Disclaimer: We don't own Loud House or Pokemon. All rights to Loud House belong to Nickelodeon. All rights to Pokemon belong to Nintendo and Game Freak.
The First Signboard
Lincoln and Kieran soon reach the Loyalty Plaza on Cyclizar; once there, they both hop off and Lincoln returns his Cyclizar to his pokeball.
"Looks like we beat your sister here." said Lincoln.
"I hope she won't be too mad." said Kieran.
"Yeah, sore losers are not people you want to deal with." said Lori.
"Trust us when we say they take the fun out of stuff and cause trouble." said Luna as she looks at Lynn Jr, making her look away with shame.
"Even though this isn't a race; Carmine just made it one." said Lincoln.
"What are you going to do now, Linky?" asked Iono.
"We'll wait for Clyde and Carmine to show up before we look at the signboard." said Lincoln. "I'm gonna look around for some new kinds of Pokemon." He starts to walk around, looking, when he suddenly sees a purple, snakelike one.
"Ooh, what's that?!" asked Lana, excitedly. Lincoln points his Rotom Phone at the Pokemon.
"Ekans, the Snake Pokemon. It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however." said Lincoln's Rotom Phone.
"Cool! Catch that Pokemon for me, Lincoln!" said Lana.
"Sure thing." replied Lincoln, pulling out a pokeball. "Lycanroc, go!" Lincoln throws Lycanroc's pokeball and releases him. Ekans glares at Lycanroc and he begins to slump. "Okay, Lycanroc, use Crush Claw!" Lycanroc runs at Ekans while his claws glowed white and he slashes Ekans with them, knocking it back, and weakening its defense. Ekans unleashes glowing purple needles from its mouth, and they hit Lycanroc.
"Lycanroc, Tackle!" said Lincoln. Lycanroc charges at Ekans and rams it, knocking it to the ground. Lincoln takes out a pokeball and throws it at Ekans, hitting it, and sucking it in; after it wiggled around a few times, it clicks. "I caught Ekans, Lana."
"Yeah!" cheered Lana. Ekans pokeball vanishes; Lincoln uses his Rotom Phone to look up Ekans information.
"This says Ekans is a girl, she knows Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Bite, and Glare; she has the Intimidate ability which weakens the attack strength of a Pokemon that's brought out to battle." said Lincoln. He uses his Rotom Phone to transfer Ekans to the Loud house.
"Good capture, Lincoln. " said Kieran. Just then, Clyde and Carmine arrived; with Carmine struggling to catch her breath.
"You okay, Clyde?" asked Lincoln.
"Yeah; compared to what Ms. Dendra has us do, that was nothing." said Clyde.
"No fair...using... a Pokemon." said Carmine.
"First, this wasn't a race; and second, there wasn't a rule saying we couldn't." said Lincoln. Carmine growls at him in response.
"Let's just look at the first signboard." said Carmine. The four walk into the Loyalty Plaza and over to a large sign.
"That's it." said Kieran as he and the others walk over to the signboard.
"You two outsiders can read it; we know what it says." said Carmine.
"Okay." said Lincoln before he and Clyde start reading.
"Long, long ago, there was a fearsome ogre in the land of Kitakami." Clyde started to read.
"The ogre made its home in the mountain behind the village, frightening all who ventured there." Lincoln read.
"One day, the ogre came down from the mountain in a terrible rage, causing great fear in the village." read Clyde.
"By some stroke of luck, Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti all happened to be there as well." read Lincoln.
"The three Pokemon laid down their lives to fend off the ogre and send it back to the mountain." read Clyde.
"In admiration, the people of the village bestowed upon this brave trio the title 'The Loyal Three.'" read Lincoln.
"Their remains were given a proper burial, and statues of the three were erected above the site." read Clyde.
"The Loyal Three Monument is over there." said Kieran, pointing at what appeared to be a shrine that had three small statues in it; one looked like a monkey wearing a pink knit hat, one looked like a dog wearing a pink knit bib, and one looked like a bird wearing a pink knit cape.
"That was a nice story." said Rita.
"It was very intersting folklore." said Howard McBride.
"I liked the ogre; it sounded cool!" said Lana.
"I know, right?!" Kieran replied. "I'm glad to meet someone who thinks so too."
"How can you like the ogre?" asked Carmine.
"It sounds really strong if it took on three opponents at once." said Lincoln.
"Yeah!" said Kieran.
"And what if the ogre is actually a Pokemon?" asked Clyde.
"That would be really cool!" said Lincoln.
"You can say that again!" said Kieran.
"Would you kids stop getting overexcited about the ogre and just take the picture?" asked Carmine.
"Okay, okay; you don't have to be a killjoy." said Lincoln bitterly.
"Yeah, don't ruin my cutie's fun!" said Iono.
"I'll admit that Lincoln is a little cute." said Carmine, making Lincoln recoil while blushing a little and Iono growl.
"Hey, Linky's mine!" said Iono.
"I'm just saying." said Carmine with a smirk.
"Let's get close together so we can all be in the picture." said Clyde. The four huddle close together, with Carmine draping her arms over Lincoln's shoulders while nuzzling his cheek, making him a little uncomfortable while blushing, and Lincoln puts his Rotom Phone on the Roto-Stick that the caretaker gave him; he then takes the picture.
"Now that you got the picture, get your arms off my Linky, hussy!" said Iono, making Lincoln's sisters and Kieran chuckle a little.
"HUSSY?!" Carmine responds. "How about saying that to my face?!"
"I would if I was there, and it didn't involve looking at your face!" said Iono.
"Oh yeah?!" Carmine replies.
"I'd watch what I say to her." said Lincoln. "She has a LOT of followers around the world, and they will give you a hard time if you do something they won't like."
"Ha! My cutie's defending my honor!" said Iono, making Lincoln smile and blush.
"Whatever." said Carmine.
"Who's hungry?" asked Lincoln.
"I can eat." said Clyde.
"Me, too." said Kieran. Lincoln and Clyde unpack their picnic supplies and start making sandwiches for everyone.
"You can cook, Linky?" asked Iono.
"Yeah, Dad's taught me a few things back home." said Lincoln.
"And he's a very good pupil." said Lynn Sr with pride.
"How is he with looking after younger kids?" asked Iono out of curiosity.
"He always looks after his younger siblings when me, Lynn, and his older sisters are unavailable and we can't find a sitter." said Rita. "He knows how to make proper meals for them, keep them from getting hurt, and he even changes Lily diapers now and then."
"Sounds like Linky would make a good husband and father." said Iono before giggling, making Lincoln blush heavily and his sisters squeal with delight.
Later, after everyone finishes eating and Lincoln and Clyde clean the dishes, they put their picnic stuff away.
"That was good." said Kieran.
"I'll admit that it was." said Carmine.
"Thanks." said Clyde.
"Lincoln does dishes? Another plus to him being a husband." said Iono with a smile, making Lincoln blush.
"Let's get going to the next signboard." said Clyde.
"Okay." said Carmine. "And no using Pokemon this time!"
"Fine." said Lincoln as he and the others start exiting the plaza; as they do, Lincoln looks up at the tall mountain behind the village.
"What's up, Lincoln?" asked Clyde.
"Maybe I can try looking for the ogre while I'm here; just to see what it's like." said Lincoln.
"I'm surprised that you aren't afraid of the ogre." said Kieran.
"I probably seen scarier things; like my Aunt Ruth's feet." said Lincoln, making his family, except Lana, and Clyde shudder.
"How bad can her feet be?" asked Iono.
"Hey, could one of you back home send a picture of them to me?" asked Lincoln.
"Why would you keep a picture of her feet if they're as nasty as you make them out to be?" asked Carmine.
"It helps suppress appetites; good for dieting." said Lori. A notification appears on Lincoln's Rotom Phone, indicating an upload has been put onto it. Lincoln brings up the photo and recoils when he sees it.
"Can you send me a copy of the picture?" asked Iono.
"Okay, but I should warn you that they won't be pretty." said Lincoln.
"Thanks for caring about me enough to do so, cutie." said Iono.
"Here, see for yourselves." said Lincoln as he shows Carmine and Kieran the picture, making them recoil with horror.
"Are those human feet?!" asked Kieran.
"No ogre could possibly be as scary as those!" said Carmine as she continues to stare at the photo.
"You see all those blisters?!" asked Luna.
"Yeah, especially that big one at the end of her left foot." said Kieran.
"That's not a blister; that's a sixth toe." said Lincoln.
"You're kidding me!" says Kieran.
"It's literally true." said Lori.
"How can someone's feet get like that?!" asked Iono.
"Sorry you had to see them, Iono." said Lincoln.
"It's not your fault, cutie; I was curious myself." said Iono. Lincoln quickly gets the picture off the screen, much to everyone's relief.
"Delete that file!" said Carmine.
"On it." said Lincoln as he does what he's told.
"Can you imagine touching those?" asked Kieran.
"Aunt Ruth makes Lincoln massage them when his family visits her." said Clyde.
"Oh, sweet Arceus!" said Kieran.
"My poor Linky!" said Iono. Carmine grabs Lincoln and picks him up in a hug.
"You've been through so much!" said Carmine.
"He sure has." said Clyde with a frown, making Lincoln's family look away in shame. After a while, Carmine sets Lincoln down; a growl was heard from Lincoln's Rotom Phone, making them look to see Iono glaring at her.
"Hugging Linky's my thing, so keep your hands off him!" said Iono, making Carmine frown at her, and Lincoln's sisters giggle.
Lincoln and Clyde have learned a little about the legend of the ogre. What else will they learn and experience as their Kitakami adventure continues?
End of Chapter 41
Pokemon on Lincoln's team: Floragato (M), Pawmot (F), Charcadet (M), Lycanroc Dusk Form (M) Finizen (M), and Cyclizar (M).
Pokemon in Lincoln's collection: Floragato (M), Pawmot (F), Spidops (M), Hoppip (F), Vivillon (F), Oinkologne (M), Fletchling (F), Wooper (Paldean, F), Psyduck (M), Buizel (M), Wiglett (M), Magikarp (F), Sunkern (F), Flamigo (M), Ralts (M), Pachirisu (F), Skwovet (M), Deerling (F), Happiny (F), Pichu (F), Azurill (M), Igglypuff (F), Bonsly (M), Surskit (M), Bounsweet (F), Fidough (M), Drowzee (M), Greavard (F), Shellder (F), Venonat (M), Shroomish (M), Klawf (F), Tinkatink (F), Bronzor (genderless), Charcadet (M), Eevee (shiny M), Lycanroc Dusk Form (M), Crabrawler (shiny F), Grimer (F), Gulpin (F), Magnemite (no gender), Tandemaus (no gender), Cyclizar (M), Teddiursa (F), Finizen (M), Impidimp (M), Spinarak (M), and Cutiefly (F).
Pokemon on Clyde's Team: Quaxwell (M), Kirlia (M), Dachsbun (F), Naclstack (F), Litleo (M), and Bellsprout (F).
Pokemon in Clyde's collection: Quaxwell (M), Kirlia (M), Skiploom (F), Dachsbun (F), Swablu (M), Naclstack (F), Starly (F), Klawf (M), Mareep (M), Smoliv (M), Gimmighoul (no gender), Fletchling (F), Eevee (F), Litleo (M), Combee (F), Spoink (F), Cyclizar (F), Sewaddle (M). and Bellsprout (F).