During a morning in Olivine City's beach. Yang had her Slowking stood by the shore to prepare something as Pipi stood closley by the royal surfer. Pamela had a ball in her hand and wished to join in such an event as Alex asked. "It's a long surf away from here. Are you all sure of going this early?" Pamela nodded and let out her Starmie with a deep breath of annoyance. "Pipi needs an audience and it wouldn't be polite if I don't at least do that. Are you sure you want to stay behind and help Mama ready the gym while I ride on Gem?"

The boy nodded. "I wish to ask something before the three of you come back... and I don't have a pokemon that knows surf. I have heard of a past time that is at Cianwood though." He looked disappointed and sighed. "Trapjaw and Boussole would have loved it."

He looked at the three charmingly as Yang guessed. "A... photo booth? That does sound pleasant." The boy nodded as Pamela pittied him. "Maybe later we can fly to the island together. I promise that we will be quick." She and the boy hugged each other and parted ways. Yang got on the Slowking's back as Pipi got on the psychic's back, Pamela stepped on her floating Starmie. Both teenagers ordered. "Use surf!" The Slowking stepped forward and surfed on a wave as the Starmie dashed in the water to form its out.

Left alone, the boy went north to the gym and entered to find a metallic feel, steel arcs showing a path to an arena past a steel platform, leading to a wide arena. Jasmine was in the middle of sweeping as she noticed the boy and had a sweet smile. "Hello Alex, what is the occasion?" The boy saw the broom and looked around for something. "Just thought I assist since the girls have a way across. They will be back and I expect Pipi to try to challenge you immediately." Jasmine nodded and wasn't regretful. "After seeing what her Nidoqueen can do, this should be... an even battle." Alex saw a closet and went to get a spare broom, trying to assist Jasmine. The woman appreciated the aid as Alex continued. "At best... she would earn the mineral badge and that would be the end of it, at worst she will be open to the advise of... trying again later." Jasmine agreed with him. "She just needs more experience. Acanci needs to evolve and I... heard some rumors about Sutikki's kind... beyond just an Ultra Beast. I think that was over a year ago and I seen a pokemon with a similar color."

Alex recalled and swept. "That pokemon Mr Sun and... these strange people on Alola have. Na...Naganadel? I was told it was part dragon and-" His eyes widened. "That could be the key for Pipi... eventually beating you. Most dragon pokemon breath-" Jasmine helped him finished. "Fire or they normally have something that would work against a steel type pokemon... but they need more than that against a Steelix." Alex agreed with her on that and continued to help her clean up. "Not everything can be resolved by a type match up, that is what I learned from battling Gym Leaders."

Jasmine tried to whistle and looked at the boy with a warning. "That is what you learned when you battled Pamela over a date. She's talked highly of you ever since you helped her friend." Alex blushed and tried not to stutter. "T...Tammy? I heard she and Pamela were dating before she introduced us and they are still very close friends."

Jasmine blushed back. "They are, I... think that after Pipi is finished in this part of Johto. Pamela might try to call her. She is growing up." Alex looked forward to contact with a friend of his. "Tammy told me about getting ready to visit her home region. It's been a routine for her at Hoenn's Battle Frontier and on and off, she always talks about missing the people back home." Jasmine huffed and asked with caution. "Is there anything else that happened with her? You did tell me and Pamela that you traveled with her when she was exploring Hoenn." Alex shook his head. "No, being a Frontier Brain means that for most of the season, she has to be ready for challengers. We do talk on occasion, but nothing more than that." Jasmine appreciated an honest answer and looked forward to the rest of the day. "This should be a pleasant afternoon for both you and Pamela, thank you for helping me."

At the ocean of Johto.

Pipi had her Trubbish on her back and ordered on seeing a Tentacruel close in for a strike on the trash bag. "Finish it off with another seed bomb!" The Trubbish inhaled and spit out a seed to knock the Tentacruel into the water. The Slowking felt the weight and saw a distant beach. Yang pointed the way and lead Pamela towards land. They set foot on the shore and found a beach side city with a gym near a passage way, one building with a camera in front of it speaks of what there is to do. Pipi got off of Yang's back and went to the pokemon center. "I'll be at the Gym, you can go on without me. Good work Munci."

The proud Trubbish followed her trainer and left the two girls to call their pokemon back. Yang was feeling smug and lead to the gym as Pamela held off calling her Starmie back and confessed. "That gym was nothing but bad memories for me, I never had the chance to capture much in terms of steel types." She pouted. "Ooh! I never had the chance to really challenge the Johto region with only steel type pokemon. But, Gem was there for me." The Starmie spun its rear and shined a gem as Yang looked unaware. "I knew there was something you have against this place and I only need common sense to know why. Chuck's team is nothing but fighting type pokemon! When did you challenge him?"

Pamela took a deep breath and raised her whole right hand. "He was my fifth gym, I went to Ecruteak first, then I challenged Whitney... who... was simple thanks to Magno. In fact Magno and Manto were the reason I beaten her, Bugsy and Falkner with ease... to the point where I was relying too much on those two and those two. Guess it was a lesson learned when I thought just him and Manto would have been enough." Yang agreed and shook her head with a smile. "And you discovered... through a rough example, that fighting type pokemon tend to use rock type moves the first chance they get and Magno was a Magneton at best."

Pamela sighed and opened the door to let Yang in. "As well as the fact that just because you evolve a pokemon right away, does not mean they are automatically strong, I had to find a T.M to teach Gem a psychic move and everything." The two went in to find a muscular man without a shirt, about to meditate under a waterfall, he recognized one of the girls and greeted her with a smile and friendly demeanor. "Yo! It's Jasmines little girl! Haven't seen ya in a while!"

Pamela looked embarrassed and approached, stepping in the wet ground and greeting him. "Hello Chuck." The gym leader kept smiling as a gym trainee stoped himself from pulling a lever. "You finally decided on a rematch? I didn't think you really had the time to shine with what you got."

Pamela shook her head as Yang tried to shut herself away from a memory of a confused Starmie going against a Poliwrath. "No, I'm just here to watch a friend battle you." She introduced Yang. "Yang, I told you about Chuck." The psychic looked at the brown haired man with a mustache and side burns, she greeted herself. "I'm also here to observe! I heard that there use to be a fighting type gym in Saffron until a psychic specialist drove the authority out. They became but a simple dojo."

Chuck didn't wish to be reminded. "And that's always going to weigh us down! But I like going there anyways, so joke is on her!" He saw similarities and Yang squinting her eyes, her smile was more malevolent until it became more familiar. "And you tend to battle more craftily than most fighting type specialist! This should be interesting." She saw the rafters as Chuck appreciated the compliment. "Well I'll promise I won't go easy on your friend. Thanks for helping her out."

Yang nodded and guided an angry Pamela to the rafter, watching the trainee let loose water to crash down on the man. Pamela calmed down and confessed. "Pipi should have a much better time here compared to me, did you mean what you said?" Yang kept her smile and laughed. "Of course, I heard all about him from the times me and Mother made contact. Most fighting type specialists focus on just hitting as hard as possible, but this man has pokemon that would make it difficult to hit him, hinder you while his pokemon hit you AND hit you while you were not looking. A properly trained psychic pokemon would still have no issues with him. But he is commendable." Pamela say a faint psychic glow and the Starmie backing away, she did the same and Yang noticed. The psychic tried to return to a stoic stance and looked guilty.

Entering the gym.

Pipi had her team of four registered. Kumo, Sutikki, Acanci and Munci. She saw the wide, watery dojo arena along with a machine that let in a water fall. Each black belt that stood in her way was taken down by an overly enthusiastic Golbat that was giving a glow and tried to surpress herself, Pipi asked as she ascended towards the button. "Kumo, you saw what me and the others did last night... how much longer are you going to keep yourself from evolving?" The Golbat looked down at Chuck and muttered something, Pipi placed her hand under her chin and went towards the machine. "It... all depends on how I battle Chuck. I know he is up to something incase I try to use just you. So Acanci is going to be my lead."

She pressed the button and turned off the water fall as the Golbat looked to be excited about something, Pipi called her back and gave the ball a kiss. "You will know when it is time."

She leaped down from a ledge in her attempt to confront Chuck, the gym leader, the man was astonished for a moment, got himself up and guessed. "Argh. You must be the challenger your friends mentioned! Just when I thought you would take a bit longer."

He went to a machine and picked four poke balls out, having an idea of what was coming. "Four on four! Don't hold back, because the pounding storm is coming at ya!" He let loose laughter and sent out a Primeape that looked irritated, Pipi tossed her net ball and sent out her Mareanie. "Go Acanci, lets see if they can witstand our sting!"

Splash!

The Mareanie felt himself at home as Chuck ordered. "I see where this is going! Primeape, use double team and make him lower his guard!" The Primeape split into a team of three as the Mareanie inhaled, Pipi ordered. "Use toxic and follow with venoshock!" The Mareanie spit venomous liquid at the left most Primeape, hitting right on the forehead and leaving him poisoned, he gave a sharp stare and shrieked in rage. The Mareanie felt a chill and shot a purple liquid. He hit and caused the Primeape to fall on his knees, Chuck stomped the ground and hurled in the air. "Rock slide!" The Primeape flipped boulders and sent Acanci rolling back, Pipi sweated and ordered. "One more time! Finish him!" The Mareanie aimed and spit the liquid once more, hitting the Primeape and causing him to fall over in the water. K.O.

Chuck called him back and sent out a Hitmontop with an intimidating glare. The fighting type specialist was impressed. "Looks like you got a sting kid! Hitmontop, drill run!" The Hitmontop spun and shot himself at Acanci like a drill, knocking him in the water causing Pipi to switch. She sent out her Poipole that was amazed by the water, the girl ordered. "Sutikki, use toxic and drench him!"

The Poipole followed and shot toxic liquid from his horn, it stuck to the Hitmontop and badly poisoned him as Chuck ordered. "Toxic and venom drench, I like your style. Hitmontop, use substitute and focus punch." The Hitmontop became still and hid behind a decoy. Pipi cringed and changed her plan. "Forget about venom drench, use venoshock!" The Poipole nodded, shot a blue liquid and disolved the substitute, exposing him to a focused punch. Sutikki gasped and was sent flying back as Pipi saw her chance. "Now use venom drench!" The Poipole shot sticky venom that held the Hitmontop down, Chuck ordered. "Don't give up, drill run him down!" The Hitmontop gritted in the pain and spun like he did to Acanci. Pipi saw him shooting himself out of the water and ordered. "Dodge and use venoshock until he stops moving!"

The Poipole saw the drill and flew out of the way, he countered with a venoshock and clapped in determined joy. The Hitmontop tried again and struck him back with another drill run. The beast looked dizzy and shot once more, knocking the handstand pokemon out and for Chuck to switch out. He tossed another pokemon and roared. "Machoooooke! We got ourselves a ninja! Don't, give up!"

Pop!

A Machoke entered the battle and flexed, Pipi cringed and ordered. "Use toxic and don't let your guard down!" The glowing Poipole agreed, shot sticky toxins at fast speeds and watched as both the Machoke and Chuck laughed at him and his trainer. "Guard?! Wa, ha, ha, ha! We don't keep guard here! Machoke, dynamic punch!"

The Machoke charged in with reckless abandon and punched the Poipole into a wall, Sutikki passed out and fell into the water. Pipi called the beast back and tossed another poke ball. "Munci, its on you!" Splash, a Trubbish jumped into the water and caused it to become murky, he inhaled as Pipi ordered. "Strike with seed bomb and gunk shot!" The Trubbish coughed out a fast avocado seed and shot it at the Machoke that took the damage and growled. Chuck stomped his foot and the Machoke followed as the trainer ordered. "Bulldoze them away and pound the trash down with dynamic punch!" The Machoke stomped and caused Munchi to roll back from debris, he ate the avaoado seed pushed himself up and saw the Machoke charging. The Trubbish rolled in front of the Machoke and vomit a thick wad of digested garbage.

POW!

The Machoke felt the hard ball rammed at his face and fell back to the water, about to vomit from something that disgusting and passed out. Chuck saw he was down to his last pokemon and in need of a cleaning crew as he called his super power pokemon back.

He kept a smile regardless and tossed one more ball, a Poliwrath that saw the mess and flexed, he let out a bellowing croak and let the Trubbish know there was trouble. Chuck cheered with his Poliwrath. "We haven't lost yet, kid!"

He looked closer and recognized her. "You definitally learned a thing or two from your parents Pipi! Especially from Janine. Let's see if your skills can deal with this! Poliwrath, use water fall!" The Poliwrath sprinted in the water and aimed a punch like that of a full water fall, the Trubbish yelped and was knocked in the face, being sent into Pipi's arms and causing her to fall into the water. She and Munci were equally dazed, the ninja saw that her partner fainted and called him back. She closed her eyes, got up and tossed another poke ball, letting out a Golbat, she puffed her cheeks up in offense. "Why haven't anyone mentioned father yet?! Kumo, use hypnosis so that way Poliwrath won't try any tricks!"

The Golbat agreed, flew to the ceiling and stared down at the Poliwrath, she flew in an odd pattern that Poliwrath couldn't look away from. Chuck gritted his teeth. "He is a good battler as well. Poliwrath, fight that and use hypnosis back!"

The Poliwrath tried, he tried to wiggle his belly and was lost in a hypnotic thought, he closed his eyes and was lost to the rhythm. Exposing him as Pipi took it more as an offense. "I'll show you one technique I learned from him! Kumo, give it everything you have with brave bird!" The Golbat saw a man who looked like he realized what he said and sighed out of pity, she charged at the Poliwrath and knocked him to a wall with a reckless charge. The Poliwrath stayed asleep in a mental hold and Pipi ordered. "Again! Finish this!" The Golbat gave off a faint glow and charged once more, knocking the Poliwrath in the wall again and causing it to fall over. K.O.

The Golbat flew back to Pipi as Chuck regretted something and called his Poliwrath back. "I meant... I meant..." He went to get his badge and saw the Golbat continue to glow, she saw something and looked back at Pipi with pride. Energy consumed her, her wings grew larger and each split into two, her long legs shrank and her large body rounded out. PEW! FLAP! "CRO!"

Letting loose power, a purple Crobat took the place of the Golbat, her maw wasn't so gaping and instead had a row of flat looking teeth in place of fangs. Pipi felt her heart pounding and cheered. "Congratulations Kumo, you evolved!"

She leaped at the Crobat that was laughing with her, the bat gave a spin in the air and saw two girls leaving the rafters, Yang ran in and yelled. "Pipi, I know this is sudden, but Chuck really was trying to say your father is a good gym leader. It's just that most of the time, Falkner is the first gym leader for many! He meant well!" Chuck was confused by that as Pipi and her Crobat stopped celebrating, the ninja saw the distraught and got off, she apologized to the man with embarrassment. "S...Sorry for the misunderstanding."

The gym leader sighed an apologized back. "It's fine, it took me till the middle of that fight for me to figure out who you are." He gave her a badge resembling a fist and went for his pocket to take out a T.M labeled focus blast. "Take this storm badge and this old move, why they changed T.M's I'll never figure out." Pipi took out her badge case and took the badge and T.M, she understood. "I know of Focus Blast, you don't use it at all but you have to give a trainer a T.M when this happens. So now I got the Storm Badge..."

Her wide smile was matching with the Crobat as Chuck admitted it. "It doesn't hit often, but when it does it hits hard. I'm going to have a mouthful from my wife about this." Pamela sighed and asked as her Starmie blinked a warning. "Or... we can forget that Pipi mistook what you said for an insult. No matter how many times I came back here, you at least have always been respectful. Family is a delicate thing for many and sometimes the wrong words come out."

Chuck agreed with her as Pipi's Crobat asked something, the psychic listened and asked in her stead. "Once... Pipi heals her pokemon, I think I know where the photo booth is. But if you can help us find it, that would be nice. This is what Kumo is trying to ask." Chuck was eager to do that. "I do, it's right in by the shore."

He and the girls left the gym, the girls went to the pokemon center and let Pipi give her pokemon to the Nurse Joy. Leaving the teenagers to talk, Pamela took a deep breath. "And that part is done, but... when we get back to Olivine, Mama should be ready." Yang asked calmly. "And after then? What are you going to do?" Pamela blushed to something she longed for. "I... am going to chat with someone. If Pipi is interested, you and her are welcomed to join in before you travel. After that... hmm, maybe partake in the Pokeathlon and get ready for next seasons contest. There isn't a whole lot that goes on in this region."

Yang corrected her on that. "Not yet! Do... you wish to continue traveling with us? It's going to be a long road and who we would encounter is yet to be foreseen... if I even bother doing that." Pamela sighed and refused. "No, this is mostly Pipi's journey and you have... your own experiments. I hope you and your mother are able to work it out." Yang smiled at the hope. "I just need to control myself during that moment. You... might have something planned if Pipi gathers all the badges?" Pamela nodded and saw the ninja exit the pokemon center, she whispered. "It's a surprise."

Pipi listened and asked as she head a belt of pokeballs ready for a big moment. "What is?" Pamela answered innocently. "Just... something for Tammy. Do... you wish to stay a little longer to at least talk to her?"

Pipi shook her head as Yang lead the way to a photo booth, the ninja followed. "I will once I reach Mahogany Town." At a building near the shore, a balding man finished talking with Chuck. "That sounds like an occasion." He noticed the girls and Chuck turned around with good will intended. "Well, here it is. Besides those four, what else do you got with you?"

Pipi took out her balls and let out the Poipole, Trubbish and Mareanie. She winked to the man like all was forgiven and sent out a Nidoqueen and Dustox, the drill pokemon was taken aback by the shore as the Dustox gave a hello to Chuck, the girl had something announce to them all. "Sutikki, Munci, Acanci, Kuīnpin, Dasuti... I have an announcement besides the fact we won five badges. As you know, Kumo was holding off on evolving until she thought I focused on you all enough to where I don't just depend on her."

She took out a poke ball as the Mareanie raised a tentacle and asked something Pipi understood. "There was a reason this gym challenge was special. If it wasn't for you, Sutikki and Munci, I don't know if we would have been able to pull off a victory like how we did. It's still going to be a while before you three evolve... but I think together you will reach that." She took out a ball as the three unevolved pokemon felt hopeful. Pop! Out of the ball was a Crobat that looked, beyond cheerful, the Dustox and Nidoqueen looked on and congratulated her, the Nidoqueen asked about the three unevolved pokemon and the Crobat wondered that himself. Pipi hummed. "Maybe while we are at Blackthorn... judging by how strong Chuck's pokemon were... we are close but still a ways to go."

Yang and Pamela stood to the side as Pipi went to the photo spot with her pokemon. The Crobat flew to right behind her, the Nidoqueen stood to the right of Pipi as the Dustox perched on Pipi's head. Leaving the smaller pokemon to line up infront of her, the smaller pokemon gave a variety of toothy or with the Poipole not so toothy smile as the Nidoqueen grunted in preparation and the Dustox patiently waited. Cameron counted down and envisioned a warming group photo. "If you are all smiling, say cheese!" Pipi smiled as she and her pokemon cheered the word.

Click!

At Olivine Cities Gym.

Alex looked impressed at the clean interior as Jasmine put the brooms away. "You're right, your mother would be impressed by this." Alex nodded without shame. "If a guest is staying around for a while, they should help the host when they can. My mother has to travel a lot when it is movie season, so its pretty often at those times that she stays over with a friend. Those are fun."

Jasmine guessed the rest. "It wasn't until it was near time for you to become a pokemon trainer that... she became overly affectionate?" Alex sighed and looked up the ceiling. "Yes, it gotten to the point where I had to take my journey in another region." Click! "Mama, we're back!" Jasmine faced the noise and found Pamela and Yang, registering was Pipi, who was confused by the requirement. "Three against three?" She shrugged and thought Jasmine was being too kind.

Jasmine silently stared at Pamela and the girl requested her friends that they follow her. "This will be the hardest battle Pipi has to face today. Let's see what happens." Alex and Yang agreed and followed her. Pipi stepped forward into the arena, Jasmine gave her a challenging stare as any gym leader shoulder, her face tensed up. "You're a strong trainer to have come this far, those badges prove it." She stopped for a moment. "Um... you will find that steel type pokemon are resilient, sharp and really strong. I...um... not trying to make you feel bad." Pipi understood and gave her a respectful bow, Jasmine gave one back. She tossed a ball and let out a Skarmory that shrieked and was ready for battle. Pipi took her net ball and tossed it. "Go Acanci!" Pop! Out came the Mareanie that looked ready to confront any foe, Jasmine ordered. "Skarmory, use stealth rock and then just keep using drill peck!" The Skarmory tossed out rocks that floated as Pipi cringed, she ordered her Mareanie. "Acanci, just use scald until this Skarmory is defeated!"

The Mareanie agreed and shot scalding water at the Skarmory, the armored bird spun and flew at him. POW! Acanci shot again and left a burn, he took the scalding and drilled once more. Eventually the Mareanie knocked the Skarmory out, Jasmine called the bird back and sent out another pokemon, a Magneton. Pipi and Acanci squeaked as Jasmine ordered. "Use thunder bolt!"

The Magneton beeped in unison and aimed their magnets for a mighty. ZZZZAP! Acanci was struck down and was laying still. K.o! Pipi called him back and sent out her Nidoqueen. " Kuīnpin, lets use earth power." The Nidoqueen felt the light scratch of the rocks and stomped the ground as Jasmine ordered. "Magneton, use flash canon. This match is over!"

The Magneton fired a beam of light and was knocked out by the force of the earth. Jasmine called it back and sent her last pokemon, a Steelix that towered over the Nidoqueen and simply looked at her in pity. Pipi wasn't going to give up. "Use earth power again! This is her last pokemon!"

The Nidoqueen agreed and slammed her tail in sheer force, sending the Steelix back, her sturdy body barely endured and she flipped a berry from her tail. Nom! She felt slightly replenished as Jasmine ordered. "Use bulldoze!"

The Steelix slammed her head on the ground and knocked the Nidoqueen onto her back, Kuīnpin passed out. Pipi felt a sweat and called her best chance back, she took out her great ball and stuttered. "Uh... Dasuti... we need to keep... going."

Pop!

Out came a Dustox that felt more damage from the stealth rocks, he looked trapped as Pipi ordered. "Uh...s...string shot?" The Dustox spit at the Steelix and Jasmine guessed. "Dasuti is mostly utility. Steelix... rock tomb."

The Steelix used her tail to hurl rocks and quickly knocked the Dustox flat, it was a definite loss and Pipi looked ashamed, she called her poison moth back as Jasmine approached to shake her hand. "You done well in bringing me to my last pokemon, but you are far from ready to battle me."

Pipi saw the sportsmanship and shook her hand. "I... guess so." Jasmine sighed and requested. "To the east is Mahogany Town and Blackthorn City, there... Pryce would be your next opponent. He and Clair would both be a challenge. But through that experience, you can get stronger. Once you are sure you are ready, I will be here."

Pipi felt a little better as Pamela stepped out of the rafters and came to give her a hug. Alex and Yang joined down the rafters and escorted her to a Pokemon Center. With in a few minutes, Pipi's three pokemon were healed and she let out her Dustox first. "That was a disaster we saw coming. But at least we got a reason to go east."

The depressed Dustox was given a hug as Jasmine followed into the pokemon center to have her own pokemon healed. Pamela swallowed and agreed with her friend. "There is always that one gym leader." She tilted her head back n forth in optimism. "But this could give you more time to perfect a technique that would best even mama. This loss could be good for you."

Alex agreed with her and his hips swayed in nervousness. "That it can." Jasmine nodded and gave Pipi a pouch with much jingling with in. "You might need this before you face Pryce. It isn't enough for the you want... but it would make the process quicker." Pipi looked with in to find coins, she jingled it and asked. "Wha.. where did you get this?"

Jasmine answered bluntly. "When I was trying to get Pamela some T.R or the more sought after technical records, for her birthday, I had plenty of these coins left over from... our only source. It is yours now, I don't need it anymore."

The ninja felt her hands shaking, she looked Jasmine in the eyes and nodded with an assured smile. "Then I will stop by at Goldenrod before heading to Mahogany town. May... Yang and I stay around for the night... Pamela talked about calling Tammy and... I want to tell her what I am doing." The steel type gym leader nodded. "Of course." Pipi looked thrilled as Yang looked interested. "From what I heard... she has quite a story to tell." Pamela and Alex agreed with her, the boy answered. "That she would."