Hi Everyone. NiteOwl18 here with chapter 19 of HercuLOUD. It's been three months since I've been unemployed. I'm stuck in the house like always. My family said to keep looking or try to improve my skills. It's tough, ya know. In other news, The Loud House movie is coming in two weeks. What better way to wait for the movie is by posting a new chapter of HercuLOUD. Sorry for the long wait. I had writer's block in what to come up in this chapter. Anyway, it's done. Enjoy.

Chapter 19: Carnival

"Can I see it?"

"No."

"Please!"

"Come on, Lola. Let me read my comic book."

"Pleaseeeeee!"

"Fine," Lincoln throws his comic book to show the diva princess his Wakandian necklace from his drawer. Lola gasped in delight at the necklace as she tried it on.

"It's so beautiful!" Lola complimented.

"For the seventeen time you said it," Lana said, coming into Lincoln's room.

"Twenty times, actually," Lisa added, also entering along with Lily.

"Inkcoln!" Lily cried, attempting to climb on the bed before Lincoln helped her.

"You guys wanted to see the necklace, huh?" Lincoln said. Lana and Lily both looked at the necklace in awed and Lisa inspected it. He shakes his head in amusement. Ever since he came back from his mission in Wakanda, the family were asking him questions about the country that was hidden away from the world. But the biggest shock was Lincoln getting a necklace from the king of Wakanda and The current Black Panther, T'Challa.

"You are so lucky to get a necklace from the Black Panther!" Lana exclaimed, her respect for her big brother grew.

"And you were worried that he didn't like you?" Lola scoffed at Lincoln's doubt of the king rejecting him like he rejected most of the Avengers.

"You keep doubting that people will accept you as a hero isn't one of the best qualities as your sole purpose in the team," Lisa advised, looking closer at the necklace's fangs.

"U wua twy own!" Lily babble, touching the necklace from Lola's neck. Lola took off the necklace and handed it back to its owner.

"I hope one day we get to see Wakanda; it looks amazing from Lisa's drone!" Lola announces; the image of the great country lingers in the six year old's head.

"You're lucky T'Challa hasn't caught you recording our private conversation and fighting Karven," Lincoln warned his genius sister of her drone that recorded his mission.

"I'm always careful with not starting an international war from a forgien country when recording it from a private drone," Lisa stated. Lincoln and the rest of her younger siblings looked at her deadpanned. "And yes, I see the irony behind it."

"Shouldn't you guys be hanging out with the rest of the girls? Hey Lucy," Lincoln asked his younger sisters to go hang out with his older sisters and casually greeted the goth who had appeared in his room.

"Hi Lincoln," Lucy stated, and Lana, Lola, Lisa, and Lilly all jumped in shock.

"It's not fair you notice her presence before us," Lola muttered under her breath.

"I noticed everyone was in your room and wanted to see and I know it involves the necklace from the King of Wakanda," Lucy stated, looking at the necklace in her brother's hand. The goth led her head to stare at it; she wasn't fond of materialistic accessories like Lori, Leni, and Lola, but she admired the gift Lincoln received for fighting against the crazed hunter.

"All it's left is the other five," Lincoln remarked, waiting for the rest of the sisters to join in on the necklace.

"Not to worry, Lincoln. Lori and Bobby are discussing the party for Lori's last day in Royal Woods; Leni is with her friends at the mall; Luna got band practice with her band; Luan is with Benny and Lynn is at the park with Margo and Polly Pain," Lucy explained.

"Ah," Lincoln said as he put away the necklace in his drawer.

"Got any text messages from Peter?" Lana asked about Lincoln's mentor.

"Say he has a date with his girlfriend. I got nothing on my patrol except jaywalkers and stopping those jerks who were messing with those kids at the park. I asked any of the Avengers to see if there was a mission right now; none of them said no," Lincoln answered with a sigh. The white haired boy resumed reading his comic book, if not for his phone had picked up a notification. Lana grabbed the phone since she was the closest.

"Is it one of my friends, Lana?" Lincoln asked.

"No. It's a news alert. It's that jerkface again," Lana said, and frowned that the article came from The Daily Bugle.

"Ugh!" All of them groaned, even Lily threw a raspberry. The little tomboy handed Lincoln his phone; Lincoln entered his pad key on the phone to see the latest article. The article was Hercules rounding up a gang of delinquents that were harassing kids at the park, and Jameson made a comment that Hercules almost put one of the teens in the hospital with a broken pelvis.

"Unbelievable. He had a knife!" Lincoln muttered and objected to what he had to say in his defense. The sisters looked at the news article.

"Jeez, this guy doesn't stop trying to drag your name to the mud, and this is coming from me!" Lana exclaimed, pointing the thumb at herself to express the irony.

"At least Royal Woods like me as a hero," Lincoln stated.

"Ignoring the fact that about 29% are supporting behind Mr. Jameson's libelous news, calling you as a vigilante, and a menace," Lisa calculates the unnecessary facts of people doubting Hercules as a hero and a member of the Avengers.

"I'm bored now! Come on, Lana; let's head back to my room to play princess in the castle!" Lola said, leaving the room. Lana followed her.

"I must be going; my lab samples aren't going to inspect themselves. Not that I can," Lisa leaves the room. Lucy turned to Lincoln still reading his comic book, only he was sporting a small frown.

"Don't bother what Lisa had said, Lincoln," She said.

"I'm not worried, Lucy. Not that much. T'Challa told me someday I have to face people turning their backs on me when they no longer see me as a hero. It happened to Winter Soldier and Black Widow after Hydra took over S.H.I.E.L.D. And Scarlet Witch had to deal with people blaming her for teaming up with Ultron. You can't imagine the reaction people get when they uncover a secret behind the heroes they looked up to," Lincoln explained his fear; Lily went to him to cuddle on the boy's chest.

"At least there are those who still looked up to them; remember how you had my back that one time?" Lucy asked, carefully choosing her words.

"It's different than that," Lincoln said, smiling as he rubbed Lily's head. "I notice my family have been worrying about it from the start. Thinking about what the Avengers have been through, my family is going to share the same animosity with everyone."

"Our family's been through some of the worst times that have happened in this house, and not one secret leaves here, especially the dark times," Lucy said, her voice trailing down in a low voice to signal Lincoln what she meant.

"I don't know what they'll react first," Lincoln shook his head. His face forms with determination. "But whatever happens, we'll stay together," He held his right pinky in front of the goth.

"Ha. So cliche," Lucy laughs in amusement and locks her left pinkie around Lincoln's pinkie.

"Pinkies!" Lily giggles, touching the two pikies with her chubby hands, making the two share the laugh.

Later in the night, the Loud family were at the summer carnival. Lincoln needed this since he wasn't working tonight; sadly his mentor had to stay in Queens to take his girlfriend on several dates he had to cancel. Seeing the fabulous rides and games made Lincoln forget about enjoying his summer break. With tickets in his pocket, he searches for something he can enjoy.

"Yo Lincoln!" Lincoln turns to see Clyde and the rest of the gang. Also, there was Girl Jordan, Mollie and Haiku.

"Fancy seeing you here, Loud," Mollie smirked.

"My family dragged me to the carnival; they wouldn't want me alone in the house," Lincoln utterly shrugged his shoulders.

"Where's your friend from Queens, Lincoln?" Liam asked, he noticed Lincoln wasn't with Peter Parker the last time they saw him.

"He had to head back to deal with his lady problems," Lincoln answered.

"Ouch, poor guy," Rusty chuckled under his breath.

"Now that I'm here, let's have fun!"

The gang spent the night enjoying the summer carnival. They went on amazing rides and played arcade games that won them toys and stuffed animals. Lincoln certainly enjoyed this break; what with facing guys who can use water and sand and shock gauntlets, he can let his guard down. But not completely. At carnivals, it brings the attention of pickpockets and swindlers. With Lincoln's Extrasensory Perception ability, he can spot anyone who tries to scam out of the people. There weren't anyone who came across Lincoln in different crowds. Lincoln can't help it in his gut something was about to occur.

"Everything alright, Lincoln?"

Lincoln turned to the right to see Haiku looking at him. He flashes her a smile, "I'm alright, Haiku. Just thinking about Middle School," He said

"Way to bring down the celebration with Middle School, Lincoln," Girl Jordan scolded lightly at her friend as she was eating cotton candy.

"I'm so not ready to enter the sixth grade. Who knows what will happen?" Rusty moaned. He rubbed his orange hair in exclamation, dropping a few popcorns from the box he was holding.

"Lynn said there are tough teachers in the school who don't take kindly to us," Clyde said, remembering what Lynn had taught both Clyde and Lincoln when she offer to show them Royal Woods Middle School, though there were major setbacks that almost made the two boys look like jerks to the students at the school.

"And tough students," Liam glanced at little kids being picked up by a trio of bullies. They were eight grade bullies. The one with the short cut hair sneers at the kids, sending them crying. The trio laugh and high five each other before leaving.

"I hope to god they're not in my class," Mollie prayed and Haiku sensed the same hostile aura she felt around the bullies at her school. "Least you guys have Loud to protect your hides," She suddenly smirked.

"I'm not going to beat them up, Mollie," Lincoln objected, on the inside he saw a glimpse at the female member of the trio giving him and his gang an evil grin.

"You hold a mortal value whether it's necessarily to fight or not. That's what makes you the person you are, Lincoln," Haiku nonchalantly stated, getting some stares from the gang.

"Thanks, Haiku," Lincoln said; he didn't have a few words other than what he had said.

"Who's up for the Space Voyage 3000?" Zack asked, pointing at the ride that was a few feet away.

"I'm way ahead of you!" Stella ran to the ride with Zach running behind her. The rest of the gang followed to the ride.

As people were enjoying the carnival, nobody suspected a lone man standing beside one of the games like he was waiting in line to wait for his turn. If only they looked closer at the phone he is currently on and speaking to his employer.

"I don't see the target. Are you sure he comes here?" The man asked; he was in his mid-thirties with dusty blonde hair and wearing a green denim jacket, grey pants and black boots.

"Yes. Who doesn't love a good carnival, especially in the summer? Make sure you have his attention."

"Understood," The man put away his phone as he was next to play the game.

"Strike Three! We have a winner!"

Lincoln grinned in victory as the man rewarded the boy his prize; a medium-size ice bear.

"Congratulations Lincoln, you just won a bear," Clyde stated.

"I call that cheating! Your arm is so buff you nearly broke those bottles!" Rusty complained at the skill Lincoln got. The boy didn't do so much as he got seven out of eighteen bottles. His prize was a blue hat that read Nice Job, Partner!

"Least you got a hat," Stella pointed out; Liam, Zack, and Mollie struggle not to laugh.

"I don't want the hat; you take it, Lincoln!" Rusty took off the hat and handed it to Lincoln. Rolling his eyes, the white haired took it and placed it on his head.

"Jokes on you, I got two prizes now," Lincoln cheekly grinned, causing his friends to laugh with Rusty pouting angrily and Haiku giggling under her hand.

"If everyone is happy at Loud's luck, me and Jordan are going to shoot some hoops," Mollie declared.

"There's that chili cook-off we passed several times; some fellas think their chill is better than my momma makes," Liam started with a scoff, preparing to prove those sorry chefs wrong.

"Thank god my dad isn't in the cook-off; you wouldn't want to upset him if you say something mean to his chilli," Lincoln remarked.

"And my dads," Clyde added.

"I'm going to the ferris wheel, and not try to listen to people's conversation," Zach declared, though this got many deadpan stares from the gang. The red haired boy quickly ran before any of them asked questions.

"I'm gonna try win some arcade games; there's this game that had a butch of coins that I want them all for myself," Stella said.

"And I'm going to the Tunnel of Love; going to try earning a couple of babes by the end of the night," Rusty smugly said. The gang moved away to do their own enjoyment, leaving Lincoln and Haiku.

"You're not going to ride anymore rides or play games, Haiku?" Lincoln asked.

"Soulless entertainment in a carnival filled with mischief and thievery doesn't bring me enjoyment," Haiku stated. It didn't take Lincoln a minute to see the tone Haiku was using as she was a friend to his little sister, Lucy.

"How about we take a walk instead?" Lincoln offered with a small smile. Haiku returned the offer with a smile as well.

"Yes."

Both Lincoln and Haiku weren't the only ones who were walking. The mysterious man held a stern and scouting look in the crowd. In his hands was a bag of small coins he had won from that game he was playing. He threw the bag up to get some attention. From what his employer had said, Hercules was bound to show up whenever there's danger. And the man is about to bring it. He knew much about the hero in Royal Woods and his involvement in the Avengers. Not seeing where he was looking, he collided with someone.

"Ooops! Sorry!"

"It's quite alright, lad," The man said to the person who he had bumped into, which was Lincoln. The man moved forward, not seeing Lincoln pausing like a light had beam in his eyes.

Lincoln saw several visions appearing in his head with his sixth sense activating. The man was talking to someone, he held up a small bag in his hand, a flashbang happened, he was holding a gun, and a shot was fired.

"Lincoln, are you ok?" The boy stared at Haiku, who now was concerned about him. "You were staring at that man."

"I'm sorry, Haiku. Just had a weird feeling in my gut. Can you excuse me?" Lincoln said. He quickly hands Haiku the stuffed ice bear and puts the hat on her head before leaving to follow the stranger.

Lincoln quickly passed through the crowd with danger written in his face; it was what he feared at a carnival. He just didn't expect a gunman appearing here of all places and taking anyone hostages. His family was somewhere in the carnival, so were his friends. He prayed that something bad won't happen to him. He didn't have time to warn his family and friends, if he didn't accidentally run into somebody.

"Watch it, runt!" Lincoln looked up to see the female bully he and his friends saw picking on those kids a while ago. Behind her are her two friends.

"You should watch where you are going, loser," The teen with the shaved hair spoke with malice; his name was Anderson.

"My mistake; I was looking for someone-" Lincoln quickly apologizes to resume his chase till Pablo, the bully with the glasses, blocked his path.

"Who? Your momma?" Pablo mockingly chuckled. Lincoln shoveled past the bully to chase after the man, but Pablo grabbed his arm.

"That was very rude of you; bumping into Taylor and disrespecting Pablo. Someone should teach you a lesson!" Anderson sneered, as he took Lincoln's other arm. All went behind a hiding place between two gaming stands.

"You don't understand! Everyone is in danger!" Lincoln argued.

"The only danger is you, freak!" Taylor cracks her knuckles. Her friends held smirks on their faces as they were ready to beat up their new target.

"Hey. I know this guy," Pablo suddenly said, getting a picture on Lincoln's face. "That's the kid who saved those people from that bus accident."

"Well, looks like we have a celebrity!" Anderson exclaimed, finding more reason to hurt Lincoln.

"I don't buy it that this runt saved those people and cheated death twice," Taylor crosses her arms, while staring at Lincoln with indifference.

"Let's see if he can escape with the three of us," Pablo declared. Lincoln stood guard at the three bullies preparing to beat up the boy, not knowing each of them was about to happen.

"Excuse me," The bullies turned to see a strange man looking at him; Lincoln saw it was the guy he was chasing. "What are you three all doing that boy?" He asked casually.

"Beat it, bum! This is none of your business!" Taylor spat.

The man stared at the bullies glaring at him to leave; he looked at Lincoln who remained a calm face, not knowing he was carefully observing the stranger from his visions. Smacking his lips, he said "Very well. I'll leave you all to handle your business. By the way, have any of you lost some change?" He took out the small bag and shook it for the bullies to hear the coins rattling inside. "About ten dollars in quarters and dimes."

The bullies all raise their eyes in interest, with Anderson grinning "As the matter of fact, we did, mister."

"We did?" Pablo asked, and Anderson elbowed him in the ribs hard. "I mean, yeah! Must have fallen out of my pocket!"

"We were chatting with the kid to see if he stole it," Taylor jabed her thumb at Lincoln, calling him a thief. But Lincoln still remained suspicious of the stranger; his eyes looked at the bag. Lincoln clutching his hands together in anxiety.

"I'm not surprised; lots of people would like to steal from good folks. You three were just caught up in the game. Here's your change," The man threw the bag and Anderson caught it. Lincoln saw Anderson unwrapping the string and then the man putting on his glasses. Without warning and warning the bullies, Lincoln covered his eyes. A bright white light blasted the area. Lincoln moved his arm to see Anderson, Pablo and Taylor knock out.

"Ok boy. Hands up," Lincoln looked to see the man take out a gun to point at the boy. The man warned, "Walk with me," Lincoln did as he said, but he wasn't scared. In five seconds, he can overpowered the guy. But not in front of witnesses. He and the bandit needed to be somewhere away from the place. Lincoln walked to the bandit with his plan coming to mind.

"Lincoln?"

A gasp escaped from his mouth; Haiku was there. Her exposed eyes widened at the scene in front of her.

"Haiku, go," Lincoln told her. The goth didn't move. The bandit's gun was pointing at her. Lincoln's eyes widened. "Haiku!" He called out, his voice raising to get some bystanders' attention. The gun prepares to fire. Lincoln slammed both of his hands on the man's arm, dropping the gun. He pushes the mugger aside to drag Haiku away.

The two kids ran past the crowd in an attempt to get away from the bandit; Lincoln needed to find his family and his friends. Both kids duck down when the bullet is fired. The crowd started screaming. The bandit shoves several people roughly with a glare; his right arm is hurt after Lincoln's attack. He held the gun in his other hand, and fired several rounds in the air.

"I hear a gunshot!" Rita shouted, hugging Lily closely.

"Ran! Some manic has a gun!" A man shouted to the Loud family.

"Get everyone out of here!" Lynn Sr ordered his family.

"Where's Lincoln?!" Lana searched for her big brother in fear.

"Lori, Lynn, find Lincoln!"

The bandit shoves another woman to the ground, yelling "Out of my way!"

Lincoln and Haiku kept running to search for either one of his sisters. But an overweight man knocks Lincoln, separating him from the goth.

"Lincoln!" The goth cried, before she shoved to the ground. Lincoln rolled his body to avoid being stomped. The white haired boy got inside one of the abandoned game stands. He scanned the crowd to find the bandit. He hoped his family and friends had escaped before he found them. But what about Haiku? Lincoln quickly searched for his goth friend. The bandit finally grabbed Haiku by her long hair.

"I wasn't expecting a hostage, brat!" The bandit growled; he dragged the struggling goth away, not seeing the enraged look on the boy's face. Lincoln left the gaming stand to follow the mugger.

The bandit was outside of the carnival with his hostage in his hand. Several police officers came to stop him.

"Stop me, and the kid dies!" The bandit shouted; he grabbed Haiku in a neckhold and put a gun at her left temple.

The Loud family and Lincoln's escape arrive to see the scene in front of them. Lucy gasped loudly at her friend being held by the bandit.

"Nobody moves, you hear me?!" The bandit shouted at the crowd. They couldn't do anything to save the goth, not even Lucy, who was crying helplessly. Same was with Haiku. Out of the corner of her eye, a figure appeared in the parking lot. It was Hercules, much to the crowd's joy.

"Ok pal, put the gun down and let her go," Hercules ordered. The bandit glared at the hero, and then he smirked.

"Try to catch me, hero!" He started to flee away. Hercules ran after him.

The mugger turns to fire several rounds at Hercules; the bullets either miss or bounce off due to his armor. They ran to the empty streets; the bandit stopped at an alleyway. He saw the hero was about to get him. Then he looked at the goth with a grin.

"Nice knowing you, brat!" The bandit threw Haiku on the ground and ran to the alleyway. Haiku saw an oncoming truck where she was standing.

"Haiku!" Hercules yelled, turning his direction to the goth. Haiku braced herself, until she was grabbed right before the truck hit her. She looked up to see her savior. Hercules places her on the ground.

"You alright?" Hercules asked. Haiku felt her cheeks redden at his face; something about him reminded her of the last time she was saved. Before she could answer, Hercules ran to the alleyway where the bandit went.

The bandit fired at Hercules who ran straight at him like a charging bull; he punched the mugger in the face.

"What's your deal?! Shooting at a carnival and holding a girl hostage?!" Hercules shouted. He hears the man's phone from his denim jacket. The hero took the phone away from the man's hand. "Is this the boss?" He answered.

"Hello Hercules. I was expecting you to call. I see you meet my associate, Mr. Dracott."

Hercules heard the heavy German tone from the caller. "Who are you?"

"One day, we will meet face to face. You'll see more of us. Mr. Dracott is one of the few we remain. Cut off one head; two more should take his place."

Hercules recognized those words, and he saw the man grinning at him with a cyanide pill in his mouth. It was too late for him to stop him from crushing the pill.

"Hail Hydra!" The man shouted, with form appearing in his mouth. He grunted before he had died. Hercules dropped the phone to see the man had committed sucide after fulfilling his role in getting his attention. He registered the words from the caller in shock.

Back at the Loud House, the family went back after their moment of celebration ended in a drastic manner. Lincoln had explained what had happened between him and the mugger.

"Hydra? You sure, son?" Lynn Sr asked.

"Yeah, right before he took a cyanide pill," Lincoln answered.

"Do you know who the caller was?" Rita said about the mysterious caller who was the mastermind.

"The phone destroyed itself moments later. It appears Hydra is getting more advanced by not tracing back calls," Lisa explained. Lincoln brought her the phone the Hydra spy had. Lisa tried to figure out where the call came from, but it somehow fried its circuit boards and erased the contact information of the caller.

"I thought the Avengers already dealt with those Nazis," Lynn Jr acknowledges.

"Not all of them. Director Fury said there are a few Hydra operatives that are hiding after the scandal with S.H.I.E.L.D being taken over," Lincoln answered.

"What a horrible night it went down," Luan sighed.

"Let's get some sleep, everyone," Lynn Sr said to the kids. The siblings say their goodnights and hug their parents before going up the stairs.

After brushing his teeth, Lincoln is stopped by Luna.

"Hey bro, just what exactly did that guy want for you?" Luna asked. She was curious that the Hydra spy wanted his attention by shooting at the carnival and taking Haiku as a hostage.

"I don't know, but I gotta feel it's only the beginning. Night guys," Lincoln sighed, and he entered his room.

Lincoln sat in his bedroom with a frown on his face; he had just fought a Hydra spy at a carnival and threatened to kill Haiku before the man took his own life. The Avengers briefly told him there were plenty of Hydra operatives hiding around the world. He never expected a spy coming to his hometown. If a Hydra operative was here, then could there be more hiding as well?

A soft tap interrupted his thinking. Lincoln saw a bat tapping on his window. He opens the window to let it fly and drops down on his desk. Lincoln saw a small note tied around the bat's leg. He untied it and read the note.

I know your secret.

Thanks for saving my life twice.

You are my hero.

Lincoln blinked his eyes; it was from Haiku. He didn't expect her to figure his alter-ego after saving her. Granted, Lincoln did save her once from the bus accident. He should tell his family about this, but he wouldn't want to describe their sleep. Plus, Haiku is Lucy's friend. He never expects her to tell anyone the white haired boy's secret. He flipped the note over to write his response.

I trust you, my friend.

You have a kind loving heart.

Thank you very much.

He tied the note back on the bat's leg. The bat squeaks at the boy as his way of saying thanks and flies into the night.

"What a crazy night," Lincoln sighed before falling asleep.

Yeah, Lincoln met a Hydra Spy. I was going to introduce Lincoln to several Hydra agents in the future; while working on the chapter, I had no clue of what villain to put. That's when I put in the Hydra. Let's just say Lincoln is going to deal with Hydra and what they have planned for the boy in the future. It was an idea from an author. Be sure to stick around for the next chapter. See you guys later. NiteOwl18 out!