Lucky Boy

by McPhoenix David

Ever since Gwen got that watch, Ben was always overshadowed. But maybe, now things will be different. He'll show everyone that he is a true hero. This is the story of Ben Tennyson, not just a sorcerer but more.

8. Chapter 08

Author Note: Site issues... regional, mind you. I have updated a lot of stories and published a new one. Go and check them out.

Chapter 08

The Rustbucket rolled to a stop near a quiet forest clearing, its tires crunching over gravel as Max pulled into a small campsite. The towering trees swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the chirping of crickets filled the air. The sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape.

After hours of driving, they had finally decided to settle down for the night. Max turned off the engine, stretching as he leaned back in the driver's seat. "Alright, kids," he said, adjusting his cap. "We'll rest here for a while. Should be peaceful—no crowds, no cities, just fresh air and open space."

"Finally," Ben muttered from the back, already unzipping his overcoat. The thick layers Max had given him to conceal his glow had been driving him crazy. As soon as the RV stopped moving, he practically tore them off, tossing the hoodie and coat onto the seat. His glowing pink form pulsed with newfound freedom, his long ethereal hair flowing as if reacting to his emotions.

Floating upward, he stretched, his entire body shimmering in the fading sunlight. "Man, that feels so much better," he sighed, his voice filled with relief.

Gwen rolled her eyes, stepping out of the RV with crossed arms. "Seriously, Ben? You're glowing like a neon sign, and the first thing you do is strip and float around?"

Ben smirked, doing a lazy flip mid-air. "What? Nobody's around. Besides, I've been cooped up in that RV for 'hours'. I 'need' to move." He spun in the air again, enjoying the sensation of flight. "You have no idea how hard it is to sit still when you have 'this' much energy buzzing in you."

Max stepped out of the Rustbucket, chuckling. "Well, if you've got all that energy to burn, maybe we should put it to good use."

Ben stopped mid-spin, looking down at him. "What do you mean?"

Max smirked. "How about some good old-fashioned aerial dodgeball?"

Ben blinked, then grinned. "Wait, what? 'You' are suggesting something fun?"

"Hey, I was a kid once too," Max said, leaning against the RV. "Besides, it'll be good practice for you. You're still getting used to that Anodite body, right?"

Ben's grin widened. "Oh, now 'this' I can get behind."

Gwen raised an eyebrow. "So, what? You want me to just throw rocks at him or something?"

Max shook his head. "You're going to compete, too."

Gwen blinked. "Uh, I can't 'fly', Grandpa."

Max's smirk deepened. "Then I guess you'd better pick an alien that can."

Gwen's eyes flickered with understanding before a competitive grin spread across her face. "Oh, it is 'so' on." She slammed the Omnitrix dial and began scrolling through the options before finally landing on her choice.

"Stinkfly!" she called, slamming her hand down.

In a flash of green light, her form shifted. Her body elongated, her arms transformed into insectoid limbs, and four translucent wings sprouted from her back. Her newly formed compound eyes glowed as she flexed her clawed fingers, her wings buzzing with energy.

Ben floated higher, crossing his arms with a smug grin. "You sure you can keep up, 'bug'?"

Gwen flapped her wings experimentally, lifting off the ground with ease. "You're about to find out."

Max walked over to a pile of old tennis balls from the storage compartment of the RV and grabbed a handful. He tossed one up, catching it smoothly. "Alright, here's the game. You two have to dodge as many of these as you can. You get hit, you lose a point. Whoever gets hit the least wins."

Ben cracked his knuckles. "Sounds easy."

Max smirked. "You say that now."

Without warning, he launched the first ball 'hard'.

Ben barely had time to react, yelping as he spun out of the way, the ball whizzing past his shoulder. Gwen, now fully adjusted to Stinkfly's body, zipped to the side effortlessly, her wings giving her sharper maneuverability.

Ben steadied himself, grinning. "Alright, 'now' I'm ready."

Max nodded. "Then let's begin."

With that, he hurled another ball, this time aiming at Gwen. She twisted her body, dodging it smoothly before countering by spitting a stream of goo at Ben.

"Hey!" Ben shouted, veering sideways just in time to avoid the sticky mess. "That's 'not' a dodgeball!"

Gwen snickered. "All's fair in aerial combat."

Ben growled playfully, then raised his hands. A pink energy construct formed around him, shaped like a giant paddle. With a swift motion, he batted the next tennis ball straight back at Gwen.

"Oh, come on!" she shouted, barely dodging it as it zoomed past her.

Max laughed from below, throwing multiple balls at once. The game escalated quickly. Gwen zipped through the air, dodging and weaving with Stinkfly's speed. Ben, on the other hand, floated with effortless grace, using his mana to form small barriers and reflect balls back at Gwen.

"Too slow, Gwen!" Ben taunted, flipping upside down to dodge another ball.

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Oh yeah?" She suddenly dive-bombed at him, forcing him to scramble backward as she spat goo in his path.

Ben created a circular shield of pink energy, blocking the goo but leaving him vulnerable for just a second—long enough for a tennis ball to smack him 'right' in the face.

"Ugh!" he grunted, rubbing his forehead as the ball bounced away.

Max pumped a fist. "That's a hit! One point for Gwen."

Gwen cheered, buzzing victoriously around him. "Haha! Take that, 'Stardust'!"

Ben huffed, floating higher. "Oh, now you've 'done' it."

Summoning a series of energy platforms, he rapidly jumped between them, dodging Max's next volley of throws with acrobatic ease. Gwen, not to be outdone, zipped and spun through the air, barely avoiding the rapid-fire attacks.

For several minutes, they went back and forth—dodging, countering, and launching trick shots at each other. Ben started forming small energy barriers mid-air to bounce balls unpredictably toward Gwen, while Gwen used Stinkfly's agility to loop around and ambush Ben from behind.

Max, watching from below, chuckled. "Gotta say, you two are naturals."

The match finally ended when Max launched the last tennis ball at 'full speed'. Ben dodged, but Gwen wasn't fast enough—she took the hit straight to the wing, spiraling slightly before catching herself.

Max smirked. "And that's the game. Final score: Ben, two hits. Gwen, three."

Ben pumped a fist. "Yes! Victory is mine!"

Gwen groaned, shifting back to human form in a flash of green. "Ugh. You cheated."

Ben scoffed. "How? By being 'awesome'?"

Gwen crossed her arms. "No, by having 'magic'."

Max laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, you two. Let's call it a draw."

Ben landed gently, his energy still thrumming from the excitement. He grinned at Gwen. "Not bad, partner."

She smirked. "Not bad yourself… 'Stardust'."

Ben groaned. "You're never letting that go, are you?"

"Nope."

With that, they laughed, walking back to the Rustbucket together as the last light of day faded into a peaceful night.

The Rustbucket was parked in a quiet part of the forest, the midday sun filtering through the trees as the scent of grilled burgers filled the air. Max had whipped up a simple but delicious meal—burgers, fries, and some cold sodas. Gwen and Ben sat at the small fold-out table outside, their plates piled high as they dug in.

Ben, still in his Anodite form, hovered slightly above his seat, his long glowing hair swaying with every movement. He took a big bite of his burger, chewing thoughtfully.

Gwen, watching him curiously, raised an eyebrow. "So… does food still taste the same for you?"

Ben swallowed, licking some ketchup off his fingers. "Yeah, almost. It's still good, just… kinda weird in my stomach for a sec. Like, I don't know… static electricity or something."

Gwen's chewing slowed. "Wait… 'what'?"

Ben shrugged. "Yeah, like a little zap in my gut after I eat. But it goes away."

Gwen set her burger down, now thoroughly intrigued. "Okay, hold on. Do you still, you know… have to pee or poop?"

Ben immediately shot her a disgusted look. "Seriously, Gwen? We are 'eating' right now."

Gwen smirked. "It's a valid question! I mean, if you're all made of energy now, then where does all that food go?"

Max, who had been enjoying his burger in peace, chuckled as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Anodites don't process food the same way humans do."

Ben and Gwen turned to him, staring in unison.

Max continued, casually taking another bite. "Instead of regular digestion, their bodies convert food into mana. It's pure energy fuel for them."

Ben blinked. Gwen blinked.

They both stared at Max for several seconds before finally speaking.

"…What?" Ben asked flatly.

Max shrugged. "You heard me."

Gwen slowly turned to Ben, looking at him like he was some kind of alien—which, technically, he now was. "So, you're telling me… every time you eat, you're just 'charging up'?"

Ben frowned, looking down at his half-eaten burger. "That's… kinda weird."

Gwen smirked. "Weirder than glowing like a human nightlight?"

Ben groaned. "I swear, you are never letting that go."

Before Gwen could reply, a loud buzzing sound came from the table.

Ben glanced at his phone, which was lying face-up next to his plate. His glowing eyes widened in panic.

It was a video call from 'Mom'.

"Shit, shit, shit—" Ben muttered under his breath, grabbing the phone and shoving it into Max's hands.

Max blinked, looking at him in confusion. "Ben, what—"

Before Max could protest, Ben had already tapped the screen, answering the call.

The screen lit up, revealing Sandra Tennyson's warm, smiling face. She was sitting comfortably at home, a cup of tea in her hands.

"Ben, sweetheart! How are—" She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she saw Max's face instead of her son's. "Father?"

Max grinned, waving casually. "Yo, Sandra, dear! How are you?"

Sandra blinked in confusion. "Uh… I was calling Ben. Why are 'you' answering his phone?"

Max chuckled. "Oh, you know, just helping out. He's, uh… busy."

Sandra arched an eyebrow. "Busy with what?"

Max scratched the back of his head. "Oh, you know… camping stuff. Outdoor adventures."

Sandra sighed, taking a sip of her tea. "I hope he's not causing trouble. You 'know' how he gets when he's cooped up too long."

Max chuckled. "Oh, don't worry, he's getting plenty of activity."

Gwen snorted but quickly covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Sandra hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Alright, but where is he? I'd like to actually talk to my son."

Max immediately turned to Gwen, shoving the phone toward her.

Gwen's eyes widened in horror. "Wait—'what?!'"

"Your turn," Max said smoothly, handing her the phone.

Betrayed, Gwen shot Ben a deadly glare. Ben just floated there, his glowing hands held up innocently.

Sighing, Gwen took the phone and forced a smile. "Hi, Aunt Sandra!"

Sandra smiled warmly. "Gwen! Sweetheart, how are you?"

"Oh, you know, just… having a great summer," Gwen said, trying to sound casual.

Sandra's gaze flickered. "That's nice. Now, can I please talk to Ben?"

Gwen hesitated for a fraction of a second before shoving the phone back toward Ben.

Ben's glowing eyes widened. "Oh, come on—"

Gwen smirked. "Your turn, 'Stardust'."

Ben groaned but grabbed the phone. Instead of showing his face, he quickly turned the camera away from him, keeping it pointed at the ceiling of the Rustbucket.

"Hey, Mom!" Ben said quickly, making his voice sound as normal as possible.

Sandra frowned. "Ben, why is your camera facing the ceiling?"

"Uh… no reason," Ben said, trying to act casual. "Just, y'know, relaxing."

Sandra's frown deepened. "And why does your voice sound weird? It's echoing."

Ben's glowing hand clenched slightly. "Uh, no, it's just… bad reception. Y'know, forests and all that."

Sandra narrowed her eyes. "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson. Show me your face."

Ben's glowing hair flickered slightly as he panicked. "Oh, look at that, signal's breaking up! Bye, Mom!"

Before Sandra could reply, Ben tapped the screen, cutting off the call.

The Rustbucket was silent.

Ben let out a deep sigh, slumping back. "Damn, she'd 'definitely' have a heart attack if she saw me like this."

Gwen burst out laughing. "Oh my God, that was the 'worst' cover-up ever."

Max chuckled. "You'll have to tell her eventually, Ben."

Ben groaned, running a glowing hand through his flowing hair. "Yeah… but not today."

Gwen smirked. "You know she's going to keep calling, right?"

Ben groaned again. "I need a distraction."

Gwen smirked wider. "Want me to throw more rocks at you?"

Ben shot her a glare. "I 'swear', Gwen—"

Max just shook his head, watching his grandkids bicker as he finished the last bite of his burger. Another normal—well, 'relatively' normal—day in the Tennyson family.

—(~/\~)—

The Rustbucket was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the trees. Inside, Gwen was curled up in her sleeping bag, the Omnitrix dimly pulsing on her wrist. Max snored lightly in his bunk, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest proving he was deep in sleep.

But Ben… Ben couldn't sleep.

He lay there, floating just above his bed, staring at the ceiling. His glowing hair drifted weightlessly, shimmering in the dim light of the RV. He had tried to settle down, but the energy within him refused to be ignored. It thrummed beneath his skin, making his body hum with restless anticipation.

Sighing, he sat up and phased silently through the door, emerging into the cool night air.

The moment he stepped outside, his breath caught.

The forest stretched out before him, bathed in a soft silver glow. The moon hung high in the sky, its light reflecting off the leaves, making them shimmer. Fireflies danced lazily in the distance, their tiny lights blinking in the darkness. A small stream flowed nearby, its waters glistening under the moonlight.

Ben floated up, letting himself drift weightlessly above the treetops. He had seen a lot of incredible things since discovering his powers, but there was something different about this. The beauty of it all, the peace, the stillness… It was almost enough to make him forget about the constant buzz of energy inside him.

Almost.

A sudden, sharp scream shattered the tranquility.

Ben's head snapped downward, his glowing eyes narrowing. The sound had come from deeper in the forest. Without hesitation, he shot toward it, the wind rushing past him as he flew.

Within seconds, he found the source.

A girl—about his age—stood pressed against a large tree, her back flush against the bark. She wore a pink hoodie, the hood pulled down to reveal sleek, straight black hair cut in a bob. Her wide, terrified brown eyes were locked onto the massive grizzly bear looming over her.

The bear snarled, its deep growl rumbling through the night air. It reared onto its hind legs, standing over seven feet tall, its powerful claws glinting in the moonlight. The girl's hands gripped the bark behind her, her entire body frozen in fear.

Ben's heart pounded.

'Move! Do something!'

Before he could second-guess himself, his body acted on instinct.

He extended a hand, and a surge of pink-violet energy shot forth, slamming into the ground between the girl and the bear. The impact sent up a wave of dust and startled the bear, causing it to stagger backward with a confused snort.

Ben hovered closer, his glowing form illuminating the clearing. "Hey!" he called out, his voice steady but firm. "Back off!"

The bear growled and turned toward him, baring its teeth.

Ben's hands clenched, and another pulse of energy crackled in his palms. He didn't 'want' to hurt it—he loved animals—but he couldn't let it harm the girl.

The bear took a step forward.

Ben flicked his wrist, summoning a large, glowing construct—a barrier shaped like a circular shield. He slammed it into the ground between them, forming a solid wall of energy. The bear's instincts kicked in, and after sniffing the barrier and growling once more, it turned with a huff and lumbered back into the darkness.

Silence returned to the forest.

Ben let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Holy crap," he muttered, staring at his own glowing hands. "Did I just—" He exhaled sharply. "Shit. Shit. Shit."

"You saved me."

The voice was quiet, almost breathless.

Ben turned, finally getting a proper look at the girl. She was staring at him, eyes wide—not in fear, but in awe. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she processed what had just happened.

She wasn't screaming. She wasn't running.

Ben's mind raced. 'Why isn't she screaming?'

"Uh…" Ben slowly lowered himself to the ground, his glowing form dimming slightly. "You okay?"

The girl nodded quickly, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I… I think so."

Ben nodded too, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "Cool. Good. Yeah."

A beat of silence passed.

Then, she tilted her head. "Who—'what' are you?"

Ben stiffened. He had been so caught up in saving her that he hadn't considered the consequences. She 'saw' him. Someone 'outside his family' saw him in his Anodite form.

He needed to leave.

"Uh—" He hovered slightly off the ground, his glowing hair swaying. "I should go."

"Wait!" The girl stepped forward. "I didn't even get to thank you!"

Ben hesitated mid-air. He wasn't used to people reacting like this. Usually, there was fear. Confusion. But her expression was… different.

Genuine gratitude.

She smiled, brushing some loose strands of hair behind her ear. "Really, thank you. I don't know what I would've done if you didn't show up."

Ben blinked. "Uh. Yeah. No problem."

She tilted her head again. "Do you have a name?"

Ben paused. Max's words echoed in his head—'Never reveal your true identity if you don't have to.'

He hesitated for only a second before replying.

"Stardust," he said.

The girl's smile widened. "Cool name. I'm Julie. Julie Yamamoto."

Ben felt something weird—something unfamiliar—settle in his chest. He had met a lot of people since getting his powers, but this was different. 'She wasn't afraid of him.'

She was smiling.

And it 'wasn't' because she was dazzled by his glowing form or impressed by his powers. It was because he helped her.

Ben suddenly felt shy. He wasn't used to that either.

He nodded stiffly. "Right. Well. Uh. Be careful next time, Julie."

She giggled softly. "I'll try."

Ben floated a little higher, ready to leave. "Gotta go. Later."

Before she could say anything else, he shot into the sky, disappearing into the trees.

Julie stood there for a long moment, staring at the spot where he had just been. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, and the forest returned to its usual, peaceful quiet.

She placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heartbeat gradually slow. Then, she let out a deep breath and smiled to herself.

"Stardust, huh?" she murmured, turning back toward the path home. "Guess this camping trip just got way more interesting."

—(~/\~)—

Ben groaned as something hard smacked him on the side of the head.

"Wake up, 'Stardust'! It's laundry day!"

He cracked one glowing eye open to see Gwen standing over him, arms crossed, smirking triumphantly. She held a rolled-up pair of socks in her hand—probably the weapon she had just used to wake him.

Ben groaned dramatically and rolled over, trying to bury his face into his pillow. "Gwen, I'm made of energy now. I don't 'need' to do laundry."

Gwen scoffed. "Oh really? So those sweatpants and hoodie you've been wearing to 'hide' your glow magically wash themselves?" She grabbed the hoodie he had tossed onto the floor the night before and wrinkled her nose. "Ew, Ben, this smells like burnt circuits and desperation."

Ben sat up, still half-asleep, his hair floating lazily around him. "Yeah, well, you smell like an overcooked librarian, so we're even."

Gwen threw the hoodie at his face. "Just get up and help, 'partner'."

Max's voice called from outside the RV. "Kids! We need to get to the laundromat before the rush!"

Ben groaned again but slowly floated off his bed, stretching. "Fine, fine. But you owe me for this."

Gwen smirked. "Sure. I'll 'totally' owe you."

Ben narrowed his eyes at her but decided not to push it.

As he grabbed his pile of clothes, including his signature white shirt and black pants, he felt an odd sense of normalcy. Sure, he was an Anodite, an alien, and now a glowing superhero. But somehow, even 'Stardust' had to do laundry.

The peaceful morning was shattered by the sound of screaming.

Ben, Gwen, and Max had barely stepped out of the Rustbucket with their laundry bags when a thunderous 'croak' echoed through the street. People ran in panic as a massive, mutated frog—easily the size of a city bus—hopped onto the road, its slimy green skin glistening under the sun.

Atop the monstrous amphibian, standing proudly with his tattered lab coat billowing in the wind, was none other than Doctor Animo. His wild eyes gleamed with manic excitement as he surveyed the chaos below.

He grabbed a megaphone, his voice booming.

"'Stardust!'" he bellowed, pointing dramatically at the Rustbucket. "I know you're here! Show yourself, or I'll flatten these insignificant tourists like the insects they are!"

Ben's glowing eyes narrowed as he turned toward the scene. The massive frog had landed right in front of a stalled bus, its terrified passengers—mostly kids—huddled near the windows, staring in horror at the creature looming over them.

Ben clenched his fists, grinding his teeth. "Why is it always 'this guy'?"

Gwen, already scanning the scene, muttered, "Yeah, usually he's obsessed with my Omnitrix. Why's he suddenly so interested in 'you'?"

Max's face darkened. "Animo may be a lunatic, but he's still a scientist. He must've figured out that Ben isn't just some ordinary alien. He's an 'energy being' now. That means he either wants to use Ben as a power source… or dissect him to figure out how he works."

Ben's glowing pink aura flared slightly at the thought. "Ew. No thanks. I'm 'not' some lab rat or a walking battery."

Animo tapped his foot impatiently on the frog's slimy back. "Come now, Stardust! Don't make me 'encourage' you!"

With that, the frog's massive tongue shot out, wrapping around the bus. The kids inside screamed as the creature lifted the vehicle slightly, shaking it like a toy.

Ben instinctively floated a few inches off the ground, ready to launch forward. "I have to—"

Gwen grabbed his wrist. "No. I've got this."

Ben blinked, startled. "What? Gwen, this guy's literally calling 'me' out."

"I 'know', genius," Gwen said, already slamming down the Omnitrix dial. "Which is why you 'don't' need to jump into a fight where a mad scientist wants to kidnap you."

Ben hesitated, glancing at Max. The old man nodded in agreement. "She's right, Ben. Animo 'wants' you to show up. He's prepared for you. But Gwen? He still thinks she's his main threat."

Ben let out a slow breath. He hated it, but they were right. If Animo had set a trap, rushing in without a plan would be reckless.

"Fine," he muttered, crossing his arms. "But if she gets in trouble, I'm 'not' sitting out."

Gwen smirked. "Duly noted."

She slammed the Omnitrix down, and in a flash of green light, her form shifted. Her body stretched and twisted as vines sprouted from her arms and legs. Leaves and tendrils coiled around her, forming the unmistakable shape of 'Wildvine'.

She landed lightly on her root-like feet, her plant-like body swaying slightly. "Alright, Frogzilla," she called, cracking her knuckles. "Let's dance."

And with that, she leaped forward, launching herself straight at Animo.

Gwen, now fully transformed into Wildvine, launched herself toward the massive frog with a grace that belied her plant-like appearance. Her vine-like limbs extended and contracted with ease, propelling her through the air as though she weighed nothing. She twisted mid-leap, shooting out a tendril that wrapped around the frog's slimy leg, pulling herself closer.

The giant amphibian croaked loudly, its voice shaking nearby windows as it lashed out with its massive tongue. Gwen anticipated the move, letting go of the leg and flipping gracefully above the sticky appendage.

"Not bad," she muttered, landing lightly on her feet as she assessed the creature. Its sheer size was intimidating, but its movements were predictable. Typical of one of Doctor Animo's mutated creations—big and scary, but not particularly nimble.

"Alright, froggy," she called out, smirking. "Let's see what you've got!"

Animo, perched atop the creature's back, sneered. "Oh, you'll see, Wildvine! And when I'm done, you and that glowing freak will both be mine!"

Gwen ignored the taunt, her eyes narrowing as she formulated a plan. With a flick of her wrist, she sent two vines shooting forward, wrapping around the frog's front legs. The creature thrashed, but Gwen dug her root-like feet into the asphalt, anchoring herself. Her vines tightened, pulling the frog downward.

The crowd that had gathered at a safe distance began to cheer.

"Go, plant superhero!" someone yelled.

Gwen rolled her eyes, yanking hard on the vines. "It's Wildvine! Get it right!"

The frog, enraged by its restrained movement, opened its massive mouth and shot out its tongue again. This time, Gwen was ready. She let the tendril-like tongue wrap around her vines, using it as leverage to swing herself upward. With a powerful leap, she landed squarely on the frog's head, just inches away from Animo.

"Hey, Doc," she said with a smirk. "Bet you didn't see this coming."

Animo snarled, reaching into his tattered coat to pull out a strange, glowing device. "Oh, I always see everything coming, you insufferable weed!"

Before Gwen could react, Animo pressed a button on the device, and a sudden pulse of green energy shot out, hitting the frog's body. The mutation responded instantly—thick, slimy goop began to secrete from its skin, coating its entire body in a glistening, sticky layer.

Gwen's eyes widened. "What the—"

The frog thrashed violently, its movements enhanced by the strange mutation. Gwen lost her footing as a massive glob of the sticky slime shot toward her, hitting her square in the chest. She gasped as the viscous substance hardened almost instantly, pinning her arms to her sides.

"Not so clever now, are we?" Animo cackled, his laugh echoing across the street.

Gwen struggled, her plant-like limbs flexing against the hardened goop, but it was no use. The substance clung to her vines, restricting her movements and making it nearly impossible to extend her tendrils.

"Okay, this is gross," she muttered, glaring up at Animo.

But he wasn't done. With another press of his device, the frog's tongue shot out again, this time wrapping tightly around Gwen's restrained body. The slimy appendage coiled around her, lifting her off the ground and leaving her completely immobilized.

The crowd gasped in horror as Wildvine—who had been holding her own moments before—was now dangling helplessly in the frog's grip.

Animo's grin widened as he looked down at his captive. "You see, Wildvine, you might have tricks, but I've got brains. And now that I've dealt with you, there's only one target left…"

His eyes gleamed as they turned toward the Rustbucket, where Ben hovered just outside, his glowing pink form tense with frustration.

"Stardust!" Animo bellowed, pointing dramatically. "I'll deal with you soon enough! For now, I'll take your partner as a consolation prize!"

Before Ben could respond, the frog let out a deafening croak and leaped into the air, carrying Animo and Gwen with it. The sheer force of the leap shook the ground, leaving cracks in the asphalt as the mutated creature soared toward the forest on the edge of town.

"Shit!" Ben hissed, his fists clenching as he watched the scene unfold.

The open area left him with no cover, no way to intercept the frog without exposing himself further. He floated higher, scanning the area in desperation, but the frog was already bounding out of sight, disappearing into the dense trees.

Max jogged up beside him, his expression grim. "We've got to move fast, Ben. Animo won't wait long before he does something drastic with Gwen."

Ben gritted his teeth, his glowing aura flaring with barely restrained energy. "Why is it always this guy?" he muttered angrily.

Max put a hand on his shoulder. "Focus, Ben. We'll get her back. You just need to stay calm and think."

Ben nodded, though his jaw remained tight. "Calm, right," he muttered, but the fire in his eyes didn't fade.

Max pulled out his Plumber communicator, scanning for energy signals. "We'll track them down," he said firmly. "You just get ready to fight when the time comes."

Ben hovered in place, his hands flexing as pink energy pulsed faintly around him. "Don't worry, Grandpa," he said quietly. "I'm ready."

—(~/\~)—

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, the mutated frog landed heavily in a clearing, shaking the ground as it settled. Animo leaped off its back, brushing slime off his coat as he grinned at Gwen, still restrained in the frog's tongue.

"Well, Wildvine," he said mockingly, pacing in front of her. "You put up a decent fight, but as always, science prevails over nature."

Gwen glared at him, her body still struggling against the sticky goop. "You're a scientist? Pretty sure you're just a glorified zookeeper with anger issues."

Animo's eye twitched, but he quickly composed himself. "Ah, the humor of the defeated. It's always so charming." He gestured to the frog, which tightened its grip on Gwen slightly, eliciting a small grunt of discomfort. "But don't worry. I won't hold your insolence against you. Once I've dealt with your glowing friend, I'll have plenty of time to... study both of you."

Gwen's face twisted in disgust. "Yeah, hard pass."

Animo ignored her, turning toward a nearby table of strange equipment he had set up in the clearing. "Now, let's prepare for Stardust's arrival, shall we? He won't be able to resist coming after you, and when he does…"

His grin turned wicked as he activated a device that began to hum ominously. "I'll have the perfect trap waiting for him."

—(~/\~)—

The Rustbucket screeched to a halt on the dirt road, its tires kicking up dust as it came to a stop before a wrecked hut deep in the forest. The area was eerily quiet, with the dense trees casting long shadows over the clearing. The faint chirping of birds was the only sound, but even that seemed distant, muffled by the oppressive silence.

Max tapped on the control panel of his Plumber computer, narrowing his eyes at the glowing signal displayed on the screen. "Her Omnitrix is here," he confirmed, his voice steady but tense.

Ben floated out of the RV, his glowing pink form pulsing faintly in the dim light. His long hair swayed as if responding to the energy in the air, and his glowing eyes scanned the wreckage ahead. "Then Gwen's here too," he said, his voice tight with determination.

Max stepped down from the RV, adjusting his cap as he gave Ben a stern look. "We need to be vigilant, Ben. No rushing in. Animo knows what he's doing."

Ben turned to him, frowning. "But Grandpa! You said it yourself—Anodites are some of the strongest species in the universe! I can totally take on anything Animo has to throw at us. Let's just barge in and end this!"

Max sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Ben, you're young. Inexperienced." He paused, fixing Ben with a knowing look. "And for the record, I never said Anodites were the strongest species. There are plenty of others out there who could give you a run for your money."

Ben huffed, crossing his arms as his glow flickered slightly. "Fine. But if anything goes haywire, I'm using my super cool powers to save the day."

Max nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Okay, but be careful. You're powerful, Ben, but power without control is dangerous. You don't want to make things worse."

Ben floated a little higher, tilting his head toward the hut. "Got it. So, what's the plan, Grandpa?"

Max gestured toward the clearing ahead, his voice calm but firm. "Animo wants you. He's set this up to lure you in. So, we'll use that against him. I'll lure him into an open area where you'll keep him distracted—talk to him, bait him, whatever it takes to hold his attention. Meanwhile, I'll free Gwen and disable whatever traps he's set up."

Ben's glowing eyes brightened slightly with excitement. "Distracting him? Oh, I can definitely do that."

Max gave him a small smile. "Just don't let him catch you. He's a madman, but he's smart. He'll have something up his sleeve."

Ben nodded, his aura flaring briefly as he floated higher. "No problem. I've got this."

Max adjusted his Plumber belt, giving one last look at the hut before motioning for Ben to follow him into the forest. "Alright. Let's get Gwen back."

The two crept through the forest, the dense canopy above casting shifting patterns of light on the forest floor. Max moved with practiced stealth, his years of experience in the field evident in the way he navigated the terrain. Ben, on the other hand, hovered just above the ground, his glowing form a stark contrast to the muted greens and browns of their surroundings.

As they approached the clearing near the hut, they spotted Animo's monstrous frog resting near a large table of equipment. The grotesque creature let out a low croak, its massive tongue flicking out to clean its slimy skin.

And there, suspended in the air by the frog's tongue, was Gwen. Her Wildvine form was still visible, but her body was immobilized by the sticky goop Animo had used to trap her. She glared down at Animo, who stood nearby, tinkering with one of his devices, completely unaware of their presence.

Ben's fists clenched as his glowing eyes narrowed. "That slimy lunatic," he muttered under his breath.

"Stay calm," Max whispered, placing a hand on Ben's shoulder. "Remember the plan."

Ben took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. "Right. Distract the crazy frog guy while you free Gwen. Got it."

Max nodded, stepping back slightly. "Go. I'll circle around and get to her while you keep him busy."

Ben floated forward, his aura brightening as he emerged from the shadows and into the clearing. The frog immediately croaked in alarm, its massive eyes locking onto him.

"Animo!" Ben called out, his voice echoing with authority.

Animo whirled around, his wild eyes widening briefly before a manic grin spread across his face. "Ah, Stardust!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms theatrically. "How delightful of you to join us! I was beginning to think you'd lost your nerve."

Ben smirked, crossing his arms as he floated closer. "Nerve? Nah, I was just giving you time to pack up your science fair rejects before I kicked your butt."

Animo's grin twitched, his eye narrowing in irritation. "You insolent whelp! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

"Yeah," Ben said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Some washed-up lunatic who's too busy playing mad scientist to get a real job."

Animo growled, his hands clenching into fists. "You'll regret those words, Stardust. Soon enough, you'll be nothing more than an energy source for my experiments!"

Ben snorted, pretending to inspect his glowing nails. "Yeah, sure. Big talk from a guy who rides around on a giant frog."

While Animo's attention was fully on Ben, Max crept silently around the edge of the clearing, inching closer to where Gwen was trapped. He carefully avoided the debris scattered across the forest floor, his movements calculated and precise.

Animo, meanwhile, stepped closer to Ben, his grin returning. "You think you're clever, don't you?" he sneered. "But you have no idea what I'm capable of."

Ben floated higher, his aura flaring slightly. "Then why don't you show me?"

Animo's grin widened. "Oh, with pleasure!" He raised a hand, pressing a button on his wrist device.

The ground beneath Ben suddenly erupted, vines and tendrils made of sticky slime shooting upward to grab him. But Ben was ready.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a pink energy construct in the shape of a blade, slicing through the vines effortlessly. "Nice try," he taunted.

Animo snarled, turning back to his equipment. "Let's see how you handle this!"

As he fiddled with his devices, Max reached Gwen, pulling out a small Plumber tool. "Hang on, Gwen," he whispered, working quickly to disable the slime holding her in place.

Gwen's eyes darted toward Ben, who was now dodging another barrage of slime tendrils. "Grandpa, hurry. He's stalling Animo, but I don't think he can keep this up forever."

Max nodded, his hands steady as he freed her arms. "Almost there."

Ben, meanwhile, grinned as he created a glowing shield to block another attack. "Come on, Animo! Is this all you've got?"

Animo growled, his frustration mounting. "You arrogant little—"

Before he could finish, Gwen's Wildvine form dropped to the ground, free at last. She smirked, her tendrils snapping forward to grab one of Animo's devices, yanking it away.

"What—" Animo whirled around just in time to see Gwen slam her vines into his equipment, sending sparks flying.

Max stood nearby, giving Ben a thumbs-up. "We've got her. Finish this, Ben!"

Ben grinned, his aura flaring as he turned his full attention to Animo. "You're done, Doc."

Animo's face twisted in rage. "This isn't over, Stardust!" he bellowed, retreating toward his frog.

But Ben wasn't about to let him escape. Summoning a series of glowing pink tendrils, he lashed out, wrapping them around the frog's legs and pinning it to the ground.

Animo let out a panicked yell as he stumbled backward, his plans falling apart around him.

Ben floated closer, his glowing form pulsing with energy. "Like I said," he said with a smirk. "You're done."

Ben hovered confidently in the air, his glowing pink aura radiating power as he smirked down at Doctor Animo. Gwen, still in her Wildvine form, stood beside Max, the two of them ready to spring into action should the mad scientist try anything. Animo was cornered, his giant frog restrained by Ben's energy constructs, his gadgets and experiments scattered around the clearing.

"You're done, Doc," Ben said, his tone filled with cocky assurance.

But Animo, even with his back seemingly against the wall, was anything but panicked. Instead, a twisted grin spread across his face.

"Done? Oh no, my dear Stardust, I've barely begun!"

Before Ben could react, Animo pressed a hidden button on the underside of his wrist device. A small hatch in the ground near Ben opened, releasing a burst of gas. Ben instinctively raised a glowing barrier, but the gas wasn't designed to harm—it was a distraction.

From above, a net coated in metallic wiring dropped from a hidden launcher in the trees, ensnaring Ben mid-air. He let out a startled yell as he was yanked downward, his energy flaring wildly against the net. The metallic threads glowed faintly, crackling with energy as they absorbed some of his mana, neutralizing his constructs.

"Wha—?!" Ben struggled, his glowing hair whipping around as he tried to break free.

Animo let out a triumphant laugh. "Did you really think I wouldn't prepare for you? You're an energy-based lifeform, boy. And I, Doctor Animo, excel at harnessing energy!"

As Ben struggled, the ground beneath him shifted again, and a large cylindrical tube shot upward, encasing him completely. The interior was lined with glowing circuits, pulsing with green energy that drained more of Ben's power. He pounded on the inside of the tube, but the construct didn't budge.

"Grandpa!" Gwen shouted, her voice filled with panic as the Omnitrix flashed red, signaling the end of her transformation. She fell back into her human form, her tendrils vanishing as she stumbled to the ground.

"Ben!" Max yelled, rushing forward with his Plumber tech, but Animo was quicker.

The mad scientist's frog lashed out with its tongue, sending Max flying back before he could reach the tube. Gwen scrambled to her feet, but without her alien form, she was powerless to stop what happened next.

Inside the tube, Ben's body glowed brighter and brighter as the circuits absorbed his mana. Animo approached, his twisted grin stretching ear to ear as he examined his prize.

"Ah, the power of an energy being," Animo mused, placing a hand on the control panel attached to the tube. "Infinite energy, boundless potential… and now, all mine."

"Let me out, you psycho!" Ben growled, his fists pounding against the glass-like material. His pink energy flared, but the tube held strong, continuing to sap his strength.

Animo ignored him, turning his attention to a series of cables connected to the tube. The cables snaked across the ground, leading to various devices scattered around the clearing, each attached to one of his mutated animals—frogs, owls, lizards, and more.

"Behold!" Animo declared, flipping a switch. "The power of Stardust will amplify my creations, making them stronger, faster, and more destructive than ever!"

The cables lit up, glowing with a sickly green hue as they siphoned Ben's mana from the tube and transferred it into the animals. The creatures began to glow faintly, their mutated forms trembling with the influx of power.

Gwen and Max could only watch in horror as the process unfolded.

"Ben!" Gwen shouted, her voice filled with desperation.

Inside the tube, Ben's glow dimmed slightly as more of his energy was drained. He gritted his teeth, his fists clenching as he tried to focus. "You're not… getting away with this…"

Animo let out a triumphant laugh. "Oh, but I already have!" He gestured toward the animals, which now stood taller, their bodies surging with newfound power. The frog let out a deafening croak, its muscles bulging grotesquely. The owls screeched, their wings expanding unnaturally. The lizards' scales shimmered with an almost metallic sheen.

But then… something went wrong.

The animals began to twitch violently, their bodies convulsing as the stolen energy overloaded their systems. Animo's triumphant grin faltered as he stepped back, his eyes widening.

"What… what's happening?" he muttered.

The frog let out a pained roar before its body expanded rapidly, swelling like a balloon. The owls shrieked as their glowing feathers began to crackle and disintegrate. The lizards writhed on the ground, their scales splitting open.

Then, all at once, the creatures exploded in a horrifying display of gore. Green and red viscera splattered across the clearing, the remains of the animals steaming as they hit the ground.

"Impossible!" Animo shouted, stumbling backward. "Their bodies should have adapted! They should have—"

A loud crack interrupted him.

He turned slowly, his eyes widening as he saw the tube holding Ben begin to fracture. Bright pink light seeped through the cracks, growing more intense with every passing second.

Inside the tube, Ben's eyes glowed with pure rage. His fists clenched, and his body surged with power as he pushed against the weakening structure.

"You made a mistake," Ben growled, his voice echoing with power. "You thought you could control me."

The tube shattered in an explosion of pink energy, sending shards flying in every direction. Animo shielded his face as the force knocked him to the ground.

Ben hovered in the air, his glowing form brighter than ever. His long pink hair flowed wildly around him, and his hollow white eyes locked onto Animo with deadly intent.

"You're going to regret this," Ben said, his voice cold and dangerous.

Animo scrambled to his feet, backing away as Ben advanced on him. "N-now, Stardust," he stammered, holding up his hands defensively. "Let's not be hasty. We can—"

Before he could finish, Ben raised a hand, summoning a construct of pink energy shaped like a massive blade. He swung it downward, barely missing Animo as the scientist dove to the side.

"Ben, stop!" Max called out, but his voice was drowned out by the crackling energy surrounding Ben.

Ben's focus remained on Animo, his glowing eyes narrowing. He extended his other hand, sending a wave of telekinetic force that slammed Animo into a nearby tree. The scientist let out a pained grunt as he hit the ground, coughing.

"P-please!" Animo begged, his voice trembling. "Mercy!"

"Mercy?" Ben repeated, his voice sharp and bitter. "Did you show any mercy to Gwen? To those animals you experimented on?!"

He raised his glowing hand again, ready to deliver another blow.

But before he could strike, a flash of green light illuminated the clearing. Gwen, now in her Diamondhead form, stepped between Ben and Animo, her crystalline body glinting in the moonlight.

"Ben, stop!" she shouted, her voice firm.

Ben froze, his blade of energy flickering as his glowing eyes met hers. "Get out of the way, Gwen," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"No," Gwen said, planting her feet. "This isn't you, Ben. You don't kill. That's not who we are."

Ben hesitated, his hand trembling as the energy around him pulsed erratically. Animo, still crumpled on the ground, stared up at the scene in terrified silence.

"Ben, listen to me," Gwen said, her tone softening. "You're not a monster. Don't let him turn you into one."

Ben's glowing eyes flickered, his energy dimming slightly as her words sank in. He lowered his hand, the construct dissipating into harmless light.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "But he doesn't get to walk away from this."

Gwen nodded, stepping closer. "He won't. But we'll handle this the right way."

Ben exhaled slowly, his glowing form dimming further as he floated back to the ground. Animo, still trembling, let out a shaky breath of relief.

Max approached cautiously, placing a hand on Ben's shoulder. "You did good, Ben," he said gently. "You made the right choice."

Ben didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the ground as the adrenaline began to fade. He wasn't sure if he believed Max, but for now, the fight was over.

—(~/\~)—

Charmcaster, or Hope as she preferred to call herself, gripped the steering wheel of the stolen car with ease, her mind racing as she maneuvered through the bustling streets of New York. Her eyes darted to the rearview mirror occasionally, scanning for anyone who might be following her, though she knew she'd left her pursuers far behind. She smirked to herself, leaning back in the driver's seat.

The magical aura she'd felt earlier still lingered faintly in the air—a tingling sensation that was impossible to ignore. It was like her homeland, the rich mana of Ledgerdomain coursing through her veins. For the past week, she'd been on the move, avoiding trouble, gathering resources, and planning her next step.

Hex, her uncle, had been captured by the Tennysons and handed over to the Plumbers after his disastrous attempt at using the Charms of Bezel. Hope had been there to witness it. She remembered the moment vividly—the so-called "hero" had burst onto the scene. Not the glowing one everyone called "Stardust," but the girl with the Omnitrix.

Gwen Tennyson.

That name was etched in Hope's mind. A preteen alien wielder. Not that anyone else knew Gwen's true identity. Hope had pieced it together through careful observation and subtle probing of the magical energy Gwen emitted. The young Tennyson had potential, but she was reckless, a mere novice wielding magic through sheer brute strength rather than finesse.

Pulling the stolen car into a side street, Hope killed the engine and sat quietly for a moment. She pressed her palm against the car's steering wheel, her fingers sparking faintly with violet energy as she sent out a subtle pulse of mana. It was a technique she'd perfected to detect nearby sources of magic.

Her breath hitched.

The air around her felt electric. Goosebumps prickled her skin, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. This mana wasn't ordinary—no, it was incredibly rich, potent in a way she hadn't felt since she last walked the paths of Ledgerdomain.

Her lavender eyes widened as she gripped the steering wheel tighter, her lips parting slightly. "What... is this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Hope's gaze darted around, scanning the street for any signs of where the energy was coming from. She opened the car door and stepped out, the cool night air brushing against her face as she reached out with her senses.

Then she saw it.

Parked just up ahead, partially obscured by a cluster of trees, was an RV. Its dull exterior gave it an unassuming appearance, but Hope knew better. The energy radiating from it was unmistakable, pouring out in waves like sunlight breaking through clouds. It was a beacon, a siren's call that made her heart race.

She squinted, her eyes narrowing as recognition struck her like a lightning bolt.

An RV.

No, not just any RV. That RV.

Her lips curled into a slow, amused smile.

"The Tennysons…" she murmured.

Hope leaned against the stolen car, her mind whirring. So, the young wielder of the Omnitrix was nearby. Could it be that the magical energy she was sensing came from Gwen herself? Hope had been certain the girl possessed raw magical potential, but this… This was something else entirely.

Her gaze remained fixed on the RV as a flood of questions filled her thoughts. Was Gwen training? Had she discovered some artifact of power? Or was it something else altogether? Whatever the source, it intrigued Hope to no end.

Her smile grew.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Gwen wasn't the only one inside that RV with a connection to magic. A mage? Someone with raw magical talent, like her? Hope had met few in her life who could wield mana so effortlessly, and most of them had been from Ledgerdomain. Could it be possible that another had survived outside its borders?

She felt a shiver of excitement course through her as she considered the possibilities.

For now, Hope decided, she would follow them. Subtly, of course. She didn't need to engage with them immediately—better to observe, to learn what she could before making any moves. If Gwen Tennyson was truly the source of that mana, then Hope would find a way to either manipulate or exploit her. After all, Gwen's novice understanding of magic would pale in comparison to Hope's own refined skills.

Hope turned back to her car, preparing to slide into the driver's seat again. But then she paused, her smile faltering for just a second.

Her gaze drifted back to the RV.

What if… what if it wasn't Gwen?

What if there was someone else inside?

The idea tickled the back of her mind, stirring both curiosity and caution. That magical energy didn't feel like something a novice could wield. No, this was different. It was pure, unrefined, and wild. It didn't have the calculated precision of a seasoned sorcerer like Hex or herself. Instead, it felt like a torrent barely restrained—a force of nature trying desperately to remain contained.

Hope straightened, her expression hardening. She had to know.

But just as she took a step toward the RV, she froze.

Another thought occurred to her, one that made her grin return in full force.

Wait a minute…

An RV. A beat-up, old-looking RV parked in the middle of nowhere, emitting waves of magical energy. It was unmistakable.

"This is their RV," she said aloud, her tone dripping with amusement. "The RV where Gwen Tennyson lives."

Her grin widened as a plan began to form. If Gwen was here—and if this magical source was coming from her—then Hope could use this to her advantage. She didn't need to act recklessly. Not yet. She would follow them, watch them, and strike when the moment was right.

For now, patience would serve her better than confrontation.

Hope stepped back into the stolen car, her violet eyes gleaming with determination.

"Let's see what secrets you're hiding, Tennysons," she murmured, starting the engine.

The car purred to life, and Hope eased it onto the road, keeping a safe distance as she began tailing the RV. Her heart raced with anticipation as she thought of what was to come.

Whatever this mana was—whoever was wielding it—it would be hers.

And if Gwen Tennyson stood in her way?

Hope's grin turned sharp.

Well, Gwen wouldn't stand a chance.

—(~/\~)—

Author Note: Since I was a bit late, I guess you guys deserve two chapters together. So here I am, with a fusion of two chapters. A lot happened and a lot changed.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words inspire me to write faster, better and with more depth.