Slugterra: The New Shane

Chapter 26: Making My Decision

Dana Blakk's POV

It had been three days since Shanai had fallen. Much to my distaste, Blakk Industries seemed to have hit the pause button on things. We had lightened up on attacks and ghouling, taking a breath after the well-planned attack on the Unbeatable Master. At least, that was what it appeared to be. I, for one, had been working on plans of my own.

I will admit, my curiosities about Alana had been growing ever since I'd made my comeback. There was more to her- her energy, for one. How did she get such a strong, light energy? I got my dark energy because of dark water, the physical embodiment of dark energy. Pretty sure there was no physical embodiment of light energy, so was it simply luck?

And what of that Infurnus slug of hers, Ash? There was only supposed to be one Infurnus, and the Shane boy had it. Alana having Ash definitely wasn't a coincidence.

As I sat on my bed, vials of dark water spread out on the gray sheets, I had to ask myself a constant question.

Why did I even care?

I kept telling myself it was because it could be important. Alana had power she didn't understand. If I could manage to get power like that, it could really help things, and help me understand my powers, unlike Alana and her own.

I glanced at the one open vial of dark water. I lifted one pale hand, and the dark water snaked out of its vial, twirling in midair. Controlling dark water- a skill that took massive concentration and energy. I could rarely do it, but when I could, I knew it would be a dangerous ability.

"Yeah," I murmured. "Alana's got no idea how far powers like these can go."

~~~~~~~~

Alana's POV

The last three days had been pretty quiet. There hadn't been much happening.

Kord and Trixie had used the time to play video games (why Kord even tried was beyond me). Pronto watched movies and argued with the slugs. Eli probably stayed the most active, making errands and hanging around the couched, drawing out what looked like blueprints of a blaster, but I couldn't be sure. Whenever Kord wasn't playing games, he would work on the blueprints with Eli.

I spent most of my time up in the mushroom-trees near the hideout, thinking over Eli's proposition a few days ago. That's where I was one evening when I heard my name being called.

"Hey, Alana!"

I'd been up there for most of the day. My hair was in a braid, and evening though I doubted I'd be doing any slinging, I was in my gear. My slugs were scattered across the top of the mushroom, playing or sleeping. I had been laying there drawing it an old, thick notebook that I'd owned for years. Before or after Will? I couldn't remember.

I got up and poked my head over the edge of the mushroom top. Eli was down there, waving to me.

"Mind if I come up?" he called. I shrugged.

"Not at all, come on up," I replied. Eli nodded, and Spinner jumped into his blaster. I backed away as I heard the sound of the slug transforming. A second later, Eli was swinging up to my perch.

Too pate, I realized that I had left my notebook laying out, colored pencils scattered everywhere. I moved for it, but Eli quickly stepped forward and grabbed it before I could.

"Is this what you've been doing up here?" Eli wondered as he nonchalantly flipped through the pages, studying the drawings. I paled, feeling a little invaded.

"Doesn't matter," I said, reaching for the book. Eli smirked and held it up just barely out of my reach. I scowled and crossed my arms.

"Aw c'mon, I just wanna see," he said as he continued to look through the drawings. "Alana, some of these are pretty g- oh..." Eli's voice trailed off as he flipped to a place. He frowned and sat down. Biting my lip, I sat next to him, looking at the page.

It was the one I had just been working on. My earliest memory, and really the only memory I had before the memories of living on the streets. A hallway, and there were flames on the walls. They seemed alive in the drawing, creeping towards the ground and the rest of the hallway.

The hall itself was a pale blue, with brown flooring. It seemed tantalizingly familiar, but I had never seen a place like that before.

"What's this?" Eli asked quietly, studying the picture. Burpy jumped from his shoulder and onto the edge of the notebook.

"A memory," I said. "A really distant one," I added. "But... I don't understand it."

"Describe the memory to me," Eli prompted. I was a little confused- why did he want to know? But I took a deep breath and began to describe it, the scene playing out in my head.

"It's not much. Just, going down that hallway. I feel like something was coming behind me, like I was rushing. The building I was in... it was important to me. And I was leaving it. With someone," I said suddenly. My heart thumped- I'd never remembered that before. The thoughts were being crammed into my mind. "I was with someone, they were important, too, and I was leaving something- someone- behind-"

As soon as the memories were there, they seemed to dissolve.

"Gosh," I murmured. "I've never remembered those things before." I glanced over at Eli. His eyes were wide, and he was still staring at the drawing, like he was in a trance. Then he sighed.

"Alana, why don't you go figure these things out? You have the ability to. Why not?"

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. "Because of things like this. What the heck happened, Eli? That lead to all of this? I feel like I'd almost rather not know anything at all."

Eli smirked. "That's not true," he said. "Even I would wanna know. I guess... Well, I guess I'd want to be safe rather than sorry, you know? What would happen if you'd need to know something?"

"Don't you think I already know all these?" I mumbled. "I get it, Eli, I'm just scared, okay? I don't know, it almost feels selfish of me. Slugterra's magic is being destroyed and I shouldn't be caught up in things like finding out about a stupid burning hallways."

Eli laughed softly, shaking his head as he looked over the forest under us. "How do you only care about Slugterra, never yourself? You act like an adult sometimes."

"Well," I said thoughtfully, "I've raised myself for years. I guess focusing on other things was always easier than focusing and worrying about myself. I've always convinced myself that others are more important," I said as I tickled Ash.

"Well, now you can stop worrying about others, at least for a while." Eli stood and helped me to my feet. "I want you to go to the Shadow Clan. We can hold up fort for a few days."

The light of the cavern was almost completely gone now, but I didn't feel tired at all. Instead, I felt a rush of adrenaline as I nodded.

"Okay, you win. I... I think I'll even leave now. Can you come up with something to tell the gang?" I asked. Eli nodded.

"I've got you covered."

~~~~~~~~

We swung off the mushroom-tree with our Arachnets. Midnight was at the bottom, waiting for me. I only had a little gold with her (tip- always have gold, you never know when you'll need it), but I doubted I'd need much. Not in the Dark Periphery.

Normally, I wouldn't have wanted to leave so suddenly, but I felt compelled to. If I got moving now, I wouldn't have time to change my mind.

Just before I mounted Midnight, Eli gave me a hug.

"Good luck."

When I looked up at his face, I could only manage a weak, sad smile. "You never stop reminding me of Will," I murmured as I climbed atop my Mecha beast.

"What was that?" Eli asked. My face turned red.

"Nothing," I said breezily. "Well, um, bye. I'll be back in a few days."

Then, before I could back out, I rode Midnight off, headed to the Dark Periphery.

Oh, I thought as my slugs got comfortable for the ride. What have I gotten myself into?

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I know, very short, but I needed this filler.

Next chapter's the one! We discover Alana's backstory :O

Cyan out!