Place ???
SCRATCH! A loud noise echoed, one that you'd recognize if you had a toxic ex—it sounded exactly like your windshield being brutally assaulted with a bat. SCRATCH! Yet this time, there was no bat, no windshield, and thank God, no trace of those strange creatures. Just trees and a lake. All peaceful. SCRATCH! Oh, and reality itself shattering like a... well, you get the idea.
It was a visual spectacle. Purple light shimmered from within the cracks, which grew thicker as they converged at a central point, creating an opening for whatever lay beyond the glow. Like I said, a spectacle—as long as it stayed behind your TV screen or was the result of wielding the Gura Gura no Mi. But this? This went unnoticed by everyone, thanks to its remote location and the time it occurred.
After a few seconds of diminishing sounds, a humanoid figure emerged from the rift and fell, cushioned by the best friend of every hyperactive kid who doesn't think twice before attempting stunts on their new bike: grass.
What did this strange phenomenon bring us? The rift disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving the area in its usual state of repose, with only the sounds of local fauna. What was left? A person. A boy, no older than 14 or 16—I'm bad at guessing ages. Average-looking face, if you ask me. Judging by his condition, he might be over 35. Dark blonde. Was he dead? He wasn't moving... Never mind, he's alive.
POV ???
"Everything's spinning..." he muttered, clutching his head. "Why do I feel like a windshield after it—wait, where am I?" He noticed the cold of the damp grass and the dim light from the park's lampposts. Alarmed, he stood up. "How did I get here? Is this Ketcham Park? And how do I even know that?" He spotted benches and a random lake. Still disoriented, he decided to check his physical condition while trying to make sense of the situation.
He caught his reflection in the lake, and everything in his mind exploded. He whipped his head around, startled, looking for someone—anyone—in the park.
Internal Dialogue
"Who are you? And why are we... together?" asked Nicolás, sitting on a bench, trying to stay calm in this bizarre situation.
"I don't know, but this is... amazing! Although also kind of terrifying, if you ask me."
"Okay, let's start with something simple, alright?" Nicolás hesitated, surprised by the response coming from his own mind. Still, he got an enthusiastic reply. "My name is Nicolás Arboleda, 16 years old."
"Leon Loud, 16 years old. Eldest son. I think we're at Ketcham Park. I come here often with my sisters. This is crazy—waking up with a voice in your head feels like something straight out of a comic book."
"Tell me about it. I was fixing the LEDs on my bike when... well, nothing. And then I was kissing the ground," Nicolás sighed. "Do you know more about where we are? What city is this?"
"That's easy. We're in Royal Woods, Michigan. Great place, if I say so myself. We've got—" Leon stopped, sensing Nicolás's disbelief. "Weird, by the way."
"Michigan? As in the US? Wait, more importantly—Royal Woods? Isn't that from The Loud House? I'm sure I watched a few episodes with my sister Mariana." Nicolás's realization hit like a freight train. "Leon Loud, right? Do you happen to have a sister named Lori?"
"No... It's weird that you know their names, though. What's this about a cartoon? I'd know if I was being recorded. But to answer your question—yes, there's my twin Leni, Luna, Lucy, Lola, and little Lily. Speaking of them, I think I should head home. Mom and Dad will take us to the doctor to figure out how to, well, get you—or me—out. Wait, I'm fine." Leon tried to stand but felt resistance.
"Listen to me for a second. This is bad—very, very bad. This is impossible. There must be a logical explanation. Maybe I'm dreaming."
"What are you rambling about, Nicolás? What's got you so worri—" At that moment, a wave of information formed in Leon's mind. It was already there, subconsciously blocked by a barrier he didn't even know he'd created. The idea of being a fictional character constructed for entertainment unsettled him deeply.
"Does this mean my life isn't real? What if I can never go back? And why am I fused with someone who shouldn't even exist?" Nicolás's statements only fueled Leon's growing irritation. "You're not real. You shouldn't even exist! Why are we in this mess?"
"This isn't my fault. If you're so real, then tell me—why are you here with me?"
"If we argue, we won't get anywhere, and morning will come before we've figured anything out. We need to find a way out of this. This isn't our reality," Nicolás reasoned, trying to calm his counterpart.
"It might not be your reality, but it's mine. I'm not just a character—I'm me."
"Do you realize that if we're in your Royal Woods, your family wouldn't even recognize you?" Nicolás pointed out, making Leon pause.
"That's... Oh, crap," Leon paled at the possibility.
---
The two began walking toward the Loud House, their shared thoughts swirling with uncertainty. With every step, the weight of their predicament pressed down on them.
When they arrived, Leon hesitated before knocking. Finally, the door opened, revealing Leni, who smiled sweetly and asked:
"Uh, who are you?"
The knot in Leon's stomach tightened.