Note: first fanfic, will improve as I go along, I have been a gamemaster on my past RP site so the action should be good, and I do not own Ben 10 or anything that is remotely like Ben 10.

AUTHOR'S NOTE OF GLORY: In order to fully understand this chapter and get the emotional appeal to it, re-read Chapters 10 and 11. On we go!

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Gray Matter was restless.

He tried to fall asleep but every time he did, he would start to have nightmares.

Nightmares that would shape themselves into evil, monstrous things. Things that threatened to kill him. To take his name, his identity, his soul.

Cold sweat pored down Gray Matter's little head, his eyes were twitching, he felt hot yet at the same time freezing cold. His small body shivered violently.

"What is this...", he said to himself, "What is this madness?"

The pupils of his eyes were small, they reverberated madly as they looked up, down, side to side and back to up. He closed his eyes.

"Must…get to…sleep."

He closed his eyes.

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One week ago…

Gray Matter was in his room. As usual he was studying hard and writing down various notes. His small pencil would scribble stuff down every time he found something worth note taking. A sudden knock on his door broke his concentration. He sighed and said,

"Come in."

A robot messenger wheeled into his wheel, with his mechanical voice he said,

"Special delivery for Mr. Adams."

Gray Matter jumped out of his twig-like chair and off the desk that belonged to Upgrade. He walked to the robot messenger. The robot looked down at him and said,

"you're Mr. Adams?"

"Ay."

The robot took out a letter and lowered it down to Gray Matter.

"A message from the head Mineralist."

Gray Matter's heart began to beat fast. A message from the head Mineralist? What could it be?

Gray Matter took the letter with both of his hands.

"Thank you," he said.

The robot bowed and exited the room.

Gray Matter set the letter down carefully. He looked at the letter pondering what could be inside.

"Maybe….", he said to himself, "it is a promotion. Maybe they finally found my talent in being so smart! I'll be recognized! My fame shall reach far distances and many people will come to me for advice!"
Now excited, Gray Matter ripped open the letter, he pulled out the piece of paper inside. It said:

Dear Matthew Adams,

As you probably know the Earth Trial is a week away. Due to your body built and lack of endurance, we strongly feel that you should not participate in the Trial. The chances are extremely high that you will die from this experience. It is your choice though on whether you want to go or not. If you do go, you will continue your stay here at the academy. If you do not go however, you will graduate and we will send you back to where you live. Report your decision to Zophos Building by at most two days from now. If you do not give us your decision, we will conclude that you want to stay here and thus participate on the Trial.

Hope you make the best decision.

Artesia, the head Mineralist.

Gray Matter read the letter once, twice, thrice and a fourth time. Thinking that it has to be some awful practical joke he checked the envelope. On the front it said:

Matthew Adams

Building 11A, room 13L.

Letter approved by the head Mineralist.

On the top-right corner of the envelope was a stamp that said,

Head Mineralist Approved.

­Gray Matter fell down in shock, it wasn't a practical joke, it was real.

For a moment there was silence, then Gray Matter started to cry.

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Gray Matter's eyes shot open. He gasped in the air and started breathing heavily. He sat up and felt drowsy. He felt sick to his stomach.

"Oh….", he groaned, "maybe I should go on a walk."

He got up, he swayed a bit from where he stood but soon he was able to control his bearings. He walked to the entrance of the tent. He unzipped it and peaked outside.

Apparently, Four Arms was in a deeply involved conversation with Upgrade. Four Arms would tell his story using exaggerated arm movements. This seemed to thrill Upgrade and made him sit at the edge of his seat.

Quietly, Gray Matter snuck out of his tent. His now clammy hands zipping up the entrance.

Tiptoeing with cat like thread, he snuck away from the camp and into the mountain field.

Apparently, Gray Matter's idea of a walk making him feel better was wrong. Not only did it not make him feel better, it was making him feel even more sick faster. Hallucinations were now appearing before his very eyes.

Gray Matter tried to shake the feeling away but it would not go. Finally, after five minutes of walking Gray Matter stopped.

"I….should just t-turn back."

Gray Matter looked around, where was he?

"Damn…am I lost?"

Gray Matter started walking in a random direction.

"Surely…I can't be lost?"

He tripped over a rock, the fall made him tumble down the mountain side. He tossed and turned like a rag doll as he hit pointed rocks and jagged minerals. He finally came to a stop.

Laying motionless on the ground.

Again he started crying as he heard familiar words enter his mind.

Uselesss…uselesss…uselesss…uselesss.

"I'm…not…useless", he whispered.

Uselesss…uselesss…uselesss.

"No, please god, let me die in piece."

Eyesight getting blurry, he tried to stay in focus of the world but it was no use.

Uselesss…

Four giant paws walked in front of him. Their whiteness blended in with the snow that it was standing upon.

Gray Matter smiled.

"Good", he said in a whisper barely audible, "I will die quickly."

His eyes closed. A tongue rolled over his body licking at him. Then, jaws seemed to softly close down on his arm. It picked him up gently, and then he had the feeling he was be carried to somewhere.

Death?