"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
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Shantae: Half Genie Hero - "Neo Burning Town"
"So I go up up and essentially do a kick flip… But with magic?" Tilting her head to the side as she slowly walked out the gates from scuttle town and towards the lilac fields.
In her hands were a set of scrolls she rummaged through.
There were a lot of technical details included however Shantae was not exactly the theoretical type; a fact that the royal knights at the sultana's palace would back up. "Oooh~ I can then link it into a spinning drop kick for extra damage. Be good to test these on those annoying little dirt dogs."
The idea of putting those bastards (who literally just jump out of nowhere to attack anyone on their way through the fields) in their place… Well, she was not about to say no to that. Plus she had a very good reason to head towards the town in that direction.
She needed to know what that darn pirate was planning.
"It was either a water town to the east or oasis town to the west; I would have loved to meet up with Sky at oasis town as she could probably figure all this out in a weekend. But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even be able to make it past the Naga let alone those crimson carapiced cunts…" Deflating with a long drawn out sigh as she remembered how painful it was to cross that area.
Still she continued to rifle through the documents till arriving at the last two.
Although there were quite a lot of words, along with diagrams, there were actually only four techniques scrolls for her to learn from.
However, they seemed strong enough.
Especially the third and forth techniques if what she was reading was true. "Huh so it takes a second to charge up but launches me forward while preventing me from taking any kind of harm. Can even be chained into the second which launches me up as a typhoon of genie shaped death - these abilities are really kick ass now that I look at them!"
Her smile only grew as she used both hands to hold the scrolls in front of her face. "May still struggle with the naga cliffs but, if I can learn these, I can probably get through the girls desert with ease..."
Finally looking up the scrolls only to see a little round thing with a mad overbite (along with even a meaner pair of eyes) shoot out of the ground. A javelin held in its short little hands and for a moment the half-genie couldn't help ponder how that freak got so high when it doesn't even have knees. At least until that dirt dog chucked its weapon towards her only for three more to somehow just appear from nowhere.
Fortunately those projectiles were far slower than the ones Risky was so inclined to regularly toss her way in a violent fashion. At the same time she still was not one to run away. Rather than back away she charged forward with her head low to avoid getting skewered by one of the three spears.
She also didn't bother to wait for the thing to get in range as she jumped into the air at the same time as whipping her hair forward. With a little magic involved she ended up becoming a whirling blade of monster-based death that sliced right through the mud dog. Just in time for another to poke its head out of the dirty ground.
Just as it was preparing to propel itself out to get the drop on her…
She got the drop on it.
Converting the momentum into a powerful drill-akin drop kick that made the little bugger explode into black smoke before he could even think of throwing his spear.
Though she did also forget to look at what was behind that dirty bipedal beach ball.
As it turned out the answer to that question was a pit of spikes.
Taking a deep breath only for more of those things to jump out the ground as if it was some kind of party that only they knew about. Not exactly in position to do kickflips at the moment. So instead she made the valiant manoeuvre of rolling across the dusty floor causing the dried mud/dust to fly about.
Fortunately that was enough to dodge most of the spears and let her quickly scramble up to her feet with all the grace of an elephant. Once she was on her feet, though, she instantly swung her head forward to send her hair toward them like a spear. Only for it to miss due to those things being below her knees.
"I hate the small ones - new plan!" Narrowing her eyes she looked at the bastards surrounding her then the pit behind…
And promptly broke into a sprint toward the pit before jumping over to the other side.
"Get over that you ugly munchkins!" Snorting loudly then turned around with a huff; intent to pretend that never happened with one last finger to the snarling monsters. Only to see a fairly tiny pike sticking out of her upper arm that she nearly ended up poking her eye out with.
For a moment she just froze while looking at it only to mumble under her breath. "Damn it - not again…"
Shoulders slumping in defeat only for her breath to hitch as her body not only remembered not only the injury but that the injury would be aggravated by shrugging. Hissing as she grabbed the thing only to pull it forcibly out of her arm to throw it into the pit behind. "Fortunately I stocked up on potions beforehand."
Sliding the scrolls between her fairly average sized bossom only for them to somehow vanish into her cleavage. Pulling out a small blue bottle in their place. Pulling off the cap then throwing it back - swallowing the entire bottles worth of liquid.
Almost immediately her wound glowed only to vanish.
"More amazing when you're awake to see it~." Laughing merrily as she returned the empty bottle to between her boobs while starting to run off down the path. "At least I know how to deal with those little mud spheres; they have stumpy legs so won't be able to catch up to me!"
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30 Seconds Later
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"Wheat fields make sense in a place called lilac fields, sure, but why the hell include scarecrows that constantly respawn like some kind of sadist!" Jumping so high that she sailed right over a scarecrow who reached out. Of course she didn't forget to become a spinning blade of death.
Trying to drop kick another only to end up landing right in front of it rather than on its head. Eyes widening as she looked up at the strawman who already had its claws raised and ready to strike her down. It was at that moment she remembered the moment she took down one tinkerbat only to get shot by the second.
All because she overextended; leaving herself out of position.
It was just then that she remembered a certain dance move that came in rather useful when something was thrown at her in the dance pallor.
But she also remembered tales of genies infusing magic into their dances to generate magical effects.
Magic filled her body once more as she attempted a simplistic movement with a circular flare; the most shocking part is the fact it actually worked! Sending her flying back as she spun. Resulting in her being out of reach and leaving the scarecrow looking at his claw in confusion.
This time it was her turn to take advantage of someone else's confusion - running forth to deliver a powerful hair swipe towards the monster. Although she also didn't bother to stick around to bask in her obvious genius. "Fortunately the waterfalls and tangled woods can't be any worse than this."
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1 Minute Later
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"Why do these snakes keep coming from these holes; those tunnels can't be that expansive and no way these things actually spawn that quickly?!" Throwing her hair forward once more to piece another battalion of snakes. "Also why do only some of you have one eye - is it based on their sex like peacocks!?"
Peacocks were her favourite type of bird and she was pretty sure that there was at least a little bit of that in Sky's partner with how flashy they looked. Though Wrench didn't exactly appreciate the last time she asked him about his parents.
Shoulders slumping only for one of those snakes to take her moment of weakness to charge at her with its fangs protruding from its maw.
Fortunately she already created the perfect technique for this.
Spinning backwards, far out the way of that snake, and in front of one of the many gorgeous waterfalls that cascaded around her. What wasn't so beautiful was a ugly stone face with a maw large enough to swallow her whole. It popped out of the waterfall and attempted to do just that.
"Urgh these ugly toad like bastards are even worse - one second in front of the water and they hound you like you owe them gems - the spider infested forest was way less stressful!" Fortunately the day it took for her to travel from Scuttle Town to the waterfalls was a very productive one as far as utilizing her body to its best was concerned. With a bit of magical assistance she used her flip kick to get out of its reach.
A good thing since the chomping of its stone jaws generated a frightening *CRUNCH* even without genie bones between them. Though that once more made her thoughts wander. "Wait. if all the organs and stuff aren't really that important to me, then does a full genie even have them or are they just leftovers from my human side?"
Shaking her head to wake herself up from that nonsense as that rock faced freak sank back into the waterfall to await its next prey.
"Grr just you wait; I'll find a way to crush that gritty exterior of yours and then I'll pulp your insides till I can make a nice jam…" Narrowing her eyes as she almost felt like that supposed water dragon was sneering at her mockingly as it sank in. "You don't even look like a dragon, you overgrown stone fish!"
Clicking her tongue to look towards those reprehensible reptiles who had only increased in number during her small spat with the poolside pervert. All of them mean mugging her - at least it made for a colourful picture as some of them were red while others blue. Sadly none of them looked willing to let her pass.
"Hmm~ everything else worked fine so may as well try that charged dash mighty elbow thingy!" It appeared those snakes understood her as they began to slither over.
Shantae wasn't one to be scared easily, though, as magic built up in her figure as she stood there.
Only movement being that of her hips.
Slowly a silvery glow built up across her body as those snakes got just in range to lunge - yet they were too late as she suddenly dashed forward turning the entire swarm into dust. Clattering of gems behind as she found herself sliding past the caves… And right down another inconvenient hole in the path.
*splash*
"Urgh… Okay so what is wrong with genies and not installing breaks into their techniques; at least I got past those annoying snakes easily enough by using it. Even if I should invest in a crash helmet!" Bobbing closer to the edge as she pulled herself out of the water to stand.
Shaking her hair with a bit of magical aid to get the water out.
Only to feel a small stinging pain that got her to look down… And see a snake hanging off her knee.
"DANG IT!"
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"Finally here!" Throwing her arms out as she stepped through the gates into water town.
The place was busy enough as far as towns go - not that Shantae really had much to go off since she'd hardly travelled much as it were. Most of her childhood was spent either in the palace or with her uncle mimic where she dreamed all about being a guardian. Maybe not enough learning about being a genie.
Only towns she had ever visited were water, oasis and (obviously) scuttle. All of which were not too far from each other geographically; even if their routes were monster infested. But, then again, all routes were monster infested in sequin land.
That is why the towns needed guardian genies to guard their lands.
Or had.
Scratching the back of her head she walked around to see if anything else had really changed; pushing her head through the ancient shrine only to be met with pitch black darkness. "Yup, it's still dark however I'll be back for you, mr mystical dance. Probably just gonna bring a torch next time I visit if I am going to be completely honest."
Continuing to saunter on with her hands resting behind her head as she gazed at the people wandering around the town.
Soon enough she arrived at the stairs leading towards a dojo sat atop a hill.
Despite being her destination…
she couldn't help ponder whether it was worth actually going up those stairs.
"You can do this Shantae, he may be a fool but he is one of your friends, the worst thing he could have done is get his arm stuck in the wall again. So how bad can this be?" She said before taking a sharp deep breath only to let out a long exhale she hoped would be enough to answer her prayers.
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20 seconds later
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"So… You told the infamous world renowned pirate queen where the labyrinth with the mystic artifact that generates endless water is?" Shantae asked with a vein bulging from her forehead.
Across from her was a boy casually lifting some weights. His spikey blue hair tied up to look more like the top of a pineapple due to the exercise band wrapped around his forehead. His outfit simply being a tank top, shorts and exercise bands around all limbs.
Though he looked up at Shantae it was more like he was talking to one of the boys than a beautiful girl.
Clear to everyone was the fact that he wasn't the brightest bulb in the world (hence why Shantae was currency two seconds away from strangling him) yet he just gave her a bright smile.
Fortunately Bolo shook his head proving that he was not actually that stu-
"Oh not just that; I even opened it up for her just before you got here and she flashed me her breasts as a reward for it." Nodding his head with a bright smile. Only for Shantae to understandably launch herself at him.
"BOLO YOU ABSOLUTE BAFOON - EVEN IF HER BREASTS ARE ADMITTEDLY AMAZING - SHE LITERALLY SHOT ME!" Promptly wrapping her hands around the boy's neck.
It was doubtful anyone could even blame her for her actions.