An Idea

This is for around the fourth gym. You have just received the badge which allows you to use Surf. You are told that the Enemy Team have a base and you need to sneak in and destroy something (like a big laser or something). No-one has a Surf HM, however, and it's across water. You receive a Surfchu to help you break into the base and in there you find the Surf HM. Also, if Zoupo isn't really lazy and wants to make/copy some sprites, have machines that you can use Rock Smash on and possibly strength on too.

Well....I do like this idea, but should a NPC should give you the HM and you go where the base is?

Yellowtoad, that's the point; you DON'T have it, instead, a Pikachu with Surf has it.

It's a cool idea, IMO, but it somewhat wouldn't work and would lead to multiple questions.

And the Strength one IS possible. All you need to do is put a Strength trigger on one of the machines. However, Rock Smash is NOT possible.

I think it's a cool idea. What if the Pikachu held a Light Ball?

That was part of the plan. We'll make it a "Pikachu that has spent its life training" with Surf, Thunderbolt, Volt Tackle and Ice Beam, holding a Light Ball.