Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House, the brand, as well as all of its characters and settings belong to Chris Savino and Nickelodeon, all rights reserved.
Chapter 79: Truth.
Into the story:
"Only a few minutes after the commotion had ended, did the heavily damaged knight fully regain control of his mangled body.
A moment after, his eyes regained full sight, and he honestly wished he had remained blind forever.
The mighty sorceress and beautiful princess DeLola lied in front on him, a sorrowful, yet kind expression forever frozen in time and with the rigidness of solid concrete.
He lied in front of the statue, hugging her frame with deep emotion dripping out of his eyes, a few minutes went by in this state as he wondered how he even allowed all of this to happen.
Was it his weakness? Just because he had lost the support of the galactic federation, leaving him stranded on a planet without friends or family to rely on?
Or maybe, was it his own lack of restraint and willpower? Despite all the obvious warning signs that this cave was giving him?
Whatever It was, it was now beyond clear that he needed to be strong, and to rely on himself, and only himself, his own personal frustrations and loneliness had turned him dependent, the shameful effect of missing the support and compassion of his ex-comrades led him to be weak and to lose his precious companion.
His goal was now clear, he simply entered the now destroyed wall leading to the shrine, the decorations on the walls were just superfluous paintings of hearts and some nude demons.
But there was a very important detail that quickly got his attention; for the supposedly bright violet shine of the diamond of lust was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, held in its small podium, was a completely colorless, dim and dead grey rock, only superficially resembling the shape of the other diamonds.
The knight went ahead and retrieved said stone, trying to confirm if it even was the correct stone, but a small vibration of the other diamonds hidden in his equipment gave him the main confirmation that he needed; the stone in question was a legitimate diamond, but it belonged to no one.
Reactivating the stone of legend would be a concern for him later on, for now, his main and only priority would be to escape this cave. All while carrying the heavy stone statue shaped like his eternal lover, he was now determined to find a way to destroy that wall of rock and restore her.
And with that goal in mind, time went on, he made sure that the statue of the princess rested safely in a faraway room as he went back to the city of Aesir and began his plan to become stronger and more powerful:
For starters, he sought help from any and all contacts that he had acquired on his journey through the planet in their many adventures, and with that, began his path to climbing to the top of the hierarchy.
He searched endlessly for positions of power, raw deals, contracts, and even organized a new system to assist the economy of the wealthy city of Aesir on its trades with the other realms, which eventually granted him access to the highest possible position in the city.
Quickly enough, he also trained hard in combat and replaced his outdated cowboy outfit with other types of technology, which lead to him successfully overthrowing the leaders of the city and becoming their new royal authority.
No longer a cowboy, and no longer from space, Triton, the Archduke, had a new mission.
A new order had been stablished, the royal ruler was strong enough to attempt to overcome the weakness of his heart that led to their demise, his wealth and his group of researchers ensured to try anything and everything he could.
To bring his dear princess back"
Back in the real world.
- Lincoln, breakfast is ready! - Lola excitedly entered the room where the wealthy man lied, still heavily asleep due to spending some important sleeping time writing the story.
- SORRY! uh, What? - Her voice was all that was needed, as the albino quickly sat up, highly altered for her presence, then quickly realizing where he was.
- Well, had a nightmare now? - Lola chuckled slightly finding his reaction hilarious - Go ahead and I'll join you later, I need to organize this room - She said more seriously.
- No, don't worry Lols, I'll clean up later and help you organize, and you didn't really need to make breakfast for both of us! - Lincoln objected shamefully.
What's with her change of attitude…
- No thanks, I like doing this Lincoln, now hurry up, your eggs are getting cold -
The man decided to obey, going downstairs and reaching his dining room.
Indeed, there seemed to be two served plates with scrambled eggs, a cup of hot cocoa and some pancakes, the entrancing aroma filled his nostrils and spiked his appetite.
A few minutes later and he was done with his meal, as expected, Lola's cooking was unrivaled, his breakfast was decent, but nowhere near as good as hers, even for something as simple as eggs.
He was now worried at seeing his princess's dish abandoned, she seemed to be taking longer than expected and he was feeling honestly uncomfortable with having her cleaning and organizing alone.
- Lola, are you ok? - He decided to call her out from the stairs.
- Almost there, hang on! - She exclaimed.
Lincoln decided to wait a little longer, he headed to one of the sofas in his leaving room.
And then he saw that his "decorations" were gone from the table.
Of course she would do that…
The thought angered him to no end, he was going to take care of that… at his own pace, there was no need for her to mother him like this!
- It looks way cleaner like that, doesn't it? - Lola was suddenly looking from above the couch, startling him a little.
- What did you do to my bottles? - Lincoln asked coarsely with a slight frown.
- I threw them away, we don't need that in this house anymore now do we, Lincoln? - Lola teasingly looked at the man below her.
- Lola! Some of those were worth hundreds! - Lincoln complained with noticeable anger.
- Oh sowwy, I didn't realize you still cared about money - Lola replied sarcastically with a potty mouth, teasing the patience of the man below her, who simply crossed his arms and looked away.
- Whatever… let's go to the table - Lincoln spoke resigned as he lifted himself up to accompany his sister in the dinning room as she ate her cold breakfast.
- So, it seems that they forced Lola to live with him -
- W-what? Why would they do that? -
- Why are you even surprised? This family of degenerates just can't keep it to themselves -
- But then what would be the point of separating them In the first place? -
- Dunno, it seems that the separation was dad's idea, while mom decided to basically let him kidnap Lola, no wonder that happened -
- Man, this sucks, I really want to help you with this Lu-
- Hey, don't worry love, you've already done enough for me, I'll make sure they face the music as soon as I find his new hide-out, wouldn't want to miss the new comedy show, them being the protagonists of it n'all -
- … -
- He was given one chance, and he blew it -
- So, care to explain how you got all of… this? - Lola was done eating her breakfast silently, feeling uncomfortable about Lincoln keeping an eye on her while she did that.
- Glad you ask that Lola - The man in question raised his voice with folded arms and a confident look - See, right after… that happened, and I was forced to live with, that woman, until graduation - His eye twitched at the mention of his aunt - I was sort of, on my own, and chose to live on the streets for a while -
Lola looked sadly at that admission, she knew that her great aunt was a… not very refined woman, but to prefer being homeless over that…
- And after a while, I made a comfortable living by working on some birthdays as a magician, which then allowed me to get in contact with Angus - Lincoln continued his explanation with a relaxed look.
- Angus? - Lola was confused - Angus from Loch Loud? -
- Yeah! - Lincoln replied excitedly - So, anyways, long story short, I managed to convince him to loan me some money, and that's were I managed to rent a little apartment with internet connection and a Laptop - He continued with genuine pride in his expression - And, well, that's were your dear brother started his first business, have you ever heard of orangextrade? -
Lola continued listening to his explanation with some quick nods and admissions as he recalled all of the events leading to his success, all the deals, sponsorship, and… Loans that he initiated, all the business partners that he generated over the years, and the eventual sellout of his website.
There was now doubt about it, Lincoln Loud was a brilliant man, and a part of her was still extremely proud of having him as a brother.
An even bigger part… however.
- And how is Angus doing? - She casually asked, interrupting Lincoln as he talked about the specifics to his former website.
- Uh, i don't know, he's fine… I think? - Lincoln dismissed the question as unimportant as he continued talking about the deals that he made.
- Lincoln… - Lola glared at him - I said, how is Angus doing -
- Em, I don't know why that matters now, if you want I can pass you his phone number I guess, the point is-
- Lincoln! - Lola snapped - When was the last time you spoke to him? -
- Uh, like two years ago? I don't remember Lola, what's the deal with that? - Lincoln officially halted his speech, annoyed at her change of attitude.
- What was the last thing that you talked about? - Lola continued her questioning.
- I think I called him to extend the period for the payment, I was in a tight spot back them because I invested everything in-
- That's it? - Lola raised her eyebrow - did you at least thank him? -
- Uh, yeah i think I did, regardless, I paid him back in full so there shouldn't be a problem - Lincoln mimicked her expression.
- Lincoln, do you even remember who Angus is? - Lola furrowed her brows.
- Of course I do, he's the new duke of Loch Loud, Scotland, a very influential man in his own right and a reasonable negotiator - Lincoln was failing to see the point of this conversation.
- Lincoln Loud, Angus is probably the kindest person that we ever got to know and a man devoted to giving his all for the good of other people, you of all people should know that, isn't that why you gave your crown to him? - Lola was now getting visibly mad at the nerve of her brother.
- Yes, of course I realized that, which is why it was easy to convince him that he owed me a favor and that I needed his assistance, he was a good ally - Lincoln crossed his arms with a bored expression, tired of the nonsense.
- An ally… that's everything he was to you - Lola was growling internally - Not a friend, an "ally" that you conveniently manipulated out of his kind heart to give you money, knowing very well that the man couldn't possibly object -
- …what's wrong with you? - Lincoln was also getting quite worked up - I paid him every, single, cent back, means to an end, he probably understood that very well -
- Yeah, I guess Angus was "means to an end" for you, wasn't it, Lincoln!? - Lola rose from the table, supporting her arms in it.
- So what if he was? In the end, he lost nothing, and I won Lola, now, I actually have the power, the influences and the money, we can do whatever we want, I can buy you whatever you need, I can help you in your pageants and we can finally leave this dumpster! - Lincoln repeated her motion, now looking at her face directly as they both held a confrontational stance on the table.
- …wait, leave? - Lola's expression changed to one of surprise, releasing sweat from her forehead.
- Of course Lola, that was always my end goal - Lincoln confessed agitatedly - We'll never find happiness in this shithole as long as there's rotten people that want us apart, you can't trust anybody here - His face also changed to one of distress - We can just start a new life, somewhere else where nobody knows us, and I have people that can erase our names from the civil registry, nobody will know that we are related - Lincoln finished with a softer tone.
Lola was speechless.
- … Isn't this what you wanted too? - Lincoln looked concernedly at his sister - A-and I mean, if you don't want to do that right now, we can wait, I can move some people to help you get registered and win Miss Teen America and then we can leave and get married! -
- No - Lola held a poker face.
- What-
- No - She repeated herself - I won't be going anywhere, Lincoln - She frowned.
- …why not? - Now Lincoln was speechless.
- I won't ever marry someone that I can't trust - Lola replied strongly.
- …Explain yourself -
- You're using people as stepping ladders in a game of power -
- … -
- You're manipulating good-hearted people to get what you want -
- … -
- You're acting like a greedy man, boasting his power and money to elevate yourself -
- … -
- How can I find truth in your intentions with me? When it's painfully clear that you resent the world that I'm a part of? - Lola raised an eyebrow, expecting a reaction.
And something in Lincoln snapped.
- Truth? - It was his turn - funny you would say that, everything you said about me also applied to yourself, didn't it? -
- … -
- And you're still withholding the truth, aren't you? -
- … -
- Off with the games Lola, you don't love me anymore, do you? - Despite his seriousness, Lincoln couldn't help his voice to break a little by saying that.
- … No - Lola admitted, retiring eye contact.
- …Why did you come here - Lincoln was now looking to the ground.
- To help you - Lola said seriously.
- …how pointless is it for me to try and win you back? -
- …very - Lola was also looking down.
- hehe - Lincoln chuckled eerily - So it seems she actually got away with it -
And a chilling spine ran through Lola's entire being at the particular way he said that, she couldn't even explain why it felt so… terrifying, but she needed to act, quickly!
- Wait Lincoln! - Lola screamed alarmingly, as the man rose from his chair.
- Guess I'll just continue my original plan, regardless, let's call some of my partners at her institute… let's see, a very nasty rumor, yeah, that could work - Lincoln spoke to himself while taking his phone and started looking over his contacts, turning his back on his sister.
- Lincoln please stop! - Lola exclaimed Loudly, jumping over the table to hug him from his back - Lisa didn't decide that, it was all me, I chose to drink it willingly - She clarified while burying her head on his back.
- Of course, leave it to Lisa to manipulate people into trying her "experiments" - Lincoln paid little mind, as he kept looking at his contacts.
- Please Linky, Lisa is also very powerful, she has contacts with the president and the army and got very wealthy for selling that, if you hurt her, she will hurt you back! - Lola tried to reason with him.
- heh, then it's a challenge isn't it? - Lincoln found the number and was already dialing.
- …besides, she's the only one that can create a cure - Lola was out of options.
Maybe if she gave him hope, he would stop?
But that would also be a lie…
"No Lola, this process is irreversible, The vector used for the CRISPR-Cas9 technology works like a lysogenic-cycle virus that fuses itself into your DNA…" She remembered Lisa's words, although little else of her explanation.
Regardless, that seemed to do the trick, as Lincoln hung up, and decided to lock his phone away.
He then detached himself rather forcefully from her embrace and turned to his room.
- Where are you going!? - Lola asked with full concern.
- I have to get ready, got some partners waiting for me near the museum café - Lincoln replied without looking back.
- P-promise me something - Lola managed to get out.
- What? -
- Please, don't get in trouble with our family, and don't drink outside - Lola said weakly - if you love me, please don't -
Lincoln heard those words, and remembered his sole objective in this whole world.
- … ok, I'll think about it - he replied in a low tone, as he went upstairs.