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. All rights to the "It's (Not) Your Fault" Loud House comic goes to JaviSuzumiya on DeviantArt. Credit for the story idea goes to SuperSonicBros123.
Onward to Hearthome City
The next day, Lincoln and the group were biking south of Eterna City down Route 206 on a path.
They learned that there was a bike path down Route 206 called Cycling Road on their way to Hearthome City, and Lincoln's bike was back at the group's cabin in Sandgem Town; so Lincoln used some of the money he got from selling all the bottlecaps he got from their picnic to buy himself another bike and bicycles for the rest of the group. Lincoln got an orange bike with blue handlebars and seat, Luna and Sam got a blue tandem bike with purple seats and handlebars, Dawn got a red bike with a pink basket on the front, Stella got a white bike with red handlebars and seat, although she wished to have a tandem bike she and Lincoln would share, Clyde got a blue bike with yellow handle bars and seat, and Simon got a green bike with red handlebars and seat.
"Man, this is so much quicker than walking." said Luna.
"Yeah, this way, we can get to Hearthome City in no time." said Stella.
"We should still stop to train our Pokemon." said Lincoln. "I want to make sure mine are ready for my next gym battle."
"And I want to be ready for the Hearthome City Pokemon contest." said Dawn.
"Me too." said Stella.
Moments later, they were on the other side of the Cycling Road; they were currently sitting in a grassy area next to Cycling Road, ready to take a break from all the pedaling they were doing. While everyone rested, Sam was going through her backpack, looking for bottled water when she pulls a jar of honey out.
"What's in that jar, sis?" asked Simon, pointing at the jar.
"Oh, this is honey." said Sam. "You see, Simon; if you slather some of this stuff on a certain tree, it will attract Pokemon you can catch."
"Any of these trees around here?" asked Simon. Sam looked around until she saw one of the trees.
"There's one over there." said Sam, pointing at the tree; she holds the jar towards Simon. "You want to slather some honey on it; you might be able to attract a Pokemon."
"Sure." said Simon, taking the jar. He walks to the tree and pours the honey onto the bark of the tree; he then returns to Sam. "So, what exactly are gym battles and Pokemon contests I heard Lincoln, Stella, and Dawn talk about?"
"Gym battles takes place in Pokemon gyms." said Lincoln. "Gym battles are where you face gym leaders in Pokemon battles; if you beat the gym leader, you win their badge. Right now, I have two. If I win eight badges, I get to compete in the Sinnoh League."
"What's that?" asked Simon.
"It's this annual competition where trainers battle each other to determine who the best trainer in Sinnoh is." replied Lincoln.
"Sounds cool." said Simon. "So, what are Pokemon battles like?" Before Lincoln can answer, a teenage boy approached them.
"Hey; any of you want to have a Pokemon battle with me?" asked the teenager.
"Sure, I would." said Lincoln. Moments later, Lincoln and the boy were standing several feet from each other. "So, how many Pokemon are we using?"
"One." replied the teenager.
"Okay, Simon; you're about to see your first Pokemon battle between two trainers." said Sam.
"Go, Barboach!" said the teenager, throwing a pokeball and releasing a light gray, serpentine Pokemon with a black, zigzag line on the side of its body, blue fins, and whiskers. Sam points her pokedex at the Pokemon.
"Barboach, the Whiskers Pokemon. Its whiskers make a superb radar. They are used to locate prey, even in the murkiest of water." said Sam's pokedex.
"This is your first trainer battle, girl." Lincoln says to his pokeball. "Go, Dratini!" He tosses Dratini's pokeball and releases her.
"Whoa, man; you have a Dratini?!" exclaimed Barboach's trainer.
"You bet." replied Lincoln. Dratini and Barboach were facing each other. "Okay, Dratini, use Slam!" Dratini raises her tail and smashes it onto Barboach, damaging it.
"Barboach, use Mud-Slap!" said Barboach's trainer. Barboach releases a stream of mud from its mouth, and it hits Dratini, damaging her, and lowering her accuracy.
"Dratini, use Twister!" said Lincoln. Dratini waves her tail and releases a tornado from it at Barboach, hitting it, and dealing damage.
"Barboach, Water Pulse!" said Barboach's trainer. Barboach forms a blue ball of water in front of its mouth and launches it at Dratini, hitting her, but not dealing much damage.
"Dratini, Dragon Tail!" said Lincoln. Dratini leaps at Barboach while a green aura surrounded her tail and she hits Barboach with it, knocking it out.
"No way!" exclaimed Barboach's trainer.
"Way to go, Lincoln!" said Clyde.
"That was cool!" said Luna.
"Great job, Dratini." said Lincoln. Barboach's trainer returns Barboach to its pokeball and walks to Lincoln.
"That was a good battle; still can't believe you have a Dratini." said Barboach's trainer.
"Me neither." replied Lincoln. Barboach's trainer gives Lincoln pokedollars and walks away.
"Why did that guy give Lincoln money?" asked Simon.
"You see, Simon; after a battle between two trainers, the losing trainer gives the winning trainer half their money." replied Sam.
"Wow." said Simon.
"Yeah, it sounds like a fun way to earn money." said Sam.
"So, what are Pokemon contests?" asked Simon.
"They're competitions that are divided into two parts; the first half is the Performance Stage where the trainers have their Pokemon use moves in spectacular combinations that look awesome." said Stella.
"And the second half is the Battle Stage where the trainers have their Pokemon battle each other with a five-minute time limit." said Dawn.
"It'll be easier to explain when you see your first one." said Sam.
"Hey, it looks like a Pokemon's already at the tree that Simon slathered with Honey." said Lincoln, directing everyone else's attention to the tree; they all see a dark blue, bipedal, beetle-like Pokemon with a large horn, licking the honey that Simon left.
"What's that?" asked Stella. Lincoln takes out his pokedex and points it at the Pokemon.
"Heracross, the Single Horn Pokemon. It gathers in forests to search for tree sap, its favorite food. It's strong enough to hurl foes." said Lincoln's Rotom Phone.
"Can I catch it?" asked Simon.
"Sure, bro." said Sam.
"The pokedex says it's part bug and fighting types, so Slugma would be your best bet." said Lincoln.
"Okay." said Simon. He takes out his Slugma's pokeball and lets him out of it, getting the Heracross' attention; it flies at Slugma and rams its horn into him. Heracross' horn suddenly catches fire.
"What happened?" asked Luna.
"Slugma's Flame Body ability activated." said Sam.
"So, now Heracross is burned." said Clyde. "So, it will lose stamina and its strength will weaken." Heracross was suddenly surrounded by a red aura and its eyes glow red.
"Oh, man, I think that Heracross has the Guts ability!" said Lincoln.
"Is that bad?" asked Simon.
"Guts increases the strength of a Pokemon with that ability when it suffers a status condition and prevents its strength from weakening by burn." said Sam.
"Slugma, use...Incinerate?" said Simon. Slugma unleashes a beam of fire out of its mouth, and it hits Heracross, dealing super effective damage; Heracross flinches in pain from its burn. It flies at Slugma and jabs it repeatedly with its horn, knocking Slugma back.
"Slugma,...Ember!" said Simon. Slugma releases embers from its mouth and they hit Heracross, dealing super effective damage; Heracross flinches in pain from its burn and collpases.
"I think it's weak enough now, Simon." said Sam. Simon takes out an empty pokeball and throws it at Heracross, hitting it, and sucking it in; it wiggled around until it clicked.
"I did it! I caught a Heracross!" said Simon. Dawn runs to Simon from behind and hugs him.
"Congratulations, Simon." said Dawn; Simon's face turns red. Sam looks up Heracross' information.
"This says your Heracross is a boy, he knows Tackle, Leer, Fury Attack, Endure, and Aerial Ace; and like Lincoln suspected, he has the Guts ability." said Sam.
"I have a lot to learn about Pokemon." said Simon.
"I'm sure you'll learn during our travel." said Dawn, smiling at Simon, making him look away, shyly. Lincoln takes out what appeared to be a small, green spray bottle out of his backpack.
"Let Heracross out of his pokeball and I'll spray him with this." said Lincoln.
"What's that?" asked Simon.
"Burn Heal; it cures a Pokemon of the burn status condition." replied Lincoln. Simon tosses Heracross' pokeball and releases him; Lincoln sprays him with the Burn Heal and he was no longer burned, he then sprays him with a Potion to heal some of his wounds.
"Thanks, bro." said Simon.
"Bro?" replied Lincoln.
"Since Sam made you an honorary sibling, then I guess that means you're my honorary sibling too." said Simon.
"Sounds okay to me." replied Lincoln, making Simon smile. After the group rested for half an hour, they climbed onto their bikes and began riding on their way to Hearthome City where Lincoln's next gym battle and Stella and Dawn's next Pokemon Contest awaits them.
Back at Royal Woods, Rusty was walking down a sidewalk, wearing a hoodie with the hood up, and a pair of sunglasses while covering the lower half of his face with his hoodie. (a/n: If Rusty thinks that's an improvement, he's right.) As he walked, he suddenly bumped into something invisible, making him fall on his butt.
"What the?" said Rusty, looking ahead of him. Unbeknonwst to him, Luan and Mr. Mime were hiding behind a hedge; Luan had Mr. Mime use Reflect to make an invisible wall in front of Rusty. He gets up and walks forward again, only to bump into the invisible wall again. "What's going on?!" Luan and Mr. Mime laugh, silently.
End of Chapter 43
Pokemon on Lincoln's team: Monferno (M), Hisuian Zorua (F), Shieldon (M), Espeon (M), Buizel (M), and Dratini (F).
Pokemon in Lincoln's collection: Monferno (M), Staravia (M), Bibarel (F), Hisuian Zorua (F), Shieldon (M), Espeon (M) Buizel (M), Pachirisu (F), Gastly (M), Misdreavus (F), Skitty (F), Dratini (F), Charmander (shiny M), and Grimer (F).
Pokemon on Sam's team: Prinplup (F), Luxio (F), Kricketune (M), Golbat (F), Onix (F), and Eevee (M).
Pokemon in Sam's collection: Prinplup (F), Luxio (F), Kricketune (M), Golbat (F), Onix (F), Eevee (M), and Treecko (F).
Pokemon on Luna's Team: Graveler (F), Grotle (M), Hisuian Sneasel (F), Eevee (F), Aipom (F), and Rotom (genderless).
Pokemon in Luna's collection: Graveler (F), Grotle (M), Hisuian Sneasel (F), Eevee (F), Aipom (F), Rotom (genderless), and Shellder (F).
Pokemon on Clyde's Team: Gallade (M), Psyduck (F), Leafeon (M), Ninjask (F), Shedinja (genderless), and Absol (F).
Pokemon in Clyde's collection: Gallade (M), Psyduck (F), Leafeon (M), Ninjask (F), Shedinja (genderless), Absol (F), and Chikorita (M).
Pokemon on Stella's Team: Roserade (F), Eevee (F), Shiny Beautifly (F), Corsola (F), and Combusken (F).
Pokemon on Dawn's Team: Piplup (M), Sylveon (F), Pachirisu (F), Buneary (F), Swablu (F), and Quilava (F).
Pokemon on Dawn's Team: Piplup (M), Sylveon (F), Pachirisu (F), Buneary (F), Togepi (F), Swablu (F), and Quilava (F).
Pokemon in Lisa's care: Abra (M).
Pokemon in Lily's care: Bibarel (F).
Pokemon in Lynn's care: Machop (M).
Pokemon in Lola's care: Pachirisu (F).
Pokemon in Lucy's care: Gastly (M).
Pokemon in Leni's care: Skitty (F).
Pokemon in Lana's care: Grimer (F).
Pokemon in Luan's care: Mr. Mime (M).
Pokemon in Simon's care: Croconaw (M), Aron (M), Slugma (M), and Heracross (M).
Pokemon in Lynn Sr's care: Nidoran (M).
Pokemon in Rita's care: Nidoran (F).