Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10 or anything related to the series.

Part 1: The Dark Absurdities

Charmcaster's POV

Every now and then I separate myself from the world that surrounds me and look into the past, my past, studying it like a scholar would study an ancient manuscript written in a language no longer spoken. I look at these glyphs with the aim of making them speak, reveal, answer the one question that has been haunting me for a long time. Why did all of this happen?

My greatest wish is to forget my past life, but, nevertheless, I keep revisiting it in my thoughts, in my nightmares...

Back during my short-lasting stay in juvi after that ridiculous body-switch incident years ago, I first came across speculations about my mental health from the facility's staff. Now as I think on this issue, I wonder whether they were really right.

My uncle Hex, rest his soul, had a purpose. He used his powers and committed crimes in order to achieve one thing—world domination, a destiny he thought the only one fit for someone of his might and greatness. But what about me?

I betrayed my uncle so that I could get possession of the recreated Charms of Bazel, but not for a moment did I wonder for what purpose I was planning on using it. I attempted to switch bodies with Ben which would have given me the opportunity of channeling my magic through his alien forms. So what could have been the point of doing that? I put a charm on the boyfriend of my archrival with a kiss and used him as a pawn to lure her into a trap and stole her power. In this case my triumph at least lasted for several hours, but aside from anger over being defeated by a 10-year old five years before, I cannot name any other relatively rational explanations. I did not demand like a billion dollar ransom in exchange for not destroying Bellwood. It would not have made me a worldwide celebrity and a constant guest on talk shows. It now seems that I was after power but not its spoils like authority or wealth.

It seems so now, but I was unable to see it then. Mental blindness had taken over me and with it I traveled from year to year, ignorant of the patterns of reality. Yet miracles happen even in the kingdom of the blind, and weak light began to pierce the thick fogs that had been covering my mind for years. It had taken a long time to reach me, for it happened only two years after the incident with Kevin.

First, I started questioning my motives. Only then I began to understand that I had dedicated so many years to a meaningless game, a game that nobody else played with me. I was destined to remain a pariah no matter whether I was winning or losing.

Realization was what cast me to the gates of Hell. I do not know how much time I spent in the miserable depression that followed it. The fairytale that I had personally written for myself was finishing with torment, not a happy end. As its author, I just needed to put the final dot. Several times I had taken a knife, ready to stab myself in the hearth, but just to throw it against the wall. Several times I had lit a candle, thinking of bringing it close to my robe so that its flame would consume me like the fires of the Inquisition had done to countless medieval "witches", yet put it out in the last moment. I still wonder what held me back then.

With nothing else left, I gave up to the authorities. Then I received an offer from a special service that needed my expertise in resolving a little problem that had arisen for them. Some loony warlord in South-East Asia had taken possession of an ancient Indian artifact (probably of alien origin) that had the power to turn an entire jungle into a wasteland within minutes. Logically, the guy was intent on reshaping the socio-political realities of the area to his liking. However, not every force wanted to see such a scenario come true. Yet the measures that could have been taken by them can be considered limited.

My objective was to steal or destroy it, so that is why I took a trip to the region. I must admit that, in a way, I enjoyed the place: the sunny beaches, the ruins of marvelous shrines lost in the tropical forests, the masked theatre performances…That is, when I was not chased or shot at by cutthroat militias. Just like any other adventure story, mine culminated in the showdown with the main villain. Strangely, it was easier than I had expected; I just needed to overload his ultimate weapon with my magic, thus shattering it. Its powers turned against him and the bastard got torn into bloody shreds by the freed energies. That guy ain't gonna be playing with toys like that ever again!

Triumphant, I returned to account for my mission. I did not fail them, and they kept to their side of the bargain. I was given help to start a new life, so that I would not return to a criminal career as Charmcaster. I was given the position of a librarian in one of the provincial towns—it is not the same as getting a banker's post in New York, but at least it's better than nothing. However, one thing made me raise an eyebrow immediately. The town I was going to be sent to is called Bellwood. For me, that meant a lot…

That was how normal life began for me after years of dark absurdities. I have spent these two years like most other people do: I go to work, I go home, I pay taxes, and I watch the news in the evening. Loneliness became my scourge. When I forsake my past, I forsake everybody I was associated in it. I had no friends: allies and accomplices in the past, acquaintances in the present.

Sometimes, I visit the grave of my uncle, whom I have forgiven for his past faults before me. I might spend numerous hours there, locked in my little world, one amidst the infinity I have created in one lifetime.

Yet these two years were destined to be a passing era in my life just like its predecessors. One day the dark absurdities of my past collided with the grey realities of my present. That day I once again came across Ben Tennyson after a long time. The metamorphosis amazes me. In the past, he foiled my schemes on several occasions; nowadays, he, secretly and hopelessly in love with his own cousin, turns to me for comfort and caress…