Chapter 40: The Lightwell
Eli and Harley rode their mecha beasts through Chillbore Cavern. Known to them, they were being followed by CC. The brother's stopped as his mecha's engine sputtered loud enough for them to hear. "Seriously?" Harley muttered. "Okay, CC. If you were trying to tail us 'quietly', I gotta say, epic fail, dude." Eli said. "Yeah. Would kill your credit card to give that mecha a tune up?" Harley asked mockingly. CC shrugged their insults off and continued after them.
"Wanna have a little fun with him, guys?" Eli asked. "You know it, bro." Harley said. Burpy chittered, but then he coughed. The Shane brothers drove their mechas off just as CC slung a Briardrill. The brothers rode out onto a frozen pond. The slid to the opposite direction. CC tried to follow, but his mecha lost it's balance and slid into a snow pile. "What's the matter, CC? Getting cold feet?" Harley called. CC shook off the snow and rode back after them, slinging another ghoul. Eli saw that CC was hot on their tail. "We can't shake him." He said. "I know. He's persistent as he is dumb." Harley said. The brothers leapt down into an ice pit. "We're gonna have to persuade him to go away. And we can be really persuasive. Right guys?" Eli asked. "Right bro." Harley said. Joules, Banger and Spitter chittered in agreement. Burpy just whimpered like he was in pain before Eli grabbed him and loaded him into his blaster.
By then, CC caught up with them just as they took aim. "A little advice, CC. Next time Blakk wants us followed, he should send someone other than you." Eli said, with CC mocking him. "He already did." CC said. Dozens of Blakk goons appeared on the cliff and took aim at the brothers. "Whoa! That's a lot of help." Harley said. "We've been in tougher scrapes before. Right Burpy?" Eli asked. Burpy just coughed.
2 goons fired their ghouls. Eli slung Burpy to intercept, but Burpy just fell a short distance onto the ice. "Burpy?!" Eli asked in shock. "What happened?" Harley asked. "I don't know. Burpy just fell when I slung him." Eli said. "Then I guess it's up to me then." Harley said, taking aim. But then, something flowed from his old leg wound up to his arm. "What-What's going on?" He asked, feeling the flow move in his arm. Then he started to groan in pain. He clutched his arm and leg as he fell off Delta. "Harley!" Eli cried. CC and the goons laughed sinisterly at the sight of this.
(Intro)
The goons fired their ghouls. "Burpy, what's wrong?" Eli asked as he dismounted Lucky and ran towards Burpy. CC took careful aim at Eli through his glasses. As Eli picked up Burpy, CC fired. Eli took cover behind an ice wall. Harley, still receiving pain from whatever was happening to him, crawled over to join his brother. The goons kept firing at their position.
CC called Dr. Blakk through his communicator. "Dr. Blakk, we have the Shanes surrounded just give us the orders and we'll take them down." He said. "Your confidence will be your downfall. They and that Infurnus are dangerous." Blakk said. "Well, you don't have to worry about that. Their slug is sick." CC revealed. "Their slug is sick?!" Blakk asked in surprise. "Yeah. Couldn't even take on a Flopper. And the brother's having a seizure or something." CC said. "So, what do you want me to do?" Blakk thought about this. Burpy being sick meant something. Something he might never get another shot at. "Let them go." He said. "What?!" CC asked in shock. "Hit them with a tracking ghoul and let them go." Blakk said. "But we got them! Now your chance to end this!" CC objected. "Do as I order or it'll be the END of you!" Blakk ordered. CC ended the call. "Huh. Well, I can't promise you they'll get off without a scratch." He said, taking a barrel with a Jollyfist from his belt.
Suddenly, a Hexlet came out of nowhere and flashed at a couple of goons. Then, the goons started slipping on the icy floor and tumbled to the ground. "Hey! What's wrong with you guys?!" CC asked. "Hello boys." A familiar voice called. CC, Eli and the goons turned to see the Garcia Quadruplets come into view. "Well, hello sweethearts." CC said, charmed by their beauty. "We were just in the neighborhood and heard there was a party going down." Fareeda said. "So, we decided to stop by…to crash it!" Paulina said, slinging Cepheus and firing Drago Rage, nearly burning several goons. One goon slung a Grimmstone. Fareeda slung Aquarias, knocking the ghoul down with Aquajet. Kala slung Sparkly, blinding them with Flashbang. Paulina followed by slinging Chainsaw, knocking the goons off their feet with Throttlebite.
CC continued to stare at the girls with such interest. "You know, ladies, I'm very popular with women. So, what say you 4 stop what you're doing and we can go grab dinner and a movie?" He offered. Aerona thought with a look of sarcasm on her face. "An interesting offer. But then again…" She slung Goopy, hitting CC in the face with Stinklash. "…you're not our type." She said.
The goons fired more ghouls at the girls. Aerona slung Icestorm, creating an ice wall to temporarily block the ghouls. "That ice wall won't hold for long, sis!" Kala said. "I know! We gotta get to Eli and Harley!" Aerona said. "Then we better get going, because the wall's already cracking!" Paulina said, pointing to the cracks forming on the wall. "Go! Go! Go!" Aerona ordered as she and her sisters ran and ducked behind Eli and Harley's cover. "Nice of you girls to join the party." Eli said. Harley continued to groan in pain. "What's wrong with Harley?" Fareeda asked. "And Burpy too." Paulina added, noticing the sick Infurnus in Eli's hand. "Burpy's sick. And Harley, I have no idea what." Eli said. The sisters got worried.
The goons kept firing on their position. "We're getting hammered hard!" Kala said. "Gotta get Brupy and Harley home fast." Eli said, taking Rocky's barrel. Rocky nodded. "Scrapnel move on 3." The goons fired a Frostfang, an Amperling and a Jollyfist. "1. 2. 3!" Eli rolled and slung Rocky. The Hop Rock fired Scrapnel, hitting several of the goons. CC was shocked by this.
Eli whistled for Lucky and Delta. The mechas came running fast. Eli hopped on Lucky with Harley in the back, seeing that he was in no position to ride Delta. The Garcias followed on their mechas. "Oh no, you don't." CC said. Eli slung Urchin, hitting one of the goons while the others kept firing. CC slung the Jollyfist, spitting Jagtagger at the brothers. Eli braced himself as the attack hit them, covering them with the tracker. "Oh man. That ghoul must've been a dud. We should've been goners." Eli said. His slugs just shrugged, getting a bad feeling about this. Even the sisters were uncertain.
The Jollyfist hopped back to CC. "I hope that worked. Good work, lads! Low sodium organic vegetable and wheatgrass smoothies on me!" CC said, making the goons cheer.
At the hideout, it wasn't exactly a party there either. The rest of the gang were staring at the ceiling. "Seriously? Again?" Trixie asked in disbelief. "That's like the 4th time this week!" Dana groaned. "I'll get the ladder." Kord groaned. Pronto was stuck to the ceiling, covered with Arachnet webs and Jellyish goop. "Okay. I know what you're thinking. But they started it!" Pronto said, pointing to his slugs. Slimey, Shelly, Freezie and Spitty, his Arachnet, were watching a Max Jackson movie. "I wanted to watch Kisses from a Hoverbug. But they insisted on Max Jackson's 2000 Furious Punches." Pronto complained. Shelly chittered mockingly, making the other slugs laugh. "I may have raised my voice a teeny bit, but-" The slugs glared at their slinger. "-Does not give them a right to do this to Pronto!" Pronto said.
Just then, as Kord got the ladder, Eli and the Garcias burst through the door. "There you guys are." Kord said. "What happened to you guys?" Vance asked. "Something's wrong with Burpy and Harley!" Eli said.
Eli gently placed Burpy on a little table. The gang all gathered around. "I don't know what happened. Never seen him like this." Eli said. "I've never seen any slug look like that. Little dude's get a little low on energy sometimes, but I've never seen one sick." Kord said. The rest of Eli's slugs looked on with worry for their leader, their friend, their brother. Even Bella whimpered with worry. "Poor little guy. He can't even move." Trixie said. "That happened to me once. Very upset stomach. Couldn't even lift a leg to get off my mecha beast." Vance said.
"What about Harley? What's happening to him?" Eliza asked with worry for her son. Shimei looked over Harley, laying on the couch. "I don't know what is the problem, but he looks a little pale. Familiarly pale. But besides that, I do not know." Shimei said. Harley hissed, feeling the pain surge through his body. "Oh, my poor little Harley." Eliza said.
"I'll make sure you both get better." Eli said. "Thanks, bro." Harley said weakly. Burpy gave a weak smile too. "There's gotta be something we can do." Eli said. "Well, if there is, no troll, human, or even molenoid knows." Pronto said. "Couldn't agree on a movie again?" Eli asked, recognizing the molenoid's predicament. "Well-I-eh- yes." Pronto said. "I'm not giving up. Burpy and Harley need our help." Eli said. "Neither am I." Eliza said. "You know we're with you, Eli. But none of us have any idea what to do." Kord said. Just then, Eli's slugs started chittering, like they knew something. "These guys do." Eli said.
The gang followed Banger, Chiller and Spinner into a dark cavern. Burpy was getting worse, for his head was starting to pale up. "Stay with me, pal. We're almost there. Wherever 'there' is." Eli said. Harley struggled to stay on his mecha. His skin was starting to pale up too. "It's getting darker." Trixie said. "And scarier. This whole place gives me the heebie creepies." Kord said. "That is because we have entered the territory of…the Shadow Clan!" Pronto said with hushed drama. "That actually explains it." Mario said. "I always wanted to see the Shadow Clan. Just wished it was under better circumstances." Kala said.
The slugs led the gang to a little hole in a wall. "That's where Burpy and Harley need to go?" Eli asked. The slugs nodded. "Harley and I'll never fit through that. There's gotta be a bigger opening." Eli said. "Yeah, but how do we find it?" Trixie asked. "We ask. This is their territory. I'll bet the Shadow Clan will know what to do." Eli said, putting on the Shadow Talker. Dana helped Harley put his on. The gang waited for the Shadow Clan to appear. "Huh. Never around when you want 'em though, huh?" Kord asked. "Who ever wants them around? They're always so serious and spooky. You know, it's like they enjoy being frightening." Pronto said. "Not that Pronto is ever afraid." Trixie turned the mole's head, seeing that the Shadow Clan had just appeared. As they approached, Kord was about to draw his blaster. "It's okay, Kord. We got this." Eli said, walking towards them with Harley.
The Chief slammed his tail in front of the brothers. "This land is sacred. Leave now." He demanded. "We need your help." Eli said, showing them Burpy. "This one's fire will go out soon. Once it does, he will be no more." The Chief said. "And Harley?" Eli asked. The Chief looked at Harley. "This one has been infected with Dark Water." He revealed. That made Eli gasp. "It's taking hold of his humanity. He will soon become a Darkbane." The Chief explained. "But how did the Dark Water get in Harley to begin with?" Eli asked. "Maybe it had to do with this." Harley coughed, pulling out the dart from the Deep Caverns. The Chief stared at the dart. "The one Darkbane who works for Blakk, El Diablos Nacho, he shot me with this the first time we fought the Darkbane. I think it injected the Dark Water into my bloodstream." Harley explained.
The gang and the slugs all looked at each other with sadness and worry. "I see now why your slugs led you here. To the Lightwell." The Chief said. "The Lightwell? What's that?" Eli asked. "The Lightwell is 50% legend, 50% lore and 50% mystery." Pronto said. "Supposably, it's where slugs go for a recharge." Trixie said. "The energy that flows from the Lightwell is said to be more than a whole army Fandango slugs." Shimei said. "I'll take Burpy and Harley. If you show me the way." Eli said. "Paths to the Lightwell are not meant for humans. It may not even be possible for you to survive the journey." The Chief said, turning away. "That's a risk I'm willing to take. One way or another, I'm taking my friend and my brother." Eli said. The Chief stared at Eli for a second. Then he held up a Shadow Walker. Markings appeared on the wall and opened up a passageway. "Remember later, son of Shane, it was you who wanted this."
"Right behind you, Eli." Kord said. But 2 scouts blocked the gang's path with their tails. The Chief then spoke something to Eli in his language. "Hey. Why do I have the impression that Pronto was just insulted?" Pronto asked. "Wouldn't be the first time." Dana said. "He said only Harley and I can go." Eli said. "Eli no! You 2 can't go in there alone." Trixie protested. "It's okay, babe. If that's what I gotta do to save Burpy and Harley, then that's what I'm gonna do." Eli said, looking at Burpy and Harley. "And besides, we won't be alone. We got these guys." Eli said, gesturing to Banger, Chiller and Spinner. "Lead the way." The slugs headed on into the passageway. "Oh! Of course, they get to go!" Pronto said insultingly.
"Wait!" Aerona called, pushing through with her sisters. The Chief glared at the sisters. "Please. Allow me and my sisters to go with them." Aerona pleaded. The Chief started speaking in his language. Aerona looked at her sisters and nodded. They nodded back. The sisters all then pulled out an earpiece, made from Shadow Clan tech. That made the others gasp. The sisters then put the earpieces on, feeling the power surge into their heads. "Who are you to possess Shadow Clan tech, and make such a demand?" The Chief asked. "We are the Garcia Quadruplets. Aerona is my name, and these are my sisters Fareeda, Kala and Paulina." Aerona introduced. "Garcia?" The Chief asked, having known that name. "Yes. Perhaps you knew our father? Cilan Garcia?" Aerona asked. The Chief and the scouts looked at each other and spoke. The sisters looked at each other, wondering what the Shadow Clan were saying. After a minute, the Chief turned back to them. "You may join the sons of Shane, daughters of Garcia." He allowed. "WHAT?!" Pronto shrieked. "Thank you." Aerona said, bowing to the Chief.
"Wait." Eliza spoke up. The Chief looked at the mother of the Shane brothers. "With your permission, I'd like to give my sons something before they go." Eliza said. The Chief stared at her for a second. Then he nodded and allowed her to pass. Eliza walked up to her sons. "I want you to take this." She said, holding out her mother's old scarf. "Grandma's scarf?" Eli asked. "If Harley feels pain, put this around his shoulders to ease him." Eliza said. Eli nodded, took the scarf and wrapped it around his shoulders like a shawl. Then he joined Harley and the Garcias in the passageway.
Little did anyone know, CC was watching them, tracking Eli as he, Harley and the Garcias entered the passageway. "Dr. Blakk. The tracker's working perfectly." He reported.
The 6 followed the slugs through a series of caverns. Paulina had Trixie's camera, so she could record the entire journey. Soon they came to a tunnel marked with Shadow Clan markings. The tunnel led them to a cavern with a bridge made of gravity powered rocks hovering over a green lake with something swimming in it. Banger, Chiller and Spinner started hopping across. "Guess we go this way?" Eli guessed, putting Burpy in his backpack. "I don't think I can make that in my condition." Harley said. "Well, we were quite the gymnasts in school." Fareeda said. "Yeah. We'll help you, Harley." Paulina said. "Thanks." Harley said. Eli got ready and went first, hopping to the first rock. But then he hung over as he leapt for the second one. The slugs gasped and the Garcias cringed. Just then, a scorpion bee flew up to Eli. Eli tried to blow him away and the bee poked at his nose before flying away. "Well, I think someone likes you, Eli." Aerona joked. The slugs chittered with laughter.
Eli pulled himself up. "Okay. Let's try this again." He said, leaping across the rocks. Harley and the Garcias soon followed. Eli soon stopped on a big rock. "Easy. One rock at a time." He said. Suddenly, there was a screech. "Eli, look!" Kala called, pointing up. Everyone looked up and saw a gargoyle flying towards them. Eli drew his blaster, but the gargoyle flew right over him, pushing him off the rock with the winds. "ELI!" Harley and the Garcias shouted. Spinner shot a web from her mouth, latching onto Eli's foot and saving him. As Eli dangled, a big fish monster emerged from the water. Eli managed to pull himself up a bit as the fish monster snapped at him. "I see now why these paths weren't meant for humans." Harley said.
Eli looked and saw the gargoyle coming down for another attack. "Okay, Rammer! Take it down!" He said. Rammer growled as the gargoyle dived towards the young Shane. Eli loaded Rammer and slung him. But he just bounced off the gargoyle with a loud clang. Rammer landed on one of the rocks, dizzy from the hit. "What just happened?" Fareeda asked. "It's armored! All over!" Eli said. Rammer shook off the dizziness and looked down. "Okay. Need another idea." Eli said as the gargoyle flew past him. Burpy chittered something weakly. "The double-barrel?" Harley asked. "Double-what?" Paulina asked. "Yeah, the double-barrel would stop it. Only problem: that takes 2 hands." Eli said. Banger, Chiller and Spinner chittered in alert. "Don't think that matters at the moment, Eli!" Aerona called. The gargoyle was coming back. "She's right. Looks like that's the only shot we got." Eli said. He let go of the web, falling back to the water, and equipped the double-barrel.
As the gargoyle got closer, Eli slung Joules and Mucky. The 2 slugs transformed and spun around, firing their fusion move, ElectroSpear. Dozens of Mucky's spikes, wreathed in Joules' electricity, struck the gargoyle, piercing it's armor and electrocuting it. "Bullseye!" Eli said. But then, the fish monster leapt out of the water and was about to eat him. Eli punched the fish monster, sending it back into the water, but not before Eli grabbed it's tail. After a while of struggling, the web slung Eli and the fish monster back up. The fish monster grabbed the gargoyle by it's wing as all 3 of them landed back onto the rock. The slugs chittered with relief. "Thanks guys." Eli said as he pulled himself back up. Just then, the gargoyle hugged Eli and nuzzled him. And the fish monster pounced him and licked him. "Okay! Easy, you 2." Eli said. "What's this? You've been dangling down there for a few minutes and already, you got 2 new pets?" Harley asked with humorous disbelief. The Garcias snickered. But all that was silenced. Burpy sneezed, and was getting paler. Meaning that he was getting worse. "Hang on, Burpy. We're almost there. I hope." Eli said.
Meanwhile, the gang waited outside while the Shadow Clan guarded the entrance. "Well, this is fun." Mario said with sarcasm and boredom. "I hope my boys and the girls are alright in there." Eliza said. "Still doesn't feel right that Eli, Harley and the Garcias are in there by themselves." Kord said. "Of course, it is not right. How could the Shadow Clan think only Eli, Harley and the Garcias are worthy? Pronto the magnificent is worthy! Very worthy!" Pronto said, marching towards the Shadow Clan. "Bro, that's not what I-" Kord tried to say, but was shushed by Lash. "Let it play through." Lash said.
"Excuse me?" The scouts looked at Pronto with confusion. "I think perhaps there has been some mistake. Most likely because you do not know how truly wonderous Pronto the wonderous truly is. Okay, I understand." Just then, Pronto gassed off. "That one wasn't me!"
"I got a bad feeling." Trixie said, hugging herself. "Yeah. Well, hopefully if Pronto annoys them too much, they'll only flay him." Kord said. "I'll take that bet." Watts said. "No. That's not it." Trixie said. The gang looked down at the cavern entrance. There was a light. Meaning someone was coming. "Did you see that?" Trixie asked. The gang all got their blasters ready for whoever was coming.
Meanwhile, the slugs led Eli, Harley, the Garcias and their new pets to a tunnel. But then, the group cringed from a foul odor coming from the tunnel. "Whoa! What is that smell?!" Eli asked. "I don't know, but that is the foulest thing I ever smelled!" Kala exclaimed. The slugs continued on. The gargoyle and fish monster followed. "Oh! This smell's worse than a bunch of Flatulorhinkus slugs." Eli complained as he followed. Smelly gagged from the smell from in his barrel. "Even Smelly agrees." Harley said.
They crawled through the tunnel. Odd thing was that the tunnel looked like it was made from flesh. "Slimy." Eli said, before he slipped and fell to the ground. "You okay, Eli?" Aerona asked as she and the others followed. "Gross. This tunnel smells like the inside of a-" Eli started to say until the tunnel started moving and making a gurgling noise. The 6 widened their eyes as they realized where they were. "This isn't a tunnel." Eli said. The ground started to move and everyone was burped out the mouth of a big cave worm. The worm roared as it loomed over the group. "Wait a minute. If we got spit out it's mouth, that means we crawled in through it's-" Eli was about to say. "I so do not wanna hear the end of that sentence!" Fareeda exclaimed. Paulina was white as a ghost before fainting. Banger, Chiller and Spinner looked disgusted at what they were covered in. "Gross!"
The worm lunged at the group, but they leaped out of the way. "There is no way we're going back in there!" Eli said, slinging Rammer at the worm, but he just bounced off it's thick hide. That caught Eli by surprise. Aerona and Kala tried with Cancer and Prick, Kala's Dirt Urchin, but it was the same. The worm lunged at them again, but they leapt out of the way again. "What do we do? We won't be able to get through! Its skin is as thick as an elephant's!" Fareeda said. Chiller hopped forth. "Chiller!" Eli cried with joy. As the worm prepared to attack again, Eli loaded Chiller and slung him into the worm's mouth. Chiller froze the worm's body from the inside. The worm collapsed, spitting Chiller out. "First thing after we fix up Burpy and Harley, we're all taking some very long showers." Eli said. "I hear that. I'm gonna be scrubbing that stomach smell off my body for a week!" Aerona complained. Chiller and Banger were disgusted by how they smell, while Spinner felt like throwing up.
Fareeda turned and saw Paulina looking over the worm, who was panting heavily from the freezing. "It's okay. Just breath." She said soothingly. "Uh, Paulina? I don't think you should be that close." Fareeda said. "It's okay. Poor thing just needs to warm up a bit." Paulina said. She loaded Cepheus and slung him, creating a warming fire around the worm with Dragonspyre. The worm rumbled happily from feeling the warmth of the fire. "That's it. We're all here to help each other." Paulina said. The worm gently nuzzled its big head against the young Garcia. "Aw. How sweet." Kala said.
Just then, Harley twitched with pain and fell on his knees. "Harley!" Eli yelled, running to his brother's side. The Garcias noticed this. "The Dark Water's effects. They're getting worse." Harley said in pain. Eli looked at his brother with worry, for he was starting to show signs of his transformation into a Darkbane. Harley's teeth began to sharpen, and his ears began to morph into a point. But then, Eli remembered what Eliza said. He took his Grandma's scarf from his shoulders and put it around Harley's shoulders, hoping that it will ease his brother's pain. As soon as Harley felt the scarf touch his shoulders, the pain immediately went away. "You okay, Harley?" Eli asked. "Yeah. I'm fine now thanks to Grandma's scarf." Harley said. "You sure you're alright?" Aerona asked. "I'm sure. Feeling Grandma's scarf around my shoulders, it's like Grandma's here with us." Harley said. The sisters understood what Harley meant.
Meanwhile, the gang went to investigate who was coming towards them. Just then, there was a thud. Trixie drew her blaster and slung her Phosphoro, Starling, lighting up the place with Flashbang. CC and an army of Blakk guards were approaching. "Eli told us you were bad at being stealthy, CC. But man, you are really bad." Trixie said. CC growled in anger. "Save the groaning. You'll be doing plenty when the Shadow Clan are done with you." Kord said as the Shadow Clan came out and prepared to attack. CC received a call from Blakk. "I'm in position. Now engage the enemy." Blakk said. CC and the guards charged towards the advancing Shadow Clan. "They're attacking the Shadow Clan?! Not even CC's that dumb, is he?" Trixie asked. "Shh! Save the questions. I don't wanna miss a minute of this." Kord said. Shimei watched with interest and concern. 'What are you up to, CC?' She thought.
As they charged, CC equipped his blaster with a barrel booster and took aim at the air. For his blaster was loaded with a ghouled Phosphoro, a Photomo. He slung the ghoul into the air, creating a dark light flash called Blightsource. The Shadow Clan screeched in fear and retreated. "Wha-wha-what?!" Pronto asked in surprise. "The Shadow Clan are retreating?!" Trixie asked. "That's never happened before!" Mario said. "But why?" Lash asked. "What's that? You don't like my little dark light?" CC asked mockingly. "Of course. When a Phosphoro is ghouled, it's light must cause something in the Shadow Clan to awaken and run away." Shimei deduced. Pronto slung Stinky, knocking CC on his back. "Never fear. Pronto the worthy is here to save the day." Pronto said, inhaling the smell of his own stink. CC recovered and glared at the mole.
Meanwhile, the slugs lead the group, now accompanied by the worm, into another tunnel. "Hey, you guys feel that?" Aerona asked, feeling warmth in the tunnel. "Yeah. It's warm in here. And…sweet?" Eli said, smelling a sweet scent in the air. Suddenly, he stepped in a glob of something yellow and sticky. "What is that stuff?" Kala asked. "It looks like honey." Paulina said. Harley managed to scoop a piece off the glob with his finger and tasted it. "It is honey! But not like the honey back up top." He said. Just then, the scorpion bee from earlier returned and started bugging Eli again. "You again?! Get out of here!" Eli exclaimed, trying to swat the insect. The bee stung Eli on the arm. Eli recoiled and swatted it. "Man, that thing packs a punch." He said, clutching his arm. "You okay, Eli?" Fareeda asked. "Yeah. Good thing it was only one and not a-" Eli was about to say, but was interrupted by a noise. Everyone turned to see an entire swarm of scorpion bees coming towards them. "SWARM!"
They followed the slugs deeper into the tunnel as the swarm chased after them. The slugs and the pets got out at the end. Eli, Harley and the Garcias struggled to get through the tight gap. Finally, they pushed through, landing in a hive as the swarm joined an even bigger swarm. "We're in their hive!" Eli said. "What gave you that idea?" Kala asked. The group took cover as the swarm circled overhead. "What do we do now?" Harley asked. "Don't know. We're not gonna get far without getting stung." Aerona said. Just then, Dozer hopped up. "Dozer?" Eli said. He then looked at the others. Spinner chittered. "I hope you're right." Eli said as Dozer hopped in his barrel. "Put them to sleep!" Eli loaded and slung Dozer into the air, putting the swarm to sleep with Sleepytime. As the swarm dropped to sleep, Eli caught Dozer in his hand. "Sweet." He said. Dozer gave a bow. Fareeda held up a jar, putting 2 of the bees inside. "Now these 2 are fine specimens." She said.
Afterwards, they all reached their destination. The slugs chittered with joy. "The Lightwell!" Eli said with awe at the sight. "Can you believe it?" Fareeda asked. "It's beautiful." Paulina said. "We made it, Burpy." Eli said. Burpy was happy. Just then, there was a familiar evil chuckle. Everyone turned to see Blakk. "We certainly did. Thanks to you." He said, dusting a sleeping bee off his shoulder. "Blakk!" Eli and Harley exclaimed. Chiller and Spinner hopped back to Eli as Banger got ready for a fight. The Garcias got their blasters ready. The gargoyle, fish monster and worm growled at Blakk's presence.
"So, you're Dr. Blakk? We've heard a lot about you." Aerona said. "But guess what. We're not impressed." Fareeda said. "Oh, I could say the same about you, Garcias." Blakk growled. "What do you want with the Lightwell?" Eli asked. "What I want is to destroy it and your friends!" Blakk snarled, firing a Greneater at the group. As they leapt out of the way, Eli slung Banger. But Blakk fired another Greneater, intercepting the Armashelt slug. "How did Blakk get here?" Eli asked. "I can answer that." Blakk said. As the group ran for better cover, Blakk slung an Amperling. But they managed to dodge it just in time. "First of all, the tracking ghoul CC hit you with helped quite a bit." Blakk explained, holding up the Jollyfist's barrel. "The dud!" Eli realized. "I knew our escape was too easy!" Aerona said. "But you deserve the line share of the credit. I don't think I could've gotten here if you hadn't taken care of every obstacle in the way." Blakk said, slinging another Greneater and 2 other ghouls, forcing the group to find better cover. "You certainly seemed quite…motivated."
Burpy weakly chittered. "Burpy?" Eli looked at Burpy's barrel. Burpy passed out. "Burpy! No!" Eli cried. "Eli!" Harley called. Eli looked at his brother. The scarf fell off during the fight. And now the pain returned. Harley groaned as his eyes went blood red and his nails grew into claws. "Harley!" Eli cried. He looked towards the Lightwell. "You'll never make it." Blakk chuckled. "Go. We'll handle Blakk." Aerona said. Eli nodded and charged for the Lightwell. Blakk started firing his ghouls, but the Garcias blocked them with their slugs. Seeing an alternative, Blakk slung a Thrasher, slicing off a Shadow Clan statue's arm with Knawblade. Eli managed to toss Burpy's barrel before the arm fell on him. Burpy flew out of the barrel and into the Lightwell. "Looks like you were wrong. I made it." Eli said. "Congratulations." Blakk growled before taking aim.
Meanwhile, Blakk's guards were getting the upper hand on the gang. The Shadow Clan watched from their hiding places. "We're getting hammered here!" Pronto shouted. "And we're running low on slugs!" Mario exclaimed. "We might have a chance if the Shadow Clan would work with us." Trixie said. "Bah. To them we are unworthy." Pronto said. "Completely ignorab-" Pronto stopped himself as the Shadow Clan appeared behind them, bowing to them. "I think this means the Shadow Clan are in." Trixie said. "So, what's the plan, Trixie?" Shimei asked. Trixie just smirked, knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, Eli struggled to pull himself free from the arm. But then, Blakk approached him, blaster ready. "Without the Lightwell, slug energy can't rejuvenate. And without your slugs, my ghouls will rule! Goodbye, Lightwell!" Blakk said, firing a Greneater towards the Lightwell. "BURPY!" Eli screamed. But then, the ghoul got knocked aside by a Polero. "What?!" Blakk said in shock. He and Eli looked to see Kala standing with her sisters, her blaster smoking. "Forget it, Blakk! You're not destroying the Lightwell!" Aerona exclaimed. "You girls are so meddlesome. Just like your father!" Blakk snarled, turning his blaster on them.
Meanwhile, Blakk's guards kept hammering the gang's cover. "Oh no! I'm out!" Trixie called. "Me too!" Kord called. "Uh, me too!" Pronto called. "So am I!" Vance called. "Me too!" Mario called. "Me too!" Lash called. "As am I!" Shimei called. "Me too!" Watts called. "We all are!" Dana called. CC smirked, buying their act. "Choice! They're out of ammo, men!" He said. The gang retreated down the tunnel. "Go teach those punks some manners." CC said. The guards chased after them. The gang ran into a dead end. "Oh no. You got us." Trixie said. The guards took aim. "Oh wait. No, you don't." Trixie said. The guards were confused. But then, the Shadow Clan dropped down from above and attacked them, screeching with anger. CC, realizing it was a trick, ran towards the tunnel. "It's a trick! Get back under the dark light!" He called, slinging the Photomo again, creating another Blightsource. Trixie slung Slicer, wrecking CC's blaster. "No!" CC cried. He turned and gasped as Kord and Shimei knocked him down. Pronto slung Soapy, swallowing up the Photomo. The Shadow Clan surrounded a terrified CC, transporting him away through the shadows.
"Ha! That should teach you not to mess with Pronto." Pronto boasted. "We did it!" Kord cheered. But then, one of the scouts shook his head. "Uh, we didn't do it?" Kord said in confusion. The scout started saying something and pointed to the entrance. "I think they're saying someone else got inside the Lightwell." Trixie said. "CC was a distraction!" Shimei deduced. "Well, that's a way of putting it." Vance joked. "No. It must be Blakk. CC distracted us so Blakk could sneak past us so he could destroy the Lightwell." Shimei explained. The Shadow Clan screeched in anger.
Meanwhile, Blakk continued to duel the Garcias. Eli looked on in amazement, surprised that the girls were able to last this long against Blakk, despite having just met him. Blakk, now getting really impatient, fired all 3 of his loaded ghouls at once. Paulina slung a slug Eli had never seen before. It transformed and froze Blakk's ghouls in a block of ice like a Frostcrawler. "What was that?" Eli asked as the slug hopped back in Paulina's hand. "Eli Shane, meet Snowstorm. She's a Narwhaddle. They're as rare as Cepheus." Paulina said. Blakk snarled and prepared to fire again. But Fareeda slung X, frying his blaster with Blasterhack. Then, Aerona slung Icestorm, Bomb and Slabs all at once. Their combined powers knocked Blakk down on his back. "It's over, Blakk. You've lost." Aerona said. Blakk just growled at the girls. Just then, a light shined from the Lightwell over Blakk's ghouls, turning them back into slugs. "What?! My ghouls!" Blakk exclaimed as the slugs hopped away. And then, Burpy hopped out of the Lightwell, healthy and alive. "Burpy!" Eli cried. "He's alive!" Paulina cried with joy. Blakk growled and started to get up. But then, 2 Shadow Clan scouts appeared and grabbed him as the Chief loomed over him. "NO!" Blakk yelled as the scouts took him through the shadows.
Fareeda and Kala helped Eli get free from the arm. "What just happened? Where did you take him?" Eli asked as he put on his Shadow Talker. "So close to the Lightwell, our powers are…limited. We could only send him through the shadows elsewhere." The Chief explained as Burpy hopped back to Eli. "I fear those abominations you call ghouls are also what sickened this Infurnus." The Chief said. Burpy could not believe this. "Blakk's ghouls made Burpy sick?" Eli asked. "It's possible. Ghouls give off a bad amount of dark energy when exposed to Dark Water." Aerona said. "What the eldest daughter of Garcia says is true. The energy that binds the slugs to Slugterra is growing weak. If the ghouling does not cease, the Darkbane will come." The Chief said. "Well, you can count on us to stop Dr. Blakk." Eli said. The Garcias and Burpy nodded. Even the new pets nodded. "Thank you. For everything." Eli said. "Now is not the time for thanks. The struggle for all of Slugterra has only just begun." The Chief said.
Just then, there was a groan. Everyone turned to where Harley was. His transformation was complete. He had become a Darkbane. And his slugs had even become ghouls from inside their barrels. "Harley!" Eli cried. "It's too late. I'm a Darkbane now." Harley said sadly. "No. It's never too late, son of Shane." The Chief said as a scout appeared holding a bowl of sparkling water. "Drink this. The water from the Lightwell will help restore your human form." Harley took the bowl, put it to his lips and sipped the water. As soon as he swallowed it, a light began to shine around Harley. He slowly started to turn back into a human. Eli and the Garcias cheered as the transformation ended. They ran up and tackled Harley into a group hug. "I can't believe it. I'm cured!" Harley said. "Your body is restored, but I'm afraid you are not cured." The Chief said. "What do you mean?" Harley asked. "The Dark Water in your bloodstream has been purified, but its effects are still intact. Through your will and anger, you will be able to change from human to Darkbane and back again. Your slugs will turn into ghouls and return back whenever you shift between forms." The Chief explained. "But that would make me a-" Harley started to say. "Yes. A hybrid." The Chief completed. That shocked Harley. This was something he never expected.
Afterwards, the group and their new pets exited the Lightwell as the passageway sealed up again. The scouts had bowed to the rest of the gang before they left. "Did they just bow to you?" Eli asked. "Eli!" Trixie said, running up to her fiancé, relieved he was alright. "How's Burpy?" She asked. "See for yourself." Eli said, holding up Burpy. "Yes!" Trixie cheered. "Ha-ha! Burpy!" Kord cheered as Trixie rubbed Burpy's head with her finger. "And Harley?" Eliza asked. "I'm right here." Harley said, coming up with his Grandma's scarf on his shoulders. "Oh, my son!" Eliza cried, hugging Harley tight. "Glad to see you're all alright." Vance said. "But who're these creatures?" Lash asked. "These are our new pets." Eli said. "Meet Marble, Hydrus, Crater, Buzzy and Musca." The new pets growled gently to greet them. "Oh great. More mouths to feed." Pronto mumbled.
"I don't know what happened out here, but you must've done something to impress the Shadow Clan." Eli guessed. "Ah, it was nothing. It was bound to happen whilst they got to know Pronto the worthy." Pronto boasted. "Oh, that's it." Harley said, sensing that Pronto was lying again. His eyes went blood red and he changed to his Darkbane form, scaring Pronto. "What-but-I thought you were cured!" Pronto shrieked, hiding behind Kord. "Restored, by not cured. Thanks to the Lightwell, I can now change between forms. Just don't do anything to make me angry. Pronto." Harley explained, glaring at Pronto before changing back. "In other words, your son's a hybrid now." Kala explained. Eliza looked at her son with a hint of worry. "Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle being a hybrid." Harley said. "It's okay, Harley. You know that we'll be here to help you." Eli said, putting a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "Thanks, bro." Harley said.
The Shadow Clan scouts left in the shadows. "Whew! I'm glad that's over." Kord said. "It isn't. Other slugs are gonna sick like Burpy if we don't stop Blakk." Eli said. "And until we find out where the Shadow Clan sent him, he won't be a problem for very long." Aerona said. "This is just the beginning." Eli said.
Afterwards, the gang returned to the hideout. That night, Harley sat on his bed, looking at the dart in his hand, thinking about what Nacho had done to him. Just then, Eli came into the room, interrupting his thoughts. "Hey, Harley." Eli said. "Oh. Hey, Eli." Harley said. "Are you okay?" Eli asked, sitting down next to his brother. "I'm not sure if I'll be okay with this new form. Nacho tried to take so much from me." Harley said. "Hey. Remember what I said earlier. You got me and Mom and the others to help you out. And besides, you being a hybrid now doesn't change anything. You're still my brother and I love you. No matter what." Eli said. "Thanks, bro. You're the best." Harley said. The brothers hugged each other tightly. "Eli? Could you sing me the lullaby before you go to bed?" Harley asked. "I'd be happy to, Harley." Eli said. Harley lay down in his bed and Eli started to sing.
Where the south wind meets the sea
There's a river full of memory
Sleep my brother safe and sound
For in this river, legend is found
In her waters deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into her sound
But not too far or you'll be drowned
Yes, she will sing to those who hear
And in her song all magic flows
But can you brave what you must fear?
Can you face what the river knows?
Where the south wind meets the sea
There's a mother full of memory
Come, my brother, homeward bound
When all is lost, then legend is found
As Eli finished the song, Harley was fast asleep. Eli caressed his brother's head gently. "Goodnight, Harley." He whispered as he gently placed their Grandma's scarf over his brother like a blanket.
Little did they know, a shadowy slug, bearing resemblance of a wizard, was watching them from the window, hovering in the air. It watched the brothers for a moment before it disappeared in a flash of magenta light.
Well, that was quite a chapter, huh? Burpy got sick and the Dark Water in Harley started taking effect. Eli and the Garcias traveled to the ancient Lightwell to save them. And after dealing with Blakk and his minions, Burpy is cured and Harley became a hybrid. But who or what was that slug in the window? This and more await our Shane gang. Leave a review if you want.
Slug Arsenal:
Eli Shane: Burpy (Infurnus), Joules (Tazerling), Noodle (Flopper), Banger (Armashelt), Bolo (Polero), Rammer (Rammstone), Rocky (Hop Rock), Chiller (Frostcrawler), Burner (Lavalynx), Suds (Bubbaleone), Goober (Jellyish), Sparky (Grenuke), Larry (Lariat), Gust (Tormato), Buzzsaw (Thresher), Digger (Crystalyd), Spinner (Arachnet), Mucky (Dirt Urchin), Tangles (Vinedrill), Spooker (Frightgeist), Charger (Fandango), Stunts (Speedstinger), Glimmer (Phosphoro), Mo (Enigmo), Dazer (Hypnogrif), Urchin (Sand Angler), Dozer (Slyren), Jinxer (Hexlet), Torch (Forgesmelter), Yang (Negashade), Beeker (AquaBeek), Mimkey (Mimikreas), Jaws (MakoBreaker), Gasser (Flatulorhinkus), Crystal (Geoshard), Foggy (Neotox), Jammer (Xmitter), Bugsy (Hoverbug)
Harley Shane: Matchstick (Flaringo), Squirm (Flopper), Frostbite (Frostcrawler), Webs (Arachnet), Gels (Jellyish), Zipper (Hoverbug), Ivy (Vinedrill), Masher (Rammstone), Frights (Frightgeist), Shredder (Thresher), Smelly (Flatulorhinkus), Claws (Armashelt), Splatz (Lariat), Twister (Tormato), Lucky (Hexlet), Sizzle (Grenuke), Quill (Dirt Urchin), Ping (White Boon Doc), Bubbles (Bubbaleone), Polo (Polero), Skitter (Speedstinger), Flasher (Phosphoro), Gem (Geoshard), Hestia (Infurnus)
Trixie Sting: Bluster (Tormato), Blizzard (Frostcrawler), Spider (Arachnet), Twirl (Polero), Balloon (Bubbaleone), Haunter (Frightgeist), Pounder (Rammstone), Slicer (Thresher), Rocks (Hop Rock), Jelly (Jellyish), Blossom (Vinedrill), Spotty (Flopper), Dunes (Sand Angler), Zaps (Tazerling), Roller (Armashelt), Scorcher (Lavalynx), Nighty (Slyren), Starling (Phosphoro)
Kord Zane: Bludgeon (Rammstone), Sploder (Hop Rock), Jolt (Tazerling), Trip (Polero), Flycatcher (Arachnet), Floatie (Bubbaleone), Iceberg (Frostcrawler), Scorch (Flaringo), Jetstream (AquaBeek), Spitz (Lariat), Chuckles (Gazzer), Floppy (Flopper), Pincer (Armashelt), Glint (Phosphoro), Throttle (Thresher), Quicksand (Sand Angler), Silv (Slicksilver), Pollen (Vinedrill)
Pronto Geronimo: Stinky (Flatulorhinkus), Slimey (Jellyish), Soapy (Bubbaleone), Bruiser (Rammstone), Flame (Flaringo), Loogie (Lariat), Windy (Tormato), Squeaky (Flopper), Blocky (Hop Rock), Freezie (Frostcrawler), Doozey (Slyren), Zappy (Tazerling), Stripey (Polero), Planty (Vinedrill), Shelly (Armashelt), Sharky (MakoBreaker), Bitey (Thresher), Zippy (Speedstinger), Molty (Firenzar), Spitty (Arachnet)
Vance Volt: Blast (Hop Rock), Bloom (Vinedrill), Crust (Lavalynx), Legs (Arachnet), Swimy (AquaBeek), Hardcase (Armashelt), Squish (Jellyish), Blow (Tormato), Cheep (Flopper), Punch (Rammstone), Chill (Frostcrawler), Swallow (Bubbaleone), Storm (Tazerling)
Mario Bravado: Ricochet (Speedstinger), Slide (Frostcrawler), Crawler (Arachnet), Echo (AquaBeek), Mess (Jellyish), Breeze (Tormato), Kate (Flopper), Porky (Dirt Urchin), Dunk (Rammstone), Crush (Armashelt), Razz (Thresher), Pinkie (Bubbaleone)
Lash: Zing (Tazerling), Speedy (Speedstinger), Hopper (Hop Rock), Bubba (Bubbaleone), Stinx (Flatulorhinkus), String (Polero), Goat (Rammstone), Sleepy (Slyren), Webber (Arachnet), Ice (Frostcrawler), Spark (Flaringo), Winger (Tormato), Witch (Hexlet), Phlegm (Lariat), Peep (Flopper), Melt (Lavalynx), Clash (Armashelt), Shroud (Frightgeist), Oxide (Gazzer), Sprout (Vinedrill)
Shimei: Mong (Hop Rock), Jin (Rammstone), Zeng (Vinedrill), Leng (Polero), Kaz (Grenuke), Hindo (Flaringo), Huong (Phosphoro), Hei-Hei (Hoverbug), Yung (Armashelt), Mai (Arachnet), Fong (Bubbaleone)
Eliza Shane: Ellie (Flaringo), Min (Jellyish), Tink (Phosphoro), Pimpy (Bubbaleone), Jimbo (Hop Rock), Jason (Frightgeist), Fitz (Tazerling), Flick (Grenuke), Griff (Hypnogrif), Midnight (Slyren), Wilton (Neotox), Oya (Tormato)
Watts: Scourge (MakoBreaker), Polly (Hoverbug), Rush (Rammstone), Sinker (Hop Rock), Maelstrom (Tormato), Tidal Wave (AquaBeek), Preserver (Bubbaleone)
Dana Por: Webby (Arachnet), Willy (Frostcrawler), Tailwind (Tormato), Rosie (Vinedrill), Jinx (Hexlet), Nemo (AquaBeek), Poppy (Bubbaleone)
Aerona Garcia: Goldie (Midas), Hiccup (Flaringo), Cancer (Armashelt), Icestorm (Frostcrawler), Bomb (Hop Rock), Goopy (Lariat), Slabs (Rammstone)
Fareeda Garcia: Shiny (Midas), Thunderstorm (Tazerling), X (Xmitter), Aquarius (AquaBeek), Eve (Negashade), Maggie (Slicksilver)
Kala Garcia: Aurum (Midas), Lila (Thugglet), Scorpio (Hexlet), Aries (Rammstone), Gemini (Polero), Sparkly (Phosphoro), Prick (Dirt Urchin)
Paulina Garcia: Chrysos (Midas), Cepheus (Firezar), Snowstorm (Narwhaddle), Cassiopeia (Sand Angler), Chainsaw (Thresher), Virgo (Vinedrill)
The Universal Slug