And here it is! The beginning of the end! From this point onwards, the final battle for the universe begins!

Again, don't have much to say here, so let's answer some reviews:

1) Nobody245: You shall wait no longer! :)

2) Mysterious Mr M: You read The Loud Sim Date?

3) Observant Guest: It's a reputation well deserved. I really wish I had it in mind while writing certain scenes, definitely would've made it much more epic.

And now, to the chapter!

Episode 97: The Fear of Unfinished Business! We're Getting Closer and Closer to the End, Folks!

"Do we really have to do this?"

"You want closure or not?"

This was the exchange Margo and Stella had as they walked across the hallways of the Citadel, the latter tightly grabbing the former's hand as they did.

"I already told you, Stella, my beef with Lynn's nothing compared to the things the Loud sisters have dealt with," Margo groaned. "Even if we bring it up, who'd to say they'll take time off their very busy schedules in to indulge me, a mere mortal?"

"The matriarchs have made a lot of mistakes, but they want to fix them, I know they do," Stella answered, briefly glancing at Margo. "And sure, maybe they'll focus on dealing with Planet Tokyo first, but we can convince them to address this after everything's dealt with."

"You really are an optimistic girl, aren't you?"

"Somebody has to be. Anyway, we're here."

Stella opened the door with a kick... or tried to, since it opened on its own before she threw the kick.

"I keep forgetting we have future doors now," she remarked. "Anyway, hi gu-"

The duo winced at the frozen sight inside the room: Leni stood still with one finger about to pull a string, connecting to several dozen strings, some keeping her fellow sisters in place, all while the group were frozen in time by Luan and Lincoln, whose hands were spread forward while a Yellow and Orange aura surrounded the frozen sisters.

And then they noticed Stella and Margo, the latter who chuckled.

"Looks like we came at a good time."

Stella raised an eyebrow. "You think so? I mean, they're kinda... beating each other up."

"Hey, this is the Loud family we're talking about," Margo pocketed her hands. "Of course they'd be beating the crap out of each other behind closed doors."

"I hate how true that statement is," Luan sighed. "Can we rewind them, Lincoln?"

"Sure, just follow my lead."

Lincoln extended his hand forward, and Luan imitated his motions as he moved it to his right, rewinding the sisters' fight until most of them looked shocked at Leni.

"I think this is a good spot to stop."

Luan raised a skeptical eyebrow, but she shrugged it off and undid the time stop alongside her brother.

As soon as they did, the sisters began looking around, partially confused as to what was going on.

"Wait, what just happened?" Luna asked.

"If I had to guess," Leni shrugged. "You were about to kill me after what I told you, and Lincoln and Luan were nice enough to stop time before things went too far."

"And we'd appreciate it if you could be in your best behavior right now," Lincoln said before pointing at Stella and Margo. "Because we have visitors."

"Hi..." Stella chuckled nervously. "Did we come at a bad time?"

Lynn eyed Leni, then turned back to the visitors and shook her head.

"No, it's fine. Did you need something?"

"Actually, I wanted to know if you could speak with Margo," Stella replied. "She wants to-"

But when she turned around, Stella saw Margo had already left.

"Uh, give me one second."

Stella ran after Margo, leaving the siblings to try calm down after whatever they heard.

As for Stella, she didn't take long before she found the sportsgirl, who walked away with her hands pocketed.

"Margo, where are you going?!"

"Somewhere to make good use of my time," Margo sighed, keeping her eyes focused on what was in front of her. "Besides, I already told you, my beef with Lynn isn't worth jeopardizing the Loud's mission to save the reality."

Stella sped past Margo, and spread her arms as the brunette stopped on her tracks.

"Please move aside, Stella."

"I'm sorry, Margo, but I can't let you do that," Stella shook her head and frowned. "Keeping your issues unchecked is only going to harm you in the end! It's best you work on them while we still have time-"

"What time, Stella? From what I see, the endgame has already begun for all realty, not just the Louds,," Margo folded her arms. "There's no time left to deal with a relatively small issue like mine."

"But-"

"And besides, I'm not the only one with an issue: I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say just about everybody in Royal Woods has a beef with at least one of the Louds, and if there's no time to deal with my issues, then there's no chance that those other issues will get solved as well."

"But the more loose ends are left, the more exasperating it'll be!"

Margo walked to Stella's side and put a hand on her shoulder, before whispering:

"Sometimes, not all loose ends get tied. And when that happens, all you can do is accept it."

And with that, Margo walked away, leaving the saddened Stella behind. The Lovechild lowered her head, scratching it as she pondered what to do now.

"You wanted to talk?"

Stella flinched and turned around, only to see Lincoln standing nearby, a little, tired smile on his face.

The duo found themselves sitting at the top of the Citadel, their hair blowing in the wind as Stella overlooked the fixed city with a saddened expression.

"I see, so that's how it is," Lincoln sighed. "Well, I hate to say this, but I agree with Margo: sometimes not all loose ends can be tied before the journey comes to an end."

"But that's just unfair! To bring up for so much for so long, only to drop them without giving an answer's just... I don't like that!"

Lincoln hummed. "Stella, are you concerned about Margo not getting closure, or you not getting closure?"

"Huh?"

"There are many people in the world with unfinished business. And you and Abraham are among those people."

Stella looked elsewhere, grabbing her arm as the guy continued:

"I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to want all loose ends tied before the credits roll, I get where you're coming from," Lincoln shrugged. "But that's just not possible sometimes."

Then, he smiled. "However, if it helps, I can assure that you don't need to keep your story with the Silence Walkers unfinished."

Stella raised a puzzled eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Lincoln smiled with a hint of hope...

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Cristina's shout echoed across the hallways as the Wild Cards, their counterparts, and Stella shivered from the recoil.

"There's no way in hell you're convincing me to let our daughter come along with us! I mean, have you gone mad!?"

Lincoln rolled his eyes. "We're heading to fight the source of Corruption, which is also the source of the Silence Walkers. That's something that's been bugging Stella out for quite a while now."

"And so you think that's a good enough reason to send Stella into a deathtrap!?"

"I mean, you were willing to send both her and Abraham into the tower despite the dangers present; I know this is a little bit more dangerous, but sometimes we gotta make a compromise."

"How do you know that's what happened?" Clyde inquired. "The Lincoln that came with Cristina was the one that was an embodiment of purity... or something..."

"And to think things are about to get weirder," Ronnie Anne sighed.

"I say she should come," Proto-Cristina spoke. "If only to let her see the source of the Silence Walkers. And you could bring this Abraham, too."

"No!" Cristina yelled. "Only the Wild Cards and Leni are gonna go confront Lute, and that's final!"

"So her name really is Lute..." Stella hummed. "Guess that Silence Walker was onto something."

"I don't care if you've heard her name or not! You're staying here, where you're safe, and away from the horrors of Corruption!" Cristina grabbed Lincoln's ears tightly. "Now let's get synthetized with our counterparts already!"

Cristina dragged the disgruntled Lincoln away, while the remaining Wild Cards and their counterparts followed her.

Stella sighed, with another chance to put this story to bed lost...

And then Luan appeared.

"Hi there!"

Luan's voice startled Stella, and she quickly turned around, shivering as she looked at the comedian's... sincere smile?

"Would you like to come with us to our trip to Planet Tokyo?"

Stella blinked twice. "Why are you asking me?"

"Well, I saw what just happened, and I thought, if you're not allowed to go to one adventure," Luan snapped her fingers. "Maybe you could go to a different one!"

Stella calmed down a bit, and thought about it for a moment.

"Am I the only one coming along?"

"Nah, we're gathering as many people as possible!" Luan shrugged. "Since this is basically going to be the final battle, we figure we'll need as much help as possible. So, what do you say?"

"Hmm... I guess I could join... on one condition."

"Ask away!"

"Okay... what did Leni say that got everybody mad?"

"And that's precisely the plan."

The voice of Mick Swagger said that as Proto-Luna and Holy Leni listened, the latter wasting no time bringing up a question:

"Are you certain we're ready for an all out war with the Loud family?"

"You're the Proto-Sisters, lovelies! The strongest entities from the Prototype Reality!" Mick pointed out. "I'm sure you're still as much of a threat as you once were, and even if you're not..."

Mick snapped his fingers and the lights turned on, revealing the Xeno Sisters trapped in cages, each trying to break free as he added:

"As long as these wenches remain here, they'll never be completed, and will never surpass you!"

"Perhaps," Proto-Luna sighed. "But it's still worrysome: they've been through so much, and changed so much since we first kicked their asses-"

"I was starting to worry you were growing humble."

The entities grew worried as they recognized the voice, their fear not helped by the source of said voice showing up soon after:

Sincoln.

"Ah, Master, welcome!" Mick chirped, blissfully unaware Sincoln was ignoring him. "These are the ladies I spoke to you about-"

"Luna, Leni, and Lori, yes, I know," the embodiment of all evil said dryly. "I heard you needed help?"

The Prototypes exchanged looks, and Holy Leni replied:

"We were hoping you could give us sanctuary until the upcoming war with the Loud Family is over."

"Well, why didn't you say so? I'd be more than happy to give you sanctuary..."

Sincoln raised his hand, which began glowing grey.

"On my terms."

Sincoln etched his hand forward, and in the blink of an eye, the Prototypes got the life sucked out of their bodies, which crumbles to dust as Sincoln began walking away.

"Turn the lights off and hide the Xeno siblings before going back, Mick, understood?"

"But... Master... why did you-"

"They were useless, anyway. Lazy, arrogant, and unable to compromise just to stay relevant. Besides, let's be honest here."

Sincoln flashed a glowing smirk.

"I've always been the bigger threat compared to the Proto-Sisters."

And with a cheeky chuckle, Sincoln left Mick, who stood stunned at what had just happened.