The Loud Ark - Chapter 5: Aslan speaks to Lincoln

Throughout the rest of the day, everyone did their normal activities, and they all returned home at the end of the day. Well, except Lincoln. Lincoln was bruised and battered by the jeering crowd from preaching down in the dumps as he sighed, "Maybe, I am just ordinary, plain old Lincoln, who's not seen as someone special."

Tinkerbell and her friends notice Lincoln sad and decide to accompany him. They came to a house, home to his best friend Clyde inside, Lincoln puts his head down on a counter. Clyde stares at him, looking concerned after Lincoln told him everything.

"Ordinary? You're talking crazy." Clyde said as Lincoln adjusted his posture.

"You're just saying that because you're my best friend. Name one thing that makes me special." Lincoln replied.

"How about three? You've read every single Ace Savvy comic twice..." As Clyde speaks, Lincoln is suddenly in his Ace Savvy cosplay and sports a heroic grin. "You're the fifth-best junior magician in Royal Woods..."

Then Lincoln is in his magician attire; cards spew out from inside his hat. "And that history report you wrote? It was like I was at the signing of the Declaration of Independence!"

That last statement proves just that, and Clyde smiles."Oh! And you can sing. That's four! And Besides, Lincoln, you're a preacher, That's five. Well, almost, of course nobody listens to you, but You believe in god himself so that's gotta count!"

But that didn't make Lincoln even better, "Anyone can do those things." Lincoln groaned. "Admit it, Clyde. I'm always going to be stuck in my sisters' shadows!"

Lincoln buries his face into the counter, and Clyde thinks of something to cheer him up.

"I know exactly what I'll cheer you up with," said Clyde dives behind the counter; seconds later, he re-emerges with a dish full of cream puffs that he made. "My homemade cream puffs. Or as I like to call them…" Clyde sets them down on the group. "'Dream puffs'."

Lincoln takes one of the puffs, and eats it, savoring the taste. Same with the fairies as they took small handfuls from the puffs. It is at this moment, his emotional dam finally breaks, crying hysterically and banging the counter. The fairies stopped and looked at one another with sadness and remorse. How can they help their friend?

"What?! What is it?! Too much cinnamon?! Not enough cinnamon?! Actually, the recipe doesn't call for cinnamon, but I can add it in -" Clyde explained, trying to figure out what was wrong with Lincoln before he stopped Clyde.

"No, no, no, Clyde, it's the best!" said Lincoln as he ate another, then sobbed a bit; his voice wavering. "It's just that you, my sisters, the fairies, and everyone in the village..." As he takes another puff. "Everyone is good at something. Except me..."

As he continued to cry, Silvermist placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

Clyde saw that his cream puffs were no help at all as his thoughts read. "Nice one, Clyde. You just made it worse!"

Then he had one last trick up his sleeve and said, "Well, I'm not that good at baking."

Hearing that, Lincoln put down his cream puff, got off his stool, walked off, and said"Then how do you explain this?"

Lincoln waves a hand at all the different trophies, ribbons, and other various awards Clyde has received in baking, and there are a lot of them.

"I'm just lucky." Said Clyde. "Same with your fairy friends with their so-called talents? What else can I do?"

"Listen kid," Said Vidia. "He hasn't been himself since that vision he had last night and he will not stop talking about it."

"What vision?"Clyde asked.

"You see…How to put this?" said Lincoln trying to figure out what to say next.

"It has plenty of stuff that's very bad," sighed Iridessa

"It's a vision of the end of the world!" Exclaimed Fawn.

"Fawn! What are you doing?!" scolded Rosetta.

"I speaking from my heart," Fawn replied.

This quite confused Clyde. Why would his best friend dream about that?

"The end of the world, Zach will get a kick out of that! And when will it happen?" asked Clyde.

"All he said was everything was all covered in water and everyone in it drowned," replied Silvermist.

"So you dreamed of a flood?" Cylde asked his best friend.

"Yes, Clyde," Lincoln spoke up. "It was a flood, I was there, everyone including you was gone, and I was alive among the dead, Pop-Pop said this was a message of Aslan trying to speak to me."

"Wait? God as in Aslan?" Exclaimed Clyde. "And you think it might actually happen? I mean is Aslan trying to communicate with you?"

"Yes, The Great Lion god, who made the earth " Fawn answered. "He's trying to communicate with him because he wants to destroy the earth."

"I mean there are a lot of bad people in this world." Said Rosetta. "I think that's why Aslan wants to start over."

"So you have this vision about the end of the world which is a flood sent by Aslan because of how things have grown bad in the world?" asked Clyde,

"Yes. Clyde." Said Lincoln. "Pop-Pop told me about how sin came to the world after Great-Father and Great-Mother Adam and Eve, and how wicked the world has become, this vision Aslan is trying to tell me something like he wants me to do something for him?"

"Perhaps there is something you can do to help Lincoln, Right?" asked Tinkerbell

"You know about my dream puffs, it sounds silly." joked Clyde. "After eating them, you get weird dreams and maybe if so it might help you know about what the vision might be. Sorry, was that confusing?"

Lincoln stopped and realized he was right. Maybe it could help him figure out his vision. "No. You just gave me an awesome idea! Come along Girls"

"I did?" Clyde asked in confusion.

As Lincoln heads off and says to Clyde, "You're the best, best friend ever!"

"Anytime, buddy," replied Clyde.

He shuts the front door and leaves. The slight impact of the door shutting seemed to have made one of the awards tilt, and Clyde adjusted it back to its correct angle. Just then, the door opens, Lincoln runs back in, then walks back out carrying the cream puffs, and then the door closes again. The award tilts and Clyde adjusts it once more.

. . . . .

While under an oak tree after eating a dish full of cream puffs or "Dream puffs", they were stuffed and full laying down.

"I can't eat anymore." Groaned Fawn.

"Are you sure this will work? Link?" asked Tinkerbell. "This seems quite silly?!"

"How can I know about this dream?" Lincoln explained. "Hopefully I will know what Aslan is trying to tell me."

"Yeah, I guess so?" Said Tinkerbell. "When is it supposed to kick in?"

Then she falls flat asleep on Lincoln's chest with Vidia smirking. "Right about now!"

Before joining her, Fawn and Rosetta sleep on his head while Iridessa and Silvermist sleep on some fallen leaves Lincoln fell asleep lying on the trunk of a tree.

As he snored and naped peacefully with a smile that suddenly shifted to a frown, the voice was heard again. "Liiiiiinnnnccclllnnn!"

. . . . .

Lincoln was now back submerged underwater as he opened his eyes again. They saw the people and animals thrashing and drowning in the water down below, He saw a small beam of light shine through the water onto his face. Then he tried to sleep upward to the surface.

Lincoln gasped as he was above the surface struggling in the water, he saw water in the form of dewdrops falling from the skies which were full of dark and gray clouds. The waves pounded and washed Lincoln up as he surfaced again. "Guys?! Mom?! Dad?! Lori?! Leni?! Luna?! Luan?! Lynn?! Lucy?! Lana?! Lola?! Lisa?! Lily?! Shouted Lincoln as he looked left and right. "Clyde?! Ronnie Anne?! Sid?! Pop-Pop? Tinkerbell?! Vidia?! Silvermist?! Iridessa?! Fawn?! Rosetta?!"

Then he heard voices and turned to see his family, friends, and the village struggling in the water crying for "Help!" "Help Us!" "I Can't Swim!" "Save Us!" as they were drowning in the flood. Lincoln was horrified he tried to swim to them as fast as possible. Then he stopped to hear a small yelp crying for, "Help!"

Lincoln turns to see the fairies drowning and their wings getting waterlogged. "I'm coming!"

He swam towards the fairies, then he scooped them up and placed them on his head. Then they suddenly see a Dream creampuff floating in front of them and then it begins to glow and transform into something big.

The glowing figure stopped rising from the waters, the figure became the shape of a large wooden vessel, a large boat floating above the waters leaving Lincoln and the fairies in awe. The Door of the boat opens as the ramp is lowered down beckoning him to come. Lincoln does so and he sees the village people, his friends, and his family swimming toward the boat too. Lincoln realized and learned it's not just him, his family, friends, and the community will be saved.

Lincoln swam as hard as his hands paddle and his legs back kicked in the water heading towards the boat. Soon sounds were heard causing Lincoln to stop, Lincoln saw his pets swimming toward the boats, same with his family and friends' pets and animals, and soon every animal in the world was swimming to the same boat wanting to get on board. Lincoln thought, is this the vision of Aslan to build this boat to save everyone from the flood, maybe I could be special and seen as a hero for this?

"Liiiiiinnnnccclllnnn!" The voice rang as a silhouette figure of a lion appeared inside the door of the boat. He roared as a beam of light shined brighter than before, Then all of a sudden, all fell silent again, and his eyes opened.

. . . . .

Lincoln jolted out of his sleep as the fairies woke up and they saw Lincoln whose face was filled with confidence and realization,

"Did it work?" Said Silvermist wondering if the cream puffs worked or not.

"I think it did, I get it now!" Lincoln exclaimed "It seems I won't be the only one to be saved. I was destined to save everyone, they must know about this." Lincoln and the fairies got up as they headed back home.

Lincoln walked home by going through the woods until he noticed something in a clearing. "What the?" It was a bright light shining in the center.

"Lincoln, where are you going?" asked Tinkerbell.

Then Lincoln stepped into the middle of the clearing little did he know that it was Aslan who was leading him outside before saying, "Hello?"

Then he hears a rustle in the bushes. "Liiiiiinnnnccclllnnn!" The voice was heard again and this time Lincoln ran towards the voice and suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Then a large majestic regal Golden maned Male Lion appeared in front of him.

"Guys it's a Lion!" Fawn said in fear.

They were afraid and they stood still until suddenly the lion spoke, "Do not be afraid Lincoln."

"What, did you just talk? and how did you know my name?" Lincoln asked as the fairies stood still too scared to move.

"It is me, Aslan, For I am your God, Your Creator." As the lion steps into the light, he reveals himself as Aslan the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth. Lincoln and the fairies were shocked to be in the presence of the divine creator. "And I know lots of things about you, my child for I have seen all and I am always watching."

"Aslan the creator of heaven and earth?" Said Lincoln in fear as he fell to his knees and bows down and the same goes with the fairies. "My lord, please forgive me."

"Rise, my son," Aslan replied. "I wanted you to follow me here because it is here that I can tell you about an important task I have for you, Lincoln. You did try your best to write the wrongs of your fellow men, It's not your fault, It is their own failure that they must be destroyed."

"Wait you mean that vision was real, you showed me what's going to happen right," Said Lincoln. "What is this task? What can I do to avoid this disaster?"

So Aslan said to Lincoln, "It is true Lincoln, I am going to put an end to all people, for the Earth is filled with violence, corruption, and greed because of them. I am going to bring flood water on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it."

"What? This is terrible." Said Lincoln "Is there any way my family, friends, and with good hearts will be spared, I will do anything you ask of me, my Lord."

"Lincoln, you will be spared. You and your family, friends, and community have found favor in my eyes. I have chosen you to help me start life over." Said Aslan.

"Aslan why me? You could have chosen anyone in the village, but I'm just plain old ordinary?" asked Lincoln wondering why Aslan chose him, he's not as special as everyone else in the village.

"Lincoln, you are a good boy." Said Aslan. "Although unnoticed, you have been a great helper to your family, friends, and the village community. It's not the skill and talent that counts, but it is the heart. It is your faith in me, Lincoln, loyalty, and willingness to help, qualities of a righteous person while not everyone is like you."

It is?" asked Lincoln.

"Indeed it is," replied Aslan. "It makes me upset with them because they have turned their backs on me, But it makes me sad because I love them."

Lincoln knows that god is stern and authoritative, He can be upset and mad at those who disobey and upset him. But he calms down and becomes caring knowing what's good for them and loves them.

"You really think so? You do care for me and think I am special?" Said Lincoln. "Well, What is this big task you ask of me to do and I will do it?!"

Then Aslan said, " I want you to construct an ark of cypress wood. You shall make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. The ark should be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door on the side of the ark large enough for the tallest and widest animals to walk through, and make lower, middle, and upper decks. Everything on Earth will perish, but I will establish my covenant with you, The ark will be your salvation and you will enter the ark – you, your family, your friends, and your community. You are to bring aboard the ark seven pairs of every kind of clean animal and two of every kind of unclean animal. Every kind of creature with the breath of life will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and them."

"There will be so much to do," said Lincoln. "But no nobody will believe me."

"Through my power and faith in me, Lincoln, they will believe you, I will provide my strength to you to accomplish this plan from there I will work my miracles," said Aslan. "For nothing is impossible for those who have faith. Once you accomplish this task, I will speak to you again one week before I bring about the great flood. I wish you good luck for I will be with you till the end." Aslan instantly vanished and the ray of light faded away.

"Thank you, my father. I will begin immediately." Said Lincoln now a changed person. "I will build your ark and I will not let you down."

Lincoln, Tinkerbell, Fawn, Rosetta, Vidia, Iridessa, and Silvermist, immediately ran or flew back through the forest and found the path once again, and hurried back home to tell everyone of the news.

"There will be so much to do," said Lincoln. "But no nobody will believe me."

Aslan: "For nothing is impossible for those who have faith. Once you accomplish this task, I will speak to you again one week before I bring about the great flood. I wish you good luck for I will be with you till the end." Aslan instantly vanished and the ray of light faded away.

"Thank you, my father. I will begin immediately." Said Lincoln now a changed person. "I will build your ark and I will not let you down."

Now Lincoln understood the vision, the earth had become a wicked and sinful world that Aslan was going to punish and wipe the wickedness away with a great flood. Aslan had instructed Lincoln to build an enormous wooden vessel called ana rk to save his family, and the community, along with pairs of every kind of animal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate, in hopes the world would be restored.

Lincoln, Tinkerbell, Fawn, Rosetta, Vidia, Iridessa, and Silvermist, immediately ran or flew back through the forest and found the path once again, and hurried back home to tell everyone of the news.