Chapter 19: Past's Intervention
One Week Ago
"Are you doing okay?" asks Yaoyorozu.
The time was after school and by her request to talk, Midoriya had called her to his house.
He didn't know what got Yaoyorozu so troubled. Yesterday, she had just stormed off after seeing Ben's newest transformation, Chromastone.
And today, in the battle trial, she seemed fine to him.
But… if there really was something still bothering her and she thought he could help, then he was up for the task…
But this…
The matter his classmate greeted him with though… It was nothing short of revolutionary!
"I hope it wasn't too much to handle." She leans forward. "If it makes you feel better, this is all just speculation on my part."
"N-No no…" Midoriya waved his hands. "I'm fine, I just need a minute… to believe it."
He leaned back on his desk chair, looking up at the smooth white ceiling of his room.
"An ex-vigilante… No, an ex-hero…"
He lightly rotated with the chair, swinging left and right… using his legs to push or stop.
Keeping his mouth closed for the first time, and just… taking it in.
However, right after surprise, excitement was his very next emotion. And even his heart felt like it could just explode with how quick the turn was.
The whole timeline of events raced through his head, putting pieces one after the other.
Tennyson's attitude about holding back during their training, the 100 points in the entrance exam, the fight at the mall… It should have all hit him sooner!
Battling villains, saving lives… Everything he had dreamed of doing since he was a kid and turns out, Tennyson had already done it! No wonder he had such confidence!
"That's why he has been trying to teach me at the beach too!" he thought.
In the meantime, Yaoyorozu was continuing to sit on the bed, with her feet dangling on the edge, and stepping on the ground.
She was watching as Midoriya silently moved around, but… she then turned her glance elsewhere. Staring that long at someone would be rude, regardless of whether they noticed.
But… She just couldn't help it.
This was a matter so close to her heart and… Was it right to just reveal suspicions about Tennyson like that?
I mean… she was practically accusing him, wasn't she? All because of some rough footage from back then? Even when Ben told him no?
She shook her head. "Momo, you fool… You should know better than that!"
As she figuratively slapped herself on the wrist though, she then heard the creak from Midoriya's chair.
His friend had straightened up, and was turning on his computer.
"Midoriya, what's the matter?"
"Hmm?" He babbled. "Oh, it's nothing, I just wanted to look at your video again."
"I see." He reconnected the camera to his computer, and the footage played once more.
Momo watched as well. Was there perhaps something Midoriya noticed about the crystal hero? Or maybe the monster that attacked her?
However, Midoriya didn't fast forward. And the footage stopped… on the flaming figure.
She caught him squinting. Her own eyes went wide with surprise. "Do you recognize him Midoriya?"
"Maybe..." he replies, minimizing the video, and going into some of his own files.
"I have never really known a lot about American heroes…" he said. "Here in Japan, there are already so many up and coming ones that I couldn't really get a chance to expand."
He finds the file he's looking for.
"But, sometimes, I admit I saw some trending videos here and there… before they were taken down."
He clicked on it, and the circle loading animation started.
"And one day, I just happened to get lucky."
The recording started… but to say it was unclear was an understatement. The camera was shaky, way more than her recording, and it was kind of… misty?
The skies were covered by dark clouds, there seemed to be lots of rain and thunder. From what she could make out there were tent-like stands which were selling… She couldn't tell.
"What's the situation here?" She forfeited and asked.
"I think it's the work of a villain with an emitter type quirk." Midoriya said. "He has created a giant monster to attack the music festival..."
"But why..?" Yaomomo asked and Midoriya just shrugged. It was understandable, the video was 5 years old.
The camera finally stabilized, and the towering monster came into view.
Yaoyorozu put a hand on her chin. "It seems to be made completely of water—"
Suddenly she saw the monster wave its tentacles at the people and the stands, absorbing them to his own mass!
"That's awful… If the people aren't saved soon, they will all run out of air!" She thought. It ravaged through the sites, knocking over tents, causing mass panic all around. Nothing was standing in his way.
It moved to destroy the stage set for the bands and…
"Hey, ugly!" Something bright and small hit it on the side of his head.
The resolution cleared up as the lens focused. It was the flaming hero from the waterfall!
He pointed to himself with his thumb. "You want to take a bite out of someone, try me!"
The monster responded in kind with his tentacles, but the figure quickly jumped up!
Fire gathered at the bottom of his feet and Yaomomo watched the hero coarse through the air, like he had just hitched a ride on a comet.
The villain's tentacles swerved through the air, trying to intercept, but the hero dodged at lightning speed!
He took a sharp turn in the air, and started raining streams of flames and sporadic fireballs, creating possibly the largest steambath the world had ever seen.
"Wow…" Yaoyorozu couldn't help but mutter. "He's quite proficient."
Another tentacle came the hero's way, but instead the hero cut through it with a blade of fire!
Midoriya picked up on her. "Yeah…"
The hero continued his acrobatics in the air, and gave the monster no rest with his attacks!
"Imagine seeing that in person…" he wondered. "To think that he could be, maybe, kind of, sort of, one of my masters."
Just like he had jinxed it though, a stream of water dropped right onto the hero! Extinguishing the comet and having him crash to the ground!
"Ow…" Midoriya winced and looked up to Yaoyorozu. However, she didn't look back. Her eyes were glued to the screen.
The flaming hero immediately got back up, and formed one more comet under his feet. However this time, he didn't aim for the monster.
He started circling him. The hero was fast, but if he was trying what Midoriya was thinking then—
Suddenly, four jets of fire appeared and roared from his back!
His speed raised to a whole new level, making the light from his fire into a twister!
The monster was completely overtaken and once all was said and done, the only thing that remained was all the debris, the people and… just some hot air.
The recording started to become static, before coming to a close.
Midoriya took a deep breath. "That's all there is—"
Momo however, leaned forward. "May I…" She gestured to the mouse, to which Midoriya gave her permission.
She rewinded back the footage back at the end, the final shot of the flaming magma hero standing proud after his defeated villain.
And at the center of it all, was the dial…
The white and gray hourglass dial…
The pieces landed in Midoriya's head too…
Anxiousness crept up. "I… I can check my other downloads as well."
He took the mouse back from her.
He didn't want this to be the end. "Maybe I got another hero with the symbol."
He starts clicking on his mouse, but Momo's words stop him.
With a hand over her mouth… "You had a recording like this as well?"
Midoriya stared with a dumbfounded expression.
The world suddenly felt like it was put on pause to him.
She… was right. He could have noticed! All his life, he chased after heroes, taking notes about their power into his notebook, so a similar signature symbol… No, *the same* signature symbol should have stood out to him!
"Y-Yeah, you're right, I could have noticed…" the words escaped out of his mouth.
He could have confronted Tennyson about it first, when they first met… .Andwaitdidn'thesayheonlyhadtenformsandheshowedtensowhathappenedtohisfireform—
"No no, I didn't mean…" She raised her hands, the implication of her words just sinking in. "I mean, you have so many heroes recorded in these notebooks… It's normal for you to have forgotten one."
"Oh…" his thoughts slowed down. She was right…
Then…
"So, should I still search?" he looked up to her, and she answered.
"I would like that… if it's not too much trouble."
He then saw her take a step back to sit back down on the bed. And immediately Midoriya turned back and got to work.
"Alright, this one was more of a stray file. And I changed my computer since then, but…"
"And Midoriya…"
He turned back again, and this time saw Yaoyorozu… relieved and smiling.
With a grateful tone, she says: "Thank you… for taking time out of your day. It's nice to have that reassurance that this was not a part of my imagination."
"I-It's no problem!" he responds, unable to hold back all of his enthusiasm. To be honest, it was the first time anyone thanked him sincerely like that, and said he was helpful…
…Well, aside from All Might, of course. And his mom when he helped around the house, but that didn't count.
It put him in a good mood, but…
He took a deep breath. There were some misgivings he held...
His fingers froze up on the necessary keys, and… maybe it was the right time for that, now that she seemed happy and all.
"Yaoyorozu…" he called out, and the girl turned to him, eager to hear his words.
"Can I…"
He became hesitant, afraid that he might accidentally offend her, but...
He just needed to know.
"...Can I ask why we're doing this?"
She raised an eyebrow, not initially following what he meant.
"I mean, if it's Tennyson's past..." he says rather straightforwardly. "... I don't understand. Why did you want to go behind his back?"
Helping expose Ben's secret, or just even agreeing to search up his private life…
He had his own secret to keep. The power that All Might gave him, the very thing that allowed him to get into this school in the first place…
"Do we…" He looked at her in the eyes again from his seat, and saw that she had soured as well. Her glance was directed to the ground, her mouth closed, but her body was shaky.
He didn't want to doubt his friend, who came to him for help. But he needed to know.
"Do we even… have a good reason?"
"We do!" Just like her words, her body suddenly rose from the bed. "I promise Midoriya… I do!"
Her tone sounded especially desperate, and… it made him feel bad. He didn't know this could get such a reaction out of her…
"I… see." he wanted to turn away. He didn't want to pry into her past as well.
But… with the wave of her hand, she urged him to continue facing her way.
One hand was on her face as she sat back down, fixing the hair that might have gotten in front of her face.
Tears hadn't appeared or anything, but he could see her eyes settle on the All Might merch in the corner, instead of him.
"I had to know…" she said, the gaze fixated on the high-end plastic with the number 1 hero's face. "...if I got the drive to go down this path, because of him."
She then heard Midoriya say her name in response, to get her attention… to get her to face him, but…
She didn't. Yaomomo continued to look at the end of the room.
"Five years ago, I witnessed those villains land atop the cable car." She said, "My mother, my father, my butler Alfred…"
Her nails dug into her skirt.
"Everyone I loved, and I, hung over a waterfall. Anything they did, it could have damaged the cable, and if it…"
She stopped herself. It hadn't happened. She had ventured onto so many more cable car's after that, all without a hitch, but recanting that moment…
It gave a sickening feeling to her stomach.
The shine on her pupils pulsated. "I should have been scared for all of our lives and yet, I wasn't."
Yaomomo looked up. She faced her friend, and Midoriya knew what she was going to say.
"Because, he was there."
A glimmer showed up on her face. "He reassured me. He promised that the villains wouldn't get to us. And I…"
She brushed her hair aside, back over her ear and that glimmer traveled across her face with it.
"I believed him. He made me believe him and I felt safe." Her hands relaxed. Her heart fluttered. "His promise… felt true."
Yaomomo then looked back up at Midoriya. She hadn't even realized her gaze drifted off.
"He saved me from my fear." She said, standing up as a confident and determined tone rose from her body. " And so, when I saw him fall from the cable car and slip to the unknown, I felt like that shouldn't be his end."
The glimmer that had been lit inside her eye, only became more fortified, optimistic, determined.
"It would be best for someone to stand between the innocent and the villainous in his place… and give that reassuring feeling to those who are fearful of what's ahead."
She clenched her hand. The glimmer grew, turning into a fiery aura.
The blunt sound of the metal staff came to her ears, but she just shook her head.
Raising her voice, she declared. "I might not be as powerful as him, but that's why I train to become better..."
She took a step forward. The fire grew.
"That's why I...decided to enroll at U.A."
One more.
She took a deep breath to keep up the tone. The fire in her grew yet again, and—!
It just suddenly went away.
Her mind had caught up with her excitement, and embarrassment had washed over her...
Taking a step back, she put a hand over her mouth, and it came out like a whisper.
"...That's why I decided to become a hero."
Her mind was wavering all over the place. The words and her actions during said words, they weighed in her mind and…
She remembered her fond smile, as she talked about the "hero on the scene".
"No!" She shook her head. "I mean, I'm sure Midoriya understood why I talked about those heroes in that way…"
Her eyes went over to his face.
"That's why… I wanted to pursue this…" Her voice was kind of back to normal.
She needed his reaction now, and she saw that he was nodding… slowly.
Midoriya, on the inside, was… quite stunned at how much this mattered to her.
"To think that Ten—" He realized what he was saying. "Or rather, Tennyson *might* have had such a part in turning her life around like this…"
He couldn't imagine what it was like for her to see him alive. No wonder she had run off from their class.
"Now the question is though…" Midoriya thought, before asking.
"Yaoyorozu, now that we know he… *might* be the hero, what are you going to do—?"
She didn't even think for a second.
"If it really is him…" her glance went back to the computer, and her notebook that stood beside it. "If we're attending the same school…"
She looked down, but instead of any desperation, hope and a grin emerged.
"Before anything else, I would like to thank him."
"He… saved my life, after all..." She said, still feeling herself getting jitters from talking about this. "And because of what he did…"
Her usual bouncy attitude had come back.
"I became someone who could enroll into U.A. through recommendations."
Midoriya nodded in his head. He knew the recommendations were no matter of money or fame. Only the best of the best were considered to get in through there and…
Yaoyorozu became one of those best… by sheer skill.
And her smile was morphing into something even more hopeful because of it.
"I'm looking forward to our time learning together, to be the very best version of ourselves…" She said,
"And in the end, I hope I get to save others, while standing by his side."
Midoriya couldn't help but feel touched.
He stepped forward, and put his hand in the middle of them.
"I feel the same way."
Yaoyorozu, then responded, by putting her hand above his.
"Wow…" Kirishima said, turning to Midoriya. "So, you guys have been at this for a while."
(Present day, 5 minutes earlier)
Midoriya put a hand at the back of his head. "I mean, a week isn't that long."
The group were still riding in the limo, and Midoriya had told most of the story. Yaomomo had intervened on occasion, but…
Launchpad opened his mouth. "So, like I said, Little Miss has a —"
"NOT ONE MORE WORD, LAUNCHPAD!" Yaomomo yelled from the backseat.
…She was a bit of a mess right now, with her face being beet red.
"Who can blame her though?" Kirishima thought. "I mean, if Tennyson or Ashido told someone why I dye my hair…"
He shivered at the thought. Secrets were surely powerful, man.
And now, he was thinking about exposing one.
Kirishima leaned forward, his face as serious as it could be.
"So…" Yaomomo then spoke up though. "Now that you are also informed…"
She was taking deep breaths between her words. Both to go back to a natural skin color, and because what they were about to do… was kind of, extremely rude and a violation of privacy.
"Are you going to stay, Kirishima?" she said. "We could drop you off, as well. I can call a taxi for us, and Launchpad can drive you—"
"Nah…" he said, and waved off their concerns. "I'm not going anywhere."
She was hesitant. "Are you—"
"Not one more word Yaomomo." Kirishima said with a smirk, playing on her words from before. "I'm with you guys, one hundred percent."
"Whatever happens, I'll be here, just like Midoriya."
Kirishima could see her briefly become speechless, before nodding her head.
"Thank you, Kirishima."
And Midoriya gave him a thumbs up, a shaky one but it still counted.
"Plus…" he crossed his arms behind his head, looking up at the ceiling of the car. "I can't exactly do nothing, now that I know the whole story. I have to see it through like a man!"
Launchpad then suddenly brought the car to a full stop.
"We're here Little Miss Y."
Ben 10: Hero Force
Chapter 19
Past's Intervention
Ben peaked his head up from behind the oil tank.
"So, wait, remind me why we're here again?"
"Stakeout." Labrid answered, as he kept his eyes straight. "According to a tip from your grandfather, the DNAliens were supposed to show up here tonight to receive an illegal shipment of alien tech."
Ben's eyes briefly widened, before constricting again. "Can't believe they are still around…".
He opened his mouth. "They just can't get a hint, can't they?"
"I understand how you feel." Labrid says. "However, we need to keep a cool head."
"My head is cool." Ben responded. "Don't worry."
His hand wasn't drifting to the Omnitrix, but his eyebrows were still knitted.
He exhaled. "I thought the airport was the main hub, what are they planning to do with this shipment?"
"My assumption is that they're trying to make up for the lost portion—"
"Which means they still have a base and people to store the tech." Ben quickly added, and Labrid nodded.
That might very well be a possibility. "Or a ship. Either way we can't let this trade go through."
Ben shook his head. "Who do they get it from?"
Labrid shrugged. "Don't know. Max was supposed to tell me but—"
His gaze shifted, and he ducked down. "Someone is coming."
Ben did the same, and immediately the headlights flashed above them.
He stood back up once they were gone. So did Labrid. The trucks had come to their field of view, and some people got off.
"DNAliens…"
"Indeed." The officer said as he cocked his gun, just in case.
"And the royalty in the red robes are the sellers?" Ben narrowed his eyes.
It was kind of hard to make anything out. Their backs were turned to him, and their faces were obstructed, and this night…
It made it literally impossible to notice any details.
And so, he reached for Labrid's belt. "Hey—"
He grabbed the high-tech binoculars from last time and looked.
There didn't seem to be an additional pattern, or lining, but the man's hands… They were covered with metal.
"Hmm…" Ben said. Standing around like that, they looked like a cult if anything.
"You made something out?" Labrid said, as Ben had put a hand on his chin.
"Almost…" He said. Now, what kind of cult would have access to alien tech, some themed getup, and armor…!
"Forever Knights." he muttered, and in response, he saw Labrid look over to him.
"It's a medieval criminal organization who—"
"...Trade in alien technology." Labrid cut off his elaboration. "Yes, I know, I've had my fair share of run-ins with their group."
Ben nodded. It was good that the two were on the same page.
"What are they doing here?" He then asked curiously. "Did the Knights have a Japanese force this whole time?"
And Labrid wasn't late with his response.
"Not according to the official reports… It must be a expediatery force, sent here to search for alien life or tech."
"Not when they bring a whole truck of tech to begin with." Ben quickly returned the favor.
"Perhaps they could have found a market…" Labrid responds. "Maybe this sector of Earth needs a second scan in terms of alien life… once the war is over."
"Sure." Ben said, before getting up and dialing the Omnitrix.
But… His muscles tensed. He was itching to get in there, but for once… He took his hands off the watch.
"Now that we know the sides…" He put his hands in his jacket. "Is it time to bust them?"
"No, they aren't trading…" Labrid remarked, and Ben took another look.
Yeah, both sides had arrived, but no one was unloading, or anything. They were just standing around.
"We need to see who's brokering it." Labrid said.
Right on que the sound of a muscle car was heard. The green and black vehicle rolled on into the scene.
"Okay…" Labrid thought. "Let's see who this is…"
They watch on with open eyes and ears, intrigue at maximum as the person gets out of the car.
He was a tall, muscular young man. His black eyes held a calm but dutiful glare, and his black shoulder length mullet blended into the starless sky. And as for outfit, he had worn a tight black t-shirt over a gray long sleeve shirt, blue pants and black combat shoes.
The glare, though, immediately relaxed, once a regular looking human handed him a briefcase. "Money's here…"
Ben's eyes widened. That tone, that get-up…
"That's Kevin." The transforming hero said, his voice unwavering.
And Labrid turned to him, perplexed. "You know him?"
And Ben doesn't open his mouth. He nods.
Honestly, he couldn't be a more spitting image of that bratty kid from back then. All he had to do was hang a lock around his neck to be practically identical.
"Kevin Levin. He's got superpowers. We fought all the time when we were kids…he lightened up a bit though."
Seeing him once again, out and about…
He clenched his fists. "The question is what is he doing outside of the Null Void?"
"He's brokering the deal."
The back of the Forever Knight truck opened, and cases upon cases were revealed to them.
Kevin opened one of them. "As promised, four dozen factory-new laser lances."
He walked away, with one gun in his hand, right to a medium-sized boat which was lifted up for repairs.
"Ether-point energy module, antenna-focus emitter…"
He got a relaxed grip over the handle. "It's good for thirty-five minutes of continuous fire at .06 terawatts."
A grin formed on his face. "Wanna watch?"
He pulled the trigger, and watched on as the laser heated up the boat from below, spread, and literally exploded it in seconds!
"Let's see flex tape fix that!" He opened his arms, putting on a show for the buyers.
Ben looked on. "Well, isn't this a fitting career choice…"
If he became the hero who busted punks, well, someone had to be the ringleader.
His eyes shot up as he saw the DNAliens load their cargo.
He leaned over. "If we're planning to bust them, now would be a good time."
"I am… unaware of this 'Kevin Levin'." Labrid says. "How does he compare to you?"
Ben narrowed his eyes. "Well, he doesn't have his mutant form, so that's something."
"So, you will have the upper hand?"
Ben nodded in response. "Yeah I'm pretty sure, and when I get my hands free, I can help out. Are you sure you will be okay?"
Labrid made his hand travel across his belt. "I believe so."
"That's good." Ben took one deep breath. He steadied himself. This was it, a rematch of the ages.
"Let's do this."
He dialed up the watch, and without needing to scroll much, he slammed on the alien he needed!
The green flash shone in the night, and Kevin, who was just talking to the knights about his share… got a glimpse.
"Hands above your heads, air breathers."
Suddenly someone spoke from in front of him, looking like… a red spot.
"By the authority of the Plumbers you're all busted."
Yep, he was a cop. Just like his dealers, Kevin dropped the business to step forward.
"Well well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes." He said. "How is it going, officer?"
The officer didn't acknowledge the question. "Just raise your hands, boy."
Labrid put his badge on his belt, and aimed his gun straight at him.
Kevin put his hands on his hip. He had to give it up to the guy, that gun wasn't flinching even by a millimeter, but the advantage was theirs.
He saw the officer's eyes throw brief glances to his associates, and he knew both sides were quite determined to secure a profit tonight…just like him.
"I thought you guys were done after the second incident at Rushmore…" Kevin chose to continue, dismissing his request.
The tough officer gaze hardened, as he seemed displeased by the mention of the locale.
"Rumors."
He still didn't seem to back down.
Kevin chose to just exhale. "So you'll just waltz over and we're just gonna let you put bracelets on all of us?"
He leaned against his car. "Is that the plan here?"
"No." Kevin heard as the shadows parted, bringing a tall guy with magenta and dark purple crystals to his sight. "That's the plan for your associates."
The one green eye stared directly at him, glowing immensely in the dark.
"You and I, in the meantime, have a little old song and dance to finish up on."
"Do I know you?"
His eyes then saw the dial on his chest, and in all honesty… it didn't excite him one bit.
"Tennyson…" he said under his breath.
The crystals clinked as Ben put himself out there. "In the flesh."
Labrid could feel it. With the fiery gaze from both sides, the tension in the air had risen. It was almost like he was waiting for word on Ben, and the crooks on the other side were waiting for Kevin's.
"So, the rumors were true…" he says. "Ben 10 returns."
"Formerly 10." Chromastone declared. "I'd rather go by Tennyson now."
He shrugged. "I like it."
Right as he said that he reached for the open case.
He touched a lance and the metal spread over his body. Kevin cracked his knuckles, ready for a fight.
Ben was surprised. "That's new."
*HAAAAAAAA!*
Kevin rushed straight for him, kicking up dust, and his metallic locks waving.
Chromastone leaned forward, and the two locked grips immediately.
"Magister Labrid!"
"On it." Laser fire started to rain down from the opposite side. It looked like the Knights wanted to give one more demonstration for the DNAliens.
"Why are you here?" Chromastone demanded. "Of all places, why Japan?"
Kevin smirked. "You know me Tennyson, I go wherever business calls, and tonight was supposed to be a major payday."
"So, still after the money…" Ben rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised about that?"
"Someone has to be." Kevin's tone turned bitter. "After all, I need to make up for lost time, being put in prison by you for five years and all that."
"You did that yourself."
Ben increased his side of the force, forcing the ex-con to take a knee. "After everything, we tried to give you a chance and you threw your hat in with Vilgax."
Kevin's metal started creaking at the intense pressure, but Ben wasn't paying attention.
The ex-con though… changes the topic.
"Whatever, you also ruined my deal today. I think I want revenge, and I think I can beat this DiamondHead-wannabe any day of the week."
He managed to recover, putting much more force against Ben and actually pushing him back.
The layer of crystal above Chromastone's eye went up.
"DiamondHead-wannabe?"
Kevin felt the alien's hands clasp down. Now he couldn't pull away!
"Remember the time Diamondhead did this?!
The hands relaxed, and the glowing magenta colored spikes blew him away with rainbow power!
Ben followed after him, leaving Labrid to deal with the knights on his own, as he was pinned behind a cover.
"Your superior has left you, creature!"
The knight proudly drew his sword. "Submit to your destiny!"
However, the creature didn't seem to listen. The knight then gestured to some of his men to come with and some of them to stay by the shooting range.
But before they could plan— Labrid showed his face!
"FIRE!"
Labrid managed to roll out of the way, mostly because the Knight had given the order rather suddenly to his men, and he threw something right back!
It was a disk!
"Ow! What the—!"
It stuck onto one of their chests, and suddenly all the knights with the guns stuck to their comrade. Only two who had swords out and weren't in range managed to escape.
"Tell your men that it's pointless to struggle." he showed off one more of the disks in his hand. "These are Lodestone disks, Plumber standard issue. They aren't going anywhere."
The knight however stayed persistent.
"He's just playing us! At this range, his gear would be affected too!" He swung his sword, but Labrid quickly grabbed his sword arm and laid him onto the ground.
"That's where I rely on my expertise…"
The second armored villain then came at him from behind! But Labrid raised his friend's arm to block the sword, before taking off one hand to deck the attacker in the stomach.
"Like I said…" He then broke the knight's arm. "Not going any—"
He sprung up from his spot and a slime ball hit the knight with the broken arm squarely in the face.
Labrid's gaze hardened as he then watched the "humans" take off the ID-Mask.
"Even after living among you for a while…" he thought, looking into their one green eye, and aimed his gun.
"...That is still unsettling."
Kevin crashed to the side of a crane. And the metal had properly been bent back.
"Had enough yet?" Chromastone then landed before him, knuckles down at his sides.
"What do you think?" Kevin lifted himself up, rubbing his chin. Ow… Though I gotta admit, you still have a good punch left in you."
"Left in me?... Oh, you mean my little break."
"Yeah." Kevin says. "It came off quite as a surprise, I still haven't shaken it."
He relaxed his hands, before putting them back up close to his chest. "How could a man like you drop the hero's life?"
Chromastone… paused in his steps.
Kevin also felt the air around Ben change. He no longer stared at him but to his back.
"To be honest, it was a bit of an impulse decision…"
The fire in Ben immediately lit back up though. He shook his head and stared back at his opponent. "But I'm here now, and that's what you have to worry about."
Kevin wasn't in that very same mood as before though.
"You don't seem glad about it." he said, with a straight face.
The flame inside Ben still burned brightly though, and he had no care about this calmed Kevin. "It's my responsibility… Something you wouldn't have."
Kevin didn't snap back, yet again.
"I'm not backing down from what I said, Tennyson. I'm winning this time."
"I see that you dropped the bulky insane getup, so I'm going to say this for the one time. There is no way you can beat Chromastone with your kind of powers."
He tapped on his crystal body, letting it clink. "Indestructible super-dense silicon."
"Then, you wouldn't mind if I tried?"
Kevin stretched his hands out to his sides, and ran straight at him.
Ben, put one foot back and grabbed him from the waist, flipping him on his back!
"Nighty night!"
Ben went for a stomp. Kevin though rolled out of the way.
"Hold still!" He stretched his hand out, and fired his blast again.
But Kevin… didn't dodge this time.
He stopped with the roll, and laying on the ground, outstretched his hand.
The blast's direction was true. It hit Kevin, right in the hand!
But, it didn't do any damage and Kevin's hand glowed rainbow, before firing the blast right back at Chromastone.
"What?!" Ben yelled out, absorbing the blast back.
He turned to his own spikes. The color, wait—
He then looked at Kevin, who had the most pleased look on his face on this side of the world.
"I love it when materials give that extra boost." he waved around his magenta colored hand. "I had no idea that it would work too..."
He had absorbed him…
Ben re-evaluated his standing. "You're back to stealing powers from me again, Kevin. Guess you really didn't change."
Kevin didn't crack a smile at that though. His eyebrows were knitted.
"I absorbed nothing from the watch. Just the silicon off from you."
He looked deep at the hand, like it had some meaning. "It's something I learned… back in the Null Void."
"You mean in rehab?"
His glance went back up to Ben.
"Good." Ben continued. "Glad that I gave you something to work on."
Kevin however shrugged off the comment.
And ran up at him. A right cross, squarely in his face, landed from Kevin's magenta hand!
"Now what will you do?!"
Ben had to reel back. That hurt, bad.
He went for the counter, but Kevin just sidestepped, and landed another one!
And then a left hook!
Ben's ears were starting to ring. It was time for a change.
He went for a kick, but Kevin grabbed it and tossed him to the ground.
Ben jumped back up, but Kevin was undaunted!
He continued to pummel him, not letting him breathe even for a second!
Landing blow, after blow to the body!
It was a blistering series of attacks!
Ben kept his arms up, trying to get a chance to think.
Right as he felt like the storm had weathered over, he went for a punch, but Kevin raised his arm, blocking it.
His arm had also fully turned magenta!
Kevin then continued his spree from before. He understood it now. Every time Kevin hit him, he could replace more and more of the metal armor.
If he didn't act soon, he could be damn-near invincible!
"I won't be able to survive this." Ben winced from the impact.
He needed a distraction. Something to get him the breathing room. Something to let him make his move!
But what?!
"It's over Tennyson!" Kevin's hand went in between Tennyson's, shaking away the guard, and went for the final hit!
"I need to switch!"
*VROOM!*
*VROOOOOOOOM!*
Both trucks, the one with the Forever Knights and the one with DNAliens drove by them.
"MY SHARE!" Kevin yelled, and Ben, with a green flame appearing from his eye, decked him in the left cheek with all he had.
He struggled to not bite his tongue. It felt like smacking pure metal with his bare hands. It hurt so bad!
But it worked, Kevin was dazed.
Ben picked him up by the arm, spun him and threw him into water.
"There is the splash!" He ran. "Come on, I got to get there before…"
Ben checked the splash zone. Air bubbles were rising, 0 bodies in sight.
As the waves pulled back a head barely surfaced, before the water washed over him once again. "What the—"
Ben shook his head, smirking from the adrenaline.
"Indestructible super-dense silicon, remember?"
Kevin flapped his arms and legs but it did nothing to help his situation. Every time he was attempting to breathe, he only swallowed more water.
*Cough* *Cough*
He did what he had to. Kevin dropped the armor, and once he did, he felt like someone cut away his anchor.
He felt as light as a feather!
Once on the surface, he wheezed for air, before trying to wipe the salt water away from his eyes.
But once he did so, a green flash blinded him again and Brainstorm stood where Chromastone once was.
"A valiant effort, my combatant. However, I declare this to be… checkmate."
His shell opened, the electricity crackled like a ferocious whip, and within seconds, Kevin's whole plan backfired on him.
*AHHHH!*
He screamed, as the water lit up like a filament in a light bulb!
His consciousness drifted first… and then his body came to a stop.
The last thing he felt… was an electric field covering his body, and then lifting him up from the water…
Brainstorm turned off the force field, leaving Kevin's limp body to land on the ground of the yard, another green flash occurred, leaving him as Ben.
"He's done." Ben thought. "I double checked to give him just the right dose to not fry his brain…"
"Now, for the Knights…"
"No need." Labrid spoke up from behind him, with one set of cuffs in his hand.
"What happened?" Ben asked, and Labrid shook his head.
"They got away. Unfortunately I couldn't secure the weapon caches."
"It's okay." Ben tried to reassure him. "I took too long to help you as well."
Labrid doesn't acknowledge it though, and just leans down to cuff Kevin.
He puts bracelets onto each hand, and Ben watches as with the push of a button on a remote, the bracelets light up blue and stick to each other.
"You think that will hold him?" Ben looked up. "His only trick wasn't absorbing materials, I can tell you that much."
Labrid however seemed unconcerned. "These energy cuffs are Level 6 technology. He isn't going anywhere."
Ben nods. "So, what now?"
"We wait for him to wake up." Labrid says. "Any chance and he will spill the location of the buyers."
"And what about the sellers?" Ben asked.
"I already arrested a couple of them, and they have spilled the location of their castle."
Ben nodded.
"Efficient…" he thought to himself. Sure, the bad guys got away with crates full of lances, but now they could hit people right where it hurt!
"So…" He looked down at the asleep Kevin. "What do we do now?"
"I'll get those knights checked out." Labrid said as he walked away. "You stand guard here."
"Sounds good."
The trio of students felt like their hearts were about to jump out from their chest. Their eyes were widened, staring along with absolute shock at what just happened.
There were medieval knights in shining armor, shooting at their friend with… laser guns.
The … monsters. They took something off their face and…. They just looked like that?
They attacked with their claws, they spit some slime at this… armored person… who also had a laser gun?
He had some sort of red dot on his chest, and held up something like a badge?
And, what was it that the friend of Tennyson said about the tech…
"Alien…" Midoriya's pupils were as small as dots.
"There… There is no way, right?" Kirishima was still speechless. "I mean, aliens. Come on!"
He shook his head, snapping out of it.
Ben and his "friend" had moved more to the edge to the shipyard, so they could be a little louder.
"We might have very well misheard them…" Midoriya doubted too. "But what else can explain…"
He gestured to the site with his eyes.
"Villains!" Kirishima said. "What else can it be? Tennyson just…"
He stopped himself. Wow, this really wasn't much of a downgrade, was it?
"Tennyson just stopped a weapons deal between two villain groups."
Silence took hold between the two.
"No wonder Tennyson's always so manly while training with us…" Kirishima said, looking back at the fight scene. "He was amazing…"
Midoriya, also shared similar feelings.
"I… didn't expect to be right."
He continued to lie down on the container, but instead lying on his back, turning his head to the sky. "I mean the evidence was all there, but still. I figured it all just *happened* to line up like that… Like it was a coincidence."
He spoke like his breath was also taken away. But somehow, he also felt like the most stable of the group.
His voice just didn't waver.
"So, what does this make him?" Kirishima said. "Is he really a pro-hero? After all, he was working with someone…"
"I don't think so…" Midoriya responded, before the metal below him started to make noise.
Yaoyorozu had just stood up.
Eyes fixated on the ground, and her expression… was one of deep thought.
Kirishima got up too.
He couldn't tell what she was thinking but her reluctance to join the conversation was…
"Is she not even amazed?" He thought.
Normally the vice class-prez would try to be so much more upbeat… and if not, she would be looking out for them, giving them feedback with something she saw them to be struggling with.
But now there was nothing, except… a hint of disappointment?
She glanced over to them. "Thank you Kirishima and Midoriya, for accompanying me tonight… But, I think it would be better for you to go home now..."
"Huh? Yaoyorozu, but…" Midoriya's head rose from where he laid, but Momo wasn't done.
"I will continue our follow from here."
"Alone?" Kirishima asked and Momo nodded, her eyebrows knitted.
"Tennyson paused for a minute during his fight with the criminal like he was troubled about something. I want to make sure he's okay."
"Then we're coming with." Kirishima said, and Momo shook his head.
"I must refuse. It would be incredibly selfish to—"
"It's not selfish Yaoyorozu." Midoriya got up as well. "We're worried about our friend too, and… I would like to be right there if he needs us."
Kirishima spoke with determination. "I gave my answer already too! There is no way you'll be rid of me that easily vice-prez."
Momo turned to them, noted their bravery…
"I don't think it would be unfair to say it will be dangerous…"
Midoriya, however, clenched his hand. "All the more reason to go with you."
Kirishima nodded in the background.
She looked at her friends, and… couldn't help but concede, despite how dan—
The sound of an engine filled the air. The noise, not reminiscent of their limo, but… the green car…
"We need to get back."
The trio, before the green muscle car from before could get much of a head start, got back into the limo. Yaomomo gave Launchpad the short version of the situation.
And as soon as he heard the words "Could you follow the green muscle car?", he was sold.
The road which they followed was long, and even though it started on a concrete road…
It turned into a limo trying to go up a steep hill, covered with a luscious green forest…
Needless to say, it didn't work out so great.
"C'mon!" Launchpad turned the keys again.
The engine revved loudly, but they couldn't move!
He frantically turned the wheel, left and right. "Little Miss is counting on me! Why won't this start?!"
Kirishima lightly glanced out of the window… and saw all four popped tires. "Ummm…"
Launchpad did the same. "Oh, right… wheels."
Yaoyorozu, though, just opened the door. "Launchpad, turn off the ignition."
He did as so, and the forest quickly turned quiet… too quiet.
"The sounds of their engine aren't coming through either, they can't be far."
She jumped out, and her sparkling brown shoes made contact with the mud.
Midoriya also jumped out and Kirishima did the same.
"Can you get the car working again, LP?" the redhead asked and the driver in question gave them a nod. He got things covered here.
And so the trio walked on up… until a Japanese-style temple came to view.
"Woah…"
It was a broad temple, held up by soft beige and scarlet walls. Wooden pillars of the same red rose supported the structure. Green tiles were making up its roof, and golden, Japanese katakana was written all around… along with an infinity symbol right over the door.
"1000 yen says it's dragons." Kirishima said.
Midoriya turned his head: "Why dragons? Wouldn't Samurai be more appropriate?"
Kirishima shook his head. "I don't know, man. After seeing the shipyard, the only thing I'm feeling is another surprise."
Yaomomo however, didn't seem interested in the temple.
"They're here." she gestured to the empty green and black vehicle, and at the opened gate.
"Stay vigilant. We don't want to attract Tennyson or any guards if there may be..."
Midoriya and Kirishima gave her a nod and the trio of U.A. students passed through the gateway.
Inside, they found a similar beige colored interior, with wooden pillars used as support, and decorated with mannequins and tapestry of samurai.
As they also walked forward, they got to see corridors, who split off to other opaque sliding doors—
"There is no one here."
They quickly slid behind one of the corridors for cover.
"Are you sure this is the right place?"
Their ears perked up, and hearts sank.
"I swear if this is a fake…"
And someone else responded. "Don't get your aliens in a twist, Tennyson. If I say it's here, it's here."
They hadn't heard of this one.
Yaomomo poked her head out, and saw that it was the criminal Ben fought.
The officer spoke up. "Where is the vault?"
Kevin glanced at him from the side of his eye. "There is a hidden door, keep looking."
She then saw him walk at one of the displays, and the criminal just started stuffing his pockets with the valuables.
Kirishima pointed with his hand. "Yeah, see, he's a bad guy."
Ben walked up to the criminal. "You seem to have found your cut just fine. Want a shopping cart to carry it?"
Kevin gave him the side-eye, before electing to fully ignore him.
Ben walks away, crossing his arms and Labrid takes his place.
"When I said, I'm giving you a chance to help yourself here, this was not what I meant."
Kevin turns to him, setting down the golden chalice. "Among other things, the gas money doesn't pay for itself, old man. Just be happy that I'm willing to open my mouth for your little investigation."
"There is nothing little about it." Labrid said. "You should understand that, considering we let you drive us to the location, rather than us trying to find it."
Kevin crossed his arms. "Of course you're gonna let me drive. No one drives my car, but me."
Labrid shook his head, disappointedly.
He walked away, just like the teenage hero who walked to another tapestry on the wall. "We're just trying to take the situation seriously."
Kevin unraveled his arms. "Because I look like such a kid."
He dazzled his hands. "In a candy store and all that."
Ben shrugged with his knitted glare. "Could have fooled me…"
Kevin's hardened glance fell on him. "Okay, that's it."
"Is this situation as serious as you people say, Tennyson? Well, answer me this one thing then."
Kevin walked up, with the energy bracelets clinking on his hands, deactivated yet still there.
"Where is your team, huh?" He slightly crouched. "Your smart mouth cousin, and your grandpa Max?"
Ben clenched his fists yet again, Labrid's previous words echoed. "But, to be clear, I have not known of his activities for quite some time now…"
"...I tried contacting him again but his Plumber badge has gone dark…"
Ben pointed to his chest. "You're walking on some thin ice…"
Kevin however didn't care. "Because it was so much more fun when you mocked my prison time as rehab, wasn't it? You were having much more of a blast?"
Ben was boiling up from the inside, and Kevin could see it.
"What's wrong, pee wee?" He continued to relish, before the thought popped in his head. "Or… can't you tell on me anymore?"
Ben's eyes widened right in front of him. "Did all-knowing grandpa—"
A fist slid right across his face. One of a normal hand…
"HE'S NOT DEAD! STOP MAKING JOKES ABOUT HIM!"
The voice echoed in the empty halls.
Kevin held his face. "You little—!"
He made a move, but Labrid immediately pressed the handcuff button. "You take five in the corner there."
Kevin, even with his hands restricted, continued to look at Tennyson with an intense glare, and Labrid very much knew what was going through the ex-con's mind.
He lifted up the remote. "If I even hear you breathe in a way I don't like, we'll see just how well you conduct your business without hands."
Kevin turned around, and sat onto one of the slabs.
Meanwhile Ben had also walked further away, looking down on the ground.
"You want me to apologize?"
"He is an ex-con." Labrid responded. "I don't care what you do with him."
He tried to get a glance at the young hero's face, but he continued to turn away.
"It was a very underhanded thing he did. You have every right to be angry with him…"
"And I am…" Ben said, taking deep breaths, trying to let the adrenaline cool off.
He stayed silent a bit, to not say anything too soon.
"But he's right…" Ben lowered his head. "I made fun of his time in prison first…"
Labrid watched as Tennyson's emotions continued to stir. "I'd just…"
He took one more breath.
"I'd just wish he were here… He would know what to do… He always knows what to do—"
"Well, he ain't." Labrid's cut through. "You're the one with the Omnitrix. You're gonna have to figure out how to get things done on your own."
He then walked off to examine another statue, leaving Ben dazed… but recomposing.
He walked over to Kevin who had still been sitting… and extended his hand.
"I'm sorry."
Kevin just grabbed his hand and stood up… but didn't say anything in return. Labrid deactivated the cuffs again.
And like he had been holding his breath, Ben took a sigh, closing his eyes for a minute, before continuing the search.
The trio had watched the entire exchange from afar… and their friend's suffering.
"Tennyson…" Midoriya stood up, but as soon as she did, alarms started going off.
The trio immediately sank further into the side corridor they were in, as the clanging of the knights in shining armor got closer.
They thankfully didn't see them as they ran by, but…
"Nobody move! Hands above your head!"
As they passed, Momo became the first one to look again.
Tennyson and the people around him were surrounded. At least thirty knights all with the very same guns they saw back at the shipyard.
"It's him, sire!" One of them pointed. "The shapeshifter from the shipyard, and one of those accursed Plumbers!"
The snitch drew his sword. "You will have your day, in front of the high inquisitor!"
And the 'sire' in question muttered. "Shapeshifter…"
She saw Ben hesitating. His hand was on his watch, but he was not activating it.
Midoriya whispered. "We can't just continue watching. We need to do something."
"You're speaking just my language, Midoriya!" Kirishima hardened his arms. "Let's get it on!"
However, an arm got in between the two of them and the action.
"Please wait a minute! We all saw what they did to that ship in their demonstration. We can't barge in…" Momo said.
"You can't hold us back now, Yaoyorozu.." Midoriya said. "They… Tennyson is about to be captured and…"
"We… We could save them when they get thrown into the dungeon then." Momo said, still reluctant in her approach to the situation.
"I have read reports about you… Ben Tennyson!" The knight's tone echoed again.
"A sentence to the high inquisitor would be too light for someone who has sullied our order's name!"
Ben touched the watch, and a laser blast immediately landed the stone near his feet.
"Be smart, kid!"
"Come on Yaomomo!" Kirishima said. "What happened to not letting Tennyson deal with his problems alone?!"
Her arm shook. The light on her eyes pulsated.
"I don't want to sit with my hands tied back, but I have to be responsible… Think Momo. How can I protect everyone?.."
To protect Tennyson… To protect themselves, who were way out of depth—
She saw his hand press on the rims. The knight's had taken aim—!
"Yaoyorozu/Yaomomo!" Two screams echoed.
The knight looked behind him, only to get hit with a silvery, dark colored staff!
He immediately collapsed onto the ground, and could faintly see a pink glow, before losing consciousness.
Momo sweeped the legs of two more. One of the knights aimed his gun and fired, but in a pink flash, a similar colored shield appeared on her other hand.
Some of the knights turned around to deal with her, but suddenly a hardened hand also appeared from that side.
"Finally!" Kirishima shouted, smacking people around: "Leave some to me too!"
Chaos revved up among the lines of the knights with the introduction of this sudden third party. All in an instant, the enemy that they had cornered turned things into a pincer attack.
"We've been outflanked!"
The knights who had turned around, suddenly then saw a green flash coming behind them, and as they tried looking back again, two stone hands grabbed them.
"Oh, you're not gonna—"
"Yeah, I am." Kevin, with his armor up, smirked and smashed their helmets together.
Many other knights tried to restrain him, but he instead shrugged them all off!
He then grabbed one right in the face, and his stone armor got replaced with metal. The ex-con of the Null Void continued to tear through them.
A sword then clashed with Yaoyorozu's staff. "Who are you supposed to be?"
Yaomomo stumbled back, keeping her grit. "Everyone here… is under my protection."
"What a sweet declaration from *a damsel*. Have at thee!"
The two weapons continued to clash, sparks flying all over.
"Curse them…"
She heard from the side of her ear. It was one of the Knights on the ground.
He whimpered. "I refuse to let Ben Tennyson and his group be the reason for our order's downfall again… I… refuse…"
He managed to find his footing and tore one of the tapestry on the wall.
The girl was trying to reach him, he could see it.
But his commander struck at her shield once again.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
The knight wielded the sword with both hands, dropping it right on her shield, making her stumble back even more.
Her upper arm glowed pink, and she threw a net right at him. He however, just sliced it before it could open!
"Petty tricks?! In MY single combat?!"
Meanwhile the other knight…
"That's it… A little closer…" He limped, as his hand gripped the button.
The knight's devotion then echoed!
"Got you! We are the ones who will triumph! Initiating the defense systems!"
The knight who had been pressuring Momo looked over.
He held out his hand. "No, recruit! That one is not—!"
A hatch opened up from the ground.
Using the distraction, Yaoyorozu knocked the sword from his hand. "What has he done?!"
A roaring took over the sounds of gunfire and fist brawl…
"Oh, don't tell me…" Kirishima said, as a green four-toed dragon actually rose forth!
It had yellow backscales, an enormous mouth, wings and a very long serpent-like body. With the force that it flew over her, the ashy, smokey smell coming from its mouth and the sparks of electricity coming from the tail… It was like the creature commanded the natural forces!
Midoriya handed Kirishima 1000 yen.
*ROOOAAARRR!*
And along with the ashy smell, a cauldron of fire appeared as it opened his mouth.
"We have to get away…" Momo's previous opponent said. "It's programming has not been completed yet!"
She tilted her head at the knight's line. However the dragon had no time for such pauses.
It was about to go in for an attack and… it stumbled?
Momo had a curious expression. The dragon lost its balance, in the air?
She looked back, and saw the greenette back running from the corridor, with both hands formed into fists.
"GET AWAY FROM MY FRIENDS!"
He planted his feet, and flicked the air one after the other, sending whole shockwaves from it.
"I was waiting just for this chance! A way without letting anyone get caught in the crossfire!"
However a little wind couldn't affect the dragon that much!
*ROA—*
But before it could do anything, a dynamic stream of water took the big lizard's head off.
Wires, circuit boards, and all kinds of other parts she didn't recognise… flew out.
She took one sigh of relief, as her eyes processed that it was a robot.
She turned around.
"Knights are already handled Yaomomo." Kirishima said, deactivating his hardening. "Don't worry. We took care of it."
He tapped the new steel armor of the criminal…
"Uh-huh…" the criminal said with a distant tone, while dropping the armor.
Yaomomo felt eyes appearing on her.
The adrenaline started washing off.
The world felt like it was closing in…
Her once strong grip shook.
Kevin, with a dismissive glare, opened his mouth towards Kirishima. "Who are you?"
"Oh, uh…" She could hear Kirishima trying to come up with an answer. "We're on your side, man. Really…"
But it drifted away.
Midoriya's excessive muttering, the criminal and Kirishima's talking… It all fell silent.
As the person with the fish head, put his hand on his hips… and looked where she did.
Ben Tennyson, still transformed into Water Hazard, appeared before her.
The two didn't speak.
The transforming hero tapped the dial on his chest, and turned back. He looked at her with a burning gaze… like he waited for an explanation.
How can…
The grip on her staff tightened. She couldn't lift her head to make eye contact, but her teeth were gritted.
She asked: "What… are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Tennyson immediately slapped back… with no hesitation.
Her arms shook. "You told us that you were fine..."
"And I am." Ben put his hand on his chest. "Look, not a scratch on me."
She kept her head down.
"Fighting a criminal in the shipyard cannot be defined as fine…"
Ben's eyes widened ever so slightly. "So, you were there for that…"
"YES, I WAS!"
The staff slipped from her hands, and Yaomomo raised her head!
"I saw it all Tennyson. You, interfering in an illegal weapons deal. Fighting villains without a care. Engaging in activities only pro-heroes should have."
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Tennyson bit his tongue. "I'm doing what I need to."
"What you need to?!" She tried to keep herself in check to no avail. "You mean lying to us is something you need to do?!"
"When you started to come to school, all messy, we expressed our concerns and you waved us off. You told us it was a late night thing, and… I believed you."
For one second, her sentences slowed.
"It was hard, convincing myself, but I gave you the benefit of the doubt… And all you were doing was going on with this… roughhousing?"
"Roughhousing?" Ben's pupils constricted. "You think this is play time?!"
"You tell me!" Momo cried out. "Because apparently, I don't know anything about you!"
Ben turned his face away from her, and Momo… slowed down.
"I thought you were a responsible, kind-hearted… and sometimes silly… friend of ours."
Her hands felt cold. She wrapped them around herself.
"You could make the class laugh, playfully challenge them, stand by them when they were treated unjustly…"
Her breathing was all over the place.
"You were a great person to be with…"
She needed to recompose, but her voice started to come out brittle. "So… come back."
"Stop… before someone gets hurt."
Ben turned back to her.
"Someone already did!" Ben's burning gaze turned back. "That's why I do this!"
He looked angry but… mostly in pain.
"You were in a stretcher Yaomomo!" He cried out. "The entire USJ…!"
He winced.
"Our entire class got attacked in the first week!.. Because I was there!"
Momo's eyes widened, as Tennyson broke…
"I wanted you guys to have a normal school year…"
"...I did this BECAUSE I CARE!" He was done, but his voice wasn't.
"AND… AND WHAT WAS THE THANKS I GOT?!"
He shouted with all he got…
He didn't care if Labrid was watching… or his ex-rival… or his other two friends from school.
Tears were around his eyes, but he still raised a hand, barely resisting to press her chest with his finger.
"You followed me around!... like a damn stalker!… the. entire. night."
"That would have been fine Yaomomo!- That would have been fine! You would at least be out of sight! But no!"
Both of his hands twitched, like they wanted to grab and shake her, but couldn't.
"The moment you choose to come out of your little corner, it has to be when I have twenty guns pointed at me?! While only one of them could blow up a boat?!"
He stomped off, almost starting to circle around.
"I'd expect that move from those two boneheads!" Midoriya and Kirishima flinched.
"But you?! I thought you would be better, Yaomomo!"
"I was…" Yaomomo protested. "I protected you… I saved you when you were in trouble against those knights."
Ben's eyes grew. "Those knights?"
"BRAVO!" A smile appeared in between those tears.
He gave her the slow clap. "I hope you weren't too proud of yourself!"
She… couldn't say anything—
"Hey, in the end, you were still pinned down, weren't you?"
Kirishima spoke up. He was upset, he also seemed hurt by their argument… but he couldn't stay silent.
"We saw you being indecisive… You needed our help, and so… we did."
"You said USJ…" Midoriya then spoke up.
"It was scary Tennyson, but you saw us handling ourselves too…"
He held out hope.
"We'll get better, everyone will get even better… And no one will be hurt, just like tonight…"
Ben, shook his reddened face. "It's not always going to be knights Midoriya, that's the thing."
"Sometimes it will get dangerous…"
He looked at Yaomomo… before turning to Midoriya again.
"And I can't handle that…"
He felt a soft warmth travel up his hand.
"I don't care…" Momo spoke.
He saw her hand give his a squeeze.
"You could tell us…" Yaomomo tilted her head, but Ben shook his.
She could feel his hand… slipping away…
"No… I couldn't."
Ben fully pulled it away, changing his gaze as well.
"I can't…"
His head was down. He dropped himself on one of the steps.
"And I hoped you would get the hint… when you first confronted me…"
Yaomomo muttered to herself. When she first—
Her body froze in place.
"The battle trial…"
Ben didn't shake his head.
"You… You said those words didn't remind you of anything…"
"Yeah…" Ben kept his head down. "I lied…"
He wiped his tears. "What a surprise… isn't it?"
She put her hand on his knee.
He raised his face, and saw her on the verge as well. "I trust… that you had a good reason…"
Ben opened his mouth, but his words… were like exhausted gusts of wind.
"Yeah, that's what I keep telling myself."
A slow clap echoed in the room. Everyone turned to the source of the sound…
One of the Knight's had gotten up.
"Such a great act, I'm sure this would lead to a happy ending!"
He pulled out a cracked blaster.
"But we aren't in some happy story"
Labrid suddenly shouted: "Don't do it! It's busted!"
The knight didn't seem to care. Red electricity came out of the cracks on the lance.
Ben's instincts kicked in "Get clear…"
Everyone else was standing in place.
"BEN TENNYSON NO MORE, FOR OUR RIGHTEOUS ORDER!"
Ben managed to shout. "Get clear!"
Labrid jumped in between. "HIT THE DECK!"
A little blast escaped from the muzzle, right where it had aimed, before the ether-point cell discharged, resulting in… its detonation.