In an isolated town near a cave and a forest, a duo of girls left the cave and continued talking as a Mareanie and Dustox looked proud of themselves. "And just when that boy thought his Sandslash had me, Dasuti let him have it with a string shot and gave Acanci the chance he needed to boil us a victory." Yang was half impressed and looked at the gym near a pokemon center. She was feeling skittish as Pipi thought of a plan and called her Mareanie and Dustox back. "I'm going to have my pokemon healed before going in. What will you do?" Yang felt her nerves functioning and nearly stuttered. "I...I..." she took a deep breath and went stoic. "I will be in the audience cheering you on. This I can do."
Pipi wondered what was going on and left for the center, Yang took out a ball and let out her Slowking, who sensed his trainers thoughts and asked with concern. "Slow, slowking?!" Yang answered her partner with a gentle hug. "I am, if what Pipi said was correct, she went into the previous gym by herself... but she was battling her family. Now she is out by herself, would it be... fair if no one was routing for her? Least for her to see?"
The Slowking rubbed his trainer by the back and shook his head in a no. Yang looked on at the gym with a symbol dedicated to Ledyba and felt her legs shaking. "It's always bugs, ghosts or those that dwell in the deepest darkness." She approached, slowing her breath and reaching for the door, it opened to reveal a purple haired bug catcher with in, finishing a call and blushing. "That was what you saw on Galar, send me a picture when you can, Viola." The sound of an affectionate french woman nearly drove him wild and the two gave each other a goodbye. He put his phone away and gasped at the new arrival that is obviously a trainer. "Ah...welcome to the Azaela Gym are you here for the badge?" The forest like build and the spinerak themed puzzle was leaving Yang nearly petrified, she shook her head and tried to surpress her fear with a stoic stare. "No, I'm here to watch a friend battle. She will be here shortly." Bugsy heard the tone shift and the Slowking gestured to him that things were alright.
The bug type specialist guessed what is wrong and tried to cheer Yang up. "It's pretty brave of you to do that for a friend. Let me show you to your seat." The psychic appreciated the kindness and was guided to the rafters, Bugsy found a seat just far enough so she won't have to be close and personal to the bug type pokemon. The man asked. "I got shown something cool that might help you, where did-" Yang blushed in embarrassment. "It's just something natural that came from my years of training. Bug type pokemon have a strong advantage against psychic types, you know this. Do you think that this so called discovery would help me?"
Bugsy wasn't making any promises. "I need to get the picture ready first. I think its kind of cool and Viola wouldn't stop talking about a particular one she saw." Yang sensed the intentions and wished to be surprised. "T...Thank you, regardless if it works or not." Bugsy heard a door opening and went to get ready, leaving the psychic specialist to watch the gym staff set up.
At the Gym entrance.
Pipi had a beast ball, poke ball and net ball registered and was given the base instructions on what to expect. "So... when I step on one of these, it will craw over the rope to the other side?" She observed each platform and saw where the ropes connected, she picked the left most platform and felt it crawl. Going across a rope towards its right, then crawled towards a rope leading to the right again, then towards a rope leading to the middle lane. Reaching the other side and leading Pipi to a bug catching girl that laughed in triumph. "Ha, ha! Thought you would be clever enough to get to the gym leader on your first try? Well let's see where your wits will get ya!" She opened a red ball with a poke ball mark and let out a Venonat that buzzed with excitement. Pipi found the purple fur and the red, bug like eyes to be adorable. She took her beast ball and tossed it like a throwing star. "Sutikki, let's strike!" Pop!
Out of the ball came a Poipole that saw the forest like gym and was nearly distracted in a child like joy as Pipi ordered. "Sutikki, peck that Venonat!" The Poipole heard and was more eager to say hello to the insect pokemon, the Venonat said hello back and explained what was happening, causing the Poipole to feel disappointed, he gave an apologetic bow and rushed at his foe with his pointy horn.
Peck!
The Venonat was pushed back and felt a super effective sting, the bug keeper was amused and ordered back with confidence. "He sure is a fast guy, Venonat stun spore and light him up with psybeam!" The Venonat shook and let loose yellow powder that caused Sutikki to struggle in paralysis, the Venonat shot a psychic beam from his eyes and pushed the Poipole into a tree. The beast flew towards the Venonat's side and was shot back, both were looking exhausted. Pipi ordered once more. "Strike again!" The beast focused all his will power for another quick stab from behind, striking the Venonat for a critical hit and causing it to fall over for a k.o. Sutikki gave off a glow that the bug catcher considered a priority, the girl called the Venonat back and readied a pokeball. "Yikes that can't be good for us! Ledian, our foe is weakened, get em!"
A Ledian flew out and heard the order. "Pelt em with comet punch!" The five star pokemon tried to attack as Pipi ordered back. "Sutikki, drench that Ledian with toxic!" The ultra beast felt his nerves struggling and he aimed his horn to let loose sticky, purple go that made the Ledian feel ill. The five star pokemon let loose a flurry of punches for a quick knock out. Pipi called her partner back and tossed a net ball. "Acanci, strike while the poison is in affect!" The bug catcher saw the Mareanie and ordered. "Ha, I know you were going to use venoshock. Ledian use light screen!"
The Ledian formed a barrier as Pipi smirked maliciously. "And we will still strike without mercy!" The Mareanie agreed and spit out volatile liquid that pierced the light screen and knocked the Ledian back for critical damage, the five star insect felt a burning liquid and the bug catcher cringed. "Eek! J...just shoot with psybeam! We can still win this!" The Ledian glowed his antenna and shot at the Mareanie that shot back for a k.o. Leaving the bug catcher to her last pokemon as she switched. "Eh. Ariados... this girl is showing her metal."
Pop, replacing the Ledian was a purple spider with two extra legs on its back, Pipi was impressed and ordered. "Now scald our foe until they feel only the burning sting of defeat!" The Mareanie inhaled as the bug catcher ordered. "Swords dance and fury swipes!" The Ariados danced as the Mareanie shot scalding hot water at her, leaving behind a nasty burn as she scratched at him with three swipes. Pipi was in a rhythm and ordered. Now use knock off and scald again!" The Mareanie slapped the Ariados with a tentacle and swatted a sitrus berry into the nearby pit, irritating him and his trainer, the trainer ordered for a bug bite and watched the Mareanie shoot scalding water once more. Pipi knew she was in a winning battle and looked forward for her next challenge.
At the rafters.
Yang looked at the image of an odd, black bodied insect with red wings that had purple spots. She looked on curiously as the Slowking watched the next rope path way tighten, the spider like platform crawled in a pattern that lead Pipi to a duo of twins that let out a Butterfree and Beedrill. Yang noticed and watched a perked up Poipole and a Golbat enter the battle, she calmed down and enjoyed the show. "...It was nice of Bugsy to let me know this kind of pokemon exist. A bug type that becomes part psychic. But... he was hiding a detail of this particular species. What is it about Orbeetle that he is hiding from me?" The Slowking wondered and watched the Golbat make short work of the Beedrill, with the Poipole poisoning the Butterfree and pecking at it as the Golbat dodged a sleep powder and let loose a confuse ray. Dazing the Butterfree enough for the Poipole to let loose venoshock and finish the butterfly off with peck. Yang asked the Slowking. "Should... we ask after this? I know he wasn't showing me Orbeetle just so I can start liking bug pokemon."
The royal pokemon considered it wise and watched a blue rope losen, the Spinerak platform crawled towards a red lever and Pipi got off to pull another lever, causing the red rope to lossen and drop. Yang was feeling excited as she focused on the arena at the end and sensed Bugsy's plan. "He is somewhat aware of Pipi's plan and is thinking beyond just doing what... bugs do best. But how will both adapt?"
At the arena.
Pipi had her three pokemon adjusted for the coming battle and saw an uncertain but determined Bugsy trying to understand who is about to challenge him. She slowly reached for her belt as Bugsy confessed. "...You know, after knowing about your Golbat and the kind of pokemon you brought with you, this could be more than a challenge for my bugs."
Pipi agreed and asked the gym leader. "That is why you are trying to make it into your advantage? You fear only Kumo?" Bugsy closed his eyes and was hesitate to sound rude. "Not everything can be decided based around who has a better type match up, not with the bug pokemon that get discovered each and everyday."
Pipi found no shame in that. "That can be said for all types." She smiled widely as Bugsy saw the referee arrive, he took out a ball and tossed it. "Then let's show how much we studied. Go Scyther!" Pop! As said, a Scyther emerged from the ball and was ready for the challenger, Pipi took out a beast ball and tossed it. "Sutikki, let us take down this mighty bug!" Pop! Bugsy had a hard time believing the pokemon before him and aimed his net. "I know of this kind of pokemon! Scyther, use aerial ace and lets take this Ultra Beast down!"
The Scyther agreed and vanished, leaving the Poiple confused and left on the receiving end of a swift slash. Pipi ordered and envisioned what Bugsy had planned. "Sutikki, douse Scyther with toxic!"
The Poipole let himself fall underneath the Scyther and shot adhessive venom on the mantis pokemon. Bugsy ordered with a plan in mind. "Now use fury cutter and back away for another aerial ace!" The Scyther slashed the Poipole with a technicians aim and flew back, Pipi saw her chance. "Do not let him escape, venom drench!" The Poipole shot a stream of green liquid at the Scyther, causing the foe to become weary, slower and weaker, Bugsy cringed and ordered. "Ouch, use aerial ace and use the finisher!" The Scyther tried to disappear as Pipi ordered. "Now use venoshock and let him feel your sting!" The Poipole finished his deadly combo with a shot of blue liquid, the Scyther growled at the pain and vanished, striking the Poipole down and leaving it exposed as Bugsy ordered. "Finish him off with quick attack!"
PEW!
Pipi and the Poipole felt the gust of wind coming. POW! Sutikki was knocked back to Pipi's feet. The ninja called the beast back and readied a poke ball. "Excellent work our foe is exposed! Kumo, strike our foe down!"
Out of the ball came a Golbat that immediately flew at the Scyther for a quick K.O. Bugsy cringed and called his lead back. "Nice work figuring it out. Shuckle, lets make this our battle!" In the Scyther's place was a Shuckle that lazily popped its yellow head out of its red shell, its for limbs slithered out of the many holes and yawned. Pipi snickered and ordered. "Kumo, poison fang! This pokemon will not last under your venom!"
The Golbat pounced on the Shuckle and bit hard with her fangs, she spit him out and saw the mold pokemon looking distraught and under a sting as Bugsy winked. "Got ya! Shuckle, use power split!" The Shuckle glowed and focused on the Golbat that felt her muscles weakening, the Shuckle's limbs strengthened if for a little and Pipi squeaked. "Eek! Now I see what your plan was!" She readied the poke ball and called her Golbat back. "Good work Kumo." She took out a net ball and tossed it. "Acanci, no mercy!"
Pop! A Mareanie entered the battle and saw the hardy foe, Bugsy rubbed his nose and had a dorky smile. "Hah! Now you're getting it! It might not be much, but power split can really be helpful for a Shuckle! Now, use sand tomb!"
The Shuckle slithered himself into his shell and spun around the Mareanie, forming a twister of sand that sank him in, Pipi barked. "Scald! He is still vulnerable despite the sturdy shell!" The Mareanie felt the sand and spit at the Shuckle, sending it rolling back as Bugsy ordered. "That had to hurt, now struggle bug and sand tomb again!"
The Shuckle struggled against the heat and let loose a noise that irritated the Mareanie that kept striking with scalding water, in another trade of blows, the Shuckle went still and his head slumped out, dazed and unable to battle. Bugsy called his partner back and saw the damage on the Mareanie. "Even after that, we are tough enough to push through!" He tossed this third pokemon and shouted. "Heracross knock them out!" POP!
A blue rhinocerous beetle entered the battle and flexed his arms for a challenge, Bugsy ordered fast. "Use rock slide!" The Heracross dug his claws into the ground and Pipi ordered. "Block with wide guard and use scald!" The Mareanie extended his tentacles and used two to brace for impact, protecting himself as Bugsy ordered. "Now mega horn!"
The Heracross charged at Acanci with his mighty horn and sent him back, exposing himself to the Mareanies geyser of scalding water. Heracross felt the burn and had the guts to grunt as Bugsy ordered. "Finish him with arm thrust! We got this!" The Heracross thrust his left fist at Acanci with mighty power, more than what he expected, a second one sent him rolling back with a knock out. Pipi swallowed and realized what she and Acanci done as Bugsy sweated. "*Huff!* Just a little more, we just need one more hit." Pipi called her Mareanie back and sent out her Golbat. "Kumo, we must strike again!"
The Golbat entered battle and looked down at the Heracross, Pipi ordered. "That Heracross has guts! Use brave bird before he attacks again!" The Golbat dived down as Bugsy ordered. "This is it, use facade!"
The Heracross grunted, ate an odd blue berry and charged at the Golbat that barrel rolled to the side and maneuvered for a side way strike. Sending the Heracross flying towards a wall, regardless of the odd glow, the Heracross was not getting up. With that final opponent, the referee blew a whistle and Bugsy nearly dropped his net, announcing the end of a match as the bug catcher was impressed. "Wow, you knew how to turn this match around."
He called his Heracross back and took out a badge resembling a Ledyba as Pipi and her Golbat smiled at each other. Kumo took a deep breath in relief as her trainer felt her battle. "You were well expecting Kumo from the start as well as had a back up plan for when I caught on. That... was pretty tough."
She took out her badge case and heard clapping in the audience as Bugsy looked like he wanted to warn Pipi about something. "If you thought that was hard, you might want to be careful at Goldenrod... Whitney isn't the kind of Gym Leader beginners should take lightly." The girl considered it and was given the badge, she raised it up in the air to see it shine and placed it in her badge case. "Father might have mentioned why, its one particular pokemon she has..." Bugsy nodded and had a T.M labeled U-turn ready to give to her. "This might help... but Falkner isn't wrong there. You'll figure it out if you were able to win with a strategy beyond just having Kumo do all the work."
Pipi saw the doubt and knew Bugsy was trying to cheer her on, she took the T.M and put it in a case. "I'm going to have to think about that before I go in." The two shook hands and noticed Yang waving for their attention, like there was something she wanted to ask about.
At the Gym's Lobby.
Bugsy looked embarrassed at Yang's question. "You were able to sense that?!" The psychic looked apologetic and gave him the photos back. "I heard faint thoughts about how I might freak out if I saw one photo particular. They... happen when I am near someone that excited... sorry if that was rude." The bug catcher sweated, scratched the back of his head with his left hand and closed his right eye. "That's fine, Viola was in the Galar region taking photos of all the bug pokemon that live there, including two other species that are pretty cool... or hot." He blushed as Pipi guessed. "Literally?! A bug and ice type along with a bug and fire type?" Bugsy nodded and searched his bag for a particular photo. "Sizzlepedes line and Snoms, but they are not what Yang wanted to know about. Viola also saw a rare sight of an Orbeetle being influenced by a strange power that caused it to... to...Gigantamax. It's when a pokemon grows in size from this odd power and takes on a new form. It's more rare to see in Galar compared to this other thing I hear about that."
Yang felt the man's heart racing and asked from the first word her mind heard. "Dyn...dynamax?! When a pokemon becomes... a giant? This is the first time either you or Miss Viola saw it? Is it like Mega evolution?" Bugsy guessed it was. "We don't know much about it and Viola didn't get more information out of it. But it looks a lot alike. This is what Viola saw before she had to run."
He showed the girls, Golbat and Slowking an image of an Orbeetle that was the size of a large lake, it's abdomen and wings resemble something of high technology, the glow coming off and the otherworldy image caused Yang to become still. "Th...that looks like a... type of saucer you see in movies."
Pipi looked intimidated as Bugsy put the photo away. "Thank goodness that isn't found around here." Yang agreed and tried to calm down as she stoically thanked the man. "That would have been excessive to anyone to see in person. Even then, Orbeetle is interesting enough of a bug type... is it really a psychic type?" Bugsy nodded and led the group out of the gym. "That is what Viola says about them, they are said to be one of the smartest bug types imaginable and Orbeetle uses his power... to learn about the world around him."
Yang was amazed and her stoic expression nearly gave into joy, her eyes gave a faint glow and her Slowking tapped her shoulder. "King!" Yang focused herself and responded to the man. "Thank you for letting me know of this pokemon. Every bit helps." Bugsy didn't mind. "It isn't a problem, I got a copy of those photos, so you can keep them if you want." Yang felt more grateful as Pipi asked. "Hey... if you know a lot about bug types, then maybe you can help me know about this... thing I heard about at school. None of the teachers really explain it other than... it happens."
Bugsy was interested and let Pipi open a great ball to let out a Dustox, a pokemon the bug catcher was nearly giggling over. "A Dustox, cool! It battles like any other bug type you find around here, but it also battles like you expect from a poison type, they can even learn toxic early on." Dasuti blushed as Pipi admitted it. "He is pretty versatile in his utility, I met him when he was a Cascoon out at the park... I helped him when a Beautifly was bothering him and when he evolved near Christmas... he came to my house so I can capture him." Bugsy felt his heart warmed up and wanted to continue his talk at the pokemon center. "That might sound strange at first, but it isn't too far off from what I heard."
At the pokemon center, Pipi and Bugsy had their pokemon healing up and continued. Pipi and Yang blushed to heart felt knowledge the bug type expert had to share. "You gave that Cascoon kindness and he remembered that when he evolved. They remember everything that happened while they were imobile and that explains their behavior, for better or for worse." The Dustox listened as Pipi agreed. "I knew that already... but that isn't what I wanted to know. Dustox... like Beautifly, start off as a Wurmple... and then as a Wurmple they evolve into either Silcoon or Cascoon... they look a lot alike and the difference isn't seen that much until they evolve again. How... can we tell which one Wurmple would evolve into? Even Dasuti doesn't quite know."
Bugsy was left thinking about it and Yang was sensing uncertainty. "That... is something I been trying to research for a long time now. Some say it is because a Wurmple has a different personality from another and that leads to evolution... but I seen near identical Wurmple evolve into different pokemon. Maybe someone might know." Yang thought of it and asked. "Could it be their biology? One becomes a butterfly, the other becomes a moth... they start off similar yet they become completely different pokemon." Bugsy sighed at the thought. "Those two Wurmple I mentioned came from the same parents... both Beautiflys, if we are talking about biology... then the kind of Wurmple should have given the same results." Pipi petted her Dustox and felt it was a mystery that would never be solved. "And there isn't a way to really study that without... harming them?" Bugsy hope there wasn't and looked more confused. "No and I wouldn't do it."
The nurse called the two trainers to pick up their pokemon, Yang was left alone for a moment and tried to smile at the Dustox, not caring if the thin wings and antennaes make her feel uncomfortable. "You have a loving heart for someone of your size. It's no wonder anyone would be that fondly with you."
The Dustox listened, blushed and agreed, he fluttered to the table and perched himself right in front of Yang, nearly causing her to reel back as the Slowking counted down, Dasuti looked up and asked. "Dus?" The girl stared down and slowly petted him. "I get scared of bug types, Pipi has told me of this Yo-kai that... might also be a trouble for me... and dark types are something different from even them."
The Dustox looked like he is understanding that as Pipi and Bugsy returned to the table, the bug type expert over heard and understood more of that fear. "Bug and ghost type pokemon are strong against psychic type pokemon, however there isn't much you can do against a dark type unless... you have a fairy or bug type move with you." Yang showed a quick ball as an answer to that. "My Sigilyph knows dazzling gleam, but she is a bit... overzealous when we run into a wild one." Bugsy felt comfortable on that feeling, had a ring on his poke gear and dismissed himself. "Just keep yourselves safe out there. Thanks again for your time." He smiled to Pipi and wished her luck. "Before you leave town, there is a house north of town you should visit. Maizie knows a lot about making special balls for pokemon you might want to catch." The ninja took the advise to heart and nodded. "Thank you... I think I know what pokemon you are talking about. I'll see you again soon."
The two waved each other goodbye, with Bugsy gone, Pipi took out her Pokedex and showed Yang a blue Nidoran. "I heard this pokemon is very good for new trainers in general... what do you think?"
Yang looked at it and squinted her eyes at the thought. "That's a Nidoran female... and I don't think that ball you want would quite work on her. However, it would work on a Nidorina." Pipi listened and puffed up her cheeks as she walked out of the center, leaving Yang to close her eyes and moan. "Tomorrow is going to a long day." The Dustox listened and looked at the quick ball in questioning, Yang felt there was no harm in showing off. "Sigilyph only prioritizes dark types over others. You should be fine." She let out an odd, totem like creature that floated and observed the Dustox, Dasuti gave a hello and began a conversation that the Sigilyph respond in kind.
North of the Town.
Pipi head to a lonely house that had an apricorn tree nearby, the girl took out a yellow apricorn and smiled as she went to the door and knocked. Answering it was a woman with brown hair that had two curled pony tails, her blue eyes met someone resembling a ninja and she asked. "Are you here for apricorn balls?" Pipi nodded and presented the woman with the yellow apricorn. "Yes, I heard this is needed to make a moon ball... is this true?"
The woman nodded and let the girl in, it is was a simple black smiths house, with a Slowpoke sleeping by the forge, laying on his back. "This won't take long, I'm Maizie!" Pipi introduced herself. "My name is Pipi and I'm doing the gym challenge." Maizie was charmed and let the girl sit down by the table. "Nice... you wanted a poke ball for a special occasion?"
Pipi nodded and gave the woman her apricorn. "Yep, I am going to catch a Nidorina, if Nidorans are north of Goldenrod... then that is where I will go once I beat Whitney!" Maizie gasped and had the apricorn in a basket. "Nidorina?! As crazy is it sounds, most Nidorans at that route... tend to not want to evolve unless given a reason. You might have a long trip."
Pipi puffed up her cheeks in disappointment and checked her dex for the habitat, she compared and contrast, bewildered by it all. "That doesn't make any sense. I specialize in Poison type pokemon... that's why I want to catch one." Maizie agreed and looked closely at her. "...Wait... are you...are you related to Janine?!" Pipi nodded. "I'm her daughter and I came from Violet City."
The woman smiled with a pleasant memory of her own. "Well this means you're on a big journey. Have you heard about this place? You have to if you came with that apricorn." Pipi did and answered with respect. "Your grand father Kurt sounded like a great man... did you... inherit this place?" Maizie nodded and was ready to get to work. "Yep, I loved working with him, now I got to carry out where he left off." A chill in her spine gave her an odd feeling that Pipi felt. The ninja waited and wanted to watch the process of a fruit being turned into a ball for containing a creature.