I love Shantae. I’ve made that no secret at this point. And honestly, I could end the description for this pic right now if I wanted to. But because I feel like a three-sentence description would not be enough let’s actually come up with something more interesting. If you have followed me for a while you would know that I generally do have a lot of love for Shantae, both the character and the games, and chances are at least likely you also know why that is. I did start playing these games during a pretty bad time in my life when I needed the positive reinforcement. In truth, Shantae has actually become my number one waifu as the years have gone on. So what better way to be blatant about that love than a blatant self-insert pic of me with her? Joking aside there are actually a few reasons why I commissioned this.

1.As a sort of a late Valentines Day special pic. I honestly have not gotten a sessional pic like this since Christmas of 2019.

2.It’s actually been five years since my first Shantae game with Pirates Curse, so it’s also sort of a personal anniversary pic.

3.Remember that silly little story I wrote a while ago where I pretty much turned my own overly active imagination I’ve had since I was a child into an epic tale of multiple worlds? Yeah, in that story I hooked up with Shantae.

4.I just needed a feel-good pic.

That last one is actually a pretty big motivator since, well despite how I may come of I’m not always the most positive, assertive person in the world. That’s actually why I tend to connect with a lot of similar characters like Fluttershy or Yuri in fiction. At the same time characters like Shantae who are positive, cheery and just generally really fun are the kinds I tend to look up to more. And to be honest ones I wish I was more like as well. And even as an adult with a job and income I’m still not very assertive. I get depressed easily. I think you can all guess where I’m going with this. And if you can’t, to bad. I’m not going to spell it out for you. With everything that’s been going on in the past few years and how this new decade has not gotten of to a good start you can kinda understand I’d want to try and cheer myself up as much as I can. And if one of those ways involves having to get a pic of myself with my waifu then I’ll do it.

Atrist is ISeeYouPenguin4. I wasn’t originally going to write a story for this one but honestly I thought I might as well for the hell of it. And maybe help expand on this silly lore I’ve created for this heightened version of myself. https://www.deviantart.com/iseeyoupenguin4

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After a long and hard day out Michael went to Sequine Land to see who else other than Shantae. And boy did Michael want to see her now as he didn’t exactly have the best day. He met up with her just outside of town and spoted her waiting for him.

“Anyone order a non-existent Pizza?” Michael said jokingly as he approached her.

Shantae giggled as he said this. “Yes actually I did.” She said. “Just let me get my… oh no! I’ve left my gem purse at the dance parlour!” They both laughed a bit at there own terrible jokes. “Seriously though, how are you?”

Michael sighed. “Do you want me to tell you the truth or tell you an over exsaturaded tale about how my day went great?” He responded. “Yeah, I didn’t have a great day.”

“Oh.” Shantae said. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Nothing would give me more pleasure.” Michael said. “So I was asked to help this older man go retrieve some lost treasure of his? I was being accompanied by Robin and Shulk at the time as well who came with us. And good god was this guy a rude, judgmental pile of work! He was incredibly critical about how the three of us handled things. He talked down to Robin for using magic to fight most of the monsters we found and any time he did see Robin using his sword he complained about it looking ‘ugly’ and ‘non-functional’ which isn’t true at all since the Leven Swords power is based on how good of a mage you are. He criticised Shulk for his ability to see into the future which I don’t see how that’s something to complain about as that’s the kind of ability that would be very helpful. Plus, it’s not like it’s a ability Shulk inherently has either! That is something granted to him by the Monado Blade. And then, there’s his opinion on me. He hated that most of the time I tried to sneak around most of the monsters, never starting a fight and when I did have to fight them I used a gun to do it. Trust me, be glad you, Rottytops, Sky or Bolo were not with us otherwise he would be complaining about your ability to transform via belly dancing, Sky probably being accompanied by birds, Bolo not being the brightest person in the worlds and he would probably attack Rotty on sight for being a zombie!”

“Oh no.” Shantae said with a frown. “I’m so sorry you had to go thought that.”

“Him being rude to us wasn’t what bothered me the most though.” Michael continued. “Do you wanna know why he wanted us to help him? Out of spite! He wanted to get back on the last three people who helped him because in his eyes they were ‘two reliant on supernatural or cybernetic abilities.’ Guess who he got help from last time. Dante, Bayonetta and Raiden!”

Shantae had a surprised look on her face after hearing that. “Wait, you mean he actually got the lord of thunder to help him!?”

“No that’s Ray-Den. I mean Rai-Den, the Cyborg Ninja that knew Solid Snake, god rest Snake’s soul.” Michael replied. “Although now that I think about it, both Ray-Den and Rai-Den do both mean lighting. Anyway, given how he talked about us I can only take a guess as to what he had to say about working with those three. ‘Ugg, you’re the son of a legendary demon? You’re a which that can summon demons from hell? And you got more cybernetic implants than I can count? Terrible people!’ Like Jesuses man, most of us come from different worlds to you! Everyone’s going to have a different approach to fighting or dealing with different scenarios! Get over it! I mean what did he expect? And if this is how he acted towards us six, I worry about how he will act towards someone like Shovel Knight, Patrica, Lo Wang, Scorpion or literally anyone that has super natural powers or isn’t human!”

Michael let out another sigh after he was done. “Well I mean, it’s done and you don’t have to put up with him again.” Shantae said trying to make Michael feel better.

“Maybe for now at least.” Michael replied. “There is sadly the possibility he’s going to show up again and make life hell for everyone. Do you wanna know why I’ve travelled between worlds like this ever since I was a child? Because I wanted to see new and interesting worlds and helping to set up travel between worlds so that other people could do the same. And because people like that I wanted to get away from. But as I grew older I soon realised those kind’s of people exist in every world.”

Shantae sat down next to Michael. “If it makes you feel any better I had a pretty bad experience with an ungrateful jeweller. She was getting robbed and I managed to find the thief and get the jewels back for her but when I got back she just said to me ‘this never would of happened if you would do your job as our towns guardian genie!’ There’s just some people you can’t please.”

“Even still, it’s people like that that make me sometimes wanna just come her and never go though a portal again.” Michael said much to Shantae’s surprise.

“Not even back to your own world?” She asked.

“Have you seen how things have been back in my world?” Michael responded. “Riots, tensions between countries, Corona Virus and the politics of my world making everyone incredibly hostile.” Michael looked down for a second before looking back at Shantae. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t think about stuff like that. It probably makes me come of as selfish or something. I really am grateful for this gift. It’s just some people really get under my skin sometimes.”

Shantae got closer to Michael. Suddenly she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a massive hug catching Michael of guard. “You’re not selfish for wanting to be happy Michael.” Shantae said. “If you were then I doubt I’d even still be around with you. I know things have been hard for you in your own world. But do you wanna know something? Your still here. You made it past 2020. And you have people who care about you.” It was obvious Shantae was trying to cheer Michael up.

Michael blushed a bit at the sudden embrace of Shantae. Though honestly, he needed it. And those words. He smiled as he allowed himself to be held a bit longer before holding her in his own hug. After a while he gave her a kiss on the check which caught her off guard and causing the Half Genie to blush.  “Now we are even.” Michael said jokingly right before she did the same to him.

Shantae giggled to herself. “Hey, your hugging me back so it’s only fair.” She said.

“So err, you wanna do anything tonight?” Michael asked. “Go out to eat? Dance Parlor? I’ve been getting some lessons from Tuki so we could dance together. Just manage your expectations of my performance out there.”

“Honestly, I kinda just wanna go back to your home and watch a movie.” Shantae admitted.

“You just want an excuse to keep holding me like this, don’t you?” Michael asked.

Shantae didn’t even try to hide it. “Yes. And also if we end up watching a really scare movie I need to hold onto someone.”

“What makes you think I’m any braver watching stuff like that?” Michael asked.

“It would still help anyway I think.” Shantae admitted.

Michael smiled some more. Honestly the idea of watching something while huddled up next to someone he loves doesn’t sound all that bad. “Could we at least stay like this for a few more minuets?” He asked. “You know, just cause.”

Shantae smiled. “Sure.” She said.