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.
A Rockruff Start
After Lincoln ends the call with his family and friends back in Royal Woods, and gets his Pokemon treated at the Cortondo Pokemon Center; he, Clyde, and Nemona discuss future plans.
"So what are you guys going to do now?" asked Nemona. Clyde looks at his map of Team Star locations.
"This says there's a Team Star base somewhere north of here." said Clyde.
"Are you sure you want to take them on?" asked Nemona.
"I told Cassiopeia that I would, and I don't like the fact that those guys are causing trouble for students who want an education." said Clyde.
"I guess that's fine." said Nemona.
"And don't worry, I'll be right there with him if he needs help." said Lincoln.
"Just be careful, you two." said Nemona.
"We will." said Clyde.
"So what are you going to do, Nemona?" asked Lincoln.
"I'm gonna train for the Paldea League." said Nemona.
"Train hard, because I'm going to also." said Lincoln.
"That's what I want to hear!" said Nemona with excitement.
"See you later." said Lincoln.
"Bye, Lincoln." said Nemona as she winks at him before running off, making Lincoln blush a bit. Clyde chuckles at this.
"Should we go to that Team Star base now?" asked Clyde.
"I want to check out the area around her first to see what kind of other Pokemon are here." said Lincoln.
"Yeah, maybe we'll find some that can help us against Team Star." said Clyde. He and Lincoln then headed off to explore the farmlands nearby. As they checked out alongside the cliff wall west of Cortondo, they see two foxlike Pokemon, one being brown with a cream-colored ring of fur around its neck, and the other being white with a white ring of fur around its neck; running together.
"What are those?" asked Lincoln as he takes out his Rotom Phone and points it one of them.
"Eevee, the Evolution Pokemon. Its ability to evolve into many forms allows it to adapt smoothly and perfectly to any environment." said Lincoln's Rotom Phone.
"Why is one of those Eevees white?" asked Clyde.
"Must be a shiny one." said Lincoln.
"Want to catch them?" asked Clyde.
"Sure, but I call the white one." said Lincoln as he points at his hair. The Eevees stop running as they hear the boys talking and get into defensive stances.
"They look ready for a fight." said Clyde. He lets out his Fidough while Lincoln lets out his Pawmo.
"Okay, Pawmo; use Arm Thrust!" said Lincoln. Pawmo runs at the white Eevee and strikes it with multiple blows, doing super effective damage. The Eevee responds by moving running at Pawmo and slamming into him. "Pawmo, use Thunder Shock!" Pawmo releases a jolt of electricity from his body which hits the Eevee making it fall over. Lincoln quickly takes out an empty pokeball and throws it at the Eevee, hitting it, and sucking it in; the pokeball wiggles a few times before clicking.
With Clyde, his Fidough was getting ready for battle against the other Eevee.
"Fidough, use Tackle!" said Clyde. Fidough charges at the Eevee and rams into it. It responds by doing the same thing back at her. "Now use Bite!" Fidough leaps forward and bites down on the Eevee, making it fall over. Clyde quickly takes out an empty pokeball and throws it at the Eevee, hitting it, and sucking it in; the pokeball wiggles a few times before clicking.
"We did it!" cheered Lincoln. He takes out his Rotom Phone and uses it to look up his new Eevee. "My new Eevee is a boy, he knows Tackle, Tail Whip, Growl, Helping Hand, Covet, Sand Attack, and Quick Attack; plus, he has the Run Away ability."
"Mine's has the same moves and ability as yours, except my Eevee's a girl." said Clyde as he looks up his new Eevee's information on his Rotom Phone. Their Eevees' pokeballs suddenly disappear to storage.
"So, what now?" asked Lincoln.
"Should we have some lunch?" asked Clyde.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure my parents wouldn't want me to have desserts as a meal and want me to have something nutritious." said Lincoln.
"My dads would feel the same way." said Clyde. He and Lincoln then let out their Pokemon and start making sandwiches for them and themselves. As the group ate, Lincoln hears some whimpering from a nearby bush; he looks and sees a light brown, doglike Pokemon with a white fuzzy ring of fur around its neck with sharp brown rocks sticking out from it, along with a brown muzzle and feet, along with a fluffy white tail; hiding under it.
"What's that?" asked Lincoln as he takes out his Rotom Phone and points it towards the Pokemon.
"Rockruff, the Puppy Pokemon. This Pokémon is very friendly when it's young. Its disposition becomes vicious once it matures, but it never forgets the kindness of its master." said Lincoln's Rotom Phone.
"Hey, little guy." said Lincoln. He notices that the Rockruff was looking at his sandwich while drooling and licking its lips.
"Do you think its hungry?" asked Clyde.
"It probably is." said Lincoln. He then decides to make a couple ham sandwiches, making sure to add more ham to them, and lays them out close to where the Rockruff was. It cautiously walks out from under the bush and up to the sandwiches and sniffs them; it looks up at Lincoln who nods at it to signify that it could have them, then starts eating with much vigor.
"I think it likes them." said Clyde.
"That's good to know." said Lincoln. After the Rockruff finished his meal, Lincoln waves it over to them; it was reluctant at first, but it decides to go over to him. The other Pokemon go over and introduce themselves to Rockruff to make it feel more at ease; they soon played around for a while before a loud booming sound from above them makes them look up to see dark clouds overhead.
"I think it's going to rain." said Clyde.
"Let's get the tent set up quickly." said Lincoln. The two scramble to get the tent set up before it started raining; they finish and get inside after returning their Pokemon to their pokeballs right before the first raindrop hit the ground. As they were about to close the tent, they see the Rockruff was back under the bush they saw it before, getting a little wet.
"We can't just leave it like that." said Clyde. Lincoln remembered the night he was kicked out of his home by his family and how he asked his dog, Charles, if he could share his doghouse with him, only to get rejected; he couldn't put an innocent Pokemon through that when it needs help.
"Rockruff, hurry and get in here!" said Lincoln. Rockruff was surprised by this request, but it was more than glad to comply and quickly runs into the tent. Lincoln then takes a towel out of his backpack and uses it to dry Rockruff.
"Are you okay?" Clyde asked Rockruff. It responds by leaping onto Lincoln and licking his face all over, making him laugh.
"I think he's saying thank you." said Lincoln. They decide to wait out the rain in the tent while watching more Iono videos on Lincoln's Rotom Phone.
"You really like watching these videos." said Clyde.
"Can you blame me?" asked Lincoln. "Iono's so cool!" An hour passed before the storm faded and it stopped raining. The three exit the tent once the sky cleared a bit and stretch their legs.
"I'm glad that's over." said Clyde. As they look at the fields nearby, Lincoln feels something furry and sharp rubbing against his legs, making him look down to see Rockruff nuzzling him.
"How are you doing, Rockruff?" asked Lincoln. Rockruff gives a happy bark in response.
"I think he's grateful for what you've done for him today." said Clyde.
"I think so, too." said Lincoln.
"What are you going to do now, Rockruff?" asked Clyde. It starts to walk towards the bush the boys first saw him under, but then stops and looks back at Lincoln.
"What's wrong, Rockruff?" asked Lincoln.
"Maybe it wants to be with you?" suggested Clyde.
"Is that true, Rockruff? Do you want to come with me?" asked Lincoln. Rockruff smiles and runs over to him and Clyde.
"I think that's a yes." said Clyde.
"Okay, Rockruff." said Lincoln with a smile as he takes out an empty pokeball, only for Rockruff to jump back and gets into a battle stance.
"I think it wants you to battle it." said Clyde.
"Are you okay to battle, Rockruff?" asked Lincoln. Rockruff gives a determined bark in response to his question. Lincoln grins and pulls out his Shellder's pokeball and lets her out of it.
"Give it your all, you two." said Clyde as he steps back to give them some battling space.
"Shellder, use Supersonic!" said Lincoln. Shellder releases a high-pitched soundwave from herself which hits Rockruff, but doesn't seem to do anything; it reacts by flinging sand into Shellder's eyes.
"That was Sand Attack!" said Clyde.
"We won't let that stop us!" said Lincoln. "Shellder, use Water Gun!" Shellder releases a stream of water from her mouth at Rockruff, but the attack misses. Rockruff then quickly runs at Shellder and rams into her.
"Better do something, Lincoln!" said Clyde.
"Shellder, try using Water Gun again!" said Lincoln. Shellder does so, and this time the attack hits, doing super effective damage, making Rockruff fall to the ground. Lincoln quickly takes out an empty pokeball and throws it at the Rockruff, hitting it, and sucking it in; the pokeball wiggles a few times before clicking.
"You did it, buddy!" said Clyde. Lincoln runs over to Rockruff's pokeball and picks it up.
"Yes! I caught Rockruff!" said Lincoln. He then uses his Rotom Phone to look up his new Pokemon's information. "This says that Rockruff is a boy, he knows Tackle, Leer, Sand Attack, and Double Team; and he has the Own Tempo ability which keeps him from being confused."
"That must be why Shellder's Supersonic attack didn't do anything to him." said Clyde. After Rockruff's pokeball disappears to storage, Lincoln uses his Rotom Phone to swap it for his Greavard. Once he does, he lets Rockruff out who leaps into Lincoln's arms and nuzzles his chin.
"Welcome to the team, Rockruff." said Lincoln before Rockruff licks his face.
Lincoln and Clyde have caught new Pokemon for themselves. Now they have their sights set on the first Team Star base. Will they be able to take them down?
End of Chapter 21
Pokemon on Lincoln's team: Floragato (M), Pawmo (F), Shellder (F), Tinkatink (F), Charcadet (M), and Rockruff (M).
Pokemon in Lincoln's collection: Floragato (M), Pawmo (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) and Eevee (shiny M).
Pokemon on Clyde's Team: Quaxwell (M), Kirlia (M), Skiploom (F), Fidough (F), Swablu (M), and Nacli (F).
Pokemon in Clyde's collection: Quaxwell (M), Kirlia (M), Skiploom (F), Fidough (F), Swablu (M), Nacli (F), Starly (F), Klawf (M), Mareep (M), Smoliv (M), Gimmighoul (no gender), Fletchling (F), and Eevee (F).