Inkaliber: Merry Christmas everyone! It's time for a holiday chapter that's set to bring joy and delight! What better time to have a Christmas chapter than in the week of Christmas itself!? Think of it as a late Christmas present to you, guys. I'm starting this one early to be certain it's well and good.
However, there is something we need to address before we begin. First off, there has been a lot of hate thrown towards Jackie in the story for doing his job as a protector. While he could be handling it better, he is still in charge of Jade when her father isn't around which also applies to the other kids. He just wants her to be a kid, have fun, and live a long and fulfilling life. He just needs to come to understand that the world has placed targets on these kids' backs so he needs to adjust how he handles the situation.
Another discrepancy is that some people think male Anodites are possible. While an Anodite can be born from a male of a species, it has been confirmed as part of deep lore that all Anodites are female. This comes from an interview with Ben 10's creators. What Ben has achieved is an enigma of sorts. With these out of the way, let's get the story started by answering some reviews.
WanderingSage7- I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. Gwen getting her comeuppance was fun and there wasn't really much room for Paco to get involved in the fight this time. I'm sorry to say but my sources say that the creators themselves mentioned male Anodites as non-existent so, unless this is a reboot detail, your information is a case of someone messing with Wikipedia to make their head canon into canon in the minds of others. I must also make a correction that Ellie has Danny's memories but she's still very much a girl. She grew up as a girl, just with another person's memories.
Reader (Guest)- Thanks! Jackie here is being forced to grow into this new situation where he can't stop the kids from getting involved. Daolon Wong feels like a good enemy to use as the one pushing darkness to the forefront. Ben getting the new form was fun and the relationship between him and Jade is taking all the right steps so far.
Codepercy- Thanks! I enjoyed creating my own interpretation of how Ben getting an Anodite form with the watch on would look. If I did an Ellie backstory story, I'd have to be very careful what's done so that nothing goes against what's happening here.
Lincolnronnie94- You have a point there. Still, Jade's father has to consider everything carefully.
Matheus_Gabriel4455- While your take on it is interesting, I have already stated that Anodites are 100 percent female even if the Spark formed in a male body. I will check with my sources to see if your way of describing the process could be considered accurate or not.
Inkaliber: Everyone's set up and confirmed, so let's get this holiday extravaganza started! 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 22, 2008
Bellwood, Pennsylvania
Snow fell through the air, creating puffs of white across the ground. Some people could be seen shoveling the slush and ice off their driveways, the season being as harsh as it was beautiful. Christmas lights were strewn about each and every house, save for those who did not take part in the holiday openly. Still, even with the snow all around, the local schools were still open for business. Jade walked out of the classroom as the bell went off, sighing as she reached her locker.
"Finally," moaned the Chinese girl. "Last class of the year. Now I can focus on the important things. My first big Christmas is almost here, and I still need to make sure everything is perfect." She looked around for the others, quickly shoveling her stuff into her bag before she ran out the door.
Jade sat on the bleachers of the basketball court, looking over a list she had written down in a notebook. "I've got a small telescope for Ellie since she likes looking at the stars, I've got an El Toro Fuerte statuette for Paco (which I hope he doesn't already have), a reading light for Gwen, and a refrigerator magnet Sari said she'd love to wear like a badge. Oh yeah! And I got cookie boxes for the girls in Gymnastics Club. That just leaves… Ben."
She turned the page, showing several scribbled-out ideas and crossed out images that she had sketched. "He can't have anything involving peacocks, Sumo Slammers is too predictable and says nothing about our whole situation, and Daddy already told me I'm not getting a whole blender for someone's Christmas gift… I'm running out of things I can give him! Why is it so hard to get a gift for the boy I like but so easy for everyone else!?" Sari approached her, an oblivious smile on her face.
"Happy Hanumas!" cheered the Cybertronian. Jade suddenly cried out at this, closing the little notebook as she took deep breaths. She narrowed her eyes, pointing at her metal friend.
"One, it's Merry Christmas. Christmas and Hanukkah are two different things. Second, how long were you here? You didn't see what was in my notebook, did you?" Sari shrugged, shaking her head.
"I just got here. I couldn't make out what you were saying but I saw the scribbles in your book when you got to complaining about Ben." Jade sighed in relief, putting a hand on her chest to steady her heart. "Anything I can do to help?" The Chinese girl shook her head in denial, turning the page back to her scribbled mess.
"Just… trying to find what I'm getting Ben for Christmas. The Christmas party is two days away and I want whatever I get him to mean something." The metal girl carefully sat down, remembering Ben's advice about flopping from weeks ago.
"I heard that couples often get rings, right? Are you and he not a couple?" Jade blushed at this, rubbing the back of her head.
"It's… complicated. Unless it's a promise ring, couples usually only get each other rings when they're getting married. I told Daddy after a few days of recovery time that I wanted to have that kind of relationship with Ben, and he hasn't gotten back to me yet. He was a little vague with his response." She looked forward, remembering the conversation she had with the man.
It's Flashback Time!
Over One Week Earlier
[Language Change: Mandarin]
Jade stood nervously at the foot of the stairs, knowing full well that her father had developed a habit of sitting in the recliner to study up on American topics. It was to ensure he wouldn't be lost trying to understand topics that were important to his colleagues in Bellwood, though it was clear to her that he had taken up an appreciation for baseball. Sure enough, as Jade predicted, the man walked in from the kitchen as he took a seat in his chair. She brushed her hair a bit, making sure she was dressed appropriately for any surprise guests that might show up. Before she could do things on her own terms, she went pale as her father gestured towards the couch next to him.
"Sit, Xiaoyu," ordered Shen. Jade gulped, walking forward as she sat on the couch. "You are tense, my Precious Gem. Is everything well at school?" The girl looked towards her father, nodding her head.
"Yes, Daddy," reassured Xiaoyu. "I just… wish to discuss something important with you." Her father was about to turn on the tv before she admitted this, looking towards her as he recognized the tone of her voice. She tried to look him in the eye, hoping to make her intent clear. The man nodded his head, putting the remote down as he spun his chair towards her.
"You know you can come to me for anything, Xiaoyu. Please, speak freely." The girl took a deep breath, knowing it was better to say it than try to dance around it.
"Daddy, I have developed feelings for Tennyson Ben. He has been a good friend and was there for me when I had hard times after the incident at the temple. He has even checked on me each and every day, whether it is at school, at the base, at our homes, or even over the phone. All while keeping the appropriate boundaries set by society. I know what it means to say this, but I care deeply for him and wish to see if we could make this work."
She bowed her head to her father, making sure to show him the appropriate respect in this situation. "Please allow me to have this." Shen looked to his right, obviously thinking about the whole ordeal.
"Thank you for bringing this to me, Xiaoyu. I will discuss this with your mother and inform you of our decision. Until then, you are welcome to join me in watching the television. I believe one of those Christmas films is about to start." Xiaoyu could only nod her head, looking towards the TV as she didn't know how to proceed.
Back to the Present!
[Language Change: English]
"It's been two weeks, and they still haven't come to a decision on if I'm allowed to have this relationship," bemoaned Jade. "I've been keeping things appropriate between me and Ben but if they say no then it all goes down the drain. On top of all that I still don't know what to get him for Christmas! I've looked at every avenue and I still can't find anything that shows I care rather than just 'Oh this is so neat'. I'm gonna drive myself crazy over this!"
The Chinese girl flopped onto her back, groaning in annoyance. "Why is Ben so hard to shop for?" She heard giggling, closing her notebook as Ellie was walking up the steps of the bleachers.
"Because he's a total boy who doesn't have a lot of sentimental things he likes to talk about," teased the spiritual girl. "Also, before you freak out, I only heard you telling Sari about your relationship problems." Sari looked between the duo, trying to twiddle her thumbs in uncertainty.
"To be fair, I have assessed Ben's character as a person," stated the Cybertronian girl. "He seems to have a gradual decrease in his desire to play video games." Ellie hummed, nodding her head.
"Now that I think about it, he kinda has been more into working out and doing physical activities. He really only plays Sumo Slammers or Pokemon by himself, saving some of the other games for when we're all hanging out. I think he's looking into going for soccer when the season starts. Being his sister and all-" Jade suddenly shot up, a huge grin on her face.
"THAT'S RIGHT!" cried the Chinese girl. "You know Ben inside and out, give or take his really private stuff. You'd know the perfect thing to get him! You have to help me, please!" Ellie held up her hands, shivering a bit as she was caught off guard by how eager Jade was.
"W-Well he does like aliens, even though he can turn into them, so there's always that. Your dad works with that little frog guy so you could get ideas from him." Jade crossed her arms, pouting a bit.
"I wouldn't want to waste his time. Daddy told me that the guy works on so many projects and barely gives any time to surprise visits unless it's emergencies or new discoveries. He wouldn't give me the time of day. It's a good avenue though." Ellie hummed at this, scratching her head as she tried to think of something.
"Dang, Jade. It's kinda hard to pick for Ben without it being something niche. I guess you could do something soccer but if he changes his mind then it'll just be sitting around. Of all the boys out there, he's one of the hard ones to pick for." Sari suddenly cheered, holding her hand up.
"I know!" cried the Cybertronian. "Sometimes I follow you guys without saying anything to see what you're doing." The girls shivered, Ellie shaking her head.
"Sari, that's called stalking which is both creepy and illegal. Please don't keep doing that." The Cybertronian didn't show remorse, shrugging.
"I mean, okay. Sure. Anyway, Ben has been reading a lot of Mandarin and looking up Chinese culture at the park. He keeps practicing words and performing these different bows and gestures where he thinks no one can see him. He once smacked his forehead after saying he challenged someone's grandmother to a race instead of something else." Ellie backed up a bit, still looking creeped out by the idea that someone had been stalking her.
"Sari, you didn't follow us everywhere we went… Right?" The Cybertronian looked up, tapping her finger to her chin.
"WELL, I haven't followed Ben and Paco into the boy's bathroom or snuck into your quarters. Optimus would have my posterior if I invaded someone else's dwelling without being invited in. You already stopped me from going into the boy's washroom around the time we first met so I know not to go in there… Why do you ask?" Jade held up her hands, shaking her head.
"Let's just agree to not stalk each other," offered the Chosen One. "Anyway, you said Ben's been studying Chinese culture?" She looked towards Ellie, the sibling shrugging.
"The first I've heard of it," answered the girl. "Honestly, he's been getting a lot better about hiding things, even if he still messes up. It's been harder to sneak around while my powers aren't working properly either. I've got invisibility back, but it only works on me and not my clothes yet." Jade crossed her arms, humming as she looked down.
"I mean, I guess something sentimental that reflects our time together would still be appropriate. Just as long as it's not anything that's big with dating in case my folks say no. Soccer, Chinese social studies, aliens… That's still a pretty limited list." Ellie shivered, shaking her head.
"Well, given Christmas Eve is in two days, you're so lucky tomorrow is the start of Christmas Break. We should probably get going as we're not exactly bundled up for spending all day out here. Your folks would get mad if you got sick before the party and I'm sure Mister Prime wants Sari home soon too." Sari gasped, running away without even saying goodbye. Jade sighed, rubbing her head as she smiled.
"You're right. Still, I'm looking forward to it. I've never really celebrated Christmas like this before. The closest celebration we've had is celebrating the Chinese New Year and that lasts for several weeks." The girls walked off, leaving the school behind.
Meanwhile, Ben could be seen neatly wrapping his gift in bubble wrap in his room. He then lowered it back into its box, quickly and carefully wrapping that in green wrapping paper that had snow and fireworks on it. He put the finishing touch on top, a glistening red bow with the gift tag hanging from one of the loops. The boy rubbed sweat from his brow, having been nervous about accidentally breaking something. He picked up his box, fumbling it around a bit as his door suddenly opened.
"Hey Ben?" questioned his mother. "Have you seen the tape?" The boy held the present behind his back, kicking the leftover wrapping paper under his bed.
"D-Did you check the drawer on the far end of the counter?" questioned the boy. "It might be there." Sandra looked towards him, smiling knowingly as she saw his poor attempt to hide the box.
"Oh really? And that's not the tape sitting right there on your bed?" Ben looked towards the object, chuckling nervously as his left brow twitched.
"N-No… Yeah I didn't even believe myself on that one." His mother pushed the door open more, revealing that the baby bump in her stomach had grown out even more.
"Now, mind showing me what you're hiding back there? Or is this a surprise?" The boy deflated, feeling like he had been caught red handed as he set the gift on the bed.
"Don't laugh. I was trying to make it a secret." Sandra giggled at him, walking forward and rubbing his hair playfully.
"Sweetheart, there's nothing wrong with giving gifts to people. You put in a lot of effort to make it look cute! Who's it for? Fireworks aren't really the Christmas theme by themselves." Ben blushed, poking his fingers together.
"W-Well it's Jade's first Christmas with us so I thought I'd get her something. I mean, it's not THAT big a deal. Not like guys don't get girls they like gifts all the time… And I forgot I never told you I like her." He thought she was going to do the screaming thing she and Ellie tended to do, only to feel her hug him close.
"Ben, you're so adorable when you're nervous. You have nothing to worry about. Not to mention you made it rather apparent at the gymnastics competition that something was working upstairs. I'm just happy you haven't started following her around everywhere… like your father did to me two days into us dating." The boy looked down, feeling a need to explain himself.
"It's not just a normal 'I like her', Mom. For the past few months, I've been practicing Mandarin at the park. I may have also made myself look dumb practicing the whole bowing thing behind some trees. I really need her dad to like me because I can't be Jade's boyfriend without his approval." He found his head being held to his mother's stomach, feeling the slight movements of his little sibling inside.
"To think you'd be so worried about impressing a girl's father and you're not even thirteen yet. I know you're going to get it, as long as you show the best person Ben Tennyson can be." Ben shivered as he was held at arm's length, Sandra smiling at him. "Now, come put that under the tree and help me around the house. I can't exactly bend over as much these days."
The boy nodded his head, smiling as he followed his mother. The gift sat in the middle of the other presents, Ben actually vacuuming the rug as he hummed to himself. The next moment saw him sweeping with precision, his eyes focusing on anything that could be troublesome. He finally reached a point where he was hanging up some of the Christmas decorations around the rooms, his mother watching with a big smile as he wore a Santa hat on his head. The phone rang, Carl quickly walking over from the backyard.
"I'll get it!" cried the man. "Keep up the good work Ben." The man picked up the phone, holding it to his ear. "Tennyson residence. Oh, hey Dad."
Ben looked at his father as he climbed down the step ladder, smiling until he saw the man's face turn from one of happiness to one of shock. "SHE'S HERE!? What is mom doing back!? She hasn't visited the Earth in years!" Ben's eyes widened, Ellie being oblivious to this moment as she quickly shut the door behind her.
"Finally," huffed the spiritual girl. "I can take off this jacket." Carl nodded his head, his face turning serious.
"I see. We'll be over right away." The man of the house hung up his phone, turning towards the kids. "Ellie, keep your jacket on. Ben, get your jacket on."
Ellie groaned at having to go back out into the cold, Sandra walking into the room with a confused look. "There's someone you two have to meet, especially you Ben." The mother of the house frowned, putting a hand on Ben's shoulder.
"You mean SHE is back?" questioned the blonde woman. "I thought she left Earth for good, all because another kid out there had some 'Spark' that made them more important than MY babies." Carl rubbed his neck, sighing.
"Sandra, we've been over this. She had to train that girl otherwise it would have been bad for her. Dad told us how it can be for them as they're hunted by some of the worst in the galaxy. It's more about a kid being in danger than any level of importance." The woman put a hand on her hip, huffing in annoyance.
"That I get. What I don't get is her abandoning this family and never contacting us to at least ask about the kids." Ellie looked incredibly confused, watching as her father rubbed his temples.
"Honey, I know you don't exactly approve of her being absent for most of the kids' lives but that doesn't change the fact that Mom's here now. It's either we go to see her, or she shows up here, and trust me. She's not exactly subtle." Ben looked between his parents, looking concerned.
"Um, can someone explain to me what the heck is going on?" questioned the boy. "You said 'Mom' is here. Does that mean-" A silent conversation was then held between the parents of the household, Sandra gesturing to Carl to explain the situation. The man sighed, nodding his head.
"Yes, Ben. Your grandma is here." Ellie blinked, standing up straight as she accidentally popped up into the air for a second.
"OUR GRANDMA!?" cried the spiritual girl. "WE STILL HAVE A GRANDMA!? YOU GUYS NEVER TELL ME ANYTHING!" Not long after, Max could be seen sitting in the cafeteria of the base with a small smile on his face. He chuckled, shaking his head.
"It's been years since we've had tea and smoked eel like this," reminisced the old man. "I still remember how you thought the food was poisoned before we learned you were pregnant with Carl." An elderly woman laughed at the reminder, the faint wrinkles on her skin matching the neck-length gray hair and dark blue eyes she possessed. The woman wore a dark blue dress with a black belt, a long-sleeved white shirt with a black stripe down the middle, and black heeled shoes. The woman leaned forward, carrying a flirtatious smirk.
"You could cut a woman some slack, Max," teased the elderly lady. "I was new to human foods, and you can never be too careful. Of course, we could always have 'other experiences' like old times." Max chuckled at this, raising his brows at the offer. The sound of someone huffing in exasperation filled the air, causing him to look back.
"You know, I think it would have been nice to know Grandma was still alive out there," groaned the voice of Gwen. "I mean, you guys told me my whole life she was gone without clarifying that she's OUT IN SPACE! Not only did you guys know about aliens, but you knew Grandma was still out there. What, is something wrong with her?" She walked in with her family, her mother rolling her eyes.
"Do you really want my opinion?" asked Natalie. "If you ask me, that woman is nothing but trouble. I mean, one time she-" She then noticed her husband, Frank, giving her a silence sign. The woman smirked, not at all bothered by the bad publicity.
"It's good to see you too, Natalie," greeted Max's wife. She cooed, suddenly standing up. "Look at the little ones! This strong young man can't be Kenny!" Gwen's redheaded brother winced as his cheek was pinched, the teen groaning.
"Hello Grandma Verdona," greeted the young man. "Seven years is a long time to be gone." The woman laughed, shaking her head.
"It couldn't be helped, Kenny. Your cousin Sunny needed someone to take her in after her father decided to 'sell' her for money." She then looked towards Gwen, the girl looking nervous. "And who's this young lady? It can't be little Gwen!"
Gwen shivered as she was suddenly hugged, feeling like a stranger was holding her. "You had to have been only five when I last saw you!" The little magician couldn't help the slight glow in her eyes, as if her magic were being drawn out. "You have quite the Spark, though it's not quite the one I sensed a few weeks ago."
Gwen looked confused as the woman released her, having trouble remembering her face. "And there's my Frankie!" Her father laughed as he was hugged closely, looking towards his wife as Natalie was waiting for the niceties to be over.
"Mom, I'm a grown man," reminded the father. "It's Frank." His mother wagged her finger at him, still smirking.
"Nonsense! You'll always be my little Frankie." Gwen, feeling the tension in the room, scooted towards Max.
"Grandpa is she really our grandma?" questioned the redhead. "And what did she mean with that Spark comment?" The old man laughed at this, rubbing the top of her head.
"Yes, Gwen," reassured Max. "I understand your confusion since you weren't really old enough to remember her, at least when she had to leave. It was a complicated and rather dangerous situation. Just give it some time and you'll get used to her wiles." The old woman looked back, her smirk eerily still in place.
"I heard that," joked Verdona. "Need I remind you that you raised a family with my 'wiles'." Max chuckled at this, missing those back and forths they'd have.
"Yeah, and then you disappeared until the kids were born," huffed Natalie under her breath. Before anyone could respond, the lunch hall doors slid open. Ellie waved her arms at her parents, walking backwards.
"Like, seriously!" cried the spiritual girl. "All my life I thought we didn't have a grandma because she was dead! No one tells me anything about my own family! I-" She cried out as she was suddenly hoisted up, shivering as she was spun around a bit.
"There's the littlest Jellie Bean!" cheered the woman. "The sassiest little girl I know. I-" The woman frowned a bit, shivering herself for a moment before she recovered her smile. "My you feel rather cold." Ellie looked back at her, raising her brow.
"Um, duh. It's the middle of December and it's freezing cold." Deciding to put the matter away, Verdona then put the girl down to turn her attention to Carl.
"There's my little man! Sandie must be feeding you well, given how cute and full you are." Ben snickered under his breath, watching his father look exasperated from the hug.
"Hey Mom," greeted the man. "Good to see you." The old woman let go, only to squeal much to the boy's dismay as she saw the baby bump on Sandra.
"Another grandbaby, and just in time! Let me have a feel!" Sandra smiled awkwardly, trying to put her remarks from earlier behind her as the alien woman felt the little one kick. "Ooh! As feisty as his father, or hers. It's been a while since I've felt a baby so I can't tell for sure."
Ben noticed her eyes go pink, furrowing his brow as he heard her coo. "And it has the littlest and cutest spark I've ever seen!... I thought this would be the one I sensed. It felt newly born but this is definitely not what I sensed." Max stood up, rubbing the back of his head.
"That's what I was trying to tell you before you got one of those cravings," informed the old man. "It wasn't one of the girls." He gestured his head towards Ben as the woman looked towards him, the boy freezing up a bit as the attention was on him.
"Benny? You look… different than I thought a boy your age would look. You were the skinniest little thing." Feeling nervous under the woman's gaze, Ben quickly looked around while thinking. He playfully flexed, falling back on his childishness.
"Well, I have been hitting the personal gym," joked the boy. "It's nothing big." He noticed the woman's eyes on the Omnitrix for a split second, quickly moving it out of focus as he stuck his hands in his pocket. "So… long flight from outer space?" He shivered as his cheek was playfully pinched, the boy being reminded of his aunt as he tried not to respond negatively to the move.
"You are such a jokester, just like your father. I-" The woman shivered again, this time more visibly. "That is… quite the Spark you have there. I honestly didn't believe you for a second there, Max." Gwen huffed, crossing her arms.
"Okay, could you explain this Spark thing?" questioned the redhead. "You make us sound like those Cyber-whatsit's that Sari and her folks are." Ben and Ellie looked towards her, the siblings deadpanning.
"Cybertronians," corrected the duo. Gwen leaned back, looking a bit spooked. She then glared at her cousins, clenching her fists.
"How many times have I told you guys NOT to do that thing where you say something at the same time!? It creeps me out." Seeing a good moment, the twins looked at each other.
"You know what she's talking about? I don't have a clue." The redhead of the hero group groaned with her face in her hands, the duo laughing as the adults enjoyed the little moment.
"I'm sure your grandmother will be happy to explain it later, Gwen," reassured Max. "At least, I hoped she would stay for the Christmas season." Verdona gasped, holding a hand to her mouth.
"Is it that time of year already? If I knew I would have brought something for everyone." Gwen's mother rolled her eyes, a pleading look from her father keeping her from saying anything as the old woman brushed off her outfit a bit. "Of course I'm staying. Someone has to drink the first cup of eggnog."
Ben looked between the adults, finding this whole encounter to be rather interesting. There were, however, questions that were obviously on his mind. Where had his grandmother been? What did she mean by a Spark? And what kind of alien was she, given the way everyone was talking?
He wouldn't get much of a chance to talk with Verdona as the day was coming to an end, the next day seeing the boy sipping on a cup of chocolate bacon hot cocoa from Mister Smoothies. He tapped his pencil against the page he was taking notes on, mentally practicing Mandarin in his head so he would be sure he didn't mess up when he talked to her parents at the party. Suddenly feeling the familiar buzzing in the back of his head, he lowered it as a spitball meant for the back of his head hit a woman that just so happened to be a teacher in the butt.
"CASH!" roared the woman. "I'll be having a discussion with your parents about this, young man!" The bully threw his hands up in the air, groaning.
"Hey, we're out of school and if Tennyson didn't move his stupid head-" began the boy. The teacher shushed him, causing him to lower his arms.
"I am a patient woman. I can wait until the start of next semester, young man, unless you want to add more to the conversation." Cash huffed, crossing his arms.
"No ma'am. I'm sorry." Ben smirked at this, continuing with his note taking as if nothing happened. It was always a good day when justice was allowed to reign over the holidays. Now he had to remember whether the character he wrote meant daughter or cat.
"Couldn't consider planets having multiple languages, Azmuth?" whispered the boy to himself. "No. Just one language is enough, and we'll tack on a translator later. At least this will show some kind of effort… I hope." He sighed, having the feeling that he was doomed.
On the other side of town, Jade was walking along the sidewalk looking defeated. She had tried to find something, anything, that she thought would be perfect for Ben. Still, she came up empty as she had no idea what would even be appropriate for this time of year or even for a gift. The situation they were in was a bit strenuous when it came to gift buying, especially if her father disapproved of them being together. She looked up as she heard Gwen groan, the redhead stomping as she and Ellie were walking towards her.
"I still can't believe it," huffed the magical girl. "Seven years I thought Grandma wasn't around because she was dead. Now she's here and I don't know a thing about her. On top of that she kept going on about Sparks." Ellie shook her head, shrugging.
"Beats me," argued the spiritual girl. "All I know is that she's fun and sassy and I love it. She keeps looking at me funny whenever we hug but I kinda have that effect on people. Like they've 'seen a ghost'." Jade couldn't help but giggle, approaching the duo.
"Sounds like a fun conversation," admitted the Chinese girl. "Anything to brighten up my day of shops that were absolutely no help is better than nothing." Gwen looked towards Jade, crossing her arms.
"Okay, what's wrong?" questioned the magical girl. "I'm out of the loop on something." Sari popped up out of nowhere, a soft frown on her face.
"Jade has been having trouble finding a gift to get Ben," informed the Cybertronian. "By the tone of her voice, I assume it's not going well even after she asked Ellie." Gwen looked towards her cousin, tilting her head.
"Um, hello? Does no one ask me about these things? Did you even try mentioning puzzles?" Jade blinked, as if a switch went off in her head. She looked towards Gwen, her eyes wide.
"Puzzles?" questioned the Chosen One. "I didn't know he likes puzzles." Ellie crossed her arms as Gwen gained a smug look, the redhead turning towards their friend.
"Well, he hasn't done one in about a year but he kinda has a knack for them. Ever since he got the 'you know what' two years ago he's been giving himself less time to do them. I bet my bottom dollar he'll solve any puzzle you give him though. You could just put something inside a puzzle box or something and he'll eat it up, the more complex the puzzle the better." Jade blinked, slowly smiling.
"I-I love puzzles. China prides itself on having the most complex puzzles out there. I think I have this old one that took me two years to solve, the hardest one I've ever done. Gwen, you're a genius!" Ellie groaned, rubbing her forehead.
"Thanks for that, Jade," huffed the spiritual girl. "Now we're never gonna hear the end of it until she does something stupid." Gwen rolled her eyes, only for Paco to suddenly run over.
"Feliz Navidad, mi amigos!" cheered the Hispanic boy. "Isn't the season wonderful!? We did not get much snow back in Mexico, so it is an amazing sight to see! I did not get to bring these at school, but Mama made chocolates as gifts for everyone!" Ellie shivers, having a bit of a deadpan look.
"Glad you like it. Welcome to the club that has to live with it, though hot chocolate always helps." The boy hummed in interest, nodding his head as he handed out the little boxes.
"Have never had. Sounds delicioso." Gwen looked between the duo, noticing how they were looking at each other a little too long.
"Hey lovebirds, we gotta get home," interrupted the redhead. "We already have Ben and Jade being awkward and I draw the line at being the only single in the group." Ellie blushed at being called out, crying out as she was pulled along by the hood of her jacket. Jade waved at the duo, grinning eagerly.
"Thanks again, Gwen!" cried the Chinese girl. "Thanks for the chocolates, Paco." She ran quickly in the opposite direction she was walking in earlier, knowing that she needed to get home soon. The only thing left to figure out was what to put in the puzzle box. That, she thought, should be much easier.
Later in the day, Ben looked like he would die of embarrassment. His mother just HAD to pull out baby pictures and vacation images to show his grandmother while they waited for Ellie and Gwen to return. There were pictures from that fateful summer, such as the time Max took them to see the world's largest rubber band ball, to the one dance he went to where he fell and spilled the punch bowl on himself. Then there was the wedding during the infamous summer, Ben trying to hide his face away as his mother told the story. Verdona cooed at this, shaking her head.
"He looks so adorable in a suit!" cheered the old woman. "And look at Gwen in that dress. I wish Ellie could have been there. Max, I need more children." Ben blanched at this, causing the adults to laugh.
"We'll discuss that later, Honey," reassured the old man. "I will say I'm not as spry as I used to be." Verdona giggled, leaning against the arm of the couch.
"Oh, a little mana boost will fix that right up. You're still so young looking for your age." Ben gagged at this, pointing into his mouth. He stopped as soon as he saw the frown on his mother's face, standing straight as he chuckled nervously. Ellie suddenly opened the door, letting Gwen in just in time before she slammed the door shut.
"Why does it keep getting colder!?" cried the spiritual girl. "You didn't have to pull me away by my hood, GWENDOLYN!" Gwen rolled her eyes, huffing.
"Well excuse me," huffed the redhead. "I'm not the one holding us up over chocolates from a boy." Ellie crossed her arms, growling.
"Oh yeah? Well at least I can like someone without feeling ashamed because he's a bad guy! I'm going to my room before Grandma V gets here and… She's already here." The ghost girl slumped as she saw the excited scream her mother was trying to hold in, the old woman in the group clearing her throat.
"Perfect timing, girls," admitted the woman. "I think it's time we talked about something important." Gwen's mother, who was sitting in the kitchen with her father, leaned in as she had a serious frown on her face. "Please, gather around." Ben nodded to the girls, sitting down beside them in front of the old woman.
Verdona took a deep breath, her face looking slightly less confident yet more serious. "As you've probably guessed by now, I'm far from being human." Natalie snorted at this, Frank giving her a pleading frown as his mother continued. "I choose to take this form so that your grandfather can feel more comfortable, seeing as an older man with a younger woman tends to garner some looks, he's not fond of. If I wished, I could look as young as you kids and even make this shell grow up at the same rate." Gwen shivered, looking slightly disgusted.
"Shell?" questioned the redhead. "We're not some kind of slimy, gross snails, are we?" Verdona giggled at this, shaking her head.
"Far from anything slimy, Gwen. Let me show you." The woman stood up, the skin and attire she wore sinking in as if being sucked in by a black hole. The trio's eyes widened as the woman's true form was on full display, Ellie mentally grumbling about how the adults keep one upping her in development. Gwen looked towards Ben, her eyes still wide.
"Ben, didn't you turn into a boy-like version of that two weeks ago?" questioned the redhead. "I think the Omnitrix called it an 'Anomyte?'" Verdona hummed, tilting her head a bit.
"Boy-like? Now that's interesting. For the record, Gwen, it's Anodite. Still, even Anodite boys take this form. I didn't know Azmuth's toy could use an Anodite form, given we don't have DNA."
The woman made a swirling disk in her hand, looking like a solar system. "We're made up of pure life energy, though we call it Mana. Wizards and mages across the galaxy tend to use it for their silly magic tricks, though they lack our Sparks which leads to them using other sources. In fact, an Anodite mage doesn't need a focus or power source of any kind other than herself… er, or himself. Our sparks are that source, a term the Cybertronians 'borrowed' from us to explain their own souls." Gwen blinked, looking towards the woman.
"Wait… so my body isn't real? I'm not human?" Verdona nodded her head, a smirk on her face.
"In a manner of speaking it is a real human form, though it's more like a skin surrounding the compressed spark. A vessel of your power, if you will, until it's open and freer. It's still your body, though eventually your spark will need to be released before it blows up the planet from growing too quickly." Gwen gulped at this, not liking the sound of that. Ellie laughed, grinning at her cousin.
"So much for being part of the 'normal people' in the group, Gwen," laughed the ghost girl. "Still, could she maybe not blow up?" Their grandmother snickered, shaking her head.
"No need to worry, Jelliebean. She's still growing her spark. I say give it another three or five years before it's ready to come out. You've been practicing the use of it rather well." Gwen rubbed the back of her head, giggling a bit.
"W-Well I do use a lot of magic when I need to. Two weeks ago, I was going to use a spell but then something, I guess my mana, shot out instead. It made a shield at one point and even boosted my entropy spell. I felt a lot stronger." Verdona smiled, nodding her head.
"Well keep at it. It'll 'strengthen your muscles' so to speak." Ben hummed, looking towards the Omnitrix.
"Hmm…" hummed the boy. "The Omnitrix did say the Anodite form was temporarily labeled as a mutation. Maybe my spark activating during the update caused the Omnitrix to take in the energy mixed within my DNA. I should probably call Azmuth to see what he says." Verdona giggled, watching Ben twist the dial.
"You think the old frog will have time to answer you?" questioned the old woman. "You may have his toy, but he rarely answers for anyone." Ben then pressed the button like he usually would for a call, the faceplate of the Omnitrix sliding in two as a hologram projector activated.
"Took you long enough," huffed the Galvan. "You were supposed to update me on the progress of the Omnitrix's new update sooner than this, Tennyson. You have quite the knack for sending emergency work to me. What's this nonsense about an Anodite Mutation?" Verdona blinked at this, Ben rubbing the back of his head.
"That's the funny thing," stated the boy. "Apparently, I have a spark, and it activated during the update. I think it triggered the Omnitrix to create the form that I turned into. It felt extremely real." The Galvan hummed, taking in this information.
"Well, as real as it may feel, I cannot create something from no DNA. The Omnitrix evolved on its own, using your own DNA as a base to create and contain that energy in a way that would keep the form stabilized. I must say, I was rather curious when the Omnitrix modified itself without prompting so it made for an interesting experiment. Truth be told, I had not considered using a genetic casing to house an Anodite form."
The Galvan popped his back a bit, a sign that he had been sitting for a long time. "It has made creating a way to study and preserve the Anodites as a species easier. It could also act as a solution to housing the Sparks of drained Anodites so that they can hopefully be revived, or even other energy beings that have similar adaptations. For all the trouble you cause on a weekly basis, you tend to create the most intriguing of experiments." Ben rubbed the back of his head, giggling.
"Anyway, the Omnitrix is doing great. It feels a lot smoother, and it definitely catches less eyes as it looks like a modern Earth watch." Azmuth slightly smirked at this, something Verdona had never seen from the old coot.
"I am pleased to know the update is working as intended, despite the unusual evolution. The smooth transition and increased ease of use was the goal for this update. I will request that you try out the new roster so that I can retrieve the data soon. I'll also be studying the sample for the Anodite before I give full access, seeing as using it recklessly could compromise your still developing core. Not to mention the potential damages to your DNA." Ben shivered at this, nodding his head.
"I read you loud and clear. No Anodite form until you say otherwise." Azmuth's blank frown returned, the Galvan nodding.
"Good. Now, if there's nothing else, I have much work to do." The hologram shut itself off, the projector lowering back into the core as the faceplate closed quickly.
"Ah well. Guess I can't show off the Anodite form for a bit, Grandma." Verdona smiled, shaking her head. The skin and outfit she had popped back out, her energy hair being sucked into her scalp as the gray hairs returned. Ben felt her ruffle his hair, crying out a bit.
"You'll have plenty of time, Ben," reassured the old woman. "I'm considering bringing your cousin Sunny here so we could live together as a family again. It'd allow me to introduce you kids to how your heritage works." Natalie rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair as Frank breathed a sigh of relief. Ellie looked towards their grandmother, a curious look on her face.
"So… everyone but me and Kenny has one of those spark thingies, right?" questioned the spiritual girl. "I mean, I haven't really done any of this mana stuff since my powers are ectoplasm based." Verdona hesitated, as if a difficult subject had been brought up.
"Unfortunately, Kenny is past the age where a child would grow their spark. Even still, there's the potential for his own kids to have one." Ellie blinked at this, tilting her head.
"You only said Kenny. Does… that mean I have one of those spark thingies?" Verdona looked around the room, trying to think about how she'd explain this.
"Before I answer that, I have a question. How many people in this room know about… these 'ghost' powers?" Ben looked around, becoming concerned.
"I mean, everyone here does," stated the boy. "She's had them for a long time, though they got a bit harder for her to use after the banishment spell fixed some imbalance in her. They got a whole lot more powerful though. You should see her Ghost Belch." Ellie blushed at this, tossing a pillow at Ben.
"BEN!" cried the spiritual girl. "DON'T GO TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THAT!" Verdona nodded her head, looking a little less strained.
"Right. So, Eleanor, from what I felt your spark hadn't really developed until a few weeks ago. There are signs that it was being smothered by something I couldn't quite identify until now. Now that it's growing, it feels like it's 'evolved' so to speak."
The kids looked at her, Ellie looking a bit worried by the tone. "The closest thing I can explain this is that it feels like there's hints of Ectonurite inside you when there isn't any history of them in the family. It still feels like a Spark, just cold as if it were dead. I can't tell whether you're a whole new breed of Anodite or something entirely new, but your spark IS growing and quickly. The fact that it's partly ectoplasm makes it hard for me to tell exactly how developed your Spark is and how fast it's growing." Sandra held up her hands, having a worried expression.
"I'm sorry but could we back up a bit?" questioned the blonde woman. "Are you saying that my baby could EXPLODE ANY DAY NOW!?" Verdona frowned, looking remorseful.
"It is a possibility. Still, this is uncharted territory so I don't know how her spark will react once it's fully grown. I'll need to keep a close eye on her, hence why being here on Earth is so important. I-" Natalie huffed, looking into her eyes.
"Normally you'd just tell the kid you have to leave the whole world behind," grumbled the woman. "That's how your people work, right?" Frank moaned, rubbing his temples.
"Natalie, you promised you wouldn't do this during the holidays," pleaded the man. "No one's taking Gwen anywhere." Gwen looked between the group, confused.
"Um… take me?" questioned the redhead. "Take me where?" Verdona sighed, having known this would come up.
"Natalie, dear, I'm not heartless," reminded the old woman. "Anodites just can't stay in one place for too long, both as free spirits and to avoid those who would use us as batteries. I had to leave last time because Sunny was in danger of that very thing, meaning she would have died." Gwen froze at this, no longer appreciating this newfound knowledge at the mention of becoming a battery. Ben scowled, his hair standing on end.
"So that's why Dad mentioned hunters yesterday," growled the boy. "Maybe you should have started with that." The older Anodite sighed, slumping onto the couch.
"I'm sorry, Ben, but it's the truth. Given your little stunt, I wouldn't be surprised if the hunters picked up on the sudden explosion of mana. When a powerful Anodite is born, their spark lights up like a beacon to the entire universe in order to signal for an adult to come and find them. This used to be a survival strategy before the hunters developed devices that can track the fallout." Ben froze, scratching at the band of the Omnitrix in an anxious panic.
"N-No… I put everyone in danger. I-I put Jade in danger. I just needed to save her, I-" Verdona held up her hands, a serious frown on her face.
"Ben, calm down. You have nothing to worry about. As an older Anodite, I have the experience needed to deal with most hunters and the power to back it up. Not to mention your grandfather is an expert on knowing what to look for. When they arrive, all three of you and the baby will be safe." Ben shook his head, still having a panicked look on his face.
"I still can't just sit around and do nothing. I have to figure out something to counter them, figure out the new aliens and how to counter what they could use, build an algorithm and system for detecting unknown and hidden aliens from just walking into the house… Oh my gosh they could go after Jade! I-" Ellie shook her brother, looking worried.
"Ben, you're having a panic attack!" cried the ghost girl. "Stop and breathe!" The boy took deep breaths, his sister holding him close as she rubbed his back. Sandra quickly walked over, hugging his head to her stomach as she rubbed his head. She made the boy stand up, bringing him into whispering range.
"It's gonna be okay, Sweetheart," reassured the blonde woman. "We're all here." Verdona looked around, her brow furrowed.
"Okay, who's Jade?" questioned the woman. "You make it sound like she's important to you." Ben blushed at this, hiding his face in his mother's chest. Gwen almost felt like teasing him to try and ease the tension, only to shiver as Ellie was sending her a haunting glare. Sandra smiled, rubbing her son's head.
"She's a family friend that Ben's quite taken with. You should have seen him trying to hide the Christmas gift he made her. It's so cute." Ben groaned, mentally begging his mother to stop. Carl smirked, looking towards the green box.
"I thought that box was new," stated the man. "Why fireworks though?" Ben moaned in defeat, knowing that this was going to be the conversation for the next hour or so. If he were lucky, it would be over before then. Keyword "if".
[Language Change: Mandarin]
As the family drama was unfolding at the Tennyson household, Jade could be seen rummaging through her closet. She was in her purple nightgown, growling as she tossed non-fragile things left and right. The girl had been looking for the puzzle box as soon as she was allowed to return to her room, having looked everywhere.
"Where did I put it!?" cried the girl. "Why did I put it away to preserve the completed puzzle?" Her door abruptly opened, her father looking in.
"Xiaoyu, what's with all this… noise?" questioned the man. Jade looked back, giggling nervously at the exasperated and tired look on his face. She stood up straight, holding her hands in front of herself.
"Sorry, Daddy. I'll keep it down and clean up before going to bed. I'm just looking for something I misplaced. It's important for one of the gifts I had planned for tomorrow." The man looked like he was sliding something, walking fully into the door.
"Perhaps I could help. What are you looking for?" Jade looked towards the stuff around, sighing.
"I was hoping to use the lotus puzzle box as part of my gift to Tennyson Ben. I was going to ask you for money to get something to hide inside it for him to find but I seem to have lost it. The gift would have been something you'd approve of, of course. I would not want to disrespect the bond we share." Her father smiled at her, rubbing the top of her head.
"I may have an idea. I was going to save this for tomorrow morning, but I believe fate has led us to this moment." Jade looked towards Shen, watching as he pulled out a long wooden box. It looked like a puzzle, a dragon design on the sides that seemed to be part of the solution. "I trust it will be simple to open for you."
Jade ran her fingers around the sides, quickly finding what she was looking for. Making the dragon's mouth open, the top unlatched to where it opened wide. "Good. Then you could put this inside." The girl looked to her father, her eyes widening as she saw what he was holding.
"Daddy… is that…" The man slowly nodded his head, the girl beginning to tear up. She hugged him close, the two of them sharing a silent moment. The next day came faster than anyone could have expected, Ben shakily making the last-minute adjustments around the house as he had a small frown on his face. He adjusted the ribbon on his present a bit, trying to take his mind off everything.
[Language Change: English]
"Ben, the ribbon is on perfectly," interrupted his mother. "You don't have to mess with it." The boy jolted as he looked back at her, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down. "You're still tense from yesterday, aren't you?" The boy nodded his head, a frown on his face.
"I feel like I got everyone in trouble," revealed the boy. "Every time I try to do something right or do something I want, something bad always happens. At first it was just new bad guys showing up or problems I had to solve, but now the people I care about are in danger. Why can't the world just let me be happy for once?" He felt his mother hug him again, making him stand up.
"Ben, what happened happened. There's nothing you can do about it now. It's all in the past, but the present is now. All you can do is do the next right thing and try to make a better future, for yourself and those who care about you. Of course, you can't do that if you give yourself a heart attack over all this."
Sandra rubbed his head, making him lean on her more. "You're far too young for that. Jade wouldn't want that for you either. Just relax, be a kid, and worry about all the problems when it's appropriate for it. It's Christmas Day, after all, and being stressed out is not a good look on a young man who wants to impress a girl's father."
Ben blushed, his head slumping at the reminder. "Now, I've asked EVERYONE to be on their best behavior. That includes your father if Jackie Chan comes over and your aunt with her grudge against your grandma. All you need to worry about today is being the best person Ben can be, and I like to think I raised a pretty responsible young man." Ben straightened his back, nodding with a sigh.
"You're right… And you're sure the ribbon is straight?" All he received was a laugh from his mother, the woman shaking her head. The sound of running was heard from the stairs, the duo looking up as Ellie looked excited. She stopped at the middle step, grinning at the group.
"Grandpa and Grandma just pulled in!" cheered the spirit girl. "Gwen and her folks are not far behind!" Ben shivered, backing away from his mom.
"So, I gotta get dressed and put deodorant on," stated the boy. "I'll be back!" Ellie ran down the stairs fully before he ran up, the girls of the house giggling at his actions. Ellie suddenly gasped as she felt her purple dress slide downwards, holding it up as she looked down at her body. The girl found her torso was slightly transparent, making her sigh in exasperation.
"And intangibility is back, and my bra is missing. Perfect timing for my powers to act up too. I'll be back." Clothes went flying around in Ben's room, the nervous boy searching for something to wear. He eventually settled on a green button up polo shirt, some of his nicer khaki pants, and the shoes he wore to the dinner where he first met Jade's family.
The boy then ran into the bathroom, grabbing a brush and getting to work on his hair. He applied gel to it, hoping to make a good style stick. He eventually settled on a side swept look, looking at himself in the mirror, humming as he looked the style over.
"Huh. That actually looks nice. It could be a bit shorter though." He then heard people coming in the door downstairs, finishing up his preparations as he heard Ellie growl outside. He was about to open the door, only to hear his sister snarl.
"If you value your balls, you will NOT open the door until you hear mine close, Benjamin Kirby Tennyson!" roared his sibling. The boy immediately took his hand off the doorknob, waiting until he heard the door to his sister's room slam shut. He gulped, shivering a bit.
"Note to self, Ellie is going through girl times, or her powers are acting up. Either way, avoid making her mad." He opened the bathroom door, making sure it was her door that closed before making his way downstairs. The first embarrassment of the night came when he saw the sweater his grandfather was wearing, being that of a reindeer design that matched the antler headband he wore on his head. It didn't help that his grandmother was wearing a Santa-themed dress, the boy inwardly groaning as he stepped the rest of the way down.
"And there he is," sighed Gwen from her seat. "Mister Omnitrix himse-" The redhead looked back towards him, only to look spooked at the sight of him. "Um, who are you and what did you do with my cousin? What's with the get-up, Dweeb?" Ben looked over his outfit, frowning.
"Um, what's wrong with me dressing up for the holidays Doofus? Maybe I like looking nice for people." Gwen was about to say something, only for her mother to walk over.
"Gwen, apologize to your cousin," ordered the woman. "There's nothing wrong with what he's wearing at all. You're becoming a young lady, so act like it. I thought you were more mature than this." Gwen took a deep breath, sighing.
"Sorry," apologized the redhead. "It's just that it's so… not like him to dress like this." She winced at the deepening of her mother's frown, lowering her head. "I'll behave." Ben didn't dare show he enjoyed the moment, especially as his mother suddenly cooed like she saw a baby.
"Look at my little boy!" cheered Sandra. "He looks so grown up!" She then looked around, frowning. "Is your sister still having wardrobe problems?" Gwen looked confused, looking around.
"Wardrobe troubles?" questioned the redhead. "What happened?" Ellie suddenly ran downstairs, her eyes wide.
"DO NOT TELL THEM ABOUT THAT!" cried Ellie as she seemed to have her problem under control. "I've got it handled now, and I really don't wanna talk about it." Before Sandra could scold the girl, a knock was heard at the door.
"I'll get it, Mom," stated Ben. He walked over quickly, making some last-minute adjustments to his hair. He opened the door, bowing slightly in respect. "[Mandarin] Welcome. Please, come in."
He stood up from his bow, shivering as he saw the red winter dress she was wearing. The white fluff around the hem and the chest area looked more pronounced, though the boy wouldn't dare let his eyes linger where they weren't allowed. He saw Shen smiling at him, feeling slightly intimidated by the man's presence.
"You need not worry about speaking our language, young man," reassured the father. "We are guests in your own home." Ben let the family walk past, only to suppress an outcry as Uncle accidentally stepped on his foot while walking in.
"AIYAH!" cried the old man. "Jackie, you not tell Uncle it so cold outside! Stood outside too long! You want Uncle to become popsicle?" Jackie sighed, shaking his head.
"Uncle, you've been here two months," reminded the man. "It's the middle of December in the north. This isn't California." The man cried out as he received one of Uncle's famous forehead slaps, rubbing his head. Uncle huffed, crossing his arms.
"Sounds like someone could use some mung bean casserole," teased Max. "Figured you'd enjoy some of my cooking from old times." Uncle looked towards Max, smiling as if there were no problems.
"Hacha! You always make the best mung bean casserole, Maxwell!" The old man noticed Verdona, adjusting his glasses. "Who is this?" Max smiled, gesturing to Verdona.
"Jing, this is my wife, Verdona Tennyson. She's been off helping one of our relatives with a tense situation, but they should be coming into town soon and for a long while." Jade decided to ignore the elderly people's conversation, quickly placing her wrapped gift under the tree. She looked around, taking in all the faces. She then noticed that Ellie's sleeves seemed to be fading into her shoulders, only for the ghostly girl to adjust them as a puffing of her cheeks made the skin go back to normal.
"Keep it under control, Ellie," whispered the spiritual girl. "Don't want to lose the dress in front of everyone." She looked towards Jade, her face going pale. "You didn't see or hear anything, did you?" Jade chuckled nervously, making the ghost girl facepalm.
"Is it just me or is anyone else weirded out by Ben not being dressed like a total boy on his own?" questioned Gwen as quietly as possible. "I mean, I'd understand if Aunt Sandra made him do it, but that hairstyle is too deliberate." Ellie looked towards her cousin, only to freak out as she felt the ground leaving her feet.
"Girls, hold me up," pleaded the sibling. The girls did as told, stopping her from going through the floor. "Pull me up, quick!" The duo did their best, eventually getting to where she could stand again as her feet went back to normal. "This is just like when Danny was still figuring out his powers."
She moaned, holding her face. "This can't be happening to me. I'll lose my clothes at school at this rate. Ghost powers suck when they don't work right." Jade, unsure what to say, patted the girl's shoulder.
"Hey, it'll be alright," reassured the Chinese girl. "Danny figured it out and you have all his memories. It's just about finding the right way to do it yourself. I mean, I'm having to figure out my magic and it could burn away my clothes if I misuse a fire spell." Ben slowly approached, clearing his throat as he smiled sincerely.
"Glad you guys could make it, Jade," stated the boy. "You look great." Jade giggled, hiding a blush well.
"Remember, Ben, it's Xiaoyu around Momma and Daddy. They're still getting used to the nickname thing, so it'd be more respectful for you to call me by my name." The boy mentally facepalmed, keeping his cool.
"My bad. Sorry." The boy picked up one of the plates on the side tables, holding it out. "Holiday cookies?" The Chinese girl grinned, picking one up.
"Now that is how you start a conversation." Ben snickered at the playful banter, Sandra doing her best not to squeal nearby as she found the moment so adorable. Jade chewed on the cookie, only to go wide eyed at the sight of Verdona.
"THAT'S your grandma? Not exactly what I was expecting, in all the good ways of course." Gwen looked towards the woman, crossing her arms.
"She's not human," stated the redhead. "That's what she chooses to look like." Jade took another bite of cookie, shrugging.
"She looks good for her age though. I can still see the resemblance." Sandra was about to approach them, only to feel the familiar approach of an excited woman. She looked to her right, watching as Ai approached her. The Chinese woman held out a hand, grinning eagerly.
"May I?" requested Chan Ai. Sandra immediately nodded, the woman placing her hands on her stomach. "Such a rambunctious little one. How far along are you?" The blonde giggled, shaking her head.
"I only have about three months left," informed Sandra. "I told the doctor to keep the baby's gender a secret, mostly for the kids. That way I can hear their little back and forth about whether it's gonna be a boy or a girl. It's so cute when they bicker over their baby sibling, not to mention Carl was so excited he would have blurted it out the moment we told them." The two women giggled, the excitement filling the air.
She then motioned for Ai to move closer, moving into whispering range. "I know which it is, but I haven't told them yet. It's a…" Sandra whispered as quietly as possible, knowing certain ears could be listening in. Ai almost blurted out what she heard, only to be shushed playfully as the two women bonded.
"I wish I had a second child myself, but we've not been blessed with one yet. I fear it is the time we spend apart that makes things difficult." Sandra then smirked, a mischievous look.
"Well, the night is young. You could always try tonight once Xiaoyu is asleep, and I'm sure the more adult eggnog will make things a little more 'exciting'." Verdona politely moved between them, her hand brushing against Ai a bit.
"Pardon me, ladies," apologized the woman. "I'm getting pictures of the kids." The old woman then held up a camera, aiming it at the group. "Smile for the camera!" Ellie grinned, pulling Ben close as she made a funny face with her arm over his shoulder.
The next photo in the montage showed her holding the straps of her dress as Ben tried to keep her from going through the floor. Next saw Gwen writing in a notebook as if she didn't know a picture was being taken, followed by one of her trying to block Verdona's camera in embarrassment. Another image saw Jade leaning against a windowsill, Ben caught looking at her in the background. This led to another picture where the duo was made to stand together, both blushing as Jade subtly held Ben's hand. The last picture in the montage was of Verdona taking a selfie with Max and the adults, Carl looking like he was trying hard not to geek about sitting next to Jackie Chan.
The sound of a camera flash went off, Verdona having been kissing Max playfully on the cheek before giggling. "And that's going in the 'personal' album." The sound of wrapping paper being torn could be heard; the present distribution having begun only moments earlier. Gwen carefully undid the wrapping, an intrigued smile on her face. She picked the small box up, revealing the reading light Jade had mentioned days prior.
"A new reading light!" cheered the redhead. She felt something behind it, pulling it out. "And a new book! 'The Red-Haired Magician'... Hardy-har-har. Seriously though, thanks J-Xiaoyu." Jade giggled, sitting next to Ben.
"Oh, you'll definitely be thanking me," teased the girl. "Just don't get TOO excited when you read that book. Uncle Jing loves books, and he might want to 'borrow' it." Gwen raised a brow at this, only for her eyes to widen. Before she could say anything, the Chinese girl sent her a teasing shush sign.
Gwen quickly walked back to the couch, opening the book carefully. She grinned as familiar pages were laid before her, including an entropy spell she so loved to use. The redhead smirked, leaning against the couch.
"Jade, you're officially one of my best friends." The Chinese girl shushed again, the two of them giggling. "HOW DID YOU EVEN GET IT!? HE LOCKED IT UP IN A MAGIC BOX LAST I HEARD!" The Chosen One scooted closer, grinning gleefully.
"Uncle's REALLY bad at hiding his keys. Remember, SHHHH!" Ellie quickly ripped the paper off her gift, holding in a squeal as best as she could.
"A telescope!" cheered the spiritual girl. "I haven't been able to use the old one ever since it broke!" Ben quickly noticed his sister's dress slipping, throwing a paper ball where she'd see it.
"ELLIE!" cried the boy as quietly as possible. "PHASING!" The sibling gasped at this, Ben tossing a blanket over her as she barely caught her outfit. "Whoops! Sorry!" Ellie giggled under the blanket, looking nervous as she mouthed a "THANK YOU!".
"It's fine! All in good FUN." She stood up, holding her outfit as close to her as possible as she pulled it up. "I might need a few more days to figure this phasing thing out." As soon as her outfit was situated again, she grabbed the telescope and walked away from the tree with the blanket still wrapped around her.
"[Mandarin] Such a responsible young man," whispered Chan Ai to herself. "I told you it was a good idea." Shen shushed her, winking at her as Sandra cleared her throat.
"Ben, since you've stolen away our attention, why don't you go next?" offered the blonde woman. The boy gulped, feeling the pressure on him. He walked over to the tree, knowing full well that this could make or break his night. He picked up the box, Ellie patting Gwen while gesturing for her to watch. Ben approached Xiaoyu, the girl looking at a little puzzle Sandra had gotten her as he cleared his throat.
"Xiaoyu," offered the Omnitrix hero. "I-I hope you like it." Jade looked towards him, freezing up a bit as this was unexpected. She carefully took the box, having been prepared for something heavy with how he was holding it. The present was much lighter than he made it seem, telling her that it may have been fragile.
"Heh," silently laughed Gwen. "Watch it be chocolate or counterfeit China." Ellie shushed her, the scary glare returning as the redhead sat up with a shiver. "Could you stop making that face, please?" The sound of paper slowly coming undone stole away the duo's attention, the box being on full display.
Jade slowly lifted the box lid, seeing the amount of bubble wrap that was packed inside. She felt for the best spot to pull the contents out, finding said spot as she slowly pulled the object out. She undid the wrapping, Ben looking hopeful as the Taydenite phoenix glistened in the lights of the Christmas tree. Shen choked on some seasonal coffee he was drinking, looking like he would nearly spew it. Jade twisted the statuette in her hands, her eyes being wide.
"Ben, where did you get this?" questioned the Chinese girl. "It's so beautiful." The boy smiled a bit, feeling better as his nerves left him.
"Well, I made it," explained the boy. "I learned how to make things with Diamondhead and worked to make it sturdy enough to where it wouldn't break in his hand. That way you wouldn't have to worry about it falling on the floor and shattering." Gwen blinked rapidly, rubbing her eyes at the sight of the gift. Ellie gave her a smug smirk, shaking her head.
"THAT is how serious he is," chastised the ghost girl. "Still feel like teasing him?" Gwen slowly shook her head, unable to speak as she was at a loss for words. Ben Tennyson made something for a girl, something that looked extremely expensive. Said boy then rubbed his arm, looking a bit sheepish.
"There MIGHT be another thing I made in there," revealed the boy. Jade gave him a shocked look, trying not to drop the statuette. She placed said object down, leaning forward a bit.
"T-This is a lot already, Ben," stated the Chinese girl. "Are you sure it's alright to give me a lot of big things?" The boy took a few breaths, nodding his head.
"You're worth it. The statue is meant to show how you've changed my life in a good way, even over just a few months. The next thing is KINDA a promise, if it's okay." The Chinese girl became even more anxious, looking inside as she saw something practically preserved in tape and bubble wrap. Ellie looked confused as the object was pulled out, tilting her head.
"What did you do?" questioned the spiritual girl. "I saw the statue, but you didn't have anything else." Gwen looked towards her, eyes widening quickly.
"YOU KNEW!?" cried the redhead. "Why didn't you tell me!?" Ellie gave her a deadpan look, crossing her arms.
"Um, hello! It's the sibling code. Sisters don't tell everyone their brother's secrets, especially for gifts." Gwen groaned under her breath, knowing that her mother was likely looking at her. Ben rubbed the back of his head, feeling nervous about being on the spot.
"I mean, I wanted to throw in one more thing since you saw the statue," admitted the boy. "I read up on Chinese culture a lot over the past couple of months and had to go into overdrive to find something meaningful." Jade had a bit of trouble working the tape, tearing at it as the bundle was VERY well wrapped. When she got the first strand off, however, the unwrapping slowly got easier and easier. When she started to see a color and a shape, her breath hitched in her throat.
The girl hesitated for a moment, more slowly doing the unwrapping as some of the bubbles popped from tape being pulled off. Ai, getting a feeling that this was big, held up her camera that she saved for momentous occasions. Jade shivered as she felt the cold and smooth surface, letting the bubble wrap package hit the floor as she held the object in both hands. She opened her fingers, revealing a hairpin made of the same material as the statuette. Engraved into the side was a phoenix flying past the symbol that would be present on the Omnitrix, the bird circling the pin to reach the wider end.
Ai snapped the picture as soon as the object was revealed, Shen feeling like he would fall back into the wall a bit. Ellie gawked, her eyes going wild as they nearly looked like they would pop out of her head. Shen pushed himself up, shivering a bit.
"This boy," huffed the man under his breath. "Does he know what he's giving her?" Ai shushed him as respectfully as possible, taking more pictures as Jade shivered a bit.
"Ben, do you know what you're doing?" questioned the girl. "Do you even know what this means?" The boy slowly nodded his head, feeling his nerves return.
"Your culture doesn't do casual dating," recalled the boy. "I had to think a lot about it after what happened at the temple, read on it too to make sure I wasn't getting the wrong idea. I know we're both young but… I like you Xiaoyu. As in, I- Love you."
Sandra had to squeal into her hands, her pregnant state making her emotions go wild. Ben, having winced from the cheer, composed himself. "I know the ultimate decision is up to your dad, but I want to make this work. All I'm asking for is a chance." Jade held her emotions in well, putting the hairpin carefully in the box before making the statuette join it.
Ben felt heartbroken for a moment, only for the girl to walk over to the tree. She grabbed her small present, quickly bringing it to him. She put it in his hands, the boy being confused.
"Open it fully. If you can, you have your answer." Understanding the assignment, Ben's mind went into overdrive. He unwrapped the box first, revealing the puzzle box Jade's father had given her. He looked over the dragons on the side, Shen almost swearing the boy's eyes were changing shape.
After only a few turns, Ben pushed on the mechanism that opened the dragon's maw and slid it forward. "Whoa. Gwen wasn't lying. You really are good with puzzles." Ben carefully opened the now unlatched lid, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.
Inside was a pair of lotus hairpins, the pins having wooden lotuses on the back ends while having a jade vine pattern across the sides. "That's my promise to you." The boy looked towards her, Jade tearing up a bit. "He said yes." As if moving at high speed, Ben sat the box down on the table in one moment and hugged Jade close the very next second.
Sandra couldn't contain her squeal this time, Verdona taking pictures at the same rate that Ai did. Carl held his wife close, the woman moving her screaming to his chest as her excitement was still evident. Shen, recovering from the scream fest, approached the duo.
"There will be rules you two will need to follow," insisted the man. "My approval does not come easy. Part of my reason to trust you, Benjamin, is that you are Teacher's student. I have had time to come to know you and I trust you will do nothing beyond my approval that goes beyond the rules." Ben let Jade rest her head in the crook of his neck, nodding with his eyes.
"Yes sir," replied the boy seriously. "Thank you, so much." Shen couldn't help but smile, only for another scream to fill the air. A blanket floated where Ellie was, a pile of her outfit on the chair. The ghost girl ran for the stairs, the blanket wrapped tightly around her.
"I HATE THESE GHOST POWERS!" cried Ellie. "STUPID FENTONS AND THEIR STUPID GHOST PORTAL! STUPID VLAD AND HIS STUPID OBSESSION! I RUINED EVERYTHING!" Sandra sighed, shaking her head with a sad frown.
"Poor Ellie," sighed the woman. "This is going to be a long Christmas Break." She pushed herself away from her husband gently, making her way up after the girl. Ben held Jade close, the new couple being shaken by the sudden outcry themselves. This was going to be a very interesting year going forward.
Inkaliber: And that is the end to a joyous holiday chapter! Well, it was joyous until that little incident. Either way, Ben and Jade are now together with some big rules on their hands. Ellie is getting used to her powers but the same struggles that befell Danny are now harming her. I kinda feel bad for doing this to her.
Zemrocku: It's not her fault. It's just the baby steps of walking in learning how to keep her powers in control again. I have a feeling we're gonna let Danny get involved soon.
Inkaliber: Another thing to discuss between us and Adran then. In any case, any final words for this?
Zemrocku: Hey, Gwen has her book back and now everything we've been building up has been revealed. Now time for new layers to be added. Also, you wanna know something funny? We never intended for these chapters to all go into the Christmas month.
Adran: We also barely got it out in time. Christmas (really all of December) has been busy for me.
Inkaliber: All good Adran. I'm just glad we got it out in the first place. The timing was a fun coincidence. In any case, there are a lot of chapters left to go before we even close out the Talisman arc so be ready for some more mayhem as usual with the last chapter of the month… or first chapter of the next dedicated month depending on how the holidays go. In any case, that's all for this chapter. Let's close this bad boy out!
What did you guys think of this holiday chapter? Did you like the more laid back yet emotional tone of it? How will Ben and Jade progress in this relationship, and how will it change things to come? 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.
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE! SEE YOU IN 2025!