Ash Ketchum: Difference between revisions

In Hoenn, Ash must also prove himself against eight Gym Leaders to participate in the [[Hoenn Championship]]. Pikachu suffers a power overload due to [[Team Rocket (Anime)|Team Rocket]] in the episode ''[[Finally in the Hoenn Region]]'', so he takes it to [[Professor Birk#In the anime|Professor Birk]]. However, it escapes from his lab and attacks Ash, who tries to calm it down, because it has lost control. Ash is able to calm it down, demonstrating their close bond. He doesn't shy away from helping his partner, even if it puts himself in danger. Team Rocket then appears, and Pikachu is trapped in a machine, from which it escapes by discharging its electricity overload into it, destroying [[May (anime character)|May]]'s bike in the process. To Ash's relief, Pikachu is now healthy again, and May decides to accompany him. Ash takes on a kind of mentoring role for her, teaching her the basics of being a Trainer. For example, in ''[[The Gate to the Past]]'' he explains to her how to catch a Pokémon.

Ash eventually travels with her to [[Blossomburg City]], May's hometown, and discovers that her father is the city's Gym Leader. There, [[Max]], May's brother, joins the two. On the trip to [[Metarost City]] with Max, they meet Brock in the episode ''[[The Swellow Rarity]]'', and Ash captures a [[Ash's Boss Swellow|Swellow]]. In ''[[The Treecko and Their Home]]'', he manages to befriend a [[Ash's Sceptile|Trekko]] that also wants to join him, so he catches it.

Before arriving in Metarost City, the children watch a [[contest]], and one of the [[Chaz|coordinators]] teaches Pikachu the [[Iron Tail]] move. Ash then challenges the Gym Leader, [[Felizia#In the anime|Felizia]], and defeats her. In the Gym Battle, Ash shows his ability to react spontaneously to situations, even under pressure. He manages to use his strategic advantage and surprise Felizia by revealing that Pikachu has mastered Iron Tail. He also has Pikachu destroy the battlefield to the detriment of the Gym Leader and finds a way to defeat the previously unknown Pokémon [[Noseble (anime)|Noseble]].

Afterwards, Ash and his friends travel to Fist Harbor, where Ash intends to face the second Gym Leader, but loses to him in ''[[The Waves]]'' due to his physical attack style. After the loss, Ash trains on the island and captures a [[Ash's Corphish|Corpish]]. After his training, he challenges [[Camo#In the anime|Camo]] again and wins.

In ''[[Fun Must Be]]'', Ash easily defeats [[Walter#In the anime|Walter]] and receives the [[Dynamo Badge]]. In ''[[The Big Yawn]]'', he defeats [[Flavia#In the anime|Flavia]], before capturing a [[Ash's Qurtel|Qurtel]] in ''[[Torment of Steel]]''. Finally, his Treecko evolves into ''[[Bang! Here comes a boom!]]'' to [[Reptain (anime)|Reptain]], with whose help he can defeat Norman in a Gym battle in ''[[Power to Drop!]]''. In ''[[The King of the Rings]]'', Swallowtail evolves as part of the [[PokéRing Contest]]. He uses this in the Gym battle against [[Wibke#In the anime|Wibke]], which takes place in ''[[Battle for the Sixth Badge]]'' and which Ash also wins.

During the further journey, Ash and his friends often try to thwart the plans of [[Team Magma]] and [[Team Aqua]], for example in ''[[The Mysterious Stone]]'' or ''[[The Space Rock]]''. In ''[[Power over Groudon]]'' and ''[[Ancient Legends Revive!]]'', a showdown occurs when [[Kyogre (Anime)|Kyogre]] and [[Groudon (Anime)|Groudon]] are summoned. Ash, his friends, and [[Siegfried]] help end the conflict between the two legends, and the two teams disband, realizing that their goals are wrong.

In the episode ''[[Fortune and Loathing]]'', Ash wins the double battle against [[Ben and Svenja#In the anime|Ben and Svenja]] and thus receives the seventh badge in the Hoenn region. He also encounters [[Dragan#In the anime|Dragan]] in the episode ''[[Overconfidence Rarely Does Anything Good!]]'', against whom he fights and loses because he is too arrogant. After Ash catches a [[Ash's Ice Gate|Snivellus]] in ''[[One Hand Washes the Other!]]'', he faces [[Juan#In the anime|Juan]] in [[Xeneroville]] and defeats him, so that Ash now has all the Badges and is qualified for the [[Hoenn Championship]].

Finally, Ash competes in the [[Hoenn Championship]] starting in ''[[Supermouse Powers!]]''. There he meets [[Morrison]], a friend and rival, against whom he defeats, and [[Tyson]], to whom he ultimately loses. Ash still makes it to the top eight and goes after his trip. He returns to Pallet Town alone, as May wants to travel to [[Johto]], while Brock and Max want to return to their hometowns.

In the episode "[[New Dreams, New Goals!]]," after a lost battle against the [[Elite Four]] member and the new Gym Leader of [[Viridian City]] [[Agatha#In the anime|Agatha]], Ash learns from [[Scott#In the anime|Scott]] about the battle sites that were built in [[Kanto]] during Ash's absence as part of the [[Battle Zone (Hoenn)|Battle Zone]]. Determined to battle all seven Battle Symbols, the young trainer sets out with Max, May, and Brock, who have rejoined him. Just two episodes after his departure, he wins the [[Battle Zone Symbols|Knowledge Symbol]] at the [[Battle Factory (Hoenn)|Battle Factory]].

He then defeats [[Greta#In the anime|Greta]] in the [[Battle Ring]] and [[Tasso#In the anime|Tasso]] in the [[Battle Stadium]], thus earning his next two symbols. In ''[[Overwhelmed!]]'', Ash's Phanpy evolves into [[Ash's Donphan|Donphan]]. Before defeating [[Lotte#In the anime|Lotte]] in the [[Battle Pitis]], he encounters the ranger [[Solana]] and a [[Celebi (anime)|Celebi]]. In ''[[Pain - Let Go!]]'', Reptain finally evolves into [[Ash's Sceptile|Sceptile]]. He wins the next two symbols in the [[Duel Tower (Hoenn)|Duel Tower]] from [[Anabel#In the anime|Anabel]] and in a battle against [[Serenus#In the anime|Spencer]].

In the battle for the final symbol, the luminary [[Brian#In the anime|Brandon]], Ash encounters some problems: Even before his first attempt to win the symbol, his body is taken over by the King of Pokelantis. The possessed Ash uses [[Ash's Sceptile|Sceptile]] in the battle and, due to the evil spirit within him, fights without regard for his Pokémon, and therefore loses. After the lost battle, Ash catches a [[Dreamer's Ambidextrous|Scythe]], which had previously stolen his hat. In the second attempt to defeat Brandon, Ash also loses, as [[Ash's Sceptile]] is defeated by Brandon's [[Registeel (anime)|Registeel]]. In the next rematch, Ash receives help from his old partners [[Ash's Squirtle|Squirtle]], [[Ash's Bulbasaur|Bulbasaur]], and [[Ash's Charizard|Charizard]]. Thanks to Pikachu, he defeats [[Regice (Anime)|Regice]] in ''[[All in One! (Season 9)|All in One!]]'' and is able to become the master of the Battle Zone. However, Ash declines the offered position as Battle Master.

In ''[[All in One!]]'', Ash competes against May in the [[Terracotta Town]] contest to say goodbye to her, and ends in a draw. The two share their ribbons and carry them with them from then on as a good luck charm. May and Max then return to Hoenn, and Brock sets off for [[Marmoria City]]. When Ash returns to [[Alabaster]] in the episode ''[[Every End Has a Beginning!]]'', he learns about [[Sinnoh]] from Gary and sets off by ship with only Pikachu, and involuntarily also with Scythe.