In New York City contained a room full of The Greatest Heroes on Earth.
The room was dark except for the glow of a massive holographic screen.
Frozen mid-frame was an image of Spider-Man facing down the Sinister Six as floodwater rushed around his legs. The boy was battered and bruised, but still fighting.
Nick Fury stood with his arms folded behind his back as he was fixated on what was seen before him.
"Roll it back ten seconds," he said.
The clip rewound. Spider-Man staggered and the boy nearly collapsed. He he looked up anyway and charged.
Tony Stark leaned forward in his chair, fingers steepled. "Kid's running on fumes. Broken ribs, internal bleeding, severe exhaustion, adrenaline crash incoming…the fact that he's still fighting shows he's either very brave, or just foolish."
"That's not foolishness," Natasha commented from nearby. "That's responsibility."
The footage shifted to Lincoln lifting the collapsed structure off himself, screaming with effort as the water surged higher.
"He's a determined young man," Came the voice of Captain America.
"Kids got guts, that's for sure," Hawkeye added.
The clip jumped ahead to show Lincoln webbing Vulture out of the sky. Then another where he tricked Kraven into impaling Rhino's armor, then to when he collapsed a lighting rig on Shocker.
It all ended when Lincoln lured Doc Ock into overextending and wrapped his arms in hardened webbing. Finally, the boy dropped to his knees, barely able to move but still ready to keep going if he needed to.
"Kid's a bit reckless, but he's definitely got heart," Tony said.
"I did tell you all he had potential as an Avenger," Natasha said as she turned to Fury. "Do you believe so?"
Fury didn't answer right away. Instead, he brought up Lincoln's civilian file.
"Lincoln Loud," Fury read. "Age, thirteen. Location, Royal Woods. Known alias, Spider-Man. Powers, super strength, speed and the ability to shoot webs."
"The webs are chemically made by the way," Natasha said. "Not part of his body."
"Did you say he was thirteen?" Cap asked.
"That's a bit young, isn't it?" Clint asked.
Fury finally spoke.
"He's also the only enhanced individual in his town. And he just beat six Class-A villains without backup," Fury said.
"Are you impressed?" Cap asked. "Or worried."
"I'm evaluating him," Fury corrected. "Let's leave it at that."
"We're not recruiting the kid now, are we?" Tony asked. "If you put that kind of weight on him, then he's gonna break."
Natasha shook her head. "He already carries it."
The screen showed Lincoln collapsing into the arms of emergency responders.
"He's not ready to be an Avenger," Cap said.
"Right now, no," Fury said. "But one day? He might be the best of us."
The room fell silent.
Somewhere in Royal Woods, an exhausted boy slept in his bed, unaware that Earth's Mightiest Heroes were already debating his future.
And that New York was about to bring that future crashing into his life.
"Okay, let's start from the beginning one more time. My name is Lincoln Loud, but many know me as...The Savviest Spider-Man!"
Lincoln was seen swinging through Royal Woods.
"I'm thirteen years old and I've been Spider-Man for about three months. The day I got bit by that spider really changed my life. I went from crashing through some crowded halls and dodging girls like ping pong balls just to reach the bathroom on time, to becoming the resident Superhero of Royal Woods."
Lincoln was then punching out some bad guys.
"Since then, I've become Spider-Man, a secret identity I guard with my life. No one must know who I truly am. Of course, that didn't go as planned as my friend Stella found out who I was. Then my sister Lana. Then my other friends Ronnie Anne and Sid. Then my other friend Christina, but she also has super powers, so she understood the feeling."
All the girls flashed by.
"Honestly I'm lucky that more people don't know, but it worked out. Anyone who does know really helps me out. Stella being the Girl in the Chair, Lana helping me maintain my gear, Ronnie Anne and Sid giving me details from Royal Woods. Plus Christina was able to become Firestar and really help me out as my sidekick."
Christina was seen attacking some bad guys.
"Everything was going well, despite all the villains that attacked. Shocker nearly hurting my sister Luna, The Vulture going after Pop-Pop, and Doctor Octopus trying to hurt my other sister Lisa. Stella got injured protecting Lisa and was out for a bit. But she's back. She still feels a little banged up, but not enough to keep her away. She's a great friend to have."
Stella was seen tracking some stuff on her computer, and locating something useful.
"My sisters hope me and Stella hook up. But Stella did tell me once that she's not interested. Besides, she's a good friend, I don't want to risk losing that. Especially after my poor luck with girls. My first girlfriend Emma dumped me for not paying too much attention to her. Granted I think she regrets it. Her friend Chloe is making things even more complicated."
Emma and Chloe were seen standing together, the former looking shy and the latter looking confident.
"Then there's Girl Jordan. Or just Jordan as I began to call her. She and I got...very close one night. I won't get into details, but I saw a different side to Jordan that not many have seen. It did feel like we went too fast, but I still had a good feeling about our relationship. One run in with The Green Goblin on Halloween however derailed that. Since then, she moved away, and I haven't seen her since."
Jordan was seen for a brief moment, a pinnacle of beauty in Lincoln's eyes.
"Lastly there's Christina. She's a mutant, but also one of my best allies. She and I did a lot together. We fought Electro, Rhino, and the Green Goblin. She later became my girlfriend, and we were so happy together. Until Doctor Octopus ruined it when he unmasked her. It wasn't the unmasking that stopped her, rather it was a gunshot from her coward of a father. Never have I felt such anger. Now she's missing, and I still don't know where she is. But, I will find her."
Christina's fire burned bright in the sky.
"I had a chance to meet others. People like Wolverine, who's grumpy, but kind of nice. Then there's Black Panther, who I thought was cool, but turned out to be a bit of a jerk. Black Cat, some random thief, did not help matters. Black Widow however is definitely my favorite. She gave me and Christina some training. She also bonded well with Stella. Oddly enough, people stared thinking she was my mom. It was a little annoying, but also flattering."
Black Widow was seen posing and ready for battle.
"Since Thanksgiving, things have felt a little different. I didn't think I would have been able to defeat The Sinister Six, but I pulled it off at least. Now I feel like I can do anything I put my mind to. Corny thing to say, but it's definitely how I'm feeling right now. So to Royal Woods, fear not, for The Savviest Spider-Man is here!"
Lincoln swung into the city, ready to continue his duties as the resident superhero.
The Thanksgiving showdown really shook Royal Woods to its core. Spider-Man facing off against Six very sinister villains was a highlight that nearly ended in tragedy.
Against all odds, Spider-Man had pulled off the biggest victory in his time as a hero.
Six villains tried their revenge against the boy, but against all odds, Lincoln Loud had prevailed and saved his town from destruction.
In the process, he also managed to apprehend a villain that had tried eluding him for far too long. That being Doctor Octopus.
With Otto in custody, Lincoln feels like he's done justice on behalf of Christina. But until he finds her, he will always have that unfinished business.
Until then, he would keep trying his best to find her while keeping Royal Woods safe.
Two weeks had passed since that incident. Royal Woods still hadn't fully recovered.
Scaffolding lined damaged buildings. Fresh glass replaced shattered storefronts. The Thanksgiving showdown had become local legend overnight/ Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Six, the day the town nearly fell and somehow survived.
Despite that, Lincoln continued his duties. To patrol Royal Woods and keep it safe from any sort of trouble. Including a bank robbery.
"Okay, guys, I get it, money's tight, inflation's rough, but robbing a bank is still not a valid budgeting strategy," Lincoln said as he was seen hanging upside down from the ceiling of Royal Woods Savings & Loan, arms folded casually as three masked robbers froze mid-loot.
"Oh no...it's that Spider-Man guy!" One Robber said. "He's gonna waste us!"
"Take a chill pill, will ya?" Lincoln said. "If I wanted to punch you, you'd already be unconscious. I'm just here for the moral lecture portion of the evening." He then began counting. "Wait, one, two, three...weren't there four of you/"
One robber bolted for the door, but didn't make it far as a web yanked his legs out from under him. He pulled out his gun but Lincoln webbed it away and pulled the robber in for a mighty punch, one strong enough to get the other robbers to flinch.
"See? That could have happened to you," Lincoln pointed out. Five seconds later, the robbers were cocooned neatly against the vault door as police sirens approached.
Lincoln perched on the teller counter, stretching his sore shoulder. "See? Community outreach. Crime prevention. Light cardio."
"You're such a dork," Came the familiar voice of Stella from his phone.
"Hey, you like that about me," Lincoln teased.
He then fired a web and swung off into the skyline, ready to patrol more until it was time for him to return him.
That evening, after a long day of patrol, it was finally dinner time. The Loud family sat around the table, enjoying spaghetti night.
Lincoln twirled his fork absentmindedly, still sore in places only he noticed.
"You alright there bro?" Luna asked, this getting Lincoln's attention. "You seem distracted."
"Just tired I guess," Lincoln said. "Nothing major."
"Probably shouldn't be up all night reading comic books then," Luna said. "But I like staying up and listening to my jams, so I can't comment."
"So," Rita said casually, sipping her tea, "I've got some interesting news."
"What is it?" Lynn asked.
"You all know my boss, Mr. Jameson, right?" Rita asked.
"The jerk who runs his mouth a lot on TV?" Lana asked.
"Lana, not nice," Rita scolded before continuing. "Anyway, he offered to send me to reward me for all the overtime coverage during the Thanksgiving incident."
"What was it? Another coffee mug with his face on it?" Lynn Jr asked.
"That junk's so worthless," Lola said.
"It's not a coffee mug," Rita corrected. "It's much more exciting! Mr. Jameson paid for a family trip to New York City!"
The table exploded in excitement. Lynn spit out her drink, Lincoln dropped his fork, Leni nearly choked on her food, but fortunately Lana whacked her back hard enough to spit it out.
The kids began speaking erratically.
"NEW YORK?!"
"THE BIG APPLE?!"
"PIZZA CAPITAL?!"
"TONY STARK'S CITY?!"
Luna nearly fell out of her chair, thinking about all the cool places she could visit, "I'm going straight to Radio City!"
Lisa's eyes lit up. "Stark Tower is located in Manhattan. This is highly advantageous."
Lynn Jr pumped her fist. "YES! Knicks game! I gotta get tickets for Madison Square Garden!"
"Fashion district!?" Leni said as she began imagining all the stores she could visit. "Totes awesome!
Lincoln was still frozen. New York City, the home of The Avengers.
"This isn't a joke, right?" Lincoln asked. "We're actually going to New York City? As in...THE New York City!?"
"Yes, honey," Rita reassured. "We're going together. All expenses are paid. Plane Tickets, hotel, food. But not everything is covered, so if you want do anything, at least run it by me first."
"Is Broadway an option?" Luan asked.
"At best Mr. Jameson will cover it halfway," Rita said. "But we'll definitely go see a Broadway show."
"Tell me there are Pageant Shows!" Lola pleaded. "Any still going on!?"
"Well, we're going there for Christmas break," Rita said. "I believe thee are plenty of Christmas themed pageants."
"Why stick with Pageants?" Luan asked. "You should sign up to join The Radio City Rockettes!"
"Luan, that's for adults," Luna said.
"Hey, I can dance better than any of those Rockettes!" Lola insisted. "I'm signing up!"
"Our friends are gonna be totes jealous!" Leni said.
"Actually Len...," Rita added, "Mr. Jameson is allowing the whole family to bring any friend of their choosing."
"Any friend!?" Lynn Jr asked.
"Yes, but try not to get carried away," Rita said.
"I'm bringing Sam!" Luna shouted.
"I'm picking Benny!" Luan added.
"I gotta bring Becky! Or Miguel! Or Gavin!" Leni declared. "Or...or..."
"I'd love to bring the entire baseball team," Lynn Jr said.
Lisa tapped her chin. "I will require access to MIT's research library."
Lincoln had to think carefully as well, "I suppose it's fair to bring Clyde."
"Clyde would be nice," Rita said. "But I think it would also be nice to invite Stella."
"Stella?" Lincoln said. He thought back to the girl, who made a great recovery after getting injured by Otto Octavius. Though she still felt the effects, she's at least able to move around.
"Stella huh?" Lincoln asked.
"This trip is partially business for me, and part of that business is me having an interview with Tony Stark," Rita said. "I know that Stella admires Tony Stark. And she's been a wonderful friend to you."
"Plus, the reason she got hurt was because she was trying to protect Lisa," Lynn Sr said, bringing up some minor guilt for the girl. "It's thanks to her that I still have all of my little girls, I think she deserves to come too."
"She'd be great!" Lola said. "It helps that New York can be a very romantic city."
Lincoln furrowed his brow, "No more girlfriends. Not until I graduate college."
"Hey, you never know," Lynn Jr said.
"Rita, is this really okay?" Lynn Sr asked. "New York isn't exactly the safest place. Especially not after that alien invasion last year."
"It'll work out Lynn, just trust me," Rita said.
"Okay, but if I see one alien, we're out of there," Lynn Sr said.
"Don't worry pops," Lynn Jr said. "Worse comes to worse, The Avengers will handle it."
"I hope so," Lynn Sr said. "Though New York would be nice. I should bring Kotaro."
"Think it over, and remember, don't get carried away," Rita said.
The kids nodded and immediately went back to eating while contemplating what to do.
"Oh Lincoln, don't forget," Luan spoke up. "We have that birthday party coming up."
"Huh?" Lincoln asked. "Who's birthday is it?"
"It's for the family that hired us, remember?" Luan asked. "Try not to miss this one."
"R-right, sorry, nearly slipped my mind," Lincoln said. "I'll be there."
The next day at school, Lincoln was on his way to science class.
"Hey Lincoln!" Stella greeted as she ran up to the boy to walk beside him.
"Oh Stella, glad you're here," Lincoln said. "Get this, my family is taking a trip to New York City. Mom has to do an interview with Tony Stark, so we're all going."
"That's nice, I hope..." Stella's eyes widened once everything registered. "Did you say...Tony Stark? In New York!?"
"Yeah, mom says I can bring friends, and since you've always wanted to meet Tony Stark..." Lincoln said.
"That would be amazing!" Stella went to hug Lincoln, though pulled back when she felt some pain. "Ow!"
"Are you alright?" Lincoln asked.
"My ribs aren't completely healed, so I gotta try not to get too excited, otherwise I'll end up back in the hospital," Stella said. "Still, Tony Stark?"
"Yeah, if you come with us, you might have a chance to meet him," Lincoln said.
"Tch, might? I've already taken matters into my own hands," Stella said. "You remember that essay contest I entered?"
"The one about Stark Industries?" Lincoln asked.
"Yeah, that one," Stella said. "I entered it and if I win, I won't just get to meet Tony Stark, I'll be able to get a photo with him, and they'll put it on every paper in the New York Times. But beyond that, my hope is that I will get to become his newest intern."
"Wow, looks like you were way ahead of me on that," Lincoln said.
"If I win, I'll get my own paid expense trip to New York. So you won't have to worry about bringing me," Stella then bashfully rubbed her head. "Still, it was nice of you to offer. Looks like I'll be going to New York one way or another."
"We'll see what happens then," Lincoln said. "Of course I still plan to bring Clyde."
"Makes sense," Stella said. "Wait, did you have a chance to talk to him about it?"
"I'll tell him during lunch," Lincoln said. "Better hurry before we're late to class."
"I heard we're watching a video today," Stella said. "I can't say I'm excited."
"It probably won't be so bad," Lincoln said. "Now let's hurry."
Nearby Chloe had overheard part of the conversation, the girl curiously glancing over in Lincoln's direction. "New York huh? Sounds fun."
Lincoln and Stella were seen in their science class together, watching an episode of Watch Mr. Fantastic.
The two didn't hate it, but they felt a little disappointed with the visual considering it was made decades prior.
"Now Mr. Fantastic isn't his real name, but that's what all the kids in the neighborhood call him, because he shows the fantastic and wondrous ways of science in everyday living" according to the narrator.
"This thing looks like it was made a hundred years ago," Stella said.
"Come on, it's not that bad," Lincoln said.
"The quality looks poor, and this is on DVD," Stella said. "It's like someone found an old VCR Tape and did a lame copy and paste job onto a disc."
"Still, credit to Reed Richards, he's a really good scientist," Stella said. "Whatever happened to him?"
"I'm not sure, he and his family just disappeared ages ago," Lincoln said. "Oddly enough, that happened to Doctor Strange too."
"Gee, I hope nothing bad like that happens to Tony Stark," Stella said.
"Lincoln, Stella," Called Miss Pham. "Save the chit-chat for later."
"Sorry," Lincoln and Stella said, then focused on the movie.
Lincoln Loud sprinted down the sidewalk, party supplies rattling inside the backpack slung over his shoulder.
"I gotta hurry," Lincoln said as he checked his watch. "The party should be starting soon, if I'm late then Luan's gonna have a fit."
"Better pack it up for today then," Came Stella's voice over the phone.
As he ran, he felt a vibration. He had gotten a text message from Luan.
Luan: Party's about to start! Hurry over here with the magic kit!
Lincoln groaned. "I'm coming, I'm coming..." He briefly looked around. "Instead of running, I could just-"
Suddenly his spider-sense exploded. Across the street, the First Royal Woods Bank's front doors blew outward.
"Oh what now!?" Lincoln lamented.
"What's wrong?" Stella asked.
"I heard an explosion," Lincoln said.
A massive, familiar-looking brute stepped through the smoke, holding a vault door over his shoulder like a pizza box.
"Is that...no way," Lincoln took a moment to hide as he remembered the man. "Mo!? As in...Henchman Mo!?" He recalled the man from the time he found out Gran-Gran was a secret spy. "How is he alive? He fell off a roof!"
"What's going on?" Stella asked.
"More trouble, I gotta handle it," Lincoln said.
Mo laughed as he tossed the vault door aside and started stuffing cash into a duffel bag. "PAYDAY, BABY!"
Police sirens were still a good three minutes away. Lincoln knew he couldn't ignore this. "I gotta do something." He sighed in disappointment as he thought back to his friend, "Doing this by myself really sucks."
He ducked into the alley and then came back out fully suited. To keep his magic supplies safe, he placed them in a bag and webbed them against a wall.
"HEY, MO!"
Mo turned to see Lincoln in his Spider-Man costume swinging over. "Well, well, if it isn't The Spider-Man himself."
"Listen, I really got places to be and you're kind of holding me up," Lincoln said. "So you can just surrender and go to jail with no trouble or-"
"Get him!" Mo roared as he charged in with his henchmen.
"Okay, I tried," Lincoln lamented.
Mo swung a punch, to which Lincoln flipped over it, then webbed Mo's ankles, and yanked.
"What then!?" Mo was then faceplanted.
"Why you!" Mo then grabbed a nearby car and threw it at Lincoln.
The boy barely dodged as the car whooshed right past him.
"You jerk!" Lincoln shouted as Mo charged again.
Lincoln then webbed the man's face, causing him to run blindly into a lamppost.
"Heh, that's kind of funny actually," Lincoln said.
Mo shook it off as he glared at Lincoln, "You punk! You're about to be my second least favorite brat! After that punk who was with his granny!"
"Oh how little you know..." Lincoln thought to himself.
Mo charged in again. Lincoln went for a kick but Mo dodged and hit an uppercut. He then tackled the hero through a bus stop.
The glass shattered as Lincoln tried to pull himself up.
Lincoln shook his head in annoyance, "This is getting on my nerves."
To counter the next attack, Lincoln tricked Mo into charging straight into the bank lobby's reinforced security doors.
Mo hit the ground hard, the man now seeing stars. Lincoln then webbed him into a neat cocoon just as police cars screeched to a halt.
"About time," Lincoln bolted. "Sorry, don't have time to stick around! Got places to be."
Then he bolted, hoping to get to the party as fast as he could while grabbing his bag in the process.
"Hey Lincoln, was it a success?" Stella asked.
"Yeah, I got him," Lincoln said. "I gotta head to the party, try to keep an eye on things and let me know if there's danger."
"You got it," Stella said as she hung up.
It wasn't long before he arrived. A house for an after school birthday party. Being in his suit, he was freely able to use his powers.
"Made it," Lincoln checked the time. "Oof, and the party should be underway now. But Luan won't freak out about me being five minutes later."
Lincoln took a look around before sneaking behind a nearby dumpster to change. He was about to switch back when he realized something bad.
"Wait, where's the bag with my magic supplies!?" Lincoln frantically began searching, but was unable to find it. "I had them in here...!" He looked again, but no luck. "Did someone swipe it!? Ugh! Why is this town full of crooks!?"
He knew it would take him forever to track it down, and he had no time to in the first place anyway.
"Great, Luan's gonna flip her lid, what do I do now?" Lincoln asked. He was about to take off his mask when he had an idea. "Wait a minute..."
At the party itself, things were going well after a smooth start. Kids were playing, enjoying sweets and many other things.
Luan was getting everyone excited over what was to come. "Okay everyone, settle down! They'll be time for fun soon. Right now, we have a performance to get to!" Luan said, then immediately texted her brother. "Where are you!?"
Moments later, one of the kids shouted out in glee, "Look! It's Spider-Man!"
"Huh?" Luan looked and spotted the hero on the rooftop. "Spider-Man? Wait, I didn't call for anyone to dress up as him. Was this the idea of one of the parents? Normally they tell me about these things so I can work it into my routine."
Lincoln leapt off the roof in dramatic fashion, further proving that he's the real deal. Even using his webbing to pull over a drink. "That's right, it's me! The Amazing Superhero, Spider-Man!"
"It really is him!" A kid said. "The real deal!"
"Sure its!" Lincoln said, doing his best to disguise his voice. Even if the kids wouldn't notice, his sister might. "I heard that it's a lucky boy's birthday, so I, Spider-Man, decided to visit!"
"Um, excuse me...?" Luan said, getting Lincoln's attention. "First off, it's nice to meet you. You probably don't remember, but you saved my family a few times."
"I do remember you," Lincoln said. "I met your brother, Lincoln. Really great kid I must say. I've also met your sister, Lynn. Please tell her to stop trying to rival me."
"Yeah Lynn won't listen, but I'll try," Luan said. "What brings you here? Is there danger?"
"Oh no, your brother sent me," Lincoln said. "He had a mishap with his magic kit and asked me to stop by and entertain. Just for a few minutes of course, duty calls."
"Mishap? Is he alright?" Luan asked.
"He's just fine," Spider-Man said. "But there was trouble in the city earlier and I think some of his stuff got stolen, so he's a bit worried."
"Oh no," Luan pulled out her phone. "I should call him."
"WAIT!" Lincoln called, but unfortunately Luan already dialed.
Lincoln struggled to find his phone before it could ring and managed to switch it to silent, but not before sending a quick message to Stella.
"...This is concerning," Luan said. She placed the phone away and turned to the others. "Listen, I might need to cancel the party. I'm worried about my brother and-" Suddenly her phone rang. "Huh?" She saw the Caller ID, revealing it to be Lincoln. She was quick to answer, "Lincoln!?"
"Hey Luan, it's me!" Came Lincoln's voice. Unknown to her, it was actually Stella calling with a type of voice modifier.
"Lincoln! I heard there was trouble in town! Are you okay!?" Luan asked.
Lincoln texted more information to Stella as the girl was quick to read it off. "Uh...yeah, just some mishaps here. Some punk took my bag, so I'm going to the police station to get it back."
"Need me to be there with you?" Luan asked.
"No, it's fine. I wouldn't want a kid's birthday to be ruined because of some jerk," Stella said. "Go on, give the kid an unforgettable party. Do it for the Linc-Meister."
"Linc-Meister?" Luan asked. "Have you been watching old cartoons again?"
"Uh...maybe?" Stella said.
"Well anyway, if you're sure, then I guess I can keep up the party," Luan said. "Spider-Man's here too."
"Oh I know..." Stella nearly caught herself. "I mean...awesome! Anyway, I gotta bounce. Peace out sis."
"...Are you sure you're okay?" Luan asked. "You're talking funny."
"Girl you worry too much," Stella said as the modulator began acting up. "It's all good."
"Huh? Did your voice change?" Luan asked. "You sounded a bit like a girl on that last-"
"Uh, gota go!" Stella said as she hung up.
Luan shook her head in confusion, "Lincoln can be so weird sometimes." She tuned back to Spider-Man. "Well I guess my brother's okay. Let's party!"
Lincoln was relieved it all worked out, but slightly annoyed at how badly Stella seemed to cover for him.
Stella wiped her head as she glanced at the modulator. "I think this needs more work. Next time I see Sid, I'll have her help me out."
The party seemed to go off without a hitch.
That evening, the Louds were making their final preparations for their big, upcoming trip. The living room whiteboard was completely full.
LOUD FAMILY TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY
All expenses paid (thanks, Mr. Jameson)
Underneath it was a messy list of names, arrows, doodles, and at least one poorly drawn Statue of Liberty wearing sunglasses.
Rita stood with a marker in hand. "Okay, everyone. We need to figure out who you're bringing. Flights are booked tomorrow morning."
"I'm bringing Sam," Luna said instantly. "No question. We gotta play a gig in Radio City, or Madison Square Garden! We'll just hit Time's Square if anything!"
"I give that three hours before you get arrested for illegal street performance," Luan joked.
"Worth it," Luna said.
"What about your other band mates?" Lola asked.
"One's good," Rita said as she wrote it on the White Board. "Sam...Okay, who's next?"
Luan raised her hand dramatically. "I choose… Benny!"
"Figures," Lana said. "You two gonna perform too?"
"That's the idea," Luan said.
"Okay...Benny..." Rita said. "Who else?"
"I'll bring Margo," Lynn Jr said. "We'll hit The Garden as well, but for The Knicks. Then we'll hit Yankee Stadium."
"Remember Junior, this is a Manhattan trip," Lynn Sr said. "Yankee Stadium is in The Bronx."
"It's fine Lynn, we have a two week so a trip outside of Manhattan isn't out of the question," Rita said. "Okay Marco, who else?"
Leni clasped her hands. "After thinking about it, I want to bring Fiona! She loves fashion. And since we don't have to only stay in Manhattan, that gives me and Fiona a chance to go thrifting in Brooklyn and maybe accidentally meet a runway model."
Lisa frowned. "The probability of that is less than 5 percent."
"But never zero!" Leni said.
"Will your other friends mind?" Lincoln asked.
"They're okay, in fact I suggested that they draw straws," Leni said. "Fiona won, so she's coming."
"...So when you say they drew straws-?" Lynn Jr was asking.
"Not literally, I learned my lesson on that," Leni said. "Straw drawing isn't actual drawing."
"Okay, Leni picked Fiona," Rita said. "And I talked to Lori earlier, she's bringing Bobby."
"Makes sense," Lynn said.
"I'm bringing Darcy," Lisa said.
"I'm taking Cricket with me," Lola said.
"Meli won't mind?" Lana asked.
"I actually asked her first, but she was too shy to come," Lola said. "So I asked Cricket, and since she's been there, she'll show me some good spots."
"Well I'd like to bring Adelaide," Lana said. "If I'm able to."
"I'll call the Changs later," Rita said as she checked it off. "Alright, Lucy? What about you?"
"Haiku," Lucy said. "We're going to look for the most famous cemeteries in New York."
"Seriously?" Lola asked.
Rita turned to her only son. "Okay, Lincoln. You're picking Clyde, right?"
"Yeah, I am," Lincoln said. "I also asked Stella. She said she might come with us, but she's also in a contest and if she wins, she gets to have a picture with Tony Stark."
"Oh right, I heard about that," Rita said. "Well even if Stella doesn't win, she can come with us."
"But if she does, she gets an all expenses paid trip too," Lincoln said.
"Meaning more money for us to have fun," Lola said.
"Yeah, good point," Rita said. "Okay. That's everyone. I'll send confirmations tonight."
Lynn Sr. clapped his hands. "New York City, here we come!"
Everyone cheered, each of them excited to go on the biggest trip of their lives.
The next day at School, as Clyde walked through the hallway, Lincoln had called out to him. "Clyde!"
"Huh?" Clyde turned around to see his best friend. "Hey Lincoln."
"Hey Clyde, I'm not sure if my mom called your parents but you're officially booked for New York," Lincoln said.
"Oh yeah, dad got a phone call last night!" Clyde said. "I'm so excited to go to New York! I'd love to visit Central Park! Oooh! And Grand Central Station! That's a good one!"
"I do hear Grand Central Station is nice," Lincoln said. "After all...it's Grand..."
"And it's Central," Clyde finished.
"Lincoln!" Stella ran over to greet the boy. "Oh, hey Clyde!"
"Hey Stella, guess who has two thumbs and is accompanying Lincoln and his family to New York?" Clyde asked, then gestured to himself. "This guy!"
"I might be joining you one way or another," Stella said. "Once they announce the winner of that essay contest, I'm set."
"Hey, one way or another, you're coming with us," Lincoln said. "Anyway, we should get to homeroom. I'll see you later at Science, Stella."
"I just hope we don't have to sit through another Science Show from the Fifties," Stella said.
"Hey come on, Reed Richards isn't too bad," Lincoln said.
"No, but the Fifties are so outdated," Stella said.
"Hey that's the era of cool leather jackets and hunka, hunka, rock-and-roll," Lincoln said.
"...You're so dorky sometimes," Stella said as she began to leave. "Catch you boys later."
"I should go too, see ya," Clyde said as he also left.
Just as Lincoln was about to move, he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see a flirty looking Chloe standing beside him.
"Hey, so you're off to New York, huh?" Chloe asked.
"Uh, yeah, family trip," Lincoln said. "We're going to spend Christmas there."
"You're so lucky, I bet New York is a nice place," Chloe said. "I should see if my family wants to go too."
"Sure, you should ask them," Lincoln said. "I wish I could invite you, but my mom has only so many tickets she can get for everyone."
"It's fine, don't worry about it. Even if I can't go this time, the dream's still there," Chloe said.
"I guess so," Lincoln said.
"Well, I'll catch you later," Chloe said, then gave Lincoln a kiss on the cheek. "See ya."
Lincoln blushed a little from the contact, but merely moved along with his day.
Meanwhile at Great Lakes, Lori and Bobby were talking about the Trip to New York together as they made their way through the college dorms.
"I can't wait for this trip, it's going to be so much fun!" Lori said.
"I already have so many ideas planned for us," Bobby said. "We're going to take the city by storm!"
"Speaking of New York, I did hear that Lana wanted to bring Adelaide," Lori said. "I think I should confirm it with The Changs. Hopefully they're able to go."
"Actually, I have a surprise announcement," Bobby said. "They're coming too!"
"Who? The Changs?" Lori asked.
"Yeah, and that's not all," Bobby said. "My whole family is also going!"
"Whoa really?" Lori asked.
"When I told my grandparents about New York, they got so excited!" Bobby said.
"Did they already buy tickets?" Lori asked.
"Don't need to, my buddy Parr has a food truck he can give my family a ride in," Bobby said. "He goes to New York pretty often since he has a girlfriend there. So he wouldn't mind giving everyone a lift."
"That's great! Especially for Ronnie Anne! She's gonna love New York!" Lori said. "Sid too of course."
"Soon, The Louds, The Changs, and The Casagrandes slash Santiagos will take over New York City!" Bobby cheered. "It's gonna make SO many people jealous!"
"I'm literally about to text all my friends about it!" Lori sinisterly said. "I bet Carol will be so jealous!"
"Aren't you two friends though?" Bobby asked.
"Oh yes, best friends, I love her so much," Lori said as she texted. "Still gonna brag to her though."
Later after school, just as Lincoln was about to get ready for his daily patrol, he heard his name being called yet again.
"LINCOLN!" Stella ran over even more excited than before. Her eyes were bugging out and her grin was a mile wide.
"Whoa, you're in a good mood," Lincoln pointed out.
"For good reason! I won!" Stella said, the girl barely able to contain her excitement.
"You won?" Lincoln asked. "Won what?"
"The contest!" Stella reminded.
"Oh..." Lincoln said, then remembered fully. "The one where you get to meet Tony Stark if you win!?"
"That same one!" Stella cheered. "I got my family an all expenses paid trip to New York! The best part, I am guaranteed to get that picture with Tony Stark! Soon, I will convince him to let me be his intern and I will be one step closer to my dreams!"
"I'm so happy for you, Stella!" Lincoln said, then found himself pulled into a tight hug.
"This is amazing! I gotta tell everyone!" Stella said, the girl briefly rubbing her ribs due to the pain of hugging Lincoln so tightly before going to find the others. "Hey Molly! Check it out! I won!"
Lincoln was understandably happy for Stella, and hoped this meant good things in her future. He got ready for his patrol, and expected Stella to be a bit late, but he wanted her to have this moment. He knows she earned it.
The night before the big trip, everyone was seen packing their things. Clothes, accessories, any items they might need.
Any friend that was coming along was invited to sleep over for the night. Cricket got to sleep in the twins' room. Haiku and Margo bunked with Lucy and Lynn. Fiona came by to have the spare bed in Leni's room. Darcy came to bunk with Lisa and Lily. Benny and Sam were allowed to be over, but had to sleep in the basement as Lynn Sr did not want to take any chances.
Lincoln was in his room, waiting for Clyde to come alongside his parents, who unlike the other kids, would be accompanying their son on the flight, with the two having bought their own tickets. It was inevitable as Clyde's parents are very protective.
The other families would be joining later.
Lincoln was in his room on a video call with Stella, Sid and Ronnie Anne as he packed everything away.
"One more day, and the four of us are hitting the big apple!" Lincoln said. "Well five counting Clyde."
"I kind of wish that Rusty, Liam and Zach could come too," Stella said.
"They have their own Christmas plans, so it should be fine either way," Lincoln said.
"You're so lucky you can ride a plane," Ronnie Anne said. "I gotta sit in some smelly food truck for like twelve hours
"Yeah, but you'll have me," Sid said. "So it works out."
"Driving a food truck all the way to Manhattan," Stella said. "You girls are going to be really busy, huh?"
"At least we'll be staying at a Five Star Hotel," Lincoln said.
"Exactly, just look forward to that," Sid said. "We'll be staying at the luxurious...uh...wait, does this hotel have a name?"
"According to my mom, it's called The Presidential Hotel," Lincoln confirmed.
"Right, so we'll be staying at the Luxurious Presidential Hotel in New York City," Sid said. "I call that a big win."
"You want a big win? I'm going to see Tony Stark," Stella said. "Biggest win of my life. Well aside from being friends with Natasha. Oooh! Maybe we'll get to see her too!"
"Probably," Lincoln said. As he packed, he came across his spider suit. "Oh right...if I'm gonna be in New York, what's going to happen to Royal Woods?"
"Oh that's easy," Sid said. "Just ask Christina to-"
"SID!" Ronnie Anne scolded.
Sid immediately covered her mouth, "Crap...my mistake!"
Hearing Christina's name felt like a shot to the heart for Lincoln, but he powered through regardless. "It's fine, I'm not used to it either. Even after almost a month. Since Christina...you know, disappeared...it's been tough managing things in Royal Woods."
"You did it before Christina though, didn't you?" Ronnie Anne asked.
"Well yeah, but somehow it feels like Christina left a void behind," Lincoln said. "If that makes sense."
"Yeah, it totally makes sense," Sid said.
"Anyway, it looks like Royal Woods will be without Spider-Man for two weeks," Lincoln said.
"Or...you take the suit with you," Sid suggested.
"Huh? You want me to do what?" Lincoln asked.
"Take it with you!" Sid said. "Bring Spider-Man to New York City!"
"I don't know, how are we gonna explain why Spider-Man is in New York?" Lincoln asked.
"Well that is where The Avengers live," Ronnie Anne said. "Given that Black Widow went to Royal Woods the other day, we can say that she invited Spider-Man to New York."
"What about my family?" Lincoln asked. "Lisa's already getting close to figuring it out. Plus there's also Clyde and the others."
"You still haven't told Clyde?" Sid asked. "Honestly, I figured if anything, he'd be the first one you told."
"Clyde's great, but a secret like that creates a lot of pressure, and he's not good under pressure," Lincoln said.
"Besides, knowing Clyde, he's gonna wanna be a sidekick," Ronnie Anne said.
"I admit that Clyde's unusual, but he is still your best friend, Lincoln," Sid said. "He's gotta know. If Ronnie Anne got superpowers, she'd tell me. Right, Ronnie?"
"...Sure..." Ronnie Anne said. "Thankfully I don't, I can't handle that type of pressure."
"Sure you can, you've had your own crazy adventures," Sid said. "Imagine if we all had spider powers! Given those scientifically enhanced spiders-"
"Out of the question!" Ronnie Anne said. "I'm not giving myself Spider Powers. That's way too creepy for me."
"Uh...ouch?" Lincoln said.
"Oh man up," Ronnie Anne snapped. "Besides, if I had powers, I want my own. I'm not going to just be the female version of an existing hero. That's lazy."
"Well, it depends on how it's written," Lincoln said. "As long as it's not some cringey Girl Power type thing, then it works well."
"Cringey?" Stella asked in mild offense.
"You know what I mean!" Lincoln said.
"Tch, I don't know Lincoln, do I?" Stella asked.
"Not your best moment, Lame-O," Ronnie Anne said.
"You broke my heart, Lincoln," Sid said as she did a heartbreak gesture with her hands.
Lincoln rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I just can't win with girls."
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Stella, Ronnie Anne and Sid shouted.
"Just that you're all so pretty, lovely and the greatest friends a guy could have," Lincoln replied in a snarky tone.
"Tch, wow, smooth words, Romeo," Stella joked.
"Like any of us would fall for that," Ronnie Anne said. "Right Sid?"
"Take me with you to paradise my Knight in Spandex," A lovestruck Sid said.
Ronnie Anne raised her eyebrow in disbelief, then glanced at Stella who just shrugged it off.
"I feel like we lost the basic point of this conversation," Stella said. "Lincoln's worried about his identity getting blown."
"And I'm saying that he should have told Clyde sooner," Sid said.
"Clyde's not the only one coming," Lincoln said. "What about Sam? Or Benny? Or anyone else? Or what about my sisters?"
"You probably should have told your sisters too," Sid said. "The fact that Lana found out on accident seems strange."
"If I told Lori, she'd flip out and tell our parents," Lincoln said. "Leni is really bad at keeping secrets, so I definitely can't tell her. If I told Lola, she might blackmail me. If I told Lisa, she'll experiment on me. Don't even get me started on what Lynn would do if she found out. I definitely cannot tell Lily, she'll be so worried about me."
"Well that leaves Luna, Luan and Lucy," Sid said. "They'd definitely keep your secret with no strings attached, right?"
"Probably, but what's the point in telling them anyway?" Lincoln said. "They'll just worry about me. You should see Lana every time I come home. She's so relieved that I'm alive, but that just tells me how scared she was."
"Maybe, but I still say it's more of an advantage," Sid said. "They can cover for you as well."
"Sid's got a point," Ronnie Anne said. "Clyde should also know."
"...I'll think about it," Lincoln said.
"So...are you going to bring your suit?" Stella asked. "If you do, I think Sid and I can come up with some fun new ideas for it."
"Oh...we can do that thing we talked about!" Sid said.
"What thing?" Lincoln asked.
"Stella and I exchange suit modification ideas sometimes," Sid said. "We can definitely whip something up for you."
"I'm all for suit modifications," Lincoln said.
"Yo! Lincoln!" Luna called. "Clyde's here!"
"Okay!" Lincoln called, then looked to his suit. "Okay, I'll pack it away. I just hope this works out."
"It will," Stella said. "Anyway, hurry and get Clyde, then we can watch that Christmas movie."
"Which one?" Sid asked. "The one about the boy who was home by himself and fending off burglars? Or the one about the cop who had to fight off those terrorists while he was visiting his wife across the country?"
"Neither of those were Christmas movies!" Ronnie Anne said.
"They so are! They take place during Christmas!" Sid said. "Plus they're about forgiveness, reconciliation and beating up evil!"
"How is the latter Christmas related?" Ronnie Anne asked.
"Because Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ, who was sent to us to eradicate sin," Sid said. "He would condone protecting your home and your loved ones."
"Okay so by that logic, is Lincoln Christmas themed?" Ronnie Anne asked.
"He could be, he bears the weight of the world like Jesus did," Sid said, then glanced at Lincoln. "Though, you really shouldn't since that goes against what Jesus wants."
"I'm not exactly the perfect Christian, but Jesus was the type to say 'Help your fellow man'," Lincoln said. "So I prefer to see it that way."
"And Sid's not a perfect Christian either," Ronnie Anne said. "Let's leave talks of Jesus out of this. If my grandmother overheard this, she'd be yelling at us to not take his name in vain."
"Lincoln! Hurry up bro!" Luna called.
"Coming!" Lincoln called and then ran off.
"Wait, what are we watching!?" Sid asked, to which Ronnie Anne pointed to the cover. "Oh, the one with the recluse who stole Christmas from a bunch of annoying people who talk in rhymes."
"Talking in rhymes isn't the worst thing," Stella said. "The real problem starts when they begin to sing."
Ronnie Anne narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Stella, "Was...was that on purpose?"
Stella's eyes widened when she realized what she did, "Son of a..."
"How are we all watching it?" Sid asked.
"Using the same video call," Ronnie Anne said. "Now get the popcorn."
"On it!" Sid said as she left.
"Man, this will be fun," Ronnie Anne said. "Staying up late to watch old movies, talk about a blast."
"Let's not stay up too late," Stella said. "We do have an early flight tomorrow."
"How early?" Ronnie Anne asked.
"At Seven O'clock in the morning," Stella said.
"We'll be careful," Ronnie Anne said.
"Plus, in a house with so many people, I bet Mr. and Mrs. Loud are experts at keeping the peace in rough times," Sid said.
The following morning.
"WE'RE GONNA MISS THE FLIGHT!" Lynn Sr.'s voice echoed through the house at jet-engine volume.
It was 6:03 AM, and they had only Fifty-Seven minutes before their flight left.
Suitcases were everywhere. Shoes were nowhere. Lily was crying. Lana nearly caught fire somehow.
"WHO TOOK MY HAIR DRYER?!" Leni screamed from upstairs.
"I BORROWED IT FOR SCIENCE!" Lisa yelled back.
The Friends Arrive Into the Madness
Meanwhile Clyde looked to be in a panic himself, "Uh...what's happening!? I was not prepared for this environment!"
"Clyde, you've known my family for eight years, you really should have expected this," Lincoln said.
The door opened Stella walked in with a small backpack and a carry-on.
"…Is it always like this?" Stella asked.
"…This is actually a calm morning," Lincoln nervously insisted.
"Love this energy!" Sam said as she grabbed her stuff. "Nothing gets the blood pumping more!"
"There's so little organization though!?" Benny said.
"It's all good bro, it just means everyone's wide awake," Sam said.
"SAM HAVE YOU SEEN MY EXTRA STRINGS!?" Luna called.
"They're in your pocket, babe," Sam said.
Luna checked, then felt relieved, "Oh. Rock on."
"Benny! Help me with this crate of props!" Luan called as Benny went upstairs to help his girlfriend.
Leni and Fiona stood surrounded by suitcases.
"Do I need four jackets?" Leni asked.
"Four? Don't be crazy!" Fiona said. "You need six."
"...Good idea!" Leni said as she high fived Fiona.
Margo tried to juggle three basketballs, a duffel bag, and her phone. "I didn't pack very well."
"Let me handle it," Lynn said as she shoved everything into a briefcase and forced it to close. "Boom!"
Lisa was dragging a rolling crate labeled, EXPERIMENTAL CARRY-ON! DO NOT SHAKE!
Darcy nervously followed her friend. "So…What happens if TSA opens that?"
"Simple…We find out," Lisa said.
Darcy nervously hugged her stuffed giraffe, hoping that things went well.
Lana slid down the banister holding a wrench. "Anybody seen my backup wrench?"
"Where you always leave it!" Lola called. "In the shed!"
"Right on!" Lana said as she ran into the backyard.
"Lincoln honey, do me a favor and keep count of everyone while I talk to Ken and Judy!" Rita called.
"You got it!" Lincoln said as he began counting. "…Okay. Me. Clyde. Stella. Lana. Leni. Luna. Luan. Lynn. Lisa. Lola. Lana. Sam. Benny. Margo. Fiona. Darcy. Cricket. Haiku…" He shook his head at the noise, this briefly alerting his Spider-Sense. "…Why is this harder than tracking supervillains?"
"Hey, Lincoln," Stella greeted. "You okay?"
"Could be better," Lincoln said as he double checked.
"Wow, what a morning?" Stella said.
"Linky, I gotta go potty!" Lily said.
"I'll take you in a second," Lincoln said.
"But...I gotta go now!" Lily said.
"I can take her," Stella said. "She's toilet trained, right?"
"Yes, but she might need help wiping," Lincoln said.
"No I don't!" Lily insisted.
"I'm sure she can handle it, but if she needs help, I'll be there for her," Stella said as she took Lily's hand. "Come on."
"Thanks Stella, I can't wait until you marry my brother," Lily said.
Stella's face turned red as she and Lincoln, also red, began nervously laughing.
"Kids, gotta love'em," Stella said as she nervously pulled Lily away.
Not too long later, Lynn Sr turned the engine on his car to a slow start. "Come on baby! Not this morning of all mornings!" He tried harder and harder until he got the car started. "Oh thank goodness!" He then began honking the car. "EVERYONE IN THE VAN! MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
People stampeded. Suitcases flew. Someone lost a shoe. But the car was filled. Save for the McBrides and Zhaus who had their own car, with Cricket riding with Stella and Margo riding with Clyde to make it easier.
That didn't make Vanzilla feel less crowded, with Lola contemplating joining Cricket in Stella's car.
"What a morning," Lincoln commented.
Stella was squished next to Lincoln. Their arms touched and they both froze.
"…Sorry," they said at the same time. Neither moved however.
"Ha, love birds," Lynn Jr taunted.
"Lynn!" Lincoln scolded.
"Everyone buckle up, we gotta go!" Lynn Sr said as he backed out and sped off. "New York! Here we come!"
Vanzilla swerved onto the highway as Lynn Sr. floored it. The patriarch normally never drives so fast in his old car, but time was not on his side.
"We still have twenty-two minutes before the flight takes off!" Lynn Sr said. "As soon as we arrive at the airport, make haste!"
"Yes dad!" the Loud Kids said.
"Okay Mr. Loud!" The guests said.
Rita clutched the dashboard. "Lynn, please try not to crash on the way there."
"I will do my absolute best, dear!" Lynn Sr reassured as he served aside. He then picked up his phone. "Kotaro, we're almost there! Save a spot for us on line!"
"LYNN! OFF THE PHONE!" Rita scolded as her husband sped by another car.
It wasn't long before screeched into the terminal curb.
"GO GO GO GO GO!" Lynn Sr called as the other cars arrived.
Suitcases exploded out of the van as everyone made a run for it.
Security stared in horror as twenty to thirty people were making a run for it toward the gate just as it was announced that the plane was boarding.
They all collapsed into chairs upon arrival. They were out of breath, many hearts still pounding, but it was a success.
"…We made it," Rita happily said.
Lynn Sr. raised a fist weakly. "LOUD HOUSE NEVER LOSES."
Lincoln sat between Clyde and Stella. The boy on his left was already doozing off, his adrenaline diminished.
The girl on the right got her headphones ready.
"Somehow, I have a really bad feeling about this trip," Lincoln said.
"It'll be fine, don't worry," Stella said. She then smiled softly at him. "…I'm really glad I'm here with you."
"Yeah," Lincoln glanced at her as well. "…Me too."
And for half a second. everything felt okay. The Louds and company were New York City bound.
Meanwhile at Avengers HQ, Fury got an alert. "There's trouble in Wakanda. King T'Challa is calling for our assistance."
"Really?" Stark asked. "Must be bad if he's willing to work with any of us."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Fury said.
"This may be troubling, I am expected to do an interview with a lady from Royal Woods," Stark said, this getting Natasha's attention.
"That will have to wait," Fury said.
"He's right, duty calls," Cap said. "Avengers, Assemble!"
With that, Lincoln's hopes of meeting The Avengers were temporarily delayed. Upon his arrival in New York City, he will have to endure it alone.
Such is his luck.