Crowds of Scuttle Town civilians filled the streets. Women carried pots over their heads to the bath house, merchants called out to every passerby, children strolled about asking adult questions that no one wanted to answer, and the men from the dance parlor clapped so loudly that they were heard as far as the port. It would have been the most ordinary of days, but, it was Shantae's Birthday.

The Half-Genie Hero sat at an Ice Cream Stand not far from Mimic's Workshop, surrounded by many friends. Her hair was tied in a ponytail with a ribbon, and her arms were bare of jewelry. She was trying a new look, for a new year.

Sitting closest to her was her childhood pal, Sky the Hatcher, taking small bites from her honey-cream sundae. Beside the Hatcher was Bolo, standing with his elbow over the counter. Then, there was Rottytops, standing behind Shantae with her chest over her head, creating an awkward feeling. Mimic stood close, eating a vanilla ice cream cone, making a mess of his beard.

But, what made the day more special for her than anything, was the person who sat at the farthest seat. It was Risky Boots, outdoing everyone with a shiny purple dress, licking a chocolate ice cream cone.

"Rottytops!" Shantae said, pushing her back with her head. "Can I please get my ice cream?"

Rotty stepped back, "Sorry, snack cakes, but it's so good to have you back!"

The large bearded man at the shop had finished making Shantae's ice cream cone, and he held it out to her. She tried to grab it, but the man turned the cone upside down, then caught the cream in another cone.

Sky giggled, and Shantae pursed her lips.

The man held out the ice cream cone again, and Shantae smiled as she reached her hand for it. She grabbed the cone, and opened her mouth for a bite, but the man snatched the cream from the cone with a wooden scoop just before she could taste it. Shantae grew irritated, while her friends, as well as Risky, laughed at her expense.

Mimic said, "It really is good humor."

The shopkeeper bowed, then placed the cream on a new cone, and handed to Shantae with a towel placed on in front of her. As the laughter around her subsided, she grinned, and took a bite out of her ice cream.

"So good!" She squealed.

"I don't understand how you like this stuff so much." Risky opened her palm. "It's too sweet. There's no flavor in the cream at all."

A drop of her ice cream fell between her cleavage, and she looked down at it with a raised brow. Bolo's jaw dropped, a blush overcoming his face as Risky swiped her finger between her large cups and wiped it away.

"Bolo..." Sky flicked him in the nose, and he shook his head, regaining composure.

Suddenly they heard a caw in the air, looking up to find Wrench flying over them.

"I knew you were coming for the food, buddy!" She held out her Hatcher's glove, Wrench swooping down and perching on it.

She pet his head feathers as he looked around for food.

Bolo slammed his fist on the table counter, "It's been such a good day, hasn't it?" He smiled.

"And, it's not even over." Sky replied.

"Tonight, we play Spin The Bottle, at Shantae's house!" Rottytops clicked her heels.

"Rotty," Shantae turned around, facing her Zombie friend, "I forgot to ask you something. What happened to Shadowtops, and your human half?"

Rottytops frowned, "Well, she's somewhere, in the mean place."

"Purgatory." Risky corrected.

Rotty placed her index finger on her lip, "I promised I'd find her again, but, I don't know why we got separated."

Risky placed her ice cream cone on the ground, "It's simple. The Magic from the Book is what kept you together. Whenever the power from the Book is drained, all the spells cast from it go away."

"Do you have the Book with you?" Rottytops asked, excitedly.

Shantae blinked, "Sorry, Rotty. The Book's gone."

Risky shrugged, "The only other way I know to do it was through him."

"Black's Heart." Shantae muttered.

"Yeah, yeah." She circled her hand in the air. "But, I'm sure there's some way out there to do it. You just have to look."

Shantae and Sky nibbled on their ice cream, watching children run by.

"I remember when you were that little." Mimic said awkwardly.

"Uncle..." Shantae blushed.

"No, I mean it." He continued. "Raising you wasn't easy. It's not like there was a Magic Book out there that explained how to do it. You may be a Half-Genie, but you wouldn't have known it back then. You were a full Rascal."

Sky turned to her best friend and grinned, shoving her shoulder, "That's why you needed me to beat you up!"

"Very funny, Sky." Shantae pouted.

Mimic laughed, then sighed, "I almost forgot. There's something I wanted to give you, since you're growing up so fast. It's in my workshop. I wanted you to have it, before you leave tomorrow."

"What!" Sky spat out her sundae.

"Leaving!" Rottytops cried.

"Why?" Bolo joined.

Mimic looked perplexed, as he scratched his beard, "You didn't tell them?"

Shantae looked around her as curious faces with expressions varying from angry to sad waited impatiently for an explanation, "Uhh, Eh He He...Uncle, why don't you go get your gift. I'll explain."

"Alright." Mimic walked into the crowds, his knee giving him trouble. "You'd think with my age, I would have invented something where I won't have to walk as much."

When Mimic disappeared, Sky leaned forward and said, "You're leaving Scuttle Town? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Yeah," Bolo said, "You didn't think we'd want to know about that?"

"SNACK CAKES!" Rottytops cried. "Where am I going to get my BRRRAAIIINS!"

Risky remained silent, leaning her arms back against the ice cream stand, her legs spread, despite her open dress.

"I'm leaving with Risky, tomorrow." Shantae answered, her head down as she held her ice cream cone.

"But, why?" Sky's feelings shifted from anger to worry.

"There are a few reasons." Risky interrupted. "For one, she's lost her Genie powers, again."

Shantae placed her ice cream cone on the stand behind her, then wiggled her belly, waved her hands, and shouted, "Transform!"

Nothing happened. Shantae shrugged, feeling a small amount of shame as she sat back down.

Risky continued, "I believe I know a place far away from Sequin Land, where she can get her Genie powers back."

Shantae nodded.

"Second," Risky continued, her chair leaning with her, "she has more Dark Magic than she's ever had before. If she doesn't learn to control it, it could hurt her, and that includes people she cares about."

"I can become Nega Shantae whenever I want now," Shantae picked up her ice cream cone, taking a bite from it, "but, I still don't know how to control it completely. I don't want to turn into some Evil version of me and start terrorizing Scuttle Town."

Risky nodded, "That's right. Who better to show her the ropes than me, Queen of the Seven Seas."

"Don't you mean Scourge?" Bolo countered.

"Title pending." Risky replied. "The third reason...well, that's a secret."

Shantae smiled, "I promised I wouldn't let her be alone anymore..."

Risky fell from her seat, blushing on the way down, "What!" She fell to her side, then jumped back up to her feet with her fist shaking, "You little runt! That's not it, and you know it!"

Shantae mocked, "Embarrassed I had to save your butt at Twinkle Palace?"

"You little..." Risky snarled.

Sky held Shantae's hand, looking her in the eye, "You're not leaving forever, are you? You're my best friend...you can't leave for good."

"No, silly!" She hugged the Hatcher, careful not to scare Wrench away. "Of course, I'll be back!" She let go of her, the most reassuring grin on her face. "And when I come back, I'll bring lots of things. Earrings, clothes, maybe even a puppy."

"You've got a lot to learn about sailing," Risky said, crossing her arms.

"I've done it before, what's the big deal?" Shantae questioned.

"I was going easy on you then, runt." Risky looked around her, noticing several guards glancing in her direction.

"It won't be so bad!" Shantae retorted.

Risky kept her eyes on the guards, seeing them gather around the ice cream stand, whispering in each other's ears.

"Change of plans, kid." Risky tore her dress from the bottom, ripping it up to the thigh.

"Risky, what's going on?" Shantae asked, a smirk on her face.

The Pirate Queen stood with her hands behind her back, as several guards approached the ice cream stand with spears in hand, "I may have orchestrated a little scheme before I came here. By now, your Mayor's noticed some of his treasury is missing."

"Risky!" Shantae shouted.

"Looks like we'll be leaving in a few minutes." Risky Boots keeping her head forward with her eyes on the Half-Genie hero. "No time to pack your things."

The guards surrounded her, pointing their spears at her neck. They were strong, tall, and well trained, unlike most of Scuttle Town's forces beforehand. It was clear that the Sultana had stationed them here, just in case the Pirate Queen stirred any unrest.

"Give us the treasure and come to the Palace." one of them said, bringing his spear closer to her head.

"Boys, Boys," she said, her hands still crossed behind her, "I have the treasure right with me."

"Hand it over!"

"Certainly." She answered with a smile. "You want to see?"

The words were too familiar as they rang in Shantae's pointy ears, and she began to shiver as she realized what was about to happen.

"Everybody, Run!" Shantae yelled.

Sky, Bolo, Shantae, Rottytops, and the Ice Cream Shop guy ran away, as Risky held out a lit bomb in her hand, laughing maniacally as she jumped into the air and threw it down on the ground. An explosion destroyed the road, and dust flew everywhere. Shantae coughed as her shoulder hit the ground. She pushed herself up from the dirt, surveying the area.

"Risky Boots!" She yelled.

Suddenly, and hand reached out for her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her up. It was Risky, her dress now torn apart on the top, wrapped around her chest.

"Let's go!" said the Pirate Queen, running into an alley, bringing Shantae along with her.

Shantae pulled her hand away, but continued to follow, "What about Uncle, and Sky, and everyone?"

"We'll send a letter." Risky responded, as they avoided many corners, dashed through a few homes, and pushed through several objects, until they finally arrived at the port of Scuttle Town.

The Tinker Tub rested neatly at the against the pier, Tinkerbats on board releasing the anchor from the water. Some guards waited by the ship, trying to stop it from leaving. But, their forces were minimal, and would not be enough to prevent them from their journey.

"Out of the way." Risky swung her hand, unleashing a whirlwind of Dark Magic that sent the guards over the port and into the calm sea.

Shantae tried to interject, "Risky, I have to say goodbye!"

"We'll come back someday, kid." Risky held out her hand. "C'mon, let's get going. I'll make a Pirate out of you, yet!"

Shantae hesitated, but with a look of discontent, she grabbed her hand. Risky jumped with a great force, bringing Shantae into the air with her. They arched over the ship's rail, and landed on the deck, together.

"Alright, boys!" Risky shouted, marching on the ship, "Let's go!"

The Tinkerbats freed the sail, and activated the steam engine inside of the ship, sending the Tinker Tub's Water Wheels spinning. Soon, they were speeding away from Scuttle Town, and Shantae looked back, watching her home shrink farther away.

"Risky Boots," She walked over to her Captain, her head down, "why did you have to do that?"

"Life is about change, kid." The Pirate Queen replied, her hands on her hips as she stood on the bowsprit. "That will be your first lesson. Sometimes, when you've got to go, you've got to go. You don't ask questions. That's how you find bigger shores."

"I know Risky, its just that..." Shantae stopped, when she saw a giant blue bird flying above from the corner of her eye. "Sky!" She ran to the rail and waved, tears of joy falling from her eyes. "Bolo, Rottytops!"

Risky Boots turned, and watched as Wrench drew closer, "Well, look at that. Uninvited guests."

Sky, with her amazing Hatcher skills, dove down at the speeding Tinker Tub, and managed to land Wrench safely onto the deck. Shantae's friends jumped from the Great Bird, and they ran for each other with open arms.

"You guys!" Shantae cried, and the Scuttle Town Heroes hugged each other tightly for a moment.

When they separated, they looked at each other with happy uncertainty.

Sky held something in front of Shantae, "Here, this is what Mimic wanted to give you."

Shantae looked down at Sky's hands, where a roll of old and worn linen swayed in the wind.

"My baby blanket..." she whispered.

Sky smiled, "He wanted you to keep it, so you'd have it on your trip with Risky. He said, 'Its how it always should have been, now. Come home soon, knucklehead'."

Bolo interrupted, "You didn't think we were going to let you go alone, did you?"

"Nuh, Uh!" Rottytops jumped. "We're friends to the end!"

Shantae's tears dried, and she turned back to Risky Boots. The Pirate Queen faced them, with her head held down, her hair waving in the current.

She slowly walked up to her, hands held together with furrowed brows, "Risky, I know I said I'd go with you alone, but..."

Risky smiled, lifting her head up high, "Consider it, a crew."

Shantae's eyes shined in the sunlight, and her happy face glowed as she pushed herself forward and hugged Risky Boots.

The Pirate Queen placed her hand on Shantae's head, and closed her eyes, remembering Black Hallow's face.

Screams and laughter echoed to the sky from the deck of the Tinker Tub, as the Scuttle Town Heroes, and their new Captain, sailed to a mysterious horizon. Now, they would go farther than they had ever gone, and see more than they had ever seen.

Risky Boots looked up at the clouds, whispering something to herself that only she could hear.

Somehow, Shantae heard it, even through the wind.

Never stop dancing.