As the Sandshark slowly crept closer, Chandler began to call out to Lincoln. However, Lincoln seemed to ignore the pleas since he just thought Chandler was trying to annoy him by yelling at him.
"Lincoln! Look out! There's a damn Sandshark coming at you!" yelled Chandler, now waving his arms in an attempt to get his attention. "Look behind you!"
Lincoln rolled his eyes. He was close to getting back his hotdog and Chandler didn't even want to give him a break. He should at least check what he's talking about. While something called a Sandshark does sound made up, especially since it's the guy who wanted him dead just a minute ago, he shouldn't take his chances due to Royal Woods being a not so friendly place.
"Alright! Alright! I'll take a-WHAT?!" shouted Lincoln before he jumped to the way. As he dodged the mound coming towards him, it rose to reveal a beige, boney looking shark creature rise into the air and try to take a bite out of Lincoln before he got out of the way.
"Holy crap!" Chandler said as the beast soon fell to the ground. The Sandshark moved around, trying to get back into the sand to make its next attack onto Lincoln. He looked at the beast in fear. Its beady red eyes of rage stared at him with daggers. It wiggled its armored body until it dug back into the sand to continue its hunt for Lincoln. Before it got back underground, Lincoln noticed that the only unarmoured part of the shark was its underbelly. Hopefully, that'll be its weak spot.
"Lincoln! For god's sake, run for your life!" Chandler yelled out, bringing Lincoln back to his senses. The Loud wasted no time in making a break for it and started running towards the stairs. The shark felt the footsteps through the sand and started to chase after Lincoln. He saw the Sandsharks top fin poke out through the sand, getting closer and closer every second. Crud! Why did this thing move so fast in the sand?! Lincoln managed to get on the first step on the stairs and soon bolted up.
However, the Sandshark was clever and swam to the side of the stairs and leaped out and rammed into them, effectively crumbling them down along with Lincoln.
"Gah! Now, what?!" cried Lincoln as he quickly stepped onto a rock as a way to throw off the Sandshark. "I'm dead. I'm so dead! I don't even have a weapon!"
"Well, it's your fault for going down to the beach! Did you not read the signs?"
"There is no sign! How was I supposed to know?!" Lincoln said. Chandler looked around and sure enough, there were no signs. Just scattered planks and bits of wood all over the beach. It didn't take the two of them long enough to figure out that the Sandshark destroyed the signs to lure in human prey.
"Clever girl. Wait... This shouldn't make sense! Why is a Sandshark at the beach? We haven't had one of the bigger monsters in town since... since forever! U-Unless..."
"Can you talk to yourself later? I'm kinda in a situation here!"
"R-Right. Uh... Do you know anyone that can help? Oh! Where are your sisters?"
"Good question... Wait! Go to Luna's place! She's inside with her girlfriend Sam! Just... bring them here and they'll most likely figure something out."
Chandler nodded and dashed off only to turn back around and start digging around in his pockets. He pulls out what seems to be something metal and tosses it down to Lincoln. "Press that button! It's the only thing you have to defend yourself against that beast."
"What?! That shark is completely armored! Except for its underside but... How am I going to slash at his weak spot?"
"Hell if I know! Look. Just... figure something out while I'm out!" Chandler said before rushing off to go find Luna and Sam. Lincoln sighed and looked around, seeing the shark was swimming around the sand in a circle, waiting for its next batch of foolish prey to step out onto the ground. "What am I supposed to do now? Just wait?"
But it seems the universe was not being kind to Lincoln as the Shark made a sudden charge at Lincoln to go and take a nasty bite. It got close and leaped at Lincoln, causing him to jump out of the way and land in the sand. He opened his eyes and got up, running across the sand to look for another safe space to stand on. But to his luck, he was a sitting duck! He held Chandler's switchblade in front of him defensively.
"Alright. Do you want to tussle? Game on." Lincoln said as he got ready for it to charge at him once again. He eventually noticed that some people had gathered around to watch him fight this sandy monster. Some were cheering him on while some were trying to get him to flee. Lincoln wasn't going to have it however and waited until the shark charged at him once again. Once the shark went under and shot itself into the air, Lincoln managed to dodge it. This time, the shark had gotten stuck on its side and started to thrash around violently, exposing its fleshy underside. Lincoln drew out the small blade and began to slash at its stomach, making cuts and gashes in it. It roared in pain and agony before whacking Lincoln into a rocky wall with its mighty tail.
"LINCOLN!" called out Luna as she finally arrived at the scene with Chandler and Sam. "What the... Look at the Sandshark! Little dude slashed its stomach up!"
"At least he knows how to use a knife," Chandler said. "But now what do we do?! We need to something about that damn Sandshark!"
"What is a Sandshark doing here? Only Sandworms inhabit these beaches! Unless that prophecy Lord Soogna was babbling about could be true?" Chandler pondered. "Oh shut it. I'm not listening to a word that man spouts to the older folk. He only says it to make people fear the outside world." Luna spoke back harshly.
"Lunes. Not everything he says is false." Sam said. Luna justed rolled her eyes and watched her brother in worry. "Use your powers! A Sandshark can't handle it, right?"
"Yes! You Louds are witches! Or... Mages? Just use some magic to kill that thing before it rips Lincoln to shreds!" Chandler excitedly said to Luna, now growing nervous. Their mother had made it clear to never use their powers in public under any circumstances. Most of the town was afraid of the super/unnatural and the Louds didn't need to have everyone fear them even more. However, this may be that one time where an exception might save her.
Lincoln slowly opened his eyes. His pupils were now glowing a faint red along with his arms starting to gain a slight reddish aura to them. He slowly stood up, almost losing his balance because of his vision becoming a bit blurry from the pain of the rock ways. Once the Sandshark realized he was still alive and up, it began to charge at Lincoln to give one last below before he was fish food.
The albino haired Loud clenched his hands tight, getting ready to attack the Sandshark. He firmly planted his feet in the sand, readied himself, and waited until the shark leaped at him. Luna and the others that had gathered to see what was going on to see Lincoln deliver a sharp uppercut to the Sandsharks lower jaw and send it up into the air. The energy that seemed to build from his glowing hands had disappeared and flowed into the shark's body on contact, amplifying Lincoln's attack tenfold. It was launched into the air, its jaw almost was blown off but it was somehow still alive! Luna braced herself and took a deep breath and channeled her energy. Her hands began to spark and glow, forming a long pointed cylinder made of electricity and threw it at the falling shark like a spear, disintegrating it in an instant. Lincoln shook his head as he came to his senses, not realizing what had happened except seeing Luna throw that thunderbolt right into the Sandshark.
"What... What happened?" Lincoln said to himself before rushing over to the docks and grabbing onto Luna and Sam's hands as they helped him up. "Luna? What was-"
"No time. I'll explain later. Just explain what the hell happened! Why were you on the beach?!" Luna said in worry. "You could've been killed!"
Lincolns eyes slowly moved over to Chandler who closed his eyes thinking that Luna and Sam would beat their ass once he told them why he was down there. But, Lincoln could sense some guilt in the rick boy and decided to tell a lie.
"Oh. I seagull took my hotdog and I chased it down. The shark just happened to be there." Lincoln replied, deciding not to rat out Chandler at which he gave the white-haired Loud a look of confusion. Luna just sighed and hugged her brother tightly. "You scared me, little bro. You could've been fish paste if Chandler hadn't told us for... some reason."
"Don't mind him. He just didn't want me to be killed is all."
"Y-Yep! Nothing bad about that right?" Chandler nervously replied. Sam and Luna just shrugged. "Well... Alright then. But please take better care in the future, alright?"
Lincoln nodded. Luna blew a sigh of relief and waved goodbye to Lincoln and headed off somewhere with Sam. Once they were gone, Lincoln went off on his way with Chandler following behind him.
"Why?" Chandler simply asked, at which Lincoln just shrugged. "No. Why didn't you tell Luna what happened? They would've kicked my ass! Wouldn't you want that to happen?"
"Not really. It wasn't your fault the Sandshark attacked me. Besides, you helped me out. Wouldn't feel nice if you got beat up for that."
"Why are you being so... friendly? Don't you hate me? I made your life hell back in... elementary school!" Chandler said. Lincoln just shrugged once again. "I've lost my memories ever since I washed up on the beach. I don't remember anything you've done to me except ramming you against a rock wall on that beach when you attacked me."
Chandler blushed in embarrassment as Lincoln brought that up.
"Fair point. And... Look. I'm sorry for... everything. That I did before you disappeared." Chandler guiltily said. "It... wasn't cool of me to do it and I hope things can get better now?"
"You're not great at apologies, are you."
"Not at all. When you're raised as a spoiled rich kid, you're never expected to say sorry. Even if you're the one who caused the problem in the first place." he replied. Lincoln just gave a comforting smile, proving that he was forgiven. Chandler noticed that someone in what looked to be a church robe was watching the two from afar.
"Shit. What's Lord Soogna doing here?"
"Lord who?"
"I'll tell you later. But he and your family don't exactly have a great connection or history together. Damn bastard runs this town by preaching dumb stuff to the older folk in the center of town and controls things with fear." Chandler spoke with a spiteful tone. "Hey. If you ever need to get in touch or... you wanna hang out with me, just give me a call."
Chandler took out a small piece of paper with a phone number on it and gave it to Lincoln who gladly took it. Although, Lincoln will need to get a phone of his own for him to call anyone.
"Thanks! Oh! Here's your knife back," Lincoln said, taking out Chandler's blood-covered knife and handing it back to him. "Sorry if it looks messy."
"Oh, thanks! I was planning on letting you keep it but I guess you don't need a knife when you can just punch things powerfully. Speaking of which, how did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"You know. Punch that Sandshark! Your arms glowed when you punched it sky high!" Chandler remarked. "I'm sorry but I blacked out for a second there. When I regained sight, I saw Luna throw that thing and kill the shark right in the air!"
"Damn. Well, look. I need to get home. Chores and stuff. I guess I'll see you around, Loud." Chandler said before"Ah. Hello Lincoln." A deep, yet calm voice said. He turned to see a tan-skinned man with shaved black hair, black church garb with golden stitching with some sort of runic symbols on the bottom with black pants and dress shoes on. Lincoln felt uneasy being near him. Like a trap waiting to go off.
"Uh... Hello? Do I know you?" Lincoln cautiously asked the man.
"Right. Forgive me. I am Soogna. Lord Soogna. I take it that your friends have told you about who I am?"
This was Lord Soogna? Lincoln didn't know what to say. He didn't look evil or menacing at all. He just looked like a pretty fancy looking priest. But he gave off a dark aura of... something that Lincoln couldn't describe. However, he shouldn't let his guard down. If his family can use magic, then there might be others that use magic as well but for evil purposes. Better play it safe for now. quickly walking away in a hurry. Lincoln smiled and decided to head back home after having enough fun for one day. However, once he got to the exit of the town, a voice spoke out.
"Ah. Hello Lincoln." A deep, yet calm voice said. He turned to see a tan-skinned man with shaved black hair, black church garb with golden stitching with some sort of runic symbols on the bottom with black pants and dress shoes on. Lincoln felt uneasy being near him. Like a trap waiting to go off.
"Uh... Hello? Do I know you?" Lincoln cautiously asked the man.
"Right. Forgive me. I am Soogna. Lord Soogna. I take it that your friends have told you about who I am?"
This was Lord Soogna? Lincoln didn't know what to say. He didn't look evil or menacing at all. He just looked like a pretty fancy looking priest. But he gave off a dark aura of... something that Lincoln couldn't describe. However, he shouldn't let his guard down. If his family can use magic, then there might be others that use magic as well but for evil purposes. Better play it safe for now.
"Yes! I've been told. Mostly not very... pleasant things."
"Ah. Yes, I'm aware I don't have a good reputation with the younger crowd as well as your family but it is out of my control. I don't have powers such as your family to control people."
"Control? What do you mean by that?" Lincoln nervously asked.
"Oh, I'm just pulling your leg! Your family isn't evil. Just... odd to say the least." Soogna nonchalantly said. "Anyways, I have another reason why I came here. And it's not to try and scare you."
"Oh. Do you... need something?"
"Oh no. I'm just here to spread you a message. Not a message of the Lord. Just a message about this place." Soogna answered. "Be careful around the others. Ever since a harsh storm blew in only a couple weeks back, strange things have been happening and appearing in Royal Woods. From monsters from the desert and jungle wandering into the nearby forest and beaches to strange ocean monuments rising out of the water and causing the waves to become violent. All of these seem to be connected to an old prophecy I once read on an old cave back in my day. Something about how a being of destruction shall soon rise from the demonic depths of the ocean. Laying waste to all life as we know it!"
"That... It can't be true! It's just a myth, right? A prophecy like that can't be true! It's too... odd." said Lincoln, getting even more nervous.
"That's what they all say. But it will prove itself to be true. I just know it. For now, I must keep a watch out for the thing to rise from the ocean. Then I shall banish it back to the cursed void it came from, sparing the world from its hellish reign!" Soogna spoke with high ferocity much like a spokesperson. Lincoln didn't if he should clap or slowly walk away.
"That sure sounds... exciting! But how do you know when it'll show up?"
"That's the problem, Lincoln. I don't know. It might never come. Or... it could be up and about, right under our noses," Soogna said intensely, gazing at Lincoln directly in the eyes before turning around and heading back.
"I'll see you around, Lincoln. I hope you're able to regain your memories!" he said before going into town. How did he know? Lincoln never told Soogna about his memories. He tried to shrug it off and headed back home. When the Loud House got into view, he saw what seemed to be a brown-haired woman walk out of the house and walk down a path behind it. Who's this stranger?
"Could it be Lynn? Might as well find out. Bout time I finally get to meet her."
(A/N: I'm finally back! The first chapter of the decade! Happy New Year everyone! I'm so sorry this took so long. I'm back in school and I obviously need to put that before my fanfictions. I'm very sorry but I'll try my best for you all! Tune in next time to see Lincoln meet this mysterious newcomer. Is it Lynn? What are they hiding? And just who exactly is Lord Soogna? Tune in next time in the next chapter of The Tale of the Ocean King!)
