Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino
note: As of chapter 8, the repost is complete. Everything from here on out is new content, including this chapter. I hope you enjoy it! We're only three episodes of thirteen in. We have a long way to go.
Megumi no Jotai
(State of Grace)
By Lola Presents
Episode 3 - Enter the Light - Part 3
"Suit up, princess!" yelled Flip as Lincoln stared in disbelief after the man pulled a soul sword, similar to his, from thin air.
Hesitant to join the man, he watched as a black mist spewed from the man's nose and condensed into a set of armor around him. The armor was a deep red with silver trim and looked like something from the dark ages, though it was in immaculate shape and perfectly polished. Even under the cover of night, it reflected any light that touched it.
Then, Flip charged into battle, holding his own against the two shadow beasts. For a moment, Megumi held Lincoln back to assess what was happening. For now, the man hadn't seen them, allowing them to retreat if needed. However, it was also possible that the man had sensed them and chose to ignore them.
Whatever the case, Flip stood his ground well but wasn't making any progress either. With two opponents attacking him from different angles, his attention was split, making things much more difficult. After a few rounds of knocking each other around, Flip lost ground and started backing away. That's when he chose to speak.
"Hey, princess," he spat as blood trickled from his mouth. "You gonna suit up or what?"
"Megumi?" inquired Lincoln, realizing that Flip had sensed them. "Can you do that?"
"I do not know," replied the succubus inside him, afraid to admit that she was more than intimidated as this was far more involved than they were ready for. "I've never tried a full body manifestation before. I don't know how draining it might be."
"Well, can you at least try?" begged Lincoln as he watched his friend get hammered into a corner by the dumpster behind which Clyde hid. "My friend's losing!"
Immediately, Megumi exited him and lingered for a moment before beginning the transformation. It took longer than Flip's, but eventually, the young female demon hardened into a set of glistening ebony armor, trimmed in gold and much more ornate than the former's. Her power never left him as she still touched him, and he smiled at the result.
"Hang on, Flip!" yelled Lincoln, and he charged into battle, distracting one of the beasts.
A battle of this sort may seem reasonably easy; slice the enemy once with the sword, and they're dead. But such was not the case. Demons do not have internal organs as humans do and are instead a manifestation of will. Appendages such as arms, legs, and even the head are insignificant and can reform quickly. In addition, partial cuts mean nothing.
"Lincoln!" yelled Megumi as he sliced through one of his attacker's front legs. For a moment, the leg was separate from the body. Then, just as quickly as it got severed, it reattached itself. "You must destroy the heart of the beast!"
As the boy listened to his resident, losing track of what Flip was doing or how he was holding up, the shadow dog he was fighting took a broad swipe at him, knocking him back a bit and making him lose his balance. Then, as he recovered, the dog lunged at him, intending to go for his neck.
Thinking quickly, Lincoln fell to the ground, letting the beast pass overhead, and as it went, Lincoln sliced the beast entirely down the middle. The remains howled as they parted, then fully evaporated before reaching the ground. Scrambling to his feet, Lincoln scanned for Flip, finding him panting as he knelt upon the earth, his enemy vanquished.
"Flip!" called Lincoln as he ran over to the aging shop owner. "Are you alright?"
"I will be, chief," breathed the man heavily. "Just give me a moment, alright? This isn't as easy as it used to be."
"Listen, I'm sorry I hesitated," Lincoln apologized. "I haven't been a host very long and..." he said before remembering something.
Looking down at his armor, he saw three deep tears, and fear flooded his thoughts. "Megumi? Lincoln called out loud, not caring who heard. "Are you alright? Speak to me!"
"I..." murmured Megumi inside his mind. "I am hurt but will survive. Had that been you, however, things would've ended differently."
Lincoln breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank God," he said. "For a moment there, I thought..." he mumbled. "Unless you sense further danger, you can re-enter my body and rest now."
"Thank you," replied Megumi as she complied. Then, once he'd absorbed her again, she continued apprehensively. "Lincoln?" she prodded. "May we talk later?"
"Yes, of course," the boy responded as he regained his composure. He then turned his attention to Flip, standing up and releasing his resident.
"How long?" panted Lincoln. "How long have you been a host?"
"Coming up on nearly twenty years, I'd say," Flip told him, rolling his eyes thinking about it. "Though it ain't never been as bad as the last few days."
"The last few days?" pondered Lincoln, wondering if the recent increase in activity had anything to do with his resident. "What do you mean?"
"Can't you feel it, Loud?" asked Flip, puzzled. "The spiritual pressure in this area has exploded over the past three days." Then, he stared at Lincoln and furrowed his brow, probably listening to something his resident was telling him. "Say, chief, how long did you say you've been a host?"
"Uh..." stammered Lincoln, not wanting to answer.
"Tell him," insisted Megumi with some urgency. "He's one of us and means us no harm. His experience might shed some light on what's happening. Besides, I don't feel too good, and he didn't suffer any damage. I would like to know why."
"What?" gasped Lincoln, worried about her, sending waves of concern through his body and, in doing so, hers. "What's wrong?"
"I am finding it difficult to heal properly," Megumi quickly spoke. "Now, please. Tell him, and ask for help."
"Three days," Lincoln spat, almost as quickly as Megumi had. "Please, my resident is hurt. Can you help her?"
Flip held up one finger as he appeared to look inward. "Right. I see," he mumbled under his breath. Then, facing his favorite customer, when it wasn't Clyde, "I can't, but Megan can," he said as his resident exited his body once more and resolved into a relatively attractive woman around Flip's age.
"Hi there," said Megan after fully forming. "Please, what is your resident's name?"
"Megumi," Lincoln told her, his nerves about to break. "Can you help her?"
"Of course," responded the woman. Then, addressing Megumi directly. "Please, Megumi. Come out."
Megumi did as requested and reconstituted before them, baring three large wounds across her midriff. Clutching herself, Megumi doubled over in pain, and her color seemed to fade, despite already being quite pale.
"Quickly, young one," said the older succubus. "We must merge so that I can lend you my spiritual energy."
As Lincoln, Flip, and Clyde, who remained hidden, watched, the two succubi turned into black mist and swirled as one in the air before them while one healed the other. Then, a few moments later, they separated and retook their human forms.
"Thank you, M'Gan," said Megumi, having shared some knowledge of each other while merging. "I am well restored now."
"So..." replied Megan, staring at the young succubus. "You are the one I've heard about, a recent escapee for whom the darkness will not rest until they reclaim you?"
"While that is true," answered Megumi respectfully, "I was not aware that any of my kind were aware of my escape."
"Flip?" inquired Megan as she looked for her host. "I believe it's time we brought these two before the Lady of Light."
"I heard that!" chirped Flip enthusiastically. "Especially since this youngun' is one of my best customers. He and his resident won't last much longer without the Lady's help."
As Clyde sat behind the dumpster, holding onto himself and trembling like a leaf in the Autumn wind, he considered everything he'd seen. Not only was his best friend in the company of a demon, but so was Flip. Only, neither of them seemed evil in the least and had recently dispatched two of the most gruesome beasts the boy could imagine.
Lincoln had even shown compassion, if not outright love, for the well-being of his companion. And, suddenly, he understood his friend's hesitation at playing the games he'd purchased. Then, just as suddenly, he realized that Lincoln's companion had been present the whole evening, and Clyde's face went as pale as possible for him.
But he still had to answer to his fathers, which gave Clyde some measure of bravery, if not confidence, and he finally stood, bracing himself for whatever may come. Walking sternly from behind the dumpster, he scolded his friend and demanded to know what was going on.
"Lincoln Loud!" he called as he strolled into view, pointing his finger at his friend, wagging it non-stop. "How dare you leave without telling me! I was worried sick! And then, when those dog things showed up, I thought you were dead meat. Now, will someone explain what's going on before I pass out and crack my head upon the pavement?"
"Dang it..." sighed Lincoln, letting his head loll back upon the nape of his neck.
"It's like this, McBride," started Flip, until he was interrupted by Megan.
"Please, let me handle this," she insisted, taking a knee before the angry, frightened, and confused young man. "Do you want the long or short version?" she asked sweetly.
"Short, please," answered Clyde. "I'm not sure how much longer I'll be conscious."
"Very well then," chirped Megan, placing one hand on the boy's shoulder to give him some comfort at her intent. "Megumi and I are succubi, demons who've escaped the darkness. Flip and Lincoln are our material hosts. We can't exist here long without them. Those dogs, as you called them, are demons sent by the darkness and were probably tracking Megumi, who they want back. We mean you no harm. Do you understand?"
Clyde nodded, then passed out.
"M'Kael!" roared M'Ster, his voice echoing within the void.
"I am here, Lord," replied his servant's voice. "What do you require?"
"You have disobeyed me, vermin," M'Ster informed M'Keal. "You have allowed M'Gum to get injured. If not for the assistance of M'Gan, she might have perished."
"I..." stammered M'Ster's lieutenant. "I was not aware. I have not engaged the asset since D'Vin confronted me. I swear it!"
"D'Vin..." rumbled M'Ster, deep in thought. "What is your game, Lady of Light?"
"What is thy bidding?" inquired the nervous minion.
"It seems that M'Gum and her host have made contact with the circle," M'Ster informed his lieutenant. "We must take extra care should she make direct contact with D'Vin. Ensure that does not happen."
"As you wish," replied M'Kael.
Clyde awoke an undetermined amount of time later, staring at an unfinished ceiling. Sitting up, he rubbed his head. "Where am I?" he asked as he took in his surroundings.
"We're in Flip's basement," Lincoln informed his friend in as soothing a voice as possible. "You passed out. So, we thought we'd bring you here until you recovered."
"I see," sighed Clyde, desperately seeking an alternative explanation for what happened earlier. "And all that stuff about demons was only a dream. I was sleepwalking. Right?"
"I'm afraid not, buddy," chirped Lincoln, clasping his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry I kept this from you, but I knew how you'd react. Besides, without a resident, you'd only get hurt."
"I understand," muttered Clyde, "but it still hurts that you didn't believe in me."
"Well..." sighed Lincoln, shrugging his shoulders. "Can you blame me? You did pass out."
"Regardless," exclaimed Lincoln's friend. "What now? You can't hide the rest of your lives. What are you going to do?"
"We're going to take you all before the Lady of Light is what," interjected Flip, standing beside his love, Megan. "She'll decide what happens next."
"Lady of Light?" repeated Clyde curiously. "Who's that?"
"The Lady of Light, D'Vin, or Divinity, as you might refer to her, is the commander in chief of the forces of light," explained Megan. "Just as the Master, or M'Ster is the lord of darkness. She will explain more when we arrive."
"Arrive?" muttered Clyde again, a little slow on the uptake. "Do I have to go too?"
"Yes, dear," replied Megan sweetly. "It may be possible that she requests that your memory of us get erased. In which case, you will need to be present."
"What?" gasped Clyde, coming to a wobbly stand. "You're crazy if you think I'm going to forget this."
"Then again," chirped Megan as she reconsidered the boy. "Your fortitude and loyalty to your friend are to be commended. Perhaps the Lady might ordain you as his familiar. Either way, we should move quickly. There's no telling what the darkness might do in the meantime."
"I agree," interjected Megumi, looking much better than before. "Come, let us make haste."
Megumi and Megan re-entered their hosts and, together with Clyde, left Flip's house and headed toward downtown Royal Woods. While the succubi scanned the area for manifestations, Lincoln and Flip escorted Clyde to an old warehouse marked for rezoning. As for Clyde, he remained silent, listening to Lincoln and Flip banter as they walked, trying to take in the enormity of what had happened to him.
"So..." Clyde finally interjected, wondering about something. "If these succubi can take human form, what do they need you for?" he asked of his friends.
"Uh, well..." stammered Lincoln, not sure how best to explain. "Until they find true love, outside of using their seductive powers, they can only maintain material form for a limited time."
"Chief's right, you know," sounded Flip, as boisterous as ever. "Though, I fell in love with Megan the moment I saw her. We only like being together, is all. What about you, Loud? You been kissin' up on that cute little thing inside you?"
Lincoln stopped walking momentarily. "Well, I..." he stammered, blushing.
"I'm just messin' with ya, Loud," chuckled Flip. "It doesn't have to be you that falls for her, as long as someone does. Otherwise, you're stuck with her."
"Wait, what?" gasped Lincoln at the news. "What do you mean I get stuck with her?"
"You're her host, ain't ya?" Flip responded, surprised at how little Megumi had told him. "See, once a host is chosen, it's for keeps. Unless, of course, she finds someone else to love her. Then, the bond gets broken."
Suddenly, the enormity of Megumi's choice in him weighed him down heavier than a hundred shadow dogs. Why had she selected him of all people? Nothing made sense. Megumi had told him that she'd existed since the beginning, yet Megan seemed much older, powerful, and wiser. Could it be that not even Megumi knew the truth?
"It is possible," answered Lincoln's resident, speaking to him from within. "Though, I would be surprised. All that ever existed of my kind got created at the beginning. And though our numbers have dwindled, they have not gotten replaced. At least, that is my understanding."
"Well, maybe this Lady can answer some things for us," Lincoln replied. "I don't like doing things without knowing who I'm doing it for or why."
"I understand," acknowledged Megumi. "I feel the same. But know this, I would never lie to you. I trust you and need you to trust me."
"I do. It's just..." muttered Lincoln as they arrived at the warehouse entrance. "All this is happening so fast. Sometimes I don't know what to make of it."
Flip unlocked the door with Megan's aid and ushered the children inside before entering and locking the door. "Please, have a seat anywhere," he offered. "The others will be here soon."
"Others?" repeated Lincoln questioningly.
"You don't honestly think we're the only two, do you?" replied Flip. "Nah, loads escape. Only the darkness doesn't want us back as badly as it does you. You, on the other hand, have a real problem on your hands. Hopefully, the Lady will know what to do with the three of you."
"The three of us?" asked Lincoln, quite confused. "I thought we came here to find out what to do about Clyde."
"Well, yeah," sighed Flip, messing with his hair. "That, introduce you to the circle and get you set up with some real trainin' See, that's what we do. We train new residents and their hosts, and we fight whatever the darkness sends our way. The Lady helps us out from time to time, and she's nice and all..."
"Okay, okay," complained Lincoln, tired of hearing Flip babble. "I get the idea."
"Lincoln!" warned Megumi. "Someone approaches..."
Spinning around to face the door, Lincoln reached behind his back and pulled out his sword.
"Hey, now..." muttered Flip, lowering Lincoln's blade arm with his own. "Put that thing away until you're sure you'll need it. We don't want to explain it to a civilian, you know. Besides, they're one of ours," he said, chuckling a little. "Don't worry. Megan and I will let you know if you need it."
Soon, another figure unlocked the door and entered, locking it behind them. And when the new arrival stepped into the light, nearer the center of the room where they stood, Lincoln got another shock.
"Miss Johnson?" Lincoln and Clyde gasped.
"Oh! My goodness," the woman declared. "Lincoln? Clyde? What are you doing here? Do your parents know where you are?"
"Of course not, you silly woman," Flip laughed. "Lincoln, here, is our newest host," he continued. Then, addressing Lincoln. "Go ahead, introduce her to your girlfriend."
"Um, sure..." Lincoln muttered, not wanting to argue about Megumi's status as his girlfriend. "Megumi, come on out."
Soon, the young succubus stood in front of Miss Johnson, holding her hand out. "Hi," she chirped. "It's nice to meet you. Lincoln has many memories of you, including some that..."
"Hush!" demanded Lincoln. "Those are my private thoughts!"
"Oh, right," Megumi responded, blushing furiously. "Sorry. I only wanted to express some familiarity."
"Clyde?" Agnes asked as she shook Megumi's ice-cold hand. "What about you?"
"I'm afraid I'm only a lowly human that got caught up in all this," replied Clyde, a little miffed that he didn't get a resident too.
Just then, another member arrived. This time it was someone neither Lincoln nor Clyde knew. The man introduced himself as Norman Caldwell and his resident as K'Thrin, or Katherine, a lovely Asian woman of similar age. Norman appeared to be thirty, though he didn't specify. His skin was fair, and he had a mass of unruly brown hair. Norman sported a pair of black framed glasses and wore a button-up shirt. Lincoln thought he looked like he might work in the computer industry, though he didn't want to make assumptions.
"Uh, Miss Johnson?" Lincoln finally asked. "What about you? You haven't introduced your resident yet."
