Chapter 11: The Revelation

Time slowed to a near standstill as the menacing ax descended, its shadow swallowing the world around Kim and Ron. With her heart pounding, Kim squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the chilling impact that threatened to conclude their perilous tale. But, in that precarious moment, reality took a sharp turn into the extraordinary.

A mysterious, grey mist swept around Kim and Ron, its otherworldly tendrils cradling them in an ethereal embrace. In a heartbeat, a minuscule yet unmistakable "pop" resonated through the air, accompanied by a startling sonic boom, as if the very fabric of existence had ruptured.

When Kim and Ron materialized a few feet away, the ax that had previously spelled doom was now half-buried in the ground. Calamous, the colossal figure, bellowed in bewilderment and anger, accusing Kim with fiery eyes of engineering this inexplicable teleportation. Still reeling from the disorienting experience, Kim vehemently denied any involvement, her voice trembling from the strain the teleportation had placed on her body.

Before Calamous could unleash his fury upon them, a surprisingly gentle and youthful voice, as if emanating from the very ax he had wielded, interrupted. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," it exclaimed incredulously. "Did you seriously try to take an ax to our friends?"

Meanwhile, Ron remained unconscious, blissfully unaware of the bewildering events that had unfolded. Kim's head throbbed with pain, and the lingering sensation of her insides being twisted left her nauseated. Summoning every ounce of strength, she could muster; she inquired about the enigmatic voice's reference to "friends."


Out of nowhere, a young girl with brown hair, no older than five and dressed in a vibrant blue dress, materialized atop the axe. She defied gravity with her tiny arms outstretched, maintaining a perfect balance with an effortless grace. Jes and Shego exchanged perplexed glances as they struggled to make sense of this surreal sight before them.

Jes, his eyes wide with astonishment, began to voice his amazement, "Is that—"

But before he could finish, Shego, who recognized the girl, exclaimed, "Amber!"

Turning their attention back to where Amber had been lying just moments ago, they saw that there was no body, only the empty ground where she had once been. It was as if she had never been there at all while the blanket shifted in the breeze.


Calamous, his fury unabated, screamed at the girl perched atop his ax, "Get off my ax!"

The girl paused her playful balancing act for a moment, her demeanor innocent and mischievous. With an adorable tone, she responded, "Ah, you're no fun."

In the next instant, the girl disappeared just like Kim and Ron had earlier, only to reappear before Kim in the blink of an eye. Kim, witnessing this, came to a startling realization. The girl before her was the same one who had saved them, but she was also the woman she had previously seen lying lifeless.

Before Kim could utter a word from the confusing sight, the girl asked with genuine concern but still a cheerful demeanor, "How is the kid?"

Kim was momentarily taken aback by the girl referring to Ron as a "kid." She stammered, "Do what?"

The girl repeated her question, undeterred, "How's Ron?"

Kim took a deep breath and replied, her voice filled with worry, "He's in bad shape," her eyes focused on Ron's injuries, which seemed even more serious now that she had a moment to assess them properly.

The girl reassured Kim, saying, "We'll get him help after..."


But suddenly, she stopped mid-sentence, her expression shifting. She held a finger to her lips in a hushing gesture, while her eyes moved, as if looking behind her, Kim's eyes widened with alarm as she followed the girl's gaze. Behind the girl, the massive ax was slowly and eerily lifting itself out of the ground. The sight sent a shiver down Kim's spine, and she could not help but look on in fearful anticipation. The girl, undisturbed by the event unfolding behind her, simply winked at Kim before she peeked around the ax to look at Calamous.

Just as Calamous noticed the girl peeking around the ax, she met his gaze with an impish grin and cheerfully asked, "Wanna play?" her voice echoed in a strange chorus of giggles.

Calamous responded with a sinister smile of his own, his malevolent intentions clear. Undeterred, the girl cheered in glee. She began to do a silly dance, twirling around, then clasped her hands behind her back while she watched Calamous lift the ax. The bizarre contrast between her playful antics and the looming threat of the giant and his weapon created a surreal tension in the air, leaving Kim uncertain of what would happen next.


As Calamous menacingly raised his ax above his head, the mischievous little girl swiftly pretended to draw something from her shoulder, then she mimicked the act of pulling back an imaginary bowstring. Calamous watched her with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.

But then, as the girl's eyes shimmered with golden light, something incredible happened. Instantly, an actual bow made of pure golden energy materialized in her hands, and an arrow of radiant light pointed directly at Calamous.

With a comical twinkle in her eyes, the girl looked at Calamous with his shocked expression and she simply said, "How's it going, big guy?"

She then flashed him a mischievous grin before releasing the string of her golden bow. The arrow of radiant light shot forward with incredible speed, trailing golden sparks in its wake. Calamous, still taken aback by the girl's unexpected transformation and unconventional greeting, had no time to react.

The arrow struck Calamous squarely in the chest, sending him tumbling through the air until he crashed to the ground. His momentum only ceased when the girl extended her hand, capable of halting his movement with a mere gesture. After lying still for a moment, Calamous removed the arrow from his chest armor, feeling bewildered and disoriented. He could only stare at the girl in disbelief as she flashed him another mischievous grin.

"Gotcha," she said with a playful tone, then snapped her fingers. The arrow exploded in a brilliant burst of golden light.

In an instant, Calamous disappeared in a fireball, and the force of the explosion sent dirt and dust into the sky, obscuring the view of the onlookers. The dirt and dust mushroomed into the sky, creating a dramatic spectacle.


Kim heard the mischievous girl giggle at the sight before turning to her and saying, "We'll get Ron some help after we talk to Calamous."

Her words left Kim irritated at the thought of the girl wanting to converse with the formidable foe she had just destroyed.

Kim could not hold back her frustration and retorted, "Talk to him? You just blew him away!" Her exasperation was evident as she gazed at the cloud of dirt and dust where Calamous had disappeared.

However, the girl simply smiled at Kim's outburst. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she replied, "If only it were that easy, Kimmie."


She first narrowed her eyes and the girls meaning, before Kim's eyes widened when she looked at the swirling cloud of dirt and dust. She saw a blue circle of light appear within the cloud, before a beam of blue energy shot from the cloud, heading right at the little girl's backside. She wanted to warn the girl, but the girl giving her a knowing smile, confused Kim while she watched the beam streak toward the girl.

When she looked back at the girl's smiling face, she saw the girl's eyes began to glow golden, and the impossible happened. The beam of energy, just as it was about to strike her back, split in two and curved past her and Kim. It was as if the laws of physics themselves bent to her will. Kim's eyes widened in astonishment as she followed the path of the split beams. They streaked past them and exploded on contact with the ground, sending shockwaves and debris into the air.

The girl said to Kim with a nonchalant grin, her golden eyes returning to their normal state. "See, Kimmie, it's all in good fun," she quipped, as if this display of power were nothing more than a playful game.

Kim was left speechless, realizing that they were in the company of someone who possessed incredible, otherworldly abilities. With a mischievous giggle at the explosion, the girl turned her attention back to the cloud of dirt and dust. She clasped her hands behind her, occasionally standing on her toes as if she were waiting excitedly for something, or someone.

Moments later, everyone watched in astonishment as Calamous emerged from the cloud of dirt and dust. He dragged his massive ax with one hand, his once-imposing armor now damaged, with pieces falling off as he walked. His face contorted with rage as he approached the mischievous girl.

The girl giggled once more at Calamous' furious expression, then turned to Kim and said, "We'll be back, K." Her words left Kim bewildered and intrigued.

As the little girl began walking toward Calamous, she could not resist the urge to mock him. She mimicked his lumbering gait and even pretended to drag an imaginary ax behind her, her playful demeanor in stark contrast to the tension in the air.


As Calamous neared the girl, his anger boiling over, he growled, "I'm going to kill you for that."

The mischievous girl halted her mocking and retorted, "For your information, you can't kill us. No one has ever been able to. We mean, didn't your green little friends already turn us into a human pin cushion?"

Her words taunted him further, "Yet, here we are, our liege," before she executed a graceful curtsy.

She watched with a confident smirk as Calamous lifted his ax high over his head with glee, ready to strike. Unperturbed, she added, "And now you think that big ole ax will do any better."

With a theatrical flair, she lifted her hands to her sides, closed her eyes, and tilted her face to the sky. In a playful, almost taunting tone, she said, "All we can say is, swing away, big boy."

As Calamous swung his ax down at the mischievous girl with a roar of anger, something astonishing happened. The moment the ax was about to come into contact, it did not strike her. Instead, the entire ax disappeared into a swirling gray mist. Calamous stood there, momentarily dumbfounded, his ax now gone.

The girl, her eyes still closed, and her face tilted toward the sky, could not help but add, "Guess you could say the ax is no longer the sharpest tool in your shed, huh?"


As the ax disappeared into the swirling gray mist, something unexpected occurred as well. Cracks shot forth from the girl's feet, radiating in opposite directions like a network of lightning. One of these cracks extended toward the city, causing damage to the street as it snaked its way through the pavement, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The crack's destructive path led it to the building with a bell tower. With a deafening crash, the building collapsed in a cloud of dust and rubble as the crack continued its journey.

Calamous, his attention momentarily diverted by this unexpected calamity, watched in disbelief as the building crumbled to the ground. He could hardly comprehend the immense power the mischievous girl possessed.

It was only when he heard her giggling that he turned his gaze back to her. She stood there, still grinning playfully, as if this display of power and chaos was all part of her grand game. Calamous, now seething with anger and frustration, roared at the girl, demanding, "What did you do to my ax?"

The mischievous girl responded with gleeful mischief, "Oh, the silly little thing? We sent it on a one-way trip to the sun." She pointed at the blazing fireball in the sky, her playful demeanor untouched by the dire situation.

Calamous, his rage unabated, shouted, "Bring it back, so I can kill you with it!"

However, the girl, while shielding her eyes from the sun's intense glare, looked up and said, "Sorry, big guy, it's too late for us to do that now." She spoke as if she could see the ax burning up in the sun's fiery embrace, her powers beyond comprehension.


Calamous's roar of anger echoed, but the mischievous girl seemed unfazed, maintaining her playful smile. She quipped, "It must have been important to you."

Then, as if a sudden realization had dawned on her, she clapped her hands together. "Wait," she added with a sly grin, "was that ax compensating for something?"

Her words carried a teasing tone, suggesting that she might have just hit a nerve with her unexpected comment. Calamous, his temper flaring, could only grit his teeth at her taunting words. The girl had not only disarmed him but also managed to mock him. Calamous's demand for an explanation was met with the mischievous girl's unapologetic bluntness.

She replied, "You know, lacking in your... nether region." Her words were accompanied by a cheeky smirk.

She continued to tease him further, asking, "Are you the type that can't stand at attention?" With a playful flourish, she stood in an erect stance and saluted Calamous, making her point clear.

Then, without missing a beat, she held the end of her pointer finger and thumb close together, indicating a small size, while she said, "Or?" Her words were meant to provoke and mock, and Calamous could only seethe with rage at her audacity.

Calamous's rage reached its peak as he screamed, "How dare you!"

With a playful smile, the mischievous girl retorted, "We know what to call you now... Mr. Stubby."

Calamous seethed at her audacity and repeated, "How dare you!"

Undeterred, the girl continued to jest. "Dare," she said, emphasizing the word. Her eyes began to glow golden, and she shot a hand out, conjuring a golden staff in her grasp.

Still smiling, she spoke with an air of authority, pointing the staff at Calamous. "You're lucky we haven't defiled you yet," she declared, using the staff to punctuate her words. "Now you behave, or we'll put this where the sun doesn't shine."

She aimed the staff directly at Calamous, making it clear that she was not backing down from her playful taunts. Calamous's sudden calm in response to the girl's threat surprised her. She slowly lowered the golden staff from her menacing posture.

However, she could not resist a bit of sarcasm as she asked, "Wait, you're telling me that the threat of being violated gets your attention?"

Then, with an impish grin, she turned her attention to the soldiers who had been observing the bizarre encounter. She pointed a thumb at Calamous and announced,

"Hey everyone, he's one sick freak."

The soldiers could not help but burst into laughter and giggles at the girl's unexpected comment. Calamous, clearly uncomfortable with the situation and the soldiers' reaction, shot them a disapproving look and stammered, "No, I'm not."


Calamous, after hearing the girl giggle, redirected his attention to her and gruffly asked, "What do you want? Can't you see I have things to do besides dealing with you?"

The girl, relishing the drama of the moment, replied, "Finally, you want to talk." She added, "we're here to give you options," while her eyes stopped glowing and the staff disappeared from her hand.

This piqued Calamous's curiosity, and he asked, begrudgingly, "Options?"

The girl began to explain what options were, but Calamous cut her off, saying he knew what options were. The girl explained that he had two options: one, she allow her friends to finish what they started by wiping out his army, and either Ron or Jes go mystic monkey, call upon the lotus blade to kill him with it, or he could tuck his tail between his legs, take his army and go home, never to bother anyone again.

Calamous contemplated these choices, his pride and anger warring with the practicality of the situation.

As Calamous pondered his options, Kim could not help but voice her realization. "So that's why the mystic monkey is so important," she said, connecting the dots. The gravity of the decision weighed heavily on everyone present, as they awaited Calamous's choice

The mischievous girl nodded knowingly. "That's right, Kimmie," she chimed in. "Mr. Stubby here, as tough as he may seem, is no immortal. He just has this crazy fast healing thing going on, you know, like those comic book characters. But there's always a catch, like a hidden weakness."

She went on to divulge a crucial piece of information. "And about the Lotus Blade, well, it's got a connection to Calamous, or at least the metal it's forged from. That metal actually originated from an asteroid that hailed from Calamous' destroyed home planet, that he blew up, and that metal is lethal to Mr. Stubby."

An evil grin spread across Calamous's face, to everyone's surprise, he declared, "I choose the third option."

The girl, puzzled, objected that there was not a third option.

However, Calamous simply responded, "There is. I could just kill the ones that can go, what you call it, 'mystic monkey.' And I will let you watch as I torture anyone you care about. They'll beg for death during the pain."

Calamous's ominous mention of causing terrible pain hung in the air, prompting the girl to question calmly, "Pain?" to which Calamous confirmed with a sinister "Yes, terrible pain."

However, the girl's demeanor underwent a dramatic shift. In an instant, she teleported right up to Calamous, her eyes and hair glowing with golden energy. She hovered in mid-air and stared him down with rage. In a distorted, demonic voice, she screamed, "You know nothing about pain!"

Then just as quickly as her appearance had changed, her personality shifted back to her cheerful self, her eyes and hair returning to normal. She said cheerfully, "Let's enlighten you."

She placed a palm on Calamous's forehead, and her eyes began to glow again. After a moment, Calamous started screaming in agony, collapsing to his knees. His screams soon turned to whimpers as he fell to his side, writhing in pain. The girl held her hand in place the entire time, subjecting Calamous to an excruciating experience.

After the girl removed her hand from Calamous's forehead, he gasped for breath and struggled to ask, "What was that?"

The girl replied simply, "My life."

She then declared, "And now, negotiations are over," before looking down at Calamous, who was struggling to lift his head to see her. With one last cheerful smile, she bid him farewell and snapped her fingers.

In an instant, Calamous vanished into a swirling mist of grey, leaving nothing but a vacant space where he once laid. The girl clasped her hands behind her back and giggled before looking toward the sky and humming a tune.


Kim, still puzzled, finally mustered the courage to ask, "What did you do with Calamous?"

In response, the girl pointed upward. After a moment, Kim saw a tiny speck falling from the sky, and it gradually grew larger until she realized it was Calamous plummeting from the heavens. Upon impact with the ground, Calamous created a massive crater, sending dirt and dust billowing into the sky. He lay within the crater, moaning. As the dust settled in the distance, Kim's eyes locked onto the girl, who slowly turned to look at her.

The girl flashed a sadistic smile and said in a creepy tone, "Your turn."

Fear gripped Kim, and she began to stutter, repeatedly muttering, "No."

She closed her eyes tightly, her terror evident, even as Ron and she were enveloped by the swirling grey mist. They disappeared from the field, leaving behind an eerie silence and a lingering sense of uncertainty about the girl's intentions and her enigmatic powers.

As Kim reappeared among friendly soldiers, she kept repeating "no" in a panicked manner. She opened her eyes to find one of the soldiers rushing to help tend to Ron's wounds. She watched as the soldier injected Ron with something and then gave Kim a thumbs up, indicating that Ron would be okay.

Kim, still concerned about the mysterious girl, asked the soldier, "Where is she?"

The soldier pointed out towards the field. Kim's gaze followed, and in the distance, she spotted the girl looking back at her. The girl flashed a mischievous grin and, with her hand still raised, waved at Kim using only her fingers. It was eerie and unsettling for Kim, leaving her with more questions than answers about the extraordinary encounter.

In the next instant, dagger-shaped fighter planes streaked overhead, heading toward the location where Calamous and his army were stationed. Kim watched with a mix of surprise and relief as the planes began bombing the area. Shego, however, narrowed her eyes at the fighters because their design bore a striking resemblance to another design, one she knew the love of her life had created in the past. As the explosions lit up the sky, Kim's attention turned back to the mischievous girl, who had disappeared into the grey mist and reappeared right in front of her.

The girl wore a playful grin and said, "See, Kimmie, there was nothing to worry about."

After the girl spoke, Sheila, Hope, and Jes came running up. Hope spoke, a mix of happiness and confusion evident in her voice, "Amber... you're alive!"

Amber, the little girl, responded with annoyance, "Well, we weren't going to intervene, but somebody," while she pointed her eyes at Jes, "wouldn't go mystic monkey and deal with Calamous. We weren't going to lay there and let Kim and Ron die."

Kim could not help but wonder why Amber had gone out of her way to save them. She voiced her curiosity, asking, "Why do you care if we had died?"

However, Amber seemed disinterested in Kim's question. She looked past everyone, seemingly lost in thought. Then, with an almost nonchalant tone, she commented,

"You know, it was quite comfy lying under that blanket with rebar sticking out of us. It's decided; we're going back." With those words, she vanished into a mysterious grey mist.

Startled by the unexpected giggling, Kim and the others turned around in astonishment. Their eyes widened as they saw a tiny silhouette of a person beneath the blanket. It was a moment of wonder and disbelief. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the figure vanished, and the blanket lay flat on the cold asphalt, leaving them in eerie silence, haunted by the mysterious events unfolding before them.


Kim and the others turned their attention to the front upon hearing Amber's commanding voice, now sounding like her adult self, when she said, "Time to get serious."

They were greeted by the sight of Amber, fully transformed into an adult. Her back was turned to them, and instead of the familiar blue dress, she now wore imposing armor akin to the soldiers surrounding them, but she notably lacked a helmet.

Jes could not contain his surprise and blurted out, "Amber, are you a Zeekas?"

Amber shook her head and replied, "No, kid, they're nothing like us. We're more of a liaison for Earth."

Confusion still lingered in the air when Amber tilted her head from side to side, considering her next words. She then said, "Mr. Stubby is rallying the troops."

Her gaze shifted to an empty space beside her, and she continued, "Well, General Mickey, it's time to unveil our surprise."

An eerie chuckle echoed in the emptiness, and then, out of nowhere, a soldier appeared. He wore a suit like Amber and Grey but appeared bulkier in armor. A pistol was holstered on his hip, and a menacing sword was strapped to his back. Sheila noticed that his visor bore a metal human skull with glowing red eyes. It was a truly frightening sight, and she could not help but think about what Grey had meant about this enigmatic General Mickey.

As General Mickey nodded to Amber and headed out into the field toward Calamous's army, he made a brief stop in front of Grey. He gazed at her for a moment, a hint of affection in his voice, saying, "I'll be back, babe."

Grey chuckled and replied, "You better," prompting laughter from them.


Everyone watched the lone soldier run across the field. He only stopped his advance at the sight of Calamous and the Lowardians coming out of the woods, who also stopped their advance at the sight of the lone soldier. Tension hung thick in the air as the lone soldier faced off against Calamous and the Lowardians. Calamous ordered his soldiers to prepare to shoot, and they watched as the lone soldier drew his blade, lowered it to the ground, and etched a line in the dirt. Then, with a resolute gesture, he lifted the blade and pointed it directly at Calamous. Calamous chuckled at the soldier's audacity and gave the order for his men to open fire.

But just as the soldiers trained their guns on the lone warrior, General Mickey's voice thundered in a commanding tone, "Marines, on me!"

In a remarkable display of unity, hundreds, if not thousands, of voices from unseen men rang out in unison, chanting, "Hooray!"

Confusion and surprise rippled through the Lowardian ranks as they were faced with this unexpected turn of events, leaving Kim and her companions bewildered by the unfolding spectacle of extraordinary forces converging on the battlefield. The unexpected unity and support of these unseen forces added an element of surprise and intrigue to the unfolding events on the battlefield, leaving Kim and her companions even more intrigued and curious about the allies Amber had brought to their aid.

As the Lowardians reacted to the unexpected cheering and lowered their guns from General Mickey, a sense of uncertainty rippled through their ranks. The unseen forces continued to show their support as chants and cheers echoed everywhere on the field.

As the chanting and cheering reached a feverish pitch, Amber, still with her back to the others, declared, "Say hello to the 1st Marines."

The chanting and cheering eventually ceased, and then, in a breathtaking display, hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers materialized out of thin air behind General Mickey, stunning Shego and the others. The sight of this formidable and otherworldly army left them in awe, realizing that they were now part of something far grander and more mysterious than they had ever imagined.

Kim could not contain her amazement and asked, "Have they been there the entire time?"

Amber glanced over her shoulder at Kim with a knowing smile and replied, "They started landing the moment you played fist o cuffs with Mr. Stubby."

Kim's eyes widened as she realized the extent of the hidden forces at play, and she could not help but feel a mix of wonder and gratitude for the timely arrival of the 1st Marines.


As General Mickey lifted his sword into the air, a sense of anticipation filled the battlefield. The 1st Marines moved with precision and discipline, forming an imposing formation. When they finally went still, every soldier trained their guns on the Lowardians, who were caught off guard.

In a swift and coordinated action, General Mickey swung his sword toward the ground, and every Marine opened fire simultaneously, unleashing a devastating volley that took down dozens of Lowardians. Following the deadly barrage, Mickey gave the order to charge, and the 1st Marines surged forward, heading straight for the disarrayed Lowardian ranks.

Kim and her companions watched in awe as the battle unfolded before them, realizing that they were now amid a conflict that was unlike anything they had ever experienced before.


During the charge, Grey glanced at Amber and remarked, "We're still having trouble with their flagship."

Amber's gaze shifted to the ship hovering above them, and she replied, "We'll take care of that pesky fly ourselves."

Grey nodded and began to move, but Amber stopped her with a request, "Captain, please keep the cherubs and rats back to protect our priority. The marines will not stop Mr. Stubby; they will only delay him. Do everything in your power to slow him down, even if it means tackling him to the ground. If it comes to that, never let go," before Grey carried on with her orders.

Amber's final three words, "never let go," sent an unsettling shiver through Shego. Her gaze remained fixed on the woman, who, to Shego's surprise, appeared fearful. Shego could not help but narrow her eyes suspiciously to Amber, puzzled by the unexpected reaction. Shego's mind was filled with the haunting words "Never let go," echoing in her thoughts as she tried to comprehend the terrified look on Amber's face. Before she could question it, her vision suddenly went black, and she felt like she had passed out.


When Shego regained consciousness, she found herself in a world transformed. Surrounded by pristine grass and flourishing trees, her hometown city lay before her, fully restored, a stark contrast to the ruins she remembered. The surreal sight left her in awe as she took in the familiar landmarks and concrete markers that had been restored to their former glory.

A sense of astonishment washed over her, and she could not help but take a step back, inadvertently bumping into a tombstone. Shego's gasp of shock echoed through the tranquil scene as she read the name engraved on the tombstone, accompanied by the three haunting words Amber had spoken. A chilling realization gripped her, but before she could question this vision, the tombstone crumbled into a fine powder, and darkness once again enveloped her.


As Shego regained consciousness once more, she found herself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by the gentle sound of rain. Gradually, her vision cleared, revealing an opening through which she gazed. Her heart raced as she recognized the man standing there, the same man whose torn visage had tormented her nightmares. She tried to say her pet name to him, but her voice failed her.

Horror washed over her as she watched the man mouth the words "never let go" before disintegrating into dust, carried away by the wind. Shego screamed his pet name with all her might, and then everything faded to black once more.


Shego's vision cleared again, returning her to the place where the visions had begun. But everything had changed. There were no clashing armies, no chaos—only an eerie stillness, accompanied by the soft rustling of the wind through the grass.

Bewildered, Shego scanned her surroundings, struggling to comprehend the inexplicable shift. As she turned around to investigate further, the sound of someone clearing their throat caught her attention. Startled, she quickly turned her gaze to the source of the sound. There stood the woman she thought she knew, Amber, clad in the familiar blue dress from the hotel, her presence a perplexing enigma in this altered reality.

The encounter with Amber had left Shego with an overwhelming sense of unease, as she grappled with the profound mystery of what had just transpired. The cryptic visions, the haunting words, and the inexplicable shift in her surroundings left her questioning the true connection between Amber and this enigmatic experience. She could not help but feel that there was more to this than she could possibly comprehend.

Her unease and confusion were palpable as she turned her gaze toward Amber, searching for answers. Her voice quivered slightly as she asked, "What's going on? Where is everyone?"

The dramatic shift in her surroundings, the absence of the army, and the eerie stillness had left her disoriented and craving clarity.

Amber, maintaining her composure, responded calmly, "You don't have to concern yourself about them right now."

Shego, still grappling with the whirlwind of emotions and strange occurrences, asked simply, "What do you mean?"

Amber proceeded to explain, "We are in your mind right now. Once we return to the real world, it will be as if time had stood still. This is the best way for us to have a conversation."

Shego's confusion deepened, her brows furrowing as she grappled with the surreal nature of her current situation. "How... how is this possible?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Amber, with a subtle smile, began to shed light on the extraordinary abilities she possessed. "We have the ability, among other things, to project images into people's minds that they perceive as reality," she explained, her words helping to demystify the puzzling experiences Shego had just endured.

As Shego's understanding grew, she could not help but confront Amber with a sense of concern. "You're the reason Jes thinks Kim can go mystic monkey," she stated, her voice carrying both comprehension and a hint of frustration.

Amber simply nodded in acknowledgment, prompting Shego to delve deeper into her motives. "Why would you do that to him?" she questioned, her curiosity driving her to seek answers.

Amber's reply was laced with regret as she admitted, "That was a mistake. We thought if he saw someone who never had the powers, able to do it, maybe it would encourage him."

Seeking further clarification, Shego pressed, "Why was that a mistake?"

Amber responded, her tone weighed down by the weight of her explanation, "Because for someone to go mystic monkey, it involves an emotional connection."

Shego's intrigue deepened as she absorbed Amber's revelations. She could not help but probe further, seeking to understand the depth of Amber's knowledge. "How do you know that?" she inquired, her curiosity propelling her to dig deeper.

Amber, in response, disclosed a valuable piece of information that shed light on her understanding. "Because one time, when Jacob... Ron was saner, we got him to explain it to us. The first time he did it, he felt love for Kim and concern for her safety. During the unknown war, he felt anger and a desire for revenge."

Concern for Jes was evident in Shego's voice as she inquired further, "So Jes won't be able to?"

Amber responded with a hint of optimism, "There's always hope," but her choice of words earned her a disapproving look from Shego. Quickly, Amber clarified, "We mean Hope Lawson."

Shego's reluctance to put Hope in harm's way and to rely on Jes going mystic monkey was palpable as she voiced her concerns. "So, what I have to do is put Hope in harm's way and hope Jes will go mystic monkey?"

Amber nodded in confirmation but added a note of discomfort, "We don't like the idea ourselves."

Still uneasy about the prospect of endangering Hope, Shego questioned Amber's hesitation to confront Calamous and the Lowardians directly. "Why can't you deal with Calamous and the Lowardians?" she asked, her frustration evident in her tone.

Amber chuckled softly at the notion but replied with a grave seriousness, "We can't."

This answer left Shego even more frustrated, and she retorted, "Why can't you? With your abilities, you're more than capable."

Amber let out a sigh, her expression growing solemn as she explained the dire consequences of her actions. "While we are more than capable, we would have to use our full potential, which would destroy us, setting off a firestorm that would consume the world."

Shego's response was a simple "Oh," but Amber's gravity-filled words left no room for doubt about her willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect her loved ones. Their conversation had revealed the immense stakes and the profound determination that Amber harbored within her, leaving Shego to contemplate the gravity of their situation. Amber's intense gaze prompted Shego to inquire further. She could not help but wonder about the potential solutions available.

"What about Ron, couldn't he deal with Calamous?" she asked, searching for alternative options.

Amber's response carried a sense of regret as she shook her head, dismissing the idea of Ron being a solution.

She explained the unfortunate circumstances, saying, "If we had two more weeks, we would have cured Ron's madness, but because of a stupid supernova...we miscalculated, Jes is our only choice. If he doesn't go mystic monkey, we will use our full potential to save everyone."

As Amber revealed more about her role and actions, Shego began to see the depth of Amber's commitment. A subtle smile crossed her lips as she recognized that Amber shared more similarities with the love of her life than she had initially thought.

These thoughts led Shego to pose another question, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean by 'cure Ron'?"

Amber sighed, acknowledging the complexity of her actions, before continuing her explanation, "Not long after we came back into the world, we discovered Kim was still alive. We learned where she was, how she managed to survive, and found a way to cure her of her madness. We helped her inject the cure into herself, and..."

Shego finished her sentence with a sense of understanding, "unleashed the demon onto the world," while recalling how Kim had escaped from prison.

Amber's response was laden with remorse, and she spoke with a heavy tone, "We didn't know it would do that to her. We had already injected ourselves with the other vial to cure our madness and to see if there were any side effects. If we had known we would find Ron alive while chasing after Kim, we would have kept that other vial so it wouldn't have taken six months to recreate that serum for Ron."


Observing the tears in Amber's eyes, Shego could not discern the exact emotions behind them. Whether they were driven by regret for unleashing the demon or not being able to cure Ron sooner remained a mystery. With genuine sympathy, Shego asked a probing question, "Why did you go out of your way to help Kim and Ron?"

Shego's question aimed to pierce through the layers of mystery, seeking to understand the motivations that had driven Amber to take such extraordinary actions in the first place. Each answer seemed to unravel more of the intricate tapestry of their shared history.

Amber's face contorted with a complex mix of sadness and anger in response to Shelia's question. Her emotions reached a breaking point as she burst into tears, her words filled with pain as she confessed, "All that Kim and Ron went through, the pain and suffering was our fault!"

Shego's shock at Amber's outburst and admission was palpable, but she responded with gentle kindness as she asked, "How was all that your fault?"

Amber's emotions were overwhelming her, and Shego could tell that something deeply troubled her. After a moment of pacing, Amber spoke with a croaky voice due to her crying, "Kim and Ron would have never resorted to saving the world themselves if..."

But she trailed off, hesitating to continue. Shego was determined to understand and asked, "If what?"

She sensed that there was a crucial piece of information Amber was holding back, and she wanted to uncover the truth.

Amber's soft-spoken admission carried a weight of regret as she revealed, "If we had stayed in the world and saved it ourselves."

Amber's downcast gaze and her palpable remorse were unmistakable signs of her inner turmoil, and it was evident to Shego that there was much more to this enigmatic woman than met the eye. She felt a growing sense of concern and suspicion, and she needed to confirm her suspicions. She watched Amber carefully, realizing that the truth behind her actions might be more complex than she had initially thought.

Determination coursed through Shego as she pressed on, her desire for answers unwavering. She bluntly asked, "Who are you really?"

Amber's continued silence and refusal to provide answers only intensified Shelia's suspicion and anger. She repeated her question with even greater urgency, demanding, "Who are you?"

Amber's reticence to answer, despite Shego's anger, only deepened the mystery. It was clear that Amber held a profound secret, and Shego could not let it remain hidden any longer. Frustration and anger welled up inside her, causing her hands to emit a green glow. She was ready to force the truth out of Amber.

In a fit of intense emotion, Shego clenched her teeth and yelled once more, "Who are you?"

After a tense moment, Amber finally spoke, her tone gentle but cryptic, "All you ever had to do is look with your heart, and you would have seen the truth."


Shego, still baffled and growing even angrier, was about to interrupt when something extraordinary happened. She caught sight of Amber's eyes, which had undergone a remarkable transformation. They had shifted from their original green to a striking sky blue, leaving Shego gasping in astonishment. The sight of this transformation left her in awe, and she could not believe her eyes.

Tears streamed down Shego's cheeks as she finally managed to ask the question that had been burning in her heart, her voice trembling with hope and longing, "Is it really you?"

Amber's silent nod confirmed the truth of her identity, and a wave of overwhelming emotions washed over Shego. She could not hold back her tears of relief and joy.

Still, despite the powerful moment they were sharing, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of her mind, and she felt compelled to ask, "How can I know that to be true?"


In response, Amber's form began to distort and warp, undergoing a surreal transformation into a man whom Shego immediately recognized. He appeared unharmed and much younger than the last time she had seen him. The man's presence sent shockwaves through Shego as she realized who he was.

His voice, tinged with a gentle southern accent, held a sense of authenticity as he calmly stated, "We don't have a reason to lie about this."

Shego was confronted with the undeniable truth, and her emotions swirled in a tumultuous whirlwind of disbelief, astonishment, pain, and anger. The presence of the man she had longed to see once more was both a blessing and a curse, and the flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Shego confronted him, her voice a mixture of anguish and frustration, "You were right there and said nothing."

He appeared hurt by her words but replied, "We had our reasons."

Shego's anger flared, and she retorted, "Reasons?! What excuse could you give me that justifies you being right there the whole time, while you let me think you were dead...again!"

He offered no excuses, simply stating, "We don't have one."


Suddenly, the scenery around them began to rush by, and in seconds, they were back in the real world, leaving Shego to grapple with the emotions and revelations of their encounter. Back in the real world, Sheila's gaze remained fixed on the woman she had thought she knew, who now looked back at her with a mixture of pity and pain, her eyes returning to their original green color. They shared a silent moment of understanding before Amber spoke.

With a sense of resolve, Amber said, "Now, if you can excuse us, we've got something to deal with," and in an instant, plates materialized around her neck, forming a visor and helmet that covered her head.

Amber's actions indicated that she had her own responsibilities to attend to, leaving Shego to process the profound revelations and emotions that had unfolded during their encounter.

Shego halted Amber by saying, "Before you go, I got something I need to say to you."

Her words caused the plates forming into a helmet to stop and recede, reveling the woman's face once again.

Shego approached Amber with determination, locking eyes with her as she closed the distance. She scrutinized Amber's eyes for a moment before leaning in, whispering, "I just wanted to say...go give them hell... Mal," a rare smile appearing on her face after saying the pet name.

Amber's response was equally unexpected; she whispered back in a man's voice, "Will do, Sheila."

The surprise of this moment left Shego momentarily stunned. Before she could react, Amber's visor and helmet quickly snapped into place, and she disappeared in a puff of grey smoke. As Amber vanished into the grey smoke, Shego stood there, her mind racing with a mix of emotions. She had expected a heartfelt exchange, but the brief encounter had taken an unexpected turn. Shaking off her surprise, she turned her attention back to the ongoing battle.


Following Amber's abrupt disappearance, Kim approached Shego, her curiosity piqued. "Who was she?" Kim inquired, her gaze shifting between the fading remnants of Amber's presence and Shego's enigmatic expression.

Shego, momentarily lost in her thoughts and the spectacular display of explosions on the massive Lowardian ship above, took a moment before responding. With a wry smile, she chuckled softly at the chaotic scene unfolding before them.

Then, she turned her attention back to Kim and uttered a cryptic reply, "The puppet master."

"Alright," Kim responded, clearly puzzled at her statement, before continuing, "So, do you have any ideas on how to trigger Jes into going mystic monkey?"

"There's always hope," Shego remarked, her words hanging in the air with an air of mystery that left Kim bewildered. Shego's smile, though enigmatic, carried a hint of significance that eluded Kim's understanding.

Shego maintained her enigmatic smile as she observed Kim's puzzled expression. Then, she summoned Captain Grey with a wave of her hand. After a brief pause, Captain Grey made her way over to Shego and inquired, "What do you need?"

Shego's next words caught both Grey and Kim off guard, "I need Christine to shoot Calamous again." Kim's brow furrowed in even greater confusion, mirroring Grey's bewildered expression.

Grey tilted her head in confusion, trying to make sense of the situation. She repeated Shego's request, seeking clarification, "Shoot Calamous again?"

Shego simply nodded in response, maintaining her enigmatic demeanor. Grey, though skeptical, accepted Shego's request, acknowledging with a hint of doubt, "Alright, but don't expect it to do much." She then called for Christine to join them.

After Christine joined them, Shego took a moment to personally explain her request to the puzzled woman. Christine tilted her head in confusion, but as Grey encouraged her to comply, she began to grasp the unusual plan. With a giggle, the woman soldier went off to get into position. While Christine prepared for her task, Grey efficiently briefed the Zeekas on the upcoming plan, ensuring they understood their roles. She instructed them to ensure Christine had a clear line of sight when she was ready to take her shot.


A few moments later, static and crackling emerged from Grey's communication device as she prepared to give the order. Her voice held a determined tone as she addressed the soldiers, "Alright, boys, part the sea."

In response to her command, the marines moved in perfect unison, creating a clear path through the battlefield. Amidst the chaos of the battle, a giant, blue-skinned man fought valiantly among the closest marines, drawing the attention of everyone on the field. However, he abruptly stopped his furious combat as he witnessed something unexpected.


His colossal blue form froze in place as his eyes locked onto a lone woman lying prone across the field from him. Recognition flickered across his face, for she referred to herself as "buttercup" earlier. Her intent was unmistakable as he observed her looking through the scope of her rifle, her weapon trained directly at him.

In an almost surreal gesture, she lifted her head from the scope, her gaze locking with Calamous's. For just a moment, she raised her hand toward him, as if waving in acknowledgment. Then, she returned her focus to the scope, her aim steady and unwavering. The battlefield held its breath as the tension between the two adversaries reached its peak.

In the next moment, all eyes were fixed on Christine. The gun flashed, and a gunshot echoed through the battlefield. A man's agonized scream pierced the air, diverting their attention. They turned their gaze toward the source of the sound, only to witness Calamous collapsing to the ground. He lay there momentarily before rising, his gaze fixated on Christine, his face contorted with hatred. His hands began to emit an eerie blue glow, and he lifted one of them, pointing it directly at the woman lying prone.

Calamous unleashed a powerful bolt of blue energy toward Christine, but she displayed remarkable agility. With a swift and precise roll on the ground, she narrowly avoided the deadly projectile. In response to the imminent threat, Christine showed incredible speed as she steadied her aim and fired her gun at Calamous once more. The bullets struck him multiple times, knocking him down or staggering him backward. Yet, despite the pain and wounds inflicted upon him, Calamous's determination to reach Christine remained unshaken.

He relentlessly fired blue bolts of energy at her, each attack more ferocious than the last. Christine's agile dodges continued to thwart his attempts to strike her, the tension in the air growing with each passing moment as they engaged in this deadly dance.


With Calamous closing in on Christine, Shego urgently turned to Hope and issued a command. "Use your powers to protect her," she instructed, her voice filled with concern and determination.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Christine had taken aim once more and fired another shot at Calamous. The bullet struck him, sending him reeling backward. However, Calamous, though wounded, showed a rapid regenerative ability, healing instantly. With a furious roar, he lunged toward Christine, his relentless pursuit undeterred by the injuries he had sustained.

Seeing the impending danger, Hope, who had been watching over the battlefield, reacted swiftly. She ran to Christine and extended her arms, and a light blue energy shield formed in front of her. The shield shimmered with an ethereal glow as Calamous lunged at Christine, but he was repelled by the protective barrier when Hope ran up between them.

Calamous, frustrated by his failed attack, continued to press forward, striking the shield relentlessly, knocking Hope to a knee. Hope struggled to maintain the shield's integrity under the relentless assault, her energy waning with each blow. She knew she could not hold out much longer.

With Hope maintaining her protective shield, Kim's powers flared once more. Her eyes turned an intense shade of glowing blue, signifying her powers had come back.

Seeing this, Shego urged her to help Hope. Kim swiftly vanished into a blue mist with a smile on her face, reappearing right at Calamous's head. In a powerful and precise move, she unleashed a devastating kick to his head, interrupting his assault on Hope's shield. The unexpected attack left Calamous staggered and disoriented.

As Calamous's rage intensified, he continued his relentless assault on Hope's shield, determined to break through. However, Kim's teleportation abilities allowed her to move around him with unparalleled agility. She appeared and disappeared in rapid succession, striking Calamous from various angles. Each hit, each dodge, and each teleportation only served to further enrage him, making him lose focus and coordination in his attacks. The battle had turned into a chaotic flurry of movements and strikes.


As Hope continued to maintain her protective shield around Christine, Shego sprinted over to Jes, realizing the urgency of the situation. She urged him to act.

"She can't keep this up forever. Go mystic monkey and save her!" Shego implored, her voice laced with urgency.

Jes's voice quivered with sorrow as he admitted, "I don't think I can," but then he gasped, struck by an unexpected voice that whispered in his ear.

The voice declared, "I won't save anyone else; this is up to you. If you love her, then you must be the one to save her."

The whispering voice stirred something profound within Jes. He watched with a heavy heart as Hope struggled to maintain her powers. Calamous struck the shield, causing it to flicker and fade, and Hope fell to her hands and knees. She summoned the strength to bring the shield back up, but Calamous was relentless in his assault.

Just as Calamous was about to strike the shield again, Kim intervened, preventing him from shattering it once more. In a desperate reaction, Calamous managed to knock

Kim away, leaving her stunned. He then proceeded to disable Hope's shield once again. As the shield dissipated and Hope's glowing hands flickered, her struggles became evident because she was not able to bring the shield back.

Witnessing this dire situation, Jes could only whisper in despair, "No."

As Jes witnessed Calamous preparing to stomp on Hope, he could not contain his fear and desperation. He screamed, "No!"


A brilliant blue light shot up into the sky, illuminating the battlefield. The light coalesced into a swirling vortex of energy before descending back down in the form of a radiant blue aura that surrounded Jes. The sudden burst of light shooting into the sky caused Calamous to freeze in his tracks, his menacing intent momentarily halted.

Upon witnessing Jes successfully transform into the mystic monkey, Shego flashed a triumphant smile at him. Without wasting a moment, she urged him on, saying, "Go get him!"

In a breathtaking leap, Jes soared over the battlefield, gracefully landing between Hope and Calamous. At that precise moment, he unleashed a devastating kick of unparalleled force, driving Calamous into the ground and leaving behind a substantial crater where Calamous had landed.

Jes felt a surge of energy coursing through him. His blue-glowing eyes locked onto a distant, shimmering light. With resolute purpose, he extended his hand toward the light, and in an instant, the Lotus Blade materialized within his grasp. The blade, forged from the same otherworldly metal that had the power to harm Calamous, gleamed with an ethereal radiance.

The battle that ensued ended swiftly after this fateful moment. As Calamous climbed out of the crater, Jes wasted no time. He lunged forward, driving the Lotus Blade deep into Calamous's chest. A blinding burst of radiant energy enveloped them both.

As the radiant energy that enveloped Calamous, he saw a vision—a little girl in a blue dress. She stood before him, her arms folded in front of her, and she mouthed silent words, "I told you so," before breaking into a serene smile that carried a message of mockery.

When the brilliance subsided, Calamous had disappeared, and the Lotus Blade, having served its purpose, dissolved into shimmering particles of light, leaving only a lingering echo of its ominous presence. Victory had been achieved, and the battlefield fell silent, save for the soft hum of the vanquished blade before it, too, faded into the ether. Everyone watched in awe and relief as Jes, still in his mystic monkey form, stood victorious.


As Calamous dissipated in a radiant burst of energy, the Lowardians on the battlefield fell into a stunned silence. Their spirits had been shattered by the mystical spectacle, leaving them disheartened and without the will to continue the fight. One by one, they lowered their weapons, their faces etched with uncertainty and resignation.

Seizing the opportunity, the 1st Marines cautiously closed in on the Lowardians, surrounding them in a tense standoff. The air crackled with unease as both sides locked eyes, neither eager to take the first step. The outcome of this precarious moment teetered on the brink.

Then, as if emerging from thin air, Wardom appeared among the Lowardians. He stepped forth from a shroud of gray mist that enveloped him. His presence commanded immediate attention, and he raised his hands, urging his fellow Lowardians to lay down their weapons and surrender.

"Enough blood has been spilled today," Wardom declared with solemn authority. "Our cause lies in ruins, and further battle will only bring us further suffering. It is time to end this conflict and seek a peaceful resolution."

His words resonated deeply with some of the Lowardians, who began to lay down their arms, recognizing the futility of their resistance. Slowly, the palpable tension began to dissipate, and the standoff gradually transformed into a procession of surrender.


Shego, finding a quiet spot beside the very rubble where the woman she thought she knew had been lying earlier, lowered herself to the ground. Exhausted and emotionally drained, she observed the touching scenes unfolding around her.

The embrace between Jes and Hope stood as a testament to their unbreakable bond, their faces radiant with relief after the harrowing events they had endured. Kim and Ron's reunion, a moment a decade in the making, was filled with tears and laughter.

Amidst the remnants of the battlefield, the victorious men and women were reunited with their loved ones. Relief and joy flowed freely as families embraced, friends clung to each other, and partners held each other close.

During this heartwarming scene, Shego's eyes were drawn to Captain Grey and Mickey as they shared a heartfelt hug. It was a moment of triumph, a testament to the resilience and unity of those who had faced incredible odds and emerged victorious. The battlefield, once fraught with danger and uncertainty, had transformed into a place of reunions and shared happiness.

Shego's gaze then shifted to the Zekka fighters roaring low over the battlefield. Their sleek forms cast shadows across the scorched earth below as laser scanners mounted on their wings and fuselages meticulously swept the ground. These advanced sensors were designed to detect any remnants of the conflict, be it weapons, equipment, or even fallen soldiers.

As the lasers scanned the terrain, they locked onto traces of the recent battle. Any item or debris that bore signs of the intense struggle vanished in a flash of light. Shego observed these disappearing remnants of the battle, recalling what Grey had mentioned about this procedure.

It was a surreal sight to witness as the remnants of the conflict were swiftly and silently whisked away, leaving behind a battlefield that was erasing its own scars. The Zekka fighters continued their careful scan, ensuring that no trace of the battle remained, allowing the land to begin its slow process of healing.

As she observed these events, Shego could not shake the nagging longing for the woman she thought she knew. Her eyes drifted to the distant fleets, massive ships that hovered above in silence.

In a hushed, almost pleading tone, she whispered to herself, "Where are you, Mal?"

Next chapter: How it Ends

"Happy anniversary"

"They are me"

"Hey Shego and... Amber"

A/N: the plural speaking was not an accident; its intention would be explained in the ending...the last chapter.