Pokémon Journeys: A Star and A Wish

This Is For The Best

Sora and Lyric return to Sandgem Town in the Sinnoh region, mostly because Sora wanted to stand on the beach of where he started his journey. He was silent the entire day, as he just stood on the beach, staring as the waves crashed at his feet.

Lyric: This was where you met Fast, right?

Sora: Yeah...

Lyric: ...is this also the place where...

Sora: ...yeah... This is likely where my Piplup ran off from...

Lyric: I see... I'm...-

Sora: Don't be. It's okay. It was years ago now. Six years, to be more precise.

Lyric: I see...

Sora: I hope...he's doing good out there...

In the ocean, Lyric and Sora see some splashing, as a Tentacruel comes out fighting a Gyarados. And so close to the shore too. If the Gyarados unleashed a Hyper Beam, it would raze the small town to the ground.

Lyric: Woah, Sora...?! We should stop them!

Sora: Yeah. Go, Sally!

Sora sent out his Salamence named Sally, as Lyric sent out his Metagross named Ultron. Hopping on the Metagross's head, it lifts itself using psychic powers as Sally flys with Sora on her back.

Sora: I can deal with the Gyarados! Can you-?! What?!

Lyric: That's...an Empoleon!

Sora: Chibi...?!

With some fierce attacks from the Empoleon, he manages to drive the Gyarados and Tentacruel back into more open waters to continue their fight with each other. Once it beaches, the seemingly wild Empoleon looks straight at Sora and Sally, who land on the same piece of rock as the penguin. He seemed unimpressed.

Sora: So it is you, Chibi... I thought I would never see you again...

The penguin huffed as he turned away, still completely uninterested in his former trainer.

Sora: So...you still don't like me huh...?

At first, Sora seemed distraught about this, clinching his fist and struggling to hold back tears.

Sora: You know what...? That's fine by me...!

Lyric: Sora...?

Sora: I don't need you anymore.

He reaches into his bag, and grabs Empoleon's old Pokéball. But instead of returning the rogue Pokémon, he raises his arm up and slams the ball against the rocks, breaking it in half. Lyric's eyes widen as the sight of tears roll down Sora's cheek, but only for a brief moment.

Sora: Go! You're finally free! Happy now?! I don't need nor want you as my Pokémon anymore!

Even seeing this display of heartbreak, Lyric couldn't say anything. Sally walks over to Sora, and nuzzles him gently, in an attempt to comfort her trainer. Without even looking at Sora, Chibi the Empoleon walks into the water and swims away. As if nothing had happened. Sora was silent. Shaking out of a mix of anger, anguish, and confusion.

Sora: This is for the best...

He assures himself of his decision, and gets on Sally's back again.

Sora: Let's go back now...

Lyric: Sora... Are you...-?

Sora: This is for the best...!

With that, he flies off on Sally as Lyric follows him.