Caroline 11

It was a bustling morning in New York City as the Tennysons checked into a fancy hotel—or tried to anyway."We're sorry mamm but your booking isn't appearing in our records." The receptionist explained.

"And I'm telling you I already paid the booking." Verdona barked back before sighing, "Look it's just for one night. You have rooms available, don't you? Can't you just squeeze us in?"

"Only if you're willing to pay full price." The receptionist responded apologetically. "Look I'll make a call our guys and see if they can see any bookings that slipped by or were wrongly canceled, if not then I'm sorry but I can't do anything but offer you an early bird discount."

"Fine." Taking the defeat Verdona motioned for the receptionist to make the call while the Tennysons sat in the loobie.

"This is such bull." Gwen bemoaned, having looked forward to the hotel's promise of indoor pools and a full-day spa.

"No kidding." Ben groaned. "Was looking forward to not sleeping in bunk bead."

"I'm sorry huns. I promise we'll get in, even if it means another payment." Verdona sighed before cringing as she recalled the recent repair payments following their run-in with The Road Crew. "This is becoming an expensive summer."

Gwen looked at her grandma with a frown. However, as she did so she looked to her watch as she got an idea. "Hey, why don't I just sneak into the back with the watch and fiddle around a bit." Gwen proposed, only to receive a less enthused look from Verdona.

I appreciate the thought honey but let's not and say we did. You're still learning how to use that thing. The last we need is to break their servers altogether." Verdona kindly but firmly settled Gwen down. "Just let the adults handle it."

That was about an hour ago.

And in that time Ben and Verdona had begun to dose off as Gwen walked anxiously as people checked in and out of the hotel, the receptionist every so often taking the phone to supposedly check the progress on helping the family. And in that time Gwen became more and more annoyed by the delay, not helped as people passed the looby in swimsuits and spa robes. Looking to and from her barely awake Grandma before getting a wicked grin. Rising to her feet she made a show of walking to a nearby restroom, and once she arrived she looked around the empty stall and looked to her watch eagerly. "Grandma may not want Gwen's help." She slammed her Omnitrix, transforming into Ampfibian, "But she didn't say anything to Ampfibian!" She boasted, though deflated for a moment while muttering to herself, "Was kinda going for TechSupport. But oh well." And with a cackle she zapped into a nearby light and began her trek through the wires, eventually zapping out in a server room, servers lining the walls while a few monitors littered desk. "Alright, this shouldn't be too hard." Ampfibian whispered as she made her way to an active monitor with check-in data stored on it. While Ampfbian wasn't able to interface with teck like TechSupport she was able to find a certain connection with the currents of data, and with some trial and error was able to navigate the servers and monitor to find the server she needed to manipulate. Rising her tendrils she muttered to herself, "Well here goes nothing." And plunged her tendrils into the server, electricity radiating off of her. Rotting around she slowly but surely began to work her magic as each electric pulse ever so slightly altered the data, allowing her to manipulate said data into loading a seemingly preestablished booking with her grandma's name on it. "Ha! Good going, Gwen!" she cheered to herself as she saw the booking load, only for her Grandma's booking to suddenly change to be under Gwen's name. "Shoot!" She tried to fix the change, but only when Verdona's name returned every other name turned her's. Eye's widening she frantically tried to fix this, only to undo her work entirely. "No!"

And then she heard footsteps closing in on her location. Frantically she extended a tendril and grabbed a chair to place it under the door as a man tried to open it. "Hey, what the! Whose in there!" He called as he pounded on the door.

Desperately Gwen continued to shift through the servers. "Come on! Come on!" She franticly muttered to herself as she glanced from the severe to the monitor as bookings began to blink in and out. Until the servers began sparking and smoking as the monitor began to fully glitch out. And then BEEP BEEP BEEP "NO!" she cried as she accidentally let out an uncontrolled electric pulse from her freight. BWOOSH

And as the door was kicked down Gwen was transformed back in a green glare. The door swung open as the man stared in and to his bafflement saw a little girl and a smoking room, and as if as a joke, at that moment the monitor fully crashed as the servers sparked violently.

"Heh heh, it's a... not what it looks like?"

They got banned, Gwen being forced to stand there as the damage she caused was yelled at her grandma while Gwen desperately tried to avoid her disappointed looks and Ben's cold glares. They didn't talk as they were kicked out, simply packing into the RV with Gwen gulping as she took a seat at the table.

"I told you to let me handle it!" Verdona growled as she clearly barely concealed her anger, Gwen shrinking under the beratment.

I was just trying to help." Gwen weakly defended before pouting, "It's not my fault they're bad at their jobs."

"Really Dweeb?" Ben interjected. "That's a bad excuse even by my standards." he snarked, only to fall silent as both Gwen and Verdona glared at him.

"How many times do you have to have it drilled into you? You don't know everything! Acting like you do only causes more trouble! We had it covered." Verdona continues, her voice becoming strained as she talked.

"Clearly not!" Gwen exclaimed indignantly before throwing her hands in the air. "You know what, I don't have to take this." She marched to the doors

"Where are you going?" Verdona yelled in bafflment.

"Out!"

"I'm not done talking to you!" She called after Gwen.

"So what?" Gwen spat back, "You're not my mom!" For a moment pausing as she processed her own words.

"I-Well, if I was, I-I…' Verdona stumbled over her words in response. Not waiting for a response Gwen ran away not daring to look back.

Seeing the bickering done Ben stood and headed to the door himself. "I'll uh, go make sure she doesn't do anything brash." He told Verdona as he placed a hand on her arm.

Verdona sighed looking absolutely exhausted, "O-Ok, I'll go back in and see if I can at least get any money back." She then left for the building, Ben watching before turning his attention to the street Gwen went down.

"That's it. I officially wish I did Summer School."

"Who does she think she is? She can't talk to me that way! It's not my fault everyone is so useless." Gwen ranted under her breath as she marched along the street, nary a care nor intent in her direction.

"For the mature one, you're acting awfully childish, doofus." Ben snarked as he caught up, earning him a stink eye.

"Go away." Gwen growled as she turned away with a pout.

Yeah after what happened last time, I don't think so." Ben reasoned before softening his glare. "Look let's just get back to the RV."

However, Gwen refused to let up, only quickening her pace as she marched away, "Sorry I don't speak doofus."

"Why am I getting major vibes of Deja Vu?"

After walking around the streets of New York for a while the Tennyson duo found themselves at a run-down library. Ohing at the building Gwen strolled in as Ben begrudgingly followed. The place showed clear in its age, with peeling wallpaper and well-worn furniture, yet Gwen paid it little mind as she strolled past the shelves scrolling past the variety of well-read books. Eventually one catches her eye, a fantasy book about a witch and an oger, intrigued she grabbed it from the shelf and began to walk toward a sitting area nearby. However just as she was about to exit the shelves a girl rounded the corner and ended up slamming into Gwen knocking both down.

"Hey watch it!" The girl barked as she sat up.

Gwen sat up too and began to snap back, "You watch-" However as began to yell she cut herself off with a blush as she saw the girl get up. She was older, maybe fifteen, with pure white hair held up in a ponytail and striking pink eyes with dark circles under them. She wore a black shirt under a pink trench coat along with purple leggings and black boots. Her coat had viable stitching and patches where it'd clearly been repaired. Lastly wrapped around them was a small satchel that laid at her hip. "out… heh heh, a-actually sorry that was my fault."

The girl gave her a puzzled look but before she could question the response the lights above suddenly cut out, the shop soon going dark. "Gosh, Fricken!" They heard an older cranky voice call from the front.

"Don't worry Miss Bachan! I got it!" The girl called forward as she reached up to the light fixture. Suddenly purple sparks jumped from her fingers to the fixture. Suddenly the fixture above glowed brighter than ever, the rest of the lights soon following suit.

"Woah, How'd you do that?" She gasped in awe.

The girl gave her a humored look, "Let's just say I got some skills." She winked. "Names Hope, Hope Caroline."

Gwen blushed as she realized she hadn't introduced herself, "Oh Right! Names Gwen, Gwen Tennyson!" She then pulled Ben by the elbow, "And this is my cousin Ben."

"Sup" Ben bluntly replied as he glared at Hope.

"Uh sorry for bumping into you." Gwen awkwardly interjected. "I was actually going over there to read, would you like to join us?"

Hope chuckled at the girl's awkward display, that is until something caught her eye in the distance. "Sorry Gwennie, I'm actually a bit in a rush." She apologetically responded as she began walking past, though did take the time to wave back, "Nice meeting you though!"

"She's trouble."

"She's so cool."

Hope quickly lurched around the shelves before spotting two familiar sites, a red-headed girl with a grey headband and a brunette with long hair and a grey shirt with a skull on it. The two looked around as Hope just barely escaped their gaze. Gulping Hope attempted to sneak around them as they walked past the checkout counter. And just as she made her way to the door and was about to be home free, she found herself bumping into another girl. Looking up she saw a large muscular girl, said girl looked down at her with a crooked smile before locking her into a bear hug as she hoisted her off the ground.

"Well well well, look what we have here. Long time, no see, ey princess?" Pinky, the red headed girl, snarked as she turned to face Hope who was turned around by the large girl.

Missy, the brunette, giggled, "Where you going? Home to recharge your batteries?"

Gritting her teeth in response to the taunts Hope tried in vain to kick her captor, to no such luck. Then suddenly, "Let Her Go!" a younger voice called before suddenly Gwen came charging at the gang of girls, leaping at them with a kick. However, this kick was quickly intercepted by Hope's captor who passed Hope from a hug to a one-arm hold before catching the kid.

"Nice try kid." She chuckled before tossing Gwen back into some bookshelves, eliciting a cascade of giggles.

As Gwen was down Pinky grabbed her by the shirt as she she shot Hope a taunting look. "Aw princess, is this your little knight in shining armor?" She raised a fist as Gwen struggled in her gasp, Ben watching from the shelves unsure what to do, "How precious."

"Leave her alone!" Hope cried as she struggled, shooting Pinky a murderous glare.

Pinky rolled her eyes, "Pfft, whatever. Scram kid. it's about to get a lot less pretty up in here."She taunted before letting Gwen go, fleeing as she charged out the doors while Ben followed.

Giving a forced smile Hope taunted the thuggish girls, "So, how's the hangout? Still trashed like I left it?

Missy sneered at the reminder, though it quickly turned to a devilish smirk, "Yeah, and you're gonna pay, big time."

"You can't take us all alone, freak!" Pinky continued as she took out a pocket knife which she pointed at Hope. Or at least that was what she attempted to do, only the knife had disappeared as soon as it was pointed. "Huh?"

"She may not. But I can!" XLR8 cacked as she suddenly appeared behind them, the pocket knife twirling in her hand.

Gasping, the girls turned to face her baffled by her appearance. "Ain't it a little earlier for Halloween?" Missy snarked.

"Maybe, but I'm always good for a scare." XLR8 retreated before grabbing them by their shirts and running them through the library around the shelves before throwing them back where they once stood, the girls shrieking the entire time.

"What the heck? What are you?" The strong girl gasped as she let go of Hope and attempted to run for it. But before she could make it to the doors she was suddenly grabbed by the arm as XLR8 began running circles around her spinning her around and around before tossing her on top of her cohorts.

The girls groaned in pain as XLR8 rolled, her mask lifting as the girls looked up. "Trick or Treat!" she taunted, that taunt being the final straw to send the punks running for the hills as they fled not darting to look back, Hope giggling at the display. "Those girls shouldn't trouble you anymore." XLR8 boasted before running out in a blue blur, Hope falling back against the wall in relieved shock.

Soon enough the watch timed out, and as if on cue Hope finally exited the library, a broad smile painted on her face. Hope whooped and cheered as she walked out, spotting Gwen and Ben, "Haha! Did you see what that lizard girl just did? That was priceless!"

Gwen beamed at the indirect praise, "I know right! XLR8 was cool! Good thing I flagged her down." This admission earring a grimace from Ben at the half-baked explanation.

Hope however was easily sold, "You did? Sweet! Hey, as thanks how about a tour of New York?" Hope offered as she held out a hand to the duo.

Gwen gasped and was about to take the hand only to receive an elbow in the ribs, "Sorry but we really should be going, we keep Grandma waiting any longer she'll be even more heated than the chili we had last night," Ben half joked as he shot Gwen a glare, though kept a forced smile as he tried to nudge Gwen along. Only as Ben tried to usher Gwen away, and in between efforts to repress thoughts of the molten cricket abomination Verdona made, Gwen stared at the open hand and in a moment of spite took the hand."Gwen?" Ben gasped as Gwen looked away with crossed arms, "Fine...You're on your own." Ben sighed, not looking forward to confronting Verdona on Gwen's department.

After Ben marched away Gwen and Hope strolled throughout the city, eventually the obvious question came up, "So, that thing you did with the light, how'd you do that?"

Hope smiled awkwardly, "I'm kinda like an energy sponge. Motors, air conditioners, lights, batteries, all that fun stuff. Can bring it in and expel it when I want or need. Don't know how or why, just sort of born this way."

"Cool!" Gwen gasped in awe much to Hope's amusement.

After a while of walking Hope decided they should crash at her place, taking Gwen down an abandoned subway before arriving at a large empty station, fairy lights dangled above as tethered curtains acted as walls. Stacks of books are littered in piles, some hippie-looking crystals laid atop them.

"Woah, you live here?" Gwen gasped in awe as she walked around before finding an old and tattered yet fancy-looking couch and taking a seat.

"You know it!" Hope cheered as she leaped over the couch's shoulder before kicking her feet up on it, "All by myself."

"But, what about your family?"

"Haven't bothered with them in ages, once my powers came in, well it wasn't the proper place for a freak." Hope spat, her nails digging like claws into her palm.

They sat in silence as Hope's face contorted from anger to grief and frustration, "Uh, those girls from earlier," Gwen started in an attempt to change the subject, "what was up with them?"

Hope sighed as she closed a fist around a battery, electricity flowing through her before dying out, "We used to hang, but they decided they were too good to listen to little ole' freak show Hope. We got in a fight and I, hehe, might have trashed our old base under the 39th Street bridge." Hope answered, a mixture of embarrassment and grim glee crossing her face. Recomposing herself her expression lightened as she flashed Gwen a smile "So what about you? Trouble with your gran gran?"

Gwen looked down in frustration, her fist curling as she thought back, "Yeah and it's asinine! She and Ben get on my case about not wanting to help, but the second I try to help my way I'm in the wrong!" Gwen yelled as she jumped to her feet.

Hope chuckled at the display, "Hey I get the feeling." But then she thought for a moment, a smirk crossing her lips. "Say if you're wanting to help, maybe you can help me with something."

Gwen paused, looking at Hope with concern and confusion, "With what?"

For a moment Hope's composer faltered as she awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck, "Y'know that definitive addition of LuckyGirl Sentance in FortKadabra that was just released?" Hope inquired, cringing at the nerdy nature of the question.

Gwen gasped, "Yes! I love LuckyGirl!" Gwen beamed starry-eyed as she shook the shocked Hope.

"Hehe, I knew you had good taste. Unfortunately, I got banned from the store where they were being sold, some punks got me to use my powers in public." She reminisced grimly. Before smirking. "So, I've decided to get what I deserve, and if you help, it can be with interest.

The offer was too good to refuse. Gwen agreed and come night time she found herself sneaking up to the back of a mall with Hope. As they reached a a pair of metal doors Hope motioned for Gwen to back up, she then placed her palm on the door as purple energy flowed through her palms. Purple electricity cracked across the door before dissipating. "After you." She quipped as she opened the door. As they snuck in they found themselves in a storage area, various crates and boxes littering the place. "Split up."

They looked around until Gwen looked inside an open crate, "Over Here!"

Racing over Hope checked out the fine, "Nice job!" Hope cheered as she held up her bounty, handing another to Gwen with a wink. However before they could enjoy their victory the sound of shattered glass rang throughout the facility and before they could react smoke rapidly began filling the building, lights shining down.

"What's going on!" Gwen whispered frantically backing away as officers armed to the nine approached aiming at the duo.

Acting quickly Hope grabbed the back of Gwen's shirt as she pulled her close. "Quiet! Keep your head down if you want to keep it!"

Gwen however was positively freaking out as the officers barked at them to stand down. "What do we do!"

"Just give me a minute! I'm thinking!" Looking around Hope spotted a box of various gizmos sitting nearby. Grabbing it she charged it with electricity before chucking it as a group of armed officers charged in. It exploded just in front of them, giving Hope and Gwen a distraction to escape. However no matter where they went officers and spotlights met them. Eventually, they were able to make enough distance to catch their breaths as they took cover.

Hope cursed under her breath as her eyes jotted around in a panic. Gwen beside her wasn't doing much better, absolutely distressed by the turn of events. However, suddenly an idea came to mind. "Hope, can you keep a secret?" She yelled quietly.

Hope gave her an incredulous look, "Secret? This isn't time for-"

"Can you keep a secret?" Gwen interjected, her tone frantic but assured.

Hope stared at Gwen for a moment in contemplation before taking a breath and responding "….sure"

Gwen sighed in assurance, "Ok," she reached for her watch, "here goes nothing." And with that she pooped the face-up and began turning the dial, Earning a confused side-eye from Hope.

"What are you doing to your watch" But rather than explaining Gwen instead slammed her hand down on the face place, causing her to be surrounded by a bright pink light.

Transformation

In a pink void, Gwen floats

Gwen's hand elongates and twists as it gains a green plant texture.

She winced in pain as she shut her eyes tightly, both eyes soon merging as a large singular blue eye took its place while she bared her now sharp teeth.

Meanwhile, her back began to stretch as green vines just out from her backside while a darker green crept across her and a giant fly trap juts out clamping around her head, and dark pods popped out of her back.

She then tears open her flytrap revealing her now green face, her orange hair replaced with a pair of buds to the side of her head resembling buns.

As the transformation ceased her form had changed as he was now a lengthy plant creature with five light green vine-like legs. Her body was mainly a dark green with a patch of lighter green circling her waist, up the middle of her torso, and connecting to a giant green fly trap that surrounded her head. The lower part of her part draped like a skirt while the badge sat on her waist.

Hope stumbles back as she takes in Gwen's new form, "How did you…

I'll explain later!" VenusVerde interjected, wrapping her arms around Hope before elongating her viney legs and launching them upwards. She landed on the roof of the mall, racing across as she tried to avoid the spotlights being beamed down by helicopters swarming the building. 'All this over a book?'

"Running out of roof!" Hope called as they rapidly reached the edge. With a grin, Gwen tossed Hope forward and off the roof before jumping off herself. Hope of course yelped in terror, however before she could fall to VenusVerde's vine legs wrapped around her like a harness. Venus then whipped her arms upwards, launching them onto a nearby building allowing her to swing away. As they swung through the city Hope began to cackle as she enjoyed flying through the air.

However, the fun was quickly cut off as the helicopters began firing on the duo. Doing her best to zigzag past the barrage as swung VenusVerde became quickly done with the ordeal. Looking around she quickly devised a plan. She fell to another swing she let her arm grow longer than she had before allowing the upswing to launch her up to the copters. Raching to her back she pulled out a pair of dark purple pods. Now close to the copters and with more air time she threw the pods up, till they exploded into a purplish fog. In response, the copters began firing randomly while Gwen and Hope made their way back down. With that distraction in place, she was able to make her way to the highway below. Unfortunately, a few of the copters emerged from the fog and spotted the fleeing pair. They sharply flew down and were nearly able to reach their targets, only for them to swing underneath an underpass. They attempted to catch them on the other side but found that the duo had simply disappeared. Or so it would seem, in reality, Hope and Gwen had simply landed in the back of a car-hauling truck and managed to stay out of sight as it drove past the helicopters. Peaking their heads up Hope and the now transformed Gwen gave each other a cheeky grin before allowing themselves to fall back in laughter.

After a while of dodging police cars, the duo made their way to Hope's hideout. Taking the moment to collect themselves Gwen couldn't help but break down laughing. "Oh, man! That might be the craziest thing I've done all summer!" She cheered as she flopped down on the old couch

No kidding." Hope chuckled. "Got to say, Gwennie, that was more fun than I ever had with my old crew." Gwen snickered "How'd you do all that anyway?"

Sitting up Gwen fidgetted, unsure if she wanted to blow the secret 'Eh, she kinda knows too much already. Not much worth in hiding it at this point.' Shyly she held up the watch. "It's this, it's called the Omnitrix. It lets me turn into these weird alien girls, ten total, don't know how it works though, just lets outcomes some weird pink energy, and suddenly I'm an alien."

"So that lizard girl at the library, that was you?" Hope inquiered, recognizing the logo on XLR8's chest.

"Yeah."

Hope spluttered a chuckle, "Dang Girl! You rock! Hey, why not show me the other girls you can turn into."

"Eh, Not so simple. The watch kinda has a mind of its own."

Hope scanned the watch as she touched her chin, "Well let me try, maybe I can figure it out."

"Can't it's stuck." Gwen retorted embarrassed as she emphasized her point by pulling on it.

Hope nodded in understanding and backed off as she laid back on the couch, "Oh almost forgot!" Hope cheered as she searched through her bag. After a moment she pulled out two of the LuckyGirl books from her bag. "Here you earned it!" she cheered as she tossed a book to Gwen.

Taking the book Gwen gasped as she saw the limited edition LuckyGirl book that they had tried to steal. "Huh? How did- I thought we…"

Hope chuckled, "Yeah I pocketed a few before the fuzz showed up. Was planning on either selling them or handing them out to folks like us, but they kinda ruined all that."

"Thanks." Gwen beamed as she held the book close.

Seeing Gwen's glee a smirk formed on Hope's face, "Y'know I'm thinking, we should be partners." Hope offered, earning a speculative look from Gwen, "Between the two of us, with our powers? We could make the world better, do it our way! No authorities no parents, no grandmas or uncles! It'd be magical." She stared down at Gwen, a near-predatory grin crossing her face, "What'd you say? Partners?

Gwen paused, looked at her book, looked at Hope, looked at the book, and back at Hope, "Partners."

The Rustbucket rushes through the city, Verdona glaring at the road while she grips the steering wheel intensely while she fiddles with the radio. "Of all the acts of arrogance that girl has pulled! I swear…"

Ben for his part just sighed in his seat, really just wishing this day was over, 'Of course Gwen manages to make seeing her get in trouble unpleasant.'

Hope and Gwen make their way to an empty subway station, hopping past the ticket checks and down to the tracks below. Noticing a light above Hope reaches up and absorbs its electricity, letting out a sigh as she finishes. She then casually strolls to a large switch between the tracks. She grabs the handle as purple electricity flows through her arm and to the switch, causing the track to shift from one rail to the other.

"What are you doing?" Gwen asked, having been left out of the plan, one that apparently involved screwing with active train tracks.

"A money train loaded with cash comes down this track, so when it crashes into the incoming passenger train they'll collide, we nab the money and we not only set ourselves for life but will have enough money to provide for those like us." Hope casually explained, not noticing as Gwen gasped at the plan.

"But, hundreds of innocent people will be killed!" She yelled in bafflement at the gall of the plan.

"No they won't, you told me about all your alien girls, use one of them to slow the trains, get the trains to brake before the impact becomes fatal, or just use that fast girl to get everyone off the train, and everyone wins. The city can afford a couple of busted trams and a few cases of whiplash." Hope explained with a chuckle.

"Are-Are you hearing yourself?! You can't do this?"

"Don't worry, I've thought it all through. Before you got hear I was just going to send an electric signal through the tracks to overload the engines, but with your girls, there's no way it won't work."

"What if you're wrong! What if people get hurt."

At this, the laughter stopped as Hope leveled a glare at her partner, "No one will get hurt, princess, I know what I'm doing and for the record, I'm never wrong."

Gwen grit her teeth in frustration, how could Hope do this? How could she so callously ignore the legitimate concerns, How could she not. Not… "You never listen to anyone but yourself."

Hope's grin fully faltered. "You talking about me!?"

"No, I'm talking about me!" Gwen yelled back as she raised the watch, "I'm switching the tracks back."

Hope glared as her arms sugared with electricity, "Ain't no way princess."

Glaring at the watch and back to Hope Gwen slammed down as she became covered in a brilliant pink light.

Sapphire Transformation

Crystals grow around the Omnitrix before climbing up Gwen's arm.

Crystals climb up Gwen's face overcoming it completely.

Saphire's blue patch slides down on their chest with the Omnitrix as she stands fully transformed.

She is now a large crystalline woman with a large crystalline jaw and yellow eyes. She wears a half-light blue half-dark blue jumpsuit.

As the light dimmed down Gwen looked down at her form, and let out a groan, "Saphire? I needed TechSupport!"

Seeing the blunder Hope gave a devilish smirk. "Poor little Gwennie." She taunted as she walked forward, power surging through her palms. "You made the wrong move."

"Stay Back!" Gwen ordered as she shifted her arms into blades.

"Or what?" Hope taunted as her arm became engulfed with electricity. "You saw my hideout, I know my way around crystals." She then fired an electric blast at Saphire who quickly dodged out of the way. Not missing a beat Saphire shifted a blade into a shard cannon which she shot at Hope who dodged in kind. They kept to this song in dance for a good minute, until Saphire got a lucky shot and managed to shoot a crystal in the way of Hope's footing knocking her down.

"It's over Hope, please, stay down." Sapphire ordered as she began to walk to the rail switch. However, as she made her way she was suddenly tackled by Hope her arms surging with pinkish-purple energy. "Hey got off!" She cried as she reached for the girl on her back and threw her off. However as she calmed down she quickly grew concerned as Hope laid on the floor as she appeared to twitch in pain, she didn't throw her too hard, did she? Cautiously she walked to Hope… only to be taken off guard as she met with a barrage of crystals, white crystals.

Hope cackled, her voice sounding somewhat filtered, and as Saphire arose she got a good look at her. She was now larger, a large white sapphire arm exploding through the sleeve of her jacket, meanwhile, her shirt was ever so slightly so undersized that it showed that her body was too made of crystals, and lastly, her leggings were torn, revealing her white crystal legs underneath. "Oh dear Gwennie, don't you remember? I absorb energy!"

Shocked but undeterred Saphire rose to her feet, ready to fight though her heart ached, "We don't have to do this."

"Oh, I know." Hope hissed, her crystal hand shifting and extending into a crystal scythe, "I want to do this." They battled, Sapphire shot at Hope only for Hope's scyth to cut them to pieces mid-air. Hope made an attempt on Sapphire's head but was caught by Gwen who steadied her footing by growing spikes on her feet. Hope retaliated by trying to knee her as she grew a spike on her knee, Sapphire responding by catching the knee before delivering a high kick. However, as she did so Hope grabbed that leg while rooting her free foot in the ground and using the momentum to throw Saphire into a nearby wall. "Sorry princess, but this freak ain't being kept down anymore!"

However, before they continue a pair of horns could be heard down the tunnels. "No!" Sapphire yelled with a groan. With little time to think Saphire shifted her arm to a crystal canon. But instead of firing at Hope she instead shot at the switch itself. Then, as Gwen focused her crystal-shifting powers on the shard embedded in the switch, causing it to grow until a cluster of crystals surrounded the switch. And by some fit of luck, possibly caused by the crystals diverting the electrical flow, This managed to cause the switch to short circuit and send the track to its original position, the trains whizzing past as the money train divided Hope and Saphire. And by the time the train passed, Gwen was gone.

The train raced down the tracks as it exited the tunnel, Saphire tightly holding on atop the back, her fingers shifting to claws as she attempted to get a better hold.

Nearby The Rustbucket raced through the city in search of Gwen. Verdona sat tensely while Ben became despondent after their lackluster efforts, not to mention the radio broadcast detailing his cousin's adventure. But he was quickly jostled from his stupor as a glare in the distance caught his eye. "Gwen!" He called as he saw his flailing cousin doing her best impression of a flag in the wind. "Grandma!"

"I know!" Verdona responded as she dug her knuckles into the wheel.

Back on the train Saphire began slowly pulling herself up and to the top of the train. Then suddenly BEEP BEEEP BWOOSH "Stupid watch!"

But just as hope seemed lost the sound of a honking horn caught her attention. Facing the source of the noise she found the RV driving nearby, Ben waving out the window while the the RV's tarp extended. Looking forward she saw as the train began to rapidly approach a pair of overhead signs. With little time to think Gwen leaped from the train and managed to land in the tarp. "Nice catch Grandma!" Ben complimented as the RV came to a stop.

Of course, the relief didn't last as soon after she brought Verdona up to date Gwen was being laid into again."Are you ever planning on listening to me? None of this would have happened if you just let me handle things from the beginning! It's all about trust!" Only this time Gwen refused to look away as she was scolded, taking it on the chin as she recognized that her grandma was right.

"You're right. I'm sorry Grandma." She admitted before continuing. "That said you need to trust me about Hope."

"She's right grandma." Ben interjected, "Hope gave me a bad vibe from the beginning, with Diamondhead's power there's no telling what she could do."

Taking a breath Verdona nodded. "Alright, so, where is she?"

Pausing for a moment Gwen thought back to all Hope had told her yesterday, with their first meet-up bringing one particular comment to mind.

Under the 39th Street Bridge Girls screen in terror as the monsterous figure of the transformed Hope hunts them like prey. Her scythe hand slicing at them as she cackles madly. Pinky and Missy run for their lives as they attempt to wade through the parade of girls only to trip over a fired shard. Despretly they turn to their hunter as she leers over, a wicked smile madly traced across her face. "Please P-Pr-Hope-Hope please, we-we can work something out right?"

"Oh for sure, I'm thinking together," She hoists the scythe over her head, "We can make a killing!"

HONK HONK

Verdona laid into the horn as traffic halted the family's race to stop Hope. "Get A MOVE ON!" She barked forward, to little avail

"We don't have time for this!" Gwen yelled as she readied the Omnitrix, pausing as she looked to her grandma. Verdona paused for a moment as she stared back, before giving a definite nod. With a smile, Gwen hoisted her hand in the air, "See you at the bridge! Going LeapFrog!" And with a slam of her palm she was covered in a bright pink light, and when it died down in its place was... SuckerPunch, balled up as she barely was able to fit in the RV. "I hate this watch." Gwen bemoaned as she called her way out the door, causing quite a scene as she found herself having to push cars enough to move. However once she gained enough space she leaped onto the roof of a nearby car and before she knew it she was treating the cars like her personal game of hopscotch.

The bridge has been torn into a crystalline massacre as girls lay in pain as shards scattered across the one-sided battlefield. Pinky and Missy lay trapped under a large pipe as they barely managed to stay awake while Hope loomed over them. "Oh poor little things. Should've known better than to cross me." Hope sneered as she lifted a crystalline foot atop the pipe. "And now that our little gang has been properly cut down to size," She started as she hoisted her scythe hand above the girls, "I believe it's time to shatter you!" She cackled, only as she swung down her hand a purplish blue mist emitted from her crystals, as dissolved into thin air. "What?" Hope gasped as she looked at her one crystal hand. Looking over the rest of her body she fell backward as she realized she had been turned back to normal, even her clothes were repaired as they emitted a slight pink glow.

"Look's like you just timed out! Hope." A deep and raspy voice called from behind as SuckerPunch landed behind her.

Hope sneered at the comment as she recognized the transformed Gwen. However, that sneer quickly turned into a smirk. "Well, then I suppose it's time I get a recharge, Gwennie."

"In your dreams." SuckerPunch spat as she marched forard.

"Or your nightmares." Hope retorted as she held out her hands, surging with purple electricity as she held them over the pipe. "I still got enough juice to fry these chicks. So what'll it be, princess?"

However, before she could make good on her threats SuckerPunch whipped her arms forward as they unraveled into a flurry of tentacles. Hope is taken aback for a moment as SuckerPunch dragged her away from the girls, but she was quick to recover as she saw her opportunity. Grabbing hold of the tentacle gripping her, purplish-pink energy quickly surrounded her as she gave a terrifying smile as her lips turned black and her hair turned to white tentacles. Her body growing larger forcing Gwen to drop her. With a wild grin, she turned to face Gwen delivering a punch as her arm morphed into a tentacle set of tentacles much like SuckerPunch's own. The tentacle fist landed hard on Gwen's face sending her careening backwards into a stone pillar.

As SuckerPunch struggled to her feet she took the chance to get a good look at her foe. Hope was now a good two feet taller. Her ponytail was turned into a flowing set of white tentacle hair while her face and the rest of her body were a pale green. Her large tentacle arms broke through her coat while her larger stature caused her shirt to lift as the lower legs of her tights tore. "Oh, this is gonna be REAL fun!" Hope cackled, her voice deeper and raspier.

"For one of us." Gwen spat back as she put up her dukes.

The two charged forward as they delivered powerful blows to the other, however Hope had the size advantage. No matter how many times SuckerPunch hit her Hope took it like a champ while swinging back with twice the force. However, as they were so caught up in the heat of battle Hope failed to realize as Verdona and Ben pulled up in the RV. They snuck to the trapped girls before carefully lifting the pipe off them. "Get Out! It's moving day!" Verdona ordered, the shocked girls nodding as they ran. A sudden explosion however brought their attention back to the fight as they saw Hope through SuckerPunch through a wall. And to make matters worse they heard a BEEP BEEP as the watch flashed Green.

"Wrap it up, Gwen!" Ben yelled.

Nodding at him she delivered a fury of adrenaline-enhanced blows to Hope before using her tentacles to grab Hope and drag her through the ground before tossing her into several stone pillars causing the bridge to crumble on top of her.

BEEP BWOOSH With a flash of green Gwen huffed and puffed as she recovered from the excretion. As she recovered the rubble shifted as the tentacled Hope arose. "Alright alright enough, I give Gwen! Lighten Up!"

"Just did, by a few hundred pounds."

Hope's expression turned apologetic, "I'm sorry you're right. I wasn't thinking straight I should've listened. I just, I'm so used to only being able to rely on myself. You know?"

"Then come with us." Gwen offered as she held out a hand.

Hope paused, her expression incredulous, "What?"

"We can still help people like we want to. We'd just be doing it the right way, with people that will call us out when we're wrong." She shot a knowing look at her family.

Hope, with a softened expression, looked at Gwen, then to her hand, and then… she grabbed Gwen's arm and hoisted her up into the air. "Yeah Right!"

"Gwen!" Ben and Verdona yelled as they charged at Hope, only to be backhanded away.

"Don't you get it! I'm never wrong princess, now give me that watch." Hope barked as she used her intact hand to yank at the watch.

"I told you! I can't!" As she said this pink energy began to expand from the watch to everyone's shock until it burst in a pink pulse knocking Hope away as purple-pink energy coated her. Gwen was also launched but was fortunately caught by Verdona. Dazed, Gwen took a moment to regain her bearings as Verdona carried her away from the collapsing bridge. After a moment she was placed back on her feet in time to notice a sudden movement in the ruble.

Hope emerged, now returned to her human form with even her clothes repaired as pink electricity bounced off them. She held a hand up and seemed to flex her hand only to look at it in shock. "No!" She ran away into the tunnels, the Tennyson too tired to follow. But gave up when she was too far.

Come the morning the family drove out of the city, though tension was thick as they sat quietly. Verdona stares ahead, fiddling with the radio every so often. Ben sat next to her, taking moments to glance at her and to the mirror where he could see Gwen who sat at the table with a guilt-ridden expression.

"I'm sorry, Grandma." Gwen broke the silence, "For everything."

"Honey, I know you are. You're my granddaughter, and nothing will ever change that. But you need to earn my trust, prove that you can learn." Gwen accepts this though she lowers her head in contemplation while Ben just sighs as he slumps in his seat.

However, as they rode away, a figure stood in an alleyway and glared at the RV. "Just you wait, princess." They held up a crystalline hand. "Things are about to get FREAKY!"

Author's Note

Chapter 8, aint it great.

Been looking forard to this chapter for a while and it has me even more excited to continue Hope's story after season 1.

As you can probably tell, in this chapter I tried to give Gwen a slight crush on Hope. It's nothing big and is just for this episode to justify her fallowing Hope so compliently. I tried my best to translate Hope's look to a less mystic style and then translate that into Gwen's aliens.

Next Gwen and family will visit a small town, with a secret that will make you shriek! Stay Tuned!