Tracy landed on the outskirts of Tuatha Meadu near Ban-Laoch's house. "Ban-Laoch... what happened?" Tall-Ainne said in concern as his daughter dismounted Tracy.
"Daddy... Acheron is back." Ban-Laoch said, looking downcast.
"But how...?" Tall-Ainne said in disbelief.
"Bledis... he harnessed my Djinn magic for his own. And created wicked copy of me from my mother's half... and brought the Doom of the Golden Age back from the grave." Ban-Laoch explained. "And... he tore off my armor. Now Acheron will destroy the world... finish what she started long ago."
"It isn't over until it's over my beloved daughter! Let us- w-wait... did you say SHE?" Tall-Ainne said.
"Yeah... Acheron was a woman this entire time. Never would have called that." Ban-Laoch said.
"Regardless, we have to find Acheron and stop her. And try to get back your powers if we can." Tall-Ainne said.
"Right... right of course. I just need a full bottle of Banu'an'lae wine and-" Ban-Laoch was cut off as a crashing noise was heard inside of the house itself. "Oh no..." She said as she and her father went into the house, all the while she pleaded. 'Please don't let that be the wine.'
Then she gasped in horror when they entered the wine cellar, and found it flooded with wine and broken glass. "I warned you that so much magic wine would lead to disaster." Tall-Ainne said.
Ban-Laoch ignored her father's comment as she desperately tried to get the wine in a wineglass. Picking out pieces of glass from the wine itself. Eventually she found an unfamiliar girl in the wine. "YOU!" She said as she angrily grabbed the tan-skinned women with purple colored hair in a long ponytail and strange red clothes that left the majority of her torso exposed and long pants with strange slippers.
"Whoa! I'm sorry for the mess I just-" The strange women said. "-I fell through a magic portal that my mother opened after I had liberated my friends from the Squid Baron-"
"NAME! NOW!" Ban-Laoch roared.
"Ban-Laoch! I understand your upset, but that's no reason to take it out on this young women!" Tall-Ainne said. "I'm sorry, my little girl, Ban-Laoch has been under a lot of pressure and trauma of late. I am Tall-Ainne Ash-Lion, may I ask your name?"
"Shantae, I'm a half-genie and I don't know why my genie mother sent me to this strange place... or why I'm in a half-flooded basement." Shantae explained.
"This is my wine cellar... this wine has basically kept me alive for twenty years. Giving me the strength to wake up in the morning, and face the day after unceasing nightmares of war and barbarity from years past." Ban-Laoch seethed. "And in less than a minute you destroyed a fortune of my magical Banu'an'lae wine! And-... wait... your voice sounds familiar."
"Now that I think about it, you DO sound very familiar to me. I think I heard your voice in parts of the Squid Barons-" Shantae was interrupted again by Tracy sticking a claw into the basement.
"Mommy! Are you okay? I heard shouting!" Tracy asked.
XXXX
"Wow..." Shantae said as Ban-Laoch finished explaining the present status of Elvenheim. "No wonder my mom sent me here."
"And you say that you're a Djinn Daughter yourself?" Tall-Ainne asked.
"I assume that's what you Elves call Half-Genies around here?" Shantae asked.
"I'm pretty sure we covered that." Ban-Laoch said, still bitter from the incident with the wine cellar.
"Still... my mother wants me to help you. She didn't say anything, but she said that another world needed my help." Shantae explained.
"Then your mother must be a very wise Djinn indeed. In the meantime, we must figure out Acheron's next move." Tall-Ainne said, then Iarann rushed into the house.
"Acheron! She and her armies are on the outskirts of Tuatha Meadu!" Iarann said. "And whose that?"
"I'm Shantae, and I'll be helping you guys deal with your evil conqueror problem." Shantae said.
XXXX
Eventually, Ban-Laoch, her friends and Shantae infiltrated the enemy camp, with Tracy flying overhead, serving as a distraction via flying overhead and raining fire on the enemy.
"Okay people, it's do or die time." Ban-Laoch said sternly. "We take out Acheron, and we can end this war. We die, and the rest of Creation might not be far behind us."
"Agreed..." Ardaigh said, the Phoenix finally having recovered from their first encounter with the Dark Elves. "We must keep to the shadows, that'll be the only way to keep the element of-"
His jaw then slacked in disbelief as Shantae did a belly dance, turned into an elephant, and heedlessly charged through the Dark Elf camp. "Well... I suppose that eliminates the element of surprise." Sag'has the banshee said sardonically.
"Well, the stealthy approach would have been boring anyway." Ban-Laoch said, she and her companions made their way behind Shantae's path of destruction. Mopping up any enemies that survived the Half-Genie heroine's one-woman stampede, all the while Ban-Laoch used the weapons she acquired since the Dark Elves reappearance. The serrated magic axe from the very beginning of this recent adventure, the mace of the Ubertoad, Gastros, and Dullahan's sword Ryg-Gard, using each weapon along with her father's old swords to manage any other obstacles in their way.
Eventually, Ban-Laoch and her friends caught up with Shantae. Who looked exhausted after defeating a Great Dark Demon. "Okay... I'm not trying that again." Shantae said in exhaustion.
"Running off without a backwards glance into danger? Or... whatever it was exactly that you did?" Dullahan asked.
"Both... actually, now that... now that I think about it. Whew... I am winded." Shantae gasped in exhaustion.
"Still, you managed to create quite the trail of destruction. A work of art if you don't mind my saying." Ban-Laoch said, looking back at the rather implausible rivers of lava and decimated tents. "I'm not even sure those lava rivers were there before."
"Well... I need a quick pick-me-up." Shantae said, and then she did a dance and turned into an orange tree with a face.
"...okay?" Iarann said in surprise as the Half-Genie heroine created a number of fresh oranges, turned back to her Human form and ate the oranges. Shantae did this process a few more times.
"There! No I'm ret-to-go!" Shantae said in a chipper tone.
"Where did that fruit come from?" Ban-Laoch asked in bewilderment.
"Magic! Now let's get the lead out!" Shantae said.
XXXX
Eventually the party finally met Bledis, Ban-Laoch's doppelganger, and Acheron. "NO... NO!" Acheron roared in disbelief.
"For the love of- DJINN! Take care of them!" Bledis barked.
"By your command master." Ban-Laoch's doppelganger then cast magic, summoning large throngs of Ice Thralls.
"We'll hold them off!" Dullahan said as she and the others charged into the enemy goons.
"TWO DJINN DAUGHTERS?! HOW CAN THIS BE?!" Acheron roared.
"Acheron! My name is Shantae of Sequin Land! And your wrath on this world ends today!" Shantae said as she held a hand with Ban-Laoch.
"Why are you touching my hand?" Ban-Laoch asked in confusion.
"And I will not stand alone!" Shantae said, and then unexpectedly, a ball of life formed around the two girls.
"Children of the Djinn... ARISE!" Ban-Laoch's mother said with a booming voice, and in a blinding light. Both girls had been fused into some manner of centaur with four arms, the tail and hair overall was a mix of red and purple, while the merged beings cloths were a mix of Ban-Laoch's green cloths and Shantae's belly dancer outfit.
"NO! DJINN! I WISH THIS HORROR-" Then, the centaur genie absorbed the Ban-Laoch doppelganger, regaining Ban-Laoch's lost magical prowess. "SO... DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE ENOUGH TO END MY CONQUEST? THE DARK LORDS WILL NOT BE DENIED THIS DIMENSION A SECOND TIME! EVEN WITH THE POWERS OF THE DJINN DAUGHTERS AND THE ELVEN REALMS OF OLD. I AM STILL HERE!" Acheron gloated defiantly.
"W-What is evening happening?" Bledis asked in disbelief.
"We are the judgment of the Djinn!" The centaur said, speaking with the voices of both Shantae and Ban-Laoch. "And by the will of the Genie-Empress, you are to be executed by combat!"
"FLY YOU RUNT!" Acheron roared as she unsheathed her weapon. "THE DARK ONES WILL NOT BE DENIED AGAIN!" She commanded as Bledis fled.
The battle between Acheron and the Djinn-Fusion was intense, even with the combined powers of two Djinn daughters fused into one being. They were still not an even match for the ancient Dark Elf. Eventually however, Acheron grew winded. "THE DARK LORDS... WILL BE TRIUMPHANT! GRANT ME STRENGTH! TO SMITE THIS MONSTER!"
Acheron was enveloped in black tendrils of power, this merged with her eight legged horse Ochtar, and become a massive centaur. "Well... this is an interesting twist." The fused genies said.
"MEET YOUR END!" Acheron roared as she thrust down her sword. Forcing both Half-Genies to de-fused upon impact with the blade.
"Well... that was a disorienting experience." Ban-Laoch said, rubbing her head.
"Yeah, I thought it would be cool to have horse legs... not really the case." Shantae said as she stretched her legs. "Felt good though... except for your traumatic memories of the Longship War that I could have done without."
"Agreed... now let's see if two Djinn-Daughters can take out an empowered Dark Elf." Ban-Laoch said as she readied her swords.
"Right behind you sister!" Shantae said as she summoned a whirling ball of scimitars.
The ball began anew with Ban-Laoch and Shantae using there magical skills to battle Acheron once more. Ban-Laoch, turning into the various elemental forms she had acquired during her first adventure as a Djinn Daughter. Shantae using various spells and her magic dances to gain an advantage over the now immense warlord.
Eventually, they managed to defeat Acheron... the Dark Elf turned into an immense pillar of light. "Congratulations... my daughters." Said the ethereal voice of Ban-Laoch's mother from the pillar.
"Wait... daughter's... plural?" Shantae asked inquiringly.
"Yes... I am mother to you both. I am the Genie-Empress." She said as she stepped out from the pillar of light. "I am sorry I never met either of you directly before now. As well that the circumstances could not be more... pleasant."
"How..." Ban-Laoch said in disbelief. "How is this flighty child my sister?!"
"Hey! I'm sixteen!" Shantae said in offence.
"My point exactly!" Ban-Laoch said. "Teenagers shouldn't be in a war zone like this!... training certainly for such a thing but-"
"ENOUGH!" The Genie-Empress shouted. "I will not allow any of my daughters to bicker in such a matter!"
"Sorry... sorry. It's just that I'd rather not see family die again!" Ban-Laoch said.
"Yeah... the things that happened to your cousins... yikes that was messed up." Shantae said. "It's just that I'm the only Genie Guardian in Sequin Land... doesn't help that almost all of the Genie's there were killed by the Pirate Master trying to keep him from taking over the place."
"That is related to what is going on. Because of Risky Boot's incursion into the Genie Realm, our ability to hold back the Dark Ones is waning... and a number of there servants in the Dark Realm have slipped past our vigil. Allowing them to wreak havoc, not just in this Realm... but in others." The Genie-Empress explained. "To make matters worse, there are far too few Genies and Half-Genies to keep the forces of evil in check."
"So we've got our work cut out for us. Don't we?" Ban-Laoch asked.
"Not for a while. The Dark Ones are gaining ground. But with the destruction of one of their greatest servants, we have bought ourselves precious time." The Genie-Empress said. "In short, you two are free to live freely without concern of the greater war to come... for now. But you must prepare for the coming storm nonetheless."
"Well I have been catapulted to the most powerful Elf in the Realm. So I've got my hands full regardless..." Ban-Laoch said.
"You could come stay with me in Sequin Land." Shantae offered.
"And that brings me to an issue with either of staying in the others Realm." The Genie Empress said. "For you see, a portal must be maintained between your respective Realms. Otherwise, significant time will pass for the Realm of Elvenheim, but very little if any for Sequin Land."
"You speak of knowledge that has been lost to the Elves for centuries, and the few Realm Gates that are still relatively intact haven't worked since the Golden Age." Ban-Laoch said.
"Yeah, and I don't think even my Uncle Mimic would know how to build one. I mean I've been to the Genie Realm, but he didn't make any portal devices." Shantae added.
"Exactly... but I can enable such a thing to happen." The Genie-Empress said, she then gave both of her daughters a set of parchment each. "The wise among you can figure these out, and allow you both to visit one another... goodbye my beloved daughters, we will meet again." She said as she disappeared.
Several months later, Tall-Ainne and Iarann had finished building the device that the Genie-Empress had provided.
"Will it work?" Ban-Laoch asked as she inspected the ring shaped device.
"Young lady, your mother, and the Empress of the Djinn gave us these plans. AND your sister and I are both experts in Golden Age technology." Tall-Ainne said sternly.
"Powering portal." Iarann said as she pressed a button on a nearby terminal. The ring device lit up, and on the other side was a quaint, if messy looking workshop. Then out of the portal, Shantae jumped through and hugged Ban-Laoch.
"It's... good to see you two Shantae." Ban-Laoch, awkwardly returning the hug.
"Shantae!" Shantae's uncle, the inventor and archeologist Mimic said. "You shouldn't go running through untested devices like this! I still haven't done any tests!"
"The young lady is obviously intact... and you must be this 'Uncle Mimic' Ban-Laoch told me about." Tall-Ainne said. "She has told me of your inventions... and your blunders with such inventions."
"And you must that Tall-Ainne fellow Shantae has been going on about since the end of that recent affair with the Squad Baron." Mimic said. "I tell you, if she hadn't brought those blue prints I wouldn't have believed her in the first place."
Unbeknownst to anyone, in a forgotten Elven ruin, Bledis was fiddling with an ancient Gateway device. Eventually, his feverish working along with the toil of his surviving Stone Thralls opened a portal. And out of it emerged black imp like creatures wearing red bandana's and pants.
"What is the meaning of this?" Asked the lavender skinned women who stepped out behind them. "Who are you little man? And tell me, why I, Risky Boots, shouldn't keelhaul you for this affront." Risky Boots then sniffed the air. "Yuck! And why do you smell of corpse and sea water?
"I am Bledis, champion of the Dark Ones... and I have been instructed to seek your help." Bledis said. "As for the smell, I'm undead, and I've spent almost my whole life on the high seas."
"Indeed, but why my help specifically?" Risky Boots said.
"I do not know, all I was told by the Lie Spinner. Was the location of this old Gateway, and coordinates for your Realm. Please... my forces have been decimated, and the most recent of my attempts to conquer this Realm has backfired cataclysmically, thanks to the meddling of not one, but TWO Djinn Daughters!" Bledis explained.
"Wait..." Risky Boots said as she rubbed her chin in curiosity. "Did one of them have long purple hair in a ponytail, one she used like a whip? Maybe turned into animals and other creatures? And wore a skimpy red dress?"
"Yes! That's her exactly... I vaguely remember her name being Shan... Shantel or something." Bledis said.
"Come with me, we need to compare notes