"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
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Shantae: Half-Genie Hero OST - Tassel Tower (Remains)
"What in Lucifer's hell happened to you..." That bewildered remark slipped from the lips of the only other person in the room. Though getting into semantics makes one wonder if a genie counts as a person as would it not be blasphemous to say the same about a god?
Not to say Shantae as the other girl were the only living beings in the room - the walls were lined with shelves that in turn were filled with eggs of various colours and sizes. Each with a little gem above them to radiate a soft heat. Something the woman across from the "totally fine" Shantae had previously ordered from her uncle Mimic some time ago.
Shantae stood covered almost head to toe in her own (admittedly beautiful) blood while her clothes were covered in lacerations.
Even her golden ornaments bore quite a few deep gashes.
Then there was the figure who stood in front of her with an expression that somehow perfectly mixed genuine concern with an exasperation that told of just how long she had known the troublemaker.
Those big brown eyes certainly sold the expression along with the arms crossing under her perfectly shaped and noticeably large chest. A blue tube-top with a pink lining at the top bore the weight of those breasts while the rest of her clothing only affirmed her lack of modesty. Proudly bearing it all with a pair of pink bikini bottoms.
Though wrapped around her waist was a blue-lined purple sarong. Doing little to hide her large thighs or equally bubbly butt but at least gave the feeling that she wasn't just waltzing around during broad daylight in what was essentially just a pair of panties. Meanwhile the rest of her outfit fit her job far more.
Bronze skin wrapped in leather, both her shins as well as her wrists, even if it was hard to see her left wrist under the falconer's glove. A must have accessory for a war bird trainer. Her hair was also wrapped up but it was coloured cyan and two locks slipped through the front to fall down her face.
A last bit of protection from rowdy birds (as well as guarding her bronze skin from the sun) was a hood that was secured with a collar before ending in a little cape.
"Well I may or may not have ran into a Scorpgal or three by total accident on my way here!" Shamelessly giggling while patting the back of her matted hair. Yet one look at the raised brow of the blonde haired woman told just how little she believed that troublesome half-genie.
Shifting her weight to rest on one of the nurseries as she raised a hand to bear the weight of her already aching head. Eventually deciding to address the obvious lie. "Shantae, you are like a sister to me which is why I need to tell you that lying is not your strong point; just come clean and I won't be too upset."
"W-Well I mean…" Sheepishly smiling while pushing her two index fingers against one another as she tried giving her best rendition of a puppy. "The first one was definitely an accident as I didn't notice them behind a big worm but I saw how many gems they dropped as well as thought they were quite strong so may or may not… Have… Sought a few more out…"
For a moment they just stood there in silence.
An awkward silence for Shantae who was looking at the floor waiting to see what kind of lecture she was about to receive.
With silence lasting for about half a minute she couldn't help glance up.
Only to swear she was a monstrous demon looming behind her best friend who looked at her with the brightest smile she had seen in a long time. Sadly it didn't feel like a very healthy one. At least not healthy of Shantae or the blood pressure of the one wearing it if the popping veins were anything to go by.
Before Shantae could react; that large heavy duty leather glove slammed down onto her head with the force of a thousand angry war birds.
The half-genie almost thought her eyes were going to pop out her head due to the impact as the owner of that hand "calmly" spoke. "So you've been a guardian genie for, what, a couple weeks at most and thought you could take on a species of monster as powerful as they are savage?"
"Thought you said you wouldn't be too angry, Sky?" Pouting while clutching at the bump she felt form under the mighty fist of judgement. Sadly that did little to abate the anger of the older girl who responded to it by grinding her knuckles against the guardian genies temples.
"You should feel glad that those women beat the snot out of you because if not I would." Raising her voice ever so slightly while grinding her teeth.
Although she fortunately (and finally) let Shantae go with another drawn out sigh.
"Thankfully I thought something like this may happen; because I'm sure you weren't smart enough to grab a spare set of clothes before you left. You'd be left running around in your skivvies while fighting one of the legends of our time." Raising a brow as if asking if she was wrong… Only for Shantae to turn her head.
Unable to meet Sky's eyes.
Instead she chose to let out a laugh that spoke wholly about how prepared that girl truly was. Knowing and finding out first hand were two different experiences; something Sky was having trouble with as she could only shake her head. "You can carry so much with that weird bosom magic but yet you don't bring with you the most obvious things - I bet you don't even have any potions on you at the moment."
"I-I grabbed a few but I didn't exactly have many gems… Plus you make better ones." Scratching her cheek while still refusing to make eye contact with her exhausted friend.
Just then something clicked in her head. "Wait, how do you already know I'm fighting Risky Boots and where are all your birds?"
Sky just raised a brow like Shantae was asking the question that already had the most obvious answer in the world. Partly because it was when one considered her profession. "I sold most of them directly to the Sultana's palace, since that is my job, where I learned about the attack so I contacted your uncle for the exact details of the situation as well as the fact you just started running in a random direction."
She didn't say anything else about how Shantae behaved… But that silent glowering felt far more judgemental than any words could have.
"Wait, did you sell Wrench?!" Eyes widening as Shantae screamed out in worry while clutching her cheeks in complete shock since she loved the little guy. In fact it was strange to even see Sky without that fella firmly perched on some part of her body.
Even Sky herself seemed shocked at the notion as she recoiled back with wide eyes; almost resulting in her knocking an egg out from its cubby. Fortunately she wasn't as clumsy as some other people in the room so quickly caught it before turning back to Shantae with a frown. "What, of course I didn't, I have him out doing your job for you!"
"SQUAR!"
Some genuine anger was behind her voice as she moved to put that egg back into its place just in time to hear a familiar squark from above. Only now did Shantae notice there was an open skylight above them from which a vibrantly coloured bird swooped down. Sky stretching out her gloved hand to receive the bird in one smooth movement without her even needing to turn around to watch it happen.
"Okay… That is never not cool." Mumbling with no small amount of awe present as she looked upon her ever cool headed friend. At least that is what she wanted Shantae to think; a small twitch at the corners of her lips proved that she appreciated the positive endorsement.
Still she did not forget why she sent her partner out in the first place - moving her ungloved hand to give him his scritches as he "spoke" in her ear and she in turn spoke to Shantae. "Hearing from your uncle about the steam engine then finding out from Wrench about Risky's movements I think that Risky Boots is planning to remake it but better. Using magical materials to enhance its power."
"W-Wait you figured all that out already?!" Eyes shooting wide open as she gawked at how smart her friend was - neither she nor Bolo managed to figure out what Risky's plan was.
"Don't compare me to you two; I actually know what makes us superior to monsters." Tapping her temple with a smirk as she had no shame in making fun of their shortcomings. "There is only one material on the island which could handle that much power, Golem Metal from the labyrinth, so I sent Wrench out to find the location and he'll guide you to it then help you inside."
What she didn't say was that she highly doubted Shantae's ability to decide how to open the entrance into the Golem Mine by herself.
She put both her friends below her bird when it came to metal capacity.
"Are you not going to come as well?" Tilting her head curiously.
The question actually caused Sky to freeze for a moment before a wry smile appeared. "Shantae… I'm just a human; all I know how to do is avoid monsters but you can't do something like that in there. I would just hold you down if I went into a dangerous place like a labyrinth."
Hearing that instantly brought an awkward silence between the two.
Shantae feels bad for forgetting she had unfair advantages while Sky could only be embarrassed by her own weakness making it so she can't even directly help her best friend in her time of need.
Especially when that same friend is going against someone as dangerous as Risky Boots.
Someone who faced legends like the Mercenary King.
"Anyway, enough moping about, go get changed into the clothes I got for you and I have one last thing to give to you." Turning away to step into the backroom only to return with a pile of familiar looking clothes and a little pouch on top. "Thought you'd get yourself into trouble so make something with the help of some associates; these "Escape Candies" will force you out of any confined spaces… Probably."
"Darn… That is actually really impressive - how do you even make something like that?" Taking the gifts happily but with confusion written all over her face.
Though Sky was more than happy to fill in the details. "Actually it was quite an interesting journey which all started with asking how the magic of a Shrieker actually works. Obviously it summons some kind of sentient creature on mass but where from and how does i-"
"Thanks for the stuff; gotta go now!" Unfortunately Shantae wasn't willing to hear all that now.
Hurrying into the backroom to escape the longwinded talk about what monsters' private parts were mushed up in order to create the life saving treasure.
"That girl… If I start graying before 25 I'm coming after her ass."
---
"Well this looks familiar."
"Squark?"
Shantae was standing just outside the outskirts of Oasis Town, standing atop a stone platform, looking up at a literal big worm that just so happened to be called a big worm. The people of Sequin Land were full of talented linguists. Behind that thing was also another platform with a large crimson figure somewhat hidden behind that huge elongated body.
"Time to show you two how much I have grown!" Shouting out toward the pair of monsters with a savage smirk stretching across her face.
Narrowing her eyes as she got into position to repeat how she first dealt with the worm. Wrench - who was standing on Shantae's shoulder - quickly realised what she was doing so flapped his wings to prevent himself from getting dragged along with her. Not that she actively waited for the bird to vacate.
Bursting forward then through the Big Worm in an identical scene which also meant she was about to land in front of the Scorpgal in the exact same manner. That monster seemed to be aware of that as it took a similar pose as when Shantae prepared to use her elbow charge. And that elicited an even bigger grin.
Just as the momentum from her magic infused charge was coming to an end; that forward momentum abruptly shrunk with the surplus being converted into a very familiar upwards & circular manner. In that moment she enacted an even stronger spin kick than ever before. While her first spin kick only injured (if fairly badly) the Scorpgal she hit with it - this one sliced right through the monster.
"SQUARK!"
"EH!?"
Even she was surprised at how effective that was.
The Scorpgal just looked bewildered as her two halves fell away from one another before exploding into a, by now, very familiar mixture of ash and smoke.
Shantae meanwhile flipped twice in the air before that momentum finally bled away - letting her fall to the floor and stumble forward a little. Though spreading her arms out managed to help keep herself up straight much to her own relief. "Phew… I still need a bit more practice on the landing but fortunately Wrench didn't have anything to tattle on me about…"
More than happy to take the win when she had it.
"Ready to lead the way, whose ass will I kick next, Wrench?" Looking up at the bird who was circling overheard as she (quite loudly) asked that question. In response that bird let out another cry as it began to fly in a straight line back towards the tunnel towards the Naga Wasteland.
Seeing that instantly made Shantae's shoulders fall as an exhale slipped past her lips. "I suppose I kind of left myself open for that one but that doesn't mean I'll go down silently… Well I guess those Naga are constantly screaming so it wouldn't be silent; though who cares if they are as sturdy as a Scorpgal which I can already handle!"
Grin returned as she crouched down to grab the large expensive gem that was on the floor. Following closely behind that bird while making sure to keep out of eyesight of the wandering Scorpgal's who were very much still a threat. Though, ducking under the stone outcroppings before ambushing them worked just as well as always, charging up the attack in front of them was suicide.
As such she stayed as low as possible to avoid picking a fight; she'd already proven on her way here she could beat them in a fight.
The only problem is that it took an entire day to make it towards a town not even too far away.
Fortunately she had the perfect form for that.
"Monkey power really is the greatest…" Mumbling as she took advantage of her tiny body to remain out of sight of the Scorpgal yet somehow forgetting that those monsters weren't deaf. The thing tilting its head at the very high pitched voice while Shankey (or would Montae be better?) quickly covered her mouth with both hands and a tail to make sure.
That monster girl peered over the side as Shankey remained flat against that monolith while desperately holding her breath. That beast had its gaze sweeping over the ledge… Only to snort before jumping over onto the sand below with Shankey silently watching with a cold sweat running through her brown fur.
Wondering at which moment that creature would turn around and punch a bloody hole through her cute little fuzzy body.
Surprisingly… That didn't happen.
Instead it continued to walk on without so much as glancing in her direction until it eventually hopped onto another platform then continued on. Finally that puffed up little monkey chest flattened as Shankey took a series of deep breaths to refill. "I thought I was a monkey not a snake…"
Fortunately that was the last one before the stone from which Wrench was silently just watching from atop the ladder spokes. Shantae promptly used her superior monkey powers to launch herself up into the air above the platform only to once again begin to transform. Landing in front of the ladder already in her human form.
Quickly making her way down and through as her partner for the moment swooped down to land on her shoulder as she did the former. Soon finding herself back in the Naga wasteland. Peering just between the last rungs of the ladder. Across from her she saw a beautiful woman with long purple hair and a snake tail starting from below her naval.
"Just another smoking hot monster girl to deal with; no problems." Taking a deep breath before leaping up over the ladder as Wrench quickly took to the sky as soon as he had the option.
She didn't stop for a second, charging right towards the Naga with determination, only for that monster to instantly notice her hurried approach. Jumping back into the air while opening her mouth. Shantae wasn't even able to react before the air rippled with hidden power at sonic speeds.
Since - y'know - it was a sound based attack.
Unable to dodge, she tried to just run through it only to instantly feel like someone had taken a jackhammer to all the squishy organs that were located inside her body. Blood spewing from eyes, nose, mouth and essentially every hole she could think of. Managing a few more steps before it became more of a frantic stumbling as she eventually fell under that jumping reptile.
Though she wasn't one to be outdone.
Just as that snake began to be influenced by gravity, Shantae abruptly exploded upwards, hastily activating a spin kick with her insides not appreciating even more shaking.
Blood seeped from her pours as she sliced up the serpents front eliciting a scream while also revealing that the Naga had a surprisingly beautiful voice. Though that alone was not enough to make that monster puff into smoke.
As such she gritted her teeth and forced a smile before continuing her technique's natural followup; once again shooting down in a drill-dropkick as blood seeped through her clenched teeth. The Naga's eyes going wide as her feet impacted it's head and she sailed right through. Though she didn't even try to catch herself this time.
Simply bouncing across the coral floor a few times until the momentum finally bled.
Leaving her lying at her back and looking up at the sky with a face covered in her own blood.
Managing to see Wrench who was circling overhead whom she just smiled at with teeth dyed a silverish crimson as she spoke. "Yeah… That could have gone a little better."