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I think that some of you havn't read chapter 5 due to the glitch. Go back and read the previos chapter before reading this.

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Chapter 06

Ben floated alone in the dimly lit warehouse, the faint hum of fluorescent lights buzzing above him. The space was empty and cold, the concrete floor below reflecting the faint glow of his radiant, pink-violet body. He hovered in front of a cracked mirror leaning against the wall, staring at his reflection in disbelief.

He reached up, his glowing, translucent hand trembling as he touched his face. Or… what used to be his face. Now it was smooth, ethereal, with no features other than his glowing white, hollow eyes. His long, shimmering pink hair cascaded down his back, swaying slightly as though caught in an invisible breeze.

"This can't be real," Ben whispered to himself, his voice echoing faintly in the empty space. His words sounded foreign, like they belonged to someone else.

He leaned closer to the mirror, his glowing reflection illuminating the cracks in the glass. He wasn't human. He wasn't even close.

"Am I… a monster?" he murmured, his voice breaking slightly.

He shook his head, floating backward as he tried to make sense of what had happened. "No, no… this has to be some kind of alien thing, right? Like Gwen. She transforms all the time with the Omnitrix!"

But deep down, he knew this was different. Gwen's transformations were temporary. She could switch back to human with the press of a button. But this? This felt permanent.

Ben clenched his fists, the faint hum of energy around him growing louder. "I'm not even like her. I'm not human, am I?"

His mind raced as he considered the possibilities. "Does this mean… this came from Mom's side of the family? Or… Dad's?"

His glowing eyes flickered as a darker thought crept in. "What if… what if they're not even my real parents?"

The idea sent a chill through him, despite his radiant form. He floated closer to the mirror, staring into his own glowing eyes. "What if I was just… found? Like in a cornfield or something? Like Superman. Or Brightburn. Or Supergirl. What if they just… took me in because they felt bad for me?"

The thought spiraled, twisting his confusion into something deeper. "That would make sense, wouldn't it? That's why I'm such a freak. That's why I'm not like anyone else."

He floated back, his energy pulsing erratically as his emotions bubbled over.

"I don't even know who I am anymore!" he yelled, the echo of his voice bouncing off the warehouse walls.

For a moment, the room went silent, save for the faint hum of his energy. He looked back at the mirror, his reflection staring at him like a stranger.

"I'm… a freak," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, and for the first time in his life, Ben Tennyson felt truly alone.

—(~/\~)—

The Junior Forever Knights were not having a good day.

Their small faction had been tasked with retrieving an artifact from Hex's collection—a supposedly powerful relic their Corporal had desperately wanted. But after a disastrous failed heist and a furious chewing-out from their leader, morale was low.

The remaining Knights sulked in their hidden warehouse, a dingy and cluttered space that served as both their meeting point and storage for their stolen goods. Boxes of relics, weapons, and trinkets were scattered across the floor, their true value often unknown even to the Knights themselves.

One young Knight, a low-ranking recruit, wandered near the back of the warehouse, his mind occupied with thoughts of how to get back in the Corporal's good graces. That's when he saw it.

Hovering near the cracked mirror in the far corner of the warehouse was… a glowing figure.

The humanoid shape radiated a soft pink-violet light that pulsed faintly, as though alive. Its long, shimmering pink hair flowed around it, defying gravity, and its translucent body gave off an ethereal glow. The figure was small, almost childlike in size, but its otherworldly presence was unmistakable.

The young Knight froze, his breath catching in his throat. He didn't move a muscle, too stunned to even think about what he was seeing.

"What the…?" he whispered to himself, fumbling for his phone.

Quietly, he raised it, snapping a photo of the glowing figure. The flash was off, but the faint click of the camera shutter echoed through the quiet warehouse.

The figure's head snapped toward him, its glowing hollow eyes locking onto his position.

"Who's there?" the creature spoke, its voice layered and echoing as though coming from everywhere at once.

The young Knight let out a high-pitched squeak, his nerves getting the better of him. He bolted without a second thought, tripping over boxes and crates as he sprinted toward the exit.

Ben watched the Knight flee, his glowing form hovering just above the ground. He sighed, running a hand through his shimmering hair.

"Probably some cosplayer or something," he muttered, though he didn't sound convinced. His mind was still too preoccupied with his current state—his form, his powers, and the confusion swirling around his identity.

It was then he heard the sound of skidding to a halt, followed by a familiar voice.

"Ben!"

He turned, and there she was—Gwen, in the form of XLR8. Her sleek, black-and-blue body hummed faintly as she raced to his side, her visor-covered eyes wide with a mix of relief and concern.

"Ben, it 'is' you," she said, her voice breathless as she took in his glowing, otherworldly form. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Ben blinked, his hollow white eyes narrowing slightly. "Why?"

Before Gwen could answer, she quickly reached for the Omnitrix on her chest, pressing the symbol to turn back into her human form. Her fiery red hair fell into place as the green light faded, and she immediately pulled out her phone.

She tapped a few buttons and brought it to her ear. "Grandpa, I found him," she said urgently. "Yeah, the warehouse. You need to get here now."

Ben frowned, floating a few inches back. "Why did you call Grandpa? I'm fine. Just leave me alone, Gwen."

But Gwen shook her head, her eyes fixed on him with determination. "No, Ben. You're not fine. You've been gone for hours, and—" She hesitated, glancing at his glowing form. "Look at yourself! Do you even know what's happening to you?"

Ben didn't respond, his gaze shifting to the floor as he hovered silently.

Within moments, the distant hum of the Rustbucket's engine echoed through the warehouse, growing louder as it pulled up outside.

—(~/\~)—

The Rustbucket was quiet, save for the low hum of its engine. The air inside felt heavy as Ben sat cross-legged on the couch, still glowing faintly with pink light. His long, flowing hair seemed to sway slightly, defying gravity even when he was still. His hollow, glowing eyes stared at the floor, avoiding Max and Gwen's concerned gazes.

Gwen sat beside him, trying her best to find the right words. "Ben… look, I know this is a lot to take in. But you're still you. You're still Ben Tennyson. Nothing's changed about that."

Ben's fists tightened, his voice low and bitter. "Nothing's changed? I'm a glowing freak, Gwen! Look at me!" He gestured to his translucent, radiant body, the frustration in his voice building. "I don't even look human anymore! What if I'm not even human? What if I'm some experiment from Area 51 that escaped, and they stuck me in a normal family?"

Gwen blinked, caught off guard. "What? No, that's ridiculous—"

"Is it?" Ben snapped, cutting her off. His glowing eyes locked onto her. "Think about it! What if I'm not even related to you or Grandpa? What if I was 'found' somewhere, dumped like some failed project? Maybe I'm not even supposed to exist!"

"Ben, stop," Gwen said firmly, her voice softer now, but it was clear she didn't know how to handle this emotional side of her cousin. "You're spiraling, okay? Just… take a breath. We'll figure this out."

Ben turned away, his jaw tight as he struggled to keep his emotions in check.

Max finally spoke, his deep voice steady but filled with empathy. "You're not adopted, Ben."

Ben whipped his head toward Max, his hollow eyes narrowing. "Then how do you explain this?" He floated slightly off the couch, his body still glowing softly. "I'm a bulb! Gravity doesn't even work on me, Grandpa! And these stupid, ridiculously long glowing hair? Explain 'that'!"

Max sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He could see the fear and confusion in Ben's expression, and he knew this moment required honesty, even if it was a lot to process. "I was hoping we'd never have to have this talk, at least not like this. But I think it's time you both knew." He paused, meeting both Ben and Gwen's wide-eyed gazes. "Your grandmother, Verdona… she wasn't human. She was an Anodite. An alien."

The silence in the Rustbucket was deafening.

"What?!" Gwen exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and filled with disbelief.

Ben's glowing form froze mid-air, his eyes wide as he stared at Max. "You… you married an 'alien?' and slept with her?!"

"Language!" Max barked, his voice sharp.

Gwen's nose wrinkled in disgust. "But seriously, Grandpa—'what?!' How does that even happen? Like, ew! How?!"

Max raised a hand, gesturing for them to calm down. "Verdona wasn't just any alien. She was an Anodite, a being made of pure energy. She could take a physical form when she wanted to, and that's how we met. It was back when I was younger, working for the Plumbers."

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant as he recalled the memories. "I was stationed off-world for a mission, dealing with a rogue energy being causing havoc. That's when I met Verdona. She wasn't the rogue—she was investigating it too. We ended up working together, and, well… one thing led to another."

Gwen's face twisted. "Grandpa! Gross! We don't need the details!"

Max chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Relax, Gwen. It wasn't like that at first. Verdona and I spent years together, traveling and fighting alongside each other. She was brilliant, powerful, and full of life. I loved her more than anything."

Ben finally spoke, his voice quieter now. "But… you said she wasn't human. How did you…" He trailed off, gesturing vaguely, clearly uncomfortable.

Max smiled faintly. "Anodites can create physical bodies when they need to. Verdona took on a human form while we were together. Eventually, we decided to settle down, and she wanted to experience life as a human for a while."

Gwen tilted her head, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "So… she became human?"

Max nodded. "For a time. We got married, had kids—your dad and your uncle. But Verdona's true form was always there, just beneath the surface. After a while, she started feeling the pull of her Anodite nature again. It's hard for beings like her to stay in one place for too long. So she returned to her home planet, Anodyne."

Ben hovered closer, his expression still conflicted. "And… you let her leave?"

"It wasn't easy," Max admitted, his tone somber. "But I loved her enough to let her be who she truly was. And I stayed here to raise your dad and uncle."

Gwen leaned back in her seat, her mind reeling. "So… we're part alien?"

"Technically, yes," Max said. "Anodite genes are recessive, though. Most of the time, they don't manifest. Gwen, you take after your mother's side of the family, so you didn't inherit those traits. But Ben…" He gestured toward Ben's glowing form. "You clearly did."

Ben's glowing eyes flickered, his voice quiet. "So… I'm not some experiment or freak?"

Max smiled gently. "No, Ben. You're my grandson. You're just… special."

Ben lowered himself back onto the couch, his ethereal hair dimming slightly as he processed everything. "So… I'm not adopted. I'm just part alien."

"Exactly," Max said.

Gwen was still staring at Ben, her mind racing. "Wait… so this whole glowing thing… it's, like, Grandma's power?"

Max nodded. "She could manipulate energy, fly, create powerful constructs—it's all part of being an Anodite."

Ben sat in silence for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Okay. At least I'm not adopted."

He stood, his glowing form brighter now, as though his emotions were calming. "I need to think about this," he said, his voice steady.

"Ben—" Gwen began, but he cut her off.

"I'll be back soon," he said, glancing at both of them. With that, he floated toward the door, opening it effortlessly and flying into the night.

The Rustbucket fell silent as Max and Gwen watched him disappear into the distance. Gwen finally turned to Max, her face still full of disbelief.

"Well, that was… a lot."

Max sighed, rubbing his temples. "You don't say."

—(~/\~)—

Ben sat perched atop the electricity tower, the wind tugging at his impossibly long pink hair as it cascaded down his back like a glowing waterfall. The faint hum of energy from the wires below was comforting, a soft vibration that seemed to resonate with the pulsing energy inside him.

His glowing hands rested on his knees, his translucent fingers flexing idly as his mind raced. Everything about his life had been upended in a single day.

"So, I'm an alien now," he muttered to himself, the words tasting strange on his tongue. He looked down at his glowing pink body, his form radiating an ethereal light. He couldn't get over how different he looked, and… how weird his anatomy was now.

"Puberty," he groaned. "It had to be puberty, didn't it? Like that wasn't awkward enough already."

His glowing eyes wandered to his reflection in a small puddle on the tower platform. His face was smooth, featureless but somehow still expressive. His crotch was flat, devoid of anything human-like, and his buttocks looked strange and rounded, almost sculpted in an otherworldly way. And the hair—what was up with the hair? It was impossibly long and flowed like it had a mind of its own.

"This is so twisted," he muttered, leaning forward and letting his head rest in his hands. "Can I even turn back? Do I have to look like this forever?"

He closed his glowing eyes, focusing with all his might, trying to imagine his old self—short, scrappy Ben with brown hair and freckles. He focused so hard his body pulsed with pink light.

Nothing.

A frustrated groan escaped him as he sat back up. "Great. Just great. What are Mom and Dad gonna say? Does Dad even know about Grandpa and Grandma being aliens? And Mom—she'll probably freak out."

He sighed, his glowing eyes scanning the darkened horizon. "And what about school? I can't just show up looking like this."

As he brooded, a commotion caught his attention. He glanced down at the streets below and saw flashing lights and a crowd gathered near a brightly lit supershop. Shadows darted inside as the unmistakable sound of shattering glass echoed upward.

A robbery.

Ben frowned, scanning the scene. "Where's Gwen? Shouldn't she already be here turning into some alien to save the day?"

He blinked, glancing at his glowing hands and shimmering body. An idea crept into his mind.

"What if…?"

A smirk tugged at his lips.

Ben floated down toward the commotion, his form glowing faintly in the darkness. As he approached the supershop, he saw three masked robbers inside, stuffing cash and jewelry into bags. The shopkeeper and a few customers were huddled in a corner, terrified.

"Alright, let's see what this body can do," Ben muttered to himself, landing silently just outside the broken window.

The robbers didn't notice him at first, too focused on looting. One of them barked orders at the others, waving a gun in the air.

Ben raised a glowing hand, concentrating. A pink energy field flickered into existence around the shop's entrance, sealing it shut like an invisible barrier.

"What the—?!" one of the robbers shouted, slamming into the barrier as he tried to escape.

The others turned, their eyes widening as they saw Ben floating inside, his glowing pink form radiating power.

"Who—what is that?!" one of them yelled, pointing at him.

Ben smirked, his voice echoing as he spoke. "You're not getting away. Put the bags down."

The lead robber raised his gun, his hands trembling. "Stay back, freak!"

Ben tilted his head, unimpressed. With a flick of his wrist, the gun flew out of the man's hands, yanked away by an invisible force. It clattered to the ground, disassembling itself mid-air.

"Telekinesis," Ben muttered to himself, nodding. "Cool."

The robbers panicked, charging at him in desperation. Ben raised his hands, summoning a pink construct—a wall of energy that appeared between him and his attackers. They slammed into it, the impact sending them sprawling backward.

"Nice," Ben said, grinning.

One of the robbers grabbed a crowbar and swung it at him, but Ben barely moved. The crowbar hit an invisible shield surrounding his body, bouncing off harmlessly.

"Force fields, too," Ben mused, almost amused. "This just keeps getting better."

He extended a hand, and pink energy wrapped around the crowbar, yanking it from the robber's grip and twisting it into a knot before tossing it aside.

The robbers, realizing they were outmatched, tried to make a run for it. But Ben wasn't done. With a wave of his hand, pink tendrils of energy shot out, wrapping around their legs and pulling them to the ground.

"Game over," Ben said, floating closer.

The crowd outside watched in awe, their phones recording as Ben effortlessly subdued the robbers.

Once the robbers were tied up in glowing pink constructs, Ben turned to the shopkeeper and customers. "You're safe now," he said, his voice softening.

The shopkeeper nodded, tears of relief streaming down her face. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as Ben floated outside, the glow of his body lighting up the street. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

"Who is that?" someone asked.

"What are they called?" another said.

Ben frowned slightly. They? Why were some people using the word "they"? Was it like the royal plural thing the British rulers used? Or was it something else? Either way, he decided to ignore it for now.

Someone in the crowd stepped forward, calling out to him. "Hey, what's your name?"

Ben hesitated. Max's words echoed in his mind—Never expose your identity if you're saving people. It'll only put your family in danger.

He smiled faintly, his glowing form hovering above the crowd. "Call me… Stardust."

With that, he shot into the sky, leaving behind a stunned and cheering crowd.

As he soared through the night, his hair streaming behind him like a comet's tail, he couldn't help but smile. Maybe being an alien wasn't so bad after all.

When Ben returned to the Rustbucket, he hesitated just outside the door, floating a few inches above the ground. His glowing form cast a soft pink light on the RV's metallic surface. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the inevitable lecture from Grandpa Max about putting his life on the line.

"Alright," he muttered, gripping the handle. "Let's get this over with."

The door creaked open as he stepped inside, the faint glow of his body immediately lighting up the interior. Max was sitting at the small kitchenette, sipping coffee, while Gwen lounged on the couch with her tablet.

They both turned to look at him.

"Hey, he's back!" Gwen said, setting the tablet aside. She grinned, standing up and placing her hands on her hips. "So, 'Stardust', huh?"

Ben blinked, caught off guard. "You… you heard about that?"

"Uh, yeah," Gwen said, rolling her eyes. "It's all over the news already. You were glowing like a neon sign out there, Ben. Of course people noticed."

Max chuckled softly, setting his mug down. "I caught some of the coverage. Not bad, Ben. Not bad at all."

Ben stared at them, stunned. "Wait… that's it? You're not going to yell at me for putting myself in danger?"

"Why would I?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow. "You handled yourself pretty well out there. Kept people safe, stopped some bad guys, didn't reveal your identity. I'd say you did a great job."

Ben blinked again. "You're… proud of me?"

"Of course," Max said with a small smile. "You've got the makings of a hero, Ben. Just like Verdona."

Ben's glowing face softened, his energy dimming slightly as he absorbed his grandpa's words.

"And hey," Gwen added, stepping closer. "You're officially promoted. No more sidekick status. You're a partner now!"

"Really?" Ben asked, a small grin tugging at his lips. "I can be a hero?"

"Yeah!" Gwen said, giving him a playful nudge. "You've got the whole mysterious glowing thing going for you. It's cool."

For the first time all day, Ben felt a flicker of confidence. Maybe he 'could' do this.

Max, however, stood up and gave him a pointed look. "But Ben, we've got one problem."

Ben tilted his head. "What?"

Max gestured to his glowing form. "You're like a walking lightbulb right now. If people see a pink light in the RV, it's going to attract attention. You've got to turn back."

Ben's shoulders slumped, and he floated down to the floor. "Yeah, about that… I can't."

Max sighed, rubbing his temples. "Figured as much. You're still new to this, Ben. Verdona could shift forms easily, but she had years of experience. You're just starting out."

"So, what do I do?" Ben asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

Max walked over to a cabinet, rummaging through it before pulling out a thick hoodie and a long overcoat. He handed them to Ben.

"Wear these," Max said. "It won't hide your glow completely, but it'll make it less obvious."

Ben slipped on the hoodie and coat, the fabric dulling the intensity of his light. He pulled the hood up over his long pink hair, letting it fall down his back like a glowing scarf.

"Not exactly stylish," Ben muttered, adjusting the coat.

"You'll live," Max said with a chuckle.

With that, Max returned to the driver's seat and started the engine. The Rustbucket roared to life, its familiar hum filling the air.

"Where are we going now?" Ben asked, leaning against the wall.

"Another state," Max replied. "The world doesn't stop turning just because we had a crazy day."

Ben glanced out the window as the Rustbucket began to move, the desert landscape blurring past.

For the first time in weeks, he felt like things might actually be okay.

—(~/\~)—

Far away, on a shimmering pinkish-purple planet glowing with energy, the serene silence of the Anodyne landscape was broken. A powerful, radiant Anodite, her form pulsing with pure energy, opened her luminous eyes. Her translucent body emitted waves of soft light, casting long shadows across the smooth crystalline floor of her meditation chamber.

Her long, flowing pink hair billowed as if caught in an unseen wind, and the intricate patterns of energy coursing through her body pulsed in time with her thoughts. She smirked, a mischievous glint sparking in her glowing eyes.

"Well, well, well," she murmured, her voice layered and echoing, filled with pride and amusement. "Looks like my dear son Carl wasn't a disappointment after all."

Verdona floated up from her meditative stance, stretching her elegant, glowing arms. Her energy swirled around her, creating trails of pink and violet light that lingered in the air.

"My grandson," she continued, her voice almost purring with delight. "Little Benjamin... It seems the Anodite blood runs strong in you. Stronger than I ever expected." She tilted her head, her grin widening as she floated effortlessly toward the edge of her chamber, gazing out at the endless expanse of her home planet.

For years, she had observed her family on Earth from afar, her curiosity piqued by the rare moments when the Anodite lineage showed itself. But Ben… he was different. She could feel the raw potential radiating from him, even from across the stars.

"I think," Verdona said, her grin turning sly, "it's time I pay a little visit to my cute little grandson, Benjamin."

She laughed softly, her melodious voice echoing through the chamber as she raised a glowing hand. The air around her shimmered, forming a swirling portal of vibrant pink and violet energy.

"I do hope you're ready for me, Ben," she said with a chuckle, stepping through the portal with a flourish. "Grandma's coming to Earth."

And with that, the portal closed, leaving only a faint, sparkling trail of energy in its wake.

—(~/\~)—

Author Note:

Which episode of Ben 10 do you want next? Do tell. Also, I have a bad memory. Note that we are really close to the end of Ben 10 Classic. We will be starting Alien Force really soon.

I plan on using some elements from Alien Force and Ultimate Alien in the future but nothing from Reboot or Omniverse.

Thanks for reading this. The next chapter will be released soon.

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

Till next time!