Left in the Dark:

Sunday night. There's always something special on TV that's airing. Whether it be a chick flick, a movie or some sort of weird show, everyone's gotta watch it. Sure, it MIGHT air on the next day, but it won't be the same. Especially when it's live broadcasting. Oh, you'd be an old fogie to watch reruns.

8 PM.

Everyone's gotta watch something at 8, which is considered to be the best broadcast time for ratings. It was a business fact, well-known through all the television networks. However, not everyone has a show to watch at 8.

Laverne is on the couch, watching the Moto GP while wearing a drinking helmet. The race was now set in Hockenheim, where the bikers are needed to race around the ring course in 180 laps. 90 laps from the qualifying round and 90 other laps in the real race.

"New stuff happens at 8 PM. However, because my show is always at 5 PM since the Moto GP races are three hours long, I don't have to deal with competition from the siblings. So, this pretty much meant that I get early fringe to myself. Whenever the siblings do fight, it gets dangerous."

Laverne had just finished watching the television to order pizza. However as he placed the remote on the coffee table...

BA-DUM

Something ominous was about to occur. Laverne had heard thumping from upstairs before it sounded like a stampede.

"Oh, no."

Quick on his feet, Laverne dropped the remote and jumped over the nearest recliner.

CRASH!

"I was here first!"

"My show is on!"

"My show is way more important!"

"Gimme the remote!"

Laverne slowly peeked into view from behind the recliner as he witnessed the battle of the remote.

"This had been going on since Lincoln was born. As the years gone by, the big ball of violence just keeps getting bigger and badder. With dibs in effect, I'd had to be the judge to see who gets the remote since I always watch TV before prime time. I heard that Lincoln had a plan to get the remote by distracting the others. He didn't say much, but he's the little man with the plan."

Laverne felt the couch move slightly as he turned to see Lucy sitting next to him.

"I call dibs after you're done." Lucy said.

"So, what are you watching tonight?" the oldest brother asked.

"Tonight is the season premiere of 'Vampires of Melancholia'," Lucy answered. "It's about a girl who tries to find out about her vampire bloodline."

"Oh, yeah. I remember that show. I heard it's renewed for two more seasons." Laverne remarked.

"This season, Edwin has to protect Ella from Volksvagen coven." Lucy said. "Oh, how I wish I was in Ella's position. Thinking about it makes me more depressed about it. Sigh."

Laverne raised his eyebrow at that description.

"Well, it looks like Lincoln's plan is all for naught. Dibs is a universal rule of life. You call dibs, you get the first shot."

After Laverne's show was finished, he took off his drinking hat and handed the remote to Lucy. In return, she gave a nod of gratitude. Just then Lincoln arrived, his expression of victory turned distraught.

"Verne! You know that the live season finale of ARGGH! is on tonight!" Lincoln exclaimed. "Why does Lucy have the remote?!"

"Dibs," was all the oldest brother said as he went to make a phone call.

He began to dial the numbers on the house phone before waiting for the receiver to pick up. He had a handphone, but it was cheaper on the house phone.

"Hello, welcome to Papa Jones. What would you like to order?" The receiver did pick up. Laverne wished he would punch the composer for writing such an atrocious jingle.

"Hi, I would like to order two boxes of pepperoni pizza. With extra cheese, please." Laverne requested.

"Okay, sir. Two pepperoni pizza. What would you like the size to be?"

"Large."

"That would be-"

BZZT

All of the sudden, the lights went out. So did all technology.

Everyone was murmuring in confusion as they gathered around the hallway. How the heck did the house blackout all of the sudden?

"Alright, alright! Everyone just calm down!" Lori exclaimed to quell the voices down.

"Guys, I can't see anything! I think I've gone blind!" Leni panicked. It was bad enough she wore those useless sunglasses, now she thinks she's blind whenever it gets dark.

"No, you didn't go blind," Lori sighs in exasperation. "What the heck happened?"

"I was just plugging in the old TV for Lucy and it must've made the lights go out." Lincoln answered like it was a no big deal.

"Of course it was your fault, Lincoln." Lori said as if it was no surprise. Everyone began to complain at Lincoln's blunder.

"What? All I did was plug in some dumb old TV!" Lincoln exclaimed.

"We stopped using that 'dumb old' TV because the lack of compatibility with our house's current electrical systems creates a short fuse." Laverne explained.

"Hey! I know why the lights went out! Cause they liked each other!" Luan jokes as everyone grunts at that bad joke. "Get it? Get it?"

"That one was so good that it deserved a cookie," Lisa snarked as she gave a cookie to the comedienne.

"Oh, thanks!" Luan ate the cookie. "So anyway, what did one light bulb say to the other?"

In an instant, she starts to glow. Everyone except Lisa gasps at this sudden event.

"You're glowing!" Lincoln said in shock.

"Oh, have I already told you that one?" Luan wondered.

"No, dude. You are glowing." Luna repeated.

"Literally." Laverne added.

"Hey, wow!" Luan said in jubilation.

"Everyone, back away from Luan!" Lori exclaimed as everyone does what she says. "Lisa, Mom and Dad said you're not allowed to use your siblings as experimental guinea pigs anymore!"

"Yeah! Not after what you did to me!" Leni yelled in anger.

Laverne flinched at that one memory.

Leni's head was all swelled up like a balloon and covered with boils and blemishes.

"My face feels funny." Leni said, feeling a bit lightheaded.

Laverne walked into the room. "Hey, Lisa. I need to borrow-"

He looked up to see Leni's condition, slightly startled.

He shivered from that recollection while Lisa chuckled.

"Classic," the young scientist remarked. "All I did was infuse the bioluminescent DNA of the Aequorea victoria jellyfish into a cookie. I call them Gloweos. Besides, now we can see."

"Okay, everyone huddle around Luan." Lori said as they begin to surround the glowing girl.

"I always knew that I was the light of your life," Luan quipped, causing everyone to sigh in annoyance.

"Okay, so how about we get that power back on?" Lincoln suggested.

"Hey, when mom and dad are out, I'm in charge," Lori barked. She couldn't trust Laverne. "So first, we need to get a head count to make sure we're all here."

"1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, 11 and me, that's 12. Yep, that's all of us. We are all here and accounted for." Lincoln quickly said.

"You forgot me," Lucy said from behind, causing the white-haired boy to jump out in terror.

"Can I go flip the circuit breaker and get the lights back on before Lucy doesn't just give Linc white hair?" Laverne asked.

"Again, in charge," Lori reminded. "I'll do it. Where's this circuit breaker thingy?"

"My bedroom," the oldest sibling answered.

Who knew the basement was like the abyss during a blackout? Lori could only stand right in front of the lower room's darkness that was awaiting her.

"Why am I the one who has to do this?" Lori asked, very unnerved.

"Because you're in charge!" yelled all the younger siblings. Laverne was snickering behind them.

Lori flinched at the volume. "Alright, alright! C'mon, Luan. Light the way."

"That's the brightest idea you've had all day!" giggled Luan as she was pulled along. Unfortunately, her glow had expired as everyone gasped. Luan noticed and giggled. "Oooh. I thought I was staying in tonight, but I guess I'm going out!" Everyone groaned.

"Lisa, give her another one of those cookies. We won't tell," Lori said.

"Negative, that was the only prototype." Lisa replied.

"Just great..." Lori muttered. Suddenly, a wooden creak was heard, causing Lori to jump out in fright. "There's something in the basement! I'm not going down there!"

"Ooh, you're scared of the dark!" Lynn teased.

"I am not! You're the one who's scared!" Lori retorted.

"I'm not afraid of anything." the tomboy denied.

"Boo." Lucy said, causing Lynn to jump in fright.

This caused a huge fight to break out between the sisters. The twins began to tremble with fright, as they could only imagine what was downstairs.

"THERE'S A GHOST IN THE BASEMENT!" they cried out.

TOOT!

Everyone jumped at the sound of the air horn, which came from Laverne.

"Thanks, Verne." Lincoln said as he hugged the twins. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Your big brothers will protect you. In fact, we'll protect all of you! For I am Cadet Lincoln! Highly trained student of the Academy of Really Good Ghost Hunters! Or...ARRGH!"

"Oh boy, he's at it again. Whenever there's something involving ghosts, Lincoln would pretend to be one of those Ghoulbusters. I still think ghost shows are fake and Hunter Spector is a fraud. But I won't tell him because I'm not that much of a jerk. Besides, Lucy would throw a fit if she finds out that her ghost friends are being hunted. Does she ever throw a fit? Who knows."

Lincoln was already wearing his night vision goggles while talking on his walkie talkie. "Cadet Clyde, this is Cadet Lincoln. Forget the plan, I'm gonna need backup!"

From the front door bursts in Clyde, Lincoln's best friend since childhood. "Cadet Clyde, reporting for duty!"

"The McBrides have been family friends of the Louds since Lincoln was a toddler. They met at the park one day and began to hit it off since they both like Ace Savvy. As the years went by, they became best friends. Speaking of the years, however, as we grew up, so did Lori. And when Clyde is around Lori..."

Clyde noticed the oldest sister and had hearts in his eyes. "L-L-L-Lori?" he stuttered before acting like a robot. "RED ALERT. RED ALERT. DOES NOT COMPUTE. CIRCUIT OVERLOAD. MUST ABORT MISSION." This accidentally causes him to leave.

"...that happens."

"I will now descend into the scariest place in the house: the basement." Lincoln declared.

"A.k.a, my bedroom." Laverne cut in.

"But fear not, with my official ARRGH! branded night vision goggles, I can see in the dark." Just as Lincoln begins to take a step, he slipped down and fell over the stairs.

"Lincoln! Are you okay?" Lori calls out.

"I told you that using scuba goggles for night vision does not work." Laverne said.

"Hey, I think my video camera has a night vision setting." Luan said.

"Does it have infrared?" Laverne asked.

"Sure do!" the comedienne confirmed. "I even have black and white! I always use this setting to make my slapstick movies."

"Great! It's just like the cameras they use in ARGGH! C'mon, Verne. We're going in..." Lincoln said.

"Wait! You're not leaving us up here all alone, are you?" Lori interjected. "I mean, we couldn't possibly let you go down there all alone. We should all go down together. As a group." She gives a pleading grin. It wasn't like she was scared, you know. Just concerned for their safety. That's all.

"Sure, why not?" Laverne shrugged. "Lead the way, little man."

Everyone was slowly making their way downstairs, thanks to Luan's camera acting as a guide for them.

"You may want to stay close. There's no telling what could be lurking down here in the dark." Lincoln advised.

"There's nothing funny about this situation. Although, I do like dark humor." Luan quipped. She was joking and being serious on both sides.

"Is someone touching my hand?" Leni asked.

"You're touching your own hand." Lynn reminded her.

"I hate basements." Lori said.

"I'm too old for this." Laverne muttered.

Suddenly, they heard an eerie sound.

"What's that moaning?!" Lori gasped.

The girls gasp as Lincoln turns to the source.

"Don't freak out. That's just the pipe settling." Lincoln told them.

Another scary sound.

"What's that scratching?!" Leni exclaimed.

The girls gasp again as Lincoln checks.

"Don't be scared. It's just Cliff the cat." Lincoln assured them.

Lynn begins to flinch and covers her nose. "What's that smell?!"

Rule of three of gasping as Lincoln sees something familiar.

"It's just Lily with a full diaper," Lincoln said.

Luna had been carrying the baby throughout the entire time. She began to regret it as Lily was in need of a diaper change.

"Poo-poo!" Lily cooed.

"See what I have to go through? 'Tis the fate of a basement dweller."

"See, guys? I told you. There's nothing to be afraid of." Lincoln said.

But suddenly, an ominous noise occurred, which startled Lincoln.

"What is it?!" Lori exclaimed in fear.

"Lincoln...LINCOLN..."

The boy was absolutely scared stiff. "IT'S THE GHOST AND IT KNOWS MY NAME!"

Everyone except Laverne and Lucy began to run and scream.

"Yeah, nothing to be afraid of," Laverne snarked.

However, the junior ghost hunter began to suck it up. "I'LL SAVE YOU, SISTERS!" he exclaimed as he charged at the ghost.

Fortunately, Lori found the circuit breaker and turned the power back on.

"Cool it, Lincoln. It's not a ghost, just our laundry." Lori said.

The boy emerges from the clothing pile and sheepishly grins. It also turned out that the sound came from Lincoln's walkie talkie.

"Lincoln! Lincoln! Do you read me?"

"Clyde?" Lincoln said.

"I was just calling to say sorry for not being such a good ARRGH! cadet. And...is your sister ready to date younger men?" Clyde asked.

"Never gonna happen!" Lori exclaimed, annoyed that she had to remind the boy several times.

"Was that your sister?!" Clyde exclaimed. "RED ALERT. RED ALERT. OVERLOAD. OVERLOAD."

Lincoln pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"Guys! I still can't see!" Leni exclaimed.

"Open your eyes." Lisa instructed.

The blonde ditz does that. "IT'S A MIRACLE!" Lisa merely facepalmed. Maybe her experiments are what caused a drop in Leni's intelligence?

Nah.

"First one to the TV is couch commando!" Lori announced.

Everyone began to reach for the TV, but Lincoln was way faster as his rush had managed to get him to outrun his sisters. Laverne begins to check the time on his phone.

"Oh, boy. It's 8.30. Normally, it's no big deal. However, whenever Lincoln misses out on something or has bad things happen to him..."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"He gets overdramatic. For good or no reason, that's up to you."

Laverne gets upstairs and sees Lincoln about to break into tears. He noticed Luan's camera and smirks. Walking to her, he whispered into her ear as the comedienne smiled before she spread the word to her sisters.

"Sorry you missed your show, Lincoln." Lori said as everyone walked over. She gave Lincoln a bucket of popcorn.

"But you just lived it. Check it out." Luan said as she plugged her camera into the TV. The footage was of Lincoln's ghost hunting adventure. Slowly, Lincoln begins to smile at how he had his own adventure recorded on video.

"You know, I may have missed my show. But sometimes, it's not about being there first. Sometimes, It's about being there together. All of us." Lincoln said.

"You forgot me," Lucy said.

Everyone except Laverne had jumped from the sudden appearance.

"Hey, Luce. It's a bit crowded, so how about you scooch on my lap?" Laverne offered.

Lucy looked at him. "Sigh, the embarrassment I'll have to suffer will be the death of me." With that, she was sitting on his lap.

"You know, how about we have a movie night on Sundays? We rarely have nights like these." Laverne suggested.

Everyone began to murmur in agreement.

"We can draw lots to see who gets to pick the movie first in order. Agreed?"

With a collective nod, the plan would be set next week.

A/N: Yeah, I'm definitely going to do alternate episodes that will be parallel to the original episodes.