Flutes and drums and guitars and horns and trumpets filled the air in a rhythmic yet somewhat enchanting melody. The children danced around wildly, while the adults begun stylish and flashy dances, as flames waving around charcoal, the spring of life in a barren desert. Scuttle Town had seen many a dancers, not for nothing was it known as the dancing capital in the Great Desert. Even the Gerudo over the border envied the belly, feet and head dancers that had come from there. Tents and shops all over the city hired men and women alike to dance, their movements hypnotizing unsuspecting people that passed by. In one of those shops, a brownish white building decorated with orange patterns all across its five walls, dimly lit by orange and red lamps, where the guitar and trumpets resonated like an enormous carnival, danced the dancer, the Genie, as she was known.

She was unlike any in Scuttle Town, and the Brown Desert as a whole. From Dry Dry Ruins to the Gerudo citadel itself, everyone had at the very least heard of the flaming dancer, who embellished men like gold and paralysed hearts as if a work of witchcraft. Her name, though, was recognized by far less, merely the local merchants who sat on their carpets and sold overpriced pieces of fruit, the clients who paid far more than anyone in their right mind would and those who managed the business, serving wine and getting people drunk on dances and music and even more wine. No, Shantae was not well known to the public even if her dances were. And she kept it that way. She didn't want any men falling over heels for her, and she definitely did not want to be a circus attraction because of her powers as a half-genie, and definitely did not want to be killed by bandits. No, she merely danced and slept, and that was a good life.

Shantae was holding her urges to dance as she always did while she stood on the main square of the town, listening and looking with joy over at everyone dancing and shouting happily. She did not come from Scuttle Town, but she felt at home there. The brown and white small building, of wooden and tiled roofs laid almost on top of one another, a chaotic vision, that , with both time and wine, would eventually look beautiful, but then again, everything looked beautiful coming from the desert, where sand and shadows were one's only companions. She looked over at the nearby mountains, that made up the border with Hyrule, although no one spoke there of Hyrule, but of the Gerudo, another tribe in the long no-good people of the Desert. From bandits to pirates to mercenaries, the people of Scuttle Town and the Brown Desert had it all. The Great Sand Sea was something to be feared, not only for itself. Ill intentions lied everywhere, and Shantae often thought of herself of the only ray of hope in a dark storm. She only hoped more rays would someday arise.

The Devil's Carpet was a big, circular beige stone building coloured with intricate patterns and designs all over its walls. There were no windows on sight. A simple orange cloth acted as the door in the main entrance, while the back entrance was guarded and hidden away in an alleyway, as if hiding a secret. The building itself didn't have much else going for it. It was comprised of two floors, a bigger first and a smaller second, like a circle inside another. Other than the many veils and cloths hanging from wooden pikes that danced in the air, that was everything from the outside. But of course, everyone knew well the real value of The Devil's Carpet resided in the inside. Everyone knew her as the flaming dancer, and shouted her alias, some too drunk to even pronounce it. She chuckled every time. As the music started out slowly, the lights got dimmer and silence fell upon the whole building, only the castanets and the suave oboe made themselves hear. As the curtain on the main stage rose up, a figure of shadow moved slowly from the inside, stretching and swinging. When the curtain was high enough, she was seen. A veil covered her mouth and much of her body, but one could easily see through it. Shantae started spinning and twisting, moving her arms, legs and hips as one. In every clap, there was a jump, for every guitar strike, a leg went up to her torso, for every hit of a trumpet a complete spin. She tiptoed, she spun, she fell and got up in an enchanting way. The veils and cloth flew around her like extensions of her body, as feathers of a red heron, making al eyes look at her. All was good until fire surrounded her. Then it became even better. Fire spun from her leg to her head, at every kick, flames swirled through the stage, illuminating the shocked faces of all attendees. As the music grew louder and more vibrant, almost hitting its climax, she spun on place a made a tornado of flames around her, a fire storm of beauty, flame dancing besides her. And then, when all instruments collided together in a harmonic yet chaotic battle of egos, she bowed, and her flames went out.

Cheers came from the crowd. Everyone loved her. When the clapping died out, she went out the back to her room in the building and took her dancing attire off. She had arrived late from her visit to a friend on the other side of Scuttle Town, but apparently the wait had helped the business, as the urges of her arrival made the end product that much more satisfying. A big man with tainted glasses and a long, white and caring beard made his way to her, smiling down on her and clapping as he came closer.

'My dear girl… The faming dancer! Or, as word has it at the other side of the border: "The Devil Queen" … You're in luck you're such a view! Keeps you safe from coming late, doesn't it?' he said with a powerful but friendly voice.

'The Devil Queen… 'she said in awe at such title. She chuckled. 'Is that what I am now? Quite a nickname.'

'Well, so say the Gerudo.' He answered happily.

'The Gerudo see the devil in everything that's not theirs, Mimic.' Shantae stated as she put away dancing apparel away

'You're not wrong, girl… However, the people here? They love you. I love you. Ever since you were a little girl who fell down at every other step…' Mimic started to rememorate her life. Yes, she had found her in the streets, but that didn't justify hearing the story of it every other day.

'You might start crying, and there's customers to serve, old man.' She replied smugly. 'I don't think they'd want tears in their wines glasses.'

'Well, they don't have wine, so it shouldn't be a problem.'

'Ugh… Is Bolo fooling around again. You know, being himself?'

'Would you want to check it out?' he said ironically.

'Not really…' she began.

'Wasn't a question…'

I'll go, in a while. Just give me a break, old man.'

'I'm not that old.' After talking, Mimic immediately started to cough. After a few seconds, Shantae looked at him with a smug smile on her face.

'Sure, and I'm Queen Peach.'

'You used to be o so sweet, dear girl…' he said out of breath.

'Oh Mimic, I can still be when I want to. But just then.' Shantae finished organising all her clothes and moved on to her little table. On the wall in front of it, there was a big map of the desert. Scuttle Town resided on the Mushroom Kingdom's side of the border along the sand, next to the sea. She sat down and looked at Mimic, recovered from his attack. 'You ok?'

'Huh.' He started inflating his chest. He breathed a heavy and slow breath. 'You really laugh at the man that's given you all.'

'You know I don't mean it… Besides…' she looked longingly at the map. Far away from Scuttle Town, there were many mountains, villages and cliffs, surrounding the Sand Sea.

'Besides?' he wondered staring at her.

'Forget it.' She caressed the old map, the fibres that made it up felt as old as the world itself, as if it could break down at any moment, but refused to do so.

'Shantae…' Mimic then noticed all the compasses, maps and writings that were lying on the table of her room, as well as her bed. 'What's this about?'

'You already know…'

'I don't think I want to know.'

'Alright, if you would.' She took a deep breath and started talking. 'Mimic, how long will I be doing this for?'

'For as long as you want, girl.' He said surprised.

'So, when will you be willing to let me go? How long will you keep giving me everything?' she looked at him in the eye.

'Am I forcing you?' worry overtook him.

'No… no… You're too much of a fool and a good person to do that. You're the nicest person in this town: you saved me, and you helped me. You raised me. And for that I am grateful, but I think I want to move on.' the old man stood silent, staring at her while he caressed his long beard 'I want to dance beyond the walls of sand. See the world with my very eyes! Travel through the lands and bring joy with my dancing to the rest of the world.' She paused and looked at him. She had stood up. 'Scuttle Town is far too small for me…'

'Shantae…' the man began, a caring look in his eyes. 'I understand you. I do. You feel trapped.' Shantae nodded 'But you're trapped for a reason. I know those books you read talk about great adventures and such. But this place, it's not meant for those adventures. Your powers… In any other place they'd be a gift. That fire everyone thinks it's false? It's a gift from the gods. For goodness sake, you're probably the last genie alive!'

'Half-genie…' she corrected smiling at him.

'It doesn't matter. You are in every sense of the word: incredible' he continued in a soft voice. 'But that's just what I think. This Desert… It's a no-good place, y'know that.' They walked towards the main stage, hidden out of sight. Mimic gestured with his hands towards the clients, getting drunk and staring at the dancers. 'Look around you: pirates, mercenaries, thieves, murderers… We all wear a mask and hide who we really are, and the walls of this town, they keep us safe. But beyond them… There's a sea of sand and evil. And someone like you -as special as you- wouldn't last a day without more than one shadow behind her. They'd come after you, dear girl. You won't be trapped here all your life. Just some more time… Until I know you'll be safe out there.'

'Mimic…'

You understand, Shantae? I don't want you to be in any danger.'

'I do… I know…'

'Good. Then, remember: We've built our own home. A shelter in the storm. All of us together. United we stand, divided we fall.'

'As you say, Mimic.' Shantae said as she hugged her dear friend.

'I'm glad you understand.' He took her to the back entrance and palmed her back. 'Now go find that idiot Bolo. Make sure he hasn't drunk all my wine.'

She made her way once again through Scuttle Town, passed the central plaza and its exquisite marble fountain well into the docks, that laid ships in hoard, all floating calmly on the sea. Coronating the otherwise dull coastal part of the town, there was a lighthouse, made of white brick and red rooftop. It wasn't very tall, but it served its purpose. Not many ships went through the coast of Scuttle Town, for the seas beyond held little of interest. The eastern seas only had monsters to worry about, although there was important trade from and to Hyrule, and that meant pirates. The real sunken gold mine laid to the south, towards the Seaside Kingdom and its islands, and beyond that, the Kong Islands.

However, like the rest of Scuttle Town, the docks were charming in a strange way. At least, Shantae knew them to be charming. When she was little, she grew up there, stealing food and having few cares apart from eating that day. The very lighthouse that cast a shadow over the waters had held a roof over her head in that time. She covertly lived there, until Mimic passed along one day and picked her up and took her to his house, where he became her guardian. Still, in a way, she missed those days of expecting the next thing that would lead her onwards, were it food or money. Ever since she had established herself at the Devil's Carpet, those expectations had seemed to vanish. However, as she had already told Mimic, she was more than willing to get out of that place. She was and would always be grateful to him, but she had grown far over him, and wanted to start anew. As she had passed along the various shops and tents that faced the ever-glistening sea, she thought of the possibilities. She wanted to explore the desert. Perhaps reach Hyrule up to the Gerudo Mountains and then the endless fields of green stories spoke of. Or perhaps she'd stay in her kingdom, going south across the wall of mountains that bordered the desert and go towards the coast, the forests and swamps or the lands of acres of the Bees. The world was very wide and Shantae wanted to take part in it. Eventually, she reached the Devil's Carpet post in the docks, where Bolo awaited, lazily laying in his hammock. She greeted him by pouring a water of bottle that laid on the table on him. He answered by falling down to the ground.

'What the? You want a fight!?' Bolo shouted daringly as he pulled himself back up.

Shantae smirked. 'I think you and I both know how that would go.'

'Shantae, gods, it's you… Here I was thinking it was one of those damned new guys to the town. What was that for?' He said while drying how little he could off his clothes.

'Where's the wine?' Shantae said peering over at the emptied barrels behind Bolo.

'In some bastards belly I suppose. Shame I didn't catch him, would have loved a fight.'

'What!? You lost it?!'

'I didn't lose it. I was robbed.' He excused himself.

'By whom? Your lack of self-control?' she leaned closer to Bolo. The boy was starting to get irritated, but Shantae wouldn't back off.

'I ain't drunk and you know it! Listen, since yesterday, there's been some nasty folk around here. More than usual, that is.' He looked around to see if anybody was listening. 'Rumour has it they're an army.'

'Right. The royal army of Toads has drunk all our wine. Don't tell me… The Winged Stars did it!'

'Shantae, I'm serious… I came here and there was some commotion around. I found the shop almost destroyed. I had some intern on charge of the barrels and everything else, but guess he ran away.'

'Intern? Really?' Shantae asked sceptically, raising an eyebrow.

'Yes. Really. Look, here comes Sky. She'll tell you I'm right.'

Shantae turned to see a woman her age with blonde hair and little to none azure clothing with a parrot flying around making her way to them. Sky had been a dancer at the Devil's Carpet when she got in and they worked alongside each other. One day, though, she decided to go away and part her ways with Mimic. She had been her inspiration to someday do the same. She was always cheerful though somewhat condescending and cheerful. Still, Shantae always appreciated her advice. This time, on contrary, she looked tired and angry. Wrench, her loyal war bird, flew around angrily, squealing and screaming.

'Sky?' Shantae asked worried.

'Shantae, hello. Bolo, has anything else gone down here?'

Bolo shifted uncomfortably. 'Not at the moment, no.'

Sky sighed. 'Sky, what's wrong?'

'Where to start… Has Bolo told you?'

'Yeah, some scuffle and some assistant. What's all this about?' Shantae inquired.

''Well, it's more than that, apparently. There's this ship in the northern docks, big wooden and steel boat. Its crew isn't the most likeable. They're basically all critters, y'know, from the Kong Islands.' Answered Sky.

'They aren't a new sight round here. Probably just off to rob some poor hyrulean town.' Said Shantae. Those hadn't been the first pirates or critters to set foot in Scuttle Town and they certainly weren't going to be the only ones.

'That's the thing. They're not leaving. Most ships have a day or two to stay if they're not on terms with the kingdom, right? And Peachville doesn't recognize the sovereignty of the Kong Islands of K. Rool, right?' explained Sky.

'Right…'

'Just get to the point.' Interrupted Bolo-

'Shush' commanded both Shantae and Sky. The girls looked at each other and shared a short laugh.

'The thing is' continued Sky 'they've been around for four days now and they're ruining everything.'

'I hadn't heard of that!' Shantae was incredibly surprised. To think all that was happening under her nose…

'Well, you haven't been with your head on Scuttle Town lately. It's been over the walls, hasn't it?' said Sky, but immediately regretted it.

'Huh?' wondered Bolo.

Shantae shifted her glare to her feet. Bolo didn't know about her intentions of leaving Scuttle Town sometime soon. She didn't want to tell him so he wouldn't be heartbroken. Her and Sky were the only friends he had, and Sky had already outgrown the hop, only working in the busy months. 'Nothing.' She said abruptly. 'Anyways, what's going on then? Are they fighting?'

Sky: Well, they're not leaving. And rumour has it other ships have been going around the coast and coming here. And they also say they've got some nice treasure…'

Bolo jumped in hastily, shouting as he punched the air. 'We gotta stop them! They're coming to the Mushroom Kingdom to attack! To Scuttle Town! We can also take their treasure on the way.'

'Sure, but remember the Desert is as much part of the Mushroom Kingdom as much as it is part of, I don't know, that Ylisse Empire that's been thrown around. The voting on the capital we received word of? Well, it came a week late. Apparently, there's war everywhere, not just with Bowser.' Continued Sky in a worried manner. 'As much as anyone would want that treasure, I think we're on our own.'

'You don't think…' started Shantae.

'Honestly, I prefer not to, Shantae. And then there's that guy Bolo hired.' Sky looked at the young man.

Shantae looked angrily at Bolo. 'What did he do?'

'Not much, really.' At first, the boy hadn't noticed of Shantae's mood, but quickly was made aware of it when crossing stares with her stabbing cold eyes. 'And none of it's my fault!' he explained frantically moving his hands. 'He just… Seemed strange. Wanted to be near the docks, disappeared at times.'

'What's his name? Who is he?' Shantae questioned the boy, still looking angrily at him.

'Didn't have one. You know, I know when it's best not to ask questions… He was a bit short, moustache, brown hair, blue eyes. Didn't look like much of a fight. He was wearing this strange golden symbol… Anyways, well, he's gone now. And so's the wine.'

'And so will be the entire city.' Said Sky. 'I don't know if we're being attacked by Bowser or some lowlife pirates, but this doesn't look good to me. Just now the mayor was going to state something about them, probably try to get them out…'

Bolo chuckled. 'Good luck with that'

'I'll go take a look.' Shantae said reassuringly. She wouldn't have her town destroyed by some pirates, especially not when her friends and the shop were at risk.

Bolo laughed out loud. 'Ha! Right! And I'll go to the Koopa Kingdom to beat Bowser in a game of chess.'

'I'm not gonna fight, idiot. Unlike you I know when to keep my head steady. I'll check who those critters are. They're a danger for our business, aren't they?'

Sky looked at Shantae dead in the eye. She knew there was no stopping her. 'For any business really.'

'So, who here would like to tell Mimic our wine is gone because of some "invasion"?'

'I'd rather sleep.' Said Bolo as he laid down again in his hammock. 'I'll pass on whatever gold those reptiles have.'

Sky looked at her bird and caressed him. 'I have to train Wrench here.'

Shantae smirked. 'Right. And I have to get to the bottom of this.'

Whispers filled the air and grew more and more into murmurs and the occasional shouting the closer she got to the edge of the docks, where the infamous pirate ship was. It didn't take her long to see it, as she saw it from afar as she moved to the livelier parts of the town, where seamen and crew drank and sung in taverns even at daylight. The ship was big, most probably a galleon. As any other ship, its body was mostly wood, dark, uneven and sometimes broken. A thin metal coating covered the beak, the bowsprit and the mainmast. It stood proudly over the water, casting a long shadow over the nearby buildings. On top of it, the crew, all crocodile-shaped critters pulled ropes and mopped floors. However, some were off the boat, guarding the area. Shantae noticed there weren't many people there, if any, they were all probably too scared. Looking around, she caught a glimpse of a red figure hiding in a window, but it quickly disappeared. Confused by this, she went to check it out, but an approaching squad of armed critters made her hide. Suddenly, the docks had gone silent. She overheard them talking.

'Patrolling this street every day is so boring.'

'We've only done it for two days, fool.'

'That's the problem! We've been out of the ship two days only and I'm already bored.'

'Must I remind you we have a job to do? We gotta secure this area at least until the other ships arrive.'

So, it's true… Shantae thought to herself. She then heard coins hit the floor.

'What's this about?' said and angry critter Shantae guessed was the leader of the three-man squad.

'Um, it's nothing sir, really. Just some coins I nagged off an old lady.'

'You take me for a fool, is that it? You took it from the reserve! I'll throw you into the deepest ocean for this!'

'Sir, it's not like I'm the only one. Besides, the real treasure is safe… This is just my salary?'

'You won't get away with this so easily… However… There's something…' The commander sniffed at the air and started looking at the direction Shantae was hiding in, behind a stock of boxes. As he approached her, she readied herself for the worst, but he stopped in his tracks abruptly.

'What's that!?' He shouted. 'It's him! Away with you, get him!' After some commotion, many critters run off into the inner city, leaving only a handful on the deck of the ship. Shantae saw her opportunity and took it, her intentions residing inside the ship. Shantae ran from the occasional barrel to the occasional table in the street (where she assumed the critters had been drinking and eating) until she made it to the edge of the docks, a step away from the boat. Using her abilities, she jumped to the side of it and started moving around the outer frame, sneaking past two guards at the entrance. She crept up along the side of the galleon and carefully opened the door to the back. Once inside, she silently tiptoed up until a large corridor that led to what it looked like a storage room. However, there was a guard positioned there. Examining her options, she decided to use her genie powers, for she rarely got the chance. She planted herself in the middle of the hallway, challenging the guard.

'Oi! Who are –' the guard began to talk but fell silent. Shantae had got her hair in her hands and waved it around fiercely, using it as a whip to smack the guard, who was knocked unconscious. Hoping that hadn't made much noise, she entered the storage room and her jaw dropped.

Piles of gold laid around the walls and floors of the ship. There were innumerable statues of marble, stone and jade that looked older than the Mushroom Kingdom itself. Many were in the shape of what she assumed were some kind of monkeys, but they looked bigger and ancient. In the centre of the room, upon a stone pedestal carved with symbols she didn't understand, was a glowing deep blue crystal. The gemstone was round and soft, as well as cold and slippery. She had taken some of the coins and the little statuettes that filled her pockets and her bag, but that stone mesmerized her. Energy seemed to flow through it and called to Shantae. She did not know for how long she had stayed there, staring at the stone, but shouting and clash of metal outside the ship called her to her senses.

Through a small peephole she found amidst the irregular wooden planks of the side of the room, she saw what was happening near her. Fire flashed through the streets as a critter fell to the floor. The red figure she had seen was fighting four other critters, punching and kicking them. When they stuck to his head, he crouched and kicked low. He jumped extremely high, from wall to wall and punched one of the guards in the face. He then took his sword and threw it at another, knocking his weapon down, only to sweep his legs with his own and punch him mid-air, sending him into the water. He quickly dispatched of the other two with some jabs and cuts of a small hidden knife in his magenta cape. Shantae heard rumbling above her and supposed the other invaders were going to fight the stranger, to no avail. He used his tricky fire powers on them, throwing one up in the air and collapsing back into the ground and threw the other one with a fire blast across the docks, heading to the ship as more guards came down. She looked at the scene unfold, mesmerized by this unique and strange fighting style that was proven to work quite well until she noticed the approaching critter and the fire behind him. Through the hole, she saw it was coming strongly straight at her.

'Uh oh.' She managed to say just before the explosive force of the blast and the body of the guard made a hole in the side of the ship were the storage was, making a loud bang that made everyone turn their heads towards her, as she rubbed her head with the strange blue jewel in her hand. The storage was now exposed, and several coins and trinkets started to fall from it right unto the ocean, where they all sank. The commanding critter, who wore golden armour looked at her and shouted.

'We've got a rat! Get her!' He then saw the stone Shantae was still carrying and widened his eyes. 'She's got it! The stone!' As soon as he said that he was kicked in the chest and burned slightly by the red fighter. Four critters jumped at her unto the boat, although one fell. She used her hair as a whip and did a circular motion and put some fire on it, knocking her attackers down. She heard one speak before he was struck.

'More fire, great…'

Shantae jumped off the ship still carrying what little treasure she had been able to steal and circled around some more guards. Those critters, even with their armour, swords and spears where no match for her skills. Dancing was one of the many ways she expressed her powers and physical abilities. The man in red continued fighting, and after a big blast of fire that blinded his attackers (as well as Shantae's), he ran away. Surprised by this turn of events, she ran after him.

He jumped and parkoured along the roofs and walls of abandoned houses near the area the critters had stayed in. Shantae followed suit, but she wasn't nearly as skilled as him. She ducked under tables and chairs and jumped from barrel to barrel. In the walls next to her, the shadow of the man with fire powers was cast slightly ahead of her. Whenever she looked upwards, she would see him. Eventually, they came to a square with people, although not many ventured into that part of the city anymore. He descended down ropes that connected the building he was in with another, all made of the same white dirty stone, using the ropes as a zip line. She quickly used her powers and threw a small flame to the rope, cutting it and making the man fall just behind a large building, shielding them both form the would-be curious eyes of the townsfolk. He fell into stacks of hay and lifted up a small cloud of dust. Shantae ran there, expecting to find the mysterious figure and question it. They had something against the critters, something big, and she wanted to know what their purpose was. A fighter like that couldn't run free in her dear town, and neither could some lowlife pirates. She approached the place where the fighter had fallen off but found it empty. She immediately looked around to find them, but for naught. She backed away, expecting to be ambushed, but as she prepared to run away, a voice behind her stopped her dead in her tracks.

'You're too much of a hassle for a dancer.' The figure spoke coldly but Shantae sensed tiredness in his voice. She assumed he was a young man, no older than 30. He felt how he put a knife to her back.

'So I've been told.' She replied.

'What do you want from me?'

'For you to leave my town alone.'

'Your town?' he paused. 'Doesn't look like it anymore. Plus, I know who it really belongs to.'

'What?' Shantae inquired, and as she felt the point of the knife leave her back, she turned to face the man she had been chasing. She looked at him. He wore a red hood and cape that covered much of his safe. On top of blue shirt and blue trousers with suspenders, he wore light brown and silver armour, around the chest, the forearms and the legs. She then looked at his physique. He was a bit short, moustache, brown hair, blue eyes… She then remembered what Bolo had told her and put two and two together. 'You're our intern!'

The man looked blankly at her. 'Huh?'

'Listen, if you wanted more money, you could've jus asked…'

'Girl, look at me.' The man commanded and Shantae did so. He had a few scars from what she presumed were past battles. 'You've got powers. I've seen your dances. People all around this part of the Desert adore ya.' Shantae nodded. The man sat down in a nearby half broken bench. 'You may fool those drunk guys, but not me. That fire is no trick. And it's not common magic like mine is.'

Shantae tensed up. 'What do you mean?'

'What are you? A goddess? A spirit? I'm not gonna hurt you, so don't worry.'

'Why should I trust you?'

The man laughed. 'Does the name "Mario" ring anything?'

'Who?' Shantae blinked blankly at him.

'I figured…' he sighed. He took off his hood and spoke. 'I am knight Mario Jumpman. Head of the army of this kingdom.' Shantae stared at him in shock, her jaw dropping. 'You do know what kingdom this is, right?'

'Knight Mario?! The very same one who's faced off against Bowser and his armies?! The one that fought just weeks ago at Pauline's Fortress?!'

'That one. Trust me now?'

Shantae shifted uncomfortably. 'Why are you telling me this, sir?'

'Where did those manners come from now, huh?' he laughed. 'I'll tell you. I've seen many fighters, both righteous and disgraceful. You're the former. You've got spirit. You might as well be one, heh.'

'And?'

'Well, I like to meet new people. Marvel at this land we've got.' he paused and looked at his golden necklace. It bore the shape of a crown and had something Shantae couldn't read etched on it ''Cause when you know that back home there's people that are worth it, you'll go to the edge of the world for them.'

Shantae looked sweetly at him. Everyone knew of the knight that saved their kingdom and always kept it safe. She had narrowly missed him when he was around for patrol purposes a few weeks back, but when news of war had come, she knew their armies had won thanks to his efforts. To think he was right before her…

'I'm a genie.' She began, pulling valor to herself. 'Half-genie. I just try to keep this town safe whenever I can. People only know me for my dances down at Devil's Carpet. But I really love this town and this world. I wanna keep it safe.'

'That's it?' asked Mario.

'Pretty much. Is it wrong?'

'Nah.' He said smiling. 'It's more than enough. Your name?'

'Shantae. Just Shantae.'

He shook her hand. He didn't feel like he was a knight from the court. The way he spoke, the way he acted. He felt like another citizen. 'Pleasure to meet you. Now, to graver matters.'

'The critters.' Said Shantae seriously.

'Oh yes. Have news of the Assembly at Peachville reached the Desert?'

'None I can recall.'

'Well, you're in for some breaking news, girl. Ylisse's aiding Bowser. We're at maximum dread on all the nation. I assume there are already soldiers at the big cities. Although for them to come this far into the Sand Sea… I won't lose hope, but I've been trough the cost, and most cities and towns are in your same situation.'

'Is King K. Rool attacking as well?' Shantae said with fear in her voice.

'I'm afraid so. More and more ships are coming from the Kong Islands. There have been reports from Shy Guy merchant ships in the southeast of the Gangplank Galleon itself. The most terrible war machine you'll ever see… It's a full invasion.' He looked down.

'We must fight then!' she said hurriedly

'Yes, we must. The Winged Stars have already set foot upon the capital and strategic points of the country. May they ride steady, but it's unknown whether they'll be enough. The Yllissian Empire, it seems too much. We barely held them at Pauline's…'

'What can we do?'

'You? Stay here. Save this town, or rather its people.'

'What about you, sir? Why are you not with Queen Peach?'

He suddenly looked sorrowful, as if he was remembering painful memories. 'I have to be away. Off to Hyrule, to warn of Ylisse. They probably are being destroyed from the inside, as they can't win a direct assault like they could here. I've been travelling for the past few days quietly and here; I've seen it all. Bandits, thieves and now these invaders from the sea. I walk yet I remain lost.' He smiled at her. 'Too hot and too big of a desert.'

Shantae had a million thoughts on her mind. He was giving up his life and help on the front to do what probably no other could alone: travel the Desert alone. Her mind began to race elsewhere: to mountains as tall as the sky, seas of green fields, coral reefs like walls on the ocean and forests filled with everlasting snow. Was this her chance? She could tell her friends about this, they could defend Scuttle Town along with the army, and she could go further beyond and help a most noble man in his endeavors. She remained silent for a few moments until she broke that very silence.

'I'll help you.'

Mario was taken aback. 'What? No. It's a harsh journey, harsher than anything. Stay here.'

'No, I'm going with you.'

'No sir this time?' the knight said casually.

'You can't travel the Desert alone. It's impossible. Where did you come from?'

'From the Sunset Wilds. I was heading north over to the border.'

'The Sunset Wilds are northwest from here. Almost westwards entirely.' She stated.

'Oh.' He mouthed.

'You need help.'

Mario, seeing he wouldn't convince her, stood right up. 'Sure.'

'I'm help.'

'And a genie.'

'Half-genie.' She corrected.

He extended his hand to her. 'You're a good fighter and a better person, Shantae.' He looked her dead in the eye, bearing a smile on his face. 'Would you come with me to Hyrule?' he asked, knowing very well the answer.

She shook his hand. 'Yes. Yes, I would.' She looked over at the horizon as they made their way up a building, jumping and climbing.

She had gone over the walls, and they were no more.