At the pound Gwen was depressed. Star was near by as she watched Ben and Kevin. Kevin absorbed a rock and Ben was transformed into Brainstorm.
"Let's settle this, Tennyson." said Kevin
Ben laugh. "My dear Kevin, your nigh gladiatorial bellicosity has once again outpaced your ratiocinative processes." said Ben
"I don't know what you just said butt... Cannon ball!" Kevin said as he jumped into the water sending wave of water at Ben. Ben opened his head and fired a lighting blast at the water evaporating it.
"Oh, attempting to short me out, hmm? Before you ever cause such an involuntary cognitive discharge, my intense electromagnetic stormers would vaporize you. To wit." Ben then blasted the water sending Kevin flying out. Ben walked up to the others. "As a coder and at the risk of gilding the lily, I submit..." Then Ben turned back to normal. "That I wasn't even thinking hard."
"Okay, you got me that time. Live and Learn, right, Gwen?"
Gwen was silent.
"What's wrong with Gwen?" asked Star as she came up to Ben and Kevin
"She misses grandpa." said Ben
"She was fine in the car." said Kevin
"It's my fault. I thought bringing her here would cheer her up."
"Why is that?" asked Star
"This is grandpa Max's secret fishing rock. He used to come out here all the time, when he wasn't traveling." said Gwen
"Away on Plumber business." said Kevin
"We didn't know back then. When I was 5, he brought me here, and I caught a teeny, tiny, fish. He wanted me to release it, but I put up a big fuss. It was my fish, you know? Grandpa finally convinced me to come back when it was bigger. Guess I never had an easy time letting go." Gwen said as she thru a rock into the pound.
Ben looked over and noticed something. "Hey, look over there." said Ben.
The rest looked over to were Ben is looking and saw someone going to a tree. "For a secret place, this gets a lot of traffic." said Star
"Have any of you see a flower like that?" asked Gwen.
The Kevin shouted. "Hey, you in the cloak!"
The person in the clock looked and saw them. They started to run over to the tree. The cloaked figure laugh and went behind the tree. There was a purple flash. When Ben, Star, Gwen and Kevin got there the cloaked figure was gone.
"That woman just disappeared." said Ben
"Teleporter maybe?" said Kevin
"What was she doing?" asked Gwen
Star looked and saw something carved into the tree. ""Max plus Verdona"? Ben, Gwen do either of you know a Verdona?" asked Star
"I don't think so." said Ben
Gwen picked up the flower she left. "Let's find her and ask. I should be able to track her with this." Gwen tried but failed to track her. "I really thought I had that move down."
"Huh. That's not the first flower she left here." said Ben noticing there were a bunch of flowers by the tree.
"So what now? We can't just wait for her to come back." said Kevin
Later at night Ben, Star, Gwen and Kevin were at the pound in Kevin's car waiting for the mystery cloaked woman.
"This is crazy. She didn't show yesterday, and she's not gonna show tonight." said Kevin
"Humor me." said Kevin. He sighed. Ben just flicked the lock switch. Ben stopped as he saw Kevin had an annoyed look on his face. Soon Ben flicked it again. "Do I look like I'm kidding, Tennyson?"
Gwen sighed. "You guys!" Gwen said to stop them from doing something. "I have to go to the bathroom."
"Lots of trees around."
"Real debonair, Kevin." said Ben
Gwen got out of the car. "There was a gas station a couple miles back."
"I'll drive you." said Kevin
"No. Keep watch. I'll be right back."
The three stayed in the car. Ben then started to flick the switch. Then Kevin grabbed Ben by the shirt and Star was about to break it up. But Ben noticed something. "Look." The three looked and noticed the mystery cloaked woman. They got out of the car and confronted her. "How do you know Max Tennyson?"
"Yeah!" said Star
Kevin lifted the hood to revile her face. "Talk."
"What rotten kids. Go away." the woman said as she blasted them. Then she started to fly off.
Ben activated the omnitrix. He selected and alien and hit it. "Jetray!" Ben flew after her. Star pulled out her wand as Kevin ran to his car and absorber the metal. Ben caught up to her.
"Ooh, a chase. I haven't had a good chase in ages." the woman said as she looked back and saw Ben. Ben flew up and over shot her and got in front of her. The woman dodge by going to the right. Ben then fired a laser from his tail. Shen dodged the attack then flew into Kevin.
Kevin grabbed the woman. "Answers, lady. We're done playing." Kevin said
"Not until I put my toys away, sweetie." said the woman as she send some purple energy, grabbing Kevin and flung him over into some rocks. Star fired a blast at the woman on her side hitting her. She got up. "Sneak attack. This is getting fun." the mystery woman fired some blasts at Star. But Star dodge them and ran towards her as she fired magical spells. The woman dodge them. Star was about to attack the woman, but she was caught by the woman's energy and was throne on to Kevin. Ben flew up to the woman.
"Who are you?" asked Ben. Then the woman's eyes glowed. Then Ben tried to fire but a purple ball formed around his tail. Ben fired his eye lasers and it exploded. Ben then fell onto Kevin and Star. Ben was transformed back to normal.
"The woman then flew up to them. "This little world would be a lot more tolerable without troublemaking imps like you getting in my way." said the woman as her hands glowed purple
"Yeah? Show us what you got." said Kevin
The woman fired a blast at them but Ben, Star and Kevin were saved by a energy shield. The woman was shocked about this. As Ben and Star started to get up.
"Can't I leave you guys alone for two minutes?" asked Gwen
The woman looked over to who was talking and saw Gwen with her hand glowing purple. "Do that again." the woman said.
"No problem." Gwen said as she fired several blast in quick succession.
The woman blocked all the attack with just a wave of her hand. "Incredible." the woman said surprised.
"Just who do you think you are littering my grandpa's cove with your flowers?"
"Flowers that she makes out of energy." said Kevin
Gwen was shocked to hear this. "No way."
Then woman smiled and walked up to Gwen. "Did you say Max was your grandfather?" she asked. Then Gwen nod. The woman then hugged Gwen and said. "Kiddo!"
"Um, he was my grandpa, too." said Ben
The woman looked over to Ben. "Really? Oh, can you project energy like your sister?"
"Cousin. And no."
"Shame." Then woman grabbed Gwen's hand. "Gwendoyln... I'm Verdona. We'll talk again soon." Verdona started to glow and then she disappeared.
"Gwen, I think we just met our grandmother."
Later at Gwen's house Gwen and her dad were in her room.
"Dad, we need to talk." said Gwen
"In your room? I'm honored. When was the last time you let me in here?" asked Gwen's dad
Gwen shut the door. "I've been keeping a big secret from you." said Gwen then she opened a drawer reviling magic books and magic items. "Magic powers."
"So you're what - some kind of wizard in training?" Gwen's dad chuckled. "Come on, Gwen. There's no such thing."
"But there's more. You ready?" Then Gwen's hand started glow purple and she send a beam that went around the room and shut the drawer.
Gwen's dad sat on Gwen's bed. "That's a big secret."
"I met grandma Verdona today."
"I was afraid this day might come, but you never showed any signs of having powers. Your mother and I thought we were in the clear."
"Magic runs in the family? I knew it!"
"Honey, there really is no such thing as magic. Your grandma's an alien."
Gwen was shocked when she heard it and sat on the bed. "Okay, I'm overloading with questions, but first... Guys, I know you're out there." Gwen said knowing that Ben, Star, and Kevin were on the roof of her house. "Come on in."
Then Ben, Star and Kevin entered Gwen's room thru the window.
"Hey, Uncle Frank." said Ben
"Hello, sir. I'm Star Butterfly." said Star
"Uh, how do you do, sir? Kevin Levin." said Kevin
"Who's this - your boyfriend?" asked Frank
"Absolutely not!"
"Daddy, no!" said Gwen with a blush. "So, here's the thing. My grandma, who I never knew, wants something from me, but I don't know what."
"Let's ask her. Your friends aren't the only ones who sneak around eavesdropping on people. Isn't that right, mom?"
There was a glow of purple then Verdona appeared. "You always could tell when I was watching, baby. I had hoped it meant you had the spark... but no such luck." said Verdona. Her hand glowed and they were teleported to down stairs. When they appeared Gwen's mom was startled and dropped a glass on the ground as it shattered.
"Verdona, what a surprise." said Gwen's mom not caring that she was here.
Verdona eyes started to glow and then then glass floated up and was put back together and repaired. She put the glass on the table.
"Whoa." said Gwen surprised what she did.
Verdona removed her hood. "Tea, dear, and something sweet for the kids."
Later as they sit in the living room.
"Been a while, mom." said Frank as he poured some tea.
"I suppose... in human time." said Verdona as she took the tea. "Sweetie, your grandmother is an Anodyte and so are you."
"What's an Anodyte?" asked Gwen
"Anodytes are a race of free spirits with powers that humans can barely comprehend." As Verdona was talking Ben and Star each took a cookie. "Now, we don't often mess in the affairs of just plain folks, but I fell deeply in love with Max Tennyson."
"And ditched him?" asked Kevin as Ben and Star started to eat there cookies. Then Ben hit him with his elbow.
"No. It's just that after the kids were grown and out of the house, I need to reconnect with my Anodyte heritage, and Max was busy saving the universe with the Plumbers."
"Dad thought you didn't know about that." said Frank
"Ben, I thought you said you parents didn't know about the Plumbers or aliens." Star whispered to Ben
"I guess they did but never told me." Ben whispered back to Star
"Yes, he didn't want me to worry. Sweet man." said Verdona as she took a sip of here tea. "We had many good years, but we grew apart. Even a fellow loaded with as much mana as Max is still a physical being."
"What's mana?" asked Ben
"Yeah, what is it?" asked Star
Verdona's pointed her finger at Ben. Then it glowed and what looked like tape came over Ben's and Star's mouth. Both Ben and Star tried to pull the thing off there mouth, but it wouldn't come off. Star even pulled out her wand and tried to blast it of her mouth but there wasn't a scratch on it.
"Your grandpa's fate was big news. It even reached my planet, so I came back here to remember the good times. Who knew there was budding Anodyte among you. Gwendolyn, you'll be amazed at what you can do. Let me teach you to master life energy - that's what mana is." said Verdona then her eyes glowed and the tape was gone from Ben's and Star's mouth.
"Oh." said both Ben and Star
"I do want to learn. Where do we start?" asked Gwen with excitement
"On Anodyne. Stop living this humdrum life. Come home with me and join the real party." said Verdona
"Leave?" Gwen said with surprised "This is all so - wow. This is too huge. Mom? Dad? What do I do?"
"I don't know. It's an opportunity I never had." said Frank
"We always hoped that you would take after my side of the family, but we want you to be happy." said Gwen's mom
"We won't stand in your way, Gwen."
"You won't?" asked Gwen
"Then it's settled. Come on, sweetie." said Verdona. But Gwen didn't answered but she started to ran up the stairs. Then Kevin, Ben and Star fallowed Gwen. "Hmm, such a serious girl." But Gwen's mom just starred at Verdona with an angry look.
Gwen found herself on the roof. Soon Kevin came up on the roof and sat next to Gwen.
"You would go up on the roof. Some of us can't fly, you know." said Kevin
"Dude, be supportive." said Ben as he got on the roof and then sat on the other side of Gwen
"Yeah, you could be a little more nicer." said Star as she got on the roof and sat next to Ben
"This is not how I expected my day to go." said Gwen
"Still, it's pretty cool to find out about your powers, right? Grandma could teach you to do all that stuff she can do. "
"I'd be gone for a long time, I guess."
"Maybe forever." said Kevin
"I've always felt like an outsider, like I'm in the wrong place. But then I think, "oh that's high school for you.""
"We'll miss you if you go." said Ben
"Really?"
"Sure, but we've been recruiting more and more Plumber kids, so we'd still have a pretty powerful team."
"Oh." Gwen said in a depressed tone.
Star then elbowed Ben. "When I was trying to decide whether to use my powers again, you told me it was my choice. That's all I'm saying. Anyway, maybe you owe it to yourself to try turning into a cosmic Manamaster." said Ben
"Maybe."
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"What are your thoughts Star?"
"I think you should do what you want to do. Your parents want to you to be happy. They gave you a chose after all. That's more then my parents did for me." said Star
"What do you mean, Star?" asked Ben
"You see I never had a chose about coming her to Earth. If I could have chose back then I might have not come here. But if I knew everything I know now. I would have chosen to come to earth."
"Star!" Ben said in shock as he hugged Star and she hugged him back.
"Kevin, what do you think?" Gwen asked looking at Kevin
"Why would you even think about it? I want you around. The whole thing's lame." said Kevin with a little anger in his voice. Gwen then went up to Kevin and kissed him on the cheek. Gwen started to head off the roof. As Kevin kept repeating saying. "Lame! Lame! Lame!"
Down in the living room there was music playing with a disco ball going around with colorful lights on.
"Shag carpet, eh? Ah, they were Max's favorite. Why do the most backward creatures make the best music?" asked Verdona as she danced around the room.
"Don't you ever complain about my Aunt Joyce again." whispered Gwen's mom to Frank
"Cheer up, junior. You didn't have the spark. There was nothing I could teach you."
"You taught me a lot, mom. You and dad both." said Frank
"You know what I mean. I even came back when the grandkids were born, just in case your baby had the spark. But nothing doing. Carl's boy - same thing."
"Mom, if you can give Gwen an opportunity that we can't, we won't hold her back."
Then Gwen started to head down the stairs. "Thanks so much for the offer, but I'll just settle for being a gifted human. I want to stay here with my friends." said Gwen
Verdona stoped dancing and looked at Gwen. Then she snapped her fingers then the music was gone as well as the disco ball and the lights as well. "But you don't even know what you really are. Kiddo, we belong on Anodyne among our kind. Let me show you." said Verdona as her body begon to glow and as it was glowing Ben, Star and Kevin headed back down the stairs. As the glow diapered a purple being with light purple hear floated there. As a skin suit laid on the floor. "See? Just a disguise. This is what it means to be an Anodyte."
"So that's why she looks so good." said Gwen's mom
"Mature Anodytes are pure energy. We draw life from the mana around us."
"You got to admit - that's kind of cool." said Ben
"You're just too young to make up your own mind. Let me help you. I'll destroy your body and free the Anodyte inside. It'll be fun." as Verdiona said that the four got a little shocked. "And you'll be able to think much more clearly."
"Destroy?"
"Her body?" said Kevin
"Destroy my body. You're not serious." said Gwen
"How do you know whether you like something if you don't try it?" said Verdona
"Verdona, she said no." said Ben as Ben, Star and Kevin got in front of Gwen.
"You three want to go again? Okay. But just this once." Verdona said as she blasted them. Making a whole in the wall as Ben, Star and Kevin were send flying out of the house thru the wall. Gwen ran after them. Verona chuckled as she floated out of the wall. "Now, this is what I call a party." Then Verdona fired a blast at them. It made a creator with Gwen who made a shield to protect them form the blast. Gwen walked out of the creator with steps she made. Then shot two energy orbs at Verdona. But she nocked them away with her hair.
Ben, Star and Kevin got out of the creator. "Gwen stay back." said Kevin
"Hit the road, Kevin." said Gwen as she fire a blast at Verdona.
"Huh?" Kevin said confused. Then Gwen nodded to the ground. "Oh." he said as he relived what Gwen was talking about. He touch the ground and absorbed the rock. And started to thru rock from the walk way at Verdona.
Star got out her wand as Ben activated the omnitrix and hit it. "Spidermonkey!" Gwen made a shield to block Verdona from grabbing her. Verdona used her hair to break thru the shield. But Ben shot a web at Gwen and pulled her away. "Check it out. Hands-free."
Then Star started to fire magic blasts at Verdona. "Rainbow pixey punch." said Star as she blasted Verdona as well she was getting hit by rocks that were being thrown by Kevin. After a while Verdona grabbed both Kevin and Star with her hair.
"Why, grandma! What big trouble you have." said Ben as he started to use his web like a sling shot to shot some of Gwen's energy orbs at Verdona. She was sent in to the ground. Ben grabbed both Gwen and Star and started to swing in the tree as both Star and Gwen fired some blasts at Verdona. Ben landed in front of Verdona and Gwen started to kick her.
"She's weakening." said Gwen
Then Verdona flew up into the air and started to dive at Gwen. But Star jumped up and punched her sending her to the ground. Then Ben shot web as he wrapped Verdona up. "Spidermonkey's got it covered."
Kevin started run up to Verdona carrying a huge stone over his head and was about hit Verdona, but stopped. "Dude, I don't know if I could pound your grandma." said Kevin
"That's okay. We're teaching her to mind her mana."
Verdona started to chuckled. "Good one, Ben."
"Was not." said Kevin
Verdona got out of the webs and headed up into the air. Then Verdona started to drain energy from the plaints.
"She's drawing mana from millions of living things around her." said Gwen
"The grass."
"I'm really enjoying this." said Verdona. Then she used her hair and hit the rock down that Kevin is holding pushing him in to the ground. "I should get out more often." Then she wrapped both Ben and Star in the web she was trapped in. Both Ben and Star tried to break the web. "No more tantrums, sweetie. It will all be over in a second." Gwen fired anther but Verdona used her hair to throw it back at Gwen. Then Gwen bounced it back at the garage. Verdona grabbed Gwen with her hair. "One day you'll learn to make a new body... any kind you like."
"Listen to me!" said Gwen. Verdona was shocked and but her down. "I am not going. I love having powers, but I like my life better. I like fighting monsters and saving the world."
"Anodytes help tons of people - scads. You could use your new powers however you want... after you've master them in... 60 or 70 years"
"It's more than that. I like swimming and school and breaking boards with my hands and running and feeling tired afterwards and... kissing boys. I mean, all those good time you had with grandpa..."
"Oh, I was just a kid having my fun. Trust me - grown-up parties are so much better."
"Grandma Verdona, admit -You miss it and you miss Max. That's what brought you here."
"Max should have been like us. He had a spark all his own. An adventurer, troublemaker - he was a lot like your little friend, um... Curtis."
"Kevin." said Kevin correcting Verdona
"Energy beings talking here."
""No. You're an energy being. I'm a girl." said Gwen
"Maybe I've forgotten what that's like. Still, what I'm offering you is better. Think of how many more powers you'll have." Verdona said as she went around Gwen as they went up into the air.
"I like my powers, but I love my friends and my family. I'm not going with you, grandma."
"No. I don't believe you are." Verdona and Gwen landed on the ground. "Well, it's been a wild little shindig." Verdona snapped her fingers and all the damage was repaired.
"How did you do that?"
"You could come with me and find out."
"Yeah... or not."
"Had to try." Verdona picked up Ben, Star and Kevin up with her hair. "Goodbye, all. And, Ben, way to stick up for your cousin. You're all right."
"You, too, grandma." said Ben
"Don't forget to have some fun, kiddo. Grandma's going to drop in now and again to see how you're doing."
"Oh... joy." said Gwen's mom sarcastically
Verdona flew up into the air then left Earth.
Gwen then noticed a flower on the ground where Verdona was. Gwen picked it up. "Come on. I know where this goes."
They went to the pound and put the flower by the tree with Max's and Verdona's names carved into it.