Blitzo and Moxxie had no success in getting themselves free from their restraints like Lincoln did and the gas that compels them to say nothing but the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth didn't improve matters. It was even starting to make them see things that weren't really there, showing that the gas had a form of hallucinogenic effect as well. Blitzo couldn't believe it all went to shit after a job, and couldn't believe two humans caught him.
All he could do was pin the blame on the only other imp in the room.
"Damn it, Moxxie! As usual, this is your fault!" he barked.
"My fault? My fault?!" Moxxies outrageously repeated. "How am I to blame for any of this?! No, here's a better question, isn't it funny how with every screw-up or unfortunate circumstance that befalls us, it's always gotta be someone else but you, sir?! As if it's somehow impossible that you can mess up just as bad as I can! In the circumstances where it really is my fault, I actually accept it and apologize!"
"And what exactly are you trying to say?!"
"I'm saying that most good employers would take responsibility for their own shortcomings and their own mistakes! As you like to remind me, you're the boss! All this is because of a profession you concocted yourself, so maybe think on who's truly to blame! Maybe then things like this can never happen again! So that my wife and our son wouldn't have to risk their lives! But, noooo, just make me out to be your fall guy! It wouldn't kill you to spin it around once in a while!"
"Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you? Also, I heard you call Lincoln your son! You just proved me right!"
"You finally apologize for being an impulsive buffoon for once? Yes, I-" Moxxie stopped his tirade once his eyes blinked. "Uh, do you feel tired?"
"Yeah..." Blitzo shook his head. "Feels like I ran in a fucking marathon, I'm gonna go to sleep now."
"Likewise."
Lincoln believed it just wasn't possible.
He never imagined seeing her again.
Yet, there she was.
Ronalda Anne Santiago.
One of his best friends.
A girl Lincoln Loud cares for in ways that transcend a simple friendship even when he would deny it. "Ronnie Anne...I...I..."
"What's up, Linc? You gonna lay there all day?" Ronnie Anne chuckles, still holding out her hand. Staring agape, Lincoln numbly reaches out and she helps him stand up, and he quickly grabs her by the shoulders.
"R-Ronnie Anne! Y-You're here!" Lincoln couldn't believe it, but there she was, standing right in front of him. Did the agents capture her too?! How did she even know he was there?! "I don't believe it..."
"Whoa, cool down, alright?" Ronnie Anne smiles. "I get that you miss me being in Royal Woods after I moved with Bobby and our mom, but come on, Great Lakes is only three hours away. You don't see me freaking out when you visit."
"Wait, what?" The heck was she talking about? They weren't in...hang on. He now sees that they were standing on a sidewalk outside where it was morning instead of the nighttime. The houses that surrounded them, he recognized, this very street was well known by him. This was Franklin Avenue. He grew up on this very lane, in the town where he lives. It really was Royal Woods. "I'm-I'm home?!"
"Duh!" Ronnie Anne answers obviously. "I gotta say, Lincoln. Ever since you came back, you've been way weirder than usual. What, did you think you were still missing?"
"No...but...what?"
Sighing with a smile, Ronnie Anne holds out her arms. "Okay, come here."
"Um, excuse me?"
"Jeez, do I have to do everything?" she wraps him up in a warm hug.
"...You're hugging me." Lincoln says after a stunned silence.
"Always pointing out the obvious, huh, punk?" Ronnie Anne laughs.
"It's just...you rarely give me hugs...especially in public."
"Trust me, it looks like you need it and besides, do you not want me to hug you?"
Wow, that was a question Lincoln never thought he'd hear from Ronnie Anne of all people, but admittedly, this felt very nice. He gradually returns the hug with a smile and light blush on his face. "Actually, I don't really mind." he then remembers something very important. "But wait, I shouldn't even be here, I need to get out of...um...where was I again?"
He felt like he had something to do.
Something very important.
"I'll tell you where you need to be. At your house."
Lincoln froze.
"My house?"
"Come on, they're waiting for you."
Ronnie Anne takes Lincoln by his hand and walks past the houses and passing people until they make it to a destination where Lincoln hasn't taken a step in for a very long time that he wondered if he'd ever see it again. But there it was. The Loud House. There was Vanzilla parked in its broken down glory and like all the time, there were frisbees and other items stuck on the roof. Lincoln gulps tersely as he stares in shock, wondering if he were re-living one of his dreams, but for all intents and purposes, it all seemed so real it was unbelievable. "This is my house..." he breathes.
"Sorry to cut and run here, but I gotta meet up with my brother. Catch ya later, Linc!"
She skateboards away and he barely waves.
He didn't know why he just stood there, every thought in his told him to enter, but it just felt so surreal seeing his house after so long.
He took slow cautious steps, walking up to the porch. He turned the knob once and opened the door to peer inside, the living room was exactly as he left it and barking got his attention.
Looking down, he sees the Loud family's pet dog who was panting happily with his tongue out. "Charles? Charles!" Lincoln kneels and scratches the canine happily. "Aw, I've missed you so much, boy" Then came in the cat, hamster, and canary. "Cliff, Geo, Walt! You're all here!"
"I hear hungry cries of happiness!"
Softly gasping, Lincoln looks to the kitchen entrance and there walks in Lynn Loud, Sr mixing food batter.
Chef.
Husband.
To Lincoln, his father.
"Dad...it's you..."
Lynn Sr. smiles at his only son. "Hey there, kiddo. You're just in time to try out a new dish I'm gonna use for the restaurant. A little preview before lunch, so-oof!" The father of eleven was taken back when Lincoln swiftly hugged him.
"Dad! I can't believe it!" Lincoln joyfully says.
"Heh, come on, son. I get you kids love my cooking, but it's not that big a deal."
"I'm back!" Now came Rita Loud, the family matriarch.
"Mom!"
Rita nearly fell over from the force of Lincoln's hug. "Whoa! Why can't I get welcome homes like thus regularly?" she playfully chides. "Someone's in a good mood."
"It's just..." Lincoln fought back tears. "...I'm so happy to see you both!"
"Oh, we're happy to see you, too, sweetie. But we're not your only family, right?"
"Which reminds me." Lynn Sr. whistles. "Girls! Time for lunch! Final call before it's officially chow time! "
Familiar thundering footsteps were heard and for once, Lincoln was glad to hear the ten-headed beast awaken. He never thought he'd actually meet the loud clamoring of his beloved sisters. Like every day in the Loud house, they ran down the stairs like a stampede, all doing their usual antics and activities that signified their core personalities and quirks.
"Honestly, you guys. Who took my portable phone charger? That's one of the things I don't need to worry about in Fairway." Lori complained.
Leni went green. "Like, totes ew! Who'd want to pee on a charger?! Except maybe Lana."
"Not that kind of portable, dude." Luna nudged. "Maybe you left it back at the dorms, Lori. And say, think you can hook me and my mates up with a gig at your school? The Moon Goats are jonesin' for a college gig!"
"Toots here needs a visit there, too." Mr. Cocoanuts gestures to Luan, his puppeteer. "She's got an important photo assignment for school."
"It's for an important photography college." Luan quips through her chuckles. "Get it?"
"Heads up, little bro!" Lincoln expertly catches one of Lynn's soccer balls and she takes it back with a smirk. "Wicked reflexes, Lincoln. Good to know you worked on some moves while you were away."
"I find it more important that he came back, period." Lincoln screams as Lucy appears beside him without making a sound. "You've been dearly missed, big brother."
The twins, Lana and Lola, hugged him at once. "I missed him more!" the little tomboy declares.
Her princess twin shouts back. "Nuh-uh! I did!"
"Would you monozygotic sapiens keep it down? A lunch can't be enjoyed through your childish prattle." Lisa complained.
"Lnkn..." Lily waddles to her big brother to give him a hug of her own. "Lnkn! Linkn!"
"Come on, kids!" Lynn Sr. screams. "Lunch won't eat itself!"
Everyone took their seats at the family table and Lincoln couldn't wait to dig into his dad's tasty food. "Oh, I have missed this!"
For some reason, Lynn Sr. stops him. "Now slow your roll, son. The family's not all together just yet."
"Huh?" Lincoln didn't know what his father really meant by that. Unless Pop-Pop, Myrtle, and Aunt Ruth were coming by, he couldn't think of others besides-wait. Why were there four extra chairs?
A crash was heard outside and the Loud pack ran to the front and Lynn Sr. cries out once he sees Vanzilla even more wrecked after it got crashed into by...the I.M.P van? "Damn it, sir! I told you to mind the stop signs!" Before Lincoln's eyes, the imps and hellhound of the company got out, all in their natural demon forms. Moxxie was mouthing off to Blitzo.
"My baby!" Lynn Sr. lamented. "Blitz, you could've at least avoided the van!"
"Oh, don't bitch and moan over the old heap, Lynn, old buddy." Blitzo wraps an arm around the grieving man. "I keep telling ya. Keep it in the garage or worst case scenario, I destroy it with a fucking rocket launcher."
Lincoln blinks multiple times. "Blitz? Moxxie? Millie? Loona?"
"Hey!" Millie hops over and smothers him with affection. "There's my little man!"
Rita clears her throat. "You mean our little man, Millie."
"Oh, potato, potahto, Rita."
Moxxie was more comforting to Lynn Sr. "Lynn, I am so terribly sorry about the van. If you want, I could help bring it to the repair shop. I'll even pay for it."
"It's-It's fine, Moxxie." Lynn Sr. rubs his temple. "She's been through worse. And you're all just in time for family dinner!"
Lincoln slowly turns his head. "...What?"
"And Lincoln, I do hope you'll complete your schoolwork after eating." Moxxie advises. "But don't worry, I'll help tutor like always."
"I-you-all here-what?"
Lori glares as she sees Loona holding something. "Wait! That's literally my charger So, you took it!"
"Forgot mine in Hell." the hellhound shrugs nonchalantly. "You should literally keep better care of your shit." she sardonically fires back, using Lori's own catchphrase against her.
"Simmer down, children! It's time for some eats!" Blitzo rubs his hands.
Lincoln blinked multiple times as he fully registered the unbelievable sight. "...What the fuck?!"
It seemed like Lincoln had finally gotten his wish after such a long time.
To be back at Royal Woods, reunite with the friends and family he's missed so terribly and for things to be back as they were before his life went quite literally to Hell and it'd be the same usual Loud House misadventures. Only thing different was that all his coworkers from I.M.P seem to now be partaking in family eats, and it looks as if it were a usual thing. "Lincoln, honey. Eat up. Your food's getting' called." Millie told him.
"...Um, sure."
"Everything good, Linc?" Loona asked. "You look like Luan when she finds crack marks on her creepy as fuck puppet."
"Hey, where's the love for old dummies, doll?" Mr. Cocoanuts complained.
"It's nothing. It's just...what's going on here?" He can't be the only one terribly confused. "Since when did you all meet I. since when was it okay to walkabout without disguises? And where did you get the extra chairs?!"
"Family lunch, baby bro." Luna simply answers, like it was common knowledge. "It's a brand new thing we got started after you introduced us to the new fam members. Took a little getting used to, but it's been going good."
Blitzo raises a glass. "Hear, hear! It was so nice of you folks to open your home to us and to let us eat your food without threatening to call the fuzz or the government! Hats off to you, sperm and egg factory who gave birth to eleven fucking children!"
"Blitz, remember what we talked about using that sort of language at the table." Rita chided. "Also, please tell me you remembered to wash off all the blood on your fingers before eating."
"You let that one eat like a wild animal." Blitzo jerks a thumb at Lana.
Everyone acted so casually with one another.
None of his parents or sisters batted an eye at the fact that demons were in their house. It was so freaking weird, but at the same time, a part of me actually didn't mind it, like it was preferable. He felt like he should just roll with it, but rationality reminded him that he still had something important to do, a task that needed his attention, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what that was. He's not one to just forget important things. All these burning questions made his entire mind feel like it was spiraling out of control.
He feels his phone vibrating and sees that it was his old Earth-made one. "You guys?" It was his entire friend group calling him through a video, all prepared to go on some trip.
"Hey, buddy!" Clyde, who is like a brother to Lincoln, greets. "Hope you haven't forgotten to take us to meet your teacher."
"What are you talking about?"
A painful scream is heard in his other pocket, which came from his Hell Phone. "Octavia?"
Now, it was the Goetia princess hailing him from her phone. "Hey, Linc. I got everything ready for you and your friends. I just need to remind dad that most of the stuff he's prepared is so last century."
"But, Via, dear. I'm sure the dear boy and his little friends will find things...er, retro. Yes, I believe that's the term." Stolas contradicts, trying to use cooler vocabulary.
"Ugh, come on, dad."
"Uh...I'll have to call you back." Hanging up, Lincoln walks away from the table, as if waiting for his head to explode from all this. "Listen, I'm not that hungry and I just remembered that I gotta go do a thing...just don't know what it is...bye!" he makes a dash for upstairs and takes a step back to see his Pop-Pop and Myrtle take a photo with Joe and Lin, Millie's parents.
Not to mention photos of the rest of Millie's kin.
"More for me!" Lynn takes the food for herself.
Lincoln didn't waste any time to shut the door to his room. He walks over to the bed and sits at his side, completely missing the sleeping form that was covered by the sheets. He wipes sweat off his forehead, asking for anything that can make sense of what's going on and why he can't remember the very important thing that requires him to wake up and act. "Aw, did someone have a wild day?" a silky smooth flirtatious voice asked, putting her hands on Lincoln's shoulders.
"Heh, you have no idea." Lincoln humorlessly chuckled. "I can't figure out what's going on. I can't even tell if I'm going insane."
"Poor baby." she giggled playfully. "Want me to make it feel better? There are new Ace Savvy comics with your name on them I got just for you."
"For once, I don't think even those can help, V-V-Verosika?!" Lincoln shoots up from his sitting spot after recognizing the silky voice that belonged to the strikingly hot Verosika Mayday who laid out on the bed, dressed in her usual clothing. "What the-?! What are you doing in my room?! In my house?!" Lincoln exclaims in shock, blushing up a storm.
This took an unexpected turn, this felt way off.
Verosika laughed. "Don't you mean our room?"
Clapping her hands once, she turns the light on and shows that this was not the small cramped space Lincoln once called his bedroom. It was a purple-lit room with lava lamps, expensive looking video game systems, a big-screen television and bean bags. The bed was king-sized and Verosika laid there, expecting Lincoln to come join her. "Whaaaaaaaaaaat?" Lincoln's eyes bugged out in surprise.
"You kept me waiting, Linky, dear. What's a girl gotta do to get a hello kiss?" Verosika got on all fours and puckers her lips.
"u-Uh, s-sorry, I just...I need a moment to think..." Lincoln was freaking out a whole lot. Two hands suddenly shield his eyes and a bubbly voice was heard.
"Guess who~?"
Lincoln looked back and saw the Succubi couple, Apple and Coco. "Hey, baby boy. Miss us?" Coco smirked.
"'Cause we missed you, Linky." She and her girlfriend got down and hugged Lincoln at both sides to nuzzle their cheeks against his. None of this was making sense to Lincoln, he still had trouble remembering where he was before.
"Coco, Apple! You're here, too?!" he slips past them. "Okay, this is getting weirder by the second, even by standards I'm used to by now."
A hand grabbed his shoulder and he sat on the lap of Kiki on a beanbag. "Is that such a bad thing? We're here, isn't that good enough?"
Lincoln nervously laughs. "I mean, I'm not complaining..."
Milky jumped to join them, hugging his arm. "Then enjoy the moment, snow top. You got everything you ever wanted."
"I-I do?"
"That's right." Verosika strutted up to him and cupped his chin with her finger. "You're finally back home, right? You're with your whole family. Things you love about Hell and Earth?"
"Really...?"
In the beginning, all he thought about was getting back to his life on Earth as soon as possible.
But the more he got used to living in Hell, the more he started to realize it's not that bad a place even though it was the realm of the damned. He hasn't forgotten the constant dangers, but on certain occasions, he's found himself having fun. Meeting exciting and new demons, making friends with them, learning things he's only dreamed of, and finding others he was proud to call his family.
Hell's given him so much and he's experienced so much, it's actually hard to imagine his life without it.
But still, he wasn't like the demons, he's a still-alive human with a family to go back to one day.
He can't just have one life over the other.
So, he couldn't help but feel that it'd be better to have the best of both worlds.
"Hang on, no." Lincoln stood up, feeling more headaches. "This isn't right. I never asked for this. Never wanted this. It hasn't always been fun. I know that!" He can't forget all the times he's nearly lost his life. All the risks he took, choices he's had to make, and the lingering trauma of it all. What can a kid like him who's learned only a handful of spells hope to do with growing threats to him and those he cherishes. "It hasn't always been easy!" he turns back to them, but gasps when he they disappear. In fact, the whole room was now empty. He shivers after feeling a cold breeze that came from the door that was creaked open, and against his better judgment, he opens and is presented with an endless black void. The door closes and it disappears into nothingness, leaving Lincoln to wander across the land, seeing no houses or other people for miles, a feeling of dread swelling up.
"Lincoln...Lincoln...Lincoln..."
"Who's there?!" Lincoln heard the whispering of his name. "What is this?!"
He screams in fright when a hand sprouts from the ground, and he sees the form of Martha, the gunshot-wielding Satanist cannibal emerge with only her one eye. A head rolls by, the head belonging to Robo Fizz with the face melted off. A sea wave comes to unveil the giant fish monster from the spring break job, and the ravenous beasts from the forest.
"This is what you hate, ain't it, sugar?" Imaginary Martha cackles madly.
Robo Fizz's body picks it up and reattaches it. "Can't take a joke, kiddo?"
Lincoln searches for an exit strategy, but they were all crowding around him and he felt the same fear and helplessness as before. A single gunshot rang his ears and all looked to see the malicious Striker ride in on Bombproof, aiming straight for Lincoln. "Guess I was wrong about ya, boy. Looks like in the end, you'll be stepped on after all and there ain't nobody to save ya! You can't even save those you love. But don't worry, I'll be sure to tell your fam you said hello."
"It's only fitting..." That voice. No, anyone but him. "...I had as much right to continue living." There he was. Stillman. The sick individual that sacrificed so many for his continued life, the same bastard who's responsible for Lincoln's curse. Striker pulls the trigger at the shivering white haired boy hugging his knees, but the bullet stops in mid-air and Lincoln speaks quietly. His eyes were covered by his bangs.
"...Everything that's happened to me...it's all your fault..." That was said mainly to Stillman. "On that day, I wanted to do more than just drop a clock on you. I wanted you to feel the pain that I felt...that I've been feeling...!" Looking up, he reveals his eyes glowing again. The bullet disintegrates and storm clouds form in the sky, flashing red lightning. These figures that have caused Lincoln so much strife, they wish to do so again, but no. Never. Lincoln won't allow them.
The water underneath the fish monster swirls into a vortex that got it and the shadowy beasts in.
With a stoic expression, devoid of all emotion, Lincoln arose and faced this hallucination of Stillman who wasn't concerned by what had occurred.
"What do you want?"
"...Survive."
"For what?"
"For my family. My whole family, I don't want anyone to hurt them. Whatever happens to me, that's one thing, but the people I love..." his fists clenched tightly as Stillman, Robo Fizz, Martha, and Striker dissipated like ghosts. "...I won't let anything happen to them..." The dark mass on the ground begins to cover Lincoln until his entire body is consumed. "...No matter what it takes...everything that threatens me or them...I want them all to disappear...and there's only one way..." he said in a trance-like state, his face now being covered by the mass. "It's to let it all out."
Usually, Millie would have a blast in all the unfortunate agents that she sliced and diced with her axe. Each one she killed with Loona meant another step closer to finding her loved ones and ending this terrible night. But it was taking way too long for her, none of the agents would fess up to where the boys were being kept and that proved to be their last mistake. She wanted her family back together right now and that mattered to her more than even an endless supply of victims to take her rage out on, she and the hellhound tried one of the rooms sealed off by a code.
Looking closer, they saw the number one key being scratched out from being overused, signifying that the password was just a lot of ones.
"I gotta say, so far, these kidnappers are being really disappointing." Loona spoke honestly. "I mean, it can't be this easy, can it? It's like they're trying to look like dipshits."
"Just try one." Millie instructs Loona.
Predictably, that worked and the doors were opened.
They were getting closer, they had a feeling.
But it wasn't just them. "What the Heaven?" Loona gazes to her back to see something glowing from inside the bag. They stopped for a moment and when Loona peeked inside, she saw it was the grimoire. She opens its pages to see the words blink repeatedly, like it was reacting to something and when Loona's picked up an all too familiar scent, she had an idea on how it was. "I think the book's picking up on Lincoln!"
"Really?!" She better not be pulling Millie's leg. "How can you be sure?"
"I honestly have no freaking clue, but I am smelling his scent. He's gotta be nearby, come on!"
With renewed vigor, they ran quickly until finding a squad of agents, and they were observing the unconscious form of Lincoln Loud.
"One of the rookies said they found him like this."
"What exactly is the protocol here?"
"Don't tell me you skipped out on beginners' orientation."
"Lincoln!" Millie and Loona shout, gaining Her eyes narrowing with a feral growl, Millie pounces with her axe and the agents raise their weapons to meet her attack, but at that very second, Lincoln's eyes shoot open and the sclera becomes pitch black and his irises glow red. A distracted agent was trained for anything, but he was never trained for a scenario where a kid kicks him fiercely with surprising strength. Lincoln swipes his feet underneath all the others' legs that were strong enough to trip them over, causing them to drop their weapons. Millie was unrestrained with her ax, swinging it at the agents and when she was done, she dropped everything and enveloped Lincoln in a big hug, kissing his cheek.
"Oh, Lincoln, sweetie! The nightmare's over now! Momma's here!" Millie wept with relief, she licks her thumb and rubs it on his face. "Oh, I am never letting you out of my sight again, you hear me, young man?"
Loona catches up and gives Lincoln her own hug. "Little dude, I'm so glad you were okay!" To hell with her apathy, she just wanted to hold him. "Did they hurt you?"
"...They tried...but, they failed..."
The women can now see how Lincoln's eyes changed and what truly startled them was how his voice was a mix of his own and a deeper growl-like tone, almost animal-like.
"Lincoln...?" Millie inquired in concern.
"Hold it right there!" An agent ran in and radioed for backup. "All agents converge on my location! I found the intruders and the escapee!"
A trivial matter.
One Lincoln will take care of.
By simply waving his hand, Lincoln levitates the grimoire and forces the pages to open. The pages turned in a rapid fashion and somehow, his eyes managed to keep track of it, until reaching the end. The spell book closes and he floats up, startling Millie and Loona. The lights flicker on and off, and each time, Lincoln appeared to have moved in the blink of an eye.
He snaps his fingers and before the agent knows it, the entire room suddenly twisted and turned and he floats in-between. "Aah! Oh, shit! Jesus Christ! What the fuck is going on here! Ah, I shit my fucking pants!" he screams like a little bitch when he saws the wall grown a mouth and fangs, and he is promptly eaten then spit out like a bad lunch. The agent drags across the floor until stopping underneath Lincoln. "W-What the shit was that?! I-I was fucking eaten! I-I didn't sign for shit like this!"
"But, you did. Pay the price now." Lincoln's glare hardened.
"What are you going to do?"
"Destroy. Destroy everything! It's what you deserve! For hurting me and them!" Lincoln gestures towards Millie and Loona who didn't know what else to do besides stand frozen. "To put it simple for you, bitch! You will pay!"
"There they are!"
Backup agents finally arrived.
"Fools."
With waves of his hand, Lincoln made all the swords become metal constrictor snakes to bind most of them, then makes the floor intangible to make the agents sink until they were stuck up to their top halves and he made the ground solid again. "Uh, is there a protocol for this?"
Beams shot from Lincoln's hands that struck the agents' heads, leaving them dazed and mumbling messes."They shall sleep until the next day. Deserve much worse, but are not important."
Millie and Loona shared a worried glance and the hellhound spoke up. "Uh, Linc? You okay there, bro?"
Lincoln looks back evenly. "Never felt better. Kill them if you wish, but I know where Moxxie and Blitzo are. They need our help."
Agents One and Two were having a blast watching their demon captives crumble under the influence of the truth bomb gas. They ate and drank popcorn and soda as Blitzo and Moxxie zoned out, drooling from the mouths. Still, as entertaining as watching them face their very deep-seeded issues was, it wasn't exactly the proof they needed to support their case to their superiors, but they knew that once the realization that they were never getting out sets in, they'll be more compliant.
The gas finally wore off and the imps were rousing awake from their hallucinations.
A very uncomfortable and somber silence is invoked between Blitzo and Moxxie.
Confronting their insecurities and fears was certainly...something and they didn't know what else to say to each other. Not much else could be said after being trapped in their own minds. Moxxie was afraid to speak his mind about Blitzo's careless action, and Bltzo couldn't admit his own selfish faults out of fear that Moxxie would just walk out on him. Both had their own problems that made it hard for the other to actually get along, but if they had, the events of tonight would have been prevented.
Moxxie was the first to speak up.
"Do you remember my first day? After I joined the company?"
"Nope." Blitzo replies, not getting why he brought that up.
"I never forgot. You said I did a good job and that you were proud to have me aboard." Moxxie could never forget one of the few good things Blitzo ever said to him. Growing up as a gun lover in Wrath, Moxxie never got praise from other demons, besides his wife. Blitzo's words meant a lot to him, even if it was just a fake compliment. "Even back then, I felt like you wanted to say something more judgmental, but you went with that, because you knew I needed it and it really helped."
Blitzo sighs tiredly from everything and speaks with a soft tone. "Look, I'm always hard on you, because I know what you're capable of, Mox." If had more confidence in himself, Moxxie could be just as bold as Blitzo, if not more so, but it just annoyed Blitzo that Moxxie kept holding himself back, much like he does. Blitzo's own insecurities ruined his past relationships in an effort to be the self-made imp Striker was, and it hurt to face that. He couldn't make it on his own in the circus, because he hated being alone. Yet, he feared caring at the same time. The possibility of being all alone in the end was what feared him the most. It's why he's also afraid of Lincoln eventually leaving even though Blitzo understands that he wants his life back. "You just care way too much about what others think, except for me, because you know, my opinion is the only real truth." He upped the smug level there. "But, just keep doing a good job your own way, 'kay? You shoot and kill like a pro. You escape things like it's no big whoop. You're very strategic and very cold-blooded when you need to, and the makings of being a great dad, and don't expect anymore compliments. I'm maxed out." he could just throw up right now.
He said quite enough already and Moxxie was grateful for that. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it." he said, smiling.
Blitzo didn't see the need for annoying formalities and professionalism.
"I have a real name. Use it."
"Thanks, Blitz." They heard sounds coming from the ceiling and there dropped Millie who landed gracefully and smiled to see her boss and the love of her life. Those very two were equally relieved to see her. "There's my Millie!" Moxxie celebrated.
"Impressive work as always, Mills!" Blitzo congratulated as she worked to free them both. Moxxie and Millie enjoyed their reunion, she wiped away a happy tear and they pressed their foreheads together. "How'd you get here all by yourself? By the way, where's Lincoln?" He waited for an answer and hug, but it never came and then, the mirror was smashed when Loona used Agent Two's head as a battering ram. "Looney?! You brought her here?!" Blitzo screamed in distress.
Loona reminded him that there wasn't time for him going into overprotective dad mode. "Not the time, Blitz! Now get your asses free before more fuckers show up!"
Agent One tries to nab her, until he is levitated up by the still floating Lincoln. "You shouldn't have messed with my family..." he then levitated Two to throw her at One. He and Loona go to rejoin their compatriots, with the hellhound jumping over and ditching her disguise for her true form.
Blitzo and Moxxie stared at Lincoln's new development, not expecting this. "Lincoln?" Moxxie questioned. "How are you doing that?"
Instead of answering, Lincoln smiles and proceeds to hug Moxxie. "You're both alive. I'm glad." He then hugs Blitzo.
"Uh..." Blitzo awkwardly pats Lincoln's back. "Cool, but that didn't really answer the question."
"Questions can come later. We're about to have fun."
Loona drops the weapons bag. Blitzo and Moxxie share wild grins as they arm themselves with the signature flintlock pistol, and two submachine guns just as One presses the alarm button.
More agents arrived through the ceiling and the doors, surrounding the team, outnumbering them. I.M.P were similarly prepared to get down to business. "Okay, I've had one too many emotional breakdowns for today!" Moxxie concernedly looks at Blitzo. "Guys, let's fuck these fuckers up!" Blitzo jovially proclaims, earning an eager nod from Moxxie.
They were ready for a fight.
An agent threw the scythed end of his chain weapon, which Loona caught with her mouth. Savagely shouting, she pulled the chain to fling the wielder into his fellow agents, Loona dodged several spear swipes, then stuck the sickle in that one's neck, she ran across the room to wrap the chain around various agents and with one tug, decapitated them.
Millie still had a lot of pent up anger at these agents for all the trouble they've caused for her and her family and still had enough energy to express it. She jumped and cleaved one. She used both speed and agility that came with her small size for fast-paced weapon attacks to slice apart multiple agents, moving like a small blur that couldn't be touched. She also used her weapon to parry and blocked all the swords and shurikens thrown at her.
As Blitzo stated, nothing was holding an angry Millie back. These sorry tacky suit wearing agents dug their own graves when they took her hubby, baby boy, and boss captive and now was their time to lie to them. Even if they were trained to use their weapons, no amount of training could've made these agents be on par with Millie.
She ran ahead, spinning her weapon in her hands.
Lincoln's aptitude for combat only comes for self defense. But he never saw himself as being as ruthless as all his I.M.P friends right now, but with his current state of mind, he actually decided that the best defense was a good offense. His magical abilities seemed much more potent now as he was casting spells without even using the grimoire to cast them. An orange shield was summoned to protect himself from sword strikes, then expands it to pin the agents against the wall, then in an orange blur, appears in a flash next to tap his forehead which had enough force to throw him to the floor. A chain entraps him, but just by touching it with his hands, the metal rusts and decomposes into ash, the agent that had it then feels an elbow to his stomach.
Lincoln spotted a hidden One and by just raising his hand, he levitated that confiscated revolver they took from him. "This was given to me by my dad." the boy recalls. "It doesn't belong to you." Shurikens were approaching and with impeccable aim, he fired shots that struck them all, breaking the thrown objects into pieces. An agent makes a go to grab him, but Lincoln side-steps and kicks the knee, and the kid headbutts him hard, enough to render them unconscious. The agents Lincoln took down were still alive, but they may think twice about going back in active duty when all's said and done.
Blitzo and Moxxie were back-to-back. They fired multiple times and when he ran out of ammo, Blitzo went straight for his emergency bag for some more wonderful toys to use against D.H.O.R.K.S. "Mox, cover my six!"
"Affirmative, sir!" Moxxie's guns ran empty, so he caught two golden revolvers thrown by Blitzo to shoot at all sides. His boss wielded a green-bladed knife to swipe at anyone attacking them.
"Eat my ass, dorks!" Blitzo shouted, he took multiple selfies during the fighting.
Moxxie had to pistol whip one with his now empty revolver,
Blitzo brings out a shotgun to fire at close range, then gives it to Moxxie for him to shoot down a few more. Both shared a determined nod and kept on bringing on the pain that knew no bounds.
Blitzo slithers atop Loona's head to fire a crossbow arrow as soon as Loona punches and kicks more away. Her instincts led her to go on all fours and jumped to bite down and then tossed one around like a chew toy. Blitzo gave his adopted daughter a custom made rifle that fired off plasma rounds for her to use as her own weapon. "Die, you lousy motherfuckers!" she yelled at the agents, and saw Blitzo's downright emotional face. "What?"
"I have never been more damn proud of you, Looney!" Blitzo ecstatically expresses, kissing Loona on the cheek which annoys her. "Bye, sweetie!" Grunting, she bit down on another agent to throw at one that was about to attack Blitzo.
"Heads up!"
"Hey, Mills!" Blitzo waves casually at the female imp hacking more agents up.
"Hiya, Blitz!" Millie waved back. "Just one little sec!" There were still a lot more of these guys that needed to be known about the wrath of Millie. She dashed forward, her ax was like a blender in her hands.
"Do you want some guns?" Blitzo asked, holding several for her.
Millie was grateful, but preferred to stay in her lane. "Nah, I'm all good!" She chirped cheerfully and continued until wrapping her legs around one's neck to go on a merry-go-round of endless slicing, then began choking them with her powerful legs.
"Feel thirsty for some water?" suggested Blitzo.
"Sure!" Millie opens her mouth to let him pour the refreshing drink in. "Thanks, Blitz!" she said.
"No problemy, my little Millie-Billie!"
Lincoln's arms glowed and they were now in energy-made orange constructs that he could enlarge with just a thought. He grabs two groups of agents and mixes them together to toss them like a soccer ball. He flash-steps away from a katana coming straight for them to appear behind the attacking agents and encases him in a big orange orb, Lincoln rolls the orb to knock down a horde of agents. "Whoo! Now that's what I call a fucking strike!" Blitzo clapped. "I gotta say, kiddo, I'm still a tad bit on the fence about your whole deal right now, but I can't argue with the results! Sure, you haven't killed anyone, but you definitely killed their drives to continue doing their jobs! That's almost as good! Major kudos, bud! Hope you don't mind me giving out all the toys. I know you're the intern, but it looks like you want to be more than that."
"I'm doing my part. All of you and the boss should have fun, too, right?"
"Oh-ho-ho! Keep this up, and you just might land employee of the month!" Blitzo twirls two automatic guns from his bag. "Now, who wants to spend some quality time with daddy?" he menacingly asked, killing intent radiating off him. He ran and shot at the same time, latching onto one's shoulders to keep unloading his guns. Blitzo jumped off to shoot some more and now wielded a baseball bat with nails to hit up another, then used it to hit a grenade like a baseball bat. "Fore! And that's a home run!"
For agents One and Two, their night went from good, then to bad, and now to insane. They clearly underestimated these demons and now, they were suffering from mounting casualties. Another thing that contributed to this chaotic mess was being not properly equipped. "Good god! Remind me again why we're only using weapons from Japan's Edo period?!" One asked a very good question.
"Because the Edo Period was badass and you know it!" Two reprimanded.
"Damn it, you're so right."
"Incoming" Two pulls them both down to avoid getting hit by Loona with her rifle and cowardly crawled away from all the action.
Moxxie screamed through a hissing, standing on top of a mountain of agents, firing his shotgun like a madman. "Face my wrath, bitches!" he saw agents trying to sneak behind Lincoln, but were felled by the imp. "Don't you dare harm my son!" He said that without even correcting himself as he meant it this time.
Blitzo pops up."Hey, Mox!" His abrupt interruption surprised Moxxie to the point of fumbling the shotgun. "Oh, wow. Better get a handle of those butter fingers. I'm just saying. But hey, finally acknowledged Linc as your kid. About time. Now hold this." he handed Moxxie the bag, and reached deep inside to pull out a giant bazooka he labeled himself that he held with a struggling Moxxie. "Oh, yeah! Getting hard on this motherfucker!" The rocket inside is launched at the few remaining agents left and explodes in a fiery inferno.
Everyone shielded themselves from the blast, but not Lincoln. He stood his ground, still with an emotionless expression. "Awesome..."
"Oh, crumbs." Moxxie grimaced, feeling that was a bit too much, even if it was effective. "Is everyone okay?"
Blitzo hops on Moxxie's back. "Whoo! Not bad for demon scum, huh?!" he shouts with jubilation, and is lifted off Moxxie by a disapproving Lincoln. "What?" One and Two were now on their own, but they weren't about to cut their losses. They still have more tricks up their sleeves, evident by the big red button that One presses, blaring the alarms and lighting room in red, a very bad sign to Blitzo. "Oh, shit! Come on, fam! Let's blow this cocksickle joint!" Blitzo ushers them to run out the exit, but metal doors close on them before even one of them could make it out.
"Hey! Open up!" Loona looks through the window to see various blockades, laser grids, and doors trapped shut to prevent any escape. No matter how hard they tried, the demons couldn't budge the door open.
"Quick! Use the book!" Moxxie tells Loona.
Try as she might, Loona couldn't even make out a single word due to her canine vision being impaired. "Aw, Shit! I-I can't read a single spell in this light! I can't see dick!" she fretted. "Linc, you try! Linc?"
For some reason, Lincoln didn't move an inch, it looked like he was patiently waiting for something.
Loona looked at Blitzo for any ideas, and he searched for any extra weapons lying around, but they were fresh out. "Well, shit. We've milked the weapon tit dry and now, we're low on badassery." he backed up against the doors.
I.M.P still kept on a brave stance even when One and Two cornered them with their own guns. "Ha! You demons aren't going anywhere, now!" Two triumphantly laughs, until Lincoln cuts her off.
"You sure about that?" he smirked.
One and Two saw the shadows of I.M.P combine into a singular one, taking the shape of an inhuman figure who growls at them. One of the TV screens turned on by itself showing static, then the empty interrogation room and now, it rattles erratically before turning off. Seeing their reflections, they see the tall shadow of a four-eyed individual with a reckoning. All the TVs launch at and nearly hits them and all objects fly out in a frenzy as a dark whisper is heard from the shadows, belonging to a demon royal that I.M.P knows all too well.
"Who dares threaten my impish little plaything and my precious student?"
"Another demon?!" One frantically asked, looking for the source.
Two nudged him and she showed him the floor where bird-like footprints appeared, going towards them.
A smile begins to form on Lincoln's face as his eyes continue their black and red appearance. "Teacher is coming..."
One is hit by a TV monitor, knocking his shades off and witnesses Two standing eerily still, her head rocking back and forth. "Agent Two? What's the matter?!"
Two didn't have time to feel the outside presence invading her mind, all that she was capable of was feeling her mind be lost to the malevolent force. Lincoln raised his hands and orange strings materialized from his fingertips, they connected to a number of dead agents. "Rise." Like a puppet-master, he strung them along to stand up, and Two held her shaking petrified face. "Now, summon him." Lincoln directed the puppets to draw a unique circle right where Two stood as a means of summoning. One attempted to take Two away, but her head turned backwards with a wide smile and crazed expression on her face, frightening her partner.
"What's wrong, demon hunter?!" Two's voice took on a British sounding accent, mixed in with another's through cruel laughter. "I thought you wished to see a real demon?!"
More crazed laughter follows as the puppets draw a symbol and spell out the name: Stolas. Two's head turns as her eyes roll back and a fountain of black feathers and shadows erupt from her mouth, the insidious laughter taking on distorted tones. Two coughed out as she felt her mind being free, but was also horrified by what she was seeing now. I.M.P saw this all in amazement, Loona even took a pic while Lincoln felt emboldened by the display.
Inspired to try his own hand.
One and Two hugged each other tightly as a shadowy dark feathered owl beast not of this world appeared, advancing on them with a nightmarish roar. They shut their eyes, waiting for him to end it, but Stolas pulls back, reverting to his standard form with a steel glare.
Lincoln blinks. "No..." He felt that they were getting off too easy. All demons present suddenly felt his growing anger, and with heavy breaths, Lincoln's hair rose up and he levitated upwards to face the agents. "You don't deserve mercy!" His voice became more deeper and hollow, with his face twisted into an hateful scowl, his teeth were even sharpened. He brings forth big energy, constructs arms with claws and snatches One and Two. With a hard squeeze, they struggle out groans of pain. Lincoln's scowl became a feral grin. His own shadow undergoes a change, it stretches further, the arms become claws, and antler-like horns grow from the head along with floppy rabbit ears. Big leather wings appear fit with a spaded tail, and the shadow even blinks open piercing red eyes and a red mouth of razor teeth. Lincoln still appeared human, but now was the time to unleash the demon.
"Lincoln." Stolas' hands grasps his shoulder. "That's enough."
"But-But they tried to hurt me. Tried to hurt my family! My mom, my dad, my sister, my-"
"I know. I know." Stolas soothes in understanding. "But, they are beaten now. Not worth the effort, and this. This isn't who you are, my dear pupil." the prince reminds him.
Panting, Lincoln looks down on his hands and what he was doing to the agents.
This wasn't who he was.
He's no killer.
He released One and Two, sparing their lives.
"I...I..." Grunting, Lincoln grabs his hair and floats back down, his hair settling and shadow returning to its usual shape. Opening his eyes with a gasp, it's shown that they, too, were regular and he almost falls down with a faint. Stolas catches him and tenderly cradles his body. "Stolas..." Lincoln called, with the correct voice. "...you came for us..."
"Of course I did." Stolas smiles fondly and turns the lights back on, deactivates all the security, and carries the tired boy to I.M.P, handing him over to a worried Loona.
"Stolas, how did you know that we needed a hand?" Of all the questions Blitzo had, that was the first that came to mind.
"I have my ways, darling." Stolas cryptically replies, kneeling down to hold Blitzo's cheek. "Are you alright?"
Blitzo becomes annoyed at the display. "Ugh, I'm fine, Stolas."
"Hmm, good." Now, Stolas was free to show how royally pissed off he was at their incredible blunder. "How the fuck did you get caught by humans!" It greatly disappointed the prince that with their track record, it seemed like I.M.P would inadvertently blow the whistle on all of Hell to the world at large. "Are you little creatures not being careful up here?! You know, if you get in trouble, I get in trouble! We don't want that! Not to mention how much of a risk poor Lincoln was in! I expect to better handle yourselves when using my book, Blitzy!"
Moxxie attempts to placate the furious Goetia. "They caught us off guard, your highness."
Blitzo bitterly wanted to talk back for his own defense...but couldn't deny that Stolas had a right to be upset. "Yeah. You can just unclench your bird puss, Stolas. It won't happen again."
Collecting himself, Stolas managed to at least point out one silver lining. "Be grateful for being lucky that most don't take the word of demon obsessed lunatics." he motions to the still shivering scared shitless forms of One and Two. "They are called kooks." He has a giggle fit over how the word sounded. "Kooks. Such a silly mortal word. What's even more fortunate is that Lincoln at least, would still be back at your dwelling."
"What do you mean?"
"Observe."
Cracks appeared on the ground, and the very Earth beneath opened up to reveal a glowing abyss-like portal. Lincoln floats away from Loona's arms and is plunged into the portal, much to the distress of I.M.P. "What happened to my baby?!" Millie shrieks.
"No need for alarm." Stolas calmly informs. "This is the curse at work. As you know, Lincoln's time on Earth is limited and once time is up, he is to go back to Hell in a place he is most familiar with. I'd wager, your lovely little workspace. I suggest we follow!" Stolas opens a portal back to Hell, at the I.M.P office.
"Yes, please." Moxxie graciously accepts. "Going to the proper hellhole sounds quite pleasant."
The five Hellborn demons step through the portal and it closes behind them.
It never felt so great to be back and there was Lincoln sleeping on the couch just as Stolas said. "Oh, my sweet boy!" Millie hugs him.
Blitzo turns upwards at his lover, wanting to get to another crucial matter. "Okay, real talk here, Stolas. What the fuck was that with the kid's eyes, and the stunts he pulled off?I...honestly didn't know he had it in him."
"I did!" Millie joyfully shouts. "That's my boy right here, kicking ass with his poppa and momma!"
"It seemed more than that, Millie." Moxxie contradicts. "It was like he was possessed...but at the same time, still himself?"
"That is a very keen and accurate observation." Stolas agreed, providing answers the best way he could at the moment. "It was no possession. That would imply an external source trying to invade young Lincoln's mind just like I did to one of those kooks. No, this was something fundamentally different. What we saw was all him. All coming from his own latent potential in demonic arcane arts and growing...influence from Hell itself. It was still Lincoln's own mind at work, but I can only assume some part of it was weakened, allowing something else to rise and try to take over."
Loona kneels down and rubs Lincoln's head softly with a puppy whimper. "What is that, exactly?"
"That...remains to be seen."
Lincoln stirs awake and sees the concerned faces of his coworkers. His family. "You're all safe...Stolas, I saw what you did...that was very badass..." he praised.
Stolas crosses his arms. "Well, I am your teacher after all, dear boy. You just focus on getting proper rest." Moxxie, Millie, and Loona took care of that by taking Lincoln to his room.
Now that they had privacy, Stolas immediately hoists Blitzo up in his arms. "When can I expect a thank you for the rescue, Blitzy?" he playfully whines.
Blitzo smirked.
Complicated emotions or not, he figures Stolas deserved a win. "Let me think. Up for letting me fuck your brains out tonight over at your place?"
"Very much so." Stolas leaned in for a kiss.
"Alright. But you better keep quiet the whole time, or I'm using those bear traps." Blitzo warned playfully warned, making Stolas blush up.
"No promises."
They instantly kissed as the portal closed behind them, Blitzo broke the kiss to address his employees. "M&M, how are you holding up?"
"Can't complain, Blitz. I'm just glad this is finally over and nothing happened to our son."
Millie gasped happily. "Moxxie! You called Lincoln our boy!"
One and Two had no words.
They had demons in their grasp. But, they not only managed to break free, but completely massacred their entire agency, leaving piles upon piles of dead agents in their wake, along with a lot of damages to their HQ. It'll take days, even months before they'll be able to start things back up, the recruitment drive will take just as long and that's not even getting into the mental scars of this ordeal.
Two was still winded after being momentarily possessed by Stolas. All she knew now was that she didn't want to ever go through that again, but that still begged the question on what direction they should take going forward.
"What-What do we dow, now?"
One merely laughed, seeing that as a rhetorical question.
They lost so many agents.
Got owned pretty badly.
But even with all that, he still counted this as a win.
"What now?! We finally got the evidence we needed to be taken seriously!" One walks over to a computer console and brushes aside all the broken pieces to type and access the security feed. Everything that just happened was all recorded, and that footage was one of the few things that made it out unscathed. Videos of I.M.P fighting, Lincoln doing magic, and Stolas appearing to stare back at the camera. It was all there.
"But, what about the kid?"
"After what just happened, we can't be certain that kid even was a kid!" One didn't know what to classify Lincoln as, but he was now a point of interest for their agency. "Can't you see that this is the ticket we've been waiting for, Two?! Our shot to not be the weirdos, the crackpots, the biggest kooks in the world! They won't be able to write this off!"
"And if they still don't believe us? What do we do then?"
"Then we'll make them believe! This isn't something they can just pass off, not this time! This time, we'll have enough agents, better equipment, and more resources than we've ever had before! Nobody in the corporate will ignore this!"
One and Two put on new sunglasses and smirk deviously, the former's chuckling as the screens go to black.
But neither they, nor anyone in Hell realized what also occurred there.
The emergence of something that's been growing inside Lincoln Loud.
This was merely a prelude to the growing power within him, there was still time for it to grow, until he was ready to unleash it all to any fool looking for any trouble.
In the I.M.P office down below, Lincoln slept and two red eyes appeared in his shadow before disappearing as the boy kept sleeping.