Part 2: Recruitment.

Lincoln somehow managed to get himself into a contest he couldn't win. He despised physical activity, and yet, he just challenged his jock of a sister to a football game. He was thinking the following afternoon, after the challenge was made, that it was a foolish idea. Lincoln knew he was never, ever going to beat Lynn at her own game, no matter how bad he wanted it. Yet he didn't completely regret what had transpired that morning, as he finally got a load off his chest. He had a lot of bottled up anger towards his sister which had been waiting to be released for a while. Now he finally did it, he told his bully of a sibling what he really thought of her and her treatment towards him. Despite the consequence of now being in a football match against her, he didn't care that day. He was just so relieved to have finally gained the courage and will to stand up to her.

Lincoln, despite having just signed up for a challenge he, in theory, doesn't have a hope of winning, managed to sleep surprisingly well the following night. Even just that little opportunity to let off some steam put his mind at relative ease. He felt satisfied with having finally confronted his sister about her behaviour; to give her a piece of his mind after so long. He slept really comfortably, without a care in the world.

What's more, when he woke up the following morning, he did so naturally, at his own accord. Lynn didn't barge in to interrupt his sleep or provoke him into doing something against his will, nor to annoy or inflict pain upon him. Lincoln was so relieved by all of this…

but then he came downstairs, and heard some noises coming from outside. His relief turned to dread when he peeked through the window and saw his sporty sister. She was exercising harder than ever before. Fast runs, heavy lifting, parkour. She was training herself as if she were practising for the Olympics, all seemingly just to best him at their little football game later that week. She was banging out 50 push-ups as if she were only doing 5. Lincoln realised this challenge was serious, not just for himself, but for his sister. He realised she that despite the condescending smirks during their confrontation yesterday, she was not taking his challenge lightly. To be fair, he should have expected as much. Lincoln, perhaps more than anyone, understood the lengths to which Lynn's competitive nature could extend. She wasn't going to let her brother, or anyone, best her at sports.

Intimidated and fearful, he then turned to the audience and stated…

Lincoln: "Oh, I'm in for it now! I need to get a good team on my hands, and fast!"

Later at school, Lincoln was in the hallway with his best friend. At that moment, he decided to speak with Clyde about the situation…

Clyde: "Wow, Lincoln! You've really gone and landed yourself in it. You actually challenged Lynn to a game?!"

Lincoln: "I was… just so angry with her! I wanted some way to get back at her for everything she does to me, and I thought beating her at her own game and showing her up in front of everybody would be the perfect way to do that!"

Clyde: "But Lincoln, you aren't even very good at sports. And football is a team game! Who are you going to get on your team?"

Lincoln then adopted a sad and pleading expression on his face as he prepared to ask a big favour out of his best friend…

Lincoln: "Well Clyde, I thought I'd start with asking you."

Clyde was taken by surprise by this. Like Lincoln, he didn't particularly excel at sports. He realised Lincoln must have been desperate for help if he was one of his choices. Clearly, Lincoln didn't know anyone with masterful sporting abilities, so he simply turned to the friends he had for the help they could provide. Clyde realised he was going to regret it, but he didn't want to let Lincoln down…

Clyde: "Ok Lincoln. I'll help you."

Lincoln was thrilled by this. He knew Clyde was no football wizard, but the fact that he had his help and support was still very reassuring.

Lincoln: "Thanks Clyde, I knew I could count on you!"

The duo then executed the bro-fist as a sign of unison. However, they realised they were still only 2 people, both of limited ability at that, and they frowned at the realisation that they needed more players on their team.

Lincoln: "So, that's one team member down. I just need to find a few more. But who could we get on our team?"

Clyde: "I'll start looking for potential candidates!"

Lincoln and Clyde, despite knowing they had a long way to go before they were in a position where they had any hope of beating Lynn's team, felt triumphant by the fact that they were working together on this. They had each other's backs, and at that moment, that's all they felt mattered.

Lincoln and Clyde: "Clincoln McCloud! Ready for anything!"

Once recruitment had progressed later that day, the duo and their newly assembled team were sitting together at the lunch table. Not surprisingly, the team they recruited were none other than their extended social group; Rusty Spokes, Liam and Zach.

Lincoln: "Okay team, are we ready to do this?!"

Lincoln spoke with enthusiasm and positivity in his voice, but his teammates were unconvinced. Clyde spoke up about his lack of faith with the team they had assembled…

Clyde: "Lincoln, I hate to break it to you, but, I'm not so sure we're going to win this."

Lincoln: "Why not? We got our team with us right here."

Clyde: "Well, none of us are exactly professional football players, Lincoln. We're all just a bunch of unskilled, inexperienced rookies to be honest!"

The other team members expressed offense against Clyde's last comment. Though deep down, they knew he had a point. At best, one or two of them were moderately good players. At worst, they were terrible as a team unit. One thing was for certain, none of them, on paper, seemed to be a match for Lynn Loud. Nevertheless, they still felt Clyde was attacking their pride, so they retaliated to his statement…

Rusty, Liam and Zach: "Hey!"

Rusty: "We resent that remark!"

Lincoln sighed in hopelessness as he accepted the validity of Clyde's statement.

Lincoln: "You're right, we're not exactly the dream team! More like the Suicide squad! Because we're gonna get cremated!"

Zach, the little geeky looking kid of the group, perhaps the most unfit out of all of them to be playing in this game, decided to speak up…

Zach: "Guys, it occurs to me that what you guys need is someone with actual ability. Someone who can carry the rest of the team to victory!"

The rest of the group look at him with confusion, as if that suggestion wasn't already obvious. Lincoln and Clyde knew they ideally needed a bunch of highly skilled players in order to maximise their chances of winning, but also knew that everyone in the group should have been aware of the fact that the problem lied in none of them actually knowing any good sports players.

Lincoln: "We know we need a good player. Really, we need a whole bunch of them. The problem is none of us know any good players. So, this was the best we could get!"

Liam: "Yeah, that will certainly be a problem."

Clyde then thinks to himself, is there anyone he or Lincoln knows who can play for their team who is a good player…

Clyde: "Well, let's think. Is there anyone at all who we know can actually play football?"

Lincoln was intrigued by Clyde's question. He couldn't think of anyone off the top of his head, but then started to enter a state of intense thought. He started to ask himself…

Lincoln: "I don't know. Who do we know that's physically fit and active? Who do we know that's even remotely good at sports? Who's tough, and who do we know that's like Lynn…?"

At that moment, all the group stared at the lunch table, thinking and focusing on the questions Lincoln was asking. As they were doing so, someone walked straight past them, not even looking at them, with a completely disinterested look on her face…

Lincoln looked up for a moment and saw this girl walking away from his table. It was Ronnie Anne. Lincoln briefly paused from his intense thought to wave and shout hello…

Lincoln: "Hi, Ronnie Anne!" he said cheerfully. Of course, it was met with no response from her, as she wanted to keep her rather complicated relationship status with him a secret.

Rusty: "Lincoln, this is no time to be flirting with your girlfriend! We have to think of someone who can help us win this game! There's no way I'm being beat by your sister and a bunch of girls!"

Lincoln got defensive about that last comment. He and Ronnie were still at a point where their relationship wasn't clear cut, and didn't want his peers to get accustomed to mocking him for having a relationship with her. He snapped back, but that's when he realised something…

Lincoln: "Okay, first off, she's not my girlfriend! And second, I… I have a great idea!"

For the first time all day, Lincoln had a glimmer of hope. He knew how good of a player Ronnie Anne was. She was constantly the star student of all the gym classes at school. Finally, he had the chance to recruit a team member with a level of ability somewhat comparable to that of his sister.

Lincoln: "Hey, Ronnie Anne!"

The girl casually turned around and saw her 'friend' rushing over to her.

Ronnie: "Oh, hi Lincoln!"

Lincoln: "Hey, can I ask you something important?"

Ronnie: "What?" she asked with sincere curiosity. To her, that line sounded like the setup for a romantic proposal of some sort. She was visibly surprised and nervous of what his next words would be. She was fearing he might actually ask her something soppy and romantic, which was the last thing she wanted when standing in the middle of the school.

Lincoln: "Me and the guys have this big football game coming up, and we know how good you are. We were wondering, do you want to be on our team?"

Ronnie: "Oh…" she simply responded. She was relieved inside her head that it was just a question about a football game rather than what she was just thinking it was. "That's alright. I'll pass. You boys have fun with your little game."

While she always enjoyed a physical challenge, Ronnie knew Lincoln and his friends weren't exactly the athletic type, and thought it would just be a friendly little kids game amongst Lincoln's social group. She considered that somewhat beneath her. On top of that, she was just in a slightly disinterested mood that day. Besides, she knew she would likely be busy during the game, since someone has to take care of Bobby and the Santiago household, and that was usually her. As such, she decided to just casually brush off the offer.

Lincoln, of course, was let down by these words. He hung his head in defeat, as his one chance to defeat Lynn was squandered. His best friend quickly rushed up to him in order to comfort and reassure him as Ronnie walked away…

Clyde: "It's Okay, Lincoln. We'll find someone else who can help you beat Lynn!"

At that point, Ronnie stopped in her tracks. That line, that name, her interest in Lincoln's little football game suddenly grew.

Ronnie: "Wait a minute, what did you say?"

Clyde: "I was just telling Lincoln we'd find another way to help him beat his sister."

Ronnie: "No, you said Lynn."

Lincoln: "Yes, that's my sister. She's the leader of the team we'll being going up against!"

Ronnie: "Wait, is this 'Lynn' by any chance a brunette with a sports jersey and a ponytail?"

Lincoln went to clarify her question with a simple yes, as that description was accurate, but then he paused mid-sentence, as he realised what that meant…

Lincoln: "Yes, that's right. She's my… wait, do you know her?"

While Lincoln maintained a surprised expression on his face, Ronnie Anne developed an angered and spiteful look. It was becoming apparent to Lincoln that Ronnie had some sort of previous run-in with his jock sister.

Ronnie: "Yeah. She's this annoying girl who keeps bugging me every time I go to the park to do my skateboarding. One time, I performed this sick move in the air, and shown her up. Since then, she's been doing little things to annoy me every time I see her there. She keeps yelling at me, trying to distract me when I'm doing my moves, and she keeps tripping me up when I'm on my board and then denies it!"

Lincoln sighed as he shared Ronnie's frustration with his sister's behaviour…

Lincoln: "Yep, that's Lynn alright. Always so determined to be the best at everything that she'll antagonise anyone who manages to best her. Or in my case, she'll also pick on anyone who can't keep up with her, either."

Ronnie: "I swear, I would have clocked her a whole bunch of times, but I'm usually down there by myself and she normally has 3 or 4 heavies with her."

Lincoln: "You know what? If you did that, I would be happy. It's the least she deserves after the way she's treated me; treated both of us, in fact. Probably a lot of other people, too."

Ronnie: "Now I can see why you could take all my rough treatment so lightly. The things she's done to you must have been a lot worse!"

The two started to grow mutually annoyed with their common adversary and her rancid behaviour. At that point, Ronnie clearly started to display an increased level of interest in Lincoln's offer…

Ronnie: "You know what, Loud? You're sick of her, I'm sick of her. I say we work together to bring her down!"

Lincoln's face then lit up with delight as he heard those words. They were like music to his ears at that moment…

Lincoln: "Does this mean…?!"

Ronnie: "Yep. I'll join your team!"

Lincoln screamed loudly in happiness as he started to jump for joy. After a few seconds, he realised he was embarrassing himself in front of Ronnie Anne. He then quickly stopped and conducted himself, trying to shake off his ecstatic state of mind and present a cool mood.

Lincoln: "I mean, that's cool. I'll see you at the game!"

Ronnie: "Of course, you guys better train up for this thing. I don't wanna be carrying your butts through the whole game!"

Lincoln and Clyde smiled back and gave her the thumbs up as she headed off. They then developed concerned expressions as they realised that even with her, they're still going to be outmatched, and will have to fit some form of practice into their schedules before the private game in a few days if they want to have any chance of beating Lynn's team.

But Lincoln knew he couldn't quit now. He had his team setup… such as they were. While not exactly a dream team, it was the best he could get. Now he just had to brace himself and get ready… for the big showdown!

Later that day, back at the Loud House, Lincoln's sister and rival was still preparing for the event. She was in the living room, along with several of the other sisters, performing lots of push-ups in an effort to enter the game in as great a shape as possible. She was visibly straining and sweating as she attempted to push herself towards new limits...

Luan: "Hey Lynn, are you training for the Olympics or something? How many of those have you done now?"

Lynn: "133, 134" she replied as she revealed she was counting the amount she had done.

Luna: "Woah, dudette. That's pretty rad! There must be some big game coming up for you to be getting this intense with your training!"

Lynn then stopped in her tracks and answered her sister's query.

Lynn: "You could say that. There is a big game coming up in a few days. A game between me and Lincoln!"

The other sisters all stopped and wondered what she was talking about. They knew Lincoln was not a sports player and were puzzled as to why he was involved in a sporting event as Lynn's opponent.

Lori: "Lincoln? Why are you playing against him?"

Lynn: "I'm teaching him a lesson!"

Lucy: "What lesson?"

Lynn: "Well, yesterday we were playing a bit of football in the yard, and I was just having some fun, and then out of nowhere, he just started getting all up in my face and challenging me! I don't know what his problem is!"

Lori: "So, all this is because of some argument you had with Lincoln?"

Lynn: "Yeah, I just had a little fun with him, and then he started getting angry with me. He started insulting me and calling me a loser, and then suggested he could beat me in a game of football!? I mean, he's nuts, right?!"

The other sisters all awkwardly looked away from Lynn, trying to avoid answering the question she just placed. Lynn sensed the sisters were restraining themselves from saying something they were thinking, and tried to get them to talk...

Lynn: "Well, guys. Don't you think so?"

Lori, the eldest of the siblings, was the first to speak up...

Lori: "Well, Lynn, here's the thing. Lincoln's kinda got a point."

Lynn: "WHAT!?" Lynn asked in an outraged state.

Lori: "Look, I know we've not said anything before, but we have seen the way you sometimes treat Lincoln, and... it's not hard to see why he snapped against you."

Luna: "Yeah sis, you've been pretty harsh to him!"

Lynn: "What are you talking about?" she defended, honestly not recognising how rough her treatment of her brother was. "I just like having fun with him. He can take it!"

Lucy: "But have you ever stopped and considered how he feels about all the things you've done to him?"

Lori: "That's right. I know the twerp can be annoying sometimes, but he's still our brother, and some of things I've seen you do to him are pretty violent and mean!"

Lynn: "Oh come on. I've never done anything wrong! I don't see why you're all siding with him, he's the one who got all whiny with me! It's not my fault if he's a little wimp!"

Luna: "You need to wake up and see the big picture, sis! We've never called you out on it before because we thought you were just playing..."

Lisa: "But it's-h becoming quite obvious-h you're treatment of our male s-h-ibling is getting out of hand!"

Lori: "Yeah! You need to calm yourself down and stop acting like such a aggressive little ruffian all the time! You need to start thinking about how you might be hurting other people!"

Lynn was starting to feel threatened by her sisters, as if she were being ganged up on by them. In their attempts to make their sister see reason, they were instead pushing her into a state of increased anger and aggression. They were only adding fuel to the fire and making Lynn even more obsessed with crushing her brother.

Lynn: "Oh, so that's how this is. You're all gonna turn on me, too?! Fine, I don't need your support. All that matters is that I put little Lincoln in his place! He's going to regret ever challenging me to this game! I promise I will make an example out of him and his wimpy team!"

The other sisters realised Lynn was losing it. Even by her standards, she was acting unreasonably antagonistic and spiteful. Lori tried to apply her sense of command as the oldest against her younger sibling...

Lori: "You listen to me, Lynn! You are not going to hurt your brother! I will not allow it! Neither will the others! Neither will Mom and Dad!"

The other sisters: "Yeah!"

Lynn: "You wouldn't dare tell Mom and Dad!" she challenged.

Lori: "Yeah, I literally would!" she bit back.

Lynn then walked away from the other sisters and upstairs to her room. It appeared Lori had defeated her and made her back down. It seemed like the game was not going to take place after all...

But in actuality, that was the moment when things took a turn for the worst. Lynn was at a point where her competitive nature was reaching new heights. For her, it wasn't enough Lincoln was challenging her, but now her sisters. She was so determined to beat Lincoln at this game, she started to become unstable on the inside. While she was normally rough and tough, she had some respect for her parents, as well as towards Lori's sense of authority as the eldest sister. But now, she was losing any decency she may have had. One state of mind had become dominant inside her head: Defeat Lincoln Loud by any means necessary. That meant crushing any opposing force which stood in her way. As such, Lynn decided to fight back against Lori's threats...

Lynn pulled a secret weapon from under her bed. It was a baseball bat with spikes coming out of it. There was a name printed on it: 'Mr Masher.' Lynn then returned downstairs to the other sisters in the living room.

Lynn: "Alright. I tried being little miss nice, but now it's time to bring out the big guns!"

She then revealed her weapon to the other sisters, who were all taken aback as they were worried she may actually use it to hurt them. But Lori stood her ground...

Lori: "Come on, Lynn! You're not going to hit us with that thing! Even you don't have it in you to do that!" Lori insisted nervously.

Lynn tried to maintain a forceful and aggressive demeanour, but her limits were quickly exposed. Lynn sighed and lowered the bat, proving Lori to be correct. Even though she was mad, Lynn could not bring herself to attack her own family...

Lynn: "Fine, you win. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not a monster!"

But she then quickly moved towards Lori and swiped her phone out of her hands...

Lynn: "But I have no problem smashing people's stuff to get what I want! Remember what I did to Lincoln's school project!?"

Lori: "No, Lynn, don't! Please!"

At that point, there was a shift in power between the siblings. Now, the sporty jock was in control of the situation. She held Lori's phone in her hands, making it clear she had the power to do some damage if she were opposed again...

Lynn: "Let me lay down the law for you guys. I'm going to teach my chump brother a lesson in a few days at the park when this football game goes down, and none of you are going to stand in my way. For you guys, it doesn't have to be a big deal. It's just going to be me crushing him in a football game, nothing more! But if you want to make it a big deal, then I guess I need to set things straight! If any of you do anything to stop this game, or to cost me the victory, then I will destroy everything you own! Is that clear!?" she asked as she tossed Lori's phone back to her, having sent a clear message.

The other sisters all nodded as they did not want their violent and now seemingly unstable sister to break their cherished belongings. Lynn introduced a form of blackmail to prevent her sisters from interfering in her conflict with Lincoln or getting the parents involved. To her, this was a private and personal dispute which she wanted to win. She was so obsessed with beating Lincoln that she didn't care about anything else at that time. She was going to stop at nothing to beat him, and made sure nobody else in the family would, or could, do anything to stop her. Lincoln was in for a very tough time, so he had to be ready...