It was 5:00 AM when Lincoln woke up; he knew he had school today and wanted to get ready before his sisters were up. Luckily he didn't have to worry about Lori since she went back to Fairway last night. And she wouldn't be home until the following weekend, meaning Lincoln was one sister down. Taking what he needed, he headed to the bathroom and started his daily routine of getting ready for the school day. Brushing his teeth, he closed the medicine cabinet. Lincoln was greeted by Mary, who was waiting for him instead of his reflection in the mirror. Lincoln jumped back, nearly calling out Shazam despite the toothpaste in his mouth but calmed himself.
"geez! You need to develop a better way to contact me than just appear in the mirror early in the morning like that." Scolded Lincoln.
"sorry young champion, but I thought I'd update you on the search for the sins,"
"Okay, any luck?"
"Unfortunately, the Historama has not been able to detect them; I fear they're laying low until they're ready to confront you and Ronnie Anne."
"Historama?"
"do you remember that pool of liquid silver surrounded by the twelve thrones?"
"Yeah, oh, that's the Historama?"
"yes, you and Ronnie Anne should spend some time getting acquainted with the Rock Of Eternity, but allow me to explain the Historama's function."
"Okay."
The Historama
The Historama is a pool of liquid silver that sits in the Rock Of Eternity's throne room. It functions as a crystal ball, allowing the user to see anything on any plane it is commanded to produce. To activate the Historama, the champions must say, "Historama, show me...".
Clairvoyance.
Clairaudience.
Remote Sensing.
Magic detection
Extra-dimensional Detection.
True Sight.
Dimensional Viewing.
Temporal Viewing: The ability to look into the past and present.
Remote access.
"Okay, I see how it works now. You said it can't detect the sins. Why?"
"the historama can sense magical energies all over the planet; some places give off stronger signals like Salem."
'Salem? Isn't that where Sam moved to? Maybe Ronnie and I should investigate.' Thought Lincoln.
"But I wouldn't worry too much; mystic hotspots like Salem tend to give off stronger signals from time to time."
"mystic hotspots?"
"There are places with a large concentration of magical energies; the wizard would monitor these places and act only if they became a threat. Luckily, none have."
"what about the Sins."
"their combined power should give off a strong enough signal to find them, but it seems they learned to hide their presence."
"Okay, I'll start visiting the Rock more often and monitoring the areas."
"good, and don't worry about explaining to Ronnie Anne. I'll do that when she wakes up." Informed Mary before disappearing.
Lincoln went back to readying himself, hoping that Mary doesn't scare Ronnie Anne like she did him or one of her family members. As Lincoln finished getting ready, a thought ran through his mind. He wondered if he could use the Historama to finally see who created that fake picture. However, Lincoln heard a hard knocking on the door before really thinking about it.
"Lincoln! Get out of there. I gotta tinkle." Commanded Lola
Lincoln walked out, ignoring Lola, who pushed past him as she ran in, though he said to himself.
"spoiled brat."
Heading back to his room, the door to his sisters' rooms opened up, and they all gave a hateful glare except for Lily. She smiled before shushing herself, signaling that she was keeping his secret; this made Lincoln smile as he entered his room to dress. Later at breakfast, as everyone ate, both parents noticed how all their daughters, minus Lily kept glaring at Lincoln, who ignored them. This annoyed Lynn Sr., who stood up to get everyone's attention.
"Alright now, what's the problem…Now!"
"I believe the fault lies with your son and his inability to get over it." Said Lisa.
"better yet, why not ask Ronnie Anne." Said Lucy.
Lincoln wondered what Ronnie Anne had to do with it but then realized that Ronnie Anne must have told one of them how she knew about how they treated him in the past. Shaking his head Lincoln went back to eating like he didn't care; Luna got annoyed as she got up from the table to eat in her room.
"c'mon, dudes, let's eat in our room; it smells like scumbag here."
"Luna!" scolded Rita.
"you're right, Luna. It does with a hint of failed rocker and 2nd place pageant winner wrapped up in Princess Pony." Replied Lincoln taking a shot at Luna, Lola, and Lucy.
Both sisters were ready to attack Lincoln, and he was prepared to fight back, but the parents stepped in, telling the girls to eat in their rooms until it was time to leave for school. With his sisters except Lily gone, Lincoln sat down to finish his cereal.
"Sweetie, what's going on now?"
"simple mom, while I hung out with Ronnie Anne, I told her about how they've wronged me, she must have confronted Lori, and she told the others."
Rita and Lynn Sr. Looked worried, seeing that those issues were still lingering inside Lincoln's mind.
"son, are you still angry with us?"
"No, Dad, look, I know you and mom still feel bad about the luck incident and for listening to Lynn's stupid superstition. but unlike them, you made a real effort to make up for it; you even confessed to Pop-pop when you didn't have to, despite how you knew it would end."
Lynn Sr. remembered how after they told his father-in-law about their mistake. It resulted in him getting punched and Rita almost being disowned. But Albert's anger cooled, seeing how sorry they were for their mistake, and he warned them not to make it again.
"it's different with them; it's the same routine they wrong me, pretend to apologize and be nice to me for a little while, then treat me like I don't matter again."
"Lincoln, that's not true."
"It is mom; think about their sister fight protocols, not a sibling fight; they wouldn't even include me. Yet use my space and belongings like it's disposable. If I protest, they tell me to butt out. It's not my business. I'm not part of their group; I'm the outcast, the boy; they've only really shown love when they needed something from me, nor ever made a real effort to make up for their mistakes. Yet hold my screw ups over my head and get hostile if they get reminded of their screw ups and not being perfect."
"Son, don't you think you're overreacting? They don't hold things over your head."
"Dad, Luan literally has a video library of all my mess-ups from when I cried for 3 hours to each time I ruined a holiday. Even when I broke my tailbone in her and Luna's closet, you tell me how that's not holding it over someone's head."
Both the loud parents were shocked, unaware that their daughters were keeping records like that.
"Now you see their hypocrisy in action; I mess up; they never let it go or forgive me and hold it over my head despite my efforts to make things right. They mess up; they do something superficial to apologize but never grow from it, especially when it's with me but expect me to forgive and forget.
Hearing Lincoln vent made his feelings made Lynn Sr. and Rita honestly think about how they raised their daughters. And how they made Lincoln feel like he didn't belong; both realized that Lincoln's negative feelings about his sisters ran deeper than they thought, that this thing with Sam was the final straw.
"Mom, Dad, if it's alright with you, can I visit Pop-pop after school."
"Sure, you can, sweetie." Said Rita.
Later
Rita decided to take the girls and Lynn Sr. to school and work in Vanzilla while Lincoln took the bus. Entering the bus was the same deal as always. Everyone gave him unfriendly looks, not wanting him to sit with them, some calling him a "cheater" and "player." Heading to the back, he noticed his former friends ignoring him, even Rusty flirting with Stella. However, as he walked passed Clyde, he noticed Clyde moving his backpack as if he was offering his seat, but Lincoln kept moving.
"dude, why would you let that cheater sit with us?" asked Zach.
"We owe it to him for helping us with Chandler?"
"he only helped because Chandler pushed Ronnie Anne." Corrected Stella.
"who stepped in to help us after we were too scared to fight our own battles and ran off, leaving them." Reminded Clyde.
Everyone but Rusty thought that since they ran off like cowards while Lincoln and Ronnie Anne fought. Wanting to change the subject, Rusty asked what they had planned for after school; Clyde, however, revealed that he was visiting his Nana Gayle today. Lincoln sat in the back of the bus and heard kids talking about Shazam and Lady Shazam. He heard how it was so cool they had superheroes. However, another kid chimed in, telling them that a cousin in Great Lake City says Lady Shazam was spotted there. Taking down a poacher who tried to steal animals from the zoo. Lincoln was surprised to hear this, wondering why Ronnie Anne didn't call him but soon realized she probably wanted to handle it independently. There are going to be times when they'll have to fly solo.
"she would've called if she needed the help."
"well, Great Lake can have her; we'll keep the hunk, right ladies." Said girl Jordan with the rest of the girls agreeing and the boys, minus Lincoln, groaning.
During class, the Action News Team gave their report on school life; Lincoln didn't really care about that anymore since he was kicked off the team. But laughed a little when Zach claimed that Shazam and Lady Shazam were aliens from a dying planet, and Rusty vowed to get an exclusive with Shazam.
'good luck with that jerk."
Later in Mr. Bolhofner's class, Lincoln tried focusing on his teacher's lesson, but Chandler kept kicking his chair.
"you really don't learn, do you."
"you got lucky Loud next time, I'll."
"call daddy again?" mocked Lincoln
This angered Chandler as he kicked Lincoln's chair harder but was caught by Bolhofner, who gave him detention for the day. Later during P.E., it was dodgeball day again; a few things were different. Because the P.E. teacher was still on vacation, Bolhofner ran the class, and Lynn's class was mixed in. What annoyed Lincoln the most was forcing him to be on the same team with his former friends, and he could see Lynn with a smug look on her face as if she was waiting to see Lincoln get owned. Chandler, Girl Jordan, and some of Lynn's classmates were on the opposite side. Bolhofner was a few moments away from starting the game as the gang coward a little while Lincoln stepped forward.
"wait, Lincoln, we should develop a strategy," said Clyde.
"worry about your friends and yourself, McBride; I'll do fine without you."
"jerk!" said Stella
"whatever! Just stay out of my way!" replied Lincoln
As Bolhofner was about to blow the whistle, Lincoln said, "Wisdom of Solomon." Suddenly everything slowed down in his mind as he began processing every outcome in this match, the action of both his teammates and opponents. He soon realized how to win the game without his teammates. Suddenly the whistle blew, and the game started.
'First, let those jerks go for the ball stand perfectly still.' He predicted as the gang pushed past him to get the balls, but Chandler's team took all the balls.
'next, Rusty will call out scorpion formation."
"guys, quick scorpion formation," he said; everyone but Lincoln went into the formation.
'predictable, next Girl Jordan will throw the ball at me, split duck and allow the ball to fly towards Zach, let it hit him in the face, then it'll bounce off him hitting Liam next.'
Just as Lincoln thought. Girl Jordan threw the first ball at him, but he dodged with a split sending the ball past him and right into Zach's face before it bounced into Liam's, taking them both out and dropping Stella and Rusty.
'then sidestep Lynn's classmates and let their balls take Rusty and Stella.'
Just as Stella and Rusty were back on their feet, two balls flew in. One hit Rusty in the nose while another hit her in the stomach, knocking them out of the game."
'finally, girl Jordan will take out Clyde.'
Girl Jordan then threw her ball at Clyde as he braised himself. But Lincoln caught it, taking Girl Jordan out of the game to his surprise, wondering why he saved Clyde. But Clyde was still taken out from a surprise hit from Chandler.
'little off track, but I can still win,'
"payback time Lincoln Lame."
"for what? kicking your ass, daddy's boy!"
Chandler threw his last two balls as hard as possible, angered, sending them at Lincoln. Still, he dodged, allowing them to hit the wall before bouncing off it and flying back to Chandler. Though he avoided it, they still hit his teammates.
"friendly fire, you're both out." Said Bolhofner.
'rile him up and let Chandler do the work."
As the group left, one took a ball, hitting Chandler with it, to which Bolhofner blew his whistle again.
"friendly fire, you're out, Chandler." Said Bolhofner to Chandler's shock.
Lincoln sat in the bleachers away from the others and watched the next game. Finally, it was the last game of the period, and it was Lincoln's team against Lynn's, which was only her. Lynn quickly took out the others, leaving it just her and Lincoln; she was ready to take her brother out, smiling.
"don't choke, Stinkin; I don't want to embarrass you too hard in front of your Ex." Mocked Lynn.
'really? Trying to get in my head two can play that game,' thought Lincoln. "at least I had a relationship. The only guy in your future has a name that starts with D, ends with O, loves the color pink, and was probably a hand-me-down." Shot back Lincoln.
Lynn's eyes widened, knowing what her brother was implying, and to her embarrassment, so did her classmates and Bolhofner.
"hahaha, good one, Loud."
"shut it, Stinkin!"
"or what? You'll threaten me with a bat and then call me bad luck again."
"don't push me!"
"you wanna know why you're gonna lose this game, Lynn? It's not just because you're a sore loser and an even sorer winner; it's because…."
Lynn through her ball hard as she could, right at Lincoln as he sidestepped and grabbed the ball using Lynn's own momentum. He redirected it back at Lynn, hitting her in the stomach. As Lynn dropped to the floor, the wind knocked out of her; she realized what her brother had just done.
"he kung fu panda 2'd me."
"you're too predictable." Said Lincoln before the bell rang, and he left Lynn to pick herself up.
Leaving, Lincoln headed to his favorite class of the day, lunch. Getting his lunch, he sat away from everyone to eat in peace. While Lincoln sat alone and wondered if he should learn some spells knowing the rock has a library of spellbooks. But he knew spell casting wasn't really a talent for him; it was Lucy's. Then he shuttered at the thought of the damage she could do if she got her hands on one.
"Knowing her, she'll cast some spell to send me to hell, then frame me for it."
As Lincoln ate, he was unaware of the hard stare he was getting from Stella at the table she and her friends were sitting.
"I can't believe that jerk; he just left his sister on the floor like that and didn't even bother to see she was okay."
"Stella, Lynn is fine; she's just mad about losing." Said Clyde.
"let that jerk sit by himself." Said Rusty.
"no, Rust, I will give that jerk a piece of my mind."
Stella got up from the table and stormed over to Lincoln's table; Rusty wanted to stop her but knew better. Halfway through his lunch, he noticed Stella walking toward him, causing him to groan a little before swallowing his food.
"what do you want?"
"to tell you you're a jerk and how it wasn't cool how you treated your sister."
"she's a big girl; she'll walk it off, and since when is my family business any of yours."
"you know what? I'm sick of you. You're the one who kissed your sister's girlfriend, cheated on me, and ruined almost every relationship you have in Royal Woods. Yet, you walk around acting like you're the victim. When are you gonna grow up and take responsibility for your actions?
Lincoln slammed his fist on the table, getting everyone's attention and making Stella step back a little.
"you know what? I don't care what you or the rest of royal woods thinks of me; I know the truth. The rest of you are just too damn stupid to see it. You could've been the one who made that photo Stella for the record."
"why would I do something like that?"
"maybe it's because not even a week had passed since you dumped. I see you outside of Gus's sucking face with Rusty. Heck, maybe you were cheating on me with Rusty, and this picture was a way for you to dump me and make it look like I'm the cheater."
Everyone gasped and began wondering about Lincoln was right as they all started murmuring, making Stella blush.
"I would never do something like that!" she yelled.
"Are you sure people should believe you? I've lived in Royal Wood my whole life; despite that, nearly this entire town turned on me over a lie. What makes you think you're more believable since you've only lived here a year."
Angered, Stella was about to tell Lincoln off more but was cut off by him, who wanted to end this conversation.
"you know what the funny part is? That this whole experience woke me up. A blessing in disguise, and I should thank whoever did this. Now I know who really has my back and who's been wasting my time, and I don't want to waste any more of my time; I'm happy with the people I have left in my corner. Now, if you don't mind, my food is getting cold, and Smelling whatever Rusty ate is making me lose my appetite, so goodbye." Said Lincoln.
Stella turned her back and was about to leave but decided to get one last shot in as she looked over her shoulder.
"What did I ever see in a jerk like you!?"
"The feeling is mutual; Stella, now get lost!"
Lincoln went back to eating his lunch, feeling a little better as he finally got some of his baggage off his chest. After school, Lincoln walked out seeing Vanzilla drive off after picking up Lynn. Lincoln was okay with it since he told his parents that he would walk to Sunset Canyon Retirement Home.
"time to see Pop-Pop, Speed Of Mercury!"
Suddenly Lincoln ran off with great speed to see his grandfather becoming a blur as he ran.
End of Ch 6
Author's Notes.
Sorry if this Chapter wasn't really Shazam-focused; this was more Lincoln getting his chance to lay into someone who needed a verbal ass-whupping. I decided to split the chapter into 2-parts and someone else I gonna get chewed out in the second part.
Lynn Sr. and Rita are now starting to reevaluate how they raised the girls and wonder if it was a mistake to let them solve their problems on their own and should've stepped in more.
I wasn't interested in writing a redemption arc for the parents over the luck incident. Still, they feel guilt over it and made strides to never make that mistake again. Trust me, they'll play an important role later.
If you're unsure about the conflict between Lincoln and 9 of his sisters, they're mad because Lincoln told Ronnie Anne about how they've treated him in the past. They feel like they made up for those actions, which they really didn't, and feel Lincoln is being petty for holding onto it. But have no problem bringing up Lincoln's mistakes whenever they're angry. Their verbal beatdown is coming soon.
Please comment after reading
I need more to improve my writing.