Before We Dreamed of Two: Upon the Sight of the Other Shore

Lincoln absentmindedly stared into the distance during class. Ms. DiMartino was the  sub for today, since most of the teachers were pre-occupied, but he had no interest in fawning over her. Instead, Lincoln had a weird feeling. Something wrong, yet also something right at the same time. Something he had forgotten, was missing, and was right there to be found, if only he could take the time for it. Lincoln found himself doodling the two-headed eagle, before whispering to himself "Under the Power of the Eternal Heaven."

"Lincoln! Is there something you want to share with us?" Ms. Dimartino immediately zeroed in on the inattentive Lincoln. "Uh, n-no, ma'am, I'm just repeating some notes to myself." Lincoln lied. It was a close one, to be sure, but he had to be a bit more discrete when he decided to not pay attention.

It was lunchtime, but the feeling wouldn't go away with peanut butter and jelly, nor a swig of milk. "Lincoln, do you have a moment?". It was Ms. Johnson, who apparently had lunch at the same time as the students. "I do, but what's up, Ms. Johnson?" Lincoln asked. The teacher sat across from Lincoln, her eyes piercing deep into him, and warning Lincoln that the next few minutes were going to be awkward. "Lincoln, do you have a sister?". "Ten of them, why?". Ms. Johnson pinched the bridge of her nose. "No, no, not them, I mean, like, a twin sister."

Lincoln thought for a second. "My dad says my mom miscarried my twin." "Huh. Because I've been seeing a girl that is the spitting image of you. White hair, cute buck teeth, adorable little frecklez, everything." Lincoln blushed slightly, looking down at his second PB&J. "Oh, don't be so embarrassed. I believe you. Maybe I'm just returning that little crush you had on me so many years ago." The bell rung, and many of the kids began to line up. "My goodness, how time flies. I'll see you tomorrow, Lincoln." With that note, Ms. Johnson got up and began to walk back to her own meeting. Lincoln couldn't stop thinking about what she said. He knew pretty much every kid in Royal Oaks. Did she really see a kid that looked just like him? How unlikely, and yet, how intriguing.

Much later that day, Lincoln was finally home. Everything was ordinary, and no one had given him any trouble about anything. So he ran into his room, took off his clothes, and jumped into bed with a comic book in hand. "Hi, Lincoln". "Hi, Liberty."

Everything broke for a second.

Nothing made a single quantum of sense.

Lincoln doesn't have a sister named Liberty.

Lincoln didn't know anyone named Liberty.

There was no Liberty Loud.

There had never been a Liberty Loud.

But here she was, in her underwear, reading comics next to him, snuggled up with Bun-bun.

And he already knew her like the back of his hand.

Liberty smiled. "Surprise. Caught ya for a loop, didn't I?"

Everything went black.

"Gee, I thought you would've been better than this, but what to expect from an uninitiated Insider."

Lincoln's soul and mind hurt, but his head was fine as he came to.  "Who are you?" Lincoln asked groggily. Liberty rolled her eyes. "You know the answer to that question already, so let's skip that part and head right to the fun stuff." Liberty shook Bun-bun a bit, and a small purple rock fell out of one of its stitches. "This is Almirathite. It lets you go into the Outside, and cross into other worlds." Liberty leaned in closer. "Have you ever surfed the seas of Ao? Rode a horse on the steppes of Dheghom? Eaten fresh date candy from Kadur Ha'aretz? You just have to come along with me, and I can help experience so much more than this place could offer you."

Lincoln felt sick. He had to go get help from someone who knew what was up. So he opened the door to find Lori running in a panic down the stairs. "Lori? I need-" "I literally don't have time for you, twerp! Lisa and Lucy are missing!" "Did you check the cemetary?" "Hardy-har, like that's literally a good joke to tell me. If you don't know anything, shut up and go do the dishes or something." The door slam shut and Vanzilla sreeched away.

Lincoln looked back at Liberty, who was pale. "I didn't do anything." she started to explain. "What do you know about this, Liberty?" "Nothing! I just wanted to see my brother, and his... my... family." Liberty looked down at the ground, feeling shaken. "I'm sorry about this, whoever you really are, but I'll forgive you if we can find Lucy and Lisa safe and sound." Lincoln pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil. "Before anything, let's make a plan."