After A New Dawn

There is the concept of what is known as the multiverse.

Basically, each time you make a decision, you create an alternate universe where a different choice happened.

For example, if you were at a crossroads, you could either wait for the signal, go the other way, go down the street and wait there, or risk it. Even then, would you walk or run? Any one of those options would potentially change your life or someone else's. The point is, with infinite decisions each person could make, there are infinite universes out there. Even then, who is to say that is the only real way a multiverse could exist? Perhaps each universe is like a city, with different people and places rather than doppelgangers of another's inhabitants.

Essentially, the concept of a multiverse is a fascinating idea… and for a time, it was in danger.

That's what the book she read told her. The book this little girl reads about a time when all of existence was in danger.

For you see, there was a time when my world was different, when my life seemed to be at its peak. That was before… he came. My life wasn't as I knew it before… this is the story of how the world… my world, came to an end.

It all started with three specific universes.

World KP6702

It was the day she waited 4 years for. It took stopping an alien invasion and her boyfriend mastering magic monkey powers for them to finally go through the ceremony. That night, all of the Middleton High students got together and had a beach bonfire party. There, she went into her flying car with the one who saved her and the world, Ron Stoppable.

All of their classmates, most of them anyway as Bonnie wasn't fond of either of them, waved them goodbye.

Kim and Ron waved back as she spoke with him.

"Told you graduation wasn't the end of the world."

Ron kissed her as the car took off into the moonlight.

It looked like a bright future for them… one full of hope.

World DP4304

The asteroid was no longer a threat to the world.

His secret was revealed to the world.

His archenemy was missing and nobody really cared what became of him.

Now, all that was left was to look to the future… with his girlfriend, Sam.

Going ghost, Danny lifted Sam in a bridal fashion and flew above the statue that was made in tribute to him.

"Cool statue. Personally, I'd have used recycled materials but, you know, that's just me." Sam said.

Danny just smiled and kept his flight into the sky.

Hopeful for the future ahead of him.

World BT122705

After defeating Maltruant and returning to their time, Ben and his partner Rook sipped smoothies together. However, Ben looked a bit disappointed.

He spoke.

"After what we just saw, sitting around sipping smoothies seems a bit…"

"Mundane." Rook answered for him. "I agree. Nothing seems to be happening in Bellwood or Undertown lately."

Ben slurped his drink when he realized what Rook was suggesting. "You're right! This place will be fine and dandy without us. We just helped create the universe. Let's go check it out!"

Rook smiled as he put his drink down.

"That does sound less mundane."

As they get up, Ben took out his cellphone and rang up his favorite cousin on speed-dial.

"Okay, fine - Gwendolyn. You and Kevin - pack your bags." He looked out into space. "We're going on a road trip!"

Ben first found the Omnitrix, the device that lets him turn into different aliens, one a road trip. It seemed fitting he celebrated saving the universe with one. One with hope for the future.

Somewhere in the multiverse…

A figure sat alone in darkness. Cross-legged and looking out at what looked liked monitors surrounding it.

This figure remained in the darkness, the features were absent due to the limited light. All that was notable was a slight green highlight.

It looked at the monitors and saw events from these specific universes.

On one monitor, it saw Danny Phantom taking a gauntlet with jewels encrusted in it, throwing it into the air and blasting it to pieces.

On another, it saw two pieces of a stone statue of a monkey left unattended due to Kim Possible and her best friend preventing its theft and being taken somewhere secret for safe keeping.

On one more, it saw a pocket watch protected by a man who knew Ben Tennyson.

The figure watching these events had a smile, one with a jagged mouth.

It was finally time… time for him to accomplish his plan.

He got up.

"Now…" His voice, sounding cold and almost sophisticated with a hint of evil. "Time to start my plan."

As he made a small, sinister laugh, he scratched his chin.

"Now… where to start?"

He looked at the monitors one more time and thought carefully of where to go. He decided the Tempest Simia would have to wait, as its power is meaningless without the rest of the pieces he needed. The Reality Gauntlet would be good to have right away, but it still didn't provide what he needed most. That's when he decided the last of the three would do. It had something he needed, something he currently lacked.

"That'll do…"

"Uh, Ben." Gwen said over the phone. "I'm in class right now and it's the middle of the semester. You can't expect me to drop everything right away. And why the sudden decision to just get up and go somewhere?"

Ben slapped himself in the forehead.

Right, I forgot how serious she is about her studies.

"Well, it's kind of a long story, you see-"

Suddenly, before he could finish, he saw something appear in the sky, something dark.

Ben and Rook stared at it for a moment.

"Actually, nevermind. Something just came up." Ben hung up.

"What is that object in the sky?" Rook asked.

"Never saw it before…" Ben called again on his phone, this time to someone who could provide information. "Grandpa, there's some weird swirl of darkness in the sky. Please tell me you guys can see it."

At Plumber HQ, satellites are showing the image on the screen. Grandpa Max stares at it.

"I see it Ben… but we're not getting anything from it."

His grandson answers. "By anything, you mean…?"

"No radiation, no radio signals, nothing." Max answered. "Whatever it is, keep an eye on it."

As if in that instant…

"SOMETHING'S COMING OUT!" Magister Patelliday called out.

A stream of something flew out, objects were flying out. Objects that were vaguely humanoid shaped and were in dozens. Once they finished exiting, the portal like swirl disappeared.

These shadow people remained floating in the air, looking down at everyone as the citizens in Bellwood looked up in horror at these figures.

Ben was about to hit the Omnitrix when someone walked up between them.

"No need, Benjamin." He said to them.

"Paradox?" Ben recognized who this was.

"It's finally time… the day I hoped would never happen." He said.

He pulled the pocket watch from his gauntlet.

"Paradox, what's going on?!" Ben asked.

"Is this a universal threat? Maltruant? Vilgax?" Rook asked.

"No, he's dead." Ben corrected him.

"Are you certain? You've assumed he was so before." Rook pointed out.

Ben crossed his arms and looked like was going to respond but Paradox spoke up.

"I've seen this event in numerous different scenarios… and I saw it more times than the amount I spent being out of time." He looked at Ben. "I saw only one way to truly defeat this threat."

"How?" Ben asked.

"I'm afraid I cannot say… that's part of how we win." He replied. He held up the pocket watch in the air. "Here! I know you can see me! Take it!"

One of the shadowy figures descended and took the pocket watch from him. It flew up and the portal from before reopened. The figures all returned into the portal, and it disappeared… before reopening and a green arm came out and fired a red ball of energy that destroyed the upper half of a building.

Reacting quickly, Ben hit the Omnitrix, turning into Clockwork and using his power to reverse the destruction, saving the building and the people inside it. However, usage of undoing so much of destruction and death causes him to gasp for air as he returns to human form.

"Ben!" Rook helped him up. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah… that took a lot out of me but at least I saved those people…"

"I should have known…" Paradox said, still looking up at where the portal was. "Even getting what he wanted, he still chose to act out of spite."

Ben and Rook walked to the professor.

"Paradox, what's going on?" Ben asks.

"Yes, who was that figure? And why did you talk as if you knew him?" Rook asked as well.

"I'm afraid that is for you to find out on your own… for now." Paradox reveals his pocket watch was still on his gauntlet. "I used a future version of my Chrono Navigator to give to him. I still have my own and will send you somewhere that will aid you."

"Aid us?" Rook asks.

"Where are we going?" Ben asks.

"Someplace with a hero of its own… one who will need you help." Paradox looked up at the sky. "There is a crisis coming…"

Worlds will live. Worlds will die.

This story is based oh so obviously on DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The worlds you see are not the only ones involved... if you have a world you want featured not in their universes, suggest it.

Just now that there will be universes destroyed and one threat no other in existence that these characters have faced will measure.