I am truly sorry for the long delay. College has just started and I have to stick with the schedule. No more free time. Besides, I had real life exercises to work on. So again, I am truly sorry for the long delay.
Previously...
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It was that time Lincoln finally realized; he was doomed from the very beginning.
Lucy: "We suffer in eternity, ALL because of YOU."
Lucy: "From now on, you will know our pain, Lincoln."
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Lincoln was trapped in an endless hallucination.
He would see things that were too real for his mind.
Lily(?): "Hehe! Gaa gaa!" [approaches Lincoln]
Lincoln: "H-Huh..?" [looks at Lily]
Lily(?): "Lily wanna play-" [fades away, right in front of Lincoln]
Lincoln: ... [sniffs, drops his tears]
Lincoln: "No..." [broken]
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He could no longer hold his tears. He could no longer bottle his feelings.
Lincoln: "L- Lori…" [sobs]
Lincoln: "Luna… Lynn…" [sobs]
Lincoln: "Lola…" [sniffs]
Lincoln: "Li…" [buttoned lip, trembles]
Lincoln: "Lily-"
Lincoln: "HWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~~" [cries]
Deep within his heart, Lincoln STILL LOVED and WOULD ALWAYS LOVE his sisters, more than anything.
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CHAPTER 3: CALLING
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Rita: "Leni? Luan? Who are you talking about, son?"
Lynn Sr: "It's the third time this day you said you have 'sisters', Lincoln!"
Rita: "You do NOT have any brother or sister! How many times do we have to tell you!?"
Lynn Sr: "Is this all about your weird dreams again!? I told you to just let them go already!"
Lincoln: "But-"
Rita: "We'll assume this conversation never happened! And don't you ever mention about this nonsense again!"
Lincoln: "Ugh…"
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Bobby: "…Lori? Ummm… I'm not sure if I have ever met a blonde girl named Lori yet… Maybe one of the Mercado customers I served? You happen to know her?" [chats on the phone with Lincoln]
Lincoln: "No! I told you already, she's your girlfriend! You both are so obsessed with each other! Don't you remember!?"
Bobby: "Sorry, Lincoln. I happen to know you because you befriended my sister Ronnie Anne, but I guess I can't help you with this. I don't have any girlfriend, not yet. Unless… you want to find me one? Well, I have to go!" [dismisses the phone call]
Lincoln: "Bobby! BOBBY!?"
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Margo: "Lynn Loud… Junior? Who is this guy you're talking about?" [scratches her head]
Paula: "Yeah! Who are you anyways? Do we even know you?" [shrugs]
Lincoln: [sigh, facepalm]
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Sam: "Luna? Heh. Nice trick, boy. But I already have an image of my soulmate in me. You want another ticket, the counter's there."
Lincoln: "You don't get what I'm trying to tell! Luna is your best girlfriend! You both are like a- Ow heck, I can't even tell because that's embarrassing…"
Sam: "Listen, little boy. How about you keep that lover stuff for yourself, get back to your seat and enjoy the encore. I have a tune to adjust!"
Lincoln: [boiling]
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Boris: "If anything, all we know about short-straight-haired goth is Ms. Harriet. And she passed away many centuries ago." [thinks]
Haiku: "We have nothing concerning your deal, or any girl named 'Lucy'. Good name though… Now if you excuse me, we have a funeral to attend. Off the lawn, norm." [indifferent]
Lincoln: Aargh, for The God's sake! [totally disappointed]
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[Royal Woods Middle School.]
[Thursday, 24th August.]
[10:00 AM.]
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Lincoln: "Hello, Clyde."
Clyde: "Oh hi, Lincoln! You called? What's the matter?"
Lincoln met with Clyde in the library, this time face-to-face. He had a personal discussion he could not tell the rest of the gangs. Sounded buzzkill, but Zach, Rusty, Liam and Stella had no choice but to give them privacy.
Lincoln: "Actually…"
Lincoln: "I have something to talk about. Very sensitive."
Clyde: "?"
Lincoln: "And you're lucky that you are the only person I will tell to, because... you're the only one I can trust."
Clyde seemed to be excited. A secret. But he knew better that Lincoln was very concerned about this matter, so he had to keep his calm and not spoil everything.
Clyde: "…I'm listening." [serious face]
Lincoln: "It's about the same nightmare i had for 2 nights straight..."
Lincoln would then pull out a bunch of paper sheets from his backpack. The drawings of his sisters.
Lincoln: "This is Lily. She's just a toddler, but I know she's actually a genius..." [points at a drawing of Lily]
Lincoln: "...This one is Lana and her best friend Hops. She loves animals and dirty jobs." [points at Lana's drawing]
Clyde: "Like, stealing?"
Lincoln: "No! I mean- She likes mud pies, grease and plumbing! I didn't say that Lana was a criminal!"
Clyde: "Oh… Sorry." [giggles]
Lincoln: "…Lucy the goth…" [points at Lucy's drawing]
Lincoln: "…Luan the clown…" [points at Luan's drawing]
Clyde: "Does not seem like a clown for me."
Lincoln: "Clyde! Focus!"
Clyde: "Oh- Okay!"
Lincoln: "...And this is Lori, the eldest, and the bossiest of all. I remember you used to have a crush with her." [aggressively points at Lori's drawing]
Clyde: "...Did I? She looks pretty, though!" [takes a closer look]
Clyde: "So, uh… why are you showing me the drawing of these girls? What are you trying to point out?" [confused]
Lincoln: "Oh my God- Clyde! THESE, GIRLS, ARE MY SISTERS! YOU KNOW THEM WELL! YOU EVEN SIMP FOR LORI! DO YOU REMEMBER THEM NOW!?" [out of patience]
Librarian: "LOUD! KEEP IT SILENT! THIS IS LIBRARY!"
Lincoln: "Oops-" [closes his mouth]
Clyde tried his best to remember. But, to no avail.
Clyde: "…Do I? I just knew that you had sisters! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" [still does not get the picture]
Lincoln: 'Just as I thought... Clyde can't remember.' [long phew]
Clyde: "Listen, Lincoln. I understand your pain and I appreciate what you are trying to point out, in fact I once dreamt of having a sibling one day!"
Lincoln: "You- You don't get it, Clyde! THIS is the nightmare and I'm having it RIGHT NOW! They might be imaginary for you, but for me- My sisters... they- They are TOO REAL TO BE TRUE!"
Clyde: "Exactly my point. They're all just a nightmare! Don't think about them and you're fine!" [gives Lincoln a lecture]
Lincoln frowned. Lisa was right: their memory was completely erased from the world. Lincoln lived in a universe where they were never born. And it was all on him. For an unknown reason, Lincoln's totally responsible for their inexistence.
But what made him even sadder was; although he's determined to fix everything, it seemed like he could not do it either. He tried everything he could, but in the end, he's stuck in a dead end. He had no idea what to do anymore. All he wanted was that he could see his sisters again, with his own trusty eyes, at least once before he died.
Lincoln: "…This is getting nowhere." [in total despair, packs his drawings back]
Clyde: "L-Lincoln?"
Lincoln: "Thank you, Clyde. Now I know that I'm just wasting your time. I'm sorry." [about to leave]
Clyde: "Wait, no! Lincoln!"
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That, until…
Leni(?): "...My friend Miguel is about to leave this town, what should i do?" [the voice comes from afar]
Something bothered Lincoln.
Lori(?): "It's natural, sister. One day, distance will separate you, but remember that it does not have to end your relationship!" [the voice comes from afar]
Something tickled his ears.
Lincoln: "Huh?" [hears them]
A voice. And too familiar for him. The voices were far away from Lincoln, but he knew that he could hear it loud and clear. Lincoln gave them a chase.
Clyde: "Lincoln? Where are you going?"
Could it be another of his crazy visions? Yes. But this time, it pulled Lincoln.
Leni(?): "...But what if things stay like this, forever? What if I never meet him again? What if one day, I completely forget him?" [still from afar]
Lincoln: [tracks down the voices, they are getting clearer in his ears]
Lori(?): "I know how it feels, sis. In fact, I have felt in the same situation as you are. Bobby is in Great Lakes City, and I'll have to deal with college one day. But, if you want to remember him..." [still from afar]
Lincoln could feel it.
Lincoln could feel the voice calling him out.
Clyde: "Lincoln! Do you hear me? I can't keep up with you! Slow down!" [follows Lincoln]
Lincoln: "It's the voice, Clyde!" [stays on track]
Clyde: "What voice?" [confused]
Lincoln: "I don't know, but i feel like they are calling me out!"
He's nearly there. He knew it. He's getting really close!
Lincoln: "There you are-" [enters food court]
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But…
Gloria: "...I suggest you give him a memento."
Flemming: "Me…mento?"
Gloria: "Something that will make you remember that person."
Gloria: "For example…" [takes Flemming's sunglass]
Flemming: "H-Hey! Give it back to me!"
Gloria: "I knew it was you, the moment you wore this fancy glass. This is my memento to remember you."
Flemming: "OM-Gosh! Gloria, you absolutely know everything!" [gasps, happy]
Gloria: "I literally do." [chuckles]
Lincoln sighed. This was not what he expected to meet.
Clyde: "Hah… hah… there you are." [out of breath]
Clyde: "Oh. They are the 3rd graders. You know them?"
Lincoln: "…No." [slowly shakes his head]
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But, suddenly…
Lincoln: "Wait a minute…" [thinks]
His sad face turned into a smile. A bright smile.
Lincoln: That's it! That's the idea! [eureka moment]
As if he got inspired.
Those voices, were a clear message for Lincoln. His last hope to bring his sisters back.
Clyde: "Do you finally have an idea about how to get rid of your nightmare?" [smiles]
Lincoln: "No. In fact... even better." [smugs]
Lincoln: "Do you... uhmm... still remember that we once dreamt of being the king of cookies in Royal Woods?"
Clyde: "Snickerdoodles? Are you kidding? We were so inexperienced! How are we going to rebuild our business?"
Lincoln: "Get your gears ready, Night Owl. We're re-opening the shop!" [confident]
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[Lynn's Table Restaurant.]
[Thursday, 24th August.]
[02:00 PM.]
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Lynn Sr: "Oh! I see that you're trying to sell snickerdoodles again! Of course, I can help you! But... by the way, what makes you so motivated in re-establishing your empire, boy?"
Lincoln: "I know that I'm a grown man, and I want to learn about how to manage my team! Not only that, I want to be productive too!"
Lynn Sr: "Oh Hon… I'm proud of you." [touched]
The gangs were with him. Lincoln was ready to return to his abandoned snickerdoodles business, and take his pals into the action.
Clyde: "Hello, Mr. Loud! Here's the setups!" [brings dough roller and baking pans]
Stella: "We… We are doing this again? Making snickerdoodles?" [hesitant]
Rusty: "But- But we nearly ruined it the last time we made one! What if the disaster repeats?" [scared]
Lynn Sr: "Worry not, kids. You just met the pro. You'll be baking some good old crunchy snickerdoodles in no time!" [eager]
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The process was fierce. Lincoln, Clyde, Rusty, Zack, Liam and Stella were re-trained, re-drilled and re-shaped by Lynn Senior the chef.
Lynn Sr: "Let me see your talent first. What can you do, Stella?"
Stella: "Uhm… I love physics, so uh-" [timid]
Rusty: "Precision, Sir! She's truly a bullseye!" [answers in haste]
Stella: "Hey! Rusty!" [embarrassed]
Lynn Sr: "Noted! Now how about you, boy?" [nods]
Rusty: "Oh, me? I can do-" [chuckles]
Stella: "No, Rusty! You'll just mess it up. How about you pour the flour." [unamused]
Rusty: "Hey!" [upset]
Stella: "Hah. That's for making me blush."
Lynn Sr: "Hmm… Okay. So, here's the distribution: Rusty will pour the ingredients, Stella will form and reshape the dough. Liam, can you handle the supply?"
Liam: "Straight from the dairy farm!" [casually brings a dairy cow into the restaurant]
Cow: "Moooo!"
Lynn Sr: "Woah woah no! I mean… not literally! Can you instead, bring them milks in a big jar?"
Liam: "Oh. Why didn't you tell me earlier, Sir?" [kicks out the cow, brings in a cylinder tank of milk]
Cow: "Mooooh?!" [gets kicked out]
Lynn Sr: "Haha! That's more like it! Now Zach, you are the foreman. Your job is to make sure everyone works well. Think you can do it?"
Zach: "With a help of hypnotization, nothing is impossible!"
Stella: "Hoi!" [offended]
Rusty: "Hell no!" [offended]
Liam: "That's inhumane, Zach!" [offended]
Zach: "Woah take it easy! I was just joking, okay!?"
Lynn Sr: "I mean… not with brainwash. Monitor their progress, and if necessary, lend them a hand. Do you copy?"
Zach: "Noted!"
Lynn Sr: "Clyde, you'll do the branding."
Clyde: "Got it!"
Lynn Sr: "And now, Lincoln…"
Lincoln: "Yes, Dad?"
Lynn Sr: "Come with me. You are the brain of the whole system. We'll discuss about strategy!"
The process included cookie's proper production line and its efficiency, production cost and value, profit, managing the crews, branding strategy, and many other things.
Lynn Sr: "And roll it like you are ironing your clothes. Feel it like you are the dough!"
Stella: "Like this?" [carefully flattens the dough]
Lynn Sr: "Perfect!" [thumbs up]
Rusty: "That job must be tiring…"
Lynn Sr: "The timer, Rusty! Watch the timer! Watch the mixer!"
Rusty: "Oh my God-" [gets overwhelmed]
Zach: "Don't let your guard down, Rustman! We're on some serious line!"
Later…
Lynn Sr: "The baking will be done in 30 minutes. While we're at it, we can prepare for another dough!" [turns on the oven]
Rusty: "…Again?"
Stella: "But my hands-"
Zach: "Stay fresh, slackers! We're still far from our target!"
Rusty: "You aren't helping, Zach!"
Stella: "You keep bossing us around and we'll kick you out of commission!"
Lynn Sr: "Whoa whoa take it easy, kids! Do not make a promise you cannot keep! Take some rest!"
Lynn Sr: "Also, Zach, they are right. Cooperation and teamwork are essential. You and your friends are a team. You are supposed to solidify them!"
Clyde: "People say, true leaders lead by example."
Lynn Sr: "You got a point!"
Clyde: "So when is my turn?"
Lynn Sr: "Here is some samples. First, make sure they love our products before we sell them! Now get out there, give this to the people and let them judge!" [gives Clyde a tray of baked snickerdoodles]
Clyde: "Ooo… delicious." [drools]
Lynn Sr: "Woah, no! Those ain't for you!" [snaps Clyde out of his delusion]
Lynn Loud Senior taught them everything with patience and perseverance. It was like a boot camp, full of war preparation. Even the map Lincoln learnt would represent the finesse of the cookie selling strategy for their business. The ingredient stores fledged with operational hours, overall item stocks, the price, and even the distance measure…
Lynn Sr: "...And based on the recipe, we can conclude that these points in Royal Woods have the best overall ratings from quality aspect, availability aspect, and of course, price aspect!" [points at several strongpoints on the map]
Lincoln: "Noted, Dad!" [writes everything]
Lincoln: "But, to think about it again... Isn't this store the closest to reach if we depart from home, without stripping these aspects for much?" [points at a baking store in the map]
Lynn Sr: "You're genius, Lincoln! Good thinking!"
And, with the training session done, Lincoln and Co. stepped up into the test.
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[Royal Woods Middle School.]
[Tuesday, 5th September.]
[02:00 PM.]
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Their progression was slow but steady. In one day, Lincoln and his friends could make up to 30 sacks of cookies and stash around 20$, and the number kept increasing as the day went on.
Clyde: "Phew, that was fun!" [sweats]
Lincoln: "Nicely done, everyone! We've reached 200$ this day!" [announces good news]
The Team: "Wooohooo!" [cheers]
Time for payday.
Liam: "We're gonna be rich in no day!" [excited]
Zack: "Speaking of which... what are you guys gonna do with this cash? I want to buy a new radar for alien screening!"
Rusty: "Brand new leather jacket!"
Stella: "I want to open my own workshop!"
Liam: "If you ever invent an automatic cow milker, I want to buy it from you!"
Stella: "Haha! You bet, Liam!" [laughs]
Clyde: "I'm about to buy a new gear of espionage! Just like Agent David Steel. How about you, Linc?"
Lincoln: [just smiles]
Lincoln: 'If this can bring them back...'
And with that done, Lincoln went straight to the 2nd phase. He headed to Royal Woods Mall.
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[Royal Woods Mall.]
[Tuesday, 5th September.]
[02:00 PM.]
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Lincoln: [heads to a baby store]
Lincoln: "One baby crib, please. Oh, and also, this foxy doll." [points at Fenton]
Shop Keeper: "Right away, kid! You're about to have a lil sister, aren't you?"
Lincoln: "Sort of!"
Lincoln: [now heads to a music store]
Lincoln: "Hmm... purple enough. This one will do..." [tries an electric guitar]
Lincoln: "By the way, do you have an amplifier with 'Sterett' written in it?"
Shop Keeper: "You're lucky, dude! This one's antic, veeeeery rare. It is said that Mike Swagger once used this in his debut!"
Lincoln: "Shut up and take my money!"
Baby crib, check. Mild turquoise trousers, check. Glitter pink minicar, check. Purple electric guitar and its amplifier, check. Golf clubs, check. Baseball bat, check. Fenton, Yunus and Mr. Sprinkle, check. Now, Lincoln headed to somewhere else. His quest was still on.
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[Royal Woods Cemetery.]
[Tuesday, 5th September.]
[03:00 PM.]
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The boy met with The Morticians again to seal some lucrative deal.
Dante: "Everyone! We have a conjurer!" [spots Lincoln]
Haiku: "You again…? If it's about Lucy, we-"
Lincoln: "No. I want to buy two coffins. Vampire coffins. And also… do you have a large scythe?"
Haiku: "Wait… what?" [surprised]
Bertrand: "Interesting. And what are you going to do with all those stuffs, norm?" [confronts Lincoln]
Lincoln: "Is it okay if I say I want to remind myself of death and a spill of blood among so many colorful lives of this world in my lifetime?"
He spelled those words out clear with no flaw.
Morpheus: [speechless]
Persephone: "Oh, my!" [impressed]
Haiku: "You-" [does not believe what she just heard]
Bertrand: "Hmm… I must say, I never expected a well-spoken tone to come from the mouth of your kin. Come with me." [interested]
Lincoln: "Say your price."
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[Tall Timbers Lumberyard.]
[Tuesday, 5th September.]
[03:15 PM.]
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Lincoln met with a carpenter to see if he could get his ventriloquist doll design carved.
Joe: "Hmm… Mr. Coconuts, you say?"
Lincoln: "Yep."
Joe: "I'll see what I can get. But if you want the outfit, you gotta look for a laundryman."
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[Tall Timbers Lake.]
[Tuesday, 5th September.]
[03:45 PM.]
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Lincoln dove deep into a pond, searching for a frog. By the way, he had to search on the internet beforehand, to learn how to catch one.
Frog: "Ribbit?"
Lincoln: "Hops! Gotcha!"
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[1216 Franklin Avenue.]
[Tuesday, 5th September.]
[05:30 PM.]
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And now, perhaps, the most tiring part. Lincoln must redecorate every bedroom on the 1st floor to fit his sister's colors. Each item should be placed where it was supposed to be in Lincoln's memory.
Lincoln: "Lily's crib is there… the lab desk is there…" [redecorates Lisa and Lily's bedroom]
Lincoln: "Hmm… I don't' know where Lucy used to keep these coffins…" [reevaluates Lynn Junior and Lucy's bedroom]
Lincoln: "Welcome to your new castle, Mr. Sprinkle. I know it's full of heavy weaponry, but I need more time to fix it, I promise. Just wait for a little, okay?" [in Lana and Lola's bedroom]
Lincoln: [puts the guitar and amplifier in Luna's room]
2 hours later…
Lincoln: "…Phew. That should do for now. Todd can wait. I need some rest…" [super tired, decides to sleep]
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[1216 Franklin Avenue.]
[Wednesday, 6th September.]
[06:00 AM.]
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Lincoln: "Hoahm… feeling better now- Eh?" [yawns]
Rita: "Just what is our boy up to now?" [agitated voice from the downstairs]
Lynn Sr: "I don't know. But he will explain everything to us soon, whether he likes it or not!" [disappointed voice from the downstairs]
Lincoln had just realized that everything he bought yesterday had disappeared! What would await him next?
