Sky yawned. Really couldn't help it, she had spent all of last night watching from the post just right outside the gates of town. Pumpkin Fields were fairly quiet this time of year. Not many scarecrows running about and the nagas had migrated to the west. But still, the Ammo Baron might come back and he might even bring Risky Boots along. Or a far more dangerous threat could appear and threaten the town now that their guardian had something else going on. (Even if the information hadn't left the town and the town itself really hadn't learned about it themselves.) Sky straighten her back and looked out to the fields below.
Something weird happened the other day that occupied a great deal of Sky's thoughts. Rottytops coming over with a box of chocolates…one that had been bought at a legit market and not a single chocolate was out of place. The two were really distant friends; Rottytops usually spent more time with Shantae. And now the zombie girl now expressed a rather deep and…possibly romantic attraction in her. That part really made Sky think about things she really didn't want to. Sky really just wanted to focus on protecting the town from outside threats, not pursue a involved relationship with one of the undead.
…even if the chocolate gift really tasted well.
Having become a bit inattentive due to her thoughts been elsewhere, Sky turned to face the clock in the tower. Close to four, so one of the more beefy guys would come to replace her for another four hours until the next man in line's shift. Tomorrow she had picked a even longer shift as the man supposed to work that day had gotten sick after he tried some pumpkin soup. Really his fault, Sky didn't know of any adult in town that would try any pumpkin-products that came from just right outside town. Those were of the explosive kind, Sky last checked.
Her monetary distraction from her post prevented from spotting Shantae going through the gates and heading out to do some monster-bashing. Not seeing many scarecrows nearby, Shantae decided to go a bit further than what she originally planned. I wouldn't go as far as the desert, she decided to herself. Taking a deep and calming breath, she jolted forward and hopped across the stone platforms that hung above the bottomless pits…why do those things still exist and how do they even exist?
Wrench had been sent out earlier to scout ahead. Having spotted a few scarecrows that looked like they were preparing a rather large, he was flying back to warn his master so they could assemble a few men to go after these monsters. Wrench picked up a unusual color just right below and glanced down to see something he hadn't expected to see out here. Shantae…the friend of his master. She should be at home relaxing! Sky had been rather anxious about Shantae the past month. Wrench darted ahead as fast as his wings could support him.
Shantae didn't see Wrench and continued. Reaching a high platform, she saw the coven of scarecrows that Wrench saw. Fidgety after a month of rest, Shantae jumped into the circle and whipped her hair three times. One of the scarecrows exploded into green mist and ratty clothing shreds. The other three jumped back and breathed out the toxic fumes that mixed into a huge and thick cloud. Shantae also jumped back and threw a large fireball at the fire. It ignited and a good-sized explosion knocked everybody back. Shantae flew and crashed into a old pillar. Normally she would just shake her head and get back up, but this time she felt way more winded and pained. At first she chalked it up to not being in prime shape, but she felt really tired now!
Month two. Fatigue had rolled in and doused her body In lethargy. It took a good few seconds before Shantae could get up on her feet. Only one scarecrow survived the explosion and it crackled manically as it prepped a rather large pumpkin bomb to finish off the destroyer of his kind. Shantae raised her hands up and threw out another fireball, hitting the last scarecrow in the chest and killing it. Sadly, she didn't have the energy to go and collect the gems dancing and fading away. Looking behind her, she wouldn't have the energy to return the way she came.
She didn't have to wait along as Sky and Wrench jumped down from the higher ground, Sky wearing a rather angrily annoyed expression on her face with her arms crossed and locked. Shantae recognized the look as the same one that Sky's mother gave her daughter when she forgot to get some groceries. Shantae let out a small giggle as Sky placed two hands on her shoulders.
"Nice job on eliminating those monsters before they got to the village." Honestly admitted Sky as she hopped back to the village.
"Thanks." Shantae mumbled as she held on as tight as she could to the straps on Sky's back. Sky at least thought ahead and brought some climbing gear so that Shantae could make it back without straining herself. Sure, Sky had to carry extra weight, but at least the way was clear and all she had to focus on was to get Shantae back to town. Normally a trip like this would take less two minutes, but with Shantae dragging her down it would take almost twenty.
"Still wish we could find out what they were planning."
"I'm pretty sure we stopped whatever they're doing."
"Good. Real good. Maybe next time we could find what exactly they're doing, in case we interrupted something already in work. As far as we know? That was just step five, one that can easily be redone at anytime."
"Yeah."
Sky sighed and preceded to go all the way through the town and back to the lighthouse, passing by the person replacing her at guard duty. She just told him to get going before she went off to drop off Shantae. Her good friend silently got off and walked inside, with Sky watching to make sure she didn't try to do anything sneaky. Sky walked off, turning back to glare down Shantae when she tried to escape. Shantae would need a baby-sitter at this rate. At least her day had come to a close with no-one dying on her watch and no impending attack from outside threats.
"Welcome home, honey." Sky's mother called over from the kitchen as she walked in. "You got a friend in your room waiting for you." Sky blinked as she thought about which friend her mother mentioned. Not Shantae or Bolo, her mother would have mentioned them by their names. Walking up to her room and opening the door to her room, she got surprised by something she would never expect to see.
"Care for a romp?" Rottytops asked, lifting the thin strap of her lacey lingerie.
