from my understanding it 'joined' since there is no pokeball in the whole OVA huhuhu so probably yea

Additional props used:
Sandwich (MoviemakerX), Japanese room (北极星), Table and tea set (オリオンP, KoekawA), Berry (myself, ChicoEevee)

Even with its flaws, I’d say it’s still one of the better OVAs out there. At least it gave me something to think about. Whatever it is, just enjoy the render of them sharing the sandwich and Sitrus Berry—it’s such a heartfelt moment!

The whole "friendship, sandwich, and Sitrus Berry < being stronger" dynamic really stood out to me. It’s such a relatable message about how personal goals can sometimes overshadow relationships.

And honestly, the moment when Ceruledge resolves its grudge and sighs, realizing Armarouge’s nature, was bittersweet. It’s like understanding someone’s choices without fully agreeing with them—a moment that feels very human, in a way.

That said, at least the plot armor isn’t as heavy as in the main anime. I guess that’s a relief! Compared to the usual series, this OVA feels more grounded and emotionally resonant, even if it doesn’t answer everything perfectly. (well it is an OVA, shorts, after all)

It softens the interaction, making it feel more personal and less transactional, but it also raises questions about how it fits into the broader Pokémon world.

One ironic thing about this Pokétoon is the absence of the classic 'Pokémon catching' mechanic. While the series is usually serious about that patented idea, this story swaps it out for trainers extending 'invitations' to Pokémon, which is definitely an interesting twist.

But still, it would’ve been nice if they explained more about why Armarouge was so determined to become stronger in the first place—it felt like such a crucial detail was missing.

The script definitely has its flaws, probably because they were trying to align everything with the ending song "Forked Road." The parallels between Armarouge and Ceruledge taking such different paths do reflect real-life situations, and that theme hit home.

Isn’t that the best outcome? Instead of leaving Ceruledge to return to the abandoned building or wander the world, wouldn’t staying with its old friend under the same trainer have been more fulfilling?

Honestly, while I think the battle scenes in the OVA were great, I couldn’t help but feel the plot left a lot of unanswered questions. Like, how could Armarouge just forget about Ceruledge until seeing that sandwich? And what if Ceruledge had accepted the invitation to join Yūto?

it follows the plot as usual but the 'last' episode is pretty good