User blog:MrTyeDye/Fanfiction: Shrinkin' Lincoln (Part 2)

Yep... just finished Chapter 2 today, so here it is! (Fanfiction.net link here).

Lisa's pocket wasn't exactly a luxury car. It was dark, cramped and filled with miscellaneous bits of dust, crumbs and debris. Lincoln gagged a couple of times on the thick, dusty air inside, prompting Lisa to shush him. His body was aching for fresh air, but Lisa disallowed him from poking his head out until she was ready to withdraw him.

Thankfully, that wouldn't be too much longer. From what he overheard, it seemed that Lisa was already starting to gather his other three younger sisters.

"Oh, hello, Lucy. I'm glad I ran into you. Would you please follow me to the twins' room? I want to show you something."

"Sure."

Times like these made Lincoln grateful that he and his sisters all shared one hall; otherwise, this would have taken forever.

The next thing he heard was the sound of a door creaking open - presumably the twins'.

"Hello?...Oh, hi Lisa! Hi, Lucy! What's up?"

"Come closer, Lana. There's something I need to discuss with you and Lola."

"Uh oh. Are we in trouble?"

"No, but I could be. You see, just last night I finally finished construction on my miniaturization apparatus."

...

"My shrink ray."

"Aw, neat! Can I use it?"

"I'm afraid not. I already used it once this morning, and it needs to recharge."

"Aw, man..."

"In fact, that's the reason I'm here. You see, there was a bit of a mishap during the testing process. Right before the machine was launched, I accidentally knocked the barrel a bit off-kilter, and... well, this happened."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln felt Lisa pinch him by his shirt collar and pull him out of her pocket, freeing him from his musky prison. Once she set him down on the ground, he took a moment to survey his surroundings, and found himself in the familiar setting of the twins' room: messy and disheveled on the left side, prim and symmetrical on the right, air filled with the scent of cheap perfume and the sound of assorted animal cries. Around him stood the now-gargantuan Lana, Lola and Lucy, all staring down at him with their jaws slack and their eyes popped. (Or, at least, he imagined that Lucy's eyes were popped.)

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Is that... Lincoln?" asked Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Affirmative," said Lisa. "He has been scaled down to roughly one one-hundredth of his original size, but in all other respects he is still our brother."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana crouched down to get a closer look, peering at him from multiple different angles. Lincoln felt a twinge of unease seeing those gigantic eyes boring into him. It didn't help that, at his size, he could see every stain and blemish on Lana's overalls in vivid detail.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Yep, that's Lincoln, all right," said Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Then, without warning, she plopped her butt down right in front of him, causing the floor to shake and knocking him off balance.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Man, that is so cool!" she said, as a grin broke out across her face. "So what's it like being so tiny? Do you hang out with bugs?! Ooh, or mice?!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"N-no," Lincoln stammered, trying to regain his balance. "At least, I haven't yet."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"I would like to ask you to save your questions for later," said Lisa. "Lincoln has only been miniaturized since 10:05, and he knows very little about the experience."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Eh, fair enough," Lana said with a shrug.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana got back on her feet and glanced over at her other sisters, to gauge their reactions. While Lucy was starting to reassume her neutral expression, Lola's face was still frozen in the same position that it took when Lincoln was first hoisted out of Lisa's pocket.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Um, Lola? Are you feeling okay?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"H-he's..." stuttered Lola. "He's..."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lisa rolled her eyes. "Yes, Lola. He's been miniaturized. I believe we have established tha-"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"He's so CUTE!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lola snatched Lincoln up off the floor, and the next thing he knew, she had him locked in a tight, rib-compressing hug.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"You're so adorable like this!" she cried. "I just wanna squeeeeeeze you 'til you pop!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"P-please don't," gasped Lincoln, trying to squirm out of Lola's grip.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Put him down, Lola," said Lisa. "We need to discuss how we're going to approach today's activities."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Oh, all right."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lola released the hug and set him down on the floor. He greedily sucked in air, relieved at the sensation of being able to breathe again.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Now, unless I'm mistaken," said Lisa, "Lincoln has agreed to assist all three of you in your respective-"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Wait, wait, wait," interrupted Lola. "Can I just try one more thing? Then I'll give you the floor, I promise."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lisa sighed. "Proceed."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lola bent down, reached her hand towards Lincoln and gave him a gentle poke in the belly, causing him to giggle.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lola let out an elated gasp and started trembling with excitement. "Just like the Pillsbury Doughboy!" she squealed. "You're so precious I can't even stand it! EEEEE!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">While all of this was happening, Lisa, Lana and Lucy just stood there, completely stone-faced, staring at Lola and waiting for her to get over herself. Eventually, she did.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"...okay, I'm done," said Lola. "Go on, Lisa."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lisa walked into the center of the room. "As I was saying," she said, "All three of you were expecting to see Lincoln today. Is that correct?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Yeah, I was gonna show him how to feed my reptiles," said Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"And I was going to have him help me with my poetry," said Lucy.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"And I invited him to my tea party," said Lola.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Mm-hmm," said Lisa. "And on an ordinary day, Lincoln would attend to all three of you at your leisure, in whatever order he saw fit. Is that correct?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The twins and Lucy nodded.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"But as you may have gleaned, today is not an ordinary day. In his current state, Lincoln cannot traverse the halls unescorted, as doing so would cause him to risk detection from our parental units. And I do not wish to get them involved."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lisa pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose before continuing. "Therefore, for simplicity's sake, I think we should decide now who gets to see him first, second and third."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">As if on cue, all three of the other sisters launched themselves into a squabbling match.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"I'm the oldest, so I should see him first!" said Lucy.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"No way! Beauty before age!" hollered Lola.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Oh, then I guess I should see him first!" sneered Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On and on they went, arguing and arguing. It didn't take long before Lincoln lost his patience and decided to speak up.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Now, wait a minute!" he shouted, making sure all three of them could hear him. "Don't I get a say in this?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">And just like that, all eyes in the room were on him.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"I just think that, since I'm the subject of this decision, I should be the one to make it. So I'm gonna choose...um..."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln lost his spine once he saw Lola, Lana and Lucy all lined up before him, arms crossed, leering down at him with half-lidded eyes.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Well?" said Lana. "Go ahead, Lincoln. Pick one of us."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lucy took a step forward, getting as close to him as she possibly could. "Choose wisely, little brother."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln gave off a nervous chuckle and backed away from them, throwing his hands in front of his face. "O-on second thought, I'll just leave it up to you."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana, Lola and Lucy took their eyes off him and turned back towards each other.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Rock-paper-scissors?" suggested Lola.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lucy shrugged. "Works for me."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The three girls arranged themselves into a triangle and started rhythmically slapping their fists into their open palms.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" they chanted. "One, two, three, SH-"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">*CRACK* *BANG*

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana, it seemed, wasn't interested in playing by the rules. Before the other two girls could make a choice, she threw both of her fists forward, socked them both in the face and sent them flying into the wall. Once the dust cleared and the noise subsided, Lincoln and Lisa were just gawking at the sight of Lucy and Lola collapsed in a heap.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Lana wins..." groaned Lucy.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"I-indeed," said Lisa. "And by my estimation, Lucy collided with the wall a split second after Lola did. So Lucy will be seeing him second."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"YES!" cheered Lana. "In your faces!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">As Lisa walked the punch-drunk Lucy and Lola out of the room, a feeling of apprehension started to grow within Lincoln's gut. He wasn't sure how he felt about getting close to several predatory creatures that were now dinosaur-sized compared to him. His sisters were one thing; despite their imposing size, he knew that they would never do anything to hurt him, at least not intentionally. But to Lana's pets, he was no different from a fly or an aphid.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">As soon as Lana heard Lisa shut the door, she scooped Lincoln up into the palm of her hand.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"All right, Tiny Linc! Now that Prissy Pants, Gloomy Face and Egghead are out of the room, it's feeding time!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln's apprehension only grew after Lana carried him over to her terrarium and set him down in front of it. It was like he was watching a scene from some 60's monster movie, with colossal mega-reptiles stomping around some remote jungle. Only this time, the only thing keeping Lincoln away from the monsters was a single layer of glass, and Lana was just about to open up that barrier.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Just as she was about to undo the lid on the terrarium, Lincoln decided to stall her with a question.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Hey, Lana? Why are we doing this again?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Me and Lola are going away to sleepaway camp in a week," said Lana. "When that happens, I'll need someone to feed my pets while I'm away."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She looked down at Lincoln, beaming. "And I thought, who'd be better for the task than my frog-saving little buddy?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln blushed. One of his proudest memories was the time he and Lana saved dozens of frogs from being dissected for his science class, and he was flattered that Lana saw it the same way. Regardless, his feelings of flattery didn't make the danger he sensed any less palpable.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Thanks, Lana, but I'm thinking that maybe we should put this off for another day."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana frowned. "You promised that we would do it today."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"I know, but feeding reptiles? At my size?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln started to shake as he stepped away from the terrarium. "What if they decide to eat me?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Lincoln, I'm not gonna let them eat you," said Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln stopped retreating and his quivering eased up, but he still hesitated to go forward. He wasn't sure how reassuring Lana's response was. If she had said, "They're not going to eat you," or, "They only eat insects," then he'd know for sure that he had nothing to worry about. But she said that she wasn't going to let them eat him, implying that it was at least possible that they'd try.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Suddenly, he felt Lana grasp his tiny hand gently in between her thumb and forefinger. When he looked up, he saw her enormous face mere inches away from his own, her wide, pleading eyes locked onto his.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Do you trust me?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln couldn't have said no even if he wanted to. In that moment she looked so vulnerable, so sensitive, that he knew an answer of anything other than "yes" would devastate her. It was easy to forget sometimes, but that scrappy, tomboyish grease monkey who wrestled alligators as a hobby was still a six-year-old girl who looked up to her older brother and wanted his respect. What kind of brother would he be to deny her that?

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Yes, Lana," he said, taking her by the finger. "I trust you."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana regained her smile. "Then let's get started!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">With that, she undid the lid on the terrarium, reached inside and wrapped her hands around a Hermann's tortoise who was lounging under the shade of a fern leaf.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"We'll start with Tori," she said. "You won't have to worry about getting eaten, 'cause she's an herbivore."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She pulled the tortoise out of the enclosure and set her down right in front of Lincoln. As soon as she touched the floor, her eyes were upon the miniscule human before her. Tortoises weren't exactly expressive creatures, and Lincoln had no idea how to interpret that look she was giving him. Confusion? Fear? Awe? Puzzlement? Infatuation?

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Oh, geez, I hope it's not that last one, he thought.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana ducked under her bed, and came out with a clean plate in one hand and a tupperware container filled with assorted vegetables in the other. "Tortoises need to eat a lot of leafy greens," she said, as she set the plate down and started emptying the container onto it. "Sometimes you can throw in a piece of cauliflower or a sweet potato, just as a treat."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Tori crawled over to the now-filled plate, stared at it for a few seconds, and then started munching it down with all the speed and voracity you'd expect from a tortoise: which is to say, none.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"This is gonna take a while, isn't it?" asked Lincoln.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"A little, yeah," said Lana. "But you gotta keep watchin' her until she finishes her plate. Make sure she's eating enough calcium to keep her shell sturdy."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana looked down at Tori and gave her shell a couple of light pats. "Isn't that right, Tori? Don't you wanna keep your shell nice and strong?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln giggled. He always thought it was cute when Lana talked to her animals, though he had to wonder if Tori could even hear her, since she didn't seem to have any ears.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">After a few tedious minutes, Tori finally gulped down the last leaf on the plate, prompting a satisfied smirk from Lana. "Good girl," she cooed, patting the tortoise on the head. "All right, let's get you back in your tank."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She picked up Tori and gingerly laid her back in the terrarium, in the exact same spot she was before.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Next, we'll do Izzy," she said, with her head still submerged in the tank. "Be careful; he's friendly. Really friendly."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Once she withdrew herself from the tank, she was holding a leopard gecko, who squirmed and flailed in her grip.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Whoa! Little guy's feeling restless today."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">When she set him on the ground, he started running in circles and skittering about, causing Lincoln to recoil in surprise. From his point of view, it was like watching a Saint Bernard break free of its leash and go on a rampage.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Aw, don't be scared, Tiny Linc," said Lana. "He's just a little skittish. He won't hurt you."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln, deciding to take her word for it, just stood back and waited for Izzy to tire himself out. While that was happening, Lana reached back under her bed and pulled out another container, this one filled with an orchestra of writhing crickets.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">'''A/N: Yes, a group of crickets is called an orchestra. Look it up.'''

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln cringed at the sight of the container, which Lana took notice of.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"What's the matter?" she asked. "You can't tell me you didn't know that lizards eat bugs."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"No, I knew that. But do they really have to be live bugs?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Well, sure they do, Tiny Linc. A gecko won't eat prey that's already dead."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln blinked. He half-expected a response along the lines of, "Yeah, it's cooler that way! I like to watch 'em squirm!" But what he got instead was an interesting little tidbit that he doubted she learned in any of her First Grade classes. He had to give Lana credit; while she didn't have Lisa's intellect, she definitely had her thirst for knowledge.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Anyway," she said as she unlidded the container, "before you take the crickets out, you gotta douse 'em with a little bit of this."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She reached into the front pocket of her overalls, pulled out a vial of white powder, and started drizzling it onto the crickets.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"This is supplement powder. Gotta make sure Izzy's getting all his vitamins."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Once all the crickets were thoroughly covered, she pinched one of them by its legs and pulled it out. Then, much to Lincoln's confusion, she started dangling it in front of him.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Um, Lana? The gecko's over there." He pointed over towards Izzy, who at this point was just fidgeting about on the floor.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"I'm not trying to feed you, silly," Lana said with a roll of her eyes. "I'm trying to let you feed Izzy!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln was a bit hesitant to take her up on her offer, as he wondered if Izzy would be willing to eat out of the hand of someone so small. That, and he doubted he'd be able to keep a firm grip on the cricket, which wasn't much smaller than he was.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Regardless, he knew how much his trust meant to Lana, and he knew she wouldn't give him that task if she didn't think he could do it. So he took a deep breath, suppressed his inhibitions, grabbed the cricket by the abdomen and pulled it out of Lana's grasp.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"There you go!" exclaimed Lana. "Now all you have to do is take it over to Izzy."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln nodded and marched up to Izzy with his hands wrapped tight around the thrashing cricket. He expected Izzy to lunge at the cricket and gobble it up as soon as he got close enough, but by the time he was just a few inches away from the lizard, he was still waiting for something to happen. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear that Izzy was trying to ignore him.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Sometimes he just needs a little coaxing," said Lana. "Here, I'll help."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She reached down and nudged Izzy towards Lincoln. "Come on, Izzy! Tiny Linc's got a tasty treat for you!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Izzy turned his head in Lincoln's direction and locked his eyes on the cricket, licking his chops. After a few suspenseful seconds, he sunk his teeth into the cricket's thorax, yanked it out of Lincoln's hands and swallowed it with a single gulp.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"See? Nothing to it!" Lana cheered.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In a gesture that Lincoln could only interpret as gratitude, Izzy drew close to him and started nuzzling his snout up against his cheek.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Awww, he likes you!" she cried, practically swooning at the sight.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln couldn't help but grin, both at the lizard's affectionate display and Lana's schoolgirl-like reaction. It was all so cute, a word Lincoln never thought he'd associate with Lana's reptiles.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">From that point on, the feeding session proceeded in much the same manner. The herbivores were given a plate of vegetables to much on, while the predators were hand-fed by Lana (or Lincoln, if he felt up to the task). The process got a little tedious at times, but none of it was particularly arduous. Lincoln was beginning to wonder what he was even worried about in the first place.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Then they got to the last reptile in Lana's menagerie.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln saw Lana push her terrarium aside to reveal a separate glass box right behind it. The glass was a little too foggy for him to make out what was inside it, but he'd get his answer soon enough.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Mmm... gotcha!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She emerged from behind the terrarium with a long, lithe green snake in her clutches. El Diablo.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln swallowed hard. He had never been particularly afraid of snakes, but then, he had never been the size of a Barbie doll before. Regardless, he forced himself to stay strong, reminding himself once again that Lana wouldn't force him to do anything if she didn't think it was safe.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Now, El Diablo's a little more picky than the other reptiles," Lana said as she set the snake down on the floor. "Take a look up there."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana pointed towards the top of her dresser. When Lincoln looked up, he saw what looked like a gray ball of fur set in front of a running fan.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"That's a mouse," she said. "Well, it was a mouse. You buy 'em frozen, and then you thaw 'em out a couple hours before feeding time."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln cringed, though he figured that the spectacle wouldn't be any less revolting if the mouse was eaten alive.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Aaand it looks like that one's just about ready," said Lana. She hopped up and snatched the mouse off the dresser.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Now, to feed the snake, you gotta dangle the mouse in front of him, and jiggle it around a bit," she said. "You're too small to do it now, so I'll just give you a demonstration," she added, prompting a sigh of relief from Lincoln.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She pinched the mouse by the tail and started dangling it right in front of El Diablo's face.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Come on, El Diablo! Eat the mouse! Eat the little mousey mousey!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">After eyeing the furry carcass for a moment or two, El Diablo unhinged his jaw and devoured the mouse in one bite.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Just like that," said Lana. "Now, the other thing about snakes is that you don't have to feed them that much. Generally, bigger snakes only eat once a week..."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana was so caught up in her own rambling that she failed to notice what El Diablo was doing. He had just set his sights on Lincoln and was slowly slithering towards him, leering at him and bobbing his head back and forth all the while.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Um, L-Lana?" uttered Lincoln. "I think your snake is-"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Before Lincoln could even finish his thought, El Diablo unhinged his jaw, let loose an unholy hissing noise and lunged forward. Lincoln tried to run, but the snake swiftly caught up to him, slid Lincoln into his gaping mouth and forced his upper mandible down on his body like a hydraulic press. Right from the beginning, Lincoln was dreading that his feeding session with Lana would end this way.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">But he wasn't going to go down so easily.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Just before the snake's mouth clamped shut, Lincoln grabbed him by his upper fangs and pushed his jaw back open with all his might. While his upper body strained against the top part of the jaw, he used his legs to push downward on the bottom part, trying to force himself back up into a standing position. Lynn would sometimes lecture him on the importance of "lifting with his legs" whenever he was exerting himself, and he figured that now was as good a time as ever to use her advice.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">It helped that snakes' jaws were designed for flexibility rather than power, so keeping it pried open wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. That said, Lincoln was a pretty scrawny, unathletic kid, and he could only hold out for so long before his stamina ran out and his muscles started to give way. He began to feel the roof of the snake's mouth closing in, pushing his arms downward, when...

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Hi-YA!" hollered Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Just then, a massive blast of hot air shot him out of the snake's mouth and sent him skidding across the floor. It was a good thing that Lola and Lana's room was carpeted, or else he would have been scraped up pretty badly. As he tried to pick himself up off the floor, he overheard Lana chewing out the snake in the background, and couldn't help but wince. He had heard Lana scold her pets before, but this time she was practically screaming.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"That's a BAD snake! Bad, bad, BAD snake! You're gonna go back in your tank and think about what you've done!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln struggled to get back on his feet, as his heart was still pounding and his legs were still quivering like jelly. Once he did, he was greeted with the sight of a mortified-looking Lana crouching over him. With her hair a mess and her hat askew, she looked almost as shaken as he was.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Are you okay?" she asked, reaching down to stroke his cheek.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Y-yeah," he muttered in between gasps. "Just a little rattled."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana grabbed him and held him tight against her chest. "Oh, Lincoln, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice cracking. "He's usually so well behaved. I don't know what got into him!"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"N...no. Don't be sorry."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"But I-"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Lana..."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln looked up at Lana, giving her a faint smile. "...you saved my life. I can't thank you enough."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana let out a rough, throaty chuckle. "Yeah, I guess I did," she said. "But you don't have to thank me, Lincoln. You know I got your back."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln's smile broadened as he nestled his head in her chest. "I'll thank you anyway."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana kept one arm wrapped around him while she used her free hand to stroke his hair. "If you insist."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">With every successive stroke, Lincoln started to feel his heart rate decelerate. There was something reassuring about being in the arms of someone so large, yet so gentle: a colossus who wanted nothing more than to keep him safe and sound.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"So, Tiny Linc, now that we've fed everyone, do you want me to hand you over to Lucy?" asked Lana.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln shuddered. Aftar what just transpired, he wasn't sure that he was ready to appear before the Duchess of Darkness.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Not now," he said. "I'm still a little shaken. Could you, um..."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">If Lana wasn't looking right at him, she probably wouldn't have noticed the faint blush starting to spread across his cheeks. "...could you hold me for a little longer?"

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lana smiled down at her not-so-big brother. "Absolutely."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">She took a seat on the floor and started to stroke his hair again, while she continued to hug him tight. Lincoln rested his head upon her chest, letting the thumping sound of her heartbeat soothe him.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Just relax," she whispered to him. "Everything's gonna be okay. I gotcha."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">A feeling of warmth overtook Lincoln as he heard her speak. Those were the exact phrases that hewould use to comfort Lana whenever she had a bad dream, or whenever she had to get a shot. But now the roles were reversed; she was taking care of him. After all he had done for her as a big brother, she was returning the favor.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"Feeling better, Tiny Linc?" she asked.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Lincoln lifted his head from out of her chest, gave her a warm smile and nodded.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">"All right, then. Off to Lucy's we go."

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">As she dropped Lincoln into her front pocket and started for the door, he took solace in the fact that the hardest part of the day was over. All he had ahead of him was a poetry session with Lucy and a tea party with Lola. Compared to what he just went through, it'd all be a cakewalk.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Probably.

<p style="max-height:999999px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Hopefully.