I looked around the museum and tried to find something I hadn't already encountered. A game I devised for myself to pass time when I knew something important was going to happen. Our current stop on our summer road trip was to a history museum. Gwen was excited, Max was ecstatic. I was on edge. Hex was supposed to attack the museum of magical artifacts for the magical rune stones the museum had on display. I found them and looked for Gwen. 'How should I handle this? Gwen needs to be exposed to magic, so she doesn't feel useless anymore whenever Vilgax or the Freak of the Week shows up. But this would eventually lead to her discovering my particular magic. And I'm not about to let an Anodite get ahold of this much power. Cousin or no. It just spells trouble. Then there's Charmcaster…'

"Worry about this later," said Aoi. "Right now, you should be focusing on stopping Hex."

'Should I, though?'

"Yes! You're a hero, it's what you do!"

'I hate that word, "hero". A title that means nothing but sacrifice and thankless work while also being hated for petty reasons.'

"Speaking from experience?"

'Plenty.' I looked at a clock as Gwen explained about the Arkamada alongside the tour guide and was quickly scolded for it. I nudged her shoulder as the tour started following the guide. "Don't let Mummy-Face get to you. She's probably older than that book." Gwen giggled as the building started shaking and several people, save for me, were lifted off of the ground. 'Dammit! I forgot about my natural Anti-Magic field.'

"Well shut it off!"

'I can't, not without cutting off access to my magic.' I watched as a red smoke flew in from a window and landed in front of the Arkamada's display case, revealing a hooded man brandishing a staff and wearing a sash carrying the Charms of Bezel.

"The Arkamada book of spells," shouted the witch doctor. "All of its power shall soon be mine!" One of the runes glowed. "Fah-me-doof!" The glass shattered and he reached for the book, only to get his hand smacked away by a shard of glass I chucked at him.

"Yeah, I can't let you take that."

"Do not get in my way, child! Unless you wish to die!"

"Been there, done that. Got any other threats? No? Then I guess we fight." I lobbed a handful of glass at him that he batted away with his staff, only to find me gone.

"What trickery is this?" He turned around, trying to find me. I grabbed his staff from the shadows and deactivated his lift spell, making everyone drop from the ceiling.

"Everyone out," I shouted as I kicked Hex to the ground. I turned to Gwen. "Make sure everyone gets to safety!"

"Phoenix!"

"Don't argue, go!" Hex slammed his staff into my stomach as Gwen turned away and got everyone out. I groaned and keeled over as he loomed over me.

"You cannot hope to defeat me with petty tricks, boy."

"Yeah. Wasn't trying to beat you just yet. As a wise mentor once told me 'magic must defeat magic'. Hex grunted in surprise as a pillar of earth erupted beneath him and knocked him off his feet, knocking the Luck Charm from his sash. I pocketed it without him looking and grinned. "You like words of power? Try mine on for size. Fus-ROH-DAH!" A blast of sound sent him off his feet and into a wall, knocking his staff away from him. I turned into my white Kinecerelean, Quicksilver,and tied him up using some spare rope I had in my spatial storage. He stared at me.

"Those words…"

"You're still awake? I'll fix that." I hit him, knocking him out as Gwen ran back in. I turned to her. "Why did you come back?"

"To help you, Doofus!"

"Well, clearly, I don't need it. Hurry back outside, the police are almost…" Sirens sounded, and policemen charged in. They aimed their guns at me, and I sped in front of Gwen, arms wide.

"Don't shoot," said Gwen as she peaked out behind me. "This guy saved us from him!" She pointed to Hex. The cops lowered their guns and I lowered my arms with a sigh of relief.

"It's rare to find police officers with some sense," I said before speeding off. I hid in the RV, waiting for Aoi's timer to clock out. When Max and Gwen got back to the RV, they found me laying on my bunk, tossing the Charm in the air. "Did you find out anything about that guy?"

"Not a thing," said Max. "Whoever he was, that man was dangerous. You did a good thing, apprehending him, Phoenix."

"So you say," I said. I handed the talisman to Gwen. "Got you a souvenir. Try not to break it." She turned it over in her hand.

"If anything, it'll make a nice accessory."

"To each their own." I climbed up to my bunk. "I'm going to meditate. Wake me when we get to the market, alright?"

"Whatever, Doofus."

I got into the lotus position and started my meditating. Instantly, my mind was projected to a massive ship in orbit above the planet. I saw Vilgax staring at my presence as someone worked on something behind his rejuvenation tank. "Have you had fun, playing hero? Good. My new body is almost complete. And soon, I will be coming for the Omnitrix." I stared at him for a few seconds before grinning.

"Is that you behind there, Time Lord?" The tinkering stopped. "What's coming next should be familiar to you. And by the way…" I hacked into the ships systems, causing a sound of four consecutive knocks to play on repeat before locking the ship in a temporary Time Lock and returning to my body. I looked up at the ceiling. "Your move, Freak."

I faced forward as Gwen pulled herself up to me. "Oh, good. You're awake."

"Never sleep, Gwen. We there?"

"Yeah. Come on! We're going to a restaurant with normal food."

"You, of all people, should know that what Grandpa makes someone in a third world country would be thankful for, Dweeb." I hopped down and spotted Grandpa just step out of the Rustbucket. As Gwen tried to come up with a retort, I placed a kiss on her lips. I smiled as she blushed. "Come on. You want normal food, let's get normal food.

"Why did you…?"

"Are you hungry, or what?" I held the door open for her. She went over to me and looked around, only seeing Max start heading for the restaurant. She turned to me.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"You know what!"

"You mean this?" I leaned forward, making her blush as I got closer, only to brush passed her and kiss her cheek. She blushed as I stepped off the RV and turned to her as I backed away, following Max. "To be fair. You started it." She rushed to catch up with us. When she did, she kept pace with me, just out of Max's hearing if she whispers.

"You shouldn't be doing that. We're cousins."

"Then why did you?" She blushed and rubbed her arm. I noticed she was wearing the Luck Charm and grinned. "Hey, that looks good on you."

"Oh, thanks." She fingered it as she smiled at my compliment.

"If you don't have an answer for why you kissed me right now, give it some thought, Dweeb." We sat at our table and began to eat. We got to the last crawdad and I swiped it before she could react.

"Hey! You've already had 11 to my 9!"

"I'm a growing boy, I need to eat." The Charm glowed as she reached for it and I leaned back. The Rue Goldberg machine of destruction that followed, led to some more cooked crawdads landing on our plates in the confusion and knocked me and Gwen into each other and to the ground as Max tried helping a waiter clean up the mess. She landed on top of me as I held the crawdad meat in my teeth. I grinned at her. She blushed darkly before leaning down and snagging the meat, brushing her lips against mine. We helped each other up, the blush still on her cheeks as I chuckled. We packed up the rest and started making our way back to the Rustbucket when we heard someone call out that someone had just nabbed their purse.

Max stood in the thieves way. I reached for my bandana, only to remember I left it on the Rustbucket. "Dammit." I looked around and hid behind a cart as I tried pulling up the Omnitrix's interface.

"What are you doing," asked Aoi.

'Making it look like I can't access Omnitrix, give Gwen an excuse to jump to Max's aid. Give her a taste of being a hero.'

"You're manipulating her?"

'Only slightly. I've pretty much confirmed the Master is here. He and Vilgax are currently trapped in a temporary Time Lock. It won't last forever, but it'll last long enough for us to get to Mount Rushmore and for me to prepare. I need the right combination to beat Vilgax. As I am now, I don't think I can beat him.'

"You fought the Conquerors!"

'And Vilgax is different. Unlike the Conquerors, Vilgax is more competent. He won't tell you what his plan is while you wait for an opening. Vilgax will tell you as he's executing his plan, or while he's beating you down. His ego is big, but he also knows when someone is trying to use it against him. Unlike the Freaks, He's mortal. He doesn't want immortality, a perfect world, anarchy, to be a god. He just wants to rule and kill anyone who stands in the way of that.' Gwen went to help Max and I picked up a rock as she caused one of the guys to get knocked out by a plank of wood. I knocked the steel pipe from the leader's hand as Max detained him. Gwen tossed out another rock and tripped him.

People started cheering for the three of us. I groaned slightly and tried hiding myself as much as possible. Gwen turned to me as Max got in the drivers seat. "What's wrong, Phoenix?"

"I don't like being in the spotlight. It's not a good thing for me." I sat in the dining booth before fiddling with the Omnitrix. "Wonder if one of these guys can go invisible. That'd be a nice trick."

"Watch the hands," shouted Aoi in my head. At the same time, she caused the Omnitrix to shock me.

"OW!" I glared at it as Gwen looked at me.

"Are you ok?"

"Stupid thing shocked me."

"Maybe it knew you'd do something bad if you went invisible."

"Oh please. I'm much more mature than most boys my age. The invisibility is more for combat. Can't hit what you can't see, you know?"

"I'm sure…"

"That's enough you two," said Max. "Now, go get some sleep. We're leaving first thing in the morning."

"Alright," we both said. I reached into my pocket and pulled out something before moving Gwen in front of a mirror.

"What are you doing, Doofus?"

"Just hold still." I pulled out the cat mask and placed it over her face. "Perfect."

"What's with the mask?"

"Saw you eyeing it after the thugs. Swiped it for you."

"Phoenix! That's stealing!"

"Relax. No one will miss a stupid mask that cost two bucks. And it's not like anyone saw me. I may not be able to become invisible, but I know how to stay out of sight." I kissed her cheek as she took the mask. "Consider it a good luck charm." I fingered the talisman. "Well, a second good luck charm."

"Thanks, Doofus."

"Good night, Dweeb." I climbed to my bunk and started meditating.

I entered the Omnitrix and started looking through the locked out alien figures as Aoi kept close behind me. I came across the Alien X figure and slammed it, hearing the bickering inside. "Hey! Both of you shut up!" I groaned as I rubbed my temples. "I wonder why one of those is in here anyway."

"Azmuth collected millions of DNA strands from the Codon Stream."

"But why would a Celestialsapien be in here anyway? I did research on them during my Training Years. They exist and are created outside of a single universe while staying within the Omniverse. How could one's DNA end up in the Stream?" I slammed the figure again as the bickering started once more. I looked around and saw that one of the aliens was missing. "And yet the Chronosapien form isn't in here?"

"Not for this version, no. We found it conflicted with certain aspects of the Omnitrix."

"Then I guess he fixes it for the future versions." I went up to the Necrofrigian form. "Hmm…"

"What are you thinking?"

"This one will have children not long after its form is unlocked. I want to be able to protect them."

"You can't. Necrofrigian hatchlings almost never see their parents. Think like sharks."

"There has to be a way."

"You're thinking like a human father. Remember, alien physiology doesn't work in the same way as humans. It's a miracle each alien here is carbon based with few exceptions."

"Like him?" I nodded to the Ectonurite form. The body of Zs'skayr. "How did the Codon Stream get his body, anyway?"

"I'm not sure. I don't even think Azmuth would know."

"His soul is wondering around here on Earth. When we encounter him, I need a way to combat him. Solar energy seems to work in his weakened state."

"Too bad none of the aliens here can project it, only absorb it." I turned to a figure behind the Necrofrigian.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"What?" I went up to a being standing at about 7 feet with a large forehead, four mandibles protruding from it's mouth and yellow eyes. On the back of its head were dreadlocks.

"It is… Can you unlock this one for me?"

"Why?"

"Because this form holds a certain… familiar charm." I circled the figure and saw all of its gear was on it and grinned. "Definitely unlock this one."

"Do you even know what it's called?"

"Yautja. The ultimate hunters."

"It'll take a while for me to unlock. You'll be without the Omnitrix, possibly for a few days."

"I can manage. Unlike Ben, I have formal training. Please get it started, Aoi. I've got a witch doctor to deal with."

I opened my eyes and heard Max snoring in his bed at the back of the Rustbucket and the sound of a basketball bouncing outside. I went out and spotted Gwen make one of the luckiest trick shots ever thanks to the Luck Charm. I caught the ball as it sailed for my head. "You should be more careful, Cousin." I tossed the ball to her.

"Sorry," she called as she caught it. "I thought you were still asleep."

"I don't sleep. I meditate."

"You know what I mean."

"I know." I walked over to her and examined the Charm. "So this thing grants the user incredible luck. Must come in handy."

"I was thinking…"

"About?"

"About me being more than just a bystander as you put yourself in danger. One of these days, the Omnitrix won't work! What'll happen then?!"

"I'll handle it. I'm not about to let you put yourself in danger. I'm the reckless one, remember? You're the careful one."

"Phoenix, you need a partner out there! You can't face everything by yourself!"

"Help," called a construction worker. I looked up and saw they were dangling from the top of the building we were next to.

"You want to help," I asked Gwen. "Help them. The Omnitrix has been acting up recently, I don't think I'll be able to get the right alien for the job."

"O-ok, I'll be right back!" I saw her run into the Rustbucket and looked around for anything that could slow their fall in case she didn't come out in time. I picked up a tarp and ran beneath the dangling worker, attempting to try and use it as a catching net, only for it to tear. 'Lucy, you and I need to have a serious chat about your supposed Luck enhancements!' I tried to find something else as Gwen came out dressed as Lucky Girl wearing the mask I bought her and leapt to action, causing a series of events that led to a pipe being moved under the man.

"Jump," shouted Max. I turned around and noticed he'd made his way outside, probably after hearing the man call for help. Discretely, I sent a rush of wind up the pipe to slow the man's descent a little more as he and his coworker slid down. I ran over to the men and helped them away from the pipe as the wire it was suspended from started to snap. I pushed them to one side and rolled to the other, the pipe mere inches from my body.

"Whoa," I exclaimed as I scooted away. "Ok, too close for comfort." I climbed over the pipe and looked at the men. "You guys ok?!" They nodded, panting, as they tried to regain their breath. A few minutes later, reporters and normal people alike were praising Gwen as a hero for saving the two workers. I sat nearby with Max and turned to him. "Grandpa, do you think Gwen should be helping with the whole 'hero' thing?"

"Why do you ask, Phoenix?"

"She brought it up. She doesn't like the fact that I put myself in harms way by myself while she just tries and help from the sidelines. That Charm we took from the witch doctor seems to be magic and grants the user incredible luck."

"I think we should bring it to the museum. We can't risk that thing falling into the wrong hands in the middle of a fight."

"Yeah… its not like the Omnitrix, being stuck on my wrist with no sign of detaching. Which reminds me, I'm going to have one weird tan line if we ever get this thing off of me." Max chuckled.

"I think there are other things to worry about than tan lines, Phoenix."

"I know. Just trying to take my mind off of all the weird stuff we've encountered since summer started. Aliens, now magic? It seems almost too…"

"Unbelievable?"

"Yeah. And to make things weirder, I keep getting visions, almost messages from this weird alien. A green squid looking guy." I watched him almost slip up, but school his features like a professional. "Everything ok, Grandpa?"

"Just fine, Phoenix. Looks like Gwen managed to slip away. We should head out soon."

"Alright, Grandpa." We made our way into the RV and I spotted Gwen's mask hanging on the bathroom door and climbed onto my bunk "Gwen's changing. We can get moving."

"Alright." We started down the road and Gwen pulled herself up to my bunk.

"So, how did I do?"

"You did well. But Grandpa feels we should take your good luck charm back to the museum, make sure it goes where it belongs. And I agree with him."

"What?!"

"Gwen, that thing is too dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands! And it easily could if my fight with the witch doctor is anything to go by! What happens if we get into a fight and you lose the Charm?! If whoever we're fighting gets their hands on it? It's not attached to you the same way the Omnitrix is to me!"

"With this I can help you!"

"Kids," called Max behind him. "Now's not the time to argue. Sounds like our magic friend is back at the museum." I reached for my balaclava and Gwen back to the bathroom to change. I went to the passenger seat.

"The watch is on the fritz. I'm going to handle this by myself."

"Phoenix, can you even handle this by yourself?"

"For some reason, his magic didn't work on me like it did everyone else. I'm hoping it's the same for everything except for fireballs. No way I'll be immune to those."

"Phoenix, you should be careful."

"I know, Grandpa." We got to the museum and spotted Hex using his magic to lure us in to get back his Charm. I went out and stuck to the shadows as he threw a police car. I got behind a hiding spot and made sure to draw his attention away from me. "Zul-Mey-Gut." My voice projected behind him and he turned around but did nothing.

"Do you think me a fool?" I grunted as he turned towards me and blasted me away with magic and into a car. "Simple tricks will not help you this time, Mage."

"And here I was thinking you'd be incompetent."

"I may not be able to use the words of the Ancient Ones, but I know of their uses."

"Of course Dovahzul would be known to Magicals here… Alright then, let's see how you stack against other mages I've fought, Witch Doctor."

"I am no mere witch doctor, boy. I am Hex, your superior."

"We'll see about that. Tiid-KLO-UL!" Time slowed around me as I charged at him. Apparently, he wasn't kidding when he said he knew of the words of power. I was three feet from him when time returned to normal and a fireball hit me in the chest before knocking me off my feet.

"Slowing time, a very handy trick against those unaware of its power, and weakness."

"You started your fireball as soon as I started speaking, you're good."

"And you are a novice, unfit to wield the power you have."

"I'm just about a thousand years out of practice," I muttered, unaware of someone hidden nearby listening to us. "Let's see how you fair against different magic." I slammed my hand down and a pillar of earth slammed into him before a gust of wind lifted him off the ground. I grinned as he looked at me surprised as I slipped into the shadows.

"Phoenix," shouted Gwen as she ran over, looking to help me.

"The Charm," said Hex as he spotted the Charm around Gwen's neck. "Give it here!"

"Come and get it!"

"Gwen," I shouted from my hiding place, voice echoing across the shadows. "Get out of here!"

"I'm not watching from the sidelines!"

"He is trying to lure you out to get the Charm! Luck alone can't stand against him!"

"You should listen to your friend, girl. He knows more about magic than you do!"

"What?!" I emerged from the shadows and punched him in the face. I turned to Gwen.

"Go n…" A fireball flew passed my head and landed at Gwen's feet right behind her. I turned to Hex, and he slammed me to the ground with his staff as Gwen was propelled forward and into Hex's grip. He ripped the Charm from her neck and tossed her away. I caught her before she could hit a car. I growled and pulled my Johyo from its place in my interdimensional storage and threw it at Hex, wrapping it around the Charm and bringing it to me. "Come and get me, Hex!" I ran towards a graveyard as Max tended to Gwen. Hex growled and chased after me. I waited for him out in the open as I raised a barrier around the graveyard preventing anyone from getting in.

"You're either brave or foolish to face me on your own, child." I glared at him before covering myself with flames and revealing my actual form.

"Want to call me child again, Fool?"

"What is this?!"

"Soul Magic. I'm sure you've heard of it." I removed my balaclava to reveal my hair and eyes. He stepped back instinctively as he recognized the indicators. I tossed the Charm to him. "Go ahead, power up if you feel like it'll help you. But don't expect anything substantial. Not against me." He looked at the Charms and the Arkamada before dropping them both and getting to his knees. "Seems you're not a total fool." I returned to my child form and sighed before walking over to him. "Will you go with the police quietly?" Hex nodded. "I will remove your memory of this. For now, at least. Something tells me I'll need your help in the future." I felt someone watching me and looked around. "You are alone, yes?"

"Why?"

"Because there's someone else besides us in here." I turned around, feeling the eyes still on me. Hex stood up and looked around.

"I don't feel or see anything."

"Then maybe we should leave." I drop the barrier and punched Hex unconscious before locking away the memory of my true form and Soul Magic. I looked around and glared. "Zs'skayr…?" I felt a cold chill fill the air and growled softly before hiding in the shadows as I took the Charms from Hex and the police stormed the graveyard.