Author's note: Okay took me a whole to but here it is.

Got motivated more because of an especially very rude user (xXSelenaXx), Wesltry and their nitpicking about how I wrote Laoise's flaws, saying she contributes nothing, why I wrote it wrong, while blatantly ignoring the Nº 1 rule: my fanfiction, my way.

Quick reminder, this fanfiction focuses on Laoise breaking out of her shell, gaining confidence while embarking on a journey through Kanto with Ash in the role of Red while Laoise accompanies him and his friends Misty, & Brock.

As for the reviewer's nitpicking, I think it's clear that they're far more interested in showing off their own alleged knowledge and projecting their family issues. It's not about being "right" or "wrong" about the terminology; it's about creating a fictional character that feels flawed, vulnerable, and Laoise is a fictional character thus her actions and personality must be considered in the context of the story and her own personal journey. In this case her flaws are being blunt, jaded, occasionally obnoxious and childish in some ways.

Let's face it, surely there are many canon NT characters we readers or fans cannot stand, so Laoise's just being a bit more outspoken in the first few chapters.

Remember the song Flawless in MLP FiM, 'We're not flawless'? All human beings have flaws, weaknesses, or limitations.

Thus I will be adding and making more ocs with fatal flaws and other hurdles to overcome besides just their own faults, and the naysayers can't order me not to.

Also, I'll choose which movies I will be doing (Mewtwo strikes back and Mewtwo returns are just two of which I wanna do). Also to new reviewers DON'T use the reviews just for a single question – that's what the Private messages (the PMs) are for, if you please!

With that out of the way gang, onto the chapter!

In another part of the gym, Giovanni's office, Team Rocket presented Togepi to him.

However, when he demands to know what it can do, the trio is at a loss to explain. Giovanni loses his temper, accusing them of total incompetence despite months of work.

Team Rocket tries to apologize, but Giovanni's phone rang.

Giovanni answered the call. "What is it? WHAT?! WHEN?" He hung up the phone at once. "There's been an accident, I have to go, I'm leaving the three of you in charge of the gym."

Jessie stared. "The three of us?"

James blinked, "In charge?"

Meowth repeated, "Of the gym?"

He leaves the trio in charge of the Gym, giving them three Poké Balls to use if necessary. During the discussion, Togepi is able to escape through an open door.

Meanwhie, in Giovanni's dungeon, all sorts of Pokémon are seen encased and in cages, including another Golem, another Kingler, and a Cloyster. Giovanni, flanked by his guards, approaches his mystery Pokémon.

"We have an emergency assignment for you."

Giovanni pulls a switch and the cables on the armor are retracted, as the mystery Pokémon's eyes glowed blue.

Meanwhile in the Bluebell Hollows, after not hearing back from Laoise, Dave had anxiously ended up calling the Viridian gym – unknowingly just fifteen minutes after Giovanni left.

So the phone rang right in Giovanni's office, James noticed while Jessie and Meowth had gone to prepare. He looked about as if intending to tell someone, but they looked busy.

Curious James answered. "Hello?

"Yeah, hello? Sorry to bother you, I just wanted to check if my youngest daughter Laoise has arrived at your gym yet."

Uh-oh the Team Rocket training never prepared him for something like this.

"Uhm sorry, I think you might have the wrong number. This is no gym..." Jame replied nervously.

On the other line, Dave frowned in confusion. He could swear he'd dialed the Viridian City gym, and why did the man's voice sound familiar?

At that moment Taryn had arrived home from school and saw her father doing the one thing she and Shae had advised against. "Daddy, what are you doing?"

In the Viridian gym, simultaneously, Jessie took the phone from James and hung up, "Hey! What are you doing?"

James gulped, quailing under Jessie's glare. "I'm answering the phone. Someone just called about their daughter Laoise."

"They can call back later, we got work to do!" Meowth snapped.

Meanwhile, back in Bluebell Hollow, Dave explained himself to his middle daughter, "I'm just calling to check up on Laoise, we haven't heard from since she called from Cinnabar island."

"Daddy, you know that besides the boat ride, there's the distance to Viridian city." Taryn reminded her father. "Besides, what did me and Shae say? You can't just keep calling ahead to the next gym, this is something Laoise wants to do on her own."

However something was bothering Dave. "Someone picked up then hung right back up! Just before that happened though, the caller sounded familiar..."

Taryn frowned in concern. "Before you and mom start casta-catastrophizing, just calm down. It could have been a guard or the gym leader is out of town for the time being."

Meanwhile back in Viridian city, the rest of our heroes are busy looking for Togepi.

Misty cried, "Togepi! Togepi! Where are you, Togepi?! Come out, Togepi! Togepi!"

"Togepi!" called Ash.

"Togepi! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Laoise looked around. Maybe the little fellow walked away and crawled up some place.

Brock called, "Togepi, where are you?!"

Pikachu ran on all fours, looking left and right, "Pi Pi Pi! Pi Pi Pi!"

Soon, our heroes regroup outside the gym.

Misty asked the others, "Did any of you see Togepi?"

Brock shook his head, "I couldn't find it anywhere."

"Me either." Laoise added.

Misty put her face in her hands, Oh, I'm so worried! What if Togepi is scared and crying right now?" She then grabbed Ash and began to shake him, "Listen, you! If anything happens to Togepi, "I'll never forgive you!

Brock tried to calm her, "Misty, that won't help Togepi."

Misty growled back, "Well, it makes me feel better!"

"You're nuts!" Laoise snapped, "What if Togepi is safe and..."

Soon, Togepi is heard.

"... and wandering about just like-" Laoise paused, she thought she'd heard Togepi.

Pikachu's ears perkec up, "Pi?"

Togepi's voice was heard. This time everyone turned around to where it was coming from: behind the doors to the gym.

They pulled oepend the doors with great effort and there stood Togepi.

"Togepi!" Misty leaned down to pick it up. "Oh, I was so worried about you! Thank goodness you're safe!"

"I wonder how it got inside." Brock looked up. "Look over there!"

Everyone saw Gary and his cheerleaders sprawled out.

Ash gasped, "It's Gary!"

Brock gaped, "And the girls!"

"What happened to them?!" Laoise yelped.

Everyone rushed in to check on them.

Ash went to Gary first, "Hey, Gary! Gary, wake up!"

Gary stirred awake. "It's here."

Ash questioned, "What happened? What's here?"

Laoise curiously turned from checking the pulse on one of the cheerleaders to listen.

"A Pokémon that we've never seen, did this." Gary said. "There's something different about this one. This Pokémon's not just powerful, it's evil!"

Ash was is disbelief, "Evil? There can't be an evil Pokémon."

"It's not possible, they don't... none of them have-" Laoise was shaking her head slowly.

By then the cheerleaders have regained consciousness.

"I can't believe Gary lost." One of the cheerleaders said teary eyed.

All the cheerleaders began to cry, which hurts everyone's ears and as Ash accidentally drops Gary who flailed and fell to floor again.

Misty scolded, "Why are you making such a big deal about one lost battle?!"

Pikachu chimed in "Pikachu!"

The cheerleaders stop and listen.

Misty added, "If I cried like that every time Ash or Laoise lost a battle, I'd be waterlogged!"

Pikachu nodded, "Pika Pika."

Ash falls over in disbelief. "She's only kidding."

"One thing's for sure, no one will ever beat that Pokémon." Gary said from his spot.

"W-w-wait a minute," Laoise did a time out gesture with her hands. "Gary, before that weird new pokèmon attacked... the Viridian gym leader. What did he look like? And why isn't he here with medical staff tending to you and the cheerleaders?"

Gary sat up gingerly. "The Gym Leader...He stayed in the shadows for most of our battle, but at the last round, he came out of the shadows. Tall, dark hair, fancy suit. Really intimating."

He glanced at Laoise warily. "When that new Pokémon blasted us all, it was like a shock-wave. Knocked us out cold. They're both gone now..."

Gary's cheerleaders murmured nervously amongst themselves. It seemed this was no ordinary defeat.

Brock's brow furrowed. "Something's not adding up. Where's this so-called 'Gym Leader' now, when Trainers are hurt on his watch?"

Ash clenched his fists. "And how come no one's heard of this evil Pokémon before? We've gotta find out what's really going on!"

Laoise nervously picked at her nails. Something wasn't adding up.

Soon, Jessie's evil witch-like laugh was heard as the gym lights came on.

Ash demanded "Who's there?!"

Laoise froze about to tell Ash that he broke a horror movie rule by asking who was there. Then the troublesome trio of Team Rocket began their motto... only to be cut off by Ash and Brock.

"It's them!"

"Again!"

Jessie and James stumble and fall down in disbelief.

Why do you little twerps always interrupt us before we get to finish?!"

"You keep saying the same dumb thing over and over again every time we meet, it's getting old!" Laoise griped.

Misty agreed, "It's never any different!"

Jessie raised an index finger, "Ah, but today is very different."

James did the same, "Something's happened that's gonna make you very jealous!"

Meowth then popped out of a confetti container in the rafters. "Let's celebrate! We just got a big promotion! Now we're gonna get da respect we deserve!"

James grinned, "That's right, Meowth, cause the new leaders of this gym are..."

Jessie smiled, "The three of us!"

Our heroes just looked in disbelief.

Ash gaped, "You guys are gym leaders?!"

Pikachu blinked "Pika?!"

"Egg-squeeze me?" Laoise's eye twitched.

Jessie gloated, "That's right. Just moments ago we were put in charge of this gym." she held two Earth badges up. "And the Earth badge."

The earth badge resembled a feather in two different shades of green, the top was forest green and the bottom half was pear green.

Ash clenched his hands into fists, "The Earth badge!"

Misty glowered, "You mean this gym is controlled by Team Rocket?!"

Brock questioned, "Why would they want a gym?"

"Maybe a front to cover up their criminal activities!" Laoise suspected.

Gary and his cheerleaders just watched the whole scene in bewilderment, this was one of the last things they expected to see.

"Oh you little dweebs couldn't understand the complex plans of an organization like Team Rocket." Jessie sneered.

"Yeah? Try us!" Ash glared.

"That's for us to know and you to find out." James said pompously. He then mumbled to Jessie, "What are they?"

Jessie's expression faltered before she said, "Those plans are classified information."

Meowth piped up, "She didn't know about dem, anyway!"

Jessie punched Meowth away.

"But if you want that Earth badge, you'll have to defeat us." James said.

"That's just what I'm going to do!" Ash yelled back.

"Ah-ah-ah! Not just you." Jessie wagged a finger.

Jessie gave an unkind laugh. "If you want to face the great Team Rocket, it will take not just you, but your little friend in the ratty blue hood as well!"

Laoise balled her fists, meeting Jessie's gaze steadily. "Don't mind if I do! Ash and I will wipe the floor with you clowns!"

James chuckled. "Big words for such a tiny Trainer. Meowth, shall we show them the meaning of defeat?"

The cat Pokémon snarled eagerly. But Ash and Laoise stood ready, eyes narrowed in determination.

The stage was set - it would take all of Ash and Laoise's combined skills to overcome Team Rocket's cheating ways. The battle for the Earth Badge had begun!

"Well, step right into the ring we prepared just for you two."

A green stand rose up right behind the quartet.

Jessie snickered. "Now, get into the trainer's box, children."

Misty sensed something was amiss. "Don't do it! It's a trick!"

Brock agreed, "They must have booby-trapped it, somehow!"

"If you run away now, you won't get that Earth badge." James taunted.

Ash growled, "I'm not running anywhere!"

"Me either!"

Soon, both trainers take their places. James and Jessie in the red while Ash and Laoise in the green.

Jessie said, "We'll begin with three Pokémon each. No time limit."

"Done." Laoise nodded once.

Ash agreed. "Fine. Let's battle!"

Jessie tossed the three pokèballs, "All three Pokémon, go!"

From the Pokéballs, a Machamp, Kingler, and Rhydon materialized.

"Ha! This should be a cinch!" Jessie laughed.

James grinned, "And don't forget..."

Meowth laughed "Our secret weapon!"

Brock warned "Be careful, you two. They're up to something."

"Right." Ash and Laoise exchanged grim looks and nodded.

"Squirtle, I choose you!" Ash send out his squirtle.

Squirtle materialized.

"Ivy, let's rock and roll!" Laoise threw her pokèball.

Her Leafeon materialized.

Jessie scoffed. "Squirtle? And a fancy leaf pokèmon? Is that the best you can do? Machamp, Karate Chop Squirtle!"

Machamp closed in and struck the turtle multiple times. At the same time, an electrical jolt went through Ash's body as Squirtle takes the hits.

Laoise was horrified, "Ash!"

The others watching were shocked, "What's that?!"

Pikachu cried "Pika Pi!"

James smirked, "Oh, that's one of the custom features in our gym. In that box, the trainer feels all the pain the Pokémon feels."

Jessie laughed, "Not so eager to battle now, are you?"

"They can't win. Machamp is too powerful!" Gary said soberly.

"Don't forget about me!" Laoise snarled. "Ivy, use leaf blade on Kingler!"

Leafeon struck with a flurry of shining leaf blades, slicing into Kingler's armor. But Jessie wasn't fazed just yet. "Try this - Kingler, Vicegrip on that leaf pipsqueak!"

Kingler's steel claw slammed shut around Ivy, who cried out in pain. Laoise shrieked, feeling the shockwaves in her own body from the powered-up energy transferring through the box.

"Ivy, hold on!" she yelled. Hyperventilating, she focused through the haze of pain. "Now, use Razor Leaf!"

Ivy's leaves shot out in a whirlwind, knocking Kingler back and freeing herself. Ash grinned through his own pain. "Way to go, Laoise! Squirtle, try Withdraw!"

Squirtle pulled inside its shell, lessening the impact of Machamp's blows. James snorted derisively. "Is that the best you've got? Rhydon, use Bulldoze!"

The vibrating quake attack hit both Squirtle and Ivy full force. But Ash didn't back down. "Now, Squirtle - Water Gun on Machamp!" A stream of water knocked the superpower Pokémon back, giving them some room to plan their next move.

But how long could they last against these behemoths, with each hit sending shocks through their bodies? They had to think of something, and fast!

Ash stood up weakly. "Bulbasaur, go!"

Bulbasaur materialized.

"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!"

Bulbasaur extends its vines.

"Kingler, Harden attack!" ordered Jessie.

Kingler hardens itself to avoid any damage.

Meowth laughed "Too bad!"

James quipped, "Those two are out of their league, aren't they?"

Jessie instructed, "Kingler, Bubble attack!"

The attack landed, and Ash felt the pain from the jolts.

"You can't win! Their Pokémon are too strong!" Gary called up at Ash and Laoise.

"I won't give up! I've come too far to just quit now! I trust my Pokémon." Ash was determined. "We can do it!"

Laoise got up, grabbing ahold of the rail with her left and taking out a pokèball with her right.

"Tricky, it's show time!" Laoise threw her second pokèball.

Her Gengar materialized with a confident chuckle.

Ash unleashed his pidgeotto. "Go, Pidgeotto! Quick Attack!"

"Tricky, give Machamp a Lick!" Laoise cried.

Pidgeotto zoomed at Rhyhorn like a freight train, while Tricky blasted forward with his long spectral tongue extended at Machamp.

This time the attacks both Jessie and James to feel the jolts from the trainer's box as well.

Jessie wailed. "James! Why did you set it up to give shocks on both sides?! Turn it off! Turn it off!"

James replied, "I didn't think it would matter! It never occurred to me that we would lose!"

Meowth held a remote control. "Luckily, I made dis little gadget in case we did lose. All I do is hit da button an' goodbye competition!"

Gary dashed forward, having heard everything. "Oh, no you don't! Gimme that thing!"

He tackled Meowth and causes him to drop the remote.

Although smarting from the jolts, Jessie stood up. "All Pokémon, attack at once!"

Arbok and Weezing materialized.

"Go, Arbok! Go, Weezing!"

Misty snapped, "You can't use new Pokémon, now! It's against the rules!"

Jessie fired back, "I make the rules for this gym!"

Ash glared. "Well, if those are the rules... Let's go, Pikachu!"

Pikachu was determined. "Pika!"

"Then you too, Storm!" Laoise released her female Pikachu.

Storm leaped out ready for battle.

Pikachu and Storm stood determined, sparks flying from their cheeks. The field was becoming dangerously crowded, but Ash and Laoise had their partners' backs.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt full power!"

"Storm, paralyze them with Thunder Wave!"

Both electric attacks struck true, zapping the opposing Pokémon with shocking volts. Arbok and Weezing writhed while Machamp struggled to stay standing. Even Kingler twitched erratically in its armor.

Jessie howled in pain from the reflected jolts. "You little brats will pay for that!"

This left just Rhydon facing off against Bulbasaur, Pidgeotto, Gengar and the twin Pikachu. James cackled nervously. "Don't count us out yet! Rhydon, use Stone Edge!"

Sharp rocky projectiles flew at the heroes' Pokémon, but they were ready.

"Vine Whip to deflect them!" cried Ash.

"Tricky, use Shadow Ball!" commanded Laoise.

Working as a seamless team, they stopped the stones in their tracks. Jessie and James were visibly rattled now. Victory was within grasp - but would these crooks go down without a dirty trick? The friends had to end it, and end it now!

Pikachu leaped onto Arbok with Storm jumping atop of Weezing, both electrifying the Pokémon Team Rocket have, causing Jessie and James serious voltage. The three Pokemon Giovanni gave Jessie and James then retreated.

Jessie and James were dizzy, "Follow the leader..."

Arbok and Weezing are soon sent right into Jessie and James, knocking them down as Laoise and Ash with their Pokemon celebrated.

"They're running away!" Laoise pointed. "This means we win!"

Ash cheered, "We did it! We won the match!"

Pikachu jumped into his arms, "Pika Pi!"

All of Ash's Pokémon leaps towards him. "Thanks, Pikachu! You were all just great!"

Nearby, Laoise's Pokémon went to her. She threw her arms around Storm and Ivy, bringing Tricky into a big group hug as they cheered.

Soon, Gary's cheerleaders start cheering for Ash and Laoise.

"I hate to admit it, but those kids are pretty good trainers." Gary murmured then he became serious, "But still, nobody's ever gonna beat the Pokémon that me, Liam and Ben saw."

Meanwhile, Meowth checked on James and Jessie. James sat up first with a groan, "Jessie? Can you hear me?"

Meowth asked, "Can you move?"

Jessie then angrily started pounding James and Meowth on the head. "I'm lucky I can breathe after what you did to me! Why did I get the shock?!"

Ash called up, "Hey, Jessie! We won the match fair and square!"

"It's over, you two," said Laoise sternly. "Hand over the Earth Badges."

She and Ash had recalled their other pokèmon and ready to reap the rewards.

"Well, you're not getting it! Bleh!" Jessie gave them the akanbe gesture.

Ash snapped "Hey! That's cheating!"

Jessie retorted, "Well, I'm a cheater!"

"Don't make me come up there!" Laoise shook her fist.

"I dare you!" James snapped.

Meowth noticed Togepi messing with the remote he dropped and he yelled, "Stop! Get away from dat ting!"

Togepi pushed both buttons on the remote and causes both trainer's boxes explosives to activate, to Team Rocket's horror.

Meowth became nervous, "I tink I mighta wired dis side, too!"

Jessie and James wailed. "Oh no!"

The trainer's box goes up, sending Team Rocket blasting off and causing Jessie to drop two Earth badges.

"We're blasting off again!"

Ash caught an Earth badge. "Hey! I finally got my Earth badge!"

Laoise caught one in her hands cupped together. "Me too!"

Pikachu cheered. "Pi Pikachu!"

Soon, the gym starts to rumble and shake.

Gary yelled, "The building's collapsing! Let's run for it!"

Everyone evacuated as the building comes crumbling down. They watched somberly as the Viridian gym crumbled to the ground.

Hours later, the four trainers were outside of Viridian.

Brock said, "I wonder if we'll ever get to see the Pokémon that Gary was talking about. I'd like to get a good look at that."

"Me too," Laoise admitted. "Creepy as it sounded, I can't help but be curious. What could be strong enough to do that to an experienced trainer and leave a whole group of people unconscious?"

Ash shrugged and held open his jacket, "Well, right now, all I want to look at are my eight badges!" He was admiring his badges. "Now, I can finally get into the Pokémon League."

The words had just registered in Laoise's head. "Oh yeah..." then her face became excited. "Oh yeah!" she opened her badge case and admired all her badges. "I can't wait to tell my folks back home!"

"We're on our way to becoming Pokémon masters!" Ash crowed.

Pikachu chirped, "Pikachu."

Brock nodded. "Alright! Let's go!"

Misty questioned, "But, where is the Pokémon League?"

Ash just looked at her, clueless.

Misty chided him, "Ash! Don't you know where it is?"

Brock suggested, "I'm sure Professor Oak can tell us all about it."

Laoise nodded, "Yeah, we gotta to know where the League competition is being held so me and Ash can actually compete."

"Right. Let's go visit him back in Pallet Town!" Ash agreed.

"I gotta head home anyway, it's just an hour and a half walk from Pallet town." Laoise said.

Brock and Misty agreed.

Now that Ash and Laoise have their eighth badges, our heroes are on their way to Pallet Town, where our adventure first began. What new adventures await them?

To be continued...

Author's note: Well, how's that for Laoise and Ash's tag team battle for their earth badges? There's plenty more adventures awaiting while they prepare for the pokèmon league maybe a surprise or two. I'm not gonna stop writing just because some jerks don't like how I wrote my fics, if anything it just makes me dig my heels in further.

Now then, who wants Laoise to bring home a little female Meowth for 'Go west, young Meowth'? Gonna see which episodes I wanna summarize and which I'm place for fun.