Here we are with the beginning of the end. This is where the action begins to pick up, as Lincoln and all his allies have their final confrontation with Viribus. Hopefully, the climax which has been 16 chapters in the making is going to payoff in a satisfying way for you guys. A few people have been providing their ideas and suggestions for how the final conflict could play out. While I've already written the remaining chapters, it is always cool to hear the suggestions of others. Who knows, maybe I'll work a few of them into the final chapters during the proof reading and tweaking stage. Anyway, it's time I gave you what you've all been waiting for. Let's get on with the last stand…
Right there in the distance relative to his position, Viribus saw what was a befuddling sight, and a personal nightmare. He not only saw his failed apprentice, Lincoln Loud, but also his entire family, who had seemingly won their way back into his good books. Viribus was quick to grab the microphone in the Principal's office and use it to broadcast his voice across the school grounds, so everyone, including Lincoln and the Louds outside, could hear him clearly…
Viribus: "In a few moments, it will be time for recess to begin, children! Be aware that any failure to comply with my rules and orders will result in truly strict punishments! Now go outside and… have fun." He chuckled.
Lincoln: "What has this guy done to the school!?" he asked from the outside of the school grounds.
Police officer: "He's taken over the place and is holding everybody hostage! We can't go in after him, or those troubled kids he has with him will start shooting those laser things! It's too risky to get any closer!"
Rita: "But our children in in there! I have 4 daughters who go to that school who are all trapped inside!"
Police officer: "I appreciate that, mam, but the same goes for all the angry and worried parents that are here! We're all trying to get in, but they have us by the… you know." He justified to the worried parent.
Viribus: "Parents, police, that warning I issued to all of you not to enter the school grounds remains in tact; my disciples will begin shooting the students and teachers of this school if any of you enter the premises!"
Lincoln: "Great! So how do we get in now!?" he asked in response to that.
Viribus: "However, there is one person I would like to allow in from the outside. If my eyes do not deceive me, that is Lincoln Loud. My... former apprentice. I will let him and his family, and only them, come into the school. The rest of you will remain outside the school grounds. Or else!"
Lincoln: "Aha, I knew he'd want to let me in." he said to himself.
Police officer: "Well, looks like you got an invitation. He wants you to go in there!"
Viribus: "What are you waiting for, Louds? Don't you want to save your precious daughters and sisters? I believe Lucy, Lana, Lola and Lisa are all in here somewhere. Don't you wish to see them again?" he asked as he tempted the cautious Louds to enter his new domain.
Lynn Sr: "Honey, this could be a trick." He whispered.
Rita: "I know, but I don't care. I have to see my children again!" she insisted.
Lincoln then prepared to loudly respond to the offer of his rival…
Lincoln: "Okay, Jake, we're coming in! We're here for Lucy, the twins, and Lisa! Then I'm going to stop you once and for all!"
Viribus: "Unlikely… but come on in." he said as he snarked.
The Loud family were then allowed into the school playground, as the disciples of Viribus were under instructions not to begin shooting if they entered the grounds. Lincoln then looked upwards, towards the window of the Principal's office, and Viribus opened the window and began speaking directly to Lincoln, who was looking up at him with an intense glare…
Viribus: "Wow, boy. I knew you were too forgiving and passive for your own good, but even for you this is ridiculous! You're with them again? Your family? After all they did to you? You really are a pushover, Lincoln Loud. To think I believed you had the potential to be one of my chosen few. Oh well, back to the drawing board, I guess!" he stated as he saw the boy back with his family, flabbergasted by the sight as it just wasn't in his nature to be as forgiving as Lincoln clearly was being, welcoming them back into his life after everything.
Lincoln: "Are you done?" he flatly replied.
Viribus: "Actually, I am! All that's left to say is… you made the worst mistake of your life when you turned on me, boy! Nobody dares to oppose me and lives to tell the tale!"
Lincoln: "You can't beat the whole world, Jake! This plan of yours was doomed to fail from the start!"
Viribus: "Wrong! I will create a utopian school, and then spread the influence across society. Think about it. I could eradicate all forms of bullying and prejudice in this school. Every time a kid behaves like a bully, we deal them a harsh but necessary punishment. Every time a kid is excluded or rejected for being different, like I was, we make them pay the price! I know what is needed to improve the way people think and act, and I will stop at nothing to make sure that end is achieved! If that means hurting some people along the way, so be it!"
Lincoln: "You really are crazy, aren't you?! You can act like a dominant alpha male all you want, but all that anger, and aggression, and desire for revenge, it can't change who you really are… a sad, lonely little boy who desperately wants the world to see him for anything other than what he is… pathetic!"
Viribus: "Watch your mouth, little brat! I control this school now, and soon enough, I shall control the entire human race!"
Lincoln could only look on at Viribus with an expression of pity, but also condescension and judgement…
Lincoln: "See? This is what I'm talking about. You're a broken man, Jake. Yes, Jake, that's your real name, isn't it?! Not Viribus! You're living in some old 90's cartoon! You know what a little forgiveness can do? I'd rather be a pushover than a complete madman like you!"
Viribus: "I do not forgive! Or forget! I will never forgive the world for its crimes against me!"
Lincoln: "You see, that, right there… that's your problem!"
Lincoln then ceased shouting at Viribus individually and started turning his attention to the entire student body, as the students were entering the playground to begin recess at that moment.
Lincoln looked on in horror at the sight he was beholding. All of the students were not their confident, sassy, energetic selves. They were acting as if they had just walked out of a slave camp, and in a way, that's what it was. They were clearly frit, afraid, and against the idea of daring to act out of line with Viribus's command. Lincoln struggled with processing that thought in his head…
Lincoln: "Oh my gosh! What have you done to them?!"
Viribus then also decided to take advantage of the fact that the oppressed and terrified, obedient students had entered the playground…
Viribus: "Children of Royal Woods Elementary School. As the new norm, you shall all be on your best behaviour. From now on, you will all obey my regime and any offenders will be dealt with! You will all be obedient and rule accepting, otherwise there will be grave consequences! That includes no fighting or violence over petty conflicts or squabbles, and no discriminating or bullying behaviour displayed from one body to another. That is the norm I want you to follow from today!"
The kids then all looked up in confusion, as the person who violently took over the school by force suddenly seemed interested in preserving peace and acceptance. Was this too good to be true?
Viribus: "But right now, this is not the norm! This is exceptional! Right now, there is a small group of treacherous little rodents who roam these grounds, and they're called the Loud family! They need neutralising, by any means necessary! For once, I am going to encourage violence. Because I want you all to take out the Louds! Beat them to a pulp and then bring what's left of them to me! There shall be a handsome reward for doing so!"
The kids of the school then surrounded Lincoln, his parents, and older sisters. Many of them were angry and looked ready to attack. While the Louds were no strangers to fending for themselves, they were ridiculously outnumbered. One brother, five sisters, a baby, and two parents, caught in the middle of hundreds of students, out for their blood. Not only that, but the student body had just been victimised by ruthless oppressors. Viribus took over their school, held them hostage, threatened them, kept them away from their homes, and was now finally providing them with a positive offer. They felt compelled to take it, knowing it was the best they were going to get out of the rancid situation, and also because defiance would likely land them in serious trouble with the dictator. The kids prepared to jump the Loud family, beat them up and deliver them to their new boss…
But Lincoln wasn't having any of that…
Lincoln: "STOP!" he yelled with his loudest voice possible.
Viribus looked on with uncertainty as the students ceased their attack and began to listen to the boy…
Lincoln: "Don't you see, guys? He's the bad guy! If you do this, he will win! He's evil and crazy and will make your lives a misery if you don't stop him now! We need to work together! Let's prove to this nutcase that we're not just violent, selfish, low life jerks!"
Some of the kids were showing tiny but existent signs of restraint for what they were about to do, and Viribus noticed this, and was quick to try and stop it.
Viribus: "Don't listen to him, children! Capture the boy and bring him to me, and I promise you will be handsomely rewarded!"
Lincoln: "True rewards are those you care about. Your friends. Your family. Those close to you, who you know will be there for you, no matter what. That psycho up there, he sees you all as scum, as worthless vermin in his vision of a perfect world. He will torture you, belittle you, bully you, control you, and make your lives not worth living, all out of hatred and revenge. And then he'll say it was all in the name of making the world a better place, of making society better and removing its biggest problems! If you let him win, he'll make everyone else miserable, too. He exists just to hurt people and make things worse for them. Don't let him do that! Help us stop him!"
Viribus: "Enough with the sappy speech, Loud!"
Lincoln then turned away from the crowd of students and looked up again to face Viribus one more time…
Lincoln: "I've seen the dark, twisted corners of your mind, Jake! You need to let this grudge go! People make mistakes! People aren't perfect! I know that, I'm not perfect! But this is just madness! Learn a lesson or two in forgiveness and friendship. It could do you more than a little good. This stuff you're doing... It's out of order! We all know that deep down, this is just because you're a butthurt man child who can't stand the fact that he was unpopular during his young years and wants revenge on the world out of jealousy! I won't let it happen! WE won't let it happen! You're going down!"
Viribus: "Are you done?" he dryly responded.
Some of the students then continued to walk towards Lincoln and his family, and they prepared to defend themselves. Things looked very bleak for the Loud family at that moment…
Viribus: "I will give you some credit, though. You have courage, especially if you're willing to stand up to a god like me." He egotistically stated.
The kids then looked ready to resume their pounce on the Loud family…
Viribus: "I hope they remember you." he said as he prepared to watch his enemies get mauled.
But before the students could pounce on the Louds, one of them spoke up…
Clyde: "Hold on!"
Lincoln: "Clyde?!"
Clyde: "Hey, buddy. I've been wondering where you were."
Lincoln: "It's a long story."
Chandler: "Hey! I hate to interrupt this little bromance reunion, but we're still gonna to lay waste to you dorks!"
Clyde: "No way! If you want Lincoln, or Lori, or any of them, you're going to have to go through me!"
Chandler: "Okay. Sounds like fun." She responded as he cracked his knuckles.
Girl Jordan: "No, they're right! This isn't helping anything. We need to be taking the fight to that jerk in the Principal's office!"
Liam: "Yeah!" he said from afar, amongst the crowd of students.
Chandler: "Yeah, um… don't know if you guys have noticed, but those kids over there have lasers and armour and stuff! I'd much rather take my chances with these losers."
Clyde: "We need to band together, don't just do what that Viribus guy says! If we don't act now, he'll have us under his thumb forever!"
Chandler: "Eh, there's worse things, like being blasted to nothing by a bunch of crazy people with lasers!"
Rusty: "Well, we're not going to just do what he says. If you chumps want Lincoln…"
Clyde: "Then you're going to have to get through us!" he stated, though despite the bravery of Lincoln's friends and many of the other kids at that moment, Clyde and the others were not tough kids and were actually quite worried about this confrontation.
Chandler: "Okay, boys! This should be fun." He replied with a much larger degree of confidence.
And with that, a massive conflict was erupting. Two sides of students were emerging against each other. Viribus had power over the school, and was threatening the students to co-operate with his every demand. But Lincoln had the power of persuasion on his side. Now, one half of the students wanted to take their chances and side with the boy, and fight to save themselves and end the tyranny of Viribus once and for all. The other side, however, was full of the more 'morally flawed' students of the elementary school. They would rather fight for the reward which their new 'principal' had promised them, than risk their lives battling against a bunch of violent oppressors with armed weaponry. As such, a large-scale school brawl was set to commence.
Lincoln: "Guys, no! We don't have to fight! We can all band together and…"
But he was then cut off and both factions began charging towards one another and a massive schoolyard brawl was underway. Fight clouds surrounded the Loud family as they were minding themselves and trying not to get sucked into all the chaos. For once, the Loud family were the only ones not to be engulfed in a big ball of violence. Lincoln looked around in dread. He originally left the Loud House due to his distaste in an overabundance of violence, and now, ironically enough, the events that transpired from that decision had caused an all-out war in the school.
Lana: "Hey, it's the others!" she shouted to Lola, Lucy and Lisa as they were also among the hundreds of kids in the playground, and she spotted the other half of the family.
Rita: "KIDS!" she yelled back as the reunited family ran towards each other and embraced in a family hug.
Lynn Sr: "We're so glad you're all safe, kids!"
Lola: "Mom, Dad! We have to get out of here, now!"
Lincoln: "We can't, there's kids fighting all around us, there's cops and angry parents surrounding the school, and besides, we have to stop Viribus right here and now!"
The Loud family then looked towards the front entrance of the building, and saw the disciples of Viribus standing there, with their weapons in hand, ready to attack if anyone tried breaking into the building or out of the grounds.
Hilary: "Look, it's those Louds over there. They're looking at us!"
Wayne: "Well, they better think twice about trying to get in here!"
Meanwhile, their master was watching the ensuing carnage from the principal's office window. Huggins was quick to point out what a backfire all this was to his plan.
Huggins: "Well, this plan of yours has gone smoothly, hasn't it? 10 minutes ago, you were talking about making this school a more peaceful and rational place. Now look at what you've done!?"
Viribus then took another glance at the fighting taking place in front of his eyes…
Viribus: "Beautiful." He coldly be honestly stated.
Huggins: "WHAT!?" he asked, enraged and befuddled.
Viribus: "Truth is, before the world can improve, it has to endure suffering, so as to learn what the consequences are of not improving." He justified. The truth was, behind all his seemingly noble if extreme intentions, a part of him was just angry and bitter at the world and wanted to inflict pain and suffering upon it.
Back outside, the police and parents were debating what to do next…
Angry parent 1: Well, don't just stand there! Do something!"
Police officer: "We can't! It's too dangerous! If we step one foot into the school, those teens with the laser weapons will start shooting all those kids!"
Angry parent 2: "But we gotta do something! Those children are tearing each other limb from limb!"
Police officer: "We can't just go in or those kids are going to get a lot worse than a few black eyes and split lips. It's up to the Loud family now!"
It was indeed up to the Louds, as they had to formulate a plan to get past the disciples of Viribus, and then make their way into the school to confront take down the main man himself. But that was easier thought of than accomplished.
Lincoln: "Any suggestions, guys?"
Luna: "I dunno, dude. You're always the one with a plan for everything."
Just then, out of the fight cloud popped Lincoln's best friend Clyde.
Clyde: "Hey Lincoln!"
Lincoln: "Clyde! Aren't I glad to see you." He responded as they hugged. The two hadn't really seen each other, let alone properly embraced, in over a week since Lincoln first left the house, which was a long time for them.
Clyde: "I haven't seen you in forever."
Lincoln: "It sure feels that way, buddy."
But the moment was cut short, given its inappropriate timing…
Lucy: "Er, guys, I don't mean to interrupt this heart-warming moment. Well, actually I sorta do. But..."
Lynn: "We got about 5 guys' butts to kick, so let's get back to business!"
Lincoln: "We got to split up. I'll try to sneak into the principal's office. Mom, Dad, Lori, Leni and Luna. You sneak around the back. Clyde, Lisa, Luan. You're with me. Lynn, you take the younger ones and head straight for the front door."
Lynn: "Yep, that's just my style!"
Lincoln: "I know, that's why I gave you that job."
Lana: "Lincoln, remember the secret tunnel entrance to the school I told you about?" she reminded him.
Lincoln: "Oh yeah. That'll come in handy, good work, Lana! We'll take that path."
Lori: "Hold on, who died and made you boss around here?!"
Lincoln: "Do you have a better plan?"
After a couple seconds of silence, Lori gave in…
Lori: "Good plan. Let's get started."
And with that, the Loud family and Clyde all split up and tried to break into the school via different entry points, diverting the attention of the disciples.
Wayne: "What are those Louds doing?"
Hilary: "They're splitting up so they can break into the school under our watch!"
Sid: "Well, two can play at that game."
Wayne: "I'll go and check the back entrance. Hilary, you and Sid go back to Master Viribus. Patrol the hallways and check the office. Eddie, stand here at the front door and make sure nobody gets past!"
Eddie: "Ha, easy!"
Both sides were now onto the other's strategy. The Louds had to find some way of getting past the kids with weapons. Eddie was rather confident that nobody could get past him, given his cocky demeanour. The Loud kids seemed to agree with him.
Lana: "Oh no, that kid looks pretty tough!"
Lola: "How are we going to get past him?!"
Lynn: "Leave this to me, guys!"
Lynn then walked over right towards Eddie.
Eddie: "Hey, you're that dumb sports girl that gave me lip the other day!"
Lynn: "Yeah, that's me!" She angrily said back.
Eddie: "And you're so stupid that you just walk up to me like that. What makes you think I won't just shoot you?"
Lynn: "I dunno. I just thought you were man enough to face me yourself, without that stupid toy of yours." She challenged.
Lynn knew what competitive nature was all about, and knew Eddie was the type who shared it. She was playing right into his hands, and he knew it…
Eddie: "Well played, kid. But now you're gonna get it ya little wuss! I'm not gonna take it easy just because you're a girl, either." He made clear to his opponent as he put down his gun and put up his fists.
Lynn: "Likewise." She joked back before putting on a serious face and raising her own fists, ready to throw down. Things were about to get intense.
And that's only one of multiple action sequences to take place in the next 3 chapters, as you have all gathered by now. How will the Louds and friends bypass the Disciples of Viribus and bring down the main man himself? Well, I'm not going to just tell you now, am I? This story is incredibly close to meeting its conclusion. Chapter 18 will be uploaded next Sunday. Then I will upload the final two chapters together the following week, on September the 16th, as a two-parter. In 2 weeks, this will all be over. I hope you've been enjoying the story, and will be pleased with its ending. Anyway, now that I'm more or less finished with this fic, I'll probably shift my attention back to more canonical interests for a while (on my DeviantArt account, I'm planning on uploading a review of my favourite episode of the show in the near future, for example). Anyway, remember to read chapter 18 next week.