I do not own The Loud House. All rights belong to Nickelodeon.
Chapter 10
Everyone gathered at Lynn's Table restaurant. The news team set up a podium with multiple microphones and speakers. He wore his convincing suit. He had a tailored suit being made for when he receives his medal next week. Everyone was taking pictures when he arrived, and the news team had him live. Lincoln had a speech ready. His sisters came in support, while his friends and girlfriend, Stella, Clyde, Ronnie Anne, Zach, Liam, and Rusty, all watched on TV.
"Thank you for coming," Lincoln started, "While the court ruled in my family's favor, there are many who feel negatively towards them, especially my father. However, while my father and his recent actions are not in everyone's favor, his restaurant has been among the best in Royal Woods. Everything from the food, the staff, the service, and the cleanliness of the place have all lived up to everyone's standards, including the health inspectors'. My father, who ran this restaurant, is the only thing people don't like about this place, which is why no one is going in to eat."
There was a pause for effect, and the reporters were eager to hear what came next.
"Which is why we are replacing what is not likable with something that is likable – me."
The reporters gasped in surprise, and more flashes from cameras lit.
"Lynn's Table will become The Loud Table. We are calling for new and ambitious chefs who wish to become the new chef of The Loud Table. I have sent invites to several to arrive here for a cookoff. The judges—" Lincoln turned everyone's attention to three people on the side "—the Middleton twins and cuisine author Brian Omar."
The three adults smiled and waved at the reporters. Lincoln's sisters and his friends were surprised by this as well. Standing next to them were four other people – chefs. One man with tattoos, an African-American woman, and two Hispanic twin adults, a man, and a woman.
"Today, these contestants will compete to win the opportunity to be the new chef of The Loud Table. Chef Oscar Simmons, Chef Ruby Adkins, and the Dandler twins, Jack and Amanda!" Lincoln hollered.
The crowd applauded, and the chefs smiled and waved. They went over the rules and began – it was fun. The chefs would make their signature dish, and the judges would give them their best score. The chefs worked on a time limit, and each made their dish just in the nick of time. It was a really close call, but the Dandler twins won. Despite losing, the other two chefs got a lot of credibility, and since it was live, their names were treading – so they were good sports about it. The twins were hired, and the crowd gathered to have a seat at The Loud Table. They got a new sign and changed some things inside for a different design. From then on, business for The Loud Table was booming!
To say that Lincoln was the most famous person in the state of Michigan, let alone Royal Woods, was an understatement. Everyone heard of him. His name was floating around all over the country. There were even billboards with his face on them. The Loud family returned home so proud of their white-haired boy. That night, Lincoln called a sibling meeting, and they gathered in Lori and Leni's room.
"Okay, so we all know Lori is going to be a great golfer, but Lori, what if I told you that there's something you're just as good at besides golf?" Lincoln asked.
"What would that be?" Lori asked.
Lincoln summoned the light stream, pulled out a light orb, and handed it to her, "Business management."
"Huh?"
Lori took the orb and looked into the visions.
Lincoln explained, "Yeah, it turns out you're pretty good at it. I've seen visions of you becoming the business manager of The Loud Table and turning it into a successful chain. Again, you don't have to. It all depends on what you want in life. I'm just letting you know that if you want to do something besides golf, there's a successful opportunity as the family's restaurant's business manager. Plus—" Lincoln fast forward to seeing Lori in her mid-thirties wearing a white collared shirt with a black skirt and high heels. She had crystal earrings and red lipstick, "—the boss lady look really suits you."
The sisters all gazed at the light orb in awe, "Ooooooooo."
"Huh, how about that? And you're right, Lincoln. I look good," Lori said with a grin.
"Speaking of the restaurant, this also brings us to Luan," Lincoln said.
"Huh? Me?" Luan asked.
Lincoln pulled out another light orb from the light stream, "Yes. You're going to be a great comedian and a good theater actor. However, there's something else you're good at."
Luan raised an eyebrow while placing her hands on her hips, "Which is?"
Lincoln handed her the light orb, "Cooking and cuisine."
Luan grabbed the light orb, "Say what?!"
"While you find it an annoying school assignment, you're actually very good at cooking. I've seen visions where Lori is the business manager of The Loud Table, and you rise to become its chef. You even go on cooking shows and even go up against the famous chef Bobby Flay," Lincoln explained.
Luan and the others gasped wide-eyed.
"I go up against Bobby Flay?!" Luan asked.
Lincoln nodded with a smile.
"No way!" Luna exclaimed.
Lana ran up to Lincoln, "What about me? What do I become when I grow up?"
Lola dashed forward before her twin, "No, no, me! What do I become when I grow up!"
They argued until Lori separated them. Then Lincoln showed them their possible futures.
For Lana, there are visions of her working at the zoo, caring for the animals, and working for programs that help endangered animals. There were also visions of her becoming a mechanic, a welding robotic technician, and a handyman or handywoman, as it were. Lana squeed with excitement.
For Leni, there are visions of her owning her own fashion store. She sells both clothes on the rack and makes them custom-made, too. It's possible for some of her works to show up on Broadway. There were also visions where she designed costumes for shows and movies. Leni was overjoyed to see this. She screamed delightfully and jumped up and down like a handsome celebrity walked in.
For Luna, the visions showed her and her band performing in Royal Woods for a long time. They make tours across the country until they get their own music studio. Lincoln even showed her getting married to Sam. Luna was so stunned that she had a hard time containing her happy tears.
She hugged Lincoln, "Thank you so much for this, Lincoln!"
"Remember, nothing is written in stone. So, this can all change. If you want this to come true, you must work for it," Lincoln explained.
"Oh, I will!"
"Now me! What happens to me?" Lola begged.
Lincoln showed her. The visions showed her working with Leni as her muse. She continues her beauty pageants and later becomes a fashion model – mainly Leni's. The visions even showed her becoming Leni's assistant. Lola was surprised and then curious about this. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Beauty and fashion go hand in hand. Lola did have a few ideas for outfits.
For Lucy, she becomes a poet and an author of dark fantasy books. Eventually, she even opens her own coffee and bookstore. It's the same place where she hosts her poetry club. Despite not showing excitement, Lucy was indeed happy and excited to see what awaited her in the future.
For Lisa, it was obvious where she was going with her brilliant mind. She was going to Harvard and then to Oxford. Eventually, she wins a Nobel Peace Prize for clean energy. That does create problems with oil companies and such, but Lisa wasn't too worried about it.
However, while Lincoln was showing everyone their bright futures and the many opportunities they had waiting for them, one person was not eager to see her future. With each person seeing their future, Lynn was filled with dread and anxiety. She was terrified that Lincoln was going to show her a future where she becomes a hobo. Ever since those nightmares, she's been struggling with sports, and her grades were slipping.
'Do I tell Lincoln?' Lynn thought.
She was about to speak, but she stopped. She saw how happy they were. They were all gathered around holding light orbs, talking about how incredible their futures were. They talked about ideas they had to add for their futures like Lucy making her bookstore look spooky or Lori trying to do both golf and run the restaurant. Seeing them smiling and excited about their futures practically made them glow.
'They're so happy,' Lynn thought as she looked down, 'If I bring up my nightmares, it'll bum them out. They'll think I'm being selfish. Me, me, me. Just like how I make winning all about me.'
Lynn looked up at Lincoln. He was also happy, but the joy of his sisters was making him happy.
'No wonder they love him so much, and why wouldn't they? He protects us. He takes care of us, even when we've been selfish. That's who he is. That's how great his worth is,' Lynn thought, 'His . . . his worth.'
While Lynn was moping in a sullen mood, she didn't notice that Lucy was watching her from the side. Lucy may not be the kind of person to get excited, but she did have a keen eye for seeing things.
Lincoln turned to Lynn with a light orb, "And Lynn, your future—"
"No! No!" Lynn exclaimed.
This got everyone's attention as they turned to her. Lynn's eyes shifted nervously back and forth as pinballs of sweat formed around her temple.
"Uh . . . I mean, I-I don't want to see my future because . . . because I want it to be a surprise!" Lynn stammered.
Lincoln raised an eyebrow, "Surprise?"
"Yeah! I uh . . . you know. I don't want any spoilers. If you show me the future, it uh . . . it ruins the mystery of what's going to happen, and I want to be surprised! So, don't tell me what my future is," Lynn said.
There was a pause before Lincoln said, "That makes sense."
"As you wish, honey," Lola shrugged
Luna shrugged, too, "Your loss, dude."
Lynn felt she needed to change the subject, "Hey Lincoln, show us your future."
"Oh! Yeah, what do you become when you grow up, Lincoln?" Luan asked.
Lincoln frowned and closed his eyes, "Oh, me? Nothing."
"Wha?" Lynn asked with a sad face.
"Yep, because I'm gonna die."
Everyone's eyes widened and exclaimed, "WHAT?!"
"Tomorrow, in fact. It's all over for me," Lincoln said in an overly dramatic voice.
Lori rushed over and grabbed Lincoln by his shoulders, "Lincoln, this isn't funny. You're not really dying tomorrow, are you?"
"Oh yes," Lincoln winked at his sisters, especially at Lynn, "There I am walking in the streets, and all of a sudden, a voice from the shadows calls my name, 'Lincoln, we've got something to tell you,' and I'm like 'What's up?' Then from the shadows comes you girls, and you're like—"
Lincoln then spoke in a deep voice, "Lincoln, we are your sisters." (mimicking the Darth Vader music) "And I'm all like, 'No! That is not true! Oh wait, it is true. What's your point?' And you girls are like, (deep voice) 'So join us, Lincoln! Come to the dark side. Do not resist. It is your destiny!' And I'm all like, 'Never!' But you girls keep pushing. You're all like, 'You will be our prince of darkness, and together we will rule the world!' And I'm like, 'Girls, no! Don't do this! You're not evil!' But you all laugh an evil laugh."
The sisters all saw what he was doing. He was making up a story for their amusement. Most of them had one eyebrow raised with their hands on their hips.
"Is Lincoln being weird again?" Leni questioned.
"He's always weird, dudes," Luna answered.
"Yep, he's a weirdo," Lola agreed.
"Totally," Lana added.
"Lincoln's Lincoln," Lynn shrugged.
Lincoln continued, "Then the darkness was closing in, and you, my sisters, turned out to be vampires! You bare your fangs and sink them into me as you drink my blood! I cry out, 'Nooo!' And just like that, I die, and my heart is consumed with darkness. Then I'm reborn as a vampire, and I go on a mad killing spree drinking people's blood, and you girls laugh an evil laugh as you plot to take over the world."
Lincoln wrapped his arms around Lori and said in a funny voice, "Why my sisters? Why do you turn evil? Why do you turn me into a vampire? Why? Why, oh, why, my sisters?"
Lori smiled with one eyebrow raised, "Oh dear. Looks like he found out about our evil plan girls."
The rest of the sisters nodded and played along.
Luna hugged Lincoln from behind, "I guess we'll just have to speed things up and turn him into a vampire now."
"But why girls? Why have you become evil?" Lincoln asked in a funny voice.
"It's not about why, dear brother. It's about why not? Why not take over the world? Why not make you our eternal prince of darkness?" Lucy asked.
"You're ours forever, Linky," Lana and Lola cooed.
Luan playfully held Lincoln's neck, "I've heard of a drink called Bloody Mary, but I've never heard of a Bloody Lincoln. Ha ha ha! Get it?"
The sisters chuckled, pretended to make vampire noises, and kissed Lincoln's face. Then they playfully wrestled each other, and even pillow fought. Soon, they were all in a dogpile laughing. Even Lynn was laughing and having a good time.
"Seriously though, Lincoln, what do you become when you grow up?" Lori asked.
Lincoln chuckled as he tried to sit up with three sisters on top of him and Lynn hugging him from behind. Lincoln pulled a light orb from the light stream. Everyone gathered around to see the visions. However, before he could explain, the door knocked. They looked up to see their mother, Rita.
"Mom?" Lincoln spoke.
"Hey, kids," Rita responded.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" Lori questioned.
"No, no. Everything's fine. I was just wondering if I could hang with you. I'm lonely having that empty bedroom all to myself."
"Oh yeah. Sure, Mom. We're just messing around," Leni said from the floor.
Rita sat on one of the beds, "I can see that. What's with the light orbs?"
"Lincoln was showing us our future and the different stuff that could happen. Like me, for example, I could be a chef for the family restaurant," Luan explained.
"Really? That's amazing."
Rita looked at everyone's light orbs and was impressed with the visions but also had questions.
"Wait, Lori, you and Bobby don't stay together?" Rita asked.
"No, after the trial, it's possible for us to get married, but Bobby holds a pill of distrust because of how I used to treat Lincoln. So, he won't trust me around our children. With Ewan, there's a better future," Lori said, crossing her arms.
"Oh. I see. I'm sorry, honey. If going for this Ewan offers a happier life, I'd say go for it. Maybe you and Bobby just weren't meant to be."
"It's fine, Mom. I'll be okay."
"Some people are a journey, but not the destination," Lincoln quoted.
"That's right," Rita agreed.
"So, Lincoln, what will you be when you grow up?" Lynn asked.
Lincoln explained, "Clyde and I become comic book artists. The Full Deck comic grabs the interest of Bill Buck, the creator of Ace Savvy. We come up with several other comic book ideas, and later, they become real hits. Full Deck gets its TV show and later a movie directed by yours truly."
That last part caught their attention as their eyes widened and eyebrows raised.
"I become a movie director and even help make a few video games. Clyde becomes a licensed therapist, but he still helps make comics, and he's the other owner of our comic book company. It's pretty cool," Lincoln said with a smile, "Lily kind of follows in my footsteps, becoming an artist too, but she makes scenery art and graphic novels. We both work together on her best graphic novel, Footsteps of Light. It's about this guy who protects his sisters."
"Sounds familiar," Luna said with a smile.
The sisters and mother all smiled with pride as they gazed at the visions. Lincoln then pulled out light orbs that showed them what they all look like as adults.
"Wow, I look good," Lori smiled.
"I totes look amazing! Look how long my legs get," Leni said excitedly.
"Huh, so Luna and I do get boobs, but only in the future," Luan pouted.
"Yeah, wonder how long we have to wait? Knowing our luck, it'll probably be a while," Luna said with a bummed-out face.
"You'll get there, I promise," Lori assured.
"Of course, I get hot," Lola said, looking at her older self.
"Me too. I'm digging that braided ponytail!" Lana praised.
"Speaking of ponytails, I look pretty good with one myself," Lucy added with a smile.
"I look decent. I'm surprised by my increased height when I mature," Lisa said.
"Lily's a cutie," Rita said.
Lincoln asked Lynn, "Do you want to see yourself or no spoilers?"
"No spoilers," Lynn stated.
Lucy gave her a look before she glanced at Lincoln. Lincoln noticed her, and his smile faded before he looked back at Lynn. He knew that Lucy was telling her something was up with Lynn.
"What about you, Link? What do you look like grown up?" Lynn asked.
Lincoln pulled out the light orb, showing him as an adult. The girls looked up at the vision with awe. Their brother all grown up. He really fills out. He has broad shoulders, strong arms, and a handsome, photogenic face. His hair grows out and is styled in a neat, layered cut. Lincoln even showed them what his future self looked like with a beard, in different colors, and even in swim trunks, showing off his muscles and abs. The girls and mother all gasped.
"O-M-Gosh! Lincoln, you're so handsome!" Leni exclaimed joyfully.
"He becomes a total hunk!" Lola added.
"Loving those muscles! We gotta get you into shape to make this happen," Lynn said, rustling Lincoln's hair.
"Stella is going to be one very satisfied lady," Lori stated while twirling a strand of her hair around her finger.
"Oh yeah, dudes and babes. Stella ain't getting a boy. She's getting a man," Luna cooed.
"What do you think, Mom?" Lincoln asked.
Rita had a raised eyebrow, her hand holding her chin, "I think you look a lot like my dad when he was young."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. There are photos of him back in the day. When he was young, he was very athletic and strong. I remember when he could climb a rope using just his arms. He had great upper-body strength. It's probably why joining the Marines was a cakewalk for him. Anyway, the point is if you compare what Lincoln looks like when he's grown up with your grandfather when he was young, you'd swear they were brothers," Rita explained.
"Huh, how about that," Lincoln said, "Is that a good thing?"
"Oh yeah, I'm with your sisters. You're going to grow up into a total hunk. Also, I'm grateful that none of you get your father's ridiculously long nose."
Everyone laughed at that.
"Yeah, it is long, isn't it?" Luan asked, and then did Mr. Coconuts' voice, "Long? Are you kidding me? An airplane can land on that thing and still have room to spare."
"Speaking of Dad, how is he?" Leni asked.
"Well, he saw the opening ceremony of The Loud Table. He said he had mixed feelings about it, but overall, he was glad how it turned out. Kids, your father may not be the brightest and not always know how to make the best decisions . . . but he loves all of you. Lincoln showed me visions of things getting better with him, including with Lincoln. I've asked it before, but this time it's different. Give your father a chance when he returns from the hospital," Rita requested.
Lori crossed her arms as her sisters, and Lincoln looked at her.
"What Dad did was very stupid. The worst part is," Lori wrapped her arms around Lincoln from behind, "He almost got Lincoln killed when he saved him. It's one thing to endanger yourself, but the only reason he is alive is because of his boy right here. I'm not gonna lie, Mom. When Lincoln ran into the fire, I thought I was going to die. I wanted to die."
Lori's eyes watered as she continued.
"My heart was breaking, and that was the worst feeling I've ever experienced. Whatever Dad does in the future, he can't put anyone's life in danger."
"Oh, for sure," Rita said before gliding her fingers through Lincoln's hair, "I'll make sure of that, mark my words."
"I've got a question. When will our nightmares end?" Leni asked.
"You're still getting them?" Lincoln asked.
"Well, they're not as bad as when you were in the hospital, but they're still there."
"Speaking of nightmares. Mom, have you been getting them too?" Luan asked.
"Yes, Lincoln told me about this sleep clock that you guys have. At first, I was skeptical about it, but having Lincoln close by does work at keeping them away. When I get the nightmares, my first instinct is to make sure he's okay," Rita explained.
"Also, I finished making her a Dreamcatcher bracelet," Lincoln said.
Rita raised her hand to show everyone.
"So, we just do this therapy sleep thing until the nightmares go away?" Rita asked.
"I've been working on some things that may help with that. The nightmares are caused by our guilt of what could have happened and our mistreatment of Lincoln. The guilt manifests in our subconscious and takes form in our dreams. While our dreams haunt us, the truth of reality gives us comfort, and that truth is that our brother-sibling unit is safe and that he loves us. Which is why our first instinct when we wake up from said nightmare is to find Lincoln," Lisa said.
"Why don't we get nightmares when he's close by?" Lola asked.
"His presence gives off positive energy. Also, Lincoln has saved some of us from life-threatening danger in recent events. So, he makes us feel safe and secure, thus reducing the chances of getting nightmares. I've been working on two things: a medication that suppresses dreams and a machine that will read dreams. Sometimes determining the specifics of the dream can lead to the source of how to overcome them."
"That makes sense," Rita said.
"You're definitely right about Lincoln having positive energy. Whenever he sleeps with us, we have great dreams. At least I do. The last time Lincoln slept with me and Luan, I dreamed I was performing with Mick Swagger, and Lincoln was our drummer. It was wicked awesome!" Luna stated.
"I totes know what you mean. When it was our turn on the sleep clock, I dreamed I was at a fashion show in Paris! People were wearing the clothes that I designed. It was the best!" Leni said with glee.
"Huh, for a minute, I thought I was the only one. I dreamed that I was a professional golfer and Lincoln was a professor at Fairway," Lori said.
Lincoln raised an eyebrow, "Really?"
"Yeah, and let me tell ya, you looked like a hot English professor with your slick glasses and everything. It was pretty cool. I think you were also an art teacher because you had black highlights that went great with your white hair."
"Do all of you get good dreams when I sleep with you?" Lincoln asked.
The other sisters nodded and talked about their good dreams. They talked some more before heading to bed. Lucy took this chance to talk to Lincoln and Lisa about Lynn.
"Guys, there's something wrong with Lynn. She's acting strange. Stranger than usual," Lucy said.
"Yeah, she's more clingy to me and has been acting strange. Jumpy even," Lincoln said.
"I conquer. She's scared of knowing what her future is. She tried to disguise her disposition by claiming she doesn't want any spoilers," Lisa stated.
"So, what do we do?" Lincoln asked.
"Lisa, you said you have a machine that can read people's dreams, right? Maybe by reading Lynn's nightmares, we can find out what's bothering her," Lucy proposed.
"That seems logical. I'm afraid the machine will take several weeks to be ready. Until then, let's keep an eye on Lynn," Lisa stated.
Several Days Later
The day for Lincoln's award ceremony had come. He wore a new tailored deep blue suit, black leather dress shoes, and a shiny light blue tie. His sisters and mother all dressed nicely for Lincoln's special day.
"Do I really have to wear a dress?" Lana whined.
"Lana, this is a big day for Lincoln. We need to look our best! Mom! Lori! Tell her," Lola said, straightening Lana's dress.
"She's right, honey. Lincoln's getting a medal of honor from the governor. We need to look good. If we go there dressed casually, it'll send a bad message," Rita said while checking her hair.
"Suck it, Lana. One day. Just one day. Then it's over," Lori said.
Rita clapped her hands to get all the girls' attention, "All right, girls! Listen up! This is a huge day for your brother. So, you need to be on your best behavior."
"We will, Mom," Leni said.
"I'm serious, girls. A lot of people are attending this event. So, please, don't do anything to embarrass Lincoln . . . and that includes you, Lynn."
Lynn felt a sting of anger from that. Usually, she'd get defensive about it, but instead, she swallowed her pride and said, "I'll behave, Mom. I promise."
Then Lincoln walked down after he finished getting ready. The sisters and mother turned toward the stairs. They were in awe of what they saw. Lincoln looked gorgeous in his brand-new suit. The girls had stars in their eyes.
"Oh Lincoln, you look so handsome," Rita adored.
"He looks amazing," Lori added.
The girls surrounded Lincoln and bathed him with compliments. They took several photos before getting in the new vans. Lansing wasn't that far from Royal Woods. They had Lincoln, his family, and friends inside the capitol building as the ceremony was getting ready.
Clyde and his dads were also attending, and they were dressed nicely. Stella and her mom were coming too, along with Ronnie Anne and her family. Everyone looked great. Although, Ronnie Anne was a little embarrassed. She was wearing a beautiful purple Mexican dress with a red flower in her hair – she had her hair out instead of a tight ponytail. Stella was in a lovely white and blue Filipino dress called a baro't saya.
"Whoa," Lincoln breathed.
"Shut up. It's . . . I don't normally do this, but it's a special day, and I felt I should look nice . . . for you," Ronnie Anne said with her cheeks all red.
"The governor is giving you a medal. So, we felt that a normal dress wouldn't be enough, so . . . yeah, we went all out," Stella said with a blush.
"You both look gorgeous. I actually feel underdressed compared to you, too," Lincoln said.
"Are you kidding me? You look great," Stella replied as she held his hands.
"Yeah, you're looking real sharp there, Snowflake," Ronnie Anne added.
The Loud sisters couldn't contain their excitement as they screamed in their hands with their eyes sparkling.
"They're so cute together!" Leni cooed.
"The perfect love birds," Luna added.
Lincoln blushed and hid his face in Stella's shoulder as they hugged. Ronnie Anne stood between them and shooed the sisters away. As they left, Lori came face to face with her ex-boyfriend, Bobby. All smiles and giggles vanished.
"Hi, Bobby," Lori greeted.
"Hey, babe. I mean, Lori," Bobby replied.
The Loud sisters glanced at each other nervously. Lori broke the silence, "Bobby, can we talk somewhere in private?"
"Uh, sure," Bobby answered.
They went to the stairway.
"Are they . . . you know?" Lynn asked.
"Yes, they're breaking up. Or at least Lori's making it official," Leni said.
"So, they're better off as friends? And Lori goes for . . . who again?" Luan asked.
"Ewan. They will meet in Fairway in the future. Lincoln said he gets dumped, Lori heals his broken heart, and they fall in love," Luna answered.
"That's right. It's kind of sad that it doesn't work out between them, but maybe it's better this way. Lori did say that they do stay good friends over the years," Leni said.
After a long while, someone called, "All right, places, everyone! The ceremony's about to begin."
Rita rushed to Lincoln for a last-minute checkup on his hair and suit, "Okay, show time, my little superhero!"
Lincoln turned to the readers, "Moms are moms. What are you gonna do?"
"Now, girls, be on your best behavior. This is a big day for your brother," Rita stated.
"Don't worry, Mom. We will,"
In front of the capitol building was a stage with a podium, speakers, and the country's flag with the state flag. There were also thousands of people, civilians, and reporters with cameras. There were police with state troopers keeping everything checked and secure.
The governor approached the podium. He was a tall, strong African-American man with short hair and a clean shave. He looked and sounded a lot like the All-State guy. There were a few other politicians on stage as well, including the mayor of Lansing and the mayor of Royal Woods came too. There were two other people in military dress uniforms – a female Marine, Jenny Wendall, and a male Army Ranger, Arthur Havelock. Both of them were winners of the Congressional Medal of Honor. They were both from Michigan and came in Lincoln's honor. Lincoln was touched that they came and was intimidated as well.
The governor began his speech. There was a slight echo.
"Greetings, and thank you all for coming. For thousands of years, we humans have waged war, slaughtered each other, and committed some of the most vicious acts in history. However, we're also capable of great acts of kindness and humanity. Even in our darkest moments, there are those who possess extraordinary courage in the face of danger. Those with a fire that can't be put out, and with that fire, they light the way through darkness."
Those words touched Lincoln, but also nervous. Lincoln and his family saw in the front row of the audience were the other bikers that Lincoln saved. Some were in wheelchairs while others were standing with crutches.
"These individuals are rare in numbers, but they live among us. These heroes perform simple acts that make all the difference in the world. Saving a life from danger so that they may live makes a difference not only for the survivor but for the lives of their friends and loved ones. One person's life can touch the lives of so many around them. And thanks to this young man for his courage and self-sacrifice, sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers are alive. Private Marine Jenny Wendall and Army Ranger Arthur Havelock performed their courageous acts in service for their country. Many of us, including myself, are grateful that they have come in honor of Lincoln Loud for his heroic deeds. The greatest casualty for both civilians and soldiers is being forgotten. That is why we gather together in good faith to give thanks to these brave men and women who go above and beyond the call of duty."
The governor turned to Lincoln for him to come. Lincoln smiled and approached him while another person opened a polished walnut box. Inside it was the Honorary Citizen Gold Eagle Valor Medal. A gold coin medal with a giant bald eagle with a torch in its talons in front of a big star. The ribbon was red, white, and blue. The governor picked it up and turned to Lincoln.
"Lincoln Loud. It is with great honor and privilege to bestow upon you the Honorary Citizen Gold Eagle Valor Medal," the governor stated clearly, "For your heroic deeds of self-sacrifice, this state and nation owe you a great debt of gratitude."
Lincoln bowed his head with a smile, and his eyes closed. The governor placed it around Lincoln's neck.
'This is really happening. No way!' Lincoln thought.
Once it was placed, Lincoln opened his eyes and gazed upon the shiny medal around his neck. The medal that he earned. Lincoln felt left out that he didn't have any trophies like his sisters, but here he is with something way better than a trophy – a medal! From the governor! Lincoln looked at his family and friends to see their smiles and watery eyes. Both they and Lincoln were so proud. At that moment, Lincoln felt he would live a hundred years, like he could breathe fire or want on air. The crowd cheered and applauded.
The governor smiled and shook Lincoln's hand, "Congratulations, young man."
"Thank you, sir," Lincoln said.
"History will long revere your courage and sacrifice. You have etched in the rock of virtue a legacy that is to be cherished and remembered. You are all that this medal represents. Bravery. Integrity. Grace under pressure. Courage under fire. And above all . . . honor," the governor said proudly.
The governor allowed Lincoln to the podium and spoke, "Thank you. Thank you for this. I'm very grateful to be here and to be presented with this. I'm grateful for all my friends and their families to be here. I also want to give thanks to my family for being here. I know there are still some who feel negatively toward them, but I am proud to say that my family has changed so much for me . . . and that's what I love about them. They would go so far and do as much for me as I would for them. I wouldn't trade them for the world. Thank you all, and God bless you."
The crowd cheered and applauded again. Then it was onto the after-party, and of course, many people were eager to meet Lincoln and get their picture taken. Many of them were big-named people, and one of them was the creator of Ace Savvy, Bill Buck. Lincoln was so excited to see him that he froze. Clyde fainted, and his dads caught him.
Lincoln shook his hand, "Hello, sir. It's an honor to meet you."
"The honor is mine to meet you. Congratulations on your medal," Bill said.
"Thank you, sir."
"I've heard good things about you and that you are a fan of mine. Someone sent me a copy of your comic, The Full Deck, and I have to say, this is by far the best comic book I've ever seen!"
"Really?!"
"Oh yeah. I love the style. The girls and their names are so creative! Where did you come with it?" Bill asked.
"I actually got the idea from my sisters. The girls are based off of them."
"Is that so?"
Lincoln and Bill Buck talked for a long time about comics, and Lincoln shared with him ideas, and so did Bill. The girls kept their promise to be on their best behavior. They mingled while enjoying the food and drinks. A few of the sisters took this chance to check on Lori.
"Hey Lori . . . how did it go? You and Bobby?" Leni asked.
"It went fine. We had a long talk, and I told him it wouldn't work between us. So, our breakup is literally official," Lori answered.
"So, does that mean that you and Bobby won't get back together in the future?" Luan asked.
"That's right. I'm sticking to Lincoln's advice and going after the second option. Speaking of relationships, did you ask him about your love lives?"
"Yeah, Sam and I get together, but there's a few bumps that we run into. I'm not too worried about it, dudes," Luna said before finishing her drink.
"That's good, and you, Luan? What did Lincoln say about you and Benny?" Leni asked.
"Same thing he told Luna. There are some bumps, but we work it out. Lincoln gave me some good advice on what makes Benny laugh and some of the things he likes. So, I'm hopeful," Luan answered.
"And what about you, Leni? Is there a potential love interest for you?" Lori asked before eating some food.
"Actually, yeah, there is. Lincoln showed me someone that I should date. His name is Gavin. He works in the mall's food court, and he's totes nice. Although Lincoln warned me that my friend Miguel has a crush on him, so he showed me how to avoid getting into an awkward snag. Which is good because I don't want to hurt Miguel's feelings," Leni explained.
"Well, that's good," Luan said.
"Yeah, turns out Miguel and Felix make a cute couple. So, Lincoln told me I should match them together, and then I could go with Gavin. I can't show the light orb thingy, but I wish you could have seen it."
"Leni, I'm sure it's lovely. Besides, Lincoln can show us later, and when the time is right, you can bring Gavin over for dinner," Lori said.
"That would be totes amazing!" Leni praised.
Meanwhile, the other survivors of the motorcycle stunt and their families were thanking Lincoln. The two soldiers came to meet Lincoln as well. Lincoln was so nervous in front of them that he stood up straight and saluted them. The Marine and Ranger saluted him back, and dozens of photos were taken. Some of the reporters swore that some of these pictures were going to Time magazine.
After that, Lincoln showed off his magic tricks to Bill Buck and the Governor. He did a clever one, making it look like he cut Bill Buck's ponytail but put it back on as if it had never been cut. Everyone gasped.
"How in the world did you do that?!" the governor asked.
"A good magician never reveals his tricks," Lincoln replied.
"Do another one, Lincoln!" Stella encouraged.
"As you wish," Lincoln said.
Lincoln pulled out a deck of cards, shuffled them, had Stella pick one, and then squeezed the deck in his hands until his hands were fully pressed together and all the cards were gone.
"Mr. Governor, do you have something in your pockets?" Lincoln asked.
Everyone turned to the governor, and he looked confused before searching his pockets. Then he found something in his chest pocket, Stella's card – the queen of aces. Everyone gasped in amazement and then applauded.
"I have no words. That was really cool," the governor said.
"Heck yeah, it was!" Ronnie Anne praised.
Then, a well-dressed woman in slacks approached Lincoln, "Hello, Mr. Loud. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Raphael Fields, and I'm Bill Buck's agent. I've worked with Bill for many years, along with several other artists, and Bill's not easy to impress. So, if your work impressed him, then that's saying a lot."
"Thank you. I can't take all the credit. Clyde and I worked on it together," Lincoln said.
"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you two about," Raphael said before handing them brochures, "Have you two given any thoughts to your futures?"
Lincoln and Clyde took the brochures and looked at each other.
"Thought?" Clyde asked.
As Lincoln predicted, the brochures were of Amberwood University. It was a private art university known to exceed even CalArts. It was the same place that Bill Buck went to. The brochures showed the many opportunities Amberwood had to offer in the many different art departments. Lincoln and Clyde's jaws dropped with stars in their eyes.
"I hope you don't mind, but some of your art was submitted there, and everyone there adored your art, Lincoln. Which is why, if you would be interested, Amberwood is willing to offer you a scholarship. We know that college is a long way for you, but we want you to know that if you continue to pursue art and comics, there's a bright future waiting for you," Raphael explained.
Now, it was Lincoln who fainted, and thankfully, his sisters caught him. Even though he knew it would happen, he couldn't help but be overcome with excitement. It was a dream come true. Everything Lincoln was hoping for in life was happening.