The Return of Shantae

The Magic Merchant: Tuki

Back at the Moonlit Nestle's Penthouse, Shantae was halfway done cleaning up the place, most of the boxes were unpacked and the contents were sorted. As she retire to the couch getting ready to read another book, she hears the elevator running; signaling Korah's return. She puts away her literature on the now clean bookshelf that was covered in clutter, it use to be filled with boxes of collectables and junk so she set them near the patio door just in case. The garbage was thrown into the shoot underneath the kitchen counter and the hard surfaces were spick and span.

She was hoping to see Korah's smile when he comes out of the elevator doors, but she welcomes in a stressed out Korah weakly dragging her latest editions to the bookshelf. Even thought her eyes were a blank, she could easily tell that something went wrong with him. He did even respond to her greetings. As a response, he stares at her with worry and tighten up to fear. All he did was fall onto the couch, leaving the books on the ground. Shantae graciously stacked the books onto the shelves and sat right next to him near his head.

Shantae"Umm... Korah?"
Korah"..."
Shantae"I've cleaned up most of your home for you and sorted most of your belongings, is everything to your liking?"
Korah"muffle muffle muffle..."
Shantae"What was that?"
Korah"I said you didn't have to do that! You could've waited for me to help you ya' know."
Shantae"Oh. I... I'm sorry."
Korah"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean the snap. I'm being a giant jerk right now..."
Shantae"No, don't say that! You've been so kind to me up until now, but I just wanted to move around so that I don't get sluggish."
Korah"sigh, I guess you're right. I haven't taken you out since we went to the Grove a week ago. Maybe I'll take you to the shopping district instead of the Grove, we're running out of food anyway."
Shantae"That sounds good. Thank you Korah."
Korah"Alright. Now's time actually help around the house."

After his brief rest, Korah got himself up and help Shantae with the stuff that she couldn't move herself. While doing the work, he managed to get into his homely attire and started sorting away all the books and other stuff he's bought from the Sniper's Grove. More books were added to the shelf and more decorum was added to his home. The atmosphere of the place was nearly back to its pristine setting, aside from the missing chandelier and the curtains that should have been the main theme of the place.

After they were done, Korah teaches Shantae on how to prepare his favorite dinner: Gator Steaks with Mashed Spuds and Molten Gravy. Once she gotten herself cleaned up, they were ready to dine for a job well done. The sense of the steaks for some reason riles up a vase hiding behind the bookshelf, making a strange thumping noise. Each thumping interrupted Korah from eating his steak up to the point where his steak piece fall off his fork. His face contorted to a very angry expression, making his last straw.

Korah tells Shantae to eat without him and looks around the room for the thump, until he found the vase stuck between the patio window and the bookshelf. Out of frustration, he furious tries to take out the vase wedged in the cracks unto it flew out jumping like an indestructible rubber ball. It hopped around the couch and rolled onto the floor until it hit Shantae's chair, grabbing her attention. After a brief look at it, she starts to remember what this thing is. She knows what this round vase is, but it didn't have paper seals on it.

Korah"Shantae, get away from it! It's cursed!"
Shantae"But... I know this person."
Korah"Person!? That thing's a demon inside a jar! It'll curse you and turn you into an animal! Shantae, are you even listening to me!?"
Shantae"Who... Are you?" Shantae peels off one of the paper seals.
Korah"AHH!! No!!"

As Korah tries to stop her, the cap of the vase explodes off in a smoke cover showing a silhouette of a snake woman roaring. To his horror, Korah witnessed the end of his friend's life as the monstrous being rose out of the cloud roaring into... A coughing fit. It was intimidating at first until the snake woman was coughing like an idiot who doesn't know how to breathe air. Korah's fear soon turned into unamused criticism into the form of an awkward silence. He questions if this "person" is a monster, she looks like one but, wtf.

Snake Woman"ROARRRR- auhack! Cough, cough, wheeze, cough! Oh my goodness, that was putrid. Inhales, exhales. Inhales, exhales. Hold on-inhales, gimme a moment."

The snake woman lowers down dispelling the smoke and kneeling on the flour with the rest of her snake tail still inside the vase. Shantae offered her a glass of water, which is gratefully excepts and guzzles it down. Soon she takes a look at her and dropping the glass and was flabbergasted at her sight.

Snake Woman"Sha- Sha- Shantae!?"
Shantae"Tu~ ki?"
Tuki"Shantae Darling! Ahaha!" The snake woman that is now Tuki hugs Shantae in her bosom, crying in tears of joy while Shantae still had dead eyes."Oh my Dear~! I never thought I'd see you again! I thought the Djinns killed you, oh thank goodness you're alright!"
Korah"Uhh, excuse me. Excuses me?"
Tuki"Hmm?"
Korah"Do you know her?"
Tuki"Why yesss, she ussse to be my best cossstumer."
Korah"Customer?"
Tuki"In magic dances of course dear"
Korah"In dancing... Huh. You sound a lot like Max, but can you be a little more specific?"
Tuki"Well, half genies lie, Shantate here are able to transform into difference shapes and creates by the rhythm of the magic flowing through them, and I Tuki am able to teach beings of such stature to transform! By the way, who are you?"
Korah"Uhh, Korah. Korah Effete."
Shantae"..."
Tuki"Dearie?"
Korah"I... Don't know if she can. Shantae? Can you transform for us?"
Shantae"I... I don't know...."
Tuki"...? WHAT!?"

Tuki wraps herself around Shantae and takes a good look at her through her eyes. Tuki's able to read a genie's powers just by looking through their eyes and can just transfer the magic dance moves to them telepathically. Her visual analysis went on for about a minute until Tuki makes her conclusion. Her expression was that of dismay as she unwraps herself from Shantae, who made no emotional response. Her gaze then turns to him as she sensed a hint of magic from his general direction. As she did with Shantae, Tuki analyzed him and finds a mysterious wealth of magic inside him, catching him by surprise in her wrap.

Tuki"Hmm... Who are you?"
Korah"Ugh- I just told you already, Korah Effete?"
Tuki"No, that's what I meant."
Korah"Then, what are you talking about?"
Tuki"What I mean is, who and what are you?"
Korah"I'm just a guy, making his way in the world, but I found Shantae locked away in a lamp and- ACK!" Tuki wrangles him slowly with an annoyed expression.
Tuki"Did you do any untoward her!? Did you steal her powers!"
Korah"No no! All I did was rub her lamp and only made one wish by accident!"
Tuki"What did you wish for!?"
Korah"TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!!!" After a brief moment, Tuki dropped him and looked back at Shantae sitting on her stool with a tear falling from her face.
Korah"Look, this was a first for me and I gave up on legends and stories when I was 13. But I know for a fact that she's seen a lot of grief in her time, so what's wrong with her!?"
Tuki"Human, or whatever you are, what is wrong with her is that she's broken."
Korah"Broken?"

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Well, I'm gonna stop here, because I sorta have this tendency to leave a little more than a thousand words in something I write down. Sort of of my mental limit, but often times I might go over it when I think something's are not enough. Hope you like it so far.
-Kanadzuchi