Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas, boys and girls! Old Saint Nicholas here with a gift that a lot of you have been asking for. Now, Ex Mentis doesn't know that me and my elves have written this or posted it on his account, so lets keep it between us, yes? Also, my elves and I aren't much in the way of writers, so the grammar and punctuation may get a little rough from time to time, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it just the same.

Now, for those of you who've been naughty, and you know who you are, I've put a spell on this chapter...all you lot'll see is a bunch of meaningless squiggles. And don't bother bullying a nice boy or girl into reading it aloud for you...all you'll hear is gibberish! Maybe you should try being nicer next year, hmm?

Again, Merry Christmas to one and all, and I'll see you all next year!

LOVE AFTER LOVE DRABBLES

Episode 62: Rook Tales

"Sister!" Rook Blonko exclaimed gleefully as he greeted Rook Shar. "May I be the first to welcome you to-" Blonko paused as he noticed someone disembark who should not have been on the transport. "Young One?!"

The youngest of the Rook family grinned impishly as he said, "Frown all you wish; I am back on Earth with the greatest bed-time story-teller and brother-in-law in the universe: Rook Ben Tennyson!" Spying said story-teller and brother-in-law, Young One excitedly dashed over to and jumped into the arms of Ben, who chuckled at the exuberant child.

"Bed-time story-teller?" Blonko asked.

Ben blushed and replied, "Oh, well, Young One and I've been exchanging email on the extranet and the subject come up one time about how my mom and dad used to read me bed-time stories before I went to sleep. Young One was curious and so I began sending him recordings of me reading Earth books to him before he went to bed."

Rook Blonko smiled warmly at this. Ben had a maternal streak that never ceased to amaze or amuse him. Though how this could have slipped Rook Da's notice was beyond him.

"My favorite is 'Alice in Wonderland'!" Young One proclaimed. "It is unthinkable that a world could exist that is so illogical and so without reason!"

"Young One," Ben reprimanded gently, thus changing the subject, "you know you shouldn't stow away. It's dangerous and illegal."

Young One's ears drooped slightly as he replied, "I know."

"Promise me you won't do it again," Ben commanded.

"I promise."

Ben chuckled and said, "Atta boy," before playfully ruffling Young One's head. He then set the boy down and looked to Rook's eldest sister. "Good to see you again, Rook Shar."

Rook Shar responded with a salute and a small smile as she replied, "And you as well, Rook Ben Tennyson. "Soon I will be a Plumber and be able to kick the butt of alien low-lifes."

Any further conversation was halted by the arrival of Max Tennyson and the re-igniting of old rivalries. Seeing the two older Plumbers busy with their reminiscing, Ben suggested a change of venue: Mr. Smoothie.

-Broken-

Honestly, it felt nice to spend some more time with Rooks family, even if it was only his eldest sister, and younger brother. And Young One was having a blast at Mister Smoothie. Ben buying the Revonnaghander youngster three different types of smoothies to slurp on. A smoothie cup held in both hands and his tail.

"This is the best day of my life!" Young One gushed.

"I'd go easy there, Buddy." Ben warned.

But Young One did not heed Ben, for that was the impatience of youth. Young One proceeded to suck on all three straws quickly. And let go to clutch at his head, his eyes crossed, his head shaking, and his mouth slack open as pained groans burst out.

Ben laughed good natured at Young Ones condition, thou Rook Shar looked alarmed, she didn't react as Blonko seemed calm.

"You are experiencing a condition known as brainfreeze." Blonko told his young brother.

"And it is awesome!" Young One cheered through the tears in his eyes.

"Awww. Here, Bud." Ben consoled, he rubbed his hands on both sides of young ones head.

The gentle motion on the sides of Young One's head, close to his eyes, soon relieved the painful headache of the brain freeze.

"Ahhh...Much obliged, Brother Ben." Young One sighed, purring slightly too.

Ben gushed, Young One was too adorable, and getting to see him, instead of just hearing a message from him. Certainly filled Ben with delight.

"Your welcome, and can I say again how happy I am to see you." Ben said, stopping him motion to peck a kiss to Young One's forehead.

The little revonnaghander blushed, but his tail whipped and bristled in obvious joy.

"I hate to shoot down your happiness, Rook Ben." Rook Shar said with a frown. "But it was still unwise of Young One to come to leave Revonnah. Even if it was to see our brothers intended."

"Shar..." Rook huffed, blue blushing at his sisters candid words.

"Oh, so you don't intend to make a honest man out of me, blonko?" Ben teased.

He reached out his foot to poke against Rook's leg, and slide it up and down with a smile at the way Rook's eyes widened slightly.

"I...you enjoy teasing me too much, Beloved." Rook said, catching Ben's feet between his knees.

Ben jerked slightly to remove his foot, and Rook playfully kept a hold on it, before letting it go.

"Hey, I know you intend to tie the knot, or whatever the Revonnaghander equivalent is one day," Ben laughed. "I wouldn't have stayed this long if you didn't. And teasing is part the fun, especially having a cute future brother-in-law coming to visit me."

Ben patted Young One on the head, who beamed at the attention.

"Our Mother would not approve, Rook Ben." Shar admonished. "Young One has not even lost his bi'nthak."

Being reminded that said tail was still attached to him, made Young One frown. Pouting as his ears drooped sullenly, and his tail unwrapped from around a smoothie cup.

"I am two years older than Blonko was when he had HIS parting," Young One whined, before yelping as his tail smacked him in the side of the head.

Ben let out a surprised laugh, but rubbed the spot on Young One's head, and stroked his tail lovingly.

"Why get worked up? I personally loved it when I saw that Blonko had a tail," Ben said.

"It is an odd story..." Rook said to his sister when she stared at him in confusion.

"And I kinda still miss it." Ben said praisingly as he stroked the soft tail. "It's so soft, I mean is it so bad to have it? Your gonna lose it eventually."

Young One was not placated, even with his idol, and surrogate big brother praising his extra appendage.

"But to not have a name, at my age? Unthinkable! They will be calling me Old One soon." Young One frowned as he sucked on his smoothie straw.

Ben felt sympathy for the kid, even if he wasn't the brother of the love of his life, Ben felt a need to help kids out. And as Gwen always said, "You understand kids so well, because your still one at heart."

Normally a insult, but she meant it in a kinda compliment.

"If it's bugging you that much, Big Brother Ben will help you get it off." Ben offered.

The swelling of his cheeks, and the sound of the cup being sucked dry was Ben's only warning, when Young One turned and spat out his smoothie in shock.

"UNTHINKABLE!" Young One happily shouts.

Blonko let out a surprised laugh at the red smoothie juice dripping from his face and hair.

"Oh, beloved..." Blonko chuckled as he reached over to wipe off Ben's face with a napkin.

Ben didn't mind, he let out a small laugh even thou Young One looked mortified at what he'd done. But Ben just bopped Young One's nose playfully, as Blonko wiped his face dry. Young One giggled, and Shar sighed at the boys antics. To Ben it felt like a family gathering.

Ben smiled, and took Rook's hand when he was pulling away, and Blonko looked at Ben curiosuly. But smiled at Ben's loving expression, rubbing his thumb gently over Rook's fingers.

Rook leaned over and placed a small kiss on Ben's lips, pulling back to sit back down, ignoring the gagging sounds from Young One. And the amused giggle from Shar.

That was when Ben noticed him, it seemed odd to have someone glaring at Ben hatefully, well...just from him sitting with his boyfriend. But when Ben took a closer look, the man who was giving him a nasty glare. Started walking toward them...and he was a revonnaghander.

"Who's the revonnaghander with a stick?" Ben asked, and the shocked looks from Shar, Blonko and Young One made him a little uneasy.

"Master Kundo!" Rook exclaimed in surprise.

"He's the master of Revonnah-kai," Young One whispered to Ben, who jumped as Young One had suddenly hid behind Ben.

"Our traditional fighting style..."

Young One was scared of this Revonnaghander, and that didn't put him in Ben's good books. And he felt his 'Mama Bear' instincts flaring up. But he got up anyway to walk over with Blonko and Shar to greet the master.

Rook bowed formally to Master Kundo, but the respectful greeting didn't seem to please him.

"I am ashamed to greet you, Rook Blonko. This is a technological miasma." Master kundo said in a biting tone.

"No, it's a smoothie." Ben joked, holding up his smoothie cup.

But the hateful glare from the other Revonnaghander told Ben he didn't find it amusing.

"The Master does not approve of my leaving," Shar said with a angry frown. "I believe he intends to bring me home."

Young One was frightened and came over to hug onto Ben's leg, seeking comfort in his hero.

"Another one!" Master Kundo snapped indignant. "Does the shame of your family know no end? Both of you must return with me."

Shar and Young One looked at each other, but when Young One made a move to step forward, Ben put a hand on top of his head to stall him.

"You guys don't have to listen to him! He's not your god, or nothing." Ben said aiming a glare at Kundo.

The Master responded by snapping his stick weapon into a sorta, nunchuck weapon.

"He is a respected Elder, and yet..." Rook started to say.

But Kundo slammed his weapon into Rook's chest, sending the young man sliding across the ground.

"I am unaccustomed to repeating myself," Master Kundo said in a voice wavering with restraint.

Ben glares at Kundo a red rage clouding his eyes.

"Hey! NOBODY orders the siblings of my boyfriend around, nobody frightens the cute little furry brother I never had but when you knock my boyfriend around." Ben points dramatically at Kundo. "THAT'S WHEN YOU GO TOO FAR!"

Ben made a karate sound as he dialed in a alien and slammed down on the Omnitrix, transforming into Water Hazard. He shot out two jets of water that merged into one giant water-spout that he aimed at Master Kundo. But the Master confidently spun his weapon at the water, holding it back with a corkscrew motion. Before redirecting it at Water Hazard, hitting him hard but he just charged at Kundo, jumped into the air to fire more water shots and a devastating punch. But all were dodged by The Revonnah-kai Master.

Who struck Ben such a blow that he slide backwards on his back, turning back into his human self. And looking up in alarm, as Kundo drove down his stick at the young boy, but was halted by Rook's proto-tool.

"YOU DARE!?" Rook howls at Kundo. "YOU DARE TO STRIKE AT MY HEART'S FLAME!?"

But Blonko feral anger soon gave way to incredulous disbelief, for his proto-tool fell all to pieces.

"My Proto-tool!" Rook exclaimed.

"Rook Blonko, I did not believe it at first," He gestured angrily at Ben. "But for you to openly state it is horrifying. You chose THIS outsider filth to be your flame-sharer?"

Any further argument was halted when a car pulled up to the curb, and the booming music from the car seemed to disturb Master Kundo. Who covered his ears, growling, and gritting his teeth in pain as he headed towards the car.

"We must leave." Blonko told Ben.

"He's just lucky your brother and sister were here or I'd take him down!" Ben snapped, casting a worried glance over to Young One. Who held his sisters legs in alarm.

A mighty crash caught Ben's attention, as Kundo slammed his scythe like weapon into the hood of the car.

"Or...maybe it's good we have to take them to safety," Ben muttered with a gulp of alarm.

"And you, My Love. I do not want you hurt either," Blonko said.

Ben nodded, and rushed to scoop up Young One in his arms, who had his arms full with the pieces of Blonko's proto-tool. And the four of them quickly rushed off to escape from the deranged Master Kundo.

-Broken-

Using a busy street full of people and sounds as a distraction, the four were able to gain enough ground to slip away from Kundo and reach an entrance to Plumber HQ. In the lab, they had Blukic and Driba examine the remains of Blonko's Proto-Tool while Ben examined an x-ray of Young One's bi'nthak and spinal column. Meanwhile, Rook Shar and Rook Blonko discussed what to do next.

"I wish to return to the streets," Rook Shar said. "Kundo is a menace; he traded blows with father in an attempt to stop me!"

Blonko paled at this news and exclaimed, "Shar, why did you not speak of this?! Was father hurt?"

"He was struck down, but he stood again," Shar answered, though this did little to appease Blonko.

Making up his mind, Blonko frowned and commanded, "You're staying here."

Shar and Young One both gasped in surprise at the use of contractions from their eldest sibling. Ben, however, was not nearly so surprised. If anything, he was worried for Blonko; he only ever used contractions when he was truly, deeply upset. Placing a comforting hand on Blonko's shoulder, Ben asked, "So what should we do."

Rook Blonko looked to Ben with a flash of sorrow before hardening into a look of enraged determination. "We aren't doing anything. I will face Kundo, you will remain her with my brother and sister."

Ben nodded in understanding. "Are you sure you can do this alone? Unarmed?" he asked.

"Against Master Kundo, nothing matters but Revonnah Kai," Blonko answered before leaving the lab.

Ben sighed and prayed for Blonko's quick return before plastering a slightly forced smile on his face and turning back to the problem of removing Young One's bi'nthac…never noticing Shar slipping out the door.

"So why are you so anxious to lose that thing? Seems kinda handy," Ben said.

Young One smiled and answered, "Once the Parting occurs, I may choose my name and be considered an equal." The boy then frowned and added dejectedly, "Until then, I am just a child."

Ben chuckled and replied, "I know how you feel. It took me forever to lose my first baby tooth. It's the exact same thing."

"When you lost this baby tooth, were you given access to the Halls of Knowledge?" Young One asked excitedly. "Was a harvest blade forged in your honor?"

"Yes…kinda…I got a quarter," Ben answered sheepishly.

Hearing a rustling of wheels headed towards them, Ben and Young One looked up to see Blukic and Driba atop a peculiar device.

"It's settled," Driba said, "we're alternating cryo-lasers and radiation."

"Cover your eyes," Blukic added as the machine began to whir to life.

"Whoa, whoa! We're trying to remove his tail, not zap him into oblivion!" Ben exclaimed, moving to stand between Young One and the device the two galvan techs had built. Activating the Omnitrix, Ben transformed into Gravattack and added, "And I say we start with something a little less risky." Using the gravity powers inherent in all galileans, Gravattack lifted Young One a meter above the examination table he'd been sitting on. Next, he surrounded Young One's bi'nthak in one gravity field, and the rest of Young One in another.

"Cry out if this hurts; this was basically how I got rid of my first baby tooth," Gravattack said before directing the two gravity fields in opposite directions. He started off gently before slowly adding more and more force. Seeing that the bi'nthak wasn't even budging, and not wanting to go all out in case Young One was hurt, Gravattack ceased his onslaught and released Young One before reverting back to Ben.

"Geeze, that is one stubborn tail!" Ben cried.

"Are you giving up?" Young One asked.

Ben grinned and replied, "Not a chance."

-Broken-

"I taught you better than that, Rook Blonko." Kundo huffed as he jabbed Rook in the chest with his spear.

"Yes, father was proud of my Revonna-kai skills," Rook said.

"Not that." Kundo snapped. "Being with a offworlder male, I mean, how can you stand to even TOUCH his foul body let alone lay with him."

A claw swipe at Kundo, who barely avoided getting his throat lacerated, but had four slashes on his left cheek.

"YOU BITE YOUR TONGUE!" Rook snarled. "Even my father has accepted Ben, who has done so much to aid Revonnah and the world. It shouldn't matter what the person phsyical is...when it is ones ACTIONS that should speak for them."

Rook pointed a extended talon at his Master, a angry sneer crossing the usually calm young man's face.

"But then you must speak from jealously," Rook clenched his fists tightly. "Given no one can stand to be in your presence long enough to succumb to whatever depraved sexual acts you might inflict on them."

"RRRAWR!" Kundo yowled as he lunged at Rook. And managed to strike Blonko with the blunt edge of his spears blade end.

"Living on this technological world, and consorting with that filth has made you WEAK!" Kundo hissed.

"My Hearts Flame makes me strong enough to deal with ANYTHING, even a outdated old fossil like yourself." Rook's manner going out the door, due to Kundo's insults of Ben.

Kundo tried to inflict another attack but Shar came in between with a yell to her brothers defense.

In anger at the interruption Kundo threw his spear aside, and raised his left hand up in a fist.

"Stone-cutter!" Kundo bellowed.

"SHAR, NO!" Rook cried out, jumping in front of his sister taking the blow.

All the energy in Kundo's fist exploded in a orange flash, and Rook's armor shattered as he was sent flying backwards.

"BLONKO!" Shar screamed in horror.

But there was no response as Rook laid on the ground.

With her brother unconscious, Shar was unable to fight back as Kundo draped Rook over his shoulder like a sack. And lead a handtied Shar down the dock.

"Where are you taking us, Master Kundo!?" Shar angrily asked.

"This chemical ship will pass near Revonnah," Kundo said as they approached a large red ship.

"It's captain agreed to a detour in exchange for a generous supply of Amber Ogia."

Shar whirled to glare at Kundo.

"You traded Amber Ogia with offworlders, and yet you wish to speak for tradition?" Shar stated incredulously.

"Do you see the terrible dishonor your brothers worldliness and affair with the filth forces on us?" Kundo exclaimed.

"Once I collect your Young One, we will be on our way." Kundo finished.

"You forget, that 'Filth' you speak of is my future brother in law," Shar sneered. "And he will not let you come within a KILOMETER of Young One, he loves that boy to death and would see you dead."

Kundo just frowned at her words, but did not reply.

-Broken-

A dozen or so attempts to remove Young One's bi'nthak, and the lab was a mess! Shattered glass, tools flung willy-willy, and devices smoking from an overload. Ben almost had to pat himself on the back for achieving a new record of collateral damage. Blukic and Driba, however, weren't so impressed and kicked Ben and Young One out before calling for a clean-up.

Exiting the turbolift, Ben followed Young One up the stairs to the 2nd level of the command center. There he saw Magister Patelliday scrutinizing a monitor which displayed Max Tennyson and Rick-Dan Wat-Senn fishing.

"Um, Magister Patelliday?" Ben called.

Patelliday jumped and hit a key on a nearby keyboard to change the image on the monitor. "I wasn't spying!" he cried, before realizing it was only Ben.

Ben smiled knowingly and said, "You've got nothing to worry about, Magister. Grandpa Max wouldn't do that to you."

"It's not him I'm worried about," Patelliday replied. "So, you obviously didn't come here to discuss my paranoia. What can I do for you, Ben?"

"Right. Have you seen Rook Shar? I'm supposed to keep an eye on her." Ben said.

"She saw something on a monitor and took off like a gracklflint," Patelliday answered. "Now, I've been ruminating on what it could've been."

"Did you search the monitor spool?" Young One asked, immediately running up to the control panel and doing just as he'd suggested.

Sure enough, the answer became apparent as they saw footage of Kundo fighting Rook. With not a moment to loose, the two dashed out of there like their lives, or rather, Shar's and Blonko's, depended on it.

Half an hour later and they were in Undertown at the docks. Ben called out to Kundo to get his attention. While Young One searched the ship for his siblings, Ben tried to take on Master Kundo once more: first as Wildvine, then as Bloxx, and finally as Kickin Hawk. However, no matter what he tried, Ben continuously lost.

"Grrr, how is he doing this?!" Ben growled as he pulled himself out of the underground lake.

"You are fighting him incorrectly, Beloved," Blonko answered, as he, Shar, and Young One exited the ship. "As was I."

"Incorrectly?! I taught you everything you know!" Kundo exclaimed, irritated by the gall of his former student.

"You taught me everything you know," Blonko returned, "but I am not in your training hall anymore. And neither are you!"

"That's it, babe! Show him who's boss!" Ben cried encouragingly.

Blonko ran at Kundo, and the two began to fight. Rook stopped using the Revonnah-kai techniques that had failed him in their last encounter, and instead used the techniques he'd learned from Plumber Academy, as well as from field work with Ben. Kundo was clearly caught off-guard by this change, having never expected such a thing from a revonnahgander. And it showed when Blonko landed several hits on him, before knocking him to the ground.

"Since leaving home, I have fought tokustars, Incurseans, tetramands, and ecto-nurites. It was a mistake to forget that. Compared to all the battles I have fought across the galaxy, Revonnah-kai is small potatoes!" Blonko said.

"What are…potatoes?" Kundo asked, confused by the phrase. Shaking his head to clear away such nonsense for now, he got back onto his feet and faced Blonko. "Your travels have made you formidable, Rook Blonko," Kundo conceded. "But that armor is ruined! You will not survive the stone-cutter!"

With perfect timing, Young One tossed the Proto-Tool to his brother, who dove for it and powered it on. As Kundo attacked, Blonko activated the shield function and held strong. The force of Kundo's attack backfired, and threw him against one of the ship's fuel cells, cracking it. Before Blonko could save him, though, the cell ruptured, spilling the acidic fuel into the lake and swallowing up Kundo in its corrosive mass.

"Is he…gone?" Ben asked.

"I believe so, Beloved," Blonko answered, before pulling Ben into his arms. "Forgive me for being so foolish; it seems I still fail to value cultures that are not revonnahgander."

Ben smiled and wrapped his arms around Blonko. "We'll turn you into a 'technological miasma' loving abomination yet."

Blonko chuckled and tightened his hold.

At that moment, the signal for the ship's departure sounded. Try as they might to make it on time, though, the ship took off without them, leaving them to wonder what possible challenge Max and Rick-Dan were up to this time!

Ben frowned and put his hands on his hips. "What are you doing?! Patelliday's been monitoring you two all day!"

"What?" Max asked, before losing his concentration and being pushed back by the sheriff.

"Yeah, you might want to reassure him that the two of you are still 100% exclusive," Ben said.

Max dropped his head in a contrite posture, not minding at all that he was being reprimanded by his grandson.

"Wait, you and old 'Telli are a thing?" Rick-Dan asked before laughing. "That poor bastard's been after you since the academy! You were just too busy chasing after Verdona and then Xylene!"

"What?!" Max exclaimed, having never known this about his partner.

Rick-Dan sighed and shook his head before looking up towards one of the Plumber cameras. "Hey, 'Telli! If you can hear this, stop being jealous. Max is all yours."

"This is not helping!" Rook Shar yelled. "I must matriculate at the academy in three days!"

"With Grandpa Max's permission, perhaps I could transport you myself?" Rook Blonko offered.

Max smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

At that moment, Young One's bi'nthac fell off.

"IT IS OFF!" Young One cried out in victory, jumping excitedly into the air. "Today I am a revonnahgander! BOO-YA! BOO-YA! BOO-OO-OO-YA!"

Later, in the hanger of Plumber HQ, Blonko, Shar, Young One, and Ben were gathered around the Proto-TRUK. "This is quite an unprecedented event," Blonko said. "I do not believe a revonnahgander has ever had their parting off-world."

"Pretty sure I loosened it a little," Ben quipped.

"Perhaps," Young One quipped back with a grin.

"Why you little-!" Ben quickly snatched up the boy and proceeded to ruffle his head, earning giggles from said boy and his two siblings.

Being the first to recover, Shar said, "Your brother and I will miss your bi'nthac'oi ceremony back on Revonnah."

"Yes, we must revise our traditions to suit the time," Blonko agreed. "By the fruit of Revonnah, and the stones of heaven, your childhood is ended," Blonko announced as he kneeled before his little brother. "What name do you choose?"

Young One hummed in thought for a second or two before snapping his fingers as inspiration overcame him. "Henceforth, I shall be known as Rook…Brillig!" As Brillig announced his name, he turned to Ben to give him his bi'nthac.

Ben looked puzzled for a second at the name before he realized its significance and smiled, gratefully taking the offered tail. "Perfect. An unconventional name for an unconventional revonnahgander."

At this, Blonko quirked an eyebrow and asked, "Beloved, care to explain?"

"'Twas brillig, and the slythy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe. All mimsy were the borogroves, and the mome raths outgrabe," Ben quoted.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!" Rook Brillig added.

When neither Blonko nor Shar seemed to catch on, Brillig explained, "It is a poem by Lewis Carroll: the author of 'Alice In Wonderland'."

"It is nonsense," Shar commented.

"Precisely!" Brillig replied. "It is such fantastic nonsense! It goes against everything that Master Kundo and his ilk stand for!"

Blonko grinned. "And thus a perfect choice for you." Stepping forward, he pulled his little brother into a hug and said, "Welcome, Rook Brillig. You are now our equal." He then passed Brillig on to Shar" who added, "I still reserve the right to refer to you as 'Brat'."

Brillig giggled and replied, "This is acceptable." Revonnah wasn't going to know what hit it when Rook Brillig returned.

END VOLUME XVIII