Shantae is owned by Matt Bozon and Wayforward

She awoke in a dim, orange light. Moving to stretch, she found that she couldn't, wrapped so tightly in a thick blanket that it was a wonder there was enough room for her to breathe properly. At least she was warm.

Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, or perhaps more appropriately, the unconsciousness, Shantae looked around once her vision became clearer. She was in a cave, the sound of the howling wind outside echoing throughout the small cavity. A fire was lit, close enough to keep her warm, but not so close that it posed a threat to her, or her hair. Beyond that fire, on the other side, was…

Shantae didn't know whether she should've been joyous, mad, or worried.

Risky Boots leant against the wall, in her own doze. However, her lips looked a deadly shade of blue, and she was shivering in her obviously uncomfortable sleep. Wearing barely more than Shantae, the cold would've gotten to her easily, even if she was hardier than the half-genie.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how Shantae got into that blanket after being buried under a different, colder blanket. Even Bolo would figure it out in seconds. What baffled her was why Risky didn't take something for herself, or why she even came at all.

Secretly, Shantae was a little disappointed that the older woman hadn't shared the blanket with her, while at the same time slightly satisfied that the pirate was freezing to death. Guilt quickly washed over her as she discarded that thought – Risky might've been her arch-nemesis, but Shantae wasn't the type of person to wish harm upon another, whether they deserved it or not.

Putting how she felt about Risky to the side, she focused on something more important; Risky's survival. Friend or foe, she was not about to let her die.

"Risky!"

Shantae's voice was hoarse and weak, barely higher than the crackle of the fire. She cleared her throat and tried again.

"Risky!"

The pirate jolted awake, her sleep apparently light. She slowly turned to face Shantae, moving all of her limbs to feel them again. She smiled a little at the sight of the now awake genie. She struggled to get up, shivering all the while, making her way to the purplette.

Though the smile – a genuine smile, not a smirk – made Shantae feel light, she snapped at Risky when she reached for her.

"Do not touch me. Just sit closer to me, and to the fire." She saw the visible hurt on Risky's face, who surprisingly complied with her wishes. Her voice took on a softer tone. "I don't want you to die, Risky. Even if you did kill my mother."

Risky slumped down closer to Shantae – about a ruler's distance away – staring into the fire and trying to control her shivering. The genie didn't speak to her after that, waiting to see if the pirate would speak up first. Instead, she focused on warming herself up using some magic. She formed a ball of warmth within her hands, guiding the feeling throughout her body. It spread through her arms and into her torso, splitting off to her head and the lower parts of her body.

"I didn't kill her…"

Risky's voice cut through her concentration, breaking the guidance and leaving her lower legs still cold. They'd warm up eventually. Risky's words, however, didn't warm Shantae at all.

"Sure," she replied flatly. She wouldn't fall for another of Risky's lies. Why did she ever trust her in the first place?

"I didn't!" Risky whined in a high pitch voice that was very unlike her normal voice. In a quick turn of events, Shantae turned her head in surprise as the whine dissolved into a sob, the pirate burying her head in her tucked knees. "Sh-she was one of my only friends… I could n-never… never kill her."

Risky lost her resolve and began crying properly, tears freely streaming down her face and being absorbed by the thin material of her pants. Shantae stared in shock at the sudden crumbling of Risky's walls, before kicking herself into action. Wriggling her way out of the blanket, she shuffled closer to the pirate, wrapping an arm around her neck and pulling the blanket over both of them. Surprising her again, Risky didn't swat her away, but continued to cry.

Shantae bit her lip between cooing reassurances to her… rival. If this topic shattered Risky's resolve like this, then maybe, just maybe, she was telling the truth for once.

Eventually, Risky calmed down, reduced to deep breathing. Shantae pondered on what to say. Her head told her not to trust this thieving pirate and to leave her behind in the cave, cold and alone. Her gut, though… it told her that this wasn't a lie. That Risky cared. That this relationship could be salvaged. But could she trust her gut over her head?

"Risky?"

Hearing her name, Risky shifted her head ever so slightly.

"Don't tell me who my mother was. Or what she looked like. I want to find out myself. But… can you tell me what she really was to you?" Shantae asked her question with as much kindness as she could muster; a contrast to her snappy and curtness just a few minutes ago. She placed a hand on one of Risky's, and the pirate finally lifted her head to look Shantae dead in the eyes, vulnerability in her eyes. She nodded her head so timidly that - if the genie didn't know better – it could've been mistaken for her genuine personality.

"She… She was…" Risky paused as she lost herself in recollection. The shadow of the two girls hovered on the wall in the flickering light, and the wind continued to howl outside the mouth of the cave. Shantae heard and saw none of it though, her attention completely fixated on Risky.

"Take your time. Actually, don't we have to stop—" Shantae shut her mouth as Risky shot daggers at her. "Never mind. Take your time."

"Well," Risky sighed, "to me, your mother was…"

I'm back! How utterly unfortunate.

Yes, I did say I was going to leave this fic for while and work on others, and I have, but this idea came to me and I didn't want to lose it.

It's break off uni for a while, so I'll attempt - keyword 'attempt' to update this fic at least one more time. Then I might let it rest for a bit. For reals. I swear.

The next chapter will be a little hard for me, but I'm up for the challenge. I think. Here's a hint: an entire flashback story on a character we know nothing about while also (maybe) not referring to her by name at all.

Is it a good time to say that this story is in no way canon?

Anyway, typos, criticism, reviews and faves/follow are all welcome and appreciated!

Till next time,

-Tommycats

P.S. I have nothing else to add. The P.S. is obligatory though, so here you go.