"Thank you...Misty and Brock! I'll miss you!"
—Misty, Brock, and Ash, separately, after parting ways
Japanese Title: Goodbye...and Then, Setting Off!
Original Airdate: November 7, 2002
US Airdate: October 18, 2003
Wasn't quite time to go yet.
Ash has made the decision to go on to Hoenn for new adventures. But Misty and Brock have business to attend to, so the group must part ways. A final gift proves useful as Ash must face Team Rocket alone.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Bittersweet Ending: Misty and Brock have to leave Ash, but he realizes the three of them will always be friends regardless, and his sense of adventure is reignited by a plan to travel to Hoenn.
- Bookends: Misty's journey with Ash began after he stole her bike and got it destroyed, and now it ends with her receiving her rebuilt bike.
- Chekhov's Gun: The bento box Brock left Ash, and the handkerchief Misty wrapped it in. They prove quite valuable. See You Are Not Alone.
- Chekhov's Gunman: The "Invincible Pokémon Brothers" make their first appearance here. They will come back in the special "Cerulean Blues" in an attempt to usurp the Cerulean Gym.
- The Fellowship Has Ended: The departure of Misty as a main companion.
- Good-Times Montage: The Japanese montage focuses on Misty's accomplishments both as a Pokémon trainer and as a friend to everyone else, while the English montage focuses on Misty's friendship with Ash.
- Poor Communication Kills: Ash's comment about Misty's bike being fixed, after they find out that Misty needs to return to Cerulean City to take over as the gym leader, is misconstrued by Misty as him not caring about her having to leave after all they've been through.
- Put on a Bus: Ash is determined to go to Hoenn, but he'll have to leave without Misty (who is taking over as Cerulean Gym leader) and Brock (who needs to attend to business in Pewter City).
- Brock, would be back four episodes later, and stay throughout Hoenn and Sinnoh. After being absent during Best Wishes, he met up with Cilan in a BW special that went undubbed, and then returned to the main series proper for two guest stints in Sun & Moon.
- Misty would go on to star in several special episodes, have several guest/cameo appearances during the Advanced era (both Hoenn and Kanto), and returned for two guest stints in Sun & Moon alongside Brock.
- Ash also decides to follow Gary's lead and leave all his Pokémon besides Pikachu with Professor Oak, starting from scratch in Hoenn. So this applies to all his other Pokémon as well.
- Sand In My Eyes: In his part of the page quote, Brock was eating a rice ball. The dub has him blaming his tearing up on onion.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Misty's sisters were just about to abandon their gym in favor of a trip around the world one of them won in a beauty contest. So Misty has to rush back to Cerulean City to take over the gym.
- Series Fauxnale: While Hoenn Alone is technically the final episode of the original series, this episode certainly has a sense of closure to it, with the original trio going their separate ways, Ash and Gary resolving their rivalry once and for all, and Ash leaving his Pokémon with Professor Oak before setting off for Hoenn with Pikachu.
- So You Were Saying...?: When Misty and Brock initially leave Ash at the crossroads, Ash starts talking about how much they meant to his journey. Cue Misty and Brock appearing before him again, asking him to continue.Ash: Misty, thank you. And Brock...I know there's no way I could've ever...
Brock: Go on...
[Ash looks up, and sees Misty and Brock in front of him again.]
Misty: If you have something to say, Ash, then say it.
Brock: Yeah, we're all ears.
Ash: Ahh! Why are you creeping up on me like that?! - Spanner in the Works: The Invincible Pokemon Brothers ended up ruining Team Rocket's final attempt on Ash's original group by cutting open the net they were caught in.
- You Are Not Alone: Ash invokes this for himself when he falls into one of Team Rocket's pit traps. He uses the components of the bento box Brock and Misty made for him to shield Pikachu from Weezing's Smokescreen and climb out of the pit.Ash: I am not alone! My friends will always be there for me!
