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[Isle of Armor: Galar Region]
Days have passed since Lincoln earned Kubfu in the Isle of Armor challenge. Since then Lincoln has been training his entire team for the upcoming battle against Bea, the current gym leader of Stow-on-Side.
'From what I read, Bea is a Pokemon trainer who specializes with fighting type Pokemon. I have Corvisquire, but I really don't have any other Pokemon besides Butterfree who has a type advantage. Besides Bea is no soft cookie is I heard rumors that she has countermeasures for every Pokemon type that has an advantage over fighting type Pokemon like psychic, flying, and fairy.' thought Lincoln, wondering what he was going to do as Kubfu approached him.
"Kub Kub."said Kubfu, wondering if his trainer was okay.
"Yeah, I'm all right buddy I'm just worried about the big day as today is the day we're going to decide if we're going to take on the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Waters."said Lincoln, as he knew that this was a big moment for both him and Kubfu.
As master Mustard told him that Kubfu will evolve if it reads a special scroll in either the Tower of Darkness, or the Tower of Waters.
And after much decision and self-isolation Lincoln has already decided to go with the Tower of Darkness.
"I already have two water types on my team but I don't have a dark type. And having a dark type Pokemon with me will certainly help me against psychic type Pokemon."said Lincoln, feeling like Kubfu would be better off with learning from the scroll in the Tower of Darkness
"Are you ready Lincoln. Remember only you and Kubfu are allowed to go into the tower. No one else."said Ronnie Anne, wondering if Lincoln was really okay with going by himself as he hasn't had Kubfu as long as the others.
"I will be fine as I've learned a lot from Master Mustard over these last few days and I know with a bit more training will be ready for our upcoming gym battle against Bea. I have to be ready as she is a prodigy and a powerful gym leader. Ness and Mustard both defeated me and it honestly hurts. But I know through the feet that I will persevere and become stronger as it's going to take a lot more than my current level to take on Leon."said Lincoln, knowing that he had to be stronger if he had any chance of taking on Leon and taking his championship title!
"Well, I wish we could go with you and root for you buddy but Miss Honey was quite stern on the fact that only you and Kubfu may go to the Tower of Darkness."said Clyde, as he knew how scary Miss Honey could be when she was angry.
And last thing any of them wanted to do was make her angry, especially Klara!
"Well, time to head to the tower before the sun begins to set."said Bobby, as Lincoln got up and began leaving the master dojo with Kubfu close behind him.
"I won't lose to Master Mustard a second time! I have a feeling that he has set up something especially for me and I am willing to rise to the challenge! After all I don't want to lose with such a one-sided defeat like last time."said Lincoln, as it was clear to his friends that Mustard defeating him so easily really got to him.
But it was because that it got to him that Lincoln was able to reach a much higher level than before! And that higher level will help him in the long run in his gym challenge!
"Just remember not to get too worked up Lincoln as that's what makes you lose Pokemon battle."said Adelaide, trying to give Lincoln advice.
"I'll remember that."said Lincoln, as he knew better than anyone that Nessa and Mustard defeated him because he got too worked up.
Both are strong Pokemon trainers but he wouldn't have lost so easily if he wasn't so worked up.
"Okay, I'm off!"said Lincoln as he and Kubfu began making their journey to the Tower of Darkness!
"Are you guys sure with our decision?"asked Sid, wondering if they were really okay with the plan that they plan to tell Lincoln when he comes back.
"Yeah, it's for the best."said Ronnie Anne, as everyone else quietly nodded their heads in agreement.
"It is what has to be done."said Clyde, knowing that this would be hard for both him and Lincoln but it had to be done.
"Yeah, we really don't have any choice at our level."said Bobby with a serious look on his face.
"Yeah..."said Sid, knowing that some of them is especially Ronnie Anne and Clyde would not like this idea even though they are the ones who came up with it in the first place.
-=O=-
"Okay I want to know who decided to build a tower way up here with so many stairs?!"said Lincoln, after he and Kubfu finally managed to get over the final staircase to the Tower of Darkness.
Lincoln and Kubfu both needed a moment to catch their breath as they had transversed a really really big staircase to get to the Tower. And it didn't help that some of the wild Pokemon around them were quite hostile and it took both Lincoln and Kubfu's combine efforts to force them to withdraw!
"Well, we made it this far so we might as well head into the tower and find that scroll!"said Lincoln after he managed to catch his breath.
"Kub fu kub kub."said Kubfu in agreement with his trainer as soon as he caught his breath.
With no other word spoken between the two of them they quickly enter the Tower of Darkness. It took them some time to move the heavy door but it managed to get it open and answer the tower to see that it was dimly lit with a bunch of candles that look like they were barely lit.
"Someone is here."said Lincoln, as these candles can only have been lit a few minutes ago.
Both Lincoln and Kubfu swallowed a large lump down their throats as they started making their way to the top of the tower, as both of them figured that's where the scroll that will allow Kubfu to evolve is located!
They walk through floor after floor and soon reached the top, where they saw Mustard waiting for them behind what look like to be the scroll that would help Kubfu evolve into his next form.
"I suspected that you would choose this Tower so I chose to wait for you. Welcome to the Tower of Darkness, my young disciple."said Mustard, with his usual cheery smile.
"I wanted to see who would be my challenge and I'm not surprised it's you."said Lincoln, has he suspected Mustard would be the hurdle he needed to overpass if he wanted to get to that scroll.
"Life is like a raging river. Sometimes clam, sometimes intense. Everyone needs a little darkness in them."said Mustard, before he threw off his head and jacket to reveal a much more serious face as he spun around in the air and showed off a more serious and agile look!
"So, this is your real face!"said Lincoln, as the Mustard heat faced before was nothing like the Mustard in front of him right now.
"Kubfu, let's go!"said Mustard as he called out his Kubfu!
"So you're our opponent! Kubfu, let's show them what we're made of!"said Lincoln as Kubfu got in front of him.
Both wushu Pokemon faced each other down as they waited for their trainers to give the commands
"Kubfu, use brick break!"ordered Mustard, as Kubfu charge towards Lincoln's Kubfu with amazing speed!
"Dodge and use headbutt!"ordered Lincoln, causing the wushu Pokemon to quickly avoid Mustard Kubfu's attack, before striking back with headbutt.
"Kub!"exclaimed Mustard's Kubfu as it was pushed back.
"Now you use btick break!"ordered Lincoln, causing the wushu Pokemon to quickly charge at his counterpart at full speed as he struck the enemy Kubfu with brick break!
"Use counter!"ordered Mustard, causing his Kubfu to smile as it felt back double the damage to Lincoln's Kubfu using counter!
"I shouldn't expect anything less from the former champion."said Lincoln as Kubfu glared at his counterpart!
"Use aerial ace!"ordered Mustard, causing his Kubfu to surrounded fist with wind like energy as it charged towards Lincoln's Kubfu.
"Jump!"ordered Lincoln, causing Kubfu to jump out of the way and avoid getting struck with aerial ace!
"Use poison jab!"ordered Lincoln, causing the wushu Pokemon to descend and strike the other wushu Pokemon with poison jab, causing damage.
"Use counter!"ordered Mustard, as Kubfu became surrounded by red energy as it prepared to use counter!
"Use aerial ace!"ordered Lincoln, as Kubfu's hands and feet became covered by wind like energy as it avoided getting struck with counter before striking his counterpart in the face and across the chest with aerial ace!
"Kubfu!"said Mustard as Kubfu fell to the floor and was revealed to have been knocked out.
"Yes! All that intense training finally paid off!"said Lincoln, as he and Kubfu high-fived one another.
"Hahahaaha! Just what I expect from the trainer who earned the secret armor of the master dojo! I and very impressed! You and Kubfu have not only became the best of friends, but you also drew out his hidden strength and allowed him to become the strong wushu Pokemon I always knew he could be!"said Mustard with a smile on his face, as he was very proud of Lincoln and Kubfu.
"Now! Look upon this scroll and you will evolve, Kubfu."said Mustard, as Lincoln and Kubfu approached the scroll behind Mustard.
Sure enough as soon as Kubfu got a good look at the scroll did he begin to glow as he begins to evolve! Lincoln watched with amazement as his cute bear like pokémon began to grow in size and appearance as his bandana grew longer and his arms and legs grew larger and longer.! Soon the light dissipated and where Kubfu once stood was an entirely different Pokemon!
"Urshifu!"exclaimed the new Pokemon that stood where Kubfu once stood.
"Say hello to Urshifu, single strike style. This wushu Pokemon believes in finishing a battle with powerful blows that will end the battle quickly! It's signature move will do a lot of damage to anyone at the receiving end. Congratulations Lincoln and Urshifu, I have nothing left to teach you."said Mustard, as Urshifu hugged his trainer.
"I'm so proud of you, Urshifu. I know with you by my side my gym battles will be more intense and the feeling."said Lincoln, knowing that with his new Pokemon by his side that things will certainly be interesting.
-=O=-
A few hours after Lincoln left the Tower of Darkness, he received some news from his companions. The basically told him and no small words that they plan to stay in the Isle of Armor for a while to train!
"But why? I thought you guys wanted to go with me on my journey?"asked Lincoln, wondering why his friends were making their decision.
"We initially intended to do that. But after seeing the gap between us as Pokemon trainers it's clear that we need to train to get to your level Lincoln. And the best way to do that is to stay with Master Mustard and Miss Honey."said Ronnie Anne, who hated to admit that Lincoln was better at her at something.
"Yeah, this is hard for all of us Lincoln but we need to get stronger if we hope to keep up with you and at our current levels we just can't."said Clyde, knowing that staying at the Isle of Armor was probably the best chance of catching up to Lincoln.
"I... I understand. You all need to go through your Pokemon journeys at your own pace and I can very well rush you guys. So let's just keep in touch and hope then one day we will be reunited somewhere along our journeys."said Lincoln as everyone exchange rotom phone info.
"Good luck, Lincoln. I'm sure you will do a good job in your next gym model."said Sid, giving Lincoln her support.
"Yeah, show that fighting prodigy who's boss!"said Bobby with a thumbs up.
"Show from the power of Pokemon trainers from the United States."said Adelaide as she also gave a thumbs up.
"Oh, you better believe I will!"said Lincoln as he and his friends hugged one last time before he said off for the Corviknight station to head back to mainland Galar.
As he got on the flying taxi and began to leave the Isle of Armor, he noticed his friends along with Klara, Mustard, Honey, and the other dojo students waving him goodbye as he waved goodbye to them as he began to make his journey back to mainland Galar for his upcoming gym battle against the Stow-on-Side gym leader, Bea!
Lincoln's Team
Raboot
Wartortle
Corvisquire
Toxel
Urshifu
Dreepy
With Professor Magnolia
Butterfree
Sizzlepede
Drednaw
Farfetch'd