First, and most obvioiusly…Kieran. I think we’re all expecting this story to have a lot of carry over into the next DLC. I don’t think I have to say much more about that. But, it might also tie in with…
The Pokemon that “corrupted” the Lousy Trio. If you read the mission descriptions during the Teal Mask, then you know that these three Pokemon were actually smaller, weaker Pokemon that made a deal with…something else in order to become the Legendaries that they are now. And when Kieran starts to act like he has a “headache”, you can hear what almost sounds like a Pokemon’s cry in the background music. And if you look at Peachy’s shop (the only place you can buy anything in Kitakami), you’ll notice that she has a small purple…thing that you can actually interact with, calling it a “dusty old object”. A lot of people are thinking this is going to be a Poison Peach Pokemon, as a dark twist on Momotaro, the story which the Lousy Trio are based on. Plus, I feel like the third memorial is actually talking about THIS Pokemon when they talked about a shadowy figure that people had to wear masks around. I made sure to buy ALL the masks in the game, just because this might actually be a mechanic in the second DLC (Plus, I just kind of like the Sentai style masks). So, we might just be able to meet and catch this Pokemon in the next DLC. And I have to wonder if this Poison Peach Pokemon also has ties to…
The truth behind the story of the Ruinous Quartet. There’s something that just doesn’t sit right to me about the story as we know it about these four Pokemon. I’m still thinking that a different Pokemon was actually responsible for the crimes they were accused of and they were framed…OR it’s possible they were ALSO corrupted by this Poison Peach Pokemon. Hopefully, we get some answers in the DLC. (Sidenote: The Ruinous Pokemon’s story kind of parallels the story of Tamamo no Mae, a kitsune who supposedly poisoned a emperor and then ran away. So…maybe there’s some other fox-like Pokemon at play in the Ruinous Quartet’s story?)
And there’s also the truth about what Paradox Pokemon even are. I know a lot of people think that the Area Zero Machine is actually a wish granting machine creating these Pokemon from people’s dreams…but I don’t think that fits. We’ve all seen the sketches of Walking Wake or Iron Thorns and they don’t really match the reality of what we got. So, why would a wish-granting machine NOT create a perfect copy of what the person wished for? Personally, I think this is more like a Google reverse-image search. This machine is actually searching the multiverse for a Pokemon that’s as CLOSE as it can get to what the “wisher” is looking for, and then brings it through the portal. I think Paradoxes are basically just alternate reality Pokemon, and this all ties back to the larger Multiverse storyline that Pokemon has been building up for Generations. But, we’ll have to see.
And what all these logo symbols mean. Just lay it all out for us like we’re dumb. We have 8 symbols on these logos that are still pretty mysterious in their meaning. My best guess for the original four are that they’re symbols for the Ancient Paldean Empire which grew Herba Mystica and the “Future” Empire that helped create the “Time machine” and Terastalization technology. Of the new ones for the Treasures of Area Zero DLC, two seems to be a symbol for Oni Mountain and the Crystal Pool in Kitakami. And the other two look like the Blueberry Academy logo and Terapagos. But I want to know what ALL these mysterious symbols we’ve been seeing various places mean. And if there’s some greater connection and reason for their creation.
The Fate of Robo Sada/Turo and where the REAL Sada/Turo went and what’s going on with the OTHER Sada/Turo. Okay, so…this is difficult to talk about given how the version exclusives work. But, I wonder if we’ll actually get to see where Robo Sada/Turo went by the end of the story. They might be dead, but I’m not sure. Then, I wonder about the fate of the REAL version of Sada/Turo. They MIGHT just be dead, but they might have survived going through the portal. I’m not sure. And then I’m not sure if they’ll EVER do anything with Arven’s OTHER parent, the one who left before everything happened in Area Zero. They should still be alive, but I’m not sure if we’ll see the OTHER version’s Sada/Turo in each other’s game or not. But, it’s a possibility. This was confusing to write.
Oh, and obviously again…Terapagos. But, I’m thinking that this Pokemon will likely be positioned as the Peach’s opposite, probably. Terapagos will probably have the power to snap Pokemon and people out of the Peach’s manipulations.
There’s also a few characters who we still need to get their stories resolved from the main game and from various backstories. And I’m guessing once the doors to the Treasure of Area Zero open up, there’s going to be a huge race to claim it with a bunch of characters throwing their hats into the ring. A great race to the bottom! These may include some tidbits for:
Raifort. Her story about seeking out the Ruinous Pokemon for…some purpose still hasn’t really been resolved. I kind of wonder if she’ll either show up in Area Zero to inact some plan…or if she’ll be in charge of however we’re probably going to be catching past Legendaries in this game. Either way, I don’t think her part in the story has even really started yet.
Briar. Yeah, somethings going to happen with this new teacher from Blueberry Academy. Her black and red eyes are so freaky. And trying to spread the Terastral phenonenom around is suspicious. And her desire to find out what her ancestor knew about Paradoxes seems like something the Poion Peache Pokemon might take advantage of. I wonder if she’ll end up being manipulated like it seems like Kieran is?
Geeta. We really don’t know anything about her. And she ‘s always acted…strange. Again, I feel like this is another person who might be going with us back to Area Zero to race us for the Treasure. And the Pokemon Test you have to take before you can face the Elite Four feels like to me…that she’s trying to screen out people who aren’t from this dimension. That these questions are designed to make sure that the Player is actually the Player and not a Faller from another dimension. So, maybe she’s the person who will end up explaining what Paradoxes actually are?
Jacq. There’s something a little TOO nice about this guy. If ANYONE turns out to be a secret villain in this cast, it’s probably going to be him. Black and white hair, glasses, and being a little TOO nice with nothing else going on….I just have a feeling he’s gonna pull a Aizen from Bleach.
The Writer behind the Occulture Magazines. I wonder if we’ll get a reveal about who wrote these? It’s possible it’s just Briar’s family, trying to spread word about the “truth” as they think it is. But, whoever it is, they seem to at least be fans of the Scarlet/Violet Book, even if they’re making everything else up. Maybe it’s someone we know? A reveal would be neat, is all I’m saying. Not sure if we should expect one or not.
Professor Tyme and Gym Leader Ryme. I kind of just want to see the two sisters interact with each other. I think it’d be a funny scene.
Perrin. I REALLY hope we get another sidequest with her, somehow. The Pokemon Snap style sidequest was kind of fun in Kitakami. Again, I wonder if she’ll end up in Area Zero with us at the endgame.
The Ancient Paldean Emperor. Again, I think the Ruinous Quartet need their backstory fleshed out. And in the process we MIGHT just get more information on this guy. Or…with the “time travel” going on, it’s possible he’s not even dead.
The “Future” Paldean Empire. I don’t think this is even confirmed. But, someone or something sent back that engraving made of “future metal” with the Hourglass symbol on it down in Area Zero. Personally, I’m wondering if the “Past” and “Future” Empires were actually trading Pokemon with each other. Trading “Ancient” Paradoxes for “Future” Paradoxes. (Maybe “our” dimension was neutral ground where emissaries from other dimensions could meet?) But, I’m not really sure where they’re going with this, if anywhere at all.
Ogerpon’s Friend. We know SO little about this guy, that I’m kind of expecting him to end up being SOMEONE we already know. Part of me is wondering if he’ll actually turn out to be a time travelling Robo Sada/Turo. Maybe he’s a “redeemed” Paldean Emperor. But, I really don’t know. I’m just expecting some twist or reveal with this. This is a crazy idea but…what if it’s Volo from Legends Arceus? That would explain the Hisui connections in Kitakami. And it kind of feels right for his character.
The Merchant who sold the Ruinous Quartet to the Ancient Paldean Emperor. Again, we know nothing about this guy…and, again, I wonder if this could be Volo from Legends Arceus. A “trickster” merchant? Who used Pokemon as part of a possible secret plot to undermine a government? Yeah…that sounds like Volo’s MO. So the Ruinous Merchant and Ogerpon’s Friend MIGHT be the same guy.
Billy and O’Nare. They never outright SAY that they’re Nemona’s parents or sister, but it’s pretty easy to guess who they actually are. And given how interested they were in Area Zero, they might show up again as a little bit of comic relief. Plus…it’d just be fun to see Nemona meet back up with her parents. And seeing Arven and Penny’s reaction to her parents, too.
The Team Star Captains. I just want a excuse to see these guys again. They kind of grew on me.
Robo Sada/Turo or perhaps the REAL “Dead” Sada/Turo or maybe even the OTHER Sada/Turo. Look, it’d just be nice for Arven to either get a reveal that the robot he THOUGHT was his parent is still around, or that his actual dead parent isn’t actually dead, or that the parent who just walked out on him came back for him.
And some outliers who probably WON’T show up, but it’d be kind of neat if they did:
Looker. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Looker, period. Not since Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. And I really don’t know if Gamefreak has basically “retired” him or what. But, if he WAS going to show up again, this would be a surprising place to do it in. Maybe it could even be a tease of something for Gen 10. Anyway, it’d just be nice to see him again.
Rainbow Rocket Giovanni. I just wonder what he’s been up to? Plus, if the Paradoxes actually ARE from alternate realities like I think they are, him showing up as a twist would be kind of neat.
AZ. A lot of people have noted that Area Zero…shares the same initials as AZ. There are some people who even think that the Great Crater is where the Ultimate Weapon’s laser fell and destroyed the rival kingdom. The timeline doesn’t QUITE fit that, since the Great Crater was formed 1 million years ago and the Kalos Ultimate Weapon was fired only 3000 years ago…but if these ARE alternate realities, that wouldn’t really matter. So, we’ll see if there’s any actual connection between AZ and Area Zero.