interest, "I feel like that is important for later."

"We might check it out next time we're in Japan," Tsubaki answered, "But for now...Rook?"

"We should be nearing the border for North Carolina," Rook replied.

"Any idea where we can find the entrance to this other Undertown?" Noel asked.

"He gave me a map." Makoto reached into her tail and was digging around for a bit before pulling out a legitimate map with markings drawn on it, "What? He was old school, so don't judge the nice old man."

"Ah...fair."

"I think there's an entrance near an old school building," Mai noted as she looked at the map.

"Ooh! Atmospherically creepy~" Makoto noted.

"I have a bad feeling…" Noel muttered.

"Oh it won't be so bad." Makoto shrugged, only to get stares from her friends, "...what?...what?!"

"You know what," Tsubaki deadpanned.

"...oh...pfft! Don't worry...I've been practicing," Makoto assured, "Been having some horror movie nights with Ben...while also tearing into some of the old cheesy ones from the 70s, 80s, and 90s."

"We can't watch horror movies on house movie night 'cause then Noel gets nightmares." Ben added.

"I do not!"

"..." everyone turned to Noel.

"Okay yeah I do…" she sighed.

"But point is...I can handle this," Makoto assured, "I mean what…"

---

"Ahh…" Makoto whimpered in fear, hiding behind Ben as the group stood before an old, almost dilapidated school building, "It's like something out of a horror movie from Japan…"

"I think the problem was we were watching American Horror movies…" Skurd deadpanned

"So the entrance is in an abandoned school." Ben muttered, "Gotta admit, you gotta be either a special kind of brave...or stupid to go in here for no reason."

"A perfect hiding spot." Tsubaki nodded.

"It says here this old school had a bunker in the bottom, back in a time known as the Cold War." Rook explained, looking as his communicator that had linked to the internet, "But the school was closed down in the 1980's due to the paint being old and lead based. With better schools opening in the area, it was just...left abandoned."

"...it's not...h-haunted is it?" Noel nervously asked, already hiding behind Tsubaki and Mai.

"From what I have read, no."

"Oh phew…"

"It's just old and creepy." Makoto muttered, "Oh I get it, the way in must be in that old underground bunker!"

"Yes, that is right," Rook spoke, pulling out a scanner, "Scans show that there is a deep underground network of tunnels. It seems one of them leads right into the bunker. They use this location as a natural camouflage for their comings and goings."

"I get it, it's so creepy the normal person would never come here." Ben spoke.

"And even if anyone spotted the Aliens, they'd just assume it was a haunted school 'cause...this place is creepy." Mai added.

"Perfect set up." Tsubaki nodded, "Well let's head on in. Noel you can hold onto Makoto's tail if you get scared."

"I...I'm not...Makoto…" Noel gave in and held her arms out.

"...hug away, Noellie," Makoto replied, moving her tail a bit before Noel instantly glomped it.

"This place does look super old though, so lets be careful, you know...real crappy old floors and what not." Ben added.

"It's odd that this place is so creepy...yet the thing that could do us in isn't a ghost girl...but the place falling on our heads." Skurd muttered.

"...good thing there's another entrance at a parking lot near a donut shop," Mai muttered as they started walking towards the old school

"Yeah but First idea is best idea!" Makoto cheered, "But seriously if I see a clown that isn't Zombozo with balloons and he uses a dead kid as a puppet to mess with our minds...I'm siccing my boyfriend on it."

"...the It movies?" Ben guessed.

"More or less the remakes that'll come out in a few years, and I will end it right there to avoid spoilers," Makoto explained.

"We really gotta have a talk about up to when your spoilers end." Ben muttered.

"Well how do you think I feel there are so many cool things I wanna talk about with you but can't...cause it doesn't even exist yet." she argued, "Noel knows what I mean. Do you know how patient she is each year for new Pokemon games, so she can buy new plushies?"

"...touche…" Ben muttered.

"It's always worth it!" Noel cheered, "Plus I make sure to save up for when the new games come up, so I'm always prepared! When October comes, I'll get X and Y and finally get back my Fennekin!" she sighed, "Alola can't come soon enough for my Yuki…"

"You just make teams of cute pokemon don't you?" Ben blinked.

"Is there anything else to make a team from?" she blinked.

"Well…"

"Don't. This is one argument you can't win," Mai sighed with Tsubaki nodding in agreement.

"...once more, fair enough," Ben shrugged before blinking twice, "Wait...does a future Pokemon game involve that weird Vulpix plush Noel made?"

"Yuki is not weird; she is an adorable fluffy goodness of all cuddly foxes!" Noel argued.

"I have no context so...I'll just believe you." Ben shrugged.

"You better."

"Hey, look at that. Halfway way through this place and you're not scared at all!" Makoto smiled, making Noel blink and realize they were already inside the abandoned school.

"Oh you tricked me, didn't you?" Noel realized.

"Eeyup….still, way to go Noellie."

"...I still don't like you tricking me," Noel pouted a bit.

"It was either; trick you or a 30-40 minute trek through this place while you aggressively pet my tail." Makoto pouted back.

"...fair I suppose…" Noel sighed.

"I think we are near one of the tunnels leading to the bunker," Rook spoke up, looking at his badge as it showed a 3D map of the school, "Two in fact. One in the gym, and the other in the cafeteria…"

"Which is closer?" Ben asked.

"The Gym." Rook explained.

"Would makes sense," Tsubaki nodded, "A gym can hold up a large amount of people, so they would need a quick way to get to the bunker."

"Plus it probably makes for a decent lobby to get in and out for the alien folks." Makoto smiled, "Nice find, Rook."

"Thanks," Rook nodded as they approached a pair of doors.

"Let's just hope nothing jumps out to scare us," Mai muttered while shooting Makoto a look.

"...what?...wh-oh wait...this is about my scare gropes, isn't it?"

"Eeyup."

"Oh please...I've been getting over that," Makoto argued, only to get a raised brow from Mai and Tsubaki, "What?! It's true!"

"Their suspicion is understandable," Skurd spoke up, "I mean think of it….an empty old school, complete silence aside from ourselves, and we've yet to open a pair of large doors...almost sounds like a setup for a cheesy horror movie." he went on, "In fact picture it...a living old mascot costume, come to life by unknown means, stalking us, as if wanting something from us, and then...it suddenly begins running...Like that one behind you all!" he suddenly shouted, making everyone jump. They turned...to see nothing, "Hahahaha!" he laughed.

"...oh you're so getting put in the freezer later," Makoto frowned at Skurd, holding onto Ben while he held her in his arms.

"Oh...you have gotten better…" Mai blinked, "Now you just jump Ben."

"Sometimes I find a movie too scary for me…" Makoto huffed.

"It's true," Ben admitted, "She really got scared when we tried watching…"

"Upbupbupbup!" Makoto put a finger on his lips, "We do not mention that movie…"

"Yes Dear…" Ben mumbled

"I am pleasantly content," Skurd laughed.

"You just hog the Popcorn." Makoto huffed as she got back on her feet.

"Not my fault you cook it perfectly," Skurd argued back, "Seriously how is it you're able to cook the popcorn all the way without getting any pieces burnt?"

"Nanaya family secret," Makoto smirked as she began to open up the doors, "Now let's get to explo-"

"BOOO!" a large sheeted figure shouted as they popped up in front of her.

"AHH!-!-!-!-!" Makoto screamed as she jumped back into Ben's arms.

"AHHHH!" the figure yelped as they tripped back, their feet getting caught in the sheet as they stumbled around a bit..before crashing into a large container with various balls, "...oh chestn-" they began before the balls fell on top of him, "Gah!"

"Wow…" the others blinked.

"No need to worry...it's not a horrible killer...it's just an idiot." Skurd deadpanned, sounding almost...disappointed, "Couldn't even have a chainsaw...hah…"

"...ah dang it. I should've brought th' fake one then…" the figure groaned form underneath the ball pile, a southern accent in their voice.

"Shame on you! You always bring props!" Skurd shook his pseudopod.

"...wait a minute….I know that voice," Makoto blinked, jumping out of Ben's arms as she walked over to the figure, "...Mukoto is that you?"

"...sis?" the figure blinked as Makoto moved the balls off him, tearing the sheet off to reveal a younger boy with short brown hair like Makoto's, only he had a straw hat on top of his head while wearing a chestnut-brown shirt with his tail bushy tail poking out the back, "Is that you?"

"Yes...also," Makoto began before bopping her fist on top of his head, "That's for the jumpscare, ya unlucky goober."

"Gah geez...ah thought it was one of them local bullies that graffitied th' place," he muttered as he rubbed the forming bump on his head.

"Then you are forgiven," Makoto nodded before picking him up and hugging him, "D'oh...I missed you, Mukoto…"

"...wait. I thought Mukoto…" Ben began.

"I was still feeling nauseous at the time, so my memory was a tad...fuzzy," Makoto explained as she put Mukoto down.

"You goof their names up at times, don't you?" Ben smiled, making her pout, "You totally do…"

"She does...one time she got th' twins mixed up wit' me and Mikoto," Mukoto grinned before looking at his sister, "So sis...who's yer friend? I recognize the girls from yer school, but the guy and th' Revanahgander are new."

"Oh the latter is Rook, he's a coworker of mine. I'm a Space Cop now!" Makoto proudly explained, "That Goofus..."

"Hey~"

"That's Ben...my boyfriend, also technically the Earth's Number 1 Hero." Makoto explained.

"No, that's All Might."

"That's a manga Goofball, this is real life."

"I feel so ignored, just because I am a single celled organism doesn't mean I am not a person!" Skurd complained, stretching himself to be more visible.

"That's the booger that lives on my boyfriend's Alien Watch…" Makoto explained.

"I have a name you know!" Skurd argued, "...It is Skurd thank you very much...and I like a good movie to enjoy from time to time."

"Well excuse me if I find it weird to introduce the alien symbiote living on my boyfriend!" Makoto complained.

"I am here to stay! Get used to it!"

"...Boyfriend? As in th' Real thing or th' friend who's a boy?"

"Are you trying to imply something?" Makoto turned with an annoyed glare.

"No no!" Mukoto yelped as he held his hands up in defense, "It's just that...y'all know how bad you are wh-"

*BONK!*

"Ow!"

"It was a complicated road for us to reach that part," Ben chuckled, "At this point, it's fair to say we can look back on those days and laugh."

"Yet they are not that far back…" Tsubaki added.

"I can mature!" the couple argued in unison.

"It's the real deal type," Noel smiled, "They are more or less a complete couple by now."

"I mean...we already live together…" Ben muttered.

"..."

"...don't even think about it," Makoto frowned as she saw a small grin growing on Mukoto's face.

"Think about what?"

"You know what, you little unlucky troublemaker," Makoto frowned further, "Don't think I won't feed you to the booger." she pointed to Skurd, "Skurd do the thing!"

"I am not a pet!" he snapped.

"Fine fine...Ah won't…" Mukoto pouted, "...still, great t' see you again, sis...Ma and Pa and th' others were really worried about ya."

"And I cannot wait to see them again," Makoto smiled, "...In fact, mind leading us to the Undertown here? We were looking for the entrance."

"Ah...well Ah guess Ah can lead ya to it," Mukoto shrugged, "Ah often sneak out anyways t' get some fresh air when I'm not helpin' Ma and Pa out at th' store."

"Store?" Noel repeated as they began to follow.

"Yeah. After a while bein' here and some assistance from the Yayoi's, Ma and Pa opened up a bakin' store at that old donut joint," Mukoto explained, "Pa really wants t' save up for an RV, but Ma has Mikoto look after th' money so he doesn't try and sneak any for 'emergency' fishin' equipment again."

"Aw~ so nothing's changed." Makoto smiled.

"Well...one thing has changed kinda," Mukoto pointed out, making Makoto blink as he pressed the side of a wall, causing it to open up and reveal a stairway, "Recall when you last visited and Ma felt kinda funny?"

"Yeah but….No?" Makoto asked as it clicked in her head.

"Yup...Ma was pregnant and had another one," Mukoto smiled before pouting a bit, "Was hoping it would be another boy…"

"I have a baby sister?!" Makoto shouted in excitement.

"Yup. Ma named her Mykoto."

"Aw~" the girls replied.

"This day is full of surprises…" Ben smiled, seeing how happy Makoto was.

"I'm not babysitting…" Skurd muttered.

"Who would trust you with a baby?" Ben replied.

"I'll have you know I'm very nurturing."

"Since when?!" Ben complained.

"Well to cute things…" Skurd muttered.

"...At least he's honest," Noel whispered as the group began to walk down the stairs.

"Um...Mukoto," Tsubaki spoke up, earning said Nanaya's attention, "What about our own families. Are they okay?"

"Hmm….well, Ah know Mr. and Mrs. Vermillion are settin' up a flower store that sells arts and books, yer pa having become the mayor of our Undertown in a fair election since th' previous one was a cheatin' rattlesnake, and th' Hazuki's are doin' fine."

"Hazuki?" Rook repeated.

"Her family," Mukoto explained as he pointed at Mai.

"I don't think we ever fully explained that story…" Mai remembered.

"I do not think you did," Rook noted.

"Oh...well...let's just say before I joined the Academy, things between me and Dad were….really strained," Mai explained before muttering to herself, "To the point where he sent two assassins to help train me…"

"Wait what?" Makoto blinked as she and the others stopped, "Your dad sent assassins after you?!...was it Aoiro and Karai?"

"Nope. Remember Shiori and Chachakaka?"

"What?!" Makoto shouted shocked.

"Babe...Babe…" Ben gently shook Makoto, "One twist at a time, Mai used a fake name for a long time, okay but can we get back to your families as the main focus? Cause I think you need to focus on that,"

"Ah right right….sorry," Makoto muttered.

"Sis is overreactin' again as always…" Mukoto smirked, "I recall one time Ah bought one of those toy chihuahua statues...she ran fer the roof of th' house the moment…"

*BONK!*

"OW!"

"Don't spill my embarrassing stories in front of my friends and boyfriend!" Makoto barked.

"I promised to be kind," Ben reminded, "I...can't speak for them…" he pointed to Tsubaki and Mai, who were struggling not to laugh.

"Traitors!" Makoto snapped before hearing a stifled giggle, "...Et tu, Noellie?"

"G-gomen, Makoto...just...forgot how funny you and Mukoto's bits were at times," Noel giggled a bit.

"Not my fault he has the 'foot in mouth' syndrome combined with his unluckiness," Makoto huffed.

"Oh come on, sis...Ah wasn't th-"

"Your rapper phase…" Makoto deadpanned.

"..."

"Ah see? Can't argue with me right there."

"...fine. Then Ah'll just tell Ma and Pa about yer boyfriend...see how they react before…"

*BONK!*

"OW!"

"Wow. He is worse than you are, Ben," Rook noted.

"Yeah, I ca...HEY~!" Ben snapped.

"Let's just focus on the task at hand," Tsubaki sighed as they reached the bottom of the stairs, standing before a large metal door, Mukoto stepped up to it as he knocked on it a few times.

"...password?" a voice spoke as a small metal grate slid open, revealing a pair of eyes.

"Redgie come on man…"

"PASSWORD!"

"...ugh," Mukoto sighed before racing into his strawhat and pulled out a packet of gum, "This help change yer mind?"

"...Me take it then, dumdum," the voice said as the grate closed, teh door opening up to reveal a large stone alien, his face resembling a Maui statue.

"Redgie's a Craggian. They make great guards and defenders, but can be a bit slow at times," Mukoto explained as the stone alien took the gum and ate it, "They also really like their gum."

"Mmmm~" Redgie gave a stony smile as he chewed, "You may pass, Dumdum."

"Ah keep tellin ya mah name's…"

"Dumdum!"

"He is a rather loud fellow," Mai noted as the group walked past him.

"Eh. You get used to it...minus the 'Dumdum' part," Mukoto muttered as they walked up to another door, opening it to reveal a set of seats, "Get in."

"...elevator?" Tsubaki guessed.

"Nope. Trolly," Mukoto answered as he stepped in, "There used t' be an old ladder that lead to the outside, but Mr. Yayoi had issues with that and how unsafe it was."

"That makes a lot of sense." Tsubaki muttered.

"This place is part of some huge old underground network made by aliens way back when...like Abraham Lincoln times." Mukoto added.

"Aliens have been here since then?" Noel blinked.

"I'm not surprised...that silly 'Aliens made the Pyramids' thing is true after all…" Ben sighed.

"Wait, it is?" Mai and Makoto blinked.

"FourArms species." Ben explained.

"Oh~/that actually makes sense," Makoto and Mai noted.

"Same with Stonehenge. It's actually a joke."

"...honestly grateful Kajun's not here right now…" Tsubaki whispered, "She would not let up on asking you...no. More like...probing you for questions."

"Why do you think I'm finally saying something?" Ben smiled.

"...touche."

"Heh. Ah like this guy, sis," Mukoto grinned as Makoto and the others began to sit down, "Seems like a fun guy."

"Wait until you see him transform," Makoto smirked as the doors closed.

"Oh? So he can gain armor too?"

"...say what?" Makoto blinked as they felt the 'room' they were in began to move, "...n-no no. I mean he can turn into other aliens."

"Wait what?!" he shouted.

"Armor...what are you talking about?" Makoto asked.

"This nice guy who pops up sometimes. He fought off a bunch of mean aliens for th' town once." he explained excitedly.

"...what was his name?"

"Huh...oh we never asked." he blinked.

"What do you mean you never asked?!" Makoto complained.

"Ah he just pops up some days and helps out around town, he's like some kinda genius, then he vanishes for a long time. He was here last month!"

"...Mmm...I will find out soon enough," Makoto frowned before some panels opened up, revealing some windows, "?"

The group looked out the windows and looked down below, seeing a large city below with various humans and Aliens walking through the streets.

"...okay. This feels more like an Undercity than town," Mai whispered with wide eyes.

"This is just part of it, the tunnels lead to other chunks of the town." Mukoto added, "There's even th' flea market...Ma really likes to go there with' Mikoto and th' twins."

"Wow," they awed.

"It's like the man we found said, there are probably Thousands of Undertowns across the world. Who knows how large they get." Makoto spoke.

"And with the number of aliens who can dig, build, and reinforce, no one would ever notice," Rook added.

"We literally have just a small little town under Bellwood." Ben muttered, "This is a real example."

"Yeah...but it's not as big as th' one in Japan from what Ah heard," Mukoto stated as the trolley came to a stop, "Oop. This is our stop."

"We really gotta check out this Japan one someday…" Makoto muttered to the others.

"Agreed," they nodded as the door opened up.

"So where to first? Some grub? Mr. Smoothy?" Mukoto asked.

"You got one down here?!" Ben asked.

"Yeah...I mean no one knows when it got made...but we got one. Funny thing, th' Smart guy with the armor always comes in and out of there." Mukoto muttered in thought, "Eh." he shrugged.

"Priorities first, Benjamin," Skurd advised, "Our goal was to find their families. Them first, smoothie later."

"Right!" Ben shook his head, "Meet the parents first!"

"Eh. Ah'm sure Ma and Pa will like ya," Mukoto assured as the group stepped out.

"Oh I'm sure Ma will...for Pa's sake...he better..." Makoto muttered silently as she cracked her knuckles.

"Ma should be runnin' th' bakery right now. Ah know a fast way there."

"Then lead the way," Makoto spoke.

"Taxi!" Mukoto shouted before a multicolored portal appeared before a taxi-colored ball came out and unfurled to reveal it to be a humanoid turtle/beetle with a cigar.

"Where to, mac?"

"What the what?!" Makoto gawked.

"These guys live here," Mukoto smiled, "They all got together and formed a sort of taxi service for us."

"I see...with these aliens offering teleportation via portals, leg traffic is lessened, and vibrations through the cave system are diminished," Rook realized.

"Got it, mac," the turtle nodded.

"We're headin' to th' Sweet Nut Bakery!" Mukoto smiled.

"No prob," the short turtle alien nodded happily as he rolled up and formed another portal.

"Thanks!" Mukoto beamed before hopping into the portal.

"...welp. May as well give it a try," Makoto shrugged before hopping in after her brother, "Alley Oop!"

"I'm gonna have to scan one of these guys later." Ben smiled going next.

"It would prove useful…" Tsubaki muttered as she cautiously went in next.

"Still not the strangest of things we've ever done." Noel smiled going next.

"This is a really handy power." Mai nodded.

"Thank you very much." Rook went in last.

"No prob, mac," the turtle's voice came from the portal just as it vanished.

---

"Hope 'y'all have a nice day now!" a human woman with hair similar to Makoto's, only a bit longer spoke as she waved to someone leaving the store, a thick southern accent in her own voice, "Hoo...that there's another order down...Linda, how's th' next batch of donuts comin' up?"

"Almost done, Mrs. Nanaya!" A female Tetramand with a lesser build replied from the back, "Just gotta add the glaze!"

"Just not too much. Th' glaze'll overpower the pecan's flavor if not poured th' right way," Mrs. Nanaya advised, "Oh! And mind checking' the cake fer me? It's for Mr. And Mrs. Marsh."

"Can do!"

"Thank ya kindly," she smiled before hearing a bell going off, "OH! Welcome y'all t' Sweet Nuts Bakery, where…" she began as she turned before stopping, her eyes widening upon seeing Makoto standing there, "...M...M….Makoto?"

"H-hi Ma…" Makoto spoke slowly, her eyes watering ever so slightly.

"..." Her mother said nothing as she slowly stepped out from behind the counter, taking the black apron she had on off before she began to step towards Makoto, who in turn began to step towards her before both mother and daughter caught each other for a hug, "It's really is you...mah little acorn…"

"Yeah…" Makoto nodded, "I've been looking all over the world for ya…" she sniffled, "T-tadaima…"

"W...welcome home, Makoto…" she smiled, sniffling as well as tears poured from her own eyes.

"..." Ben said nothing as he just stood in the doorway, a soft smile on his face as he looked on at the mother and daughter. Even Skurd was politely silent as he just sniffled at the sight.

"Hmm?" Mrs. Nanaya blinked a bit, wiping the tears away once she noticed Ben, "Oh...Ah'm sorry. Ah'm just...a little emotional right now, sir…"

"It's fine. I didn't want to disturb your moment with Makoto," Ben assured.

"...Makoto, y'all know him?" she asked as she looked at her daughter.

"...Well…" Makoto began as she released the hug, wiping the tears from her eyes, "It's a bit of a story, Ma…"

"Ah have some time, my little acorn."

"Okay," Makoto took a breath, "Well...it's...kinda complicated so I'll like...make it simple okay. Before I begin, important bits. This? This is Ben, my very serious boyfriend. He's a goof but...he's my goof. Most of the story is about us, so I just want you to know why he's so important." she chuckled.

"Hi...the goofy boyfriend," Ben smiled. He then noted her looking at Skurd, "Ah he's kind of a...well he's a parasite…"

"Hey!"

"Kidding...he's more or less a little hitchhiker on my watch, he will be silent." Ben assured Skurd, nodding out of courtesy to Makoto mostly.

"...Mah little acorn...has a boyfriend?" Mrs. Nanaya repeated.

"Yes...and like I said, he is serious and my goober," Makoto assured, "Full disclosure, via events predating our getting together...we kinda live together...ah but it's like a Dorm house deal!"

"...hmm…" Mrs. Nanaya muttered as she stepped up to Ben, looking him up and down for a moment, "So...y'all have been lookin' after Makoto?"

"Not just her, but her friends as well...via the house dorm deal she mentioned," Ben explained, "Besides, Makoto looks out for me just as much. I'm proud to admit she's saved my butt more times...then I am comfortable admitting openly…" he coughed.

"Ah see…" Mrs. Nanaya noted with a small frown...before she smiled and hugged him, "A pleasure to meet ya then! Name's Mayaka, but y'all can call me Ma if ya wish!"

"Told ya she'd like you." Makoto smiled.

"It's nice to meet you." Ben smiled back.

"I do so love these heart meltingly sweet moments~" Skurd sniffled, "Who doesn't love a nice 'Feel Good' moment now and again~" he wiped tears from his eyes with his pseudopod.

"...oh! Y'all must be starvin'..." Mayaka raelized as she stepped back, "Ah can give y'all somethin' t' eat before we talk..Makoto, did anyone else come with you?"

"Just Mukoto and my friends from the Academy," Makoto answered.

"Hello, Mrs. Nanaya!" Noel greeted from outside.

"Ahh...hold on. Ah think I got one of mah Pecan pies cookin' in the oven," Mayaka stated as she walked off, putting her apron back on.

"Oh that sounds nice," Noel smiled walking in, "And I have been hungry. I was so nervous this morning I forgot to eat a decent breakfast."

"Then y'all are in for a treat then," Mayaka smiled.

"Ben, you are in for a treat," Makoto smiled excitedly to her boyfriend, "Ma makes the best Pecan pies in the whole. Universe."

"Dang right she does," Mukoto agreed as he poked his head in.

"Well, we've been around the universe a few times Babe. So if you say it like that, it has to be true." Ben chuckled.

"I oddly do believe you've both gone on dates just to taste pie in other galaxies…" Tsubaki muttered as she and Mai walked in.

"No comment…" both replied in unison.

"Oh? Y'all are talking in synch?" Mayaka noted from the back, "That is a deep level of bondin' there."

"Told ya," Noel smiled.

"Oh shush you," Makoto smiled as she jokingly wrapped her arm around Noel.

"Hey Ma, should I go and get Mikoto and th' twins?" Mukoto asked.

"They should be upstairs!" Mayaka answered before sniffing, "Linda, th' cookies are done!"

"On it, Mrs. Nanaya!"

"Sugah please...you can call me Mayaka."

"That's Linda. She's a pretty amazing cook," Mukoto explained the others as he walked off, "She prefers cookin' over fighting…"

"And been a big help with th' store!" Mayaka added.

"It would seem things are going well," Rook noted as he walked in, his own stomach grumbling a bit, "And some food would be appreciated…"

"Another friend of yours, Makoto?" Mayaka guessed as she walked in, carrying a large pecan pie cut into a few pieces.

"That's Rook. He's a space cop like me," Makoto explained.

"We really should start that story…" Mayaka muttered.

"Oh right!" Makoto realized, "I-I'm just so happy...and excited to see you again." she smiled, "I can't keep pace with my own feelings right now."

"It's fine," Mayaka nodded as she put the pie down, "Let me just get th' plates...y'all go ahead and start explainin'."

"Hoo...where do I begin?" Makoto questioned as she sat down on a nearby, cushioned chair, "Okay...so...I'll start with when I first met Ben!" she realized, "Cause it's thanks to him I met the girls...and then that you and everyone else ended up here! So Ben is kind of important...and not just cause he's my boyfriend and I love him and all that." she muttered sheepishly, "But anyway...it all started when I got pushed into a portal...and fell into Ben's arms...but also got a small head injury cause at the time he was shape changed into an alien made of diamonds…"

And so the story of all their adventures, the ups, the downs and the long winding path all between went on. It took the better part of a few hours and a few detours for context here and there. But with time Makoto was able to tell her mother the Wild Bizzare Adventure of a life she had since meeting Ben Tennyson, and how that led her here to this moment.

"Hoo….well now….you were not kiddin'," Mayaka noted in amazement, her mind trying to process all that, "Still...t' think mah little girl has become a real hero in her community...and has met such a nice young gentleman…" she smiled before frowning a bit, "One that won't manipulate my little acorn just fer a revenge plot…"

"Mom...mom easy…" Makoto quickly spoke, lowering her hand as she held a rolling pin in it, "He's long in the past...er. My past that is..mm...seriously...talking about time travel stuff hurts my head…"

"We...we try not to overthink it…" Ben muttered as he gently rubbed Makoto's head to help her small forming headache, "We have a good friend who's better at explaining it so we try not to think of it till he pops up."

"He's actually the one who told me you were here in this...time...world...here. He told me you were here on this version of Earth...just not what place, he is a nice guy, he just works with time travel so I don't blame him for not knowing…" Makoto explained.

"It's thanks to a man we saved from some real dangerous guys in a raid to save our friend Max when we finally found you." Ben added.

"Relax Ma, I was fine...Ben was the one who got more banged up." Makoto assured.

"I picked the wrong fight…" Ben muttered.

"He picked the wrong fight," Makoto nodded.

"We know they are way in sync with each other." Noel smiled, "It's super adorable!"

"Ah can see that," Mayaka noted with a giggle, "Oh wait until yer sisters and Pa meet him, Makoto."

"Oh speaking of sisters…." Makoto began as she grew an excited smile, "Mukoto told me about my new little sister~"

"He told y'all about Mykoto?"

"Eeyup."

"Ahh...well she's currently sleepin' right now," Mayaka explained, "Given how long it's takin' Mukoto...Mikoto must be tryin' to have him stay quiet….same for Mekoto and Mokoto."

"Surely it cannot be that hard," Rook spoke.

"Oh ho ho...oh Rook honey…" Makoto chuckled a bit, "You have not met the twins…"

"BIG SIS~!"

"Speaking of wh-oof!" Makoto grunted as a pair of blurs tackled her over.

"It really is her!" a young girl with a single ahoge in her chocolate brown hair beamed.

"Ne ne! It is her!" another young girl with short light-brown hair added as they hugged her, their squirrel tails swaying excitedly.

"Heh heh. Easy easy...it's great to see ya too, girls," Makoto chuckled as she moved them off her.

"Mukoto also said you have a boyfriend now," the chocolate-brown haired one noted.

"Where is he? Where's our possible future onii-chan?" the light-brown haired one asked before the two noticed Ben.

"...is it him?" the two asked as they pointed at Ben.

"Yup," Makoto nodded, not minding the 'future onii-chan' comment at the moment, "Ben...these are the twins, Mekoto and Mokoto."

"Hi," Ben smiled, "I'm Ben, Ben Tennyson. Your sister's boyfriend…." he paused for a second, "Should I brace for impact now?" he looked to Makoto.

"Brace for impact in 3...2….1…" Makoto countered down.

"Skurd!" Ben panicked as Skurd formed on Ben's back and braced him with a set of Diamondhead arms as Ben caught the twins.

"Haha! Pin denied!" Skurd cheered.

"Oh~! Kakui!" Mokoto noted in awe.

"He caught us...and he has a slime with him!" Mekoto exclaimed in her own awe, "Ne ne! Slime-san! Change forms pwease!"

"Hmm...how cute, but be taught young ones! I am Skurd! The secret weapon of your future Brother-In-Law! Skurd the Slimbiote!" at that, he formed a FourArm's arms as he lifted them both up, "Behold my power~" he cheered as he lifted them up, "Revere me!"

"And they're sold," Makoto giggled as the twins squealed and giggled.

"It would seem so," another voice spoke, Makoto turning to see a girl a few years younger than her walking in with Mukoto, her hair done into a ponytail while sporting a pair of acorn-brown rimmed glasses over her eyes, "Hello, Nee-san."

"Mikoto!" Makoto beamed as she ran over and hugged her, "Oh I missed you, my cute little sis~!"

"I have missed you too," she smiled back as she hugged her, "Now then...I believe I have heard from Mukoto you have a boyfriend?"

"Right there," Makoto, Mukoto, and Mayaka spoke in unison as they pointed at Ben.

"Respect the Slime!" Skurd laughed, juggling the twins, "Mwahahaha!"

"I can't get rid of him…" Ben shook his head, "But other than that... Hey, I'm Ben."

"Mikoto Nanaya, second eldest in the family and the family bookkeeper," she answered, "A pleasure to meet you, Tennyson-san."

"Yeah, Mikoto is the smartest of us Nanaya sibs," Makoto explained, "She has the book and math smarts while I have the street smarts."

"If you applied yourself more…" Tsubaki began.

"Nope! That's how it works!" Makoto cut her off.

"Can't deny y'all learn more on the streets!" Mukoto added.

"Nii-chan has more luck smarts," Mekoto deadpanned.

"Mostly involving bad luck," Mokoto added.

"Oi, oi…"

"Dumdum~" the two teased.

"MMm...you haven't been hanging with Redgie again, have you?" Mukoto asked in annoyance.

"He likes our company and the gum we bring him."

"Now, now. No fightin' y'all…" Mayaka spoke as she stood up, "Mukoto, why don't you give Makoto and her friends a tour of th' place? Ah need to finish gettin' an order ready for Mr. And Mrs. Marsh...and no. Not th' same ones from that one cartoon…"

"They get annoyed with that confusion quite a bit," Mukoto added with Mikoto nodding in agreement.

"Oh don't worry, mom, we won't bug ya. We just came here first 'cause of that working out for us. We still got a lot of other families to find and reunite!" Makoto cheered, "It should...probably take all day and lead us to hijinks and adventure. Ben and I will be back for Dinner hopefully!"

"Alrighty. Take care, my little acorn," Mayaka smiled, "Oh and let me know when y'all run into yer father...He went to go find Big Bessie again."

"Big Bessie?" Mai repeated.

"A really big fish he found at th' underwater lake," Mukoto explained.

"So he says…" Mayaka sighed in a very annoyed tone.

"Sounds like Grandpa's fishing trips…" Ben muttered, "He swore he almost fished up a catfish the size of his RV at the Hoover dam once…"

"Ah….then Daddy and Grandpa Max will get along swimmingly then," Makoto noted, "Anyways...time to go family searching!"

"The Vermillions' store should be nearby," Mikoto spoke up, "I'd help take you there myself, but Ah need to go back and check on Mykoto."

"It burns if she's stinky…" Mokoto whispered to Ben, her nose scrunching up.

"Real stinky," Mekoto added.

"Noted," Ben spoke as Makoto took them out of his arms to give them a hug.

"See? I told you I'm good with children," Skurd gloated as he retracted the alien limbs he generated.

"We'll be back for dinner, so you'll get more time to climb all over your future Nii-chan," Makoto spoke.

"Okay, nee-chan," the twins replied before giggling when she kissed their foreheads.

"Good girls," Makoto smiled as the twins ran off, "Alrighty...onwards to see Noellie's parents!"

"Noel left the moment she heard her parent's store was nearby," Mai spoke, pointing to the now empty seat.

"Should've seen it coming, especially since it's supposed to be a flower, book and art store as Mukoto mentioned," Tsubaki muttered as she stood up, "But you girls go on ahead. I need to go see my own parents at city hall."

"Okay!" Makoto smiled, "We'll start looking for Mai's next then...well not sure what next but we'll think of something!"

"Y'all take care now," Mayaka smiled as she hugged Makoto and Ben.

"We will, mom," Makoto smiled as she hugged her back, "See you later at dinner!"

"Hope y'all will have a good appetite then. Got a big meal planned fer tonight."

"Can do," Ben nodded as he and the others began to walk off, "Well...that went well."

"And you were nervous," Makoto smirked.

"And you were nervicited," Skurd reminded.

"I'd threaten to hand ya over to the twins, but I think you'd do something with them that would make Ma mad at me."

"Mwahahahaa!" Skurd laughed.

"Let's just go and find Noel…" Mai spoke with a sheepish chuckle, "I mean...she should be fine."

---

"Ah…." Noel gave a soft, excited gasp, looking at the various displays of books decorated around some flowers and a few paintings...and a small stuffed animal or two between them, "...It's like my fantasy book store come to life…"

"Well of course, my petite flower…I still had your drawing of it."

"?!" Noel tensed up, looking to the left to see a woman with shoulder-length brown hair and fair skin, her green dress reaching down to her ankles, "...m...mom?"

"Noel…"

"..."

"..."

"...Uwaaaagh~!" the two cried dramatically as they ran and hugged one another, "Kaa-san/Mon bebe~!"

"I hear crying!" Makoto panicked, running up, "Oh, nevermind. It's just a heartwarming reunion!" she called back to the others, "I was worried for a second."

"Ah, bonjour, Makoto," a man with greying brown hair wearing a brown vest over a yellow button shirt and brown slacks greeted, sitting nearby and painting the scene, "Do be careful now. I don't want to miss a single detail. Difficult already with my own tears."

"We'll make sure to be careful," Mai nodded as she and the others walked in.

"...This feels like something out of Noel's fantasy," Ben noted as he looked around.

"Funny enough, we based it on an old drawing our petite fleur drew," the man smiled, "Edgar Vermillion, and that is my angelic wife Clair."

"Bonjour~" Clair greeted, not once stopping in hugging Noel.

"...Wait. Noel speaks Japanese...how…" Skurd began.

"It was one of my first languages growing up," Noel explained as she and her mother stopped the hug, "It's just...been a long while since I had to use any French."

"Magnifique. Once it dries, it hangs above the register!" Edgar declared as he turned the stand around to show a perfect painting of the mother and daughter.

"Ah, so perfect, Gatsby!" Clair swooned.

"I knew you would love it, my darling Daisy," Edgar chuckled.

"Wait, I thought…" Rook began to ask.

"Pet names for each other," Noel quickly explained.

"Because you never question love," Clair added.

'And now I know where Noel gets her love for...well love,' Ben thought.

"Ah, right! Mère, Père, these are Ben Tennyson, Rook Blanko, and Skurd the Slimeboid who lives on Ben's Omnitrix," Noel introduced.

"Merci, Noel!" Skurd thanked before looking at Ben and Makoto, "At least someone remembers that I am here when introducing me to relatives."

"Don't start…" the two deadpanned.

"Ben is also Makoto's boyfriend," Noel added.

"Oh, that is simply perfect! I was worried for your friend, mi petit fleur," Clair noted as she hugged her, "...Did you ever…?"

"I was hoping we could exchange notes, Mère…"

"What did you do?" Makoto asked, feeling something fishy going on.

"Nothing," mother and daughter quickly replied, trying to not look at the Beastkin before running off.

"My romance is my business!" Makoto panicked chasing them, "This is not funny, Noel!"

"Now I see where she gets it," Ben chuckled as Edgar shook his head with a small smile.

"Most of our out-of-store budget ends up in notebooks and either pens or pencils," Edgar chuckled, "But it is just another thing I love about my wife and petit fleur."

"Ah...yeah. Love is what love is, I guess," Ben nodded.

"Oh!" Noel gasped as she skidded to a halt, ducking to avoid a lunge from Makoto, "Um...everyone, would you mind if I stayed behind? I have a lot I want to catch up on with my parents."

"We don't mind," Mai nodded before looking out...and winced a bit, "I think Mukoto needs help anyway…"

"...Oh lord now what?" Makoto groaned as she got up and looked out the window...and saw him covered in tar and feathers, "...HOW?!"

"Tripped on a ladybug…" Mukoto deadpanned.

"...That's from tripping on a ladybug?" Ben asked in surprise.

"Least it's not a banana peel or a pebble…because when he tripped on the pebble that one time, he..." Makoto began.

"If'n ya tell anyone that, Ah'm tellin' 'bout th' time ya first had fruit punch."

"!?" Makoto froze as her tail shot straight up, "O-Okay! Low blow, now! See? See? I'm not sayin' a thing!"

"Uh-huh…" Mukoto narrowed his eyes.

"...L-Let's just go and find Mai's parents next," Makoto sheepishly chuckled, pushing Ben, Rook and Mai out of the store, "See you later, Noellie!"

"Au revoir!" Noel waved.

---

"Hmm...Ah swear this is where Ah saw Mrs. Hazuki last…" Mukoto muttered as he, Ben, Makoto, Mai, and Rook walked around the streets.

"You're not lost, are ya?" Makoto sighed, "'Cause this is important, and the last thing I want to hear after an hour long hike through this amazing, but big underground city is...We're lost."

"Hey. Ah know where Ah'm going!" Mukoto argued, "Besides…last time Ah saw her was around here...and was leavin'..." he paused, looking around before pointing to a nearby Mr. Smoothy's, "...There."

"...Hey Ben…" Makoto began as she leaned against Ben a bit, "Doesn't that Mr. Smoothie's look...familiar to you?"

"You...You don't think…" Ben muttered to Makoto.

"Oh wow there really is one down here." Mai noted, walking closer before jumping back as they heard what sounded like an engine backfiring.

"Again…" Mukoto sighed as he walked in and smoke billowed out of the door.

"I didn't do it!" someone shouted from inside.

"Way to go, dumbass!"

"You helped Potato…"

"What was that, Beardo?!"

"Everyone shut up…" a fourth voice sighed as the trio before him argued without end.

"...Hah?" Ben, Makoto, and Mai owlishly blinked.

"Is...everything alright?" Rook asked.

"Yup. This usually happens at times," Mukoto spoke as he poked his head out, "Mr. H just lets these guys hop in when they pop up."

"Ack! Ack! Very...true," Mr. Hokestar coughed as he staggered out, dusting himself off while patting his hat, "Ok...Do not let the temperamental one near th…" he began as he was putting his hat back on, only to blink when he saw Ben and Makoto, "..."

"..."

"..."

"...Ahh! You again!" Ben, Makoto, and Hokestar exclaimed as they pointed at one another.

"I feel like there is some context missing here," Rook muttered with Mai.

"I think that's the other Hokestar they talked about before…" Mai whispered, "IE...the one with the teleporting Mr. Smoothy's that didn't turn his hair formula into a world-wide successful lawn spray."

"Huh...what...what are you doing all the way out here?!" Ben asked.

"Well, I felt awkward returning to Bellwood after learning my counterpart in this dimension struck it rich!" he declared, "As such, I decided to stay low and travel from world to world...and when I met young Sento...oh I just had the most brilliant idea! A Mr. Smoothy's...that fast travels the multiverse!"

"HUH!?" everyone shouted in disbelief.

"You! You figured out how that thing works?" Makoto asked.

"Oh heavens no! I still couldn't turn off shuffle!" Hokestar laughed, "Ah...but the young man inside...he totally and completely figured it out."

At that, the door opened as a young man walked out. He had medium length black hair which fell around his head almost like a bowl cut but with style. He was dressed in a striped hoodie with blue and red stripes over white. A brown long jacket with grey jeans, and mix-matching shoes, one red and the other blue. He seemed to be Japanese if one had to venture a guess.

"Alright, Hokestar, I'm done with the repairs already," he sighed, cleaning his hands with a rag, "Thankfully my idiot friends only did minor cosmetic damage. Turns out it's one part smoke machine...go figure. But thankfully it should still be capable of dimensional travel so our schedule won't be messed up," he pulled out a pocket watch with an interesting gear-like insignia on the back, the top part flipping open revealing there was an image of a red rabbit with a carrot in between its ears.

"Oh thank you my boy!" Hokestar beamed as he hugged him a bit, "I will treat you and your friends to some smoothies. Was thinking of trying a new flavor...Amber Ogia Smoothies…"

"And I think we just lost Rook," Mai whispered, noticing Rook drooling slightly upon hearing about the smoothie.

"Wait...This is the guy who fixed your machine?" Makoto asked.

"Fix...rebuilt...improved...made actually work…" Hokestar coughed.

"Hmm…" Sento smiled, looking over everyone, "You all seem like a happy bunch." he closed his eyes as his smile grew even brighter.

"...yeah….we….are…" Makoto muttered a bit. "Why the intrigue?"

"You remind me of some people I know is all," Sento replied simply. He then turned away and walked back in at that, "Not too similar...but...a passing notice." He then tilted his head as something was tossed out the door with so much force it demolished the wall of a building across the street.

"Say that again, Pervert-Robot!" the angry one shouted.

"Bring it on, Muscle Monkey!"

"You're causing a scene!"

"Shut it, old man!" both snapped at the third voice.

"...Bring it, you idiots!"

"Those would be different friends…" Sento sighed, before blurring inside suddenly, the sound of fighting going off inside.

"Oh they have super powers," Hokestar explained, "Honestly, they claim to be human...but I've never seen humans do what they do…"

"Ah….yeah. Should've expected you'd attract super-powered individuals to your store," Ben noted with a nod.

"I kinda want to see what's happening in there…" Makoto admitted.

"You'll just get involved…" Mai sighed.

"Oh come on. Compared to the things we've come across, how can four goofs with moderate super powers compare?" Makoto asked, opening the door.

"Take it back!" a man with reddish hair with a set of cornrows snapped, tackling a long haired man clad in a bubble jacket.

"Like hell I will!" the long haired man snapped as they punched each other, the force of their swings actually causing a shockwave that pushed Makoto back out.

"I'm not that much older!" a man with hair pulled back into a ponytail in a leather jacket snapped jumping on them. His shirt for the briefest of moments Makoto could see had the Kanji for 'Revenge' on it. But she blinked and it somehow now read: 'Oh crap'.

"...Wow," Ben blinked.

"I...kinda stand corrected," Makoto muttered.

"Where did you find these guys?" Ben asked.

"Another dimension somewhere…" Hokestar shrugged, "It was a real dangerous one, too. Had all these crazy folks, world seemed in shambles, and I think it even had a version of your girlfriend and her friends but as wanted criminals...But the world seemed evil, so maybe it's just the world was run by bad people…" he rambled.

"Wait...other versions of us?" Makoto blinked.

"It is the Multiverse…" Mai muttered, "It makes sense that if there are other Ben's…"

"Ahem! Y-Yes...it would stand to reason that there would be other versions of you and your friends," Rook added once he regained his composure.

"...Fair I guess," Makoto shrugged.

"Say Mr. H…" Mukoto spoke up, earning hokestar's attention, "I was wonderin' if you saw Mrs. Hazuki come in here earlier."

"...Hmm...I do believe I've seen her at the local market," Hokestar muttered as he tried to recall, "She came in earlier for a drink to help her stay focused, and left while thinking what to cook for dinner tonight."

"Thank ya kindly," Mukoto thanked, tipping his straw hat.

"No problem, my lad. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to creating that Amber Ogia Smoothy!" Hokestar declared dramatically as he rushed to the back of the store.

"...You want to stay and taste test it, don't you?" Skurd asked as he looked at Rook

"Admittedly I do, yes," Rook admitted.

"Try not to get lost in the Multiverse please!" Makoto smiled.

"I will not," Rook promised before rushing off, "Wait up for me, Professor Hokestar!"

"Looks like Ah'll have t' call another Taxi then," Mukoto muttered as he, Ben, and the girls walked out, "...unless ya can already turn into one, Ben?"

"I haven't had a chance to scan one yet." Ben admitted, "I'll ask the next one if I can."

"Ah chestnuts," Mukoto sighed, "Mah wallet's done cryin' again…"

---

"Whoa, this place is bustling!" Makoto gawked as the group were surrounded by folk moving about with vendors hollering their deals and offers.

"Of course it's bustlin'," Mukoto noted, "It's Saturday and this place doubles as the Flea Market. It's th' second largest Flea Market next to th' one in Daytona Beach."

"...and...mom's somewhere in all this…" Mai whispered as she looked around.

"Well, if she's your mom, she should smell like you," Makoto noted before looking to Ben.

"...Alright, alright," Ben sighed, knowing where this was going as he turned on the Omnitrix, "Skurd, mind adding Wildmutt's gills?"

"But of course," Skurd replied.

"What's he doin'?" Mukoto asked before Ben turned into Blitzwolfer, "What th' hoohaw!?"

"Told ya," Makoto snickered as Skurd covered the sides of the Loboan's neck and made Wildmutt's gills grow on them that he quickly flexed as he sniffed the air.

"Hmm...Alright, I think I have her scent if the one I'm smelling is right," Blitzwolfer noted.

"Then lead the way…" Mai spoke before gulping a bit , "Because if I don't find her before meeting dad...it won't be pretty."

"Gotcha," the Loboan replied as he led the way.

"Told ya he can transform into aliens," Makoto noted to her still-stunned brother.

"...He ain't got any little fellers, does he?"

"Oh, several and a lot of them are adorable," Makoto replied.

"She's used several of them as huggable plush pillows." Mai added.

"My boyfriend, my privilege." Makoto argued.

"...Ya know when th' twins find out 'bout that, they'll be wantin' ta hug 'em."

"Only way they'll know is if someone spills it or Ben mistranforms."

"..."

"...don't even think about it."

"What?"

"You know what," Makoto frowned.

"...Meh. Fine. I'll stop," Mukoto shrugged.

"Good. Now after my boyfriend," Makoto ordered as she followed after Blitzwolfer.

"Sis has gotten smarter," Mukoto noted to Mai.

"When you've lived long enough with people like Ben, you know when something is up," Mai nodded.

"...Oh he likes to play pranks too, don't he?"

"When he's not teaming up with Makoto? Yes he does."

"...How many Prank Wars have popped up?"

"I've lost count after 13…"

"And how many involved 'em workin' together?"

"A lot more since they started dating."

"...Challenge accepted," Mukoto grinned.

"Not gonna win, Mukoto!" Makoto shouted from offscreen.

"Oh bugger…"

---

"Alright, I think that's the last of it…" a woman muttered to herself as she had her sight obscured by a shopping list, her dark-blue hair as long as Mai with a long ahoge poking out the top of her head and a ribbon holding her hair together further down, "Perfect. After a long day in the office, Hoichiro will enjoy…"

"Found her!"

"Hmm?" she blinked as she turned...and saw the tall Loboan that was Blitzwolfer standing before her, "..."

"Hey ma'am. I was w-"

"HIYAH!" she quickly shouted as she grabbed his arm and tossed her into a cart full of cabbages.

"MY CABBAGES!"

"Oops….sorry, Lerry…." the woman whispered as a nervous bead of sweat went down the side of her head.

"I...don't feel like I deserved that…" Blitzwolfer groaned, "Skurd...where was the protection there?"

"Mwahahaha...I enjoyed the look on your face too much!" he laughed.

"We heard crashing! What…?!" Mai began as she and Makoto turned a corner, the former's eyes widening a bit once she saw who was there, "...Mom?"

"...Mai?" the woman whispered as she turned, "..."

"...Hey M-" Mai began before she was glomped into a strong hug, "Ahh!"

"Mai! You're really here!" the woman smiled brightly as tears formed in the corners of her eyes, "And you look like you've taken good care of yourself."

"Eh heh...Well, I make sure to do practices and stretches in the morning...like you suggested, mom," Mai sheepishly chuckled as she returned the hug, "Also my friends are here."

"Hello! Nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Na….er...Hazuki!" Makoto waved before muttering, "That's gonna take getting used to…"

"So many do when they learn Mai-chan's my lovely little lady," she giggled as Blitzwolfer stumbled over and changed back to Ben, "...Huh. He's fast with that ID Mask, isn't he?"

"Not an ID Mask," Makoto replied.

"He more or less has a watch that let's him transform," Mai added.

"Transforming watch...Oh! You mean he's Ben 10?"

"How'd you know that?" Makoto and Ben asked.

"Word of mouth and from informants on my husband's roster," she replied before blushing a little, "That and finding a few fan sites with a few being voting for the cutest alien form he has…"

"...Which one?" Mai asked.

"Ditto."

"That's still consistent," Ben muttered.

"...Wait. Why does dad want to know about Ben?" Mai asked.

"...Let's just say...He might want to recruit him," Mai's mother whispered.

"For what?"

"The police force here if possible," she answered.

"...Wait. Police force?"

"Your father and Yayoi-san were each in a debate for mayor and police chief due to the last ones being….really untrustworthy."

"H-How bad are we talking about?" Mai asked in concern.

"Purposefully causing racial divide, using a virus for political gain by claiming the other species was at fault...hemorrhaging government money to fill their own pockets...paying off any Plumbers that came by," her mother listed, "And your father was not happy with how the police were running things here under the previous chief…"

"Hoo boy…" Mai cringed.

"Yeah...It upset your father so much, he decided to get out of retirement to join Yayoi-san for his election and became the new police chief," she replied before blinking, "...Oh. I'm sorry...I forgot to introduce yourself to your friends," She realized before doing a slight curtsy at the others, "Konnichiwa. Atashi wa Hazuki Rin. It's a pleasure to finally meet Mai-chan's friends."

"Well it's nice to meet you and not get judo flipped into cabbages," Ben joked.

"It's too bad we just now found you," Makoto muttered, "We're high ranking Plumber agents; we could have handled the whole thing."

"Ahh..it's fine," Rin assured before looking at Ben, "And I apologize for tossing you into that cart. It's just I tend to get a bit...defensive when I'm out by myself at times."

"She may not look it, but mom is a very serious fighter," Mai explained, "She helped train me how to fully use my spear, and how to defend myself in hand-to-hand combat."

"She also learned how to deal with Taro-kun's strings in case the two fought," Rin added, "Oh! Speaking of whom…"

"...wait….Taro's here, too?" Mai blinked.

"Who do you think is the best member of the force here aside from your father?"

"Taro?" Ben repeated.

"Another classmate and sempai of ours," Makoto explained before grinning, "Mai also had a bit of a crush on him~"

"I-I do not!" Mai denied with a heavy blush.

"...Wait. Is this the Same Taro that liked to call Jin 'Jinny'?" Ben asked.

"Eeyup."

"..."

"You're thinking of swapping stories, aren't you?" Mai deadpanned.

"May~be."

---

"...I sense a disturbance," Jin spoke, opening his eyes as he was sitting seiza style amongst some candles, "Something I haven't felt in ages…" his badge soon went off, prompting him to answer, "Yes?"

=Jin you're...not gonna like this…= Makoto spoke up =Remember Taro?=

"When haven't I? He always called me…" Jin began before it dawned on him, "...No…Tennyson, don't you dare encounter him!"

=Yeah...Ben left to go find him already…= Makoto muttered.

"DAMN IT!" Jin snapped as the candles around him froze over, "Ugh….great. My headaches are gonna get worse now...Magister, I wish to use the VR room! I need to…..vent."

---

"Was the call necessary?" Mai asked with a sigh.

"Had an inkling Jin felt something was up," Makoto shrugged.

"You know one day all your teasing is going to cause something really stupid to happen," Mai sighed.

"Eh, I think it already has in the form of Ben wanting to meet Taro. Speaking of the former, let's go find him."

"Right…" Mai sighed before looking at Rin, "Do you know where Taro might be?"

"Oh~?"

"Mom, this is serious," Mai deadpanned.

"Gomen~ Hmm…" Rin began to ponder, tapping her cheek in thought, "...I think he's at City Hall with your father and Yayoi-san."

"...wow. What timing…" Makoto blinked, "Our friend Tsubaki was heading there before we met up with you."

"Ahh. What timing then," Rin noted, "I'll let you girls take care of it. I need to head home and prepare dinner for your father when he gets home."

"Thanks, Mom," Mai thanked, "It's great seeing you again."

"Same, Mai," Rin smiled as she walked off, "See you soon!"

"...I like your mom," Makoto noted once Rin was out of sight, "She knows how to tease ya good when it comes to your crush on Taro."

"Makoto!" Mai exclaimed with a blush.

"What? I'm not allowed to compliment your mom?" Makoto joked with a grin.

"L...Let's just go find Tsubaki…" Mai grumbled.

"Okay moody…" Makoto backed off with a sarcastic tone to show she was still joking around.

"And Ben is our ride and we need to catch up to him," Mukoto added, "Otherwise, y'all have t' pay fer th' Taxi since Ah'm outta Taxi money."

"...Makoto?" Mai asked.

"Tsubaki has my credit card after I bought the entire Godzilla movie DVD collection for both the Showa and Heisei era...you?"

"Just enough for one ride because I didn't bring my card with me."

"What is wrong with y'all...aren't you supposed t' be adults?" Mukoto muttered.

"Hey give us a break! We…"

"Mostly her," Mai sighed.

"...were excited to find you guys!" Makoto argued.

"This is a repeat of yer last visit home with yer friends, minus havin' th' boyfriend," Mukoto deadpanned.

"Mmm~" Makoto puffed her cheeks up at that.

---

"Hello, UnderRaleigh City Hall, please hold," a pink Cerebrocrustacean spoke, sitting at a circular desk with a headset on in the center of a well decorated lobby Tsubaki entered, "Hello, UnderRaleigh City Hall, please hold. Thank you for holding. ...Yes, I can transfer you to the Utilities Department. Have a good day."

"Um...excuse me," Tsubaki spoke up, earning the Cerebrocrustacean's attention, "I'd like to schedule an appointment with Mr. Yayoi."

"...Depends, what's your business sweetie?"

"I'm his daughter."

"...Please hold," the receptionist informed before she reached under her desk and pulled out a drawer that was out of Tsubaki's sight, glancing at a photo in it before pushing a blue button to the side, causing Tsubaki to blink as a camera popped out and took her picture and the button turned green for a few moments, "...Mmhmm." she closed it and tapped her headset, "Mayor Yayoi."

=Yes, Clementine?=

"Your daughter has shown up at my desk."

=And you're sure it's her?=

"What's your name, sweetie?" the receptionist whispered to Tsubaki.

"Tsubaki Yayoi of the 4th Hierarchical City of Naobi."

"Tsubaki Yayoi, sir," she spoke into the headset, "The camera showed a negative."

=...Let her through=

"Please head for the double doors to over there. He's waiting for you there," Clementine informed.

"Thank you, ma'am," Tsubaki bowed a bit as she began to walk towards mentioned large doors, taking a deep breath for a moment as she mentally prepared herself. Last time she saw her father, it was rather...distant as he focused on the family and the Duodecim, to the point where people would claim the Yayoi family would focus on their bloodlines and dedicating in 'breeding' strong soldiers for the NOL, '...No. Surely things have changed...I mean father's the Mayor of this Undertown...the people wouldn't have voted for him if he didn't have good intentions,' she thought as she took another deep breath.

Once she was mentally prepared, she began to slowly open the twin doors and began to walk inside. Sitting behind the desk was a man wearing a white business suit, her family insignia seen on the lapel of his suit as his red hair was cut short and stylized a bit.

"Hello….tou-san," Tsubaki greeted with a bow, "It is...good to see you again."

"..." the man tapped something on his desk and a blue gem on his desk let out a scanner that went over her before the gem turned green, "...No ID Mask." he sighed in relief as he got up and moved around the desk, "Tsubaki, what a relief to see you!"

"Tou-san?" Tsubaki blinked before she was suddenly hugged by him, "?!"

"I'm so happy to see you, Tsubaki," he smiled a bit as he released the hug, "And I'm…" he paused before clearing his throat, "Your mother will want to see you soon…"

"You...you and kaa-san...are talking again?" Tsubaki blinked.

"Yes…well...sorta," he admitted with a sigh, "Kinda hard to try and reconnect when I was so focused on the family and the Duodecim…and then being the mayor of UnderRaleigh."

"Which I am honestly surprised to see…" Tsubaki admitted as she sat down, "How...did you end up becoming Mayor of this entire place?"

"...Hah…" he sighed as he turned to look out the window, "Honestly after living here for so long...right after that mysterious light caused a lot of people from our world to end up here, I started to see things differently...see how the people were suffering under an Authoritarian dictatorship...which I should have noticed when I was part of the NOL's Imperial Guard during the Ikaruga Civil War."

"Yes. I...recall that…" Tsubaki whispered a bit.

"War truly changes people, Tsubaki...but...after living amongst the people here for a while? You see a new perception of things," her father explained before frowning, "Plus, me and Hazuki-san agreed what the previous mayor and chief of police were doing were vile and disgusting."

"Hazuki-san?"

"He's the new police chief," her father explained, "And formerly retired from his time in the NOL. The man's got quite the reputation back home in that he was the one who took down Azrael."

"...wait. Hazuki...as in Hoichiro Hazuki of the Hazuki family?" Tsubaki asked with wide eyes.

"Correct...your old classmate Taro is also one of his best officers, too."

"I truly have missed a lot," Tsubaki whispered.

"Yes...However, there is one thing I wish to talk to you about…" her father stated with giving a small, disappointed frown, "The Izayoi...I know you took it."

"...Yes...That...is true…." Tsubaki sighed sadly as she hung her head.

"But from what I can tell, you barely had a chance to even use it," he went on, looking at her eyes.

"...Not...exactly, Tou-san," Tsubaki whispered, making him blink, "Before coming here...before a lot of stuff happened, I blindly served under the Imperator as one of the Wings of Justice in the name of what I believed was Justice...that is...until I was brought here to this time...er...world… It's complicated, but...let's just say I ended up being free from the Izayoi's control, but I ended up regressing in age and was missing memories involving my time after the Academy."

"?!"

"From what we can understand, it was because of Ben being in the form of a Chronosapien and looking at Makoto that caused it," Tsubaki explained.

"Ah...One of those robot-looking aliens that can control time," he noted, earning a surprised look from her, "What? I'm surrounded by aliens in this city. My receptionist is a Cerebrocrustacean, for heaven's sake. Learning about all the different kinds is a key role for being in charge of a city of them."

"...and what of Kaa-san? How is...she enduring all this?" Tsubaki asked.

"She helped open a museum to help any people from off-planet learn our world's history," he explained, "...They're a real fan of her period eras wing."

"There's a what now?" Tsubaki repeated, gripping the armrest of her chair with an excited look in her eyes.

"Oh, I shouldn't have said that…" he muttered, looking away from her with a bit of sweat now going down his head.

=Sir, there's someone here lookin for you daughter= Clementine spoke up from the radio =A Mr. Ben Tennyson?=

"?! Ben Tennyson? As in Ben 10?"

"Oh, Ben…" Tsubaki sighed.

"You know him?"

"I live with him and several others," Tsubaki replied, "I also happen to be-and I don't mean to brag here, Tou-san-the second in Command to the main Plumbers Earth Branch located in Bellwood."

"...My daughter second-in-command…" he noted with a whisper, "Heh...amazing!"

"Well, I was taken in by their Magister, who is also Ben's Grandfather," she explained sheepishly, "He just is a kind and caring man, and he took us all in and helped us be our best selves."

"Ahh….heh. Truly this is an amazing day," her father noticed with a small smile, "It truly is great to see you, Tsubaki…"

"Same here, t-"

=Sir, Ben 10 just left with Lieutenant Sasagae= Clementine spoke up.

"...Oh no," Tsubaki whispered in realization, her face going pale as her eyes widened, "I-I'm sorry, Tou-san. I...I need to go stop Ben before he does something...like annoy Jin worst."

"NEVER!" Ben shouted loudly, somehow knowing to say it at this moment.

"Heh heh...I like this guy!" another voice laughed.

"...Tou-san…"

"You can leave, Tsubaki," he stated with a smile, "I'll be sure to let your mother know I saw you the next time we speak."

"Thank you," Tsubaki nodded before rushing out, pulling her paperfan out as she did, "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson! Sasagae Taro!"

"Uh oh...That's the 'Mrs. Student Council Member voice'..." the second voice/Taro gulped, "Haven't heard that voice in ages…"

"I hear it at least once a day," Ben's added before yelping, "Book it! She's got the paper fan out!"

"OH GEEZ!"

"You two get back here!" Tsubaki's voice snapped.

"NEVAH!"

"There you are, B-oh god she's got the paper fan out!" Makoto's voice freak.

"What did you two do?!" Mai's yelped.

"Nothing...Yet!" both men laughed, "AAH! She's gotten angrier!"

"I swear, she gets that paper fan from her mother…" her father muttered before pulling out a cellphone and dialed, "...Hello, dear. ...Well, good news, actually. Guess who showed up at city hall? ...No, not the deliveryman. ...The plu...You mean the space police or the ones who fix the pipes? ...No, not them. It was a Plumber that is second-in-command in Bellwood...and their name is Tsubaki Yayoi. …!" he moved his phone away from him as the speaker sparked a little from the squeal of joy, "...Should've seen that coming…"

---

"Ahh geez…" Ben groaned as he rubbed the forming bump on his head.

"Did she trade up for a metal fan?" a young man with short, messy black hair muttered as he rubbed his own bump.

"Worse. Paper weaved with carbon nanofiber reinforced with Arachnachimp thread," Ben replied.

"Why did I get hit?!" Makoto exclaimed before wincing from the bump on her head, "Ahh... Regret…"

"You were caught in the crossfire...you should've seen it coming," Skurd pointed out, the only one okay here given he covered himself in crystal armor the whole time.

"I don't want to hear it from you...Why can't you ever stop this? You totally could!" Makoto complained to the symbiote.

"Yes...but I also enjoy seeing you and Ben get brain damage, mwahahaha!"

"Oh ho yeah sure. Laugh it up...because all that karma is just building up in you, waiting to be let out," Makoto countered.

"Taro...if you and Ben cause any chaos, I will switch to my Tetramand War Fan I purchased last month," Tsubaki growled.

"?! We'll be good," Both Ben and Taro meeped as they shot up.

"Good," Tsubaki nodded as she put her paperfan away.

"...Still, good to see you, Tsuki," Taro grinned before he got bonked with the paperfan once more, "...Okay. I deserve that….ow..."

"Tsuki?" Ben repeated.

"Taro's nickname for me," Tsubaki sighed, "He often liked to give us nicknames at times…'Jinny' being his favorite for Jin…" she blinked for a moment...before she facepalmed, "Oh lord, you got me to say it…"

"...no no. Don't comment, Mukoto...y'all are just gotta get hit or worse," Mukoto muttered as he chose to step back...only for a large pile of fish to land on top of him, "...Oh come on!"

"Sorry, Mukoto! That was part of your father's catch for today!" a Petrosapien with a beard made of crystal spoke up from above, "Wait until you see the biggun' he caught!"

"Can't wait…to see, Mr. Gembeard!" Mukoto grunted as he managed to get out of the fish pile before pulling his hat off and pulling the speckled trout in it out, "This big enough?!"

"Nope! Bigger than that!"

"...Hoo boy. I got it!" Taro shouted as he hopped up, pulling out a pair of black, red and white gloves before he crossed his arms, spreading his hands as near invisible strings came out and attached to some nearby structures, "Net ready!"

"...huh. Neat," Ben noted once he noticed the strings.

"Thanks. They used to be powered by Magic back in our old world, but I decided to fix them up a bit," Taro grinned as he landed, "Plus was reading some manga and watching something online at the time."

"Good to see you haven't changed, Taro," Mai spoke.

"Thanks. Same to you, Maimai," he grinned, causing her to sputter and blush a bit, "By the way, how's Junjun doing?"

"Junjun?" Ben repeated.

"Kajun," Makoto explained.

"Pfft...Junjun…" Ben snickered.

"You're going to abuse that, aren't you?" Skurd asked.

"Yep," Ben replied.

"Of course you would…."

"Heads up! Here comes Mack's big one for today!" Gembeard called out.

"This seems excessive...I mean it…" Tsubaki began before a large shadow overlooked them, making them look up...and saw the massive tuna that was being held up above them, "Can't be….that….big…"

"Not Big Bessie, but today's haul was nice, chief!" a voice laughed from underneath the fish, "Nets all set up? Because...last time I dropped a fish this big on the city, the missus put me on the couch for a week because-and by complete accident-it woke up my little bundle of joy Mykoto."

"Nope! You're good, Mr. Nanaya!" Taro called out, making Makoto's eyes widen once she heard that name.

"Thanks!" the voice laughed before the fish was dropped down, the strings catching it in time, "...Phew. No loud 'boom'! I'm safe from the couch tonight!"

"Hey Pa! Guess who Ah ran into!" Mukoto called out as a figure landed before him, said figure being a tall, muscular male Squirrel Beastkin in an orange jean vest and sleeveless black shirt, a few tears in his jeans as he dusted off his hands.

"Who? Is it that girl you like from the flea market, or…" he began before he noticed Makoto, "...l...Little Acorn?"

"H….hi, daddy…" Makoto greeted, trying to force the tears back.

"Well...what ya waiting for? Hug!" Mukoto spoke up.

"..." Both Makoto and her father stood there for a moment before Makoto ran up to the man, who opened his arms wide as he pulled her into a hug.

"It really is you...my little acorn is here in my arms…" Makoto's father smiled softly, small tears forming in his eyes, "...Does your mother know you're here?"

"Went to go see her at the bakery."

"...Did you sneak a slice of your mother's pecan pie?"

"Daddy…."

"Sorry sorry. Just happy to see you is all," he chuckled as he put her down, "Well that...and I am understandably hungry…"

"Considering how much fish you caught, not surprised, Pa," Mukoto noted.

"Hey. I think I made a killing today," he argued before frowning a bit, "Though Big Bessie...one day, she will be caught...and then...that RV will be mine for that cross country roadtrip I promised!"

"I get a feeling he and Grandpa would have a lot to chat about," Ben smiled.

"Hmm?" he blinked as he looked over at Ben, "...Little Acorn, mind telling me who's this fella here?"

"...Oh...well…" Makoto began as she walked over to Ben, "It's...kinda complicated, but...me and Ben are kind of...no. We're a couple."

"...Come again?" he blinked.

"Yup," Mukoto nodded, "Pa, meet sis' boyfriend Ben Tennyson. Future brother-in-law, meet Mack Ono Nanaya...or Mack or Pa...whichever he likes to be called..well depending on who it is he's talkin' with."

"...is that so?" Mack noted with a frown as he began to walk up to Ben.

"Oh you are in for it," Skurd whispered.

"Shush you!" Ben hissed before looking up, seeing Mack towering above him.

"So...you're my daughter's boyfriend huh?"

"Y...yes, sir," Ben nodded with a slight gulp, 'Oh I am so dead…'

"...that so...well then….I have one thing to say to you…" Mack began, a menacing aura around him as he lowered himself down to face Ben face to face.

"...and...what would th-" Ben began before he was pulled into a tight hug, "GH?!"

"Welcome to the family, son!" Mack laughed as he swung Ben around in his tight hug.

'My back~' Ben mentally wailed.

"Whoo! Let me tell ya, I was afraid my Little Acorn wasn't gonna find anyone...well aside from that own fellow at the Academy, but from what her friend Tsubaki told me about...He's just lucky Ma didn't get a hold of him or those girls," Mack continued, unaware that Ben's face was starting to turn blue, "Seriously, son. Let me tell ya...nothing is scarier than my wife when she's beyond angry."

"Mr. Nanaya…" Tsubaki spoke up.

"Moment she pulls out the rolling pin...you run. Run as fast as you can!"

"Um...Nanaya-san…" Mai spoke up.

"Doesn't help her new one was made by Arborian Pelarotas...those things make wood hit hard."

"Pa…" Mukoto spoke up.

"What?" Mack asked before he felt his arms were covered in slime, "Huh?"

=Ugh…= Goop groaned, his mini-UFO moving back from Mack as his slime followed =Thank Sumo Slammers that I have that failsafe in the Omnitrix=

"Daddy…" Makoto sighed, facepalming.

"...Uh, little acorn...your boyfriend turned into slime," Mack blinked a few times.

=Don't try to eat me= Goop warned =I do not taste like green apple despite my coloring=

"He better not try and eat me," Skurd muttered while sitting on the little UFO.

"...oh yeah...I should've mentioned about the watch that lets him turn into other aliens...and the booger…"

"Slimbiote," Skurd corrected.

"Booger that likes to hang onto said boyfriend's watch!" Makoto snapped at him.

"Pa, he's called Ben 10 from th' stuff folks talk 'bout," Mukoto explained as Goop reverted to Ben, who popped his back with a stretch.

"Huh...The guys in the pub tend to share stories. Ain't this the kid who dealt with that pirate that was bottling whole ships in giant bottles?"

"I am…" Ben grunted, "Worst guys fishing trip ever...or best depending on how you see it."

"You still never told me how that got started…" Makoto muttered.

"It was so stupid…" Ben sighed.

"I dunno...many things can happen when you go fishing," Mack grinned a bit as he walked over, "One time me and my buddies from the pub went on a big fishing trip...and poof! We found an entire herd of Yellowtail...and that led to us finding Big Bessie! ...which I swear, I will catch one day!"

"Big Bessie?" Tsubaki repeated.

"Huge fish," Taro explained, "Very huge fish. Think as big as an ocean liner. I'm still amazed at how big those things are."

"So much lost due to the Black Beast that people in this era take for granted," Tsubaki shook her head.

"Says the girl who needed to take the driving test ten times to get a pass while I only needed the one test," Makoto smirked.

"Pfft! S-Seriously?!" Taro laughed at that, "Mrs. Student Council member...had to take a driving test ten times?!"

*THWAP!*

"ITE!"

"Enough of that," Tsubaki ordered….despite the heavy blush on her face.

"It was parallel parking from what I heard," Skurd noted.

*CLANG~*

"Too slow, my dear," Skurd chuckled, looking once more like he was made from Diamondhead.

"You will get yours someday," Tsubaki and Makoto spoke in equal annoyance.

"And you will fail!"

"See, this is my life now. My good boyfriend has a creepy alien space slime that brings me grief!" Makoto complained to her father, "And forget yanking it off...as long as it's on that watch...it's borderline the world's greatest multi-tool."

"Ahh...heh. Gotcha, My Little Acorn," Mack smiled a bit.

"Oh and btw...I'm a space cop now," Makoto grinned as she decided to change the subject a bit, "I'm practically a well known superheroine by now!"

"We fear the day she starts getting a swelled head the moment the merchandise and such comes in," Tsubaki sighed.

"There is that one game series that came out in Japan based on our adventures," Mai pointed out.

"Yeah, that...that was a day…" Ben muttered.

"Did not like the fact I was relegated as DLC in my debut game," Makoto pouted before shrugging, "But I got over it after I was added into the base roster in the updated version."

"Just be glad you did get a game and it wasn't a trick like I got wrapped up in," Ben noted, frowning at the memory.

"Harangue?" Tsubaki guessed.

"Harangue."

"Harangue?" Mack repeated.

"Nasty reporter that hates Ben and any super powered being he doesn't like," Makoto explained, "He's currently locked up for assisting in trying to cause mass genocide."

"We kinda forget he's down there sometimes...and we have robots to check for us." Ben replied.

"He deserves it…" Makoto added.

"Ah...fair enough," Mack nodded before a loud rumble went off.

"...what was that?" Skurd cautiously asked.

"If I had to guess…" Mai began as she looked at Makoto, Mukoto and their father patting their stomachs, "Both father, son, and daughter are hungry…"

"Which means only one thing…" Mukoto began with a grin.

"DINNER TIME!" the three Nanayas declared.

"Well I guess that's no surprise, that moment with your mother probably barely counted as a snack for Makoto…" Skurd deadpanned, "This is the girl banned from all buffet's in Bellwood."

"All of us were banned from those buffets," Tsubaki sighed a bit, "The last place had a cheesecake I really liked too…"

"It had chocolate…" everyone muttered.

"Right!" Ben clapped his hands, "Everyone's found their folks by now, let's all agree. Dinner with your families, spending time with them, and just being happy for the rest of the day is the best pick." he smiled.

"Exactly, we have to go with Makoto due to my being stuck to the loyal whipped boyfriend," Skurd added.

"I...honestly can't argue that," Ben sighed.

"He still could have worded it better!" Makoto complained.

"That's a good idea," Tsubaki agreed, "We have much to catch up on, and more emotions to have expressed."

"Yeah...I may as well go catch up with mom and see how she and dad have been," Mai nodded.

"I'll catch up later, Maimai. I have to head to the station and...ugh…" Taro groaned as he rolled his eyes a bit, "Paperwork…"

"We have a guy on our team who's good at that." Makoto smiled.

"Rook is like...crazy good at it. He gets a week's worth of the stuff done in one afternoon." Ben chuckled, "Best Buddy ever."

"...mind sending him my way then?" Taro asked, "The amount of paperwork tends to get a bit...weird."

"I'll be sure to let him know."

"Thanks, Benten," Taro smirked, "Now if you'll excuse me..I need to help carefully get this huge fish down to storage...after it's cut down to proper sizes of course….TAXI!"

"Whatcha want, M-" one of the portal turtle aliens began as he appeared...before noticing the large fish above them, "...oh heck no."

"Vito, please…"

"I ain't no delivery truck, Taro!" he snapped, "Youse always pull dis on me!"

"I do not! Besides, by my mental math...you still owe me a favor from last week!" Taro argued.

"GH!?"

"Help me with this and we'll be square then you can shoot me down as much as ya want? Huh? Huh?"

"...d'oh...fine….deal," Vito groaned before he became a portal, "But dis is da last time, Taro! I swear I'm still getting th' smell of fish off my clothes..."

"I'll treat ya to some dinner after my shifts are done," Taro said as he hopped right into the portal, causing the strings holding the giant fish up to drag it into the portal.

"Ah Wait! I…" Makoto began just as Vito disappeared, "...ahh nuts. Ben didn't get to scan him…"

"Yeah I did," Ben grinned as he held the Omnitrix up, which flashed yellow for a moment, "Scanned him while he wasn't looking."

"We are more sneaky then you give us credit." Skurd laughed.

"So whatcha naming it?" Makoto asked.

"Mmm...They look like turtles and they make portals, so...Portaler," Ben replied.

"Nice and easy to remember," Makoto grinned.

---

"Mmm…" the twins looked at the big pot on the stove.

"Now y'all done need t' wait fer yer Pa, yer brother, and yer sister t' either show up or call that they'll be late fer din," their mother warned.

"Kay…"

"Think Pa is obsessing over that giant fish of his again?" Mikoto asked, reading a novel.

"He better not be," Mayaka frowned, tapping a ladle in her hand into the palm of the other.

"Woah!" Mack's voice yelped from outside, "...huh...that was trippy...heh. You found one heck of a guy, my little acorn!"

"There's Pa now," Mikoto noted.

"Sounds like he found Nee-chan and Nii-chan," Mekoto noted.

"Yay! Everyone's here!" her twin cheered, both their tails wagging.

"Honey~! I'm home~!" Mack declared dramatically as he swung the door open.

"Welcome home, hun," Mayaka greeted, "We're havin' Jambalaya tonight with chestnut parfaits fer desert."

"Yes~!" Makoto cheered in excitement.

"Parfa!" a young baby girl beamed from her chair, her tail wagging slightly.

"...oh my god, is that her?" Makoto asked with a rising squeak upon noticing the baby.

"Yup. That's Mykoto," Mukoto nodded.

"Aba!" the baby girl cheered, clapping her hands on hearing her name.

"She is pure adorableness given living form!" Makoto awed with hearts in her eyes.

"I know, right~?!" her father agreed in pure joy.

"Mm?" Mykoto tilted her head on seeing Makoto.

"Mykoto, that's yer big sister, Makoto," Mayaka spoke up with a smile.

"...Mapo!" Mykoto beamed, reaching out to her, "Mapo! Mapo!"

"...Mmmm~~~" Makoto squealed out in pure joy before she rushed over and picked Mykoto up, "Oh you're just so precious~!"

"It is as I feared...they are unbearably adorable the smaller they get…" Skurd whispered as he and Ben watched.

"No kidding…" Ben whispered a bit in amazement.

"We had t' get Mrs. Vermillion to resist every urge t' hug her everytime she looks after her," Mukoto whispered to him.

"...Yeah. That would be something Noel would do too…" Ben muttered.

"You can't blame them," Makoto laughed, "The young of the Nanaya family are the most adorable in the world!"

"Waru!" Mykoto clapped her hands.

"You are currently the world's cutest baby!" Makoto cheered happily.

"Alright, easy now," Mayaka chuckled a bit as she took Mykoto from her big sister, "Don't wanna get little Mykoto too excited. She won't go to sleep if she gets wound up."

"Come on, Maya. She's just happy to see her big sister," Mack argued with a grin as he sat down, "And she's yet to meet her future big brother-in-law."

"Ah good the bit goes on." Skurd noted, "Nearly everyone is in agreement...that is an unavoidable path for these two."

"Gabada?" Mykoto tilted her head as she looked at Ben, "...Gaba?!" she looked up at Mayaka, puffed her cheeks, and pointed a finger at Ben, "Abababa!"

"Seems she's mad that you left out she has a possible second big brother, Ma," Mukoto noted.

"Ah…" Mayaka noted before lightly booping Mykoto's nose a bit, earning a giggle from her, "Sorry, Mykoto. Ah was so excited fer your big sister comin' home, I forgot to tell ya mah little one."

"Mmm...abagaba…"

"That seems like an oddly smart baby…" Skurd muttered.

"Pretty normal for our family," Mack shrugged before the room shook from all the stomachs going off, making him laugh, "Ha! That too!"

"Dinner now, Ma?" Mekoto and Mokoto asked.

"Given we're all here…" Mayaka began, reaching into her apron and pulled out a metal triangle and a small drumstick before she used the latter to ring the former, "Supper's ready, y'all~!"

"Whoo!" Mack, Mukoto, Makoto, and the twins cheered before they blurred straight into their respective seats

"It's like you never left," Ben chuckled while walking over, "I guess that's just how close you guys all are."

"It seems prevalent that a good family on Earth is a wonderful thing to come by," Skurd noted, "Though yet oddly so many TV and Movie characters are orphans...what's up with that?"

"No idea," Ben replied.

"Hope y'all are hungry, because Ah ain't finishin' this mahself," Mayaka spoke as she carried over a large pot, carefully placing it on the table as she took the lid off, revealing the jambalaya within, "Dig in!"

"Ahh~" the more hungry Nanayas drooled upon seeing it while Mikoto took a seat in one of the remaining chairs.

"Dinner smells great, Ma," Mikoto noted with a smile.

"Thank ya. Ah made sure t' cook extra tonight," Mayaka answered, "Especially now that we have a future member of th' family joinin' us."

'Wow, they were fast to accept me,' Ben thought in surprise.

'Oh thank everything and everyone above that they like him…' Makoto thought in relief.

"I guess now all that's left is both our families to meet," Ben chuckled before some baby food hit him in the face.

"Mykoto," Mayaka scolded the laughing baby, "That there plane was fer you, not fer him."

"Aba!"

"Ah, not the worst thing to splat me in the face…" Ben muttered.

"It's true," Skurd giggled.

"Eh. Not as bad as when Mukoto tripped into a jello pile," Mekoto shrugged.

"He was really sticky," Mokoto added.

"No I wasn't," Mukoto denied.

"You totally were," the twins deadpanned.

"Son, can't lie...we needed two spatulas to help ya walk to the tub," Mack added.

"Pa~!" Mukoto exclaimed, his face lighting up in a blush, "...Wait, at least Ah wasn't as bad as big sis when she got gum stuck in her tail!"

"This is where the good old sibling bickering begins, isn't it?" Ben asked the parents.

"Eeyup," both replied as Makoto sputtered.

"Hoo boy, that there was quite a few hours," Mayaka recalled, "She done tried to hide it and ge it out on her own, but it ended up getting into her hair as well. Had t' get the scissors and…"

"Ma, no~!" Makoto pleaded.

"Oh please, do go on," Skurd snickered.

"You stay out of this!" Makoto barked at him.

"Like I said, I promised to be kind should this exact scenario happen," Ben spoke up, "Sadly...I can't control the alien symbiote…"

"Oh please~ No one can control me! No one!" Skurd declared, "Like it or not...I am also part of the family!"

"Bagadaga!" Mykoto babbled, waving at Skurd.

"We think she wants to see Slime-san," the twins noted, "Ne, Slime-san! Transform pwease!"

"Huh? You mean like the guy at the smoothie shop?" Mack asked.

"Not at all, my good sir," Skurd replied before stretching out to Ben's back and grew Rath's arms, "See?"

"Wow," Mack gawked.

"Kiki!" Mykoto babbled, reaching for one of the arms.

"And she's already taken a shining to him," Mikoto noted.

"Of course! I am beloved by all children!" Skur dramatically declared, "And of course, I have my sidekicks to assist me."

"Sidekick?!" Ben exclaimed before a wooden spoon full of jambalaya filled his mouth, "Mmph!?"

"Argue later, eat now before it cools," Mayaka scolded, doing the same to Makoto.

"...Mmm…" Ben blinked as he swallowed his food, "...wow. That...that's really good."

"My wife's the best cook around, son," Mack grinned as he paused from eating his food, "She can make anything taste like gourmet food."

"That's what y'all say about all mah food," Mayaka giggled as she sat down.

"It's true, especially since you fell into my arms that day," Mack chuckled.

"Hmm?" Ben blinked.

"See, I was leaving the gym one day to prep up for a boxing match, and as I was walking through an alleyway…" Mack began before shooting a smile at Mayaka, "This angel fell into my arms and into my life."

"Ah got lost and he caught me as I was tripping," Mayaka clarified.

"Oh, that's cool," Ben noted, 'And familiar.'

---

"You found you have a sister?" Edgar asked, the family sitting at the dinner table.

"That's right," Noel nodded, "It's...complicated, but we are related by blood…"

"And why have you not mentioned her to me now?" Clair asked with a slight pout.

"I wasn't sure how you'd react," Noel admitted with a sigh.

"Do you have any pictures?" Edgar asked.

"Oh, a lot," Noel replied as she took out her cellphone and opened her photo gallery and showed the screen to them, showing her and Lambda cooking, the latter looking confused at the cake becoming censored midway in the photo as Noel was putting a blueberry on it with Robotboy peeking out behind the counter and watching it, "That's Lambda."

"Aw~ She looks just as cute as you, my petit fleur," Clair cooed.

"She's wonderful, but she is home taking care of Robotboy for me," she flipped to another picture of said little Android, the photo showing him and Noel playing with some Pokemon plushies.

"...Mignon bābē~!" Clair squealed a bit.

"Quite the interesting color scheme for him," Edgar noted before chuckling a bit, "It would seem we truly have missed a lot…"

"Oui...and outside of my job, things have been peaceful," Noel added, "Not a lot of crazy stuff happens to me like it does my other friends. Which I am thankful for some days. I guess if anything, I learned I had a sister...and the complicated explanations of my birth were mind blowing. But a smart, cranky, but kind old man helped me realize, it doesn't matter, I'm...well me." she smiled, "The weird stuff mostly happens to Makoto and Ben."

"So long as you're comfortable with yourself," Edgar nodded.

"Still, this does mean something very important we must do," Clair noted, a serious expression on her face, "...We have another daughter and a mignon bābē in the Vermillion family and have not gotten them a single thing!"

"Oh no," Edgar mumbled, his face pale.

"I believe the flea market is open twenty four hours since half the city is nocturnal. Noel, you must tell us everything you know of your sister and Robotboy."

"Please tell me this isn't…" Edgar began, sweating now.

"Shopping trip~!" mother and daughter squealed.

"Oh mon dieu…."

---

"So...I understand you're part of the Plumbers now, Mai," a man with short dark hair noted, sitting across from Mai at a table with Rin sitting between them.

"I am, father. I'm a member of the Bellwood branch," Mai replied, "The team I'm with has a high success record with capturing villains." she sighed, "But I just wish that Chadzmuth guy would stop getting them out."

"Yes. I've heard rumors of this….Chadzmuth," he frowned a bit

"Your father met him after his men captured a dangerous mob boss selling drugs to the city," Rin explained to Mai.

"He got off scot free?"

"What do you think?" Mai's father scowled, "But I gave him a warning…'Next time you decided to represent a highly dangerous criminal, you better sleep with one eye open…'" it grew deeper as Mai and Rin cringed at the sound of his fork being crushed in his grip, "...Then he gave me his business card."

"The one downside of dealing with Galvans," Mai sighed, "Even the idiots think they're smarter than you. At least with Kajun being in charge of the two in Bellwood, their antics aren't as bad as they could get."

"...duly noted," her father whispered as he took a deep breath, "Moving on...I understand you work alongside Ben Tennyson…"

"I do...and once you get past the whole goofy attitude and such, he's a good leader," Mai answered, "...Well, that is unless Tsubaki's unable to, but...you get my point."

"Given I heard that he and your friend Makoto Nanaya infiltrated the Incurseans' ranks during the time Earth was conquered by them...it is understandable," he noted.

"...They tried to invade this place too, didn't they?"

"Worse...the previous Mayor let them take over the city," he frowned greatly, "It was the last straw for me and Yayoi-san…."

"Oh boy…" Mai sighed, "Well at least everyone here is okay. Being out there on the...I guess frontlines was always difficult."

"No matter the situation, war always remains the same…" he sighed, "...but...I am glad you're out there helping to keep the peace."

"I try to give it my all every day," Mai replied with a smile.

---

'At least the atmosphere isn't as tense as it was the last time I was visiting,' Tsubaki thought, sitting between her parents at a large dining table, "So, Kaa-san...I believe I heard you had opened a museum, correct?"

"Oh yes," a woman with long red hair much like Tsubaki's nodded, "While your father was busy running for mayor, I was prepping for a museum for the people of not just the city, but those from off-world, would know of Earth's history."

"And the period era wing? What of it?" Tsubaki immediately asked.

"I made sure to immediately buy anything involving that era," her mother replied, "One of my favorite wings has to be the one involving the various mythologies of the world and how certain alien involvement has become involved with those myths." she sighed as she put a hand to her face in exasperation, "And to think that Stonehenge was a Galvan practical joke of all things…"

"I was truly disappointed upon learning that," Tsubaki sighed in agreement.

"Though I'm still debating on one thing," she admitted, "The history of our time."

"!" Tsubaki blinked in surprise.

"On the one hand, it could give people more time to prepare for the Black Beast. But on the other, it may be taken as a joke and I would rather not get infuriated at the mocking."

"There's also the possibility it might cause a butterfly effect," Tsbuaki's father added.

"Yes...and your father keeps bringing it up when I bring up my idea," Tsubaki's mother sighed, "But he does make a point in a way…"

"True. It takes every bit of my fiber to not go to China for the sole purpose of dealing with their labs," Tsubaki admitted, "And for all we know, it could be aliens living there that caused what will happen in the 2020s, so targeting those labs wouldn't even stop it."

"And there is one thing your father and I agree on and truly want to happen...but fear the butterfly effect theory," her mother stated before frowning, "A certain future president..."

"We're already keeping a close eye on him as I think he had a keyhand in why we had no aliens in our original timeline," Tsubaki stated with her own frown before shaking her head, "But...let's not bring politics into all this...I just want to enjoy my dinner...and truly catch up on what we all missed together."

"Agreed," her father agreed with a nod, "It's been so long since we've had dinner together."

"Indeed," Tsubaki's mother added with her own nod of agreement, "So anything else new with you, Tsubaki?"

"Well lately...I have been getting into Arthurian legends," Tsubaki admitted before blushing lightly, "I...bought a few books on it during my trip to England with Jin."

"Ah! You've been to England?!" her mother asked.

"Beat us to it," her father chuckled, "I was planning on taking your mother there for a holiday…but on another note, You and Jin...?"

"...It's...complicated, but I've been helping him in getting used to being normal...again," Tsubaki admitted with a slight blush.

"Oh?" her father asked with an amused expression, "Does this mean he'll actually be my son sooner than later?"

"T-Tou-san…."

"Dear," her mother sighed, rolling her eyes, "Though given how you said 'again,' something occurred?"

"A lot has," Tsubaki sighed, "He was nearly taken over by his sword and, well, I've learned a lot about him before he became a Kisaragi."

"Such as?" her mother asked while her father was about to take a drink.

"...Like him and Ragna the Bloodedge being brothers and Ragna is sheriff of Undertown in Bellwood."

"?!" her father nearly spat his drink out as the two looked at her in surprise, "Eh?!"

"I told you it was complicated…"

---

"And...there we go," Rook spoke as he finished filing another set of papers, "That should all be the extra paperwork you have, Taro."

"Oh thank god Tsuki and the others told me about you," Taro sighed in relief, "And where you'd likely be."

"Here's the next attempt," Hokestar noted as he put another test of the Amber Ogia smoothie before Rook and then another smoothie before Taro, "And your order, Taro."

"Thanks, Prof," Taro smiled as he took it.

"It's so weird, still," the man with reddish hair noted, peeking out at Taro and Rook from the backroom, "Ah mou...Why are we here again, Sento?"

"Did you forget already?" the man with the beard sighed, opening his purple jacket to show his shirt reading 'FORGETFUL IDIOT' on it in a diagonal.

"I'm not an idiot!"

"Zipper's down again."

"Gah!"

"I invited you guys 'cause I was certain we don't live in this dimension." the man named Sento sighed, "By chance, my work with that white tablet made it so I could meet Mr. Hokestar and we got a chance to look into these other worlds. I mostly want to see if I can find a world with an alternative answer to our problems back home."

"Oi, oi...Come on, man. You know there's no way we can fix the world in a way that makes everyone happy," the red-haired man sighed.

"But this is our only choice, Banjou. We've run out of options and resources back home...That freaking Cobra bastard has run us ragged," the long-haired man sighed.

"It can't be helped, we're not smart. We just hit stuff good, Kazumi," the bearded man sighed, "Sento, anything? You seem oddly invested in this dimension."

"Hmm...I just like worlds where our friends have found peace of some sort. It helps me think," he chuckled, "But…" he held up a flashdrive, "I did get close enough to take data from that Ben kid's watch."

"How'd you do that?!" Banjou asked.

"It wasn't that hard...it has its own WiFi…" Sento shrugged.

"A watch with WiFi?!" Banjou gawked, "...Why am I not surprised? You probably have a tooth with WiFi in your mouth."

"No, that's your upper left wisdom tooth."

"What?! When!?"

"I also put a range extender in Gentoku's molars," Sento smirked as the bearded man began inspecting his mouth.

"What did you do to me?" Kazumi asked, sweating a little.

"Nothing...much...I just put a tiny little tracking device in your spine...you know...so the Noel of our world can avoid you…"

"Gah!" Kazumi froze in shock.

"What else have you done to us without consent?" Banjou asked.

"...I told you about the augmented kidney, right?"

"SENTO!" Banjou snapped.

"Okay, I did not," Sento realized before screaming and pointing behind them, causing the trio to spin around to see nothing but the ingredients for smoothie making and a bulky device in the corner.

"...He ran away," Gentoku stated, none of them bothering to turn around since it'd just prove them right.

"Why do we always fall for the scream and point?!" Kazumi groaned.

"Cause he's a genius...and clearly...we are stupid…" Banjou sighed.

"You just called yourself stupid…" the two pointed out.

"..." Banjou picked up a watermelon and tossed it at Kazumi, knocking him into Gentoku and both tumbled into the really small bathroom. Banjou then walked over and rested a chair against the handle and sat down in it, "Now who's dumb?!"

"That wasn't smart! You just suckerpunched us with a melon!"

"Banjou, let us out of here! It's cramped and stinks!"

"First you gotta admit you're dumber!" Banjou chuckled while picking his nose with a pinky.

"NEVER!" both snapped.

"Oh, those guys," Sento sighed, sitting on the roof of the building while looking out at the underground city while holding a small semi-clear red bottle, "The formula for victory is a long one, but I think I have the missing 'X' in it now." he smiled, "Now, shall we begin the experiment, Ben Tennyson?"

---

GT: Okay...I'll admit, was not expecting those four appearing. Did you, SZ?

SZ: No...no I did not...but a very nice cameo regardless...a-*collapses with multiple darts poking out the back*ZZZZZZZzzzzz….

GT: *slows turns head to Z0, holding a machine gun filled with the darts* …um…

Z0: You didn't see anything *vanishes and is replaced with a little bundle of dynamite*

GT: ...Um...Read and review, folks. *grabs SZ and runs off before the dynamite goes off*

Z0: *standing on a building and watching the explosion* Don't worry, they lived. I think, see ya next time.