Sorry that this took so long. The reason why it took so long was that unlike Paper Mario I am less knowledgeable on a world of Shantae. Numerous times I had to make sure I got my information right before I could put it in. Hopefully it is going to be easier after this.
And before we begin with this chapter allow me say something to my Salvation readers. If your reading this and wonder why I am taking so long with the next chapter for that story. The reason why is that I have been so lazy this past Summer. This Corona situation has made me too relaxed. But now that I am more busy then before I would finally get off my lazy butt and do something productive for ones. I promise that the next chapter for that story is on it's way. Just be patient a little while longer.
So with that said I won't keep you guys any longer. Hope you enjoy the second chapter to this story.
Recap
The Mushroom Kingdom was at a time of peace and many people are living their lives without fear. To show these peaceful times Princess Peach had made a party for her hero Mario and invited all his companions he made throughout his adventures.
They were all having a great time until Twink fell down from the sky and warned them that the Star Rod went missing. They soon learned that it was stolen by this celestial being who is a well known criminal.
He is called Scarlet and he's a kind of people that named themselves Collect-A-Thoners.
All of Mario's friends tried to fight against this fiend but Scarlet was smarter then they realised and had used the Star Rod to defeat and trapped them all. Mario tried to beat him but not even the mighty Paper Mario could defeat him.
And now Scarlet had escaped with the Star Rod along with all of Mario's friends and Princess Peach.
And now with phase 1 completed Scarlet have now started phase 2.
Scuttle Town
It has gotten quite peaceful in this small town down at the shoreline. It was only a few weeks ago that our resident/guardian half-genie Shantae, along with her friends had got invited to Paradise island. Where Shantae have met others of her kind.
However, during a performance at the festival, the other half-genies are kidnapped. Determined to uncover the reason for their disappearance, Shantae entered the Sunken City beneath the island in search of the other half-genies.
In the end those disappearances were thanks to the Seven Sirens, rulers of the island. Thanks to her friends and surprisingly her old rival Risky Boots, they have managed to defeat them and save the all the half-genies.
And so Shantae and the others went back to Scuttle Town while Risky Boots gone back to her lair to come up with her next scheme.
It is now night time in Scuttle Town and our half-genie is sleeping in her hammock. She was sleeping soundly until a voice called out.
"Shantae."
Shantae moved a bit but stayed asleep.
"Daughter of the genie, wake up." The voice called out again as Shantae finally wakes up.
"Huh who's there?" She said tirelessly as she rubs her eyes.
"Shantae, head to the genie fountain. A messenger of the Genie Realm awaits for you there."
Shantae, now fully awake heard the familiar voice and widens her eyes a bit. "Is it another threat? Why not tell it to me here?" Shantae asks but nobody answered. She sighs and scratches her head.
"Great now I have to go and I bet I don't have time to make myself presentable." She said in annoyance while heading outside still wearing her PJ's.
She immediately went into Scuttle Town and into her Uncle Mimic's place. She saw the hatch to the underground cavern open while seeing her Uncle sleeping in his workshop again. She grabbed a blanket nearby, covered her Uncle with to keep him warm and walked into the Cavern.
It didn't take her long to reach the fountain when she saw a bit blue light hovering above the waters.
"You have made it, Daughter of the Genie."
"Okay messenger what is it you have to say?" Shantae said a bit annoyed.
"Soon a grave danger will befall the human realm. A danger that isn't like anything you have fought before."
"Eh? Um how dangerous are we talking about here?" Shantae was a bit worried since it hasn't been a month since the last incident.
"A danger of which if comes to pass will change your realm forever."
"That dangerous huh." She mumbled.
"Yes. You will need the help of your companions to defeat this threat since we are afraid you can't beat him on your own."
Shantae clenches her fists as this is turning out much more serious then her past adventures.
She realises everything is getting blurry as it symbolizes her waking up.
"W-wait can't I get a clue of who this threat is!?"
"Look... a Collect-A... in a red hood..."
Shantae couldn't catch much of it as morning came to Scuttle Town.
Just outside her house was two people walking to her door.
"You think Shantae is awake right now?" The man who has his hands behind his blue hair. Shantae's sparring partner, Bolo.
"Oh I bet she's still asleep." Shantae's childhood friend, Sky, said as they reached the front door.
"You wanna bet that she's actually awake for once?" Bolo challenged Sky. The woman smirks.
"Alright then. 20 gems that she is still asleep." She said back as Bolo to gives her a smirk.
"Deal." He said as he knocked on the door.
"Shantae your up yet? Please tell me you're awake."
Unfortunately for Bolo they heard a crash from upstairs. Sky gives out her hand as Bolo groans and gives her the money.
"When will you learn Bolo. Shantae is the worst at waking up." Sky said in triumph. Wench, Sky's bird on her arm laughs at Bolo's misery.
"Oh don't you start bird." Bolo annoyingly said.
It took a few minutes for Shantae to get fully clothed and got outside while still combing her ponytail.
"Okay guys what's the plan today?" Shantae said to them which made Sky sigh.
"Shantae did you forget? You were supposed to help your uncle with his invention today." She said. Shantae widen her eyes as she zipped past him.
"Oh god I'm late!" Shantae shouted while her two friends look at each other and sigh as they knew this would happen.
Just like in her dream (At least she thinks they are dreams) she ran into Scuttle Town and towards her Uncles workshop.
"Hey Uncle sorry I'm late!" She called out to a man she deeply cares for. Mimic turns around for his blueprints and gives her a smile.
"Ah Shantae you actually came just in time. Although I would appreciate you to come earlier." He said tad annoyingly. Shantae rubs her head in embarrassment as she walks up to her uncle.
"Look I said I was sorry." Shantae said while pouting. "So what are you working on?" She asks while looking over Mimic's shoulder.
"Well remember that thing about Dynamo?" They heard a gasp, they look back and saw it was Bolo as he and Sky came in the workshop.
"But wasn't that the same invention that Risky Boots used against us?" He said which makes Mimic sigh.
"Yes but I won't let that happen again. Last time it was because that pirate swapped my blueprints with a fake one. But this time I have a plan that even if she does invade again." Bolo confidently said as he pointed at his head.
"Your head?" Bolo said confused which makes Sky bonk his head.
"No you air head he's talking about how he memorized the blueprints." Sky corrected him as Shantae thought of a problem.
"But with what happened last time I don't think the mayor will want us doing this. What are you going to do Uncle?" She asked as Mimic smiles and pats her shoulder.
"Well that's where you come in Shantae. You will convince him for me." He said.
"W-what, me?" Shantae said while pointing at herself. She doesn't feel comfortable talking to the mayor about this since last time didn't gone so well.
"Shantae you are the saviour and guardian of Shuttle town. If the mayor would listen to anyone it's you." Mimic assures Shantae but she still has doubts.
While she is the guardian here she feels like she has failed in actually protecting it. Every time danger comes Shantae fails and something was taken and then she sets out to fix her mistake.
But try as she might she doesn't want to disappoint her uncle so she puts on a confident face.
"I shall try my best Uncle Mimic." She said proudly.
"Now that's the spirit!" Bolo suddenly shouted as he gives Shantae a smack on the back. The genie almost fell in surprise which made all of them laughs.
It wasn't until Shantae left that Sky let's out a sigh.
"I'm worried about her." She said as Mimic walked towards her.
"You could see it too huh?" He said to Sky.
"I'm just afraid that Shantae is placing the blame from her last adventures on herself too much." Sky said. Mimic then smiles at her.
"Well I shouldn't worry too much about it. Shantae has gotten through anything that was put before her. And even if she doesn't well she still got us." Mimic said with confidence.
Sky puts a hand on her hip and smiles. "Well you're right about that."
"Um guys? What are you two talking about? Was something up with Shantae?" Bolo said as he was the only one that didn't pick up the signs. Sky and Mimic look at each other and sigh in amusement.
Meanwhile Shantae walked through town in search of the Mayor. If she is right then he would be doing his daily fishing.
She had decided not to think further about her failures and will go on with confidence. But then she noticed something strange.
There was a person with cloths she has never seen before, leaning on the wall just at the edge of town. But what was most strange is that this person has blue skin.
Shantae felt that something wasn't right and so she cautiously walk pass. Unfortunately she was stopped when the person spoke.
"Heya your Shantae right? The half genie?" Shantae looks at him.
"Who wants to know?" She asked a rhetorical question as the man chuckles in amusement.
"I do, though I think I already know the answer to that. Your pretty well known after all." He said with a smile. Shantae unconsciously took a step back.
"Who are you and what do you want!" Shantae demanded as the man took an over exaggerated bow.
"My name is Scarlet and I am a Collect-A-Thoner."
shantae looked confused as that name sounds familiar.
"Look... a Collect-A... in a red hood..."
Shantae gasps as this person matches the short description. She jumps back at got into her battle stance.
"You, your the one the genies have warned me about!" Shantae shouted as the man known as Scalet let's out a toothy grin.
"Ah! Looks like I am more well known then I thought." He said out loud.
"Answer the question! Why are you here!?" She demands again. Scarlet smirks as he then turned invisible.
"What magic?" Shantae said in surprise.
"Not quite." Shantae jumps forward away from Scarlet who appeared right behind her. "Like I said, I am a Collect-A-Thoner, I collect things I view as valuable. And well I'm new around these parts so I am not that knowledgeable. Now enough with the dialogue, where is the lamp?" Scarlet asked as a magic lamp is pretty much the most stereotypical thing you can find when it comes with Genies.
Shantae widened her eyes when he said that. Scarlet saw this and was actually shocked.
"Wait... There is a magic lamp?" Scarlet held it in for a short moment before bursting out in laughter. "Oh my god I was only kidding! Ha ha ha!" He yelled while falling on his back and kicks his legs in the air.
Shantae blushes deep red as Scarlet continues mocking her and has had enough.
"Cut it out!" Shantae then leans back and flicks her big ponytail at Scarlet. Unfortunately though he got out of his laughing spree and rolled to the side.
"Whoops, looks like I struck a nerve." He said in amusement as he brought out the Star Rod he stole from the Paper world.
Shantae looks at it in confusion as that looks like nothing but a piece of paper with a cartoony drawing of a wand.
"Now then let's speed things along shall we? I wish for you to tell me where the magic lamp is." Scarlet said while waving the rod around.
"I won't tell you anything even if you wi... it's at the bottom of the ocean nearby Lonely Grave Island." Shantae clasps her mouth with both her hands but it was too late as Scarlet chuckles. He turned invisible again only to reappear next to Shantae and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before raising the Star Rod in the air.
"Thanks for the information sweety. Now if you don't mind I have something to collect. I wish to breath under water! Oh and for me to be a fast Swimmer!" He shouted before jumping into the sea.
"Wait come back!..." Shantae tried to stop him but got splashed by the water. Unfortunately after rubbing her eyes she saw Scarlet already swimming out into the distance.
Shantae drops onto her knees as she can't believe what just happened.
"Oh no."
It took a few minutes until Scarlet realised that he doesn't even know where the island was. But then he realised something that made him smack his face.
"Oh my god I am so stupid I could've just wished for the lamp to appear in my hand." Scarlet then brought the Star Rod again to make another wish. Though he did wonder why it isn't being affected under water despite it being made out of paper.
But that was just a minor question that can be answered later. With a quick wave and spoke out the wish the magic lamp appeared out of thin air.
"Or should I say 'out of thin water' he he he." Scarlet chuckles at his small joke as he swam back to Scuttle Town to make a big surprise.
Meanwhile Shantae walk back into town slowly as she is depressed about a big error she just made.
"Oh man this is bad. What will he do once he gets it." She mumbled in despair.
"Who will get what?"
"WAH!" Shantae jumps in surprise. She looks back to see a green skinned Zombie who was her friend.
"Rottytops, don't scare me like that." Shantae said while calming her breath.
"Sorry." Rottytops sang but then her face turned serious. "Now then what's up Shantae? Your like my big brother in one of his moods.
Shantae blinks a bit at the comparison but then sighs. "Oh Rottytops I believe I made a mistake." She said as Rottytops tilt her head a bit.
"What are you..." She was going to ask but stopped when the ocean exploded.
Mimic, Sky and Bolo ran out of the workshop when they heard that load bang.
"What's happening!?" Bolo shouted. He was answered by laughing.
"Ha ha ha I got it. Like taking candy from a genie baby!" They all look up to see Scarlet standing on top of Sky's bird house.
Sky then notices what he was waving around and gasps. "Guys look, he's got the Magic Lamp!"
"But how? The Magic Lamp was thrown to the bottom of the sea. How did he know where to look?" Mimic questioned which made Shantae flinch.
"Now then let's see how this thing works." Scarlet said playfully as he tries rubbing it. But only to find out nothing happened. "Hm?"
All of them sweatdrops as they see Scarelt rubbing it like crazy. "Um, does he know that there aren't any actual genies in there right?"
Scarlet stops when he heard what Bolo said. He widens his eyes as he shakes the lamp up and down in annoyance. "Then what's the point of a Magic Lamp if there isn't a genie in it!"
Although he was surprised when air started getting sucked into the lamp. Shantae felt her magic coming out but thankfully Scarlet stopped when he saw what happen.
"Ooooooh! I think I starting to see how this thing works." He started smirking mischievously which made everyone flinch.
But before Scarlet could start, he was hit with a headbutt. "Oh no you don't!" Rottytops shouted as she had just thrown her head.
Sky blew out a whistle as her fellow war birds flown out her house as they go around Scarlet while having Wench grow in size. She got on it along with Bolo as they too go to the rooftop.
Rottytops nibbles on Scarlet's arm as he swings his arm around madly. "Get off!" He successfully got the zombie off though thankfully Rottytops body appeared beneath her head as it got itself back together.
"Hyah!" Bolo yelled out as he swung his spiked ball at Scarlet. Though the collector sidestepped from the attack the war birds started diving down at him as they tried attacking them with their claws.
Shantae decided that her friends won't be fighting alone. She does a belly dance and transform into a bat and flies up.
"Give us the lamp back and no one gets hurt! Or any more hurt." She shouts out when she made it to the rooftops.
"Never!" Scarlet yelled back as he uses his technique and turns invisible. The others were surprised as Shantae kept a look out.
"I wish..." Shantae heard those words and gasps. She tries to warn the others but it was too late. "For the birds to betray their master!"
"Wait what?" Sky said in confusion as all the birds, including Wench's look at her with red glowing eyes.
"Whoa!" Sky shout out as Wench forcefully threw her out of his back which made her fall into the ocean.
Sky got up and spat out some the water. Unfoutunently she sees her War birds fly down to attack her.
"Hey guys come on! We are supposed to attack him not me!" She tried to reason her bird friends but it was like they couldn't even here her.
"Sky!" Shantae flown down to help her friend. She used the bat screech which distracted all the birds. She quickly transformed into a mermaid and blew out bubbles which trapped the birds inside her attack. She did this a few more times as the birds are now concealed. Sky sighs in relief.
"Thanks Shantae but what was that about? My birds have never attacked me before." She says with confusion.
"I'll explain everything later but for now I have to get back to help Bolo and Rottytops. You'll be alright?" Sky nods as Shantae jumps out and turns into a bat again to help her friends.
Meanwhile Bolo and Rottytops were back to back as they awaited for Scarlet's next move.
Then all of a sudden Bolo felt his head being punched and fell down. Unfortunately he let go of his spike ball.
"I wish for the spike ball to be made out of flowers." Scarlet turned visible as he said out loud. Bolo gasps as Scarlet laughs.
"Take this!" Rottytops then hit Scarlet with her detached leg.
"Ow!" He yelped in pain. They then heard a thump and hears a trumpet. Rottytops jumps back as Scarlet looks behind him and yells out in shock.
"Elephant stampede!"
Unfortunately for the heroes he jumped so high that he went right over Shantae.
"Drat!" She yelled out. To make matters worst that she underestimated how small the roof was and ended running of the ledge.
"Shantae! Oh you will pay for that!" Rottytops shouted as she threw her leg like a boomerang.
Scarlet though saw this coming as he step to a side and as the leg turns around he aimed the star rod at it.
"Electric shock!"
The zombie grunts in pain though thankfully since she's already dead she wasn't paralyzed from that attack. But that didn't last long as Scarlet picked up her leg and used it like a bat multiple times.
"Why are you kicking yourself. Why are you kicking yourself. Why are you kicking yourself."
He keeps doing this until they reached the edge of the roof. Rottytops then had enough as she got up and bites Scarlet in the arm.
"Yow!" He yelled out as he kicks Rottytops one last as her body detached from her head and fell of the building.
Scarlet then got the head of the Zombie and threw it out to the sea. Thankfully though Sky swam as quickly as she could and caught the head.
"Your alright there?" Sky said full of concern.
"Never better." Rottytops said sarcastically.
As they all get back together Shantae tried going against Scarlet himself.
Shantae tried whipping her huge ponytail at him but Scarlet kept on dodging it. He seems to be too fast for Shantae to catch up.
Scarlet then decides that it is his turn and turns himself invisible.
"Aw great." Shantae mumbled out but was then got hit by Scarlet's roundhouse kick. The half-genie rolled across the roof but stops before she could fall.
"Well this has been quite fun. Not as much fun as the last world but hey I got what I came for so that's a plus." Scarlet said mockingly as Shantae gets up.
"Is this all a game to you!?" Shantae shouted while charging at him.
"As a matter of fact I do." Scarlet sidestepped out of the way and hanged his leg out, making Shantae trip to the ground. Before she could get up again Scarlet grabbed her by the hair and threw her off the building.
"Shantae!" All of her friends shouted in worry as Shantae hits the ground hard.
"For being such a wonderful audience allow me to do my last magic trick." Scarlet then brought out both the Magic Lamp and the Star Rod. "Star Rod! I wish for all the Magic in the world of Genies to be sucked into the Magic Lamp!"
All of them gasps as the Magic Lamp started shaking uncontrollably as air is starting to be sucked in.
MEANWHILE
Down at Paradise island all the half-genies that lives there were just having a normal day.
"Hey, are you okay?" One of them say as they noticed her friend kneeling down with a pale face.
"No I, feel weak."
Then one by one they started going down to the ground as their magic is slowly leaving them.
All around the world people saw colourful magic flying through the sky.
Back at Scuttle Town all the magic is getting inside of the Lamp in a powerful vortex. Shantae tried so hard to keep her magic but the power of the Star Rod was too powerful as her magic too comes out and was sucked into the Magic Lamp.
Shantae widens her eyes as yet again her magic was taken from her. And just to mock her, Scarlet was laughing at them.
"Yes Phase 2 was a success. Although the magic was just a bonus really. Now then..." Scarlet looks down to see Shantae and the others glare at him. Scarlet then smirks while jumping down on the roof. Only Mimic and Rottytops could fight as the others either lost their weapons or were too weak to fight.
"To make sure you don't cause anymore trouble." Scarlet then waved his Star Rod which drove Shantae away from her friends. Before they could react a cage appeared, surrounding all of Shantae's friends.
"Guys!" Shantae managed to get up and tried fighting. But with her now weakened state her attack pattern became predictable.
Scarlet then yawns. "I think it's time for this game to end." He then turned invisible for the last time. Shantae couldn't react in time as Scarlet went behind her and does a chop to her neck.
"Geh!" Shantae coughs out and falls down into the ground.
The others was in shock that they were all defeated so easily. Just who was this guy.
Scarlet sighs happily with a job well done. "Well this has been fun. Now it's time to head to the third world. Hope you all don't mind the interdimensional trip." He said while waving the star Rod.
"Hey wa...!" Bolo tried to shout but was interrupted when he along with everyone else inside the cage disappeared.
"Guys..." Shantae muttered as she falls unconscious.
So not only has Scarlet stole the Star Rod from Mario's world and the Magic Lamp from Shantae's but he also stole all the half-genies magic. What will he steals next.