Ash
Pokémon: The Final Prologue
Contents
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Ash (小智) |
| Species/Race | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Hometown | Pallet Town 42 |
| Occupation/Role | Pokémon Trainer; aspires to become a Pokémon Master 5 |
| Traveling Companions | Misty and Brock 23 33 36 |
| First Appearance | Mentioned as a television character in Chapter 1; first appears in the Pokémon world in Chapter 3 1 3 |
Power Progression
Ash’s documented progress is measured through Gym Badges and Indigo League participation rather than a personal combat level.
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cascade Badge earned | 8 | Defeats Misty’s three Water-type Pokémon using Pikachu after watching Xiao Yan’s Gym challenge. |
| Celadon Gym Badge earned | 23 | Leaves the Gym wearing a wig and carrying a badge; his battle is not shown. |
| Six Gym Badges | 36 | Shows Xiao Yan his badge case aboard the cruise ship bound for Cinnabar Island. |
| Eight Gym Badges | 39 | Returns to Pallet Town with the required badges before Xiao Yan arrives. |
| Indigo League fourth round | 42 | Faces Xiao Yan on the ice battlefield. His defeat prevents him from advancing to the fifth round. |
Background / History
Early Encounters with Xiao Yan
Before entering the Pokémon world, Xiao Yan knows Ash through the Pokémon television series. He and a friend discuss Ash’s Greninja losing to Alain’s Charizard, and Xiao Yan remembers Ash repeatedly challenging regional leagues without winning a championship. These references describe the television portrayal familiar to Xiao Yan, not Ash’s achievements during their shared journey 1.
Xiao Yan first spots Ash in Viridian Forest chasing a Poliwag, but their meeting is interrupted when Charmander leads Xiao Yan toward the injured Serena. Three years later, Xiao Yan encounters Ash and Pikachu being overwhelmed by Spearow. Ash subsequently witnesses Xiao Yan riding Arceus and battling Ho-Oh 3 4.
They formally introduce themselves in Pewter City. Ash correctly identifies Xiao Yan as the Trainer who caught Ho-Oh, but accepts his denial after Professor Oak has already dismissed the sighting. Misty then confronts Ash about her ruined bicycle and declares that she will follow him until he repays her 5.
Traveling Through Kanto
In Cerulean City, Ash challenges Xiao Yan to a practice battle, proposing that the winner challenge the Gym first. Despite losing, he asks to watch Xiao Yan’s Gym match and enthusiastically introduces him to Misty and Brock. Ash then wins his own Cascade Badge using Pikachu against Misty’s team 7 8.
At Celadon City’s Perfume Shop, Ash insults perfume and argues with Misty and the clerks until they sweep him outside with brooms. He later emerges from the Gym wearing a wig and holding a badge. On Beauty Street, he reunites with Xiao Yan’s group and drags Brock out of Yuki’s shop after Brock’s advances prompt her to call the police 23 25.
During the fossil excavation incident, Ash and Team Rocket tumble into a cavern, knocking Xiao Yan down with them. Ash helps Xiao Yan to his feet and later escapes riding his Charizard. Before leaving with Misty and Brock, he promises to battle Xiao Yan again 33.
Indigo League and Farewell
Aboard the ship to Cinnabar Island, Ash organizes a prank that tips the sleeping Xiao Yan into the pool. The two compare badges and hold another three-on-three battle. After losing, Ash calls Xiao Yan the strongest Trainer he has ever met and agrees that they must continue working to improve 36.
Back at Professor Oak’s Laboratory, Ash argues with Gary over his reliance on a small selection of Pokémon. Oak reports that Ash has discovered more than one hundred Pokémon species—more than either Gary or Xiao Yan. Ash also recognizes Xiao Yan’s captured Aerodactyl as the Pokémon that attacked them at the excavation site 39.
Ash meets Xiao Yan again in the Indigo League’s fourth round and loses their ice-field match. Afterward, he reveals that Xiao Yan is his idol and obtains an autograph on a photograph that Pikachu secretly took of Xiao Yan sleeping. He later joins the friends seeing Xiao Yan off to Kalos and leaves a message promising to become stronger and challenge him again 42 47.
Personality
Ash is eager to battle strong opponents and openly admires their skill. In Cerulean City, he drags Xiao Yan to a battlefield and releases Butterfree before receiving his agreement to the match. His excitement also extends to watching others compete: he enthusiastically supports Xiao Yan’s Gym challenge despite having just lost to him 7 8.
He is confident in his Pokémon, declaring his Pikachu the strongest Pikachu in the world. Defeats do not end his interest in battling Xiao Yan; instead, their repeated matches turn Xiao Yan into both his rival and his personal goal 7 36 47.
Ash’s impulsiveness also produces comic trouble. His blunt comments about perfume get him expelled from the shop, while his cruise-ship prank wakes Xiao Yan by dropping him into a pool. Alongside this mischievousness, he shows concern for his partners, rushing to pick up Pikachu after difficult losses 7 23 36.
Abilities & Skills
Pokémon Battling
Ash commands Pokémon in both Gym challenges and three-on-three matches.
- Uses Pikachu’s Electric-type attacks to defeat Misty’s Water-type team 8.
- Uses status moves such as Butterfree’s Stun Spore; its lingering spores later paralyze Glaceon when Pidgeot’s Gust blows them across the battlefield 7 42.
- Commands Charizard to counter Pikachu’s Double Team with its own duplicates and Swift 42.
- Is criticized by Gary for repeatedly using the same few Pokémon while leaving others, including Krabby, unused 39.
Pokémon Knowledge
- Records more than one hundred Pokémon species in his Pokédex by the time he returns for the Indigo League 39.
- Recognizes Xiao Yan’s Aerodactyl from their earlier encounter, though Professor Oak has to identify Ho-Oh for him 5 39.
Pokémon
| Pokémon | Documented Role and Development |
|---|---|
| Pikachu | Frequently rides on Ash’s shoulder. Battles Xiao Yan’s Pikachu in Cerulean City, wins Ash’s Cascade Badge, and faces Shelgon aboard the cruise ship 7 8 36. |
| Butterfree | Uses Stun Spore against Charmeleon and Glaceon. Appears in both the Cerulean practice match and the Indigo League fourth round 7 42. |
| Pidgeotto → Pidgeot | Appears as Pidgeotto in Cerulean City and as Pidgeot aboard the cruise ship; the evolution itself is not shown. Pidgeot defeats Glaceon during the Indigo League match 7 36 42. |
| Charizard | Carries Ash out of the Ancient Pokémon cavern. Ash calls it his “final ace” during the Indigo League match against Xiao Yan 33 42. |
| Snorlax | Opens the cruise-ship battle with Body Slam but loses to Xiao Yan’s Bulbasaur 36. |
| Krabby | Mentioned by Gary as an example of a Pokémon Ash leaves unused 39. |
Battles Against Xiao Yan
| Match | Ash’s Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cerulean City practice match | Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Pikachu | Loss. Charmeleon defeats Butterfree and Pidgeotto; Xiao Yan’s Pikachu defeats Ash’s Pikachu 7. |
| Cruise ship to Cinnabar Island | Snorlax, Pidgeot, Pikachu | Loss. Bulbasaur defeats Snorlax, Blastoise defeats Pidgeot, and Shelgon defeats Pikachu 36. |
| Indigo League fourth round, ice battlefield | Butterfree, Pidgeot, Charizard | Loss. Pidgeot defeats Glaceon before falling to Xiao Yan’s bird Pokémon; Xiao Yan’s Pikachu finishes Charizard with Seismic Toss 42. |
Equipment / Items
- Pokédex — Records his Pokémon discoveries; Professor Oak compares its entries with Gary’s and Xiao Yan’s 39.
- Badge case — Holds the six badges he shows Xiao Yan aboard the cruise ship 36.
- Autographed photograph — A picture of Xiao Yan sleeping, secretly taken by Pikachu and signed after their Indigo League match 42.
Relationships
- Pikachu — Traveling partner and trusted battler. Ash boasts about its strength and checks on it immediately after losses 7 36.
- Xiao Yan — Friend, rival, and idol. Ash has never beaten him in their documented matches and explicitly makes surpassing him a goal 36 42 47.
- Misty — Traveling companion whose initial demand for repayment over a ruined bicycle leads her to follow him. They later argue over perfume, and Ash battles her for the Cascade Badge 5 8 23.
- Brock — Traveling companion. Helps with the cruise-ship prank; Ash also removes him from Yuki’s shop after his unsuccessful advances 25 36.
- Gary — Fellow Pallet Town Trainer who criticizes Ash’s limited team rotation, prompting an argument at Professor Oak’s Laboratory 39.
- Professor Oak — Advises Ash and reviews his Pokédex. Initially refuses to believe his report that someone caught Ho-Oh 5 39.
- Mother — Speaks with Ash by video telephone in Pewter City and mentions that his father once took four days to reach the city 5.
Notable Quotes
“My name’s Ash, and my dream is to become a Pokémon Master.” 5
“You’re my idol and my goal. I’ll work hard to get stronger, and next time we meet, let’s have another battle!” 47