Rook was humming gently as he was once again hanging with Gwen in her private library, smiling as he watched her walking back and forth through bookshelves, some books floating after her while turning pages magically. It was honestly a sight that he was used to, but somehow was amazed by it because it was caused by Gwen herself. He was always fascinated with magic, particular when Gwen was showing him the ropes about it. She was indeed amazing.

"Hey Rook?"

The Revonnahgander made a noise of affirmation as he showed that she had his attention, quirking a brow up as Gwen was facing him.

"Can you help me find the Scrolls of Kamzar? I think there might be something there,"

"Of course Gwendolyn," Closing the book that he was holding, he stood and was soon making his way to the alphabetical bookshelves where he could find the said scrolls sticking out somewhere.

Once he was far enough, he then pursed his lips with many thoughts.

It's been a week now, almost a month or so ever since they have found out about being bondmates. And despite that Rook wanted to already get on with the Revonagander traditional courting process, he knew he could not with his said bonded one was still mated. As much as he wanted to assert dominance, he knew that...it was very primitive, at least to Earth standards. Besides, he liked the Earth traditions of courting. Simple and sweet, he thought. But as he thought, he had to wait patiently for Gwen to realize this on their own.

He had watched Ben and Charmcaster these past few weeks, and honestly, he knew that unconsciously they were accepting each other. After all, Charmcaster was already teaching Ben the arts of magic (despite Gwen's protests that she should be the one teaching Ben, but Ben says that Gwen still needs to do her research about the bond stuff). Rook wished that he and Gwen's relationship would be that easy.

Although there was one problem between Ben and Charmcaster.

Kai Green.

Rook wondered if he should help Ben on breaking up with Miss Green and try to get him to realize his now growing feelings for Charmcaster. It would be difficult. Ben 10 was a stubborn human.

"Rook? You're staring off into space again,"

"I apologize," The Revonnahgander looked over to the red haired woman and smiled weakly, "I was just thinking of some things,"

"Like Ben and Charmcaster?" Gwen hummed, taking the scrolls off his hands and then opening it.

"Do you think that perhaps there is no more point on separating them?"

Gwen paused her reading and looked up at Rook for a moment with a frown. Now, she wasn't dumb. Somehow Rook was way too relaxed during this whole debacle and it kinda worried her.

"Rook," She placated, sighing deeply, "It's necessary to break the bonds now while we still can,"

"And why is that?" Rook questioned back smoothly.

"Rook, you know why,"

"Do I?"

Gwen was waving her hands as all the scrolls closed up and were placed down, as she soon was face to face with Rook.

"Look. You may think this is all...right to you, but it's not. I belong with Kevin as Ben, strangely, belongs with Kai," Gwen then was averting her eyes, "Whatever you're thinking of right now. Just stop. It's obvious that this is all wrong. Like, do you really want fate to force on who you love?"

Rook looked perplexed for a moment.

"I do not think that it is bad to be mated with you, Gwendolyn," He ignored how she spluttered and continued, "You are a very intelligent human female that has the nurturing care for her family and those close to you. You have been strong since you were very young, training in fighting, even if is for self defense over petty hooligans of Earth but somehow it worked in your favour as you and your cousin saved the world many times over. All this in the span of childhood. Gwendolyn, you are also someone that believes in righteousness, and see the good in people; even if they do not deserve it,"

Gwen looked at Rook surprised as he stepped forward, and gasped as he gently grabbed her hand. Naturally, the runes on their skins/furs glowed soft and bright.

"I will be honest. I...I do not want our bonds to be broken,"

There it was. Out in the open like that.

And Rook should've expected that Gwen was going to react. Badly.

Rook's head was turned to the side, his cheek stinging a bit where the female Tennyson smacked him. His amber colored eyes looked to the now pale looking Gwen, as she was stepping back and shaking her head.

"I...I got to go,"

And soon she was out of the library, leaving Rook with his thoughts.

"So, basically, it's like this?"

Ben was twisting his hands together as if cupping them together to hold something, and his eyes widened as he saw the small ball of energy, then murmured 'cool' under his breath.

"Mmm, it's getting better. Honestly, you just have to make it more stable," Charmcaster chided, moving to his side to tap at the magical ball, making it disappear in sparks.

"Woah, pretty cool,"

It has been a...rollercoaster ride of a month since the bonding. And to be perfectly honest, Ben and Charmcaster seemed to be getting the hang of it. More so than they expected.

For Charmcaster, it was more of the lines of seeing Hale. Thinking back of the perfect little boy that was her future family, she knew that she wanted that to be a reality that she could look forward too. Even if it was with Ben Tennyson. Who...she didn't hate anymore. Well, never hated to begin with. That was all Gwen. Ben was just sometimes in the way that she automatically thought that she had to hate him too. Hey, she was ten years old, she wasn't exactly making smart decisions at the time.

Ben, on the other hand, was...well. Conflicted. On the one hand, he should remember that he has a girlfriend. But on the other hand? Hope...was different than he thought. She wasn't pictured anymore in his mind of the crazy psycho witch that wanted to off his cousin. She was now just some sassy magical girl that didn't want to off his cousin, but still hated her. Eh, he could take what he could get. Ben was pretty sure she was changing for the better. They were getting to know each other and...bonding.

At that word, Ben winced. 'Man, Gwen is going to be so mad,'

"Now, let's move on to the next lesson,"

"Can't we take a break?" Ben asked as he then was creating another mana orb in hand and letting it bounce up and down in his palm, "I think I'm doing pretty well since you've been teaching me. Why not reward myself with some chili cheese fries and a smoothie?"

"Because I told you that eating junk food like that isn't good for your body," Charmcaster hummed, raising a brow as her eyes looked over at him, "Besides, I want you to be in the best condition in case of another attack,"

Ben rolled his eyes, "You know I still have the Omnitrix on and stuff. I'm not always going to use my Anodite powers,"

"And that's what makes you predictable and vulnerable," The witch pointed out with a sigh, "Don't you think you should be a jack of all trades in your profession as a hero? Like, have a backup plan in case your watch goes haywire,"

As much as Ben hated to hear it, she had a point. There are times that once in a while that the watch times out in random moments. The brunet would've thought that perhaps that he got a hang of using the Omnitrix but...it was like how Rook said. He needed to be having backup plans in case his watch is useless in a fight. And, it sort of lead that Ben was being taught how to use 'magic' (Ben argued once that he wasn't magic, he was part Anodite, but didn't realize that he had as much power as Gwen because of the watch. But that didn't matter to Charmcaster) and sometimes training hand to hand with Rook.

"Just an hour break. And we could go back to your drill stuff," Ben teased as he was then letting the mana ball disappear into thin air, "What'cha say?"

Charmcaster sighed, arms folded, "...I suppose if I wear you out too much, you'd be useless in battle,"

"Hey,"

Soon the two were about to walk to Ben's motorcycle, but suddenly were falling onto the floor at the feel and sound of an explosion close by.

"Geez, what is it with all these sudden explosions here and there!?" Ben was getting up, then helped Charmcaster up and looked towards the source of the explosion.

Charmcaster felt hopeful. If it was a chance of someone from the future...

"Let us investigate!"

Ben yelped as he soon was grabbed by the wrist and was dragged by the white haired witch, and soon the two were standing near some sort of crater.

"What...did this?" Charmcaster mumbled as she was peering in, but then was pulled back by Ben as something jumped out...arming out familiar giant robotic like hands.

"...Rex?" Ben breathed out as he blinked in surprise.

The being looked up, dark brown eyes widened and was darting around for a moment, before focusing back on Ben and the girl hiding behind him.

"...Woah, Ben?" The goggle headed boy was running his fingers through his jet black hair, and laughed, "Dios mios, don't tell me it's another dimension hopping thing!"

"Seems like it," Ben tilted his head, "What brings you here? Is Providence in trouble?"

Rex's face then looked somber, "Yeah...there was a HUGE EVO attack a-and me and my best friend Noah-Noah!" The Hispanic male then looked back at the crater and jumped inside of it.

"Who is this?" Charmcaster whispered harshly, narrowing her eyes as Rex's giant metal fists turned back to normal hands and was approaching another body that was lying in the crater.

"Rex Salazar. A dude I've met in another dimension. He's cool," Ben smiled but then looked back at Rex helping a blond haired male stand up, "His friend however, I don't know,"

Rex was helping the young man lean against him, helping him limp towards Ben and Charmcaster. They seem to be whispering something to each other, but Ben couldn't tell what it was about.

"This is my buddy Noah Nixon. A-and I think he needs medical help," Rex murmured as he glanced up at Ben then blinked as he just now noticed the female, "Er, and who's she?"

"Oh, this is Charmcaster," Ben introduced, "She's..."

Ah, he didn't know what to label her.

They're friends, sure but...

Rex seemed to read Ben's face and nodded, "Cool cool, but can we get to like, some sort of hospital maybe?"

"Nice seeing you again, Rex," Gwen hummed as she was healing up Noah with her powers.

"Good to see you too, Red~" The Hispanic winked flirtatiously, and he did notice the scary looking alien dude in the blue armour glaring at him. This caused him to lean over Ben and murmur, "So what happened to the Kevin guy? Like, did Gwen get a new boo while I was gone?"

Ben blinked but then sighed, "It's...a long story,"

"Think we've got time," Rex said, leaning back against the wall and observed the white haired girl that was standing next to Ben, "Along with the story of the witch girl you've mentioned was a bad guy now standing here as if you guys were chummy. In exchange, I'll tell you why I'm here with Noah."

It was an hour in that Ben had brought Rex and his friend into Gwen's hideout and explained what happened, which led to Gwen looking over the blond haired male while Rook stood close by. Charmcaster, of course, expressed her wariness of the two strangers from another world even when Ben vouched they were good.

And so, this caused Ben to tell the tale of...well, him being bonded with Charmcaster thanks to magic, and that Gwen was bonded to Rook (Ben had told who Rook was and Rex was pretty impressed). Kevin didn't take the news too well, but was assured when Charmcaster's uncle said there is a way to break the bonds and so Gwen took it upon her to find that way and get things back to normal.

At this point, Charmcaster walked towards Gwen to see how she was doing. Leaving Rex and Ben alone to talk.

"So...you're still with your girlfriend Kai, even if you're bonded to another chick?" Rex summed up as Ben was groaning in frustration, "That's pretty messed up dude. Did you tell Kai?"

"Er, tibits of it? I mean I think she already fully knows but...I dunno," Ben shrugged helplessly.

That was another thing. Kai and him weren't...exactly talking. Since the training with Charmcaster, Ben has made little effort on planning things with the najavo. Which Gwen noticed and was scolding him for doing this again, just like with Julie and Ester.

That was a low blow, and Ben didn't talk to Gwen for a week.

"Maybe it's a sign?" Rex was shrugging as well, "I dunno, it's why I don't do dating,"

"Didn't you say that you tried things with...what was her name? Betty?"

"Beverly. And we're just friends," Rex hummed then perked up when Gwen seemed to be done with Noah.

"He should be okay," The red head explained, "He only just had some soreness in his body, and had almost one fracture on his left leg but other than that, he's good to go,"

"Wow, kinda better than the Providence medical team," Noah chirped as he was testing his left leg.

"So, an explanation of why you're in our realm now?" Ben asked as he looked back to Rex, "As you've promised,"

"Right. So anyways, back in our dimension, apparently there was this new bad guy that wanted to kill me. Like, not 'I'mma take your EVOS for my own gain and take over the world' kinda thing but. REALLY wants me dead," Rex was shaking his head, "And Noah came to back me up and before I could do anything else, he...shot at us and we just ended up here?"

"Sounds like how I got to your dimension. Being shot at then end up in your world," Ben hummed, "Is it Alpha again?"

"Doubt it. Big brother says that it's impossible for Alpha to come back," Rex explained, "And I'd know if it was Alpha,"

"We thought it might be some rogue agent from under Black Knight before," Noah piped up, "Because they were wearing a Providence uniform,"

Suddenly, the door was sliding open and there was a red shot aimed at Charmcaster, as it hit her and her body slammed into the wall and onto the ground.

"Hope!" Ben cried out but then yelped as he was shot at as well, falling onto the ground.

Gwen and Rook were preparing themselves for a fight, but soon screamed out as they were shot as well, knocking them out.

"Dude! What the hell!?" Rex was pulling off his giant robotic fists out and Noah was pulling out his gun.

"Relax. It doesn't kill them," Kevin was stepping out from the elevator and into the hideout, but looked back at Argit with a glare, "Although he could've given a warning,"

"I knew you were going to take the shot so I did it for you," The porcupine like alien sneered.

"What the hell is going on?! Why did you shoot them?!" Noah shouted at them, as Rex was checking on Ben and seeing if they were telling the truth.

"It's a cure. A way to break their bonds from each other," Kevin explained as Argit was handing him what seemed to be some sort of high tech bazooka, "It's a pretty rare alien tech that is meant to separate some sort of bonding agent chemically into a being. Sort of like removing a disease if not wanted on the body. In this case, the magic doo-hicky Charmcaster caused on them. Found it in a black market place and it was really pricey. But it works."

"What if it killed them huh!? Ever thought of that?" Rex gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes at Kevin. He never really liked the dude ever since he met him.

"It works. I've seen it," Kevin murmured then was rushing to Gwen to check on her, and saw she was waking up, "Gwen, baby, you okay?"

"K-Kevin?" Gwen was blinking her eyes then groaned, "W-what happened?"

"I freed you, Gwen. You, Rook, Ben and Charmcaster aren't bonded anymore,"

Gwen stared at Kevin for a moment then eyes widened, "W-wait, what have you done?"

Kevin looked confused at the paled Gwen and frowned, "I did what you wanted. I got you a way to break the bonds between you and Rook and Ben and Charmcaster and I found the solution,"

She was sitting up immediately, Gwen looking to Rook, who was already waking up. She immediately left Kevin's arms and checked up on the Revonnahgander.

"Rook, a-are you alright?"

The black and white furred alien hummed, holding his head, "I am alright," He soon met eyes with Kevin and glared, "What have you done, Levin?"

"What I had to," Kevin glared back.

"Er, guys," Rex called out unsurely, "I-I think you got to see this..."

All three and Argit looked over to Rex, who was holding Ben in his arms as Ben was opening his eyes fully now.

Gwen gasped, Rook looked shocked and Kevin looked like he was about to be sick.

"Woah, that looks cool," Argit said bluntly, causing Kevin to smack him over the head after turning his hand into concrete.

"Wh-wha? What's going on?" Ben murmured as he was looking around the room...and frowned, "Why is the room looking so weird?"

"Ben..." Gwen approached, looking sort of shaken, but looking like she was trying to calm herself, "Take it easy,"

"Gwen? Why...?" Somehow, as he looked up at Gwen, he could only see...half of her, "Why is my...?"

"Dude..." Rex breathed out, as Noah was gasping at his side, "Dude?"

Noah was shaking his head, as he was helping Charmcaster sit up, and she looked...frazzled.

"W-what is going on? My vision it's..." Charmcaster whimpered as she was touching the left side of her face.

Ben frowned, as he was noticing that his right eye could only see darkness. When he caught sight of Charmcaster, he gasped.

Her left eye...it was nothing but black.

And when he looked around for some sort of reflection...he could see that his right eye was nothing but blackness.

Gwen's voice was low and tense.

"We need Professor Hex. Now."

A/N: HEY EVERYONE, GUESS WHO'S BACK~! -jazz hands- right right! I'm sorry that I haven't updated in SO LONG (isn't that a norm here on basically? Haha). I mean, I've had a lot going on with real life; work, family and friends and pretty much trying to get myself into working on projects...a lot of things. But yeah, anyways here's a new chapter for ya'll! And I'll be going through some of the wonderful (good and bad) reviews that ya'll left me for a long time. Again, sorry for the delay.

BenXGwen Lightning Warrior: lol well it seems in here Kevin did a dumb dumb. Which wasn't exactly off it's norm; but this was huge even for Kevin. In his defense, Gwen is the stability in his life; He just...goes the wrong way about it. And I'm glad you think that, because to me, Ben is still part human and I'd be surprise he doesn't feel anything after he's been through a lot. And Hope does open up, eventually. She's kinda tsundere honestly xD And Rook...oh boy Rook, he's so focused on being smitten with Gwen he's forgetting his competitions xD but glad you're enjoying the story so far!

csgt: Ah my favorite reviewer :D I mean, I don't mean to make Kevin a bad guy (or do I? I feel like bad habits die hard). But...it's logical that one would actually see what he's doing is bad. It IS bad. Just though with good intentions in mind. He's going to lose the love of his life to fate, just as fate had decided he would be an orphan, had bad shit done onto him and well...he doesn't like feeling like it's out of his control. So he takes control. Or at least that's what I think? So it's why sometimes he goes into old habits like this.

Awww we might see more Grandpa Max in the future chapters, especially considering what Kevin done now xD

Hahah right! Great minds DO think alike. And well, dunno what's gonna be in store for Gwen and Rook now. Will their relationship be back to normal or something is wrong? Who knows right? But poor Ben and Charmcaster though. Any thoughts and theories you've got? :3 I'd like to know. Thanks for the review by the way!

lelcar: It's alright to be nitpicking. From my time being away, I realized that I have to take in some negative reviews as well to learn better. Looking back, you are indeed right. But in this case, I chose for Ben to be the one trustful to people than Gwen. I dunno, I guess it's just my thought process of Gwen being the logical one that has to analyse people than Ben. While Ben was more of an instinct like guy. I'll admit, I sort of placed myself on the back burner of continuing this story because of your last review. But I am sure that you've written your piece because you love Ben 10 as much as I do and want some things corrected. And I shall take it into consideration. I'm not gonna be like 'Don't like, don't read then' like many others. You may choose to continue reading if you like and with any other reviews of what you don't like of the story, I shall take it into stride. It's what makes me learn if ever I've made mistakes or blunders. But I also do have some points and changes into the story so it fits. With that said, I am sorry if the story is not up to par with you, and thank you still for the review anyways.

AlienTokusatsuDuelistMangaGeek: Hello hello, and greetings to you. Thanks for reading up and giving the review :D Yes I have been thinking of the Anodite!Ben for a while, and indeed it is not an original idea and has been used quite a lot for many writers and artist. But I just...had to add it. It sort of fits considering who he's dealing with. Plus, it was about time honestly.

Sorcerer Valor: Aw, thanks friend! I appreciate it! And have a nice day too!

TheNatureMan: Sorry I took so long to update. Here's another chapter just for you and your Bencaster needs :D

stormsyaf: I'll admit, not very good at fight scenes at times. But glad that it's okay :D Thanks for the review friend!

Dimas: Glad you're liking the story so far friend. And I'll say sorry in advance, the flows gonna be pretty wonky from here on out xD But hope you'll read onwards still to find out more~

one winged nightmare: Mmm haven't thought of a Saiyan feature. It will be something to consider xD

the nightshadow: Wow, that's...a lot to take in xD But thank you and glad you've enjoyed reading!

Insanity2002: Am I?

FrozenFlames12: Well Ben somewhat has a little bit? As for Charmcaster...that's a secret~

Honorable mentions:

Meazm, Monsterman94, reviewer332805, Cryosfear, G119, hamzaabbasali1, cristhianne3, marianatf99 and 4 Guests.

Anyways! You guys are all awesome and I'm going to try and update as much as I can. Hopefully, I mean I owe you guys after a long months almost a year hiatus. Seriously, it's summer...I think I can do it. Maybe?

Stay tuned guys! Thanks for reading and reviews (good and bad) are appreciated~!