Chapter Seven: Old Wounds

Gwen was dreaming. This one seemed strange even as far as dream mechanics normally went. She was in the Null Void once again. Kevin and Vilgax held Ben down as he screamed in pain. Gwen fought tears as she watched the skin get ripped off along with the Omnitrix. Ben yelled out in absolute agony as the spot where the Omnitrix was now showed a red, pulsing patch of connective tissue and bone. Gwen gasped at the sight and felt hot tears stream down her face. Then, her face melted into anger and determination. I have to do something! She told herself calmly. "After all these years, I finally have it! The Omnitrix is MINE!" Vilgax roared in sadistic glee. Kevin looked at Vilgax with a glare. The warlord regarded Kevin briefly. "Do what you want with the boy. He is of no further use to me." This brought a dark grin to Kevin's face. Then, Kevin picked up Ben and started to slam the boy into the ground like a baby playing with a rattle. Kevin even had that same face of absolute joy as he repeatedly beat Ben into the ground. The two evil bastards didn't notice Gwen as she quietly flew in for a closer look. Then, Gwen got an idea and dropped from her rocket pack. As she rolled onto the asteroid below, the pack slammed into Kevin, made him drop Ben, and sent him back a few feet before it exploded and caused Kevin to growl in annoyance and pain. Gwen dove and caught Ben before he could hit the ground. When she got a good look at Ben, Gwen's heart sank. The boy had numerous fractures, lacerations, and bruises all over his body.

For a moment, Gwen questioned if he was even alive. Then, Ben's chest began to rise and fall weakly. "Ben," She cried as she gripped his hand firmly. "W-we'll get you back to your G-Grandpa, and he'll f-fix you up." Ben smiled sadly at her. "There's no-" Ben's attempt to talk was halted as the boy hacked and coughed violently in her arms. Then, she saw the blood. "Ben, please don't talk!" Ben gave her a soft smile. "Nothing can stop that now." He winced as a fresh wave of pain racked his body. "I should have told you…" He took a ragged breath and coughed up more blood. "I love you." Ben's head turned to the side, and he let out a final breath.

Gwen screamed, sat up, and started to cry. She looked around and noticed something was off. "Where's Ben?" She mumbled. It didn't hold the usual aggravation she had when she uttered the question countless times before. Instead, the question was laced with worry as she looked around the Rustbucket. "Mr. Tennyson!" She yelled frantically as fresh tears gleamed in her emerald eyes. Max ran to the frightened girl and sat beside her. "What happened?" He asked softly. "I couldn't save Ben!" She yelled across the RV. Max pulled the girl close in a grandfatherly way to comfort her. "Shhh…Ben's alright. He just went to check on his Mom." Max told Gwen as the girl looked at the man and smiled thinly. "It was so real…" She trailed off as tears threatened to overwhelm her again. "Kevin beat Ben to a pulp after Vilgax got the Omnitrix." She said with a shiver.

At that moment, what Gwen thought were two sets of feet softly landed on the grass outside the Rustbucket. Gwen's eyes shot up, and she glared in the direction of the sound. "Stay here, Mr. Tennyson." Gwen said to the man as she calmly and slowly walked outside. The air was cold, too cold for summer. Gwen looked around and glared into the night. "Show yourself!" She ordered. "Peace, daughter." A soothing female voice called as a large reptile with icy blue scales looked at Gwen. Gwen knew she was half dragon, but that made it no less scary when she saw this dragon. Gwen's body shook in fear at the massive creature. Her blue eyes glowed in the still night and lit up most of the dragon's face. She seemed to have a puzzled expression on her face. Then, the look melted into understanding, and the dragon took the form of Lilly Stacy. "Mom?!" Gwen asked as her eyes bulged out of her head. "Why are you here?" The woman laughed. "Can I check on my daughter?" Gwen nodded slowly and walked to her Mom.

As they hugged, Gwen heard a familiar howl and smiled. Ben, Luna, and Carl soon came into the clearing where the Rustbucket was parked. Carl smiled at his son as he got off Luna's back. The smile on his Dad's face made Ben sigh. He knew exactly what his parents wanted to know. "So, when do we…?" The question died in Luna's throat and turned into a threatening growl as she spied an Ice Dragon. "Stay close, Ben." Luna said protectively. The she-wolf never took her eyes off the other woman. Gwen and Ben looked at their parents in confusion and started to walk toward each other. Lilly's eyes glittered with anger as she looked at Ben. The feeling was mutual as Luna and Lilly stared each other down. Gwen smiled and pulled Ben to her. Then, they shared a passionate kiss in spite of the mounting tension between their parents. The ten year olds stayed in each other's arms until a loud roar ripped through the forest. They looked at Lilly. "What is it?" Gwen asked her mom. "No self-respecting daughter of mine is going to date a fleabag!" The woman roared. Luna got between the couple and the dragon. "Harm them, and you will not see sunrise!" Luna warned. Lilly glared at Gwen. "I have no daughter!" With those slicing words, Lilly walked away.

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