He was surrounded by darkness, trapped in a void of emotions. Ben felt lighter as if his entire body was intangible. He was fully conscious and aware of past events, the teen knew he was dead. Was this the afterlife? Ben was content with being alone in the dark for all eternity. Beating Vilgax was his final wish as a hero, he saved the universe yet again and died doing so. Ben couldn't think of a more fitting end to his never-ending journey than that. Vilgax was right, they were one of the many examples of Yin and Yang in the world. Something that couldn't live without their other half. Gwen believed that the choice to kill Kevin was the hero's breaking point, but that was only fuel for the fire. This was a slow burn that's been mending over several years. Every villain, every war, every death was slowly consuming him. Like Azmuth said, "the watch is not a hero's tool", if he could only see the wielder of his most prized possession now.

Voices filled the young man's head and he looked around in the darkness, unable to see anything but heard people talking clear as day. He couldn't make out the words, like they were speaking in a foreign language; his brain was powerless to decipher the conversation. How dare they interrupt his afterlife? Ben heard the voices become louder and more understandable, it sounded like they were some type of medical team. Over all the voices someone told him to open his eyes. Who was that? They sounded familiar, it was on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't recognize them. He wanted to see who this mysterious person was, so he focused the little strength he had to open his eyes. His body didn't listen to him and nothing worked for a couple minutes, the voice had grown louder and more joined in. Five minutes later, several voices were asking him to open his eyes.

Gwen wheeled herself into Ben's hospital room with her grandpa limping behind her. She made eye contact with her aunt and uncle. Carl Tennyson was holding his wife as she wept into his chest. The redhead heard rushing footsteps behind her and was suddenly enveloped in a hug. Her mom was crying on her shoulder and her dad looked at her with red eyes and a proud smile.

"Mom! Dad!" she cried as she hugged her mother back.

She couldn't contain herself anymore, this was her breaking point. Gwen sobbed in her mother's arms, letting her emotions from everything out. It was a gross and ugly cry that led to hiccups and a painful headache very quickly, but she didn't care anymore.

"Honey, can you open your eyes for mommy?" Sandra cried as she turned to face her son.

"Ben, my son, if you can hear us, please wake up!" Carl pleaded.

Gwen's mother and father looked at the crying family with pity, they couldn't imagine losing Gwen.

"Ben! Please, you have to wake up!" Gwen called out.

The redhead rolled away from her parents to her cousin's bedside and held his hand gently. She had a smile on her face as tears rolled down her cheeks. Gwen wanted to believe that Ben was still with her. That he wouldn't give up that easily, after all he's been through; the Ben Ten legacy couldn't end here. The smile began to fade away as they called for him to come back and he didn't respond.

Gwen put Ben's hand against her forehead, silently thanking him for everything he's done. She felt a slight squeeze and gasped as she glanced up at the bandaged face of her cousin. She saw his weak green eyes staring back at her. Gwen stared at him like he was a ghost, afraid that he might disappear if she didn't keep eye contact. Sandra hugged her husband when she saw that their only child was awake, Natalie and Frank smiled as they wiped their tears. Max stood behind his family with a smile on his face, his eyes red and puffy.

"So we won, huh?" Ben croaked into the room.

Doctors came piling in and asked everyone to wait outside while they took care of their patient. Gwen was pushed to the waiting room by her dad, she saw everyone waiting for them. They all stared at her expectedly in silence, waiting for the answer to everyone's questions.

"He's awake," Gwen smiled.

The room was suddenly filled with cheers and clapping as everyone cried their own tears, this was a moment for the books. Ben was alive. The allied forces hugged each other and laughed at the great news they received.

It was 8 P.M. but thousands of people were gathered around the hospital waiting in the darkness for any information. Everyone came rushing when they heard the savior of the world was critically injured in Bellwood's hospital. News stations recorded the massive event live and millions watched from their TV's at home. Everyone held their breath as they awaited a sign of fortune. Good thing word travels faster than light. A reporter listened to the mic in her ear before turning to the camera.

"It seems that Ben Tennyson has opened his eyes for the first time since this morning," she spoke.

That was every reporter's cue to do their job.

"THIS JUST IN! BEN TENNYSON IS ALIVE!" another reported.

"Benjamin Tennyson, savior of the world, has woken up from his coma."

"Good news everyone, our hero is awake."

The crowd reacted exactly like the waiting room, people bursting into tears as they hugged each other, others cheered as they flicked a lighter for their hero. A roar of applause could be heard for several blocks. The homes of worldly citizens, aliens and humans alike, was lit up with cheering and joy for their savior. Anywhere that had a TV, their watchers had the news on. Millions of people cried tears of joy for Ben, this was how much their teenage hero meant to them. He saved those in need without a second thought, he was their ray of hope in a dimly lit world. Ben Ten wasn't just a person, he was an idea that heroes weren't born, they were made. He was an inspiration for those who thought they weren't strong enough to face the world. That anyone could put on a "watch".

The crowd began chanting, "IT'S HERO TIME" and "BEN TEN" into the cold night. Bellwood would remember this Christmas for years to come, their gift being Ben Tennyson. Gwen could hear their chants from outside as she conversed with her parents, she smiled and looked back towards Ben's room.

"See? They need you," she muttered.

Charmcaster sat topless on a metal table as she listened to the radio, and Lucy wrapped bandages around her wounds. A couple tears slipped and a bright smile appeared on her face. Nothing made her happier than to hear Ben was alive. She felt Lucy stop for several seconds then she felt a wetness on her back. She reached her arm around to pat the girl on the head as she cried for Ben. Hope laughed as she went over the past events in her head, Ben was truly the main character in this world. At first, the Plumbers were out to gut him and now he's being praised as the savior of the universe. He never fails to impress. The silver haired witch quickly shifted her body and pointed her hand at the door, she had barely any magic so the bright purple aura would only serve as a bluff. Lucy was confused by the sudden movement and peered at the door as it slowly opened. An older woman with white hair stepped into view with her hands up, she reminded the blonde of Gwen. Hope lowered her hand and recognized her as Gwen's grandma.

"I'm only here to talk," she announced.

Max looked around for a special someone, he checked her hospital room and found it empty. The nurse said she already checked out a couple hours before. Max chuckled before sitting in the chair in her room. He knew Verdona wasn't one to stick around after the party was over, but a man can dream. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall as he breathed a sigh of relief. The fight was finally over, and his grandchildren have yet again escaped death. This might be the year I really retire. He had nothing to teach them, they've grown into fine young adults; he would only hold them back. It was time to let them go. He was going to miss the summers traveling with them in the Rustbucket fighting crime. But at the same time, he couldn't express how proud of them that he was. Max opened his eyes to see a small note, surrounded by pink mana, floating in front of him. He touched the bubble and the mana disappeared, leaving him with the note. Till we meet again, my love. Max smiled as he clutched the note to his chest.

It was the next day and everyone had cleared the hospital parking lot to spend Christmas with their families. Ben spent most of the morning answering doctors questions and taking medicine. He regained his voice early this morning and the staff was taking advantage of his ability to talk. The sun shined brightly into his room and he squinted at the sudden light. He heard one of the doctors escort a person into his room, telling him that he had a visitor.

"Good Morning, Mr Tennyson," she greeted.

Ben slowly glanced at the tall older woman. She had red hair in a bob cut with a white button up and black pencil skirt, along with black high heels. The teen noticed the ID lanyard around her neck that read: "Donna Prescott, Panel Advisor". Something about her made his skin crawl.

"I'm with the Plumbers," she announced.

"What do you want?" Ben snarled with a dry throat.

She smiled widely with her red lipstick and white teeth, Ben could tell that smile held no emotion behind it.

"I wanted to thank you, on behalf of the Plumbers, for saving us once again."

"I didn't do it for you."

"Mmm well we wanted to show our gratitude either way. And to further show our appreciation, we have pardoned you and your witch friend of all present and past crimes."

Ben stared into her gray eyes with his cold green ones. The silence was thick and was quickly becoming uncomfortable.

"Thank you again and we look forward to working with you in the future," Donna said joyfully as she turned to leave.

"I still have to pay you guys back for Azmuth," Ben called out.

Donna stopped for a second as his words washed over her, before continuing to the door. She glanced back, midway through the door, with a smile,

"Merry Christmas, Ben Tennyson."

Gwen was wheeling herself in the direction of Ben's room as a taller woman strutted past her in a hurry. She caught a glimpse of the familiar face and remembered her as one of the panel members in the Plumber HQ. Gwen opened the door to see Ben, who was sitting up in bed. She smiled as she rolled over to his side.

"Merry Christmas," she greeted with a smile.

"Thanks," he responded.

"You usually say it back, doofus," she laughed.

"Thanks for saving me. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't shown up."

"Well I gotta keep you in line somehow."

Ben laughed for what felt like the first time in months and Gwen shared in the happy emotion with him.

"So what now?"

"Hm?" he replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Still gonna be a hero?"

"I have a feeling that things are just heating up for us. I'm gonna have to be more than just a hero."

Gwen stayed silent as she looked out the window at the shining sun, she got to thinking about the immediate future and it seemed bright for them.

"You with me?" Ben asked.

"Fuck yeah!" she answered confidently.

"Whoa! Slow down, Rambo," he laughed, shocked from Gwen's use of profanity.

Gwen playfully punched the boy's shoulder and laughed with him.

"Glad to see everyone is doing okay," an older voice spoke out.

"GRANDPA!" the teens shouted in unison.

Max gathered his grandchildren in a hug and they shared in the joy of being together again.

"I'm proud of you kids," Max stated as they laughed underneath him.

Vilgax laid dying in the destroyed Celestial Realm with all of his plans ruined by a singular teen. He admitted defeat for the first time since the battle for his planet and the alien didn't feel as much anguish as he thought he would. He admired Tennyson's strength and ability to seemingly jump over any obstacles in his path. The gauntlet laid dented and scratched in the ground a couple feet away but he felt no will to regain his strength. He was done fighting. The alien peered around when he heard approaching footsteps. He saw a man walk into view with a black spacesuit with the words "Plumber" written across it. The older man had a clear helmet that showed his scarred face and frown. Vilgax made eye contact with him for a split second, the man leaning down to pick up the glove. He gave the golden weapon a once-over before pulling a case from his back and inserting the gauntlet inside. The mysterious man pulled a radio from his hip and pressed the button.

"Delta squad has retrieved the device, moving back to LZ."

"Roger commander."

The soldier stepped over to Vilgax and pulled his sidearm before pointing it at the villain's head. One shot echoed through the realm as the commander turned to leave. He had a wicked smile on his scarred face as he walked back to his ship.

"I'm coming for you, Ben Tennyson."

AUTHOR's NOTE: And that's it guys! I am so happy that I was able to write this piece and even happier that you guys stuck around to support me. Thank you guys so much for the reviews and even just reading my story. I appreciate my audience greatly as they journeyed through this adventure with me. Now I ask you guys for one more thing before I go, if you guys can write a final review of the story. Now it doesn't have to be an essay, anything is appreciated. Tell me what you guys like or didn't like throughout the story, what had you on the edge of your seat, any questions you have or had, etc. It could literally be anything. Now yes ladies and gents, I will be making another book in this series. When? I don't know. I might take a break and go back to some of my other works. But be on the lookout for a new book. Thanks for everything!