"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
---
Shantae glared at the BatGal who stood there with the confidence of a woman who knew she had everything completely under control.
Narrowing her eyes.
"I should have expected to see you here… Wait, who are you? I don't actually recognise you, so I honestly can't say why you just attacked me, and I know fine well monsters don't talk. Though you also feel alarmingly like a monster to my magical genie senses." Rubbing the back of her head.
It was hard not to feel awkward when someone just swung a very painful looking weapon at you all the while you had no clue what you did to upset them. Her own confusion, however, did not seem to actually garner any care from the one who attacked her. That woman merely lashing out once more.
Of course, with Shantae having avoided the attack without having seen it, it was easy for her to step to the side to avoid the second attempt.
Realising that the dominatrix didn't want to waste time answering questions; she did what she did best.
She charged forward with a smile on her face.
Whipping her hair forward to try to show that monster woman what was what - what she didn't expect was for those clawed fingers to be for more than just show. Slashing at the weaponised ponytail to bat it aside and actually push Shantae back. Following that up by swinging her whip to the side in hopes of catching the young half-genie's completely unguarded side.
But Shantae had already learned her lesson about watching out for counter attacks. Even if they weren't the real thing - she did have golden bracers and now seemed like a great time to take advantage of their existence. Moving her wrist down to catch the metal whip with a harsh *TING* that wrang throughout the stone chamber.
Even if she managed to block it…
Gold was hardly the sturdiest of metals nor was it a good substitute for proper shield; visually wincing as she took the blow while stepping to the side in hopes to counteract some of the force.
Still, she was glad to get away with just a bruise and scratch across her jewellery.
That unknown bat-themed monster girl wasn't done as she began to strut toward Shantae.
Heels clicking off the floor.
A seductive shifting of her hips with every step she took and, of course, she was dragging that whip across her outstretched fingertips while licking her own plump lips.
"Wouldn't have expected it to be that easy; based on context you probably work for that no good pirate if I had to wager a guess. She is the one locking up all the guardian genies so it only makes sense she would be the one setting up a trap like this." Her confident statement seemingly caught her opponents attention.
That BatGal stopped her approach while lifting her chin - almost appearing to goad that girl to go on with what she was saying. Shantae also was not one to disappoint. "I just don't get how she is managing to do all this, especially with sealing their magic, but I have to ask why you are here?"
"Oh~ so the new girl thinks of herself as something of a detective, ay?" Chuckling to herself as she tapped her open palm with her whip. "Why wouldn't I be here when she needed me to be?"
"Yeah but you seem pretty strong so why bother working under her?" Raising a brow.
Surprisingly that seemed to genuinely annoy the BatGal who actually recoiled for a second at the thought that she wouldn't be working for Risky. "She is my captain and creator, I am the first, I have even seen her grow up into the person she is. If she needs more time then I will buy her that time."
"Wow…" That was honestly all she could say about the massive info dump she had just received - if anything it left her with more questions than answers. Number one among them was how she managed to make someone actually that loyal that they were willing to do anything.
She thought with a frown but also determination.
"Well, you also bought me enough time as well." That got Risky's first to once again be confused; only to have her eyes widened in surprise at the half-genie erupted forward elbow first. Having spent the villain's monologue charging up the magic needed to deliver a powerful Mighty Elbow.
Although it was time for Shantae to also widen her own eyes in shock - that creature moved her gauntlet'd palms over one another to actually catch the elbow. The force alone created a powerful shockwave that demolished the unique armour they wore. Leading to their short lilac hair fluttering while black ichor poured out her mouth as her own bare knuckles impacted her stomach.
For a moment that monster's body started going limp only for those yellow eyes to snap back open with a vengeance before releasing an animalistic roar.
Her perfectly shaped body, if with faintly grey skin that had a more green tinge than Risky's, seemed to develop denser muscles as veins popped as they pumped more of that black through her veins. New power surges through her body to push Shantae's elbow away. Causing that genie to be sent spinning through the air with zero control.
Body heaving with a mixture of pain & power as her own magical "blood" escaped from her lips as a toxic vapour that screamed black magic. Burning her own insides up for a massive boost which not even she knew she could do. But she did know her body couldn't handle it for very long.
As such she bounced forward to catch up to Shantae.
Ending up beside the heroine before she even managed to land on the ground; her black vein-filled hand slammed down palm first to catch the spinning genie in the stomach.
Stopping her rotating while also slamming her through the stone floor.
Now Shantae's turn to spit out her interestingly coloured blood - being far less crimson than it was on the first day of her adventure. Something that shocked the BatGal. Long enough for a purple ponytail to fly forward and hit her right in the head.
That artificial woman fell to the floor from the impact…
Yet this time she didn't get back up as the adrenaline that allowed her to stay standing simply wasn't enough anymore.
Her monstrous transformation fading as she didn't have the energy to jumpstart it again.
The retaliation she managed was, in the end, just luck.
Not that it stopped her from continuing to try.
Shakily but surely Shantae stood up to look forwards to the BatGal only to freeze up - the woman's nails already being chipped as she used her bare hands to crawl across the floor. Those whiteless eyes unfocused but full of determination. Shantae found herself… Not wanting to kill her.
"Why are you so determined…" Reaching her hand in between her breasts to pull out not one but two high grade potions.
One of which she promptly drank herself.
Almost as soon as that liquid touched her tongue she felt the difference. Whipping the blood away with the back of her hand while reaching towards the monster with the other hand; only to be knocked aside with what little strength that beast. "Heh~ you want to beat us yet you don't even know something like that?"
And it truly was the last of her strength.
Slowly but surely the BatGal's body was breaking apart into an all too familiar smokey ash - yet the monster didn't acknowledge it like the other monsters Shantae had overcome.
Instead releasing a mocking laughter.
"I've bought enough time and, let me tell you, that boyfriend of yours certainly enjoyed the time we had together as I stole his first time." Leering as she ridiculed the half-genie.
A half-genie who could only tilt her head while giving a rather confused reply. "Bolo isn't my boyfriend."
"... Oh." Disappointment clear on her face that somehow managed to remain its beauty even when covered in dirt, sweat and abyssal ichor.
With that she her body finally erupted into smoke.
Leaving Shantae to silently stand over the largest gem she had ever seen.
Though she only was given a few seconds.
"You must hurry on, young genie, stop that pirate from plundering the Sizzling Stone that is deep within this labyrinth and for that purpose let me teach you my transformation!" That caged genie advised her only to receive a rather lacklustre reply in response. "Uh, yeah, sure…"
---
Stepping into the boss room after all that and seeing that Risky Boots was already present didn't even surprise the half-genie anymore.
"Well, well, well if it isn-"
"Why?" Cutting off the pirate before she could begin her usual spiel.
Not bothering with their usual back and forth.
That in turn caused the piratess to be quite baffled for a moment; studying the half-genie in front of herself with a bit more concentration. Of course the first thing she realised was just how much closer that genie was becoming to like her ancestors. But that clearly wasn't it so she simply just asked.
"Now what, praytell, has got your knickers twisted more than usual. Since this whole thing is not nearly as amusing if you don't play your part." Tapping a foot on the floor as she gazed at the moody little girl that was more than happy to explain.
"Why would they be willing to die for you and why would you let them!?" Shantae's voice was more of a roar than an actual question.
The fierce sharpness in her eyes caused the legendary pirate to actually raise a brow.
A faint smirk playing across her lips.
Snorting as she spoke. "Is that not what it means to be loyal?"
"Although I must say that the look in your eyes is… Quite familiar. Reminds me of this merc I had some run-ins with, asked me something similar with those same eyes, though he at least knew what loyalty was and was strong enough to get a title like "Mercenary King"." Lifting her hands nonchalantly in a shrug.
To say that did little to calm Shantae's anger was an understatement.
If anything it immediately became ten times worse as she didn't even ask anything else.
Rushing forward with her head already flicking forward to send her ponytail forth - however she wasn't dealing with the average beast or even pirate.
The ease at which Risky Boots brought her sword up to divert the attack was downright comical; less so was the brutal knee she brought up in retaliation. While Shantae was dryheaving from the blow, that pirate threw her aside with her free hand, continuing on with her own rant. "You really should get rid of that look in your eyes - simply doesn't suit a pretty face like you as well as it does his."
Looking over her shoulder at the girl panting on the floor while clutching her gut.
"Oh and I would worry more about yourself than my BatGal." Turning away as a huge suit of armour fell down from the ceiling between the two.
---
That boss certainly didn't match up to Risky Boots or the BatGal.
Took quite the beating yet that was all there was to it; far too slow to actually punish the young half-genie for recklessly going in on the big bastard. As such it was the easiest fight she had against a boss. Mainly since her time with the Golem King could hardly be classified as an actual fight.
Like usual that boss left her with a brand new mystical stone brick although exiting the labyrinth after clearing was far easier with the escape candies given by Sky. Though just as she was about to chew on one she heard a cute little squeal from above. Looking up to see a five piece of… Octopus?
It was then that things properly clicked for her as she recalled the very familiar (if larger) squid she met back at the Zombie Caravan. Seeing those little things sticking to the roof of the room brought a smile as she pondered how to get those babies down.
Both issues left her truly stumped.
"Do you baby Warp Oc- Squids want to come down - I can bring you back to your mother?" She asked pleadingly with her hands outstretched as if to catch them. Surprisingly she actually got a reply in the form of terrified crying as the five clearly didn't want to be there either.
Of course she could have used her monkey form.
Yet she had a new transformation; so why wouldn't she try it out?
It started, as it did with both of her other transformations, closing her eyes with a big smile on her face as she shifted her hips from side to side. Feeling a satisfying bounce with each movement. Her hands outstretched in an almost welcoming/hugging gesture.
This time she didn't even need to move her feet (though those wide hips certainly continued) as she brought her hands up in front of her face. Open palms meeting with fingers pointed upwards - eyes opening as she shifted her head from side to side in time with her hips. Once more that light enveloped her form to transform it into a brand new animal.
Spider.
She was a spider.
A really big spider that probably reached up to humanoid Shantae's knees with that familiar circlet; she was still very much just a spider. Utilizing that spider form to begin climbing up the wall to where the poor little baby squids were. Utilizing her multiple limbs to both hold them while climbing back down.
While a human baby would probably cry at the large (if chibi-fied) spider grabbing them - those baby warp squids left out excited squeaks as they were brought down. Not very surprising when one considers that they also have multiple limbs. As such, it was almost as easy as the boss fight.
Once each one had been brought down, and returning back to her human form, that left her with another major problem to consider.
"Now how am I going to get all of you out of the labyrinth followed by moving through the zombie infested swamp without one of you getting nibbled on…" Tapping her foot as she stroked her chin. Pondering that as those poor didn't seem to comprehend the actual danger of zombies based on their joyful dancing.
Not surprising considering where their mother lived.
Though, upon looking down at them, she couldn't help notice something else that just so happened to be within her peripheral vision.
Moving her hands up to each grab one of her perky palseach as she looked upon those little guys. "You know I've never tried it with a living creature before… Don't suppose you guys would be willing to help me test something out?"
---
Surprisingly the zombie girl who guided her there was actually at the entrance.
Sat atop a rock with her feet kicking about as she waited.
"Yo~ sup magic knockers; find anything particularly sparkly down in those depths?" Rottytops asked with a mischievous smile on her face - as if she was already cooking up with some brand new scheme.
The lightness of the zombie seemingly did a lot to relight Shantae's own spark.
A familiar smile returned to her face as she took a deep breath to capture some of the fresh air to cleanse away the grime of the dungeon. Unfortunately she was currently standing within a swamp filled with a load of rotting undead so that didn't go very well. Causing her face to scrunch up with a groan.
"The only things I got out of that were the Sizzle Stone and a brand new transformation… As well as a whole bucket's worth of babies." Shrugging off the somewhat suspicious attention. She wasn't too worried if that zombie happened to want to plunder the relics of an ancient labyrinth.
Hearing that made the zombie instantly deflate; slumping against the rock with an "oh ma~n" though it also didn't take her long to recover.
"Guess I'm just going to head back to my caravan however, if you are lookin' for more of those stones, I recommend heading up Mount Pointy as that was where I heard the last one was. Though before that you should probs head to Bandit Town to get the lay of the land." Wagging her finger as Shantae.
Meanwhile Shantae couldn't help tilt her head in suspicion at the name of that town. "Don't know how welcome a guardian genie would be in a place like that…"
"Eh~ but there is already a real knowledgeable genie in that village who could sort you out." Lifting her hands up in a shrug as she shook her head. Letting a sigh out at the blatant bigotry on display by the younger girl who judged people based on them just living in a place called Bandit Town.
"Well… I suppose you haven't set me wrong yet." Deciding to just go with the flow for now. "Probably best I drop these kids off first, though."