My dogs slept on my bed all night last night. My back hurts from the weird positioning I had to do, but they were happy.
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
The older Jabber reached Mercury and stabbed out with its claws. The beast's would-be prey grabbed the claws and stopped them mere inches from his chest. As he struggled, Mercury glanced over to Ben once before turning back to hold the monster at bay.
And then he looked back to Ben.
"A fish?! IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT?!" Mercury yelled.
"SHRED! SHRED! SHRED!" the Jabber chanted maniacally.
"The icons are glitched, ok?! I couldn't tell who this was!" Ben countered, his voice now deeper, each word tinged with a slight gargling sound.
"Well then unless those fangs are...just for SHOW," Mercury growled, holding back the Jabberwalker, "Go FUCKING JAWS ON THIS ASSHOLE!"
Ben growled and rushed in, unhinging his new angler fish-like maw and bit down on the beast's shoulder. The Jabberwalker let out an unearthly howl as it staggered back, thrashing around wildly to try and shake Ben off. Mercury got back to his feet as the beast moved away, racing after the beast. The monster reached over its shoulder and grabbed Ben by the back of his neck, ripping him off of it and slamming him into the ground.
"EVISCERATE!" the Jabber roared, bringing up its foot to stomp Ben's skull into the ground, only for Mercury to come in and land a kick to the beast's chest. The hit knocked the Jabber back, letting Ben and Mercury prepare for its own assault. The beast hissed and thrashed around from the pain, slamming its tail into the sand before locking eyes with its two enemies.
"BURY!" the Jabber screamed.
"You can try...whatever the fuck you are," Mercury countered.
Mercury and Ben stood their ground as the Jabber lunged forward, claws slashing through the air. Mercury dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, while Ben lunged forward, his jaws clamping down on the beast's arm this time. The Jabber howled in pain and fury, thrashing around in an attempt to dislodge Ben.
Ben eventually ripped a large chunk of flesh from the Jabber's shoulder, making it howl in-
"PAIN!" The thing screamed.
With the opening, Mercury rushed in and began to kick at the spindly abomination. The kicks clashed with the armored skin of the monster, sparks flying with each impact. The monster moved its hands up to try and protect itself from the bullets.
"Whatever you are, you feel pain and that means you can die!" Mercury grinned.
"Not necessarily!" Ben countered, rushing in and flanking the beast. He grabbed hold of its tail and tossed the Jabber into the air. Mercury fired off another air Dust shot and connected an ax-kick to the beast's head, sending it crashing right back down to earth. The altar shattered entirely upon the creature making impact with it.
"Think that...think that got it? It was already dead once so...can't be that strong," Mercury suggested.
"Don't know. Don't wanna find out. Let's get outta here..." Ben coughed. Mercury raised an eyebrow, and then noticed the water levels on his respirator were lower than before the fight started.
"Keep it up, Tennyson. You're on a roll for pointing out the obv-!" Mercury began, only for a chunk of the altar to be flung at him. The limestone slab slammed into him hard, sending him through one of the nearby pillars.
"SHRED! SHRED! NEVER! IMPRISON! AGAIN!" the Jabber yelled, leaping towards Ben with its claws outstretched. It slammed into him, pinning him to the ground as it reared its flat-ended tail over its head like a scorpion. The tail swatted down in an effort to crush the wielder of the Omnitrix's head, but he quickly swerved to the side, letting it flatten against the dusty ground. The monster growled and tried again, getting a similar result.
"JAILER! OPPRESSOR!" the Jabber screeched in Ben's face. Did it think he was the Knight? Maybe this thing's eyesight wasn't as good as he thought. The beast's head began to twitch and shake, especially around the mask's mouth. Ben definitely didn't want to see what was behind the expressionless visage, so, thinking quickly, he lashed out and chomped into the beast's neck, tearing out more of its armored flesh. It shrieked and shook him off, the chunk of purple meat beginning to slowly fade away on the breeze, a rust color slowly making its way over the slab.
"Rust?" Ben asked out loud before the Omnitrix started beeping. In a flash of red, he reverted to human again. He looked at the thrashing monster and his eyes went wide when he noticed the wound was quickly healing itself. He raced over to Mercury, sword still in hand, and shoved the limestone debris away from.
"Lemme," Mercury coughed, "Lemme guess. Time to run?"
"Time to run!" Ben confirmed, helping his unlikely ally to his feet.
They both darted towards the exit of the old temple, the Jabber roaring behind them. The creature's heavy footsteps echoed throughout the chamber, causing dust and debris to rain down from the ceiling.
As they reached the entrance, a gust of wind whipped through the temple, sending a shiver down Ben's spine. He glanced back and saw the Jabber charging towards them with even greater speed. This thing, whatever it was, was insane!
Mercury, in an attempt to slow it down, fired off some rounds to try and cause some cave-ins here and there. Shotgun rounds fired off and shattered stone, taking out some structural support and bring down makeshift barricades. They would have worked if the Jabberwalker didn't just burst through the walls on the other side, completely bypassing.
"That didn't work!" Ben stated the obvious.
"I KNOW!" Mercury yelled.
Eventually, the two made their way back to the entrance, the sandstorm still raging outside. Between a raging storm and a killer monster, the storm seemed like the safer option. Ben looked down to the watch and smacked a few times in desperation, hoping for that trademark green flash.
"Come on...come on...!" Ben muttered.
With his eyes focused on the watch, Mercury's were focused on the outside...and realized that the monster chasing them wasn't their only problem anymore. Standing in the middle of the sandstorm was a cloaked figure, their cape blowing in the raging winds. The finer details were hard to tell with all the sand in the air but one thing was dangerously clear. They were armed, bow in hand and arrow already nocked. And they were aiming right at Mercury's head.
"DOWN!" Mercury yelled, grabbing Ben and pulling him to the floor as the arrow flew, racing over the two's heads and stabbing into the older Jabberwalker.
"THIEF! DECEIVER! OUTSIDER!" the Jabber roared at the newcomer.
Ben looked back up, eyes wide with hope. The cloak was red, just like her's. The weapon seemed to be different, but there was a chance. Could it be…?
"Ruby?" Ben muttered.
The figure rushed in with incredible speed. Their face was completely covered, hood up and a scarf wrapped around their neck, covering their mouth and chin. Ben couldn't tell who it was under there, but he was hoping. The figure engaged in a duel with the Jabberwalker, the latter's claws coming down and catching against the metal bow the wanderer wielded. This ghost from the dunes shoved away the claws and began to slash at the beast with blades on the ends of the bow. The fighting style was...different, unknown to both Mercury and Ben.
Who was this person?
"FIGHT! WIN! DESTROY!" the Jabber shrieked.
"That's not Ruby." Mercury frowned, immediately crushing Ben's mood.
But who else could it be then? The fighting style was unlike anything the two had seen before.
The Jabberwalker stabbed forward with its claws, missing the desert ghost by mere inches. Time seemed to slow down before the mystery woman slashed through the Jabber's wrist, cutting off its hand. The severed appendage thudded to the ground and quickly began to rust away as the beast roared in pain. It looked to its opponent, rage no doubt filling its eyes behind that mask. With a swift motion, the wanderer swapped out her bladed bow for a pair of trusty daggers. With ease and precision, the desert ghost thrust her weapons into the sides of this older Jabber's throat. The beast choked as the blades pierced its armored hide, the rusted tips emerged from either side of the Jabberwalker's throat.
"L-lying...cOpIng...gRievIng," the Jabber hissed, using the last of its strength to grip its killer's shoulder. Unseen by the other two, this ghost's eyes narrowed in anger as the dying demon struck a nerve. She quickly and violently removed her blade from the monster, partially severing the Jabber's head from its shoulders. The monster let out a final, deathly hiss as it fell onto its back.
"Woah..." Ben muttered, getting up off the sand along with Mercury. He was about to thank whoever this was, before she quickly turned to them, swiftly bringing back the bow, arrow already knocked, aiming it at the duo. Ben and Mercury held up their hands in surrender.
"Yeah, shoulda figured this'd happen," Mercury sighed.
"Which one of you," the wanderer sneered, "Which one of you freed it?!" Her eyes looked over them, almost like she was searching for something. Her eyes finally settled on the sword in Ben's hand. She stormed over to him and angrily snatched the blade away from him, lowering the bow and putting the arrow back in a quiver on the back of her waist.
"Freed-?" Ben muttered, before shooting an angry glance at Mercury.
"Oh, yeah. Sure. Like I knew the thing was still ali-" Mercury began, before he was cut off with a right hook to the jaw, flooring him. The hit was much harder than he was expecting, Were it not for his Aura, he's pretty sure that his jaw would've been shattered.
"The hell are your gloves made of?!" Mercury yelled in pain, rubbing the place where the wanderer's fist connected to him.
"Leather. It's my fist you actually need to worry about..." the wanderer sighed, "You're just lucky it was old. Rusted, time-worn," the stranger scoffed, looking over the rusty blade in her hands.
"Who...who are you?" Ben finally ventured to ask.
"The Jaded Thief," the wanderer answered.
"The hell kinda name is that?" Mercury asked, getting back to his feet. Shit, that hit would be stinging for a while.
"One I've earned. Believe me."
"Well, thanks for the save from that...thing," Ben said.
"Jabberwalker," the Thief corrected.
"Jabber...wait, I've heard that before," Ben muttered.
"Jabberwalker, Jaded Thief, what's next? Lady Living in a Shoe?" Mercury scoffed, "Those are all fairy tales. Plus, a Jabberwalker's not some weird...monkey-looking thing. It's a snake."
"A snake...right," the Thief sighed and adjusted her goggles. As she did so, the sandstorm outside seemed to die down, unnaturally quickly too.
"Hmph. Good timing on the storm," the Thief nodded," You were right to come to the Three Pharaohs. There's a town to the north of them. I can guide you, get you some water, help you find your way out."
"First piece of good news I've heard all day," Mercury sighed.
"You serious? We went here thinking there'd be life." Ben huffed.
"Yeah. Good intentions, wrong mindset." The thief said. Ben raised an eyebrow as he scanned her up and down a few times.
"...you seem familiar." He hummed.
"I get that a lot," the Thief smirked under her scarf, "Now, come on. I've walked the dunes long enough to know them like the back of my hand."
"Which must be made of fucking steel," Mercury grumbled.
"You can either whine like a hyena pup or get over it and follow me," the Thief spun the rusty blade in her hand, before handing it back to Ben, "In case something else decides you and your friend would make a good meal."
"Uh, thanks..." Ben said, gently taking the sword and looking it over again. Why did it feel wrong to hold this?
You know why. That Knight, the one you saw on the pillars? He was a Hero. He sealed away the...what'd she call it, a Jabberwalker? They sealed it away and then you walk right in and mess it all up. If the thief wasn't here, who knows how many more lives we can add to your body count? the cruel doubts whispered in Ben's mind.
Mercury was the one that pulled the blade out. And if you say I should just keep him on a shorter leash, I'm not his keeper. He'll probably bounce by tomorrow. Find his own way out... Ben mentally countered.
Yeah. And you're fine with that? The voice scoffed. You're gonna let him go? After what he did?
I mean, there's not much ELSE to do with him. I dunno how to get out of here. And neither does he. Ben countered again.
Then he'll just do what he always does. He might break someone's neck if he doesn't like the answer to a question of his. You'd rest easy knowing that's a possibility? the venomous jabs would be smirking right now, if they could.
Is it possible you ALSO don't have an answer on how to handle him? Ben frowned.
Yeah, but at least I admit it.
Oh, well if all I need to is admit I have an answer, you'll go away? Ben snarked.
You wish, Benji. But, less on trying to figure out me and more focus on them.
"Hey, Tennyson!" Mercury yelled, "You comin' or what?" Mercury and the Jaded Thief were already outside of the pyramid, looking back to Ben as he stood in the darkness of the pyramid entrance, still holding the sword in his hands.
"Huh? Oh! Uh, y-yeah," Ben said, rushing to meet up with them.
Seriously. Where is this voice coming from? Ben thought. I've never really had anything so...awful in my mind. Even at my lowest.
Ben paused.
Is...this my new lowest?
It certainly felt like it. Atlas was gone, Salem now had half of the Relics she needed to summon forth the Brothers, the same Brothers who not only cursed her, but also said they'd bring judgment day down on the whole world next time, Eunice was...was gone, and his friends...there were so many unknowns there. Ruby and the others had fallen and, as evidenced by himself and Mercury, his theory was right. A pocket created by the Staff wasn't capable of killing, but now, he'd have to scour this whole place to find the others. The engagement knife began to feel heavier and heavier in his pocket.
And then there were those who hadn't fallen. How was Penny holding up? Or Albedo or Kylie? To them, everyone who didn't make it through to Vacuo was dead. He could only imagine how much pain they were going through. Penny at least had a body to bury, as morbid as that sounded as "good news."
Please...please stay strong, you guys, Ben hoped.
"So, those suns...do they ever move?" Mercury asked. About forty minutes after the Jaded Thief found the hero and villain duo at the Greater Pharaoh, the tallest of the trio of pyramids the two had discovered.
"Not here. Each acre has their own...strange flow of time," the Thief explained, "Some don't seem to move at all, stuck in perpetual day or night. For the others, each one operates on their own. Day in one acre would be night in another."
"Acre...how many are there?" Ben asked.
"Ha! Counting them would be like counting the stars in the sky. I've been to a few, though. The Viridescent Cathedral, the Volcanic Range, the Crimson Kingdom. Only go to that last one when I need to."
"Do you think my friends ended up in any of them?" Ben asked. "I'm looking for them- one of them is goth with a red and black outfit, another has a big white ponytail...or braid or something, the other has cat ears and the last one is blonde with big muscles. Oh, and there's a lady who LOOKS like the word 'ice cream'. And...well, someone I want to consider a friend, she's got green hair and red eyes."
"Haven't seen any of them." The thief said. "I'd know if they ended up here though. Word spreads fast in this desert."
"Yeah that...that tracks. Thanks, anyway," Ben sighed.
"When we get to town, you can ask around. People from other acres have started coming around for trade. In time, the Haven might actually come to rival the Garden in terms of popularity."
"That your home? The Haven?"
"The Crystal Haven, yes. In fact," the Thief stopped and looked to the horizon. Mercury and Ben followed her gaze to see a towering obelisk, easily the height of an Atlesian or New York office tower, made entirely of clear diamond. The sunlight shone down into the obelisk, letting the construct shine with rainbow reflections. Built around the obelisk in perfect circles were various limestone buildings, be they homes or shops, each decorated with various glass adornments. Stained glass windows were the most common here. One building did stand out, resembling a more modern observatory with a rounded roof perfect for storing a telescope. A simple wooden fence formed the outermost ring of the crystal-focused settlement with four gates that served as the entrances and exits.
The Thief pushed open one of the gates and led her two guests into the settlement. At first, it seemed like the town was abandoned. Mercury just thought the thief was insane for a moment, but he was quickly disproven. With a shimmering sound and a warbling of the air around them, the villagers themselves seemed to appear from thin air. Each one was a short and round little humanoid beetle made of stained glass. Some sported horns like rhino or stag beetles, some had the antennae of longhorn beetles, and some even sported spots of different colored glass on their shells.
"Welcome back!" one of the beetles waved.
"And with guests! We can fetch them some water if you'd like!" another offered.
"Please do. They've been out there for far too long," the Thief accepted. With that, two of the villagers curled up into balls and rolled away to get some water for their new guests.
"Your village...is full of beetle people?" Mercury asked.
"They're called Dune Dwellers, thank you." The thief scoffed. "They're peaceful, making a living by foraging for stuff in the sand. Wouldn't believe what they can find out there. This place is like a giant lost and found. I've been living with them for the better part of a year."
"A year?" Ben asked. "Are you not from here like us?"
"I've been down here for 3 years." The thief answered. "Crazy story..."
"What...what happened to you?"
"Not a story to be shared in public. This way," she gestured and led them further into the town. As they walked, the two little Dune Dwellers from before rolled up to Mercury and Ben with canteens full of fresh, cool, water. The two happily took the two glass containers, undid the tops, and chugged some of the water.
"Never appreciated just...normal water until now," Mercury sighed in relief.
"Ditto," Ben huffed.
"Yeah, twin suns would make dehydration worse," the thief smirked. Eventually, the trio come to what was probably the Jaded Thief's home. It wasn't anything extravagant or anything, just a simple, two-story limestone house with green stained-glass windows.
"Nice place. Like the colors." Ben said with a small smirk.
"The Crimson Kingdom sure doesn't." The thief huffed, opening their door. "Make yourself at home." Ben and Mercury stepped inside, and were pleasantly surprised to see something liveable- a few pieces of furniture, a bed, and some 'decorations'.
"Sweet digs." Mercury said, flopping on a couch.
"Thanks. The house was...a bit of a fixer upper, being honest. The original owner would've loved to see what I've done with the place."
"And...what happened to them?" Ben inquired.
"The old Jabberwalker did. Back before it got sealed away...and then that idiot decided to pull the sword out."
"Because Ben needed a weapon outside of a glitchy watch," Mercury defended, "I'm justified here."
"It's not glitchy. Just sorta...random." Ben twisted the dial to show his point. "See? All the icons are indecipherable. I'm fine; I can adapt. No need for a giant sword."
"I still say you should keep it. It's not even that big. Besides, if you didn't need it, why'd you bring it with?"
Mercury...had a good point at that one. Why did he bring it? He looked down at the sword again and he couldn't help but feel, at least, calmer while he held it. Maybe it was the idea of what that Knight was to the people around here. A hero, a protector, both of which were what Ben strived to be, even if he...wasn't doing the best job at either of those right now. He failed to save Atlas, he failed to protect Ruby, Eunice, and so many others in the span of a few hours. Did the Knight ever struggle to protect these people? Did he ever falter in this convictions? Or was he the closest thing to the perfect hero out there?
"Now, I told you that my story wasn't one to be shared in public," the Thief said, grabbing Ben's attention from his thoughts on the sword, "Well...this is where I'm comfortable sharing it."
"Please, enlighten us." Mercury said.
"It's true, I'm not from here. I'm a foreigner. I fell from the sky, like you guys did. And I ended up here. And...I found this hourglass." The thief explained. "It was big, like the size of a car or something."
"Out in one of the pyramids?" Ben asked.
"Not the ones you two went to, no. This one was...much farther out there. A sandstorm had rolled in and it looked like a perfect place to take shelter."
"Huh, deja vu," Mercury muttered.
"But on the hourglass. Curiosity got the better of me, so I reached out and touched it. And at first, it just flipped over, let the sand slip back into the empty portion. But then it flipped again. And again. It was getting faster and faster and I began to panic. I looked behind me...I saw the sandstorm go in reverse. I panicked. I reached out to try and stop it, got clocked in the jaw for my troubles. So...I picked up a rock and tossed it. The hourglass shattered in an explosion of sand, glass and...and light. I must've been knocked out from the blast, because when I next woke up...I was being cared for by some of the Dwellers. Would you believe that they actually have camels down here? Also made of glass, of course."
"Of course," Ben said with a little smirk.
"So, who...are you exactly? You haven't exactly answered the question." Mercury crossed his arms.
The thief took a deep breath. "This should explain everything." She said, pulling out her weapon. "I'm calm enough..."
"The bow?"
"No. Well...sort of," the Thief said, "Just watch."
The two guests of the Haven watched as the Thief's bow began to glimmer and ripple, just like how the Dune Dwellers appeared. Within seconds, the weapon completely disappeared and was replaced by two very familiar long-barreled revolvers. The jungle green paint that once decorated them had been chipped away in places, no doubt due to the elements themselves, revealing the sheer, dull gray metal beneath. Ben's eyes went wide before he looked up to the Jaded Thief, while Mercury practically leapt back from the revelation in fear.
"Emerald?" Ben asked.
"Emerald?!" Mercury shouted at the same time.
"Well, not the same Emerald you knew, but...yeah. Surprise. When the hourglass broke...the energies inside it must've done something to me," the newly redeemed villain explained, "It...changed me. Took some getting used to but three years is more than enough time."
"And you expect me to believe that you just...what, moved on? I know Emerald Sustrai and she would've held a grudge against me. I threw over the side, could've killed her. I tore her away from Ho-" Mercury ranted.
"Say her name and I'll give you exactly what you want," Emerald threatened, "My time down here didn't just...didn't just change me up here," the thief tapped the side of her head, "It also...changed me physically."
"What...what do you mean?" Ben ventured. Instead of answering with words, Emerald began to remove the protective cloth around her face. She lowered her hood, unraveled the scarf around her face, and raised her goggles. In a world based on fairy tale logic, titles could have double meanings more often than naught. And in Emerald's case, being the "Jaded" Thief was all too literal. Instead of flesh and bone, the illusionist's body was now made entirely out of finely cut, light-green crystal; one could almost say she was made of jade and her red eyes now resembled rubies. Ben couldn't believe his eyes. Here, in a darker space, it was easy to make out Emerald's features, but out there in the desert, it was probably almost impossible to see her without the hood and scarf.
"Oh...oh my god..." Ben muttered.
"I've gotten used to it. Does mean I have a pretty strong right hook now," Emerald chuckled wryly.
"And you haven't...tried to fix it?" Mercury asked.
"Once or twice. Tried to open a portal out of here. Maybe to another acre or something. The energy just...fizzled out every time."
"How did...this all happen?" Ben asked. "Don't tell me this place changes you or something." New fear unlocked- seeing Ruby as a totally different thing by the time he got to her.
"I...wish I could tell you. It just happened." Emerald shrugged.
"Was it not the hourglass?" Mercury asked, still very on edge now.
"I thought that for a while, yeah. But then the Dwellers said there was nothing like that. So..."
"You...you said you were calm enough earlier?" Ben wondered.
"The bow. Thief's Respite only comes back when I'm calm enough for some reason. Must be part of whatever did this to me, hourglass or no. And this," the Thief tapped a portion of her chest. Her finger didn't actually touch anything, moving a bit further down than it should've.
"You have...you just have a chunk of your chest missing?!" Mercury yelled.
"Believe me, I freaked out too when I first learned. It's...it's scary. Just a clean cut circle in my chest. The Dwellers said that if I find the missing piece then I should be able to go back to normal."
"Do they just tell you everything? The Dwellers said this, the Dwellers said that, what do you know?"
"Not much, honestly. Everything I know about this acre has come from them. You're one to talk, Mr. 'I'm Totally Fine With Following Salem's Orders Without Question,'" Emerald jabbed.
"Not the Emerald we knew huh? That sounds like the old Em," Mercury said, allowing himself a small smirk.
Ben just kept staring. "...that's...that's freaky."
"Yeah. Stop staring. It won't go away if you keep on doing it." Emerald frowned, as she covered her body back up.
"So how do we get out of this place? This...acre?" Mercury asked, getting them back on track.
"I know where the bridge is. Close by fortunately, but-" Emerald was cut off when there was a knock at her door. She held up a finger and moved over to answer. The one responsible for the sudden interruption was a small scarab-like Dweller made of blue glass.
"Well, hello there. What can I help you with?" Emerald asked, kneeling down to be eye-level with the beetle person.
"Is that them?" the Dweller asked, pointing at Mercury and Ben.
"Mhm. Lemme guess, the usual?"
"Yep!"
"Can we get...five, ten more minutes? I know punctuality is important to him, but they just arrived."
"Huh?" Ben muttered.
"Oh, it's, it's nothing. Just a formality from one of the oldest people in town," Emerald reassured her guests.
"Formality?" Ben repeated.
"There's someone here who 'controls the stars'- basically, he guides you if you're lost or something." Emerald explained. "Tradition states you HAVE to do it...it kinda helps."
"So in other words, one of those crazy local things that make absolutely no sense unless you're from here," Mercury scoffed, "Yeah, pass."
"Look, I had my doubts too but it worked out for me. It's harmless."
"Then why are you still emerald? Literally, I mean."
"That's not-"
"You said it's harmless, right?" Ben asked.
"Yeah. You just need to stand there and let him do his thing," Emerald confirmed.
Ben looked down at his hands. It was barely noticeable, but they were shaking. His heart felt like it was wavering, too. Everything around him just felt too big and alien; it was overwhelming. He didn't know where he was, what would happen, or why this happened...but he needed some semblance of balance to hang on to.
"...I'll do it."
"Are you serious? You're gonna do some crazy desert-" Mercury went on.
"You might be fine with things right now...but I'm not. This," Ben balled his hands into fists, trying to steady himself, "I need this."
"Fine with thin-hell no, I'm not ok with this. Ok, fine. Fuck it. I'll do it too."
"Great! Um...one question," the Dweller asked, "What was that word he just said? The gray one?"
"...ohhhh please don't tell me they don't know what cursing is down here," Mercury pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Don't sully their language," Ben said, standing back up. "Take us to him, if you would."
The Dweller nodded, and started to lead Ben and Mercury out. Mercury paused before he left, to glance at Emerald.
"You coming?"
"No. I'll stop by when you're done," Emerald nodded.
"What, you scared or something?"
"No. I have other duties around here. I'm...something of a protector around here. Help out wherever I can," the thief allowed herself a quick smirk. In truth, unknown to the others, she wanted to take her mind off of things. The duo's presence was enough to bring certain feelings back to the surface, feelings that Emerald thought she'd come to terms with years ago now. But now they were back, stinging like an old wound that was just reopened.
"...damn it." Emerald muttered, as Mercury left. "Why now?" She looked down at her new...no, they were old to her now, hands. They looked cracked and broken, like at any given moment, with one well placed blow, she would shatter.
Would these two be the ones to do it?
Emerald couldn't say.
And while she quickly marched off to deal with the problems of the villagers, something that was thankfully routine to her by now, her words still reached Ben. She had no idea, of course, but the word protector...the whole time he was walking after the little beetle man, the word was echoing in his head.
Protector. Emerald had found her own anchor, her own purpose down here and from what he could tell, her being here was for the better. This town really did seem to prosper with her around.
Protector. That was the title both Penny and Eunice wore with pride not even a day ago, the Protectors of Mantle. Just like Emerald, they made the harsh life of Mantle better, just like the Happy Huntresses did.
"Protector." Such a loaded word, isn't it? So lofty, but so easy to fail at being one, the venomous whispers said, taking Ben's focus away from everything else in the town.
It's a nice word. Ben thought. I'm happy that Emerald's at least found some peace in that title. Even if...it came at a cost.
A cost? There's always going to be a cost in the world. Spend one moment saving someone else? It cost you a different life. The voice hissed. Take your sweet time dealing with a threat? It will cost you your peace. This is equal exchange; it's the law of nature.
The law of nature. That's what teams are for. Can't be everywhere at once. Emerald's been doing this on her own for...what she said was three years and it looks like she hasn't lost anyone, Ben countered.
Without a team. Contradicting yourself almost immediately eh? That tracks with everything that's happened lately, the venomous mental voice chuckled.
Sometimes, I can handle myself. I don't always need a shoulder to rest on. Ben argued.
...what about Vilgax? Your greatest failure with the biggest cost. Defeat him. Lost his world. How does that now weigh down so heavily on you?
You think it doesn't? I was a KID when I fought him the first time! Ten year olds don't have the best comprehension of moral nuance! Back then, he was just another bad guy. Just a villain who wanted to hurt people I called friend. Then I grew up and I learned what motivated him. He wanted to be a hero, a protector to HIS people...but it all went wrong for him. He...he fell...
He fell metaphorically...you fell literally. What if that happens to you? What if you break the same way he did? The same way the Collector did? That Vengeance did?
That made Ben's eyes visibly widen. His mind flashed back to those two alternate versions of himself. Prisoner had lost everyone because of Salem and Vengeance had lost Atlas and those he cared for to Cinder. Oh my god. This...this is what Paradox meant, what Vengeance let drive him. This loss. This was just the future where he fell too! Oh god.
Ben took a deep breath, and looked down at his shaking hand. It stopped.
...I never did think things through in the long run. I always saw Point A to Point B as the end. There was no beyond. As I got older, I questioned the punches I threw. The face getting punched always had a reason they were the way they were- whether it be pettiness or scared confusion over their planet after being locked away for so long. Vilgax's story haunts me. He was a hero with questionable methods trying to restore himself. I never stopped to ask why he was the way he was. I just...chose violence.
And what? Are you saying you've grown? Last I checked, you chose violence on another, pretty important enemy. Ironwood. Tell me if this sounds familiar, a man is forced into a desperate situation with seemingly no way to win. In a drastic act, he delves into some morally questionable acts in order to protect his people. That's just Vilgax to a t. And just like with him, you and your friends come along and just smash all his efforts. Even before he went all dictator! You went behind his back, snooping around for any dirt you could find! You wanted to throw him out! Blake just gave you the excuse you needed, the excuse you wanted! You didn't care about the Aura Transfer, you just wanted off your damn leash! the malignant mental voice shouted.
None of what you just said...was true. Ben frowned. There's a thing called "development"- the kid I was yesterday is the person I cringe at thinking back now. Bad qualities can be eroded. Better ones can replace them with ease. Besides...if I let a thing like that weigh me down, I'd never be able to stand up again. I need to get back to what I've been meaning to do ever since I landed here. Find my friends, and find a way out. I can't...I can't focus on that now.
Oh, yeah, just brush all the problems under the rug. That'll work out well for you, the voice smirked. Ben was about to retort, but he was cut off.
"We're here!" the scarab man announced, happily showing off the building as if it was the greatest architectural achievement the acre had ever seen. In truth, it was just that limestone observatory the duo saw on their way in.
"Oh! That's uh, that's neat." Ben said politely.
"Let's just get this over with..." Mercury huffed, as he brushed past the scarab man.
"Oh-wha-h-hey!" the Dweller sputtered before turning back to Ben, "Is he always like that?"
"I think this is him on a good day," Ben huffed.
"You know...I don't say this often, but I don't think I like him," the Dweller crossed his arms. Ben could only shake his head, a bit amused at how simple the Dune Dwellers could be. It was kinda endearing. With that, Ben walked into the observatory and, honestly, it was like stepping back in time. While the outside might have given off an Egyptian vibe, the interior almost made him think of a Victorian-era observatory. Papers and diagrams littered the walls and numerous, each one completely covered in scrawled notes and sketches. Some of the papers, instead of covered in notes, were large scale sketches of the twin suns and some of the stars in the alien sky of this acre. The ticking of wooden gears echoed throughout the stony interior, giving Ben flashbacks of Ozpin's office back at Beacon. He remembered when he first met the headmaster...and the first lie he and Ruby told him.
Good question, the cruel voice muttered, what WOULD Ozpin think of you trapping Servantis like that?
Ben just shook his head to try and quiet the words.
"Hello? Mercury? Uh Mr...Elder? Sir? The...little guy outside never mentioned your name?" Ben called out, his words echoing out, almost lost among the various ticks and tocks of the gears.
"Tennyson, over here!" Mercury shouted, drawing Ben over to a workspace in the back of the observatory. Papers upon papers of theses, notes, and sketches were stacked up high on the desk, a large, primitive-looking but powerful telescope loomed in the back. So they were probably in the massive dome visible from outside then. Scrawling down notes and adjusting his lenses was the owner of the observatory, the Astronomer. Much like the other Dune Dwellers, the Astronomer was a giant beetle, a scarab much like his assistant from earlier in fact, with a reflective and shining carapace of light-blue glass. Unlike the other beetles though, he wasn't made entirely of the glass, just his shell was. He also sported two pairs of arms with the upper two being larger and heavier, no doubt meant for the heavier lifting while the lower two were for the tasks in need of more finesse. He was clad in a violet robe with a purple sash acting as a belt with a dark purple hood, the interior decorated with a black void and sparkling white stars, reminding Ben of a Celestialsapien. It was as if this Dune Dweller held the very stars themselves within his cloak. His eyes were actually a pair of telescopes themselves, their lenses closing and shuttering as he blinked a few times.
"Let's see...if my calculations are correct then I believe I've just figured out the aphelion for the Dragon Tailed Comet! Unless of course, I erred in my math somewhere. Perhaps I forgot to carry the three?" the Astronomer muttered aloud.
"Hey, old timer," Mercury interjected, crossing his arms, "You the one with the stupid tradition?"
"Ah! Of course! The two newcomers! Forgive me, I get so absorbed in my work," the elderly beetle chuckled before shuffling out from behind the mountains of papers, "But yes, I am the one who summoned you. They call me the Astronomer, he who watches and studies the heavens above. And for your information," he poked Mercury in the chest with one of his larger hand's fingers, "The tradition is not stupid. It can be quite a help to those that need a little bit of a nudge in the right direction. A guiding star they can follow."
"Uh-huh, riiiiight..." Mercury rolled his eyes, "Now I see why Em bought what you were selling."
"Selling? Sir, I ask nothing in return for this! I believe that all Afterans should have a map to their purposes! Even if they're too young to have one yet!"
"Afterans. The Dune Dwellers?" Ben asked.
"The Dune Dwellers, the Paper Pleasers, the Garden Gifters, the Gallant Gamepieces, even the Lively Carpenter!" the Astronomer happily listed off, "Afteran is simply what we all are, those who live in the Ever After. Surely our Jaded Thief explained that to you already."
"As...much of this place as she could, yeah," Mercury scoffed.
"What is...purpose, to you, I mean?" Ben asked.
"In essence, purpose is the driving force behind intentional action." The Astronomer said. "It's the reason why we wake up every day and do what we do. It can be personal, such as finding happiness or fulfillment, or it can be external, such as making a positive impact on something dear. Purpose is what gives our lives meaning and direction. Sometimes...there can be interruptions in that purpose. People can so easily lose their way. Purpose is not something that's set in stone. It can evolve and change throughout our lives as we grow and experience new things. Much like stars above."
"And...what happens when your purpose does change?"
"What a silly question! What happens? Why, we change too! And then we get back on track!" the Astronomer chuckled, reminding the Omnitrix's wielder of a certain old, self-exiled Jedi.
"So what, your little map's supposed to tell us how we're meant to change?" Mercury asked.
"Somewhat, yes! A cousin of mine, out in greener pastures, does something similar. The only difference is that mine's a bit more...clean than his method. No smoke, bad for the lungs," the Astronomer explained.
"Good to know." Ben said, looking up at the sky full of stars. They shined just as bright as the ones on Earth, maybe even brighter. The voice seemed to be quiet when he was tranquil.
Good. Ben didn't need that negativity. He didn't need to focus on that. Just needed to push forward, and get…something.
"Hm...you need this, don't you?" the Astronomer tilted his head.
"Of course I don't, Tennyson just-" Mercury scoffed.
"Not you. This...Tennyson," the Astronomer sounded out his visitor's name, the word unfamiliar to him.
"That's my last name. Just, just Ben works, thanks. And...honestly, yeah. I think I do," Ben nodded.
"Wonderful. Pay attention, my skeptical friend, and you will see how the stars can help!" the Astronomer beamed as his mandibles clicked together. He clapped his larger hands together, and in an instant, the rest of the workshop was suddenly swallowed up by a starry void. Ben, Mercury and the Astronomer were now just standing on pure space. Mercury took a few steps back in surprise, his steps making the "floor" ripple under him like he stepped in a puddle. The Astronomer snapped his fingers and summoned up a large glass staff, topped off with an oaken gear that sported a perfect sapphire situated in the middle.
"Do I just…ask what I need to see? Or do you just show me?" Ben asked, still unsure.
"I can tell things about my visitors just by looking at them. And with you, I see that there's a conflict in your head. Your voice, arguing with a new one. It only belittles you, mocks you, drags you down to your lowest." The Astronomer said.
"How did you know?"
"Not the first person who's come through here with that. While I won't share too many details, I can tell you that a certain...stealthy individual had a similar problem. Now...allow me to be clear, this will not get rid of the voice."
"...oh..."
"Only you can fully conquer it. But, hopefully, the stars can help you there," the Astronomer quickly added, definitely picking up on the sadness in Ben's voice there. The star-studying beetle reached up and spun the gear atop his staff. Faster and faster it spun, making the void, both under Ben's feet and above Mercury's head, spin along with it. Stars raced by as streaks of light as it felt like the entire world was suddenly given a spin and only these three people were standing still in the middle of it. From the cosmic streaks that flew by underneath Ben, some of them stopped and began to take shape.
"There they are. Your star signs," the Astronomer nodded, "Coming in clearly."
"Star signs? You mean constellations?" Ben asked.
"I believe so. Different names for the same thing," the beetle man clicked in curiosity. The void and the cog-top began to slow both under and above Ben and Mercury, much to the latter's relief. Looking at it all was starting to make him feel dizzy. Once the void came to a full stop, several stars first had together under Ben's feet, connected by several lines of light that drew out the shape of a shield. By human standards, this was the constellation of Scutum, the Shield.
"The Bulwark," the Astronomer nodded, "Protection, safety. That's what you want to do for people. You wish to provide them safety, security. You want to protect them. I've seen the shield before, but just like the first time...your sign is hazy. Muddled."
"Because...I don't think I can protect anyone anymore. I couldn't protect important people from the biggest threat my world's ever faced," Ben sighed.
"Your world has a Jabberwalker as well?"
"Not exactly. She's worse than a weird...purple...whatever animal that thing's supposed to represent."
"If capable, I would shiver at the thought," the Astronomer stroked his chin as he saw the stars become disconnected and rearrange into another shape. Instead of an item, the second star sign to appear under Ben was one that could almost be considered a humanoid stick-figure. To those of Remnant, it was Hercules. To the Astronomer, it was something a bit more and, in truth, it was the blurriest sign that he'd ever seen. The stars and the connecting lines flickered in and out as if they were a neon sign with bad bulbs.
"The Hero," the Astronomer noted. The word made Ben cringe for a moment.
"You believe yourself to be one...or at least, you did. But something shook that faith. What you lost...?" the Astronomer went on.
"Two whole cities...I tried to save both, when someone wanted to leave one to...to die," Ben explained.
"To die? What is...ahh, you lost those cities to your Jabberwalker."
"Two cities, a close friend who's life had only just begun in earnest...and my Jabber is closer than ever to destroying the world."
The Astronomer took the words in and stroked his chin in thought. He'd heard worrying tales before, the most harrowing up to now was Emerald's, but this actually gave him pause. He adjusted one of his telescope eye-lenses like Maria would before the stars once again disconnected and rearranged. The final constellation was a humanoid figure in a pose that suggested some kind of distress. In Earthly terms, this was Andromeda. Unlike Scutum and Hercules, this sign was fully bright, no signs of dimming or blinking.
"...the Noble Sacrifice," the Astronomer said somberly, "You are willing to lay down your existence if it means saving another, especially those you care for."
"Without a doubt," Ben said confidently.
"I see," the Astronomer's mandibles clicked and he motioned for Ben to stand aside, "I need time to form a suggestion. In the meantime, Mister uh..."
"Mercury and fine. Let's this mumbo jumbo over with," Mercury sighed as he walked past Ben. He stood with his arms crossed where Ben once did and once again the Astronomer made the void above and below them all spin in sync with the cog atop the crystal staff. Similarly, stars raced by and gathered beneath Mercury, no doubt assembling to reveal his star signs. Just like with Ben, the stars collected beneath the assassin's feet and formed into a constellation, Dracon.
"The Dragon. Ferocious, powerful, often symbolizing rivalries, both friendly and not," the Astronomer noted.
"Oh yeah, that fits," Mercury said smugly, "Blondie, Watch Boy himself over there-"
The stars flickered when he said that.
"You're not saying someone. You're not saying the friendly rivalry. You may not be on the best of terms...but it is there," the beetle man pointed out.
"...whatever," Mercury huffed as the stars shifted into an insectoid form, Scorpio.
"The Burrower. Your nature is often a source of conflict for others...and yourself. Connections, upbringing. All these things make you believe you are unable to change."
Mercury didn't respond to that one. For a minute, a split second, he could've sworn he saw that ghostly asshole's visage behind the Astronomer.
"Greaaaaat," the assassin sighed. As for the final one, the Astronomer took note of something special. He'd never seen this star sign before. What did it-
His eyes went wide and he let out a surprised gasp, almost dropping the staff and quickly snapping away the void.
"What? What is it?" Ben asked, concerned.
"That...that is…a first. I have never actually seen that sign before." the Astronomer hummed in thought, "I must consult my books, only then I can discern its meaning. I do not mean to sound rude, but I require solitude for this."
Ben and Mercury shared a look, before promptly leaving. Ben turned back to thank the Astronomer, but he seemed mighty distressed. The Astronomer was pacing around and muttering something to themselves, over and over again.
"What does this mean for him? What could this possibly mean for this visitor's future?" The old timer muttered.
Ben made a face, before turning to walk out.
"That was a waste of time." Mercury huffed.
"Still think that huh?" Ben asked.
"He was supposed to 'guide us' and instead he just shoves us out. Of course I do. C'mon, let's go tell Em her therapist didn't exactly work out for us," the assassin motioned and marched off to find the Jaded Thief. The watch-wielder looked back to the observatory one last time before following Mercury.