Laoise has crossed the border of Viridian city. However, she wanted to make sure she's going the right direction.
A police officer lady is heard announcing something from her booth. "Attention, citizens of Viridian City! Attention, citizens of Viridian City! We have reports of possible Pokémon thieves in our area! Be on the lookout for suspicious looking strangers!"
"Excuse me, miss." Laoise walked right up to the police lady, Officer Jenny. "I'm sorry to interrupt but, could you tell me where I might find the nearest pokèmon center?"
Officer Jenny looked up from her duties, her gaze shifting towards Laoise. She wore a determined expression, her eyes scanning the young Trainer's face, she knew that her duty was to uphold the law and maintain order.
"Excuse me, young Trainer," Officer Jenny said, her voice calm and authoritative. "Before I can provide you with any information, I'll need to verify your identity. May I see your Trainer ID, please?"
Laoise paused for a moment, realizing she had forgotten to mention her identity. She reached into her bag and pulled out her Pokédex, handing it over to Officer Jenny with a smile.
"I am Dixie. A Pokédex programmed by Professor Oak for neurodivergent Pokémon trainer Laoise McGrady of the Bluebell Hollows. My function is to provide Laoise with information and advice regarding Pokémon and their training. If lost or stolen, I cannot be replaced."
Officer Jenny entered Laoise's identification information into her patrol car computer, its screen flickering as Dixie's records were accessed. As she read the name "Laoise" and saw the location listed as Bluebell Hollows, Jenny's expression softened, understanding that Laoise was the first neurodivergent person to become a Pokémon Trainer.
"Your credentials check out, Laoise. Remember, the world of Pokémon is for everyone." With a nod of confirmation, she handed the Pokédex back to the young trainer.
Laoise's eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. She had encountered some skepticism and doubt from others due to her neurodivergent nature, but Officer Jenny's words filled her with a sense of pride.
"Also The Viridian City Pokémon Center is just down the main road. Can't miss it, it's right next to the Poké Mart. I'd walk you there myself but we've had reports of some shady types skulking about."
"Thank you, Officer Jenny," Laoise replied, her voice filled with gratitude.
Officer Jenny gave a nod in response, her gaze shifting back to her surroundings.
"All units be advised, trainers should buddy up until the perps are in custody. Speaking of..." A call came through, describing a disturbance by the west gate.
Jenny revved the patrol car engine. "Duty calls! Stay safe, and if you see anything suspicious, contact me right away." With a screech of tires she peeled off, siren blaring into the twilight.
Night was falling as Laoise headed to the Center, keeping a close watch for any 'suspicious strangers.' Perhaps there she could get a good roast beef sandwich with pickles before calling home.
Soon enough, the Pokémon Center came into view, its distinctive red roof and white walls standing out against the cityscape. Laoise's heart skipped a beat as she stepped through the sliding doors, greeted by the sights and sounds of the bustling establishment.
Inside, the soothing melody of healing machines and the gentle hum of conversation filled the air. Laoise approached the counter, where the Nurse Joy greeted her with a warm smile.
"Welcome to the Viridian City Pokémon Center," Nurse Joy said cheerfully. "How may I assist you today?"
Laoise explained her need for healing her Pokémon and restocking her supplies. Nurse Joy nodded understandingly and took her Poké Balls, assuring her that the Pokémon would be taken care of.
So Laoise went to the sandwich bar, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. She had made it to the Pokémon Center without her anxious parents shadowing her footsteps, her first destination in Viridian City. It was a small victory, but an important one on her journey.
It was bound to be an interesting evening as Laoise waited. She'd put on her headphones to listen to music, and watched with mild interest at the scene that unfolded that very evening.
Officer Jenny drove the motorcycle right into the Pokémon Center foyer with a boy holding a pikachu in his arms. Nurse Joy, after quickly reprimanding Officer Jenny, calls for a stretcher for an electric type Pokémon and also ask for Chansey to come and to bring the stretcher. Two of the Chansey that Joy called come out with the stretcher and put the Pikachu on it. Nurse Joy then goes to start the treatment and then criticized the boy for allowing Pikachu to battle until it was in such a bad condition. The young boy, whose name was Ash attempted to explain but is cut off. Nurse Joy then goes into the theatre room and Officer Jenny goes to get her motorcycle out of the Pokémon Center.
Laoise didn't judge the boy, she didn't know the story exactly anymore than Nurse Joy did. Right now she'd gone to the cafeteria for a drink and waited for her pokèmon to be tended to. She thought she heard someone mention her name via video phone but it wasn't from her family.
Still trembling slightly, she prepared what she would say to her family. She imagined speaking to her two older sisters, "Shae, Taryn. You won't believe it, but I accidentally caught an Onix! I named him Goliath. And... Mom and Dad will faint if they knew how close a call it was..."
But she wouldn't dare sugarcoat HOW she caught Goliath, no matter how careless her mistake. After all lying to get yourself out of trouble you'd caused yourself is wrong.
Laoise's arm still ached a little, but maybe it was just bruised. She hoped.
Finally Nurse Joy informed Laoise her pokèmon were all set. Laoise went to fetch her pokèmon, behind her she could hear the boy from earlier, Ash, trying to explain himself to someone else.
He was talking to a girl with short, red hair tied into a side ponytail with blue elastic rubber band. The girl was scowling reprimanding him, holding a charred bike on her shoulders.
"What happened to my bike? You happened to my bike, you little loser! This is what's left after you stole it to save your Pokémon! Now I can see why your Pokémon is in - whoaoaoaoah!" As the girl fell backwards, she bumped right into Laoise.
"Aah!" Laoise falls over, dropping her pokèballs. "My pokèmon!"
She dropped to her hands and knees, hyperventilating and placing them back into her bag.
Having constantly tripped over various grass stolons, gone through a crazy path to reach the city trying to avoid the angry Spearow in the middle of a rainstorm, injuring her arm AND being an already anxious girl on the spectrum...
Laoise's meltdown had been inevitable.
"You crazy, bully! My Pokémon could have brain damage because of you!" Laoise begun vertically smacking the girl.
"Stop that! What's the matter with you?!" The redhead girl yelled back.
The boy, Ash, pulled Laoise away. "Calm down, it's okay! It's okay. Your pokèmon are fine. Look, see they're still in the pokèballs." He was considerably calmer, as if he was reassuring Laoise that her own pokèmon were safe.
Laoise had to pause either way, her arm was still sore from the fall. "Yeow! Don't touch me!"
"Laoise? Laoise McGrady?" Nurse Joy interrupted. "Your mother is on the phone, she's been asking about you for hours. Would you please answer?"
The words stopped Laoise cold. Still shaking from her meltdown, she felt incredibly self-conscious but not by her own reaction.
It felt like the whole world is gawking at Laoise because of the fact that her overly-anxious parents had called the Pokèmon center more than once to make sure she actually arrived.
The Pokémon Center grew deathly silent as all eyes turned to the unfolding scene. A short girl in the pastel blue hoodie shaking like a leaf in a gale and simultaneously reminded about her overprotective parents' drastic measures to ensure her safety.
Laoise hugged her backpack close, trembling as her heart raced out of control. Nurse Joy, gently guided Laoise to a videophone booth. Once the girl was chatting to her parents and sisters, she shook her head.
"Honestly, I do wish these helicopter parents would give breathing room," The nurse then remarked in concern, "Even neurodivergent children need independence to spread their wings."
"So what's her problem?" The redhead girl, whose name was Misty, grumbled.
"That's Laoise McGrady of the Bluebell Hollows, and she has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder." Nurse Joy answered patiently. "And sometimes she reacts this way to unfamiliar or terribly stressful situations."
"What's that? Can it be cured?" Ash questioned.
"No, it just means that her brain works differently, what is commonplace for us may be very strange to her." Nurse Joy explained then seeing their confused expressions, she elaborated it in another way.
"Imagine you've crash-landed on an alien planet. It looks like earth, but there are lots of differences. For one, a lot of people seem to talk really loudly. And even though you speak the same language, you sometimes have a hard time understanding what they mean. And things that seem hilarious to you aren't funny at all to them. You wish the scientists back on earth had given you a guidebook to this strange planet, but they forgot to pack one, so you have to try to learn things all on your own. Maybe there's one thing in particular that captures your interest and you study just that. Hopefully, the people on the planet begin to understand you a little better. And you might even learn to fit in. But you'll always feel a little bit different."
Ash and Misty looked at Laoise talking to her family, clutching her bag and items protectively.
"Laoise is supposed to be the first neurodivergent person to become a trainer at age twelve, for when she was first diagnosed her parents wouldn't let her embark on a pokèmon journey until her older sisters convinced them." Nurse Joy explained then sighed. "But as you probably noticed, they're much more anxious than her. If the calling the Gym and the Pokèmon Center ten times to check if she reached the city is any indication."
Ash and Misty listened closely to Nurse Joy's explanation, gaining new perspective on the challenges Laoise faced each day. Silently they reflected on their own lives, which looked so carefree in comparison.
"That sounds… pretty hard," Ash said quietly. His first adventure had tested his limits, but at least he knew the "rules" of this world. Whereas Laoise was navigating in near darkness.
Misty nodded a bit humbled. "No wonder her parents hover. But she needs chances to grow, same as any of us." Her eyes softened with sympathy and respect for the other girl.
In the meantime, Laoise was talking to her family via video phone.
"Put her on screen!"
"Are you okay?"
"Hi, everyone," Laoise greeted, her voice slightly shaky. "I made it to the Pokémon Center in Viridian City."
On the other end of the video call, Laoise could see her family. Her two older sisters were beaming excitedly, her anxious mother and father were comforted at the sight of her.
"Oh, Laoise, thank goodness you're okay. We gave it a few hours and Professor Oak hadn't heard any news yet." Dave McGrady breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your father and I have been calling the Pokémon Center because we hadn't heard from you in a while." Hyacinth added.
Laoise sighed, understanding her parents' concerns. "I'm sorry, Mom. I was walking the trail and wanted to catch some pokèmon the it rained. I caught an Onix too and named it Goliath, and my other Pokémon are doing well too."
"No way! Wow, you managed to catch an Onix?!" Taryn jumped up an down in delight.
"Ha! What did I tell you?" Shae crowed. "You're tougher than anyone gives you credit for."
Hyacinth's expression softened, a mix of relief and worry still evident. "Please be careful, Laoise. Remember to take care of yourself and your Pokémon. We're proud of you, but we want you to come back home safely too."
With a final exchange of "I love you's," Laoise ended the call, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She knew that her parents' worries stemmed from their love for her, and she wanted to make them proud while also staying true to herself.
Taking a deep breath, Laoise turned to face the Pokémon Center once again.
Soon, the treatment light goes off and Pikachu is rolled out on a stretcher.
Nurse Joy told Ash, "Your Pikachu's resting. It's a good thing you got it here so fast. The procedure went well and it should be fine."
Misty smiled. "Thanks to the Pokémon Center."
Ash nods. "Yes, thank you very much."
Nurse Joy added. "Now your Pokémon needs a good rest in the recovery room. You should go in with it, Ash."
Ash then said to Misty. "Thanks. Listen, I'm sorry about your bike but I'm gonna need some time to make things right."
Misty glared at him. "No way! I fell for that last time. Well, you should take care of Pikachu now and we'll settle up later."
Ash agreed nervously. "Okay."
Just then Laoise rejoined them, cheeks reddened but her posture straighter. But she didn't say anything yet.
"Now, Laoise, your pokèmon are healed, but the Pokémon center can also serve as shelter until the following morning to continue your journey." Nurse Joy said kindly. "Also- young lady, is that a swollen arm?"
Laoise touched her sore left arm awkwardly. "Uhm..."
Just then Officer Jenny's voice is heard over the P.A. intercom: "Your attention, please! Our Viridian City radar systems have detected an aircraft belonging to a gang of Pokémon thieves. If you have a Pokémon in your possession, exercise extreme caution."
Laoise listened with growing concern as Officer Jenny's warning echoed through the Center. Pokémon thieves posed danger to all trainers and their partners - though she possessed few Pokémon as of now, making sure they were safe was important.
Gently, Nurse Joy took Laoise's arm to examine. "This needs treatment. Why don't you describe how it happened while I apply ointment?" Her calm presence soothed frazzled nerves.
Laoise nodded, her mind racing with thoughts of the Pokémon thieves mentioned by Officer Jenny. She knew she had to be careful and keep her Pokémon safe. The Pokémon Center seemed like a safe haven for now, and she was grateful for the shelter it provided.
Ash and Misty exchanged worried glances, the situation has gotten serious. They knew they couldn't let their guard down, especially with their Pokémon in their possession.
"Fortunately it's neither broken nor sprained but it will bruise. So how is it you walked all the way to the Pokèmon center with an injured arm?" Nurse Joy commented as she added some ointment for Laoise's arm.
"I was on my way to the city when I saw a whole fleet of Spearow swarming like plague in the distance. I knew they're aggressive and even dangerous in numbers so I had Skyler -my pidgey- out for a safe path. Then it started raining." Laoise explained. "I followed Skyler, took a wrong step and rolled down a small hill. That's how I hurt my arm. Then me and my pokèmon hid in a small cave to wait out the rain and keep out of sight of the Spearow."
Misty had been listening intently as was Ash who looked abashed for a moment but no one else noticed.
"Well I'd say you made a wise choice to hide until both the storm and the Spearow had passed." Nurse Joy remarked after listening to Laoise's story.
They were all out in the foyer when two Pokéballs crash through the sunroof and from them, an Ekans and a Koffing materialized.
"Where did THEY come from?" Laoise said in surprise.
"Koffing!" The Koffing began spreading smoke, making them cough.
Laoise coughed and covered her mouth with her shirt and hoodie.
Ash stuck close to the stretcher holding pikachu. "What are? Who are they?"
"Don't be frightened, little boy." A woman's voice spoke.
Then a man's voice. "Allow us to introduce ourselves."
"To protect the world from devastation." The woman was revealed to have magenta long hair that she wears curled in a comet-tail behind her head.
"To unite all peoples within our nation." The man had shoulder-length periwinkle hair with a single fringe sprouting from the center and green eyes.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie." said the woman
"James." said the man.
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light.
"Surrender now or prepare to fight."
The over dramatic introduction was finished with a Meowth hopping down.
"Meowth, that's right." the Meowth actually spoke.
"What are you talking about?" Ash demanded.
"He just doesn't get it, does he?" Jessie the woman sneered.
"How can I? You don't make any sense." Ash answered.
"We're here for the Pokémon." James replied.
Laoise held her backpack tightly, her mind reeling. How fast can she be if she can reach for the pepper spray Taryn had given her?
"You're not getting Pikachu!" Ash challenged.
"Or any of MY pokèmon either!" Laoise glowered.
Jessie jeered. "Pikachu? We're not interested in your precious electric rat."
"We seek only rare and valuable Pokémon." James added.
Nurse Joy answered. "You're wasting your time. This is a center for weak and injured Pokémon."
Jessie answered, "Well, that may be so, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if we find a few little Pokémon gems among all the junk."
Team Rocket paused, exchanging amused looks as if this were all some fun game. But Laoise spotted telltale hesitance - they wanted easy targets, not a worthy fight.
Laoise seethed silently as Team Rocket continued harassing the others. Bullies were one thing, but thieves who endangered Pokémon truly stirred her ire. She assessed the room discreetly for items to aid the defense.
Team Rocket then commands Koffing and Ekans to attack, with Koffing using smoke screen and Ekans using tackle attack and ripping the power cables, destroying the front desk computer/video phone
Everyone hides in one of the rooms into a room filled with the injured PokéBalls while the pursuing Ekans and Koffing continued in the direction they think they went.
The lights in the room went out briefly. Nurse Joy speculated, "They must have cut the power, but we've got our own Pika power source."
Soon, the lights come on, thanks to a bunch of Pikachu running forward, holding each other's tails, as our group can see. Laoise and Misty watch in amusement.
"Wow, look at all the Pikachu." Misty grinned placing her hands on the glass to look.
Laoise watched the electric mice. "An emergency generator powered by pikachu? That is kinda neat."
The computer in the room activated. "A crisis situation has arisen. Initiating Emergency Pokéball Transport sequence."
Nurse Joy said. "We have to save those Pokéballs." The machinery in the room began picking up pokéballs and placing them on a conveyor belt as Nurse Joy sent out a distress message. "This is the Viridian City Pokémon Center. We have an emergency situation. Transporting Pokéballs."
The Computer responded, "This is the Pewter City Pokémon Center. Out-loader activated, ready to receive Pokéballs."
Koffing and Ekans then burst into the room along with Team Rocket and Meowth, causing many of the Poké Balls to fall on the floor.
Nurse Joy urged, "Get those Pokéballs!"
Laoise picked up two in her hands and dropped them on the conveyor belt.
Ash glanced around and picked one up. "Right."
Misty then rebuked the two. "This is war. Don't just hold them, throw them!"
Laoise answered back. "But the pokèmon in them don't belong to us!"
She hesitated – throwing someone else's Pokéballs seemed disrespectful, when these Pokémon were injured and vulnerable already.
Ash picks one up and throws it, with a Pidgey appearing, although the Pidgey is scared away by Ekans. Ash then throws another Poké Ball, which is empty and then another with a Rattata inside, which is also scared off by Ekans.
Laoise kept lobbing pokèballs dutifully on the conveyor belt to ensure they were taken to the Pewter City pokèmon center.
Misty stepped up. "I guess I'm going to have to take this into my own hands. Grab your Pikachu, you and Laoise get out of here. I'll take care of these three clowns."
Jessie jeered. "That's pretty big talk coming from such a little lady."
Misty smirked. "At least you're right about the pretty. Thanks for the compliment."
Laoise rolled her eyes. "True beauty is found within."
James looked down on Misty. "The girl thinks she's pretty."
"I agree with her. I think she's pretty, too. Pretty pathetic." Jessie taunted.
Misty glowered. "I'll show you. Pokéball, go!"
She threw her own Poké Ball, with a Goldeen appearing, although it falls on the floor since there's no water to swim in. Team Rocket was unimpressed.
Laoise pursed her lips. "Thanks for handling it."
Misty recalled her goldeen and cast her gaze at Team Rocket. "You know as well as I do that water Pokémon can't battle on land. I was just warming up."
Ash questioned. "Warming up?"
"Just get Pikachu and Laoise outta here!" Misty urged him.
Laoise continued placing the pokeballs on the conveyor belt. Just then, her own partners' balls began to shudder and glow - sensing her need, they wished to fight! Laoise whispered to wait, to conserve their strength for a better moment.
The line dwindled. One Pokéball rolled away... Hurrying to rescue it, Laoise found herself face to face with Ekans' bared fangs!
"YIIE!" Laoise felt her own hair stand on end.
And someone pulled her by the arm to run.
Ash had pulled her away from harm. Now they were both running down the hall back to the foyer, and the stretcher crashed into Misty's charred bike. Pikachu stirred awake in surprise.
Laoise stopped herself from stumbling onto the stretcher. "Uh, hi little pikachu, you okay?" she smiled sheepishly at Ash's pikachu.
"Chu..." Pikachu responded softly, giving Laoise a small nod and a weak smile. It seemed relieved to see another friendly face.
Laoise patted Pikachu gently on the head. "Don't worry, we'll get out of here and make sure you and Ash are safe, okay?"
Misty caught up and was nearly attacked by Ekans.
Laoise yelled. "Duck!" And she threw a potted plant at the snake pokèmon.
"You almost hit me!" Misty snapped.
"But I didn't." Laoise replied.
To their and Ash's surprise, the pikachus from the generator leaped down to them just as Team Rocket caught up. The group of pikachu used Thunder Shock to attack Team Rocket, Koffing, and Ekans, although Meowth escapes the attack.
Sensing distress in his new friends, tiny sparks began to fly from his red cheeks.
Ash beamed down at his partner. "Pikachu!"
Laoise smiled. "Looks like he's going to be okay."
Team Rocket's Meowth grumbled. "Do I have to do everything myself? That mouse is cat food, Meowth. Just wait Pikachu, you're mine!"
Pikachu stood on the group of pikachu. "Pika, Pika, Pika, Pika!"
Ash looked at him, "Pika, Pika?"
Pikachu nodded. "Pika!"
Laoise stared, puzzled. "What's that about?"
"So, you want... You want more power!" Ash figured it out.
"Power how?"
Ash jumped onto Misty's destroyed bike, pedaling to make the light come on.
Meowth blinked. "What this?"
Ash grinned. "Let's just say that Pikachu and I are going to generate a little excitement for you, Meowth."
Laoise stared, then grinned slyly as determination set in. Turning to Pikachu, she asked "Think you're up for a little payback?"
Pikachu winked. "Pikachu!" And he jumped onto the bike so that Ash can give him a power boost. "Pika Pika, Pikachu!"
He uses the energy from the light to use Thunder Shock which hits Team Rocket all at once. The force had
Koffing then use Smokescreen, which causes an explosion that destroys the Pokémon Center, just as Officer Jenny arrived on the scene.
"I guess I'm too late. But not for the fireworks."
Fortunately everyone involved was alive. Team Rocket are then sent blasting off and manage to hold onto a rope from their hot air balloon, deciding to follow Ash and to kidnap his Pikachu because of its unique power. Soon, their balloon rips and sends them flying into the night.
The next day, Nurse Joy is talking with another Nurse Joy on the only working computer terminal left after the explosion.
"Your Viridian City Pokémon were transported here safely." Nurse Joy of Pewter city confirmed.
Nurse Joy of Viridian City smiled. "Thanks, sis. Ash, Misty, Pikachu, and Laoise are heading your way to Pewter City. If they can get safely through the Viridian Forest."
Officer Jenny nodded. "Don't worry, from what I see those four can take pretty good care of themselves."
Nurse Joy turned to her. "Well, I hope you're right. Laoise is still the first trainer with ASD to try out for the Pokémon League."
"Well, if she can survive a night facing pokèmon thieves and explosions, she can survive anything."
Deep in the Viridian forest, Laoise is enjoying nature, and frolicking, listening to music with her pastel blue headphones in a happy mood.
The uplifting lyrics of the song filled Laoise with determination and dreams of all the adventures awaiting her. As the final notes drifted off in the breeze, she took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling fresher and lighter than she had in years. All of the frustrations and loneliness of being trapped at home now fell away behind her. Ahead, the open path unfurled like a long-awaited gift, beckoning her towards new friends, new places and untold discoveries. For the first time, nothing stood in the way of her dreams and she couldn't help but wear a great big smile. With her first Pokémon partner by her side and the wind in her hair, Laoise confidently stepped forward to embrace everything the world had in store for her. Her journey had truly begun.
And for good reason because she had just caught a...
Misty then began screaming. Ash had stopped in place. "What's the matter?"
Laoise, who had been softly singing along to the lyrics, bumped into them. "Why did we stop?" she asked, and she removed her headphones.
Misty was hanging on to Ash's back in fear. "Look over there."
They all turned to the left to see a caterpillar like Pokémon.
Ash smiled. "It's a Caterpie. Cool! It's one of the bug Pokémon."
"Oh, a caterpillar pokèmon!" Laoise brightened. And usually caterpillars always turned into butterflies or moths.
Misty trembled and backed away, "Even if it is a Pokémon, bugs are disgusting, and I don't like them! Do something!"
"All right. Stand back." Ash grew determined, "This one's a piece of cake. Pokéball, go!"
What did Laoise catch in the forest? Will Ash capture the Caterpie? What sinister plans are being concocted by Team Rocket? All the answers on the next chapter of A Pokémon odyssey.
Author's note: Yeah, so in the end I decided to have it partially follow the Pokémon anime with a few episode mentioned or summarized for the fun of it.
But I do plan for some original experiences and adventures for Laoise (a side story for her sisters and a Christmas story for instance), and since aside from proving herself as trainer and stating her independence she will learn loads more on her journey.
Remember now, people are not mind-readers and positive in-depth comments are always appreciated.