Ben woke to sunlight streaming through the castle window. For a blissful moment, he thought the previous day had been a dream. Then he saw the stone walls, the medieval furniture, and the Omnitrix on his wrist, and reality crashed back.
"Different dimension," he groaned, sitting up. "Still stuck in fantasy land."
Someone had left clothes on a chair, a tunic, pants, and boots that actually fit. Better than his dirt-stained jeans and jacket. As he changed, Ben examined the Omnitrix more carefully. Most functions worked normally, but several aliens remained grayed out. He scrolled through the unavailable ones: Alien X, Ghostfreak, Upgrade, and oddly, Echo Echo.
"Why these specifically?" He tapped the display. Nothing. "Come on, at least give me an error message."
A knock at the door interrupted his investigation. "Ben Tennyson? Are you awake?" Lyra's voice.
"Yeah, come in!"
The knight entered carrying a tray of food, medieval breakfast with bread, cheese, and some kind of meat. Ben's stomach growled loudly.
"I heard that from the hallway," Lyra said with the faintest smile. "You fought on an empty stomach yesterday. That was foolish."
"I didn't exactly plan my interdimensional kidnapping around meal times." Ben attacked the food gratefully. "This is really good. What is this meat?"
"Boar."
"Like, wild pig? Cool." He paused mid-bite. "This isn't going to turn me into a pig or anything, right? Magic food can be weird."
"It's just food." Lyra pulled up a chair, her armor clinking. "The king wishes to speak with you. And..." She hesitated. "There's a complication."
"Of course there is." Ben set down the bread. "What kind of complication?"
"The nobles are divided. Half see you as the Summoner of legend, a hero sent to save the kingdom, The other half..." Lyra's jaw tightened. "They fear you're a weapon sent by the Blackfang clan to infiltrate us. They want you imprisoned, or worse."
"Worse as in...?"
"Executed as a spy."
Ben choked on his water. "I literally saved the city yesterday!"
"Which could be a long manipulation. Earn our trust, then strike when we're vulnerable." Lyra held up a hand. "I don't believe that. But Lord Castellan does, and he has the king's ear."
"Great. Politics. My favorite." Ben stood, strapping on the new boots. "Guess I better go convince them I'm not evil."
"There's more." Lyra's expression grew troubled. "When I reported your abilities, I mentioned all your forms that you told me of, Including the spectral one, Ghostfreak, you called it?"
"Yeah, he's locked out right now. Why?"
"Spirits and undead are associated with necromancy here. Dark magic. If they learn you can become something ghostly..." She didn't finish the sentence.
Ben sat back down. "So I've got to defend myself without mentioning a quarter of my aliens. And I can't use Alien X to just fix everything because he's mysteriously not working." He laughed without humor. "This is the worst vacation ever."
"What's a vacation?"
"Never mind." Ben checked the Omnitrix. "Okay, I've got plenty of aliens that should look heroic enough. Four Arms, Humungousaur, even XLR8 is pretty non-threatening. I'll just have to make this work."
They walked through castle corridors, passing servants who whispered and pointed. Ben tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the architecture. Everything was so... real. Not a movie set or a theme park. Actual stone blocks fitted together with actual medieval engineering.
"Can I ask you something?" Ben said. "Yesterday, you were ready to arrest me. Today you're helping me. What changed?"
Lyra was quiet for a moment. "Three years ago, I failed to protect the king's son during a bandit raid. Prince Marcus died, and I was stripped of my rank as Royal Guard. I've been trying to prove myself worthy ever since." She glanced at him. "Yesterday, I saw you leap into battle without hesitation to protect people you'd never met. No concern for status or reward. Just... heroism. That's who I used to be. Who I want to be again."
"You are that person," Ben said. "You cut me free when it mattered."
"I hope the king sees it that way."
They reached the great hall where the noble court had assembled. Ben's entrance silenced conversations. Dozens of richly dressed people studied him with expressions ranging from curious to hostile.
King Roland sat on his throne with Archmage Elara beside him. "Ben Tennyson. Thank you for coming."
A heavyset man in red robes stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I must protest this creature being allowed to walk free in the castle!"
"Creature?" Ben bristled. "I'm human!"
"You are a shapeshifter," the man, Lord Castellan, Ben assumed, spat. "An abomination that can take the form of demons and monsters. How do we know you're even truly a boy? Perhaps your real form is something hideous!"
"My real form is this!" Ben gestured to himself. "The Omnitrix lets me transform temporarily. I always turn back."
"Prove it," Castellan demanded. "Show us your most fearsome form, then return to this 'human' shape. If you can."
It was a trap. Ben could see it in the man's eyes. Show something too monstrous, and he'd terrify the court. Refuse, and he'd look like he was hiding something.
Ben looked at King Roland. The king's expression was neutral, but he nodded slightly.
"Fine," Ben said. He scrolled through options, landing on one that was impressive but not nightmare fuel. "But don't freak out."
He activated the Omnitrix.
Green light exploded through the hall. Ben's body shifted, growing dense and geometric. Diamondhead emerged, his crystalline form reflecting light in rainbow patterns across the walls.
Gasps echoed through the chamber. Someone screamed. Guards drew weapons.
"I am still Ben Tennyson," Diamondhead said, his voice taking on a crystalline quality. "This is Diamondhead, a Petrosapien. His species is made of living crystal." He held up a hand, letting light refract through it. "See? Not demonic. Just... different biology."
"It's magnificent," Elara breathed, moving closer. "The molecular structure, the way magic flows through it—"
"Stay back, Archmage!" Castellan ordered. "It could be dangerous!"
"Then watch." Diamondhead concentrated. A crystal spike grew from his palm—then he deliberately retracted it. "I have complete control. I'm not going to hurt anyone."
The Omnitrix beeped. Diamondhead reverted to Ben in a flash of red light.
Ben stood there, slightly winded but definitely human. "See? Always come back."
The hall was silent. Then King Roland began to clap, slowly. Others joined in. not everyone, but enough.
"You have proven your claim," Roland declared. "You are what you say you are, a hero from another world. Ironveil welcomes you, Ben Tennyson."
Castellan's face purpled with rage, but he couldn't argue with the king's decree.
As the crowd dispersed, Elara approached Ben. "I would very much like to study that device, if you'll permit it. I believe I may be able to help you find your way home."
"Really?" Hope surged in Ben's chest.
"Really. But first, we need to understand the nature of this world's magic and how it interacts with your technology." She smiled. "It will take time, but I'm confident we can find a solution."
"Thank you," Ben said sincerely.
As he left the hall with Lyra, Ben allowed himself a small smile. He'd made allies here. More than that, he'd made friends. And if there was one thing Ben Tennyson knew how to do, it was turn impossible situations around.
He looked at the Omnitrix. "Hang on, Earth. I'm coming home. One way or another."
Outside, a commotion drew their attention to the castle walls. Guards were pointing to the sky where a bird, no, a messenger falcon descended with unnatural speed.
"That's a royal courier," Lyra said, frowning. "Something important."
The bird landed, and a guard retrieved its message tube. Minutes later, a runner appeared.
"Captain Lyra! The king summons you and the Summoner immediately!"
They ran back to the throne room where Roland was reading a parchment, his face grave.
"What is it?" Lyra asked.
Roland looked up. "The Blackfang Clan wasn't just raiding. They were probing our defenses. This message is from our scouts." He handed the parchment to Lyra. "Their entire army is marching on Ironveil. Two thousand strong, with war machines and summoned beasts."
"When?" Ben asked.
"They'll be here in three days." Roland met Ben's eyes. "I know we just welcomed you, and I know you seek to go home. But Ben Tennyson, will you help us fight?"
Ben didn't hesitate. "you didn't even need to ask, Your majesty!."
Roland nodded grimly. "Then we prepare for war."