I don't own any of this Loud House belongs to Nickelodeon.
Last night's party sure had been a fun one.
Walking down the street together, while singing a song that got stuck in their heads. Ronnie Anne and Clyde felt that their singing were very great as their thoughts kept on thinking about the party. Those snickerdoodles Clyde had made were very tasty and the music they have dance to sure had been catchy, but perhaps the most fun Ronnie Anne had at least is when Bobby had a photo session with the family.
It had been very nice seeing her brother again. He's been away for quite awhile after moving out from the family apartment, so she, along with the rest of the family were very happy to see him. Aunt Frida had been especially happy to see him again as she immediately pulled him into a very tight hug as she bawled her eyes out. Of course Sergio decided to play one of his harmless pranks on Bobby by giving him a scare in the bathroom.
Oh yes. That party sure had been fun and the two were in a very jolly mood. They had their arms around each other, doing a bit of a dance as they continue to sing that song. As for Lincoln meanwhile, he's currently hanging about in the local convenient store, checking out the new flavor of the frozen drink machine. They were going to meet up with him later, right after they finish up with their business of delivering some letters to the post office. The letters were for the relatives of Ronnie Anne's family who unfortunately couldn't make it to the party due to being in different countries and Clyde was here to help out by carrying some of the letters.
"We definitely sing good Ronnie Anne." Clyde exclaimed.
"The only downside is that song is going to be stuck in my head until I get sick of it." Ronnie Anne pointed out for the exact same thing has happened to her the last time a song got stuck in her head.
"But do you think that we could form a band or something?"
"You kidding?" She laughed as that was a hoot. "That would probably end up in disaster. Not to mention your case of stage fright."
"Oh right." Clyde remembered. After all that excitement with the singing with Ronnie Anne, he had really let himself forget about that little setback about his earlier statement.
"Anyway we're here." Approaching the post office, they walked on up to the mailbox. Ronnie Anne opened up the hatch and then drops the letters into it along with Clyde. When the last ones went in, she closed up the hatch and clasped her hands.
"Well that's done. Let's go meet up with Lincoln now." She exclaimed.
"Your relatives are sure going to loves those letters you and your family made." Clyde remarked.
"You bet they well. Although I hope that Carl didn't exaggerate his letter again." Carl had done that the last time the family sent letters to the relatives and they had gotten very confused when her family told a completely different story on their own letters, so confused they had to call in order to hear which version was true.
"I bet he has though." Clyde remarked.
"Yeah. I wouldn't put it pass him." She quickly agreed for she fully knew of her younger cousin's antics.
"Excuse me?"
Stopping in their tracks as they were just about to cross the street, the two looked to their left and are met with a black hair girl wearing a green sweater and blue jeans. She had a map in her hands, but looked very well lost.
"Can we help you?" Clyde asks politely.
"You sure can. You see. I'm trying to reach Edinburgh, but I got pretty turn around and I'm a hundred percent sure that I had gotten myself lost." The girl shows them the map to see if they can figure a way to her intended destination.
The two looked at the map closely, getting very confused as there seemed to be lines that weren't supposed to be on it and they looked like that the lines were made out of ketchup and mustard. "Did you have something that had mustard and ketchup on it by any chance?" Ronnie Anne asked the stranger.
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Your map is stained with it." Handing her the map back, Clyde points to the red and yellow stains. The girl looked at the stains to just process this before firmly facepalming herself.
"Dang it! That's the last time I laid my ketchup and mustard bottles on top of a map." She holds onto her facepalm for how could she have done something so foolish?
"Don't worry miss. We got plenty of maps at our local convenience store for you to use." Clyde gently informed, earning him a smile from the girl.
"That would be great. Can you guys take me to the place? I know we just met and all, but I would really appreciate it." She then proceeds to give them both the best puppy eye look she could muster.
Unaffected by the look, Ronnie Anne simply gives her a shrug. "We were on our way over there to meet up with our friend anyway. We might as well."
"Oh thank you. You two are very kind." The girl beamed.
She fallows the two as close as she can as they lead her all the way to the convenience store. Once they entered the store, she gives them both her overall thanks before she made a dash for the maps that were displayed on a rack near the checkout desk. Now standing in front of the rack, she looks at them carefully as there are maps for different countries, until she finally found one for Scotland that she happily picked up before turning around and smacked right into a person that caused them both to fall right onto the floor, scattering her map and a frozen drink onto the floor with a splash.
"Sorry" She said as she rubbed her forehead.
"No. No. My fault. I wasn't looking on where I was going." The person she spoke to replied.
Slowly getting themselves up off of the floor, they both dusted themselves off before the guy she bumped into suddenly stopped himself as he fully looked at her, creeping her out a bit for why is he looking at her like that? "Can you please stop that? It's very creepy and making me very uncomfortable."
"Taylor?" He spoke up, causing her to entirely freeze up for how did he know her name? "Taylor is that you?"
Finally finding her voice, Taylor took a step back as she arched her eyebrows in fear. "How do you know my name? Have you been stalking me or something?"
"No Taylor. It's me." He insisted in glee, which did nothing but confused her even more. She then takes a closer look at him, while in the sidelines Clyde and Ronnie Anne looked on with much raised questions for they had no idea on what was going on?
Raising her eyes after recognizing some important details on the guy in front of her. Taylor no longer felt fear, instead her feelings were swiftly replaced with a very wide grin. "Lincoln?"
Her long thought dead friend smiled back at her with a wide grin of his own before they both rushed at each other and embraced themselves in a tight hug as they both jumped around in excitement. They soon separate themselves from the hug as they then began to talk over one another, asking each other questions as well as compliments on how much they've both grown since they last saw each other. All the while a very much stunned Ronnie Anne and Clyde watched on, until Ronnie Anne had enough of being ignored and blew a loud whisper to get both of their attention squarely on her.
Once they do, she places her hands on her hips with a chill smile. "Now that we reassociated ourselves." Suddenly leaning herself forward with her hands stretched up over her head, Ronnie Anne couldn't help but raise up her voice a bit. "What the heck just happen!? How do you two know each other!?"
"Oh sorry." Stepping forward to his friends with his arm around Taylor. Lincoln proudly introduces her to them. "Clyde. Ronnie Anne. This is my best friend Taylor."
"Best friend?" Clyde repeated with a heartbroken expression swiftly forming on his face. "I thought that I was your best friend?"
Tugging his collar nervously for he knew that he had said the wrong thing for Clyde is very sensitive over their friendship. Lincoln quickly fixed his sentence to make him feel better. "What I mean is that she is my best friend from where I came from."
"You got that right." Taylor chuckled as all sorts of memories came to her. "We used to get into all sorts of crazy shenanigans back in the day." Chucking some more, Taylor turns to Lincoln while shaking her head. "I can't believe that you've been here all this time."
Suddenly she punches his arm rather hard, making him flinch in surprise as well as rub his now sore arm. "That's for making me think that you were dead!"
"Dead?" Lincoln repeated with question and shock for that's something someone wouldn't say to another person on a every day occurrence. "What made you think that?"
"Morag told us about the stampede." She informed him.
That got him nervous instantly for did she spill the beans that he was one who caused it and if so why did she say that he was dead? "What did she say exactly?"
"Who cares! All that matters is that your alive and can take back the crown." She excitedly stated for at first she was just leaving her former home for freedom, but now since she found out Lincoln is very much alive and well. Her home can finally be free from Morag.
"Wait crown?" Ronnie Anne suddenly cut in with a very perplexed look.
"Yes! Lincoln is a Duke after all." She exclaimed while completely not noticing Lincoln waving his hands to signal her not to continue. To say that Clyde and Ronnie Anne were speechless is an understatement for they couldn't believe their ears that their friend here is a Duke of all things.
"Whoa! Really?" Clyde asked for his best friend is even more amazing. He should get on his knees in respect since he is in the presence of royalty.
Ronnie Anne however went up to his side and playfully bumps him with her elbow. "A Duke eh. Well your highness. Think that you can give us a tour of your castle?"
"I ain't no Duke guys." Lincoln firmly remarked.
This overall shocked Taylor for Lincoln had been very excited to be a Duke when they were younger. "How can you say that Lincoln? You are the Duke."
"That was a long time ago. I mean, you know how it is sometimes. You think that you want to do something, but then sometime down the line you just change your mind. Not a big deal or anything." Lincoln stated firmly, which only gave Taylor much more concern for although Lincoln's explanation is true, there's something that he is clearly hiding from her along with his two other friends.
Lincoln can very well pick up her concern, so rather quickly in order to avoid any further details on why he's no longer interested being a Duke. He claps his hands together rather loudly. "But enough about that tiny detail of my old life."
"Tiny?" Ronnie Anne repeated dumbfounded for being a Duke isn't exactly small in the slightest.
"The main thing is that were together again, after so many years apart. We have a perfect chance to catch up with one another." Gently grabbing her hand, Lincoln leads her out of the store. Watching them from the spot they stood in, Clyde and Ronnie Anne quickly took notice on how Taylor is more than willing walking by his side with very large smiles on their faces.
"Look at that Clyde."
"Yeah, they sure look happy together." He pointed out.
"I'm sure it's more than that." She exclaimed with an all knowing smirk.
"What do you mean?" He question.
"It's obvious. Cupid has struck and love is blossoming within them." She answered with a ever growing smile.
"Don't you think that's a bit of a jump ahead? I mean they just met after being separated for years, I mean it's heartwarming that two very close friends have reunited with each other after so long, but love? I say that's a bit of a stretch."
"You'll see McBride. And I'll bet ya, five bucks that they'll kiss by sundown."
"I normally don't bet, but I'll make an exception on this one." Reaching out the two shake their hands to settle their little bet. Once the bet is settled, the two quickly ran to catch up with them.
Having spend several years of his life in this village, Lincoln knew some very great spots to show Taylor. The first spot they went to is the arcade where they played several games together, she won some of the games and he won some of them as well. At the end of it, they went to the prize counter where Taylor exchange her tickets for a Tyrannosaurus Rex stuffie, she however didn't have enough tickets which sadden her a bit.
Seeing that frown on her face, Lincoln glady adds in his tickets with hers and selected the T-Rex, which he promptly gave to her. Taylor smiled brightly as she hugged it very tightly to her chest.
The next stop is the park. Here the two were walking down a path sharing some ice cream. Taylor had one of her own, but had accidentally dropped it after tripping in a bulge on the path, the ants definitely enjoyed the spilled ice cream.
Licking the ice cream, they have wandered themselves to a part of a path that's right next to a field of very colorful flowers that blew their loose peddles in the wind.
The path of the park soon leads them to a bench that overlooks a duck pond. Having finish their ice cream, they sat themselves down on the bench and looked out to the pond. There may not be any ducks swimming in it for the moment, but it was still a nice place to just sit and relax, while not even noticing that they had their hands laying on top of each other.
After their time at the park. The two decided that the next thing they should do was go to the movies. The movie they both decided to see is based on a video game with a super fast, blue hedgehog as the main character.
The two enjoyed movie, especially the parts when Jim Carrey is on screen.
By sundown; the two were walking along the shore of Loch Ness. Stopping on a random spot, the two looked out to the water where the sun is setting over the horizon, creating a perfect reflection with the water.
Watching this beautiful site, Taylor suddenly leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Stunning him as his cheeks turned bright red.
In the background of this nice moment stood Ronnie Anne and Clyde who might as well be mannequins since Lincoln and Taylor didn't acknowledged them all day. Despite being ignored, Ronnie Anne happily extends her hand out as Clyde begrudgingly handed her his money.
As the twilight grew on, Lincoln and Taylor were walking away from the Loch with their hands clamped together. "Isn't this an amazing place?" He addressed.
"It is a nice place, but I'm still pondering on why you aren't considering coming back home?" Taylor addressed in concern.
This instantly upset him for he couldn't tell her why, she just wouldn't understand or even worse look down on him like the lowest scum on earth. "Taylor. I already told you that part of my life is over."
"But why? You were going to be a great Duke." She insisted.
"I already told you that was a long time ago and how things change." Lincoln remarked as he sat himself down on the grass.
Crossing her arms together with a scowl, Taylor glares down at him. "Don't give me that crap Lincoln. I know there's something more to this than you claim, so just tell me what it is and we could get to the root of the problem."
"There's nothing alright. Morag is the Duchess and I'm no longer a Duke, it's as simple as that. Besides I'm sure that she's running the village just fine without any of my input." Casting his gaze away from his glaring best friend and up to the night sky, Lincoln misses the dejected look she gave him.
"You don't know the truth. She's ruined our home."
Surprised by that statement, he turned back to face her with a raised eyebrow for what did she mean by that? How exactly could she ruin their home?
Seeing that questioning look, Taylor is more than happy to answer him. "She let the delinquents move into Loch Loud."
"What?" How could Morag do that? The delinquents were too destructive to let them come in, let alone let them live in the place.
"They polluted our sky and water, there's litter everywhere, and everyone's living in fear." Looking down with a frown, Taylor hated on what her town has become, yet now there's hope to save it. "But now we can make things right for everyone. You can come back, kick that Morag to the curb, and make things back the way they once were."
Smiling brightly, Taylor fully expected him to get up off his butt and run straight back home. Instead much to her shock, he simply shook his head and turned away from her. "I'm sorry, but I can't go back."
She couldn't believe her ears. How could he say that? How could he just do nothing while Morag is running Loch Loud into the ground? It made her so angry. "What do you mean you won't go back!? Our home is in trouble and you're not going to do anything about it?"
"My former home." He corrected.
"No! It's still your home! That very well needs you! You can't just sit here and do nothing! What would your dad think about this!?" Shooting himself up with a fiery glare in his eyes, Lincoln nearly got in her face with both of his hands clenched tightly.
"How dare you say that! You have no idea what I have been through!" He yelled.
"True! I don't know, but you can't just ignore this problem!"
"Just forget it! It ain't any of my business!" Without another word, Lincoln stormed off towards a field, leaving behind Taylor who glares at him before storming off the other way.
Now alone Lincoln paces around the field grumbling to himself. "How does she have the nerve to tell me what to do! Doesn't she understand that I just can't ever go back!"
Kicking the ground hard, which kicks up some loose grass into the air. Lincoln is just so overwhelmed with a mix of overflowing emotions that he didn't notice the cloaked figure watching him from afar. Lincoln then kicks another patch of loose grass before eventually looking up to the sky where that L shaped constellation shines down on him.
Feeling even more frustration, Lincoln aggressively raised his arms towards the stars. "You said that my family would always be there for me! Well, where are they now?!" Having his shouts echo into the night sky with no response, Lincoln lowers his head down and moaned for this was just too much for him to handle. He had no one to talk to, Morag apparently ruined his home, and Taylor apparently wanted him to come storming into the place like some hero. He was no hero, he was just a parent killer that no one back home would want.
"What am I going to do?" He silently muttered under his breath.
"Hey Lincoln." A monotone voice suddenly spoke up on his left.
Jumping in fright, Lincoln nearly fell on his back if he hadn't balanced himself. Looking in the direction the voice had came from, Lincoln couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Lucy standing right next to him. Where in the world did she come is way beyond him, but that didn't matter right now for he's just happy that one of his family members is actually here and actually talking to him without the look of disgust. It's a very wonderful surprise, especially after the many years without seeing any of them.
Pulling his spooky little sister into a hug, Lincoln felt her happily return the hug that they both held on to for awhile before finally separating themselves. "How did you find me?"
"You appeared on one of Bobby's photos when he was at that party yesterday. I then simply had help from the spirits to set me on the right direction." Lucy explained.
"Oh. Well it's nice to see you Lucy." Lincoln happily stated.
"Likewise brother." Lucy happily replied before going back to her trademark frown.
"I know what your thinking of Lucy, but trust me it's best that I have left." He quickly explained. Lucy however just stares at him, rather closely as her face is only a few centimeters from him, making him very uncomfortable.
"Your mind is troubled Lincoln." She suddenly spoke up.
"Of course I've been troubled Lucy. You know because of what happened to dad." He sadly remarked.
"We've all been saddened by our father's death, but he really isn't gone you know."
Lincoln blankly looks at her, he already knew what she meant by that. About how his dad will always be in his memories and how that can never be taken away from him, no matter how distant it felt. That won't change anything at all, plus frankly he didn't want memories, he wanted him to be alive and well. And that only would've been possible if it weren't for him.
"Come with me Lincoln." Lucy didn't really give him much of a choice as she grabbed hold of his hand rather tightly and dragged him through the field, until she stopped him in front of a puddle. "Take a look Lincoln and what do you see in your reflection?"
Looking down at it, Lincoln didn't see anything remotely special. It's just him, just like how he sees himself in the mirror every day. "I only see a guy who really needs to shave soon."
"No. I see a boy who's father's spirit lives within him." Tapping the water with her finger, the ripples changed Lincoln's appearance into him wearing the crown, a cape, and holding a staff. Blinking in amazement for he wondered on how on Earth Lucy had done that? Lincoln stares at his new reflection for quite some time before looking up and notice that Lucy had disappeared from sight.
"Lucy?"
Looking around he couldn't see her anywhere, how did she do that? There was no place to hide for miles. But he couldn't dwell on it for long as suddenly the wind picked up and a very cold presence is felt, looking forward Lincoln saw a blue mist rise up from the ground and form itself into a human shape.
Lincoln stares out in amazement, not believing his eyes for this is an actual ghost appearing right before him. The figure shapes itself with very familiar features, until it finally formed into his late father.
Feeling his jaw dropping, Lincoln couldn't take his eyes off the spirit of his father who kindly smiled down on him. "Hey son."
"D-dad"
"My how you have grown. I see that you grew a mustache, that's very manly." He winked.
If he could, Lincoln would've hugged the spector if it weren't for the fact that he would just go through him and that he's too shock to even move. "I, I can't believe it."
"I know son. I mean look at me." He exclaimed as he presented his ghostly body. "I'm an actual ghost. I admit that I got freaked out when I first saw myself in a reflection, but I mostly got used to it." He chuckled, while his son still watched him with that shocked face.
Now that he reintroduced himself to his son after so many years. It's now time to get serious for his son definitely needed to hear this. "I must say son. I don't like on what you have been doing."
"But dad. This is best for me. I don't deserve to be a Duke." He stated in a plea for his dad should know why. In fact he's surprised that his dad isn't angry at him for causing his untimely death.
He does frown, but for an entirely different reason. "Son. You are the Duke no matter what you think. I always knew that you'll be an amazing Duke ever since you were born. You just need to remember on who you truly are."
"But dad." He tried to address with no avail as his dad started to fade away with the wind with one last piece of advice for his son. "Go do what's right, son."
"Dad!" Lincoln cried as he reaches out to him before completely fading away, leaving Lincoln to sit there with very conflicting thoughts. What is he to do? He didn't want to let his ghost dad down, but he's still too scared to confront his past.
"The past can be a very scary thing brother." Lucy spoke up beside him. He didn't get spooked this time as he instead looked to her. "But what can I do Lucy? The past is going to hurt everyone once they learn the terrible truth."
"Most things in the past hurts. Yet, we can learn from it. For example. You weren't spooked by me this time." Lucy said with a slight smile.
"But even if I do go back. How am I exactly going to get there? I got no car and to be honest with you Lucy, I don't know how to get back." He is considering on going, but those are a few major handicaps for him.
To his surprise however, Lucy's smile grew wider. "I have my ways big brother."
With a snap of her fingers, the wind suddenly blows harder as a large figure flew down from the sky and landed in front of him with a loud thud that pushed dust and grass away. With a happy roar, Lela lowers down her head and lovingly rubs her snout on Lincoln who happily hugs her. "Lela! It's so good to see you!"
Behind him Lucy still smiled for Loch Loud is about to have their rightful Duke back. Morag will not go down easy and it's going to be quite a fight to dethrone her, but she is overall glad that her brother has finally began to confront the past that's he's been avoiding for a good chunk of his life.
Climbing himself on Lela's back with some help from the dragon, Lincoln clung on tight as Lela took off into the sky after giving out a loud roar. Flying over Loch Ness, they didn't take notice of a head attached to a long neck come out of the water and watched them fly their way back towards Loch Loud.