Chapter One Hundred: The Taste Of Strength

Since her previous conversation, Penny had been making great strides in gathering better control over her abilities. And whilst her mind found itself still clouded, she had a constant flow of support from her mother and Keera.

Though Keera Had never made it a point to bond with anyone, simply due to wanting to remain indifferent, she found that Penny had been someone she wanted to help. On some level, Penny's eagerness to learn had inspired Keera to teach what she knew, and even though magic was still a huge step into the unknown for the both of them, they could learn together as they went.

Keera had worked closely with Penny on being able to master duplication and Raven learned by watching. Eventually, though it took no short amount of time, Penny was able to perform it. And whilst, she would still require training as she could not be of any major use yet, she had a willing and patient teacher.

" Remain to remain calm.." Keera watched on as Penny raised her hand and a billyhog in the distance began to split into two seperate creatures. " Good!" Keera congratulated.

" I think I'm finally beating my time on it. 3 seconds faster than before " Penny smiled as she lowered her hand, smiling with excitement. " Yes but don't push yourself. You are doing good! " Keera placed her hand on Penny's shoulder in order to congratulate.

" Thank you!" Penny turned and leaped forward and hugged Keera tightly who was not quite sure how to react. After a few seconds, Keera relented and wrapped her arms around Penny, welcoming the embrace.

" I'm proud of you sweetie" Raven smiled as she watched on from the table where she had been preparing dinner. The billihogs, though a tough meat, proved to be quite delicious and nutritious.

Penny and Keera walked over and sat down at the table, readying themselves for dinner which Raven assured them would be done soon as she roasted the meat over an open fire.

" I'm glad I'm making progress but..I want to learn even more. I want to do the things that Noone has ever even attempted. I want to be the best that I can be..I want..I want to make a difference. I want to be stronger" Penny's thoughts went back to Kara. All the potential, all the power, and yet, she had squandered it completely. Penny refused to make that same mistake.

" You will, if you keep up this determination, you'll get where you want to be. But don't compare yourself to others..because you are not them. The choices that you will make will never be their choices. And if you follow your own intuition, then you will not be lead astray" Keera assured Penny who seemed to doubt whether that were true.

" It just feels as though I've been making mistakes. And for the 1st time in a long time I'm finally feeling as though I'm capable of being more than just a body..in this world. I feel like I can do something..make a change and I don't wanna mess that up" Penny looked Keera deep within her dark brown eyes, and smiled. " And thanks to you, I feel like I won't"

Keera revealed a half smile and then stared down at the table, as though she were trying to hide her expression from the ever eager Penny. " I used to think that I was destined to fail. That because of who my family is I was destined to stand out and be labeled as something that was nothing more than a disease on the world. But I realized much later, that I can choose my own fate. I can choose what I do and what happens to me on some level. So I chose the life I live and I don't regret it because I know the other life that was proposed for me, would have been horrible. Plus, I didn't have much of an option" Keera laughed.

" But you and your mother are doing good things. Your hearts are in the right place and you will both will be the first to probably resolve issues that Noone else ever could..and that..that's something to be proud of. So what if you make mistakes? Life is about making mistakes. But we learn from them and we grow from them. And for what it's worth, I believe in you " Keera's words meant more to Penny than she could ever know. The hope that she instilled was more than enough to motivate her through these challenging times.

" Alright you two" Raven placed the meal of veggies and meat on the table, three servings, and sat down after wiping the sweat from her brow.

" I am not a cook by nature, so you'll have to excuse if it's not great but..I did the best I could" Raven excused as Keera immediatly dug into the meal, scarring down in a manner of seconds.

" Damn..hungry? " Penny watched on in astonishment.

" What can I say? Your mom's a good cook" Keera smiled.

" Well there is more over by the fire if you would like some. I made sure too make alot so that - " before Raven could finish, Keera lept up and dashed off for a second helping.

" Well at the very least, you are making progress" Raven began digging around her own plate and began eating.

" I am trying. Honestly, without you and Keera..I don't feel like I would have made it so far" Penny stared down at her food but couldn't find the hunger to eat.

" sweetie, let's not go around it. I haven't really done anything..Keera has been the one training you" Raven had originally been upset about the bonding between the two. However, To see that her daughter was happy brought Raven some level of peace. The scene does though her daughter could learn far more from Keera than she ever could her mother.

" You gave birth to me..or..will give birth to me at least. But you brought me into this world. And no, you didn't raise me but at the same time, you have been here to help and protect me. And anything I want to know or learn, you'll teach me to the best of your ability. Keera knows things that you don't and you know things that she doesn't. I think with both of you by my side, I can actually be better..good enough for what this world needs" Penny smiled, as Raven stopped eating, trying to hold back her tears.

" I love you Penelope" Ravens lips began to quiver. " I love you too Mom " and with that, Penny finally began to eat.

" We need more meat" Keera called from behind them, covered in the juices from the stack of meat she had just devoured.