Finally and already chapter 20! I really apologize for the lack of updates but I recently started college, and with everything else that is happening to my life, I didn't feel motivated to write, but well, it got ready, so, here it is, I still hope you enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own The Loud House
"So if I understood everything, Lincoln is the ghost of your friend that died months ago because a brain tumor?" Said Nathan holding the wheel of the van.
"Yes." Confirmed Clyde, sitting in the back of the van.
"I see... And he has 10 sister? Like, just girls? And 10 of them?" Repeated Nathan.
"That's right." Clyde said with head nod. Nathan stood quiet for a second.
"His parents were busy." Commented Gideon with a smirk, making Mabel and the Mysterians chuckle.
"Let me guess." Spoke Mabel. "You all are making this all secret identities stuff because of them?"
Rusty shrugged. "More or less, Lincoln is very reserved. And he started all this. As his friends, we decided to help him along. Almost everything we did was his idea. Even contacting you."
"So he the leader of the Mysterians?" Questioned Mabel.
"Pretty much. He never called himself that way. Neither us" Said Zack, picking up his nose.
"Y'know." Started Gideon. "How are you all dealing with all this? Like, for us, until last month, ARGGH!! Was basically the real life version of the Mystery Inc. debunking paranormal hoaxes, but now, we are going to a abandoned donuts shop see why it smells nice at night."
The Mysterians looked at each other. They never thought that someone would make that question to them.
"I..." Started Clyde. "It was a very difficult time for us when Lincoln was dead. He is my best friend. Not only that. We're like brothers! Clincoln Mcloud! The dinamic duo of 5th grade!" Clyde looked at the floor with a frown.
"But then came the notice." Completed Zack, seeing that Clyde couldn't. "We made all we could to support him."
"No Zack." Said Liam. "We went beyond. Before everything, we where friends, for sure, but in this brief space of time... We all bonded so much to each other. Clyde, you've said you and Lincoln were like brother, right?" Clyde nodded. "Well, by the time Lincoln passed, we all where more glued than a 10 year old gum stuck in the floor."
"Liam's right." Affirmed Stella. "We made a strong brotherhood. And it remained strong even when Lincoln asked us to leave him with his family." The Mysterians nodded in silence. Gideon and Mabel shared looks, also silent.
"And When Lincoln returned..." Continued Rusty. "We got scared at first, of course, but we realized who he was and he explained everything, we were amazed! And really happy!"
"But you all aren't, like intimidated by him? Like beat the a super powerful ghost and stuff?" Questioned Gideon, tilting his head. The kids shaked their heads.
"Not even a bit." Spoke Clyde. "Well, we wished we could do more in mission, but Lincoln trusted us this ghost! We'll prove to ourselves that we can do it even without Lincoln!"
"Well, good that that tou feel that way." Said Nathan pulling the van. "Because we arrived."
As the kids dropped of the van, they looked the abandoned building. Once it had a bright and happy pink paint in it's walls, now, the paint was moldy and peeling off. The windows were blocked with wooden boards equally moldy. Above the main door, a sign with the name of the old shop. "The donut". Rusty snorted at how unoriginal the name was.
"Are you coming?" Asked Clyde, lighting his flashlight and looking at the ARGGH crew, who was preparing for recording.
"Go on, we still need to record our "Arrival at this place"." Said Nathan making air quotes and laughing. The Mysterians nodded and entered the shop.
"Well, is abandoned all right." Said Zack examinating the dusty tables where, one day, sat to enjoy their donuts with a hot coffee.
"I know this place." Said Stella " My mom told me that It was a dinner place owned by a lovely lady. But it closed when the lady passed."
"When she passed?" Asked Clyde.
"About 10 years ago" Answered Stella.
"Why a ghost would haunt a place like this?" Asked Rusty running his fingers in a chair and wiping the dust off his fingers.
"Well mate, I think this is exactly a place where a ghost would like to stay." Said Liam running his flashlight through the showcase full of really old, moldy and rotten donuts.
"Well, that's fare." Answered Rusty with a nod, before he sniffed something. "Hey, are you smelling this?"
"Oh, yeah, we are!" Said Clyde also smelling the air. "It smells nice!"
"Smells like fresh donuts!" Said Stella. "It's coming from the kitchen." She said, pointing to the door behing the counter.
"So let's see!" Said Clyde crossing the counter, being followed by the others, Stella had in her hands her slingshot, prepared to shot the slug.
As they entered the kitchen, they saw a short, stubby and chubby ghost of a old woman, she was humming a happy tune with a smile on her lips, she wore a apron and half-circled glasses. The old woman was taking a batch of frashly made donuts from the oven.
"Oh hello kids, you shouldn't be here, the kitchen is exclusive for employees." Said the old woman still smiling as she put the tray in a counter.
"Who... Are you?" Asked Clyde nervous, that old lady looked being nice, maybe she didn't wanted harm anyone, just wanted to continue baking her donuts.
"Oh, I'm Mrs. Doughnut, founder and owner of The Donut!" The Ghost introduced herself.
"Mrs. Doughnut, I don't know if you understand what..." Clyde was interrupted by Mrs. Doughnut when she put a donut on his mouth. "Mmh."
"Sorry darling, but you look so skinny, why don't this granny here prepare you some delicious donuts?" She said with a kind smile, grabbing the tray of donuts. " Just wait for me to open the shop!" She said, walking to the kitchen's door.
"Lady, sorry, but the shop went off business." Said Stella. Mrs. Doughnut stopped in her tracks.
"What?" The old lady asked with the smile in the lips fading.
"It went off business..." Stella spoke. "When the owner passed away." The girl completed. The lady made a nervous laugh.
"T-this doesn't make s-sense..." She said, still smiling but forcing not to cry "I'm the only owner... And I am..." She stopped. Stella felt like she was waiting the girl complete the sentence. And she did.
"Dead... I'm sorry." Said Stella with a frown.
"No... This is not right! Just yesterday I went back home after closing the shop..."
"My mom..." Stella spoke reluctant. "Said that one day the lady that owned this place went back home to sleep... And never woke up." Mrs. Doughnut fell on her knees, triggering Stella to run to help her. "Mrs. Doughnut! Are you ok?" Asked Stella concerned, maybe shebwas too harsh in her words.
"I'm dead?" Mrs. Doughnut whispered slowly, looking at Stella, her eyes swealing as large tears streamed down the folds in her cheeks. Stella looked down, avoiding looking at Mrs. Doughnut's eyes.
"I am truly sorry." Said Stella caressing the shoulders of the ghost lady.
"What happened to my husband? Do you know what happened to him?" Asked Mrs. Doughnut.
"We..." Said Stella, before Mrs. Doughnut violently grabbed Stella by the collar or her jacket with both hands, shaking. The eyes of the old woman were red and glowing, they seemed to emanate the rage that Mrs. Doughnut was feeling.
"What happened to him? What happened to my family?" She roared, the gentle voice of the old woman who bakes donut had been replaced by a stern and deep gurgle that made Stella, the other Mysterians and the ARGGH!! Crew, who now was recording them from outside the store tremble.
"Wait Mrs. Doughnut, Calm down, please!" Pleaded Stella, grabbing the wrists of the old lady, who just growled and with a quick and powerful swing, Mrs. Doughnut tossed Stella against the counter, making the girl cry in pain.
"Okay, let's stop with the conversation part!" Said Liam growling and grabbing his lasso and rapidly tossing it on Mrs. Doughnut, lassoing her.
"Mrs. Doughnut. Calm down!" Said Liam, holding the lasso tight. The Ghost growled, pulling the lasso, flinging Liam against a window, cracking it.
"Where is my husband?" Cried the ghost lady, making the lasso phase through her and fall in the floor.
"Clyde, the amulet, before she decides coming after us!" Said Zack as Mrs. Doughnut slowly turned her head to the three kids still standing. "Quick!"
"Okay, okay!" Said Clyde as he clumsily grabbed the amulet from the pocket in his jacket. As soon as Clyde pulled the amulet, the ghost's eyes glowed even brighter. "Mrs. Doughnut, you need to calm down." Said Clyde calmly. "We don't know where your husband is."
Mrs. Doughnut moaned in rage as she flew in Clyde's direction. The boy gasped as the ghost tackled him, making the amulet fly across the shop. Rusty saw it and jumped to catch it.
"Got it!" Rusty said before landing face first on the tiled floor. "Still got it." He said raising the amulet. When he raised his head, he noticed Zack trying to pull Mrs. Doughnut off Clyde. She had her hands in the boy's neck.
Clyde struggled to breath as the ghost tried to asphyxiate him. He saw Rusty join Zack in trying to pull the arms that held his neck. But the combinated strength of two 11 years old boys couldn't match the strength of Mrs. Doughnut. As Clyde's lungs started to run out of air left, the vision of the boy started blurring, and darkening. The only thing he could saw was the eerie red glow of Mrs. Doughnut eyes. "Evil."
Suddenly, Liam's lasso wrapped against the ghost's neck again, Liam had regained conscience. His forehead was bleading from the collision with the window.and with Liam, Stella also pulled the lasso, she had a big bruise in her left cheek and her nose was bleeding.
Quickly, Zack and Rusty released her arms and grabbed onto the lasso, helping to other two in this tug of war against the ghost. And with a angry cry, Mrs. Doughnut released Clyde's neck, now, who was struggling to breathe was Mrs. Doughnut, who took her hands into her neck, turning around to see the kids.
"Mrs. Doughnut!" You need to calm down!" Pleaded Stella. "Your husband also passed away!" Both the Mysterians and the old lady were surprised of what Stella said. "He died months after you Mrs. Doughnut! He is in peace! In the other side! We're here not to harm you, we're here to help you! Help you to reencounter your husband!" Pleaded Stella.
The red glow of Mrs. Doughnut's eyes faded as she stopped struggling. "Please, help me." The ghost pleaded. Stella looked at Rusty, who grabbed the amulet from his pocket. The boy looked at the amulet for a second, before handing it over to Stella.
The Mysterians helped Mrs. Doughnut releasing the lasso from her neck, before Stella stopped right in front of the ghost. She looked again at the amulet and to the lady's eyes. The girl made a gentle smile as she placed the amulet in Mrs. Doughnut forehead. The amulet started glowing and the good old woman started being sucked into the amulet.
"Thank you." Said Mrs. Doughnut with a subtle smile. "For leading me to find him." With that, Mrs. Doughnut was sucked into the amulet, now secure in Stella's hand. The kids stood in silence for a second before remembering Clyde.
"Clyde!" The four kids said in unison, running to their teammate in the ground.
"Clyde! Are you right? Clyde?" Said Rusty gently shaking Clyde, who grunted and took a big breath before coughing.
"Are you all right Clyde?" Asked Stella again.
"I'm grateful that I can breath again, but I'm fine." Replyed Clyde with his hand over his chest. "You got her?" He asked.
"Yes." Confirmed Stella, handing the amulet to Clyde, who pocketed it. "So... If we're done here, let's go back the HQ and go home." Asked Clyde, getting back up in his feet.
"You got us concerned for a bit there!" Said Nathan enthusiastically while he was driving back to the Treehouse HQ. "We almost went help you, but as we decided going to help, you got that ghost!" Said Nathan. "And without the Loud kid!"
"Yeah!" Confirmed Mabel, with equal enthusiasm. "We were like "Oh no!" And you were like "Hold on Clyde!" but then you went like "sweesh, teamwork!" and we went "Ooh!"
The Mysterians laughed at Mabel's mimicry of them. They were so much relieved. Now that had proven to themselves that they could handle a ghost alone, Lincoln really was right in thrusting them.
And now they were going back home to relax after a hard night of ghost fight. Before Clyde's phone rang, catching everyone by surprise, making them jump from the sudden sound.
"Sorry, is min-" Said Clyde before choking in his words as he saw who was calling. Lori.
"Sorry, it's min-" Said Clyde, choking in his words when he saw who was calling. Lori. OMG. OMG. Lori was calling him. She really was calling him! Finally! Clyde's mind was neraly panicking in excitement. Hold Clyde, you need to calm down. You can't bust this chance. Clyde cleared his throat and answered the call.
"Oh, Hello Lori." Said Clyde with the most seductive voice he could do.
"Not now Clyde, listen, Lincoln caught a ghost." Said Lori with a serious tone.
"What? Seriously?" He asked, surprised.
"Yes, Lincoln... knocked it out, we need you to use the amulet and send him away." Explained Lori.
"Ok, we're on our way!" Said Clyde, hunging up. "Nathan, we have a slight cahange of destination."
"Are you more calm now?" Asked Lynn, sitting in the back porch, next to Lincoln, who still had his eyes red, but from crying, his face was covered by a thin layer of dry tears, his hands had bandages from the bleeding in his knuckles. The boy still had some sprinkles of the blood of the ghost he had brutalized just half an hour before.
The ghost was still laying in the same spot Lincoln left him, the area around his head was slightly buried in the ground from all the punches it suffered. What once was the face of the ghost, now was just a deformed mess, painted in red.
Lincoln glared on the nothingness, still lost in thoughts. Lynn took the silence of her brother as a answer. "Lincoln." She said, wanting his attention. He didn't looked at him. "Lincoln, look at me." She asked his attention again, but again the brother didn't moved. "Lincoln... You don't need to worry anymo-"
"They're here!" Said Lana, cutting Lynn as she exited the house by the back door. Seconds after, The Mysterians appeared from the door, concerned.
"Lincoln, the rest of the gang is here." Said Lynn to Lincoln.
"Geez! Look at that ghost!" Said Rusty when he saw the ghost and the state that it was in.
"Holy cow! Lincoln did that?" Said Liam shocked.
"Brutal!" Said Zack with a laugh. But he stopped laughing when he saw how Lincoln was.
"Lincoln, are you alright buddy?" Asked Clyde. But like with Lynn, the boy stood quiet. Clyde looked to Stella, his concern grew.
"This ghost..." Spoke Lynn. "He went a little too far, Lincoln snapped." She explained. "It took me, Lori, Leni Luna and Luan to hold him back. And we barely were able to do it." The Mysterians stood quiet, observing Lincoln. "And after we were able to calm hi-"
"This sensation..." Said Lincoln, cutting Lynn, she looked at her brother, releaved that he finally had answered. His tone of voice was somber, wattery, like he was struggling to not start crying again. "This anger... I never felt so much anger... He went too far... almost killed Luan... tied Lola, pressed a knife on Lori's throat... I felt rage. A hated him. I wanted to end him. He deserved what I did to him! No! He deserves more! More pain! More suffering!" With each sentence, Lincoln's tone turned more and more enraged, until he was again engulfed in rage, his eyes gloying like fire.
Clyde took a step back when he saw the glow in Lincoln's eyes. It were the same rage glow he saw in Mrs. Doughnut's eyes. "Lincoln..." Whispered Clyde, as Lincoln got up and looked at him.
"Clyde." Said Lincoln, making Clyde tremble, for some reason he felt like he wasn't looking at his best friend. Lincoln's glare was nothing like he ever saw before. Lincoln never looked at him like that. It was a serious, menacing, spooky. This and the red glow of his eyes, made Clyde, for one, breaf second, don't recognize him.
"Li-lincoln?" Stuttered Clyde. He knew that Lincoln never would hurt him. Even with the rage he was feeling. Right? Lincoln raised his hand, like he was asking something. Clyde sighed and picked the amulet from the pocket in his jacket, handing over to Lincoln.
Lincoln got down the stepsp to the backyard, approaching the still down ghost. Lincoln stared at his work. He felt so anger. He hated that soul with so much. But Lynn was right. The ghost was already ddown.It had no use for keeping this feeling. Lincoln sighed, he sighed like he expelled all his anger off his body.
Lincoln got in his knee, examinating the crushed face of the ghost, Lincoln frowned, seeing how brutal he went. "I'm truly sorry... I hope you get better when you arrive at the other side." Spoke Lincoln, gently placing the amulet in the ghost's forehead.
The amulet sucked the ghost and Lincoln hold the amulet, one side painted in red of the blood. Lincoln observed the blood dropplets dripping in the grass. He sighed again and turned to the Mysterians and Lynn, who observed the boy with concern.
"Let's go inside! I need to wash this!" Said Lincoln smiling, he crossed them and entered the house, the kids looked back at him, surprised at the shift in his attitude.
The kids entered the kitchen, seeing Lincoln washing the amulet in the sink. Whistling, like nothing had happened.
After washing the amulet, Lincoln, followed by the Mysterians and Lynn walked to the livong room, where the crew of ARGGH!! Were telling the tales of their travels across the country to the amazed Loud children. Nathan was sitting in the middle of the couch, surrounded by the girls, who listened the history carefully.
Mabel was sitting in the floor, watching her friend having his moment, and Gideon sat in the armchair, also watch Nathan. Lincoln watched them for some time, surprised at how entertained his sisters where, before it hit him something.
"WHAT ARE YOU THREE DOING HERE?" He shouted shocked and surprised. Nathan looked at him, a wide smile forming in his mouth.
"Sorry Lincoln, we were just getting to know your sisters! They are such good girls! Oh, you must be Lynn!" Spoke Nathan, waving to Lynn, who confusedly waved back.
"What, are you doing here in my house!?" Repeated Lincoln, walking forward to Nathan.
"Lincoln!" Lori Scolded. "Be more polite with ghests!" Nathan gave a brief laugh.
"Don't worry kiddo." He said. "Your friends told us, more or less everthing. Your death, return and your real identity." Nathan explained. Lincoln made a glare at the Mysterians, who made nervous smiles and laughs.
"Sorry Lincoln." Spoke Clyde. Lincoln sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to figure a way out of this mess.
"As I said Lincoln, you don't need to worry about us opening our mouth and exposing you and your family." Lincoln looked at Nathan, seeing his gentle smile. Lincoln looked deep in Nathan's eyes, trying to see some travr of lie in them.
But Lincoln didn't see anything, Nathan was being truly honest. Lincoln sighed in relief. "Thank you..." Said Lincoln. "So... Can you continue telling them about your travels? Me and the Mysterians need to talk... About Today's mission."
The Mysterians walked upstairs to Lincoln's room. It was rather small for the six of them, nut with Lincoln floating in the ceiling, they could accommodate themselves. "So, how it wehnt in the donut shop?" Lincoln asked.
"IT WENT AWESOME!" Said Rusty, tossing his arms up.
"Oh, yeah, we did! It was the ghost of an old lady that was the old owner of the place!" Explained Zack.
"At first, she was such a sweet lady." Continued Liam.
"But out of nowhere, she flipped." Completed Stella.
"Flipped?" Repeated Lincoln, confused.
"She went rogue! Knocked Liam and Stella out, and almost strangled Clyde!" Spoke Rusty.
"WHAT!" Shouted Lincoln shocked. Clyde quickly spoke up, trying tocalm Lincoln before something bad could happen.
"But don't worry buddy! We were able to calm her down, and Stella send her to the other side." Said Clyde, Lincoln sighed in relief.
"Listen Lincoln..." Spoke Rusty after a moment, as he put somethings together. "When she flipped, her eyes started to glow red." Lincoln leaned his head, now upside down, without understanding. "And back there when you got angry again..." Clyde's eyes got wide as he realized where Rusty was going. "Your eyes also glowed red." Rusty concluded before Clyde could intervene.
Lincoln leaned his head the other way. "Ah... I see." Said Lincoln. "I I didn't noticed it. Well, it's not like I can see my own eyes when it happens! Am I right?"
"You think there it have a connection?" Asked Liam.
"Of course it has." Said Lincoln almost instantly. Lincoln stood quiet for some time, before muttering. "I need to talk with him soon..."
"What?" Asked Clyde without hearing him.
"Nothing Clyde. I think I have a Idea. Soon I will talk to Lisa." Said Lincoln. The Mysterians looked at each other, without understanding.
"Why?" The Mysterians asked in unison. Lincoln made smirk.
"I have some requests for her." He said simply.
N/A: Next Chapter, we'll see what Lincoln will ask Lisa!
A character that it has been a little absent lately will return!
Lincoln will travel to a (Not so) far place and will reencounter someone who he didn't see in a long time!