It's a Kid's World
5.7: Moving On…
Lori and Bobby were sitting together on the sofa inside the Casagrandes's apartment. The two of them, while happy to be in each other's company, shared a mutual look of concern and worry as they saw Lincoln walk past, no doubt heading towards Ronnie Anne's bedroom.
The young Hispanic tomboy was lying on her bed, a little troubled by her actions earlier in the day. She was still desperately trying to convince herself inside her mind that she was right to do what she did, but there were small seeds of doubt planted in her psyche.
Those seeds were about to grow as Lincoln entered the bedroom for an inevitable confrontation…
"Ronnie Anne!" he said with an angered tone.
The young girl sighed as she just wanted to get this heated exchange over and done with.
"Don't even think about lying to me! I'm not in the mood! Admit it, you called the cops and convinced them to hire those special military thugs to help out!" Lincoln accused.
"Look, Lincoln! I'm feeling bad enough about what I did as it is, so just leave me alone." she said.
"If it makes you feel so bad, why did you do it?!" he asked.
"Because it was the right thing to do!" she argued back as she got up and looked him eye to eye.
"How do you work that out?!" he questioned.
"That mafia was dangerous and evil! I did what I had to do to make sure my city is safe. It's what I've been doing for months. The casualties were awful, but what other choice did I have?!" she fired back.
"The same choice we talked about before! You only needed to call the police to deal with what remained of the mob, and you know it! But you decided to get some rogue black ops group or whoever those guys were involved in all this! Why?" he responded.
"Because the cops might not have been enough on their own. I mean, they've been gone for months and have only just come back! Besides, those suited punks were no pushovers! You weren't there when the mafia took over this town and enslaved all my friends! You don't know how underhanded and devious they were!" Ronnie tried to justify.
"Really? You think after all this, I haven't learned the despicable lows people can reach?!" he rhetorically asked, as he knew that she knew he was perfectly aware of such things.
"Then surely you get why I did it!?" she exhaustedly tried to insist.
"You know that you're lying. Not only to me, but to yourself too!" Lincoln told her.
"What are you talking about?!" she asked angrily.
"You knew the cops would be more than capable of handling the mob by themselves. You didn't call those soldiers in because they were needed. You called them in because you knew how ruthless and brutal they would be, and you liked the sound of that! What you did wasn't to save Great Lakes City! It was so you could get the last laugh!" Lincoln furiously accused.
"*Pfft* You don't know what you're talking about, lame-o!" she fired back.
"This is serious! I thought I really knew you, Ronnie Anne! Even on your worst days, I didn't think you could be so merciless!" he then harshly told her.
"Okay, maybe getting those soldiers involved was a little bit of revenge! So what!? I've earned a little bit of payback, don't you think?!" she hot-headedly confessed.
"So you're finally admitting it, then?!" Lincoln judgingly questioned.
"Yeah, I am! I had every right to get back at those punks after what they did to me and everyone else in the city! Okay, so a few innocent people got caught in the crossfire… I didn't mean for that to happen, obviously! That was a huge mess up, and I feel really bad about it, and maybe a part of me does regret how that all went down! But you can't say I was completely unjustified in wanting some revenge after everything that happened!" she argued.
"Well, I hope you think your 'revenge' was worth all those lives!" he said.
"Of course it wasn't! Like I said, I didn't mean for that to happen! It was an accident! I didn't know all those kids would get caught in the crossfire!" Ronnie then shouted.
"If you just listened to me instead of acting on impulse, the situation could have been handled much better!" Lincoln stressed.
"I don't know where you get off preaching about not taking revenge, anyway! I've heard about what you and your sister Lucy did to that guy who took over Royal Woods! You beat him to a pulp and then let Lucy feed him to her pet bats!" Ronnie pointed out.
"That's exactly my point! I did get very ruthless and vengeful during all this, we all have! That's why now that the adults are back, we have to take the opportunity to let that side of ourselves go! But despite what we agreed, you went back on all that and did what you did anyway! You completely ignored me!" Lincoln argued.
"Oh, just shut up, Lincoln! Not everything can be solved with sunshine and rainbows! You know what? It's a good thing at least one of us is man enough to get things done and make the hard choices around here!" Ronnie Anne then suddenly blurted out in frustration and anger.
Lincoln was taken aback by what she just said, as he still had a bit of an emotional soft spot for verbal insults against his masculinity ever since that confrontation he had with Lynn. He stepped back and grew a very hurt look on his face. Realising she may have gone too far, Ronnie Anne retracted her last sentence…
"I'm sorry, Lincoln. That was uncalled for. Believe me, nobody's proved their manhood in all this more than you." she apologised, finally calming down the altercation a little bit.
The two friends then stood there in awkward silence for a few seconds, both not sure what to say next. They were both certain that they were right, but they did understand each other's point of view. Lincoln finally broke the silence and responded…
"So… I guess all my talks about us being able to go back to normal were in vain, then?" he asked, disappointed.
"Normal? I don't think that word should be used anymore. Things won't ever be 'normal' again." Ronnie sadly reflected.
"We agreed that while we did what we had to do in that world without adults, it would all be worth it if it meant we could go back to being nicer and more innocent when it was over. I'm guessing you didn't mean a word of that. I'm also guessing all that stuff you told me about not really being a bruiser or a bully at heart was a pack of lies, too." he recollected.
"Of… of course I meant that! That's one of the most personal things I've ever told anyone! I didn't even tell Sid. Don't you dare throw that back in my face!" she shouted, as she couldn't believe he would even think that.
"I thought we agreed we wouldn't act like this anymore… once our families came back, we could stop being so cold and merciless… how am I supposed to believe that now? Honestly, I don't think I can trust you anymore." the boy said sadly.
"Lincoln… I…" Ronnie tried to say.
"I'm sorry, but I need some alone time. I just can't bare being around you right now." he then told her.
"So, that's how it is, huh?" she bitterly asked herself.
The two then stood there in awkward silence once again. Both of them were heartbroken that their journey had to end on such a sour note.
Lincoln understood Ronnie Anne's perspective, even if he didn't agree with the choice she made. He knew she and her family had suffered at the hands of the mafia, and that they were indeed a threat to the city that needed to be dealt with. He knew he was being a little harsh, but he couldn't help but be genuinely disappointed in her…
…as Ronnie Anne, meanwhile, also saw Lincoln's point of view. They had spoken about this very matter beforehand, but she ignored his words and warnings, instead choosing to act on impulse and out of spite. She had very good reasons for hating the mob, but she also knew she might have taken her lust for revenge too far.
Lincoln finally decided to leave the room, but before he left, his friend quietly muttered…
"I'm sorry."
He hesitated for a second. Even under these circumstances, where Ronnie Anne had done something drastic that resulted in severe casualties, his honest intention was not to hurt her in any way. He hated it whenever his words or actions genuinely hurt her. But he had to continue walking, so his point could be realised by the other child.
After Lincoln left and was out of earshot, Ronnie Anne then said to herself…
"Please forgive me."
Later on, Lincoln was waiting outside Vanzilla as Lori came out of the building for a confrontation.
"Lincoln, march your butt back into that building and tell Ronnie Anne you're sorry!" she fiercely commanded.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." he regretfully informed her.
"What?! Why not?!" she furiously asked him.
"Because then she won't learn from her mistakes." he ambiguously stated.
"Mistakes? What mistakes?!" Lori questioned.
"It's… *Sigh* a long story." the boy said back.
"Look, Lincoln! I don't have time for these stupid riddles! My relationship with Bobby is at stake here if you don't go and make this right!" Lori told him.
"I'm sorry, Lori, but this goes beyond a little domestic spat." he told her.
"WHAT?!" she aggressively shouted, furious that her brother would seemingly belittle her deep and intimate relationship with her boyfriend like that.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. But while I understand your relationship with Bobby is important to you, that doesn't mean I can just let Ronnie Anne off the hook." Lincoln then clarified, though this did little to tame Lori's anger.
Unfortunately, Lori was about to find out how her brother had changed since she and the other adults had vanished. After all the training he received, all the ways in which he changed mentally, and all the battles he fought, Lincoln now had a new instinctive way of responding to even the tiniest of violent threats…
…Lori aggressively stepped towards him, but unsure of whether or not she would actually resort to any violent measures, he demonstrated just how much he himself had changed as a person. This was the mindset of a boy who had just spent months fighting vile madmen and demonic monsters. Without second thought or hesitation, he pulled out his sword and pointed it at his oldest sister, just like that, purely as an instinctive reflex move…
"Lincoln?!" she nervously and fearfully cried.
Quickly realising what he was doing, Lincoln withdrawn his weapon and put Lori's mind at ease.
"What on earth was that?" she asked him.
"I'm so sorry, Lori! I don't know what came over me." he apologised, shocked with what he just did.
"What exactly have you been going through all this time I've been gone? The old Lincoln never would have reacted that aggressively!" Lori pointed out.
"I've been through a lot. I've changed in many ways. We all have. The problem is… I'm not sure if some of us can change back." he reflectively stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" the big sister asked.
"That's what this is about, between me and Ronnie Anne. I think she's changed, and not in a good way. She was the one who called the police and the military to deal with the mafia." the white-haired boy explained.
"So? Isn't that good?" she questioned, confused as to why that was a problem.
"But she didn't need to call those special ops guys, the cops would have been enough. She did what she did out of her lust for revenge, not concern for everyone's safety. She just admitted it to me!" Lincoln clarified.
Lori then paused and thought about it for a second. Upon reflection of the issue, she understood that Lincoln and Ronnie Anne's falling out was over something much bigger than what she thought it was. As such, she knew she couldn't expect him to force himself to apologise just so her romance with Bobby wasn't at risk.
Besides, if her relationship was that strong, it wouldn't be so fragile at this point anyway. This thought process was represented by Lori's changing facial expressions. As she came to understand the situation more, she adopted a softer expression, as she could no longer hold any feelings of anger towards her brother.
"I'm sorry I pointed my sword at you, Lori. That was uncalled for. Now that all the adults are back, I also need to learn to calm down a little. In fact, I don't even know why I'm still carrying this thing around? Instinct, I guess." Lincoln said.
"I'm sorry, too. It sounds like this thing between you and Ronnie Anne is pretty serious, so I'll let you two sort it out in your own time, in your own way." Lori acceptingly stated.
The two siblings then got in the van and drove home…
"Lori… I will probably forgive her… one day. I just don't know if I have it in me to do it just yet." he suddenly admitted to her on the voyage home.
"I hope so, and not just for my sake. You and Ronnie Anne have a really special bond. I'd hate to see that go away forever." his sister told him.
"Maybe, we'll see if time heals our bond." Lincoln replied.
"Look, I may not have been around all this time, and maybe I don't know exactly what everyone's been through, but I know as well as you do that Ronnie Anne is a good person, and I'm not just saying that because she's my boyfriend's sister. Besides, like you said, you've all changed… and probably in some ways you don't like. I mean, I'm sure you're not feeling too good about pointing your sword at me back there. To be honest, it's a little strange you even still have that thing with you… but that's not the point. I'm just saying that you might want to think twice about cutting all ties with Ronnie Anne. It's not just her that's struggling to go back to being an innocent young kid again." Lori reasoned.
Lincoln then just sat there in the passenger seat, pondering to himself. He knew his sister was making sense on a certain level. It's not like he couldn't see where Ronnie Anne was coming from or why she felt she needed to do what she did. He just needed time to think about it all…
The following day, Ronnie Anne had another emotional experience, as she had been ordered to return her pet tiger to the zoo…
After Sid's mom Becca put the tiger Ronnie named after her mother back in its cage, the young girl had one final interaction with her faithful feline companion.
"So, I guess this is it? I'm going to miss you, girl." Ronnie said.
Being a tiger, Maria obviously couldn't talk, but she stared back and Ronnie Anne could tell that the big cat could understand her every word. They had a very close, special kind of relationship between owner and pet.
"It sucks that I have to let you go, but my mom and Sid's mom told me I am legally obligated to return you here or something. Still, maybe it's not so bad. At least you'll still be nearby, and I can come and visit you all the time. Besides, Becca and the other zookeepers will probably be able to take better care of you anyway." she knelt down and said to her pet.
Ronnie Anne then looked at the writing on the side of the cage and realised that it contained the actual names of her three tigers, including the one still present.
"So… your real name is Francine, huh? Can't believe I missed that last time when I came and let you guys out. Still, I guess I was more focused on other things at the time, like helping you get back on your feet. I remember it like it was yesterday. I physically got in that cage and helped you back to your feet. Your sisters almost pulverised me for getting too close. Ha ha ha!" Ronnie recollected, trying to find a little amusement and happiness on an otherwise sad occasion.
"Maybe that's why I named you after my mom… I guess helping you get better like that reminded me of my mom and her job as a nurse." she said.
"But then you went on to be the strongest and toughest of the whole bunch! You're the only one who made it through all this… *sigh* I'm sorry your sisters didn't make it. I guess it might be a little lonely in that cage now. Still, that's why I'm going to make sure I come and visit regularly." Ronnie then promised her pet.
The tiger then leaned her nose against the bars and Ronnie poked her hand through to stroke her one last time.
"See you later." she said before getting up and departing, leaving her companion in the capable hands of Becca and her colleagues.
Lincoln was also spending some quality BFF time with his friend Clyde, having their first one-to-one hangout since the adults returned. Lincoln found himself in need of advice, and his bestie was there in his bedroom beside him to provide it…
"So, do you think I should let it go and move on?" Lincoln asked his friend after he finished explaining the situation to him.
"Well, I do kinda see your point. She did act a little rashly." Clyde commented.
"So, you think I was right to be mad at her?" Lincoln questioned.
"But then again… her actions were understandable, and that mafia was a big threat to everybody." Clyde then began to debate to himself.
"Kinda giving me mixed signals here, Clyde." Lincoln said.
"Oh, sorry." Clyde awkwardly apologised.
"I just wish this whole thing never happened in the first place! I mean, life was so much easier when we were all just kids!" Lincoln said.
"But Lincoln, we are still kids. Viribus didn't change that. We're all still eleven years old, we can go back to being children again." Clyde responded.
"But are we? Sure, physically we might still be eleven… but mentally?! This whole thing has forced us to grow up and not in a good way! We're never going to be 'just kids' again!" Lincoln then argued.
"I know how you feel… it's like a big gaping hole of our childhood was ripped away. Trust me, you're not the only one going through this, buddy. But the best thing you can do is not let it get to you and try to move on with your life. Besides, just because we had to grow up for a while doesn't mean we can't go back to being children again in time. We'll just have to wait and see." Clyde supportively reminded him, putting a hand on his shoulder for comfort.
"Thanks, Clyde. You're a true friend." Lincoln said, acknowledging his friend's support for him.
"Is that what you're really angry about? Because you believe our innocence is lost forever?" Clyde asked, making Lincoln think quite intensely about the situation.
"Well… partly. I still don't agree with Ronnie Anne getting those rogue op guys involved in bringing down the mob, the police were more than capable of dealing with it, and it wouldn't have been so over the top that way. But… I'd be lying if I said I didn't think my reaction wasn't a little harsh. I know that she's just struggling to deal with this whole experience, same as me. Maybe I was just using what she did as an outlet for my anger, at least in part." Lincoln reflectively stated.
"Well, maybe it would be good not to rush things. I think you just need a little time to think things over on your own." Clyde suggested.
"I guess I was being a little too optimistic when I said we could just go back to being innocent kids, like all this never happened. It did happen, whether we like it or not, and maybe I just have to accept that." Lincoln then said to himself, wondering what to do next.
"Honestly, I think you should come back to it. We're all going to have to get used to a lot of things now that everyone's back. After we've all settled into this new world of ours, then you should see if you still feel like making up with Ronnie Anne." Clyde interjected.
"Yeah, I think you're right. Thanks, Clyde." Lincoln then said as he began to smile slightly.
Clyde then began to walk out the room, but turned back to remind his best friend of one more thing…
"Lincoln, you're a hero to everyone in this town. But also… you're my best friend. Whatever happens, and whatever you decide to do… I'll stand by you, buddy." he said before leaving the room, leaving the white-haired boy to his own thoughts.
One month later…
"Good morning. I am Katherine Mulligan, and this is Royal Woods News. It has now been one month since the 'The Big Vanish' and its effects being overturned, and the world is slowly getting back on its feet. There is still a lot of uncertainty concerning what permanent changes the months of absent adults will have on the economy, society and otherwise, but it does seem we are slowly recovering and adapting to this new status quo we find ourselves in." the news lady began to speak.
"I still can't believe it all happened!" Lola said as she watched the news with her family.
"Yeah, some of those memories are going to last me a long time!" Lana replied.
"In the aftermath of this global catastrophe, more and more discoveries are being made about the vanish, as well as what happened during the absence of the world's adults. Yet despite this, investigations are still ongoing as to exactly what caused the vanish to happen. There are still many conflicting claims and theories, but nothing concrete. Many local children claim it is connected to the decomposed child bodies and converted cyborgs that were scattered all across town on the night we returned. Recently. A secret laboratory located in the forest just outside town was found and the machinery there has raised a few eyebrows. Our scientists are studying the technology to find out more about it and whether or not it connects to The Big Vanish." the reporter continued.
"Where is Lynn?" Rita asked her daughters as they watched the TV.
"I don't know. I think she's playing with her friends." Leni guessed.
"Ah, good old LJ. Even in her condition, she's still keeping herself active." Lynn Sr admirably stated.
"While the adults were absent, many children across the world were quick to opportunistically take advantage of the situation, obtaining power wherever they could. One such place was the Elite Wrestling Federation, which took kids from all over the state and forced them to fight for entertainment and profitable gain. All the children involved in this practice have been located, arrested and charged accordingly. There were also other factions in nearby cities that exercised tyrannical and criminal activities to seize power, such as the mafia in Great Lakes City, and a cultist group in the state's capital, Detroit."
"Due to the absolute proof put forward that the children of Royal Woods fought valiantly to defeat a major threat to humanity, Royal Woods is being provided with a huge financial package to cover the damages done to the area during the battle against the aforementioned monstrosities. This should hopefully aid the town in its recovery somewhat. Indeed, the children of Royal Woods have been praised as heroes by people all over the world who have heard about the war they fought to save the species from certain extinction. There are conflicting sources of information regarding the exact number of those who died during what has been aptly named 'The Human Harvest', but it is estimated to be somewhere in the thousands. Of course, these records of data are subject to confusion and error, as there have been a lot of other fatalities caused by the events of the vanish in general. Needless to say, many people have voiced their opinions that there should be more public recognition of the heroism and bravery these young children demonstrated that night, which has led to Mayor Davis deciding to host the Royal Woods Celebratory Festival in their honour this weekend."
"You know something, dudes? You guys really are heroes! Leading the charge against all those monsters like that! I think every single one of you should receive a medal for what you did!" Luna said appraisingly to her younger siblings present.
"Heh, that would be nice, but we'll see." Luan replied.
"It is predicted there will be further fallout from this whole ordeal all across the globe. All this reporter can say is brace yourselves for a bumpy ride ahead. Things are going to be quite different from now on. Many of us have lost loved ones through all this, but I must urge you all to remain strong during these tough times."
Later that day, Lisa Loud was working in her bedroom lab, dealing with a number of enquiries. She had on her experiment table a prototype model of an exoskeleton suit. This was her attempt at giving her crippled sister Lynn a chance to be fully able bodied again.
However, there was something else that demanded her attention as she shifted her focus towards another invention she had crammed into the corner of her room…
It was a C.R.A.P. The same device previously used by Asherah to resurrect her brother.
Inside the liquid was the body of David, who had previously fallen victim to Lord Viribus following his betrayal. His mangled and deformed husk was slowly being healed by the juices that surrounded it, but his successful restoration was still far from a reality…
"I promise, David, I will revitalise you! I will perform one more miraculous success!" a determined Lisa said to herself as she stared at the body of her respected science partner, intellectual equal and even potential lover.
While the task was challenging, Lisa Loud had proven her capacities as a scientist during the night of the harvest. She was going to see this through…
Meanwhile, Lynn was still playing in the park with her friends. Margo, Polly, Lainey, Alice, Maddie, Diane and Maya, and even Paula were all playing a game of freestyle soccer while she sat in her wheelchair and refereed the game. Even though she was disabled, Lynn found some comfort in the fact that she still had her friends as well as her family around her for support.
"GOAL!" Lynn declared after her friend Margo scored a perfect strike.
"So, Lynn. Is it getting any easier?" Diane walked over and asked, obviously referring to her injury.
"*Pfft* It's fine, I'm getting used to it." Lynn said, trying to sound tough and hide her inner pain.
"You know, you could still be a great sports star even with the injury. I mean, there's always the Paralympics. Besides, look at me!" Paula encouragingly pointed out.
"Yeah, but you've only got one broken leg, and you're freakishly good at working around that! But I'm in a wheelchair, and I don't think wheelchair basketball is really my speed." Lynn said.
"Well, who knows… maybe in time, your wounds will heal." Margo said, trying to cheer her up, before she and the other girls resumed their game.
"Yeah, I guess." a less than convinced Lynn said to herself.
As her friends continued to play soccer, Lynn wheeled herself away for a minute so she could have some privacy.
Lynn sat in her wheelchair, reflecting on everything that had happened. The whole reason she acted so tough… was because she had it tough. The traumatic experience she suffered in middle school… it seemed like nothing compared to everything she had to endure since the vanish.
She went through so much in the past few months. She was separated from her family; she met the boy of her dreams… only to watch him die in a pit of fire. She received harsh and exclusive treatment from the likes of misogynists who put her down on every turn, she took various licks from many people she met on her travels, and to top it all off, her heroic sacrifice now meant all her life's ambitions and passions were over.
But that was the thing… she went through all that, and she was still there. She had persisted through everything. If there was anyone who could pick themselves back up and recover from something so devastating, if there was someone who could overcome such insurmountable odds by determination and sheer will power alone… it was Lynn Loud Junior.
In defiance of everything known in sports and science, Lynn put her hands on the arms of her chair, and tried to lift herself up.
"*GRRRUGH!*" a determined and pumped Lynn shouted to herself as she began to heat up and sweat. She was using every ounce of her strength and energy to try and get out of the chair.
Typical for her character, Lynn had been doing everything she could to work around her injury in the weeks since the adults returned. She was eating the right foods, she was doing exercises that only involved the use of isolated limbs she could still use, she was resting the parts of her body that needed rest. She was doing everything she could to aid the recovery of her body…
…and yet she didn't know if her broken back would ever heal. It was not certain just how much damage Viribus really did to her that night. She remembered what a doctor told her a few weeks back…
"Your back has been damaged so badly, I'm uncertain if it will ever fully recover. All you can do is live in hope. You're at the mercy of mother nature now."
"NO!" she roared as tried to lift herself again, but without success.
She took a moment to regain her breath, but she wasn't done. She just wouldn't quit. She was going to stand up or collapse to the ground trying. She was not going to let a setback like this beat her. Lynn Loud was a girl who spent her whole life defying the odds. This was just the latest in a long line of life obstacles, she thought in that moment. She certainly wasn't going to leave it to nature to decide her fate.
"Come on, Lynn! Push it, dig deep!" she told herself.
She made one last effort. She put all her remaining energy into one last try to stand up out of her chair… but would she be able to do it?
Elsewhere, Luan and Benny met each other at Lynn's Table for a nice romantic meal…
"You know, I still can't believe I was part of a committee in charge of the whole town! That was pretty cool." the boy said, remembering one of the many interesting experiences Royal Woods endured during the period after the vanish.
"Yeah, and while you were doing that, I was off camping at Groove Hill." Luan recalled and chuckled.
"I've kept in touch with the others since the adults came back. Jordan has gone back to being the popular girl at school with the big pool, Margo is still playing tons of sports, and Chandler actually says he's kinda thankful the whole thing happened." Benny mentioned.
"What? Really?" Luan asked.
"Well, not for everything, obviously. But he's at least happy that something came up that gave him the chance to grow and change as a person. He admits he was a bit of a bully before all this happened." Benny then explained.
"I think we've all changed in one way or another. I had to learn to grow up a little bit, since my siblings needed me to." Luan said.
"Well, hopefully now we can go back to being just kids again." Benny suggested.
"Yeah, that would be nice." Luan replied.
"By the way, I never asked… that friend of yours, what happened to her?" Benny suddenly brought up.
"What friend? Oh, you mean Asherah? Well, she vanished just after we beat all those zombies and robots that night. She turned 16 that day. I never seen her again." Luan answered.
"But if all the adults came back, wouldn't she have come back, too?" Benny asked.
"Hmm, I guess that would make sense. Either way, I haven't seen her since then, so I can't be sure." Luan then said.
"Maybe she's still out there somewhere?" Benny suggested.
"Yeah, I guess." Luan said sadly, unsure if she agreed with Benny's idealism.
Realising he unintentionally made his girlfriend sad by mentioning an old friend whom she hadn't seen in ages and wasn't even sure was still around, Benny deciding to cheer her up by appealing to their mutual love for juvenile comedy by pulling out his Mrs Appleblossom marionette.
"Benjamin spent all those months in the committee trying to keep the town safe because he was worried about you, and wanted you to come back to a nice home." the boy spoke with a feminine voice, impersonating his puppet.
Amused by her partner's ventriloquism, Luan then returned the favour with Mr Coconuts.
"Hey, sweet-cheeks over here spent all that time on that dang hill thinking the exact same thing. She just couldn't wait to get back to Royal Woods and see her good old Benny Boy!" 'Mr Coconuts' said.
Luan and Benny, fully absorbed in their romantic moment, then shared a passionate kiss of affection as they were just happy that both of them made it through everything in one piece, and they were fortunate enough to still have each other…
Another couple that felt very much the same way as Benny and Luan was Luna and Sam. After briefly meeting each other that one time in the Loud House, Sam left and the two vanished shortly there afterwards. Since the adults returned, Luna and Sam had been catching up, and this was one of those designated 'catch up' sessions.
Luna and Sam walked up to each other in a backstage area, as they were about to go out and perform in front of a large crowd…
"So, you a little nervous?" a slightly anxious Luna asked.
"Oh, you know me, always happy to be on stage." Sam joked.
"I'm not gonna lie, dude. This is the first big gig we've done since everyone did that disappearing act. I don't know what to expect!" Luna admitted.
"Hey, you were brave enough to step up to the plate and take care of your family when they needed you most! Just think back to that, and then remind yourself just how comparably easy this is." Sam encouragingly told her.
"Thanks, Sam. You're the best!" Luna said as the two shared a hug.
"By the way, Lunes… between you and me, I'm a little nervous, too." Sam admitted as the two were embracing.
"I know, it is a little awkward. Let's just hope all that stuff that happened hasn't made the world of rock n' roll a little too sour." Luna said as the two began walking up to the stage.
The other band members were waiting for them as Sam walked out with her guitar and Luna walked to the front of the stage and picked up the microphone…
Her palms and forehead were a little sweaty, and she was doing her best to fight off the shaky tension. Needless to say, the events surrounding the vanish had differing effects on everyone, and Luna was just a little worried that her audience was going to be far too cynical and critical of her performance…
…she also felt a little less confident than before because of how she handled the whole vanishing situation with her family. Luna always believed that since the days of her transference into a hardcore rocker girl, she was always a confident and courageous person who didn't shy away from confrontations or tough situations. However, her inability to tell her siblings about her impending doom until the last minute back before she vanished had shook her confidence a little. She wasn't sure if she quite had the daring nature and nerves of steel she thought she had.
But all she had to do was look over at her friend, her partner… Sam was there for her. The presence of her closest ally gave her all the mental strength and bravery she needed. The knowledge that her family was there for her also helped maintain her confidence. After reminding herself of that, Luna overcome her momentary sense of fear and began to sing…
…and she was about to deliver the performance of a lifetime.
With the threat of the undead having finally been eviscerated forever, Lucy friend's went back to being The Mortician's Club, as opposed to a guard. They returned to their original cemetery for their meetings. While Lincoln and his circle of friends no longer attended their club, the contributions they made to their survival in that desperate time of need were not forgotten.
Lucy went to speak to the group as one of the co-leaders of the club, with Boris providing musical aid to her words with his electronic keyboard.
"Tonight, I ask that we begin our meeting by taking a moment of silence to remember the noble acts of some of our former members and esteemed friends. Clyde, Stella, Liam, Zach, Rusty and of course Lincoln will always be remembered as the great zombie slayers, who helped save the world from the end of days. Without them, we wouldn't still be here!" Lucy spoke aloud, to which her friends stood up and clapped in response.
Among those clapping was Rusty's brother Rocky, who had now become a fully fledged member of the Mortician's Club.
Lucy then turned around and stared at a large portrait that the club had put in the cemetery, featuring an image of Lincoln and his friends, dressed as the valiant knights they had become, bravely defending the town against an army of savage corpses.
"Thank you, my brother. Your efforts to defend the earth from the otherworld will never be forgotten." Lucy concluded, expressing her newfound respect and admiration for her male sibling to the group.
Next to the portrait was another noteworthy artefact. The head of Lord Viribus's robotic form had been retrieved from the aftermath of the battle and placed on display. The Mortician's Club took pride in the memory of this formidable foe being defeated, and their role in making it happen.
Many of the surviving children of Royal Woods had done their best to resume their lives as carefree children since the day their parents returned. The parks, streets and playgrounds were filled with cheerfulness and youthful innocence once again. While the haunting memories remained inside their minds, these kids weren't going to let the dastardly actions of Lord Viribus ruin the rest of their lives.
Lana and Lola were among the many children playing that day. The two of them were playing a game of tag together, along with some of Lana's muddy friends and Lola's pageant allies, many of whom were girls that fought alongside them in the war against the dead.
"Tag, you're it!" Lola shouted as she tapped Lacey on the shoulder, before quickly outrunning her.
"Wow, for someone wearing a gown and high heels, you sure can run fast!" Lana complimented after seeing Lola make a narrow escape.
"Hey, just because I'm a refined and elegant young lady, that doesn't mean I'm not also athletic and fit!" Lola stated.
"Well, I guess that's true. I mean, you were the one who brought down that Viribus guy for crying out loud! By the way, did you ever get a reward for that?" Lana responded.
"Eh, I was offered a Nobel prize, but I declined. All the hassle surrounding that would have cut into my pageant work." Lola joked.
"Still all about the pageants, aren't ya Lols?" her tomboyish twin teased.
"Well, I think I've already made my point that pageants are a lot more useful than most people give them credit for. Besides, that's just who I am. Elegant, graceful and clean." Lola justified.
"Fair enough. Still, there's no harm in occasionally getting a little messy. After all, I was willing to do your pageant thing one time, even if it was just for Dairyland tickets. Maybe you should come out of your comfort zone sometimes, too." Lana said before running off.
But as Lana ran, she was suddenly pelted in the face with a ball of mud. She wiped the mud off her eyes to see it was Lindsay Sweetwater who threw it.
"MUD FIGHT!" Lana then loudly chanted as she was quick to relish in the opportunity to turn this tame game of tag into something dirtier and more hardcore.
Lola momentarily expressed disgust as her group of friends got stuck into the mud battle. She was all about elegance, grace, and proper primness after all…
"HA HA HA HA HA!" Lana and the other girls laughed as they all had fun.
…but then Lola remembered that sometimes in life, you just had to let your hair down, get a little dirty and join in the experience. The last few months certainly proved that.
Lola removed her pink gloves, picked up a handful of mud, and threw it at her twin sister from behind.
"AGH!" Lana yelled in surprise as the mudball hit her butt hard enough to knock her to the ground.
Everybody stopped in their sights as they were rather shocked seeing pageant princess Lola Loud take down her sister with a mudball.
Lana then got back to her feet and turned to face her sister, sporting a cocky grin…
"Bring it!" Lana said as she held a mudball of her own in her hand.
Lola then joined in the fun with the others, as even the cleanest and fairest of girls could enjoy a bit of rough play every now and then. Besides, she had earned the right to enjoy herself. They all had. It was thanks to them that children all over the world still had the freedom to play and frolic, after all.
Leni resumed her employment at Reininger's, where she still worked closely with her friends Miguel and Fiona. Lori drove there so she could see her sister.
"Hey, Leni." Lori greeted.
"Hi!" she said back as she walked over to her sister, accompanied by Miguel and Fiona.
"So, how has work been today?" Lori asked.
"Oh, it's been so busy today!" Fiona said.
"Totes! There have been so many customers wanting new clothes!" Leni followed.
"The lines stretched all the way out to the parking lot!" Miguel stated.
"Well, that's good news, I guess. I've heard a lot of businesses have been struggling since the adults came back. You know, with the fallout of the whole vanishing thing causing a bit of a financial crash. I'm glad to see your job is looking pretty safe." Lori replied.
"Yeah, things are pretty tough for everyone right now." Miguel stated.
"But at least we've all got each other!" Leni optimistically said as she hugged her two besties, before Lori came over to join in the hug.
"Oh, that reminds me… you were set to go to that university. Is that still happening now that all this has gone down?" Leni concerningly asked before releasing the hug.
"Well, the university is running a little behind, and it had to make a few cutbacks… but from what I can tell, I think my enrolment is safe." Lori claimed.
"That's great! I hope you have fun down there!" Leni told her.
"Thanks! Also, it will be nice to see Bobby again. We haven't seen each other in person since Lincoln had that falling out with Ronnie Anne, so this will be a good chance to revitalise our relationship." Lori then stated.
"True. I hope Lincoln and Ronnie Anne are able to fix things between them, too." Leni responded.
"Yeah, it will be a shame if they don't talk ever again. They're really good together." Lori agreed.
"At least you and Bobby are still on good terms, and you're going to the university of your dreams. I'm so happy for you! Even if it's all a bit worrying for me." Leni then admitted.
"What? Why?" Lori asked.
"I'm nervous. I mean, you're so good at being the oldest sibling, but I'm not sure I'm cut out for it. I don't have your firm but fair, respect commanding attitude." Leni said.
"I think you'd be better at it than you realise. I'm sure you'll do just fine, Leni. Besides, my help and advice will always literally be only a phone call away." Lori reassured her.
"Thanks, Lori."
Back in Great Lakes City, while the Casagrande family had managed to restore a sense of relative normality into their lives, Ronnie Anne was still incredibly sad after falling out with her close friend. However, her other bestie Sid was still around to cheer her up. She tried to take her mind off her situation with Lincoln by bringing up some other things.
"So, how's your family doing?" Sid asked.
"They're doing okay. My brother is still working with Abeulo in the Bodega, and my mom and the rest of my family still have their jobs. To be honest, things aren't too bad for them right now, except for the fact that Carl isn't there." Ronnie Anne told her.
"Oh, right. What's the deal with Carl, anyway?" Sid asked.
"Well, since he's only six, the judge only sentenced him to two months in juvie. He's about halfway through that time. After he comes out, he'll have to do a hundred hours of community service." Ronnie then explained.
"And then he'll be back here for good?" Sid said.
"Yeah. That will be good for Aunt Frida. She's been really upset about the whole thing."
"To be honest, Carl is lucky he only got six months. After all the stuff he did with those mafia guys, he could have been put in jail for life." Sid claimed.
"I know, but the fact that he came to his senses and helped us fight those zombies probably helped lighten his sentence. Besides, maybe it's better if we just move on and get on with our lives." Ronnie stated.
"Is that what you hope happens with you and Lincoln?" Sid curiously questioned.
"Yeah, if only it were that easy." Ronnie reflectively replied with an audible tone of sadness and regret.
"Come on, Ronnie Anne. I admit I don't actually know Lincoln that well, but he didn't seem like the type to hold onto a grudge. I'm such he'll call you any day now!" Sid encouragingly told her.
"I know, it's not like him to be petty or bitter… but I thought he already would have contacted me by now, you know what I mean?" Ronnie worryingly responded.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll get in touch soon. From what you've told me about him, he's very forgiving." Sid said.
"Well, maybe I just went too far this time…" Ronnie self-criticised.
"Come on! You did what anyone in your position would have done! That mob needed to be stopped! They captured your cousins, and my sister! Sure, you didn't need to get those soldiers involved, but still! No one can blame you for how you felt or what you did at the end of the day." Sid tried to reassure her.
"Eh, I guess so." Ronnie replied, albeit with a clearly unconvinced tone of voice.
Sid looked on as her friend was clearly troubled by what happened between herself and Lincoln. Ronnie Anne was doubting herself and her own sense of morality as she wondered if Lincoln was truly right to turn his back on her. Sensing she wasn't going to convince her friend otherwise in that moment, Sid decided to back off…
"Look, I can see you need a little time to yourself. You just need to clear your head. You've been a little depressed for weeks now, I'm worried about you. Please don't beat yourself up. Remember, you are a good person. We'll talk later, okay?" Sid asked as she prepared to leave the room.
"Yeah, okay." a down in the dumps Ronnie Anne responded.
After Sid left, Ronnie Anne lied down on her bed and sighed sadly to herself. However, as she did that…
…her phone suddenly made a texting noise. Wondering who it was, Ronnie Anne sat up and looked on the screen to find out who it was from.
"Lincoln?"
Indeed, Sid was right. Lincoln Loud had contacted her.
The text message said: "Hello, Ronnie Anne. It's been a while. I know the last time we talked, we fell out, and I gave the impression I didn't want to see you again. But I've been thinking about what happened for a few weeks now, and maybe it's time to move on. Perhaps I overreacted a little, I know you had your reasons to do what you did. I think we should talk, at least. If you're not too busy, I'd like to see you this weekend."
Ronnie Anne smiled as her spirits were raised by that text message. It appeared her closest friend was finally ready to speak with her again. If nothing else, it gave her hope that her relationship with Lincoln could be salvaged after their dispute a month prior.
After having sent his text message, Lincoln walked to the front door of his house, passing his parents along the way. He stopped and hugged his mom and dad, valuing how precious they were to him after living without them for so many months. They waved him goodbye as he left the house.
He walked outside to see his group of friends waiting for him. Clyde, Rusty, Liam, Zach and Stella were all happy to see their friend.
"Okay everyone, let's go." Lincoln said.
And with that, this band of children strolled down the street, ready to embark on their latest misadventure. As they walked off into the sunset, they were thinking about the future…
The future was uncertain. Many things had changed since the vanish, and things were only going to continue to change. Many questions were still unanswered, and many things unexplained. This new challenge the world was about to face… it was scary.
Yet despite all the uncertainty and unpredictability of the situation, Lincoln was surprisingly optimistic. Living in this new, forever transformed world was going to be a whole new adventure, but he knew that whatever happened, he would always have his family and friends by his side…
…and they were going to see things through together.
THE END
Author's Footnote:
That's all, folks!
But seriously, on one hand, while it's sad that this project has come to an end, on the other, it's actually quite relieving. The feeling of having finished such a big project like this is actually rather satisfying. The plan always was five seasons, comprised of around 45-47 chapters, right from the start, in fact this whole story all the way up until this point was planned in advance (with the exception of a few minor details, but whatever). But had I have kept going, I would have lost interest which would not be good for the story. I wanted to make sure this story got the ending it deserved. Some things were left open purposely (did Lincoln and Ronnie Anne make up, did Lynn recover from her injuries, is Asherah still alive, etc… you can debate and decide on those things amongst yourselves using the details this closing chapter has given you), but I hope what you got delivered enough closure for a story you've all been following for the whole year.
Now that it's finally over, here is your chance to get a final word in. Let's have some reviews saying what you thought was good (and what you thought wasn't… I guess, lol). What stood out in this story to you? Which character, season or storyline was your favourite? And so on… it would be nice to hear what your overall opinions are regarding this story.
On a side note, I should probably mention where I think this story could fit within the general narrative of the show. This is set in an alternate timeline/reality (obviously) and since I began writing this fanfic back when season four was just ending, you can consider this story as one that takes place in-between seasons four and five (this explains the conversation between Lori and Leni in this chapter). I just thought I'd mention that for the sake of clarification.
As for those of you who want to see more from me, don't worry. I will be back. I have a lot of different ideas, and some of my future stories may or not connect with this one. We'll see. But one idea of mine is sticking out and that's the one I intend to pursue next.
After taking a brief break from fanfic writing for a couple of months, I intend to come back with another (unrelated) story that I have in mind already. So, if nothing else… see you guys early next year when I return with 'The BIGGER and BADDER Royal Woods Astonishing Quest' (the title is a work in progress, ROFL).
But if you can't wait that long, remember to check me out on DeviantArt under the name Just Some Ordinary Dude. Also feel free to read my previous stories Pushover or Payback and Two Peas in a Prison if you haven't done already. As for any continuations or sequels to this story, before you all ask, I have nothing planned at the moment, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. We'll just have to see what the future brings.
By the way, for those of you who have recently sent me personal messages, apologies for not responding to some of them, as I've been rather busy recently, and likely will be so until next year. I will answer as many questions and queries as I can, but please be patient with me on that front.
Anyway… take care, I'll be back with more new content soon. Let me know what you thought about It's a Kid's World.
Shout-Outs:
Special thanks to Zexo47, Rigerhit047, Tristen, HEROS Central, MarioFan88, RCurrent, SoulKiller13, andreas888, defensecommand90, Unity123, Charly888 and a handful of others who have provided consistent support and feedback for this story throughout the year at various points. Your involvement in all this has been appreciated.
Also, thank you to AnimationAnalysis101 who created a TV Tropes page for this story on my behalf, as well as rushguy1 for his contributions made to said webpage.
Lastly, there is a Spanish version of this story being translated onto this website by Lancerot2000, for those of you who are interested who don't already know. Special thanks to him for his efforts, too.