Chapter 22: The Unbeatable Master

In a Japanese themed cavern, inside an urban tea shop, an elderly lady and a young girl wearing masks walked in. Both carried special double-ended blaster-staffs. They made their way to the counter, earning whispers from the other customers. The 2 sat at the counter and ordered 2 cups of tea. Just then, a man and his girlfriend walked up to them. "Those seats are in the reserved section." The man said, clearing his throat. "But we'll let you 2 have it, for the low price of everything you 2 got." "And as a bonus, you both get to keep your lives." The girlfriend added. The 2 remained silent. "Oh. Silent type." The man deduced. "You know what they say. Silence gives consent." The girlfriend said. She was about to make a grab for the elderly lady's gold bag, but the lady slapped her hand away with her staff. "You shouldn't take things that aren't yours. Not unless you're ready to pay the price for your actions." The girl said. "Oh, now you just bought yourselves something else!" The man said as he and his girlfriend aimed their blasters at the 2. But the elderly lady knocked the man down to the ground and swept the girlfriend from under her feet. 2 more guys stood up and aimed their blasters. The lady split her staff in 2, aiming both ends of her blaster-staff at them and blasting them into the fountain. "I warned you." The girl said, sipping her tea. "I heard there are 2 new Shanes. I want them!" The woman said.


(Intro)


The gang rode into the town. "Long way to ride for 2 masked troublemakers." Eli pointed out. "No kidding. I'm ready to take a nap." Harley yawned. "You said it. I've got mecha sores on my mecha sores." Kord said, gripping his sore butt. "Not to worry, my blistery friend. Pronto has a most secret molenoid remedy. Sarsaparilla." Pronto said, holding up a bottle of remedy, putting a bit on his neck. Kord took the bottle and examined it while Trixie filmed. "Do I drink the whole thing?" Kord asked as Pronto snatched it back. "You- You drink it?!" Pronto asked in surprise.

Just then, blasters and screams were being heard from inside the shop. A large crowd gathered just before the gang pulled up. "You sure about this, Eli?" Trixie asked as Eli hopped off Lucky. "Sounds like some pretty tough characters in there." "I know Dad never had the chance to train us, but he always said that a Shane never backs down from a challenge." Eli said, staring at the building. "That's right. And we're not starting now." Harley agreed. "That doesn't mean you 2 have to face it alone." Trixie said as she and the others joined the brothers. "8 against 1?" Pronto asked from behind Kord. "Yes! Allow Pronto to lead the charge." He was about to walk in when a guy was blasted out of the shop and landed at Pronto's feet. "Do not go in there!" The guy warned. "Come on, guys." Eli said, leading his gang inside. Pronto chuckled sheepishly. "After I render aid to this poor, injured soul." He said dramatically, pulling out his sarsaparilla bottle. "Have a sarsaparilla."

The gang walked into the shop and looked around, spotting the 2 sitting at their table, sipping their tea. Burpy chittered with confidence. "Are you the 2 who called us out?" Eli asked. The 2 just sipped their tea and pulled their masks back up. Eli and Harley walked up to them. "Are we gonna duel or-" The woman pointed her staff at Eli. "Hey!" Harley tried to pull out his blaster, but the girl blocked him. Kord pulled out his blaster, but Trixie stopped him from shooting. The woman grabbed Eli's face and examined him. "A little young. Skinny." She said, letting go of Eli's face. "Hey! Watch it!" Eli said, insulted. The woman smacked Eli's knee with her staff. "But knot kneed too." She deduced. "What about him?" The girl asked, gesturing to Harley. The woman grabbed his face and examined him. "About the same, excluding the knot knees." She said, letting go. "We'll see how they do at the Winnowing." "Winnowing? Is that some kind of duel?" Eli asked. Harley shrugged. "Look mister-" The woman pulled her mask and hood down, revealing her elderly face. Eli and Harley were shocked. Burpy chittered happily, as if he knew this woman. The gang went wide-eyed. "Lady. Ma'am? Not to be rude, but could we just slug this out and be on our way?" Eli asked. "Yeah, can we? We've got a busy schedule." Harley added. "You're Will Shane's kids. He was a good man. Worthy of the name." The woman said, pouring some more tea. "We're not gonna duel, are we?" Eli asked in disappointment. "My mind's telling me no." Harley guessed. "I'm Eli. That's my brother Harley." Eli introduced. "Eli and Harley Shane-" "A name's gotta be earned, Knot Knees! If you and your brother want to earn yours, come to Dojang Grotto at first glow." The woman instructed. "Speaking of names, we didn't get yours." Eli said. "Shanai." The woman introduced. "And my granddaughter, Shimei." The girl also removed her hood, revealing her face. She nearly resembled her grandmother, but younger and beautiful. Her beauty caught Lash's eyes. "Eli, Harley, that's the Unbeatable Master." Trixie revealed in shock. "The Un-what-able who?" Eli asked. He turned to see that they were gone. "Where'd they go?" He asked.

Later that night, the gang sat around a campfire, telling Eli and Harley all about the Unbeatable Master. "The Master knows the thousand secrets of slinging." Trixie said. "The Master's gaze can melt solid rock." Kord said. "The Master can remove grape juice from linens and banish the blasé!" Pronto said, roasting a wiener on a stick. "The Master can scout her way through an active volcano without even moving." Vance said. "The Master can cause an entire herd of mecha beasts to scamper with a single footstep." Mario said. "The Master can chop down an entire field with just one swing of her staff." Lash said. Eli and Harley just shook their heads in amusement. "Okay, the stories may be exaggerated, but one thing is certain. The Unbeatable Master is the greatest slug slinger who ever lived." Trixie said. "She only appears at a time of her choosing, to take a single student." Kord started to explain. Pronto pulled his stick back, but his wiener was missing. He looked around for it, and saw that Burpy, Banger, Doc and Chiller swiped it. "She hasn't been seen in 30 years. The Master trained every Shane in recorded history. Including-" "Our dad!" Eli said in realization. "Eli, do you realize what this means?!" Harley asked. "Yes. Real training! This is what we've been wanting since we got to Slugterra." Eli said. "Let's turn in. Big day for us tomorrow." "It's a big day for all Slugterrans, babe." Trixie said. "Uh, of course it is. Yeah." Eli said, confused at what his fiancé said. "What do you think Trixie means?" He whispered. "No idea." Harley whispered.


The next morning, Eli and Harley had arrived at the gates to Dojang Grotto. Eli and Harley both gave a big yawn as Burpy woke up in his sleeping sock, slightly glaring at the brothers. "I know. We're early." Eli said, knowing the look. "We couldn't sleep. Didn't wanna wake the others." He said. The brothers rode their mechas through the gates, getting a look at the place. They dismounted their mechas and walked over to a silhouetted figure they thought was Shanai. "This is a great honor." Eli said. The figure stood up, revealing to be Jacques from Scorch Sparks Cavern during the tournament. "It sure enough is." Jacques said. "Jacques?!" The brothers said in shock. "Hey! Eli and Harley! Been a while since Scorch Sparks, has it not?" Jacques greeted. "What are you doing here, Jacques?" Eli asked. "The Unbeatable Master done put out the call. Figured I got about as much chance as any." Jacques explained. "But the Master teaches the Shanes." Eli thought. "Mostly she do, my friends. But-" Jacques said, pointing towards the gate. Eli and Harley saw a crowd gathering. "But not just Shanes." Eli guessed. "That actually makes sense." Harley said.

"Told you." Shanai said, smacking Eli's arm with her staff. "You and your brother have to earn that name with me, Knot Knees. I am here to train the most worthy. If that is one of you, prove it." She walked away. "So, it's a competition." Eli guessed, looking at the other guests. The King of Sling, Shockwire and the Power Trips were there. One unknown slinger took a sly look at the brothers as he passed their gaze. "Okay. No problem." Eli said. "I hope so. I still remember how tough these guys were in that tournament." Harley said.

Just then, Eli noticed the others riding up. "Guys!" He called. "You came. Thanks for the support." "Support? We're here to compete." Trixie said. "What? You 2 thought all this was about you?" Vance asked. "No!" Eli said quickly. Burpy just shrugged. "Yeah. Kinda." Eli admitted sheepishly. "If she doesn't pick one of you 2, might as well be one of the gang." Kord said. "That is support, right?" "Yes. We will support you by fighting against you." Pronto said. "Thanks. I guess." Eli said. "Well, nice to see you all could make it." Shimei greeted. "Well, it's really an honor just to be here really." Lash said, blushing. Shimei then started to blush too from hearing Lash's compliment. But then she shook it off, clearing her throat. "Right. Well, come then. My grandmother is about to begin the competition." She said.

"Welcome, one and all, to the Winnowing." Shanai greeted as the gang and other slingers gathered around the stone she stood on. Shimei stood beside her. "Winnowing is a way of separating grain." She said, taking a handful of grain and crushing it in her hand, allowing the dust to fall to her other hand. "The wind carries off the chaff, leaving the pure kernel." Pronto chuckled softly, getting Eli's attention. "Every molenoid knows this." He muttered. Shanai then drew a line into the ground. "Now, for anyone who would be a slug master, stand on this line." She instructed. Everyone was a bit confused at first, but then Eli and Harley charged towards the line. Everyone else soon followed. Eli, Harley and their gang were the first to stand on the line. The other slingers soon raced towards them, making the gang worry. Just then, the slingers crashed into each other. "Ooh, that is just messy." Shimei muttered. Jacques, Shockwire and the Power Trips were struggling with each other. "All of you are dismissed. Selfishness and cruelty have no place in a slug master." Shanai declared. Jacques and Shockwire walked towards the exit, but the Trips stood their ground. "No! We are not leaving!" The red one said as they drew their blasters. "Not really your choice." Shanai said, prepping her blaster and slinging her 2 top slugs. Ping, a rare white Boon Doc, and Yang, a Negashade. As they transformed, Yang went ahead first, blinding the Trips with Shadowblak. Then Ping fired her Medray, blasting the Trips right out of the grounds.

The gang could not believe their eyes at what Shanai's slugs just did. "Did you see how those slugs were working together?" Eli asked. "I know! I mean, you and Harley do combo moves all the time. But nothing like that." Trixie said. "Yeah. Grandma has a big distaste for slingers who step out of line. You break the rules, that's the thanks you get." Shimei explained. "The rest of you, I can dismiss anyone at any time." Shanai warned as King and the other guy straightened themselves. "My reasons are my own and my judgement is final! Understood?" The gang just nodded nervously. "Then let's see what you got."

Everyone gathered at a target range. Kord and Pronto fired their slugs back-to-back, destroying target after target. Kord then slung Bludgeon, destroying 3 targets at once. Kord and Pronto then gave each other a respected fist bump. As Shanai and Shimei observed the events Eli walked up to them. "Master? Can you demons that tandem shot again? I'd love to figure out how you did that." He asked. "I'm not demonstrating, Knot Knees. I'm selecting. Ask again, and you'll be the demonstration." Shanai warned. "Oh. Got it." Eli said sheepishly. "When you're finished with your awkward moment, we will begin the one-on-one duels." Shanai said. "Nice one, Eli." Eli muttered to himself. Harley just patted him on the shoulder.

Later, Shanai paired everyone up for the one-on-one duels. Trixie was paired against the unknown guy, Eli was paired against the King, Kord was paired with Pronto, Vance got paired with Mario, and Harley was paired up Lash. Shanai oversaw the preparations. "Begin." She said.

Kord drew his blaster and slung his Armashelt, Pincer. Pronto slung his Hop Rock, Blocky. Pincer slammed Blocky aside and made straight for Pronto. Pronto quickly ducked down before Pincer could hit him.

Eli fired Banger, but King just danced out of the way. "You do know this isn't a dance competition, right?" Eli asked.

Mario fired Porky, his new Dirt Urchin, while Vance fired Crust. Porky attacked with Sandburr, but Crust knocked him away and fired Geyservault towards Mario. Mario quickly jumped out of the way. "That was good, Volt, but not good enough." He stated. "Bring it on." Vance dared with respect.

Harley fired Masher, about to throw a punch at Lash, but Lash flipped aside and fired Ice, freezing Harley's feet in place with Deepfreeze. "Brrrr! I heard of getting cold feet, but this is just freezingly ridiculous." Harley said. "Sorry Harley, but you should worry less about your feet right now." Lash said, loading another slug.

Trixie slung Bluster, but the other slinger slung a Rammstone, upper-cutting the poor Tormato, causing a back-breeze to blow towards Trixie as Bluster dropped at her feet. "Who is that kid?" Eli asked, looking at the unknown slinger with a strange feeling of Deja vu. Even Lash took a glare at the slinger, knowing he seen him before.

With Lash distracted, Harley managed to break his feet out of the ice and fired Twister. Lash got blown back by Galestorm and tumbled to the ground, almost hitting his head on a rock. Harley raced over and helped his friend up. "Sorry about that, dude." He apologized. "It's all good. Still a rookie singer after all." Lash said forgivingly. "Rookie slinger is right. You know where to go, Rookie." Shanai said. Lash looked down and turned to walk away. Shimei looked at Lash with hurt in her heart. "And as for you-" Shanai started, making Harley worried. "-I'll hold off on what to do with you until after the final duel." She decided.

Vance and Mario were at a bit of a standstill. It all came down to their final slug. So, they both fired a Rammstone. Vance's was named Punch, and Mario's was called Dunk. Punch and Dunk flew past each other and punched out Vance and Mario at the same time! "Both of you. Out!" Shanai declared. Vance and Mario both groaned as they started to recover.

"Come on! You call that slug slinging?" Kord asked, unimpressed with Pronto's motives for slug slinging. "My own special technique. I call it-" Pronto started to say until Kord fired Jetstream, soaking Pronto with Aquajet. "Catchy name." Kord said. As Pronto recovered, Shanai walked up to him, shaking her head. "Alas, the poor cave troll. Let him down easy." Pronto said, thinking she was letting Kord out. "I meant you, Lumpy. Out!" Shanai said. Pronto was distraught, hearing this. "You're excused too, Shoulders. Ton of heart, but the subtlety of a train wreck." Shanai said, making Kord depressed. "Exit's-" "Yeah, yeah. To the left." Kord said, joining Pronto, Vance, Mario and Lash in leaving. But then Ping and Yang chittered something. "Wait a minute." Shanai said, stopping the 5. "They think you 5 should stick around." The 5 were confused. "Got their own reasons. I don't ask. Stay as our guests." Shanai offered. Kord and Pronto slid some skin, and Vance and Mario fist-bumped.

Lash was confused. "Why would she ask us to stay when we just lost?" He asked. "She didn't ask. Ping and Yang did." Shimei corrected. Lash was confused. "People talk to their slugs, but some have learned to listen." Shimei explained. "Oh, I get it." Lash said. "Then come, let us oversee the remainder of the duels." Shimei said, holding out her arm. Lash took it and walked on back with her. Shanai noticed this and gave a small approving smile.

Eli rolled in and slung Stunts. Once again, King danced out of the way, but Stunts bounced off the rocks behind him and hit the back of his head, making him dizzy. "Nice moves, your Majesty." Shanai said with sarcasm. "Move him on out the gate." "Yes Grandmother." Shimei said, helping the King towards the gate. Eli chuckled as Stunts hopped happily back into his hand. "Ha-ha. Laugh. You're about 1 inch from following out that gate!" Shanai said strictly. "But I hit him." Eli protested. "They hit him." Shanai corrected, petting Stunts with her finger. "Slugs are more than ammunition. More than just your little pals." "I know. Harley and I talk to them all the time." Eli said. "But do you listen?" Shanai asked. Eli started to think about it.

The unknown slinger slung a Jellyish, while Trixie slung her new Sand Angler, Dunes. The Jellyish brought Dunes down with Loogi and splattered Trixie into defeat with Slimeleon. "You're done too, Pigtails." Shanai said. Eli helped gently helped Trixie up. "Are you okay?" He asked. "Yeah. I'm fine." Trixie assured. Eli stared at the unknown slinger. "Only 1 challenger between me and training with the Master. Ever seen him before?" He asked. "No. But do me a favor. Get me some payback!" Trixie said. A Dirt Urchin hopped onto the slinger's shoulder. "Ugh! Gross!" Trixie said, getting the slime out of her hair as she rejoined the others. Lash continued to stare at the slinger. "Something wrong?" Shimei asked. "I know that guy somehow. I can't put my finger on it right now, but I do know him somehow." Lash said. Eli walked up to the slinger. "May the best man win." He said. "Oh, I intend to." The slinger said with a familiar voice. Lash's eyes went wide-eyed. "That voice." He said as the gang glared. "Take a break, Loki." The slinger said. The slug dropped its illusion, revealing Twist's Smugglet ghoul, Loki. "Twist!" Eli said in realization as Twist revealed himself. "I knew it!" Lash muttered.

"What's the matter Eli? Does it bother you and your little band of do-gooders that I'm here with the Unbeatable Master?" Twist asked. "The contest is open to anyone, remember?" "Then why the disguise?" Eli asked as Harley and the others joined up with him. "Apologies, but Eli and I are…rivals. I didn't want to cause a distraction to this ceremony." Twist said, having Loki hop into his hand. "Takes quite a bond for a slinger to share his slug's latent delusion power. Even I couldn't see through it." Shanai said with impression. The gang could not believe what she was saying. Even Shimei was surprised. "That's because he's using a ghoul!" Eli said. "And you think just because I've been gone a few years, I don't know what a ghoul is?" Shanai asked. "It's the slinger I'm choosing. Not the slug." Eli glared while Burpy was saddened from what Shanai said. Just then, Shanai started coughing. "Grandma!" Shimei cried, helping her grandmother. "Are you alright?" Eli asked. "I'll be fine." Shanai assured. Eli looked at Shimei who shook his head. "Rest yourselves. We will begin the final duel tomorrow morning." Shanai declared, walking away. "See you then." Twist said. "Not if I have anything to say about it!" Eli said with a glare.

As the gang all walked away to their resting areas, Shimei noticed Lash still glaring after his villainous brother. She walked up to him. "I've noticed from your glares that you've had a longer history with this boy." She guessed. "Unfortunately, yes. Twist is my older brother. Or at least, he used to be before I joined Eli and his gang." Lash revealed. "What happened?" Shimei asked. "Come. I'll tell you." Lash said, bringing her aside.


Later, Eli walked up to Shanai, who appeared to be meditating. "Master Shanai?" He said, noticing her stance. "Oh. You're meditating." Suddenly, Shanai jolted awake. "I was sleeping." She said, yawning and stretching her arms. "Sorry. But I need to warn you-" Eli started to say, until Shanai started coughing again. "You're sick, aren't you?" Eli asked. "Never mind me." Shanai said, blowing falling leaves away with a small push of her hand. "You, your brother and your friends have issues with that ghoul slinger." She deduced. "We trusted him once and he betrayed us. He's misguided and dangerous. He's fallen in league with Dr. Blakk." Eli explained. "Hmm. Then perhaps he needs my guidance more than you and your brother do." Shanai said. "I don't understand." Eli said with confusion. "Light. Dark. There's a little in all of us. The trick is finding balance." Shanai explained. "Master, please. You don't know Twist like I do." Eli tried to reason. Shanai picked up her staff and pointed it at Eli. "Never presume to know the heart of another! Focus on your own inner peace." Shanai instructed. "Are you so sure you know the best path?" "I thought I did." Eli said. "Indeed." Shanai agreed, standing down. "This reminds me of a time some 30 years ago." She began to tell a story. "I had winnowed the applicants to 2. One was a promising young Shane named Will. The other was Thaddeus Blakk." "Blakk and our dad? They were friends?" Eli asked. Shanai just chuckled. "Not friends, but not yet enemies. They were…rivals." She explained. "Each showed unique promise. Your father was rough around the edges, but a natural slinger. And what Thaddeus lacked with slug accumbent, he made up with sheer innovation. But Thaddeus, he lacked connection and respect for slugs and their place in the universe. Will had a reckless streak, but he was the clear choice. But Thaddeus. Something happened to him that day. A spark that was the beginning of his journey down the dark path. A spark that I helped create." Eli could not believe what he was hearing. "I had very few regrets in my long years, but one question still haunts me. Did I choose the right pupil that day?" Shanai continued. "I don't understand. You said our father was the best." Eli thought. "Your father was a great Shane, would have been without my help." Shanai said. "But Blakk, perhaps I could've stopped him from taking the dark path that he chose." Eli looked away with doubt. Shanai started to slowly stand up. Eli helped her. "Come now. It's getting late. You need to rest for the final duel tomorrow." She said, walking away. Eli walked back, knowing that he had no other choice. Shanai looked back at Eli as he walked back to the resting areas. In her mind secretly, she already chose him and Harley to receive her training.


Later that night, Shimei walked into her grandmother's training room, where Shanai was training. "Grandmother, I'm sorry to disturb your training." Shimei started. "You are not disturbing me, Shimei." Shanai assured. "Now, come talk. What's on your mind, child?" "Grandmother, I know it's not my place to say, but I must ask that you reconsider this final duel. Just send the ghoul slinger on his way and train the Shane boys. Call it a day." Shimei said. Shanai just stared at what her own granddaughter just said. Shimei, feeling ashamed, just lowered her head. "I assume you also have doubts about the ghoul slinger." Shanai guessed. "Lash. He and Twist are brothers. He told me about their past with Will Shane and the death of their slug smuggling father." Shimei explained. "I see." Shanai said, putting all of this to mind. "Please, Grandmother. I just don't want to see Eli and his gang get hurt. Mostly even Lash." Shimei pleaded. Shanai just stared. "I'm sorry, Shimei. But my decision is final. Tomorrow, I shall decide who the clear choice will be." She said, walking out. Shimei just sighed with depression. "And the way you care for the Lash boy. You have my blessing." Shanai said with a smile as she left completely. Shimei smiled, putting her hand over her heart.

Meanwhile, Lash was walking back to his resting area after taking care of 'business'. Suddenly, he noticed Twist heading for the gate. He crept over and peaked by the gate. There he saw Twist talking with Shockwire and the Power Trips. "Okay, you know what to do." Twist said. "Yes sir. We'll be back before the time the duel even ends." Shockwire assured as he and the Trips rode off on their mechas. "What're you up to, Twist?" Lash whispered as he headed back to the resting areas.


The next morning, Eli told the gang everything Shanai told him yesterday. "She'd really do it? Train Blakk's right hand man?" Trixie asked as Eli looked over his blaster. "And you're just gonna go through with this?" Mario asked. "I have to win now. We can't afford to let her secrets fall into Blakk's hands. With those and his ghoul arsenal, Dr. Blakk could be unstoppable." Eli said, glaring at Twist limbering up. "But that's not what worries me the most." "Then what does?" Kord asked. "She may have already made her choice." Eli said with worry.

"You've each proven yourselves worthy." Shanai said from atop her rock. "This isn't a duel. It's an assessment. The judgement is mine alone. Begin." Eli and Twist took their position. "You're not winning this, Twist." Eli said. "You never know, Eli." Twist assured. They prepared themselves. Eli drew first and fired Rammer. Twist backflipped to dodge and slung Loki, landing in front of Eli and creating holograms of Twist. "Really Twist? Again, with the holograms?" Eli asked. Shanai raised an eyebrow, wondering what Eli was planning. Eli slung Stunts, repeating the same performance he did the last time Eli faced Twist. Eli noticed the real Twist making his way towards him. So, he loaded Banger and waited. Twist dodged an incoming Stunts and took aim at Eli. But Eli fired first, knocking Twist to the ground with Banger. The gang cheered and raced for Eli. Even Shanai smiled, knowing that she made the right choice afterall. "Not quite like the master, but good enough." Eli said.

As the gang crowded Eli with hugs, praises and compliments, Twist slowly got up and aimed his blaster at them. But Shimei knocked it away. "Don't try it. You've lost. As all who follow Blakk will." She said. "She's right." Shanai said. "You have lost, ghoul slinger. Leave." Twist just chuckled. "I don't think so." He said. Suddenly, there was a banging sound coming from the gate. It was broken down. There, on his own personal made mecha beast, stood Dr. Blakk. "Hello Master. It's been a while." He greeted. Shanai just glared.


Blakk's guards, along with Jon Bull, Shockwire and the Power Trips, charged in, surrounding the Shane Gang. "Hands where we can see them please." Blakk said, stepping off his mecha beast. "I thought so. Twist ordered Shockwire and the Power Trips to bring Blakk here." Lash said, figuring it out. "We told you. We were not leaving." The red Trip reminded. "If you're after the Master's secrets, you can forget it, Blakk!" Eli said. Blakk just chuckled. "Please. I have surpassed such banalities. This arcane ritual holds but one purpose, to prove who is best." Blakk said. "My brother just did, when he took down your apprentice." Harley said. "Don't believe everything you see." Twist said, aiming his blaster at the brothers. "Fine. I'm down for a rematch. With either of you!" Eli offered. "I'm up for a piece too." Harley said. "You and your brother are arrogant knots, Eli. 2 I will swat in due time. But there is 1 here who is worthy of my attention." Blakk said. "Today, I will demonstrate my superiority, by beating the Unbeatable Master herself!" Suddenly, Shanai's staff appeared in Blakk's face. "You have nothing to prove, Thaddeus. But if this will bring you peace, then I accept your challenge." Shanai said, accepting. "Careful Master. He fights dirty." Eli warned. "And his ghouls are-" "It will be okay…Eli." Shanai assured. Shimei, however, was not convinced, concerning her grandmother's condition.

Blakk walked over to his mecha and took something from the side. It was a huge, two-handed blaster, loaded with hundreds of loaded ghouls. "What is that thing?" Trixie asked. "A gattler!" Kord said, recognizing the design. "But no one's been ever to build a working model." "Until now. We even had it customly modified from a mutual friend of ours." Jon Bull said. "Sergeant Slug!" Harley muttered with realization.

Shanai and Blakk took their position. "There's another way, Thaddeus. A better path. Let me teach you." Shanai said. "You no longer offer anything I would find useful." Blakk said, prepping his gattler. Shanai prepared for the attack. "And the name's Blakk! Dr. Blakk!" Blakk started firing 3 ghouls at once. An Amperling, a Hop Jack, and a Tempesto. The gang quickly took cover to avoid getting hit. Shanai fired Yang and her own Hop Rock. Yang quickly blinded the ghouls with Shadowblak, then the Hop Rock moved in between the 3 and exploded.

Twist fired a Hop Jack at Eli. But Eli dodged and fired Rammer, knocking Twist's blaster out of his hand. Eli fired a couple more slugs at Twist as he took cover behind a rock.

"Trixie, Kord, Pronto, form up!" Harley called, drawing his blaster. Trixie, Kord and Pronto went back-to-back with Harley, and all 4 started knocking down Blakk's guards with their slugs.

The Power Trips and several more guards had started to circle around Shimei. "One move and you're ghoul chow, girly." The girl Trip warned. Shimei just smiled. "Bring it." She said. The Trips and guards started firing their ghouls. Shimei dodged the ghouls with great skill and started knocking the guards down one-by-one with her staff. As the boy Trips joined in, Shimei beat them silly as well. "Is your foot all right?" She asked as she hurt the green Trip's foot. She then swept both boy Trips from under their feet and swerved over to the girl Trip, pointing her staff's blaster point at her chest. The girl Trip gulped. "Bye-bye." Shimei said, blasting a close-up Hop Rock and sending the girl Trip flying.

Vance and Lash were cornered by more of Blakk's guards. "You got a plan, Vance?" Lash asked as the guards took aim with their blasters. "Yeah, I got one." Vance said. He whistled for something. The guards just laughed. That is until they heard something. They turned around to see Vance's mecha beast charging in and kicking a few guards down. "Now, let's clean up the spares." Vance said, pulling up his blaster and charging in. "My kind of party." Lash said, following him in.

Unknown to them, Jon Bull aimed a sniper blaster right at Lash from atop a hill. He was about to pull the trigger when his scope went dark. He turned to see Shimei knocking him out with her staff. "That's my man!" She said.

Mario went up against Shockwire. "You're gonna regret not joining Blakk when you had the chance, Bravado!" Shockwire said, pulling up a duo of shock blasters and firing 2 Amperlings at once. Mario turned and backflipped from a rock, dodging the ghouls and slinging Echo. Shockwire got hit by Aquajet and his suit started to short out. He then was knocked out after the suit exploded.

Blakk continued to fire ghoul after ghoul, laughing like a madman. Shanai deflected the ghouls with her staff and slung Ping, curing a Grimmstone, a Hop Jack and a Thrasher with Healray. Shanai then charged towards Blakk as he fired more ghouls. She then flipped over him and fired Ping as she landed. Blakk managed to block the white Boon Doc with another ghoul, but both him and Shanai were blown back by the energy wave.

Eli moved behind the rock where Twist hid, but Twist was gone. "Where are you, Twist?!" Eli asked with anger.

Blakk leapt forward and aimed his blaster at Shanai, but she knocked it aside and knocked him down. Blakk got back on his feet and threw a punch at Shanai, but she dodged it and swatted Blakk with her staff. Blakk tried to fire a ghoul, but Shanai locked her staff into the barrel hole, causing a short-circuiting feedback between both blasters and creating a big energy wave, blowing Shanai and Blakk backwards. "Is that the best your pathetic art can muster?" Blakk asked as he recovered. "Surrender Thaddeus! It's never too late to make the right choice." Shanai offered. Blakk just fired a Grimmstone. Shanai swatted it away. "Forgive me, Thaddeus." She said as Blakk stood up. "I did not want it to come to this." She readied her staff blaster's barrels for Ping and Yang to jump in. She started spinning her staff, preparing both ends. Then she fired Ping and Yang at the same time. The 2 then grabbed arms and spun around and around, creating a beam of fused light and shadow energies and blasting Blakk into the rocks.

The gang was shocked at what Shanai's slugs did. "What was that?!" Eli asked. "It looked like the pure combination of slug powers!" Trixie guessed. "A fusion shot?! I thought that was impossible!" Eli said. "It is for the average slug slinger, Eli. But not for my grandmother. She knows every impossible shots known to slug slinging." Shimei explained. "Awesome!" Harley squealed.

Shanai picked Ping and Yang back up with her staff, nodded approvingly to them and looked back to Blakk. "It's over." She said. But just then, Blakk turned into Twist! It was just a distraction caused by one of Loki's illusions! Eli turned a saw Blakk on the steps behind Shanai. "NO!" Eli yelled. But Blakk fired a Goon Doc ghoul from his gattler, hitting Shanai in the back with Leachfang. "GRANDMA!" Shimei cried as Shanai fell to the ground. Blakk just smiled nastily. The Goon Doc hopped away as the gang ran up to her. "Doc! Can you-" Eli asked as Doc hopped out of his barrel to examine the wound. "It's too late." Shanai said weakly. Doc shook his head, knowing that he couldn't cure Shanai. "I'm- I'm sorry." Eli said, about to cry. "We both are." Harley followed. Even the others looked on sadly. "Don't be, Eli. You and your brother are true Shanes. You both can bring peace to the caverns. You just have to find it in yourselves." Shanai said. "One last mystery." She pointed to her blaster. Eli handed it to her. She loaded Ping and Yang once more. "Grandma?" Shimei said, knowing what Shanai was doing. "Be brave, Shimei. And remember, that I, just as your parents, will always be with you. In your heart." Shanai said. Shimei nodded, giving her dying grandmother one last big tearful hug. As she pulled away, Shanai fired Ping and Yang into the sky. The 2 slugs spun around and created a heavenly light orb. The gang watch as Shanai's body levitated towards the light. Her body disappeared as the light faded away. Eli looked at Shanai's blaster and Ping and Yang, who landed near it.

"Well done, Twist. You played your part commendably." Blakk said. Bull helped Twist, who sustained heavy injuries from Shanai's fusion move. "Those wounds will heal." "She's gone. I didn't think-" Twist started to say in disbelief. "Her time was up. I will you all the training you'll ever need." Blakk said. "Move out!" He ordered. "No." Eli said. "Excuse me?" Blakk asked. "I said no. No more. You will never hurt another innocent person and just walk away!" Eli declared angrily. "Yes. Your cruelty ends right here, right now." Harley growled. "I just defeated the greatest slinger who ever lived. What choice do you 2 have?" Blakk asked, pulling up his gattler. Eli held up Shanai's blaster. Burpy and Joules hopped into the barrels. "Make your move." Blakk dared, firing 3 ghouls from his gattler, a Grimmstone, a Tempesto and a Greneater. Eli fired Burpy and Joules at the same time. As Burpy and Joules transformed, they spun back-to-back and created an ionized plasma blast engulfed in flames. They fired the blast, knocking the ghouls away and blasted Blakk to the ground, damaging his gattler in the process. "Slug the Shane Gang, brothers!" The girl Trip ordered, aiming her blaster at the gang. The guards and the boy Trips aimed as well. "No! We've won enough for today." Blakk assured as he recovered. "Come Twist." The gang watched as Blakk's army left. "You're backing the wrong guy, Twist, and you know it!" Eli advised. "You know Eli's right, Twist. Working with Blakk won't bring our father back." Lash added. Twist looked at them as he left, thinking about what they were saying. He did know that he was siding with the wrong guy. He just didn't care.


Later on, the Shane Gang held a private memorial for Shanai. Eli layed her blaster down in front of a monument. Trixie spread flowers through the air. Pronto played a farewell melody on his flute. The others looked on with very said expressions. Even all of their slugs bowed with a sad farewell. Shimei wiped a single tear from her face as Pronto finished the song. "That was lovely, Pronto." Trixie said. "Lucky for us, it's the only song Pronto knows." Pronto said. "I feel like I'm better having known her." Kord said. "We all do, big guy." Mario said. "What next, Eli? Now you and Harley will never be trained by the Master. You guys will never learn her secrets." Trixie said. "The Master might have taught us more. But the 2 of us and our slugs can figure it out on our own." Eli assured as Burpy and Joules hopped onto his shoulders. "That's right. And when we do, Blakk is going down for good." Harley added. "Too bad about her blaster." Kord said. When Eli slung Burpy and Joules for a fusion shot, Shanai's blaster shorted out and got destroyed. "It would've been a powerful weapon against Blakk." "Yeah, especially with the skill to make those fusion shots." Mario added. "It's okay guys. I have some ideas for one of my own. And one for Harley too." Eli assured. "Yeah. We're gonna need it if Eli wants to make that fusion move again, or any other fusions there might be." Harley agreed. "Blakk has up the ante with that new blaster of his. Now it's our turn." Eli spoke out. "We're taking the battle to Blakk, and we're not stopping. Not until every ghoul is cured. Not until we stop Dr. Blakk's plans once and for all!"

As the gang prepared to leave, Lash noticed Shimei looking over the damage Blakk and his goons did to the grotto. Lash walked over. "You okay?" He asked. "Don't know if I'll ever be. My grandmother's gone. My home is destroyed. I don't know what to do now." Shimei said. "Well, why don't you come with us? Be part of our gang." Lash offered. Shimei looked at him with disbelief. "Lash is right. You are welcome to join us, if you want." Eli said, walking up with Harley. Shimei thought about it. Then she smiled. "Okay. I'll do what I can to help." She said. "Great. Oh, and you might need these 2. They are yours now, after all." Eli said, holding out Ping and Yang. "No. Ping and Yang belong to you and your brother, Eli." Shimei said. Eli seemed confused. "Grandmother would've wanted you 2 to have them more than me." Shimei said. Eli nodded. Harley held out his hand for Ping. Lash then took Shimei's hand softly, intertwining their fingers. "Welcome to the family, Shimei." He said. Shimei nodded.

Wow! The Shane Gang meet the Unbeatable Master, and Blakk has a new weapon built from the modifications of Sergeant Slug's slug pumping cannon. And now with the Master's granddaughter now joining their ranks and learning about fusion moves, the Shane Gang will stop at nothing to defeat Dr. Blakk and his ghouls. Leave a review if you want. Happy Canada Day everybody!

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 (Crystalid), 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), Yang (Negashade)

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)

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)

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)

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

Vance Volt: Blast (Hop Rock), Bloom (Vinedrill), Crust (Lavalynx), Legs (Arachnet), Swimy (AquaBeek), Hardcase (Armashelt), Squish (Jellyish), Blow (Tormato), Cheep (Flopper), Punch (Rammstone)

Mario Bravado: Ricochet (Speedstinger), Slide (Frostcrawler), Crawler (Arachnet), Echo (AquaBeek), Mess (Jellyish), Breeze (Tormato), Kate (Flopper), Porky (Dirt Urchin), Dunk (Rammstone)

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)

Shimei: Mong (Hop Rock)