"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
---
"Huh… What does she think Bolo has been trying to do…?" Sky thought as she silently watched their little spat from behind the distorted trunk of one of the malefic looking trees. "I guess it was also fair to think he was just trying to copy some old wives tale he overheard in the market."
She then narrowed her eyes as she focused on Shantae's iconic magical pony tail and primary weapon that had previously made no sense. Though now… "If both of her parents were skilled with sword stuff then I guess it explains why her hair can pierce through rock in some strange, genie magic, way?"
Rubbing the back of her head with a long drawn out sigh; though she was forced to blink in complete awe upon seeing Shantae transform.
Only to… Vanish.
Becoming a purple blur that her eyes just couldn't keep up with.
"I knew she told me she was faster as a monkey but I didn't realise she was… This fast. Although, maybe this is a new improvement after she visited those ruins for that fountain." Shaking her head as she suddenly felt that weight of uselessness growing heavier.
Every single time she sat there - waiting by as Shantae charged into danger - it felt like she fell further and further behind her. At the start it didn't feel like the genie was too much stronger than a normal human let alone someone who trained a bit like she did. She may not have won a fight against her, unlimited stamina being a tough hurdle, but she could at least keep up a bit.
Yet seeing that girl fly up into the air as a harpy was a cruel reminder that even her assistance was becoming obsolete as Shantae grew.
Something to just be recalled in passing conversation like the dozens of relics that littered their lands.
Left in dirt only to be rediscovered by when some niche problem required her.
Worse still was the fact that she couldn't even gain strength like Shantae did - running out into the mud bog would be nothing short of a death wish. It was risky to even land in the place. From everything she knew it was some hell hole that just randomly popped up and was hostile to pretty much all life.
That was without accounting for the potential microscopic dangers.
There were many legends about its origins popping up over the decades it had come to be; one of the most popular being that it was a "leak" from hell after the original Lucifer was slain.
Yet there was one even more popular than that.
Some even said it may be where their newest cataclysm had been born.
Where Risky Boots herself was birthed from the greed and pride of Sequin Land.
"Pretty sure neither hell nor djinn work that way but I wouldn't be surprised if this slice of "hell" was connected to her in some way… Who knows what kind of magical bioweapon she was testing for it to end this fucked up around here." Shaking her head as she trudged back to the clearing.
Although it was then that a strange thought entered her head as she remembered that wish that ended up changing the humans of Sequin Land from the ground up. Remembering that strange yet welcoming warmth flowing through her veins. "Maybe, just maybe, magic is the answer?"
Reaching the clearing just as she came to that conclusion.
"But… How do I go about learning magic when only the elves previously could, even that was vastly more complicated than how their fae ancestors did it, requiring complex rituals…" Pondering as she sat down.
Crossing her legs as she closed her eyes while promptly deciding that mediating was probably as good an idea as anything else. Taking advantage of the eerie silence (as well as the safety of being under Hatchet's proverbial and maybe literal wing) to dive further into that feeling. Feeling the magic flowing through her as best as she could.
It was a curious sensation and certainly one that felt foreign; however it was surprisingly obvious due to spending the first twenty odd years without it. There was no actual discomfort. Yet, at the same time, it felt impossible to actually control the stuff no matter how much she "willed" to do so.
"Usually works in books but seems willpower alone just ain't enough…" Falling onto her back with a sigh as she tried to think about what else could do to make her own brand new power listen.
Or… If it was even possible.
Quickly shaking her head.
A big smile erupting on her face as she practically rocketted up to her feet.
"Every time I see Shantae she is moving about while her innate magic itself uses movement as a catalyst to activate so, with her being the template, maybe I need to do the same?" With that she began to jog while turning her attention inward. And much to her excitement… There was indeed a change.
It was slight and constantly fluctuating…
Yet her power was occasionally flowing a tiny bit more smoothly than before.
As a test - a minor proof of concept - it was all she needed.
Now she just had to figure out the exact methodology.
She was the dancing hero.
Although she didn't have the years of training in dance that Shantae possessed - she had heard plenty about the basics from that same genie. Her movements weren't exactly complex. Still, they were smooth while naturally flowing into one another in an appealing fashion.
Instantlyshe felt a difference in her magic compared to before, the flow of her magic smoother than it had ever been, with it only getting more efficient the more she practiced.
Even if "ever had been" was very short at present.
The strongest of these coming from her heart.
Yet it was also clear that her random dance manoeuvres were doing little more than letting her sparkle; it also became clear that she wasn't completely immune to her own electricity.
Feeling grateful she didn't wear more clothing. If she HAD then she would likely be very much on fire right about now - Still that comforted her very little as she brushed a hand through her hair with a sigh. Only for the lingering static to make her jump.
Rolling her shoulders as she felt every muscle in her body stiff with the continued surge of electricity that ran through them. Letting out a sigh as she mumbled to herself. "Fuck that hurt, but I guess at least I learned something, I seem to be able to generate lightening if not completely control it…"
Although a sigh left her lips, those same lips curled up into a smile, she felt as if finally she had been given a chance to catch up.
"I just need to figure out how to project the ouchie…" Going to ruffle her hair.
Only to hesitate.
---
HISSSSSS
A monstrous crab, larger than a child, hissed up at the creature standing over it with confidence in its likely makeshift home. Shantae wasn't exactly sure if the stone monument upon its back was naturally forming or looted from some now unmarked grave. Either way it gave the thing confidence.
*SPLAT**CRUNCH*
Confidence that was quickly crushed and smeared across the muddy floor on account of the giant elephant foot that slammed down on it. Seeing that resulted in the other monoliths in the area suddenly sprouting legs. Hurrying away in what should have been quite the terrifying scene.
The elephant just snorted; although due to her trunk it came out as a rather intimidating toot that made those no good monster crabs run along quicker.
She ignored them in favour of looking up at the creepy structure in front of her.
It looked every bit what you'd expect from a dungeon located in the most dangerous place in Sequin Land and it only made sense that it greeted her with rows upon rows of graves. Once again she found herself in front of an ancient tomb. "Why do adventures always have to have a portion that results in the heroine fighting undead in a tomb area!"
Letting out another annoyed huff as she let her transformation fade.
Even if she complained it wasn't as if she had much of a choice.
She'd already said she would rescue the professor, who was most likely locked away in that place, and that was exactly what she was going to do.
Entering the palace revealed more of what was to be expected.
She stood upon a raised platform looking across a vast hallway - zombie hands erupting out the floor as the room below quickly got filled with a veritable hoard. Looking up also revealed that the ceiling wasn't high enough to make flying with the harpy a very good idea. Fortunately she had another transformation.
"Although giant bugs creep me out… I can't say the extra legs don't come in handy!" With that she began to dance and in the next few seconds she transformed. Utilizing her extra limbs to quickly scarper up the wall and across the ceiling where the pesky zombies couldn't catch her.
Along the way some of Risky's bats did try to stop her yet she just opened her mouth to spray each with a potent venom that made the air hiss.
"Feels like a waste though…" She said mourningfully as she watched their gems fall.
Right into the swarm of zombies who quickly set upon them with all the gluttony of a hoard of zombies.
So all was natural in the world.
Well, about as natural as zombies could be.
Utilizing surprising dexterity to flip herself mid air to land in a crouch in front of a steel reinforced wooden door; a grin plastered on her face. "Let's see what we're dealing with this time."
Pushing that door open to unveil a sprawling yet somehow claustrophobic vertical space with multiple balconies adorned with steel bar doors. A type of door that could only be linked to one place. "Huh so I'm dealing with some kind of evil prison… Guess that kind of explains all the graves?"
Looking over her shoulder to catch a glance at the zombie filled room.
"Though that is really morbid depending on how bad those guys were in life." Shuddering as she could only imagine what kind of deranged things may have happened in a place like this.
"Now… Do I go up or down?" Pondering for a moment as she walked up to the edge to rest a foot atop the bottom bar of the surprisingly intact railing. "Well, if you are going to set up shop in a creepy place like this then you may as well go creepy as possible and nowhere is scarier than the basement of a prison!"
Moving her foot back to kick that fence and sending in careening into the abyss bellow.
Quickly jumping down after it with a grin on her face.
Then her face froze.
*THUD*
Thankfully (as she had now stress tested) her genie body was quite resilient when it came to fall damage.
Only helped by a tactical cast of invulnerability.
"Wow~ what are you doing here Tae-Tae~!" The annoyingly happy go lucky voice was the first thing that greeted Shantae after she landed at the bottom of the pit. Turning in its direction revealed a busted open steel door with that familiar zombie sitting kicking her foot about.
Sat upon the rim of a marble fountain whose centre was adorned with a plethora of women, some of which she recognised like Ele, making Shantae unable to do anything.
An exact replica of the wishing fountain she quickly visited in the forest temple.
Her brain was short circuiting with so many questions she just couldn't formulate a train of thought.
"W-WAIT I SHOULD BE THE ONE ASKING YOU THAT; WHERE DID YOU GO AND HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP HERE!?" Charging forward to shake that troublemaking zombie by her shoulders.
Yet all she did was laugh in the genie's face.
Eventually Shantae had no choice but to release the zombie from her grasp despite getting no real answer from that pesky undead. Realising that even if she forced one out of her… It would likely only cause more confusion or anger. "Sigh I don't suppose you somehow have a wishing coin, right?"
Asking her that question and, despite how impossible it should be, already expecting the absurd answer that she received.
"Hm~ oh~ you mean this little thing?" Lifting her open palm to reveal a familiar coin.
Although, when Shantae reached to grab it, that hand curled shut only to reopen to reveal that the coin had somehow vanished. Looking up to the zombie's face showed her smirking with that token now spinning between her other hands fingers. "Two hundred gems and this mint is yours~."
She didn't even try to argue as her only complaint came in the form of a sigh; promptly reaching into her bosom to pull out the required gems. Slamming them into Rottytops "conviently" already open palm as zombie flicked that coin toward the genie. Who in turn threw the coin into the water as the zombie jumped away from the monument.
"Now what form to upgrade this time…" Shantae mumbled as the waters began to glow.
Last time it was an easy choice to make since monkey form was by far her most used - being useful in getting around as well as fighting.
Being faster meant harder to hit.
It also meant less time taken in dusting monsters.
"Don't suppose I can just upgrade monkey form again?" Asking no one in particular yet getting an answer from the fountain itself; those blue waters abruptly simmering red for a second before returning back to its regular hue. "Huh… That didn't happen before but at least now I know~!"
Sadly that did not exactly get her any closer to figuring out what she was going to do with her wish; it felt like she didn't need to urgently upgrade any of them. Especially when she was currently unable to utilize her newly obtained magic when transformed. Making it so her base form… It was often more useful.
Rubbing the back of her head. "Huh what a pickle."
"That's it!" Throwing her arms out before pointing to the fountain. "Could you get the genie on the other side to teach me some new transformations instead of upgrading my current ones?"
Her answer came immediately as that fountain suddenly exploded into light as a searing headache overcame her. The white light that shined soon replaced by black as she felt gravity take over to leave her falling head first into the floor.
---
When the world returned she found herself alone once again.
Quickly looking around to see that the zombie who had been silently watching her vanished.
Disappearing just as suddenly as she appeared.
"Well… It seems new transformations were more plural than I intended; now I can transform into way more stuff than I know what to do with. Why would I even want to transform into a jar?" Wondering aloud as she shook the lingering haze from her head.
Moving her hands down to push her up only to hear the crinkling of paper under one palm - quickly lifting the source up to her face.
Only to be met with the cheeky winking face of Rottytops being rather well illustrated.
"Guess she is fine at least?" Letting out a soft chuckle as she pushed the note between her breasts.
Standing up to quickly dance in order to transform into her blue feathered form - quickly flapping her wings to take flight as she rose through the jail tower. Floor by floor with the sound of… Chewing strangely got louder the higher up she got.
When she finally reached the top she found herself in what once was probably a rec hall but had now become a banquet hall.
A gigantic cake filled table lined the place and at its head sat a figure similar to Mishmash.
Though with one very noticeable difference.
"That is one fat monster…" Shantae mumbled as she narrowed her eyes at her next target.