Shantae: Tangled Tales

Tale 7: "Floating in a Fishbowl"

Shantae lowered the sail and waited for her uncle's boat to slow before sitting on the gunwale with feet dangling over the waves. She gaped at the swirling grey cloud that towered up as high as she could see. After spending hours sailing around the cloud, Shantae estimated that it not only encircled all of Sequin Land, but the surrounding ocean as well. It came to a halt about a half-mile offshore—like a wall that extended from the surface to the stars. Getting over or around the cloud was not an option. But she still had one last possible point of entry.

After rubbing her hands over her face, Shantae stood back up. She took a moment to adjust her balance to the boat as it rocked along with the ocean.

Shantae started to move to her beat. Leaning back, she held her arms out front and let them flow like the waves. Soon, white light surrounded her. A mermaid dove out of the light and into the ocean.

Shantae propelled herself closer to the cloud wall. Once she made it to within a few feet, Shantae sank below the surface. What she saw left her stomach in knots. The wall stretched under the sea but as a wall of murky, grey water.

Shantae gritted her teeth and continued to swim down, further and further, hoping to find an end to the Grey but knowing, ultimately, that her search would be in vain.

As the oceans depths became too dark for her to navigate, Shantae finally gave up and began working her way, slowly, to the surface. As she swam, Shantae eyed the strange liquid that separated her from her home.

"Maybe it's just a way to scare people away," she thought. "It might not be bad at all." Shantae stopped her ascent and floated closer. "All of Sequin Land . . . everyone . . . they need me. I might be the only one who can save them. I-I can't just stay back and do nothing while they're all in trouble!" She reached out her hand. But before she touched the grey water, she hesitated. Biting her lip, Shantae pulled her hand away. "No. I have to be smart about this."

She started back for the surface once more. She paused again as she heard movement from within the grey water.

Starfish, squid, sharks, and minnows—marine life of all kinds—gathered at the edge, seemingly interested in Shantae's presence on the other side. Shantae studied the creatures, noticing that what should've been colorful sea life was quite the opposite. They, like the murky waters in which they swam, were all grey.

While the sea creatures remained on the grey side of the divide, Shantae became increasingly uncomfortable with their rising numbers and unflinching focus on her. She started to swim away. Soon, however, Shantae felt the tug of a current pulling her back.

She swung around to see every sea creature swimming in formation, creating a vortex that was quickly dragging her toward them.

Immediately, Shantae started swimming away with all her might. The vortex grew stronger, and Shantae found herself losing the battle. With the Grey just inches away, Shantae focused on the energy building in her throat. She spun around and fired off round after round of attack bubbles with a force that tore through the vortex unimpeded, knocking out enough sea creatures to hamper the strength of the vortex. Then, pushing herself to the limit, she escaped the current.

Slightly shaken, Shantae quickly set off in the direction of the boat. After a short while, Shantae noticed that it was becoming more and more difficult to swim. Looking down, Shantae gasped at the Grey that now gripped her tail. She realized that she must've touched the grey water during her fight against the vortex.

With her heart racing, Shantae used her fading strength to resurface. She transformed back and grabbed the boat, pulling herself in. Rolling on her back, Shantae tried to catch her breath; yet, the numbness had not gone away. She sat up to discover that the Grey still remained—encasing her left foot.