The next stop was Horse Thief Lake, in South Dakota. As Max was setting up camp Ben and Gwen were arguing.
"You were supposed to get the cake," Gwen yelled.
"I thought you were going to get it."
"Gwen," Eddie interjected. "How is he going to bring a cake here?"
"Duh, XLR8." Both boys looked at her. She realized the problem in that line of thinking. How would he get the cake back in one piece? She sighed. "Then how are we going to get a cake for him?"
"Ben," Eddie asked, "Can you get the ingredients for a cake? Then we can make it here."
"I'm guessing you guys don't know anything about baking," Gwen said.
"Not really," Eddie said.
Ben told him. "Me and Gwen have had to learn to cook. But, no, I can't bake a cake."
With her hands on her hips, Gwen said, "Fortunately, I do." Turning to Ben she said, "I'll give you a list. No substitutions."
"That's great," Eddie said. "Buy top quality. I'm bankrolling this."
Gwen made her list along with estimated prices.
"Alright Ben, here's the list. Remember no substitutions."
Eddie took out his wallet and handed Ben some cash. "This should be more than enough."
With that, Ben was on his way.
In the meantime, Gwen and Eddie went to talk to Max.
"Mr. Tennyson..." Eddie was interrupted.
"Remember Eddie, it's Max. No need to be formal with an old family friend like me."
"Sorry Max." He apologized. Gwen picked up from there. "We'd like to do something for your birthday. We want to make a cake for you."
"That'd be really nice. So, you want to use the oven in the rustbucket?"
"Yeah Grandpa. Ben is out getting the ingredients now."
"Well, alright. Why don't you two get set up while you wait for him."
Gwen could see how happy it seemed to make Eddie as they waited for Ben. "You don't do this kind of thing with your grandpa?"
"Nah. I always get big birthday parties. But the servants make the cake and, well, do everything else. And grandpa doesn't care that much about celebrating his birthday.
Gwen thought for a moment. "Well, when is your birthday?"
"In just a few days actually. Not really enough time to plan anything if that's what you're thinking."
"We'll think of something," Gwen insisted, getting a smile in return. "Oh," She added. "Ben and I share a birthday."
"Cousins born on the same day. That's a surprising coincidence."
"Ha, yeah. I think he was born only a few minutes before me."
"Always the trailblazer huh?"
"I guess so." Gwen chuckled.
"Anyway," She added. "It's on December 27th. I'll make sure you get an invitation. To mine at least."
"You don't celebrate together?"
"No, we switch each year who celebrates on the actual day."
"You should start having your parties together. Make it part of your bond as cousins."
"Tell you what. Talk Ben into it and I'll go along with it," Gwen said. Eddie nodded.
Ben returned and the baking began. It was music to Maxs' ears to hear them talking and laughing together.
In a couple of hours Ben and Eddie walked out carrying plates and utensils. They told Max that the cake was ready. Max laughed seeing flour all over both of the boys, along with blotches of food coloring. He smiled; knowing that the baking effort had been interrupted by playtime more than once. But that made it all the better as far as he was concerned.
A moment later Gwen walked out with the cake. She too was covered in flour and food coloring, as well as some frosting.
Eddie lit the candles. Only two of them; A 6 and a 0. They sang 'Happy Birthday' and Ben urged him; "Make a wish Grandpa."
He closed his eyes for a moment and blew out the candles.
"What did you wish for?" Ben asked.
"Now you know I'm not supposed to tell," Max answered.
Gwen turned to the taller boy. "Eddie, would you go get the ice cream?"
He gave an exaggerated bow. "With pleasure Milady."
After the cake and ice cream Max told them, "Kids, that was a great celebration. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday."
"You're welcome grandpa," Ben and Gwen said in unison.
"You take it easy, and we'll do the dishes," Gwen said, as the boys collected all of the dishes.
Once again, Max was treated to the chatter and laughter of his grandchildren, including the honorary one. In a short time, Gwen, suds now added to her already messy shirt, ran out of the van like Vilgax was chasing her, soon followed by a drenched Eddie. At a much more relaxed pace, a hysterically laughing Ben walked out after them.
Gwen ran around the rustbucket, Eddie hot on her heels, until he caught her, bringing her to the ground. He reached under her arms, and she started laughing and squealing.
"Hahahahahaha. No not that. I'm sorry. Sthahahap!"
He did as she asked. "Wow, you gave in fast. I'll keep that little weakness in mind for the future," he told her as he helped her up.
They walked back and Ben whispered something to Eddie. He just nodded. "Thanks, I'll remember that."
"What did you tell him?" Gwen demanded.
"Oh, nothing important," Ben asserted.
"He just wanted me to know the sumo slammer set he wants for his birthday," Eddie insisted.
With a doubtful expression, Gwen said, "right...Oh, that reminds me." She ran into the rustbucket; coming out a moment later with an envelope. She handed it to Eddie. Tucking her hair behind her ear she said, "It's your invitation to my birthday party this December...I, um, hope you'll be there."
He smiled, "count on it."
The next stop was Salem Massachusetts. Eddie was having a ball with the period costumes that Max had them wear. Ben wasn't.
He was soon given an excuse to get out of the 'dweeb' costume when they heard explosions and saw fires.
Ben went stinkfly as Eddie, Gwen and Max did what they could to get people out of harm's way.
As Stinkfly was dealing with the fire, Gwen and Eddie tried to calm a panicked horse, but it bolted. They grabbed on as Eddie took the reins. "Whoa!" He called.
"I don't think it is working," Gwen said.
"I should have paid more attention to those Roy Rodgers movies grandpa likes so much."
They turned a corner and headed toward Ben and some young woman with platinum blond hair; both in purple bubbles of some kind. The horse made a sharp turn and the buggy overturned; throwing Gwen toward Ben, and slamming Eddie to the ground, his head hitting hard on the pavement.
He came to, to find the Tennysons, along with the blond girl, standing in the street. Gwen gave the older girl a hard hit, knocking her down and out. Not unlike Eddie himself had been.
"What did I miss?" Eddie asked in a groggy tone.
Gwen quickly answered, "Charmcaster was up to her old tricks."
"Oh..." Was all Eddie could say.
"Eddie, are you alright?" Max asked.
Eddie put his hand on his sore head; looked at it and showed Max the bloody hand. "I..don't feel so good." With that Eddie went to his knees and passed out again.
"Eddie...Eddie, are you okay?" Charmcaster said in Gwens' voice. She had no idea who this other boy was. But she needed to find out. She didn't know how long she'd have to convince them that she was the little princess.
Fortunately, the old man gave her some hints. His name was Eddie, and his grandfather was Donovan. One of the old man's friends. Playing nurse would give her a way to learn a little more.
The boy in question groaned as he started to awaken. His eyes started to focus as he looked up at his nurse. He groaned and, in a half-conscious tone slurred, "Ya know, you're kind a pretty."
Charmcaster genuinely giggled at the comical image of the half aware boy. "You're not so bad yourself... Feeling better?"
"I..don't know yet."
"Well talk to me. Maybe that'll bring your brain back online. Tell me... Oh about when we met. How did you find out about Ben's watch?"
"Oh yeah," He snicked. "You guys really thought I wouldn't figure that out."
The impostor paused for a moment. "Did you see him change?"
Starting to recover now he said. "No, Like I said before, friendly aliens just show up and Ben conveniently is never there to see it."
"Yeah. Just twist the dial and slam it down, Poof! Instant alien, right?"
It seemed an odd thing for her to say. "Yeah, I..guess so." He was still a little fuzzy after the injury, but something about this seemed...off. "But why are you telling me things we both already know?"
With a big smile, 'Gwen' said, "Just trying to jog your memory."
"Thanks. I'm starting to do better. Did I miss anything? Who was that white haired girl?"
"Oh, that was Charmcaster," 'Gwen' told him. "I thought I'd told you about her. You know, her and her uncle and the whole magic thing."
"Yeah, you mentioned her. I just didn't know what she looked like."
"Well, Ben took care of her. Everything's back to normal. Now you just keep resting. I'm going to step outside and make sure Ben isn't getting into any more trouble."
Eddie did as she suggested. Laying half asleep, he heard Gwen talking to Ben. She was talking about the Omnitrix again.
Eddie didn't understand the sudden interest.
What Eddie heard next, through a partly open window, was an odd exchange between Gwen, Ben and Max; then an unexpected offer from Gwen to make a special meal for them. Maybe he didn't understand them as well as he thought.
They were soon on a quest to find all the ingredients that Gwen wanted. He whispered to Ben. "Does she plan for you to be Ripjaws when she gives you this? Because it sounds like chum."
Max, however, was proud that she had adopted his interest in exotic cuisine.
As 'Gwen' was preparing her so-called meal, they all saw 'Charmcaster' walk toward them. Ben walked over to confront her. Ben was pinned by some of Charmcaster's creatures. Charmcaster quickly protested that she wasn't Charmcaster, but had been body switched by the teenage witch.
Ben explained to an irate Gwen, "She says that she's not her and you're not you but you're each other...I think."
Eddie walked over. 'This would explain a lot.' He thought to himself. But how to know?
The white-haired girl provided the answer. "Okay. If you're Gwen, then what's the name of the bear Ben sleeps with?"
Eddie saw Ben start to object and grabbed Ben, covering his mouth.
'Gwen' sighed. "Well, at least I don't have to pretend to be all sweet. It was making me sick."
The real Gwen answered saying; "How about a taste of your own medicine?" Soon the red head was surrounded with chains.
"I'm the real sorceress, remember?" With that she burst out of the magic chains, knocking everyone back.
Charmcaster made another attempt at the transfer.
As the older girl raged at being herself again, Eddie's eyes went wide as the Tennysons realized that they had switched places. Eddie kept looking between the two of them. Not sure what he was seeing. Except that what appeared to be Ben...giggled. "Gwen?" He asked.
Taking advantage of the confusion, the teenage witch acted quickly. She attacked, and Gwen had no idea what to do.
As a result, Ben and Gwen soon found themselves locked in stocks in the hold of an old ship. Across the room from them, Eddie was in the brig.
Of course, the cousins were arguing again. Gwen said something about having some lotion in her pocket...or rather in Ben's pocket.
"At a time like this you're worried about having soft hands."
Eddie refrained from any comment. He had other things to think about.
"The lotion might help us slip out of these things." Gwen pointed out.
"Great. So how do we get to it?"
"Give me a minute and I think I can help," Eddie told them.
The looked over to see him working with the lock.
"When they built this cell, I don't think many people carried a multi-tool."
What appeared to be Ben smiled. "Good thinking Eddie."
"Good thinking Eddie." The real Ben mocked, batting his, or rather Gwen's eyes. "Get a room."
Eddie paid no attention.
"Got it!" He said as he opened to cell door.
He walked over to the Tennysons. He looked at the locks. Modern pad locks. He couldn't do anything with those.
"Eddie, the lotion. It's in my...I mean Ben's pocket."
He walked behind them and took out the bottle.
"No put some on my wrist."
He was about to and then stopped; feeling foolish. "I'll just turn the dial for you."
"Try Fourarms," Ben urged.
Eddie was at an odd angle but tried. He pushed the dial down and Canon bolt stood in front of him.
"Now get me out of this. We've got to help Grandpa."
Now up on deck Max and Eddie fought Charmcaster's stone dogs while Ben and Gwen dealt with the witch herself.
They were struggling though, both out of their elements. But Ben saw his opportunity when Charmcaster tried the transfer spell again. Soon they were in their own bodies and the tide of battle changed, ending with Charmcaster out cold on the deck.
Eddie walked up, a boat-hook in his hand. "Nice job."
Gwen looked over at the pieces of the stone creatures. "Not bad yourself."
"Eddie looked at the tool in his hand. "Yeah, I don't know what it is, but it works well as a staff." He looked down at their defeated enemy. "Kind of pretty..when she's not trying to kill you."
Max noticed a slightly annoyed expression from Gwen.
"Come on kids. Let's sweep up these shards. Send 'em down with that bag of hers."
Not long after they were back on the road.
"Charmcaster is in for a surprise when she gets to jail," Gwen said. With the questioning looks from the others she told them about her accomplices in the jail break.
"Wish I could be there to see that," Eddie said.
"Oh, man. So do I," Ben agreed.
"So," Max said. "I hope this taught you two to appreciate each other a little."
The cousins looked at each other, something silent passing between them. Then in unison they said, "Nah."
"Right," Eddie said. "This fake hate is getting old."
Gwen then sat up. "Getting old? Now that reminds me. We have another birthday to celebrate."
Eddie smiled. "So, what do you have in mind?"
"You'll see." She told him and dragged Ben to the back of the rustbucket.