Michael and Jen lay entwined beneath the covers, their bodies pressed closely together, seeking comfort in each other's warmth. The dim glow of the moon filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. Yet, despite the peaceful atmosphere, Michael's mind was anything but calm. The encounter with Eon still haunted him, the weight of a future they couldn't allow looming over him like a storm cloud.

He glanced down at Jen, who had buried her face against his chest, her breath warm against his skin. Her arms clung to him tightly, as though afraid he might disappear if she let go. He could feel the subtle tremors in her body, the quiet sniffles she tried to suppress.

His expression softened. Gently, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there as he whispered, "It's okay, Jen. We won't let that future happen. I promise."

But she didn't answer.

After a moment, Jen finally lifted her head, her emerald eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I don't know, Michael... If I lose you, if I lose our children—if I lose everything like she did—" Her voice cracked, and the dam finally broke. "I don't know what I'd do."

Michael's heart clenched at her words. Without hesitation, he cupped her face, wiping away the tears that spilled down her cheeks before pressing soft kisses where they had fallen.

"That will never happen," he murmured against her skin, his voice steady, unwavering. He pulled her closer, holding her as if he could shield her from the very fate she feared. "No matter what comes, we'll fight for our future—together."

Jen said nothing, only burying herself deeper into his embrace, holding onto him as though he were her lifeline.

Ten years into the future

The city of Bellwood had transformed into a beacon of progress. Towering skyscrapers bathed in neon light stretched high into the night sky, their glow reflecting off the sleek surfaces of airborne highways where flying cars zipped through the air.

At the heart of the city stood a massive tower, an imposing structure that bore the unmistakable emblem of the Ultimatrix. It loomed over the metropolis like a guardian, a silent testament to the legacy of the one who built it.

Inside the tower, in the dimly lit kitchen, a small figure moved with careful steps. A ten-year-old girl with golden-blonde hair and striking gold-flecked blue eyes tiptoed toward the fridge, her movements filled with mischievous determination. Maria Tennyson Kaiser grinned as she pulled the door open, her gaze locking onto her prize—a tub of ice cream.

Just as her fingers wrapped around it, a ghostly, ice-cold grip suddenly clasped her wrist. A shiver ran down her spine as she spun around, gasping.

A figure loomed over her, barely illuminated by the faint glow of the refrigerator light. The unmistakable silhouette of a Necrofriggian hovered before her, its ethereal wings stretching like shadows against the walls.

But unlike most of her kind, this one bore red eyes and crimson markings instead of the usual icy blue.

(She is about 15 in Bigchill years and for anyone wondering and yes, it's recolored by me)

Maria's shock melted into a playful pout. "Big sister Lilly!" she whined, clutching the ice cream tub protectively against her chest.

Lilly Tennyson Kaiser—Michael and Jen's firstborn—folded her arms, her red eyes narrowing as she regarded her younger sister with a knowing look.

"What do you think you're doing, Maria?" she asked, her voice carrying the unimpressed tone of an older sibling catching their little sister red-handed.

Maria gulped. She was so close... but now, she had to find a way out of this.

Maria shifted nervously, clutching the ice cream tub tighter. "Well... Mom and Dad are out, so..."

Before she could finish, Lilly snatched the tub right out of her hands.

"You should've told me sooner!" Lilly huffed, popping the lid open as she floated up into the air. "I was actually studying for that dumb test for nothing."

Maria's jaw dropped. "Hey! Give it back, you big meanie!" She jumped, trying to grab it, but Lilly simply flapped her wings and hovered higher, smirking down at her little sister.

"Why should I, shortie?" Lilly teased, effortlessly keeping the ice cream just out of reach. Unlike Maria, who had inherited their mother's height, Lilly had taken after their father's height.

Maria stomped her foot in frustration. "That's not fair!"

"I'll tell Mom you're using your powers!" Maria threatened, crossing her arms.

Lilly smirked before effortlessly phasing through the kitchen wall. "I'Ll tElL mOm," she mocked in a sing-song voice, her red eyes gleaming with mischief.

Maria huffed, grumbling under her breath before stomping her foot on the floor again. "Ugh! So unfair!"

Maria flopped onto her bed, groaning into her pillow. "She's so annoying!" Her muffled voice was filled with frustration as she rolled from side to side.

She hugged the pillow tightly, still fuming. "Maybe I should spook her..." she mused, a mischievous grin forming. But then, a realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.

"Wait—SHE'S A NECROFRIGGIAN!" she shouted, sitting up abruptly before slamming her pillow against the bed.

A familiar, teasing voice echoed through the room. "Sorry about that, shortie."

Maria's head snapped toward the source, her eyes widening as Lilly phased effortlessly through the wall, holding an empty ice cream tub.

"You!" Maria gasped, grabbing the nearest thing—her beloved bunny plush, Chappy—and hurling it at her sister.

Lilly smirked and phased through it effortlessly, the toy instantly freezing midair before clattering onto the floor, encased in ice.

"No! Chappy!" Maria cried, rushing to her frozen plush, cradling it in her hands as her lip quivered.

Lilly blinked, then shrugged. "Oops."

Before Maria could retaliate, Lilly had already phased through the wall, disappearing with a mischievous laugh.

Maria scowled. "So unfair!"

Maria stormed out of her room, determination in her every step as she made a beeline for Lilly's room. But before she could reach it, a ghostly hand phased through the floor, grabbing her ankle.

"Sorry, sunshine," Lilly teased, yanking Maria's foot just enough to send her tumbling forward.

With a loud thud, Maria hit the ground, groaning as she clenched her fists. "LILLY!" she growled, slamming her hand against the floor in frustration.

Lilly chuckled, floating just out of reach. "What? You were coming to me anyway," she smirked, stretching lazily in mid-air.

Maria was about to lunge at her when the soft chime of the elevator echoed through the tower, followed by the hiss of the doors opening.

Both sisters froze.

A woman stepped out, her presence commanding instant attention. Her long, dark brown hair cascaded down her back, contrasting against the pristine white robe she wore. Her emerald-green eyes scanned the room, sharp and observant, a soft smile on her lips—but it was a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Jen Tennyson Kaiser had arrived.

"What exactly are you two up to?" she asked, her voice gentle yet carrying an unmistakable weight of authority.

"Mama!/Mom!" Lilly and Maria yelped in unison, whipping their heads toward her.

Lilly, ever the quick thinker, spoke first. "We were—uh, we were just playing, right, shortie?" She shot a pleading glance at Maria.

Maria, still rubbing her sore elbow, nodded furiously. "Yes! Just playing!"

Jen's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. If anything, it only made both girls more nervous.

"Good," she said simply, taking a step forward. "Then, Lilly, you might want to explain why I got a call from your school today."

Lilly's smug expression vanished instantly.

"Uhh..." she stammered, beginning to sweat. "I—I don't know, maybe they called the wrong parent? There's, uh, lots of Kaisers in the school—"

Jen reached into her bag and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.

"Also," she continued, unfolding it with deliberate slowness, "you might want to explain why you were hiding this from me."

Lilly's stomach dropped.

There it was—her latest report card, held up for all to see. And there, in bold red ink, was a massive, undeniable F.

Maria sucked in a breath, her wide eyes darting between her sister and their mother. This was bad.

"You want to tell me why your teacher had to be the one to inform me about this instead of you?" Jen's tone was still calm, but there was a sharp edge to it now.

Lilly opened her mouth, scrambling for an excuse, any excuse. "Mama, I'm telling you, that bitch has it out for me—"

Jen's eyes darkened, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"Lilly," she said sharply, her voice slicing through the air like a blade.

Lilly instantly realized her mistake, but it was too late.

"I did not raise you to speak about your teachers like that," Jen said, her usual warmth replaced with a quiet, simmering disappointment.

"But I—"

"No." Jen cut her off. Her gaze shifted to Maria, who stiffened under the weight of her mother's stare.

"Maria, go to your room. I need to have a word with your sister."

Maria nodded furiously, not daring to question it. She turned on her heel and bolted down the hallway, disappearing into her room.

Lilly clenched her fists, frustration bubbling inside her. "Mama—" she tried again, but Jen raised a hand, signaling for her to stop as she lowered herself into a chair.

"Lilly," her voice was softer now, but no less firm, "you can't keep doing this. This is the fifth time this month I've been called away from work because of you."

Lilly crossed her arms, her goldish-blue eyes flashing with defiance. "Well, maybe I wouldn't have to go to some dumb school if you just gave me my own Omnitrix! Then I'd be out there kicking serious alien butt instead of wasting time with useless tests!"

Jen let out a slow sigh, her expression unreadable—but the disappointment in her eyes spoke volumes.

"Lilly... you're still young," she said gently.

"You and Papa were ten when you got your watches!" Lilly shot back, determination etched into every word.

That earned her a sharp look.

"Lilly Tennyson Kaiser." Jen's tone turned icy, and all of Lilly's confidence drained away in an instant. She looked down, her bravado crumbling under her mother's piercing gaze.

Jen exhaled deeply before standing up. "I'm not angry, just disappointed."

Somehow, that felt worse.

"Go to your room," she said, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Lilly's jaw tightened, her mind racing for a comeback, a protest, something—but one glance at her mother's expression told her it was useless.

"Now."

Lilly bit the inside of her cheek, then gave a curt nod before turning on her heel and disappearing into her room, shutting the door a little harder than necessary.

Lilly clenched her fists as she walked down the hallway to her room, her mother's words replaying in her head. 'I'm not angry, just disappointed.' Those words stung worse than any scolding.

She didn't want to sit in some boring classroom learning useless facts when she could be out there, fighting like her parents once did. 'They were heroes when they were my age, 'she thought bitterly. 'Why can't I be?'

Still, she wasn't about to argue when her mom used that tone. With a deep sigh, she pushed open the door to her room and shut it behind her, flopping onto her bed with a frustrated groan.

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Jen let out a tired breath, rubbing her temples.

"What am I going to do with that girl?" she muttered under her breath.

A low chuckle rumbled from her shoulder before a dark, inky form slithered out, revealing the familiar sharp-toothed grin of Venom. His large, white eyes squinted slightly as he tilted his head.

"Aren't you being a little too harsh on her?" Venom asked, his deep voice both teasing and inquisitive. His tendrils stretched across the room, pulling a glass from the cabinet and filling it with water before passing it to Jen.

She took a sip, sighing as she leaned back in her chair.

"I know," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "She's talented, maybe even gifted... but I don't want my kids growing up in battle. I don't want them to wake up every day wondering if it's their last."

Venom hummed, his eyes flicking toward the hallway where Lilly and Maria had retreated. "You and Michael turned out fine. You were kicking ass at ten."

Jen gave him a look, and Venom raised his hands—or rather, his tendrils—in mock surrender.

"I get it, I get it. You want them to have a normal childhood," he said with a toothy grin. "But let's be honest—how normal can they really be? Your blood runs in their veins, Jen. They were born for greatness."

Jen let out a slow breath, looking toward the window as the city skyline glowed under the neon lights of Bellwood.

"Greatness comes with a price."

Venom followed her gaze for a moment before shifting the subject.

"So, where's Michael anyway?" he asked.

Jen stood up, stretching as she made her way to the bedroom she shared with her husband.

"Anur Transyl," she answered, pulling off her robe and tossing it onto the bed. "He said he had to deal with something important. He'll be home late tonight."

Venom smirked. "Another vampire problem?"

Jen rolled her eyes. "Something like that."

As she sat down, she found herself thinking about Michael—her husband, her partner, and the one person who truly understood the weight on her shoulders. She knew he'd understand what she was feeling now.

Because at the end of the day, they weren't just heroes anymore. They were parents.

Meanwhile, on Anur Transyl, a lone figure moved swiftly across the jagged, mountainous terrain. A white-furred Loboan with an Ultimatrix symbol emblazoned on his belt leaped from peak to peak, his claws digging into the rock for grip. His glowing yellow eyes flicked behind him, where a group of monstrous pursuers gave chase.

Thep Khufans slithered over the craggy ground, their bandaged forms eerily silent. Transylians stomped forward, their metallic limbs sparking with energy. Ectonurites hovered in the air, their ghostly bodies shifting in and out of visibility. They weren't just chasing him—they were hunting him.

"Wie zum Teufel ist Transyl überhaupt aus seiner Zelle herausgekommen?!" (How the hell did Transyl even get out of his cell?!) Michael growled, baring his sharp fangs as he landed on a plateau. His ears twitched, listening for any sudden movement.

"We didn't account for some of the citizens still being under mind control," a mechanical voice responded through his earpiece—the unmistakable tone of Shockwave.

Michael let out an annoyed huff. "Yeah, yeah, guess I should've expected that. Let's just wrap this up quick—I've got a family to get back to."

Without another word, his Ultimatrix symbol flashed red, engulfing his body in a blinding light. In seconds, his Loboan form shifted, elongating and hardening into something new. When the light faded, he stood taller, his body now encased in dark metal, his fingers sparking with electric energy.

Now a Transylian, Frankenstrike. Michael clenched his fists as red lightning arced between them. His glowing red eyes locked onto his approaching foes.

"Alright, you freakshows—let's finish this."

Thunder roared overhead as he charged forward, lightning crackling through the night.

The Thep Khufan were slithering up the jagged cliffs with unnatural agility, their wrappings shifting like living shadows. The Ectonurites hovered above, their ghastly wails echoing across the desolate landscape, while the Transylians marched forward, their clawed hands sparking with electricity.

"We need to neutralize them without causing casualties," Shadow's voice reminded him through the Ultimatrix interface.

Michael smirked, flexing his clawed fingers as arcs of lightning danced between them.

"Dann mache ich das besser schnell." (Then I better make this quick)

In a flash, he surged forward, his movements a blur of lightning. He swung his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of electricity outward, instantly short-circuiting the attacking Transylians. They twitched violently before collapsing, unconscious but unharmed.

The Thep Khufan reacted next, slithering toward him with blinding speed, but Michael was faster. He lunged, grabbing one by the arm and swinging it into another, their bodies colliding and tumbling down the cliffside. A third tried to ensnare him in its wrappings, but with a sharp jerk, he sent a pulse of energy through its bindings, making it recoil in pain.

Then came the Ectonurites.

The ghostly beings swooped in, their chilling screeches reverberating in his skull. One phased through him, trying to sap his energy, but Michael clenched his teeth and countered with a burst of electromagnetic energy, dispersing it mid-air.

"Michael, behind you!" Shockwave warned.

Michael turned just in time to see a familiar figure standing atop a rocky ledge—Transyl.

The rogue alien smirked, his crimson eyes glowing ominously.

"You should've stayed on Earth, Michael Kaiser," Transyl growled, his voice distorted and menacing. "Now you're trapped in my