Here we go! Chapter 9 is up and running!

Chapter 9: Shadows and Light

A group of slingers were being attacked by a couple of Dr. Blakk's enforcers, Locke and Load. The slingers took cover behind their mechas. Locke fired a Grimmstone ghoul, grazing one of the slingers. "Locke! And Load!" The 2 shouted, firing 2 Hop Jacks at the same time, demolishing one of the mechas. 2 of the slingers continued firing at Locke and Load, while the other fired a Phosporo slug into the sky, using Arcalyte. "Fireworks?" Locke asked, chuckling at the seemingly pointless shot. "Yeah! Fireworks that go boom!" Load added.

Suddenly, Chiller came out of nowhere, zipping between the 2. "Hey! Where'd that come from?" Locke asked. They looked at a cliff to see Eli and his gang emerge on the cliff. "The Shane Gang!" Load said in surprise. "Good, you remember us." Eli called. "So, I'm pretty sure you can guess what'll happen next." He fired Rocky from his blaster at the 2, just blasting the ground behind them. Locke and Load charged, firing their ghouls at the Shane Gang. Kord fired Bludgeon, punching Locke off his mecha. Locke looked to see the slug chittering at him before hopping off. Locke got back up and fired a Terrarix while Load fired another Hop Jack. The Terrarix dug a hole and the Hop Jack followed. The gang stopped as the Terrarix dug its way towards them. Then the Hop Jack exploded from underneath them, sending the gang flying and slamming onto the ground. Eli struggled, but went unconscious. Lock and Load chuckled at their progress.


(Intro)


"You see that, Load?" Locke asked. "Shane Gang's no match for what we got." "You got that right! They blowed up good!" Load agreed. "Real good." Locke quietly repeated. Eli woke up and fired Burpy, traping the 2 in a Flamespire. "They're on their heels! Now's your chance to push them over!" Eli called to the other slingers, who fired their slugs at Locke and Load. "I suggest an honorable retreat!" Locke said. "No! Run away!" Load yelled, not knowing it was the same thing his brother said. Load rode away on his mecha while Locke fired a Hop Jack at the ground, creating a smoke cloud to cover their escape.

When they were gone, the Shane Gang went to look over the other slingers. Kord blew some smoke from his blaster. Pronto attempted to do the same, but his breath couldn't reach. So, he tapped Kord's shoulder and had him blow out the smoke. Burpy hopped back to Eli, who looked at the slingers. They had canisters filled with Fandango slugs. "What're you doing with all of these Fandango slugs?" He asked. "I know that they have tons of slug energy, but aren't they pretty useless in a fight?" Kord added, walking over. "That slug energy is precisely why we need them. They aren't for dueling. We're taking them to Bullseye Cavern" The slinger named Rubin Evern explained.

"Something is forcing the native slugs to abandon the place, turning it into a dead zone. We need an infusion of Fandango slug energy to attract the native slugs back." He continued. "Oh! So, you're hoping the Fandangos will jumpstart the cavern and bring it back to life." Trixie guessed, looking over the slugs. "Everytime we try to deliver the slugs, those 2 shut us down!" Rubin said. "Locke and Load. They work for Dr. Blakk." Eli revealed. "They've blown up nearly every passage in and out of Bullseye through the west. And now our mechas are trashed. We'll never make it there in time." Rubin said in pity. "We'll take them for you." Harley offered. "What? We will?!" Pronto gasped in shock, dropping his blaster. Trixie, Kord and Vance glared at the molenoid. "I mean, yes! We will." Pronto corrected himself. "So, it's true. You 2 really are Will Shane's kids." Rubin guessed. "Well, we need a Shane or 2 right now. If we don't get these slugs to Bullseye, we'll lose it for good." He said as his friends loaded the canisters onto the cart. "No pressure." Eli assured. "We do things like this all the time." Harley added. "Hmmm. You're good kids, Eli and Harley Shane." Rubin said. "You kids ever need help, we'll be there." "Well, let's load 'em up!" Eli said.


Locke and Load looked to see that the Shane Gang had the cart of Fandangos. "What?! The Shane Gang's taking the load to Bullseye?!" Locke asked in shock. "That's not good, is it? You think we should call the boss?" Load asked without thinking. "Did you get knocked in the head again? Not a word to Blakk about this. If he finds out, he'll send reinforcements! This is our job." Locke explained to his dimwitted brother. "We'll take care of them ourselves and collect us a huge reward! Just think of what we could do with all that money, Load!" That made Load chuckle. "We could buy us a lot of gold!" He said without thinking, making Locke groan.


The Shane Gang made their way through a dark cavern. "Okay. Break it down for us again, Trix. The caverns run on slug energy." Eli guessed. "Didn't you 2 learn this in school like the rest of us?" Trixie asked, confused at Eli and Harley's lack of Slugterra knowledge. "Actually, Dad kinda home schooled us." Eli lied. "Right." Trixie said, buying Eli's fib. "Well, the energy that makes all life possible is strongest in the slugs." She explained. "Wherever they are, things live. Without them-" "Right. Dead zone." Eli finished. "I just don't get why Blakk would wanna let that happen to an entire cavern." Harley thought the same thing. 'The slugs wouldn't leave Bullseye without a good reason. Unless, Blakk did something to frighten them away from Bullseye.'

As Harley continued to think, rock pillars started to collapse around the gang. They looked up to see Locke and Load firing Hop Jacks at the surrounding pillars. "They're trying to box us in!" Eli said. "Pronto! Lead us back out!" Pronto looked behind them, only to see that their exit was blocked. "I believe they have accomplished their diabolical goal! I curse their success!" He said. "Even the dumbest minds in Slugterra get it right once in a while." Vance stated. Eli saw an opening. "This way! It's our only chance!" He called to his team. They rode off, avoiding the falling rocks. One which was falling towards Pronto.

Locke and Load cackled at their progress. "We done crushed them Shanes!" Load boasted. "Well, little brother, best we get down there and make sure. They're a crafty bunch." Locke said. The 2 started to make their way down to the ground.


The Shane Gang managed to survive the rocks. "Well, that was fun. And when I say fun I mean, oh my head!" Kord groaned. "You'd think a cave troll's head would be as hard as a rock. Boy, am I wrong." Harley said snickering. "We're alive. That's good, right?" Eli asked before turning to Pronto. "Pronto, where are we?" He asked. "Hmm. Let me see." Pronto said, pulling out a map. "Hmm, let's see. Say, Burpy. Could you lend Pronto some light, please?" Pronto asked holding out his hand. Burpy chittered and hopped to the mole's hand, lighting his head. "Thank you. Now, here we go." Pronto looked at the map. "We are completely cut off from our destination." He announced. "Would you like me to be more specific?" Trixie walked up. "Is there another path?" She asked. "Nope." Pronto answered. "A secret passage?" Kord asked. "Nope." Pronto repeated. "Anything?!" Eli asked. "Well-" Pronto thought but stopped himself. "Nope." "Aha! I heard a 'well'. What is it Pronto?" Eli asked, knowing Pronto was hiding something. Pronto started sweating. Hard to tell if it was from nerves or Burpy's heat. "Well, maybe there is a route we could take." He explained, making the others smile. "But we'd be fools to do so!" He warned. "Usually when you say things like that, it ends up being fun." Eli stated. "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no! Not this time!" Pronto said, looking back at the map. "The only other way to Bullseye is a path fraught with danger! It's dark, long, twisty and cuts right through the territory of the Shadow Clan!" He revealed.

Eli just put on a big smile. "Guys?" He asked looking at his team. Kord nodded to Trixie, knowing their answer. Harley and Vance also gave a nod, giving their answer. Pronto went wide-eyed. "No, no, no! You're not actually considering-" He started to guess, looking at the smiles they were forming. "EEEEEE! You are!" He finished before fainting.

As they started to continue, Locke and Load got through the rock pile behind them. "Aw! We didn't get 'em all blown up!" Load whined. "Told you they were crafty." Locke gloated. "Well, if they're so crafty, why're they going that way? That's Shadow Clan territory." Load pointed out. "We gonna follow?" He asked. "I'd rather face Blakk than what's down that passage." Locke responded. "They'll never make it through. But we should be prepared. Just in case." He said, making a plan.


The Shane Gang continued through, entering the Shadow Clan territory. "The Dark Periphery. Home of the Shadow Clan." Kord announced. "This is the opportunity of a life time." Trixie said, trying to lighten the mood. Eli looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I mean, no one has ever managed to capture the Shadow Clan on film. At least no whose managed to live." Trixie explained. Harley noticed Pronto looking a more nervous than usual. "You seem unusually quiet there, Pronto." He stated. "Pronto is not quiet! Pronto is speechless! The Shadow Clan are the most evil things in Slugterra and we're strolling into their backyard!" Pronto explained.

Eli turned to Pronto. "I've seen the Shadow Clan before. Twice. Remember?" He said. "They're scary sure, but they can't be that bad. Maybe they're just misunderstood." That made everyone's eyes widen. "What?!" Pronto asked in shock. 'The Shadow Clan? Misunderstood? By us?' Trixie thought. 'Maybe Eli has a point.' "You said it yourself. We're just skirting through the edge of their territory. They probably won't even know we're here." Boy, was Eli wrong. 2 Shadow Clan scouts started stalking them.

Pronto suddenly got a familiar smell in the air. "I hear something." He whispered. "Everyone, against the rock!" The gang moved their mechas out of sight. Eli and Harley looked at them. "Is this really necessary?" Eli asked. Trixie shushed him and pointed up. Eli and Harley looked to see 2 more Shadow Clan scouts climbing on the rocks. "Okay. Yes, it is." Eli said, moving up against the wall as the scouts drew closer.

The scouts looked around. The gang kept hidden. "Nobody move! The Shadow Clan have excellent vision, a keen sense of smell and a penchant for scared molenoids to their early deaths!" Pronto explained. Kord smelled himself on the sense of smell part. Trixie peeked up from the rock, not seeing the scouts. "I don't see them." She said. "We were lucky. Let's count our blessings and turn back." Pronto suggested. "We can't turn back!" Eli snapped. "Bullseye needs those slugs." "Eli's right." Harley added. "Fine! The sooner we're there, the sooner, we're out of this wretched place." Pronto said, giving in and continuing on.

The scouts from earlier closed in on them. "Dad used to tell us about the Shadow Clan." Eli said. "What exactly did your dad tell you?" Trixie asked. "They can communicate with slugs, they've been in Slugterra longer than any other species and uh…I forget the third thing." Harley said. Trixie suddenly took notice on movement behind them. "Uh, guys? I don't wanna freak you out, but there's something moving behind us." She said. They looked back, seeing the scouts. "I thought we lost them." Eli said out of disappointment. "I guess the Shadow Clan are good trackers like molenoids." Harley said. "I will take that as a compliment." Pronto said. "But I know several molenoid tracking tricks that should confuse them."

They headed up a slope. Pronto took notice at the ground. "Hmm. Dry rock. No tracks for them to follow." He then dabbed his finger on his tongue and held it in the air. "And we are downwind. No scent for them to pick up." He then took the lead. "Follow my lead. How fortunate you are to be in the company of the greatest tracker in all of Slugterra." He boasted. Eli looked back, seeing that the scouts were still following them. "Guys, we gotta step on it!" He said. Pronto looked back. "What? Preposterous!" He said, knowing that his 'skills' never failed him before. "Okay. Time for another incredible molenoid skill." "And what would that be exactly?" Harley asked. "ESCAPE!" Pronto answered, riding downhill. "Well, you heard the mole." Harley called, following Pronto. The others joined in afterwards. Kord looked back to see the scouts chasing them. "They're on our 6!" He called. The scouts continued the chase, not noticing that the gang ducked down beside the next slope. Pronto peaked up. "There. You see? My evasive tactics were a grand success." He said sitting back into his seat. "But praise for Pronto can wait until we get to Bullseye. If I never see another Shadow Clan again, it will be too soon." Trixie just shook her head until she heard a screech. She peaked over the rock. "Uh, guys?" She said. The others gathered to see more Shadow Clan assembling near a rock. "There's more of them. We should get a closer look." Eli suggested, taking off. Kord, Harley and Trixie followed. "Are you kidding?!" Pronto asked in a whisper, seeing that Eli was not stopping. "You're not kidding. You know what? You should kid more."

The Shadow Clan gathered around the stone, where a Shadow Clan with some kind of crown, probably their chief, was sitting. The chief screeched as more Shadow Clan emerged from the shadows. Eli, Trixie, Harley and Kord were close by, with Trixie filming everything. "Okay. You got your closer look. We better scram." Kord said to Eli. "Look!" Eli pointing out. "The path ahead is too exposed. If we move now, everyone down there is gonna see us." He explained. "We need some kind of distraction." Just then, a Rammstone and Dirt Urchin hopped from the chief's tail to his hands. "I don't like the looks of this." Kord said. "Right there with you." Harley agreed. The chief gave a big screech and the slugs started glowing green. The other Shadow Clan did the same with their slugs. "They're distracted! Now's our chance!" Eli said, making their way back to their mechas.

As the gang made their way up the slope, the Shadow Clan's screeching started making the Fandangos in the cart glow too. Pronto took notice. "Hey! Stop that you miserable creatures! You'll give us away!" He whispered. "Guys. What's gotten into you?" Eli asked. "It's gotta be the Shadow Clan. Those screeches must've triggered an energy surge in the slugs." Harley deduced. Eli looked down. The chief pointed at them and screeched. "RUN!" Eli called. The gang rode as fast as their mechas could go, with the Shadow Clan hot on their tails. "It's like a big giant sign pointing right at us!" Trixie said, noting the glow. "And I am the all-you-can-eat buffet!" Pronto said out of fear. The Shadow Clan started slinging Hop Rocks at the gang.

"Pronto! You, Trixie and Vance keep going with those slugs. Kord, Harley and I will buy you some time." Eli said, firing Rocky at one of the Shadow Clan, but it phased back and forth before Rocky could even hit it. Eli went wide eyed at what just happened. Kord slung his Arachnet, Flycatcher, creating a web to block the Shadow Clan. But they phased through the shadows to the other side. "How are they doing that?!" Kord asked in shock. "Uh, Harley? Something you want to say?" Eli asked his brother. "Yeah. That third thing? I just remembered: The Shadow Clan can phase through the shadows to get to anywhere in Slugterra. Hence the name." Harley explained.

The gang made their way into a tunnel as another Hop Rock was slung into a pillar. Eli loaded Burner and slung him, creating a lava stream to block off the Shadow Clan. But the Shadow Clan just started climbing on the tunnel roof. The gang kept moving to the tunnel exit, only to find the Shadow Clan just outside it, making them skid to a stop. Soon, the Shadow Clan surrounded them as the glow from the Fandangos died down. "They will never take me alive!" Pronto said, pulling out his blaster. "If this is to be my fate, then Pronto will go out in a blaze of-" He noticed the others putting their hands up in surrender. "Surrender?!" Pronto groaned. "Look on the bright side. No ones ever been this close to the Shadow Clan." Eli said. One of the Shadow Clan motioned the gang to follow them.

As the gang followed the Shadow Clan, Trixie filmed the Shadow Clan from close up. One of them growled at her. "Just checking the lens cap." She said nervously. Pronto quivered in fear. Kord and Vance just glared at the Shadow Clan from all sides. The Shadow Clan brought them to the presence of their chief, who was walking towards Eli and Harley. "We're sorry we had to cross through your territory, but we have a good reason." Eli apologized. "If we don't get these slugs to Bullseye Cavern, then the cavern will go dark. It'll die!" Trixie explained as the chief walked to the back of the cart. He looked inside to see the containers of slugs. "HEY!" Eli shouted, getting the chief's attention. "Those aren't yours! Don't you understand me at all?! Bullseye Cavern needs these slugs!" He explained again. "He's right! The cavern's about to become a dead zone!" Harley added, backing his brother up. The chief just looked at the brothers and screeched at them.

Burpy, knowing what to do, hopped out of his barrel and ignited himself from on top of a rock, getting everyone's attention. Burpy started chittering and growling at the Shadow Clan. The chief's eyes widened, understanding what the slug was saying. The gang looked at each other confused. Burpy hopped down from the rock, still growling and chittering, making the Shadow Clan back away as if they were afraid. When Burpy finished, the chief growled and pointed the way to Bullseye, with the rest of the Shadow Clan stepping aside. "I think they're letting us go." Kord guessed. "Lucky for them." Pronto boasted. "Thank you." Eli said to the chief before he and Harley walked back to their mechas. Harley turned back to the chief. "Before I go, 2 words for you: Breath Mint." He muttered before hurrying back to his mecha.

As the gang slowly walked through, Eli and Harley sped ahead to pick up Burpy. "Burpy, what'd you say to them?" He asked. Burpy looked at the brothers and chittered. Harley looked at Burpy as if he understood. "I think Burpy explained our predicament." He guessed as Burpy hopped back up to Eli's shoulder. "Well, if that's what you said, good job." Eli said to his best slug as the gang exited the Dark Periphery.

In no time, the gang reached Bullseye Cavern. Well, what's left of it at least. "Okay. Bullseye Cavern. You may now begin singing my praises." Pronto boasted. 'Dream on.' Harley thought as he shook his head and Trixie rolled her eyes. Eli hopped off Lucky and looked around. "Now what?" He asked. "Release the Fandangos. They'll find somewhere to roost and then this will all be over." Trixie explained as Kord made his way to the back of the cart. Eli continued to look at the soon to be dead cavern as Kord brought out the containers. He opened them and released the slugs. "There you go little fellas. Don't be shy." He said to the slugs. They made their way into the cavern. Everybody looked on with smiles. Trixie, awaiting to see the magic happen, took Eli's hand into hers. Eli noticed, but smiled and intertwined his fingers with hers.

The Fandangos were halfway into the cavern, until they sensed something nearby, got scared and turned around hopping away. "That's not supposed to happen, is it?" Eli asked. "No. They definitely don't like something in here." Trixie said. "Maybe we're too late!" Kord said in worry as the slugs hopped to the exit. "Hey! Where're you guys going?!" Eli called to the slugs. Burpy, Joules and Doc started to quiver from in their barrels, sensing the same thing. Burpy tried to hop out, but Eli caught him. "Stay with me, Burpy." Eli said. Harley noticed the same thing as Frostbite and Zipper tried to leave too. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's wrong with you guys?" He asked, grabbing his slugs. "Keep your slugs close!" Eli called to his team. "Whatever this is, it's affecting them too!" Suddenly an explosion came from the walls as Locke and Load came out from their newly made tunnel.


"Look at that! A new path into Bullseye Cavern." Locke said. "We blowed it up good!" Load chuckled until he saw the gang. "Shane Gang? They made it?!" This made Locke chuckle. "It don't matter! They're too late!" He said, making Eli, Harley and Kord glare. "The cavern's dead and their slugs are buggin' out!" "I'll be with you guys in a second." Eli said, turning to his team. "We can still save this cavern! Pronto! Vance! I need you guys to round up the Fandango slugs!" "It would be my pleasure." Pronto said, taking off after the slugs. "We're on it." Vance followed. "Trixie! Harley! Maybe you 2 can figure out what's making them leave?" "On it!" Trixie said, taking off. "You got it, bro!" Harley followed. "Kord?" "Say no more." Kord said pounding his fist into his hand. Eli turned back to Locke and Load. "Now, I think it's time we settled this." He said. "You 2 wanna duel us?" Locke asked in disbelief. "Unless you wanna hug it out instead." Eli joked. That made Locke and Load chuckle. "You can't win!" Locke said. "And not only that, but you're gonna lose." Load added as he and his brother aimed their blasters at Eli and Kord.

Eli quick drew and fired Chiller as Locke and Load fired their Hop Jacks. Chiller hit the rock wall behind them, creating an ice wall. Kord dodged one of the Hop Jacks and fired Bludgeon. Bludgeon hit the ice wall, creating an avalanche of falling ice that nearly crushed Locke and Load. They jumped down out of the way and fired Greneaters at Eli and Kord's feet. As the fuses on their tails lit, Eli and Kord ran to get out of blast range. "Ghouled Grenuke slugs!" Eli called as the ghouls exploded. Eli and Kord ducked behind a rock.

"Stop in the name of Pronto and Vance!" Pronto called as he and Vance chased after the Fandango slugs. Pronto jumped at one, only to get a mouthful of rocks. Vance checked on him as Pronto spat out the rock clumps. "You okay?" Vance asked. "I'm okay." Pronto answered. They looked out to the still hopping Fandangos. "So, that's the way it's going to be, huh?" Pronto asked, liking a challenge.

Locke fired another Hop Jack at the rock Eli and Kord were covering behind. Eli took Joules' barrel from his belt. Joules looked very frightened. "I know you don't like it here Joules, but please stick around, okay?" Eli pleaded with his Tazerling. Joules sparked her head, ready to fight. Eli loaded her into his blaster and fired her. Joules fired her Tazerbolt at Locke and Load, shocking them both.

Pronto and Vance continued the chase after the slugs. "Run all you want! Pronto can do this all day." Pronto called, him and Vance getting tired from the chasing. "You're only tiring yourselves out." He panted out. "Actually, we're tiring ourselves out." Vance corrected. "I know that! Don't let them know that." Pronto said before continuing on after the slugs.

Trixie and Harley scoped around, avoiding the ghouls Locke and Load were firing. The 2 ducked behind a pillar. "What exactly are we looking for?!" Trixie asked, about ready to give up. "I don't know! Anything the Fandangos might be scared of!" Harley suggested. They looked over to Pronto and Vance still chasing the Fandangos. "The Fandango slugs!" Trixie said, getting an idea and running over to them. "How are the Fandangos gonna-" Harley thought for a minute. "Oh, I get it!" He ran over to join her.

Pronto and Vance were now getting extremely tired. They were panting really hard and were about to collapse. Trixie and Harley picked up a Fandango slug that lingered at Pronto and Vance's unfortunates and headed off. Pronto was shocked. "How did you do that?!" He called. He noticed another Fandango hopping away from him. He pounced for it but missed. "Curse you beasts." He groaned.

Trixie looked at the poor slug. "I know you wanna get out of here. But we have an idea and we need your help." She said. The slug just shook in fear. "Let's hope this works." Harley said as he and Trixie walked around, holding out the slug, until they stopped as they pointed the slug at a target like formation. "You don't like going this way, do you?" Trixie asked the still shaking slug, looking at the target. "It's gotta be-" Harley thought the same thing as Trixie dropped the slug and it hopped away. "Bullseye!" They said together, running towards the target. They looked down a hole to see the last thing they would've expected, a tub full of Dark Water. "Whoa! So that explains it!" Trixie said. "Dark Water!" Harley added. "We've gotta get Eli!" Trixie said. Harley nodded and they ran to get Eli.

Eli and Kord were still avoiding Locke and Load's ghouls from Hop Jacks to Greneaters. Eli and Kord were soon pushed into rocky cover. Locke and Load chuckled at the sight. "I'm almost out of slugs!" Eli said. "Me too! And if they get chased away like the rest of them, we're gonna have a bigger problem!" Kord said as Eli loaded another slug. "No slugs at all!" Eli finished. Unfortunately, their cover was destroyed by Locke and Load. They struggled from the ground as Locke and Load stood over a glaring Eli and aimed their blasters at him. "Admit it kid! You lost!" Locke said. "Yeah! And we won!" Load added. But Eli and Kord were smiling. "Then, why are they smiling?" Locke asked in confusion. They heard blasters being prepped. They turned to see Trixie and Harley wielding their blasters. "We'll give you a hint!" Trixie said, firing the Frightgeist she got from Deadweed Cavern, now named Haunter. Haunter hit Locke and Load with Frightningrod, making them scared out of their pants. "Part 2 of our little combo." Harley said, firing Zipper, who flew into Locke and Load's scared faces and screeched at them. Locke and Load started running straight for the exit. "And tell Dr. Blakk, 'nice try!" Eli called after them.

Trixie walked up to Eli. "Frightgeist slug. Combined with a Hoverbug. Nice shot, Trixie." Eli said impressed with Trixie's plan. "Thanks. I guess our trip to Deadweed has really paid off." Trixie said with a blush. "Uh, guys? Not that I don't want to interrupt you lovebirds or anything, but Eli, you're gonna wanna see this." Harley said, making Eli and Trixie blush hard.

Eli looked down the hole and saw the Dark Water. "Dark Water?" He asked. "Yep." Trixie answered. "That tub of Dark Water is what was driving the slugs away. Blakk thought he could ghoul this entire cavern." "And I've got just the cure." Eli said, holding up Doc. Doc looked eager and hopped into his barrel, which Eli loaded into his blaster. "That's a lot of Dark Water. You sure Doc can neutralize it all?" Kord asked in concern. "Kord's probably right. That much Dark Water could probably even ghoul Doc." Harley added. "What do you think Doc? Up for a swim?" Eli asked the Boon Doc. Doc nodded and Eli fired him into the tub. A few seconds went by and the spot where Doc dived began to bubble. Eli, Trixie, Harley and Kord got scared for a minute. But then, Doc emerged and began to swim in a circle, neutralizing the dark water.

Pronto continued after the Fandangos, but noticed they stopped in front of him, causing him to fall almost on top of them. Vance slowly made his way up to the fallen molenoid. "We get one?" He panted out.

Suddenly, Doc began to slow down. "He's running out of steam!" Eli said, worried about his slug. "There's too much Dark Water in that tub!" Harley added. "We need a miracle!" "Yah-ha! Success!" Pronto called out, running up to them as if on cue, holding a Fandango slug. "Uh, only one?" Kord asked, making Pronto stop in his steps to give the troll a dirty look. "No. It's perfect." Trixie said. "Fire it into the hole! The good energy in it will help counteract the dark kind." She explained as Pronto held up a barrel for the slug to jump in. "Pronto hurry!" Pronto loaded the slug into his blaster and fired it at the tub. The Fandango transformed and gave off an energy surge that gave Doc his groove back. "It's working! We need more!" Eli called. "Here comes the cavalry!" Vance called as he, Burpy and the Fandangos came up to the bullseye. "For the record, this was all Burpy." Vance explained. "Nice job, you 2!" Eli said. The gang set up barrels for the Fandangos to hop into. The gang slung the slugs at the tub, giving Doc some help. The rest of the Fandangos acted on their own. They hopped down the hole, transforming as they reached velocity, giving off enough energy to not only neutralize the Dark Water give off a surge of slug energy that started bringing the cavern back to life. The gang cheered as Bullseye got its color back. The gang sat down to enjoy the show. "Wow." Eli said. "Yeah." Trixie agreed. Doc hopped out of the tub, earning cheers and praise from the Fandangos.

The gang looked on as Bullseye was restored. "Wow. Now this is really beautiful." Harley said. "Yeah, but what I don't get: Why of all caverns did Blakk wanna empty out this place?" Kord asked. "Because this is the exact center of Slugterra." Trixie said. The others looked at her. "Get it? Bullseye!" "This was nothing but a land grab!" Eli said, putting the pieces together. "And Blakk was staking his claim with Dark Water." Kord just slapped his hand on Eli's back. "Well, looks like we've figured everything out." Kord said. "Not everything. I can't stop thinking about why the Shadow Clan let us go." Eli said as Burpy hopped from his shoulder to his backhand. "Sure wish you could tell us what you know about them." "I DID IT!" The gang heard Trixie yell. "I'm the first person to ever capture the Shadow Clan on film!" The gang looked at the footage, but it was all shadowy. Not even Burpy could see the Shadow Clan. "Uh, congratulations?" Eli said, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "I know! Isn't it awesome?! When this footage gets out, it's gonna be massive!" Trixie said excited.

"Oh boy." Harley said getting up to walk back to his mecha, only to slightly trip over something. He looked down to see Vance sleeping. "Vance?" Pronto looked down at the slug racer turned slinger. "I guess chasing those Fandango slugs tuckered him out more than me." He guessed. Kord threw Vance over his shoulder and the 3 walked back to the mechas, with a few Fandangos following them. Trixie was about to join them, but Eli stopped her. "Hey Trix? Um, I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna go for a mecha stroll somewhere sometime? Just you and me?" He asked blushingly. Trixie smiled and took his hand. "I'd like that." She said. They walked back to their mechas hand in hand. Harley looked back at them, happy that Eli now has a beautiful woman in his life.


Meanwhile, Locke and Load, fully recovered from the Frightningrod attack, were wondering through the tunnel they escaped in. They knew Dr. Blakk was gonna be mad at them for losing Bullseye Cavern. "Alright. We'll lay low for a while. Then find a way to get back at those kids and their gang!" Locke said. "Yeah! Get them good!" Load added, not noticing a couple of Shadow Clan moving behind them. "Make Blakk happy and make us happy." "We'll send a message: Nobody messes with Locke and Load!" Locke said. Until the 2 of them got surrounded by the Shadow Clan. "Not happy." Load got out as the chief screeched at them.

To be continued…

Whoo! That's finished! Blakk almost got Bullseye Cavern destroyed! And who knows what secrets lie with the Shadow Clan? More surprises await in the next chapter.

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), Doc (Boon Doc), Larry (Lariet), Gust (Tormato), Buzzsaw (Thresher), Digger (Crystalid), Spinner (Arachnet), Mucky (Dirt Urchin), Tangles (Vinedrill), Spooker (Frightgeist), Charger (Fandango)

Harley Shane: Matchstick (Flaringo), Squirm (Flopper), Frostbite (Frostcrawler), Webs (Arachnet), Gels (Jellyish), Zipper (Hoverbug), Ivy (Vinedrill), Masher (Rammstone), Frights (Frightgeist)

Trixie Sting: Bluster (Tormato), Blizzard (Frostcrawler), Spider (Arachnet), Twirl (Polero), Balloon (Bubbaleone), Haunter (Frightgeist)

Kord Zane: Bludgeon (Rammstone), Sploder (Hop Rock), Jolt (Tazerling), Trip (Polero), Flycatcher (Arachnet)

Pronto Geronimo: Stinky (Flatulorhinkus), Slimey (Jellyish), Soapy (Bubbaleone), Bruiser (Rammstone)