Alright, the new area’s unlocked…but how about that asshole on the stoutland, what’s he up to?

Still there. The moment Bonnibel gets true power, there will be so much blood.

I didn’t explore the section between, though. Anything there?

I explore some buildings. There’s the room of people designing the game! Honestly, this is always cute. There’s also a board where they’re designing the game and it brings up the idea of tweaking things and that would actually be a pretty cool feature – turn off tutorial, jack up enemy levels, etc.

Then the floor above is those white-uniformed bunch.

Those Team Skull buffoons… They hurt Pokemon as if it’s fun or something!

…

I wonder if we should also fight to stop the evil actions of Team Skull…

If so, you guys would be about the only ones to even worry about those idiots.

Here at the Aether Foundation, we work to help protect Pokemon that have been hurt.

So why were you messing with Lillie?

What do you think makes Pokemon happy?

Well, scientist dude, according to the pokemon cuddling minigame, it’s petpets and numnums. Over in Kalos, they also enjoy making faces and participating in minigames.

What is happiness, anyway?

Actually a very good question, isn’t it? We know what creates “affection” and “friendship” according the names we’ve given those, but we also hear people talking about things requiring those attributes which seem unrelated – mega evolution works regardless of either stat, for one, and z-power does as well. So when we say “happiness” what exactly are we referring to, really?

For me, it’s enough to have friends that I can go eat with and have fun together with.

Well, that went in a boring direction. Bad job philosophizing, scientist dude.

Then last there’s someone watching a poliwhirl guzzle water from the water cooler.

Also I find another weird creature and am called by Sina to tell me I’m at 10% and also go to the Aether Foundation, which, uh, why can’t I contact you from the little outpost there? Also, how the hell are you tracking me why are you such a stalker.

The next building is the Dimensional Research Lab and I’m again smacked about with cutscene leashes. How hard would it have been to just let me walk around an empty room? Seriously?

On the brighter side, apparently the professor in charge of that is female, so I’m feeling marginally less hateful than usual.

Alright, onwards to new territory!

How would you like to do a little part-time work on behalf of the Aether Foundation?

I’m still pretty sure you guys were the ones chasing Lillie, and Lillie is the only person in this game I care about.

On the other hand, playing along might position me to backstab you guys later so okay. Sure.

We at the Aether Foundation work to protect Pokemon through conservation.

…so is this Plasma plot all over again, or…?

In order to protect Pokemon, though, we must know a good deal about them and how they live. Right now, we are surveying the Stufful that live on Route 8.

Oh! That hybrid looking dog said that. It’s that one, isn’t it?

The foundation is collecting its own data, of course, but we would also like to know what data the Pokedex records about them.

What is the pokedex even.

Anyway, I go talk to one of the people contemplating a slowpoke.

We are members of the Aether Foundation. We work to carry out conservation efforts and care for Pokemon that have been hurt by bad people, like those Team Skull thugs. Slowpoke’s tail has fully regrown now… But Pokemon should be like family! Team Skull can’t get away with crimes like this!

Don’t you guys eat them though.

Other guy, your thoughts?

Even if Slowpoke tails are delicious, you can’t go ripping them off like they are yours to take!

So do you not eat them, or are you guys arguing that it’s wrong to do this like sharkfin soup where you’re hacking a chunk off an animal and then ditching it.

I continue along

???: You there!

noooooooo I hit a cutscene.

Colress:

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Oh, excuse me! I am a scientist. My name is Colress.

Yes, I remember you being a colossal disappointment.

The theme of my research is: “Bringing out the potential of Pokemon.” What brings out the power of Pokemon is…I believe that is–the bond they share with their Trainers! And thus my attention is drawn to Trainers like yourself… Trainers bound to their Pokemon through the power of the Z-Ring!

That’s an interesting way of putting it…so maybe that’s part of why Alola seems better, there’s some degree of a bond on the human side too.

Now that I think of it, I never asked your name. … Bonnibel, is it?

Oh come on game, now of all times I don’t get a choice? I should get the option to make him -sama at Bonnibel to apologize for taking up her air.

I’ll remember your name.

Buddy, when I’m through here, the world is going to remember that name.

To commemorate our encounter, let me give you a TM.

…flame charge. That’s not quite enough to make me feel positive toward you, but it is a decent enough tribute.

And then he ruins it by telling me it’ll be good for the next trial. Really, the thing in “Lush Jungle” might be weak to fire??? WOW THANKS.

Z-Power… Is it the true potential that I seek? Does it surpass the Mega Ring?

I don’t think so, but on the other hand, can’t I use both? Well, I mean, obviously I can’t use either, but in theory.

Apparently, there are uninhabited islands for Pokemon called Poke Pelago here in Alola. Alola is fascinating! I believe that I will stay in Alola for some time.

Well, if you’re going to be an enemy at any point in this, make sure you spend the time working up a better motivation this time.

Well then, Bonnibel, I hope to see you again sometime.

And now he’s gone.

Oh, now another scientist with a archen! So are those going to be gettable?

There’s this dude near here to says that he wants to make a whole theme park full of nothing but Pokemon restored from Fossils!

I hope that reference will be expanded and not end on just that line.

…and the next area has a sign saying Fossil Restoration Center “Let’s Make a Fossil-filled wonderland!” so yup. But there’s nothing much else here. Hopefully it’ll progress and not be another thing meant to unlock later but then forgotten.

Onwards, I find another hotel. Gladion stands in the center telling me to GTFO, but he does not have cutscene powers. The one time it’d be halfway plausible I’m kicked out! So instead, I run around poking his stuff. He has a dog bed next to his bed because he wubs his pokemon.

I’m afraid we’ve got no vacancies today. Especially not with that room two doors down being rented out nonstop all this time. The boy staying there paid up two YEARS worth of nights when he first got here.

Geeze Gladion, you should’ve found an actual place to rent and not a motel.

Though he’s not so free with cash now as he used to be… Seems like Team Skull doesn’t pay well enough to live off of.

So, Gladion stole a good chunk of money originally but doesn’t have access to do it again, I think.

Also, this appears to be suggesting being a trainer isn’t a viable living strategy. I guess in the games we don’t see anyone actually stay at the pokecenters like in the anime, and we’ve got paid cafes built in so free food is also out.

Onwards, there’s a small pokemon that runs away when I approach. I try on my tauros and yes! You can charge super fast and hit it.

Wimpod. And it runs away halfway in, as I suspected.

Second attempt, I ultraball it on my first try, leveling up my crabrawler in the process.

Its habitat varies from beaches to seabeds. A natural scavenger, it will gleefully chow down on anything edible, no matter how rotten.

Okay, let’s try this out… It says it switches at half health…

The little asshole just runs away! Even when it’s on my team! Dammit.

Checking my pokedex, I’m also missing some pokemon from an earlier area, so I think I’ll go make a stab at them.

Dewpider!

When it comes across enemies or potential prey, this Pokemon smashes its water-bubble-covered head into them.

I’m not sure how that helps matters.

Design is really weird – it’s a spider, but it has only six limbs. And I know pokemon generally takes that kind of thing as a gentle suggestion, but when it’s got a clear division between “arms” and “legs”, seeing it split three and three looks extra weird.

And paras.

Mushrooms called tochukaso sprout from its back. They can be dried and powdered to make a medicine used to extend life.

I know that’s just a reference to folk medicine BUT, given the mushrooms sure do appear to zombify the paras as they take over, maybe there’s more going on to why they are, or make humans think they are, a way to extend life.

Then back toward the trial. But first, hey, there’s water! I’m a bit torn on the ride mechanic – it feels unearned, but it sure is nice to be able to just surf wherever. Maybe a similar mechanic but it has to be your own pokemon. And I find a water stone, which does not evolve any of my team’s pokemon.

I don’t think there’s been much use with the stones in general, has there? New games tend to prefer to introduce new evolution methods instead. So, it’s unlikely this will work on any of the new pokemon, and I can probably remember all the older ones.

I clear out the area, dying a bunch to that girl with a goomy and sylveon. Now, trial!

Current team:

L15 dewpider
L18 mankey
L19 wingull
L20 precious lizard baby
L19 grubbin
L18 trumbeak

Inside, Mallow says that she knew I was special the moment she saw my team.

You’ve chosen only the finest ingredients!

That would work if I hadn’t been swapping my team constantly. But, aren’t I expected to? Why else is there stuff like getting extra experience for really low level pokemon if not to encourage people adding new pokemon to their teams?

That’s why I’m gonna make you help me–er, no! I mean, that’s why you should try my trial.

You’re no Lana, huh.

You are the one who got a Sparkling Stone straight from Tapu Kok, aren’t you? You’re so totally ready for this!

Well, at least this doesn’t have one of the nightmareish “plots” we’ve seen in previous games, where the NPCs just talk to each other a lot.

So, she wants me to find some plant bits to make food.

Mago berry, tiny mushroom, revival herb, miracle seed. I’ve already got the mushroom, but can’t put it in my bag. Instead, I have to find a mushroom patch and get one there. I’m then attacked by a shiinotic, who apparently has only astonish as a damaging move. So, if you have the incredibly rare type of normal, you’re immune. Trumbeak’s pluck does slightly more damage than ingrain can heal while she’s knocked out with sleep powder, so eventually we win.

Mallow: The bigger and more twisted a Mago Berry, the sweeter it will taste!

That’s a nice little detail.

When I get all of them, the other captains show up, with Kiawe providing a thick club and rare bone…and thick club being cubone’s item, we all know what that actually is. So, a fossil and a chuck of dead cubone mom. Mushing everything up gets me a giant orchid mantis, who summons a trumbeak of all things as an ally and throws my plan all to hell. I can beat the totem pokemon but the bird finishes off my grubbin.

Heading back, no real consequence, just now I get to try at full strength and Salandit gets to beat the totem twice. I do end up using a revive the second time. Then Mallow says that hey, the pokemon didn’t eat all of the food in the bowl, and the other captains actually eat the food and only object due to it being too spicy. Weird. Then Prof. Labsafetyfail shows up to tell me to go to the Dimensional Research Lab.