AN: This chapter should be the end of what was essentially the pilot episode for this story.
Leni Loud strode purposefully, her enormous footsteps echoing loudly around her. She was confident. She was fashionable.
*SMASH*
She…was going to have to pay for that, wasn't she?
"Don't worry about it, Leni!", Lincoln called into her ear, "If you abandon your car in the middle of a giant monster attack, I'm pretty sure you're asking for something like that to happen."
"R-right, Linky" Leni replied, her cheeks coloring despite her brother's assurances.
"Gotta focus", Leni thought to herself as she continued forward, now making the effort to be extra aware of her surroundings."Keep your eyes on the road. Look both ways before crossing an intersection. And always be aware of oncoming…"
"CAR!"
Leni looked up just in time to see the aforementioned vehicle hurtling through the air directly at her.
"Eep!" Leni squeaked in surprise. Her head jerked to the side reflexively, causing the missile to pass harmlessly by.
The point of origination for the projectile was easy enough to ascertain. The other woman. Still so very large, and so very imposing, stood across the way from her. Her face, which would likely be quite lovely at any other time, contorted in a hateful scowl.
The sheer intensity of that gaze was enough to cause Leni to momentarily freeze in terror, but that was quickly dispelled by the sensation of her little brother's comforting touch.
"You've got this, Leni"
Leni took a deep breath to steady herself, then settled into a combat ready stance. She knew what she had to do.
"Let her have it, Leni!"
"Right, Linky!" She replied, turning her attention to her opponent.
"Hey! Other, giant lady! Could you, like, stop? Please?"
A brief moment of silence settled over the battlefield as the citizens, formerly screaming in terror, and even the monstrosity in question herself, stopped to regard the towering blonde with incredulity.
"I don't think it's going to be that easy, Leni".
"RAAAAAARG!" The woman roared, seemingly in agreement. She then scooped up a handful of debris and flung it at the well-intentioned heroine.
Leni was ready for her this time and wove her way through the barrage with a dancer's grace. She punctuated the completion of her maneuver with a determined stomp of her foot, then lowered her upper body, preparing to charge the woman. It was at this point, that she noticed the distinct lack of a familiar presence on her shoulder.
"Linky?"
Wind rushed around Lincoln as he plummeted towards the ground, unintentionally dislodged by his sister's movements. He opened his mouth to scream, but was interrupted when he suddenly slammed against something, knocking the wind from his body. Though dazed from the impact, Lincoln still had the presence of mind to marvel at how not-dead he appeared to be.
"LINKY?" A voice thundered from somewhere above him.
I can assure you he's fine, Gigant Green. Focus on the task at hand.
"BUT WHAT IF HE'S HURT?"
His mind still swimming from the fall, Lincoln fought through the pain and attempted to struggle to his feet, knowing that Leni wouldn't be able to finish the fight if she was busy worrying about him. Funny, the ground was a lot softer than he'd been expecting.
"EEK!" Leni shrieked, far louder this time.
I told you he was fine.
"LINKY! THIS IS NOT THE TIME!"
"Not the time for wha-", Was all Lincoln's brain managed to process before he was shrouded in darkness, as if the sun had simply blinked out of existence. A moment later, Lincoln lost his footing once more as the world fell sideways. A crash from above, and Lincoln found himself unable to move. His body enveloped by an all-encompassing softness, equal parts wonderful and terrifying.
Leni's hesitation had cost her, and she now found herself pinned beneath the rampaging giantess, desperately grappling with her foe. Between the fall, the debris ridden ground now digging into her backside, and…other sensations she was dealing with, her position was untenable on multiple fronts, and it was taking all her strength to hold off the other woman.
You need to regain control of the battle, Gigant Green
"I know that!" Leni growled, "But Linky's in trouble!"
She winced in pain as her head was slammed against the ground, causing a brief starburst of emerald sparks to erupt around her.
This sustained assault is taking a toll on your protective field, Gigant Green, you won't be able to survive much more of this.
Leni saved her breath, attempting to focus on the battle at hand. The other woman had the benefit of leverage, and the ferocious nature to exploit it. Leni knew she'd never be able to turn this around unless she could get out from underneath the woman.
Suddenly, the giantess broke the grapple, and raised her arms in preparation for a two handed slam, clearly intending to end the battle in a single blow. Leni allowed herself a small smile. Weary, but determined. This was her chance.
There was a flash as Leni's left hand became suffused with emerald energy. She twisted her body, and with a burst of strength, used her remaining hand to push herself off the ground. The gamble had paid off, and the momentum from her desperate move proved to be just enough to get her within striking distance.
"LENI…PUNCH!" She yelled, ramming her shining fist directly into her foes face. An explosion of raw power erupted from the point of impact, and the feral giantess was sent flying backwards.
Though exhausted from her ordeal, Leni managed to pull herself to her feet. She glanced down, and with an embarrassed smile, gently plucked her brother from the front of her uniform
"Are you okay, Linky?" She asked, trying to keep her voice level.
"That you, Leni?" Lincoln asked, dazed and contused. "What happened?"
"YOU FELL!" Leni yelped, crimson blossoming across her face. Then, after taking a moment to collect herself, she returned Lincoln to his place on her shoulder, not removing her hand until she was sure he could stand under his own power.
A loud crash drew the pair's attention back to the battle at hand, and Leni frowned as she saw the other woman struggling to get up.
Gigant Green is dangerously low on energy. I would suggest replenishing her supply, if you are able.
"R-right", Lincoln agreed, a strange expression settling upon his face.
Leni looked to her little brother, worried evident on her face. "Are you okay Linky? You shouldn't push yourself."
"It's fine", Lincoln said, crossing the expanse that was Leni's shoulder.
"Actually..." he said, placing one hand against the exposed skin on Leni's neck, "I feel really refreshed for some reason".
Leni had intended to ask what he'd meant by that, when suddenly her body was wracked by an enormous influx of power.
"WOW LINKY", she gasped as revitalizing waves of energy coursed through her, gaining in intensity with every passing second. "THAT'S SO MUCH BIGGER THAN BEFORE!"
30%...70%...120%...this is fascinating, Seven marveled aloud. Such a thing shouldn't be possible.
One last burst and Lincoln sank to his knees, his newly discovered reservoir of power now spent.
"RAAAAAAARG!"
And none too soon, it seemed. The sound drew the trio's attention to their foe, who had now regained her footing, and was now slowly but steadily heading their way.
"That's all I've got Leni, can you handle this?"
Leni turned to her little brother and gave him a confident smile. "Don't worry Linky, I've got this".
There was a flash, and an enormous aura of energy exploded into existence around Leni's gargantuan frame.
"Leni?" Lincoln asked, clearly worried.
"It's okay Linky", she assured him, "I just have this feeling…"
Leni concentrated, and the torrent of energy receded back into her, gathering around each her arms and wrapping them in turbulent, shining energy. It bore some resemblance to her earlier attack, but now radiating with far greater intensity.
The ground began to quake as the giantess hurtled towards Leni, now with far a speed far greater than before.
Leni calmly stood her ground and crossed her arms in front of her, the energy stored therein now churning ferociously, seemingly eager to be released. Leni was more than happy to comply, and took a deep breath.
"LENI…BEAM!" She roared as the energy freed itself from her limbs, manifesting as an enormous continuous beam, and rocketed towards her foe. The giantess, unprepared for such a turn, took the emerald blast head on, screaming in agony as it enveloped her.
Leni's attack concluded with one final, blinding flash of light. When the dust had settled, the monster was gone, and in her place lay a confused and attractive, but extremely normal sized woman.
Leni sank to the ground, and let out a sigh of relief, spent in every sense of the word.
Leni smiled as she felt the extremely pleasant sensation of her little brother arms around her neck. A victory hug. Or at least, the best Lincoln could manage, given the size difference. And suddenly, despite all the pain and emotional turmoil she'd been subjected to in the previous battle, it all seemed worth it somehow.
Leni closed her eyes and allowed herself a moment of respite, feeling the last of her energy reserves began to drain from her.
"That was amazing, Leni", Lincoln gleefully exclaimed from his vantage, and Leni's grin deepened so much that her cheeks began to hurt. Totes worth it.
"…But we really need to talk about the way you name your attacks".
Lincoln sank into his bed, exhausted from the events of the day. His parents had, of course, been furious that he and Leni had run off in the middle of a monster attack without so much as a phone call. But that had been small potatoes compared to the sheer intensity that was Lori. She'd alternated between screaming at them for being so stupid and crying with relief that they were safe until her voice gave out, at which point they'd helped her to her room so she could finally rest.
Lincoln looked to the small band on his wrist, and sighed. He hated doing that to Lori. And he hoped that, someday, when things were normal again, that'd he'd have the opportunity to apologize to her as many times as it took. But for now, this was simply the way things had to be.
Lincoln felt a pair of arms wrap around him, and a familiar, effusing softness press against his back. He smiled to himself, and grasped one of the hands firmly, but affectionately, entwining his fingers with hers.
"Is it okay if I sleep here tonight, Linky?" Leni murmured.
"Of course, Leni", he replied, "Any time".
"Yay", she cheered softly, her voiced sounding utterly drained. Moments later, Lincoln allowed himself to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of her gentle snoring.
Elsewhere, in a place outside time and space, darkness rippled in irritation. Another failed experiment. Another triumph for its hated foe. But time was on its side, and there would be others. So many others.