I don't own these images or Ben10. Sorry it took me so long to update you know how school please review.
The Test
The trio walked inside the room and saw earth's mightiest warriors throughout the ages. There was a samurai, ninja, gladiator, a shaolin monk, a Scottish swordsman, a Hun archer, an Egyptian swordsman, a knight with a sword and shield and many other of earths warriors. The heroes see another pedestal and go over to it, the thing lights up, and another Merlin hologram appears.
"I see you have chosen to go further, here is your first trial, pick a warrior, and fight it in combat, but in order to pass this test only the humble, who can sacrifice their pride can survive," The hologram said and vanished.
"Great another being who believes in riddles, as if professor paradox wasn't bad enough," Kevin complained.
"So Gwen what can you tell us about these things?" Ben asked.
Gwen's eyes glowed a dark sparkling violet as she looked at the statues, then her eyes turned back to normal.
"Nothing, even though they seem similar to Charmcaster's golems I can't figure out how they work. However, I do know the history of these warriors. The Viking warriors were a mighty but somewhat barbaric people, they were traders, builders, and mercenaries, more often times than not they thought the best way to end a problem was by killing," Gwen said.
"Dibs on that one," Kevin said.
"What about him?" Ben asked Gwen as he pointed to the gladiators.
"The gladiators were very fierce and powerful Roman warriors. Trained since birth they combined brain and brawn to take down their opponents and were notorious glory hogs," Gwen said.
"That one is definitely for me," Ben said.
"Then I'll take the samurai, honorable Japanese warriors that used knowledge and skill to defeat their opponents," Gwen said.
When Gwen made her choice, the room began to shake and the other warrior statues sank into the ground. As they vanished the room began to change into an arena, Gwen, Ben, and Kevin stared at the coliseum around them. Suddenly, an energizing hum is heard from behind them and our heroes turn around and see golden light move through the lines on the warriors they had chosen, then the statues stepped from their pedestals, drew their weapons, and waited.
"What are they waiting for?" Ben asked.
"They must be waiting for us to prepare," Gwen said.
Ben activated the Ultimatrix and turned the dial until he came to a tiger like image. He slammed the watch down.
"WRATH!" Wrath shouted as the light cleared away.
Kevin took the Taedenite sample out of his pocket and absorbed it until a green armor covered him then he morphed his right hand into an axe and his left hand into a shield.
Gwen gathered her mana around her like armor.
Suddenly the Spartan warrior ran up to Wrath and punched him up against the wall. Wrath got up and growled.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING SPARTAN, NOBODY BUT NOBODY DOES A SNEAK ATTACK ON WRATH!" Wrath shouted and engaged the Spartan in combat.
The Viking charged Kevin swinging his axes, Kevin dodged and weaved catching one axe with his shield arm and then sliced one of the horns from the Vikings helmet.
Gwen leapt into the air and did a flying kick at the statue, but the statue caught her foot and spun her around and into the arena wall.
"Turbon!" Gwen shouted and she spun around in midair and collided with the samurai mana and steel clashed to gain dominance of the fight.
The trio fought and fought but the warriors started to match them blow for blow and when the warriors seemed to be losing, they got stronger and regained the upper hand.
"Guys these things are getting stronger," Kevin said narrowly missing an axe blade to the ear.
"Gee you think," Gwen said shooting a mana blast at the samurai who sliced it with his sword.
"YOUR JUST BEING A BIG WUSS KEVIN LEVEN, WRATH CAN GO ALL DAY. THESE STATUES ARE SO WEAK I'M GOING THE CALL MINE WIMPY MAN. CAN I CALL YOU WIMPY MAN? WIMPY MAN," Wrath said in a hand lock with the statue, taking its opportunity it head butted Wrath into the ground.
Then it suddenly hit Gwen, Merlin had tricked them he let them think that they had to win in order to pass the test but he said that "in order to pass this test only the humble, who can sacrifice their pride can survive" that was how they passed the test.
"Guys we need to surrender," Gwen shouted.
"What are you nuts?" Kevin asked punching the Viking with his shield.
"LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING GWEN TENNYSON, WRATH DOES NOT SURRENDER!" Wrath shouted.
"Guys trust me, the more we fight the more powerful and smarter the statues get, trust me power down," Gwen said her mana aura vanishing.
Kevin sighed and the Taedenite armor receded until he was back to normal. Then there was a green flash and Ben stood were Wrath was. Suddenly the statues stopped.
Gwen walked over to them and bowed from her waist.
"We submit, you are the better warriors," Gwen said.
The warriors put their weapons away, nodded towards their opponents, and sunk into the ground. The arena disappeared leaving only a brightly lit exit.
"Well I guess we pass," Kevin said shrugging his shoulders.
"I could have taken them," Ben said as he followed his friends through the door.
As the trio went through the door, a pale-skinned outline followed them through the door as it closes.
The second room
The second room was pitch black and the empty except for another pedestal, a Merlin image appeared on its surface.
"If you made it this far then you are either skilled and wise or just plain lucky, this test is for the chosen one alone, step forward," Merlin said as he waved his hand causing a white circle to appear in front of him, then the Merlin image vanished.
Gwen stepped forward into the white circle and suddenly violet chords snaked out of the darkness and pierced into Gwen's skin. Ben and Kevin stared in horror as they saw Gwen hoisted into the air, slowly turning an energized violet.
"No those chords are turning her into an Anodite," Ben said.
"We got to get those things out of her," Kevin said.
Then a white energy force field shot up and cut them off from Gwen. Ben changed into Armodrillo, while Kevin absorbed the Taedenite and formed his arms into blades and began to hack at the wall. However, it did no good, no matter where he digged he couldn't break through. Then he turned into Ghost Freak but the force field and floor could not be passed through , then he turned to Ultimate Echo Echo but the force field just bounced the sound back at them. But even if they could have gotten through the barrier, it would not have made a difference because the real test now went on in Gwen's mind.
Gwen's head
Gwen looked around as she was floating in a dark void. As she looked around her she saw a bright glowing violet light, it glowed like a beacon beckoning her to its light. As she got closer to the light, she saw that the light was actually a floating Anadite about her age, this Anodite looked nothing like her cousin Sunny, thank goodness because she was not Sunni's favorite cousin right now, she floated closer to the Anodite and spoke.
"Who are you?" Gwen asked.
"Seriously, who are you that are the best you could come up with when you see an Anodite inside your head? Especially when the answer to your own question is right in front of you," The Anodite said.
"Wow, harsh much. Well if I have to guess minus the attitude that you're me," Gwen said.
"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner and on the first try too. Anyway you guessed right I am you but for simplicity sake you can call me Gwendolyn," Gwendolyn said.
"Okay so if you're a part of me, what part of me are you?" Gwen asked Gwendolyn.
"I am what you really are Gwen and soon what you will become," Gwendolyn said as she hovered around Gwen her long glowing hair flowing in the void.
Gwen felt a very tingly sensation in her right arm; when she looked down she saw that her arm was see through.
"What's happening to me?" Gwen demanded as she looked at the smiling Gwendolyn.
"You are becoming me, we are becoming an Anodite," Gwendolyn said in rapture.
"Yea let me tell you my opinion to that in the following way. Gladius Sagitto! "Gwen cried and hundreds of spear like mana bolts shot out of Gwen's hand at Gwendolyn.
Gwendolyn merely yawned and spun around until she was a violet tornado as the blades flew at her they shattered into dust against her shield. Then the eye of the tornado glowed a bright, hot violet and unleashed a powerful energy wave with the power of an exploding sun.
"Protego!" Gwen shouted as a violet shield quickly formed around her. Gwen was knocked into the floating void unable to fully shield the blast. Gwendolyn shot after her like a bullet. Gwen did a back flip and righted herself.
"Verdon!" Gwen said making a crisscross motion with her hands, creating an X like shape blast with her power blast. Gwendolyn rolled her eyes and batted the attack away with her hair.
"Come on, is that all you got? I don't know what's worse the fact that you're weak or the fact that you're acting so selfishly," Gwendolyn chided.
"Selfish, weak, I'm not the one trying to rob me of my humanity and fighting a disadvantaged opponent but explain to me how am I selfish," Gwen said.
"You're being selfish because you will not take the high road and stop thinking about yourself. What is your humanity compared to the greater good we could have done if we had went with grandma Verdona. Is Emily your best friend since Kindergarten worth more than your humanity, do you even want to know the nights she's cried herself to sleep because she was teased because she couldn't walk or run with the other people or the anger she feels when people show her pity and treat her like some delicate flower. With one wave of our hand we could have saved her from further torment, we could have given her the freedom she deserves. Or the time when aunt Sandra was kidnapped by that psychopathic clown and made to walk a type rope of flaming death, we could have taken them out just like that, but you let him and his goons over power you, you were weak," Gwendolyn said with contempt .
"I tried to defend Aunt Sandra with my life!" Gwen shouted and shot a power blast at her Anadite counterpart unable to think of a spell to use. Gwendolyn merely caught the blast and continued her berate Gwen.
"Just like you tried to stop our bratty cousin Sunny, had we been an Anodite we could have wiped that smug look off her face, but no, we had to go running to grandma. Or how you tried to help Dark star, I admit the guy was a huge jerk but we could have fixed him and helped to rehabilitate him. But, more importantly think about how we could have helped Kevin for an entire year we let walk around feeling and looking like a freak and you just stood by being helpless and weak," Gwendolyn said getting bigger with each word.
"I…did…everything…I could...for him!" Gwen shouted tears starting to come down her face not noticing that she was becoming less solid.
"I do not call leafing through spell books much of anything. Or how about a few months ago when Kevin had to sacrifice his humanity in order to stop Aggregor and went on a psychotic rampage becoming a prisoner in his own body," Gwendolyn said.
"She's right… about everything," Gwen said as she started to fade.
"No, Gwen she's not right about everything," a voice said out of the darkness. Gwen turns her head and sees her Alien Force self from season one walk out of the void.
"Giving up our humanity would have been the most selfish thing we could have done it would have hurt everyone our family, friends, but most of all Kevin to think that we just abandoned them just for a little power boost," Gwen 1 said.
Before Gwendolyn could say anything Gwen 1, eyes glowed a light violet.
"Silencio!" Gwen 1 said and Gwendolyn's lips folded in on themselves.
"But what happened to Kevin….was not our fault," another voice said from the left of Gwen and cutting her off.
Another Gwen walked out of the shadows this one was dressed like the season two Gwen of Alien Force.
"Trust me, what happened to Kevin had to happen. Even though we can't truly alter the past, believe me I tried, long story, we can still make a brighter future," Gwen 2 said.
"We never even really needed to become an Anodite anyway to solve our problems," another voice said this one from the Ben 10 version of Gwen.
"If we can do without it before we can do without it now. Besides, do you really think that summo loving dweeb can really be left alone with the Ultramatrix?" Gwen 3 asked all the Gwens shuddered at thought.
Suddenly Gwen's eyes shot open and she once more became solid and stood up on the space.
"Thank you," Gwen said to each of her counterparts.
"Now it's time to shut up that overgrown neon sign once and for all. Me, Myself, and I you ready for this?" Gwen asked her counterparts as her eyes turned violet. The other three Gwen's eyes all lit up and smiled. Then all the Gwens shot up into the air and formed a diamond around Gwendolyn.
"Reverto Meus Ops Mihi," The Gwens intoned together. Gwendolyn stared in horror as her very being began to fall apart and let out a muffled cry, as she was absorbed into the Gwens. The Gwens floated to the ground, Gwens 1, two, and three smiled at Gwen, turned into a violet mist, and absorbed themselves into Gwen.The Chamber
Gwen lets out a shout and a violet wave shoots out from Gwen, causing the cords to turn her loose and lower her to the ground. The force field lowers, there was a flash and Ben turned back to normal, he and Kevin ran over to Gwen's limp but breathing form. Kevin stooped down and cradled Gwen to his chest.
"Gwen, Gwen speak to me, please, don't leave me," Kevin said a small tear running down his cheek and onto Gwen's face.
In the dark void, Gwen feels a splatter of moisture fall on her face. She looks up and see's a window shaped portal radiating a white gold light, then suddenly it let of a blinding flash.
Gwen moaned and she stirred in Kevin's arms.
"Gwen, don't ever scare me like that again," Kevin said holding Gwen, to himself he sent up a very awkward but very heartfelt prayer to God, he still new to that kind of thing.
"Alright, but you have to stop crushing me against your Taedenite armor," Gwen said Kevin powered down and kissed Gwen repeatedly.
Ben made the gagging gesture still not used to the whole Gwevin thing, and then he spotted an exit in the front of the room.
"Gwen whatever you did must have worked. So if you two love birds could stop making kissy face before I throw up or before a pasty faced magical psychopath gains the Charms of Bezel so we can go it would really be appreciated," Ben said.
Kevin and Gwen starred daggers at Ben but they knew he was right. Kevin helped Gwen up and they walked towards the doorway.
"What?" Kevin asked as he saw Ben staring at him.
"Nothing I just didn't know you had a heart, Ow," Ben said receiving a quick but very hard punch from Kevin in the arm. Then Kevin grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and looked Ben square in the eye.
"Tennyson if you tell anyone," Kevin said letting the threat hang in the air.
"Don't worry the fact that you can feel is safe with me," Ben said making the surrender gesture.
Kevin put him down and walked to Gwen. However, Ben crossed his fingers deciding that this would be some juicy ammo when he needed it.
The Final Test
The team entered the third room and stared in wonder. In the room, there was long miniature waterfall that surrounded the whole room feeding a circular lake; in the middle of the lake was a huge marble island with a crystal pillar in the center with eight floating stones in a perfect circle.
"Well I guess we passed the entire test," Ben said.
"No something isn't right this way is too easy," Gwen said.
Suddenly an energized blood red blast shot at our heroes as Gwen threw up a barrier in time. When the smoke cleared, Hex flew into the room.
"Hex, I don't remember seeing you on the guest list," Ben said.
"I am crashing this party," Hex said blowing smoke from his staff.
"Wait how'd you'd even get past the security system?" Kevin asked.
"Quite simple I let you take and pass the test for me. There is nothing better than having your enemies do the dirty work for you," Hex said with a satisfied smirk.
"Well it's a good thing you're used to disappointment, because you're not getting those charms," Gwen said gathering her power.
"Well my dear I beg to differ. COMEO AEROTIDES MEA!" Hex shouted raising his staff.
The eight charms symbols began to glow a dark red and one by one, they flew onto Hex's charm holder. Suddenly magical designs began to etch themselves into his skin and his glowed an energized bright red. Hex laughed as the power flowed through him then he looked at his staff like a cheap trinket and incinerated it ashes.
"Alright time to bring out the big guns," Ben said turning his Ultimatrix to a dinosaur like picture and slapped down the controls."HUMUNGOUSAUR!" Humungousaur shouted.
Then he pressed the symbol on his chest and a green light passed over him.
"Ultimate Humungousaur!" Ultimate Humungousaur shouted.
"Alright Hex here's the deal, you give us those stones and I won't pound your face in but to make it fair I'll trade you for this," Ultimate Humungousaur said firing the missiles from his hands.
Hex holds out his right hand, the charm of levitation glows bright red, and the missiles stop in mid air.
Ben starred in confusion and horror as he saw the impossible feat, then hex sneered and snapped his fingers, the missiles instantly redirected themselves at Ultimate Humungousaur and shot back at him tenfold their power. Ultimate Humungousaur was flung against the waterfall and in a bright green flash; he reverted to Ben Tennyson. Before Ben could do anything, Hex zipped in front of him and The Charm of Principia Cherum glowed blood red and the water wrapped itself around Ben like a cobra, after watching Ben suffocate for a bit Hex blew a icy mist from his breath and water instantly froze entombing Ben in ice. Kevin put his hands to the stone terrace, absorbed the marble, and charged at Hex, then suddenly his body froze and Hex turned around to reveal that the Charm of Principia Cherum was glowing, and then Kevin was flung to the ground into the begging position and melded to the Terrance. Then Hex turned to Gwen and gloated.
"And then there was one," Hex said tauntingly.
"Yea, but by the time I'm through you're gonna wish that one wasn't ME!" Gwen shouted and in a flash of violet light Hex was face to face with a pissed off Anodite.
"Whwhwhwhat …are…you?" Hex said finally realizing why Zombozo had gone into hiding after he had told him of Gwen Tennyson's promise.
"Your worst nightmare," Gwen said punching Hex in the face.
Hex quickly recovered and the duel had begun, power blast and incantations flew left and right, neither one getting tired or willing to give up, then both fired mana blast at each other and the two beams collided each trying to push the other back.
"Face it girl with these stones I am more than a match for you nobody can stop me…AHHHHH!" Hex shouted as the charms started to glow at the same time, the red energy seemed to seep out of them and wrap itself around Hex he fell to ground and spammed. Then red bolts of energy streaked from stones one of the bolts struck Bens icy prison and the ice instantly melted, Ben took a big gasping breath and checked himself not even his clothes were wet. The other bolt struck Kevin and freed him from the floor his armor falling off him as he stood up. Ben and Kevin ran over to Gwen, Kevin starred Gwen forgetting how hot she looked in her Anodite form.
"Gwen what's happening to Hex?" Ben asked.
"I think the stones are too much for him, soon they'll over power him," Gwen said.
Then Gwen remembered what Morgan Le Fey whispered to her before she left.
"Gwendolyn, listen to me you are a direct descendent of Bezel plus you are an Anodite, because of your heritage only you and the ones after you can safely use the stones. Anyone else who tried to use the charms would be overwhelmed by their power. Listen to me if Hex somehow gets the stones first you must use the self-destruct code phrase it will save Hex but the Charms will be destroyed and the Keystone will burn out, the choice is yours to make," Morgan Le Fey said and whispered the code phrase into Gwen's ear.
Gwen looked at the Keystone with a form of longing but it glowed a golden hue as if it acknowledged what Gwen had to do Gwen told Ben and Kevin to stand back and hoisted herself and Hex into the air. Gwen formed a violet bubble around Hex and began the code phrase.
"Scindo Vivere!" Gwen said and the charms flew off Hex's sash pushed themselves against the violet sphere until they formed another smaller sphere.
"Elitism Fichus Sent!" Gwen said the Keystone of Bezel radiated a blinding golden light and there was a huge flash. When the light cleared, Ben and Kevin took their arms from their faces and looked up to see Gwen floating down with Hex in one power sphere and a bunch of ashes in another. Gwen changed back to normal and both spheres vanished, she looked at the keystone feeling the vacancy were the power used to be.
Hex opened his eyes and stared at the ashes in dismay.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Hex shouted as he scrounged through the ashes.
"She just saved your life, that's what she's done," Kevin said cracking his knuckles.
"You ruined everything I had it, ultimate power, and you ruined me. YOU…WILL… PAY… FOR… THIS!" Hex said as his eyes twitched. He lunged for Gwen hands outstretched, foaming at the mouth like a mad dog.
Suddenly a white/platinum mana blast shot out from behind the pillar obliterating it and knocking Hex hard against the wall. Everybody stared in amazement as the waterfall parted like a curtain and a man that looked like he was in his early forties walked out. He had crème colored skin with green eyes and graying long orange hair with a beard. He wore black robe with covered in stars, galaxies, nebulas, planets, and systems. Over top of that, he wore a white cloak that was trimmed with gold with a high collar. One his feet he wore simple loafers; he walked over to Hex and looked at him with disgust and pity.
"You foolish, selfish, power hungry brat, did you really think that you could control what is not yours. Be gone wretch," The old man commanded.
Suddenly, a white portal opened up and long white tendrils shot from the opening, wrapping themselves around Hex and dragged him into the portal as it closed.
"Man talk about ungrateful," Ben said staring at the spot where Hex used to be.
"Who are you?" Gwen said still in awe.
"My many times great granddaughter I am Merlin have passed your final test," Merlin said.