"Cacnea, that's enough. It's over. You did your very best."
—James
Japanese Title: Natane and Sabonea! Farewell to Whom!?
Original Airdate: November 15, 2007
US Airdate: April 19, 2008
The crossroads are coming very fast this season.
Ash and company again encounter Gardenia, the Eterna Gym leader, on her travels through Sinnoh. A Team Rocket attempt to steal Pikachu is thwarted when Gardenia takes interest in James's Cacnea. Attempting in vain to learn a new move leads to a fork in the road.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Breather Episode: There is no really ill intent that happens in this episode. Even Ash, Dawn, and Brock work together with Jessie and Meowth to help train James and his Cacnea and a lot of heartwarming moments happens in this episode making it one of very few episodes in the series to have zero conflict.
- Cooldown Hug: James stops the fight between Cacnea and Aipom by hugging Cacnea before he collapses from exhaustion.
- A Day in the Limelight: This episode focuses heavily on James and his Cacnea.
- Determinator: Cacnea refuses to quit trying to do Drain Punch against Ash's Aipom, even though he's getting his ass kicked. Even Aipom herself is shaken by his futile determination. Finally, James has to step in and stop the fight himself.
- Enemy Mine: Both Ash and friends and Team Rocket put aside their differences in this episode to help James train his Cacena to learn Drain Punch.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: There are some similarities between this episode and "Charizard's Burning Ambitions", especially the reasons for Cacnea's departure.
- Put on a Bus: James leaves his Cacnea with Gardenia for training.
- Sincerity Mode: Everyone (Ash, Dawn, Brock, Jessie, and Meowth) are all sympathetic with James and Cacena trying to train hard to learn Drain Punch even helping them to train. Jessie and Meowth also try their best to console James after he gives Cacnea to Gardenia.
- Trying Not to Cry: After giving Gardenia Cacnea's Poké Ball, James runs off while holding back his tears, with Jessie and Meowth following. This is just like when Ash left Charizard behind in the Charicific Valley.
- Wham Episode: James leaves behind is Cacnea with Gardenia for training and is never seen again in the series.
