Small World (Slugterra Fanfiction)

Chapter 10: Try, Try Again

"Well dudes? Any luck?" Kord was the first to speak the moment Dexas and Eli returned home. Their stone-cold silence said it all, both refusing eye contact.
"We can't give up hope, everyone. We have faced many set backs before."
"Junjie's right. There's gotta be something we haven't tried." Trixie added.
"Maybe we could recruit the Shadow Clan for help? They might have ideas we haven't tried. Plus they know Dexas." Kord suggested.
"It's worth a shot. Come on, gang!" Eli yet again pulled Dexas outside with him, their friends quickly following.
"Must we? Pronto still gets the creeps from the Shadow Clan..." Pronto admitted worriedly, reluctantly going outside to catch up.

"Woah, this place is pretty cool..." Dexas softly spoke upon entering Shadow Clan territory. Everything was eerie and silent, until members of the clan appeared.
"Why have you come to us, Eli Shane?"
"We need your help. Dexas-Taryn has lost her memory and we were hoping you guys had ideas on how to restore it." The young Shane answered as their leader stepped forward from behind two others.
"Have you tried using the healer slug?" Spoke the Shadow Clan leader. Eli abruptly facepalmed at the question,
"Why didn't I think of that?!"
"Come on Eli, let's try it!" Trixie encouraged. He soon reached into his backpack, carefully taking the mentioned slug out.
"Think you can help her, Doc?" The little guy showed some hesitation, but smiled to show he was willing to give it a try. Doc hopped onto Dexas' head, raising his little arms as he began to slowly glow brighter. Kord kept his fingers crossed worriedly as Eli glanced to Burpy hopeful. After a solid moment of waiting, Doc finally ceased glowing and looked down at the girl.
"Dexas? Do you remember us?" Junjie voiced first.
"Yes," the gang gasped with excitement, "but not the kind of remembering you're hoping for..." they then sighed with disappointment.
"Why didn't it work?!" Pronto exclaimed as Doc shrugged.
"Perhaps her memories cannot be restored, because they are no longer there..." Junjie pondered.
"But dude, they're already not there." Kord commented.
"Yes I know, but I mean how can you restore something that isn't there?"
"He's got a point. There must be something we're missing, some bigger piece of the memory puzzle." Eli added.
"Due to the severity of her amnesia, Dexas-Taryn must see the memories in order to remember them. It would seem being told of them is not enough." The Shadow Clan leader said.
"How do we do that?"
"You must find the technology to activate your childhood memories, and project them for Dexas-Taryn to see for herself. The healer must also be present, so as to properly restore her perspective of the memories as she sees yours." He responded to Eli, who continued to relay what the Shadow Clan said to his friends.
"Humph," Pronto huffed, "Sounds too complicated to me."
"But it just might work. Kord, do you think Drasila can help?"
"Eli, I don't know anyone better that can." Kord smiled confidently.
"Then go, Eli Shane. The longer you wait, the less of a chance Dexas-Taryn has at regaining her memories." The leader informed.