"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
---
*THUD*
As it turned out…
The pit was not as bottomless as it seemed.
"Ugh… My butt hurts…" Rubbing her rump as she rested a hand against the stone wall and carefully got up from the floor. Hunched against that rough rocky wall like an old lady - Shantae's face was all scrunched up as she attempted to soothe her pain.
Meanwhile Risky came floating down with a nonchalance that got a glare from Shantae; that pirate held either side of her captain's hat. Apparently that headwear was multi-purpose as it ballooned to catch the air like a parachute. Allowing that hateful bandit to peacefully glide down without so much as a boo boo.
The self proclaimed queen landed down with a *clack* of her heeled boots before she looked down at her rival with that usual gusto. "Now, how did you survive my perfectly planned pitfall trap?"
A self assured smirk on her face.
One that immediately froze as Shantae whipped her head to glare towards the pirate - actually causing the calamitous villainess to flinch.
Fortunately (for her seemingly bottomless self-assurance) she seemed to quite quickly recognise the cave system they were in. Standing up straight with one hand resting on the hilt of her sword while the other boisterously pointed towards the genie. "Your survival is of no concern."
Waving her hand as if pushing aside any such worries.
"Soon you'll see exactly how genius this plot of mine is - of course it would be far easier if I still had a gigantic TinkerBot but sadly some vandals just can't help themselves." Holding her cheek as she appeared to lament the unfairness of it all. "If only mommy could punish the naughty girl responsible."
"Oh~ and what were you planning to do with that TinkerBot?" Raising a brow with a cheeky grin as she attempted to stand up straight.
Though she quickly regretted that choice with a hiss.
At least she finally remembered her healing dance so took advantage of Risky's speech that would no doubt go on for quite some time.
"Hm? I merely planned to use it to bully the bug queens in Bog Town so that I could force them to raid the palace of that oversized Sultana. Then reap the rewards; maybe jump in at the climax to help the most monstrous girls on this god-forskane continent finish~." Lifting her hands in a nonchalant shrug.
Although hearing her full plan made Shantae's eye bulge out her head. "Wait, you planned to kill my, maybe, big sister as well as… Well I've never heard about bug queens - or a place called Bog Town - so I'll need to ask Sky about those things later."
Rubbing the back of her head awkwardly as she admitted her ignorance.
"Not very surprising since the Bugkini squad, as the three have strangely started calling themselves, don't like interacting with the rest of the island on account of being powerful monsters. Hardly helped calm down the constant tension between them and- wait that oversized annoyance is your sister!?" At first that pirate was helpfully monologuing yet her shock cut that short.
Shantae just awkwardly giggled while rubbing the back of her head. "Well, maybe?"
"What do you mean "maybe" you half-brained spirit; she is either your older sister or isn't!" Risky's gesticulation growing more frustrated.
"W-Well I haven't really visited or anything over the years so don't really-"
"You are a really bad sister." Crossing her arms while shaking her head in disgust.
For once Shantae didn't have a response as she just quietly twiddled her index fingers while nervously avoiding eye contact. "She could have visited me…"
"No, don't try that one, you are more spineless than her transformation is." Aggravated sigh leaving her perfectly plump lips as she pinched the bridge of her nose as she continued. "She ruled over an entire continent while you didn't even have a job till a week or so ago; she most certainly couldn't visit."
"... Aren't you meant to be a bad guy?" Mumbling in a last attempt at defending herself.
Although even that was met with a dismissive clicking tongue. "I put my only blood relative in the dirt while I know that annoying woman no doubt would dote on you with everything that happened to her; I also know you ain't the type to get annoyed by that kind of attention. You've just been lazy till eventually you forgot there even was someone to visit."
"Y-You're right… I've been a bad sister… I just don't remember much about my time before Scuttle Town and it feels like nobody tells me anything even now that I'm a full blown guardian genie!" Admitting with a defeated posture. Still that did not seem to appease the pirate.
"Even I visited my father; even if it was to stab him in the back visciously." Shaking her head once more.
"Yeah…" Shantae deflated even more.
"I think it best you forget all about what we had planned and go right at this moment. Maybe buy her something nice, apologise, fix your relationship before it is too late!" Commanding the guardian genie with her head held high.
With the genie in question being in no place to disagree; looking down at her hand before clenching it and looking up at that blue-skinned babe with a new found conviction. "Yeah, you are right, thank you."
"Then I'll be on my way." Nodding with a smirk as she turned from Shantae.
Beginning to head further into the cave before vanishing into the dark.
…
It was then that the gears in Shantae's head began to spin.
"Wait a second…" Narrowing her head before realisation overcame her as a tickmark appeared. "That damn pirate just played me! Again!"
"What are you screaming about this time?" Sky's voice abruptly cut through the darkness as the sound of massive flapping wings made it quite obvious where she was coming from. Making Shantae look up to see her trio of friends riding on the back of a massive bird which highly resembled Wrench.
"WA?" Jaw instantly hung open as she looked up at the beautiful colourful bird - one which was not only bigger than her but bigger than Risky's strange mode of transport. "How did you manage to make Wrench grow so big in a couple minutes?!"
Her rather understandable question met with a sigh as Sky jumped down as it landed. "That is Wrench's mother, Hatchet, who wanted to visit her boy. Good thing since I can now fly you ou-"
"Did you stop Risky?" Rotty literally leapt in front of Sky before she could finish.
That question brought Shantae back to the reality of her situation - remembering that the precocious pirate had taken advantage of her neglected family relations. "Grr~ don't remind me. That devious villainess tricked me into forgetting all about her dastardly plan and why I was here then slipped away as soon as I let my guard down around her!"
"Then what are you waiting for; run after her!" Shaking Shantae till that ditzy genie was dizzy.
"R-Right!" Quickly running off after Risky, although stumbling like a drunk for a few seconds, soon vanishing into the darkness.
In response Sky pinched the bridge of her nose with a long drawn out sigh.
Finding the inner strength to look at the zombie once more. "I don't like you."
Rotty, in response, turned to look at Sky with the smuggest smirk the warbird trainer had ever seen.
---
"Risky!" Shantae yelled as she ran into the strange colossal cavern.
Her trip was not particularly difficult - only requiring her to fight through a handful of bats.
The only thing that could be seen for miles was strange stone pillars that were far wider at the base and the top. Yet barely thicker than Shantae's waist in the middle - though the grandest of these supports was behind Risky hearse;f. In the center some clockwork device with a flashing light had been attached.
"Oh, now why did you come back here?" Turning around to meet Shantae with a level of confidence that would have been worthy of respect if it didn't belong to someone so reprehensible. "Did you decide to present a signature from yours truly as your gift? If so then I must congratulate you on great taste; nothing would please me more than to see the look on that giant problem's face as you hand it to her~!"
"What, no, I'm here to stop you from…! What are you doing?" Looking around while scratching the back of her head; attempting to figure out what the pirate could possibly be in the cave for.
There weren't exactly glittering gems or garish gold.
Certainly not the kind of destination she would have expected from the greedy pirate queen.
Said queen just chuckled menacingly with those lips of hers curling up - at this point Shantae knew she wouldn't have to work it out herself. That villain was no doubt about to proudly share what she was getting up to. "Mommy supposes there is no harm in sharing my genius with an inexperienced brat like you!"
At that, the device on the pillar began to beep, the world itself seemed to shake. "This is the pillar upon which the entirety of the mainland is sat upon. By rotating this pillar I will be able to freely switch which towns are coastal; allowing me to freely plunder anything I desire from these lands!"
With that the massive pillar behind her began to do just that; apparently changing the entire map of the main landmass of Sequin Land. Shantae's eyes widened. "B-But if you do that you'll ruin the lives of countless people - not sure on the specifics around it but I'm certain bad stuff will happen!"
The pirate seemed completely unbothered as her hand gesticulated in a familiar fashion; waving away those worries as she spoke with a mocking level of monotony. "Oh no, they will have their lives completely upended at random, their pitiful moral nature making it impossible to live~. It makes a djinn wish to a genie that the humans of Sequin were more like us Yo~HoHuh?"
That piratess' laugh cutting itself off by her confused grunt.
The reason for that was quite understandable, afterall.
Considering both of them began to glow as their magic began to intertwine. A beautiful dance of black and white that neither genie and genie but edgy understood; having an identical reaction of quickly looking at their bodies. Then turning to look at each other for an answer only to realise they also didn't know.
Both spirits opened their mouths only to be interrupted as the swirling energy between them exploded up through the stone ceiling towards the world above.
---
Upon one of the fringe islands, within a temple of stone covered in depictions of eyes, a girl only a bit taller than Shantae sat upon a mat with her eyes closed.
"… I suppose strengthening those we protect is a good thing?" Pondering out loud to herself as she opened her eyes now that she had seen what the wish required her magic for. Using her seer magic to observe the moment the request was made of her.
Her blonde hair tied up in pig tails. The ornaments used appearing as two large purple eye balls with green iris' for which her hair spurted out into a total of six gravity defying tufts - ironically her left eye was also covered by her fringe making her a triclops. "Maybe it'll lead to some cool adventure for them or maybe even me!"
Those long knife-like ears happily wiggled as she imagined what mission her fellows could be on.
Especially to make sure a taxing request that they'd need all of their help.
---
Deep within the forests of the same island lay a secluded village.
A girl with even darker skin than Shantae, yet matching ears, was hunched over a droopy plant with a soft smile on her face as her soothing voice encouraged it. "I know you'll sprout into a beautiful flower."
With that she held both her hands out as a lively green aura escaped from her palms; feeding the plant all the magical nutrients it could ever need. In response that plant seemed to get the courage it needed to finally let nature take course. Slowly but surely rising up to stand straight m apparent uch to the joy of the girl who was offering a helping dose of her unique magic.
In mere moments where a withered bud once was, was now a blooming flower with petals like mirrors reflecting the glow of the moon. The success in growing an extinct species quickly garnered a cheer from her fellow villagers. Most of them draped in the generously large leaves she had helped to grow.
As her mother before had done.
Just then…
"Huh?" She abruptly looked up in the air with no small amount of shock as she felt a powerful magic she had never seen before yet instinctively knew she too could cast with no practice.
After all, it was their magic.
One only possessed by the genies and djinn.
"What is wrong Vera; was it too much?" Her father suddenly appeared in her view with his large eyes, the only real expressive part, the rest of his face covered in a big beard. Though even those eyes always appeared to be naturally droopy to many of those who weren't experienced in reading him.
"No, sorry for worrying you, it's just I felt one of my sisters is trying to grant a wish that requires more magic than she currently has…" Her eyes narrowed as she also recognised the darker magic that was like a strangely twisted version of her own. "A wish also being granted by who I assume is Risky Boots."
That sent a gasp through the crowd as her father held her shoulders. "If that pirate is trying to do something then it must be bad!"
Vera, however, shook her head with a big smile.
"On the contrary I feel Plink has already given her magic and I trust her vision; plus big sis Harmony says that one is more greedy than malevolent!" With that she didn't even wait for her father's reply.
Already lending her help.
---
Hermit was peacefully reading.
Like usual.
That peace, however, was cut off as she felt a tug on her own magical power causing her to tilt her head to look up towards the sky. Still, she acknowledged that if both of those meatheads were wishing for something together, big enough to need help… "Must be rather important so I guess I'll help."
It wasn't as if Hermit particularly had plans to use that magic for herself - anything she had need of her power for could wait till tomorrow. Letting her magic freelyflow ; her transferred to solve that wish. Not even bothering to see what that changes their wish was making as she could just do it later.
"Hopefully this wish fixes that earthquake." Even if it didn't she would just shrug it off.
She was at a really good place in her book.
---
Draped under the covers of a bed where a pair of women; the actual owner of said bead having her black hair completely undone as she enjoyed the warmth of her companion.
Said companion was far taller than the already tall woman.
With maroon hair tied up into a similarly bountiful & long ponytail to a certain Scuttle Town guardian genie yet that is the only real connection with their hairs. Though both women did share another connection to the youngest genie. Their ears were far longer & sharper than those of a human.
The taller of the two tall guardian genies softly rained down kisses on the black haired girl's nape; though there was no movement to do more. Simply hugging the genie's waist as they shared a quiet moment of skinship together. At least until they too felt the same thing as the others.
"Harmony! Did you feel that, the pirate is up to something, who knows wha-" Finding herself sharply cut off as a finger playfully pressed against her lips.
That crimson haired genie simply let out a gentle chuckle as she too shared her magic.
"Wha- why?" Her confusion being evident.
Although the more mature of the pair quickly showed why she was the oldest of their kind. "Although it is true that Risky Boots is not the… Nicest of individuals, as we are both aware. It is also true that the other person can only belong to that of our youngest."
"You mean the sister of that giant?" Narrowing her eyes as her suspicions only seemed to grow.
Seeing that, the red head just shook her head with a sigh. "Be polite as she is still the Sultana of these lands as well as our strongest sister - even if you don't trust her - then again you really do have a problem with trust. Regardless, if she requires my help I will happily offer it for free, Zapple."
"..." For a moment Zapple remained silent until she decided to trust in her sister's judgments.
If the other had shared then she would as well.
Even if she had complaints. "Maybe I would trust her more if she wasn't always so dismissive of you."
Harmony just laughed. "She just doesn't like not being the oldest."
---
The current atmosphere within the Sultana's Palace could be summarised with one word.
Panic.
Although the owner of said palace simply sat atop her throne, elbow resting on her knee that was propped up with her other leg, inspecting the chaos that unfolded around her. Knowing that there was no amount of debate that could do anything about the current earthquake. Even if she had suspicions there was more to it than first apparent.
Her teal hair freely flowed in magical gravity defying fashion that caused one to think of the shore of the tropic waters outside her palace. At least before they were riled up by the quaking earth. "Be calm my people and prepare to assess the damages when everything is over; there is little to be done now."
That face of hers reflecting none of the bedlam happening.
There wasn't so much as a twitch as her commanding voice rang out as if an imperial decree; which technically it was as she did rule over the continent.
The only country to not pay tithe to a certain pirate.
Abruptly, though, her eyes slightly widened from their usual nonchalance as she gazed longingly towards a certain coastal town with a faint upwards quirk in her lips. Not even thinking for a second as her own magic seeped from her body. "Last time djinn & genie worked together must have been against him…"
A solemn wistful nostalgia echoed from her words as those servants & knights found themselves inexplicably still. Not wishing to break their master from her revelry. "Now what is that pesky pirate planning to willingly grant a wish alongside you?"
---
"What was that?" Albert took a break from trying to prevent his boat from capsizing to ask what that powerful magical pulse he felt was.
Thankful it at least wasn't some attack and completely ignored him.
Aria meanwhile just looked into the distance. "That… Was the power of a wish; whoever granted it must be very powerful and full of intent. I feel the humans of this continent are evolving into something closer to the genies themselves; like the elves who descend from us fae..."
---
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Risky screamed.
Only for Shantae to shout back with just as much panic. "WHAT DID I DO??? WHAT DID YOU DO!?"