Shantae: The battle tower rescue
There was unease in Scuttle Town.
A very special and beloved citizen had been gone for quite a while. Dancing enthusiasts were saddened, shopkeepers were starting to worry that they'd never get to sell their adventuring wares and the mayor himself was sick with worry. All of this was due to a single, yet important factor: Shantae had disappeared. Risky Boots hadn't attacked, she hadn't really said much of anything to anyone about going on an arduous quest or anything of the sort. Most of everyone knew one thing: she went to the new battle tower a few days prior and hadn't come back yet.
Of course, unlike most of the citizens, there was a group of people that wanted to find her, rather than just wonder where she'd gone. This small group were her friends: Rottytops, the innocent but mischievous zombie girl, Sky, Shantae's best friend, and Bolo, a good fighter but also a quite clueless lad. Showing up at Sky's place to figure out a plan of action, they strategized that they should stay together. Shantae may have met a terrible fate because she was alone and unprepared.
''We all agree, then. We go out, venture at this battle tower for some information and then try to find Shantae,'' Sky said, looking at everyone as the severity of the matter weighted on her shoulders. The town needed their guardian genie, but every single one of them here needed to help their dear friend from a possibly terrible predicament.
With everyone nodding in agreement, they all turned around to go through the door, until a cloaked figure could be seen near the exit. ''I couldn't help but overhear things. You three are here to rescue the half-genie guardian, yes?'' the figure asked, her feminine voice being reserved and calm as she subtly observed the trio.
Bolo, always talking before thinking, said, "Yes, we're going there right now. Do you want to-ouch!" Sky bopped him over the head. The mysterious character chuckled softly.
"I would love to help actually," she said. "I know how hard it was when my hometown lost its genie guardian."
"Come on, let her join!" Rottytops chimed in. "Four brains are better than 3! Four delicious...juicy...beautiful...mmm..." She started to drool a little.
''But we don't even know who she is!'' Sky protested, joined by her bird, which squawked and flew nearby the mysterious stranger, observing it as if his mistress had telepathically ordered him to.
''That's not important right now. We need to go and rescue Shantae quickly!'' Rottytops replied, her own daydreaming about delectable grey matter ceasing instantly at the rising tone of the blonde bird expert.
"Yeah. I'm sure she's not likely to betray and stab us in the back because of some nefarious scheme or something,'' added Bolo, laughing it up as he explicitly said what Sky was afraid of, his own mind never quite registering the possible danger that this stranger represented.
Sky sighed. "Alright fine, we do need to save her so you can come." She got close to the stranger. "But if you even think about betraying us, you will regret it." With that, she headed towards the battle tower, her friends following close by.
As they were going, they ran into the Squid Baron. The large red creature, holding a form of some kind, was apparently having a heated argument with the clerk who gave admittance to the tower itself.
''Why can't I even be considered as eligible to work here? I'm a filler boss!'' he proclaimed, furious.
Unsure about whether to butt in or not in this conversation, mostly because no one understood what he was talking about, Sky and the gang were already blocked. Each were kind of intimidated by the big red squidgy beast, save for the stranger who said and did nothing in face of this scene and Bolo, who could not be considered the brains of the group in any possible way.
''Yeah, why can't he join?'' the impulsive young man added, never minding that he wasn't an actual participant in the conversation. ''I mean, he looks big and strong to me." He didn't even notice everyone now staring at him in surprise and nervousness, not wanting to have to worry about anything and delay their saving Shantae.
''Why thank you, young man,'' the Squid Baron replied to Bolo, his face changing to one of sincere gratitude as it then shifted to a much more serious one. "See, even that guy understand that I should work here. How about that?'' He tapped on the counter with insistence and irritation.
''Look, man, you just don't qualify. The boss wants sexy monsters and you're just not, well, sexy,'' the clerk admitted.
''Oh, is that so?'' the baron answered back, clearly hurt by this revelation. "Well what if I defeat all these sexy monsters, huh? That'll show you!" He was getting even redder from annoyance and anger.
The man sighed. "Fine! I'm not arguing with you! Tell you what: you finish this whole tower and you can be the final boss. Are you four with him?" He looked at the others, who looked at each other, then nodded, seeing this as their only way to get inside. "Fine, you can all go."
Squid Baron didn't seem to care. He just wanted to go inside and prove himself. As soon as the door opened, he zipped through it, followed closely by the others.
As they entered, everyone stopped when they discovered the setup of the first floor. It was large, circular…and empty. The only thing of significance was a door on the other side, but it was locked, and there seemed to be no way to unlock it. Curious about this, Sky began to wander around, looking for secrets that may reveal just where the potential threats were, to no avail.
''This is such a rip-off! It's a battle tower! There are supposed to be battles!'' the Squid Baron complained, pouting like a petulant child as he fidgeted around near the center of the room.
''The door is locked. We need to do something or defeat someone if we are to progress,'' the cloaked figure claimed, trying to push it around. The heavy-looking door not budging an inch, it seemed that she was truthful about this, a fact that did not dissuade Sky from not trusting the mysterious woman.
''Correct,'' a voice said, its almost raspy, yet feminine tone coming from a higher position as everyone went on to look at the ceiling. With everyone noticing the snake-woman hanging comfortably from a higher position due to her long scaly tail, the monstrous presence giggled a little. Seemingly confident despite the fact that they were five against one, the golden haired creature went up to look at each of them individually, her red skin barely visible due to the poor lighting up there. ''However, it's impossible for you to defeat me,'' she added, lunging forward at blinding speed as her slithering form twisted and twirled around to showcase the fact that they could not hit her.
With Bolo trying to smash her with his mace and Sky sending her bird against the lamia, nothing could reach her as she laughed as if everything was child's play to her. Rottytops, having difficulty following everything, nonetheless tried to do something as she ran toward the long tail, to no success. The Squid Baron, however, had no time to react as the lamia began to coil around him, crushing him due to her unnatural strength.
''So, my floor is a rip-off, then? No battles, you say? Join me and bash your friends if you can do better...'' the red-skinned monster said teasingly, sending colorful spirals out of her eyes, already mesmerizing the Squid Baron who was too dumbstruck to do anything to defend himself. ''You'll just end up as a victim of this battle tower like that foolish purple-haired girl...'' she taunted, letting her eyes overwhelm her strong-looking prey. This, however, proved to be a dire mistake on her part...
''Purple-haired victim? Could it be possible?'' the Squid Baron gasped, apparently connecting her words to someone else. His eyes, which had been so fascinated by those colors, turned from mesmerized to downright furious as he regained his mind on the spot. ''What have you done with my number-one woman, you stupid snake strumpet?!'' He pushed his tentacles on the ground, forcing the lamia backwards.
The lamia, caught entirely by surprise by this action, had no time to brace for impact as she was slammed directly into the door that leaded to the second floor. Pushing it out of its joints, the way became clear as the dust settled from the violent blow the wall received. Out of breath, the snake-woman knew not how to react as she looked at the tentacle menace with fear, her confidence having being blown away by the pain she had just received.
''Prepare yourself. I am the Squid Baron and nobody talks trash about the woman who made me believe in myself once again. Nobody,'' he growled, looking down at the serpent creature who had dared to say too much in front of the filler boss.
Kind of amazed at how the Squid Baron had taken this situation into his capable tentacles, the whole gang went away toward the second floor. They now knew for certain that Shantae had been here and that something had happened to her there. Anxious to get to the bottom of this, they went upward, unaware of what they would be facing next.
No sooner did the four remaining heroes step into the room than an amazing aroma bombarded them. Sky took a deep breath and started to feel light-headed.
"What is that heavenly scent?" she breathed.
"It smells like...brain..." Rottytops added. She always tries to convince the others how good it smells; now they know. Not that anyone really could pay attention. They were all too drunk on the smell. Their faces even began to flush. Through the pink mist, the source of the scent appeared: the beautiful plant-girl.
"Ahh I see you have all fallen under the spell of my incredible odor," she giggled. Tentacle-like vines wrapped around them and drew them close to her, and she sent out more of the mist. The girls moaned loudly as their minds got foggy. All they could think about was this smell as they stood there, helplessly bound.
However, Bolo seemed to be unfazed by anything. He just had a confused, clueless face as he looked at the plant-girl and his friends.
"Hmm…and why are you not going under?" the plant-girl looked at him curiously. His eyes suddenly widened.
"You hypnotized them!" He said it as if he just made an incredible discovery. The plant-girl rolled her eyes. Clearly she was in the presence of a genius.
"Yes, and soon you will be too!" She pulled him right in front of her...and regretted it instantly. "Oh dear god, what in the world is that atrocious scent?!"
"What? Oh you mean my body odor?" Bolo sniffed himself, then just shrugged. "Smells fine to me."
"Ugh, do you even shower?!"
"Of course! At least once a week! But not this week because I took a long one last week. Almost 30 minutes!" Bolo didn't know what was wrong; he was just a boy, one who had once worked full time with the squidsmith for three weeks in a row, in a hot environment.
The girl coughed and lost her grip on everyone. The pink mist slowly cleared up as green smoke streamed from Bolo's body. Everyone soon started to cough.
"Thanks a lot, boy, you saved us by totally stinking up the room!" the cloaked girl choked.
"Ugh, this is gonna take forever to get out of my clothes!" Sky complained. Rottytops just shrugged.
"I've smelt worse. I live among corpses for crying out loud! Although this is pretty close."
"Fine, I'll shower as soon as I get home," Bolo gave in.
"Good, then go home right now!" Sky held her nose. "I don't want to end up like her!" She pointed to the now-unconscious plant-girl. Grumbling, Bolo walked back to the entrance as the others continued on their way.
Despite the odd way they had defeated their latest adversary, the rest of the group nonetheless progressed forward. Going higher in the tower, they began to wonder just how those female monsters could have defeated the half-genie girl. Could it be that their hypnotic powers had overpowered the seasoned adventurer that she was?
With this question still stuck in her mind, Sky and the gang finally arrived to the third floor of the battle tower. On their guard due to the surprises of the last two floors, Sky, Rottytops and the cloaked woman looked around, expecting the worst. Seeing only a number of deep water holes near the center of the room, the trio approached, nervous about what kind of foe they might have to face now.
Their enemy, however, could observe them as she saw a new audience, one ready to enjoy her wonderful song. Swimming to the surface, she then made herself known to the three women standing near one of the many holes she could come out of. Cheerful and seemingly non-threatening, she then spoke in a sing-song voice. ''Hello. I'm glad you could be here for my next performance!'' Her voice was melodious as if she was preparing herself for what followed next.
Rottytops and Sky, surprised by the appearance of a mermaid, looked at the blue-haired, seashell-wearing aquatic woman as they prepared to strike her before anything would happen. The cloaked figure, however, knew better, as she tried to restrain her comrades. ''Don't! She's about to-''
Unfortunately for each of them, the mermaid was too quick in her reaction as she then began to sing a divinely melodious song. Her voice, mellow and soothing, was able to calm and deeply relax their very souls as the urge to strike diminished with each passing second. Listening, even the cloaked figure had no time to defend herself as she felt weak, captivated by the enchanting voice of the mermaid.
Sky, left defenseless, sat down as the thoughts of rescuing Shantae fled from her mind. The mysterious woman, apparently following her in this regard, sat nearby as both women were powerless when facing the fascinating mermaid who had rendered them weak and compliant due to her song. The only one that seemed to be resisting somewhat was Rottytops, due to her hearing being less sensitive when compared to the two living girls she was accompanying.
As the zombie girl began to understand what was happening to her, a bright idea came up in her head as she made the effort to bring up her fingers to her ears. She then did the unthinkable and inserted her fingers deep inside them, effectively popping her own eardrums.
''Why aren't you affected by my song? Is it because you are a zombie?'' the mermaid wondered, somehow never stopping the hypnotic effect of her own voice on the two other women.
''NOW YOUR SONG CAN'T AFFECT ME! I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING, THOUGH,'' Rottytops shouted, her loud voice drowning out the mermaid's.
Threatened by this unstoppable foe, the mermaid stopped her song and jumped back in the water. Afraid that this zombie might fancy her aquatic brain, she looked up, only to see her enemy looking down the water hole, seemingly looking for her.
''YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME,'' Rottytops boasted, never dropping her voice down in tone as she then looked at the cloaked woman and Sky both regaining their mind. ''YOU GIRLS OKAY?''
''Y-yes, I think so,'' Sky answered back, coming out of a weird, yet pleasant dream as the after effects of the mermaid's song were still somewhat lingering on in her mind.
''You don't have to shout,'' the other woman said, her ingratitude ringing through her retort as she regained her senses quickly, going toward the other door as it was still locked.
''I CAN'T HEAR YOU GIRLS. I HAVE NO EARDRUMS NOW,'' the zombie answered, before going in the water. It only took a few seconds before the door then unlocked, leaving both women confused as to what the zombie girl did.
''Let's get out of here. I'm not sure I want to know what just happened…'' Sky said fearfully, prodding her only ally left forward as they made their way to the next floor, unsure and apprehensive about what would be waiting for them there.
The remaining two women made it to the next room on full guard, ready for anything. Water, vines, snakes, spiders, everything was being searched for with caution. What they found, however, was the one thing they were not expecting: the purpose of this whole quest.
"Shantae!" Sky exclaimed, happy to see her friend. "Thank goodness we found you! Everyone is so worried about you!" The purple-haired girl was sitting on top a round stage, and upon seeing the others enter, she smiled and stood up. "Shantae, come on, your friends are all waiting." Shantae didn't move. She just kept smiling, her eyes glazed over.
"Hello Sky. And hello to your guest as well. Welcome to the second to last floor of the battle tower. You have done well to make it this far, so allow me to reward you with a dance before you reach the top." With that, she started to dance. Her moves were always incredible and sensual, but something was different this time. She moved like water, her stomach undulating in ways never seen before, despite Shantae being half genie. She swayed, shook, and shimmied in a way that could only be described as divine.
Sky, once watching, found herself unable to look away. She always admired her friend from afar, going to her performances, dreaming that one day they could be more than friends. On that day, Shantae would dance for her and only her. Today was that day.
Her companion, however, whom Sky forgot even existed, stepped up to Shantae.
"Finally we found you…" she said, apparently not taken by the dance. The dancer was surprised by this, and lowered her guard for just a second. That was all it took for the cloaked woman to throw out a pair of bolos, immediately binding Shantae's arms and legs. She fell down with an eep and struggled on the floor. Sky blinked a few times and shook her head, coming out of her daze now that Shantae was restrained.
"Whoa...what happened?" She took a moment to realize what just happened, but once she did, she got sad. "Shantae...ended up enslaved by the master of this tower, didn't she?"
"I'm afraid so," the other woman replied. "It's unacceptable. After all, if someone is going to defeat and enslave her..." She removed her cloak. "It's going to be me."
"Risky Boots!" Sky gasped in shock. Indeed, the pirate captain was standing before a trapped Shantae, grinning in victory. Wearing some strange glasses, she removed them as she glanced at Sky.
"Thank you so much for letting me join you, girl," she said, still watching the squirming Shantae. "Oh, and do you like my glasses? I made them hypnosis-proof, just for this! Had I known about the other monsters I also would have gotten nose and ear-plugs but it's no matter now."
"Get away from her you-" Sky started, but Risky held up a hand.
"Relax, I just said I'm the one that will defeat my rival. If anyone else even tries, I will show them no mercy. I won't hurt her right now. It wouldn't be satisfying unless she's in her right mind." She looked at Sky then, and her face showed something nobody thought they'd ever see on her: true sincerity. "You go finish off the one responsible for this. I'll take care of your friend."
Sky had come all this way to save her best friend, and her worst enemy wanted to be with Shantae alone? She must have been crazy. The pirate had the genie tied up and was proceeding to gag her! But for some reason, Sky trusted her this time. Shantae hadn't been in her right mind to be sure, and Sky was the only one who could get to the bottom of all this.
"Right," She headed to the door, but stopped right in front of it. "But remember what I warned you about betraying us. If Shantae has even a scratch on her when I get back, I'll make you pay."
"I'll keep that in mind," Risky replied with a smirk. "Now go!"
With a deep breath Sky went through the door alone, ready to finish this once and for all. Going up, she could see all the patterns take place. Shantae had been the victim of every creature on this tower, her will weakened by their charms. Unlike her friends, the half-genie did not have anyone to protect her when facing those temptresses, which meant that she must have been at the mercy of whoever owned this dangerously seductive tower. Gritting her teeth and ready to bust some heads, the blonde bird trainer finally arrived to the top, prepared for anything.
Without a second being wasted, she burst through the front door, determined to teach the ringleader a lesson. Instead, she got a bigger shock than any she has gotten before. The boss, the one that enslaved Shantae, the one behind it all...was another friend.
"Jean?!" Sky gasped, stumbling backwards. Jean smiled.
"Hello Sky, here to join Shantae?" she said seductively. Sky was speechless. Why would Jean want to enslave Shantae? "Before you ask, let me just explain. I. Hate. Shantae. I was the best dancer in Sequin Land, but then she showed up and made everyone drool over her. I couldn't accept that, so I hypnotized her to dance for me and only me. That way, I would be the true best dancer left in Scuttle Town... Oh, but I've said too much. You must be waiting for the main event, so let's not delay anymore."
Sky still couldn't say anything. Jean was never a friend...she was just a jealous, spiteful woman that had to hypnotize those who were better than her at anything, just so she could pretend to be the best! Was everyone that ever saw her under hypnosis? Was she that insecure about her talent and afraid of the honest opinion of others?
"I have better eyes than a lamia, a more entrancing scent than my sweet plant, a more captivating voice than the mermaid, and most of all, better dancing skills than that nasty Shantae! Now prepare to be amazed...and enslaved!" And she began to dance.
There was a good quality to the dance presented in front of her. Sky would have perhaps fallen for that alluring and hypnotic quality behind that dance, yet there was something driving her to resist with all of her might. Her eyes glued on the sight, she still had the presence of mind to go ahead and point at her with a single finger.
''Wrench...attack!'' With a simple command from his owner, the war bird went on to do as he was bid, his talons going toward the dancer as he interrupted the dance before it had even begun.
Jean, not ready to deal with an aviary attack, began to wriggle her arms to get this bird away from her, almost panicking due to its incessant invasion of her private space. ''Shoo, go away! I'm trying to teach your owner a lesson, you stupid bird!'' she snapped, her own dance stopping due to the non-stop pestering coming from Wrench.
''It's you who needs a lesson,'' Sky retorted, getting closer as she was ready to make this excuse for a dancer sorry for everything she had done. ''Do you know why Shantae is better than you? It's not because she's more beautiful, or because she has a better technique than you. She's better because she actually has fun while dancing. She sees the pleasure in dancing and shares it with everyone who looks at her. That alone makes her a much more likable and friendly person than you are...'' the bird trainer said, her voice slow and methodical as she approached the blonde villainess.
Unable to cope with how the situation was growing worse and worse for her, Jean then fell down on the ground while backing away, looking at Sky. Slightly intimidated by this brave woman being unaffected by the dance she had offered, the blonde performer tried to regain her composure, a harsh task due to her position. ''Y-you don't know me at all! I saved those monsters from their fate and gave them a job, doing my bidding. They'd be dead if it weren't for me!'' she argued, backing away as both Sky and Wrench got closer.
"Doing your bidding? That's not a job, that's enslavement!" Sky couldn't believe what she was hearing. This narcissistic bitch tried to say she was helping those poor creatures?! Helping Shantae?! Sky was enraged, and before she knew it, she smashed in Jean's face with her fist. All her rage at Jean and her desire to protect her friends was felt in that one punch, which was enough to put the protesting dancer out. Sky looked at her, breathing hard. Her hand hurt and there was a little blood on Jean's face.
"Wow, that was harsh," Risky said, walking up behind her. Sky looked back.
"Well I couldn't listen to her anymore," she replied. "She was clearly insane." She turned around and saw a free Shantae asleep in Risky's arms.
"Well it worked. She snapped out of it immediately. But she's all tuckered out, so she should rest. And I mean real rest, not her hypnotized sleep,'' the pirate told, getting closer to Sky. As Risky got closer, a lamp on the ground near Jean started to glow, grabbing both girls' attention. ''Wow, that crazy woman actually found a genie's lamp...'' Risky sounded almost impressed by the sight next to the KOed dancer.
Sky, picking up the precious lamp, quickly understood what it all meant. With this, Jean had completely enslaved Shantae and made her a full genie, one subservient to her will. Taking it with her, Sky knew she and her friends would have to repair all the damage done to Shantae when she would wake up. Motioning for Risky to follow her, they then went down towards the exit of the tower, grabbing Rottytops along the way.
Leaving the battle tower, Risky, Sky and Rottytops were smiling as they observed the now freed Shantae slumbering peacefully, despite Sky and Rottytops being anxious due to the fact that their pirate nemesis was carrying her vulnerable, sleeping form. They walked past the clerk who was seemingly occupied with the Squid Baron.
''Come on! I just beat the first floor easily in like three seconds! Why can't I have the job now?'' the filler boss said, angry and flustered. ''I have kids to feed, man!''
''You just did the first floor? Whatever happened to clearing the whole thing?'' the clerk snapped back, his customer service severely lacking when facing the tentacle-bearing creature in front of him.
''Fine! I'll just go up there and beat the final floor. Then we'll see who's in charge!'' the Squid Baron retorted, going back inside with a vengeance.
Almost feeling sorry for Jean due to what they heard, the group nonetheless went on toward Scuttle Town, more precisely to the lighthouse where the half-genie resided. Near the town, Risky handed Shantae to Sky as she then went her way, glancing back once to the bird trainer and the zombie gal. ''Tell her we're even now. I had a debt of honor with her due to her dealing with the Pirate Master, but I figure it's settled. She better be ready for my eventual comeback,'' the pirate said, smirking in confidence as she got away from the group.
Silent after this remark, both Rottytops and Sky then reached the half-genie's lighthouse home and tucked her in her own bed. They then stayed there to watch over her, feeling unsettled as Shantae fidgeted around in an almost restless stupor, mumbling like she was having a nightmare. It was very stressful until much later, with the two of them drinking a cup of coffee, joined by a now-showered Bolo, when they saw the purple-haired heroine wake up groggily.
''Uhh...what are you two doing here?'' Shantae asked, never minding the fact that she knew not how she got in her own home in the first place.
Everyone in the room, silent, went on to hug her as no words was said for what seemed to be an eternity. Shantae was back.
And everything was all right.