A Boy and his Watch

A Boy and his Watch
By TheAlienBrony22

The Reality Master,
Part 4

[Mr. Smoothy]

Ben ran for what felt like hours, he sped past several people and looked to be in a frenzied panic. Ben constantly looked around and felt too overwhelmed, it was like the world itself was growing around him, trying to trap him in some kind of limitless, yet very closed off space.

Ben stumbled and pushed through people, trying to catch his breath as he sat down at what seemed to be some kind of picnic table. Unfamiliar with the location, Ben looked up at a bright neon sign with some kind of beverage cup with eyes, arms, legs and a wide smile seem to be staring him down. Ben read the letters on the sign, and didn't have much of an idea of what exactly he was going to expect... but to be fair, Ben hasn't eaten anything since he got to this odd world, and the food that Max guy made, it didn't even seem to resemble food, and more resembled failed science experiments.

"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to try something... maybe that's what's wrong, I haven't eaten anything!" Ben rationalized.

Ben cautiously walked up to the counter, seeing some guy with black hair and pale gray skin behind the other end. "Hello, welcome to Mr. Smoothy, what can I get you?" The guy asked, lacking enthusiasm in his nasally voice.

"Uh... do you have a recommendation?" Ben asked, not familiar with what they sold. The guy handed Ben a laminated list of flavors, and Ben was hardly able to comprehend most of the flavors that were somehow available, let alone approved for consumption. "I've never felt so disgusted, yet so curious all at once..."

"Ben!!" a voice called out. Ben sulked as he turned around, seeing an exhausted Gwen running towards him, "Ben, talk to me! I want to help you, but you need to let me!"

"How fast can you make one Grape smoothy?" Ben asked.

"Fastest we can manage is two minutes, sir." The guy stated, looking like he wants to be somewhere else immediately.

"How much does it cost?" Ben asked, hearing Gwen getting closer.

"Five dollars for a small, seven dollars for a large. 6 dollars for a medi--"

Ben quickly tried to grab his satchel of bits, only to find that it was replaced by some kind of small leathery storage fold. He opened it up and saw several green pieces of paper and fished out six of them, sliding them towards the guy, who was rather enlightened by the fact that Ben seemingly just gave him six 5 dollar bills without hesitation.

"Do it in a minute, please, and keep the change." Ben remarked, seeming very jittery and panicked.

The guy behind the counter shrugged, smiling as he announced an order for a medium grape smoothie with the works. Ben turned around, seeing Gwen, now at arm's length of him, heaving and trying to catch her breath.

"Ben, we... we have to talk," Gwen said, coughing as she tried to catch her breath. "Some guy, in a labcoat... he said he brought you here. Is there something you're not telling us?"

Ben said not a word, and would've honestly liked to get out of this situation. However, he felt something finally click in his brain, after worrying and worrying all night, he decided to try and listen, if not for a moment.

"Ok, fine... let's take a seat, I think my smoothy will be done soon." Ben remarked. "be warned though, you might not believe me when I say that this guy is a real psycho..."

As Ben and Gwen make their way over to a vacant table, A figure who can't be seen is stalking the individuals, seeming rather... displeased.

[Yosemite National Park]

Deep within the darkness of the thick woods, several anomalous sparks of light began to flicker into existence. Soon, it became stronger and the sparks were more abundant, soon forming into a huge glowing fluorescent yellow portal. From that portal, came Celestia. As the princess gained her footing, she steadied herself and took to the skies, examining the area from a bird's eye view.

"So this is where Ben ended up, I presume... I must admit, I was expecting more." Celestia told herself.

Celestia focused on the magic she could track, and soon followed a trail. She landed downwards and trotted towards a crater, a crater that had grass growing all around it. At the center of the crater, was a big metal ball, one that seemed to be opened. It was brimming with that magic she was tracking, and it felt ever so slightly ancient, primordial, something that's been around far longer than it should've been, and it was almost enough to mask the Omnitrix's magic signature, which was equally just as prominent and noticeable.

"I get the feeling that the one who harmed one of my little ponies, is also the one responsible for taking Ben away... but why here of all places?" She wondered. Celestia used her magic to cast a spell, one that seemed to project a scene from this location's past. Celestia sat on the soft ground and watched what played out.

An image of Ben, back when he was just 10 was wandering the woods alone, until he sees a shooting star. As it veers off course and hurtles towards him, the explosion helps Celestia signify that it created the crater. As Ben ventures towards the sphere, it opens up, revealing the same device that was on Ben's wrist when he first appeared in Equestria.

Celestia's spell soon dissipated. Curiosity getting the better of her, she follows the magic trail, flying towards where she'd be investigating next.

"Benjamin Sparkle, could this be where you came from?" Celestia asked herself, flying through the cool night air.

[Mr. Smoothy]

"So, do you want the short version, or the long version of how I know this 'Paradox' guy?" Ben asked, sipping on his grape smoothy.

"Long Version, then the Short Version, for an easier comparison." Gwen answered.

"Well, it's hard to explain at all how I met him the first time, probably without even realizing. When I was 11, I went with my dad, Nightlight, to a small country town known as Ponyville. I had no idea what I was in for, whether it was the people I'd meet or the friends I wouldn't have expected to make. I certainly wasn't expecting to be beaten and battered by Timberwolves, just because I didn't like the idea of someone else getting chewed up and turned into a snack for a bunch of wooden wolves," Ben explained. Gwen was fascinated, but also more curious about what Equestria was truly like.

"Originally, before I did such a selfless feat, I was having issues of my own, self doubt, lamenting on a very bad failure, until this peppy pink pony started to help me realize that holding onto such negative feelings wasn't going to get me anywhere, so I started to be more optimistic and it's why I still continue to use my powers. But, I'm getting off topic a little bit. When I was being treated by the town's doctor, Nurse Redheart, I must've had some kind of existentially real dream, because I saw Paradox there, and he seemed to be motioning for me to come closer. Before I knew it, the dream began to collapse, and Paradox was trying to reach out to me, yet I pulled away. I then woke up, surrounded by the friends I somehow managed to make."

Ben took another sip of his smoothy as he watched Gwen write down everything he said, making little notes of her own on written info. "You remind me a lot of my sister, Twilight. She's studious, takes a lot of notes, and always seems to excel, no matter what she does." Ben commented, chuckling a bit, "All you're missing is purple hair and a baby dragon for a brother."

Gwen smiled, glad to see Ben finally seem happy, until she saw Ben's smile falter.

"The second and most notable time I remember running into Paradox, was when I encountered him after he broke into my parents' house in Canterlot. He was trying to get me to willingly go with him, but I could just feel like this wasn't going to be as pleasant as he was letting on. I constantly evaded him and avoided touching him, and made sure he couldn't touch me, till he finally backed off. Every now and then, it's like I can feel him nearby. It'll feel like an invisible or metaphysical weight has been cast onto me without knowing, and it makes doing certain things difficult. The only recent times I saw him was when I found out that they nearly killed someone back in Equestria, just to get my attention..."

Gwen could feel a strange and unearthly tension in the air. The tension was so thick, you could probably plant explosives in mid-air with relative ease. Gwen looked Ben in the eyes, seeing a sense of guilt, regret, and anger dwelling in his eyes.

"They killed one of my only allies that seemed to know something, or have any kind of inclination of what he could've possibly wanted... They scared my sister into almost thinking Celestia was some kind of monstrous fraud, and they nearly killed an innocent bystander with a warded letter. It's why I've been so apprehensive of this place, this world. He brought me here against my will, and I can't trust a single thing here... I haven't eaten anything since I got here, so I decided to get this smoothy, because I had no other options, other than to starve."

Gwen was beginning to understand why Ben was being so standoff-ish and unwilling to remember... he doesn't truly know if he's somewhere real, and unmanufactured.

"I've closed you and everyone else off who is in this world, because I can't trust this place. For all I know, Paradox made this place and he's trying to lull me into a false sense of security, so he can either kill me, take the Omnitrix, mind control me into some subpar servant, or maybe he has bigger and scarier plans for me. Either way, I won't go down without a fight. I will find my way back to Equestria, I'm going to find a way to stop Paradox, and when I do, maybe he'll finally leave me alone and drop this nonsense!"

"Ben, I can understand your apprehension. At first, on one of our old adventures, back when we were kids, you had one of the worst days ever on summer vacation. On that said worst day, a villainous group called the Forever Knights kidnapped you, and made you go into a dream simulation of your 'perfect day', and you couldn't see it was all fake. I get it, but ask me anything that I know about you, and I can prove it," Gwen explained, getting up as she held her hand out. "Let me prove that this is all real, that you're truly home, and Paradox is just making you paranoid."

Ben took every word she said and let it sink in for a good few seconds. For a moment, momentary images flashed into Ben's mind, showing several familiar logos and emblems, even people. Ben sighed and reached out to take her hand, only for a sudden crash to abruptly disturb the peace.

"Oh what now?!" Ben and Gwen groaned in unison.

Out in the street was a huge dust cloud, and from it was a ginormous frog-like creature, with moss green skin and a light green neck. It has two small horns on its forehead and two bone horns coming out of the sides of its head. It has four red eyes and orange lumps. It has an olive, spiky tongue. It let out a low bellowing croak.

"Oh great, Animo's out of jail... for the umpteenth time... again. Seriously, does this guy not know the basic definition of a Bank Holiday!?" Gwen snarked, seeming irritated as she got ready to fight.

"Wait, that frog has a name?" Ben asked, seeming unsure of if he's going to fight.

"Well, that would just be narcissistic of me, Benjamin! Naming one of my glorious creations after myself?!" A voice called out, seeming slightly old, but also seemed to be full of energy. Atop of the monstrous frog was a man with sickly bright green skin, white messy hair, and what looked like giant robotic lobster arms in place of where his normal arms would be. "What do you take me for, that Kangaroo Kommando fool!?"

"Considering I have no idea who you are, or what a 'Kangaroo Kommando' is, I'm gonna be honest with you and say, I have no idea what you're on about, let alone who you are." Ben stated, seeming very confused.

"You don't know-- How dare you!! No one forgets the might and the brains of Dr. Animo!! Hear me, Benjamin Tennyson," Animo called out, pointing to the young man in question. "Allow me to remind you of what I'm capable of, and I shall demonstrate as such, with a brand new trick."

Animo then let one of his lobster arms begin to crackle with a very familiar green energy, and letting the other arm crackle with a bright orange energy. He shot an orange and green blast at the ground, revealing a brand-new monstrosity.

"It's been quite a long time since we've battled, Ben Tennyson, but I, Dr. Animo, always comes prepared with Alien DNA, that I extracted from your watch so long ago! Let's see how you like my newest creation, something I've decided to repeatedly make, till it was perfect!!" Animo announced. "Awaken, my fierce Animalien, and destroy Ben Tennyson!!"

The blast of clashing energies soon dissipated, revealing what looked like a blend of a lion, a hornet and a shark, with Starburner's blistering burning flames and molten rocks coating the monster's body, with Cyberpunk's odd technological patterns painting the creature's mutated face. The beast had a Lion's body, bear legs, lion claws and shark teeth, as well as a shark tail and fin, each one equally messed up by the conflicting components of its creation.

"Man, Fluttershy would NOT like you, Doc." Ben remarked, seeming truly horrified by the beast that stood on its hindlegs, roaring as it prepared to attack. Ben turned to face Gwen, activating the Omnitrix. "Guess it's Hero Time, right?"

"Oh, it's definitely Hero Time," Gwen's eyes glowed blue as a blue aura formed around her fists. "I'll go after Animo, you keep his mutant at bay."

Gwen dodged the mutant and ran towards Animo and his mutant frog, all while the monstrous 'Animalien' re-focused its attention on Ben, who seemed to be having trouble with selecting a form.

"Come on, Omnitrix, please don't do this to me, now! I'd like to go back to Equestria in one piece, and not in a body bag!" Ben pleaded. The core popped up, showing Ben Heavy Hydrant's icon. "Perfect, let's cool you down, beast!"

Ben slammed onto the Omnitrix, enveloping himself in a bright green light. As it died down, Heavy Hydrant wasn't the alien present, instead it was Gemstone.

"Oh great... the one time I want to play it safe, this stupid watch picks now to tell me to challenge myself," Gemstone remarked, gritting his teeth as he formed his arms into jagged crystal mallets, turning a mild scowl into a smirk. "Fine then, I'm all for a good challenge. Bring it on, Smokey!"

Gemstone lunged at the mutant, hearing it roar as they clashed, wrestling as they tried to gain an advantage. Gemstone repeatedly smashed his mallets into the mutant's chest and stomach, causing it to stagger as he continued to wail on it, then send it flying across the street with a powerful mallet uppercut.

Gwen was evading and countering the frog's monstrous tongue, creating these bright blue shields to block the tongue's physical strikes, and throwing bright blue spheres of light into the frog's mouth, causing them to explode, earning croaks of pain and vast discomfort from the mutated amphibian.

"You must've gotten lazy this time, Animo, you're not trying as hard as you did many times before!" Gwen remarked.

"This time, I don't necessarily need to! I've perfected the fusion of different species so well, that my new and improved transmodulator is practically the pinnacle of creating new life, that will obey me!" Animo revered in his genius, all while his 'Animalien' was being beaten and tossed around by Gemstone, who by this point, was starting to get very, very tired.

"Oh man... I don't think Gemstone even has a stomach, yet I feel like I have to hurl." Gemstone remarked, his voice wavering. He was feeling a bit weak, and starting to stagger, all while the Omnitrix was sparking with a deep blue electrical spark.

"Hang on just a little longer, Ben! I'll give you some help as soon as I-- URMPH!!!"

Gwen was then cut off as she got surprised by the frog's tongue, wrapping around her as it began to crush her and suffocate her, then pulling it into its mouth, all as Animo laughed, seeming triumphant.

"Gwendolyn, you're gonna have to speak up for him! You seem to have a frog in your throat, or is it the other way around!?" Animo joked, laughing hysterically. The 'Animalien' managed to get one hit on Gemstone, sending the crystal alien tumbling to the ground as Gemstone transformed back into Ben. Ben held his head, feeling ill and was in some serious pain. "Behold this sight for the first and last time, Benjamin Tennyson! I, Doctor Aloysius James Animo, have finally beaten you and your cousin!! With you too weak to fight, and your alien DNA, ripe for the picking yet again, I will be the most powerful scientist this world has ever known!!"

Ben was getting angry, and he tried to pick himself up, but he was too drained. He was slipping in and out of consciousness, all as Animo slowly approached him. Ben tried, and tried, and tried to get up and fight back, but his body seemed to be restricted. Ben grit his teeth, and tried to do something else, and proceeded to roll away from Animo, rolling on his side along the concrete and asphalt to gain distance. Ben didn't get very far, only to roll into the base of a street lamp.

Ben looked at the Omnitrix, and saw it recharging, for the first time in two years, glowing red as it slowly gained back energy. Animo stood over Ben's body, cackling like a madman. "Any last words, Benjamin?" Animo asked.

Before Ben could say anything, or do anything for that matter, Animo's body was covered in some kind of bright aura, and was then immediately flung upwards into the neon sign for the Mr. Smoothy.

Ben looked at Animo fall to the ground, groaning as he was now in a weakened state, then turned towards the sound of hoofsteps approaching. A shadow cast over him, and above him, was Celestia, looking rather stern and very cross.

"Princess... Celestia?" Ben asked, barely able to get the words out.

Celestia used her magic to move Ben onto her back, only for him to gesture to the mutant frog, seeming to be struggling to choke down its latest catch.

"Someone's... in there... please.." Ben couldn't get another word out till he fell unconscious.

Celestia moved towards the mutant frog, and used her magic to pry its mouth open, showing Gwen, using her powers to make a wall at the frog's throat so she didn't fall in. Celestia grabbed Gwen with her magic, pulling her swiftly out of the frog's maw, setting her down on the sidewalk. She glared at the overgrown frog, and used her magic to grab the 'Animalien' and launched it towards the frog, doing some significant damage.

Before another move could be made, the two mutated animals ran away, no longer being controlled by their creator, who was unconscious himself. Celestia took a deep breath and looked back at Gwen, who seemed to be examining Ben's condition.

"Do you know him, human?" Celestia asked, her voice calm and soothing, if not a bit cautious.

"I'm his cousin, so yeah, I do know him... I just wish he'd remember me," Gwen remarked. "I'm Gwen, you must be this 'Princess Celestia' I've heard so much about from Ben."

"That is correct, it's been a bit difficult to keep myself scarce in your world for such a short time, but I was able to track him thanks to his magic signature, thankfully." Celestia stated.

"So, what exactly is going on? How did you find us? Ben re-appears after being gone for a pretty long while, doesn't remember who we are, and has memories of a land full of--"

"Talking equines with magical powers? Yes, that would be rather strange, wouldn't it," A voice rang out. Gwen and Celestia turned around, seeing the one person that was becoming more of a danger than a help. ~~Professor~~ Paradox. "So, I see Benjamin has fallen ill, quite the shame. Perhaps I can help, if you'll allow me to--"

"Who are you?" Celestia asked, interrupting the man.

"I am Professor Paradox. I'm merely here to help Benjamin, and I've succeeded in bringing him home to his home universe... now, it's just a matter of getting him to remember who he is," Paradox explained, that psychotic grin still plastered on his face. "So, do me a favor and hand him over to me, I can bring his memories back easily. Just have to remove the unnecessary stuff and put everything back into place!"

"Wow, you can just do that, and you didn't say that earlier why?!" Gwen asked, seeming a bit irate. Celestia was about to be welcome to the idea, until a question popped in her head. "Well, I suppose we could let him do that, as long as nothing too crucial is removed--"

"What exactly do you mean by 'unnecessary'? What is it exactly that you plan to remove?" Celestia asked.

"Oh, nothing important, such as his memories of Equestria, The Elements of Harmony, even having to destroy the DNA Samples of his Dragon and Unicorn forms will have to be done, and reversing the magical mutation done to his transformations will take some time, it'd mean he'd have to be comatose for a longer period of time, not that it'd be a bad thing," Paradox went on and on, talking about wiping Ben from every single entity's memory entirely of his existence, mainly back in Celestia's universe, leaving Gwen to second guess the idea.

'If Ben were to find out in the end that we had to wipe some memories to get the old him back, I don't think he'd be able to handle it, let alone want to remember who he was before, if it meant forgetting so much.' Gwen thought to herself. She looked at the Alicorn by her side, seeing a look of genuine distain and disgust form on her face, and it was clear what their answer was.

"So, either way, nothing too important would be lost. What do you say?" Paradox stated, his unsettling grin still plastered on his face.

Not a single word was formed, and Gwen pulled out a small book with what looked like arcane symbols before she found a spell to use. Her eyes glowed blue and she gritted her teeth as a blue tornado surrounded herself, Celestia and Ben. Celestia was impressed by Gwen's grasp on magic, let alone even knowing magic at all, but decided to give one last set of words for Paradox.

"You dared to harm one of my subjects, possibly even my top student if you had gotten that far... then you abduct the one human that is my responsibility and promptly weaken him, have you not a speck of shame?!" Celestia remarked, getting a mild reaction out of Paradox, a simple widening of his eyes was all Celestia needed. "I can feel it, it's not magic, but it is something I'm quite familiar with, as someone who has a time travel spell locked up in the Canterlot Vault. I don't know, nor do I need to know your goal, but you will not tamper with the Elements of Harmony!!"

"TUR-BO!!" Gwen exclaimed. And in a flash of light, and a gust of wind, they were gone.

Paradox was just standing there, that very moment playing back in his mind numerous times on repeat, seeing them doubt him and run from him... It was beginning to really make the time walker seethe and struggle, to the point to where his patience was at an all time low. His grin turned to a scowl, and his grey eyes, flickered with a fluorescent blue.

"So, she wants to put on a plumber's suit and play like a caring princess, does she?" Paradox quietly asked himself, chuckling as his scowl grew more sinister and practically psychotic, "Then I'll show her what happens when you mess with things beyond your understanding. I'll leave your world and this world alone for now, Celestia... but I will come back. and Ben Sparkle, will be no more... there will only be... Ben Tennyson."

Paradox begins to slowly lose himself in a maniacal laugh as the world around him stops in time.

[Tennyson Residence]

In a blistering burst of strong winds and bright blue light, Gwen, Celestia and an unconscious Ben manifest into the living room. The room was dark, with only the kitchen's lights on, revealing Max, who has been up waiting for them. He was expecting Ben and Gwen, but the alicorn was an unexpected surprise.

"Grandpa, I can explain, but that can wait till tomorrow... right now, I am too exhausted, and Ben's out like a light." Gwen gestured to the unconscious Ben on Celestia's back, slumping and falling to the ground, still blissfully unconscious.

Celestia laid on the ground, wrapping a wing over Ben's body. "I will keep watch over him, he is still my responsibility." Celestia stated, using her magic to move a pillow from the sofa towards Ben to lay his head on.

Celestia closed her eyes, hoping that tomorrow, will bring about some clarity, as Max and Gwen went to get some sleep.

[Bellwood Museum of Historical Anomalies, Rooftop; 8 Hours before the heist]

Rojo and Kevin are resting, wanting to have enough energy to complete the heist in full. All while Charmcaster looks out to the street from above, taking time to think things over.

"Stuck working under my uncle, now I'm stuck working under some heinous bitch with a confidence complex, and an escaped prisoner with all of that doofus's powers, plus his own. All I have are magic tricks, basic spells and I don't even have my spellbook anymore... doing petty crimes, simple heists, this isn't going to last forever... what else could I do?" Charmcaster told herself.

Soon enough, a flash of light was enveloped behind her and she turned around, seeing that Kevin and Rojo were gone, with only a singular note on some notebook paper in place of where they were. Charmcaster picked it up and read its contents,

'Dear Charmcaster,

I'm borrowing your 'friends' for something important. And in regards to your predicament, I'd recommend just finding a normal job, wipe the slate clean. Forget about heists and crime and such, just live your life, live the life that you never got to. Just steer clear of Ben Tennyson, and everything will be peachy.

Sincerely Yours,'

Charmcaster, curious about the individual who left the note, tried to use a tracking spell, to track the originator by their mana. Unfortunately for her, the letter was warded, but she managed to cast a containment spell, letting it explode in a violent and sporadic manner in a massive magical bubble. As the bubble popped and dispersed the energy, Charmcaster was a bit worried.

"Why did I take that stupid long haired freak's offer to join this heist!? It was supposed to be simple, now they're gone and a strange letter just attempted to kill me!" Charmcaster looked around and quickly made her way down to the van, still hidden and secluded within the darkness of the alleyway. She attempted to make her way to the driver's seat, only to find that a symbol, one usually made for destructive wards, was carved into the side of the door, glowing a radiant blue.

Charmcaster ran out of the alleyway, and heard the van suddenly detonate, blowing up and scattering flaming parts and debris onto the road, causing quite a few car wrecks in the process. The sorceress stared at the carnage, thankful she got away from it before it went off, but she collapsed to her knees, having what can only be described as a breakdown. "This is madness, that wasn't there before! What is going on tonight, nothing makes sense anymore!! Do you hear me, universe!? I'll change, just stop trying to kill me and go back to making sense!!"

At that moment, reality, space and time seized its motion. All sound in the area was now mute. The colorful night time array of lights, people, even the fiery destruction she narrowly evaded, had all lost its color, becoming merely hues, tints and shades of gray, white and black, all except the few clouds in the sky, which ironically turned pink, almost resembling huge floating masses of cotton candy.

"Sense, my friend? You want this world, full of magic, aliens, and crime... to make sense?" A voice echoed out, laughing in a playful, yet merely hysterical tone. Charmcaster got up, wiping the few tears in her eyes as she stumbled across the road, moving past cars, people and debris till she stood in front of the museum. "Pray tell, my dear, what fun is there in making sense?"

Before Charmcaster knew it, a bright flash of white burst forth out of nowhere, revealing Discord, in the same form he was in before Paradox made him disappear.

"Because let me tell you, Charmcaster, not making sense is probably the best thing ever! But, though I wish I were here to debate more on such a topic," Discord remarked, snapping his fingers as he made the gauntlet on his hand disappear, only to summon a picture of Paradox, laughing and cackling maniacally as his body became to distort and warp in an unnatural manner. Kevin and Rojo were by his sides, their eyes empty and glowing with that same radiant blue light. "I fear that I must ask for a favor from you, from one powerful magic user to another."