Hey. So, I decided to raise the age rating for the story. There ain't gonna be smut, I assure you, but I kinda want to be more straightforward with their relationship.

jacm: I think Hope could work better in the OS as a lighter Kevin, in canon I don't think a relationship would quite work, perhaps in a series where the focus isn't selling toys. But I do think they should have gone into depth with Charmcaster, as it was planned.

When possessing someone as Ghostfreak, things were straightforward.

It wasn't normal for Ben to be controlling someone else both as Ghostfreak or Whampire for that matter. As the ectonurite, entering the mind was like going through a portal. In most cases, it was almost useless for the being possessed to resist. Humans tended to be vulnerable especially.

But Gwen's mind was anything but straightforward. The moment he opened his eye, Ben realized the sheer brightness of the place... if it hadn't been covered with rock walls that only allowed limited light to emanate from cracks that were being sealed by the minute.

There was no one in sight. Ben felt like he was in a clogged space, like a very full concert, school, or street. Ben felt like there wasn't any space for him here. This was... not normal. Not at all.

Not only he felt his cousin, but the foreign presence. Even if this was still a possession, Ben wasn't harmful to Gwendolyn. Unlike Zs'Skayr, who acted more like a drainer, sucking out light and hope out of Gwen's body. He could see now why ectonurites could be described as parasites, more than ever.

"You can't hide forever, Zs'Skayr!" Calling the ectonurite Ghostfreak when Ben himself was transformed into him would be inappropriate. Why was he not showing up? Usually, a mind is represented by a singular space, and there was no sight of the former ruler of Anur Phaetos or Gwendolyn.

"I could..." His voice echoed from all sides. It was terrible to hear that voice again fully and realize how similar it was to Ghostfreak's voice. Duh. DNA sample. Then again, Ben's voice had a more friendly tone to it. "But then I wouldn't get the satisfaction of gutting you."

Far away, a figure appeared from nowhere. Inverted skull, purple skin with a decaying appearance, and a singular purple eye. This being had terrorized Ben's nightmares long after he had dealt with it for the first and second times. His plan in Vilgaxia was a painful reminder of what losing his autonomy felt like. And so, he was extra careful when in Anur Transyl just a year later, even trying to prevent the nuisance from returning.

"I can see your scowl from here, Ben." Zs'Skayr flew closer, and Ben stretched his claws. "Why do you have to be so... present? So overbearing? I could have just escaped from the Omnitrix if you let me... but no..."

"Are we even talking about the same situation?" Ben narrowed his eye. "You could have just walked... or I guess glided away. Nothing was stopping you. But you were the one to go after me because of the Omnitrix."

"The watch was too tempting. A shame. I had so many plans... Now... I just want to return to my home..."

"And kill everybody that stands in your way? Not happening." Ben readied himself for confrontation, but Zs'Skayr was still relaxed and far away.

"They wouldn't dare oppose the combined powers of me... and your cousin..." Zs'Skayr grinned, lips curling downwards. "There's nothing we cannot do."

"Barring beating me and Charmcaster."

"Please, Ben... your little witch was badly injured. I saw the blood from far away. She is not leaving unharmed."

"And you're not leaving at all. This is not home turf for you. You're toast."

"Of course... you will bet on your... Tennyson connection..." Zs'Skayr sniggered. "To fight my control. Yes... I know how deep the root goes. How much you two are connected."

"Why isn't she speaking? What did you do?" It truly wasn't normal for the possessed person to be quiet, even if unconscious. But all that could be heard was Zs'Skayr and Ben's voices, reverberating across the weird space they were currently residing in.

"For now... nothing." Ben didn't like how cryptic he was with that sentence. "Her mind is probably overwhelmed by two other presences. Had it been a weaker human rest assured her mind faculties would be quite questionable."

"But Gwen Tennyson isn't weak..." The Ectonurite continued. "No. She is pure. Powerful. You get it, don't you, Ben? You've seen her in action. I haven't brought her here for nothing. This place, where she lost her free will for the second time... It suppresses her mental fortitudes. And I dived into every thought, feeling, emotion... I have truly dissected your dear cousin."

"You had no right to do that!"

"Yet I did... it is unusual to know how she feels for you."

"What?"

Zs'Skayr looked away from Ben, seemingly uninterested. "Oh, for how much flaming love she holds for you, not an ounce of it is conventional love. Not like what she feels for Levin... yet the flame is so much brighter... It's a shame... you two cannot live with each other, can you?"

"Is the concept of love so foreign to you?" A voice said much like Zs'Skayr's had earlier.

"Not quite." The Ectonurite answered, eye narrowing. "I hold my dear nieces close to my heart. You've met them, haven't you, Ben?"

"Unfortunately." Ben was looking around to see if Gwen had appeared somewhere, but for now the only thing he could feel was her presence... chained. "You're telling me this like I don't already know."

"I simply find it curious... since I know such a flame for Ms. Tennyson burns in your heart as well... what do you humans call it... platonic love? I believe that's it... it will be a shame to deprive her of this once you're dead... but what choice do we have?" The Ectonurite crept closer, and Ben readied himself for confrontation. There was a physical aspect to the mind, but usually between the host, if you could call it that, and the possessor. Alas, Ben didn't know. And he didn't imagine changing transformations was even possible in this situation.

"You will never know anything like this, Zs'Skayr." Gwen's voice spoke again, louder this time. A faint apparition showed up on Ben's side. It was like Gwen's earliest Anodite forms, with incredibly long hair and deep purple skin. She wore the robes Zs'Skayr had chosen, and her form was translucid, almost invisible. "You're just too evil to understand love."

"Like I said, Gwen... I know love. I am merely curious about how it seems like your affection for your cousin is just bigger than your love for your partner... that is very much unlike humans."

Gwen's form was now more visible, and it shone brighter as well. "I can't begin to describe love, especially to such a despicable creature like you... But yeah, savor the feeling that I'd die for this idiot. That I'd do anything for him despite how much he messes things up."

"The feeling is mutual," Ben said with a snicker. For the first time, Gwen looked directly into his eyes, and she became even more visible.

"I know it is." Zs'Skayr taunted. "Does your jealousy match hers, Ben? Because I assure you that she isn't happy about your little affair with the witch."

"That's none of your business."

"It's mine," Gwen said, glaring at Ben. "You... didn't tell me anything..."

"I'm sorry." Ben eyed her up with regret. "I really am. I didn't want to make you angry."

"You failed spectacularly." Zs'Skayr once more tried to get the better of Ben's nerves. "And I am here to avenge her fury."

"That's not what's happening." Gwen's tone softened, as did her glare. "I am angry at you, Ben... but don't listen to this psycho-"

"Quiet." As soon as Zs'Skayr said that, her form began to fade again and her mouth was silenced against her will.

"No! Appear!" Maybe it was all due to intent, or simply because of his words, but Gwen's image ceased fading. He looked smugly at Zs'Skayr, which was difficult to express when he had Ghostfreak's face completely covered, but he did his best. "You don't control her anymore."

"I will, as soon as you're dealt with." The Ectonurite flew forward and grabbed Ben before he could become intangible. He stopped when he pinned Ben to a wall, his face inches away from Ben's.

"You... You dare to wear my face again... And not prepare against what happened last time?" Zs'Skayr brought his skeletal hand to the chains that kept Ghostfreak's outer skin locked for good. It was something Ben never understood how the Omnitrix conceived, but he could see it now why it was useful. Something inside his mind fought him, like some sort of reflection of the battle happening inside Gwen's mind. The only thing that made him not lose control were these chains. His entire body threatened to rebel, but the chains remained. It was like a call to follow Zs'Skayr or to join with him fully. But thanks to the chains, Ben was able to resist.

Zs'Skayr noticed this, of course, but when his hand touched the chains, it was like it shocked him heavily. The Ectonurite flew back, holding his hand and seemingly in severe pain. Far away, Gwen's torment ended, and she rose to her knees again, although with a shallow breath. The cracks in the walls continued to expand, letting even more light in. Finally, Gwendolyn opened her eyes, and they were shining in fury.

"Ben..." She called, and Ben made his way towards her. "Help... take him off... my head..."

"How?" Ben questioned, seeing Zs'Skayr preparing to lunge at them again. "Can we fight him here?"

"Not quite... I can't... but you can... you can throw him off... if you weaken him enough..."

"And then?"

"Then we'll kill him." Ben almost couldn't believe those words exited her mouth. "Please, he can resurrect himself. It's not like we're murdering an innocent being."

"I just wasn't expecting-" His words were interrupted by a purple ray that threw him meters away. Were there even concepts like distance in such a place? Ben wasn't quite certain. Gosh, he needed to focus!

"You pest." Zs'Skayr held him by the wrist. "You could never just accept the inevitable, could you?"

"I've heard about the so-called inevitable so many times that I don't mind being defiant again and again." Behind his outer skin, Ben smiled and brought the chains into contact with Zs'Skayr. He was pleased to see they hurt him just as badly as before. It was almost like the Ectonurite had come in contact with a light source, something he might be doing soon, since huge parts of the rock walls began to crumble.

And on top of that, Gwen rose, her feet departing from the ground. "Finally." Her voice echoed, as dominant as Zs'Skayr's had been before. She glared at the screeching Ectonurite. "Did you think it would be so simple?"

"You were helpless! You were- still are under my thumb! You cannot fight back, Gwen Tennyson. Your mind is weak!" The lights dimmed for a second as Zs'Skayr fought back, but Gwen didn't move an inch, only narrowing her completely pink eyes."

"My mind is not weak. I just happen to always stumble upon the vilest of creatures, always the ones who are willing to dominate the world. Always the ones willing to violate my mind. I'm tired of this!"

Her words shook the walls heavily, and they began falling completely. Before they touched the ground, they vanished, and Zs'Skayr screeched louder as light rained down upon his skin from all sides. It didn't burn him like real light would, but it still hurt him badly. Even Ben felt the effects, though more as a consequence of Gwen freeing herself.

"This shall stand NO LONGER." Gwendolyn declared, extending her hands towards Zs'Skayr. Her mind rumbled like an Earthquake, and the Ectonurite vanished, engulfed by the lights on Gwen's mind. What Ben didn't expect was for his entire vision to grow dark as he was also ejected from her body violently.

Ben hit the ground with a groan and immediately reverted back to human. He heard steps and could see a pair of blue eyes staring at him from above. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I-" He looked away from Hope, to see what was happening. Gwen was standing on her left knee, and when she opened her eyes, Ben was delighted to see they were green again. A coarse cough nearby signaled that this was not over, however. Zs'Skayr seemed to be one most affected by the borderline exorcism they just performed. Unfortunately, they were still in the cave, so the Ectonurite was still safe from the sunlight outside.

"Foolish children." His voice was much clearer now. "That's all you are. Children. Children that have gone without punishment for too long."

"Tell us all about it, in your wisdom of centuries," Ben spoke, glaring at full intensity at the Ectonurite. "Time's up, gramps."

Zs'Skayr narrowed his eye and tentacles exited his chest quite grotesquely. Zs'Skayr shot his purple beam at him again, but a shield was raised even before Ben could walk out of the way. Hope stood by his side, her wound not bleeding anymore, but still very visible.

"How long was I out?" Ben asked.

"A few minutes. Gwen was convulsing all the way through..." They watched as the beam changed directions. Gwen was back at her feet, fighting in her human form. She ran frantically, blasting mana at Zs'Skayr who in turn dodged and threw more beams at her, this time with his hands. It almost amazed Ben to see what Ectonurites were capable of without their outer skin, something Ben wasn't willing to remove from Ghostfreak. He had seen enough inside Gwen's mind.

"How are you? Ben asked, bringing his hand to Hope's face. The witch moved slightly, showing the wound better. It was nasty, a deep cut. Ben felt enraged at the sight. "Are you good to fight?"

"Not... quite." She smiled apologetically. "My head is still spinning, hero... But I refrain from what I said earlier. No concussion. Probably."

"Good." Ben side-looked at the ensuing battle. He could see Gwen was faltering, some beans hitting her body. Her thigh had been damaged, and even from afar, Ben could see blood pouring from it. "I think I have an idea."

"As long as you don't blow up the cave... I can't imagine it's something bad..." Hope leaned closer. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Ben was taken aback by the seemingly out of nowhere apology.

"Being knocked out like that." Their gazes met. It was becoming more and more natural to look at each other without either blushing or losing composure. "I could have helped more-"

"You did enough," Ben reassured her, kissing her cheek. "Stay ready. If he tries to run away-"

"I still have the strength to catch him," Hope replied.

"Good." He raised his wrist and went through the Omnitrix. After some seconds of planning, Ben knew exactly what he needed to do. Smiling, he pressed the core and moments later his vision was blocked by a grey armor.

"How is this gonna help?" Hope's voice came to his ears muffled, but otherwise audible. "I mean, I didn't go through every transformation of yours-"

Ben smiled and flew out of the containment suit. From a distance it was enough to distract Zs'Skayr, letting Gwen hit him with a spell. "Watch." And he stretched his whole body, willing himself to light up the cave like a star. He knew the light was blinding – and even dangerous, considering how radioactive NRG was – but that was the intended purpose. Zs'Skayr once more screeched like an insect, but this time Ben could see his skin burning. In his last moments, he tried to become intangible, but both Gwen and Hope knowingly engaged him together, their mana merging to form a spherical prison. Ben got down into the containment suit and transformed back into human, grinning. Hope looked at him curiously while she held the mana together.

"You're such a show-off."

"Maybe." Ben quickly ran towards Gwen, who was staring at the trapped Zs'Skayr with disgust.

"Hey..." He was a bit hesitant, especially after their conversation inside her mind. The moment her eyes met his, Ben knew they would be having a conversation soon.

"Hi." Gwen spared Charmcaster a glance, but nothing else for now. "You left me too exposed."

"Sorry." He looked at the wound in her thigh. It was deep and shaped like the claw of a wild animal. Undoubtedly Zs'Skayr had slashed through her flesh. Speaking of which, he looked towards the Ectonurite, who was abnormally quiet right now. "What do we do with him?"

"Kill him." Hope stated plainly. "And keep killing him, again and again. Until he finds something better to do than to torment us."

"No." Ben looked at Gwen, remembering what she had said inside her mind. Had she changed her mind?"

"Look, Gwen... Gwendolyn..." Hope tried to argue with the redhead, albeit carefully. "This thing," She pointed towards Zs'Skayr. "Is a monster. He has no other desire but to ruin all of our lives."

"I know." Gwen was eyeing Hope weirdly... but at least she wasn't hostile. "That's why we need to seal him."

Hope widened her eyes. "You mean-"

"He brought us here, after all." Gwendolyn looked at the Ectonurite. "What do you think? Do you think you're as powerful as Dagon to break it?"

"You wouldn't... you two have no skill to do such a feat..."

"Well, I beg to differ!" Gwen was definitely acting stranger than normal. Moving the mana bubble Zs'Skayr was in to near the cave's wall, she looked at Hope. "Do you know how to do this?"

"Not quite... not the type of seal you're talking about."

"Then just power me up. And no trickery!"

Hope raised her hands. "No trickery."

While his cousin still didn't seem very convinced, she didn't do anything more. "Ben, carve up a hole for me."

"Coming right at you." Ben quickly transformed into Armodrillo and dug up a large enough hole to fit the mana bubble. Ben looked as Zs'Skayr tried to escape, but the mana was able to contain him, if only because he was still weakened by the light exposure."

"Let's do this." Gwen nodded towards Hope, who cast something in a language Ben surely did not understand. It wasn't even close to Latin. Beams of mana traveled from Hope's long hands toward Gwen, and the redhead's posture improved. Even her thigh injury seemed to get better. Hope on the other hand deflated a bit. Once she stopped, his girlfriend almost lost her footing, and Ben had to hold her.

Gwen silently cast a mana seal identical to the one Sir George had trapped Dagon in his own dimension. No words were shared between the three of them and the Ectonurite nuisance as the seal filled up the hole. Ben transformed back into human just a white light blinded them for a moment and the ground was seemingly repaired. His cousin sighed heavily and stared at them.

"So..." She gazed at him again. "Explanations."

"Well..." Ben scratched the back of his neck. "We're-" He was interrupted by Hope kissing him, completely out of the blue. The hero leaned into the kiss, briefly closing his eyes, but remembering the moment after they had an audience. When he widened his eyelids again, he gave Hope a questioning look, but she wasn't turned towards him anymore.

"Together." His girlfriend completed. "We're sorry you had to find out through... shady means, I imagine."

"Yes... Ben is always the subject of gossiping."

"Indeed." Hope turned towards him, and back at Gwendolyn. "We... should talk..."

"We should." Gwen agreed, noticing Hope's wound. "But we should treat our injuries first."

"I can't find myself disagreeing, Gwendolyn. You wouldn't mind carrying us both, would you?" Hope asked that last bit to Ben, who hesitated.

"I thought you guys could teleport us to a hospital-" Receiving double glares from both his girlfriend and cousin was not a nice experience. "But I realize you're the ones injured and exhausted. We should call Kevin. He should be patched up enough to come rescue us."

"Not a bad idea... I need to burn these robes anyway." Gwen summoned her phone from nothing and called Kevin soon afterward. But Ben didn't pay much attention to their phone call, instead finding himself lost in his thoughts... and in Hope's embrace.

He just knew it would be a long conversation.