NOTE: Another chapter for you folks!

Here's something for you guys to know and this is also just in case you follow my other stories as well. I am currently going to focus only on Priestess 10 only up until I finish season 2. After finishing season 2, I will be taking a break from Priestess 10 to give attention to my other stories to get them to a certain point before starting season 3. This is just so that I'm not overworking myself to try and focus on multiple things at once.

Another thing I wanted to ask you guys is, what do you think Yukiko's favorite alien is so far? There is an actual answer that I will give next chapter. I want to see what exactly you guys think is her favorite.

Thank you for your understand!

Enjoy and Review!

Chapter 32: Persona Fear

"Change it!"

"No way, you change yours!"

Yukiko watched as Ben and Gwen fought over which one of them got to have their birthday party. It was a big surprise to the heiress that the two of them shared the exact same birthday, but it also made her happy to know that they were born in December just like her. Another little thing she was happy to have in common with them.

If only the two of them felt the same.

Gwen opened up her planner. "I've already picked the cake, color coordinated the balloons, and sent the invitations. By the way, here are yours," She handed two invites to Ben and Yukiko. The heiress happily took her's while Ben tossed his into the trash.

"Ugh! Who plans their birthday party 6 months in advance?" Ben scoffed.

"The one who gets to celebrate it on her actual birthday this year!" Gwen exclaimed. She pulled back when Ben placed his dirty foot onto the table. Yukiko scrunched her face in disgust as Ben started scratching his foot. She was sure his constant scratching wasn't healthy at all for his foot, but she wasn't sure what was causing it.

"I don't think so, Grandpa promised me he was taking me for laser tag for my birthday!" Ben rebutted.

Shocked, Gwen turned to their grandfather, heartbroken. "But you can't miss my party, Grandpa!"

The old man had been trying to keep his patience after having to listen to the two kids' constantly fighting. "Now, you two have had the same birthday for 10 years. If you don't stop arguing neither of you will make it to 11!" He warned them. He then reached down into the coasters, grabbing a bottle. "Here Ben, try this. It gets rid of all kinds of fungus."

Ben caught the bottle. "Athlete's foot powder? Well, I am an athlete." He bragged.

"Well, that would have to make sense. There's no way you're good at school," Yukiko said bluntly.

Ben glared at her while Gwen smiled approvingly. "Well, even if Grandpa can't make my party, at least Yukiko will," Gwen said.

"Eh? Who's to say she won't be coming to my party?" Ben challenged.

"Because my party will have high standards for sophisticated people. Unlike your pizza-stained laser tag," Gwen replied.

"Who's to say I can't just go to both of your parties?" Yukiko tried to find a middle ground. And judging by the looks on their faces that wasn't an option to them. The heiress sighed, feeling envious of Yu for having a well-mannered little cousin.

Max continued driving down the road until a small chubby boy with short brown hair walked right in front of the RV. "They're coming! Help me!"

The Tennysons panicked at the sudden body that was about to get hit, Max slammed on the brakes to stop the RV in time. "GRANDPA!" The grandkids cried out.

Max swerved the RV just as the kid jumped out of the way, he rolled off of the side of the road, latching onto a branch to stop his fall. The Rustbucket came to a stop, letting Ben hop out of it. "Stinkfly to the rescue!" Ben slapped down the watch.

Realizing that he hadn't turned into Stinkfly, Cannonbolt groaned. "Oh man…Can't this thing ever get it right?" Cannonbolt complained. He curled up into a ball, rolling off the cliff.

The boy lost his grip and fell towards his doom, however Cannonbolt managed to catch him in time. "Gotcha!" He rolled back up, keeping the boy safe inside of him. Cannonbolt slammed into the ground, rolling down a hill until eventually coming to a stop.

Cannonbolt uncurled himself to check on his passenger. "You okay?"

"EEKK!" The boy squealed before passing out.

"Uh? I'll take that as a no."

"Just a few scrapes and bruises. That's good, but he's out cold," Max said after checking up on their newest passenger. The Tennysons stood over the boy.

"His name is Gilbert," Gwen said.

"Woah! How did you know that?" Ben asked, weirded out.

"Women's intuition," Gwen smirked.

"Actually his name is right here," Yukiko pointed at Gilbert's nametag.

"Can't you just go along with it just once?" Gwen groaned. "He must go to Camp Opinicon."

"How do you know that?" Yukiko asked.

"It was on the list of options for me to attend for this summer," Gwen answered.

Ben started poking Gilbert's rash. "Ew, this is one weird looking rash."

"Stop touching it," Yukiko slapped his hand away.

"It's obviously some kind of fungus," Gwen added.

Max stood up. "I saw a sign for the camp a little ways back. They must have a nurse."

Yukiko turned to Gwen. "Well Gwen, it seems you get to check out that camp."

"Yeah, just not in the way I expected. Which has been this entire summer if I'm being honest…" Gwen groaned.

The Rustbucket drove through the open gate of Camp Opinicon as thunder rumbled the sky above them. The campgrounds were empty and quiet, which wasn't a surprise with the thunderstorm going on. Once Max stopped the RV, the Tennysons hurried inside of the main lodge.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Max called out. His Grandkids walked ahead of him, noticing the giant messy condition the food hall seemed to be in. "Woah, looks abandoned," Ben said.

"Yup, definitely abandoned," Gwen agreed.

"If it's abandoned, then why are the lights still on?" Yukiko questioned.

"And the food's still warm," Max added as he held a hand over a plate of spaghetti. "Looks like they left in a hurry-"

BOOM!

A loud boom of thunder and lightning suddenly cut off all of the power inside of the food hall. The Tennysons all flinched at the unexpected darkness. Max turned on his trusty flashlight to illuminate the building.

"KYAA!"

Max quickly turned his flashlight to the direction he heard Gwen scream. His concern vanished as he saw a laughing Yukiko standing over a grumbling Gwen.

"Snrk! G-Gwen…y-you should've seen your face! HAHAHAHAHA!" Yukiko laughed.

The younger girl climbed back to her feet, glaring at Yukiko. "That wasn't funny! Stop laughing!" Gwen started pouting. Her cute expression only made Yukiko laugh harder.

Sighing at his granddaughters, Max searched for Ben. Only to find the boy sitting at the table, devouring the plate of spaghetti. Ben looked up, looking offended. "What!? I'm hungry!"

Max pulled out his second flashlight. "Yukiko, here-"

"Oh, no worries, Grandpa. I can use my phone," Yukiko pulled out her phone from her purse. She used the flashlight function on it to light up their way.

Seeing that she was covered, Max looked at his youngest grandkids. "Then you two can share."

Ben made a grab for it. "Like we don't share enough already!"

"Oh, will you let it go!" Gwen huffed.

"Only if you do first!"

"Never!"

SMACK! SMACK!

"OW!" Both exclaimed, gripping their heads.

"Then I'll make you both stop," Yukiko glared at them, holding her fan.

They were interrupted by the clanging sounds of pots and pans hitting the floor. They aimed their lights over to the kitchen door, only for Ben to start making shadow puppets.

"Snrk!" Yukiko suppressed a laugh

"Ugh…!" Gwen rolled her eyes.

"Someone appreciates good shadow puppets," Ben and Yukiko shared a high five.

The Tennysons entered the kitchen, exploring it. Gwen stuck close to Yukiko, afraid that something might jump out at them. Ben aimed his flashlight up to the closet, where two sets of eyes could be seen staring directly at them.

"AHHH!" Ben and Gwen screamed. Ben slipped, falling to the floor. Yukiko was quick to check up on him to make sure he wasn't hurt.

Ben's flashlight rolled across the ground, revealing the two young kids who were hiding inside of the closet. They were younger than Ben and Gwen, looking frightened. "Is it safe to come out?" Both asked.

"Aw~!" Yukiko gushed, finding the two adorable.

"Are you two, okay?" Max asked.

"For-"

"-Now." They said.

"What happened? Where did everyone go?" Max asked.

"We heard something outside but…" The boy stopped.

"We were too scared to come out…" The girl finished.

"I'm Andy."

"And I'm Mandy."

"We're twins!" They proudly declared. Until thunder struck and they moved to hide behind Yukiko. The heiress placed a hand over her mouth, struggling to keep herself from screaming at their cuteness.

"Where's the camp nurse?" Max asked.

"G-gone!" Andy answered.

"With all the others," Mandy added.

Max walked over to the phone on the wall, but there was no signal. "The storm must've taken out the lane lines and there's no cellphone reception either. Let's get back to Gilbert, we'll drive into town."

Back inside of the Rustbucket, Max tossed some towels to the kids. "Here, to help you dry off." Max gave Yukiko an apologetic look. "Sorry, but I only got two clean ones at the moment."

She shook her head. "It's fine, Grandpa. Better to not let the kids get sick." She felt a tap on her back. Yukiko turned around to see Andy and Mandy smiling at her.

"It's okay," Andy said.

"You can share with us, pretty lady!" Mandy added.

"GAH!" Yukiko felt an invisible force made out of cuteness punch her in the gut. The heiress knelt down so that the twins could wrap her up with the towel with them.

Ben and Gwen, who were fighting over their towel, stared at the scene with obvious jealousy. Gwen growled at Ben. "If you weren't such a doofus that wouldn't have happened!"

"Me!? You're the doofus!" Ben retorted. They continued to fight one another.

Max shook his head. "Couple of kids I know could learn a thing or two from you guys." Max said to the twins.

"Who!?" Ben and Gwen stopped fighting to ask.

Yukiko wasn't paying attention, still stuck in her own imagination. In her mind she was imagining Ben and Gwen behaving like Andy and Mandy, with Yu and Nanako joining along in the daydream. "Ah~! Adorable!" Her dazed expression started to weird out the twins.

Max attempted to start the Rustbucket, but the engine wouldn't start. He and Ben walked out of the RV to check the engine. Lifting up the hood, the two were grossed out by what they saw. "It looks like some kind of fungus. Well, looks like we're hunkering down here for a while." He closed the hood before he and Ben reentered the Rustbucket.

Unknown to them, behind some trees, were a group of purple mushroom creatures lying in wait.

The Tennysons, the twins, and the unconscious Gilbert entered one of the cabins. Max laid Gilbert down on one of the beds, the boy was drooling in his sleep. Which grossed out Gwen and Yukiko. The heiress was reminded of her and Chie's terrible camping trip once more.

Ben plopped down on one of the beds, taking off his shoes and socks, because of his athlete's foot. The hero took out the powder, dumping it onto his foot.

The twins popped up. "Athlete's foot?" Mandy asked.

"Everyone gets it here." Andy added.

Max looked at the kids. "Now you kids stay put. Yukiko, keep an eye on all of them and check on Gilbert to make sure he's alright."

"Yes, Grandpa," Yukiko nodded her head.

"I'll head to the kitchen and see if I can russell up something," Max left the cabin.

Yukiko pouted. "Grandpa could've asked me to help."

Andy gasped. "You can cook!?"

Mandy had stars in her eyes. "You're so cool!"

"GAH!" She fell to her knees as another invisible blow of cuteness punched her in the gut. The twins were confused by her antics once more.

Ben and Gwen were contemplating what was worse. Yukiko cooking a meal or their grandfather cooking a meal.

It didn't take long for them to conclude that Mystery Food X was a bigger threat, which made them slightly thankful that Yukiko wasn't in charge of cooking. They watched as Yukiko soaked up the twins' praise, annoying them.

Gwen interrupted their moment. "There has to be a care package around here somewhere!?" Ben joined her in searching for the care package. The two searched underneath the bunks until eventually finding one. Which immediately led to another fight.

"Can't you guys just share?" The twins groaned.

"Like, sharing the same birthday with a relative every single year!?" Ben held the box away from Gwen, which she struggled to reach for. "You guys don't get it!"

Gwen smacked him in the face, pulling the box from him. "Ben, their twins! As in born on the same day!"

"I knew that-"

"THEY'RE HERE! ALL AROUND US!" Gilbert suddenly screamed. His sudden awakening caused everyone to flinch, Ben and Gwen dropped the care package, spilling it on Yukiko.

The heiress groaned after realizing that the crumbs all got stuck in her hair. Deciding to deal with it later, she moved over to Gilbert. "Who's here?"

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"That's Grandpa!" Ben realized. He tried to open the door, but Gilbert tackled him.

"Don't go out there! They'll find you!" He warned.

Ben smirked. "Chill. I have animal instinct!" He held up the Omnitrix.

Yukiko opened the door. "Gwen, keep an eye on the others. Ben and I will check on Grandpa."

Gwen's hand trailed down to feel the spell book in her pocket. "Gotcha."

Yukiko held on tightly as Wildmutt sprinted through the forest. The Vulpimancer slowed down to sniff the trail he had been following so far. The dog alien led them to a giant cove of mutated mushrooms.

"Mushrooms? Doesn't this remind you of the alien hive back in Retirement Village?" Yukiko mentioned.

"Wrar!" Wildmutt agreed. He jumped down into the cove, not noticing the pair of eyes that were sprouting out of the ground. The two reached a massive hole in the ground, staring down at it.

Until a batch of glowing purple tendrils shot out of it. Yukiko raised her fan. "Maragi!" She obliterated the tendrils. Only for them to reform instantly and increase in numbers. She was prepared to fire off again until something hit her from behind, knocking her off of Wildmutt.

"KYAAAA!" Yukiko screamed as she fell down the massive hole

"WRRAAAA!" Wildmutt cried out. He couldn't do anything himself as the tendrils wrapped themselves around him and dragged him down the hole.

When he reached the bottom, he was dragged down a tunnel. The Vulpimancer used his strength to tear some of the tendrils off.

"Maragi!"

The tendrils constricting his body were burned off, allowing him to move. Wildmutt turned around to see Yukiko attempting to fight off more of the tendrils. "Ben, I found Grandpa! He was taken further down the tunnel before I could-MGHH!" She was interrupted as stronger tendrils wrapped around her face, squeezing her skull.

"WRAAA!" Wildmutt slashed his claws against them, tearing them apart. Yukiko held her head in pain as Wildmutt threw her onto his back. He sprinted down the tunnel to continue searching for Max until the watch began beeping.

In a flash of red light, he turned back to normal, he and Yukiko tumbled down the tunnel into a wide cave. "Oh man. Not now! Grandpa!" Ben shouted for him.

All around them mushroom creatures began sprouting up, approaching the two humans. The heiress raised her fan. "Maragion!"

Her fireballs pushed the mushrooms back, burning them to death. Yukiko got off of her knees and grabbed Ben's hand. "Let's hurry!"

"Yeah!"

The two ran down the tunnel only to be stopped by a blue sprout protruding from the ground beneath them. Yukiko grabbed Ben and jumped off of it before it could eat them. They continued running through the tunnel until they found an exit. The two began climbing out of the hole as more and more mushroom men began to chase after them.

"Ben, hurry!" Yukiko pushed him upwards.

"I know! Quit pushing!" He crawled back up the hole. Yukiko wasn't far behind him as she also made it to the top.

Ben noticed the front loader that was sitting next to the hole. "Yukiko, come on!" He grabbed her hand, pulling her towards it. The two climbed into the vehicle, with Ben taking control. "I'm taking you guys out of the root!" Ben pushed the front loader into the tendrils and mushroom men, knocking them back down into the hole.

However, it wasn't enough to stop more tendrils from appearing. "Seems like these weeds refuse to be torn out! Come on!" Yukiko and Ben jumped out of the front loader before the tendrils lifted it into the air.

The Tennysons watched as the front loader was sent flying through the air, crashing into the other side of the cove. "And this is why I hate vegetables," Ben said.

"To be fair, these aren't exactly healthy," Yukiko replied. "Let's hurry back to the cabin!"

Gwen and the campers turned around to see an exhausted Ben and Yukiko sprint into the cabin. Ben slammed the door shut, breathing heavily. "You won't believe it! There's-"

"Killer mushrooms!" Gilbert interrupted.

"Everywhere! And they're taking over the camp!" Gwen added.

"H-how did you guys know that?" Yukiko questioned.

"Not important!" Ben pushed past her. "They have Grandpa!"

"Oh no!" Gwen gasped.

Gilbert started freaking out. "They must be some kind of dormant species that came alive when the camp dug in this new area! T-that's what I was trying to tell you when your RV almost ran me over!"

"Not exactly the best place to explain that," Yukiko muttered.

"We have to get out of here!" He yelled.

"I'm not going anywhere without my Grandpa!" Ben stormed out of the cabin.

"Make that both of us!" Gwen followed him.

"Me as well!" Yukiko left as well. The campers followed after the Tennyson trio, scared and confused.

"What do you think they want?" Ben wondered.

"Well, I took this advanced botany course last semester and I think-"

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

The kids and teenager stopped when a giant white pod burst through the ground. "They want us! For plant food!" Ben exclaimed.

"Everyone back to the cabin!" Yukiko ordered. They listened to her, immediately making haste back for shelter only for another pod to destroy the cabin. Everyone could only watch as more and more pods emerged from the earth below.

"Okay…they stopped. That's good," Ben said.

"Actually, it's worse," Gilbert popped his bubble. "Those are puffballs containing billions of mushroom spores. If those mushrooms mature and release those spores…"

"They could spread over the whole state or even the whole country!" Gwen exclaimed.

"And eventually the entire planet…" Yukiko grimaced.

Ben grew serious, he grabbed both of his cousins and pulled them aside from the others. "That's it. I'm going XLR8! I'm gonna save Grandpa and chopping them down!"

"Actually."

The three turned to Gilbert, who joined their conversation. "The only way to beat a mushroom is to destroy its mycelium."

"It's what?" Ben tilted his head.

"It's brain, Ben," Yukiko told him.

"Should've been obvious, doofus," Gwen sighed.

Ben just glared at them. "You nerds know way too much about mushrooms. C'mon, Yukiko."

"I'm coming too! He's my Grandpa too!" Gwen tried to follow them.

Ben turned around, stopping her. "We may share a lot of things, Gwen. But I'm the only one who wears this," He held up the Omnitrix.

"And I have this," She returned fire with her spell book.

Yukiko knelt down to Gwen's level. "Which is why we're trusting you to keep these kids safe while we exterminate these parasites. We'll be back with Grandpa." Yukiko pulled the girl into a hug, which Gwen returned tightly.

"Be careful," She said to both of them.

Ben smirked. "We're Tennysons. Nothing can stop us."

With their parting words said, Ben and Yukiko hurried off into the woods to stop the spores.

XLR8 dashed towards the cove with Yukiko riding on his back. He stopped near the edge, where the two of them saw more pods sprouting out. "This doesn't look good," XLR8 said.

"Which is why we need to hurry," Yukiko told him.

XLR8 jumped down the hole, entering the cave system. He searched around at top speed for any sign of their grandfather. "Grandpa!" He called out.

"No Grandpa. But we do have more meddlesome pests!" Yukiko spat as mushroom men appeared in front of them.

XLR8 hurried through the tunnel system to avoid a fight.

Back at the camp, Gwen was leading them through the campgrounds. "If we make it to the dining hall, maybe we can barracte ourselves in," Gilbert suggested.

"And fight these things off with what? A spatula!?" Andy yelled at him.

"We are so dead meat!" Mandy cried. "I hate it! Hate it! Hate it here!"

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

A mushroom top sprouted out from the ground beneath them. Gwen and Gilbert fell off while the twins stayed on top. The mushroom opened up, swallowing up the twins.

"Okay…not good…" Gwen grimaced.

"Which way?" XLR8 asked.

"Either way is fine!" Yukiko replied. "Maragion!" Yukiko obliterated the roots that were following them. "Pesky weeds!"

XLR8 went down the right tunnel.

"Emocha Objectia!" A blue blast of energy shot out of Gwen's hand, blasting open the mushroom. The mushroom collapsed falling into two separate pieces.

Gilbert gasped. "That was so cool! How did you do that!?"

Gwen glared at him. "Ask questions later, save twins now!"

"R-right!" Gilbert and Gwen hurried and dug both of the twins out of the dead mushroom. Both kids seemed to be fine as they stood on their feet.

Much to their dismay more mushrooms were growing around them. "Move!" Gwen ordered. The campers listened to her order, sprinting to get as far away from the mushrooms as they could. Though more mushrooms were growing by the second.

"We need to get to higher ground!" Gwen pointed at the rock wall.

"But the rock wall is only for the older campers…" Mandy dismayed.

Gwen rolled her eyes, she turned to see mushroom men approaching them. "Call me crazy, but right now I think camp rules are meant to be broken!"

Fire burned down the plant-like walls that stood in their way, lighting up the cavern with a bright reddish orange color. XLR8 and Yukiko entered the cave to see Max being restrained by purple tendrils. "Grandpa!" They exclaimed.

Yukiko hopped off XLR8 as her cousin began to cut Max free. "Ben…Yukiko…"

The heiress smiled at Max. "Don't worry, Grandpa. We'll have you out in a-"

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

FLASH!

"I hate that watch…!" Yukiko growled.

"I couldn't agree more at the moment!" Ben grimaced.

Max's eyes widened. "Yukiko, look out!"

The heiress turned around to see roots shooting out towards her like missiles. "Agidyne!" Yukiko fired off her attack.

An explosion shook the entire cave, covering their sight in dust. Ben coughed as the smoke entered his system, he opened his eyes. "Did that get them?"

His question was answered when the exact same roots blew past the smoke, completely unharmed by her attack. "What-GAH!" Yukiko was smacked right into the cave's wall. Before Yukiko could even touch the ground, the large roots wrapped themselves around her body, capturing their bigger threat.

"Yukiko!" Both males cried out.

Ben didn't have much time to worry or run as smaller roots captured him as well. "Grandpa!"

Max couldn't do anything as both his grandkids were wrapped from head to toe in killer roots.

Gwen and the campers reached the top of the rock wall. "Come on! We gotta keep moving-" She stopped when she saw just how much the mushrooms had completely enveloped the camp.

"Me first!"

She turned around to see the twins actually fighting over the zipline.

"No me!"

"They're siblings. Shouldn't be much of a surprise," Gwen thought of her brother for a moment. The twins' arguing got on her nerves quickly. "Does it really matter!? Zip it!" She ordered the twins.

Mandy blew her tongue at Andy, taking the first zipline. Andy took the next, then Gwen, and finally Gilbert.

Back inside of the cave the three Tennysons had been strapped to a wall with roots. Yukiko's hand had been completely covered as if the plant knew that was her way of using her abilities.

"Ben, can you reach your watch?" Max asked.

"I'm trying!" Ben kept slapping the dial, but the watch wouldn't work. "I think it needs more time to recharge!"

"I'm not sure how much time we have left…" Yukiko said. She was worried for Gwen and the others above ground.

"Maybe, I could-" Whatever Ben was about to say was interrupted by the watch erupting in a green flash of light. Max and Yukiko turned their heads to avoid getting blinded.

When the light died down, they looked back at Ben and were shocked beyond belief. Ben had transformed into a completely new alien once again.

He was now a humanoid plant with one eye in the middle of his face, five vine-like legs, four long fingers on his hands, flytrap-shaped flaps with teeth covering his head, and pods on his back.

"What the heck is that!?" Max gasped.

"Another new alien!?" Yukiko gasped.

"I guess so. I don't recognize it," Ben said as green spikes sprouted out of his body, cutting himself free. "But I like what he can do!" Ben grinned. He swung his arms, setting his cousin and grandfather free. "Let's get out of here, guys-"

"You're not going anywhere."

Ben looked around, confused. "Uh? You guys hear that?"

"Hear what?" They asked. Until more roots sprouted from the ground, dragging both Yukiko and Max underneath the earth. Ben attempted to help them, but also got dragged underneath.

The three were held in the air staring face to face with the massive brain of the mutant mushrooms. "I communicate with all vegetation on a telepathic level." It said to Ben, making the plant alien gasp.

"AAAAHHHH!" Gilbert continued to scream as they zoomed down the zipline. Unfortunately for them the mushroom men cut the zipline, making them fall to their doom.

Fortunately, they bounced off the soft mushroom tops which broke their fall. As they got back up, a large army of mushroom men were menacingly approaching them. Gwen raised her hands, glowing brightly, however the girl herself was uncertain. "This is way too much for me to take on alone…"

Gilbert turned his gaze to a shed. "Look over there!"

Gwen agreed with the idea. "Quick! Run for cover!" They all sprinted for the shed, hurrying inside, and keeping the door shut. Gwen released a breath of relief until the twins began fighting again.

"We wouldn't be in this mess if you didn't make us hide in the kitchen!" Andy yelled.

"Me!? It was your idea in the first place!" Mandy defended herself.

"Well…! You didn't have to listen to me!"

"STOP IT!" Gwen finally had enough of it.

"She/He started it!"

"Gosh…I'm getting a weird sense of Deja vu right now." Gwen groaned. "Look, it doesn't matter who started it or who's fault it is! What matters is that you're family and you need to stick together! Got it?"

"...Okay," They begrudgingly agreed.

"Good!" Gwen's hands lit up with blue energy. "Because we're gonna need to fight our way out of here!"

The campers stared at her with a mixture of fear and confusion.

"So, you're the brainiac," Ben said.

"I prefer mycelium," Mycelium responded.

"Ben! Who are you talking to?" Max asked.

Yukiko watched Ben carefully. "I think he's speaking to the mycelium, Grandpa."

"Yeah, it's like I'm connected to Mr. Mushroom head over here," Ben said. He was being lowered into the Mycelium's mouth. "Oh man..why can't you be a vegetarian?"

"Struggle as you may. You cannot stop me. Soon I will consume every living creature on this planet!" Mycelium proclaimed.

"Well, you're not eating us!" Ben tore himself free. He stretched his arm to the cave's ceiling to prevent himself from falling into Mycelium's mouth. Though, it seems one of the pods on his back fell off and exploded on Mycelium.

"As a fellow planet you must understand the wisdom of sharing a single intelligence," Mycelium said.

As it was talking, Ben tore his family free, landing on one of Mycelium's vines. "I'm not good at sharing anything! Just ask my cousins!" Ben took several pods off his back.

"It's true, he really doesn't," Yukiko actually responded.

Ben jumped into the air, spinning in the air, and launching his pods all over Mycelium.

Yukiko smirked, whipping out her fan. "Yeah, I think I'm starting to like this form too. MARAGIDYNE!" Massive fireballs rained down on Mycelium, causing the plant brain to scream in pain.

Gwen kicked down the door, charging forward with nothing but her own abilities. Behind her were the campers, using sports gear as weapons.

"HA!" Gwen shot her hands forward. Releasing a blast of blue energy that completely dismantled multiple mushroom men in front of her. She was shocked by the outcome, not expecting that kind of effect from the random spell.

Mandy fired off her paintball gun, distracting the mushrooms. Giving Andy time to take them down with a hockey puck and stick.

Gilbert fired off baseballs with the small ball gun in his hands. "Hehehe…" He chuckled weirdly in satisfaction.

"Nice shot!" They twins exclaimed. "Uh oh…!" They dropped their weapons and ran.

Gilbert turned around to see a horde of mushroom men heading their way. Forcing the kids to all run to avoid getting trampled. They eventually ran to the lake shore with nowhere else to run.

Gwen turned around, pushing her hands forward. "Everyone stay close to me!" The campers listened, huddling close to Gwen. "Just remember what Yukiko told you and concentrate! Contego!" Gwen shouted. A blue shield of energy surrounded herself and the campers. It stopped the mushrooms from reaching them. "It worked? It worked! Now everyone, CHARGE!"

Gwen and the campers used the shield to rush through the horde of mushroom men.

"Take no prisoners!" Gilbert yelled.

Gwen disabled the shield once they made it through, running back to the food hall. However, a lone tendril grabbed Mandy by her shirt, hoisting her into the air. "Ahhh!"

Andy reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a pair of ice skates. He twirled them through the air, slicing the tendril in half, saving his sister. Mandy landed right on top of him, she wasted no time in grabbing her brother and running.

Ben used his appendages to slice through Mycelium's roots, while Yukiko continued to blast them with fireballs.

"Your resistance is futile! For even if you destroy me, you cannot possibly destroy the billions of my spores that I am about to release into your atmosphere!"

"I'll worry about them next!" Ben declared.

Until the watch timed out once again, turning him back to normal. "Great…" He muttered before roots grabbed him again.

"Ben!" Yukiko lost her focus, and was trapped again as well. So was Max. Mycelium brought the Tennysons to its mouth, ready to devour its foes.

Ben sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry, guys…"

Yukiko closed her eyes, whispering apologies to her friends and family.

Gwen and the others barricaded the door; however the mushroom men had already invaded the food hall from the back entrance. Ready to devour the humans for substance.

Gwen tried to push them back but more and more kept coming in strides. "I'm sorry…guys. I couldn't hold them off…"

Max however refused to go down. "If I'm going down, I'm at least going to kick the fun out of this fungus!" Max kicked Mycelium's tongue.

Ben realized something. "That's it!"

"That's what, Ben?" Yukiko turned to him.

Ben kicked off his shoes. "You said that foot powder kills all sorts of fungus, Grandpa!" His shoes that were filled to the brim with foot powder went right down Mycelium's mouth.

The effect was instant, Mycelium cried out in pain as the powder began to kill it off from the inside out. Ben smirked as their bonds loosened, he reached into his pocket and threw the rest of the powder into Mycelium.

The brain died instantly, releasing the Tennysons. They looked up as all of Mycelium's fluids began pouring out all over them.

"EWWW! I'm gonna need a shower for this!" Yukiko screamed.

Ben laughed proudly. "Like I said! Tennysons don't lose!"

Max chuckled, ruffling Ben's hair. "Good job, son." His affection brought a brighter smile to Ben's face.

Gwen and the campers watched in amazement as all of the mushroom men dried up and died right in front of them.

"W-what just happened?" Gilbert asked.

Gwen smirked. "Ben happened."

"This camp rocks!" The twins yelled, excitedly as they left the food hall.

"Yeah! I can't wait to come back!" Gilbert agreed.

"Well, hopefully you guys won't have to deal with mutant mushrooms," Gwen smiled. Their excitement paused as they sniffed the air, smelling something grotesque.

The smell came from the three slime covered humans in front of them. Yukiko was embarrassed and tried to cover her face.

"You guys did it!" Gwen congratulated them.

"Almost, we still have to stop the spores," Max said.

"Don't worry, I got an idea," Ben said. He turned to Andy. "You said that everyone at camp gets Athlete's foot, right?"

"Yeah."

"Take us to the nurses office."

Andy led them all to the nurse's office.

Ben opened the cabinet filled with feet powder as Max and Yukiko wiped the slime off their bodies.

"Any brilliant ideas on how to release this at once?" Ben turned to Gwen.

"Actually, as a matter of fact," She grinned.

Stinkfly laughed loudly as Yukiko and Gwen sat on his back. The girls were pouring the powder all over the spores as Stinkfly flew them around camp. The powder's effect was instant, killing the spores without mercy.

The Tennysons laughed proudly at their accomplishment.

Hours Later:

The Tennysons were relaxing inside of a pizza parlor after leaving the camp. They had also made the campers promise to not speak a word about everything they had seen during that whole mushroom incident. The campers had been happy enough to agree, since the Tennysons saved their lives.

Ben leaned back in his seat. "Good work, cuz. Couldn't have done it without ya."

"Anytime," Gwen smiled.

Ben scratched his cheek, blushing. "And I was thinking, I guess I can have my birthday anytime. You take the real date."

"Aw~! Ben!" Yukiko cooed happily. She was proud of him.

"Thanks, but it's really no big deal. You can take the real date," Gwen refused the offer.

Ben chuckled a bit too much, which confused the three of them until he folded into complete laughter. "HAHAHA! SIKE! I knew I'd get it after only one!"

Yukiko and Max sighed, realizing that they should've seen that coming from Ben.

Gwen growled, embarrassed and pissed. "Why you little…!"

"I even got it recorded!" Ben lifted up the recorder Gwen used against him last time.

"Thanks, but it's really no big deal. You can take the real date."

"You DWEEB!" Gwen roared, feeling humiliated.

"I should hit him…I really should…" Yukiko groaned.

"Guess, they really can't agree on anything," Max sighed.

Ben held the recorder away from Gwen. "Hahaha! It seems everything's coming up 'Ben'!"

Until their pizza arrived with mushrooms as the topping. Both Ben and Gwen gagged in disgust. "Mushrooms!? Gross!"

Max happily took a slice to eat. "Well, almost anything."

Yukiko took her own separate piece onto her plate. Using a fork and knife to cut it. "I really should've taken some of those mushrooms with us to use as ingredients. These tastes great!"

Ben and Gwen had never felt so betrayed before by their own family.

Chapter End

NOTE: Wildvine makes his debut! Finally, I've been waiting for this episode just for him honestly. Wildvine is one of my favorite aliens in Ben 10.

I'm happy that you guys liked Gwen's dilemma last chapter, obviously this entire episode was a good distraction for her to get Kevin off of her mind. Which is why she was pretty much back to normal here.

I was really surprised to realize that Ben, Gwen, and Yukiko were all born in December. Now I'm wondering if I want to have Kenny's birthday in December as well, because Man of Action never gave him a birthday. If I'm wrong, then please correct me.

I've already said beforehand that I'm not doing 'Gwen 10'. That episode is the worst episode in the original series, and I don't want to bother trying to rewrite it. So, we just won't see it.

Something I can tell you as a little fun fact is that in the Gwen 10 timeline, Femc of Persona 3 is the main protag over there instead of Minato.

Another thing is that I won't be doing 'Goodbye and Good Riddance'. Now before you get upset, just know that it is one of my favorite episodes in all of Ben 10. The issue is that the episode provides nothing for my story and ruins how I want to end this story. So, it won't be happening either. Sorry.

Next chapter - They Lurk Below