#Ash&Misty friendship

[originalwinnercheesecake]

What if Serena and Misty met during XY saga fanfic

So I made up a scenario about these two meeting that I am pretty thought was pretty cool a while back. With Rachel Lill's having recently passed and people talking more about characters she voiced (I had not known that she voiced at least 3 of my favorite anime characters from my childhood) I thought now might be a cool time to post it. Since I am not currently on A03 I am just going to post it here. This fic is written to be like an episode of the anime, but is told from the point of view of a narrator, because that is how I write. It contains both Ash&Misty and Ash&Serena friendships, that can be read as Pokkeshipping and Amourshipping if you squint hard enough. But I am not focusing on either ship, as Pokemon was first and foremost a buddy anime.

Things open with the four friends sitting a car being driven by Ash's mom Delia Katchem. We learn that her birthday was the day before and Ash, along with the XY gang flew back to Pallet down to celebrate it with her. They are now on their way to Cerulean city's airport to catch a flight back to the Kalos region. Delia thanks everyone for visiting and then does her whole fussy mom reminder to Ash about remembering to practice self-care. Ash blushes. Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie all laugh. After Delia drops the gang off they go to look at the flight schedule and discover that they got the date wrong and their flight actually leaves at this time tomorrow. Clemont says that they should go check into the nearest pokemon center for the night, rest there, and make plans for when they arrive back in the Kalos region. But Serena see's a poster on the wall Advertising that the famous Sensational Sisters are doing a show tonight at The Cerulean Gym. Serena says she has followed video's of the sisters online and really wants to go see a performance live. When Bonnie asks if any of the sisters are single and looking for a husband, Clemont starts insisting that just going to the pokemon center for the night is the better, more practical idea. Serena huffs and says she wants to see the show. Ash interrupts and says that he has an in with the Cerulean gym, and if they go before the show he can get them a tour of it. This decides it for everyone.

Cut to the group getting to the Cerulean gym. They come up to Misty who is out front, holding her Azurill, and practicing land fighting with her Gyarados. Misty has not noticed the group yet. Gyarados twists around does wrap, watergun, and flamethrower. Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie are freaked out. Ash and Pikachu are impressed. Misty tells Gyarados it did great and they can break, putting it back in its pokeball. At this Pikachu jumps off Ash, runs up to Misty, climbs up to her shoulder, and starts nuzzling her in greeting. Misty, very surprised, starts petting Pikachu and asks him how he got here. Then she notices Ash and his new friends. Ash walks towards her saying hello and complementing Gyarados. They do that high five handshake thing where they lock hands in the air. Misty says she had heard from Professor Oak that Ash was traveling in a different region. He tells her that he has been in the Kalos region battling gyms and meeting all sorts of really cool pokemon. He tells her he has one new one she will love, and sends out his Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja. Misty immediately starts fawning over it, and suggests a battle of the frogs between it and her Politoad.

Serena, Clemont, or Bonnie one start to feel ignored and coughs behind Ash and Misty. Ash then turns and introduced Misty to all three of his friends from Kalos and vice versa. You see Serena get surpirsed when she learns that Misty used to travel with Ash. Ash says that he promised his friends that Misty would give them a tour of her gym. A nervous look crosses Misty's face as she stutters that she is not sure if she can do a whole tour. But upon looking back at Ash and Pikachu she concedes that she can at least bring them all in and show them her other pokemon. Pkauchu introduces Dedenee and Azurill and the three start to play together as everyone goes inside to the big pool in the center of the gym.

The Kalos crew take it all in. Bonnie asks Clemont if they can install a pool at the battle tower too. Suddenly Psyduck comes running up to the gang quaking hello to everybody. Pikachu greets Psyduck in pokemon, and Ash tells it it "Hey nice to see you again Psyduck". After this Psyduck goes over to the edge of the pool, yells very loud, before jumping in, and immediately starts to sink. Ash runs to the edge of the pool ready to jump in after it, but Misty gets in his way and holds him back. Ash exclaims that "it looks like Psyduck still cannot swim". Misty smiles and tells Ash "wait for it". A few seconds later Psyduck rises from underneath the water clinging to something blue in red. Misty proudly introduces her new Tentacool. She explains that Tentacool has one tentacle shorter that the other, and struggled to keep up with its group in the wild. But that since coming here it and Psyduck have become fast friends. It likes to build its strength by carrying Psyduck through the pool, and Psyduck is not scared to be in the water if it is with Tentacool. There is some collective comments of the group of "How cool" and "Friends helping friends".

As Tentacool swims off with Psyduck, Misty leans over the Cerulean pool and shouts to all her other pokemon "Come out everyone. Show them how skilled and wonderful you are." We then get a montage of Misty's remaining pokemon jumping out of the water to perform for everybody. Goldeen and luvdisc have a who can jump the highest contest. Staryu and Corsola jump out and takle each other in a mock battle. Horsee sticks its head out and Misty points to a tarp on the wall and tells it to use sludge bomb. It then uses sludge bomb to write "Hello" on the tarp in Japanese calligraphy. Then Starmie climbs up onto one of the floating slabs, and Misty says that "Pikachu was actually the inspiration for Starmie's newest trick". Misty first has Starmie use bubble beam, then to everyone's surprise she tells it to use thunderbolt, which pops all the bubbles. After this Misty says she still has one pokemon left, and calls for a Surskit.

Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie all watch the show in amazement. Serena however only in part watching the show, and is mostly watching her friends, particularly, Ash react to Misty and her pokemon. When Ash had said he had a in with the Cerulean gym she thought that just meant Ash had battled there once before, and still had respect of the gym leader. She had had no idea that the current gym leader was a former traveling companion and close friend of Ash's from before she and he re-connected. She also did not know that Misty was both a well known mermaid and a powerful gym leader. The other's admiration and Serena's feelings insecurity start to build on her face, and boil over after Starmie's, pikachu inspired, performace. She has no desire to meet surskit, or to see whatever no doubt high quality performance it can put on. She sneaks away from the group and runs down random hallways trying to catch her breath and quiet her thoughts. When she comes to a random blacked out hallway she lets out a loud gasp.

Then it cuts back to the others. As it has only been a minute nobody has noticed Serena is gone yet. She also was maybe a bit to quick to assume Misty and Surskit make a skilled team. Misty keeps calling for Surskit and is getting more visibly frustrated with it not showing up. Ash asks Misty "When did you get a Surskit, and isn't that a bug type? Misty confirms that Surskit is a water/bug type. Her sister's gave it to her thinking that it could help her overcome her fear of bug pokemon. Misty then goes on to say that she is not scared of Surskit because, as she claims, "it does not have any of the creepy bug parts, or move in a scary bug way", but that "It still frustrates her to no end because it seems to have no motivation to battle, and will not listen to her in training". Suddenly Serena runs back to the group yelling for everybody. Clemont asks her "Where did you go?" and Ash asks her " Serena what's wrong". Serena shrugs them off and tells Misty "You needs to come with me".

Serena takes them to the hallway she went down and shows them the previously blacked out hallway. You can now see that it has been trashed, T-peed, and their is graffiti all over the walls. Misty is now red-faced, eyes closed, and stomping on the ground as she seethes "Oh no, not again, Uuuhhgg". When Misty is able to calm down a bit she admits that this has been happening for the past couple of weeks. Some one is trying to sabotage her gym for some reason. Her and her sisters have tried to catch the person but cannot, Officer Jenny also does not know who it is. She tells everybody how that lately she has been training some of her pokemon outside the gym entrance hoping to scare them away, but it looks like that hasn't worked either. If Misty cannot figure out who is doing this, and put a stop to them, then she will have to close down her gym. Ash says "No. What about all the trainers who want to come here to battle" and Serena echos "and fans who come here to watch performances". Clement goes over to some of the graffiti and sticks his fingers to it, exclaiming that "The paint is still wet and this is all freshly done". Bonnie says that "maybe that means whoever did it may still be in the building and we can still catch them". All five trainers search the building , checking hallways, closets, and cabinets but they come up with zip. They conclude that that the vandals must have snuck in through a window while Misty was practicing outside, trashed the hall, and then snuck out while she was talking to them. Misty sighs defeated and says she'll have to close the gym down and cancel the show tonight, because she is not going to risk putting it on just so these mysterious vandals can show up and ruin it.

Bonnie yells "No!"this time, and suggests that they still do the show but set traps for the vandals, near where they have been sneaking in. This prompts Clemont to do his whole "The future is now thanks to science" gimmick, and bring out a new trap based invention bot thing that he assures everyone will defiantly catch the vandals when sprung. Misty argues that she still cannot do the show and be waiting by the trap for the vandals to step in. Serena quietly whispers "What if I do the show in your place". The others all hear and turn to her. Ash immediately say that that is a great idea. Misty is not convinced and asks Serena "Have you ever been a water ballet before?". Playing with her fingers and staring at the floor, Serena admits "No". Ash jumps in again saying "Serena knows how to swim and is an amazing dancer. This plan is our best bet for catching the vandals and keeping the gym open. Give her a chance". Ash's faith in her gives Serena the courage to stop playing with her hands and turn her head up to look Misty in the eye. "I know ballet" she says; "And while I have never been in a water Ballet before I have always been able to pick dances up quickly. Give me a chance". Misty says that her sister "Daisy will be here in a little bit do do a dress rehearsal before the show. If Serena can learn the dance to Daisy's approval, and we can get the traps set up in time then we'll go ahead with your plan". Outside Team Rocket are hiding in a tree, spying on the "Twerps" with their binoculars. Meowth comes up with the plan to steel all of Cerulean's pokemon, and Pikachu, by taking advantage of the fact that everyone will be so busy being on guard to catch the vandals that none of them will remember to be on guard for Team Rocket.

Cut to the dress rehearsal with Daisy teaching Serena and Bonnie the routine. A few of Ceruleans pokemon are there as well. Dewgong is Bonnie's new friend. Daisy praises the girls dancing. She believes they will do well in her show. Bonnie happily throws her arms around Dewgong. In the corner of her eye Serena see's a small figure peeking out from behind a corner. She crosses the room and kneels down in front of the corner and gently says hello to whoever is hiding there then asks it to "please come on out. Would you like to dance with me?". Out crawls the same Surskit that Misty was looking for earlier. Daisy see surskit and loses her smile. She tells Serena that "Surskit does not know the routine", and "Misty has already told me it is a bad listener and I do not allow those in my performances". Serena is now standing up, holding Surskit in her arms. She tells Daisy to "let Surskit try dancing in the rehearsal and that if it does not listen than you do not have to let it dance again". Cut back to Ash, Misty, and Clemont. They are going through the gym setting up noise based alarms at various windows and other secondary places the vandals could be breaking in through. They also assign pokemon at these spots to act as watchmen. Once they are done they go to lay Clemont's big trap out in front of an old back exit that Misty believes is probably what the vandals go through most of the time.

As they walk away Team Rocket (who have painted themselves the same color as the gym walls and are holding paintings and potted plants over their faces) sneak past them the trio and head to a room in the at the other end of the a long hall to try and start nabbing whatever pokemon they can. They step over the noise alarm and grab Misty's Nemo Tentacool from a fish tank it was sitting watch in. Tentacool calls for help and Psyduck comes running in, it trips the trap. Psyduck charges seemingly at Team Rocket but misses completely and rams itself into a wall. Jessie and Meowth both laugh at it. James tells them "Hold on. That is the original twerpets Psyduck. Why do I feel like their is something we are supposed to remember about its head?" Wobbuffet goes "Wuba wuba". Meowth more confused translated "Headaches make it stronger?". They all turn to Psyduck who's eyes have turned blue and its body is gathering strength. Suddenly it lets lose a massive confusion attack that picks all four of them up and throws them out the window and blasting off again. After this Ash, Misty, and Clemont run in, to see what all the noise was. They find Psyduck trying to put Tentacool back in the fish tank with a piece of the alarm stuck to its foot. There is no sign of team Rocket having been there , and all three think that Psyduck must have just tripped when coming to visit Tentacool.

Now Flash to that night. The crowd is starting to come in and fill out the seats. Misty's other two sisters, Lily and Violet are taking tickets up front and keeping a look out in case anyone suspicious is tries to come in form the front. All the alarms and traps are set, and pokemon lay in hiding places all throughout the gym ready to battle for its defense if the need comes. Currently the whole group is behind the curtain waiting for the show to start. Serena, who's is dressed as (not a mermaid) a Princess, is watching the crowd spill in and is starting to get butterflies. She tells Ash "I wish you could stay and watch the performance. I always feel better when I see you in the crowd". Ash reassures her that"You'll l do great, and I promise that we will catch the vandals really quick. Once that is done they will come right into the audience", he points to some empty seats near the top, "and watch You and Bonnie dance". Daisy calls for "everyone who's not in the show to get out and everyone in the show to take their places".

After this Ash Misty and Clemont, Pikachu, and Clemont's Chespin all go to where they Misty thinks the vandals are most likely to be getting in through and they set Clemont's big bot trap. Clemont is hides behind the his invention so he can activate it if/when the vandals come. Chespin and Pikachu are with him. Ash and Misty are behind a corner in case there are multiple vandals and one slips through. It is very dark in the hallway. Suddenly they hear the sound of the lock being jiggled and the door being banged on till it opens. Footsteps come in and a smug voice makes comments at how "stupid" and "flimsy" Cerulean's locks are. Another voice laughs and chims in that "it's like they want to be broken into". Suddenly pikachu lights the room up and Clemont pulls the switch for his Trap bot. Because it was built by Clemont is of course malfunctions completely and traps him, Chespin, and Pikachu instead. Pikachu is still admitting sparks from its cheeks to light the room and in the light you can see three intruders trash bags and spray paint. It is actually Kim, Kail, and Kai

Misty fuming storms into the light and yells "You creeps again"

Ash following Misty "You know these guys Misty?"

Misty "Unfortunately yes. They call themselves "The Invincible Pokemon Brothers. They tried to take control of the gym when I first started running it. But they failed big time".

Kim: "Well if we can't take the Cerulean Gym from you, then we'll make sure your unable to stay open". With that he and his brothers each bring out a pokeball and send out Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, and Hitmontop. "You have no hope of defeating us. We out number you three to two."

Ash: "We may be out numbered but you are outmatched." With that he takes out a pokebell and turns to Misty. "It looks like our battle this time will be us vs them. Are you alright settling for that".

Misty has out one of her own pokeballs and smiles as she replies "This is just like old times".

Ash throws out Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja, and Misty throws out Politoad. So the battle of the frogs becomes the battle of the frogs vs fighting types. The frog duo make short work of the three fighting types , and send them and their trainers blasting off into the night.

With that done we cut to Clemont, Ash and Misty now taking here seat to watch the remainder of the show. They are sitting near the top of the bleachers and look down to the stage. Serena is dancing around on one of the starmie water platforms, with Surskit as her dance partner. Dewgong is swimming circles around it, and Bonnie is riding on his back and using her arms to dance. various cerulean pokemon are either jumping out of the water around then, or using watergun and bubble beam to create special effects. Clemont and Ash start clapping. Ash even calls out "Go Serena, Go Bonnie!". Misty watches Serena and Surskit and she gets a look of realization that morphs into hesitation, that then morphs into reassurance after she glances back at Ash.

Now we cut to early the next day with Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, and their pokemon set to leave and head to the airport. Azurill is crying over Pikachu and Dedenne having to leave, which makes Dedenne start crying too, and Pikachu is trying to comfort both of them. Dasiy gives Bonnie some flowers as a thank you for being in their show. Bonnie tells her "Being in your show was a lot of fun. When I get older I am going to be in lots of battle, and lots of shows too". Clemont tells Daisy was overall very impressed with the Cerulean gym, but he thinks they can upgrade its tech. He tells Daisy to please call him sometime and he would be happy to send over some of his inventions that he thinks they would get optimal benefit from. At this Bonnie is side eyeing Clemont with big eyes because she thinks he may have a crush on Daisy. He does not. He is just being nice. Daisy chuckles awkwardly and, clearly lying, says that she will make sure to do that sometime. Misty then comes out to say goodbye. Ash and her do another high five- handshake and lock hand in the air. Misty wishes Ash good luck in his upcoming gym battles. Ash wishes her the same, then promises that he will come back again soon and they can have another battle against each other then.

Then Misty walks toward Serena. Serena is a lot more comfortable around Misty than she was the morning before. She tells Misty that she is glad the Cerulean Gym will be able to stay open, and that she really admires that Misty is able to juggle battling challengers as Gym leader and being in the Cerulean performaces. Both seem like such big roles, and Serena isn't sure she could manage a double load like that. Misty remarks that Ash told her Serena competes in showcases in Kalos, and that those involve lots of dancing and performing right?Serena tells her that is right, and that her dream is to one day be a Kalos Queen. Misty then tells Serena she has something for her as a Thank you for being in the show and reaches into her pocket to bring something out. Serena holds her own hand out , expecting at most to get a piece of paper with all four Cerulean sisters autographs. She is very surprised when Misty drops a pokeball into her hand. Serena presses the button to open it and out comes Surskit. "Surskit? Whhaatt?" Serena stammers looking at Misty.

Misty looks at the ground and Answers " I have spent weeks trying to get Surskit to train for gym battles and never cooperates. I thought it had no motivation for anything but last night proved it does love dance. The thing is that performing in the plays is only my side job. I cannot keep a pokemon on my team that won't also battle." Misty looks back at Serena and "So I think the figure the best thing for Surskit wold be to go to the Kalos region with you and work to become a Kalos star." Serena hold Surskits pokeball to her chest. She promises Misty that she will train with Surskit as much as she can and that one day they will both be Stars.

The End

Epilogue on how this would effect both Serena and Misty's stories (Because it would not really effect Ash, Clemont, or Bonnie's).

If I had written Serena's character in the XYZ series she would have had the same number of pokemon as May and Dawn ( I say that three pokemon is to little for a lead character who competes in tournaments). Another pokemon I would have given her is Kalos's regional butterfly (If that is not a thing I a making it one): Vivillion. Pokeball forum Vivillon to be specific I imagine Surskit would become good friends with Vivillion. Surskit would also evolve into Masquerain pretty fast with Serena, since it was finally training for something it was passionate about. After this Serena would use Vivillion and Masquerain together in showcases and they would flutter around her while she dances, using moves for special effects The crowds would eat it up. I also imagine that as a more experienced dancer, who shares its love for the craft, Masquerain might also develop a bit of a mentor type role to Sereena's eevee when it first joins the team, and is working on overcoming its stage fright.

As for Misty well Surskit was originally given to her to help her overcome her fear of bugs. But that did not happen then. She would need to catch a different bug/water pokemon. I think that when she visits Alola in Sun & Moon the gang would tell her how Lillie used to be afraid to touch pokemon for a while, but that raising her from an egg helped her bond with her, and her bond with Snowy helped er stop being afraid. On the island Ash takes everyone to Misty would find an abandoned Wimpod egg, and Lillie's story would encourage Misty to keep and try to raise it. I would also have Brock and Misty show up as background characters in exactly one episode of Pokemon Journeys (which both are surprisingly absent from) Season 25, episode 22 "Helping the Hometown Hero". That is the episode where Ash and Lilli's family bring her father back to Alola and the town throws a party for it, as well as the fact that Ash made it into The Master's Eight tournament, during which he was representing Alola as their first Champion. Brock and Misty would attend both and while they would not play more than background roles you would maybe see Brock try to give Olivia some flowers at the party, then sit next to her at the battle brawl, to show he is still trying to get her to date him. Misty meanwhile would have Psyduck next to her and her Azurill and a shiny Wimpod would either both be on toddler leashes that they were holding (Misty holding Wimpods and Psyduck holding Azurill's), or if Japanese culture does not do toddler leashes Misty would have both her pokemon babies in a stroller.

[clearlyplatonic]

Pikachu looked at Ash like, "You want me to hit a baby*?!"

[polarbearcub-seven]

So, here is my take on Ash's relationships with his traveling companions.

Misty: I don't ship them, but I do think that they have a really strong bond!! I actually headcanon that Ash didn't really enjoy Misty's company untill they parted ways, and that's when he started to miss her. It could go the other way around too. Unfortunately, this relationship is faltered by the fact that Misty and Ash clearly didn't like each other in the beginning and said some pretty nasty things to each other. To end on a positive note, pokeshipping is not my favorite, but I think Ash and Misty will always have a strong relationship with each other!!

Brock: I think Brock and Ash have a pretty good relationship, kinda like Brotp except for the fact that I don't ship them romantically. I think Brock was necessary for Ash's growth and I think Ash's company softened Brock up, he became nicer in other words. They are close friends and nothing more or less. Brock is an excellent older brother figure to Ash and he has been with Ash the longest out of his traveling companions so that also earns their relationship points.

Tracey: Yeah, this might be controversial but I think Tracey was the third wheel in Orange Islands. He practically invited himself into the group and Ash and Misty could both be pretty rude to him at times. Tracey and Ash are friends no doubt, but I wouldn't say that they are super close or anything.

May: So I think May and Ash helped each other out a lot but I don't think Ash is the closest to May because if I remember correctly, he was rude to her a lot of the time, they also don't have much in common, Ash is into battling and May likes shopping and contests. So yeah, I obviously don't ship them, Contestshipping is clearly superior!! I think Ash and May are good friends, especially after Ash mellowed out, but I think Ash has a closer connection with some of his other companions.

Max: I am not going to say that these two have a super strong bond or anything but I do think they bonded somewhat over the fact that they aren't into the the girly things that May is lol. Also, Max is a few years younger than Ash so the age gap kinda prevents a close bond from happening. Still, I think Ash and Max are friends regardless and always will be.

Dawn: She and Ash are besties!! There, I said it. I don't ship them since I'm more of a Dawn x Zoey person but I love these two as friends. Who could forget their iconic high-five and these two serve as great protagonists for DP. I love how much these two work off one another, they give sibling energy for real.

Iris: Speaking of sibling energy, Iris is like the twin sister Ash never had!! Iris is also the only female traveling companion that I ship Ash with romantically. I will argue that Iris is one of Ash's closest friends. They also work so well because they are exactly alike in terms of personality. They are both hyper, stubborn, love food, and care for their friends and pokemon deeply. And who could forget that one episode where they went sightseeing in Nimbasa city together. I love the duo of Ash and Iris and I wish people would stop undermining their relationship.

Cilan: So, Cilan tended to act like a father figure to both Ash and Iris. Sometimes, I tend to get the impression that Cilan was like the "Tracey" of the BW Trio, However to a MUCH lesser extent. Since Cilan at least had a lot of nice and heartwarming moments with Ash and Iris both individually and together. It's pretty obvious how much Cilan cares for Ash and Iris since he is always super sweet and patient with them. Ash along with Iris looks up to him for advice and guidance and he also admires Cilan's cooking. The only thing holding Ash and Cilan back from being super close is that Ash and Iris seem closer to each other, both in age and personality. Regardless, Cilan and Ash are still good friends and I think they always will be.

Clemont: If there was a male companion that I would ship Ash with romantically, it would have to be Clemont. Diodeshipping for life!! Ash and Clemont have been spotted touching each other several times, like putting their arms around each other while walking. It's also no surprise that Ash admires Clemonts inventions and Gadgets more than anyone else hence "Science is so amazing!!" Clemont and Ash also have never argued, at least to my knowledge. To conclude, I think Clemont is the closest to Ash out of the male traveling companions, Probably tied with Goh.

Bonnie: Unfortunately unlike her brother, I think Ash and Bonnie have the least amount of connection out of his traveling companions. (Besides maybe Chloe, but I don't count her as a companion and I haven't seen JN) I say this because I don't remember any significant interactions between Ash and Bonnie. But on the bright side, it's not like Bonnie and Ash truly need each other since Bonnie has both her older brother and Serena (who she has a much stronger bond with) to look out for her.

Serena: Alright.... These two are friends and nothing more. Yes, Serena has a crush on Ash, but Ash clearly doesn't feel the same way about her. If these two ever got together, their relationship would probably only last a few years max since they both have entirely separate interests and goals. I would even go and say that Serena and Ash have the least amount in common out of the traveling companions. Ash and Serena did help each other out a lot, but I think at most, they are good friends. Sorry Amourshippers.

So I am not fully done with my binge watch of Sun and Moon, but when I am done, I will make a separate post like this for the SuMo companions.

[anotherworldash]

Day 4 : Ash's Hat

Watched OPLA months ago and reminded of this moment

Straight redraw parody except... nothing will happen if Ash poke his hat cause his hat's not made from straws

[pokeblorbos]

Watching the first season of pokemon. Togepi with Misty IS very cute, but I also feel like a pokemon that evolves through friendship would be perfect for Ash

[fireydude]

You know, looking back… Upon retrospect?

I could actually see a reboot of the anime working, provided that it fixes some of the issues the series had in its writing (especially the filler) and Veronica Taylor were brought back to voice Ash, with Misty as co-protagonist to make her even more integral to the series and even more active in her goals, which would be way more fitting considering she was there from the beginning in the original series (she deserved way more considering her potential was squandered and underutilized).

Pokeshipping Week 2023

Day 2: What if Ash Didn't Steal Misty's Bike?

Since I drew them dancing last year, I decided to switch the theme for Day 2 to a What If scenario. Honestly, it was pretty easy in concept as we know how much Misty immediately cared for Pikachu's wellbeing while giving Ash all the scolding he (more or less) deserved.

I imagine the conversation here is going something like:

Misty: "What in the world did you do to piss off all those Spearow?!"

Ash: "It's a long story! Let's just focus on getting away from them, alright??"

Misty: "Well, whatever you did, I hope you learned your lesson!"

Ash: "Yeah, yeah, I know!"

Art © Crumpled-Hakui

Like what you see? Want art like this of your own? Check out my art commission post here and send me an email or private message! Thanks for stopping by!

[bpdloop]

sorry that i think the doodle world characters are adults and that tj is legally allowed to drink but thinks he still has to wait until he turns 22 and that cassidy would learn about this and laugh so fucking hard hed get embarrassed and leave

[seecarrun]

Misty found that meeting up with Ash again was always great for a reminder on how…multifaceted he has become over the years.

On one hand, he was Champion Ash Ketchum: the face and name of all things Pokemon training, the undefeated first ever Champion of Alola, the youngest World Monarch in history; talented, charismatic, and so, so hot, smiling handsomely at her from every billboard, commercial, and magazine she laid her eyes on.

On the other hand, he was Ash: her best friend and constant pain in her ass since they were ten years old. Kind, stubborn, a magnet for trouble, and almost as full of energy as he was of optimism; he was her forever late night, no questions asked phone call to complain about her sisters or her job, and the only person who could eat just as much ice cream in one sitting as she could.

And finally, on the super secret third hand she kept very hidden for obvious reasons, he was Ash: the guy she has been head over heels for for over half her life.

To Misty, he was all three all at once, the culmination of hard work, friendship, and love, building and growing and changing over the wild decade they had known each other, all wrapped up in a precious package of ratty caps, bright brown eyes, and megawatt smiles.

“You good, Mist?” he asked, his head poking out above his menu. From his shoulder, Pikachu regarded her in concern as well, their expressions matching.

“I’m fine,” she answered, waving them off and quickly ducking back behind her menu to hide her blush at being caught staring. “What are you getting?”

Ash let out a groan. “I don’t know,” he whined. “It all looks so good! What do you think, Pikachu?”

“Pika!”

They were being watched, of course. Lingering glances and double takes from the other diners around them not going unnoticed by Misty, but somehow Ash remained blissfully unaware of the attention he was receiving.

“Have you eaten here before? Do you know if the curry is any good?” he asked, poking adorably out from behind the menu again. She bit back a grin.

“A few times, but only for brunch.”

“Shoot.” He puffed out his cheeks and disappeared once again.

Maybe that wasn’t too surprising, once Misty thought about it. Ash spent most of his time wandering around the wilderness, after all. Maybe he really had no idea how famous he actually was?

“Maybe I’ll just get a sandwich,” Ash decided, folding up his menu and putting it back down on the table. He turned to Pikachu and shot him a grin. “Wanna share my fries, buddy?”

“Pi!”

“Extra ketchup? You got it!”

Misty was pretty sure the people at the booth next to them were recording them. They’d probably end up on all the big gossip sites by morning. It wouldn’t be the first time. She always wondered if he’d ever seen them. She was pretty sure he didn’t, he didn’t care much for that kind of thing.

“Oh, Mist, did you see they have that gross soup you like because you have no taste?”

She rolled her eyes and ignored the little dig. “Oh, no I didn’t. Which one?” she asked, flipping to the page with the soups in the menu.

“That corn chowder thing? Brock used to make it for you.” He paused and thought for a moment. “The lumpy one that looks like puke?”

She snorted. “Ew, Ash. Gross. Oh, there it is. Yum, I might get that, actually.”

They were definitely recording them, but Ash looked so proud of himself for remembering Misty’s gross soup, she suddenly found it hard to care. So what if she’s enjoying a fancy meal with her famous best friend and secret crush? So what if it looked like they were on a date?

Misty smiled to herself. Let them talk.

It was just Ash, after all.

[fanficgurl]

Title : Ashes and Shadows

Chapter One: The Arrival

The train whistle echoed through the misty hills, but you weren’t on the Hogwarts Express.

Professors didn’t arrive with the students.

Instead, you stood on the edge of the castle grounds, cloaked in black, boots damp with the dew of early September. The castle loomed above like a memory long buried—its windows glowing faintly in the grey dusk. A part of you hadn’t believed you’d come back.

Hogwarts.

It had been years since you walked these halls. Years since war broke everything that felt permanent. Now, the world was teetering toward darkness again, and Dumbledore—older, paler, but still sharp as ever—had written to you with only one line:

They need someone who won’t teach them how to hide.

They need someone who will teach them to fight.

You didn’t hesitate.

The position was newly created—Professor of Magical Dueling—a sign that the school was preparing for what everyone feared but no one said aloud. You would be training them not in theory, but in survival.

Dumbledore had greeted you at the gates himself. His eyes, though kind, carried too many secrets.

“You’ll have the old dueling chamber. It’s been cleaned up,” he said, gesturing toward the east wing. “Not used in years—not since Flitwick led the club. You’ll make better use of it.”

You nodded.

“And the rest of the staff?” you asked, though you already knew the answer you dreaded.

His smile faltered slightly. “All still here. Including Severus.”

Of course.

Severus Snape.

You hadn’t seen him since the end of the First Wizarding War—since the day he chose his path, and you chose to survive.

Whatever was once between you had long since turned to ash. Friendship. Loyalty. Trust. All burned away in the fire of betrayal and war.

Now you would work beside him.

“Be cautious,” Dumbledore said, his voice suddenly low. “He walks a dangerous line.”

You didn’t ask what that meant.

You would find out soon enough.

The staff meeting was quiet, tense. Minerva McGonagall welcomed you warmly. Hagrid nearly crushed you in a hug. Sprout beamed, and Flitwick waved enthusiastically.

And then there was Snape.

He entered late, robes sweeping, presence colder than the dungeon halls he haunted. His gaze flicked to you, sharp and unreadable.

You inclined your head.

He said nothing.

You were grateful for it.

It wasn’t until later—long after the feast, once the students were tucked away in their towers—that you passed him again. This time in the corridor leading to the staff quarters. The silence between you stretched, thick with unspoken years.

“Professor,” he said, acknowledging you with a nod that could have been mistaken for a sneer.

“Snape,” you replied, matching his tone.

He paused. His dark eyes lingered on you a fraction too long.

“You’ve returned,” he said. “Interesting choice.”

“I didn’t come for nostalgia.”

“No. You came to teach children how to hex each other.”

“To protect themselves,” you corrected. “In case you haven’t noticed, the world is shifting.”

A twitch at the corner of his mouth. “It always is.”

You stood in that hallway for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Then you walked away.

Let him keep his shadows.

You had students to prepare—and a war to help them survive.

==============================

It had taken only two days for the rumors to start.

A new professor. A subject not on the curriculum. Whispers in the corridors. Murmurs over pumpkin juice in the Great Hall. Some students thought you were an Auror. Others swore you were a curse-breaker from the Department of Mysteries. The truth, of course, was much simpler—and much more dangerous.

You were here to prepare them for war.

The dueling chamber was older than most of the classrooms. Stone walls lined with torches, a raised platform at its center, scars from spells long past etched into the flagstones. It had the faint metallic scent of magic that had been cast too often in fear.

You spent hours restoring it, wand in hand, sleeves rolled to your elbows, focused entirely on the space.

It was the first morning of lessons when the knock came.

You looked up from the parchment on your desk to see him in the doorway.

Snape.

He didn’t enter. He leaned against the threshold like the corridor itself held more interest than your classroom.

“Spying already?” you asked without looking up again.

“I heard you shouted at a third-year for attempting to disarm his opponent while their back was turned.”

“I said it was dishonorable.”

“I’m sure your sense of honor will serve you well. Until someone uses the Cruciatus on you.”

You lowered your quill.

“You didn’t come to talk about ethics in dueling.”

“No,” he said. “I came to inform you that Potter and his entourage are already treating your class like a warm-up for their next confrontation with the Dark Lord.”

Your jaw tensed. “They should be prepared.”

“They should be controlled.”

You stood. “If you have a concern, take it to Dumbledore.”

He met your gaze. “You think you’re here because of talent. You’re here because he’s grooming them.”

Something cold moved through you.

“And what is he doing with you?” you asked softly. “Letting you spy for both sides until one kills you?”

For a flicker of a moment, his face shifted. Then it closed off again, colder than before.

“Just try not to get anyone killed.”

He turned and left without waiting for your reply.

---

The students were better than you expected—some of them, anyway.

Hermione Granger was precise and inquisitive. Ron Weasley had potential, if you could get him to stop flinching. Neville Longbottom lacked confidence but had a dangerous spark of raw power. And then there was Harry.

Harry was something else entirely.

Not just talented, but reckless. Always pushing. Always aiming for the heart of the fight.

“He’s not afraid to lose,” you told Dumbledore one evening.

“No,” he said. “He’s afraid to let others lose because of him.”

You understood that better than you liked.

---

Late that night, you were still in the dueling chamber, reviewing spell logs, when the door opened again.

This time, Snape didn’t linger in the doorway.

He stepped inside.

“You dismissed Malfoy today.”

“I did,” you said without looking up. “He refused to duel anyone who wasn’t in Slytherin.”

“House loyalty.”

“Cowardice,” you corrected.

Silence stretched again between you.

“You’re pushing them hard,” he said finally. “Some would say too hard.”

You looked at him. “You weren’t at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. I was. I saw what happened to the ones who hesitated. The ones who didn’t know how to defend themselves.”

A beat passed.

“And who taught you?” he asked, something unreadable in his voice.

You closed your notebook.

“No one,” you said. “I learned or I died.”

Snape didn’t reply. Just turned on his heel and left.

But the next morning, you found a worn book on your desk: Advanced Dueling Theory – Restricted Section Copy.

No note. No signature.

But you knew the handwriting on the first page.

==============================

The Restricted Section hadn’t changed.

It still smelled of dust and ink, of secrets kept too long and shelves that hummed with magic older than Hogwarts itself. You hadn't meant to come here. Not at first. But the book he'd left you had annotations in the margins—tight, sharp script—and a spell theory so obscure you’d only ever heard of it in passing during your time in the field.

It was the kind of knowledge you had no business teaching to children.

And yet, the kind they would need.

You pulled three more volumes from the upper shelves, muttering a soft Lumos as you flipped them open. The candlelight wasn’t enough. The truth was never in the margins. It was buried between lines. And sometimes—rarely—it was left for you like a gift from someone who’d never call it one.

You recognized his style instantly in one of the books.

Counter-curses, mirrored shield theory. Defensive tactics used in duels designed not to defeat, but to disarm without lethal damage. The handwriting grew more agitated toward the end—like it had been written during the war. The first war.

“Borrowing without Madam Pince’s blessing. How rebellious.”

You didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“Is there a reason you keep appearing wherever I go, Severus?”

“Am I not allowed to browse the Restricted Section?”

“Not when you walk like a shadow in every corridor.”

He moved closer but remained just out of arm’s reach.

“I saw your lesson plan,” he said at last.

You exhaled. “Do you want to critique it, or just criticize it?”

“Neither. I want to understand it.”

You paused. That wasn’t what you expected.

You looked up at him, really looked, and in the faint light of the wand still burning above the page, you could see it—that same expression from years ago. The one he wore when he didn’t know how to ask the question he needed answered.

“I won’t make them killers,” you said quietly. “But I won’t let them be victims either.”

His gaze flickered. “They’re children.”

“They’re in danger ,” you whispered. “And none of us are ready.”

Something unreadable passed through him.

“You sound like Alastor Moody,” he muttered.

“You sound like someone who wishes he disagreed.”

You closed the book, the sharp thud echoing slightly.

“You left that for me on purpose,” you added, finally addressing the book he'd placed in your classroom.

“I did,” he said.

And then—for the first time since you’d returned—he looked at you, not as a colleague, not as a stranger. But as someone who remembered. Who hadn’t forgotten the halls of this castle the way you walked them together before everything fell apart.

“Why?” you asked, soft.

He hesitated. The pause felt like a held breath.

“Because despite everything, you always understood what was necessary,” he said.

You swallowed hard.

“So do you.”

---

Later that night, in your quarters, you lit a small fire and opened the book again.

A bookmark you hadn’t seen before had slipped between the pages. Folded parchment, tucked so precisely it could’ve been overlooked.

You unfolded it.

In Snape’s precise hand were just four words:

Don’t hesitate. Not again.

You sat for a long time before the fire, holding the note, your thumb brushing over the ink.

And for the first time in years, you wondered if there was still a part of him left behind the wall he’d built.

Not ready to forgive.

But perhaps… ready to understand.

[suicunelillie]

I am working on the second best pokeshipping hanahaki au and I need validation so I'm posting a little snippet here

Ash realised he should have been concentrating on fishing, but it was hard to do that with Misty right next to him. He wasn’t looking directly at her, of course – that would be strange – but from the corner of his eye he could see the freckles dotting her arm and legs amidst the peach fuzz of her hair.

She had chosen to sit right next to him, probably to make sure he didn’t fall over or something, but it meant he had to share in her body warmth. Much to his dismay, whenever he noticed new things about her like the smell of the coconut shampoo she uses, same as the one she would use as when they first travelled together, or how her lower lip jutted out just a bitter further than the upper when she was concentrating, he realised that he had noticed these things before.

If it weren’t for the flowers in his chest, he would be able to pretend this was nothing other than evidence of the strength of their friendship. They had known each other so long that he knew every detail about her. Being with her was so natural, it made sense that he would get the jitters when she was around, the same he would get when he stepped past the threshold of his mother’s home.

[koeniginderskizzen]

Okay, so like, I guess because I'm a Pokémon Anime Fan or whyever, YouTube started to recommend me a bunch of kids fighting over who is the best pokegirl/girlfriend for Ash/ Character in general.

I usually don't engage with that because I just find it annoying, but recently I found these fights to be so stupid that I thought about just posting cute art (be it shipping or friendship) of the two characters that are being put against each other to spite the whole thing. In a 'countering hate with love' sort of way.

This would be just for fun, since I kinda want to start using my Tumblr for art, and it wouldn't do that much within the debate itself since this fighting seems to take place on YouTube.

Anyway, if there is anyone who feels just as annoyed by the toxic fans as I do, you are welcome to tell me about the characters in question so I can add them to my collection of wholesomeness.

So far I've encountered:

Serena and Koharu, Serena and Max, Serena and Sophocles, Serena and Koharu, Koharu and Serena, and lastly Serena and Koharu.

Funny, you'd think I would've stumbled over more Serena and Misty, oh well, they'll come soon enough...

Like right now!

[pathological-runaway]

You have walked this very same path countless times, alone or accompanied, guiding or guided, stopping to look into the abyss or dashing by with your eyes closed. You have come to know these steep slopes, these narrow trails, these falling stones and these feeble flames peeking shyly out of age-old lanterns, cracks and dust covering what once were patterns and are now indiscernible shapes and lines, lost to time. You don’t need to pay much attention to where you’re going: you remember the way too well to worry about it. It’s become your second home, in some twisted way. So instead, you think.

you can read the fic here or below the cut

There’s dust in the air, and the wind howling all around you is freezing. The sun is gone, and its shy and distant companion, the moon, is nowhere to be found, either. The night sky, lost somewhere above you in layers upon layers of dirt and soot so thick one might confuse them with particularly dark clouds, is pitch black. Not a single star can be seen from the ground. Maybe they’re hiding in their dust blanket. Maybe they went out a long time ago.

You inhale and immediately cough, the poisoned air burning your nose, your mouth, your throat. One quick glance back at the doorway separating you from anything remotely breathable, and you take a step forward. Always forward, never back.

You have walked this very same path countless times, alone or accompanied, guiding or guided, stopping to look into the abyss or dashing by with your eyes closed. You have come to know these steep slopes, these narrow trails, these falling stones and these feeble flames peeking shyly out of age-old lanterns, cracks and dust covering what once were patterns and are now indiscernible shapes and lines, lost to time.

Everything decays sooner or later. You know it. You’ve seen it, even if on a lower scale. You may not have been there to witness the majestic castles and the golden statues adorning them, but you have heard stories of those who saw it all slowly crumble over the years with their own eyes.

You don’t need to pay much attention to where you’re going: you remember the way too well to worry about it. It’s become your second home, in some twisted way.

So instead, you think. About the past. The present. The possible future, as misty and elusive as it may be. You think about time. Ponder on the ashes in the air and where they come from. Where they’re going. You dwell on the rough stones beneath your feet, on the thunderstorm raging closer to the top and, inevitably, circle back and reflect on yourself. Yourselves, even. There are many of your kind, but nothing about any of you is special enough to make you count as different people. It’s way easier — you’ve come to realise it after years of aimless wandering, which, moving in cycles, kept inexorably bringing you here, of all places — it’s way easier to view yourself and all of them as one single inseparable entity. Because you all have the same path. The same goal. The same bleak, even if disguised with all the friendships and colourful capes and flowers in bloom, existence, the same point of origin and the same destination. Traced from the same template time and time again, copies so perfect the original is unknown.

Vessels, mere objects, created with the single purpose of carrying light back to those who lost it. But you can’t blame your Mother for making you the way She did, can’t blame Her for striving to relieve the pain and the suffering of Her previous creations. You can’t blame Her for staying away from all this, cold and distant, alone in the starry sky, collecting the souls of her children around herself while you have to walk this earth, feet covered in dirt and blood and pieces of your own skin, while you and hundreds of beings exactly like you keep falling down, rejected from the comfort and the peace of the constellations and doomed to die and fall and die and fall until your shells wear thin and your Mother, seeing you’re no use anymore, exempts you of your duties and lays your souls to rest.

(You aren’t sure if it’s like this that it goes, but there’s no way of knowing what is waiting for you beyond your grave.)

The point is, you can’t blame your Mother. So you don’t.

Climbing up the mountain, eyes red from ashes and dust and clothes torn by rain and dark water, you wonder if it’ll be over soon, this endless cycle of pain and death. The whole ordeal used to hold a meaning for you, a long time ago. It did for everyone. You were excited, thrilled even, by the prospect of saving the poor souls trapped here on the ground.

But enough time has passed for these exploits to become chores.

Climbing up the mountain, this graveyard of good intentions and the well-intentioned, you don’t stop to rest. No time. No use.

There’s a five-starred child sitting under a canopy and crying quietly. You ruffle their hair and take them by the hand.

And keep walking.

[icecreamandpizzawrites]

Trainers In Love

As it was customary for every battle in the World Coronation Series, the two trainers facing off always met in the middle to introduce themselves and shake hands, but the two trainers standing in the center of the battlefield needed no such introductions.

It'd been a while since she'd last seen the trainer everyone was talking about. He'd certainly come a long way from the boy who'd started the first day of his pokemon journey in pajamas. Now, he was sporting a pair of worn jeans that she hated to admit fit him in all the right areas, a dark blue t-shirt hidden under a black training vest, and of course, one of his trademark hats forced to fit over his rattata's nest of hair. The look was only further completed by Pikachu standing on his shoulder with his paws curled into fists, an equally determined look on its face.

When their hands met in the middle, the familiar roughness of a well-worn pair of gloves brushed the palm of her hand. She'd heard that sometimes a feeling or sensation alone could take you back to a long-forgotten time. Whether or not it was true, at that moment, she fully believed it as her mind was flooded with memories of camping out under the stars, running from wild pokemon, blasting off Team Rocket, and more as moments from their travels blended together.

Ash must have noticed her falter because he squeezed her hand. It went unnoticed by everyone else, but Misty glanced up, recognizing the small gesture as a question. A quick squeeze to ask if she was okay. To reassure her that no matter what, he was there. It was going to be okay. Even during their impending battle, he would always put their friendship first.

She nodded in an attempt to brush off the feeling and stood up straight. Squeezing back, her eyes danced with a renewed spark not seen in the Cerulean Gym Leader in years.

"Scared, Mist? My team is pretty tough," Ash baited her. She did her best to remain steadfast, but the way his face broke into a playful grin paired with his special nickname for her left her body feeling flushed. "You can give up now, you know? I'd understand."

Misty scoffed, quickly bouncing back. "Why? Afraid I'll beat you?"

Ash smirked, and for a second, Misty swore her knees would buckle from underneath her. "You beat me? Sorry Misty, but I'm not that little kid who earned badges out of pity." Misty couldn't help it, but she gave him a quick glance over, her eyes lingering on his toned muscles, dark brown eyes, and a five o'clock shadow. No, you most certainly are not. "I came here to win."

Misty bounced back quickly and sweetly smiled back before releasing their hands. "Aw, that's real cute, Ash, but I'm afraid this is where it ends for you."

Thanks to the mics hooked up to each trainer, the whole audience could hear their conversation, but it didn't take a trained eye to see the crackling tension between the two trainers. From his seat, however, a less than enthused audience member groaned and rolled his eyes at the antics of his two best friends.

In front of him, a young woman typed frantically on her phone, gushing at the scene before her. He wasn't intentionally glancing at her phone, but it was hard not to notice the messages written in all caps she and someone named Maria were exchanging.

Maria: Oh my god, oh my god!

Girl: I know! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Girl: He even has a nickname for her. That's so freaking adorable. I can't.

Maria: I wish Dave had a special nickname for me.

Maria: I swear to god, you can actually see the sparks flying between them.

Girl: You mean the sexual tension? 😉

Brock sighed. The girl wasn't wrong. Anybody who wasn't Ash or Misty could tell all their playful banter was really just flirting. A sort of foreplay before the big event.

Just then, the referee stepped forward and pulled out a coin. "Today's match will be a six-on-six battle with no time limit. Both trainers may substitute a pokemon at any time. The trainer whose pokemon is last left standing will win. Are the trainers ready?" Misty and Ash nodded. "This coin toss will decide who chooses their pokemon first. Heads will be the Cerulean City Gym Leader, Misty, and tails will be the challenger, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town."

Both heads turned to watch as the coin soared into the air before landing on the referee's open palm.

Tails.

Misty beamed victoriously. "I hope you brought some burn heals, Ash because you'll need them after Starmie and I destroy you."

Ash quirked his eyebrow and stuck out his tongue. "Starmie? That thing doesn't even have a face."

Misty gritted her teeth. She would not let Ash get to her. "Just don't come crying to me when you lose to the Water Pokemon Master."

Ash shielded his eyes and glanced around the arena. "Really? I don't see Wallace."

Well, she had tried.

Misty flinched, narrowing her eyes before stepping forward and into his space. She was going to kill him before the match even started.

The referee glanced worriedly back and forth between them, likely never having faced a potential fight between the two trainers and not their pokemon.

Misty extended her finger to push against Ash's chest, catching him off guard with an oomph. A chest she couldn't help but notice was much more toned than she remembered. Leaning forward, she punctuated her words with a simultaneous poke of his chest. "Listen here, Ketchum. You may be my friend, but I have a reputation to uphold. I hope you've been training hard because I won't even blink when you and your pokemon succumb to the most powerful element."

"You wish," he shot back. "We've been preparing for this match all year. Right, Buddy?"

"Pika!"

Misty's eyes briefly softened, and her hand relaxed. All year? Was it silly to think that meant he'd been thinking about her then, too? She shook her head. No way. With Ash, it was all about his pokemon and how to make them stronger, how to get better. It had nothing to do with her specifically.

"Well, let's hope it was worth it," she said. "Because my pokemon and I are ready."

"You ready, Pikachu?" Ash called to the pokemon on his shoulder. "Let's give it our all and make this a battle we'll never forget, okay?"

"Pika!" the pokemon cried back, more electricity crackling around him.

Misty laughed. Those two were certainly fired up, practically feeding off each other's energies. Then again, she wouldn't expect anything less from Ash and his lifetime partner.

The referee coughed loudly, slightly catching Ash and Misty off guard. "If both trainers are ready, please return to your battle positions, and we will begin the match."

Misty gave a curt nod before turning toward her side of the field. As she stepped foot into the trainer box, she turned to face her opponent, various strategies already running through her head. She'd always known this could happen. Ash had always been a strong trainer, and she'd always believed in him, so it was only a matter of time before he made his way through the ranks of the Normal, Great, and Ultra classes. A victory against her would likely catapult him into the Master Class and put him one step closer to his dream, so she couldn't be too upset if she ultimately lost. But that didn't mean she would go down without a fight.

Misty steeled herself, a pokeball gripped into her hand, ready to counter Ash's first pick.

This would be a battle she'd never forget.

The girl in front of Brock squealed once more before returning her attention to her phone.

Girl: Are you watching this right now?

Maria: Duh! This is SO much better than reality TV. I'm serious. I'm curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, and my jaw's been glued to the floor the entire time, and they haven't even started battling yet.

Girl: Right? I'm fangirling so hard right now. I think the guy behind me thinks I'm crazy! I'm like, come on, Heather, get a grip.

Maria: I've screamed at the TV at least three times. I think Dave thinks I've officially lost it, but, oh my god, this is SO FREAKING HOT. I'm going to need a cool shower after this.

Heather: (fans self) Who knew pokemon battles could be so…stimulating.

Maria: Amen. 🙌

Heather: Do you think they're dating? Would it be weird to start chanting, kiss, kiss, kiss?

Maria: I don't know, but If these two aren't perfect for each other, does true love even exist?

The battle had been nothing short of exhilarating. The audience watched in awe as blow after blow, attack after attack, Ash and Misty's pokemon continued to get back up, giving it their all and fighting until they reached their limits. Misty's corsola was the first to be knocked out, followed by Ash's meganium. Next, both Meganium and Noivern were taken out by Misty's kingdra.

Back and forth, the two fought, the number of pokeballs under their names on the big screen depleting one by one as yet another pokemon was knocked unconscious.

Halfway through the battle, Misty's starmie, unfortunately, succumbed to Ash's pikachu, but not without having first spun itself into a powerful psychic attack that ended its grueling battle against Ash's sirfetch'd.

When battling with Ash, one couldn't simply play the book. Although at times unconventional, Ash's battling style had always reflected his daring and inventive personality. He could adapt a moment's notice, pulling strength from those moments when he was backed into a corner or the chips were down. She'd watched him battle this way for years, so she knew that people tended to underestimate Ash's pikachu. Surely, an unevolved pikachu could only get so strong, but if there was one thing Pikachu excelled in, it was overcoming his weaknesses and using them to his advantage-not so unlike his trainer.

"Whatcha going to do now, Misty?" Ash called from across the field, his cocky grin on full display.

Now faced with how to take down one of Ash's strongest pokemon, Misty knew there was only one solution.

It was time for her secret weapon.

"I knew you'd use Pikachu, so I had to call in a special favor for this one." Misty winked back before bringing the pokeball to her lips. "Hope you're ready to lose, Ashy!"

Ash wrinkled his nose in disdain at the dreaded nickname, but then he and Pikachu froze as Misty tossed her pokeball out into the open arena.

"Toge, toge! Togekiss!"

Misty smiled victoriously, almost cackling at Ash's look of pure shock. Instantly recognizing the pokemon before him, Pikachu lowered his ears and turned toward Ash, whining in protest. Togekiss may have fully evolved, but that wouldn't take away the nurturing feelings Pikachu held for the once-baby togepi that had traveled with him for years.

Ash grumbled and clenched his fists in frustration. "Pikachu, return!" he shouted. His faithful partner didn't have to be asked twice before returning to Ash's side. "That's a dirty trick, Misty!"

Misty rolled her eyes. "All's fair in love and pokemon battles, Ash. I told you I came here to win."

"Fine. You may have won this battle, but this match is far from over."

"I'm counting on it!"

"This is it, folks! Both trainers are down to their final pokemon!" The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, but everyone was so focused on the match in front of them that his words went completely ignored. "Gym Leader Misty has chosen gyarados, and the challenger, Ash, has chosen his greninja."

This is it. We've come this far, and we're not backing down now, so let's give it all we've got.

Misty touched the keystone embedded in her hair tie, and Gyrados began to glow a dark and vibrant red. "Strong, valiant, and powerful! And now, my beautiful, blue sweetheart, mega evolve!"

"Alright, Greninja. Now, what'd you say we give them a little taste of our power, huh?" Ash shouted. Then, before her eyes, Greninja and Ash began to mimic each other's movements, and the pokemon was swept into a tornado of water. She'd heard stories from Ash's traveling companions about his unique bond with Greninja, but it was completely different to actually see the two morph into perfect synchrony. "More! Stronger, stronger! Now, let's do it!"

Misty waited for Ash to give Greninja a command, but then, in the most bizarre turn of events likely ever seen in a pokemon battle, Ash pulled out his phone.

"It seems the challenger has stopped the battle to…make a phone call?" Murmurs traveled around the arena, the audience just as perplexed as the announcer. Yet, everyone was on the edge of their seat. The next question came from the announcer but seemed to be directed toward the referee. "Is that allowed?"

The referee shrugged. Since the beginning, this match had gone nowhere according to plan, so why would it now?

"What the hell, Ketchum? We're in the middle of a pokémon battle!"

"I know, I know," he groaned. Ash at least looked apologetic as he gestured to the ref to give him just a moment. "And I'm sorry, but there's something important I need to do first."

The referee sighed in irritation but then gestured for Ash to continue. Misty wouldn't be surprised if the man quit right then and there.

From her back pocket, Misty's phone vibrated. She glanced at it and then at Ash, who waved his phone. Begrudgingly, Misty pulled out her phone to discover that, amongst a variety of other messages, there was one from Ash sitting at the top of her notifications, sent only seconds ago.

Ash: Before we finish this, I need to ask you something important.

Misty glanced back up to see Ash staring down at his phone before turning back to her phone screen, where a bubble of three dots sent a wave of anxiety rushing through her.

Then, his message popped up on the screen, and her entire body went rigid. Soon, her hands started to shake, and her heart beat so fast she thought she would pass out. Her mind went full tunnel vision on her phone, the noises of the arena drowned out, and the world around her went still and quiet. Still, she wondered if everyone could hear the thump thump of her pulse - the sound of her blood pumping through her vital organs, trying to keep her from losing consciousness.

Ash: If I win this match, will you go out with me, Misty?

She turned back to verbalize her response, but Ash had already slipped his phone back into his pocket and refocused his attention on the battle. Then, in a way that was just so him that it made all the nerves vanish from her body, he turned around his hat.

Misty smiled. Win or lose, this would be a battle for the ages.

[formerly-mezamun]

In relation to another post, I think I'd like to give my basic thoughts on ships; Ash ships in particular to start with because that's easy.

Poké- Childhood mutual crushes. The sillies. AU Notes — Ash got burned by Misty leaving and ignored love for a while. Misty moved on. By the time the subject came up again, she gently rejected him. They tried dating as adults but it felt awkward and weird. They think the other is attractive but it just does not work. They'd rather give each other noogies and dead arms than date.

Advance - Not my favorite, but charming and cute. AU Notes — They're both committed to their primary partners, but they do casually date as adults. They grow up to have a lot in common and have nice chemistry. That said, you'd hardly notice that they're not just BFFs unless you see them kiss or something.

Pearl - OTP! They're so perfect. Made for each other. Endgame. AU Notes — Endgame. They're married. Ash and Dawn start dating a year after Diamond/Pearl and they support each other more and more; Dawn is the perfect emotional confidant for Ash and vice versa. Lacking a lot of his inhibitions for sharing his grief and worries, and not one to criticize him much, she's a great match for him. Likewise, Ash is a bit more emotionally in-tune and is good for her!

Negai - Conceptually great, but canon sours this one for me hard. The mean-spiritedness of BW makes me resent a lot of their interactions. But on paper, I think it's a great ship with some tweaks! AU Notes — Their friendship is a lot closer to my ideal, here. Fellow hard-headed trainers turned Champions. There's just a touch of chemistry here; they comfort each other and hug things out in private and share a lot with each other emotionally. But, as far as most of the world is concerned, they're just tight friends.

Amour - My second favorite ship for Ash in canon. I do wish it got more buddy-buddy moments in the vein of Pearl, but I really appreciate their story and influence on one another, it's very cute. AU Notes — Part of my OT3! Serena and Ash become quick emotional confidants in Kalos, with Ash in heavy denial about his budding feelings. Dawn's arrival throws them for a loop, and only wants what makes all three of them happiest, once she too falls for Serena. They all date, and later get married and have a family.

Auriela - Not a fan whatsoever. Feels very much like Ash is just there to coddle and rescue her. Does nothing for me at all. AU Notes — Even more of a no; Ash meets her as a young adult when she's 10 or 11; he's damn near a parental figure to her, while co-boarding at Kukui's lab after she runs away from home. During my later USUM arc, Ash is the experienced mentor to her and Selene.

Aloha - Who picked that name. Anyways. It's fine. Shrug emoji AU Notes — Not a thing in my canon, though Ash and Mallow are friends from when he took part in her trial.

Blueangel - It's the one S/M ship I liked. Super cute chemistry! AU Notes — It's canon to my AU. They hit it off during/after Ash participated in her trial. They have similar senses of humor, wanderlust, and strong personalities in general. Ash ultimately introduces her to Misty, who she ends up marrying. Misty likes to joke that he has visitation privileges in their prenuptuals.

Bloombolt - I've seen people make it work! That Ash isn't even really Ash to me anymore, so whatever. AU Notes — Absolutely not. Ash is Chloe's godfather in this canon. They mean a lot to me platonically. He was friends with Prof Cerise growing up, and ended up being asked for that blessing. He's a major source of encouragement and wisdom for Chloe, despite the window of estrangement they go through when she closes herself off.

Pallet - I can definitely see why people ship this, it's good. AU Notes — While there's nothing that really makes this impossible, I don't see it in my canon. They're BFFs, it's not like that.

Coma - I like it. They're just kind of funny together. Disaster gays. AU Notes — I definitely could picture Ash having some feelings for him that he didn't realize or vice versa, but it doesn't end up happening. That window of time that'd set it off never happens. Paul would never care to entertain all the noise and relationships in Ash's life, and they work just fine as friends, anyway.

Z-Ring - I can see why people ship this in canon, it's cute. AU Notes — Nah. They're friendly rivals. Kiawe strikes me as very stern and do-it-by-the-books. He's monogamous with Mallow.

Journeys - Again; that Ash isn't the Ash I know. In isolation, it works. AU Notes — Very similar big no to Chloe; Ash is a mentor to Goh and actually encourages he and Chloe to pursue each other when they both confide in him separately. They're close, platonically.

Alto - Heroes made me a big fan they are so CUTE. AU Notes — They're together. They reunite some years after Johto, during a time where Ash is pretty down on his luck and could use the company + support. He reciprocates Latias's feelings after spending their short journey together and she joins him for good. She continues to use her human form to blend in alongside him.

Poffle - I really just believe Miette was using Ash to get Serena's goat, but it's an amusing thought anyway. AU Notes — She's something of a package deal with Serena. I think they're funny as a throuple.

That's it, for now!

[comfort-clubhouse]

Meredith Miranda's relationships with my other Batman OCs

Toffee Karlo - Meredith seems fine to her.

Berg Fries - Berg was anxious of how she stares at him with no emotion.

Blossom Isley - Since she's Hallow friend. Blossom openly shown to dislike her. Despite unaware of Meredith knowing how she cares for plants.

Vince Isley - Like his sister, Vince seems distrustful of her. He has been threatening her to leave his and Blossom's rooms.

Ray Nygma - Ray enjoys having her play his new riddles but to Meredith's smart moves made him almost jealous. Other than that, she can tolerate him since he's good friends with Hallow.

Trace Dent - Trace and Meredith are good friends with a shared dynamics of their clothing style and similar personalities.

Lucian Dorrance - Meredith has barely interacted with him.

Kraig Jones - Since Kraig always hated humans. These two would definitely hate eachother.

Kaleb Langstrom - Because her young cousins are scared of bats, Meredith constantly threats Kaleb to never be near Oliver and Misty.

Fangs Langstrom - She doesn't threaten Fangs much than her brother, because she's too young and Meredith doesn't threaten the younger ones like her.

Katelyn Kyle-Angela - These girls have a sharing bond of their fondness to cats. So they are now good friends.

Katherine Kyle-Angela - Like her younger sister. She can be the same with Meredith by also sharing her fondness of cats.

Talon Cobblepot - They are like opposites by their personalities and interests in animals.

Feather Cobblepot - Meredith and Feather are possibly chill with eachother.

Evelyn Wesker and Stitcher - Meredith acts like an older sister for Evelyn. As for Stitcher, the two are like a sort of rivalry-like relationship.

Michele and Michelle Wesker - Meredith has barely interacted with Evelyn's cousins. So possibly they could get along with eachother.

Scotch Tetch - Meredith has been helpful to Scotch some times. Since Hallow is his friend, she would potentially be the same with him.

Hallow Crane - Ever since at her foster care of Shade and Nathaniel. Hallow and Meredith were friends or more like siblings to the end.

Laurent and Lauren Crane - They are pretty close with eachother. All share some of their traits.

Craven and Lunar Crane - The two would welcome Meredith as family to her.

Coona Walker - Meredith has shown to dislike moths. So she has beeb trying to kill Coona many times.

Torch Lynns - She really does not like Torch. As that he had almost torments her friend Hallow by burning his face.

Ember Lynns - Unlike Torch, Meredith doesn't think of her as bad as her brother.

Tootsie Jingles - They're more as opposites by personality. By Tootsie it is between 'Comedy and Tragedy'.

Jamie Quinzel - Both are like opposites by personality but have same friendships with their close ones. Jamie to Tootsie and Meredith to Hallow.

Blade Quinzel - Unlike Hallow, who is fond of his way of sensing fear. She has barely interacted with him and doesn't seem to mind of how completely insane Blade is.

Bullet - Since he is Deathstroke/Slade's adopted son. Meredith finds him too dangerous to be near with, especially not allowing her young cousins to get involved with Bullet of what he is actually capable of.

Swirl - She finds them really weird because of their interests in making them perfect by cutting people's faces.

Topher Blackfire - Meredith might be on bad terms with this narcissistic, self proclaimed priest.

Cheryl - They both barely interacted, although Meredith seemed a bit sorry for how Topher's treating her.

Lyn and Len Bolton - Of how much suffering between abuse and favoritism the two have gone through. Meredith does manage to give the two comfort.

Jane Bell - Meredith has hardly interacted with her.

Joel Adams - Same with Jane, she has hardly interacted with Joel.

Kristopher Charisma - She has hardly got to met him by Toostie.

Ash Craddock - Much like his adopted father, Ash acts as a gentleman to Meredith much to that making Hallow's pretty jealous and annoyed.

Echo - Meredith is like an older sister to her despite being younger than Echo by age.

[pokenoire]

I will never understand the comparisons between Misty and Iris, especially since I've been watching Kanto since I was a child. When I watched Iris in 2010-2012, even though the ending of Diamond and Pearl affected me. I felt that BW cured some of my bad days and when Scraggy was born is still one of my top episodes of the series.

I'll explain why the episode contributes to this.

And why the Scraggy episode is so important and shouldn't be erased from Pokémon continuity (as some idiots tend to do)

Ash with Panphy and Larvitar had some setbacks, like he didn't know how to deal with a baby Pokémon, he scared the Pokémon and demanded it return to its PokeBall, and he was very impatient.

With Larvitar he is a bit overprotective and a bit spoiled by Ash despite the whole trauma plot. He doesn't evolve much as a Pokemon, there are some things here to improve but...Ash is still learning.

Scraggy is an evolution of this learning and not a regression.

1 - Ash introduced Scraggy to his team

Despite Scraggy's temper, Ash did not fight with him, or simply get mad at him. Ash learned his lesson from the past and was patient with Scraggy's nature.

2 - Ash kept his new catch out of the PokeBall

He simply kept Scraggy to explore the world around him. He let the Pokémon sleep outside its PokeBall, and still gave it space to get used to the Team and its own Trainer.

3- Scraggy and Axew friendship

Scraggy and Axew are a duo in so much, they evolve together, work together and are on the same level and seek to be close to each other.

(Journeys should have had a reunion between him and Haxurous but that's for another time)

4 - Scraggy was saved and learned to trust Ash in his own time.

The whole episode built Scraggy up to be one of Ash's best Pokemon eggs in terms of writing for me, in everything he shows he learns from his mistakes with Ganvantula which makes Ash himself Take better care of your Pokemon as proven below

After Scraggy Ash became much more capable of caring for Pokémon regardless of their nature, whether calm or whiny, whether hopeful or turbulent, he is there.

He learns his lesson

He went after Riolu like he went after Scraggy, as he knows how a hotheaded Pokemon can behave since he's been through it before. Scraggy taught him exactly what to do in this situation: stay calm and save the Pokémon even if it doesn't want to go with him. Because this is what he understood and evolved as a person.

💙💛

Thanks for reading my thoughts.

Tumblr is great for writing despite the image limit