In an old village surrounded by trees and filled with violet colored roofs, one particular that is close to a gym had a ruckus going on. A young purple haired girl was putting on a mostly black attire that was made for silent movement, her blue eyes struggled a bit to see as a blue Zubat fluttered with a pair of glasses. The girl took them and put them on, having a better view of the world around her, she gave a thankful nod and smiled widely. "Thank you Kumo! Tonight is very important for us and we shouldn't make any mistakes!"

She went to take out two poke balls, a blue ball with a net pattern, a blue ball with great red stripes and an odd blue ball with golden stripes. Out of the spare poke ball came a blue Trubbish with sickly brown, sludge like limbs that looked drowsy from a late dinner, out of the net ball came a Mareanie that was wide eyed at his trainers dress, out of a great ball came a Dustox that viewed the sun set and was mumbling something, finally out of the beast ball came a Poipole that immediately became excited over an event at hand.

The girl felt the vigor and started with him. "Sutikki, I know, we are finally going to go out on a Pokemon Journey, but not before I finish with my last lesson. It's going to be a delicate one if mother is correct and that is why Kumo will accompany me." Poipole gasped and began to pout as the Dustox calmed him down and whispered something, the girl agreed with the feeling and addressed the moth. "Dusati, I know it is a bit disappointing but you," she addressed the Trubbish. "Munci," then the Mareanie. "Acanci, we are going to enjoy this big adventure once we start." The Trubbish burped and grumbled lazily as the Mareanie is understanding the Poipole's disappointment. The girl was ready to call the four back with an apology. "I know this isn't much of a first start, but after this mission we have an advantage for getting started."

She called the four back, placed the balls on her belt and placed the belt on as the Zubat lead the way out of the room. Where an older woman with purple hair and a not so different attire was awaiting the girl. She gave an energetic, youthful smile that was quickly masked by that of a mature teacher. "Happy Birthday Pipi, you look ready for your first major mission."

The girl nodded to her mother, a gym leader from a neighboring region and a modern ninja, Pipi readied herself and was ready to continue a family lineage. "I know it isn't going to be as easy as visiting Father's Gym, but the mission isn't that far away from here." The mother let her daughter know that she was correct. "It isn't even away from the city, you are to infiltrate Bellsprout Tower and challenge the elder to a one on one battle! Only him."

Pipi knew her mother wasn't going to make it simple, Janine had been using crafty methods in her teachings during the past year. "The others are... aware that a visitor might come and they won't hesitate to battle me?" Janine nodded and wished her daughter luck. "Just that they need to keep watch for tonight, nothing you cannot handle! Good luck." Pipi appreciated it, was given a kiss on the cheek from her mother and left for the tower north most of the city, across the lake marked by a bridge.

She and Komo sneaked through the trees and observed the wobbling tower, the Zubat sensed sound and flew to a window close to the entrance, the front door was guarded by two sages. Pipi took out a small pebble from her bag and skid it across the lake, hitting a place under the bridge. The sages noticed and went to check, giving the duo the opening they needed to jump through the window. Time was of the essence until they could have a moment to breath, an elderly woman heard noise by the window and the two sneaked behind a statue dedicated to the strange flower like pokemon Bellsprout. They quickly dashed behind a pillar and waited for a guarding sage to let his guard down. Kumo flew to him and waved in a hypnotic pattern, distracting him and giving Pipi time to climb up a ladder.

Kumo flew to the next floor while the man was distracted and saw Pipi jumped past a hole leading down and making a quick dash around the pillar, she heard a man muttered. "A Zubat... here at night?" He scratched the back of his head and shoo'd her away, giving Pipi time to avoid him and get to the ladder leading back down. Kumo pretended to flee and sneaked under the panel, flying back to the upper floor to reach the ladder. Pipi was already ahead, down the hallway, waiting silently as she had another pebble ready. Kumo perched on the girls shoulder and smelled another sage nearby, she whispered something and the girl made a small toss. The sage looked at the corner and gave the two the opening they needed to climb up.

So far, no one noticed anything out of the ordinary, they sneaked down the hall way and heard a thumping noise, nearly catching them by surprise. The aspiring ninja saw a sage falling asleep next to the ladder, snoring soundly. Both trainer and pokemon were confused by what happened and heard more noise from above, they climb up to see what was happening, in a room with many bellsprout statues, a single sage was resting by one as the Zubat heard a faint cackle in the distance. Pipi looked ahead and saw a specter like creature waving his hands at an elderly man, bringing him in a hypnotic trance. Pipi recognized the specter as a pokemon known as Haunter, its disembodied hands glowed blue. The Haunter turned around and gave a mischievous smile as he had his hands to what is assumed to be his ears, focusing downward to the sound of feet becoming... numerous. Pipi puffed up her cheeks at the Haunter as the Zubat is hearing the noise, she recognized the pokemon from a year ago, it was but a blue Gastly that became curious of the girl and to try and know her, took on an illusion of a human boy. The ghost pokemon earned her attention and the nickname she muttered. "Yo-kai." She took out a great ball as the elder slowly came through, he noticed the ghost pokemon and gasped. "What have-" He saw the ninja and heard what was happening down stairs, his voice made it even more frantic. Pipi hurled the ball at Yo-kai with determination towards a childish goal, the Haunter smiled and laughed as he sank into the floor, avoiding the ball that landed on a wall... causing a loud thud.

The elder definitally woke up from that and saw a frustrated girl with the frantic Zubat. He awkwardly asked with a tone of respect. "This... was unfortunate, do... you have a means of escape?" Pipi looked annoyed and readied escape rope as her Zubat flew to her shoulder once more. "Yeah, I swear I will catch that Yo-kai." The rope was latched onto a window and the girl tugged and tossed a smoke bomb down. When a group of Sages came, they saw only smoke and an Elder that was quite disappointed. "This was what Miss Janine warned us about, but a wild pokemon threw her off...she still has much to learn."

Back at the entrance to home.

Pipi was kicking a pebble and pouted as she and her Zubat tried to think about what happened, Janine sighed and finished a phone call. "I will handle this, thank you for the assistance Elder Li." The mother saw her daughter with some pouty tears and patted her on the shoulder, whispering with a proud smile. "It's alright, you made it to the Elder and you were doing excellent regardless of that Haunter."

Pipi looked ashamed and the mother continued. "Pipi!" The girl was ready to listen and her mother's warm smile reignited her confidence. "When something in a mission doesn't go as expected, especially due to circumstances beyond your control, adapt to the shifting darkness. That way, even Yo-kai would be unable to deter your path." That advice made Pipi feel better about herself as her mother focused her gaze upon the gym right next door. "You and Kumo make an excellent team together and your father is ready for you. As a beginning trainer, you are restricted to two pokemon to use against his own two... just because we know you have many pokemon with you. Are you ready?"

Pipi nodded and had her spare poke ball ready. "Me, Munci and Kumo will get that badge."

* Pop!*

Out came the shiny Trubbish that saw the darkness and said hello, the Zubat smiled and wished him luck as Pipi called her back. "Come on Munci." The Trubbish followed his trainer all the way to the next door gym, where both took the sight of a walk way leading towards an arena with a wide open window. An assistant saw the girl approaching to register her two pokemon and guessed with an eager smile. "What's up trainer in the making. I can guess that you are here to have your first serious battles. You know enough about flying type pokemon... obviously." Yeah and Pipi felt a little nervous. "I don't have any pokemon that are a sure way of beating Father's birds... but we can make due with what we got."

That much the assistant agreed, but he still route for her. "I'm sure you do, good luck." The aspiring ninja finished registering and walked down the path with her trash bag, a training, brown haired bird keeper in blue clothes had his eyes focused on her as he drew out a ball. "Hmmph! Do you really think either of us would go easy on you because you are Falkner's little girl?" Pipi sighed and was ready for battle. "I know you won't Abe, this will be my mission!"

Abe sent out a Spearow and both gave a matching leer. Munci felt his guard pierced as Pipi ordered. "Melt their own defenses with acid spray and make them regret opposing us!" The Trubbish listened, growled and vomited acid at the Spearow, causing a harsh sizzle as the man ordered. "Follow with fury attack and finish him with aerial ace!" The Spearow pounced on the Trubbish in revenge and pecked at its forehead with heated aggression, striking three times and annoying Munci to where he coughed something up, volatile sludge that knocked the Spearow out in a pool of filth. The Trubbish calmed down as Abe dismissed it and called his partner back. "Hmm, that's one advantage in knowing your pokemon for that long."

Pipi agreed and readied a potion to feed to her partner. "Not by much, but that's why things are going to be tougher here than expected." The Trubbish swallowed the spray bottle whole and felt the relief as he followed Pipi to another corridor, leading to an orange haired bird keeper that is a bit nervous. "Uh... we had to make sure you were ready for a battle before you go fighting Falkner." He let out a Pidgey as Pipi ordered. "Munci, lets make quick work of this one too. Use that same combo!" The Trubbish rumbled his stomach and was ready to attack.

On the other side of the Gym.

A blue haired man in a blue attire looked on at the Trubbish making quick work of another of his trainees, he blushed and was excited over a moment that had been eating away at him all day. It was common for the trainers of Johto to challenge him first, especially those from the southern towns of Cherrygrove and New Bark. Even those from Azalea Town, a town down towards the southern road, make his a priority. He petted a great ball and whispered to it. "You would provide her with that challenge without making it... too difficult." He readied a poke ball as he saw his daughter finished and approach the arena, he coughed and felt the wind breeze as Pipi took her first step. He gave off a challenging aura and was ready to face his daughter like he would any challenger. "You got here quicker than I expected. As you are well aware, we are no longer playing any games with you." Pipi agreed and switched her smile to something more challenging. "I know, this is the point of the Gym Challenge. Me, Munci and Kumo are here to at least accomplish this mission!"

Falkner tried not to cringe and was about to throw. "We will talk about that later! Pidgeotto, let's fly!" Pop! Out of the ball came a bird with a magneficent plumage and a sharp, battle ready glare, the Trubbish braced himself as the foe nodded to know there was no ill feelings. A referee came and blew a whistle. "Let the battle begin!" Falkner wasted no time and ordered. "Pidgeotto, use sand attack and stopped Munci's tricks!" The Pidgeotto flapped his wings and dived towards the ground, he flung sand into the Trubbish's eyes, Munchi closed them and was trying to shake them off.

Unaware of the Pidgeotto closing in with his wings, Pipi ordered and picked up her pace. "Munchi, spin and spray a poison gas!" The girl closed her eyes and held her breath in as the Trubbish blew a rancid wind, the Pidgeotto tried to evade and took a strong whiff, feeling nauseous as he dived down. Falkner ordered back. "Hit him with aerial ace!" The Pidgeotto struck and sent the Trubbish rolling back, Munci opened his irritated eyes and caught himself, he rolled forward as his trainer ordered. "We got Pidgeotto poisoned, like we planned, use acid spray and wait!" The Trubbish barfed melting acid and irritated the Pidgeotto, Falkner smiled and ordered. "Use double team and roost! He won't do much if he cannot land a hit!" The Pidgeotto vanished into an illusion of three and Pipi smiled back. "Silly Father, Munci, clear it out!"

The Trubbish coughed a ball of smoggy mud and missed, the Pidgeotto perched to rest and vanished for an aerial ace. Pipi wasn't giving up and ordered. "Again, then use acid spray one more time!" The Trubbish coughed again and caused a wide mist to form, turning the illusions into just a single bird. POW! Munchi felt the strike and vomit another spray of acid, the Pidgeotto coughed from the poison and Falkner ordered for another aerial ace. The Trubbish took it and coughed sludge at point blank range, knocking the Pidgeotto back and watching it fall down from the poison. One pokemon down, another to go. Falkner called his partner back and tossed the great ball, letting out a Noctowl that took flight. The Trubbish wasn't going to give up and neither is Pipi, Falkner saw his daughter's pride and ordered. "I use Noctowl if I know I am battling against a... stronger trainer than expected, whether it is one who already has a badge... or someone that I know had been training."

He ordered fast and true. "Stop Munci with hypnosis!" The Noctowl gaze upon the Trubbish and his eyes glowed, Munci became drawn to the sight and fell over. Snoring away and for Pipi to squeak at what was unleashed, Falkner didn't hesitate for his finisher. "Use dream eater before he wakes up!" The Noctowl inhaled and caught a cloud, drawing it into its beak and having a sour tasting dream that was best left unexplored, the Trubbish passed out and the referee declared the winner. Pipi called her trash bag back and sent out her tiny bat. "Kumo, we shouldn't give up!" Out came a Zubat that was intimidated by the hooting Noctowl that eclipsed the moon, Falkner ordered once more. "Again! Finish this match!"

The Noctowl was about to use the same strategy as Pipi barked. "Kumo, dodge with a somersault and bite with poison fang!" The Zubat obeyed and avoided looking into the owl, she spun under him and flew behind to crunch with her sharp fangs, causing a painful hoot and for Falkner to know what happened. "He got badly poisoned. Noctowl, use echo voice and push Kumo away, then finish her off with wing attack!" The Noctowl let loose a mighty hoot that sent the Zubat falling down as Pipi licked her lips and ordered on watching the Noctowl close in with a wing attack. "Now, confuse ray!" The Zubat shined odd light and dazed the Noctowl, causing him to crash into the ground and giving her time to maneuver around, she listened to her trainers final order. "NOW IT IS ALL OR NOTHING! ONE BRAVE BIRD STRIKE IS ALL IT TAKES NOW!" The Zubat agreed and charged the Noctowl. BOOM!

Falkner found it hard to believe and watched his owl fall slammed down, he tried to get up and fell limp. K.O! The referee blew a whistle. "Noctowl is unable to battle. Kumo wins and this concludes the battle!" Pipi was smiling wide as her tired Zubat was observing and looking up to the moon. "W...we actually did it, we won our first Gym match!" She cheered. "Good work to you and Munci, Kumo!" The Zubat agreed and gave off a glow, she grew and left Falkner less than surprised, he smiled and was ready for more congratulations to give as he called his owl back and went to get a badge resembling a bird wings. Kumo's wings grew larger, her feet became more developed and her maw widened. Pew!

Kumo flapped her mighty wings and gave a loud shriek. "GOLLLBAT!" She flew back to Pipi and folded her wings with pride, the girl tackled her partner down for an embrace and cheered. "Kumo, you evolved!"

The Golbat tried not to blush as Falkner approached with the badge and a T.M labeled roost. "With how active you two played, this was expected after one good battle. Here, take this official Pokemon League Badge and the technical machine for roost!" Pipi saw the two items and went to take it, she was feeling overwhelmed as Falkner tried to stay professional. "You still have a long way to go, but your journey in Johto has officially begun." The Golbat nudged at Pipi and the girl agreed, she put the Badge in a case and held her fathers hand. The parent and child gave each other an embrace as they and the Golbat began a trip back home.

An hour later.

Pipi kept staring at the badge in her case as she, her parents and her pokemon were having dinner. Falkner watched the Golbat eat more than her weight in berries and asked. "Now that you settled business here and are ready for that adventure, do you know what needs to be done?"

Pipi nodded and was ready to eat. "I know I got to feed Kumo more now that she is a Golbat, but I can start traveling all over Johto first thing tomorrow morning." Janine smiled proudly at her daughter. "While you don't have to go to Indigo Plateau to battle the Elite Four, it would be wise to defeat the remaining seven gyms before you follow me back to Kanto. By tomorrow, I will be awaiting you in Fuchsia city."

Pipi blinked and asked. "That... will be where we will continue my lessons on how to be a ninja?" Janine nodded and was confident in what her daughter could do. "For now, your next lesson will be on the road with your pokemon, learning how to work in unison. If you can make it there, then you would have mastered that sync."

Pipi looked out the window and was day dreaming as Falkner requested to Janine. "Darling, its still a long way before... then, if you are going to disappear tomorrow... could you give us a warning. It would take a while before either of you two... come back." Janine let her husband know. "I will wait until Pipi leaves before vanishing from Johto." The girl was relieved of that and asked. "I want to explore the eastern route before I go off to Azalea Town..." She realized something and looked at her Golbat. "Mother... if Kumo and I have been together for that long... would this mean she is going to evolve again soon?" The Golbat nearly coughed at the thought and Janine felt it is quite possible. "The two of you have been close... this could provide an early advantage." Kumo looking upon the other pokemon, the Poipole, Trubbish and Mareanie is imagining a power house and are smiling in good will. The Golbat looked down upon them, quickly finished her dinner and went into her ball. The Dustox was confused and muttered something that Falkner agreed with. "I don't know, we will have that sorted out in the morning."

In a distant forest, where the trees covered the sky.

A teenage girl was in the clearing with a tall, black, gothic like creature, both meditated away and felt distant thoughts flying past their minds. The girl had black hair that was short and in a bob, she was in a pink, turtle neck sweater and was complemented by burgundy pants. One particular thought entered her mind and she opened her eyes to reveal velvet, the gothic pokemon opened her own eyes to show striking blue and the trainer agreed. "A pokemon that dedicated herself to be the... eldest of a group. She cares that deeply for her friends...Gothetella... why such a... decision?"

The Gothetella wondered and hummed an answer the girl listened to, the trainer gave a smile like she was listening to a thought. "...Just so they can a reason to catch up and for her trainer to not... over rely on her. Interesting." The Gothetella sensed a power growing and asked her trainer to calm down. The trainer looked around to see rocks floating and a Spinerak struggling against such power, she gasped and tried to keep herself under control, letting the spider scurry away as she felt embarrassed. "...Not again."

She readied a poke ball and let out a pink, regal like creature with a shellfish resembling a crown. "...You're right, we need to get some rest in the nearby town. Slowking, could... you lead the way? It's pretty dark." The regal Slowking shined the gem of his crown and lead the way with Gothetella, to a place where they would have a reason to keep themselves in check.