Chapter 2: Put On Your Wig!

Lincoln and his 10 sisters opened their eyes. They looked at each other clothes. Lincoln was wearing an orange coat, a long vest, and knee-length pants. His shoes were black with shiny buckles. "I look like can command and lead an army," said Lincoln.

Lori was wearing a light blue dress, Leni was wearing a light green dress, Luna was wearing a purple dress, Luan was wearing a yellow dress, Lynn was wearing a red dress, Lucy was wearing a black dress, Lola was wearing a pink dress, Lana was wearing a dark blue dress, Lisa was wearing a dark green dress, and Lily was wearing a white baby outfit. Most of their dresses were covered with lace and bows. They also had fancy hairstyles.

"I feel like a real, Austrian princess," said Lola happily. "Dudes, I feel like I'm dressed back in old, England," said Luna in a British accent. "This light green dress is totes cool," said Leni. "I literally like this light blue dress," said Lori. "I can give funerals in this black dress," said Lucy. "Hey, I can totally joke in this yellow dress, ha, ha, ha, get it," laughed Luan. Everyone groaned after Luan's bad joke.

Everyone was happy with what they were wearing except Lana. "Ugh, why do I have to wear a dress?" whined Lana. "Because we are going to a fancy party," said Lori "And that is that," said Lola. "Besides, I like that were wearing these fancy dresses," said Lola. "We are starting to look like Princesses of The House of Louds," said Lola. Everyone agreed with Lola.

"Lincoln, there's something on your head," said Lynn. Lincoln reached up and lifted off a black velvet hat. But something else was on his head, too. He pulled off white wig with curls on the side and a ponytail in the back. "A wig?" said Lincoln. His nose tickled. He sneezed, and a cloud of white powder puffed from his wig. "It's covered in powder! I can't wear this!" said Lincoln. "Yes, you can," said his sisters. "You are wearing the wig," said Lori "And that is that," said Lola. "Besides, I think you look like a prince, Lincoln," said Lola. "Ok, I'll wear it," said Lincoln. "Yay," said his sisters.

"Okay, so like where is the palace?" asked Leni. Lincoln and his 10 sisters went to the window and looked out. They had landed in a row of trees that lined a cobblestone street. At the far end of the street, glittering horse-drawn coaches were parked outside tall iron gates.

"I wonder if the palace is beyond those gates," said Lucy. "I don't know," said Lincoln. "I wish we had a research book to help us," said Lisa. "Merlin wants us to rely on our wits and talents," said Lynn. "Yeah, whatever that means," said Lana.

Bells rang in the distance: bong, bong, bong, bong, bong.

"Five bongs," said Lucy. "What time's the party?" asked Lola. Lisa looked at the invitation and read aloud, "'Five o'clock in the evening.'"

"Oh, no!" said Luan. "We're going to be late!" said Lori. "Put on your wig!" said Lola.

Lincoln crammed his wig back onto his head and put on his hat. Lisa gave the invitation back to Lincoln and he put the silver flute and the invitation into a deep pocket in his coat. One by one, the 10 sisters squashed their dresses and squeezed through the opening in the tree floor. It's hard to climb down a rope ladder in this dress!" said Lana. "Be careful! Go slow!" said Lincoln. "But we have to hurry!" said Lynn. One by one, they jumped off the ladder and landed on the ground.

Lincoln hurried down the ladder. "Are you all okay?" asked Lincoln. "We're fine," the 10 sisters said, standing up. "Just got a little dirty," said Lana. They brushed off their dresses. "Let's ask one of those guys about the palace," Lori pointed toward the coach drivers outside the iron gates. "Hurry," said Lori.

Lincoln and his 10 sisters started to run. Their dresses swung wildly from side to side like giant bells. "Slow down!" said Lincoln, rushing to catch up with them. "You all can't run in those big dresses-you look ridiculous. Besides, we need to discuss our mission before we go to this party," said Lincoln.

"It's simple," said Luan. "We're looking for a brilliant-" "I know-artist," finished Lincoln. "But how do we find this person, dudes?" asked Luna. "We'll get to that part soon enough," said Lola. "First let's like find this person?" said Leni.

Lincoln and his 10 sisters walked toward the fancy coaches parked near the gates. "Where's our invitation?" asked Lori. "Here," said Lincoln as he pulled the invitation out of his pocket.

"Excuse me," said Lori, walking up to the driver of a golden coach pulled by two white horses. "We're looking for the summer palace," said Lori. Lincoln showed their invitation to the man.

The driver nodded approvingly. "Ah, so you are guests of the imperial family!" he said. "But why are you arriving on foot? Where is your coat?" he asked. "Um, our driver let us out back there," said Lori, pointing down the street. "I fear he let you out too soon," said the driver. "You still have quite a distance to go," he said. "We do?" asked Lori. "Yes," said the driver. "I have already delivered my employer and his family to the palace. I was waiting here until the party ended. But if you like, I can take you there. Young nobles should always arrive by coach," he said.

"Oh, thanks!" said Lori. Lincoln straightened his shoulders and tried to look noble.

"My name is Josef," said the man. "Come, let me help you up," said Josef. One by one, Josef helped the 10 sisters up into the carriage. Lastly, Josef helped Lincoln up, too. Then the friendly driver climbed onto a bench behind the milk-white horses.

"Wow, I feel like Cinderella going to the ball," said Lola.

Josef snapped the reins. The horses took off, and the guards opened the gates. The coach clattered over the cobblestones into an immense square. The square was bathed in the last light of day. Monks in brown robes strolled around a huge fountain. Lucy really liked seeing the Monks. Soldiers in uniforms rode on horseback.

On the far side of the square was a long building. It had bright yellow walls and dozens of windows that flashed with the light of the setting sun.

"Is that the summer palace, sir?" Lori called to Josef. "Yes, indeed," Josef said over his shoulder. "And there is much more that you cannot see! Behind the palace is a garden of nearly three hundred acres. It has beautiful flowers, orchards, fountains, and a zoo," said Josef. "Cool, a zoo," said Lana.

"Hello, boy and girls!" came a high little voice.

A closed blue coach passed them. A small boy wearing a white wig was calling from a window. He pointed at Lincoln and laughed. "Your wig is crooked!" he shouted in his high voice.

Before the boy could say more, someone pulled him back from the window, and the blue coach rumbled away.

"What an annoying kid," said Lincoln. "Hey, he is not the only one who is annoying," said Luan. "I'm annoying sometimes too," said Luan "Me too," said Lola. "That's because you're my sisters and yes, you two are annoying," said Lincoln. "But I do care that you bother me sometimes because I love you," said Lincoln. "Awwww, thanks Lincoln," said Lola and Luan. "By the way, is my wig crooked?" asked Lincoln. "A little," said Luan. Luan lifted Lincoln's hat off. She tried to straighten his wig as they lurched and swayed on the cushioned seat. "There, that's better," said Luan.

Josef drove the horses to the front of the palace. The coach stopped near a staircase that led up to a terrace. Josef helped Lincoln and his 10 sisters one by one down from their seats.

"I can tell this is your first visit to the palace," said Josef. "At the door, you must show the guard in the red uniform your invitation. He will direct you to the receiving line," said Josef. "The receiving line, what's that?" asked Lincoln. "That is where you will wait to be introduced," said Josef. "Introduced to who?" asked Lola. "To her Imperial Majesty Maria Theresa. She is Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia; and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire," said Josef.

"Wow, a real Empress and Queen," said Lola happily. "Oh, right," said Lori. Yeah, right, thought Lincoln.