Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sunlight seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Ben stirred, his eyes blinking open as he stretched in his simple grey t-shirt and black pajama pants. A yawn escaped him—only to pause when he felt a small weight pressed against his side.

Glancing down, he smiled at the sight of Wendy curled up beside him, her soft breathing still even in sleep. For a moment, he simply watched her, a faint warmth in his chest at how peaceful she looked.

Carefully, he tried to slip away without waking her, but her eyes fluttered open. "Wait… don't go…" she mumbled, voice still heavy with sleep as she clung to him tighter.

Ben hesitated, then gave a small, reassuring smile. "…I won't," he said softly.

They stayed like that for a few quiet seconds, the morning stillness wrapping around them.

A little later, Wendy stretched with a tiny yawn, the sleeves of her baby-blue pajamas sliding down her arms.

"Another nightmare?" Ben asked gently, now sitting at the edge of the bed.

She lowered her gaze, shoulders slumping. "Y-yeah… I-I'm sorry. I just… I was scared and—"

"Hey." Ben's voice cut in, calm but firm. "You don't need to apologize for that." He stood, brushing a hand through his messy hair. "How about I make us some pancakes?"

Her head lifted at that. "Really? Is… is that okay? I don't wanna be a bur—"

"Don't finish that sentence, Wendy," Ben said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

After a pause, she gave a small smile. "…Okay."

"Good. Now go get cleaned up. Breakfast'll be ready soon."

Wendy's smile grew brighter, and for the first time that morning, Ben felt the heaviness in her eyes begin to lift.

The scene shifted to the kitchen, where morning light spilled through a wide window overlooking Lake Sciliora. The sun's first rays shimmered on the water, casting the room in a warm, golden glow.

A sudden whoosh broke the stillness. In a streak of blue, Fasttrack zipped from counter to stove, whisking pancake batter, flipping strips of bacon, and pan-frying tuna in rapid succession. The air filled with the mingled scents of blueberries, sizzling meat, various fruits blending in a custom-made mixer—plus the metallic tang of iron as a skillet full of scrap shavings heated on the side.

At the small breakfast table, Carla sat primly atop a stack of books to match the chair's height. Her paws rested neatly on the edge as she read from a thick volume. Glancing up, she watched the blue blur dart from one task to another.

"…Do you really need to transform just to make breakfast?" she asked dryly.

Fasttrack grinned over his shoulder without missing a beat on the pancakes. "Need to? No. But why wouldn't I take the most efficient route?" In another blur, he was at the table, placing a plate of tuna in front of her alongside a glass of orange juice. "Besides, you get your food faster this way."

Carla's ears twitched as she closed her book. "Thank you." She paused, her expression softening into quiet concern. "…So. Wendy snuck into your room again?" she asked, voice lowered.

Fasttrack nodded, flipping the pancakes in a blur so quick the spatula was just a streak. "Yeah. Another nightmare. Same as before."

Carla's tail flicked thoughtfully. "I'm still not sure how to help her move past them."

"It's not something that happens overnight," Fasttrack replied, his tone calm but firm. "She's been through a lot. You both have. We just… take it one day at a time."

The last pancake landed on a plate, and he turned back toward them. "Wendy! Breakfast is ready!"

Her voice floated in from the hallway. "Coming!"

A door creaked open at the far end of the room—the one leading to the basement. Gajeel emerged, stretching with a loud yawn, his hair as wild as ever. "I smell bacon… and iron."

Fasttrack zipped over and set a plate down in front of him—a mountain of bacon alongside a generous helping of heated iron shavings. "Bon appétit, dude."

"Don't mind if I do," Gajeel said, dropping into a chair and immediately digging in with loud crunches and satisfied grunts.

Carla wrinkled her nose. "Do you have to eat like a complete savage?"

"Mmh—yep," Gajeel replied around a mouthful, unbothered.

Carla's eyes twitched. Why must the men in this guild be so brutish?

A moment later, Wendy padded into the kitchen, wearing an orange knee-length dress with a white horizontal stripe at the hem. Her blue hair was tied neatly into twin pigtails, the style giving her a brighter, more energetic look despite the faint tiredness still lingering in her eyes.

She slid into the seat across from Carla, smiling when Fasttrack zipped over to set a plate of fluffy blueberry pancakes in front of her, along with syrup and a glass of milk.

"Hope you enjoy."

"Thanks, Ben!" Wendy said brightly, already reaching for her fork.

Carla offered a polite nod. "Thank you."

Wendy took her first bite, eyes widening at the burst of blueberry sweetness. "Mmm! These are amazing!" she said after swallowing.

Carla's gaze shifted toward the other end of the table. "You should at least thank him for taking the time to cook," she said pointedly to Gajeel.

"Hmm?" Gajeel paused mid-chew, a mouthful of iron still clinking between his teeth. Swallowing with a metallic crunch, he glanced at Fasttrack. "Right… uh, thanks. So… what do you even call this guy?"

"Fasttrack," the alien replied, striking a mock-heroic pose. "One of my speedy forms."

Gajeel raised a brow. "And what makes him any different from XLR8?"

With a mental command, Ben transformed back to human form in a flash of green light, dressed in black shoes, blue pants, and form-fitting black shirt that showed off his developing, muscular figure.

"Not as fast as XLR8, but perfect for jobs where I don't need to break the sound barrier." He turned toward the counter, pouring himself a smoothie into a tall glass.

"Eh," Gajeel shrugged, "just seems like a lazy copy to me."

"Since you mentioned jobs…" Carla said, her tone shifting as she looked at Wendy. "When we get to the guild, you really should consider taking another request today."

Wendy nodded. "Yeah, I was planning to."

Setting his glass down, Ben leaned against the counter, arms folded. "Her last one was just a small gig collecting litter around Magnolia."

Carla's tone sharpened slightly. "With your abilities as a Sky Dragon Slayer, you could be more ambitious."

"I'm trying, okay?" Wendy huffed, puffing out her cheeks.

Gajeel paused mid-bite, glancing at her. "You wanna be useful, kid? Pick a job that makes you sweat, not one that feels like running errands for your neighbor."

"He's not wrong," Ben added with a smile. "Tell you what—when we get to the guild, let's see if we can find you something a little more challenging. Something that'll push you without throwing you into the deep end."

Wendy's fork paused halfway to her mouth. "Really?"

"Really." His grin widened. "I can even tag along too. I'll only help if you absolutely need it. It'll be your mission."

Wendy's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That does sound great. I mean…if you're sure I can handle it."

"I'm sure," Ben said with an easy shrug. "You've got the skills. Now you just need the field time."

Carla dabbed her mouth with a napkin before speaking. "As long as the mission pays reasonably well and actually develops her abilities, I have no objection." She leveled a look at Wendy. "That means no wasting time on errands that anyone in Magnolia could manage."

"I know, I know," Wendy said with a sheepish smile. "I'll pick something that really counts."

Ben chuckled. "Sounds like we're all on the same page then. Finish up your breakfast—we've got a guild board to raid."

Wendy nodded enthusiastically and returned to her pancakes, eating a little faster now that the day's plan had taken shape.

The morning air was cool and crisp as Ben, Wendy, and Gajeel made their way from the house. Carla floated alongside them, her angelic-like wings carrying her in an easy glide.

Behind them, Ben's white and green-roofed, single-story brick ranch sat perched on the cliff edge, overlooking the shimmering expanse of the lake. The early light turned the water gold, and the faint call of birds echoed across the clearing.

Ben led the way down the dirt path that cut through the short grass in front of the house, his black shoes kicking up the occasional puff of dust. He wore his usual blue pants and form-fitting black shirt beneath a light-green loose jacket trimmed in white—its back emblazoned with a bold white circle outlined in black, the number 10 stamped squarely in the center.

The path narrowed as they reached the tree line, the canopy overhead filtering the light into dappled patterns across the ground.

"I still can't get over the fact that you're a Dragon Slayer too, Mister Gajeel," Wendy said to Gajeel, her tone full of wonder. "And that you eat iron. Fairy Tail really is amazing… having two Dragon Slayers in the same guild."

"Three now," Ben corrected with a smirk, glancing over his shoulder at her.

Gajeel snorted. "Still can't believe you eat air of all things, kid. You got no excuse to ever run low on magic."

Ben opened his mouth to reply, but Gajeel's expression shifted. His nostrils flared slightly as he caught a scent on the breeze—one that made his brow furrow in mild recognition.

"Something wrong?" Ben asked.

"Nah. It's nothing." Gajeel played off.

Wendy's nose twitched too. She tilted her head toward a stand of trees just off the path. "Miss Juvia? Is that you?"

"Eep!" came the squeak from behind the trunks.

Gajeel sighed. Right. Forgot the kid could smell her too.

A moment later, Juvia stepped out, looking thoroughly flustered. Her short, stylish bob of blue hair framed her face, with side-swept bangs drawing attention to the faint pink dusting her cheeks.

She wore a sleeveless, form-fitting navy-blue bodice with white trim, the deep neckline narrowing into a small keyhole cutout. A knee-length skirt of blue and white flared gently with her movements, paired with matching knee-high boots. At her collar, a white ribbon tie was fastened with a round, green brooch—one that, on closer inspection, bore a striking resemblance to Ben's Omnitrix symbol.

Juvia smoothed the front of her dress, as if the gesture could hide her nervousness, and clutched a small green tin box in both hands. "Um… g-good morning, everyone."

Gajeel rolled his eyes at how awkward and obvious Juvia was being. She was not as sneaky as she thought she was.

"Morning, Juvia," Ben greeted easily. "What brings you out here?"

"Yeah, why were you hiding behind those trees, Miss Juvia?" Wendy asked with a curious tilt of her head.

"Oh… um, no reason," Juvia said quickly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes flicked to Ben, the blush deepening just a fraction. "Juvia was simply… enjoying the morning air."

Ben shrugged. "Fair enough, I guess. Nice morning for it." He suspected that wasn't the real reason, but decided not to push it.

Gajeel, standing just behind them, caught the look in Juvia's eyes—the way she seemed to linger on Ben's face a little too long, the way her fingers fidgeted against the tin box. He narrowed his own eyes slightly.

There was no way he was about to get dragged into that mess.

Instead, the Iron Dragon Slayer crossed his arms and stayed silent, letting the moment pass without comment.

Carla, ever observant, arched a brow but said nothing, curious where this was going.

"Were you heading into Magnolia?" Ben asked.

Juvia blinked, then nodded quickly. "Ah—yes! Juvia… was." Her grip on the tin box tightened slightly.

"Well, you're welcome to walk with us," Ben offered with an easy smile, already turning toward the path again.

Juvia's expression brightened almost imperceptibly. "Juvia… would like that."

Gajeel sighed inwardly, falling into step behind them.

Not wanting any to witness any more awkwardness, he turned to the Omnitrix wielder with a sideways smirk. "Forgot to ask earlier but when's rent due again?"

Ben shrugged casually. "Just whenever you can pay."

The Dragon Slayer's smirk grew into a roguish grin. "You're a much better landlord than my last one. Real stick in the mud, that one was."

Juvia's gaze sharpened. "You had better not be taking advantage of Ben's kindness, Gajeel. If it weren't for him, you'd still be without a place to live."

Wendy tilted her head. "Why? What happened?"

"He was evicted," Juvia answered plainly. "For disorderly conduct."

Gajeel scoffed, making a vague strumming motion in the air. "Eh, those squares just couldn't appreciate real musical talent if their lives depended on it."

Ben pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering, "I'm just glad Grey Matter was able to build those noise-canceling devices in the basement…"

Wendy blinked. "Noise-canceling?"

"Trust me," Ben said with a wry half-smile, "it's better for everyone."

Gajeel just grinned, clearly unbothered. "Hey, real art's never appreciated in its own time."

Ben rolled his eyes at that, and then glanced at the green tin Juvia was carrying. "So, what's in the box, Juvia?"

"Oh, um…" Juvia's eyes dropped to the container before flicking back up to him. "Juvia… made an extra batch of cookies last night," she said, her voice soft but edged with nervous energy. "She thought… perhaps you might like to try some?"

Ben's expression warmed. "Sure, I'd love some."

Her blush deepened as she stepped closer, opening the lid to reveal rows of perfectly round chocolate chip cookies, their centers still soft as if they'd just come from the oven.

Behind them, Gajeel's brow twitched. Ain't no way she made those last night. Those are fresh.

Ben took one without hesitation, biting in. His green eyes lit up. "Wow… these are really good, Juvia."

"Truly?" she asked, almost holding her breath.

"Definitely," Ben confirmed, turning to Wendy. "Here, try one."

Wendy eagerly accepted, taking a bite before smiling brightly. "They're amazing, Miss Juvia! You want one, Carla?"

"I'll pass," Carla said, shaking her head.

Juvia's lips curved into a rare, unabashed smile. "Juvia is… very glad you think so." All those weeks of perfecting the recipe had paid off—the praise warmed her straight through.

Gajeel reached in, snagging a cookie for himself. He took a slow bite, then smirked. "Hmm… not bad. You might make someone a good wife one day, Juvia."

"I second that," Ben said with an easy grin. "Whoever that guy is, he'll be lucky."

Juvia's face flared crimson, steam practically rising from her head.

"Miss Juvia, are you okay?" Wendy asked, blinking in concern. "Your temperature's spiking."

"I… Juvia is… f-fine…" she stammered, clutching the tin to her chest as if it were a lifeline, her blush refusing to fade.

Later, the group continued along the path until the trees began to thin. Sunlight spilled freely now, and in the distance, the familiar rooftops and bustling outskirts of Magnolia came into view.

"Juvia is curious… what were your plans for today?" she asked, glancing from Ben to Wendy.

"Can't speak for Gajeel," Ben replied with an easy shrug, "but we were planning to find a job for Wendy—something that can really challenge her."

Juvia tapped a finger against the green tin box she still carried. "Perhaps… we could take on a big job together. As a group."

Wendy tilted her head. "Together?"

"Mm." Juvia nodded, her tone confident but warm. "Working in a group can be valuable experience, especially for someone still learning. Wendy could benefit greatly from having a team at her side."

Ben slowed his pace for a moment, considering her words. "You know… you might be onto something. We're all still pretty new to Fairy Tail—me, Gajeel, you, Wendy, and Carla. Might not be a bad idea to get a mission where we can learn each other's styles and how we work as a team."

He turned to the iron mage. "What about it, Gajeel? Interested?"

Gajeel cocked a brow. "Yah seriously want me to go on a job with all of you?"

"Why not? I mean, you know me. I'm sure we'll run into something you can hit. Sound exciting?"

Gajeel considered it briefly before grinning sharply. "Eh, why not? Just know if we don't find anything I can smash, I'll be sparing you instead."

"Deal."

Carla folded her paws. "Hmph. As long as the mission isn't too reckless."

Gajeel shoved his hands in his pockets, smirking. "Reckless? That's the fun part."

Carla shot him a sharp look. "Fun for you, maybe."

Wendy, however, was already smiling at the thought. "That actually sounds great! I'd love to go on a job with all of you."

Ben gave a small grin. "Alright then. Once we get to the guild, we'll see if there's something big enough for all of us." He then turned to Wendy. "Next time will be your big mission." Wendy smiled and nodded.

"Juvia would be pleased to work with everyone," she said, a faint glimmer in her eyes that lingered just a second longer on Ben before she looked ahead again.

Gajeel glanced between them but kept his thoughts to himself. This should be interesting.

The Fairy Tail guild hall buzzed with its usual blend of chatter, laughter, and the occasional crash of a table being shoved aside for an impromptu arm-wrestling match. The scent of Mirajane's cooking drifted from behind the bar, mixing with the tang of ink and parchment from the nearby request board.

As per usual, Nab stood planted in front of the board, arms crossed, eyes scanning the sheets with the same indecision he'd worn for years.

Beside him, Lucy sifted through the posted jobs with a sharp eye. Her rent deadline was looming, and she needed something that would actually cover it and leave her with a little breathing room.

Her concentration broke when a loud, familiar voice came from behind. "Hey, Lucy! Looking for a job?"

She turned just as Natsu and Happy bounded over, both grinning like they'd already found trouble.

"Yeah, I've got my rent coming up soon." Lucy replied.

"Well, see any thing we can all do together?"

"That depends," she said, arching an eyebrow. "Why would I want to go on a job with you when I know exactly how much destruction you cause?"

"Because we're a team!" Natsu shot back without hesitation. "We stick together, and besides—we work great together."

Lucy crossed her arms, lips twitching despite herself. "We do work well together… but only because Ben has Clockwork and can fix whatever mess you guys make. Honestly, I'm still amazed he was able to undo all the damage to the guild hall after Gajeel trashed it before the Phantom Lord attack."

Happy puffed up proudly. "Aye! Ben's the best at cleaning up Natsu's messes!"

"Hey—my messes are fun," Natsu protested. "Anyway, I'll find us a job that pays well so you can make rent and has problems we can hit. That's a win-win."

From his perch at the bar, Makarov chuckled into his mug. "Not every problem can be solved by just hitting it, Natsu."

Gray, lounging a few stools away, smirked. "Master, you do know who you're talking to, right?"

"Like you're one to talk, Gray," Cana called down from the other end of the bar, not even looking up from her drink. "Also, your clothes."

Gray blinked, then glanced down to find his shirt, pants, and jacket lying on the floor. "Gah—! Not again!" He scrambled to pull them back on.

From a nearby bench, Erza scanned the hall. "Has anyone seen Ben yet?"

Lucy looked up from the board. "Now that you mention it, Wendy and Carla aren't here either."

"Maybe they're out training," Happy suggested.

"Or doing a job without us," Natsu said, narrowing his eyes at the board as if it had personally challenged him.

Mirajane hummed thoughtfully. "No, I don't recall them picking any jobs. Perhaps they're just running behind today?"

Erza nodded, though a flicker of concern crossed her face. Wendy had been adapting well to life in Fairy Tail—especially with Ben offering her and Carla a place to stay—but Erza could still see the quiet ache behind the girl's eyes. It was a look she knew all too well, born of loss and the effort to carry on.

Meanwhile, Lucy's gaze drifted back to the request board. Her eyes traced the rows of fliers until they caught on a single, faded sheet tucked in the far top corner, half-hidden behind other postings.

"Hey… what's this one?" she asked, pointing.

Natsu, curious, stretched on tiptoe and tugged it free, handing it over to her.

The parchment was covered in an unfamiliar script—curved lines and sharp angles woven together in patterns that looked almost decorative, yet carried no meaning Lucy could grasp. One thing, however, was perfectly clear:

Reward: 500,000 Jewels.

Lucy's eyes widened. "Five hundred thousand Jewels?!"

Natsu's grin spread wide. "Now that's a payday!"

"For real?" Gray strolled over, peering at the paper. "That's almost S-Class quest money." He frowned. "But what the heck does it even say?"

"Beats me," Natsu said with a shrug. "You know, Lucy?"

Lucy shook her head. "No. I've never seen this language before. It's… strange."

"Maybe it has something to do with fish?" Happy suggested, his tail swishing hopefully.

"Somehow… I doubt that," Lucy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

The sound of armored footsteps approached, and Erza came over, curious about the gathering. "What's going on?"

Natsu handed her the paper. "Check this out—biggest reward I've seen in a while."

Erza's eyes narrowed as she examined the flier, scanning every symbol. After a moment, she shook her head. "I'm afraid I've never encountered this language before."

Lucy's frown deepened. "So it's not just us…"

Determined to get answers, she crossed the hall toward Levy and Freed, who were seated at a nearby table. "Hey, you two—you're both good with languages. Ever seen this before?"

Levy glanced at the paper, her brow furrowing. "Oh, this one… yeah, I noticed it posted this morning. Couldn't make any sense of it, so I left it."

Freed took the sheet from her, his eyes narrowing as he studied the markings. "Nor I. The structure doesn't match any known dialect I've read in the archives, nor any runic system I've encountered."

"Great…" Lucy muttered, the mystery only growing.

She turned toward the bar, where Makarov sat nursing a mug. "Master, what about you?"

Makarov accepted the flier and looked it over, his expression briefly unreadable before he handed it back. "Sorry, Lucy. Whatever this is, it's beyond even my knowledge."

The small group exchanged puzzled glances.

"Not even our guild's smartest members can read this?" Lucy whispered, still stunned.

"Who sends a request in a language no one can understand?" Gray muttered, arms folding.

Peeking over Lucy's shoulder, Erza studied the flier again, crossing her arms. "Whatever it is, it must be important for the issuer to encrypt it… and to offer such a substantial reward."

Happy hovered in place on his wings, tail curling lazily. "What a shame. With that much money split between us, we'd each get, like… 125,000 Jewels, and whatever's left for Lucy."

Lucy spun on him, outraged. "That leaves me with nothing!"

The guild's front doors creaked open, letting in a wash of morning light.

Ben stepped inside, Gajeel at his side, with Juvia, Wendy, and Carla just behind. The usual hum of voices and clinking mugs filled the hall, but several guild members glanced up as the group entered.

Natsu's head snapped toward him, a grin spreading instantly across his face. "Perfect timing, Ben!" Without waiting for an answer, he strode over, waving him in. "You've got to see this!"

Before Ben could even ask what was going on, Natsu thrust a weathered flier into his hands. "Check it out—500,000 Jewels!"

Ben blinked, glancing down at the parchment. Wendy leaned in curiously, Carla hovering closer. Gajeel shoved his hands into his pockets, peering over Ben's shoulder. Juvia, still clutching her green tin box, stepped a little nearer to see for herself.

"The hell is all that scribble?"

"Juvia has never seen a language like that."

Ben opened his mouth. "Natsu, I was actually going to take a different job with—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing on the text.

The paper was covered in sharp, flowing characters:

このメッセージを無事に翻訳すると、あなたが友人と呼ぶ人々は、あなたの人生の重要な瞬間を数多く振り返ることになります。

Reward: 500,000 Jewels.

"…Japanese?" Ben murmured.

"Jap-what now?" Natsu tilted his head.

"It's a language from my world," Ben said slowly, still staring at the text. "Which… doesn't make sense. This is Earthland. How would Japanese even be here?"

Lucy stepped closer. "Wait—you can read this?"

Ben nodded slightly. "I don't know it personally, but the Omnitrix has a universal translator. So, yeah… I should be able to."

Everyone leaned in as he shifted the flier in his hands, eyes scanning the words. As the strange characters shifted seamlessly in his vision, Ben began to read aloud, his voice even:

"Upon successfully translating this message, those you call friends will review many important moments from your life."

A ripple of confusion went through the gathered mages.

"Your life?" Wendy repeated softly.

"The hell kind of request is this?" Gajeel muttered, narrowing his eyes.

Before Ben could respond, the flier suddenly tore itself from his grasp, floating upward. Confusion spread through the hall as it hung suspended in midair, glowing with a brilliant, shifting rainbow of colors. The light intensified, forcing many to shield their eyes.

A surge of raw magical power exploded from the parchment, the shockwave rattling mugs and knocking over chairs. Outside, an enormous magical circle formed in the sky directly above the guild, its intricate patterns pulsing with energy.

"What the hell is going on?!" Gray shouted over the rising hum of magic.

Then, with a sound like grinding stone, walls of solid rune text erupted around the guild hall—towering, glowing letters forming a seamless barrier that enclosed the building and it's courtyard completely. The magic circle above flared brighter, sealing into place.

"We're trapped!" Elfman yelled, slamming a hand against the wall of runes.

Carla's eyes narrowed. "And cut off from the outside world entirely."

"Everyone, remain calm!" Erza's voice cut through the noise like steel. She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping the barrier. "Levy, Freed—analyze these runes. Tell me anything you can."

"On it," Levy said quickly, running her fingers along the glowing text. Moments passed as Levy's expressions shifted to surprise. "These runes… I've never seen anything like them. Freed?"

Freed adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing as he studied the glowing script. "These aren't like any barrier runes I've seen before. The patterns… they're irregular, almost alive."

"Whatever—" Natsu cracked his knuckles and strode into the courtyard, fire already building in his fists. "I'll just smash those stupid runes apart!"

He bolted outside and reeled back a flaming fist. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

The impact exploded against the barrier in a blazing conflagration, the force shaking the ground beneath their feet. For a moment, smoke and heat rolled across the area.

When the haze cleared, the sight waiting for them was less than impressive—Natsu's fist pressed stubbornly against an unscathed wall of runes, the barrier glowing faintly where he'd struck.

Without warning, the runes around his hand pulsed and unleashed a bolt of crackling purple lightning. The strike nailed Natsu square in the chest, launching him backwards through the guild hall doors in a shower of sparks.

"Natsu!" Lucy rushed to his side, kneeling next to him.

He groaned, pushing himself up with a wince and rubbing the scorched spot on his vest. "That… hurt…"

"Idiot," Gray muttered, crossing his arms. "Don't you remember how Freed's runes work? You can't just bust your way out of them."

From behind the bar, Mirajane glanced toward the master. "What do you think, Master?"

Makarov hadn't moved from his seat, but his sharp eyes were locked on the barrier. "It's… peculiar. This isn't an ordinary rune spell. The magic feels layered, self-sustaining… and there's something about it that doesn't belong to this world. Almost… alien."

"Speaking of alien," Ben said, already activating the Omnitrix. In a flash of green light, Feedback stood in his place, antennae twitching as arcs of electricity danced across his fingers. "Perhaps this one can get us out of this mess."

He stepped up to the barrier, placing both hands against the glowing surface. Energy surged from the runes into his body, traveling down his conduits.

The guild watched as Feedback absorbed the magic—only for the barrier to shimmer and replenish itself faster than he could drain it.

"What the—?" Feedback's voice was edged with surprise. "It's recharging faster than I can pull from it."

"What does that mean?" Juvia asked, concerned.

"That means whatever's powering this thing… it's connected to an infinite source of magic."

This shocked many in the guild.

Freed's gaze darted from the barrier to Feedback. "Then perhaps another approach—Clockwork. If you reverse time around the guild to before the spell activated, we could undo this entirely."

"Oh yeah," Gray caught on. "Just like when you restored the guild hall after Gajeel wrecked it."

Gajeel shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "… Can we not bring that up?"

Feedback nodded. "Worth a shot." In another flash, the tall and bulky, mechanical frame of Clockwork took Feedback's place.

He stepped forward, raising his mechanical arms toward the barrier. With a deep whir, a beam of green chronal energy fired from his hands, washing over the runes. The glowing text began to flicker, the magic circle overhead dimming slightly as time itself started to rewind.

Then the runes suddenly flared red.

A deafening, resonant horn blasted through the hall, making those with sensitive hearing—Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy—flinch and clutch their ears.

"V'hat is this?" Clockwork questioned in a Germanic accent.

Another block of glowing text appeared above the barrier. Freed's eyes widened as he read it aloud: "Chronosapiens are forbidden from reversing time to prevent this spell from activating."

Clockwork let the beam fade and stepped back. In a green flash, Ben stood there again. "We can't break it, drain it, or reverse time on it? Whoever set this up… did their homework on us."

Across the hall, Gajeel rounded on Natsu, jabbing a finger into his chest. "This is your fault, Salamander!"

"My fault?!" Natsu barked, shoving him back. "You were standing right there when Ben read it! How's that on me?!"

"You were the one who gave him the flier. Besides, trouble always follows you!" Gajeel snarled, forehead pressing against Natsu's.

"You wanna go right now?!"

"I always wanna go!"

Before the first punch could be thrown, Erza's glare descended on them like a guillotine. "Enough." Her tone brooked no argument. "If you have energy to fight, use it to find a solution." Both men stiffened instantly, muttering under their breath but stepping apart.

Wendy approached Ben and stood at his side. Her voice quiet but tinged with worry. "What do we do now?"

Before he could answer, the glowing runes along the barrier shifted and began to rearrange themselves. A new line of text appeared in the center of the guild hall for all to see.

Freed read aloud, his voice carrying over the silence:

"This spell has locked your guild hall and everyone in it inside a pocket dimension where time outside is paused. For the spell to be broken, all present must witness memories and events centered around the one who deciphered the spell: Ben Tennyson."

"Me?" Ben blinked, startled.

"A spell to view memories?" Lucy frowned, scanning the text. "I've never heard of anything like this before…"

The words shifted again, continuing:

"These events will be portrayed in a third-person, episodic format with music to make the experience entertaining for the audience. Breaks will be included, as well as access to food, beverages, and the use of your guild hall's facilities. Upon successfully watching all episodes, the spell will be broken. No time will have passed since the moment the spell activated. 500,000 Jewels will be rewarded to the guild."

"Wait… Is that 500,000 Jewels for just the guild singular …or for everyone here?" Wakaba wondered. "Cause that's a big difference."

"No kidding! We wouldn't have to work for weeks!" Macao shouted.

"Actually, you both have overdue tabs." Mirajane politely reminded. "So no, you wouldn't."

Groaning, both hung their heads in disappointment.

"With that much money, I could pay rent for seven months." Lucy quietly commented.

The glowing letters pulsed, then reformed into one final question:

"Do you accept these terms?"

"Suppose we don't wanna accept these terms… whoever you are!" Natsu shouted toward the ceiling, fists clenched.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Natsu," Happy warned, ears flattening.

Sure enough, the runes shimmered again, a sharper, bolder script forming in response:

"Failure to agree to the terms will result in Fairy Tail being trapped in deadlock forever. Only one being would be able to free you then."

"Only one, huh?" Makarov muttered, stroking his beard. "And who could that be referring to?"

Ben's jaw tightened. He could think of only one transformation in the Omnitrix capable of bypassing something like this… and it was one he avoided using unless absolutely necessary. The thought alone made him grimace. Doubt I could even get him to cooperate…

Ben let out a long sigh. "Guess we have no choice then…"

The runes pulsed in acknowledgment, their glow brightening as if sealing the agreement.

The runes along the walls pulsed again, then shifted into new words that hovered in the air for all to see:

"Visual projectors will now be deployed."

A deep hum reverberated through the guild hall as shimmering magic radiated from the barrier. In an instant, a dozen translucent screens materialized around the building—some hanging in the air like floating windows, others appearing against walls and between pillars—each positioned so no matter where someone stood, they'd have a clear view.

The text changed again:

"You have ten minutes to prepare before the first episode begins."

The tension eased slightly as guild members started to scatter, conversations picking up again in a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. Some made a beeline for the bar to grab drinks, others raided the kitchen for snacks.

Cana, naturally, took full advantage—gathering a couple kegs in both arms with barely any effort. "If we're gonna be stuck here, I'm doing it right," she announced, plopping herself at comfortable spot by the bar.

Others claimed the comfiest spots they could find: couches near the fire, window seats, or just sprawling across the floor with pillows pulled from the upstairs rooms.

Ben found a spot at one of the long benches near the center, sitting with Wendy to his right, Carla perched primly beside her, Juvia seated to his left, and Gajeel on the far end. At the table adjacent, Natsu, Gray, Happy, Lucy, and Erza settled in, leaning toward each other in easy conversation.

"So, Ben," Happy called across the space, his tail flicking, "what memory do you think this freaky spell is gonna show first?"

Ben shrugged, leaning back slightly. "No clue. Not to brag, but there's honestly a lot it could choose from."

"This'll be fun!" Wendy said brightly, resting her elbows on the table. "You've told me some of your stories before—now we actually get to see them play out!"

Carla sighed heavily. "Hopefully there's something to gain from all of this outside of the reward money."

Erza crossed her arms, but her lips curled slightly. "It's like attending a live theatre performance. It reminds me of that theatre job in Onibus."

Lucy groaned. "Ugh… don't remind me of that job."

From Ben’s left, Juvia spoke softly, almost to herself. "Juvia… is happy she'll get to see Ben's life play out in front of her eyes."

Ben glanced at her briefly, missing the faint blush she tried to hide.

As the ten-minute countdown ended, every screen in the guild shimmered before a block of runes appeared across them all:

"The first episode will cover the start of Ben Tennyson's journey."

Ben's eyes widened slightly. "Wait… Could it mean—"

"Don't tell me we're about to see Ben as a baby," Gajeel groaned.

"I, for one, think that would be absolutely adorable," Erza said matter-of-factly.

Ben groaned and lowered his head to the table. "Please don't let it be that."

Juvia's gaze hardened ever so slightly as she shot a glare in Erza's direction—one the scarlet-haired knight didn't even notice.

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.

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."

Chapter Text

The scene opened on a city street as a building was engulfed in flames, thick smoke pouring out of shattered windows. Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder, a sign that first responders were on the way—but the building already looked ready to collapse at any moment.

Inside the building, the screen shifted to a narrow hallway. A boy and his mother coughed as they ran to the door, only for a burning beam to crash down in front of them, trapping them in their room. Flames licked at the walls, creeping closer by the second.

"Not good—" Gray muttered.

"Oh no… Those poor people," Wendy clutched the hem of her dress.

They looked around desperately, trying to find another way out, but the fire spread too quickly. Above them, the ceiling groaned, crumbling. Cracks formed, and burning pieces began to drop.

"It's going to collapse!" Lucy gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

The boy and his mother huddled together, eyes squeezed shut as the ceiling gave way.

Many in the guild hall were fearful of the family's fate. Even Natsu's usual grin vanished, replaced by clenched fists.

The boy's small voice trembled as he braced for the end—until suddenly… nothing happened. Silence, except for the roar of fire. Slowly, the boy opened his eyes. Before him stood a tall figure wreathed in flames, holding the burning debris above their heads with ease.

"…Who are you?" the boy asked in awe.

The camera shifted to reveal the hero fully—Heatblast, body alive with fire yet moving with careful control, his empty eye sockets fixed firmly on the boy. He grunted under the weight but didn't falter.

"I'm here to help."

"Alright, Heatblast!" Natsu whooped, nearly knocking Happy off the table.

"That kid and mom are definitely lucky that Ben happened to be there," Cana murmured, relieved.

Heatblast let out a low grunt as he heaved the burning debris aside, sending it clattering against the far wall. Then, extending his glowing hands, he drew in a deep breath. Suddenly, streams of fire bent unnaturally toward him—the flames on the walls, the ceiling, even the floor—spiraling into his palms until the room was completely clear. The smoke thinned as the last embers flickered and vanished into his blazing body.

Erza crossed her arms, nodding with rare approval. "Impressive. Not only using power to destroy, but also to contain. That was clever, Ben."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck, grinning a little sheepishly. "Thanks… Took me a few tries as Heatblast to figure that trick out, honestly."

Happy tilted his head, wings fluttering. "Hey! That looks just like when Natsu eats fire!"

"Aye!" Natsu barked out a laugh, leaning forward with sharp eyes fixed on the screen. "Yeah, but I think I've got better table manners!"

"Table manners?!" Lucy groaned, smacking her forehead. "That's the last thing you should be bragging about…"

On screen, Heatblast turned, motioning for the family to follow him. His glowing form lit up the smoky hallway like a living torch.

The young boy immediately grabbed his mother's hand and tugged forward, eyes wide with excitement and trust. But his mother hesitated, pulling him back slightly. Her gaze lingered on Heatblast's flaming body, uncertainty flickering across her soot-streaked face.

"Makes sense." Levy noted. "If a giant fire creature told me to follow them, I'd hesitate too."

Cana raised her glass lazily. "Yeah, but given the situation? Burned alive or trust the scary fire dude? Easy choice."

On screen, the boy's insistence finally pulled his mother forward, her wary steps quickening as Heatblast led the way. Heatblast guided the family to a staircase. "This way!" he said, starting toward it—

—but before they could move, the flames ate through the supports and the entire staircase crumbled into fiery wreckage.

"Er… on second thought…" Heatblast muttered awkwardly, turning his head. His molten eyes landed on a barred-up window. "That way."

The view shifted outside as a blinding beam of plasma seared through the wall, cutting a perfect circle around the window. Then, to the shock of the onlookers on the street, a roaring tornado of fire burst out of the hole, swirling down to the pavement. Gasps erupted from the crowd as the cyclone flared—before it suddenly dispersed, leaving Heatblast, the boy, and his mother standing unharmed on the sidewalk.

The guild hall immediately erupted in cheers.

"YEAH! He did it!" Natsu whooped, punching a fist into the air.

"Nice save, Ben!" Cana added, raising her mug with a grin.

The on-screen crowd gasped and clapped as well, some still wide-eyed at the flaming spectacle.

Lucy, though, gawked with incredulity. "Wait, wait, wait—how in the world did you get them out of a burning building inside a tornado of fire without roasting them alive?!"

Happy flapped in place, puffing out his chest like he'd figured out a mystery. "Ooooh, magic?"

Natsu leaned forward with narrowed eyes, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Heatblast controls fire, right? So… you just controlled the flames not to burn them, right?" He turned toward Ben, looking for confirmation.

Ben smirked and gave a nod. "Yeah, spot on. I spun the fire around to create enough wind pressure to lift us out of the building, but I kept the temperature around them in check so they wouldn't get burned."

Gray whistled lowly. "So you're saying you used fire to make… basically a safe elevator."

Ben shrugged, half-grinning. "Something like that."

Erza nodded approvingly, arms crossed. "Resourceful and protective. You made the most of your abilities in the moment."

Jet shook his head, letting out a low whistle. "Man, ten years old and already walking through burning buildings to save people."

Juvia sighed happily. "Even so young, Ben is still just as amazing." This earned a hearty blush from the teen hero.

Heatblast straightened, basking in the gasps and applause of the crowd. "I'm sure you all want to thank me personally, but really it's all in a day's work for—" he began confidently—

Then he froze. His glowing eyes widened.

The boy he had just saved was clutching three golden trading cards in his hands.

"No way!" Heatblast dropped into a crouch beside him, pointing eagerly. "A gold Sumo Slammer card!" he exclaimed. "Where'd you get it? I've been looking all over for that!"

The guild hall burst into laughter at the sudden shift.

"Pfft—" Gray smirked, shaking his head. "One second, fiery superhero. Next second, trading cards."

Natsu was doubled over. "Hahaha! That's too good! He looks all scary but he's just a kid geeking out!"

Levy giggled behind her hand. "It's kind of cute, honestly."

Wendy tilted her head curiously. "Um… what's Sumo Slammers?"

Ben perked up at the question, grinning sheepishly. "Oh, right. It's this card game-slash-cartoon I'm really into. Basically, it's about these sumo wrestlers with all these crazy powers who fight each other in over-the-top battles. There are trading cards, collectibles, the works."

Happy blinked. "So… it's like a game and a show about big guys punching each other?"

"Pretty much!" Ben laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I got hooked on it way before the Omnitrix ever showed up."

Erza raised a brow but smiled faintly. "So even when wielding the power of a walking inferno, you still made time to indulge in your hobbies."

Lucy chuckled. "That's… actually really relatable."

"I-It was a prize inside a box of Sumo-Smack Cereal." The boy told him, bewildered.

But the moment was cut short when the Rust Bucket pulled up to the curb outside, honking its horn. Gwen leaned out the passenger window, arms crossed and glare sharp.

"Yo, Super-Doofus!" she shouted. "The fire was just a diversion to cover up a jewelry store robbery. The bad guys are getting away!"

The guild hall erupted with noise.

"Wait—WHAT?!" Lucy's jaw dropped. "They endangered an entire apartment building just to cover a robbery!?"

Erza slammed her fist on the table-bench, visibly furious. "How despicable. To put innocent lives at risk so maliciously…"

Back on the screen, Heatblast's expression flicked back and forth—eyes darting between Gwen and the golden cards still clutched in the boy's hands. "Er—I knew that," he said quickly, trying to save face.

"Pffft!" Gray burst into laughter. "Yeah, suuure you did."

The mocking caught like wildfire in the guild hall. A chorus of knowing smirks aimed at Present-Ben.

Ben groaned, facepalming with a long-suffering sigh. "Okay, okay, I admit it. At the time? The cards were… kinda distracting."

Happy fluttered around him with a mischievous grin. "Superhero or not—you're still just Ben!"

The hall broke into laughter again.

The scene shifted to show a black sedan tearing through the streets, weaving recklessly between cars. Inside, two masked thieves gripped the wheel and their stolen loot.

The Rust Bucket barreled after them, Max steady at the wheel. Suddenly, he sniffed the air and winced. He glanced sideways to see Heatblast sitting beside him, the seats beginning to smolder.

"Knew I should've bought those asbestos seat covers when I had the chance," Max muttered.

The guild chuckled, and Carla tilted her head, frowning at Ben. "But why didn't you just turn back before getting in the RV?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Back then, I didn't know how. When I transformed, I stayed that way until the Omnitrix timed out. I didn't get to pick when it ended."

"Ohhh," Wendy nodded, eyes wide. "So it wasn't really in your control yet."

Heatblast squirmed in his seat, looking apologetic. "Sorry, Grandpa, I can't help it. I'm hot…"

Suddenly, a burst of white foam shot across the frame, blasting Heatblast in the face. Gwen stood in the aisle of the Rust Bucket, wielding a fire extinguisher like a weapon.

"Ugh!" she snapped. "Ten superheroes on that stupid watch and you picked the one with the flaming butt?!"

The guild hall erupted in laughter.

"Flaming butt!" Happy cackled, rolling in the air.

Natsu actually toppled backwards out of his chair, pounding the ground. "BWAHAHA! She's not wrong!"

"Jealous?" Heatblast shot back smoothly, flames flickering with smug confidence.

Gwen huffed in disgust and pulled the trigger again, sending another blast of foam. This time, Heatblast ducked out of the way.

Mirajane was giggling so hard she had to cover her mouth. "My gosh, the sibling energy between them is so real!"

"Yeah, but…" Elfman shook his head, a small smile on his face. "Even we didn't argue that much."

The scene cut to the Rust Bucket roaring up alongside the getaway car. Heatblast leaned dangerously out the side window, flames gathering in his palms.

With a quick motion, he hurled a fireball at the robbers' car. It exploded across the street in a burst of sparks and flame, knocking all four tires clean off. The car screeched and spun wildly before slamming nose-first into a brick wall.

"Stee-rike!" Heatblast cheered, pumping a fiery fist.

"Nice shot, Ben!" Bisca called, impressed.

Aizack gave an approving grin. "Straight and clean—took 'em out in one hit."

Inside the wrecked car, the masked thieves were screaming as smoke filled the cabin. The first robber clutched his seat. "We're gonna die, man!"

But the car screeched to a stop, and the camera panned to reveal Heatblast approaching through the haze. His body glowed brighter, casting eerie light across the crumpled hood. Without hesitation, he gripped the car door and ripped it right off the hinges like it was made of tin foil.

The robbers froze, their eyes wide behind their masks.

"Unless you punks want a permanent sunburn…" Heatblast growled, gripping the metal until it bent and warped in his flaming hands with a horrible screech. "HANDS AGAINST THE WALL!"

The thieves exchanged a terrified glance.

Cana let out a low whistle. "Well, look at Ben throwing his weight around. Kinda hot—pun intended."

"Cana…" Juvia said warningly, narrowing her eyes.

The brunette smirked, waving a hand dismissively. "Relax, Blue, I'm only teasing."

The scene showed the thieves scrambling out of the car, raising their arms and pressing their palms to the wall without hesitation. Heatblast loomed over them, molten light flickering across the ruined street.

Gajeel muttered with a smirk. "Least they're not total idiots."

Heatblast planted his hands proudly on his hips. "You punks picked the wrong day to be bad—" he started, completely oblivious to the Omnitrix flashing red.

A flash of crimson light erupted—and suddenly Heatblast was gone, leaving only a scrawny ten-year-old boy standing in his place. "—guys!" Ben finished, somehow still not noticing the change.

Gray chuckled from the audience. "You know, for a watch, that thing has terrible timing."

Ben groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You don't know the half of it…"

"Huh? Wha—?" one of the robbers stammered as he spun around and saw Ben. "It's just a kid! Get the jewels!" he barked at his partner.

Ben finally looked down at himself and blinked. "Wow. Time sure flies when you're having fun! I-I've decided to let you guys off with a warning this time!" he said awkwardly, giving them a little wave as he backed away.

Before the thieves could make a move, sirens blared. Police cars screeched to a stop, surrounding the scene, red and blue lights flashing.

"Whoa!" Ben yelped, startled.

Several in the guild perked up at the sudden arrival. "Those people in uniforms… who are they supposed to be?" Levy asked, tilting her head.

"They don't look like soldiers," Freed added curiously, noting the strange vehicles and the weapons in their hands.

"Police officers. They're kind of like knights in my world," Present-Ben explained, leaning back in his chair. "They keep the peace and maintain law and order."

"Well, it's good that the authorities arrived in time," Erza said firmly.

"Freeze!" one of the officers barked, gun drawn.

Ben puffed his chest, trying to reclaim some glory. "They're all yours, officers! Now I know you all want to thank me, but—"

The cops brushed past him without hesitation. "Step aside, son! This isn't playtime!" one officer snapped.

Ben's jaw dropped. "Playtime? I'm the one who captured them! It's not fair! I'm the hero! Oh, man…" he groaned, throwing his hands up.

A few of the Fairy Tail wizards murmured sympathetically. "Poor kid… I'd be mad too if someone stole my credit," Gray admitted.

"Still," Levy reasoned gently, "from the officers' perspective, it makes sense. They didn't see him fight those men, so why would they believe a child did it?"

Erza crossed her arms thoughtfully. "It must be frustrating, but true heroes don't fight for praise. They fight because it's right."

Ben gave a faint smile, nodding. "Yeah. That's something I had to learn during this trip."

The next day, a man named Roger knocked on a door with a crooked sign that read "Dr. Animo."

"Yo! Animo! I know you're in there. Open up!" Roger barked, pounding on the door.

Some of the Fairy Tail members blinked.

"Why are we suddenly at a doctor's office?" Happy asked, puzzled.

Ben frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing as the memory played. So this is where Animo was working before he attacked the capital, he thought grimly. I don't know where he gets the funding, but he's definitely stepped up his game since then.

The scene shifted as Roger pushed the door open, stepping inside. Strange machines lined the walls—buzzing equipment, wires running across the floor, and cages stacked high. Glass cases rattled with animals inside, some pacing, some still, some with eerie glows in their eyes.

"Phew! Smells like a zoo in here!" Roger gagged, waving a hand in front of his nose.

Carla raised a brow. "So this Animo fellow… is he a veterinarian?"

Ben shook his head. "Yes… and no. He works with animals, sure—but not in the way you're thinking. It's… well, you'll see soon enough."

A shadow moved behind Roger, and when he turned, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"HOW did you get in?!" the figure snarled.

The Fairy Tail guild gasped. The man before them had a gaunt, sickly frame. His skin had a faint, unnatural green tint, his hair stringy, and when he bared his teeth, they were crooked and yellowed.

"Ewww," Wendy whispered, covering her mouth. "He looks… unhealthy."

"Unhealthy?" Gray muttered. "He looks dead!"

"Pass key," Roger answered calmly, straightening his tie as if nothing were wrong. "I'm still your landlord, remember? Or maybe you forgot—since your rent is six months past due."

"Six months?!" Lucy shouted, eyes bugging. "If I missed even one month, my landlord would've kicked me out immediately!"

Happy waved his paw dismissively. "No one cares, Lucy."

WHACK!

Lucy kicked him into the wall, making the blue cat squeal.

"All my funds go into my research," Animo snapped, his voice sharp and biting. "Now GET OUT! You're disturbing me!"

"Disturbing?" Macao muttered. "Buddy, you're already disturbed."

"Yeah, no kidding," Wakaba blew a puff of smoke. "What kind of 'research' needs six months of unpaid rent and a whole zoo in your house?"

Eyes turned to Ben.

"Ben," Erza asked, her voice steady. "Who is this doctor? And why are we being shown this?"

Ben exhaled through his nose, his expression dark. "Doctor Aloysius James Animo. One of my reoccurring villains back home."

That earned a ripple of surprise.

"A doctor is one of your enemies?" Levy asked, incredulous.

"What makes this 'Animo' so dangerous?" Freed pressed.

Ben's jaw tightened. "You're about to find out."

Roger pinched his nose as he glanced around at the cages. "Hmm. Looks like you were disturbed long before I got here, pal! Listen, Doc—either you and your furry friends pony up the green, or you're out on the street."

Animo's thin lips curled into a smirk. "'Pony up'…" He repeated the phrase slowly, almost savoring it. He reached into one of the glass cases and plucked out a frog. "Interesting choice of words. You must be an animal lover." His eyes glinted as he set the frog down. "Then you're going to love this."

With a flourish, Animo pulled on a bizarre-looking helmet. It had two large, curved protrusions sprouting upward like twisted antlers.

Several mages burst into laughter.

"Oh, my—he looks like he's trying to join a costume party!" Cana cackled.

"Or maybe a circus act," Gray snorted.

"More like he's late for the Harvest Festival," Natsu added, clutching his stomach.

But while they roared, Ben stayed stone-faced, his jaw tight.

Roger, meanwhile, stared and then broke into his own fit of mocking laughter. "What's that supposed to be? You a member of the Moose Lodge or something?"

Animo ignored him. "This," he declared proudly, tapping the helmet, "is my Transmodulator. Phase number one. It creates and accelerates mutations at the genetic level." He twisted a dial on his chest plate, and the horn-like protrusions began to spark and hum. "Observe."

Twin beams of crackling energy shot out and struck the frog on the floor.

In seconds, the amphibian swelled grotesquely, its body warping and shifting. Its skin grew warty and stretched, sprouting a second set of bulbous eyes. Horns burst from its skull, curling like a ram's. The once small frog croaked—deep, guttural, monstrous.

The guild recoiled in shock.

"WHAT THE—?!" Gray jumped back in his seat.

"That's no frog anymore!" Elfman shouted.

Levy's jaw dropped. "He changed it… instantly!"

"Grossss," Happy gagged, covering his nose.

"An animal twisted by unnatural magic…" Erza murmured, her face grim.

"Not magic," Ben corrected, his voice low. "Science. And that's what makes Animo so dangerous."

Roger screamed as the mutated frog lunged, its grotesque mouth yawning wide. In an instant, he was swallowed whole—his muffled grunts the only sound.

The guild gasped collectively.

"IT ATE HIM?!" Lucy shrieked, leaping to her feet.

Wendy paled. "T-that's horrible!"

Natsu clenched his fists. "That's just messed up!"

Animo threw his head back, cackling wildly. "I'm sorry! I can't hear you. Sounds like you have a frog in your throat! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha!" His laughter echoed madly through the room. "Or is that—the other way around?!"

The frog gave a loud urp before spitting Roger out in a heap. He landed with a wet smack, groaned weakly, and slumped unconscious.

"Phew…" Cana exhaled. "For a second I thought he was—"

"—dead," Erza finished grimly. "Fortunately, no. But still… horrifying."

Levy grimaced, hugging her book close. "That poor man… Just imagine if Animo did that to something bigger than a frog."

Ben's face was shadowed with memory. "Trust me… he has."

Dr. Animo, ignoring the landlord entirely, reached into his coat and pulled out a crumpled slip of newspaper. His eyes darted over it and then narrowed in fury. "So close to having what is rightfully mine… All I need is a FEW LOUSY COMPONENTS to finish my work!" He crushed the paper in his fist, seething.

Almost on cue, a static buzz filled the lab as a television mounted on the wall flicked to life.

"-So whatever your need, from hair spray to state-of-the-art electronics, you'll find them under one roof at the grand opening of the district's newest MegaMart!"

The announcer's cheerful voice was accompanied by a flashy logo: a huge golden "M" over the word Mart, flanked by sparkling dollar signs.

"What's that box with the moving pictures?!" Natsu blurted, pointing.

"That's called a television," Ben explained, folding his arms. "Sort of like a communication-lacrima back home—but instead of two-way, it mostly broadcasts shows, news, and ads like that."

Happy tilted his head. "So it's like lacrima that yells at you to buy stuff?"

"Exactly." Ben deadpanned.

Cana chuckled. "Figures. Some things never change between worlds."

"Still," Levy said softly, "isn't it a little… convenient? That it just happened to be on right now?"

Gray frowned. "Yeah, it's like fate's giving this creep a shopping list."

Animo's eyes lit up, a dangerous grin spreading across his face. "Ah! Just what the doctor ordered…" His voice dripped with menace.

The Fairy Tail mages exchanged uneasy glances.

Inside the bright, sprawling MegaMart, Max pushed a shopping cart while studying a list in his hand. Young Ben and Young Gwen trailed behind, wide-eyed at the endless rows of products stacked to the ceiling.

"Whoa," Lucy murmured, staring at the vision of a store bigger than the size of a guild hall. "What is this place?"

Ben folded his arms, giving a half-smile. "It's called a MegaMart. Basically, one giant store that sells all kinds of stuff under one roof—food, clothes, electronics, toys. You name it."

"So instead of a bakery, a blacksmith, a tailor, and a potion shop," Wendy asked, "they're all just… here?"

"Exactly. It's meant for convenience," Ben explained. "And usually the prices are cheaper than what small shops can offer."

Levy frowned thoughtfully, tapping her chin. "Convenient, sure… but wouldn't that hurt the smaller businesses? The family-owned ones that can't compete with a giant like that?"

Ben's smile dimmed a little, and he nodded. "Yeah. That's definitely a problem back in my country. Small businesses suffer when these big stores take over."

Some of the guild members exchanged uneasy glances, as if picturing Magnolia's shops being overshadowed by a single, towering MegaMart.

Meanwhile, in the scene, Young Ben's attention had wandered. His eyes lit up as he spotted a colorful box on a shelf. "Sumo-Smacks!" he exclaimed, grabbing it and holding it up proudly. The cereal mascot—a bulky wrestler—grinned on the cover.

But Ben wasn't looking at the cereal itself. His gaze locked onto the bold advertisement on the box front: Exclusive Sumo Slammer Cards Inside!

"Sumo Slammer cards, cool!" Ben crowed, holding the box aloft like treasure. Then a sly grin crept across his face. "Hmm…" He hummed deviously, a plan clearly forming in his head.

Gajeel leaned back in his seat, arms crossed and a toothy smirk on his face. "Tch. How convenient. Out of all the blasted stores in the city, this is the one you, your cousin, and your grandpa just happen to be shopping at—right before that crazy doctor shows up."

Ben lifted his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug. "Hey, what can I say? Good timing. Or… bad timing. Depends on your point of view."

"Suspicious timing if you ask me," Gajeel muttered.

Wendy tilted her head. "Um, Ben… are those 'Sumo-Smacks' any good?"

Ben paused for a long moment, rubbing his chin as if weighing the merits of his younger self's obsession. "…Honestly? Not really. They were kind of stale and overly sweet. As a kid I only ate them because they had Sumo Slammer cards."

Several guild members groaned in unison.

"So you were just buying crappy cereal for just some cheap prize?" Gray crossing his arms, incredulous.

Ben shrugged. "I was a kid, man. Give me a break."

Carla, however, wasn't laughing. Her sharp eyes narrowed at the grin plastered across Young Ben's face on-screen. "Why do I get the feeling you abused your powers for those cards?" she asked coolly.

Ben coughed into his hand and looked the other way. "No comment."

Max turned a can over in his hands, squinting. "Only canned octopus? Huh. I thought this store prided itself on wide selection."

Gwen wrinkled her nose. "Uh, Grandpa? No offense, but can we please have a normal dinner for once? You know, one that doesn't involve stir-fried tentacles?"

A few guild members perked up at that.

"Actually," Cana said lazily, raising her mug, "stir-fried tentacles sounds pretty good. Better than bugs anyway."

"Depends on how it's cooked and presented," Lucy admitted, her refined tastes showing through. "Grilled with spices or cut delicately? That can be delicious. But just tossing it in a pan? Ugh."

Ben chuckled. "Funny enough, I actually like tentacles now. Calamari, octopus—good stuff. As a kid, though? Forget about it. I was with Gwen all the way."

The scene on screen continued as Max cheerfully wandered down the aisle, muttering. "Heh! Nonsense. Now where do you suppose they keep the sheep's bladders?"

The guild collectively gagged, a chorus of groans filling the hall.

"WHY would anyone eat that?!" Wendy cried, paling.

"Old man's hardcore," Natsu said with a grin, but even he looked a little green.

"Disgusting," Carla muttered with finality.

Even Ben winced. "…Yeah, no. I don't care what age I am, that one's never happening."

Suddenly, Gwen flinched at the click-whirr of the Omnitrix behind her. "Ben…?" she called cautiously. Turning the aisle corner, her eyes widened. The entire cereal aisle looked like a storm had blown through—boxes ripped, shelves askew, bits of cereal crunching underfoot.

Carla folded her arms. "Just as I suspected. Abuse of power."

Erza nodded firmly. "Completely irresponsible. That kind of power should never be wasted on such childish desires."

"Juvia doesn't believe young Ben meant any real harm." The rain woman defended.

"Y-yeah, he didn't hurt anyone," Wendy argued softly, trying to defend him.

"Except for the poor store workers who'll have to clean this up," Carla countered, her tail swishing.

On screen, Gwen walked over to one of the trembling boxes, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh man, another red card!" a tiny, squeaky voice groaned from inside.

Gasps rose from the guild as Gwen ripped the box open, pulling out a small grey-skinned, frog-like humanoid in a white-and-green jumpsuit.

"Gotcha! What are you doing?" she demanded.

The little alien blinked at her with oversized yellow eyes. "Uh… looking for the gold Sumo Slammer card? Duh."

Some of the wizards immediately recognized the form.

"That's Grey Matter, right?" Levy said, tilting her head. "But… his outfit's different from the one Ben wears now."

"Like I said," Ben said, "the outfits for my aliens were different back then."

Gwen scowled at the tiny alien. "You're supposed to use your powers to help people, not find some stupid trading card!" she scolded.

Ben buried his face in his hand. "Ooooh, yeah. She was right about that one…"

As on-screen Gwen scolded the tiny alien, a few curious voices rose from the guild hall.

"Why were you so determined to get a card anyway?" Jet asked, frowning. "It doesn't sound worth tearing up a whole store aisle."

Ben gave a helpless shrug. "Because I was obsessed with the Sumo Slammer show. Back then I had to collect every Sumo Slammer card. Didn't matter if it was rare, shiny, or even just a regular one—I wanted 'em all."

Lucy shifted in her seat, nodding faintly. "I can kind of relate. I want to collect as many Celestial Spirit Keys as I can. It's… addictive."

"Still," Levy leaned forward with a small smirk, "I saw Ghostfreak on your Omnitrix playlist earlier. Why not just use him to phase through the boxes until you found the one with the card inside?"

That made Ben blink… once… twice… before groaning and dragging a hand down his face. "Um… 'cause I… didn't think to do that."

A ripple of laughter swept the guild hall as he face-palmed hard.

"Typical," Carla said flatly, shaking her head.

"Ahem." The store manager coughed, walking up behind Gwen. Gwen immediately hid Grey Matter behind her back as she turned to face him. The manager crossed his arms, glaring. "Just what do you think you are doing, young lady?" He demanded.

Gwen stammered, trying to look innocent while subtly hiding the tiny alien behind her back. "It wasn't me! It was my doofus cousin!" she blurted out defensively.

"Uh-huh," the manager said, unimpressed. "Well, someone is going to have to pay for all this!"

She gasped before her shock immediately turned into a sharp glare.

The scene cut abruptly to Grandpa maxing looking at dozens of cereal boxes piled into his shopping cart.

"So, uh, why are we buying all this cereal?" he questioned, cocking a brow.

The guild hall erupted in chuckles.

"Wow, he's taking this a little too well," Cana remarked, shaking her head.

Gajeel raised an eyebrow at Ben. "So, what—did you actually eat all that cereal?"

Ben groaned, throwing his head back. "Unfortunately, yes. At first it was a welcome relief compared to Grandpa's usual… 'exotic' meals." He shuddered. "But after a while? I came to really despise that cereal. The taste was just… so sugary. Even now, if I smell it, I get flashbacks."

That earned a round of laughter and sympathetic winces from the guild.

Ben—back in his human form—crossed his arms and scowled. "Well, we would have only had to buy the one that I found the gold Sumo Slammer card in if Gwen hadn't butted in with her big butt!" he snapped.

A chorus of gasps and glares from many female wizards rang out through the guild hall. Erza, Mira, and Levy all narrowed their eyes at the screen, while Cana snorted into her drink.

"Oof!" Makarov winced, shaking his head. "Poor choice of words, boy."

Elfman slammed a fist against his palm. "Not manly, Ben!" he barked.

Ben winced, throwing his hands up defensively. "I was ten! Ten! Obviously, I wouldn't say anything like that now."

That didn't stop a few of the women from giving him lingering, unimpressed stares. Many of the men only gave Ben sympathetic looks.

Meanwhile, Juvia lowered her voice to a dreamy whisper, her cheeks flushed. "Ben is free to talk about Juvia's butt…"

Wendy, with her sensitive hearing, turned bright red and buried her face in her hands. "Juvia!" She whined.

On screen, Gwen folded her arms. "Hello? You were trashing the whole cereal aisle just to find some stupid piece of cardboard!"

"Ben," Max interjected, his tone calm but firm, "now I can appreciate how much this card means to you, but don't you think you're getting a little… obsessed?"

Ben frowned, his shoulders sagging. "Maybe you're right, Grandpa. I don't deserve a gold Sumo Slammer card." His voice dipped with a mock shame, before he suddenly perked up and added with biting sarcasm, "I mean, it's not like I rescued a bunch of people from a burning building or anything like that!"

Gwen's eyes narrowed. "Superhero guilt? Pretty low."

The guild murmured amongst themselves.

Gray scratched his head. "I mean… the kid did save lives. Isn't it fair for him to want a reward? Even if it's just some card?"

Erza shook her head. "Heroes should not act with the expectation of compensation. Their duty is to protect, not profit."

Natsu leaned forward with a grin. "Tch, I don't know. We take jobs, beat up bad guys, and sometimes get paid for it. Kinda sounds the same to me."

Levy tilted her head thoughtfully. "True… but there's a difference between being hired to do something and wanting to be paid after choosing to act."

Lucy nodded, adding, "Yeah. We're upfront about our guild jobs. But, Ben, you didn't save those people thinking about the card, right?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Well… yeah, no. I wanted to help first. The card was just… y'know, kind of like a little bonus in my head."

Macao chuckled. "Sounds like every wizard who's ever finished a hard job and hoped for a fat reward."

The guild laughed, though Erza still crossed her arms sternly, clearly unconvinced.

Young Ben's eyes lit up as he spotted the Sumo Slammer card display. He darted toward it like a magnet. "Whoa. Sumo Slammer cards! A complete set!" He pressed his face close to the glass, practically drooling.

Max, who was unfazed, simply adjusted the cart. "Let's check out the pet department."

"Please tell me you aren't looking for our breakfast…" Gwen groaned as she followed him, rubbing her temple.

The Fairy Tail guild shuddered.

"Pet department?!" Happy cried.

"Disgusting," Mirajane muttered, covering her mouth.

"That's just wrong," Elfman declared.

Ben quickly asserted, "Gwen was only joking, guys. Relax."

Young Ben didn't even notice—his nose still almost flat against the display case. "Someday you'll be all mine," he whispered dramatically, as if professing love to the cards.

But suddenly, the floor trembled. TVs wobbled and toppled from their displays. Customers screamed and rushed for the exits as shelves shook violently. Ben's eyes widened, instincts kicking in. He dove behind a display case just as the wall exploded inward with a loud crash.

Dust and debris clouded the aisle as a massive, croaking frog burst into view—Dr. Animo perched smugly on its back.

"Whoa!" Ben yelped, shielding his face from falling plaster.

"Aaand the doctor is in the house," Cana quipped, sipping from her ever-present mug.

"Such rotten timing too," Gray frowned.

Dr. Animo dismounted with an almost theatrical flair, immediately stuffing electronics into his lab coat pockets like a kid raiding candy.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?!" Ben shouted, stepping out from behind cover.

The giant, mutated frog's tongue lashed out with blinding speed, smacking into a pile of boxes that toppled down onto Ben. He barely had time to yelp before being buried under them.

"Don't be a hero, kid," Animo sneered. "Just run along and play."

Ben crawled out from the boxes with a groan, glaring down at his Omnitrix. The dial glowed a mocking, solid red.

"You are so lucky I can't go hero," he grumbled through clenched teeth.

Juvia winced, turning to Ben. "You used up your time limit searching for that card… so you couldn't change forms."

Ben gave an awkward chuckle. "Yeah… not too smart on my part."

"Such foolishness," Carla criticized.

Dr. Animo smirked as he swung himself back onto the frog's slimy back. Just then, two security guards skidded into the wrecked aisle, batons drawn but hands shaking.

"Freeze!" the first guard barked, his voice cracking slightly.

"Get down off that giant… frog—and put your hands up!" the second stammered, forcing himself to sound authoritative even as disbelief flooded his expression.

Elfman proudly nodded. "That's manly—standing up against something like that."

Levy, less impressed, bit her lip. "Maybe… but wouldn't it be smarter to just… not fight a mad scientist on a monster frog?"

"Agreed," Lucy added quickly. "They're brave, sure, but… those poor guys don't even have magic."

Animo gave a dismissive chuckle and tugged on the reins. The frog croaked loudly, bounding forward as he confidently rode it away, electronics bouncing in his overstuffed pockets.

The second guard fumbled for his walkie-talkie, shouting into it while still staring at the vanishing amphibian. "Uh, we got a grab-and-dash in Electronics. Male, five-foot-six, riding on a giant frog—or a toad. Trust me, you can't miss him!"

Gajeel snorted from his seat. "Bet the guys on the other end think he's gone insane."

Gray smirked. "Suckers bet. No takers."

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the chaos brewing in Electronics, Max and Gwen strolled casually into the pet section. Max adjusted his shopping list, muttering about "protein sources," while Gwen knelt down, smiling as a tiny hamster nibbled at her finger through the cage bars.

Erza's eyes narrowed. "I know where this is going…" she said grimly, already bracing herself.

Her prediction proved right. A thunderous thoom shook the floor as Animo's frog slammed down in front of them, scattering bags of birdseed and squeaking guinea pigs.

The deranged scientist twisted a dial on his device, and a searing red beam blasted across the aisle. "Aah!" Max grunted, shoving Gwen back as the light struck the cages.

In an instant, the hamster swelled grotesquely, fur bristling like spikes, while the cockatiel screeched and ripped through its bars. Both creatures towered over them now, eyes glowing red with menace.

"Ariiiiise to your full potential, my pets!" Animo bellowed with mad delight, throwing his arms wide like some kind of deranged prophet.

Many in the guild collectively recoiled.

Wendy's hands flew to her mouth. "A hamster… shouldn't be that big!"

Cana shivered. "Forget the size, look at its teeth!"

Levy squinted. "Wait—how is he controlling them? Wouldn't they just go wild once mutated?"

Ben raised his hand halfheartedly, scratching his cheek. "Eh… best guess? His Trans-mod-thingy—whatever you call it—probably gives him control over their brains. I didn't exactly stop to ask him for the technical details."

Gray let out a low whistle. "Yeah, I don't think 'giant murder hamster' was covered in any schooling I had."

Young Ben skidded to a halt at the sight before him—Max and Gwen sprinting for their lives, the hamster-turned-beast thundering after them like a fuzzy tank. Its shrill roar echoed through the store aisles, rattling the shelves.

Ben's jaw dropped. "Oh, man! What kind of pet food are they selling around here!?" he yelped, ducking back as the hamster's massive teeth snapped dangerously close.

Perched proudly atop his giant frog, Dr. Animo spread his arms wide, basking in the chaos he had unleashed. The hamster and cockatiel loomed on either side of him like grotesque royal guards.

"Behold the genius of Dr. Animo!" he proclaimed, his voice booming theatrically. "Nothing can stop me from getting what I deserve! Mark my words—today I will make history, or… should I say… prehiiiistory!" His manic laughter rang out as the mutated animals snarled and screeched in unison.

Confused reactions spread throughout the guild hall.

"Prehistory?" Lucy repeated, brow furrowed. "What in the world is that supposed to mean?"

Levy tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Given his technology, maybe he means he can regress or advance biology?"

Natsu snorted, flames licking the corners of his mouth. "I don't care what he means. Nobody would drop a giant hamster in my face and get away with it!"

Cana swirled her drink, unimpressed. "Pretty sure he just wanted to sound cool. Bad guys love to make some dramatic pun before they lose."

"You're not exactly wrong," Ben admitted.

Gwen's sharp eyes darted to Ben, who was nervously tapping at the Omnitrix still glowing red. "If you didn't go cereal diving, one of those heroes could be saving us from becoming hamster chow right now," she scolded, her voice cutting through the panic.

Ben gave an awkward shrug in the guild hall. "Not like I knew an attack was coming… but yeah, fair point."

On screen, the trio's breath caught in their throats as the hamster reared back and released another thunderous roar, its eyes gleaming with unnatural rage. Max instinctively stepped in front of Gwen, but even he looked unnerved as the mutated beast stomped closer.

Then, with shocking agility, the hamster leapt straight over Ben and landed with a crash that sent tiles flying, blocking Max and Gwen's escape.

Everyone collectively tensed up.

"Old man Max and Gwen are cornered…" Gray muttered, tense.

"And Ben still can't transform," Wendy whispered, clutching her hands together.

"Talk about a nightmare scenario…" Lucy added, shaking her head.

Ben glanced at the unresponsive Omnitrix again, his jaw tightening. He wanted to transform. He needed to. But he couldn't just stand there and let his family get torn apart. His gaze landed on a scooter parked beside a rack of sporting goods. His lips curled into a smirk.

"I don't need to go hero to stop an overgrown fur-ball!" he declared.

"Atta boy!" Elfman cheered, pumping his fist. "That's manly!"

"Yeah, but…" Laki frowned in concern. "He's just a kid now. What can he do with no powers?"

Ben smirked from his seat. You'll see.

Young Ben grabbed a football from a display shelf, took aim, and hurled it with all his strength. The ball smacked the hamster squarely in the head with a hollow thunk.

"Hey fuzzball! Over here!" Ben shouted as he hopped onto the scooter, kicking off hard.

The hamster screeched furiously, its tiny nose twitching as it spun around and barreled after him. Ben tore down the aisle on the scooter, weaving between displays, wheels screeching across the polished floor. The hamster thundered behind him, claws scraping against tile, rapidly gaining ground.

"It's too fast!" Levy cried, eyes wide.

"He's gonna get chewed up!" Natsu barked.

Just as the hamster lunged with a wide-open mouth, Ben swerved sharply, the scooter tilting nearly sideways as he zipped under its massive leap. The mutated beast crashed hard into a shelf, sending bags of kibble flying like confetti.

But the hamster wasn't done. It snarled and sprang ahead, landing squarely on a toppled shelf that now blocked Ben's path.

"Think fast, Ben!" Lucy gasped, gripping the table's edge.

Without hesitation, Ben leaned forward and pumped the scooter for speed. "Guess it's time to catch some air!" he shouted.

He hit the slanted shelf like a ramp, launching himself high into the air. The crowd in Fairy Tail cheered as the scooter soared, Ben clutching the handlebars with a wide-eyed grin.

The hamster leapt too, gaping jaws snapping toward him. But fortune was on Ben's side—its teeth just barely missed as he sailed overhead. With a crash, the monster tumbled between two shelving units, wedging itself awkwardly.

Ben landed with a heavy thud on another shelf, the scooter's impact knocking it over. The collapsing metal toppled into the shelves around it, creating a domino effect. In seconds, a mountain of cages and displays came crashing down onto the hamster, burying it under the wreckage with a muffled squeal.

The guild erupted in applause.

"YEAH! That's what I'm talking about!" Natsu whooped, punching the air.

"Manly thinking!" Elfman bellowed.

"Smart and daring. He didn't even need powers," Levy said with a grin.

"Incredible," Laki breathed.

On screen, Gwen and Max rushed forward. "Ben!" they exclaimed in unison, relief clear in their voices.

Ben struck a triumphant pose, arms crossed as he stood beside the pinned beast. "Uh-huh! That's right! Not even giant hamsters can mess with Ben Tennyson!"

There were mixed responses.

Cana laughed and clapped. "Kid's got style, I'll give him that."

Carla, however, crossed her arms with a huff. "Honestly. The arrogance is almost unbearable."

Erza nodded firmly. "A true warrior shows humility in victory. He could stand to learn restraint."

Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy give Erza a side-eye, simultaneously thinking, That's rich coming from her!

Juvia, dreamily oblivious to the criticism, sighed. "Ben can be proud if he wants… Juvia would praise him all day…"

Wendy buried her red face in her hands. "Juviaaa…"

Ben, meanwhile, coughed into his hand and blushed.

"Clean-up on aisle six," an employee's deadpan voice echoed over the store intercom.

That broke the tension instantly—half the Fairy Tail guild burst out laughing.

Back in the scene, Ben's victory grin froze as the ground rumbled again. His head snapped toward the sound—Animo's massive frog hopped into view, its bulbous throat croaking ominously.

"YOUNG FOOL!" Animo bellowed, his voice dripping with theatrical pride. "You cannot stop me! I will turn Washington D.C. into… Washington B.C.!"

With a mad laugh, he vaulted from the frog onto the mutated parrot's back. The giant bird screeched, smashing through a skylight as it carried him into the night sky, the frog bounding after them in great leaps.

"That… that was the title drop, wasn't it?" Levy blinked.

"Yup," Lucy confirmed, raising a brow. "Pretty sure he just said the episode name out loud."

"Washington… B.C.?" Mirajane repeated curiously. "What could he mean by that?"

The guild turned toward Ben expectantly.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, Washington D.C. is the capital of my country—the United States."

"So… it's like Crocus for Fiore?" Lucy guessed.

"Exactly," Ben nodded. "As for B.C… in my world, that's how we measure time periods that go back over two thousand years ago."

Levy tapped her chin thoughtfully. "So Dr. Animo was trying to say he'd roll history back to prehistoric times? That's…" She trailed off.

"Ridiculous," Carla finished.

Natsu tilted his head. "Wait, wait, so… he wants to turn the future into the past? Isn't that just… dumb?"

Gray shrugged. "He's a villain, man. Dumb plans are kind of their thing."

The store manager hurried over, still wide-eyed from the chaos. "You saved the store! If there's anything I can do to repay you… anything you want!"

Young Ben blinked in surprise, his mouth opening slightly. Then, his eyes slid toward the display case where a gold Sumo Slammer card gleamed under the lights. A wide grin spread across his face.

"Oh no…" Erza muttered knowingly, already crossing her arms.

Carla narrowed her eyes. "He's going to ask for the card, isn't he?"

"Of course he is," Gray said. "But why wouldn't he? The guy offered."

"Well, now that you mention it…" Ben started, already walking forward.

Before he could take another step, Max swooped in, threw Ben over his shoulder, and walked away.

"Grandpa?!" Ben cried indignantly. "I was finally gonna score the gold Sumo Slammer card!"

"No time for that now, Ben," Max told him firmly. "We have a giant parrot to follow."

Gwen snickered at Ben's misfortune.

Some of the guild groaned.

"C'mon, what's the big deal?" Natsu complained. "The kid earned it!"

"Max was right," Erza countered sharply. "Priorities. The safety of countless lives is far more important than some little card."

"Still, the manager did offer first," Mirajane pointed out gently. "There's nothing wrong with accepting a reward after doing a good deed."

Ben sighed and rubbed his neck. "I mean, it really would have taken like two seconds," he admitted. But then his expression sobered, his voice quieter. "But… I get now what Grandpa Max was trying to get through to me."

Wendy tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Ben glanced toward the screen, a faint, knowing smile tugging at his lips. "You'll see soon. Learn from my mistakes so you don't make the same ones."

The scene shifted, showing the Rust Bucket roaring down the empty nighttime streets, headlights bouncing as Max pushed it harder than usual. Overhead, the mutated parrot flapped steadily, Dr. Animo clinging to its back.

"Wait—that thing can keep up with a giant bird?" Gray asked, his brows furrowing.

Ben smirked. "Yeah, well, it's not like the parrot was flying at full speed. Thing was huge and heavy—probably slowed it down a lot. Gave us a fighting chance."

Max gripped the wheel with an almost nostalgic smile. "Ah, just like the good old days—before I retired."

Gwen shot him a look. "So, exactly what kind of plumber were you, Grandpa?"

Several wizards leaned forward slightly at the question.

Max stiffened. "Er—yuh—" He coughed, tugging at his collar. "A darn good one!" he said quickly, forcing a laugh.

"Suspicious," Levy murmured.

"He's hiding something," Erza concluded flatly, arms folded.

"A plumber? He doesn't look like the type to just fix sinks," Happy said to Natsu.

Natsu snorted. "Bet the old man used to beat up monsters with a plunger!"

Ben blinked twice. That…actually isn't very far off from the truth.

Several guild members chuckled at that image.

Seeing curious gazes directed to him, Ben raised his hands innocently. "Hey, don't look at me. Gwen and I were just as curious back then. You'll have to wait and find out like we did."

"Tch," Gray clicked his tongue. "And I thought Mystogan was the one with secrets."

"Yeah, I don't buy that plumber story either," Cana muttered. "No way someone this guy was just unclogging drains for a living."

On screen, Ben slumped against the passenger seat window, his face scrunched with disappointment. Max noticed and gave him a side glance. "Uh, Ben, what's the matter?"

"I save an entire MegaMart from being a giant hamster's chew toy and what do I get? Nothing. It's not fair…" Ben muttered bitterly, crossing his arms.

Ben winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… hearing it now, I really do sound like a brat."

Juvia leaned forward gently. "You were young and inexperienced. Don't be too hard on yourself."

"Being a hero isn't about others knowing you did something good. It's about you knowing you did something good." Grandpa Max said sagely. "Being a hero is its own reward."

Makarov nodded sagely. "Well said. That's the true spirit of a guild wizard, too. We don't protect the people for fame."

Erza gave a sharp nod of agreement. "A hero should not seek recognition, only justice."

"Yeah, but still," Cana said, swirling her drink. "A free round of drinks—or a gold trading card—doesn't exactly hurt either."

On-screen, Ben rolled his eyes. "What? Were you reading the greeting cards at the MegaMart?" he asked sarcastically.

"Well, yes," Max admitted with complete seriousness.

Many in the guild erupted in laughter. Even Erza cracked the faintest of smiles at Max's dry honesty.

"Okay, I didn't expect him to actually say yes," Lucy admitted, giggling.

"That old man's got a great sense of humor," Natsu said, grinning.

Meanwhile, Gwen's fingers flew over her laptop keys. Her eyes widened as she gasped. "Bingo! Five years ago, Dr. Animo was a promising researcher in veterinary science. But it turned out he was doing all these twisted genetic experiments where he was mutating animals. And when he didn't win some big prize called The Verities Award, he flipped out." She turned the laptop so Max and Ben could see. "Anything about this sound familiar, Ben?" she asked, her tone smug.

Ben scowled, angrily turning his gaze out the window instead of answering.

Murmurs spread through the Fairy Tail guild.

"…That's almost the same as what Ben just did earlier," Levy noted thoughtfully. "Wanting the card so badly and then complaining when he didn't get it."

"That's not the same at all!" Natsu protested instantly. "Ben didn't mutate hamsters and birds just to get his way!"

Juvia nodded firmly, glaring at Levy for even suggesting it. "Exactly. Dr. Animo is hurting innocent animals for selfish goals. Ben just wanted a trading card. It is not a fair comparison!"

"Still…" Lucy said softly, glancing at Ben. "I think Gwen's point is that obsessing too much over rewards can be dangerous. Maybe she was trying to give Ben a wake-up call."

Elfman folded his arms and nodded. "Being obsessed with something you think you deserve—that's what's not manly."

Ben exhaled heavily, rubbing his temple. "I'll admit, it stung hearing her compare me to Animo. But…" he shrugged faintly, "she wasn't completely wrong to push me. I had to learn being a hero isn't about prizes."

Makarov stroked his beard with a solemn hum. "A dangerous obsession may start small, but left unchecked, it can consume one's path entirely. Ben was lucky he had Gwen and Max to guide him."

"You have no idea how right you are," Ben admitted.

Max scowled as he watched the parrot disappear between the tall buildings. "We've lost him. He could be going anywhere in Washington D.C.," he said in irritation.

"Or 'Washington B.C.'…" Gwen murmured, recalling Animo's earlier pun.

Ben suddenly gasped, sitting upright. "That's it! I know where he's going! The Natural History Museum!"

"A museum?" Gray blinked. "Why would a guy obsessed with mutating animals go there?"

Levy tilted her head, thinking aloud. "Museums usually have fossils, bones, and preserved creatures. Maybe… he wants to use his technology on them?"

"But why? Unless…" Lucy trailed off thoughtfully.

The camera panned to the Natural History Museum, the Rust Bucket parked out front. The trio marched toward the grand staircase leading to the entrance, Ben stooping down when something caught his eye. He picked up an oversized green feather, easily longer than his arm.

"Something tells me we're on the right track. Good thinking, Ben!" Max said approvingly.

Ben puffed out his chest proudly, only to be immediately undercut by Gwen. "Guess even a doofus can surprise you once in a while."

"And you should know!" Ben fired back, smirking as Gwen narrowed her eyes.

Several laughed at the cousinly exchange.

"Ha! Those two really are just like you and Gray!" Happy chirped, pointing his paw at Natsu.

"Oi, what's that supposed to mean?!" Natsu barked, glaring back.

Gray smirked, arms crossed. "He's saying you can't go five minutes without picking a fight. Sound familiar?"

Lucy sweat-dropped, murmuring, "You're just as bad…"

"Shut it, Stripper!" Natsu growled.

"See?" Cana teased, swirling her mug. "It's exactly the same."

Levy tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Actually… I think it's closer to Natsu and Gajeel. That kind of sharp bickering, like they're waiting for an excuse to one-up each other."

Gajeel grunted. "Tch. Don't lump me in with the pipsqueak. I don't waste time with stupid back-and-forths."

"Yeah right, Metal-for-Brains!" Natsu snapped, already leaning toward him.

The two butted heads, growling, while Lucy sighed. "Honestly… it's like looking in a mirror with those kids."

The museum's wide hall was dimly lit, towering skeletons and stuffed beasts looming in glass cases. Ben's sneaker nudged a cardboard box lying open on the floor — the words "M Mart Electronics" stamped clearly across it. He frowned, glancing up toward the giant mammoth display.

And there, beneath the looming tusks, was Dr. Animo, hunched over and fiddling with his Transmodulator.

The villain froze when he noticed them. His lips curled into a snarl. "You… are very persistent. I HATE persistent."

Natsu grinned wide. "Heh, then he definitely wouldn't like us very much!"

"Persistent is our specialty," Gray smirked.

"I'd say causing property damage is more this guild's specialty," Ben commented.

"You got no room to talk, Tennyson." Gajeel retorted, grinning.

Ben shrugged. "Least I clean up my messes… These days anyway."

Ben stepped forward, balling his fists. "We all know about you and your freakazoid experiments, Dr. Animo! It's over!"

Dr. Animo threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the cavernous room. "Over? Oh, but it's only just begun…!" His wild eyes gleamed as he gestured at the machine. "You see, I only needed a few components to push my work into phase two: the reanimation of dormant cells."

The guild's reactions were immediate.

"Reani-what now?" Elfman blinked. "Sounds complicated."

"Dormant cells?" Gray frowned, scratching his head. "I don't get it."

Natsu tilted his head. "So… what, he's makin' zombies? Like undead animals?!"

Lucy gasped, pressing a hand over her mouth. "Wait—that's what he means! He's talking about bringing the dead back to life!"

The room filled with a ripple of shock.

"No way…" Levy muttered, her eyes widening. "If he has fossils and preserved tissue, he could theoretically—"

"—revive extinct creatures," Erza finished grimly, her tone sharp.

"By the stars…" Makarov breathed, his brows knitting. "This man is dabbling in powers far beyond his control. Reviving what has already passed on? That is the height of arrogance."

Wendy stiffened, her little hands clenched. "If he really can do that… does that mean he could…" she hesitated, eyes darting toward Natsu. "…bring back dragons?"

Natsu's grin faltered for once, his fists lowering. "Tch… don't tease me with that."

Ben sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, you're all on the right track. He wasn't just trying to mutate living animals anymore—he wanted to bring back the ones long gone."

Erza's eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "This is dangerous sorcery."

Young Ben blinked, tilting his head. "Er, does this guy come with subtitles?"

Animo sneered, clearly enjoying the suspense. "Breathing life back into that which has long since been lifeless. Observe!" He twisted the dial twice.

The transmodulator sparked violently, shooting twin beams of green light into the massive mammoth display at the center of the hall. What had been a museum showpiece—an old skeleton covered with fabricated fur and synthetic muscle—began to shimmer. The fake parts dissolved like smoke. In their place, real muscle fibers rippled into existence, wrapping around ancient bones. Coarse brown hair sprouted across its hulking form, until with a shuddering gasp—

"BWAAAAAOOOO!"

The mammoth trumpeted, eyes blazing to life, as it stomped down from its pedestal, shaking the floor with each massive step.

The Fairy Tail guild erupted.

"WHAT?!" Everyone in the hall demanded in unison, voices overlapping in stunned disbelief.

"This… this is impossible!" Levy gasped.

Lucy's face drained of color. "That's necromancy!"

"Forbidden magic…?" Erza muttered, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "To breathe life into what no longer exists…"

"Even among wizards, that's something dangerous to toy with." Mira added, her tone worried.

"IT'S HUGE!" Natsu cried out, half-terrified, half-excited. "Wait—so he really could bring back Dragons?!"

The hall went quiet at that, the thought settling heavily on them all.

Ben raised his hands quickly, shaking his head. "I can understand why you guys think it's magic with how this world is. But it isn't. Just science gone amok."

"Same difference if it makes some zombie hairy elephant," Elfman muttered nervously.

Ben sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's not about spells or rituals, guys. It's about one guy pushing technology way past where it should ever go. If magic's about the heart, this was science without one."

Makarov hummed thoughtfully, stroking his beard. "A different path leading to the same abyss… dangerous knowledge with no wisdom guiding it."

"Behold the genius that is Dr. Animo!" the mad scientist declared triumphantly, his arms spread wide before he turned and bolted deeper into the museum.

"Now would be a really good time to go hero…?" Gwen said dryly, casting a look at her cousin.

Ben smirked. "No duh. You guys get Animo, I'll take care of 'Jumbo.'"

With that, he slammed his hand down on the Omnitrix.

At first, the change looked oddly familiar—his veins bulged, glowing faintly as they snaked up his arm, spreading all the way to his eye. The iris flashed bright orange. The camera swung to his back, showing his body stretching taller, broader, until muscle layered on muscle like coiled steel.

Then—BAM! Another pair of arms exploded from beneath the first, equally massive and corded with power.

The perspective spun around to reveal him fully: a towering red-skinned alien, shoulders like boulders, chest like a wall of stone, and four arms flexing in perfect unison. Two sets of burning eyes narrowed with determination before the alien threw back his head and let out a thunderous roar.

Several flinched at the transformation sequence.

"Eeeesh…" Cana cringed, squinting at the grotesque bulging veins. "That is way too much muscle in one go."

"That…really does seem like that hurt." Lucy commented.

Juvia clasped her hands to her chest, worry all over her face. "Ben, you… you really don't feel anything when your body changes like that?"

Ben chuckled and waved off her concern. "Promise, Juvia. It looks intense, I know—but it doesn't hurt. Honestly? It feels more like a really good stretch after a long nap."

"A stretch?!" Aizack shouted, pointing. "Your entire skeleton is breaking and rearranging!"

"Still counts as a stretch," Ben shrugged.

Gwen and Max both gasped, their eyes widening at the sheer size and overwhelming bulk of Ben's new form. The red-skinned titan stood towering above them, four rippling arms flexed and ready, each muscle knotting with raw power.

"Let's wrestle," Four Arms growled, his deep voice reverberating like distant thunder.

Then he charged. The museum floor quaked beneath his massive footsteps as he barreled straight at the mammoth. With a roar of effort, he seized the creature by its enormous tusks, muscles bulging as he wrenched it aside. In one mighty heave, the prehistoric beast toppled, crashing onto its side with a rumble that shook the entire exhibit hall.

"YEEEAAAHHH! That's how you do it!" Natsu bellowed, pumping his fists.

"Now that's a real man's fight!" Elfman roared, slamming his fist into his palm with fiery excitement.

Even Gajeel cracked a grin, his sharp teeth flashing. "Heh. Things are getting good."

Several of the men in the guild shouted encouragement all at once, voices booming with excitement. "Kick its butt, kid!" "Show that overgrown elephant who's boss!"

Lucy, meanwhile, tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… wait. Doesn't he seem… smaller? Less muscular than when Ben transforms?"

"Well, yeah. I was only ten back then." Ben said. "The Omnitrix synced with my younger body, so the transformations came out less developed compared to now."

"Ohhh…" Levy nodded, her curiosity satisfied. "So even the alien forms reflect your growth."

"Still plenty of muscle for the job," Natsu grinned, eyes glued to the fight.

"More than plenty," Elfman agreed, shouting again, "WRESTLE IT TO THE GROUND!"

Carla rolled her eyes at the commotion. "Honestly. Boys and their ridiculous obsession with brute strength."

Wendy just giggled, hands clasped with excitement. "Still, Ben is amazing though, isn't he?"

Carla sighed, begrudgingly admitting, "Yes, I suppose so…"

Happy flew over. "Am I amazing too, Carla?"

"Buzz off, tomcat." Carla gave him the cold shoulder.

Max and Gwen sprinted out of the exhibit, leaving Four Arms to wrestle with the prehistoric behemoth. But as soon as they rounded the corner, a piercing screech filled the air—Animo's giant parrot swooped down from above, its massive wings kicking up a gust of wind that nearly knocked them off balance.

Max instinctively moved in front of Gwen, shielding her with his arm. But Gwen's sharp eyes darted around the museum, scanning for anything they could use. Her gaze fell on a nearby caveman exhibit, where a crude spear leaned against a wax figure. Without hesitation, she snatched it, spun it around in her hands with surprising grace, and stepped forward.

The parrot dove at them with its talons outstretched—only for Gwen to whirl the spear like a staff and strike it across the beak. The bird shrieked and tried again, but she met it head-on, jabbing and smacking it with quick, precise movements. After a flurry of blows, the giant parrot squawked in frustration and flapped away, retreating deeper into the museum.

"Ben's not the only one with skills," Gwen declared proudly, twirling the spear one last time before lowering it to her side.

"Whoa!" Gray whistled. "Didn't think she had moves like that."

Erza's eyes gleamed with approval. "Well done indeed."

"Yeah!" Wendy said with a smile. "She was amazing!"

Elfman, however, frowned and crossed his arms. "Wait, wait. Why didn't the old man fight? He just stood there while she handled it!"

Ben chuckled knowingly. "Grandpa was probably about to step in, but Gwen surprised him. He didn't expect her to take control like that."

Gajeel snorted. "So you had the muscle and your cousin had the style."

Carla nodded once in agreement. "Indeed. She's sharp. And she didn't hesitate. She's one you can take notes on Wendy."

Wendy nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling.

Ben pouted, murmuring, "I got style too…"

Makarov chuckled warmly. "Seems the whole family's got some spark to them."

On screen, Grandpa Max and Gwen skidded to a halt as they entered the next exhibit hall. At the far end, Dr. Animo grinned madly while twisting the dial on his chest, firing another green beam at a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton at the center of the room.

Before their eyes, sinew and muscle began crawling over the bones like a grotesque tapestry weaving itself together. Flesh wrapped itself over the frame, followed by rough scales and leathery skin. With a horrible, wet sound, an eyeball formed and blinked inside its skull.

The colossal beast lowered its head, its maw splitting open in a thunderous roar that shook the very walls of the museum. The floor trembled under its first step forward, claws scraping across the polished tile.

Natsu's eyes gleamed with dangerous excitement. "That thing is AWESOME!"

Gray smacked the back of his head. "Idiot! That's not awesome! That thing's huge—it could eat them in one bite!"

Erza's eyes narrowed. "Their situation is becoming more dire with every creature he returns to life."

Makarov stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Now that I think about it, Animo's ray reminds me of that magic we once encountered in that village—the spell that brought inanimate objects to life."

"So…" Wendy gasped, her eyes shining with both wonder and dread. "Those animals… are really alive?"

Ben nodded seriously. "Yeah. Totally real. That's a Tyrannosaurus Rex. And the other one—the big, hairy elephant—that was a Woolly Mammoth. Both of them are from my world, but they went extinct ages ago."

"So they were real animals that lived in your world's past?" Levy asked.

"Exactly," Ben explained. "Sort of like how Dragons once existed here. Honestly though, I wouldn't be surprised if Earthland had creatures like them too. Maybe they just haven't been discovered yet—or maybe they really are gone here too."

The footage cut back to the mammoth, which slammed its tusks into Four Arms and hurled the towering alien straight into a wall with a thunderous crash. Dust rained down as the impact shook the room. The mammoth bellowed and charged again, its massive feet pounding against the floor.

Four Arms staggered to his feet, shaking his head before charging forward himself. He drove a mighty fist into the mammoth's trunk, forcing the beast to rear back in pain.

But the mammoth wasn't done. With a sudden twist, it hooked Four Arms with its tusks and flung him sky-high, sending him crashing through a display skeleton with a bone-snapping clatter. Four Arms groaned, dangling upside-down from the wreckage.

"Seriously? He hasn't beaten it yet?" Gray frowned, unimpressed.

"Yeah, come on! Four Arms, all that muscle, and he's still struggling?!" Gajeel scoffed.

Ben raised his hands defensively. "Hey! In my defense, that thing was a LOT tougher than it looked, alright? I was ten—still figuring things out. Not exactly peak experience level!"

"Yeah, cut him some slack!" Wendy chimed in warmly. "He was just a kid."

Natsu grinned ear to ear. "Nah, this is perfect. A tough fight's the best kind of fight!"

"You are going DOWN, Peanuts!" Four Arms declared with a growl.

The mammoth let out another trumpet-like roar and barreled toward him as Four Arms returned to his feet. But this time, Four Arms braced himself, grabbed hold of its trunk mid-charge, and with a roar of his own began to spin. Faster and faster he whirled, the mammoth's legs flailing as its massive body lifted off the ground. Then, with a heave, Four Arms released his grip, sending the mammoth sailing across the exhibit. It slammed into the wall with an earth-shaking thud before collapsing in a heap, unconscious.

The guild hall erupted.

"YEEEAAAHHHH!" Elfman bellowed, throwing his fist in the air. "Now THAT'S a manly throw!"

"Impressive strength…" Erza admitted, her eyes widening at the display.

Natsu hopped onto his seat, shouting at the screen. "Atta boy! That's how you do it!"

Even Gajeel smirked grudgingly. "Hmph. Not bad, brat."

Carla, arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "Honestly, boys and their brute force."

Four Arms swayed back and forth, his massive shoulders hunched as he clutched his stomach. His four eyes crossed slightly, and he slapped a huge red hand over his mouth. "Ohhh, I think—ugh—I'm gonna hurl…" he groaned, wobbling on his feet.

"Pfft—!" Natsu snorted. "All that muscle and he can't handle a little spinning?!"

Gray folded his arms with a smirk. "Bold words coming from the guy who can't ride in a train without puking."

"Shut up!" Natsu shot back, glaring as the room roared harder.

Elfman slapped the table with a booming laugh. "A real MAN doesn't puke in the middle of victory! You gotta hold it in, kid!"

Ben dragged a hand down his face with a groan. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

Dr. Animo scrambled onto the bony back of the towering T-Rex, his laughter echoing through the museum halls. "I'd love to stay, but I need to claim the award I so richly deserve!" he declared smugly.

The T-Rex swung its tail, nearly knocking Max and Gwen flat.

"That man deserves no reward!" Erza snapped. "Only punishment for twisting life so cruelly."

"Yeah, a reward for what?" Cana added with a scowl. "For being the biggest creep in a lab coat?"

Before anyone could respond, a rush of feathers sliced through the air. The giant parrot swooped down with a piercing screech. Gwen gasped in alarm but didn't have time to react as its talons clamped around her shoulders.

"BEN!" she cried, struggling in its grip as the bird yanked her off the ground.

"Gwen!" Wendy exclaimed, clapping her hands over her mouth in worry.

"Dammit, it's gonna get away with her!" Natsu shouted, half rising from his seat as though he could jump in himself.

"Ben!" Max's voice rang with urgency as he called to his grandson.

Without hesitation, Four Arms vaulted clear over Max in a single mighty leap, shaking the museum floor as he landed in pursuit of the parrot. His four fists clenched with determination as he barreled after the giant bird.

As the echo of his footsteps faded, Max bent down and picked up a scrap of paper that had fluttered to the floor. He turned it over in his hand.

"Hey…" Lucy pointed out, leaning forward with narrowed eyes. "That's the same paper Dr. Animo was looking at earlier."

Levy tilted her head thoughtfully. "You think it's important? Some kind of clue?"

"Who cares about paper!" Natsu shouted, waving his arms in frustration. "The girl's in trouble! He better smash that bird before it's too late!"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck, half-smiling. "The paper did turn out to be important later, but right then? Natsu's right. Saving her came first."

Four Arms managed to grab hold of the giant parrot's feathers, glaring up at it. "No 'bye-bye' for you," he growled, digging his massive fists in for leverage.

But the bird shrieked and with a sudden violent flap, the feathers tore loose in his grip. Four Arms plummeted from the sky, while the parrot carried Gwen off in its talons.

Gasps rang out in the guild hall. The sight of him falling from such a height made several tense in alarm.

And then the Omnitrix began to beep and blink red.

"Aw c'mon!" Natsu shouted, indignant. "Such lousy timing!"

The transformation fizzled just as Four Arms hit the ground, dust and rubble exploding outward on impact.

The guild let out a chorus of relieved sighs when they saw the reversion happen only after he'd absorbed the worst of the fall.

Coughing, young Ben dragged himself out of the small crater, his expression twisted in panic. "GWEN!" he shouted, voice cracking with fear as he stumbled toward the direction the bird had flown, horror and desperation painted across his face.

"That poor girl…" Mira whispered, pressing a hand to her mouth.

Wendy clutched the hem of Ben's coat, her small voice trembling. "Being carried off like that… Gwen must be so scared…"

Ben placed a hand on her shoulder to help ease her tension.

Just then, the familiar rattle of an engine cut through the tension. The Rust Bucket screeched to a stop beside Ben, the headlights glaring through the dust. The door swung open and Max leaned out, utterly calm despite the chaos. "Somebody call for a taxi?" he quipped.

A wave of relief and even a few chuckles broke out.

"Ha! Great timing, old man!" Natsu barked with a grin.

Still, others kept their focus on the larger problem.

"But we don't even know what Animo's really after yet," Levy pointed out, worry creeping into her voice.

"Forget Animo!" Elfman exclaimed. "The priority's the girl—she's in danger!"

Ben, panting, didn't hesitate. He scrambled toward the open door of the Rust Bucket, eyes blazing with one thought only: Save Gwen.

The parrot soared across the night sky, its massive wings beating like thunder as it clutched Gwen by the straps of her backpack. Yet, instead of shrieking or panicking, Gwen only looked put out—her arms crossed tight against her chest, brows furrowed in annoyance.

"'Spend a summer with your grandpa, honey. It'll be an adventure,'" she mimicked her mother's voice with dry sarcasm, rolling her eyes as if being carried off by a giant bird was just another inconvenience. The wind whipped her hair, but her glare stayed sharp, fixed on the horizon as they neared the Washington Monument.

"Pfft—she's not even scared?!" Natsu laughed, smacking the table. "That's awesome!"

Gray cracked a grin. "Kid's got nerves of steel."

Cana tipped her drink approvingly. "Told you—mini-Erza. Same energy. Look at her sass while she's in mortal danger."

Erza crossed her arms, giving a rare smirk. "Hmph. I can't argue with that."

Levy giggled. "She's so brave! I think Ben's not the only Tennyson with hero material."

Wendy smiled nervously. "It's kind of inspiring, isn't it? She's not letting fear win."

The screen cut to Dr. Animo, still perched proudly on the back of the towering T. Rex. The monstrous creature thundered forward, each step shaking the ground as it crushed through a building, sending debris flying.

The guild gasped.

"Is he insane?!" Mira's hands flew to her mouth. "He doesn't care if people are in those buildings!"

"Disregard for human life," Freed muttered darkly, his eyes narrowing. "Utterly vile."

Clinging to one of its massive toes was the glint of gold—the rare Sumo Slammer card, somehow caught in the chaos and dragged along with the beast.

Gray frowned. "And what are the odds of the card just getting stuck like that? Pretty convenient."

Levy adjusted her glasses with a thoughtful hum. "Still… it makes sense narratively. Ben's prize literally tied to Animo's chaos."

On screen, the mad scientist threw his head back, eyes wild, as he gloated:
"Ah, I do love my work."

Erza's fists clenched tight in her lap, her gaze narrowing like steel. "Work? This is nothing but an abomination. A desecration of life itself."

The T. Rex let out a bone-rattling roar, smashing aside what little remained of the structure in its way, the golden card still glittering mockingly against its talon.

Meanwhile, the scene cut back to Gwen, still dangling in the parrot's talons by her backpack straps. The girl's expression was more irritated than afraid as she fished into her pocket and pulled out a small, rectangular device.

"Well, my mom said only use in an emergency," she muttered dryly, flipping it open. She paused for half a beat, swinging in the air before adding flatly, "I guess this qualifies."

Several wizards tilted their heads.

"What's that?" Wendy blinked, pointing at the rectangular object in her hands.

"Oh, that's called a cellphone." Ben explained. "In my world, people use them to talk to each other over long distances. Kinda like your communication lacrima."

"Ohhh!" several voices chorused in understanding.

Levy perked up. "So… basically, portable communication magic without the magic."

Ben snapped his fingers. "Exactly!"

Natsu tilted his head. "But… how does it work without magic?"

"Technology," Ben said simply, shrugging. "Trust me, it's easier to just accept it than try to understand."

The Rust Bucket rumbled along the streets, Max at the wheel and Ben leaning out the passenger window, scanning the skies.

"No sign of beak-breath!" Young Ben called out, frustration clear in his voice.

"There can't be that many places for a parrot the size of an elephant to roost," Max reasoned grimly. He reached into his pocket and handed Ben a crumpled sheet of paper. "Here. Look at what Dr. Animo left behind."

Ben took it and smoothed it out, reading aloud: "'Dr. Kelly accepts Verities Award'." His eyes widened in realization. "He's gonna finally pick up on his award! We gotta stop him!"

Lucy leaned forward with a little "ah-ha!" gesture. "So it was a newspaper article."

Natsu frowned. "But wait… if it ticked him off so bad, why keep it around?"

Gajeel crossed his arms with a grunt. "Tch. Probably to keep the grudge fresh in his head. Like a reminder of what he was workin' toward."

"Spite as motivation," Erza said with clear disdain. "Pathetic."

"First thing's first," Max cut back in firmly, his tone reminding both Ben and the audience of his priorities. "We have to find your cousin."

As if on cue, a loud ring! echoed from the dashboard. Both Ben and Max startled, glancing at the old phone's screen where Gwen's name popped up.

"Gwen!" they exclaimed together in relief.

Max snatched up the phone. "Hang on, Gwen—we're coming!" he told his granddaughter with sharp urgency, determination flashing in his eyes.

The scene shifted to show Gwen barely managing to cling to the sharp spike of the Washington Monument's peak.

"I can't hold on much longer!" she cried out in panic, her knuckles white as her phone slipped free from her grip.

The cellphone plummeted, smashing into pieces on the ground below just as the Rust Bucket screeched to a halt nearby.

Max's face went pale. "Oh no… Gwen'll be next," he said, his voice low with dread.

"Crap—!" Natsu shot up, fists clenched. "She's gonna fall!"

"Yo Ben—or young Ben! You gonna transform yet or what?" Cana barked.

As if on cue, Young Ben looked down, breath quick and heavy. The Omnitrix blinked and turned green, signaling its recharge complete. His face hardened with resolve.

"Not if I can help it," he declared, raising his wrist. With one solid motion he slammed down the faceplate. "It's hero time!"

Ben returned to his green, transformation void. Veins and muscles immediately around the Omnitrix swelled, pulsating for an instant before the device sank into Ben's wrist. His skin shifted sickly green, his hands warping into black claws. Two bulbous, insectoid eyestalks sprouted grotesquely from either side of his head as his face darkened pitch-black. The camera swung around to his back as a sudden tear of flesh gave way to sharp, translucent dragonfly-like wings that buzzed to life. His torso split open to reveal two pairs of insect legs jutting outward, and a menacing leaf-shaped stinger coiled behind him. Finally, the Omnitrix symbol burned bright in the center of his head as the shot pulled back to reveal the monstrous insectoid in full.

With a loud, high-pitched bzzzzzzt, his wings beat rapidly, kicking up dust as he launched into the air.

The Fairy Tail guild had an instant, visceral reaction.

"GAHHHHH!" Lucy recoiled, hugging her arms around herself. "That's… that's gross!"

Levy covered her mouth. "O-oh… I wasn't ready for that one."

Cana grimaced, tilting her drink away as if even looking at him might contaminate it. "Ugh. Hard pass."

Even Juvia, normally supportive, struggled. "Juvia… wants to say he is… charming… but… Juvia cannot."

Natsu tilted his head, nose wrinkling. "What the heck even is that thing?"

Gray raised a brow. "Bug-boy."

Ben smirked knowingly. "That's Stinkfly. One of my classic forms—fast in the air, shoots goo, stinger tail… basically a nightmare bug with wings."

"Never seen you use him," Erza noted, arms crossed.

"Yeah, don't you have like, cooler flying forms now?" Happy asked.

"True," Ben admitted, shrugging. "I don't get many chances to pull him out anymore with so many other flight options. But hey—he's got his uses."

"Hopefully not too often," Gray muttered.

"Yeesh, no kidding," Lucy agreed.

Stinkfly shot upward with a loud bzzzzt, his wings buzzing frantically as he rocketed through the air toward the Washington Monument. The camera cut to Gwen, her tiny hands trembling as she clung desperately to the monument's spike.

Her fingers slipped, and with a terrified scream, she lost her grip—plummeting into open air.

Gasps erupted around the guild hall.

"GWEN!" Wendy yelped, clutching Ben's arm in alarm.

"Oh no!" Levy cried, covering her mouth.

"Ben, you better—" Lucy started, but then her eyes widened as the alien bug barreled into view.

With perfect timing, Stinkfly swooped underneath, catching Gwen in his arms before she could fall too far. "Gotcha!" the Lepidopterran declared, wings beating hard to steady them both.

"YES!" Natsu pumped a fist in excitement. "Nice one, bug-boy!"

"Phew…" Happy exhaled with relief. "That was close!"

Gwen blinked up at her strange rescuer in confusion, still catching her breath. "Huh?" she muttered, her tone unsure. Then, recognition lit her face as she realized who had saved her. "Butterfly!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Stinkfly!" the alien corrected her, turning both eyestalks to glance back at her.

"Yo Ben," Nab asked, "Why on earth would you name it that?"

Ben shrugged, smirking. "Hey, if it fits…"

"Disgusting, but accurate," Gajeel snickered.

Meanwhile, Gwen relaxed slightly in his hold, sighing in relief. "Yeah, whatever," she muttered, brushing her hair out of her face. "Anyway, thanks for the save."

The cousins shared a brief, genuine moment of warmth. But it didn't last. Gwen's expression suddenly shifted, her eyes going wide as she pointed. "Incoming!" she shouted in alarm.

The screen panned to reveal the massive, mutated parrot swooping back toward them, its beak snapping with dangerous intent.

"Hang on!" Stinkfly barked, gripping Gwen tightly as his wings flared, taking rapid evasive action to avoid the bird's strike.

The guild was on edge again, leaning forward.

"That thing isn't giving up!" Elfman growled.

"Kick its tail, bug-boy!" Natsu shouted eagerly.

Max skidded to a stop at the base of the monument, his eyes darting up to the chaotic battle overhead. The camera swung skyward, catching the dizzying sight of Stinkfly weaving and darting through the air while the mutated parrot dove after him, its talons slashing dangerously close.

"Whoa! Watch the nails there, Polly!" the insectoid alien taunted, banking hard to avoid getting clawed.

The Fairy Tail guild collectively winced.

"This is crazy—trying to dodge that thing with Gwen still on his back?!" Lucy cried.

Juvia clutched her hands together nervously. "One wrong move—"

"—and splat," Gajeel cut in, smirking darkly.

Meanwhile, Gwen clung for dear life, her face turning pale as the ground spun beneath them. "Oh, I think I'm… gonna be sick," she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut.

"I don't blame her," Wendy said softly, "I'd be dizzy too…"

"Spew on me, and you'd better learn to fly, quick," Stinkfly warned her sharply.

Several wizards chuckled at that line.

"Trust Ben to sass in the middle of a battle," Cana said between laughs.

Meanwhile, the scene cut inside the Washington Monument. Max was hauling himself up the narrow staircase, sweat beading on his brow as he dragged his legs up another step. He let out a low groan. "Like it would've killed the Founding Fathers to install an elevator…" he muttered bitterly.

Lucy tilted her head curiously, turning to Ben. "The Founding Fathers… were they the kings of your country or something?"

Ben chuckled. "Nah, not kings. More like… the leaders who helped establish how our country started. It's a really long story though. I'll explain it another time."

The camera panned back to Stinkfly, still locked in a deadly mid-air chase with the mutated parrot snapping at his wings. He caught sight of Max waving frantically from one of the monument's narrow windows. "I can't shake cracker-breath," Stinkfly shouted to Gwen. "You're gonna have to trust me."

"Trust you?!" Gwen yelped, her eyes widening in alarm.

Before she could argue, Stinkfly suddenly twisted, letting her slip from his back—only to swoop and snatch her up by his hands. Gwen's scream pierced the air, echoing down the monument as the ground loomed far, far below.

"Poor girl…" Lucy winced, pressing her hands together nervously. "I'd be just as terrified if I were her."

"Kid's got guts," Cana admitted, sipping from her mug. "I'd have passed out by now."

"Guts, or just no choice," Levy said softly, though she too looked tense.

Inside the monument, Max leaned dangerously out the window, his arms outstretched. "Come to Grandpa…!" he urged, readying himself.

"Risky," Gray muttered with a frown. "If he misses—"

"—they're toast," Gajeel finished bluntly.

"But what else can they do?" Wendy countered, worry creasing her face.

"Sometimes there's no time for perfect options," Erza said, her tone sharp. Her eyes then narrowed toward Present-Ben. "You mentioned Stinkfly could shoot goo. Why didn't you use that to incapacitate the parrot? It would have ended things quicker."

Ben grinned sheepishly. "Didn't know how to use that ability back then. I was still figuring him out."

Back on-screen, Stinkfly beat his wings furiously, angling toward Max. "Now!" the Lepidopterran shouted. With precision, he dropped Gwen from his hands—straight into Max's waiting arms.

Max caught her against his chest, grunting with the impact but holding her tight. Relief spread across his weathered face.

The guild collectively exhaled as well.

"She's safe…" Wendy whispered, her shoulders loosening.

"About time," Gray muttered.

Max dragged Gwen back inside the window, steadying her on her feet. But before they could catch their breath, the mutated parrot shrieked and dove straight at them, talons outstretched.

The guild leaned forward in alarm.

The panic was cut short when Stinkfly suddenly rammed into the beast's side, knocking it away from the monument in a shoulder-first dive. The parrot squawked angrily as it was shoved off course, wings flailing.

"Nice hit!" Natsu grinned, pumping his fist.

Even Cana whistled. "Didn't think Bug-Boy had it in him."

Max, gripping Gwen protectively, looked back at his grandson. "Go! Stop Animo. We're all right."

Gwen groaned, clutching her stomach as the adrenaline faded. "Speak for yourself," she mumbled, looking positively green.

The guild chuckled at her dry humor, though a few winced at how nauseous she looked.

"Poor girl just went through a free-fall. Cut her some slack," Mira said sympathetically.

"Still funny though," Natsu snickered.

Stinkfly gave a quick nod, his eyestalks swiveling as he locked onto the distant Dr. Animo. Without another word, he zipped away, wings buzzing furiously.

"'You're alive, brat. Be thankful for that,'" Gajeel grumbled, rolling his eyes.

Meanwhile, at Kelly Industries, Dr. Kelly stood proudly before a group of distinguished guests, leading them through the pristine halls of his company. At last, he stopped at a display case and gestured with flourish.

"And here is my Verities Award," he announced, his voice brimming with pride. The polished plaque gleamed under the lights, perfectly displayed. "Of course, it was an honor just to be nominated with such a distinguished group of scientists." Kelly chuckled, modest on the surface though his chest puffed just a little.

CRASH!

Glass exploded inward as the towering form of a genetically-modified Tyrannosaurus burst through the wall, its massive jaws snapping at the air. Screams filled the room as VIPs scattered in panic.

Standing proudly on the beast's back was none other than Dr. Animo. He leapt down with theatrical flourish, coat tails whipping dramatically. "Kelly! I believe you have something of mine!" His voice dripped with malice as his gaze zeroed in on the Verities Award.

Kelly backed up, horrified.

Animo lunged, snatching the award from its pedestal with both hands. His crazed smile stretched ear to ear as he raised it above his head.

"I'd like to thank the committee for this honor!" he proclaimed, as though he were genuinely accepting the accolade.

"...Is this guy serious?" Gray deadpanned, arms crossed.

"Definitely lost his marbles," Cana muttered.

"Ya think he ever had marbles to begin with?" Gajeel asked flatly.

"Insane or not, he's dangerous," Erza said firmly, her eyes narrowing at the screen.

Lucy frowned. "It's so strange though… he doesn't even want recognition from his peers, not really. He just wants to take it."

"And talk like he earned it," Wendy added softly. "That's… kind of sad."

The T. Rex roared, its massive head swinging low as it snapped its jaws toward Dr. Kelly. The scientist froze in terror, hands raised uselessly as the beast's teeth glinted under the fluorescent lights.

Before Kelly could become a meal, Stinkfly swooped in with surprising speed, his four wings buzzing loudly. "Not on my watch!" the Lepidopterran shouted, slamming a punch into the dinosaur's snout. The T. Rex reeled back with a guttural growl—but only for a moment. Its muscular tail whipped around with brutal force, swatting Stinkfly out of the air and sending him crashing through a support beam and into a pile of rubble.

Stinkfly groaned as he pushed himself upright, shaking off dust. But then, among the debris, his eyestalks locked on the golden Sumo Slammer card.

"Whoa," his voice cracked with glee. "I struck Sumo Slammer gold!"

"Dude… Not the time." Gray muttered, palm to his face.

"Ben!" Erza barked. "There is a rampaging monster and a madman in the room, and he's gawking over a card?!"

Even Lucy winced. "Talk about bad focus…"

But then, a piercing scream cut through the air.

"Somebody help me!" Dr. Kelly cried out in desperation as the T. Rex cornered him against a cracked wall, its jaws widening like a monstrous bear trap about to snap shut.

The guild reeled again.

"Wait—didn't Animo already get what he wanted?" Lucy asked, confused.

"Why's he still letting the eat him?" Wendy added with a shake of her head.

Ben folded his arms, his voice low with a trace of bitterness. "Revenge. He thought Kelly stole the honor that should've been his. Animo wasn't just after the award, he wanted to humiliate him, and get rid of him completely."

"Tch. That's twisted," Gajeel said flatly.

Meanwhile, Young Ben stared down at the shimmering card in the rubble. For a moment, his wings drooped. "Aw, man…" he groaned. "This hero stuff ain't easy."

With a determined buzz, Stinkfly launched into the air just as the debris shifted and buried the golden card from view.

Ben exhaled deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Trust me, little me… you have no idea how true that statement turned out to be."

The Fairy Tail group let out sighs of relief as Stinkfly dove straight toward the scientist.

"Good choice," Gray admitted.

"Of course it was!" Juvia said confidently, smiling as she pressed her hands together. "Juvia never doubted for a second that Benjamin would do the right thing."

Ben scratched his cheek, blushing slightly. "Thanks, Juvia."

Kelly shrieked one last time as the T. Rex snapped its jaws down—only to be yanked away at the last second by Stinkfly, who latched his claws onto Kelly's lab coat and pulled him out of danger. The dinosaur's teeth clamped down on empty air, enraged.

"Gotcha!" Stinkfly shouted, wings buzzing furiously.

"What are you, you little pest?" Animo snarled, clutching the broken sleeve of his coat where Stinkfly had grazed him. His eyes burned with madness.

Stinkfly hovered in the air, wings buzzing like a swarm. His eyestalks narrowed, and he puffed out his insectoid chest. "I'm Stinkfly," he declared proudly, "and I'm here to kick some tail!"

"Eh," Natsu shrugged, "so-so on the comeback."

"Aye. Could've been better." Happy agreed.

Ben pouted. "Everyone's a critic."

Dr. Animo's lip curled, and he snarled. He fired his beam straight at Stinkfly—but the agile alien darted sideways, the blast slicing through the air and scorching the ceiling.

"Too slow, ugly!" Stinkfly taunted, swooping in. He cocked one clawed arm back and socked Animo across the face with a solid punch.

The mad doctor stumbled backward, his grip loosening on the Verities Award. The crystalline trophy spun through the air before smashing against the tiled floor, shattering into dozens of sparkling fragments.

"No!" Animo cried out, his voice raw with despair as he dropped to his knees among the shards. His fingers clawed at the pieces, as if trying to scoop them back together. "My award—my recognition!"

Lucy folded her arms, her expression hard. "You never deserved it anyway."

"Yeah!" Happy cheered. "Take him down, Ben!"

Stinkfly darted forward, wings buzzing furiously. He tapped Animo's shoulder with a claw, drawing the mad scientist's attention just long enough to yank the glowing device right off his head.

"My Transmodulator!" Animo screamed, panic breaking through his smug tone for the first time. His wild eyes bulged as Stinkfly held it aloft.

With a heave, he hurled the device down onto the floor.

CRACK!

The Transmodulator shattered in a brilliant flash, releasing a red energy wave that rippled through the room. It spread outward, pulsing through the walls, before washing over the massive T. Rex.

Everyone froze as the monstrous creature bellowed one last roar—then its body stiffened. Flesh and muscle evaporated in a strange glow, leaving behind only a towering skeleton.

"Whoa…" Levy blinked, eyes wide. "Did breaking it… reverse everything?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "That's my guess. The shockwave probably sent out a reverse-switch that undid its reanimation." He shrugged. "I try not to think about it too much."

"Convenient," Gray muttered.

"Effective," Erza countered firmly.

The massive skeleton shuddered, joints loosening, the entire frame crumbling beneath its own weight.

Animo, still clinging desperately to its ribcage, shrieked in denial. "No…! No…! No!" His words grew shriller with each collapse of bone.

Finally, with a deafening CRASH, the skeletal remains buckled and tumbled to the floor, burying the crazed scientist under a pile of ancient bones. Dust clouded the chamber, leaving only Animo's muffled cries trapped beneath the rubble.

Meanwhile, outside the chaos of Kelly Industries, the mutant parrot swooped toward Gwen and Max. Its wings cut the air like blades, talons stretched forward—only for the red energy shockwave to ripple across its body.

In a blink, the monstrous bird shrank back down to its ordinary size. It fluttered awkwardly in the air before landing delicately on Gwen's arm, its head cocking to the side innocently.

Mages collectively let out a breath.

"Finally, they're back to normal," Levy said with relief.

"Meaning Gwen and Max are safe too," Mirajane smiled softly.

But Gwen, still pale from her ordeal, glared at the parrot. "Don't even try to kiss up to me now," she scolded sharply.

Happy tilted his head. "Aww, don't be mad at it! It wasn't the bird's fault."

Wendy frowned a little. "Exactly. She should know better—those animals were controlled by Animo, not acting on their own."

"Still," Lucy said, "can't exactly blame her for being mad after almost being bird food."

"Or falling to her death," Gray dryly added.

The camera cut to the front of Kelly Industries, flashing red-and-blue lights painting the walls and pavement. Dr. Animo kicked and writhed as two officers dragged him toward the police cruiser.

"Let me go!" he barked furiously, his voice cracking with desperation. "I deserve that award! I've got it coming to me! I want it!" His shrill ranting continued even as they shoved him into the back seat, the door slamming shut on his protests.

Many scoffed in unison.

"The only thing he deserves is jailtime," Gray said flatly.

"Too right," Cana added, rolling her eyes.

Elfman clenched a fist. "Getting locked up is the manly punishment for cowards like him!"

Back at the scene, Ben watched the arrest unfold and couldn't help but contemplate Dr. Animo's words. He frowned, muttering under his breath: "For some reason, that sounds kinda familiar."

Makarov leaned forward, stroking his beard approvingly. "Good. The boy is beginning to understand—sometimes we learn best from the failures of others."

Erza nodded. "Yes. Recognizing the flaws in your enemy is the first step toward ensuring you never walk the same path."

Juvia smiled softly. "So young and already reflecting on things like that…" She sighed dreamily. "… He really is growing into a great hero."

The Rust Bucket rumbled along the highway, the Washington Monument shrinking in the distance. Ben leaned back in his seat, fiddling with a box he'd set on the table. Inside it, gleaming faintly in the sunlight, was the helmet from Animo's Transmodulator.

"I didn't get that gold Sumo Slammer card," Ben admitted, then smirked as he set the box down proudly. "But at least I snagged a trophy from Animo."

Ben chuckled, his tone nostalgic. Ah. This is when I started my collection from that summer.

Young Ben stretched his arms over his head, sighing. "Plus, I guess saving the city from 'Dr. Wacko' was its own reward."

"That's the spirit," Erza said approvingly. "To take pride in saving others rather than chasing prizes—that is the mark of true growth."

Makarov nodded sagely. "A good heart will never lead you astray, boy."

Mirajane clasped her hands together with a bright smile. "See? You can be selfless when it counts."

The praise made Ben scratch the back of his head sheepishly.

Wendy tilted her head, her soft voice breaking the moment. "But… if it's better not to expect a reward, then… isn't it wrong for wizards like us to accept money for helping people?"

Ben leaned forward to answer carefully. "It's not quite the same. Magic guilds do provide services for others—whether it's defending towns, completing requests, or protecting people from threats. It's fair to accept payment when that's the arrangement." He softened his voice. "But it also doesn't mean you should ignore someone who needs help just because they can't pay you. If someone's desperate and in trouble, doing the right thing comes first."

Wendy slowly nodded, relieved by his explanation. "So… helping others is what matters most, no matter what."

"Exactly," Ben confirmed with a warm smile.

On screen, Gwen looked at Ben, her expression softening. "Don't forget you saved me, too. Thanks" Sincerity present in her voice.

Ben leaned back, puffing out his chest just a little. "Yeah, well, that's what we heroes do best: rescue dweebs." He grinned smugly.

Gwen's warm expression instantly soured into a scoff. "You are such a major doofus."

Ben's smirk widened. "I know you are, but what am I?" he shot back in the most childish singsong voice, breaking into giggles.

The guild chuckled at the exchange.

Gray smirked. "Heh. Typical brat move."

Levy smiled brightly. "But at least they're laughing together instead of fighting. That's progress!"

Happy giggled, wings fluttering. "Aye! They really are like siblings."

Makarov let out a booming laugh. "Ah, young ones… always teasing, but love runs deeper than they know."

Ben watched the memory of his younger self giggling with Gwen, a small, almost wistful smile tugging at his lips. For all their bickering, moments like this reminded him how much they'd grown—and how much he'd needed that bond back then.

…And how much he missed it now.

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."

Chapter Text

"INTERMISSION — 15 minutes until the next episode begins.

The guild hall immediately came to life with the sound of chairs scraping, conversations overlapping, and footsteps echoing as mages stretched their arms and legs. Natsu and Gray immediately shoved each other on their way toward the bar to get snacks, Happy zipped overhead to swipe a fish, while Cana kicked back with another keg.

It still amazed Ben how much alcohol Cana could down without getting alcohol poisoning. Seriously, is her liver super-charged or something?

Levy, who had stayed behind in her seat, had a curious gleam in her eyes. "Ben, I've been keeping count. We've seen Heatblast, Wildmutt, Diamondhead, XLR8, Grey Matter, Four Arms, and Stinkfly so far, right? And I saw Ghostfreak's icon in an earlier episode. That's eight. Didn't you say the watch gave you ten to start with? So, what are the other two?"

Lucy perked up from across the table. "Oh, good point, Levy. You've got us all curious now."

Heads turned toward Ben.

Ben smirked faintly, arms crossing. "Yeah, I did start with ten. But…" He tapped the Omnitrix on his wrist, grin widening. "I think I'll keep the rest a surprise. Trust me, you'll meet them soon enough."

"Aww, no fair!" Natsu complained from the bar, munching down on some snacks. "C'mon, just give us a hint!"

"Pft. Not manly to tease and not deliver," Elfman grunted, folding his arms.

Cana smirked. "Bet he's saving the best ones for last."

"Something like that," Ben replied slyly. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, "Though… since some of you only saw Stinkfly on the screen, maybe I should give you all a proper demonstration. You know… up close."

Immediately, Carla narrowed her eyes. "Ben…"

But it was too late. With a mental command to the Omnitrix, green light flared across his body. His body warped and shifted until the black-and-green insectoid form of Stinkfly buzzed up into the air with a wet squelch of wings.

Many in the guild collectively recoiled.

"UGH!" Lucy gagged, hands flying to her mouth. "I did not need to see that thing up close!"

Levy pressed a hand to her stomach. "O-Oh wow… the wings sound way slimier in person…"

"Blehh!" Happy stuck out his tongue. "Why'd you have to pick that one?!"

The Dragon Slayers reacted worst of all.

Wendy immediately clasped her hands over her mouth, turning pale. "U-uhhh… oh no… I think I'm gonna—"

"Don't spew, Wendy!" Carla yelped, patting her back in alarm.

Gajeel's face went green as he clamped a hand over his mouth. "Ugh—Tch… dammit, man, warn a guy before you show off your bug freak!"

Natsu toppled over onto all fours, groaning dramatically. "I hate bugs! And why does this magic make it feel like it's right next to me?!"

Stinkfly turned his eyestalks around, smirking. "Hey, don't blame me if you Dragon Slayers have weak stomachs."

"WEAK?!" Natsu shot back between gags. "You just look disgusting! Gimme Heatblast or Four Arms any day—at least they don't make me wanna puke!"

"Bleeeh, even the smell…" Gajeel groaned, fanning his face with a hand. "Smells like swamp rot."

"Not manly at all…" Elfman gagged, turning away.

Meanwhile, Cana was laughing so hard she nearly spilled her mug. "Pfft—! Look at the tough guys brought down by a bug!"

Even Erza, normally composed, covered her mouth delicately and muttered, "...Still, this one certainly is… difficult to appreciate."

Lucy peeked warily through her fingers. "Ben, I seriously hope you didn't actually name him Stinkfly just because of the smell."

Stinkfly's eyestalks rotated again, smirking. "If it fits…"

A collective groan rippled through the guild.

Finally, with another green flash, Ben returned to his human form, chuckling as he flexed his hands. "Relax, relax. I just thought you'd all enjoy the full effect."

"Enjoy?!" Gajeel barked, still looking green. "I don't think I can eat anytime soon..."

"You're lucky I don't torch you right now, bug-boy," Natsu grumbled, still slumped against the table.

Ben smirked smugly. "What's the matter? Can't handle a little stink?"

Even Juvia sighed, though she smiled faintly. "Juvia thinks perhaps… you should not bring that one out around meals."

Wendy finally lifted her head, pale but determined. "N-no offense, Ben, but… maybe keep that one for emergencies only…"

Ben chuckled at everyone's expense. "Fair enough."

Meanwhile, a faint swish-swish of brush strokes caught a few ears. Off to the side, Reedus was already at work, his easel propped up, paints set out neatly beside him. His brush moved with surprising speed, capturing bold lines across a fresh canvas.

"Oi, Reedus," Macao called. "What're you working on now?"

The artist stepped aside with a flourish, revealing a vivid image of Heatblast's first transformation. Emerald light framed the scene, with the young, terrified Ben mid-panic, shouting, "I'm on fire! I'm on fire!" The flames danced brilliantly off the page, almost alive.

Wakaba whistled low, pipe hanging from his mouth. "Not bad. You really caught the poor kid's panic."

"The detail of the fire is great too." Macao added. "Looks like it's gonna burn my eyebrows off."

Reedus smiled, dabbing a bit of white highlight onto the flames. "Art should evoke emotion, no? And that moment—Ben's very first transformation—was iconic. It demanded to be painted."

"Iconic, huh?" Macao chuckled. "Well, what about that bit with the crystal guy? Diamondhead, was it? The way he turned that robot's beam back on itself?"

Already ahead of them, Reedus flipped another canvas around. This one showed Diamondhead mid-struggle, palms braced against the blazing Mechadroid laser, sparks refracting in a shower of light. His face was set with fierce determination, emerald shards glowing like jewels as the redirected beam tore through the machine.

"Whoa…" Wakaba's eyes widened. "Now that's a masterpiece. You nailed the look in the kid's eyes. Serious and desperate all at once. Makes ya wanna cheer him on all over again."

Others nearby leaned closer to admire the canvases. Laki's eyes sparkled. "Reedus, you're amazing. It's like we're watching the highlights in a whole new way."

Reedus bowed humbly, twirling his brush. "Merci, merci! I believe I shall continue to capture the most pivotal moments as we watch. After all, who knows how long this spell will hold us here? We may as well leave with a gallery to remember it by."

"Ha!" Macao slapped Wakaba on the back. "Guess that settles it. From now on, we get live action and live art."

"Fine by me." Wakaba grinned, puffing on his pipe. "Just don't forget to paint my good side if I'm in one of your paintings."

Reedus chuckled, already sketching new lines onto a fresh canvas. "If you do, mon ami, I promise you'll be immortalized in vivid color."

Juvia stepped a little closer, her blue eyes fixed on the glowing strokes of Diamondhead's painting. "They're…beautiful," she said softly, almost shy. "Reedus, would Juvia… be allowed to purchase these paintings, once you're finished?"

Reedus paused mid-brush stroke, blinking in surprise before smiling warmly. "Purchase? Non, non, mademoiselle. If you want them, they are yours—free of charge. I insist."

Juvia's face lit up as if Christmas had arrived early. "Truly?! Thank you so much!" she said, clasping her hands together.

Macao raised a brow, smirking knowingly as he leaned toward Reedus. "You notice how happy she gets just from that, right?"

Reedus chuckled under his breath, nodding slightly before whispering back, "Oui. At this point, Benjamin really should just ask the poor girl out already."

Before the conversation could resume, the glowing runes overhead shimmered and twisted again.

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

Wizards shuffled back into their places.

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

"Episode 3: The Krakken"

Ben perked up as the glowing runes revealed the episode's title. The Krakken?! His eyes lit up with nostalgia, and a small smile tugged at his lips. Oh yeah, I remember this one… great times.

"The Krakken?" Lucy tilted her head, brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to be?"

Levy tapped her chin, thoughtful. "I can't be certain, but… it sounds like the name for some kind of monster."

That one word got Natsu's full attention. "Monster?" he shot upright, fists clenched with excitement. "Alright! Now we're talking!"

Gajeel smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Heh. Sounds like something worth fighting. Hope it's big."

Elfman slammed his fist into his palm. "A Krakken?! If it's a beast of the sea, then defeating it would be truly manly!"

Even Wendy's eyes widened with curiosity. "I've never heard of a creature with that name before…" she admitted softly, though her expression carried a mix of nerves and wonder.

Gray leaned back with a faint grin. "Figures. Natsu hears 'monster' and suddenly he's fired up. Bet he's already imagining punching it in the face."

"Damn right I am!" Natsu grinned toothily. "If it's a sea monster, I'll roast it extra crispy!"

"Don't you mean steamed?" Cana teased, swirling her drink.

"Shut up!" Natsu barked, though his grin never faded.

Ben chuckled at their enthusiasm, but his eyes flickered briefly with memory. "Trust me… you'll see soon enough. Spoiler, the monster in this episode won't be obvious at first."

This piqued the curiosity of many in the guild. What did Ben mean by that?

A bright moon lit up the foggy forest below, silver light spilling across a large lake. The water gleamed under the mist, the still surface creating a picture of peace and serenity, undisturbed by even the faintest ripple.

"Ohhh…" Wendy breathed. "It looks so calm and pretty…"

Levy smiled softly. "Like something out of a storybook. I could sit by that lake and read all day."

Even Lucy sighed a little. "It does feel…safe, somehow. Peaceful."

That peace didn't last.

"Cannonball!" Young Ben's voice rang out, shattering the silence. He jumped straight into the lake, creating a massive splash that rippled across the moonlit water.

"Judges score… yes! Perfect ten! Yeah!" Ben popped back up at the surface, grinning as he raised both fists. He switched into a mock commentator's tone. "The crowd loves him! Woooo!" He waved at the empty shoreline, cheering for himself.

Several guild members burst out laughing.

"Perfect ten, huh?" Cana snorted into her drink. "Kid's full of himself, even when he's wet."

Gray smirked, arms folded. "Yeah, 'amazing cannonball,' Ben."

Natsu was already laughing so hard he slapped the table.

Ben groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. "Come on, guys. I was ten. I thought I was hilarious."

"Thought?" Gajeel smirked. "You knew you were hilarious."

Not everyone was mocking.

Juvia raised her hand delicately, her eyes warm. "For the record… Juvia thought it was a very good cannonball."

Wendy nodded eagerly. "It really was! You got such a big splash!"

Ben blinked, caught off guard, then chuckled nervously. "…Thanks, I guess."

Carla, however, wasn't impressed. She flicked her tail with a huff. "Splash or not, it's irresponsible. Swimming at night in the middle of nowhere? Honestly. Anything could've been lurking under that lake."

"Yeah, like fish!" Natsu laughed. "Or the Krakken!"

"Don't give it ideas," Lucy muttered, shivering slightly.

"'A perfect dweeb' is more like it," Gwen said dryly from her spot on the pier, shining a flashlight down at him with her usual unimpressed look.

Ben puffed out his cheeks. "Come on, dive in! Don't just stand there."

"Please! Who knows what nasty, slimy things are slithering around in there?" Gwen retorted, sweeping the flashlight beam across the dark water—only to stop it squarely on Ben's dripping face. "I rest my case." She smirked.

A couple of Fairy Tail mages groaned.

"Harsh," Jet muttered. "Kid was just trying to have some fun."

"Still," Cana smirked into her mug, "let's not pretend he isn't a dweeb half the time."

Ben huffed. "What's the point in camping by a lake if you're afraid to get wet?" He grinned mischievously, then scooped up water in both hands and splashed it straight up at her.

Gwen gasped, jumping back as droplets hit her shirt and arm. "Knock it off, midget!" she snapped, shooting him a glare before spinning on her heel and storming back toward the Rust Bucket.

A few of the guild guys snickered.

"Midget?" Jet cocked a brow. "She's barely taller than him."

"Guess you take any advantage you can get," Droy said, folding his arms.

"She's acting kinda lame," Gray said. "Lighten up, it's just water."

"Aye," Happy agreed, grinning. "What's a lake for if not swimming? Or better yet, fishing?"

But Lucy shook her head firmly, arms crossed. "Honestly, I'm with Gwen on this one. A dark lake at night? You don't know what could be crawling around in there. That's disgusting."

"Bah, you're both sticks in the mud," Natsu laughed, already imagining cannonballing in beside Ben.

But as Gwen stomped away, Ben suddenly began thrashing violently in the lake, splashing water everywhere. "H-Hey!" he choked, coughing as the water threatened to go down his throat. "What's—happen—?!" His voice broke in panic before he was yanked under the surface with a loud splash!

"Ben?!" Wendy gasped, her little hands clenching against her dress.

Juvia's eyes went wide, her entire body tensing as if ready to leap through the screen. "No! He—he's drowning!" she cried, half-rising from her seat.

But Natsu narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "Nah, he's just messing around. Bet you anything this is another one of his pranks."

Onscreen, Gwen froze mid-step, frowning. "Very funny, Ben. I'm not falling for it," she scoffed, but there was a waver of uncertainty in her tone. Still, she turned back and walked toward the pier, lifting her flashlight to sweep the rippling water. "…Ben?" she called again, the edge in her voice betraying her growing unease.

Several in the guild were also becoming worried.

The water suddenly began to bubble ominously—then, with a roar, a massive green swamp-monster surged up from the lake. Slime and seaweed dripped off its hulking frame as it lurched toward Gwen, growling deeply.

"KYAAA!" Gwen screamed, stumbling backward and dropping her flashlight. The beam rolled across the pier until it came to rest on the creature's face…

Revealing not a swamp beast, but Four Arms—hulking and smug, with strands of lakeweed hanging off his shoulders like slimy trophies.

A mix of reactions erupted in the guild.

"Oh, come on," Lucy groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "That wasn't funny at all."

Elfman's booming voice followed. "Using power to scare your family—not manly!"

Juvia exhaled, her relief quickly giving way to a pout. "Ben! That wasn't nice. Juvia's heart nearly stopped…"

But not everyone was against him.

"Hah! That was great!" Natsu burst out laughing, slapping his knee.

Even Gajeel smirked. "Heh. Gotta admit, that was a decent scare."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling sheepishly as everyone looked his way. "Yeah… okay, maybe not my proudest moment. But c'mon! A little jump scare never hurt anyone."

"Ben?" Gwen's voice rang out from the pier, her flashlight beam still shaking slightly from when she'd dropped it. She picked it back up, scowling at the hulking silhouette.

Four Arms peeled some lakeweed off his shoulder and chuckled. "You should have seen the look on your face! Ah, priceless!" He doubled over in laughter, his booming voice echoing across the water.

"You are so busted when I tell Grandpa!" Gwen snapped, glaring before stomping back toward the RV in indignation.

Four Arms waved her off, still chuckling to himself. "I can't believe she fell for it! A monster in the lake! How dumb can you be?" He laughed harder, shaking his head at what he thought was his cousin's gullibility.

That remark drew several incredulous reactions in the guild hall.

"Eh? What's so dumb about that?!" Natsu barked. "There's sometimes monsters in lakes."

"Not to mention the seas," Erza added seriously. "One should always respect the possibility."

Wendy nodded firmly, "Some say there are even Sea Dragons slumbering beneath the deep oceans…"

Confusion rippled through the audience as Carla folded her paws across her chest. "So why mock her for believing it?"

Ben raised his hands in defense. "Hey—back in my world, people didn't really believe in that stuff. Most thought monsters, cryptids, aliens were all just fairy tales. And, uh… this was before I knew better."

"Oh, the irony," Cana muttered into her mug, smirking.

And right on cue, the irony made itself known onscreen.

The water behind Four Arms began to churn violently, bubbling up with an ominous hiss. He froze mid-laugh, slowly turning his massive head as a gigantic silhouette rose from the depths—far larger than anything he could have imagined.

The guild gasped in unison.

"HAH! There it is!" Natsu whooped, practically leaping out of his seat.

"Ohhh, that's rich," Gajeel smirked, leaning back smugly. "Mister 'how dumb can you be' about to get eaten."

Juvia clutched her chest. "Oh no—Ben, please be careful…"

Even Gray cracked a grin. "Yeah… karma's got a sense of humor."

Onscreen, Four Arms' laughter died in his throat as the monstrous silhouette rose higher out of the dark water. Before he could brace himself, a massive tendril lashed out and wrapped around his torso like a vice. With horrifying ease, the creature whipped its arm back and launched the Tetramand across the lake.

"Whoa!" several voices cried out in shock.

"Wait, wait—time out!" Natsu barked, eyes wide. "That thing just tossed him like a rock!"

"It hurled Four Arms," Erza said gravely. "That's impressive strength. Clearly this is no ordinary animal."

Gajeel smirked darkly. "Guess the brat's not laughing anymore."

Four Arms broke the lake's surface again with a tremendous splash, coughing before spinning around in the water, searching frantically for the beast. The camera panned low, the fog on the lake rippling eerily. Suddenly, something yanked him down with brutal force.

Juvia gasped and clasped her hands together. "Ben!"

Underwater, the scene shifted into a murky blur of bubbles and shadows. Four Arms twisted against the grip of thick, slimy tendrils—but then froze as a massive, unblinking eye filled the screen. Its lidless stare glowed faintly in the dark, wide as Four Arms' entire chest.

The guild hall erupted with cries.

"WHAT the hell is that?!" Gray shouted, leaning forward.

"It's huge…" Levy whispered in awe, her book forgotten in her lap.

Wendy gripped Ben's sleeve tightly. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before…"

"Damn," Macao muttered, taking a long drag from his pipe. "That ain't some overgrown fish. That's nightmare fuel."

Struggling fiercely, Four Arms managed to wrench free of the monster's grip, bubbles exploding around him. Kicking hard, he broke through the water's surface with a gasp, eyes darting back and forth, still half-submerged.

"Why's it attacking him in the first place?" Lucy asked, hugging her arms.

"It's a monster," Gajeel replied simply. "Could be protecting its territory. Could just be hungry."

"Or both," Erza added grimly.

The Rust Bucket's door slammed open and a dripping wet Four Arms stumbled inside, panting heavily. "I was just attacked by a giant lake monster!"

Max jerked awake on his cot, blinking in confusion, while Gwen groaned from her bunk. Instead of alarm, she reached for the nearest pillow and hurled it straight at Four Arms' face. POMF.

"Hello? Current events?" she muttered irritably, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "You already got me with that one."

"But I'm not kidding this time!" the Tetramand insisted, eyes wide and frantic.

"Come on, champ, joke's over," Max said, rubbing his eyes with a weary sigh.

"But I—" Ben tried to argue, his deep voice cracking in desperation.

"Get some sleep. Remember, we've got an early day tomorrow for the fishing trip," Max cut him off, turning over on his bed.

"Are you kidding me?!" Cana slapped her mug on the table. "The kid's dripping wet and panicking—maybe believe him?"

"Exactly!" Nab agreed. "If they'd just listened—"

Lucy shook her head with a frown. "No… this is exactly like The Boy Who Cried Wolf. He played too many pranks, so when something real happened, no one believed him."

"There's a price to pay for dishonesty," Erza muttered, arms crossed.

The Omnitrix let out its familiar beep-beep-beep. In a red flash, Four Arms collapsed onto the Rust Bucket's floor, shrinking back into human form. Now ten-year-old Ben lay spread out starfish-style.

"Yeesh," Gray muttered. "That's one rough night."

Juvia leaned forward, her brows knit in concern. "Poor Ben… no one believed him…"

Happy scratched his head. "So… The monster's still out there?"

"Definitely," Natsu grinned, flames curling from his mouth. "And I wanna see it again."

Morning mist clung to the shoreline as Max led the way with his trusty fishing rod slung over one shoulder. Ben trudged alongside him, still going on about the night before.

"No, really! It was humongous—with these red glowing eyes—!" Ben insisted, throwing his arms out wide for emphasis.

Happy tilted his head. "Eh? They weren't red, they were blue!"

Ben chuckled sheepishly. "Yeah, memory's funny that way. I remembered them being red for years."

Erza nodded thoughtfully, arms crossed. "It's not uncommon. In moments of fear or trauma, recollections can blur or distort. A child might remember glowing red even when they were blue."

Max waved off the story with his usual calm. "I'm sure it was just some kind of big fish, that's all."

"Yeah, so give the mega-fish story a rest, will you 'Captain Dweeb'?" Gwen added sharply, rolling her eyes.

Ben pouted, but soon wandered ahead, spotting a bucket of wriggling worms sitting beside a crate. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

Carla groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I already know where this is going."

"Classic prank face," Gajeel muttered, smirking despite himself.

Sure enough, as Gwen approached to catch up, Ben scooped up a writhing handful of worms and shoved them right into her face.

"AH!" Gwen shrieked, stumbling back in horror.

Ben grinned proudly. "Breakfast?"

Several erupted with laughter—though Wendy covered her mouth, blushing.

"Eugh—Ben, gross… What's with the bucket of slimies?" Gwen demanded, wiping at her cheeks.

"Bait," Max explained flatly, already stringing his line as if nothing had happened.

Natsu blinked, tilting his head. "Wait, seriously? She didn't know that? Isn't it obvious?"

Happy flapped his wings. "Aye! Who doesn't know worms are fishing bait?!"

Lucy huffed, folding her arms. "Not everyone's into fishing, okay? Gwen doesn't seem like the type to enjoy standing around with a rod all day. I can relate."

Gray smirked at her. "So what you're saying is—you'd be the one screaming at worms too."

"Shut it, Gray!" Lucy snapped, cheeks puffing as the guild laughed.

Onscreen, Gwen crossed her arms, already shaking her head. "Yeah—well, I think I'm gonna pass on the fishing thing. I'll stay here and catch some sun instead!"

In the guild, Jet blinked at the cloudy sky. "Uh… sun? What sun?"

Levy adjusted her glasses and calmly explained, "Actually, you can still get sunburned even on cloudy days."

"Ohh…" Jet muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as if suddenly self-conscious.

"Okay, but you don't know what you're missing!" Max called back, unfazed as he prepped his rod.

"I'm pretty sure I do…" Gwen replied dryly, walking away.

Lucy leaned back with a smirk. "I'm with you, sister."

Max simply shrugged and then looked up as a fishing boat pulled alongside the dock. He raised a hand politely. "Captain Shaw?"

The grizzled fisherman narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Who wants to know?"

"Paranoid, much?" Cana muttered, raising a brow.

"Or cautious," Erza countered, eyes narrowing. "Suspicious men don't always come with obvious danger—but that tone suggests he's hiding something."

Max smiled politely and gestured. "I'm Max Tennyson, and this is my grandson, Ben. We chartered your boat today for a fishing trip."

"Yo!" Ben grinned and waved brightly.

Shaw just huffed. "Well, what're you waiting for—an engraved invitation? Get aboard, I ain't got all day." He barked, striding into the cabin.

"Yeesh." Wakaba frowned, puffing on his pipe. "That guy's got all the charm of a sea urchin."

"Man's just doing his job," Gajeel countered with a shrug. "Don't get paid till they step on board."

"Still. Juvia thinks he could be less rude about it." Juvia said.

Ben was practically bouncing with excitement as he scrambled to get on the boat. Max, however, lingered on the dock, glancing at Shaw with an expression that showed just a hint of unease.

Mira's smile faded. "Something seems off with him…"

Natsu grinned. "Good! Means there's gonna be a fight later."

The ship creaked as it set out onto the misty lake, its motor humming low. Max leaned casually against the railing, scanning the calm water. "Anything… interesting out there to catch today?" he asked conversationally.

"More than you can imagine…" Shaw replied, his voice carrying an ominous weight. He didn't even look at them as he adjusted the wheel.

Lucy folded her arms, muttering under her breath, "Totally not suspicious…" earning a few chuckles around the guild.

Shaw's sharp eyes then flicked to the bow. "Looks like your boy's using his breakfast as chum," he remarked.

Max turned in concern, seeing Ben leaning over the side, pale and woozy. He walked up and set a hand on his grandson's back. "Ben? You feeling okay?"

Natsu grimaced, patting his own stomach. "Yeah… I feel yah …" he muttered, remembering his own struggles with motion sickness.

Ben shook his head quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just keeping an eye out for the lake monster. That thing's not taking me by surprise this time!" he declared with determination.

But almost as soon as the words left his mouth, a shadow stirred beneath the waves. Ben's eyes widened, and he lurched forward. "There it is!" he cried, jabbing his finger down at the looming form in the water.

The tension built as the silhouette rose closer… only for it to break the surface, revealing nothing more than a cluster of brambles, twigs, and floating rubbish.

Ben blinked, then rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "…Oh, my bad."

Laughter rippled through the guild hall.

"Smooth, kid," Cana teased, smirking into her mug.

"If we hadn't already seen the monster," Jet admitted, "I'd say you and the creepy captain here are just being paranoid."

"Agreed," Droy chuckled. "Kinda ruins the dramatic buildup when it's just garbage."

Erza, however, kept her arms crossed and her gaze sharp. "Even so, Ben's instincts weren't wrong before. If it appeared once, it may appear again."

Max sighed, folding his arms as he gave Ben a steady look. "Now, Ben. This is a fishing trip, not a monster hunt."

Before the boy could argue, Shaw's gravelly voice cut in. "It's called the Krakken."

Levy immediately leaned forward in her seat. "So he does know."

Cana raised a brow, swirling her drink. "Or he's just bought into the rumors too. Nutjobs always think they've seen something."

Erza, however, shook her head firmly. "Either way, whatever insight he could give could be valuable. Even the ramblings of those dismissed as eccentric can hold kernels of truth."

Ben's eyes went wide. "Whoa. You know about it?" he asked, leaning toward the captain.

Shaw adjusted his cap, his gaze fixed on the misty water. "It's my business to know about," he said gravely, pulling a folded, worn photograph from his jacket. He handed it over to Ben.

The image was grainy, showing what looked like the silhouette of a long-necked beast breaching the lake—eerily reminiscent of the famous "Loch Ness Monster" photograph.

"I've been on its tail for years," Shaw muttered, a note of obsession in his voice. "Folks say my rudder's not right."

Max raised a brow and deadpanned, "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

Laughter trickled through the guild, but many were still focused on the image.

"That picture…" Jet said slowly, pointing at it. "It kinda looks like some sea monsters we've before."

"Could it be the same species?" Levy wondered aloud, tilting her head.

But Gray shook his head. "No way to know yet. All we've seen is its eye and a bunch of tentacles. Can't conclude it's the same until we see the full body."

Juvia frowned softly, folding her hands together. "Whatever it is, it's clearly dangerous… Younger Ben needs to be careful."

Shaw's eyes gleamed as he leaned on the wheel, voice rising with conviction. "Sightings go back hundreds of years, on this very lake. Some say it's a myth…" He jabbed a finger toward the mist ahead. "Not me! I could take you to a spot where I personally laid eyes upon the beast. That is, if you've got the stomach for some real adventure!"

Ben's eyes lit up immediately. He turned toward his grandfather expectantly.

Max hesitated, his brow furrowing. He clearly wasn't buying into Shaw's enthusiasm, but Ben's eager face left him cornered. Finally, with a resigned sigh, he muttered, "I guess so…"

"Alright!" Ben pumped his fists in the air, grinning ear-to-ear.

"Finally!" Natsu whooped, practically standing from his chair. "We're going after the beast now! This is where it gets good!"

Elfman slammed his fist against the table. "A manly quest for a monster hunt! That's what I'm talking about!"

Gajeel smirked, arms crossed. "Heh. They better hope that rickety boat can handle it. Doesn't exactly look built for fighting sea monsters."

Gray tilted his head thoughtfully. "Yeah, no kidding. Against something that size? That thing looks like it'll capsize if you sneeze too hard."

Lucy groaned, pressing her palm to her face. "Why do I feel like we're about to see this trip go very wrong?"

Wendy's eyes sparkled nervously. "I just hope they don't get in over their heads… literally."

The boat creaked across the fog-shrouded water as Shaw gestured proudly to the strange contraptions mounted along the deck. "Sonar, high-def video setup, ultrasound. I got it all. And I will find it. Mark my words, it can't hide." His voice carried the conviction of someone who had rehearsed this declaration a hundred times.

Young Ben's eyes widened in awe.

But many in the guild tilted their heads, confusion plain on their faces.

"Sonar?" Levy repeated, brows furrowed. "What's that?"

Ben leaned forward. "It's basically a system that sends sound waves through the water and listens for the echoes. Helps you map out what's beneath the surface—like fish, or in this case, a… giant lake monster."

"Ohhh," Levy murmured, her curiosity piqued. "So, kind of like magical detection, only with sound."

Wendy nodded quickly. "That would be really useful in the ocean!"

Happy tilted his head. "So if you fart in the water, does sonar pick it up?"

"Happy!" Lucy groaned, smacking the Exceed on the head.

"Worth asking!" Happy protested.

Ben chuckled at their reactions.

Before onscreen Ben could keep geeking out over Shaw's gadgets, Max pulled him aside, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Ben, I don't want you to put too much stock in what Mr. Shaw says," Max warned quietly. His eyes flicked toward the captain, who was still fiddling with dials and muttering to himself. "I don't think he has both oars in the water, if you know what I mean."

Ben frowned, folding his arms. "Why? Just because he saw the Krakken too?" His voice rose with frustration before he shook his head and walked away in a huff, leaving Max looking after him with a saddened expression.

"That's a little harsh, kid," Gray muttered. "Max is just trying to keep you grounded."

Erza folded her arms. "He shouldn't speak so bluntly to his elder."

But Cana shrugged. "Eh, he's frustrated. No one's believing him even though he knows what he saw. Can't blame him for snapping a little."

Levy hummed in agreement. "Yeah, it's kind of like when people ignore your research just because it doesn't line up with what they think. That hurts."

Natsu cracked his knuckles impatiently. "Blah, blah, family drama. Who cares? Just show us the monster already!"

"Honestly," Lucy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "you're impossible…"

The fog rolled lazily across the surface of the lake as Shaw squinted at the screen in front of him. "Steady… steady…" he muttered, hands gripping the wheel tightly. The soft ping of the sonar echoed through the boat's cabin.

Up ahead, a string of buoys floated across the water, a line of bright tape stretching between them with big black letters stenciled on.

"'Do not enter'? What's going on?" Shaw demanded, narrowing his eyes as though the tape itself had insulted him.

Max leaned forward, brow furrowing. "Looks official. Maybe we should turn back."

"Nonsense! This is my lake and I'll go wherever I—"

He didn't get to finish before a loud hail rang out.

"Fishing boat! Stop where you are!"

Everyone turned as the fog parted to reveal a massive vessel, much larger than Shaw's boat, bristling with equipment. Painted on its side were the words: Friends of Fish.

A man with a trim beard and sharp eyes stepped to the rail, megaphone in hand. "I am Jonah Melville, the founder of Friends of Fish. We've closed this section of the lake for an environmental study. You'll have to turn your boat around." His voice carried the smooth, practiced friendliness of someone used to public speeches.

Gajeel snorted so hard it came out like a bark of laughter. "Friends of Fish? What kind of weak name is that?"

"Yeah, do they sit around singing songs with guppies or something?" Natsu laughed, shoulders shaking.

"Names aside, this man's authority here sounds legitimate." Erza asserted.

Meanwhile, Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, so… environmental groups like this exist in my world. They're organizations dedicated to protecting nature, wildlife, habitats—you name it."

Levy tilted her head curiously. "So… kind of like guilds, but instead of jobs, they focus on protecting the land?"

"Exactly," Ben confirmed. "Problem is, in my world, pollution, overfishing, and hunting animals to extinction… those are all real issues." His face grew serious for a moment. "Legitimate environmental groups try to step in to stop that before it gets worse."

That sobered many wizards a little.

"Pollution?" Juvia asked softly. "Like… people harming the water on purpose?"

"Not always on purpose," Ben admitted. "But yeah, sometimes people do it without caring what it does to the environment."

"Unbelievable," Erza muttered, her arms tightening across her chest.

"Yeesh," Cana whistled low. "Guess even a weird name doesn't make their work any less important."

"Still sounds dumb," Gajeel muttered under his breath.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Better dumb than destructive."

"'Suppose you make me, fish-hugger?" Shaw barked across the water, his voice dripping with contempt.

Max stepped forward, hands on his hips. "Well, since I chartered the boat for the day, I believe I'm the one in charge. Isn't that right, Captain?"

Shaw growled under his breath, teeth grinding, but finally trudged back up the deck with a sour expression.

"But—what about the Krakken?" Ben asked.

At this, Jonah chuckled lightly, the sound carrying smugly over the lake. "The Krakken? Not that old fish story? Look, I'm a marine biologist. Anyone who tells you they've seen a monster in this lake is casting without a hook."

"Casting without a hook?" Natsu repeated, scowling. "The hell does that mean?"

Lucy sighed, resting her cheek on her palm. "It means they're making it up, Natsu. Like fishing without bait—you're not gonna catch anything."

Natsu blinked, utterly baffled. "Then why didn't he just say that?"

"He did," everyone groaned in unison, voices overlapping in exasperation.

The scene shifted to show Shaw's boat following behind the "Friends of Fish" vessel, the smaller craft rocking in the larger ship's wake. For a while, the only sounds were the engine and the gentle slap of water. Then—

PING!

Shaw's sonar screen lit up with a bright return. His eyes widened, wild excitement flashing across his face. "The sonar! We've found something!" he shouted, gripping the wheel tightly.

Ben pressed up against the railing, pointing. "Or something's found us! Look!"

A massive shark-like fin broke the water's surface, slicing through the waves with terrifying speed.

Several gasps rippled through the guild hall.

Happy gulped nervously. "That's no ordinary fish…"

The fin glided closer, circling once before dipping beneath Shaw's boat. The entire craft lurched violently as the shadow passed beneath it.

Shaw stumbled but recovered, his voice half-panicked, half-thrilled. "The Krakken!" he declared, eyes shining with near-mad glee. "It's heading for the docks!"

The camera cut to Ben and Max, both paling as realization hit them. "Gwen!" they cried out in unison.

The guild burst into chatter.

"It's going straight for the people?!" Levy asked, clutching her notebook.

"Yeah," Gajeel muttered, arms crossed. "Question is—hunting, or just smashing anything in its way?"

Natsu grinned despite the tension. "Doesn't matter—either way, Ben's gonna have to kick its scaly butt!"

Erza narrowed her eyes. "Don't underestimate it. If it can rock a vessel that size just by passing underneath, then its strength must be formidable."

"Gwen's in danger too," Wendy said softly, hands clasped in front of her chest. "Ben… please be careful."

Meanwhile, back on shore, Gwen sat at the edge of the dock, her legs dangling. She leaned back on her hands with a satisfied sigh. "Ah. Finally, a little sun. And with my big-mouth cousin nowhere in sight, I can just lay back and relax."

She tilted her head up, eyes closed, entirely oblivious to the massive shadow moving beneath the surface of the lake—bearing down on her at alarming speed.

"Is she seriously not seeing that thing coming?!" Gray exclaimed.

"She's too busy enjoying herself to notice," Cana shrugged, sipping her drink. "Honestly? Can't blame her."

"Except there's a sea monster about to eat her!" Carla scolded, tail bristling.

Ben gave a rueful half-smile. "Yeah… When Gwen wants to tune out, she really tunes out…"

On the lake, Captain Shaw spotted the danger closing in and immediately began ringing the ship's bell with frantic energy. "Out of the way! Everybody out of the way!" he roared.

But the pier-goers only rolled their eyes and shook their heads.

"Eh, how many times does that doofus think I'm gonna fall for this?" Gwen muttered under her breath, groaning at the sound of the clanging. She turned her head away with a scoff.

Lucy slapped her forehead. "This is why people do fall victim to danger—because they get too used to false alarms!"

Then—

WHOOSH!

The lake erupted. The Krakken's massive, slimy body surged up out of the water, towering over the pier. Its tentacles whipped about, and with a thunderous crash, it slammed down onto the docks. The entire structure splintered, sending shrieking people tumbling into the lake.

The Fairy Tail guild gasped as one.

"Oh Mavis…" Erza whispered, eyes wide at the sheer size of it.

"That's no fish," Lucy muttered. "That's a nightmare."

Gwen resurfaced, coughing and sputtering, her hair plastered to her face. She finally caught sight of the monster looming over her. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. "That's not Ben…" she said, her voice trembling.

The Krakken bellowed, its single massive eye glinting as it turned toward the scattering humans.

"NOW would be a good time to go hero!" Natsu shouted at the screen, pumping his fist.

"Agreed!" Elfman bellowed. "Ben—make it manly!"

Ben exhaled with a tense smile. "Don't worry. I was already on it."

Captain Shaw slammed the ship's wheel, eyes wild. "I told ya! It's real! The Krakken lives!" he shouted triumphantly, practically glowing with vindication.

Max yanked his arm. "Sail now, gloat later!" he barked, his voice sharp with urgency. He turned to his grandson, steadying Ben with a hand on his shoulder. "Someone's got to rescue those people."

Ben nodded and sprinted across the deck, launching himself off the side of the boat. Midair, he twisted the dial on the Omnitrix, pausing on the silhouette of a finned, aquatic figure. "Ripjaws to the rescue!" he declared, slamming down the faceplate.

The instant he hit the water, a flash of green surged out, rippling across the waves. His human form vanished beneath the surface.

"Ripjaws?" Gray tilted his head. "What the hell's a Ripjaws?"

"One of my aquatic forms." Ben explained. "Basically a freaky fish-man."

Juvia looked at Ben. "Water Hazard is not your only water-based form?"

The teen hero shook his head. "Nope. Ripjaws was my first aquatic alien actually."

Happy licked his lips with a mischievous grin. "Fish-man? He sounds yummy!"

"My forms aren't food, Happy." Ben asserted.

The surface of the lake rippled and when the figure burst free of the water, it wasn't some sleek fish-man with gills and scales. Instead, it was the familiar form of XLR8.

"Hey! I said Ripjaws, not XLR8! Stupid watch!" the Kineceleran snapped, his voice high with irritation.

The Fairy Tail guild collectively blinked.

"Wait… what?" Cana tilted her head. "Didn't he pick the fish guy?"

"Oi, is your watch busted or something?" Natsu asked Ben, pointing accusingly.

Ben sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, about that. The old Omnitrix… well, sometimes it gave me the wrong form. Part of it was me slamming the dial too hard, but sometimes it was the Omnitrix's AI deciding I actually needed a different alien than the one I wanted."

"AI?" Levy asked, adjusting her glasses thoughtfully. "So the watch itself is… intelligent? That would explain why you got XLR8 instead. He's faster for evacuating people than Ripjaws would be for fighting the monster."

Ben nodded. "Exactly. At the time, I thought it was just glitching. But looking back, it actually saved my butt a lot."

"Still sounds busted to me," Gray muttered.

"Irrelevant," Erza countered. "Right now, XLR8's speed is perfect for saving lives."

Juvia pouted slightly. "Juvia is still upset she doesn't get to see Ripjaws…"

"Here goes nothing…" XLR8 muttered, crouching low before kicking off like a spring. His speed ripped across the lake's surface, a spray of water trailing in his wake. For a split second, he nearly lost his footing, claws skidding on the liquid surface—then he steadied, his stride elongating until he was sprinting smoothly across the waves.

"Holy—he's running on water!" Jet exclaimed, leaning so far forward in his seat that Droy had to tug him back.

Droy smirked. "Think you could do that, Jet?"

Jet rubbed the back of his neck. "…If I pushed myself to full speed, maybe. But…" He let out a begrudging sigh. "Yeah, XLR8 does it without breaking a sweat."

Levy smiled faintly. "Then think of it as something to aspire to. Even if you can't quite reach that level, you can still aim for it."

Back on the screen, the Kineceleran blurred across the water, zeroing in on the cluster of flailing figures. He reached Gwen first, who was moments from being snapped up by the Krakken's tendrils. In one smooth motion, he scooped her into his arms and zipped back toward shore, depositing her safely onto the bank.

The guild hall erupted into cheers.

"Yes! Nice save, Ben!" Natsu pumped his fist.

"That speed's insane," Gray admitted, eyes wide.

"Swift and decisive. Well done." Erza nodded firmly, clearly impressed.

"Tch," Gajeel leaned back. "Just makes that Fasttrack look even more worthless."

"You okay?" XLR8 asked, crouched over his cousin.

Gwen coughed up water, but managed to nod. "I think so. Thanks for the save."

XLR8 dashed back toward the water. In doing so, his sudden acceleration kicked up a muddy spray that splattered all over Gwen.

"Hey!" she yelped, glaring daggers at him. "You did that on purpose!"

Several in the guild burst out laughing, a wave of chuckles echoing across the hall.

"Totally deliberate," Cana smirked.

"He saved her, she should let him have his fun," Macao said with a shrug.

The raptor-like alien zipped back across the water, claws cutting across the surface as he scooped the last struggling civilians into his arms. One by one, XLR8 ferried them safely back to shore, setting them down beside Gwen.

"Everyone's safe now." Erza let out a relieved breath. "Good. That should be his priority."

"Yeah, but now he's stuck against that thing." Gray crossed his arms. "Even with his claws and speed, that alien doesn't look built for a slugfest."

"He's fast, but that's it," Gajeel agreed gruffly. "Not much use if the beast grabs him once."

Natsu, however, just grinned. "Doesn't matter. Fast or strong, he'll figure it out. I can tell."

Onscreen, Jonah Melville was barking orders frantically as his crew scrambled. "Get us out of here!"

Duane, his crewmate, hurried to the helm, spinning the wheel as the research vessel pushed off. But the Krakken's eyes fixed on the boat, its massive form looming before it reared up against the vessel. With a sickening lurch, the boat rocked violently from the impact.

"Whoa!" Jonah yelped, nearly tumbling across the deck. The monster dove beneath the water, then lunged forward for another strike—only to be intercepted.

XLR8 darted across the surface, circling so fast his speed created a swirling vortex on the lake. The spiraling waters spun upward into a miniature tornado, the roar of churning waves enough to force the Krakken back with a guttural roar.

"Whoa…" Wendy's eyes widened. "He made a tornado… just by running?"

"Damn!" Jet whistled. "That's beyond insane speed."

"Yeah, but…" Levy frowned softly. "Why is the Krakken so intent on attacking them? It doesn't look like it's hunting… and it's not exactly being territorial either."

"Who cares?!" Natsu barked. "It's a monster! Monsters attack. That's what they do."

Erza shook her head. "No, Natsu. Even beasts and monsters usually have reasons for what they do. Hunger. Protection. Instinct. This… this feels different."

Carla crossed her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Which means something else may be driving it."

The speedster then blurred into motion, leaping onto the boat's deck just as the Krakken surged forward again. Its massive tendrils rose out of the water and lashed down, coiling tightly around one of the ship's larger crates at the bow.

"No you don't!" Jonah barked, his voice cracking as he lunged forward. To the utter disbelief of the guild audience, the so-called marine biologist literally threw himself onto the crate, wrapping his arms around it as though he'd die before letting go. His knuckles whitened from his grip.

"What the—?!" Gray shot upright. "Is that guy insane?!"

Lucy's eyes went wide. "He's risking his life… for a box?!"

Erza frowned deeply, brows knitted in suspicion.

But on-screen, XLR8 had the same suspicion gnawing at him. Narrowing his eyes, the Kineceleran blurred forward, grabbing hold of the Krakken's tendril with both clawed hands. His body vibrated with pent-up speed as he dug in, dragging backward with all his strength. For a brief second, the monstrous appendage was forced away from the crate, struggling against XLR8's inhuman velocity. Sparks of friction smoked the air as the speedster's feet tore against the wooden deckboards.

"Yeah! Elfman cheered, his fist pumping. "Now that's manly—rescuing both the fool AND the ship!"

In a burst of speed, XLR8 whipped around, skidding across the deck and unleashing a fierce flurry of kicks. His feet blurred into streaks of motion, hammering the Krakken's jaw in rapid succession. With a final CRACK of impact, the blow snapped the beast's head upward. The Krakken bellowed in pain, its guttural roar shaking the waters as it finally loosened its grip and slid back beneath the waves.

"YEAH!" Natsu roared in triumph, fire practically spilling from his grin. "THAT'S how you do it!"

"A clever tactic," Erza admitted, crossing her arms with a small, satisfied nod. "Redirecting its momentum and striking with speed rather than raw force."

"Yup!" Jet added, half-resentful, half-admiring. "I could maybe pull that off—but not with that much power behind it…"

Onscreen, Jonah scrambled upright, still planted stubbornly in front of the crate as though guarding a treasure chest. He dusted off his coat and managed a shaky grin. "Thanks for the hand—and the feet!" he said in forced cheer, clearly trying to cover his earlier panic.

But XLR8's narrow eyes told a different story. The Kineceleran peeled back the lower half of his mask, glaring directly at the man. His tone dropped, serious. "What's so important in that crate that you'd risk your life for it?" he demanded.

Many in the guild leaned forward, equally curious and suspicious of Jonah's actions.

The pause that followed onscreen only deepened the guild's suspicions. Jonah froze for a heartbeat, clearly scrambling for an excuse. "Um…" he stammered. "Our lunch!" he finally answered.

The entire guild hall went silent.

"WHAT!?" Many shouted incredulously.

"You almost got munched for a few sandwiches?!" XLR8 asked incredulously, his tone equal parts disbelief and disgust.

Even Natsu and Happy had no defense. Natsu's jaw dropped. "What an idiot!"

Happy flapped his wings furiously. "Aye, he's lying! No one—no one—would risk their life for tuna sandwiches! Even if they are great!"

Levy frowned, eyes sharp with thought. "He's hiding something, and he doesn't want Ben to know it."

Makarov's tone was heavy. "Indeed. No one guards his lunch with such devotion, even if it is the most delicious one in the world."

Lucy folded her arms and sighed, unimpressed. "Figures. First he mocks the Krakken, then he clings to a crate like it's his lifeline. Something about this guy screams 'untrustworthy.'"

However, before the interrogation could continue, the Krakken jumped out the water and grabbed the crate, bringing it back into the water before it could be stopped.

Then , another danger loomed. The Omnitrix on XLR8's chest began flashing a warning red, its steady ticking filling the air.

"Uh oh…" the Kineceleran muttered. "Sorry, gotta run!" And with that, he blurred into a sprint, water splashing behind him as he zipped toward Shaw's boat.

"Almost there…" XLR8 panted, the red glow intensifying. "I think I'm gonna—"

FLASH

The alien vanished mid-stride, replaced by the much smaller body of Ben Tennyson. "Aah!" the boy cried, his momentum still carrying him forward. The guild winced in unison as he bounced and skidded across the surface of the lake like a flat stone, finally smacking down with a splash right behind Shaw's ship.

"Make it…" Ben groaned weakly, coughing up lake water.

"Yikes…" Jet rubbed his neck, paling a little. "Yeah, I'll hold off on trying the water-run. Ground's more my speed."

Natsu roared with laughter. "Hah! Skipping across the lake like a pebble!"

"Not funny," Lucy scolded, wincing at Ben's ragdoll-like tumble. "That looked painful."

"It was…" Ben confirmed.

Back on-screen, Max immediately spotted his grandson floundering in the waves. His face hardened, voice booming with urgency. "Man overboard! Shaw, Ben is overboard! Bring the boat around!"

At the helm, Shaw had been bracing himself, harpoon in hand, sights locked on the Krakken's wake. His finger twitched toward the trigger—until Max's cry cut through his tunnel vision.

He blinked, then snarled under his breath. "Next time you're in my sights, you won't be so lucky…" Shaw promised darkly, lowering the weapon before yanking the wheel to bring the boat around.

"Of course he hesitated to help," Carla sniffed, folding her arms. "His pride nearly outweighed the boy's life."

Natsu groaned, slamming his fist against the armrest of his chair. "What?! He's just gonna let the monster get away like that?!"

Gray shot him a sharp glare. "Are you kidding? Ben's in the water, Natsu. The monster can wait. Saving the kid comes first."

"Gray's right," Makarov agreed gravely. "A true hunter knows when to chase and when to protect his own."

Later that night, the lakeside was alive with the clamor of people packing up. Campers stuffed belongings into their cars, fishermen hauled boats back onto trailers, and families hurriedly ushered children into vans. The once lively dock was nearly abandoned—no one wanted to stay where a monster prowled beneath the waters.

The camera panned to the crackle of a campfire. Ben sat with a towel wrapped around him, hair still damp, his cheeks puffed in frustration. Gwen sipped from a thermos while Max tended the fire.

"See, I told you so. That was the same thing that tried to munch me last night. Captain Shaw and I were right."

"Course we gotta have the whole 'I told you so' thing," Wakaba puffed his pipe, exasperated.

"To be fair, it is warranted." Macao said.

Max's eyes narrowed as he poked the flames with a stick. "Just because he was right about the Krakken doesn't mean I was wrong about him. I want you to stay away from that guy. He's trouble."

Ben threw up his hands. "You're just being stubborn."

"Yeah, don't you hate people like that?" Gwen smugly teased.

A ripple of laughter spread through the guild hall, though Makarov shook his head, raising a finger. "While Gwen has a point, both sides are being stubborn here. Neither of them are seeing the bigger picture. Sometimes you must pause, breathe, and view things from above before digging your heels in."

Erza folded her arms, nodding. "Agreed. Their bickering blinds them to the larger threat. The Krakken is dangerous, and arguing over who's more trustworthy wastes time."

Back on-screen, Max leaned closer to Ben. "We'll leave this to the experts, Ben, like those 'Friends of Fish' guys."

The audience stirred uneasily at that, a few skeptical faces turning toward the projection.

"Experts, huh?" Gray muttered. "Pretty sure 'Mr. Sandwich Crate' didn't act like an expert back there."

Lucy sighed, tapping her chin. "Exactly. Jonah risked his life for whatever was in that crate. That wasn't about research or conservation."

Erza's eyes sharpened. "Whatever was inside must be valuable—far too valuable for him to take such a risk. No one would cling to it so desperately otherwise."

Natsu clenched a fist, already grinning. "So we just bust open the crate and find out what he's hiding!"

"Too bad we can't exactly jump into the episode…" Cana drawled, swirling her drink.

Happy floated up, wagging his tail. "I bet it's fish!"

Onscreen, Ben jabbed his thumb proudly at the glowing Omnitrix on his wrist. "Experts? Who better to snag a lake monster than the guy with the monster-buster on his wrist?"

Max leaned back, his expression firm but tired. "I'm afraid this is just gonna have to be the one that got away, son."

A murmur rippled through the guild hall.

"Seriously?" Natsu complained, throwing his arms in the air. "That's a perfect fight for him! Big scary monster? That's exactly up Ben's alley—even if he's only ten!"

Gray folded his arms, glancing at the screen. "I don't get it either. If anyone should be handling it, it's him."

Juvia frowned slightly, feeling conflicted over supporting Ben yet being concerned about his safety. "While Juvia does not like seeing Ben in danger, she must admit he is very qualified to handle situations like this."

Lucy, however, placed a finger on her chin thoughtfully. "But… he is still a kid. Maybe Max doesn't want him diving into danger unless absolutely necessary."

Ben sighed with a small, nostalgic smile. "Lucy's spot on. Grandpa Max probably figured those 'Friends of Fish' were the better option—better equipped, more experienced, at least on the surface. And… I was his responsibility on that road trip. I don't think he wanted to risk me unless there was no other choice."

Erza nodded in agreement. "A wise caretaker."

"But if you don't let him fight," Elfman countered, slamming his fist into his palm, "how's a man supposed to grow stronger?!"

"Ben was ten at the time, Elfman," Mirajane countered. "Not exactly the right age to be hunting sea-monsters."

Elfman flinched at the jab but grumbled, "Still… I say let the boy fight. He's shown already he's got guts."

Ben chuckled from his seat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Trust me… I didn't exactly listen to Grandpa's 'stay out of danger' plan for long."

Onscreen, Shaw stomped into view, his face red with fury. "...low-down no good fish kissers!" the captain spat through gritted teeth.

"Captain Shaw, what is it?" Ben asked curiously, stepping closer.

"The nerve of those 'enviro-punks'!" Shaw ranted, waving a fist at the lake. "They shut down the entire lake! Nobody tells me where to sail and nobody's gonna keep me away from reeling in the catch of the century. Nobody."

With that, Shaw stomped back toward his vessel, muttering under his breath. Moments later, his boat was seen cutting through the mist across the lake.

The guild stirred with skepticism.

Levy tilted her head. "Do those 'Friends of Fish' people even have the authority to close an entire lake?"

Wakaba exhaled a puff of smoke. "Sounds fishy to me. No pun intended."

"Maybe they're bluffing," Cana said, raising her mug. "Claim authority, keep everyone else out, and do whatever they want behind closed doors."

Meanwhile, the scene shifted back to the Rust Bucket parked by the pier. Gwen's voice rang out as she knocked impatiently on the bathroom door. "Come on, Ben! What did you do—fall in?"

The door creaked open, revealing Max standing there. He raised a brow, but behind him, the small bathroom was empty.

"Ben?" Gwen blinked.

Natsu leaned forward in his seat, eyes widening. "Wait—don't tell me the kid actually fell in the toilet?"

Gray snorted loudly. "Idiot. He obviously snuck off."

"What'd you say?!" Natsu growled, his fist sparking with flames.

Gray stood, frost creeping over his arms. "You heard me. You're as idiotic as that Friends of Fish guy!"

"Say that again, stripper!"

The two butted heads, shouting insults, while Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, for crying out loud… you two fight like younger Ben and Gwen."

Happy floated by with a smug grin. "Aye! At least Gwen isn't yelling about clothes all the time."

"Both of you, sit down!" Erza growled, a menacing aura radiating off of her.

"Yes, ma'am!" Both resumed their seats, acting respectful.

This earned some laughs.

Shaw kept one hand steady on the tiller as his boat creaked through the foggy water. A faint clatter of shifting metal rose from beneath a tarp behind him. He snapped his head around, scowling. "Hey! No stowaways on my boat, even if you are only a filthy rat!"

Grabbing an oar, he yanked the tarp back—only to reveal Ben crouched beneath it.

"Um… First Mate Tennyson reporting for duty… sir?" Ben said, smiling nervously, giving a weak little salute.

The guild broke into laughter.

Gray snorted. "Figures. Kid couldn't just sit still."

Levy tilted her head. "But why hide? Why not just ask?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Because I knew Shaw would've left me on the dock. Hiding was the only way to guarantee I'd get brought along once we were out too far to turn back."

"Reckless," Carla huffed, arms folded. "But… effective."

Shaw glared at the boy for a long, tense moment. Finally, his shoulders eased, and he turned back toward the helm without another word.

The screen shifted to show the boat further out into the misty lake. Shaw stood proudly at the edge, now wearing a snug green wetsuit, his grizzled jaw set with determination. "She's probably been chased deep by our 'fishy friends'," he said darkly. "Only one way to flush her out… with a little live bait."

A low murmur swept the guild hall.

"Live bait?" Wendy asked, horrified.

"I'm almost too nervous to ask," Lucy said, biting her lip.

Ben stepped forward hesitantly. "Maybe I should go with you? Y'know, just in case."

"No need. I've got my dive buddy right here." Shaw smirked grimly, hefting a harpoon gun. He cocked it once, testing the weight, then seated himself on the boat's edge. "Wish me luck," he said, before leaning back and vanishing into the water with a splash.

Many in the guild groaned.

"That tiny stick won't do nothin' against that monster!" Elfman barked. "It's not manly recklessness—it's just stupidity!"

"Perhaps Max was correct in questioning this man's sanity," Erza agreed with a stern frown. "He has more stubbornness than sense."

"Or a death wish," Cana added.

Onscreen, Ben turned, his gaze falling on a red dive-suit draped over the side railing. His lips curved into a mischievous grin.

"Oh boy…" Lucy muttered. "I know that look."

Levy smiled despite herself. "He's going after him."

Natsu smirked. "Now this oughta be good."

Shaw's form cut through the murky water, bubbles streaming behind his green wetsuit. He jerked suddenly when a length of drifting seaweed brushed his arm, clutching his harpoon tightly before exhaling in visible relief. With cautious strokes, he pressed deeper into the lake's shadowy depths.

At last, the camera panned wide—revealing a cavernous hollow nestled into the lakebed. In its center lay something glowing faintly in the gloom: a massive yellow sphere streaked with red veins.

It wasn't a rock. It wasn't debris.

It was an egg.

The guild hall erupted.

"A-An egg?!" Lucy gasped, hands flying to her mouth.

Levy leaned forward in astonishment. "That explains everything!"

Wendy's eyes lit up with sudden clarity. "Of course! The Krakken's only protecting its child!" She clasped her hands tightly against her chest, visibly relieved.

The mood in the room shifted from hostility to sympathy in an instant.

"So the monster ain't a monster after all," Elfman muttered. "It's just a parent doing what any real man—or beast—would: protecting family." He teared up a bit. "So manly…"

Juvia's eyes softened. "It is only natural… she only wished to keep her baby safe."

Even Cana let out a low whistle. "Well… I'll drink to this twist."

Erza's expression hardened, but with respect rather than anger. "Then the true villains here are not the creature, but those who disturbed its home."

From his seat, Ben nodded firmly. "Exactly. The Krakken wasn't the enemy—it never was."

The realization settled over the guild like a heavy weight.

Meanwhile, Ben's small silhouette was swimming nearby. He then began to approach the Captain, who noticed him and was startled once again, turning and firing at the boy.

"Idiot!" Bisca barked, springing halfway out of her chair. "You don't fire before identifying your target!"

Alzack shook his head with disgust. "Zero trigger discipline. He could've killed the boy!"

The tense moment broke as the harpoon narrowly missed, Ben twisting aside just in time.

Relief washed over the guild.

"Phew…" Wendy exhaled, hand pressed to her heart. "That was too close…"

"Lucky brat," Gajeel muttered, though his shoulders eased.

Captain Shaw realized what he'd nearly done, relief etched across his face. He gestured for Ben to approach, silently pointing toward the glowing object he'd discovered. Ben swam closer, settling down beside him—his eyes widening in shock as he beheld the massive egg.

"See? He understands now," Levy whispered, almost reverently. "That's not a monster. That's a mother."

As Shaw began swimming upward, Ben lingered a moment longer, staring in awe at the strange, living relic nestled in the depths.

The scene cut to the surface. Shaw broke through the waterline, gasping for air as he pulled himself up onto his small boat. But before he could so much as shake the water from his face, the deep growl of an engine echoed across the lake. A sleek, black speedboat pulled alongside his, its hull bristling with mounted weaponry.

The guild stirred uneasily.

"Who the hell are those guys?" Macao frowned.

"Nothing good," Erza said sharply, her eyes narrowing at the ominous sight.

"That's serious hardware." Alzack's voice was low. "That's no ordinary fishing crew."

Shaw barely set foot on the deck before a masked figure seized him by the collar.

"Don't you know night diving is dangerous, old timer?" the stranger sneered, his voice cold and metallic through the mask. He pulled Shaw closer, his grip like iron. "Unless, of course… you went with a friend."

The guild tensed, believing he'd rat Ben out.

"I work alone. I ain't got no friends," Shaw said flatly.

"Credit where it's due," Macao muttered. "At least he didn't sell Ben out."

"Yeah," Cana nodded with a small smirk. "Guess the grumpy old salt's got a backbone after all."

The masked figure gave a dry chuckle. "...And with a sparkling personality like yours?" he taunted. His grip tightened before shoving Shaw back toward the deck.

Ben's head bobbed just above the waterline nearby, eyes widening as he watched in tense silence.

"I haven't anything worth stealing either," Shaw grumbled, trying to push himself upright.

"Ah, but you've got us all wrong." The masked figure crouched down, tilting his head mockingly. "All we want is information. Like… what did you see down there?" His tone was smooth, but there was an edge of menace in every word.

"Nothin'," Shaw spat. "Same as always."

For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then—

CRACK!

The masked man's fist slammed across Shaw's jaw, sending the captain sprawling unconscious onto the deck.

"Cowards!" Elfman roared, slamming a fist against the table. "Attacking an old man like that is NOT manly!"

"Why would he knock him out?" Happy asked. "Didn't he want information?"

"Bastard must be trying to kidnap him to interrogate him…or worse." Gray speculated, his tone serious.

"Well... I have to be sure." The masked man reached up and pulled of his mask, revealing the smug face of Jonah Melville.

The guild erupted in shock.

"WHAT?!" Natsu jumped to his feet, fists flaring. "The fish-hugger guy?!"

"No way…" Levy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "All this time—!"

Cana clicked her tongue. "Knew there was something off about him."

Erza's eyes narrowed dangerously, her tone cutting through the noise. "It all makes sense now. When Ben saved the dock-goers as XLR8, the Krakken gave up once they were safe. It didn't pursue the people—even though it clearly could've. But it did attack the Friends of Fish boat. Not once, but multiple times. And every attempt was focused on that crate Jonah was protecting."

Lucy's eyes widened as she put the pieces together. "And they closed off the beach for their so-called 'environmental study'—not to protect the Krakken, but to keep people away while they searched for the eggs."

Gray clenched his fists, his voice dark. "If that idiot was willing to risk his life for them, then those eggs must be worth a fortune. That's why he was desperate."

Wendy growled softly, her usually gentle tone filled with anger. "How dare they try to steal a mother's eggs…!"

Makarov narrowed his eyes. "Aye, it all fits. The Krakken wasn't the aggressor—it was defending what was rightfully its own."

Young Ben's eyes went wide as Jonah barked orders. He looked down desperately at the Omnitrix to see the faceplate was still red.

"Come on, work!" Ben whispered, panic in his voice. His thumb trembled over the core, but still the device pulsed red, locked in recharge.

Levy frowned, tilting her head. "Wait… why was it still recharging?" He turned to Ben. "You hadn't used an alien since XLR8."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "...I actually used Grey Matter offscreen. Needed him to sneak out of the Rust Bucket and hide on Shaw's boat. That's why you didn't see it—it timed me out here."

"Figures." Gajeel snorted. "Always the squirt that has to crawl where no one else can."

Back on screen, Jonah sneered down at the unconscious Shaw. "Take Ahab here with us. Find out if he knows anything back at the Cannery." He tossed a small blinking tracker into the dark water, watching it sink. "We'll come back later with a mini-sub to snatch the rest of the eggs."

Everyone perked up.

"The rest?!" Cana repeated.

"They've already stolen some…" Levy whispered, horrified.

Wendy's fists clenched, her voice trembling with outrage. "So that's why the Krakken is attacking… It's searching for her missing eggs!"

Erza's eyes flashed dangerously. "These so-called 'Friends of Fish' are the true villains. Stealing from nature and painting themselves as protectors…"

Happy growled, his wings flaring. "They deserve to be fish food!"

Lucy shivered. "All this time, Gwen and Max thought Ben was exaggerating… but he was the only one who saw the truth."

Jonah sneered as his men hauled Shaw onto their speedboat. "In the meantime…" He primed a small explosive, its red light blinking in the gloom. "I think his boat just got lost at sea." With a casual flick, he tossed it onto Shaw's vessel.

The detonation erupted, splintering wood and fire into the night sky. Shaw's boat bucked, then split apart with a thunderous crack, sinking beneath the waves.

"I don't get it," Natsu scratched his head. "Why blow up his boat?"

Erza's eyes narrowed. "He's erasing the evidence."

Debris rained down across the water. Young Ben swam frantically, barely dodging a jagged plank before surfacing a safe distance from the wreckage. His eyes glared at the retreating speedboat.

The boy looked down at the Omnitrix as it flickered green again. A silhouette of Stinkfly hovered in the dial's window. "It's hero time!" he shouted, slamming the core down.

Back on the sleek black speedboat, Jonah's men lounged tensely until Duane squinted at the horizon. "Is that a bird?" he asked, pointing.

"Nah, looks like a plane," another argued, shading his eyes.

But when the green-and-black blur closed in, Jonah snarled. "It's a bug!" he barked.

"Is that supposed to be a reference for something?" Happy scratched his head, curious.

"Eh? Why Stinkfly?" Gray frowned. "Wouldn't that fish guy—Ripjaws—make more sense in the water?"

Ben answered, "Actually, I figured having the advantage in the air was the best option. Would me better range and maneuverability."

Juvia sighed, still peeved that she was denied the chance to see Ripjaws. If they didn't' see his debut in this episode, maybe she could ask Ben to change into him during the intermission?

"Man the harpoons!" Jonah ordered.

The camera snapped to Stinkfly, wings buzzing furiously. "Give it up! You are totally busted!" the Lepidopterran demanded, voice echoing insectoid and sharp.

The crew raised their laser-rifles, firing wildly. Stinkfly zipped and spun between the beams, his wings flickering in the moonlight. Then his eyestalks pivoted forward—two jets of sticky, green slime blasted out, splattering across weapons and torsos alike, pinning the startled crew against their own railings.

Many of the female wizards recoiled.

"Eugh!" Lucy gagged, covering her mouth. "I'll never get used to seeing that."

Levy grimaced. "That consistency—it looks like melted algae!"

"Gross or not," Gray admitted, "it worked. They're not going anywhere."

Juvia, determined, raised her hand. "If it helps Ben defeat villains, Juvia will endure the slime."

Cana smirked into her drink. "Now that's love talking."

Onscreen, Jonah snarled and rolled barrels out from the boat's hold. "Let's see how you like this!" He fired on one, detonating it midair. Explosions flared, trees shuddered and toppled, and one massive trunk collapsed directly across Stinkfly's flight path.

"Ahh!" The Lepidopterran screeched, wings clipped as he careened into the lake with a heavy splash.

Many in the guild tensed.

A moment later, Stinkfly's head broke the surface, water sluicing off his chitin. He flapped furiously, but only sank again. "Aw, man! My wings are too wet for take-off…" he groaned, flailing.

"Just like dragonflies." Carla noted. "Their wings lose lift once soaked."

Happy tilted his head. "So he's basically just a big bug that can shoot slime now?"

"More like grounded prey," Carla replied coolly.

Now unable to take off, the Lepidopterran thrashed in the dark water, his wings slapping uselessly. Jonah snarled from the prow of the speedboat, gripping the wheel himself. "Let's squish that bug, once and for all!" he declared, voice dripping with malice.

The floodlights swung and pinned Stinkfly in their blinding glare. He froze for a moment like an insect trapped in a lantern glow, before slowly swimming backward as the boat revved and barreled toward him.

"Aw, come on, come on! Dry off!" Stinkfly muttered frantically, twisting his head around to flap his soaked wings harder. Spray flew from him, but it wasn't nearly enough. The prow of Jonah's ship cut through the water, bearing down with terrifying speed.

Wendy let out a squeak and buried her face against Present-Ben's right side. Juvia, wide-eyed, grabbed his other arm and squeezed tight. "Ben can't be squished!" she fretted, her voice trembling.

"Easy, easy…" Ben murmured with an awkward smile, patting Wendy's head while Juvia clung on. "Trust me. I got out of this one."

Back onscreen, Jonah's crew wasn't satisfied with the looming collision. One thug manned a mounted turret, unleashing streaks of laser fire across the surface. Sparks erupted as beams grazed the water dangerously close to Stinkfly's body.

The alien whipped his eyestalks around, scanning for an escape route. Driftwood exploded into splinters beside him, forcing him to dive partially under. Then—his eyes locked on a tree branch jutting low over the water.

"Oh, here goes nothing…" he muttered, launching a jet of sticky slime. It slapped onto the branch with a revolting splat. Then, with a mighty tug, he slurped the goo back into his mouth, reeling himself in like a grotesque grappling hook.

The guild erupted in a mixture of groans and disbelief.

"BLEH, nasty!" Cana gagged, fanning herself with her hand.

Erza, despite wrinkling her nose, admitted, "That was actually clever. Resourceful use of his abilities."

"Clever doesn't make it less disgusting," Lucy muttered, hand to her temple.

Stinkfly's body zipped clear of the water just as Jonah's boat smashed through the driftwood he'd abandoned, splintering it into bits. Stinkfly swung in a wide arc, narrowly escaping both the prow and the laser fire before letting go and landing on a tree trunk.

"YEAH!" Natsu whooped, slamming a fist into his palm. "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

Gray crossed his arms, smirking. "Gross, but effective."

Ben gave a sheepish grin. "See? Not all of Stinkfly's tricks are nasty. …Okay, most are."

Jonah circled his speedboat, the spotlight sweeping across the black waters. Stinkfly clung to the tree branch just outside the light's range, his wings twitching, trying not to move or draw attention.

But Jonah's hunt was interrupted when a dorsal fin cut across the surface. His lip curled. "It's getting too crowded around here," he spat, swinging the spotlight on an unconscious Shaw. "Dump the trash." He ordered.

Without hesitation, two of his men dragged Shaw's body and unceremoniously hurled him overboard. The speedboat then roared off into the night, leaving the unconscious man to sink beneath the waves.

"Those cowards!" Erza slammed a hand against the bench table. "Disposing of him like garbage!?"

Wendy trembled, tears beading at the corner of her eyes. "He'll drown if no one saves him…"
Even Gajeel frowned, crossing his arms. "Guy might be crazy, but he doesn't deserve to go out like that."

Onscreen, Stinkfly buzzed out from behind the branch, wings carrying him low over the water. He swooped down and, with his claws, snagged Shaw before his body slipped under the surface. The unconscious man dangled from the alien's grip as Stinkfly beat his wings furiously to keep them aloft.

A wave of relieved sighs swept the audience.

"Thank goodness…" Wendy whispered, finally unclenching her hands.

Stinkfly buzzed low over the dark water, Shaw limp in his grasp, the glow of the Rust Bucket's finally coming into view on the shore. "Almost there!" he called, wings beating furiously.

But then—beep, beep, beep! The Omnitrix symbol on his faceplate flashed red.
"Aw, not again…" Stinkfly groaned, voice dripping with frustration.

Many of the wizards groaned in unison.

"I'm starting to hate that sound," Gray muttered, rubbing his temples.

"Join the club," Ben sighed, shaking his head. "Trust me, no one dreads it more than I did back then."

Up on the shore, Gwen had binoculars glued to her eyes, scanning the lake.

"Any sign of Ben and Shaw?" Max asked tensely.

"Not yet…" Gwen started—only for her ears to twitch at a familiar flash.

Both looked up, eyes widening just in time to see Stinkfly abruptly shrink and contort in midair, reverting back to Ben. His scream tore through the night as he and the unconscious Shaw plummeted toward the Rust Bucket.

Thump!

The pair landed in the RV's canvas sun-shade, bouncing awkwardly before tumbling into a heap—but alive.

"Aw, I hate it when that happens…" Ben groaned, clutching his head.

The guild exhaled, some clutching at their chests.

"What a relief," Wendy sighed, "I was so scared they'd hit the ground instead…"

Carla flicked her tail with a huff. "Cutting it far too close, if you ask me." She mildly glared at Ben sitting across from her.

"Hey, any landing you can walk away from is a good one," Ben shrugged, half-grinning.

Inside the Rust Bucket, Ben was telling everything that happened as Gwen tapped keys on her laptop.

"…And the Krakken's nest was full of eggs! No wonder she's been attacking everything—Jonah must be stealing her eggs!" Ben finished breathlessly, fists clenched in outrage.

"Greedy swine," Gray spat. "Always comes back to people wanting more than they need."

Makarov nodded gravely. "A sad truth. There will always be those who exploit the innocent for their own gain."

Gwen's fingers clicked rapidly against her keyboard. "And I think I know who Jonah really is." She turned her laptop toward Max and Ben, eyes narrowing. "I did a little checking on this 'Friends of Fish.' It's not listed on any environmental registry. Not a single official site." She clicked another tab and a mugshot popped up. "But I did find this."

Gwen revealed a long rap sheet.

"Jonah Melville isn't a friend to any kind of wildlife. He travels the world poaching rare animals, then crates them up and sells them to private collectors."

The reaction was immediate.

"Wait—someone buys monster eggs?!" Natsu gawked, his face lighting up with curiosity. "What kinda rich guy would even want that? Do they… taste good?"

Happy tilted his head. "Kinda wanna try one…"

"Natsu!" Lucy whirled on him with a furious sweatdrop. "They're not food! People like Jonah sell rare creatures to tycoons who want to show off to their rich friends. Believe me, I've seen it. My father—" Her tone dipped bitterly. "—was obsessed with parading his wealth around like it proved something."

Erza folded her arms tightly, glaring at Jonah's photo. "So it isn't about conservation or science at all. It's vanity."

"'Crates them up'?" Young Ben echoed, his brows furrowing before his eyes widened in sudden realization. He slapped a palm against his forehead. "Oh man! I bet that crate the Krakken snatched off their boat had her eggs in it!"

"…Looks like we were both a little too hard-headed." Max's expression softened as he admitted it, glancing at his grandson.

"Finally," Cana smirked, "the old man and the kid actually see eye to eye."

Makarov chuckled. "A lesson well learned for both—wisdom shared and humility gained."

Ben pumped his fists, determination shining in his eyes. "We've got to stop them! They said something about going back to a cannery."

But before Max could reply, Shaw—still bristling with that same stubborn bravado—cut in sharply. "All this talk doesn't change a thing. Mommy or not, that beast is mine."

The guild's mood soured instantly.

"Idiot," Gajeel growled, teeth bared.

Wendy's face darkened, her small fists clenching. "She's just a mother protecting her babies! How can he still think of killing her?"

Lucy shook her head in disgust. "Some people never learn…"

"Let's go!" Shaw barked, heading for the door with that same grim determination. "I've a spare boat down at the docks."

The three Tennysons exchanged silent glances at each other before running to follow the captain.

Cana leaned on her elbow, smirking knowingly. "They're gonna ditch him, aren't they?"

A perfectly in-sync "Yes," rang through the hall from nearly everyone.

A short while later, the Tennysons were back at the docks. Gwen slipped her phone into her pocket with a sigh. "It'll take a while before the police can get here," she reported.

Shaw moved briskly toward his boat, hands tugging at the ropes. But before he could climb aboard, the engine roared and the vessel began drifting away from the pier. "Hey! What're you doing?! Get back here!" he barked furiously, stomping down the dock.

The guild burst into knowing laughter.

"Called it," Cana smirked, lifting her mug.

"Not manly to steal another man's boat," Elfman frowned.

"Yeah, but in this case?" Gray cut in, shrugging. "He'd just get in the way."

Even Erza conceded with a firm nod. "Sometimes leaving someone behind is the only way to protect them—and others."

Ben leaned over the side, waving half-heartedly. "Sorry, Captain!" he called back.

"You don't know what you're doing!" Shaw shouted, his voice growing hoarse with fury. "A monster's a monster, and I know a monster when I see one!"

Wendy's lips pressed into a thin line. "You're the one acting like a monster," she muttered, her fists trembling against the hem of her dress.

The boat sped off into the mist, leaving Shaw's silhouette shrinking behind them. The old sailor stood stiff on the pier, his fist shaking at the retreating vessel. But as the sound of the engine faded, he turned slowly, his eyes falling on a battered rowboat tied loosely at the side of the dock. His lamp swung up, illuminating its peeling paint and wobbly oars.

Levy sighed, exasperated. "He's really not giving up, is he?"

"Stubborn old goat," Gajeel snorted.

Lucy shook her head. "Unbelievable. Even after seeing the truth, he refuses to listen."

"Captain Shaw spent so many years obsessing over catching the Krakken," Ben said, folding his arms with a grim look. "Nothing was going to deter him. Nothing."

"Just like with Dr. Animo wanting that award…" Juvia murmured softly.

Her blue eyes lingered on Ben's face for a fleeting moment before she quickly looked away, worry clouding her features. A pang of doubt tugged at her—could her own fixation on winning Ben's heart someday become her undoing? She prayed not.

Ben caught the troubled shift in her expression. For a moment he hesitated, then—gathering a bit of courage—he reached over and gently took her hand.

Juvia blinked in surprise, then her lips curved into a tender, grateful smile. She gave his hand a light squeeze in return, the warmth between them silently saying more than words could.

The screen transitioned to a crane whining as it hauled up a bulky, submersible suit from the depths. Its thick metal claws clutched tightly around an enormous egg veined with red lines, water dripping down its shell. The crane arm swung carefully and set the suit down on the dock. Beneath the water, another clamp surfaced—this time dragging up Jonah Melville's submarine pod, also carrying a Krakken egg. The mechanical lift latched onto it and hoisted it onto the cannery dock.

The moment Jonah's pod touched down, he climbed out with a greedy grin, passing the egg to one of his crewmates. The man stumbled, nearly losing his grip on the smooth shell. "Careful!" Jonah snapped sharply. "Or you'll be cleaning up the world's most expensive omelette!"

Many gasps rose across the guild hall.

"They've already taken more of them?!" Erza growled, fists clenching.

"Oi, Tennysons better hurry it up," Natsu added, practically leaning forward in his seat. "Those jerks can't get away with this!"

The crewmate stuffed the egg into a cylindrical glass container, where another egg already rested, before sealing the lid. Jonah practically cradled the container, stroking the glass like treasure. "After we sell these babies to the highest bidder," he said with sick delight, "we'll be kicking back on a beach in the Bahamas."

"Bahamas? What's that?" Cana tilted her head. "Some kind of fancy resort."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. "Pretty much. It's a chain of tropical islands in my world—sunny beaches, tourist spots, the works."

Alzack huffed. "The only place these criminals deserve to go is a prison cell."

"Amen to that," Wakaba muttered, puffing on his pipe.

"Aye!" Happy piped up. "Instead of a beach chair, they deserve iron bars!"

The camera followed the Tennysons creeping through the shadows under the pier until they reached a rusted ladder bolted to the cannery wall. "See if you can find the eggs," Ben whispered, gesturing upward.

Max nodded and began to climb, Gwen following close behind. "What about you?" she whispered back, glancing down.

"I'm gonna kick some Friends of Fish tail," Ben declared with fierce determination, slamming the Omnitrix core into place.

Several cheers and whistles erupted in the guild hall.

"Straightforward and manly!" Elfman bellowed. "I like it!"

"Yeah, that's my kind of plan!" Natsu agreed.

Happy pumped his little paws in the air. "Yes! Ripjaws time! Fish-man Ben, fish-man Ben!"

The guild's excitement hushed as the Omnitrix dial locked on a silhouette with a long fin and sharp teeth. With a hiss of green light, the device sank into Ben's wrist, his arm immediately sprouting gray fish-like scales that shimmered wetly in the moonlight. His fist clenched, then opened to reveal webbing stretching between newly-formed claws.

A lump bulged on his forehead, elongating into a thin, eerie lure like that of an anglerfish, glowing faintly as gills tore open along his neck. The view rotated behind him, showing fins running down his spine before his mouth swelled grotesquely, splitting to reveal jagged, sharklike teeth. His hair transformed into dorsal fins, his eyes snapping open as pale, blank white orbs.

Finally, the transformation settled—Ripjaws stood revealed, clad in a black loincloth and a black patch on his left shoulder area bearing the Omnitrix insignia. He threw back his head and unleashed a guttural, aquatic roar.

"WHOA." Jet leaned forward, wide-eyed. "That's… that's beastly."

"I LOVE IT!" Elfman boomed.

"Looks like a demon fish," Droy muttered, half-impressed, half-unsettled.

"Still awesome," Natsu grinned with sharp teeth of his own. "I'd wrestle him!"

Lucy shuddered. "No thank you. I think I'd scream if that came crawling out of the water toward me."

Rather than recoil like Lucy had, Juvia's cheeks flushed as her hands went to her mouth. "Juvia… Juvia finds him… striking," she admitted softly, almost dreamily. "The scales, the fins… he looks so at home in the water. It's… beautiful, in a fearsome way."

Gajeel sweat-dropped from across the bench. "Beautiful? He looks like a shark that crawled out of a nightmare."

"Nightmares can still be alluring," Juvia countered without missing a beat, her gaze fixed on the screen. "To swim at such speeds, to rule the depths with such power… ahh, Juvia wouldn't mind being swept away in those strong fins."

Ben nearly choked on his drink, turning crimson. "W-Wait—what?!"

A roar of laughter swept through the guild hall. Cana slapped the table, wheezing. "Ohhh, Ben, she's got it bad. Doesn't even matter if you're a fish-man!"

"Juvia is simply appreciating his aquatic grace," the water mage insisted, but her voice was a little too dreamy for anyone to believe her.

Even Makarov chuckled into his mug. "Seems like no matter the form, lad, you've caught her eye."

Ben slumped in his seat, groaning into his hand. "Why is it always me…?"

Attention was drawn back to the screens as the Krakken burst from the water with a thunderous roar, its tendrils lashing wildly as it slammed aside the boat Ripjaws had been standing on. The wooden dock cracked and splintered as the beast rose up through the flooring of the cannery, its enormous eye locking onto Jonah.

"The bigger the Krakken, the bigger the payday," Jonah sneered, scrambling toward his submarine pod while one of his crewmates unleashed a hail of gunfire at the enraged leviathan.

Gasps and murmurs swept through the guild hall.

"Is he insane?!" Erza snapped, her fists clenching. "That is no mere monster—it's a mother protecting her young!"

Lucy shook her head in disgust. "And he still thinks of money first? He deserves whatever's coming to him."

Macao barked a laugh, though it was sharp. "Bigger the payday? More like bigger the funeral."

Even Natsu, who had been itching for monster-fighting action, grimaced. "Yeah, I'd fight a beast like that for a challenge, but this guy's just plain dumb."

"Not dumb. Arrogant," Makarov corrected gravely, stroking his beard. "And arrogance against a mother's wrath is the most dangerous mistake of all."

Ben shuddered, recalling how scary his own mother could be when she was angry. "Tell me about it…"

One of Jonah's guards bolted inside the cannery while the other stubbornly stayed behind, unloading his rifle into the Krakken. The bullets ricocheted uselessly off her armored hide, and with a furious screech, the beast lashed out with a tendril and smacked the gunner aside like a toy.

"She's going straight for her eggs…" Levy breathed, clutching her hands nervously.

But Jonah was already moving—his submarine's grapple extended, snagging the precious eggs before the Krakken could reclaim them. The poacher sneered as he pulled the prize into his machine.

Jonah's cannons flared, lighting up the dock as he fired on the massive beast. But his barrage was abruptly cut off when Ripjaws exploded out of the water, slamming onto the sub's cockpit window. His gills flaring wide as his claws scratched deep lines into the metal.

"You want to mess with a monster?" the Piscciss Volann growled, his teeth gleaming. "Try me on for size."

The guild erupted in cheers.

"Yeah! Tear him apart!" Natsu whooped, pumping a fist.

Elfman slammed his own fist into his palm. "That's the MANLY way to fight a monster—become one yourself!"

Juvia nodded eagerly, clasping her hands together. "Do your best, Ripjaws."

Ben blinked. Not gonna lie… That's just cute.

Ripjaws slid down the sub's hull and sank his claws into the crane-arm gripping the Krakken eggs. Jonah swung the mech's turret, trying to blast him point-blank, but Ripjaws roared and lunged forward, his massive jaws crunching down. Metal screamed as the entire gunner-arm was ripped clean off and tossed aside.

"Oh ho!" Wakaba barked, smoke curling from his lips. "Now that's how you chew through the competition!"

Even Gajeel cracked a grin. "Kid's got bite, I'll give him that."

The eggs dropped free of the severed clamp, tumbling through the air. Ripjaws immediately dove after them, catching the fragile spheres against his chest as he plunged toward the dock.

But Jonah wasn't finished. With a hiss of hydraulics, the submarine's massive fist swung like a piston and slammed into Ripjaws mid-fall. The alien brawler let out a grunt of pain, the eggs flying loose from his grip.

Everyone gasped.

As both crashed onto the dock below, their containers shattered apart and the leathery eggs rolled free across the planks.

"So, he can still fight without the gun?!" Alzack asked, mildly surprised.

"Of course," Erza said grimly, her arms crossed. "Even without a weapon, the machine itself is still a weapon."

Ben grimaced at the memory. "Yeah. I thought I had him right there—but Jonah's sub was tougher than I expected. He wasn't giving up those eggs without a fight."

Inside the cannery's dim, echoing corridors, Max held up a hand and gestured at Gwen with hand signals.

"Uh… what's he trying to say?" Droy asked, squinting at the screen.

"Looks like… bird signals," Jet muttered.

"Hand signals," Bisca corrected. "Soldiers use them for silent communication. Though…" She frowned. "I'm not sure even Gwen understood that one."

Before Gwen could even respond, a drenched Friends of Fish crewman hauled himself up through a ladder hatch right in front of them. Water dripped from his suit as he raised a pistol, sighting down the barrel at the pair.

Gwen gasped, freezing in place, but Max instinctively stepped in front of her, his broad frame shielding her. Despite the danger, his eyes stayed sharp. "All right, buddy. We can do this the easy way, or the hard way," he threatened.

"But he's got a gun!" Levy cried, clutching her book tightly.

"He's bluffing," Alzack said firmly. "But sometimes a good bluff can make the other guy hesitate long enough to flip things around."

The crewman, however, just grinned and advanced, his weapon never wavering. Max and Gwen backed up slowly, tension thick in the air.

And then the wall behind him exploded inward with a deafening crash. Water cascaded as a massive fin speared through the cannery wall, knocking aside crates and spraying splinters everywhere.

"Not what they needed right now…" Lucy winced.

"But it could be just what they need," Erza countered, her tone sharp. "A distraction."

"Go high!" Max barked. Without hesitation, he and Gwen leapt up onto the nearest line of dangling hooks, swinging along the chain runners as the Krakken's fin tore the floor apart. The crewman screamed as the platform beneath him collapsed, plunging him back into the raging water below.

"Whoa-ho!" Natsu cheered, clapping his hands together. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Another armed thug sprinted around the corner, but before he could even aim, Max and Gwen launched off the hooks in perfect sync. Their combined kicks smashed into the man's chest, knocking him down.

Landing smoothly, Gwen looked at her grandfather. "So, was that the easy way, or the hard way?"

Max just gave a shrug and smile.

"They got so lucky!" Jet muttered, shaking his head.

"Luck or not," Cana said, raising her mug, "sometimes you need a little fortune to win the fight."

"Aye," Wakaba agreed, puffing on his pipe. "And these two made it count."

Outside, the water churned violently as both Jonah's submersible and the Krakken surged toward the fallen eggs. For a moment it looked as though the villain would seize them—until the mighty leviathan twisted its tendrils around the fragile spheres, pulling them close.

"My eggs!" Jonah snapped furiously, driving his machine toward her.

"They're not your eggs!" the guild hall shouted back almost in unison.

Before Jonah could close the distance, a blur of scales and teeth intercepted him. Ripjaws slammed shoulder-first into the sub, forcing it off course with a bone-rattling impact. "They aren't your eggs," he rumbled, his voice deep and guttural.

He shoved Jonah aside, letting himself sink just far enough to dive and snatch the eggs from the Krakken's tendrils before she accidentally crushed them in her frenzy.

"Manly!" Elfman roared, thrusting a fist skyward. "Protecting the innocent AND protecting life—Ben, you've earned a True Man's seal of approval!"

Ben covered his face, embarrassed. "Thanks… I think."

"Now he just needs to keep 'em away from that creep," Gray muttered, eyes narrowing at Jonah's sub.

The guild's hopes were dashed a moment later. The outer clamps hissed, releasing the larger frame. With a hiss of steam, the villain ejected himself into a smaller, sleeker pod—one designed for vicious mobility.

"Uh-oh…" Lucy murmured, dread filling her stomach.

Jonah rocketed downward, slamming full force into Ripjaws' side. The aquatic alien's grip on the eggs slipped as the impact sent shockwaves through the water.

"Rescuing babies? Very heroic," Jonah sneered over comms, his pod's mechanical fists pistoning forward to hammer Ripjaws. Blow after blow rattled the alien's armored body. "But not very smart."

"No! Ben!" Wendy cried, clutching her hands to her chest.

Juvia's fingers twisted tightly together, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please… let him be okay…" she murmured, blue eyes shining with worry.

One final strike caught Ripjaws under the jaw, sending him tumbling downward. Air bubbles streamed from his mouth as he sank into the depths, dazed and reeling. Jonah's sub extended a clawed arm and seized the precious eggs, dragging them back toward the surface.

"He's losing to a guy in a tin can?!" Natsu shouted furiously, springing up from his seat. "C'mon, little Ben, don't let him win!"

In the water, the aquatic alien shook off the daze, his gills flaring as he snapped back to his senses. With a low growl, Ripjaws clamped his legs together—the fins stretching, merging, and elongating into a powerful mermaid-like tail—and shot through the water like a torpedo.

"Whoa…" Jet muttered, leaning forward. "That's freaky…"

"So majestic," Juvia breathed, awed.

Jonah's greedy grin faltered when a clawed, webbed hand slammed onto his pod's windshield. "What—?!" he yelped, staring wide-eyed at Ripjaws clinging to his vessel.

The poacher recovered quickly, spinning his pod and smashing Ripjaws away with a mechanical arm. The Piscciss Volann twisted in the water, caught himself, and lunged forward again, cutting Jonah off. With a mighty swipe, he knocked the eggs free, catching them carefully in his jaws.

"Ben, don't tell me you ate them!" Happy cried out, tail puffed in alarm.

Ben shook his hed. "No, Happy. It was just the safest way to carry them while keeping my hands free."

Ripjaws surged ahead, holding the eggs secure as he tried to escape with them—but a massive shadow loomed over him. The Krakken herself barreled in, smacking Ripjaws aside with one colossal tendril. With a guttural roar, the beast reclaimed her eggs, clutching them protectively.

"Wait—why's she attacking him?!" Gray exclaimed.

"Because she doesn't know he's helping," Carla answered firmly, folding her arms. "From her perspective, another creature had its claws—or jaws—on her eggs. What else would a mother do?"

While that made perfect sense…it was still frustrating.

The tension spiked again as Jonah's submersible streaked into view, its floodlights glinting off the water. The right claw of his pod whirred and folded back, revealing a barrel-shaped weapon. A shrill sonic burst pulsed out in concentric waves, slamming into the Krakken. The mother let out a tortured cry, writhing as the unnatural sound rattled through her massive body.

Many were flabbergasted by the development.

"What isn't in that suit?!" Droy barked, wide-eyed.

"He's unhinged," Erza said, her voice sharp with disgust. "Using a weapon that cruel, just for profit."

"Yeah…" Cana muttered darkly. "He doesn't care how many lives he destroys, so long as he gets his stupid payday."

Taking advantage of the Krakken's disorientation, Jonah darted in with the sub's claw, wrenching the eggs back into his possession.

Several fists clenched across the guild hall.

Juvia herself wished she could insert herself into the scene to help her beloved.

But before Jonah could even savor his supposed victory, a dark shape streaked through the water.

WHAM!

Ripjaws barreled into him like a torpedo, driving the submersible straight down into the lakebed. The impact obliterated the remains of Shaw's sunken boat, shards of wood scattering like splinters in the current.

Several wizards flinched from the sheer force of it.

However, Jonah wasn't finished. As the dust of debris cleared, the poacher's sub shifted—mechanical arms pinning Ripjaws by the throat against the wreckage. Bubbles erupted from the alien's gills as Jonah forced him down, pressing hard.

"Oh no… Ben," Wendy said fearfully.

But the Piscciss Volann's gaze darted—and spotted a heavy anchor lying half-buried nearby. With a powerful heave, Ripjaws snagged its chain, swung it in a wide circle, and smashed it into the pod's hull. The blow rattled Jonah inside, forcing him back. Ripjaws seized the chance—twisting one of the sub's arms into a brutal arm-bar.

The guild hall roared in excitement.

"Get him!" Natsu yelled, pumping his fists.

But Jonah snarled and triggered a hidden surge. Electricity crackled through the arm, shocking Ripjaws and forcing him to release his grip with a pained roar. The poacher kicked the thrusters, trying to swim away.

He didn't get far. Ripjaws twirled the anchor chain like a lasso, his powerful arms spinning it faster and faster before hurling it forward.

CRUNCH!

The metal smashed into Jonah's right arm, tearing the sub's appendage completely off.

"YES!" Elfman leapt up, fists raised. "That's MANLY!"

Several others cheered as well, while Erza smiled approvingly. "Impressive. Young Ben isn't relying on raw strength alone—he's using his environment and adapting mid-fight."

All around the guild hall, no one looked away—the fight's intensity had them glued to the screen.

The Piscciss Volann tugged hard on the anchor chain, trying to reel Jonah back in—but then, out of nowhere, the Krakken surged forward. With a thunderous snap of her jaws, she bit down on the chain, yanking it from Ripjaws' grasp. The alien was forced to release it, and Jonah took the chance to break free, thrusters flaring as he tried to escape.

Ripjaws wasn't letting him go so easily. With a burst of speed, he caught up, grappling the submersible once more, both combatants fighting tooth and nail for the glowing eggs drifting between them.

But the mother Krakken wasn't about to let either thief near her brood. With one sweeping backhand of her massive claw, she lashed out. The blow forced both Jonah and Ripjaws to break off, the shockwave of water dislodging the precious eggs, sending them tumbling upward into the current.

"The eggs!" Wendy cried.

For one agonizing heartbeat, the spheres floated freely. Jonah lunged toward them, sub-arms outstretched—but Ripjaws' powerful tail lashed, propelling him faster. The Piscciss Volann surged ahead and caught the eggs gently in his jaws, clamping down just enough to hold them without harm.

"Yes!" Natsu pumped his fists, grinning fiercely.

Jonah cursed, veering after him, but another swipe from the Krakken's claw forced him to bank away sharply. Though he avoided her strike, the sub spun wildly, thrown completely off course.

That left Ripjaws with his chance.

Clutching the eggs securely, Ripjaws kicked his powerful tail and rocketed through the water, weaving between jagged rocks as the Krakken thundered after him. Instead of fleeing, however, he barreled straight toward the cavernous hollow beneath the cannery.

With careful precision, the Piscciss Volann lowered the eggs into the stony nest, setting them back into their rightful place.

Cheers erupted through the guild hall.

"Atta boy, Ben!" Elfman roared. "That's what a man does—protects the young!"

The waters shuddered as a vast shadow enveloped the cavern. A heartbeat later, the Krakken loomed into view, her titanic form blocking the light as she descended.

The guild's cheers faltered into uneasy silence.

Wendy clutched her chest. "Please… please understand, Mama Krakken."

Ripjaws didn't bolt. Instead, he swam a short distance back, his white eyes locked on the sea monster, posture low and nonthreatening. His gills flared, a silent gesture of retreat and respect—he wasn't here to harm her children.

The Krakken's colossal gaze bore down on him. For a long moment, the water seemed to hold its breath. Then, with a low rumble that was less a growl and more a sigh, she wrapped her tendrils around the eggs, pulling them into her chest and cradling them with almost maternal tenderness.

Relief washed over the guild like a wave.

"She… she understood him," Wendy whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. "She knows he was helping."

However, the tender moment of understanding between Ripjaws and the mother was shattered when Jonah came tearing back into view, his face twisted in a near-psychotic grin. He drove his battered sub forward like a madman.

"That dude's completely lost it." Gray muttered.

"Madness born of obsession," Erza said darkly. "I've seen it before."

But Jonah's obsession blinded him to the truth: the Krakken was no helpless creature. With a guttural roar that vibrated through the depths, the mother surged forward, her tendrils lashing out. In a blink, she had Jonah's sub ensnared, squeezing him in a grip he couldn't escape.

Before he could even process what was happening, the beast's enormous jaws clamped down on the cockpit. A deafening crunch followed as metal screamed and buckled—the glass cracked, then burst. Water rushed inside in a violent torrent, flooding the controls and leaving Jonah flailing. In seconds, the once-imposing machine was nothing but shredded debris, and Jonah himself was left floating helplessly, exposed and vulnerable in the water.

"That's it," Gray muttered with grim satisfaction. "Game over for him."

But even then, Jonah refused to surrender. Eyes still glimmering with madness, he pulled a knife from his belt and thrust it straight at the Krakken's head.

The blade scraped uselessly against one of her massive teeth—and snapped in half.

The guild burst into laughter.

"Pffft—are you kidding me?!" Natsu wheezed.

"Did he really think a butter knife was going to slay that?" Cana barked, slapping the table.

"Pathetic," Erza said flatly, though even her stern tone couldn't hide a hint of amusement.

"Idiot's about to be dinner," Elfman snorted. "Not very manly to poke a mama beast with a toy knife."

Jonah froze, staring dumbly at the jagged half of his knife as the Krakken loomed over him. Her guttural roar shook the water, her jaws opening wide, ready to swallow the poacher whole.

"That's it—she's gonna eat him!" Jet exclaimed, leaning forward.

"Can you blame her?" Droy scoffed. "He stole her kids."

But before the massive jaws could close, Ripjaws darted in, planting himself firmly between them. His arms spread wide, webbed claws open as he shielded Jonah with his own body.

The Krakken's furious eyes bore into the Piscciss Volann. For a moment, the water seemed to hold its breath. Then, slowly, the mother withdrew, curling back around her eggs. She ignored Jonah entirely, her only focus now on nuzzling her clutch with surprising gentleness.

The guild erupted with astonishment.

"No way…" Lucy whispered, stunned.

"She…understood?" Levy breathed, hand clasped over her chest.

"Unbelievable…" Macao muttered. "That thing's smarter than half the people I know."

"Smarter than Jonah, that's for sure," Wakaba added dryly.

Wendy's eyes shimmered as she clasped her hands together. "Aww… she's just a mother protecting her babies…" she cooed softly, touched by the scene.

Erza's expression softened, her voice low but resolute. "This proves it. She is no monster. Only a parent defending her children. She deserves to be left in peace."

Several mages shifted uncomfortably, guilt flickering in their eyes.

"I can't believe we thought she should just be killed…" Elfman admitted quietly. "Not manly…"

"Shows how quick we are to judge what we don't understand," Gray said.

Jonah exchanged a brief, almost defeated glance with Ripjaws—then the aquatic alien's fist cracked against his jaw, sending him limp and unconscious.

The guild hall erupted.

"Finally!" Natsu roared with a grin. "That's what I'm talking about!"

"Justice served!" Elfman shouted, fist pumping.

Even Cana raised her mug in salute. "Cheers to that punch."

Juvia, however, had her hands clasped together, her eyes sparkling with adoration. "So gallant… so powerful… while Water Hazard will always be Juvia's favorite, Ripjaws will now hold a place in Juvia's heart as well…" she sighed dreamily.

Ben flushed crimson and dragged a hand down his face. "G-Great, another embarrassing fan moment…" he muttered under his breath, earning a few chuckles around him.

On the surface, Ripjaws emerged, hauling Jonah like a ragdoll. He hooked the poacher by the collar of his wetsuit on a piece of floating debris, leaving him dangling miserably above the waves.

"Hang here for a while," Ripjaws growled, arms crossed with authority, "until the police find a nice, dry cell for ya."

With that, he gave a final backflip into the water, vanishing beneath the waves in a sleek dive.

Erza nodded firmly. "Ben, you did well. You exposed the real villain, spared an innocent creature, and upheld justice."

Makarov stroked his beard thoughtfully, smiling. "Aye. It just goes to show—" he tapped his pipe against the table—"you can't judge a book by its cover. A great lesson all of you kids must take to heart on your missions and in life!"

"Aye, sir!" Nearly everyone across the guild hall replied.

Some time later, Max and Gwen stood at the lakeside, watching as a police boat cut through the water toward Jonah's dangling form. The poacher's limp body swayed from the debris where Ripjaws had left him.

"Ha," Max said with a satisfied grunt, arms crossed. "Good riddance to bad rubbish."

The guild nodded and voiced their agreement.

"Aye, exactly so," Makarov huffed.

"Lock him up and toss the key," Gajeel grumbled.

Even Lucy allowed herself a small, grim smile. "Serves him right."

But their moment of vindication was cut short by Captain's Shaw rowing up to the lakeside. "Got one!" the old seafarer crowed triumphantly. He yanked up a dripping net—and inside, tangled with seaweed, was Ripjaws. "I finally got me a Krakken! One of the eggs must've hatched. Imagine this trophy mounted on my wall!" His eyes gleamed with manic pride.

Many groans echoed through the guild hall.

"Unbelievable…" Erza muttered darkly, clearly unimpressed.

Juvia narrowed her eyes at the old captain on-screen. "You will not touch him!" She shouted angrily.

"Ben," Gray turned to him, "how'd you even get caught?"

Ben raised his hands defensively. "I was racing back to shore before the watch timed out. Guess I wasn't watching my surroundings… Shaw's net caught me off guard."

As if on cue, a sudden flash of red lit the air inside the net. Ripjaws vanished in an instant, leaving only a soggy, human-shaped silhouette pressed against the rope. Ben's smirking face peeked out from the tangle of seaweed. All of this escaped Shaw's view.

Max chuckled, shaking his head. "Heh, I think your 'catch of the day' isn't exactly as advertised."

Shaw blinked, held up his lantern to get a better look—and went pale. "B-but I could've sworn…" he muttered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

The guild roared with laughter.

"Pfft! He caught the wrong fish!" Natsu wheezed.

"Talk about a backfire." Gray snorted.

"Serves the stubborn old fool right." Carla said with a flick of her tail.

Even Wendy giggled behind her hands, relieved that Ben was safe.

Out in the distance, the water shimmered with a pale moonlight glow. Deep beneath the waves, the Krakken rested on the lake floor. Her massive tendrils curled protectively around the fragile orbs. A low, guttural howl rolled through the water—not in rage this time, but in something almost tender.

The guild hall, which had been loud with laughter only moments ago, softened into hushed murmurs.

"Aww…" Wendy breathed, her brown eyes bright with wonder. "She looks so peaceful now…"

"Hard to believe that's the same creature that tore up the docks," Cana admitted.

"Cute, in its own way," Mirajane agreed with a serene nod. "She's just a mother doing what mothers do best."

Levy tilted her head, brow furrowing. "I'm curious about something… How can an animal that size survive in just a lake? Wouldn't it need more space?"

Ben crossed his arms and nodded thoughtfully. "Good question. But this lake isn't small. It's connected to a chain of huge inland seas back home—what we call the Great Lakes. They're so massive you can't even see across them, like an ocean. If any place could hide something like the Krakken, it'd be there."

That explanation left many of the guild murmuring in awe, several nodding in understanding.

"Guess it makes sense then," Gray admitted, arms folded.

Erza's stern gaze softened just slightly. "Even great beasts have a place in the world… so long as people don't disrupt them."

Makarov raised his mug, summing up the guild's sentiments. "Let the Krakken live in peace. She has more than earned it."

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."

Chapter Text

Across the guildhall, glowing runes shimmered into view.

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

The words hovered in the air like a gentle reminder, and chatter quickly picked up again.

"Oi, Ben," Natsu called, standing up from his seat. "Did you ever run into that Krakken again? Or was that the only time?"

Ben smiled at the memory, resting his hands behind his head. "Yeah, actually. I went back the next year. Checked the same lake… and you'll be glad to know, all her eggs hatched. Whole swarm of little Krakkens, swimming together. They slipped into the deeper waters of Lake Superior to live in peace. Nobody's seen 'em since."

A ripple of awe went through the guild. Wendy clasped her hands together, almost glowing. "That's wonderful!"

Levy bit her lip in thought. "Makes you wonder, doesn't it? What if some of the creatures we've fought… weren't mindless beasts either?"

That gave many of the mages pause. Even Natsu, who usually burned for a fight, frowned at the thought. Lucy placed a finger on her chin. "It's true. On some jobs, we've never really asked why a creature was acting out. Maybe we've been too quick to assume."

Erza crossed her arms, her voice calm but heavy with meaning. "Going forward, we should be cautious. A monster is not always just a monster. Signs of intelligence, of family, of purpose—they matter. If a creature is capable of thought or emotion, we owe it the respect of deciding carefully whether it should be slain."

Makarov raised his mug, nodding solemnly. "Well said, Erza. From this point on, let's make it a rule for Fairy Tail: we protect life where we can, even if it comes in frightening shapes."

The guild answered with murmurs of agreement, the lesson of the Krakken weighing heavily on them all.

The guild murmured in agreement. Some lowered their eyes, thinking back on their past jobs with guilt. Others whispered about what they might do differently in the future.

As the guild's chatter carried on, Gajeel wandered off in search of food while Wendy happily joined Mirajane in handing out drinks and snacks—a sight many found downright adorable. Carla, however, quietly flew away to the rafters to be on her own. Ben's eyes followed the white cat briefly, wondering why she always had to act so aloof and often rude to others.

He didn't get to dwell on it long before he felt a gentle tug on his coat sleeve. Turning, he found Juvia standing there, her cheeks dusted pink.

"Um… Ben darling…" she began shyly, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "Could Juvia request a small favor?"

Ben blinked, a little caught off guard. "Uh—sure. What is it?"

Juvia lowered her gaze, her voice soft but earnest. "May Juvia… see Ripjaws again? He seemed so… powerful. So noble. Juvia would like to admire him once more."

Ben scratched the back of his neck, chuckling awkwardly. "Heh… well, if you insist."

With a familiar green flash, his form instantaneously shifted and grew until the hulking figure of Ripjaws towered before them. Compared to the younger version they had seen onscreen, this Ripjaws was noticeably more imposing—easily a foot taller, his limbs thicker with muscle, and a sleek black breathing apparatus encircled his neck, the Omnitrix symbol now glowing on his chest.

The guild reacted instantly—some gasping in awe, others recoiling at the sheer monstrosity of his jagged teeth and predatory aura.

"Well?" Ripjaws rumbled, his deep, guttural voice vibrating through the hall. "What do you think?"

A collective shiver rippled through the crowd. Gray whistled under his breath. "Yeah… this one's even worse nightmare fuel."

Ripjaws tried for a grin, but it only revealed rows of serrated teeth. "Heh. Wait until you see Ghostfreak."

"W-why?!" Lucy squeaked, immediately unsettled. "What happens?"

Ripjaws wagged a long, clawed finger. "Uh-uh. No spoilers."

Heh. Ben inwardly grinned. Now I know what Paradox feels like.

While others murmured nervously, Juvia's blue eyes lit up like stars. She clasped her hands beneath her chin, her voice melting into a dreamy sigh. "Magnificent…"

Ripjaws—no, Ben—shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, his massive shoulders hunched as if unsure where to look.

Cana smirked over her mug. "Girl's practically swooning over him, even when he's a freaky fish-alien."

From his seat, Macao barked a laugh and pointed with his drink. "The kid can save the day from monsters, sure—but can't handle a girl giving him googly eyes?"

Wakaba puffed smoke from his pipe, grinning. "Might be his scariest challenge yet. Still, makes yah wonder what's holding him back from asking the girl out already?"

"I'm sure he has his reasons," Droy shrugged. "The guy comes from another world, after all."

"Yeah. Maybe he's got someone back there?" Jet suggested.

As this conversation played out in the background, Juvia only continued to smile dreamily, clasping her hands like she hadn't heard a word.

Levy, ever curious, tilted her head. "Wait, Ben—doesn't this form need to be in water?"

Ripjaws welcomed the distraction, lifting a claw to tap the black device wrapped around his thick neck. "Normally, yeah. But when I'm on land, the Omnitrix gives me this—kind of like an artificial gill system—so I can breathe. Once I'm underwater, it disappears."

Levy blinked. "How come it didn't do that before?"

The alien shrugged, sharp teeth flashing in the motion. "Just one of the many updates this Omnitrix has compared to the old model."

Gray crossed his arms, giving Ripjaws a once-over. "So, you can breathe on land, but can you actually fight here, or are you only useful underwater?"

Natsu smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Doesn't matter. I could take him either way. Fish-guy wouldn't stand a chance once I fire things up."

"Smoked fish!" Happy chimed gleefully, wings flapping as he zipped around Ripjaws' head.

Ripjaws growled low in his throat, baring a line of jagged teeth. "Careful, kitty. I bite back."

A ripple of laughter moved through the guild.

Up on her perch, Carla scoffed under her breath. "Ridiculous." She turned her head primly, nose in the air.

Wendy, who had just returned from passing out drinks and snacks with Mirajane, paused mid-step. She caught sight of Carla's aloof expression and frowned softly. Carla… why are you acting like this? The thought tugged at her heart as she hugged the empty tray to her chest, concern lingering in her wide blue eyes.

Later, the glowing runes across the building shimmered and twisted again.

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

Wizards shuffled back into their places, finishing their drinks and snacks.

The runes pulsed again on the monitors before shifting into new words:

"Episode 4: Permanent Retirement"

A hush fell over the guild, quickly replaced by murmurs of curiosity.

"Permanent Retirement?" Lucy repeated, brows knitting. "That… sounds ominous."

"Yeah…" Gray muttered, crossing his arms. "Doesn't sound like a fun adventure. Feels like someone's in serious trouble."

"Maybe it's about Ben's grandpa," Levy suggested thoughtfully. "He did mention retiring before, didn't he? Could be connected."

Elfman slammed his fist into his palm. "Or it means some villain's about to retire—for good!"

Cana took a sip from her mug and chuckled darkly. "Pfft. More likely it's tragic. Titles like that never end well."

"Tragic?" Wendy whispered, her hands tightening in her lap. "Y-you don't think… someone's going to die, do you?"

Happy tilted his head, tail flicking. "What if Ben's the one who has to retire early? He's just a kid, aye!"

Ben deadpanned. "Uh, Happy… I'm literally right here."

Happy blinked. "…Oh."

"Hmph." Carla shook her head with disdain. "Idiot tomcat."

"Ben's not retiring anytime soon." Natsu scoffed, arms crossed. "No way. That title's gotta mean something else."

Ben frowned at the glowing words, unease prickling his gut. "Not sure what it's referencing… Guess we'll find out soon enough."

The image shimmered into focus: the Rust Bucket parked by a small roadside ice cream parlor, sun blazing down on the desert.

Inside, little Ben and Gwen were happily ordering cones, while Max strolled toward a strange-looking machine set into the wall. Then, a battered red pickup screeched into the lot, dust flying. A hulking, burly man in dirty overalls stepped out and shoved Max roughly aside.

"Outta the way, 'Grandpa.' I got a major withdrawal to make!" the man barked.

"Max!" Lucy exclaimed, concerned. "He just threw him like that?!"

"Is he alright?" Wendy's voice quivered, her eyes darting between the screen and the guild's elderly members.

Makarov's brows knit tight. "Hmph. Insolent brat. No respect for his elders."

The wizards murmured their discontent, anger brewing at the sight.

Meanwhile, the big man's lanky partner strolled up—gap-toothed and smirking.

"Two against one?" Erza muttered darkly. "Pathetic."

Levy tilted her head. "Um… quick question. What is that strange box they're focused? The one that guy shoved Max away from?"

"Oh—that's an ATM," Ben piped up from his seat. "Like, a money machine. You put in a card, it gives you cash."

"Seriously?!" Natsu blinked, staring at the glowing rune-screen like it had insulted him. "You can just walk up and ask for money like that?!"

"Well, if you've got money in your bank account. It's…a thing in my world." Ben tried to explain.

Gray frowned. "And this guy thinks it's a good idea to rob it in broad daylight? What an idiot. He's gonna get caught in, like, two minutes."

Cana snorted into her mug. "Drunk or just plain stupid, take your pick."

Gajeel interjected "Actually, robbing a money machine where there ain't a lot of people probably isn't the worst idea." He then grinned. "Too bad they had to do it in front of this crew."

The scene shifted inside the little parlor. A sour-faced old man stood behind the counter, glaring down at the children as though scooping ice cream was the greatest burden in the world.

"What do you have that's non-fat with less than three percent sugar?" Gwen asked primly.

The worker didn't even blink. "Napkins," he deadpanned.

The guild hall erupted.

"Pffft—!" Natsu slapped the floor, cackling.

Even Gray snorted. "Gotta give the guy credit. Quick wit."

Levy giggled behind her hand, shaking her head. "That's so mean but so funny!"

Lucy smiled despite herself. "I can't believe he actually said that to a kid."

Ben groaned, covering his face. "Ugh, I remember that. She always had to ask for the healthiest option, even at ice cream shops."

"Oh?" Mirajane leaned forward, smiling warmly. "So she was health-conscious even as a child? That's very responsible."

"Responsible?" Cana raised a brow, swirling her mug. "C'mon, she's ten! That's when you eat ice cream until you're sick."

"I don't see why anyone would want to ruin ice cream by making it bland." Happy stated.

"Still," Levy said thoughtfully, "it's impressive she cared about her health that young. Not many kids do."

Erza crossed her arms with solemn pride. "A noble trait indeed. But—" she paused, eyes narrowing seriously, "—I would never abandon sweets. Especially strawberry cake. Or cheesecake. Or—"

"—everything on the dessert menu?" Gray cut in with a smirk.

Erza's glare snapped toward him, sharp enough to freeze the room. Gray paled instantly. "I-I mean, uh, nothing wrong with that!"

The girls chuckled, Lucy looked over at Levy. "See? Even Erza admits she couldn't go sugar-free."

The grumpy clerk finally turned his glare on Ben. "What about you, kid?"

Ben opened his mouth to answer, but a harsh clank of metal rattled through the window. His head snapped around—outside, the burly thug dragged a long chain, a heavy hook at the end scraping across the ground.

He stomped toward the ATM with a gleam in his eye.

"I'm about to go rocky road!" Ben bolted for the door.

"Rocky road?" Wendy tilted her head, curious. "Is that… supposed to mean something?"

Ben chuckled. "Yeah, it's an ice cream flavor—chocolate mixed with nuts and marshmallows. It might sound weird but it's good. I could try making some for you guys later? Was gonna try my hand at making marshmallows too, anyways."

Wendy's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "Really?! I'd love that!"

Erza perked up. "I certainly won't decline a new treat."

Juvia nodded. "Juvia would like to try it as well."

"Hey, hold on a second!" Cana called out, catching the others attention. "You just ran out like that? No hiding it? Weren't you trying to keep, y'know, a secret identity or something?"

Ben nodded. "Yeah, I was. Back then, I tried to keep the Omnitrix under wraps… but that didn't matter when my grandpa or cousin were in danger. Family came first. Always."

That earned him a few approving nods.

Makarov nodded. "A commendable answer. A wizard should be willing to defend those dear to them, no matter the cost."

On the screen, the burly man jammed the hook deep into the ATM, barking, "Hit it!"

His buck-toothed partner revved the pickup—only for the wheel to melt under his hands. The entire dashboard shimmered and warped, black and white plating spreading like liquid metal across the interior.

Green circuitry traced through the panels as a glowing circle blinked to life where the wheel once was.

"Your cash request has been denied!" a filtered voice (similar to Ben's) rang out. The glowing eye flashed with each word.

With a sudden lurch, the truck kicked the startled crook out the driver's side, leaving him sprawling in the dirt. Then, with a ripple like water, the metal mass detached from the vehicle and re-formed into a peculiar black-and-white humanoid creature with green circuitry patterns.

"W-Whoa!" Lucy's eyes widened. "What is that one?!"

Levy's eyes sparkled like stars. "Incredible… he fused with the magic-mobile?!"

"Pickup truck, actually," Ben corrected. "This guy's called Upgrade. He can merge with technology, enhance it, even reshape it however he wants. Pretty handy when dealing with machines."

Erza's brows shot up. "To merge with technology itself? That's a power with infinite applications."

Ben nodded in agreement. "You're not wrong. But since this world doesn't have much tech to play with, I haven't really used him. I mean, there's only so much you can do when the most advanced thing you see is a train."

Wendy tilted her head. "So… you've never used him here at all?"

"Nope." Ben shrugged. "Haven't found the right chance."

"You mean you couldn't use Upgrade on Phantom Lord's guild hall? The Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II?" Levy pressed, eyes alight with curiosity. "That was pretty advanced."

Ben opened his mouth to dismiss it—then paused, blinking. "Uh… y'know… I guess I could have used him." His brow furrowed as he rubbed his chin, thoughtful. "Huh… never really considered it."

Even though Phantom's guild hall was a large, walking fortress, the idea of merging with it as Upgrade never crossed his mind at the time since it looked too much like some magical robot-castle thing. He didn't think there'd be any technology to merge with.

But a flicker of doubt crossed his face. Perhaps he's been too narrow-minded about what counted as "technology" in Earthland?

The burly man snarled and yanked the chain free, spinning the hook wildly above his head before hurling it straight at Upgrade.

The alien calmly lifted his arm as the chain coiled harmlessly around it like a snake. Then, with a sharp jerk, Upgrade gave one mighty tug.

The crook let out a startled yelp as his feet left the ground, his massive frame whipped upward and slammed into a nearby utility pole with a resounding thunk.

"Yeeesh!" Lucy winced. "That had to hurt."

Natsu leaned forward, grinning ear to ear. "Nice job turning that guy's attack back on him!"

Meanwhile, the buck-toothed partner lay groaning on the ground, but before he could scurry off, Max strode over. With surprising speed for his age, the older man planted a firm boot on the thug's chest, pinning him flat.

"Where do ya think you're going?" Max said sternly, then looked back at his grandson. "Good work, Ben!"

"Aw yeah!" Upgrade pumped a mechanical fist, his voice buzzing with youthful energy. "I'm ready for anything! Bring it on! What's next?!"

Max's face softened into a smile. "We're headin' off to see your Great Aunt Vera for the weekend!"

The Omnitrix hero froze mid-pose. His glowing eye flickered once before the boy's entire posture sagged with dismay.

"Ugh, boring old Aunt Vera?! Nooooo!" Upgrade wailed, throwing his hands in the air. His distorted voice made the complaint sound even more dramatic.

Many in the guild hall blinked collectively.

"…Wait," Cana said, lifting an eyebrow. "That's what killed the excitement? Visiting your great-aunt?"

Natsu tilted his head too, baffled. "Is this 'Aunt Vera' super scary or something?"

"Or maybe cursed?" Elfman suggested. "The name Vera… it has the ring of a demon!"

Lucy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I doubt it's anything that dramatic…"

"Ben," Wendy turned to the teen hero, "why were you acting like it's the end of the world?" She asked innocently.

Ben groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well…look—it wasn't that Aunt Vera was bad or anything. It's just… as a kid, I found her place super boring. No TV, no games, no excitement. Just endless chit-chat about things I didn't care about. To ten-year-old me, that was torture."

Levy giggled softly. "Ohhh, so it was more about you being restless than her being mean."

"Exactly!" Ben said quickly, pointing at her.

"Sounds like a brat's problem," Gajeel snorted, smirking.

Ben groaned louder. "C'mon, give me a break—I was ten! To me, visiting her felt like an entire weekend of doom."

Natsu clapped his shoulder with a grin. "Don't worry, I get it! I hate sitting still for too long, too."

The vision shifted again, showing the Rust Bucket rumbling down a long, empty highway that stretched across a barren desert. Heat shimmered off the sand and distant mesas broke the horizon.

Inside, Gwen pressed her face against the window, wide-eyed. "When Aunt Vera said she wanted to 'move away from it all,' she really meant it!"

"Why are they even in the desert?" Lucy asked, confused. "That doesn't look like a nice place to live at all."

Ben leaned back in his chair. "That's Arizona. My great-aunt lived in this retirement community out there. A lot of people move there to get away from harsh winters, since it's hot and dry almost all year."

Back on the screen, Ben slumped against the seat, sulking. "Aw man, this summer was supposed to be about F-U-N, not hanging out in some old lady's place."

The guild reacted instantly.

"Disrespectful!" Erza barked. "She is your elder and deserves your gratitude, not whining!"

"Yeah," Mirajane added gently, "you shouldn't talk about family like that. Even if it's not what you wanted, she opened her home to you."

Makarov nodded sagely. "Young ones today… far too quick to forget the value of visiting family."

Macao snickered into his mug. "Kid sounds like me whenever my old man dragged me to boring family reunions."

"You mean you went to family reunions?" Wakaba muttered.

"Once," He shot back with a smirk.

Gwen turned away from the window to defend their relative. She stood at the Rust Bucket's tiny sink, washing dishes diligently. "I like Aunt Vera!" she said cheerfully.

"Duh! That's because you act like you're a hundred years old!" Ben fired back with a grin.

The guild chuckled at Gwen's unimpressed expression as she calmly went back to her task.

"Ha!" Natsu slapped his knee. "He got her good!"

Gajeel smirked. "Decent burn."

Levy shook her head. "They really do bicker too much though."

"Agreed," Lucy sighed. "Sometimes it feels like watching siblings argue nonstop."

Wendy frowned faintly. "It's kind of sad, though. They should be enjoying their trip together."

Carla flicked her tail dismissively. "Children will squabble. It is hardly surprising."

The scene shifted away from the Rust Bucket. A neat little desert lawn came into view, where an older woman in a wide sun hat was chatting with her neighbor.

"Marty, it's been years since I've seen Max and the kids!" Aunt Vera said brightly. "I'm not sure I'll even recognize them! Stop by and say hello."

"I'd like that," Marty replied with a smile before heading back into his small, tidy home.

Inside, the blinds were drawn. He settled into his recliner, a bowl of snacks balanced on the side table, while an old black-and-white horror film flickered on his TV. The sound of dramatic screams filled the dim room.

Then—something moved.

A glossy, green glob of slime oozed silently across the carpet and slithered up to the snack bowl.

This caused many throughout the guild hall to perk up.

"W-what is that?!" Lucy squeaked.

"Doesn't look friendly," Gajeel muttered, his nose wrinkling. "Kinda like acid sludge."

Natsu leaned forward eagerly. "Oh yeah, now this is getting good! Bet it's some kind of monster fight!"

Carla's tail twitched sharply. "Or it could be a parasite. Both explanations are deeply concerning."

Marty reached for a handful of snacks. The goo brushed his fingers—cold, wet. His smile faltered. He slowly looked down, eyes widening in horror as the mass crawled onto his hand.

He gasped.

His shadow on the wall showed the green slime sliding up his arm. "Help me—!" he tried to cry out—only for the blob to launch onto his face, cutting off his screams.

Gasps erupted across the guild.

"Oh no!" Wendy cried, covering her mouth.

"Is he dead?!" Cana asked, wide-eyed despite her buzz. "Did that thing just eat him?!"

"Looks more like it's… smothering him," Gray said grimly, his tone low.

Mirajane's eyes softened with worry. "That poor man… I hope it didn't…"

Levy's brows furrowed. "It can't have just killed him instantly, right? Maybe it's—doing something else?"

Natsu slammed a fist into his palm. "Doesn't matter—if it shows up again, younger Ben better pound it!"

The Rust Bucket rumbled down another stretch of road before turning into a quiet neighborhood. The desert sands gave way to neat rows of small houses, each with carefully trimmed lawns and shaded porches.

Several elderly folks strolled the sidewalks or sat in lawn chairs, waving at the passing RV.

Ben pressed his forehead against the window with a groan. "This is gonna be soooo boring! Their idea of excitement in this place is probably watching the grass grow."

Makarov bristled from his seat on the bar counter. "What did that boy just say?! Boring?!" He shook his fist furiously at the screen. "I'll have you know, old people can have fun too!"

Several wizards chuckled at the old master's indignation.

The camera panned across the quiet neighborhood. On one of the houses, an old man was perched precariously on his roof, stretching to adjust his crooked satellite dish. His sandals slipped against the shingles, and suddenly his body tilted dangerously toward the edge.

The guild gasped in unison.

"Oh no—he's gonna fall!" Lucy cried, clapping her hands over her mouth.

Wendy leaned forward, clutching Carla tightly. "Ben, please, you've got to save him!"

Even Ben flinched at the memory. "Yeah, I thought he was a goner then too…"

But instead of tumbling headfirst, the man suddenly twisted mid-slide. With shocking agility, he launched himself into a perfect backflip—cleaner than most Olympic athletes—before landing in a crouch on the grass. He straightened smoothly just as the Rust Bucket drove past, dusting his hands as if nothing had happened.

"Woah! Did you see that?!" Young Ben exclaimed inside the RV, his eyes bugging out in disbelief.

This shocked many in the guild.

"WHAT?!" Gray shouted. "That's an old man!"

Natsu's jaw dropped. "No way… He stuck the landing like gramps would!"

Cana coughed out a laugh. "Are we sure he's not some retired circus acrobat or something?"

Even Makarov stood in awe, eyes twinkling. "Remarkable… At his age, such a feat shouldn't be possible without aid. I'm impressed!"

Erza, however, frowned sharply. "No ordinary elder could perform such movements. His body must have been enhanced somehow."

"Yeah," Levy chimed in, pushing her glasses up her nose as her mind raced. "That blob we saw earlier—it must have gotten to him, too. It's the only thing that makes sense."

The hall quieted for a moment, letting that thought sink in.

"…So you're saying there's more of those slime things?" Lucy asked nervously.

"Or one slime thing that's spreading," Gajeel corrected grimly. "And that's even worse."

Carla's tail flicked in irritation. "Either way, this town is far from normal."

Wendy bit her lip, her eyes on the screen. "Then Ben and his family are walking right into danger…"

Inside the Rust Bucket, Gwen's eyes never left the glowing screen of her laptop. Fingers tapping quickly, she only looked up when Ben leaned against the window, still gawking at the sight outside.

"See what?" she asked flatly. Her eyes darted to the sidewalk where the seniors were now walking perfectly normally—chatting, watering plants, shuffling with canes. Nothing out of the ordinary.

"The heat must be frying that pea-sized brain of yours," Gwen added with a smirk.

Ben's face fell into a frown, puffing his cheeks slightly in irritation.

Several in the guild chuckled at the familiar cousin-bickering.

"Again with the insults," Lucy sighed, though she was smiling faintly. "Do they ever stop?"

"They've got stamina," Cana smirked, raising her drink. "I'll give 'em that."

"Sounds less like cousins and more like rivals," Erza said, unimpressed.

The Rust Bucket finally pulled into a driveway and parked in front of a quaint desert-style house.

Ben hopped out first but immediately lifted a hand to shield his eyes from the blazing Arizona sun. "Seriously, why do old people have to live where it's soooo hot!" he groaned, trudging forward with exaggerated steps.

Behind him, Gwen followed with a grin that looked almost too satisfied, clearly enjoying her cousin's misery.

Makarov looked thoughtful. "It makes sense, actually. It's harder to stay warm in the cold once you get older. The desert sun keeps the bones from stiffening."

"Really?" Wendy asked, looking over at the guild master. "So the heat actually helps?"

"Indeed," Makarov nodded. "Old joints and cold weather do not mix well."

Gray shrugged. "Guess that explains it. Still wouldn't catch me living in a frying pan like that."

Natsu grinned. "I would! That sounds awesome!"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Only you would think baking alive is a good idea."

As Ben trudged toward the house, Gwen suddenly whipped out a bright plastic water gun. With a mischievous grin, she squeezed the trigger and sprayed a cold jet right into his face.

"Hey!" Ben yelped, stumbling back as water dripped from his hair. He spun with a glare, but Gwen only laughed, darting away before he could retaliate.

The guild hall chuckled at her antics, several wizards shaking their heads.

"Classic sibling move," Mirajane chuckled.

"It's not manly to spray and run," Elfman grumbled.

"Well, she is a girl, so yeah…" Makao deadpanned.

Ben started to march after her but froze. Out of the corner of his eye, Marty's window caught his attention.

Behind the glass, Marty stood perfectly still, eyes locked on Ben.

The guild collectively stiffened.

"Wait—that's the guy from before!" Lucy gasped. "The one the blob attacked!"

"But… he's fine?" Wendy asked hopefully, her voice small. "What happened to that goo thing?"

Before anyone could speculate further, Marty suddenly let out a hiss so sharp it rattled the windowpane. His head snapped from side to side, neck cracking loudly in every direction like broken wood. With one abrupt motion, he yanked the blinds closed.

"Guh—!" Lucy shuddered, hugging her arms around herself. "That was so creepy!"

"His neck—did you see that?!" Wendy squeaked, burying her face against Ben's right side.

Even Natsu blinked, unsettled. "Yeah, okay, that was freaky."

Cana grimaced. "That wasn't natural. Not even a little."

Gray frowned, his voice tight. "So the blob did get him. It's controlling him, right?"

Levy's eyes widened behind her glasses. "If that's true, then it could already be spreading through the rest of the neighborhood…"

Erza's face hardened, her arms crossing in suspicion. "Then this entire community may be compromised."

"Oh no," Juvia became worried. "That means Ben and his family have walked into enemy territory."

Makarov's eyes narrowed. "If the parasite has infested more than one, then this is a serious threat."

Ben rubbed his arm, still unsettled by Marty's bizarre behavior. "Huh… they really make you feel welcome here," he muttered dryly, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Max chuckled as they reached the front step. "Just watch your cheeks, Vera's a pincher!" he warned with a playful grin.

"What does he mean by 'pincher'?" Wendy asked innocently, tilting her head.

Ben chuckled. "You'll see."

Almost as if on cue, the front door opened. Aunt Vera stepped out in a sun hat and floral blouse, her face beaming when her eyes landed on the group.

"Max!" she cried warmly.

"Vera!" Max answered with equal joy, stepping forward to embrace her. The siblings hugged tightly, a spark of nostalgia passing between them.

Then Vera turned to the kids. "I can't believe you're finally here!" she said, sweeping Gwen into a hug before grabbing her niece's face between both hands. "And look at you two! So—grown—up!"

She punctuated every word with an exaggerated pinch of Gwen's cheeks, shaking her face side to side.

"Oww!" Gwen whined, squirming as her cousin laughed.

Vera moved on to Ben, giving him the same treatment.

"Oww!" Ben yelped, his cheeks squished comically between her fingers.

Laughter erupted through the guild hall.

"Ahhh, so that's what he meant!" Wendy laughed, her eyes sparkling.

"Poor kid!" Natsu cackled, pounding his fist on the table. "He can fight monsters but can't handle a cheek pinch!"

"Serves him right after all that complaining," Erza said.

Levy giggled. "She looks so happy to see them. I think it's cute."

Cana snickered into her mug. "Cute until you're the one getting your face mashed like dough."

Makarov chuckled. "That's the warmth of family, all right. Sometimes it comes with a little pain."

"Come on in! I can't wait to chew the fat with all of you," Vera said warmly, ushering them toward the door with open arms.

The family stepped inside, Gwen still rubbing her sore cheeks while Ben grumbled under his breath.

Across the street, a sliver of movement drew the camera's focus—Marty, his face pale and shadowed, glaring at them through a crack in his blinds. His lips curled into a sneer before he let the blinds snap shut again.

"So creepy," Lucy muttered.

Gajeel leaned forward with a scowl. "Kid better get with the program quick. If he can't tell something's wrong in this neighborhood already, he's dumber than Salamander."

"Hey!" Natsu barked, sparks flaring from his fists. "I'd figure it out way faster than Ben!"

Gray smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, sure you would."

"Would too!"

Carla's tail flicked, unimpressed. "Regardless, even a fool should notice when their neighbors start glaring like possessed husks."

Ben shrugged. "Eh, I just thought Vera's neighbor was mean or something. But trust me," he frowned, "I figured out things were wrong very quickly."

The camera followed Ben, Gwen, and Max as they explored Vera's house. Lace curtains, porcelain knick-knacks, and faintly yellowed wallpaper gave the place a lived-in, old-fashioned feel.

Ben wrinkled his nose dramatically, sniffing the air. "Ugh, why do old people's houses always smell like somebody's cooking socks or something?" he groaned.

Makarov bristled immediately. "My house doesn't smell like cooking socks!" he barked.

The guild burst out laughing.

"Ohhh, I don't know, Master," Mirajane teased sweetly, putting a hand to her cheek. "Sometimes when you come back from the hot springs, the guild does smell a little… musty."

"Oi, Mira!" Makarov spluttered, his face turning red as the guild howled even louder.

Cana wiped a tear from her eye. "Cooking socks—Mavis, that kid has no filter!"

Lucy sighed. "Still, he shouldn't be so rude…"

Later on, the family sat at Vera's kitchen table. The centerpiece was a massive orange gelatin mould, wobbling ominously with every small shake of the table. Suspended inside were brown chunks and pale white lumps, catching the light like trapped fossils.

Max eagerly scooped a piece onto his plate. "Ooh, Vera, this is delicious! Now, what are these brown chunks in the mould?"

"Pork chops!" Vera announced proudly. "And the white parts are cauliflower!"

She beamed as Ben and Gwen exchanged identical looks of disgust.

"P-Pork chops?!" Lucy gagged, pressing a hand over her mouth. "In jello?!"

"That's revolting," Erza said firmly, her face pale. "Meat does not belong in gelatin."

"Oi, oi…" Gray grimaced. "That's just wrong."

Cana slumped over the bar, snickering. "Weird food must run in the family, huh? No wonder Ben complains so much!"

"Speak for yourselves!" Natsu declared, slamming his fist on the table. "I'd totally eat it!"

"Uh…" Happy looked unenthused. "…You'd be eating that on your own, buddy."

Wendy tilted her head nervously. "I mean… it's unusual, but… I guess I'd at least try a bite."

Levy shuddered. "Cultural food differences are fascinating, but I don't think my stomach could handle that one."

"Bleh," Gajeel muttered, making a face. "Even I wouldn't touch that slime. And that's saying something."

Vera smiled warmly as she ladled more of her gelatin creation onto Max's plate. "So, Ben, what have you been doing so far this summer?" she asked with grandmotherly interest.

Ben leaned back in his chair, scowling slightly. "Dealing with alien life forms," he replied bluntly.

Vera blinked at him—then chuckled with a wave of her hand. "Ohoho, you!" She dismissed it like it was just another one of Ben's jokes.

The guild hall collectively sweat-dropped.

"…Did he just say it outright?" Gray muttered, deadpan.

Lucy pressed a hand to her forehead. "After all that effort about keeping his secret, he just blurts it out at dinner?!"

Erza turned her sharp gaze to Ben. "Why would you reveal yourself so carelessly? Weren't you trying to hide your identity?"

Ben shrugged. "Yeah, but I was just being ironic. I knew she wouldn't believe me, so I figured it was safe to say it. Y'know, like a joke."

Levy frowned slightly. "Seems a bit risky…"

Ben shrugged. "Well, I thought it was harmless."

As the meal went on, Gwen's attention was caught by a tall shelf in the corner of the living room. She got up from her chair and walked over, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

The bottom shelves were lined with framed photos and delicate porcelain trinkets, but what really stood out was the very top row—several taxidermied birds perched on stands, each one preserved mid-song or mid-flight.

"Aunt Vera, is that a stuffed Red-Billed North American Chickadee?" Gwen asked eagerly, pointing at one of the specimens.

Vera gasped, clearly delighted, and hurried to join her niece. "How perceptive, Gwen! And did you know the song of the Red-Billed North American Chickadee is actually—"

"—a call indicating alarm or excitement! Brrrrrr!" they finished together, making a surprisingly accurate chirping trill.

There was a chorus of "awws."

"That's adorable," Lucy said warmly.

"She and her aunt have the same kind of brain," Levy giggled. "No wonder they get along."

Carla nodded primly. "At least one of the cousins knows how to behave with dignity."

Cana snorted. "Meanwhile, Ben's probably trying to sneak out of eating."

Sure enough, while everyone's attention was focused on the bird trivia, Ben quickly slid his untouched slice of gelatin mould onto Gwen's plate.

"I am toootally stuffed!" he declared, patting his stomach dramatically.

Cana smirked. "Hey, would you like at that."

Natsu looked at Ben. "Oi, why didn't you just try it? You fought monsters, but you can't eat a little jiggly food?"

Ben grimaced. "Because one sniff was enough. I didn't need to put that in my mouth to know I'd hate it."

Natsu snorted. "Coward."

"Smart," Gajeel corrected with a smirk. "The brat had good instincts. You don't mess with suspicious meat-jello."

Vera soon reappeared from the kitchen, carrying a small porcelain bowl. She set it in front of Ben with a fond smile. "Ben, would you like some candy?"

His eyes lit up instantly. "Now we're talking!" he exclaimed, scooping one up without hesitation. He popped the small brown piece into his mouth and started to chew—only for his expression to shift almost immediately.

He froze, grimaced, then spat it back into a napkin. "UGH! Coffee? As a candy?! Is this some kind of joke?" he spluttered, glaring at the offending treat.

Many in the guild chuckled at his overreaction, but a few frowned curiously.

"Coffee… candy?" Wendy asked, wrinkling her nose. "Why would anyone want that?"

"Good question," Erza said, grimacing. "Candy should be sweet, not bitter."

Ben pushed back from the table. "I need to use the bathroom!" he declared, hopping up and bolting down the hall.

He slammed the bathroom door shut behind him and leaned against it with a dramatic groan. "It's 'Attack of the Old People'! I gotta get out of here."

He rubbed his forehead, then glanced down at the glowing Omnitrix on his wrist. A sly grin tugged at his lips. He twisted the dial, clearly cooking up an escape plan.

Erza crossed her arms, her voice firm. "Such disrespect. To treat time with one's family as an 'attack'… That is ungrateful."

Mirajane nodded sadly. "There will come a day when those moments are gone forever. He'll wish he appreciated them more."

Lucy sighed, her expression soft. "Yeah…" She didn't get to spend much time with her mother before she passed. Though her father was still alive, their relationship was…complicated, to say the least. This clip reminded her that maybe she should try to restore it while he was still alive.

Wendy's shoulders slumped. "That's so true… family time is precious." Her thoughts shifted to Cait Shelter. Even though it wasn't a real guild, it was real to her.

Sensing her sadness, Ben immediately laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Makarov was voice low. "The child's impatience is understandable, but one must learn gratitude before it's too late."

Cana shrugged with a crooked smile. "He's a brat, but he'll figure it out. Kids always do… eventually."

Gray leaned back, arms crossed. "Still doesn't excuse him whining about it non-stop. He's got no idea how lucky he is." After all, unlike others in the guild, Ben still had his family—even though they were currently in another universe.

Ben groaned, running a hand down his face. "Okay, okay, I get it. I was being a total brat. You don't have to rub it in."

Natsu grinned. "Don't worry, we'll rub it in anyway!"

Several in the guild laughed at the pink-haired wizard's comment.

The screen shifted into the familiar void of the Omnitrix transformation. Young Ben's body spun in darkness as his form shifted unnaturally. His frame thinned, bones visible beneath grey, cloth-like skin. His eyes melted into black voids before the camera zoomed close on his face—where a single, sideways pink eye snapped open along a vertical line.

The camera pulled back to reveal a gaunt, phantom-like figure, its head featureless aside from the eerie eye, its entire body wrapped in spectral, cloth-like flesh.

The wizards who hadn't seen Ghostfreak looked startled.

Macao's eyes widened. "The kid's got a ghost form!?"

"Creepy," Wakaba muttered. "Seriously creepy."

"Yeesh," Cana shuddered. "That's the kind of thing that crawls out of nightmares."

"Whoa…" Natsu leaned forward with a grin. "That's awesome!"

Wendy whimpered softly. "I-I don't like it… it's too scary-looking."

Ben patted her shoulder. "It's alright…"

Levy adjusted her glasses. "Wait a second—hold on. That makes it all ten, right? We've officially seen all of Ben's original aliens now!"

"Yeah!" Natsu grinned. "Heatblast, XLR8, Diamondhead, Four Arms—"

"—Grey Matter, Ripjaws, Wildmutt, Stinkfly, Upgrade…" Lucy listed, ticking them off her fingers. Her eyes flicked back to the screen, pale. "And now this one."

"Ghostfreak," Ben confirmed grimly. "Yeah… he's the last of the original ten."

He frowned, recalling the whole fiasco with this transformation. It was still unnerving eight years later. Even though he could change into an Ectonurite without any issues nowadays, he still felt creeped out when changing into one.

Ghostfreak became invisible and drifted silently through the bathroom wall. He hovered unseen for a moment, then vanished entirely, cloaked in invisibility.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Vera was proudly showing Gwen yet another item from her collection—this time a large, glossy conch shell. She placed it gently into her niece's hands.

"And this one is a Valentiana," she explained warmly. "Can you hear the ocean?"

Gwen pressed the shell against her ear, smiling faintly as she listened.

But then—

"Loser…" a warped voice whispered from the shell.

Gwen's eyes widened, her smile faltering as her head jerked up.

"Loooooser…!" the voice hissed louder, echoing through the air before breaking into a high, chilling cackle.

Ghostfreak shimmered into visibility directly in front of her, his one eerie eye glowing as his cloth-like body rippled.

Many in the guild burst into laughter.

"Hah! Nice one!" Wakaba barked.

Even Gray cracked a grin. "Okay, that's actually kind of funny."

Lucy shook her head. "Poor Gwen. I would've jumped out of my skin."

"Harmless prank," Gajeel said with a smirk.

Levy giggled behind her hand. "That was so unnecessary, but… I can't lie, it was funny."

Carla sniffed disapprovingly. "Immature."

On screen, Gwen glanced back quickly toward Max and Vera, who were still chatting animatedly and hadn't noticed anything. Her voice dropped low. "Ben?" she whispered, eyes narrowing.

"See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!" Ghostfreak jeered with a cheeky wave, his distorted voice trailing off as he phased back through the wall and out of the house entirely.

Now outside, Ghostfreak drifted across the yard, his form blending seamlessly with the shadows of the desert evening. He scanned the rows of houses and quiet lawns, his eerie eye glowing faintly.

"There has to be something fun to do around here…" he muttered with a dramatic groan.

Then, movement caught his attention—a shiny golf cart parked beside a driveway. Ghostfreak's purple eye widened.

"Hello!" he exclaimed with glee.

Moments later, the cart sputtered to life, jerking down the street with no visible driver. People on the sidewalk turned their heads, gasping and murmuring in confusion as the vehicle zipped by, seemingly haunted.

"What the heck is that?" Gray asked, raising a brow.

"A golf cart," Ben explained. "It's like a really small car people use to get around places like retirement villages, golf courses… spots where they don't need a full automobile."

Lucy tilted her head. "So it's basically a tiny, slow car?"

"Pretty much," Ben said with a shrug. "It's not meant for highways or anything."

"Wait, wait, wait," Cana cut in, pointing. "Are you telling me you just stole some old person's cart?"

"Borrowed," Ben corrected quickly, holding up his hands. "I borrowed it. I would've returned it later."

"Still wrong," Erza scolded immediately, her eyes narrowing. "Property is not to be taken without permission."

"Yeah, but…" Ben rubbed his face with a groan. "C'mon, that's rich coming from this guild. You guys have destroyed entire buildings without asking first!"

The guild hall went quiet for a moment—then several wizards flushed, looking away guiltily.

Gray muttered, "He's got us there."

Natsu laughed nervously. "Y-Yeah, but that's… totally different!"

"Different how?" Gajeel smirked, clearly enjoying the hypocrisy being pointed out.

Makarov sighed, though his lips twitched. "Perhaps… the boy has a point."

Levy giggled into her hand. "I mean, he's not wrong. Our tab for repairs is… substantial."

Ghostfreak swerved the golf cart to a stop, drifting through the air as a delicious smell wafted by. His eerie eye brightened, and he floated toward the source, inhaling deeply.

"Apple pie!" he exclaimed, spotting a golden-brown dessert perched perfectly on a windowsill, steam curling up from its crust as it cooled.

"Apple pie!" Natsu shouted, throwing his hands up. "Best summer food ever!"

"Aye!" Happy agreed, flapping his wings with glee. "Especially with fish!"

Gray groaned. "Fish doesn't belong anywhere near pie."

"Fish belongs everywhere!" Happy countered.

Lucy sighed. "Here we go again…"

But before Ghostfreak could snatch the dessert, the camera panned inside the house. An old woman shuffled across the room, clutching a flyswatter in both hands.

"Ohhh no," Wendy whispered nervously. "She's gonna catch him, isn't she?"

The buzzing insect danced out of reach, darting higher until it perched upside down on the ceiling. The old woman swatted uselessly, shaking her head.

Then, impossibly, she crouched—sprang upward—and clung to the ceiling like a spider.

The guild gasped in unison.

The woman opened her mouth wide and snapped the fly right off the ceiling, chewing with a loud crunch.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Gray shouted, pointing at the screen.

"EWWWW!" Lucy shrieked, clutching her stomach. "That's so gross!"

"Ugh!" Cana gagged, covering her mouth. "That's just disgusting!"

Even Natsu froze, his pie enthusiasm snuffed out. "…Okay, maybe not hungry anymore."

Happy's ears drooped. "Not me either…"

Levy's eyes widened in realization. "It has to be that green blob! Just like with Marty! It's controlling them—making them do things normal people can't!"

Wendy shivered, scooting closer to Ben. "So… the whole neighborhood might already be infected?"

Carla's tail flicked sharply. "It certainly looks that way. This place is crawling with those parasites."

Makarov's expression hardened. "This is no retirement village. It's a nest."

Ghostfreak flinched back, his single eye widening as the old woman scuttled across the ceiling like an insect. When she finally dropped back down with a thud, her neck gave an audible crack—eerily similar to Marty's earlier display.

"Eugh! No way! Ninja old people!" Ghostfreak blurted.

Several in the guild hall laughed.

"Appropriate reaction," Gray admitted, smirking.

"Honestly, same," Cana snickered. "What else do you call that?!"

Ghostfreak floated away from the window. He drifted back into the neighborhood shadows, but froze when a familiar figure caught his eye. Marty.

The old man was driving the golf cart Ben had abandoned, and balanced on the back was a long, rolled-up rug. His face remained oddly blank, eyes fixed straight ahead as the cart rattled down the street.

"Wait, wait, wait—why's he carrying a rug?!" Lucy asked, her voice tight with unease.

"A rolled-up rug," Cana echoed, brows furrowing. "That's… suspicious."

Ben's tone dropped lower, more serious than usual. "It's… one way people hide a body without attracting attention. Put it in a rug, roll it up, haul it away like it's just furniture."

Several wizards gasped.

"A BODY?!" Wendy cried, her hands flying to her mouth.

"No way…" Gray muttered, eyes narrowing. "You're saying Marty—the real Marty—could be in there?"

"Dark," Gajeel said bluntly.

"Unforgivable," Erza snapped, her fists tightening on the table. "Desecrating an innocent man like that—disgusting!"

Mirajane's eyes softened with sorrow. "Oh, that poor man… if that's true…"

As the cart passed by the fly lady's house, the automatic sprinkler system sputtered to life, spraying water across the lawn.

The instant the droplets hit the air, Marty panicked. His eyes widened, and he jerked the wheel violently, swerving the cart in a wide arc to avoid the spray. His forehead gleamed with sweat as he sped away, white-knuckled on the steering wheel.

Juvia, quiet until now, suddenly leaned forward. "Juvia noticed… fake-Marty avoided the water from the sprinklers. He swerved deliberately to escape it."

Ben gave her a nod of approval. "Good eye, Juvia. That's actually really important. You'll see why later."

Juvia sighed happily from Ben praising her.

"Wonder what 'Mr. Friendly' is up to..." Ghostfreak pondered.

"Niiin-jaaa…Mode!" Natsu jumped on top of the bench-table, tugging his scarf up to cover everything but his eyes. He crouched dramatically, trying—and failing—to look mysterious.

This broke the tension and allowed several wizards to laugh and smile.

The scene shifted again, following the rattling golf cart until it came to a stop at a gated dumpster site on the edge of the retirement village. Rusted metal fences surrounded the area, with several oversized trash bins lined neatly inside.

Marty climbed out of the driver's seat, the rolled-up rug still slung across his back. With surprising ease, he hefted it into his arms and approached the tall gate.

Then—his legs began to stretch. Bones and joints elongated grotesquely, his body rising far higher than any human could reach. With one smooth, unnatural motion, he vaulted both himself and the rug up and over the fence.

"That's not human!" Lucy gasped.

"No kidding!" Gray snapped. "No way someone can move like that without magic!"

Wendy's hands flew to her mouth. "S-So the blob… it really did take his shape!"

"Ewwww," Happy whimpered, covering his eyes.

On screen, Ghostfreak recoiled in disgust, his eerie eye narrowing. "This place just keeps getting weirder by the minute," the alien muttered, clearly rattled by what he'd just seen.

He floated forward, ignoring the locked gate entirely as he phased straight through it.

Inside, Marty wasted no time. He trudged across the gravel, set the rug down, and pushed one of the massive dumpsters aside with surprising strength.

Beneath it, hidden from view, was a trapdoor set into the earth. The disguised old man pried it open, revealing a dark passage leading below.

The guild went quiet for a beat.

"Wait, wait, wait…" Cana muttered, pointing. "Are they seriously stashing the bodies under the dumpster?"

"That… actually makes sense," Gajeel said with a grim nod. "Trash already stinks. You hide corpses there, nobody notices the smell."

"G-Gajeel!" Levy squeaked, horrified.

"What? It's true." He shrugged.

Lucy shuddered. "Ugh, I didn't need to think about that…"

Wendy whimpered softly. "That's so awful… poor Marty…"

"Creepy slime monsters being smart about covering their tracks," Gray muttered. "Yeah, that's not terrifying at all."

As he opened the trapdoor, the distinct deet-deet-deet-deet—DING! filled the guild hall.

"Ughhh, again?!" Gray groaned, running a hand down his face.

"Worst timing ever!" Cana's brows furrowed.

"Boo!" Natsu shouted at the screen. "Stay a ghost, dummy!"

Even Erza sighed, shaking her head. "The device always seems to fail him at the most inopportune moment."

Ben dropped his head into his hands with a long, theatrical groan. "That sound still haunts my dreams sometimes. You have no idea how many times it timed out at the worst possible moment."

The flash of red light and sudden noise caught Marty's attention. His movements stilled.

Then, impossibly, his head turned.

Not just a glance over the shoulder—his entire head rotated a full 180 degrees, bones cracking as his face twisted backward to stare directly at Ben.

Ben gasped, stumbling back in horror.

"GAHHHHH!" Lucy shrieked, clapping her hands over her eyes.

"E-Everything about that is WRONG!" Wendy cried.

"Creepy creepy creepy creepy!" Happy chanted, hiding behind Natsu's back.

Gray flinched, his smirk gone. "Okay… yeah, that's nightmare fuel."

Cana shivered despite herself. "That's not even funny gross. That's straight-up horror stuff."

Marty let go of the trapdoor and rug, his grotesquely twisted head finally followed by the rest of his body. He spun fully toward Ben, his face contorting before he let out a guttural roar.

Ben's eyes widened in terror. "Aaaaahhh!" he screamed, stumbling back.

"RUN!" nearly everyone in the guild hall shouted at once, voices overlapping in alarm.

Ben froze, body locked in shock as Marty lunged forward. The creature's elongated arms shot out, snaring him in a vice-like grip. Ben writhed desperately, his face twisted with panic. At the last second, he managed to squirm free, slipping from the old man's grasp and bolting for the gate.

He scrambled up the chain link fence, fingers clawing against the metal. Behind him, Marty's legs stretched grotesquely, lifting him higher and higher until he simply strode over the gate like it was a small step.

"Thank goodness," Juvia breathed, hands clasped tightly to her chest. "Juvia is relieved Young Ben managed to escape…"

Gajeel scowled, leaning forward. "Don't celebrate yet. That thing can stretch and it's probably packing way more strength than it looks. Kid needs to keep his distance."

Wendy whimpered softly. "Please, just get away…"

Ben vaulted into the golf cart, jamming his foot down on the pedal. The small vehicle sputtered forward, rattling noisily as it rolled down the street.

Behind him, Marty gave chase. Despite being on foot, his elongated strides ate up the distance rapidly. The warped imitation of an old man was catching up—fast.

Ben glanced back, his voice high with panic. "Uhh, I didn't see your face suddenly pop on the back of your head, I swear!" he babbled, trying to sound innocent even as his hands shook on the wheel.

He snapped his eyes forward again, muttering frantically. "What kinda vitamins are these freaky old people taking?!"

"Now's not the time to be cracking jokes!" Lucy scolded, half-panicked herself.

"Perhaps his humor is a coping mechanism," Mirajane suggested gently. "He must be terrified."

Ben gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah… trust me, I was scared out of my mind back then. The jokes were just me trying to stop myself from losing it."

Juvia leaned a little closer. "Juvia is sorry you had to go through that," she said softly, her voice full of sympathy. "It must have been so stressful, never knowing when your power would give out. Still," she added with a faint smile, "Juvia thinks you handled it very well. Even if the Omnitrix betrayed you, you always tried your best."

A faint flush crept onto Ben's cheeks, feeling his heart flutter. "Thanks, Juvia. That means a lot." He smiled.

On screen, the golf cart rattled down the street, Ben hunched over the wheel. He pressed the pedal all the way to the floor, his eyes darting nervously to the dashboard.

To his horror, the gauge dipped lower… and lower… until it ticked dangerously close to 0.

"Come on, come on!" Ben pleaded, shaking the wheel as though that would make the cart go faster.

"Why won't the stupid thing go faster?!" Natsu shouted, frustrated.

Ben groaned. "Because the battery was dying. Also, those carts usually max out at around 15 miles per hour anyway. They're not built for speed."

"Most people could run faster than that." Gajeel commented.

Gray snorted. "Great. He's in a race for his life in a glorified toy car."

Marty closed the distance with horrifying speed. His elongated arms shot forward, stretching unnaturally until his claw-like fingers latched onto the two front bars of the cart.

The entire vehicle jerked to a halt, tires screeching as Marty's monstrous strength dragged it backward toward him.

"Let me go!" Ben shouted, his voice cracking as he wrestled with the wheel.

Marty's only answer was a violent hiss, his warped face twisting as his grip tightened.

"Leave him alone!" Juvia cried out suddenly. Her eyes flashed with anger, her voice trembling.

Several heads turned her way in surprise at her outburst.

Ben offered her a small, calming smile. "Hey—it's okay, Juvia. I got out of this one. Scary as it was, I survived… Obviously."

She relaxed slightly, though her fists stayed clenched. "…Juvia still hates that she couldn't help back then."

"You're helping now," Ben said gently. "Just by caring."

Juvia blinked at him, her cheeks coloring faintly before she looked away.

Cana smirked, sipping her drink. "Aw, look at that. She's gonna be his number one fan."

Marty dragged the cart closer, the sound of tires screeching on the pavement.

"Kid's really in a tough spot," Wakaba noted seriously.

"No kidding. Yo Ben!" Macao called out. "Why'd your watch even time out like that? Does it run out of power or something?"

Ben rubbed his neck, wincing. "Originally? The time limit was there to stop me from being taken over by the aliens inside the Omnitrix. Azmuth—the creator—was worried about the wielder losing control."

Levy's eyes widened. "So… it was like a safeguard?"

"Yeah," Ben nodded. "Later, when Azmuth updated it so the alien instincts couldn't just take over, he still kept the limit in place. It was to make me train smarter with each form instead of relying too much on one. Basically, he didn't trust me enough for full Master Control yet."

Erza frowned. "A harsh method of training."

"Still sounds like a pain," Gray muttered.

"Biggest understatement of my life," Ben sighed.

As Young Ben tried to escape, he noticed a bag of golf clubs in the back. He yanked one out with a grunt, raising it high. "Fore!" he shouted, swinging with all his might at Marty's elongated arm.

The club connected—then sliced clean through.

Instead of blood or bone, the limb seemed to part like thick liquid, the severed end wobbling before slumping wetly onto the pavement.

Marty screeched, recoiling as his balance faltered. The shock was just enough for his grip to falter. The golf cart lurched forward again, wheels squealing as Ben sped off down the street.

The guild hall erupted.

"His arm just—came off?!" Lucy squealed, clutching her stomach. "That's so gross!"

"It went through like butter," Gray muttered, wide-eyed.

Wendy's hands flew to her chest. "It… it reminds me of when Juvia uses her Water Body spell. The way she lets attacks pass through her…"

Juvia blinked in surprise, then nodded slowly. "Yes… Juvia sees it too. That creature's body behaves in a similar way."

Levy scribbled furiously in her notes. "It's both a strength and a weakness! That fluidity makes it so elastic and versatile… but there's little structural integrity holding it together!"

"Yeah, but don't count it out yet," Gajeel warned darkly. "Things like that usually don't stay down."

Young Ben's relief was short-lived. The cart steadied, wheels humming as it gained momentum—when suddenly a thud rattled the roof above him.

His eyes darted upward in terror. Marty's twisted figure crouched on the roof, limbs bending grotesquely as he clung like a monstrous spider.

"See?" Juvia said grimly, pointing to the screen. "Like with Juvia's water body, it can reform and recover. The blow only slowed it down."

Her hands clenched into fists. "Juvia hopes Ben realizes the weakness soon…"

Erza's eyes narrowed, her tone decisive. "If it is water-like, then evaporation or purification may harm it as well."

"Yeah, but he doesn't exactly have a bucket of fire handy," Gray muttered.

Natsu smirked, cracking his knuckles. "If I were there, I'd roast that thing till it boiled!"

"Somehow I doubt boiling slime is pleasant for anyone nearby," Cana said dryly.

Marty's warped limbs snaked down from the roof of the cart, his fingers stretching toward the terrified boy.

"No!" Ben shouted, jerking the wheel wildly. His hands slipped, and the cart veered off-course—straight over a raised speed bump.

The vehicle launched into the air with a sickening jolt before crashing down onto someone's front lawn, the frame groaning as it skidded to a halt.

Ben coughed, dazed, pulling himself out from the wreckage—only to freeze in horror.

Marty was already standing, his body twisted at grotesque angles as he cracked his arm and neck back into place with audible pops. Then, with his inhuman stride, he extended his arms across the grass, snaring Ben by the shoulders and dragging him back toward his gaping maw.

Ben frantically tried twisting the dial on the Omnitrix. But the device buzzed in denial. Still recharging.

The guild hall filled with panic.

"Recharge already, damn it!" Gray shouted, gripping the edge of the table.

"Please, please, work!" Wendy begged, tears welling in her eyes.

Lucy pressed her hands together tightly. "He doesn't stand a chance like this—come on, stupid watch!"

"Juvia wishes she could be there!" Juvia cried. "She would spray this blob-monster with her strongest water spell until it dissolved into nothing!"

While it wasn't the spell of an angry rain woman, salvation did come.

The lawn's sprinkler system sputtered to life, shooting jets of water in an arc across the grass.

The moment droplets splashed Marty's skin, he shrieked in pain. His twisted limbs recoiled as smoke hissed from where the water struck. With a violent hiss, he dropped Ben instantly and staggered back, retreating across the lawn before breaking into a full sprint, vanishing into the shadows.

Ben collapsed on the grass, panting, his clothes soaked but intact.

"Okay… what just happened here?" he gasped, staring up at the sky in disbelief.

The guild exhaled all at once.

"That was too damn close!" Cana threw her head back.

"Thank goodness," Wendy sighed in relief, her shoulders slumping.

Erza crossed her arms. "Ben's seen water hurts them. He must use that knowledge. It could be the key to defeating them all."

"Still…" Lucy frowned. "He needs to find Max and Gwen now. Hopefully they'll believe him this time around."

"Yeah, but he better hurry," Gray muttered. "The longer they wait, the more of those blob-people might show up."

"Either way," Natsu said with a toothy grin, "I wanna see him blast those creepy old people into puddles!"

The screen shifted back to Vera's cozy home, the desert sky outside glowing orange as the sun sank low.

The door burst open, and Ben dashed inside, his face pale with panic. "Grandpa! Gwen!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the halls.

Max quickly appeared from the hallway, finger pressed to his lips. "Shhh! Your Aunt Vera's in bed!" he hissed quietly.

"Seriously? It's like only 6:30," Ben whispered back incredulously.

The guild chuckled.

"Okay, that I get," Jet said, snorting. "My old man used to crash before the sun even set. Drove me nuts."

"Yeah," Droy admitted. "My mom used to do that too when she was tired. Guess it's not that unusual."

"Mine too," Levy said with a small nod. "Early bedtime."

Makarov cleared his throat, puffing his chest out. "Hmph! For the record, I also retire early sometimes. Not because I'm 'old'—" he glared half-heartedly at the younger wizards, "—but because of the stress of managing this guild!"

The hall erupted with laughter.

"Sure, Master," Gray smirked. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Literally," Natsu added, grinning.

Back on screen, Ben waved his hands frantically. "Nevermind that. Listen, this whole place is way creepier than I thought!" He launched into a frantic explanation. "First, this old lady runs up a wall and then munches a fly! Then Marty—y'know, that weird next door neighbor—he's an E.T. or something! With a face on the back of his head, and these long sticky arms, and this body that just oozed right through a gate and—!"

The guild sweat-dropped at Ben's attempt to explain.

"He sounds hysterical," Erza said, frowning. "Even if he's telling the truth, it may be difficult for them to believe him in this state."

"Yeah," Levy added. "People dismiss frantic speech—it sounds like exaggeration."

Gwen crossed her arms, glaring at her cousin. "Ben, you snuck out. Aunt Vera was hurt!" she scolded, her tone sharp.

"Are you kidding me?!" Gray shouted. "He just told you about old people crawling on ceilings and eating bugs, and that's what you're worried about?!"

"Exactly!" Lucy added, eyes wide. "Did she not hear the part about faces popping out of the back of people's heads?!"

"Ben," Cana called out, "you should've told them about the rug and the body that was probably in it."

Ben lifted his hands defensively. "Hey, hey—I was getting to that part before Gwen cut me off, alright?!"

Levy frowned. "Wait… didn't he say Marty oozed through the gate? I thought we saw him stretch over it."

"It doesn't matter," Erza cut in firmly, arms folded. "Whether stretching or oozing, no normal person can do that. It's an unnatural ability either way."

"Exactly," Gajeel muttered. "Point is, that ain't human."

Ben waved his hands dismissively. "Ah, she's old, she'll forget," he said with a shrug.

"Don't be such a jerk!" Lucy snapped, glaring at the boy on the screen. "That's your great-aunt you're talking about!"

"Seriously," Wendy agreed, frowning. "She didn't deserve that."

"Especially when his grandfather is right there," Mirajane added, her smile gone. "That's so disrespectful."

Makarov huffed, beard bristling. "Old people aren't as forgetful as that boy thinks."

"Tell that to Master," Cana smirked.

Makarov's face turned red. "W-Watch your tongue, girl!"

Ben continued. "Okay, I say I go Four Arms and we check out Marty's apartment!" he declared, already reaching for the Omnitrix.

Max held up a hand firmly. "Well, maybe we should do some investigating," he said evenly, "but you stay as you are!"

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice into a raspy drawl. "Us old fogeys don't forget as much as ya think!" Then he winked at them before shuffling out of the room.

The guild hall chuckled.

Makarov puffed his chest proudly. "Hmph! Well said, Max. Well said."

Gwen crossed her arms, her expression flat. "You know, ever since you've had that watch, you're like a magnet for the weird," she told Ben.

Ben immediately snapped his body sideways with a dramatic motion, pointing both fingers at her as though he were literally a magnet being pulled. "You're right!" he exclaimed with a wide grin.

Gwen groaned, rolling her eyes. "Very funny."

Many in the guild chuckled at the exchange.

"That was cute," Mirajane said warmly. "I like it much better when they're playfully teasing instead of being mean to each other."

Even Erza allowed a small smile. "Yes. This form of banter is much healthier than their constant bickering."

Natsu and Gray gave Mirajane and Erza the side-eye. You two were just as bad at arguing when we were kids. Both simultaneously thought.

Max pushed the door to Marty's home open, peering inside. "Hello? Anyone home?" the retired Plumber called out.

"Wait, what?!" Gray shouted, throwing his hands up. "Why would you announce yourself?!"

"Yeah!" Cana chimed in, grinning. "Surprise is the first rule of snooping!"

"That's stupid," Natsu disagreed immediately, pounding a fist into his palm. "You don't sneak in—you just barge in and beat up the fake-Marty!"

Lucy groaned, rubbing her temples. "That's still breaking and entering, Natsu!"

"Worth it!" he shot back.

The trio stepped cautiously into the dark house. The room was eerily still, the pendulum of a grandfather clock ticking back and forth as they passed.

Suddenly, a dark shape lunged from the shadows!

Half the guild screamed, while the rest leapt to their feet shouting, "LOOK OUT!"

But then—Max flicked the light switch. The "attacker" was nothing more than a jacket draped over a coat rack, flapping in the breeze from an open window.

Several mages groaned in unison.

"Ughhh, really?!" Laki yelled, irritated. "I hate jump scares!"

"So does Juvia…" Juvia pressed a hand to her chest, breathing hard.

"Pffft!" Cana laughed, enjoying their reactions. "That one even made me jump."

"Jacket scare," Gray said flatly. "Lame."

Max glanced around casually. "Well, nothing here seems out of whack…" he said, brushing it off.

Ben immediately pointed to the floor, his voice sharp. "Except for what he rolled up in his rug—that was right here!"

The camera lingered on the faded outline of a rug on the floorboards, now conspicuously empty. Max frowned, puzzled by his grandson's insistence.

"See?!" Levy exclaimed, pointing at the screen. "Proof he was telling the truth!"

"Grandpa better start listening," Cana muttered. "Kid's been on the money this whole time."

Erza's expression hardened. "If they continue dismissing him, they risk all their lives."

The scene shifted back to Vera's house. The lights dimmed as the night settled in. Max gave both kids a reassuring smile.

"You two sleep well. I'll be in the guest room if you need me," he told them.

"Wait, that's it?!" Gray barked, throwing his hands up. "They're just calling it a night?!"

"Unbelievable," Erza said, her tone sharp with disapproval.

"Guess Max wasn't fully convinced," Cana shrugged, though her voice was laced with annoyance. "He probably thinks it's all imagination."

Ben spoke up. "I think Grandpa was just so excited to see his sister again after several years, he didn't put much stock into the idea of their being an alien operation going on in her community."

Lucy groaned. "Even so, he knows you weren't joking! How much more proof do he need?"

Levy sighed. "Maybe… without enough physical evidence, Max doesn't think he can act yet. He's cautious."

"Cautious is one thing," Gajeel grunted. "Letting your guard down in that creepy place is just dumb."

Ben's face scrunched up with frustration. "But, Grandpa—!"

Max held up a hand, his voice calm but firm. "There's nothing more we can do tonight. I'm going for an early walk in the morning, but once I'm back, we'll check things out again. Now get some rest."

The camera cut to Vera's bedroom, the older woman lying peacefully beneath her quilt.

But then… movement.

A glistening green blob slithered silently across the floorboards, creeping toward her bedside.

"No! Not Vera!" several guild voices cried out at once.

Vera stirred faintly in her sleep. Her limp arm slipped off the bed, dangling uselessly. The blob seized its chance, crawling up her arm like a snake.

Her eyes flickered open just as the slime lunged. In one swift motion, it wrapped around her mouth and eyes, muffling her cry and blinding her in seconds.

The sound of her muffled scream filled the room, choked off almost instantly.

The guild hall collectively winced, several wizards turning away.

Wendy gripped Ben's coat sleeve, her face pale. "She doesn't deserve this!"

"Damn it…" Natsu growled, his fists igniting. "If only we were there, we'd torch that thing before it even touched her!"

"Agreed," Erza said coldly, hand on her sword hilt. "It is infuriating being unable to intervene."

The morning sun lit up Vera's kitchen as Ben rummaged through the fridge. He peered inside, his face twisted in disgust.

"Prune juice, prune juice and—oh, what a surprise—more prune juice," he muttered before slamming the fridge shut. He turned to Gwen with a dramatic sigh. "Why does it seem old people were always old?"

Several people in the audience groaned, but no one commented. It's already been well established that Young Ben was a brat.

Gwen rolled her eyes, but before she could answer, her gaze flicked toward the doorway. "Morning, Aunt Vera! How'd you sleep?" she asked quickly.

The woman entered the kitchen, her floral robe brushing against the floor. She smiled faintly, but something about her was… off. Her eyes glimmered strangely, and her movements seemed stiffer than usual.

The guild murmured with unease.

"That's not Vera," Erza said coldly, her tone sharp with certainty.

"Yeah," Lucy agreed, shivering. "You can just tell something's wrong."

"Poor lady's already been taken," Mirajane whispered, her face clouded with sympathy.

"Just… fine. How 'bout you?" Vera asked in a flat tone, her smile twitching unnaturally.

Before Ben could respond, she lunged forward and violently grabbed his cheeks, pinching and shaking them side to side with surprising strength.

"Fine, Aunt Vera!" Ben yelped through the pain, his face squished comically between her hands.

Gwen quickly placed a tray on the counter. "I made you some coffee," she said politely, offering a mug alongside a glass of water.

But as she turned, her foot caught on the rug. The tray slipped—both mug and glass crashing to the floor, spilling liquid everywhere.

"Sorry!" Gwen gasped, kneeling to pick up the shards.

The water spread across the tile, creeping toward Vera's shoes.

The older woman's face snapped in panic. With an impossible motion, she leapt into a perfect split, bracing against both walls above the puddle.

"CLEAN IT UP! CLEAN IT UP RIGHT NOW!" she shrieked, her voice high and distorted with fear.

"These aliens sure suck at pretending to be human." Gray remarked.

"Seriously," Lucy agreed. "What kind of 'normal' person reacts like that?"

"They don't," Erza said firmly. "She's exposed herself."

Levy furrowed her brows. "If water is their weakness, then it makes sense they're hiding out in a desert. Low rainfall, fewer risks of exposure."

"Smart strategy," Gajeel admitted grudgingly.

"But reckless," Erza countered. "They cannot maintain the disguise under pressure."

"Gwen should be suspicious after this," Cana said, leaning forward. "If she's even a little sharp, she'll remember what Ben said and start putting the pieces together."

"Exactly," Wendy said, nodding. "This has to be the moment she believes him."

Both younger Tennysons stood frozen, wide-eyed at what they'd just witnessed. Gwen especially looked shaken.

"I-I'm sorry!" she stammered, her voice small, as she scrambled to clean up the water as fast as she could.

Once the last of the puddle was gone, Vera dropped lightly back onto the kitchen floor, her expression stiff and unnatural. She glanced toward the hallway.

"Where did your grandfather go?" she asked abruptly.

"He said he was going for an early walk," Gwen replied carefully.

"At least he's okay," Juvia sighed.

"For now…" Gajeel muttered darkly, crossing his arms.

Wendy bit her lip. "I hope Max doesn't run into any of them while he's alone…"

Vera hesitated for a moment, her face twitching faintly. "…Well, behave yourselves. I'll be back soon." With that, she turned and walked briskly out of the house.

The moment the door shut, Ben spun toward Gwen, eyes wide. "She's totally one of them!" he exclaimed.

"'One of' what?" Gwen asked, still doubtful, though her voice carried an edge of unease.

"Whatever's possessing these old people!" Ben declared, waving his arms. "Something—or someone's—gotten to Aunt Vera! And who knows how many of the fossils around here?!"

"Did he seriously just call them fossils?" Lucy said flatly.

"Yes, he did," Cana said with a laugh. "Kid's got guts, I'll give him that."

Makarov's forehead vein throbbed visibly, glaring at Ben. "Boy—you're lucky I wasn't there. If you'd called me or Vera a fossil, I'd have smacked you upside the head!"

Ben winced, hands raised. "Y-Yeah, fair. I was… a little mouthy back then."

"A little?" Erza echoed sternly.

Gray snorted. "Not the best choice of words when you're trying to convince someone you're serious."

"Still funny, though," Natsu said with a grin.

Happy wagged his tail. "Aye!"

Later, Ben and Gwen crept through narrow alleys and side streets, avoiding the open sidewalks.

"So, where we headed, Sherlock?" Gwen asked, adjusting the straps of the small backpack she'd brought along.

"Sherlock?" Wendy repeated, tilting her head. "Who's that?"

Ben looked at her. "Sherlock Holmes—famous fictional detective back in my world. Super smart guy, solves impossible mysteries."

Cana smirked. "So Gwen basically just called him a nerdy detective wannabe."

"Accurate," Gray muttered.

Ben suddenly pressed himself against the corner of a wall, yanking Gwen back with him. Two old folks shuffled down the street, their eyes oddly vacant.

"We need to get to that trapdoor by the dumpster," Ben whispered, eyes sharp. He held Gwen's arm until the strange pair had passed further down the road. Only then did he dash across the street, tugging her along with him.

"These aliens are definitely hiding something back there," Gajeel growled.

"Dead bodies?" Lucy asked with a wince. "I hope it's not like Gajeel said earlier…"

The scene cut to another part of town. Marty stood with another old man, both shifting uneasily on their feet. Their eyes darted about nervously as they waited.

"Is the food supply ready for transport?" a familiar voice called from the shadows.

From the darkness stepped Vera—her smile wrong, her body too stiff as she regarded the others with cold precision.

The guild erupted in shock.

"WHAT?!" Lucy screamed, her face paling. "No, no, no—don't tell me—!"

"They're… eating the old people?!" Wendy cried in horror, clutching Carla tightly.

"Monstrous!" Erza bellowed.

"Ew, ew, EW!" Happy yelped, his fur puffing out. "That's disgusting!"

Cana made a face. "This is straight nightmare fuel. Parasite goo AND cannibalism? Nope."

"Food supply… so that's it." Levy's eyes widened. "They're harvesting the elderly like livestock…"

"Unforgivable," Makarov said, his tone low and dangerous. "Such cruelty deserves only destruction."

Gajeel growled, his iron teeth clenched. "Figures. Slime freaks were up to something worse than just stealing bodies."

On screen, Fake-Marty straightened his posture, his voice oddly hollow as he spoke. "The pods are in the final stages of gestation," he reported grimly. His eyes narrowed. "What about the young ones?"

"Too chewy!" Fake-Vera replied with a sickly-sweet smile. "They need to age more before they get nice and tender…"

Many wizard shivered in disgust.

"That's so messed up!" Lucy gagged, hugging herself.

Makarov slammed the butt of his staff against the bar top with a crack. "To prey upon the old and weak in such a manner—despicable! These monsters disgrace even the word 'parasite'!"

Levy, pale but thinking fast, scribbled furiously. "Wait… if she said 'final stages of gestation,' then maybe… maybe those people are still alive. Like… incubating, being processed slowly…"

Wendy gasped, horrified. "So they're… trapped? Alive?!"

Gray shivered, his face tight. "Like slow-cooking something. That's even worse."

Fake-Marty raised a hand sharply. "I'm not talking about eating!" His voice dropped lower, more dangerous. "The boy suspects too much."

Fake-Vera smiled maliciously in response.

Many in the guild hall shivered at what was implied.

The kids crept down another alley until the tall fence of the dumpster site came into view.

"It's right over there!" Ben said with urgency, pointing ahead.

"Just follow the disgusting smell," Gwen muttered, pinching her nose with clear disgust.

They hurried along the path when, just ahead, two old ladies stood by a shuffleboard court. They looked harmless at first—giggling, sliding their pucks down the board.

But as Ben and Gwen passed, both women snapped their heads up. Their smiles twisted, yellowed teeth flashing sharply. Then they hissed, animal-like, and with sudden violence, they swung their sticks—sending the pucks rocketing toward the kids.

"Look out, you two!" Wendy cried, her hands clasped together tightly.

"If she had any doubt before, she definitely doesn't now." Gray remarked.

"DUCK!" Gwen screamed, dropping low as one puck whizzed over her head.

"RUN!" Ben echoed, diving to the side to avoid another before the two bolted away, legs pumping as more pucks slammed into the ground behind them.

They ducked behind a corner, panting hard as they tried to catch their breath. The sound of shuffleboard pucks clattering on the pavement slowly faded behind them.

Just then, footsteps approached. Max appeared at the end of the alley, his face calm.

"Guys, what's going on?" he asked, his eyes scanning the two shaken kids.

The guild hall let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Finally!" Lucy cried. "Max is here—they're safe now!"

"Yeah," Cana said, smirking. "The trio's back together. Time to kick slime butt."

Wendy nodded quickly. "With Max helping, they might actually stand a chance…"

But Gajeel narrowed his eyes. "Hold on. Something ain't right."

Gray glanced toward him. "What do you mean?"

"He should've seen the pucks flying around," Gajeel said darkly. "And his grandkids running for their lives? He should be concerned, not acting so damn calm."

Levy paled. "…He's right. That doesn't sound like Max at all."

Ben threw his arms wide, his voice high with panic. "They're everywhere!"

"I know!" Max declared—then bared his teeth, revealing them stained with glowing green.

His arm suddenly stretched outward, bones twisting grotesquely just like Marty's. "Come here, I'll protect ya!" he roared, lunging toward the kids.

The guild hall erupted in cries of dismay.

"NOOO!" Wendy wailed, covering her mouth.

"Not Max too?!" Lucy cried, horrified.

"Impossible…" Erza muttered, her eyes narrowing.

"Possible," Gray said grimly. "The kids really are on their own now."

Happy flailed his little paws. "He's a fake Max! A fake!"

"Let's get out of here!" Gwen shouted, terrified.

The two kids bolted, sprinting toward the nearest exit—only to skid to a halt.

In front of them stood Fake-Marty, Fake-Vera, and the other man they'd glimpsed earlier, all standing shoulder to shoulder. With unnatural ease, the three elderly figures hefted an entire car above their heads as though it weighed nothing.

Behind them, Fake-Max closed in, blocking off their retreat.

"They can lift cars too?!" Lucy gasped, her face pale.

"Not fair!" Elfman roared. "They can stretch themselves, regenerate, and have super-strength?! I mean, it's manly…but so… not manly!"

"Unbelievable…" Erza muttered, her eyes narrowing. "They're an amalgamation of horrors."

Gray clenched his fists. "Yeah, how the hell did they deal with this?"

"If only they'd figure out water is their weakness already," Cana sighed.

Juvia turned to her beloved. "Ben—did you not have Water Hazard at the time? If you had his powers—"

Ben shook his head, cutting her off. "No. I didn't get Water Hazard until about two years ago. Not counting Ripjaws, I didn't have a water-based aliens back then."

Juvia frowned, her hands curling into fists. "Then Juvia wishes she had been there. She would have drowned those imposters where they stood."

Ben gave her a wry smile. "Yeah, I believe it."

Young Ben's eyes went wide. "Ooh, this is not good!" he exclaimed just as the elderly imposters hurled the car at them.

The kids dove in opposite directions, barely avoiding being flattened. The car slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash.

"NO!" Gwen cried out as Fake-Max swiped for them, only for the car to smash down directly on top of him.

"Max…!" Wendy whispered, horrified.

"Wait, no…" Lucy stammered, shaking her head. "That's not really him…"

Erza nodded grimly. "Correct. It is merely a puppet of slime. The true Max must still be out there."

"Still, that was hard to watch," Cana muttered.

On screen, a wet splurt echoed as green slime seeped out from beneath the wreckage. The ooze slithered together, reshaping itself into Max's familiar form—but this time his left eye glowed an unnatural mix of bright green and orange.

The fake Max snarled as he advanced, joined by the others as they closed in on the children.

"Come on! The trapdoor!" Ben yelled.

Gwen bolted ahead, skidding to a stop by the dumpster site. She crouched low, tugging at the metal container, trying desperately to shove it aside. Behind her, Ben slammed his hand down on the Omnitrix.

The green light engulfed him, his form shifting into the hulking, feral form of Wildmutt.

The guild hall erupted.

"YES! Rip those slime bags apart!" Natsu cheered, punching the air.

"Aye!" Happy echoed, wings flapping excitedly. "Go, Wildmutt!"

"Why didn't you change sooner, though?" Cana asked, raising an eyebrow at Ben. "Kinda waited until the last second there."

"Trust me, I wanted to. But with the Omnitrix's time limit, I had to be careful. I only had about ten minutes per transformation back then, and I couldn't risk wasting it if we weren't cornered yet." Ben replied.

Gwen strained against the dumpster, her shoes squeaking against the pavement. It wouldn't budge an inch.

Wildmutt padded up beside her, growled low, then dug his claws into the metal. With one effortless heave, he lifted the entire dumpster and hurled it toward the advancing elders.

The imposters staggered, dodging back as the container smashed into the pavement, rattling loudly.

Wildmutt turned, slobber dripping from his jaws, and motioned urgently toward the revealed trapdoor.

"Got it!" Gwen shouted, catching his meaning instantly.

Behind her, Wildmutt panted.

Gwen glanced back at him with wide eyes. "That's scary," she muttered breathlessly. "I'm starting to speak mutt…"

Several in the guild burst out laughing.

"Hah! Nice one," Cana chuckled.

The fake elders staggered back to their feet, their faces twisted with inhuman fury as they sprinted after the children. Gwen yanked the trapdoor open, revealing a gaping pit that dropped straight into darkness.

With no time to think, Wildmutt crouched low, then bucked Gwen onto his back before leaping into the pit.

"Whoa!" Gwen cried out, clutching his fur tightly as they plummeted into the abyss.

The walls of rock rushed past them as Wildmutt dug his claws in, trying to slow their descent. Sparks and dust sprayed with each scrape, but the momentum was too great—they hit the ground with a bone-rattling thud.

Gwen groaned, scrambling off his back. "Does the expression 'look before you leap' mean anything to you?!" she snapped, exasperated.

"Honestly, that wasn't a bad move," Gray admitted. "Wildmutt doesn't need light—he can 'see' everything with his senses."

Levy nodded quickly. "Right! His smell probably give him a huge advantage down there."

"Good choice," Erza agreed, though her tone was grim. "Even if the fall was reckless."

Gwen's eyes darted upward. Her blood ran cold as she saw the imposters crawling down the vertical walls like spiders, their limbs stretching and bending unnaturally.

"Move it!" she shouted frantically.

Wildmutt barked, then bolted down a tunnel, his claws scrabbling against the stone.

The screen went black save for their blurred forms moving through the twisting passageways. Finally, Wildmutt skidded to a stop at a fork in the tunnels, the air thick with an acrid stench. Gwen slid off his back, catching her breath.

"These tunnels must go under the whole complex!" she realized, eyes wide.

The guild hall fell into uneasy silence.

"They dug all this?" Cana asked, her brows furrowing.

"How long have they been here?" Wendy whispered, her voice trembling.

"Months? Years?" Lucy said nervously. "Could they have really dug out a network this big overnight?"

Gajeel growled low. "Parasites don't just show up and stop."

Makarov's expression darkened. "If they've had time to make tunnels like that, they've been feeding for a long time."

The camera panned behind Gwen. From the shadows, a pair of sinister red eyes gleamed, narrowing as they fixed on her.

Wildmutt started sensing with his gills and made out the outline of 'Max', just as he tried to grab Gwen with his stretchy arms. The figure lunged, arms stretching unnaturally as they shot toward Gwen.

"No, Gwen!" Wendy cried.

Wildmutt leapt forward, fangs sinking into the stretchy limbs. With a powerful tug, he slammed the false Max into a wall. The doppelganger only staggered briefly before rising again, its body warping and rippling.

Wildmutt planted himself in front of Gwen, growling, hackles raised. He charged with brute force—only to be caught mid-run. The impostor snatched him by the neck and, with terrifying strength, flipped him backwards in a crushing suplex.

"Damn!" Gray blurted, eyes wide.

"No kidding." Elfman clenched his fists. "Slimy bastards are stronger than they look."

"They're slippery," Gajeel added, his lip curling. "You'd waste half your energy just trying to land a hit."

Wildmutt returned to his feet just as the Fake-Max advanced, fists flying, striking him repeatedly with brutal force. And yet, the beast only growled louder, his spines rising sharply along his back.

Then—with a guttural roar—Wildmutt surged forward, snapping his powerful jaws inches from the imposter's face before slamming his whole body into him. The shoulder-bash drove the doppelganger into the cave wall with a heavy crack.

Without hesitation, Wildmutt clamped down on one of the creature's arms and shook violently, whipping it back and forth like prey. With one final toss, he hurled the blob-creature across the cavern.

The guild hall erupted with cheers.

"Yeah! Tear him apart!" Elfman bellowed, fist pumping. "Show that fake who's the man!"

Natsu grinned wide. "Rip him to shreds!"

"Second wind for the win!" Gray added, unable to hide a grin.

Wildmutt charged the downed imposter, claws out and ready to finish the fight.

But the creature's left eye shimmered, morphing back into the familiar gaze of the real Max.

"You wouldn't wanna hurt old Grandpa Max, now would ya?" the imposter said sweetly, his tone dripping with false innocence.

Wildmutt froze, his spines lowering as the image of his beloved grandfather flashed in his mind.

His hesitation was enough.

The fake Max lashed out with a sudden kick, knocking Wildmutt sprawling. In an instant, the creature twisted and snapped its form back into fighting stance.

"Cowardly trick!" Elfman roared, slamming his fist into the table hard enough to crack it. "That ain't fighting like a man!"

"Damn slime monsters," Gajeel growled low, teeth bared. "Turning family into weapons? Dirty move."

Wendy looked stricken. "That's not fair at all…"

Cana's expression soured. "Fair? These things are here to eat people, not play by rules."

Carla flicked her tail sharply. "Indeed. Expecting honor from such creatures is folly."

Gwen then climbed up onto Wildmutt's back.

"Hey, 'short, dumb, and hairy'?" she called out. "Rule 1: he's not Grandpa, he's an alien freak! And that leads to Rule 2—which is we kick alien butt!"

The guild erupted with applause and cheers.

"Now that's the spirit!" Cana whooped, raising her mug.

Erza said approvingly. "I really love her spirit."

Lucy clapped her hands together. "Go Gwen!"

Even Gajeel smirked. "Brat's got more bite than Ben half the time."

Wildmutt let out a vicious roar, Gwen's words giving him the push he needed. He barreled forward with feral rage, slamming into the Fake-Max with such force that the imposter was crushed into a cavern wall. Rocks cascaded down from above, tumbling and crashing, until the blob-creature was buried beneath a mound of stone.

The guild's reaction was mixed.

"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" Elfman bellowed, fist pumping. "That's how you finish a fight like a real man!"

"Crushed him flat," Natsu cackled. "No way he's getting up from that!"

Gray, however, frowned. "Eh… not so sure. Those things are made of slime, right? What's to stop it from oozing through the cracks?"

Levy nodded. "Exactly. Their bodies aren't solid. If even part of it slips free, it could reform."

Cana shrugged. "Either way, buying time is good enough."

Wildmutt stiffened suddenly, hackles raised as his gills picked up something new.

"What?" Gwen asked, alarm in her voice.

Without warning, Wildmutt bolted forward at full speed, Gwen clinging desperately to his back.

"Whoa! You don't come with seatbelts, remember?!" she shouted, bouncing along with the beast's stride.

That got a ripple of laughter from the guild hall.

Wildmutt raced forward, Gwen clinging tightly to his back. But then—the Omnitrix on his shoulder piece started flashing red. A harsh beeping cut through the tension.

The guild collectively groaned.

"Not now!" Lucy cried, throwing her hands up. "That's the worst timing!"

"Seriously, does that thing ever stay charged when you need it most?" Gray muttered.

Natsu scowled. "Tch. Stupid watch."

"Yeah, yeah, we all hate that sound," Cana interrupted, taking a swig. "Move it along."

Gwen spotted what was coming. "Look out!" she cried.

Wildmutt leapt at the last second, crashing through a wall of rotting wooden boards overgrown with moss. The two tumbled forward just as the transformation ended in a flash of green light. Ben skidded across the ground, back in human form, groaning.

The guild let out a collective sigh of relief, though no one spoke.

Gwen got to her feet, brushing herself off. "Hey, freakshow! What do I look like, a crash test dummy?!" she snapped, glaring at her cousin.

Ben scrambled up as well. "Listen, I don't know what it is, but I picked up some kind of scent in here."

The guild murmured uneasily.

"What could it be?" Levy asked, brow furrowed. "Wildmutt must've detected something specific."

"Hopefully not a nest…" Lucy muttered, shivering. "That Fake-Marty mentioned something about 'gestation,' didn't he?"

Wendy hugged Ben's arm, who comforted her. "G-gestation? Like… they're breeding?"

Carla's tail flicked sharply. "If so, this situation has already escalated beyond control."

Gajeel growled. "A whole nest of those slime creeps? Great. Just what this kid needs."

"Better him than us," Cana muttered, though her frown betrayed her unease.

Even Erza's jaw tightened. "If there is a nest, then their mission here will be far more dangerous than anticipated."

Ben and Gwen crept deeper into the tunnel, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone. After a few tense minutes, the narrow passage widened—and they both froze in awe.

The cavern opened into an enormous chamber. In the center stood a massive, organic-looking spaceship, its surface pulsing faintly with green light. All around the floor were lined with small green bulbous pods.

They moved cautiously among them, eyes darting nervously.

"It's like everyone in Retirement Village has been podded up!" Gwen exclaimed.

Inside one of the pods, Marty's unconscious body was visible, slumped but still breathing.

The guild let out a collective breath.

"So they're alive," Lucy sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."

"Yes," Mirajane agreed softly, hands pressed to her chest. "It's frightening, but at least the people aren't gone."

Cana nodded. "Better podded than eaten, I guess."

"Still a bad situation," Gray muttered, his arms folded.

Levy nodded. "At least we don't have to worry about an army of alien hatchlings. That's… something."

Carla flicked her tail. "Do not celebrate too soon. This is captivity, not safety."

Ben's eyes darted from pod to pod—until one made his heart stop.

"Grandpa!" he cried, rushing forward. He clawed at the slimy surface, tugging until cracks formed across its shell. With one final pull, the pod burst open, spilling Max's limp form onto the floor.

"Grandpa, wake up!" Ben pleaded, shaking his arm.

Max groaned, coughing as his eyes fluttered open. "Huh… I was out for a walk and then…" He rubbed his head. "Can't remember what happened next."

"They got him out!" Wendy said with relief, smiling brightly.

"Good," Erza said, her arms crossing. "With Max conscious again, the children have guidance once more."

Elfman pumped his fist. "Family reunited!"

Ben exhaled, his shoulders relaxing as he relived the memory. "Yeah… that was the moment I finally felt like things might be okay."

But Gray wasn't convinced. "Not if that watch of yours doesn't hurry up and recharge."

"Exactly," Lucy agreed, biting her lip. "If those things come back before the Omnitrix is ready, you'll have no powers to fight with."

Cana frowned. "Against an entire village worth of slime-monsters? That's not just bad—it's impossible."

Even Makarov's tone turned heavy. "The children are brave, but without magic or strength to rely on, this is perilous indeed."

Ben reached for the next pod, his hands braced against the slimy surface—when a voice rang out sharply.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you…!"

The trio spun around. Standing at the far end of the chamber was Fake-Vera. Alongside her was Fake-Marty and another elder, all three advancing slowly, smiles twisted unnaturally wide.

Ben clenched his fists. "Well, you're not me!"

"Not yet, I'm not!" "Marty" snapped back, his voice warping into a guttural hiss.

The three impostors shuddered violently, their human façades peeling away like wax melting from a candle. In their place emerged their true forms: revolting, semi-translucent bodies of green liquid, with sickly orange eyes floating in their heads and faintly glowing pink organs squirming within.

The guild hall erupted in reactions.

"Ughhh!" Lucy gagged, covering her mouth. "That's disgusting!"

"Revolting," Erza agreed, her expression hard.

"Gross," Gray grimaced. "And creepy as hell."

Cana tilted her mug. "Nope."

Wendy clung to Ben's arm, eyes wide. "Th-they're so scary…"

Even Natsu wrinkled his nose. "Yeesh. They look like snot monsters!"

Ben spoke up. "Yeah, they're gross, I know. Those things are called the Limax. Shape-shifting parasites. They can take over people and use their bodies like disguises."

Carla narrowed her eyes. "Parasites, as suspected. Disgusting."

"Limax, huh?" Levy repeated, jotting it down in her notebook. "So their whole strategy is infiltration and replacement. That makes sense."

"Sense or not, it's dirty," Elfman snapped, fists clenching. "Cowards hiding behind old folks' faces! Fight like men, damn it!"

Makarov stroked his beard grimly. "Dangerous foes indeed."

"You can fill me in later!" Max said quickly as he ushered Gwen and Ben backward, the three Tennysons retreating in unison.

As they moved, Gwen stumbled against the organic surface of the strange ship. Her hand pressed into it—and suddenly, glowing lines spread out like veins of light. A doorway irised open with a hiss, revealing the inside.

"Look what's back here!" Gwen exclaimed, her voice echoing in alarm.

Max's eyes widened. "Their ship!"

"How the hell did they get a ship under the retirement community without anyone noticing?" Gray asked, bewildered.

"Who cares?" Gajeel growled, glaring at the screen. "Point is, they did. Focus on the fight."

"Still…" Levy's brows furrowed. "The logistics are fascinating. Did they tunnel it here, or—"

"Levy," Erza cut her off sharply, eyes locked on the scene. "Not the time."

On screen, the Limax screeched angrily.

"They found it! We can't let them out!" one snarled.

"Get the pods on board—they've been marinating long enough!" another barked.

Max froze at the word, horror etching across his face. "'Marinating'?" he repeated, aghast.

The guild recoiled together.

"Ewww…" Lucy gagged, paling visibly. "That's so wrong…"

"That imagery…" Cana muttered, grimacing as she set her drink down. "Ugh, that's worse than the meat-jello."

Wendy shuddered. "They've been… soaking the villagers… like ingredients…"

"Damn parasites," Natsu growled, fists tightening. "They don't fight fair and they treat people like cattle. It really burns me up!"

Gwen peered into the ship's dim interior. Her gasp echoed as her eyes locked on a pod mounted along the wall.

"They've got Aunt Vera!" she cried, her voice breaking.

When the Omnitrix dial chirped and turned green, Ben immediately activated it and the core popped up.

"You guys really burn me up!" he snapped, slamming his palm down. In a burst of emerald light, his body ignited, flames roaring across his rocky skin—Heatblast stood ready, fire crackling from every joint.

Heatblast raised both arms, fire swirling at his fingertips. "Now, I'm going to return the favor!"

"Yesss!" Natsu shouted, leaping to his feet with a grin so wide it nearly split his face. "Time to roast those slime-bags!"

"Fire against goo," Cana mused. "Not a bad plan… if it works."

Gray shook his head. "I dunno. They're in a desert. We've already seen water is their weakness. Fire might not cut it."

He unleashed a massive wave of flames, engulfing the Limax in an inferno. Smoke and light filled the cavern, forcing Gwen to shield her face.

But when the flames cleared—

The Limax stood unharmed. Worse, their gooey bodies rippled and flowed together, merging into a single towering monstrosity. Its orange eyes glowed brighter than before, and its voice reverberated through the chamber.

"Whatever you are," it hissed, "you just made a terrible mistake. Us Limax live for the heat! Why do you think we came to the desert in the summer?"

The guild froze, stunned.

"...Oh crap," Natsu muttered, his grin vanishing instantly. His shoulders slumped. "So if I was there, I'd just… make 'em stronger?"

Gray smirked despite the danger. "Hah. Guess you finally found something fire's useless against."

"Shut up, ice cube!" Natsu barked.

Heatblast scowled and charged at the towering Limax, fists igniting. Without hesitation, he started hammering away at its gooey leg, punching over and over with fiery blows.

The creature didn't even flinch. Instead, it reached down, seized Heatblast by the arm, and slammed him into the ground—once, twice, then over and over like a rag doll.

"Hah!" Gray smirked. "Right now he's fighting exactly like Natsu—punch hard and throw fire at everything."

"Hey!" Natsu shot up defensively, flames sparking around his fists. "I can get creative when I want to!"

"Sure you can," Cana said with a snort. "Creative ways to set things on fire."

Meanwhile, Juvia pressed her hands together with a frown. "If only Juvia were there… She could wash those horrid creatures away in seconds."

Carla nodded approvingly. "Correct. These parasites have an obvious weakness, yet the boy lacks the proper means to exploit it."

Levy scribbled in her notes quickly. "So without an alien like Water Hazard in his roster yet, he has no natural counter to the Limax…"

"That's a problem," Lucy said, her eyes worried. "How's he supposed to beat something that feeds off fire?"

Cana sighed. "Kid's up against an army of slime, no water, no powers that'll work. This is looking bad."

"Too bad isn't an excuse," Erza said firmly, though even her voice carried a note of concern. "He must find a way."

As it held him down, its orange eyes flickered toward the back of the ship. Max and Gwen were dragging pods out of the chamber, struggling with the slimy weight.

The Limax's body rippled. With a grotesque shudder, two smaller blobs split off from its back, slithering across the floor toward them.

Wendy tugged on Ben's coat nervously. "They split up… those little ones are going after Gwen and Max!"

"That's bad," Lucy agreed, worry creasing her brow. "They don't have magic or any powers to defend themselves."

On screen, one of the smaller Limax lashed its arm at Gwen. She ducked just in time, the blow instead knocking her backpack to the ground. Its contents scattered—books, a notebook, pencils… and her water gun.

The two Limax froze mid-step. Their bulbous orange eyes locked onto the toy—and to Gwen's surprise, they recoiled in fear, slithering back rapidly.

Gwen's eyes lit up. She snatched the gun, aimed, and sprayed a stream of water straight through their gelatinous heads. Both creatures shrieked, their gooey bodies bubbling before collapsing into inert puddles on the cavern floor.

The guild hall erupted in cheers.

"Yes! Go Gwen!" Lucy shouted, clapping excitedly.

"Ha!" Cana slammed her mug down with a grin. "Smart girl—Who knew that toy from earlier would come in the clutch!"

Levy smiled. "A real-life Chekhov's Gun!"

Wendy beamed. "I knew Gwen would figure it out!"

"Still though," Gajeel's eyes narrowed. "Doubt the little water in that gun is gonna be enough."

Gwen gasped as the realization fully struck her. "They hate water!" she exclaimed. She looked toward Heatblast, still pinned by the larger Limax. "Aunt Vera, when she was in the kitchen!" she reminded him.

Heatblast's eyes widened as memories clicked into place. "Or Marty, when I was on the golf cart!" he realized.

The massive Limax growled, lifting him higher into the air. Heatblast spotted a corroded water pipe overhead and raised his fiery hands, blasting a stream of flame at it.

The alien shrieked and lashed at him in desperation. One gooey appendage shot forward, clawing toward Heatblast's face. Its slimy finger dug close to his eye socket, trying to bore inside.

The guild collectively cringed.

"That's nasty," Gray muttered, grimacing. "Straight for the eye?!"

"Ben," Juvia said worriedly. "That didn't hurt, did it?"

Ben shrugged. "Kind of. But Heatblast isn't fully organic though, so it wasn't as bad as it looks."

The stream of fire finally did its work. The corroded pipe burst with a loud crack, spraying water in every direction. The torrent rained down on the massive Limax, steam rising where it splashed against its gelatinous skin.

The creature screeched in agony, its grip on Heatblast loosening until it dropped him to the cavern floor.

"See ya, slimeball!" Heatblast snapped, sprinting clear as the towering parasite convulsed. Its gooey mass collapsed, liquefying rapidly until nothing remained but a vast, quivering puddle.

Heatblast reached up, flicking a clump of sticky goo out of his eye socket with a grimace before tossing it aside.

The guild hall erupted in cheers.

"YEEEAAAH!" Natsu whooped, pumping his fist. "Burned and washed!"

"Serves that thing right," Gray said with a smirk.

"Good riddance," Erza said firmly, though she allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction.

Lucy exhaled in relief. "Finally! That thing gave me chills."

Wendy clapped softly, her face glowing. "They did it… they actually beat it!"

Even Makarov chuckled. "Well done, boy."

Juvia clasped her hands against her chest, eyes shining proudly. "Juvia could have done it faster… but Juvia is glad Ben found a way to use water, too."

Levy giggled. "He did learn quick once he noticed the pattern."

Carla scoffed. "Hmph. Luck, more than skill, I'd say."

Ben shrugged. "Hey, it's worked out for me plenty of times."

Gajeel added. "Luck or not, result's the same. One slime pile down."

The cavern shook faintly as the Limax ship began to hum. Green light pulsed along its surface, the low whirrrr building in intensity—preparing for takeoff.

Meanwhile, Gwen rolled a pod carefully across the ground, straining with the effort. Just ahead of her, Max emerged, carrying two full pods at once—one tucked securely under his arm, the other hefted over his shoulder. His face was set in grim determination as he charged toward the exit.

"Sorry, there's no drive-through service here!" Max barked with a grin, sprinting out just as the last puddles of Limax goo slithered back into the ship. The hatch sealed shut behind them with a hiss.

The guild exhaled in relief.

"They got them all out," Lucy said, smiling. "Thank goodness."

"Yes," Mirajane agreed, hands clasped together. "The villagers are safe now."

"Good timing too," Levy added. "Another second and they might've lost everyone."

Gray, however, raised an eyebrow. "Wait a second… did anyone else see that? He just carried two pods—each holding a full-grown adult."

Natsu blinked. "Oh yeah… those things must weigh a lot!"

Elfman pumped his fist with admiration. "Now that's a man! Carrying two adults at once—Max is built tough!"

Erza nodded approvingly. "His stamina and strength are remarkable for his age."

Wendy smiled brightly. "Amazing! He's not just smart, he's strong too!"

"Heh," Makarov chuckled. "Don't mess with us old men."

On screen, the cavern rumbled violently. Dust and pebbles rained from the ceiling as the Limax ship powered up, green light blazing across its surface. With a deafening roar, it tore free of the cavern floor, tunneling upward in a spiral of rock and debris.

The three Tennysons shielded their eyes as the ground split apart. The vessel burst out into the moonlit desert night, engines flaring, before streaking skyward like a green comet. Within seconds, it pierced through Earth's atmosphere and vanished into the stars.

The guild erupted in noise.

"Yeah! Get outta here!" Natsu yelled, pumping his fist.

"Yah better run, yah damn slimes!" Elfman roared, shaking his arm.

"Don't you dare come back!" Cana added.

Even Gray smirked. "Good riddance."

Lucy sighed in relief, smiling faintly. "Finally… it's over."

Juvia tilted her head thoughtfully, turning to the brunet beside her. "Ben… did those Limax ever return for revenge?"

Ben shook his head. "No. Not that I ever saw. Guess when my reputation started spreading across the universe, it made them think twice about ever coming back."

The scene shifted to a large empty cavern; pods stacked and opened all around. The entire population of Retirement Village lay unconscious but safe as Max, Gwen, and Ben looked over them.

"…We should put them all back in their condos, so they'll think they never left," Max suggested, crossing his arms.

Gwen slumped against a pod, sighing. "That could take hours."

"Gimme a few minutes, I'll see if XLR8 can help out." Heatblast announced.

"Super-speed must be nice," Mirajane sighed. "Cleaning this whole guild hall after a party? Done in a blink."

Lucy's eyes widened. "Or errands! Laundry, groceries—he could do it all before breakfast."

"Yeah," Ben clasped his fingers behind his head, smirking, "super-speed's helped me get a bunch of boring stuff done quickly."

Wendy smiled shyly. "It does sound convenient."

Carla flicked her tail. "Hmph. Only if used responsibly. Otherwise it becomes laziness."

The screen shifted to the bright desert morning. The Rust Bucket was packed and ready to leave, parked in front of Vera's little house.

Max bent down, wrapping his sister into a warm hug. "Don't be strangers!" Vera told him firmly, her smile wide.

"We won't," Max assured her.

"Bye, Aunt Vera!" Gwen called cheerfully, giving a small wave.

"Bye, dear—" Vera began, before her eyes lit up with sudden remembrance. "Oh! This is for the road!"

She hurried back inside and returned holding a glass container. Inside was a jiggling, bright green gelatin mould.

Ben's grin grew mischievous as Vera pressed it into Gwen's hands.

"Ben told me how much you liked my gelatin mould," Vera said proudly. "This one's lime—with chunks of grouper and chickpeas!"

"Uhh, thanks…" Gwen forced a smile, her voice just shy of convincing. She gave Vera a quick hug before marching it reluctantly to the Rust Bucket. Ben's smirk only widened as she climbed aboard, the gelatin wobbling ominously in her arms.

The guild chuckled at once.

"Hah! Smooth move, kid," Cana laughed.

Lucy giggled behind her hand. "Poor Gwen. And she can't say no to Vera's face, either."

Natsu grinned toothily. "Serves her right!"

But then Gray frowned, glancing toward Ben. "Hold up. Didn't you say earlier that Max never wasted food?"

The guild quieted, several eyes turning to Ben.

Ben sighed with a lopsided grin. "Yeah. He didn't. Which meant… yeah, we both had to eat it eventually."

The guild groaned and laughed together.

"Tragic!" Cana cackled, raising her mug. "Punished by your own prank!"

"Manly," Elfman declared seriously. "A true comrade suffers with his teammate!"

Lucy winced sympathetically. "Grouper and chickpeas in lime jello?"

Even Erza grimaced. "That sounds worse than anything the Limax concocted."

Wendy put a hand to her mouth, giggling. "At least… you made Gwen suffer too, right?"

Ben chuckled. "Exactly. That was the whole point."

That left only Ben to say his goodbyes.

"I'm sorry, Ben, if there wasn't enough excitement here for you. I hope you weren't bored to tears!" Vera said kindly.

Ben smiled sheepishly. "Actually, it turned out better than I thought!"

The Fairy Tail wizards softened.

"That's good," Wendy said happily, smiling. "He learned to appreciate being with his family."

"Finally," Erza nodded approvingly.

Lucy beamed. "That's the kind of growth I like to see."

Even Elfman gave a firm nod. "Spending time with family is manly."

Vera's face brightened. "I'm glad. Well, have fun on the road!"

"I will!" Ben assured her, giving his aunt a hug before hopping into the Rust Bucket.

"Oh—and Ben?" Vera called after him.

He paused, glancing back.

"Keep up the good work, dealing with all those aliens you were telling me about!" she said with a wink.

Ben froze. His eyes widened, panic flashing across his face. "You're… kidding, right?" he asked nervously, fearing she remembered the horrors she'd endured in the pods.

Vera only laughed, waving a hand. "Of course, dear!" she assured him warmly.

Several mages tilted their heads.

"Wait… does she know?" Lucy asked, uncertain.

"Or is she just humoring him?" Cana added with a smirk. "Hard to tell with that lady."

"Honestly," Ben spoke up, "I'm still not sure if was just humoring me… Or if she actually knew. I mean, nowadays she knows I'm a superhero but then… Couldn't say."

Erza frowned thoughtfully. "Whether she knows or not, she protects your secret well. That is admirable."

Natsu shrugged. "She's cool. I like her."

The Rust Bucket rumbled down the desert highway, pulling farther and farther away from the retirement community. The camera panned over the landscape, the sun rising over the barren dunes. They drove past the massive crater where the Limax ship had once been buried, the earth still broken and smoking faintly from its violent departure.

The scene lingered there, panning down into the darkness of the hole. The ruined caverns came back into view, silent but heavy with tension. For a moment, it seemed empty—until the pile of boulders shifted ever so slightly.

From beneath the rubble, a slimy green form began to ooze its way free. One orange eye blinked open. The Limax that had impersonated Max dragged itself forward, its body rippling and reshaping as it slowly crept along the tunnel floor.

The guild hall erupted in shock.

"What?!" Lucy gasped. "One of them survived?!"

"No way," Gray muttered, eyes narrowing. "I thought they got wiped out!"

"Dammit!" Cana barked, slamming her mug down. "These things just don't quit!"

Wendy's face paled, her hands flying to her mouth.

Erza's eyes hardened. "This changes everything. If even one remains, the threat is far from over."

Elfman roared furiously, fists clenching. "Cowardly slime! Hiding and waiting to strike again—it's not manly to sneak around like that!"

Even Ben looked shocked. He shook his head slowly. "I… I didn't know. As far as I knew, Aunt Vera and everyone else were safe. There haven't been any Limax sightings, not in eight years."

The guild looked at him gravely.

"But if one survived…" Levy said carefully, "…could it have replicated? Started over?"

Ben swallowed, his usual grin absent. "That's what scares me. If it did, maybe it's been hiding all this time. Waiting. Planning revenge."

Gajeel growled low. "Parasites like that don't just crawl away and give up."

"Dammit…" Ben clenched his fists, eyes dark. "I wish I was back home…"

"Ben…" Juvia looked at him sympathetically.

The glowing rune-screen faded to black, leaving the guild hall in uneasy silence as the chapter came to a close.

"INTERMISSION — 15 minutes until the next episode begins.

Chapter Text

The Fairy Tail guild hall was noisy in the aftermath of the last episode. Wizards talked over one another at their tables, half-laughing, half-shuddering about Aunt Vera's gelatin and the Limax. Cana was still pouring drinks while Natsu and Gray bickered, Erza tried to keep order, and Levy was furiously scribbling notes about "alien parasites."

But apart from all the chatter, Ben sat by himself in a corner, perched on an old barrel. His elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed, and his expression was unusually serious.

At the moment, he was absentmindedly scrolling through the playlist on the Omnitrix's green holo-wheel. Alien head icons flickered by until one stopped him cold: the unmistakable head icon of Alien X.

Ben's eyes narrowed, a shadow falling over his face. One Limax survived. If that's true, then who knows what else could still be out there? His stomach twisted. Alien X could end this right now. I could break this spell, get home, and make sure Aunt Vera and her community are safe.

He clenched his jaw. This wasn't the first time the thought had crossed his mind. Ever since being accidentally transported into Earthland months ago, the temptation had gnawed at him. If he became Alien X, maybe Bellicus and Serena could send him back. Maybe he wouldn't have to sit here, watching his world through a screen while who-knew-what threats were still roaming free.

But every time the idea came, he shut it down. Bellicus and Serena won't agree to anything. They argue over trivial nonsense. I doubt I could even get them to agree that two plus two is four, let alone something this big.

Still, now—after what he'd just seen—he wasn't so sure. The possibility that the Limax, or worse, other enemies he thought he'd defeated, might still be alive and lurking… it unsettled him. For the first time, he was seriously considering it.

His brows furrowed deeper. But I should still try… right? His finger hovered over the icon, the weight of the choice heavy on his shoulders.

"Ben?"

He looked up sharply. Juvia stood in front of him, hands folded together, her expression soft with worry.

Ben quickly lowered the Omnitrix, putting it back in standby mode. "…Hey," he muttered, trying for a casual tone that didn't quite stick.

Juvia tilted her head. "Are you all right? You seem… troubled."

He hesitated, then sighed, honesty winning out. "No. I'm not. The Limax. I thought we'd taken care of them years ago. Seeing one crawl out like that—what if there are more? What if they've been hiding this whole time?"

Juvia stepped closer, her voice gentle. "It frightens you. Because if one escaped, then perhaps others have, too?"

Ben nodded, jaw tight. "Exactly. And if they're out there, then my world might still be in danger. I shouldn't be here, watching this. I should be home making sure Aunt Vera's safe… making sure everyone's safe."

She watched him quietly for a moment, her blue eyes reflecting his unease. "I understand," she said softly. "But… what can you do right now? We are bound by this spell. Even if you left this hall, could you truly change what has already been shown?"

Ben's gaze fell to the floor. He didn't answer. He didn't mention Alien X—didn't want to, not yet. That was a card he wasn't ready to show.

"Perhaps you should not be so quick to run from these visions. More episodes will come. And with them, more truths may be revealed. Perhaps even truths you need to hear." Juvia sagely said.

Her words sank into him, and he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed tighter. She's got a point. If the Limax weren't all destroyed… what about the others? The enemies I fought over the last eight years? How many did I really finish off? And how many are still out there, waiting?

He let out a long breath and nodded. "All right. I'll keep watching. Not because I want to," he added firmly, "but because I need to know. If the Limax got away, maybe others did too."

Juvia smiled faintly before stepping back. "Then we will watch together."

Ben managed a small smile in return.

Later, the guild settled down after the chatter and tension of the last episode. Some were still joking about Aunt Vera's gelatin monstrosities, others were shuddering at the memory of the Limax. Ben remained quiet, leaning against the picnic-table's edge.

His eyes lingered on the Omnitrix. Alien X still on his mind.

Beside him, Wendy shifted slightly. She had been watching him from the corner of her eye, sensing his unease. Finally, she leaned in. "Ben… are you okay?" she asked softly, her small hands folded nervously in her lap.

He blinked and turned his head toward her. Her worried expression tugged something inside of him. He didn't want to scare her, but lying to her didn't feel right either. "I was… shocked, that's all," he admitted honestly. "Seeing one of those things still alive after all this time. It hit harder than I thought it would. But…" He exhaled and gave her a small smile, trying to reassure her. "…I'll handle it."

Wendy's brows pinched together. "You don't have to handle it alone, you know," she said gently. "We're all here with you. I'm here with you."

Her words landed heavier than she realized. For a moment, Ben just looked at her—this tiny Dragon Slayer who had seen more hardship than most adults ever would. Something paternal flickered in his chest.

"Thanks, Wendy," Ben said softly. His grin this time wasn't forced. "I… really appreciate that."

Her cheeks warmed a little, but she smiled back, relieved to see him relax even slightly.

Ben frowned slightly. Though, if I were to head back home, I'd be leaving Wendy…Juvia…all the friends I've made here too. He internally sighed. This hero stuff ain't easy.

Before he could lament further, the runes across the building hummed to life. The walls glowed with a familiar pulse as the markings shifted, twisting and rearranging themselves until they finally solidified into words.

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

A short moment later, the runes pulsed again on the monitors before shifting into new words:

"Episode 5: Hunted."

Several wizards murmured at once.

"Hunted?" Lucy repeated, her brows furrowing. "That doesn't sound good at all."

Gray crossed his arms. "So someone's being chased. Question is… is it Ben, or something else doing the chasing?"

"Bah, let it come!" Natsu grinned, pounding his fist into his palm. "If they're hunting Ben, they're in for a fight!"

Erza's eyes narrowed. "We shouldn't underestimate the danger. It could be other aliens targeting Ben for the Omnitrix."

"That'd make sense," Cana agreed. "And that Vilgax guy is still out there too. Wonder how he's doing?"

"I'd rather not know…" Lucy said worriedly.

The episode opened with Vilgax's warship, the Chimeran Hammer, drifting ominously in orbit around Earth.

Cana chuckled. "Sorry, Luce. Looks like we're getting to see squid-face after all."

Lucy groaned, hugging her arms.

Inside, in a cavernous chamber lined with glowing monitors, a levitating platform hovered under three blinding spotlights. On it stood three figures: one thin and wiry, clad in purple and black armor; the second a bizarre yellow half-human, half-crustacean hybrid with robotic plating; and the third a hulking brute in heavy gray armor, his face hidden beneath a pillbug-like shell.

Vilgax's deep voice boomed over the intercom, cold and commanding. "Begin the audition."

"Audition?" Gray furrowed his brows.

"Wait… Octopus-head hasn't healed yet, has he?" Gajeel asked.

"That would explains what's going on," Levy said, tapping her chin. "Looks like he's… outsourcing. Since his robots failed, he's hiring others to do his dirty work."

"Like putting in a job request with a guild." Cana smirked. "Except instead of paying wizards, he's paying mercs and killers."

"Just like with the old mercenary guilds," Makarov added darkly.

Juvia's eyes softened with concern as she looked at Ben. "Ben-darling… does this mean more enemies will come hunting you?"

Ben sighed and nodded. "Yeah, unfortunately. Vilgax is—er, was very persistent."

The mercenary clad in purple-and-black armor wasted no time. His jetpack roared to life, lifting him high before he dropped neatly into a circle of hovering drones that whirred threateningly around him.

Without hesitation, the figure raised one gauntleted arm—fzzzt!—a compact blaster extended from the armor's joint and spat bright bolts of plasma. The first drone exploded in a shower of sparks. Another three fell just as quickly, blasted clean out of the air.

The remaining drones adjusted, opening fire in return. Purple plasma streaks lit up the chamber, but the merc twisted into a smooth roll, narrowly avoiding the barrage. His wrist armor split open with a hiss, launching micro-rockets that chased the drones down and burst into controlled fireballs midair.

"Whoa…" Alzack whistled low, crossing his arms. "That's some serious hardware."

"Guy's a walking arsenal," Bisca agreed, her sharpshooter's eye gleaming with reluctant admiration. "You don't mess with firearms like that unless you know exactly what you're doing."

The merc reached down, another compartment in his armor snapping open. He yanked out a squat metal sphere, thumbed it alive, and tossed it toward a fresh cluster of drones. The grenade detonated mid-spin, shredding the machines with a sharp, concussive blast.

Ben exhaled through his nose, his tone serious. "That's Sixsix. A mutated Sotoraggian. His whole body's been enhanced with these really tiny robots called nanomachines—and that power armor of his? It's decked out head-to-toe with weapons. Blasters, rockets, grenades, even that jetpack. He's basically a one-man arsenal."

"A flying one-man arsenal…" Lucy muttered, her face paling.

"That sounds almost like Erza's magic. Yah know, with her having so many weapons," Happy added, equally nervous.

Ben nodded grimly. "Yeah. And when I was younger, he was one of the nastier baddies I had to deal with. Cold and ruthless."

The second bounty hunter dropped into the ring with a heavy clang, the light glinting off his gleaming carapace and serrated claws. His body looked like a bizarre fusion of crab and machine, each movement jerky but deliberate.

The moment his feet hit the floor, he slammed a drone beneath him with crushing force, sparks exploding in every direction. Without missing a beat, his massive claw snapped shut around another drone mid-flight. With a grunt, he hurled it like a cannonball, smashing two more out of the air.

Two drones zipped toward him in formation, but the crab-thing spun with startling speed. His claw clamped down on one, metal shrieking as it crumpled like paper. The other drone darted in—only to meet a sudden gleaming blade. With one clean swipe, he cleaved it neatly in two, the pieces clattering to the floor in a shower of sparks.

"Man…" Jet muttered. "That guy looks like solid trouble."

"A robot?" Wakaba frowned around his pipe. "Or some kinda metal crab-monster?"

Ben shook his head, his voice carrying a heavy note of recognition. "That's Kraab. He's not a robot…well, notentirely—he's a Piscciss Premann… comes from the same planet as Ripjaws."

Several heads whipped toward Ben at once.

"No way!" Natsu's jaw dropped. "You're saying Ripjaws has cousins that look like that?!"

"He's like a metal version of Lucy's crab spirit!" Happy pointed out.

"That guy and Cancer are nothing alike!" Lucy snapped.

Juvia pressed a hand to her chest, her blue eyes wide. "This 'Kraab' is nothing like Ripjaws. Ripjaws is magnificent. Powerful and fearsome, yes, but not like this one."

Levy tilted her head. "Did something happen to Kraab? He doesn't look… natural. More like… augmented."

"Yeah." Ben nodded grimly. "During one of the wars between the Piscciss and the Pyros—the sun that Heatblast's people live on—Kraab got burnt badly. Lost most of his body. They rebuilt him with cybernetics to keep him alive. Now he's way stronger and way tougher than a normal Piscciss Premann."

Erza crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "So not only a natural predator, but reinforced by technology. A dangerous combination."

Ben sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, he's definitely dangerous. And trust me—he doesn't go down easy."

A platform in the ceiling slid open with a metallic grind, and a massive attack droid dropped heavily onto the floor below, its cannons charging with a rising whine.

Gray leaned forward, recognizing it instantly. "Hey, that's the same type of bot Ben smashed back in the first episode!"

Levy nodded, frowning thoughtfully. "Then this has to be some kind of trial. If these bounty hunters can beat what even a rookie Diamondhead destroyed, they'll prove they can at least meet the benchmark."

But before anyone could speculate further, the third bounty hunter finally moved. Instead of drawing a weapon, he unfolded a sleek hoverboard and launched himself straight into the droid's blinding laser blast.

"Wha—?!" Cana nearly spat out her drink. "Is this guy nuts?!"

Even Erza stiffened, eyes narrowing. "To take a hit like that head-on…"

Then, when the haze cleared—he was still standing. Not a burn, not a scratch.

This surprised many in the guild.

Lucy's jaw dropped. "He… tanked it?!"

"Okay, that's cool!" Natsu complimented, grinning.

With no hesitation, the figure rocketed forward, driving his fist straight through the droid's chest plating. The machine sparked, shuddered, and collapsed as the bounty hunter calmly folded up his board, letting chunks of flaming debris rain down around him like confetti.

The guild sat in stunned silence.

"Not even a singe mark…" Macao muttered, disbelieving.

Ben couldn't help a small, knowing smile as he leaned back in his seat. "Yeah… I know that guy." He waved a hand before they could pester him further. "Don't worry, you'll get the full story soon enough. For now, just call him… Shard."

This piqued the curiosity of many of the wizards. Why Shard?

The room's video monitor came online, and Vilgax's looming form filled the screen—submerged in his recovery tank, tubes pulsing faintly as he spoke.

"Impressive," the warlord rumbled, his voice low and labored, every word crackling with restrained malice. "You are all hired. Your objective… is to retrieve the Omnitrix."

An image of the watch flickered into view, rotating slowly in the light.

"The one who succeeds collects the reward. Do not disappoint me." His crimson eyes gleamed as the screen faded to black.

A moment later, the chamber trembled. FWUMP! FWUMP! FWUMP! Three pods shot from the warship's underside, blazing like comets as they broke atmosphere, streaking toward Earth.

This confused many of the wizards.

"Wait—so they're competing?" Cana leaned forward, brows raised. "Not teaming up?"

Gray frowned. "That sounds… counterproductive. If Vilgax really wants the watch, why not have them all go at it together?"

Levy crossed her arms, thoughtful. "Maybe he doesn't trust them to work as a team. This way, they'll focus on outdoing each other—and whoever succeeds proves they're the strongest."

"Yeah, but that means they'll be fighting each other and Ben," Elfman muttered. "That's chaos waiting to happen."

Macao scratched his chin. "Still… fits the title, doesn't it? Hunted. Ben's about to be prey for three different killers, all gunning for him at once."

The realization made Wendy clutch her hands tightly in her lap, her face paling. "So he's not just fighting one… he's fighting three?"

Juvia turned towards her, offering a gentle, reassuring smile. "Do not worry, Wendy. Even as a child, Ben was strong. I am certain he will conquer this trial as well."

On screen, the Arizona desert stretched beneath the morning sun. A crude but clever training structure stood in the dust—pipes hammered together into a frame, with dangling tires swinging on ropes and soda cans perched on ledges.

Max crossed his arms, surveying his handiwork with pride. "You ready?" he asked his grandson.

"Smart," Erza noted. "A homemade training course. Simple but effective."

"Shows he wants Ben sharpening his skills instead of relying on luck," Gray added with a nod.

"Looks fun!" Wendy chimed, eyes wide.

Inside the structure, Ben smirked and slammed down on the Omnitrix. A flash of green engulfed him, and when the light faded, Diamondhead stood tall, his crystalline form gleaming under the desert sun.

"Oh yeah," Diamondhead declared, his jagged grin flashing.

"Remember to think out there, Ben," Max reminded firmly, pointing a finger. "Don't just try to muscle it. Might isn't always right."

Elfman's arms shot into the air. "I disagree! Might is the essence of being a man!"

"Yeah!" Natsu added with a grin, his fists bursting into flame. "Going all out is the most fun way to fight!"

Cana rolled her eyes. "Of course you two would say that."

Diamondhead's grin only widened. "I know, but it's always fun!" he shot back, shifting his hand into a sharp crystalline stump.

"See?" Natsu laughed, pointing at the screen. "Ben gets it!"

Elfman pumped his fist in agreement. "He understands true strength!"

Erza vehemently disagreed. "Wrong. Strength without strategy is recklessness!"

Makarov nodded sternly. "Brains and brawn must work together. To rely on one and ignore the other is folly."

Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "I swear, it's like half the guild lives for chaos and the other half for lectures."

"Welcome to Fairy Tail," Cana teased, raising her glass.

Max yanked a lever, and six soda cans shot into the air like startled birds.

Diamondhead spun in place, crystalline fingers flicking forward. Thwip-thwip-thwip! Six razor-sharp crystals flew in rapid succession, piercing each can mid-flight and sending them crashing to the dirt.

Without missing a beat, Max lowered new target boards behind him. Diamondhead whirled, firing again—each shard striking dead center.

But he didn't stop there. His jagged fingers twitched with restless excitement as he fired wildly: cans behind his back, a cactus in front, even somersaulting into the air to nail pull-up targets set far across the desert.

Landing with a grin, Diamondhead morphed his crystalline spikes back into a hand and blew theatrically on his "hot" finger as if it were a gun.

The guild gave a mixed reaction.

"Not bad, kid!" Cana admitted. "Nice trick shots."

"Yeah, those hits were clean," Gray agreed reluctantly.

Natsu grinned wide. "That was awesome! The spin, the flip, the BOOM! He's on fire!"

"Cool moves," Wendy added softly, smiling.

But not everyone was impressed.

"Somersaults and flashy spins?" Erza's arms crossed tightly. "Unnecessary. And foolish. They waste energy."

Bisca shook her head. "And shooting from behind his back? That only reduces his accuracy."

Carla flicked her tail. "Showboating rarely ends well."

Gwen lay back on a lounge chair, sunglasses perched on her face as she spread sunscreen on her arms. She barely glanced at her cousin's theatrics.

"Show-off…" she huffed, unimpressed.

Several wizards nodded in agreement.

"She's not wrong," Lucy said flatly.

"Exactly what I was thinking," Levy muttered, pushing up her glasses.

"Still awesome," Natsu countered, arms folded with a grin.

Max's voice cut through Ben's cocky grin. "Focus, Ben. Think!" he reminded sternly.

"Don't worry, Grandpa." Diamondhead dismissed.

"Tch. Disrespectful," Erza muttered, unimpressed.

"Kid's getting too full of himself," Gajeel added with a scowl.

Lucy shook her head. "He really shouldn't brush his grandpa off like that."

More cans came flying at him. Diamondhead bobbed and weaved with ease, spinning to shoot them behind his back. His grin widened—until he didn't notice the tire swinging toward him.

WHAM!

The rubber smacked square into his crystalline face, sending him stumbling backward. Startled, Diamondhead flailed, and his hands reflexively unleashed a barrage of crystal shards in every direction.

Max ducked behind the rig as the deadly projectiles embedded themselves into the wood and sand. Gwen screamed, throwing her arms over her head as her lounge chair splintered, sunscreen bottle exploding under the crossfire.

The guild winced hard.

"Oooh, right in the face," Natsu groaned, clutching his own cheek.

"Serves him right," Bisca said with a dry laugh. "Show-off got beaned by a tire."

But the humor died quickly as the reality sank in.

"Those shards nearly hit Max and Gwen," Lucy said sharply, her eyes wide. "He could've hurt his own family!"

Wendy gasped, hands covering her mouth. "Th-that was too close!"

"Damn brat," Gajeel growled.

Erza frowned, her voice cutting through the chatter. "This is why one must remain focused. Even in training, carelessness can lead to disaster." Her eyes narrowed at the frozen screen of Diamondhead sprawled in the dirt. "Confidence without caution endangers everyone."

Gwen pushed herself out from under a nearby table, glaring furiously as she crawled forward. A fat droplet of sunscreen from the ruptured bottle plopped directly onto her head, streaking down into her hair.

"Urrgh!" she groaned, clenching her fists. Her face was twisted in equal parts disgust and rage.

"Oops. My bad," Diamondhead said, eyes wide.

"My bad?!" Lucy snapped, slamming her hands on the table. "He nearly killed them!"

"Idiot," Gray muttered, shaking his head. "He doesn't even realize how dangerous that was."

Erza's gaze hardened like steel. "A lackadaisical attitude in the face of failure is unacceptable. He put his family at risk—this is not a game."

Even Mirajane frowned, her usual smile gone. "He really doesn't see the danger, does he?"

Ben rubbed the back of his neck, shoulders slumping. "Yeah… I know. I was wrong back then. I kinda had this… 'no harm, no foul' attitude at the time." He sighed heavily. "Honestly? I can still fall into that mindset sometimes."

Gajeel smirked darkly. "Heh. No harm, no foul? Try saying that to the people ducking your crystal bullets."

Carla arched a brow, unimpressed. "That is a dangerous mindset for someone wielding power like yours."

Ben exhaled. "Trust me, I know. I've had to learn that lesson on several occasions."

On screen, the Rust Bucket rumbled down a small road, the desert stretching endlessly around it. Inside, the tension was thick.

"You rockhead, you almost turned me into Swiss cheese!" Gwen snapped, arms crossed as she glared at her cousin.

Ben, back in his human form, slumped in his seat and turned away with a huff. "I said I was sorry. What else do you want?"

"You could sound like you mean it for starters," Lucy murmured.

From the driver's seat, Max's tone was firm, no-nonsense. "What we want is for you to take that thing on your wrist more seriously, Ben. It's not a toy. You've got to think when you use it."

There were many nods and murmurs of agreement.

Makarov stroked his beard. "Wis words. Power without discipline is a recipe for disaster."

But a few voices piped up in Ben's defense.

"Hey, cut the kid some slack," Cana said. "He's proven he knows how to handle himself before."

Gray shrugged. "Yeah, he screwed up with Diamondhead, but it's not like he hasn't pulled through in fights before."

Lucy frowned. "That doesn't excuse what just happened, though. He almost hurt his own family."

Ben didn't look the least bit fazed by the lecture. He leaned back in his seat, folding his arms with a cocky grin. "I know, but come oooon! You guys have seen me in action. I'm the baddest Ben in town! I've kicked so much alien butt, my feet hurt!"

With that, he plopped his sneakers onto the Rust Bucket's table, grinning smugly.

There were several groans.

"Cocky little brat," Gajeel muttered.

"Baddest Ben in town?" Lucy arched a brow, looking at Ben.

Ben shrugged. "What can I say, I was feeling myself."

Gray smirked. "Dude, at the point, we've only seen you fight aliens twice."

"Yeah," Levy added. "And Gwen had to help you both times."

Natsu snorted with a grin. "Doesn't matter! He still won, didn't he? That counts!"

Wendy frowned slightly. "But… B—uh, Kid Ben really should listen to Max."

Gwen shoved Ben's sneakers off the table with an annoyed grunt. Her glare could have cut through steel.

"Yeah, well, one of these days, you're gonna mess around and get your own butt kicked—and I hope I'm there to see it!" she snapped.

Lucy shook her head, frowning nervously. "No, I promise you're gonna regret saying that, Gwen."

Ben smirked back at Gwen, brushing her comment off without hesitation. "Dream on, geek face!" he fired back, cocky as ever.

"Still mouthing off," Wakaba muttered. "Kid's gonna learn the hard way. Isn't he?"

"Yeah, that's a forgone conclusion." Macao agreed.

The Rust Bucket suddenly sputtered and slowed down on the empty road.

"Uh oh, that doesn't sound good," Max muttered, gripping the wheel tighter as he steered them toward the side of the desert highway.

The bounty hunter, nicknamed Shard, monitored a tracker that led him to Max's target-practice structure. "This is where the Omnitrix was last activated." Shard informed his associates.

The guild immediately stirred.

"Wait! They can track the Omnitrix?!" Lucy gasped.

"That's bad," Gray muttered, eyes narrowing.

Levy looked thoughtful. "So it's not just Vilgax's robots that can track him."

Ben nodded, explaining, "Yeah. Some advanced alien scanners can tune into the Omnitrix's energy. But only when it's active. When I'm human, they can't pick me up at all."

"Meaning…" Erza said slowly, piecing it together, "…you are safe so long as you remain human."

"Yep," Ben confirmed.

The guild exchanged looks—then collectively groaned.

"Yeah, but we all know you're gonna transform again soon," Cana said.

"Guaranteed," Gray agreed, smirking wryly.

Natsu leaned forward eagerly. "And I hope he does! Let the hunters come—it'll be a good fight!"

Carla flicked her tail in annoyance. "He is ten years old, you brute! Recklessness will not help him."

"It just keeps stacking against him," Wendy whispered worriedly.

The camera shifted to a cliff overlooking the desert. Two more figures lurked in the shadows—alien hunters watching Shard's movements from afar.

Sixsix adjusted his stance, his jetpack hissing faintly as he spoke in a harsh, guttural alien language.

Kraab's metal claws clicked together as he chuckled. "You can say that again. A rock pile like this is better off space dust!"

The guild tilted their heads.

"Huh? What did he say?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

"Sounded like gibberish to me," Gray muttered.

Ben spoke up. "Used to not understand him either. But, with the Omnitrix's universal translator, I can understand him nowadays. Basically, Sixsix said, 'This backwater hole sucks as—.'" He paused, glancing down at Wendy. "Uh…it sucks. Yeah."

Cana snorted. "Ha! At least he's honest."

Shard moved carefully into Max's old training structure, his tracker's light pulsing faster. It beeped at the sight of a soda can embedded with a jagged crystal shard.

Just as he reached for it, Sixsix's extendible grabber arm shot down from above, snatching the can first. The armored hunter inspected it briefly—but Shard growled and seized the appendage, yanking it clean off in one motion.

Sixsix's anger flared. He dropped to the ground and unfurled six more mechanical limbs, each one bristling with weapons. Then, disturbingly, a small fleshy arm sprouted from his shoulder, twitching with unnatural movement.

Shard responded by resting his hand on the grip of his gun, unflinching.

Sixsix hissed another guttural phrase in his alien tongue, his weapons whirring to life.

"What'd he say?" Gajeel asked.

Ben shrugged. "Sorry, I can't say it around young ears." He motioned to Wendy sitting next to him.

Gajeel chuckled. "That bad, huh?"

Kraab only laughed, his claws clacking together in delight. "Whoa! Big talk from a 'gearhead'!"

Shard leaned forward. "Get in my way again, and I'll teach you how to say 'dismantled.'"

Sixsix backed down, sheathing his appendages, fold out wrist rockets and extra arm. He then cursed him in his alien language, before flying away.

Several wiards murmured in unease.

"Those guys are about to tear each other apart," Gray muttered.

"Three bounty hunters, and none of them trust each other?" Cana smirked. "This'll get messy fast."

"They're too proud," Erza observed. "Mercenaries like this rarely share a prize willingly."

"Good," Gajeel growled. "Let 'em fight each other instead of ganging up on the kid."

Wendy fidgeted nervously. "But… what if they do decide to work together?"

The standoff ended as Shard slowly let go of his gun, turning away with deliberate calm. He walked off.

Nearby, Kraab crouched low before suddenly leaping into the air. His four mechanical legs spun rapidly, whirring until he became a living drill. With a screech of metal, he plunged straight into the ground, dirt and rock flying in his wake as he tunneled below the surface.

The guild chuckled.

"Hey, that's just like Virgo!" Cana said with a grin.

"Yeah, except Virgo's way cuter." Lucy corrected.

Shard's foot caught a hidden cord. With a snap, a series of target boards sprang up from the desert floor, remnants of Max's training course.

Without hesitation, Shard spun on his heel and raised his gun. BOOM! A single shot erupted, unleashing a concussive blast that engulfed the structure in a fiery explosion. Tires, boards, and cans scattered in every direction as smoke and flame roared skyward.

Shard rode off silently on his hoverboard, leaving only the remains of the structure behind.

The guild fell into stunned silence before murmurs spread.

"Whoa…" Gray muttered, eyes widening. "One shot?!"

Lucy swallowed. "The whole thing… just gone…"

"That kind of firepower is dangerous," Alzack said firmly, his eyes narrowing. "If Ben faces that weapon unprepared, the consequences could be fatal."

"Yeah," Bisca agreed grimly. "Kid's in way over his head if he thinks this is just another slime fight."

Wendy wrung her hands nervously. "H-he's only ten… how is he supposed to fight people like that?"

Makarov's expression darkened. "A child wielding such power will attract enemies of this caliber."

The scene transitioned to show Max had parked the Rust Bucket in front of a ghost town.

"Huh, looks like nobody's home," Ben remarked, peering out the window at the empty streets.

"Not for a while," Gwen corrected matter-of-factly. "My IntelliMap program says this is Slaterville. Incorporated in 1857 after the discovery of silver. Went bust in the late '50s when the mine ran out."

Ben groaned, rolling his eyes. "Why does everything out of your mouth sound like a book report?"

Gwen shot him a withering scowl.

"Hey!" Lucy exclaimed. "What's wrong with learning something useful?"

"Yeah!" Levy agreed. "Knowledge is power. He should be thankful Gwen actually knows things!"

Carla sniffed. "Exactly. He mocks her, yet without her, he'd likely be lost."

Ben lifted his hands sheepishly. "Look, back then, I just wasn't interested in learning stuff I didn't care about. If it wasn't aliens, video games, or comics, I tuned it out."

Cana chuckled. "So basically, you were a normal ten-year-old."

Max pulled his head out from under the Rust Bucket's hood. "Aha! I think I found the problem," he held up a dripping rubber tube. A small crystal shard pierced straight through it, fuel dripping steadily onto the dirt. "Leaky fuel line."

Ben winced at the sight. "Uh… 'lucky shot'?" he said innocently, offering a sheepish grin.

Bisca snorted, smirking. "More like unlucky shot."

Max set the tube aside. "I should be able to patch it up," he assured calmly.

"Sorry, Grandpa. Let me help!" Ben said quickly, enthusiasm lighting up his face. He twisted the Omnitrix dial, flipping through silhouettes. "Maybe Four Arms. No, wait—Upgrade!"

Max's hand shot up. "I think you've done enough, Ben. I'll handle this."

Ben froze, stunned. His hand dropped slowly from the Omnitrix. "Okay…" he muttered, forcing a grin. "Guess I'll just check this place out!" With that, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and wandered away from the RV.

"He looked kinda hurt," Wendy whispered, frowning.

"Of course he did," Juvia agreed. "Ben just wanted to make up for his mistake."

"But Max isn't wrong," Erza countered firmly. "The boy relies too much on that device. He must learn restraint—and responsibility."

Levy nodded. "Yeah… if he uses the Omnitrix for everything, even fixing cars, he'll never learn to do things the normal way."

Max and Gwen watched as Ben marched into the town with a big grin on his face.

The old man hesitated before looking at his granddaughter. "Maybe you should, um…" He trailed off, clearly struggling to find a polite way to phrase it.

Gwen didn't miss a beat. "—Make sure he doesn't somehow blow everything up?"

Max gave her a quick nod, relieved she'd said it for him.

"I'm on it," Gwen said with a wink, before jogging after her cousin.

The guild chuckled at the exchange.

"Wow," Gray muttered, smirking. "They really don't trust him at all."

"Can you blame them?" Lucy asked. "After the Diamondhead stunt earlier, I'd keep an eye on him too."

"Exactly," Erza agreed, arms folded. "His recklessness proves their caution is warranted."

"But that's harsh…" Wendy said softly. "Ben does mean well."

Juvia clasped her hands together. "Juvia agrees. When it matters most, he comes through for them. They should trust in that."

Cana snorted into her mug. "Maybe. But better safe than sorry with a ten-year-old carrying an uber-powerful watch."

Levy giggled. "Fair point. You never know if he'll save the day—or blow it up."

Ben spoke up. "Honestly? They were right to keep a close eye on me. I goofed off a lot back then… way more than I do now."

"Glad to hear you've grown up some," Carla muttered, flicking her tail.

"Some," Gajeel echoed with a grin.

Ben sighed. "Okay, okay, fair."

Ben strolled into an abandoned warehouse. Dust swirled in the sunlight filtering through broken windows.

"Oh, talk about old school," Ben said, eyes wide as he picked up an old wrench. "Look at all this junk!"

Outside, Gwen's voice echoed through the empty street. "BEN? BEEEN?"

Ben walked to the doorway and peeked out, spotting his cousin passing by the warehouse. A mischievous grin spread across his face. His hand drifted toward the Omnitrix, the dial clicking as he primed it.

The guild hall instantly stirred.

"Oh no…" Wendy gasped. "Not now!"

"He's about to transform again," Erza said, frowning. "He'll alert the hunters."

"Yeah, but he doesn't know that," Gray pointed out, arms crossed.

Cana shrugged. "He's ten. Of course he's gonna goof off when nobody's watching."

Lucy bit her lip. "But every time he messes around, it just puts him in more danger…"

The view shifted to the afternoon desert sky. Sixsix's visor flashed as his gauntlet chimed, a green blip appearing on the tracker mounted to his hand. The alien bounty hunter tilted his head, studying the signal with precision.

Without hesitation, he ignited his jetpack and blasted off, streaking toward the source.

Lucy pressed her hands together nervously. "Oh no… they're coming straight for him."

"Three mercenaries against a ten-year-old…" Gray muttered, his frown deepening. "This isn't going to be fair."

Cana drained the rest of her drink with a groan. "He better have picked the right alien. Otherwise, he's toast."

"Yeah," Gajeel agreed, cracking his knuckles. "He's gonna need something tough. Diamondhead. Four Arms. Maybe even Wildmutt."

Natsu grinned, fists igniting. "Doesn't matter what alien it is! Let the mercs come—Ben'll pound 'em into the ground!"

Erza shot him a sharp look. "You underestimate them. These are not common foes, Natsu. They are professionals."

Gwen stood at the warehouse entrance, her eyes narrowing as she peered into the darkened interior. The once bright space now seemed cloaked in shadow, eerie silence pressing down around her.

"CALLING ALL DWEEBS!" she shouted, her voice echoing against the rafters.

No response.

She stepped inside cautiously, arms folded, but her pace slowed as an uneasy feeling crept up her spine. Passing under a broken beam, a slithering shadow detached itself from the darkness. It slid along the floor and walls until it reached her.

Gwen shivered violently, her skin crawling.

Suddenly, the ghostly form of Ghostfreak materialized in front of her, his body twisting unnaturally as his single eye gleamed.

"What's the matter, Gwen?" the Ectonurite asked. "You look like you've seen a Ghost—Freak!" He burst into a cackle.

Cana rolled her eyes. "Really? A bad pun and a jump scare? Typical little brother move."

Lucy groaned. "He's wasting energy trying to scare Gwen instead of preparing for what's coming!"

Juvia mildly glared at the blonde. "Young Ben doesn't know he's being hunted. Do not hold that against him."

Gray smirked. "Still, classic Ben. Messing around at the worst possible time."

Natsu, however, leaned forward, grinning. "Nah, Ghostfreak's awesome! He can go invisible, intangible—hunters won't even touch him!"

Wendy fidgeted nervously. "I-I hope so… those bounty hunters looked so strong…"

Erza's expression stayed hard. "If Vilgax himself would hire them, then we must assume they are prepared for any opponent, even an Ectonurite."

Levy tapped her pen thoughtfully. "Right… guilds like Fairy Tail handle all sorts of specialized jobs. If Light Guilds can field experts for almost anything, then intergalactic hunters probably can too."

Gwen stood her ground, glaring up at the floating alien. "Get over yourself, doofus. You don't scare me," she scoffed, arms crossed.

Suddenly the ground beneath them began to tremble.

Ghostfreak darted forward, grabbing Gwen and pulling her back just as the ground exploded upward.

KRA-KOOM!

Kraab erupted from the earth in a whirl of stone and sand, his spinning drill-legs slowing as he planted himself firmly on the floor. He lumbered forward menacingly.

Gwen's eyes widened, and she instinctively stepped behind Ghostfreak. "But he does!" she gasped.

"It's the crab-guy!" Happy shouted.

"At least it's one-on-one for now," Gray pointed out, arms crossed. "Could be worse."

"Yeah," Cana agreed. "Better than all three at once."

"Don't get comfortable," Erza warned sharply. "One-on-one with a seasoned bounty hunter is still deadly."

"Still, Ghostfreak's powers might give him the edge here," Levy added thoughtfully.

"Maybe," Carla said cautiously. "But if this Kraab is as dangerous as he looks, I doubt he came unprepared for tricks."

Natsu grinned eagerly. "Doesn't matter—Ben's got this! Ghost powers for the win!"

Lucy bit her lip nervously. "I really hope you're right…"

Ghostfreak floated higher. "No problem, I'll handle this guy." He drifted closer to Kraab. "Oh, man… You put the 'ug' in 'ugly'!"

"Hand over the Omnitrix, and I promise you won't suffer—much." Kraab's claws snapped together with a clang.

"Dream on, 'claw-boy'," Ghostfreak scoffed, twisting in midair. Then, disturbingly, his single eye slid across the cracks of his body, moving until it peeked out from his back so he could look at Gwen behind him. "What's he talking about?"

"Ewww," Lucy groaned, covering her eyes. "I did NOT need to see that!"

"Creepy," Gray muttered, grimacing.

Wendy squeaked. "Th-that's… scary…"

Ben laid a hand on her back, comforting her. Wonder if I should shield her eyes when his TRUE form gets revealed later on?

Gajeel snorted. "Heh. I kinda like it. Creepy's a good vibe for a ghost."

Levy's expression brightened. "Wait—this is the first time Ben's actually heard the word Omnitrix. Up until now, he didn't know what the watch was even called."

"Good catch," Erza agreed.

Gwen snapped back at him, frustration bubbling over. "Duh? Why else would some alien track you down? It wants the watch, Einstein!"

Freed sighed, sharing Gwen's frustrations. "Agreed. Even if Ben hasn't heard the name of the Omnitrix yet, he should've been able to determine that the mercenary is referring to the watch. Why else would alien bounty hunters come after him?"

"Uh… who's Einstein?" Natsu asked, scratching his head.

Ben chuckled lightly. "He was a really smart scientist back on my world."

"Sounds boring," Natsu muttered.

"Sounds brilliant," Levy corrected immediately.

"You don't have to get snotty about it, Ms. Know-It-All." Ghostfreak's eye slide back to Kraab. "Sorry, 'crabby.' The watch and I are kind of—attached."

"Not for long," the bounty hunter growled, snapping the air with a clamp.

Ghostfreak's voice then dropped into a chilling register, heavy with malice. "You have no idea who you're messing with."

Many wizards shivered at once.

"That… didn't sound like Ben," Lucy said quietly, hugging her arms.

"Creepy," Gray muttered, scowling. "He sounded like he was ready to kill."

Wendy whimpered softly. "I-I don't like that voice… it's too dark…"

Even Juvia frowned, wringing her hands. "Something feels wrong. Juvia doesn't think that was just Ben talking…"

Cana set her mug down with a frown. "Yeah, that wasn't a kid's bravado. That was something else."

Mirajane's expression turned thoughtful, her hand resting against her chin. "It could be the alien itself. Ghostfreak's nature might be bleeding into Ben's personality. I know how that feels—my Demon Take-Overs sometimes push their emotions onto me if I'm not careful."

Ben subtly glanced in Mira's direction, impressed. Wow…Mira hit the nail on the head. Though I bet even she'll be surprised when Zs'Skayr escapes.

Erza's eyes narrowed. "A dangerous possibility. If the form influences his mind, then he risks losing control entirely."

"I was just about to say the same thing," Kraab challenged, undeterred by Ghostfreak's threat.

"Oh, yeah? Do you know this one? Now you see me, now you don't!" Ghostfreak's body flickered before vanishing completely, leaving only Gwen visible in the warehouse.

Gwen's eyes widened as she realized she was the only target Kraab could see. She laughed nervously, backing away before turning to bolt.

"Ben, you idiot!" Lucy cried, standing up. "You just left Gwen exposed! He could've grabbed her as a hostage!"

"Exactly!" Erza's voice was sharp as a blade. "That was reckless and stupid!"

Ben raised his hands, grimacing. "Yeah, I know, I know. Believe me, I realized afterward how bad that could've gone." He exhaled, shoulders sagging. "Honestly, the only reason it didn't happen is because he was so focused on the Omnitrix."

As Ben said, Kraab was not interested in Gwen and began scanning the warehouse for the Ectonurite. His eyes glowed faintly as he turned slowly in place. Ghostfreak crept silently behind him, hands raised to strike.

Suddenly, Kraab's head rotated a full one-eighty, locking directly onto Ghostfreak's position.

"You're as arrogant as you are dim-witted!" the crab-like alien barked.

This surprised many in the guild.

"He can see him?!" Wendy exclaimed, eyes wide.

"Impossible," Levy whispered, pen hovering over her notes. "Ghostfreak was invisible…"

Ben explained. "Kraab switched to thermal vision. Even though Ghostfreak can go invisible to the naked eye, he still gives off some kind of a heat signature—something that hunters like Kraab can pick up on."

Erza frowned. "Meaning his intangibility and invisibility are not foolproof. Against the right equipment, those powers are useless."

Gajeel smirked. "Guess being sneaky ain't an option then."

Kraab's claw whirred before a nozzle extended. With a loud fwoosh, he blasted a stream of thick orange liquid straight at Ghostfreak.

The ghostly alien recoiled as the goo splattered across his body, forcing his form back into visibility.

"Blech! What happened?!" Ghostfreak demanded, struggling against the sticky substance.

"Your protoplasm is now solidified—making it easier to do this!" With his regular arm, Kraab punched Ghostfreak into the wall with a deafening SMASH.

The guild erupted in shock.

"No way!" Natsu yelled incredulously.

Even Gajeel whistled. "Didn't think I'd see the day someone decked a ghost."

"That's… impossible," Levy muttered.

"Smart bastard," Gray growled. "Took away his biggest advantage in one shot."

"Which means…" Erza concluded grimly, "…Ghostfreak is at a severe disadvantage now."

"Guess that crab's tougher than we thought," Cana admitted.

Ghostfreak shook his head as the goo clung stubbornly to his ectoplasmic body. Kraab advanced, his sharp drill-legs stabbing forward with terrifying precision.

Ghostfreak barely twisted out of the way, the legs slamming into the ground where he'd just been. Desperate, the Ectonurite lashed out and tried to tackle Kraab head-on.

But Kraab swung his massive claw with contemptuous ease, swatting Ghostfreak aside like an insect. The alien boy sailed across the warehouse and crashed into the far wall, wood splintering around him.

Many in the guild winced.

"Ouch," Wendy whispered, covering her mouth.

"That crab's playing for keeps," Gray muttered.

Gwen dashed across the warehouse, crouching down to help her cousin. Ghostfreak groaned as she helped pull him up. "Oh, man… who is this guy?" he asked, his voice edged with genuine frustration.

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Remember when I said I wanted to be there when you finally got your butt kicked? I take it waaaay back!"

Lucy folded her arms, muttering to herself, "Told you, Gwen."

Gray frowned. "Yeah, she's eating those words now."

Kraab's heavy footsteps clanked closer, echoing in the warehouse.