Worrying signs
"I have to say, this is not what I expected," Lincoln commented. As soon as he and Lucy got home, they told Lisa all about the nightmares Lincoln had been having, as well as his mistaking tombstones for Lucy. The girls agreed that Lincoln's case needed further study, but to everyone's surprise, Lisa did not break out the dream machine she used on Lily, or her electrodes (something Lincoln was very thankful for), but instead, she had Lincoln lie down on the couch, as if he was in a therapist's office. This generated a lot of questions from the family, so inevitably, Lincoln had to tell them everything. Needless to say, all were in want of answers.
"Admittedly, my knowledge of the social sciences is fairly limited, but the few dozen textbooks and research papers I have read about recurrent nightmares all agree that the best approach is through communication rather than examination," Lisa replied.
"Is that Lisa-speak for 'do you want to talk about it'?" Lincoln asked.
"One thing I want to know is, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Lynn Sr. inquired.
"Because they were all about times we agreed not to mention anymore," Lincoln answered.
"Do you mean the war, and what happened before?" Luna probed. Lincoln nodded in acknowledgment.
"Could it be PTSD? Pop Pop told me a few of his marine buddies had that after their tours of service," Rita guessed.
"I can't say for certain unless I know all the details. Could you please describe these nightmares if you are willing and able," Lisa requested.
"I don't know, they go into some pretty dark places," Lincoln braced the family.
"Whatever it is, we can handle it," Lynn Jr. responded.
"Yeah, hold that thought, Lynn," Lincoln rebutted. He then recounted his night terrors to the family, leaving out no details. While he was speaking, Lisa was jotting notes down on her notepad. When he was finished, the family looked on in horror.
"Woah, when you said they went to dark places, you meant it," Lucy reacted.
"Those manifestations of your lost friends really said it should've been you?" Rita asked rhetorically.
"Given what you've just relayed, I believe I have found the root of your problems, that being guilt," Lisa summarised.
"That doesn't make any sense. Lincoln didn't do anything!" Leni protested.
"That is true, but Lincoln may believe differently. It seems that he blames himself for Lucy using the wand, the rise of the Dread Mistress, the outbreak of the contagious virus, and most notably, the deaths of Timmy and Chloe. Am I correct, Lincoln?" Lisa clarified. Lincoln was hesitant to answer this question. He had tried to tell himself over and over that nothing was his fault, but he still felt like he should've been there when it all started, and that could've done more to save Timmy and Chloe.
"You're right, Lisa. While Lucy was being corrupted by some nightmare being into becoming something…..else, while all of my friends and family were being struck down by his plague, where was I? In the city, putting Ronnie Anne above my friends and family. She wasn't even my girlfriend at the time. Some brother I turned out to be," Lincoln ranted.
"Don't even think that way, Lincoln. There was no way you could've known, and even if you did, what could you have done? Take the wand off Lucy by force? Luan and I tried that, and I ended up concussed and she got put in a coma. We were lucky it wasn't worse. Bill could've killed you if you tried," Lynn Jr. rebuffed.
"I have to admit, when the outbreak erupted, part of me was somewhat relieved you and Lori were in Great Lakes and not here. I took some comfort knowing you two were safe," Lynn Sr. confessed.
"There's still Timmy and Chloe. They're gone because I wasn't strong enough to save them. I wasn't good enough to make sure the plan to revitalise magic went off flawlessly. Because of my failure, two sets of parents have empty rooms where their children once slept," Lincoln continued to put himself down.
"You know, when Pop Pop came back from one of his tours of service, he went through something similar. He told me the one thing his therapists kept telling him was, that no matter how good you are, no matter how hard you train, you can't save everyone. It is something he still has trouble coming to terms with," Rita disclosed.
"You think we should call a therapist?" Lynn Sr. proposed.
"And tell them what? That our brother is having nightmares from fighting an inter-dimensional war? We'll be checked into the cuckoo hut faster than Luan can throw a custard pie," Lola rebuked.
"Lincoln can't keep losing sleep like this," Leni asserted.
"If you'll give me a moment," Lisa interjected. She went upstairs to her room to fetch something and came back down with a rather peculiar device.
"A headband?" Lincoln questioned. Lisa held in her hand an orange headband, similar to the kind Lynn Jr. wears for practice and other various sports activities.
"This one has been embedded with an analytical device that will allow me to monitor brain function and other life signs from this watch," Lisa explained. She then held up her wrist, which sported a fancy-looking wristwatch. "Birthday gift from my pen pal Jimmy Neutron. With these two devices, I can gather any pertinent data which will help me develop a fix, although you may endure a few more sleepless nights," Lisa added. Lincoln then put the headband on.
"If you think this will help," Lincoln agreed.
"Excellent. Your readings look good so far, albeit with less energy than a fully awake person. This will also send me alerts if anything drastic were to occur. Don't worry, dear brother. I'll have a fix for this in no time," Lisa assured.
"Until then, try to relax, and you girls, go easy on him, OK?" Lynn Sr. ordered. All the girls nodded in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, at Great Lakes City, the Sisterhood of the Shining Light was in full attendance at their headquarters. Coven leaders from all over the state came running as soon as the recall was ordered. They were conversing amongst themselves, wondering why such a recall was ordered in the first place. Some were very nervous, and the tension was threatening to boil over. Rosa and Lupe then emerged from their private chambers to address the group. The room fell silent at their approach. This was highly irregular. It was one thing for the current Mother to be here, but a previous Mother? This raised a lot of questions.
"My thanks for coming here on such short notice. I am sure you're all wondering why I've recalled you all here today," Rosa addressed.
"I don't like the idea of us all being gathered here in one place. Why don't you tell us what this is all about, Mother Rosa?" Cynthia, a coven leader, pressed. Rosa sighed heavily, then continued the meeting.
"The Malefic Order is massing. We have received word that they are active once more," Rosa revealed. This caused a flurry of hushed murmurs to erupt across the meeting room.
"Do we know where?" another coven leader named Bertha probed.
"No, and that is what concerns us. All the Winged One told us was to be vigilant and watch for signs," Lupe responded. The murmurs grew louder and louder as the meeting went on.
"That's it?! That's the plan?! If the Order is here, they're after one thing, the Dark Orb. It needs to be moved!" another coven leader named Sabrina suggested.
"If the Order was after the Orb, there would be a battalion kicking down this door right now," Agatha dismissed.
"They could be marshalling their forces to do just that!" Cynthia remarked.
"Moving the Orb is too risky! The dark energy it exudes can overwhelm even the best of us!" Julie asserted.
"Enough! Bickering amongst ourselves will not help beat back the Order. We will do exactly as the Winged One advised, we watch and wait, and when the Order strikes, we act. However, I want this HQ fully garrisoned, so that if the Order does make a move, we'll be ready for them," Rosa resolved.
"There is one other matter I think you're missing, Mother Rosa," Charlotte observed.
"Oh really, what might that be?" Rosa asked.
"The Louds," Charlotte answered. This gave Rosa some pause for thought.
"What about them?" Rosa inquired.
"I have had them observed since their return to Royal Woods following last year's battle with the Nightmare King. It would seem that their magical heritage has been reclaimed. First Mother Harriet's efforts to shield her lineage from the darkness has failed," Charlotte exposited.
"Oh, this is bad. The Order may decide to go after them as revenge for what First Mother Harriet did to them all those years ago," Margaret added worryingly.
"Maybe they already have," Julie said with an equally fearful tone.
"I know you are close to them, Mother Rosa. Give the order and I will assign a protection detail to the Loud House and its residents," Charlotte offered.
"They are entitled to live their own lives, but you're right, we cannot risk their safety on a matter like this. Deploy Sisters to each of their schools and double the watch on their house. Should they go out, follow and watch them," Rosa ordered.
"Yes, Mother," Charlotte acknowledged.
"As for the eldest Loud sibling, she has taken up residence at a college close to Great Lakes. I will personally see to her protection. As for the rest of you, I strongly urge caution to all. The Order is not to be taken lightly. Any activity should be reported directly to me. Clear?" Rosa pressed. All present nodded in acknowledgment, and with that, the meeting had concluded.
Rosa made her way home with relative ease, wondering what could be done about the Order. She was also debating with herself whether or not to tell the Louds the story behind the Malefic Order and their great-grandmother Harriet. It was a tale she knew well, but she questioned whether the Louds were ready to hear. One part of her thought that they should know the truth, if they were to embrace their roots. On the other hand, Harriet bound her family's magical abilities for a reason; this life was dangerous. Wonderful, but dangerous, and the Louds got a taste of how dangerous it was when they fought Bill. Could they handle going through something similar again? That was one question she was dreading the answer to. She arrived home to find Lori already there, talking with Bobby. Surprisingly, she was accompanied by another girl, with long, flowing black hair and dressed all in blue.
"So, Annie, Lori tells me you're new at Fairway. Must be tough, being away from your family for the first time," Bobby stated.
"Yeah, at first, it was tough, but I think it's kinda exciting, meeting new people, living somewhere new. Besides, I can always visit," Annie responded.
"Annie's family is really into arts and crafts. She even made me this adorable necklace," Lori informed, and showed Bobby the necklace she was wearing. It was a peculiar design, one Lori had never seen before, but she was always open to new trends, and she had an appreciation for hand-crafted gifts.
"It looks really good on you, babe, and props to the craftsperson," Bobby complimented.
"You were right about him, Lori. He certainly is a sweet one. Anyway, I should be off. My sister is helping me move the rest of my stuff into my new dorm room. See you soon, Lori," Annie wished her new friend farewell.
"I'll walk you out, Annie, was it?" Rosa offered.
"That would be great, it gives Lori and Bobby some time alone. Be sure to keep the doors open, hehehe," Annie teased, causing both lovers to glow red instantly. Annie and Rosa then left the apartment. Once they were sure Lori and Bobby were out of earshot, Rosa turned to Annie.
"What are you doing here?" Rosa asked.
"Making sure Lori's safe. With the Order active in this world, I'm leaving nothing to chance. That amulet is a protective charm that should keep her invisible to their eyes, as long as she keeps her powers on the down-low," Annie explained.
"What about the other Louds?" Rosa inquired.
"I've deployed a few Sentinels to watch the house. I take it you've sent some Sisters to do the same. We can't intervene, lest we risk exposure, but if the Order makes a move, we'll know about it," Annie reported.
"Both myself and Mama Lupe really appreciate your help in this matter. We know you're taking a massive risk revealing yourself to us," Rosa said gratefully.
"Just don't tell the Court of Ancients. The only reason I revealed my true self to you is because I owe Harriet a great debt, plus you are holding on to the Dark Orb for us, so it was only fair," Annie replied.
"Did you tell Lori about the Order?" Rosa probed.
"No. I thought it best that it come from you, should you decide to tell her," Annie answered.
"I'll do that in due time," Rosa resolved.
"If you think that is best. I should get back to the other Sentinels. Surveillance work is never done," Annie remarked.
"Take care, friend," Rosa bad Annie farewell, and after checking that no-one was around, Annie unfurled her wings and vanished in a bright light. Rosa then made her way back upstairs to find Lori again. "Lori, can I borrow you for two seconds?" Rosa requested. The two then went into an empty room in the apartment.
"Is something wrong, Mrs. Casagrande?" Lori asked.
"There is a story I need to tell you. Please hear it all," Rosa notified.
In another room of the Casagrande apartment, Ronnie Anne was video chatting with Lincoln, as they often did on weekends. Their anniversary was coming up and Ronnie Anne wanted to catch up with Lincoln to make sure he was still on. When his image came up on her laptop screen, Ronnie Anne noticed that he was not looking too good.
"Still not sleeping well, Lincoln?" Ronnie Anne inquired. Lincoln had confided in Ronnie Anne about his nightmare issue, but only after she relentlessly questioned him about why he looked more tired than usual.
"I thought they'd go away in time, like all dreams do, but they just get worse," Lincoln responded.
"My Abuela has stuff for that. One word to her and she could definitely come up with some sort of charm or potion to ease sleep and ward away bad dreams," Ronnie Anne offered.
"Thanks, but we're trying to do things without magic. You know, try to get back to normal," Lincoln politely declined.
"With the exception of visiting me via portal. Come on, Linc, it's great that you want to get back to normal, but you can't keep losing sleep like this," Ronnie Anne argued.
"If it's any comfort, Lisa's on the case. Had me wear this headband to monitor my brain patterns, or something like that," Lincoln assured.
"Curing deadly diseases and treating chronic nightmares are two different things, but Lisa's adaptable, so if you're confident she can whip up a solution, so am I," Ronnie Anne conceded.
"I just hope it doesn't involve electric shock therapy," Lincoln joked, which elicited a few chuckles from both Lincoln and Ronnie Anne.
"Hey, do you think we can continue this in person?" Ronnie Anne asked.
"Uh, OK," Lincoln agreed. He shut off the computer and portalled himself into Ronnie Anne's room. When he emerged, he was pulled into a tight hug by Ronnie Anne, which he returned. It felt warm, like sitting next to an open flame, so much that Lincoln did not want to let go, nor did Ronnie Anne show signs of breaking apart.
"You still see him, don't you?" Ronnie Anne guessed.
"Every time, and my friends in that state. It felt like last year all over again," Lincoln vented.
"You've probably heard things like 'It wasn't your fault' or 'There was nothing you could do'. I think this is all you needed," Ronnie Anne replied, referring to the embrace the two lovers found themselves in.
"I'll enjoy this for as long as it lasts. I love you, Ronnie," Lincoln said warmly.
"I love you too, Linc," Ronnie Anne responded in kind. The two then initiated a make-out session, and Lincoln felt more alive than he did in the last few days, like all his troubles could be forgotten in the moment. Whilst this was happening, back home, Lisa got an alert on her watch. She inspected it and was pleased with the results.
"This looks promising," Lisa remarked before going back to her work. Back at the Casagrande building, Lincoln and Ronnie Anne broke apart for air while still in each other's arms.
"You know, the new season of the Muscle Fish cartoon is available to stream. Wanna stay for a binge session?" Ronnie Anne proposed.
"You read my mind, Ronnie," Lincoln accepted and the two relaxed on Ronnie Anne's bed while watching the show on her laptop.
Back at a remote section of Royal Woods, Fear Monger and Plague Bringer were reviewing their respective plans when Fear Monger noticed something was wrong. He couldn't quite figure out why, but the spell he put on Lincoln that was giving him chronic nightmares was not as prominent as it had been, and it happened within the last few hours as well. He was inspecting the spell with his staff, trying to find an explanation.
"Defective spell, love?" Plague Bringer asked.
"The power output has halved. If I don't get this working again, Lincoln may only have a mildly disturbed sleep tonight," Fear Monger replied.
"Honestly, if you keep torturing the poor boy, someone's going to notice. That midget brainiac is already trying to find the cause of Lincoln's restlessness, and that may lead the Louds right to us," Plague Bringer mused.
"Not to worry, dear, the spell's secondary purpose is already bearing fruit. We'll have what we need to ascertain the information we came here for and exact revenge on Harriet's descendants at the same time," Fear Monger assured.
"Then I get to play with the white haired one for a while. He and I will have so much fun," Plague Bringer menaced. This caused Fear Monger to chuckle a bit.
"Just not too much. We may need him as leverage, but by all means, you can use him as a petri dish when I'm finished," Fear Monger cautioned. Just then, the orb atop Fear Monger's staff glowed with light, and the image of a tall, robed figure appeared before them.
"Supreme Warlock," Plague Bringer addressed.
"I'm just checking in. How goes the reconnaissance?" Supreme Warlock inquired.
"We're close, Supreme Warlock. I estimate a few days until we learn whether or not the boy is a Beacon of Light," Fear Monger reported.
"I actually have an update of my own on that front. My initial research into the Unbinding Ritual was incorrect. At first, I thought the ritual required an Arithmantic approach, namely, the lucky number seven, four darknesses and three lights require to break the seal. However, a more classified text states that an additional fourth light required for the ritual was hidden, far away," Supreme Warlock explained.
"Do you know where?" Plague Bringer inquired.
"According to legend, this 'fourth light' was taken into the custody of the fairies and flung to a world under their jurisdiction. The Mewmans called them the Uncharted Realms, and you are in one of those realms. It may be that the light we seek is there," Supreme Warlock clarified.
"If it is, sir, we'll find it," Fear Monger replied.
"Good. I'm still working on the identities of the other two hosts, but I think I have one nailed down. It is just a theory, but I may need you ready for another assignment very soon. Finish up there quickly and be ready when I call again," Supreme Warlock ordered.
"We will, Your Eminence," Fear Monger complied, and the call was terminated.
"Seems like everything's coming together," Plague Bringer remarked.
"I always did hate rush jobs, but the Supreme Warlock's command is absolute. We'll have to finish sooner than I'd like," Fear Monger resolved.
"Still scared after the whole 'Murphy' incident?" Plague Bringer teased.
"Vainglorious had a hand in that as well. She actually thought Milo would get a big head from having rabid fangirls chase him everywhere. That boy's ego is smaller than a pea. No wonder he is one of the four hosts the lights had chosen," Fear Monger rebuffed.
"Yes, but you were the one that gave him nightmares, just like you're doing now," Plague Bringer reminded.
"Milo was a test run. Lincoln was always my true target. He has more than a few…." But whatever Fear Monger was about to say next was interrupted by a sound coming from the orb in his staff. It notified him of the results of his spell. Fear Monger inspected what his spell had unearthed with great interest. "Now I've got you, Louds!" Fear Monger cackled.
Author's note: Yeah, let me explain. In the first chapter, I had thought of three lights for the ritual explained in this chapter, but after uploading it, I had thought of a fourth person that more than qualifies. The only criteria I set for being a host of the light the Supreme Warlock needs is to be described by fans as a 'cinnamon roll'. Fans of the Loud House could probably guess who the host in this world is. The usual disclaimers, I own nothing. All properties belong to their respective owners. Enjoy.