In the Pokémon Village, our heroes were heading back to their cabin to celebrate Ash and Laoise winning their fourth preliminary round matches.

"Hey, I'm really hungry." said Misty.

Brock nodded, "We should all have a big meal to celebrate Ash and Laoise's big victories!"

Ash declared, "And dinner's on me and Laoise, because everybody in the Pokémon League eats for free!"

"And I got a hankering for a good shepherd's pie!" Laoise said.

Once they got to the cabin, Ash's mom and Professor Oak are seen outside waiting for them with Laoise's parents.

"Surprise!" Dave and Hyacinth McGrady greeted.

"Mom! Dad!" Laoise was indeed surprised. "Hi, Professor, Mrs. Ketchum!"

Prof. Oak said, "I was quite impressed with the way you battled out there, Ash."

Delia smiled, "I'm so proud of you."

"And we're proud of you too, Bunnyboo." Hyacinth hugged Laoise. "You've come a long way."

Delia then said to Ash, "You and Laoise have to keep your strength up while you both compete, so I'm making your favorite meals for you."

Ash and Laoise both asked, "You are?"

"But where are you gonna cook around here?" wondered Ash.

Delia laughed. "Leave that to me."

As it turned out, the moment they were on the tenth floor of the tallest building in the Pokémon Village, Delia was cooking up a storm for Ash and Laoise, leaving the kitchen staff speechless.

The meal turned out to be quite delicious, much so that the cook even asked Delia for the recipe.

While they lunched, Prof. Oak said, "You know, if you and Laoise win your next battles, you'll both be allowed to use up to six Pokémon per match. Have either of you decided which Pokémon you'll choose?"

Ash said. "I think I'll wait to see who I'm up against, first."

Laoise agreed. "Same here. This could take a lot of planning."

"Tomorrow they decide who everybody who passed the preliminaries battles." Brock said.

Prof. Oak nodded, "Don't forget to let me know if either of you need any more Pokémon. Just call me, and I'll transport them to you both, right away."

"Thanks, Professor." Laoise and Ash said in unison.

Later, after dinner, our heroes are preparing to head back to the bottom floor of the building.

Prof. Oak said, "If you both just remember to always do your best, you're both winners even if one of or both of you lose. That's the important thing."

Delia agreed, "But, try to win."

Ash nodded. "Right."

"And remain focused." Dave added.

"We will." Laoise nodded brightly.

Misty said, "We'll make sure they do."

Brock added, "We're good at that."

However, as they start boarding the elevator…

"Hold the door, please! I'm going down stairs, too!" A boy called out.

He had brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a teal short-sleeve shirt with light yellow trim and a silver zipper, a dark teal vest with a light green collar, a black belt with a silver buckle, teal pants with light yellow pockets, dark blue and indigo sneakers with red dots, dark blue fingerless gloves with aqua borders, and a purple cap with a light yellow band and red buttons.

Prof. Oak obliged, "Sure."

The boy climbed in and the elevator began to go down.

"Thank you very much." The boy said politely.

Prof. Oak smiled, "No problem."

The boy spots Pikachu. "A Pikachu. Whose is it?"

Ash piped up, "Mine. Pikachu belongs to me."

"You're really lucky." The boy said.

Ash smiled, "Yeah, thanks."

The boy reached to pet Pikachu.

Ash became briefly alarmed, "Hey, you better be careful!"

"Pikachu can be a shocker if handled the wrong way…" Laoise began.

However, Pikachu doesn't shock the boy, surprising our heroes. He leaned in to the touch sweetly.

"Huh. Looks like you're rubbing Pikachu the right way." Laoise said.

The boy replied to Ash, "I can see you did a really great job raising your Pikachu."

"Oh, thanks." Ash chuckled. "It wasn't always easy."

But before anyone can say anything else, the elevator stops and the lights go out, surprising everyone.

Brock gasped, "The power went out!"

Hyacinth suggested, "Try using the emergency call button."

"Right." Brock pressed the button. "Hello, can anybody there hear me?" he pressed the button again. "Hello there? Hey! Looks like it's busted, too."

Prof. Oak guessed. "It's probably just a power outage."

Delia said, "What should we do?"

Prof. Oak replied, "I guess we're stuck here until someone restores the electricity."

"What? Oh no!" Misty worried.

Laoise was rather unnerved herself, "These kind of situations of being trapped somewhere are starting to scare me."

Brock noticed the boy fiddling with the cables in the elevator controls.

"Excuse me, but can I borrow your Pikachu for a second?" The boy asked Ash.

"Yeah." Ash picked up Pikachu. "What for?"

The boy replied, "I want to use Pikachu's Thunder Shock to jump start the elevator. That should get us to the lobby."

Prof. Oak took it into consideration, "Say, there. You've got an interesting idea. Let's try it, Ash."

"Okay."

"It's worth a try." Laoise mused.

Ash held up Pikachu. "Pikachu, Thunder Shock."

Pikachu sends his jolts through the wires and gets the elevator moving and lit up again, to the relief and amazement of the group.

Ash grinned. "We're moving!"

Once on the ground floor, our heroes disembarked from the elevator.

"We made it!" Misty was the first one out.

Brock said in relief, "I'm glad we held the door open for you!"

"Yeah, that was some smart thinking back there." Laoise agreed.

"I should say so!" agreed Dave.

Delia nodded, "We can't thank you enough!"

The boy replied, "Don't thank me, thank Pikachu."

Ash said, "Thank you, er…." He then paused a little noticing he didn't catch the other boy's name.

"Hey, yeah, what's your name?" Laoise asked.

The boy chuckled, "Oh, yeah. My name's Richie."

"My name's Ash. Nice to meet ya." Ash introduced himself

Laoise waved. "I'm Laoise. Whoa!" and she nearly tripped, dropping her headphones to the floor.

"Careful"

Laoise reached for the headphones at the same time Richie intended to pick them up for her... and their hands touched.

"Your headphones." Riuchie said softly, dropping his gaze.

"Thank you." Laoise took them sheepishly.

"Anyway, I gotta go. See ya!" Richie ran off.

"Bye." Ash waved.

"Goodbye," Laoise waved, "He's sure something isn't he?"

"That he is." Hyacinth agreed with Dave nodding.

Delia commented. "What a sweetie."

Prof. Oak nodded. "Very mature for a boy his age."

Misty gave Ash a a sidelong glance. "Unlike a certain other boy we all know."

Laoise eyeballed Misty. "He's like a survivalist version of Ash, only if he'd been in the boy scouts."

Brock said, "I was really impressed with the way he handled Pikachu."

Soon, a voice is heard from outside via megaphone.

"Your attention, please! May I have your attention, please?" a female voice announced.

A male voice then spoke, "This is an emergency announcement for all participants in the Pokémon League competition! This is not only a test!"

Everyone went outside to find out that the voices were coming from a van outside the building.

"All trainers must bring their Pokéballs to the Pokémon pavilion for official inspection immediately!"

Misty said, "I wonder why they want to inspect Pokéballs?"

Ash said, "We better go find out."

"It is important that you bring all Pokéballs to the pavilion as quickly as possible." The female voice said.

"And make it snappy." added the male voice.

Dave, Laoise's father, was a little thoughtful. "Call me crazy, but I could swear I must've heard one of those voices before."

Later, their van is parked outside the pavilion and all the Pokémon League participants are there, including Ash and Laoise.

Ash walked over with Pikachu and Laoise. "I wonder why we had to come here so quickly."

"I dunno." Laoise shrugged. "Maybe there's a bug or something going on."

Soon, they spotted Richie.

Ash called him over, "Hey, Richie!"

Richie noticed and hurried over, "Hey, Ash! Laoise! How's it going?"

Ash said, "We didn't know you'd be here. Glad to see you."

"Guess you're in the Pokémon League, too." Laoise said.

Richie nodded. "Yeah."

Soon, a man and woman in official Pokémon league uniform stepped out.

The woman spoke through megaphone, "We must now collect all your Pokémon to perform the required physical examination. Please deposit all of your Pokémon in the bag held by this official looking man with the mustache."

Ash frowned, "Something's kinda weird."

Laoise pursed her lips, "Yeah, how come there's only two workers? And why aren't they telling us why they have to inspect our pokèballs?"

Richie chimed in, "Nobody ever said anything about a Pokémon exam to me."

The lady raised an index finger, "Any trainers who fail to turn in all their Pokémon will be disqualified from the league."

Laoise, Ash and Richie exchanged worried looks.

The man went around carrying a bag, "Drop all your Pokéballs in here."

"Let's hurry, trainers." said the lady.

All the trainers put all their Pokéballs into the sack. However, when the lady attempted to stuff Pikachu into a sack, getting shocked in the process, the man called the lady "Jessie" name, causing Laoise, Ash and Ritchie to realize who they are.

"Did he say Jessie?!" Ash glared.

"You're fake officials!" Laoise growled.

Richie glared, "You look a lot like those guys from Team Rocket!"

The jig was up. Team Rocket revealed themselves after throwing off their disguises while reciting their trademark motto.

Ash scowled, "Not you guys again!"

Richie snapped, "Give us back our Pokéballs!"

Laoise had begun pulling up the sleeves of her blue hoodie. "And I mean NOW!"

Jessie smirked, "We'll give them back."

"After we remove your Pokémon, that is!" added James.

They laughed before James had Weezing use smog attack, blinds everyone as Jessie, James, and Weezing head into the van for their getaway.

However Ash noticed and chased the van all the way to the center gate.

"Stop that van!" He shouted. "Somebody call the police, there's been a robbery!"

"Wait up!" Laoise called, following after.

Laoise's parents noticed her running.

"Where are you going?" Hyacinth was bewildered.

"To get my pokèmon back!" Laoise snapped.

Ash and Laoise chase after the van, they're soon joined by Richie.

Richie was running up to them, "Ash! Laoise!"

Soon, the three spotted Team Rocket's van.

Ash said, "We can't catch them on foot."

Richie shook his head, "Not unless we cut straight down the side of the mountain."

Ash was determined. "Okay, let's do it!"

"Yeah, it's time to get our Pokémon back!" Laoise hand her hands in fists.

Richie said in concern, "What?! It's too dangerous!"

Ash answered. "I won't let them take neither Laoise's Pokémon, or Pikachu!"

"I'm not gonna lose any of them to those jerks! My pokèmon are part of my family too!" Laoise said sternly.

Ash and Laoise started running down the side of the mountain.

Richie hurried to catch up. "Ash! Laoise! Hey, wait!"

The group picked up speed as they raced down the side of the mountain.

"Ash! Laoise! Slow down!" Richie called after them.

"We're going downhill, there's no way we can go slow down without sliding or tripping!" Laoise said.

"But we gotta cut them off before it's too late!" Ash responded.

"Ash, Laoise, no!" Richie jumped and stopped them both.

Well, he'd jumped Ash, Laoise slipped back, sliding by her posterior. And they all come sliding to a stop right before they go over a cliff, though Ash pushed Richie off in annoyance.

"If I hadn't stopped you, you and Laoise would've run right off the edge of the cliff!" Richie explained.

"No way!"

After checking that her pants and bag were still in one piece, Laoise looked over to see for herself.

"Way." Laoise pointed to the cliff.

Richie said, "Come on."

The group climbed down the side of the cliff safely while Team Rocket was singing about their success until the group of three stood in their way, shocking Team Rocket.

Eventually, James is forced to swerve off the road, and Team Rocket drove into a river. Ash and Ritchie chased after them as the van floated downstream.

That night, our heroes are seen walking along the riverbank.

Ash shrugged. "Maybe Team Rocket's just around the bend."

"Maybe they stopped now that it's dark…" Laoise mused.

Richie suggested, "Why don't we quit for the night and get some sleep?"

Ash stopped.

"Good point. It's too dark now, and if we get lost, we'll never find Team Rocket." Laoise said.

Ash nodded. "You're right."

"I got an extra sleeping bag right here. When you travel around as much as me, you always carry an extra." Richie suggested.

Later that night, our heroes have set up camp.

Ash then apologized, "Richie, I'm sorry I pushed you before. If it hadn't been for you knocking me and Laoise down, we would have run off that cliff for sure. Anyway, I'm sorry."

Richie was gracious, "That's okay."

Laoise then added, "But you oughta be more careful, too. You tried to stop Team Rocket by jumping in front of their van."

Richie grinned, "You, and Ash did it, too."

Ash admitted, "When it comes to Pokémon, I can get pretty crazy."

Laoise rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, "Kinda the same on my end."

Richie chimed in. "I'm that way, too."

Ash said, "I guess we're just a trio of Poké-maniacs."

Richie agreed. "Guess so."

"That's a good one! Poké-maniacs!" Laoise giggled.

Soon, Richie gets out some food for Ash, Laoise, and himself.

So they dug in despite their concerns for their pokèmon. Later, they've settled for the night, but none can sleep, until Richie's laughter breaks the silence and the others see him connecting the stars with his finger.

Ash asked, "What are you doing?"

"Star gazing?" Laoise guessed.

Richie replied, "Okay. See what Pokémon you can see when you connect up the stars."

Ash said. "Looks like, an Onix!"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, that's the Onix constellation!" Laoise said.

Richie then pointed, "Connect those two bright ones to the ones down over there."

Ash laughed. "Wow! It's Pikachu!"

"Right!"

Ash turned to Richie, "I guess you think about Pokémon as much as we do."

Richie nodded, "Pokémon are amazing. I think about their different personalities and strengths and witnesses so much that I even dream about them."

"Yeah?"

Richie said, "Yeah. And I'm gonna be a great trainer."

Ash laughed. "Well me and Laoise are gonna be the best Pokémon trainers on the entire planet!"

"The entire planet?"

"That's right." Ash answered.

Richie said, "It'll never happen."

The others look at Richie in confusion.

Richie chuckled, "Cause I'm gonna be the greatest trainer in the entire galaxy!"

Ash grinned, "Entire galaxy? Well, me and Laoise are gonna be the best in the universe!"

The two boys laughed.

Laoise said, "I don't know about that. I'm just happy to do what I love best: Being close to the pokèmon, training them and participating in the big leagues!"

"Seems to me you're doing great," Richie encouraged.

"Thanks. I hope to see more regions further on." expressed Laoise, looking up at the stars.

"I know you will."

The next day, the group resumes their search for Team Rocket. Richie soon spotted something.

"Hey, look!"

Everyone looks in Richie's direction.

Richie said, "Tire tracks!"

Ash noticed. "They go into the woods!"

"Let's follow them!" Laoise urged.

Our heroes soon follow the tire tracks and find Team Rocket, fast asleep at their campsite.

Richie said, "It's them."

Laoise looked around. "But where are the Pokémon?"

Richie surmised, "Probably still in the van."

Ash nodded. "Let's check it out.

"But let's keep quiet. We don't want to wake them up."

Our heroes tiptoed past Team Rocket and entered the back of the van.

Ash called out quietly, "Hey! Pikachu!"

Laoise whispered, "Where are you, little buddy?"

Pikachu was then heard and seen wriggling in the sack he's trapped in.

Ash hurried over, "Don't worry, I'll get you out."

Once the sack is opened, Pikachu leaped into Ash's arms.

"Pikachu!" Ash was relieved.

Richie asked, "And the Pokéballs?"

Laoise checked, "Don't worry, they're all here in the bag."

Ash nodded, "Let's grab em and go!"

Soon, Team Rocket spotted them.

Jessie laughed, "Look who just creeped into our campsite!"

Ash declared, "We're taking the Pokéballs!"

"The only thing you three are taking is a ride!" Meowth said.

James pulled the door closed behind him, "Bye-bye!"

Team Rocket headed to the front and locked up the group.

Ash tried opening the door and ramming against it. "We're locked in!"

Richie looked around. "There must be some way out!"

"Maybe we could try the windows…" Laoise suggested.

The van then moving.

Richie said, "If only we could stop the van."

Ash got an idea. "Hey, maybe our Pokémon can help!"

The three hurried to the sack to search for the pokèballs.

Ash then became alarmed, "Uh oh! I can't tell which ones are mine!"

"I can!" Laoise said reaching in to search, "I put blue heart stickers on them a while back."

Richie pulled out his. "Guys, all my Pokéballs are right here. I put these stars on them so I can tell they're mine."

"Mine MUST be in here, somewhere!" Ash picked a Pokéball. "I choose you, Bulbasaur! "

However, a Drowzee materializes instead.

"Uh oh. Return!"

The Drowzee is recalled.

But the next pokèballs Ash sends out contained a Slowbro, and even a Magikarp.

"They gotta be in there! Keep picking!" Laoise said.

Soon, Pikachu picks up the scent of Ash's Pokéballs and easily finds them. "Pika Pi!"

Ash wondered. "You think this Pokéball's mine?"

Laoise said, "He must have picked up the scent."

Ash tossed one pokéball. "Go, whoever you are!"

Bulbasaur materialized.

"Bulbasaur, Tackle attack that wall!"

Bulbasaur charged and rammed against the wall, but it's too strong.

Ash said, "Nice try. Use your Razor Leaf attack! "

Bulbasaur launches the attack, but the wall was still intact.

Ash shook his head, "No good!"

"We need more force!" Laoise noted.

Richie said, "Guys, let my Pokémon try! Zippo, I choose you!"

Ash blinked, "Zippo?"

From the Pokéball, a Charmander materialized.

"A Charmander!" Laoise was surprised, "And you gave the little fella a nickname?"

Richie confirmed, That's right. Zippo, use your Slash attack!

The attack lands and leave large gash marks, causing the wall to collapse and reveal Team Rocket in the driver seats.

Team Rocket shouted, "Hey! This van's a rental!"

Ash snapped, "Too bad, the ride's over!"

"And I'm sure the rental agency will be VERY interested to know they lent the van to three wanted criminals!" Laoise added.

Jessie snapped back, "The ride may be over, but over for you! Go get them, James."

"But I'm driving!" James reminded her.

Jessie growled in frustration. "Arbok, go!"

Arbok materialized.

Ash called out, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt attack!"

Pikachu prepares to launch the attack, but James swerves. This provides an opening for Arbok to attack and knock Pikachu back.

"Pikachu, are you okay?!" Ash worried.

Pikachu got back up. "Pika!"

Jessie smirked. "Nice driving!"

James grinned back. "I should get a license!"

Richie tossed a second pokéball. "Sparky, you're on!"

From the Pokéball, a Pikachu materialized, this one had a scruff of fur on the top of its head.

Ash was surprised. "A Pikachu?"

Laoise blinked and smiled, "So that's how you knew how to handle Pikachu yesterday!"

Sparky: "Pi Pika!"

Meowth yelped, "There's two?!"

James whined, "One's tough enough!"

"It's twice as nice!" Jessie said.

Jessie orders an attack, while Sparky and Pikachu both counter with Agility. Arbok is overwhelmed, and both Pikachu Thunderbolt the van. The double Thunderbolt lands, shocking Arbok and Team Rocket, and causes the front of the van to explode, sending the three crooks and Arbok blasting off once more.

"We're blasting off again!" Team Rocket wailed.

Ash cheered, "We did it!"

"We're not out of the woods yet!" Laoise pointed.

Richie said, "She's right. Look, Ash! Up ahead!"

Everyone looks and sees a cliff coming up.

"Oh no!"

Laoise worried, "If we go over that cliff, we're doomed!"

Ash called out, "Pidgeotto!"

Pidgeotto materialized

"Skyler!" Laoise tossed a pokéball.

Her Pidgeotto materialized.

Richie tossed another pokeball, "Happy!"

A Butterfree materialized.

Ash commented, "That's a nice Butterfree!

"Maybe they can be our Pokémon parachutes!" Richie suggested.

Ash nodded. "Yeah!"

Laoise gulped, "Okay, let's do it!"

The three trainers took to the sky with the sack, but Ash, Laoise and Richie are falling too fast.

Ash cried, "We're falling too fast!"

Richie then said, "Ash, Laoise, use Whirlwind!"

"Huh?"

Laoise caught on, "I get it! Ash, you and Richie aim a Whirlwind attack down towards the ground! Together!"

Ash nodded, "Right! Pidgeotto!"

Richie called, "Happy!"

"Skyler!" Laoise called.

"Whirlwind attack!" The three trainers yelled.

The plan worked, and the three landed on the ground safe and sound.

Ash: "Everybody okay?"

Bulbasaur confirmed, "Bulbasaur."

Pikachu perked up, "Pika."

Pidgeotto fluttered down.

Richie nodded, "We're okay, too."

Laoise raised her hand, "Same here."

Ash said to Richie, "That's the second time you saved me and Laoise."

"You and Laoise are the ones who saved me." Richie said.

Ash pointed out, "If you hadn't thought of the Pokémon parachute, we'd be history!"

Laoise nodded, "Yeah, you really think fast on your feet."

Richie was humble, "Yeah, but you're the one who…"

Soon, they all hear something. They look and see the rest of the gang in jeeps along with multiple Officer Jennies and the other League participants.

Misty shouted, "Hey, Ash!"

"Gang, we're over here!" Laoise waved them all over.

Brock called out, "Are you guys okay?!"

Ash waved. "Yeah, we're just fine!"

Richie added, "And we got back all the trainers' Pokéballs!"

Later, at the Pokémon pavilion, to the Indigo Plateau's registration center, everyone is looking up at the board to find out their opponents for the fifth round. Laoise was looking at the board and knew her next opponent was going to face her sooner or later, regardless of whether she was picked to face them or not.

The participants were required to fish for Magikarp and when they get a bite by pulling it out, the number the Magikarp has will be their opponent.

"It's Laoise against Heather!"

Laoise remained solemn, she knew she would have to use her head and be ready for anything.

The receptionist said, "The next trainer will be Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town."

Ash stepped up, "That's me!"

He soon gets a bite, and the Magikarp reads A-3.

"A-3. That means your next opponent is going to be..." The receptionist motioned to the screen.

Next to Ash's picture, is Richie's. Bringing a look of shock to our heroes, especially to the two trainers on screen.

"Oh boy." Laoise looked concerned.

They just became friends, and now they're opponents in the next match. Things have gotten quite complex.

Both friends turned opponents stare at each other, still in surprise and shock.

And so, Ash's next opponent, is his newest friend! How will our heroes find the courage to put their skills and friendship to the ultimate test? Whatever you do, don't miss round five. This time, there's more to lose than just a match!

To be continued...

Author's note: And that's the events for A friend in Deed, how they meet Richie. Next chapter, I'd like to put two episodes into it hopefully. It'll be a while I'll be working on Laoise's official battle in the Stadium after all.