Chapter Text
Dawn looked around to find herself in the rose garden of a mysterious castle. “Where...am I?” she asked. She noticed her reflection in one of the reflecting pools that dotted the beautiful courtyard. Her short brown hair had two small odango buns tied in it and were adorned with pearls. On her forehead was a pale pink mark in the shape of a crescent moon. And she was adorned in the most beautiful white gown with silver and gold accents. “My Princess…” a voice called to her. She looked over to see a figure just a bit taller than her. It was dark out so she couldn’t quite make out his face. “I have been looking for you for such a long time…” he said. “And soon, we will finally be together again. When that day comes, I will be right here. I promise.” He began to fade. “Wait, don’t go! Please, I need to know who you are!” she shouted as she began to run towards him, reaching out her hand. She could make out a smile on his face as he fully faded.
“Dawn? Daaaawn?” a voice called to her. She woke up in the passenger’s seat of Ben’s car. “Are you okay?” Ben asked. “You kind of passed out right after Zombozo was taken into custody.” Dawn rubbed her eyes. “Yeah… Just had another dream,” she said. She looked to see they were approaching their Grandpa Max’s store, which hid away the Plumber base. As they got out, she suddenly noticed Paradox standing off to the side. “Hey, Ben? Go on inside, I’ll catch up in a bit,” she said. Ben gave her a smile and walked in before she walked over to the timewalker. “I’m guessing there’s a reason why you didn’t just approach me and Ben,” she said.
“Yes, simply because this isn’t for Ben, this is for you,” he said. “I am here to deliver to you a gift, one from a friend who walks through time such as I do.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a brooch in the shape of a prism. “What a beautiful brooch! I didn’t know you could make jewelry, Professor!” Dawn said. She accepted the brooch from his hand and clipped it onto her shirt. “That’s because I didn’t make it. But that’s not important. What’s important is the reason why you are being given this brooch. You are about to undergo a very important journey. One that will change your very life. And that brooch is where it will begin.” Dawn tilted her head. “I don’t understand,” Dawn said. “Why me?”
“You will understand that in time. But for now, try practicing using that brooch. What our friend told me is to use the powers stored in that brooch, you must recite this phrase: Prism Crystal Power, Make Up.” Dawn nodded. “Okay, Prism Crystal Power, Make Up!” A swirl of ribbons wrapped around Dawn as she began to glow. Her normal black and mint green shirt and pleated tan skirt transformed into a pink, green and white sailor fuku. Her hair became just like how it was in her dream, except her odango had two pink heart shaped clips in them. She also wore a gold tiara with a pink gem in the center and green opera gloves with pink trim and a pink choker. The only things that didn’t change were her black biker shorts, black over-the-knee socks, and her green high tops. Dawn stood in shock at her new look. “Look at me!” she said. “This is… incredible! I never thought I could be a hero too!” she said. “Thank you Paradox!”
She transformed back before running inside to find Ben dash by her. “Dawn! What took you so long? Come on! There’s an alert for the other side of town!” They drove to the site of the alert, which was a giant crater. "What happened here?" Dawn asked. Ben looked around at the rubble and ash everywhere. "Dawn, let's split up and look for survivors," Ben said. As they investigated the crater, they heard a rumbling sound coming from behind them. "Dawn! Look out!" Ben shouted.
"Look out for yourself! Prism Crystal Power, Make Up!" Dawn began to transform in front of Ben, surprising him instantly. "Dawn… what the fuck?!" Ben asked. Dawn smiled, sticking her tongue out slightly. “I dunno! I got this pretty brooch as a present from the Professor just a little while ago!” Dawn said. “I think it’s cool!” Ben sighed as he transformed into Spidermonkey. A large rhinoceros like creature rammed straight at Ben, tossing him through the air and into the side of the crater. “Ben!” Dawn shouted. “Okay, how do I fight? Uh, do magic! Open sesame! Uhhhh… Mama se mama sa mama coosa!” Nothing was working and the rhino beast was about to charge at her. “Dawn! Do something!” Ben shouted at her.
“I can’t! Paradox didn’t tell me how any of this works!” Dawn shouted, tears in her eyes. “This is so embarrassing! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!” Dawn began to cry as the beast charged towards her. As she wailed, the clips in her hair began to blink, and before Ben knew it, her cries were being amplified to hyper sonic levels. Ben covered his ears as the beast was hit with the cacophonic sound of Dawn’s cry baby tantrum. Ben suddenly felt a rumbling sound as he turned around to see the wrecked building near the crater begin to crumble. He shot a web at it and pulled as hard as he could, bringing the building down on the beast. When Dawn stopped crying, she saw that the beast was still charging. Ben ran right over to her and held onto her as the beast got closer. But right as it got an inch away, it stopped and ran the other direction. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m glad it’s over,” Ben said. They transformed back and began to look around for any signs of survivors when a little green man popped out of a nearby toilet in the wreckage. “Is it gone?” he asked, startling Ben. Ben nodded. “You’re safe now,” Ben said with a huge grin. The little man rolled his eyes as he grabbed a broom. “My hero,” he sarcastically said. “This is my place. Was my place. Pakmar’s Place!” He began to sweep up what he could, much to Ben and Dawn’s discomfort. “Want us to help?” Ben asked.
“NO! Go away! I can’t have anyone else causing any more trouble and absolutely no more crybaby boohoo from the girl!” Pakmar said snappily. “All I wanted was to run my toilet emporium in peace! Now it’s in pieces!” Ben inspected one of the strange devices next to the toilet Pakmar hopped out of, only for it to distort and shoot out water while making a sucking sound. “Different aliens have different needs.” Ben stepped back and looked around. “So, the crater? Dissatisfied customer?” Ben asked. Pakmar huffed as he dumped some dirt from the dustpan. “Hardly! Some offworld lowlifes are shaking down us law abiding businessmen! We pay them taydenite, they “protect” us. Problem is, if we don’t pay, they’re the ones we need protecting from!” Pakmar said. Ben and Dawn looked at each other in concern. “Have they been harassing anyone else?” Ben asked.
“Only every other alien shop in town! Yeesh, kid, where have you been?!”
Ben and Dawn walked into Baumann’s shop to see Mr. Baumann stacking cans of artificial Tiffin. “Alright, Mr. Baumann, what do you know?” Ben asked with a sly smile. Mr. Baumann looked over at Ben for a quick second. “I know lots of things,” Baumann said, continuing to stack. Dawn leaned against one of the shelves. “What about an alien protection racket thingy?” Dawn asked. Baumann looked over at her. “Nope,” he said.
“So they haven’t been coming around here?” Ben asked. An alarm on Baumann’s watch went off, causing his expression to do a complete 180. “Okay then, nice seeing you kids. Enjoy a complimentary sandwich, TO GO,” Baumann said, pushing Ben and Dawn away. Ben stopped him halfway to the door. “They’re on their way here right now, aren’t they?” Ben asked as Dawn looked at the pie in marvel. She wasn’t listening to either of them as she walked away from them and to the bar that stood at the center of the store. She tried to get a good look at the menu as she walked down the bar before bumping into someone. “Oopsies! Sorry there!” she said with a huge smile. When she saw who she bumped into, she froze for a second. She couldn’t see much of him thanks to the large brown cloak and red hat he wore, but he felt oddly familiar. “It is quite alright,” he said.
She wanted to keep looking at him, but Ben, who was transformed into Cannonbolt, tapped her on the shoulder. “Dawn! Baumann said we can stay and blend in!” Ben said. Dawn nodded as she followed him to the other side of the bar. As they sat down, she couldn’t keep her eyes off of the man she bumped into. And it was enough to where she almost didn’t notice the ruckus going on right next to her. It wasn’t until she was nearly hit by a laser that she snapped out of her haze. “Huh?” she asked. She turned to see the three criminals responsible for the racketeering fighting Ben. “Oh duh!” she shouted. She ran off to find cover to transform. “Prism Crystal Power, make up!” she shouted, transforming. She ran out to confront them. “Stop right there!”
“Who are you?” Bubblehelmet, the wormlike alien, asked. Dawn looked around, trying to think of a fake name. She then caught sight of her brooch. “I am the pretty warrior who fights for love and justice! I am Prism! And now, in the name of love and the light, I will bring you to justice!” she shouted. Bubblehelmet and his two lackeys began to laugh at her. Dawn huffed as she tried to think of a way to fight. She didn’t have anything, and crying would just destroy the store. Throw your tiara and say Tiara Boomerang, a voice in her head said. She then reached into her hair and removed her tiara. “Tiara Boomerang!” she shouted, throwing it at one of the lackeys. It hit the giant chicken lackey, knocking him back. She caught her tiara. “Da—I mean, Prism! I can handle these guys, focus on the bomb!” Ben shouted. Dawn ran over to the bomb, only to find it activated. She began to throw her tiara at it, only for it to deflect. Ben rolled over at it, ramming into it until he transformed back and slid face first down the side of the force field.
“Goodbye Mr. Baumann!” Bubblehelmet taunted. That was when the man who was at the bar jumped up and went after Bubblehelmet and his lackeys, removing the cloak and hat to reveal a tall and handsome blue, catlike alien man. At the sight of his face, Dawn was struck as she suddenly found herself in a dream floating through the air. “Where…where am I?” she asked. The same voice from earlier called out to her. "Dawn Tennyson, this world, this timeline, your life… is not what you think. You come from a world of dreams and fairytales. Your destiny is to restore it," it called to her. Dawn landed on the ground as she walked through the same castle courtyard as in her dreams. "Isn't it beautiful? Your true home. But…" In a flash, the entire courtyard and castle was in ruins. Every bit of beauty was replaced with stillness and death. No winds blew. Morning or spring never came. It was just endless darkness. "So how do I return it? How do I bring it back?" Dawn called.
Before her appeared seven gems: a ruby cut in the shape of a feather, a sapphire in the shape of a cat, a citrine star, an emerald flower, an onyx padlock, a blue garnet heart and a crescent moon that shined a beautiful light pink. "You must find these gems. They hold the keys to returning home and reviving this world and your friends. It will be a perilous and woeful journey, with many trials and enemies that seek both you and the Crystal Moon. But don't be afraid. You'll have many friends and allies who you will meet along the way. Have faith and stay kind. For your heart will guide your way." A small pink wand with a heart shaped tip manifested in Dawn's hand along with an Omnitrix of her very own. "We will meet again soon, little princess," the voice said, fading away.
Dawn woke up in the mysterious man's arms on the floor of Mr. Baumann's store. "What happened?" she asked. "And… who are you?" He helped her back onto her feet. "Rook Blonko, Magister Tennyson sent me," Rook said. "I'm your new partner." Hearing his name made her heart race for some reason. It felt like meeting someone again for the first time in forever and Dawn didn't know why.
"Sorry, but I don't want a new partner!" Ben said defiantly. "I appreciate the help, but I don't need a partner! You know, I'm Ben 10, Superhero!" Rook had a smile on his face. "I am well aware. It is required study at the Plumber Academy." Ben's face lit up. "There's an entire class on me?" Ben asked.
"Chapter and a half," Rook corrected. Ben's Omnitrix beeped, indicating he was no longer timed out. "Hey, thanks for the assist, but I got it from here." As Ben tended to the bomb, Dawn and Rook kept an eye on the criminals who were currently subdued. Dawn couldn't take her eyes off of him. It was so bizarre how familiar he felt. His face, his voice. It all was bringing something back to her.
"Rook, tag out!" Ben shouted, waking Dawn from her daze. "It means 'switch places'!" Rook ran over to the bomb and took a look at it while Ben used a new alien form to hold Bubblehelmet's gang. Dawn looked at the wand in her hand and the Omnitrix. "Which one should I use?" she thought. "I should see what aliens I have." She dialed into the Omnitrix to find only 10 aliens, seven that were familiar from Ben and three she had never seen before. She dialed the one that looked the cutest. "Make Up!" she felt herself say. She transformed into a small fairy-like alien with her signature bob, fluffy antennae, and beautiful butterfly wings. "Pesky Dust!" she shouted, striking a pose.
"What do you do?" she asked. She then pointed at the thugs Ben was holding, putting them to sleep. "Woah! I can put people to sleep!" she squeaked in delight. She began to jump in delight until she heard an explosion next to her. She watched as Ben and Rook moved the bomb and detonated in an abandoned building. She began to celebrate until she noticed the thugs waking up and running into the crater.
"Guys, look out!" she shouted, flying towards them. Ben and Rook turned to her. "Dawn? Is that you?" Ben asked. Dawn landed on the ground and transformed back. "When and where did you get an Omnitrix?" Ben asked. Dawn looked at the pale pink Omnitrix on her wrist. "It's kind of hard to explain," she said.
"We should save our explanations for later," Rook said. "The lowlifes are getting away."
As they ran through the cavern made by the explosion, Dawn kept her eyes on Rook. She couldn't shake the feeling she knew him. But how, she had never left Earth. Only time she had seen space was in a planetarium. She never even went to a school dance with a boy. But right now, she felt like a lifetime of memories were wanting to return to her, remind her of a life she only dreamt of. In a moment, Rook was replaced with the image of a prince who looked exactly like him, leading her by the hand. She shook herself back to reality as Ben transformed into NRG. They caught the giant chicken thug Liam thanks to Rook's Proto-Tool.
"Who is responsible for the racket?" Ben asked him. Liam's eyes widened as he shook in terror. "Bok-bok-behind you!!!" Liam sputtered.
"That is not going to work, and this is my first day on Earth!" Rook said with a confident smile. Dawn heard the sound of a horn as she turned around. "Guys… BUS!!!" she cried, her voice raising to a screech. Rook grabbed her close as he and Ben braced against the front of the train. "You took out my brakes!" the bus driver shouted at them. Ben huffed in anger. "You ran us over!" Ben snarled back. He then used NRG's incredible bulk to stop the bus in the middle of a marketplace, allowing for the trio to land safely on the ground before the bus tore off. "Hey! You don't have brakes!" Rook shouted, still carrying Dawn bridal style. Dawn felt her heart pounding as she stared at Rook. Her face flushed as he realized he was still holding onto her. "Thank you," she said.
They began to walk around the marketplace, with Ben and Dawn staring at each stall in wonder. "I have to go shopping here on an off day," she said, looking at the many stalls. "I wonder what kinds of fashion and cute dolls they would have down here." Ben rolled his eyes. "This isn't a field trip, Dawn," Ben said. "I'm going to find something to eat." Dawn huffed as she kept walking around the market. Rook decided to walk with her, keeping an eye out for anyone who could have seen the thugs. "I know this job is important but I wanted to ask some things," Dawn said nervously.
"Oh? I am willing to answer any questions you have while we search for those lowlifes," Rook said. Dawn began to think of a good first question. "Your homeworld… What's it like?" Dawn asked, feeling a memory of her asking rush back to her. That smile from before appeared on Rook's face. "Revonnah is a beautiful but simple world. My parents are farmers and leaders," he said. "Best equivalent in your world would be a chieftain or a lord." Dawn's eyes sparkled. "So you're like a prince?" she asked. Rook laughed to himself. "Not quite. While I will take over as head of my family someday, I am not a prince or a king. My responsibility is to help Revonnah flourish during harvest and provide for everyone."
"Oh," she said, sounding a bit embarrassed by her comment. Rook gave her a smile. "It is not an off base question, do not be sad," he said. "I understand with Earth's history, such a role would be that of a king. Was there anything else you wanted to know?" Dawn had so many. Why was he so familiar? Why was he assigned to Ben? Did he have a girlfriend? "I have so many," she confessed. "Some of them are a bit embarrassing." Her mind went back to wanting to know if he had a girlfriend. He was certainly handsome. Wait, why was she thinking that? There was no way she was getting a crush on Ben's new partner. Especially since they just met.
"You mentioned your family," Dawn said. "What are they like?" Rook gave her a communicator with a picture of his family pulled up. "My parents, my sisters, and my little brother," Rook said with pride. "My little brother was still a baby in that picture. It has been too long since I was last able to visit." Dawn smiled at the picture. "They look so sweet," she said with a smile. "I hope I can meet them someday." Rook accepted his communicator back. "You will," Rook felt himself say. When he realized what he implied, he blushed back. "Forgive me," he said. She watched him hurry over to question a few witnesses.
As she stood and watched, she felt a rumbling behind her as other citizens screamed and ran. She turned to see a large lizard beast rampaging through the market. She grabbed her brooch and chanted, "Prism Crystal Power, Make Up!" she transformed in a flash as she drew out the wand. "I'm using this this time!" she said. She closed her eyes as she listened for the same voice as before. "Sweet Stardust Heart Attack!" She began to twirl as heart shaped puffs of stardust shot out of her wand and at the beast. It reviled back with a roar before swinging its tail at her. Rook dashed and caught her, rolling to the side to make sure she wasn't injured. "YOU!" Ben shouted at the monster. Blinded by his protective rage, he dialed in an alien and charged at it. "Are you okay, Miss Tennyson?" Rook asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she said. "Whatever that thing is… it's strong." She stood back up with Rook's help as she saw the creature charge at Ben. "It's after Ben," she said to Rook. "Let's hurry!" She dashed ahead and lifted her wand again. "Sweet Stardust Heart Attack!" Another flurry of stardust hearts shot at the beast, this time causing it to run. "Are you okay, Ben?" she asked, running to Ben's side.
"Whoever sent that monster, that's our big bad!" Ben said to them. "We just have to find them."
"Well, my investigation turned up a lead. There's a bar that the cyanic alien frequents," Rook said. They approached a gas house, where aliens who breathed toxic air could go to relax. "You two should wait outside, that's toxic air," Ben said. Rook fastened a gas mask to his face and burst through the door. "Appendages in the air," Rook said. All of the patrons and bartenders put their hands in the air except for one person. Ben rolled his eyes and transformed into Terraspin. "Will you cool it with the badge? We are not cops!" Ben sighed. He then spun out all of the toxic air, causing everyone to start coughing. Dawn walked in with a gas mask on as well to see Bubblehelmet get away with Ben and Rook chasing him. "Here we go again," she sighed. She turned back to everyone and apologized with a bow before running after them.
She followed them into the warehouse district of Undertown only to stop with them as an entire gang pointed guns at them. "Ben Tennyson, here to ruin my plans? I think not!" Psyphon said, approaching them. Dawn's eyes darted around, looking for an opening to transform. She had two options she could do. She could use her tiara to knock the guns out of the gangsters' hands or she could blast all of them with konpeito. "You led Ben Tennyson right to me. I don't know whether to thank you or eviscerate you," Psyphon said to Bubblehelmet before shooting him unconscious. "You don't know the pleasure it gives me to say, 'Get them, boys!'"
"Sweet Stardust Heart Attack!" Dawn shouted, shooting a few goons. She blasting whatever goons she could until the same beast as earlier dashed past her with Psyphon running away. "Halt!" Rook shouted, chasing Psyphon. Dawn followed him, prepared to help. "Psyphon, this is your last warning!" Psyphon shot the tunnel around them, causing Rook to grab her and tumble out of the tunnel. "I must have that armor!" Psyphon said, shooting eye lasers at them. Rook kept rolling over with Dawn held close, dodging each laser blast. "The body armor is not for sale!" Rook shouted.
"Oh I don't want to buy it. I'm going to pry it off your cold, lifeless body! How green are you two?" The entire tunnel began to rumble and collapsed around them. Rook pulled Dawn against his chest and grappled them out. Dawn's heart was pounding in her ears, being right against Rook. "Not so green that I let a tunnel collapse on me," Rook snarked. "I believe that was my first wisecrack!"
Dawn stared at the brooch in her hand as Psyphon was taken away by Plumber Forces. Find the seven gems, she thought. I don't even know where to start looking. They could be anywhere on Earth, in Bellwood, in the universe! She looked up at Rook who was talking to Ben. Then there's Rook. Why do I have the feeling I've met him before? Why is my heart racing every time I look at and talk to him? She then gripped the brooch as she kept her gaze. That voice said I won't be alone. Let's hope she's right.