"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
---
With a plan decided upon; there was no reason to wait around.
The only problem was the fact that Hatchet only could carry so many people on her back.
Yet a solution came from the strangest of places.
… Bolo.
"You sure this'll work?" Shantae asked with her face containing all the forced joy of someone who had absolutely no faith in what she was witnessing. That being Bolo wielding a hammer and nails along with a whole load of wooden planks.
As airheaded as the boy may be - there was no doubting his industrious nature - he was fastly putting together what could be easily mistaken for a regular carriage. Although it actually had its wheels replaced with a padded bottom. And atop the roof was what could only be called a gigantic handle.
The boy had somehow managed to whip that up in a couple minutes while their new "friends" from abroad got themselves ready for the flight.
Shantae wasn't exactly sure what that meant.
But she wasn't going to adventurer-plain to someone clearly far more experienced than her.
Sky found herself in Shantae's seat, watching him hard at work, stroking her chin. "I actually think it's smart - plus it isn't as if it'll be you or me inside the thing."
That genie wasn't quite sure what to say so could only gawk at her partner.
"Don't give me that look; living life in a place like sequin land means having to accept that even a broken clock is correct two times a day. Especially with friends like mine." Shaking her head with her arms crossed under Shantae's chest in a hug - Wrench sat upon her shoulder like usual.
For a moment Shantae just silently nodded only for something in her wording to click. "Hey…."
Pouting as she glared at Sky in silent complaint.
Meanwhile Sky, who had presumed her jab would go over her genie's head, began to study that air-carriage with such intrigue one may think she was trying to avoid eye contact or something.
"It isn't exactly a complex idea - literally just a carriage that Hatchet can carry as she flies through the air - we can even have Wrench use it when he grows up a bit more." Scratching the bottom of the young hawk's chin as she explained. That bird happily narrowed his eyes while giving an approving squawk.
Sadly that wasn't enough to distract the stubborn & impatient girl.
Fortunately-
"Shantae, come, listen before you head off again!"
-salvation arrived.
The genie indeed turned to the voice of her adoptive uncle who came running over with his fellow relic hunter hot on his heels. "If things go well you may even have the chance to meet the other remaining genies; so I know this is important to you. However, my friend here found something interesting!"
"We sadly didn't get much chance to speak due to us immediately breaking into discussion about the issue we find ourselves in with that pirate's meddling in forces she doesn't understand. But, as your uncle rightly said, I managed to find this before I got captured by that fearsome Mishmash gentleman and it should be of great use to you." Flourishing his hand out to present a silverish coin toward the genie.
Shantae just tilted her head in confusion as she asked. "A coin?"
They wouldn't just give her some useless currency, right?
"Legends tell of fountains that allow mere mortals to talk with those in the genie realm, in hopes of their wishes being granted, yet with them descending such devices fell into obscurity." It was the professor who helpfully shared as he adjusted his glasses. "I believe this coin belongs to one of those fountains."
"To you a wish likely doesn't mean much but it may allow you to further enhance the transformations you gained from your ancestors. Or maybe you could even learn new ones with the vast array of genies that should be up in Tenkai!" Mimic landing the final blow with arms stretched out wide.
The suspicion in her eyes quickly turned to awe.
This wasn't her first time hearing about them, after all.
Only to go into confusion, again, as she looked back to her uncle. "Don't I still need a fountain?"
"There was actually one in the very temple which you rescued me; likely why I found that very coin within its ancient walls." The professor shared as she stroked his little beard.
It was then that Bolo finally yelled from atop the carriage. "This thing should be set to take off!"
Hopping off as he rolled his shoulder.
"Wait… Where is that zombie…" Sky's voice immediately caused worry to overtake Shantae - she just wasn't sure if it was worry for Rottytops or whoever she ran into. Still, she couldn't exactly let things stall just because the troublemaking undead wandered off again.
Clutching her forehead as she sighed. "If she doesn't return before Mister Albert or big sis Aria we'll just have to take off without her."
Even if she said that… She had a feeling she wouldn't be seeing Rottytops.
---
"Invade the home of the bug milfs she said, it'll be fine she said, you just need to quickly go in and steal the palace's treasures from their icky sick pools she said…" A certain Batgal bemoaned as she clutched her currently missing arm with her remaining limb. Letting out a long sigh as she watched the TinkerBats stumble about; secretly glad she didn't bring her glasses as she was sure they'd have broken.
Their current location allowed them to overlook the beautiful crystal clear waters of Sequin Land's beach but with the unfortunate negative… Of there being gigantic bug shells in the background. Though that was just the beginning of the sights within the worst place on Genkai for an entomophobe.
Just about every inch of the place was full of bugs who had developed a waxy purple material that they used to build their gigantic "town" in what should have been a bog.
Hence being called BogTown.
It was either that or Bug Town and Sultana, who named them, was apparently considering the non bug inhabitants when choosing the name.
Not that there was any.
Evidently the leaders of said town didn't take kindly to the bat-pirate's presence.
"At least we didn't leave completely empty handed or I'd be ashamed to show my face…" Glancing toward the five or so chests that her men managed to sneak out as she was getting bea- fighting the leaders of her newly awakened bug themed nightmare. "Why did I have to be created as such a simp?"
Shaking her head as she hobbled over to their row boats.
---
"Yeah, that doesn't look quite right…" Shantae said as she squinted down at where they were flying only to immediately come to a rather startling realisation.
This place was most certainly not the royal palace.
And Sky was inclined to agree with her. "Looks like that pirate must have switched around the royal palace with Bog Town. A place ruled over by three powerful insect monsters who are also the mothers of every creature living within; each at least as tough as a labyrinth boss."
"Why do you know so much about a creepy place!" Absolutely mortified from what little she heard.
Although the bird trainer just shrugged. "I've made a few deals with them; their royal nectar is a very nutritious supplement as well as an all around amazing treat for my birds. It also just tastes delicious as an alternative to regular honey while is also just way better for you and with many alchemical proven benefits whether through processing or raw."
"I guess that does make some small amount of sense but why do we need to bother visiting such a spooky place? Also, if you know where Bog Town originally was, why don't we just continue on to where the Sultana's Palace should be now?" Asking with a curious squint.
Sky clicked her tongue. "What do you mean by "small amount of sense"!?"
"Well it's strange to make deals with gigantic bug monsters!" Momentarily throwing her arms into the air only to quickly remember they were hundreds of feet in the air so that probably wasn't smart.
"Just because they're strong monsters doesn't mean they're gigantic monstrous bugs - they probably used to be but they've evolved to be way more humanoid." Shaking her head with a sigh. "If anything they are quite pleasant to look at if you can ignore their stranger quirks."
It was also then that she remembered she had been asked a question. "Oh, it also wouldn't hurt just to check in, plus it feels a little cruel to not give Hatchet a break when she's been flying so long."
Shaking her head and giving a soothing rub to the nape of the giant bird
One who let out a powerful call; not due to her being aggressive but just due to her size and strength.
"Also she's been flying with way more weight." Hearing that left Shantae nodding along. "Strange how that guy kept trying to have you ride in the carriage with him instead of with me."
For a second the genie fell silent as she thought about her words. "Well… It is warmer down there and I did jerk you off into a rubber between my thighs as soon as we got into the air."
"That was pretty great but why are you acting secretive when subtly isn't your strong suit; don't you usually love flaunting everything you do?" Raising a brow as Shantae closed her eyes with a long sigh with her voice barely being above a whisper as she replied. "I'm not sure myself yet so how about we land?"
With both of her riders agreeing on their destination - Hatchet once more swooped down. Fortunately most of the structures were in the bowls of Bog Town making for a clear landzone, yet that also came with one big issue, it also meant most of their population had vanished. Leading to a very tense situation.
Hatchet dropped the carriage about half a meter above the floor before landing a few more meters away due to the momentum in which she was flying.
Almost immediately after an intense symphony of raspy hissing erupted from all around.
A small army of not at all small insects seemed to come out from just about every hole and behind every piece of cover available.
There were many different types in varying sizes but each possessed purplish black carapace with the largest of their "type" tending to have crimson accents. Strangely they seemed to attain more humanoid traits as they grew in size. Smallest looking like winged ants while the largest more like mantis.
Although, when even the supposed smallest was the size of a human baby and they were hissing angrily in the hundreds, maybe thousands, it was hard not to get antsy. As such it wasn't surprising when Albert charged out the carriage. Walking ahead of everyone with his sword already drawn.
In contrast Aria stepped out calmly only for the wind to seemingly refuse to allow her to touch the floor as she was raised up by a green tempest.
The wind only grew fiercer as Shantae too jumped down.
Though her usual confident smirk was replaced with a sheepish expression as she hugged herself.
A feeble attempt to get over her negative feelings toward the insects.
"Ugh so much for this being a good idea…" Her groan more than enough to express her sheer discomfort with the situation in which she found herself.
"Don't worry, you can leave this to me, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you are unable to do something. Everyone has their own limits; even if they aren't physical in this instance." Albert turned to give a warm smile to the genie before he turned back to the insect swarm.
Expression became devoid of warmth as his red scarf fluttered in the wind.
His words as well as smile brought a strange calm to the previously anxious genie hero - despite the tension between the two groups reaching a fever pitch.
"Stand down soldiers; these aren't the bats." Until that stern voice broke through it all.
There wasn't even a moment of hesitation from the army of bugs who once seemed unwilling to backdown for any reason. They immediately retreated back to their previous locations to reveal three, quite frankly, bodacious babes standing in their wake. The one leading them also seemingly the one who gave the order that made all those monstrous insects to retreat.
She had dirty blonde hair with a cap atop her head and earphones that jutted upwards like the spiral atena of some kind of bug. On either side of her was another woman. Ine with glasses and a face mask while the other sported a simple hair band alongside a bright smile that let a lot of the tension wane..
Strangely each wore… A bikini.
They also had purple skin with and yellow where the white of their eyes should be.
Yet they weren't part of a certain pirate's crew; skin far less blue while their eyes were greener in hue.
"Wow, they really are pleasant to look at, but why are they wearing bikinis?" Shantae asked.
Strangely it was the serious looking blonde with a cap who answered; pinching her cap with hands adorned with familiar intimidating carapace. Having three sharp blades jutting out the side with crimson bands between each. Her eyes grew sharper than even Albert's blade.
"That is because we are the Bugkini moms." Her face was deadly serious as she delivered that line.
It was a statement that left Shantae's side completely immobile.
The lighter-blonde haired "bugkini mom", hair tied up into pigtails behind her headband, let out a hearty laugh at that.
Meanwhile the glasses wearing purple haired insect queen didn't let any of that affect her. Instead she had her own carapiced hand come up to hold her hidden chin (though her "gauntlets" lacked one blade as well as the crimson highlight) as she asked. "I have to believe your appearance is no coincidence, Sky?"
"Care to explain, Jawdrop, as that is quite the serious accusation toward your friend here." Cap lowering as a shadow fell over the stern bugkini babe's face.
Although Jawdrop waved her off before things could get too serious. "I doubt they are responsible."
"Yeah!" The shortest immediately jumped in front of her two companions with her fists raised into the air to reveal her carapace was the smallest of all - only making gloves with slightly sharper digits. "Don't be a killjoy Slushfund; they probably were here to kick some pirate ass!"
"If the two of you are so sure then I need no more convincing - but we still need to know what is happening outside our borders. We are proud bugs of the earth and nobody knows better than us how unnatural the recent quakes across the island are." Slushfund nodded as she became slightly less stern.
"I mean the little one isn't too far off - we did come here to stop Risky's plan." Shantae rubbed the back of her head as she tried to figure out how to broach the topic.
The bug's apparent leader nodded while reaching a hand out in an expression of acceptance. "Then we will have to trouble you with a task of great importance. I am Slushfund, oldest of my kind, yet it is under my watch that our sputum pools literally vanished from under our feet."
Shaking her head with her shoulders drooping.
Although the other two were quick to comfort their comrade with a firm hand on her shoulders.
"Don't beat yourself up over it Slushfund - we know that if you were unable to stop it then neither of us could have - I only evolved like a decade ago!" The bubbly blonde was quick to tell her senior. A shining smile helped peer through the apparent guilt Slushfund was feeling.
Jawdrop also was quick to support her sister in supporting their eldest. "Buckshot is many things and, in this case, right is certainly one of them. It is just unfortunate none of us were there to protect it especially when we're so close to hatching season…"
It was a touching scene that raised one important question from a certain genie.
"What are sputum pools?" A fair question for those with no clue on insects.
One that Aria was surprisingly quick to answer as her expressionless face thawed into a barely perceivable compassion to the trio. "The sputum pools are where they store the vital fluid to hatch their eggs. Without it their species will miss an untold number of hatching seasons."
"The frozen faced stranger is right… Although the three of us will not be affected directly- the same cannot be said for our unborn or recently born as they too feed from the sputum pools - unless we purposefully cap our children's potential our lower caste will disappear in a year." Jawdrop sighed.
It was then that she turned to Shantae directly; having easily realised she was the one in charge of the powerful group. "We did find a device that is likely linked to this but we are clueless as to its usuage…"
Closing her eyes and bowing her head along with her sisters. "So please help us."
"I wouldn't be much of a guardian genie if I said no!" Of course Shantae didn't hesitate for a second before agreeing to their abrupt request.
Sky could only hold her forehead with an admittedly fawning sigh. "As impulsive as always."