The gang, now including Julie, was hanging out by a secret lake. The boys were having a cannonball contest, and the girls were sitting to the side talking. "So, who's your boyfriend, is he human, how long have you been together?" Jen chuckled and pushed July away a little. "He is half human, half alien, and we've been dating since I was eleven," Jen said. "What's his name?" Gwen asked. Jen was about to answer but the buzzing in her head got stronger. "Shut up!" Jen screamed and slammed her head down on the rock they were sitting on.
Jen rose and blood trickled down her face. Julie gasped, "Why did you do that?" Alan asked running over to them. "Just...stuff," Jen said and patted her leg. Jen's bag hopped over from where it had been sitting with the picnic she prepared and secured itself around her waist. One of the bezel's charms glowed and Jen's injury healed. Jen sat back and sighed.
"Did he bring you guys here a lot?" Jen asked and Gwen perked up a little. "Yeah, he taught us how to fish and swim," Kevin said, sitting beside Gwen. "I remember, he brought me here when I was five, I caught a teeny tiny fish. Grandpa wanted me to let it go, and I had to make a big fuss. He eventually convinced me to let it go and come back when it was bigger." Gwen sighed and hugged her knees to her chest.
Jen smiled, "He sounded pretty cool." she said. Gwen smiled, "He was...sorry you didn't get to make any memories with him." she said and Jen waved her off.
"Hey, who is that?" Julie asked pointing over to a tree. A woman in a black cloak was placing a yellow flower under a tree. "I'm out." Jen stood up and with a flash was in her normal clothes. "Wait, what?" Gwen asked, confused by Jen's actions. "I'm out," Jen repeated and flew off. Everyone was stunned, they'd never seen Jen run away from an opportunity to fight.
"Ok..." Kevin said and ran up. "Hey, you in the cloak," Alan shouted. The woman shot her head up and ran behind the tree, disappearing with violet light. "Where did she go?" Julie asked, looking around. "She just disappeared," Alan said and picked up the flower.
"Who is Verdona?" Argit asked, pointing to a carving in the tree. "Let's find out." Gwen took the flower from Alan and her eyes glowed pink. The flower suddenly wilted in Gwen's hands. Everyone frowned, "I might need more practice with that one." Gwen said and dropped the dead flower. "Now what?" Argit asked, Kevin smirked.
~~~~~~~~~
The next night the team, minus Jen, was watching the lake from Jen's car. "Does anyone else still not believe Jen trusted us with her car?" Kevin asked. "She trusted ME with her car," Argit said. "Whatever," Kevin said and began playing with the lock. Argit gave Kevin a silent glare and he stopped messing with the lock.
"Do you think Jen knows something?" Gwen asked. Everyone looked at her, "It's possible, she bashed her head against the rock right before the woman showed up, then bolted after seeing her." Julie said. "Well, let's go find out," Argit said and pointed to the woman.
"Hey!" the group ran up to the woman, circling her. "How do you know Max Tennyson?" Kevin asked. "And what effect are you having on Jen?" Julie asked, Argit hissed at the woman. "Talk now," Alan demanded.
"Suck rotten children, go away." the woman stuck out her hand and it glowed pink like Gwen's when she uses her power. The kids all went flying and landed in the lake. The woman then took off. "You're not getting away that easy!" Gwen shouted and ran after the woman on her energy platforms. Kevin transformed into Frostbite and fled alongside her.
"A chase?" the woman looked over her shoulder and stopped when she saw Gwen. "Incredible!" the woman cheered turning to face Gwen. Gwen and Kevin stopped in their tracks and shared a confused look. "I thought Jen was the only one who had the spark." the woman said and Gwen charged her energy, "How do you know Jen?" she asked.
"That doesn't matter, darling," she said and felt Gwen's cheek. "You and I will talk later," she said then disappeared in a flash of pink light. Gwen stood shocked then quickly ran off on her energy platforms.
~~~~~~~~~
Gwen but through the door of the warehouse and rushed up the stairs. "Jen!" Gwen banged on Jen and Argit's door, "Open up!" she demanded. Jen opened the door, "Whoa, where's the fire?" Jen asked. "Who was that woman?" Gwen demanded. "Did she see your powers?" Jen asked. Gwen nodded, Jen sighed grabbed Gwen's wrist, and pulled her into her bedroom.
Jen leaned against the door and drummed her fingers against it. "Gwen, you just met Grandma Verdona." Gwen stared at Jen in shock. "C'mon, we're going to your house." Jen grabbed Gwen and created an energy platform. Jen guided the platform and headed for Gwen's house. "When did you first meet her?" Gwen asked, holding onto Jen tightly.
Jen sighed, "I was about twelve, living happily with my friends and boyfriend in the Nill void. She just showed up, she said she had been watching me since I had discovered my powers. She said she was there to take me away and teach me to use my powers. And to say the least, things didn't go over well, so I'm not leaving your side until I know you're safe " Jen landed the platform. "Why did she wait so long to come for you?" Jen shrugged and opened the door to Gwen's house and walked in.
"AHHH!!" Gwen ran in behind Jen and saw her parents standing with shocked looks. "Jen!" Gwen's mom ran toward Jen with open arms and tears streaming down her face. Jen dodged the embrace and her Aunt nearly ran into a wall. "Save it, Natalie, I'm not here for a family reunion," Ken said then looked over to her Uncle Frank, who was holding back tears. "You two need to sit down and listen to what Gwen has to tell you, and you idiots stop hiding in the bushes," Jen said. The boys and Julie quickly walked inside and they all sat down in the living room.
Gwen stood in front of her parents, her heart pounding. "You don't need to say anything, we knew it was possible after what happened with Jen," Frank said and a silence fell over them. Jen gasped, "Watch out!" Jen dove towards Gwen and tackled her out of the way of a pink tendril. "Hands off!" Jen hissed and Verdoba appeared. "You always could tell when I was watching, now step aside," Verdona said. Jen put a shield up and glared at her grandmother. "Jen, Gwen is coming with me, you may be a failure as an Anodite, but Gwen has potential." The verdict said, shifting into her Anodite form.
"What!? You are not taking me anywhere, and Jen is amazing with her powers." Gwen said and Verdona laughed. Jen stood up and dropped her shield, shifting into her Anodite form. Verdona was a bit surprised, "Gwen, take this and bail." Jen tossed her bag to Gwen. "Bring it, little missy," Verdona said and the two lunged at each other. Everyone quickly fled and Gwen secured Jen's back around her waist using the charms to escape.
Jen hit Verdona with a powerful energy blast, sending her flying. "Not bad, that teacher of yours did good," Verdona said. "I'm mostly self-taught," Jen said and grabbed Verdina with a pink tendril, spinning her around. Jen slammed Verdona into the ground creating a creator. Verdina shot up from the creator and appeared in front of Jen, with a swift punch in the gut. The force was enough to send Jen flying back and into the house through the hole that had been created earlier. Jen sat up three countless energy discs at Verdona.
Verona put a shield up and smirked, "You can't beat me, sweetie." she said. Jen smirked and her eyes glowed brightly and Verdiba's shield turned green then trapped her in a bubble-like prison. "You were saying?" Jen lifted the bubble up and then slammed it down on the ground, shattering it. Jen then extended her hair and restrained Verdona.
"Listen, as you can tell, I'm not a failure. You are not taking Gwen, she is my cousin, and I'm not gonna lose her AGAIN! I'll teach Gwen, and you can watch from space like you always have." Jen snapped and tightened her grip. Verona groaned in pain and Jen released her. A portal then opened behind Jen and Gwen stumbled out. Jen put a shield around Gwen and Verdona smiled, "Alright then." she said. Jen didn't let her guard down but did let Verdiba approach. Verona touched Jen's cheek, "Be a good teacher...and pay your parents a visit sometime." Verdona then disappeared.
Jen dropped her shield and transformed back. "Why did you come back?" Jen asked, looking over her shoulder at Gwen. "I wanted to help you, but you seem to have it covered," Gwen said and handed Jen her bag back. Jen took her bag and hugged Gwen, Gwen hugged back. "Maybe you were right," Jen said and Gwen smiled, knowing exactly what Jen was talking about.
"Why didn't you tell me the family missed me so much?" Jen asked, breaking the hug. "I didn't think you'd care." Gwen said, rubbing her arm. Jen hummed, "JEN!!" Jen was then tackled by her Aunt and Uncle who were crying their eyes out. Jen sighed and hugged them both.