So a quick announcement before I begin, I will be going back down to only one update per week. The story is nearly over and I want to stretch it out as long as possible.

Chapter Twelve

Shegra was only a few inches from landing when she shifted forms suddenly. Both ladies landed on the ground. Skye groaned quietly. She felt underneath her to find Shegra laying on her stomach. Shegra looked dizzy. "why did you change back so quickly?" groaned Skye. Shegra checked her band. "I didn't realize two hours had passed." Skye got up from her. She dusted herself off. Shegra jumped back onto her feet. She gave her pelt a few good shakes. She trotted ahead of Skye.

Skye followed Shegra into Sam's room. Sam had been hooked up to machines that were monitoring his vitals. Skye bit her lip. A lump formed in her throat when she saw Sam's condition. She pulled up a chair. She took his hand. "Sammy?" she croaked. Sam opened up one of his eyes. A smile slowly spread across his lips. "Skylar...I'm so glad you've come back." He reached up to touch one of her cheeks. His hand rested on her cheek. Skye held his hand. "oh Samuel. I honestly thought I lost you." He shakes his head. "you would of had it not been for Shegra." Shegra hopped up onto his bed. She held her head up proudly. Skye gave her a pat on the head. "good girl. Oh and Shegra, apparently that Slyvanna chick mentioned something about you. She talked about somebody hunting you." Shegra scratches her chin. "I think I know who she is talking about." She then cracks her paws. "well I guess it's time to teach that bastard why he shouldn't mess with me." Sam held up his other hand. "who is coming after you?"

"Buck Douglas, the fallen millionaire."

Sam placed his face into his hand. "you mean the guy I put in jail?"

Both of the girls nodded. "Great Fires of London." mutters Sam. "look you two aren't going to his doorstep alone." Shegra smirks. "what makes you think we're just going to waltz up in there? We're just going to do some simple recon is all. Besides you'd be amazed by Skye's abilities. I'm surprised that my superiors didn't pick her instead." Skye blushes at Shegra's compliment. "I promise that I will keep her and me safe." presses Shegra. Sam sighs. "fine but only because Penny and I are out of action." Skye fist pumps. "we won't let you down!"

Skye and Shegra leave the hospital. "so how do we go about finding him?" asked Skye. Shegra thinks for a moment. A flyer catches the wolf's attention. Shegra trots over to it. She places her paws up on the wall.

You've been invited to attend an evening like any other.

Blue Moon Ball

Hosted by Buck Douglas, former host of Alien Quest

Time: 8 Pm in PontyPandy Square Thursday Night

"Looks like pretty boy has the evening booked," commented Shegra. "I feel like finding this was kind of sudden though. Almost as if the plot had to be pushed forward a little." Shegra gets down from the wall. She handed Skye the flyer. Skye skimmed through it. "so it's tomorrow night then. Maybe we can get Penny to come with us. Her injuries were minor." Shegra looks up at her. "Ms. All-Rules-But-No-Fun? I doubt they'll let her escape prison."

"I'm going to be ready by tonight," explained Penny once they headed back to the hospital. Shegra let out a small disappointed groan. "of course." Penny raised an eyebrow. "I'd thought you be happy with me being discharged. As I recall you cried your eyes out on the way to the hospital." Shegra looked away. "I'm not going to let you two go on a recon mission without somebody with you. Besides, I think it's time I started doing my job as the chosen one," added Penny. Shegra sighs. "alright just don't be bossy alright? Let me and Skylar handle the stealth side of things." Penny crossed her arms again. "you two still haven't told me what happened to Venus. Now the two of you better start talking."

Before Shegra could even get two words in, Skye interjected. "I'm sorry Penny but we have no clue! We've been trying to tell you that for weeks! All I know is that some jackass broke into the fire station while we were out on a walk." Penny sighs. "I was really hoping you guys would know more than that." Shegra hops off the bed. She sits by Skye's ankles. "welp if pretty girl has said that's what we saw, that's what we saw. Nothing more. Nothing less." Skye gave Shegra a small rub between the ears. "well okay. If that's what you guys saw then I have no choice but to believe you." Shegra looked up at Skye. She smiles at her. Skye smiles back.

The late-night hours soon come. Penny changes into her regular clothes. Shegra laid on top of her hospital bed. She watched Penny pack up her things. "you ready yet?" asked Shegra impatiently. "almost just give me a few moments." replied Penny. She sealed her bag up before slinging it over her shoulder. Shegra got up from her spot. She hopped to the floor. She followed Penny out of the hospital. "Skylar says she already has a room set up for us. We just need to plan out how we're going to do this mission." wolfed Shegra.

The two of them arrived at the hotel room. Skye looked up from her sketchbook. "glad the two of you could make it." Penny chucked her bag onto one of the beds. Shegra jumped on top of it. She knocked it to the floor. "this is mine. You get the couch." Penny crossed her arms. "don't look at me like that. You forget that I'm the brains of this party." wolfed Shegra smugly. She sat up. She waved towards the couch with her front paw. "be gone with you." Penny shook her head. She picked up her bag. She tossed it onto the couch.

Shegra placed a map on the table. She had the building where the event took place highlighted in red. "wait? how the fuck did you grab this map?" asked Shegra.

Shegra shrugged. "plot convenience. Anyway, pretty boy is hosting his event here. Our job is to get in and out without drawing too much attention to ourselves." Penny also notices something else scribbled into the margin.

Operation: Penny is a Bitch

Objective: do a bit of spying. We have to know what Buck is planning to do and who else he's going after.

Penny leaned on the table. She bit her lip as she tilted her head to the side. "really?!" Shegra laughed. She held up her paw for a high-five from Skye. "she noticed it!" Skye gave Shegra a high-five. Penny shook her head. "I can't believe you two!" Shegra tapped Penny on the nose with her tail. "get used to it sweetie. Now we'll need to be dressed up for the occasion. I'm sure you both can find something that isn't slutty. Meanwhile, I'm going to be disguised as one of the cooks so that way I can get in through the back door. Remember that we are hunting for info. I'll need to scope out the building tonight while you guys are asleep. Who knows maybe I can pay a few of pretty boy's friends off while we're at it." Shegra closed the map. She hid it back in her bag. "any questions?"

Penny held up her hand. "why way am I bitch?" she asked. "because you talk too much and shed all over." Shegra trotted past Penny. She jumped onto the bed. "you and Sam seem to stick firmly to a rulebook which is boring. I wished you two could see life outside of rules and regulations." She crossed her forelegs as she continued to stare Penny down. "I don't know why my superiors picked you. I don't sense anything special about you." Penny felt a deep pain in her chest. She knew Shegra was right. Shegra flicked her tail. "what? No reply?"

Penny clenched her fist. "I'm sorry I'm not very exciting. I'm sorry I stand in the way. I'm not sure why the gods picked me either. I'm trying to figure this out. You haven't been of any help either! You sit there on the bed waving your paws around expecting to have everything handed to you! You don't give a shit about us! You just want something from us!"

Shegra let out a laugh. "glad you could get with the program sweetheart. Tell me what else is new? You really are seeing through a gray filter aren't you? You don't know anything about me. How dare a mere scoundrel like you make such accusations!" There was power and intimidation in Shegra's voice. "how dare you speak before a celestial with such tone! You've forgotten your place!" Blue light erupted out of Shegra. It consumed the room in blue flames. The walls disappeared revealing a void-like realm. Shegra stood in the center of the realm. She let out a menacing howl. Armor formed around her. A spinning disk with glowing blue energy appeared on her back. She summoned her sword.

"I am Shegra Acosta, Daughter to Draid Acosta and Hikuya Acosta. The last of the nobles. I am the herebringer of the end of times. I am the bender of realms and time! Surrender now or prepare to face a force that is beyond your comprehension!" she thundered.

Penny gulped. She took her defense stance anyway. Shegra's eyes narrowed. "very well. You have chosen death then. Let us end this." Blue flames formed around Shegra as she charged forward. She swung her sword. The blade collided with Penny sending her backwards. Penny grunted as she fell onto her back. The sword left a burn mark across her stomach. Shegra jumped into the air. Blue flames formed around her body as she spun in place. Penny dodged out of the way of Shegra's flame wheel attack. She caught her balance once again. She tried to do a spiraling kick attack. Shegra's shield caught Penny's foot. She bounced off her. "your pathetic attacks won't work on me! Feel the wrath of the celestial!" Shegra let out a loud howl. A huge ball of blue light appeared above her. Penny took off running away from her. Shegra flung the ball of light at her. Penny got consumed by the flames. She let out a howl of pain. It felt like her soul was being ripped from her body.

"Penny! No!" shouted Skye. Penny coughed up blood. She fell to her knees. She held her side. She looked at her hand. She was dripping blue blood. "what?" she rasped. Shegra charged for her again. Her claws glew a bright blue color. She took a swing at Penny. Penny held her arms up. She braced for impact.

The impact never came...

Penny opened her eyes. She looked around. A yellow light had formed around her. Shegra had been flung onto her back. Shegra quickly bounced up. "so what? You've got powers! Let's see if you can use them!" snarled Shegra. A beam of light formed in her mouth. She launched it at Penny. Penny dodge rolled out of the way. She kept rolling out of the way as Shegra tried to fire it at her. Penny waved her hand. Arrows of light shot of her palm. She aimed them at Shegra. Shegra swung her claws destroying them. Shegra howled. A pulsating aura appeared around her. She jumped into the air. She summoned her sword again. She slammed it into Penny's side. Penny let out a painful cry. The blade had her pinned to the ground. "it's over Morris! Say your prayers!" Penny closed her eyes. "get...BACK!" Yellow light erupted out of her. The blast was enough to send Shegra spiraling through the air. She slammed into the roof of the cave. She then fell into the center of the room. She swayed from side to side dazed from the blow. Penny smiled. She ran towards her. She sent more arrows at Shegra. Shegra howled once they exploded into her flank. She swung her sword missing Penny's head by mere inches. Penny grabbed her blade midswing. She grunted as she ripped it from Shegra's mouth. Yellow flames formed around the blade. She swung it at Shegra's muzzle dazing her again. Shegra moved sideways a bit.

Penny took another swing at Shegra. She landed a blow across her flank. Shegra growled quietly. She nipped at Penny's back only to miss. Penny turned around. Shegra lunged at her. She grabbed Penny by the arm. She swung her head harshly sending her flying through the air. Shegra sent a bolt of blue light quickly at her. The bolt collided with Penny and exploded.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

Penny sailed through the air. She landed against the wall of the void harshly. She tried to stand up again only to fall to her knees. The light around the sword faded. She panted holding her side. Shegra let out a laugh. "you really are naive. You thought you could stand against a celestial? Are you insane? Sometimes the hardest lesson one has to learn is about losing." Shegra's shield began to glow. "now to finish you." Penny could only stare at her. She gripped the sword again. Images of her friends and everyone back in PontyPandy flashed in her head. She wasn't going to lose that easily.

I didn't get this far in life to be killed by a god. I didn't become a firefighter to lose to someone who boasts about their life. I need to be strong. PontyPandy needs me. She's my best chance at learning how to control my powers.

Penny stood onto her feet. She swayed. She spun the sword around in her hand. "I am justice incarnate, brought to this world by forces beyond your comprehension. A cleansing storm to sweep across the land and purge it of your foul presence." Penny's eyes turned a darker shade of gold. "I am Penny. And your campaign ends here, now throw down your weapons and surrender, or you will face an enemy, unlike anything your kind has ever dealt with!"

Shegra laughed again. "very well but you have made a very big mistake! I accept your challenge human!"

The both of them took their defense stances. They circled each other like two hungry tigers. Shegra began moving side to side. She flung her shield at Penny knocked her back. She then tore into her with her claws. Penny dodge rolled out of the way. She spun her sword around her hand. It formed a circle of yellow light which she then launched at Shegra. Shegra jumped back. She flung her shield at Penny again. Penny held the blade out in front of her. She deflected it back at Shegra. The shield knocked Shegra onto her back. Penny went in to deal damaging blows. She swung her sword from side to side. Shegra howled in pain. She flipped back onto her paws. Blue energy sent Penny flying backwards. Penny caught herself. She let out a battle cry as she charged at Shegra again. She swung at Shegra's chest only to miss. This left her open to an attack. Shegra placed a paw on Penny's side. Blue light went right through Penny sending her flying sideways. Penny skid across the ground. She jumped back onto her feet. She spun her blade again. She charged at Shegra. Shegra held up her shield to defend herself with. The blade bounced off her leaving Penny open for another attack. Shegra used her paw again to send Penny across the ground. She then let out a loud howl. A ball of blue light formed above her head.

Skye bit the tip of her fingers in nervousness. "oh! It's like a boss fight! I can't watch!" she gasped.

Shegra sent the ball of blue light at Penny. Penny swung her blade to try and cut it only for the ball to land on her. The ball exploded sending her into the wall. It also left burn marks on her. Penny landed against the wall back first. She grunted. She could barely keep standing. Shegra began charging at her. Blue flames formed around her as she got ready to do another spinning flame attack. Penny waited for Shegra to come close to her. She swung her blade in enough time to parry Shegra's attack. The blow left Shegra stunned. She spun her blade around creating a spinning blade of yellow light as she tore into Shegra leaving nasty wounds. Shegra quickly snapped out of it. She charged a beam of blue light in her maw. She waited for Penny to take a swing at her again before firing it. The blow was enough to knock Penny backwards all while causing her to drop the sword.

"AGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Penny landed on her backside. She held her hand up once before blacking out on the ground. The room went back to normal. Penny laid in the center of the room. Shegra panted. "you put up a good fight kid. Perhaps I was wrong about you." She stood over Penny. "but you still have much to learn." Penny groaned quietly. She checked herself over for wounds only to find none. "you were too cocky for your own good. Sam's arrogance is what nearly got him killed." Shegra began to walk away. "how can you be a fit choice for being a protector of the gods when you don't take the time to think on your feet?"

"I do think on my feet." countered Penny.

Shegra shook her head. "no you don't. You were too predictable. You weren't able to block my attacks. You really do need a lot of work. Rest up. We have a bit of recon to do tomorrow night. I've got to do a bit of inside work to see what we are dealing with." Skye helped Penny to get back on her feet.

Shegra changed into her raven form. She kept above the clouds avoiding detection from any scanners that might be in the area. She flew around the building letting her aura scan the grounds. Dark blue shapes appeared on her radar. "looks like they've got this place guarded. I sense another aura here too. It's so disorientating." She hovered near the building for a while. She scanned the upper floors. She sent out a pulsating wave of energy only for it to be reflected. "something here is making it hard for me to scan the building. I need to get inside to figure it out." She landed in the bushes near the building. She changed into her ferret form. She slithered past the two guards who were positioned outside of the doors. She didn't pay too much attention to the way they were dressed. She climbed onto the wall. She changed her auras to make herself invisible. The aura on the inside didn't seem to affect it too much. She just had to take extra care.

Shegra placed her paw on the wall. "let's try this." she whispered. She beamed a pulsating aura down a pillar she was attached to. The aura then bounced off the pillar onto another one. This created a ripple effect which made it easier for her to be able to tag other auras. A few green and blue ones appeared on her radar above her. "Bucky Boy isn't taking any chances. He's got this place heavily guarded as far as I can see," she commented. "I need to go higher. I need to find out what this place is sealed by." She leaped onto the wall above the pillar. She climbed around heading up higher into the building. She got to the fourth floor. She jumped onto another pillar. She did the same thing as before by creating a net of aura around the pillars. An orange aura appeared right in front of her. It was a relic of some sort. It was being used to repeal her aura magic. Shegra suddenly started to feel sick. She dropped to the floor. The relic hummed loudly shaking the wall behind it. An orange aura appeared around Shegra. She felt weak. She soon blacked out.

Slyvanna and Buck walked into the room. Buck smiled. "that was too perfect. I knew the mutt couldn't resist scoping us out." He turned to Slyvanna. "get our guest of honor ready for tomorrow's events. Be sure to attach the beserker relic to make her behave." Slyvanna saluted him. "will do Buck."

Special thanks to today's reviewers:

Akimakel

IronBat22

Bruce

Thank you so much for your continued support! Remember that my QnA is still open!

-Whisper