Chapter 5: Trial of a Troublemaker
Alright. Here we go with chapter 5, where the trial begins for the little sports nut. Upon discussion with certain users, I have decided to conduct a format experiment. Due to recurring criticisms with not only the writing style resembling a script, but also some other factors, I have decided to tweak my draft for chapter 5 so it is more befitting of what I'm told is the traditional way FanFiction users write their stories.
So, let's see how this plays out. Let's see what's in store for Lynn Jr as she prepares to defend herself in front of a judge and jury.
The Loud family were on a journey to get to the police station as fast as they could, after having received a call from the local law enforcement that Lynn had been arrested. While obeying speed limits and traffic laws, the Louds aimed to see their daughter and sister again as soon as possible.
"I can't believe little Lynn has been arrested!" Rita said.
"And not just for one little thing, but for assault, bodily harm, and taking illegal supplements!" Lori added.
"At least that last thing explains a lot about the way she's been acting this week!" Lincoln deduced.
"Yeah, I mean she's a brute normally, but this week she's really taken it to another level!" Lola said.
"I've been legitimately scared to be her roommate the last few days… and not in a good way." Lucy clarified.
"Well, dad, at least now you won't have to come up with a new, better punishment for her, since grounding didn't do the job!" said Lana.
"Don't say that, sweetie. She'll be coming back with us soon enough!" Lynn Sr insisted to his daughter.
"What are you basing that on, dad?" was the question his daughter Luan immediately followed with.
"She has a point, what about when she ends up in court? What sentence is she going to get?!" Rita asked.
"You don't think they're going to take it all the way to the court?!" Leni questioned.
"It's probable. Lynn has desecrated several laws in a very short duration. Violence, abuse of drugs and antisocial behaviour can result in serious sentences." Lisa deducted.
"Oh no, Lynn!" Lincoln blurted out, worried about his sister.
"Look, let's not speculate. We'll know more when we get to the station!" Lynn Sr concluded to the others.
But while the Loud family continued their journey, Lynn Jr was trapped in a cell, following her arrest, left to dwell on recent events.
She began recollecting the conversation from earlier that day, when she first arrived at the station and was being interrogated by a pair of officers over what she had done…
"So, Lynn Loud Jr. Why did you attack those children? Witnesses of the incident said they did nothing to provoke you, you just went over and gave 4 kids younger than yourself a vicious beating! Do you deny this being the truth?" asked the first officer.
"*Silence*"
"Answer the question!" demanded the second officer.
"No." was the simple, monotonous response from the young girl.
"So you admit to having committed an assault against 4 small children? That's a pretty serious offence. What do you have to say for yourself?" the first officer asked.
"*Silence*"
Lynn remembered that her sitting in silence while the aggressors constantly asked questions and put pressure on her to confess to her crimes as being the bulk of the conversation. She couldn't say a lot that wouldn't land her in more trouble. She felt she could most likely get away with it if she kept as quiet as possible. She remembered another part of the discussion…
"A small container of sports enhancers was also found in your pocket at the moment of arrest. It is suspected these were negatively influencing your behaviour to be more violent and unpredictable than usual. We believe you were under their influence at the moment of the assault. Is this correct? Did you take any of the pills found in your possession the morning before the incident?" asked the first officer.
"*Silence*"
"Refusing to co-operate will only land you in further trouble, little miss!" the other officer added.
"Yes, I did." Said Lynn, still in a calm and reserved manner.
"Someone your age couldn't have got these by herself. Someone must have given them to you. I would like a name of the person who supplied the pills to you." The first officer stated.
"Coach Henry." Lynn said, giving as straight forward an answer as possible.
"I'll need more than that, kid!" the first officer told her, wanting more information.
"His name is Henry Fredricks. He's the coach of my baseball team. He gave them to me." The young sports nut told them.
"Well, if that's what you say, then we'll investigate into that. As for you, you will remain here until your appointment in court!"
But Lynn's recollecting then came to a halt as someone came to her cell door…
"Loud, you have visitors!" the warden told the girl inside her cell.
Lynn did have visitors, a lot of them. Her parents, plus 10 siblings, had all come down to the police station to visit their beloved family member. Of course, the occasion would not be the most pleasant the family would have spent together.
Lynn then quickly walked over to meet up with her family, albeit from behind a glass window…
"Mom! Dad! Guys!" she shouted out as she was uplifted to see everyone.
"Oh, LJ! I wish I could hug you! But I can't, since you're behind glass." Lynn Sr pointed out.
"Seriously, Lynn?! You were arrested for assaulting 4 innocent children, plus for being in possession of illegal sports enhancements! What were you thinking?!" Rita asked her daughter.
"That's just it, mom! I wasn't thinking! I've screwed up, big time! I'm going down for this one!" Lynn admitted.
"Don't say that. They might just let you off with a slap on the wrist." Lincoln optimistically suggested.
"No, they won't." Lori sadly corrected.
"She's right on, dude. They don't just like things like violence and drugs slide… maybe once in a while if you're in the Rockstar business." Luna said.
"Guys, it's okay. I know this is it for me, and to be perfectly honest, I deserve it!" Lynn stated.
"Don't be such a downer, Lynn. Try to look on the bright side." Luan positively encouraged.
"Easy for you to say. You're not sitting behind glass, trapped in a police station!" Lola told her comedic sister.
"Look. I've been a huge jerk to all of you, letting my competitive drive get the best of me WAY too many times! Lori, Leni, Luna, Luan, I even almost ruined your babysitting gig one time!" Lynn said.
"Lynn, don't worry about that. That should be the last thing on your mind!" Leni reassured her.
"And Stink… Lincoln. There I go again. See, I just can't be the cool big sis you deserve. I wanted to toughen you up, and by trying that, I made myself the biggest bully in your life." Lynn told her brother.
"Lynn, we're past that. As I said months ago when I was in a sticky situation like this one, you're all my family and I love you all the way you are! Yeah, so you're a little rough with me, but that's only because you care! I know that!" Lincoln replied.
"Still, a good sister would have a better way of showing it!" Lynn remarked as she put herself down in front of her family.
It was understandable. In one week, Lynn had given into temptation, committed some of the worst acts she had even done in her life, alienated and threatened her family, attacked some innocent children, been arrested for the aforementioned assault and for taking illegal sports pills, and on top of all that, she was facing a serious jail sentence if her upcoming court case turned out to be a disaster. As such, Lynn's crippled emotional state was easy to comprehend. She was down in the dumps and gloomier than her gothic sister. Her family's mere words were not going to change that….
"Look, guys. Thank you all for coming down here and seeing me, even after everything I've done. I know what I said about not liking being a part of this family and all, but…" before that sentence was finished, however, Lynn was cut off.
"Lynn, you don't have to, we know." Lori reassured her sister.
"Yeah. We know you love us all really. You were under a bad influence when you said that stuff!" Lincoln said.
"Thank you, all of you! I honestly don't deserve a family so great!" Lynn declared, struggling to hold back tears, which she didn't like people to see from her.
"Yes, you do." Lucy claimed.
"Listen, LJ. You're gonna get through this whole business in court, and then, you'll be coming home to your family. I promise." Lynn Sr told his daughter, trying to raise her hopes so she wouldn't continue to be so saddened and depressed by everything.
"Thanks, dad." Lynn Jr told her senior counterpart.
"We have to leave in a moment, but we want you to know that this isn't the end. You will make it through this. We will. You have to believe that." Lynn Sr concluded.
But her father's optimism may have been misguided, because given the trouble she was in, surviving a court case was going to be no cakewalk…
The date for the court case was quick to arrive. Many members of the Loud family were asked to speak in front of the judge and jury, so as to defend their daughter and sister and fight for her freedom. In addition, many of Lynn's sports allies were present at the event, as was her coach, Henry, who was also due to say his part. Whatever happened, it was going to be an unforgettable experience…
As is typical for a criminal trial, both a prosecutor and a defense lawyer were present for the case. The prosecutor had the easier job, given everything Lynn had done. He also had plenty of people prepared to speak for him, including the children who Lynn attacked, plus witnesses of that event.
Soon enough, "Royal Woods Municipal Court is now in session. Judge Daniels presiding." were the words Lynn and the Loud family were hearing.
"I will allow the prosecution to begin this case." The judge said to begin the trial.
"Thank you, your honour. Today, we stand before a public menace, a trouble maker, and an unstable human being, in the form of teenager Lynn Loud Junior." The prosecutor stated aloud.
"Objection to the immediate slander of my client before a conclusion has been met!" the defending lawyer argued.
"Eh, I'm going to allow it, given what I've heard about this kid." said Judge Daniels.
"Great, he's one of THOSE judges." Lynn Sr quietly whispered to his wife sitting next to him.
"I would like to call to the stand James Wilkerson, one of the boys who claims to be a victim of the accused." said the prosecutor.
The boy then walked over to the stand so he could say his part in front of the judge and jury. What he had to say wasn't good for the sporty Loud girl…
"James. Please explain to the jury what happened on the day Lynn attacked you." the prosecutor said to the young boy.
"It all happened so fast. None of us even knew what that girl was doing. She just ran over to us, really angry, and started attacking us! She punched us, kicked us, tried to hurt us in everyway possible! She was a SAVAGE! A MONSTER! I've never been so scared in all my life!" James told everyone present in the room, as he visibly started crying over recollecting the unfortunate events of that day.
Sitting in the room were also the boy's 3 other friends, all of which shared his sadness at that moment, as they also had distasteful memories of what happened when they encountered a rage-filled Lynn.
"And could you point at this so-called monster right now as we speak?" the prosecutor asked.
James then raised his hand and pointed his finger at Lynn, sparking a reaction of audible gasps from the jury…
"IT WAS HER! SHE DID IT! SHE'S AN ANIMAL!" the boy shouted, terrified for his life, which was understandable considering the actions of the girl who attacked him.
"That will be all. Thank you, James." the prosecutor said, knowing his chances of winning the case had skyrocketed.
"Oh no! Things aren't looking good for Lynn." Lincoln said to his sisters.
"To follow, I would like to call James's mother Rachel up to the stand next." the prosecutor then followed with.
Lynn then held her head down in dread as she realised this case was not going her way. The prosecutor had all the evidence he needed to tear her apart in front of the jury, and the judge was just allowing it. It appeared she had already lost, and it would take a miracle to allow her to walk free…
"Rachel, can you tell the jury what went through your head when your son returned home from the beating that night?" the prosecutor asked the concerned the mother.
"It was horrible! I was completely shocked and terrified as I saw my son walk through the door, or should I stay, limp through it, with a completely messed up face, and multiple bruises and injuries! No mother should have to see their 11 year old child drag themselves inside the house looking like they just went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson!"
The jury reacted in shock and disgust after hearing that, while the Louds let out a collective audible gulp, knowing it was probable they were going to lose one of their own to a juvenile centre.
"If you ask me, that little girl is a thug! You should lock her up and throw away the key!" Rachel said in disgust as she turned to face the girl who hurt her child, and gave her the most hate-filled facial expression one could imagine.
"That will be all, Mrs Wilkerson." the prosecutor told the enraged mother.
"If I may, your honour, I would like to call my client, Lynn Junior to the stand, to defend herself for her actions." the defending lawyer requested.
"Very well. The court summons Lynn Loud Junior to speak in front of the jury." the judge declared.
This was the lowest moment for the Loud girl so far. Now, Lynn Loud had to stand up, walk through the room, past an entire crowd of snobbish jury members, all of which were passing judgement on her for her bad deeds, before finally standing up and saying her part. Normally, Lynn loved being the centre of attention, but under the circumstances, this was an exception.
"Lynn Loud Junior, can you explain your perspective of this matter to the jury?" the defending lawyer asked from his client.
Lynn then looked at the jury, who all looked like they wanted to rip her arms and legs off, and hesitated for a moment. Then she looked at her family, all of which appeared worried about what she was going to say. Lynn knew she couldn't possibly look any worse than she already did, so she decided she did the only noble thing she could do…
"I won't deny it. I did what those kids say I did. And I just want to say, I'm sorry. I can't excuse myself for what I did! I was violent and I did a horrible thing! I was under a very bad influence and I didn't have the strength to fight off my demons! I didn't know that I was attacking a bunch of innocent kids until it was too late!" Lynn told everyone in the courtroom, giving an honest account of her actions and her emotional state.
"Well, it's brave of you to admit that, young Loud. You mentioned you were under a bad influence. Can you elaborate more on that?" the defending lawyer asked.
"Well, I was taking a course of sports performance enhancement pills under the instructions of my baseball coach, Henry. It made me even more aggressive and amped up than usual! But to be honest, I can't blame everything on them! A lot of it is on me. Look, everything everyone has said about me today is true. I can't deny that I'm full of faults, many I don't even like to admit. But yeah, they didn't help matters and ended up pushing me over the edge" Lynn said.
"Ah yes, your coach. The police found a container of sports performance enhancements pills in your pocket at the moment of arrest. They say you told them a Mr Henry Fredricks, your baseball coach, gave them to you?" the defending lawyer asked her.
"THAT'S A LIE!" Coach Henry yelled from across the room.
"Keep quiet, sir!" Judge Daniels instructed.
"Yeah, that's right! He told me to take them, even when I said I shouldn't! He used me as a test subject for his new sports drugs! He's the one responsible for me getting so much worse lately!" Lynn Jr stated.
"Thank you, Lynn. That is all you need to say for now. Now I would like to call Henry to the stand. I would like to ask him a few questions." the lawyer stated.
As Lynn stepped down and watched as her coach stood up, a smile on her face developed for the first time that day. Maybe, if the defendant could make him reveal his role in Lynn's tragic downfall, the judge and jury would understand the situation, and take a more sympathetic outlook on Lynn's predicament. Just maybe…
Or will they? Find out in the next chapter, where Lynn's fate is determined. The next chapter will be out soon enough, though it won't be immediate or anything, since there's a new batch of Loud House episodes coming out this week, the final 4 from season 3, in fact. I'll have to upload my reactions to those first before revisiting this project. Chapter 6 won't be too long after that, though.
Hopefully, this format change will satisfy some of the more critical followers of this story, since people haven't taken a liking to my 'script' format. If it receives positive feedback, then I will use it for the rest of the story, which for everyone's information, is probably going to be over 20 chapters in length by the time it is done.
Anyway, to keep up to date with my plans, just visit me as Just Some Ordinary Dude on DeviantArt.