Author Note:
It's my birthday, I can't throw a party, but hey, what better way to celebrate than with a new story?
I published a new story: Thousands Of Spells Away. It's a crossover between 'Naruto' and 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End'. Go and check it out!
My one year anniversary on this site is coming soon: 29th December.
After 350 days on this platform, I've written 22 stories (yes, all ongoing—none abandoned) with over 900K words in total and nearly half a million views. I proofread everything myself—no editors or betas here—and somehow manage to write over 35K words every week while updating at least 8 stories weekly.
A huge thanks to:
…impashadows, SentinalSlice, Traitor of All Traitors, Samuel Santillan, ArashiNokitsune, Redone1977, Shisui No Akatsuki, EnoshimaYuno29, GodlyVortexofPain, Pinkypi, Joanne Frances Tiano Cajilig, FangofFire…
…for your unwavering support, help, and motivation. Apologies to everyone I couldn't mention, but know that I appreciate all of you.
And for those people who annoy me with copy-n-paste business offers in the review sections and PM… I have nothing to say.
I would like to remind you something: anybody writing here writes not for money and readers certainly aren't paying, so if you want to yell or waste your strength, do it somewhere else. Unless you have anything productive to say, go away. Don't like my story or MC? Think you can do better or can spend more time than me? Then be my guest, write one story yourself and let others be the humble judges.
Lastly, here are some highlights from my works:
Best Story: The Crystal Sage
Most Popular: Eyes That Hold The Heavens
Most Loved: A Greedy Witch in a Fantasy World
My admission test is on January so there will be irregular updates.
Thank you for sticking by my side. Here's to more stories and better writing ahead!
~Phoenix
.
.
.
.
.
Chapter 02
The fairgrounds were alive with sound and color, a vibrant sprawl of lights, music, and the chatter of excited visitors. Stalls lined every path, their colorful banners advertising games, trinkets, and all manner of fried foods. Performers moved among the crowd, juggling flames or playing upbeat tunes, while children darted from one attraction to the next, laughter ringing in the air.
Ben trailed behind his family, hands shoved into his pockets as he glanced around. Grandpa Max was already heading toward a row of book stalls, muttering something about vintage cookbooks. Gwen, of course, was off exploring, her Omnitrix barely hidden under her sleeve as she made a beeline for the more intriguing-looking booths.
And that left Ben. Alone.
He sighed, kicking at a stray pebble as he wandered down the main path. There was plenty to do—games to play, food to try—but without anyone to hang out with, it all felt kind of pointless. He stopped near a row of game stalls, watching a group of kids trying to pop balloons with darts. One of them missed every shot and groaned loudly, prompting a laugh from the vendor.
Ben was about to walk past when something caught his eye. Hanging proudly above one of the stalls was a pristine, glossy copy of the latest 'Genshin Impact' manga. The cover featured Lumine, her bright outfit and determined expression practically glowing under the stall's lights. Ben's heart skipped a beat.
"No way," he muttered, stepping closer.
The vendor had arranged a row of prizes along the top of the booth: plush toys, figurines, and manga. Among them were older volumes of 'Genshin Impact', the ones Ben had been dying to read for months but could never afford. They were always so expensive, and his allowance didn't stand a chance against their price tags.
He glanced at the game. It was a classic toy-gun-aim-and-shoot setup. Rows of small targets lined the back of the booth, each one marked with a prize category. Hit the right target, win the corresponding item.
Ben sighed, already feeling his excitement dwindle. He'd never been good at aim. The one time he'd tried a similar game, he'd missed every shot and walked away empty-handed. But then he looked up at the manga again, Lumine's cover art practically calling out to him.
"Well," he said to himself, digging into his pocket and pulling out four crumpled dollar bills. "Let's test our luck."
The vendor, a wiry man with a wide grin, handed Ben a small toy gun and three rounds. "Good luck, kid," he said cheerfully. "Pick your shots carefully."
Ben nodded, gripping the toy gun with determination. He raised it, squinting down the sight as he aimed at the manga. His hands felt shaky, and he tried to steady them. "Come on, come on…" he muttered under his breath.
He pulled the trigger.
Tuk.
The dart flew through the air and struck the target beneath the manga. Ben blinked in shock as the vendor let out a whistle. "Well, look at that! You got it, kid. One copy of the latest 'Genshin Impact' manga!"
"What?" Ben stammered, lowering the gun. He stared at the vendor as the man handed him the pristine volume. His hands trembled slightly as he took it, his heart pounding. He couldn't believe it. He'd actually won.
"H-Heck yeah!" Ben shouted, a grin spreading across his face as he held up the manga. Lumine's cover gleamed in the light, and for a moment, it felt like the world had aligned in his favor.
He could have walked away right then, but something stopped him. The rows of older volumes, still hanging above the stall, seemed to glint temptingly.
"Well, I still have two rounds left," Ben said, his grin turning mischievous. "Let's see what else I can do."
He raised the gun again, aiming at the volume he'd been eyeing for months. Tuk. Another perfect shot.
"Unbelievable!" the vendor said, pulling down the prize. Ben couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out of him as he added the second manga to his growing collection.
By the time he finished his three rounds, he'd won three volumes in total, each one a coveted prize he'd never thought he'd own. But Ben wasn't done yet. He pulled out another dollar, bought three more rounds, and kept going.
One by one, the targets fell. The vendor's astonishment grew with every shot as Ben's aim became almost unnaturally precise. By the time he ran out of rounds—and money—the stall was completely cleared of 'Genshin Impact' manga.
Ben stood triumphantly with a stack of sixteen volumes cradled in his arms. The vendor shook his head in disbelief. "Kid, I've been running this game for years, and I've never seen anything like that. You must have the luck of the gods!"
Ben's grin stretched ear to ear as he looked down at his haul. "Today is my lucky day!" he declared, practically bouncing with excitement. "I am a 'lucky boy'!"
He didn't notice the faint violet glow emanating from the locket around his neck, nor the way its stone seemed to pulse with an almost knowing light.
—(~/\~)—
The fair's lively atmosphere continued to buzz around Gwen as she wandered from stall to stall, her curiosity piqued by the endless array of games and prizes. From stuffed animals to flashy gadgets, there was something for everyone. But it wasn't until she came across a sleek machine with a glass case full of prizes that her steps faltered.
There, sitting tantalizingly on a cushioned platform inside the machine, was a shiny pair of AirPods.
"Oh, sweet," Gwen muttered to herself, her eyes narrowing in determination. "Finally, something worth playing for."
The game was simple enough—control a robotic hand using a joystick and try to grab the prize of your choice. Easy on paper, but Gwen knew these machines were rigged to make players waste their money. Still, AirPods weren't cheap, and if she could win them here, she'd save herself a fortune.
With a confident smirk, she pulled out a crumpled five-dollar bill and slid it into the slot. The machine whirred to life, the robotic hand springing into action as she grabbed the joystick.
"Alright," she murmured, carefully maneuvering the hand toward the AirPods. "Just gotta line it up…"
She pressed the button, and the robotic hand descended, its pincers closing around the prize. But just as it began to lift, the AirPods slipped through its grasp and dropped back onto the platform.
"What?!" Gwen exclaimed, staring at the machine in disbelief.
She wasn't about to give up. Determined, she inserted more money and tried again. And again. And again. Each time, the robotic hand teased her by getting oh-so-close to snagging the AirPods, only to fail at the last second.
"Come on!" she growled, jamming another dollar into the machine. By now, her frustration was palpable. The joystick felt clunky in her hands, the buttons unresponsive, and the machine itself seemed to mock her with its cheery flashing lights.
After what felt like her hundredth attempt, Gwen's wallet was empty, and she slumped against the machine with a defeated sigh. "Stupid rigged game," she muttered under her breath.
She was about to walk away when her eyes drifted down to the Omnitrix on her wrist. The faint green glow reflected off the glass case, and an idea sparked in her mind.
Gwen straightened, a sly smirk curling her lips. "Why play fair," she whispered to herself, "when I've got an ace up my sleeve?"
She glanced around, making sure no one was watching, then stepped into the shadows behind the game stall. Raising her wrist, she twisted the Omnitrix's dial until the silhouette of a tiny, bulbous-headed alien appeared.
With a satisfying click, she slammed the dial down. A burst of green light engulfed her, and when it faded, Gwen was no longer her usual self. She was now Gray Matter, the brilliant yet diminutive alien with a knack for all things technical.
"Time to show this machine who's boss," Gray Matter-Gwen said, her voice high-pitched and full of confidence.
She scurried out of the shadows and approached the machine. The crowds were too distracted by the fair's other attractions to notice the tiny alien slipping through the slot where the prizes were dispensed.
Once inside, Gwen marveled at how massive everything looked from her new perspective. The AirPods now seemed as big as a loaf of bread, sitting just a few feet away on the platform.
"Easy pickings," she said with a grin, climbing up onto the platform. She grabbed the AirPods with ease, hoisting them over her shoulder like a bag of loot.
As she turned to leave, her eyes landed on something else: a pair of high-end True Wireless Stereo or TWS earbuds, gleaming under the machine's lights.
"Well, why not?" she muttered, dropping the AirPods for a moment and grabbing the TWS earbuds as well. They were lighter and easier to carry, and she figured she might as well take both.
With the AirPods slung over one shoulder and the TWS earbuds tucked under her arm, Gwen made her way back toward the slot she'd entered from. It was a bit of a squeeze getting out with her haul, but her small, agile form made it manageable.
Once she was safely back in the shadows, she deactivated the Omnitrix, reverting to her human form with the prizes clutched triumphantly in her hands.
"Not bad for a little brains and brawn," she said with a smirk, slipping the TWS earbuds into her pocket and admiring the AirPods in the palm of her hand.
She glanced back at the machine, which still whirred obliviously, and couldn't help but chuckle. "Too bad for you, rigged game. Better luck next time."
Whistling casually, Gwen strolled off to find Grandpa Max and Ben, her pockets now a little heavier—and her wallet, thankfully, no lighter.
—(~/\~)—
The makeshift food stall was bustling with energy, the smoky aroma of grilled meat and freshly fried snacks wafting through the air. Max waved his grandchildren over as he found a rickety wooden table tucked in the corner. The bench creaked as he sat down, already glancing at the menu.
"Over here!" he called, gesturing to Ben and Gwen, who were making their way through the lively crowd.
Ben was beaming, carrying something bulky under his arm, while Gwen wore a self-satisfied smirk, her hands casually tucked into her jacket pockets.
Max smiled as they approached, setting down a tray with a steaming plate of chili fries. "So," he said, leaning back in his chair, "how was your day? Win anything?"
"Glad you asked, Grandpa," Gwen said, taking the opportunity to reach into her jacket. With a theatrical flourish, she pulled out a gleaming pair of AirPods and set them on the table, followed by a sleek pair of TWS earbuds.
Max's eyebrows shot up. "AirPods? And… whatever those are? Where on Earth did you get those?"
"Simple," Gwen said, leaning back smugly. "I won them. Skill, Grandpa. Pure, unadulterated skill."
"Really?" Max asked, his tone tinged with both curiosity and suspicion. "Those claw machines are notoriously tricky."
"What can I say? I'm just that good," Gwen replied, tossing her hair with a confident grin.
Ben, however, wasn't paying attention. He had been waiting for this moment. With a dramatic pause, he dropped his prize onto the table with a loud 'bam'.
The stack landed heavily, the sound drawing the attention of nearby patrons. Both Max and Gwen's eyes widened in shock as they stared at the pristine, glossy volumes of 'Genshin Impact' manga stacked neatly in front of them—a complete set, sixteen volumes in total.
"Ben!" Max exclaimed, leaning forward to inspect the stack. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Oh, it is," Ben said, unable to hide the smug grin spreading across his face. He sat down, crossed his arms, and leaned back casually. "Complete set. Won them all."
"H-how?" Gwen stammered, reaching out to touch one of the volumes as though confirming they were real. "You? Winning this? How is that even possible?"
Ben shrugged, his grin widening. "What can I say? I've got the magic touch. One dart after another. Bam, bam, bam. Cleared out the whole booth."
Max blinked, still processing what he was seeing. "Well, I have to admit, Ben, that's impressive. But don't let it distract you from your homework, alright? Reading manga is great, but school comes first."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ben said, waving it off. He was too busy basking in the glory of his win to care.
Gwen, however, was far from convinced. She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she glared at her cousin. "You cheated," she said flatly.
Ben turned to her, his grin faltering. "What? No, I didn't!"
"There's no way 'you' won all these fair and square," Gwen insisted, her voice rising. "You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a toy gun. Admit it—you rigged it somehow."
"I didn't cheat!" Ben shot back, his tone defensive. "I played the game, I aimed, and I won. Fair and square."
"Yeah, right," Gwen scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You, Mr. 'Can't Even Beat the Tutorial in a Shooting Game,' suddenly become an expert marksman? Give me a break."
"Believe what you want," Ben said, leaning back and placing his hands behind his head. "The manga's mine. End of story."
Irritated beyond belief, Gwen pushed back her chair and stood up abruptly. "Unbelievable," she muttered, shaking her head as she turned and stormed off into the crowd.
Max watched her go with a sigh before turning back to Ben. "You know, Ben," he said, his tone both amused and exasperated, "you two really know how to push each other's buttons."
Ben just grinned, picking up the top volume of his manga stack. "It's a talent," he said smugly, flipping the book open to the first page.
—(~/\~)—
The rollercoaster was a towering structure of bright lights and twisting tracks that loomed over the fairgrounds, its cars racing at dizzying speeds. Gwen, still fuming from her argument with Ben, had stormed off and decided to channel her frustration into something thrilling. She climbed into one of the cars, secured the safety belt across her lap, and crossed her arms as the operator began to prepare the ride.
The engine roared to life, and with a sudden jolt, the rollercoaster began its ascent. The sound of clicking gears accompanied the climb, each second adding to the growing anticipation.
As the coaster reached the peak, Gwen looked out at the sprawling fair below. For a moment, her annoyance faded, replaced by awe. The lights of the rides and stalls sparkled like a sea of stars, the bustling crowd below mere specks from her elevated vantage point.
Then the drop came.
The coaster plunged downward at breakneck speed, pulling a scream of exhilaration from Gwen. She gripped the bars tightly as the car raced through sharp twists, stomach-turning loops, and steep climbs. The wind whipped through her hair, and her adrenaline spiked with every sharp turn. For the first time all evening, she felt a rush of pure, unbridled excitement.
Ben and Max stood below, watching as the coaster zoomed past in a blur of lights and screaming riders.
"Looks like Gwen's having fun," Max said, smiling as he adjusted his hat.
"Yeah," Ben muttered, still feeling the sting of her earlier accusations. He crossed his arms, trying to seem disinterested, though he couldn't help but watch the coaster loop through another twist.
Suddenly, something changed.
The whirring sound of the coaster's machinery grew louder, more strained, as if the gears were grinding too fast. The cars didn't slow as they approached the loading platform but instead sped past it, hurtling back onto the track at an alarming velocity.
People began to scream—not from the thrill of the ride but from fear. The coaster rocketed forward, faster than it should have, its movements jerky and unpredictable.
"What's going on?" Ben asked, his voice tinged with alarm.
The operator at the controls frantically pulled at the lever, trying to bring the ride to a halt. "It's not stopping!" he yelled, his face pale. With one last desperate yank, the lever snapped off in his hands. "The brakes are out!"
Max sprang into action, pushing through the gathering crowd toward the control box. "Stay here, Ben!" he ordered.
Ben's heart raced as he watched the coaster zoom by again, faster than before. He caught a glimpse of Gwen in one of the cars, her face a mix of panic and frustration as she struggled against the safety belt pinning her to the seat.
"Grandpa!" Ben shouted, pointing to the coaster. "Gwen's still up there!"
Max grunted as he examined the broken control box. "I'm trying to fix it!" he said, his hands moving quickly over the wires. Sparks flew as he worked, but the coaster continued its out-of-control rampage.
Meanwhile, Gwen was gritting her teeth, her hands clawing at the safety belt. She looked down at the Omnitrix on her wrist, just barely visible under the tight strap of the belt. She wriggled her arm, trying desperately to reach it.
"Come on," she muttered, her voice drowned out by the roar of the wind. "Just a little more…"
But the belt wouldn't budge, and the coaster took another sharp turn, slamming her back into her seat.
Ben's stomach churned as he watched. He could hear the screams of the riders, the grinding of the coaster's overworked machinery. Every instinct told him to stay back, that there was nothing he could do without powers. But the sight of Gwen struggling—trapped and helpless—lit a fire in him.
"I have to do something," he whispered, his eyes scanning the nearby stalls. His gaze landed on a small souvenir shop selling cheap masks and capes. Without thinking, he bolted toward it.
"Ben, what are you doing?" Max yelled, looking up from the control box.
Ben didn't answer. He grabbed a blank white mask from the shop and pulled a purple cloak from a nearby rack. The fabric swirled around him as he threw it over his shoulders, the mask cold against his face as he slipped it on.
Max's voice rose in alarm. "Ben, stop! You can't—"
But Ben was already moving. He crossed the barricade and ran toward the track, his breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. The coaster roared past him, the force of its speed ruffling his makeshift cloak.
Ben clenched his fists, steeling his resolve. "I have to try," he muttered, his voice trembling.
He climbed onto the side of the platform and waited, his eyes locked on the approaching coaster. As it neared, he leaped onto one of the cars, his hands gripping the edge with white-knuckled force.
The wind tore at him, and his heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to find a foothold. The coaster surged forward, and Ben looked down at the ground below, the realization of his actions hitting him all at once.
"What the fuck am I doing?!" he yelled, his voice nearly lost in the roar of the ride.
The rollercoaster roared like a beast unleashed, its cars a blur of metal and screaming passengers. The crowd below had grown larger, their shouts of alarm echoing across the fairgrounds. Ben clung to the edge of the platform, his heart pounding as the coaster hurtled toward him with terrifying speed.
People were yelling at him now, their voices a cacophony of disbelief and anger.
"What are you doing?!"
"Get down, you idiot!"
"You're going to get yourself killed!"
But Ben wasn't listening. His pulse thundered in his ears, and every instinct screamed for him to jump back to safety. Yet, something inside him wouldn't let him retreat. Gwen was still up there, trapped, and if no one else could help, he had to try.
The coaster was almost upon him, the wind of its approach whipping his cloak wildly around his shoulders. At the last possible second, Ben threw himself to the side, landing hard on the edge of the platform as the cars sped past. The force of the near miss sent him rolling, and he scrambled to his feet just in time to hear the angry screams of the onlookers.
"You're insane!" one man shouted.
"Get off the tracks!" yelled another.
Ben didn't respond. His chest heaved as he looked down at the rollercoaster cars speeding away, and then up at the track ahead of him. He spotted a slight incline, a section of the track where the coaster would slow momentarily before plummeting into another steep drop.
"I can make it," he muttered, more to convince himself than anything else.
Without waiting for his nerves to catch up, Ben ran along the platform, timing his leap perfectly as the coaster cars slowed on the incline. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled energy, he jumped onto the back of the last car.
His hands gripped the edge of the car as his feet skidded on the smooth surface. The wind rushed past him, tearing at his mask and cloak as the rollercoaster picked up speed again.
"Great," Ben muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the ride. "No belt. This was such a good idea."
The car jolted violently as it hit a curve, nearly throwing him off. He scrambled for something to hold onto, his fingers brushing against the edge of a loose wire that trailed along the back of the car.
"Gotcha!" he said, gripping the wire tightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him from being flung off the ride entirely.
The rollercoaster barreled onward, hurtling through loops and sharp turns. Ben ducked to avoid a low-hanging support beam, his heart leaping into his throat as it passed inches above his head. The crowd below gasped in horror, watching his every precarious move.
"Stop this thing, Ben!" Gwen's voice rang out, barely audible over the wind and screams of the other passengers.
"I'm working on it!" he shouted back, though he had no idea how he was going to pull it off.
His eyes darted to the control box at the front of the coaster, a panel of switches and wires built into the lead car. If he could reach it, maybe—he could figure out a way to stop the ride.
The coaster entered a steep climb, slowing just enough for Ben to crawl forward, clinging to the wire like a lifeline. He inched his way from car to car, narrowly avoiding the passengers who were either too panicked or too baffled to say anything.
"Who is that guy?" someone asked.
"Is he part of the staff?"
"Not exactly," Ben muttered under his breath, pulling himself onto the next car.
The climb ended abruptly, and the coaster plummeted into a sharp drop. Ben's grip tightened, his body nearly lifting off the car as gravity fought to unseat him. His cloak flapped wildly, threatening to snag on the track's supports, but he managed to keep it free.
"Don't look down," he whispered to himself, though he couldn't help but catch glimpses of the ground rushing by below.
By the time he reached the lead car, his arms were burning from the effort of holding on. The control box was just ahead, a small panel with a mess of buttons and wires.
"Okay, okay," he muttered, yanking the panel open. "How hard can this be?"
Inside, the box was a chaotic tangle of wires, many of them sparking ominously. Ben's eyes widened. "Great. A bomb-defusal scene in a rollercoaster movie. Just what I needed."
The coaster jolted again, and Ben nearly lost his footing. He grabbed onto the edge of the car, his heart hammering as the ground blurred beneath him.
"Come on, think!" he said, forcing himself to focus. He remembered something about how braking systems worked—something Max had mentioned once when fixing the Rustbucket. There had to be a manual override somewhere in the mess of wires.
With shaking hands, he grabbed a handful of wires and started pulling. The sparking increased, and for a terrifying moment, he thought he'd made things worse. But then the coaster gave a loud, screeching lurch as the brakes began to engage.
"Yes!" Ben shouted, relief flooding through him.
The coaster's speed decreased, though it was still moving faster than it should have been. Another wire snapped, sending a shower of sparks into the air.
"No, no, no!" Ben yelled, frantically grabbing at the remaining wires. He twisted them together, hoping for the best. The brakes screeched louder, and the coaster began to slow further.
Below, the crowd erupted into cheers as the ride finally came to a stop near the loading platform. Ben collapsed onto the car, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
The passengers began to climb out, their faces pale but relieved. Gwen was among them, her expression a mixture of shock and awe as she looked up at Ben.
"Ben?" she said, her voice uncertain. "That was… insane."
Ben slid down from the lead car, landing unsteadily on the platform. The crowd surged toward him, their cheers growing louder.
"Who is he?" someone asked.
"He saved the ride!"
Max pushed through the crowd, his face lined with worry. "Are you alright? What were you thinking?"
Ben adjusted his mask and looked at the crowd, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the lingering fear in his chest. "The name's Lucky Boy," he said, pulling the cloak tighter around him.
"Lucky?" Gwen repeated, staring at him incredulously.
"Yeah," Ben said, glancing at the rollercoaster with a sheepish grin. "Lucky I didn't die."
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers as Ben stepped off the platform, disappearing into the fairgrounds before anyone could ask more questions. Max and Gwen watched him go, both amazed and exasperated.
"That kid," Max muttered, shaking his head.
Gwen crossed her arms, watching Ben's retreating figure. "Lucky Boy, huh? He's definitely something."
Author Note: Hello!
Nothing special this time, but I hope we'll spice things up soon enough!
I plan on using some elements from Alien Force and Ultimate Alien in the future but nothing from Reboot or Omniverse.
Thanks for reading this. The next chapter will be released soon.
Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.
Till next time!