Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The runes shifted once more, the words forming crisp and clear on every screen:

"Episode 1: And Then There Were 10"

A faint hum built in the air, the screens beginning to glow brighter.

The scene opened in outer space, Jupiter looming in the distance while a string of explosions flashed within an asteroid field.

Many murmurs and several gasps rose around the guild.

"Is that… the sky?" Wendy asked in awe, leaning forward.

"Not exactly," Ben said slowly, brow furrowed. "That's outer space."

"Space?!" Natsu's eyes widened. "Like… no air, nothing but stars space?"

"Yep. But" a crease formed between Ben's brows. "I… don't remember this battle."

"That's odd," Lucy said, glancing at him.

Levy adjusted her glasses. "The runes did say this would be presented in a third-person narrative. Maybe this is… setting the stage for something."

A gray-and-green spacecraft flew through the asteroid field, dodging blasts from a massive brown-and-orange vessel.

Ben's brows furrowed, recognizing the design of the ship. He glanced down at the Omnitrix on his wrist. "Yeah… I think I know where this is going."

"Spaceships," Gray muttered, shaking his head. "Not exactly something you see in Earthland."

Erza's eyes were locked on the screen, curious and intent. "It's impressive craftsmanship. Though I suppose magic wasn't involved in building them."

Cana leaned back against the bar, sipping from her keg. "Looks like something out of a crazy story."

Juvia tilted her head. "So this is what Ben's world is like…?"

The smaller ship was nimble, weaving between debris while returning fire with twin beams of green energy. The counterattack struck the larger ship hard, explosions rocking its hull.

"Whoa…" Jet breathed, eyes wide. "So…this is a war in the sky."

"Not sky," Droy corrected without thinking. "Space."

Natsu grinned. "I could take 'em."

"Pretty sure you'd freeze to death first," Gray shot back.

"Or suffocate." Gajeel added. "Idiot."

Inside the larger ship, red warning lights flashed across a control board manned by mechanical drones.

"Hull damage: twenty percent. Weapons systems still operational," one drone reported, turning to the ship's commander.

The commander was revealed—a tall, slender, but undeniably imposing figure with green skin. His dark red bodysuit was accented by spiky black shoulder pads, and from his jawline extended tentacles like a twisted beard. The most striking feature, however, was the strange green liquid sac curving around his head from one side of his mouth to the other.

Ben's fists clenched involuntarily, his jaw tightening. "Vilgax…"

Several heads turned toward him.

"That's him?" Gajeel asked. "The squid guy you've mentioned?"

"Yeah," Ben said flatly. "That's Vilgax. He's… not someone you want to run into."

At his words, Wendy, sitting to his right, subtly inched closer, her hands curling together in her lap. Her eyes stayed fixed on the image of the alien warlord, but the small tremor in her shoulders betrayed her unease. Without looking away from the screen, Ben shifted just enough so their arms brushed, the side of his hand resting lightly over hers for a brief moment. It was wordless—simple—but steadying.

Wendy drew in a slow breath, her posture relaxing slightly at the gesture. Carla, watching from Wendy's side gave a small approving nod.

Juvia's gaze softened, a faint smile tugging at her lips, appreciating the quiet, protective instinct in the boy's action.

"Looks like we finally have a face to the name," Lucy murmured.

Erza's eyes narrowed at the sight. "He looks formidable."

"Formidable doesn't begin to cover it," Ben said grimly.

"I have come too far to be denied!" Vilgax's voice boomed, cutting through the sounds of battle.

The scene shifted briefly back to the raging space fight before returning to the alien commander.

"The Omnitrix shall be mine. And there is not a being in the galaxy that dares stand in my way!" he declared, his voice low and seething with confidence before slamming a fist into the armrest of his chair.

"Charming guy," Cana muttered dryly.

"Yeah," Ben said, eyes still fixed on the screen, "you'll see just how charming he can be."

"Wait—he said 'Omnitrix,'" Lucy cut in, glancing at Ben. "You mean the thing on your wrist?"

Ben's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yep."

"So when the spell said it would show the start of your journey…" Juvia began.

"It meant," Ben finished for her, "you're about to see how I got the Omnitrix."

The image on the screens shifted from the cold vastness of space to a bright, sunny day on Earth. The view zoomed into a middle school classroom, where a boy no more than ten years old sat at his desk. He had messy brown hair, bright green eyes, and was currently folding a piece of paper into a crude airplane.

Several pairs of eyes in the guild widened.

"That's… you?" Lucy asked, glancing at the older Ben.

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… ten-year-old me."

"Juvia thinks young Ben looks… cute," Juvia said without hesitation, her cheeks coloring slightly.

Ben coughed and looked away, suddenly very interested in the grain of the table in front of him. "Uh… thanks, I guess."

On the screen, young Ben finished his paper airplane and, with a mischievous glint in his eye, flicked it forward. The little craft soared through the air and bonked the back of his teacher's head.

The teacher froze, then slowly turned to face the class with a mild glare. Young Ben instantly tried to play innocent, smooshing his face between the pages of his open book as if he'd been reading all along.

A round of chuckles swept through the guild.

"Ha! Classic," Natsu grinned.

Gray smirked. "Smooth, Ben."

Lucy, Erza, Levy, and Freed, however, shared unimpressed looks. "That's not something to laugh about," Erza said firmly.

"You're such a teacher's pet," Cana teased her.

There was seemingly a slight time-skip as the camera shifted to the classroom's clock. It ticked loudly as young Ben fidgeted in his seat, eyes darting toward the hands. "Come on… come on…" he muttered impatiently.

"What were you waiting for?" Wendy asked.

"Summer vacation," Ben explained. "In my country, most kids go to school for most of the year, then get about three months off in the summer."

"That sounds like a dream," Lucy muttered, recalling how few little breaks she had during her private schooling growing up.

"And I just want to remind you all," the teacher announced from the front of the class, "that I will be teaching summer school this year, and it's not too late to sign up!"

"Yeah, right," young Ben scoffed under his breath.

"I get that," Natsu nodded firmly. "School's a drag." He shivered suddenly. "Especially when Erza's the one teaching."

"You learned how to read and write. Didn't you?" Erza said, her tone brooking no argument.

The bell finally rang, and young Ben shot up from his seat with a triumphant, "Yes! Outta here!" He bolted for the door along with the other kids.

"Everyone, have a good vacation, and I hope to see you all again in the fall," the teacher called after them.

Ben was nearly free when—

"Benjamin, could I have a word with you before you go?" she asked, holding up the offending paper airplane.

Young Ben groaned and trudged toward the teacher's desk, shoulders slumped.

Several in the guild erupted in laughter.

"Busted!" Natsu howled.

Even Gajeel smirked. "Guess some things never change."

Ben just sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is gonna be a long day…"

Outside, two bigger boys had another smaller, fatter boy backed up against a tree.

"Normally, we'd take your money and beat you up," the leader said smugly. "But since it's the last day of school, we're going to give you a break. Now fork over the cash so we can get out of here."

A ripple of distaste went through the guild hall.

"Tsk," Elfman snorted, crossing his arms. "Not manly at all."

Ben frowned at the memory. "J.T. and Cash were jerks who thought pushing people around made them look cool."

"Pathetic," Erza agreed, her voice icy. "Picking on those weaker than yourself is the lowest form of combat."

"I could take those two down in seconds," Natsu said, cracking his knuckles.

"Guess bullies are everywhere, huh." Happy noted.

On the screen, Ben stepped forward. "Leave him alone!"

"Get lost, shrimp," JT snapped.

"I said, back off!" Ben repeated, more forcefully.

"That's the spirit!" Elfman cheered from the back. "Stand up for your friends like a real man!"

"This is gonna go badly for him," Gajeel said dryly.

"Have a little faith," Wendy countered, though her brow furrowed in worry.

The lead bully sneered. "Oh, looks like we got us a hero. Suppose we don't wanna back off?"

"What are ya gonna do about it, Tennyson?" JT taunted.

The three locked eyes… and then young Ben charged toward them with a determined yell.

"There you go!" Natsu grinned. "Hit 'em hard—"

The scene cut abruptly to the aftermath: Ben and the kid he'd tried to help, Jamie, now dangling from a tree branch by their underwear, legs kicking helplessly as a squirrel chattered nearby and scurried off.

The guild exploded with laughter.

"Oh my…!" Mirajane covered her mouth to hide her smile.

"Pffft—nice try, hero," Cana said, raising her mug.

Even Lucy had to stifle a laugh. "You… really thought that would work?"

Ben slumped forward on the table. "It's called optimism. Turns out it doesn't stop wedgies."

Juvia glared at the screen. "Juvia does not find this funny. Those bullies will pay for doing that to Ben."

"Appreciate the sentiment, Juvia, but those two aren't bullies anymore. Besides," Ben grinned wryly. "I did even the score against them."

On the screen, Jamie glared at Ben. "Thanks a lot," he said sarcastically.

"I was just trying to help," young Ben replied, looking genuinely apologetic.

"Next time you wanna play hero, make sure you can back it up," Jamie retorted.

A murmur went through the guild.

"Ungrateful brat," Natsu muttered.

"Hard to blame him," Gray countered. "Ben did get them both hung up on that branch."

"Still," Wendy frowned, "he was just trying to help."

"It's not always about intent, child," Carla said matter-of-factly. "Results matter too."

Ben nodded. "Yeah, Carla's not wrong."

On-screen, the sound of a rumbling engine drew Ben's attention. A rusty old RV pulled up along the roadside, driven by a burly older man with a broad frame and wearing a red Hawaiian shirt.

"Come on, Ben, let's go! We're burning daylight—I wanna make it to the campsite by nightfall," the man called out through the open window.

"Uh, Grandpa? A little help here?" young Ben called down from the tree, still dangling.

Ben in the guild smiled faintly, leaning back in his seat. "Grandpa Max…" he said softly.

"You've mentioned him before," Juvia said, her tone warm.

"Yeah," Ben nodded. "He was a big part of my life. Helped shape me into the man I am."

Those who knew Ben well exchanged small smiles, happy to finally put a face to the name they'd heard so many times.

"Is he always this oblivious though?" Cana teased, grinning.

"Not oblivious," Ben chuckled. "Just… laid-back."

"Guy doesn't even blink at you hanging from a tree by your underwear," Gray snorted.

Levy tilted her head toward the screen. "What is that he's driving?"

"It's called a motorhome—or RV," Ben explained. "Basically, it's a house on wheels. You can drive it anywhere, sleep in it, cook in it… It's perfect for traveling long distances."

"That sounds incredible," Levy said, eyes bright.

"Aye," Happy agreed. "It's like always having your own place with you!"

Natsu crossed his arms and made a face. "I'd rather walk. Riding around in a giant box on wheels doesn't sound fun."

"Anything that moves isn't fun to you." Gray retorted.

On-screen, Ben practically bounced into the Rust Bucket, grinning ear to ear. "I have SO been looking forward to this!" he said as he stepped inside with Grandpa Max—only to stop short.

Sitting at the small table inside was a girl with bright orange hair and green eyes, wearing a light-and-dark blue shirt with a cat emblem on the front and white pants. She looked up at him with a bored expression.

Ben blinked. "…What are you doing here?" He turned to Max, eyes narrowing. "What is she doing here?" he repeated, pointing accusingly.

"Who is she?" Lucy asked from the other table.

Cana smirked and leaned her chin on her hand. "Ooh, Ben, is that your girlfriend?"

Ben's eyes widened. "What?! No! She's my cousin!"

The sharp little flare in Juvia's blue eyes instantly softened. "Oh… well then," she said quietly, folding her hands in relief.

"Your cousin?" Gajeel asked with interest. "You've mentioned her before."

"Yeah," Ben said with a small smile. "That's Gwen—back when she was my age."

On-screen, Gwen crossed her arms. "Take it easy, dweeb. This wasn't my idea. Somebody convinced my mom that 'going camping for the summer would be a good experience for me.'"

Ben's younger self turned to Grandpa Max, desperation in his voice. "Grandpa, please. Tell me you didn't…"

"I thought it would be fun if your cousin came along with us this summer," Max replied with a smile—one that faded a bit as his eyes narrowed. "Is… that a problem?"

Ben and Gwen instantly exchanged a silent look… and said nothing.

"That look alone shut them up," Gray remarked with an amused smirk.

Lucy tilted her head at Ben. "Wait, I thought you had a good relationship with Gwen?"

"I do now," Ben explained. "But when we were ten? Not so much."

"Why?" Lucy asked.

Ben gave a half-smile. "Well, it was… complicated."

"It's weird," Jet said thoughtfully. "Why make two grandkids who clearly don't like each other spend three whole months together?"

Makarov chuckled from his seat. "Common experiences are one of the best ways to improve relationships, Jet. Natsu and Gray could hardly tolerate each other when they were boys, but now they can fight side-by-side without tearing each other apart."

"Occasionally…" Lucy added dryly.

On-screen, the Rust Bucket rumbled away from the stop, its license plate coming into view as Ben slumped back in his seat. "Aw, I can't believe it. I wait all school year to go on this trip, and now the queen of cooties is along for the ride."

"That's not manly at all!" Elfman barked, slamming his fist onto the table. "A real man treats women with respect!"

Gray smirked. "Come on, Elfman. When you're ten, the opposite gender is the enemy. Everyone knows that."

"Not everyone," Lucy muttered.

"Yeah, well, I didn't have a problem with girls," Natsu said smugly.

"Because you've never known what a crush is, flame-breath," Gray shot back.

Natsu bristled. "Shut up, droopy eyes!"

On-screen, Gwen huffed and reached into her bag. "Hey! I had my own vacation already all planned out too, you know?" She unfurled a sheet of paper covered in bright colors. "Each activity is color-coded, so I never do the same thing two days in a row."

She held it up proudly.

Ben's younger self just stared, baffled.

"Whoa…" Levy blinked in surprise. "That's… actually impressive for her age."

Lucy nodded. "Color-coded, no repeats? She's a born planner."

Erza's eyes shone. "I like this girl."

Cana snorted into her drink. "She's ten, Erza."

"That makes it even more impressive," Erza said with absolute sincerity.

Back on the screen, Gwen's smile turned sour. "Now, I'm stuck with my geekazoid cousin going camping for three months."

"Geek." Ben shot back instantly.

"Jerk."

The two glared at each other, while Max sighed from the driver's seat. "Something tells me it's gonna be a long summer…"

"That's your own fault," Macao pointed out. "You're the one who brought them both."

"Yeah," Wakaba agreed. "You can't act like you didn't know this would happen."

Ben chuckled from his seat. "Grandpa Max loved us too much to let a little bickering get in the way. He wanted to spend time with us—and, honestly, help us get along."

Mirajane smiled. "Sounds like a good grandpa."

"A manly grandpa," Elfman added with a nod.

The scene transitioned to a quiet woodland campsite. The Rust Bucket sat parked in a clearing, its doors open, letting the scent of pine and campfire drift in. At a small picnic-style table, Ben and Gwen sat across from each other, boredom on their faces—until Max emerged from the RV, grinning and carrying a large bowl.

"Chow time!" Max announced cheerfully, plunking the bowl down on the table with a solid thunk.

The contents… were still moving.

Several guild members recoiled instantly. Lucy made a face like she'd just bitten into a lemon, and Cana groaned into her drink. Even Erza had to turn her head away with a small "Blegh…"

Wendy's hands flew to her mouth. "Are those… alive?"

"Mealworms," Ben explained from his seat in the guild, making a helpless gesture toward the screen. "Fresh. Grandpa Max loves… unorthodox meals."

On-screen, young Ben blinked at the bowl in disbelief, then looked to Max. "Okay, I give up. What is that?"

"Marinated mealworms," Max said proudly. "Hard to find them fresh in the States. You know, they're considered a delicacy in some countries."

"…And totally gross in others," Gwen muttered as one particularly determined worm wriggled over the edge of the bowl and plopped onto the table.

Cana shuddered. "Nope. No way."

Erza remained composed, though her lips pressed into a thin line. "It is… not an appetizing presentation."

"That's putting it lightly." Gray remarked.

"If these don't sound good," Max continued, "I've got some smoked sheep's tongue in the fridge."

"Still doesn't sound better," Lucy groaned.

Gajeel, however, crossed his arms. "What's the problem? Tongue's fine if you cook it right."

"Of course you'd say that," Gray muttered.

"Couldn't we just have a burger or something?" Ben asked hopefully on-screen, Gwen nodding in agreement.

"Nonsense," Max replied, heading back into the RV. "This summer's gonna be an adventure for your taste buds. I'll grab the tongue."

From the guild seats, Levy tilted her head. "Is it really a good idea to force kids to eat something that strange?"

"Wizards should eat whatever's nutritious to restore their strength," Freed said matter-of-factly. "Taste is secondary."

Bickslow smirked. "Yeah, says the guy who lives on tea and dignity."

Ignoring them, on-screen Ben slid closer to Gwen. "Okay, I got a half-eaten bag of corn chips and a candy bar in my backpack. What'd you got?"

"Some rice cakes and hard candy," Gwen replied.

"Think we can make them last the whole summer?" Ben asked, both of them already slumping in defeat.

Happy tilted his head. "So… did you actually eat the mealworms, Ben?"

Ben grimaced. "Yeah. Eventually. Gwen too. Max wouldn't let us waste food."

Lucy made a small gagging sound. "That sounds as almost as bad as the Winged Fish from Clover…"

"Almost?" Cana said, raising an eyebrow. "Lucy, nothing's worse than that."

Wendy gave Ben a sympathetic smile. "That must've been awful. I think I'd lose my appetite for days."

Ben shrugged. "When you get hungry enough, you learn to ignore the taste."

The view on the screen shifted away from the campsite and back into the chaos of outer space. Laser fire streaked across the darkness, illuminating the hulking silhouette of Vilgax's warship as it pursued the smaller transport vessel.

Inside the bridge, the deep, mechanical voice of one of Vilgax's drones echoed. "Their propulsion systems have been destroyed."

Vilgax's eyes narrowed, his voice cold and commanding. "Prepare to board! I want the Omnitrix—now."

On-screen, the smaller ship turned sharply, its weapons systems charging. It fired a single, well-aimed laser blast that ripped into Vilgax's control room, sending the towering warlord flying across the bridge in an explosion of sparks and smoke.

"Ha! That's what you get!" Natsu barked, slapping the table.

"Serves him right," Cana smirked.

"Effective counterattack," Erza admitted, nodding slightly in approval.

Ben, however, shook his head. "Don't celebrate too soon. That hurt him, but it didn't stop him. Trust me—Vilgax is not that easy to kill."

Sure enough, on-screen, the massive warship recovered almost instantly, retaliating with a blinding barrage of lasers. The smaller transport shuddered violently before erupting into a ball of fire and debris, chunks of metal scattering into the void.

"Whoa…" Wendy whispered softly.

"They didn't even stand a chance," Gray said, frowning.

But in the midst of the wreckage, a sudden flash of motion caught the eye—a large probe emerged from the destroyed vessel, and from within that probe, a much smaller, sleek pod shot away at incredible speed. It streaked across the darkness, angling toward a blue-and-green world in the distance.

"Something made it out!" Levy pointed out.

"What is that?" Lucy asked curiously, eyes fixed on the glowing streak.

"Looks important," Gajeel muttered.

Ben's lips curled into a knowing grin. "Yeah… you could say that. But you'll find out soon enough."

The image on the screen shifted back to the quiet campsite. Ben and Gwen sat at opposite ends of the clearing—Ben hunched over his handheld video game, thumbs clicking away, while Gwen tapped rapidly on her laptop keyboard.

"Really?" Natsu arched an eyebrow. "Middle of the woods and you're glued to those things?"

"Yeah, enjoy the outdoors while you've got it," Elfman said firmly. "Not manly to waste time staring at some screen."

Ben smirked at the guild members. "It was nighttime, guys. Not exactly prime exploring hours."

From the Rust Bucket, Max stepped out holding a large plastic bag. "Who wants to roast marshmallows?" he asked cheerfully.

Neither Ben nor Gwen even glanced up, each too absorbed in their own devices.

"Cold," Gray snorted.

"Hold on—marshmallows?" Levy perked up. "What's that?"

"It's a white, gelatinous sweet from my world. Essential for s'mores." Ben explained.

"S'mores?" Lucy added, looking curious.

"They're roasted marshmallows with chocolate and graham crackers," Ben explained with a grin. "Sticky, sweet, and delicious."

"Oooh, I wanna try some!" Wendy said eagerly, clasping her hands.

"I can make you some sometime," Ben promised with a little smile before turning back to the screen.

"Okay, um… how 'bout we tell scary stories?" Max tried again, his enthusiasm unwavering.

"Scarier than having to spend a summer with your freak of a cousin?" Ben quipped, laughing under his breath.

"I'd like to, Grandpa," Gwen shot back without looking away from her laptop, "but I'm busy doing a web search on cures for extreme doofus-ness. Nothing yet, Ben, but let's not give up hope!"

"Ben, what is it that Gwen's using?" Makarov pointed at the glowing device, leaning forward.

"A computer," Ben said. "Or more specifically, a laptop. You can use it to look things up, write, watch videos—tons of stuff. It's…sort of like your own personal library that you can carry around."

Levy's eyes widened. "A portable library… with instant access to information? That's incredible!"

"Indeed." Makarov rubbed his beard. "It sounds similar to Archive Magic. But for anyone to be able to have access to such information? Remarkable."

"I would kill to have one of those," Lucy admitted, impressed.

Freed nodded approvingly. "That level of data retrieval could be invaluable for strategy."

Natsu tilted his head. "Sounds boring."

Max tried again, "Aww, come on, you two. We're all in this together. You can mope around like this all summer, or we can have some fun. Now, whaddaya say?"

"I vote for moping," Gwen said flatly.

"I'm gonna take a walk. Smell ya around, Gwen," Ben teased, getting to his feet and heading toward the dark tree line.

"Uh, should he really be letting you wander into the woods alone, Ben?" Lucy frowned.

Ben shrugged. "I think Grandpa just wanted to give me some time to vent."

"He's a boy too—let him build some toughness," Gajeel said with a shrug.

"A little independence never hurt," Macao agreed.

"I, uh, think they're starting to grow on each other," Max said as he watched Ben disappear into the trees.

That earned a round of laughter from the guild.

"Delusional," Cana chuckled.

"He's certainly got more patience than I would," Makarov said. "I would've already hit them both upside the head."

Ben trudged through the shadowy woods, hands shoved deep in his pockets, his voice dripping with irritation. "Aw, man. This is gonna be the worst vacation ever. I might as well have gone to summer school," he grumbled, kicking a stray pebble across the dirt path.

"Wow," Cana said with a smirk. "Real ray of sunshine, huh, Ben?"

"Cut him some slack," Gray replied, leaning back against the table edge. "Being stuck with someone you don't like? Yeah, that's gotta be rough. Couldn't imagine being stuck with just fire-breath for three months."

Natsu glared back at his rival. "Being stuck with you wouldn't be a cakewalk for me either, icy flasher!"

From above the treeline, a streak of brilliant light suddenly cut across the night sky. Ben's eyes widened. "Whoa! A shooting star!"

"Does making a wish on it from another universe still count?" Happy asked.

Lucy chuckled. "I doubt it."

All of a sudden, the glowing trail abruptly shifted direction—turning sharply in midair and hurtling directly toward Ben.

"Wait—what?!" Wendy yelped.

"That's not normal," Erza said, her brow furrowing.

Ben gasped and spun on his heel, bolting through the undergrowth. The object slammed into the ground just behind him with a deafening crash, a shockwave ripping through the forest and launching him forward. Dirt and leaves flew in all directions, and smoke rolled out from the impact site.

"BEN!" Juvia cried, leaning forward in alarm—then letting out a small sigh of relief when he appeared on screen again, lying on the ground still in one piece.

Ben gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey, it's fine. I came out okay—still alive and well right now, aren't I?"

Juvia's cheeks colored slightly as she looked away. "Juvia… just doesn't like to see you get hurt."

Ben blushed at the rain woman's sentiment. "I...I see."

As the dust began to clear, Ben pushed himself up, staring toward the crater. "Looks like a… satellite or something," he muttered, curiosity flickering across his face.

"A what now?" Natsu asked, scratching his head.

Ben glanced at him. "A satellite—basically a machine people put into orbit around a planet. It's used for stuff like communication, navigation, and sometimes observation."

"Reminds me of the Satellite Square," Erza noted thoughtfully.

Natsu tilted his head. "Satellite Square…?"

Gray sighed. "You know, the giant magic cannon in space? The one that fired the Etherion blast at the Tower of Heaven?"

"Ohhh, right!" Natsu grinned, snapping his fingers as the memory clicked.

The meteor's white-hot glow slowly began to fade, revealing the scorched edges of the crater. Ben stepped closer, the ground crunching beneath his sneakers—until the dirt suddenly gave way under his feet.

Ben caught himself at the bottom and looked ahead. There, in the very center of the crater, sat an otherworldly pod—its metal scorched from reentry but still pulsing faintly with heat.

With a hiss of escaping steam, the pod's hatch unlatched and slowly lifted. Inside, resting in a small compartment, was a strange, bulky watch.

It didn't look like any ordinary timepiece. The dial bore no numbers or hands, only a glowing green, angular hourglass-shaped symbol. The wristband was made of thick, blackish-grey material, reinforced by four white pipes running from the face around the band. On each side of the dial sat a green button, and the glow from the symbol bathed the crater in an eerie emerald light, making the shadows dance across Ben's face.

Several of the guild members instantly sat up straighter in recognition.

Erza turned in Ben's direction. "So that's the Omnitrix?"

Juvia tilted her head slightly. "But… the Omnitrix you wear now looks different." She glanced at the square, white watch on his arm, the green highlights converging on its black faceplate to form the intergalactic peace symbol—still resembling an hourglass, but sleeker.

"Yeah, long story. Let's just say it's had a couple of makeovers since then," Ben admitted with a smirk.

On screen, the younger Ben leaned closer to the pod. "What's a watch doing in outer space?" he muttered. Then, grinning to himself, he reached in to grab it.

Before his fingers could touch it, the Omnitrix shot from the pod in a blur of green light and clamped itself around his wrist.

Gasps and wide eyes filled the guild hall.

"It just… jumped on him!?" Happy exclaimed.

"That's creepy," Lucy muttered.

"Ahh! Get off me! Get off, get off!" the younger Ben shouted, frantically shaking his arm in an effort to fling it off, but the device held fast. He tugged at it, yanking hard enough to nearly lose his balance before stumbling back with a grunt.

The boy scrambled out of the crater and bolted into the woods. "Grandpa!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees.

"So this is how you found the Omnitrix, Ben," Freed remarked, adjusting his glasses.

"More like it found him," Gray corrected, crossing his arms. "Did you see how it changed course in the sky earlier?" He turned to Ben. "Seriously, how'd it do that?"

Ben shrugged casually. "Honestly? To this day, I'm still not sure."

Back at the trio's campsite, Max glanced toward the darkened woods, his brows knitting together. "Hm. Ben's been gone a while," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. A beat passed before he shrugged, trying to play it off. "Well, I guess he can't get into too much trouble out here."

"Yeah… about that," Lucy said with a nervous glance toward the screen, clearly knowing better.

Levy pushed her glasses up her nose. "If we're being technical, there's actually a lot of trouble he could've gotten into—wild animals, losing his way, tripping over something dangerous—"

"Unless he wound up bear food," Gwen suggested without looking up from her laptop.

Max turned to her with a sharp, disapproving look.

"What? Hey, I can dream, can't I?" she replied with a smirk.

Ben shook his head, a small, amused smile tugging at his lips. "Nice to know you cared, Gwen."

A few chuckles rippled through the room. "Man," Cana said, grinning, "you two bicker like Natsu and Gray."

"Oi!" Natsu and Gray said in unison, glaring at her before turning to glare at each other instead.

The scene transitioned to Ben kneeling in the woods, gritting his teeth as he jammed a stick between the strange watch and his wrist, trying to pry it loose. The stick splintered with a sharp crack, leaving him holding nothing but the broken end.

"Looks like it's glued to your skin," Cana remarked, tilting her head.

Ben gave a short nod. "Pretty much. It's melded to my body. Same with the current one."

"That sounds… invasive," Freed said with a faint frown.

Ben just shrugged. "Yeah, well, that's just how it works."

On-screen, Ben dropped to his knees in defeat, shoulders sagging. But curiosity got the better of him, and he began fumbling with the device again. His thumb accidentally pressed one of the green buttons, and with a sharp click, the faceplate sprang upward.

"Whoa," he breathed, his eyes widening. He glanced around the dark woods as if to make sure no one was watching, then turned his attention back to the device. The glowing hourglass symbol shifted into a diamond shape, inside of which was a pitch-black silhouette.

"Cool!" Ben grinned, eyebrows raising as he pressed the faceplate back down.

The moment it clicked into place, epic music swelled. The world around him blurred and shifted into a strange, green void dotted with black circles. In a flash, crimson, molten rock burst across his body, plates locking together as streams of fire lit up his form.

"Yikes…" Levy winced. "That… looks painful."

"It was," Lucy admitted with a shiver, "just watching it…"

Ben blinked twice at the screen. Is that really what it looks like when I change? To me, it always happens in an instant…

When the green void faded away, the boy was gone—replaced by a burning, rock-skinned alien whose body crackled with fire and molten heat.

"Heatblast!" Natsu exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "Now that's a form I like!"

"AHHH!" Heatblast screamed in horror, his voice now deeper and rougher than before. He looked down at his blazing, rock-covered body and his panic skyrocketed. "I'M ON FIRE! I'M ON FIRE! AHHHHH!"

The flaming alien version of Ben darted around the clearing, waving his arms frantically as embers scattered in his wake.

Several wizards in the guild hall burst into laughter at the sight, some nearly falling out of their seats. Others just stared in confusion, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned.

"Huh? I don't get it. Why were you freaking out, Ben?" Natsu tilted his head, completely clueless.

"This was the first time I ever transformed, Natsu," Ben explained flatly.

"Yeah," Lucy chimed in, "anyone would freak out if they suddenly turned into a flaming rock monster."

"Geez, even you should've been able to figure that one out, hothead," Gray mocked with a smirk.

"What'd you say, icicle?!" Natsu barked back, sparks practically flying between them.

Before fists could fly, Juvia leaned toward Ben with a worried expression. "Did it hurt, Ben?"

He shook his head. "No. I was just shocked over what happened."

On-screen, Heatblast finally slowed to a halt, staring down at his fiery form. "Hey…" he muttered, flexing his molten fists. "I'm on fire and… I'm okay." His lips curled into a grin. "Check it out—I'm totally hot. Ha-ha-hah!"

A collective wave of groans rolled through the guild hall.

"Wow," Cana muttered, shaking her head. "So you've always been like this."

Ben just shrugged, wearing a faint smirk.

A roguish grin spread across the Pyronite's jagged face as he turned his head toward a nearby tree. "Oh yeah…" he muttered, stepping into a wide stance with his arms loose at his sides. "Uh-huh."

He raised his right hand, shaping his index finger into the form of a gun. "Here goes…"

A small burst of flame shot from his fingertip, striking the tree trunk dead center. The blast punched a clean, smoldering hole straight through the wood.

"That's what I'm talking about," Heatblast said with clear satisfaction.

Bringing both hands together, he concentrated, forming a fireball nearly the size of a bowling ball. "Liking it," he smirked before casually hurling it over his shoulder.

The shot sailed true—maybe too true—burning through three trees in a row. In an instant, flames began licking up the bark, spreading like wildfire.

Heatblast's empty eye sockets widened. "Wait! Stop!"

The fire, of course, ignored him. In seconds, the blaze began racing from tree to tree. Heatblast dashed toward the nearest flaming trunk, stomping his molten foot on the ground in a desperate attempt to smother the flames—only to realize he was, in fact, still made of fire.

"Aw, man… I'm gonna get so busted for this," he groaned nervously.

"Ben, you set the forest on fire?!" Lucy shrieked, half in disbelief and half in outrage.

"Nice one, Tennyson," Gajeel laughed, leaning back with his arms crossed.

Ben rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "What can I say… I was a bit too excited and acted without thinking."

Gray smirked. "Huh. Kinda reminds me of what Natsu does on a daily basis."

"What's that supposed to mean, popsicle?!" Natsu barked, already glaring.

Gray just smirked more. "Exactly what you think it means."

Max sat by the crackling campfire outside the Rust Bucket, lazily poking at the embers with a stick when Gwen stepped out of the RV, stretching her arms.

"What's that?" she asked, squinting toward the horizon. A thin column of smoke was rising in the distance.

Max followed her gaze, his brow furrowing. "Looks like the start of a forest fire. We better let the Rangers' Station know," he said, pushing himself to his feet. "Probably some darn fool camper out there, messing around with something he shouldn't—"

He stopped mid-sentence, realization dawning. Gwen's eyes widened at the exact same moment.

"Ben!" Max blurted out.

A ripple of laughter rolled through the guild hall.

"Wow," Cana chuckled, shaking her head. "Didn't even need proof. Just straight to 'it's Ben's fault.'"

Ben crossed his arms, a wry smirk tugging at his lips. "To be fair… yeah, that tracks."

"Guess you had a reputation even back then," Natsu said with a grin.

Max snapped open a camping kit, pulling out two red fire extinguishers. "Better take this!" he said, handing one to Gwen.

She took it without question, and the two immediately dashed into the forest, weaving between trees as the smoke overhead grew thicker.

Ben was still frantically trying to stomp out the flames, every attempt only seeming to make things worse. His blazing feet hissed against the smoldering earth, but the fire paid him no mind. "This would be so cool, if it weren't so— not cool!" he groaned, scanning the growing inferno with mounting panic.

Natsu tilted his head, brows furrowed. "Wait, why can't you just absorb the fire? I've seen you do it when we spar."

Ben glanced at him with a shrug. "Didn't know how back then. This was literally the first time I transformed into Heatblast."

"Ah," Natsu nodded slowly, then frowned. "So… you were just a walking fire hazard?"

Makarov stroked his mustache with a sigh, his gaze heavy. "This is why some of you kids should think before you act sometimes. There are consequences for using power irresponsibly."

Meanwhile, on-screen, Gwen pushed through the dense forest, her extinguisher hissing as she doused flames with practiced aim. The thick smoke made her cough, but she didn't stop, methodically working her way toward the heart of the blaze. She had no idea she was heading straight toward the cause.

Finally, she broke into a small clearing—just as her extinguisher's spray hit the back of a very tall, very flaming figure.

Heatblast stiffened, glancing over his shoulder.

Gwen's eyes went wide. "AHHH!" she screamed, jumping back.

Lucy visibly winced at the sight. "Yeah… I'd be screaming too if I were in her shoes."

Heatblast quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture, stepping toward her. "Look, I know I look weird. But there's no reason to be scared—"

WHAM!

Without hesitation, Gwen leapt forward and slammed the butt of the extinguisher right into Heatblast's face. The impact rang out with a solid clang, sending him flipping backward through the air. He landed hard on his stomach several meters away, the ground beneath him sizzling.

A chorus of whistles echoed through the guild hall.

"Damn," Cana chuckled, grinning at Ben. "We sure your cousin ain't a mini-Erza or something?"

"She may be a girl, but she sure is manly!" Elfman declared with pride.

Erza shook her head, though her expression carried approval. "While I wouldn't say manly, she is certainly formidable for one her age—and without magic, no less."

Ben smirked faintly, leaning back in his chair. "You have no idea. Gwen can definitely hold her own… just wait till you see her discover her magic powers."

"Why'd she have to hit you, though?" Natsu asked, looking genuinely baffled. "Uncalled for."

"Totally called for!" Lucy countered with a flat look. "If a being made of molten rock and fire walked up to you, what would you have done?"

Natsu tapped his chin thoughtfully for a few beats, then broke into a wide grin. "I'd ask to try some of that fire!"

Several members groaned while Happy snickered, "Aye, sir. That does sound like you."

As Heatblast pushed himself up from the ground, brushing off bits of dirt and ash, he was suddenly met with a loud HISSSSS—a blast of white foam smothered him from head to toe. The flames covering his head sputtered and died, revealing a rocky, rounded cranium underneath.

He sputtered, coughing up a glob of foam before shaking himself like a wet dog. Bits of extinguisher spray dripped down his shoulders, sizzling against the heated stone. Slowly, the flames atop his head reignited with a low fwoosh. His molten eyes narrowed at the sight before him.

Gwen stood her ground a few meters away, the hose of her fire extinguisher trained right at his chest. Her stance was firm despite the tremor in her hands. "I don't know what you are," she said, voice steady and sharp, "but you'll stay down there if you know what's good for you."

Wendy's eyes widened in admiration. "Wow, she's… still standing her ground, even though she's scared," the young Dragon Slayer said softly.

Heatblast's rocky mouth curved into a mischievous grin. Without a word, he casually extended one flaming finger toward her feet—and with a tiny pop of fire, the tip of her shoe burst into a flickering flame.

"AHH!" Gwen yelped, stumbling backward on one leg while frantically spraying her own foot with the extinguisher hose.

Natsu instantly doubled over in laughter. "Ha-ha-ha! Oh wow! That was a good one, Ben!" he wheezed, pounding a fist on the table.

"Aye, sir!" Happy cackled, tail flicking with amusement.

Without hesitation, Lucy smacked Natsu square on the back of the head. SMACK!

"OW! What the heck, Lucy?!"

"What's with you?!" Lucy shot back, glaring. "He set her foot on fire! That's not funny!"

"I thought it was funny," Happy said innocently.

"No one asked you, you stupid cat!" Lucy snapped, her voice rising.

Happy puffed his cheeks. "Rude."

On-screen, Gwen had finally managed to douse the flame, the foam dripping from her now-white shoe. She turned a glare back to Heatblast, her eyes narrowed to slits. Without a word, she hefted the fire extinguisher over her head, ready to swing it down on him again.

"I warned you," she said, her voice low and dangerous.

"Don't even think about it, freak," Heatblast mocked, folding his flaming arms in challenge.

Something in his tone—or maybe just the word choice—made Gwen freeze. Her eyes widened as she lowered the extinguisher, her head tilting slightly as recognition dawned.

"…Ben?" she asked slowly, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Is that you?" Gwen repeated, stepping closer, awe replacing her earlier hostility. "What happened?"

From the guild, Cana smirked. "So all it took was him calling her a freak for her to put it together? That's some family telepathy right there."

"Or she's just used to him mouthing off," Gray said dryly.

"Family can tell," Mirajane added, smiling faintly. "Even if they look different, they can still feel it's the same person."

Ben, still watching the screen, only shrugged with a small, embarrassed smile. "Guess I'm not that hard to figure out."

"Well," Heatblast began, gesturing animatedly with flaming hands, "when I was walking, this meteor fell from the sky and almost munched me. Except it wasn't a meteor or a satellite, but this cool watch thingy that jumped up on my wrist. And when I tried to get it off, I was suddenly on fire. Only it didn't hurt as I was accidentally starting this mega forest fire."

A ripple of sweat-drops appeared across multiple guild members' faces at once.

"That's… one hell of a recap," Cana said, blinking.

On-screen, before Gwen could reply, a familiar voice called out.

"Gwen!"

Grandpa Max emerged from between the trees, panting slightly as he jogged into view. "Are you al—" He froze mid-sentence, his eyes locking on Heatblast. His jaw dropped. "What in blazes?"

Gwen smirked faintly, lowering her extinguisher. "Hey, Grandpa, guess who?"

"It's me, Grandpa," Heatblast said with an awkward little wave, flames flickering lazily atop his head.

"Ben?" Max stepped closer, still staring like he couldn't quite believe it. "What happened to you?"

"Well, when I was walking, this meteor—"

The boy-turned-Pyronite didn't get far before Gwen cut in, her voice tight. "Um, excuse me, major forest fire burning out of control? Remember?" She jabbed a finger toward the growing wall of smoke and flame behind them.

Heatblast turned his head, eyes widening. "What do we do?"

Max glanced toward the advancing blaze, then back to Ben with a calculating look. "Backfire," he said simply. "Start a new fire and let it burn into the old fire. They should snuff each other out. Think you can do it, Ben?"

Heatblast's molten grin spread wide. "Shooting flames? I can definitely do that."

Natsu scoffed, crossing his arms. "I can shoot flames way better."

"Sure you can," Gray deadpanned, not even looking at him.

Erza nodded in approval at Max's quick thinking. "It's risky, but in this situation, it's the most effective way to stop the spread."

On-screen, Max, Gwen, and Ben broke into a run, heading for a section of trees well ahead of the approaching fire. Heatblast skidded to a stop, planted his feet, and aimed both hands forward.

Ben concentrated, flames building between his palms before erupting into a roaring beam of fire. It tore across the clearing in a molten arc, scorching bark and igniting the line of trees instantly. In moments, a brand-new blaze roared to life, its heat rolling back toward the original fire.

The scene then transitioned to a Forest Ranger stepping out of his vehicles, boots crunching over scorched earth as he surveyed the blackened stretch of woods. Smoke still curled lazily from the charred tree stumps, but the flames were gone.

From the guild's seats, a few murmurs broke out.

"Guess it's true what they say," Macao remarked, rubbing his chin. "Fight fire… with fire."

"Pretty smart tactic," Wakaba agreed. "I mean, if you have to burn more stuff to stop it, that's the way to go."

"Not bad, kid," Elfman said, giving an approving nod toward the screen. "That's how a man solves a problem."

Lucy sighed. "Even if he was the one who started it in the first place…"

"Hey, solving a problem you caused is still solving it," Cana quipped with a smirk.

Ben leaned back in his seat with a half-grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Don't let it go to your head, Ben," Erza said firmly, though there was a small upward twitch at the corner of her mouth. "But a lesson in responsibility can be learned here."

High above the Earth, Vilgax's warship floated in silence, the stars reflecting faintly across its scarred hull. Inside, the bridge was a ruin—drones in the process of repairing it.

The scene transitioned to reveal a massive figure floating in a stasis tank, suspended in glowing green fluid. The audience gasped as the image revealed Vilgax—still alive, but hideously mutilated.

"Ew…" Cana muttered, wincing.

"Gross doesn't even begin to cover it," Gray agreed, grimacing.

"Still alive even after that?!" Elfman blurted in disbelief.

"Could you really call that living?" Macao remarked.

Ben's shoulders tightened. "Yeah… Vilgax doesn't die easy."

Inside the chamber, the tyrant's voice rumbled, distorted through the tank's speakers:
"What do you mean it's not there? This battle nearly cost me my life! And you say the Omnitrix is no longer on board the transport?!"

One of his drones replied. "Sensors indicate… a probe was jettisoned from the ship just before boarding. It landed on the planet below."

Vilgax's glowing eye narrowed. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the shadows at the far end of the ruined bridge. A second figure stood there, its body hidden in the darkness, only the faintest outline visible.

"Go," Vilgax growled. "Bring it to me."

Without a word, the shrouded bioid turned and strode off, its heavy footsteps echoing through the hollow wreck.

Several of the mages murmured uneasily.

"Who… or what is that?" Levy whispered.

Wendy frowned nervously. "That thing came after him… He was younger than me though." She quietly said.

Juvia's brow furrowed. "He hasn't had the Omnitrix for even a day… now something potentially very dangerous is after him?"

Back at the campsite, the Tennyson trio sat around a small campfire, the flames flickering gently in the evening breeze. The scent of toasted marshmallows hung in the air, a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. Heatblast leaned back, the glow from his body casting a warm light on the circle as he finished telling Max everything.

"And you say that this watch 'just jumped up and clamped onto your wrist'?" Max repeated, eyebrows raised in disbelief.

Heatblast caught a marshmallow Gwen lobbed his way, the sticky treat bouncing off his chest before he snatched it mid-air. "Hey, this time it wasn't my fault," he insisted, popping it into his mouth—only for the gooey mess to stick comically to the inside of his teeth. "I swear!" he added through a muffled chew.

Gray smirked. "Technically was your fault, though. You reached for the thing, didn't you? And then you lit half the forest on fire."

"Details, details," Ben muttered, waving the comment away.

"I believe you, Ben," Max said with calm certainty, leaning back on his log seat.

"Think he's gonna stay a monster forever?" Gwen asked, glancing between her cousin and their grandfather.

"He's not a monster," Max corrected with surprising firmness. "He's an alien."

Both kids turned to stare at him, Heatblast's flaming brows quirking in curiosity.

"I-I mean…" Max stumbled, realizing his slip. "Look at him. What else could he be?" he added quickly, as if it were just an off-the-cuff guess.

Several guild members exchanged surprised glances.

"That's… a pretty on-point guess for a random assumption," Levy murmured.

Ben, meanwhile, crossed his arms, the embers on his forearms pulsing faintly. Inwardly, he made a note not to elaborate yet—if they didn't know about the Plumbers, he'd rather keep it a surprise for when the series dropped that bombshell.

If they were going to be stuck here for an indeterminable amount of time witnessing important events from his life, then it should remain entertaining as possible.

"I don't wanna be 'fire guy' forever," Ben said aloud. "How am I supposed to play Little League this fall if I charcoal the ball every time I catch a pop fly?"

Cana raised an eyebrow. "Kid just turned into a living volcano, and that's his concern?"

Lucy chuckled. "Poor priorities."

"Uh… what's 'Little League' and 'pop fly'?" Wendy asked, tilting her head.

"It's baseball," Ben explained. "A sport in my world where you hit a ball with a bat, run bases, score points… 'pop fly' means the ball gets hit high up into the air and someone catches it."

Natsu grinned. "Sounds fun. I wanna try it!"

Ben nodded. "We can try playing it sometime."

"Don't worry, Ben. We'll figure this thing out," Max promised, his tone steady but reassuring.

Just then, the Omnitrix symbol on Heatblast's chest began to flash a deep crimson. It beeped loudly—five sharp notes in succession—before a blinding red light burst outward, enveloping Max and Gwen in its glow.

When the light faded, their eyes adjusted to find Ben standing there, perfectly human again. He glanced down at his hands, then at the rest of himself, and a wide grin spread across his face. "Hah! I'm me again!" he whooped, practically bouncing on his heels.

Lucy tilted her head. "What was that blinking thing? I've never seen his watch do that before."

Ben shrugged casually. "Back when I first got the Omnitrix, it only let me stay in alien form for ten minutes. Timer runs out, boom—you're human again. But now I've got master control, so I can stay as an alien as long as I want."

Gajeel smirked. "Master control, huh? Sounds like a fancy way of saying you're just showing off."

"Aw, too bad," Gwen teased, folding her arms with a smug smile. "I liked you better when you were a briquette."

That earned a mix of chuckles and raised brows from the onlookers.

"Does she actually mean that?" Cana murmured.

"Nah, she was just messing with me," Ben replied.

With the fire out and his body back to normal, Ben's earlier relief shifted into frustration as he tugged at the watch on his wrist. "I still can't get this thing off," he muttered, giving it a sharp twist that did nothing.

"Better not fool with it anymore until we know exactly what we're dealing with," Max advised, rising to his feet. "I'll go check out that crash site. You two stay here until I get back."

Ben and Gwen exchanged a glance as their grandfather walked off into the woods.

Wendy spoke softly. "What's the point of checking out the crash site?"

Carla folded her arms. "If the device came from there, perhaps something else was left behind. Clues, tools… maybe even instructions."

"Yeah," Levy agreed. "If we're lucky, maybe the pod has a manual. 'How to Not Start a Forest Fire in Your First Five Minutes.'"

Ben groaned. "Ha-ha. Very funny."

High above Earth's atmosphere, the alien tyrant's warship loomed like a shadow over the stars. From one of its launch bays, a cylindrical pod blasted free, streaking through the sky like a meteor. It tore through the upper atmosphere in a burning trail before crashing into the dense woods—not far from where the Omnitrix's own pod had landed earlier.

The metal capsule hissed and groaned before its outer shell split apart, panels folding outward like flower petals. From within, a colossal figure rose—an armored Mechadroid easily towering over the tallest trees. Its heavy metal plating glinted in the fractured moonlight, and the ground trembled beneath its massive, hydraulic steps.

Gasps rippled through the guild seats.

"Whoa…" Natsu leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "That thing's big!"

"'Big' might be putting it lightly," Gray muttered, arms crossed.

The Mechadroid's singular, glowing eye swept over the crash site. With mechanical precision, it extended a cannon-like arm toward the Omnitrix's now-empty pod. A blinding beam fired—and in a blink, the pod was reduced to scrap and molten slag.

"What the—?!" Lucy exclaimed from her seat. "Why destroy it?"

Ben frowned, leaning forward slightly. "Not totally sure," he admitted, "but… my guess? The droid did it so any recovery squad sent from the ship that was carrying the Omnitrix would think it got destroyed in the crash. That way, they wouldn't waste time looking for it."

Before anyone could respond, the Mechadroid's shoulder compartments hissed open, releasing several sleek, disc-shaped drones. Each hovered in the air for a brief moment, their red optics flickering as they locked onto search patterns. Then, in a synchronized burst, they zipped away into the forest—spreading out to hunt for their true target.

"Looks like things are about to start getting good," Gajeel smirked.

"Younger Ben's gonna have to figure out his powers a lot quicker if he wants to keep breathing," Macao remarked.

"Obviously he does. He's here, after all," Wakaba dryly noted.

"We're about to see if rookie Ben's got the guts," Natsu added with a grin, his fists tightening in anticipation.

Juvia frowned, not pleased by the idea of Ben being forced to fight the on-screen mechanical monster as a child.

Max crouched beside the scorched crater, the air still carrying the faint tang of burnt ozone. His eyes scanned the ground methodically, and his hand reached down to pick up a warped fragment of metal—still warm from reentry. Turning it over, his brow furrowed.

"I don't like this one little bit," he murmured to himself, his voice low and edged with concern.

A few eyebrows rose.

"He definitely knows more than he's saying," Levy commented.

"He's hiding something," Erza agreed with a slight nod.

Happy tilted his head innocently. "What if Ben's grandpa's secretly an alien or something?"

That got a few chuckles.

Cana smirked. "Would explain his gross taste in food."

Ben waved a hand in protest. "He's not an alien, guys. He just likes weird food. And as for him knowing more than he lets on…" His grin turned a little sly. "…yeah, that'll get revealed later. You'll see."

Back at the campsite, Ben and Gwen were still standing around the Rust Bucket with the former talking to the latter. "Look," Ben began, gesturing to the device as if trying to make his case to a jury, "if I can figure this thing out, maybe I can help people. I mean, really help them. Not just, you know… make things worse."

Many members of Fairy Tail exchanged approving glances.

"So manly!" Elfman pumped a fist.

Makarov stroked his beard and nodded. "That's the right mindset. Power should always serve to protect others, not just yourself."

Juvia sighed happily, whispering, "I am so happy to see my hero has always had such a good heart."

Even Erza gave a small smile. "For all your rough edges you had as a child, Ben, it's good your heart is in the right place."

Ben blushed a bit at the praises.

Gwen's expression softened a touch, the hard lines in her brow easing as she tilted her head thoughtfully. "So… what did it feel like, going all alien like that?" she asked, curiosity finally winning out over caution.

Still messing with the Omnitrix dial, Ben replied, "It freaked me out at first," he admitted. "It was like I was still me… but it was also like I was somebody else."

In the gallery, Elfman's smile faltered, his mind drifting to a painful memory of his own first attempt at a Full Body Take-Over—the one that had ended in tragedy. He crossed his arms and said nothing, jaw tight.

Mirajane, sitting beside him, placed a hand on his arm. "I understand what he means," she said quietly. "When I use my Demon Take-Overs, I can feel my personality… shift. It's still me, but not just me."

The Omnitrix suddenly emitted its familiar click-THUNK as the faceplate popped up, the dial flickering to life. "Hey, I think I figured out how I did it. Should I try it again? Just once?" Ben asked, a grin spreading across his face. He began turning the dial, new silhouettes spinning into view—first a flying insectoid with sharp, spindly limbs, then a raptor-like dinosaur with a long tail, and finally some strange quadruped none of them could quite identify.

The guild reacted instantly.

"YES!" Natsu roared, practically bouncing in his seat.

"Do it! Do it!" Happy cheered.

Lucy, however, had her arms crossed, looking anything but convinced. "Are you seriously encouraging him to transform again right after the forest fire incident?" she asked incredulously.

"Absolutely!" Natsu replied without hesitation.

Lucy groaned. "Unbelievable."

"I wouldn't," Gwen said finally, her voice firm, though there was no venom in it—just concern.

Ben shot her a mischievous smirk. "No duh, you wouldn't." Without another word, he slammed down the dial.

The scene shifted into that now-familiar green-and-black void, the moment where Ben's human form seemed to transform into something else entirely. Veins in his arm began to swell unnaturally as the Omnitrix seemed to sink into his skin, glowing lines snaking upward. The bulging veins crept toward his face until they reached his tightly shut eyelid—then it snapped open, revealing a blank, burning orange eye.

Orange fur sprouted rapidly over his skin, spreading in waves. His mouth elongated, teeth sharpening into jagged fangs while his fingers reshaped themselves into thick, lethal claws. As the last of his human features melted away, he now stood as a strange eyeless canine-like creature, gill-like slits pulsing along the sides of his neck.

The newly-formed Wildmutt flexed his clawed fingers, then extended the claws with an audible shhk before slamming them into the dirt. He threw his head back and unleashed a guttural, feral roar.

From the audience, some members immediately recognized him.

"That's Wildmutt!" Levy exclaimed, smiling in recognition.

Juvia tilted her head, studying the creature. "Except… smaller? And missing his tail and stripes."

Ben chuckled. "Yeah, my aliens grow and mature just like I do. That's what a ten-year-old Vulpimancer looks like—still dangerous, just… less refined."

On-screen, Gwen's expression twisted in mock disgust as she eyed the drooling, fur-covered creature in front of her. "Ew! This thing's even uglier than you are normally! Wow—better put a flea collar on this mutt!" she said with a smirk.

Wildmutt lowered his head and let out a low, rumbling roar in her direction, clearly not amused.

The audience reactions were mixed.

"Bit harsh, don't you think?" Mirajane frowned.

"Yeah," Wendy agreed softly. "She could be nicer…"

Juvia narrowed her gaze. "Gwen's fortunate I wasn't there," she murmured.

Ben shrugged from his seat. "Eh, we were kids. We held onto the dumbest grudges back then."

Lucy glanced at Natsu and Gray, her eyes narrowing with an amused smirk. "Reminds me of another pointless rivalry I know."

"Hey!" Natsu and Gray said at the same time, both glaring at her—before immediately turning to glare at each other.

"And no eyes? What good is this one? It can't even see!" Gwen scoffed, folding her arms.

She paused, noticing the marshmallow stick still in her hand. A sly grin tugged at her lips as she glanced at the hulking alien in front of her. Without a word, she slowly crept around behind Wildmutt, blowing on her hands as if to "warm up" her swing. She gripped the stick like a bat, winding up for a sneak attack.

But before she could bring it down, the gill-like slits on Wildmutt's neck flared open with a faint hiss. A sharp, rapid ping-ping-ping sound echoed through the guild hall—like some kind of living radar. Through this, Gwen's body lit up in Wildmutt's senses as a glowing red silhouette, every movement perfectly visible to him despite the darkness and her stealth.

Wildmutt smirked—at least, as much as a fang-filled muzzle could—and performed one explosive leap. He landed effortlessly atop the Rust Bucket with a thunk, leaving Gwen swinging at empty air. The sudden overextension made her lose balance entirely, spinning awkwardly before wiping out in the dirt.

Wildmutt peered over the edge of the RV roof, his head tilted and his toothy grin smug.

Gray leaned forward with interest. "Huh… so that's what you see as Wildmutt?"

Ben nodded from his seat. "Yep. I can't see normally—everything's just smell, heat, and movement in my head.

Natsu made a face. "That's freaky."

Macao gave an approving nod. "Freaky or not, that's some impressive agility for a beast that size."

"Okay… so maybe it's not a total loser," Gwen begrudgingly admitted, brushing dirt from her knees as Wildmutt hopped back down from the RV roof. The orange-furred alien landed right in front of her, jaw hanging open as a thick line of drool dripped onto the ground between them.

"Ew—two words: breath… mints," she quipped with a wrinkled nose.

Wildmutt let out a low growl, then casually scraped a paw through the dirt and flicked a spray of it right at her legs.

Several guild members burst out laughing.

"She did have that one coming," Gray chuckled.

Wildmutt then bolted off, leaping into the forest with a surprising combination of speed and fluid motion.

"Get back here! Ben!" Gwen shouted after him, pointing furiously at the treeline. "I'm gonna tell Grandpa that you turned into some freaky-animal-monster-thing and went swinging around the forest when he told you not to!"

She stopped mid-step, her own words catching up to her. "…Oh, this is a majorly weird day."

That got the wizards laughing again.

"I'm sure that was something she never expected to say," Levy giggled.

Wildmutt was swinging through the forest from tree to tree, his claws hooking into bark as he vaulted effortlessly between branches. He finally came to a crouched halt on a thick bough, panting quietly—when suddenly, the distinctive mechanical whirr of a scanner cut through the air. One of the smaller Mechadroids had locked onto him, its red optic pulsing.

Natsu leaned forward eagerly. "Oh-ho, here we go—fight time!"

"Beast versus machine," Gajeel grinned, clearly invested.

"Hope the tin can brought spare parts," Gray smirked.

Wildmutt's gills flared open, radar pinging sharply, and in the same instant he sprang aside—just as a laser scorched the branch he'd been crouching on. He bounded from trunk to trunk, each leap narrowly evading more sizzling blasts.

"Those are some fast reflexes," Mira noted with an impressed smile.

"Fast? That's instinct, not reflex," Macao corrected. "The kid's letting the alien do the work."

"Well…you're not exactly wrong." Ben confirmed.

The Mechadroid slowed, swiveling its head as its sensors swept the area. Unable to spot its prey, it whirred quietly and began to move on. The camera shifted to reveal Wildmutt crouched upside down on a branch behind the machine, tail-less silhouette tense like a spring.

Wildmutt began scaling higher into the tree canopy as the robot rolled into a clearing to resume scanning. In a flash of orange fur, the Vulpimancer lunged—landing squarely on the machine's back.

"Get it, Ben!" Natsu shouted, pumping a fist.

"Rip that hunk of junk apart!" Gajeel barked.

Lucy sighed. "Why do you two sound like you want more property damage?"

The Mechadroid spun wildly, trying to shake him off, its laser blasting indiscriminately and felling nearby trees. Wildmutt clamped his jaws down hard on the laser arm, his fangs sparking against metal, until with a metallic crunch—the entire weapon tore free.

"Nice!" Cana whooped. "Now it's just a bucket on parts."

"I suppose that's one way to disarm an enemy," Erza noted with approval.

The crippled droid suddenly veered into a mad flight pattern, banking through the forest and slamming sideways into a thick trunk. Wildmutt yelped as he was crushed briefly between machine and bark, before being dragged along as the Mechadroid plowed through low branches.

"That's gotta leave some splinters…" Gray muttered.

"Wildmutt's hide is pretty tough, so I didn't feel much." Ben clarified.

Finally, Wildmutt roared and tore the robot's head completely off, wires snapping and sparks flying. The headless body continued to lurch forward blindly, smashing into more trees.

"That thing's still going without a head?!" Lucy exclaimed.

To make matters worse, the Omnitrix on Wildmutt's chest began beeping in rapid succession.

"Uh-oh," Happy gulped.

"Worst time for his magic to run out," Droy muttered.

To make matters EVEN WORSE, the rogue Mechadroid was barreling straight toward the edge of a cliff. Wildmutt's radar-like senses picked up the drop-off instantly—his instincts screaming danger. If he timed out here, reverting back into human form mid-air, there'd be no way he'd survive the collision.

Levy gasped. "If he turns back now—"

"He's toast," Happy finished grimly.

"Happy, I'm right here." Ben reminded.

At the very last moment, Wildmutt pushed off with all fours, soaring away from the cliff as the Mechadroid shot straight past the edge. The machine plummeted, slamming into the rocks below with a thunderous explosion that sent smoke curling into the sky.

"Whew! That was close," Wendy exhaled.

Wildmutt's leap ended in a cushioned crash into a thick pile of leaves. The moment he landed, the Omnitrix on his chest flashed red—and in a burst of light, the alien vanished, replaced by a slightly dazed but grinning Ben Tennyson. He looked over at the smoking cliffside and threw his fists up in triumph. "Yes!"

"Kid's still got that rookie victory cheer," Macao chuckled.

"Yeah, but it's earned," Mira said warmly.

His celebration didn't last long. A shadow fell over him, and Ben's eyes widened to see another Mechadroid hovering ominously above, its optic glowing a dangerous crimson.

"Oh, not good…" he muttered, taking a nervous step back.

Juvia tensed, hands clasped in worry. "Oh no. Ben, you're defenseless now."

"He'll have to dodge and run—" Erza began, before gasping as the next moment unfolded.

Before the Mechadroid could fire, Gwen burst into view, swinging a shovel like a warhammer. CLANG! The machine reeled as she struck it square in the optic. "Ugh! Back off, Sparky! No flying tree-trimmer is going to hurt my cousin!" she shouted. Without hesitation, she drove the shovel down again and again, each metallic thud echoing in the forest.

The guild roared with mixed surprise and delight.

"Whoa! Didn't know she had that in her," Natsu grinned.

Cana smirked, lifting her mug. "Told you—mini-Erza."

Erza gave an approving nod. "She has spirit."

Ben blinked up at her, still catching his breath. "Never thought I'd say this, but… am I glad to see you." The Mechadroid sparked violently, smoke and energy crackling from its dented shell.

The two bolted just as the machine went up in a fiery burst.

The trio of Tennysons were gathered inside the Rust Bucket. "I was worried that you might get popular with that thing on your wrist. That's why I asked you not to fool around with it until we know what the heck it is," Max said firmly, his eyes locked on his grandson.

Jet leaned back in his seat. "Eh, to be fair, him messing with it is what saved both their hides from those drones."

"Yeah, without Wildmutt, they'd be toast," Droy agreed.

"Sorry, Grandpa…" Ben mumbled. Then his face lit back up as the thought hit him. "But at least I figured out how to make it work! All you do is press this button—" He gestured animatedly to the Omnitrix. "—then, when the ring pops up, just twist it until you see the guy you wanna be. Slam it down, and bammo! You're one of ten super-cool alien dudes!"

Across the table, Gwen folded her arms, unimpressed. "What about staying a super-cool alien dude and not turning back into plain old pizza-face?" she said sharply.

That jab knocked the grin right off Ben's face. "I… kinda haven't figured that part out yet," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

Gray tilted his head, glancing at Ben. "But you can stay as an alien for as long as you want now, right?"

"Yeah," Ben nodded. "The Omnitrix is a lot more flexible these days."

Gajeel smirked. "So why not stay alien all the time? Seems like a no-brainer."

Ben froze, clearly considering it—but then recalled meeting an alternate version of his adult self and what would happen if he went down that path.

Boy. His friends were in for a big surprise if this spell showed them that memory!

"While I do enjoy being an alien," he said slowly, "being 'Ben' is just as important. It's who I am. The aliens are part of me… but they're not all of me."

Juvia gave a warm smile. "Juvia agrees. While she loves Water Hazard, she wouldn't want Ben to be stuck as him all the time."

Ben's cheeks flushed at that, and he quickly looked down at the table. "Uh… t-thanks."

"With a device as powerful as that watch clamped on you, my guess is we better help you learn—fast," Max declared, his voice carrying the weight of both urgency and determination.

"All right!" Ben cheered, practically bouncing in his seat.

Before anyone could say more, a burst of static crackled through the Rust Bucket's CB radio. "Mayday! Mayday! Somebody help us! We're under attack by some sort of— I know you're not going to believe me, but… robot!" The Forest Ranger's frantic voice filled the air.

Wendy stiffened. "The big one's still out there…"

"Yeah, but why's it attacking other people if all it wanted was the Omnitrix?" Levy frowned.

"Maybe it's just clearing the area of witnesses," Freed suggested grimly.

Inside the RV, Ben's expression hardened. "Sounds just like those things that attacked me. Must be looking for the watch. Those people are in trouble because of me! I think I can help them."

"Er, you? What are you gonna do about it, Tennyson?" Gwen shot back, skeptical as ever.

Ben looked down at the glowing Omnitrix on his wrist with a smile. The determination in his eyes left no room for argument.

"He's got the right idea," Natsu grinned. "Go kick that machine's butt!"

The scene transitioned to the Tennyson trio sprinting through the woods. The Omnitrix beeped and lit up in standby. Ben glanced at Max, who gave him a single, steady nod.

Ben grinned at the unspoken go-ahead. "Yeah," he muttered, excitement building as he primed the dial. "Eenie, meenie, miney…" His fingers spun past the glowing silhouettes—one a ghostly wisp, another an insectoid shape—until he stopped on a tall, spiky humanoid form.

"Here goes!" He slammed the dial down.

The world shifted to the swirling green-and-black void, and bluish-green crystal erupted from the Omnitrix, racing up his arm. The alien mineral overtook his limb and then the rest of his body like armor being forged in real time. Thick, jagged plating locked into place, encasing him from head to toe until only his single, glowing yellow eye shone through. Spikes jutted from his back, refracting the faint light like shards of glass.

Macao's brows rose. "Diamondhead, huh?"

"Eh, I would've gone Four Arms." Elfman said.

"Looks a bit different here though," Jet noted.

Ben nodded. "My aliens sometimes get new outfits as time passes."

"So what can this guy do?" Gwen asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"I don't know," the crystal warrior admitted, his deep new voice echoing slightly with each word, crystals clinking together as he moved. "But I bet it's gonna be cool." He flexed his massive hand, the facets catching the light, then clenched it into a solid, unyielding fist.

"Not wrong there," Gajeel grudgingly agreed, recalling how thoroughly Diamondhead beat him in their last spar.

The Tennyson trio burst out of the trees and into chaos. The campsite was already half-ruined—an enormous Mechadroid stomped through rows of RVs, firing red lasers that seared through the metal like tissue paper. Explosions lit the night sky while campers screamed and scattered in terror, some barely dodging the collapsing wreckage.

The Fairy Tail guild winced collectively at the sight.

"Those poor people!" Wendy cried.

"Damn tin can doesn't care who it hurts," Gajeel growled, steel teeth glinting.

"Of course it doesn't—it's after the Omnitrix," Levy said grimly.

Diamondhead stepped forward, the crystalline plates on his shoulders clinking as he moved. His glowing yellow eyes narrowed. "Looks like papa-robot this time." He glanced back at Max, his deep voice steady despite the chaos. "I'll get Gearhead's attention. You guys get the campers to safety."

Max clapped Gwen's shoulder and motioned for her to follow. The two immediately sprinted toward the panicked campers, waving and shouting for them to move away from the fight.

The audience murmured approvingly.

"Smart move—divide the job, keep the civilians safe," Erza noted.

"Guess even back then Ben wasn't half-bad at making plans," Gray admitted with a smirk.

Meanwhile, the Mechadroid stomped forward, its glowing eyes scanning for targets. Families ducked and ran, dragging children, while the machine's shadow loomed across the flames of burning RVs. Then, its gaze locked on movement—a park ranger rushing toward a woman who had tripped and fallen.

He reached her, grabbing her arm to help her stand. But the act of bravery drew the robot's focus. The Mechadroid's claw shot out, seizing the ranger around the torso like a ragdoll. The ranger screamed as the machine lifted him effortlessly into the air.

The guild audience tensed.

"Not good!" Happy yelped.

"Let me at it—" Natsu half-rose from his seat, fire sparking between his teeth.

Gray yanked him back down by the collar. "Sit down, flame-brain. This is a recording of the past."

Lucy nodded, arms crossed. "In another universe, I might add."

"Meaning none of us could do anything anyway," Gray finished with a shrug.

Natsu slumped back, fists clenched. "Tch. Doesn't make it easier to watch."

Levy leaned forward, frowning. "Why's it going after random people, though? It's not like they have the Omnitrix."

Ben crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Probably searching. If it doesn't know who has the Omnitrix, it's scanning anyone it thinks might be carrying it."

On-screen, Diamondhead stood firm, hands on his crystalline hips. His yellow eye glared at the towering machine. "Leave him alone!" he barked, his voice like stone grinding together. He stepped forward, defiant. "You want somebody to pick on? Try me!"

The Mechadroid's sensors locked onto him, identifying the Omnitrix's signal embedded in his chest. Its grip loosened instantly, dropping the ranger to the ground before turning its full attention to the crystalline alien.

The robot's chest lit with power, and in the blink of an eye, a searing red laser blasted across the clearing. It struck Diamondhead dead-on, hurling him backward like a meteor. He slammed through the side of a parked RV, the structure collapsing in on itself—then the Mechadroid finished the job, a second blast vaporizing the vehicle into a fireball.

The audience cried out in unison.

"BEN!" Wendy and Juvia both yelled.

They just—blew him up!" Happy squeaked.

"That's it?" Droy asked, scowling. "The kid's already toast?"

"He's fine." Gajeel said, unworried. "Just keep watching."

Ben calmly lifted a finger. "Notice something. The second it scanned me, it stopped going after anyone else. From then on, I was the only target."

"That makes sense," Erza admitted, nodding. "Its orders must have been to secure the Omnitrix, not mindless slaughter."

Back on screen, smoke and fire billowed where the RV had been. For a moment, it looked as though the boy-hero was finished, crushed and buried beneath the wreckage. The Mechadroid's optics scanned the flames, searching for confirmation.

Then—a sharp crack. A glimmer of light split the rubble. With a screech of rending metal, a diamond-like spike pierced up through the wreckage, slicing forward with unstoppable force.

The crystalline alien shoved his way free, his body gleaming in the firelight. His right arm was no longer a hand but a jagged blade of pure diamond. He raised it, marveling as the edges glistened. Then, with a flex of his will, several crystal spikes erupted outward from his forearm.

"Cool…" Diamondhead rumbled, his deep voice filled with awe at his own power.

The guild reacted instantly.

"See what I mean." Gajeel crossed his arms. "Kid's just fine."

"That's—actually awesome," Lucy admitted, eyes wide.

"Okay, now we're talking!" Natsu shouted, his grin returning.

Juvia clasped her hands together, dreamy-eyed. "Water Hazard may be wonderful, but Diamondhead is very handsome too…"

Ben turned red at that, scratching his cheek sheepishly. "Yeah, uh… thanks, Juvia."

Gray tilted his head. "Wait—don't you already know how to use Diamondhead?"

"Not back then," Ben explained, shrugging. "When I first got the Omnitrix, I had no idea what I was doing. Every alien form was trial by fire. I had to learn through experience."

Makarov chuckled, stroking his beard. "That's not unlike when a wizard first discovers their magic. It takes time, patience, and practice to master it."

Cana smirked, lifting her drink. "Still… having to fight a killer machine right out of the gate? That's one way to learn on the fly."

Natsu grinned wide. "That's the best way to learn!"

"Only you would think that," Lucy muttered.

On-screen, the towering Mechadroid began stomping forward, its sensors glowing as they locked onto Diamondhead's crystalline frame. The alien's yellow eye glowed back with determination.

Diamondhead rushed forward, crystalline feet digging trenches in the dirt. He swung his arm-blade in a powerful arc, aiming to cleave the machine's chest in two.

But the Mechadroid reacted with surprising speed. Its three legs rotated rapidly like a spinning wheel, propelling it into the air. It flipped over the slash and came crashing back down, slamming Diamondhead into the ground with bone-rattling force. The impact sent dirt and debris exploding outward, leaving both combatants at the bottom of a crater.

Pinned beneath the mech's crushing weight, Diamondhead groaned, crystal plates grinding under pressure. He winced up at the massive machine pressing him down. "Uh-oh… think I'm in trouble."

The Fairy Tail guild collectively winced.

"His inexperience is showing," Erza observed, arms folded. "Charging in without a plan is reckless."

"To be fair, Ben is still a kid at this point." Juvia defended. "We should cut him some slack."

Ben sighed, rubbing his temple. "Erza's not wrong though. I had power but no idea how to actually use it yet. That got me into a lot of jams."

As the fight played out, Max and Gwen managed to pull the park ranger to his feet. "What is going on here?" the official demanded, eyes wide as he tried to block out the chaos of screaming campers and burning RVs around them.

"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you," Gwen said quickly, tugging on his arm. "Now come on!" She and Max took off through the smoke.

The ranger hesitated, still processing the insanity unfolding before his eyes.

In the guild hall, a few members chuckled nervously.

"Honestly, I'd be just as frozen as him," Levy admitted. "Robots, crystals, laser fire—who could make sense of that?"

"Still better to move first, ask questions later," Erza said firmly.

Back on-screen, the Mechadroid released its crushing hold on Diamondhead, only to snatch him back up like a toy. With terrifying strength, it hurled the alien across the campsite. Diamondhead's body slammed into the ranger's truck with an earsplitting crash, the force shaking the ground.

The park official yelped, diving out of the way just in time as the crystalline hero shattered the windshield and caved in the roof. Dust and glass rained down around him.

At that, the ranger finally dropped any pretense of bravery. He turned on his heel and bolted for his life, weaving past fleeing campers.

"YES, finally! Get the hell out of the way already, moron!" Gajeel roared, throwing up his hands in exasperation.

The crystalline hero clawed his way out of the rubble, shaking glass and splinters from his shoulders. His eyes locked onto the Mechadroid as it fired another laser. He dove aside just in time, shards of crystal scraping against dirt. Another shot followed, cutting off his path, then another, boxing him in.

Diamondhead ducked under one more blast—this one striking a nearby tree with a crack of thunder. The massive trunk groaned, snapped, and toppled, its shadow falling directly over Gwen. She froze in shock, wide eyes glued to the looming weight about to crush her.

"Gwen!" several guild members cried in alarm.

At the last instant, a sharp diamond spike burst outward, cleaving the tree in two with a sound like shattered glass. The trunk split cleanly and crashed harmlessly to either side, leaving Gwen untouched. Standing before her was Diamondhead, his crystalline back bristling with receding spikes.

"So, we even?" he asked, his deep, reverberating voice carrying just enough smugness to sound like Ben.

"Even," Gwen said, relief washing over her as she gave him a quick nod.

The Fairy Tail hall exhaled as one.

"Phew, that was too close," Lucy said, pressing a hand to her chest.

"See? They bicker all the time, but deep down, they care," Cana remarked with a grin.

Ben smiled faintly. "Yeah. Gwen and I had our share of arguments—still do, honestly—but she's family. When it matters, we'll always have each other's backs."

"Aye," Happy agreed, tail flicking. "Family's like that."

At that, the guild broke into murmurs of agreement.

"That's the Fairy Tail way too," Makarov rumbled proudly.

The tender exchange barely lasted a heartbeat before the Mechadroid's claw shot forward, clamping around Diamondhead's crystalline body. "Uh-oh!" the hero yelped, squirming as the machine effortlessly lifted him into the air. Its other arm clamped onto his left forearm—right where the Omnitrix would've been on human Ben—and began to pull.

The guild tensed.

"It's trying to rip his arm clean off!" Levy gasped.

"Or rip the Omnitrix out with it…" Erza said grimly.

Onscreen, Diamondhead grit his teeth, straining against the robot's grip. Recalling what this form could do, his trapped arm suddenly shifted, facets elongating into jagged spikes that exploded outward.

"'Bout time he remembered to do that," Gajeel scoffed, arms crossed.

But the robot was quick to retaliate. Using the palm of the now damaged hand holding Diamondhead, it fired a point-blank blast into his chest. The crystal hero was hurled across the battlefield, smashing through the corner of a building in an eruption of rubble and dust.

"Ben!" Max called out to him, his face stricken with fear.

Dust and rubble shifted. Slowly, Diamondhead rose from the wreckage, clutching his arm before lifting both crystalline forearms into a defensive stance. The Mechadroid advanced, its cannon glowing again.

The next beam fired—and Diamondhead braced himself. His diamond arms caught the laser, refracting it outward like a prism. Beams split off in wild directions, scorching across the campsite, narrowly missing Gwen, Max, and the fleeing campers.

"Whoa—!" Lucy yelped, flinching back as if the beams were coming at her too.

"Wait…" Levy leaned forward, eyes bright. "Those refractions—his crystals bend the laser's energy. If he can angle it right, he could send the attack back at the robot!"

"Yeah, if he doesn't accidentally barbecue his family first," Gray muttered, watching Gwen dive for cover.

"C'mon…You can do it," Wendy quietly rooted for young Ben.

Ben smirked knowingly, arms crossed.

Onscreen, Diamondhead slammed to the ground, panting—but his eyes narrowed with sudden determination. An idea clicked.

He staggered up to his feet and shouted at the towering mech, pounding a crystalline fist to his chest. "C'mon! Burn one in here!" he taunted, pointing to his torso like a dare.

"Get out of there, Ben! Run!" Max pleaded desperately from the sidelines.

But the Mechadroid, taking the bait, leveled its cannon and fired.

Diamondhead raised his palms, diamond facets shimmering. The beam struck—and though it pushed him back at first, he planted his feet, steadied himself, and angled his arms just right.

The laser refracted sharply, sweeping like a blade of light.

Erza's eyes widened. "Levy was right—he's turning the machine's strength against itself."

Wendy clasped her hands at her chest, whispering, "Please work…"

"'What comes around, goes around!'" Diamondhead roared. "Let's see how you like it, ya techno-freak!"

The beam reflected back across the Mechadroid's torso, cleaving it in two. Its upper half shrieked in sparks before detonating, while the lower half collapsed backward, crashing into the dirt in a heap of fire and smoke.

"All right!" Gwen and Max shouted together, relief breaking across their faces.

The guild erupted with cheers, fists slamming tables.

"Nice one, Ben!" Natsu hollered, pumping his fist.

"Brilliant use of the environment," Erza praised with a small, approving smile.

Juvia sighed dreamily, hands clasped beneath her chin. "Juvia never lost faith in Ben's strength…"

"Backed into a corner and still finds a way to win…" Mirajane smiled softly. "Sometimes you don't know what you're capable of until you're forced to act."

"Eh, he was alright." Gajeel shrugged, glancing away.

Ben chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, that was one of those… 'wing it and hope it works' moments. I didn't even know I could do that until it happened."

"Instinct unlocked in the heat of battle," Makarov nodded sagely. "It's the same with many of our young mages. Desperation can draw out hidden potential."

"Way to go, Be—" Max started to congratulate his grandson, but then froze as dozens of eyes from the saved campers turned toward him. He cleared his throat, shifting quickly. "…Uh—Diamond-headed guy!" he corrected, forcing an awkward smile.

Levy chuckled. "Ah… so that's when he got the name."

"Not exactly creative," Cana teased, smirking into her drink. "But it sticks."

Onscreen, Diamondhead threw his crystalline arms up in victory, jumping around like he'd just scored the winning point in soccer. "Oh yeah! Who's bad?! YEAH!" he shouted, voice cracking with excitement.

Max and Gwen frantically waved at him, trying to signal be subtle, Ben! But when the alien boy finally noticed the crowd.

The guild burst out laughing.

"Bwahaha!" Natsu doubled over. "He's still a total kid in there!"

Gray snorted. "Some hero pose… Looks more like a dork celebrating recess."

Even Erza cracked the faintest smile. "At least his spirit remains unbroken. That counts for something."

Ben slumped in his chair, red in the face but grinning anyway. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I was ten, okay?"

Onscreen, Diamondhead puffed his chest out, trying to restore some dignity after his goofy celebration. He cleared his throat, voice dropping into a deeper, "cool" register. "Well, I… think my work here is done." With a dramatic turn, he strode off, quickly breaking into an awkward jog to escape the staring campers.

"Who was that guy?" one camper whispered.

Another shrugged. The group exchanged confused looks while, a short distance away, Gwen and Max tiptoed out of sight, trying their best not to draw more attention.

That got a round of laughter from the guild.

"Yep," Cana smirked, raising her mug. "That's classic Fairy Tail. Show up, smash the bad guy, then skip out before the clean-up crew arrives."

"Sounds like Ben was Fairy Tail material even when he was young." Mirajane giggled.

The hall erupted with knowing chuckles and nods.

Ben raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Uh-huh. Pretty rich coming from this guild. If I remember right, I'm usually the one stuck cleaning up your messes." His gaze slid pointedly to Natsu and Gray.

The fire and ice wizards both bristled immediately.

"Oi! Don't pin that all on me!" Natsu barked.

"You're the one who burns down half the street before the fight's even started!" Gray shot back.

"Better than walking around town naked, ice-block!"

"WHAT WAS THAT?!"

As their shouting match broke out again, the rest of the guild roared with laughter, leaving Ben to sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose.

Back in the cold black of space, the massive warship drifted, its scarred hull lit by the sparks of repair drones crawling across it like ants tending a wounded beast. Inside, the command chamber pulsed with an ominous red glow.

On his throne, the tyrant seethed. Metallic limbs creaked as he shifted, his mutilated body a living testament to his battles. His single glaring eye glowed with fury, mandibles grinding.

"Failure?!" Vilgax's voice thundered, shaking the chamber. "Unbelievable! That puny Earth being—the one keeping the Omnitrix from me—" He leaned forward, every syllable laced with venom. "—will soon hang on my trophy wall."

Several shivered almost in unison.

Levy frowned. "Even injured… he still feels terrifying."

"Yeah," Elfman muttered, his jaw tight. "That's a real man's killing intent… no mercy in it."

"If you can even call that a man…" Jet pointed out.

Juvia pressed her hands together nervously. "Juvia can feel his menace from just the screen…"

Even Natsu's trademark grin flickered for a moment before he shook it off, flames sparking back to life. "Heh, I could take him."

Gray snorted, folding his arms. "Yeah, sure. He's half-mangled and stuck in a fish tank—Happy could take him."

"I meant at full strength, ice-for-brains!" Natsu shot back, baring his teeth in challenge.

Ben opened his mouth, ready to jump in—but closed it just as quickly. He let the argument slide, knowing from experience that words wouldn't do Vilgax justice. The memories of those battles were proof enough.

The scene shifted to the next morning at the Rust Bucket campsite. Gwen and Max were finishing up packing their things when Max glanced around. "Where's Ben?"

"I haven't seen him since breakfast," Gwen replied, adjusting her bag.

Before Max could call out, a thunderous sonic boom cracked across the woods. The source arrived in a blur, dust whipping around the campsite as a sleek, raptor-like creature skidded to a stop. Blue skin shimmered under the morning sun, black stripes rippled down its tail, spikes jutted from its elbows, and spheres served as uncanny feet. A long, cone-shaped spike crowned its head, while a visor masked its face.

"XLR8!" Jet lit up immediately, grinning ear-to-ear. "Now that's my favorite!"

"Even though he's way faster than you?" Droy teased.

Jet deflated slightly. "Shut up…"

"Ben?" Max asked in surprise.

The visor lifted, revealing the striped face and solid green eyes beneath. "Yep. Hey, check this out!" Ben grinned, and in an instant he blurred into a whirlwind. Within seconds the camp was broken down and all the baggage neatly packed away.

He zipped back into place, dusting off his claws proudly. "Pretty fast, huh?"

Before Gwen or Max could answer, the Omnitrix timed out, flashing red as the alien shrank back into human Ben.

"I think this is gonna be the best summer ever," he declared, whipping dust off his shirt.

"Absolutely," Max agreed warmly, smiling at his grandson.

"It's definitely going to be interesting," Gwen added, folding her arms. "So, where'd you go anyway?"

"Just had to take care of a couple of things before our vacation really got rolling," Ben said, trying for nonchalance, though the smug little smirk gave him away.

"What could he possibly mean by that?" Levy mused, tapping her chin. "With that speed, he could've gone anywhere in minutes."

"Or swiped every bakery's morning batch of bread," Gray muttered dryly.

"Oi! Don't give him ideas!" Natsu barked, though his grin betrayed he'd probably do the same.

Ben folded his arms, smirking knowingly. "You'll see. Let's just say ten-year-old me had… priorities."

On the streets of Bellwood, two familiar boys dangled awkwardly from a tree branch, their underwear hooked tight over the bark. Cash groaned, squirming uselessly. "Dude. How'd we get up here?"

JT rubbed his head, just as dazed. "Uh… I'm not sure. It all happened so fast."

Cash flailed his arms toward the road, spotting a passing car. "Hey! Somebody? Anybody? Little help up here, please!"

The guild hall burst into laughter.

"Classic!" Natsu slapped his knee.

"Poetic justice," Erza noted with a faint smile.

"Indeed," Juvia stifled a laugh. "Bullies always reap what they sow."

Happy was rolling in the air, cackling. "Hung out to dry! Literally!"

Even Wendy covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

Ben smirked, leaning back in his chair with a faint gleam in his eye. "Can't lie… I enjoyed that one. Just a little."

"Only a little?" Cana teased, raising a brow.

Ben chuckled under his breath but said nothing more.

The screen faded to black. A moment later, glowing runes shimmered across the air above the monitors:

"INTERMISSION — 15 minutes until the next episode begins."

At once the guild hall filled with a lively hum. Chairs scraped against the floor as people stretched, wings of chatter and laughter spilling through the room. A few mages went to refill mugs, others raided trays of snacks, while some simply stayed seated, buzzing with energy from what they'd just seen.

"Man," Elfman whistled, leaning back in his chair, "handling yourself like that at ten years old? That's a real man's courage."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Thanks… though at the time I was mostly just winging it."

"Aye!" Happy chirped, fluttering in the air. "But you still kicked butt! Like a real hero."

That sent Natsu into a cackle, nearly falling off his seat as he jabbed Gray with an elbow. "Oi, giving those two dorks wedgies was great!"

Gray snorted. "Yeah! Comedic gold and karma. So, did you always handle bullies like that, Ben?"

Ben chuckled but shook his head. "Not really. I usually just let it go now. Last thing I want is to stoop to their level. But that day…I just couldn't resist."

Natsu pouted. "So no fireballs to the face?"

"Too extreme. Most people in world aren't as durable as people here, Natsu." Ben reminded.

Erza tilted her head thoughtfully. "One thing caught my attention. Why keep your identity a secret? You were saving lives."

Ben's expression sobered. "Because if everyone knew it was me under the mask so to speak—or worse, a kid with this on my wrist—" he tapped the Omnitrix, "then the wrong people would know, too. And they'd come after me… and my family."

The room quieted a beat at that, guild members exchanging glances. Lucy bit her lip. "That's… heavy. You were just a kid."

"Yeah," Ben muttered. "Didn't stop people from trying."

Wendy, perched beside him, hesitantly nudged. "Um… how long did you have to wait until you actually fought that Vilgax person? He looked really injured in that tank."

Ben leaned back, exhaling slowly. "A little over a month. But when he showed up…" He shook his head. "You'll see. He's the kind of powerhouse you don't forget. And the worst part? He only got stronger as the years went on."

Even Natsu's grin faded slightly at the weight in Ben's tone.

Gray broke the silence with a scoff, arms folded. "Tch. Doesn't matter. You handled him once, you'll handle him again."

Ben smirked faintly, but his eyes flicked to the screen. "You'll see soon enough what I was up against."

Lucy tilted her head thoughtfully, her eyes flicking toward Ben. "What about you and Gwen? If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you and her get along much when you were kids?"

Wendy nodded. "Y-Yeah. You bickered a lot in those clips, but… you said you get along well now."

Ben exhaled slowly, resting his arms across the table. "Fair question." He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes thoughtful as old memories came back. "Thing is… Gwen's always been the smart one. A real prodigy. Top of her class, could quote stuff she read once like it was nothing. Me? I struggled to keep up in school. Honestly, half the time, I felt like I was two steps behind everybody else."

Although a lot of that was 'cause of my own lack of effort. Ben inwardly added.

Levy perked up at that, listening closely.

Ben gave a small shrug. "My parents… well, they didn't mean any harm, but they'd always say, 'Ben, why can't you apply yourself like Gwen?' And after a while… that gets under your skin, y'know?"

Juvia frowned. "Sounds like they were comparing you two all the time."

"Exactly." Ben gave a wry chuckle. "Didn't help that Gwen and I share the same birthday. Every year it was a joint party, which meant we both had to compromise. She wanted her kind of fun—brainy games, puzzle stuff—while I just wanted to do kid stuff, mess around, blow off steam. We never saw eye to eye, and it turned into constant friction."

Gray leaned back, smirking faintly. "So basically, two kids forced to share the spotlight who couldn't be more different. Figures."

Ben pointed at him. "Bingo." He sighed, softer now. "I guess… looking back, I resented her a little. But the truth is, she pushed me to be better in her own way. Even if, at the time, I didn't want to admit it."

Lucy's expression softened. "And now?"

Ben smiled faintly, a mix of pride and humility in his tone. "Now I know she's one of the reasons I didn't screw up worse than I did. Annoying or not, Gwen's always been family. And no matter how much we argued… we had each other's backs when it really counted."

Wendy beamed at that, visibly relieved. "That's really sweet."

"Sweet, huh?" Cana teased, raising her drink with a grin. "Sounds more like you were a stubborn little punk who couldn't handle sharing cake."

Ben rolled his eyes, but a small laugh escaped him all the same.

The lively chatter in the guild hall gradually slowed as the glowing runes overhead shimmered once more. The letters twisted, reshaping themselves until a clear message hung in the air for all to see:

"INTERMISSION COMPLETE — PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS. The next episode will commence shortly."

The room quieted as mages shuffled back into their places, mugs and snacks set down.

The runes pulsed again, brighter this time, before the words shifted:

"Episode 2: Washington B.C."