Shantae tried to grip the mug. Her hands just quivered like mad. She really wanted to sip on her cranberry juice, but her fingers didn't want to work. Feeling it would be safer, she used both hands to raise the mug up to her lips. Now the liquid inside the mug started to dance like there was a earthquake. But she did manage to get the mug up to her mouth and get in a little bit of the juice into her mouth and down the throat.
A week passed. Risky Boots had so far kept to her word and hadn't attacked anywhere in Sequin Land, at least as far as the newspapers have reported. But Sky and the town's defenders were still on twenty-four shifts and were waiting for anything to happen at any time. Sky spent her time either on the battlements or at the lighthouse keeping an eye out for Shantae. Rottytops, her brothers, Mimic and Bolo also spent a great deal of time with Shantae. She appreciated the concern, but she did want some sense of privacy in her own home.
"What's stopping you from getting of it?" Sky asked with a serious expression. Shantae pointed up to a corner in the ceiling. Sky looked over and noticed something resembling a small skull. "Let me guess." Sky sighed. "That's a camera that's keeping a eye on you and the baby." Shantae merely nodded. "And if we destroy it, Risky will come back?" Shantae again nodded her head. "I would like to say just move, but even I know that Risky isn't stupid. She would figure it out pretty fast."
"I considered all my options." Shantae sighed. "If did I get a abortion and try to cover it up, the façade wouldn't last very long and Risky would come back. Threatened to harm the baby and try to get her to back off, Risky would just come back and abduct me. Give the baby over to someone else, Risky would kill the adopters and give the baby back." She then groaned and buried her head into her hands.
"And all this for a baby." Sky wondered. "Why?"
"Legacy." Shantae replied as she raised her head back up. "She needs a child to continue her work…as a pirate. And she wants a quarter-genie child at that." Shantae huffed.
"Ah!" Sky whistled. "Lie number one. She said she was never going to return to Sequin Land. If she's going to make this child be a pirate, she's got to come back to pick her daughter up. Unless…" Sky sighed as she thought of a possible loophole. "…when she meant by 'never return to Sequin Land' she actually meant 'not to attack Sequin Land.'"
"Yes." Shantae got up to do something, to ease her nerves. "When we were…disrobing…she did mention that the proper age for a pirate to get started is eight. Which means we will be seeing her again sometime in the next decade." Shantae patted her stomach. "Poor Nina…"
"Nina." Sky groaned out loud. "You named it. You actually named your little demon baby. And how do you know it's a girl?"
"Risky wanted a daughter…so I used a little genie magic to make it so." Shantae looked down. Way too early for any significant growth, but she could feel the child within her. So many mixed feelings came over Shantae as she thought about Nina. Some happy, some sad, and some angry. A part of her wanted to keep the child; her maternal instincts had started to kick in and Shantae did have some feelings for Risky…thatandshewasgoodinbedbutitsnotimportant. Sad because Shantae felt robbed in more than one way: of time, youth, innocence, time…and the fact Risky might easily take advantage of a pregnant defender. Angry because for the same reason for being sad.
"Unbelievable." Sky breathed out as she got up and went towards the door. "I'm going back to duty. Rottytops will be over a bit later, she and her zombie friends are building a wall for the possible war. It's going to stink like hell, but it's better than nothing." She accidently slammed the door on her way out, squeaking out a quick 'sorry' before running back to her post.
Shantae became alone with her thoughts. If Risky did intend to come back in eight years to pick up the child…should Shantae even bother raising the child? After those eight years, Shantae might never see Nina again. Would there be a point to raising her like an actual child? A sick joke popped into her head: didn't most criminals have some sort of physiological problem, usually involving their parents. She brushed that nasty thought away.
…if she did raise Nina like her own child…that might cause problems with Risky.
There just wasn't a good way out of this predicament.
Shantae looked at her stomach for the umpteenth time today. Not any bigger, but still there. Shantae closed her eyes and thought about the future. She thought about pushing a young Nina on a swing back and forth…but also Nina and Risky laughing at her as she was throw into a jail cell.
She bit her lip. All Shantae wanted was to make things easier for everyone.
