In celebration of Christmas, I decided to take up on introducing the Universal Slug this chapter. I hope you all like it.

Chapter 28: A Universal Slug Christmas

At the Shane Hideout, which was decorated in celebration for Christmas, Eliza sat down with the gang and told them the tale of the first Christmas. "And it was on that night, Earth's proud savior, Jesus Christ, was born, given to the people by his father, God, and making that night the very first Christmas. And for many years, people praised that day by giving to other people, because that is what Christmas is about. Giving. And Jesus himself, was the greatest gift of all."

"That was very beautiful, Mom." Dana said. "Hearing that story always brings a warm feeling to my heart." Harley said. "I think it's really beautiful. Being with friends and family this holiday." Trixie said, nuzzling in Eli's arms. Even Kord shed a few tears. He never knew anything about something so beautiful as Christmas. Even the slugs were filled with Christmas spirit. "Wait. Where the heck is Pronto?" Vance asked. "Haven't seen his since this morning." Lash said.

Just then, as if on cue, Pronto came crashing through the door, landing on the table. Everyone looked down at him. "Uh, ho-ho-ho?" Pronto said, trying to hide his shame. "Pronto, where have you been?" Eli asked. "I did something naughty." Pronto said. "What did you do?" Harley asked. "I raided one of Dr. Blakk's storage houses." Pronto said. "You did what?! On your own?!" Kord asked in shock. "Yes. But for good reason!" Pronto objected. "You see, Pronto has discovered a very special secret that Dr. Blakk had kept hidden. Something that probably even Shimei's grandmother couldn't possibly know. Behold!" He pulled out a rolled-up chart, unrolled it and placed it on the table. Everyone took a good long look at it. "Well, well, well. Looks like we've just been given one very special gift this year, guys." Harley said. "Harley's right. This isn't just any old chart." Shimei said. "What is it then?" Dana asked. "Remember when Red Hook mentioned the Universal Slug last month? This is a map to its ancient resting place." Shimei revealed.


(Intro) (Christmas Themed)


The gang travelled on their mecha beasts through a marsh field. Shimei was leading the way. "How do you know that this map leads to the resting place of the Universal Slug? That is if it even exists?" Harley asked. "I recognize the texts on the map. I studied it when I was training with my grandma." Shimei said. "Huh. Still finding out new stuff about you." Harley said. Shimei smiled and looked at the map. "Here. Turn right at this stone formation." She directed.

Little did the gang know, they were being followed. Sedo and Munch teamed up and were following them. "You sure about this?" Munch asked. "Absolutely. Once the Shane Gang leads us to where the ancient resting place is, the Universal Slug will be ours." Sedo said. "And we get revenge on Shane Gang?" Munch asked. "Indeed, we do." Sedo said. Munch chuckled evilly.

The gang stopped for the night and set up camp. Shimei gathered the gang around a campfire and told them the story of the Universal Slug. "The Universal Slug is known to all Slugterrans as one of the many great creators of all slug life in Slugterra. The Shadow Clan look to the slug as a god. But nobody's ever seen the slug in years. All that was ever known about the slug was written in the first caves in the caverns run by trolls." She explained. "She's right. I've seen a few of those writings myself." Kord said. "So, nobody's ever seen the Universal Slug?" Eli asked. "No one that we know of." Mario said. "So, if we find him, we could be the first to actually meet the slug in person." Eli said. "And we can get it on camera!" Trixie said, pulling up her camera.

The next morning, the gang were back on the trail. Shimei looked at the map, trying to figure out where to go next. Then, she saw a symbol over the Universal Slug she didn't recognize. 'What could this symbol mean?' She thought. "Something wrong, Shimei?" Harley asked. "No. It's nothing. Except this one symbol over the slug that I don't recognize." Shimei said, showing them the symbol. Eli looked at the symbol. "Anybody ever seen this symbol before?" He asked. Everyone took turns examining the symbol. Everyone shook their heads. "I did." Pronto said. "You?" Harley asked. "Yes. Once. I don't remember what it means though." Pronto said. "Well, there goes that piece of hope." Harley said. "No, no, no, my friend. I'm sure it will come back to me. Hopefully." Pronto said.

The gang came up to a land bridge, poised over a deep canyon. "Single file on the bridge, gang. Step with caution. It's very thin. One false move, you can fall over the edge. And you'll have a very long time to wave goodbye." Shimei said. The gang rode across the bridge, careful not to take any false steps. Even Pronto did his best not to look down. Little did they know, Sedo and Munch were still right behind them. Munch was aiming his blaster right at the bridge's edge. "You sure this gonna work?" Munch asked. "I'm certain. Now blast away!" Sedo said. Munch fired a Grenuke, latching onto the bridge. Pronto turned and saw its tail sizzling. "GRENUKE ON THE BRIDGE!" He screamed. The gang gasped. "Everyone to other side! Quickly!" Eli shouted. Everyone rode as fast as their mechas could go towards the other side. The slug exploded, causing the bridge to crumble. The gang made it to the other side in time, but Pronto started to fall before he could make it. Luckily, the gang fired their mechas' grappling hooks onto Fernando and pulled Pronto back up. "Thank you, my friends." Pronto said before fainting off Fernando.

Sedo and Munch looked on. "What was point of that? They make it to other side!" Munch whined. "I know. But now they have no choice but to continue on the where the Universal Slug is supposed to live." Sedo said. "But now we can't follow them." Munch said. "Not to worry. I have travelled this cavern before. I know a shortcut." Sedo said with a sinister smile.

The gang continued on their way. Finally, they reached the cave entrance to the resting place of the Universal Slug. Shimei noticed something. Above the entrance, there was an ancient texture, along with the same symbol that was on the map. "The slug that is one with the universe only reveals itself to those only whose hearts know what's right in the universe." She read. "There's that same symbol again." Dana said. "But what does it mean?" Kord asked. "I know it means something. But what is it?" Pronto asked himself, thinking hard on what the symbol could mean.

They entered the cave. Burpy hopped onto Shimei's mecha so he could light the way. Kord was amazed by how the tunnel was made. "I've never seen a tunnel this neatly made." He said. "Wasn't this tunnel made by your people like the others?" Harley asked. "Nope. Whoever made this tunnel, it sure wasn't by any cave troll, molenoid or even Shadow Clan." Kord said. Eli and Harley looked at each other. "If this tunnel wasn't dug by cave trolls, molenoids or Shadow Clan, who dug it?" Harley asked. "I don't know. But I may have a feeling." Eli said. Harley looked at his brother. He had a feeling that he probably knew who he meant.

After a while, the gang finally reached the end of the tunnel. There, they discovered an ancient ruin. The place had several slug statues built along a path towards another slug statue. Trixie filmed the statues with her camera. "Each of these statues. They look like they represent each of the known slugs in Slugterra." She said, recognizing the structures of the statues. "And they all lead towards that big one at the end of the path." Dana said, pointing to the final statue. The gang reached the statue and examined it. "It doesn't look like any slug we've ever seen." Lash said. "Not even an Infurnus like you, Burpy." Eli said. Burpy chittered in agreement. Shimei then thought of something. She took out the map and compared the statue to the drawing on the map. "Of course." She said. "What is it?" Lash asked. "This is a statue of the Universal Slug." She revealed. Eli walked up to the statue. "Eli, what're you doing?" Trixie asked. "I don't think this is just a statue." Eli said. 'You are correct.'A voice said, startling the gang. "What was that?" Pronto said in fear.

Just then, above the statue, the same symbol from the map and the entrance started to glow. The statue started to glow too. As the gang looked on, the stone on the statue started to disappear, revealing parts of live flesh. The glow started to die down, leaving sparkles to drop and revealing a giant white slug with angel wings, bathing in a heavenly light. The slug opened its eyes and stared down at the gang as they stared in awe. 'Shane Gang.' It spoke. That made Pronto faint. "It can talk? But how?" Kord asked. "And how does know who we are?" Vance asked. "It's him." Eli said. "The Universal Slug." Shimei said. The slug nodded. The gang knelt down on their knees and bowed to the slug with respect. Even the slugs hopped out of their barrels and bowed to their great creator. 'Arise.' The slug said. The gang stood back on their feet. 'After all these years, I had doubts that I may never meet another Shane.' The slug said. "You know about us? Our family?" Harley asked. 'Yes. I have been a longtime friend of the Shane family for 30 years.' The slug explained. "30 years?!" Pronto asked, jolting up. 'Yes. In fact, it was the first Shane who discovered my humble home here. Perhaps you've heard of him. Orville Shane?' The slug asked. "Great-great-great Grandpa Orville?" Eli asked in shock. The slug nodded. 'He built me this place as a sacred resting place, so I may finally have the long rest I've desired since the day Slugterra was born.' He explained.

Suddenly, the slug sensed something. 'Danger approaches. My resting place is breached!' He said. The gang readied their blasters. Just then, a Rammstone flew in and attacked. Eli slung Banger to counter the incoming slug. Banger bashed the Rammstone aside before he skidded to the ground. "Great work, Banger." Eli said. Just then, there was a familiar chuckle. Eli and his gang looked on as Munch walked in, chuckling as he slowly applauded. "Very good, but never good enough, Eli Shane." Munch said. "Munch! How did he get here?" Kord asked. "He must've followed us." Lash said. "Of course. He slung that Grenuke that destroyed the land bridge!" Vance said. "Oh, I not come here by myself. I brought new friend." Munch said. "That's right. I helped him." Sedo said, making his appearance known. "Sedo! My life. Long. Nemesis!" Pronto said. "Miss me, Pronto?" Sedo asked mockingly. Pronto just growled.

'Young Shanes, you know these trespassers?' The slug asked. "We do. Sedo and Munch are rouge slingers we've faced before." Eli said. "Why did you crooks follow us?" Harley asked. "Why else? We want the Universal Slug." Sedo said. The gang gasped. "You see, the real key to controlling the slugs is to control the slug. With the Universal Slug, Munch and I will total control of every slug in Slugterra. Including yours." Sedo explained. "Yeah! So, stand aside and give us the big slug!" Munch warned. "No way. Never gonna happen." Eli said. "Very well. Your funeral." Sedo said, pulling up his own blaster and slinging a Lavalynx, firing Geyservault at the gang. The gang split up and dodged the attack. Trixie spun around a nearby rock and slung Blossom, but Sedo retaliated by slinging a Flaringo, blasting the poor Vinedrill with Blastburst. Munch fired a Hop Rock, blasting Lash backwards. "Oh, no you did not just hurt my boyfriend!" Shimei shouted. She spun her staff, slinging her Phosphoro, Huong, blinding Munch's eye with Flashbang. Then she slung Jin, punching him hard in the face and knocking him out.

Sedo slung a Sand Angler, trapping Harley in a Sandcrete. Harley struggled to get free, but soon found himself at blaster point by Sedo. "HEY!" Pronto yelled. Sedo looked up and saw Pronto coming down, slinging his own Tazerling, Zappy, shocking him with Tazerbolt. Pronto then pulled Harley out of the sand trap. "Thanks." Harley said, brushing the sands off his pants. "Well, couldn't let you sink now, can I?" Pronto asked. "Good point." Harley chuckled. Sedo groaned as he started to recover. "I'm gonna help the others take out Munch. You good to handle Sedo yourself?" Harley asked. "I'll manage. For Sedo is…my life. Long. Nemesis." Pronto said. Harley nodded and took off to help the others. Pronto shouted his battle cry and charged for Sedo.

Eli and the rest of the gang continued the sling their slugs on Munch, now up and able to see. Watts slung his own Rammstone, Rush, but Munch swatted the slug aside and slung another Hop Rock. "Hop Rock, coming in hot!" Watts called. "I got him!" Dana called, slinging Webby and catching the slug in her web. "Thanks lass." Watts said. "No problem." Dana said. "Okay. Time to put this ogre to sleep." Trixie said, loading her Slyren, Nighty. She slung her, hitting the cyclops with Sleepytime. The attack started to make Munch feel drowsy. "Timber!" Harley shouted as Munch fell backwards and falling asleep.

The Universal Slug watched the fight between both sides. 'Those who help the Shane boys. They also help each other. I have not seen such teamwork in a long time.' He said to himself. Suddenly, Sedo knocked Pronto down. Pronto tried to recover, but Sedo held him at blaster point. "Well, I thought this would go on longer, but I guess it's time to put an end to our little nemesis dance, Pronto." Sedo said. But suddenly, his loaded slug just popped out of its barrel. "Hey! What are you doing?! Get back in here!" He said, trying to grab the slug, but just then, it bit him! "Ouch!" Then, all his slugs popped out of their barrels. Munch's did too as he started to wake up. The slugs all gathered in front of the gang. "What is happening?" Munch asked. "I don't know!" Sedo said. 'You trespass on the sacred grounds of the Universal Slug. You both show dishonesty and the acts of a cheater. You have no rights to sling slugs.' The Universal Slug bellowed. Sedo and Munch quivered. The slug then shrunk down to the size of a regular slug and hopped into Eli's hand. 'Young Eli Shane, let us show them what it's like to work together.' He said. "Best idea I've heard all day." Eli said, loading the slug into a barrel, then into his blaster. Sedo and Munch gasped as Eli slung the Universal Slug. The slug transformed and released a beam of the combined elements, blasting Sedo and Munch right out of the cave.

The slug grew back to its original size and turned to the Shane Gang. "Well, thanks for your help. That was quite the attack you did." Eli said. The others agreed. 'It is I who should be thanking you, Eli Shane. You and your friends have shown me what true teamwork looks like.' The slug said. "Glad we could help." Harley said. "How did the slugs just leave Sedo and Munch like that?" Trixie asked. 'What the bad molenoid said was mostly true. I can't entirely control slugs. I can just speak with them telepathically. Tell them to do the right thing.' The slug explained. "Just like our father could." Eli said. 'Indeed.' The slug said. "Well, I think it's time we head home. We still got a Christmas to celebrate." Eliza said. "Right. Well, I guess we'll see you again sometime." Harley said. 'I am not staying in my resting place.' The slug said. The gang was confused. 'A slug can only be as good as its slinger. And there is still much that even I still have to learn. I shall join you, the bravest group of slingers under the name of Shane, and learn from you, the ways of teamwork.' The slug said. The gang were surprised to hear this. "Well then, welcome to the team. We're honored to have you." Eli said. The Universal Slug nodded with a smile.

As the gang prepared to leave, Shimei took one last look at the symbol. "Um, Mr. Universal Slug? What does that symbol stand for?" She asked. The slug looked at the symbol. 'Unity. Between all in Slugterra.' He said.

Back at the Hideout, the gang all celebrated a nice Christmas dinner. Eli and Trixie stood by the wall. "I really appreciate you teaching us all about Christmas, Eli." Trixie said. "Hey, it's like I said. You guys are our family. And that's what this holiday is all about. Being together with family." Eli said. "Hey Eli? Look up." Trixie said. Eli looked up and saw- "Mistletoe." Trixie nodded. "How'd you know?" Eli asked. "Your mom told me." Trixie said. Eli smiled and brought Trixie in for a kiss. "Merry Christmas, Trixie." Eli said. "Merry Christmas, Eli." Trixie said back. "Merry Christmas, everyone." Eli called. "Merry Christmas!" Everyone called.

Well, wasn't that magical? Eli and his gang meet the Universal Slug right as they were celebrating Christmas. Leave a review if you like it. And Merry Christmas to all.

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), Beeker (AquaBeek), Mimkey (Mimikreas), Jaws (MakoBreaker), Gasser (Flatulorhinkus), Crystal (Geoshard), Foggy (Neotox), Jammer (Xmitter)

Harley Shane: Matchstick (Flaringo), Squirm (Flopper), Frostbite (Frostcrawler), Webs (Arachnet), Gels (Jellyish), Zipper (Hoverbug), Ivy (Vinedrill), Masher (Rammstone), Frights (Frightgeist), Shredder (Thresher), Smelly (Flatulorhinkus), Claws (Armashelt), Splatz (Lariat), Twister (Tormato), Lucky (Hexlet), Sizzle (Grenuke), Quill (Dirt Urchin), Ping (White Boon Doc), Bubbles (Bubbaleone), Polo (Polero)

Trixie Sting: Bluster (Tormato), Blizzard (Frostcrawler), Spider (Arachnet), Twirl (Polero), Balloon (Bubbaleone), Haunter (Frightgeist), Pounder (Rammstone), Slicer (Thresher), Rocks (Hop Rock), Jelly (Jellyish), Blossom (Vinedrill), Spotty (Flopper), Dunes (Sand Angler), Zaps (Tazerling), Roller (Armashelt), Scorcher (Lavalynx), Nighty (Slyren)

Kord Zane: Bludgeon (Rammstone), Sploder (Hop Rock), Jolt (Tazerling), Trip (Polero), Flycatcher (Arachnet), Floatie (Bubbaleone), Iceberg (Frostcrawler), Scorch (Flaringo), Jetstream (AquaBeek), Spitz (Lariat), Chuckles (Gazzer), Floppy (Flopper), Pincer (Armashelt), Glint (Phosphoro), Throttle (Thresher)

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

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), Crush (Armashelt)

Lash: Zing (Tazerling), Speedy (Speedstinger), Hopper (Hop Rock), Bubba (Bubbalene), Stinx (Flatulorhinkus), String (Polero), Goat (Rammstone), Sleepy (Slyren), Webber (Arachnet), Ice (Frostcrawler), Spark (Flaringo), Winger (Tormato), Witch (Hexlet), Phlegm (Lariat), Peep (Flopper), Melt (Lavalynx), Clash (Armashelt)

Shimei: Mong (Hop Rock), Jin (Rammstone), Zeng (Vinedrill), Leng (Polero), Kaz (Grenuke), Hindo (Flaringo), Huong (Phosphoro)

Eliza Shane: Ellie (Flaringo), Min (Jellyish), Tink (Phosphoro), Pimpy (Bubbaleone), Jimbo (Hop Rock), Jason (Frightgeist), Fitz (Tazerling)

Watts: Scourge (MakoBreaker), Polly (Hoverbug), Rush (Rammstone)

Dana Por: Webby (Arachnet), Willy (Frostcrawler)

The Universal Slug