Act III

Babs walked into the girls bathroom so she could wash the sweat off her face after her heated confrontations with both her former bully as well as her sister. After washing her face, she looked forward into the mirror, where she could see Lynn Loud standing behind her in the reflection.

"Sup, Bestie." she said with a touch of hostility in her voice.

Babs then turned around and coldly replied "Sup, Loud."

"So, it looks like you've had enough, too."

"Yeah, this night has sucked big time."

"I'll say. All this etiquette and stuff... it really doesn't suit me." Lynn claimed.

"And yet you were so confident heading into this, weren't ya, Loud?" Babs then sarcastically questioned.

"What are you talking about?" Lynn asked.

"What was it you said about me? That I'm too mentally weak to handle a challenge like this, and that it would be easy for you to win?!" she then angrily recalled her sister's words. "That without enhancements, I don't stand a chance at beating you in anything?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Bestie."

"So you deny it, Loud?" Babs challenged her.

"I deny that I said it..." Lynn then began to say, but her cockiness quickly took over. "...but then again, I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with it. Face it Babs, you've never been able to beat me at anything without help."

"Oh yeah? Well I don't remember you ever beating me at all! Every fight we've ever had since then has either been interrupted or ended in a stalemate! The record is still 1-0 to me." Babs said. "It doesn't matter what excuses you come up with. You can't beat me even when I'm not using help!"

Lynn then gritted her teeth and replied "Well, maybe we should have it out right here and now and settle it once and for all!"

Babs then squared up towards her rival and for a second prepared to have it out with the sporty Loud girl, but then she remembered the wager and what was at stake. Her expression lightened up and she began to smirk. "Heh, you're a pretty clever little chump, aren't ya Loud? Don't think I don't know what you're doing. You're trying to provoke a reaction out of me and make me lash out. Then you'll steal the win. Too bad I caught onto your devious little trick, huh?"

Lynn grinned back and tried to taunt her a little more. "Sounds to me like you're just scared and making excuses to back out of a showdown."

Babs then stepped back and decided to engage in Lynn's battle of verbal banter with a counter point. "You thought it would be over by now, huh? That you'd win in minutes? Well, it looks like you were wrong about me, Loud. I'm Babs Bestie, and nobody is stronger than me! It may be a struggle for me to put up with all this classy junk, but I notice you're in this bathroom wanting a break from it all, too. That tells me you're struggling with this bet just as much as I am, maybe even more. That's why you're trying to play mind games and make me lose it. Well it's not gonna work! Now get back in there and prepare to lose, runt!"

Feeling she got the better of Lynn in their exchange, Babs proudly and triumphantly turned around and began to walk out of the bathroom and back into the party hall. However, Lynn wasn't done just yet.

"What is it, Bestie? You think that just because you're the bigger girl that you're the bigger man?!" Lynn barked at her, those words causing Babs to stop in her tracks and let her rival continue. "I am Lynn Loud Junior, and I'm number one around here! You're nothing but a chump who can't hang on my level! Oh, and by the way, I only came into the bathroom to take a huge dump, not because I'm struggling with the bet. I'm not as much of a weak chump as you are, remember?!"

"Ha, I bet that's true." Babs sarcastically replied as she turned back around to face down her rival. "I've seen you, you've been all on edge the whole night."

"Well, maybe I just don't let my little sisters boss me around like I'm their slave or something! I guess it's been pretty easy for you to act all reserved because you're used to being a doormat for your little sister! Sure, you act all big and tough, but really you're just a huge pushover! Ha, I even saw her make you do a curtsy earlier! Aw man, that was so hilarious!" Lynn recalled.

Babs's cheeks then blushed red in personal humiliation after hearing that her rival had seen her perform a curtsy. She quickly came up with a defensive argument. "Hey, I was just doing what I had to so I could beat you! None of that meant anything! I'm still the toughest girl around!"

"Ha, you're not even the toughest girl in this room!" Lynn shot back.

But while Lynn and Babs engaged in a heated verbal exchange in the bathroom, Lola and Beth once again collided in the main party area for another 'friendly' little chat.

"So, how are things going with Babara?" Lola asked Beth with a fake sense of politeness.

"Oh, swell. She's been positively delightful all night." Beth deceptively answered. "How have things been with your sister?"

"Oh, Lynn has been full of charm and etiqutte, absolutely no problems from her." Lola also lied.

"I must say, I'm impressed that they've both managed to keep up the charade for this long. Clearly our charm is so great that even the roughest of ruffians can learn from us."

"Well said, Elizabeth. You and your sister have been worthy opponents, I must admit it... but we're still going to kick your butts." Lola insisted.

"We'll see about that, Lola." Beth replied. "My sister is going to be on her best behaviour all night. There will be no outbursts from her."

But that was not how it appeared back in the girls bathroom as the confrontation between the two bravado-filled tomboyish rivals became more heated...

"Loud! You are asking for it!" Babs threatened as she walked closer towards Lynn.

"I'm begging for it! Who's gonna give it to me?!" Lynn said as she also took a step closer.

"ME!" Babs yelled as she and Lynn now approached so closely that their heads were touching, even pushing against each other as their fierce standoff intensified. "Keep pushing me, pint-size, and see what happens! Yours won't be the first butt I've kicked tonight!"

"You think I'm scared of you!? Lynn Loud fears no one!" the feisty little Loud girl fired back. "You know what, Babs? I say screw the bet! Let's have a little competition of our own. The rules our very simple. We go outside, have it out on the grass, and the last one standing wins!" Lynn proposed, so fired up that she no longer cared about the wager she had made with her sister.

"That's the first thing you've said today that I can agree with, runt! I've been itching for a scrap all night! Forget all this fancy stuff... you and me! Outside! Now!" Babs angrily responded, at this point also being too enraged to care about keeping up the charade any longer.

"Oh ho ho... let's do this!" Lynn said.

The two girls had torn into each other verbally. They had been keeping up an act of being refined and elegant all night long, and their frustrations had been building up under the surface as a result. After a confrontation of words and insults, the two ruffians were now ready to let loose and embrace their true brutish nature.

"So, I was thinking that with the fifty bucks I win tonight, I might go and buy myself a lovely new gown. Or maybe I'll get some upgrades to my princess car." Lola said as she taunted her opponent.

"Oh, I wouldn't bother giving it any thought. That fifty dollars will go towards a paid spa day for moi." Beth sassily replied.

"Dream on, Beth. I'll be walking out of this party with the spoils." Lola then said, still maintaining a calm and happy front as the two engaged in a bout of passive-aggressive verbal warfare.

"You're overconfident, Lola. Has anyone ever told you that?" Beth asked her while also keeping a calm and cheerful front.

"No, I'm just sure that Lynn won't let me down. She'll be dignified and charming for as long as I need her to be." Lola boldly claimed.

But that wasn't exactly what Lynn was really doing at that moment. She and Babs were engaging in a furious fight cloud outside on the grass as they once again allowed their competitive nature to compel them into battling it out for supremacy.

Eventually, the two girls got tired of brawling, and they temporarily rested in a standing clinch position. Both girls were breathing heavily while leaning into each other, using one another's body weight for support.

"Had *Pant* enough?" Babs asked.

"You *Huff* kidding?" Lynn said. "I'm just getting *Pant* warmed up!"

"Your *Hmpf* funeral!"

The two girls then resumed their fight as they continued to dish out damage on each other...

Lola and Beth's conversation suddenly took a turn once Lola asked herself "I wonder where she's got to now?" in reference to her sister.

"Maybe she's given up, that would make me the winner." Beth said.

"And what about your sister? I can't see Babs anywhere, either."

"She's... probably just powdering her nose." the younger Bestie sibling excused.

"Really? When did you last see your sister?" Lola asked her.

Beth didn't answer truthfully as she knew that reveal would cost her the wager. Instead, she redirected the interrogation back towards Lola. "And when did you last see yours?"

The two girls then grew a little concerned as their sisters were supposed to be engaging in the party atmosphere, but instead they were nowhere to be found. The two little ladies made their way out of the main party hall and into a quiet side room with glass walls.

"If your sister has gone and ran home, then I win this bet!" Lola said.

"I could say the same to you, Lola!" Beth replied.

But the two girls then noticed an eruptive fight cloud raging on outside through the glass. The two girls then looked at each other and mutually asked "They didn't...?"

They then looked at the fight cloud a second time a little more closely, and were able to tell it was in fact Lynn and Babs who were scuffling. "They dld." both girls said with deadpan tones and expressions.

Beth then ran over and opened the door back into the main hall, where she loudly whisteled in order to gain the attention of two of the security boys standing nearby. "You two! We need your help to break up a fight between two guests outside!"

Beth and the two suited boys then began to make their way outside to deal with Lynn and Babs, but a sceptical Lola was quick to stop them. "Ahem. We're gonna need more than that, honey." she said before shouting into the main hall. "SECURITY! ALL OF YOU GET YOUR BUTTS OUT HERE! WE'VE GOT A SITUATION!"

And with that, the entire security team accompanied Lola and Beth outside to break up the fight between the two ruffians. All twelve teenage boys rushed outside onto the grass to split up the two girls... and Lola was absolutely right. The whole team was needed. Even a dozen guys all working together could just barely hold back a tired Lynn and Babs from laying into each other some more.

"UNGH! GET OFF ME! THIS LITTLE PUNK IS GONNA GET THE BEATING OF A LIFETIME!" Babs roared.

"OH YEAH?! YOU WEREN'T BEATING ME JUST THEN, CHUMP! I WAS SO CLOSE TO KNOCKING YOU OUT!" Lynn shouted back.

"YOU THINK SO, LOUD?!"

"I KNOW SO! THAT'S WHY THESE DUDES ARE HERE, THEY'RE PROTECTING YOU FROM ME!"

The two bruisers were trying to squirm their way out of the security team's grip so they could continue tearing into each other. Six boys each it was taking to just barely keep the two enraged brutes constrained. One of the suited boys on Lynn's side commented "Dang, she's strong for a little girl!"

The blonde boy then said "Yeah, she is... it's actually kinda hot." which earned him a few weirded out expressions from his fellow team members.

"I TOLD YOU RUNTS TO GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME! THIS ONE'S DEAD MEAT!" Babs ordered.

"THE ONLY ONE ABOUT TO BE DEAD HERE IS..." Lynn went to say, but was interrupted.

Getting fed up with the outrageous banter and aggression of their older sisters, Lola and Beth raised their voices and yelled "ENOUGH!"

They both looked towards their big sisters, who both now had bruised up faces and ripped, torn dresses. Needless to say, neither one of them looked like much of a classy or elegant lady at that point.

"We asked for you two to behave with etiquette and grace for one night!" Beth spoke up.

"But you couldn't even handle that!" Lola followed.

"Yeah, well... this whole night hasn't been all sunshine and roses for us, either!" Lynn argued back.

"Yeah, it wasn't easy keeping up this 'prim and proper' act for as long as I did!" Babs said.

"It's been two hours, that's not a long time." Beth stated. "So much for thinking you could actually behave with dignity for once... *Sigh* now I guess nobody wins this bet."

"Yeah, so thanks for letting us down!" Lola beratingly told them.

While Babs and Lynn developed very guilty expressions on their faces, the blonde boy decided to raise a fair question. "Hey ladies, maybe I'm just missing the point or something here, but I have to ask why you even made a bet like that in the first place."

"Me and Beth wanted to see who could influence their sister to behave like a proper lady the longest." Lola answered.

"We took it as an opportunity to try and teach some etiquette to our ruffian siblings." Beth claimed.

"Not that it worked out for either of us." Lola then commented.

"Right... it's just that, from what I can tell, these two ladies here aren't exactly the kind of girls who would fit in very well at a fancy place like this." the boy pointed out. "No offence." he then said to Lynn and Babs.

"None taken." Lynn said.

"Yeah, I'm proud of who I am, and I'm not some fancy shmuck." Babs followed.

"But that was exactly the point! We thought it would be a good way to see if we could get our elegant charms to rub off on them." Lola justified. "Doing it to just anybody would be a cinch for a girl like me, but doing it to them? Now that's a challenge! Being able to pull that off would give me some serious bragging rights."

"But surely, you must have went into this party expecting that at some point, this kind of thing might happen." the blonde boy said.

"Actually, that's a pretty good point." Babs agreed.

"Yeah, you girls knew the risks when you agreed to the bet." Lynn said.

"And yet you're badmouthing them and making them feel guilty for just... being themselves." the boy said. "When you ladies were the ones who brought them here to a place they don't belong."

Lola and Beth then looked at each other and emitted expressions of guilt themselves. Lynn and Babs could see their little sisters felt sad about everything, and tried to say the right words to put their minds at ease. Despite feeling a little angry with them for forcing them into the uncomfortable wager in the first place, Lynn and Babs still didn't like seeing their own flesh and blood feel so uneasy.

"Lola, I really did try to fit in at this party, honest. It's just... not really me, all this fancy etiquette stuff. I'm sorry I let you down, but I just couldn't keep the act up forever." Lynn said to her as the guards finally loosened their grip and let the jock approach her sister.

"No, Lynn... I'm the one who let you down. I played on your competitive drive to make you do something you didn't want to do. I should have remembered what happened when Lana took my place in one of my pageants. Sometimes it's important to just be yourself. Beth and I probably shouldn't have arranged this whole dumb bet in the first place. I mean, it would be like you trying to force me to get all dirty and play sports, that just isn't me... and all this just isn't you." Lola apologised.

Beth then did the same for her sister. "Babs... I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have manipulated you into agreeing to all this. Lynn didn't really say all that stuff about you being weak, I just made that up so you would participate in the wager."

"I know, me and Lynn had a lengthy discussion about the whole thing just before we started kicking each other's butts. Anyway, like Lynn said, I'm sorry too that I couldn't keep up the act for very long, but this just isn't my style either." Babs said as the guards also let go of her and she walked over to her sister.

"Well, I guess you all learned something tonight. Still, for causing all this trouble, I'm going to have to ask you two ladies to leave." the head guard then said to Lynn and Babs. "Also, for stirring all this mess up in the first place, we'd like you two to leave, too." he then ordered Lola and Beth.

"Wait! Lola and Beth should get to stay. Like you said, they learned their lesson, and they'll fit in just fine here without Babs and me to screw around." Lynn defensively stated.

"Yeah, lighten up dude. My sister is the perfect kind of girl for a place like this." Babs also said on behalf of her sibling.

After sighing in exhaustion, the head guard then said "Fine, the last thing I want is you two exploding in a fit of rage again. As long as you two leave, your little sisters are welcome to stay."

"OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" Lola and Beth then ecstatically ran over and hugged their older sisters in gratitude.

"Now come along, everyone. Let's get back inside. We're supposed to be watching over the party!" the head guard said as everyone but Lynn and Babs made their way back into the building.

"I guess it was a silly bet to make in the first place." Lola commented as she walked along with Beth. "Still friends?"

"Of course, Lola." she graciously accepted. "Honestly, I don't mind not winning the money. Losing a friend wouldn't be worth it, anyway." she claimed as the two girls made their way back inside with the guards.

"Hey, Paul... I'm just gonna hang around outside for a minute." the blonde boy said to his leader.

"Fine, just don't be long."

Lynn and Babs also said their farwells as they prepared to part ways for the night...

"Good sparring round, Loud." Babs said jokingly as she offered a fist bump.

"Right back at ya, Bestie." Lynn replied. "I gotta say, you're a worthy opponent."

"We've still got a score to settle, but I guess that can wait. Still, you have my respect, Loud. Not many people can take it to me like you do." Babs complimented her as she walked off. "See you round." she then said as she briefly turned back at Lynn and gave her a grin of approval.

"I'll be looking forward to it. I'll see you later." Lynn said as she gave her a respectful grin back.

Lynn then walked off in another direction, but the blonde boy was quick to join her in her walk. "Hey..." he said, grabbing her attention.

"Huh? Hey, wait a second... didn't I speak with you earlier?" Lynn asked.

"Yeah, you did a loud belch to save me from being embarrassed at the food table. Thanks for that, by the way."

"Eh, it's nothing. I was just redirecting their attention."

"I'm a lot like you. I don't really fit in at places like this. Some of these people are a little too snobby for my tastes." the boy then said.

"Why are you here anyway?" Lynn asked him.

"I got a sweet deal working as a young security guard for under 18s parties like this one. The money's pretty good, even if it means I have to go to lame do's like this one sometimes, and we're in high demand since we're cheaper than hiring a real adult security team." he explained. "Anyway, I was impressed. That girl you were fighting back there was twice your size and you were holding your own."

"Yeah, that's Babs Bestie, she's sort of a friend... or rival, of mine."

"I almost got into a fight with her myself earlier when she knocked me back into a table. She seems pretty tough." he then mentioned.

"Oh, she is... but Lynn Loud backs down from no one!" the little jock proudly declared.

"A good policy to live by. Anyway, I was hoping maybe you and me could do a little 'sparring' ourselves some time." the boy suggested, causing Lynn's eyes to widen in shock as she began to speculate exactly what he meant by that.

The blondie then laughed and followed with "Ha ha, relax buddy, I meant literal sparring, not... the other thing." putting Lynn's mind at ease.

"Oh... right. Duh!" she replied as she slapped her hand on her forehead.

"So... I'll see you round sometime, erm... sorry, what was your name again?" he then awkwardly asked.

"Lynn Loud Junior, but you can call me LJ."

"Okay, cool."

"And what about you, bro? Or should I just call you 'Master Cooper'?" she jokingly asked him.

"The name's Maxie." he confirmed as he offered her a handshake.

"Okay, Maxie... it's a date." she then casually replied as she accepted the handshake, only for both of them to stop and blush once they realised the exact wording she had used to speak that last sentence.

"Erm..." Lynn then muttered awkwardly, a little humiliated by the fact that she had just used the word "date".

The two kids then decided to just laugh it off and move on from the awkward moment. For the time being, they were happy to just get to know each other as friends and see what happened from there...

Either way, for all the tension and chaos that had ensued that night at the party, it appeared everyone came out of it relatively happy, and the resident jock of the Loud House had found herself a new friend. Things had turned out okay.

Author's Footnote:

And that's another story done. I have some ideas in mind for future stories but we'll see what I decide to write next. Either way, I may be a little while since I shortly intend to resume focus on my other written project, Ages of Fury (which is a story I would appreciate you checking out and providing some feedback on, by the way, you can find links by viewing my profile).

And yes, I'm sure some of you picked up on the hints dropped in the last chapter, but the blonde kid turned out to be Lynn's friend/lover Maxie Cooper from my previous story, It's a Kid's World.

The thing is, as I've stated before, all the stories I've written from The Quest for Glory onwards have been part of the same continuity (what I like to call the B-canon continuity), while It's a Kid's World was very much it's own thing due to how far removed thematically, conceptually, and substantially it was from the actual series (also, my even older stories such as Pushover or Payback follow a third, separate continuity, which was actually addressed by Asherah in IAKW if you remember). As such, all the OC's who died in IAKW can still be reused in my new stories, since they follow a different continuity entirely. That means characters like Maxie, Asherah, Chester, and even Viribus himself could all be brought back if I so wish at some point. But honestly, as things stand right now, I don't know what stories I'll write next. I have tons of ideas, but there's a significant difference between having a basic idea and actually creating a full story.

Anyway, for those of you who might be interested and aren't already aware, there is a character popularity competition for the Loud House that I'm hosting on DeviantArt and Reddit. We're already about halfway through by now, but feel free to join in if you like. Better late than never, after all.

All feedback is appreciated, and be sure to follow my activity on DeviantArt or Reddit.