Where are you Dear Brother
Disclaimers I don't own The Loud House, they belong to the creative mind to Chris Savino, whom I've since forgiven, while Nickelodeon owns the shows rights, no Loudcest, and this takes place in an alternative universe, but otherwise enjoy the story.
It's been days since she's seen Lincoln and figured waiting around doing nothing wouldn't do her any good.
Naturally Lucy took what she felt what was needed and burnt any traces of their home, or what you'd consider living in a small fortification consisting of rusted trucks in a ditch to be home.
Armed with a machete in one hand and revolver on her hip, Lucy was determined to look for the only family members she had left.
Years back before the world had gone to hell, people left and right were trying to evacuate not only Michigan state, but America as a whole because of reasons involving paying off the biggest world debt in recorded history, or risk nearly destroying nearly all of mankind because ofchoosing to nuke the world to hell.
Many years ago
She remembered that night, she had asked Lincoln along with Clyde to join her and the members of the Morticians club to their weekly visit at the cemetery as they were celebrating the clubs 1 year anniversary.
While it was suppose to be an after night social gathering, with death metal and rock being played on someone's portable hand held radio, it was cut short the minute they had heard the dreaded new.
"We interrupt to bring forth some breaking news. The president of the United States has agreed to paying off the nations entire debt, leaving this great…leaving this great countr-… I can't- I don't fucking care anymore, to anyone who get's this message, understand that this country is fucked beyond words… no screw this, I don't give a fuck man… I'm leaving this god forsaken joke of a country and leaving to fucking Canada…"
The atmosphere was more silent than it should be, and the usually stoic Goth kids all showed a shocking jaw dropping expression as there was no longer music playing on the radio.
"Party's over, let's get the hell out of here" said Lincoln as he ushered everyone to leave the cemetery as he, Clyde and Lucy made it to their bikes.
"Lincoln, what's going to happen" asked Lucy with concern in her voice that was normally emotionless, "I don't know Lucy, for now we're heading home, now hop on" Lincoln said as Lucy slid on her helmet and hopped on the back pegs of Lincoln's bike.
While on their way back into town, Lincoln received a text from his parents with specific directions to head towards a military extraction point, where a bunch of soldiers have defected and are giving limited number of people a chance to escape the former United States.
Rushing towards the extraction point, it was at this point that Lincoln and Lucy had bumped into Clyde and his dad's along the way.
"Lincoln, you and Lucy hurry up inside, there's an extraction point towards the border of town" called Howard before both Loud siblings hopped off Lincoln's bike and into the McBride car and while they wanted to say it was calming since they could get their faster now, it was anything but.
Both McBride adults were discussing, but if I were honest were panicking over what was going on, as the 3 children were silent and could only soak in the intense atmosphere.
Eventually, they came into a road block of cars as the citizens of Royal Woods were desperately trying to secure a means to escape the United States.
Seeing as driving was impossible, the remaining Louds and the McBride's got out their car and set off foot where Lincoln spotted Vanzilla now empty and could only assume that his family have either escaped or just about to escape.
Pushing their way throughout the crowds of desperate citizens trying to escape, Lincoln, Lucy, and the McBride's made it to the last helipad ready to leave this nightmare behind.
"We made it everyone, we're finally gonna be safe" said Lincoln before the group of 5 were faced the biggest challenge and a painful memory for the Loud sibling duo when they approached the copter.
"We only have room for 3 people to board on" yelled the soldier as the group went wide eye in horror.
Turning to his best friend, Lincoln and Clyde had their mouths agape as neither one could speak, which was a mistake Lincoln had to live with, "Clyde hop in alongside your father and I" said Howard as the 2 Loud kids turned to the McBride parents.
"But dad's what about Lincoln and Lucy" asked Clyde as he was concerned over the well being of his best friend and sister, "Please don't argue with your father and get in" said Harold as they ushered their son on, not even a chance to say goodbye to this long lasting friendship.
All Lincoln and Lucy could do was stand their awestruck over the events that had happened and looked at the regretful look the McBride's had as they ascended into the night.
Present time
Unfortunately there was no other means to escape the country except attempting to flee either North or South of the border.
While Canada and Mexico were lenient in allowing anyone to cross free within the next 18 hours, Lincoln and Lucy had no means or ways to escape and make it to the border within the time limit, and this is after he attempted and crashed Vanzilla when trying to drive it.
As for the thoughts on the McBride's themselves, at first they were heartbroken, and then they damned them for the actions, before eventually coming to terms and actually couldn't blame them, since that was the calming before the storm.
Apparently once the borders closed down and boxed the remaining United States citizens in, a lot of crazies and degenerates began popping up and anyone who was targeted by these revealed hate groups were given best wishes to the last Loud siblings.
And while there was groups of people of people willing to help others and those in need, they didn't stay long for one reason or another, along with their being a lack of structure.
When asked about the well being of the United States itself, frankly no one gives a damn about the former country that was a threat to the well being of mankind these days.
The West coast, including Hawaii and Alaska, ranging from California to Washington State towards Colorado have banded together and started The Republic of California.
States such as Arizona to Texas were eventually forced back into unity with Mexico, resulting in the second Tex-Mex War and concluded with the Texas Massacre.
The original 13 colonies were soon back into British Sovereignty, resulting the official end of the United States.
While all this went on, eventually the South did rise once again, but are already dealing with power struggles with their own government, along with having difficulty in maintaining a war to siege Florida.
This and many more went on the ruins of the old United States, while things among the states within the Great Lakes seemed to remain chaotic enough to where you wouldn't say anarchy, but as of now show no signs of improving its conditions.
While these last 8 years were hard on them, Lucy and Lincoln could say they still had each other during these hard times.
As far as they know or feel, their family is alive and well, while they're forgotten and must survive by any means necessary, the bond these 2 share and the feelings they have are unbreakable.
Because of this, Lucy was determined to search for her brother as he's all that she's have left while she walked on the lonely vacant freeway roads.
As she continued to progress, she spots a lone man with a fully grown beard and a navy blue knit beanie wearing a bright orange jacket and hikers backpack as he began to flail his arms towards Lucy.
Lucy approach the man with caution as she never loosened her hold on her blade as she approach the man.
"Greetings young traveler, I don't suppose you're looking to trade" smiled the man as Lucy remained stoic as ever, "What do you have to trade" asked Lucy as she kept her distance from the man.
"I got duct tape, gears, glue, and some travel food and water" said the man keeping his chipper personality.
"What about bullets or weapons" asked Lucy, "Bullets will cost you and arm and a leg, and frankly given how hellish the land is, I'd reckon to keep yours, as far as weapons all I can offer is some homemade shiv's" explained the man.
"What about information" asked Lucy as she cocked her brow, but it was hard to tell as her bangs still covered her face, "All I ask is that you spread the word that if you or anyone spots me or my friends in the bright orange get up, to please not shoot us as we're a band of traveling merchants who want to remain neutral to anyone's exploits as much as possible" said the man.
Lucy took it all in and after considering it, doesn't feel hostility towards the man, "What can I get with a can of cream corn and spam" asked Lucy, "Pre-collapsed food eh, tell you what I can offer you 2 rolls of duct tape and a bottle of water, or 1 roll of duct tape and 4 bottles of water" said the man.
"I'll take the latter deal" said Lucy as they began to exchange, before finally striking the question, "Have you by any chance spotted a man with white hair wandering around".
"Can't say I have, sorry" said the man as he began to put his back pack over on his back, "Take care now miss" "Likewise" replied Lucy.
Later
Nightfall came and Lucy had no leads as to where Lincoln could be, and wondering around blindly didn't seem the most smartest thing to do and had opted to call it a day.
With a small fire in front of her and some fish she managed to get, Lucy solemnly accepted this lonely dinner as she gazed into the stars wishing nothing but for the best for her brother, wherever he is.
Alone in the serenity that is night, she looked inside her little back pack and began to pull out a collection of pictures.
If it wasn't of her family as a whole consisting the other 9 siblings that were safe and out of the hell they're in, it was her time with her friends when she was part of the Morticians Club, and her recent growing collection of Polaroid's consisting of herself and brother.
A tear had escaped and went down her face before she put them away and began to eat her fish, before killing the fire and putting today behind her.
The next day
Lucy had no idea what time it was when she heard the sounds of gunfire, tires screeching and crashing as she jolted awake.
Carefully grabbing her belongings, she hurried to where the sound came from while also trying to avoid garnering unwanted attention as she spotted the rising commotion.
Far on the road, she saw 2 people in everyday clothes with one holding their bleeding arm, and the other standing in front of them as they held a bat as a means to defend themselves from who were chasing them.
Across and facing the 2 directions were a bunch of individuals wearing a bunch of various Halloween masks as they seem to wore college leather man jackets, jeans and converse as they were all heavily armed and pose a menacing threat.
"No where's the fire" said one of the assailants wearing a skull mask, "We offered you guys a ride back to our base, and how do you repay us? By killing one of our boys and hijacking a car, with the insult of you guys crashing it, I mean talk about being rude".
"We know who you people are, you abduct us and force people into slavery" called the person holding the bat, "Wrong my friend, wrong since there's a chain of command when it comes to being able to work side by side in a family with their masters to be given the privilege to be called a slave, and you my friend really screwed your chances down the shitter" said the man in the skull mask.
"Normally based on your condition and your behavior, we'd start you off in working the farm fields, if you're too weak or old, you'd be working for in the bullet farm of ours, but your actions… oh ho, your actions have deemed you both a faith worst then death as you'll be working till the day you die in the methane mines" said the skull masked individual.
It was sickening for Lucy to see this, but she wasn't willing to risk her life to save a bunch of strangers she had no connections to as she watched as the Halloween masked individuals not only ganged up, but beat them out cold.
Once they had officially left, Lucy figured that if by some chance they've captured Lincoln, following those groups of slavers were her best bet.
Later
After following the tire tracks far out of the woods, Lucy had spotted herself outside of from the woods that she was only 2 miles away from a gated community.
While she couldn't see much inside, she saw 2 men dressed in the same college style clothing and wearing Halloween masks as they walked around the entrance in armed with only baseball bats.
Seeing this as an easy chance to get inside, the elusive Lucy had snucked her way around, before throwing a rock in the bushes not that far away from them.
From there it was easy pickings as Lucy grabbed the first man in the Halloween mask, and slit his throat, before swinging her machete and splitting the other man's head open like a melon.
Once both were down, she stole one of the Halloween masks that resembles a witch and slid on one of the leather man jackets before Lucy continued her journey on foot into the community.
Apparently it was the grounds to a former university campus, whose name and logos have since been nearly forgotten to what it originally stand for, as it's been adopted to serve a symbol to these mauraders.
While not everyone wore the Halloween masks, it seemed that anyone who wore a leather man jacket was up high on the hierarchy, while people who seemed to wore gym uniform, with the university's name and symbol slashed off with permanent marker were clearly the slaves.
Wondering around aimlessly, Lucy eventually spotted a slave woman standing outside a fruit stand handing out meals to people, as her leg was chained to the stand.
"Oh, hey what can I do for you" said the slave woman disgruntled over her position, "Have you spotted anyone with all white hair" asked Lucy in her disguise.
"What you mean Bunny Boy, last time I saw him, they beat him and dragged him to the methane mines" said the woman as she forcibly handed Lucy an apple, a beef jerky stick, and 2 packets of crackers and cheese.
"And where is the methane mines exactly" asked Lucy as the sales woman cocked her brow, "Below the buildings bowls, everyone knows that" said the woman as her suspicion grew.
Before Lucy could react, the woman waved her hands closer in so she can whisper in Lucy's ear, "You're not any of the people from here are you" she asked as Lucy, even though stoic with her mask on, internally gasped in fear.
"Listen, I won't say a thing, so long as you plan to not only save Bunny Boy, but us as well" said the woman as Lucy glared at her, "I make no official promise, other than that if you plan to squeal I won't think twice than splitting your head like a melon this instant" warned Lucy as she rested her hand on her machete.
"Alright, I'm sorry lady just… don't kill me" said the woman meekly as Lucy walked her way into the campuses main building.
As she made her way towards the building's main campus, she saw that 2 of masked leather man stand guard outside, "Hold on, deposit your guns to the quartermaster at the bullet farms, we can't risk anyone go in there tempted to unload their guns less we not only get blown to hell, but screw up our main source of power for everyone" said one of the guards.
Aside from not wanting to raise suspicion and argue, Lucy couldn't argue with that logic behind it, she made her way to the universities physical education quad, where she saw people chained to the ankle as they're compression lead and iron into manufacturing various bullets, before spotting the large indoor gymnasium, with the words armory on the front door.
Once inside, Lucy took note of the weapons in stock and the ones on her hip and realized her one clean and pristine machete with a green knot was now getting rusted and was dull in certain parts, while the revolver she was carrying has it's handle covered in duct tape, and the sights of the weapon in chipped off and on more than one occasion the gun jammed because of how unclean it is now.
"Welcome what can I do for you today" asked the quarter master, "Just wanted to turn in my weapons before heading into the methane mines" said Lucy as she turned in her revolver.
"Jesus Christ, where the hell did you get this piece of shit from" asked the quarter in disbelief, "I scooped it from some asshole who got John" lied Lucy.
"Normally I say weapon like this ain't worth it, but I'm sure we can smelt it into something better. In fact can I see your machete too" said the quarter master as he examined the haggard handle on Lucy's blade.
"Ooh, must've seen a lot of battles with this baby. Tell you what, because I can't stand seeing our boys going out there with these pieces of shit weapons, I'll let you come inside and pick out whatever suits your fancy and I'll place any weapons on hold for you till you get back on the methane mines" offered the quarter master.
Not wasting her opportunity, Lucy took advantage of the situation, and explored the weapons they had in stock and was in awe.
Eventually she came upon a weapon that stood out on a crafts table, and it was Lincoln's sawed off double barrel shotgun, painted with a white wooded handle and the engravings 'LL' on the side.
Clearly knowing her brother was definitely here, Lucy holstered back the weapon, a new single action army revolver, a black blade machete with a red tassel hanging on the grip, a Bowie knife, and a crossbow.
Stuffing her weapons in a duffle bag, she didn't need anything more as she went back towards the quarter master as he began to raise a brow.
"What are you doing arming up for a war" asked the quarter master as he examined what Lucy had stuffed, "I'll be gone for a long time as soon as I'm done with business in the methane mines" said Lucy, "Exactly what sort of business".
Seeing as she pushed her luck, Lucy did the only thing she could and punch the quarter master in the neck before plunging the bowie knife in the man's chest, before yanking it out.
Grabbing whatever ammo she could, Lucy casually left the bullet farm and armory, and opted to blend in with the crowd for the time being.
Time Skip
By nightfall, everyone was on alert over the death of not on the quarter master, but the 2 gate guards Lucy took out earlier in the day.
Seeing as no time was a better time to make a breach for her brother than in the shadows themselves, Lucy had made it back to the main campus buildings, and lured the 2 door guards away from the building by using wires and bells.
Once they were away, she made her way inside and almost instantly was greeted by the most foul odor ever as she nearly gagged over how bad it smell.
Spotting a few gas masks racked on the wall, Lucy immediately grabbed one and put it on, before continuing her way inside and witnessed firsthand how bad the methane mines were.
While the slaves above ground were chained to a post or to each other either in shackles or something similar to that, the people down here had them bolted or fused to their flesh, while they were forced to shovel either pig or bullshit into giant mixer vats that seemed to be fueling the giant generator furnace that's powering this outpost of slavers.
Not liking the sight one bit, Lucy hurried her way around to spot her brother, which was easier said than done.
While there weren't many guards, the ones that were there were big and well protected and armed with ether iron pipes or whips.
It didn't stop her as any guard the dared a approached her were greeted with extreme prejudice, and this got the attention of the slaves in the methane mines.
When asked where Lincoln was, they all pointed her in the direction where he was being held, to which she wasted no time in finding him.
Apparently he had been dragged back to be tortured for continuingly defying and fighting the guards for mistreating everyone, to which it didn't surprise Lucy in the least.
Once in the back, she made her way inside where she saw a woman in the regular college uniform, wearing a witches mask as she was kicking someone were a gimp bunny mask as they had their hands on top of each other with a pike through them.
Closing the door behind her, Lucy made herself present as she kicked the door behind her making a loud bang, getting the guards attention, "What the hell are you doing here" asked the woman, to which she got her answer with a bullet to the head,
Kneeling down, Lucy removed her mask, before removing the mask of the victim who was getting tortured and was relieved when it was her brother, with his left eye and cheek bruised, his mouth bleeding, and an overall exaughsted look on his face.
"Sorry for worrying Lucy" smiled Lincoln weakly as Lucy held her hands over her mouth while trying not to cry at the moment, "I'm just glad you're alive" Lucy said before she examined her brother's injuries.
"Not gonna lie, you're gonna have to pull the pike out my hand" coughed Lincoln as Lucy nodded.
Biting his lip down, Lucy pulled with all her might to remove the pike from his hands as Lincoln screamed in pain towards the end before picking himself up and examining his hands.
Tearing up the leather man jacket, Lucy began to wrap her brothers hands up as he looked at her, "So what's the plan" asked Lincoln as he grunted, "I'm out of ideas, but it's night time, I killed all the guards, I got a duffle bag filled with weapons, and a bunch of free slaves outside, pretty sure you can figure something out" Lucy said with a confident smile.
Lincoln remained silent for a brief minute, before he smiled himself, "Ok, so here's what we're gonna do" said Lincoln.
Above ground, the slavers and everyone around notice that the power was going on and off and the lack of anyone responding to the radio calls raised some real concern.
Before the slavers could band together and take action, they were instantly mobbed by the methane miners as they began to attack anyone near them, and caused a distraction to Lincoln's plan.
While the slavers were already doing a counter attack, it meant nothing as the school's main building erupted in a fiery explosion, as it rain fire a debris all over.
As soon as the power went out, people began to panic as a few slaves took advantage to liberate themselves, as the fire began to spread all over the place.
While all this and that went on, with tomorrow morning guarantee whatever was in this old university campus will be erased indefinitely, Lincoln and Lucy made their escape on horse, leaving no traces of their existence or actions that happened that night.
The next day
Morning had peaked over, and Lincoln let out an audioable yawn as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, before his hands began to tickle in pain as he let out a laugh.
Next to him was some fresh bandages and a big bottle of whiskey as he began to replace the bandages on his hands and cleaning it with the hard liquor at hand, before taking a swig to feel a little better.
Their home that was an old trailer, as he made his way outside and saw that Lucy was making them some sort of soup.
"Morning" said Lucy as she didn't need to turn her head to feel her brothers' presence as he went and took a seat next to her, "So what's cooking" asked Lincoln, "Squirrel soup and some refried beans".
Humming to what Lucy said, he took notice of their newly armed weapons and smiled as he began to lift and holster his shotgun to his hip as he smiled at his sister, which didn't go unnoticed.
"Something up Lincoln" asked Lucy in her stoic tone, "Just thinking how lucky I am to have an amazing little sister" smiled Lincoln as he got Lucy to smile.
"Well if you want to thank me, sing that one song you know I like" said Lucy as her smile dropped, but her emotions remained happy, as Lincoln began to clear his throat.
"Tonight we'll sail to the edge of the world, And watch the stars fall down, You put your head in my arms as we wonder, Is there anything we could have done" sang Lincoln as Lucy began to serve and ready to feed her brother as those lyrics couldn't fit their situation better than it is these last 8 years.
There you guys go, sorry if it felt a little rush here or there, but I just did this to get motivated for my other work, also the lyric came from Crown the Empires- The Fallout, hopefully you guys liked this one shot, cause now I got other work to do.
This has been your Humble Narrator Tobi Yaza =3