Well, here we are after 1 week and 5 days! Yes, the publication frequency is a little erratic, but I always do my best and... Ah, lie! That's never true, at least for a fickle artist like me.

This chapter is a little milder, and therefore shorter. It's not yet time for action. Let's get to know the sisters a little better and understand what goes on in their heads.

wollyworld: Thanks for praise. I still need to delve deeper into the Loud House universe to deliver better and better plots to you all.

Vallalkozo: No, I have nothing against Zach, because I still don't know much about Lincoln's friends. I only cut him for a bureaucratic reason, since it would be more practical for me to have 1 friend of Lincoln being interviewed by each of his sisters during Operation Notebook.

Yes, this will be an iconic and unique Pageant for Lola. Let's see what Lindsey will do...

Seanrudin: Your wait is over! Here is the new chapter! When I finish this fanfic, I'll start reading yours, which is also a spin-off of Requiem!

Enjoy!

Chapter 06:
Secret to Success

A few weeks ago, Lola and Lana had to write a school essay on the following topic:

What will I be when I grow up?

Lana soon did her essay and went outside to play.
Lola sat for a while longer, in front of her blank sheet of paper, not knowing what to write.

So she tried something different.
She began to list all vocations of her siblings:

Lori - Businesswoman
Leni - Stylist
Luna - Singer and Songwriter
Luan - Comedian, Screenwriter and Filmmaker
Lynn - Athlete and Vitamin Supplement Saleswoman
Lincoln (✝) - Cartoonist
Lucy - Writer, Poet and Netflix Producer
Lola - Miss
Lana - F1 Driver and Environmentalist
Lisa - Scientist, Astronaut and Earth Ambassador in Space
Lily - Wall Artist

Then Lola wrote a first paragraph, connecting the vocations of each one:

People need to know how to direct their lives (Lori). They need to feel strong and confident (Leni). They need doses of cheer (Luna) and joy (Luan). They need to be in good health (Lynn) and keep dreaming (Lincoln). People need to express what they think and feel (Lucy). They need to be aware of the world around them (Lana) and keep fighting to make it a better place (Lisa). Anyway, people need to keep having faith in humanity (Lily).

That's when Lola wrote a second paragraph, rambling on about herself:

Now, what are Miss pageants for? To snub others? To grow the queen in the belly? To foment hatred and rivalry? To establish unreal beauty standards? To say that there is only one type of beauty? To value having before being?

In a mix of anger and frustration, Lola crumpled up the paper and threw it on the floor.

It's as if all of her siblings have found something useful to do with their lives and she's gotten in the way.

After a few minutes of drumming the fingers on her antique tea table, a light came on.

Lola took another clean sheet of paper, uncrumpled the first sheet and wrote a second version of her text.

She rewrote the first paragraph, omitting the names of her siblings.

Then she created a new paragraph to conclude:

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but whether I'm a model, ballet dancer, violinist, tennis player, scientist or investor, it's my duty to be indispensable and do my best for the benefit of the world around us.

Lola and Lana read Ace Savvy comics in Lincoln's room.

Suddenly, Lola asks:
"Lana, what will be the Secret to Success?"

Lana thinks a bit and replies:
"Well, an important point is that you like what you do."
"Serious?"
"Yes. Take, for example, Rolim Amaro: he was passionate about airplanes. Once he even said, 'I prefer smell of gasoline than smell of perfume'."
"URGH!" Lola wrinkles her nose. "And you tend to agree with him, since you love cars."
"Sure. Except..."
"...Gasoline is a fossil fuel and you prefer to bet on renewable energy."
"Exactly," Lana marvels. "Wow, Lisa is teaching you really well."

Lola undergoes another battery of exercises with Lynn Jr.

Jump Rope.
Exercise Bar.
Barrier Jumps.
Run back and forth to the river.

Lola, all sweaty, gets a hug from Lynn at the end.
"Well done, my champion. You deserve a break."
Lynn opens the bottle and squirts some ice water on Lola.

After sitting in the backyard...
"Lynn, what will be the Secret to Success?"

Lynn thinks for a moment and replies:
"Well, it's important that you concentrate your efforts on what you do well. And for that, you need focus and discipline."
"Like you?"
"Of course. For example: I often don't feel like getting out of bed to do my morning exercises. But I know it's my duty and I'm always willing to get up and do my routine punctually."
"And where do you get that strength, that spirit, to do things even when you don't feel like it?"
"I don't know. Perhaps most important is blocking the brain. Tricking your mind for you to act faster than it."
"Even in that you are faster."
The two laugh.

Lola starts to drink the glass, but soon makes a bitter grimace:
"BLERGH! What mix is this?!"
"Arugula, asparagus and egg whites. All in a blender," Lynn clarifies, her own glass in hand. "Drink, even if you don't feel like it."
"Humph."

Lucy, sitting on her bed, combs Lola's hair.

"Lucy, what will be the Secret to Success?"

Lucy thinks for a moment and replies, in her monotone voice:
"Everyone talks only about having natural gifts or developing talents and that counts for a lot too. But perhaps what matters most is that you are in the right place at the right time."
"As well?"
"See... There are brilliant minds in Africa and India, but they can never breakthrough. They don't count on the opportunities that we have in America or Europe. Either because we are richer and developed, because we have better health and education, and even because we are more democratic."
"So you prefer to rely on luck?"
"No talking about luck and bad luck now. You know what that turned into..."
"Yes I know..."
"I prefer to say that it's the favorable circumstances that most define our success."

Lucy finishes combing.
Lola looks at herself in the mirror.
"What about?" Lucy asks.
"Hmm... Not as good as Lincoln, but it's still good enough."
"Do I have to remind you all the time that I'm not Lincoln?" Lucy complains, her voice deepening a bit.

Eve of Miss Pageant.

Leni is adjusting the new dress on Lola's body.
"Please Leni. Until when?"
"Calm down, Lola. Where has your patience gone?"

Lola always enjoyed modeling the dresses that Leni sewed especially for her. But now, after all, it feels like a mild torture session.

"Leni…" Lola sighs deeply, not expecting a big answer. "…What will be the Secret of Success?"

Leni thinks a little and replies:
"Look, Lola, if you really want to go far, you have to trust yourself."
Lola is intrigued.

Leni continues:
"The path can be arduous and even dangerous, and many times the barriers will seem very high, and, not infrequently, your first impulse will be to give up. But have Faith in God, trust your potential and keep trying and practicing day after day. With trial and error, you'll get there one day."
Lola marvels at wisdom of Leni, generally considered the stupidest of Loud Family.

"Anyway, we're done," Leni announces, smiling. "Time to see how my little princess turned out?"
Lola looks at herself in the mirror: her dress is hot pink with gold accents, it's tapered at the waist and has a ruffled train.
Not exactly something she's comfortable with right now.

"Well, better than nothing," Lola comments, disenchanted.
"And now?" Leni displays a photo card. "Which hairstyle would you rather wear tomorrow?"
Lola sighs. It looks like this is far from over.
"Can I choose by luck?"

Now free of all those cloths and props, Lola thinks about how to make tomorrow's Miss Contest a special and unique act.

Something remarkable, that makes her have fun and that makes the Contest really worthwhile.

She heads to Luna and Luan's room, looking for a hint.

KNOCK-KNOCK!
"I'm not!" Luan announces from inside.
The sisters already know that this is her way of saying, "Come in."
Lola opens the door:
"Did you see Luna-AAAAAHHHHH!"

Lola is shocked to see Luan in her clown outfit, but with her face painted like a skull!

"Luan, what is this?!"
"It's a way of putting people in shock without me being in hock with them. Get it?! Come on, get in soon!"

Lola closes the door and walks over to her comedian and performer sister.

"Luan, what are you doing?"
"Well, I also have an event tomorrow: a stand-up comedy show at the pub. I'm rehearsing my makeup."
"But are you going to perform like this?"
"Only at the end of show."
"But… I've never seen you like this, in such a… frightening way."

Luan sits on her throne:
"I just thought of creating something that could make people feel my pain and at the same time honor the Lincoln Legacy."
"Serious?" Lola pulls out an ottoman to sit down. "Tell me more!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

Here it is! Each sister has something to teach. After all, not only fights and intrigues live at Loud Family. Even Leni may have more layers than our vain philosophy dreams.

In the next chapter, Lola finally goes to the pageant! Will it be all right? Will Lola or Lindsey try to sabotage? After so many months out of the game, will Lola be able to maintain her invincibility?

See you soon!