Gamelover41592: The enemies were annoying, the level was annoying, just everything about it was annoying.
Okay, it's time to meet everyone's favorite zombie: Rottytops! I won't waste your time, so let's go.
"Look at how much faster it is when we fly!" Jasmine noted smugly as she landed in front of the Zombie Caravan.
"Shut up," Shantae replied bluntly. "Besides, you are the survivalist. I thought you would like the chance to practice fighting monsters."
"Rule number one of being a survivalist, knowing when to run away," Jasmine replied. Shantae realized she had been beat and just glared as they walked in. Minus the zombies, the place looked a lot like a normal caravan of wagons. Of course, the girls couldn't take in the sights. They had a zombie to find.
"Excuse us, we're looking for someone named Rottytops," Jasmine asked the zombie girl in the first wagon they entered.
"I'm Rottytops!" She replied. "Who are you two?"
"My name's Shantae and this is my big sister Jasmine," Shantae introduced. Jasmine just tipped her hat. "You replied to our question about a magical stone, right?"
"Oh that. It's called the Simmer Stone because it burns endlessly. It's kept deep inside the Cackle Mound by a society of Shriekers. What about it?" Rotty asked.
"We need to get to it!" Jasmine replied.
"Yeah! Before something terrible happens!" Shantae added in. "Can you show us the way inside?"
"Me show you two?! HA!" Rotty laughed. "Aren't you afraid to ask a zombie for help? I might try to eat your brains!"
"She's got a point," Jasmine admitted, remembering someone who used to be terrified of zombies. Not that she remembered much.
"I thought only wild zombies ate brains," Shantae admitted.
"Shows what you know!" Rotty replied. "Tell you what. Let's have a little competition to see just how bad you two want it! If you win, I'll show you the way,"
"And if we lose?" Jasmine asked.
"Either I eat your brains or you can try again," Rotty explained. "Do we have a deal?"
"Deal!" Shantae blurted out before Jasmine could ask anymore questions. "This should be easy!"
About ten attempts later
"How about you let me take this one?" Jasmine asked. As it turns out, Rottytops knew the race course inside and out. And Shantae was prideful enough to keep trying to the point of collapse.
"Yeah. Yeah, sure," Shantae said before passing out.
"Quick question before we go, can I...switch forms?" Jasmine asked mischievously.
"Like with that necklace? Sure, go nuts," Rotty dismissively replied. The two lined up and just before it was time to go, Jasmine shifted into a cheetah.
"You said I could change!" Jasmine called out as she rushed forward. With her speed and reflexes, she was easily able to win.
"You beat me!" Rotty marvaled.
"Yes! Jasmine that was so awesome!" Shantae cheered as she hugged her older sister.
"You two have passion and I like that," Rotty noted. "What do you say that I help you two get that Simmer Stone? I promise to keep the snacking to a minimum!"
"Alright, fine," Jasmine said. "But if I see your teeth anywhere I don't like them, I will knock them out!"
"Alright then! I'll meet you at the door to the Cackle Mound," Rotty said before racing out. "Later!"
"She's a lively one for a zombie," Shantae joked.
"It would seem so," Jasmine agreed as they rushed after the zombie.
"What's shakin' bacon?" Rotty greeted when she saw the two girls arrive. "Gimme a sec to figure this thing out," With a quick look over the lock, Rottytops tore her leg off to use it as a makeshift key.
"Well...that is one way in," Shantae said.
"There we go!" Rotty said once the door was open. "Now listen up! The walking nightmares that live in this hole won't see you if you stay in the shadows...but once you're spotted things will get ugly! Stay hidden as long as possible and you both might make it out alive,"
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jasmine grumbled as she crossed her arms.
"Thanks Rotty, we owe you one," Shantae said as she entered the dungeon, Jasmine following.
By the time the duo found the chamber holding the genie, both were out of breath and fearing for their lives.
"How many people died here!?" Jasmine asked as she tried to catch her breath.
"Or died and moved here?" Shantae asked as she freed the genie.
"Sorry about the bad welcome," She said. "It used to be much nicer when I was the guardian of this place. But evil has corrupted it. But as thanks for freeing me, I will teach the half-genie a new dance to stop said evil!"
"Creepy dungeon grants creepy crawly as a transformation," Jasmine snarked under her breath.
"Not as conventional as I would have liked, but I'll take it!" Shantae admitted as she looked over her new spider form. "C'mon, Jas! Let's get out of here!"
"You don't have to ask me twice," Jasmine replied, hoping the next place they went to was less creepy.
"That's funny...this is the Simmer Stone chamber…" Shantae trailed off.
"So? Let's grab it and go!" Jasmine said.
"What's funny is there is no sign of Risky Boots," Shantae explained.
"Yeah! If we are quick enough, we can grab it and g-" Jasmine began to say before Risky entered the room.
"HAH! Nice try, girly girls, but this Simmer Stone comes with me!" Risky vowed.
"And cue monster in three, two, one," Jasmine counted out.
"Not again!" Risky complained as she was tossed away. This time, the monster was a strange golem like creature. It wasn't very hard for the girls to defeat, as there were pits in the arena they could easily drop him into for free attacks. Within a few minutes the Simmer Stone was safely in Jasmine's hands.
Or rather, it would be. If not for one thing
"Sweet mother of snakes! This thing is burning my hands!" Jasmine wailed.
"Oh how bad can it be?" Shantae asked as she grabbed, only to suffer. "Ow, ow, OW!" Finally, the girls were able to get used to the heat to hold it.
"We did it!" Shantae exclaimed to Rottytops once they got outside. "We got the Simmer Stone!"
"And very painful burns," Jasmine grumbled.
"Well, I knew with my help, you'd make it out okay!" Rotty boasted proudly. So what's the reason for collecting these stones anyways? Kind of a dangerous hobby, isn't it?"
"Look, we don't have a choice!" Shantae exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air.
"Risky Boots is going to use them for some sort of doomsday weapon!" Jasmine added. "We've already kept her from getting the first three and now, we need to find the last one,"
"That girl's bad news alright. She's one of the reasons we move our caravan each night. In fact, we're moving out in the morning, so if you want to visit me again, you'll have to track the caravan down first. In the meantime, you two should head for Mount Pointy," Rotty said.
"Why? What's there?" Shantae asked.
"The Twinkle Stone!" Rotty revealed. "You've got the other three, and that's the only one left. Er...you two don't have any warmer clothes do you?"
"Why would anyone want warmer clothes?" Shantae asked.
"Heh! No reason! See you 'round!" Rottytops said before heading back towards the Caravan.
"...The mountain is going to be freezing and I know it," Jasmine said.
"Probably," Shantae admitted. "But we should be fine...hopefully,"
"Time to fly then!" Jasmine said as she shifted back into dragon form. Shantae climbed and the girls were off.
Ugh, sorry it took so long for this to come out. I need to start writing more. Also, I know that some of you probably think that it is a little early for Jasmine to get that tribal tattoo. But keep in mind that this is a series where girls can get away wearing whatever they want regardless of age so I think a tattoo isn't that bad.