Chapter 15
Luna's Relationship
How bright the sun shined that day as the Louds finally arrived at the park. The ride itself was nothing too spectacular, though the shadow of the clothing store fiasco still lingered tight against them all. Even amongst the inside jokes and strange views on salamanders, there was that terrible feeling of remorse and guilt that even young Lily had to contend with.
After all, their rocker sister sat silent the entire trip, always seemingly darting her eyes to-and-fro against the window glass. It wasn't too uncommon for any of them to be distracted by the world around them, but this was a particularly excessive case. It was as if she truly found a target to tie herself too, praying to never let it out of her sight. She spoke only to herself, and should someone bother calling her name, she would give them an aside glance, before returning to her smalltime war that seemed to have no end. Even when they parked, it was as if they were heading out with an additional sister in tow.
Even still, the family gallantly stood in that parking lot, with th patriarch himself breathing in the air, finding a home amongst the birds that fluttered about. It was late into the year, and those pesky creatures would soon be hibernating. Seeing all those feathers made Lynn Sr. jump for joy, and for Rita to shake her head. After so many years being married, it should've been easy learning all his quirks. Sadly, she found out more and more as the years went by.
"Honey, look around us! Oh, this was the perfect idea! We get to take the world by storm, nature is practically calling out my name, and you know the best part?" He spoke with great exuberance, eyes gleaming towards his wife. Rita simply gave a playful smile of confusion. "We got new outfits! Louds, show us your new digs!"
Now one must question how they all managed to change within vanzilla while it moved at a rather quick pace down Royal Woods. To be quite honest with you, there really isn't an answer. They just did. A dogwalker saw them at a red-light, and screamed in terror as a brief shadow overcame them all. Next thing they knew, Lisa looked like a professional rapper and Leni missed the point of the whole shopping exercise, but she still looked fabulous. As they moved on, the walker had no choice but to sit down, allowing his dog to lick his fingers in great joy.
But that also meant another chilling thought. All of them stood loud-and-proud... and Luna stood like a ghost, barely distinguishable from the rocks surrounding the granite. Even Lucy, the normally forgotten shadow that lingered amongst the colorful cast that was her family, stood more like a true ghoul that any kid could befriend. Her sister couldn't even claim that. While they all smiled, all the rocker could do was tug at her new fabric, as if it was a size too small.
But even still, her parents tried to forget that scene; teenage angst was a good excuse, they prayed. With arms folded, Rita kept herself as the boss, looking at everything surrounding them. "Okay, kids, remember, this is a day to have fun! No crime, no explosions, and please no glitter. I think I'm allergic to that stuff now!"
Lola laughed sheepishly. "Uh, yeah! You hear that Lori? No glitter!"
Her twin looked at her puzzled. "Uh, Lori ain't here, Lols."
"See? We should be fine!" Her eye twitching left a lot to be desired.
With everyone cheering, their father began singing a random tune to himself. "Come back here in one hour! We'll have the best picnic around!"
"Did... Did we prepare for a picnic, hun?" Rita placed a hand on her hip.
"Ah, Ritz, look who you're talking too! Besides, looks like those rebelling Janitors are having a food festival over there as protest, so if all else fails..."
Everyone ran off uncontrolled, ready to take the world by storm. The only three that didn't leave their perch were Luna followed by her roommate and only brother. The rocker didn't even realize at first that she wasn't alone, and as she looked about worried, she felt a small hand tug at her own. It made her scream, and she quickly swatted away. "Please, no! Just... just leave me alone!"
That made Lincoln recoil hard, though he refused to relinquish his grasp. "Woah, Lunes, it's us! Hey!" His words seemed to have some calming affect for once, as she turned to face him with some deep breaths. Her features were, well, rather sad to behold. Whiter than a ghost, even beyond the scope of being pale. Her shirt sadly seemed to have the most personality against her frame at the moment. Hard not to have his heart tremble.
She gulped, before sighing in defeat. "S-Sorry, brah, just... tired, I guess."
Her focus on him forced her mind to forget all about Luan, who stomped her foot harsh and violently. "You... you're not tired!"
Luna felt her back ache. "Luan..."
An accusatory finger tapped against her chest. Luan was having none of this. "You're gonna have fun today, got it? A whole lotta fun!" As if for emphasis, she produced a rubber chicken and made it squeak. "I better not catch you moping once, got it?"
Lincoln was shocked at how harsh his comedically-inclined sister was being, but in the end he couldn't help but agree. "Luan's right, Lunes. This is our day, okay? I... really wish I knew what's been happening-"
At last Luna couldn't take their stares, and turned away, managing to fight off her brother. Luckily his strength was not that poignant. "Look, I'm fine! Please, just... stop worrying, okay?"
"No!" Luan remained defiant.
Luna stomped her own boot, rubbing a hand against her face. Where was the other her? So far, she was silent. What, no jokes to offer? "I'm okay, and I'm going to have fun! I can take care of myself, guys!"
"Just shut it, Luna!"
Even Luna couldn't accept the fact that Luan spoke so violently. Lincoln flinched at the sudden fight brewing. This was definitely not helping any matters. "Look, guys, how about we just chill for a second and maybe-"
It was no shock his words fell on deaf ears. Luna folded her arms. "Shut it? You're making this worse, dude."
"Says the girl who bought... whatever that is for an outfit! I can't even make a joke on it! It's... it's just wrong!"
"It's a white shirt! What's wrong with that?"
"That's not a shirt. That's barely a rag! It's... it's like you're not even you right now!" Her anger suddenly broke away into something far worse for the rocker to accept. A face of anguish entered her face as Luan began to cry. "I... just want you to be happy..."
Lincoln sighed. "Oh God... guys..."
Luna did her best to remain strong, even if she had a weakness for her family crying. Especially her roommate. "Luan, please..."
"No, Luna please! I... look at you!" She stopped and stared at her sister, or more befitting, what used to be her sister. This wasn't Luna at all, was it? Just a faker wearing her skin. That was the only explanation she was willing to accept. "What happened to you? Why? Did I do it? Did the Funny Doctor thing... make it worse?"
"Luan...," she couldn't keep the charade up.
"Just... please. Please be better, Luna," Luan cried, before charging away. Lincoln tried to reach for her, but it was to no avail. Seeing this all fall apart, the boy could only look at his older sister in disappointment, having little he could add to save this situation.
"Lunes?" He meekly asked.
As he stood there, Luna tried her best to keep her own tears at bay. Sadly, this seemed to attract that unwanted visitor yet again. "Wow. I mean, how do I grade that performance? 10 don't seem like a lot, y'know? Like dude, I'm sadistic, but making your own sister cry like that? Dang, girl, you're a whole 'nother level!"
Luna grew mad, clenching her fist. "Stop. Just shut up!"
Lincoln was confused. "Uh, who are you talking to? Me?"
Her evil spirit yelped. "Woah girl, you're sounding crazy again!"
Luna clenched her teeth. "I said shut up..."
Lincoln had no idea how to react to any of this, but quickly grew mad. She wasn't even acknowledging his presence, so she couldn't have possibly been referring to him, right? But, then who? Whatever, or whomever, it was, he wasn't having it. He quickly stood before her, glaring at the world before him.
and only one sentence was given that tugged at Luna's heart. "Leave my sister alone, you monster!"
Did it work? The evil presence seemed to leave, suddenly making the world feel a little brighter. Lincoln stood defiantly still, before turning back to his sister. "You okay? Lunes?"
She... was, at least a little. Did Lincoln hear that thing? Well, obviously not, but speaking so loudly to something that probably didn't even exist definitely would catch anyone's attention. She sighed, hoping she didn't cause too much worry. "T-Thanks, bro..."
"What was that all about? Seriously, you're really freaking me out!"
"It's... nothing..."
"It's not nothing, Lunes! You're speaking with something! How the heck am I supposed to ignore that?"
By a distraction that perhaps could either help or hinder. As they spoke, the sound of feet crunching against some falling leaves echoed against the pavement. Both hoped that Luan was coming back, but the truth was far more striking. Luna's eyes grew wide as she saw the face of Sam emerging, far more worried than anyone they have ever met.
"S-Sam?" Luna called out, realizing fast how bad her own body looked. The white shirt truly was disgusting, and having her girlfriend witness it must've been brutal. Indeed, the blonde looked at the rocking Loud puzzled, scratching her arm in frustration.
"H-Hey, Lunes. Uh... you're here, huh?"
Lincoln rubbed the back of his head, before looking at his own sister with a smile. He quickly tugged at her sleeve, before pulling Luna's ear to his mouth. "Hey, maybe she can make you feel better, right? Talk with her!"
Luna's mouth quivered. "H-Help me?"
"Look, I'll find Luan. You need to talk with Sam, okay? Promise me you will."
In the end, he spoke the truth. Throughout this hellish chaos, Luna left her girlfriend to dangle, and that alone made her heart shatter into a thousand pieces. No matter how depressed or messed up she was becoming, she had no right to hurt the one she loved so much. She had to do this, even as fear ruptured her nerves brutally.
"Okay... I'll do it. Please, just... just tell Luan I'm sorry."
"You will, Lunes. I'll find her, don't worry."
Lincoln ran off, leaving the two bandmates alone on the parking lot. Behind a tree, Sully and Mazzy watched with extreme caution. One kept a close eye, the other kept a close eye... on a blue bird that was chasing a leaf on a branch.
"Seriously, Sully?"
"What? It's a rare breed!"
Lincoln ran the opposite direction, relieved that his feet didn't have to run far. Luan crashed down nearby, trying her best to disguise her sadness. For a comedian like her to express so much sorrow was like a betrayal to her craft. When she saw Lincoln approach, she hugged her knees tightly. "I just... hate seeing her like this. It isn't right, Linc."
The boy quickly descended beside her, enveloping her tight within his hug. "Don't worry, Luan. I'll stay by her side, okay? Hey, look!" He brought her focus back to the parking lot, looking at both her sister and Same talking to one another. Those eyes on her face grew wide.
"S-Sam's here? Wow, that's... convenient."
"Convenient or not, maybe this will help out. If she can be happy with Sam, then we can get that smile back on her face. I'm sure of it!"
"I... I hope you're right..."
Lincoln shook his head, trying to look confident. "I am right! Remember, we're in this together. We'll help Lunes. Besides, I got a concert to attend with her soon, and I'm having her there no matter what."
Was that a tiny smile forming on Luan's face? Perhaps it was. "Y-Yeah. Heck, I kinda wanna go..."
But in the midst of that happiness, a scream broke through. Both siblings looked over at Sam, and noticed the horrific sight play before them. Sully and Mazzy ran out from the brush, charging towards their bass player, who was now on her knees, arm reaching out as her makeup ran down her face. Confusion ran through Lincoln and Luan. What in the world could've happened?
And that was when they saw Luna, walking away towards the van, eyes distant and speed rather slow. She didn't blink, nor look back. She slammed the door behind her, while Sam cried and cried.
Lincoln felt tears of his own. "Oh... oh no..."
In the van, Luna sat alone, hugging herself as her eyes grew bloodshot. She dared not look out the window at her girlfriend. Well... who was once her girlfriend.
Beside her, the demon tapped her shoulder. "Look at the bright side, tutes. Ya still got me!"
Luna didn't cry. She just sat there, silently staring at the future that slipped out of her fingers.
