The Loud Ark: Chapter 9 - Ark Completion
As time passed, Lincoln, his sisters, and friends went up a grade in their schools, but they continued their mission of completing the ark as Aslan had promised that there would be a flood.
At the ark construction site, The Louds' Neighbor, Mr. Bud Grouse was watching them with his binoculars seeing Lincoln applying pitch to the ark walls and muttering to himself, "What is that boy up to?"
Lincoln was applying the pitch to the ark wall to make sure there were no leaks so no water could get in. Then he sees a picture on the wall. It was a colorful drawing of him on the ark with Lily smiling that she left for him. Lincoln smiled at least he had someone who thinks who's special, especially his baby sister. Then he heard a voice. "Hello, Lincoln!"
He turned around to see a merchant waving hello, "You did an incredible job building this." Said Flip. "You know you and your family have made many businesses including mine and in the cities wealthy in the village. It's True."
"Is that so?" Replied Lincoln. "And what reason is there?"
"You see people from all over the land have come here to see you and your family work on building this thing?"
"Ark!" Corrected Lincoln.
"Yes, Ark," The Merchant corrected himself and continued, "Everyone has come to see this ark from afar. Of course, everyone thinks your flood story is ridiculous, but it is the wonder of the world. And when people come to view your ark, we provide them with food and shelter, at a price of course. Right now, there are some gamblers I believe who want to acquire it and depend on this for their livelihood. In Fact, as we speak people are bidding among themselves to claim it from you."
The Merchant approached him from the side and whispered to him. "Proclaim your ownership of this ark to me so you can save yourself and your family from danger. I'm a respected merchant, will they listen to me, and protect you from harm?"
Lincoln thought he couldn't do this and that would be disobeying Aslan. But he didn't want to get them upset. "Um Well, I think-"
"Well, Think about it once it's done." The Merchant replied Flip as he left the site. "See you soon Lincoln!"
. . . . .
Meanwhile, in the city of Enoch, Jafar was displeased with Iago's Failures.
"They're almost done building it!" Jafar yelled. "And, You haven't managed to take down Lincoln and his Ark!"
"You gotta believe me, Jafar? I gave it my all!" Iago explained worryingly. " But that kid and his family and friends were crafty!"
"I will tolerate this no more! Gather the Council and everyone! I must see this for myself." Jafar said to John.
"Yes sir!" The Fox said as he and his assistant Gideon ran off to gather the Council Jafar looked from his Balcony at the Ark being constructed.
"Let's give Lincoln Noah, Something even he will never Forget!"
. . . . .
It didn't take long for word to spread of the ark being built, the village had heard the news, and the city folks of course. Soon it became the talk of the town among the friends of louds, co-workers, neighbors, teachers, news reporters, and even the Mayor heard of the news of Lincoln, his family, and friends building the ark commanded by God himself.
Then the next day Lincoln leaves his house to continue building the ark as he is met with news reporters wanting to interview him asking many questions like "There He is!" "The Boy Himself!" "Hey, Kid!" Mr. Loud!" "Lincoln!" "We want to ask you some Questions?" "Is the World coming to an End!" "Is it True a Lion Spoke to you of a Flood?!" "Are you Telling the Truth?!"
"Is this thing on?" asked News Reporter Katherine Mulligan to the cameraman who nodded back. "Good, Hello Katherine Mulligan here, Today we're here live, where a local village boy, Lincoln Loud, is constructing what appears to be some sort of boat which I heard is called an ark." She approached Lincoln wanting to interview him. "Lincoln Loud, You went from a normal ordinary boy to what they're calling a boy doing the unthinkable?"
"Yes, Ms. Mulligan," Replied Lincoln. "It's all because I received a vision from the god, Aslan the Great Lion God. He told me that a great flood would come and destroy everything."
"And why is that? Why would a Lion God want to destroy the whole world? Like this is the End of the World right?" Katherine asked.
"It's because he grows sad and upset by all the sins of humanity influenced by all the evil and greedy stuff in the world. So He told me to build this ark to save us from the flood for both man and beast." Added Lincoln.
"I was wondering why did Aslan choose you for this?" asked Katherine.
"He says that I'm a light of hope in me and my faithfulness towards him," Said Lincoln. "He believed in me for I was righteous! And it's not just me, he chose all of us, This whole community!"
. . . . .
Despite the press and recognition, although this isn't the one Lincoln hoped for, He, his friends, and family toiled away building the ark as they started building the interior, the rooms, storage, berths, stalls, and cages. The roof of the ark was halfway down and a large door was built on the side large enough for the largest and tallest animals to enter. The Door is the only way for those who repent and turn away from sin so they would enter the ark and be saved when the flood comes to destroy the earth.
Many people, mostly travelers came by to see the Construction and they would mock and laugh at Lincoln for building a boat on dry land. While the sisters were hammering the pegs, placing up the boards, and applying the pitch, they began to speak among themselves thinking what their brother, Lincoln had said was right all along.
"Lincoln is not kidding?!" Said Lana. "This is a very big project." She turns to her big sister, Lori.
"I don't know sisters, maybe Lincoln's telling the truth after all," Lori replied.
"It seems the world will come to an end." Said Lucy.
"But how can we know for sure?" Luan asked in curiosity.
"I guess, we're just gonna have to trust him on this,"
"If there is an ocean to float it," added Lynn. "But there is no ocean."
"But you heard what Lincoln said the rains will be coming," Leni replied.
"It would take a lot of water to get up here," Lynn said in skepticism.
Silvermist and Tinkerbell heard them from the third deck and as the blonde fairy spoke. "There will be a lot of water."
"There will be as much water as the earth has ever known," Silvermist replied. "It will come, we just gotta have some faith."
The sisters looked at each other in a worried state.
Hector, Bobby, and Ronnie Anne were holding a long plank. They stopped when they heard laughing as Bobby groaned. "It's them again!"
"Who?" Asked Rpmmoe Anne.
"Those people from the city mocking us," Replied Bobby.
"Ignore them, Chicos, One day they'll go too far," Hector replied. "I know it."
Down below was the crowd of people from the village mostly men, women, and children, travelers, soldiers, and allies of Governor Jafar, Madame Medusa, Mr. Snoops, Banzai, Shenzi, Ed, Ratigan, Fuzzy Lumpkins, Mojo Jojo, Fidget, Plankton, Vlad Plasmius, Professor Calamitous, Denzel Crocker, Traloc, Skulker, La Sombra, Sheck, Hey Arnold, Man-Ray and Dirty Bubble, Father, Mr. Boss, Ice King, Madam Mim, Kaa, Shere Khan, Stromboli, Kaa, Shere Khan, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella, Lucifer, Prince John, Pain, and Panic who came to taunt and mock Lincoln's Friends and Family.
"What is this?!" Asked a Man.
"I don't know, but it looks weird and strange." the Gambler replied.
"See did I not Tell you the truth!" Shouted Crocker.
"Yeah, what do you think this is supposed to be?!" Banzai chuckled,
"Some type of barn if you ask me?!" Laughed Fuzzy Lumpkins.
"For your information, it's an Ark!" shouted Carl from the Second Deck of the Ark.
"Yeah, what is it supposed to do carry an entire army?" Taunted Plankton as everyone joined in Laughing.
"Nope, Our whole village," Carl replied.
"That boy is building a boat on dry land!" Laughed a Bully
"He's gotta be crazy if he thinks he can do that." added A woman
The sisters stopped hearing their taunts and mocks on them and his brother. "You're gonna be eating those words soon, punks" Shouted Lynn Jr.
Luan decided to make a pun and joked, "I guess they're too hard-headed to know a thing or two in this ordeal!"
This caused the villains to angrily gasp, they were furious, but the Dirty Bubble decided to light up the mode. "Hard-headed? Oh yeah, buck tooth braces? Are you calling us dumb?!" Yelled the Dirty Bubble. "You're going to use that dummy for firewood and for your boat too, ha! Her head is Hollow enough to keep her afloat." After his taunt, all the people laughed, but Luan didn't take it. well, lucky Leni and Luna restrained her.
Suddenly, they stopped and cleared a path for the governor. Jafar with Iago sitting on his right shoulder, and his council, Clayton, Hans, Mother Gothel, Dr. Facilier, The Queen of Hearts, the Card Soldiers, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, their Pirates Crew, Gaston, LeFou, Scar, Oogie Boogie, Cruella De Vill, Jasper, Horace, Ursula, Hades, The Queen, Claude Frollo, Maleficent, and the Guards.
"So where is this boy who says a flood is coming?" Questioned Jafar. "For a kid for his age, he is crazy."
"Hey! Our son is not Crazy." Sternly yelled Rita.
"Come on, only a foolish kid can build a boat in the middle of a field on dry land." Explained Iago. "Hey, White hair Boy! Yeah, I'm talking to you! Is this boat gonna float on dry land?!"
The villains and people laughed. "If it does float maybe you'll hit Davy Jones' locked down bellow." Taunted Captain Hook.
"And you're no spring chicken yourself," Replied Oogie Boogie as he laughed
"Shut up!" Captain Hook Hits Oogie in the head.
"And it's not only him, his family and friends are as crazy as well!" Taunted Hades.
"You said it, haha!" Replied Ursula as they continued to laugh.
"Just what I was thinking too," Jafar said in an unamused way.
Tinkerbell was getting mad as her face turned red and turned to Lincoln working on the second deck. "You can't let them talk that way to you!"
"I know, but it won't matter soon," Lincoln said to comfort his friend as Tinkerbell blew her hair fringe. "Don't give any anger to them for I know that they're gonna be eating their own words when Judgment Comes."
Lincoln's friends stopped their construction to speak to Lincoln.
"Is this the way you're gonna be known for Link?" asked Clyde. "Trying to be special by doing this?"
"Not to mention we are following this folly, no wonder they laugh at us!" Exclaimed Rusty.
"It's not just that, it's about believing and doing the right thing," Lincoln answered Rusty. "I have Faith we must complete this and you should have faith in Aslan. Besides, we shouldn't condemn them for their wickedness. They should be pitied."
"What after what they're doing to us?!" Rosetta replied. "One of them got my dress covered with dirt."
She pointed out herself covered with dirt when one of them threw a stone that fell on a mud puddle where Rosetta was working.
"It's true, I can't stand those people laughing at us for doing something like this." Exclaimed Ronnie Anne.
"We should be pitied. I was famous in beauty pageants." Said Lola. "And now I'm working like a maid and humiliated."
"Maybe we should dismantle the ark and tell them it was a silly tale," Liam suggested.
"No, It'll work, I know they might be corrupt," Lincoln replied in determination. "But from what I see in their faces they are doomed to a watery grave."
"A watery grave?" Iridessa said in fright.
Carlitos whimpered luckily, his cousin Ronnie Anne comforted him. "Don't worry, Carlitos, we'll be safe in the ark when the flood comes."
"I have to do this I always did," Lincoln said. "When I stand by the road to bypassers preaching to them of Aslan's powers and love so they must be warned."
"True to that, Thanks, Lame-o," Ronnie Anne pounds his arm playfully, Linciln smiled as her girl best friend.
Lincoln stood at the edge of the second deck and proudly stated. "Everyone, please! Hear me! Including you Lord Jafar! I'm doing this for a reason!"
"What is this Lincoln?" asked Jafar. "You know you have something that I want."
"There isn't anything for you here."
"No? This all belongs to me. This land. This forest. That stronghold of yours." Explained Jafar. "Did you really think you could protect yourself from me in that?"
"It's not protection from you," replied Lincoln
"Then what is it?" Jafar asked sinisterly.
"An ark to hold the innocent when the lord God Aslan sends his deluge to purge this world." Explained Lincoln.
"You lie! Nobody has heard from Him since He marked Cain." Jafar replied back. "We are alone. Orphaned children, cursed to struggle by the sweat of our brow to survive. Damned if I don't do everything it takes to do just that. Damned if I don't take what I want. This is the way the world has to work for years, boy."
"Well, I refuse to believe that, for I am Lincoln Noah. Son of Lynn Sr. Lamech Loud. Eight generations descended from Seth. Unlike you, I am a Boy of My word," Preacher Lincoln in a broad loud voice. "The Lord God Aslan spoke to me. He told me to build this ark and that he was going to send a great flood that would cover the earth and destroy every living thing. For I believe him, You all must give up your wicked ways and join me on the boat if you are to be saved!"
Unfortunately, he was met with more Jeers and Laughs.
"This boy is crazier than we thought." Taunted Man-Ray.
"Some evil spirits have possessed him!" Replied La Sombra.
"So you wanted to be special by being a foolish boy who is way over his head," said Jafar. "How Pathetic, you will stay in the shadows of others and stay in those shadows for the rest of your life!"
The Crowd shouted "Buffon!" "A Lunatic!" "Crazy Kid!" "Foolish Boy!" Then they all started throwing stones and tomatoes at him, Lincoln covered his face on impact. Everyone including his friends and family were shocked and filled with horror at what they were seeing every day that Lincoln would preach this would happen. It made them feel bad for him and angry at those people who mistreated him. But the sisters felt bad for him even more for they never gave credit for his contributions to their success. Then a stone knocks him out on the head, Lincoln falls to the floor as his eyes closed. His family, Friends, and the Village Community gasped.
Lynn Sr.: (Yelps) "Lincoln!"
"Stop That will do! Come on," said Jafar. "Let's go and leave this family alone for now."
The Crowd begins to leave while Jafar then he turns back to the family who came to Lincoln's Aid and vows his vengeance towards him. "Here is my warning! My people follow me! And more will follow them! I'm not afraid of miracles, son of Lynn Sr. Lamech Loud! If you refuse my dozens now, I shall return with legions! And we will burn this Boat of yours to the Ground!"
Once they all left, everyone was horrified that Jafar and his Council were planning to burn and take down the Ark eventually. But Right now, they must tend to Lincoln who is unconscious.
. . . . .
Water was splashed on his face thanks to Silvermist the water fairy. Lincoln coughed and opened his eyes as he was on the couch with his friends and family with worried faces. "Lincoln!" They all shouted seeing that he was still alive.
"Are you okay?" asked Ronnie Anne.
"Thanks, I am now." Replied Lincoln and asked. "What happened?"
"You got hit by a stone, but we managed to bring you to safety." Said Vidia.
"You had us Worried!" added Iridessa.
"I'm glad to hear," said Lincoln.
"That was a bit brave of you, does this happen every day for you?" Asked Lori.
"Yes, sisters, it's just all of you are so good at what you do even everyone in this village has something of a special skill." Explained Lincoln. "Although I'm special as a helper, I wanted to be more than that. When Aslan chose me for this purpose it made me feel special so it is my solemn duty to carry out this mission even though I might be mocked for which I had to endure a lot I won't let that stop me."
"But Lincoln…" Said Lori. "What did you mean by being special? Just by being chosen by god?"
"He could have chosen any of you." Said Lincoln. "But he chose an ordinary boy like me."
"Lincoln, you are already special and to the whole village," replied Lori.
"I do?" asked Lincoln.
"Yeah, Bro," added Luna. "You're always helping us."
"Remember what you said," Said Fawn trying to remember the words he told them. "It's always more important to help your family than to outsmart 'em including others."
"Aslan said if you have faith in him," said Rosetta. "He will provide the strength for you and now everyone believes in you."
"I didn't think the same way about my talent as a tinkerer until now, But I accepted who I am." Said Tinkerbell. "You always said you're the man with the plan, but I think that god has plans and we're a part of it."
"Maybe after the flood, we could have a party just for you." Suggested Silvermist.
"Yeah," Lincoln sniffed. "I'd like that a lot."
"Lincoln, my grandson, it's not just you." Said Albert Loud. "It's everyone god sees that he loves everyone and considers them as special as you are.
"It doesn't matter if you didn't do anything special, What matters is what we're doing now," Lori said to her brother to regain his confidence.
Lincoln's sisters and friends hugged him. "You take care of us." Said Luan.
"Every day, bro," added Luna.
"For real," added Lana.
"That's why you're the most special brother ever." Exclaimed Leni.
"Well, there is something you should know, but now you're old enough to heat it. Lincoln, when you were born," Said Lynn Sr. "You glowed and shined the entire house, we were all shocked in astonishment and fear. I thought you were brought into the world by one of those fallen angels and that your mom cheated on me."
"Lynn, I would never do that. I always love you and am faithful to you. I would never break one of God's important rules." Replied Rita.
"Yeah, and just to be on the safe side, I visited your gramps, Leonard Methuselah Loud together with Pop-Pop, and went to see Great-Grandfather Enoch to explain to him this. Enoch prophesied that the world would come to an end and he said that you, Lincoln, why you glowed is that Aslan has chosen you. Enoch said you would be chosen to start over after the earth's destruction in the future, we felt relieved after that, so we called you Lincoln Noah after that. Right now, it seems what Enoch said is coming true and we're proud to have you as our son."
The parents and Lily walk over to the siblings to join in the hug.
"Literally." Exclaimed Lori.
"That's right!" Added Lana.
"Yeah," added Lola.
"I'll say!" added Luan.
"Indubitably," added Lisa.
Lincoln looks at his family and friends, hums warmly shedding a few tears of delight, and says, "I'm good with that."
"I wuv you, Wincoln!" As Lily hugs him.
Everyone was touched by this and sighed. "Awwww!" As they all group hugged.
"Warm feelings." Exclaimed Lucy.
"Now how about we all continue building the Ark?" Said Lynn Sr. "Yeah!" They all exclaimed. They went outside to continue finishing the construction of the Ark that Aslan tasked Lincoln to build. Then to their surprise, Mayor Theresa Davis brought the village to come and help volunteer to build the ark making Lincoln even more proud.
. . . . .
Soon the ark was nearing completion and it took about 120 years to build it. That evening, the family was putting on the finishing touches as the Ark was completed.
"The last plank is in place, son," said Lynn Sr. as he handed his son, Lincoln his mallet. "The honor to hammer the last peg in place is all yours."
"Thank you, Dad," Lincoln responded as he accepted the mallet. "And thank you all, my family, my friends, for all your hard work and dedication to help me. This great Ark, commanded by the almighty Aslan and built by the hands of this family, I hereby announce complete!"
Lincoln slams the last peg into the ark and tosses the mallet into the air just as everyone cheers.
"What's the Next Step, Lincoln?" asked Lana.
"I don't know yet," replied Lincoln. "But Aslan will know."
"You did it Lincoln." As Rita congratulated her son Lincoln. "Correction, We did it! I could have done this without all of your help!"
As Lincoln said this everyone smiled and looked at each other before looking at Lincoln who turned to the sky proclaiming to Aslan that the task that the great Lion God has given him has now been completed after so many years.
"It's Finished Lord, You're Holy Ark is finally Completed!" Exclaimed Lincoln.
Down below, Iago, Pain, Panic, Gideon the Cat, and John Worthington Foulfellow hiding in the bushes all looked up in annoyance realizing the ark was now complete.
"I don't believe it?!" exclaimed John.
"They're finished the Ark!" added Pain.
"They Finished the Ark?!" Muttered Iago in disappointment as he and his cronies watched from a bush. "And just were about to burn it! I'll make that fool pay, Make no mistake about that."
The mallet that Lincoln had tossed into the air fell right on top of Iago's head. The Parrot passed out and fell flat on his back.
"There's only one thing to do, we must alert Jafar and the rest of this news," said John.
"Hmph! I knew we should have just destroyed the ark with Jafar and Hades' consent," said Pain with his arms crossed. He then shrugged it off and he and Panic picked up a knocked-out parrot.
"Oh well Pain, we better get him back to the city," said Panic as they headed back to the city.
. . . . .
Night fell, As everyone went to sleep Lincoln was on the outer deck of the ark.
"I can't believe we did it." Exclaimed Tinkerbell. "It was a lot of hard work but we managed at long last."
"I do feel bad about the people who mocked us even though you tried your best to change their ways." Lamented Fawn.
"Well, It's their own fault in the first place." Snarked Vidia.
"Yeah, grouchy." Replied Silvermist.
"That's just Vidia being Vidia!" Said Iridessa.
"No, the air smells grouchy. I feel that there is gonna be a Great Flood," Silvermisted explained being a water fairy.
"Well, Sugar, I think it is going to happen," added Rosetta.
"Me too!" Said Tinkerbell. "I can sense it's gonna happen too."
"I know I felt this way from the start since I was given the vision," Said Lincoln. "But we will survive this." Then a broad voice was heard. "Lincoln!"
"Aslan? It's you." Said Lincoln as they all turned around to see Aslan who was pleased with the work that Lincoln accomplished.
"Lincoln, you have done the task I told you…" Said Aslan. "I am proud to say, well done."
"Thank you, Lord. Technically, I had a lot of help from my family and community." Said Lincoln. "I thought I wasn't special enough to them, you could have chosen anyone, but you chose me."
"Lincoln, I do not choose favorites or who I choose is special," Aslan explained. "I care and love everyone as they are all my children and I made them special just the way you are. That even includes you Lincoln, it's not about doing something special, your skills or interests make you special. I knew from the very start when you were born, that you represent a ray of hope in a wicked world. When I watched you grow up and by doing what's right by helping others and having faith in me I have chosen you for this purpose. I made you special just by being yourself and in return I provide you the strength and my powers through you to show my miracles to everyone so they can believe you through me. I love you just the way you are and everyone including those who turned back on me. I love them for who they are, Lincoln."
Lincoln was touched, tears flowed through his eyes, and he smiled because he wanted to hear those words, especially from a Lion God.
"Thank you, Aslan," said Lincoln as bowed to his knees in reverence and smiled before looking up at him. "I'm glad you chose me, I understand the real meaning of it now, and Lord, I'm awaiting your instructions although I am the man with the plan, you are the god with plans."
"Very Good, my Child. I'm glad you understand my love and my decision," Said Aslan before he explained his next task. "Now, Lincoln, the time has almost come. Seven days from now I will send rain on the Earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe away from the face of the earth every living creature that I have made. Go into the ark you, your family, your friends, and the village. For I have found you, your family, and the community righteous in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male, and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male, and its mate. Also take with you seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, and keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Through my voice, The animals will come to you, farewell Lincoln for I the lord your god will be with you." With that, Aslan vanished into the sky once again, as did the ray of light fade away.
Lincoln knew by then that he had about seven days before the flood came. Right now, he must tell his family and the Village to pack their belongings and go into the ark. He will also have to bring in lots of food to feed them on a long journey. Not only that, he must prepare for the arrival of the Animals, two of each, a male and a female, who would come to them to the ark. Lastly, Lincoln turned to the city, knowing these people would be doomed and must be warned and repent if they were to be saved from the flood.
So Lincoln looked at his fairy friends and they all entered the Hold doors leading to the inside of the ark back to the house to speak to his family about the next task.
And Lincoln Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
Note: The Ark Design is based on Evan Almighty.