Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino
Megumi no Jotai
(State of Grace)
By Lola Presents
Episode 2 - Training Begins - Part 3
"Let's go," requested Megumi before entering Lincoln once more.
Lincoln locked his door but stuffed his bed in case Lucy were to peer in during the night from the vent. The last thing he needed was a nosy sister spilling the beans about his nighttime escapades. Then, after opening his window, he hoisted himself up and through it, dropping to the ground.
"What direction, Megumi?" Lincoln whispered.
"Head to the sidewalk, then left," his resident told him. "But be careful of anybody we meet along the way."
"I don't think there's going to be many people out this late," Lincoln whispered back.
The two made it to the sidewalk and began walking. Every so often, a streetlight shone upon the walk, illuminating it like a nocturnal spotlight. After walking for some time, the pair eventually came to a corner, turning left.
"Stop," Megumi suddenly said. "It's not too far around the corner. Get ready, but take it slow."
Lincoln reached behind him and grasped the air, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of his sword, which he pulled out of nowhere. Clasping it with both hands, he began inching toward the edge of the stone retaining wall.
"Squeak-a-squeak-a-squeak," came an odd sound from down the path, gradually getting closer. "Ring, ring," it said suddenly.
"What the heck kind of demon is this?" exclaimed Lincoln.
"Imps are known for their propensity for mischief," Megumi reminded him. "It could be anyone. As for the strange sounds, I haven't a clue, but rest assured, it's part of a trick."
Lincoln chanced a peer around the corner, just enough for one eye. Something was moving toward them in the darkness between streetlights. He couldn't make out its form, however, which unnerved him.
"I know I've heard those sounds before, but I can't place them," Lincoln said.
"It may be attempting to play on your internal fears," Megumi rationalized. "Best be on your guard."
"Right," Lincoln agreed. "It sounds close, though, so here we go!"
Lincoln readied his stance and stepped out into the corner lamp. As he did, something rolled into the small circle of light cast by the light nearest them. It was not what the young boy expected, and he began to chuckle.
"You've got to be freaking kidding me..." muttered Lincoln. "A tricycle? Taking care of this should be easy," he said, charging at full speed.
Lincoln's slice tore cleanly through the tricycle, and he came to a stop a few years behind it. He knew he'd made contact but heard no death throes. Cautiously, he squinted his eyes and turned his head just as the awful sound of wrenching metal began.
"What the heck?" Lincoln mumbled.
"I told you, Lincoln. Imps employ trickery," Megumi told him. "We can't enter this world without a living host. Therefore the vehicle is not your target. It must be something small, hidden somewhere on it."
Lincoln spun, regained his stance, and watched as black smoke began billowing from under the seat, wrapping itself around the child's trike. The tricycle stood on its back wheels, which became feet, and the axle began stretching into legs. The handlebars became long pointed horns, and the pedals became clawed arms.
"Holy shit!" cried Lincoln. "How am I supposed to fight it if I don't know where the source is?"
"Until you do, you're going to have to defend yourself!" exclaimed Megumi. "Prepare yourself!"
The trike turned to face Lincoln and charged at a blazing speed, its horns extended. Lincoln was ready and dodged out of the way, coming to a rest against the retaining wall. But something hurt like hell.
The boy gazed down at his left bicep, blood trickling down his arm, which bore a gash. His attention got diverted when he heard a loud crashing sound. Turning toward it, he saw the beast run into a parked car, pushing it across the street and piercing it with its horns.
The demon struggled to get free for a moment, giving Lincoln the time he needed to reset and think of what to do next. Recalling seeing the smoke emit from underneath the seat and figured that must be where the spirit's host lay.
"Under the seat!" Lincoln whispered. "That's where the smoke came from!"
"I concur," Megumi said. "Which means it's small and going to be difficult to hit."
"Don't worry, I've helped Lynn practice baseball a few times," Lincoln said, grinning. "I've got this!"
Lincoln charged as the demon finally freed itself and swung as he neared its back, intended to sever the seat from the rest. However, he got taken off-guard when the beast turned, ripped the door off the car, and smashed him with it.
Flying across the street and hitting the retaining wall, Lincoln came to rest as the stone crumbled around him. By this time, lights were turning on, and people began exiting their homes to see what was going on.
"It seems we're drawing an audience," Lincoln whispered. "This isn't good."
"Flee," Megumi advised. "Lead it into the woods, away from the people."
"Gotcha," Lincoln acknowledged, taunting the beast and heading toward the forest. "You can't get me, you stupid demon!"
Enraged, the imp charged after Lincoln, knocking over trees along the way and carving a path through the woods. But Lincoln was slightly faster and stayed ahead of it.
"There!" called Megumi, turning Lincoln's sight to a large oak. "Duck behind that and cleave the beast as it passes."
Nodding, Lincoln changed course, heading for the big tree, and hid behind it. Luckily, he was small and had no problem concealing himself. Listening, Lincoln heard the beast come to a stop. It seemed to be searching for him for the sound of it, and he remained still.
Now, it could charge off in any direction. There was only one chance. Quietly, Lincoln reached into his pocket with his left hand, drew out a quarter, then tossed it to redirect the beast's attention.
The ploy worked, and the trike charge passed him. Just as it did, Lincoln grabbed hold of the seat, pulling it from the rest, which crashed lifelessly to the ground, still mangled in its bizarre pose.
The seat fell to the ground near Lincoln's feet, and he kicked it away a little. Then, peering over it, he eyed a spider resting in its web. It tried to crawl away, but Lincoln neatly bisected it with his sword.
The spider emitted a tiny, high-pitched cry, then went silent as black fog poured from it, only to dissipate into nothingness. To make sure it was dead, the boy stomped on the remains of the arachnid repeatedly.
"I think you got, Lincoln," Megumi said, much relieved. "You may cease stomping it now."
"Yeah..." Lincoln stammered. "I guess you're right. So, what now?"
"I suppose we head back," Megumi said, scanning the area and finding nothing.
"What do we do with that?" asked Lincoln, pointing to the grotesquely malformed tricycle.
"It is nothing more than metal now," Megumi announced. "Leave it. Right now, we must tend to your wound."
"About that," Lincoln whispered as he began heading home. "After what you said earlier, at the dump, I didn't think I could get hurt with you inside me. What's the deal?"
"You are not invulnerable, Lincoln," Megumi told him. "While you resist harm from most physical attacks, you are still vulnerable to spiritual ones. That is why you were injured."
"I see," Lincoln murmured. "Well, that sucks."
"And that's why we need Lynn to train us," Megumi whispered. "Her input will be invaluable."
"I hate to admit it," Lincoln acknowledged. "But I agree."
Finally, they reached home and stood below Lincoln's circular window. After defeating the imp and having a few moments to relax on the way home, Lincoln realized how badly his arm hurt.
"Megumi..." said Lincoln, second-guessing himself as he stared at his window from the ground below. "I'm not sure I can do this. I mean, sure, I can jump, but my arm hurts pretty bad. I may not be able to grab on, let alone pull us in."
"Unless you suggest we sneak in through the front door," Megumi began, "there is only one other option."
"Yeah?" Lincoln whispered. "What's that?"
"If you were to allow me to possess you momentarily, I could get us in," announced Lincoln's resident. "However, it will be very unsettling to you, as well as me."
"What do you mean, you as well?" Lincoln asked, genuinely concerned for Megumi. "If it's risky, we can just sleep in the garage tonight."
"That will not be necessary," Megumi informed Lincoln. "It will be nauseating for you and draining for me. I may need to rest afterward."
"I didn't know you required sleep?" gasped Lincoln.
"I do not," Megumi replied. "This would be more of an idle, spiritual rest. I would have to remain inside you during the night to recuperate."
"Very well," Lincoln conceded. "Everything considered, I could use some rest also."
Lincoln felt Megumi's energy resonate throughout his body, a rising tingling, and numbness. He could still see. However, Lincoln was unaware of his body. Suddenly, he felt light as air as his body dissolved into smoke and floated up and through the window. Upon entering, Megumi eased off, reforming Lincoln's body and relenting control over him.
"D-did I just..." Lincoln stammered, holding his hands up to gaze at them.
"Yes," Megumi announced. "When possessed, I can manage your form the way I would my own."
"Then why didn't we do that to start with, instead of getting the soul sword?" Lincoln asked. "Couldn't you have just formed one, as you did the flail earlier in the garage?"
"Yes, but it wouldn't have reaped the imp as the soul sword would," Megumi replied as she left his body in a plume of fog. "But right now, I must attend to your wound. Please, lay upon your bedding."
Lincoln obeyed and sat down as he began to feel the effects of the possession. Nausea and dizziness coursed throughout him, but he fought back and resisted the urge to vomit.
"Where do you keep your remedies?" Megumi asked.
"Remedies?" queried Lincoln. "Oh, you mean the medical supplies. They're in the cabinet behind the mirror in the bathroom down the hall. But be careful. You never know who might still be awake."
"I will. Now, please, stay here and don't move. I'll be right back," Megumi informed the boy with a look of emotional concern as she dissipated into dark smoke and slipped under the door.
"Ugh," Lincoln sighed as he lay back upon his pillow, coving his wound with his right hand to stifle the blood from spreading.
A lot had happened in two days, and Lincoln was exhausted. He wondered what more could happen and how difficult things could get. The boy had already fought two lesser demons and had one at school, monitoring them if his suspicions held. He would give almost anything for a vacation right now.
"I have returned with the required supplies," announced Megumi as she appeared beside him a few moments later.
Lincoln nodded and gazed at how beautiful she was. At close range, he realized how familiar she looked, other than being a manifestation of his old drawing. Slowly, he began to wonder if maybe he'd seen her before. In his dreams, perhaps? That would explain the artwork, though the timing was off.
Megumi began sanitizing the wound, stitching it closed while Lincoln winced without anesthesia to ease the pain and wrapped it in a bandage.
Was it possible that he hadn't chosen that form for her as thought? Had she somehow passed on her desired shape to him as he slumbered? Grimacing at the pain, Lincoln became distracted, and his ideas got scattered, forcing him to resign himself to asking her about it another time.
"Please be more careful, Lincoln," Megumi cooed as she laid her hand upon his chest, a strange feeling welling up within her. "It would not do for you to be further injured or killed."
"I'll be alright," Lincoln replied, unaware of her building emotions. "I got stitches once before when I wrecked my bike. At least I got some payback tonight?" he jokingly muttered through his pain.
"I see," sighed Megumi with a slight smile, her cheeks hinting at a rosy color. "I suppose you did. Shall we rest now?"
"Of course," Lincoln replied, yawning. "Go ahead and do your thing."
Megumi vanished into smoke and entered Lincoln again, settling for the night.
Lincoln blinked his eyes, staring at the ceiling. It was an odd feeling having another soul inside one's body. Not entirely unpleasant, though not completely comfortable either. Lincoln felt vulnerable. Yet, his hesitation at having Megumi there was beginning to wane.
The demon had exhibited nothing but understanding and compassion for his well-being, and he got the distinct impression that it wasn't all for her desire to keep living. There was something more to it. It was as if he could feel warm, pleasant emotions exuding from her.
Smiling to himself, Lincoln fell fast asleep.
A shadowed form stands outside the Loud residence; a man in a dark suit and sunglasses peers up at the boy's room. Closing his eyes, he connects to his realm of origin.
"Report, M'Kael!" demanded M'ster in a deep, growling voice that echoed throughout the void.
"I am present, Lord," M'Kael replied. "The asset and her host appear to be bonding, though the boy seems resistant. They appear to have begun training as well, and the boy is starting to show signs of insight. Shall I continue monitoring them, or would you rather me apprehend her? They failed to close the portal to the dwelling. I can do so while they slumber."
"No, M"Kael," M'Ster replied immediately. "Continue to test them as you see fit. The asset must reach her potential before reclaiming her."
"May I ask," implored M'Kael reverently, "what is the asset's intended purpose?"
"That is not for you to know at present," M'Ster replied. "However, you will in time. Be patient, servant. All is going according to plan."
"As you...," returned M'Kael before sensing something.
Back near the corner, in the small patch of woods where Lincoln and Megumi recently battled, a plume of white smoke snakes its way through the trees. Entering a small clearing, it condensed into a remarkable woman with long flowing blonde hair that seemed to float in the wind.
The woman hovered a few inches off the ground, her bare feet hanging idly by as she surveyed the damage to the surrounding area. Several damaged trees and a twisted metal object were lying before her. At her feet lay the remains of a tiny black spider, which had been lain in two.
"We will remember your spirit, little one," the woman spoke as she knelt mid-air and touched the carcass, which dissolved into dust and dispersed in the wind.
The apparition stood once more and floated over to the remains of the tricycle, repeating her actions.
"There must be no evidence or trace of this event," she spoke as she touched the crumpled metal mass. "With this blessing, I remove all lingering darkness."
The remains began to rust and crumbled upon the touch of the woman's fingers, eventually returning to the ground from whence they came. After looking around one final time, the woman was satisfied and became white fog once more, drifting off into the woods.
"Sire!" called M'Kael. "Was that... HER?"
"Yes," affirmed M'Ster. "Be careful, M'Kael. If she's snooping around, things have become much more difficult. Do not underestimate her, M'Kael. Proceed with the utmost discretion."
"Yes, my lord," replied M'Kael before opening his eyes and withdrawing from the darkness.
Megumi lay awake inside Lincoln's mind, clearing her thoughts while resisting his. It was essential to her that she respects his privacy, as it meant a lot to him. However, some things were too loud to ignore.
Lincoln's dream became an open book to Megumi, who couldn't resist, despite her efforts. It was in her design, and she could no more reject it than a human could stop their heart from beating.
Lincoln was at school, sitting in the lunchroom, enjoying the stale food with his friends. Suddenly, a demon entered, crashing through the wall adjacent to the parking lot. Students began screaming and rushing to clear its path, but some were trampled helplessly beneath its massive feet.
Lincoln sprang into action, ignoring his location and the witnesses around him, withdrawing his sword and charging the beast. As it careened around the large room, it knocked students out of its way, their bodies crashing into things, then falling limp. Lincoln began cursing the entity, and it turned to face him.
Just as Lincoln attacked with a wild swing, the beast evaporated, dodging the blow and making its way toward Stella, reforming behind her. After grabbing the screaming girl, the demon made its demands.
"Surrender your soul," it rumbled, "or she will be no more!"
"No! Stella!" cried Lincoln as he fell to the floor, releasing his grip on the sword. "Please..." he begged, looking back at Stella, hanging limply in the beast's grasp.
However, the girl no longer resembled Stella. Instead, it was Megumi it held.
Lincoln began sobbing and covered his eyes with his hands.
"No..." he whimpered mournfully.
