The street thrummed with life—hoverboards whooshed past, aliens of every shape strolled shoulder-to-shoulder with humans, and gleaming towers soared overhead. Yet the gang stood frozen, minds racing with questions.
"Yes, please explain why they're here," Future Ben demanded, crossing his arms and glancing sharply at Gwendolyn and Charmcaster.
Fred tilted his head, confusion wrinkling his brow. "Hold up—if this is the future, where's future me?"
Gwendolyn exchanged a sly look with Charmcaster.
"It's Bring Your Dad to School today," they chimed in perfect unison.
Fred's eyes went wide. "Wait—bring my dad to school? Do you mean I'm a father?" His jaw dropped so far he nearly knocked over a passing hover-plate. Then, cheeks flushing with excitement, he added, "Okay… cool. Then who's Mrs. Rodwell?"
The two women simply turned away, ignoring his grin.
Future Ben threw up his hands. "Fine. I'll head back to headquarters." In a blur of motion, he vanished down the boulevard.
Ben frowned after him. "Is it just me, or did I sound like a total jerk?"
"It's not just you," Charmcaster replied dryly.
Gwen's eyes flicked to Charmcaster. "So… you turned good?"
Charmcaster shrugged, deadpan. "Is that so surprising?" She swept a hand from her hood down to the edge of her cloak—and watched it shrink into a stylish short jacket. Her mask melted into a flowing scarf, revealing her full face for the first time.
Fred gawked. "Woah."
Gwendolyn gave him a playful tap on the forehead. "If you stared any harder, your eyeballs'd pop right out, Fred."
Ben cocked an eyebrow. "Hope? Who's that?"
"Take a guess," Charmcaster teased, sidling up to Gwen.
Gwen took a triumphant step forward. "Obviously, future me—Gwendolyn—means Charmcaster."
Fred just blinked, still reeling from the transformation.
Gwen's breath hitched. "Okay, so—why are we here? Did I ever go to college? When did Charmcaster and I become friends? Wait—are we even friends?" She rattled off questions faster than Gwen herself could blink.
Charmcaster chuckled softly, amused by past Gwen's enthusiasm. "Slow down."
Gwendolyn held up a hand. "We didn't drag you through time to recap your life story."
"Yeah—time travel is way more complicated than it looks," Charmcaster added with a nod.
Gwendolyn smiled and flicked her wrist. A pink, shimmering portal blossomed in mid-air. "Come on—let's find a quieter spot."
Gwen's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Wow—look at that!"
Fred squinted at their joined hands, a flicker of recognition on his face. "Isn't that…" He stopped himself, lips twitching.
Charmcaster and Gwendolyn exchanged glances, "Shh." With a mischievous grin, Charmcaster whispered to Fred, "It'll our little secret 'kay."
Together, they stepped into the portal. Entering a Grand Atrium that stretched high above them, its soaring ceiling adorned with a mesmerizing magic constellation sky—a seamless fusion of holographic projection and enchanted illusion. Stars twinkled and planets slowly orbited overhead, casting soft celestial glows that changed with the natural cycles of the universe. Occasionally, a comet streaked across the expanse, leaving a faint shimmer in its wake.
The floor gleamed with pristine, high-gloss white tiles, each plate seemingly infused with subtle luminescence, making the surface appear as if it pulsed gently underfoot. As they walked, their reflections ghosted faintly upon the glossy sheen, as though the very ground recognized their presence.
The furniture was the epitome of futuristic elegance, designed for both luxury and functionality. The seating was comprised of sleek, adaptive couches that adjusted to the body's shape and preferred firmness. The materials shifted between velvety soft and firm support, depending on the user's needs. Floating tables hovered nearby, their surfaces holographic, displaying a customizable interface for news, entertainment, or tactical readouts. The walls bore interactive panels seamlessly embedded into the architecture—glass-like structures that transformed into screens at a touch.
Near the far side of the atrium, the library alcove blended effortlessly into the space, with floating bookshelves stacked with centuries' worth of magical texts and advanced technology manuals. Each tome was encased in a protective energy field, summonable by name or subject, with categories ranging from Intermediate Elemental Magic to Dimensional Gateway Theory. As Gwen marveled, a book gently detached itself and glided to her open hands, responding to her quiet curiosity.
Adding to the grandeur, a magic elevator replaced traditional stairs or lifts. It functioned through teleportation, where simply voicing a destination—be it the private quarters, training wing, or command center—would cause a radiant pulse of energy to envelop the traveler before they reappeared elsewhere in the skyscraper.
Ben's jaw dropped. "Woah… Is this my headquarters?"
Gwendolyn stepped forward, arms open. "It's our place. Make yourselves at home."
Gwen's face lit up like a firework. "You mean I get to live here when I grow up?"
She darted to the library shelves, fingertips trembling as she plucked a volume titled Intermediate Elemental Magic. Flipping it open, she stopped cold.
"I… wrote these?" she whispered.
Gwendolyn smiled proudly. "Those were from my days as a professor at Meridian Academy."
"I'm… a professor?!" Gwen gasped, eyes glistening.
Charmcaster leaned against a sofa, grinning. "I think you just exploded, Gwen."
Fred chuckled. "Enjoy it—you deserve it."
Charmcaster cleared her throat. "Okay, enough gawking. We brought you here because we need your help."
Fred raised a hand. "Right. Ever since I got these powers, one thing's bugged me: you've mentioned—necrofriggians, right?"
Ben winced at the word's awful pronunciation. "Necro-frig-gins?"
Gwendolyn and Charmcaster exchanged sly smiles.
"Well—will I… you know… become one too?" Fred asked, voice tight with worry.
Charmcaster hummed. "Hmmm… I'm not sure."
Gwendolyn added softly, "I honestly don't remember."
Ben blanched. "What's a necrofrigin?"
"Exactly," Gwendolyn and Charmcaster replied in perfect harmony, eyebrows dancing in amusement.
Fred clicked his tongue and folded his arms. "Chh. Fine. Not my day to find out."
Charmcaster chuckled. "He's adorable when he pouts."
Gwendolyn drew herself up. "Anyway—serious talk. The future is fragile. One day, the entire timeline will rest on your shoulders."
Ben's eyes widened. "That… sounds deep."
He glanced around the atrium. "Can I go explore my headquarters now?"
Fred shot him a grin. "I'd kill for a shopping run."
Gwen exhaled, determination sparkling in her eyes. "And I want to learn all about my future."
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