Chapter 1
The Story Begins…
Author's Note: Hello, everyone. It's been a long time since I posted something on this site. I am using this story that I made for my DeviantArt page as a tester to see if the person that had harrassed me into fleeing this site with all of my stories in tow. If he doesn't review, then he's finally agreed to leave me alone for good and I can put my stories back on the site.
Not all of the stories will be back on immediately. Some will be re-written with fresher content and writing. Others may not return at all because of several factors. But if this works, then not only will I be able to post stories here again, but I can also continue this story on here, too. In addition, this story has drawings I made and posted on my DeviantArt page, since this site barely updates itself.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the story. I came up with this when I discovered Undertale in March 2021 and found myself crossing it over with the Shantae series. It is an alternate universe, so there will be some differences along with the similarities. The major ones being the style being from Shantae from clothes to titles, Frisk being a girl (in the Shantae Universe, all half-genies are born girls,) and there will be magic involved.
I do not own Undertale nor Shantae.
It was near midnight in the kingdom of Sequin Land and the only sounds that could be heard were the voices of nature. From the whisper of the wind to the roar of the sea, from the songs of birds to the croaking of frogs, the nightly serenade lulled the residents of the kingdom to sleep and regain energy for the coming day. Well, most of the residents. For our story begins in a small town on an island off the coast of Sequin Land: the Isle of Ebott, and a single resident who was tossing and turning in their bed.
In the only town on the island, there is a lighthouse where a young girl shifts restlessly in her sleep. This girl of twelve with the earthy-brown hair and small golden hoop earrings was having a dream. A dream that she had been having ever since her birthday a couple weeks ago.
It was always the same. Flashes of images narrated by a smooth, yet sorrowful voice. Images of humans and monsters standing side by side, an image of sharp-eared female figures standing between the humans and monsters, holding hands, humans and monsters fighting each other, before finally settling on a mountain that the girl was familiar with. And on this night, the dream was stronger than ever.
"Long ago, two races ruled the earth: Humans and Monsters. It was a golden age that held little conflict. And if there was a big conflict, the Guardian Genies of Sequin Land would intervene and remind the two sides that they were friends. With the genies as peacekeepers and protectors, Sequin Land prospered.
"But one day, the genies began to vanish. It started with individual incidents, but soon, groups of genies started to disappear. To this day, this was considered one of the reasons war broke out between the two races. Without the genies to keep the peace, fear and mistrust grew until it reached a breaking point and the people of Ebbot Island declared war against the monsters. After many long battles, the humans were victorious. They sealed most of the monsters underground with a magic spell, including the Royal Family of the Monsters, beneath Mount Ebott on Ebott Island. The remainder of the monsters fled the island, taking shelter on the mainland and either repaired their relationships with humans or swore vengeance against them.
The genies that remained were furious with the humans and refused to protect Ebott Island while the remainder focused on the rest of Sequin Land. Legends say the genies cursed the mountain in retaliation for the humans' actions, for those who climb the mountain never return."
The girl woke up with a start, as if she was being pulled and suddenly let go from the dream. She panted as her green eyes scanned her room, taking in the reality that was around her.
"That dream again," she whispered.
She looked down and saw on her stomach a book. The book of legends that her father had gotten her for her birthday. She frowned as she removed the book and looked at the page she was on: the war between the monsters and humans of Ebott Island. She placed the book on her nightstand (well...an old barrel that doubled as a nightstand) and waited quietly to hear any sounds. She breathed a sigh of relief after a minute of silence.
"Phew! Good. Dad's not awake. Otherwise he'd be here right now. The last thing I want is to wake him again right before a busy day at the port."
She then rubbed her eyes as she scolded herself.
"Come on, Frisk, you silly half-genie! You've got to get a hold of your dreams! You need sleep! You can't figure out your magic talent and become a Guardian Genie if you're dead-tired!"
After she finished her little session, Frisk looked out her window and decided to open it, needing to feel the cool sea air on her tan skin. Frisk was the island's only genie, even if she was a half-genie. When the Guardian Genies left the island a long time ago, the people thought that a genie would never come back. But surprisingly, one did: Frisk's mother.
Like some of the younger half-genies of Sequin Land, Frisk never knew her mother personally. All she could go on was what her father and the townspeople would tell her. Her father would tell her that her mother was a very kind and very determined genie, having come to Ebott Island to "mend everything," as her mother had apparently quoted. No one knew why she was really there, but she fell in love with a human sailor named Askir and bore him a daughter: Francesca, who would later be given the nickname "Frisk" for her boundless energy. But like with the other genies, Frisk's mother disappeared, leaving Akir and Frisk behind.
Frisk grew up hearing tales of her mother. How she was a fierce warrior who defended the town from various threats like pirates, but had compassion even to help a defeated enemy if they deserved it. Frisk dreamed of being like her mother right then and there, so she started training every day since she was five. When she got a little older, she would be taken to the mainland to visit nearby Scuttle Town, where an older half-genie named Shantae would teach her the genie basics. Shantae's own exploits as the Guardian Genie of Scuttle Town made her another one of Frisk's idols, especially when Shantae had to deal with the pirate queen, Risky Boots.
But being like her mother and Shantae weren't the only reasons Frisk wanted to become a Guardian Genie. She had, what her father called, a warrior's spirit filled with courage and determination to fight wrongs and defend the innocent. This warrior's spirit had also gotten her into a lot of trouble with the various fights against bullies she would get into. She wanted to prove herself to the people of Ebott Island that she was more than just a half-genie firecracker.
But with her twelfth birthday passing, these strange dreams started to appear and it was always the same thing. Frisk often thought it was her book that gave her these dreams. But even when she hadn't read the book or on the Monster-Human War chapter for an entire week, she would still get these dreams. This was driving her crazy and was making her father worry. Frisk placed her elbow on her windowsill and placed her cheek in her hand. She gazed up at the twinkling stars and the glistening moon, lost in her own thoughts. Her eyes trailed downward towards the beach, scanning the sea before reaching the town. And from the town her eyes wandered to the jungle beyond. Children were not allowed to venture into the jungle for obvious reasons, but it was in the center of the jungle that caught her attention. Rising out from the jungle like an ominous beast was the very mountain that her dreams focused on: Mount Ebott.
The tales weren't wrong on one thing: those who venture to the mountain never returned. Not since the days when the genies and monsters roamed the island alongside humans. There had been disappearances over the years and it was enough that the town elders made it forbidden for anyone to even go to the mountain for any reason. Yet as she looked at the mountain, Frisk's mind filled with more questions. Questions that could only be answered if she broke the rule and went to the mountain itself.
"I wonder… The rule usually applies to humans. But what about half-genies? Are they exempt?" Frisk thought as she gazed at the mountain.
Deciding to turn her head, Frisk's eye caught a glimmering light from her right. A light that she was all too familiar with.
"Maybe Shantae will have some answers. Or maybe one of the half-genies she met on that island vacation knows something?"
A yawn escaped Frisk's lips. Sleep decided to come back and despite her questions, Frisk complied as she curled back into bed, leaving the window open. She knew the sea air would help her sleep better. And now that she had that dream, experience told her that she could sleep easy this time.
"At least...I hope she can answer."
The Next Morning...
The smell of eggs and bacon stirred Frisk from her dreamless sleep, her stomach growling to her loudly.
"*Yawn…* Alright. Alright. I'm up. Just let me change and I'll go feed you." she muttered to her protesting stomach.
Standing up from her bed, Frisk smoothed out her blue sleeveless nightdress and made her way to her dresser.
"Hmm… What does today feel like? Not the green one... Definitely not the pink one…"
Frisk dug around in her dresser until she settled on a purple-and-pink outfit. It consisted of purple dhoti pants with a pink sash that doubled as a belt, a pink sleeve tube top with a purple vest and her brown pointed shoes. With the change of clothes, Frisk used the dresser's mirror as she brushed her short hair before she added the finishing touches. Once her hair was brushed, Frisk placed a golden headband on her head, small gold hoop earrings on her ears, and lastly, a heart-shaped ruby pendant around her neck.
The set was a birthday gift prepared by her mother before she vanished, only to be given to Frisk on her twelfth birthday. Frisk smiled sadly at the thought of her mother preparing these gifts as if she knew she was going to disappear. Her father said it was a way her mother could be there for her when she wasn't there physically.
"Mom… Wherever you are, thank you for the presents. I love them. I just…"
She bit her lip, trying to contain tears before she continued.
"...I just wish I could meet you just once."
Frisk took a moment to compose herself. She didn't want her father to worry about her if she came down in tears. Once she was certain no tears fell and the red on her face vanished, the half-genie made her way down to breakfast.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw a man with light tan skin and dark hair placing fresh bacon on a plate. He was dressed in his usual attire of navy blue dhoti pants, brown boots with curled toes, loose white shirt, and a navy blue vest. His messy back hair was tied back in a low ponytail and his sleeves were up as he cooked.
"Morning, Dad!" Frisk greeted the man.
The man turned and grinned at the child.
"Morning, Starshine! Breakfast should be ready in just a minute."
Frisk smiled as she watched her father cook. Akir worked hard as a single dad and she greatly appreciated it. He taught her how to read and write, how to sew, and how to cook among other things. Once Frisk learned these skills, she was able to help her father out. If only he could get a haircut.
"Looks like you need a shave, Dad. That 5 o'clock shadow and shaggy hair makes you look like a beast."
Akir grinned as he spun around and hugged his daughter in a tight bear hug.
"Well, at least it makes me a handsome, cuddly beast for his precious baby girl!"
Frisk squealed in laughter as she tried to escape the hug both embarrassed and playful.
"Daaaad! You're going to turn the eggs into charcoal again!"
That was enough for Akir to release his child and return his attention to the food.
"So? What's the plan for today?" he asked.
Frisk answered as she began to set the table.
"Well, I'm going to Scuttle Town to talk to Shantae for a bit. We're trying to come up with ideas for me to awaken my special talent."
Akir hummed to himself as he checked the eggs.
"I see. While I am curious about what you can do, Starshine, sometimes good things come to those who wait."
Hearing this, Frisk frowned.
"Dad. I'm twelve, now. I should have learned what my magic was ages ago. I know the basics, but why can't I do things like transform into animals like Shantae or zap lightning like that one half-genie she met? I also have some questions that are a little off-topic I need to ask."
Akir froze for a bit before turning to his daughter, looking a little pale. Frisk read the expression and flushed with embarrassment.
"Not that, Dad! I already had that talk! No need to go on any further than that!"
The father breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that. But then he asked a new question.
"Is it about those dreams you've been having lately? Like the one you were having last night?"
Frisk nearly dropped the silverware in surprise as she heard this. He knew about that? Akir turned to look at Frisk again, concerned.
"I heard you wake up last night. And when I went to check on you this morning, your window was open. You do that when you are having dreams like that."
Frisk fell silent as she sat down. Silence rang until Akir appeared placing the plate of eggs and bacon in front of her.
"It's about the Monster-Human War, right?" Frisk knew she couldn't lie to her father, but she couldn't tell him certain thoughts. She knew that if she decided on those thoughts, he would surely be against it. Instead, she rubbed her eyes and sighed.
"Yeah. It's been like that every night since my birthday. I even went days without reading the book, but the dream still comes back. I even remember the words clearly." She groaned in frustration. "Can genies have visions, Dad?"
Akir paused at the question. Usually, Frisk would ask this genie stuff to Shantae. The neighboring Guardian Genie was the only one who could answer Frisk questions like that. Yet, something told him that a father's touch was needed. And with that brought painful memories.
"Sometimes, if it's important. They could be visions of the future. Or they could be the universe trying to tell you something. Zashi said that dreams like that could be anything, but be sure to have all the evidence before trying to follow or prevent them."
Zashi. That was the name of Frisk's mother. The name of the person she longed to meet. The young half-genie looked up to her father with saddened eyes.
"Would...what would Mom do if she was having these dreams? And what about the curse of Mount Ebott? Would that have affected her?"
Akir sighed at the mere mention of the curse. It was normally a tactic to keep children from wandering into the jungle and up the mountain. But with each generation, that tactic was turning into a legend. Effective, to a point. The sailor smiled as he thought of his beloved Zashi and her words about the mountain.
"You know, Akir, I can't help but feel sorry. Not only for the monsters that are trapped under that rock, but for the people here, too. The war harmed both sides both physically and politically. Every genie I asked would tell me that unless something was done about that, the humans of the island could never be redeemed. But I just know it in my heart, in my very soul, that if they were given the chance, humans and monsters can become friends again."
A single tear fell from Akir's eyes as he thought up the memory. He missed Zashi and her insight. The war did damage the island in more ways than one. Sequin Land was so horrified at the actions of the people of Ebott Island that trade agreements dissolved almost immediately. The islanders would starve until someone would beg nearby towns to trade with them. But even when trade was re-established, the people of Ebott were treated with contempt. And he could not even start about how he thought the monsters felt about the situation.
Especially not after that day…
Akir shook his head as he wiped the tear from his eye and focused on the present and his daughter. Sometimes, like now, it was hard for him to look at her. Frisk was the perfect picture of Zashi, while bearing his green eyes to show she was his child. He really wished Zashi was with them, with her daughter.
"I...I don't think there is such a thing, Starshine. This 'curse' business is nothing more than a tall tale. I don't know about the disappearances, but I believe as long as you are mindful of your surroundings and don't stray far from the path, traveling the jungle, and even Mount Ebott, would be the same as walking in town."
He chuckled as he thought of another memory.
"Once, when I asked your mother about the curse, she got this super-determined look on her face and said 'I don't believe there is any curse! Whoever made that up really needed to clean the cobwebs out of their head and actually use their brain!' She would make the elders so mad with those statements it was hilarious. Especially when she feels or knows she's right."
A smile cracked on Frisk's lips.
"There's my smiling star." Akir thought happily.
Whenever Frisk smiled, it would always brighten even his gloomiest days. And as long as she smiled happily and honestly, the sun, the moon, and stars would continue to be dim in comparison to his child's smile.
But then he decided to get serious.
"That still doesn't mean you should go into the jungle or up the mountain on your own. Curse or no curse, it is still dangerous and you are still learning how to use your powers. I'd rather not have you get attacked by a tiger or worse. Understand?"
Frisk's smile faded and she nodded. It was a matter that she felt she shouldn't press on about. At least not at the moment.
"Got it, Dad."
"I'm serious, Francesca. Do not go into the jungle alone."
Frisk gulped and complied with this. Whenever her father used her real name, it was serious. Once again, she nodded in agreement.
Growling stomachs brought the pair out of the "serious fog" as Akir would call it, reminding them that it was breakfast. Laughter erupted from the pair as the fog faded.
"Well, with that said, we should get some breakfast. If I'm dropping you off at Scuttle Town this morning, we better eat."
Frisk completely agreed as she tore into a slice of bread.
Still, her father's words didn't change the plan that was forming in her mind.
4 hours later…
Frisk panted as she dodged the whip-like purple hair, the reaction forcing herself to backflip a couple of times until she was able to stand without the threat of falling. She barely had time to react as she dodged another hair-whip attack. She had to hurry and make another attack or risk losing to the older half-genie.
"Keep it up, Frisk!" A male voice called out from the side. "Dodging can be your best friend in battle. Keeps attacks from hitting you and tires out the enemy enough for you to strike!"
"Seriously, Bolo? She knows that already." An annoyed female voice spoke up from the same area as the first.
"Hey! Sometimes a reminder can help, Sky!"
"Oh yeah? What about all those times you made-"
Frisk tuned out the peanut gallery as she dodged another hair-whip attack. Unfortunately, Frisk lost her footing and landed on her back. Before she could have the chance to get up, a red dancing slipper was placed on her chest. Looking up, she saw the foot's owner, looking about as tired as her.
"Dang it! I was so close this time!" Frisk protested.
The older half-genie with the purple ponytail and red dancer outfit removed her foot and held out a hand to Frisk.
"Well, I noticed some progress. You're getting really good at this, Frisk."
A tint of prideful blush flared on Frisk's face as she took the hand.
"Thanks, Shantae."
As Shantae helped the girl up, the owner of the voices approached them. One was a young man dressed in a white tank top, dark shorts and vest, and a yellow bandanna wrapped around his head.
The other was a young woman who was slightly older than Shantae. Her blond hair was often covered by a cyan bandana and hooded cape, wore a blue and pink top, matching earrings that made them resemble eggs, and white khakis.
The young man, who was earlier identified as Bolo, ruffled Frisk's hair with a grin.
"She's right, kid. The martial arts are coming along nicely."
The other girl, who Frisk knew as Sky, smiled at her.
"Keep this up and you'll make Guardian Genie in no time.
Frisk smiled in return as Sky gave her a towel.
"Thanks, guys."
As she wiped off the sweat from her brow, Frisk looked up to Shantae. It was time to ask some questions.
"I think I'm beat for the day. Dad's sailing to the capital and I should get home soon. But mind if I ask you some genie-questions, Shantae?"
The older half-genie became confused at first, but she nodded to her friends as they started to clean up the training yard just outside Scuttle Town.
"Mind if we chat a minute, guys?"
Frisk didn't wait for a reply as she went to the edge of the yard and took a drink from her canteen. She had been training since she arrived in town and her body was feeling sore. Every day, it was the same thing: say hi to Shantae and her relic hunter uncle, Mimic; head to the training yard to meet up with Bolo and Sky, practice her fighting ability until she dropped, then work on the magic.
Unfortunately, the magic they trained with was not connected with genie magic, but generic magic in magic items that could be found in the local shops. The problem was that Frisk was somehow unable to tap into her genie magic, which was the reason why she had to train daily. Now with her twelfth birthday having passed, Frisk was beginning to fear that she would never find her talent.
Frisk's thought broke as Shantae approached her. Shantae could see that her apprentice was troubled by something. She could tell since the day a couple years ago when Akir approached her and asked if she could train his daughter on being a half-genie. It was a strange request, but one she sympathized with. Shantae herself had to learn her abilities on her own when she was Frisk's age. So after meeting the young half-genie, Shantae agreed to train her a couple hours a day and as long as Frisk took cover whenever Scuttle Town was attacked, then things would be fine. This enabled the two to form a friendship and even a possible sisterly bond as the years went by.
So Shantae was able to read the signs whenever Frisk was going through something.
"So? What do you want to talk about, Frisk?"
Frisk fell silent for a moment, trying to phrase the right words. She didn't want to give away any ideas she may have been forming. So instead, she focused on what she wanted to ask.
"Is it possible for half-genies to have visions? Maybe in the form of dreams?
Shantae blinked at the question, but thought about it for a moment. She went through her memories until one incident caught her mind.
"Well, sometimes. There was one time I was visited by a voice in my dreams, warning me about Risky Boots' plan to attack the Genie Realm, though it was cryptic at most."
She then looked to Frisk in concern.
"Why? Have you been having visions?"
Frisk frowned as she stared at the canteen. If her dreams were visions, then were telling her what she thought?
"Well, I'm not sure. Ever since my birthday, I've been having dreams about the Human-Monster War and the sealing of the monsters in Mt. Ebbot. Someone narrates the story while I see flashes of images. They look like they were taken by an old camera. Then when I wake up, I feel like I am drawn to the mountain. Like these dreams were telling me to go there."
She then looked to Shantae, hoping she could help her decide indirectly.
"If you were having these dreams, what would you do?"
Shantae had to admit, it was quite the question. Almost everyone knew about Mount Ebott and the legends surrounding it. Especially the ones about the sealed monsters and the disappearances. But if Frisk was having visions about the mountain, were there forces telling her to...?
No. She couldn't put such an idea into Frisk's head. Frisk had a knack for getting herself into situations that involved her instincts. While they were accurate such as the incident with the tinkerbats stealing ship parts in the middle of the night, those same instincts also compel the child to act without thinking. It ended up with Frisk being surrounded by tinkerbats and she was able to get away using a coat hanger, a rubber band, and a custard pie.
No. Shantae had to phrase it so that Frisk wouldn't get any ideas.
"Well, I would've gotten some help and investigated the mountain. And if I found any clues, I'd go back to town and plan what to do next. I'm not sure if the curse is real or not, but I'd rather not add to that list of disappearances than I have to.
She then placed a comforting hand on Frisk's shoulder.
"Just don't worry about it now. If it gets to the point where the dreams continue or get more vivid, let me know and I'll take care of it."
Frisk contemplated Shantae's answer. It was a sensible answer, but her gut was telling her that this was something that couldn't be ignored. She smiled and nodded at Shantae, hiding her disappointment.
"S-sure thing, Shantae." She then stood up and stretched. "Well? I'm ready to go back to training. You?"
Shantae smiled in relief as she stood up.
"Sounds like a plan. Let's try and use a technique Bolo's been talking about lately. He thinks it'll help unlock your talent."
Frisk grinned as she went to continue training. But in her head, she finally came to a decision.
She decided to go to Mount Ebott the following morning.
The next dawn...
Frisk waited until the crack of dawn before she could enact her plan. She didn't want to get caught, so she decided to make her trek early. The plan was to travel the area around the mountain, take note of anything strange, and return to town without the people knowing she had left. A small part in the back of her mind was worried about the possibility of the curse being real, but she shoved it aside, determined to figure out what her dreams were telling her once and for all.
Once she made sure everything was tended to at the house, Frisk carefully exited the front door and silently crept through town. With her father still sailing, it was not unusual for her to be left alone. But if anyone found out what she was doing…
Frisk shook her head. Now was not the time to chicken out. She made her way down the various dark alleys, hiding in the shadows until she reached the edge of town. Once there, she checked to make sure no one was watching her. She saw that the coast was clear and dashed into the jungle, her sight focused on Mount Ebott.
"Ok. Stage 1 is complete. Now onto Stage 2."
Keeping the mountain in her sights, Frisk journeyed through the jungle. Yet even when the mountain was blocked by the jungle canopy, the feeling Frisk had been feeling pulled her in the right direction. So far, there was nothing unusual about the jungle.
It was strange that no jungle animals made their appearance other than the occasional bug and frog, but most likely, everything was still sleeping. For now, Frisk had to make use of the time and hurried onward.
The only time Frisk stopped was when she was halfway to the mountain. She broke through the foliage for the hundredth time when she caught sight of something odd: a ruined town that looked far older than her own town. What's more, the buildings were of various sizes, some of them reclaimed by nature. Frisk took a mental note of the location when she spotted a stone nearby. She brushed off some moss that was growing on it to reveal a strange symbol. It looked like a circle with wings at its sides and three triangles below it.
At the sight of the mysterious emblem, something flashed in Frisk's mind. Another picture-like image. This time, it was of two armies. One of them bore a flag with this same emblem on it. And the flag was being held by monsters. Then, as soon as it had appeared, the vision ended. Frisk blinked as she regained her senses. She groaned as she rubbed her eyes.
"I can't believe it. Now when I'm awake, too?"
Still, it helped Frisk with identifying the ruins.
"This was a monster town."
Frisk was sorely tempted to explore the ruins, but the pull from earlier urged her onward. Groaning in annoyance, Frisk left the ruins and continued to make her way to the mountain.
"I wonder who lived in that town? And what were they like?"
Frisks pondered various questions regarding the ruins the rest of the way to the mountain. Breathing through the foliage and narrowly avoiding a snake hanging on a low branch, Frisk found herself at the foot of the mountain.
And right in front of her was a dark cave. And unfortunately, the pull was drawing her inside.
Carefully, the curious half-genie peered inside. No one was inside. Sighing, Frisk entered the cave, only for her to stop at the sight of a giant pit. Frisk peered into the pit, careful not to go over the edge.
Complete darkness.
This was where Frisk decided to put her foot down.
"Nope! That's far enough! Visions or no, I am not going in there!"
She began to back away to turn around.
"Better turn back. I got to come up with a good excuse to tell everyone where I was. Maybe I can look at those ruins on the way back."
But as soon as she said that, Frisk heard the sound of something crumbling. Frisk didn't have time to react as the edge of the pit crumbled right under her. Panicked, Frisk tried to run. But fate wasn't having it. She lost the last of her footing and screamed.
She fell into the darkness, her screams echoing inside.
Then, darkness.