| Hello everyone,
| For those who haven't played the latest Shantae Game… Spoilers ahead I guess!
| Anyways, enjoy~♥
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"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
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Shantae, for the first time in forever, had fallen asleep in her bed… Or rather cushion.
In fact; it was the first time she was falling asleep since that first fateful fight against Risky Boots and her fearsome TinkerBat army.
The benefits of being a half (now full) spirit.
Waking up to the sun peering through her window to fall upon her was almost nostalgic. Truly feeling like an eternity since she had last lazed about on a morning - so she could hardly be blamed for taking full advantage of the place.
One would assume the benefits for being a guardian genie were plentiful… Maybe they were for other guardian genie but for Shantae?
Not so much.
The mayor of Scuttle Town's one positive feature was the fact he was not overtly malicious with his often poorly planned antics.
"Guess I should probably get up before he sells the town to some dunderheaded criminal. Honestly, Risky is putting in too much work, she could offer him a back massage and he'd sell the place." Mumbling to herself as she forced her eyes to open to the warm glow of the rising sun.
Turning to her side she felt something was missing.
Which was rather strange considering she didn't really have much in the first place; living rather frugally.
"Fortunately the dance parlour pays far better than the mayor does…" Grumbling as she pushed herself up to let her nude body fully bask in the warmth of the light.
Her hair was expensive to keep with the magical shampoo & conditioner she used.
So costly that even the lavish cash granted by her boss instantly vanished.
It was then that she finally remembered the full scope of what happened last night.
Or, more specifically, who she spent that night with.
Yet she found herself waking up alone.
Making her question whether it was all some elaborate wet dream she had conjured up.
"Eh~ if it happened I'm sure I'll figure it out soon enough!" Like most problems she had in life; she found herself shrugging off her worries and bravely (or stupidly) charging on anyway.
Literally jumping off her cushion, or at least trying to, as she once again underestimated just how wily her gigantic pillow was. Sending her crashing forehead first into the floor. Fortunately this time she had bothered changing into her simple white pajamas.
Unfortunately she still hit the floor with an impressive *THUD* that almost certainly guaranteed that whatever brain cells were still alive up there were now shaken up. Groaning as she pushed herself up off the floor. Eyes falling onto her full mirror to see the big bump smack dab in the middle of her forehead.
"Urgh… How am I going to put my circlet on if I have a- oh wait I have that dance from Oasis Town that is meant to absorb gems to heal injuries!" Slamming her palm with her fist.
A self-satisfied smirk as she bounced up to her feet to begin dancing once more.
Starting like she always did with spread hips, arms out and letting those wonderful hips slide from side to side in a steady rhythm.
Then she did a move she hadn't had the opportunity to utilize with her transformation dances. The pose was pretty much identical to her initial form - though instead of having her rear bounce from side to side she instead moved her hips in a circular motion. Arms slightly more raised and eyes open.
Unlike her transformations she also linked in one last move; bringing her hands together in front of her mouth while letting those hips bounce from left to right once more.
When she finished performing all three a warm glow overcame her and that bump promptly vanished.
She even felt any lingering "exhaustion" quickly dissolve away.
"Waaaah!" Quickly darting up to the mirror while bringing her hands up to rest on her now normal feeling forehead with sparkles in her eyes. "My skin feels even smoother somehow!"
Taking a moment to admire every inch of her body, turning around and lifting her legs, fully investigating every bit of genie goodness. A smile formed on her lips as she soon nodded to herself. Especially satisfied that she felt even her mouth had been fully cleansed from plaque and such.
"Though it only cleaned my hair; I'll still need to have my paycheek vanish caring for it…" Shivering as she once again remembered how regrettably expensive her tlc was.
Body immediately slumping as tears formed in her eyes as the realities of adulthood came crashing down onto her with all the weight of her elephant form.
But then realisation overcame her. "Wait, I'm a rich monster killing babe now!"
Wiping the imaginary sweat from her brow.
"Wait… Didn't uncle need help with some new anti-pirate invention?!" Exploding into action as she hurried down to her door to explode out.
…
Then she proceeded to hurry back into her lighthouse and stairs. "Clothes and hair care first!"
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"I-I'm here to help!" Shantae came stumb- charging onto the scene, like the heroine she was, to see that not only her uncle but both Bolo & Sky were actually present as well as the mayor.
All three looked away from the long metal pole that her uncle was tinkering with.
The mayor in question was a clearly aged man with one large bucktooth that hung out his mouth with a turban sat atop his head. White hair forming a barrier around the headpiece. Quite frankly looking about as gormless as one would imagine their landlord to look.
Thankfully Shantae fully owned her own house (unlike many in the village) however that didn't change the fact he was her "boss" due to possessing deeds to Scuttle Town. It was also something he certainly didn't forget despite how incompetent he was. Though he didn't seem upset about her tartiness.
If the snot bubble and vacant expression was anything to go by.
"You arrived just in time to see me test my newest invention - this beauty will control the winds to prevent future pirate attacks. They won't be able to attack if they can't reach shore!" Shouting triumphantly to them all which popped the mayor's bubble as he excitedly rubbed his hands together.
A big smile on his face. "If this works out well I won't need to pay so much on my Risky insurance Plan!"
"Who is selling you insurance literally called "risky" and why did you buy it?" Sky asked with obvious bafflement that the mayor would buy something like that.
Although she quickly got more baffled as he answered. "Oh I got it from a purple skinned lady!"
<... Even I'm impressed with Risky's game.> Silently Shantae, uncle Mimic and Sky all met each other's eyes before nodding in silent agreement. It was best that none of them think about what something like that actually meant for Scuttle Town.
"Though Boots tax would probably be cheaper, I am certain my Risky insurance plan will pay for itself in a couple dozen years or so!" Nodding with complete confidence in himself as the even optimistic Shantae couldn't help thinking to herself.
"Not to mention I'll be able to lighten up on my guardian genie's pay." Crossing his arms with another sage nod as if he had said something wise.
Choosing to ignore the angry "HEY" as her uncle awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Anyway, time to start the test!" Pulling the lever on the side down as the propeller blades atop the pole began to spin in the opposite direction only to spark and… Sent a poor bird flying off into the distance after it tried to fly off.
Stroking his beard as he studied his seemingly successful experiment with a critical eye behind his small round amber coloured lenses.
"Well that was cool; time to balance my budget." With that the mayor quickly waddled off.
Uncle Mimic too began to walk off. "I too will be heading out to see what changes can be made to my newly minted Fan Cannon to create an even more successful anti-piracy device. If I succeed in this it will mean less danger for you; perhaps if I can install such defences in every town there will be no more need for a guardian genie!"
"He certainly seemed… Colourful." Sky began before sharply giving up. "If Mr Mimic could weaponize that man's stupidity we wouldn't need to worry about Risky Boots."
"Sky!" Instantly Shantae threw her arms down in rebuke.
The person being rebuked, meanwhile, just tilted her head in brief confusion. "What?"
"He's my boss!" Sky still didn't seem to understand the problem. "Then you have my condolences."
Shantae could only give up at that point.
"So why were you so late in arriving when you live right by; leaving me and Bolo to set everything up for your uncle's little showcase?" Raising an unimpressed bow as she crossed her arms. Resting her back against the countless metal-parts filled boxes that lay about on the little cliff side shore they were upon.
"Ooo~h~ I could have helped with that!" That sudden voice, seemingly out of nowhere, caused the resting Sky to immediately jump away from the boxes like a startled bird. From behind them leapt a familiar (at least to Shantae) undead bombshell who landed atop one of the boxes where she sat cross legged.
Rottytops, of course, had a big smile on her face as she took immense pleasure in seeing the startled Sky who quickly pieced together where that voice came from.
Although that didn't make her any less unsettled. "What is a zombie doing here!"
"That is my new friend, Rottytops!" Shantae helpfully answered.
The zombie in question decided to be even more helpful; leaning forward and shooting a hand between the two as if she was a student eager to answer the teacher's question. "I'm her best friend~!"