Here's an original Ben 10 story by guestsurpise! Enjoy and no flames please!

Ben was now about to become 18. 18 was the age that every young man dreamed of becoming. He was so excited to spend it with his grandpa Max and his cousin Gwen. It would take his mind off of all that was happening.

Earth was the same, but there had been terrible aliens that were always causing trouble. Who were these aliens? Ben wasn't sure but he knew that they were bad news all over the galaxy. Rumor had it that they were always coming to Earth for something, but no one knew what. But Ben was confused because he didn't even know that much about aliens. As far as he was concerned, he was just a normal kid that lived a normal life and he was getting ready to go to college.

As Ben was preparing himself for his family birthday party, he couldn't help but smile. This was going to be the best day ever. He was all packed up and ready to go to a college on the other side of Bellwood the next morning too! As he was walking, he heard his cell phone go off.

"Hey Gwen," he smiled as he picked up his cell.

"Hey Ben. Ready? We're waiting for you," Gwen said back.

"I'm ready! On my way home! I Gah!" Ben said, now feeling a surge of pain in his side.

"Ben? Everything ok?" Gwen asked.

"Sure Gwen…just a pain in my side," Ben answered. "I can't believe we're going to college tomorrow. We've waited forever for this," he said.

"I know! I can't believe it!" Gwen squeaked happily.

"I'm almost at home," he smiled.

And with that, he walked in the door and felt the warm hugs of his family. He loved it when he felt the warmth and love of his family around him.

"Happy Birthday Ben!" Max grinned, now walking out with a cake.

Ben grinned at the cake, but grimaced again at the pain in his side again! What was wrong with him anyway?

"Ben, you ok?" Max asked.

"Yep, I'm good! Thanks guys." Ben smiled as he sat and they sang happy birthday to him and he enjoyed the wonderful time with his family.

As he got to his presents, he was just about to open one of the boxes when they heard a knock at the door. Curious because they weren't expecting company, Max went to the door and there was a package addressed to Ben.

"Ben, it's for you. Did you order something?" Max asked.

"No." Ben said.

"Are you sure? It's addressed to you," Gwen said, now glancing at the box.

Ben just shrugged and then walked over to the box. It was addressed to him, but he knew he didn't order anything. As he got scissors and opened it, he noticed there was nothing but a note.

"What is this?" he said as he read the note outloud.

Happy Birthday young Ben. Welcome to your new life and a new world. I will be waiting for you. In the meantime, wear this. It will keep you safe until we meet.

Ben's eyes widened at the end of the note and then looked further in the box. It was a pendant. A blue pendant that glowed slightly. Max's eyes narrowed and Gwen looked uncomfortable.

"Ben, I would put that back in the box and leave it there. We don't know who it's from." Max said.

Ben nodded and placed it all back in the box and closed it up. Trying to lighten the mood, he turned to his family.

"How about we cut some cake now?" he grinned. And with that, he began cutting the cake and passing it out. But as he was cutting, he began to feel worse than before. That weird pain again. Ben tried to cover it up, but Max noticed. Trying to be nonchalant, Max turned to Gwen.

"Hey Gwen. Can you go and get us some cups from the kitchen," he asked. Gwen nodded and left out, leaving the two alone.

"Ben…what's wrong? Is it your side?" Max asked in concern.

"Yeah." Ben said. Max looked confused, but then his eyes widened a little, but not very noticeably.

"Ben…has your side been hurting before today? Be honest." Max said.

"No. I've been fine," Ben answered truthfully.

"Ben…is it on your right side and up near your chest?" Max asked, his eyes slowly narrowing.

"Yes. But grandpa what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?!" Ben asked.

"Ben…I want you to remain calm. I'm sure it's nothing. Just take it easy…after all, it's your birthday." Max said, trying not to frighten the teen. Ben grinned, but he could tell his grandpa was concerned about something.

Later that evening…

Ben was walking to his room when he felt an even harder pain hit his side and he almost fell to his knees!

"W-what's happening to me?!" Ben said, feeling terrible. He then began to sweat and he felt his entire body begin to shake. He was about to call out for help when he heard shaking. He turned and saw the box by the door shake and something inside of it was making the box tremble! His eyes widened as the pain stopped the box stopped shaking as well.

Ben felt like there was so much going on to where he could barely breathe. What was really happening to him? Well, perhaps the questions could wait for another day. After all, it was supposed to be a fun and exciting week!

The next day, Ben couldn't move. He felt sick to his stomach and he began to writhe and sweat in bed.

"Grandpa," Ben pleaded weakly. Max ran in the room and his eyes widened at his grandson's condition.

"Are you alright?! Ben stay here while I make some soup!" Max said, running to the kitchen. Gwen ran in too and rubbed his feverish forehead in concern.

"Ben…are you ok?" Gwen asked, now touching his forehead.

"Not really, Gwen. Something's wrong with me and I don't know what. I feel terrible," he whispered.

"Just take it easy Ben. You'll be ok," she whispered, now bending down and gently hugging her cousin. But after a few moments, Ben gasped in pain! His side was now splitting in agony!

"GAAAAAAH!" Ben cried out.

"Grandpa! Grandpa! He's getting worse!" Gwen screamed. Max ran in and saw Ben's skin changing colors and Ben began almost tearing up in pain. They then heard shaking again and turned to the box in the corner. Once they turned, they saw the pendant burst out of the box and fly over to Ben and lay on his side!

"GET OFF HIM!" Max screamed, now trying to pull at the pendant. But it didn't budge! Max and Gwen tried to move it, but it fused itself on Ben's painful side. After a few moments, they saw that the longer the pendant stayed on him, the less his pain was.

"Grandpa what is it?!" Gwen said in horror.

"Gwen, that's an Anodite pendant!" Max said.

"A what?!" she asked.

"An Anodite pendant! They aren't given often, but when they are, it is because someone is getting ready to become…" Max trailed off as both of them gasped in horror.

Ben's skin became dark, dark blue and a blue aura began to glow around him. His eyes became white and his chest became more muscular looking.

"B-Ben?!" Gwen asked.

"He's changing…I thought he would be skipped," Max said in concern.

"What do you mean?!" Gwen asked. "What's happening to him?!"

"Gwen…as you know, your grandmother is an Anodite and you and your other cousin inherited some of her powers," Max explained.

"Yes…" Gwen said, now looking at him intently.

"And after the government has been acting, I told you to keep your powers a secret. Especially due to being an Anodite," Max continued.

Gwen nodded.

"Gwen…you developed much faster than Ben did. That's why we thought it passed through his gene pool and he did not inherit Anodite powers. But…" Max said, now noticing Ben start levitating.

"Grandpa…you don't mean…" Gwen gasped.

"Gwen…Ben is becoming an Anodite." Max said, now watching Ben's muscles start to pulse and small sparks of energy spark from his fingers.

guestsurprise: And the adventure has begun!