"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
---
Shantae was wrong.
It had been 3 days yet she found herself sitting on the steps outside the workshop.
She had to be ready for when they finally figured out a solution - there was no time to waste when it came to her mission - but that left her unable to do…Well, anything. Her friends also had their own things to do leaving her just sitting all by herself.
"Even Sky abandoned me, saying she had training to do, when did she even begin training? She probably meant she was training her birds but the way she said it was strange…" Tapping her chin as she watched a young boy meandering about in front of her uncle's home and work space.
Eventually the boy noticed her so trudged over. "Hey my father always talks about how great you are!"
Although the boy continued. "Mom even has a special phrase she always likes to use whenever you get brought up but I can't seem to remember what it is…"
"Oh… Well I'm sur-" Cut off as she boy seemed to remember.
Slamming his little fist into his palm. "Oh yeah, she calls you a skanky bimbo dressed like a harlot, I've even seen her dress up as you and the pirate lady at night so she must really like you!"
"Oh… Oh my…" Suddenly the light vanished from Shantae's eyes.
Her mind didn't exactly take long to put the pieces together.
A big grin formed on her face as she imagined how popular she was; sure she wasn't happy that they didn't respect her whole "saving them" thing but she'd honestly take what she could. Especially since she too felt she was pretty hot! "Thank you for cheering me up kid~."
Reaching over to pat him on the head only for him to nimbly avoid her hand. "My parents told me not to let the ladies on the street corner touch me as you never know what diseases they have."
"..." Once again Shantae found herself demoralised by a literal child.
---
A certain woman had been keeping herself far more busy than Shantae over the last few days.
"HIYA!" Sparks of blue flew from the bird tamer's body as she shifted her stance. With that shout Sky spread her stance and shot her fist out to the side - summoning a bolt of lightning that quickly became uncontrollable as it erupted from her hand in a fan of explosive might.
Her hair was still slightly frizzy from the passive static yet it wasn't as wild as before.
At the very least, she barely took any damage from the lightning she fired.
Although it didn't quite make it to the bolder 10 meters away that she punched toward, however, it did devastated the ground between them.
The rocky earth exploded as the wave of lightning racked across it before fully dispersing.
Sending shards flying all about as she let out a deep breath. Sparks around her body fading as she emptied out her lungs - closing her eyes as she fully embraced the lingering feeling.
Opening her eyes to look toward her still outstretched arm and, more specifically, the tightly clenched fist that resulted in the wide area attack.
Silently thinking for a moment.
Until she finally extended her top finger with narrowed eyes before shaking her head.
"It could work but it would feel a little too easy; definitely less risky than my idea of guiding the lightning directly from my heart before throwing it out in one smooth move. Feels like a single moment of hesitation could cause it to flow back through my heart…" She mumbled to herself.
She didn't really need to think very long and hard to realise the potential danger of creating a loop of lightning through her heart. So such a test was definitely something to leave till later to try out. Preferably when she has the help of a certain genie; whose healing dance was practically resurrection magic.
Still, it was hard not to have a smile as she fortified her current understanding of her new power.
Finally breaking her stance as she contemplated aloud. "I've come far in the limited amount of time I've had during this journey; that attack is probably enough to at least instantly kill anything less sturdy than the ScorpGals and ScorpMen. But based on how much it takes out of me to cast…I'm not soloing a boss any time soon."
From atop a boulder a decent distance away an affirming squawk from a certain magical hawk.
"Yeah… I do feel less like dead weight, I guess." Smiling toward Wrench who happily flapped his wings.
Slowly moving to walk toward Wrench as he took off with a cold towel already in his talons - promptly dropping the item for Sky to snatch out the air.
Him circling back to sit on a lower stone as she too sat down.
Taking that moment to cool off as well as let any lingering static fade.
Although her relaxation was cut off as a shadow shot up from the cliff's edge and moments later the water below caught up; exploding into a geyser. Clearing the cliff with enough height to to spray the pair who were a good few meters away from the edge. Sky wasn't even finished rising to attention when the shadow landed in front of her.
Instantly she took the closest thing to a combat stance she had as the creature became clear to her.
A gigantic light-lime frog.
Its eyes were right at the front with human pupils and a far darker green than their skin; also strangely possessing long eye lashes.
Those eyes stared at the duo with clear intelligence.
Sky was ready to begin fighting until that frog opened its mouth to actually speak in a clearly feminine voice that they both recognised. "That was quite impressive magic."
That voice sounded just like-
"S-Shantae!?" Although the voice was slightly distorted… It always was when she was transformed.
Not that she completely let her guard down.
Surprisingly that frog promptly exploded into light when she shouted the dancing hero's name to quickly reveal the identity of the frog. A woman with her hair in a long pony tail that fell far past her waist. Her face also just like that of a certain genie but the calmer expression gave her a completely different air.
Her hair, just like her eyes, were a different colour to that of Shantae. Being such a deep red that it nearly bordered on being burgundy while a studded silver hair piece was responsible for her hair style. Those long knife-like ears even had a similar pair of ear rings while her wrists were adorned with silver bracers.
All similarities ended there, though.
First thing to note was that she stood above Sky, let alone the even smaller Shantae, only made more noticeable by her sizable chest that was covered by a white crop top.
From her upper arms was a studded band that held short but wide sleeves that covered her elbows yet ended just after those wrist bracers started. Meanwhile her privates were literally just covered by black bikini bottoms with her hips getting adorned with more silver. From those white pants began.
They didn't cover her front or butt - making sure her panties were exposed - yet otherwise covered her legs all the way to her feet.
Feet that were strangely bare.
"I appreciate mistaken my identity for our youngest but I am sadly not her; though I am quite curious who you happen to be. Nothing against you but you feel similar to my little sisters." Narrowing her eyes as she rested her hands on her hips.
As soon as she saw those hips completely stationary there was no longer any doubt that the woman in front of her was not Shantae but some other genie. Yet also clearly not one from the mainland. As such she had a healthy bit of caution as she backed away while answering.
She at least put up a friendly front as she forced a smile. "Shantae accidentally granted the wish of Risky Boots and I happen to be the result - though I believe that I am merely the furthest ahead. As such I've just been trying to figure out what it means to be… Well, to not be human, I guess."
Hearing that caused that serious mature version of Shantae to nod her head. "I did rush over as soon as I felt the wish being granted and changing all the humans of Sequin Land certainly makes sense…"
"It does?" Sky was so gobsmacked by the response that she momentarily dropped her arms.
"Well, yes, from what I gathered from my younger sisters we all contributed some of our power to granting the wish so it must have been something large scale. Especially with how amazing Shantae seems to have become under Sultana's tutelage." Stroking her chin with a proud yet reserved smile.
However Sky could only find it in herself to give a far more wry smile.
Still, she wasn't going to be a tattletale on that can of worms.
However she wasn't Shantae, Rottytops or Bolo.
So quickly shook away such distractions.
"Then did you get the information about Aria & Arthur the Mercenary King?" Raising a brow as she decided to try asking her own questions.
Intentionally this time.
That did get the woman's eyes to widen but it was clear her facade of calm was more than just a mask since she soon returned to a steady smile. "I certainly know all about Arthur as well as his recent marriage to the wind spirit, I cannot share how, just know we were akin to comrades in the past. Or rather he fought beside our ancestors until they needed him the most."
Her words surprisingly held little venom; only a sadness she had long come to terms with.
That sold it for her.
It was counter intuitive to her magic.
Shaking her head.
Letting out a sigh upon realising just how far from ready she actually was for battle.
Something the genie seemed to notice instantly as her expression instantly softened to something rather motherly; resting a comforting hand on Sky's shoulder. "From what I know you've spent only a couple days practicing all this. Considering that, from what I've personally seen, you're extremely talented."
"Was I that obvious with my doubts?" Asking with a wry expression.
Only to be met with a soft chuckle. "When you raise your sisters like I have - you pick up a thing or two when it comes to reading someone's expressions. In fact, our second and third youngest aren't really particularly ready to fight so you already managing to reach this level is a miracle!"
Both hands gribbed Sky's shoulders stern with a gentle shake that forced her look up at the mature genie.
Although it strangely didn't feel degrading; if anything it only helped sooth the panic and disappointment she previously felt.
"So, what was that information you wanted to tell me about?" Stepping back slightly to give Sky some room as she once more rested her hands on her hips. Projecting a quiet aura of strength that didn't suppress but rather worked to uplift those around her by simply existing as a pillar of support.
---
After that kid was dragged away by his mother (who gave her a suspicious glare) Shantae found herself once again wallowing in boredom on the stone curb outside Mimic's scientific den.
Elbows resting on her outstretched knees as she cradled her cheeks between her hands.
"This is taking ages…" She sighed.
Only to leap from the step as the door behind her was suddenly slammed open - her uncle hung outside the doorway to look around only to lock onto her.
Quickly using one hand to wave her in as the other hand clutched the doorknob. "What are you waiting around for you silly girl? Come in immediately, we have no more time to waste, we have finally figured out how to save Sequin Land from destruction!"
"..." She wanted to argue.
But at the same time she agreed; at the very least she didn't want to waste time arguing with her uncle Mimic when she could finally do something exciting. As such she just slouched while following him inside where "team adult" all turned to look toward her.
Being a combination of the professor quad (including the bratty girl) and the married couple.
"Ah, you're here, that is good." Of course the dinosaur promptly took the lead in the discussion.
He was the oldest as well as wisest thus was naturally the most well respected among the relic hunters.
"We have a solution yet it comes with its own set of problems as well as the viability… As well as believability." He admitted.
Shantae was quick to wave off his worries with a chuckle. "It can't be that bad."
"We want you to create an earthquake so grand that it'll cause the magma to flood the cave system while obliterating the pillars holding up the land." Her uncle said while holding her shoulders.
In response Shantae looked at all of them.
A soft smile on her face as she squinted her eyes and cheerfully spoke. "You are all crazy."
The blonde girl clicked her tongue with her arms crossed under her pitiful chest. "Yeah, I said the exact same thing, but at the same time it's the only solution we've all agreed will definitely work. The problem is the power needed to do it all at once since any delay will cause Sequin Land to plummet in on itself!"
"So you need a quake strong enough to shake the very foundations ofat least the mainland?" A sudden voice from behind Shantae gathered everyone's attention.
Especially Shantae who suddenly found herself in someone else's shadow.
Tilting her head back to see a face similar yet also different from her own.
She looked down at the younger genie to give a soft smile before returning to a stern seriousness that told everyone she meant business in a way Shantae never had. "If you can get me down there I can make sure but it just so happens my innate ability is exactly what is called for. With it I should hopefully be able to help out."
"But… Who are you?" Shantae asked as she turned around.
Only to be met with a confident smile. "Apologies for my late introduction, of the genie I am the eldest among our eight sisters, you can call me Harmony."