#punch ketchum

[pokemon-ash-aus]

Little mother’s day thing! Happy mothers day to all the parents out there!

[kvroko]

— Haruto... Ash...Oh, yeah. You never got to touch any Pokémon. Don’t worry about it, really. Don’t hold back, go on!  I guess I really can’t. Stay still.  Yeah, you’re here. I am. You are, too. Put your hand over mine. Like this? It’s just like you said. They’re warm and soft, and cuddling them even cheers you up. Thank you.  Pokémon: The Distant Blue Sky (2022)

[duckapus]

Ash: Uh, Tulip? There's something I need to tell you.

Tulip: What is it?

Ash: Sooo, the short version is that your brother likes Ashley now. And thinks he has a shot with her.

Tulip: ...Explain Now.

Ash: Okay, so I was in a town up north from here in one of my Ashley costumes because...reasons, and I ran into Archie, since apparently that town just happened to be where him and your mom ended up when they left this place. Obviously he didn't recognize me because nobody can ever recognize me as Ashley unless they already know.

Tulip: Ah yes, Anime Protagonist Logic.

Ash: It does come in handy sometimes. Anyway, even though he had no idea it was me I apparently seemed at least a little familiar, which is what caught his attention in the first place, and fair enough, I have punched him in the face three different times. And on the outside I brush it off as just having "one of those faces," but on the inside I'm freaking out because if he does see through my disguise we're probably gonna cause a scene and it'll completely derail what I was there for in the first place.

Tulip: Yeah, he's really not as dense as you'd think.

Ash: Then he starts flirting with me. And like, I already know what he's actually like and I don't get attracted to people I'm not close with already so none of his lines actually worked, but they probably would've otherwise because apparently he's actually got game!?

Tulip: I'd deny it but I have met several of his ex-girlfriends when they were still with him.

Ash: So I'm now processing that on top of trying not to get caught so I just let the conversation run on autopilot while I sort things out, which I really shouldn't have because, well, you know how I act as Ashley.

Tulip: Uh, which Ashley was it?

Ash: Classic version. Blonde hair with a lot of volume, very modest, likes orange.

Tulip: *winces* Yeah, that's definitely his type.

Ash: Right. By the time I tune back in, the conversation's pretty much over and he's saying he looks forward to seeing me again. So...yeah, Archie's got a crush on blonde Ashley now.

Tulip: Well that's awkward. At least it was just a one-time thing, right?

Ash: *shiftily looks to the side*

Tulip: ...He...isn't going to see Ashley again, right?

Ash: ...So, you know how I said I was there as Ashley "Because Reasons?"

Tulip: Satoshi "Ash" Ketchum What Did You Do.

Ash: I... may have signed up for a six-month professional modeling gig as "Ashley Kotyu" because I lost a bet with Misty.

Tulip: And you couldn't have found one in your own universe?

Ash: Interdimensional commutes are easier than cross-region, and your country had the fewest hoops to jump through to give Ashley enough of a legal identity for this to work.

Tulip: That... you know what, fair enough. What would Misty have had to do if you'd won?

Ash: *completely serious* I'm pretty sure she'd appear out of thin air and throw me through a wall if I told you.

Tulip: True. So what are you gonna do about All That?

Ash: *shrugs* Well, the reasonable thing would be to just shut him down the next time I see him, but I was thinking I could mess with his head a little.

Tulip: That sounds overcomplicated, slightly evil and likely to backfire. Let me know if you need help brainstorming ideas.

Ash: You got it.

[chancherpancher]

"You really sure, Ash? Eleven Episodes, and you call it quits?"

"Alright then. Let's come out on top, kid. It's time to put your place in history."

- Doc Louis (Punch-Out!!)

[alolanrain]

(Lana: Hey, your Ash's Sinnoh rival, right?) (Paul: Yeah, so-) And then he promptly gets knocked out by a surprise frying pan to the face. Lana's reasoning when the police call her parents (Lana: Our Champion asked the class due do it. By the way, the Aether family lawyers are about to end some Tobias guys whole career.)

Ash jokingly asked the class to punch Paul on sight and “take care” of Tobias - their the only ones who really hear him rant/talk about these particular two - and the class didn’t get the joke part

[0heartangel0]

The first episode of Pokemon Sun and Moon in a nutshell

[skyarly]

ash vs sonic but ash doesn't use any pokemon it's one on one

[weeb-polls-with-pip]

Autistic Anime Boys Round 1 Matchups!

Side A

L Lawliet (Death Note) VS Muichirou Tokito (Demon Slayer)

Gohan (Dragon Ball Z) VS Kiibo/K1-B0 Idabashi (Danganronpa)

Haruka Sakurai (Milgram) VS Seishirou Nagi (Blue Lock)

Satoru Gojou (Jujutsu Kaisen) VS Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

Umetarou Nozaki (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun) VS Tamaki Suoh (Ouran High School Host Club)

Gin Gagamaru (Blue Lock) VS Taisei Yoshida (Assassination Classroom)

Itona Horibe (Assassination Classroom) VS Souichi Tanuma (Those Snow White Notes)

Light Yagami (Death Note) VS Tenma Matsukaze (Inazuma Eleven)

Shouto Todoroki (My Hero Academia) VS Sunny (Omori)

Broly (Dragon Ball Super) VS Kaworu Nagisa (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Yu Narukami/Souji Seta (Persona 4) VS Sechs (XBlaze)

Kiyotaka Ishimaru (Danganronpa) VS Kento Nanami (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Nate River/Near (Death Note) VS Kyouya Ootori (Ouran High School Host Club)

Mash Burnedead (Mashle: Magic and Muscles) VS Noiz (DRAMAtical Murder)

Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) VS Kabuto Yakushi (Naruto)

Lan Wangji (Mo Dao Zu Shi) VS Rui Kamishiro (Project Sekai)

James (Pokémon) VS Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)

Yuusuke Kitagawa (Persona 5) VS Tsubasa Yuunagi (Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure)

Hitoshi-san (Nyan~ Neko Sugar Girls) VS Illumi Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)

Mikazuki Augus (Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans) VS Wakatoshi Ushijima (Haikyuu!!)

Homare Arisugawa (A3!) VS Kamille Bidan (Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam)

Subaru Mikazuki (My Roommate is a Cat) VS Atsushi Murasakibara (Kuroko no Basket)

Tanaka (Tanaka-kun is Always Listless) VS Natural Harmonia Gropius (Pokémon)

Haru (Tsuritama) VS Giorno Giovanna (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Floyd Leech (Twisted Wonderland) VS Laios Touden (Dungeon Meshi)

Touma Akechi (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) VS Trafalgar D. Water Law (One Piece)

Lotte “Roy” Carmine (BlazBlue) VS Gon Freecss (Hunter x Hunter)

Nahoya “Smiley” Kawata (Tokyo Revengers) VS Senkuu Ishigami (Dr. Stone)

Ash Ketchum (Pokémon) VS Mafuyu Satou (Given)

Alhaitham (Genshin Impact) VS Shichirou Balam (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Shintarou Kisaragi (Kagerou Project) VS Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)

Toshinari Seki (Tonari no Seki-kun) VS Takashi Natsume (Natsume’s Book of Friends)

Side B

Haruka Nanase (Free!) VS Tsukasa Tenma (Project Sekai)

Takeo Gouda (My Love Story!!) VS Karna (Fate)

Shintarou Midorima (Kuroko no Basket) VS Kim Dokja (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint)

Roronoa Zoro (One Piece) VS Junpei Tenmyouji (Zero Escape)

Sig (Puyo Puyo) VS Kanata Shinkai (Ensemble Stars)

Kyoujurou Rengoku (Demon Slayer) VS Yugi Mutou (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

Legoshi (Beastars) VS Gaien "Enkidu" Enkidou (Under Night In-birth)

Doppo Kunikida (Bungou Stray Dogs) VS Hiroshi Odokawa (Odd Taxi)

Kusuo Saiki (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.) VS Katsuya Serizawa (Mob Psycho 100)

Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa) VS Haruhito Yano (Odd Taxi)

Yotasuke Takahashi (Blue Period) VS Manjirou "Mikey" Sano (Tokyo Revengers)

Kyouya Onodera (Talentless Nana) VS Misumi Ikaruga (A3!)

Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney) VS Shu Itsuki (Ensemble Stars)

Meguru Bachira (Blue Lock) VS Ren Mihashi (Big Windup!)

Ranpo Edogawa (Bungou Stray Dogs) VS Kaito (Vocaloid)

Zero (Puyo Puyo) VS Masayoshi Hazama (Samurai Flamenco)

Genos (One Punch Man) VS Jotaro Kujo (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)

Vivia Twilight (Master Detective Archives: Raincode) VS Sora Harukawa (Ensemble Stars)

Satori Tendou (Haikyuu!!) VS Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic X)

Houtarou Oreki (Hyouka) VS Kabane Kusaka (Kemono Jihen)

Ghiaccio (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) VS Tenya Iida (My Hero Academia)

Malleus Draconia (Twisted Wonderland) VS Tetsuya Kuroko (Kuroko no Basket)

Kensuke Aida (Neon Genesis Evangelion) VS Goku (Dragon Ball)

Shinichi Kudou/Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan) VS Toya Aoyagi (Project Sekai)

Rei Suwa (Buddy Daddies) VS Gin Ibushi (Your Turn to Die)

Jade Leech (Twisted Wonderland) VS Akihiko Sanada (Persona 3)

Xiao (Genshin Impact) VS Loid Forger (Spy x Family)

Souya "Angry" Kawata (Tokyo Revengers) VS Sabro Sabnock (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun)

Apollo Justice (Ace Attorney) VS Tobio Kageyama (Haikyuu!!)

Kurapika (Hunter x Hunter) VS Saitama (One Punch Man)

Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear) VS Langa Hasegawa (Sk8 the Infinity)

Subaru Natsuki (Re: Zero) VS Yusei Fudo (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds)

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

howdy there! was wondering if you could do a mewtwo!reader that manages to wound up in paldea after escaping team rocket back in kanto as they experimented on the poor reader for GOD knows how long and they eventually encouter our beloved trio (nemona, arven & penny) and are put on EXTREMELY high alert because the reader is still convinced that everyone is out for them but the trio manage to calm the genetic psychic pokemon's savage nature and at least allow them to rest up and let their wounds heal? (bonus points if the reader trusts em enough to allow to be captured but thats entirely up to you)

At some point, you realized that no place in Kanto was safe anymore...as Team Rocket was searching for you far and wide.

All just for the chance to recapture you and subject you to even more cruel experiments.

You've dealt with them since the moment you were born, those damned scientists determined to push past the limits of your powers to further their own agenda.

How many more scars must they leave on your body? How much more of your psychic energy will be drained until they're satisfied??

You've had enough.

The only thing left to do was leave the safety of Cerulean Cave..but of course, the organization wasn't about to let you walk out without a fight.

They anticipated your escape, cornering you with their strongest bug, dark, and ghost types.

The lead grunt even illegally manufactured a master ball, hoping to catch you without fail.

Yet you unleashed your fury in the form of a massive psychic wave, not only destroying that, but also causing every Pokémon and human to collapse. Then you made your escape as the cave began crumbling.

You didn't care if they made it out alive or not....this world was better off without human scum like them.

And their Pokémon? They were nothing but traitors to their kind.

Eventually, you arrived in Paldea and took shelter near some ruins, your psychic energy spent from teleporting all the way here and your wounds not fully healing yet-

"Dios mio!! Is that a Mewtwo????"

Aaaaand you're on high alert once again, barely able to get a moment's rest.

You could see three young human trainers approaching, two in what looked like school uniforms and the other with a hoodie and some kind of Eevee on her back.

Despite your exhaustion, you refused to let them see you in such a vulnerable state, staring them down as your eyes glowed with what little psychic energy you had left.

All humans were out to get you. If not a scientist who wanted to experiment on you...it would be a trainer who wanted to show you off like some trophy--either way, both wanted to use you as a weapon.

"I will only ask you once...leave me alone, or I will destroy you all." You warn.

Nemona confused on who's speaking at first, but quickly realizes it's you and tries to calm you down.

However, your focus shifts to Arven's Mabosstiff and you try attacking him....yet you're barely able to lift him off the ground before your strength wanes once again, dropping him.

Arven's furious, ready to go over and punch you (like Ash Ketchum in the first movie), but while he's held back by the two girls...you wondered why he reacted that way.

"How curious...you'd rather throw yourself in front of your own Pokémon instead of sending him after me? Why is that, Arven?"

"B-Because the last time I made him fight a powerful Pokémon I never met before, he was...he...." He doesn't finish, but you understood.

And in that moment, your eyes opened a little bit more, finally gaining some clarity as you gaze at his companion.

"Your Mabosstiff was mortally wounded in the past, but he was cured...and neither of you wish to live through that pain again."

"Wha....how did you know?"

"He told me." You gestured to the dark type with a small smile, hearing his woof of agreement. "I see he is your best friend, not some tool. Perhaps I was wrong to think all humans are selfish monsters.."

"I mean, we did save Paldea's ecosystem from being wrecked!" Nemona added cheerfully.

"It's true," Penny nodded. "But look, uh...Mewtwo..we're not your enemy. Obviously you're still hurt. You don't have to keep fighting like this. We can help you out, but..only if you let us."

You'd tell her you can manage, but the fact you couldn't even stand back up without great pain proved her point.

So in the end, you allow the trio to heal you with some potions and give you the chance to rest, reassuring you that Team Rocket can't follow you here.

You refused to be taken to any Pokémon Center as to not be seen by too many humans.

However, you'll stick around the three whenever they venture out into Paldea, teleporting into their dorms sometimes just to see what they're up to, protecting them from harm, etc.

Nemona hoped to capture you, though she respects your wishes to live freely. It's what you deserve after all you've been through.

[blueikeproductions]

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet anime adaption Ash version.

After another adventure with old friends and foiling Team Rocket’s schemes yet again, the young Champion Ash Ketchum gets an invite to visit the illustrious Orange-Grape Academy in the Paldea Region. He is offered a student teaching position to speak of his experiences in Pokémon Battling as well as get offered a chance to compete in the Blueberry League and fight the local Elite Four.

After being seen off by his current traveling companions, who decide to stay in Kanto to surprise visit their little cousin Liko at Indigo Academy, Ash enrolls at Paldea, starting fresh once more with Pikachu at his side.

Team Rocket, overhearing the matter, decide to infiltrate the school disguised as the RAs of Ash’s dorm in an attempt to get Pikachu, and if possible, nab every Pokémon at the facility.

Ash’s students include Nemona, Arven, Penny, and new character Alfie, an exchange student from Galar who looks up to Ash. These two share a big brother-little brother dynamic and form a duo. Completing the trio is Iono, another student teacher and popular streamer of Paldea. She handles the school’s audio visual arts, and helps fund the school with her videos.

Ash quickly finds Champion life isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, as Iono has made it her mission to document the life of the new World Champ, and films him every waking moment no matter what he’s doing, while Nemona is a teacher’s pet, and as a fellow Champion herself, desperately wants Ash to be her rival. While Ash and Iono manage to get along after finding a compromise (as well as being forced to room together), Nemona proves to be the more annoyingly persistent one that even Team Rocket (disguised or not) has had to step in between on occasion. Nemona openly hates Team Rocket, mostly because of how they interfere in her quest to get Ash to be her rival, and her Pawmo has sent them flying off with a single punch more than once.

Ash works under Director Clavell, who in this universe is a little more eccentric and tries to be more openly “with it” to appeal to the children of the academy. He’s not particularly good at it: he seems somewhat stuck in the 90’s, but he means well and is respected, and someone Ash can go to for advice when unable to talk to his father figure Kukui. When Team Star causes trouble on the school grounds, Clavell often turns to Ash and his friends to “set them straight”. Team Rocket form a rivalry with Team Star and find them tacky and annoying. Like with Team Skull, they often clash with a trio of younger grunts that are analogous to Jessie, James and Meowth. There has at least been one clash between them that involved a weaponized Starmobile and weaponized Meowth balloon mecha.

Team Rocket is instructed to take Giovanni’s teenage nephew Lorenzo under their wing to teach him the ropes. He is functionally the Amethio equivalent, only far less rigid but not any less goal oriented. While he finds TR bizarre, he develops a begrudging respect for the trio. He has some deep rooted issues that see him exploited by the Four Disaster Pokémon. He isn’t a permanent fixture of the group and attends the Academy to learn about Paldea and its Pokémon to benefit Team Rocket while Jessie and James scheme to get Pikachu and the school’s Pokémon.

Goh and Gary meanwhile have reunited and form a research team investigating sightings of the Paradox Pokémon. A running gag is they tend to get distracted by other matters, and often miss the Paradox who is standing right behind them, wondering what they’re doing before wandering off. They host segments on Paldean Pokémon at the end of the episode and are occasionally joined by Professor Oak offering his own opinions and comedic timing to the proceedings. It’s stated on occasion Gary has worked with Friede of the Rising Voltekkars in the past on Pokémon research. Later on in the story, Ash’s group and Team Rocket start having their own experiences with the Paradox and Titan Pokemon, leading to a team up with Goh and Gary to get to the bottom of the matter. Ash’s Orthworm is actually a Titan Pokémon that has an addiction to Herba Mystica, and is a little pathetic, but with Ash’s help, it slowly quits the habit and becomes a capable battler. It had a rivalry from fellow Titan, Klawf, that Team Rocket egged on as a means to be able to control a Titan for their purposes, if temporarily.

Some of the visual glitches are used for comedic purposes, like Ash’s Fuecoco falling into a lake, or Team Rocket getting buggy eyed when a situation goes hairy. The creepy stretched out Player avatar is seen as a sculpture in Brassius’s art class as well.

The Paradox/Titan Pokémon and Arven’s plot are the first major story arc, followed up by the Teal Mask DLC and confrontation with the Four Disasters as the second major arc with the Blueberry League and a related final confrontation with Team Star closing out the series. While the Teal Mask DLC is the main focus, Indigo Disk material outside of the Blueberry League is partly dependent on what Horizons does with Terapagos and if Liko and Ash meet canonically at all.

Ash and James are a major part of Arven’s arc, the three bonding over food and shared love of dog Pokémon. (James doubly so because of Greavard and Growlie.) Greavard is also the return of the loving Pokémon that injures James archetype, accidentally draining his life force when it happily pounces on him. It once slept on top of James during the night and almost killed him. It returns life force by giving James a big sloppy lick in the face.

Partner Pokémon (* designates Evolution):

Ash: Pikachu, Fuecoco, Frigibax*, Wattrel*, Orthworm, Primeape*

Alfie: G-Slowpoke*, Quaxly, Toedscool, Eiscue, Fidough*, Chewtle*

Iono: Bellibolt, Porygon*, Toxel*, Sandy Shocks, Jolteon

Jessie: Wobuffet, Scovillain, Lechonk*

James: Tandemaus*, Poltchageist, Greavard

Lorenzo: Maschiff*, Spidops, G-Meowth, Charcadet*

Supporting Pokémon: Miraidon: A Legendary Pokémon Ash befriends. Ash, Alfie, and Arven nurse it back to health during the early Paradox plot, and it becomes loyal to Ash, sticking with him to the end of the adventure. It has a bit of a Speed Buggy type personality and speech impediment, and drives Ash around campus and later to the Kitakami Region.

Bombirdier: A new courier employed at Team Rocket taking over Delibird’s job. It’s strongly suggested it did a hostile take over of the position… Besides Delibird, it also hates Iron Bundle, mistaking it for Delibird. It has a cruel personality and enjoys dropping heavy deliveries on Team Rocket.

Scream Tail: A little weirdo who pesters both factions. Analogous to the original Jigglypuff, and first encountered by Goh’s group. Seems to have found camaraderie in Team Star.

Iron Bundle: Encountered by Goh’s team, but more properly encountered by Team Rocket. It seems to want to help out people, but also doesn’t abide nonsense, blasting people and Pokémon that anger it with its blaster bag. Seems to have found a place at the Academy’s school store. It has a personality and mannerisms similar to Bubo the robot owl from Clash of the Titans.

Tinkaton: The Bewear equivalent that harasses Team Rocket and occasionally Ash’s group. Its primary motivation is to get James’ bottle caps to bling its hammer, and appears in all manner of crazy ways to acquire them. It once led a squad of its own family of Tinkatuffs riding Cyclizars after Team Rocket during the middle of a Pikachu operation to accomplish this. Team Rocket also once made the mistake of piloting a Corviknight mecha in its presence unknowingly….

Gimmighoul: Another weirdo that took residence in Team Rocket’s dorm room and started playing havoc with their finances and that of the school’s. It takes a fancy to James’ bottle caps also, and forms a friendship with Tinkaton. Its various Gimmighoul Coins are scattered around Paldea, with Ash, Iono, Alfie, Meowth and others having found at least one in passing not knowing what it was but kept it. Gimmighoul, after experimenting with James’ bottle caps, manages to collect its G-Coins and evolve into Gholdengo. Iono affectionately nicknames Gimmighoul/Gholdengo “Earl” after a particular video game character she likes. Has mannerisms and speech patterns similar to Digit the Cockroach from An American Tail as Gimmighoul.

Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti: The mysterious, mildly eccentric Pokémon of the Kitakami Region. They choose Ash, Team Rocket, Alfie and Iono to assist in preventing a coming disaster that threatens Paldea and Kitakami. Ogerpon’s role is pending further DLC information.

[vangoghschair]

I hate that I have so many edit ideas for BAF legacy but they are all based on the story, and not the events happening physically in the video.

Like I have heart wrenching ideas of betrayal and revenge and heartbreak but all the scenes I've got are:

- Amanda flirting with Angela

- Amanda throwing fake punches/pointing

- Chase kissing a baby doll with tongue

- KETCHUM

- Simon Bootles slowly turning into a demon

- The Brawne family's rolls

[pokemon-ash-aus]

Fluffy?

Fluffy

[quadruple-a-battery-under-ur-bed]

im watching mianite uh wish me luck:

WHY IS HIS FOV SO LOW IT HURTS

who is this yapping

oh tucker i know him

HELICOPTER????

is that Tommy fucking Innit

oj i see someoeb

SYNHD!!

oh theyre already protecting each other this is syndisparkels oe wvwatevr isnt it

where are his shoes

i can hear the keyboard

punching trees!!

the north star

i see a housee

who is tucker i forgor

is he ash ketchum

ohh okay mianite and dianite okay

the priests bitch??

oh okayy

SACRAFICE???? EN ESTA ECCONOMIA????

wait the evil temple occupies the same relative position in the nether????

wait is the nether called dianite or smthn

pretty badass fr

tuckers girlfriend???

wait like irl or in game

A SLAVE????

WHAT

SPARKLES WAS ENSLAVED????

glowstone trees look fucking cool

yeah who is the priests bitch

WHO IS THE THIRD PERSON IN VC

huh thats cool ig

cake everywhere!!

oh theres cake EVERYWHERE

why is the nether wart farm long

oh theres ash ketchum

yeah tucker was ash okay

whos this chaps dude

i love that sheep i would kill for it

oh theres tucker

THOSE FUCKING WEAPON

HE FAILED TO PLEASE HIM???

ooft mate thats a dumbass move

no nukes :(

LMAOOO

thats gotta get some godly favour omg

MATE

GOT HIS SHIT LMAO

donkey nipples?????????

OH NOW I GET KEYS USERNAME LMFAO (syn4k)

neuty

[nautiscarader]

Azure reunion - ch. 1

Disclaimer: All characters are aged-up,to match the theme of the story, and make Ash's endless journey a little more realistic. I haven;t seen anipoke for ages, so Bulbapedia, you are my only hope. Vulpix is the cutest Pokémon. The last thing has nothing to do with the story, it is just true, fight me irl.

(Ao3)

It was good to back on the road. Or rather, above it. Feeling wind in his hair, as he sat on his trusty old Pidgeot, Ash Ketchum felt as if he was 10 years old again, starting his great journey…

It hasn't been that long since he arrived back from Galar, with dozens of new Pokémon at his side and shiny trophy with his name. His mom thought he'd stay home longer, but deep down she knew he wasn't made to sit down and bask in glory, his relentless spirit could only have been contained for so long…

He watched as clouds moved next to, underneath and around him, obscuring the many roads and landmarks he has visited over the last decade or so. Flocks of wild Starlys and Pidgeys surrounded them as they flew over the mountain ridge separating Kanto and Johto, with the peak of the majestic Mount Silver being the only higher point visible.

"Pika!"

His partner tugged Ash's collar, prompting him to ask Pidgeot to lower the altitude and let Pikachu choose where to land. As the clouds dispersed, they were presented with vast, lush forests and dozens of lakes that dotted northern Johto, with its most recognisable one shining with the glow of the red, afternoon sun.

"Do you want go for a swim in a lake, bud?"

"Pika!", Pikachu replied.

"Okay then, looks like we'll be landing there."

Ash leaned forward and hugged his beloved starter as Pidgeot dived down, looking for a place to land. In the distance, far beyond the tree line, they could spot a few rustic buildings, with the only larger, more noticeable one being the Pokémon Center.

The large wings of Pidgeot flapped one more time before his claws touched the ground, allowing its passengers to safely unboard.

"Thanks, buddy", Ash nuzzled against Pidgeot's feathers. "Here, you deserve this, you flew half the continent."

He reached into his backpack, procuring a huge pile of choped berries, which Pidgeot began munching on immediately. Ash stretched his arms and walked towards the lake, marvelling at the colours of the sky reflecting in its surface.

…at least until a splash of water hit his face, nearly causing him to trip and fall.

"What the heck?", Ash looked around spotting the creature that splashed him. A rather bulky Azumarill puffed its cheeks, ready to hit the human again, but Ash's Pikachu was already on the case, jumping to protect him.

Azumarill evidently did not expect to find an electric mouse there, but it didn't give up, throwing mud at its foe to shield itself from its electricity.

"Oh, you think this will slow him down?", Ash smirked, "Use Electro Ball!"

Pikachu curved its tail and leaned forward, ready to tirn into a ball of lightning, his agile moves tossing any bit of ground and dirt sticking to its face. It rushed towards the mouse, but deliberately dodged its punch, surrounding it from the back in a swift distraction. With an upper paw, he began glowing and charged at the frightened Pokémon, watching as its fear-filled eyes got bigger and bigger until… they disappeared in a flash of light.

"Pika?!"

"No, return!"

A new voice caught their attention as Azumarill was returned to its owner's Pokéball, vcausing Pikachu to collide with Ash with tremendous force, making the two fall into lake with a far greater splash.

For quite a moment, Ash was confused as to what has happened, until the same voice brought him back to reality… but only just, as the familiar tone nearly made him fall again.

"Ash?!"

As his vision cleared up, he was greeted with wide-open,surprised blue eyes, and the red hair, matching the tone of the late afternoon sky.

"Misty?!"

"Pikachu-Pi!", Pikachu joined him, as the young woman reached her hand to help him get up.

For quite a while, Ash was rendered speechless, unable to gather thoughts racing his mind. She was quite possibly the last person he expected to find, and now she was towering over him, he could see how much-and how little at the same time has changed.

Her hair style was different; gone was the single ponytail, in favour of more symmetric haircut, though still far from the lush, opulent hairdos of her sisters. Her suspenders were gone too, though she kept her yellow-and-blue attire, complemented by a fisherman's jacket with dozen of pockets, one of which housed her Mega Ring, as well as other Pokéballs.

But Misty was in for far bigger surprise when she finally helped him get up and found out she could no longer stare down at him, her eyes levelled at his far more pronounced jawline, covered in subtlest of stubbles. And when she finally looked at him, words were stuck in her throat as well, when she realised how much her friend has grown, and how he differed from the image she has seen on TV.

With their eyes fixated at each other, the two youngsters were left in a silent stalemate, gathering words that could express their feelings and thoughts that have accumulated over the years.

"Misty…"

"Ash…"

Their lips came within inches from each other, their breaths mixing, as the two came closer and closer….

At least until Misty delivered a solid punch to his head.

"WHY DID YOU ATTACK MY AZUMARILL?"

"Me?", Ash countered, assuming hi own fighting stance "Why did he splash us?!"

"Pika!", Pikachu chimed in.

"Cos he was securing my fishing spot!", she pointed back, at the slightly obscured blanket and tent, togther with fishing supplies left on the ground.

"Oh, I guess that-that does make sense…"

The two stared at each other in disbelief before bursting into laughter, interrupted only by Misty welcoming back Pikachu that leapt into her arms.

"Hey there! Long time no see…"

"Yeah, it's been a while since Alola…", he scratched his head. "You-you look great…"

"Well you do not", she countered sternly, catching his attention, "You are soaked!".

"Yeah, you are right, we should…"

[wawamouse]

Oz Rewatch 3: S4E05: Gray Matter

Plotlines

Bruno Goergan the detective arrives at Oz and recognises Mobay, who kills him and makes it look like an accident; Mobay’s partner comes to visit; Mobay visibly spirals

Glynn exploits his family for the gubernatorial race

Diane calls Tim, who is having a shit time in Unit B,

Querns meets with Said

Kevin Ketchum/Supreme Allah arrives at Emerald City

Querns appoints trustees to Emerald City and begins transferring white inmates out of Oz

Death Row business; Deyell punches a wall and asks Gloria to come by and see Ginzburg

Patrick Keenan arrives at Oz for Gloria’s rape

Cyril gets sedated by Gloria after reacting violently to Tidd and Browne

Querns suspects Stanislofsky for the death of Galino; Ryan turns Hoyt against Stanislofsky and obtains the cellphone

Rebadow feels alive after killing Hernandez and starts acting out; he asks Morales for permission to kill someone else

Beecher remains despondent over his children’s kidnapping; Gary turns up dead; Mukada reveals to Schillinger that Beecher found Hank with good intentions and urges him to let Holly go

Hibitz tells Beecher that Chris is behind the kidnappings; Chris is questioned by the FBI; Beecher tries to kill Keller; Schillinger tells Hank to let Holly go

I realised this episode that I actually really enjoy the first half of season 4. I shit on season 4 a lot, but what it really is is the later half, because I think there are actually a lot of interesting bits—a lot more character interactions between characters!—and smaller plots in 4a. I like that there’s a lot more characters coming in, especially ones we don’t know that well, because it makes the place seem busier. I also like that there’s more story moments of Augustus Hill as Hill rather than just the Narrator, and yay! More for Mukada to do. His nervous smoking is hilarious. For that matter, I feel like there’s a lot in s4 that feels funnier than I remember, or maybe that’s the result of watching it with someone else. Either way, Les Hibitz cracks me up; Arif being pissy about advocating for a black unit manager only to get shut out if funny to me; Beecher trying to shank Chris and the fight spilling out onto the floor where a hack gets absolutely squashed at the very bottom of the skirmish and subsequent dogpile… comedy gold. Me and Sister got a real hoot out of that.

I also really like the moments on Death Row—Deyell missing Shirley’s presence and also telling Gloria that no one’s come by to see Ginzburg was nice. Sister doesn’t see the point of the Death Row stuff, but I like the jump aways to seeing what they’re up to. They have such an isolated storyline, but I feel like it’s interesting nevertheless, and it does feel different with old Shirley. (Sister during that scene: OLD? She would hate being called ‘old Shirley’!)

Stray Thoughts:

I really like the Stanislofsky, Hill, Busmalis, and Keller table gossip moments. I think it's fun how Stanislofsky often ends up playing cards with Busmalis. They seem like an unlikely grouping of characters, but they also all seem to get along. Makes sense; none of them have any competing interests, so they're all just chill and get along.

I find Supreme Allah's character pretty interesting (sort of lame ending aside) so I'm glad he's now in the show

Note to self: the freight elevator near the dress factory is not a heavily guarded area...

Sister: They’re having a funeral at a… national gallery?

[some-cowboy]

In honor of the boys back on the road:

BOYGENIUS QUOTES THAT - AHHHHHHHHHHH

I want you to hear my story, and be a part of it - without you without them

how long’s the chevy been on cinderblocks? - $20

IIIIII KNOW YOOOOOU HAVE TWENNNNNTY DOLLARSSSS - $20

when you don’t know who you are, you fuck around and find out - true blue

and it feels good to be known so well - true blue

i can’t hide from you, like i hide from myself - true blue

wishing you were kind enough to be cruel about it - cool about it

i came prepared for absolution if you’d only ask, so i take so offense when you say no regrets - cool about it

once i took your medication to know what it’s like / and now i have to act like i can’t read your mind - cool about it

it would only take the energy to fix it - not strong enough

i don’t know why i am, the way i am - not strong enough

spinning out about things that haven’t happened - not strong enough

always an angel, never a god / ALWAYS AN ANGEL, NEVER A GOD - not strong enough

i think i’ve been having revelations - not strong enough

if it isn’t love, then what the fuck is it? - revolution 0

wish i wasn’t so tired, but i’m tired - revolution 0

if you love me you will listen to this song - leonard cohen

i never thought you’d happen to me - leonard cohen

it wasn’t flattering, but you listened like it mattered - we’re in love

would you still love me if it turns out i’m insane / i know what you’ll say / but it helps to hear you say it anyway - we’re in love

if you rewrite your life, may i still play a part? - we’re in love

i could go on, and on, and on, and i will - we’re in love

an honest fool with more bad habits than you can count - anti-curse

was anyone ever so young? - anti-curse

IM SWIMINNNNN BAAAAAAAACK - anti-curse

an incantation like an anti-curse / or is it a blessing? - anti-curse

you said my music is mellow, or maybe i’m just exhausted - letter to an old poet

you think you’re a good person, because you won’t punch me in the stomach - letter to an old poet

you’re not special, you’re evil / you don’t get to tell me to calm down / you made me feel like an equal / but i’m better than you and you should know that by now - letter to an old poet

you don’t know me - letter to an old poet

i wanna be happy, i’m ready - letter to an old poet

i can’t love you, how you want me too - bite the hand

i never said i’d be alright, just thought i could hold myself together - me & my dog

in the morning it won’t matter - me & my dog

when you cut a hole into my skull / do you hate what you see / like i do? - souvenir

wasn’t a fighter until somebody told me you had better learn to lean into the punch / so it don’t hurt as bad when they leave / there you were, turning your cheek - stay down

so would you teach me i’m the villain /aren’t i? aren’t i the one? / constantly repenting for a difficult mind / push me down into the water, like a sinner, hold me under, and i’ll never come up again / i’ll just stay down - stay down

trick after trick, i make the magic, and you unrelentingly ask for the secret - salt in the wound

gnashing my teeth / like a child of cain / if this is a prison i’m willing to burn my own chain - salt in the wound

they say, the hearts and minds are on your side / they say, the finish line, is in your sight / what they don’t say is what’s on the other side - salt in the wound

i am never anywhere, anywhere i go / when i’m home i’m never there, long enough to know - ketchum, ID