Welcome to chapter thirteen everyone! Got some endnotes for this one on a couple of conversations you'll see in this. A few lines were inspired by the fandom.

Now to the reviews!

DreadedCandiru2: Yeap and Lynn Sr. better remember Rurik flunked recess... He don't play games.

cabgrant: Pretty sure that would be assault in Lori's case as she is 18 at this point in my stories. Also pretty sure if he did that to Lily, Rurik would shoot him

qazse: Did some playing around with the usual nice/mean split we see in the fandom. In the coming reboot I'll do more to explain Lana's shift in personality but those pills REALLY did do a reboot of her. Luna, well she may be liked but she can be just as nasty to him as any other sister and we've seen Lola be sweet and kind before.

jster1983: I swear that episode is like a rotten onion, just one smelly disgusting, maggot filled layer after another and right as you think you are done you find another layer!

Now on with the show! Notes at the end of the chapter!

*~*~*~Lori~*~*~*

After Rurik left Lori called for a sister's meeting. The eldest sister paced back and forth furious.

"So let me get this straight, LUNA!" She turned to the musical sister, "YOU blocked him from the kitchen when he was hungry," she looked at Lisa, "and fed him from rotten food. Really little genius!? Why he accepted I don't know or care, maybe he trusted you wouldn't hand him something rotten. Maybe he was being a moron. But I literally don't care. What's rule one of the Protocol again?" She looked around at the stone-faced sisters, "anyone?"

Luan raised her hand, "we do what we can to not inconvenience the rest of the family. If someone needs the restroom or food we just move the person cooling down into another location."

Lynn huffed, "it's Stinkoln he..!"

Leni rose up and got in Lynn's face, "His. Name. Is. Lincoln…" The Fashionista hissed the words, she'd hauled Lynn up off her feet by her shirt collar, it was widely understood you DO NOT make Leni angry, Lenis are dangerous when pushed past their limit and right now Leni's very fashionable shoes had been pushed to the middle of the line.

A hand laid on Leni's shoulder, "I think she got the message" Lori said, "for now." Leni sat her back down. "Now then," Lori continued, "you deny him the use of the bathroom and then he tries to watch TV, and what happens? Oh yes! He gets jumped by Lola and Lynn!?"

At these words Lucy kept her mouth shut, they'd forgotten her again, but in this case she was glad.

"Like he didn't restart it?" Lynn snarled, "it was working fine until he loused it up."

"That still doesn't excuse denying him food, access to the restroom and attacking him," Lori said, "besides he learned his lesson. It seems someone never does!"

"Besides we all know Lincoln has anxiety issues!" Lola said, "get him panicked and he grabs the idiot ball and won't let go! Wouldn't be surprised if after what we did he was in a full-on anxiety mode."

"Oh, here we go!" Lynn said, "St. Lincoln the never does anything wrong!"

"First off he did do wrong," Lola said, "didn't you hear Lori? Just now? She stated his wrong actions didn't excuse what we did FIRST and unlike some of us he learned his lesson! Also on the saint part I asked Pop-Pop what a saint was and read up on a few. Saints included: thieves, murderers, mass murderers, tax collectors... Who for some reason adults hate, I don't know."

"You'll find out when you start working," Lori, Leni, Luna, and Luan said at once.

"Oh another one of THOSE things," Lola sighed, "where was I? Oh yes prostitutes, whatever those are, I know girls," Lola held up a hand, "you'll tell me when I'm older, then there was one that kept going back to drinking, stealing, and gambling over and over. But in the end, they always do the right thing and ultimately become good people, they also forgive people that hurt them. If Lincoln can forgive all that we've done to him doesn't that make him a Saint?"

Lynn just grumbled, "Great, now everyone's going to REALLY sing the praises of St. Lincoln and worship his log…"

"LYNN!" Lori screamed.

Luna had chuckled at the sporty girl's joke, "dude's right Bra, we all know he screwed up and besides, he's none the worse for wear so no harm no foul right?"

Lori sighed, "wrong. I've let this go on too long, okay he did wrong and paid for it, but what about the four of you? Or all of us with the bad luck incident? The grocery store? How we got him stuck in summer school? Or the fact we all knew the MLP book was Lucy's but still ripped into Lincoln anyway and mocked him?"

"WHAT!?" Lucy's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, we all knew…" Lori admitted, "we just wanted to let you come around on your own."

"And you teased Lincoln anyway? Let him get grounded? Miss his convention? WHY!?" Lucy demanded.

Lisa, Lana, Luna, and Lynn just laughed at this.

"That's my point," Lori said her voice ice. The sisters froze, angry Lori, weepy Lori, bratty Lori, those they could deal with. This Lori was scary.

"It's all become a joke. We beat him up, he let him take a fall, we lie about Lisa harvesting his organs when he just needed surgery. I'm amazed that police officer didn't slap the cuffs on Mom and Dad there and then," Lori went on.

"Pish, posh, we have NOT abused Lincoln, the word of the law says…" Lisa started.

"Want to take it up with the DA and County Prosecutor?" Leni asked again showing unusual intelligence, "maybe Royal Woods Community College's Ethics Committee?"

"Nevermind…" Lisa said.

"Now then," Lori said, "one day I'm moving out. One day each of you will move out. What happens then? You think doing this shit, yes I said shit, to anyone that annoys you will fly?"

"Well actually," Lisa said, "there was a social experiment on female to male abuse…"

"First off Lisa," Lori said, "I'm aware of that experiment, it shows how far we have to go as a society. Second off, exactly if Lincoln was a girl none of this would have EVER been tolerated. Third, times are changing, and people are losing patience with this sort of thing. Also, some boys hit back or have female friends and relatives willing to hit back on their behalf."

"This is stupid!" Lynn said as Lisa handed Lana a roll of quarters.

"What's that about?" Luna asked.

"We had a wager on Lynn's constant use of stupid and similar statements, Lana won," Lisa replied, "if you could refrain from using the word for the remained of the weekend fifth eldest sister I'd appreciate it."

As the arguing continued no one noticed Lucy had slipped out, at times like this there were only two people she could really talk to and one of them was missing.

*~*~*~Haiku~*~*~*

"And that," Lucy concluded her face filling the iPad's screen, "is the whole story… I just…" the goth girl swallowed on the verge of tears, "I just hope he's okay…"

Cassidy Pearson, better known as Haiku offered one of her rare smiles to her friend, "I understand Dear Lucy, I shall keep my eyes open for him while I am out tomorrow on a shopping expedition. I've learned of an Occult store in a place called, Temple-Shrine Grove."

"That's good I guess," Lucy mumbled in reply.

"He will be found I am sure," Haiku reassured her protégé in the Gothic lifestyle, "and then I can take you both to Temple-Shrine he loves Japanese things does he not? I'm told it's a Japanophiles paradise, outside of the land of the Rising Sun itself that is."

Lucy nodded, "yeah, just I've been thinking. Did I take Lincoln for granted? Have I been a bad sister? I was almost staked through the heart by our family, yet he stood in the way and took their jeers and mockery in my steed. Tonight I learned it was unnecessary and I can't help but wonder, why?"

Haiku wasn't sure how to answer and then Lucy continued tears coming down her cheeks, "Why not come to me? Why mock Lincoln when they knew the truth? I just don't get it."

"Neither do I," Haiku replied, "it is late dear Little Bat and you need rest. Sleep well and I shall talk to you tomorrow."

Haiku broke the connection after Lucy's halfhearted, even for a goth, reply. The news about Lincoln was disturbing and it had hit closer to home than Lucy realized. Rising from her bed the dark girl glided to her door, a vision of elegance in her Morticia Adam's style dress, crossing the hall she knocked on the door before cracking it open.

The room was mostly bare, a large TV and game systems with a bean bag chair, a shelf holding comics and young reader books, another shelf holding collections of anime, and superhero movies. Haiku made a note to encourage the room's occupant to decorate more as she floated to his bed and looked at the small form sleeping inside it.

Skin pale as night, long raven hair that cascaded down to the shoulder blades, ruby red lips, and when they were open the most beautiful silver eyes anyone had ever seen, wearing silk black pajamas. One would be forgiven mistaking the tiny form for a beautiful little girl, thankfully Giles Pearson, Haiku's little brother had a good sense of humor about such things.

Sensing someone in the room the eyes opened, not shocking, Giles could hear a butterfly's wings flapping. He was the only person that neither Haiku nor Lucy could scare and he the only one able to sneak up on them. Haiku smiled at the memory of Rita Loud trying not to laugh as she comforted Lucy the last time she was over and Giles had wished her goodbye. It took them a good fifteen minutes to get her down from the ceiling, how she jumped and grabbed hold so tightly was a mystery to Haiku.

"Wha..?" Giles whispered softly sounding like a cooing dove,. The boy looked every inch a natural-born Goth, but at current lacked the temperament for it. Something Haiku and Lucy hoped to correct as he'd make the most adorable goth ever and Haiku secretly hoped a good boyfriend for Lucy one day, but such things Haiku well knew could never be forced.

"Hello dear little brother," Haiku gathered him up, "I thought we could have a sleepover, and tomorrow you could join me out in town?" Lucy's words made her realize she'd spent little time with him over the last several months, time to get to know her little brother better, and grow closer.

Giles smiled and nodded trying to sit up, Haiku effortlessly scooped the boy up cradling him in her arms and made her way back to her room.

"Cassey… I mean Haiku…" Giles had never gotten used to his sister's goth name, while the girl his sister used to be was a rapidly fading memory some habits formed in those pre-darkness days still clung on like the last scent of a candle that had burned out. A few of the kids in the Young Morticians claimed Haiku should put her brother "in his place" and make him "respect her" by using the right name. Haiku hated that attitude, her brother made an effort but if you've called someone by a name for years it took time for the habit to change. Haiku always set anyone who dared make such a suggestion got set themselves straight with a few short curt words, and her fist or knee when needed.

"Yes little brother?" Haiku pulled her blankets back and laid the small boy down getting next to him.

"How do you do that gliding thing in dresses it neat? Can you show me?" Giles asked.

"Thinking of wearing a dress?" Haiku couldn't help but surprise a giggle.

"Thinking of dressing as the grim reaper, wizard, vampire, or a ghost, it would be so cool if I could float along in my robes," Giles grinned.

Haiku returned the smile, little things like this gave her hope that Giles could yet be lead onto the dark path. Haiku mused as she kissed his forehead, "I'm sure I can teach you, but why so early?"

"Practice makes perfect and sooner I practice the better I'll be when October rolls around," Giles replied.

"True, now sleep…" Haiku held him close stroking his hair, he was so soft and warm, maybe they should do these sleepovers more often.

*~*~*~Ami~*~*~*

Ami Miyamoto had finished the procedure in record time, after cleaning she checked on the sleeping boy.

"Are you ABSOLUTELY SURE, you didn't knock him out?" Skyla asked looking him over, just like a sleeping bunny rabbit, Skyla thought, the novocaine's effect on his cheeks completed the illusion as if he'd fallen asleep with a mouth full of food. The young girl smiled suddenly and leaned over kissing his check making the boy sigh happily and blush, "He looks like a baby bunny with its cheek pouches full."

Ami grinned, "THAT, is your proof I didn't put him under, he wouldn't respond otherwise as I said just exhausted and the gas helped him sleep finally. Also bunnies don't have cheek pouches."

Skyla crossed her arms, "still my bunny."

"Okay little Jade," Ami ruffled Skyla's hair as the younger girl swatted at her.

"Should we let him sleep longer?" Kat was still rubbing his feet.

"Yes, but back in your place," Ami scooped him up and let held him close like he was her own child, one day I'll have a son or daughter of my own, and a husband I hope, Ami was still young but each passing year made her fear she'd never find love or start a family. Maybe she should just ask Kim her chief assistant, and best friend about being more than friends with benefits, she signed dismissing the thought as always.

"You okay," a voice slurred, looking down Ami saw Lincoln's eyes were half-open.

"I'm fine," Ami lied smiling at him.

"Don't be sad, he said you'll find someone this year," Lincoln replied, "before Tanabata…"

Ami shot a glare at Skyla, quickly noting the confusion on hers and Kat's faces, "no idea what he's talking about," the younger sister assured her.

Ami nodded, Ami knew Skyla like the back of her hand and could easily tell when she was lying. In fact the girl was a horrible liar most of the time choosing to play coy instead.

"Does he even know about Tanabata?" Ami asked, Tanabata, the Festival of Stars was due to be held in a couple of weeks on July 7th, the Miyamotos would be busy with the festival and for Skyla and a few others Kat's birthday afterward.

"He was getting the new Persona game," Kat said, "aaaaand I think that has Japanese stuff…"

Skyla rolled her eyes, "it's one of THE most Japanese games released in the west, yeah it's safe to say he's an American Otaku he might know about it."

Ami nodded as they headed out, Ami using one hand to lock the door and retracing their steps, "it occurs to my young ladies that you should consider getting to know him a little better. Use what's left of this weekend to do it."

"We should, oh hey Jordan!" Kat called out as there friend walked past.

"Hey Kat! Sky… OH MY GOD IS LINCOLN OKAY!" Jordan cried seeing him.

Ami nodded, "of course, just fixing his chipped tooth, he didn't sleep last night so a little nitrous and he's dead to the world now. Look Jordan I'd love to chat but he's heavy for such a skinny boy…"

"Gonna be at the magic shop?" Skyla asked, "we'll bring Lincoln by later if he's feeling up to it, lots to tell you."

Jordan nodded and exchanged hugs with the girls.

"Maybe we can get a new circle of friends going?" Kat said, "Lincoln can get the boys over and we get the girls and all hangout."

Skyla nodded as they came to the guest house she considered her home away from home.

"We're back!" Kat called as they entered, "I mean um what's that word?"

Lincoln muttered in his sleep, "tadaima… Means… I'm home…"

Skyla whispered, "you are indeed my little one…"

*~*~*~Lincoln~*~*~*

Lincoln's eyes fluttered open and he let out a groan, he was laying on something soft and warm and something was softly touching his har, finally focusing he saw Kat's blue eyes and, smile looking down at him.

"Ahhh welcome back!" Kat peeked his forehead. Lincoln looked around, they were back in Skyla's guest house, and he was laid out on that Japanese bed again.

Lincoln tried to talk and his voice came out as a croak.

"Ami!" Kat called, "he's awake."

Ami appeared in Lincoln's point of view soon after she'd changed into a loose-fitting black T-shirt and jeans, thank Kami-sama she changed out of those scrubs can't be ogling my future sister in law! Lincoln thought to himself. Ami had been smiling then seemed to be struggling to keep from laughing Skyla and Kat cracked up.

"Wha?" Lincoln muttered.

"Sometimes," Skyla explained between gaffas "people have no inner voice when they wake up…"

Lincoln pulled the blankets over his face with a yelp, he could feel his face burning on fire, he bit his lip to keep from talking more, he'd inserted his foot so far Lincoln wondered if he'd vanish from the Universe like Nippler at the end of 'Bender's Big Score'. After a bit the shadow that had to Ami extended a hand a tapped on his forehead.

"Okay, yes that was embarrassing for you I'm sure," Ami's voice was soft and reassuring.

Lincoln nodded his face moving under the blankets.

"I mean after all you haven't even asked my sister or Kat our yet and ALREADY making marriage plans? Boy slow down! At this rate I'll end up an Auntie before I get a chance to make Skyla one!"

Lincoln tilted his head, "wait you don't have a husband or a boyfriend… But that…." Lincoln was no stranger to saying the wrong thing with girls; he had been given more than a few bruises and a cracked rib, thanks to Lynn, as a result. As such Kat's hands suddenly tensing triggered a reflexive response and he braced for impact, he waited and the blow never came, instead, Kat's hands started working again.

"I get the idea you're used to rather extreme responses," Ami said her voice gentle but there was something more, like a hint of annoyance under it, "well young man, I assure you, for maybe the first time in your life you are around a FUNCTIONAL family. We may bicker, argue, and fight this is true. But you have nothing to fear of being hit. Now come out if you please." There was a firmness in her voice that told Lincoln not to test her, he poked his head out.

"There see," Ami forced a smile, the boy may have had it rough, but the constant worry was going to be an issue if it wasn't nipped in the bud. They were NOT like anyone else he'd met, that was obvious, still, Ami refused to be too harsh, ingrained habits were difficult to break, Kat and Skyla had been spoken to about this at length already by Akari, especially after Skyla told them of the original encounter.

"Now then, to answer your question Lincoln, I'm single. Most guys well they look at me and let's be honest…" Ami gestured to her body and Lincoln sighed and nodded in understanding.

"Sorry," he slurred, "no one should treat you like that.

Those words rewarded him with Ami bending over and gathering him in a hug, "thanks for the sympathy. So Lincoln, let me ask you something, do you know about Tanabata?"

Lincoln stopped and thought over it, "I've heard it before…"

"Star Festival," Kat chirped wanting to be helpful, "you write wishes and put them on bamboo to make them come… OUCH!" Kat rubbed her side glaring at Skyla who had elbowed her again.

Ami shot Skyla a glare, they'd have to talk about her elbow 'slipping' so much.

"You were talking about it in your sleep on the way here," Ami said.

"Oh strange dream…" Lincoln muttered.

"Wanna talk about it, while these two help you get some food down?" Ami smiled nodding to the door, "right on time."

"Breakfast!" Jin walked in with a wooden tray containing a trio of red bowls with tight-fitting tops and three bottles of green tea.

"How did you know?" Lincoln looked at Ami, his jaw hanging open.

"Women's intuition and psychic training," her face broke into a grin as astonishment grew on Lincoln's. After a bit she laughed, "kidding, I saw him walking over through the window. Now ladies, eat up and behave yourselves. Let him get another nap in or at least a few hours of rest and maybe take the boy for a tour of Temple-Shrine later?"

"No problem Onee-chan!" Skyla grinned, "I promise we will be perfect angels."

"Oh they will be," Jin nodded, "Father sent birth control to help."

Ami, Lincoln, Kat and Skyla's jaws dropped, Lincoln was sure his eyes were going to bug out like a cartoon, in his mind's eye he saw the words BIRTH CONTROL in large yellow block letters with a red border land behind the four of them.

"ABA DABBA!" A small baby waddled in behind Jin.

"SHIN!" Skyla and Kat rushed over to the baby boy and pulled him into their arms hugging and kissing him.

"Hello dearest brother!" Lily pranced in dressed in a Rarity T-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and for some reason she was wearing a Nurse's hat. The tot dove into his arms, "how did everything go? I'm so sorry I didn't come along I overslept." Lily turned blood red embarrassed.

"It's okay, Skyla and Kat took good care of me," Lincoln nuzzled his baby sister, "so what's with the hat?"

"My idea!" Jade came in wearing matching shoes and jeans but with a Sailor Mercury T-shirt like Lily she sported a nurse's hat, "if we are going to take care of you, we need them." Lily nodded in agreement.

Lincoln let the littlest Miyamoto girl join the hug with Lily, "well can't argue that logic." It was true months ago Lincoln had learned there was no arguing with toddler logic.

*~*~*~Giles~*~*~*

A black BMW drove up to the gates of Temple-Shrine, Haiku, and Giles sitting in the back. Haiku hadn't slept so well in some time, she'd definitely need to do more sleepovers with her brother.

"Now," their father spoke up from the front seat, "you have our cell numbers of course, and plenty of cash. You two have fun and call me when you are ready to come home."

"Of course father!" Haiku smiled as she opened the door and helped Giles out the boy grinned at the sight before him.

"I take it dear brother you like what you see?"

Giles could only nod as they walked into the community, it was so different from anything he'd ever seen the signs in the funny letters he'd seen on TV and English all the people and the smells, he kept a tight grip on his sisters hand so as not to lose her.

They made there way down several side streets, past restaurants with delicious smells, what looked like side temples, houses behind tall fences. The light coming through the trees and it was so clean, he'd never seen anything like it in his life.

Haiku had insisted on a walking tour, the better for the pair to bond she'd said and he was grateful for it. Giles paled as they neared a Dentist's office, he hated the dentist. It was a nice looking place though with what seemed to be a mini-park in front of it and the girl in scrubs the dentist or an assistant smiled and waved as she walked inside, if he had to have a dentist he'd like a cute one like her. Then his eyes were drawn the park that was across the street from it, there was plenty of swings

"Would you like to play there later?" Haiku's question was met with a rapid head nod, three doors down from the Dentist they passed a café.

"A fine place for lunch later," Haiku commented as they passed a Psychiatrist's office, then they came to their destination, 'Salem Mid-West.'
Inside the shop smelled funny to Giles, there were collections of stones, bottles of liquids. Books on spells, crystal balls, shelves of herbs, and tarot cards, it was like Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. Seeing all this Giles asked the only thing he could, "did… Did you get your Hogwarts Letter sis?"

Haiku covered her mouth and tried not to laugh at that statement, she never could tolerate people laughing at the questions of children. Honestly what was so funny about being confused by something and wanting to learn the truth? Then again considering most of her classmates and a majority of adults who reveled in their ignorance laughing at someone wanting to learn shouldn't be too surprising.

"No dear brother," Haiku turned down an aisle talking to him, "I am afraid Hogwarts is quite fictional, sadly we will both have to endure muggle education and…" Haiku came up short when she saw her.

A pink bow in her hair, a yellow shirt and a blue skirt, the brown hair and green eyes. Jordan Tabot from school often called 'Girl' Jordan by their classmates. But what was a girl like HER doing in a place like this, surely someone like her couldn't be interested in the mysteries could she!? Part of Haiku wished it was so, Jordan was kinda cute, now why am I thinking of her as cute? Haiku thought to herself.

Jordan saw the pair and turned towards them and waved, "hey Haiku, right? We have Home Ec together, I think. Didn't expect to see anyone from school here isn't this place the greatest!?"

"I've… I've heard good things about it," Haiku stammered, "I was… Ummm…"

"Sis is looking to learn magic, she wats to be a real witch!" Giles chirped making Haiku blush, she loved the boy but times like this she wished he wasn't so blunt, even in a place like this a wrong word could spawn MORE rumors, not that Haiku cared, much, for how people saw her; but there was always an issue with more wannabe bullies that was such a bother.

"Nice, my family has been Feri tradition for a little bit now, going back to my grandfather anyway," Jordan said.

"Oh I see…" Haiku was skeptical, she'd heard the long unbroken line bit before, it was almost always a load of bullshit.

"Yeah, back in I think it was," Jordan gave the year, "or maybe it was earlier, I'd need to email him. But Dad got into it in college although Grandpa taught him more than a few things growing up and now me. Hard to believe this New Old way of doing things has been around long enough to have three, sometimes four or more generations but yeah…"

Haiku smiled, it was rare for someone to be able to so totally put her in her place like that, maybe this girl could be a friend or more, Haiku found herself wondering why she cared so much.

"Well I've been practicing the Mysteries for a while now," Haiku said trying to sound confident.

"That's cool, let me guess been studying and practicing with the Morticians club?" Jordan asked, something about her face and her eyes, it was like Haiku was seeing her for the first time, strange she'd never thought a non-goth would be into this sort of thing. Then Jordan shook her head.

"Let me guess, shocked a cheerful girl like me who is very non-goth would be into this?" Jordan asked.

Haiku stuttered, she wasn't used to someone getting at her like this, it was like Jordan was reading her mind.

"Get that a lot, Miss?" Giles asked looking up at the girl, Jordan looked at him and grinned, Haiku braced herself, most teens, tweens and twenty-somethings lost it when they got a good look at Giles. With those blue eyes that took up most of his face and a ready smile, the squees and giggles the girls would release were gonna give her tinnitus one day she just knew it.

"You don't have to call me Miss little lady, let me guess, you're kid sister?" Jordan asked.

Giles' face flushed blood red and he pulled his long hair over his face to hide his embarrassment, "I'm a boy…" he muttered.

"My baby brother has been cursed with the cutest face and hair that won't stay cut, do not feel bad, he is often mistaken for a little girl," Haiku said.

"Well, then he is the cutest little boy I've ever seen! You'll be a real heart breaker when you get older," Jordan said if Haiku could almost swear she could see a crimson glow through his hair.

"So," Jordan returned her attention to Haiku, "looking for anything in particular?"

"I was hoping to brush up on some fundamentals…" Haiku said, "maybe something for my brother to dip his toes in if possible."

Jordan nodded and recited from memory: 'Six Wars: Approaches & Entries in Practical Magic' by Aidan Watcher, 'The Elements of Spellcrafting: 21 Keys to Successful Sorcery' by Jason Miller, 'Modern Magick: Twelve Lessons in High Magickal Arts' by Donald Michael Kraig" she paused in thought then nodded to herself, "and you'll need something for tarot than the El, Double You, Bees…"

"L.W.B.s?" Haiku asked feeling suddenly out of her depth.

"Little White Books, the booklets in most decks," Jordan snapped her fingers pulling a book off the shelf, "Camelia Elis, 'Marseille Tarot: Towards the Art of Reading.' You can use it for any deck but do yourself a favor and learn Marseilles even if it's not your main deck it's good to flex your muscles is good too but there is a Zen Monastery and Temple here that offers free classes and sessions…. Sorry, am I rambling? I don't get to speak of this stuff much, I started to with a friend but then his sisters meddled, and when you got seven girls butting in soon ten well… Okay Lily was a baby who needed a change…"

"You know Lincoln!?" Haiku asked, that many sisters could only be one boy in town, although she made a mental note to ask Lucy later about this, the goth suspected her friend had gotten overly pushy trying to get him on the dark path again, "tell me have you seen him? Lucy is worried you see he's been missing and the police are looking for him."

"What? That can't be he was with some friends just a little bit ago, Kat, Skyla, and Skyla's big sister Ami she runs the dental clinic down the street," Jordan said.

"I see… Doctor Ami Miyamoto, the detective that visited was named Miyamoto," Haiku folded her arms, Lincoln had better have a good explanation for this.

Jordan nodded, "what say we make some purchases for you and the little guy, and get going? Hey where did Giles go?"

Haiku spun around looking, he'd vanished, she took a step forward, "Giles?" she called out.

"Right here!" Both girls jumped, Giles was sitting behind Jordan reading over a book.

"Whoa… Little Ninja…" Jordan gasped putting a hand to her chest.
"Yes, the only one that can get the drop on me and Lucy," Haiku's chest was beating at a hundred miles an hour, "come, brother, we must go, bring the book. Consider it a gift. We must, visit, a friend…"

"Uh oh," Giles gulped, "someone's in trouble. I know that tone."

"Maybe not Giles, time will tell," Haiku took the book, "looks like one from your Faith Jordan, Storm Faerywolf?"

"He's good, hmmm 'Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft' might be a tad advanced for you little buddy, why'd you get that one?" Jordan asked.

Giles shrugged, "I sat down and it sorta came to me…"

"That it did," the shop owner said, "fell right into his lap, see that now and then, friends of yours Jordan?" the owner had graying brown hair, a tad on the plush said and green eyes a seven-pointed star was hanging from a necklace over his black shirt.

"Yes, you could say that Aub," Jordan said bringing the purchases up.

"I'd normally say get Storm's Betwixt & Between first but what calls to you, calls. Jordan can help ya along. I'm Jim," he had a Southern accent like Liam's, "most folks in Pagan circles and the like call me Auberon. Tell ya what, I'll knock half off for you kids."

"Nonsense!" Haiku placed the black metal card on the counter and a note from her father giving him permission to charge it with a contact number, "I understand you must call father is waiting for it."

With a nod Jim called and got the okay from Mr. Pearson.

"Well also take anything needed to work those cards, and some extra in return for your kindness," Haiku said.

"Got a bathroom?" Giles asked.

"Sure! Jordan can show you, meanwhile…" Jim swallowed, this was going to be his biggest single sale of the month. Still he did try to steer Haiku to alternative options but nothing doing she wanted the best, most of it to be same-day shipped to her home. It ended up being the biggest single transaction all year not counting classes. A few of which Haiku expressed interest in.

"Now let's go find Lincoln!" Haiku said as the pair returned, Giles, holding Jordan's hand, seemed he adopted her, he did that sometimes with babysitters or friends of Haiku's, the goth found herself wondering if Jordan ever did babysitting, an excuse to see her now and then after today. The pair stopped as they looked at some crystal balls, "Oh add the Crystal Balls on also!"

"Thanks…" Jordan was at a loss for words on her generosity, "I'd love to stay and chat Jim buuuut we gotta go talk to you're future sister inlaw! No arguing you know I'm rarely wrong on this when I see things in a crystal ball."

"I'll explain later," Jordan promised Haiku and Giles.

With that, the trio headed for Skyla's Haiku praying that Lincoln had a good explanation for this, for his sake.

So this chapter was called meta daze for a reason, like all of them really, a few discussions are from talks with fans and fan theories. More so than other chapters that is.

The conversation over MLP/Princess Pony is from a discussion with some fans. For a short time you'd see some art and comments that Lynn, Lori, Luna [insert persons favorite sister here] and/or all the sisters knew about Lucy's interest. I'd point out that makes the sister look bad for ripping into Lincoln like the others, ESPECIALLY if they ALL knew and knew each other knew. The response you see from Luna, Lynn, Lana, and Lisa is the one I'd get from those fans "lol"

The bit with Luna and Lori over what happened in brawl not being a big deal because no lasting harm was done is one I've seen pop up now and then in fandom discussions. I think that normalizing the idea of violence can be used in place of words IS a big deal and will cause lasting harm in the long run, especially to the sisters. In the reboot I plan to really explore how things in the Loud House have, in the long run, hurt the sisters just as much as Lincoln. For Harry Potter fans, think when Dumbledore pointed out the Dursley's mistreated Dudley.

Finally, we have the big one. "Saint" Lincoln, first off always hated the term, maybe it's because for a time I was Catholic (by choice) but seeing people misuse the term always annoys me to no end. Hence I put my thoughts on it in Lola's mouth, then my Muse made me realize that under some definitions of the term Lincoln could qualify... But yeah I don't know of anyone who thinks he is perfect, but to paraphrase a line from Mr. Tyedye's fanfic 'Sour Spot' (go read it and all of his works) "he's been punished enough." That is, he's already paid his price but certain others, not so much but YMMV.

Until next time folks!

Update: Forgot to add that the Saint Lola spoke about is St. Camillus de Lellis, if you can look up his story it's hard to find a good telling as many Catholic publications try to "sanitize" the story, but if you are willing to spend a few dollars and don't mind it going to a group most LH fans won't like St. Benedict Center has an issue of their magazine "From the Housetops" dedicated to him.

Moving on all books Jordan mentions are real and ones I recommend as an occultist if you wanna learn, ditto the tarot deck which is the one used in Persona 5, the very Japanese game Skyla mentions, play it, it's awesome!