Intro:

No One POV:

Ben wiped the sweat from his brow, frustration evident on his face.

Ben: "This is not working"

He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with annoyance.

He had been toiling away tirelessly in his room in the Hazbin hotel trying to fix the device. It had been used multiple times and tweaked to only travel between hell and Earth, but now he faced a new challenge, connecting it to his own world.

Ben: "Man, this is tougher than I thought"

Ben grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

He glanced at the device, its wires and circuits a tangled mess before him.

Ben: "I mean, traveling to a world in the same universe is one thing, but hopping to another universe? That's a whole different ball game"

He paused, deep in thought.

Ben: "I've tried everything"

He continued, his voice tinged with frustration.

Ben: "Even Brainstorm and Grey Matter couldn't crack this one. And without the cash to splurge on premium parts, I'm stuck using these old ones. Amps up the chances of an accident, though"

Ben sighed as he stared at the device before him. He knew he couldn't give up now. He was caught up in all the action he forgot his original mission, going back home.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, prompting Ben to invite the visitor in. Keenie entered, her expression a mix of surprise and irritation.

Keenie: "Finally! It's like playing a game of cat and mouse trying to catch up with you. You're always on the move"

Ben sighed, he wasn't in the mood for small talk. However, Keenie pressed on, noticing something on the table.

Keenie: "What's this?"

Before Ben could respond, Keenie grabbed the remote and began pressing its buttons without hesitation.

Keenie: "Isn't this the device you used to transport us between Earth and Hell? Looks like it's seen better days"

Ben's eyes widened in alarm as he hurriedly intervened, snatching the remote from Keenie's grasp.

Ben: "Careful! You could have gotten us killed!"

Keenie seemed unfazed by Ben's concern, brushing it off as she examined the remote.

Keenie: "Kill us? This thing looks like it couldn't even light up"

Ben shook his head, exasperated by Keenie's nonchalant attitude.

Ben: "I don't have the patience to deal with your antics right now. But I know just the alien for the job"

With a swift motion, Ben activated the Omnitrix and transformed into Brainstorm.

Brainstorm: "Brainstorm!"

Brainstorm, with his usual air of superiority, began to explain the intricacies of the device to Keenie, albeit in his complex and verbose manner.

Brainstorm: "Ahem, you see, my dear Keenie, this device functions on the principle of quantum entanglement, a concept that may be beyond your comprehension. Essentially, it manipulates subatomic particles to achieve teleportation. However, any misstep in its operation could lead to catastrophic consequences, such as molecular destabilization or even complete disintegration. It requires finesse, precision, and above all, an understanding of quantum mechanics"

Keenie, unimpressed and somewhat baffled by Brainstorm's verbose explanation, crossed her arms and scowled.

Keenie: "Look, Brainy, I don't need a lecture on quantum mumbo jumbo. Just tell me why pressing buttons on this thing is dangerous"

Brainstorm, taking offense at being referred to as 'Brainy' raised an eyebrow in annoyance.

Brainstorm: "My dear Keenie, I assure you, there is nothing 'mumbo jumbo' about quantum mechanics. However, to put it in terms that even you simpleton can understand, meddling with this device without proper knowledge or expertise is akin to playing with fire. One wrong move, and poof! You're nothing more than a molecular smear on the wall"

Keenie rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by Brainstorm's condescending tone.

Keenie: "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Messing with this thing is risky business. Thanks for the lecture, Professor"

Brainstorm, satisfied with his explanation, nodded smugly.

Brainstorm: "You're welcome, although I must insist on being referred to as 'Doctor' Brainstorm. After all, I do possess a PhD in advanced astrophysics"

Keenie sighed, realizing she wouldn't get through to Brainstorm with her usual approach. She decided to drop the subject, knowing that arguing further would only lead to more frustration.

As Keenie observed the device in Brainstorm's claw, she noticed a subtle glitching, small flickers of light that indicated something was amiss, it then began to malfunction, emitting erratic pulses of energy.

Keenie: "Is that supposed to happen?"

Brainstorm's eyes widened in alarm as he observed the device's malfunction. In his mind, millions of calculations raced, each one proposing a different solution to rectify the problem. However, outwardly, he remained frozen in place, his body tense with the effort of processing the situation.

From Keenie's perspective, Brainstorm appeared to have stopped moving altogether, his gaze fixed on the malfunctioning device in his hand. She couldn't help but feel a pang of unease as she watched the energy pulses grow stronger.

Keenie: "Uh, Brainy? You okay there?"

There was no response from Brainstorm, further escalating Keenie's anxiety. She reached out a hand to shake him, but hesitated, unsure if she should disturb him in his apparent state of deep contemplation.

Keenie: "Brainy, snap out of it!"

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Brainstorm sprang into action, his movements a blur as he attempted to stabilize the device. He muttered to himself in a flurry of high-pitched, rapid speech, his words incomprehensible to Keenie.

Keenie: "Okay, this is officially freaking me out"

As Brainstorm continued his frenzied efforts to fix the device, Keenie took a cautious step back to the door, uncertain of what might happen next. She could only hope that Brainstorm would prevail and prevent any catastrophic consequences.

Brainstorm, still in his frenzied state, finally managed to stabilize the device for a brief moment. His voice, tinged with urgency and concern.

Brainstorm: "We're in big trouble! This device has been compromised, and if we don't act quickly, it could have catastrophic consequences. Keenie, you need to evacuate the hotel immediately!"

Keenie *concerned*: "Aren't you, like, super smart? Why can't you just fix the darn thing?"

Brainstorm responded with a condescending air.

Brainstorm: "Ah, my dear Keenie, if only it were that simple. You see, the intricacies of this device's construction are far beyond the comprehension of the average intellect. It's not a matter of mere repair, it requires finesse, precision, and an understanding of quantum mechanics that eludes all but the most adept minds"

Keenie rolled her eyes, unimpressed by Brainstorm explanation.

Keenie: "Whatever. Just do your brainy thing and figure it out before we all end up as crispy critters"

Brainstorm, undeterred by Keenie's dismissive attitude, continued to mutter to himself, lost in a whirlwind of complex calculations and theoretical hypotheses. As the tension mounted and the device emitted ominous pulses of energy, Keenie couldn't shake the feeling that they were teetering on the edge of disaster.

Brainstorm's urgency escalated as he realized the imminent danger they faced. He turned to Keenie, his voice tinged with concern.

Brainstorm: "Keenie, we don't have much time. You need to leave now. I can't guarantee your safety if you stay here any longer"

Keenie's brow furrowed with worry for Brainstorm, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Keenie: "And what about you, Ben? You're acting like you've got everything under control, but I'm not buying it. You can't just dismiss your own safety like it's nothing"

Brainstorm's ego surfaced as he assured her with a hint of arrogance.

Brainstorm: "Rest assured, Keenie. My intellect far surpasses any potential threat posed by this device. The Omnitrix's fail-safes will ensure my protection. However, I cannot extend the same guarantee to you. It is imperative that you heed my advice and depart immediately!"

As Keenie hesitated, torn between her concern for Brainstorm and her own safety, the door suddenly burst open with a bang, and Vaggie stumbled into the room, catching everyone off guard.

Vaggie: "What the hell is going on in here?! You two better have a damn good explanation for all this chaos!"

With a deafening explosion, the device in Brainstorm's hand erupted in a blinding flash of light.

The force of the explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the room, engulfing everyone in its wake. In an instant, they were enveloped by the blinding light, and the world around them dissolved into nothingness.

Time Skip:

As Keenie slowly regained consciousness, she found herself somewhere she doesn't recognize. Shocked and disoriented, she struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

Pushing herself up, Keenie's gaze fell upon the bloodied body of Vaggie who was knocked out from the explosion. Her heart raced with panic as she took in the scene before her. But amidst the fear and confusion, she noticed a peculiar sight of a figure lying nearby, encased in a shimmering, crystalline substance.

Shaking off the haze of dizziness, Keenie tentatively approached the crystalline figure sprawled on the ground. As she drew closer, she recognized the shape of the Omnitrix faceplate embedded within the crystalline humanoid chest. It dawned on her that this must be Ben, transformed into one of his alien forms by the Omnitrix's fail-safe mechanism. Despite the explosion and everyone being in a bad shape, his alien form appeared unharmed.

Keenie: "Wow"

Keenie murmured, her eyes widening as she took in Ben's unfamiliar alien form.

Keenie: "He actually looks kind of... cool"

As Chromastone jolted back to consciousness, Keenie stumbled backward, taken aback by the sudden movement. Before she could react, Chromastone's voice rang out with relief.

Chromastone: "I'm alive?!"

Checking himself over, Chromastone's single green eye widened in realization. He glanced around, taking in the sight of bloodied Vaggie strewn across the floor. But his attention quickly returned to Keenie, who lay nearby, looking back at him with scratch marks on her body and her dress a little torn.

Chromastone: "Keenie! Thank God you're alive"

Rushing to her side, Chromastone kneeled down and enveloped Keenie in a tight hug, lifting her to her feet. Keenie yelped in surprise, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the sudden display of affection.

Keenie: "H-hey, I-I'm fine, rock guy. Maybe you should check on your friend over there. She doesn't seem to be doing too well"

Ben POV:

I quickly detransformed and dashed to Vaggie's to make sure she was okay, scanning the area as I ran. I noticed nothing but sand stretching for miles, with the faint outline of a battered upside down Eiffel Tower sunken in the sand in the distance. I chalked it up to the scorching heat possibly playing tricks on my mind.

Vaggie grimaced in pain as I assisted her, her features contorted with pain as she emitted small yelps.

Ben: "That explosion really did a number on you, huh?"

Without warning, Vaggie pushed me away as she opened her eye, summoning a cracked spear, likely from her injuries.

Ben: "Hey, I was just trying to hel-"

My words were cut short as Vaggie scuttled towards me and aimed her spear at my neck, isn't this familiar.

As Vaggie's spear hovered dangerously close to my neck, I frantically dodged her every move, trying to reason with her between breaths.

Ben: "Look, Vaggie, I know this looks bad, but trust me, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was just trying to fix this remote so I could go back to my world, not blow ourselves up!"

Vaggie's eye narrowed in suspicion, her grip on the spear tightening as she spoke through gritted teeth.

Vaggie: "You expect me to believe you were trying to help? I Knew that we shouldn't have trusted you from the beginning, let alone let you live rent free with us!"

I rolled my eyes, a smirk playing on my lips despite the tense situation.

Ben: "Hey, I know I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I'm not some villain out to get you, alright? Let's just calm down and figure out where we are and how to get back home"

As Vaggie's spear continued to bear down on me, I dodged her attacks with growing desperation, struggling to get through to her.

Ben: "Hey, Keenie, a little help here! I swear I wasn't trying to fucking kill us, okay?!"

Keenie watched from the sidelines with a devious grin, clearly entertained by the confrontation unfolding before her.

Keenie: "Nah, I'm actually enjoying this. You two make quite the pair"

I shot her a glare as I continued to evade Vaggie's relentless assault, my joking demeanor fading under the pressure.

Ben: "Come on, Vaggie, I get it, you're angry. But seriously, do you think I would purposely put us in danger like this? You'd think if I wanted to kill you I wouldn't have already?"

Vaggie's expression remained hardened, her eye flashing with mistrust as she narrowed in on me.

Vaggie: "I don't trust you, Tennyson. Not now, not ever. You're reckless and dangerous, and I won't let you put us in more danger than we're already in"

I let out a frustrated sigh, realizing that convincing Vaggie would be no easy task. With Keenie watching gleefully from the sidelines, I braced myself to continue dodging.

Ben: "Aren't you like, the little bit curious where the fuck we even ended up in? Why don't you stop so we can figure how to return back to your world?!"

My words fell on deaf ears as Vaggie's attacks grew more intense, I could feel my options dwindling. With each dodge and parry, I weighed the consequences of transforming into one of my alien forms to subdue her, just long enough to get through to her. But before I could make a decision, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the air, causing both Vaggie and I to freeze.

We exchanged wary glances before turning our attention towards the source of the noise, readying ourselves for whatever or whoever was coming our way. Keenie also hovered close by.

I didn't know what to expect, who knows whatever creatures live in this place.

The footsteps grew closer, the rhythm steady and deliberate, sending a chill down my spine as I prepared for the unknown. Vaggie gripped her spear tightly, her posture tense with anticipation as we waited for the figure to reveal themselves.

As the mysterious figure drew closer, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope at the sight of what appeared to be a humanoid form. But as they grew closer, my initial relief turned to surprise and confusion as I noticed their short stature, octopus-like hair, and strange body proportions that marked them as not entirely human.

Ben *mutter*: "What the?"

Vaggie: "The fuck is that thing"

Keenie: "It looks quite ugly..."

I glanced back at Vaggie and Keenie, noticing their expressions of confusion mirroring my own. Remembering the importance of making a good impression in this new world, especially after my rocky start in hell, I decided to tread cautiously.

Ben: "Let's not jump to conclusions just yet"

I suggested, my voice low with caution.

Approaching cautiously, a smile faltering on my face, I was met with the sight of the squid-like figure glaring at me, their brows lifted in a challenging manner, the left brow was split in the middle.

???: "Back off there, whatever you are"

I froze as the feminine voice cut through the air.

Ben: "We, uhh, come in peace"

The humanoid creature crossed its noddle arms, seriously they look like they don't have any muscle mass on them, she also exuded an attitude that rubbed me the wrong way.

???: "Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say before they try to slaughter us"

Ben: "Huh, you seem like you've been through a lot"

She closed her eyes while gesturing to the surroundings.

??? "Quite a lot, actually"

Keenie's whisper pulled me out of the conversation momentarily.

Keenie: "Psst, Ben"

I turned to her, curious.

Ben: "What? I'm in the middle of striking a conversation with her"

Keenie: "Can you seriously understand what it's saying?"

Ben: "Yeah... can't you two?"

Vaggie shook her head, and Keenie rolled her eyes.

Keenie: "All we're hearing is gargling noises with some occasional 'Woomys' it can get old quite fast"

A sudden realization hit me, and I smacked my forehead.

Ben: "I remember now, the watch has a built-in Universal Translator, pretty handy if you ask me"

Keenie: "What? Seriously, is there something your watch can't do?"

Ben: "Well, it can't tell time"

Keenie: "Really? A watch that can't tell time, that sounds ridiculous"

Ben: "You could say that again"

The sudden sound of a fake cough returned our attention to the humanoid, whose face was red with apparent anger.

???: "Are you seriously ignoring me!?"

Ben: "Wait, I didn't m-"

She cut me off abruptly.

???: "And you better explain the shell you three are! Because in my entire life, I have never seen things like you!"

I thought for a moment, realizing that she was adamant about knowing our true identities. It seemed like it was time to weave a web of lies.

Ben *toothy grin*: "We're humans"

???: "Humans, huh?"

Her piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead, mixed with the scorching desert heat it felt like I was going to melt in my place.

???: "Well, smart guy, humans have been extinct for, how long now?"

She began counting on her fingers mockingly, her lack of fingernails catching my attention.

???: "12,000 years. And that thing isn't even a human!"

She said pointing at Keenie.

???: "So what are you three exactly, Vilgax minions perhaps?"

The mention of Vilgax made my muscles tense, and I noticed Vaggie and Keenie growing cautious as well when they noticed my expression. The humanoid narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me.

Ben: "How'd you know that name?"

???: "Hey! I'm the one asking questions here. And if you're not going to answer, I'll squeeze whatever I need out of you"

With a swift motion, the humanoid reached behind her back and brandished a strange-looking gun, pointing it in my direction. It resembled a water gun, but the situation felt far from playful.

I glanced back at Vaggie and Keenie, signaling to them that the situation was escalating. Vaggie sprang to her feet, gripping her weapon tightly, while Keenie summoned her lighting bow.

I dialed the watch with a smirk playing on my lips.

Ben *dialing the watch*: "Well, I tried it Gwen's way. Now *smirk* IT'S HERO TIME!"

The green light enveloped me, and I emerged as HeatBlast, my fiery form towering over the desert landscape. The humanoid's eyes widened in shock and fear at the sight of me.

???: "W-what are you?!"

HeatBlast: "I'm hot, literally!"

???: "You're on Fire?!?"

HeatBlast: "Cool, right?"

I raised my hands, flames dancing at my fingertips as I tried to intimidate her.

Vaggie *raise eyebrow*: "Do you really need to transform just to handle one opponent?"

HeatBlast: "I dunno, maybe she has laser vision or telekinesis for all I know"

I turned my attention back to the humanoid, my fiery gaze locked onto hers.

The humanoid's weapon remained fixated on me, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and defiance.

Agent: "I'm an Agent...I can't just back in fear, not after what I've been through"

I heard her mutter before shaking her head and pointing her gun at me with newfound determination.

As her finger clicked the weapon, I braced myself for what I thought would be a bullet or laser, but to my surprise, yellow ink sprayed from the gun, dousing my flames and covering my head. I fell to my knees in pain as the sticky ink kept extinguishing my flames.

Agent: "I expected more from the way you talked. I guess you're all bark and no bite"

Suddenly, an arrow whizzed past me, striking the Agent in the arm and causing her to stumble back in pain. She clutched her injured arm as Keenie lowered her bow when I glanced back at her.

Keenie: "What? It's not like you weren't going to burn her just now, baldy"

I glanced at my ink-covered head with ink dripping down from it to the sand below my feet, feeling irritated.

HeatBlast *defeated*: "Fair point"

Vaggie approached and offered me a hand, which I gratefully accepted. She looked at me with a steely gaze.

Vaggie: "Consider this a temporary alliance until we get the hell out of here"

I glanced up at the scorching sun, its intense heat slowly drying the ink that covered me. Focusing on my fiery energy, I concentrated on amplifying my heat, allowing it to intensify and spread throughout my body, evaporating the ink and restoring me to my fiery form.

The ink sizzled and steamed as it evaporated under the searing heat, leaving me unharmed and ready to unleash my full power once again.

HeatBlast: "Who would've thought, fire and wate- erm, ink don't mix well"

I confidently strode over to the humanoid, who was whimpering in pain as she tried to pry the arrow from her arm. The wound oozed with a yellow substance similar to the ink from earlier, but I didn't let her distress distract me.

Agent: "I've never seen, a weapon, like this before"

She glanced at me with narrowed eyes as I approached, clearly angry but also wary of my fiery presence. Despite her attempts to stand, she wobbled unsteadily, still pointing her weapon in my direction.

Agent: "You want me to put you out for good this time, matchstick?"

HeatBlast: "Save us the witty remarks squiddy and tell me how do you know Vilgax"

My words fell on deaf ears as she tried to hit me again, smirking as if she would actually succeed in killing me this time. But I wasn't about to let that happen. With a quick motion, I slammed down on the watch, and in a flash of green light, transformed into DiamondHead.

I created a diamond shield to block her attack, then swiftly morphed it into a sword. In a blur of motion, I sliced through the gun in her hand, cleaving it in two and leaving her defenseless.

The Agent's eyes widened in shock and disbelief as she watched me transform yet again. Her grip on the gun faltered as she let go of it and stumbled back, a mixture of fear and confusion evident on her face.

The Agent's confusion turned to frustration as I nonchalantly dismissed her weapon.

Agent: "You... you destroyed it!"

DiamondHead *smirk*: "Consider it a favor. Got any more toys you want me to wreck?"

Undeterred, the Agent pulled out another water gun, this time resembling a rifle, and began firing at me. The ink splashed against me, momentarily covering me before dripping harmlessly to the ground. Despite the annoyance of being repeatedly doused, I couldn't help but notice Keenie's stifled giggles at the absurdity of the situation.

DiamondHead *whispering*: "Vilgax must've had a field day with you guys"

I quickly reared my hand and shot a diamond shard forward, blocking the rifle's muzzle. She continued to press the trigger faster until the rifle exploded in her face, covering it in ink except for her eyes, which blinked in disbelief.

No One POV:

The inkling, her expression still a mix of surprise and irritation, spoke up looking flabbergasted.

Agent: "Alright, hold up a sec. How the hell did you just transform into those two things?"

DiamondHead couldn't help but launch into an explanation, his cocky demeanor shining through.

DiamondHead: "Oh, you know, just your average hero stuff. It's all thanks to this amazing device on my chest, the Omnitrix! Let me tell you, it's pretty incredible. With a simple touch, I can transform into all sorts of awesome aliens, like HeatBlast and DiamondHead here. It's like having a whole arsenal of powers right at my fingertips!"

The inkling nodded along, feigning interest while slowly reaching behind her back to remove her splatana from its scabbard. She kept her eyes on DiamondHead, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Vaggie and Keenie watched with growing concern as the inkling edged closer to DiamondHead, who was too busy reveling in his own greatness to notice. Keenie turned to Vaggie, her brows furrowed with worry.

Keenie: "Shouldn't we do something? He's totally oblivious!"

Vaggie angrily clenched her fists as she watched DiamondHead boast.

Vaggie: "No. He's asking for trouble with his cockiness. Let him deal with it himself"

As DiamondHead continued to ramble on, Keenie and Vaggie exchanged exasperated glances as they watched the Agent hand grip some kind of a sword from her back.

DiamondHead continued his cocky monologue, oblivious to the Agent approaching strike.

DiamondHead: "You see, the watch has like millions of aliens in it, but I can only use 63 for the time bein-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the inkling swung her sword with surprising speed, hitting DiamondHead squarely on the head. Ink splashed everywhere, covering DiamondHead, Vaggie, Keenie, and the ground in a messy spray.

The impact of the strike caused the ground beneath DiamondHead to crack, but to the Agent surprise, the sword only bent upon contact with his diamond-hard head, causing no damage. DiamondHead stumbled back, stunned by the sudden attack, as ink dripped from his form.

DiamondHead: "Ow! What was that for?!"

The Agent stepped back, her eyes wide with disbelief and fear.

Agent: "How... How did you survive that? No inkling or octoling has ever survived a direct blow from my splatana before"

She backed away slowly, keeping a cautious distance from DiamondHead.

Vaggie and Keenie approached, their expressions a mix of concern and annoyance.

Vaggie: "I hope that knocked some sense into you. At least it'll give us a break from hearing your voice for a while"

Keenie nodded in agreement, casting a sidelong glance at DiamondHead with a hint of irritation.

DiamondHead: "Well sorry that you two are unable to handle my greatness"

DiamondHead laughed heartily, striking a heroic pose before reaching for the hilt of the sword lodged in his head. With a swift tug, he pulled it free, examining it closely. To his amusement, the blade had taken on the perfect shape of his head, with foam-like material filling the space where the blade should be.

DiamondHead: "Seriously? Are all your weapons ink-based?"

He said before throwing it to the ground beneath the scared inkling.

The Agent's eyes narrowed in frustration as she realized she couldn't handle the situation alone. With a swift movement, she reached for a strange triangle-shaped object filled with ink.

Agent: "I can't deal with you three on my own..."

She muttered before hurling the object to the ground. Reacting instinctively, DiamondHead quickly created a diamond dome around himself, Vaggie, and Keenie, shielding them from the impending explosion.

As the ink-filled device detonated, the force of the blast reverberated against the diamond shield, causing Vaggie and Keenie to instinctively huddle closer to DiamondHead for protection. Keenie trembled in fear while Vaggie stood guard.

DiamondHead shook his head in disbelief as he reabsorbed the diamond dome back into himself. The ink that had splattered onto the dome now coated his hands and palms, but it quickly dripped off his shiny, slippery body and pooled on the ground below.

DiamondHead: "I really overestimated the Agent again"

He muttered to himself, watching as the Agent made her escape. She transformed into a cartoony squid-like creature, darting away before leaping into the air and morphing back into her humanoid form. With another burst of ink from her new sleek orange water gun, she created a new pool of ink in front of her, seamlessly transitioning into it to maintain her momentum and quickly gain distance.

DiamondHead couldn't help but admire her agility, even as she slipped away from their grasp.

Vaggie glanced around, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Vaggie: "So, what now?"

Keenie turned to DiamondHead, her expression expectant.

Keenie: "Did you get any information from her? You're the only one who can understand her language because of the watch"

DiamondHead nodded, a determined gleam in his eyes.

DiamondHead: "We need to follow her"

Keenie raised an eyebrow.

Keenie *lift eyebrow*: "Why? And how?"

DiamondHead: "Because she mentioned getting backup. That means there are others like her, possibly having a society or a city"

DiamondHead explained before slamming the watch and in a green light detransfomed back into Ben.

Keenie rubbed her eyes in pain as the strong light fade away.

Keenie: "jeez! You need to warn us before doing that"

Ben didn't crack a joke or anything, which suprised Keenie.

Ben: "And she also mentioned Vilgax"

Keenie's eyes widened in surprise.

Keenie: "Who?"

Vaggie answered, her voice laced with irritation.

Vaggie: "Vilgax. He's the one who transported Ben to hell"

Ben: "You still remember that?"

Vaggie shrugged.

Vaggie: "Hard to forget. You're the most confusing person I've ever met"

Ben chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice.

Ben: "Well, I guess that's just part of my charm"

Vaggie: "But what's he doing here? I thought he was back at your universe"

Ben kneeled down beside the ink trail that the Agent left, his expression serious as he examined it closely.

Ben: "I'm not sure, but this means that we'll have to postpone our mission to go to your home for now until we figure out what he's doing here"

Keenie objected loudly.

Keenie: "I'm NOT staying any longer in what looks like a post-apocalyptic world filled with squid people that use ink instead of guns and speak like they're being drowned! And it's all because your little nemesis decided to give this hell hole a little tour!"

Ben turned away from her, his tone colder than before.

Ben: "Fine, then. If you want to stay alone in the middle of nowhere, be my guest"

He then turned to Vaggie.

Ben: "You coming?"

Vaggie nodded silently and followed him. Keenie looked surprised by Vaggie's choice, and she couldn't help but voice her confusion.

Keenie: "Didn't you want to slit his throat earlier?"

Vaggie glanced back at Keenie, her expression serious.

Vaggie: "I have a nagging feeling that that thing is big trouble, and our only option is to follow Ben. As much as it hurts me, it's our only ticket back"

Keenie stood there, torn between her frustration and her limited options. She glanced around at the desolate landscape, feeling a sense of unease creeping over her. Despite her reluctance, she knew deep down that following Ben was the only logical choice if she ever wanted to get out of this place.

After a moment of contemplation, Keenie let out a resigned sigh. With a reluctant nod, she made her decision and began to follow Ben and Vaggie, knowing that she had no other choice if she wanted to survive and find a way back home.

Time Skip:

As Terraspin soared through the desert landscape, Vaggie and Keenie held on tight, their hair whipping in the wind. Keenie couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration boiling within her as they continued to follow the ink trail.

Keenie: "Hey, why are we even following this ink trail anyway?"

Terraspin: "Seriously? Did you not hear me earlier? We need answers from the Agent"

His response was cold and to the point, lacking his usual joking demeanor. Keenie sighed, realizing that arguing with Ben now would likely get her nowhere. She tightened her grip on his shell, resigning herself to the fact that they had no other choice but to follow his lead, at least for now.

Terraspin continued to fly for what felt like hours, going forward despite the scorching heat and the endless expanse of desert. Vaggie's patience was wearing thin as they flew, and she couldn't help but voice her concerns.

Vaggie: "Are we even getting anywhere? What if that humanoid just led us into a trap?"

Terraspin halted in mid-air as they spotted a road in the distance, the ink trail coming to an abrupt stop. The sudden stop and turn jolted Vaggie off his back, but she landed on her feet gracefully. Keenie, however, wasn't so lucky, stumbling as she fell from Terraspin's shell.

Terraspin: "Huh, why did the ink trail stop here?"

Vaggie helped Keenie up, noticing Ben's distracted expression.

Keenie: "What's wrong with him? Why's he acting like this?"

Vaggie: "I don't know. He's never been like this before. Maybe it's because of Vilgax?"

Keenie: "Vilgax? Is he really that big of a deal?"

Vaggie: "If he's making Ben act this tense, then yes"

As Vaggie approached Terraspin, she couldn't help but feel small next to his towering form. Looking up at him, she asked again.

Vaggie: "Now what?"

But Terraspin seemed too preoccupied with examining the road. Ignoring her question, he abruptly slammed the watch on his chest, transforming into XLR8. As he turned to face them, his voice was cold and firm.

XLR8: "Hold into my back"

Keenie started to protest.

Keenie: "Not again...."

As Keenie hesitated, XLR8 glanced back at Keenie with a look that seemed to hold a weight of experience beyond his years.

XLR8: "Trust me, Keenie. There are things... things from my past that need to be dealt with. Vilgax is not just another enemy. He's a threat unlike any other, and if I don't stop him now, it could mean... it could mean disaster"

His words hung in the air, carrying a sense of gravity that silenced Keenie's objections. With a nod, she climbed onto XLR8's back.

After Keenie clung onto him, Vaggie glanced at XLR8's back, realizing there was barely any space left for her to cling onto.

Vaggie: "Where do you expect me to sit?"

XLR8 turned his head slightly, a smirk playing on his lips.

XLR8: "I'll just have to hold you bridal style in my claws"

Vaggie blinked in surprise.

Vaggie: "What?"

XLR8 raised a brow, shooting her a pointed look.

XLR8: "Any objections?"

Vaggie blushed slightly, begrudgingly making her way to him. XLR8 effortlessly scooped her up into his claws.

Vaggie, still blushing, muttered under her breath.

Vaggie: "He did this on purpose..."

A hint of amusement flickered in XLR8's eyes as he glanced back at her.

XLR8: "Maybe"

He joked, trying to maintain his cold demeanor.

XLR8 swiftly then zoomed through the road making Keenie and Vaggie hold him closer.

Time Skip:

Vaggie stared off into the distance, the sound of XLR8's rapid footsteps echoing in the silence. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

Vaggie: "Ben..."

Vaggie started, her voice trailing off as she glanced around.

Vaggie: "Shouldn't there be cars or... whatever kind of vehicles those creatures use?"

XLR8 shrugged.

XLR8: "How the hell would I know?"

As they continued down the empty road, Vaggie's unease grew. Her question hung in the air, unanswered, until suddenly, something crashed into the ground in front of them with the force of a meteor. A shockwave rippled out, sending the three of them tumbling backward.

Despite the chaos, XLR8 managed to keep hold of Vaggie, shielding her as they rolled across the ground. When they finally came to a stop, Vaggie found herself on top of him, disoriented but unharmed.

As XLR8 pushed her aside to get a better look, Vaggie scrambled to her feet, her eyes fixed on the figure standing amidst a puddle of yellow ink. It was another inkling, but unlike any they had seen before.

This inkling was smaller in stature, her eyes a fiery orange and her expression neutral yet serious. She wore tattered clothes and a worn-down cap, giving her the appearance of a hobo, or was she?

XLR8 couldn't help but wonder where she had come from and how she had survived the impact. But as the inkling stood before them, XLR8 knew one thing for certain: they were about to get some answers, whether they liked them or not.

A familiar face dropped next to the homeless-looking inkling. It was The Agent.

Agent: "Agent 3! I told you to wait for me to make our heroic entrance together!"

The Agent exclaimed, her tone slightly annoyed.

The homeless inkling, Agent 3, turned to the Agent with crossed arms. She had no noticeable expression on her face, but even XLR8 could sense a gaze of irritation from her.

The Agents nervously chuckled.

Agent: "Sorry, I mean Captain..."

She corrected herself, although it was too late now.

XLR8 helped Vaggie up before Agent 3 pointed at them both, looking bewildered.

Agent 3: "Woah"

Agent 3 exclaimed, pointing at them in surprise. XLR8 shot her a irritated glance as he helped Vaggie, while Keenie was limping towards him and Vaggie.

The Agent nodded with a devious grin, now equipped with a mechanical bow gripped tightly in her hands.

Agent: "Yeah, those are Vilgax's new ink immune playthings, and especially that... thing"

The Agent said, gesturing towards XLR8.

Agent: "Now he's some kind of speedy blue devil"

Keenie: "Uh... *cough* Wh-what are they saying?"

XLR8: "Trouble. Prepare yourself for another fight"

Keenie sighed in annoyance before summoning her lightning bow and pulling the string, conjuring a golden arrow.

Keenie: "I don't have time for another stupid battle scene. Let's end this quickly"

She continued before releasing the string, sending the arrow flying straight at Agent 3's face. However, in a quick motion, Agent 3 caught the arrow before it hit her, surprising even XLR8.

Keenie's eyes widened.

Keenie: "What the!"

Agent 3 silently examined the arrow in her hand before snapping it with ease.

A fight suddenly erupted into a chaotic frenzy as XLR8 zoomed in to deliver a swift blow to Agent 3.

However, she effortlessly dodged his attack, catching his neck in a vice-like grip and delivering a powerful punch that sent him hurtling backward. As XLR8 regained his composure, Vaggie and Keenie rushed forward, brandishing their weapons at the Agents.

Vaggie lunged forward with her spear, aiming to strike Agent 3, but the agile inkling swiftly evaded her attack, countering with a series of rapid punches that forced Vaggie to step back defensively. Meanwhile, Keenie unleashed a barrage of golden arrows, each one aimed with precision at Agent 3's vulnerable spots. However, Agent 3 proved to be incredibly agile, dodging each arrow with graceful movements and retaliating with swift punches of her own.

XLR8 quickly transformed into HeatBlast unleashing torrents of flames, forcing Agent 3 to dodge and weave through the fiery onslaught.

HeatBlast: "Can't handle the heat,
huh?!"

Then he was sniped by the other Agent, the arrow exploding upon contact extinguishing his flames again as she cheekily laughed at him.

HeatBlast *in pain*: "I really never learn from my mistakes"

Quickly switching to Four Arms, he delivered powerful punches that sent shockwaves rippling through the air, momentarily staggering the Agent making her drop her mechanical bow.

Four Arms: "You're gonna need more than ink to stop me now!"

Agent 3 and her partner, despite being caught off guard by Ben's array of alien forms, fought back relentlessly.

Agent: "You're not the only one with tricks up their sleeve!

As the battle raged on, Four Arms felt the need to switch tactics. He swiftly transformed into Swampfire. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned seeds from his palm, throwing them into the ground with precision.

Swampfire: "Let's see how you like a taste of nature's wrath"

Within moments, the seeds erupted into towering vines that snaked their way towards the two Agents, wrapping around them tightly and immobilizing their movements.

Vaggie: "Nice move, Ben!"

Keenie: "About time you did something useful"

However, their victory was short-lived as Agent 3, fueled by rage, broke free from the grasp of the vines with a powerful burst of strength.

Agent: "You think you can contain us that easily? Think again!"

With a ferocious roar, Agent 3 tore through the thick vegetation, freeing herself and the other Agent with ease.

With a swift motion, she then delivered a devastating punch directly to Swampfire's face, causing his head to explode into pieces.

Vaggie: "Ben!"

Keenie: "Holy shit she just decapitated him!"

Agent 3 and Agent were delighted by the turn of events, their expressions twisted into wicked grins as they reveled in the destruction they had caused. But their triumph was short-lived as Swampfire's head quickly regenerated.

Swampfire *smirk*: "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that"

Swampfire quickly slammed the watch transforming into Kickin Hawk delivering a swift kick to Agent 3's face, sending her
flying and crashing headfirst into the ground.

Kickin Hawk: "Had enough yet?"

With a swift motion, Kickin Hawk
transformed into Crashhopper. He leaped into the air, aiming directly at Agent 3. Crashhopper landed with precision, slamming into her stomach and knocking the wind out of her.

Crashhopper: "Hope you're not afraid of bugs!"

Before Agent 3 could react,
Crashhopper transformed back into Kickin Hawk again. With lightning speed, he delivered a flurry of close-range strikes, pummeling her with a series of punches and kicks.

Kickin Hawk: "Time to take you down a peg! Squiddy"

Vaggie and Keenie watched in
amusement as Kickin Hawk showcased his fighting skills, while the other Agent looked in horror at the sight of her Caption being humbled by the relentless assault.

Kickin Hawk continued his relentless barrage, refusing to let up until he felt Agent 3 was thoroughly subdued.

Kicking Hawk's assault came to a sudden halt as he noticed the yellow ink splattered across Agent 3's face and his own claws, as well as the bruises covering her body. His grotesque smile faded, replaced by a look of shock and realization.

Kickin Hawk: "I... I didn't mean to..."

He muttered, his voice tinged with regret. Glancing back at the other Agent, he saw the pain etched on her face and the anger in her eyes. She looked ready to burst into tears.

Agent: "Y-you Monster!"

Before Kicking Hawk could utter a word, the other Agent appeared at Agent 3's side, a mixture of concern and anger written across her face.

Agent: "Mark my words, next time we meet, you're not only going to fight the two of us, but the whole squad"

With a final glare at Kickin Hawk, she grabbed Agent 3's hand and pulled her away, leaving him standing there in silence.

Vaggie and Keenie rushed to his side, concern etched on their faces as they saw him standing there, visibly shaken by what had just transpired.

Vaggie: "Ben, what the hell was that? I thought we needed them for answers"

Keenie's expression mirrored Vaggie's concern as she stepped closer to him.

Keenie: "Yeah, seriously, what's going on? You just let them walk away after all the pain we went through to find them!"

Kickin Hawk's gaze remained fixed on the ground, his fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to find the right words to respond.

Kickin hawk: "I... I don't know. I just... I couldn't..."

His voice trailed off, his guilt weighing heavily on him as he struggled to come to terms with what had just happened.

Kickin Hawk took a deep breath as he detransformed back to Ben, his voice filled with remorse as he spoke.

Ben: "This... This isn't who I am. I let my anger get the better of me. I was so focused on finding Vilgax and being the hero that I... I lost control"

Vaggie's expression softened as she listened to Ben's words, sensing the sincerity in his voice. She nodded slowly, her hostility towards him beginning to wane.

Vaggie: "Well, at least you realize it. We all make mistakes, Ben. What matters now is what you do next"

Keenie nodded in agreement, her earlier frustration melting away as she saw the vulnerability in Ben's eyes.

Keenie: "Yeah, man. We've got your back, just... try to keep it together next time, okay?"

Ben nodded, a newfound determination flickering in his eyes as he looked at his friends.

Ben: "Thanks, guys. I won't let you down again. Now let's go find Vilgax and put an end to this once and for all"

Time Skip:

As they continued their walk they started seeing a city in the distance, as they approached the city, the sight before them was unlike anything they had expected. Sea creatures, humanoid in form but diverse in appearance, bustled through the streets, each with their unique clothing styles.

Ben's surprise was palpable, his eyes widening at the bustling cityscape before him. He had expected this world to be inhabited solely by the inklings, but the sight of the diverse sea creatures going about their daily lives left him in awe.

The city was a cacophony of sound and color, with billboards lining the streets, flashing advertisements and announcements in languages they couldn't understand.

Ben: "So, this is unexpected. I never imagined we'd stumble upon a whole city, in the middle of the desert, full of... sea creatures"

Vaggie: "Yeah, the population here is, interesting. But it also makes me wonder where exactly the remote brought us"

Keenie: "And more importantly, how are we going to find this Vilgax in this maze of a city? Not to mention figuring out a way back home"

They continued their conversation as they admired the sights and sounds of the city, marveling at the various shops and establishments that lined the streets.

Ben: "Well, one thing's for sure, we're not going to find Vilgax standing around here. We'll have to start somewhere, maybe gather information or look for any signs of his presence"

Vaggie: "Agreed. We need to be strategic about this. We can't just wander aimlessly and hope to stumble upon him"

Keenie: "Uhh, guys"

Keenie grabbed both if their attention, pointing at the curious inklings stopping to stare at them, fascinated by their unusual appearance. Sensing the attention drawing towards them, Ben quickly took charge, grabbing both Vaggie and Keenie by the hands and leading them into a nearby alleyway to avoid further scrutiny.

Ben: "Alright, change of plans. We're attracting too much attention out here. We need to blend in if we want to gather any information without causing a scene"

Vaggie and Keenie nodded in agreement as they followed Ben into the alley.

Once they were out of sight, Ben glanced down at the Omnitrix on his wrist, contemplating his options. With a sigh, he made his decision and slammed down on the dial.

In a flash of light, Ben transformed into AmpFibian, a blue jellyfish-like alien with six tentacles that served as two pairs of arms and a pair of legs. White lines resembling lightning streaks across his body.

AmpFibian: "Well, this is unfortunate. It's the closest I've got to blending in with those sea creatures"

Keenie's expression twisted into a scowl as she shot AmpFibian a glare.

Keenie: "You've got to be kidding me. You're turning into some weird jellyfish thing?"

AmpFibian shrugged, unfazed by Keenie's annoyance.

AmpFibian: "Hey, it's the best I've got. Unless you've got a better idea?"

Keenie opened her mouth to retort but stopped short, realizing she didn't have a more suitable suggestion.

Keenie: "Fine. But what about us?"

AmpFibian paused for a moment, his gaze drifting to what looks like a nearby clothing store.

AmpFibian: "I've got an idea. Stay here"

With that, AmpFibian sneakly entered to the clothing store, hoping to find disguises that would help them blend in better with their surroundings.

When AmpFibian entered through the door, it made a small jingle, catching the attention of a small jellyfish behind the counter. The jellyfish, wearing a shirt and flipping through a magazine, glanced up and was immediately taken aback.

Jellyfish: "Hello! What can I do f- S-sir, WHY ARE YOU NAKED?"

AmpFibian scratched his head in confusion at first.

AmpFibian: "Wha- oh"

He looked down at his 'naked body' realizing his oversight. Knowing that he now might be mistaken for a naked jellyfish by the residents, AmpFibian couldn't help but roll his eyes.

AmpFibian: "Now I have to get a disguise on top of a disguise"

The jellyfish blushed nervously.

Jellyfish: "S-sir, please could you get out?"

Despite the jellyfish's request, AmpFibian moved closer and used one of his tentacles to put it on the jellyfish's head.

Jellyfish: "P-please sir, don't do it, I'm still so young!"

AmpFibian reassured him.

AmpFibian: "Chill dude, I'm not going to do anything bad to you. This is only going to sting a little"

As electricity crackled through AmpFibian's tentacle, the jellyfish closed his eyes in anticipation.

Jellyfish: "Huh? What did you do?"

AmpFibian facepalmed at his own mistake.

AmpFibian: "Of course, it won't do anything, you're a jellyfish"

Confused, the jellyfish asked what he meant.

Jellyfish: "Wh-what's that supposed to mean?"

AmpFibian: "This means you're getting a prolonged nap from yours truly"

Before the jellyfish could respond, AmpFibian struck him on the head with two tentacles, just enough to knock him out without causing harm. The jellyfish slumped from his chair to the ground, unconscious.

As the jellyfish slumped to the ground, AmpFibian quickly darted behind the counter, rummaging through the clothes on display. He found a selection of shirts and pants that seemed to be the right size for him and his friends.

AmpFibian quickly draped a few articles of clothing over his body, hastily dressing himself in a generic green shirt. He concealed the rest of his tentacles under the shirt, leaving only two exposed.

AmpFibian: "Alright, got the clothes, got a disguise for...my disguise. *rolls eyes* Gosh, this is so dumb. Now I need to get back to the others"

Time Skip:

AmpFibian returned to the alleyway where Vaggie and Keenie were waiting, holding a bundle of clothes.

Vaggie: "What did you manage to find?"

AmpFibian: "Not entirely sure. Just grabbed some clothes that looked like they might fit."

Keenie eyed him curiously.

Keenie: "Why are you wearing a shirt?"

AmpFibian chuckled nervously.

AmpFibian: "Turns out the citizens would perceive me as 'naked' in this form, so I had to get a disguise for my disguise"

Keenie rolled her eyes.

Keenie: "That sounds ridiculous"

AmpFibian: "You could say that again. If I knew that would happen I might've transformed into Bullfrag, but I didn't spot any humanoid frogs wandering around the city. So, this will do"

Keenie frowned.

Keenie: "Who's Bullfrag?"

AmpFibian's non existent mouth grin widened.

AmpFibian: "Oh, just one of my cooler aliens. He's quite the charmer too"

Keenie raised an eyebrow.

Keenie: "How so?"

AmpFibian *winking*: "You'll see next time I transform into him"

Vaggie interjected, sensing the conversation veering off track.

Vaggie: "Alright, enough chit-chat. Let's get changed. We've wasted enough time here"

AmpFibian nodded, handing them the clothes.

AmpFibian: "Sorry, my bad. Here you go. Take your time"

He stepped back, giving them space to change into their new disguises.

Vaggie called out to AmpFibian once they were done changing.

Vaggie: "Ben, we're ready!"

As AmpFibian turned around, he was met with the sight of Vaggie and Keenie in their new 'fresh' disguise clothes, complete with beanies to conceal their lack of tentacles for hair. He couldn't help but keep looking at them, finding them oddly cute in their new outfits.

Keenie noticed his lingering gaze and teased.

Keenie: "You like what you're seeing, huh?"

AmpFibian, feeling flustered, closed his eyes momentarily before clearing his throat.

AmpFibian: "Well, uh, you two do look... uh... ready"

He stammered, trying to change the subject.

AmpFibian: "Since you guys are done, shall we continue our journey?"

Vaggie and Keenie exchanged amused glances before nodding in agreement. AmpFibian led the way, grateful for the distraction from his embarrassment.

As they walked through the bustling city streets, AmpFibian couldn't help but notice the conversations among the citizens, all of which revolved around fashion and an activity called Turf War. Thanks to the built-in translators, Ben could understand their language, but Vaggie and Keenie were left in the dark.

AmpFibian eavesdropped on various conversations, trying to glean any information that might lead them to Vilgax. However, all he heard were discussions about clothing trends and strategies for Turf War matches. It seemed like the entire city was also abuzz with excitement for an upcoming event.

AmpFibian couldn't fully comprehend what all the hype was about, but he gathered that a festival would be in full swing in a few days. The city was bustling with activity as makeshift floats were being prepared and decorated t-shirt stands were being set up. It was clear that this event was a big deal for the inhabitants of this world.

???: "Listen up! It's going down..."

As the mysterious voices echoed through the city streets, AmpFibian was caught off guard, his attention drawn to the sudden announcement.

AmpFibian *whispering*: "Who's that?"

He glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source of the voices, but they seemed to be coming from nowhere and everywhere at once.

Vaggie: "Ben, why'd you suddenly stop?"

But AmpFibian was too focused on the voices to respond.

??? 2: "Anarchy Splatcast! We're live!"

Another voice chimed in, adding to the mystery.

??? 3: "Here we go!"

AmpFibian strained to locate the speakers, his curiosity piqued.

Keenie: "Blue guy, we're talking to you"

Keenie's voice snapped him out of his trance, and he refocused, trying to find the source of the voices.

???: "You lip-synch, we drip ink..."

Big Man *gleefully*: "Shiver, Frye, and Big Man!"

Finally, AmpFibian spotted the speakers, he swiftly motioned for Vaggie and Keenie to follow him. He moved quickly through the crowded streets, the voices becoming clearer with each step. They discussed stages, anarchy battles, and Salmon Runs, topics that Ben wasn't familiar with.

Vaggie and Keenie followed AmpFibian's lead, their curiosity piqued as they approached the source of the voices. As they peered through the glass window into the studio-like room, they saw two figures, seemingly the announcers behind the mysterious voices.

Vaggie: "Ben, why did we come here?"

AmpFibian turned to them with a sheepish expression.

AmpFibian: "Oh, uh, couldn't you tell?"

Vaggie and Keenie exchanged exasperated looks, prompting AmpFibian to facepalm.

AmpFibian: "Oops, sorry. Well, from the way they speak, they seem to know a lot. They might have some info about Vilgax"

Inside, they saw two figures corresponding to the voices they heard. The first was a female Octoling with pale skin, blue hair, and a unique appearance that distinguished her from the Octolings AmpFibian had encountered before in the city.

Next to her sat another figure, also feminine in build, with medium brown skin, yellow hair, and distinct features reminiscent of an inkling, also a very big forehead.

As they watched, another figure caught AmpFibian's attention.

A third figure behind a TV screen in the studio, a wide creature resembling a goofy-looking manta ray also the same height as AmpFibian.

The trio exchanged puzzled glances, wondering if this unusual group might know about Vilgax.

As the trio observed the idols through the glass window, AmpFibian couldn't help but notice the blue-haired octoling giving him a slight wave of her fan and smiling. The other two gave their own unique waves.

AmpFibian: "Looks like they're acknowledging us"

Vaggie and Keenie nodded in agreement, but their expressions turned puzzled as they watched the idols' smiles fading, their reactions shifting dramatically.

Vaggie: "Did something change?"

Keenie: "They're acting weird. What do you think, Ben?"

Before AmpFibian could respond, the idols exchanged whispered words, their focus fixed on the Omnitrix faceplate.

AmpFibian: "I'm not sure, but something's off"

Keenie: "No shit Sherlock"

AmpFibian *annoyed*: "Wow Keenie thanks for adding absolutely nothing to the table"

Vaggie: "It's like they're discussing something about us"

AmpFibian: "Well, whatever it is, it doesn't look good"

The idols abruptly announced the need for a break and swiftly exited the studio, leaving the trio feeling uneasy about their sudden change in behavior.

AmpFibian: "Let's cut our losses and get out of here. Dealing with those agents earlier was more than enough. I'm not in the mood for a showdown with squid influencers"

Vaggie and Keenie both give a silent nod of agreement before they step back from the window and pivot away, aligning with AmpFibian's decision.

Keenie: "Whatever, you're probably right. So much for your master plan"

Before AmpFibian could respond, he was overcome by a weird feeling, as if someone's gaze bore into him. It was an unsettling feeling, one that made him uneasy. Unsure if it was from the squid influencers earlier or a manifestation of AmpFibian enhanced senses warning him of danger.

He scanned his surroundings. Upwards, towards the towering buildings, but found nothing out of the ordinary, at least, not by this world's standards. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling. His gut rarely led him astray, so there had to be something more.

Vaggie: "Hey, you alright there, Ben?"

Keenie: "Yeah, he's probably just getting the heebie-jeebies from the threatening threesome back there"

AmpFibian glanced around cautiously before responding.

AmpFibian: "My jellyfish senses are tingling. I think someone's keeping an eye on us. We should scram, and not just scatte, let's get out of dodge for a while"

AmpFibian pressed the faceplate on his chest, enveloping him in a bright green light as he transformed into...

FasTrack: "FasTrack!"

Vaggie quirked an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Vaggie: "Another one of your speedsters?"

FasTrack: "Whoa, how'd you guess?!"

Vaggie crossed her arms, a playful glint in her eyes.

Vaggie: "Well, with a name like 'FasTrack,' I wasn't expecting him to sprout wings or swim fast"

FasTrack scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

FasTrack: "You got me there, Vaggie"

Keenie: "Hey! I remember this guy, didn't you use this guy to save people from a bank robbery in the human world once?"

Vaggie's confusion was palpable as FasTrack rubbed his eyes in annoyance.

FasTrack: "Don't remind me of that"

He muttered before swiftly grabbing their arms and whisking them away to the outskirts of the city.

As FasTrack zoomed away, the scene shifted to an inkling hiding in one of the buildings. She had long tentacles tied up in an asymmetrical fashion. She wore a sleek black tube dress with yellow accents, paired with tights and ankle-high boots. She also wore chunky earrings and a silver choker.

When he vanished from sight, the inkling in the building lowered her head, ensuring she remained hidden from view. She held her breath, waiting until she was certain he was gone. Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes fixated on the spot where FasTrack had disappeared.

She held a splatter scope, her gaze intense as she observed the path that FasTrack took.

???: "He's too good"

She muttered to herself, a hint of admiration in her voice.

???: "I've never seen someone able to sense my presence like that"

She reminisced about the Agent's warning, recalling how she had doubted the possibility of someone like Ben. But now, witnessing his abilities firsthand, she couldn't deny the truth.

Reaching for her talkie walkie, she spoke into it with urgency.

Agent 1: "Agent 1 speaking. The three have escaped. Deploy all our agents, I'll be there in a second"

Agent 1 then put it in her pocket and shut her eyes, exhaling deeply as she rose to her feet. She secured the Splatter Scope snugly onto her back, ensuring it wouldn't impede her movements.

Agent 1 *muttering*: "I've got a feeling there's more to that guy than meets the eye, but time will tell"

With a swift leap, Agent 1 propelled herself from rooftop to rooftop. She bounded effortlessly across the urban landscape pursuing the trio who had ventured off.

Back with Ben:

FasTrack watched as the watch faceplate beeped red, and in a flash of bright red light, he reverted back to Ben, who glanced down at the Omnitrix on his wrist with a furrowed brow.

Ben: "Great, now the watch is recharging"

Ben muttered frustrated.

Vaggie glanced over at the watch, confused as she saw it glowing solid red.

Vaggie: "Recharging?"

Ben: "Yeah"

Ben confirmed, his hands slipping into his pockets as he kicked at the sand beneath his feet.

Ben: "Is there something wrong?"

Vaggie hesitated before responding, her brow furrowing in thought.

Vaggie: "N-no, it's just... I never thought that it needed recharging, like a phone or another device"

Ben let out a small chuckle, though it lacked any real humor.

Ben: "If I remember correctly, Azmuth explained that the recharge mode isn't just to recharge it, but also to keep the Omnitrix from damaging me by staying transformed for too long"

Vaggie's eyes widened in surprise.

Vaggie: "Really? How so?"

Ben shrugged, his expression thoughtful.

Ben: "It's a complicated story, but basically, staying transformed for too long could damage my DNA, or something like that"

Vaggie: "Jeez, that doesn't sound fun"

Vaggie remarked, her concern evident in her voice.

Ben reassured them with a wry grin, though a hint of uncertainty lingered in his tone.

Ben: "Well, you don't have to worry, because it's never happened before! For now, at least"

With a light chuckle, he reminisced.

Ben: "You should've seen the prototype Omnitrix. That thing had a shorter battery life than an iPhone from 2010!"

Shaking his head in amusement, he muttered to himself.

Ben: "Smartest being in five galaxies, my ass"

Suddenly they heard a fearsome roar echoing through the air, the ground beneath them trembled slightly. Ben, Vaggie, and Keenie exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to expect. Suddenly, a colossal shape swooped down from the sky, casting a shadow over them.

With lightning speed, it made a dive toward them, aiming to snatch them up in its grasp. Reacting swiftly, they dodged out of harm's way just in time.

As they turned to face their attacker, they beheld a remarkable sight, a massive shark with a saddle atop its back. The shark was equipped with rocket boosters, propelling it through the air with incredible speed.

Keenie: "You gotta be kidding me, A FUCKING MEGALODON!!"

Perched on the saddle were three figures, their identities obscured by the distance.

Vaggie: "Wait, aren't these..."

Ben frowned as he identified their unexpected visitors.

Ben: "The squid influencers."

Frye: "Squid influencers?"

Shiver waved her fan a few times before closing it with a chuckle.

Shiver: "We've been called many things, but that? That's a new one"

Ben's defenses remained up, despite Shiver's seemingly casual demeanor.

Vaggie whispered to Ben, her tone tense.

Vaggie: "Should we attack?"

Ben motioned for her to hold off.

Ben: "Let's see what they want first. And keep them busy while the watch recharges"

Vaggie nodded, refocusing her attention on the newcomers.

Shiver: "But actually, we are..."

Suddenly, both Shiver and Frye stood up on the back of the large shark, side by side, and holding three fingers down, while the big manta ray loomed behind them.

Shiver/Frye: "The Deep Cut!"

Big Man: "Ay!"

Ben blinked slowly, trying to process the surreal situation.

Ben: "You seeing this shit, Keenie?"

Keenie echoed his slow blink.

Keenie: "Yeah, Ben, I'm seeing this shit"

Shiver: "Anywho, you three must be the ones who beat up Agent 3"

Ben's expression grew serious.

Ben: "How'd you know that?"

Vaggie: "Wait, what did she say?"

Ben: "They might have a connection to the Agents earlier"

Vaggie's concern deepened.

Vaggie: "These agents aren't going to leave us alone, are they?"

Frye: "And you must be the guy who can transform into different creatures!"

Frye's excitement was palpable.

Ben raised his hands in a gesture of acknowledgment.

Ben: "You got me"

Big Man: "I gotta say, for a villain, the fight between you and Agent 3 and Agent 4 was Fresh! Ay!"

Ben: "Yeah, I know I was c- Wait, how did you see it?"

Frye: "Pearl showed it to us! To better understand your fighting tactics"

Ben: "But how did she record it?"

Shiver: "She's always recording, even now"

Shiver pointed upward with her closed fan, prompting Ben to look up and notice a white drone in the shape of an inkling head.

Ben: "Oh... So what now?"

Big Man: "Now you're going to get beat! Ay!"

Frye: "Splatted!"

She cheered with a fist bump in the air.

Shiver: "Master Mega!"

Suddenly, the previously dormant giant shark awakened at Shiver's command.

Shiver: "Go have a bite"

She instructed as they all jumped down from the shark, its rocket boosters activating as it lunged toward them with its jaws wide open.

Ben barely had time to react, pushing Vaggie and Keenie out of harm's way before he was swallowed whole.

As Ben was swallowed whole, Shiver, Frye, and Big Man erupted into triumphant cheers.

Shiver: "Booyah! We got him!"

Frye: "He didn't even have time to transform!"

Big Man: "That's how you do it! Ay!"

Keenie's heart raced with worry for Ben. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him, not after all they've been through together. Her fingers tightened around her bow as rage fueled her actions.

Keenie: "No one messes with Ben on my watch!"

Keenie snapped out of her initial shock and unleashed a barrage of arrows from her bow, aiming them at Shiver and Frye as they tried to swiftly dodge them and maneuver around them.

Meanwhile, Vaggie's shock quickly turned into anger as well. Ben was like her friend, and she wasn't about to let anything happen to him. With a swift motion, she wielded her spear and joined Keenie in the fight.

Frye smirked as she played on a flute that released eels, which crackled with electricity as they surged towards Keenie and Vaggie.

Frye: "Let's see how you handle this!"

Vaggie winced in pain as one of the eels sank its teeth into her arm, eliciting a sharp gasp. With gritted teeth, she retaliated swiftly, driving her spear into the creature's body. As the eel exploded into yellow ink, some of it splattered onto Vaggie's eye.

Vaggie: "Fuck"

Shiver, on the other hand, expertly maneuvered her mechanical bow, firing arrows with precision at Keenie and Vaggie.

Shiver: "You're not the only ones with a bow and arrows!"

Big Man on the other hand, cheered from afar.

Big Man: "You got this Shiver! You too Frye! Ay!"

Shiver's smirk widened as she watched Vaggie and Keenie struggle against the onslaught of eels summoned by Frye. With each dodge and strike, they fought valiantly, but the odds were stacked against them.

Shiver: "Beat it, you two, without your little shape-shifter boy you're weak"

Shiver taunted while aiming each precise shot from her mechanical bow, she aimed to inflict real harm on her opponents, this time using ink and actual arrows with lethal precision.

Vaggie wasn't able to understand what Shiver said, but she knew that it wasn't something nice, she focused on dodging the relentless onslaught of eels while countering with strikes from her spear.

Meanwhile, Frye continued to summon an endless horde of the electrifying creatures, overwhelming them with sheer numbers.

Shiver: "Gotcha"

Shiver lips curled into a grotesque grin as she released the arrow.

Shiver's arrow whizzed through the air with deadly accuracy, aimed directly at Vaggie's head. Time seemed to slow as the projectile sliced through the space between two eels, narrowly missing them, and then grazed a strand of Keenie's hair before closing in on Vaggie's face. At the last moment, Vaggie managed to dodge, but not before the arrow nicked her cheek.

Vaggie winced in pain, holding her injured cheek as a thin trickle of golden blood ran down her face. Shiver's expression twisted in frustration as her shot missed its mark.

The sight of Vaggie's golden blood caught Keenie off guard, causing her to pause in her attack and stare at Vaggie in confusion.

Keenie: "Wait, sinners don't bleed gold-"

Before Keenie could continue, the
Megalodon, dormant until now, began to vibrate and emit a low whine of pain. Suddenly, a massive hole tore through its body, causing it to explode into a burst of ink that splattered across the battlefield. Emerging from the spray of ink was a towering figure, standing ten feet tall and covered in the same dark ink.

The newly revealed alien had an
armored, robotic-like body, with a head resembling a Greek Corinthian helmet with two pointed ears. Its appearance was reminiscent of an armadillo, with a gray tail trailing behind it. Its elbows, wrists, and hands were equipped with jackhammer-like parts.

As the ink settled, the drill that had
occupied one of its hands morphed into a hand.

Armodrillo: "Don't mind me, I just drilled my way out of a giant shark"

As the Megalodon was obliterated, Shiver fell to her knees, a cry of anguish escaping her lips.

Shiver: "No! Master Mega!"

Frye stood nearby, holding her flute in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Frye: "Impossible... he killed him"

Meanwhile, Vaggie rushed over to where Armodrillo emerged from the ink, her expression a mixture of relief and concern.

Vaggie: "Ben! You're alive!"

Armodrillo: "My death was, greatly exaggerated"

Keenie joined in, jumping onto Armodrillo and enveloping him in a tight hug, tears of joy streaming down her face.

Keenie: "I thought you were a goner!"

Armodrillo, surprised by the sudden outpouring of affection, chuckled softly.

Armodrillo: "Woah, didn't know you missed me that much"

As Keenie broke the hug and crossed her arms, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Keenie: "I didn't miss you that much! Just... don't die on us again. This is the second time"

Armodrillo grinned, relieved to see his friends safe and sound, but his joy was short-lived as an angry Shiver shot an arrow directly at his face.

Shiver: "YOU KILLED HIM!"

Shiver's voice echoed with fury as Big Man and Frye hurried over to restrain her.

Frye: "Easy, Shiver"

Armodrillo rubbed the ink out of his eye, irritation flickering across his face.

Armodrillo: "Hey, watch it! There's repercussions if you come at the boy, no discussion"

His tone was firm, a warning laced with irritation, as he made it clear that he wouldn't tolerate any further aggression.

Armodrillo's expression hardened as he surveyed the scene, his eyes narrowing with concern as he noticed Vaggie and Keenie in bad shape, with Vaggie bleeding from her cheek.

Armodrillo: "Hurting me is one thing, but..."

He trailed off, his voice taking on a steely edge as he turned his attention back to Shiver.

Armodrillo: "But hurting my friends? That's a whole different story"

Shiver felt a shiver down her non existent spine as Armodrillo raised his hands, shitting into drills and burrowing them the sand below him. With a powerful vibration, he sent a shockwave toward them, knocking them away.

Frye and Shiver quickly got back on their feet, their expressions tense.

Frye frowned, a sense of urgency in her voice.

Frye: "I don't know if we can hold him for much longer. Where are the others?"

Big Man, regaining his footing, answered with uncertainty.

Big Man: "I'm not sure, Ay!"

Shiver's frustration boiled over.

Shiver: "I don't care! When will they come! *She pointed accusingly at Armodrillo* You're going to pay with your life, you hear me!"

Armodrillo: "Death can have me when it earns me"

Shiver barked back in anger before Frye played her flute again, summoning more eels and sending them toward Armodrillo.

Armodrillo grimaced as the eels struck his metallic body, sending shocks that jolted through him. He knew he had to change his tactics.

Armodrillo: "Hey, Keenie, you asked about Bullfrag, right?"

Keenie, while shooting, replied.

Keenie: "Yeah, why?"

Armodrillo: "Because you're about to meet him"

Armodrillo grinned confidently as he activated the Omnitrix, his body engulfed in a blinding light. When the light faded, he emerged as Bullfrag.

Bullfrag stood tall and muscular, his paler skin contrasting with his dark bodysuit adorned with a bold green stripe down the middle. He sported sleek green sunglasses that added to his suave demeanor. With three-fingered hands and two-toed feet, he was every bit the formidable alien warrior.

With a cocky smirk, Bullfrag cracked his knuckles.

Keenie: "A frog.... really"

Bullfrag turned to Keenie with a charming smirk, his green sunglasses glinting in the sunlight.

Bullfrag: "Well, darling, don't judge a frog by its pond. Besides, I'm more than just a hop and a leap"

He leaned in closer, his voice smooth and confident.

Bullfrag: "And for you, my lovely, I'd be anything you desire. Starting with a bunny...hop into my arms?"

Keenie blinked in surprise, caught off guard by Bullfrag's unexpected flirting. She felt flustered, her mind racing as she struggled to find the right words to respond.

Keenie *blushing*: "Um, I, uh..."

Meanwhile, Vaggie couldn't help but chuckle at the sudden shift in Ben's demeanor.

Vaggie: "Well, well, well, look who's turning on the charm all of a sudden"

Before Keenie could gather her thoughts, Shiver's angry shout cut through the air.

Shiver: "You dare flirt in the middle of battle?!"

But Bullfrag didn't seem fazed by Shiver's anger. Instead, he turned his attention to her with a sly grin.

Bullfrag: "Hey, sweetheart, even in the midst of battle, a little flirting never hurt anyone"

His smooth words caught Shiver off guard, causing her to blush despite herself.

As Bullfrag was distracted, Frye moved to summon more eels, but before she could blow into the flute, Bullfrag swiftly snatched it from her mouth with his long, sticky tongue, catching Frye completely off guard.

Bullfrag: "Now what's so special about this flute?"

Frye's frustration boiled over as she demanded its return.

Frye: "Hey! Give it back!"

He examined the flute in his hand with a smirk, while teasing Frye.

Bullfrag: "Hmm? *He showed her the flute* This?"

Frye *yelling*: "YES!"

With a careless shrug, Bullfrag broke the flute in two, the sound of snapping wood echoing through the air. Instantly, the eels surrounding Vaggie and Keenie exploded into ink.

BullFrag: "Oopsie daisy, me and my slippery hands"

Frye: "My flute!"

Bullfrag chuckled lightly at Frye's distress, his smirk widening as he observed her frustration.

BullFrag: "My apologies, sweetheart. Seems like I got a bit carried away"

Frye's face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and confusion as Bullfrag's flirtatious remarks caught her off guard.

Frye: "What the shell are you talking about?"

With a playful glint in his eyes as he responded.

Bullfrag: "Oh, just some harmless banter, sweetheart. But don't worry, darling. I'll make it up to you. Maybe with a private concert under the moonlight? Just you, me, and the stars"

Frye blinked in surprise, her cheeks still tinted with a rosy hue, unsure of how to react to Bullfrag's unexpected advances.

As Shiver swiftly propelled herself towards Bullfrag, the sand beneath her feet scattered in all directions, creating a small dust cloud as she lunged at him, aiming a swift kick towards his chest.

Bullfrag, however, was quick to react, effortlessly dodging her attack with a graceful sidestep. He countered with a series of lightning-fast punches, each strike delivered with precision and power towards Shiver's stomach making her spit blue ink and flinch in pain before recovering quickly and parring his blows with skill, their movements a blur as they engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat.

Keenie: "So this guy is a great flirter and a great fighter"

Vaggie: "Seems like it, although I feel like he's not really fighting with all his strength"

Keenie: "Duh, last time he did that he almost killed their leader with a fucking rooster!"

Despite Shiver's agility and ferocity, Bullfrag seemed to have the upper hand, his strength and combat prowess evident as he gradually pushed her back. With each exchange, he deflected her strikes effortlessly, his movements fluid and calculated.

Amidst the clash of fists and the flurry of movements, Bullfrag managed to slip in a few words between breaths.

Bullfrag: "You know, we're not the bad guys here. I simply acted in self-defense"

Shiver: "Enough with your excuses! You've crossed a line, and now you'll pay for it!"

Shiver, however, was having none of it as she continued to press the attack, her movements fueled by anger and resolve. She countered his words with a fierce onslaught of kicks and punches.

The battle raged on, each combatant locked in a relentless struggle for dominance. As they clashed, the others watched with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the intense showdown unfolding before them.

As the fight between Bullfrag and Shiver raged on, Bullfrag found himself growing tired of Shiver's relentless and predictable attacks.

Bullfrag: "Jeez, bunny, you're not giving up. Guess I'll have to make you eat sand"

With a quick maneuver, he swiftly backed away, opening his mouth to shoot his tongue at her head. However, Shiver was faster than he expected, catching his tongue and wrapping it around her arm with a smirk.

Shiver: "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that"

She effortlessly brought her arm up and began to throw Bullfrag around in the sand with his own tongue wrapped around her hand, using his own strength against him.

Meanwhile, Vaggie and Keenie watched the intense battle unfold, torn between intervening and letting Bullfrag handle the situation. Frye, caught up in the excitement, jumped with joy at BullFrag getting thrown around like a Ragdoll.

Frye: "Booyah! Ya got this Shiver"

This time Bullfrag swiftly shifted his focus back to the fight, this time landing on his feet before lifting Shiver through her arms and beginning to throw her around with surprising strength.

Bullfrag: "You're quite the fighter, sweetheart. Let's see if you can handle this!"

As Shiver began to lose consciousness with each powerful throw, Bullfrag seized the opportunity to turn the tide of the battle. With a calculated aim, he hurled Shiver's unconscious body at Frye and Big Man, catching them off guard and sending them crashing to the ground.

Bullfrag: "Bullseye!"

Vaggie: "Good throw, Ben"

Bullfrag: "I know, but there's just this one thing"

With a quick glance upward, he spotted the drone attempting to flee. Reacting swiftly, he snatched it out of the air with his tongue and brought it down to his hands.

Keenie: "It's the drone that was spying on us"

Bullfrag: "No shit captain Obvious"

He jokingly said, referring to the last time she said that to him, which she quickly caught on and playfully rolled her eyes.

Bullfrag then brought the captured drone up to his face.

Bullfrag *smirking*: "To whoever is behind the drone, I just wanted to say, maybe next time show yourself to us. Maybe we could chat a little, or even go on a date... or maybe something more"

With a wink hidden behind his shades, he lifted his other hand, preparing to crush the drone.

???: "STOP IT, YOU OVERGROWN TOAD!"

An annoying squeaky voice suddenly echoed above, followed by the sound of helicopter rotor blades. Looking up, they saw a military-green helicopter.

Vaggie: "We've got company"

The voice belonged to a very short inkling aboard the helicopter, she has shoulder-length creamy-white tentacles with pink tips, light golden eyes with pale yellow cross-shaped pupils, and round cream eyebrows. She wears a pearly white sleeveless dress with a high collar and a large golden zipper on the front, along with white shorts, pink tights, and white boots with golden zippers. Her accessories include black fingerless gloves and a white crown with pink-tipped squid ring tooth details.

Suddenly the drone flew from Bullfrag's hand into her grasp, she then removed the computer that was sitting on her lap as she spoke up with a commanding tone, although she was also blushing for some reason.

Pearl: "Yo, what's good, Froggy?"

Pearl's voice boomed from the helicopter above. She leaned out, her gaze sweeping over the group.

Pearl: "So, you're the ones who gave our captain and the other agents a run for their money, huh? I gotta say, that's some serious street cred ya got there"

Vaggie and Keenie exchanged nervous glances, uncertain of what she was talking about.

Pearl continued, her tone becoming more serious.

Pearl: "But let's cut to the chase yo, I saw ya take down the Deep Cut using some crazy gadget I've never seen before, even Marina wasn't able to understand its mechanic and she's super smart"

Bullfrag: "Marina?"

Suddenly another figure stood behind her, she was tall, taller than any inkling he saw before, the only other noticeable feature was her darker skin tone.

Marina: "H-hi"

She waved shyly before pointing at the watch, her eyes narrowing.

Marine: "What's the deal with that watch thing? How does it work? And most importantly, why are you using it to cause trouble for us?"

Bullfrag, growing increasingly irritated, interjected.

Bullfrag: "What's with you agents and following us around like lost dogs? Who even are you people?"

Pearl: "Yo, Marine, let's save the questions for after we nab 'em"

Vaggie and Keenie remained silent, observing the tense exchange with caution.

BullFrag: "Capture us? *Smirk* you and what army, Honey?"

As the trio looked up, they saw a figure hurtling toward them with a giant paint roller in hand. They swiftly dodged the swing, narrowly avoiding the splatter of ink that flew outward as the roller hit the ground. Standing before them was an inkling with remarkably long tentacles tied up in a large bow on the back of her head, with vibrant yellow ends dangling down. She was clad in a sleek, futuristic black suit.

Agent 1: "Agent 1, at your service"

She rested the Splat roller on her shoulder as she introduced herself.

Before the Bullfrag could respond, two more Agents leaped from the chopper, landing behind Agent 1. With the haze clearing, it was revealed to be none other than Agent 3 and Agent 4.

Agent 3's hands, half her head, and legs were completely covered in bandages, giving her the appearance of a mummy.

Bullfrag awkwardly laughed before casting his gaze downward.

Bullfrag: "Hey, uhh... I'm sorry 'bout that, sweetheart"

Agent 3 arched an eyebrow before shooting him a glare that could cut through steel, causing him to flinch.

Bullfrag stepped forward, his hands held up in a placating gesture.

Bullfrag: "Listen, folks, I ain't from around here. I'm just tryna do what y'all are doing take down Vilgax and his goons"

Agent 1: "Oh, sure, and I'm the queen of the galaxy"

Agent 4: "Stop mocking us, you oversized Toad!"

BullFrag: "Whoa, hold on a sec! I'm serious here, sweetheart"

Agent 4: "Enough of your games!"

With a swift motion, Agent 4 launched herself at BullFrag, ready to throw a punch.

Bullfrag swiftly stepped aside, seizing Agent 4 by the hand and arm, then swiftly dropping her to the ground in an arm lock.

BullFrag *struggling to hold her down*: "You're a feisty one, my type of girl"

Motioning to Vaggie and Keenie, he grabbed their attention.

Bullfrag: "You two take care of the fancy-looking squid. And this one, I'll handle the mummified squid there"

They both nodded in agreement as he tossed Agent 4 away, with Vaggie following closely behind her.

Bullfrag scanned the scene ahead, noticing Agent 1 locked in combat with Keenie, dodging arrows and swinging her Spalt roller, while Agent 4 engaged with Vaggie.

But his attention was drawn to Agent 3, menacingly approaching him, albeit with a slight wobble, clearly fatigued from their previous battle. Seeing her in that state, Bullfrag hesitated, he didn't want to inflict further harm, especially if he aimed to prove his innocence. It was time for a change in strategy.

Bullfrag met Agent 3's intense orange gaze, which shifted briefly to Agent 4 in the midst of battle, then to Agent 1 engaged in combat. Finally, her glare returned to him, prompting him to act quickly. With a split-second decision, he opted to talk.

Bullfrag: "Listen, bunny, I know things might seem complicated right now, but believe me, I'm not your enemy. I'm just trying to sort out this whole mess and put an end to the real threat, Vilgax. Can we talk this out?"

He hoped his words would reach her, unfortunately it didn't.

Bullfrag: "You really are stubborn, bunny"

Bullfrag, realizing words might not suffice, opted for action. He lunged forward, extending his tongue toward Agent 3's head with the intention of knocking her out.

However, to his surprise, she intercepted his attack, catching his tongue with both hands. With a sudden surge of strength, she tightened her grip on his tongue causing him to recoil in agony, his body wracked with uncontrollable pain.

Quickly slamming the watch again, Bullfrag was enveloped in a bright green light. The light extended to the tongue that was held in the agent's hands. As the light died down, Agent 3's eyes widened in disbelief as the tongue suddenly disappeared from her grasp, even though she hadn't loosened her grip.

Looking forward, instead of Bullfrag kneeling in pain, she saw a ghost-like figure. With one glowing green eye and green chains draped all over his front side, leading to his neck, waist, and center/chest.His elbows now sported sharp spikes, his skin had taken on a greenish-white hue, and he wore cuffs on each of his arms. The Omnitrix symbol gleamed at the center of his chains.

GhostFreak: "GhostFreak!"

Even with Ben's new disturbing alien form, Agent 3 wasn't scared at all. She scoffed before charging forward to deliver a punch to him. She quickly stopped in front of him, rearing her hand back before delivering the punch... to nothing. Her hand went directly inside GhostFreak and out of his body.

GhostFreak: "Surprise, surprise. You can't hurt a ghost"

He eerily laughed as Agent 3 continued punching, her blows landing on empty air. She persisted, punching and kicking as if she were battling an invisible foe, until she was panting like a wild animal.

GhostFreak: "Oww, poor thing. You don't look so good. Mind if I take a look inside?"

He eerily whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine as if they weren't in the desert, but in the North Pole instead.

GhostFreak then scooped her into the air with his claws, his lone eye piercing directly into her soul. The panicked agent 3 struggled in his iron grip, realizing for the first time what true fear felt like.

Suddenly, GhostFreak's eerie presence enveloped Agent 3, causing her to collapse to the ground, unconscious and trembling. Her body convulsed as if fighting an invisible force, while her eyes rolled back into her head, revealing only the whites.

As the other agents paused their fight, a chilling silence fell over the scene. GhostFreak's form seemed to melt away, blending seamlessly into Agent 3, leaving her limp body behind.

Agent 1 rushed to Agent 3's side, shaking her gently to no avail. Fear etched into her face.

Agent 3's voice echoed weakly from her unconscious form, barely audible but unmistakably distressed.

Agent 1: "Agent 3, are you okay?"

Agent 4: "Captain!"

Vaggie and Keenie exchanged worried glances, uncertain of what did he do to her.

Vaggie: "Ben? Where did you go?"

Keenie's voice trembled as she voiced her concern, her eyes darting around frantically.

Keenie: "Where the hell did that condom-looking ghost go to?!"

Suddenly, Agent 3's body jolted back to life, causing Agent 1 and Agent 4 to stumble back in shock.

Agent 1 stepped back in horror, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon as she stared at her possessed comrade. Agent 4's eyes widened in disbelief, her grip tightening on her weapon as he struggled to comprehend the situation.

Agent 4: "Captain? What's happening?"

Agent 3's body twisted into a sinister grin, as her eyes flickered open, now glowing an eerie shade of green.

GhostFreak: "Well well well, what do we have here? The New Squidbeak Splatoon? Oohhh I'm shaking in fear, BUT there's no need for tears cause The mighty Captain Is here!"

His mocking tone sent shivers down their spines, each word laced with dark amusement.

Agent 1's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with thoughts of how to handle this unexpected threat.

Taking advantage of his newfound control, he delved into Agent 3's memories, relishing in the dark thoughts he uncovered.

GhostFreak: "Whoa, she really hates my guts"

A twisted smirk crossed GhostFreak's face as he glimpsed a memory of Agent 3 fantasizing about killing him.

Agent 4: "Hey! Give us back her body!"

Agent 4 lunged at Agent 3, but she agilely sidestepped, using Agent 4's momentum to propel herself onto her head. With a swift movement, she flipped off, landing gracefully beside Vaggie and Keenie. Agent 4 crashed to the ground, eating sand as her attempt to apprehend Agent 3 ended in embarrassment.

GhostFreak: "Sorry slick! But her name and body belongs to me, for now"

Vaggie and Keenie exchanged uncertain glances as they observed Agent 3, unsure if it was still Ben within her.

Vaggie: "Is that really... You? Still there?"

Keenie: "Possession? That's a new one"

Agent 3 smirked while looking up at Vaggie.

GhostFreak: "Yup, I stole her mug"

GhostFreak glanced down at Agent 3's body.

GhostFreak: "These inklings are really agile! I gotta have me one of them for the Omnitrix"

GhostFreak, still inhabiting Agent 3's body, took on a mocking tone as he addressed the other agents, pretending to be their captain.

GhostFreak: "Hey, hey, hey! As your captain, I command you all to cease this senseless fighting!"

His attempt at humor was met with eye rolls and irritation from Agent 1 who was helping Agent 4 to her feet.

Agent 1: "I'm not hearing the words of a body snatcher, I hate you more by the second"

Agent 3's body grinned wider as GhostFreak attempted to lighten the mood.

GhostFreak: "Come on, Callie, ease off a little. I'm not here to cause you any harm"

Agent 1 frowned, her irritation evident as GhostFreak addressed her by her real name.

Agent 1: "Stop playing around with my friend's brain like it's an egg salad!"

Agent 3's body winked at GhostFreak command.

GhostFreak: "Can't help it, slick! I mean, look at me, I'm such a smarty?! Even took your captain's body!"

The taunting continued until Vaggie intervened, placing a hand on Agent 3's shoulder.

Vaggie: "Calm down, Ben. We still want them to trust us and whatnot. Don't overdo it"

Keenie chimed in, expressing her discomfort with the situation.

Keenie: "Yeah, dude, this body-snatching stuff is getting kinda creepy"

The grin on Agent 3's face suddenly faded as GhostFreak responded.

GhostFreak: "Shit, you're right. It's just that I get carried away sometimes when I'm GhostFreak. I'll try my best"

Agent 3's body turned back towards the two agents before responding.

GhostFreak: "Will you two stop attacking and listen to us for a second if I let her go?"

The two agents thought for a moment before nodding.

Agent 3 sighed.

GhostFreak: "Hope you keep to your promise"

GhostFreak suddenly exited Agent 3's body before slamming the watch and detransforming back into Ben.

Ben: "Let's try this again. I'm Ben Tennyson, and these are my friends *He motioned to Keenie and Vaggie* but they don't understand your language, so I'll be the one answering your questions"

Time Skip:

The helicopter was now parked on the ground. Agent 3 and the deep cut were still unconscious inside it, resting, while the rest were outside, listening to Ben's story. Of course, he had first explained to Vaggie and Keenie that the agents were not going to fight them.

Pearl: "So ya famous in ya world, the world where Vilgax, your arch-nemesis, came from?"

Ben: "Yup, aren't you gonna be a bit more surprised, since we are from a different universe"

Pearl: "We would've been a while back if it weren't Vilgax"

Marina: "And that device is called the Omnitrix. It doesn't just transform you into any creatures, but real aliens from your universe"

Ben: "Yeah"

Callie: "But more importantly, a malfunction in a device you were making sent you to our universe, in which you were attacked by Agent 4, which started this whole ordeal"

Ben: "Exactly"

Callie glanced at Agent 4, who was sitting beside her, which made her rub her neck in embarrassment.

Agent 4: "I'm sorry, okay! They just didn't strike me as the hero type back then"

Ben: "Hey, I wanted to ask, Vilgax, how did he end up here?"

Callie: "Actually, we were going to ask you that because one of our agents, Agent 8, found him while surveying one of the abandoned Octoling underground giant labs, looking for a missing prisoner, DJ Octavio. But she accidentally stumbled upon Vilgax, beating DJ Octavio before killing him. Then, upon inspecting him for some weeks as he built some kind of device to send him back to where he came from, while rambling about killing this guy, presumably you. She was caught by him and injured badly. Thankfully, she slipped away and came back to us to tell the tale"

Ben: "Yeah, sounds just about like him *facepalm* But where is he now?"

Callie: "We're not sure, we were all occupied with you"

Ben: "Gotcha! But don't sweat it! Wherever he is, I'll be sure to beat his tentacle butt!"

Agent 4: "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! Let's beat some alien butt!"

Frye: "Ugh, that flirty frog hits like a truck"

Frye tiredly said while rubbing her head in pain, finally leaving the helicopter followed by Shiver and Big Man.

Shiver: "Hey! What is he doing here?"

Pearl: "Calm down yo, he's chill now"

Shiver angrily shouted while pointing at Ben.

Shiver: "But he killed Master Mega!"

Ben: "Because he tried to eat me!"

Shiver: "B-but you are the bad guy! We're supposed to beat you!"

Shiver continued, before Ben could respond, he was suddenly held by his collar and lifted up by Frye. All the Inklings seemed to possess super strength compared to her size.

Frye: "And more importantly, you destroyed my flute and dared flirt with me after doing it!"

Ben *struggling to speak*: "I-Im sorry, don't blame me, blame the DNA! Look, I'll make it up to you"

Ben dialed the watch before slamming it. Everyone closed their eyes due to the bright light. As the light faded away, Ben transformed into...

Clockwork: "Clockwork!"

Ben's new alien weight made Frye struggle to hold him up before her hands gave up and he was let go.

Pearl: "Yo, I've never seen this guy before?"

Marina looked excited, trying to guess what this new alien could do.

Marina *thinking*: "Clockwork... hmm, Ah *snaps fingers* he has something to do with time"

Clockwork: "Bingo"

Callie: "A time manipulator? What next, an alien that can recreate universes?"

Clockwork: "Well..."

Frye *frowning*: "And what does this have to do with my flute?"

Clockwork glanced at her. Even if his robot face was non-expressive, he was pondering if her big forehead was filled with air to not guess what he was going to do.

As Clockwork approached the broken flute. With a smirk, he grabbed both broken ends, his metallic fingers glinting in the sunlight.

Clockwork: "Leave it to the master of time to fix things up"

He returned to the group, the broken flute held in his hands. Frye's eyes lit up with hope as she eagerly awaited the outcome.

Frye: "Oh, you're going to fix it, or?"

Clockwork shot her a cocky grin.

Clockwork: "Of course, time's on my side, after all"

With a flick of his wrist, a green bubble surrounded the flute, as the key on his head started spinning rapidly, the time within the bubble started rewinding. The group watched in amazement as the flute repaired itself before their eyes.

Frye: "Oh wow! It's like magic!"

Shiver, who had been standing aloof, couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

Shiver: "Impressive"

As Frye happily snatched the restored flute, Clockwork couldn't resist a smug comment.

Clockwork: "Not bad, huh? Just another day in the life of a hero"

Frye beamed with gratitude.

Frye: "Thank you, I guess you guys are right, he's not so bad after all"

Shiver remained reserved, but her cold demeanor softened ever so slightly as she acknowledged his help.

Shiver: "I suppose you're not so bad if you were willing to land a helping hand to Frye"

Clockwork: "Just doing what I do best, help others"

Keenie: "The hell? Since when could you rewind time?"

Clockwork: "Since forever"

Keenie: "And why didn't you use it earlier? Or when fighting Cletus, or literally any fight? You could literally end it in seconds"

Keenie's confusion was palpable as she tried to make sense of Clockwork's abilities. She couldn't understand why Ben hadn't opted to use such a powerful alien earlier.

Clockwork crossed his arms, a smirk would've been playing on his lips if he had them as he prepared to explain.

Clockwork: "Well, where's the fun in that? If I could end every fight in one move, where's the thrill of battle?"

He spoke with an air of excitement, relishing the challenge of each confrontation.

Clockwork: "I use the Omnitrix to walk a mile in different alien shoes, not just one"

Clockwork's explanation left Keenie scratching her head in confusion.

Keenie: "Uh, huh. I don't seem to follow"

Clockwork sighed, realizing that perhaps his explanation hadn't quite hit the mark.

Suddenly, another sound of shuffling could be heard as Agent 3 emerged from the helicopter. The tension in the air was palpable as the other Agents and the deep cut looked on, uncertain of how to handle the situation. Vaggie and Keenie retreated behind Clockwork, seeking refuge from the Captain wrath.

Clockwork's watch beeped red before reverting him back to Ben, but to everyone's surprise, Agent 3 extended her hand, which Ben promptly shook.

The group erupted in disbelief.

Everyone: "WHAT?!"

Agent 3 nodded, as in acknowledgment of Ben's feats.

Ben: "Good to see ya, Captain"

Agent 4: "Hold on a sec, why hasn't the Captain torn you to shreds already?"

Ben rubbed the bridge of his nose, a grin on his face.

Ben: "Because when I possessed her, I didn't just goof around. I also showed her some of my heroic exploits and how awesome I am"

Agent 3 rolled her eyes, knowing full well that Ben's 'heroic exploits' were mostly him being tossed around in various alien forms while trying to save the world.

Vaggie shot Ben a disapproving glare.

Vaggie: "So you really planned that far ahead into the future?"

Ben leaned in and whispered to Vaggie.

Ben: "Look, Bullfrag's tongue can be very sensitive, and I was in a tight spot. Let them think I was planning that far ahead"

Vaggie chuckled at Ben's response, acknowledging his quick thinking.

Vaggie: "Yeah, that's more like it"

Ben's smirk widened before addressing the agents and the deep cut.

Ben: "Now, where can I find Vilgax?"

Before anyone could respond, an explosion rocked the area, startling everyone except Agent 3.

Agent 4: "Does that answer your question?"

She jumped to her feet, grabbing her mechanical bow, followed by the rest of the group as they readied their weapons.

Pearl: "Yo, let's go check out what's flippin' there!"

Everyone, except Vaggie and Keenie, hurried toward the helicopter.

Vaggie and Keenie exchanged glances, silently questioning what to do next.

Ben: "Go with the agents"

Keenie: "What about you?"

Ben: "Don't worry, I've got my own way of transportation"

Ben lifted his wrist, the watch continuing to recharge and emitting a green light.

Ben: "You really know how to create dramatic moments, don't you?"

He joked before activating the watch, transforming into Jetray in a flash of bright green light.

Jetray: "Jetray!"

As Vaggie and Keenie boarded the helicopter, Marina popped her head out.

Marina: "Oh, okay, Jetray, hmm, he also has wings. Ah, *snap fingers* his power is flying super fast!"

Jetray: "Oh, that's quite spot on"

With the helicopter's engine igniting, it hovered above the ground, Jetray flapping his wings as they flew toward the chaos in the city, closely followed by the speeding Jetray.

Time Skip:

The scene cuts to the city, where chaos reigns supreme. Buildings crumble under the assault of floating robots, shooting lasers indiscriminately. These robotic menaces, assembled from scrap metal, wreak havoc as civilians scatter, desperate to escape the destruction.

Amidst the turmoil stands Vilgax, wearing a makeshift battle armor crafted from materials scavenged from the Octoling lab. His imposing figure towers over the chaos, a gauntlet on his arm connected to a container brimming with pulsating energy, mounted on his back.

The sound of destruction echoes through the streets as Vilgax surveys his handiwork, his gaze unwavering, his intentions clear. The city trembles under his relentless assault, and the people can only watch in fear unable to do the slightest bit of damage to either him or his robots using their weapons.

The group finally arrives in the city, before they abruptly halted by a barrage of shots from one of Vilgax's robotic minions. They barely evade the incoming fire, with Jetray using his laser vision to wreck it, causing it to explode into a heap of scrap metal as it hurtles towards the ground.

Marina: "Whoa, you've got laser vision too!"

Marina exclaimed with excitement, her eyes wide with wonder at Jetray's powers.

Jetray: "Pretty cool, huh?"

He responded, noting her enthusiasm with a slight grin. Jetray scanned the sky, observing the chaos caused by Vilgax's robots as they wreaked havoc. His expression shifted to one of irritation.

Jetray: "Seems like old habits die hard"

Turning to the others in the helicopter, Jetray made his intentions clear.

Jetray: "You take care of the robots. Vilgax is mine"

Keenie stepped forward, expressing her concern.

Keenie: "But Ben, can you defeat him alone?"

Jetray reassured her confidently.

Jetray: "Don't worry about me. I've faced him countless times before. This is nothing new"

Agent 4 interjected, pointing out Vilgax's enhanced powers in his armored suit.

Agent 4: "He seems more powerful than ever in that tin man suit"

Jetray remained undeterred.

Jetray: "I've still got this, trust me"

Before anyone could intervene further, they were stopped by a silent gesture from Agent 3, who had remained quiet until now. Though she didn't speak, the group understood her message and nodded in agreement.

Pearl: "Y'all heard the boss, let's rock!"

Pearl exclaimed, taking charge of the helicopter's controls and guiding it towards the swarm of robots, leaving Jetray behind to confront Vilgax alone.

Jetray: "Alright, Tennyson, let's make this quick so we can all get back in one piece"

Jetray muttered to himself, steeling his resolve before swooping down towards Vilgax like a hawk.

Vilgax suddenly pivoted, sensing Jetray's presence, and aimed his gauntlet directly at him, firing a laser beam. But Jetray swiftly maneuvered to avoid the attack.

Vilgax: "An Aerophibian?"

Vilgax muttered, puzzled by what an Alien from his universe is doing here, but his expression quickly turned sinister as he spotted the Omnitrix symbol on Jetray's chest.

Vilgax: "Tennyson, the Aerophibian! How delightful"

Jetray landed gracefully on the ground, fixing Vilgax with a serious gaze.

Jetray: "Hey there, ugly. Did you miss me? Hope I didn't crash your party at a bad time"

Vilgax advanced towards him, his gauntlet clenched tightly.

Vilgax: "You've arrived just in time, Tennyson. Perfect timing for me to crush you"

Jetray: "Oh, really? Then why don't you spill the beans about that fancy gauntlet of yours? Last time someone sported one of those, they ended up headless"

Jetray joked, but his words also he sought to squeeze any information from Vilgax that could help him prepare for their fight.

Vilgax's voice boomed out, filled with arrogance and menace.

Vilgax: "Ah, Tennyson, always the thorn in my side. You may have bested me before, making my old remote transporter send me into this disgusting universe without my will, but this time will be different. Behold!"

He gestured proudly to the gauntlet on his arm, pulsating with energy.

Vilgax: "This device, forged from the scraps of this primitive world, is a marvel of my ingenuity. With it, I can bend time and space to my will, transporting myself and others to any location I desire. No longer shall I be bound by the limitations of mere mortal travel. With this gauntlet, I shall command the very fabric of reality itself!"

He chuckled darkly, relishing the power he now possessed.

Vilgax: "And as for this universe... it is but a mere stepping stone on my path to ultimate dominion. The inhabitants are weak, feeble creatures, ripe for conquest. I shall crush them beneath my heel and establish myself as their supreme ruler. With my newfound power, and that watch, no one shall dare oppose me!"

Jetray narrowed his eyes, his resolve only strengthened by Vilgax's words.

Jetray: "You can talk a big game, Vilgax, but you forget one thing, the Omnitrix isn't just some toy you can snatch up and use for your own twisted purposes. It belongs to me, and I won't let you lay a finger on it"

He flexed his wings, readying himself.

Jetray: "And as for that gauntlet of yours, I'll make sure it ends up in the right hands, far away from you and your delusions"

With a determined glare, Jetray launched himself into the air, ready to face off against Vilgax and put an end to his plans once and for all.

Jetray's eyes glowed with a vibrant green light as he unleashed a powerful laser beam aimed straight at Vilgax. However, Vilgax merely chuckled, his confidence unwavering. With a swift motion of his gauntlet, he conjured a red portal that effortlessly absorbed Jetray's attack.

Jetray: "What in the world?!"

Before Jetray could react, another portal materialized in front of him, and the very same laser beam that he had fired was redirected back at him, striking him squarely in the chest. The force of the impact sent him hurtling downward, crashing into the ground with a resounding thud.

Jetray *struggling to speak*: "That's a low blow, even by your standards, ugh"

Vilgax: "In dire times, one must resort to any means necessary, Tennyson"

Jetray grunted as he pushed himself up from the ground, his chest aching from the impact of Vilgax's counterattack.

Jetray: "You can play dirty all you want, Vilgax, but I've faced worse than you and come out on top"

Jetray slammed down on the Omnitrix once more, enveloping him in a bright green light as he transformed into...

WaterHazard: "Water Hazard!"

Vilgax arched an eyebrow, his expression betraying his curiosity as he awaited the outcome of the transformation.

Vilgax: "An Orishan? I must say, Tennyson, I anticipated your Vaxasaurian form by now"

Water Hazard: "Sorry to disappoint, but I've learned that brute force isn't always the answer. Time to get creative with my arsenal"

Water Hazard reared back his hand and unleashed a powerful stream of water, propelling himself forward with force. Vilgax attempted to create a portal to trap Water Hazard, but this time he was prepared. At the last moment, Water Hazard shifted the placement of his hands downward, propelling himself upward and evading the portal. He then unleashed both hot and cold water streams at Vilgax, drenching him and leaving him burnt from the scalding heat.

Vilgax staggered back, his armor steaming and sizzling from the attack, before shooting him an irritated glare.

Vilgax sneered at Water Hazard's attempt, dismissing the water as inconsequential.

Vilgax: "And? You think I would 'splat' from water as those simpletons call it?"

Water Hazard smirked, explaining his strategy.

Water Hazard: "Huh? I didn't know water hurt the inklings, but actually what I was doing is a little trick I used back in the day"

As he spoke, the potholes in Water Hazard's shoulders opened, drawing moisture from Vilgax's armor and rapidly absorbing it.

Vilgax chuckled dismissively.

Vilgax: "What's that supposed to do?"

Water Hazard grinned confidently.

Water Hazard: "Look again"

Suddenly, cracks appeared in Vilgax's armor, and pieces began to fall away as it was de-moisturized.

Vilgax clenched his fists in frustration as his defenses weakened and crumbled

Water Hazard: "Now that'll make beating you easier"

Vilgax: "That was quite clever, I'll give you that. At least you've gained some brains since the last time I fought you"

Water Hazard shrugged nonchalantly.

Water Hazard: "Being stranded in hell would do that to you"

Vilgax: "Then why don't you let me send you there again?"

Vilgax's sinister voice echoed as he summoned a portal behind him. Water Hazard reacted swiftly, shooting a beam of scalding water at Vilgax, but he vanished into the portal before it closed behind him.

Water Hazard: "Where the hell did he go now?"

Looking around the wreckage, Water Hazard saw nothing but emptiness. Suddenly, he felt something behind him and was swiftly thrown into the portal.

Ben POV:

As I tumbled through the portal, I crashed against the wall of an underwater office. Groaning, I struggled to stand and took in my surroundings. In front of me, a man in a suit spoke sternly to someone in a white sweater.

???: "A man chooses, a slave obeys"

The man's attention snapped to me as I stirred on the ground.

???: "Who- what are you?!"

Before I could respond, Vilgax materialized from another portal, his fist raised for another attack. Reacting quickly, I aimed a blast of water at the ground, propelling myself away just as his punch collided with the wall, rupturing it and flooding the room. The rush of water enveloped us all.

Thankfully, the change in pressure didn't affect Water Hazard, but unfortunately, it took its toll on the two people in the room, and they quickly succumbed to the sudden flooding. Counting the losses, I wasted no time and slammed the watch once more, transforming into...

Ripjaws: "Ripjaws!"

With the agility of a predator, I swiftly navigated through the debris and furniture, closing in on Vilgax.

I lunged forward, clamping my powerful jaws around his hand, eliciting a pained grunt from the villain. Despite his attempts to shake me off, I held on tenaciously, tightening my grip until I felt the pressure almost drawing blood.

But before I could do any major harm, Vilgax retaliated with a powerful punch from his gauntlet, sending us hurtling somewhere else.

I slowly opened my eyes to find myself in a vast, dimly lit space. As I surveyed my surroundings, I realized that everything around me was oversized, towering above me. Examining my hands, I confirmed that I was still Ripjaws. Where had Vilgax sent me this time?

Before I could contemplate further, I was startled by the sound of someone nearby. Turning my attention, I spotted a girl in a yellow raincoat eyeing me with a hungry gaze, as if I were the most delectable meal she'd ever seen.

Ripjaws: "Wh- *cough* who are you?"

She took a step back, clearly surprised.

Six: "Woah, you can talk? I'm Six. Can I have a bite, mister fish?"

Ripjaws: "Bite?! Do I look like food to you?"

She nodded eagerly, prompting me to facepalm. But before I could react further, I was suddenly pinned under a massive table, sending Six scurrying away in a panic.

Vilgax: "Give up, Tennyson. You're no match for me"

Struggling, I managed to press the Omnitrix faceplate, hoping for a transformation that could turn the tide.

A bright light enveloped me as I grew and expanded, breaking free from the confines of the table. Towering above the room, with my fin nearly brushing against the ceiling, I realized I had transformed into...

Way Big: "Way Big? This is way awesome"

Smirking, I turned my gaze towards Vilgax, whose eyes widened with fear as he stumbled backward. With a confident pose, I unleashed a powerful blast of green energy, sending Vilgax flying with a resounding impact.

Way Big: "Not so high and mighty now, little guy"

I said, slowly inching toward him. With a clenched fist, I slammed it toward him, but he managed to dodge. Not giving him a moment to catch his breath, I swiftly slammed my other hand down, causing the entire room to shake violently, this time crushing him beneath my colossal hand.

Way Big: "Gotcha, you little insect"

I reared my hand backward, then grabbed him, bringing him close to my face.

Way Big: "You're done for, Vilgax. Give me the gauntlet before I snatch it from you by force along with your arm"

I taunted him, my face twisted with irritation. Time was running out, and I needed to end this quickly before my transformation wore off.

Vilgax slowly chuckled as he regained his vision, spitting blood before glaring back at me with anger.

Vilgax: "You'll have to pry it from my corpse"

I frowned at his defiant response,
preparing to squash him for good. But before I could act, he created a portal behind him. With lightning speed, he slashed and gripped at my hand with his claws, causing me to release him and flinch in pain as he entered the portal.

Unfortunately, it was too small for Way Big, so I quickly transformed into Echo Echo and dove headfirst into the portal, landing on my feet on the other side.

Looking around at the strange yellow-hued hall with pillars and windows everywhere.

???: "do you wanna have a bad time? 'cause if you take another step forward...you are REALLY not going to like what happens next"

A voice echoed through the hall, drawing my attention to a short skeleton with a toothy grin and an unzipped blue hoodie. He seemed to be addressing the yellow kid in front of him, who had a crazy smile and was wearing a blue and pink sweater.

Echo Echo: "What kind of weird universe have I hopped into?"

My robotic voice echoed in the hall, causing both the skeleton and the kid to turn around and look at me.

???: "woah, who are ya? a new monster maybe? alphys is evacuating the underground, you should leave already before things get dicey"

The skeleton said with a toothy grin, his mouth not moving as he spoke.

Echo Echo: "What?"

Suddenly, the kid unsheathed a knife out of nowhere. The room flickered before turning black and white, and a strange cartoony heart popped out of my chest with a text box in front of me saying 'Frisk is determined to kill you.'

Echo Echo: "I suppose that's her name"

The kid, or Frisk, zoomed from beside the skeleton with a crazy smile, her eyes flickering with a crimson red color as she prepared to slash at me.

Scratching my head in confusion, I quickly duplicated myself two times and unleashed a deafening Sonic boom, knocking the kid into two pillars and knocking her out.

The room flickered back to normal colors as I saw the skeleton looking back at the kid's unconscious figure before turning to me. I could see a flicker of surprise in his face before it returned to the normal toothy grin.

???: "or not, you seem to be doing just fine. You even did my job for me. nice"

He gave me a thumbs up.

Suddenly, I noticed the skeleton's eye sockets widen as he glanced past me.

???: "hmm? who's that octopus with the weird gauntlet that's going to crush your head between his hands?"

Echo Echo: "Excuse me? *I turn around* Oh, man"

Before I could react, Vilgax closed his hands around my head, causing me to fall to my knees, my head throbbing in pain. Then, he kicked me hard in the chest, sending me sprawling to the ground.

Echo Echo: "A little help here!"

I motioned to the skeleton, who was watching the scene unfold.

???: "nah, kiddo, I believe in ya. If ya can knock that Frisk out with a single move, ya can beat anyone!"

I rolled my eyes at his unwillingness to help before quickly jumping to my feet and swiftly running towards Vilgax, stopping inches in front of him. I then cloned myself until a group of clones surrounded him.

Echo Echos: "WALL OF SOUND!"

We all screamed a sonic blast simultaneously, causing Vilgax to kneel from the loud sound, while he shielded his ears with his hands. The ground cracked beneath him, and the windows began to crack before shattering into pieces one by one as we continued our sonic assault. I also noticed cracks forming on his gauntlet, with small red electric energy escaping from it.

Vilgax: "ENOUGH!"

Vilgax yelled before creating another portal beneath him and disappearing. I signaled to the clones to stop along with me as I looked around for him, but another portal appeared above me shortly after, with Vilgax jumping out of it and crushing me under his feet, causing the other clones to disappear in the process.

Lifting his leg, he grabbed me by my head and threw me inside another portal. Spawning on the other side, I rolled on the ground before coming to a stop. Slowly opening my eyes, I realized I was back in the Inkling universe.

Still lying on the ground, I looked up to see the helicopter hovering closely. It seemed like the rest of the team had been able to destroy all of Vilgax's minions, which brought a weak smile to my face.

The helicopter slowly descended, and I could make out the figures agents, deep cut, followed by Vaggie and Keenie.

Vaggie: "Ben!"

Echo Echo: "V-Vaggie?"

Keenie: "What happened? You guys were fighting, then suddenly vanished. Where did you go?"

Echo Echo: "It's a long story"

I said as Agent 4 helped me to stand on my feet.

Agent 4: "You don't look so good, robot boy"

Echo Echo: "I'm fine. *thumbs up* I just need to lay here for a second"

Vilgax emerged from a new portal with a menacing frown, his gauntlet now sporting even more cracks pulsing with red electrical energy. The agents, Deep Cut, Vaggie, and Keenie looked on in fear as he spoke.

Vilgax: "Look what you've done, you ignorant monkey! Because of you, the gauntlet is unstable. Do you have any idea how much effort it took to create it? I was going to be merciful and grant you a quick death, but now I will enjoy torturing YOU!"

Keenie: "H-he's kinda scary up close"

Keenie's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes wide with fear. She tightened her grip on her lighting bow, her hand shaking uncontrollably.

No One POV:

As Vilgax slowly advanced towards them, Echo Echo turned to the group. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, Vaggie and Keenie stepped forward, their faces filled with concern.

Vaggie: "Ben, you can't fight him alone. We have to help you"

Keenie nodded in agreement, her eyes pleading with Echo Echo to accept their assistance.

Echo Echo hesitated for a moment, then shook his head solemnly.

Echo Echo: "You don't understand. Vilgax is not like any enemy we've faced before. He's powerful, dangerous, and cunning. This is a battle I have to face alone"

As Echo Echo prepared to face Vilgax alone, Agent 4 and Callie stepped forward. Callie's face was etched with concern.

Callie: "Ben, we understand you're tough, but Vilgax is no joke. We can't just stand by and watch you put yourself in danger"

Agent 4 nodded in agreement.

Agent 4: "She's right. Me and Callie have been through a lot together, and we've always had each other's backs. Let us help you"

Despite their earnest pleas, Echo Echo remained steadfast, his resolve unwavering.

Echo Echo: "l'm not even going for one of my heavy hitters. Any one of my aliens is a stronger hero than all of you combined"

Agent 4: "Hey! What the shell do you mean by that?"

Echo Echo: "Look, you've seen what he's capable of. I alone have the power to put an end to him"

His words hung heavy in the air as the group exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. With a collective nod, they reluctantly stepped back, allowing Echo Echo to confront Vilgax alone.

Echo Echo and Vilgax locked eyes, the tension palpable as they prepared for the impending clash. Behind them, the agents, deep cut, Vaggie, and Keenie observed with a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

Echo Echo slammed down on the Omnitrix, enveloping himself in a bright light. As the glow faded, Echo Echo's form had transformed into that of a towering humanoid figure.

Feedback: "Feedback!"

He declared, his voice reverberating with power as he clenched his crackling hands.

Feedback: "Now you're done for, Vilgax"

Feedback proclaimed confidently, unleashing a relentless barrage of electric blasts aimed directly at Vilgax.

However, Vilgax remained unfazed, charging forward, seemingly unaffected by the electrifying energy blasts. Despite Feedback's impressive display of power, Vilgax pressed on, swinging his colossal fists in an attempt to crush his opponent.

But Feedback proved to be too swift, evading Vilgax's powerful strikes with agile precision.

Feedback: "Hah, you're too slow!"

Feedback taunted him with a confident smirk as he continued to outmaneuver his attacks.

As Feedback closed in on Vilgax, he seized the opportunity to grasp onto Vilgax's gauntlet. A surge of red energy pulsed from the gauntlet and into Feedback's body, causing the gauntlet to crack even further.

Despite Vilgax's efforts to push Feedback away, the damage to his gauntlet had been done.

As the battle raged on between Feedback and Vilgax, the agents, deep cut, Vaggie, and Keenie watched with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the intense confrontation unfolding before them.

As Feedback continued to unleash his electric blasts, Vilgax's stoic expression transformed into a twisted smile, a glint of anticipation in his eyes.

Vilgax: "Is that the best you can do, Tennyson? Your feeble attempts at stopping me are laughable!"

His words dripped with contempt as he effortlessly dodged each blast, his confidence growing with every passing moment.

But Feedback remained undeterred, a smirk playing on his lips as he responded.

Feedback: "Oh, you think you're so tough, Vilgax? Let's see if you can handle a real shock!"

With a sudden surge of energy, Feedback extended his antennas and hands, charging a massive energy ball between them.

Feedback: "I have been saving this since I absorbed the energy from that gauntlet of yours"

The air crackled with electricity as Feedback focused his power.

Feedback: "Eat this, Vilgax!"

With a fierce battle cry, Feedback unleashed the energy beam at Vilgax, the powerful blast hurtling towards the villain with unstoppable force.

The ground trembled beneath Vilgax's feet as the colossal energy beam bore down on him, its intensity growing with each passing moment. His expression twisted from arrogance to panic as he attempted to conjure another portal to redirect the attack, but to his horror, his gauntlet remained inert, already drained of its power by Feedback's earlier.

Vilgax: "No... this can't be happening!"

His voice echoed with desperation as he frantically tried to evade the impending blast, but it was too late. With a deafening roar, the energy beam struck him head-on, engulfing him in a blinding explosion of light and force.

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shattering nearby structures and sending debris flying in all directions. As the dust settled, Vilgax was laying on the ground all scarred and burned, his menacing presence extinguished by Feedback's overwhelming power.

Feedback stood tall amidst the wreckage, his green eye gleaming with triumph as he surveyed the aftermath of his decisive strike.

Feedback: "Looks like the feedback was too much for you to handle, Vilgax. Better luck next time... oh wait, there won't be a next time"

With a smirk, Feedback strutted towards him, surveying the wreckage before snatching the gauntlet from Vilgax's hand.

Feedback: "Damn it, how am I supposed to use this thing to get back to home now?"

Before Feedback could dwell further on his dilemma, he felt a tap on his back. Turning around, he was met with the jubilant faces of the agents, Deep Cut, Vaggie, and Keenie, bursting with excitement.

Agent 4: "You nailed it, Sharpie!"

Frye: "That was epic, dude!"

Callie: "Seriously, we're lucky you were on our side this time"

Pearl: "Watching ya go toe-to-toe with that octopus head was Fresh!"

Vaggie: "The crew back at the Hotel won't believe what went down here"

Feedback: "Uh, thanks, guys"

With a toothy grin, Feedback soaked in the praise until the Omnitrix beeped red, detransforming him back to Ben.

Ben: "As much as I appreciate the applause, there's a bit of a hiccup"

He displayed the damaged gauntlet, emitting wisps of smoke, to Vaggie and Keenie, their eyes widening in surprise.

Ben: "I was hoping to use this to get us back to your universe and me to mine, but, well, looks like we hit a snag"

Ben's voice trailed off as he lowered his head in disappointment. Yet, his mood shifted when he felt Vaggie's reassuring hand on his shoulder, accompanied by her warm smile.

Vaggie: "It's okay, Ben. We know you did your best. What you did here today speaks volumes about the kind of hero you are"

Ben: "Thanks, Vaggie"

A weak smile played on Ben's lips before his attention was drawn to Keenie, who was also beaming at him.

Keenie: "I have faith in you, Ben. I believe you can figure it out with one of your brainy aliens"

Ben: "But... last time I used it, things almost went sideways. I don't want to risk it again"

Ben's mood darkened as he recalled how the remote almost killed them.

Keenie: "Hey, it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have touched it when you warned me not to"

Ben: "Still, if I had made it more stable, none of this would've happened"

Vaggie: "Ben, stop blaming yourself. We believe in you. Trust yourself, just like we do"

Vaggie and Keenie's unwavering support touched Ben deeply, causing a lump to form in his throat and tears to his eyes. Once, he had seen everyone in hell as mere temporary companions that he would have to leave one day. Now, with their faith in him, he wasn't so sure anymore.

He hastily wiped away the tears from his eyes, straightening up with newfound resolve, his friends' support reigniting the smirk on his face.

Ben: "You're absolutely right, guys. I've got this. I'm Ben Tennyson, after all. There's nothing too tough for a hero like me"

Keenie: "That's the Ben I know"

His gaze shifted to the damaged gauntlet in his hand, his grip tightening.

Ben: "But where am I going to find the parts to fix it?"

Marina: "Um, excuse me, I, uh, overheard your conversation, and I actually have some parts that could help you out"

Ben's eyes lit up with excitement.

Ben: "Seriously?!"

Marina: "Yep, I'd even lend a tentacle to help out if you need it!"

Ben: "Marina, you're the best!"

Marina blushed, rubbing the back of her head.

Marina: "Oh, it's nothing, just my way of saying thanks for saving us from that Vilgax"

Time Skip:

The scene shifted to inside the helicopter, where Brainstorm and Marina were hard at work. The damaged gauntlet lay open on the table, surrounded by the parts Marina had provided. With Brainstorm's intelligence and Marina's mechanical expertise, they quickly got to work reengineering and fixing the gauntlet.

Utilizing Brainstorm's sharp mind and Marina's familiarity with the parts, they were soon able to reassemble the device, fitting the components into a new shell that resembled the old remote Ben had used. However, they hit a snag, the parts they used were somewhat fragile, meaning Ben would have to handle the device with extreme care.

Brainstorm took a sigh of relief as he held the device in his claw, examining it.

Brainstorm: "Indeed, we've achieved the improbable. I can now seamlessly traverse back to my universe. Marina, your assistance, though undoubtedly valuable, merely expedited the inevitable conclusion. Rest assured, even without it, I would have prevailed"

Marina, perplexed by Brainstorm's verbose expression of gratitude, simply nodded in confusion.

Brainstorm leaped out of the helicopter before slamming the watch, transforming back into Ben.

Vaggie and Keenie glanced back at Ben, their expressions filled with anticipation, waiting to see if they had successfully fixed the device.

Ben simply smirked before lifting the device triumphantly.

Ben: "Made it!"

Vaggie: "That's great news!"

Keenie: "Finally, we can return...to hell. Yup, I still live in hell"

Ben chuckled at Keenie's response before feeling a tap on his shoulder. It was Agent 4, followed by the rest of the group.

Agent 4: "So, I guess this is goodbye?"

Ben: "Yeah, I suppose it is"

Pearl: "Make sure to visit us from time to time, yo. We'll be happy to spend more time with you and maybe make music together"

Ben: "Will do. I'm pretty good with musical instruments, so I'm sure it'll be a hit"

Marina: "It was a pleasure meeting you, and that interesting device on your wrist. It was fun trying to guess what each of your aliens could do"

Ben: "Pleasure's all mine. And next time, I'll show you more aliens"

Big Man: "Especially that Jetray, he was the coolest, Ay!"

Callie: "Fighting you three was the coolest thing that happened to us. Next time, I'd like to do missions with you"

Shiver: "Just make sure not to kill anyone's pet"

Shiver joked, eliciting an amused eye roll from Ben.

Lastly, the Captain stepped forward to Ben. Without saying a word, she simply gazed at Ben, and he returned the gesture. No words were spoken, but he understood her respect for him as a hero herself.

Ben: "Same here, Captain"

Ben turned towards Vaggie and Keenie, pressing the button on the remote to create a green portal. Vaggie and Keenie walked through first, with Ben following closely behind. As he stopped in front of the portal, he glanced back to see the Agents and Deep Cut smiling and waving at him. Returning the gesture, Ben entered the portal, suddenly free-falling through it.

He caught up with Vaggie and Keenie, all three of them falling through the portal together. Another portal appeared, and they closed their eyes, bracing for impact as they fell to the ground. Ben landed face-first, with Vaggie and Keenie falling over him.

Opening his eyes, Ben found himself back in his room at the hotel. Vaggie and Keenie quickly stood up.

Vaggie: "Oh, it actually worked"

Keenie: "I was half expecting it to send us somewhere else"

Ben smirked at Vaggie and Keenie before suddenly feeling something hard under his chest. His eyes widened in fear as he looked at his hands, finding them empty. He took a deep breath and gulped before standing up. The device, now broken from Ben falling over it, stuck to his shirt before falling to the ground.

With a shaking hand, Ben grabbed the remote, examining it closely as sweat ran down his face. He let out a sigh of frustration.

Ben: "Ah, shit, here we go again"

He muttered under his breath, feeling defeated as he slumped onto his bed. Knowing that he now needed to start all over again to fix the device and return to his universe weighed heavily on him.

Outro:

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Hope you enjoyed Ben, Vaggie, and Keenie ink-redible adventure!

The chapter is 21953 words if you were curious!