Chapter 10: Belong to Me

There are a few words people usually never want to hear. Some they ignore, some they take in, and some they try to find the answer desperately. But when a certain word is said to a person, they take it in, think and calculate it, and then react. But when Kevin said that word, that certain crucial deadly word, that no one would have ever expected…the world suddenly collapsed into nothing.

"No…"

It took a moment for people to realize what Kevin had said. Some didn't register, and some blinked before they could think. Did they hear him right? His voice had finally entered throughout the whole room and everyone heard him.

People raised from their seats shocked and objected loudly. Kevin smirked at Charmcaster's ridiculously confused face. Max and the Plumbers remained seated, motionless and prepared.

"I'm sorry…I don't think I heard you correctly. What did you say?" blinked Charmcaster.

"I said no," Kevin replied simply, taking off his outer jacket to reveal an under shirt. He threw his crown on his thrown and scuffed up his hair, making it look as it usually does. He was preparing himself for something, but the audience didn't know what exactly.

Gwen's face was incredulous. She stood up, along with Julie, trying to figure out what was happening. What was he doing? Gwen and Julie exchanged looks, as Julie shrugged, not knowing what to say. All they had to do was sit and watch what was going to happening. What confused them even more was…Ben was suddenly gone.

"What do you mean no?" Charmcaster was livid.

"I mean the wedding's off. I never loved you or even cared about you. It was all one big set up. And now I can do this," Kevin said, grabbing Charmcaster by the neck and holding her tightly. She struggled to get out, but it was no use. Max and the Plumbers then stood up and surrounded Kevin and Charmcaster. Ben appeared in the corner, the closest to Hex.

"Hex, your reign ends here. We are going to bring you down," announced Max proudly. Everyone was on his or her feet now, looking around. Gwen and Julie stood on their chairs to get a better view.

No way…

"You're not going to terrorize this world anymore. You've hurt it enough…it ends here, right now," Max continued.

"Surrender or I'll break her neck like a toothpick," added Kevin. Ben remained in the corner silently. It was a trap, a set up. It was all to get hex in the same room as them to take him down. They performed it very well. It was a plan that worked. Hex was sitting before them, alone, while Charmcaster was suffering a major headlock by very large muscles.

But, if they were trying to get a reaction out of Hex, it wasn't working. He remained in his seat with a bored expression, clutching his staff tightly.

"So…you thought you were going to spring a trap on me, were you?" Hex finally spoke, standing up himself. The crowd's whisperers became silent. Most immediately left, the smart ones, and some stayed to watch. Gwen and Julie made their way up the left hand isle and got on their knees, watching intently themselves. "Except, the trap was on you."

In a matter of seconds, Hex's guards flooded the room. "Take the people to the back of the room," ordered Hex, as the crowd was suddenly shoved. People screamed and shouted as innocent people were being shoved to the back of the room. Chairs were being knocked over and thrown at the crowd to make them move faster. The children were crying. Gwen and Julie were also shoved alongside people. Luckily Julie found her mom just in time, gripping her hand tightly.

"Leave them alone, they had nothing to do with this!" yelled Max.

"On the contrary, they were invited to a wedding…were they not? Every single one of could be in on this, and after I'm done with you, they're next," said Hex, as the people whimpered. Kevin looked down and saw Charmcaster smiling maliciously.

"What happened to my guards?" Kevin asked frantically.

"Disposed of, of course. They were in the way. My guards took them out."

They knew…. they knew of the plan, the trap, everything. How did the find out? It seemed so real and so perfect. They thought it was going to work…but he was in control of the situation once again. This wasn't going good at all. Kevin thought he played his part perfectly. But in the end, Hex was still one step ahead of them.

"Kevin darling, you might as well let me go. It's pointless to keep holding me like this," said Charmcaster. Kevin wanted to, but he couldn't. "Don't feel bad…I've been told I'm a good actor…but I can't say the same for you." He clutched her head more, making her cringe.

"So…was it that obvious?" Max asked, trying to find the answer.

"Max, I've always known you hated me. It just took the right time and moment to figure it out. Since when did Kevin, in any desire, want to merge kingdoms with ours? He's just a child; he doesn't know what he wants," Hex began, then saying his side of the story and how Charmcaster would have never fallen for a man like Kevin. "Besides, our family line doesn't fall in love so easily. It takes years for us to trust…and then who is good enough to reproduce our bloodline? No one…it was never going to happen. She was going to strike you down before you said yes anyway."

She smiled evilly once more as she looked into Kevin's eyes. He was shocked. One wrong word and he would have been toast.

"So how are we going to do this Hex?" asked Max.

"Well that's all up to you, I suppose. Surrender now and I'll spare all of your lives and let you rot in the Null Void's prison…or die here at my feet. Choose."

"I'd rather die," said Kevin.

"Suit yourself," said Hex, as Charmcaster suddenly threw out her hands and a burst of violet light went throughout the room. The Plumbers, Max, and Kevin were flown backwards and hit the wall. Ben was on one knee grasping the floor, keeping himself from being blown away. The crowd watched intently, not making a sound. The guys looked up and Charmcaster was no longer in wedding clothes, but in her usual attire. She wrapped her hair in a ponytail, as they saw her purse bouncing by itself towards her. All of them stood there, waiting for the first move to be made.

Hex waved his finger and some of his guards took his side, prepared to fight.

"We'll take them," said Ken, taking out a sword toward the guards.

"Careful, they're stronger than they look," replied Max, taking out a very large gun from behind. "Their blood runs with some of Hex's power."

"Very good Max, you've been doing your homework," said Hex, levitating now a couple of inches. "But what I don't understand is what are you going to do with a fat old man like yourself, a young boy, a washed up king, and a group of boys that will never know what its like to be loved by someone else. You're out of luck Max. There's no way you can defeat me."

"I beg to differ. You're not as young as you used to be either, Hex, and your niece is too self absorbed to see what life is truly about," argued Max, receiving a glare from her. "And my two grandsons and their friends have spirit inside them. They have things you don't know about."

"Then you'll be the first to die," Hex was getting prepared, but stopped when Ben stood in front of Max. This got Hex's attention.

"Ben…" whispered Julie, completely worried about him. Gwen grabbed her shoulder.

"I think he knows what he's doing," she replied, still not sure herself.

"You've got guts boy, but you're stupid. Your own grandfather is letting you kill yourself, only to save others that don't even matter," said Hex.

"I am going to save them, because they matter the most. No one is going to fear you again," Ben started, taking off his outer jacket.

"Fear is such a strong word. I think the correct one is respect. I am respected Ben Tennyson."

"I have no respect for you. I'm going to take you down right now."

Hex laughed, "How boy? You have nothing on me."

Ben was done. He lifted his wrist and circled the top part of his watch. He suddenly slammed it down and there was a huge bright green flash. Everyone covered their eyes, all except Julie, who couldn't take her eyes off of him. The bright flash ended and there stood a tall creature.

"Chromastone!" yelled the creature, standing and prepared to fight. Charmcaster took a step back. "I bet you didn't see that one coming."

"Uncle, he's the one whose been transforming into the monsters!"

"I can see that Charmcaster," Hex replied, annoyed.

"Gwen…what just…" Julie tried to speak. Her eyes were wide with shock. She didn't want him to see her face. "He's been the one who…who…"

"I guess so…" Gwen tried to wrap her mind around the idea herself.

"I don't understand…"

"I don't know Julie…I don't know…"

"Then that means he was the one at the store?" Julie asked as Gwen nodded her head, afraid to see what happens next. Julie then whispered to herself, smiling. "Get him Ben."

This time Charmcaster began to levitate off the ground, her whole body glowing in a purple color. "Let's end this right now uncle, I'm bored." Then two blasts came from her hands and hit the floor in front of Chromastone. He was able to jump out of the way and blast her back, making her fly into a pillar. She grunted as she slammed into it, cracking it slightly. Her ferocious face was the only thing Chromastone saw.

"Bored now?" he asked smirking, as she was levitating in the air again. Max fired his gun, causing Hex to put a shield around himself. Max pressed a button on the gun, causing an exo-skeleton armor to form around his body. The old body no longer mattered as long as the armor was around him. But Max saw Chromastone being flung into the wall, creating a large dent. Charmcaster said a spell to herself as large marble rock formations, from the floor, began to crack and float. She fired them at Chromastone one more time, only another thing she didn't suspect happened.

Kevin absorbed the marble, encasing it around his whole body, and got in front of Chromastone. He easily punched them out of the way, while catching one and throwing it back at Charmcaster. She desperately ran out of the way.

"Sine when could you do that?" she asked, her hands glowing purple, infuriated.

"Since as long as I can remember," said Kevin, slamming the ground as large spears erupted, aiming at her. She said another spell, destroying them.

Julie's eyes widened as she saw Kevin's body transform.

"Gwen, can you believe this?"

"Actually…I can…" she replied sheepishly.

"You knew?"

"I saw him one day, only he absorbed steal."

"Is that what he does? Absorb?"

"I guess so…" Gwen said. All of these questions she couldn't answer were coming at her too fast.

Cromastone saw Max jumping away from Hex's spells frantically.

"Kevin, I'm going to help grandpa. Can you handle her?"

"Oh yeah," replied Kevin, completely sure of himself. She sent him a glare, ready to fire anything. She took two balls from under her sleeve and rolled them on the floor. There was a purple flash, and the two balls were growing into bear looking beasts. They roared at Kevin as he released the marble outer self, and turned toward the altar. He saw the metal vases and touched one of them immediately. His body absorbed the metal, making his outer surface shiny. Before he could react, a beast tackled him to the ground, the other following close behind.

He grunted, wrestling the beast. Fear struck him as he saw the other one running full force towards him. He reacted quickly. He grabbed the one that was on top of him by the head and threw him against a near by pillar. He turned suddenly and punched the beast with as much force as he could, breaking the monster into pieces. The other beast threw itself at Kevin once more, only he did the same thing to it. Charmcaster glared.

"You want to know one thing I hated the most?" she asked him, looking at her nails.

"Tell me."

"You're a horrible kisser," her eyes glowed fiercely, saying a spell in the process. A bright shot of her magic shot right at him square in the chest. He tried pushing her magic away from him, using the metal to deflect it. But it wasn't working. He could feel the metal slip away from his skin. She laughed at his struggle, until the metal was completely off his body. She blasted him once more, causing him to fly back into the wall. He got up slowly, only to see that she was standing in front of him.

"Hesperus collata confina," she spoke slowly. Bright violet forms of shackles formed around Kevin's wrists and held them behind his back. He was stuck…under her power. She giggled, "I love being a witch."

There was a bright green flash and Ben was returned to his normal body. He was on his knees, completely tired. He grinded his teeth in frustration and opened his watch once more, but stopped abruptly. Max's exo- skeleton suddenly cracked in half. He fell down, Hex levitating above him smiling.

"Charmcaster, hold them," Hex screeched. Charmcaster said the same spell, as Ben and Max were shackled with her magic. Max looked up and saw his grandson, and the rest of the Plumbers, with swords held at their necks by Hex's men. "Like I said, this was a waste of my time." Charmcaster smirked at Kevin, flipping her bangs in the process.

Julie grabbed Gwen's hand, worried. She gave her a distressed look and then looked back at Ben. He was looking at her, as if saying goodbye to her. Julie shook her head and began to cry, squeezing Gwen's hand. Gwen couldn't take her eyes off Kevin. He seemed so determined to get out of Charmcaster's shackles and attack. Gwen squeezed Julie's hand back.

"Don't worry…I'll do something," she whispered, Julie relaxing a bit.

"Thank you Gwen," Julie spoke softly

"Can we get rid f them now uncle?" said Charmcaster eyeing Kevin especially, forming a ball of magic in her hands.

"Patience Charmcaster, I want to torture them first. They need to know I'm in charge," he replied, getting her attention. "What do you love the most? Tellera sais trutheo." Hex waved his hands over Max. Max had no choice but to spill what he loved the most.

"My grandkids," he said forcefully. Ben flinched when he said grandkids and not grandsons. Gwen found herself staring straight into Max's eyes after he said this, wondering why he was looking at her. She raised a brow, wondering why he was looking at her.

"How boring…they're already going to die," Hex rolled his eyes, going to Ben next. He said the same spell, causing Ben to flinch.

"Julie Yamamoto," he said automatically, as tears strolled down Julie's cheeks.

"I can't say I know who that is," Hex, as Charmcaster shrugged her shoulders, not knowing who that was either. Julie sighed gratefully, as well as Ben. Hex moved over to Kevin, staring him straight in the eyes. "Now this should be interesting. What does the rebel love the most?" He began to bring his hand up.

"Wait Uncle," started Charmcaster, Kevin almost thankful that she was around. "I already know what he loves most." Kevin's eyes widened, taking back what he said. She turned around and shot a huge gleam of her magic towards the crowd. Gwen saw the magic straight towards her. She had no time to react as the powerful gleam grabbed a hold of her and brought her to Charmcaster's side. Gwen gasped; it was tight and she was wondering why the hell she was taken at a time like this.

"Let her go!" screamed Kevin, attempting to stand, but failed. Gwen looked at Kevin in surprise. Max also looked at him, raising a brow.

"I don't think so," Charmcaster said, looking at Gwen, ready to rip her to shreds.

"Is this truly what you love most? A peasant?" Hex asked in shock. Gwen continued to stare at Kevin, tears forming in her eyes.

"You should see the way he looks at her, uncle. It's disgraceful," she replied, gripping on her more forcefully.

"I said let her go! She as nothing to do with this!" yelled Kevin again. Gwen was worried. She didn't know what was happening.

"She seems confused," Hex said, taking a look at her. He was even uglier up close. She flinched away.

"That's because she had no idea Kevin over here had feelings for her in the first place," she replied. Kevin never thought he could get embarrassed when he was about to die…he was wrong. The way Gwen was looking at him, astonished by the way, was making him turn pink. "Tell her you love her Kevin, right here right now. If you don't, she dies of a tight squeeze." Charmcaster squeezed Gwen a little tighter, as Gwen gasped for some air now. Gwen looked at Kevin, wanting to hear the words for herself. He looked at her back, showing as much compassion as he could. And that's when she saw it. The love for her broke out of him, and she saw it. He did love her…and now she knew it.

"He doesn't need to say anything," Gwen spat to Charmcaster, not forgetting what she did to her when she was stuck in Kevin's bathroom. Charmcaster squeezed tighter, as she flinched some more. She breathed slowly, "I already know." Charmcaster glared at Gwen for not making this as fun as she expected. "And another thing…I feel the same way."

Kevin's eyes widened big. All Gwen could do was look at him the way he looked at her. She was able to form a smile, and so did he. She stopped when Charmcaster growled.

"You make me sick," she growled, as she used her magic to throw her against a pillar. Gwen collapsed against it, falling down as well.

"Gwen!" Kevin said panicked, trying to break free from Charmcaster's spell.

"Toast them!" she yelled, as Hex conjured up his infamous fire. Julie was about to cry harder than ever, until she looked at Gwen's face, that was ready with anger. She grabbed her mother's hand and smiled, knowing what was about to come. She loved it when Gwen got mad. Fire erupted the room, as Hex was about to redirect the flames toward their direction. Hex smiled as he thought of Bellwood and Omnitrix's kingdoms would be no more.

He sent the flames toward their direction. Ken watched in horror as his cousin and grandpa were about to be burnt to a crisp, and he and his team would probably be next. Charmcaster smiled with her uncle as he pushed the flames forward. Everyone closed their eyes, waiting to feel the pain, just as they felt the intense heat…only the pain never came. Hex continued with his magic until he saw his fire going around the objects he was trying to incinerate. He furrowed his brow and stopped his flames

When they disappeared, everyone was unharmed as a protective pink shield was formed around them. Kevin desperately looked at Ben, who was smiling huge, as Ben looked back.

"Kevin, there's something grandpa and I have to tell you…" Ben said, as he searched for the red head, who was standing proudly waiting for them to realize. Kevin looked at Max, who was also smiling big and thought he could see light tears in his eyes.

"What's the meaning of this? You're not even using the power of the Omnitrix," yelled Hex, disappointed his fire magic didn't work.

"That's because it wasn't me," Ben said confidently, wondering if they can actually make it out alive now. Hex and Charmcaster were confused and was not going to tolerate this. He was about to send his fire once more, only a voice called out.

"Hey!" Gwen yelled, hands on her hips. She looked normal from what they saw, but inside she was boiling up. "You can't just go around throwing fire at people!" She was smiling. Verdona would have wanted her to do this.

"What is she doing?" Kevin panicked.

"Just watch…" sighed Ben, as Kevin looked at him as if he were insane.

"You were right my niece…this child is very annoying," he said, sending more fire, only towards Gwen. He saw the same thing as he did before. The fire was going around the object he was directing his flames toward. He stopped to see the same shield, only inside of it was a girl with glowing eyes and hands. Her shield went down and everyone can see her better. Kevin's jaw dropped and he couldn't stop staring. His girlfriend, or as he called her now, was glowing…with power.

"Now way…" Kevin said, looking at Ben. Ben shrugged his shoulders and then continued to watch. Max smiled proudly, watching as she displayed the same exact power like the same woman he loved so long ago.

"How is this possible?" Hex asked himself, Charmcaster not daring to speak. She was stunned herself.

"Oh it's possible," said Gwen, lifting her hand and blasting Hex across the room. Charmcaster was too surprised to react, but Gwen did the same thing to her, only ten times harder, and she was thrown like a rag doll across the room. Charmcaster got up quickly and tried to do the same thing, only Gwen's shield was too strong.

"How did you survive the genocide?" asked Charmcaster, breathing hard now. Gwen didn't answer her…she didn't want to. She'd been through a lot already and wasn't about to give her whole life story. She wasn't going to spill how Verdona saved her. She was fighting Charmcaster, but then was wondering where Hex had been. Truth is, he was watching her from aside, which Kevin didn't like. Gwen fired another attack, sending Charmcaster flying once more.

"I think that's enough," said Hex, saying a spell and freezing Gwen in her place. Everyone was worried now. "Charmcaster, get up and shackle her." It took her a while to get up, for she was sore enough now. She did the same for Gwen as she did with the others. Gwen was tied up, but at least she was unfrozen.

"Why didn't you do that before?" she asked angrily to her uncle, whipping the dirt off her clothes.

"I was watching," he said simply. "You have the same power as a woman I knew long ago." Gwen rolled her eyes; she already knew that. You sent your men to kill her… "Now I begin to wonder how you escaped my wrath. How did you survive after all these years?"

That was the question. How did she survive? It had been twenty years and yet there still was a single woman who had powers like no other. Power he hadn't seen in a long time…strong power. Truth is…she didn't know herself. She had no idea where she came from…only that Verdona found her.

"Answer me!" Hex yelled, about to strike and send her flying.

"Stop it Hex, she belongs to me!" yelled Max, as Hex stopped suddenly. Gwen looked at him as if he were crazy. Hex raised a brow.

"What is wrong with you people? All of you seem to think you an save each other…."

"No Hex, you can ask her anything but she won't know where she came from," replied Max, receiving the strangest look from Gwen. Everyone else was confused, except Ben.

"How do y-," Gwen started but stopped, not wanting to give out any information to Hex.

"Is this some sort of trick? If the girl doesn't know, then how will you?" Hex asked for Gwen, not taking her eyes of Max. He didn't speak for a moment, deciding if this was the right decision.

"She's my granddaughter," Max finally said, getting whispers throughout the room. Kevin looked at Max as if he was crazy. Only when he looked at Ben, he wasn't surprised. Ben looked at Kevin and sighed.

"And my cousin," Ben said proudly after, seeing Kevin's eyes get bigger. Hex growled.

"Impossible…you're covering for her."

"I'm just simply telling you the truth," Max replied.

"That's impossible! The girl I killed twenty years ago was dead right before my eyes."

"Apparently not…"

"Wait! It's my turn to talk! What is happening! You're saying I'm your granddaughter?" Gwen spoke up, looking at Max desperately. Max nodded.

"Oh I know you're my granddaughter. You're the spitting image of your mother…and, well, just look at your brother," Max smiled. Gwen didn't know why, but she instinctively turned her gaze towards Ken. He was in shock.

"Gwen? My sister is alive?" he asked.

Gwen's world was spinning and she was getting dizzy. She didn't know what was going on. What was Hex talking about? Ken in the flashback…was that her? No, it couldn't be… She didn't know the beginning of her life…and now the answer was finally here coming to her.

"The prophesized child…is here in front of me?" Hex said, somewhat worried. "Then how? How did you escape? I watched you die. I did it with my own two hands…" Gwen was speechless; she didn't know the answer.

"I don't know," she answered honestly. Hex nodded, believing her.

"Do you?" Hex asked Max.

"No…I thought she was gone only about a month ago," Max replied.

"So no one knows then?" Hex asked loudly, looking at Charmcaster, who shrugged her shoulders, confused as ever. "Ah…but there is someone who knows…" Hex went on, looking at Gwen.

"I told you, I don't remember…obviously I was just a baby."

"But you do. You may not remember physically…but your memories deep down inside are unlimited. Whether you were a week old or sixteen, I can still tap into your mind," Hex then clutched onto Gwen's head, while whispering several incantations. Gwen didn't feel any different, looking at her supposed grandpa for support. There was a cloud forming in the air above all of them. It was a large dark cloud that stopped growing as Hex stopped speaking.

"There we are…this is a timeline. We're going to see what happened twenty years ago…with some of my memories as well."

"But how?" Max asked extremely surprised.

"I've already explained this old man…her memories. Now watch!"

Everyone looked at the cloud as a picture began to form. Everyone watched intently as a video was being played…

"She's beautiful Frank," a woman with short red hair and grey eyes said, cradling a baby in her arms in a rocking chair. They were in a large palace room that was decorated with pinks and lavenders.

"Just like her mother…" Frank said softly, kissing the top of her head. Lily smiled, caressing the baby's cheek. There was a knock at the door.

"Can I come in?" a voice said.

"Sure dad," Frank replied, as a younger Max walked in.

"How is she?" he asked, taking a look at the sleeping baby. "Gwendolyn is a beautiful name, Lily"

"Thank you Max," she replied, not taking her eyes off of Gwen. Frank looked at his dad and suddenly frowned. Max seemed extremely worried for some reason…his face said it all. He couldn't take his eyes off Gwen…

"Dad, is there something wrong?" Frank finally asked. Max sighed deeply. He never wanted this to happen…not to his family.

"Son…you can't see it now, but Gwen is special. She has gifts that rarely anyone in the country can have. Gwen has powers…"

"And you know this how?" Lily asked defensively, grasping onto Gwen tighter. Frank didn't seem surprised.

"Mom passed this down to her, didn't she?" asked Frank. Max nodded. Lily rolled her eyes, not really fond of Frank's mother.

"But that's not the whole story," Max began, feeling worried now. "Many witches in the country are spreading word of a prophecy…a prophecy that has to deal with Gwen. It says that she will battle Hex in the future and win…bringing down him and his kingdom. News is spreading all over the world…"

"Impossible. This is all nonsense. Gwen doesn't have powers and is not some prophecy. I won't hear it! The witches are wrong," argued Lily. "Right Frank?"

Frank knew what was truth and what wasn't. "Honey…I believe him."

"How? I knew Verdona was a witch, but Gwen in a prophecy? It's impossible! Not my baby girl…not her…" Lily was on the verge of tears

"News hasn't reached the Null Void yet…but when it does…" Max warned Frank.

"We need to be ready…" finished Frank.

"But why her?" cried Lily.

"It's not chosen at random Lily…the Tennyson family has always had its mountains to climb. But I believe this is the biggest one…this family has always had its share of obstacles to face…" said Max, comforting her. "Hex is not going to take this lightly…he's too scared to face it for real in the future."

Gwen's baby green eyes woke up, hearing her mother's sobs. She was hungry…

"I have to feed her," said Lily, standing up and walking out of the room, leaving Max and Frank.

"You're not in this alone son…" Max rested his hand on Frank's shoulder. Suddenly, a messenger came rushing in.

"Your highness! She's in labor now!"

"Got to go meet your new nephew," smiled Max, rushing out of the room leaving Frank alone…

The scene changed to a little boy crying his eyes out. It was a few months later, as the boy sat in an abandoned barn. He cried as he saw his sister sleeping and his parents in a rush.

"Please don't go away Gwen…please don't go…" Ken cried, looking at his sister. "Don't we have fun together?"

"Ken, whisper now," his mother said, as she watched her husband go outside.

"Honey, the coast is clear," said the Frank. All of them were tired and completely out of energy.

"Mommy, what's happening?" cried the young boy, clutching to his mother's legs. The father took the baby and the mother bent toward her son.

"Honey, I'm going to ask you to be brave. Can you be the strong young man that I know you are?" the mother said her words carefully.

The boy nodded his head shakily, his sobs becoming more silent as he listened to his mother.

"But where are you going? I don't want you to leave," he sobbed again, his father kneeling down next to him.

"Son, we have a big job to do that involves your sister. We need to protect her…we need you to be brave. Braver than you've ever been before. I know you can do it. You've got your grandpa's spirit in you."

"But I'm afraid…what if you don't come back?"

"We'll come back…I promise," his mother spoke sweetly, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "We'll come as soon as possible."

And with that, the mother, the father, and the baby left into the dark forest, leaving the small child creeping back into the farmhouse and crying himself to sleep.

Frank and Lily ran through the forest, Frank taking Lily by the hand, leading her through the thick trees.

"Are you sure you know where it is?" asked Lily.

"I hope so…I used to come here all the time when I was younger," he rushed. It took them another half an hour for them to finally make it to a clearing where another dirt road was seen. The night was quiet and still. It was if the stars above them were telling them to hurry before it was too late.

"There it is," Frank realized. It was a small house with smoke coming out of the chimney and one light on in the window. "This is it…are you ready?" She was scared…of course she was, but she had to keep going.

"Yes," she breathed unevenly, looking at Gwen one more time. She could feel the tears coming into her eyes.

"Come on," he grasped her hand even tighter, leading her across the road and toward the house. The stairs creaked was they rushed up them onto the porch. Frank knocked lightly. He didn't even know why he was knocking…she already knew they were there. The door opened suddenly before he finished knocking.

Verdona looked behind them, to sense if there was anyone following them. Then she looked at her son. She immediately saw the fear in his eyes. She gulped…she had to stay strong. She knew what was going to eventually happen…

"Does Max know you're here?" she asked.

"No, mom…just like you said," replied Frank

"Good…the place is secure, would you like to come in?" she asked politely, taking a glance at Lily and the baby. Lily breathed in heavily when she said this.

"No mom…we're in a hurry."

"Understandable," nodded Verdona, holding out her arms.

"Wait, hold on…" cried Lily, kissing Gwen several times before embracing her. Frank joined, holding Lily and Gwen at the same time. Lily was sobbing now.

"Honey, we don't have much of time," he looked suddenly in the distance, seeing Omnitrix's castle lighting up the sky. "We have to get back."

"I know, I know," Lily whipped her tears. She slowly gave Verdona to Gwen. She could already feel the connection flowing between them. It was true…she did pass her abilities to her granddaughter.

"We'll come back mom, I don't know when, but we'll be back…" Frank said, holding his wife. Verdona nodded.

"Hold on," Verdona began. "You'll need this." Verdona's hand glowed pink. A blanket appeared from her house, as well as a loaf of bread. She wrapped the blanket around the loaf of bread, making it look like a baby's body. "One last touch." She examined Gwen's face, as the bread slowly turned into a human form…Gwen's baby face.

"It looks just like her," Lily said, surprised. "But why do we need it?"

"Trust me…this will come in handy," Verdona said in a low voice, holding Gwen tighter. All of them were silent for a while, not wanting to leave…

"Verdona, I know we've never been on the same terms, but…" Lily couldn't finish her sentence.

"I know dear, I understand."

"Thank you mom…I don't know how I could ever repay you…"

"Your love is all I ever asked for kiddo," Verdona found herself hugging her son tightly, trying not to squish Gwen. "You better go."

"Right…come on," Frank grabbed Lily by the hand once more and ran back into the forest, leaving their child with Verdona. Verdona began to cry…she could already sense Hex in the kingdom searching for them. She knew she would never see her son again.

"Come on dear, we're almost to the gate," Frank breathed. They had been running non-stop for what seemed like forever, only they stopped dead in their tracks once they reached the gate. There Hex stood, three guards on each side of him, in front of the gate that lead to the village. Lily held the fake Gwen securely in her arms, not remembering for a second.

"It's a little late to take a stroll in the forest, don't you think?" a younger Hex asked. Frank stood in front of Lily, still not letting go of her hand.

"What do you want?" Frank asked, trying his best to disguise the fear in his voice.

"You know exactly what I want…give her to me and I'll spare you."

It was then that Frank knew exactly why Verdona gave him the bread that looked like Gwen…it was all an act to protect her and her well being. This was it. Once he did this, Hex would no longer hunt the Tennyson family or realize that Gwen never died.

"Don't you understand? This is my daughter! You can't just take her away from me! Who do you think you are? You can't control us like this!"

"I think I can…and if that child is going to grow up and defeat me one day, then I have to make sure it will never happen."

"Look who's scared now? You're afraid of a child…"

"A child that will be powerful one day…hand her over!"

"Never," Lily spoke up darkly, ready to face him, standing equally next to her husband.

"Suit yourself," said Hex.

It was easy…the easiest thing he had ever done. Once his magic fire was released from him, it was over in a matter of seconds. Some trees caught on fire, and immediately the Omnitrix guards were alerted.

"Let's get out of here," Hex said. He saw it with his own eyes. The baby was finished, still crisped up in her mother's hands. The job was done and now he could finally sleep at night. They left through the trees. Many guards came through the gate, carrying buckets of water, trying to put the fire out.

Max appeared a few minutes later, knowing exactly whom the fire was from. He paid no attention to the fire, but to the people that one of his guards said he found. He immediately knew who they were. Tears formed in his eyes as he recognized his son, his daughter in law, and his granddaughter. He sobbed silently, knowing Hex has won and did what he intended to do. From that day, he swore to bring Hex down…he would never forget what happened…

Half of his family was gone…he would soon look for Ken. They had to have hidden somewhere, for he wasn't here…

A funeral was going to be planned soon, and Max was not looking forward to it. Blankets were put over them as Max continued to cry…

Hex let go of Gwen's head and she closed her eyes and collapsed to the floor…

Chapter 10…ok I was going to make this the last chapter, but it turned out to be longer than I anticipated…so there is one more…

Oh and I really don't know if that is Gwen's moms' name or not, but I liked it so I'm sticking with it.

I'm not going to talk about this a lot…just to keep you guessing…but what will Gwen think after she's seen this? What will Max think? What will Kevin think? And what will Hex think? Find out next chapter…

R&R

Wtncgirl09