Adventure at Canterlot High - All fun in games

"Twilight, come on!" Spike cried out, still chasing his owner, "Wait for me!"

While she ran, Twilight covered her ears to avoid listening to her Spike, clearly not in disbelief at the fact that her pet was talking to her at all.

Eventually, Twilight screeched to a halt as she found herself at the end of a hallway. She turned around and braced herself against it, biting her lip nervously as Spike approached her.

"Why did you run away like that?" Spike asked.

"Um, I don't know…" Twilight responded sarcastically, "Maybe it has something to do with the glowing girl, or the hole in space, or my talking dog!"

"Yeah," Spike concurred, "Weird, right?"

Twilight just blinked in surprise as she seemed to have calmed down. "Are you okay?" Twilight asked, squatting down to his eye level. "How do you feel? What happened? Where did you go?"

Spike responds to that by licking her nose, making her immediately turn away to rub off the saliva. "Hey, one question at a time! This is pretty new to me, too."

"Sorry." Twilight apologized bluntly.

“All I know is I chased that pointy rabbit through the glowy thing and then I was somewhere else.” Spike explained. “Next thing I knew, I was back in that nice girl's arms, and I could talk! I don't really understand why I couldn't before. I mean, it's so easy.”

“Twilight!”

Twilight and Spike jumped up, realizing the voice.

"Quick!" Twilight whispered loudly to Spike, opening a locker, "Hide in here!"

Spike nodded before getting inside with a shove from the girl. She then shut the door, turning around just as Cinch approached. "Who are you talking to?" Cinch asked.

"Um... myself." Twilight replied nervously. "It's a nervous habit… Were you looking for me?" she asked with a smile.

"Indeed, I was." Cinch replied. "Quite a coincidence that the CHS students moving on to the next event are the same nice girls who were so interested in you.”

While the two conversed, Tristen was nearby listening in on the conversation.

"Don't you think?" Cinch asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm… not sure…." Twilight admitted in response.

"Perhaps you should get to know them after all." Cinch, pacing past her again.

"But I… thought you didn't want me to…" Twilight mentioned to her.

"Let's just say I'm covering my bases." Cinch responded. "Who knows? Perhaps they will reveal to you the secret to Canterlot High's newfound success.”

Tristen’s eyes narrowed, knowing what Cinch was suggesting. ‘Thar sleazy old cow!’

"I dunno…" Twilight said with uncertainty. "Spying feels kind of...wrong.”

"Well, it's your decision, Twilight.” Cinch said simply before turning on the heels. "It's not as if your application hangs in the balance.”

That made Twilight give off a surprised look while Tristen glared hatefully. "On second thought," Cinch looks at Twilight, "yes, it does."

Tristen hid in a nearby locker as Cinch continued to walk off. And by the time she was gone, Tristen emerged looking at Twilight sympathetically.

Twilight sighed out as Spike emerged from his hiding spot.

"Man, she's awful." Spike noted to her with an arched eyebrow, "What are you gonna do?" he asked worriedly.

“I don't know, Spike," Twilight sighed out in dismay. "I don't know."

“Why do you even put up with her?”

Twilight turned around to face Tristen. “Oh, I-It's you again.” Twilight said, a bit relieved. “Tristen was your name, right?”

Tristen nods. “Are you seriously gonna let that old hag pull your strings like that?” Tristen asked, surprising Twilight and Spike. “I mean. God, if she pulled that stunt on me, I’d-”

“It's fine.” Twilight interjected.

“It's fine?” Tristen repeated. “It's fine to have somebody control you?” Tristen pried. “It's fine to have somebody use an acceptance to some school as a bargaining chip?”

Twilight was even more surprised at hearing that. “How did-”

“I kinda overheard.” Tristen admitted. “You know, you can just bail out at any point.”

“Then I won't get accepted to Everton.” Twilight countered.

“But is it really worth having your superior have you jump through hoops?” Tristen shot back. “She is putting you through all of this pressure, all just to win some stupid competition.”

Twilight clenched her hands and narrowed her eyes. “I didn't ask for this, you know!” Twilight fired back. “But if I don't do this, then I might never be accepted to Everton!”

“That woman is using you for everything!” Tristen declared in response. “Why do you even want to go to that place, anyway? I get you have your heart set on this place, but-”

“Because I can focus all my attention on my own advanced math and science projects!” Twilight replied. “It's not like I have much to learn from Crystal Prep, anyway!”

Tristen crossed his arms. “But you do realize you're just doing everything on your own, right?” Tristen pried. “I’m starting to suspect that there's more to it than just that!”

“Oh really?” Twilight asked while Spike looked on in concern. “And how would you know?”

“Oh, come on! I've seen how everyone else at Crystal Prep treats you like shit!” Tristen fired back. “It doesn't take a damn rocket scientist to figure that out!”

Twilight looked away, rubbing her shoulder. “Well, not everyone.”

“Dean Cadance and Tristen, I know.” Tristen nodded before looking down at Spike. “And Spike too.” Tristen looked back up at Twilight. “But you do realize that if you do get accepted, you'll just be leaving them behind!”

Twilight looked back at Tristen, her glare intensifying. “Why do you even care?” Twilight declared.

“Because I know what it's like to be alone!” Tristen barked back, taking Twilight and Spike by surprise. “Before coming here, I was a loner myself! Throughout most of my damn childhood, in fact!”

Years ago

A five-year-old Tristen was at a local school, sitting by himself with a despondent expression.

Seven years later

A twelve-year-old Tristen was sitting outside while many other kids played. A soccer ball bounced off his head, but he didn't react to it.

Three years later

Tristen, now fifteen, was seated at a table in a cafeteria while an apple bounced off his head.

Present Day

“I hardly had many friends back where I'm from!” Tristen explained to Twilight, who looked down in guilt. “But that changed when I came here. Sunset and her friends were the very first friends I've had since… ever!”

Twilight and Spike shared a look with one another, and the former truly felt bad for her earlier remarks.

Tristen walks towards Twilight and puts a hand on Jaune's shoulder. “The point I’m trying to make is that there are some things you can't do solo.” Twilight looked at Tristen dead in the eyes. “Afterall, there's a famous saying: ‘united we stand, divided we fall’.”

Tristen walked away from Twilight while she and Spike watched on.

But what they didn't notice was that Aggregor was invisible, and his attention was set on Tristen. And when he saw the Omnitrix on Tristen’s wrist, he had a wicked grin.

Tristen was outside, standing beside the Canterlot High statue where the portal once was. He ran his hand across the mirror-like surface of the statue's base.

“Hope you're doing good out there, Twi.” Tristen muttered to himself.

Cortana appeared on the Omnitrix, looking at Tristen. “I'm sure she has her own business to take care of, Tristen.” Cortana said, sitting down in the Omnitrix’s faceplate. “She is a princess, after all. She has responsibilities.”

Tristen silently nods his head in affirmation. “I know.” Tristen replied. “It's just… this whole thing is stressing Sunset out." Tristen replied, looking at Cortana. “Not only do we have this world's version of Twilight, but she's somehow managed to sap the magic away from the girls.”

“Not us.”

Tristen looks over his shoulder to see Adagio, Sonata, and Aria walk towards him.

“Hey guys.” Tristen said with a wave.

“Sunset still hasn't heard from Sunset, by the way.” Adagio replied with a soft smile. “Whatcha doing out here by yourself?”

Tristen looks aside. “Just needed a break from the crowd.” Tristen admitted. “I'm surprised Twilight even puts up with those dickheads. Especially that witch Cinch!”

The three sirens nod in agreement. “You and me, both.” Aria said in agreement.

Tristen then took notice of the Omnitrix symbol flashing orange. “What- oh crap!” Tristen looks left and right. “Guys, looks like we've got trouble.”

Suddenly, Tristen sidesteps as a red laser blast strikes the base of the statue. Tristen and the Dazzlings jumped in shock as a scorch appeared on the statue.

“At last, we meet.”

The four look to where the voice came from, only to find nothing. Or that's what they thought when Aggregor removed his mask to appear himself.

Tristen’s eyes went wider than dinner plates upon seeing the villainous Osmosian. “No way!”

Aggregor smirks wickedly at Tristen. “It seems the Plumbers have sent someone after me.” Aggregor taunted before glancing at Tristen’s Omnitrix. “And it also seems that Tennyson has found a successor.”

Tristen and the Dazzlings were confused by that. “Uh… what?” Aria asked in confusion. “Plumbers?”

“Hang on!” Tristen interrupted. “You think I’m a Plumber?” Tristen asked. “And that I'm affiliated with Ben Tennyson?”

“How else do you explain the device that you bear?” Aggregor replied, pointing his spear at the Omnitrix.

Tristen looks at the Omnitrix, still puzzled. “Yeah, I wish.” Tristen looks back at Aggregor.

Aggregor however didn't seem to be convinced. “Don't think mind games will deter me, envoy of Ben Tennyson!” Aggregor replied while spinning his staff. “This world harbors something I seek.” After a few more twists, Aggregor stops twirling his spear and aims it at Tristen. “And I have no intention of being sent back to the Null Void!”

And suddenly, Aggregor fired another laser blast at Tristen, this time hitting right on target as Tristen skids across the ground.

Sonata ran to helot Tristen while Aria and Adagio glared at Aggregor. Both Adagio and Aria emitted an orange-yellow and fuchsia aura respectively as they developed fin-like wings, and their hair extended into long ponytails.

Aggregor was mildly surprised by this, but he was not intimidated to say the least. “My quarrel is not with you.” Aggregor declared before firing another red laser blast at the two.

“Tough shit, pal!” Adagio barked back before she and Aria began vocalizing, sending a blast of sound waves at the Osmosian.

Aggregor only smirked before his body began to change. He had transitioned from human to a humanoid mix of a saber tooth cat and a hyena. His front body was covered in crimson red fur, while the fur on his back is black. His legs were more digitigrade in structure, his fingers were now clawed, and he had a long tail with a sharp barb at the tip, and a short snout with a small horn on the tip of it.

Tristen was shellshocked at the sight as Aggregor quickly evaded. And to make it worse, Aggregor had managed to create a second clone of himself, now making the fight two-on-two.

Adagio and Aria were just as bewildered as Tristen was. “What?” Adagio stammered, “What just-”

“A panuncian!” Tristen muttered out, earning the attention of three siren friends. “It's an alien big cat that can duplicate itself!”

“How perceptive of you.” Aggregor, or rather the original Aggregor, said before he and his clone changed yet again.

The main Aggregor became dark red with brown splotches all over his body, his legs were replaced with four tentacles while four more tentacles were protruding from the back of his head, two tube-like growths on either side of his head, and his eyes were slightly larger and bulgier.

The other Aggregor grew a few sizes larger. His body becomes covered in armor plating while gaining a more reptilian shape. His front body was purplish gray in color while the armor plating on his back was blackish gray, his head was red in color and resembled a cross between a human and an ankylosaur. He had a single horn on his forehead, he had a long tail with red spikes near the end, four arms capped with red claws, and digitigrade legs with three clawed toes.

“Oh shit!” Tristen looked at Sonata. “Sonata, go get the others. Now.” Sonata nodded silently and took off.

“Nice new look!” Aria quipped. “Makes you two look even uglier than ever!”

“As I have said!” The tentacled Aggregor started.

“My quarrel is not with you!” The armored Aggregor finished before firing a blast of webbing at Adagio and Aria, encasing them both in silken cocoons.

“No!” Tristen muttered in dismay as the two Aggregors looked at him.

“It is you we’re after!” The tentacles Aggregor said before launching a tentacle at Tristen and grabbing him.

“Alright, you want me?” Tristen asked before changing into Amoeblot. “Then you've got me!”

Amoeblot then slithered his way out of the tentacled Aggregor’s grasp before slithering away. Then with a press of the Omnitrix symbol on his chest, Amoeblot changed into the familiar bladed centaur:

“Saw Horse!”

Sawhorse rushed at the two cocoons before slashing them open to free Adagio and Aria. “Now it's three-on-two!”

The two Aggregors didn't seem too fazed by this. “Numbers are not always everything, boy.”

The tentacles Aggregor launched his tentacles at the three, but Aria and Adagio sent sound blasts to repel him. Meanwhile, Saw Horse was dealing with the armored dino Aggregor.

Saw Horse performed a spin dash, but the dino Aggregor counters by firing another stream of webbing at him, stopping the attack on its tracks.

But in a flash of green light, Saw Horse changed into Sunstone to dissolve the webbing by generating heat.

Once Sunstone was free, he fired a blast of solar energy at the armored Aggregor. But the dino Osmosian extended his hand to absorb the attack.

The dino Aggregor then changed again, this time becoming more birdlike. His body was now spiky purple feathers, with his face and legs becoming grayish in color, his arms turning into wings with three sharp claws, his legs still digitigrade in structure while his feet became more like those of a bird, he had long tail feathers on his tailbone, and his mouth became wider and resembled the beak of an owl.

With a beat of his wings, the bird Aggregor flew upwards, grinning menacingly at his opponent.

(Meanwhile)

Sunset and her friends were meeting up in the locker rooms, where Fluttershy was explaining her encounter with Twilight earlier.

“All I did was hand Twilight a bunny.” Fluttershy began. “Then I ponied up.”

Sunset, still puzzled, scratched her chin as she tried to figure this out. “I just don't get it.” Said Sunset, gesturing to Rarity. “Rarity's magic came out when she made us outfits.” Sunset then looks over at Pinkie. “Pinkie's when she fixed the party,” Sunset looks back at Fluttershy, “and now Fluttershy.”

“And then Twilight's pendant thingy just pulled the magic right out of me.” Fluttershy replied. “I couldn't even stand up.”

“Like me at the party!” Pinkie added.

“Or me right before we met Twilight!” Rarity added.

Sunset was now more perplexed. “So, she's stealing magic?”

“I don't know. She doesn't seem like the magic-stealin' type.” Applejack replied.

“I knew that thing was nothing but trouble.”

The girls look over to see that Alex was accompanying them.

“Alex?” Sunset asked in surprise. “How much did you hear?”

“All of it.” Alex replied, surprisingly calm. “Looks like Twilight was right about something being strange here.”

The girls look at each other, surprised at seeing how calm Alex was. “You uh,” Rainbow began, “You don't find that weird, by any chance?”

Alex shrugged nonchalantly at that. “Well, let's just say you guys aren't the only ones involved in some weird stuff.” Alex replied.

“What do you mean, darling?” Rarity asked.

Alex looked behind him, seeing nobody else was present before looking back at the gang. “Promise you won't freak out?”

The girls look at each other again, still perplexed, then look back at Alex and nod.

Alex then closed his eyes, took a deep breath, raised his hands upwards, and suddenly a sword made of a bright red crystal manifested in his hands.

And the girls all had mixed reactions. Sunset and Applejack were in disbelief, Fluttershy covered her mouth in surprise, Rarity was dazzled by the weapon, and Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were in awe by what they just saw.

“Awesome!” Rainbow gushed out in amazement.

“Oh… my.” Fluttershy muttered out in surprise.

Sunset looked at Alex, still shocked by what he had shown her. “How did…”

“Two words.” Alex replied, holding two fingers up. “Imagination Manifestation.” This further surprised the girls.

“You mean… you can materialize anything from your own imagination?” Sunset asked, earning a nod from Alex.

“Well, almost anything.” Alex replied as the word vanished before something else materialized. In place of the sword, it was a bird poofy as big as a basketball with big eyes that could allure anyone.

Fluttershy was absolutely in awe at the adorable little creature as she grabbed it and snuggled it.

“I'm only limited to manifesting creatures and objects.” Alex continued his explanation. “I can't imagine locations.”

“Does Twilight know about this?” Sunset asked. Alex's response to that was sheepishly looking away from her. “She doesn't know?”

“Nobody does, actually.” Alex replied. “Well, except you guys.”

“Guys!”

They look to see Sonata running towards them, breathing heavily. “We’ve… we’ve got…” Sonata said in between pants, “a situation outside.”

(Back outside)

Aggregor was still squaring off against Adagio and Aria.

His body was slenderer than his human form, his skin was shiny and greenish silver in color. His lower legs and forearms became covered by olive-colored hair, his fingered became sharp tannish claws, he has two pairs of retractable spider legs that can fold into his ribs, and he now has a mane around his neck. His sclerae were moderate red with slitted pupils, and he now has four pincers with one claw on each on either side of his head.

The Aggregor that Tristen was facing was more lizard-like. His skin was ivory white while his lower legs and forearms were black. His head has black plates with four long horns on his forehead, his fingers and toes had become long red claws, four eyes instead of two, and a long tail protruding from his tailbone.

Aria and Adagio were exhausted by this point, and the spider-like Aggregor noticed. He then thrusted his hands forward, firing two sets of red energy at them, ensuring the two

Tristen looked at his Omnitrix, which was unfortunately in recharge mode.

Both Aggregors then changed back their other feline forms, merged with one another, then changed back to normal.

Aggregor smirked triumphantly as he spun his spear before aiming it and firing a red laser, knocking Tristen to the ground.

“As invigorating as this fight was,” Aggregor said, pinning Tristen down with his foot while aiming his spear at his face, “I'm afraid the time has come for me to spill your blood.”

But suddenly, a lasso wrapped around Aggregor’s spear, making him watch in surprise as the weapon was yanked out of his hand. Aggregor looked on to see that Applejack was the one who snatched his weapon. And she was with the others as well.

“Yeah, I don't think so!” Applejack declared defiantly as she held onto Aggregor's spear.

Aggregor only smirked in response before he changed back into his lizard form, taking the other girls by surprise. And moments later, he breathed out a thick yellow fog. By the time the fog cleared, they found that Aggregor was gone.

Applejack rushed to Adagio and Aria, using the spear she took from Aggregor to cut them loose.

“You guys alright?” Rainbow asked them.

“We're good.” Aria replied, dusting herself off. “Who even was that?”

“Aggregor.” Tristen said, making the others look at him.

“Who?” Adagio asked.

“He's a villain from the Ben 10 universe.” Tristen replied. “And a very dangerous one at that.”

Sunset already didn't like the sound of it.” How dangerous?”

Tristen looked at his friends, mustering a serious expression. “The guy managed to abduct five powerful aliens from the Andromeda Galaxy to absorb their powers, all to locate five pieces of the Map of Infinity, which allows its user to travel anywhere in the universe.”

The girls were slack jawed at this information, truly baffled. But what they were about to hear next was a real kicker. “And the end goal,” Tristen continued. “To absorb the power of a baby Celestialsapien, a race of alien gods that can control reality by a single thought, in order to become omnipotent."

The others were now baffled beyond belief. They were unsure how to even react upon learning such information.

“You're… You're kidding!” Rarity muttered out.

Tristen however shook his head in reply. “I honestly wish I was making this up?” Tristen replied. “Aggregor can absorb energy, matter, even the DNA and powers of others.”

Adagio then realized something. “That would explain his transformations.” Adagio suddenly felt her foot brush against something, making her look down to see a hexagonal disk with the symbol of an open maw on it. “What the-?”

As Adagio picked the object up, Tristen’s eyes widened in shock. “So that's where he got the samples from!” Tristen ran and grabbed the device from Aria. “How the hell did he even get this!”

“Davidson!”

Alex groaned out in dismay, knowing that voice came from Sunny Flare. “Oh, what now?” Alex looked to the others. “We'll have to continue this later. Duty calls.”

With that, Alex proceeded to walk off while the others watched.

Sunset approaches Tristen, her curiosity driven by the device he was holding. “What even is that?”

“The Nemetrix.” Tristen, never breaking his attention from the device. “It's a cheap knockoff of the Omnitrix.” The gang looked at him, listening to his explanation. “Like how the Omnitrix turns its user into sapient aliens, the Nemetrix turns its user into predatory alien animals.”

Rainbow was perplexed by the reveal. “So, it's an animalistic version of the watch?”

Tristen nods. “Pretty much.” Tristen reached into his backpack and pulled out a sketchbook and pencil.

“I take it you know what those things Aggregor turned into were as well, yes?” Rarity asked.

“Like the back of my hand.” Tristen said, drawing the sketch of a large cat-like creature. “The first one he used was a Panuncian.” Tristen looks at his friends. “Which, for those who weren't present, is an alien big cat that can duplicate itself.”

Tristen then drew another image beside the cat, this one being a small humanoid with three fins on its head. “They're the predators of Splixsons, who also duplicate themselves.”

“Talk about divide and conquer!” Pinkie added, clearly making a pun. The others however didn't respond to that, only casting bland looks.

Tristen flips the next page before drawing an image of an octopus-like creature. “Next is the Vicetopus, which is basically a giant alien octopus. These things don't have much going for them except for having elastic tentacles.” Tristen continued his lecture as he drew an I age of a crab with an enormous cranium beside the Vicetopus sketch. “They're the predatory species of Cerebrocrustaceans, which are basically hyper intelligent alien crabs capable of firing electrical blasts.”

Tristen then drew on the opposite page, this one being a large theropod dinosaur with four arms and legs and a spiked tail. “Then there is the Kaosseffexx Ultimasauria, or also known as Tyrannopedes.” Tristen looks at his friends. “As the name suggests, they're basically a mix of centipedes and tyrannosaurs.” Tristen then drew another image beside it, this one resembling a humanoid dinosaur. “Their prey of choice are Vaxasaurians, alien dinos that possess great strength and can even increase their size.”

“Wait! Wait a minute!” Sunset interrupted, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You mean this thing,” Sunset points at the Nemetrix, “has the DNA of natural predators of aliens stored into the Omnitrix?” Sunset asked. “Who even made that thing?”

“A Cerebrocrustacean named Dr. Psychobos. A mad scientist with a huge hate boner for Azmuth, who is the guy that made the Omnitrix.” Tristen replied. “Specifically, the one worn by Ben Tennyson.”

Tristen then continued by flipping to another page to draw the sketch the image of a bird
that resembles a cross between an ostrich, an emu, a cassowary, a stork, and a crane. “Speaking of, then we have the Omnivoracious, giant predatory birds that fed on Azmuth’s race, the Galvans.” Tristen explained while drawing the image of a bipedal frog-like alien with large eyes. “Their tiny size made them easy pickings despite their intelligence. Luckily for the little guys, though, all it took was a meteor impact and subsequent climate change to wipe the feathered giants out.”

Tristen then drew another image, this one being a four-legged spider-like beast. “Next up is the Terroranchula.” Tristen continued as he drew the image of a four-legged insectoid with large eyes and a two-pronged horn. “Giant arachnids that feed on Ball Weevil’s species. These little buggers can spew as many plasma balls they want, but it's not enough for the energy webbing of a Terrorantula.”

Rarity seemed to shudder a bit in terror, specifically from the aspect of a giant spider.

Tristen proceeds to draw another image, this one being a monstrous looking lizard. “And lastly is the Buglizard, the predator of Lepidopterans.” Tristen drew another image alongside the lizard, this one being another insectoid with wings, a tail, and four eye stalks. “As Aggregor showed us, these reptilian beasts spew green fog to get the upper hand.”

“You don't suppose Aggregor is workin’, or was workin’, for that Psychobos guy.” Applejack pondered. “Do ya?”

“I doubt it.” Tristen replied with a shrug. “The guy was put in the big house when Ben and his team thwarted his plans.” Tristen then looks back at the Nemetrix. “But I guess the jailbird decided to bust out.”

“Well, it's a good thing we have this then.” Sunset added, then looks at the spear Applejack yoinked from Aggregor. “That and his spear, or whatever it is.”

Tristen looked at the spear Applejack in question. “A Shock Staff.” Tristen responded. “What it does is convert kinetic energy into energy blasts.” Tristen walks over to Applejack and grabs the spear and spins it. After a few moments of spinning, he aimed the shock staff at the ground and fired a red energy blast, leaving his friends truly baffled at the display.

“That is so cool!” Rainbow exclaimed with a big grin.

Sunset smiled at Tristen, impressed with his knowledge. “Good thing we have you on the team, huh?” Sunset asked, earning a playful smirk from her male friend.

“I know right?” Tristen responded, but he then had a serious expression. “But we officially have an alien convict on the loose during the friendship games.” Tristen continued. “On top of you guys losing your magic.”

“For now, let's just focus on beating the Shadowbolts.” Rainbow added. “And as long as this event puts me in a playing field, I don't think we've got anything to worry about.”

Tristen smirked at Rainbow in response. “Oh, it puts you on a playing field, alright.”

The gang had arrived at what appeared to be a large motor cross track. The girls were truly flabbergasted at this while Tristen smirked.

“Am I the only one who thinks this is overkill?” Sunset asked.

Applejack looks at Rarity. “I don't suppose you made motocross outfits.”

“Oh, don't be ridiculous.” Rarity replied, smirking before pulling a pair of outfits.

“Of course I did!”