Hey guys, been a while, welcome back to a new chapter! I'm going to try and be more descriptive with my chapters now, though I'm not promising anything good.
anyways on with the chapter!
"And that proves my theory~!" Charmcaster said nonchalantly.
The two sat up, Ben scratched his head while his eyes were fully closed. "What is it this time, Gwen?" He said with a yawn. "I was this close to falling asleep!.."
"Charmcaster!" Gwen repeated. The mentioned sorceress stood up straight and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Gwendolyn?" She asked teasingly.
"Well, we have a bit of a problem...Ben?"
The boy looked up the purse. "Yeah?"
"Well... we don't know how to bring you back." She said, guilty.
"What!? Wait, so let me get this straight-" Ben stood up. "You don't KNOW how to bring me back!? Is that why you didn't let me out the first time!?" He furiously asked. "Yes, that was PARTLY the reason, but anyways, Charmcaster! I know I sound stupid for even asking you this but.. how do I undo the spell?"
Charmcaster laughed. "HA! I knew it! Even the all powerful Gwendolyn doesn't know how to undo my spell." She mocked sarcastically. "I guess I'm the better sorceress after all~!"
Gwen groaned in displeasure, having to ask her rival for instructions. "Look, fine! I'll admit!" Gwen exclaimed and sighed. "You're the better sorceress.."
"Hear that?" Charmcaster nudged Ben's arm with her elbow. "Music to my ears~." She said to Gwen's displeasure. "Only on this occasion though!" Gwen added. "Now can you help us get Ben out?" She said causing Charmcaster's smile to grow even wider. "Hmm.." She hummed with her arms crossed. "Sure, why not."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just like tha-." Though to his dismay, Charmcaster had a few more things to add. "Only on one condition." She then took Ben's hand in hers causing the teenager to look at her in shock. "You have to release me too!"
Ben shook his head and quickly took his hand off her. "What!? Nu-uh, we just went through hell tryna get you in here! I'm sure there's another way out." Ben said, activating the Omnitrix. A green hologram ring surrounding the watch appeared with silhouettes of alien faces in it. Ben slammed on the Omnitrix and is suddenly engulfed in green light. "Big..Chill!" Exclaimed with a resonant tone. His wings unwrapped and he flies up, his skin turned transparent with a blueish shade and a blue outline. The Necrofriggian attempted to phase through the leather wall but was zapped with pink lightning upon contact causing Ben to plummet down. Ben transformed back to his human form and rest his hand on his head. "Man..that shock really packed a punch."
"Yep." Charmcaster said while approaching him. "Not even intangibility works." She kneeled and held her hand to Ben for him to grab onto. Ben takes it and pulls to stand up.
Gwen looked at her purse with a tired eye. Wondering what she was going to do, clueless, she turns to the four standing in front of her. "So what now? Charmcaster said she'll only tell us if we release her with Ben." Rook raised his hand at shoulder length before speaking. "I would suggest we look for alternative ways to releasing Ben, I do not think it would be a good idea to let an evil sorceress of such magnitude to be set loose."
"I'm with Rook, babe." Kevin spoke. "Who knows what she'll do when we let her out, heck, she might even try to turn you into those totems again." Hex cleared his throat causing every member in the room to look at him. "Am I allowed to voice my opinion?" Gwen nodded and the professor continues on. "Okay, then I vote for agreeing with my niece's terms." He said sternly. "What!? Why?" Gwen asked, shocked by the earnestness in his words.
"I would like to give my poor niece a second chance in life." He said.
"I don't think that would be possible, professor." Rook said. "She's already entered a crazed state of mind, or as Ben would put it, coo-coo."
Hex looked down. "I know.. I tried to convince her once.. to live a life with me again.. but she denied." He looked at the palm of his hand, and stared at it deeply. "And it's all my fault. I made Charmcaster what she is today, I made her do my bidding, I treated her poorly, fed her all my anger, frustration, and lust for power." Hex closed his eyes. "And that's why I want my niece to be set free-" He narrowly opened his eyes. "I want to make up for everything I did to her, to help turn her leaf." He looked at Gwen. "Please, Ms. Gwendolyn, consider this, she is the only family I have left, I'd like to be an uncle to her once again."
Gwen was overwhelmed, there he was, her professor, former enemy, an expertise of magic, in all his glory, stood before her, pleading. She felt sorry for him, even now that he's changed for the better, he's still suffering from his past. Gwen looked at her purse and thought about how lucky her arch nemesis is right now. She looked back at Hex, and then to Rook and Kevin who gave her an unassured look as well. Skurd made no comments and was silent.
After a moment Gwen made her decision. "Okay, Professor, everyone-" she called out, all eyes are on her. "I'm sorry, but Professor, we can't risk it, I'll have to think about this further tomorrow." Gwen raised her purse to her face. "We'll have to decide tomorrow, Charmcaster. Sorry, Ben."
"What!? So I'm stuck with Charmcaster for the rest of the night!?" Ben yelled from the pouch. "Is it really that bad that you're with me!?" Charmcaster argued. "No!..But you're evil!" Gwen sighed and put the purse down. "Yeah, sorry, Professor, everyone, I'll have to think about this, we should all get to sleep."
"Roger that, Ms. Gwendolyn." Rook said. "I will inform Magister Tennyson about Ben's current situation tomorrow." Gwen nodded and worriedly turned to Hex who was looking at her. Noticing her gaze, the professor sighed. "It's alright, Ms. Gwendolyn, I understand the absurdity of my request." He then smiled softly. "But I do hope you give my niece another chance, just as you did with me." He turned and then walked out the room.
"I'll go back to the hideout." Kevin said. "It's time to feed Zed." He said, also walking away to the door. "Oh, I'll come too! Rook, you can sleep with us." Gwen said and all three went out.
Ben groaned and lied on his back once again. "This sucks, I should be out there fighting bad guys!" He complained. "I.." He yawned. Charmcaster walked up to Ben and sat beside him. "Don't you ever take a break from all this hero work, Ben?" She asked. "No, why do you ask?"
"No reason, just curious.."
The room was once again silent and awkwardness filled the atmosphere. Ben felt uncomfortable in this situation and broke the ice. "Having the Omnitrix is a huge responsibility." He spoke catching sorceress's attention. "With great power comes great responsibility, like they say, I have to always be fighting bad guys when I can, to do what's right when nobody else can, that's what it means to be a hero." Ben felt weird sharing this with his enemy but he was too tired to make any jokes or puns.
"I bet that must be a real burden." Charmcaster said causing Ben to chuckle. "Not really, I like kicking evil butts.. especially yours!" This caused the sorceress to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "That.. came out wrong, sorry." He said, realizing his mistake causing the girl to giggle.
"..Hey, back then." Ben said.
"At Anur Transyl, what were you originally planning before Addwaitya decided to make some... modifications."
Charmcaster put a finger on her chin trying to think but then shrugged. "Eh, I forgot most of it, but I originally intended to just go back to Ledgerdomain.. I mean you guys did help me get the Alpha rune back."
"So would that mean we wouldn've remained as allies?" He asked.
"Probably not, I'm still trying to get back at your cousin after all." She chuckled causing Ben to sigh. "This rivalry thing is really dumb, why can't you both just be like me and Kevin?" He asked.
Charmcaster rolled her eyes. "My rivalry with Gwendolyn is way more than yours. Plus, what better way to prove who's better than settling the score?" She asked.
Ben closed his eyes. "I know a few." He said causing Charmcaster to sigh. "Whatever." She said and laid down as well. Ben heard the rustling of clothes and opened his eyes to see what was happening, he turned his head to the left and his eyeballs widen as his head came face to face with hers, deep viridescent eyes meet Charmcaster's grape purple ones.
Immediately, Ben turns around. "I'm going to sleep, and can you not lay so close to me? It's making me feel weird in my stomach."
Charmcaster stood up. "Yeah, sorry, I'll move." She walked for a short distance and laid down again. Both of them closed their eyes as their dark abyss morphed into dreams.
The next day
Kevin slumbers in his bed, snoring loudly, much to the displeasure of a certain Slimebiote. Another snore and Skurd banged his head on the dorsal side of Kevin's rough hand. "Of all the indignities-" Skurd began to crawl his way up the snoring Osmosian's arms. "first, I'm stripped off the Omnitrix, now I'm forced to stick around with this.. creature?" He said. He isn't really forced too. Observing Kevin's sleeping face, his eye bags were more than visible and his drool was all over the place. Skurd crawled over to Kevin's face and placed himself right on the man's nostrils. Kevin groaned in response. Instinctively, his right hand moved to his nose and pinched the Slimebiote's head. "Get...off!" He said, trying to pull Skurd off his nose. Kevin rose up and the green slime crawled to his chest. "Ugh, you smell like.." He said while scratching his eyes. "Like a Nemuina's hypnotizing aroma? Why I'm flattered." Skurd added.
Kevin opened his eyes and stood up. "Like expired cheese." He corrected. "Why even wake me up so early.." He looked outside the window and saw the sky in the shade of ocean blue blended with a dash of cheesy yellow. It was early in the morning and Kevin wasn't an early bird type of guy.
Skurd crawled back to Kevin's wrist. "Need I remind you that Ben is still stuck in your girlfriend's purse?"
"Oh yeah, forgot about that." A grin formed in his mouth.
The two made their way to the living room and found Rook eating breakfast on the table and Gwen on the phone. "Mhm, okay, grandpa.." She said on the phone. Kevin raised an eyebrow and made his way to the girl. Gwen raised her hand at chest lenght signaling Kevin not to talk. "Okay, I'll let them know. Bye, grandpa, love you." Gwen put her phone in her pocket and looked at Kevin. "Grandpa called and asked me about Ben and Rook, he said they should've been back yesterday, Rook and I already filled him up on the story." Rook stood up on the table, put the plates in the dishwasher and walked towards the two. "You make great pancakes, Ms. Gwendolyn." He complimented. "We should start finding the spell to release Ben, there are reported sightings of Psyphon and Psychobos doing some sort of deal."
"Can't the plumbers handle that on their own? It's their job." Kevin said. "Plus, it's only been a day, what's the worse that could happen?"
"Well if it's Psychobos and Psyphon teaming up, they're probably up to something serious." Gwen said.
"Well what do we do? You have classes, we can't exactly leave for Bellwood and do their jobs for them."
Gwen closed her eyes and inhaled. "Look, just give me some time, I'll think of something." She said, walking out of the room. Kevin shrugged his shoulders and faced Rook. "So, got anymore of those pancakes?"
Gwen's pov
I made my way towards my room and shut the door on lock behind me. Glancing around my dorm, I walked to my bookshelves to grab the last book from the end of the row.
There's probably nothing in here that could help, but it's worth a try.
The book was covered in dust, it had a purple coloured hardcover, two hearts that were horizontally lined at the center, one was a solid black while the other had a black outline but a hollow interior, a purple heart. Between the hearts is a black chain connecting the two. The chains then expand on each side of the hearts and appeared to wrap itself around the book cover. I sat down on my bed and placed the book on my lap, opening its covers, I started to read.
Ben was sleeping peacefully, laying on his side with his legs curled up, this seems to be his preferred position. Suddenly, his eyelids squinted, his teeth gritted and his head swung back and fort. His eyes shot open and he immediately stood up. He looked around his body trying to find anything that Charmcaster might have done to him, a sign, or a magic spell written on his shirt. Finding nothing, Ben sighs in relief. "Phew, I'm still in one piece."
Ben's eyes wandered around the pocket and found Charmcaster laying on the ground, still in deep slumber. Ben chuckled at the fact that she was hugging an inactive stone golem as a substitute for a pillow. Suddenly, Charmcaster's body shuddered, this body gesture did not go unnoticed by Ben and he silently approached the sleeping sorceress and placed his snow white jacket on top of her. The girl stopped shuddering, her frowned face turned peaceful and her hand unconsciously tugged on the cloth of his jacket to pull it in tighter. Ben smiled at this and walked his way around the room.
Ben walked passed a couple of stone golems, cosmetics, and makes his way into a dark corner from the north- east side of the room. In the shade of darkness, a tiny, shiny sparkle radiated catching the boy's curiosity. Just as Ben was about to approach the twinkle, he heard a feminine yawn and quickly made his way back.
Charmcaster was sleeping soundly with Ben's jacket wrapped around her like a Necrofriggian's wing. Her eyelid slowly rose and her deep purple pupils showed itself. She rose up to sit and yawned as she raises both her hands in the air. Suddenly, she felt a rustle of cloth make its way down her spine causing her to look back. Her eyes ever so slightly widen as she found Ben's jacket. She ran her hands through the cotton soft texture of the jacket, trying to rid some of the wrinkle. She then looked up and saw Ben just laying down on his back, and weirdly enough, inhaling and exhaling quite quickly. "Ben?" She called out to him.
Ben's leaf gren pupils moves at the right corner of his eye, he then stood up and made her way to the newly woken up Charmcaster. "Hey, Charmcaster! Good morning." He greeted in a cheerful tone as he picks up the jacket that rested on the floor. "Good morning.." She replied.
Ben put on the his jacket and caught an aromatic smell coming from it, it wasn't his, but hers and he couldn't help but breathe in pleasure because of it. Suddenly, Ben felt something cold on his right wrist, he folded the sleeve and found a wide wet spot. "Wha-?" He turned to Charmcaster. "What?" She asked and gave him a confused look.
"My sleeve! You drooled on it!" He complained. Charmcaster quickly wiped off a hint of saliva on her mouth. "Ugh, don't be such a crybaby, Ben, it's just a drool! I cant help it if I'm sleeping!" She said, crossing her arms and turning away. Ben sighed and rolled up his sleeve. "I try to be nice and this is what I get." He said under his breath. He put his hood on and suddenly felt a cold substance make contact with his nape causing him to shiver. "Oh you are so cleaning this!"
"Aren't we supposed to help your girlfriend find a spell?" Skurd said as Kevin walk his way outside. "Gwen doesn't need our help right now." Kevin answered.
The schoolyard was empty, only birds fluttering from the sky and the cold, gentle breeze of air passed through the boy as he deeply inhaled the fresh air. "Besides-" He touched the concrete ground and a coat of grey begins to quickly cover his and Skurd's body. He then looks at Skurd who was on his shoulder. "I want you to use your powers."
"Come again?"
"I want you to do whatever you did to give Ben those alien weapons."
"Well, if that's what you wish for, dear boy, prepare to be amazed!" Skurd wrapped itself around Kevin's torso and then suddenly, he had a stone chest plate on, the middle was a dragon's shark beak and on the left and right side of it were sharp wings. Kevin looked all over his body with wide eyes. "Whoa..! I don't even feel the weight on me." He said while jumping up and down. Skurd appeared on Kevin's shoulder. "That's not all, my half Osmosian friend! " He then wrapped around Kevin's head and turned it into a helmet resembling a dragon's head.
"Whoa-hoho! Alright, maaaybe I judged you a little too poorly." Kevin reached to his head and felt six tiny spikes sting his palms. "Nice attention to detail." The armour turned slimy green, shrunk, and oozed back to Kevin's shoulder and reformed into the Slimebiote's blob form.
"Kevin!" A feminine voice yelled from the school's indoor pathway. "Get back here, now! I have a plan!" Gwen then went back into the school's library, heading to their secret hideout. "See? I told you she's got it covered." Kevin said as he made his way to the school.
Gwen, Rook, and Kevin met up at the living room of the base, the two boys were sitting on the couch and Gwen stood infront of them with book and magic pouch in hand, she then raised it at shoulder's length. "So, my plan involves this." She then raised the pouch that two totems currently reside in. "And Charmcaster."
Rook gave her a questioning look. "Please elaborate."
"I'm saying we're taking Charmcaster's deal."
"You can't be serious." Kevin said, flabbergasted at Gwen's bold decision. "She tried to kill us, Gwen, and succeeded at one point!" He pointed out.
Gwen stressfully sighed. "Don't you think I know that!? Just trust me, okay?" Her pleading stares made Kevin sigh. "Whatever." He said, looking away from her.
Charmcaster laid down on the floor while Ben sat besides her. "I mean, you get what I'm saying? He was such a ninny, he couldn't even remember my name! My name of all things!" She continues to blabber on. Ben raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? He mentioned your name multiple times last time we met." He pointed out. "Not that! My actual name." She said causing Ben to scratch his head. "So your real name isn't Charmcaster?"
"Obviously."
"You learn something new everyday."
Charmcaster laughed and the boy smiled. "Well what's your actual name?"
Hearing those words put her chuckle to a halt. Her eyes narrowed and she turned away from the curious boy. "Sorry, out of the picture." She said, him even more confused. "Why? It's just a name."
Hearing that made Charmcaster tick. "Look, Ben, just forget about it." She tried to defuse the situation. Charmcaster viewed her name as a token of trust, she'll only give that token to the people she cares and trust a lot.
"Alright, alright, sensitive much?" Ben said, this made Charmcaster bust a nerve, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fist, she quickly sat up and raised her voice. "Oh how would you know!? Ugh!" She stormed her way past Ben who was shocked and speechless by the girl's sudden outburst. He cursed himself for being so inconsiderate, they were finally starting to get along and then he mucks it up again. "Wait- Charmcaster, I'm-"
"Hey guys?"
Ben was cut off when a voice from outside the purse called out to them.
"What is it?" Charmcaster said in a grouchy tone after recognizing the voice to be Gwen's.
"Good news, Charmcaster" Kevin's voice echoed. "You're getting out of jail."
"What?"
"We accept your deal, we'll let you out if you tell us how to let Ben out."
With that, the sorceress's frown turned upside down. "Well.. took ya long enough." She walked her way into the summoning circle that brought Ben in this pocket dimension. "The circle is faded, but it should work." She stood at the middle of the circle and looked at the boy. "Well? You coming or what?" Ben perked up and ran towards the girl.
"Well?" Gwen asked.
"There are many ways to cast this spell, you only need to combine a negation spell and a teleportation spell but it requires A LOT of mana especially if you're transporting two people."
"Don't worry, Charmcaster, I got mana to spare."
"Sure you do."
Gwen levitated in a meditating position, an outline of bright pink traced the purse and a now opened book as both levitates up to the girl's level. A gust of wind circled around her and she began to chant the spell. ".. Probi antiquous apello.,-" A bright wave of pink covers the girl like wildfire, her skin turned purple, her hair and eyes radiated a pink light. "tribuas mihi scientiam ad ligandas vires suas.."
The two stood in the circle listening to Gwen chant her spell. Suddenly, their feet disconnected from the floor, both their bodies glowed pink.
"Discombobulus negatum.. Exciase!"
The two looked up and saw two snake-like form of pink light slither its way down, the forms of light circulated them, accelerating with each second, the light then expanded to cover the pair it a dome of pink magic. It then glitched out and disappeared along with Ben and Charmcaster.
Gwen reverted back into her human form and fell on the ground along with the book and purse, Kevin helped her up while all other members of the room silently waited. Suddenly, the purse opened by itself and out came a small ball of pink light which greatly expanded in size.
The light dissipated revealing Ben and Charmcaster.
Ben and Charmcaster's heads scanned the field and their eyes met. "We're finally free!" They both said in unison with sunshine smiles on their faces.
"Ben!" The revonnahgander exclaimed catching the Boy's attention. "Rook!" He said.
"My boy!" Skurd, in Kevin's hand, dragged the osmosian to Ben. He then jumped from Kevin's hand and crawled up to Ben's Omnitrix. "How I missed you, dear. We have lots to catch up on!" He said causing Ben to chuckle. "Come on dude, it's only been a day."
"Well then." Charmcaster said catching everyone's attention. "While I'd love to stay
and take part in your little shindig, but I'm afraid, I must be going." She snapped her finger but nothing happened. She raised an eyebrow and snapped again, but to no effect. "Huh?" She snapped her fingers again, and again, and again. Nothing happened. She gave Gwen a nasty look. "What did you do?"
"I did what you asked,-" she said while grabbing the book and purse that fell on the floor. "I released you both from the purse as promised." She then held out the book to Charmcaster. "And did a little something something, no extra charge."
Charmcaster quickly took the book and hastily read, turning page by page.
She then closed the book shut with both her hands and her wide eyes darted to Ben. "Oh no."
The boy felt uneasy from the girl's gaze. "What?"
"I put a binding spell on Charmcaster." Gwen said. "The spell prevents Charmcaster from using magic unless Ben gives her permission to."
Ben slammed his hands on his head.
"WHAT!? Gwen, don't you think you should ask for my permission before you PUT A BINDING SPELL ON ME!?"
"Sorry Ben, it was the only way to get you out, plus I have classes so.."
Ben groaned, questioning her beloved cousin's priorities. "Well whatever, that means she's basically powerless now right?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Charmcaster answered. "So what are you gonna do to me? Lock me up? Better not be in another purse." Gwen shook her head in response. "No, I owe a lot to your uncle, Charmcaster." She inserted her hand into the purse and pulled out a metallic locket, the girl then took the sorceress's hand, placed the locket in her palms and closed it. "You owe a lot to your uncle too, you know? If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't be out here." Charmcaster put the locket in the pocket of her magenta cloak. She then frowned at Gwen and crossed her arms. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Hah! Your uncle practically begged her to let you out."
"Kevin!"
"What? It's the truth."
Gwen sighed and turned to the sorceress who seemed to be speechless. "Well there you have it, he said he wanted to give you another chance at life.. he really feels guilty about neglecting you, Charmcaster."
"It's a bit too late for "sorry", Gwendolyn, the damage is done." She said, looking away.
"He's not asking for forgiveness, he just wants you to have another chance."
Charmcaster gazed at the girl and pinched her chin. And with a sigh, she spoke. "Well, so what happens to me then?"
"Weeeell." Gwen walked up to Ben, grabbing him by his arm, she dragged him to the sorceress's side. "Hey- what are you-!?"
"Ben over here is going to look after you!"
...
The room was ghost quiet as everyone processed what the girl had said. Kevin whistled and Rook stood there, flabbergasted.
"Excuse me, did you just say "look after me"!?"
"YYYep."
Ben on the other was wide eyed and was blinking multiple times, he grabbed his cousin by her shoulder and dragged her into a nearby corner. "Gwen! What was that!?" He said, loudly whispering. "What do you mean look after her!? I can't even look after myself! You of all people should know that!" Gwen responded with a giggle which only added to the boy's growing frustration. "True, but then again, I'm not the one bonded with Charmcaster."
"And that's another thing, why!? I already have this goat stealing slime stuck on me!"
"Pardon me, what are you people blabbering about?" Skurd intervened.
"Stay out of this, Skurd!"
"Ben, that was the only way I could get you out as fast as I could, I'm sorry but you have to look after her." The boy sighed and let go of his cousin's shoulder. "Well the spell's already done..." He said while scratching the back of his head. "And besides." Gwen patted his head. "This should take your mind off of your break up with Ester." She said causing the boy to retract his lips. "So not the point, Gwen...dolyn."
Charmcaster's pov
The nerve of that girl.
After Ben and I were released from my bag, it turned out that Gwendolyn had BONDED my powers to Ben. Basically, it means that I can't use my magic unless he gives me permission to. How she managed to cast a spell like that is beyond me.
After that whole situation, they decided my reputation wasn't degraded enough and partnered me up with Ben Tennyson. We then went to my uncle's to inform him of the situation. Feels unnatural seeing my uncle express gratitude in a non-threatening gesture.
Which leads me to this situation. Here I am, sitting on a bench next to Ben in the.. proto truck as we wait through bellwood traffic. I turned to Ben who was reading the paper sheet Gwendolyn gave him.
"So it says here.." He said, running his finger through the paper. "I can manipulate the amount of magic you can you can use via.. voice command? Since when did magic get all tech-y?"
"It's because of you." I said. He turned to me with a confused look in his eyes. "I beg your pardon?"
"The spell functions by tapping in to your personality. You prefer technology over magic so the spell activates through voice command! Try saying.. "Give Charmcaster full power."."
"Give Charmcaster full pow-"
"Up-pupupupup! Don't get fooled so easily, dear boy!" Unfortunately, his slime friend prevented him from messing up.
Ben looked at me with furrowed eyebrow to which I responded by shrugging my shoulders. "Don't think you can fool us that easily, woman." I rolled my eyes and turned to the window. The infuriating noise of horns and the eye-searing smoke pollution made me shut my ears tight.
"Never been to traffic before, Charmcaster?" He teased. I glared at him. "Can't this traffic go any faster!?" I complained to the driver, Rook. "Doesn't this thing fly!?"
"Flight mode drains a significant amount of fuel from the proto-truk. It's only used for space travel and chasing criminals."
I crossed my arms and crossed my legs. Suddenly, two soft cushion enveloped my ears.
"Well if you're bored. Here, listen to music."
I looked over to Ben who was holding a phone.
Space Unicorn! Soaring through the stars! Delivering the rainbows all around the world~!
My eyes widen and my face heated up. I immediately took the headset off me and stared at Ben who was laughing his socks off. "Give me that!" I swiped the phone off him and put the headset back on. Ben stopped laughing and wiped a tear off his eye. "You know you could've just asked if you wanted the song changed." He said. "Whatever." I restarted the song and put it on loop.
After a full one hour traffic, we finally made it to our destination. We dropped off to a pipe shop painted in olive green with a board of Max Tennyson and a sign that says "Max's plumbing".
Inside the store were rows of shelves stocked with different kinds of pipes. Ugh, and the smell. I raised an eyebrow when we walked up to the staff bathroom with a sign hanging on the door knob that said "Out of order". "Um, what are we doing here?" I asked. "This isn't gonna get weird is it?"
Ben gave me a confused look and face palmed. "Oh right, I forgot to tell you." He opened the door revealing one dirty toilet. "This is the entrance!" He said presenting it in all it's glory. We went inside and instantly, the reeking smell almost made fluids rise up my throat. Rook flushed the toilet and suddenly, the floor we were standing on was surrounded by a light circle, the circle floor then went underground. It so small that my back was pressed against Ben's chest. "Sorry, this is originally intended for two people max." He said.
We finally reached the bottom floor and the glass pod that was keeping us in opened. "So this is plumber's headquarters."
They sure do love green.
A mole looking alien with a mustache carrying a green tablet approached us. "Hey, what's up, Jerry?" Ben said who then turned to me. "Charmcaster, this is Jerry from inhuman resources."
"Follow me." Jerry said.
We followed him around the headquarters passing by other plumbers, they even have aliens here. We made it to what I can assume is his office. The room was pretty small, only composing of drawers, computers, printers, and six seats attached to the floor. Jerry made his way to the computer and started typing.
"So.. Charmcaster. Age:17
race: human.. from another dimension... inhuman enough..
criminal records... Um, Ben are you sure about this?"
"It's complicated, but trust us."
"..If you say so."
Jerry stopped typing, he ripped a piece of paper from the printer and handed it to me. "Just sign this contract please, and you'll be good to go." He said. I looked at the paper and gasped.
No way.
"So if I sign this.. my criminal records are removed?" I asked. "Yep, basically, yeah."
"Neat!" I signed it and handed the paper to Jerry.
"Now that the boring part's done." Ben stretched his arms out. "Let's get into the good stuff, fighting bad guys!"
We're traveling around Bellwood in Rook's truck, patrolling for criminals. Well.. they are, why should I help anyways. I'm here at the back, listening to music since I've got nothing better to do.
"Hey, Charmcaster! Could you not hum so loudly!?"
I perked up, realizing I've been unconsciously humming, I felt a slight heat on my cheek.
"I like that we both have the same music taste but we're tryna focus on hunting for bad guys here!"
I crossed my arms, I haven't been indulging myself into music that much, right? "Your songs aren't that good, and frankly, I'm surprised Ben Tennyson listens to love songs." I said.
"Oh those aren't mine, Skurd is the one downloading the love songs."
"I live for the drama!" His slime friend said.
I rolled my eyes moved over to the back of Ben's front seat.
Since I'm bored out of my mind, I guess I'll just mess with them~! "Soo, wacha got there?" I leaned over to his seat and pressed a button near the side window that caused the windshield to sink down. Ben then smacked my hand away from the door. "A-tatatatata." He said and moved the windshield up again. "That's just for the window, let me show you something better."
Not the reaction I was expecting.
He reached for a lever on the roof and pulled it downwards. He then ducked as a pipe came out of the roof and extended down to meet my head. Ben then laughed. "It's a fire extinguisher!" My eyes widen before my head was blown with white gusts. Great.
I groaned in annoyance while wiping my face as Ben laughed hysterically.
"Ben! Shall I remind you that we're currently on patrol?" Rook said, he pushed a button which caused the pipe to retract back to the roof. "Alright, alright, sorry, Rook." He said and sat straight.
"You too, miss, please behave yourself or I will have no choice but to restrain you."
Suddenly, the truck came to a halt. "What was that?" I asked.
"Finally, trouble!" Ben said as he remove his seat belts. He opened the door but turned to me. "Fistrick and his crew are robbing a bank. Stay here, Charmcaster."
I frowned at him, who does he think he is commanding me around just cuz he has control of my powers? "How do you know I wont leave? Or take this truck on a joy ride and just ditch you guys there?" I said.
"Ha! First of all, you don't know how to drive~, second, even if you do leave, your normal, unathletic human legs can only take you so far."
"Ohh, underestimating me now, Tennyson?" I taunted. "No, just saying, without your magic, you're a non-threat." He said before closing the door.
Well that was rude.
They kept patrolling, one place after the other, criminal after criminal, my ever so slowly increasing boredom urged me to join the fight against my better judgement. Why should I help in their battles? I tried tampering with the vehicle but the controls are deactivated everytime they leave. Now here we are in some sort of an underground market, I never knew this was here, there's aliens in all shape and sizes all over the place, some of them I recognize like the speeding kineceleran and most of them, I've never even seen before. I nudged Ben's shoulders to get his attention, he looked at me with questioning eyes. "Hey, what is this place?" I asked. "It's called the undertown, basically, it's an underground market for aliens, I know how you feel, first time I saw this place I was pretty flabbergasted."
"Do they sell magic bags here?" I asked. Gwendolyn confiscated mine because she didn't want me summoning golems, I mean, it's not like I can't make more, and she could have just taken them away, I get the feeling she just wanted my bag, she did gave me my cosmetics which are currently in a plastic bag, great. Getting bored listening to the two chatter, I looked out the side window. There were aliens walking past us, above the market were signs containing different symbols. I rested my cheeks on the palm of my hand as I observed the shops we past by with lazy eyes, there's a shop called Kitchen utensils that unsurprisingly contained weird non-human intended equipments, there's an actual plumber shop, a tentacle stick stand.. ugh, gross, and more. My eyes shifted to a store unlike the others, while the other shops were made out of wood,
this one was in concrete, painted in goldenrod, the front had windows between the doors that revealed shelves filled with vague silhouettes of different products. But what caught my attention was the sign that hung above the rosewood door. It said "Pakmar's store of magical artifacts", goodie, they must have some sort of bag there.
Suddenly, the door of the store slammed open and out came a small bipedal alien holding a small spherical navy blue ball, it looked reptilian with a purple, rugged skin almost resembling a rock, and wears a lavender vest outlined with gold. My eyes widen when I saw Ben and his partner rush out to confront the criminal, it only struck me now to find out the truck had already stopped a while ago. Ben transformed into a blue jellyfish-like alien with white jagged lines spread across his body. The alien responded with twisting each side of the sphere opposite to each other, the artifact split apart and out came six pieces of rocks which expanded in size to form large golems covered in blue spikes.
What on earth?
The alien put the two halves of the artifact back together and rushed to the back of those golems who then rushed to Ben and Rook. The what I assume to be a criminal tried to sneak out in the midst of the battle only to be tied up in an energy bola from Rook's gun.
I observed the golems try to smash the duo, Ben's electric attacks seem to have little to no effect on it.
What are these things?
I spared myself the bubbling questions, I'll think about this later. I stood up and dashed outside the truck. I ran up to Ben who was sent back flying from one of the golem's attack, what a wonderful sight. I looked down on him with a smirk on as he laid on the ground. "Need some help?" His green pupils expanded. "Charmcaster!?" He quickly levitated up to face me. "Get back in the truck, it's too dangerous here!"
"But I'm bored!" I retorted. "I'm sick and tired of watching the both of you get your butts kicked by these things, now give me permission to use magic!" I said. "Please?" It hurts to beg but what other choice do I have? Ben looked at me deep in my eyes as I did to his. A short silence passed and he sighed. "Alright.. grant Charmcaster full power."
"Ben! No!" I heard Rook yell from behind.
But it was too late, a surge of electricity flowed through my body as burning pink aura spread across me. My vision turned bright pink and I began to levitate off the ground. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" I ran my hands across my body with tingling sensation.
I feel amazing! My body is brimming with power!
I gazed at the pathetic golems in front of me with a crazed look and licked my lips. "Oooh-ho-ho-ho! You all are so getting it now!" I raised my arms away from each other and orbs of pink light formed in my hands. "Industria hauriendum!"
A blue haze emitted from the golems, their blue outlines darken causing them to deactivate. The haze wafted to my hands and got absorbed into the pink light causing a wave of pleasure to come down from my hands to toe. "Ah~ Delish."
Now where's that puny little alien?!
Ah there he is, untangled from the rope, trying to make his escape. "Nope!" I aimed my left arm at him causing the little guy to levitate as he attempted to run mid air. "Aww, leaving so soon~?" I faked a frown. "But we're just. Getting. STARTED!" A burst of pink lightning emitted from my hands striking the alien down. I looked down on him with a sinister grin. Look at him, pathetic, all burnt up and is barely keeping consciousness from fading away.
"Just one more blast will do the trick~." I said, charging up for another blast.
But nothing came.
"Huh?" The light in my hands and my aura began to flicker in and out as I slowly gravitated back on the ground. "What's going on!?"
Suddenly, a blue tentacle wrapped around my wrist and sent a surge of electricity.
"GAAAAAAAH!"
Ben's POV
What the heck is she doing!?
I motionlessly floated as I watched Charmcaster blast the crap out of Solid Plugg. "Don't just float there, dear boy! Do something!" Skurd's voice snapped me out of my trance. "Ah- um, withdraw power!" I yelled just in time before she could launch another blast. Her pink aura began to flicker in and out as she slowly fell to the ground.
"What's going on!?" She yelled in confusion, I quickly wrapped a tentacle on her wrist and electrocuted her. "GAAAAAAAH!" She yelled out in pain. The electricity subsided and she fell to the ground, unconscious. The Omnitrix timed out and I transformed back to human. "Well, that takes care of that." I approached the sleeping sorceress and picked her up in a princess carry, her head resting on my chest. I walked up to Rook who was standing up from the ground. Poor guy took a beating. "Hey, Rook.. you alright?"
"I am alright."
"NOOOO!"
Skurd covered my ears when a loud scream came from the door, and of course who could it be other than good ol' Pakmar.
"Ben Tennyson! You wrecked Pakmar's shop! AGAIN!"
"But dude! We stopped a robbery!"
"And destroyed a bulk of my products in the process!"
I raised an eyebrow. What does he mean by- ooohhh. It took me a second to realize the damage we caused while fighting those golems. Crap. "Ohhhh, yeah, sorry about that.." Pakmar sighed and grabbed a broom. "Pakmar will send you the bill.. again." He said.
"Excuse me." Rook said, walking up to the unconscious Solid Plugg. He picked up the blue orb he was holding and scanned it with his proto-tool it caught my interest when his eyes widen. "Ben.. this orb.."
"What?"
"It's... level 17 tech.."
My eyes widen. "What? No way.." I walked up to Rook and examined the orb in his hand, it proved to be difficult while holding an unconscious person in your arms. I turned to Pakmar who was sweeping the rock debris. "Pakmaaar.. where did you get alien tech like this?"
He was silent for a moment. "..Pakmar doesn't reveal sources, now go away! Before you break anything else!"
I was about to retort when Rook approached him. "I apologize on behalf of my partner's behavior, he can be really careless sometimes."
"Hey!"
"As a plumber, it is my duty to put a stop to any threat before it even begins. So please sir.. where did you get this orb?"
Pakmar looked down and sighed. "I.. found it in the dumpster."
I blinked once, twice. "Wait hold on.. so you're telling me you found a LEVEL 17 tech.. IN YOUR DUMPSTER!?" I asked in disbelief, he has to be lying.
"It's the truth!" He replied. "I was taking out the trash one day and when I opened the lid, it was there!.. It's really heavy so I thought it might have value."
"I called plumber's HQ, they'll pick up Solid Plugg and interview him about this device. We should go, we have much to discuss Ben." He looked at me piercing eyes.
"Alright, my arms are getting tired carrying Charmcaster. And for the record, I still don't believe your garbage story, Pakmar." I said.
"Pakmar does not lie, Ben Tennyson, now go, before you destroy anything!"
I rolled my eyes and used my index finger to knock on the shop's cracked walls. "Well, atleast your shop didn't end up in total disaster this time- WHOA!" I stepped back as the store sign fell down infront of me. "Ah.. hehe.. sorry about that.."
Unfortunately my 112th apology didn't go through, his green skin turned red and steam erupted from his head. "OUT! OUT, OUT, OUT, OUT!" He said pushing me away from the building. "TAKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND WITH YOU AND GO AWAY!"
"Wha-!? She's not my girlfriend, dude!" I said and made my way towards the truck.
"Ben, you are too gullible! What were you thinking giving Charmcaster her powers!?"
Here we are in plumber HQ, Charmcaster is temporarily in chambers in case she wakes up with her powers again, Rook and I are currently in the debate room, could use a little decor, just a plain box room with white walls and a green floor, like seriously? On the other side of the table, I stand before Rook who has his arms crossed. "That was dangerous, Ben, it was a good thing she was against Solid Plugg, who knows what kind of damage that could have done to someone else?" He pointed out. And he's right, Solid Plugg is currently in the medical field, his body was sore and he suffered multiple burns. "How could you trust her so easily?" I looked down and sighed. "You're right.. I messed up. I could've gotten someone killed, but I had my reasons for trusting her." Rook raised an eyebrow. "Trusting her? And what would that be?"
".. Ampfibian.." I said silently. "Amperis have the ability to read minds." I pointed to my forehead. "I couldn't fully make out what her mind said but I know she had full intentions on helping." I looked at my watch. I wasn't planning on turning into Ampfibian.. I know how well that worked last time.
"I'm requesting to make Charmcaster's imprisonment permanent."
My eyes widen. "What!?" I slammed the table with both my hands. "Why!?" I'm not one to go cray-cray over a crazy witch's imprisonment but something about this feels way too off. "Because she's dangerous?" He replied. "She almost killed a person, Ben."
"But that was because of me!" I yelled which caught him off guard. I gazed at the palm of my left hand. "I mean..if I hadn't gave her permission to use her powers then none of this would have happened right?" I turned to Rook and gave him a humourless look. "So if you're punishing her, you're gonna have to punish me too." Rook looked away and that's when I knew I had the upper edge.
"And plus, didn't Gwen and professor Hex trusted us with her?"
He finally gave in and sighed. "Fine."
Charmcaster's POV
Ugh.. my head..
I slowly opened my eyes, my right arm dangeled down beside the bed, I placed my left hand on my forehead before slowling sitting up.
Ugh.. my head feels like rocks.
Where.. am I?
I looked around the room, the walls were lime green with air vents surrounding the middle section. I looked to my left and saw a transparent gate, it was coloured dark green in a shape of an hourglass, and a horizontal one in lighter green.
If the abundance of green wasn't enough to tell you where I am, that gate probably would.
..So I'm in the plumber's prison.
I slowly stood up but pain spiking from my forehead and my jelly legs caused me to sit back.
What.. happened?
Last thing I remember, Ben let me use magic but after that...
I winced when my head got tighter.
Ouch, alright, alright, remembering hurts.
I laid back down on the white bench and stared at the other one on top. My face started to heat up and I covered it with both my hands. "Ohh..why, why, why.." I whimpered underneath my palms. "How come I went from being the most powerful sorceress in the universe to a prisoner in one day.." I put my hands down and curled up. I lost everything.. my bag, my totems, my power... now all I have left is..
I grabbed the locket in my pocket and raised it up to my face. I opened it and inside was a picture of a man with long white hair, sharp purple eyes and a straight chin.
..you..father.
Suddenly, a sound of steam came from the gate. I quickly put the locket back and stood up straight. Glad my headache is gone. I turned to see a familiar face that turned my frown.. well, even frownier.
"Heeeey Charmcaster..!" Ben said who approached me and took a seat on the bench. "Mind if I sit down?" I gave him my 'whatever' look and sat next to him. "Well? I thought you guys said you'd take care of me?..But It's cool, I'm used to it by now.." I just looked straight at the wall in front of me, not giving him even a single glance.
"Look, Charmcaster, you caused a lot of trouble back at undertown.." He said which caught my attention. "What.. happened?" I asked. My memory is still fuzzy, I don't remember anything that transpired after Ben gave me permission.
"You don't know?" He said in shock. "Well.. you caused quite a light show, and basically almost killed Solid Plugg." He said and chuckled.
I see. "So that's why I'm here.. what now?" I honestly don't care how long I have to stay in prison, it's not like I can do anything around... though I'd like something to entertain me here at least.
"Well!" Ben stood up infront of me and held out his hand. "I'm taking you out!"
What?
I raised an eyebrow. Not the reply I was expecting.. kudos to his confidence though.. I'll make quick work of it. "Heh, are you sure?" I said with a smug. Ben then gave me a confused look which made me confused, I thought that's what he meant? Now there's just two muddled teenagers standing in the middle of the room. A second passed and Ben perked up. "OH! Hah, I meant to say-" He then raised both of his arms at shoulder lenght. "-take you out.." he then motions it to the now opened gate. "OF PRISON."
Ohhhhh! That's what he meant.
"Oh!" I said and laughed. "..You know, you really should've been more specific."
Ben laughed as well. "Yeah, true."
"What a shame, I would've loved to go."
"Huh!?"
"Just kidding! In your dreams, kid."
I laughed at his annoyed face before walking to the exit. "Well, let's get going, flirty pants!" Before I could take a step I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Wait, Charmcaster.."
Suddenly, the serious tone in his voice made the mood grim, I looked back and saw him staring at me with serious piercing green eyes. "Before we head out, as condition for your release, you have to promise me you wont go crazy, alright?"
A promise?
I stood there bewildered by that word. A promise requires... trust. He trusts me? Or is he planning something? I looked at him again, his seriousness still imbedded in his face. I opened my mouth.. and closed them, and then formed into a soft smile.
"Sure, I promise."
Whew, finally done with chapter 3
dang that took alota words. Thanks for waiting patiently, lots of stuff irl prevented me from writing as often as I would like.
Also yes I know Charmcaster is canonically 21 in Omniverse. BUT NOT IN THIS FANFIC SHE ISNT!
That's all I have to say now, chapter 4 will come out in... well in an indefinite amount of time, probably long. It's titled The purse hunt. I'll work on it as soon as I'm done with school works.