Disclaimer: The Loud House and associated characters belong to Nickelodeon and Chris Savino

Megumi no Jotai

(State of Grace)

By Lola Presents

Episode 4 - Forge of Souls - Part 2

M'Kael stood on the edge of the forest, observing the Loud family's auras for some time as he thought about his predicament. Two equally powerful beings, the pinnacle of each realm, had given him conflicting orders. However, only one bid him break the laws that governed both kingdoms. With his existence in the balance, only one choice rang clear.

With barely noticeable waves of his hands and the command, "away," the two scavengers vanished in a puff of smoke, back to the darkness from whence they came. Tonight's battle would come without bloodshed or physical confrontation. At least, that was his hope. No, this war was to get fought with diplomacy. Though, there was no clear outcome.

Most of the family had retired for the night, though he was unsure if they were asleep or not. However, the parents were still awake, which could serve his best interest. As for Megumi and Lincoln, he'd wait until they finished mating before making his move. M'Kael only hoped the little succubus that M'Ster prized so highly would come through for him.

Soon, the young couple fell motionless, indicating that the time was right. Should M'Kael wait any longer, he may miss his opportunity, as he was due back in the darkness before long. Walking with purpose and awareness, he skirted the house, stepped onto the porch, then knocked thrice upon the door, loud enough to wake the dead.


"Thank you, Lincoln," cooed Megumi as she cuddled up next to her lover and host, draping herself over him. "That was quite exhilarating. I've only ever watched in dreams, you understand."

"Megumi..." chuckled Lincoln softly. "We still have some work to do on how you speak, but you'll get there eventually."

"I know," sighed Megumi, kissing his shoulder. "But, I've never spent this much time in the material plane. All I ever got were brief glimpses."

"Don't worry about it," Lincoln replied, pulling her close before someone knocked entirely too loudly on their front door.

"Who the heck is visiting at this hour?" croaked Lincoln, propping himself up in bed to check the clock, which read a little after two in the morning. "You don't think the circle got wind of something and has come to collect us, do you?"

"I would not know," Megumi said, sitting up with a concerned look. "Perhaps we should go check it out? I still have to protect your family," she whispered before shaking her head. "I mean our family."

Hearing D'Vin tell them that they were married and making love was one thing, but with Megumi's words, Lincoln realized how much his young wife's life had changed. She now had mortal parents and ten sisters, and Lincoln knew that had to be a lot to take in. Not wanting to stretch her too thin, he suggested they let his father answer the door.

"Lincoln..." scolded Megumi. "What if it's the darkness?"

"Fine," he sighed, knowing she could be right, especially at such an odd hour.

Throwing off his covers and standing, Megumi altered her form, disguising herself as Lincoln's nightwear, at least until they could determine if there was a threat or not. Together they opened the door and made their way downstairs, just in time to see their annoyed father open the front door and greet whoever was calling.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Lynn said, peering through the cracked door, ready to slam it at a moment's notice. "Don't you know it's impolite to call this late?"

"I do apologize, sir," came Mr. Steadman's voice from beyond the children's view. "It is imperative that I speak with Megumi."

"Megumi?" muttered Lynn as she searched his brain. "Oh, you mean the kid my son likes? I'm afraid she doesn't live here. Goodnight," he told the man, preparing to close the door."

"Please," the M'Kael said, keeping the door open with his foot. "I must insist. My existence is getting threatened. Megumi is the only one who can come to my aide, and despite your beliefs, she is here. Now."

"What?" gasped Lynn, trying to push the man's foot out and close the door with no luck. "I think I'd know if a random girl was in my house. Now, please leave before I call the cops."

"Do you think he's telling the truth?" thought Lincoln nervously.

"It is difficult to tell," Megumi replied. "But he is here alone. That may be a ploy, but he might resort to more drastic measures if we do not engage now."

"I agree," Lincoln thought before making his presence known. "Dad," he said. "It's alright. Let him in."

"What?" gasped Lynn, now trying to pay attention to two sources simultaneously. "Are you sure? Do you know this guy?"

"Yes, he's my substitute teacher," replied Lincoln, unsure who the man was underneath his guise.

By this point, M'Kael's resounding voice had alerted all but Lily. And the remaining siblings filed down the stairs as Lincoln addressed the man.

"Hello, Mr. Steadman," yawned Lincoln, casually rubbing his head as the man entered once Lynn opened the door and stood back. "What is it you need?"

"My name is not Mr. Steadman," M'Kael informed Lincoln. "I am, or instead, I am M'Kael, the master's first Lieutenant. The master sent me here to test and evaluate the bond you and Megumi share. The master intended to use her for something, though I know not what. But he is now asking me to break the law of the realms to break your bond so he can reclaim her."

"Okay," muttered Lincoln. "It's late, and we're tired. Can you slow down a bit and get to the point?"

M'Kael sighed but complied. "As you wish," he began again, a little slower and more thought out. "The master wants me to kill you and your family so that Megumi will become weakened and disheartened enough to return to the darkness. Such is against the laws that govern our kind. If I do not, he will consume my essence, and the Lady of Light has warned me that if I do, she will. So, I have a conflict that only Megumi can resolve."

"Kill us?! Your kind? Lady of Light?" interjected Luan, rubbing her eyes. "What the hell does any of that mean?"

Ignoring Luan's question, Lincoln grilled M'Kael further at Megumi's insistence. "What is it that you want?" he asked as instructed.

"Asylum," M'Kael offered.

"Wait a ding dang minute here..." muttered Mr. Loud as his wife joined them. "This sounds like a lot of hogwash to me. Now, I'm calling the authorities if you don't start making sense."

"Mom?" said Lincoln as she wandered up, arms folded. "Dad? Guys..." he sighed, getting their attention. "He's making perfect sense. Only you wouldn't know it."

"What are you talking about, son?" asked Rita, shaking her head in confusion.

"There's no easy way to explain this," he said, resigning himself to the inevitable. "So..."

Reaching behind his back, he pulled his soul sword out of thin air as he spoke the words, "Megumi, suit up." Following his request, the succubus shifted in appearance from Lincoln's nightclothes to that of the shiny ebon armor trimmed in silver.

"Megumi is right here," he told them. "She's a succubus, but unlike her kind, she has a soul and escaped the darkness through my dreams," he said, pausing to let his family absorb what he'd said so far before continuing. "M'Kael works for M'Ster, basically the lord of hell. We work for the Lady of Light. And, if I'm guessing right, it sounds like he wants to defect. Is that right?"

"Your assessment is correct," responded M'Kael. "Only, I cannot do that without Megumi's help."

"How can she help?" inquired Lincoln as per Megumi's silent guidance.

"Please," begged M'Kael. "May I speak with her in person?"

"Uh..." stammered Lincoln. "Not really. She's all I'm wearing."

"Wait, what?" gasped his parents and sisters simultaneously.

Lincoln sighed and palmed his face. "Listen, guys," he chirped. "We don't have time for this. I'll explain later." Then, focusing his attention on M'Kael, he pressed him further. "She's listening and giving me responses. Now talk."

"I am not a concubus, neither succubus nor incubus, and I cannot sever my ties to the darkness as Megumi could," he informed them. "To do that, I need access to the forge of souls. I need you to contact the Lady of Light and make the request on my behalf, as I cannot."

"That is quite the undertaking, M'Kael," a new voice said as a flash of light filled the room.

"My Lady..." M'Kael offered with a bow. "Please, I have no further options. Soon, the master will summon me back, and when he does, I fear my existence may be at an end."

"I am afraid that what you ask may be impossible, M'Kael," the lady spoke as the family fell silent in utter terror and awe. "The Foundry has been closed to all but those souls destined for reincarnation or more extraordinary things. Entry is strictly forbidden and would require genuinely extenuating circumstances to gain access."

"What about the drought of souls?" M'Kael reminded her. "Without new souls, both our kind will eventually perish. Certainly, that constitutes a dire need, does it not?"

"Excuse me..." interjected Lucy, walking into view. "But how does one access this Foundry you speak of, anyway? And, why would it be restricted?"

"My, what an inquisitive child," Divinity observed. "Sadly, I do not know why the Foundry is closed, only that it is. As for entry, a gate must get opened by both M'Ster and myself to ensure that we agree and are of benign intent."

After considering the Lady of Light's words and thinking about the master's odd statements, M'Kael began to consider another possibility.

"Might there be another way?" begged M'Kael, running out of time. "Why would M'Ster go to such length and trouble to reclaim one immature succubus? Does that not seem more than a little odd to you?"

"Hey!" chirped Lincoln. "Megumi told me that she's been around since the beginning. How young can she be?"

"That's not entirely accurate..." sighed Divinity, clasping her hands in dismay at the turn of events, "and explains a lot."

"Wait..." murmured Lincoln. "What do you mean?"

"Please, Lincoln," requested D'Vin. "Go change into something more comfortable so that Megumi can present herself. Don't worry about M'Kael. He would not dare invoke my wrath now."


Lincoln nodded and went upstairs to put on some clothes while Megumi solidified into her human form. If the past few days felt like a whirlwind to Lincoln, he could only imagine what his family was going through. Not only had they transformed in front of them, but the Lady of Light showed up unannounced. That would be enough to drive anyone insane.

"Megumi?" Lincoln asked as he pulled out some fresh clothes. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"No, love," she replied. "I am as confused as you. I only hope our family can cope with the changes. I would hate to think we inadvertently caused them mental or emotional distress."

"Oh. Stressed is an understatement," Lincoln responded. "If not, they'd be talking a mile a minute. But..." he said, pausing for breath. "We're a resilient lot. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. They only need some time to adjust."

Standing half a head shorter than Lincoln, Megumi suddenly lunged forward, wrapped her arms tightly around him, and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," she whimpered sincerely. "I love you so much and never wanted to drag you into all this."

"I know," sighed Lincoln, returning her embrace and kissing the crown of her head. "Whatever Divinity says, whatever happens, we'll make it through this. I promise. I'd go to hell and back for you."

"Do you mean that?" cried Megumi, gazing into his eyes.

"I do," whispered Lincoln before kissing her passionately.

"Okay..." cooed Megumi as she stepped away and dried her eyes. "Let's head back down. I do not want to waste the Lady of Light's time."

Nodding, Lincoln opened the door for her and followed her downstairs.


"Oh, my..." cooed Divinity as Megumi walked apprehensively into the living room, "how you've grown. I never imagined you'd look like this, though. I remember you with horns, hooves, and a tail. Such a tiny thing you were. But look at you now, all grown up."

"I beg your pardon, ma'am," Megumi pleaded curiously. "What do you mean? I don't believe we've ever met before the circle summoned you."

"Oh, no, my dear child," cooed Divinity, floating to the floor and kneeling before the young succubus. "We've met. Only, you were a newborn at the time, roughly thirteen years ago."

Megumi and Lincoln both narrowed their eyes. "Please, explain," requested Megumi. "I thought I had existed from the beginning."

"No, little one," D'Vin began explaining. "About two centuries ago, the Foundry got closed, and the flow of souls to your world, and others, started to ebb. At first, things were nominal, but eventually, people began being born without souls, and without returning to the light or darkness, we who inhabit those domains suffered," she said, looking for understanding before continuing. "Then, one day, my consort and I decided to break tradition and have a child of our own, you."

"Wait," demanded Lincoln. "I thought your kind couldn't bear children. What's up?"

"We cannot," Divinity told Lincoln and all who listened. "At least not in the way you might think. We each gave part of ourselves to a wayward soul, which became M'Gum. Since she bore more resemblance to succubi than our cherubs, I allowed my consort to raise her among the darkness. That is why you do not remember me. However, I cannot explain what you may have heard from your father."

"My father?" Megumi winced. "I did not even know I had a mother, much less a father, before today. Who, may I ask, is he?"

"You do not know?" sighed Divinity, averting her gaze in reflection. "I am surprised," she mused, looking back at her daughter. "Your father is M'Ster, Lord of Darkness."

"No!" shouted Megumi, backing up Lincoln's arms for protection. "He can't be! Tell her, Lincoln!"

"I don't know..." sighed Megumi's husband. "Didn't you tell me that the darkness isn't necessarily evil and the light not intrinsically good, that both can do great deeds of each? Perhaps she's telling you the truth."

"But, he's a monster!" shouted Megumi. "He wants me back so I can feed him again!"

"No, I do not believe so," Divinity responded. "Do you remember me telling you about the gate to the Foundry and how it will only open to both a being of light and darkness? That doesn't necessarily mean him and me. It could mean you, alone, as you are our child."

"Why would he want to do that?" gasped Lincoln, astonished. "And why lie to her all these years?"

"I believe that he intends to march on the Foundry," D'Vin finally revealed, "to conquer it and take all the souls for his kind, leaving us without any. If true, humanity and denizen of light will soon cease to be."

"What can we do?" Megumi pleaded, finding strength in her desire to protect her family, and boldly stepped from Lincoln's arms.

Standing and addressing everyone, Divinity made her decree. "The key, and final piece of the puzzle, was M'Kael. A soulless being of darkness who feared so greatly for his existence that he'd reach out to me," she said, nodding at M'Kael. "Though I suspected for some time, I had no idea how bad things were for the darkness, as I cannot enter," she continued. "However, there is another option," she concluded.

"No!" shouted Lincoln. "You're not sending her back!"

"No, child," smiled D'Vin. "I'm sending both of you, along with the circle. You must confront M'Ster in his territory and rally all you can in your cause. But first, we must travel to the forge of souls to break the darkness's hold over M'Kael. Otherwise, he would be at risk in acting as your guide."

"Fucking cool..." mouthed Lucy, beside herself in awe. "I wish I could go."

"No, you don't," sighed Megumi, staring forlornly at her sister. "You only think you do. No sister-in-law of mine will ever set foot there. I can assure you of that."

"Dang it..." muttered Lucy.

"Okay, hold up," Rita barked, finally speaking up. "What's all this about sending my son to hell to fight this 'master' you keep talking about? He's just a child, for crying out loud! And, he has school. You can't just step into our home and make such demands!"

"Forgive my insolence," D'Vin replied earnestly. "You are right, of course. However, it is no longer up to you. Lincoln has reached spiritual and physical maturity and has found his soulmate, my daughter, M'Gum," she reminded Mrs. Loud before addressing Lincoln and Megumi directly. "The choice is yours," she told them. "Do you accept the charge?"

Lincoln pursed his lips and shared a momentary glance with Megumi, speaking without words. Then, nodding, he faced D'Vin.

"Megumi and I accept," he told her. "Not only for balance between our realms but for Megumi's sake," he said, gently taking her hand. "I love her and will stop at nothing to ensure her safety."

"Then, it is settled," D'Vin declared. "We shall meet tomorrow at noon to discuss preparations. M'Kael will accompany me in the meantime. Farewell, my children, Megumi and Lincoln. May your path be blessed."

And with her dismissal, D'Vin and M'Kael vanished in a brilliant flash of light, leaving Lincoln's family staring at him and Megumi with slack jaws and wide eyes.

"What?" asked Lincoln.

Luna stepped in front of her brother and folded her arms, a scowl upon her face. "You just can't say no to helping people can you?" she quipped before softening her expression. "I'm proud of you, little bro," she said as she hugged him warmly. "But, you better come back in one piece. I don't want to have to console Megumi, or Mom and Dad, for that matter."

"That goes double for the rest of us," chirped Leni. "What would we ever do without you?"

"Don't worry, guys," Lincoln struggled to say as his mother embraced him, nearly suffocating him. "I'll be with Megumi, three other hosts, and their succubi. Everything will be alright. You'll see."