Chapter Text
The Loud family walked home in defeat. They had failed to bring Lynn back home. As they somberly walked through the door, they saw their parents.
Rita asked, "there you are? We've been worried about you. Wait, where's Lynn?"
Lynn Sr replied, "right here, honey."
"Not you! Lynn Jr."
Luan answered sincerely, "we messed up."
The siblings finished confessing to the parents.
Lynn Sr told them, "we appreciate your honesty, but something this big can't go unpunished."
Lincoln admitted, "that's fair, but what about Lynn?"
Rita answered, "from what you've said, it sounds like she just needs to cool down. She'll come home when she's ready."
Lynn Sr added, "anyway, you all are grounded for two weeks."
Lincoln heard a knock at the door. "I'll get it."
Lincoln opened the door and saw the last person he'd expect. "Lynn?"
"Hey, Lincoln," Lynn said as she walked right past him.
Lincoln found Lynn moping in a corner of the living room. "Hey, are you okay?"
Lynn answered, "do I look okay?"
Lincoln thought for a bit. "I'm sorry."
Lynn replied, "no. I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything!" Lynn exclaimed, before beginning to cry. "This was my fault. I pushed you to do this. The day of the lacrosse game, the hockey incident, the bad luck incident, the clothesline incident, don't you see? I had this coming. I know that now."
Lincoln told Lynn, "you're not being fair to yourself."
"You need to stop taking the blame for everything, Lincoln."
"I'm not taking the blame," Lincoln answered, "we all agreed that the bad luck incident wasn't my fault, so why should this be yours?"
"Because I believed you! Both times someone lied to be about bad luck. One time you got kicked out, the next time I ran away. Do you see what that means?"
Lincoln sarcastically replied, "it means if someone wants to steal our house, they just need to lie to you about bad luck twelve times?"
Lynn rolled her eyes before clenching her hand into a fist. Lincoln instinctively recoiled.
"Two for flinching! Ha ha," Lynn exclaimed while playfully punching Lincoln twice.
Lincoln laughed. "Lynn."
Lynn continued, "seriously. It means I need to stop listening. It means I need to stop putting luck over my family."
Lincoln added, "and will stop trying to change your beliefs in luck."
"Deal."
"We're cool?"
"We're cool."
Two weeks later
Lincoln explained to the readers, "well, as of today we're no longer grounded. We decided that, before going back to our own activities, we're all going to support Lynn for one game." He then whispered, "you should have seen the look of relief on that roller derby coach's face when Lynn signed back up."
Lincoln began to prepare his breakfast. Lynn walked up behind him, causing Lincoln to instinctively step aside.
Lynn reassured him, "no. You can go. I haven't tried going eighth yet. It could work fine."
"Or you could lose."
"Do you want to go or not, Stinkoln?" Lynn snarked.
"Okay. Okay."
Luan walked up to her room when she saw Lynn blocking the door. She was surprised when Lynn stepped aside.
Lynn told Luan, "hurry up. You don't have all day."
"Thanks, Lynn."
Lola was admiring her reflection in the pocket mirror. Lynn nervously walked by. "Just, uh, don't point that towards me."
"Okay. Suit yourself," Lola answered.
That afternoon, after Lynn's game
Luna was telling Lynn, "congratulations on your win."
Lynn replied, "thanks. I know, who needs luck with talent like mine. Woohoo! Lynn for the win! Lynn for the win!"
Lola asked Luan, "now we don't need to worry about her superstitions. What about her arrogance?"
"Shut up, Lola."