The past is accessed by defeating a Mewthree clone at the end of Route 32 (Central). Celebi takes you back in order to prevent Giovanni. It should be noted that your supposed quest in the past is to win all 8 badges and save the world (presumably from Mewthree) and beat your father, although Sam hasn't build further than the present as of yet.
Several key differences are noted from the present.
Trainers [ ]
There are a number of trainers in different areas. You can challenge them for money. Battle is triggered when you walk near the trainers. Repeated challenge is possible (except for the classroom trainers).
Trainer
Location
Pokemon
Lvl
Move(s)
Exp
Route 29
Skiploom
20
Leech Seed , Mega Drain
582
Route 46
Primeape
30
Focus Energy , Thrash
957
Cherrygrove City
Quagsire
20
Amnesia , Magnitude
293
Route 30 (Left)
Rattata
20
Hyper Fang
244
Route 30 (Left)
Butterfree
20
Stun Spore , Psybeam
741
Route 30 (Right)
Pidgeotto
20
Sand Attack , Gust
484
Route 31
Beedrill
20
Focus Energy , Twineedle
741
Violet City Classroom Top left
Bayleef
20
Poison Powder , Razor Leaf
604
Violet City Classroom Top right
Quilava
20
Smokescreen , Flame Wheel
608
Violet City Classroom Bottom right
Croconaw *
20
Scary Face , Water Pulse
612
Sprout Tower First Monk
Bellsprout
20
Growth , Vine Whip
360
Sprout Tower Left Monk
Bellsprout
20
Poison Powder , Vine Whip
360
Sprout Tower Right Monk
Bellsprout
20
Stun Spore , Vine Whip
360
Sprout Tower HIgh Monk
Bellsprout
20
Growth , Vine Whip
360
Bellsprout
20
Stun Spore , Vine Whip
360
Noctowl
20
Reflect , Confusion
694
Violet Gym First Trainer
Fearow
20
Agility , Fury Attack
694
Violet Gym Second Trainer
Pidgey
30
FeatherDance , Gust
321
Pidgeotto
30
Agility , Gust
726
Falkner
Pidgeot
36
Sand Attack
1326
Pidgeot
36
Agility , Wing Attack
1326
Route 32 (North)
Nidoking
30
Focus Energy , Chip Away
1253
Route 32 (Central)
Golbat
30
Confuse Ray , Bite
1343
Ruins of Alph
Ditto
30
Transform (Copies only the first move)
1099
Route 32 (South)
Goldeen
35
Agility , Flail
832
Seaking
35
Agility , Water Pulse
1275
Union Cave B1
Golem
40
Sandstorm , Rock Blast
1517
Machamp
40
Focus Energy , DynamicPunch
1654
Union Cave
Steelix
40
Stealth Rock , Double-Edge
1680
Union Cave
Torkoal
40
Smokescreen , Flamethrower
1380
Luvdisc
40
Rain Dance , Water Pulse
942
Route 33
Geodude
30
Rock Polish , Rock Throw
469
Machop
30
Foresight , Karate Chop
482
Azalea Town
Slowking
35
Disable , Zen Headbutt
1230
Azalea Gym Trainer
Parasect
32
Stun Spore , Cross Poison
877
Azalea Gym Trainer (2 vs 2)
Ledian
35
Supersonic , Mach Punch
1005
Ariados
35
Scary Face , Bug Bite
1005
Bugsy
Spinarak
25
Spider Web
2892
Metapod
40
Harden
6171
Ariados
42
Bug Bite
16080
Scyther
40
Swords Dance , Fury Cutter
22434
Farfetch'd
Farfetch'd
35
Swords Dance, Sand-Attack, Peck, Slash
7050
Parasect
25
Growth, Leech Life
6857
Venonat
20
Double Team, Leech Life
3214
Psyduck
25
Rain Dance, Water Sport
4285
Ilex Forest
Ledian
25
Reflect, Mach Punch
717
Parasect
25
Stun Spore, Slash
685
Route 34
Granbull
30
Scary Face, Headbutt
1144
Whitney
Miltank
40
Rollout, Defense Curl
1714
Clefairy
20
Defense Curl, Stored Power
291
PokeCenter [ ]
Past pokecenters are accessible. Instead of healing, it provides a resting place to stay until a specific time in a day. See Time Cycle for more details.
Option
Time
Morning
3 a.m.
Daytime
10 a.m.
Nightime
9 p.m.
PokeMart [ ]
Past pokemarts are accessible. You can buy some healing items and boosting items.
Category
Icon
Item
Price
Function
Location
Healing
Potion
50
Heals 200 HP
Common
Super Potion
75
Heals 500 HP
Azalea Town
Status removal
Antidote
20
Removes poison status
Common
Awakening
25
Removes sleep status
Common
Parlyz Heal
25
Removes paralysis status
Common
Temporary boost
X Attack
25
Boosts Attack by one stage
Violet City
X Defend
25
Boosts Defense by one stage
Violet City
X Speed
25
Boosts Speed by one stage
Violet City