A/N Hi guys! Here we go again! Man, this story has begun to wind down, finally. I hope you guys enjoy!

R&R!

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Path Ahead

For a moment, Lincoln thought about what they had done. Of all the things Lana could've asked him, why did it have to be that? "I don't know," He let out a breath in defeat. "I just don't."

"That can't be true!" Lana turned to him in surprise, flaring her rms as she did so. "You're the man with the plan! Nothing gets passed you!" She pointed at him. "You always come up with something! Didn't you have an idea a few months ago?"

He gave a small nod, before shaking his head. "I did, but I… well, that was before we did all that stuff for you," He spoke in a soft, understanding tone as he pushed himself up and leaned on his arms. "Before the pageant, I thought there was no limit to what we could pull off, and that there was a chance that we could make a difference," He looked away. "That we could bring her back. But…" His voice trailed off.

"But what?" Lana sat up and tilted her head in curiosity.

"I guess, I just realized that there isn't much we can do," He looked into her eyes with a begging gaze, urging her to understand. "Think about it, how important was that pageant?"

"Very," The blonde answered. "She didn't think of anything else besides winning it…"

"But, after you won it under her name… she didn't come back," He continued, despair filling his voice. "A part of me thinks that it was pointless."

For a moment, silence overtook the duo, with neither sure just how to continue after that. "So… she really is gone forever, huh?"

The younger child's gaze softened, before she fell back, allowing her head to rest upon the cold, snowy ground while she held her arms outstretched in defeat. "So there really is nothing we can do…"

Lincoln sighed again, taking a moment to choose his words carefully. "Lana… it's not that."

"Then what is it?" She raised an eyebrow. "You basically just told me that you have no ideas and that there's nothing I can do to bring her back!" She shook her head. "Trying to bring her back was a fool's errand after all. What was the point? She didn't wake up…"

"Well… maybe there's something else that we could do," His voice softened, filling with a warm solemnity, prompting Lana to lean up and look up into his eyes. "We could… move on."

Move on? Was he crazy?!

"What do you mean?"

Lincoln rested his back against the ground and looked up, taking in the soft glow of the winter stars above. "I know this is gonna sound cheesy, but in this anime I watched-"

"I thought you grew out of those!" Lana cut in with a soft chuckle.

"Nah, they can be fun, especially those card game ones," He pointed up and began to draw the air with his finger. "But anyways… in one of them, a character was dealing with the fact that he lost everyone he cared for and didn't know what to do. So the reformed villain guy challenged him to a battle near the facility everything started at."

"Err, ok?" Lana raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What are you trying to get at?"

"I'm getting there," He turned to his sister. "During the battle, he told the main character that he was living a shameful life, and that he, the former villain, lives his life in a way so that when he sees his loved ones again, he can face them with a smile," He looked into her eyes while finishing. "Maybe that's what we should do."

"Live my life in a way so I can face her with a smile?" Lana spoke in a slightly confused tone.

"Yeah, that's basically it," He placed his arms behind his head. "And that way, you can pick right back up where you left off when she does wake up."

Lana let the idea sink in for a moment. It wasn't too far-fetched to imagine working towards something like it. In fact, it seemed so simple and obvious, and yet, why did it feel so off?

"Lana," The white-haired boy continued. "Why'd you try to wake her up despite everything we said?"

The young girl hesitated her answer, her mind jumping from possibility to possibility, only to end up on. "I don't know.

"Come on, there has to be something," He smiled at her. "We listened to mom and dad and the doctors, but you refused. There had to be something making you think that we were wrong or something.

The young girl didn't reply, choosing instead to look away. "I don't know…"

"Ya know, when I talk to you, I feel like she's back with us," He continued, giving his little sister a smile and a gentle nudge.

"Why do you say that?" Lana looked into his eyes in reply.

"I guess it's just because you are like her," He scratched the back of his head. "You never give up, you're driven, and you'll do anything for the other. Really, if it wasn't for the clean and dirty natures you guys had, I probably would've had trouble telling you two apart. You two were great. And it always feels like she's still around thanks to you."

"I wish she was really back here with us," She let out a breath. "Lincoln… I guess it's because I never felt her leave. Even though she's in a coma, I could always feel that she was around, watching us… like she was just waiting ya know?"

Lincoln gave a small nod. "I felt the same way…" He paused and looked up, drawing in the stars with his finger again. "Lana… what if that is what's really going on?"

Lana turned to him in confusion. "What?"

"Lola's not gone, but it's not her time to wake up?"

"Are you saying that… there really isn't anything we can do?" Her voice fell soft. "And that she's teasing us?"

Lincoln gave a small chuckle, his mind imagining the image drawn, of a young girl reading for the first time, despite the difficulty it put her through, and smiling as her imagination ran wild. "Maybe… but I mean, wasn't it in her nature to do that? She always loved pulling pranks and messing with us…"

Lana chuckled. "You sure you're not mistaking her for Luan? Lola always wanted to be in control and stuff."

Lincoln shook his head. "Remember the time she realized I was using earplugs? So, she decided to get all of you guys in on pranking me?" he laughed. "Good times."

"Heh, or remember that time she helped us out because we tried to stay home and get schooled that way, and ended up failing her quiz because of us?" Lana added. "Man… she didn't have to help us, but she did."

"At least we confessed and made it so she could keep going." Lincoln pointed out.

Lana gave a small nod, before looking aside. "I don't wanna give up…"

"Neither do I," Lincoln replied. "But… like mom and dad said, there really isn't much for us to do, besides wait."

For a moment, everything hopped around her mind. Everything had been for her, and yet none worked. She felt so close and yet seemed so far away. "Lincoln, do you think Lola's gonna wake up?"

He nodded.

"But there's nothing we can do to make that happen faster, right?" She continued.

He nodded again.

With that, Lana pushed herself up and let out a breath. For a moment, everything that had happened rushed through her mind. All of the times she cried and pleaded for Lola to come back, all of her hoping and waiting, the challenges she had put herself and her family through starting from the first time she wondered. Was it all for nothing? It couldn't have been, right?

Deep down, she could feel her presence. As if she was simply waiting and watching for the right time to come back. What kind of sister was she? "Lincoln, do you think Lola would be happy to be home when she wakes up?"

"I dunno… everyone's… less than happy to say the least and well, her part of your room is covered in dust…"

With that, she stood up and looked up to the starts, the image of a princess hugging her sibling filling her eyes. "Well then, all right then. No more sitting around," She glanced at Lincoln, "Let's go, I think I know what I have to do now."

"Err, care to fill me in?" Lincoln tilted his head in confusion.

Lana turned and hugged him. "Lincoln, I know Lola's gonna be back, even if we have to wait years, I know she will," She pushed him back. "That means that when she does, she's gonna need a good home and we can't do that when everyone's sad!"

Lincoln smiled. "So, you're thinking of finding a way to cheer everyone up?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, but…" She looked into his eyes. "I'm gonna make sure to live my life so I can face her with a smile when she does wake up!" She turned around and made her way back into the house. "Just you wait Lola! I'm gonna make sure that you're gonna love the home you come back to! You can count on me!"

With that, she headed inside, with Lincoln following soon after.

"Live my life in a way so that I can smile at her when I see her again…" The thought crossed Lana's mind as she stepped along the snowy sidewalk. Truth be told, she didn't really have a goal in mind, just simply wanted to walk along while she still could. "But what am I supposed to do?" Her mind jumped at the possibilities. "How am I gonna make sure that when she comes back, she's gonna love her home?"

"Hey Lana!" A familiar voice called out, prompting her to turn and greet the source, a certain young boy with a green hat and wearing a bright smile. "What's up? I didn't think I'd see ya out here today! How are ya?"

The young girl gave a small smile. "Hi Skippy, I guess I'm doin' all right," She shoved her hands in her pockets and raised her head up. "I'm just thinking and stuff."

"Oh?" The boy tilted his head in confusion. "What about?"

"I'm not sure. I just got some stuff on my mind and I'm not sure what to do with it," Her voice fell low, as if a hint of confusion was trying to make its way out through her.

In reply, Skippy took her hand in his own. "Well then, whatever you have in mind, I'll be right by your side, all right?"

Lana couldn't help, but give a soft blush, before she answered. "Thanks Skippy."

"Good," he pulled back and turned around, before pointing ahead. "So, wanna hang out today? The snow's gonna melt soon! And it's hard to play on cold grass"

"No point, he's gonna leave you too, right?" Though the thought crossed her mind, she nodded anyways and took a step forward to follow. "No, Skippy's been around ever since the beginning. I doubt that." So she continued. "Sure, but I wanna find Lindsey first."

He tilted his head in confusion. "Uhh, ok? Why though, doesn't she hate the snow and stuff?"

"She never said that though," Lana raised her finger.

"True, but she didn't seem like the type to play in the snow and stuff," he shrugged. "I always thought that she'd say something like 'the snow is too dirty' or something like that."

Lana shrugged. "She could say that, but I mean, it wouldn't hurt to ask, would it?"

Skippy shrugged in response. "Well, I guess you're right about that. Sure, might as well," Before stepping forward, with lana running past soon after.

"Come on Skippy! We're burnin' daylight!" before she looked ahead. "Let's do this! For Lola!"

And so, a few minutes later, they found themselves standing before a certain home, wasting no time knocking.

Slowly, the door creaked open, allowing a single eye to come into view. "Hi… what are you two doing here?"

Lana stepped forward. "Hey lindsey, I was thinkin', wanna hang out today? There's plenty of snowand stuff around!"

The redhead's gaze softened. "Why? So you can remind me about how we couldn't wake her up?"

Lana shook her head. "No. Not at all," She placed a soft hand on her shoulder. "Lindsey. I just wanted to hang out with my friends. After all, we haven't really hung out aside from all the practice and stuff."

For a moment, Lindsey hesitated, her hand ready to slam the door on the duo. After all, it was her fault Lola was gone, right? So why the heck was Lana inviting her along? She didn't deserve anything but her hatred!"

Yet, Skippy leaned forward. "Snow's pretty fun. I know you don't like it much, probably, but come on! It'll be great!"

And so, Lindsey took a breath and shrugged, before grabbing her coat. "Sure then I guess… it couldn't hurt much, right?"

Lana smiled, before leading them out. And a few minutes later, they found themselves playing along, pushing the snow into a ball.

"All right! Here's his bottom!" Skippy declared, while Lana took a breath.

"Come on Lana! The snow isn't that fun! Play on the ice!" A voice cut across her thoughts. And yet, she smiled. "Ice never was my thing, but it was Lola's. She would've love it," before she pushed the second ball forward, placing it on top of the first a moment later, before turning to lindsey. "Now your turn."

She crossed her arms and looked away, blushing in embarrassment. "I dunno… the snow is cold and stuff… what if I break a nail."

She chuckled at the thought. "Just like Lola would've said," she stepped over to her friend. "Come on, it'll be fine, I'll even help ya out!" She urged Lindsey down, and reluctantly, she complied, placing her hands in the ice.

"Now roll it, like this," Lana pushed forward, with Lindsey nodding and doing the same. A few minutes later they had a small ball rolled up, ready to be placed on top. And though she didn't understand why she was doing it, Lindsey gave a small smile and pulled it up.

"All right! On top!" Skippy came up and helped as the trio placed the final ball on top, finishing the main body of their snowman.

Lindsey tilted her head in confusion. "Hmm, I dunno… I feel like it's missing something…"

The boy chuckled. "Course it is!"

Skippy chuckled, before scooping a few rocks off the ground. "We have to turn it into a snow man! It's just a few balls of snow right now!"

Lindsey rubbed her chin, before taking off her hat. "Well... will this help?"

Lana rubbed her chin. "definitely," before she pulled out a carrot. "And this for his nose!"

With that, the three kids dressed the figure, before pulling back and basking in its finished glow.

"Well, I've gotta say, this doesn't look half bad!" Skippy smiles at the sight.

Lindsey cracked a small smile in reply, only for a snowball to nail in the face. "What the?!"

Lana chuckled. "Haha!" Only for snowballs to pelt them both, causing them to look at Skippy, who was already reloading.

Lindsey rushed to her feet. "You're on!"

And before they knew it, the three were throwing snowballs at each other, filling the air with the soft sounds of children's laughter.

The sun soon set on that day as well, leaving the trio lying in the snow, their bodies covered in the snow they had pelted each other with.

"Heh, that was the most fun I've had in a while," Lana leaned into the ice, allowing some to melt and soak her jacket.

"Best break ever," Skippy added, a soft smile taking his face as well, before he glanced at Lindsey. "How about you?"

For a moment, the young girl paused. After everything that had happened, she couldn't help but agree. "Yeah… it was fun," and yet, her tone said otherwise.

Lana pushed herself up and glanced at her. "What's up Lindsey?"

The red-haired girl hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should say what was truly on her mind. And yet, she pushed herself up and shook her head. "Lana… what's going on?"

The blonde girl pushed herself up as well. "What do you mean?"

"Why'd you come over today?" She continued. "Lola didn't wake up! Everything we did the past few months was pointless! But you decided to come by anyways…"

Lana hesitated her answer. What could she say? Not much truth be told aside from. "Not sure, but I guess I just thought that you'd wanna hang out today."

Skippy followed up. "Plus, even though… you know," He rubbed the back of his head. "You still helped out, and you're a pretty cool girl!"

Lindsey shook her head. "But why?"

"Maybe, I guess, it's what Lola would've wanted," Lana shrugged. "Ya know she never really hated you. She always talked about how much fun she had beating you!"

"S-she didn't?!" Lindsey's eyes went wide.

The blonde nodded. "Yeah. I know I never mentioned it before, but she loved having to dodge all of your tricks and traps. She always said they made competing in pageants all the more interesting and fun!"

Lindsey smiled softly at the thought. "Ya know… Lana… you kinda remind me of her."

"Well, we are twins," Lana chuckled.

"So, what do you guys have in mind for break?" Skippy spoke up. "Since, ya know, all this stuff that's going on."

"Truth be told… I don't know," Lana fell back on the snow. "All I do know is that, well, even though Lola hasn't woken up yet, that doesn't mean I can just give up."

Lindsey's eyes went wide as she jumped onto her knees. "What do you mean?!"

"Lola's gonna be gone for a while, but I wanna make sure that when she comes back, she'll have a great life waiting for her."

Skippy and Lindsey looked to each other for a moment, before both nodding.

"We're in."

Lana's eyes went wide. "Wh-what?!"

Lindsey replied. "Lana, I'm sorry about what happened, and I wanna help you. I wanna be able to tell Lola I'm sorry when she gets back, and I wanna prove it."

"And you're my best friend. I'm gonna help you no matter what!"

Lana smiled, before throwing her arms around them. "Oh thank you guys!" She pushed back. "Now, then… Hah!" She shoved them both in the snow.

Skippy wiped himself down. "You're on!"

And with that, they played in the snow before the lights came on signalling them to go home.

20-8-15-21-7-8 20-8-5 12-1-20-8 23-9-12-12 2-5 4-9-5-5-9-3-21-12-20, 20-8-5-18-5 23-9-12-12 1-12-23-1-25-19 2-5 8-15-16-5.

A/N And there we go! With this, we enter the final arc of this fic! I hope you guys enjoyed so far!

Review Replies (C23):

Boris Yeltsin: Nope. Lana's hallucinating her waking up more and more.

Kirby: No problem mate.

Zero: There's always more options.

Rebecca Noto: Thanks for the sentiment mate! I hope you can enjoy how this story will end!

Gamemod: Thanks!

SuperParkerBros: Heh I think I get what you're saying.

sky3427: Definitely.

DreadedCandiru2: perhaps, or maybe not.