Alright, and we are back with a brand new chapter of the story for all of you to enjoy! Sorry it's been awhile since I've updated this one. I've been plagued by plot bunnies, and life gets in the way. I'm sure every author on this site knows that. Anyway, I hope this chapter makes up for the rather long absence on my part.

*I don't own Coraline or Ben 10!*

Meeting the Other Parents

Walking home after her meeting with Emperor Ben, Coraline gazed intently at the device on her forearm. The Ultimatrix felt quite a bit bulky because of its design, and yet it shrunk itself to fit her arm perfectly. After it was attached and keyed to her specific DNA, Emperor Ben had taken a small glowing cube and pressed it to the faceplate of her Ultimatrix. He explained that it was a temporary Codon Stream which houses thirty five different genetic samples for her to use. However, she checked and saw that she only has access to ten samples right now. When she asked why this was, Emperor Ben had told her these exact words…

"I started with ten aliens and did just fine. You'll do fine with ten as well. Plus, if worst comes to worst, you have several Ultimate Aliens to fall back on."

The aliens she currently has access to are the ones that Emperor Ben calls Humungousaur, Spidermonkey, Rath, Gravattack, Arctiguana, Greymatter, Echo Echo, Wildvine, Cannonbolt, and XLR8. She just might think about renaming hers so that the transformations are truly hers, not just ones she borrowed from Ben.

As she returned to the Pink Palace, a rather large mansion that had been converted into a series of flats, she noticed a note on the door. No doubt it's from her 'parents'. Ripping the note off of the door, Coraline read what was written on the paper already having a pretty good idea what they said.

"Dear Caroline (It's Coraline!),"

"Your father and I went into town today to pick up groceries. We'll be gone late, so don't expect us to be home before midnight tonight. There's pizza bagels in the freezer that you can heat up for dinner. Don't destroy the flat while we're gone, and for the love of God,"

"Get! To bed! On time!"

"-Mother."

Coraline scoffed and rolled her eyes as she crumpled up the note. She knows that they really just wanted to get away and leave her behind again. And really? Get to bed on time? What does this woman think Coraline is, a two year old? The bluenette huffed and tiredly rubbed her eyes. After all she's dealt with in just the last eight hours, she's too tired to deal with anything else. She just wants to eat something and go to sleep early.

Walking into the flat, she saw that there were several empty boxes, mostly having contained dishes and silverware, scattered about the place. And those two call HER a slob? Sighing, Coraline walked into the kitchen and checked the freezer. There were indeed pizza bagels in there, but they were past expiration and freezer burned. Sighing in disappointment, she threw the frozen food item away. It looks like tonight she's going hungry.

She turned out the lights and made sure to lock up before going to her room which is painted an ugly combination of pink and green.

"Too tired to care…" groaned Coraline.

She changed out of her clothes and into her pajamas before going to brush her teeth and wash her face. Something she made a habit of doing every night before she goes to sleep. Once she finished doing those things, she dragged herself to the mountainous, lumpy thing she dared to call her bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Which might as well have just been a block of steel wool stuffed into a sheet.

Yeah. When it comes to things Coraline needs, her parents have been very stingy by recycling things that are basically ready for the junkyard.

A Few Hours Later…

Coraline woke up with a start as she heard a squeaking sound in her room. She looked under her bed as she thought that it might have been a rat, but instead she saw a tiny, white mouse that jumped more like a chinchilla more than scurrying along like most rodents. And it hopped right out of her room from under the door frame. Curiosity overwhelming her senses of suspicion and possibly even her instincts of self-preservation, Coraline got out of bed and started following the mouse.

If she didn't know any better, she'd say that this tiny creature is leading her somewhere. Mostly because it stopped at the steps as if waiting for her as she draped a small blanket over her shoulders. The mouse started hopping down the stairs with Coraline following close behind. She stopped in the family room and looked around. The mouse popped out from under the sofa and hopped away behind a hidden door in the wall.

Now this definitely piqued Coraline's curiosity.

"I didn't know this was here." she whispered as she hurried over.

She opened the door as she thought it might just lead to a dead end. But what she saw instead left her awestruck.

It was a long tunnel that glowed as though magic was coursing through it! A beautiful display of blue, purple, pink, and cyan! This was an opportunity that was too good to pass up!

So, she discarded her blanket and started to make her way through the tunnel. The walls and floor of the tunnel itself felt like velvet fabric like the kind that's sometimes used to make stuffed animals. It brought a strange sense of comfort to the young girl, and though the lighting was dim, Coraline had the green light of the Ultimatrix to compensate.

But she didn't have to worry about being stuck in a dimly lit tunnel for too much longer as she saw light at the end. It was another door. She opened it up, expecting to find something wondrous through it… only to find herself back in the flat she came from.

"Huh?"

She stood up and surveyed her surroundings. Did that tunnel just go in a complete circle? But that doesn't make any sense! She noted, however, that the room looked as though it were livelier than she remembers. Definitely different than where she came from.

This required further investigation… and perhaps a late night snack.

Hearing the sound of a rather melodious tune being hummed in the house, Coraline closed the little door behind her and followed the sound. Naturally, she was a bit wary of her surroundings since the flat seems to be brighter with a happier atmosphere than it was before she went through the tunnel. The sounds grew louder as Coraline realized that she was getting closer and closer to the kitchen. As she rounded the corner, she saw someone in there who normally doesn't work in the kitchen unless it's on her precious catalogue. Especially not with such a joyous mood.

"Mom? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" Coraline asked.

And honestly, it's the first time she's ever called the woman her mother in a long time.

"You're just in time for supper, Dear." she said as she turned to face…

Hey… wait a minute…!

Coraline's eyes widened considerably as she got a good look at the woman's face. She looks like her mother, for the most part, but unlike Coraline's mother this woman has a healthier tan complexion. Her face is unmarred by the ravages of having a semi-permanent scowl on her. She's not wearing the neck brace she's had to wear since that car accident, and most importantly… she has literal black buttons for eyes.

"You're not my mother…!" Coraline said as she approached with caution, ready to activate the Ultimatrix at a moment's notice. "My mother doesn't have… b-b-b-bu…"

"Bu-bu-bu-bu… buttons? Do you like them?" the woman giggled as she mimicked Coraline's stutter. "I'm your Other Mother, silly. Now, go tell your Other Father that supper is ready."

But Coraline didn't move as she watched her… Other Mother… put on a pair of oven mitts to take a rather large chicken out of the oven. This was quite the surreal experience for her. Other Mother is such a stark contrast from her real… or rather, birth mother.

"Well, go on." Other Mother encouraged in a gentle voice. "He's in his study."

If for no other reason than to see what other strange differences are in this world, Coraline left that kitchen and made her way to the study. If this place is like where she's currently living, then it's likely in the same place as it always is. As she rounded the corner to the study, Coraline saw what looked like her father playing a few random notes on a piano, rather than working on a computer like he normally does.

"Hello?" she asked cautiously.

"Hellooo Coraline!" the Other Father said as he spun in his chair to look at her.

Once again, Coraline was taken aback by the literal button eyes in the man's eye sockets. But this much livelier version of her father either didn't notice, or didn't linger on her surprise for too long.

"Want to hear my new song?" he asked.

"My father can't play piano." Coraline said.

"No need to." said the Other Father as a pair of gloves on springs sprouted from the piano. "This piano plays me."

The mechanical arms slipped onto the Other Father's hands and he began to play an upbeat and catchy tune. One that showed his obvious happiness at having Coraline around. Especially if you listen to the lyrics.

Makin' up a song about Coraline

She's a peach, she's a doll, she's a pal of mine

She's as cute as a button in the eyes of everyone

Who ever laid their eyes on Coraline

When she comes around exploring

Mom and I will never, ever make it boring

Our eyes will be on Coraline

"I'm, um, sorry…"

Other Father stopped his piano playing when he felt Coraline tap him on the shoulder. But he didn't seem to mind being interrupted like that.

"She sent me to tell you the food's ready." Coraline said, referring to the Other Mother.

"Mmm! Who's starving? Raise your hands!" said the Other Father.

He gave a noise of surprise and chuckled as his gloves hand was raised by the mechanical arm, which made Coraline laugh. And this surprised the child. She can't remember the last time she's ever genuinely laughed at anything. Certainly not since the neglect and subtle abuse from her birth parents started. But for now, those thoughts can wait.

That chicken she saw the Other Mother take out of the oven smells absolutely delicious, and her belly is ready for action.

***To Be Continued…***

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