58I'm pretty disappointed to the lack of reviews, favorites, views, and follows of this story, along with my others. But it's alright. Now for Shadows and Light, hope you enjoy it!
I put in a HUGE hint of Elizabeth's destiny in here as of course like I said before, this is going too be different from the show.
Elizabeth's Ghouls: Savage (Tempesto), Wildpunch (Grimmstone), Thunderstriker (Amperling), Terrorbang (Hop Jack), Phantom (Nightgeist), and Frostbite (Frostfang).
"Shadows and Light"
Explosions, bangs, and other destructive noises ring out through a clearing with multiple cliffs on one end and all forest ono the other. Two men ride toward several slingers hiding behind three mechas with a wagon behind them. The two attacking men are firing ghouls while the other group are firing regular slugs; they kept firing at each other. A Grimmstone nearly hits a man.
"Locke," the man on the right with sideburns connected to a beard, auburn hair covered by a gray helmet with red goggles on the top, largely built, carrying an oversized gray and red backpack, and wearing heavy black, grey, and red armor.
"And Lode," the twin on the right with sideburns and bandages on his chin, and wearing the same thing his brother is wearing.
The duo bump their blasters together then fires two Hop Jacks; meaning they work for Dr. Blakk. The two ghouls knock out a man's cover and him out too. The twins chuckle and ride closer on their mechas winning the battle with their superior ghouls over slugs. A man in his late thirties with brown sideburns, yellow clothing and a helmet fires a Vinedrill upwards creating an explosion of orange fireworks.
"Hehe, fireworks," Locke chuckles then looks to his less smarter brother.
"Fireworks that go boom," Lode exclaims like a child. A Frostcrawler transforms then misses by going between the twins.
"Hey where'd that come from," Locke asks, then spots a blue-haired and eyed girl mounted on a white wolf mecha, a red-head teenage boy on a purple cat-like mecha, a Cave Troll in top of a green mecha, and finally a Molenoid mounted on a rusted-out donkey mechabeast on a cliff.
"The Shane Gang!" Lode panicking at the famous group.
"Good, you remembered us so I'm pretty sure you can guess what'll happen next," Elizabeth aims Terrorbang as he growls in challenge.
Elizabeth fires him causing a massive explosion behind the twins as they surge forward towards the Shane Gang. The Shane Gang hop down from the cliff and fires multiple slugs at the two employees of Blakk. Kord fires a Rammstone knocking Locke off his ghouled bull mechabeast. Locke scowls then, simultaneously, fires a Hop Jack and a Terrarix, the ghouled form of a Diggtrix. The Diggtrix dives straight in the ground, followed by the Hop Jack, and tunnels towards the Shane Gang. They stopped but the Hop Jack places a perfect explosion; Elizabeth skids on the ground and grunts as Lucky lands on her legs.
"Oww," Elizabeth groans as her head slumps forward. The twins chuckle as they see the Shane Gang helpless.
(Theme Song)
"You see that Lode, the Shane Gang is no match for what we got," Locke says.
"You got that right, hehe, they blown up good," Lode replies giggling like a toddler.
"Real good," Locke smirks over their 'victory'. Elizabeth lifts her head up and aims her blaster then shoots with a certain Infurnus. Burpy flies over the defending slingers and circles around Locke and Lode, creating a fire wall around them.
"They're on their heels, this your chance to push them over," Elizabeth exclaims as she mounts Lucky, recovering from the explosion. The other slingers fire any slugs as the twins duck their heads. They shift their glance to see the Shane Gang on their mechas and charging at them, firing slugs.
"I-I suggest an honorable retreat," Locke stammers as he loads a ghoul.
"No! Runaway!" Lode shouts then bolts off as Locke fires a ghoul towards the ground making a smokescreen.
The Shane Gang slowly approach the slingers. Kord holds up his blaster, and blows off a black smoke at where the slugs come out from. Pronto clears his throat, trying to blow on his blaster but it didn't work. Pronto taps the Cave Troll's shoulder as he gives a sharp puff of air, extinguishing the smoke. Elizabeth kneels down as Burpy hops in her hand then a bunch of chirping and a sudden spike of energy within her catches her attention.
"What are doing with all these Fandangos," she asks as the man in the yellow wear.
"Huh, I know they have tons of slug energy, but aren't they pretty useless in a fight," Kord asks as well walking towards them. The Fandangos, a dark red slugs with teal stomachs, look down at hearing Kord's statement.
"That slug energy is precisely why we need them. They aren't for dueling, we're taking them to Bullseye Caver. Something's forcing the native slugs to abandon the place, turning it into a dead-zone," the man explains, "We need an infusion of Fandango slug energy to attract the native slugs back."
"Oh, so you're hoping the Fandangos will jump start the cavern and bring back to life," Tricks exclaims as he kneels with the cages the slugs are in.
"Every time we try to deliver the slugs, those two shut us down," the man replies sourly.
"Locke and Lode, they work for Dr. Blakk," Elizabeth scoffs.
"They've blown up nearly every path to get into Bullseye from the west," the man the points to their destroyed mechabeasts, "And now our mechas are trashed. We'll never get the slugs there in time."
"We'll take them for you," Elizabeth smiles.
"What, we will?!" Pronto exclaims but Tricks and Kord look at him, "Ah yes, we will." In a more positive tone.
"So it's true, you really are Will Shane's daughter," the man realizes her dark blue hair and light blue eyes. "Well we need a Shane right now. Bullseye doesn't get these slugs by the end of the day, we'll lose it for good."
"Heh, no pressure," Elizabeth shrugs her shoulders casually.
"You're a good kid Elizabeth Shane," his eyes her tenderly.
"Thanks, let's load them up!" Elizabeth shouts.
"What," Locke exclaims looking through some binoculars and seeing Elizabeth in front, Pronto's mecha pulling the wagon, Kord staying behind him on the left, and Tricks on the right. "The Shane Gang's taking the load to Bullseye!"
"That's not good is it? Think we should call the boss?" Lode asking his brother while they hid on top of a hill.
"Did you get knocked ono the head again? Not a word to Blakk about this, if he finds out he'll send reinforcements," Locke clearly worried. "This is OUR job, we'll take care of them ourselves and collect a HUGE reward! Just think of what we could do with all that money, Lode?"
"We could buy ourselves a lot of gold," Lode replies excitedly. Locke moans, rubbing his face with his hand at his brother's lack of brain.
(Time Skip)
After a couple of hours of riding the Shane Gang now entered a slightly dark cave with seed-like, illuminance plants hanging from the top with green vines wrapping around them, glowing purple mushrooms scattered on spires touching the top and bottom, and groups of slugs hang around, some noticing the energy signature of Elizabeth Shane. "Okay break it down for me again, the caverns run on slug energy," Elizabeth says as she's ahead of her friends.
"Didn't you learn this stuff in school like the rest of us," Tricks asks as placing a hand on his chin as Elizabeth turns around to see him. "Must have been home sick that day," Elizabeth quickly turn her head and her eyes dashing around focusing in various directions.
"Riiiight," Tricks continues on his little lesson for Elizabeth, "Well the energy that makes a life possible here is strongest in the slugs. Wherever they are things live, without them..." "Got it deadzone," Elizabeth finally realizes what her father's expression means as slugs are the key down in Slugterra.
"But there is a legend about a sunken kingdom hidden in Slugterra," Tricks waves his hand, alms facing down, around himself.
"Oh yeah I've heard of it, let's see if I could remember it," Kord clears his throat, "Hundreds of years ago, maybe thousands, Slugterra was mystical kingdom which was believed a gate to here, above, and below. It didn't have a name but they called it Slugterra. It contained of people, Molenoids, Cave Trolls, believed some Shadowclan, slugs, even ghouls they believed along with darker creatures than we could imagine; but they all lived in harmony under the rule of the royal family. What separated them from the rest was they had the ability to grow life, control slug energy, a lot like you Elizabeth." Elizabeth glanced at her hands; was she a descendant of that family and what else can she do with her powers.
Kord continues telling the story, "There were two rival families; the good family wanted to make sure peace lasted while the other family wanted the crown. One day a catastrophe occurred as most of the humans vanished, while others, slugs, Cave Trolls, Molenoids, and some humans, retreated to the Caverns and lived here. Then an explosion shook the land, scattering the castle across the land and destroying the royal family with it. Now to this day some explorers try to find it but end in dead ends or worse never to be seen again; only to believe that the kingdom is lost forever."
"Woah," Pronto, Tricks, and Elizabeth chorused in awe of the story.
"Maybe Elizabeth is a descendent, you do have the powers," Tricks points at her hands.
"Maybe," Elizabeth mind drifted off, "But just one thing, I don't get why Blakk wants to destroy an entire cavern." A slug fire followed by a thunderous boom startles the Shane Gang as bunches of stalactites cover the trail ahead of them. "Ah oh no!" Pronto shouts. Elizabeth swivels her head to the left to see Locke and Lode laughing, they always laugh what's up with that. Both fire Hop Jacks and destroying some of the dark purple spires and the pieces fell around the Shane Gang. "They're trying to box us in," Elizabeth exclaims as they actually aiming their ghouls at certain objects. "Pronto lead us back out!"
Behind Pronto the trail that was their exit was blocked by more of the rocks and boulders. "I believe they have accomplished their diabolical goal, I curse their success," Pronto raises his hands over his head and wiggles his fingers. With all the explosions caused by the twins another stalactite fell on more rocks causing an opening to a new trail.
"This way it's our only chance," Elizabeth points to the trail and took off followed by her friends to their freedom from the crushing rocks. Another boulder almost hits Tricks but he and Pronto swerved out of the way, a spire breaks into three gargantuan pieces, almost crushing them as each shout in surprise. Then one boulder hurls down at them but luckily they have dodged it in the nick of time.
Meanwhile Locke and Lode are laughing their lungs out as they 'crushed' the Shane Gang; earning them a 'victory'. "We done crushed them Shanes," Lode swings his arm happily. "Well little brother, best we get down there and make sure they're crafty bunch," Locke rests his blaster in his shoulder. Then the duo run off to see for themselves.
Inside a cave, there was little light as boulders cover the entrance but the Shane Gang was okay as they're all unharmed from the rain of rocks and boulders. "Well that was fun and when I say fun I mean, oohh my head," Kord groans grasping his head.
Elizabeth P.O.V. (Now I'll be doing from her perspective from now on nd be switching P.O.V.s)
"We're alive, that's good right," I dismount my mecha and face Pronto as he is perched on Fernando. "Pronto where are we?"
"Hmm let me see," Pronto bends down then comes back up with a brown paper map. "Hmm, let's see." He repeats then snatches at my shoulder as he grasped Burpy. Burpy looked a bit annoyed then lit his head on fire making Pronto hold him in his palm. Pronto giggles nervously, "Aw yes, here we go." After two seconds he declares, "We are completely cut off from our destination. Ehh would you like me to be more specific?"
"Is there another path," Tricks walks up asking hopefully as his face lit up from Burpy's flame.
"Nope." Pronto holds his head up high.
"A secret passage?" Kord asks as well.
"Nope."
"Anything?" I exclaim as there got to be something that could lead us back to Bullseye or out of this cave.
"Weeell," he shies away then thrusts his head up, "Nope!"
"Ah, I heard a 'well'," I caught that key word. "What is it Pronto?"
"Well," he chuckles nervously, "Maybe there is a route we could take but we'd be fools to do so." "
Usually when you say things like that it ends up being an awesome experience," I exclaim with excitement rushing through my body.
"Oh nonono, not this time," Pronto shakes his hand in a 'no' manner then looks back on the map. "The only other way to Bullseye is a path fraught with peril, it's dark, long, twisting, and it cuts right through the territory of...the Shadowclan!" Pronto holds Burpy below his face kind of reminding me of telling scary stories up on the Surface. I smirk the only two times I encountered them was when we first met and during the Slug Run, but for some reason I felt connected to them like I am suppose to meet them; a force pulling me when I was running away from them. "Guys?" I look at Tricks and Kord on the other side of Pronto's mechabeast. Tricks smiles mischievously while Kord gives a slight nod both with courage flaring in their body expressions.
"No, no, no you're not actually considering," Pronto straightens up in a scurry kicking his map away. Pronto looks at them each one smirking then he glances at me, I was smirking as well.
"Eeeehhhh," Pronto says in a high note then slumps back, defeated, "You are." Then we all mounted our mechas and start riding down the cave trail but I swore I heard some rocks falling and Locke and Lode talking but I shrugged it away.
(Time Skip)
After a couple of hours we found the trail and now we're inside the mysterious Shadowclan territory with tall, black twisting trees hanging overhead with some blue glowing flora on the branches providing light. "The Dark Periphery, home of the Shadowclan," Kord literally narrates as we walk along the path. I look around and I admit this does seem like they're type of place; the cavern was mysterious and quite spooky but yet intriguing to me just like the Shadowclan as people just judge them like that.
I swivel my head back to see Tricks bringing out his camera and filming the trail and the various flora. "This is a opportunity of a lifetime, nobody ever caught the Shadowclan on film at least no one who managed to live," Tricks voice slightly quivers with Pronto shivering of fear.
"You're unusually quiet Pronto," I question his absent talkative personality trait.
"Pronto's not quiet, Pronto, he's... he's speechless," he talks in his usual way of referring himself in the third person, "The most evil things in all of Slugterra and we're strolling in their backyard!"
"I've seen them before remember, twice in fact. They're scary sure but they can't be that bad, I mean maybe they're misunderstood." Their expressions grew fearful and clearly saying that am I out of my mind; but I did really mean that as they could be misinterpreted.
"WHAT, WHAT!" Pronto exclaims in disbelief.
"You said it yourself, we're just skirting the edge of their territory they probably won't know we are here," I face forward placing both of my hands back on Lucky's handles.
Pronto sniffs loudly in the air, "Ah I hear something."
'Wait how could sniff something then hear it,' I question in my head then Pronto's voice now sounded urgent.
"Everyone against the rock!" I hear multiple slams against the cliff behind me; I turn my head to see each of the boys with their mechas pressing their bodies into the cliff.
"Is this really necessary," I raise an eyebrow at their unusual antic. Pronto nods his head frantically up and down. Tricks presses his finger on his lips, "Ssshhh." then he points up. I look up to see two Shadowclan crawling on the ceiling of the cavern like little spiders. "Ok guess it is," I back up Lucky behind the rock. One gives a high shrill as it echoes through the cavern and along side it was another seems to be on the lookout.
"Nobody move," Pronto whisper-declares then I hear Kord slam his body even more against the rock, "The Shadowclan has excellent vision, a keen sense of smell, and a penchant of scaring Molenoids to their early deaths."
Tricks slowly pops out from our cover, "I don't see them."
"We were lucky, let's count our blessings and turn back," Pronto nervously suggests.
"We can't turn back, Bullseye needs those slugs," I counter as some anger boils in my veins as we come this far and all Pronto want too do is to turn back and give up.
"Ugh, fine. the sooner we're there the sooner we're out of this wretched place," Pronto pushes his mecha to walk forward.
"My dad use to tell me about the Shadowclan how the could talk to slugs and how they've been here forever. Probably as long as the kingdom in your story Kord," I say as we trekked along the path.
"Uh guys I don't want to freak you out but there's something moving behind us," Tricks says warily as he stops and turns his head around as I did the same. I narrow my eyes to spot the same Shadowclan creatures crawling on the ceiling clearly stalking us. "Gah, I thought we lost them," I hiss under my breath.
"I know several Molenoid tracking tricks that should confuse them," Pronto looks at the ground, "Hmm, dry rock no tracks to follow us and, ah, we're downwind no scent to pick up." Pronto makes Fernando to walk faster as Pronto takes the lead now. "Follow my lead. How fortunate you are to be in the company of the best tracker in Slugterra," Pronto boasts as we continue down on the trail.
A slight tingle in the back of my head tells me to turn so I followed my direction of instinct. I gasp to see a Shadowclan propping up on a rock clearly seeing us and its partner coming out from behind another boulder; they both catch me in their sight and slightly pause with interest. "Guys we gotta step on it."
"What preposterous, uh okay," Pronto catches the Shadowclan sneaking up, "Time for another incredible Molenoid skill, ESCAPE!" Pronto bolts forward and turns an immediate right turn down another path with the carriage slightly going up and down from the sudden of speed of Pronto. We charge forward with great speed and follow Pronto as he took another left turn and running across another trail.
Kord says, "They're on our six!" Pronto bumps over another rock as we slope down then he jumps over the trail on a small cliff on the left.
After a few seconds I hear the Shadowclan keep on running giving frustrated shrieks; Pronto pokes out as he stands on top of the carriage then he turns to us. "There you see my evasive tactics were a grand success," he jumps down and lands on his seat. "But praise for Pronto can wait until we get to Bullseye. If I never see the Shadowclan again it will be too soon." Tricks rolls his eyes then something catches his attention as he peeks out from a rock. "Ah guys," he whispers urgently.
Kord, Pronto, and I hop off our mechabeasts and jog up to see a clearing and at the other side is a flat rock.
"There's more of them, we should get a closer look," I whisper very interested as why they're gathered here; then I stealthily walk down the path without making a single noise.
"Wait are you kidding," Pronto gasps, "You're not kidding, you know what you should kid more!"
A bubble feeling pops inside of me as a Shadowclan creature perches but he was different from the others for instance he was taller then the others, he was wearing black and glowing green armor matching his colors, and a four-pointed crown that covered his head and cheeks. He gives might shriek then balls of shadows erupt as more and more Shadowclan appear walking towards the leader. "Okay you got your closer look now we better scram," Kord points his thumb back.
"Look the path ahead is too exposed," I point to the trail as more Shadowclan appear and walk across the clearing. "If we move now, everyone down there is gonna see us! We need some kind of distraction." Then the Shadowclan leader holds up his tail and a Rammstone and a Dirt Urchin hop out into his palms; he looks at each one receiving a nod.
"I don't like the look of this," Kord gulps nervously.
"I'm right there with ya," I agree then the most bizarre thing happens.
The Shadowclan leader starts to glow a bright illuminance green along with the slugs on his palms then starts to shake madly giving a high shriek as it echoes. The others follow the exact thing each one glowing and shrieking and holding different types of slugs; I grasp my head as I slightly see green tinge shine through my vision.
"Elizabeth are you okay?" Tricks grasps my shoulder.
"Y-Yeah, let's go they're distracted this is our chance," we all hop on our mechabeasts and silently climb up the trail along the rock.
Then the Shadowclan leader gives a mightier shriek; a bright light catches my attention as the Fandangos in the wagon starts to shake and glow just like the Shadowclan "Stop you miserable creatures you'll give us away," Pronto scoffs urgently.
"Guys, what's gotten into you," after my question my head flares up in agony. I look at my hands to see them shaking a bit but I too started to glow a bright neon green illuminating the path like a night light.
"Elizabeth what's going on, you are eyes are glowing," Kord says.
"I don't know but I feel okay just glowing eyes and, argh, a slight headache," I clench my teeth from the pain wave in my head. I look around to see everything black but I see couple of blue figures behind and the side of me meaning I was seeing the way the Shadowclan sees. I turn to see the Shadowclan stop their little ritual and the leader pointing to us and gives a shriek clearly ordering his other Shadowclan of our presence. "Run!" I shout as we immediately took off but the whole horde was chasing after us.
"It's like a big giant sign pointing at us," Tricks take in account of me glowing and the slugs.
"And I'm the all-you-can-eat buffet," Pronto shouts fearfully. Then an explosion blasts to the right side which means they're firing slugs at us.
"Pronto, you and Tricks keep going with the slugs," I spin my blaster out of its hold as I aim towards the approaching Shadowclan, "Kord and I will buy you some time." I send Rocky as he transforms getting a clear shot to one then the Shadowclaner vanishes and reappears after Rocky's explosion. 'Oh no!' I thought fearfully then I spot Kord fire an Arachnid. The Arachnid spins a web then fires it as it ties around to rock towers blocking the entire path. But that didn't work at all as they appeared on the other side using their little vanishing powers and continue their pursuit on us. Another Hop Rock but this time it was aimed for me so it blew up another rock spire, missing me.
I fire my Lavalynx, Burner as he covers the floor with hot lava, 'That should stop them.' As we close in at the end of the cave Pronto skids to a stop as we all did as well; in front of us was a barricade of the rest of Shadowclaners waiting for us. "This was a trap," I mutter under my breath. Then my vision clears up seeing the usual colors and at the corner of my eye the glow of me and the slugs die down.
"They will never take me alive, if this is to be my fate Pronto will go out in a blaze of-," he pauses his little glory moment to see me raising my hands in defeat. I mean can't beat them, join them. Tricks and Kord raises their hands up in the air mimicking me. "What, surrender?" Pronto pouts setting down his blaster which he brought out.
"Look on the bright side, no one's ever been this close to the Shadowclan," I comment then the Shadowclaner who was inspecting me gave a curt nod signaling us to follow them.
Then I hear growl form one behind me and then Trick's voice, "Heh checking the lens cap." Probably he wanted to record but got caught.
As we reach the end two Shadowclaners move out of the way revealing the leader as he stood on two legs and his full height, towering over us. "We're sorry we had to cross through your territory," I was trying not to stutter as he walks closer, "But we have a good reason." The Fandangos chirping caught his attention as he walks to the back of the wagon causing Pronto to shrink into his scarf in terror and to tremble like a bobblehead.
"If we don't get these slugs to Bullseye Cavern then the cavern will go dark, it'll die," Tricks pleads as he strides to the back of the wagon.
Scowling, I hop out from the seat of Lucky and walk to back taking the other side of the wagon. "Hey those aren't yours," I shout as I rudely point to him as I saw him lifting the door and peaking into the wagon. "Do you understand me at all! Bullseye Cavern needs these slugs."
The Shadowclan leader holds his high composure and quick as a whip he gives a high pitched screech as he leans in, clearly trying to intimidate me. The power of the screech causes my hair to fly back and me covering my eyes and shielding my face. Then a bunch of angry chirps erupt from my bandoleer causing him to stop and stare at my angry slugs on my chest. Each one chirping and clearly scolding the leader then Burpy hops out and jumps on a high rock tower. His head lights up in a fiery blaze then give angry, stern chirps and shrieks; the Shadowclan leader looks up to him then eyes widen in shock.
Burpy hops down from his chirp and actually causing some of the Shadowclaners to back up as he continues his little rant. The leader eyes me up and down then gives a growl backing away then the others too surrounding us back off clearing the path ahead.
"I think they're letting us go," Kord says.
"Lucky for them," Pronto boasts taking advantage over the back up.
"Thank you," I place my hands together but before I could walk away, he touches my shoulder and gives a slight bow. I awkwardly hop back on Lucky as I rode to Burpy who was hopping at the front, each Shadowclaner gives me an awed expression and each one going into a deep bow with one hand behind their back and the other on their abdomen. This wasn't gone unnoticed by friends at each one slightly awed as well looking at me and them, me and them as they continued to do it.
I walked closer to Burpy, "Burpy what did you say to them?" Burpy turns around giving me some chirps but I couldn't understand eve though some of it sounded like some of the words in his little rant.
"Well whatever it was, good job," I nuzzle my Infurnus with my cheek as he hopped back on my shoulder.
(Time Skip)
We finally arrived in the cavern but the entire mood and atmosphere was gray, dark, and depressing as I felt in my chest. In the middle of the cavern was a structure of metal with a small ring then surrounded by another and another looking like a bullseye mark on an archery target. "Okay Bullseye Cavern, you may now begin singing my praises," Pronto declares.
I huff as I do not sing. I halt Lucky to a stop and jump off, "Now what?"
"Release the Fandangos, they'll find somewhere to roost and then this will all be over," Tricks declares as Kord jumps off of his mecha and walks to the back of the wagon. I gaze around the dull cavern but something didn't feel right but I was attracted to it towards the metal architecture especially.
Kord brings out the two slug containers and opened the cases as the red slugs hop out roaming a couple of steps looking around. "There you go little fellas, don't be shy," Kord coos as they slither around but then they all pause giving frightened shrieks and hopping away frantically.
"That's not suppose to happen is it," I note their peculiar behavior.
"They definitely don't like something in here," Tricks comments as he gazes the hopping slugs.
"Maybe we're too late," Kord huffs.
"Where are you guys going," I call out to the retreating slugs. Then I glance down to see Burpy and Doc chirping nervously to each other, Burpy hops out of his slug barrel but luckily I caught him. "Stay with me Burpy," I plead then I look to my friends, "Keep your slugs close, whatever this is it's affecting them too!"
"But look at Thunder he seems fine," Kord points to the Amperling on my bandoleer. He's right! Thunder was looking as normal as he could be, maybe this energy not affecting him.
Then an explosion blasts a wall followed by a familiar maniacal laughter, the smoke dissolves revealing a chuckling Locke and Lode walking along the ground. "Look at that, a new path to Bullseye Cavern," Locke places his hands on his hips and gazing around.
"We blown it up good," Lode giving awkward chuckles then it dies down as he spots us. "Shane Gang they made it!"
Locke gives some chuckles, "It don't matter, they're too late. The cavern's dead and the slugs are buggin' out."
"I'll be with you guys in a second," then I turn to my team, "We can still save this cavern. Pronto I need you to round up the Fandango slugs."
"It would be my pleasure," Pronto scurries off leaving a cloud of dust.
"Tricks maybe you can figure out what's making them leave?"
"On it," he dashes off.
Then I turn to my Cave Troll companion, "Kord..."
"Say no more," Kord pounded his fist in his palm.
"Now I think it's time to settle this," I turn to the destructive twins, smirking in pure confidence.
"You two want to duel us," Locke asks sounding like we're not professional slingers.
"Unless you want to hug it out instead," I raise an eyebrow.
"You can't win," Locke declares.
"And not only that, you're gonna lose," Lode adds as both of them raise their blasters aiming at us. In flash I fired Frostbite as he dodges another ghoul from Locke and creates a dark ice wall covering the tunnel behind Locke and Lode. Kord fire his Rammstone Bludgeon at the ice wall and it crumbles to giant pieces falling towards the twins. The duo dodges the ice and both fires the ghouled form of a Grenuker slug, two Greneater slugs and both land on the dirt by mine and Kord's feet.
I give a gasp and sprints towards some rocks, "Greneater slugs!" The explosion occurs but leaving us unharmed as Kord and I took some cover behind the rocks. Then a Hop Jack explodes on the boulders but didn't penetrate the tough exterior of the rocks.
I grab Thunderstriker who's antennae was sparking with lively electricity, he hadn't had enough action this week so he's ready to let loose. "Ready boy," I ask as he gives an enthusiastic growl. I fire and as he transforms he lets two bolts of black and red electricity from his mouth and shocking the twins in a bright electricity. I smirk at their misfortune as I place my back against the rocks.
Third Person P.O.V.
"Run all you want... Pronto could do this all day," Pronto pants as he chases the horde of Fandangos with slugs and ghouls flying in the background then they split into two groups and rejoined as they took a right turn. Pronto stops setting his hands on his knees, "You're only tiring yourself out!" Pronto tiredly shuffles his feet as he pants loudly.
Tricks dodges the incoming slugs and ghouls and takes cover behind a rock spire, "What exactly I'm looking for?" Then some loud breathing catches his attention as he sees Pronto still chasing the Fandangos but none were caught.
"The Fandango slugs!" Tricks exclaims.
After a few more seconds of chasing down Pronto collapsed setting his hands and knees on the ground wheezing heavily. Tricks catches a Fandango with one quick swipe and jogs away leaving Pronto confused. "How did you do that?" then he spots another Fandango hopping away from him; he tries to snatch but got the timing wrong as the slug hops away. "Bah, curse you beasts!"
Tricks continues to walk with the red slug in his palm, "I know you want to get out here but I have an idea and I need your help."
The slug chirps and trembles in fear, Tricks moves his hand around scanning to his left, right, and in front, "Hope this works."
Then red slug seems to be terrified when he positions forward, "You don't like going this way do you?"
The slug hops quickly out of his hands then Tricks gasps as it's the metal piece, "Bullseye!" He looks inside to see a pool of the foul red liquid, Dark Water at the bottom, "Woah so that explains it, I've gotta get Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth P.O.V.
Another Hop Jack causes me and Kord to sprint away as we were still dueling it out. Then the twins both fire another pair of Greneater ghouls but as they exploded me and Kord were out of range. Then Kord turns quickly around and fires a Hop Jack between the twins as it explodes on the ground. Locke and Lode cover their heads from the explosion then Locke fires another ghoul but zips past me. I turn my body to fire another slug but I miss; then another Hop Jack hits a rock spire causing some boulders to fall but I tuck into a roll and found myself behind the boulders.
"I'm almost out of slugs and ghouls!" I exclaim as I used most of my slugs and I don't have a lot of ghouls.
Kord replies gravely, "Me too and if they get chased away like the rest of the slugs we'll have an even bigger problem."
I load in Phantom who was growling, "No slugs for you and me, also I only have 6 ghouls."
A Hop Jack collides with the rocks causing me to skid on the dirt and land on my back knocking the wind out of me and have a few scrapes on my arms. I raise my head to see Locke and Lode both aiming at me with ghouls ready to fire, then Phantom hops out of my blaster and growls towards them as he stands in front of me and Kord. "Admit it kid, you lost," Locke ignores my Nightgeist.
"Yeah! And we won," Lode points to himself. Behind them I spot Tricks with his Frightgeist aiming at their backs, Kord and I are smiling causing great confusion to the twins.
"So then why are they smiling," Locke notices our expressions.
"I'll give you a hint," Tricks speaks up and fires his Frightgeist, with my quick reflexes I snatched Phantom into my blaster and fired him. The Frightgeist hits Lode while Phantom collides with Locke, both with a cloud of 'fear' floating around their heads. Tricks gives a big BOO causing them to run back to their 'path' while lode was saying, "Run away." over and over again.
I rise up brushing off the dust from my clothes and knelt down as Phantom hops into my palm, "Good job." Phantom gives a truimphment smirk as he hops over my shoulder and into my backpack. I cup my hand around my mouth, "Tell Dr. Blakk, nice try!"
"Frightgeist and Nightgeist, nice shot Tricks," I compliment as we both did a killer combo.
"You too, our trip to Deadweed has really paid off," Tricks then gives a frown, "You might wanna see this."
He leads Kord and me towards the metal bullseye in the middle of the cavern then I pop my head over the small cliff. "Dark Water?!" I exclaim in surprise.
"Yep this is what was driving the slugs away and not your ghouls. Blakk thought he could ghoul this entire cavern!"
"And I've got just the cure," I hold up my hand with a determined Doc. Doc hops into a slug barrel then I load him in as he is very excited.
"That's a lot of Dark Water, you sure Doc could neutralize it all," Kord asks as he looks at me.
"What do you think Doc, up for a swim?" I ask my Boon Doc who gives a curt nod. I fire him into the hole and as he transforms he dips into the red water leaving a small splash. For a few seconds we held our breath then only some bubbles pop on the surface then Doc emerges and starts to swim clockwise causing some of the Dark Water to turn into pure slug energy.
But then he slows down after the fifth turn losing his power, "He's running out of steam." I close my eyes concentrating within me to feel a familiar gut wrench then I pop my eyes open; I hold my hands in the direction of Doc then something new happens to cause Kord and Tricks to gasp. Streams of slug energy erupt from my hands and glides its way towards Doc and wraps around like a snake, a blue light glows as Doc starts to pick up his pace cleansing half of the water. Then a wave of exhaustion hits me causing my knees to buckles and collapse on them.
"Elizabeth you've gotta stop," Tricks kneels setting his hand on my shoulder. I give a grunt an cut off my energy line to only see Doc losing his energy once more and slowing down.
"Yeah, success," Pronto comes running holding...one Fandango slug in his hand.
"Uh only one," Kord asks. "No it's perfect, fire it into the hole the good energy in it while counteract the dark kind," Tricks points to the hole. Pronto places the slug into a slug barrel.
"Pronto hurry!" Tricks exclaims. Pronto loads the slug in and hurries up the small steps and fire the slug.
The transformation was bug-like, with the color slug energy-blue, red stripes around its legs, head, back and tail, and leaving a trail of slug energy. The slug hits a corner of the well giving a bright burst of light in result Doc starts to swim faster than ever before, cleansing the water more than the second time.
"It's working we need more!" I exclaim giddily. I look behind me to hear some chirping as I spot Burpy leading a horde of Fandangos, he probably convinced them to help the cavern out and us too.
"Nice job Burpy," I smile.
We set down slug barrels as more Fandangos hop into the containers as we shot one after another one. Then a courageous group of slugs leapt into the hole and transformed on their own as they reach acceleration as reach one hits the well. Then a bright sea green light erupts from the Bullseye structure, a wave of the exact energy spreads from the center and throughout the cavern restoring its color. Each one of us gave a happy cheer as we did save a cavern from dying, I'm not bragging-okay maybe a little. "Woah," I gasp at the beauty with my ghouls hopping out of my backpack and onto my lap admiring the event.
"Yeah," Tricks agrees.
"What I don't get out of all the caverns, why did Blakk wanted to empty out this place," Kord asks as he sets his cheek on his hand.
"Because this is the exact center of Slugterra," Tricks points down, "Get it? Bullseye."
"This was nothing than a land grab and Blakk was staking his claim with Dark Water," I frown then I felt Kord slap me in the back.
"Eh looks like we figured everything out."
"Not everything, I can't stop thinking about why the Shadowclan let us go," I ponder as Burpy hops on my shoulder then onto my forearm, "Sure wish you could tell us what you know about them Burp."
"I did it!" Tricks bursts out, "I'm the first person to ever capture the Shadowclan on film." Tricks sits down as we peek at the screen of the camera but it was pretty blurry as you could only take out a bit of the shoot.
"Uhh," I scratch the back of my neck, "Congratulations?"
"I know isn't it great, when this footage gets out it's going to be massive," Tricks says giddily.
I stare at the ground with one single thought poisoning my mind as I pet Savage's head...
'Why did they bow and why me?'
Sorry for the late update, I'm dealing with college but hope you guys like this chapter!
Huge shoutout to LegionnaireBlaze for helping me with new ideas!
-Tahitiseabreeze
