Story Bible

[Subject to change]

The game takes place in an alternate world of Pokemon where Pokemon can and do die often in battle. The blissful nature of the game is going to contrast mightily with that attitude, and so the game's story should be changed to match the slightly darker tone. The idea is not to make the world "edgy" or "life is pain", but "earnest". Rather the goal is to acknowledge that this exists and does happen (in a ideally respectful manner), and move on quickly.

Story bible:

• Writing:
  • Never swear. Use made up idioms instead if need be, but avoid that if possible.
  • Never use Twitch Emotes or emoticons. The only emote in the game is in the title.
  • The goal is to acknowledge the darkness, have an undercurrent of it, not wallow in it.
  • The player character should never speak in dialog boxes. That's tacky.
    • The response of the player character should be implied through others' reaction to them, and/or the movement of the player sprite in full-on cutscenes.
    • The exception is choice boxes, where things like "Yes/No" can be changed to things like "Meh" or "Huh?" or "...". These should be curt, one word, and non-intrusive.
• Pokemon
  • Pokemon are equivalent to animals. Wild Pokemon can be dangerous.
  • Common Pokemon are not intelligent enough to speak, or have any semblance of speech. Any actions on their part are instinct or via trainer command.
  • Legendary Pokemon are akin to Gods. They are powerful and work in ways beyond humans' understanding. And they're not to be messed with or easily caught.
    • In fact, it's best if we don't allow the player to catch any of the legendary pokemon because that just means they'll be tempted to kill off parts of their own team to have room for them.
  • Where possible, gift Pokemon should not be presented as an option unless the player has room in their party for them. This reduces temptation to kill.

Characters

• The Protagonist:

  • Formerly lived in Alola; formerly of Team Skull.
    • Was forced to leave due to his father forcing a move.
  • Still wears team skull attire, though not the face mask.
  • Their parents divorced shortly before they started their Island Challenge.
  • Was kicked out of the Island Challenge for being "too cruel" to their Pokemon.
    • Still has a grudge against Nanu, the Kahuna who did that.
  • Are deliberately being difficult and edgy, to get attention from their parents and approval from their peers.
    • Is not above helping out peers in trouble, or for doing good for a reward.
    • Will mellow over the course of the journey.
  • Has an affinity for Team Aqua, to the point that he will "join" them during the story.

• The Protagonist's Father:

  • Moved to Hoenn for a contracting job.
  • Thought it would be good for his child to get away from the gang influence.
  • Never at home, despite a clear desire to be.
  • Is often ignorant of the Player's exploits unless they're explicitly pointed out to him.

• The Protagonist's Mother:

  • Lives in Alola still.
  • Sends presents to make up for her absense.

• Birch

  • Same demeanor as before, but is not friends with the protagonist's parents beforehand like in Emerald.

• Birch's Kid: Brendan/May

  • Happy-Go-Lucky like in Emerald, at the start at least.
  • Is taken aback by the protagonist's demenor, but tries to make the best of it.
  • Get their starter Pokemon killed in a fight against the Protagonist, and is deeply upset at the Protagonist about it.

• Birch's Wife

  • Equal partners with her husband, thematically.

• Birch's youngest son: Charlie

  • Happy-go-lucky and naive.

• Alex

  • The Protagonist's old friend from Alola.
  • The opposite gendered protagonist sprite of the protagonist.
  • Also a former team skull grunt. Left the team before the team was broken up.
  • We best friends with the player character, but not a romantic interest.
  • Is featured in many dreams, but never seen in reality during the storyline.
  • Contemplative. Served previously as the foil to the protagonist's headstrong edgy streak.

• Bailey

  • A male member of Team Aqua.
  • Introduces himself during one of the team's exploits. Mainly there to have a "friend" in Aqua.
  • Is in Aqua because his friends joined.
  • Gets cold feet at the point when the sub gets stolen. "I didn't sign up for this..."
  • The relationship is "dynamic". If you talk to Bailey enough times when it's available, he'll eventually come congratulate you for getting to the E4 and will be rooting for you in the lobby.

• Jessica

  • A female member of Team Aqua.
  • Introduces herself during one of the team's exploits. Mainly there to have a couple "friends" in Aqua.
  • Is very much in love with water-based wildlife.
  • Is disallusioned after the undersea cave. "The poor Pokemon of the sea!"
  • As with Bailey, the relationship is "dynamic".

• Logan

  • Replaces Wally.
  • Wears shorts, tee shirt, and a baseball cap. Has several bandages and bruises in his trainer sprite.
  • Smartass, Rough around the edges. He's not quite "edgy", but is a borderline case.
  • Is the actual hero of the usual Emerald storyline, while the player takes a darker approach.
    • No nonsense. Will lament that the teams and team leaders are idiots who can't see straight.
  • Has an overbearing family, who worries a lot about his wellbeing.
    • Is eager to run away from his family as much as possible.
    • Actively hates how much his family dotes on him. "I can do this myself!"
  • Has a deep love for his Shiftry Ralts. Either will do anything for the other.

• Logan's Mother: Gretchen

  • Lives in Petalburg.
  • Coddles Logan, like he's a baby who must be protected at all times.

• Logan's Father

  • Lives in Petalburg.
  • Would sue the world on Logan's behalf if he had enough time and money.

• Logan's Aunt

  • Lives in Vanderturf
  • Understands that Logan needs to break away from his family, and is happy when he does so.

• Logan's Uncle

  • Lives in Vanderturf.
  • Older brother to Logan's Father
  • Agrees with his wife, but doesn't have the spine to stand up to his younger brother.

• Logan's Cousin: Carver

  • Lives in Vanderturf.
  • Has a boyfriend from Rustboro who helped carve the Rusturf Tunnel.

Story Overview (High Level)

• The player-named protagonist is a delinquent teenager with divorced parents.
  • Their father moved them to Hoenn to get them out of the Team Skull sphere of influence.
  • However, the workaholic father doesn't change, and the protagonist takes up a pokemon journey, trying to prove themselves where they couldn't back in Alola.
  • The protagonist wants for compainionship, and often dreams of their life back in Alola early on in the adventure.
• The protagonist falls back in with a new gang in Hoenn, Team Aqua, and blindly follows along with their plans because they want to belong.
  • They see some of their old gang, Team Skull, in Team Aqua's camradarie, but learns eventually that they're nothing alike.
  • The protagonist has people he interacts with in Team Aqua, and possibly becomes "friends" with a couple of them.
• A hot-headed rival, Logan, steps into the shoes of the hero, while our protagonist helps fill the role of the villian.
• The protagonist hurts those around them, though whether it's intentional or not is up to the viewer.
  • The usual rival of the game is taken out quickly when the protagonist kills their beloved starter pokemon in battle.
• It takes the entire journey, but the protagonist eventually learns that perhaps the method they were using to win wasn't winning them anything in the long run.
  • The death mechanic that characterizes the game is removed at the end for the final battles, signifying how the protagonist has grown.

Story Overview (Mid Level)

(Note: for the purposes of this overview, I will refer to the player character as male. But the player character can be either male or female.)

• Player moves into Littleroot, where he is difficult for everyone involved.

  • He rides into Hoenn in a moving van.
  • His father tell him to set his clock.
  • Once he does, his father tells him he's allowed downstairs now, and tells him to go meet the neighbors.
  • Player already has the running shoes.
  • Player meets Birch's wife and child.
  • He then saves the professor out on the route, choosing a pokemon when doing so.
  • The player is given the pokemon, and the first save happens.
    • The ability to sleep in bed is unlocked here.

• Oldale Town -> Route 103

  • Route 102 is blocked by an accident involving a trainer, police block the way.
  • Meet with the rival, battle
    • She makes mention about how the player seems rough in battle.

• Oldale -> Littleroot again

  • In Oldale, the rival contemplates to herself if she should heal a while at the center first.
    • She hints that this is the only way to save.
  • Back in the lab, the rival seems pissed off at her father. Birch give you a pokedex and balls.
  • On the way out of Littleroot, the player's father expresses qualms over the player having pokemon again.
    • But he says he can come back home any time. "Your bed will be here for you."
    • He gives the player a phone, with his number in it already.

• Oldale -> Route 102

• Petalburgh

  • Player is stuck in town by Logan's mom looking for him.
  • Player goes into the gym and witnesses Logan demanding help, and the gym leader (who is not Norman, but some old guy) refusing it.
    • Logan storms out, proclaiming "If you won't help me, I'll just do it by myself!"
    • The player can talk with the leader, who says "It's not my job to give away pokemon! Go fend for yourself!"
  • Player then must go to where Wally would be catching his first pokemon to find Logan on thr ground (sprite upside down).
    • The player talks to Logan, who mumbles "I... did it... all by myself... I... I caught a.... Seedot..."
    • It's at that moment that Logan's mom rushes over to find him and to cart him off to the Pokecenter. "You could have been killed!!"
    • When the player next tries to go to the gym after this, the gym entrance will be blocked by someone claiming that they're filing a lawsuit immedeately with the gym leader.
  • Scott comes by and harshly judges the player, and gets a tackle to the nuts for his efforts. Remove Scott.
  • Visiting Logan's house, the player can learn that Logan is currently in the center being tended to (until the player completes Rustboro).
    • Visiting after, they can learn that Logan has vanished.

• Route 104 -> Peralburgh Woods

  • Player runs into the Devon Corp guy
    • A Team Magma member attacks the guy and in turn the player.

• Rustboro City

  • Player can pick up the Cut technique.
  • Player gets a badge from Roxanne.
  • When the player gets out of the gym, they witness a struggle between Team Magma and Team Aqua over the Devon goods.
    • Team Magma gets away, and Team Aqua runs after them.
      • The Devon guy is badly hurt in the front yard of the Devon corp.
    • At the exit to Route 116, Team Aqua is discussing their plans (blocking the path).
      • The name "Bailey" is mentioned in this discussion.
      • The player butts in and asks to "join" over being attacked by Team Magma. (And also similarities to Team Skull.)
      • Aqua grunts ask you to prove your worth by getting back those goods.
    • Mr. Briney is locked behind this event: Peeko is still kidnapped.
  • Player can battle their rival just outside the center.
  • Devon Corp is skipped, and their offices are locked down after the theft.
    • The Devon Goods have a note attached to the goods (which can be read when the item is used) which says that they are "To be delivered to Captain Stern in Slateport".

• Route 104 -> Mr. Briney's House

  • Upon walking out of Petalburg Woods
    • Logan is there, just about to enter the woods, and spots the Player.
    • Logan finally introduces himself, and thanks the player for saving him back in Petalburg.
    • Some of Logan's defiant personality comes through in this exchange, but Logan currently sees the player as a hero.
    • He says he's off to defeat the first gym, and to not tell his parents where he went.
      • The player can totally tell his parents where he went, and this changes some dialog later.
  • Mr. Briney offers a ship to Dewford and then Slateport for a small price usually.
    • He gives the trip to you for free for saving his Peeko.

• Dewford Town

  • Player gets a badge from Brawley.
  • Steven is not in Granite Cave, but there will be a TM47 on the ground in his place.
  • The Flash technique can be learned from the Hiker.

• Slateport

  • Briney drops the player off at a dock just outside town.
  • Team Aqua is outside the museam.
    • Some outside the building will greet you.
      • One of the grunts outside/inside will recognize you from before and introduce himself as Bailey. Another as Jessica.
    • The protagonist will actively say that he's part of Team Aqua and will be let in for free.
    • A couple of the guys inside will tell you what's going on: They're going to steal documents from Captin Stern.
    • When you meet with Captain Stern, two grunts will appear and flank you for an attack on Stern.
      • But Logan arrives to save the Captain from the team. You fight Logan.
    • The boss will appear and congratulate you, welcoming you to the fold by giving you an Aqua bandana (which the character then wears).
  • When the player steps out of the museam, Logan appears (instead of Scott) and asks what you're doing with Team Aqua. "I thought you were cool..."
    • Your dad will leave a note saying he's heard rumors that you've joined another gang, and is not happy with you. He threatens having "a talk with you" about your friend selection, a talk which will never come as he's always at work.

• Route 110

  • Meet up with rival. The rival is concerned for you, the way you battle and rumors about your loyalty to the wrong kind of people. Battle happens. The rival's starter dies in this battle. The rival rushes home and doesn't want to see your face again.
    • Birch's wife will actively turn you away if you enter the house, and kick you out the door.
    • Birch is missing from the lab. The lab techs will be curt and passive-agressive with you.
    • Your dad will leave a note admonishing you and asking you to do better.

• Mauville

  • Logan is arguing with his uncle over coming back home. Has a battle with the player to prove his point.
    • When Logan loses, he chastizes the player for making him look bad, and runs off. The uncle chases after him.
  • Player gets a badge from Wattson
  • When the player leaves the gym, Scott is there, though keeps his distance. He admonishes the player about what he did in Petalburg. It happens again and Scott leaves with his ego and nuts brused again. Remove Scott.

• Route 117 -> Vardanturf Town

  • The daycare is closed down due to investigations into abuse.
    • The yard can be walked into, and there's some hidden items there.
  • Logan's uncle and aunt has a house here. They have a son Carver, who's boyfriend works in the Rustoford Tunnel.
    • If the player clears the tunnel, Carver's boyfriend will teach the Strength technique.

• Route 111/112 South -> Fiery Path

  • A fight between Team Magma and Team Aqua blocks the cable car entrance.

• Route 111/112 North

  • The player has had access to secret power since the start of the game. So this kid simply demonstrates the ability.

• Route 113 -> Fallarbor Town

  • Lanette is in Fallarbor center, attempting to fix the computer systems. She has no time to chat.

• Route 114

  • Lanette's house is someone else's house, someone who makes and sells dolls.

• Meteor Falls

  • Team Magma grunts here are stealing a meteorite.
    • The grunts see you and recognize you as an Aqua ally. The one with the Meteorite flees to Mt. Chimeny while the other wants to hold you off with a battle. Magma battle commences.
    • After the battle, Team Aqua appears and the Magma grunt scarpers.
    • The Aqua leader is there and recognizes you and tasks you and Jessica (one of the grunts) with heading them off at Mt. Chimney.
      • Jessica tells you she'll meet you there.
    • Cozmo pleads to you to return the meteor.

• Mt. Chimney

  • Team Magma and Team Aqua are locked in battle all over the summit.
    • Bailey is here in the battle. Jessica tells you to try to get to the Magma leader.
  • The Magma Lutienent and Leader are here. You fight them both.
  • After their defeat, Aqua leader approaches and congratulates you on a job well done. He awards you a full Aqua outfit and bids you to await further orders.
    • Bailey is nearby, sticking around afterwards, and welcomes you to the team if you talk to him.

• Jagged Pass

• Lavaridge Town

  • Player can pick up an egg from a kind old woman
    • She gives no indication that she'll give it to you if your party is full.
    • If the player recieves the egg, a small cutscene plays. "It's so tiny... so small..."
      • The player is transported to a memory where his friend was given an egg to care for... It's hinted that something goes wrong with it...
    • This touches off a minor subplot:
      • If the egg hatches, another cutscene will play afterwards of the friend hatching the egg and being overjoyed by it.
      • If the egg mon levels up to 20+, a dream will be triggered where the player will remember the hatched pokemon growing, and then dying in battle due to his friend's mistake.
      • If the egg mon dies, a dream will be triggered where the player will have been responsible for his friend's pokemon, and it getting killed accidentally when he wasn't looking.
  • Player gets a badge from Flannery.

• Petalburgh again

  • Upon entering the gym, the gym guy makes a comment about how Norman's new, after the old leader was forced to retire by the league.
  • Player gets a badge from Norman

• Route 118

  • (No Steven Meeting)

• Route 119

  • Rest house (heals and saves)
  • Weather Institute
    • Bailey helps block the path forward and tells you that Team Magma is inside the institute and that they could use your help.
    • The Weather Institute is under attack by Team Magma, and also under attack by Team Aqua, for the same goals.
    • You fight a bunch of Team Magma grunts here, instead of Team Aqua grunts.
    • The rest corner has a broken/gutted PC, and an Aqua Grunt there. "I'm resting here. Don't tell the boss."
    • Both Aqua Admin Shelly and Magma Admin Courtney are here, fighting with each other.
      • Shelly loses and all seems lost, when she spots the protagonist and tells him to attack.
      • Vs Magma Admin Courtney
      • Once the player wins, the Magma Admin has to skedadle, and the Aqua Admin claims victory and some pokemon.
      • If the player has a slot open, she will give the player a Castform. If there's no slot, it's not even brought up.
    • On the way out the door, Bailey will stop you and give you props on the battle, and give you the Fly technique.
      • He also mentions the Aqua base in Lilycove and how you should totally swing by.
  • The rival battle is replaced with a Logan battle.
    • If possible, show that Logan has six Pokemon, but after 3 faint, the player wins.
  • Remove Scott

• Fortree City

  • Remove the Kekleon blockages and Steven. Logan might mention later that he dealt with Kekleons blocking the way.
  • Player gets a badge from Winona.

• Route 120 -> Route 121

  • Team Magma takes off to Mt Pyre.

• Route 122 -> Mt. Pyre

  • The rival and Birch are here, at the grave of the rival's starter.
    • If you approach them, the rival angrily brushes past without a word.
      • Birch will say "[Rival] isn't doing too well... I know it was an accident. Try and be more careful..." before leaving as well.
  • Team Magma is at the top.
    • Once the protagonist battles through the 4 members, Team Aqua members rush forward and fight off a couple extras, and Archie appears to confront Maxie, who has already taken out the old couple at the summit. They banter a bit before Maxie takes off with the Blue Orb and Archie with the Red Orb.
    • Archie tells his men "back to Lilycove to regroup!" before they all leave.

• Lilycove

  • Logan will be here in place of the rival. Logan will have 6 pokemon and use only 4.
    • "I concede..." "You know it's possible to forfeit a battle, right?"

• Team Aqua Hideout

  • Changes:
    • All the trainers are changed: Most trainers here will say that they want to scrap fight to help train their team. Others are turned into just talking NPCs.
    • Bailey and Jessica are here normally. Jessica may depart for the undersea cave, but Bailey will stick around until he deserts.
    • There's a place for a secret base (or four) added in here and/or just outside. It's a cave base.
    • The hideout is structured less like a dungeon and more something navigable.
      • Add a bridge, if possible, going over the entrance water.
      • Label teleporters.
  • When the player comes here, they can find Bailey early on. He'll give the protagonist the Magma Emblem and tell him to go clear out their base.
  • The submarine will arrive if the player finds the spot where it usually launches from. When it does, Archie and Shelly will jump out and order that people prepare the sub with the devon goods.

• Magma Base

  • Change any dialog that mentions the protagonist to mention Team Aqua.
  • Once the protagonist gets down to the level of the Magma Admin, you see Logan there, trying to get past him.
    • He wrangles you to fight the admin for him so he can go after Maxie.
    • You fight the admin.
    • After the fight, the ground shakes and the cutscene music plays. The admin will cheer and say that the ancient Pokemon has been awakened now.
    • When you arrive, however, the Pokemon is gone. Maxie tries to excape and runs into you. He fights you, blaming Aqua and "that pesky kid" for somehow ruining his plans.

• Lilycove again

  • The player can visit the Aqua base again.
    • There's considerably fewer trainers around. They will say some kid came through here and wreaked them all.
    • The submarine is gone.
    • There are different aqua members who want to scrap fight.
    • Jessica has gone out to the undersea base.
    • When the protagonist talks to Bailey, he expresses shock at Magma not being able to control their legendary pokemon, and starts expressing second thoughts.

• Route 124 -> Mossdeep City

  • Steven's house is there, but he is not home, nor is he at the Space Center.
  • Bailey is inside the Space Center.
    • If the protagonist speaks to him, he mentions how team Magma were here, trying to steal rocket fuel to explode the volcano.
    • "I've been thinking... is Team Aqua as insane as Team Magma...? I mean, Magma wants to expand the land by exploding the volcano... and Aqua wants to expand the seas..."
  • Player gets a badge from Tate & Liz
    • When the player steps out of the gym, they and the surrounding people are shocked to find the rain and drought cycle has started.
      • Bailey appears and rushes up to the player.
      • He exclaims that Archie is reporting that they couldn't control their ancient pokemon and it escaped!
      • He drags the protagonist along to the shoreline as fast as possible. He says he can see the storm brewing over Sootopolis.
      • Jessica appears, and exclaims that they couldn't control the beast, and it escaped to fight Team Magma's beast.
      • Logan surfs up now, and hops off his pokemon. He shouts at the combined Aqua members. "What is your problem?! Didn't you people know that it's probably not a good idea to wake ancient pokemon! You numbskulls!! Half my team died trying to fix your mess!!"
      • Logan than rushes off to the center.
      • Bailey and Jessica turn to look at each other. Bailey spins around and removes his Aqua Bandanna. "Well... if the world's gonna end, I don't want to be sober when it does. I hope the Center has a good selection..."
      • Jessica: "I'm coming too." She also loses her bandanna. Both bandannas go into a pile at the Player's feet, and the to walk off to the Center as well. They will be found upstairs hereafter, slightly enebriated.
      • The player turns to look at the pile, and adds his bandanna to it as well. The player now has only Aqua clothes on, but no bandanna. When he sleeps next, he'll lose the rest of the outfit and be dressed in his final garb.
    • The player now must go to the Center, where Logan is there.
      • Logan will be dismissive of the protagonist, but will notice he lost his Bandanna. He says perhaps there's a way to reform the teams into something worthwhile, and gives you the Dive technique.

• Route 125 -> Route 126

• Sootopolis

  • The two ancient pokemon are fighting endlessly.
    • If the player gets in between the two, a double battle will start with the two of them, which will be level 120.
      • This is a "supposed to lose" fight.
      • All Pokeballs thrown will be "blown away in the storm" and lost.
      • If the player manages to defeat both beasts somehow, the storms will calm and the player will be hailed as a hero during the cutscenes that follow, and they won't have to find Rayquaza. Skip to [later].
  • The power is out in the center (if possible) and the normally happy music is not present.
    • In the Center, there's an old man telling a tale. "Ancient tales tell of a third beast, who could control the other two ancient beasts."
      • "There's two super powerful monsters outside, ranging about causing a meteorological ruckus, and you're solution is to wake up a third one?! Are you mental?!?!"

• Rotue 129 -> Rotue 130 -> Route 131

• Sky Pillar

  • No one is there to greet you when you arrive, but the weather worsens.
  • You must use the Rock Smash technique to break down the door to get inside.
  • Once at the top, the storm continues to rage up here. Rayquaza is in a palette that matches the stones around him.
  • The player interacts with Rayquaza: "You place a hand on the stone dragon. It seems like a statue..."
    • Logan then appears. He exclaims that he has the two orbs needed to wake it. He then ropes you in to helping him complete with moving you bodily around "Stand..." moves you to the left "...here. Hold this." "Don't look at me, look at the dragon!" "Oh dragon! Awaken and help us!" "Maybe we're in the wrong places. Switch me spots." "Com'on! Move it!" "Oh great dragon! Awaken! Please?" "Why isn't this working?!" Protagonist calls fouth a pokemon. "[Mon] tackles the stone dragon!" "What gives?! What was that f---?!" The dragon then shakes and the two orbs shine. The dragon turns green and wakes up, roars, and flies off. "Logan: It's heading towards Sootopolis! Quick! We gotta catch up with it!"
      • If the player has no flying pokemon, Logan will rush over and a bird will swoop in and grab them both off to Sootopolis.
      • If the player has a flying pokemon, Logan vanishes in a bird swoop, and the player will call out their pokemon to do the same.

• Sootopolis again

  • Rayquaza appears, shouts at everyone to shut up, and everything returns to normal.
    • Sky Pillar has massive rocks blocking the way into the tower now.
    • The region is saved.
  • Logan is hailed as a hero. He tries and fails to credit you with some of the work.
  • Archie recognizes you, and can't quite find words. (Thanks for fixing things? I'm sorry for dragging you into this? Well you tried? Maybe you shouldn't blindly follow people? I'm a shitty person?) He announces he is disbanding Team Aqua.
  • Player gets a badge from Juan.
    • A woman in town will now teach you the Waterfall technique.

• Evergrande Steppe

• Victory Road

  • All of the trainers here have 6 pokemon present, even if they fight with fewer.
  • Final fight against Logan
    • He uses all 6 of his pokemon in the fight.
    • His starter is last. When the player is about to kill his starter, Logan steps out between and forfiets.

• Evergrande City

  • The "City" is expanded a bit.
    • There's a harbor with boats to take you back to the main land.
    • There's other buildings in the city, likely borrowed from the Battle Frontier.
    • There's lots of people here, also likely borrowed from the Battle Frontier.
    • The Pokemon Center is the largest on the outside of any of the cities.
      • There's a door leading northward that leads outside, directly to the Elite Four Conference.
    • The Elite Four Conference is the main building.
      • There are bleachers and people inside the E4 rooms.
  • The Elite Four Conference is not ready yet. The guardsmen implore you to get some rest for the big day.
  • Dream cutscene
    • This dream cutscene is forced.

• Elite Four Conference

  • Death mechanics are turned off in here.
  • When the player starts the E4 conference, it is made clear that he is one of about 30 people competing today.
    • The player is dumped into "the waiting room" before the fights begin and after each fight.
      • There's a bunch of chairs here, with a lot of other trainers here, all concentrating on their own things and paying you no mind.
        • No trainers will fight you. Some don't even respond to you. Those that do are off in their own little worlds, or pacing back and forth.
        • "When will it be my turn?" "If he hits with Blizzard, I can counter with... no, that's not it!" "This trainer is tapping her foot rapdily."
      • The number of trainers each time gets less and less, until the waiting room before the Champion's room, when you are the only one remaining.
      • Logan is among the trainers here, until he is defeated by the last E4 representitive.
        • Pre-Sidney: "{PLAYER}! You made it to the conference. After what you did to my team I'm... surprised they didn't disqualify you, haha...\pWoah, dude, what's with the look?! S-Sorry, I didn't mean anything!" "Um... G-Good luck..."
        • Pre-Phoebe: "{PLAYER}! Still in it, I see. These battles are tougher than I thought!\pHa.. haha..." "Good luck, dude..."
        • Pre-Glacia: "{PLAYER}!? I'm... I'm surprised you made it this far... That was a tough battle back there... I... I barely made it through myself..."
        • Pre-Drake: "Go away, {PLAYER}! I'm too nervous to talk right now. I don't need you making me more nervous!" "Shoo!"
        • (There's no one in the Pre-Champion room, not even Logan.)
      • The player is dumped at the south end of the waiting room and must only travel to the north end of the room to continue (no actual waiting required).
        • The pathway is clear of obsticles to simply push forward to the next fight.
        • The exception to this is Logan in the very first room. Logan is positioned to casually intercept the player before any fights begin.
          • In subsequent rooms, he gets more and more to the edges of the room, as he loses confidence.
      • There is no way to rest or save in these rooms, but the player is always allowed the items they brought with them.
      • Each waiting room is a different map, just like each hallway in vanilla is a different map.
    • The player is first to fight the first E4 member. If he wins, the E4 member says thier piece and he is escorted to the next room to "wait".
  • Each E4 room is adjusted to add bleachers on either side, which is visible if the player moves to the sides. Otherwise they generally stay the same.
    • Each room also comes outfitted with triggers which will start the battle as soon as the player gets close enough.
  • The Champion's room is different. It's auto-walk like in vanilla.
    • (If possible) The room is also seemingly high above the stadium, with lots of rabble below. There's a parallex background below everything, which is flickering with camera flashes.
      • The stairs to the champion's plinth is also extended to allow the parallex more room to show its effect.
    • The scene after beating the champion is modified to remove Birch and the rival character, but to add Dad, who's there to hug the player character as they head to the Hall of Fame.
    • If possible, the Champion's plinth should be loud with audience background noise. (pulled from the contest game, likely)
  • The Hall of Fame is basically the same. It's quiet in contrast to the plinth.

• Credits

  • The first screen of credits is of the player biking away.
    • The ocean is in the background as vanilla.
    • An image of the Pokemon League Conference slides off the screen in the background.
  • Pokemon interlude - over a grass patch
  • The second screen has the player on the back of a boat as it sails away.
    • The player is facing the opposite direction, the boat travelling left.
    • The boat fades to navy blue below, which the credits fade to to disappear like they would over the grass normally.
    • The player is looking at something in his hand.
    • Before the final credit, the player throws the thing out to sea, and the boat drifts off screen. There's a glimmer as the thing flies.
  • Pokemon interlude - over the depths of the ocean.
    • Instead of a random patch of tall grass, this is blue and underwater. Possibly use the bubbles effect from underwater.
    • Pokemon images come out of a bright spot under water.
    • Before the last credit, the player's team skull amulet floats down and lands near the bright spot.
  • The third screen has the player on their bike again, biking past a sunset ocean.
    • During the middle credit, the player pauses pedaling and looks out over the ocean for a moment.
  • Pokemon interlude - over a grass patch
  • The fourth screen has the player on their bike again, biking past a sunset forest.
    • The player is off to the right, simply drifting, high on the screen, eyes possibly closed.
    • After the first credit, ghostly images of the player character and Alex (the opposite player character) race in from the right.
    • They're both petaling fast, racing each other, moving around each other, and then race off the left, vanishing as they do before the hit the left edge of the screen.
  • Pokemon interlude - over a grass patch
  • The fifth screen is stopped, with no movement.
    • The player's bike is sitting against a phone booth along a road in the night town.
    • You can see a silluhette of the player character inside the phone booth, moving about, on the phone.
  • Pokemon interlude - over a grass patch
  • The final screen has the player on their bike again, biking past the night town.

Subplots

Player's Outfit

The protagonist has a few outfits that are displayed in battle, in the battle back sprite, and in the overworld. These outfits are not chosen by the player, but change with the story.

• When the game starts, the protagonist is in their old half-worn Team Skull outfit.
  • The bandana is around their neck, the hat remains.
• When the player fends off Logan in the navel museam, the player is given a Team Aqua bandanna, which replaces the Team Skull cap.
• When the player helps on Mt. Chimney, the player is given an Aqua shirt and stockings.

Player's Dreams

Whenever the protagonist sleeps, he'll have the chance of having a dream. Usually these are related to previous exploits of the player, or previous "timelines" (see the issue on Dreams Remembered), but sometimes these dreams are forced to be story-related. These usually outline a change of heart that the player character goes through on his journey.

These scenes are usually done on a separate map. The dreams sequences will often have the player able to say something (a multiple choice dialog), but getting no different response from the choice.

• After Rustoboro Gym Badge: Joining Team Skull

  • A dream remembered, where the player officially becomes a member of Team Skull. He lays eyes on Alex for the first time... ["Hey"/"..."]

• After Slateport's Museam: Po Town

  • Hanging out with Team Skull members, including Alex. Alex is cool.

• After the Rival Battle: Kicked Out

  • A dialog only scene, where Nanu yells at you that nearly killing the opponent pokemon disqualifies you from the challenge. There's lots of backtalk that the player can choose from for this...

• After killing your starter: *

• After killing your egg pokemon:

  • Alex shouts at you: "What do you mean you "LOST" him?! How could you lose him?! I trusted you, [Player]!! [Player]--! [Player]----!"