Ben 10 and the Planet of the Ponies, Pt.2

Luckily for Rook, he’d been able to tackle the pony he’d been chasing down just outside of his home and had captured the video camera. He had long since crushed it into a pulp and was now picking apart the pieces like it was a jigsaw puzzle he was trying to destroy for being so frustrating, nonchalantly whistling as he did his deed, Ben pacing back and forth.

“Maybe it’s just us. I mean, maybe it’s just that since we’re from off-planet, we’re affected by something in the air or whatever that the people of this planet aren’t.” He reasoned, Gwen raising an eyebrow up in surprise, Kevin blinking as he shot up from the map of the town he was looking over, Rook dropping the remnants of the video camera. “What?” Ben asked.

“You just said something very reasonable, intelligent and level-headed.” Gwen remarked, tilting her head slightly to the side. “It’s just-”

“You are positive you are Ben? You have not been replaced with Albedo again, have you?” Rook inquired, looking Ben over suspiciously, lifting an arm up as Kevin smirked.

“Yeah, I mean, you’re not known for the bright ideas.”

“Hey, I’m not as dumb as I used to be-I mean I was never stupid-GAH!” Ben threw his hands in the air. “It might just be us. Is there a way we can check?”

“One minute.” Gwen said, heading out of the fairly dark confines of their spaceship, whistling a bit as she stepped out, going from the greyish/blue of the ship’s interior to the bright dazzling color palate of the world of Equustria, taking notice of a grey-furred pony with a blonde mane who had a bag slung around her shoulder and was whistling a tune as she approached a few other ponies not too far off.

“Um…it’s a very nice day, I have to say.” Gwen spoke up to the pony as the mailwoman turned and cheerily smiled back, her eyes rather wonky in how they came across, a big, cheery smile on her features. “A beautiful morning on your planet. You must all be very proud of how well-kept up the place is!”

“Yes, it’s an inky-dinky-doo-dah-morning!” The mail-pony remarked.

“Morning! Morning! Morning!” The other ponies began to sing out, bobbing up and down in perfect synchronization, Gwen blinking a bit as she took it all in, adjusting her glasses ever-so-slightly.

“Inky-dinky-doo-dah-morning!”

“Morning! Morning! Morning!”

“Inky-dinky-doo-dah-morning!”

“The air is bright, and fresh and sweet!” The cross-eyed pony proclaimed as she pulled out a letter from her bag again and again, passing it to a pony with every single word in her song before twirling about to throw her hoofs high in the sky, smiling broadly at Gwen as she gave her a great, big hug. “Why I could even smell your feet! Cuz it’s an inky-dinky-doo-dah-morning!”

“Morning! Morning! Morning!”

“It’s not just us.” Gwen said, returning a few moments later, the pony still hugging her tightly as Gwen blushed. “Um…why are you still clinging to me?”

“You smell like muffins.”

“…getcher hands off my girl.” Kevin said quickly, with a slight growl as the pony let Gwen go, Gwen about to object with a classic “I’m not YOUR girl”, annoyed he was almost objectifying her before Kevin held his hands up. “I didn’t mean it like that, Gwen. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, you’re learning!” Gwen cheerily intoned. “Phew. Look, uh…sorry, didn’t get your name-”

“Ditzy Doo! But everyone calls me “Derpy”.” Derpy said, extending a hoof as they all nervously shook it. “What can I help you with?”

“Why is it that people are always singing around here?” Ben asked, folding his arms over his chest as he tilted his head to the side, green eyes slightly narrowed. “Mind explaining that?”

“Oh! That’s easy!” Derpy laughed, clapping her hooves together as she gestured for them to follow her out of the ship. The gang all glanced at each other in confusion, shrugging before exiting the ship and heading into Trottsdale, unaware that a faint roll of thunder was beginning to echo over the nearby hills.

It wasn’t long before Derpy had led them into an immense castle that towered high into the heavens, with ramparts that threatened to stab into the sky itself like pointed knives. It was all regal and elegant, flowing banners flapping freely in the wind upon a golden-plated roof, with a neat, well-swept pearly floor beneath their feet as they walked inside. Statues of brave knights lined the walls, all somehow bowing in reverence to whatever visitor may walk inside as they approached what was unmistakably the throne room of the Solar Regent, who was currently speaking to a round table filled with various ponies who appeared to be of great import, for all of them wore jewelry that positively emanated magical might. It wasn’t just the fact that they were faintly glowing, or the unique shine off the golden frame of the jewelry. It wasn’t simply the soft hum that seemed to waft up from the different-colored jems, or how big and beautiful they were. It was a sensation in the group that was bubbling up, a sense of pure, absolute, overwhelming power that couldn’t be denied. These gems were the real deal.

“Ms. Celestia, I hate to interrupt your day, but the newcomers wanted to know why there’s so much a-singin’ in our little town! Nobody told them about the Elements!”

The Solar Regent visibly blushed as she put a golden-horseshoed hoof over her muzzle. “My sincerest apologies! I forgot. The Outsider we warned you about keeps disparaging our elements and yet we never took the time to tell you about them! Or their little side effects.” Celestia said, standing up as the various ponies at the table did as well.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight said, putting a hoof on her chest, the purple unicorn bowing deeply before them all, wearing an elaborate and majestic dress with glittering stars woven into the fabric to match her deep indigo eyes. Her mane was a deep purple with a faint red streak through it, and most interestingly of all, they could see wings beneath the dress just faintly poking up. “I’m Celestia’s right hand mare and Bearer of the Element of Magic. All of my friends bear Elements of Harmony, which help guide our people, provide a great deal of magical power to our world, and which can be used as a last minute resort against foes.”

“As a side effect though, things can get a little wacky ‘round here. Real sorry we didn’t tell ya. Reckon we shoulda. Especially me. I’m Applejack, I’m bearer of the Element of Honesty, and not telling people the whole truth about something is darn near just as bad as a lie. ” An unmistakably country girl remarked, bowing and taking off the Stanton hat atop her head, showing off her blonde ponytailed hair and her comforting green eyes. She had freckles on her face and a sense of honesty and realness about her that made Ben feel she was more on “his level”. “Again, I’m real sorry I wasn’t there.”

“So these Elements.” Ben murmured, rubbing his chin. “They cause stuff like “random singing”?” He asked.

“Oh yeah, and they help make the animals feel a lot nicer towards others, they often keep the weather nice, all sorts of things! The singing’s just something you get used to.”

Gwen scratched her head. It was odd. Why had “Natural Magic Users” not expounded more on this? The author, Absalom Raleigh Kadabra, had only been on the planet for a few days, but surely he would have noticed that you’d begin to sing if you hung around the place long enough. But he hadn’t mentioned that, nor any “elements of harmony”. Why not? And why only stay a few days, when the people here seemed so cheery and-

“The Outsider you’re worried about hates the Elements of Harmony? Uh…why?” Ben asked.

“These lips are sealed.” Applejack said nonchalantly before blinking a bit and tilting her head slightly to the side. “I mean…wait, what?”

It was then that the entire building shook, nay, the entire town seemed to feel it as everyone tensed up, glancing about as  Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “The Outsider is here. She’s using her infernal powers to affect the gravitational force of our town!”

“She has powers over gravity?” Gwen murmured, realizing it was much harder to move about at the moment, her arms and legs felt so much heavier, even just standing up was becoming something of a strain as she cringed. “Ben, Rook, Kevin, we need to get out there and stop her. Can you tell your people to get away from our fight? Things could get ugly, fast.” She asked of Celestia. “We don’t want innocent people in the crossfire!”

Celestia bowed her head, stretching an arm out. “Absolutely. Come, my little ponies! Alert the good townsfolk, we’ve got to evacuate temporarily!” She said, all of the assembled ponies and the guards by Celestia’s side struggling but, sure enough, getting out of the various doorways and windows nearby as our heroes bolted for the front door, Ben at the forefront as he spotted their opponent making her way down the street, the cobblestone road cracking beneath her black-taloned feet as her body slightly swayed back and forth.

The wind was ripping up around them to boot, blowing her thick brown hair about as she stared at Ben with deep black eyes which had a greenish tint at the bottom, a deep blue jacket with gold trimmings on her well-built chest, a chest which was exposed and showing off greenish-furred skin on her…save for the front chest itself, which was thick, hairy and grey, yet still showing off a surprisingly lovely pair of breasts.

Yet despite the intense glare, the sharp, unretractable black claws on her hands and the pure power that emanated from this alien being-

“You’re wearing tie-dye?” Kevin chuckled as the female alien folded her arms over her chest, her tie-dye pants vibrant and colorful as he cracked his knuckles and grabbed hold of a nearby pillar of the castle, absorbing the texture as he became a pearly, almost white-knight esque scruffy warrior of renown, a big, s—t eating grin on his face that made it clear he didn’t think she stood a chance. “Come on. I mean…really? There’s enough pastel in this Ponyville. We don’t need more of it.”

“I don’t want to hurt you. Just stand aside and let me at that royal pain in the ass and we can call this a wash, alright, kid?” The female alien said, her voice slightly rough, like an elder sister that seemed to know more than you.

Kevin stepped forward, the alien holding a clawed hand up and clenching it tightly as the gravity around him focused even more, Kevin being forced to his knees as the alien shook her head. “Your mutant powers don’t scare me. So get out of here before I go Sentinel on your behind.”

“The sentinels always lost in the X-Men universe.” Ben said with a grin as the “alien watch” that was the Omnitrix glowed brightly on his wrist and he slammed his hand down onto it, his form shifting and bulging, his head bulging out even larger than the rest of his body as he transformed into an almost “Thing of the Fantastic Four” esque alien, with rocky, brick-like reddish/orange body, a toothy mouth, and a red, swirling, lava-lamp esque magma core exposed upon his chest. “GRAVATTACK!” He proclaimed, snapping his fingers as the gravity in the immediate area began to ease up, the alien frowning slightly as he grinned toothily at her. “You’re not the only one with skills, tie-dye.”

“You’re going to lecture me on clothing when you’re wearing those dorky, thick, green and black shorts?” The alien asked, Gravattack looking down at the shorts he was wearing, frowning a bit as a blue-furred pony with vibrant rainbow hair shot down by Kevin’s side, Gwen looking in surprise at the Pegasus as she cracked her neck back and forth and took up a fighting stance.

“I’m here to help. Name’s Rainbow Dash, Element Bearer of Loyalty, and I’m the best darn fighter in town. So Celestia thought I should help.” She reasoned to them.

“Good idea. Ben, keep her from using her gravity skills.” Gwen called out. “Rook, you and Kevin and Rainbow Dash get her, I’ll work up a spell to try and seal her away.” Gwen said, reaching into a small bag she’d brought with her, eyes glowing pink with magical power as Rainbow Dash smirked and advanced forward with Kevin, Rook holding up a pair of hadncuffs high as he approached the alien as well. All three were now on different sides of the interloper as she glanced left and right at them, Rook’s eyes steely and cold.

“I will give you only once chance to surrender, criminal.” He informed her. “Attacking Plumbers is a grievous offense. Your powers will not work now and you are completely outnumbered. It would be in your best interest to surrender.”

“Yeah. But see? You’re outclassed.” The alien said, cracking her own knuckles before twirling around in a circle, Rainbow Dash grabbing hold of Rook, helping him drop down as Kevin was knocked back. Luckily he was still transformed, but even he was surprised…for the alien had been alit with a burning pillar of flame that had coiled around her like a snake, and she was now holding up two fists alit with fire as she rushed at Kevin, laughing happily.

“You think you’re too hot to handle, huh?” Kevin wisecracked with a dark grin, catching one of the fists and ducking to avoid the other, only for her to headbutt him, the two reeling back as she groaned. “OW! Your head actually hurt my head! My head! When I’m like this!?”

“Nobody wins with a headbutt.” The alien muttered before Dash managed to kick her in the back, Rook doing a sweeping kick that sent her spiraling through the air, flopping to the ground. She growled, Rook diving forward, his special “Omni-Tool” extended to the pole setting as he tried to bring it down onto her head to knock her out, the alien reaching up, catching it as his eyes went wide in surprise. She twisted, knocking him away as Rainbow Dash flew up into the air to get a good position to dive-bomb the alien as she faced down Kevin, the two circling each other as Gwen began to chant, a pinkish aura rising off her entire body as Ben kept focusing his Gravattack powers.

But it was becoming difficult. He could sense he was running out of time, the Omnitrix would only have him remain like this for so long! “You guys better hurry!” He called out to Kevin and Rook and Rainbow Dash as Dash tried to swing down, the alien ducking just in time as Kevin swung his fist-

The alien catching it as she smirked.

“This fight is gonna end like all my arguments do,
with a guy on his back, cuz he just got screwed!” She proclaimed, kicking Kevin on his back as she wagged a claw in the air as she stood over him with a big grin on her features, showing off sharp fangs.“I drew a map, motherfucker, and I’m reading it too! Gives me specific directions how to fuck with you!”

“Our town was fine ‘til you had to go along and wreck it!
So please, just shut your face for ten seconds!” Rainbow Dash snarled out, shooting through the air, delivering a series of punches at the female alien as she kept backstepping over and over again to avoid the onslaught of attacks, only for one of them to connect, knocking her into a mailbox, Derpy groaning as she peeked out from an alleyway, tugging her face down slightly with a hoof. “Oh, buckit!” Dash raced towards the alien, who held up a fist as a blazing wall of fire shot up in front of her, Dash sweeping up to avoid slamming into it as she glared down below. “I don’t know what the Tartarus it is that you want, but bring it on bitch, cuz this mare likes it hot!”

“You think you can beat me, you ain’t got no chance!
I’m powerful than you and I’m wearing tie-dye pants!” The alien proclaimed, pointing down at herself before holding up a hand, doing the “bring it” gesture at Rainbow Dash. “So go ahead, take your shot, cuz I’m sure that you’ll miss! If you weren’t in my way, I wouldn’t have to get pissed!”

“Can you all hurry up, I can’t keep holding her back! And it won’t be long before I’m no longer Gravattack!” Ben yelled out, cringing a bit, sweat beginning to trickle down his enormous brow. “Gwen, you have a spell for this somewhere in your pack? Because we really need something to get her off our back!”

“Let’s see if this is something she can swallow, since my last magic tricks were a tough act to follow!” Gwen laughed, standing up tall as pinkish/purple magical power rose up around her, Rainbow Dash and Kevin standing back as the alien launched herself forward, enveloped in fire before Rook shot forth, his omni-tool converting back to its pistol form as it shot forth a wire to wrap around her pants leg. The alien was halted in midair, flopping to the ground as Rook struggled to keep her still, Gwen holding her hand forth at the strange being. “You did a pretty nice job lady, getting this far! But now let’s see how powerful you really are!”

And with that, she clapped her hands together as two immense fists of pure magical force shot forward, slamming into the alien being, sending her rocketing through the air with the force of a thunderclap. Gwen sent the Outsider spiraling backwards, slamming through several houses with loud crunching cracks, a library, the post office-

“OH, BUCKIT!”

And, at last, she collapsed in a heap by an alleyway, moaning as she struggled to her feet, her jacket torn and ravaged as she tried to get to her taloned feet, panting and heaving as she took off her jacket, tying it around her waist as she clenched her fists, eyes narrowing as Ben reverted back to normal, racing towards her as she stood up. She dusted herself off, taking in a few deep breaths as Rook raced alongside Ben, Kevin helping Gwen up, the spell casting sorceress having fallen slightly down from the immense use of pure power as Ben and Rook faced the alien down. “You want some more?”

“You should have stayed out of the way. I wasn’t interested in hurting you. I just wanted the Elements.” The alien said, cringing as she clutched at her chest, taking notice of a nearby sewer grating, getting an idea.

“Why do you even want them?” Rook demanded to know. “What possible purpose could that serve?”

“The Elements of Harmony are the biggest damn threat to people like yourself and you don’t even realize it. They’ll get you killed. They’re, pure and simple…pure f—king evil!” The alien snapped. “You think it’s all fun and games, smiling and dancing and singing, but just wait until you spend more than a few days on this planet and you realize how…” She cringed, coughing suddenly, Ben feeling a sudden shudder go through him as Rook slightly reeled back, the Outsider slowly getting back to her feet as a few ponies and colts and fillies began to approach them, the alien looking squarely into Ben’s eyes. “Through powerful magic, the secret’s concealed. I wish to say more, but my lips are sealed.”

“Wh-what?” Ben murmured.

FA-FWOOM! A circular blast of fire that sprung up around the alien like a ring, expanded to cover her escape into the nearby sewer grating as she blew through it, her words echoing through the air as the ponies around whispered amongst each other, Ben blinking as he stared at where the outsider had gone.

That phrase…he’d heard that before...

“These lips are sealed.”