SZ: Greetings people, and welcome to the slow build up to a big arc that's about to happen soon. And we're gonna start with some Omniverse episodes
Z0: Of course altered slightly.
SZ: Yup, and we hope you enjoy a preview of what is to eventually come soon. But before we begin...we own jack squat aside from original content, so...start us off Z0!
Z0: Read the Story! *shoots bazooka at the screen*
SZ:...A bazooka? Really?
Z0: Get to work! *aims at SZ*
SZ: AHH! *runs*
"Mou...why do we have to go back to a school?" Makoto groaned, resting her head in her open hands as the Proto-TRUK drove right next to Kevin's care,"...It's not another missing kids case is it?"
"Some weird stuff has been going on at Gwen's school...we're just going to help figure out what it is." Ben explained.
"...So we don't have to attend any classes?" Makoto cautiously asked.
"Not unless we want to." Ben smiled.
"Oh thank god!" Makoto sighed in relief, "...Just hope there's no psychopathic chick with mpd here trying to invoke despair."
"Let us hope not…" Rook whispered, "Because I doubt Junko Enoshima could do much given her current condition."
=Nope. Usually Gwen deals with some weird villains= Kevin assured from the radio =Like Punchinello=
=Wasn't he the clown with the weird gun motif?= Sena asked.
=Yep!=
=I hated that guy!= Luna shouted.
=He wasn't...that bad= Gwen spoke =...despite the fact he got away because of the students pushing me away...all for autographs=
"And you say Ben is sucked into popularity…" Makoto muttered.
=Yes...but this is unwanted popularity mind you= Gwen countered =It only grew worse after the war with the Incurseans=
"Eh true. Least w-" Makoto began before both vehicles stopped right in front of a large college campus...with little to no leaves on the trees, "...th...this..is your college?"
=Yup=
"..." Makoto said nothing as she visibly shook for a moment, "It's...nice."
"Scared babe?" Ben whispered.
"Like the dickens."
"If it helps, wait until you try the Miskatonic Madness," Kevin assured as he, Luna and Gwen got out, "Best sandwich in town. The human mind cannot comprehend how good it is."
"I shall take that challenge," Makoto smiled as she, Ben, and Rook got out next.
"I am a bit famished after what happened the other day, so…" Rook began.
"H-hey!" the group turned to see a rather meek nerdy looking kid yelling at a group of jocks standing before a food truck, "I was in line before you!"
"...Yet, I post that my greater social status as the MVP at Saturday's game in turn confers upon me a place ahead of you," the black-haired jock countered, "And same goes for my entourage."
"But that's not fair!"
"...by all means, let us reason together," he stated as he and the orange haired jock next to him crossed their arms.
"Woah...even the jocks are smart," Ben blinked.
"Luna doesn't think so," Luna huffed.
"Jock picking on a nerd...wow...it's god old school alright." Makoto sighed.
Gwen just frowned as she walked over, "Um, may I join this discussion?"
"Yeah...may we?" Kevin asked as he walked behind her, crossing his arms a bit, "We're pencil neck's entourage."
"Aw...they're the defenders of the nerdy." Ben joked as Makoto giggled.
"Wait..is that.." the head jock began before gasping, "Ben Tennyson!"
"Oh dear…" Rook whispered before a crowd began to surround him, Ben and Makoto.
"Oh wow it's Makoto Nanaya!" a girl cheered as the crowd doubled.
"Whoa!" they both blinked, holding onto each other in surprise.
"Oh my gosh they are so adorable!" another girl awed as they kept crowding them.
"Dude you're like my hero!" a Jock shouted to Ben as he opened his Letter Jacket to show a Ben 10 memorabilia shirt.
"Please join my band!" a student holding a guitar pleaded.
"Can I get a photo of you two together? You two are just so cute!" a girl holding a camera squealed.
"I...knew we were famous...but wow…" Ben muttered to Makoto.
"No kidding…" Makoto whispered, "...May as well ride the celebrity power couple wave while we're here."
"Might just be our only chance…" Ben sighed as they relaxed, "Who wants an Autograph!?" he shouted as Makoto pulled two pens out of her tail.
"Line up folks, one time only while we got some time off from saving the Earth~" Makoto smiled with a wink.
"?!" the crowd tensed at that before they began to pull out papers and various objects of theirs.
"...Thanks, Gwendolyn," the nerdy-looking student spoke as he, Gwen, Kevin, and Luna looked on.
"No problem," Gwen nodded, "Dante, right?"
"Correct."
"I think Rook got swept away too…" Kevin muttered as girls were hanging off the Alien Cop and taking pictures with him.
"Uh, Ben? Makoto? Can we...ow. Please leave?" Rook asked as he managed to drag himself over to Ben and Makoto, "They keep wanting to touch my face."
"Eh what can we say? You have a very mysterious yet charming look to ya, Rooky," Makoto stated, currently signing a magazine with the cover showing her and her friends in Team Remix Heart.
"D'oh…"
"Oh please tell us you two are going here!" one jock asked Ben as he was finishing signing a football.
"...Don't…" Gwen began in an annoyed tone as she noticed the grins growing on Ben and Makoto's faces.
"What do you think, Friedkin University?" Ben asked the crowd.
"Shall we go here?!" Makoto added as the crowd began to excitedly cheer on.
"...Hey! Ben 10's cousin goes here, too! And she helped in the war against the space frogs!" Kevin shouted, earning no response from the crowd, "...can't get no respect, baby."
"It's fine, Kevin…" Gwen assured as she walked over and pecked him on the cheek, "I need to go check on my art history class anyway. You go ahead and treat Ben and the others."
"See ya!" Kevin waved as Gwen walked off along with Dante towards the main building of the campus.
"I take it back! Being famous is awesome!" Makoto cheered, posing with several girls for a picture.
"See!?" Ben laughed as the Football team was lifting him up.
"...Can we eat now? I am a bit hungry," Sena spoke up, 'And I'm sure you are too, right Luna?'
'...'
'...Luna?'
'There's something about that nerd Luna doesn't like…' Luna frowned.
'Huh? What do you mean...and do we really need to use that mean word?'
'Calls 'em as I sees 'em…'
'So what's wrong with him?'
'Besides the creepy eyes? Something just...nasty...even Zed-chan hates him...you've seen her growl at the nerd!'
'...true..but I assume it's because he stepped on her tail or something.'
'Trust me Sena...there's something off about him…'
"Okay, you two. Whatever mental argument you're having, save it f-" Kevin began before he noticed something ahead, "?! Tennyson, Nanaya, look out!"
"Huh?" Ben and Makoto blinked before something crashed near them, making them and the crowd tense as they turned to see a large stone golem with purple lines on it towering over them, "Hoo boy!" they yelped as they and Rook jumped back from its slam while the crowd dispersed and fled.
"Hey...it's one of Charmcaster's Rock monsters!" Kevin realized.
"Evil magic lady!" Luna shouted, taking control, "Wait...does that mean she's here?!"
"Eh normally…" Ben sighed, slapping the Omnitrix as it changed him to Juryrigg he then began running towards the monster getting the attention of the students.
"Hey look! He even changed into the Friedrick School mascot!" one of the jocks hiding cheered.
"Yeah! Right-Right-Right!" Juryrigg cheered, waving to them before running face first into the monster's leg, "Not Right! Not Right! Wrong alien! I wanted Shock Rock!" at that the monster backhanded him into the food truck they were going to eat at, but was sadly crushed by the monster.
"Ah...Darn my unshakable love for that goober…" Makoto sighed while running and jumping over the monster; as she reached the arc of her jump, she kicked her legs out and hit the monster's back, making it stumble forward. She rolled with her landing and stopped next to the dazed Juryrigg, "Azmuth has fixed this thing like three consecutive times and you still can't pick...the...right...thing...or maybe you did," she blinked, looking at the Food truck and then back at Juryrigg, "Look, Babe...broken stuff!" she smiled, pointing at the truck.
"Broken?! Fix-Fix-FIX!" Juryrigg cheered as he jumped at the truck with a mad cackle.
"You have managed to tame that form?" Rook blinked, his Proto-Tool in bow formation as he fired a few energy arrows at the golem.
"Eh. More like I point him in the right direction," Makoto shrugged, "Really needed to do that to avoid someone using him as a distraction like Vexus did."
"Ah...fair enough."
"FIRE ON!" Juryrigg shouted, now sitting on top of a large turret made from the food truck as he pressed on the steering wheel as the horn played the tune of 'La Cucaracha', the turret loaded a bottle of hot sauce somehow resulting in it sending out a pair of fireballs at the golem as it staggered back from each hit, "On on on!" he called before it suddenly stopped firing fireballs, making him blink before he looked from his seat...and saw the driver of the truck dizzily poking his head out of the compartment meant to produce ammo, "Uh oh…"
"Oh Ben…" Makoto sighed, facepalming as the golem began to charge at Juryrigg, plowing right through Kevin and Rook, "...Oh no you don't!"
"Hoo boy!" Juryrigg yelped as the golem climbed onto the turret and leapt at him, about to bite down on him before it was suddenly stopped, 'Eh?"
"Get...away from my man!" Makoto shouted as she threw the golem away from Juryrigg, the squirrel girl jumping off the turret as she leapt high into the air. Just as the golem was getting up, it looked up before Makato slammed both of her fist into it, caving it in as it began to collapse into smaller pieces, "Boo ya! I am Makoto, golem destroyer~!"
"I am one lucky Goober!" Juryrigg shouted as he flashed back to Ben.
"Hey!" Luna shouted, getting their attention before pointing to a small piece that began to crawl away, "It's still alive, dummies!"
"Oh come on!" Makoto complained, "I looked epic and everything…" she pouted.
"After that pile of rocks!" Ben shouted as he turned on his Omnitrix, "The heck…" he blinked seeing the entire roster was nothing but Ghostfreak, "I mean I'm cool with the form now...but why?!"
"Worry about it later," Kevin spoke as he and rook began to chase after it..before he noticed Luna running in a different direction, "Hey! Wh-"
"Luna's getting Zed-chan! She smells something funny going on!" Luna shouted, summoning Muchorin as she converted into a pegasus-themed scooter and rode off.
"...Okay she's getting good with that thing," Kevin admitted with a mutter before he and Rook resumed chasing after the sentient rock, Ben and Makoto joining them as they continued to chase after it through the school. After a few turns, they skidded to a halt and saw a few pebbles in front of a pair of large doors, Kevin and Ben pushing them open to see a large empty room with the curtains on the podium moving a bit, "...there."
"Think Charmcaster's back?" Ben asked.
"Most likely."
"This Charmcaster...is he dangerous?" Rook asked as they began to cautiously step down the stairs.
"From what I've heard, she's Gwen arch nemesis," Makoto answered.
"She's super annoying...we've been fighting her since we were ten…" Ben complained, "She tried to steal my body to get the Omnitrix…only to get Gwen's body...then swap me and Gwen...making it the worst Summer adventure ever."
"That sounds...fun!" Makoto smiled, "Why did you never tell me of that adventure?"
"Cause I try and forget the idea that I was a girl for a day…" Ben muttered, "But after that she betrayed her evil uncle, she took over Ledgerdomain, and once tried to use a magic machine to literally undo death itself...by the way...yes...we kinda died…"
"We don't like to talk about it…" Kevin muttered.
"Oh...fair I guess," Makoto shrugged as they reached the podium.
"Okay...let's be cautious here a-" Kevin began as the four began to quietly tiptoe to the draps...until a crowd of students began to enter the room from the door next to them.
"...what are you guys doing here?" Gwen asked as she and Dante entered the room next.
"Yeah. This is Xagliv's class," Dante added.
"...Xagliv?" Ben repeated.
"The art-history professor of death," Gwen answered.
"..."
"...don't even think about it," Makoto whispered to Ben.
"What?"
"You were thinking that it might be Vilgax in disguise."
"...I wasn't thinking that."
"Yes you were."
"No…" Ben denied before Makoto raised a brow, "...Okay yeah I did…and it does sound stupid now that I do think about it. It's something that Vilgax wouldn't even do..."
"...what's going on?" Gwen asked with a small frown.
"Nothing...just that maybe a certain spellcaster we both know might be hiding behind…" Ben began as he pulled the curtains, "HERE!"
"Grr…" a rather masculine-looking female face frowned at them.
"GYAH~!" Ben, Kevin, Rook, and Makoto screamed as they jumped back..and fell off from the podium.
"Gwendolyne Tennyson...please take your seat," the face spoke as its owner walked out from the shadows, her long hair draped over her shoulders and styled out like tentacles as she had a deep voice.
"Of course, Professor Xagliv," Gwen nodded as she began to walk over to her seat, "...we'll discuss this after my class," she hissed to the four as she walked past them.
"Okay…" they groaned as their eyes were replaced with swirls.
"Now behold students…" Xagliv began as she motioned to a projector image of a skull surrounded by vines, "This swarm of lively shapes like strong, living tentacles separate rococo architecture from the rigid ornateness that was in vogue for much of the 18th century..."
Gwen stayed quiet as she focused on her tablet, taking notes and studying up further on the subject as the professor kept talking on. When she took another look at the image, she blinked for a moment...swearing she saw a figure on top of the skull. She narrowed her eyes for a moment to see it was a witch like figure draped in purple. She was about to say something before the figure was suddenly before her, making her tense before within an instant...it vanished. She didn't know what to say, but...just from looking at it alone she felt it...a massive powerful surge of magic within that figure...but it felt..corrupted somehow.
"Am I boring you, Gwendolyne Tennyson?" Xaglive spoke, glaring at her with a frown.
"What? No!" Gwen panicked.
"Your guests beg to differ…."
"Zzzz…." Kevin, Ben and Makoto snored having fallen asleep, the latter two leaning against each other with smiles on their faces.
"Are we continuing with the lesson?" Rook asked, the only one among the four interested at the moment.
"If I don't get one me disturbance, then yes," Xagliv answered, "Now...what was that earlier style called?"
"Hmm..Baroque?" Rook offered.
"Snrk! Nah...I just got paid…" Kevin snorted out a bit in his sleep.
"...that's it,' Xagliv frowned, "Gwendolyne Tennyson, you'll pay for that insolence. Leave this lecture and take your disruptive friends with you!"
"What?! but I..!" Gwen began.
"Now!"
"...Grr…" Gwen's eye twitched as she turned and slammed on the desk behind her, snapping Kevin, Ben and Makoto awake, "Out...now."
"Hoo boy…" the three whispered as they and Rook got up.
"Now, class...moving on to Antiquity," Xagliv spoke as he moved over to a covered display, "I have procured the following artifact of the Byzantine on loan from a private donor."
"Byzantine?" Gwen repeated as she stopped, turning back just as the professor lifted the cover, revealing a small stone with intricate liens on it, "?! That's…"
"Why are you still here?!" Xagliv snapped.
"...sorry," Gwen whispered as she resumed following Ben and his group out of the room.
"...something on your mind, Gwen?" rook asked, noting the look on her face.
"Two things...earlier during the lesson, I saw something in that image Professor Xagliv brought up," Gwen answered, "It looked like...a witch."
"A witch?" Ben repeated.
"Yes. but what was freaky..is that it appeared before me for a moment before it vanished," Gwen answered, "But that moment, I felt something...off about it. Something like...Mana, but tainted...corrupted."
"Corrupted Mana?" Makoto blinked, "That's a thing?"
"I guess so…" Ben shrugged, "I never paid attention much to when people explained magic…"
"...speaking of magic, I think it was interested in that artifact Professor Xagliv brought up," Gwen added, "I could be wrong, but I think it was one of hte Charms of Bezel."
"I thought those were destroyed when we were kids," Ben noted.
"Me too…"
"Charms of what?" Makoto blinked.
"Uh...set of magical charms Gwen found when we were kids, one made her super lucky so she used that as her super power." Ben explained.
"Good luck isn't a superpower…" Makoto muttered.
"It doesn't sound very impressive at first…" Ben chuckled.
"I can hear you." Gwen pouted.
"Anyway, Gwen smashed them all with a shovel." Ben laughed.
"...why?" Makoto and Rook asked.
"...I knew I wasn't the only one who thought that." Kevin smiled.
"I had to make sure th-"
"Gwendolyne!" the group turned to see Dante running up to Gwen, "Did you see that magical talisman? I happen to know it was inscribed with the mystic rune for distance."
"Telekinesis," Gwen corrected before waving her hand a bit, "I mean..I guess...look. We're in the middle of something here, D-"
"TALLYHO~!"
"Wh-GAH!" Dante yelped when Zed pounced him, Luna riding on top of her.
"Alright nerdo, confess! What are you scheming!?" Luna demanded as Zed growled at Dante, "Make it fast and Luna won't have to ding dong hit you in the kiwis!"
"Don't you mean ding dong d-"
"Luna knows what she said!"
'Uh...Luna?'
"WHAT?!" Luna snapped before she saw a very annoyed and frowning Gwen glaring at her, "...uh oh...eh heh...hey big sis Gwen…"
"Luna…"
"...It was Sena's idea, I swear!"
'HAH?!'
"..."
"...Luna's still in trouble, isn't she?"
"Mmm~!" Sena pouted, rubbing their sore butt as the group -minus Dante- was outside in the courtyard, "Why Luna…?"
'Luna regretted it~!' Luna cried.
"Ugh..honestly you two…" Gwen sighed before looking at the others, "Okay...Ben, what was that about Charmcaster before my class began?"
"One of her rock monsters attacked us earlier," Ben answered, "We followed what was left of it into the room and...suddenly it was gone."
"And we doubt your art-history teacher has anything to do with it," Makoto added, "So maybe Charmcaster's hiding out somewhere."
"...Come to think of it," Ben spoke as he turned the Omnitrix on, "After we fought that thing, the Omnitrix only brings up Ghostfreak when I go to select an alien."
"Which...is potentially really creepy!" Makoto added, "Even if we did rip the evil half out...it's still potentially creepy!"
"You're still scared of the real Ghostfreak aren't you?" Ben asked.
"EEYUP!"
"...maybe that witch thing Gwen saw was Charmcaster," Kevin guessed, currently rubbing Zed's neck a bit.
"Maybe...but it felt stronger than her," Gwen admitted, "...Makoto."
"What?"
"Were there any mages in your original timeline?"
"...hmm…" Makoto began to ponder as she crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side, "Honestly...only one that comes to mind is the Great Sage Nine, one of the Six Heroes."
"Anything you do know about her?"
"Well all I know is that she was the best female sage in the world, and was the creator of the Nox Nyctores, the weapons humanity used to defeat the Black Beast...wait. You think that witch thing you saw was her?"
"Well...who else could it have been if not Charmcaster?"
"Babe...question. Is this Nine lady….eh...you know...not psychotic?" Ben asked.
"I hope. Much was w-" Makoto began before tensing, quickly bringing out her Proto-Gauntlets as she looked up, "...We got company."
"?!" the others tensed as they looked up, seeing more of the rock monsters jumping down as they had humans in hooded jackets riding them.
"Well this is a new one." Ben muttered as he dialed up the Omnitrix, "Okay...it looks normal…" he muttered, swiping the roster, before selecting and slamming the dial down. The Monsters and their riders skidded to a halt as Grimlock stomped forward in Dinosaur mode, "Me Grimlock...SMASH!" he roared as he rushed forward and bit the head of one of the monsters and shook the human rider off as he flailed his head around.
"Finally! Luna gets t-" Luna began as she changed Muchorin into a hammer...before Zed began to drag her away, "Wh-?! Zed-chan~! Let me fight~!"
"Might wanna change up, Gwen," Kevin whispered as he pulled out a piece of metal, counting himself in the substance as he clashed with one one of the rock monsters.
"Right!" Gwen nodded as she ran behind a nearby statue.
"Oh! Am I gonna finally see Lucky Girl?" Makoto asked, currently standing on top of some rubble that was once a rock monster as she held one of the hooded figures by the scruff of their hood, "Sweet!"
"What's going…?" one student began as he poked his head out of a nearby window, only to see the battle that was going on, "..oh! Ben 10 is fighting!" he beamed as more and more students poked theri heads out hte windows and watched, cheering them on.
"I feel we should have taken this to a safer area!" Rook shouted, using his Proto-Tool to disable more of the hooded figures as they fell off the rock monsters while bound in nets.
"Don't worry! I have it!" Gwen shouted as a flash of magenta was seen from behind the statue. After a moment, Gwen was seen running out, only she was in her Lucky Girl Persona.
"Hey! It's Lucky Girl!" one of the students gasped as their cheers grew louder.
"Ooh nice~!" Makoto noted as Gwen ran beside her, tossing a ball of mana at a rock monster as it crumbled to pieces, "So your Lucky girl huh...neat. Going with a catwoman-esque theme with your outfit?"
"Well...I wanted it to look like my old costume." she explained, tossing another ball of Mana at a monster, "It just felt right!"
"I totally agree!" Makoto smiled as she punched a Rock monster, making it crumble to pieces as its rider fell to the ground, "Ooh~! Combo attack?"
"Combo attack?" Gwen repeated before Makoto whispered to her, "...and you're sure that'll work?"
"Oh it will," Makoto smirked as she jumped up high into the air, using her tail to keep herself afloat, "Your up!"
"...yup. She truly is Ben's soulmate," Gwen whispered, forming a large ball of Mana in her hands before tossing it up.
"And geeeeeet…" Makoto began as she reeled her hand back, waiting for the Mana ball to float before her before she slammed her hand down hard on it, "DUNKED ON~!" she declared as it shot down towards the remaining rock monsters, which looked up before the resulting explosion of mana destroyed them and sent their riders flying and fleeing, "NAILED IT!"
"I love her…" Grimlock sighed as he had the remains of a Rock monster hanging from his jaw.
"Dunked on?" Rook repeated.
"Probably from some game," Kevin shrugged as Grimlock changed back into Ben.
"...Still, that w-"
"That was incredible!" a jock cheered as the students began to surround them, "You gotta pledge to Beta Gamma Kappa!"
"Um...that's very flattering, but I got my hands full protecting the Student Body," Gwen replied with a sheepish chuckle
"I'm in!" Ben and Makoto cheered, as they were lifted up and tossed into the air several times.
"I take it back! I love school!" Makoto laughed as the students cheered and chanted the Fraternity's name over and over. Somehow Rook got swept up in it again, against his will.
"...It's okay. I'm Lucky GIrl...I'm not about cheap adulation…" Gwen sighed.
"You turned down frat parties for me?" Kevin blinked as he walked over to Gwen, "...Thanks, baby."
"Wait...this place has parties?" Luna blinked as she walked back over, "Aww~! Luna wanted to go~!"
'I'm pretty sure they're the kind for older kids, Luna…' Sena argued.
"...what if..."
"No age spells," Gwen cut her off.
"Mmm~!"
"Lucky girl!" Dante shouted as he ran over, "We got problems! I can't find Gwen, and and and that artifact Professor Xagliv was looking after went missing! A-eep!" he yelped when Zed snarled at him.
"Down, girl," Gwen spoke as Zed backed away, "I think you better start from the top…"
"Where is it? Where is it?!" Xagliv demanded as she looked everywhere for the artifact, "I know I had it…" she whispered before she heard the doors open, making her look up to see Gwen and her friends, along with Dante walking in, "...Gwendolyne Tennyson, I have…"
"What's this about the artifact going missing, professor?" Gwen asked.
"...Who told you that?"
"Dante," Kevin answered.
"I heard Lucky girl was around, and I needed her help..but she vanished after she found Gwen," Dante added.
"...This is none of your concern," Xagliv stated as she glared at the group, "The local authorities can and will find the stolen relic..and if it's a student, they can and will be expelled."
"We think it wasn't one of the students," Makoto interjected, earning a raised brow from the professor, "It's..hard to explain really."
"We deal with weird situations and unexplainable things." Ben added, "We can probably find it faster. We got an expert Space Cop with a fine eye for detail, an Ex-Con who knows all the tricks of the trade, an adorable girl with amazing squirrel powers and love of mysteries, me the Alien boy of an unknown number of powers, and a girl with more brains than the rest of us combined."
"...ugh. Listen...lately there have been odd things happening around the school...a few female students have ended up missing a few days ago, and when they were found..they looked like they were on the verge of dying," Xagliv explained.
"...Verge of dying…" Gwen whispered, "...Darkstar."
"Dark-who?" Makoto repeated.
"An incredibly dangerous guy who sucks the life force out of women," Kevin explained before scowling, "And has an unhealthy obsession with my girl."
"Well technically he drains anybody…" Ben muttered, "Like the time he did become Darkstar and he kidnapped us to feed off our combat power…he's just super creepy and should probably be on some kind of list..."
"So..he's a creepy stalker-like energy vampire...got it," Makoto nodded, "...You think him and Charmcaster are in cahoots?"
"Ooohhh…" Ben, Kevin and Gwen cringed.
"What?" Makoto blinked.
"They uh...kinda dated…" Kevin explained.
"It...did...not end well...at all…" Ben added, "It was like...super nasty…"
"She'd probably sooner kill him…" Gwen added, "I mean...he didn't even know her real name…"
"I did too!" Dante argued, making the others look at him in confusion, "Uh...sorry. Was making a mental argument for later against the jocks."
"...hmm…" Makoto frowned a bit.
"Something up, babe?" Ben asked.
"Yeah...I think Zed and Luna were onto something with Dante here," Makoto whispered to him, "...Gwen, mind coming here for a sec?"
"What is it?" Gwen asked before Makoto whispered something to her, "...you're joking."
"Hey...might as well try."
"...what are you planning?" Rook asked.
"You'll see."
"...Dante," Gwen spoke, earning Dante's attention, "Did you ever leave a place called...Legerdomain?"
"?!" Dante flinched at that, "I didn't leave...she kicked me out!"
"Who?"
"Charmca-!" Dante began before tensing, "?!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...ugh. Forget it. This charade has gone on long enough," Dante muttered as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the artifact.
"?! So you did have it!" Xagliv snapped, "Dante Drusher, consider yourself flunked and expelled f-"
"Oh stuff it, miss toupe," Dante countered as he put the artifact on his chest, causing a massive shockwave of purple energy to come off him as the group was suddenly shoved against the wall while it sent Xagliv flying back...and knocking her hair off her head, "Huh...you're right, Lovely Gwen. It does say 'telekinesis.'"
"I knew it!" Luna shouted from her spot up in the seats.
"I should have guessed you'd creep on my cousin…" Ben sighed.
"You zip it, Tennyson," Dante...or rather Darkstar ordered before holding his hand out, stopping the Mana balls that came right at him before he absorbed them, "Ahh...Lovely Gwen, your Mana is too sweet as always…and while I will go for an appetizer later, I will need you for a special main course..."
"Main c-gah!" Gwen gasped as she was suddenly pulled over by a tendril of black energy nearly losing all color as she felt herself being drained..
"Also...Lucky Girl? Really Gwen?"
"It makes sense in context!" Ben called out.
"Oh god you are such a pain." Darkstar sighed.
"Oh yeah...Desk." Ben simply replied.
"Desk?"
"Desk to the face!" Makoto shouted, smacking him across his face with Xagliv's desk knocking him through a wall.
"...ahh. That tickled," Darkstar chuckled a bit as he stood up, an ID mask falling off his face to reveal that he was a tall figure harbed in black and dark blue with his arms covered in silver clawed gauntlets while his face was hidden behind a metal mask, "And thank me…was getting tired of looking like that...also..." he paused as the artifact sent out another shockwave, forcing the others back while he forced Gwen over once more with a tendril of black energy, "I'll be taking her thank you very much."
"Hey! Let go of my girl!" Kevin shouted as Darkstar ran, carrying Gwen as he rushed through the hole.
"AFTER THAT CREEP!" Luna shouted as she hopped on top of Zed, "Hi ho Zed-chan, away~!"
"Ugh...I hate chase scenes…" Ben groaned helping Makoto up.
"I'm gonna crush that mask of his into his face…" Makoto groaned as she, Ben, Kevin and Rook chased after Darkstar with Luna and Zed following.
"Ugh...such a chaotic day...and where is my wig!?" Xagliv demanded before her wig was presented to her, "...oh. Why th-GH?!" she tensed as she looked up, grabbing her mask from Phantom before the witch-like figure floated into the hole Ben and the others ran into, "...what...was that?"
"Is it just me or did this just devolve into a Scooby-Doo chase sequence?!" Makoto shouted as she and the others were chasing Darkstar through multiple doors in a narrow stone hallway.
"Why does a college have some kind of medieval catacomb!?" Ben asked as he ran through one set of doors.
"Why is there a cow here?!" Luna shouted as she and Zed fled from an angry cow wearing a shower cap, shaking its angry hoof at them.
"...I have several questions," Rook blinked, poking out of one room..and saw his lower half poking into another.
"How'd I get here?!" Kevin complained, suddenly hanging from the ceiling as Darkstar ran through a door with Gwen in his arms, "..OH NO YOU DON'T!"
"The only thing missing is the AmiYumi song in the background…" Makoto muttered.
"Don't jinx it~!" Sena cried as he ran by with Zed riding on top of him.
"CAN SOMEONE PLEASE STOP THIS?!" Ben snapped before all the doors shut, "...well that was e-"
"Thank you!" Darkstar groaned in relief as he ran by one door.
"Let me..!" Gwen began before she conked her head against the doorway, knocking her over and unconscious.
"Oooh…" the others winced at that.
"...blast it…" Darkstar muttered as he began to drag Gwen by the feet.
"Stop that creeper!" Ben shouted.
"I swear whoever designed this place was a masochist," Darkstar muttered as he carried Gwen into a large dark room with arcane writing on the floor, "Here. Was that so difficult?" he asked one of the hood figures within the room as he handed Gwen over to him.
"Hey!" Darkstar turned to see the others running at him.
"Ugh...Contego," Darkstar whispered as he held his hand up, causing the door to shut on them, "There...no more annoying pest to bother us."
"All hail dark lord and master…" the hooded figures chanted, "Hail dark lord a-"
"Thank you thank...you are too kind, but…" Darkstart began as he looked down at Gwen just as the hooded figure placed her in the center of the room, "Time for me to get my handsome looks back...and sadly, I'll miss you Lovely Gwen."
"Ugh...even unconscious I could feel your creepy ego…" Gwen groaned as she woke up, "No wonder you had a falling out with Charmcaster."
"Not my fault she went insane and jealous!" he argued, "Now she's locked me out of Legerdomain! Can you believe it!?"
"You were a horrible boyfriend!" Gwen snapped, "And a creep!"
"Well I guess we'll have to agree to disagree...even if you're totally wrong." Darkstar crossed his arms and huffed in response.
"Do you just live in your own little world?" Gwen asked.
"Yes actually, and it's a world all about me. You should try living in it...trust me...much prettier." Darkstar replied, "But there's one thing missing from my perfect world...Mana. Living in Legerdomain was so sweet...I could live off the endless Mana flowing from it. So much so…" he grabbed one of the girls in hoods and began to drain her, causing her skin to wrinkle up, "That just normal life energy won't suffice me anymore, so I'm gonna bring that mystic energy to here...through you."
"...you're joking, right?" Gwen asked with a frown, "I can't even do that."
"Correction; You mean you can't do that...and live."
"?!"
"RAAAGH!" Kevin shouted as he charged, covered in stone as he punched the door...to no effect, "Ah come on!"
"LUNA MAGICAL HAMMER OF JUSTICE!" Luna screamed as she slammed Muchorin against the door, only to end up vibrating from the impact as she shook away from the door.
"Okay. That is one sturdy door," Makoto muttered as Zed tried to dig a hole underneath the door.
"And...I'm just getting Ghostfreak again...not useful!" Ben complained.
"..." Rook took out his Proto-Tool as he tapped his pockets till one opened and produced a small orange rocket he loaded into the gun formation of his side-arm. He pulled back on it's hammer-like lever as it loaded and primed the missile, "Move!"
"Yipe!" Ben and Makoto cried out as they grabbed Luna and covered her.
"Crud!" Kevin panicked grabbing Zed and jumping to the side.
Rook pulled the trigger as his small rocket was fired...and hit the door with a massive explosion that tore it and most of the brickwork around it down.
"Hmm?" Darkstar blinked behind his mask, turning to see the group charging in, "Oh..well that didn't take long…Keep them busy! I cannot have the ritual interrupted!"
"Ritual?" Makoto repeated before seeing Gwen, who was floating in the middle of the room while mana seeped from her, "?!"
"Oh no y-'' Kevin began before a line of the rock monsters stood before him and the others, Darkstar's followers riding on top of them.
"Okay that's it! Time to go Gr-" Ben began as he activated the Omnitrix, "Still Ghostfreaks?! Know what...I don't need to transform to fight!"
"You? Not needing to transform to fight?" Darkstart asked as he laughed a bit, "Oh that's funny Tennyson...you honestly think you stand a chance?"
"I dunno...do you still need to creep on my cousin? Or is your ego that big, your compensating for something?"
"Shot's fired!" Luna laughed.
"Kill the brat first," Darkstar scowled.
"Up yours, creepo!" Luna barked as she swung Muchorin, sending out a flurry of cat-themed missiles at the rock monsters.
"Oh that's cute!" Darkstar laughed before holding his hand out as he made the missiles fly up and hit the ceiling instead, "Now...kill her."
"Uh-oh!" she panicked.
"Hands off the kid, Goth kids!" Makoto snapped, punching one Rock monster and making it shatter, "Not sure if I should hit them or not…" she muttered, before swinging her tail and punching one of Darkstar's followers, sending them flying through the air, "Eh...Tomorrow Makoto's problem!"
"Well today we're Darkstar's problem!" Kevin shouted, shoving the arm of a broken rock monster into a few others, shattering them upon impact while Rook used his Proto-tool's grappling hook to tie up one and swing it around, crashing it into a few more.
"Ahh! Get it off! Get it off!" one of Darkstar's followers yelped as Zed was biting his butt, "My lord, please save me!"
"Hmm...seems I'm surrounded," Ben noted, seeing himself surrounded by a few rock monsters as they reeled their claws back, "...oh no wait…" he grinned as he quickly ran and slid under one just as they threw their punches...resulting in destroying each other, "I'm not!"
"Told ya some of those training sessions with me would work out!" Makoto laughed, hopping onto one rock monster and smacked her tail against the Darkstar follower, knocking them off the beast before she delivered a dunking punch on its head, shattering it, "And Spoon!"
"Starting to run a bit thin…" Darkstar muttered as he focused on the ritual, "..no matter. Soon I'll get what I need...my power...my beautiful looks...my impeccable singing voice!"
"That last one had to be made up!" Kevin argued before he lost his stone armor, "..Ah crud."
"Ahh!" Luna screamed as she landed near him, "Jerky rock monster…"
"Hoo boy…" Makoto whispered as she, Rook, Ben and Zed stepped back, the group now surrounded by rock monsters, "Ben...sweetie, now would be a good time to pull out a new form from the Omnitrix."
"I would, but I keep getting Ghostfreak."
"...well chestnuts…well try! Hopefully some mira…!" Makoto began before one of the rock monsters suddenly exploded, "?!"
"What in…" Rook began before more of the rock monsters exploded in bits of rock and fire, "?!"
"What?!" Darkstar exclaimed before he saw a portal beginning to form, "...yes...yes!"
Before the others could do anything...something flew right past them, nearly knocking them over before the figure pushed Gwen out of the center of the room.
"What?! Who...!?" Darkstar began as he looked at Phantom...who seemed to be 'grunting' and writhing in bits of pain as it was now being used for the ritual, "What is that?! Who...wait…" he whispered, feeling something...powerful within Phantom, "...this feeling...is that..Mana? No...it feels...much more...it feels…" he paused as he took a inhale for a moment, "Intoxicating…"
"..." Luna blinked for a moment as she stared at Phantom, feeling as if it was...familiar to her...like an old distant friend she once knew...like someone she felt she betrayed, "...Konoe?" she whispered, the hearts in her pupils vanishing for a moment.
"Huh? What did…?" Makoto began as she looked at her.
"I must have it…" Darkstar began as Mana began to seep into Phantom, "I MUST HAVE IT!" he shouted as he fired his dark energy tendrils, wrapping them around Phantom as he began to drain it. As soon as he felt the energy being drained from the witch-like figure...he felt it. The mass amounts of magic within it...pouring from every fiber from it. It's as if...Legerdomain was a living being...no. It felt like...something else entirely. And it felt maddening...alluring...intoxicting. He could feel it as well...he could feel his beautiful visage returning, but he also felt stronger...stronger than anyone that has defied him before! He must have this power...he must have it!
"Ugh….wh-what…" Gwen began as she woke up..only to see Phantom writhing about while Darkstar was absorbing both it and the magic that was starting to pour from the portal, "?! Michael stop!"
"It's too late Gwen! I feel it...I feel my beauty returning! I feel...I FEEL...!" Darkstar began before a near-silent scream was heard...followed by a massive fiery explosion as it completely shook the room and knocked everyone over, the blast destroying Darkstar's mask as it revealed the visage of a handsome young man with short blond styled hair.
"Ah great...he's back to default. Least he's not all Golden…" Ben muttered.
"...I've done it…" Darkstar whispered as he got up, touching his face as he began to chuckle, "I've done it! Michael Morningstar has returned! And I feel...more beautiful and powerful than ever! This power…" he looked up at the fading portal, "...who needs Legerdomain?! I...I no longer feel hungry...I feel satisfied!...But I truly won't until I exterm…" he stopped the moment he heard it...heels clacking against the stone floor.
As the smoke began to settle and the heroes slowly getting up...they saw a figure standing in the center of the room. Standing there was an adult woman with a very...very well endowed body as her long, bright fiery pink hair trailed down to her lower back and sides of her face with contoured feathery strands covering one of her eyes. She wore the same cape and hat as Phantom did, now with a purple collar added to help keep the cape up and reveal the inside was a magenta color while she was dressed in a dark purple and scarlet red dress, the top showing a generous amount of her cleavage and the skirt being a bit short. Her slender legs were covered in black curved leggings that reached to her miniskirt while she wore a pair of dark purple heeled slippers. Her hands were covered in black gloves as her sharp fingernails seemed to poke through them while her arms were dropped in dark purple long sleeves. Last thing they did note...was that her eyes were a dark yellow while the sclera was a pitch black.
"Oh I have a BAD feeling about this…" Ben muttered.
"..no...no way…" Makoto whispered with wide eyes, "That….that's her."
"Her?" Kevin repeated.
"That's...that's the Great Sage...Nine." Makoto answered, "But how?z..she should be..."
"Nine...what a name..to fit such a wondrous b-" Darkstar began when Nine turned her gaze at him, making him tense up...as if a demon was staring straight into his soul.
"...you," she finally spoke, "You managed to undo most of the Mind Eater Curse that was upon me…"
"C...curse….?" Darkstar repeated before he shook it off, "Th-that's right! And I….I would be more than happy to get to know you, milady," he spoke in a smooth manner as he walked over, "To know that was someone much more beautiful than even Gwen...I dare say th-ACK!"
"Tch...save it, blondie," Nine scoffed, currently holding Darkstar by his neck, "I commended you for undoing most of it on me...I'm not asking a leech like you on a dinner date. Besides...your not my type anyway, you ugly little troll."
"?! U...UGLY?!"
"Oh...I get so much feeling of nope from this…" Ben spoke.
"I feel like we're about to die." Kevin added.
"As do I." Rook replied.
"Same," Makoto gulped as Zed and Luna hid behind her.
"...You...how dare…!" Darkstar growled as he forced himself free and floated back, his hands glowing with golden and black energy, "How dare you speak of me that way! Do you not know who I am?!"
"I do...a ugly little leech who clings onto others to survive," Nine countered, not even phased by it.
"You...I am Michael Morningstar...and I demand your respect!" Darkstar roared as he fired a massive energy beam at Nine, which engulfed her for a few moments...before much to his shock, his beam was being absorbed into her hat as it floated before her.
"No...you demand my attention…" she sighed, "Let me guess, you grew up with girls hanging off your every little word and act just cause you are to most...above average. I'm even gonna assume your family is rich and at least the one parent you had never gave the time of day to give you attention, now you literally crave it as a source of power. I mean...look at the whole medieval Doctor Doom thing you have going on…"
"I knew it!" Ben shouted.
"So...let me finish it with this; you will never be loved, cause there isn't a self respecting woman in the history of reality itself...who can deal with the dumpster fire of a person you are. In Fact...you probably get a kick out of these heroes chasing and beating you up. Only time anyone even remotely gave you attention close to that of an actual parent." Nine sighed, "Not to mention you look like the dollar store knock off of Robert Pattinson."
"...uh...wh...wha…" Darkstar whispered as he floated back down, standing there as he felt like he lost his voice.
"Wow!" Ben and Kevin awed.
"If I wasn't sure she was gonna murder us...I'd call her my personal hero…" Makoto added.
"Oh please...I'm not even gonna kill the little leech.." Nine scoffed as she grabbed her hat, "He doesn't even deserve one of my strongest spells…so instead..." she held a finger up...and a massive fireball appeared above it, "I'll just use one of my slightly weaker ones...at best it'll put him into a coma...or he'll come out of it alive...ish."
"?!" Darkstar tensed at that, now feeling a massive pressure pounding down on him. It was truly as if...a demon was standing before him...a dark powerful demon ready to end him at any moment...and it claimed it was gonna use a weaker spell just to knock him into a coma...or worse. At that very moment...he felt all parts of his body fail him as he fell to the floor unconscious.
"...tch...he fainted...god how pathetic," Nine whispered, "...Oh well. May as well destroy this entire school."
"I knew it!" Ben panicked.
"What? You think I'm gonna let someone use Legerdomain like that? It's better if it and this entire school was destr-" Nine began before her cape blocked a blast of mana, "..."
"Gwen?!" Kevin gawked.
"RUN!" Gwen shouted, her hands and eyes glowing with Mana.
"Are you crazy?!" Kevin complained, "This lady is just freakin terrifying!"
"Smart boy...you should listen to him." Nine smiled, "You'll live longer, little one."
"And let you harm innocents while destroying my school?! I don't think so!" Gwen argued, "Ben, you and the others grab Darkstar and start evacuating people!"
"Gwen are you crazy?!" Ben exclaimed.
"Just go! I'll hold her off as best I can!"
"...Trust me little girl…" Nine frowned as fire seemed to surround her, "You don't want to deal with me…"
"I am not a little girl…" Gwen growled.
"Oh...that's just adorable. You think you're an actual adult...you really should have listened to your boyfriend. At least he has survival instincts like someone who's lived in the real world," Nine smiled tauntingly.
"..."
"Oh...you're serious….fine…" Nine sighed..before smirking as she aimed the fireball at the ceiling, "Let's take this outside then…"
*BOOM!*
"AHH! What the…?!" one student freaked as the entire courtyard was suddenly destroyed in a fiery explosion, causing him and the entire school to run and evacuate before a pair of figures were seen flying within the smoke as both Nine and Gwen-in her Lucky Girl persona- floated above everyone, the latter now having the artifact Darkstar stole on the back of one of her hands.
"Oh that's cute. You equipped a new item before fighting me?" Nine giggled, "Do you want an achievement for being clever? Cause that won't help you as much as you hope!"
"No...but it'll at least help me deal with you," Gwen countered.
"...hmph. Fine then," Nine noted as an energy gate appeared before her, "Your funeral then, little girl.." she whispered before she breathed out...causing a large tornado to shoot from the gate and head towards Gwen.
Gwen formed a barrier to stop the tornado from striking her...but it only worked so much as her energy sphere barrier was slammed into the ground, shattering it upon impact. She then tensed as she narrowly avoided a large wave of water heading towards her before she grunted, getting hit by a strong gust of wind. She then quickly noticed Nine firing a sphere of dark energy at her, prompting her to quickly summon another barrier..only to grunt as four separate beams came from the sphere as it caused her barrier to shatter.
"Her casting time is so fast…" Gwen whispered as she looked up at Nine, "She's able to combine her spells so effortlessly...and no words...chantless magic?"
"I suppose I should give you this, the power your packing is impressive. I only ever met one creature with this kind of...potential." Nine spoke, "But you're so young and have so much to learn...you need to chant for your stronger spells...can't fly without an item...it's a shame. You could be something challenging if you have a few decades to mature. But...you are young...and the young are famous for stupidity." she swung her hand and pointed as the tip of her finger flickered with a small flame, before it shot out a huge wave of fire.
"?! Aquata Risa Spackwata!" Gwen quickly chanted as waterspouts burst from the ground and quickly blocked the fire, covering the entire area in steamy mist.
"Not bad...I took that one slow too." Nine smiled, landing as she began walking through the mist, "But if you can keep up with that level…" she swung her hand to the side several times.
Gwen blinked before flinching as the ground around her began morphing as spears of the very ground flew at her in an attempt to skewer her. She jumped back in time only to flinch as her foot began sinking into the ground as if it was a deep puddle of mud. By the time she realized what happened, the ground hardened and locked her in place. Gwen quickly went on the defensive and formed a barrier in front of her as a machine-gun-like hail storm of small rocks began pelting the area around her.
"Not bad...but let's see you handle this," Nine smirked as she held her hand up, causing a large meteor-like rock with diamonds sticking out to come crashing down on Gwen, causing her barrier to shatter once more.
"Gh...A...Appendaga Regoria!" Gwen shouted as she fired another spell at Nine..only for a mirror made of diamond and ice to block it, "?!"
"Oh...it's cute you think you're doing anything." Nine giggled, "Sorry sweety...this is more fun for me." she snapped her fingers as the mirror shattered, all the shards floating up...and aiming their sharp edges right at Gwen.
"?!" Gwen tensed as she prepared to summon another barrier, only to cry out in pain as the shards shot past her, cutting her up as some managed to cause some bleeding on her arms and legs, "Gah!"
"Oh lord...it's like kicking a sad puppy at this point…" Nine sighed, walking up to a heavily panting Gwen, "Know what's more disappointing? I know you're holding back."
"Wh...what?"
"Oh god...don't play stupid with me…" Nine sighed in an annoyed tone, "Didn't you hear me, or are you actually really stupid? I know what you are...I just as much said I fought one of your kind...or...part your kind." she corrected herself, "If you turned into your true form...you might just be excersise for me. What is it? Some bullshit like you don't want to lose what makes you...you?" she asked, "Hehehe...oh...your still just a stupid little girl. You want to be normal so bad...you choose any path that will make you forsake power rather than keep it. If you were truly strong...you'd be able to change into that form...and still be yourself in spite of all that power. But from what I've seen...maybe you're better off leaving the handling of power to that idiot cousin of yours. I mean yes he's stupid...but he knows how to wield power."
"...You...you were that figure I saw earlier…" Gwen realized, "You..you saw what was happening."
"Yup...and honestly I was growing bored...until I saw that little leech drag you off to open a portal to Legerdomain," Nine countered, "And honestly...in that moment, I saw a chance to finally free myself from that snake Terumi...and get my magic back at full force. So in truth it was a 'two birds one stone' kind of deal...and after seeing you fight and the fact you're holding back...I am heavily disappointed."
"Why are you so...invested in me?" Gwen asked, "Why me?"
"I've said it like maybe half a dozen times and you still don't get it…" she sighed, "You pride yourself on being so smart...Gwen…"
"It's…"
"Gwen…" Nine cut her off, "You love being the smart one don't you...it's all you had after you first gave up magic as a girl...while Ben kept that little watch that made him into the most dangerous weapon in the cosmos. You thought his keeping that thing a mistake...and so you didn't want to make Ben's mistake. Valiant to destroy items of power so others don't have them...why not keep them? I mean...you kept that book didn't you? So...why the sudden change of heart over the book but the stones had to go? I'll tell you...deep down a part of you is like your Grandfather and Cousin...you want to be amazing and go on adventures with them. But...that part of you that thinks your intelligence is what makes you superior shoots it down."
"..." Gwen said nothing as she just stood there...letting those words sink in as her form kept flickering on and off.
"In fact if I wanted...I could've killed your boytoy," Nine continued as she noticed Kevin and the others watching from nearby, "But that would be a rage filled transformation...no. That's not what Anodites are...rage doesn't consume them...and I don't want to fight a rage-filled Anodite...they would just make their spells all sloppy."
"I feel like I just avoided a goddamn moon sized bullet!" Kevin shouted.
"Oh please...I can't bring the moon down," Nine scoffed at that, "...But…" she paused as he began to float high into the air, "Let's see if you can counteract this Gwen...with your full power."
"Wh...what?" Gwen panted as she looked up, seeing a massive energy gate appear behind Nine, "?!"
"It's not my most powerful spell...but it's enough to destroy the school..possibly the entire area," Nine began as she raised a hand, a large clawed hand coming out as a massive demonic golem-like creature moved out of it, dark crimson flames coming off of it, "Also heads up...I was gonna use a weaker version of this on the leech…"
"Uh Gwen...any time now! Cause Alien X is kinda not an option at the moment!" Ben panicked.
"...g...gh…" Gwen grunted as she managed to force herself up, ignoring the stinging pain in her body as she looked up, seeing the golem-like creature opened its mouth as violent and crimson flames began to form within its mouth.
"Flame...Banisher," Nine whispered as she threw her hand out, causing the golem to fire off a massive fiery beam towards the ground.
Time seemed to slow down for Gwen as the beam was heading directly toward her. Many thoughts began to pour into her head as she stared on...feeling many regrets within her mind. The images of Ben, Kevin, Grandpa Max...everyone she knew and loved flow through her mind...until they began to slowly fade away. This...this is what Rachel and Paradox warned her about...she...she truly stood no chance against Nine...but...she had to try. She had to give it her all, if not just to block the attack and save her school...no. To save the town and everyone within it.
"...ah….ah…." Gwen panted before she cried out loudly, Mana shining through her eye as it began to engulf her, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!-!-!-!-!-!"
"Hmm?" Nine raised a brow as she saw a massive burst of Mana shine from below before a massive barrier of mana blocked the laser, "?!...Well now…"
Gwen grunted as she kept the barrier up, now fully transformed into her Anodite form as she floated up. Gwen lifted her arms up as her barrier began to alter, becoming rigid and angular, with another grunt of effort she angled her barrier up so its new shape would reflect the laser around...and then up. Nine blinked, seeing her attack rise up and out into orbit where it could destroy nothing.
"...woah...so th...that's…" Makoto began, looking on at Gwen's form in awe, "That's what an Anodite looks like, right?"
"Eeyup…" Ben muttered.
"...sugei~" Luna whispered in awe.
"Gh...gaah…" Gwen panted, her barrier on the verge of cracking as the laser kept going on. Thankfully..the laser began to die down as it slowly faded away.
"..."
"H...how….was….th….tha…" Gwen panted before her eyes began to close, feeling her body shutting down as she lost her transformation and began to fall to the ground.
"Gwen!" Kevin exclaimed.
"...screw it. Going Ghostfreak!" Ben shouted as he turned the Omnitrix on and slammed down on it, quickly turning into Ghostfreak and he flew up and caught Gwen in time, "I gotcha…"
"Ngh…" Gwen groaned in her unconscious state as Ghostfreak floated back down.
"Not bad kid…" Nine complimented, "I don't know what force kept the idiot cousin out of the way...but I am not in the mood to deal with another man with an ego too big for his short body."
"Hey!" Ghostfreak complained.
"Besides...I'm finally free, so I can do whatever I want without being controlled by that backstabbing snake Terumi," Nine continued as she began to float back down, only to stop when Kevin got in front of Gwen and Ghostfreak defensively, "...what? You want to try now, big boy?"
"I will if you touch one hair on her head," Kevin scowled, "I don't care if your some big hot shot wizard from the future…"
"Sorceress/sage actually…"
"Point is...if you even try and harm Gwen any further…" Kevin began as he pulled out another piece of metal, gaining a coating of it over his body as his hands morphed into maces, "I'm not above smacking a lady...no. I won't smack a lady...but I will smack a uppity bitch."
"..." Nine wanted to snap at that...possibly even harm the street punk for even talking to her like that. But oddly...she felt a bit of familiarity as she looked between Gwen and Kevin. In a way...it reminded her of someone she knew...someone she loved before becoming...this, "...Fine. I'll leave."
"What?"
"Did I stutter, or do you have motor oil stuck in your ears grease monkey?" Nine frowned, "Your...probably the most unruly boy I've ever seen...but I respect the balls you have to stand up to someone who could snap the finger and leave just that mullet...as the trace of your existence. I really want to cause you got a big mouth...but my respect overpowers anger. But...don't get cocky now...even if you went all Mutant...I'd still wreck your ass…"
"?! How did you…"
"Hello...greatest female magician from the future?" Nine reminded, "Mind magic is simple...hard yet simple...point is I'll leave...wanna explore the world for a bit anyways. Doesn't mean I'm gonna go all goody goody...just have some plans ruminating in my head at the moment."
"Even her talking casually is unsettling," Rook whispered.
"Sides...for the moment...I want to fucking wreck the asshole who kept me locked up...so...until he's suffering a fate worse then death...don't worry. I'm on your side, but...after that's done...well...I guess we'll have to wait and see." she smiled, "Try not to screw up the world kids...I still want a home to come to and hang my hat."
The group said nothing as Nine began to walk off...only to stop for a moment.
"Oh...and one more thing…" Nine began before snapping her fingers, causing a large book to appear above the group and suddenly land in Makoto's hands, "For Gwen when she wakes up."
"Wh..what..is this?" Makoto asked, struggling a bit to hold the book up.
"My study book...when I attended the Magic Association Academy in the City of Magic, Ishana," Nine answered, "When she wakes up...tell her after she masters all the spells in that book, and can master her Anodite form...maybe. Just maybe we'll have that rematch."
"...there's something I don't get…" Ghostfreak began as he handed Gwen over to Kevin, the Ectonurite changing back into Ben as he looked at Nine, "Why are you so interested in my cousin? What are you hiding?"
"You're annoyingly heroic…" Nine sighed, "You just can't help but meddle in business that's not your own...reminds me of a man who's a thousand times superior to all of you boys."
"I'm just numb to her insults by now…" Kevin muttered.
"But if you really want to know...well...I just want something fun to do," she shrugged as she began to float up, "So...until next time...and hopefully you don't get on my bad side," she warned as she seemed to vanish within scarlet flames.
"..I don't believe it. We…" Makoto began as she fell to her knees, holding the book in the arms, "We managed to survive that…"
"My heart...it feels like it stopped and wanted to run far away from here," Rook whispered as he held his hand over his heart, "Was that….what fear felt like?"
"...is Gwen-san going to be okay?" Sena asked in concern, noticing Gwen's damaged state.
"She looks okay...but we should still get her some help." Ben spoke, "Sides she's my cousin, she's stronger then she looks."
"That she is," Kevin nodded, looking down at Gwen in worry as Zed looked at Gwen in equal worry, "..Come on. Let's get her to the doctor to get her patched up."
"Good idea."
The next day, Gwen sat by herself underneath one of the trees in the courtyard, focusing on the book Nine had left them as she had some bandages on her arms and events of yesterday were still fresh in her mind. At first she thought she had to deal with Darkstar of all people, wanting to use Legerdomain to regain his beauty while sacrificing her in the process...but then Nine appeared and utterly decimated him...without using a single spell. And the battle with Nine herself...she barely stood a chance against her...even going full Anodite could only misdirect the laser she fired into space..and it took all her strength just to do that. But...even if that was a total loss for her...it did offer some insight. All this time she thought she was reaching the peek of her potential...but now she knew how high the bar truly was.
"Hey babe…" Gwen turned to the side and saw Kevin approaching her, "You feeling okay?"
"Yes. the doctor said…"
"I mean mentally."
"...honestly? No," Gwen sighed as Kevin sat down next to her, "That woman..Nine...I see what Paradox and Rachel meant about I had no chance against her. Even going full Anodite, I...I just barely deflected her spell."
"No kidding…" Kevin muttered, "And the worst part...we can't even tell if she's truly on our side or not. I mean...have you figured anything out in that book she gave you?"
"A bit…" Gwen answered, "I'm actually glad Makoto came with us...the writing from her time is a bit difficult, but after the info she provided...it's not that hard."
"Cool…" Kevin nodded as he looked around and decided to change the subject, "Good thing Ben's gotten good at fixing stuff with Clockwork...looks like there wasn't a scary witch lady whom I still regret talking back to…"
"From what Makoto told me, you were pretty brave back there," Gwen noted with a small smile
"Ah...I ain't smart...so it's easy to be brave for me." Kevin replied as he put his arm around Gwen, "Sides...if it's either you or me...I'd do it again. Trust me...you and Ben knocked some good lessons into my head."
"...hm. That we did," Gwen smiled as she softly kissed him on the cheek, "..speaking of Ben, have you seen any sign of him and Makoto?"
"Oh...right…" Kevin coughed into his hand, "So like since you were transformed all the time...all folks know is Lucky Girl and Ben 10 fought the evil witch who burst out of the ground…" he muttered, "Since no one knows you are Lucky Girl...the school thanked Ben and as extra for Fixing everything back to normal so classes can continue, he and Makoto where called in by the Headmaster...and well…" he coughed again and covered up what he said.
"...well what?" Gwen asked.
"..."
"...Kevin…"
"Hey Gwen!" Ben shouted, earning Gwen's attention as she and Kevin saw him and Makoto being carried off by students, "Guess who doesn't have to go here?"
"Oh thank god…" Gwen sighed in relief.
"Because we more or less graduated!" Makoto laughed.
"...what?"
"Yeah the dude in charge was so thankful he gave me and Makoto PHD's!" Ben cheered, "Hahaha! We're Doctor's now!"
"What…?." Gwen repeated.
"And...send!" Makoto cheered taking a picture of herself and her PhD, she waited till her phone went off, "Hi Kajun! No...it's real. Nope...totally legit...yep...I'm...a Doctor...before you! Who'd have thought! Oh by the way Ben has one too..." She then held her phone away as horrible screaming of anger could be heard, "Funny thing...I have the volume set to super low…"
"..."
"...Gwen?" Kevin spoke.
"Ben….Makoto…"
"Yeah?"
"Moment you're out of campus and the students are away….run…"
"Run?"
"Yes…" Gwen began, holding her hand up for a moment as a magenta fireball appeared in it for a moment, "Run."
"I thought you'd be happy Gwen...now you don't have to deal with us going to school with ya." Makoto pouted, "You're just impossible to please...I don't know how Kevin does it." she shook her head.
"I am not with them…" Kevin squeaked.
"Besides, we're here for another day anyway, so we're out next day after tomorrow," Ben assured, "Sides now we don't need to hang around here…" he whispered to Makoto.
"...one more day, Gwen...just one more day…" Gwen whispered, "Ugh...I need some herbal tea…"
"I think the store needs s-" Kevin began.
"Hey did you hear?" one of two girls began as she walked by, "There's a new clinic in town with a rather nice Chinese motif."
"Oh I think I know that one! Clarice went there the other day with a bad back, and she came out completely refreshed and rejuvenated the next!"
"Really? Wow...I guess this Dr. Faye Ling is really that good."
"?!" Makoto blinked in surprise upon hearing that, "...Dr. Faye Ling?"
"...oh no…" Ben realized.
"Gr…" Darkstar frowned, his once beautiful face replaced with a truly ugly one as he had a seal on his forehead, all while sitting in the back of a police car. He attempted to break open the windows before a dome of mana surrounded him suddenly, "...oh no…"
"Hello...Michael," the female police driver greeted as she took her hat off, letting her white hair with purple highlights on the tips flow as she looked bac at him.
"Ch...Charmcaster, sweetie...hey…" Darkstar nervously greeted, "Your….still not mad about what happened are you?"
"I don't know…" she began as she pointed a finger at his forehead, said finger glowing with energy, "Am I?"
"...No...no no…"
"But guess what? You get to live...on one condition."
"?"
"That woman that Gwen was fighting yesterday...who is she?"
"Her?! How should I know...she just called herself Nine...and then she crushed me till I passed out with a spell! She's crazy! I heard Gwen couldn't even make her budge an inch!"
"...is that so?" Charmcaster noted.
"Wait...why do you want to know about her?!"
"Because I felt her from all the way in Legerdomain...and if she even gave Gwen a struggle...well…" Charmcaster paused as a smirk grew on her face, "My interest in her is piqued."
"No offense...but I doubt that's a good idea…"
"Hmm...maybe. Counterpoint?" Charmcaster paused as the energy on her finger began to grow.
"?! N-now Charmcaster! Let's be reasonable!" Darkstar panicked, only for her to smirk even more in response, "Crap…"
SZ: Yeah...never expected that huh?
GT: Eenope. Didn't expect it.
Z0: We have twists planned!
SZ: Oh ho yeah...a LOT of twists!
Z0: Get ready!
SZ: We are setting up a HUGE battle for Gwen later on!
Z0: Till then!
GT: Please read and review!