Review Reply
Gamelover41592: Thanks.
Perseus12: I've never seen The Mask of Zorro before.
Alphared45667: Ronnie Anne would make a good replacement for Nagatoro, but I'm not a huge fan of Lincoln x Ronnie Anne. I like the pairing, just not a die hard fan. I will listen to requests, but no promises to actually tackle anything that is requested. I do this in my free time and will work on things I'm interested in.
Pedro Alonso Buby Huayanay Zam: Glad you enjoyed it.
Whatif-inator: I've never seen Berserk. It's been on my radar, but just never gotten around to watching it.
_
Chapter 4: Dragons
Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House. I make no money or profit from this.
The family had finally gotten over the last scene of the last world. Now all the Loud girls were teasing Lincoln, well all except one. "You really work fast, don't ya bro~" Luna teased with a laugh.
"Don't forget to invite us to the wedding," Lynn Jr. commented with a snicker.
"Yeah, it looks like she could handle everything," Luan punned. Suddenly everyone looked at Luan in surprise at what she said. "Hey I just made a pun!" The family, minus Lynn Sr., groaned at this. "I had so many jokes to make, now I can." She started, only for her voice to once again disappear. Most of the family let out a sigh of relief, while Luan could only pout.
"This must be what Cobalt meant earlier," Lincoln said with a little chuckle. "His creator must have let you have that one."
"Wait, does that mean they are watching us right now?" Lana asked. The family were startled at this new revelation.
"It's possible," Lisa replied, thinking about their situation. "While I refuse to believe they are "God", they are someone with a lot of power and/or wealth. Our host is a prime example. He's an android with a powerful AI, for it would take a lot of money and advanced technology to build him. Same for where we are. His creator must've made some sort of teleporter and used it to bring us here."
"What about the bathroom doors appearing and the orbs?" Lynn Jr. asked.
"The doors were hidden with some camouflaging technology," she started to reply. "The orbs are holograms and the screen is being controlled remotely. This place is just some hidden, secure location that is being monitored."
"Then how are they literally stopping Luan's voice?" Lori asked her, with Luan nodding in agreement.
"That's something I'm still working on," the young genius grumbled. "However I will figure out how they are doing that as well!"
"That's a bold claim and rational speculation," Cobalt said from behind the family, scaring them. "Unfortunately everything you said was wrong, and to prove that…" He then knelt in front of Lisa. In his hands was a new orb, it was swirling blue and green with a white circle with a strange triangle in the middle. Only part of the top of the circle was separate and orange. He then put the orb into Lisa's hands. "Do you still think this is a hologram?"
Lisa's eyes widened, but didn't say anything. She could actually feel the orb, it actually had weight and mass. Her mind was running a mile a minute, trying to figure out what this orb was.
"Like I told you in the beginning, keep an open mind," Cobalt told her, before standing up. "As you all can tell, the next orb has come."
"What is this one about?" Lincoln asked, hoping this one wasn't going to embarrass him.
"It's about 2 sisters," he replied. They waited for him to say more, but he didn't. "I'm not going to say more until necessary."
"Can't you at least tell us who we're watching?" Luna asked, a little annoyed.
"Nope," he replied. "Now Lynn Jr., would you like to do the honors?" He gestured to the orb.
"Sure!" She replied excitedly. She snatched the orb from Lisa, who was studying it. Taking her softball pitcher stance, she threw it at the screen. Just like before, it went into the screen and it came to life.
The screen started showing what looked to be a painting. It started with a green hill valley, before panning to the right to show 2 eastern dragons. One blue and the other was green.
"My family tells of an ancient legend of two dragon brothers" a gruff female voice started to narrate. "The dragon of the north wind, and the dragon of the south wind. Together, they held balance in the heavens."
"What is this?" Lynn Jr. asked in confusion.
"Also who is narrating that?" Luan asked.
"This is a little backstory for the sisters you'll see," Cobalt replied. "I promise you this has relevance to the sisters. As for the identity of the narrator, you'll find out soon."
It then showed a 38 year old woman with long blonde hair tied into a small ponytail by a long piece of fabric. She wears a dark one-shoulder suit that covers her right side and arm, with wrapping covering her chest. Her left side is revealed and covered in tattoos. A quiver of arrows and bow is also slung on her back. This was Lola Shimada, and she was running down the street of a city before climbing a large gate.
"Is that Lola?!" Lori asked in shock.
"It might be Lana," Luan replied, trying to identify the woman.
"Lori was correct, it's Lola," Cobalt clarified. "That is Lola Shimada, former member of the Shimada Clan. They were founded centuries ago and were a criminal empire." This got wide eyes from the family. "They made money by selling weapons, drugs, and assassination."
"Are you saying Lola is a criminal?!" Lana asked.
"Yes, in a sense," Cobalt answered. "She's not in the clan at this point, but was trained to be an assassin. However she did take part in the clan's business before."
"What is she doing?" Lincoln questioned their host.
"You'll see, just wait and see," Cobalt told him.
"But the two brothers argued over who could better rule over their land," the voice narrated. The scene showed the dragons were shown circling one another, before panning down. Showing the blue dragon sending the green dragon into land, causing destruction. "Their quarrel turned into rage, and their final struggle darkened the skies. Until the dragon of the south wind struck down his brother. He fell to earth, shattering the land."
"Okay, this obviously literally relates to Lola and one of us…" Lori started asking their host. "...But which one of us?"
"You'll find out later," Cobalt replied.
"My money is on Lana," Lynn Jr. commented. "Those dragon brothers fight just like Lana and Lola."
"Honestly it could be any of us," Lisa counters. "We all have fought each other once, so there's a chance it could be any of us. It's too soon to make any conclusion."
From her vantage point she could only see a few guards, blocking her path into Shimada Castle. Seeing what she was up against, she pulled out an arrow from her quiver and aimed her bow at the only Omnic guard. Once she was aimed perfectly she let the arrow fly, hitting him in the head. His head sparked and short circuited, before exploding.
"Wait! What was that?!" Lynn Sr. asked, startled.
"That guard was an Omnic," Cobalt replied. "An Omnic is an artificial intelligent robot that was mass produced by a company called Omnica Corporation."
"Just what year does this take place and where?" Lisa inquired.
"The year is 2070 and takes place in Hanamura Japan" the android answered.
"Another world base in Japan?" Luan asked with slight confusion. "Why have the last three worlds been in Japan?"
"I don't know," he replied. "As I stated before, my creator picks the worlds."
One of the guards saw this and turned to the intruder. Only for the woman to appear in front of him. She hit him across the face with her bow, following it up with elbow to the gut. Lola then grabbed one his arms, spun him around, and then kicked him off the elevated area they were on.
Another guard appeared and lunged his sword towards her, only for her to avoid it by having it go over her shoulder. Getting close, she grabbed his arm, dislocated it, and spun him around so she had him in a headlock. While she spun him, she pulled out an arrow and aimed for the last guard. He started to run and use his cellphone to call for help. Unfortunately he never got the chance, as an arrow pierced the back of his head. She then snapped the neck of the man in her headlock, before shooting an arrow at the guard she kicked.
The Family was in shock and fear at what they just witnessed the older Lola just did. Despite being told she was trained as an assassin, they didn't expect to see her kill people. They couldn't even say anything after the sight they just saw.
"The dragon of the south wind had triumph," said the narrator, showing the blue dragon. As it showed more, the scenery around it was chaos and destruction. "Time passed and he realized his solitude, the sweetness of victory turned to ash."
"Wait!" Lisa shouted, causing everyone to jump. "If this story relates to that Lola and one of us, then that means…"
"That Lola killed her sister..." Lincoln finished for his younger sister. The rest of the family were now filled with sadness and dread at this conclusion. Lola was in the worst state, hugging Lana while both being hugged by Leni.
"You are correct," Cobalt said. "She was forced to do so by the Clan elders after their father's death. However after she did the deed, the guilt was too much and she left the clan. The clan then labeled her a traitor and sent assassins after her."
The family were now crying at hearing of this Lola's past. While some had questions, their voices wouldn't work at that moment. So everyone just watches the screen.
As Lola sneaked further in, another person followed her at a distance from above. She found her destination, which was a sword with its sheath deep inside the castle. She slowly approached it, staring at the weapon.
"Someone's following her!" Luan said worryingly, wiping away some tears.
"Well Cobalt did say there were assassins after her," Lincoln responded, doing the same.
"What's with that sword?" Lynn Jr. asked.
"Maybe it's an artifact?" Luna replied. "She is a criminal, so maybe she is going to steal it."
"That's quite possible," Lisa added. "I would assume that the sword is very old, so someone might pay a lot of money for it."
"For years the bereft dragon's grief threw the world into discord, and he knew only bitterness and sorrow" the narrator continued. The scene showing the dragon talking with a man on top of a mountain. "One day a stranger called up to the dragon and asked 'Oh Dragon Lord why are you so distraught?' The dragon told him 'Seeking power I killed my brother, but without him I am lost'. The stranger replied 'You have inflicted wounds on yourself, but now you must heal. Walk the earth on two feet as I do, find value in humility and there you will find peace'."
The family realized this must've been how that Lola must've felt after killing her sister.
The scene changed back to Lola, who continued to stare at the sword forlornly. She then sat seiza-style in front of the blade. She pulled out some small items she had and placed them in front of her, while lighting some incense sticks. She closed her eyes and started to silently pray.
"What is she doing?" Lana asked.
"She is praying and making offerings for the dead," Cobalt answered.
"You are not the first assassin sent to kill me…" she said out loud, slowly opening her eyes. "...And you will not be the last," she put the incense sticks down.
"Hey, that's the voice narrating the story!" Lynn Jr. shouted, pointing at the screen.
Suddenly, someone fell from the ceiling and quietly landed. The person, which was female by body shape, had silver metal plates with green accents covering most of her body with the rest being a skin tight fabric. She also wore a silver helmet with a glowing green line on the front and a long piece of fabric tied on the back. She had 2 swords, one on her hip and one on her back. She slowly stood back on her feet and stared at her target.
"I know that's an assassin, but she looks awesome," Lincoln gushed over the cybernetic ninja.
"You are bold to come to Shimada Castle, the den of your enemies," the unknown woman said. Her voice had a robotic reverb as she spoke.
"So, that's literally her home?!" Lori asked, confused.
"Yes it was," Cobalt answered. "Not anymore, that was theirs until they were targeted by two groups. One was an international task force called Overwatch, the other was their rivals the Hashimoto Clan. It's currently under the control of the Hashimoto Clan."
"So those people she killed earlier with members of that group?" Asked Lincoln. Cobalt simply replied by nodding.
"This was once my home, did your masters not tell you who I was?" Lola asked, quickly grabbed her bow, turned around and shot. Only for the person to easily move to the side, dodging the arrow.
"I know who you are, Lola," the assassin replied. Lola grabbed another arrow and shot it wide, only for it to curve and fly to the metal assassin. Unfortunately the unknown person dodged it easily by crouching down. "I know you come here every year on the same day."
"Whoa, that assassin got some moves," Luna complemented.
"Not just her, Lola also got skills," Lynn Jr. praised. "To be able to shoot arrows like that, it would take years of training."
Growling in frustration, Lola grabbed 3 arrows and started to fire them one after another. The assassin again dodge the first arrow and then took cover behind a shoji screen. The other 2 followed, ripping through it but missing their target.
"You risk so much to honor someone you murder?" The assassin taunted. Flicking her wrist made 3 shurikens appear between her fingers. Stepping out of cover, she threw them at her opponent.
"So she was praying for her sister?" Leni asked, slightly confused.
"Apparently so honey," Lynn Sr. replied sadly.
"It just shows how much she regrets what she's done," Rita added sorrowfully.
Lola ducked and avoided the weapon, letting them fly and strike the wall. "You know nothing of what happened!" The blonde archer shouted. Grabbing another arrow, rolling from before taking aim, and firing.
The cybernetic ninja pulled her blade from her hip to block it. However, the power of the arrow was greater than she expected. She blocked the arrow, but the force sent her flying back elsewhere in the castle. After getting back to her feet, she started to run to reposition herself.
"Wow, they're both stronger than they appear," Luan said in surprise. The others just nodded and watched intensely.
Lola got her back in her sights, she then loaded her bow with a different arrow. Taking aim and firing at her assassin, the arrow missed. However after hitting the floor, the arrow head shot out several smaller arrows. These ones bounced and ricocheted off surfaces. As they bounced around and came closer to the female ninja. She used her sword to block, deflect, and destroy any arrows that came at her.
"What kind of arrow was that?!" Lincoln asked in excitement.
"It's called a Scatter Arrow," Cobalt replied. "I'm sure you can see why it's called that."
"Didn't matter much against that ninja," Lynn Jr. commented.
The assassin then continues to move elsewhere in the castle, with Lola following. Lola followed the assassin to the Tenshu of the castle, but saw no sign of her. "I know you tell yourself that your sister disobeyed the Clan…" the assassin's voice said all around her. Lola, thinking she saw movement, turned and shot, only to find nothing. "...And that you had to kill her to maintain order." The assassin continues, now several feet behind Lola. "That it was your duty."
"It was my duty…" Lola said, pulling her last 2 arrows from her quiver. "...It was my burden!" She turned and fired the first one, which the assassin deflected it with her sword. "That does not mean I do not honor her." She fired her last arrow, which the cybernetic ninja avoided and cut in half.
Most of them stared in awe seeing the ninja cut the arrow in half.
"Then why did she do it?!" Lola screamed, not liking this version of her.
"By the sound of their conversation…" Lisa started theorizing. "She did it to uphold some sort of honor and control. As well as coerced into doing it by the clan's elders, from what Cobalt told us."
Seeing this surprised Lola, before she growled and charged towards her. Lola used her bow as a sword and struck at the assassin. Unfortunately the female ninja was just as skilled, blocking and avoiding her strikes. When the ninja went on the offensive, she managed to kick Lola hard enough to push her to the railings. She attempted to stab her, only for Lola to use her bow to stop it. "You think you honor your sister Lana with incense and offerings?" The assassin asked, pinning Lola to the railing. Lola was struggling, but noticed the arrow that was deflected behind the assassin. "Honor resides in one's actions."
"I wish I was wrong" Lynn Jr. growled under her breath with a frown. The rest of the family were shocked and saddened at this. Lana and Lola especially were heartbroken. They knew they fought often, but never thought one would do something like that to the other.
"You dare to lecture me about honor?!" Lola demanded. Managing to use her bow to move the sword pinning her. "You are not worthy to say her name!?" She shouted, breaking free. She then used her bow to headlock the assassin and tossed her away. Sprinting to the arrow, she pulled it from the floor and aimed. As she aimed, her one arm glowed with blue energy that moved to the arrow head. "Ryuu ga waga teki wo kurau!" She shouted, letting the arrow fly. The energy went with the arrow turned into 2 blue dragons spinning around one another, moving towards the assassin.
"What the heck?!" Lori screamed in disbelief and confusion.
"What is that?!" Luna questioned.
"How did she do that?!" Lynn Jr. asked stunned.
Lincoln, Lana, Lola, Leni, Lucy, Luan, and the parents could only stare at awe and amazement.
"What that was is the Shimada Spirit Dragons," Cobalt started to answer a few questions. "They are the guardian spirits of the Shimada Family. They are their own beings and only those of the Shimada family can control them."
"Guardian spirits?" Lucy asked with interest. "Also why isn't what she said translated?"
"I didn't translate it because I was told not to by my creator," the android replied. "They believe it's better in its native language."
"But what does it mean?" Lincoln asked curiously.
"It roughly translates to 'Let the dragon consume my enemies'." Their host answered.
The female ninja returned her one sword to her hip while reaching for the sword on her back. As she started to pull out the blade, she made a hand signal with the other. "Ryujin no ken wo kurae!" She shouted. Swinging her sword on both her side, with green energy covering the blade. The energy then changed into a dragon and flew at the oncoming blue dragons. The green dragon moved between the other two and started to guide them. The assassin controlled her dragon with her sword, redirecting the 2 dragons back at Lola.
"She has one too?!" Lynn Jr. screamed in surprise.
"But that doesn't make sense!" Lincoln added in confusion. "Cobalt just told us they are guardian spirits of the Shimada Family. The only way she could have one is…" he stopped, realizing what it could mean. The others also came to the same conclusion after what he just said.
Both Lola and Lana looked hopeful at the screen.
"And what did she say?" Luna asked.
"It roughly translates to 'Take my Dragonblade'." Cobalt replied.
Lola braced herself, seeing her dragons coming back at her. They pushed her back, but she remained standing. However, she fell to her knees after they vanished. The assassin meanwhile returned her sword to her back. "Only a Shimada can control the dragons…" Lola muttered, stunned. "...Who are you?"
"That's what we want to know!" Luna shouted at the screen.
The assassin pulled out the sword from her hip. With a blink of speed, she ran to Lola's side with the sword at her neck. "Do it then...kill me" Lola told her, voice and expression serious and firm. The assassin pushes the blade closer, before pulling it away and standing up.
This got a round of gasps from everything, fearing they were going to see Lola die. However they sigh in relief seeing the sword being moved away.
"No, I will not grant you the death you wish for..." she said, not looking at Lola. "You still have a purpose in this life…sister."
Lola's eyes widened at hearing that. "No..." she muttered, then standing and looking at the assassin. "No, my sister is dead!" She growled, while scowling at her. The ninja then reached for the back of her helmet and pushed something to open it. When she removed the face mask, Lola had a look of disbelief. While the face was damaged, she could tell it was her sister by looking in her eyes. "Lana…" was all she could whisper.
"What happened to her?" Leni whispered sadly.
"I hope we don't find out," Lucy replied. While she enjoys dark and morbid things, these worlds were starting to change her idea of such things.
The scene changed back to the picture of the green dragon and man on the mountain. It then panned left and upwards to show the stranger and another man on top of a mountain. "The dragon knelt upon the ground" the narrator continues the tale. "For the first time, he was able to clearly see the world around him and became human. The stranger revealed himself as his fallen brother. Reunited, the two set out to rebuild what they had once destroyed."
"Yay, it's a happy ending!" Leni cheered. The family gave her a look, but were now hopeful about how this would end.
It went back to the sisters, with Lola looking over Lana with confusion. "What have you…become?" Lola asked, while Lana attached her mask back to her helmet.
"I have accepted what I am, and I have forgiven you," Lana replied walking closer to her sister. "Now you must forgive yourself," she said, putting a hand on her shoulder, while walking past her. "The world is changing once again Lola and it's time to pick a side," she looked back at her, before jumping to a nearby roof of a different part of the castle.
Lana and Lola were happy, but still unsure about how this would end.
"She forgave her?" Luan asked, confused. "After she tried to murder her?!"
"Why?!" Lynn Jr. asked, just as confused.
"This Lana is a faithful and tolerant idealist," Cobalt answered them. "She believes Lola can better herself."
Lola stared at her sister in shock, before frowning and grabbing another arrow out of the wall. "Real life is not like the stories our father told us!" She shouted, aiming at Lana. "You are a fool for believing it so!"
"Perhaps I am a fool, for thinking there is still hope for you..." Lana said without looking at her. "But I do…" hearing this caused Lola to lower her bow slightly. Lana then turned to face her sister again. "...Think on that, sister." She then made a hand sign she did in the battle. Smoke started to surround her, hiding her completely. When it vanished, Lana was gone.
Lola lowered her bow, staring at the place her sister was. She had a conflicted and unsure expression. Eventually she turned around and started walking back within. She returned to the sword and sat back in front of it. The screen then panned upwards to show the large mural high on the wall. It was of the 2 dragon brothers flying in the sky, above a cloudy mountain valley.
The screen went black and Cobalt moved in front of it. "That's it for this one, so any thoughts?"
"The fight between them was intense and amazing!" Lynn Jr. shouted excited.
"I must say that their level of technology was impressive," Lisa commented. "Not just the weapons, but the fact that robots with advanced AI are common is enlightening."
"I loved Lola's clothing," Leni said happily. "Although it would've looked much better with lighter colors."
"Dude, what's with these heavy worlds?" Luna asks with an exhausted sigh. "We had two worlds where one of us dies and one where we're abandoned. The only good one was where bro got a girlfriend." This caused Lincoln to blush.
"I'm interested in learning about these guardian spirits," Lucy said with a faint smile.
"I'm just happy that I'm not actually dead there," Lana said happily. Lola just nodded while still hugging her twin. She was happy that Lana forgave her counterpart for trying to kill her.
"These worlds are going to give me a heart attack," Rita said, exhausted. "By the way, were me and Lynn their parents?" She wasn't thrilled at the idea of being head of a criminal empire.
"No, they were other people," Cobalt replied.
"I have a question, but it isn't about the world we just saw," Lynn Sr. nervously said.
"It's about if my creator is always watching you right?" Cobalt asked, getting a surprise look from the father. "You need not worry, my creator doesn't watch you constantly. They only watch you before, during, and after the viewing. Most of the time in between showings and while using the facilities they don't watch you. They have other things to do and other worlds to look into. The same with others like my creator. However they can only watch when my creator allows it, which is when he is watching you."
"Wait! You're saying there are literally more people that watch us!" Lori asked, getting creeped out by this.
"Yes, that's correct," their host replied. "Now talk among yourselves, my creator will send another orb when they are ready." He then walked off to wait for the next orb.
The family were now unsettled at learning it wasn't just Cobalt's creator watching them, but others as well. Still it made them feel a little better hearing they weren't constantly being watched. As they started talking about the older Lola and Lana they just watched, Lisa was examining the screen. Trying to figure out how the orb went through the screen without it breaking.
AN: I promise the next one won't be in Japan. I use a wheel randomizer to pick the next main character for each chapter. When it chose Lola, I had to do the brothers from Overwatch.