Inkaliber: Hey guys! Back at it again with hopefully the last part of this event. I don't want it to go to three parts as that would feel too long. I had something specific in mind for the next chapter so this event will end on this chapter if I can help it. Just gotta hope it doesn't run long.

Adran and Zem are currently busy so I'm starting this one off on my own. Let's just cut to the chase and get the show on the road! First, however, let's answer some reviews!

Gundoru- Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. We'll see when he gets that memo, lol!

Wanderingsage7- You'll have to see what the big story behind Jade's memories and magical powers are. It was fun to put Ellie on the spot with teasing and the way Paco was holding her just made it even more hilarious. To be fair Jackie is the average man in this group, all of this being his first experiences with anything magic or extraterrestrial. The Xiaolin have indeed arrived, though I will say that Clay X Gwen is not happening here. This is more like a crush moment.

Some1call4MR-E- Thanks for the heads up, though I would have liked to hear more of your thoughts about the chapter itself. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed the story regardless.

Inkaliber: With all that out of the way, let's begin. I don't own Ben 10, Jackie Chan Adventures or any other series to appear in the story and the universe. I do own OC characters, objects, ideas and concepts unless stated otherwise.

Voices

"Talking."

'Thinking.'

"YELLING!"

"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity talking. Also, surprise at the end of a section."

"AUTHOR/GUEST/HIGH OR DEMONIC ENTITY YELLING!"

"Whispering."

"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity whispering."

[Language Indicator]

"Machine or alt communication talking/Talking in flashback."

"MACHINE OR ALT COMMUNICATION YELLING/YELLING IN FLASHBACK!"

"Machine or alt communication whispering/Whispering in flashback."

December 6, 2008

China

A dark presence hung over the sky, a dark citadel standing upon the mountain tops. Lightning struck from storm clouds, the energy being purple as a display of a dark power that called the place home. Deep in the bowels of the building, a ritual room could be seen in pristine condition, skeleton servants brushing the shelves and altars. A dark energy connected them all, said energy coming from one place. That place, or more so the person, sat atop the connected shadows as he ignored the screaming of souls.

The individual was a scrawny, elderly man with pale skin, long grey hair, a grey goatee, and long chipped fingernails. The palms of his hand had lines running across them, looking like lips that were paper thin. He wore a black robe with pointed shoulders, a teal-blue shirt beneath that covered his torso and upper arms, and black clothing on his forearms. In his meditative position, his blue shoes could be seen. There were two marks upon his head, the one on his forehead looking like an upside down horseshoe with a large dot in the center while the one over his left eye looked like a lightning bolt.

The old man hummed, furrowing his brows as the mouths on his hands began to speak to him. Said mouths were circular and demonic, having sharp teeth scattered about. The man's eyes opened suddenly, the right one being teal-blue while the other was dark yellow in color.

"So, the Xiaolin have found the Chosen One," hummed the villainous man. "If he is allowed to attain his full strength, the balance will tip towards the side of good and undo my work to keep darkness in power. I, Daolon Wong, cannot allow that." The skeletons around him suddenly turned to dust as the dark power drew into him, the man holding out his hand as a staff flew into his grasp. "GAN, REN, CHUI!"

From his wand, three clouds of darkness suddenly formed. Three tall, muscular, orange-skinned humanoids with dark eyes, pointed ears and glowing, cyan-colored tattoos appeared from the smoke, each being different degrees of tall and buff to set each other apart. They wore dark clothing consisting of fully-covered leggings, detached sleeves and midriff-baring upper garments. While the beefiest amongst them was bald, the other two had long red hair that they wore in different styles. "The Chosen One has returned and his chi has grown to a level that cannot be ignored."

The old man pointed towards the trio, the entities blinking as their eyelids came from the sides rather than above. "Seek him out and bring him to me so that I may sway his chi to my will. Kill anyone who stands in your way, no exceptions. None shall stand against the eternal age of dark magic." The entities bowed their heads before flying off as smoke, leaving the dark chi wizard alone.

The old man chuckled darkly, his eyes narrowing. "Your time has come to an end once again, Dashi." He then laughed maniacally, his eyes glowing purple in the darkness.

Xiaolin Temple

As a contrast to the location of the dark fortress, the sun shined brightly overhead as the day reached its peak. An ornate temple sat in a secluded mountain valley, its blue tiled roofs and golden accents gleaming softly under the sun's gaze. The layered structure was an intricate blend of halls, bridges, and courtyards, connected by a network of red stone steps and framed by dense greenery. Thick stone walls encircled the temple, offering both a sense of protection and a quiet separation from the outside world. Its timeless design evoked both grandeur and simplicity, a fitting home for the ancient traditions and spiritual wisdom preserved within its walls.

Water flowed from an old watering can, the liquid giving life to a bed of flowers within the walls. The person holding the can was an elderly man with a tall, slender build that reflected his disciplined and calm demeanor. He had a bald head complemented by a thick, pointed mustache and a small goatee. His traditional attire consisted of a white tunic with wide sleeves, layered with a long blue vest that flowed past his waist, a black sash around his waist, loose black pants, white socks, and black martial arts shoes. Completing his outfit was a medallion hanging from a golden cord, symbolizing his authority and spiritual depth.

A large belch suddenly filled the air, causing the old man to frown softly. He looked behind him a small green Chinese dragon with a red goatee, yellow spinal fins, and a red tuft at the end of his tail scratched his bottom as he slithered across the ground. He looked up, looking embarrassed as he giggled.

"M-My bad," apologized the small dragon. "Raimundo made that Brazilian cuisine and it hasn't settled in my stomach yet." The old man shook his head, sighing under his breath.

"Dojo, meat and fish are supposed to be your sole diet," stated the master. "You cannot-" The old man looked towards the entrance at the wall, Dojo following his gaze as he saw nothing.

"Master Fung? What's going on?" The old man watched the entrance for a good while, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to recall something. Not long after he began looking, Omi walked through the gates with the Orb of Tornami under his arm. The other monks soon joined him, the sight not being unusual for the day.

The arrival of Jackie was new, however, followed by Viper who looked slightly worn out. The kids came next, Paco and Ellie being first followed by Gwen. Master Fung's eyes slowly widened as Ben walked in with Jade, the boy staying with her as she was still recovering from the use of her magic.

"Can it be? To think I would live to see the Chosen One be reborn in this time." The dragon's expression was unreadable as the old man walked forward, only to suddenly cry out in shock as he ended up twisting himself in knots. Sari came in right after the duo, humming as she looked around. She scratched her chin, looking confused.

"Humans still keep old buildings like these?" questioned the Cybertronian. "Is it for historical purposes, because this doesn't look like a secure place to store anything." Jade looked back at the metal girl, her eyes turning blue.

"It's protected by magic," informed the girl. "Someone I… think I knew made them, though the wards protecting the temple have weakened in time. It's been over one thousand five hundred years since I've seen this place… Why did I make myself sound old?" Jackie looked back at her, hushing.

"Jade!" whispered the martial artist. "Now is not the time for your imagination to run away with you! Remember, you are to say nothing unless you are spoken to!" Jade huffed with her arms crossed as Jackie looked forward, the man bowing respectfully. "Good day to you, kind sir."

The old man stopped, bowing in kind respectfully. "I am sorry to intrude upon these sacred grounds, but we come out of great need." Master Fung raised from his bow

"It is quite alright. It is not every day we get visitors, be they expected or not. Of course, I feel this meeting has been a long time in the making. Come, all of you. I will brew a pot of tea."

The group followed him, Sari stopping for a moment. She looked back at the entrance, quickly realizing that Optimus and Prowl couldn't get through the entrance in the wall. Optimus nodded to her, a wizened frown on his face.

"We will remain out here," informed the lead Autobot. "Do not leave the others or the temple grounds without us." The small Cybertronian nodded her head, quickly running to catch up with the group. Soon, Omi and Kimiko were helping Master Fung carry trays of tea cups and a tea kettle. Viper sipped her tea as soon as it was provided to her, sighing in relief.

"Warm drink never tasted so good," shivered the hidden alien. "Winter is definitely not my favorite season." Ellie shivered, nodding her head as she was inclined to agree with the woman. Jackie waited for everyone to be cared for and seated, noticing once again that Jade had made a point to be near Ben. Letting this go for the moment, the man grabbed the lead box from where he had been carrying it earlier.

"I thank you for your hospitality. I am Chan Kongsang, though I also go by the name Jackie." Raimundo sat up a bit, his eyes going wide.

"Wait, I thought you just looked like the guy from those old movies," interrupted the Brazilian. "You're actually THE Jackie Chan?" The other monks looked at him, Omi out of confusion and the others for his interruption as he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry." Jackie cleared his throat, gesturing towards Viper.

"This is Agent Xi. My niece, Chan Xiaoyu, is sitting next to Benjamin Tennyson. Then there are Gwendolyn Tennyson, Eleanor Tennyson, Sari Pax, and Paco Hernandez. In any case, the urgency of this matter cannot be delayed."

He displayed the box to the man, unlatching the front of the container. "We have been keeping these away from bad people who seek them out for reasons we do not yet know." He slowly opened the box, Jade becoming a bit antsy as she saw the frown on Master Fung's face.

"The Zodiac Talismans of the rooster, ox, and snake," recognized the old man. "You say that someone is seeking them out, so why bring them here?" Jade was about to speak, only for Jackie to hold up a hand to make her be quiet.

"We heard of a belt that was left here that could hide their presence from those that can sense them. We were hoping to leave them here in it." Master Fung shook his head, his frown not lessening in the slightest.

"I am sorry, but its power is only active when worn by a Master of Good Chi Magic or by the Chosen One. As skilled and wise as I am, my focus has been the development of the spirit and body alongside the safeguarding of mystical artifacts within these halls. My skill in magic is limited compared to one who has devoted themselves to the ways of Chi Sorcery. The belt would keep nothing hidden if worn by anyone here." Omi had his hand up like he was going to say something, only to lower it as Jade snickered.

"Well unless that uncle of yours is a master we're out of luck, Jackie," stated Viper. "The belt was our only hope." Master Fung smiled, shaking his head.

"When one path becomes impossible, it is important to look for the other way. I said a Master of Chi Magic could wield it, yes, but I had also stated the Chosen One is capable of doing so. It was the Chosen One who created the Belt of Lo Pei in his previous life, hence its name. I sense that the Chosen One is among us today." Omi suddenly pouted, looking upset as Gwen sat up a bit with some confidence.

"It's Jade, isn't it?" questioned Ben out of nowhere. "Sorry, I mean Xiaoyu." The others looked at him, the boy shrugging. "What? It would explain the magic she can suddenly do that no one taught her and she's been picking up whenever the talismans are used or found." Jackie scoffed, shaking his head.

"Ben, what did I say about only talking when spoken to?" questioned the man. "Besides, that's ridiculous. Xiaoyu cannot be the Chosen One, magic or not. She is a girl, not a man, and her magic is a complete coincidence." Master Fung pointed upwards, stroking his goatee.

"In the case of spirituality and reincarnation, there are few true absolutes," corrected the head monk. "Regardless, there is only one way to tell for sure. Dojo." The dragon shifted from his hiding shot at the demand, moving quickly through the temple. He reached a large vault, slithering through an entry way he could fit through as he made his way into the depths.

"Let's see," began the green dragon. He dove into a collection of relics, humming to himself as he moved all around the pile. He cheered as he found a hidden switch, moving it to make the wall to his right move to reveal a chest. He opened it with great effort, taking deep breaths as he quickly pulled something out. Back in the room, Jade looked like she was trying to recall something.

"Dojo?" questioned the girl. "I… I know that name. He… He was a-" Gwen suddenly backed up with wide eyes, seeing Dojo crawl into the room while looking tired. Jackie looked towards the dragon, having a similar freak out as he stood on one foot.

"SNAKE!" cried the martial artist. "CHILDREN, GET BACK!" Jade rolled her eyes, huffing.

"Jackie, that's not a snake. HE is a dragon like… someone I think I knew." She grabbed her head as she huffed, her eyes going back to being brown.

"Well, at least the kid saved me from a major headache," huffed the dragon. "Master Fung." Dojo handed over an ornate gold colored belt with twelve slots in it, Jade's eyes widening at the sight.

"The brass is perfectly preserved. It's as if it's only been a day since I last saw it." Jackie was about to comment about her behavior, only for Master Fung to approach her with the belt.

"Search your memories. They will guide you if you are who I believe you are." Jade slowly took the belt, rubbing over the metal as she saw her reflection in it slightly. She rubbed her fingers over it, getting flashes of a hammer banging down on molten brass to make the shapes in the belt. Her eyes turned blue again, a reminiscent smile on her face.

"I remember the day it was made. By the Jade Emperor's command, I forged it with an enchantment powered by the remnants of the immortals. The Emperor blessed it with his holy power, turning it into a holy relic. It was made to be ready for when the Talismans would be sought out by dark forces once again, to protect them from those who would use the noble magic for themselves or release… SHENDU." She scowled suddenly, as if a bad taste had gotten into her mouth.

Suddenly, she looked outwards as her vision zoomed out. The girl saw a fearsome and infuriating golden dragon statue, a puff of purple smoke leaving its maw. Shendu's eyes glowed red, a hissing sound leaving his throat.

"LO PEI?" questioned the dragon. "IMPOSSIBLE." Jade gasped as she was brought back to reality, taking deep breaths as she stopped her arm from raising into a strike. She shook her head, breathing further as she regained some control of herself. She looked down at the belt, clenching it slightly.

"Rooster, Ox, Snake." The belt suddenly shifted, three of the orbs changing shape to allow for a pentagonal slot to form. Ben smirked at the sight, doing his best not to give Jackie the "I told you so" look for fear of being taken out of action. "He's back. Whoever was foolish enough to dig up his lost soul does not know what they are doing."

She looked towards Ben, as if he were entirely in the know. "Shendu was the Emperor's treasured Dragon, as well as one of the twelve noble animals blessed with the power of the Zodiac. He was a pure if wrathful soul, one that needed guidance to fulfill the duty placed on his shoulders. Then, one day, a dark wizard poisoned his usual watering hole with a dark spell. The spell turned Shendu power hungry, feeding off his pride as the once noble dragon hunted down the other noble animals to steal the blessings that their nobility manifested."

Ben could only nod his head, used to crazy sounding stories at this point. "The dark wizard thought he had full control of Shendu, using the dragon to hunt down the eight immortals. As they battled each immortal, however, Shendu formed seven stone warriors that he blessed with life through the Noble Rat. The dragon made each one to counter an immortal, allowing him to defeat and slay the wizard upon his ascension to immortality. Upon each devouring a heart, Shendu and his sworn siblings became the Eight Demon Sorcerers: the most terrifying monsters to ever come to pass."

Jade shivered, the story haunting her. "They ruled over the entire world for several hundred years until the next Chosen One was born, the man named Lo Pei. It was the command of the Emperor that I be reborn into the world as a way to balance out the magic and chi whenever darkness swayed too strongly. It was on his deathbed that he commanded me to return to the world should Darkness try to overtake it once more." Raimundo whistled, looking bewildered.

"Whoa," gasped the wind monk. "... So, what does that mean exactly?" Master Fung looked towards the monks, as well as the rest of the group.

"It means that the return of Wuya was no coincidence," informed the old man. "Something, or someone, is attempting to recreate the ancient Reign of Darkness Shendu and his siblings once possessed. More than likely a Dark Chi Wizard much like the man who corrupted the Dragon Shendu and sought out the eight immortals. This is more troubling than I thought." Dojo hummed, rubbing his chin.

"Shendu?" questioned the green dragon. "I think I remember my gramps talking about a kid by that name from his dragon classes. Cool guy but he had quite the temper, not to mention terrible breath. Woo!" He stopped as soon as he saw the deadpan look from the head monk, clearing his throat quickly.

Chuckling a bit, the dragon shook his head. "If my memory isn't too scrambled from the years, he said old Shendu had a knack for controlling fire in all its forms. He was pretty hot with the lady dragons, pun not intended. Didn't really find a girl though, especially after the Jade Emperor took him in." Jade frowned, looking towards him.

"Dojo, the other dragons," began the girl. "What happened to them?" Dojo shrugged, shaking his head.

"Hey, us dragons have been either kissing up to that Dragon Council or working with the Xiaolin for years. Nobody these days that doesn't work in magic believes in dragons anymore. Those guys in Europe sure gave us a bad rep so we had to go underground with all the dragon hunters popping up. The ones who kiss the butts of that council I mentioned used magic so much that they practically live as humans outside of being dragons in the magical community. They hardly remember what it means to be dragons nowadays."

Master Fung cleared his throat this time, reminding Dojo of the need for good manners. "Sorry." Jackie stood up, a nervous smile on his face.

"Well, we can place them in the belt now," stated the man. "We can lock them away and leave them here while promising to bring the others for later." Master Fung shook his head, a soft frown on his face.

"The belt is temperamental, unlike the Shen Gong Wu we house here. If separated from its master for too long, it will reject the talismans and release them." The martial artist was beginning to lose his famous patience, his brow beginning to twitch.

"I apologize but I must not have heard you right. You make it sound like the belt is alive." Jade smirked, rubbing the belt playfully.

"He doesn't mean it, girl," teased the girl. "He's just new to magic, and extremely protective." Jackie crossed his arms, frowning.

"Xiaoyu, stop being ridiculous. Magic is one thing but you are getting ahead of yourself. You and Ben have repeatedly ignored my instructions to not speak to the grownups unless spoken to. I'll have to ask you both to step outside under supervision." Jade looked incredulous, shaking her head.

"Uncle Jackie, that was one time and the other time I wasn't even talking to anyone. I-" Jackie pointed outside, Jade groaning as she stood up and stomped off with the belt in hand. Ben stood up, quickly following her as Raimundo stood up. The monk bowed, his expression being unreadable.

"I'll keep an eye on them, Master Fung," stated the Brazilian. "I'll keep them out of trouble." The young man quickly followed after them, Viper giving Jackie a deadpan look that showed she wasn't amused.

"Kids, you go with them," ordered the hidden alien. "MISTER CHAN and I need to have a discussion." Recognizing the tone, Gwen immediately stood up and pulled Sari up with all her might.

"W-We'll be out of your hair," reassured the redhead. "Let's go." Paco and Ellie quickly followed them, Master Fung looking to the remaining monks with a nod of his head.

"Kimiko, Clay, Omi," listed the head monk. "Join Raimundo with the others. I believe I must monitor this discussion and clarify anything that is not understood." The monk trio nodded, quickly moving along as Dojo slithered after them. Outside, Jade could be seen taking her anger out on some of the training equipment. The specific pieces of equipment were spinning Mu Ren Zhuang: wooden training dummies that had arms attached to sections that spun upon impact.

Pulling on her gymnastics and what her memories told her, she struck at arms she could hit while blocking or dodging others. She did her best to be precise, though she did take a few hits. The monks sat nearby, Omi looking jealous as he watched the Chosen One work her magic. The others were watching her too, Gwen wincing as the action went on. Ben sat the closest to Jade, shaking his head.

"Talk about a bummer," huffed the boy. "Grandpa would have let us talk and ask questions unless he was serious about something." He looked up as Jade accidentally broke the piece of equipment, a small scroll around her wrist before it faded. She stomped over to his side, flopping down as she suddenly laid her head in his lap. The boy blushed at this, the Chinese girl groaning as she grabbed her face.

"If Daddy was here, he'd at least give this a chance," huffed the Chosen one. "I could actually talk, even if he didn't agree. He'd just tell me what he doesn't agree with and ask questions. I hope Viper is the one in charge if they actually do get married. Momma has some say with Daddy at least."

Unsure what to do, Ben followed his instincts and stroked her hair, the Chinese girl humming in delight. "If you stop doing that I will make you do the splits early when we get back." The boy chuckled nervously, still running his hand through her hair. Ellie sat nearby, smirking at the sight. Gwen huffed a laugh, her hands on her hips.

"I knew it," stated the redhead. "They are SO crushing on each other. I'll never let Ben live this down. All these changes and it's for a girl." Ellie looked towards her cousin, raising her brow.

"And you think it's a good idea to tease him when it's looking like he really likes her?" questioned the spiritual girl. "I only did it because I thought he was just crushing but I'm starting to think there's actually something there. There's a point where you either get protective and stalk the potential lovebirds or try to be supportive. Family's just like that." Gwen looked towards her, placing a hand on her hip.

"This coming from the girl who sometimes acts like a total boy. Teasing him is my job as a cousin." Ellie rolled her eyes, huffing.

"And I'm his sister who will start returning fire if they end up not happening because you tease Ben too much. I've been on both sides so I know what happens when a guy gets pressured too much or when something becomes awkward." Paco looked towards her, tilting his head.

"Both sides?" questioned the Hispanic boy. "I do not understand." Ellie looked down, frowning sadly.

"I… don't like talking about it with people I've only known for so long. It's personal." Gwen sighed, looking more empathetic than annoyed.

"Ellie, at some point you have to grow past that. It's been six years since you told us and no one is going to look down on you because of it." Jade turned in her resting position, looking towards the Tennyson sibling.

"Ellie, I'm the reincarnation of a bunch of old dudes, Ben has an alien watch that turns him into aliens, Gwen's a magic prodigy, and Sari's a literal alien while Paco is half alien," listed the Chinese girl. "I'm pretty sure you're more than fine with whatever it is that's bothering you." Ellie looked around, almost deciding against it as the monks were still watching over them from the other side of the field. She looked towards Ben, a pleading look in her eyes. As the boy nodded, she took a deep breath.

"Alright, alright," huffed the spiritual girl. "Just… don't make me regret it. I… wasn't originally a Tennyson. Heck, this isn't even the first time I've been 'born'. And not in that reincarnation way either, at least not the first time."

The spiritual girl looked down at her hands, clenching them as bad memories hit her. "I wasn't born like other kids. My story kinda starts with the story of a third guy that's like me and the one I told Jade's Dad about. His name was Danny and he thought he was the first half ghost in existence. His parents built a portal to the Ghost Zone, the world of the ghosts, in their basement with the bright idea to put the on button inside it and forget it ever existed."

She knew the lack of response was due to the group's faces at the mention of that fact. "The parents were upset when it didn't seem to work, so he went inside because of a dare his friends put on him. He ended up pressing the button and… ZAP! Out pops Danny Phantom… which sounds super sick until you learn his last name."

She then shook her head, getting back on track. "Anyway, he made an enemy out of the other Halfa I mentioned purely because he stopped the fruitloop from killing his dad and trying to date his mother. Vlad was the college friend of his parents who got hit with the residue from a prototype portal, giving him severe Ecto-acne which caused him to become what he is. One of his plans turned to a bit of a less researched side of science that ghost research didn't really touch."

She held her hands together, trying to get through her story. "He figured that, if he couldn't get Danny to join him in order to win over his mother, he'd make another Danny to replace him. He turned to cloning, only to end up failing each time. He eventually tried removing the Y chromosomes to stabilize it and it mostly worked, key word mostly. Instead of making a functioning, breathing, exact clone of Danny, he got a girl that was melting into ectoplasm constantly due to the instability of her DNA."

Ellie looked up, as if admitting to a crime. "He made me, naming me Danielle to remind me I was just a girl version of Danny. That or he was bad with names other than 'Maddie'. I had, however, something the other clones didn't have: Danny's memories. I'm talking every single one of them."

She rubbed her arm, giggling almost guiltily. "Vlad had plenty of time to cook up a way to make his plan work as he did the bare minimum to teach me how to be a girl instead of doing things a boy would do. All I had been given was clothes and a textbook as he told me to read up on it and forced me to practice it. Had to teach myself how to go to the bathroom like a girl and deal with the embarrassment of seeing myself naked, not to mention when I started my first period I destroyed a lot of his Packers memorabilia."

She laughed more genuinely at this, looking proud of herself. "These days I wish I had destroyed it all. Anyway, he finally told me that if we could get Danny and take his mid-morph DNA it could stabilize me. He promised me with a straight face that if I helped him capture Danny he would save me, when really he just wanted to make his perfect clone and leave me to melt so I could be recycled into more ectoplasm to feed his cloning machine. He got what he wanted, only instead of dying I met this Clock guy who Danny had met a while back."

She shivered, the cold getting to her again. "He gave me a second chance, saying he'd allow me to keep my ghost powers since they were pretty much all I was aside from a clone. Said he saw a future where I would be needed. The next thing I knew, my memories came back a few months after Eleanor Tennyson was born. I tried to be quiet about my old life for years but I finally broke down at one of my and Ben's birthday celebrations and confessed everything to my new family."

She would deny the tears that she tried to hold back, now curling into herself as she shivered. "Mom, Dad, and especially Ben were supportive of me. To Ben I was just his 'super cool twin sister who could do ghost stuff'. Gwen was a little weirded out by it but she eventually got used to it. She would always try using science to explain why I shouldn't be a ghost but possessing her and making her do the chicken dance kinda made her shut up after that."

Gwen shushed her quickly, looking extremely embarrassed. Jade giggled at this, leaning her head more into Ben's stomach as the boy quickly got used to his role of combing her hair with his fingers. "I wasn't able to go on the big summer vacation where Ben got the watch because I got sick. It was kinda a replacement for the melting problem, though it always made me scared I'd start melting again and lose this new life of mine. Until Ben begged me for help in a big fight I had started avoiding using my ghost powers out of fear that I'd be a puddle of ectoplasm on the side of the road."

Jade frowned at this, something Sari and Paco shared with her as the ghost girl rubbed her cheeks with the sleeve of her jacket. "And this is the perfect conversation to have while trying to get a magic belt and save the world. Not like the story of the clone girl who shouldn't have even been born is that important. That girl's gone, even if she's me." Sari sat next to her, hesitantly placing a hand on her shoulder as she used the shifting metal beneath the skin as a form of massage.

"Ellie, you matter to all of us," reassured the Cybertronian. "I might have no knowledge on how cloning works but you're not who you were made from. That'd be like me saying I'm the Allspark or Cybertronian children saying they're their parents. Jade isn't entirely the people she was before either… right?" Jade waved her hand a bit at this, showing that the logic was shaky as Ellie huffed a laugh.

"Yeah. Danny's memories in my head says otherwise." Jade patted Ben a bit, causing him to stop rubbing as she sat up. What made the boy blush even more was that she was now sitting in his lap. Jade seemingly was ignorant of this fact, looking at Ellie.

"Ellie, it doesn't matter if you have a boy's memories," reassured the Chinese girl. "It just means he's part of you, like my past lives are part of me. I mean, I'm sure I know everything about being a boy if I dug for that knowledge… WHICH I am NOT doing, ever. Having balls is not on my list of things to remember."

Ben choked on spit at this, Jade continuing with her pep talk. "The fact is that, like me, you just have knowledge from a life that's deeply connected to yours. Sure, you started out with his memories, but every choice you made was your own and you tried to grow into your own person. It's the creep's fault you didn't get to fully do that the first time around. It's more like, and don't take this weirdly, Danny is your mom and your dad so you had to build off his lessons to get to where you are."

She winced, Gwen sharing the same expression as she hissed. "That came out super weird. Wish the old lives up in my head had more knowledge on this stuff. Frankly all they wanna do right now is deal with Shendu and punish those fools who made a portal to the world of the dead and left it wide open."

She then gestured towards Ellie, frowning. "Seriously though, what the heck were they even trying to do?" The spiritual girl poked her fingers together at the question, knowing that there was about to be a bit of a tirade.

"Well, that's the funny thing about it… They're ghost hunters that want to rip ghosts apart 'molecule by molecule.' Jack's words, not mine." There was a healthy pause, Jade blinking multiple times as her head twitched a bit. Her eyes flashed between blue and brown, Ben combing her hair to try and calm her down.

"Let me get this straight… You're telling me they made a portal to the immortal realms, TO DESECRATE THE ANCESTORS AND THE SOULS OF THE DEAD!?" Ellie sighed, knowing that she was about to be hearing a huge rant. After all, one doesn't just talk about destroying the dead around cultures that celebrate the lives of the deceased as part of their culture. This was going to be a long waiting period.

"THIS IS ABSURD!" roared Jackie in the tea room. "Xiaoyu is a little girl, not some stoic warrior meant to combat evil! They are all children! Their focus should be on school and figuring out their lives, not getting involved in things they shouldn't be considered for!" Master Fung simply shook his head, keeping his cool very well.

"It is not I who pushes this duty onto Chan Xiaoyu, but the very balance of our world itself," stated the old man. "If it had been up to me, she would receive proper training over several years to do just as you say. We do not have the luxury of time on our side if Shendu is truly seeking to return. It is the Emperor's decree that she is to act as the force of balance and harmony in our world, just as darkness has its own champions for when the side of good pushes itself too far and makes its own evils." Viper rolled her eyes, huffing at this.

"He's been like this ever since the kids got involved in this talisman case," informed the woman. "The kids don't even get into anything they haven't been approved to do, save for Ben doing vigilante work on the side. Even then he doesn't do that much harm… anymore. The point is, the kids need to be ready for the world and he thinks they need to have their hands held while they're twelve." Jackie moaned, leaning forward.

"Not this conversation again," huffed the martial artist. "They are not even old enough to go to war, let alone deal with armed men with weapons that could tear them in half or evil demons. I cannot just sit by while their lives are being put in danger by people who don't seem to care about their safety. Jade nearly lost her life today and you are acting like nothing has gone wrong. Am I the only one here concerned that children could have died today?"

He took deep breaths, the frustration that was building up inside him flowing out. Viper almost looked hurt, trying to collect her thoughts. She frowned, a glare that almost put a fear into Jackie.

"You think we don't care? If we didn't, Ben would be in the Null Void with a missing hand and Jade would be in a grave right now. You do realize that there's a reason there was a legal battle to get the old 'dangerous youth' procedures updated. Don't go assuming we don't care just because we realize the world isn't going to give these kids the time to be ready. You don't even understand how fast a life can end in these kinds of situations."

She placed a hand on her chest, trying to settle herself. "Kinecelerans are on an accelerated time clock, Jackie. My mother had a heart attack from overclocking herself, leaving me to have to figure things out for myself or die from my heart going too slow. Before my father pulled me into the Plumbers I was a thief. The only reason I'm not in the void right now is because Max gave me a chance. My mother's species doesn't live long, forty to sixty years at best, and I'm a hybrid."

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, the hidden alien not backing down. "I don't even know if I'll live as long as my mother, have a human life expectancy, or end up living a shorter life altogether. Even with all that, I made the best of it and grew up since the world was moving faster than me. Instead of complaining about it, whining when no one listens to you, and trying to treat them like toddlers who could never fend for themselves, help them to grow up and get the skills they need. Whether you like it or not these kids are involved in this, and you trying to baby them and protect them is what's gonna put one of them in the ground as they wait for someone to come along and save them."

Jackie looked down, not sure what to say. Viper turned away, clicking her teeth in anger. "I'm going out there and watching the kids. Come find me when you're ready to man up." She zipped out of the room, Jackie sitting back down as he grabbed his head.

"What am I doing wrong? I have never dealt with actual situations like this, and to top it all off it's all real. Aliens, monsters, magic, the undead, and even demons of all things. I try to do what's right and everyone keeps telling me I'm wrong." Master Fung sat across from him, shaking his head slowly.

"It is not your beliefs and concerns that are wrong, Mister Chan," corrected the old monk. "Rather it is your handling of the situation that is ill suited for the children. You want to protect them but you do it by trying to keep them from the darkness. The dark forces will not take any form of pity or care on them for being children, more so they will use it to their advantage. Darkness thrives where good people do not fight, whereas the light banishes Darkness when good people learn to fight and protect that gentle balance."

He then gestured to Jackie, his expression unreadable. "Right now, you need to find a balance between the peace in the lives of children and the time for them to stand alone. You have to know when to keep them like a shepherd keeps his flock and when to let them off the leash like a crouching tiger. Right now, Chan Xiaoyu is woefully unprepared in combat as her magical prowess grows with her strengthening chi. She can learn in time but at this moment she is relegated to using her magic and defending herself with what little she knows."

The old monk looked towards the door, nodding his head. "With the permission of her father, I have my own plans in mind to prepare her for Shendu and what will come after his defeat." Jackie looked up, his eyes wide.

"After? You think there will be more?" Master Fung looked towards him, his eyes narrowing.

"Until the dark forces that are attempting to tip the scales are defeated, the fight will never be over. Wuya will soon know she exists, as well as other dark powers that will seek to end her life before she can become a threat to them. It would be foolish to think trouble will come to an end after one evil is defeated. The magic has only recently begun to return to what it was a thousand years ago, the forces of good and evil looking to control as much of it as possible. To return to a state of peace in the balance of magic, the one who allowed darkness to spread must be defeated."

The old man picked up one of the tea pots, smiling softly. "Now, I find the mind is at its clearest when enjoying a nice cup of tea." Jackie didn't argue, still unsure what to do in this situation. Outside, Ben found himself slowly learning how to use one of the Mu Ren Zhuang as Jade looked like she was cooling down from the rant she gave Ellie about how Danny's family was beyond dishonorable. In hindsight, the boy shouldn't have accepted the dare from Gwen to prove he could do something without the Omnitrix.

"I mean, it looks simple in practice," stated Ben to himself. "You strike, block, and dodge at the arms of it while they spin around. Just gotta start out slow and build my way up to what I can handle. That shouldn't hurt too much… right?" Jade giggled at how the boy was talking to himself, rolling onto her stomach as she kicked her legs in the air.

"Say, little lady?" questioned Clay. "I reckon that boy has no idea what he's doin'. Might have to stop him before he hurts himself. That equipment ain't exactly pillows in a pillow fight." Ben took a deep breath, his eyes closed as he felt a breeze on him.

He started by slowly pressing his hands against each arm of the equipment, getting a feel for how hard they'd have to be hit. As if instincts kicked in, he started with slow hits and weaves to get a feel for the rhythm of what he'd be dealing with. He incremented his speed steadily, keeping his eye on everything as the arms kept coming at him. Gwen crossed her arms with a huff, not seeing it as overly impressive. To the side, however, Kimiko nodded her head in interest.

"Hey, for a kid that's untrained, he's not doing half bad," stated the Japanese girl. "His lucky streak is probably gonna end soon if he doesn't-" A smack filled the air, along with a cry of pain. "Ouch." Ben flopped onto his back, looking a bit dizzy as Jade ran over to him.

"BEN!" cried the Chinese girl. "Are you okay?" The boy shot up, groaning as he checked his teeth.

"Good news," stated the boy. "I still have all my teeth and they're not broken. My pride's a bit hurt though, along with my cheek." Jade hugged him softly, making the boy blush. Omi suddenly huffed a laugh, placing his hands on one of the lower arms.

"Only a true warrior, such as myself, can master the use of the Mu Ren Zhuang," stated the bald boy. "I am a master of the ancient art of Kung Fu and Butt Whooping." Kimiko glared at Raimundo, the Brazilian laughing nervously. Gwen slowly grinned, another tease on her mind. She approached the duo, whistling.

"You've been hugging him for quite a bit there, Jade," teased the redhead. "I know he hurt himself like a total boy but don't you think it's a little overboard? I mean unless you like hugging him THAT much. You-" Jade rolled her eyes, groaning.

"One of these days you're gonna find a boy you like and this is all gonna be thrown right back at you," stated the Chinese girl. "So sue me if I'm worried about one of the only boys in our friend group." Ben slumped his shoulders, knowing what Gwen was gonna do next.

"AHA! YOU LIKE BEN! All the boys in school and you choose the most boyish one out of the bunch. I am never letting you live this down." Jade sent her a deadpan look, Ben blushing as he was hugged tighter.

"Well, so what if I do? He's growing up, unlike some boys, and it's part of his adorkable charm. It's not like I'm hugging up to one of the bad boys like Cash. Now that would be totally disturbing." Ellie suddenly grinned, leaning forward.

"Bad boys, huh?" began the spiritual girl. "I seem to remember someone talking about a certain bad boy a LOT when he popped back up again a year ago. We haven't seen him in a while but you don't forget a guy like that. What was his name again? Devin, Melvin, Calvin."

Gwen looked towards Ellie, quickly waving her hands in a "STOP" motion. "Oh right! Kevin! You talked on, and on, and on about a total delinquent like he was just another lost soul that has the girls say they can 'fix them'. Cousin Lucy had a LOT of fun looking like him just to make you all bashful and cutesy for a boy you LIKE!" Jade blinked, Ben sounding disappointed as he was released for the girl to stand up.

"Gwen?" questioned the Chosen One. "Miss 'face stuck in a magic book' Gwen acting cutesy? Are we talking about the same Gwen here? You'd think she'd be into a studious know-it-all, not a bad boy." Gwen held her hands together pleadingly, Ellie standing up from her seat.

"Don't let her looks fool you. She just LOVES boys who have a rebellious side but can also be the 'sweetest' guys. She totally has the hots for him! I mean, you should hear her mutter his name in her sleep." Gwen's eyes glowed pink, the redhead's face all red as she chased after her cousin.

"ELLIE!" roared the magical girl with a face as red as her hair. "YOU ARE SO DEAD!" Ellie laughed at this, her arms out.

"Been halfway there, done that! You gotta catch me first!" Sari watched the duo run around, her head resting in her hands.

"Humans are so weird," stated the Cybertronian girl. "I will never understand their constant shifts between friendship and anger." Ellie jumped along some of the training equipment, the street life she used to live coming through as she performed a bit of parkour. She jumped like she could fly, only to quickly flap her arms fruitlessly as she hopped on one foot. She looked up, quickly remembering her lack of flight.

"Oh poop," cursed the sibling. She cried out as Gwen tackled her to the ground, crying out in dismay between laughs as she was now being tickled against her will. "NO! NOT THAT! BEN!" The boy raised his hands, looking fearful.

"I am NOT getting in the middle of girl stuff," argued the boy. "Last time I got involved I was made into a pack mule by you and Mom for a week. I'm not picking sides in these unless it directly involves me. I-" Jade looked towards him, suddenly hugging him from behind with a giggle.

"Oh really?" questioned the Chinese girl. "And what if it involved me?" Ben went back to blushing, making Ellie laugh harder from the tickling.

"W-WHIPPED!" cried the spiritual girl. "GAH! GET-HA-GET HER OFF ME! HELP!" Sari rolled her eyes, picking Gwen up by her jacket much to the redhead's shock.

"S-SARI!" cried Gwen. "You're gonna rip my jacket and it's still freezing out here!" Ben laughed nervously as a new fight commenced, only to shiver as his eyes narrowed. Jade blushed when the boy grabbed her hands with his, only to cry out as he sent her rolling away across the ground. He then jumped back, a large hammer crashing into the ground where the two of them were.

"We've got bad guys!" roared the boy. The monks quickly jumped between the group and where the hammer came from, Daolon Wong's warriors landing on the ground. Clay looked towards Omi, shaking his head.

"Go get some Wu from the vault!" cried the Texan. "I'll get Master Fung!" The yellow boy nodded his head, running as Clay did the same. The skinny one of the dark warriors held out his hands, creating a ring weapon that had three large blades on it before tossing it at the duo. Kimiko and Raimundo flipped out of the way, the taller warrior creating a segmented staff as he jumped at Raimundo.

"Whatever these guys are, they sure are ugly," stated the Brazilian. He blocked attempted strikes from the weapon, kicking the warrior back in the form of a springboard. The buff one of the trio began to chant, a darkness forming in his hands as the hammer disappeared. The skinny warrior held out his hand as Kimiko stood between him and his weapon, said weapon suddenly flying back towards him while spinning like a helicopter blade.

"LOOK OUT!" cried Ellie. She made a finger gun, firing an ecto-beam at the weapon to make it go off course and cut through one of the training dummies. Kimiko was shocked by the move, leaving her open to be kicked back. Before the warrior could try to make the weapon come back again, he was forced to dodge as Sari slashed clean into the ground where he just was. He sent the weapon at her, only for the Cybertronian to catch it in her hand.

"This is… peculiar," stated the metal girl. "I'm holding something but my sensors aren't picking up on it… but I can see it." Jade grabbed her head, her eyes turning blue.

"Pure magic, dark magic at that," stated the Chinese girl. "Only good chi or a powerful spiritual force can destroy it." The three orange warriors looked towards her suddenly, making her back up a bit. "Not good." The skinny one began joining the larger one in chanting as the tall guy kicked Raimundo away. Master Fung ran over, his eyes wide.

"STOP THEM!" cried the man. Viper zoomed past him, crashing into the tall warrior at high speed with her foot striking him straight in the neck. The being popped like one of the Shadowkhan, turning into blue smoke rather than the more muted one of the dark shinobi. The large one entrusted the rest of the spell to the skinny warrior, reforming his hammer as he tossed it like a log towards the hybrid. Jackie suddenly tackled her, sending them both to the ground.

"GET DOWN!" cried the martial artist. The hammer crashed into one of the buildings, making a large hole in the wall. Viper took deep breaths, looking frightened.

"T-That was way too fast," huffed the woman. "I thought I was faster than a lot of things." The brute recalled his hammer, slowly approaching them.

"[Ancient Mandarin] Relinquish the Chosen One or forfeit your lives," demanded the being. "You have no chance." The entity suddenly felt magic wash over him, the wall he just broke crumbling and crashing down on him as a stroke of bad luck hit him hard.

"HA!" cried Gwen. "How's that for too dangerous, old man!" cried the redhead. Jade looked towards the skinny warrior, growling as her eyes were glowing blue.

"BEGONE FROM THIS PLACE, SERVANT OF DARKNESS!" ordered the Chosen One. "YOU WILL LEAVE WITH NOTHING!" The brute suddenly burst his way out of the rubble, his eyes blinking once at the sight of her.

"[Ancient Mandarin] The Chosen One, is a young woman?" questioned the entity. "A woman cannot defend herself?" Jade made the large scroll behind her again, the words rapidly shifting.

"What the body cannot do, magic can substitute. LIGHT!" The scroll unleashed the large beam of light, forcing the brute to jump around.

"[Ancient Mandarin] Your prowess with this spell is impressive, though it will not banish me like one of shadows. I am far stronger than mere foot soldiers." The belt over Jade's shoulder glowed, the section holding the Ox Talisman glowing with the symbol.

"Then perhaps brute force is the only way." The back of the belt shifted, touching the talisman to her form as it gave off a light. The entity threw his hammer once more, only for Jade to catch it as she skidded backwards. She then focused the good chi flowing through her into her hands, making the weapon crack and dispel before she dashed at the enemy. The big guy went to grab her, only to be punched hard as he was sent flying back. The stocky villain stopped himself, smirking before he heard the sound of something large jumping.

He looked up, watching with a shocked expression as Optimus came down at him with a large sword. The warrior barely dodged, only to have one of Prowl's shuriken-like weapons spear him from behind. He dissipated like the tall warrior, leaving the skinny one by himself. Jackie stood up, noticing that the entity was nearly complete with the spell. He was about to run forward, only for Omi to land in front of him.

"ORB OF TORNAMI: WATER!" cried the small monk. The orb launched a huge stream like usual, the chi warrior forced to jump back to dodge the attempt to break his concentration. "KIMIKO! RAIMUNDO!" The boy tossed the duo their usual weapons, Kimiko holding out her hand.

"HANABI STAR: FIRE!" cried the girl. The spiraling flames returned, the warrior having to dodge once again as Raimundo rushed at him with his sword. Clay ran at him from behind, his fist reared back.

"SWORD OF THE STORM: WIND!" cried Raimundo. He swung his blade, creating a huge gust of wind that the enemy swiftly dodged. Clay cried out as the wind sent him flying into the air. Paco quickly fired a web at the Texan's foot to act as an anchor so he wouldn't go flying far. "MY BAD!" The skinny warrior's chanting grew louder, Dojo growing to a huge size as he looked down at the guy.

"LOOKS LIKE IT'S MY TURN!" cried the dragon. He went to swipe the villain away with his tail, only for the entity to jump up on his head and use it as a springboard. "HEY! OW!" Ellie carefully aimed her finger guns, narrowing her eyes.

"I can't get a lock on him!" cried the spiritual girl. The skinny warrior landed on the ground, raising the dark energy above his head. He crashed the energy into the ground, creating a barrier that sent several people flying back. Jade stood her ground, wincing as her chi was keeping her in place. Jackie ran up to the barrier, crashing his fists into it.

"JADE!" cried the man. "WE HAVE TO GET IN THERE!" He repeatedly beat at the barrier, the skinny entity slowly standing up. The being walked towards Jade, the girl becoming nervous as she called upon her magic again. Before she could react, dark energy from the barrier lashed out and covered her mouth in a bandage-like energy.

She tried to run, only for her right arm to basically be hooked by the magic. Her left leg soon followed, making the girl cry out as she could almost swear they were actually harming her. The enemy continued to approach her, stopping in front of her. He reached out to touch her, his thumb on her forehead as she wriggled around. He began to chant a bit, the mark on his forehead glowing brighter.

That was when the sound of something stretching caught him off guard, the barrier clearly bending in an area. Standing with the barrier bent around him where it tried to push him, Ben was shaking as his teeth were bared. His eyes slowly began to glow pink like Gwen's, the Omnitrix making noises as if it were responding to the unknown variable. The dark magic began to rip in front of him, the boy pushing further as he raised his foot. The orange being backed away from Jade, looking shocked beyond belief.

"[Ancient Mandarin] Impossible," decried the being in a higher pitched voice. "No being can break the barrier but a Master of Chi Magic." Ben growled as he suddenly stomped, the barrier finally tearing from around him as it reformed in its proper place. Pink light tears formed around his body, looking like veins as some of them crawled towards the Omnitrix. The device suddenly beeped loudly, the faceplate turning pink before going green.

"Omnitrix Update Status: Complete," informed the device. "Anodite energy sample, detected. Beginning bio-energy conversion and interface transformation." The core spun wildly, sparks coming from it as the band around it began to shift like a Cybertronian transforming. The band turned into a more sleek green version, as the core now was more flat with the device. Ben's body began to rip as the Omnitrix suddenly flashed, a roar escaping his throat.

A pink and green burst of energy shot out, creating a light akin to the dioramas of a supernova. The energy stopped after sending the enemy flying backwards, pulling back in as if a gravitational force was being applied to it. The form in the center looked feminine for a moment, only for the incoming energy to fill out the feminine details and morph them into a more masculine state. Glowing hair popped out from the humanoid head, looking like a pink and green aurora before it was shortened to look like a roaring flame. The new form's eyes opened, pink eyes with glowing green dots looking around violently as the Omnitrix formed a breastplate over its torso to act as its interface.

The device beeped, the face turning green. "Sample stabilizing. Transferring data to creator for improvements. Temporary label ANODITE MUTANT applied." The hair on the boy's head began to lengthen, looking like tendrils as they lashed out all around him.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" roared the boy with a slightly deeper tone to his voice. The tendrils struck at the barrier, absorbing and converting the energy within it as the magical shell was pulled into the boy's form. He then uncurled from his fetal position, floating straight up as he glared at the Dark Chi Warrior. The entity rushed at Jade, only to wince as it was wrapped in a pink barrier that kept it from moving far.

As the dark chi barrier was absorbed, the energy binding Jade unhooked from her as she cried into the dark energy keeping her silent. Ben kept his arm held out to enclose the enemy, kneeling down as he raised Jade up a bit. The being growled as the girl curled into the boy, banging on the barrier.

"[Ancient Mandarin] You know not who you choose to make an enemy of, boy," hissed the villain. "My master will have the Chosen One, no matter what state he is reborn in. She will fall to darkness, and her descendants will bring about the Age of Eternal Darkness. What could one child hope to do to stop him." Ben looked towards the being, snarling.

"I have no idea what you're saying but tell whoever sent you to crawl back into the hole they came from. Jade is my- OUR friend and that makes her family. No one comes after MY family and gets away with it. I've beat things far more terrifying than an orange man with a bad attitude. Let's see if you grow back like the Shadowkhan."

He clenched his fist, making the barrier tighten as the being pushed against the walls. The boy subconsciously began to pull energy away from the man, only for the being to disappear as he was summoned away. Taking deep breaths, Ben placed his hand on the dark magic keeping Jade silent as he absorbed it. The Chinese girl hugged him tightly, sobbing as she was still hurting from the dark magic. The Omnitrix began beeping as Ben calmed down, a flash pulling back the bits and pieces of him that broke off as his body and attire formed around him once more.

Jackie had his jaw hanging open, his eyes wide as he couldn't believe what he saw. Viper gulped, having a similar look in her eyes. The woman shakily grabbed her communicator, bringing it to her face.

"Get me Magister Tennyson, now," ordered the agent. "We have an Anodite on Earth, and you won't believe who it is." Gwen caught onto this term, something inside her telling her it was important if her Grandpa Max had to hear it immediately.

Anodyne

The Depths of Space

In the midst of space, a red planet with a vibrant pink glow sat situated on its own in the cosmos. Two rings of debris and energy orbited the planet, intersecting at two different points. Pink streaks flew to and from the planet, the lights looking like comets in the vastness of space. An entity similar to Ben's new form floated above the planet in a meditative state, taking on the more female frame that the boy's body nearly started with yet more mature in shape and size. A wave of Ben's energy suddenly rocked the space, an echo of his roar playing in her mind as she took in some of the rampant energy. Her eyes opened, revealing a full pink glow as she looked towards the energy.

"Was that an Anodite?" questioned the woman. "Must be a new Spark." She began to grin, feeling a familiar presence. "Earth. It came from Earth."

She floated away from the planet a bit, still grinning. "I haven't felt a new spark this powerful in almost a century! Max, you old coot! You were supposed to tell me if one of our grandkids got their spark!"

The woman suddenly took off, becoming one of the pink streams of light that came and went from the planet. Her sights were set on Earth, the place where she first experienced actual love. That was a beautiful thing, to her at least.

Two Days Later

Xiaolin Temple, China

A trip that was supposed to be only one day extended by two more, Jade needing some help getting back on her feet physically and emotionally. She had never felt so helpless in her life, almost like it would flash before her eyes. It felt like everything would be taken from her in one fell swoop, like she was losing her entire world. No amount of past memories prepared her for the emotional trauma of feeling helpless, at least from a girl's point of view. That was when he saved her.

Ben was there, acting like a knight who donned a new set of armor. While it was a western concept, Jade had found the tales of a knight saving a damsel or a princess rather romantic. Now, however, she would have rather not been part of such an experience. Even now, Ben was staying with her as much as he was allowed to be as he learned from the others how best to care for her. He would hold her whenever night terrors would come for her, chasing them away with the stroking of her hair that had become a personal thing between the two of them.

He was there, he was real, and he wasn't going anywhere. Her mother once told her that knights in shining armor weren't really a thing but, for Jade, this was the closest thing she had ever felt. She felt cared for, safeguarded, and loved if she dared to think it. The only thing she would change is having not gone through such a horrible experience, knowing that she needed to increase her magical knowledge and up her gymnastics training if she would be continuously denied actual combat training. The suddenness of everything left her kicking herself as she had completely forgotten her gymnastics training in her state of frozen terror.

"You're shaking again," suddenly interrupted Ben. "You need me to get you some tea?" Jade looked up at him, looking nervous.

"N-No!" cried the girl as she hugged him closer. "I-I'm fine." Ben chuckled, rubbing her head some more.

"Jade, relax. You don't have to hide it from me. I wouldn't be gone long if you need some tea." Jade remained in her spot, her head leaning against his chest as she heard his heartbeat. She let it lull her, causing her to sigh.

"I hate being scared like this. Uncle Jackie doesn't make it any easier with his worrying. He thinks I'm going to break any day now. I'm scared, not fragile." Ben looked forward, sighing softly.

"I know all about being scared, terrified even. Honestly, I kinda hide behind my jokes and quips because I'm always scared something bad will happen. I used to be scared of clowns before the thought of losing someone important to me scared me more… but I'm still terrified of peacocks. If you tell anyone I told you, I'll never let you live it down." Jade couldn't help her giggle, remembering how Gwen straight up told her days before now.

"I have a feeling Gwen knows. She kinda hinted at it." Ben's shoulders slumped, the boy looking dismayed.

"Oh, she knows alright. Last year she pranked me by using a voice recorder to spook me with angry peacock noises. I fell into a pool and ruined my phone because of that. Still haven't found a good way to get back at her that won't get me in trouble." Viper opened the door to the room, Ben petting Jade's head more to reassure her it was okay.

"They're in here," informed the woman. "Go easy on them. Jade's been shaken up by the whole thing." Ben looked towards the doorway, watching as Grandpa Max walked in. He could tell that the man was surprised by their closeness, only for the Magister to smile as he regained his composure.

"I've spoken with the monks about the damages," informed the elder. "We'll have the building repaired in no time flat. How're you holding up, Jade? I had hoped it wouldn't be this bad." Jade rubbed the belt that sat beside her, feeling it hum at the touch.

"Belt of Lo Pei secured and loaded with the Rooster, Ox, and Snake talismans," informed the Chinese girl. "Shendu won't be able to find them unless we use their power. Even the most powerful tracking spells won't be able to locate them. It kinda has to stay with me, for the whole 'Chosen One' thing. I guess it could stay with Uncle Jing too, like when I'm at school."

She curled into Ben a bit more, the boy ignoring his bashful side as the girl sighed. "I just need to get more serious about training, both in magic and in fighting, so this won't happen again." Max smirked, shaking his head.

"I called Jing and explained everything. He's getting his shop prepared for the real training as we speak. You'll be the most protected person on Earth, at least through what magic can provide, when you get back. Still, you look rather cozy as you are." Jade sighed, looking slightly exasperated.

"Well, at least I can avoid the night terrors with sleepless nights of research and study. That's what Uncle Jing expects from us anyways, at least from what I can tell." Max nodded his head, deciding to shift focus.

"I've also spoken with your father over the phone, talking with Fung at the same time. When your Summer vacation comes up, you'll be returning here for personal training. Your father will be using his built up vacation days to be here with you." Ben hugged Jade closer, this time making the girl blush as his arms felt sturdier than when she last squeezed them.

"Then I wanna come back too," stated the boy. "I wanna be here to help Jade and I'd feel better if I were there to keep her safe. It would mean postponing the annual summer road trip but I need to do this. She's… important to me." Max smiled, crossing his arms.

"Well, we'd have to talk with your parents on that one. They'd want to know about everything, including this development." The duo blushed at the mention of it, Jade giggling nervously.

"Well… I still kinda have to talk to Daddy about this," clarified the girl. "More than likely, if he approves, things might move a little faster than Americans are used to." Ben blinked at this, not realizing exactly what the girl's words entailed.

Inkaliber: That's all for this two part chapter. I will admit, splitting the chapter up to allow for more backstory sharing and more fun moments was a good idea. We get Ben becoming the first male Anodite, Ben and Jade on their way to being an item, Gwen getting teased for liking Kevin, and Ellie finally sharing her backstory on top of another epic fight. Things are getting even more chaotic and exciting than even I planned. This time I'm actually telling you to thank Zem and Adran for this beautiful chaos.

Zemrocku: And I enjoyed the Anodite buildup. That was not completely planned on how it would happen but it was cool. Before anyone says in the comments that Anodites don't have DNA, I know that and that there's no such thing as a male Anodite. I know that as well… Ink kinda didn't want to do a female Anodite Ben SO improvising was needed here.

Inkaliber: I mean, it still made for an awesome visual. Not to mention the Omnitrix is known for making new species of aliens, like in the Alien Force live action movie where Nanomech was born.

Zemrocku: Personally, I see what we did with the Anodite similar to what's done with Goop from Alien Force. So that shoulder thing ya that's how I view why Ben's a stabilized Anodite, not falling apart like he should.

Adran: It makes sense. Even without that, the Omnitrix has always done weird things to adapt the forms to Ben. Ghost Freak for example was clearly altered to make him "safe" to use in daylight. Not that he was ever really safe as we later learned.

Inkaliber: My point exactly, Adran. Now, the next chapter is a Christmas chapter so we'll be trying to get that one put out as soon as possible. I can't guarantee we'll meet that goal but I'm hoping to get it out to you guys to give this year a final sendoff. In any case, that's enough of this chapter. Let's close it out!

What did you guys think about the chapter? Did you like the back stories and character conflicts? What will come of Ben's new form and will this developing relationship with Jade be acceptable in the eyes of her father? Let me know what you think down below and I'll try to respond ASAP, next chapter at the latest. This is Inkaliber, signing out.