I always found the psychology of Pokemon very interesting. Knowing Tajiri and the little perv he is, I think I can profile where Ash's hormones will aim for. Let's establish one thing first: Satoshi Tajiri, creator of the Pokemon/Pocket Monster franchise, is a clear projection source of Ash/Satoshi, the biggest protagonist of the Pokemon franchise.Firstly, let us examine Ash's situation at the beginning of the entire franchise: a young, pubertial, inexperienced, snarky, arrogant and hopeful Trainer with aspirations to be the greatest, with the id (basic needs/desires), ego (own personality), and superego (morals, values, ethics) at great, stress-inducing crossroads. At his side was an unmaneagable Pikachu, one that Misty was very fond of and kept quite happy. While experimentation of all orientations amidst pre-pubertial and pubertial-age kids is common, it is also common for males to find friendships with other males a lot more rewarding than with females. While many may see signs pointing to PalletShipping and Ash's alleged homosexuality, it also leaves ground open for Misty. Why? Misty is a tomboy, with a lot of characteristics common only in males: flat chest, lanky build, outgoing hostility, dress, etc. Not only would this appeal to Ash's burgeoning sexuality, but would cement Misty's position as a mainstay in Ash's life. Ash's path as a Trainer is, while the franchise doesn't show it, very stressful for a kid his age: away from home, little human intimacy, and in an aggressive environment, he'd be traumatized and would probably have packed up and left for home. However, his will, along with the people whom accompany him (Misty above all others) spur him on.
As Ash matures and ages, many PearlShippers argue, however, Ash's sexual appetite will mature as well, and his instinct would be to aim for a genuinely feminine girl, a.k.a Dawn. However, if you take into account the prior analysis and forget the fact Ash has only aged one year since the beginning of the anime/franchise, this would be in confliction with psychoanalytical processes and basic psychology.
One theory, though one I've debunked, I had once was that Ash was sexually frustrated/confused, with a burgeoning homosexuality he tried to stifle first with Misty and then with the other two girls (May and Dawn), with Misty being the most succesful of the relationships. Of the many AshShippings in the Pokemon world, AdvanceShipping, in my eyes, is the least likely. Keeping in mind Pokemon is intended for kids, it would make sense the creators would keep a female companion close to Ash, keeping the franchise/show from becoming a proverbial "sausage-festival". May was probably just a stand-by, seeing as how she lasted the least of all the girls (so far). However, I am quite sure she was responsible for Ash's sexual development: if memory serves me right, there was this one episode where May sheds her clothes and reveals herself to Ash in a two-piece bathing suit. Neither Misty nor Dawn ever revealed that much skin... or did they? "The Misty Mermaid" would serve only in Ash becoming a pervert by today's standards, and Dawn I've never seen go ecchi.
One thing that bothers me about PokeShipping, however, is whether Ash reciprocates Misty's love for him. As true as everything I mentioned before be, his sexual preference is still quite open. If the above is acceptable, then Ash has developed along the straight path, and would be a healthy heterosexual kid. However, due to her constant presence, I do think a brother/sister relationship entirely plausible. And one thing people don't seem to notice is that Misty has a phobia for bugs. Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of the series, was a bug collector, and was quite saddened when the woods near his home were paved over.
This fact could go one of three ways:
1.) The fact is an allusion to Misty's polarity-mesh with Ash, and the two are destined to be together.
2.) The fact is a sign of Satoshi's dissaproval of girls of this type (the hypocrisy of their lifestyles), and Misty is not Ash's source of attracton
3.) The fact is irrelevant and the attraction/repulsion between the two is caused by something else.
What might that be, you ask? I'd love to hear your opinions.
ncG1vNJzZmiapaGvorPAq5uepl6jsrV706GpnpmUqHyxscCro6ygmaW9qrrGZq2sZaCkuKa%2Fx6KnqaGenHt0gZFsbGiokZyyboE%3D