In addition to this chapter, Burpy and the separated slugs are gonna talk. Sort of. Just so you readers don't miss a thing.

'…' Slug pov

Chapter 20: The Journey Home

In a canyon, Locke, Load, and several Blakk soldiers were being pursued by the Shane Gang. Locke motioned for the soldiers to split up down a separate canyon. "You guys take out Blakk's guards." Eli said. "Consider them taken." Trixie said, taking off after the guards. "Harley and me will wrap up Locke & Load before they get that- thing to Dr. Blakk." Eli said, pointing to a canister Locke was carrying. "We have no idea what that- thing does, Eli. For all we know, it could be lunch." Kord said. "Somehow, I doubt that." Eli said. "Only one way to find out." Harley said. The gang split up. Eli and Harley continued after Locke and Load, while the others chased the other guards.

Locke saw the Shane brothers coming, drew his blaster and fired a Thrasher ghoul, slicing a rock pillar. "Eli, watch out!" Harley called. Eli saw the sliced boulder falling towards him and fired Banger, smashing it to pieces. "Great work, Banger!" Eli called. "Let's go." Banger hopped after. Locke and Load fired a couple of Grimmstones. Burpy chittered and pointed to Spinner. "Okay, Spinner." Eli said, loading her in his blaster and slinging her. She trapped the 2 ghouls in her web. "That's sticking it to 'em." Eli said. "Good one." Harley said with a chuckle. Spinner landed on a rock nearby as the brothers rode by and hopped after. Suddenly, Harley caught a glint of light on the hill. "Heads up! Sniper!" He called, firing Twister as the sniper fired a Hop Jack. Twister blew the ghoul back with Galestorm, hitting the sniper. Locke and Load then fired 4 ghouls at once. A Hop Jack, a Frostfang, a Grimmstone and a Greneater. Eli and Harley gasped. "Burpy, you're up!" Eli called. Burpy hopped into his barrel. "Joules, you're next." Joules nodded. Eli fired Burpy first, then he loaded and fired Joules. "I'll help you out." Harley said. "Ivy, you're first. Sizzle, you follow." Harley fired Ivy first, then his Grenuke from Quiet Lawn, Sizzle. As the 4 slugs collided with the 4 ghouls, a big energy surge built up. Locke and Load looked back to see. Only to find Burpy, Joules, Ivy and Sizzle standing victorious. The 4 slugs chest-bumped each other before they hopped after the Shane brothers.

As the Shane brothers continued to pursue Locke and Load, the 3 guards came up behind them, only to be blasted off of their mechas. "Bye-bye guards." Trixie said as she and the others rode up. Locke and Load rode up to a land bridge. "Yet you 2 still haven't wrapped up Locke and Load I see." Pronto said insultingly. "We were just waiting for you guys so we could bring them down together." Eli said. "We were?" Harley asked confused. Eli glared. "Oh, yeah, of course we were." Harley chuckled nervously.

As the gang started crossing the land bridge, Load fired a Hop Jack at the bridge. The blast caused the bridge to fall apart. "Dude, you had it backwards! Looks like we're the ones heading down!" Kord yelled as another Hop Jack hit the bridge. The gang screamed and raced for their lives to the other side.


(Intro)


The bridge continued to crumble as the gang continued to ride. Locke and Load chuckled at their presumed success. Pronto screamed at a very bad sight. The front of the bridge was collapsing too! Eli picked a barrel from his belt. "Keep it together, Chiller!" He said. Chiller nodded. Eli loaded and slung Chiller, freezing the collapsing bridge with deep freeze. Chiller popped back into his protoform and landed on the bridge as the gang rode by. Eli gave his slug a wink and continued on. The gang hopped from bridge piece to bridge piece, making it safely to the other side. "Everyone okay?" Kord asked. "Yeah, thanks to Chiller." Eli said.

Chiller started to hop when suddenly, there was a rumbling sound. Then, the bridge gave out, causing Chiller to fall. "Chiller!" Eli called. Chiller screamed as he fell. But suddenly, he was lassoed back to the other side by Spinner and her web. Burpy and the other slugs chittered a laugh. Eli looked on. "Eli, we gotta go!" Trixie said. "She's right. If Locke and Load get that lunchbox, or whatever that thing is to Blakk-" Harley started. "I know." Eli said. "Burpy! We'll meet you guys back at the hideout!" He called over. Burpy nodded and led the slugs over to the right. "Long before us no doubt!" Pronto said as they continued to ride after Locke and Load. "It's as if slugs have their own secret way of getting around Slugterra. A way they refuse to share with Pronto!" He said, glaring at Stinky, who chittered an insult.

Burpy led Joules, Banger, Ivy, Chiller, Twister, Spinner and Sizzle over a hill. "Over there. There's our way home." Burpy chittered, pointing at a nearby air hole. The slugs hopped over to it and looked down it. Apparently, the hole leads down to a series of underground air tunnels that connect throughout Slugterra, which can also lead them back to the hideout. "You guys ready?"Burpy asked. "Oh yeah." "Let's do this thing!" "Let's go, let's go!" The slugs chittered. Then, they jumped down the hole and rode the underground winds, just as other slugs in the tunnels were doing the same.

As the slugs traveled through the tunnels, above them, the gang was still chasing Locke and Load. Locke and Load fired 2 more ghouls at the gang, almost grazing them. Kord fired his new Gazzer slug, Chuckles, at Load, hitting his face with Hilariteaser, causing Load to laugh uncontrollably and nearly hit Locke with another ghoul. "Hey! Careful you lummox!" Locke warned. "Eli, they're pulling away!" Kord called. "What do we do now, kid?" Mario asked. Eli looked down at his last 2 slugs, Glimmer and Suds. "I'm gonna have a hard time stopping them with Glimmer and Suds." He said. "What about you Harley?" Lash asked. "Same for me with just Gels and Quill." Harley said, pointing to his last 2 slugs, Gels and Quill, his Dirt Urchin. "Then allow me." Trixie said, riding up. "Blow 'em away, Bluster!" She fired Bluster, creating Slyphoon. The raging winds snagged the box from Locke's back, but also destroyed it, creating a blinding light, making the gang stop in their tracks. "Just keep riding. I'll deal with Dr. Blakk." Locke said as he and Load kept on riding.

"Why didn't you do that before?!" Pronto asked in annoyance and disbelief as the pieces fell to the ground. "I didn't mean to blow it up." Trixie said. "It's alright, babe. Just as long as Locke and Load won't be bringing it to Blakk, I think we can call it a win." Eli assured. Trixie smiled. "Though I'd like to be celebrating with the rest of my slugs." Eli said. "Me too, bro. Me too." Harley said. "Don't worry, you guys. Slugs always find their way back home." Trixie assured. "Yeah. You're right." Eli said as the gang started back for home. "I'm sure when we get there, we'll find Burpy and the other slugs already at the clubhouse, kicking back and relaxing."


Meanwhile, Burpy and the other slugs continued to fly through the tunnels. Joules, Banger and Ivy had fallen asleep. Suddenly, Chiller got a runny nose. Sizzle saw this. "Uh, Burpy?" He chittered. Burpy looked back to see. Chiller was about to sneeze! "Look out!" Burpy yelled. Chiller sneezed a blizzard, blowing the slugs away and freezing the entry tunnel they were heading for. Burpy hit his head off the ice and got sucked down into another tunnel. The others followed, screaming as they fell.


Meanwhile, the gang passed through Quisingly Cavern. Only the place was looking beat up and trashed. Eli took a good look around. "We've passed through this cavern dozens of times on our way back home before. But somehow it seems different." He said. "Hmm. Indeed. Last time I was here, the town was fat and happy." Pronto pointed out. "So, it was, stranger. Until Munch showed up at least." A guy said from the side. "Munch?" Eli said. "Who's Munch?" Harley asked. "Come into town, big as a boulder and dumb as a sack of hammers, and ate us out of house and home." The guy explained. "Why not kick the bum out on his, uh, you know, bum?" Kord asked. "Because no one beat Munch!" A voice came. The gang turned to see a big, ogre-sized cyclops walk towards them. 'Hello ugly!' Harley thought. "You and your slugs challenging Munch to a duel?!" Munch asked, pointing his finger in Eli's face. Eli swatted the finger away. "If you leave this cavern and don't come back when I beat you, then yeah, I'll duel you." Eli said, forgetting that he didn't have Burpy and the others.

"Uh, Eli?" Trixie said as Kord shook his head and hands. "Not now, Trixie, I'm trash talking." Eli said. Trixie then threw a slug barrel at his head. "OW! Trixie, what?!" He asked in annoyance. "Your slugs! You're a few short, remember?" Trixie reminded. Eli looked at his arsenal in embarrassment. "No problem. I'll lend you Bludgeon." Kord said, taking Bludgeon's barrel from his belt. "And I'll loan you Ricochet." Mario said, holding up Ricochet's barrel. "And Pronto will give you the honor of fighting with my Stinky and his nasty stank." Pronto said, pulling up Stinky. "NO! No ringers!" Munch yelled, scaring Pronto. "You said you and your slugs gonna duel Munch! And that's what you're gonna do!" Munch said. "That is what you agreed to, Eli." Trixie said as Kord, Mario and Pronto put their slugs back. Eli now felt really embarrassed.

Munch chuckled. "After Munch beats Eli Shane, Munch will be king of the caverns!" He said, until he got an idea. "But wait. Why beat 1 Shane, when Munch can beat 2?" He asked. That made Harley cringe up. "Uh, what now?" He asked. "That right! Munch challenge both Shane brothers!" Munch declared. "And we left our ice ogre at home." Harley muttered. Eli sighed with regret. "Smart move there, Eli. Now me and Harley gotta duel a guy with a bandoleer of powered-up bruisers, while Burpy and the others are probably back home, taking a bath." He said.


Well, Eli got the bath part right. Burpy fell down the tunnel into a river in the Fumes. He gasped for air as Banger, Spinner and Twister followed down first. Then, Ivy and Sizzle. And finally, Joules and Chiller. "Look!" Chiller called, eying a log. The Fumes was full of them. The slugs climbed aboard the one as Burpy hopped up ahead. "Man, it's too dark in here." He said. He then lit his head on fire to light up the tunnel. "That's better." But little did he know, that his light attracted the attention of something in the dark, jumping into the water. Chiller took notice and squinted to see what it was. "Oh no." He said, seeing what it was. A wild Slug Hound was swimming towards them! "Slug Hound!" He called. Burpy hopped over. "Joules, get up here!" Spinner said. "Why?" Joules asked. She turned to look. Then she gasped at the sight and swam for the log. The hound swam closer. "Come on, Joules!" Chiller said. "You can make it!" Ivy said. "You're almost there!" Twister said. But the hound closed in on Joules and prepared to eat her. But Spinner spat a string of web at Joules and pulled her onto the log. "RUN!" Joules cried. The slugs hopped to the other side of the log. But for some reason, their side of the log started to raise itself. The slugs looked behind them to see that the hound had climbed onto the other side of the log. The slugs started to slide towards the hound's hungry mouth. "We're done for!" Ivy cried. But then, Chiller sneezed again, freezing the hound's head and sending him back into the water. The hound broke free of the ice and attempted to swim towards the log, but got caught in another current into another tunnel. The slugs chittered in laughter, until Burpy heard something. He turned to see. "Uh, guys?" He said, pointing behind him. Their log was heading towards a wood chipper!

The slugs cringed in fear as their log made its way up the conveyer belt. "Hop for your lives!" Burpy shouted. The slugs hopped off the log, but they were blocked by other logs. They had no choice. They hopped into the chipper, avoiding the sawblades. Burpy made it through, but noticed the others were gone. "Joules! Sizzle? Chiller? Where are you guys?" He called. "Here we are, Burp." Joules said, sticking her head out from a pile of sawdust behind Burpy. The other slugs hopped out from the pile and rejoined Burpy. "Well, at least the worst is over." Twister said. But then, there was a big orange glow up ahead. The slugs had come up to an incinerator! "You had to say it." Ivy grumbled. "Even I can't absorb all that fire!" Burpy said. "Well, what do we do now?" Spinner asked. Joules looked up and spotted a control box. "I got this." She said, shooting a Tazerbolt at the box, shorting it out and shutting down the incinerator, as well as the entire wood chipper. Chiller fainted from all of the excitement. "Chiller!" Spinner cried. "You okay, man?" Banger asked. As Chiller awoke to his friends looking down at him, he noticed something. "Look!" He said, pointing up. The slugs looked to see an open vent hatch in the ceiling. Spinner looked at her friends. "Oh, I'm gonna regret this." She said, shooting a web up to the vent. "Grab on." She said. The other slugs grabbed onto her and she swung them up to the vent.

The slugs found their way up the vent and into the Mech Forge. Suddenly, a big claw knocked them into a box and were sealed up.


Back at Quisingly Cavern, Munch had just walked out of a cantina, eating a turkey leg. As he ate, he overheard Eli and Harley talking to Kord. "You guys really think you can get to the clubhouse and back with Burpy and the other slugs in time?" Eli asked. "We're already there, bro." Kord said as he, Trixie, Vance and Mario took off. Pronto and Lash joined the brothers. "Wait! What Burpy and other slugs?" Munch asked, stomping up to the quartet. "Munch already told you: No ringers!" "Burpy's my slug! He's just not here. Yet." Eli said. Munch took another big bite out of the leg and tossed it. "Too bad, cause we duel NOW!" He said, taking a stance. "Okay, any ideas?" Lash asked. "Time for the legendary molenoid stall." Pronto said, walking up to Munch. "Let's hope he actually gets it right this time." Harley muttered with doubt. "You certainly have enjoyed those succulent leg parts. I believe a mouth-watering dessert would fill the final quarters of your impressive stomach." Pronto said. "Oh yeah. Munch get it. You try the legendary molenoid stall!" Munch said, surprising everyone. Especially Pronto and Harley. "Well, it won't work! Munch is smarter than he looks." Munch said, slightly drooling from his mouth with a blank expression on his face. "And that is not saying much." Pronto said. "He's got that right." Lash said.

"Thanks Pronto, but I agreed to this duel." Eli said. "Glimmer and Suds may not pack as much firepower as Burpy or Joules, but we can fight him off until the others get back. No problem, right?" Harley looked at Gels and Quill. Both were feeling unsure about dueling Munch. "Don't worry, guys. We'll be okay." He assured. "I hope."

The brothers and Munch took position and prepared to draw their blasters. To make things more dramatic, Pronto banged on a trash bin for dramatic standoff music. "Hey!" The 2 men shouted, popping their heads out from the bin. "Oh! Sorry. Proceed." Pronto said. "DUEL!" Munch yelled, firing a Sand Angler. Eli slung Glimmer, and Harley slung Gels, but the Sand Angler swatted them away before they could even transform. The slug then got at the brothers' feet with Sandcrete. "Okay, maybe it might be a little bit of a problem." Eli said as they sunk into the quicksand. "Oh gee, you think?" Harley asked. Glimmer and Gels fainted nearby from dizziness.


Meanwhile, Burpy and the others awoke in the darkness of the box they were trapped in. "What's going on?" Chiller asked. "I don't know. I can't see anything." Ivy chirped. "Me either." Spinner said. "Wait! Let's light things up in here." Joules chittered, sparking a light, implying Burpy to light up his head. "Great idea, Joules." Burpy said. Suddenly, their box started to bounce around. The box got knocked off a trailer and onto the road in town, opening as it landed. Burpy stuck his head out and looked around. "Uh-oh! Let's go!" He chirped, leading the other slugs out of the box before it got ran over by a mecha. The slugs hopped though the street. Burpy stopped them to avoid being run over. "Where to now?" Sizzle asked. "There." Burpy chirped, pointing to an alley on the right. The slugs hopped across the street, avoiding being stepped on by the people and being run over by passing mechas. But just as they reached the curb, Banger got smushed by a passing trailer. "BANGER!" Spinner cried. Banger popped his head out from the dirt. "I'm okay!" He said. The others sighed in relief as he hopped up to join them. "What can I say? I'm hard-headed. Literally." He reminded with a shrug. "Boy, you really scared us there." Chiller said. "You are terrible." Ivy joked. Suddenly, there was a growling sound behind them. The slugs turned to see the slug hound from the Fumes, growling hungrily.


Meanwhile, Munch had slung a Hop Rock towards the brothers. They fell back to the ground, dodging the slug as it hit the building behind them. Munch just chuckled evilly. "That's it, boys! I think you're beginning to wear him out!" Pronto called, eating popcorn. "More like he's wearing them down." Lash muttered with worry. The brothers got up just as Much loaded another slug and took aim. They ran as Munch fired his slug, a Polero. The slug wrapped around a light post, toppling it over. The brothers slid out of way, but slid into the mud. Munch happily clapped and chuckled as he walked towards them. "You're in the mud!" He mocked. "Uh yeah. And you're right where we want you." Eli said, swerving around and slinging Glimmer. "You got him, Glimmer! Give him all you got!" Glimmer transformed and hit Munch in the face with Arcalyte. Munch started to see stars and tried to grab them, smiling all the while. Glimmer landed and hopped back to Eli. "All right. That's what you got." Eli said disappointingly. "So, what now?" Harley asked.

Just then, Munch shook off the effects, roared and fired another Hop Rock. The brothers jumped out of the way and into another mud puddle. "Not that I'm complaining, but this probably feels like punishment for being too sure of ourselves." Harley said. Eli and Glimmer nodded in agreement.


Meanwhile, as a lady was walking out of a restaurant, Burpy and his slug pals ran past her inside. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" She shouted before she got knocked down by the hound. She shook off her dizzy state as the hound chased the slugs all over the restaurant, causing a riot.

Inside, Chiller broke off from the group and the hound chased after him, knocking over a few tables. "Banger, go high!" Burpy said, catapulting Banger from a spoon up to the counter. "Guys? A little help here!" Chiller cried as the hound closed in on him. "I got your back, little buddy!" Banger called, knocking a plate onto the hound's head. The slugs regrouped and headed for the exit. The hound recovered and continued the chase. The slugs got to the exit, knocking a guy out the door to open it. The hound pounced for them, only to land in the garbage. The hound shook itself off and continued on chasing. The slugs hopped along the alley ways. "Get to the bridge! Quickly!" Burpy called. But the hound jumped over and landed right in front of them. "Oh, we're trapped!" Ivy said as they skidded to a stop. Just then, Burpy heard a train whistle. He turned to see an express train coming. The hound closed in, barking. Burpy then got an idea. He evaded the hound's claws and led the slugs to the edge of the bridge. "Everyone, jump for the train!" Burpy said, jumping off the edge. The slugs followed him as the hound tried to get them. "Grab onto me, guys!" Spinner called, burping out a we parachute. The slugs grabbed onto her and they slowly descended onto the train. Spinner spat away the parachute, which got in the hound's face as he followed the slugs onto the train. The slugs gasped as the hound ran towards them. "Let's go!" Burpy chirped. The slugs hopped along the car, only to stop when they got to the edge. "Aw man! We're trapped!" Chiller said with fear. Just then, the hound jumped with all its leg strength towards the slugs. But just then, the hound hit the head of a tunnel, stopping him.

The slugs cheered and chittered in success. "Now that was fun!" Banger said. "Glad you think so." Chiller said. "At last we got nothing to worry about." Sizzle said. "Quiet! I hear something." Burpy chirped. Somebody was groaning from inside the train car. Burpy opened the escape hatch and the slugs looked down to see who was making noise. "Locke and Load!" They chirped in shock. "What do you suppose Dr. Blakk's gonna do when we tell him we wrecked his do-thingy?" Load asked. "You mean when I tell him that you were responsible?!" Locke corrected. Load just groaned. "I imagine we'll become ghoul chow!" Locke said. The slugs continued to watch Locke and Load. "What's going on?" Chiller asked, accidently shoving Burpy down the hatch. "BURPY!" The slugs screamed. Burpy landed near the crooks, startling them. Locke picked up Burpy. "Brother, I believe that Dame Fortune has indeed smiled upon us. Because I cannot imagine anything making Dr. Blakk happier then turning Eli Shane's best slug into a ghoul." He said. Burpy gulped.

The slugs looked down, worried about their friend. But Burpy wasn't done for that easy. He lit himself on fire, burning Locke's hand. Locke's pain sent Burpy over to Load's feet. "Grab him!" Locke said. "I got him!" Load said, picking up Burpy, only to get his hands burned too, tossing Burpy back to Locke. Locke picked him up and started playing Hot Potato before tossing him up to the baggage carriers. "There! Get him!" Locke said as Burpy hopped away. Load tried to grab him, but grabbed the things placed up there instead and tossed them aside, hitting Locke in the head. "We gotta do something!" Chiller chirped. "What do we do?" Ivy asked as Burpy continue to evade Load as he knocked a bowl onto Locke's head. "Follow me! I have an idea!" Spinner said, hopping away. Burpy tried to hop for the open window, but Load closed it and trapped Burpy in the bowl. "Gotcha now, Hot Stuff!" Load gloated. Just then, Burpy saw something outside. "Guys!" He chirped. The other slugs swung Banger on Spinner's web into the window. "I'm coming, Burpy!" Banger yelled as he smashed the glass with his head. Load removed the bowl to see Burpy and Banger pulled back up. "Hey!" He cried as he and Locke race for the emergency brakes.

The slugs hopped off the train and back onto the fresh green grass. "Whew! That was close." Chiller said. But Burpy noticed that the train was stopping. "The train's stopping! Quick! This way!" He chirped, leading the slugs away from the train. The train pulled away as Locke and Load got off. "Ooh! Caverna Mall!" Load said in awe at where they were. "Goody! I need a new pair of boots." "Just pursue those vermin or I'll give you the boot!" Locke warned as they chased after the slugs. "Sometimes I can't believe we're related!" He groaned.

The slugs hopped away towards a nearby store as Locke and Load entered. Burpy eyed a purse that a lady just bought. "There's our getaway ride, slugs." He chittered. "Worth a shot." Chiller agreed "What do we got to lose?" Joules asked. The slugs hopped after the lady just as she left. Locke caught sight of them as they hopped into the bag. "There! That purse!" He said. He and Load ran after the lady. "Move it! Move it!" Load said. But then, they crashed into a carrier carrying dozens of boxes. Load recovered and looked around until he eyed the purse. "Give it up slugs!" He said as he snatched it. The lady who owned the purse screamed. "Put a sock in it, Grandma!" Load said as he dumped the purse's contents. "It's just things!" "Wrong purse, Genius!" Locke said. "Wrong purse is right, boys." Millard Milford said as he, Shorty and Goggles walked up. "Well, well, Locke and Load. Been a while since we've seen your ugly mugs." Shorty said. "Resorting to robbing grandmothers now, Load?" Goggles asked. Locke looked around until he saw the purse outside, just as the lady was about to leave on her mecha beast. Locke and Load tried to follow, but Millard stepped in front of them. "Where do you lads think you're going?" He asked. Locke chuckled. "Anywhere we want, mall cop." He said. He and Load fired their ghouls throughout the building, causing a panic as they ran for the door, leaving Millard, Shorty and Goggles trapped in slime in the elevator.

Locke and Load exited the mall, but the lady was already gone. "Aw, we lost her, big brother." Load whined. Locke just chuckled. "Not for long." He said, looking at a powerful mammoth mecha just as the owner was about to start it up. Locke climbed up the trunk. "Say, that's a nice mecha beast." He said as Load joined him. The owner just smiled sheepishly.


Meanwhile, back at Quisingly, Eli and Harley were struggling. They dodged behind a trash can as Munch fired another slug. Munch then fired a Lavalynx. "Lavalynx! Look out!" Harley called. They dodged as the Lavalynx started melting the can. Munch fired a Thresher as they ran. The brothers bounced and swung their way up to a rooftop, dodging the slug in the process. Now Munch was getting really anger. He fired another Hop Rock as the brothers ran across the roof. The brothers dodged the slug by jumping onto a sign, which they slid down the building on and hit Munch on the head with. Munch collapsed dizzily to the ground and Eli and Harley landed in another mud puddle. "Ugh! Really?! Again?" Harley asked, annoyed and disgusted with the mud. "That's it, boys! If your slugs are useless, hit him with something else! Oh! And looking good!" Pronto called. "Oh, I wish you hadn't said that part about the slugs." Lash muttered with worry. Harley wiped the mud off his and Eli's faces and tossed it at Pronto's. "Ugh! Hey!" "Our slugs aren't useless! We just gotta figure out the right way to use them." Eli said. "Well, we better figure it out soon!" Harley said, pointing at Munch getting up. Munch fired an Armashelt, tunneling a trench towards the brothers. But then Eli grabbed a curved piece of metal and stuck it in front of the slug, redirecting him to tunnel the trench in between Munch's feet. "Slip n Stick?" Eli asked. "Slip 'N' Stick." Harley agreed. "What is Slip 'N' Stick?" Pronto asked. "We're about to find out." Lash said.

"Lather it up, Suds." Eli said, slinging Suds to soak up the trench in mud. Eli then grabbed a metal bar and slid on the now muddy trench towards Munch, tripping him with the bar. "Let's cushion his fall, Quill." Harley joked, slinging Quill and covering the where Munch was about to land with his quills. Munch landed and the quills, causing him to leap high into the air, screaming in pain. Eli slid to a stop as Munch landed on his back hard. Harley walked over and helped him up. "Ha! That's what you get when you mess with Suds and Quill!" Eli said. But Munch, now really mad, got up and charged towards the brothers. "Un-oh!" They both said as Munch hit them with his head.


Meanwhile, Burpy enjoyed the breeze as he stuck his head out from the bag. The other slugs soon joined him. "Well, this is fun." Spinner said. "Yep. Nothing but smooth sailing from now on." Sizzle chirped. "I wouldn't say that!" Joules said. The slugs gasped at the horrifying. Locke and Load were on their tails on the mammoth mecha. Load fired a Thrasher ghoul towards them. The slugs ducked back inside the back before it was shredded, sending the slugs soaring to the ground. "Oh, that was a rough landing." Burpy said. "I'll say." Twister said. "Yeah, that was a doozy." Banger said. "I'm confident that Dr. Blakk will be equally satisfied if we merely brought him the heads of the Shane branch slugs." Locke said. "Dibs on the burny one!" Load called. "What do we do?" Joules asked. "There's nowhere to run!" Ivy chirped. "Stay behind me, guys." Burpy said. As Locke and Load slowly closed in on the slugs, the express train zoomed by, blocking their path. The slugs cheered, until they heard a familiar growl. The slug hound from before. It hopped off the train and prepared to charge. "Oh, not again!" Banger groaned as the hound charged for them. Just then, Burpy noticed a log and stick in front of them. "Guys, I got an idea." He chittered. They hopped onto the log. "Get ready, Joules." Burpy chirped. "I'm ready, Burpy." Joules said, sparking her head as the hound got closer. "Now!" Burpy called. The slugs hopped on the stick and slung Joules. Joules transformed and knocked out the hound with Tazerbolt.

When the hound woke up, he saw Banger hanging in front of him by a rope on a stick held by the other slugs riding his back. The hound growled and chased Banger. Locke and Load crossed the tracks as the train finally passed, heading towards the hound. The slugs gasped. "Oh, are we in your way?" Locke asked carelessly. The slugs just growled.


Meanwhile, Eli and Harley were thrown back to the ground. "Stop squirming so Munch can finish you!" Munch said. Eli just slung Glimmer, blinding Munch with Arcalyte, just as Trixie, Kord, Vance and Mario rode back into town. "You guys did it! We held out 'til the calvary arrived." Eli said, feeling proud of Glimmer and Suds. "And just in time. I don't think we could've lasted another minute." He said, standing up. "I know it. I'm about to drop to sleep!" Harley said, feeling tired. "Where's Burpy?" Eli asked. "Sorry Eli." Kord apologized with regret. "They weren't at the hideout." Vance added. "But if they're not coming, then-" Eli said with worry. Munch stood up and growled. "We're dead." Harley whimpered.


The slugs rode their hound straight towards Locke and Load. Just when they were close enough, Joules bit the hound's tail, shocking him and causing him to jump, knocking Load off the mecha first. Then the slugs started attacking Locke, causing him to abandon the mecha. "Run brother! Retreat!" He cried as the hound started chasing him and Load. "At last, we got nothing to worry about." Burpy said. "Uh, you might wanna look for yourself, pal." Joules chirped. Burpy hopped over to the steering wheel and saw what she meant. They were heading for the cliffs near the city! "HANG ON TIGHT!" Burpy cried as the mecha jumped and slid down a landslide.

"Maybe we can't win. But you guys ready to go down trying?" Eli asked. Glimmer and Suds nodded. "Been nice slinging with you guys." Harley said. Gels and Quill nodded. Eli and Harley loaded their slugs and prepared to sling their last. But then Munch noticed the mammoth mecha coming down the slide. The slugs screamed as they came to the jump. "HOLD ON! IT'S A JUMP!" Burpy screamed. Eli turned to see just as the mecha crashed through a sign. The slugs screamed as Munch tried to run away. The mecha landed and flipped Munch over with its trunk. When it was over, Burpy and the others came into view. "Hiya everybody!" Burpy called. "Burpy?! Joules?! I don't believe it! You guys are here?!" Eli asked with joy. "Uh yeah. And they're driving a mecha?!" Kord asked in shock. "Can slugs even DO THAT?!" Pronto asked with astonishment. "Apparently Eli and Harley's can." Trixie said in amazement. Vance was so shocked at the sight, he fainted on the spot.

Munch started to recover. "Those are your slugs?" He asked. "Yep." Eli said. "All 7 of them." Harley added. Burpy and the others smiled proudly. "No way! You 2 lasted this long with 4 Floppers! No way Munch is fighting slugs who can do that! Munch is outta here!" Munch cried, running away in defeat. Glimmer, Suds, Gels and Quill chittered angrily and made faces. "Don't listen to him. You guys aren't Floppers. You did us proud." Eli said. "Yeah. You 4 deserve a lot of credit today." Harley said. The slugs chittered with gratitude. "We're glad you guys are okay. But where were you?" Eli asked. All 7 slugs started chittering and chirping all at once. "Uh." Eli said, not understanding what they said. "I'm sorry, I didn't get that." Harley said. "They were obviously goofing off! That is what slugs always do when you're not watching." Pronto said. "Fat chance!" "So not true!" "I'll show you goofing off, you fat pile of lard!" "The nerve!" "Of all the stupid fibs!" The slugs chittered insultingly. Even Eli was unconvinced. "Well, lucky for you lazy slugs, Pronto was here to use his mighty brains and save the day." Pronto continued to boast. Burpy continually banged his head against the mecha's metal hide. "Somebody shut that stupid mole up!" He groaned. "But what were you doing? Lazing around, goofing off." Harley for one had finally had enough. He raised his blaster at Pronto. "Wait! What-What're you-" He slung Gels, splattering Pronto's face as the crowd gathered and cheered for the Shane brothers' victory over Munch.

Wow, that was wild! Burpy and his slug friends get separated while Eli and Harley face off against Munch. Who knows what else is in store for the 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), Doc (Boon Doc), 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 (Hypnogriff), Urchin (Sand Angler), Dozer (Slyren), Jinxer (Hexlet), Torch (Forgesmeltor)

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)

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)

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)

Pronto Geronimo: Stinky (Flatulorhinkus), Slimey (Jellyish), Soapy (Bubbaleone), Bruiser (Rammstone), Flame (Flaringo), Loogie (Lariat), Windy (Tormato)

Vance Volt: Blast (Hop Rock), Bloom (Vinedrill), Crust (Lavalynx), Legs (Arachnet), Swimmy (AquaBeek), Hardcase (Armashelt), Squish (Jellyish), Blow (Tormato)

Mario Bravado: Ricochet (Speedstinger), Slide (Frostcrawler), Crawler (Arachnet), Echo (AquaBeek), Mess (Jellyish), Breeze (Tormato)

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)