Character Overview:
Emerald is the main protagonist in the Emerald series, and is the third official Pokedex Holder of Hoenn. His presence was hinted during the RS series, when Prof. Birch brought Treecko to meet the trainer who was supposed take it on a journey and receive the last Pokedex. However, the flood caused by Kyogre thwarted this meeting, and only a faint silhouette of Emerald was seen on the Pokedex's registration screen. It was later revealed that Emerald's presence was foreshadowed as early as the end of the GSC series, in which he was showed as a silhouetted young boy requesting a Pokedex from Prof. Oak.
Emerald officially makes his debut in the Emerald series, and is depicted as a proud and mischievous kid who has a problem with his own height, and holds many tricks up his sleeves, literally. Most shocking of all, he did not possess any Pokemon of his own, and when asked by Todd, Emerald claimed that he does not like Pokemon, but only Pokemon battles. He believes that any form of battle that isn't confined by rules is not worth partaking in. He is showed to have a problem with trusting and bonding with Pokemon, and this was evidenced by his struggle to cheer for Sudowoodo in the Arena challenge, and his uneasiness about the loyalty of Sceptile, Sudowoodo and Dusclops, who eventually became his personal Pokemon. That said, he is extremely skilled in formal battling, and cleverly incorporates a Pokemon's nature, ability, held items, as well as team sequence into his tactics. He is also able to recognize the birthplace of a Pokemon at first glance, a unique ability of his.
The truth is, Emerald's bitter childhood played a major role in affecting his personality. Following the death of his parents, he was kicked around between relatives and was mocked for being a midget by everyone. Pokemon were his only companions at that time, but when he was accused of exploiting them as tools and accessories, he decided to push them away and stop loving Pokemon. Wandering across the land alone, he accidentally stumbled upon a discarded core of the artificial Green Orb, which beauty inspired him to create a new look for himself, and this wish was eventually fulfilled by the Trick Master, who was the one true friend he had at that time.
At Earl's Pokemon Academy, Emerald learnt about Crystal, whose heroic deeds earned his respect and made him determined to become a Pokedex Holder. After Prof. Oak challenged his way of interacting with Pokemon, he went on a personal journey to train himself up, learning to use the Trick Master's gadgets and further strengthening his intrinsic talent in birthplace recognition. He officially received his Pokedex from Prof. Birch after the Kyogre and Groudon crisis in Hoenn, and was dispatched by Prof. Oak and Crys to the Battle Frontier on a mission to protect the mirage Pokemon Jirachi, who was also hunted by a mysterious foe, an armoured man named Guile Hideout. Emerald decided to fulfill his desire to conquer the Battle Frontier while he carried out his mission, but things soon became far too complicated for his work and hobby to remain separated.
Being a proud kid, Emerald hates to be told what to do and often surprises others by his mischievous acts, such as peeing off the balcony or windows. He did not share a very good relationship with most of the Frontier Brains at the beginning, especially in light of the fact that he created considerable turmoil during the Frontier's opening ceremony. However, under the threat of a common enemy, Guile Hideout, Emerald became companions with the Brains and battled alongside each other. Among all the press people, Emerald was particularly acquainted with Todd, the reporter whom he rescued upon arrival at the Battle Frontier. Emerald is believed to have met Latios and Latias on his personal journey across the land, and the two mystical dragons, having seen the loneliness in him, made a pact to keep him company until he found his true companions.
For his Hoenn peers, Ruby and Sapphire, Emerald was not thrilled about their presence at the beginning, and constantly showed antagonism towards them. At the end of the series, however, he came to terms with his true feelings, and admitted his yearn for companionship, which he found in his Pokemon, the 7 Frontier Brains, Todd, the 9 other Pokedex Holders, and of course, the Trick Master, who has been his friend right from the beginning. Due to a little misunderstanding in their first encounter, Emerald still refers to him as the shoe store guy.
Despite their late encounter, Emerald seemed to get along really well with Gold, who nicknamed Emerald the 'unorthodox kid'. This is probably due to same mischievous trait they both share. Crystal, on the other hand, takes care of Emerald like an elder sister, and was shown to be bothered more than once by his synchronous impish interactions with Gold.
Emerald is the second original main character of the Pokemon Special manga. Initially, Wally was planned to be the third Pokedex Holder of Hoenn, but the writers eventually changed their minds and created this character instead. However, since the RS series was already in its climax by the time the Emerald GBA game was released, Emerald was not involved in the original Hoenn plot, and was made the main protagonist of the Emerald series.
Emerald's original appearance shows him with shoulder-length blonde hair, and is depicted as a midget with a very short stature. As an orphan, he wore ragged clothes and has the Green Orb core tied around his forehead, an accessory which inspired him to change his own looks, made possible with the help of the Trick Master. In this 'new Emerald' image he designed for himself, his hair is heavily waxed into a croissant shape, and he grows his eyebrows out. He wears platform shoes which can be converted into water skaters, and are equipped with two cylindrical tubes which hold various Pokeballs. He holds a pair of magic hand extensors in place of his real hands, and hides an assortment of other gadgets in his long sleeves.
He carries around a gun known as the E-shooter, an invention of the Trick Master, likely inspired by the Capture Styler in the Pokemon Ranger games, which fires off clumps of soil known as Soil of Stability from various places across the lands, with the ability to calm rampaging Pokemon by creating a sense of nostalgia with a specially shaped seal. His oversized long sleeve shirt is made and sewed by Crys, its back bearing the number '10' on it, which signifies that Emerald is the tenth Pokedex Holder. Like his name, Emerald's eyes have varying shades of emerald green.
Emerald Series
Emerald's story began on the opening day of the Battle Frontier, when he arrived on the island via Latios and Latias to challenge the 7 facilities. There, he met the reporter Todd, who mistakenly angered a wild Sudowoodo, and Emerald demonstrated his unique skills in calming a rampaging Pokemon with a special soil gun. Afterwards, he created chaos at the opening ceremony when he recklessly barged in, oblivious to the fact that the Frontier was actually not ready for public challenges yet. Although Scott and Frontier Brains were irritated, the press mistook Emerald's intrusion as part of the Frontier's opening week program, which forced the Brains to play along, and allow Emerald to complete his challenge within 7 days.
With Todd and the press following his progress, Emerald first took on the Battle Factory, where everything went smoothly until the rental Sceptile he used in the final match against Noland started to rampage. Upon calming the Pokemon, Emerald believed that it was not a real rental Pokemon, and stole it away after beating the Factory Head, which gave Todd quite a fret. Emerald then challenged the Battle Pike, using Pokemon he borrowed from Crystal, and found several rampaging Pokemon as well, which he calmed with his E-shooter after beating Lucy.
Following his victory over Brandon at the Battle Pyramid, he was confronted by the Frontier Brains about Noland's ambush, and the theft of all the Factory rental Pokemon. Emerald finally revealed the mission Prof. Oak bestowed upon him to protect the mirage Pokemon Jirachi at the Frontier, and led everyone to the Artisans Cave. There, they found Jirachi, but also had their first encounter with Guile Hideout, an armoured man who was after the wishing star, and was the real culprit behind all the weird happenings. During the intense battle, the Sudowoodo and Dusclops who were calmed by Emerald previously returned to help him.
Emerald continued with the Battle Arena challenge, and was forced his face his problem of bonding with Pokemon in the battle against Greta. When he proceeded to the Battle Dome challenge, which recruited real trainers for a tournament, he met up with Ruby and Sapphire, who claimed to have come to assist him in his mission. However, Emerald refused to acquaint with them, and his ignorance towards the trust between trainers and Pokemon eventually gave him his first defeat against Tucker. He quickly challenged the Battle Palace to make up for his lost time, and once again had to deal with his trust in Pokemon. When news arrived that Guile Hideout has successfully captured Jirachi, Emerald decided to take a chance, and left his team to complete the challenge while he rushed to the Battle Tower with Ruby and Sapphire to go after the armoured man.
After meeting up with Noland, the four teamed up to challenge the Tower, and found the brainwashed Salon Maiden Anabel on the top floor with Guile Hideout. The Palace Maven Spenser, who communicated with them via Latios and Latias's shared vision, revealed the secrets of the Blue Orb, and forced the armoured man to reveal himself as the Team Aqua leader, Archie. The man wished upon a fake Kyogre to flood the entire Battle Frontier, and Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald were soon joined by their seniors, Gold and Crys, who revealed that their real task was to revive the petrified senior Dex Holders, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and Silver with Jirachi's help.
Emerald's failure to channel his wish to Jirachi and Gold's words eventually made him face himself with honesty, and after revealing his past to Ruby and Sapphire while learning the ultimate attacks, he finally stopped turning away from Pokemon and admitted his true yearn for companionship in both Pokemon and fellow trainers. With that, Jirachi opened its third eye to him and restored the five petrified Dex Holders back to life. With the help of Latios, Latias, Todd and Scott, Emerald then set up a giant seal with the soil from the Faraway Island to calm all the rampaging Pokemon on the Battle Frontier, before the 10 Dex Holders teamed up to defeat Guile Hideout and his giant sea monster. At the very end, Emerald finally found lasting companionship in the other 9 Dex Holders, and also fulfilled his wish in conquering the Battle Frontier.
Pokémon on his Active Team
Pokémon he has had or been partnered with
