After returning home, Lori and Lincoln gathered their sisters in the living room, their faces solemn as they explained everything that had happened. The reality of Korde, the evil warlock, and his dangerous obsession with Lincoln's heart of gold sank in, leaving the sisters shaken.

"He wants your heart?" Luan asked, her usual playfulness absent. "That's… really creepy."

Lori nodded. "That's why we need to keep Lincoln safe. We can't let that creep get anywhere near him."

Lisa adjusted her glasses, already scribbling notes in her journal. "If he truly is a warlock, then he must be bound by certain magical principles. I will construct a containment vessel—something powerful enough to trap him inside."

Lucy, her face partially hidden by her bangs, folded her arms. "I'll research warlocks and their weaknesses. There has to be a way to defeat him."

Lincoln looked at his sisters, his heart swelling with gratitude. ""If Korde ever puts me under a sleeping spell, all you have to do is kiss me. My love for you all is too strong for his magic to keep me asleep forever."

The sisters exchanged glances before their expressions softened. One by one, they wrapped their arms around him in a protective hug.

"We won't let Korde succeed," Lori said firmly. "We're not losing you, Linc."

"Yeah," Luna agreed, squeezing his shoulder. "We're family. He's messing with the wrong people."

Lincoln smiled, warmth filling his chest. He had faith in his sisters—they wouldn't let him face this alone.

The next day, Lincoln accompanied Leni to her much-anticipated fashion show, where vibrant fabrics and quirky designs filled the stage. The energy was electric, with models strutting down the runway in Leni's latest creations.

Lincoln sat in the front row, cheering her on. "Go, Leni! You got this!"

Leni beamed from backstage, waving at him before disappearing behind the curtain.

But hidden among the crowd, a figure lurked in the shadows. Korde, disguised in mundane attire, observed everything with an eerie smirk. His eyes fixated on Leni, sensing something familiar about her.

"A heart of gold…" he muttered under his breath. "Not as strong as Lincoln's, but still pure."

An idea took root in his mind. If he couldn't take Lincoln directly, he would force the boy's hand another way.

As the show continued, Korde moved through the backstage area unnoticed. His fingers twitched, conjuring a faint, glowing energy as he whispered an incantation.

Leni, unaware of the danger, suddenly felt a strange pull. Her expression turned blank as her body moved on its own, guided by an unseen force. She wandered down a hallway, her steps slow and mechanical, until she reached a secluded dressing room.

Lincoln, watching the stage, frowned when he noticed Leni was missing. His instincts flared. Something wasn't right.

He stood up and weaved through the backstage, searching for her. The moment he turned a corner, his breath hitched.

There, standing in the dimly lit dressing room, was Korde. He held an enchanted needle between his fingers, its tip glowing with a sinister purple light.

Leni stood frozen in front of him, eyes vacant, as if under a trance.

Lincoln's heart pounded as he took a cautious step forward. His gaze darted between Korde and his hypnotized sister. He clenched his fists, swallowing down the growing fear in his chest.

"What are you planning now?" Lincoln demanded. "And what did you do to Leni?"

Korde chuckled, twirling the enchanted needle between his fingers. "Oh, Lincoln, you make this too easy. Because your dear sister is such an airhead, casting a mind control spell on her was effortless." He gestured toward Leni, who remained eerily still, her expression void of emotion. "She follows my every command now. It's quite convenient."

Lincoln gritted his teeth, anger burning in his eyes. "Let her go!"

Korde smirked. "I'll give you two choices, boy. First, surrender your heart to me, and I will spare your precious sisters." His eyes gleamed with malice. "Or… I take Leni's instead. It may not be as strong as yours, but it's still a heart of gold."

Lincoln inhaled sharply, his hand instinctively resting on his chest. His heart ached—not just from fear, but from love. He couldn't let Korde take Leni. He couldn't let him win.

"I refuse both," Lincoln said firmly, his voice unwavering. "I won't let you take over the world, and I won't let you hurt my sisters or my friends!"

He lunged forward, grabbing Leni's arm. "Come on, Leni! We're leaving."

For a moment, it seemed like he had her. He tugged at her arm, trying to pull her away from Korde's influence. But just as he turned to escape, Korde's voice rang out.

"Leni. Stop him."

Lincoln's breath hitched as Leni's grip on his wrist tightened—unnaturally strong, firm, unyielding.

"No… Leni, please," he whispered. He tugged at his hand, trying to break free, but Leni didn't let go. Instead, she turned toward Korde, awaiting his next command.

Korde grinned. "Bring him to me."

Lincoln's pulse skyrocketed as Leni obeyed, pulling him closer to the warlock. He struggled, thrashing against her hold, but she was stronger than she looked in her entranced state.

"Leni, snap out of it!" Lincoln pleaded, desperation seeping into his voice. "It's me! It's Lincoln! Your little brother! Please fight it!"

Nothing. No reaction.

Lincoln's eyes stung as panic set in. "Leni, you love me, right? You love all of us! Please, listen to me! Don't let him control you!"

Still, she remained unresponsive.

Korde chuckled darkly. "How tragic. She hears you, but she doesn't care. And now, Lincoln Loud, this will be the last time you see your beloved big sister."

He held up the cursed needle and handed it to Leni.

"Prick his finger."

Lincoln's stomach twisted in horror. "No!" He tried to pull away, but Leni's grip was unrelenting. He strained against her hold, his eyes wide with fear.

"Leni, don't do this! I know you don't want to!"

But she said nothing.

She simply took the needle, lifting it toward his hand.

"No, no, please!" Lincoln's voice cracked, tears welling up. "Leni, please snap out of it, Your being mind controlled!"

Korde watched in delight as the needle inched closer to Lincoln's trembling fingers.

And then—it happened.

The sharp tip barely grazed Lincoln's fingertip before an eerie spark of energy burst forth. A jolt of magic surged through his body like lightning, his eyes rolling back as his body suddenly went limp.

Lincoln collapsed.

Leni caught him instinctively, cradling him in her arms.

At that moment, the spell over her shattered. The cloudy haze in her eyes lifted, and clarity rushed back into her mind.

She blinked, her surroundings coming into focus—her arms wrapped around her unconscious brother, and standing before her, a sinister man in a cloak.

Her breath hitched. "Wait… You're the creepy warlock Lori was talking about!"

Leni's breath came in short, uneven gasps as she clutched Lincoln close to her chest. His body was warm, his breathing steady—but he wouldn't wake up. A cold wave of panic coursed through her veins.

She frantically looked around the room before spotting a fainting chair nearby. With shaky steps, she carried Lincoln toward it and gently laid him down, his head resting against the cushioned back. His face remained peaceful, but his stillness made her heart ache.

"Lincoln?" she whispered, kneeling beside him. She gave his shoulder a light shake. "Come on, Lincoln, wake up!"

Nothing. She place her hand on Lincoln's cheeks. She could feel the warmth of his skin, the faint rise and fall of his chest, but he wouldn't wake up. Her hands trembled as she gently brushed white hair.

Her heart pounded as dread crept in, She looks . "W-What did you do to my brother?!"

Leni's chest tightened. "But… but how?" she whispered. She looked at the cursed needle still clutched in her fingers. "How did you even do this?"

Korde smirked. "Simple. Your mind is weak, Leni Loud." He took a step closer, his presence suffocating. "You were the easiest to manipulate. All it took was a simple mind control spell, and you followed my every command." He pointed to the spindle. "Then, I had you do the work for me. You pricked Lincoln with the cursed needle yourself."

Leni's breath caught in her throat. She stared down at Lincoln's peaceful face, her hands trembling. "No…" she murmured, shaking her head. "No, I wouldn't… I would never hurt Lincoln…"

But the truth was undeniable. The needle had been in her hand. She had touched it to his skin.

She gasped, horror washing over her. She immediately drops the needle to the ground. "You—you made me hurt my little brother!" Tears welled in her eyes as she looked back at Korde. "That's so evil!"

Korde shrugged, as if her words meant nothing. "Evil? Perhaps. But effective."

Leni swallowed hard, then lifted her chin, her heart hammering in her chest. "Please…" she whispered, holding Lincoln closer. "Please, wake him up. I-I'll give you my heart of gold instead. That's what you want, right?"

Korde snorted, crossing his arms. "As if I'd settle for second best." He sneered down at her. "Your heart is pure, yes. But it's nothing compared to Lincoln's. His is the key to absolute power and I would love to watch you and your sisters suffering once I won."

Leni clenched her teeth. "You… you monster!" She adjusted her hold on Lincoln, cradling him protectively. "I won't let you near him!"

Korde chuckled, shaking his head. "How touching. But tell me, Leni—how can you call yourself a good sister if you couldn't even protect him?"

Leni stiffened.

"You let me control you so easily," Korde continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "You let me use you to put your dear brother in this state. And now, you stand there thinking you can stop me?" He let out a cruel laugh. "Give up, girl. You can't win."

Leni's hands curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms.

"Face it, Leni. You're nothing but an dumb airhead."

Before she could react, Korde lifted his hand and sent a powerful force crashing into her, knocking her backward. She hit the wall with a grunt, sliding to the ground in a daze.

Her head spun, but through the haze, she saw Korde step forward and lift Lincoln's sleeping body into his arms.

"No!" Leni's heart pounded. She struggled to push herself up, her arms weak and trembling. But then, something deep inside her snapped.

All the self-doubt, all the fear—gone.

Replaced by something else.

Something stronger.

Her vision cleared. Her body steadied. And then—

She moved.

With speed and strength she didn't know she had, Leni launched herself forward.

Korde barely had time to react before Leni intercepted him, yanking Lincoln right out of his grasp.

"What?!" Korde staggered backward, eyes wide with shock.

Leni held Lincoln close, her breathing heavy. "I-I don't care what you think of me," she said, her voice shaking with fury. "I don't care if you think I'm dumb. I don't care if you think I can't win." She locked eyes with him, her gaze burning with newfound resolve. "But I will not let you take my brother!" Leni place Lincoln's sleeping body on the floor and Leni kicked a nearby curtain rope, sending it flying into her hands. In one swift motion, she looped it around Korde's arms and yanked it tight, binding him.

Korde growled, struggling against the ropes. "Impossible…!"

Leni panted, holding Lincoln close as she glared at the trapped warlock. "Guess what, magic man?" She smirked. "I'm way stronger than I look and you don't ever mess with my family."

But before she could celebrate, Korde's expression twisted into a wicked grin.

"Impressive," he admitted. "But unfortunately for you…" His body began to glow with an eerie light.

"…This is a good thing I'm good with magic."

In the blink of an eye, Korde vanished into thin air.

Leni gasped, looking around frantically. "No, no, no—he's gone?!"

Her heart pounded, but as her panicked gaze darted around the room, she realized Korde was truly nowhere to be seen.

The warlock had vanished.

Leni eyes fell upon Lincoln, peacefully sleeping on the ground. Gently, she lifted his still form into her arms and carried him to a fainting chair. Carefully, she laid him down and tenderly touched his cheek. Leni admired his beautiful white hair and the vibrant orange polo shirt that reflected perfectly his kindhearted nature.

Then, she remembered—yesterday, Lincoln had provided them important information about this exact situation.

"If Korde ever puts me under a sleeping spell, all you have to do is kiss me. My love for you all is too strong for his magic to keep me asleep forever."

Leni's eyes widened as the memory surfaced.

"That's right…" she murmured.

She placed a hand on Lincoln's chest, feeling the slow and steady rise of his breathing. His heart—a heart purer than hers, purer than anyone's—was the reason Korde wanted him so badly.

Tears welled in her eyes. "You really do deserve to have a heart of gold, Lincoln," she whispered. "More pure than mine."

Taking a deep breath, Leni leaned down and pressed a soft, loving kiss to Lincoln's forehead.

She closed her eyes.

Please… come back to me.

A faint, golden glow radiated from Lincoln's chest, shimmering through his shirt like warm sunlight.

Leni gasped as the glow pulsed once—twice—then faded.

Lincoln's eyes fluttered open.

"L-Leni?" he mumbled, blinking.

Leni's heart nearly exploded with joy. "Lincoln!" she squealed, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into the tightest hug she could manage. "You're awake! You're awake! You're awake!"

Lincoln chuckled, hugging her back. "Yeah… and it's all thanks to you."

Leni pulled back, smiling brightly. "I kissed you, just like you told us to do!"

Lincoln grinned. "And it worked just I suspected!"

Leni nodded excitedly. "Oh! And guess what? I totally trapped Korde with ropes! I was, like, super strong and everything!"

Lincoln's eyes widened. "You beat Korde?"

"Well…" Leni fidgeted. "He kind of escaped. But still! I totally stopped him from taking you!"

Lincoln beamed. "Leni, that's amazing, Our sisters will be proud of you once they hear this!"

Leni blushed at the praise. "Aww, thanks, Lincoln."

But then, her smile faded, and she lowered her gaze. "But… I'm really sorry I let him control me," she murmured. "I tried to fight it, but I wasn't strong enough…"

Lincoln gently placed a hand on hers. "Leni, that wasn't your fault," he assured her. "Korde's magic is really strong. None of us would've been able to fight it on our own."

Leni bit her lip, still feeling guilty. "But I was the one who pricked your finger. I put you to sleep…"

Lincoln shook his head. "You didn't do that—Korde did. He used you like a puppet. And even though he controlled you, you still broke free and saved me. That's what really matters."

Leni sniffled but smiled. "You're, like, the best little brother ever, you know that?"

Lincoln chuckled. "And you're the best big sister ever."

Leni hugged him again, holding onto him tightly before pulling back and ruffling his hair. "Come on, we totally need to go finish watching my fashion show! I bet I missed some really cute outfits."

Lincoln grinned. "Yeah, let's go."

With that, the two siblings headed back toward the runway, slipping into their seats just as the next model stepped onto the stage. Bright fabrics, dazzling sequins, and eccentric designs filled the room once more. For a moment, it felt like everything was back to normal.

But far from the bright lights and cheerful chatter, deep within the shadows of his lair, Korde seethed with rage.

His fists clenched tightly at his sides as he paced back and forth. "That foolish girl…" he muttered darkly. "An airhead, and yet she managed to defy me?"

He exhaled sharply, calming himself.

"No matter," he murmured, his lips curling into a sly grin. "I still have time."

His fingers traced the edges of an ancient tome, its pages filled with forbidden spells. His mind churned with thoughts of revenge, each plan more sinister than the last.

"Tomorrow…" he mused. "Tomorrow, I will strike again."