Laura

**Laura** is a supporting character who appears in *The Gardener of Gratitude*. She is a traveling Pokémon Trainer who was once the Champion of the Hoenn region.

## History

Laura grew up in her hometown of Littleroot and traveled the Hoenn region, gathering eight Gym Badges and entering the Pokémon League at the same time as Steven Stone. Even though the Devon Corporation heir was considered the favorite to win in his very first League competition, Laura and her Swampert managed to defeat him. Thanks to their upset victory, Laura and Swampert became prominent celebrities, appearing in virtually every aspect of Hoennian popular culture. Eventually, she grew tired of this lifestyle, and resigned the position of Champion to travel the world and enjoy her life.

Five years later, Laura traveled to La Ciudad Dorada in the Lapidaria region, interested in the kingdom's unique Alliance Battles. While there, she happened to notice Cassy Natsuka and her Swellow in the town square. She introduced herself to the pair, with Swellow immediately taking a liking to her even as Laura's upbeat and intense personality left Cassy herself uneasy at first. Once she realized who Laura was, however, the two struck up a friendship, and Laura asked Cassy to join an Alliance Battle with her; Cassy turned the offer down as she was busy assisting Matt Chiaki with his adventure in the Doradan desert.

Laura stayed in the town, but grew uneasy as time passed, sensing that something was wrong. Outside of Lingote Palace, she discovered the imminent arrival of Regigigas, which led her to realize that she and Swampert might have to come out of retirement. She was approached by Wally, who also remembered her from her time as Hoenn's Champion, and asked her to help him do something about the looming crisis about to strike the kingdom.

Laura and Wally traveled back down to the town square, where she reunited with Cassy. Cassy was accompanied by Sheena Carnet and a group of Pokémon, namely her own Swellow, Eleanor Laplace's Persian, and Princess Rosalita's Leavanny, Shiftry, Bibarel and Luxray; Laura initially mistook the Pokémon besides Swellow as belonging to Cassy. Cassy and Sheena informed Laura and Wally of the coming attack of the Pokémon army sent by Count Fernando VIII, prompting Laura to send out her Swampert and Mega Evolve him alongside Wally doing the same with his Gallade.

When the army arrived in the square, Laura helped lead the group of citizens and tourists, including Door Hornbeam and Kidd Summers, resisting them. Noel and Leon Falco eventually arrived, having helped Swampert, Gallade and Swellow recover after their first encounter with the army, and joined the fight. A short while later, as the resistance made a final stand against Fernando's brainwashed Kommo-o, Rosalita called upon Laura and the others in the market to help Shaymin by expressing gratitude for things in their lives. Laura thanked Swampert for always being there for her, as well as everyone back home in Littleroot Town and the rest of Hoenn. Her gratitude, along with that of the other citizens and tourists, helped Shaymin use Golden Sky Bouquet to decisively turn the tide of the battle against the brainwashed Regigigas. She and the others then witnessed the detonation of Fernando's time bomb, which Eleanor sacrificed herself to bring into the atmosphere about the royal family's skyship.

In the aftermath of Fernando's failed rebellion, Laura took part in an Alliance Battle alongside Cassy and Wally as part of the festival celebrating Rosalita's coronation. Their opponents were Door and her Audino, Knives; a sightseer and her Greninja; and a Hex Maniac with a Decidueye. During their battle, Swampert took advantage of his natural immunity to Electric-type moves to shield Swellow from Knives's Charge Beam.

## Pokémon

Swampert's known moves are Power-Up Punch and Ice Punch, and his ability is Torrent. As Mega Swampert, his ability is Swift Swim.

## Origin

Laura was created by Ren, who also co-developed the concept and design of the S-Gear. Laura was adapted from Ren's original character outline for her appearance in *The Gardener of Gratitude*.

## Trivia

* Laura's Mega Drill, and the matching necklace Swampert wears to contain his Swampertite, are based on the Core Drill, a necklace of similar design from the anime series *Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann*.
	+ Laura calling Swampert "Buddy" and her speech when she Mega Evolves him - *When they try to keep us down, we pierce into the heavens above, ’cause that’s just how we roll!* - are also references to *Tengan Toppa Gurren Lagann*. These references were included due to her creator Ren being a fan of the series.