7:40 A.M.
Lighthouse Bay, Sequin Island

The serenity of the morning calm was shortly interrupted as a cannonball smashed into the side of the rock face near the lighthouse. Shantae screamed as she fell out of bed, waking Sonic and Tails up.

"What time is it..." Tails said, rubbing his eyes, before more cannonballs struck the cliffside.

"Well, that's one heck of a wakeup call!" Sonic said as he dashed outside to see the ship that was firing at them. Shantae soon followed, still in her jam-jams from the abrupt awakening.

"Risky!" Shantae yelled.

"Well, how about that for a wakeup call, eh?" Risky called from her ship. "Better back down now, or there's more where that came from!"

"Fat chance, lady!" Sonic called.

"Well," she said, steering the ship away. "Don't say I didn't warn you! Keep firing men!"

The Tinkerbats kept loading cannonballs into the cannons. Risky stared onward at her target, a dark smirk appearing on her face. "Make sure there's nothing left of that little 'interference'." She said darkly.

"Sonic, what are we gonna do?" Shantae asked, a hint of concern and worry in her tone. "She's got enough firepower to level the entire town!"

"Don't worry," Sonic said, flashing her a smirk. "I've got this."

As he finished his sentence, another cannonball was launched from the ship. Sonic, seeing the cannon shot almost immediately, rushed towars the oncoming cannonball. With a split-second reaction and a swift kick, Sonic launched the shot back at the ship. the large metal orb collided with one of the cannons, causing a chain reaction of explosions across the ship.

When the smoke cleared, a soot-covered Risky Boots stood on deck, gritting her teeth in anger. "This isn't over, you little pin cushion!" She yelled, stabbing her sword into the deck of the ship. "You'll regret the next time we meet. You'll wish you were my slaves!"

And with that, the ship moved away to another part of the island.

"Well, that takes care of that issue." Sonic commented, dusting off his jacket. "But it looks like she's still searching for the emerald."

"We'll go see Mimic," Shantae said. "He's gotta know something about the emerald somehow."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Sonic said. "But maybe you should change into a more, uhh..., 'appropriate' attire?"

Shantae looked at herself and realized what Sonic meant. Her hair was an ungodly mess and she was still only wearing her pajamas from Risky's attack. She blushed and rubbed the back of her head, clearly embarrassed at her unruly appearance. "I'll go get changed."

"You almost ready Shantae?" Tails asked.

"Almost sweetie," Shantae replied. Soon, she came down the stairs to her room, wearing her normal crimson bedlah and golden rings around her wrists. "All right, we ready?" She asked, grabbing her vest of the coat rack.

"Should be." Sonic said, hopping down from the hammock. "Let's go see Mimic."

"So, this is the town?" Sonic asked as he looked around. It wasn't the sprawling metropolis that was Hexaeco City back on Mobius, but it was decent at least. The various Arabian styled buildings usually stretched about a floor or two high, along with various awnings and stands adjouning the sides of the dusty road.

Shantae nodded. "This is my home town." She said, looking down the main street. "It's a town still in development, but it's growing."

"So, who's this old man we need to see again?" Sonic asked as they walked through the town. Vendors and shopkeepers were calling out to the other people roaming the streets.

"He's my uncle, Sonic," Shantae said. "His workshop should be around here.. there it is!" She said, pointing at a moderate-sized building. Sprouting around the building was machinery and such, with a large telescope on top.

"Heh, kinda reminds me of my workshop a bit." Tails remarked.

"I know the place looks a bit messy," She said, walking up to it. "But Mimic's got a kind heart. Trust me." She then opened the door and went inside, Sonic and Tails following close.

"Uncle Mimic?" Shantae called inside. The room had several scrap pieces of metal lying around, and several intresting trinkets and such on the walls. The old man was at a workbench working on a piece of equipment.

"Hm?" The old man said as he pushed up the welding mask out of his face. "Ah, Shantae! I was wondering when you would get back after Risky took off." He said. He then noticed Sonic and Tails standing by her. "Friends of yours, I assume?"

Shantae nodded. "Ran into them after chasing Risky. Uncle, we've got a crisis on our hands.."

"What do you mean they are already here?!" Eggman's voice shouted over the message board. "We can't be having them attacking us in other dimensions now!"

"Cool it Egghead." Risky snarkily said. "We've already got locations on what emeralds might be here. My Tinkerbats 'll be able to intercept 'em on the way out. And in the event it doesn't..." She grinned maliciously. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve..."

"Well see to it that you stop them!" Eggman said angrily. "I'm already in negotiations with two other masterminds, and the last thing I need is more wrenches thrown into my plan!" He turned, then said, "And make sure you look decent when you meet them. I don't think they'd appreciate meeting someone covered in soot!"

"I see.." Mimic said, stroking his beard. "So, the dimensions are corrupting already.."

Tails nodded. "And if we don't act now, all our villains from different worlds will take over."

"If there's anything you can do to help us, Uncle," Shantae asked.

"Well, I can start by helping you three find those gems." He said, walking over to a large computer. "We've recently had a meteor shower around here. Chances are one of the meteors that landed on the island is the emerald you're looking for." He said. "Shantae, you should meet with Sky in Oasis City in Baron Desert. Chances are the emerald is nearby."

Shantae nodded. "Thanks Uncle." She said, hugging the old man. "C'mon guys, let's get moving before Risky finds out.."

"So, where's Oasis City again?" Sonic asked as he ran straight up a rock face of the Naga Wastelands. "Something about a desert?"

Shantae nodded as she lept from an intertwining branch in the rock face. "Just past these cliffs is the Bron Desert. Oasis City is just in the middle of the desert."

"Well, at any rate," Tails said, flying up to the clifside perch. "we better keep moving. The more time we waste,"

"The sooner Risky finds one of the Emeralds." Shantae finished his sentence. "Let's go."

A dashing of dust flew up as the blue blur, with Shantae on his back and Tails following close behind, raced across the desert.

"It shouldn't be much farther," Shantae said, shielding her eyes from the dust being kicked up. "Just a little further."

"Hopefully," Sonic said. "There's too much sand!"

"Sonic!" Tails called. Sonic's ears picked up the faintest sound of jet engine thrust. Soon several cannonballs struck the sand dunes next to him and Shantae. He looked back to see the a large pirate ship fly straight over them, then turn to face them. Piloting the ship was none other than the pirate captainess herself, Risky.

"So, trying to get to the jewel first, are you?" Risky said from the front of the ship. "Good luck trying to get past me first!"

"Oh, yeah?" Sonic yelled. "Bring it, blueskin!"

Risky stamped her foot on the deck of the ship. "Oh, have a rather sour tongue today, do we?" She growled through gritted teeth. "Well, let's see how you like this!" She yelled. "Boys! Throw the Tinkertub into overdrive! Let's show them who they're really messing with!"

Tinkerbats started scurrying across the deck, loading the cannons. A devilish grin appeared on Risky's face. "Now you'll see why I'm the queen of the seas! Tinkerbats, open fire!"


Uh-oh. Looks like Risky managed to catch up to the heroes after her cannon firing incident at Lighthouse Vista. What does she have planned with her Tinkertub ? Could this spell disaster for our heroes? Find out next chapter!