Chapter 6: Chapter Six: First Steps as a Hero

The green flash from the Omnitrix had subsided, but the faint glow of its hourglass symbol on Marshall's chest remained, casting an eerie light inside the tent. His once-human body was now unrecognizable, replaced by dark green, bark-like skin. Long vines wrapped around his limbs like armor, and faint orange veins pulsed just beneath the surface. The smell, however, was the worst part—a mix of rotting wood and swamp mud.

"Ugh, Marshall, seriously!" Peter groaned, pinching his nose. "You smell like something died in a swamp."

Marshall frowned—or at least tried to. His new face didn't have the same range of expressions as his old one. "Yeah, okay, I get it. I stink. But, Pete, look at me—I'm an alien! This is insane!" He flexed his clawed fingers, inspecting them like a kid with a new toy. "I've gotta figure out what I can do."

Peter shook his head, his hand still clamped over his nose. "Figure it out outside. If your parents wake up and find you like this, they'll lose their minds."

Marshall smirked, his glowing orange eyes narrowing. "Then we won't let them find out. You in?"

Peter hesitated, glancing toward the faint silhouette of Marshall's parents' tent in the distance. The soft sounds of snoring floated through the quiet forest. "Fine," he said, his voice resigned. "But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."

"Deal." Marshall ducked out of the tent, moving awkwardly as he adjusted to his larger, heavier frame. Peter followed close behind, still muttering complaints under his breath.

The two boys crept through the forest, keeping close to the shadows. Marshall's movements grew more natural with each step, his vine-like feet absorbing the sounds of his steps. The forest around them felt alive, every sound and scent amplified by his new senses. It was like he could feel the energy of the earth itself.

"Here's good," Marshall said, stopping in a small clearing surrounded by trees. He turned to Peter, a mischievous glint in his glowing eyes. "Let's see what this body can do."

Marshall raised one clawed hand and focused, feeling a strange warmth building in his palm. Slowly, a small orange fireball flickered to life, hovering just above his hand. It sputtered and crackled, like a living thing waiting to be unleashed.

Peter's jaw dropped. "Okay… that's actually kind of cool. You're gross, but that's cool."

Marshall grinned and hurled the fireball into the air. It arced high above the clearing before fizzling out harmlessly. "Not bad," he said, summoning another. "Let's try two."

This time, he held out both hands. Flames flickered to life in each palm, and with a sharp motion, he lobbed both fireballs into the sky. They exploded like fireworks, lighting up the clearing.

Peter clapped once, grinning despite himself. "Alright, I'll give you that one. What else can you do?"

Marshall crouched low, pressing his clawed hands into the dirt. He concentrated, feeling a strange connection to the ground beneath him. Small green seeds began to sprout from the earth, twisting and growing into thick vines within seconds. The vines slithered like snakes, coiling around nearby trees and rocks.

Peter stood, staring in awe. "Dude, you just grew a jungle. From nothing."

"Yeah," Marshall said, inspecting the writhing vines. "And I bet I can do more." He waved his hand, and the vines responded, snapping to attention like obedient soldiers. With a flick of his wrist, they shot forward, wrapping around a fallen log and dragging it across the clearing.

Peter whistled. "Okay, that's actually kind of terrifying. What else?"

Marshall grinned, his confidence growing. "Let's find out." He planted his feet and crouched low, then leapt into the air with all his strength. He soared above the trees, landing with a heavy thud that cracked the ground beneath him.

Peter flinched at the noise. "Maybe… tone it down? Your parents are right over there."

Marshall shrugged, his bark-like shoulders creaking. "Alright, fine. Let's see if I can combine the fire and the vines."

As Marshall focused on another fireball, a low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. He froze, his glowing eyes scanning the forest. "Do you hear that?"

Peter nodded, his face pale. "Yeah. And I don't think it's a raccoon."

The sound grew into a roar, and a bright light streaked across the sky, crashing into the forest with an earth-shaking impact. Both boys stumbled, the ground trembling beneath their feet.

"Was that… a meteor?" Peter asked, his voice shaking.

Marshall's claws flexed instinctively, his senses on high alert. "Stay here. I'm gonna check it out."

"Like hell I'm staying here!" Peter protested, scrambling to follow as Marshall started toward the crash site.

The two boys moved cautiously through the forest, the smell of smoke and scorched earth growing stronger with every step. When they reached the clearing, they found a shallow crater at its center. In the middle of the crater was a small, glowing pod, its surface smooth and metallic.

"What is that?" Peter whispered, inching closer.

"I don't know," Marshall said, his voice low. He extended a clawed hand toward the pod, but before he could touch it, the Omnitrix on his chest began to beep. The sound grew louder, the green hourglass flashing rapidly.

"Marshall—" Peter started, but he was cut off as a wave of energy surged through Marshall's body. His bark-like skin began to fade, replaced by soft, human flesh. Within seconds, he was himself again, the Omnitrix now back on his wrist.

Marshall stumbled, his legs weak from the sudden transformation. Peter caught his arm, steadying him. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Marshall said, rubbing his head. "I think the watch timed out."

Peter glanced nervously at the pod. "So what do we do now? Call someone? Run away?"

Marshall stared at the Omnitrix, its faint glow pulsing in the darkness. A slow grin spread across his face. "Now? We figure out how this thing works. And whatever that pod is… it's just the beginning."

Peter groaned. "Why do I feel like this is gonna get us both grounded for life?"

Marshall smirked, slipping his arm around Peter's shoulders. "Relax, Pete. What's the worst that could happen?"

As the boys turned to head back to the campsite, the pod's surface began to shift, faint symbols glowing along its edges. Something inside it stirred.