Part 3
Having left Quill with Loan, Lincoln departed out the front door to find Lisa and Lori watching Lynn and another Lynn playing soccer. Already understanding the situation he just walked up beside the two onlookers to also observe.
"Her name is Lacy." Lisa said with a lisp.
"Oh… okay." The white haired boy responded back.
"She was the one at the park." The genius adjusted her glasses. One less pit stop on their journey to the anomalous ping. "Everyone is accounted for, Let's go."
"Yeah, let me say hi first." Lincoln interrupted the game to say hello to his newest daughter. The tomboy tackled to the ground while giggling. A hesitant Lynn also came up to talk to him. From the side, Lori commented.
"He seems rather okay with the situation, all things considering." The blonde teen glanced up from her phone. Through the course of yesterday she hadn't tried to connect with her out of state boyfriend. This was the first time she had gotten time to text him but he wasn't responding.
"Perhaps the sudden presence of multiple offspring kicked his paternal instincts into high gear." Lisa openly hypothesized. Lori shoved her phone into her pocket.
"Well, good," Lori told her little sister. "I don't want my daughter to have a deadbeat for a father."
"Again, they are from parallel dimensions." The scientist clarified again. "Their futures are not our futures."
"Literally couldn't be more confusing."
"Whatever, hold on…" Lisa squinted her eyes to look at her screen. The anomaly had appeared giving the girl an exact coordinate rather than a general area. "I've got a lock on it. Grab Lincoln and lets go."
"Is it another kid?"
"I'm not sure but we'll find out."
Lori basically had to pry the white haired boy from his athletic daughter who decided it was her time to put her father in a nuggy. Still, the teen's strength was enough to drag her weak brother out of the hold and into the car. Soon they were on their way to the edge of town.
"And it's totes not fair, you know."
"Uh-huh." Lucy found herself being Leni's ear for complaints. They sat in the kitchen away from the hustle and bustle of Loan wrangling the tots together.
"Like Luna gets two and I get none!" The platinum blonde waved her hands wildly. "What's up with that?! I was the next blonde! Why did Lincy skip me?"
"I don't think it's his choice." The goth did try to remind him.
"Well… this is unfair!" Leni slumped in her chair. The fashionista had been in a funk ever since Lemy had turned out to her alternate dimension nephew. So bad was this funk that she did not notice as a chubby teen, who shared her mother's platinum blonde hair, sit right next to her.
Lucy, not so much.
"Why are you excited to meet them, Leni?" With her bangs down, it looked like Lucy was addressing Leni but her eyes were on what she expected to be the girl her sister desperately wanted to be there.
"Why?! Cause it would be amazing!" Leni clasped her hands together and looked up in a dreamy fashion. "Imagine it, Lucy. How amazing it would be if you suddenly had a baby boy running up to you with a smile. Calling you Mommy. Asking you to pick him up high and higher! Going to the park together. Taking selfies together. He'd look just like Lincy, totes adorbs!"
"And what if it wasn't a boy? Or a baby?" The goth maintained an eye on the girl behind her sister who was nodding along happily with her questions.
"Ew, like what if it was an old grandma?"
"No," The black haired girl shook her head. "What if it was a girl your age?"
"EEEEEeeee~! That would totes be the best!" The fashionista began waving her hands without care. "I'd like take her to the mall and we could try on a whole bunch of outfits. We could sip smoothies together. Watch Dream Boat. We would be absolute besties!"
With smile on her face, the new arrival finally tapped her mother on the shoulder.
Leni turned around.
"Oh, hey Carol. Did you gain weight?"
*SMACK*
Lucy's palm hit her own forehead hard.
Knowing her mother, the teen did not get angry… but she was a bit annoyed.
"Leni," Lucy spoke up. "That's your daughter."
"Huh?" The airhead inspected the girl a bit. She looked alot like herself, but chubby and with a small vein popping out on her left temple. "Are you sure?"
"Sigh… yes."
"EEEeeeee~! We've got so much to talk about!"
Lucy got off her chair as the now newest mother of the day bombarded her other dimension daughter with questions. The girl was still simmering under the surface from her mother's indirect insult but she would let it go. Leni was genuinely happy to finally have her here. She was exuberant, telling the teen what they would do together and how much she couldn't wait to get started. The goth girl gave them a modicum of a smile.
But then the envy set in.
Lucy sighed these feelings away as she went to sit in the attic alone.
"Sigh… maybe Luan will be up to talk about it when she gets back."
Little did the goth girl know that her comedic sister was in the pun battle of her life with a daughter she had just met at the grocery store.
"We've been searching for literally forever!" The oldest, original Loud daughter told her younger siblings. Lincoln checked his watch.
"It's been an hour."
"Oh, whatever!" Lori lent against Vanzilla.
The drive to the edge of town had taken about fifteen minutes. The area was mainly wooded with some areas cleared for power lines to go back to town. Lori, Lincoln, and Lisa had been directed her on the last's instructions but, on the way here, the anomalous ping had disappeared again. This only served to confuse the scientist even more and, on inspection of the area, nothing was out of place.
"This just doesn't make sense!" Lisa yelled as she grew more and more frustrated. Not only was the dot gone but several more dots appeared around town. "Something has to be here. I know it does!"
"C'mon Lisa, there's nothing here." Lincoln came over and knelt near her height. He could see the bags under her eyes. "How about we take a break and come back another time, okay?"
"Don't get all parental with me just because your parallel progeny have managed to pierce the fabric of space and time!"
"Lisa, you're frustrated. I get it." The white haired boy of the family placed a caring hand on the toddler's shoulder. "But you do your best work when your mind is clear and awake. Take a break. A nap. Something. Well keep an eye out for it but there's also some scared kids missing their parents right now. We need to find them and show them they are not alone." The genius took in her brother's words.
"*Sigh*, fine... I see your point." Lisa turned and shouted over her shoulder. "Lori, we're taking a break before heading back!"
"Great! I need to call Bobby."
"We'll leave in ten." Lisa began walking towards the family van. She turned back to her brother. "You'll be a good father in the future."
"Hehe, hope so. Cause I'm struggling with it now." The girl nodded before entering the van for a quick nap. "*Sigh*, this is crazy."
The boy walked over to a large tree. Leaves above blocked most of the sun but the wind allowed a shimmer of light to come through. He sat underneath it and looked outwards. It was a peaceful scene compared to his hectic mind.
"Hey you."
"GAH!" Lincoln tumbled to the side.
His heartbeat raced from the scare of a monotone voice's sudden appearance. He turned towards it and saw a girl peeking from behind the tree. This girl was around his age: she had white hair (like his), pale skin (like Lucy), freckles (like his), and a penchant towards black.
"LIKE LUCY!" He inadvertently shouted out.
"What?" The girl raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, sorry." The boy stood up, at nearly the same height, and brushed himself off. "You're Lucy's right?"
"Who's Lucy?"
"Huh?" Lincoln looked at the emotionless girl, she was stone faced. "Umm, but aren't you?"
"I'm sorry, let me introduce myself first." The girl took a hand out of hoodie pouch. "I'm Hermina DiCicco. My friends call me Hercia."
"Oh uhh… Lincoln." The boy took the girl's hand. "Lincoln Loud." He noted how cold her hand felt as they shook… just like Lucy.
"Nice to meet you." Releasing the hand, she returned it to her hoodie pouch. "You've been looking around here for awhile. Did you see the UFO last night too?"
"UFO?"
"Yeah…" The goth deadpanned. "Why else would a seemingly alone girl be wandering around the woods in the morning." Lincoln's mind was swirling in confusion.
"Are you kidding?"
"That's pretty rude to tell a stranger."
"L-lisa!" Lincoln kept an eye on her as he shouted.
"I thought you told me to take a respite, Lincoln!" The brown hair of Lisa was barely peeking out of one of the car windows.
"T-there's a girl here who says she saw a UFO!" The boy did not take his eyes of the white haired gal.
"What?!" The door to Vanzilla slid open. Lisa could now see the white haired goth girl standing before Lincoln. More confusion flooded the young girl's brain and she looked at her scanner.
The girl was not radiating the new element.
"Well, who is she?" The genius sternly asked, still skeptical about her sudden appearance.
"Hermina DiCicco, call me Hercia. Look, I just need a ride back into town. Could you guys give me one?" Lisa inspected her subtle body language.
"Do you know a goth woman by the name Lucy, perchance?" Lisa's lispy voice asked.
"Look, I've never met anyone named Lucy in my life." The genius looked for a sign, any sign she was lying to them. But she found none. "Am I getting a ride or not?"
"Sure," the genius agreed to give them more time to question her. "I'd like to get your testimony about this… UFO, for my research of course."
"Whatever."
"LINCOLN!" A very angry Lori rushed towards him.
"What?!" The boy pressed his back against the tree trunk.
"This is what!" Lori shoved her phone screen towards him. It was on a face-time camera allowing Lincoln to see his good friend, and Lori's boyfriend, Bobby Santiago on the other side.
"Oh hey bro!" Bobby's rasp voice came out of the speaker. The Hispanic teen rubbed his neck in embarrassment. "So the strangest thing happened here." A small girl similar in appearance to Ronnie Anne entered screen, the difference being this girl was younger and wearing a green plaid shirt.
"Papa! This is super loco!" The girl yelled at him through the speaker. "Why is Mama a man?!"
Meet Ramona Loud.
Daughter of Lincoln Loud and Roberta Santiago.
The goth girl sat in the very back of the car, next to the genius of the family. She inanely made up stuff to sate the toddler's questions, luckily her usual deadpan guise them well. Even then she know she should not maintain eye contact long with her aunt. That would be suicide.
Lupa had her mission.
She would accomplish it and leave.
The only issue was…
Who was this British chick clinging to her father?!
A few rows ahead of them, Lincoln was sat between his first, out of four, dates to Sadie Hawkins, Tabby. And on his other side was his daughter with said girl. They were exactly alike: same age, same hair, same British accent. The only differences were dye color and the fact one called him luv and his daughter called him pot n' pan.
Lupa found herself annoyed by their overall manhandling of her father and also immensely perplexed by their presence. Not in the sense she didn't get why they were there, they literally caught them walking around Royal Woods. More 'how' they were there. This was without a doubt unnatural.
"Hercia!" Lisa finally yelled into the girls ear. Lupa forgot about her 'name' and zoned out. No matter how many times the four year old had called it, the white haired girl did not respond.
"What?" Lupa allowed her shock to be internal.
"We're almost to our house." Lisa informed her. "Why don't you stick around for a bit so I can get a full report about your... sighting." God aunt Lisa was a terrible liar. Either way, this was in Lupa's favor.
"Sure, no problem."
"Excellent."
"We're home." Lori told everyone from the driver seat. Slight annoyance was still in her voice from Bobby's earlier call.
As they rolled up into the driveway it was clear some 'new arrivals' had appeared. Lynn and Lacy were currently playing duos against the red headed Becky and her son. Leni finally got her daughter, and so did her friend Jackie. They all were sipping smoothies with one another on the porch. Luan also was on the stairs quipping to a young lass in head gear. All of which swarmed Lincoln when he went to greet them.
"GAAHHH! Lisa! Look for the others! I got this handled!" Were the cries the young Nobel winner heard as her brother was dragged away in a dust cloud. As he said, it was clear she would have to expand her search, 'Hercia' would have to wait.
"Go inside, Hercia. I need to set up an array."
"Sure," Lupa looked out. Who were these people?
Everyone exited the van. Tabby and child ran towards the sound of jamming. Lori recalled Bobby to announce her annoyance of how it wasn't Ronnie Anne's. Lupa, aka Hermina, realized this would be her best chance amidst this chaos.
She entered the Loud house and looked about. It was crazy loud, louder than how it usually was. She knew the layout and made her way up the stairs. She saw a disheveled blonde teen enter a room with loads of snacks and juice boxes in hand. The goth looked about and saw her target. Her foot pushed against the wall as she jumped to grab the string that would lower the stairs leading to the attic. They unfolded outwards.
Next step.
The trunk.
Lupa walked up the creaky stairs and pulled out a small flashlight from her pouch. As dusty as she remembered it. Her focus was set and she walked with purpose to an old, black trunk. It had a padlock on it but without a second thought she pulled out a key.
Her key.
Unlocking the trunk, she opened it and shined her light in it. No need to rummage about. The book she needed was right on top.
"Hey."
"GAAHHH!" Lupa ran forwards and tripped, tumbling in the darkness. Her flashlight was sent scattering across the ground spinning wildly. Once it finally came to a rest it showed a shy goth girl with bangs that covered her eyes. Lupa had never had anyone scare her like that in her life.
"Sorry…" Lucy's monotone voice told her. Lupa was too busy clutching her heart to respond. The original goth girl lent down and picked up the book which also was released in the scare. Lupa's eyes dilated.
"Give that to me." Still flustered, the white haired girl scrambled to stand.
"Sure," Lucy held it out. "Anything for my daug-"
"I DON'T KNOW YOU!" Lupa swiped the book from her hand.
"..."
"..."
Lucy reached into her pocket and produced a key.
The same key as Lupa.
The white haired girl couldn't handle it.
She ran for the stairs.
Loan sighed as she exited the 'playroom', this was a lot of work. She was unsure how she was appointed to be the day carer for the younglings, but it was tiring. The teen had hoped some of the older girls would help but they were busy hanging with their parents. Perhaps she'd be the same if Lori wasn't shuttling around Lisa during her investigation.
But then who would watch the kids?
Loan wasn't about to abandon them.
Not paying attention, Loan stubbed her toe on the stairs leading to attic. "Ouch! Why is this down?" A small girl with white hair suddenly crashed into her causing both of them to tumble to the ground.
"Dang it." The new girl held her head in pain. Lupa shook her head clear and realized her book was resting on top of a disheveled blonde. The teen sat up still in a daze.
"Whoa…" Loan's eyes were still rolling in her head. The book fell into her lap. "What happened?"
"Give me that book!"
"Huh?" Loan's vision finally refocused. First a tsundere loli, then a cool shota, and now a gothic lolita. "Oh hey, I'm Loan. What's your name?"
"Are you okay?" Lucy asked from the top of the attic stairs.
"Dang it!"
Lupa swiped the book and rushed towards her father's old room. She only had one option of escape. The rope ladder she installed out of her dad's window. Using her natural acrobatic ability, she used her dad's bed and bounced towards the circular window. As she flew out, her hand reached up to grab the end of her ladder.
It wasn't there.
This wasn't her world.
Lupa's eyes widen with fear as she began to plummet. She was going straight down, head first towards the ground. A momentary flash of her life.
Her very short life.
…
Then something grabbed her legs.
"Don't worry! Your big sis, Loan, got you!"
"What?!" The white haired goth girl looked towards the window. Out of a panic, Loan had chased after her and jumped out the window as well. The difference being her feet had managed to catch in the window.
"Your big sis has you." The shaking teen told the girl. "Don't worry, um, whoever you are."
"What the heck are you doing?!" Lupa shouted out. "I don't even know you!"
"Who cares!" Loan shouted back.
"I don't have a sister! I'm an only child!"
"So am I!"
"Then why did you save me?!"
"I don't know!"
"Are you an IDIOT?!"
"I don't know, but I got you!"
"You're an idiot!"
"Okay, I'll be an idiot! Just climb up! I'm slipping!"
"Like heck I could!"
"Hurry up!"
"Fine, give me a se-"
Loan's foot finally slipped.
"AAAAAHHHHhhh!"
*Plumpf*
…
"Huh?" Lupa opened her eyes. Loan was cradling her like a baby surrounded by what appeared to be a multicolored parachute. Lining the impromptu catcher was several girls and a few boys. An extended family the girl had never met before.
Dang it all.
Lupa began to cry.
An angry cry.
How dare these people make her feel weak.
"My name's Lupa Loud… daughter of Lincoln and Lucy."
Lupa was sat at the center of the living room. A large group of the most mature family members were around her. After Lucy had rushed to all of them for help, they deserved an explanation. That's what the girl was about to do.
"It's okay dear," Lucy rubbed the girls back. "No one here will judge him."
"Literally the other me married her brother, it couldn't get weirder." Lori commented from the side of the room.
"Sigh," Lucy smiled as her own daughter did her trademark sigh. "I guess that's the prototype's fault."
"Prototype?" Lisa asked.
"I used my aunt Lisa's prototype gateway for connecting parallel dimensions to come here. It's not finished yet but I'd only have till the end of my school break to use it. I must have messed up."
"Is it like a green submarine thing?" Luna's kid, Lyra, asked as she began recalling moments before she and her brother arrived.
"Wait," Loan also remembered something. "I bumped into a green capsule thing before I teleported here!"
"Did everyone come into contact with this device?" Lisa asked the entire group. All other dimensioners gave an affirmative to her question. "I see… it all falls into place." The genius began pacing as she surmised what had occurred. "Whatever this device is, it is connected with similar devices from parallel dimensions. When it was misused a surge blasted across all of them, sucking all those close by to the reality Lupa was traveling to."
"So we were all just tag-alongs on a failed experiment?" Loan asked for clarification.
"Correct," Lisa bluntly stated. "Anyone of reasonable age I would allow in my lab has shown up. This is why we haven't had any babies show up."
"But why all Lincoln's kids?" Lori asked.
"The surge can only go so far. Imagine it like a pond. Throw a rock in and a ripple is created. The ripple travels outwards and loses energy along the way. In this case Lupa came from a reality where Lincoln fathers a child with Lucy. Therefore the closest universes were of similar origins and as it traveled out we see girls relatively close to Lincoln ect. By the time the ripple got to those stranger universes it had petered out to the point it couldn't activate the gate." Lisa had circled the room twice over in her long winded explanation. "But what I don't understand is why you did it, Lupa?"
"I have my reasons." The white haired girl's eyes were down cast.
"Every universe is different right, Lisa?" It was Lucy who asked this question.
"That is correct, i.e. Luna Loud and Lincoln Sharp or Roberta Santiago." The genius pushed up her glasses. "But why do you ask this now?"
"It's simple." The goth girl spoke calmly. "In Lupa's universe, I'm dead."
"Dang it!" Lupa stomped her foot. Many of the people present were also taken back. "How'd you figure it out?"
"The book you stole is on how to communicate with the dead." Lucy spoke without subtlety
"I've never met anyone named Lucy in my life." Lisa scratched her chin. "She died shortly after you were born. Hiding a lie in a truth, quite a clever niece I have."
"Do any nieces know how to even remotely pilot a dimensional gateway?" Lupa had a smug grin.
"Successfully, no." Lisa grinned back. "But with a bit of practice, I'm sure she could."
"Heh, the machine's where you picked me up." Lupa leaned back. "It's covered in a camouflage jammer."
"We'll inspect it tomorrow." Lisa looked around. "If my hypothesis is correct, I'll be able to return everyone in a week time."
A large resounding woohoo came from the group.
"Enjoy your time with you progenies. We've got a lot to do." Lisa held her head high, no longer confused. More cheering occurred. "And Lincoln?"
"Yeah, Lisa?" Lincoln managed to squeeze out from the crushing bear hug by his daughter Liena.
"Come with me. I've located another of your young in Europe." Lisa seemed rather chipper even with the implication her next words had. "The Princess of that country is not happy."
