So. Let's call our villain team 'Team Crown' for sake of argument. Team Sceptre could also work as a counterpart to sword-and-shield, but I'll use Crown as it's snappier.
Team Crown is backing Sordward-or-Shielbert's claim to rulership, depending on game; whoever isn't being backed is a second-in-command regardless, like with the post-game plot. Their deal - much to the general eye-rolling annoyance of Leon and the assorted Gym Leaders - is screwing with the Gym Challenge, because the Champion and Challengers are afforded the kind of publicity and respect that the monarchy 'deserves'.
This lets them fill some of the existing Team Yell annoyance - blocking paths, picking fights, et cetera. Because of their attitude, I'd lean towards their teams leaning more 'regal' than the usual dark-and-bug villain shenanigans - Gallade and Gardevoir showing up in later encounters.
The 'minor annoyance' kicks up a notch when that mural gets wrecked. Sonia takes an interest, and there's increased hints that the heroes who saved everyone from the Day of Darkness were Pokemon, not human kings. At that point the Player has a target over their head - they dislike you, personally, for being part of these 'lies' becoming public.
This has to reach a breaking point - but in a way, I like the Day of Darkness from the main game too much to leave that out. Post-game for Eternatus might still be appropriate, turning that into something akin to Delta Episode - and it gives Sordward/Shielbert one last huzzah as one of them tries to stop you from awakening Zacian and Zamazenta, how dare you try to steal the royal glory.
Which raises the question, what stupidity do they get up to? One idea is to involve Calyrex, the Crown Tundra Legendary, but that might be awkward to work in. The other thought is to keep the Wishing Star theft subplot - Team Crown has been stealing them from Gym Challengers along the way, or buying them off of people who have given up on the challenge.
Either way, have Team Crown act during the big final tournament, interrupting the final match before it can begin, to proclaim their glory. Out-of-control Dynamaxing, Chairman Rose aghast (and determined to pull his plan the instant this is resolved), and you need to team up with your rivals to take down giant monsters and the royal heirs themselves.
And then, after all that - now that Leon's no longer Champion, surely he has the time to hear out Rose's little request...
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branchandroot
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Date: 2021-06-09 02:20 pm (UTC)So. Let's call our villain team 'Team Crown' for sake of argument. Team Sceptre could also work as a counterpart to sword-and-shield, but I'll use Crown as it's snappier.
Team Crown is backing Sordward-or-Shielbert's claim to rulership, depending on game; whoever isn't being backed is a second-in-command regardless, like with the post-game plot. Their deal - much to the general eye-rolling annoyance of Leon and the assorted Gym Leaders - is screwing with the Gym Challenge, because the Champion and Challengers are afforded the kind of publicity and respect that the monarchy 'deserves'.
This lets them fill some of the existing Team Yell annoyance - blocking paths, picking fights, et cetera. Because of their attitude, I'd lean towards their teams leaning more 'regal' than the usual dark-and-bug villain shenanigans - Gallade and Gardevoir showing up in later encounters.
The 'minor annoyance' kicks up a notch when that mural gets wrecked. Sonia takes an interest, and there's increased hints that the heroes who saved everyone from the Day of Darkness were Pokemon, not human kings. At that point the Player has a target over their head - they dislike you, personally, for being part of these 'lies' becoming public.
This has to reach a breaking point - but in a way, I like the Day of Darkness from the main game too much to leave that out. Post-game for Eternatus might still be appropriate, turning that into something akin to Delta Episode - and it gives Sordward/Shielbert one last huzzah as one of them tries to stop you from awakening Zacian and Zamazenta, how dare you try to steal the royal glory.
Which raises the question, what stupidity do they get up to? One idea is to involve Calyrex, the Crown Tundra Legendary, but that might be awkward to work in. The other thought is to keep the Wishing Star theft subplot - Team Crown has been stealing them from Gym Challengers along the way, or buying them off of people who have given up on the challenge.
Either way, have Team Crown act during the big final tournament, interrupting the final match before it can begin, to proclaim their glory. Out-of-control Dynamaxing, Chairman Rose aghast (and determined to pull his plan the instant this is resolved), and you need to team up with your rivals to take down giant monsters and the royal heirs themselves.
And then, after all that - now that Leon's no longer Champion, surely he has the time to hear out Rose's little request...