Here's a new chapter of Linkage, sorry...I may be delayed on this.

Chapter 17: Catch the Pops

It was currently nighttime in downtown royal woods. Multiple fire trucks were parked next to a building that was currently on fire. Multiple firemen were checking on people who had gotten out of the building however some firemen were still trying to put out the fire as one family was still trapped in the building.

A woman and her son were currently backing away from some erupting fire in their apartment. They tried to escape through the fire escape but some wooden beams fell from the roof and blocked the way out. Right as some beams were about to come down and crush them the two closed their eyes and prepared for the worst…but it never came.

The woman and her son opened their eyes and saw what appeared to be Linkage holding up the beam, both of them smiled. "Linkage!" The boy shouts

"The one and only!" Linkage said as he threw the beam away, as he grabbed the woman, and lifted her in the air easily.

Outside, Linkage came out of the window, and landed on the ground, he places the woman down rest of the citizens who were in the building. He looks at the building, takes a deep breath, and runs all over the building, leaving an orange blur and seeming icy smokes. The building now is covered in smoke, Linkage holding his knees, breathing heavily after doing it. He hears cheers from the citizens and firemen, bashful, fly off to the sky, the women and the boy looks at their hero flying off.

"Thank you..." The boy said

Linkage flying while listening to his earpiece. "Mission accomplish..."

"You could enjoy yourself the attention," -C

"Clyde, you know I can't be around who people likely tear me about," Lincoln said as he enjoy the lights of the town.

"Tha be the fangirls Lame-O." -R.A

Linkage rolls his eyes. "True."

"Besides, tomorrow be your big day right." -C

"Oh yeah, have fun with Pop-Pop, I really need it after the whole rat thing." Linkage said to make a smile.

"Lucky you...your grandfather really cool!" -C

"He beat all of the flag players...that was three months ago." -R.A

Linkage landed in the backyard of his house. "Yeah, gonna be a blast!"

An elderly man was currently in his room at a senior center reading a newspaper labeled "Linkage saves people from burning fire!" On the front of the newspaper was a picture of Linkage flying away from the smoky building.

The elderly man sighed and put the newspaper on a stack with other newspapers that had headlines from "Linkage stops Techno Geek from the comic con!" and "Boy of Tomorrow stops Octo-Man from City Hall!"

"I glade one boy can make a difference." The elderly man said to himself. The old man had white hair, a gray mustache, and eyebrows. He wore a white button-up shirt, blue jeans, a black belt, and orange suspenders. He also had a tattoo of an anchor on his right forearm. This was Albert, the Loud kid's Pop-Pop. "I just hope the kids are safe from any disaster, especially Lincoln."

As Albert held his breath, he remembers his daughter talking about his grandson, he rush to see his grandson...mostly every day until gets the boy woke up and gets back on his feet. But always cut his visit short due to Sue's curfew, Sue...the only one with a problem with the place, making everything like their in kindergarten, just hope this visit makes it better. He takes a look at the newspaper to see the hero again, he really looks familiar aside from the spiky orange hair and green eyes, facial features and freckles really look exactly like the boy he knew. "Hmmm..."

Vanzilla and just pulled up to a place called "Sunset Canyon Retirement Home" when the car stopped Lincoln stepped out of the van as his mother waved at him. "Have fun with Pop-Pop honey. I'll see you at six." Rita said as she drove off.

Right as Lincoln was about to go into the building an old man carrying a box of stuff was being pushed out by a woman wearing a white nurse's uniform. "But, but, but." The old man said as he was pushed off.

"If you would've had your butt back by curfew you'd still have a place to live!" The woman said as she pushed the old man away.

Lincoln, after seeing the event, awkwardly walked into the building but only gets a headache. When he got in he stopped at the front desk and rang the bell on the desk. After ringing the bell Lincoln felt a tap on his shoulder. Lincoln looked behind him and saw no one but when he turned his head back in front of him and saw…

"Pop-Pop!" Lincoln said as Albert pulled him into a hug and laughed. "Your new place is nice."

"Thanks, kiddo. It took me months to get in here. I had to wait for three people to kick the bu-uh, I mean...move out. This place has got a pool and shuffleboard tournaments, and it's filled with all my old pals. I'm really loving it here." As Albert was talking he took notice of his grandson. "Hey kiddo, looks like you're getting the muscle."

"Oh...I've been going out all day since summer."

"Well, that's great. It's nice to hear you and your sisters spending time together. So, what's on today's agenda?"

"I got our whole day planned: arcade, carnival, maybe laser tag?

"Wowsers!" a female voice said from behind the two white heads. When they looked at the source they saw the woman that was just pushing the old man out of the retirement home. This was Sue. "That sounds like oodles of fun…if you wanna end up in the ER. I think your grandfather will be happier spending the day here at Sunset Canyon. Right, Albert?"

"Oh, of course. Good call Sue." Albert said in a saddened tone.

"But Pop-Pop-" Lincoln was saying but stopped when Albert put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Lincoln. Sue here takes real good care of us. She knows best."

Just then Scoots came driving by on her scooter as Sue pulled a velocity speed gun. "Scoots! You're going five miles over the speed limit! Someone just lost her pudding privileges." Sue said as she ran off after the elderly woman. "Get back here!"

"Hey, how about a swim," Lincoln suggested trying to forget what happened and that headache.

Albert was currently waiting in the locker room of the swimming pool area wearing red swim trunks. He was currently waiting for Lincoln to put on his trunks. "You almost finished their kiddo?" Albert asked.

"Yep just done." Lincoln came out of the changing room wearing orange swim trunks.

Albert looked at Lincoln for a second with squinted eyes but quickly gained back his happy expression back. "Well ok then. Come on, the last one to the pools a rotten egg." Albert said as he ran off with Lincoln following behind.

The two quickly found themselves running toward the pool with big smiles on their faces. "CANNON BALL!" Lincoln yelled as ran towards the pool. However, they were quickly stopped by the sound of a whistle.

The two looked up and saw Sue sitting on the lifeguard chair holding a whistle. "Cannonball? Well, that sounds like a hoot…if you wanna break a hip! Do you wanna break a hip, Albert?" Sue said as Albert shook his head in fear. "Then why don't you grab a seat on the helper chair." Sue gestured her hands towards a helper chair which was moving slowly into the pool with a line of other seniors behind it.

"Good call Sue," Albert said sadly as he headed to the helper chair.

"And speaking of pool safety I have something for you young man," Sue said to Lincoln as she smiled evilly.

Lincoln found himself floating in the pool wearing a bulky life vest and water nose plugs looking rather unhappy. "Where's a villain if you need to get this lady." Lincoln deadpanned.

"Okay Lincoln splash fight in 3,2-" Albert was saying as the helper chaired lowered him but was interrupted by Sue's whistle again.

"Everybody out! Time to reapply sunblock." Sue announced

"Aww," Albert said in disappointment as the helper chair lifted him back up.

"But we're indoors," Lincoln said as he looked at Sue confused.

"Now Lincoln, Sue knows best."

Lincoln simply gained a disappointed look and swam away. It was currently taking most of the Loud boy's self-control to keep his sparks of red energy out of sight.

As Lincoln swam off Seymour swam by on a pool noodle. "But Sue I-I just got the hang of this noddle and I-" Seymour was saying but was interrupted by Sue.

"Okay, Seymour, you can stay in the water. If you want your skin to flake off like a burnt potato!" Sue scolded the old man.

"Oh…good call Sue," Seymour said as he paddled backward.

'She such a B.' Lincoln thought wanna blast Sue's smirk face right now.

Lincoln and Albert were now in a different room in Sunset Canyon playing twister. Lincoln spun the wheel and it landed on…

"Left foot red!" Lincoln called out as the arrow stopped spinning.

Albert lifted up his foot and struggled a bit but managed to put his foot on the space as he blew a raspberry at smirked to himself as he spun the wheel again. However, as the wheel was spinning Sue stomped her foot on the arrow stopping it.

"Well, doesn't this look like a great way to end up in traction? Why don't you help scoot with her cat puzzle?" However, as Sue finished talking all three looked and saw Scoots eating pudding right from the dispenser. "I EXPRESSLY SAID NO PUDDING!"

"You'll never catch me, SHREW!" Scoots said as she rode off on her scooter laughing as Sue chased her down blowing on her whistle.

Lincoln and Albert were now in Albert's room with Albert laying in his bed. Lincoln meanwhile had an annoyed look on his face. "Pop-Pop, do you really need a nap?" Lincoln asked.

"Those are Sue's rules and Sue knows best."

"Can't you Sue's do to you? She convinced you you're old and frail. But you're not. The last time we hung out, you crushed those Navy SEALs in paintball. How did you do that anyway, it's like they were nothing to you?"

"Haha, I guess you could say I've dealt with far worse than them, but that was years ago Lincoln."

"It was last month. Pop-Pop, I think we should go out on the town like we used to."

"Okay, you sold me. Let's blow this popsicle stand!"

Lincoln and Albert quickly made their way to the lobby of the retirement home and were attempting to sneak out the front door. However, right as they were about to exit the building Sue came up in a patrol cart and spotted the two white heads. "Where are you two Peppy Pete's off to? Albert, shouldn't you be in bed?" Sue said as he grinned evilly at the two.

"He's not tired." Lincoln retaliated.

"Oh, I didn't realize we had a geriatric expert on the premises," Sue said sarcastically

"And you are? We're just going out to have some fun."

"Well, that sounds like a good way to miss out six PM curfew. And you know what happens if you miss curfew…YOU'll BE OUT ON YOUR PROVERBIAL KEISTER!"

"Uh…come on Lincoln. Race you to the shuffleboard court." Albert said nervously.

"Pop-Pop, no. We're gonna have a great time, I promise we'll be back by six o'clock curfew."

"Hm, okay, kiddo. Lead the way."

As they were about to Leave Sue cleared her throat and Lincoln looked back and saw Sue pointed at her watch. Lincoln glared back at Sue and he rolled his eyes while flashes green for a second.

Lincoln and Albert found themselves at a 50's styled dinner with Lincoln sitting next to the register ordering their food. "Two cheeseburgers, two fries, and two chocolate shake," Lincoln told the lady at the counter as she typed the orders into the register.

"Oh, not for me. I'll just have the cottage cheese and melon slices." Albert said as Lincoln gave him a confused look. "Sue says I should stick to food that's a little easier to digest."

"This coming from the guy who cleaned out an entire Chinese buffet?" Lincoln said as he remembered the time Albert ate everything at a Chinese buffet causing it to close up for the day.

"Hehe, I sure took it to 'em. Ah, what the heck? I'll have what he's having. And put chili on everything?"

Albert and Lincoln quickly got their lunch and chowed down. After they finished Albert let out a fart. "Who stepped on a frog?" Albert joked as they shared a laugh. "That was great Lincoln…but I wanna ask you something."

"What is it Pop-Pop."

"I just wanted to know if you've been watching out for those people who are Metax, using their powers for their own purpose."

Lincoln looked up and started to sweat nervously. "Um, I've heard a few things, why?"

Pop-Pop scratched his chin."Oh, no reason. I just thought it would be something you were interested in. The funniest thing though, I've heard rumors that all the villains stop by a Metax boy just about your age."

Lincoln grew more nervous, was Pop-Pop on to him. Before Lincoln could speak up a waitress's voice could be heard from some intercoms saying "Hey, hit cats and kittens! It's time to do the twist!"

50s-styled music started to play in the restaurant as a waiter came up to Albert and offered her hand to dance. "Uh, thank you, but I really shouldn't. Sue says dancing is a great way to slip a disk." Albert told the waitress.

"But, Pop-Pop, you love to dance," Lincoln said while being thankful there was a change in subjects.

"They did call me 'jitterbug' in the plu-uh, I mean the army." Albert immediately took the waitress's hand and started to dance with the waitress as she laughed gleefully. Lincoln however raised a brow at Albert, what was he about to say before he corrected himself?

The rest of the day went exactly as Lincoln planned. The two went to go play laser tag with Albert to shoot Lincoln and a little girl shot Albert. After that, they went to the carnival and rode the bumper cars and as they collided with each other Albert's dentures flew out of his mouth and hit Lincoln in the head and the two laughed about it. They then went over to flip food n fuel and chugged down Flippees to see who can finish theirs first, Lincoln ended up getting a brain freeze while Pop-Pop ended up winning. After that, they went mountain climbing and managed to reach the top and high-fived each other as they admired the view.

The two then went to the park and Lincoln got them each a hot dog. When he walked up to Albert Lincoln saw he was talking to a biker. "Lincoln, my new friend T-bone here was just telling e about a mechanical bull riding competition."

"We should be heading back. It's almost six and Sue said-" Lincoln was saying but was interrupted by Albert.

"Aw, nuts to Sue! You were right about her! She got me thinking I'm an old geezer but I still got some pep in my step." Albert said as showed off some dance moves. "Huh? Huh?"

"Yeah, but Sue said if we miss curfew, you'll be out on your proverbial keister."

"You let me deal with Sue. Now, you ready to saddle up?" Albert asked as he finished his hot dog.

"Pop-Pop, we can't."

"Okay, worrywart, then I'm outta here. Let's ride, T-Bone!" Albert then got onto T-Bone's motorcycle and the two drove off leaving Lincoln in the dust.

"Pop-Pop, wait! What have I done." Lincoln looked behind him and saw a tree and went behind it. "Luckily I used to chase down chase cars," Lincoln said as he summon his ring, transforming into his heroic version, Linkage.

Linkage quickly made his way to a bar and saw T-Bone's motorcycle parked next to it and entered it and found T-Bone at one of the tables. "Woah! Linkage, can I have your autograph" T-Bone said in surprise as Linkage came to a stop in front of him.

"Maybe another time. Have you seen an old man here with white hair and orange overalls?" Linkage asked.

"Oh, you mean Cowboy Al? Haven't seen him since he won the competition." T-Bone pulled out his phone and showed Fasttrack a video of Albert riding on the mechanical bull.

"Well if he isn't here, where is he?" Linkage asked while looking around.

Linkage got his answer when he turned to a TV that had a baseball game on. "Martinez goes for the catch, and…what in blazes? There's an old man on the field, in his boxers! And there go the boxers." The sportscaster announced as it showed footage of Albert running around the baseball field while Linkage covered his eyes upon hearing the last part.

"To the ball…park…hey wait for a second, how did he get here, win the bull riding competition, and then to the ballpark before I even got here…eh, probably just plot convince." Linkage told himself as he ran out of the bar.

When Linkage flew towards the baseball stadium he saw a crowd storming out carrying Albert away. Albert was now skateboarding on a ramp doing tricks every time he got into the air. Right as Linkage got to the skateboard ramp Albert jumped skated off the ramp and landed on a piece of cardboard on the street and did some break dancing moves. Just then a van labeled 'The Heavy Metal Band Horns on Rabbit' pulled up next to Albert and someone pulled him inside. Albert was now performing a sax on stage as Linkage managed to catch up. As Linkage was about to grab Albert a stage dived into the crowd and surfed through the crowd while still playing the sax.

Linkage quickly made it outside and looked around for Albert. "Pop-Pop's curfew is in thirty minutes." Linkage panicked. Linkage then heard a plane and looked up in the sky and saw Albert riding in a plane while the plane used its exhaust to spell out Pop-Pop rules in the sky. Linkage sighing in relief due to having sharp eyes, saw Albert wearing a parachute.

"LOOK OUT, WORLD! ALBERT'S ABOUT TO TAKE IT TO YA!" Albert shouted as he jumped out of the plane. "YAHOO-AH!"

Linkage let out a yelp and started flying where Albert was about to fall. Linkage soon found himself in the woods and heard some branches rustling. Linkage landed in the woods while transforming back into Lincoln, he walked deeper in the woods until he saw Albert dangling on a tree by his parachute, Albert then let out a fart.

"Pop-Pop!" Lincoln said in worried.

"Whoops! Guess I had too much chili. Sorry, kiddo. I think I overdid it a little today."

"That's okay Pop-Pop. If we hurry we can still get you back in time. Hold on." Lincoln said as he got Albert down. "Let me call a ride," He called one person aside from his parents having a vehicle. "Hello Scan, how's your day?"

"It's good Lincoln finished watching my show." Scan said

Pop-Pop smiled. "Well I'll be, Scan Atoms...it's that you?"

"Oh whoa, Albert...it's you! How you been?!" Scan replied happily

"Ahem...before we talk, can we do it while driving back," Lincoln said

In the Atoms RV, Sarah is driving while Lincoln is in the front with her while Scan and Albert talking at the table.

"Guess their friends back in the day," Sarah states smiling at her dad.

Lincoln also has a smile on his face. "Yeah, so cool...But worried about deal control mad nurse Sue..."

Both Atoms were alarmed by that name. "Sue, the lady having total loads of rules, kicks out anyone in late curfew, and a smile that wanna punch in the face."

"Yeah, that's about right," Lincoln said as nodded.

Scan and Sarah make a glare as the man spoke. "We got her..."

Back in the retirement home, Sue check every room until one left hoping no there. "Albert?! Albert?!" Sue yelled as she pounded on Alberts's door. An evil grin came onto her face as she heard nothing. "Tch...Tch...Tch...Looks like that little brat wasn't able to pull it off after all."

Sue walked back to the main entrance, only to see Lincoln and Albert with glares on their faces, she smiled. "Aw look we here...sorry Albert, the rules state be in your room at exactly six...now get your stuff-"

"No, I think should talk to him," Lincoln said pointing his thumb at the back, the entrance.

Sue look and her face turn to see Scan and Sarah who are both glaring at her. "S-Scan, you still-"

"Walking after you put me in the hospital, after what you doing...like kicking elderly out make them go homeless making breaking the law," Scan said

"Breaking the law, I only doing this to this make sure these elderly won't go crazy and being such fools, I making a good fortune doing this and carless that foolish man leaves, besides no one, there's proof of-" Sue respond sees Lincoln out his phone.

"I think the police like heard this, and the police sirens are coming," Lincoln said with a smile.

Sue left eye twitched in pure rage, and she made a total scream into a roar, they sees Sue getting a green reptilian skin, her eyes getting sharper, gets razor-sharp teeth. Popping out of the back is sharp wings and a tail.

All of them back away from the newest form of Sue. "I think she one of those Metax people...like a dragon."

"GIVE...ME...THAT...YOU" Dragon Sue said sucking up her breath.

The five police cops came, surrounded the place coming out of their cars, and pointed their guns at the entrance.

"Attention Nurse Sue, come out with your hands in the air." A policeman called out

But they see Lincoln, Sarah, Scan, and Albert run out of the place due to Sue coming out like a dragon and breathing out the fire while speaking one word.

"BRRRRAAAAATTTT!"

Scan and Sarah run to the other side of the RV, as fire hits the vehicle, but the RV's metal is strong enough to take the heat of an inferno. The policemen opened fire on Dragon Sue, who take the hit of the bullet, not getting the damage. Meanwhile, Lincoln and Albert hiding on another side of the building, looking at the building.

"This is not good, only that Linkage boy is here," Albert said

Lincoln looked back down at the ground trying to think of a way to save the day. An idea soon came to his head as his eyes widened. "Pop-Pop…I think I know a way to stop Sue but…can you keep a secret?"

"Of course, kiddo but what is it?"

Lincoln let out a deep breath. "Just…try not to freak out." Lincoln summons his ring around his waist. Alberts's eyes immediately widened as he saw Lincoln's ring split apart, and change into someone else.

All of the policemen now with Sarah and Scan behind the RV, trying to avoid the flames.

"That lady must be really pissed!" One of the policemen shouts

"She won't stop, we all gonna fried!" Another police said in a little panic.

Sarah look up and smiled. "No, here comes our little hero!"

They see Linkage flying down and landing on the ground as Dragon Sue spots him, she makes a fire breath at him. Linkage simply blasted an ice beam at Dragon Sue without holding everything back, Linkage sees Dragon Sue who is now an ice statue.

"I guess I overdid it...but totally worth it." Linkage said with a smirk.

About an hour, A Dome truck carried an ice statue of Dragon Sue into the truck and begin to drive off. Meanwhile at the entrance, Lincoln, Albert, and the Atoms chat about what happened even Lincoln's secret.

"So you're the hero Linkage," Albert said with a smile.

"Yeah sorry Pop-Pop, I really wanna tell you but I wanna-" Lincoln replied stop by Albert's hand on his shoulder.|

"To protect me, don't worry kiddo...you saving countless lives over, helping those really needed, couldn't ask the greatest grandson." Albert states

Lincoln smiles he hugged Albert. "You are the best!"

Sarah smiled at this, and take a photo of the moment. "I'll be saving this."

Scan who is the phone, he hang up and smiled. "Albert...don't worry, tomorrow you get a new and nicest nurse who will take care of the retirement home."

"That's great, and seems your mom is here," Albert said seeing Vanzilla pulling up.

Lincoln begin to walk to it while waving at Albert and the Atoms, he opened the door, got to the seat, and Rita looked at him. "Hey sweetie, how was it..." She drove off.

"Hey...like the usual but good in the end," Lincoln answered looking at the retirement in the mirror.

Man, this was a lot of think...and Pop-Pop knows Lincoln's secret, keeping it secret.

As for Sue, I really hated how she treat Pop-Pop and his friends like kids, so I make sure she was never seen again.

So stay tuned for another chapter. Sign Out!🌀