Author's Note; There is a reference in this chapter, kudos to you if you can spot it. Enjoy.

Sugar Isles

Chapter 18; Licorice Eternal

The group stepped into the digger tunnel taking them to an underground cave. Banjo emerged from the transition first, followed by Vanellope, Calhoun and the rest of the group, all of them braced for a battle.

"What is this tunnel? Vanellope asked.

Banjo stopped just before an opening that lead into a large underground cavern and looked back. "This is a tunnel made by the Hag 1 drilling machine. It serves as a boss area for Klungo to fight before we reach Jinjo Village."

Rancis looks out at the seemingly empty cavern ahead of them. "That would explain why this place looks like an arena."

"What about the creature that Bottles told us about?" Gruntilda asked.

Banjo scanned the cavern ahead of them. It seemed to be empty. "Not sure, but stay alert."

Banjo and Vanellope raised their weapons and slowly advanced into the cavern, the rest of the group followed close behind them. Kazooie popped out and looked around the cavern, she notices some movement around the top of the cavern. "Um, Banjo. The ceiling is moving."

The group looks up and notice the movement across the entire top of the cavern. "Thats not normal." Banjo says.

Vanellope looks closer. "That looks like licorice."

"How Perspective."

The entire group snaps up their weapons and start looking around the cavern.

"Vanellope, who said that?" Taffyta asks.

Vanellope continues to look around. "I'm not sure, I don't see anything."

Just then, the licorice starts to pull away from the center of the roof and starts conforming itself. Grunty notices this happening and points it out to the group. "Up there."

As the group looks up, the creature falls and lands on the ground in the center of the cavern, completely made out of living licorice. As the creature stands, he towers over the group.

The group aims their weapons at the creature as Vanellope speaks up. "What are you?"

The creature looks down at the group. "I am Licorice Eternal, I stand in the service of Licortwist."

"Mumbo thinks this must be the creature that Bottles spoke of."

Gruntilda looks over at the exit tunnel. "We should make a run for the exit."

Licorice Eternal speaks up. "Im sorry, but Licortwist has restricted access to this game, you are not authorized to continue."

Just then, Licorice pops up out of the ground and blocks both exits.

Almondine turns around and notices the way they came is also blocked. "We're trapped."

"Then we are going to have to fight our way through him." Vanellope exclaims.

Licorice Eternal forms a licorice blade in his right hand. "This wont be much of a fight."

He leaps toward the group, blade ready to slam into the ground. The group splits and jumps out of the way as Eternal slams his sword into the ground.

"Weapons free!" Calhoun yells as she gets back to her feet.

The racers begin to fire at Eternal with everything they have, their fire impacting Eternal's licorice armor, Banjo and friends who dodged the other way also begin to fire on Eternal.

Licorice Eternal stands up and turns toward the racers. "You can't win this fight." He jumps toward the group and lands, swiping his sword, catching Cinndon and throwing him against the cavern wall.

Cinndon lands on the floor next to the far wall, away from the group, his weapon thrown away from him.

Sticky looks over at him "Cinndon!"

He starts to get himself up, he feels like he was just hit by a train. "Im okay!"

Kazooie pops up out of Banjo's backpack and starts shooting blue eggs toward Licorice Eternal, impacting the back of Eternal, causing him to turn around.

"He cant be everywhere at the same time, we should use that to our advantage!" Vanellope shouts.

Calhoun nods to her. "I agree, Sticky, go help Cinndon, everyone else needs to split up and attack this guy from everywhere."

As Sticky runs over to help Cinndon to his feet, the rest of the group splits up and continues to fire at Eternal from every direction.

Banjo and friends dodge Eternal's attack and split up.

Licorice Eternal grunts as he is pelted with arms fire from every direction. "No! I can not allow you to continue!"

"Continue this!"

Eternal looks down just as Ralph runs up and punches his legs, sending him flying off his feet.

Ralph jumps and delivers and massive punch right on top of Licorice Eternal, shattering him into many different pieces.

All the arms fire halts.

Vanellope lowers her weapon slightly. "Did we do it?"

All of the licorice that comprised Eternal begins to rise up and fly toward the exit, as well as all the licorice covering both exits as Eternal leaves towards Jinjo Village, his voice echos in the cavern.

"You haven't seen the last of me."

As the last licorice pieces leave the cave, the group breathes a sigh of relief as they all lower their weapons.

"Looks like." Banjo says.

The group looks over at Cinndon as Sticky helps him to his feet. "You ok Cinn?" Sticky asks.

Cinndon grunts in pain. "Yeah, but ive been better."

Calhoun walks over toward him with Felix in tow. Vanellope and Taffyta look on. "You know V, I dont think Sticky got a chance to ask him yet." Taffyta said.

"Your right, well maybe this entire trip can help change that." Vanellope said with a sigh. She looked over to Rancis, whom was talking to Gloyd and Banjo. "I just hope that we all make it out of this one."

Cinndon walks up to the group, followed by Sticky and Felix.

Vanellope turns to face them. "You okay Cinndon? Looks like you took a good hit there."

Cinndon rolls his shoulder. "Yeah, it felt like getting hit by a train, but I'm not out of this fight."

Calhoun walks up and hands him his weapon. "Good on you soldier."

Everyone regroups at the center of the cavern as Vanellope talks to Banjo. "Where to next?"

Banjo looks to the exit that leads to Jinjo Village."Bottles told me that they are using Jinjo Village as a prison camp, we should move to liberate it as well as the Jinjo King. Im sure they can help us fight back to retake the game."

Vanellope and the others nod as they start walking toward the exit.

Cinndon looks at Sticky as they walk. "Sticky, did you call me Cinn?"

Sticky blushes slightly as she realized that she did. She runs her hand through her hair. "Um, sorry." she says while nervously laughing.

Cinndon smiles "No need for an apology there Sticky." He walks past her.

Sticky goes wide eyed and blushes more as Taffyta walks up and pats her back.

"You know you havent asked him yet." Taffyta whispers to Sticky.

Sticky laughs nervously again. "Yeah."

The group walks into the exit tunnel and leaves the underground cavern, bound for Jinjo Village.