And here we have the next chapter. And you'll be glad to know, that I have a definite endgame in mind; one that will hopefully end this story in a way that makes everyone happy without dragging everything for too long.

Now, before we begin, I think now's a good time as ever to try promote some of my stories, since a few of them do still need some attention:

Here on fanfiction net, there's "Epithet Academy", which is a Soft crossover with Epithet Erased, and "Living on the Edge", a parody of the superhero fanfic genre.

While over at Archive Of Our Own, I've been working on quite an oddball: an Owl House and Infinity Train crossover titled Infinity Train: Boiling Point. And another story I'm working on, both on AO3 and here, is Hilda and the Eternal Train, which is also an Infinity Train crossover, but with Hilda instead.

Take a moment to read and maybe review them if you can. It's always a big help.

Anyhow, let's reply to some reviews:

1) Nobody245:

* That's the embodiment of Proto-Lincoln's purity.

* Neo-Lincoln, actually.

* Something's always up with the Loud House XD

2) GennaiArakida-XIV: Long time no see.

* Then the tables will certainly turn.

* Beauty is on the inside?

* Release the beast... coln XD

3) Mysterious Mr M:

* Cool.

* But we're forgetting one important cog wheel that would make even that for worse.

* In the loudverse, anything is possible, so you're right on that.

4) Observant Guest:

* Someone had to say it eventually.

* Gave the theme a listen. Good lord, now I wish I knew of that theme back when I was writing the Proto-Lola arc so long ago XD

* Gave it a listen too. Again, very foreboding, and fits the mood real well.

* Lori's going through some tough stuff, man.

And now, to the chapter!

Episode 90: A Game and a Decision! The Trials of Life and Death!

A portal opened in the middle of a void where the imprisoned Lincoln remained, and from there the Carols, Lori, Chandler, and the twins hopped through, landing on what seemed like a black void while they looked at the crystalline prison.

"Well, here we are," Lori said. "The void literally between the Original and New reality."

"And who's that guy inside the crystal?" Lola asked. "He looks like Lincoln."

"That's because he's literally Lincoln," Lori lowered her eyelids. "Or, to be more specific, Neo-Lincoln: our Lincoln."

The twins' eyes widened as they assimilated the information, a time in which Chandler approached the portal.

"I'm gonna go get ready to send the other sisters here," he explained. "You should try to get some stuff done in the meantime."

And with that said, he vanished.

"B-But, wait a minute," Lana scratched her head. "If our brother is inside that thing, then who have we been living with these past few years?!"

"Everything will be explained eventually, but for now, we need to stay focused," Lori raised her head. "See the chains surrounding the crystal? Those are known literally as the Chains of Reality: if we destroy them, Lincoln will be freed."

"And I'm guessing the chains are color coordinated?" Lola pondered out loud. "The Pink ones represent me, the Navy Blue ones Lana, and so on?"

Lori lowered her head and nodded.

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Lana asked, adjusting her hat with determination. "Let's free our brother!"

Lynn walked alongside the rocky wasteland that was Mars, homeworld of her Caste's most prominent members, the Martians.

Off in the distance, she could see a sports field being created, with people cheering so loudly it could be heard from where she stood.

Then, while taking a moment to scan the sight, Lacy walked to Lynn's side, saying:

"So, what's on your mind?"

Lynn briefly glanced at the Lovechild, then back at the field.

"I think I understand what this trial's about. That field over there... it reminds me of the one where I had that game before the Progenitors arrived."

"It's impressive, isn't it?" Lacy sighed. "To think Dad would remember such a minor event from four years ago..."

Lynn frowned and lowered her head. "Of all the things we could've taught him, it had to be how to hold a grudge..."

Lacy turned to her mother and raised an eyebrow, prompting Lynn to shake her head.

"Nevermind. So, I have the feeling that the field is the the thing I have to go through to pass the trial, but..."

"But?"

"I don't know, I don't see it. Before we discovered our god status, my sisters and I had a one track mind regarding our interests, sports being mine. But these past four years, I've been so busy with Mars, and the Castes, and developing Royal Woods that... I don't really feel like playing sports anymore. And now for my trial, I have to play a game?"

Lacy tilted her head. "You don't play sports anymore?"

"I oversee them, but I don't play them, no. I guess I just... lost interest when everything else came into the picture. And now, what was my greatest obssession is now but a faint memory."

"Impossible."

The duo turned around as soon as a gigantic shadow loomed over them... but instead of an equally massive creature, there stood a normal Proto-Lynn, though with some monkey features like a tail.

"All Lynns are defined by their love of sports, for a Lynn to lack such a trait is like a Lincoln who is the bully rather than the bullied: inconceivable."

"Well, the new reality brought forth a lot of changes, and that was one of them."

"You're a Matriarch! A member of the Loud Family!" Proto-Lynn snapped. "If you don't love sports, then what defines you?!"

"You really think a single thing defines a person? New flash: this isn't the original reality," Lynn folded her arms. "Unlike you, we're not forced to stay one-note to appease a bigger authority."

"... Forced..." Proto-Lynn flinched.

"We change, we develop, and yes, we trip back into old habits once in a while, but we stand up again," Lynn lowered her eyelids. "In fact, I'm pretty sure everyone knows that the only reason we were so shallow was because we needed to stand out."

"... Stand out..."

Lacy gained a smile as Lynn continued:

"We were a family of eleven, thirteen counting our parents. Keeping an eye on us was hard enough as it is, trying to tell who was who would be even harder. So, we each decided to become overly focused on one stand out thing: a thing we legitimately loved, but still only one thing. But that was four years ago. And to stay the same as we were back then... that would be dumb."

Proto-Lynn snickered. "And that's ultimately the reason why we hate you."

Lynn raised an eyebrow.

"In the original reality, we had one simple job: to test the waters of the people who were to come. The Maker made no secret that to him, that to the entire world beyond this one, we were never people. We were nothing but tests that would be discarded once the original reality reached its expiration date. He expected us to just sit pretty and watch as they used us as tools."

Proto-Lynn chuckled as she folded her arms, and Lynn responded:

"That doesn't really give you the right to try destroy our reality, you know?"

"Yeah, I know..." Proto-Lynn smirked. "But the puppeteer controlling this corpse doesn't care-"

Suddenly, blood erupted from Proto-Lynn's mouth, the prototype dropping to her knees as Lynn tried to run to her, but Lacy stopped her.

"It's not safe to get near her!"

"You really should listen to your daughter," Proto-Lynn snickered. "She might just be an illusion, but she knows what she's talking about."

Proto-Lynn snickered some more as she dissipated into dust, forming a genuine smile as she finished:

"Unlike her father... her Maker..."

And with that, Proto-Lynn ceased to exist right in front of Lynn's eyes, who barely got a chance to think about what happened before a voice spoke:

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but those will have to wait."

The duo turned around, and there was Chandler, hands pocketed as he added:

"Right now, your brother... your true brother... needs you."

Lucy stood at the cloudy ground of Purgatory, looking at the sealed entrances to Heaven and Hell, looking particularly determined as she summoned her soul scythe.

"So, you're planning to go through with it?"

Lucy turned around, and saw Harriet walking up to her, but rather than be relieved, her arrival only upset her further.

Probably because of the visible Black halo above her.

"You're gonna unlock Heaven and Hell?"

Lucy tightened her grip, and explained:

"Things are at an all-time low for everyone. Lincoln's pissed, Sincoln is gaining power, Lori's gone insane, and there's a high chance that no matter what we do with these trials, Lincoln will believe we've failed, and once that happens..."

Lucy shivered, but regained her composure as she looked back at the sealed gates.

"Whatever happens, I don't want those who have already died to get caught in the crossfire. Pop Pop, Silas... Mom and Dad... everybody who's died in these past four years have waited long enough for their afterlife. It's time they get their eternal rest, for them to head to the one place that the corruption can't reach them."

Harriet pocketed her hands. "Once people cross to either Heaven and Hell, that's it, you know?"

Lucy became conflicted.

"I won't have the power to bring them back to life. Neither will you, your sisters, not even Lincoln will be able to undo it. All the people you grew up with, and the people you love... You'll only get to see them once in a while, when you visit the afterlife. Is that really what you want?"

Lucy sniffed, and wiped off some tears.

"It's not about what I want... It's about what's best for everyone."

Harriet smiled. "Then be my guest."

Lucy gained a smile as well, and prepared to swing her scythe...

"What are you doing!?"

The pair paused and turned around, meeting Lupa's angry glare as she ran towards them.

"Isn't it obvious?" Lucy answered. "I'm gonna unlock Heaven and Hell so that the deceased can have their final rest."

"Have you gone completely insane!?" Lupa snapped. "The Progenitors are still out there! Dad's still putting you to the test! You can't just unlock the afterlife whenever you want-!"

"I'm gonna become the ruler of the afterlife once this is all said and done," Lucy replied. "And if I can ensure that those who have already died can be free from whatever happens next, then so be it-"

"But-!"

"My counterpart nearly breached the afterlife once. If I can't stop that from happening again, then I can at least send the souls of the deceased to a better place."

"B-T-This is ridiculous!" Lupa clenched her fists. "Do you really think sending the deceased to their true afterlife will stop them from being in danger!? And besides, you and your sisters have died before! If you die again, who's to stop them from joining everybody else!?"

"Do you really think you have a say in this after the brutality you showed against Carol, Lupa?" Harriet narrowed her eyes. "If anything, you've shown yourself to be completely unworthy of ruling the afterlife after Lucy. And considering how that hurts your father too, that's not a very good thing."

Lupa gritted her teeth. "Mom, come on! Just, put the scythe down, and let's talk this out!"

Lucy sighed. "I've already made my decision."

Lucy prepared to swing her scythe, but Lupa dashed to her and placed her own scythe's blade near her neck, her eyes glowing Orange as she spoke with a familiar voice:

"I said, put the scythe down, and let's talk this out!"

Lucy quickly recognized the voice. "Lincoln?"

"It's about time you showed your true self," Harriet stated with a stern glare.

"What true self?!" Lupa snapped, her voice turning back to normal. "I'm Lupa Loud! Nothing more, nothing less!"

Suddenly, Lucy put her finger on Lupa's forehead, stating:

"Let's see if that's true."

"Wait, what are you-"

"Exorcise."

Lupa's body trembled as a white aura escaped her body, an aura that, though it vanished as soon as it came out, remained long enough for Lucy to note its resemblance to Lincoln.

Then, "Lupa's" body dropped on the ground, slowly reforming into its true self: Proto-Lucy's motionless body.

"The body that was left after I destroyed the spirit inside Proto-Lucy's body?"

"It's amazing the things "Lincoln" will do just to try keep the situation under his control, isn't it?" Harriet pondered out loud. "But now, this little piece has already been dealt with."

Harriet faced Lucy. "And there's only one thing left to do."

Lucy, realizing what Harriet meant, nodded and gripped her scythe tightly. She swung it, and in the blink of an eye, the chains that had locked Heaven and Hell for so long ceased to exist, and the gateways opened in unison, catching the attention of all the souls nearby.

And as the souls cheered, Harriet put a hand on Lucy's shoulder and said:

"I'm proud of you, Lucy."

The gothic goddess smiled with a slight blush.

"I'm happy for you too."

The duo turned, and this time, it was Paige who came into view.

"But, now that you've finished your business here, think you could come with me for a moment?"

"And that's how everything went down."

That was said by Arturo's spirit as Ronnie Anne, alongside the rest of her family, listened. But while they were in disbelief, Ronnie Anne and her mother, especially her mother, were angry.

"So, you mean to tell me," Maria spoke. "That you unleashed one of the Progenitors, and convinced Harriet to take your place as the conductor... just to stay with us?"

"I couldn't stay in that job anymore, Maria: to see so many spirits, old and young, heading to an afterlife that was effectively closed off... it crushed me," the spirit replied. "And it also reminded me of you and Ronalda, Roberto, the entire family. To know that not only I was taking so many souls to a dead end, but that the people who I wanted to stay with were so far away from me... I couldn't stay there anymore-"

"And so Proto-Luan exploited those feelings to convince you to release her, all in hopes of reuniting with us," Bobby frowned. "But surely you knew that she would screw you over one way or another, right? What did she ask in return?"

"Every time I asked her, she dodged the question, and told me to focus on freeing her," Arturo somberly answered. "It was only when the deed was done, when it was too late for me to take it back, that I realized that what she wanted in return-"

"Was me," Ronnie Anne finished.

The spirit lowered itself, utterly ashamed.

But just as she looked to get even angrier, Ronnie Anne smiled and added:

"But you didn't go through with it, did you?"

Arturo's spirit raised itself and moved as if nodding.

"Once I learned the price I had to pay, I just couldn't do it. But before I could anything, she kidnapped me and turned me into one of her puppets. It's only later when that disturbingly naked Loud came that she separated my body, freeing me from Proto-Luan's control."

"Well, that's what you get for trusting a Progenitor," Bobby sighed. "However, after everything you said, it seems like you did it out of desperation."

Carlota folded her arms and looked elsewhere.

"I assure you, if I had known her sick intentions from the start, I wouldn't have given Proto-Luan the time of day," Arturo lowered his spirit. "But I was at such a low point, that I couldn't think straight."

Carlota took a deep breath and began walking away, quickly catching Bobby's attention.

"Where are you going, Carlota?"

"Hearing him say all that stuff made me realize there's something important I need to do," Carlota sighed. "And if I'm lucky, I'll be back soon."

With that said, Carlota kept walking, leaving the village... but not before she exclaimed:

"Guys, I think you should come to the entrance! Someone... familiar, just came in..."

And with that, she vanished, leaving the family to turn around and look absolutely gobsmacked at who had come to visit.

A girl that looked similar to Ronnie Anne, but with red hair and different clothing.

"Are you...?" Ronnie Anne blurted.

"Yup, I'm your Progenitor, Ronnie Anne," the redhead said with a smile and peace sign. "Nice to meet'cha!"