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.
Enter Paul
After Stella and Dawn got done pulling on Lincoln's arms, much to his relief, they go over what they were all going to do next.
"So, what are you going to do now, Lincoln?" asked Clyde.
"I'm going to take Monferno and Bibarel to the Pokemon Center for treatment after their battles." replied Lincoln.
"Pokemon Center?" asked Lana.
"Pokemon Centers are like hospitals for Pokemon." replied Lincoln. "Another cool thing about them is that they give free food and rooms for trainers."
"They sound like something that would be handy while on the road." said Stella.
"While my Pokemon are being treated, I'm going to the Oreburgh Museum." said Lincoln.
"Why would you want to go to some boring museum?" asked Lynn Jr. Lincoln reaches into his backpack and pulls out his Armor Fossil.
"What's that?" asked Lynn Sr.
"This is an Armor Fossil." replied Lincoln. Lisa looks at it with interest. "According to Roark, the museum has a machine that can bring fossils back to life."
"That's impossible." said Lisa.
"Maybe in our dimension." said Sam.
"I would like to see this device in action before I truly believe it." said Lisa.
"Let's go then." said Lincoln. He and Sam return their Pokemon to their pokeballs, and they, along with everyone else, start heading for the gym doors; when they got close to them, they open, and in walks a boy with tan skin, purple hair, wearing a purple jacket with navy blue sleeves over a blue shirt, dark purple pants, and purple and blue sneakers. The group steps aside so he can walk into the gym area; as the boy walks by everyone, he gives them a cold stare as if he's sizing them up.
"What's with that kid?" asked Lori.
"Who knows?" asked Lynn Jr. The boy walks into the battle arena and looks around for something.
"Hey, if you're here for a gym battle, then you'll have to wait a while." Lincoln says to the boy, getting his attention.
"Why?" asked the boy with a frown.
"Roark's getting his Pokemon treated at the Pokemon Center." replied Dawn.
"Yeah, bro here beat him in a gym battle a few minutes ago." said Sam as she points at Lincoln, making the boy look at him.
"That kid beat Roark?" replied the boy with disbelief.
"Yeah." said Lincoln as he takes out his Coal Badge and holds it out, making the boy stare at him.
"I guess I have no choice but to wait then." said the boy as he walks over to a row of bleachers and sits down.
"Sorry." said Lincoln, making the boy stare at him.
"Let's go." said Clyde. The group exits the gym and head for the Pokemon Center first. Once they arrived, Lincoln walks to the nurse and holds out Monferno and Bibarel's pokeballs.
"Excuse me, nurse, but can you heal my Pokemon, please?" asked Lincoln.
"Of course, young man." replied the nurse as she takes the pokeballs. "You'll have them back soon."
"Thank you." replied Lincoln.
"Hey, Lincoln." Roark's voice calls out to him, making Lincoln look to see him on a bench nearby.
"Hi, Roark." said Lincoln.
"Getting your Pokemon treated also?" asked Roark.
"Yeah." said Lincoln.
"It'll be a while before I get mine back." said Roark.
"Hope it's not too long." said Lincoln. "You have another challenger at the gym waiting for a battle."
"Okay." said Roark.
"Anyway, can you tell me how to get to the museum from here?" asked Lincoln.
"Sure." said Roark. After getting directions, Lincoln returns to his family and friends.
"Should we get going to the museum, Lincoln?" asked Dawn.
"Sure, it'll give us something to do while my Pokemon are being treated, and I need to go there to get my fossil revived." said Lincoln.
"Let's go then." said Dawn as she grabs Lincoln's arm and pulls him out the Pokemon Center's door, making Stella glare at her.
As Lincoln and the others walk in the direction that Roark gave him, he feels something suddenly grab his hand, making him look to see Stella holding it.
"I missed holding your hand, Lincoln." said Stella before glaring at Dawn, making her glare back. Lincoln's male friends were watching this go on with jealousy.
"How does he do it?" asked Clyde.
"I'll bet that varmint, Rusty, is wondering also." said Liam.
"Maybe Lola should record this also to show him?" suggested Zach.
"On it!" said Lola as she holds out her device. Lynn Jr had a question about something she saw back at the gym.
"Hey, Lincoln." said Lynn Jr.
"Yeah?" Lincoln replied.
"What was that other stuff besides that badge thing that Roark gave you?" asked Lynn Jr.
"You mean the pokedollars?" replied Lincoln.
"Pokedollars?" replied Lori.
"It's the currency here in this dimension." said Lincoln.
"Oh." said Lola.
"Why did Roark give you some?" asked Lynn Jr.
"After a Pokemon battle between two trainers, the losing trainer has to give the winning one half the money they have on them." explained Lincoln.
"Whoa, that sounds pretty sweet!" said Lynn Jr.
"Sounds like easy money." said Lola with interest.
"If you're a strong trainer." said Sam. A few minutes later, they all arrive at the Oreburgh Mining Museum and head inside.
Everyone looks around at all the coal samples and mining equipment, with Lana being most interested in it, while Lisa is fascinated with the fossil samples they had on display.
"This city is literally big on coal." said Lori.
"That's how Oreburgh prospers." said Dawn. "They mine it and ship it all over Sinnoh to help provide power to cities." Lincoln looks and sees a man with a lab coat at a front desk. Not knowing who else to talk to about his fossil, he goes over to him.
"Pardon me, sir." Lincoln says to the man, getting his attention.
"Can I help you, young man?" asked the man.
"I found this in the Oreburgh Mine yesterday." said Lincoln as he takes out the Armor Fossil out of his backpack and holds it out.
"A fossil!" the man responds.
"Yeah, and Roark told me there was something here that can revive it." said Lincoln.
"Indeed." said the man as he holds out his hand, making Lincoln put his Armor Fossil into it.
"I am quite curious about the process of fossil revival." said Lisa.
"I'm certain a child your age wouldn't be able to understand." said the man.
"I'll have you know I have a very high IQ for my age." said Lisa.
"I can vouche for her." said Lincoln. With some skepticism in his eyes, he directs Lisa to a back room.
"The device is back here." said the man before looking back at Lincoln. "The process will take a while, so you'll have to come back a little later."
"Okay." said Lincoln.
"And do you have a pokeball I can have to put your Pokemon in once it's revived?" asked the man, making Lincoln take an empty pokeball out of his backpack and hand it to him. The man and Lisa enter a back room, leaving Lincoln and the others to themselves.
"What should we do now?" asked Rita.
"We can go back to the gym and see if Roark is there and watch his gym battle with that kid from earlier." said Lincoln.
"I did like watching that one you had, Lincoln." said Lynn Jr.
"Me too." said Lana.
"Maybe that kid will have some of those ghost Pokemon you mentioned." said Lucy.
"Well, let's go then." said Lincoln. He walks to the door Lisa and the scientist walked through. "Hey, Lisa; we're going to the Oreburgh Gym."
"Very well, Lincoln!" Lisa replied. Lincoln and the others exit the museum and began walking to the direction of the Oreburgh Gym with Stella and Dawn grabbing onto Lincoln's arms; several minutes later, they arrived at the Oreburgh Gym and go inside.
They see Roark and the boy from earlier, standing on opposite ends of the battle arena. Lincoln and the others walked to the bleachers and sat down. Lynn Jr looks around.
"Too bad there's no hot dog vendor here; I could use a few." said Lynn Jr. Back on the arena, an official steps to the center of the field.
"This gym battle is between the gym leader, Roark; and the challenger, Paul." said the official. "Both trainers will use three Pokemon each. The trainer who is able to defeat all their opponent's Pokemon will be the winner. Let the battle begin." The official walks to the side while Roark and the boy, now identified as Paul, each pull out a pokeball.
"Geodude, time to rock!" said Roark as he throws his Geodude's pokeball and releases it.
"Machop, stand by for battle!' said Paul as he tosses his pokeball, releasing a Machop.
"What's that Pokemon?" asked Lana.
"That's a Machop, little dudette." said Sam. She then shows her the entry for it in her pokedex.
"What's that thing?" asked Lori.
"It's a pokedex." said Lincoln. "It has information on every Pokemon in the Sinnoh region. I got one also."
"Lisa would like to look at those." said Luan.
"Geodude, use Sandstorm!" said Roark. Geodude spins around, stirring up the sand around him, creating a sandstorm right in the battle area.
"What is this?!" asked Lori as she shields her eyes.
"It's Sandstorm." said Lincoln. "That move does damage to Pokemon every now and then."
"Won't Roark's Pokemon get hurt?" asked Lana.
"No; rock, ground, and steel type Pokemon aren't affected by it." said Lincoln.
"Machop, use Low Kick!" said Paul. His Machop runs at the Geodude and lands a solid kick to the side of it, dealing super effective damage, and sending it flying into a boulder.
"That had to hurt, even if you're made of rock." said Lynn Jr. The Geodude slowly rises up, and Machop takes a little damage from the sandstorm.
"I'm amazed that your Geodude's still able to battle after that attack." said Paul.
"It has the Sturdy ability." said Roark.
"What's that?" asked Lana.
"All Pokemon have one ability that happens on their own." explained Lincoln. "The Sturdy ability allows any Pokemon with it to handle any attack that would've normally take it out in one blow."
"That sounds handy." said Lynn Jr.
"Geodude, use Rock Tomb!" said Roark. Geodude drops a bunch of rocks onto the Machop, pinning it down a little.
"Rock type moves don't work that well against fighting types." said Paul.
"True, but they will slow him down a bit." said Roark.
"Whatever." said Paul. "Machop, use Revenge!" Machop releases a blast of orange energy from its body which hits Roark's Geodude, dealing lots of super effective damage, and knocks it out.
"Geodude is unable to battle. Machop is the winner." said the official. Machop suddenly takes a little more damage from the sandstorm.
"Why is this sandstorm still around?" asked Rita.
"The move will last a while even if the Pokemon that used it is knocked out." said Lincoln. Roark returns his Geodude to its pokeball.
"You did your best, Geodude." said Roark. He puts Geodude's pokeball away and pulls out another one; he throws it, releasing his Onix.
"This should be interesting." said Paul.
"It will." said Roark. "Onix, use Dragon Breath!" Onix opens its mouth and releases a stream of green energy from it that hits Machop, doing damage to it; it suddenly starts to twitch, and is having a hard time moving.
"Looks like Machop's paralyzed." said Sam.
"Paralyzed?" replied Lynn Sr.
"Some moves can cause Pokemon to come down with conditions that will have a bad effect on them." explained Lincoln. "Paralysis, for example, will cause the Pokemon afflicted with it to lose speed, even stopping it from attacking now and then."
"You sure know your stuff, bro." said Luna.
"He has been attending a school that teaches him about this stuff for over a month now." said Sam with a smile. Machop suddenly starts to glow with a red aura.
"What's with that Machop thing?" asked Lola.
"It must have the Guts ability." said Sam.
"What's that?" asked Lynn Jr.
"If a Pokemon with the ability has a status condition, its attack power will be doubled." said Sam.
"So, it's like that 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger' thing?" asked Lynn Jr.
"I guess that's one way of putting it." said Sam.
"Machop, use Low Sweep!" said Paul. Machop manages to fight through paralysis and does a sweeping motion with its leg across the ground and hits Onix, doing super effective damage. Machop takes more damage from the sandstorm as Onix slowly rises up.
"Onix must have the Sturdy ability also." said Lincoln.
"Onix, use Tackle!" said Roark. Onix charges at the Machop and rams into it, sending it flying into a rock.
"Get up!" shouts Paul. Machop slowly rises to its feet. "Now use Low Kick!" Machop manages to fight through paralysis again and lands a hard kick to Onix, doing super effective damage, and makes it fall to the ground, unconscious.
"Onix is unable to battle. Machop is the winner." said the official.
"This Pokemon stuff is intense." said Lynn Jr.
"Are they okay with battling each other?" asked Rita.
"It's a Pokemon's nature to battle." said Lincoln. "In a way, a trainer's job is to help them bring out their potential."
"That sounds like fun." said Lynn Jr. The sandstorm damages Machop a bit more before it suddenly vanishes.
"Looks like Sandstorm wore off." said Sam. Back on the battle arena, Roark returns his Onix to its pokeball.
"You did your best." said Roark. He then puts Onix's pokeball and pulls out his last one; he throws it, releasing his Cranidos. "Cranidos, use Headbutt!" Cranidos charges at Machop and rams headfirst into its chest, sending it flying into a rock where it passes out.
"Machop is unable to battle. Cranidos is the winner." said the official.
"Good work, Cranidos." said Roark. Cranidos does a little roar in response.
"Don't celebrate after one victory." said Paul with a frown. He then returns his Machop to its pokeball.
"Hey, he has plenty to be proud of." Roark replied. "Your Machop is well-trained."
"I only found him yesterday." said Paul. "He already had a decent amount of power which is why I bothered catching it in the first place."
"I see." said Roark.
"But obviously it wasn't strong enough to finish the job." said Paul.
"Hey, Machop did its best." said Lincoln, making Paul glare at him.
"Don't look at our bro like that, chump!" said Lynn Jr.
"Yeah!" replied Stella as she wraps her arms around Lincoln in a protective manner, making Dawn frown at her.
"Whatever." said Paul. He puts Machop's pokeball away and pulls out another one; he throws it, releasing a yellow, bipedal Pokemon with two protrusions on its head that look like power plug prongs, along with a black lightning bolt-shaped mark on its chest.
"What's that Pokemon?" asked Lincoln. Sam takes out her pokedex and points it at the yellow and black Pokemon.
"Elekid, the Electric Pokemon. It generates electricity by whirling its arms. However, it can't store the energy it makes." said Sam's pokedex.
"Elekid, use Brick Break!" said Paul. Elekid jumps at Cranidos and strikes it with one of its arms, dealing super effective damage to it.
"Crandios, use Bulldoze!" said Roark.
"Use Protect!" said Paul. Elekid crosses its arms, making a green barrier appear in front of it, making Cranidos' attack bounce right off it.
"What was that?" asked Lynn Jr.
"Looked like a force field." said Zach.
"Protect's a move that will block almost any attack." said Lincoln.
"Elekid, Brick Break!" said Paul. Elekid strikes Cranidos with its arm, dealing super effective damage to it. Cranidos begins breathing heavily.
"Cranidos, use Headbutt!" said Roark. Cranidos charges at Elekid and rams its head against it, damaging it.
"Elekid, use Thunder Punch!" said Paul. Elekid's right hand becomes coated in electricity; it then punches Cranidos in its torso, sending it flying into a boulder where it passes out.
"Cranidos is unable to battle. Elekid is the winner. The winner of the gym battle is the challenger, Paul." said the official. Elekid smirks at Cranidos as Paul walks to the center of the arena with it; Roark returns Cranidos to its pokeball and walks over to the center of the arena as well.
"You're a strong trainer." said Roark.
"You're not so bad either, I guess." said Paul. Roark reaches into his pocket and pulls out a Coal Badge.
"As proof of your victory, here is your Coal Badge." said Roark as he hands Paul the gym badge, along with some pokedollars. Paul looks at the gym badge for a while before turning towards Lincoln and staring at him.
"What's his deal?" asked Leni.
"I don't know." said Lincoln. "I just met him about an hour ago."
"Better watch out for him, bro." said Sam.
End of Chapter 19
Pokemon on Lincoln's team: Monferno (M), Staravia (M), Bibarel (F), and Hisuian Zorua (F).
Pokemon in Lincoln's collection: Monferno (M), Staravia (M), Bibarel (F), and Hisuian Zorua (F).
Pokemon on Sam's team: Prinplup (F), Luxio (F), Kricketune (M), Zubat (F), and Onix (F).
Pokemon in Sam's collection: Prinplup (F), Luxio (F), Kricketune (M), Zubat (F), and Onix (F).