~Note as I have said in the first chapter, it's been a while since I watched Ben 10, so I'm not completely certain how some characters, Gwen and Kevin, behave. But I will try my best based on memory Okay~

"Oh great, just our luck to get lost in a stupid forest God knows where." Kevin grumbled.

"It's not so bad, there are worse places we could have ended up." Ben pointed out, the older boy reluctantly agreed, knowing there were worse places to get lost in. Didn't mean he had to like it. There was something odd about this forest…

What was it? Oh yeah.

It shouldn't be here.

"Where the hell did this forest come from?" He muttered, noticing the confused expression of his companions, explained, "I can here earlier once a long time ago and there was no forest here."

"Are you sure?" Gwen questioned him, "If what you said is true then they shouldn't be this old. Some of these look hundreds of years old."

"Look, I'm just telling ya what I know okay." Kevin told her, clearly aggravated.

Gwen sighed, giving her attention to the path and the foliage ahead.

"This forest is really dense." She observed, "We'll have to stay together so we don't lose each other."

"Yeah yeah."

Silence.

"Ben?"

He didn't respond.

Now both the friend and cousin noticed how oddly silent their third member was, sure they should alert their presence to any creatures lurking in the trees, but Ben was never this quiet. Even on a bad day.

That's when they noticed the distant look in his eyes, as he gazed at everything before them. There was something besides that distant expression in there they couldn't quite make out. It was old, they were certain, old and regretful.

"Yo Benji!" Kevin snapped his fingers in front of the younger boy's eyes, "No time for daydreaming here!"

The look vanished.

"What?" Ben blinked, as if awakened from a trace. He looked at Kevin and Gwen, "Sorry."

He turned away from them, keeping his eyes on the path. Gwen and Kevin shared a glance.

"Ben….Is something wrong?" The red-head asked her cousin, but she already knew the answer, despite Ben's response.

"No, nothing's wrong."

Kevin snorted, "Bull."

Ben looked confused, "What?"

"That's a load of bull and we all know it!" Kevin glared at him, "You haven't acted like yourself since we lost you in that fight."

Despite all that, Ben couldn't help but smile weakly, "Didn't know you cared that much Kevin."

Kevin rolled his eyes and was going to speak again, but a certain female jumped the chance, "We don't have to you all that well to see something's wrong Ben."

Ben sighed, muttering something along the lines of, "That obvious huh?"

It indeed was that obvious, even for someone who only met him once, as Gwen said.

He opened his mouth to say something only to halt as the sound of rustling leaves sounded throughout the once empty forest. All three took a stance, eyes darting over the many places one could hide, awaiting the chance to ambush them.

A series of voices sang out from the darkness.

Could it be?

Is it He?

He who play the turn to the melody?

It couldn't be

The rustling grew louder as whatever they hid drew closer. The trio became aware of the many stares observing them, watching their every move.

"What are they talking about?" Gwen whispered to her companions. Kevin shrugged, but they didn't notice Ben's gaze become softer and he started humming some kind of song under his breath close to near silence. Though even with the close proximately, Kevin and Gwen were unable to hear it.

"Maybe one of us?"

The volume of the voices began to rise in joyful recognition and excitement. Leaves began to dance more vividly as the beings raced around in them singing once again.

It's the Song

We were wrong

It is He

He whose tune will halt the moon

And lead him through this forest

Of Mystery

Bursts of wind blasted out of nowhere, blowing leaves and loose tree limbs around in wild patterns. The leaves clouded their vision as the branches scratched at their skin leaving almost invisible but painful marks in their wake. Streams of wind combined with various degree of debris knocked any form of concentration Gwen had gathered at that moment in attempt to shield herself and the others.

Follow us

Dear Hero of the Green Goddess

One of the Forest

Echoes of the spoken tongue were the catalyst of the events to come. Objects fell from the sky, branches, rocks and leaves tumbled to the ground without another sound. Rustling from the bushes earlier was none-existence, having accomplished what they were planning and escaping.

"Wha- What the hell was that?!" Gwen heard Kevin gasp.

She could barely form the words "I-I don't know… Y-you alright?"

"Yeah."

"Ben?"

No answer….

"Ben!?"

~This is supposed to be a Line Break~

Said green-eyed boy grinned, dashing across the forest floor, quickly chasing after the giggling forms of children as they played a game of Kokiri Tag. Branches trembled under the weight of the forest children ninja hopping their way through the trees. They'd look back, only to giggle as soon as they spotted him.

Every now and then, one of the children would fall behind, just within the hero's reach and if he tried to tag them, they would playfully shriek and jump ahead.

Their little game of tag came to a halt as they entered a large valley. Houses made of tree bark and tall grass, were built here and there along the dirt path. Children in green wondered around their little village, filled with a sense of purpose.

Watching the children going about their way filled Ben with a great sense of nostalgia, remembering the days in which he too would play and laugh with all the others. Finding new places to hide, listening to the tales the Great Deku Tree told, or even inventing new ways to humiliate the mage that visited the Kokiri every now and then. Even if all his plans failed to produce the desired result.

"Come on! I found the perfect hiding place!"

"Shall I begin? Long, long ago…."

"Ah, It seems your plans have failed again Link."

"Grr. No fair _!"

He smiled as the memories came rushing back to him, the fun time with Saria, and all the fights he had gotten In with Mido. Were they still alive? The stories said the Kokiri were ageless, but, could still be killed just like any other mortal. Were-

"Link?"

The hero was snapped out of his memories at the sound of the familiar voice. Off in the back was a young girl with green hair and green eyes. She was wearing the symbolic kokiri's tunic with a sparkling green ball of light dancing around her head.

He smiled, and that was all she needed. The green-eyed hero bent down just as the girl rushed towards him, tears running down her cheeks as she jumped into his out stretched arms.

"Nice to see you again….Saria."

"Teehee"

The two looked up to see the children from before, smiling brightly. All the children gathered around them, bellowing questions with loud, excited voices.

"Whoa! Is that you Link?"

"You came back?"

"It's just like the mage said!"

"Yay! You've come to play with us again!"

Ben blinked, "What? The mage?"

One of the children giggled, "Yep! He came by to say you'd be coming back soon!"

"He told us what you looked like." Another piped in.

"He even told stories about you!"

"Is it true?" asked one of the twin boys.

"Can you really change your form into something else?" asked the other twin.

One of the greatest charms of the Kokiri was that despite their ageless factor, they remained children at heart. So when they began firing questions about the stories he apparently starred in, brought a smile to his face.

"Yeah I can." He replied, peaking a glance at the Ultimatrix to notice a blue glow emanating from the face. "Though I don't think I'll be able to show you."

"Awwww!"

"Why not?"

He chuckled. "I think the forest's magic is interfering with this." He said, pulling the sleeve down to reveal the alien technology.

"Ooooooo that's pretty!"

Nobody batted an lash as the Skull Kid dropped down from nowhere, landing on the ground with his signature leaf spin teleportation.

"Hey Skull Kid!" Ben exclaimed, then grinned, "Are we still up for that game?"

Skull Kid's cheerful giggle was answer enough.

~This is supposed to be a Line Break~

"I am SO gonna kill him!" Kevin vowed angrily. After Ben's mysterious disappearance during the strange and very sudden wind storm, the two had no choice but to search for him before pressing forward.

"Why would he run off like that?" Gwen questioned, worry evident in her voice. Between Kevin's fury and Gwen's uncertainty, Ben was really in for it when they found him.

"How would I know?" He snapped, "He's been acting strange for weeks! Even you can hardly tell what's going on in that stupid head of his!"

"Still…" Gwen frowned, "He should know better than to run off like that."

"Well, when we find him, you can ask him." He said, "After I punch him in the face."

The only female sighed at her companion's actions. She should really be used to this by now. The surrounding area was rather quiet, excluding Kevin's outrage muttering.

Wait.

Was she hearing that right?

"Kevin!" she exclaimed.

"What!"

"Can't you hear that?"

"No… What?" he admitted.

"Shut up and you'll hear it." Came her response.

Grudgingly he simmered down. Now that the absurdly loud teenager had calmed down, the noise Gwen had heard grew just a bit in volume. It was a melody. One they had never heard before but sounded very familiar. The tone was very fast and upbeat, giving off the feeling of leaves waving in the wind, of tall trees building the walls to a never ending maze.

There were a series of notes that Gwen could identify their apparent origin, some wind instruments accompanied by some stringed instruments and the laughter of children.

They cast a look at each other.

"Well…." Gwen started, "That's a good of a place to start."

"Yep." Agreed Kevin, and they maneuvered their way towards the cheerful music and joyous singing. After walking about 5 minutes, they came to a clearing where a bunch of small children were gathered around in a circle, singing songs and dancing. There was a strange boy made of wood blowing a trumpet spewing leaves in every direction while several others were playing strings such as violins, cellos and even ocarinas.

The tallest in the group was also situated in the middle, playing a blue ocarina with a tiny green-haired girl.

"No way."

"Ben!?" they shouted.

The shout drew the attention of every child in the valley, ceasing to play or sing as they stared up at the adults with suspicion and were almost hostile. One child came up.

"Who're you?" he asked. He was rather tall compared to the others with light, earthy brown hair and blue eyes. Suddenly, the two intruders felt like they were in the presence of someone much older, ancient almost, and it unnerved them quite a bit.

And it wasn't just the brown-haired boy. No, all of the children seemed far wiser than their appearance otherwise stated, and it was really creeping them out.

Ben placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, smiling weakly, "Don't worry Mido. This is my cousin Gwen and my friend Kevin."

Some of the children visibly relaxed, though their gazes told they were still weary of the strangers.

The boy, apparently named Mido, took in Gwen's figure, grinning as he turned towards the seemingly older boy, "I didn't know you had a cousin Link."

Ben smirked, "Comes with the change."

Gwen looked confused, as did Kevin.

Kevin had a smug look on his face, "Introducing yourself as 'Link' Benji?"

"Benji?"

All of the 'younger humans' all shared a similar expression of disconcert, blinking as they observed the outsiders. Gwen briefly noted they were drifting closer to the brunet teen.

"What? D'nayore didn't tell you?" Ben raised an eyebrow as their confused looks practically vanished off their features replaced with a collection of 'Oooh's.

"Right, right. Benji's your current name right?" a girl with blonde pigtails asked.

"It's technically Benjamin, though Ben is a whole lot better."

"Ben?" Gwen called, "What does he mean current name?"

Said boy stuttered, "Um…"

"Would you like me to explain Hero?"

The suddenness of the voice startled the strange children and the teenagers hanging around. Only the two who were not used to, or expecting the voice, jumped and started frantically searching for the person who just spoke.

"What the hell?" Kevin exclaimed, "Where the hell did that come from!?"

Ben and the children were giggling at the elders' fruitless search, some falling to the ground in hysteria.

The obsidian haired boy stopped and glared at the group, "And what's so funny?!"

"The fact you believe you can locate me is rather humorous. Isn't that right children?"

His answer was the howling laughter that erupted from the group. One black eyebrow twitched as the laughter continued.

"Go one Hero. I will tell them."

Ben beamed at the mysterious voice, "Thanks!"

"Yeah! Thanks D'nayore!"

A diverse set of voices chirped happily as different sets of hands grabbed hold of Ben's arm and proceeded to drag to a separate area of the valley.

"Well….How should I begin?"

It was a brilliant idea of someone that everyone should jump on their elder friend, now known as 'Jump the Hero.' Though Ben was very adept at dodging and successfully avoided every one of them.

"BWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Ben briefly stopped in time to see Kevin rolling on the ground laughing while Gwen just stared at him in disbelief.

"Y-you honestly think…..that Ben's s-so-so- HAHAHAHAHA"

"Ben….A reincarnated hero? Really?"

The subject of their conversation suddenly tripped as two bodies collided with him, causing him to fall as all the others quickly took advantage of it.

"Ahhaha! We got him!"

"Get im!"

"Gahahahahahaha!"

Oblivious to the stares being projected their way. Kevin was snickering wildly while Gwen just had an indifferent stare.

"Oh yes, it's very true."

"Yeah, riiiiiiight." Grinned the black-haired teen.

"Teenagers." The voice scoffed.

"What. You honestly think we'll believe that-"

A terrified shriek broke the silence. All heads whipped towards the girl screaming as a giant wolf monster closed in on her.

"Anju!"

The rest of the children stood horrified at the monster within their home, screaming along with the girl.

"Kevin, Ben!" Gwen cried, her eyes glowing pink.

"Got it!" Kevin shouted, though he never got the chance.

Anju closed her eyes in terror as the beast towered over her. She began pleading with the Goddesses to spare her life when there was a strange whooshing sound and the wolf gasping for air, then silence. Nervously, Anju opened her forest green eyes to see Link grouching beside her, a mystic sword gripped in his left hand, the blade stained with blood.

There was a poofing sound as the wolf vanished in a puff of purple smoke. Link gently ruffled her hair, taking the scared child in his arms whispering kind and peaceful words in her ear. The rest of her family rushed over to her, wrapping their arms around her and Link as best as they could.

Kevin and Gwen stared at Ben in shock.

"That enough proof for ya?" D'nayore said a grin evident in his voice.

Thank you so much to those who reviewed! You really don't know how much it means to me to see that someone enjoys my stories~! This was originally meant to be a one shot, but with your guys' reviews and all the ideas coming up, I just couldn't help but write more! Thank you again and please continue to leave reviews~!

www . youtube watch ? v = T11bHFWQ2Xg&list = PL333F0131DC7AA0D9&index=9 (Song from above :3 )