Ash Ketchum has had numerous traveling partners during his many years of Pokémon journeying, but few are as memorable as his very first: Misty. Though the two didn’t get off on the best foot, they grow very close after countless shared adventures, leading fans to often pair them romantically. And there’s plenty of evidence to see why -- especially on Misty’s side.
In the very first episode of Pokémon, Ash steals Misty’s bike while running away from a flock of angry Spearow. He then proceeds to wreck the bike, an incident Misty never lets him forget, deciding to follow him until he replaces it. While they often butt heads, they also share sweet moments of friendship. Misty, however, may secretly wish for a relationship beyond friendship, as these five moments reveal.
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Whenever Ash Is Mistaken As Misty's Boyfriend
Throughout her time in the Pokémon series, Misty is mistaken as Ash’s girlfriend so often it becomes a running gag, and her flustered response always seems to expose how she truly feels. In these incidents, both Ash and Misty could be called classic tsunderes -- meaning they mask their affections by throwing out harsh insults.
Misty’s sister is the first to tease her about Ash being her boyfriend, and Misty pretty much flips out. Also, in Pokémon: The Movie 2000, a girl asks if Misty is Ash’s sister, and Misty hastily corrects her -- though the girl then comments, “I guess you must be his girlfriend,” to which Misty replies, “Gross!”
Tracey also observes that Ash and Misty are close and purposely veil their feelings for one another. Trying to set two people up, Misty says, “They’re not mature enough to admit it, but they really like each other.” Tracy aptly points out: “It’s the same with you and Ash!” They both exclaim that he’s crazy -- but fans know Tracey’s right on target.
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Misty's Emotional Reaction to Ash's 'Death'
In Pokémon Episode 23, “The Tower of Terror,” Ash’s spirit gets pulled out from his body by a trio of ghost Pokémon. When Misty and Brock happen upon Ash’s lifeless body, they believe him to be dead. Misty looks especially distraught at this moment, fervently begging him to wake up. When Ash’s spirit finally does return to his body and he comes to, Misty gives a blushy smile and wipes away tears, clearly relieved.
This isn’t the only time Misty experiences heartbreak after believing Ash to be dead. In the finale of Pokémon: The First Movie, Ash is turned to stone, which pulls on everyone’s heartstrings, Misty crying, “Please, no…”
Some may argue that Misty’s reaction to Ash’s death doesn’t necessarily indicate that she has romantic feelings towards him; she may react that way to any friend’s death. But that deep blush and teary panic truly revealed how much she cares for her dear traveling companion.
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Misty Talks About Marrying Ash One Day
While some Pokémon characters bury their feelings, Brock is exceedingly outward with his many crushes. In Episode 41 “The Heartbreak of Brock,” a girl falls in love with him for once and quickly insists the two should get married. As Ash and Misty watch the two make wedding plans from afar, Ash notes how strange it is to see Brock getting married.
Misty then dreamily replies, “You and I will be married someday too.” Empty-headed, Ash nods before the implications fully occur to him and he flips out a bit. The way it’s phrased sounds like Misty is literally theorizing that she and Ash will marry each other, but it can also be perceived as they’ll both get married to unspecified partners one day. While this can be left up to interpretation, Misty clearly had Ash on her mind when considering future marriage.
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A Pokémon Music Album Makes Misty's Crush Clear
While Misty’s crush is never overly explicit in the Pokémon anime, it’s expressed very outwardly in some supplementary songs released on special Pokémon albums. The Pokémon 2.B.A. Master album contains “Misty’s Song,” an old 2000s tune where Misty spills her heart out one night when Ash is sleeping.
Some of the lyrics of “Misty’s Song” make her crush blatantly obvious, such “I wanna tell you what I'm feeling, / And to say that, I love you.” A secret profession of love like this basically seals the deal on the ship's validity: Misty’s feelings for Ash are strong and romantic. Additionally, in the anime’s song “Under the Mistletoe” -- released on the Pokémon Christmas Bash CD -- Misty opens up about her romantic feelings, singing, “Maybe I'll meet him / Where hearts are aglow / Under the mistletoe.”
However, these songs are only done by the English dub of the Pokémon anime. 4Kids didn’t collaborate with the Japanese Pokémon team, thus, whether the songs are canon or not is up for debate.
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Misty Is Heartbroken When She Must Leave Ash
Misty may have initially felt forced to travel with Ash by demanding he repay her after trashing her bike, but throughout the series she stays by his side at every turn. When Gym Leader Rudy falls for Misty and asks her to stay by his side, she ultimately decides to stay with Ash. Even when Officer Jenny fixes her bike, her connection has developed so much that she continues traveling with him.
However, when Misty finds out her sisters are leaving the Cerulean Gym, she’s forced to return so it doesn’t close. So, she makes the difficult choice to part with Ash and Brock, shown in their emotional farewell episode. Both Ash and Misty are devastated at their parting, and in the English dub the song “Misty Most of All” plays, the lyrics hinting, “You're more than my best friend.”
If Pokémon hadn’t continued, the creators could’ve intended for Ash and Misty to become a canon couple by the end. However, as Ash meets new people and his journey continues, other girls like Serena also seem to develop romantic feelings for the Pokémon protagonist. With the end of Ash's journey and his reunion with Misty in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, it looks as though the potential couple will never be realized.
