Ben 10 Omniverse: A New Hope

Chapter V - Staff of Charm, Amulet of Hope

(Part II)

Intro Theme Song Starts

Intro Theme Song Ends

Legerdomain - Midrock's Outskirts

A large collective of fractured lands floated together around a giant spherical mass. A mass that resembled a dwarf moon, with rings surrounding it. Strange creatures roamed about, flying singular eyes with wings and tentacles flocked into the distance, along with other incomprehensible beings of the surreal.

There was a section in the flow of landmasses that lead directly to the celestial object. A dispersed gravitational bridge that one would have to traverse. Luckily, they were all tied together with bridges made by hand.

Houses, Cabins, Farmhouses and other small homestead communities were present along the path to Midrock.

Rock Golems, Human-Elf hybrids, Reptilians and many other beings of varying shapes and sizes coexisted as townfolk. A rare sight to see civilization on Legerdomain during it's dark times.

At the start of the path, our two Heroines rise above from the hill. Being presented with the described landscape.

Hope: "There you have it Gwendolyn, the path to Midrock, one of the last settlements left standing in the realm, after Addwaitya's rule..."

They both began to walk down the path, crossing a bridge.

Gwendolyn: "Looks like a giant meatball." She stated to lighten up the mood.

Hope: "It's nothing fancy compared to the towns of old, but it's survived for a reason. It's a hollow mass, gravity is gonna get hard to wrap around once we go in, I suggest you stick very close, no flying, no talking, no nerding out and poking about, understand?"

Gwendolyn: "Do I have to address you as my 'Mom' while were there too?" She mocked due to Hope's bossiness.

Hope: "No one would buy it, you're too scruffy looking to be my child."

Gwendolyn: "Ha. Ha. Ha." She expressed, sarcastically, but then smiled.

They continued walking past the community in the path. No one paid much attention to them. Charmcaster was concealing her true identity wearing a hood and mask, and Gwen was in her Lucky Girl glamour, they looked just like any other common visitor.

Gwendolyn: "Anything else you can tell me about this place before we head in?"

Hope: "From what I've heard lately, it's now the top place to contract hunters, trade, get scrolls, potions, odd jobs, and the only remaining place to live civilized. Yet it's also the best place to go if you wanna get mugged."

Gwendolyn: "Ah, that last part's reassuring..."

Hope: "If it makes you feel better, it's also the founding place of the School of Illusion."

They both approached the entrance area to Midrock. Three carriages filled with food and supplies rolled away from a giant tunnel, being pulled by Pallorfangs, ridden by Dark Elves, townsfolk. Gwen stared at the creatures pulling the cargo, recognizing them; One of the Elves smiled at Gwen and tossed her a fruit from their supplies, she nearly missed catching it, but caught it.

Hope: "Come on Gwendolyn, don't slack off."

Gwendolyn: "Hold on, I'm coming!" She said, taking a bite off the fruit, but immediately regretted it, spitting it out, it was very bitter.

Gwen catched up with Hope inside the tunnel.

Hope: "You don't get nauseous do you?"

Gwendolyn: "Hm, depends, why?"

Hope: "Well, I'm about to find out too."

She said, worried, as they walked down the path of the tunnel. There was a shining light at the end of it. Things began to feel strange for them, as if they were begining to get disoriented, directionally speaking. They got to the end of the tunnel, the light was no longer blinding them, but they were overwhelmed by an immediate shift in gravity, the tunnel that was behind them, was now a giant hole In the ground, as they stood up. Midrock was unveiled.

There were district's from all directions, covering the entire inner sphere, and at the center of it was a shining, pale, miniature star, keeping the place lit. Midrock's structure seemed to have a strong centrifugal force. The small sun gravitationally repelled everything away from it from all directions, meaning where something was up, it was still down, and vice versa. Apart from the curious physics, Midrock was a very busy settlement, quite similar to Undertown in that regard, a ruckus quickly filled the soundscape, as citizens went along their routines.

Hope: "Oof, ok, that was brain-twisting, let's get going before- Gwen?" She looked around to find Gwendolyn.

Gwen was seen puking in a nearby trash can, right next to a scroll vendor, the vendor looked at her awkwardly, then looked away. Hope tried to hold her laughter.

Midrock - SharpShooter Inc. - Interior

We find ourselves in a very disorganized store. A tall, tough, bearded man in his late forties is seen leaning dangerously on his chair, he had a brown cowboy hat with a golden feather on it, a brown trench coat, and grey shirt with hieroglyphic designs. He was jam-packed with different bags, utility belts, and other magical tools. A Hunter, a gun for hire.

The sound of a bell from a door opening is heard, as both Gwen and Charmcaster enter the run down establishment.

Hunter: "We're closed... Come back on Solstice..." He said letting out a tired deep voice, without opening his eyes, remaining In his resting position.

Hope: "Ehem." Hope removed her hood and mask to reveal herself.

The hunter opened his eyes, and entered into a panic seeing who it was.

Hunter: "Charmcaster?!" He nearly fell from his chair. "What In the glowing star are you doing here?!" He said getting up, walking right past them in a rush to close the window sheets, and the doors curtain. He then locked the door. "No one saw you right? Please tell me no one saw you." He asked with an authoritarian tone in his voice.

Hope: "No, no one saw us, you can stop panicking."

Hunter: "Phew, ok, ok... It's all good then, we're good." He collected himself.

Gwendolyn: "Uh, Charms, who is this guy?"

Hunter: "Oh lookie here! you brought a new friend; a new customer. Name's Valentine, Sully Valentine, best Hunter in Midrock, second to none, and always won, name a problem, and I'll fix it, with a bullet." He said continuously shaking Gwen's hand, his strength causing her glowing glasses to bounce around her face and shake her entirely.

After the ridiculous handshake, Gwen fixed her glasses and sported an awkward smile greeting him back.

Hope: "Valentine is an old family friend, a reliable Hunter that my father always used to hire to retrieve soul gems for his school of magic. Quite the formidable Legerdragon Slayer." She informed Gwen.

Sully: "Used to be, you don't see those in these parts no more, darn fools out there hunted them into extinction. Been running dry on gems ever since. Only two females left out there in the wild, like to call one of them CoCo, Heheh."

Hope: "I've come here precisely for that, Valentine. I am in need of a soul gem."

Sully: "Darling, I'm afraid without a crew willing to go out there and slay a Legerdragon, I can't provide on that request. Besides, why'd you want a soul gem for? Weren't you all powerful awhile back? I warn ya, the people are still fuming after what you did when you went bonkers. Now the realm's lacking direction, it's all an outlaw land out there-"

Hope: "I did not come here to relive in my own past failures, Sullivan, can you help me or not?"

Sully: "Well, like I said, no one's hunting them lizards no more, I can't go at it alone like I used to, I'm too old to go solo."

Gwendolyn: "We can help!" They both looked at Gwen. "Sorry to interrupt the little reunion, but, Sully, is it? We can help you hunting down the Legerdragon, we're quite handy, we've got the experience."

Sully: "Experience in hunting?"

Gwendolyn: "Well, no, experience in... surviving against all odds."

Valentine stared at them, analysing, processing.

Sully: "Mmm... Fair enough for me. Charmcaster you know the price, I'll cut it in half since y'all are helping me. Let's get going before the dragons take rest on the lower depths." He stated, preparing his gear, grabbing things from his stash.

Gwendolyn: "Sweet! we're gonna hunt a dragon!" She punched Hope's shoulder playfully.

Hope: "Your over enthusiasm is going to jinx us, Gwendolyn."

Sully: "Ladies, clock in, and load up, we're heading out. We got an oversized garden snake to catch."

Sully Valentine stood in front of them, completely geared up. He had a magic sword and a rifle, crossed behind his back, whilst holding a crossbow. Packed with two pistols on holsters to his sides, bags, potions, and other interesting additions to his attire. Hope and Gwen were feeling motivated.

Earth - Undertown - Unknown Location

Ben began to regain consciousness. He opened his eyes, groaned in pain, and began to stand up slowly, taking a look around. He found himself to be in a small arena's ditch, and as he looked up, he saw the silhouettes of the bounty hunters who had kidnapped him. He also saw Rook tied to a chair, up on the platform. Ben noticed Rook was yelling at him, but his hearing hadn't kicked in, it was slowly coming back to him, as he stood up completely.

Rook: "Behind you!" the shouting could finally be understood.

Ben: "Huh..." He looked behind him only to get hit in the face by a cybernetic arm, throwing him to the ground.

Ben rolled over and got to his senses, completely angered, instinctively raising his hand to slam the Omnitrix, but to his misfortune, he found his wrist to be covered up by a strange device, no wonder it felt heavier.

Ben: "Oh what the heck?!" His Omnitrix was patched up entirely, encased under the oval contraption, he couldn't use it at all.

The six foot headless cyborg went for another attack. Ben quickly evaded him, and went to kick it's legs. Sadly, this only hurt Ben, prompting him to yell in pain after impacting his own leg against pure steel. The cyborg went to grab his shirt, lifting him up.

Cyborg: "A year of suffering, One whole year of suffering, no more Tennyson, I will take no more from you!" the mysterious mech-suit expressed through a distorted speaker. He punched him again, and again, sending Ben flying off to the dirt. - "I will make you feel the same hopelessness that you have caused me!" He yelled, kicking him down on the floor as he let out a scream In pain. - "and only then will your ape brain understand, only then will you learn!"

Ben: "Ahg... Dang it..." He was very beat up, his face all bruised up, as he laid on the ground. - "Who are you?!"

The cyborg stood in front of him, standing still. A sudden computational background noise increased in volume, as a hatch began to disassemble, releasing steam from the suit. The large chest plate area of the armor opened up, and as the smoke cleared out, it was finally revealed...

The one piloting the Larquonian armor, was none other than the Larquonian Businessman himself... Pakmar.

Ben: "...Pakmar?" He reacted both stunned and confused.

Rook: "...Pakmar?" Even the Magister was dumbfounded at the revelation.

Pakmar simply smirked, maliciously, and went to punch Ben another time, in the face, instantly knocking him out. Everything went dark again...

Legerdomain - Midrock's Outskirts

A flame was sparked up canceling out the darkness, burning up on a furnace, turning purple upon coming into contact with a liquid potion that was poured into it, pulsating with mana. As the fire grew, it began to cause a cloth like material to expand exponentially. Sully was seen preparing his small hot air balloon airship. The balloon was set and ready to go, as the propellers began to push air down below, lifting the airship.

Sully: "Clear out the poop-deck, set up the sails, we're aiming for fortune!" He yelled out pretending to be a pirate to amuse his younger companions, as the two of them looked up at him smiling, raising their eyebrows. - "Hah... Poop-deck." he repeated to himself.

Gwen and Hope were seen talking on the front deck, admiring the view, finally being able to fly practically through the realm.

Gwendolyn: "I don't understand, how is it that we're able to properly fly this way?" She asked Hope.

Sully: "It's the flame! Got me plenty of antique potions for old air sailors! Casts it's own gravity on the users ship, gotta throw this every thirty minutes or so, or we plummet to our deaths, depending on the state of gravity we're in." He barged in on them showing Gwen the potion.

Gwendolyn: "So... If Hope drinks this she'll be able to fly without a problem?"

Sully began to laugh. "That's a good one Gwendolyn, you got me there." He walked to the railings, making sure the ropes were in check.

Hope: "Not all potions are consumable, Gwen. That's like asking if I should drink gasoline to run faster."

Gwendolyn: "Ah..."

Sully: "Well ladies, I'd say get comfy, but uh, don't get comfy, we're going in on a rush." He went to the main deck to steer the ship. - "Buckle up!" He slammed a lever, and the ship went blasting forward, fighting against gravitational waves and evading land masses.

The two heroines hold unto the railing on the front of the ship.

Hope was thrown backwards into the wall, falling below the main deck - "Augh! Hey!-" various bags full of appliances fell on top of her, burying her entirely.

Gwen was stable at the front of the ship, having the time of her life as the wind hit her face and lifted her glowing purple-pink hair, it was like a rollercoaster, but deadlier - "Woohoo!" she screamed out of joy.

The airship flew past many obstacles and lost itself in the distance, passing a land mass where something watched in the distance. Addwaitya could be seen reacting to the ship's quick fly-by, as he stood by a cave's entrance on the floating rock.

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Break Time - Reader's Checkpoint

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Earth - Undertown - Unknown Location

Once again, Ben woke up, he was completely bruised up, he's seen better days. Utterly embarrassed that he got the life whooped out of him by Pakmar, repeating: by Pakmar! He was strapped to a chair, conjoined with another, which Rook was seated on, facing the opposite direction. They were held captive in a fancily decorated dining room, with a photo hanged up of Pakmar, his wife and hundreds of offspring. It seemed that this was definitely Pakmar's home.

Rook: "Ben? Are you awake?"

Ben: "Ye... Yeah-"

Rook: "Are you ok?"

Ben: "Like a melted smoothie. What do you mean if I'm ok, man... I got my butt kicked by Robo-Pakmar, AND I can't use the Omnitrix! No I'm not ok." He said weepy tone.

Rook: "They put a Tech Inhibitor on your wrist, it looks custom made. Please do tell me you have voice command activated for the Omnitrix?"

Ben: "No, I don't..."

Rook: "How convenient. Remind me again why Azmuth has not yet given you the Master Control of the Omnitrix."

Ben: "Hah, 'For my Eighteen Birthday' he said. He doesn't trust me with it yet."

Rook: "Well, I would have trusted you to have turned into Alien X, and gotten done with the problem swiftly before they blew up my truck... And my suit... And my proto-tool... Everything that I owned... excuse me while I shed a few tears."

Ben: "I'm sorry about all your stuff Rook, but I couldn't do that, I can't keep turning into Alien X every time we're in trouble."

Rook: "Why not?" He asked, surprised.

Ben: "No man should have all that power, not even me." He said, looking down.

Rook: "While that is very mature of you, Ben, I also think no man should see their precious vehicle and belongings be engulfed into flames."

Ben: "I guess the same goes for a Supermarket. Let's not ignore the fact that we've been kidnapped by Pakmar."

Rook: "While you were unconscious, I overheard his banter with the Bounty Hunters. Pakmar has wasted the Plumber Collateral funds on putting a bounty out for your capture, and giving himself a cyber-wear makeover. Ben, we have to get out of here, he is planning to keep us here indefinitely as his prisoners. He has gone mad thinking that he will never prosper in life as long as you roam free! Convinced that you specifically target him and his business."

Ben: "I don't blame him."

Rook: "Snap out of your self-loathing phase, we have to find a way to escape. I have been waiting for you to wake up for this."

Ben: "Alright, what's the plan?"

Rook: "Inside my back pocket, in my pants, I should have a small multi tool or a lighter, either of those I could use to burn or break the rope. Try to reach." He ordered, leaning his back closer to the chair, as Ben began to try to reach for his back pocket.

Ben: "I think- I got- no that's not it, nope. Man, it's too far, ahg, dang it." He complained, hurting his wrists through the attempt. - "Why's your butt so big dude?" He said trying to reach his pocket.

Rook: "My behind is not large! Just try harder!"

Ben kept trying, managing to put his tied hands inside his pocket. "Ok don't move, I got something." He got a lighter out of Rook's pocket, and passed it onto his tied hands behind their backs. - "You got it?"

Rook: "Yes, and from what I am feeling, it must be the lighter. Hold still, I am going to attempt to burn the rope." He tried to light up the lighter, igniting the flame.

He attempted to get the flame to touch the rope, twisting his hands, bringing a lot of discomfort on his joints. "Almost there... Oh!" The lighter slipped from his hands, and landed on the floor, rolling over on the carpet, setting it on fire.

Rook widened his eyes in a panic, and began to blow air from his mouth onto the floor.

Ben: "So uh, did you get it?" He asked as the sound of Rook's legs stomping the fire on the ground could be heard.

The fire then spread through the carpet, and onto the table. "Oh no, this is not good, this is not good at all-" Rook repeated.

Ben: "What's not good? Talk to me Rook." He began to sniff, smelling the room starting to burn behind him. "You dropped the lighter didn't you."

Rook: "Yes."

Ben: "And now the room's on fire."

Rook: "Yes."

Ben: "Ah..." A trace of fire went around them, spreading in front of Ben - "Ah!" He went into a panic.

The Room Nextdoor

Pakmar: "Pleasant doing business with all of you. Pakmar has deposited the taydens into each of your accounts, individually, as requested." He informed, walking amongst them in his armor, exposed.

The Vreedle Brothers, Thunderpig, Rojo, EightEight, SixSix, and SevenSeven were present in the room, awaiting their job's closure.

Rojo: "Don't mention it, the bounty's here safe and sound, a job well done, and you even provided us with an entertaining show."

SixSix said something unintelligible. Some of them laughed.

Octagon: "Yea I don't mean to be intrusive, but, what do ya intend to do with Tennyson anyway?"

Pakmar: "Those details aren't necessary, but if you are that curious, I intend to continue to teach him a valuable lesson for the damages he has caused me..."

Rhomboid: "I do love a good ol' revenge story, tell us more!" He clapped.

Back on The Burning Room

Ben and Rook were jumping in their chairs simultaneously in order to get away from the flames. They moved to a corner, safe from the raging fire.

Rook: "The multi tool, grab the multi tool and as fast as a human could go, please, and thank you."

Ben: "I'm doing it as fast as I can!" He kept reaching In, until he managed to grab the multi tool kit from his pockets. "Got it!" He clicked on the razor button, releasing a sharp knife from the utility kit. He desperately started cutting the rope as best he could.

Neighboring Room

Pakmar: "Then there was the time he barged in on my Loofah store as an Orishan, and completely destroyed everything by spraying water!"

SevenSeven shared his gibberish sympathy.

Octagon: "Tragic."

They all sat in a circle paying attention to Pakmar's complaints.

The Burning Room

Ben and Rook got themselves set free. They ran around, still in their sportswear outfits, avoiding the flames trying to find a way out.

Ben: "found your communicator!"

Rook: "Call for backup now!" He said, looking for a weapon to defend themselves, but had no luck.

The communicator started ringing, as Ben hold it up to his ear, running to a corner to avoid inhaling smoke.

Near Friedkin University - Kevin and Gwen's Apartment - Garage

Argit: "Yea and after all that crazy business I really did go straight this time buddy, besides, I've seen more money come in to my pocket in the delivery gig than I ever did scamming folk."

Kevin was cleaning his car while listening to Argit's shenanigans. They were starting to become healthy friends again ever since Argit proved to be more trustworthy, to him at least.

Kevin: "Whatever you say Argit, hey pass me the scrub."

Argit went to grab the scrub, but noticed that Kevin's plumber badge was ringing in silence, he read the name 'Coolest Plumber' on it. He decided to bring it along with the scrub.

Argit: "Hey I think the Plumbers are calling you."

Kevin picked up the badge and looked at it, he picked up the call.

Kevin: "Yello, let me guess, power converter problems- oh Ben? Woah, woah, calm down, what's all that mess you got in the background, sounds like a building's falling on you man- Oh. They did what to the Omnitrix?! Ok ok, I got it, I'm on my way top speed, try to find a way out unnoticed- Yes I know! Go tell him! Pick you up on the surface." He hanged up. - "Argit get in the car, we got ourselves two damsels in distress."

He hopped on his car, leaving everything behind, starting up the amazingly upgraded, indestructible vehicle.

Argit: "Y'know, picking up stuff is part of my skill as a professional, so this is definitely in my line of expertise." He said getting in the back seat.

The car rapidly accelerated out of the garage, and onto the streets. College kids looked at the car in awe, some cheered.

Undertown - Pakmar's Home - Burning Room

Ben: "He's on his way." He started coughing up.

Rook: "I almost have this door open..." He said as he lockpicked the door to the next room in order to escape their doom. "Got it!" The door opened.

As both doors went wide open, the next room was filled with the Bounty Hunters, and Pakmar. They were all now looking at Ben and Rook, plus the blazing hell-scape of a room behind them.

Rook: "Ah, hello, do you happen to have a fire extinguisher with you?"

Pakmar gasped intensely - "No! My house! Pakmar's beautiful house!" He patched up his chest plate to conceal himself. - "fifty thousand additional taydens for anyone who manages to put the head of Ben Tennyson on a stick!"

Rhomboid: "I love me a friendly competition on the workspace, ain't that right brother?"

Octagon: "Just like old times."

Thunderpig: "Light em up! Noff-noff"

Rook nearly failed at dodging a barrage of lasers and other projectiles shot at both of them. Ben was taking cover on the other side of the door.

Ben: "Now what?!"

Rook rolled over to Ben's side of the doorframe, stood in front of him and picked him up, carrying Ben over his shoulder.

Ben: "Hey! Rook what are you doing?!"

Rook: "Something I learned from you!" He started running into the fire, avoiding the shots, as he got close to one of the room's window - "Improvising!"

Rook slammed straight through the window, with Ben on him. They both started screaming for their dear life, as lasers went passed them, missing them. The two partners began to fall from a three story building, landing on top of a fruit vendor down below, the fruits absorbed most of their fall. They got up, checked themselves, realizing they were mostly unharmed, and started running away.

Rook: "Terribly sorry ma'am!" He yelled at the fruit vendor that was frozen in shock at the event.

Ben: "Let's go already!" They both started running to escape Undertown.

Rook: "I am calling Plumber Headquarters!" He shouted, holding his communicator up, but it immediately got shot by a sniper round that came from Rojo. "I am not calling Plumber Headquarters."

EightEight, SixSix, and SevenSeven shortly followed them in pursuit, flying in their direction...

Legerdomain - Dragon Zone - Summoner's Airship

Sully's airship floated peacefully, separating itself from a landmass.

Sully: "That's the last trap set up, hopefully the cables are good enough for one of them... I got some bad news though."

Hope: "Oh great, what is it now Sullivan..." She asked worried, as Gwendolyn walked towards them on the main deck.

Sully: "We ah, don't have any bait on board."

Hope and Gwendolyn went silent. Hope immediately sighed and face palmed - "What kind of bait do we need?" She asked.

Sully: "We need a creature, any being really, that is significantly made up of mana, and I know that's pretty much the majority of everything on Legerdomain, I know, I'm sorry, I really left the bait behind, I got a whole stash of critters and I just-" He got cut off.

Hope: "No actually, it's fine, we have the bait, the best kind of bait. A tasty mana buffet for the Legerdragon..." She slowly turned around, devilishly smirking, now facing Gwen.

Gwendolyn quickly picked up on what she meant.

Gwendolyn: "Oh heck no, nah ah, there is no way in the world that you are going to use me as bait, I'm not some fish that you can use to draw a freaking dragon, that's humiliating, I am not going to be used as bait, period."

Gwendolyn was used as bait. She was set down, hanging in a comfy cage, far below the airship. She was gripping the bars, showcasing an outraged expression.

Gwendolyn: "Unbelievable..."

Back up on the ship, Hope was seen letting out a witch's laugh after seeing Gwendolyn down on the cage.

Hope: "Hang tight Gwen, you look great!" She shouted from above.

Gwendolyn: "Shut up!" She yelled back from below. Hope continued laughing like a witch.

Sully: "So you are telling me, that your friend down there, is an Anodite? The legendary beings of myth that are literally worshipped in the heavens?"

Hope: "Yea, and they're quite overrated."

Sully: "Pft, I ain't buying it, you must still be a little bonkers after all that Alpha Rune snorting." He started walking to the steering mechanisms to continue their way.

Hope: "Do not disrespect me Valentine! I could one day return to be ruler of this realm, then we'll see who will be the one snorting." She pointed at him, as the ship began to fly forward.

Sully: "Honey, when that day comes, I hope that I am peacefully buried ten feet under Midrock, preferably cremated, because burials are quite expensive these days." He stated, poking fun at the young sorceress. She was fuming, crossing her arms, offended. "Ough look at you all fired up. Cheer up kid, I'm only half joking. You know, you remind me so much of your mother, she always got heated up by my annoyance. She constantly begged Spellbinder to find another Hunter, but even Spellbinder himself found my ability to aggravate her absolutely amusing." He said, smiling at the horizon.

Charmcaster sat down beside him, on top of a barrel, her mood quickly changed to sorrow at the mention of her parents, and Sully took note of it.

Sully: "Ah, touchy subject, I know, I lost my parents too, both died hunting, doing what they loved. A lesson learned from them is to never fear death, you should instead fear living your life wrong."

Hope: "How well did you know my father?"

Sully: "I knew your father well enough to know he would always love you no matter what you've done, Charmcaster." He looked down to her with a smile.

Hope couldn't help but to smile back at his statement.

Sully: "Sorry, felt like you needed to hear that. I'm a dad too, I know hard to believe, but my son's far older now, and far away, with a life well set up for himself. We still talk a lot though. By the stars, it's been so long, you kids grow up so fast, how old are you, nineteen?"

Hope: "No, actually, I'm just recently twenty two."

Sully: "What? Wow, keep up whatever it is you're doing, by the time you get to my age you'll look twenty five!" He made Hope laugh, cheering her up.

Hope gazed at the horizon in front of them, as the wind sent her loose silver hair flying back, listening to Sullivan's ramblings.

Her interactions with him made her feel like she was back home, listening to her real father, venting out his spontaneous conversations. Despite Valentine often times aggravated her, he still represented a nostalgic familiarity from the Legerdomain of the past, before Addwaitya. He was the closest link to her family besides her uncle, Hex.

Charmcaster was naturally harsh and grumpy, but when she found herself at ease, she'd learn to appreciate the little things in people.

Sully: "Hey, if it continues to makes you feel any better, I wanted to tell you that I thought you were a pretty good ruler in the short time you lead. Well, let's be frank, you were great, up until you went crazy. I don't think anyone enjoyed that soul-sucking exchange." Hope looked at him frowning. - "But I believe that you can still take up that mantle, the realm needs someone like you, the real you, it needs another Spellbinder, now more than ever." Hope returned to smiling, as Sully looked ahead stoically.

He continued - "Just, please, get your act together, get serious, and get serious fast, because everything's going to crap If you don't. A lot of people still believe in you. Don't let things grow too late to fix, little lady."

Hope was taken aback, as Sully coincidentally repeated Gwen's exact same words to her, from earlier that day. She took it as a warning.

A bell started ringing. It was Gwendolyn. Sully gestured Hope to check up on her friend, and so she did.

Hope: "What's wrong?" She shouted.

Gwendolyn: "I saw something! Something big!"

Sully: "She's right on that one, good set of eyes." He shifted the ship to a stand still. They were surrounded by landmasses, but something was off. There was a lot of fog piling up on the environment.

Hope: "It's getting hard to see in here and- pew it stinks!" She said, covering her nose.

Sully: "That'd be because of the Legerdragon's steam, shedding from it's skin, like a mucus, hope that also explains the smell. It's here, question is if it knows we're here too."

Hope: "All this fog is from that thing?"

Sully: "Yea... they let out a lot of steam, but not this much- Oh sweat mother of..." He froze up looking up. Immediately the bell started to desperately sound, as Gwendolyn's echoing shouts could be heard from below.

Hope: "What- Oh..." She turned around to see.

A leviathan, ranging three chunks of land in length and size, was holding onto the landmasses. It was like a snake, resembling the Loong's of Chinese Mythology. It's head was distinctively gigantic. Spanning two hundred feet, the Legerdragon lifted itself up, and began closing in on them, slowly, sniffing the airship. It's eyes locked on Gwendolyn, as she shook inside the cage.

Sully: "I think- that ah, yea, CoCo's gotten bigger since the last time we met, she's gotten chunky-" He whispered.

Hope: "Get us out of here!" She screamed.

The Legerdragon let out a fear inducing roar, a terrifying sound that echoed through miles. Sully went sprinting to the navigation control deck, and immediately made the ship fly away in the opposite direction. Hope went to check on Gwendolyn. She tried to pull her up by rolling the lever that would collect the chains into a roll. The process was slow.

The ship went flying through the skies with sharp speed and efficiency, but the Legerdragon followed them closely. It launched itself, going for a snapping motion towards Gwen's cage, as it opened it's horrible gaping mouth, and closed it with force, missing the hanging contraption by merely a few feet. Gwen was in distress.

Gwendolyn: "AAAAHHHH!" She screamed in utter fear for her life, as the leviathan went for another attempt at eating her inside the cage...

Earth - Bellwood - Undertown Entrance - Noon

Ben: "AAAAHHHH!" He screamed in utter fear for his life, as the Bounty Hunters closed in, whilst shooting them with killing intent.

Ben and Rook started climbing up the hole; a cave like entrance to Undertown. They managed to get to the surface, and ran for the empty streets.

With perfect timing, Kevin's car pulled into frame, drifting into a parallel parking position, opening it's back and front door to them.

Kevin: "Get in!"

They both got in the car, closed the doors, and immediately on queue, the car began to get showered with lasers and other forms of ammunition, but they were ineffective.

Rook was seated in the backseat, and noticed he had company to his side. "Argit?! What is Argit doing here?" He asked confused.

Argit: "What, I can't tag along on any adventures anymore? Nice to see you too bud."

Kevin: "Argit's cool now, he's with us, don't worry."

Rook: "I will be the judge of that." He earned a displeased look from Argit.

Ben: "Kevin, thanks for the save, but uh, I think we should get going." He pointed at the barrage of shots being plunged into Kevin's car.

Kevin: "Nah, we're chill, look at them trying to break open my ride. I'm giving it a test run, this baby is indestructible."

The group of Bounty Hunters made way for Rhomboid, who was carrying a bazooka-like laser weapon on a caliber of mass destruction, beginning to power up, pointing at the car.

Kevin: "Ok, maybe not THAT indestructible." He went to drive, and kicked the pedal to the metal. They swiftly got out of there, driving away at top speeds.

Rhomboid: "Dough! I wanted to try out the big boy!"

Octagon: "You'll get your chance." He consoled his brother with a pat on the shoulder.

EightEight said something to her two brothers, signaling for them to chase them down. The three flew off. Rojo called in her hover bike, and the Vreedles, along with Thunderpig simply ran off looking for their vehicles.

Kevin's car's engine roared through the streets, taking shortcuts and pathways that would otherwise earn him an endless amount of tickets.

Ben: "Where are you going?"

Kevin: "If those guys are chasing you to kill, I'm avoiding crowded areas so no one gets hurt. You got a lot of explaining to do, what the heck did you do to get two bounties the same day in a row dude?"

Ben: "It's a long story..."

Rook: "One that involves Pakmar, of all people."

Kevin: "Wait what? Old Mr. Pakmar? Bahahaha, he finally snapped at this guy for all the times he's ruined him, oh that's gold- oh, sorry." He said once he saw Ben's angry expression. - "Anyway, I'm headed straight to Friedkin, maybe Gwen can help us fight these guys off. IF she's there to begin with."

The car began to get hit by lasers again, as the three Sotoraggian's catched up.

Ben: "What's Gwen up to?"

Kevin: "She's uh, she's pretty pre-occupied with magic stuff at the moment."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Break Time - Reader's Checkpoint

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Legerdomain - Dragon Zone

The Airship went over an asteroid shaped mass, flying into frame and out of it, followed by the Legerdragon blasting through the asteroid, disintegrating it, roaring at the ship.

Valentine made many impressive maneuvers, purposely, to tire up the Legerdragon, leading it to the trap's location.

Hope managed to get Gwen up and out of the cage, as they made their way to Sullivan.

Sully: "Girls, we're almost at the traps, I hope you're ready to fight this thing!"

Gwendolyn: "What?! How are we gonna fight it?"

Sully: "Deal with the technicalities later! hold on to something!" He shifted the ship for a dive, as the two sorceresses hold on to dear life.

The ship flew straight down, as the Legerdragon followed, throwing itself off it's supporting landmasses.

Sully: "Charmcaster! Press the remote lever!" He immediately shifted to fly straight forward, leveling the ship.

Hope sprinted to pull down a transmitter's lever. Upon lowering it, the traps that were set up through various land masses were activated, launching a giant set of nets that would ultimately connect with each other at an expanse.

The Legerdragon fell straight into the humongous system of nets, curling up, like a worm on a spider's web. It's body weight pulled it down, laying on a large floating land, almost hovering above the ground, as it pulled down the chunks that the traps were connected to. It roared, clearly angered by it's capture inside the wire cocoon.

Sully: "Haha! Yea! We did it!" He clenched his fist up in the air.

Gwen and Hope high fived as they celebrated the capture of the Legerdragon. Sullivan landed his ship on the landmass. They hopped down the ship and headed for the massive beast.

Sully: "Well, today marks the end of CoCo. Once we inject her with this on her eye socket, she'll pass peacefully." He illustrated a large syringe, filled with a dark green poison.

Gwendolyn felt a bit disturbed by the method - "Do we really have to slay it? Maybe we could, I don't know, inject it with an anesthetic solution, and recover the gems from her stomach? Maybe?" She suggested.

Sully: "Anest-what now?"

Hope: "Gwen, we don't have that in Legerdomain, it's best we simply respect and follow Sully's tradition."

Gwendolyn: "But it's the last of it's kind!"

Sully: "Second last, there's another one." He said, continuing to walk towards the beast.

Hope: "Sorry Gwendolyn, this is no time for animal activism." She said, even though she agreed with her.

The ground began to shake, catching them off guard, the Legerdragon also showcased being distressed by the sudden disturbance.

From the countless craters around the landscape, a massive nest of creatures arose, in a collective, splitting into various clouds of them.

Hope: "Scrutins!" She shouted.

Sully: "Get to the dragon!"

The Legerdragon was filled with Scrutins, they began to bite it, causing the beast to roar in pain.

With it's immense strength and boost of adrenaline, it began to unravel itself, pulling down the rocks where the traps were connected, causing them to snap, detaching one by one. Slowly but shortly, the net became loose, as the Legerdragon's head rose up from the rugged trap, launching flames at the cloud of Scrutins, prompting them to retreat.

Sully: "Looks like our luck is up..."

A wave of Scrutins attacked the trio. Gwen and Charmcaster shot mana at the critters, and Valentine pulled out his two pistols and began to shoot yellow mana projectiles out of them.

Many Scrutins fell, as the team ran away to their ship, overwhelmed by the cloud.

Sully continued fighting them, slicing many with his sword, along with Hope smashing a few with a conjured mace.

The Legerdragon lifted it's tail, as it extended past the three hunters.

It abruptly dropped it, destroying Valentine's Airship.

The trio fell to the ground due to the shake of the impact, and the Scrutins fled due to the shockwave.

Gwendolyn and Hope: "No!" They screamed simultaneously.

Sully: "My ship!" He became infuriated, recovering himself from the ground and turning around to face the Legerdragon. - "Alright you stinken tape worm! You just colored yourself to be extinct after that stunt! I will gut you and turn you into gaint purse, you hear me?! I'll skin you with my bare hands!"

The Legerdragon listened, then it opened it's mouth instantaneously, releasing a wave of fire that went straight at them.

Gwendolyn and Hope joined efforts in creating a shield, as the flames went clashing in front of them.

Gwendolyn: "Charmcaster! Stop casting spells like this! You're going to go mad!"

Hope: "Oh I'm already mad!"

Sully: "One of us has to put that thing to sleep, stab the eyes with the poison!"

The fire went out, as the dragon closed it's mouth.

They stopped conjuring their shield

Gwen stared at the giant lizard, lighting up her expression, like she had just figured something out.

Gwendolyn: "I have an idea! But you're gonna have to trust me."

Hope: "What are you gonna do?"

Gwendolyn: "Something crazy, like you." She started running towards the beast, at full speed.

Hope: "Gwen!"

Gwendolyn arrived just below the massive serpent.

Gwendolyn: "Hey!" The Legerdragon then looked down, to stare at Gwen. - "Come get your tasty treat! Mana buffet here! Get your delicious healthy-" the ground she stood on disappeared, only to be covered by the Legerdragon's head. The beast has eaten Gwendolyn, as it lifted it's head up again, swallowing.

Hope went into a panic, widening her eyes in shock. - "GWENDOLYN!" She screeched, thinking her friend was gone.

Sully grabbed her out of nowhere, and shot his crossbow's harpoon up into the air, anchoring itself unto a floating rock above, making them zoom upwards, as the Legerdragon's tail quickly dragged on where they were standing, destroying the terrain.

They both climbed up the small floating boulder, as they met with the Legerdragon face to face. It roared at them, preparing to make a final attack on them.

Sully Valentine loaded the poisoned syringe in his crossbow, and launched it, flying straight into the dragon's eyes, but it failed.

The syringe hit a Scrutin that flew by instead, letting out a screech.

Valentine stared in disbelief.

Sully: "Well Charmcaster, it was an honor hunting with you, you're as brave as your father and as grumpy as your mother..."

Hope: "We're not dying here without a fight Sullivan! You still got a purse to make out of this thing before you die!"

The Dragon went to attack, as Charmcaster lit up her fists, letting out a war cry.

Just before the Legerdragon could reach them, it froze up, pulling back, confusion in it's eyes. Odd sounds emanating from it's stomach groaned all throughout it's body, prompting it to burp, pink smoke coming out of it's mouth.

Hope and Sully stared at it in confusion.

In a split second, the Legerdragon lifted it's head, letting out a giant super beam of mana, being released from it's mouth, eyes, and nose.

It's body bloated up. Once the explosion of mana ceased, it remained still, and then quickly fainted, falling to the ground, into a deep sleep.

Hope and Sully grappled down from the floating rock, setting themselves in front of the Legerdragon's massive head.

Sully: "What just happened?"

In a dramatic display, a bright blinding light shined through the dragon's mouth, as it slowly rose up, opening.

Hope and Sully went into a fighting pose, thinking the fight wasn't over, but they quickly relaxed. The dragon's mouth lifted up enough to reveal a pure purple and pink silhouette, shining through to the other end, with it's arm lifted up, as if it were the cause of the mouth's lifting.

It had many orbs floating around it, carrying soul gemstone's three feet in size.

Sully stared in awe with his mouth wide open. - "It's- that's- that's an Anodite!" He exclaimed, amazed.

Hope: "No... that's Gwendolyn." She smiled.

Gwendolyn, in her Anodite form, floated away from the mouth of the Legerdragon, as it shut down behind her, lifting dust from the ground. She began to stand, settling in front of her companions, morphing back into her Lucky Girl form, completely drenched in goop and stomach acid. The gemstones we're still floating in mana orbs.

Gwendolyn: "Blegh, so gross..." She tossed around trying to dry herself of the nasty fluids.

Sully: "I can't believe my eyes, you are an Anodite! The legends are true!"

Gwendolyn: "Yeah, but I can't stay that way, otherwise I'll loose my humanity, sorry to disappoint." She turned to look at Hope. - "You aren't the only one pulling your punches."

Hope smirked, folding her hands.

Legerdomain - Hope's Cabin

A makeshift weather balloon casket, filled with soul gemstones, could be seen parked in front of Hope's Cabin, it seemed they had built it out of the airship's remains to get there.

Over on the other side of the chunk of land, where the enchanting table was located. Charmcaster could be seen breaking down the gemstone into a soul gem piece, to begin the enchanting process. Sully and Gwen were there too, accompanying her.

Sully: "So let me get this straight, you didn't kill the dragon?"

Gwendolyn: "Nope, I found a more humane way to deal with the issue. I simply overloaded her with mana, giving her a 'food coma'."

Sully: "Gwendolyn, you are a gosh darn genius, you've really taught me that there's always a better way." He said, complimenting the young sorceress. "But I ain't no Anodite, so I'll be nuking it next time I see it."

Gwen stopped smiling.

Hope laid out the source-root, the gemstone, and the amulet's gem stone on the enchanting table, but she realized she was still missing an amulet.

Hope: "Ahg! We forgot to get an amulet... I can't do the process without it."

Gwendolyn: "Don't worry Charms, we could just go back to Midrock and get one."

Sully: "No need." The girls turned to pay attention to Valentine. - "I thought it'd be appropriate to pass this on to you." From one of his bags, he brought out a beautifully crafted silver amulet. - "Despite I was never a sorcerer, your father gave me this ages ago, as a token of his appreciation for my services to him. I stayed with it as memorabilia, but now, it think it will serve a greater purpose in your hands." He walked to hand it over to Charmcaster.

Hope simply stood there, holding the amulet. She formed a warm smile on her face, looking at Valentine.

Charmcaster suddenly took him into a tight embrace.

Sully: "Dang girl, you're pretty strong, Oomph." He joked, running out of air, hugging her in return.

She let go of him, and went to continue the enchanting process. She began speaking in an ancient language for conjuration. Hope put on the amulet around her neck, continuing to cast.

The area around the enchanting table lit up, and enclosed itself with mana. The smaller soul gem began to float, latching itself into the amulet, lighting it up.

Hope's eyes brighten up with a purple aura. Materials flew all around the table.

The source-root of the Tabitha began to float upwards as strands of mana carved through it, giving it the shape of a staff, filled with scriptures, and hieroglyphs.

The strand got to the top of the staff: Dove wings were crafted, spreading upwards, and in between them, the staff's soul gem was encompassed, sealed in place inside a crystal orb.

And so, the Staff of Charm, and the Amulet of Hope were created.

Hope's body began to glow, as a new set of clothes were also forged to represent her. Sully and Gwen watched in amazement. Once the light dimmed down and the enchanting table ceased it's process, Charmcaster was reborn, walking out to them, sporting a hooded, renaissance style, silver colored Sorceress dress-cloak, with golden-yellow accents at the center, the hood, and the arms.

Her hair was now loose, and in a darker shade: silver-blonde. Still sporting her black outfit from underneath: black turtleneck shirt, retractable cloth mask, pants, and high heel boots. Holding her new staff, as the amulet dimmed down.

Gwendolyn: "Wow! Charmcaster! Really living up to your title now." She walked up to her, holding her shoulder, looking at her lavish new look. "How do you feel?"

Hope: "I feel... Great. I feel like a lot of weight's been lifted. The Amulet truly works. I feel whole again." She stated, still processing everything.

Sully: "Oh girls, this is such a touching moment, I'm a grown man, I'm not supposed to cry but- ah who am I kidding! Your parents would be so proud!" He started crying of joy, grabbing them into an embrace, like a proud dad. Gwen and Hope hid their awkward smiles, patting him, looking at each other, under his hold.

Earth - East Bellwood - Noon

The chase continues. The car punches through many trees, running through a forest, as the three bounty hunters catched up, trying to shoot the tires. Kevin pressed a button on his steering wheel. A turret was springed up from the cars roof, and inside on the back seat, a visor formed.

Kevin: "Argit, you're up on the shooter!"

Argit: "Oooh, with pleasure!" He grabbed the visor controller and started turning the turret, aiming for SevenSeven, pressing the button and shooting at him, eventually hitting him, causing the bounty hunter to crash straight into a tree.

EightEight deviated from the chase to check up on her brother, but SixSix was still in pursuit.

Ben: "We still got SixSix on our tail!"

Rook: "And the Vreedles." He stated, pointing to his window.

Kevin: "What?"

A modified buggy roared it's engine, jumping up from a hill, crashing through a tree, and landing next to Kevin's car, bumping into them.

Octagon was driving, Rhomboid opened up the roof's hatch and brought out his deadly 'big boy' bazooka, powering it up.

Kevin: "Oh no you don't." He slammed the breaks, slowing down immediately, dodging an immense death ray, launched out of the bazooka, disintegrating everything in it's path.

Rhomboid couldn't withstand the force of the blast. He tripped and lowered the bazooka, causing the laser to cut a portion of their vehicle. The laser stopped, and they were slowly left stranded.

Octagon: "Gosh darn it Rhomboid! You had one job." He yelled, as Kevin's car drove right past them at great speed.

SixSix quickly followed behind. Rojo joined in on the path, with her hover bike. Thunderpig came in last on a strange hover vehicle, stopping to pick up the Vreedles.

Kevin: "We're almost there. Who do we still got on us?"

Argit: "Angry lady, ugly dude, and a slice of bacon." He informed, shooting at them.

Rook: "Rojo, SixSix, and Thunderpig." He corrected.

Argit: "Yea, that's what I said."

Ben: "What's the plan Kevin?"

Kevin: "I'm still working on it..."

Friedkin University - Central Plaza - Fountain Area

The students that were in the recreational area were disturbed by the appearance of a magical gateway. It was one of Gwen's portals. She was still in her Lucky Girl getup. Upon seeing the iconic heroine, the students relaxed, feeling safe in her presence. Some of the students even started cheering for her.

Gwendolyn: "See what I mean? Even these aren't accurate, I was aiming for the library." She complained about the portal spells, crossing over to Earth.

Hope: "Magic's never meant to make sense Gwendolyn, you should know that by now." She smirked, standing on Legerdomain, with her hood and mask up.

Gwendolyn: "You gonna be ok?"

Hope: "I will, thanks to you. I have a purpose now, and for once, I know what I'm gonna do next with my life, without others telling me. I'm finally free, and I owe it to you, friend."

Gwen was happy for her, she could tell.

Gwendolyn: "It's definitely gonna take a lot of time getting used to you being so wise and grateful, 'Mage'." She joked, referring to Charmcaster's slow progress into a better person.

Hope: "Yes, it most likely will, 'Lucky Girl'."

They both smiled and were ready to say goodbye, but they were immediately interrupted by the sound of a loud car engine.

The car broke through the tree line, scaring and prompting the students to run out of the way, forming a crowd of troubled spectators, while others were more amused.

The car drifted, and did a doughnut around the fountain, where Gwendolyn and Hope stood. It came into a full stop right next to them, as everyone was frozen in suspense. The driver and backseat window slowly went down, revealing Kevin, and everyone inside.

Kevin: "Hey baby." He said with a smooth tone to Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn: "Kevin?"

Ben and Rook: "Gwen?"

Gwendolyn: "Ben? Rook?"

"and Argit!" Argit said cheerfully, but everyone just looked at him oddly.

Hope passed through the portal to their side, before it vanished, and presented herself beside Lucky Girl.

Ben: "The Mage?!"

Hope: "Hi" she waved at him.

Rook: "She speaks!"

Ben: "And, she's looking great." He said out of nature, smirking, complimenting her new look. Gaining a smile from her under her mask.

Argit: "and then there's Pakmar." He stated calmly, pointing forward.

Pakmar, in his full mechanized armor, ram straight into the car, lifting it up and flipping it backwards.

Lucky Girl and The Mage went into a fighting stance towards Pakmar, as students and other spectators went to run away from the chaos, some deciding to remain distant, to record the event.

The Bounty Hunters arrived in unison. Circling the group.

Kevin, Ben, Rook, and Argit, came crawling out of the car, groaning pain. They went over to Gwen and Hope, to stand together against the attackers.

Ben: "Pakmar! You need to stop this. Listen... I'm deeply sorry for all the accidents I've caused on your shops this year, I really am, I admit that I never took any real responsibility for my actions, but I want to make things right, not just with you, but in my life in general. Kidnaping me, or trying to kill me is not going to solve anything! You've gone too far!" He argued with the cyborg.

Pakmar: "No Tennyson, it is you who has gone too far, time and time, again and again, ruining Pakmar! You expect Pakmar to believe all those times you destroyed my business were accidents! You are no hero! You are monster! I will put down monster!"

The Larquonian quickly realized The Mage was among them.

He continued, speaking to The Mage. - "Mage! You are real hero, Ben Tennyson is big monster! Join me and bring him to justice!"

Hope shook her head in opposition, and stood next to Ben, catching his attention.

Pakmar: "Pakmar don't understand! How can you all continue to defend this boy!" Pakmar began to fire at them with his wrist lasers.

The hunters quickly followed his actions, launching a barrage of lasers at the team. They all split up, running to the other side of the fountain, taking cover.

Kevin: "Well, at least you tried." He said, as he absorbed the concrete below, preparing for battle.

Gwendolyn: "What happened to your Omnitrix?" She asked, noticing the strange device on Ben's wrist.

Rook: "They put an Tech Inhibitor on him."

Argit: "Woah, that thing's made out of taydenite!" He said, knocking on it. "You've really gone and pissed this guy off that much Benny." He shook his head.

Hope: "Allow me." She said, as the others gave her space.

She kneeled close to Ben, allowing him to look at her closer, realizing she looked very familiar, from what he could see in her eyes and part of her face. The Staff of Charm lighted up, as she brought it close to tap on the Inhibitor.

It caused yellow sparks to prompt up, coming into direct contact with the Inhibitor, disabling it.

The tech inhibitor fell to the ground. Argit quickly picked it up and hid it on his pockets. - "Don't look at me like that, this thing's made out of taydenite, I'm selling it!"

Ben: "Thanks, Mage, you're one in a million."

Rook: "What is our plan of defense?"

Ben: "The plan starts by you staying put here, because you're completely defenseless right now Rook.

Rook: "I am not defenseless." as he objected, a laser beam went past him, nearly missing his head, he ducked down more. - "Perhaps you are right..."

Kevin: "Can we pick up the pace and put a stop to these guys before they destroy Friedkin?!" He yelled at the group.

Rook: "Kevin, give me your communicator, I will try to contact Headquarters." He suggested. Kevin quickly tossed him his badge.

The shooting suddenly stopped.

Pakmar: "Your final warning Tennyson, come peacefully or I take away the things you love, just like you did to Pakmar!"

A green light blinded them, emanating from the fountain. Ben transformed into Four Arms, jumping and landing in front of the fountain, as the group ran out to regroup with him.

Ben, Gwen, Kevin, Argit, and Charmcaster were now posed together as a team, ready to take on their opponents.

Ben: "No, this is YOUR final chance, get out of town while you still can, make a toilet shop on Jupiter, I don't care, just stop this or I'll make a loofah out of you."

Hope started laughing at Ben's remark. Ben noticed.

Gwendolyn: "Really? 'make a loofah out of you'?

Ben: "I've been out of the game for awhile, don't judge."

Kevin: "You wouldn't last a day in prison, Pakmar, I'd listen to the Tetramand."

Thunderpig: "Hey, no one said anything about fighting wizards, this is above the pay rate!"

Pakmar: "Pakmar will raise the bounty! Stay with me." He was frozen between the two fronts.

Pakmar suddenly shot at them with his suit's wrists. Charmcaster formed a shield and deflected it.

Both fronts began to charge at each other. Beginning to violently clash on the campus grounds.

Argit was crawling all over Rojo, like a squirrel, pulling her hair, as she desperately tried to get him off. Ben was brawling with Pakmar and SixSix. Kevin was beating up Thunderpig. Gwen And Hope were deflecting The Vreedle Brother's gatling laser, it was chaos all around.

EightEight and SevenSeven eventually joined the battle, making Gwendolyn and Charmcaster split up. Hope dealt with the Sotoraggian's, and Gwendolyn dealt with the Vreedles.

Kevin knocked out Thunderpig, and ran to help Gwen with the Vreedles.

Kevin: "You having fun?"

Gwen: "Ooh yea hun, sure, I'm having a blast." She replied, sarcastically. Coincidentally, a blast coming from the Vreedles broke her shield. Kevin protected her.

The fight went on.

A figure hovered over the battle, setting himself on top of the disabled fountain structure.

Professor Hex: "Halt this chaos at once!" Lighting flashed through the darknened skies. Hex's voice echoed all throughout campus, with fierce authority.

He tapped the Staff of Ages on the fountain, creating a shockwave that caught everyone's attention. They all stopped fighting. Standing still in their spots, paying attention to the Master Sorcerer.

Argit interrupted the moment by launching a quill at Rojo, which made her fall unconscious.

Professor Hex: "You are all disturbing the peace of this prestigious university, and putting the lives of it's students in danger, leave at once or I will bestow upon you my skills in the eldritch arts!" He spoke out.

Hope was shocked at the sight of her uncle, wishing he hadn't recognized her. Gwendolyn was fan-girling, seeing her favorite teacher acting like a true Master Magician.

In an inconveniently timed entrance, five Plumber ships came into frame, hovering around them. Max's voice could be heard through a speaker.

Max: "Cease fire, drop your weapons. You are all under arrest for the kidnapping of official plumber agents, and the destruction of both private and public property. Surrender or we will be forced to open fire."

The bounty hunters dropped their weapons. Pakmar, however, did not yield.

Pakmar: "Pakmar got nothing to lose! I will not yield to you! Bring it on-ahg-" He got cut off by a strong punch from Kevin, which completely broke the chest plate, and sent him to the ground, exposing him. - "Pakmar surrenders..." He groaned.

The Plumber ships quickly landed. The agents began to arrest the hunters. SixSix, EightEight, and SevenSeven took the distraction as opportunity and tried to fly away in an attempt to escape, but Hex launched lightning at them, making them fall out of the sky like stunned flies.

Hex laughed. He took note of someone who was slowly leaving the area. In the corner, near the east wing's wall, Charmcaster was walking away. She turned around to look at her uncle. Hex stared at her, quickly coming to the realization of who she was, without showcasing any emotion.

Charmcaster began to be overwhelmed by a feeling, she didn't know if it was shame, she couldn't understand nor describe it. It pushed her to leave immediately. She tapped her Staff twice on the floor, teleporting back to Legerdomain.

Hex stared at where she had vanished, and for once, he showed emotion, he illustrated sadness.

He wisely understood that his niece was not ready to come back to him. He very dearly missed her, and he wanted to fix what very little was left of his family.

Time passed. Hex returned to give his classes inside the University. Argit decided to go back to his Office in Undertown. Grandpa Max and the Plumbers had arrested Pakmar, the Vreedles, and essentially every other criminal there, boarding them on one of the ships. Pakmar continued to tantrum continuously and rant about Ben Tennyson being the real criminal, which no one took seriously except for Ben himself.

As the ship carrying the criminals lifted off to make it's way to Headquarters, Ben stared at It.

Rook: "What is wrong Ben? You seem bothered."

Ben: "I ruined Pakmar's life, he's just lost everything, and it's all because of me."

Gwendolyn and Kevin walked to them, wondering why Ben looked so upset.

Rook: "Ben, you cannot possibly blame yourself for this. Pakmar chose to do this, and these are his consequences."

Ben: "He chose to do all of this because of MY actions. He felt he didn't have a choice. I drove him to an extreme. How can I call myself a hero if I create my own villains?"

Rook didn't know how to respond to that. Kevin and Gwen simply listened in on the conversation. Grandpa Max barged in, having overheard.

Max: "No one's in the wrong here." everyone paid attention to the elder. - "Ben, you can't endlessly blame yourself for everything. We all make mistakes, but it's important that we learn from them. They don't make you any less of who you are. You're still a hero in my eyes, but there is a harsh truth in life that you need to understand." Ben listened closely to his words. - "No matter your intentions, no matter how many times you save the world... you won't always be the hero. You will always find out at some point that you're the villain in someone else's perspective. Sadly, today, through countless misunderstandings, you were the bad guy, at least in Pakmar's eyes, and there is nothing you can do about it. What you can do is learn from your past actions, and start taking responsibility for them, like you said you would; and I know you will." He hold his shoulder, reassuring him.

Ben looked up to his Grandfather, admiring him. "Thanks grandpa. I'm sorry for all this mess."

Kevin: "When isn't there a mess- ouch." He got elbowed by Gwen.

Max: "Now how about I drop you kids to Mr. Smoothies, you all look like you could take a break."

They all smiled at him.

Max: "Rook, you can pick up a smoothie on the way too, but I need you with me to process all those guys for inmate transportation."

Rook: "Understood." He said, a bit disappointed.

Downtown Bellwood - Mr. Smoothies - Dusk

Kevin, Gwen, and Ben were enjoying their smoothies, just like the good old days.

Ben: "Ah man, don't you guys miss this? when it was just us out there on the open road."

Kevin: "I don't, I'm rich now."

Gwendolyn: "Liar."

Kevin: "Ok, maybe a little."

Ben: "Pft, you never soften up, do you?"

Kevin: "Only for your cousin."

Ben: "Ew, dude, I'm eating." He laughed.

Gwendolyn: "You're drinking, not eating."

Kevin was about to make a joke after his remark, but Gwen could sense it, frowning at him.

Gwendolyn: "Keep it PG, Kev."

Kevin was hiding his laughter.

Ben: "Hey Gwen, whatever happened to The Mage? She just vanished when the Plumbers arrived, and how come you know her? How'd that happen?"

Kevin: "Yea babe, why is that?" He pretended not to know why, asking in a sarcastic tone. He knew The Mage was Charmcaster, he was in the know.

Gwen looked at Kevin with a face that spelled out 'shut up' quite clearly.

Gwendolyn: "She had somewhere else to be, I know because, uh, she's an old friend."

Ben: "An old friend huh." He took a few sips from his smoothie. - "Is she single?"

Kevin began to laugh, which confused Ben, throwing him off. His laughter was contagious, causing Gwen to hold in her own laughter.

Ben started to laugh a bit - "What did I say? I'm just curious, she seems gorgeous AND she's a superhero! She's totally my type." - Gwen started laughing as well after hearing him, she face palmed, trying to cover herself out of embarrassment.

Ben continued - "Oh come on guys, don't make fun of me like that. Ok I'll say something more serious, I honestly thought she could some day team up with me and Rook. You gotta at least agree she'd make an amazing Plumber."

Kevin began to laugh again after hearing him say that. "Oh god, Ben, stop talking, please." He pleaded. "Oh man... Hahah 'she's my type'." He mocked him imitating his voice in a high pitch. - "Of course he's got a crush on her, hahahah, this is going to be hilarious." he kept laughing and rambling.

Gwen composed herself and stopped laughing. Taking a deep breath, and continuing to drink from her smoothie.

Ben: "Ok." He stopped paying attention to Kevin, and turned to solely face Gwen.

Gwen sighed, realizing there really wasn't any reason to keep it a secret, considering it was Ben. Had Rook been here, or any other Plumber, she would have not thought to reveal it.

Gwendolyn: "Ben." She looked around to see if anyone was watching. - "The Mage's real identity is Charmcaster." She whispered to Ben, unveiling the big reveal.

Kevin stopped laughing, he didn't expect her to reveal it to Ben, but she did.

The sound of glass shattering could be heard echoing throughout the parking lot. The shot zoomed in dramatically on Ben's startled face.

The world started to become small, solely focused on him and his upcoming reaction.

Everything went dark, the entire universe was just the three of them, sitting at this table, at this very moment in time, completely unprepared for the following words that would come out from Ben Tennyson's mouth. The highest capable response that his whole being, his entire collective system of neurons could come up with after such an immense revelation...

Ben: "Oh. Ok, but is she single or not?"

Credits Start Rolling

Bellwood Central Hospital - Nighttime

Hope teleported herself near the entrance of the emergency response area of a hospital. She slowly entered the emergency room, being greeted by a chaotic environment. Staff rushed around, attending many patients, covering many situations.

The nurses and doctors were so occupied that they did not register the presence of a person dressed up as a Sorceress, roaming about.

She drifted off into the hallway, passing many nurses who didn't have the time to realize she was trespassing. She went through many rooms, seeing the painful and horrifying state of many people.

Ultimately entering the last room down the hall. A mere child, a girl, remained resting in the hospital bed, terminally ill. Hope picked up a folder that stated the name of the little girl, and her condition.

Child: "You're..." she coughed and gathered strength to reiterate - "Are you the Mage...?" She asked, speaking slowly from underneath a respiratory mask.

Hope: "I am, little one." She caressed her hair. "Everything is going to be ok now, Nancy." Her amulet started to glow intensely, harnessing mana, and transferring it into the Staff of Charm.

She point her staff onto the Child's chest. A golden aura engulfed the girl's body. She slowly began to heal, her ailment eventually disappearing, saving the girl's life.

The child stared at her, amazed. Like she had never been sick in the first place.

A nurse and a doctor came into the room, and immediately encountered Hope.

Doctor: "Excuse me, miss, who are you? you're not supposed to-" They stopped speaking, seeing the little girl stand up, perfectly fine.

Hope walked past the doctor and the nurse. They were both confused and awestruck, following her into the next room.

Hope went from room to room, curing people, healing them, fixing them, no matter the problem.

She was followed by staff, and the patient's family members, spending the entire night going around the entire Hospital, reviving faith into everyone, bringing charm to those in need.

At the end of the night, not a single soul was suffering In Bellwood's central hospital. She even walked up to a Doctor, and healed him of his own ailments.

Everyone was shook, convinced they were at the presence of a real angel. The entire building was subtly filled up by a golden aura, a mist that made everyone feel at peace.

Various security guards removed their hats, and bowed their heads in respect towards The Mage.

It reached a point where absolutely no one questioned or opposed her intentions. every soul in that facility eventually understood what was going on, without a word.

Charmcaster went back to the main entrance of the Hospital, she saw that outside the glass doors, many news workers and journalists were already waiting outside, giving their report of the event.

She turned around, seeing the majority of the people at the medical facility, following her, standing behind her. Many were simply repeating the words 'thank you', or praying in gratitude to their respective beliefs.

Hope took a deep breath, analyzing her next action. Should she do it? Was this the way to start over? Has she done the right thing? Was she living life right? Was she doing it right, or has she merely started? Was this the path to redemption? To happiness? She continued asking herself.

She gently removed her hood, and her mask, revealing her identity to the world. Showing a saddened, stoic face to everyone present in the room. she was almost crying.

The room became confused, as many voices uttered different things, but everything became quiet, when the first girl who had been healed, walked up to Charmcaster.

Hope opened her eyes, to see Nancy hugging her. She slowly returned the embrace.

Nancy's mom started crying, and went to hug the both of them. The father joined as well.

Eventually, many people began to join in on the emotional group hug. Even a reporter joined in.

Everyone slowly walked away from the emotional collective, and gathered around as a Community.

Hope simply sat down in one of the chairs, taking a moment by herself, looking at her own reflection being displayed in the glass window of the waiting area. She smiled at herself, still covered in tears, thinking about her Father, wondering if he could see her now.

It was at this moment that Charmcaster truly began to understand and embrace who she was meant to be. The child that her parents would have raised, had they never departed. She quickly realized the solution to her problems was to understand that...

She was Hope.

Credits Continued Rolling

Credits Ended