Chapter 16: Battle Royal
“Let’s end this, once and for all”
“Your choice hero” Solar Lexus stated.
Choices.
“Surrender and face what awaits you. Or fight and die, the decision is yours, Ben.”
How many times had he been forced to make choices, like this? Since he’d gotten the omnitrix was the easiest answer. But even now, now that he didn’t have one of the most powerful devices in the entire universe, Ben was still being forced to make a decision where lives were on the line.
Ben said nothing, the tension high, the air almost suffocating. His eyes shifted to the group of earth ponies and unicorns that surrounded them, then to the pegasi and bat ponies above in the air.
“Tennyson don’t do what I think you’re doing” Kevin said, his eyes staring down a small troop of unicorns, horns aglow on his side. Ready to shoot on command or if the steel stallion that faced them showed a hint of hostility.
“Ben I advise you think carefully about your decision, we are outnumbered and we will be fighting for life. Choose wisely!” Rook advised.
“Rook’s right Ben don’t make any rash decisions, things could get really out of hand if we have no choice but to go all out” Gwen added.
“For once I’m with Kevin and the others on this. We can’t take all these guys, it won’t end well” Dash stated, her eyes maintaining contact with the bat ponies and pegasi surrounding her.
“Well!” Nightwalker called from above. “Make your choice now Ben, do you surrender or-”
“I surrender” Ben stated, trotting forward as his comrades all lowered their defenses, and as the troops all parted ways for Nightwalker and Solar Lexus to see him.
Taking in a deep breath Ben mustered up the will to say the words he had said probably only a few times in his entire life, even less so when the universe was on the line.
“I surrender.”
The sound of clicking hooves was the only thing that could be heard, echoing across the capital as a large group of ponies made their way towards Canterlot castle, their prisoners ahead of them.
The entire slow trip towards the castle was done mostly in silence, Ben and his comrades thinking up of ways to escape or figure out a way to outwit the army now blocking off any form of escape.
“Plans?” Dash whispered to the others as Canterlot castle started coming to view. “Because if we’re going to do something. I suggest we do it now, before we get to the castle.”
“I have an idea” Rook said quietly, all ears perking up to give him their full attention.
“They said that they were ordered not to worry about the princesses correct?” he asked with a glance to Rainbow Dash.
She nodded. “Yes, what about it though?”
“If my assumption is correct then we can assume that Zombozo is currently at this moment attempting to brainwash the diarchy and make them fall under his control, just as he has done with your hometown and the people of this city” Rook explained, increasing his pace a bit when a guard nudged him roughly forward.
“If that’s the case then I have an idea” Kevin said.
“It better not be make a break for it and use force” Gwen warned.
“It’s not” Kevin said defensively, “But it will involve force.”
“What did you have in mind?” Ben asked.
“Simple. You’ve fought Zombozo, you know him probably much better than we do. And even if you don’t have your omnitrix you’ve still got the enhanced strength that these er horses-”
“Ponies” Dash corrected.
“Whatever- You know what he’ll be able to pull out of his wacked up sleeve. So my idea is we stall whoever blocks you from reaching him and finishing the job.”
Ben remained silent, looking up at the castle that was now right in front of them as they passed two guards, guarding the bridge. Kevin had a point. If he went on his own there was a possibility he could defeat Zombozo, but with his increased amount of power and the control he had over these guards and if worse comes to worse the princesses, then he couldn’t leave his friends.
“I-”
“Ben” Gwen said as they stopped in front of the castle doors, two guards opening the large doors with their magic.
Ben looked over to his cousin and saw that light grin she had when she was about to do something surprising. Ben knew that look, he nodded a faint smile crossing his face. Raising a hoof up he extended it towards Gwen who bumped her clenched wolf paw at the hoof.
“Good luck dweeb” she said with a small grin.
“Same to you doofus.” Ben pawed the ground with his right hind leg, Rook joining his side. “DIdn’t think I’d have a passenger” he said with a chuckle.
“Partners Ben, remember?” Rook said as they began trotting inside the castle.
And just like that, no sooner had Gwen’s hind legs crossed the gates and made it inside the hall did she spin on her hind legs, along with Rook who had once again activated his Proto-Tool. Rook unleashing an array of blasts into the air scattering the pegasi, then turning his advanced weaponry on the ground.
Gwen’s eyes beginning to glow with a bright pink aura.
“Stop them!” Nightwalker yelled, just barely managing to dodge one of Rook’s hits.
But all attempts failed. The moment the brigade had started to reform and charge in unison Gwen rose both her arms in the air, opened her paws and then unleashed her magic upon them with the a bright pink glow illuminating the entirety of Canterlot as she unleashed her power.
“Stay down for a bit, we’ll pick you guys up later” she said when the guards were close enough. And with that she unleashed a force three times greater than any bulls, oxs or troop of unicorns could ever hope to achieve even if they put their mind and spirits in it, the blast that shot out of Gwen’s paws quite literally blew them all away.
Ben, Rook, Kevin and Dash even audibly winced when she attacked. When it was all over after a brief five seconds, the guards unicorn, earth pony and pegasus alike all lay on the ground in a daze. Pink static coursing through their coat while Imperial Nightwalker and Captain Solar Lexus just lay there twitching.
“Wow” Dash said drawing in breath. “Remind me to never get her angry.”
Kevin moved over to Gwen and offered his support for her to fall on. The large blast had drained her of a majority of her energy.
Gwen leaned on Kevin’s shoulder, gently nuzzling him in the process. Kevin glanced over to Ben, “She’s going to need a minute. That last one took a lot out of her.”
Ben nodded. “We’ll go on ahead, don’t get caught if any of the other guards show up.”
Kevin grinned, “Wouldn’t count on it. Go on ahead. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
With a nod and feeling of reassurance, Ben turned to Dash and Rook ushering them to follow as he moved up straight down the large hallway straight into an even larger more decorated foyer.
Ben stopped, waiting for Dash and Rook to catch up as he looked around. There were the stairs just ahead, and two other large doorways that most likely led outside or somewhere else.
“At least that’s what I think” he mumbled. “Hey Dash” Ben said when the pegasus had caught up, she turned her head in his direction as she trotted up to him with Rook by her side.
“Where’s the throne room’s direction? Is it through that path or is it through the one on the right, or is it up those-” Dash silenced the hero by placing a hoof on his lips, luckily for him she hadn’t shoved her entire hoof in his mouth.
That would have been gross.
“Please stop asking me so many questions and just let me lead the way” she stated with slightly lidded annoyance in her eyes.
Ben nodded.
Just as Dash was about to start heading for the stairs though the small group of three froze, a sudden chill filling the air.
Slowly coming from the direction of the stairs was the sound of...hooves. They were louder though, like the equine that wore them had them specially designed or they were meant to give off the sound of this person’s arrival.
Rook and Ben looked at each other both looking slightly confused, unsure if these steady calm steps were that of a confident enemy or a possible ally.
Or somehow a mixture of both.
When Rook glanced back to Rainbow Dash however the slight look of concern and the way her ears were angled though told him they were about to face somepony that was possibly going to be quite a challenge. More so now that Gwen was too tired and out of energy to provide some support, and Kevin was staying by her side to keep her company. That and hold off any other guards that may appear.
“Dash what’s wrong?” Ben asked, Rook now tapping his Proto-Tool and adjusting the settings on it to stun.
Dash didn’t say anything immediately. The sound of the heavy clad hooves getting closer every second till eventually there was silence.
Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened at the figure standing at the top of the stairs. That ethereal mane waving in the air, now looked a bit less colorful than it usually did. That pure white coat, that had been groomed, washed, taken care of so well now appearing slightly gray in comparison.
She gasped, lifting a hoof to her mouth unable to believe that it had actually happened. Rook turned his attention away, from his alien device and looked up in the same direction the pegasus had been staring. He instantly stopped what he was doing, staring at the being that stood staring at them from the top of the stairs.
Ben also turned his attention in the direction his friends had been staring at, his jaw slightly clenched at who he was staring at.
“Princess Celestia...he got to you too huh?” he said after pregnant silence filled the room.
The alicorn stood there, staring at them not saying a word, yet still being able to carry that regal feeling about her with the way she stood. Her head held high, a calm expression upon her face. But at the same time giving off a somewhat hostile feeling about her.
“Princess what happened to-” Celestia gently clapped her hoof against the carpeted ground, silencing Rainbow Dash in the process.
“I will tell you once” she said after the echoes had died. “Leave this place. I do not wish to harm you but if you do not leave I will have no choice.”
“Tennyson!” Kevin’s voice called from back at the castle’s entrance. “What’s going on up there?”
Ben’s eyes remained glued on the alicorn princess. He glanced back to Rainbow Dash, noticing her somewhat uneasy state. Rook had his Proto-Tool back on his shoulder mount and was ready if a fight started.
“Don’t worry about it” Ben called back to Kevin, though in reality he wasn’t sure what to expect. He knew the princess had quite a bit of power, considering how she’d been able to talk to a bear almost the same size as a Toku’star with ease. The thing was he wasn’t sure how much power she had.
“But if Gwen’s feeling better, you guys may want to come up here and help us out with a little problem. We may need it” Ben called back deciding to rephrase his earlier statement.
“We’ll be there in a few seconds, she’s got some strength back but whatever it is keeping you up there better not be another army. I don’t think she’s got the strength to do that again” Kevin called.
Ben turned his attention back to the princess of the sun. She hadn’t said a word the entire time. Simply remaining at the same spot watching them with a calmness in her eyes.
Rook decided to take a step forward towards the stairs. Celestia’s horn glowed ominously. He wisely took a step back, her horn ceased glowing in the process.
“I don’t think just walking up is an option” he said to Ben.
Ben rolled his eyes, “I know that. I’m not an idiot.” He turned to Dash, “Rainbow Dash, I need you and Rook to stall her, or at least keep her distracted so I can get up those stairs and get to the throne room.”
“You don’t know where it is though” she retorted.
“Then tell me!”
Dash sighed, “It’s to the right of the staircase, go straight down make another right and the throne room is straight ahead.”
“Good” Ben stated facing the princess once more. “I need to get up there and quickly.”
“Something happening up there?” Dash asked, slightly spreading her wings a bit.
“If Zombozo has the Royal Guard, Lunar Guard, Most of Canterlot and Ponyville under his control. And now one of the princesses under his control. Who do you think he’s going for next?”
The widening of Dash’s eyes as realization hit her was all the response Ben needed.
“Go” she said hovering off the ground. “We’ll stall her.”
Ben looked at Rook, he nodded his reassurance.
Turning their attention back to Celestia who had not said a word the entire time, Ben took a step towards the stairs, ignoring the princesses horn glowing. “I need to get up there princess. Your sister could be in danger.”
The light on Celestia’s horn flickered, her ears wilted and a brief look of concern crossed her face.
She said nothing though. Ben tried again. “If I don’t get up there your sister, Twilight your student, all her friends, my friends, your nation could be in danger!”
The light on Celestia’s horn faded to a light spark at the tip of her horn. Her expression no longer impassive but filled with concern.
Ben smiled, then looked back at the others. “I think we-” getting pulled out of the way with a strong tug on the tail, Ben fell flat on his stomach, looking up only to see Kevin standing over him. Gwen now hovering in the air by his side.
“You may want to keep your eyes on the enemy Tennyson. Who’s she? She looks like Cadence only taller, more posh.”
“That’s Princess Celestia, one of the rulers of our nation and also the one who moves the sun on our world” Dash said.
Gwen looked ready to rebuttal this statement but Rook clearing his throat stopped any attempt. “No time, work it out later” he said.
Rising to his hooves Ben looked at the spot he’d been standing only to see a very large burn mark now there. He looked up at Celestia who’d regained that impassive look on her face, her wings now spread in hostility.
“Final chance. Leave.”
Ben narrowed his eyes, taking up his own stance ready to dash through the moment the others gave him an opening.
“No.”
Tapping a button on his Proto-Tool Rook’s weapon shot out a grappling hook that wrapped around the princess’s foreleg. With a powerful tug, Rook managed to get Celestia airborne before she stopped any further movement with her wings sending a multiple ray of magic with her horn in the group’s direction.
Gwen created a field around them, but it was shattered almost instantly upon contact.
She stared slightly surprised. “Huh...she’s strong.”
“Of course she is” Dash said readying for take off. “She’s our princess.” With a powerful flap she launched in Princess Celestia’s direction, front hooves out- almost like Superman, Ben noted- dodging all shots of magical concentrated aura thrown at her.
Celestia, smiled the pegasus oblivious to this continued to launch herself with powerful flaps of her wing in the princess’s direction attempting to only ram her into the wall behind her and apologize for it later if she remembered.
Wrong move.
The moment Rainbow Dash was close enough, Celestia vanished. The pegasus slammed right into the wall.
Ben winced, so did Kevin and Gwen. Rook just had a look that screamed “ouch”. A nanosecond later Celestia was above them and now threw another blast of magic in their direction.
Gwen created another shield, this time only creating cracks as it withheld the strong blast, before eventually breaking when the princess had stopped.
“Go Tennyson!” Kevin called absorbing a part of the ground, before he lept in the princess’s direction, only to get kicked by her front legs and get sent flying into a different wall.
Ben didn’t need to be told twice. Shooting off as fast as his legs could carry him he began climbing the stairs, but stopped short when a concentrated shot missed his front foreleg by an inch or two.
Ben glanced up ready to dodge another shot by the princess, only for it to be stopped by Gwen’s mana. The dracony flashed him a quick smile before, watching Rook send a few shots in the princess’s direction drawing her attention away from Ben and to him.
Not wasting a second Ben took off in the direction of the throne room. Following Rainbow Dash’s directions to the key, his breath growing heavy as he quickened his pace.
Making a right, Ben jumped onto his hind legs and thrusted his forehooves against the doors, throwing them wide open he jumped in scanning the room.
It was dark, kind of hard to see. Trotting inside a bit Ben looked around the throne room, taking in his surroundings since this is the first time he’d actually been in the castle.
Hm, not bad.
The doors slammed shut, Ben turning his attention in their direction then sighing at the lack of originality put into that small jump scare.
“Come on Zombozo if you’re going to scare me you’ve got to do a better job.”
He heard a shuffle.
Turning his head towards the farther end of the room Ben looked at the two thrones side-by-side. Ben squinted, the darkness slightly blocking his view even as his eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room.
CLAP CLAP!
The chandelier lights turned on instantly. Ben had to shield his eyes for a few seconds, the light slightly blinding him.
Then he looked at the thrones, seeing a dark alicorn just sitting there in her seat. Her eyes closed, yet her mane still flowing about just like her sister.
Princess Luna was asleep. Though from how she moved and turned in her sleep she was undoubtedly having a nightmare.
Ben took a couple steps towards her. Ready to awaken her before whatever Zombozo’s doing had an affect on her like it did for her sister.
“She’s dreaming” a raspy voice said to Ben as he had approached the princess.
Ben spun on his hooves and turned to see the slightly decrepit penguin in the suit and top hat.
“Bozo” Ben said with a wry grin.
“It’s Zombozo” he corrected with a smile, walking towards Ben. “Do you like what I’ve done with the place?”
“Do I like what you’ve done to my friends back at Ponyville? Nearly enslaved two different cities for your personal gain and their national leaders?” Ben asked with sarcastic tenderness. “Yes. I love it Zombozo.”
He smiled, his one good eye gleaming with joy. “Sarcasm will get you nowhere young Ben.”
“But apparently terrorizing innocents gets you food?” Ben commented, his back now to Luna.
Zombozo said nothing, his claws moving up to his hat adjusting it a bit.
“Flattery only stalls time child.”
“And what if I am?”
Zombozo’s grin widened. “And what are you stalling for?” he asked his index clawed finger tipping the hat upwards so his face was more visible.
“From the looks of it I can clearly see that you’re not wearing your little omnitrix” he said with a smile that only a creepy clown could have. “What could you possibly be hoping to achieve by drawing this fight out?”
Ben said nothing, a small drop of his sweat hitting the ground as he maintained his confident stance. Zombozo was right about one thing. I don’t have the omnitrix. Without it I’m basically just an average human without any fire power.
Ben gritted his teeth as Zombozo took a calm step forward. Each step slightly echoing against the walls of the throne room as the sound of Gwen, Kevin, Rook, and Rainbow Dash’’s battle with Princess Celestia only continued.
“Look at you hero, you’ve lost it all. Earth is a shadow of what it used to look ever since Count Down beat you” Zombozo said continuing his steady stride towards Ben and the sleeping Luna.
“You let your cousin and best friend down. Your family, down. Your fans, your allies, all the aliens all over the world, down” he said with a slight chuckle.
Zombozo stopped in front of the flash white stallion that now glared at him. The decrepit zombie like penguin holding his grin as he leaned down a little to let his small beak just stay inches away from Ben’s own muzzle.
“You even let your grandpa down” he whispered with a certain feeling of joy to it.
Ben’s tail flicked violently, his forelegs slightly trembling in anger, all while he maintained his glare, at the smug look on that dumb clown’s face.
“So Tennyson” Zombozo said standing back up raising a claw up menacingly. “What on Earth...” he laughed for a few seconds finding the irony in this. “What on Equestria, do you think you can possibly do?”
Ben said nothing. He honestly wasn’t sure, what it was what he could do right now. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try, even if he didn’t have the omnitrix Ben knew, he was a hero with or without it.
“I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do” he said his scowl now forming into a smile. “I’m going to kick your butt. Just like I always do.”
Zombozo scowled, glanced up at Luna then grinned once more, his brief flash of anger disappearing. “I’d like to see you try the moment my work gets done on that one right behind you” he said.
“She’ll be a real challenge.”
It was then that something happened. Something neither of the two ever expected to happen, especially not at a tension filled moment like this.
A hole tore it’s way into the fabric of the throne room. A few feet to Ben and Zombozo’s right the two stared at the hole in space and time that had transported them here to this universe, this dimension in the first place. Expecting someone else to appear, be it friend or foe.
Both holding the same confused look on their faces.
Seconds passed and the dimensional rift simply sat there, hogging attention. Till finally something flew out, landed on the ground and rolled right to the center of the room. The portal closed a second after.
Ben looked at it, then looked at Zombozo. Zombozo look at it, then looked at Ben.
“...Is-- Were you expecting your goons to join you?” Ben asked still slightly confused.
Zombozo shook his head, his claw lightly tapping his nonexistent chin. “...No, I uh...don’t believe so. I think they’re dead...Wait so that isn’t yours then?”
Ben shook his head also.
There was a brief moment of silence between the two. Both ignoring Luna’s presence entirely who was still facing off against her own battles within the dream realm.
Villain and hero looked at the object in the center of the room once more, then at each other. In a flash the two were scuttling over who would get the object first.
Ultimately Ben retrieved it.
Ben now had the small ball like object balanced on his back. Maintaining his distance from Zombozo, Ben recognized what this thing was.
It was the same orb like structure that had been used to capture his omnitrix.
The omnitrix is in here, he thought. His eyes glancing back to the device. But how...did Grandpa Max or one of the others manage to snag it off him? The sound of a footstep drew Ben’s attention back to Zombozo.
It doesn’t matter.
Zombozo, stopped seeing the slightly confident smirk on Ben’s face since grabbing the orb. Whatever is in it must be advantageous to him. He glanced back to Luna, she was still asleep, but her coat had grown slightly darker, just like the one she was currently fighting in her dream. A faint smile curled his lips.
I’m winning. “Well Ben” he said clapping his clawed fins together. “Let’s put an end to this shall we?” he stated.
Ben nodded, placing the sphere on the ground, then kicking it to his front hoof, which he stopped with his right. “Let’s.”
Zombozo snapped his clawed fingers together. Princess Luna’s coat having grown darker once more, before slight twitches from her told Ben that she was now under his control.
“Ben, I’d like you to meet someone. Princess Luna, or the one fighting as her. Nightmare Moon” he said with a smile. “Have fun” he said with a sly grin backing up as the darker princess of the night stepped forward.
Ben stared in silence at the princess. In all honesty he had to admit his equine form was slightly attracted to this beaut. But then again he had a world to save.
“Nightmare Moon huh? So you’re the one Pinkie told me about” he said with a slight smile as he pushed something on the sphere.
Luna said nothing her wings merely spread in hostility just like her hypnotized sister.
“Right” Ben said “Mind control.” The sphere began opening as it emitted smoke from the sides of its sphere, clouding the room in the process. In the back he saw Zombozo’s eyebrow raise. Luna still hadn’t made a move.
And just like that, the room was enveloped in a bright green light. The omnitrix slowly floated up into the air, it’s green electric figure matching the cutie mark that was on Ben’s flank. Zombozo tensed when he saw the green light, covering his eyes in the process, Luna doing the same as the light blinded them all. All except for Ben.
Ben grinned. A confident grin that was only empowered as the device slowly floated on to his left foreleg then clicked shut around it.
Ben smirked, looking at Zombozo who’d now begun to tremble.
“Stop him you moron!” he yelled at Luna.
With a roar and snarl, Luna swiftly moved and tackled Ben to the ground. Keeping her right foreleg on his left foreleg, as she stood above him. Ben winced slightly at the pressure being applied by the dark alicorn.
Zombozo laughed, moving towards him. “Well then Ben, I believe you’re out of tricks. Or do you have something else up your...hoof that I don’t know of?”
Ben’s wince turned to another smile. “Have you heard any noise coming from outside in the past couple of minutes?”
Zombozo prepared to apply, but upon hearing silence he froze. There wasn’t a sound of Gwen, Rook or any other other indications of a battle still going on outside.
“Where are they?” Zombozo asked with silently fury quickly making his way towards Ben.
He said nothing.
“WHERE ARE THEY?!?!” he yelled.
The throne room windows exploding was the only answer he got as Princess Celestia now back to normal floated inside with Rook suspended in her magic. Kevin, Dash and Gwen soon joining her side.
When Princess Celestia saw her sister’s state, a dark shadow came over her face that made Rook and Kevin back away slowly.
“What have you done to my sister?” she said in an even tone, but one with enough force to shatter a boulder.
Zombozo backed up, sweat starting to form and quickly slide down his oily skin.
“Luna” he said backing away towards the exit. “Attack!”
Luna shifted her weight from Ben, giving the stallion the chance to slip out from underneath her and attacked her sister and their friends.
Zombozo meanwhile made his hasty escape. Ben galloped after him.
“Curses!” Zombozo yelled. “It would be easy, I thought. Go to an alternate world, it'll be a piece of cake, I thought! Gah!” he fell when a hoof tripped him.
Turning on his back the penguin began to lift himself up, only to fall flat on his back once more when a weight was applied to it.
Ben had his forehoof placed over the decrepit penguin’s stomach, and was slowly adding pressure.
“Hold on Tennyson!” he said with both claws raised defensively. “I’ll cut you a deal.”
Ben stared coldly at the penguin before smiling and removing his hoof of Zombozo’s stomach. Zombozo scooted away, leaning against the wall.
Ben trotted towards him, lifted the omnitrix up and tapped it. The watch hummed, then glowed green before displaying the image of an alien. Ben swivelled the dial with his hoof, letting Zombozo watch as he selected a particular alien.
He stopped at one with a mask.
The whimper from Zombozo, and the way his eye twitched made Ben grin slightly as he recalled just how terrified he was of this particular alien.
“Please” Zombozo whispered. “Anything but that.”
Ben let his hoof hover over the dial and the omnitrix. He could hear the battle in the throne room coming to an end now. Most likely Zombozo’s powers now weakening thanks to his own fear. Soon enough all affected by his powers would be freed from his control.
Faking the act like he was going to dial the alien in Ben watched the villain try to get up and flee in fright only to trip.
“Please” Zombozo begged. “Just take me to jail” his face now turning pale.
The sound of hooves coming up behind him, made Ben turn to see Rook coming towards him. “I see you are entertaining our guest.”
Ben shrugged. “I guess you could say that.”
Rook’s grappling hook wrapped around Zombozo’s arms. “The princess would like to see you. Both of them would.”
Zombozo attempted to escape once more but Ben showed him the alien on his watch and the penguin went limp once more.
Rook escorted the decrepit penguin back to the throne room leaving Ben to watch back in the hall.
Lifting his left forehoof up Ben looked at the omnitrix above his fetlock. He grinned. He finally had it back.
Turning the dial a few more times Ben went , through a few aliens and picked on one he wanted. Raising a hoof he prepared to slam his hoof down on the watch to change into the alien.
“Hero Time!” he said with joy. Slamming his hoof down green light exploded. And once done Ben expected himself to have changed.
But he had not.
He stared in confusion and looked at his watch. It was glowing. He tried again, selecting a different alien.
Nothing happened. No change. No transformation. Nothing.
Ben’s brows furrowed in confusion. Just as he was about to attempt to try again, the watch suddenly broke apart into pieces on his foreleg, littering the ground.
Ben gawked in utter shock by what had just happen.ed. “...”
This watch was a fake.