Red Lotus Trio (Chloe Cerise) | Infinity Train (Passengers [The Apex, Grace Monroe], Cage of Flauros, The Unsub's Crew) | Pokémon World (Vermillion City [Goh Fujihachi, Parker Cerise], The Ketchum Family, Pokémon Trainers)
The Ketchum Family
A family consisting of a mother and son from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region.
open/close all folders
In General
- Beware the Nice Ones: Ash and Delia are among the nicest characters in the series. Don't, however, make them angry.
- Big Eater: Both Ash and Delia love food with the latter being an excellent cook.
- Disappeared Dad: Ash's father is only vaguely mentioned and doesn't appear, with a Parental Title Characterization by both Delia and Ash raising some level of distance between him and them. When Renji mentions that she's married (to himself in a mantra) she considers 'correcting him' raising a question of divorce, separation, or widow status. Wisteria would eventually reveal that he left the family over a decade prior.
- Famous Ancestor: Per Orange Lily, both Delia and Ash are descendants of Sir Aaron and Queen Rin.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: The sister of the unaccounted for Mr. Ketchum, Hilary, who fights with Delia constantly. Her own sons Trey and Troy are not this and get along with Ash and Delia perfectly well.
- Odd Name Out: They don't have a floral-themed last name unlike the vast majority of other named characters, mostly because they came into the story with a canon one.
- Sixth Ranger: They've only come into contact with the Cerise and Fujihachi families in the last few months. This means that they are both uninvolved in years of drama, and unwittingly stepping into powder kegs they don't even know are there.
Ash Ketchum
A Pokémon trainer from Pallet Town who wants to be the very best like no one ever was, alongside being the Alola League Champion. He's one of Professor Cerise's research fellows. He wants to be able to help Chloe figure out her problems...but because he never got to the root of them, he unknowingly made the problems worse.
- The Ace: He's a skilled Pokémon Trainer and the Champion of the Alola League, making him this in Chloe's eyes. This plus the ability to make friends both easily and readily is how Goh similarly views Ash in the second part of the story.
- Accomplice by Inaction: While Goh is more to blame for Chloe's problems, Ash also did nothing to help either. The best he did was just ask Chloe to come to join him, but he never really got to know why she doesn't like Pokémon nor does he ever try to get to know what she likes (outside of Goh's brilliant observation that Chloe just "wasn't into Pokémon anymore") nor did he ever advise Goh to actually talk to Chloe more often. Deconstructed: The sheer number of crap he gets for this causes him to develop a Guilt Complex, until the Unown incident convinces him to stop blaming himself for everything and actually make those ''responsible'' accept their responsibility. Not that this doesn't hit its own problems...
- Achilles in His Tent: Ash is an unbelievably powerful trainer, being the Alola League Champion and all, but he opts out in early Blossoming Trail when the situation at Vermillion City causes his mood to go sour, eventually leading into a pretty damn severe Guilt Complex. The Unown incident becomes the point when he decides enough is enough and returns to his former self.
- Adaptational Angst Upgrade: The Blame Game he's forced to play gives him a Guilt Complex, and it's made clear that though he's survived many of his escapades physically, that's not the same as surviving them mentally.
- Adaptational Badass: Unlike the canon series, this version of Ash can make more active use of his Aura powers, which comes in handy during the Unown incident. It's implied he doesn't have the comical loss of strength of the Sun and Moon series and avoids his loss and slump from his first Bea battle.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: He and Trip were nothing more than rivals in the Black and White anime. In here, they become a couple.
- Adaptational Wimp: In canon, one of Ash's most prominent character traits is his determination and ability to stand strong no matter what the world throws at him. In here, his will is far weaker, with the Blame Game around Vermillion City causing him to break and develop a Guilt Complex, something that he didn't come close to getting in far worse situations. The Unown situation causes him to decide to subvert this trope once and for all, regaining his strength and refusing to be a scapegoat anymore.
- Aesop Amnesia: Partially. Knight of the Orange Lily reveals one of the lessons he got from Nanu was not to let anger and negativity overwhelm him. While the anger half was remembered, the negativity is completely forgotten as he takes whatever people tell him about the Chloe situation at face value, up until he develops a Guilt Complex over it. It takes until the Unown situation for him yo remember the other half, and regain his strength.
- All-Loving Hero: He's kind and caring to people and Pokémon. However, Chloe sees him in a negative light; a "black hole" that sucks up everything. And being a kind person is not necessarily a one size fits all trait. It's reconstructed later - his sincerity and good intentions make him the first person Chloe reaches out to and forgives, and he even requests that she just cooks for him to prove that she's sorry in comparison to her just wanting to rescue three broken trainers from Silent Hill.. However, as Parker can attest, even he has his limits.
- Always a Bigger Fish: Shortly after Bede beats Goh, Ash has Infernape utterly demolish him.
- Always Someone Better:
- Unintentionally serves as this for Chloe: He's a Pokémon Champion while she hates Pokémon, her father gives him his full support for his dreams while keeping her confined to his lab and is Goh's best friend while Goh had long since abandoned Chloe in favor of chasing Mew.
- Also has some shades of this with Hop, as Leon fully believes that Ash could potentially beat him.
- There's also Bede, as he only needs to use one of his Pokémon to wipe out his entire team.
- Is seen by the parents of Pallet Town as this to their children and they hate it. Their own children aren't quite in agreement.
- Ambiguously Bi: Ash is known to have plenty of moments of romantic tension with girls (with Serena being the biggest offender), but he decides that he wants to "get together" with Trip and Chapter 14 implies that he returns Serena's feelings for him too.
- A Hero to His Hometown: Umm... well, on the one hand, people initially loved Ash for being one of the few Pallet Trainers to actually make it out into the real world, but by the current point his exploits have gotten so numerous and so ridiculous that they've grown sick of it.
- And I Must Scream: Because of his Aura powers, he is somewhat aware of everything happening around him during his time as Parker's Mad Hatter under UnChloe's geas. This only further fuels his anger towards the ringleader.
- The Apocalypse Brings Out the Best in People: Parker enslaving and torturing those around him with the Unown was just the kick in the pants that Ash needed to get back to normal in story.
- Armor-Piercing Question:
- When talking with Trip about the Infinity Train and how he plans to keep it a secret from Goh, Ash questions what's the point of it, given how much more beneficial it would be if he actually did know. While Trip does give a very strong response, he never actually answers the question.
- During his fight with his mother in Chapter 26, after Delia insinuates that Chloe is responsible for everything Parker did, Ash snaps back if it's her fault he's constantly getting himself hurt. He eventually apologizes for this, saying he wasn't in his right state of mind after the chaos and sleep deprivation he suffered.
- Being Good Sucks: Probably the most morally upright person in the Cerise Institute, maybe even in all of Vermillion City, and what does that get him? Being used as The Scapegoat who don't know any better, being told he should've done more regarding a situation honestly beyond his control, and being tortured by a power-mad six year old for the "crime" of not reading Chloe's mind. Is it any wonder he's done by the end of the Unown saga?
- Beware the Nice Ones: An All-Loving Hero he may be, but he tears into Chloe's classmates for their bullying and doesn't buy into their apologies one minute. And he has no real issue with doing whatever he can to bring Parker down and washing his hands of him afterwards.
- Birds of a Feather: Both he and May are Big Eater types to a point Ash wonders how Brock survived dealing with the two of them.
- Broken Ace: He's the Alola League Champion, the very best, like no one ever was... who now blames himself for not helping Chloe, and is now at a complete and utter loss to fix things, both with her and Goh. As the story goes on he gets more closure with Chloe but finds things with Goh in a greater quandrary.
- Bystander Syndrome: UnChloe accuses him of this, not just with Chloe but with Gladion and Lillie's argument, where he didn't do anything despite being nearby. Renji points out that the argument was so out-of-the-blue from Ash's perspective that there really wasn't anything he could do, since he had no idea what was happening, and alongside his own attempts to reach Chloe prior how much this trope is really earned and how much is it just attempts to belittle him by others is unclear.
- By the end of the Unown incident, however, Ash practically tears down this trope to bits in his callout, not only making it clear he could only do so much as an outsider, but that he at least made more than practically everybody else in Vermillion City, even the very same people who were accussing him.
- Calling the Old Man Out: He has a fight with his mom, the only fight he's ever been shown to have with her over her treatment of Chloe, and also the only time he's been explicitly angry since Act 2's fiasco.
- Came Back Strong: Once he gets released from Parker and UnChloe's brainwashing, not only does he return to be his confident self from before, but he regains his strong will to such an extent that he refuses to be torn down by his mistake once again. And as a result of Gary sending Ash his reserves from Pallet Town, them staying at the Cerise lab afterwards, and then moving operations to said lab, Ash has access to pretty much his entire team (sans Charizard, whose out at the time) for the duraton of the story. Combined with also grabbing the Z-Ring, Ash comes back from the events of early Blossoming Trail better than ever.
- Character Check: After he gets some rest after his fight with his mother, he comes to realize he wasn't in his best state of mind and apologizes. As prior to this Ash had already returned to focusing more on battling and being a trainer instead of being upset about Chloe or himself, this more or less sets Ash up to be back to his old self for the rest of the series.
- Clueless Chick-Magnet: And Guy Magnet, and Pokémon Magnet. He doesn't get why. Trip and Serena have offered to explain it to him at some point.
- Conflicting Loyalty: After Trip arrived in town, Ash found himself caught between his old rival and Goh, his new friend and coworker. Trip insisted that Ash needed to leave Goh alone to consider the consequences of his actions, as it was the only way to get him to listen. Goh, meanwhile, demanded that Ash come with him and leave Trip behind in response to that treatment- and because he was very jealous about someone being around his new friend. In the end, Ash chose to support Trip, both because they were newly dating and because Trip promised him it actually was the best way to help Goh. Sadly, this choice didn’t end well.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: On the giving end; he battles against Chloe's Yamper with Gengar and trounces her in the first chapter and later repeats this trope on Bede with Infernape.
- Deconstructed Character Archetype:
- Of the All-Loving Hero as shown above. He usually charms and befriends everyone he meets, but Chloe hates him so much because one of the people he befriended was her Childhood Friend, making Goh essentially forget about her so that he can focus on traveling alongside Ash. Moreover, the only way Chloe can get Goh or her father's attention was when she battled him (and lost) thus aggravating her hatred over Pokémon even more. And last, even though he's tried getting to Chloe, he never actually got to understand her point of view, with the closest he's ever got to understanding her was asking Goh why she hated Pokémon and given an answer that was not helpful in the slightest. His particular brand of friendliness, while effective with most people, doesn't work if they are not willing to open up or you run into their backstory in the process (a la former rivals Paul and Trip) and this never happened with Chloe. It also has limits, with Team Rocket and especially Parker stretching or outright being exempt from it.
- His Humble Hero status: while he doesn't brag about his accomplishments or coming off as arrogant and approachable, it also means that Ash is unable to explain all the other adventures he went through with Chloe. Because of this, Ash shows off no means of communicating with Chloe and all the adventures he went, probably gaining a connection with her. Ash also points out that he never brags about his accomplishments because it would make others feel jealous, such as Goh getting upset by him having met a Mew and so many other mythical Pokémon (not to mention having captured in one back in Alola).
- His goal of being Pokémon Master. It's mentioned multiple times in the narration that Ash was quick to help out his previous female companions yet did nothing to help Chloe out or even get to know her. While his drive to reach his dream and be the best trainer he can be is very effective at getting to know those who share his interests, even those with very different attitudes such as Paul, or even those outside of the field with similarly open dreams, a more self-contained person like Chloe can struggle to relate to him.
- Being a very trusting person who takes people at their word normally just causes Ash problems with Team Rocket and their disguises. In this fic, him trusting people at their word meant that he had no reason to question Goh's interpretation of what was going on with Chloe, especially as Goh was not being intentionally malicious or intending to deceive Ash. An Ash who didn't inherently trust those around him to either not lie or give him the full truth where it mattered would not have the angstier parts of his character bio in the story right now.
- Decon-Recon Switch:
- Many of the above tropes turn right around and rebuild themselves in Part 2. While his All-Loving Hero status did lead to a good part of Chloe's initial angst, it also meant that plenty in story acknowledges that none of his attempts were malicious and by Part 2 the narrative clarifies this not just to the reader and to Ash himself. Chloe is also able to accept his good intentions and her own issues by this point and Ash is the first person on her list of those she hated she forgives and apologizes to. His Pokémon Master goals that had once been seen as restrictive to Chloe even become something she can appreciate and connect with once she can approach Pokémon on her own terms and not others.
- This kind nature also means that, if nothing else, Chloe will have someone in her corner regardless of what happens with Parker. While Ash still intends to leave when the current incident is over, it is clear that this will not close the door off for Chloe where someone without the trait might otherwise.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Ash isn't the smartest tool in the shed, but even he makes a decent point in that keeping Goh in the dark about the Infinity Train could do a lot more harm than good: after all, a big reason why things go to hell in Vermillion City is the lack of knowledge about it. He only gets proven even more right when Goh finds out anyway after driving himself sick looking for Chloe for days, leaving him much more exhausted and frustrated than if they had just been honest to begin with.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?:
- Ash has saved the world countless times, and even without considering that idea, he's the Alolan league champion and a certified Nice Guy who treats everybody at Cerise Institute, including Chloe, with amicability. Despite this, the Cerise Institute doesn't treat him any differently than other trainers, and Chloe and Parker paint him as a black hole that wants to take everything away from him. Granted, it's noted that people have a habit of not looking him up and treating him as just another trainer, and the Easily Condemned part only applies to Chloe and her group, but it's still somewhat notable.
- It's not exclusive to Vermillion City either; when Pallet Town is visited in the sequel, it becomes clear that the adults don't exactly have a high opinion of Ash, precisely because of all his feats and achievements striking at their insecurities.
- Easily Condemned: Even more notable than Goh, since at least in his case, Goh constantly digs his own grave by being insensitive, innocently or not, and festering the communication problems between him and Chloe. Ash's only real "crime" in the entire story is not reading Chloe's mind and giving her what she wanted when she wanted it and how she wanted it, but this still gets Chloe to label him a black hole and Parker to grow to utterly despise him.
- Easily Forgiven: Ash has a really bad habit of shoving things under the bridge with people who have wronged him, regardless of whether they deserve it or not, and specially when taking the pain they give him into account. It literally takes being mind raped into becoming a mad hatter by Parker and an evil version of Chloe for him to finally quit being so forgiving towards somebody.
- Everyone Has Standards:
- Even a ditz like him realizes that Goh has dug himself way too deep about his obsession over Mew making Chloe uncomfortable.
- Ash does not like Team Rocket, but even he hopes they stay far away from the Parker and Unown powered mess for their own safety.
- Despite having every right to want the worst to happen to him, Ash does not want Parker, the mad with power five-year-old who mind raped him and his friends arrested or in jail. His specific situations make all of those problematic. He just wants to be far away from him after it is all over and never see him again. He also specifically doesn't feel guilty per his Guilt Complex over his betrayal because it was not something he should have ever had to suspect from him.
- Also related to Parker, Ash is generally a very forgiving person; he's even forgiven people who tried to kill him before. However, the Unown incident was so damaging to not only himself, but those around him, that he simply can't bring himself to ever forgive the little brat for it.
- Even the Loving Hero Has Hated Ones: Ash is the kind of person who becomes friends with everyone and always sees the good in people, but he comes to loath Parker just as much as anybody else after the Unown incident. This becomes even more pronounced in the sequel, as Ash makes it no secret to Chloe that he not only won't forgive her brother, which she accepts, but that he doesn't even want to think about seeing him again.
- Extreme Doormat: Downplayed, since he at least tries to defend himself, but the rapidly deteriorating situation in Vermillion City and Parker and Chloe's refusal to stop blaming himself for their problems causes him to lose this attitude, eventually developing a Guilt Complex out of it. He eventually Grew a Spine and grew out of it, however, with the first sign of this being him punching Parker in the face when he tries to claim he's innocent of wrongdoing.
- Fatal Flaw: Hesitance. Ash hesitated to really get to know Chloe, only accepting her "No" to whatever he asked her to join him. And his only info on her came from Goh "My Childhood Friend who I have ignored for years in order to search for Mew just stopped liking Pokémon one day, that's all" Fujihachi. By the time he realizes what type of person she is, as Parker notes that he's only asking now for advice about her, it's too late to change anything except how to react to her when she finally returns home.
- Trust. He's such a trusting person he took Goh's words about Chloe at face value, and never questioned it.
- Believe it or not, Forgiveness. Ash is more than happy and willing to forgive everybody provided they don't do anything that convinces him they're just not worth it (looking at you, Parker), however, this mindset not only warps his perception of things, but causes him to put the people he wants to forgive on a small pedestal, while causing him to look disapprovingly at those who wouldn't do the same, no matter the reasons.
- Forced Transformation: Gets transformed into Ashachu once again during Voyage of Wisteria.
- Good Is Not Soft: He's a legitimate Nice Guy in a city full of Jerk with a Heart of Gold at best, but not only does he throw all of his Pokémon at the Unown, but punches Parker in the face when the little brat tries to deny responsibility about what happened.
- Guilt Complex: After Trip coldly questions how Ash did nothing to reach out to Chloe when he had all the time to do so, he starts blaming himself for everything that went wrong, believing that he didn't do enough for either Chloe or Goh. It's a problem that many around him, including Trip, are trying to help remedy. It flares back up when he fails to save his friends from Parker's fury, but no-one seems to begrudge him that considering how screwed up the situation is. He ultimately declares that he's not going to beat himself up over what Parker is doing.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: After Chapter 9, Ash starts beating himself up over his inaction to help Chloe contributing to her disappearing onto the Train. This eventually gets resolved during the Act 2 fiasco, in which he decides to get out of his funk and stop being everybody's scapegoat for their problems.
- He's Back!: After spending a good chunk of the first part of Blossoming Trail in a depressed funk, Ash gets his groove back after the Cyan Desert Car, returning to more or less being the trainer everyone loves by Wisteria and doing better than ever.
- Horrible Judge of Character:
- Ash asked Goh what was wrong with Chloe — the only answer that he could give being "She's just not into Pokémon anymore" — and didn't pursue any more information about Chloe. If he knew that Goh was the last person to make observations about his Childhood Friend because he himself doesn't care about her as he claims to Ash probably would've taken more initiative to ask others about Chloe instead of just leaving her be.
- He also didn't think Parker was anything more than Chloe's brother who was worried for her safety and hoped she'd come home safe and sound. Cue the Unown...
- Finally, he thought that Chloe, while aloof, legitimately wanted some time alone every time she rejected his offers, and didn't try to prod her as he had already know how girls like that took it. If only he knew the amount of spite and anger she held within...
- Humble Hero: When people realize he's the Alola League Champion, he never boasts about his achievements. When he brings up his past in a conversation with Kricketina Kylie, he spends most of it making fun of how he thought he was the best for just catching a Caterpie and how Goh's own performance was a lot better than his (though that was intentionally self-deprecating humor aimed to encourage Goh to have fun). In Chapter 21, he explains to Goh that he doesn't reveal anything about his accomplishments because he doesn't want people to use him as an easy ticket to their goals to finding Legendary Pokémon and would rather be seen as someone for who he truly is: a kind, caring Trainer.
- Informed Attribute:
- Early in the story, Ash is touted as the Alola league champion and a powerful trainer. After his duel with Chloe, however, he spends more time being called out and developing a severe guilt complex than actually doing anything to fulfill this idea in the early part of Blossoming Trail. Luckily, he gets better and following the events of the Unown Arc we regularly see him battling to show this part of him more, to the point of him managing to defeat Raihan in a full battle in late Wisteria.
- Likewise, Chloe compares him to a black hole, as a being who sucks up all the attention away from her. As the story goes on, however, this clearly is proven false: not only do people rarely approach Ash after Chloe gets taken, but when they do, it's to blame him for what happened.
- I Am Not Left-Handed: Ash typically only fights with a few Pokemon at a time, and even when he has a full team, he doesn't summon his strongest one right away. The Unown incident, however, is such a big threat that Ash not only breaks this rule and uses more than six Pokemon, but he summons just about every single Pokemon he's kept at Oak's ranch in order to deal some serious damage to UnChloe.
- Innocently Insensitive:
- Became Goh's new BFF without meaning to cause the schism between Goh and Chloe's already fractured friendship to grow even more. Although compared to how her father and Goh have bigger crimes, he comes off as accidentally bumping into someone without apologizing and Goh makes a point that Ash has constantly asked Chloe to join them and she kept refusing.
- He also wanted to cook curry with Goh, not realizing how such a thing was so important to Chloe in the past.
- The trading event turned out to be this for Goh, though in Ash's defense he wasn't the one to suggest it and Goh encouraged them to go simply to get Ash away from Trip.
- It's All My Fault: After Chloe runs away, Ash never forgives himself for not taking the time to actually get to know her like he did with his other friends. After learning that Goh knows about the Infinity Train, he breaks down into tears and states that this is all on him. And again during the Intermission when he realized how foolish he was gloating about the adventures he had in Galar and not bringing up Sonia's Darkest Day story — because all he gushed about was fighting, Pokémon and curry — which would've been something Chloe would've loved (thankfully Trip stops him).
- Eventually, this gets both Deconstructed and Defied: Ash only gets into this mindset because the Blame Game is the official sport of Vermillion City, and he didn't know enough about the situation to do something about it. And eventually, the Unown incident has him realize there were way too many factors for it to be solely his fault, and that he will not take Parker's rampage as something he's responsible with.
- Karmic Jackpot: Despite having every reason to detest her and not want anything to do with her, Ash forgives Chloe and decides to help her get back on her feet once she returns from the Train. As a reward, Chloe defends him when the adults of Pallet Town try to slander him, and helps take down teir plan to demonize him once and for all.
- Keeping Secrets Sucks: Is very uncomfortable with the idea of keeping Goh in the dark about the Infinity Train, even when Trip points out that if Goh learns about it, it means there's a higher chance of Goh trying to enter it. It doesn't help that Goh snaps when he learns how much Trip kept this secret anyway.
- Like Brother and Sister: What his relationship with Dawn is, as he thought and was later confirmed. Much to the chagrin of the Pokemon that shipped it...
- Locked Out of the Loop: Ash only went to Vermillion City to work as a research fellow. Goh's mental issues? Chloe's insecurities? The Cerise family situation? He wasn't aware of any of those things, and even if he had found out, he wouldn't have had enough information to do anything about it. And yet we're supposed to see him in the wrong for this.
- The Mad Hatter:Parker decides to turn him into one for his and UnChloe's party.
- Magnetic Hero: Ash is so charismatic as a person (mostly due to liking Pokémon and his generally upbeat and friendly attitude) and is so famous as the Alolan Champion, people tend to flock to him and praise him...While unintentionally neglecting the needs and feelings of others that feel differently such as Chloe, and causing insecurities in others he hasn't ever met, such as Hop.
- However, it should be noted that Ash himself doesn't make those people do those things; they chose to do so of their own free will while being unaware of how hurtful it is. Ash himself genuinely cares for everyone , not just people that share his interests, and is distraught at how much Chloe had suffered to the point of going into a depressing downward spiral.note
- Made Out to Be a Jerkass: Insensitive actually, but it's the same principle. When Trip first arrives and asks for info, the characters (especially Parker) word their responses in just the right/wrong way to make it seem like Ash deliberately ignored Chloe and her problems until she blew up and got Trainnapped. This is a very big reason for how Ash gets treated from here on out, and once the situation gets reanalyzed, everybody is shocked and regretful, to say the least.
- Momma's Boy: His father's not in the picture, so his closest, and only, parental relationship is with his mother, and the two get along pretty well. In fact, him yelling at her and comparing her to Parker is used as the moment to make it clear just how much the events of Act 2 affected him.
- No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Compared to Goh, Ash at least tried to open up to Chloe, inviting her to go on a Journey with him and Goh, and when she refused, he respected her personal space and didn't press the matter any further than he had to. His reward for this is being blamed by everybody for what happened, him developing a Guilt Complex because of it, and being used as a puppet by a reality warper
- Non-Protagonist Resolver: It is he, alongside Gladion and Zamazenta and Zacian, who ultimately defeat Eternatus and bring an end to The Darkest Day.
- Oblivious to Hatred: Ash's Guilt Complex was complicated by just how long it took him (and, in fairness, most other characters) to grasp that Chloe genuinely hated him for enjoying himself while in her vicinity. Sure, Ash could have offered a wider variety of options in inviting Chloe out, but she could have had fun accompanying the boys on at least some of those trips. Chloe just wasn't about to give Ash Ketchum the satisfaction unless the invitations happened on her terms.
- Oblivious to Hints: Just like Goh, Ash couldn't understand Chloe's hidden hints about what she wanted from him, and so resorted to a third option with what little info he had.
- Oblivious to Love: Suffers from this badly. Everyone is thrilled when he finally gets the hint about how other people feel about him in Chapter 20.
- Older Than He Looks: According to Goh, he's around 13 or 14 years old in the story but looks like he's a ten-year-old. UnChloe makes some snark about him being a 'shrimp' and the snark about Ash looking younger than he is comes from a few other as well.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten:
- His "approach" to befriend Chloe (Read: just asking if she wants to hang out with him and Goh, without trying additional avenues when she was uninterested and only asking Goh what was wrong with her, not knowing that Goh's not the best person to point out her problems) is called out by Trip, Parker and himself and he never stops blaming himself for not helping Chloe out sooner. Arc 2 is about him getting out of this mindset...but that hits a snag when it turns out Parker never really forgave him for it.
- This can occasionally go better for him: Yamper remembered the fact he did console her after her curb stomp loss to him which came in very handy when Yamper could speak and needed to shut UnChloe's argument against Ash up.
- Only Friend: Is Goh's best and only friend in the present, since Goh's obsession with capturing Mew caused the friendship with Chloe to disintegrate into nothing and Goh stated that he didn't want to make new friends in the past.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business:
- Ash, the near indomitable Trainer who's faced the end of the world multiple times, breaks into a guilt-ridden mess as things spiral in Vermillion City. Needless to say, everybody is shocked when this happens.
- Subverted with him not befriending Chloe and his supposed treatment to her. Trip took it as a sign that Ash wasn't himself, since he usually manages to befriend everybody he meets and is a typical Nice Guy, rather than the uncaring person who's apathetic to Chloe's problems. In reality, Ash didn't treat Chloe any different or any worse than he did his other companions; it's just careful wording from everybody to make him seem like the bad guy and Trip just buying into it, no questions asked.
- After the Unown get dispelled, Ash straight up punches Parker and makes it clear he will never forgive him. Given this is Ash we're talking about, it's made very clear just how badly Parker has messed up.
- Thanks to sleep deprivation, he ends up yelling at his mother and comparing her to Parker when Delia argues Chloe might be indirectly responsible for everything that happened with the Unown. Given Ash is a Momma's Boy, this comes as quite jarring.
- Only the Pure of Heart: Ash's heart is pure enough that Galarian Ponyta are rather fond of him.
- Rage Breaking Point: Parker's rampage marks the point where Ash becomes done with being everybody's personal scapegoat, and let's Parker know that he's gonna have to accept the consequences of his actions, because he will not allow him to blame him, nor everybody else, for it.
- Relationship Upgrade: In Chapter 11, he decides he wants to "get together" with Trip after the Unova Trainer confesses his love for Ash and kisses him.
- The Scapegoat: As revealed in Voyage of Wisteria, the adults of Pallet Town use him as this, trying to pin the blame on him for their children supposedly not achieving their dream careers. However, this was true even back in Blossoming Trail, since if people weren't using Goh as this, they were using Ash instead.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Hits his limit after being put under a 'Mad Hatter' geas by Parker and UnChloe along with Pikachu, Serena, and Trip among other mind controls that he is aware of even when under them. He all but declares that when all this is done, he's leaving just to get away from Parker. This has been put at least partially on hold for as long as Professor Cerise and Goh need him around.
- Sleep Deprivation: A combination of this and projecting the real Chloe into his position in his nightmares led him to lash out at his mother during a particularly bad argument."...I shouldn't have compared mom to Parker, if I was a little more awake or thought a little more, I wouldn't have. But...night after night of hearing how I'll never be forgiven for what I did to hurt Chloe, no matter how sorry I was or what I did to make it up to her, or what got done to me...I thought I was hearing the same thing happening to the real Chloe after...everything she'd gone through, and I just snapped..."
- Technician Versus Performer: Bea is the technician to Ash's Performer. Bea's been trained to a fine edge with maximized movement efficiency and minimize wasteful movement. Ash doesn't have the same finesse but his use of more out of the box tactics (like Z-Moves and Aura) can match her perfection.
- There Are No Therapists: He could really use a therapist after the events of Acts 1 and 2.
- There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Chapter 20 has him use all of the Pokémon in Professor Oak's lab to strike at the Unown.
- This Is Unforgivable!: Parker's rampage caused him so much pain and agony that once its resolved, not only does he slap them hard in the face, but makes it clear they've become the one person he truly loathes.
- Turn the Other Cheek: This is how he wants to approach the situation with Chloe; while some bad things were done in her name, Ash sees her as the scared, insecure girl who was treated horribly by Vermillion City, and who just wants a friend. Delia not agreeing with this notion sets him off, though he eventually apologizes and agrees that she has everything to disagree.
- He doesn't extend the same generosity to Parker, however, given how not only did he have a personal hand in utterly demolishing Ash's will, compared to Chloe's indirect approach, but it's quite clear that he only said he did it in Chloe's name in order to justify his own desire for revenge against all costs.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: His existence actually hurts more than it heals in the story in the early parts of Blossomong Trail. And he knows it.
- His mere presence in Vermillion City helped coax Chloe's simmering issues to a boil with how effortlessly and easily he integrated himself with her father and estranged friend. His half-hearted attempts to even try to befriend her makes her feel like he doesn't care about her as a person in the slightest.
- Hearing Leon casually speculate about how Ash could potentially be the one to beat him while already hurting from his loss to Bede helped push Hop's angst level high enough to ping the Train's radar. Upon learning of this, Ash is close to vomiting from stress.
- Western Zodiac: Ash's birthday was implied to be May 22nd in the light novels written by former head writer Takeshi Shudo which makes Ash a Gemini. Gemini are known for their ability to connect with others and be a favorable companion. Which both explains why he can connect so easily with a vast majority of people and why he is so dumbfounded by how badly his attempts to connect with Chloe went and were handled. (It also notes his personality having changeable qualities that line up with his somewhat changing personality between series).
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Trip tears into Ash for not doing anything for Chloe when she truly needed it. It's deconstructed as this causes Ash to start carrying a Guilt Complex when things start spiraling out of control.
- Parker is slightly more justified in his anger in why Ash didn't go and talk to Chloe sooner, bringing up all the things he could've done — asked how she was doing, take her out for a walk or ice cream — and questioning if Ash even asked his dad about what was going on.
- He finally gets his turn on this after the Unown are dealt with, letting Parker know that he has not only messed up big time, but he has nobody to blame but himself.
- Worf Had the Flu: He's one of the most powerful characters in the story, but he doesn't get to show it as he spends most of that time either in a funk regarding how he didn't do enough or being brainwashed into being unable to do anything to help. Once both of these get dealt with, Ash makes it very clear he's not someone to be messed with.
- Would Hurt a Child: Slaps Parker, a 5-year-old boy, across the face after the Unown are defeated, and it's noted he slapped hard enough to send Parker to the ground. Given how much Parker unleashed the Unknown as part of a revenge scheme in Chloe's name and sadistically tormented him and his friends, regardless of their actual innocence, this is entirely justified.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Both the giver and receiver.
- As a receiver, Trip finally puts a filter on his damn mouth and lets Ash know that, yes, he may have made some mistakes, but that he can't take the blame from everybody as completely true, and that he's just one of many factors that caused shit to hit the fan.
- As a giver, he tells Goh, while visiting him at the suicide ward that he may have made some mistakes, but that not only is he not the only one to blame for everything, but that he did not deserve what he went through.
Delia Ketchum
Ash's mother who usually stays in Pallet Town though sometimes comes to visit Ash whenever he's on an adventure. Is a very good cook.
- Almighty Mom: She's pretty much the only person in the entire damn Pokémon World who not only doesn't fall for Chloe's self-pitying nonsense, but actually gets Talia to call her out on her bullshit.
- Beware the Nice Ones: She arrived at Vermillion City to give out pastries to Ash's Pokémon and cook food for everyone...but she will not tolerate anyone making her son cry as Trip learned the hard way. When she learns what happened with the Unown, she's chewing out Professor Hale for his role in this mess and later gives a brutal dressing down on Parker's actions.
- Berserk Button: A few
- Upsetting her son. They are the only family they have most of the time so neither likes the other being hurt.
- After all Parker and Chloe have done she gets very testy when anyone tries to justify them, especially Parker.
- Tall Poppy Syndrome: She doesn't like it in general and when it is applied to Ash even more so.
- Her Obnoxious In-Laws Hilary. The two cannot stand each other.
- Death Glare: Gives one to Trip after his Armor-Piercing Question on Ash sends him into a Heroic BSoD.
- Double Standard:
- As wise and understanding as she might be, Trip notes that she still has a few of these, with her giving Trip much more leeway than Chloe regarding making up for their mistakes with Ash, even though Chloe can't do much to make amends despite clearly wanting to, while he hasn't despite having every opportunity to do so. This is eventually elaborated on and clarified to be a well meaning bit of hypocricsy as seen below.
- This also goes both ways as while characters like Chloe are allowed to refuse to forgive someone (including those with full apologies and fragile mental states) and even makes it part of the stories themes about needing to forgive people, her disinclination to forgive Chloe or want her anywhere near her family is treated like a negative. Eventually Chloe does notes that Delia is well within her rights to never fully trust or like her and leaves it be.
- Failed a Spot Check: Left Goh alone to change clothes under the assumption that Raboot and Sobble could keep the train from picking him up, but then walked away from at least keeping an ear on him to confront Chloe on hearing that Mew had appeared. But then Chloe says that Wooloo couldn't stop Hop from entering...
- Feminine Women Can Cook: Just like Talia, she's known to make really delicious food.
- Freudian Excuse: It's eventually revealed that among the reasons Delia just can't bring herself to forgive Chloe is because her attitude reminds her not only of her much more haughty sister-in law Hillary, but of all the people in Pallet Town who blame her son for their own children being Overshadowed by Awesome. The fact that Chloe's actions hurt Ash as badly as they do, and still cause him nightmares, doesn't help.
- Friend to All Living Things: She's shown to be quite friendly to all of Ash's Pokémon, even Gengar, to the point of making pastries for them.
- Good Parents: A loving and supporting mother who is fine with her son being in love with a boy, a stark contrast to Chloe and Goh's parents. Though she's not without her problems...
- Good Victims, Bad Victims: Delia has a low opinion on Chloe, Hop, and Paul, the former two for ending up the train from being jealous of her son and the later for being a general jerk. Despite what comes up in the arguments this doesn't extend to Gladion, Mallow, Trip, and Alain, and really doesn't like Ash acting like the former three are his fault.
- Heel Realization: When pressed by Trip for answers about why she's so unforgiving towards Chloe, she admits internally that she's blaming Chloe because otherwise she herself will be the one hurting Ash.
- She realizes that her hatred of Chloe resulted in Goh being unattended and thus vulnerable to being picked up by the train.
- Hypocrite: Avoiding being like this is the reason she cuts Trip some slack as Ash's love interest: every other suitor Ash ever had was female, and heck, some were even Pokémon, and Delia didn't bat an eye. If she began to do so to Trip, who's a boy and unlike every other suitor, this would come off as very wrong no matter the angle.
- Hypocrisy Nod: Delia Ketchum admitted to Talia Cerise that she is afraid Ash and Chloe will forgive her for her role in Goh's departure, despite refusing to give Chloe any kind of forgiveness. She acknowledged the hypocrisy in her being forgiven. At the same time, she refuses to do the same. Delia even refuses to use the parent's card to justify her hypocrisy by pointing out she did that before, and she afraid that her son Ash will start second-guessing everything she says and does.
- Irony: The fact that she's apologizing to Chloe for inadvertedly leaving Goh alone for the Infinity Train to pick him up when she really didn't accept Chloe's own apology for messing things up isn't lost on Chloe herself.
- Mama Bear: Do not hurt her baby boy or you will regret it.
- When Trip makes her son close to crying over how he essentially didn't care about Chloe at all, she slams her hands onto the table and glares at him making her look like a Mightyena using Intimidate.
- Gives Professor Hale a profanity-laden dressing down when she learns about the Unown box and all the trouble that came from it.
- Not even children are safe and she is really ready to rip Parker apart for what he did with the Unown. She also hates Chloe for what her actions did to Vermillion City and how she turned her son Ash into a scapegoat for mistakes that were entirely her own fault.
- In a nightmare Professor Cerise has, she also attacks and begins strangling Chloe to death in grief-stricken rage for the latter's role in her son Ash's PTSD after Chloe comes back home to Vermillion City.
- In the only Bad Future Zeno shows Parker, she completely flips her shit after receiving an email from Goh (hinted but not confirmed to be the idea of outing Ash to his mother to try and get him in trouble), going to Cerise about it, whihc ultimately ends in Goh being fired as his research assistant, leading to his Pokemon abandoning him in disgust, and Ash no longer his friend.
- Backfired badly in the finale of Blossoming Trail - her attempt at pre-emptively confronting Chloe before she could lash out at Goh was both pointless and very badly-timed, something she regrets immediately.
- Moment of Weakness: Her decision to talk to Chloe — when she sees Chloe briefly going back to being angry when Goh's "Shiny Espurr" transforms back into Mew and no one was ever told this — can be seen as this, as now Goh is on the train because of her not watching him and the assumption that Raboot and Sobble will drag him back (which isn't the case).
- My God, What Have I Done?: Has this at the end after she leaves Goh alone and Chloe tells her that Raboot and Sobble won’t be able to stop him from boarding the Train. She’s left apologizing and crying to Chloe, but it’s too late for Goh.
- My Greatest Failure: Is clearly haunted by the fact her decision to confront Chloe has caused Goh to board the Infinity Train, as she’s left worrying that she and Ash have forgiven her for it.
- Not So Above It All: Played for Drama: Despite telling the Cerise parents that people are just calling them out to make themselves feel better, she ends up calmly remarking this to Chloe, asking if she was going to reject Goh’s apology now that Mew has been found. This backfires on her HARD as it left Goh open for the Train to take him.
- No Sympathy: While she sympathizes with Talia and Professor Cerise for what they went through (she's a parent herself, and she knows well that parents make mistakes) she doesn't extend the same courtesy to Parker and Chloe. This is because she hates both Parker and Chloe for psychologically traumatizing Ash and blaming him for the misery they both went through, when much of their problems were actually either their own fault or created by circumstances beyond Ash's control. She bluntly tells Talia that she's willing to make the Cerise siblings sleep outside her house in tents until they're sufficiently humbled and chastised for what they did. This brings her in conflict with Ash, who might agree about Parker but seriously disagrees about Chloe...
- Not So Similar: During the argument, Ash ends up comparing her to Parker, which as noted in the next chapter, is only superficially right: both of them are too caught up in their own personal reasons to forgive someone, but that's it: Parker idolized Chloe to unhealthy degrees, Delia doesn't put her in a pedestal. Parker toned out anything that could make Chloe seem less like the perfect sister he thinks she is, while Delia sees all her faults straight ahead. And of course, Parker not only got consumed by rage, but used the Unown to hurt people beyond the ones who actually hurt Chloe while Delia has no intentions to hurt anybody, just not forgive. Ash later admits that was a bad call on his part brought about by sleep deprivation and confusing his own experiences with Chloe's.
- Open-Minded Parent: Sees nothing wrong with Ash having a boyfriend and states that she'll support the relationship. She doesn't necessarily think Trip is the best fit for her son, but she keeps it to herself because she doesn't exactly disapprove of him either, though she does have a fair few people in mind she'd prefer her son to be with instead of Trip.
- Parental Hypocrisy: Deconstructed. Delia manages to defend her...complicated standards regarding her views on Trip and Chloe's relationship with Ash by invoking this. However, when circumstances in and out of her control cause her 'understandable' hypocrisies to become more pronounced, she realizes that overplaying that particular card could make her son distrust everything she tries to tell him, regardless of how valid her reasons.
- Parents as People: One of the reasons why she sympathizes with Talia and Professor Cerise is because she's a parent herself, and parents make mistakes. It's also why she believes they don't deserve the copious amounts of Calling the Old Man Out they're receiving - yes, they screwed up with Parker and Chloe, but it's rather cruel to rake them over the coals for their mistakes forever if they genuinely want to make up for it. And she's not immune from her own blind spots, though compared to the other families in story she and Ash make up a lot quicker.
- This plays off in the finale of Blossoming Trail; upon seeing Chloe almost going back to her old habits, she goes to make a remark...while also leaving Goh, alone for the Infinity Train to pick him up.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: She calls Parker and Chloe a pair of ungrateful brats who threw tantrums over not getting what they wanted despite not specifying exactly what they wanted, burned everyone who "wronged" them out of spite, and then had the nerve to demand that everyone earn their forgiveness afterward. Talia reluctantly agrees with the assessment and relays Delia's thoughts to Chloe via email.
- She gives Chloe one when they finally meet in person in the final chapter, saying if she had it her way, Ash would never approach her again, and warns that she will be watching her. It’s presumed that she was trying to give Chloe another one when she sees her reaction to Goh finding Mew. Only to quickly drop it after being informed that Raboot and Sobble can’t stop Goh from entering the Train.
- Selective Enforcement: Ash doesn't shy away from telling his mother that for all that she's quite to condemn Chloe, she'll do mental gymnastics to convince herself he's not to blame for anything that happens around him in any way. How true this is when Ash isn't sleep deprived and cranky is hard to say.
- Ship Tease: Martial status notwithstanding, she has some fun flirting with Renji.
- Supreme Chef: She's really good at cooking and Ash is nearly salivating when she said she's preparing teppanyaki. It's later confirmed that she owns the only restaurant in Pallet Town.
- This Is Unforgivable!: While she never outright says this, it's clear in the narration that Delia doesn't quite have it in her to forgive Chloe for all the problems that can be traced back to her. Revelations in the next chapter only further complicate the matter, as it's clear the one she can't forgive isn't Chloe, but what she reminds her of. This backfires on her in the end.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: By leaving Goh alone to change clothes so she could confront Chloe and remark whether or not Goh's apology meant nothing, she made it all the easier for the train to snatch Goh up.
- Would Hurt a Child: After the Unown incident, Professor Cerise has a nightmare of her attacking and strangling Chloe to death in a rage towards his daughter's actions against her son Ash and his friends.
Mr. Ketchum
The absent husband of Delia and Ash's father.
- Foil: While he has never appeared in person, he is a very distinct counterpart to that of Professor Cerise. Professor Cerise being a present father who is involved in both his children's lives, but both children began the story with severe issues with him. Ash's father has been gone for around a decade, yet this complete lack of a presence doesn't impact Ash at all.
- The Ghost: He has never appeared in the flesh in fanfic as in canon, though the authors have apparently considered it a few times. Much like the anime canon where this was also considered however, nothing came of it.
- No Name Given: He is only known by titles and relationships, not by an individual name.
Pokémon
Pikachu
An electric-type and Ash's first Pokémon and best friend.
- Faux Horrific: Pikachu eating mustard is treated in this matter.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: Downplayed, but he doesn't have a particularly high opinion of Chloe's treatment of Ash, feeling that she could have done what everyone keeps accusing Ash of failing to do. Very nearly exposes it at the wrong time.
- Insult to Rocks: Considers comparing Parker to Charizard during the Indigo league (where he was an uncontrollable berserker jerkass) to be an insult to Charizard.
- Pokémon Speak: Like most Pokémon Pikachu can only make a limited range of vocalizations, though Ash is able to parcel out what Pikachu means most of the time. UnChloe can make him speak human language, apparently just for the hell of it.
- Shock and Awe: An electric type.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Ketchup. He likes licking a bottle of this stuff like an ice cream cone. This becomes an Out-of-Character Alert for Parker's tea party when he's eating mustard instead.
- Undying Loyalty: Sticks by Ash no matter what.
Mr. Mime / Mimey
A humanoid Psychic-Fairy type. While officially owned by Ash he usually accompanies his mother in day-to-day life, but currently stays at the Cerise Institute with Ash.
- Ascended Extra: A background character in the anime, a big part of Ash's plans in this story.
- Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: He looks silly at first glance, but he's actually a good battler.
- Our Fairies Are Different: His secondary type is Fairy.
- In-Series Nickname: His mother and Ash call him "Mimey".
- Mind over Matter: Part Psychic-type.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: When Molly finds him in the Vermillion Forest, he had already defeated multiple wild Pokémon on his own and is standing Atop a Mountain of Corpses.
- Supreme Chef: Usually acts as the cook in the Cerise Lab.
Riolu-Lucario
An energetic Fighting-type Pokemon Ash hatched from an egg. Evolve sinto Lucario during the fight with Eternatus
- Big Brother Worship: Towards Korrina's Lucario and Ash's Infernape, the later that Ash lampshades.
- Blood Knight: Relishes the chance to battle opponents, even ones he doesn't quite know the full details about like UnChloe, Tapu Koko, and the Erl-King.
- Glass Cannon: Riolu's pretty strong for his size and gets even stronger with access to Ash's aura, but he doesn't take hits that well. During his battle with Grapploct it only takes one solid hit for Grapploct to knock it out, versus the multiple blows for Grapploct to go down.
- Took a Level in Badass: Like in the main series Riolu starts as an eager to fight but inexperienced little pupper, but by the time of evolving Lucario is able to fight with Ash's best against Eternatus.
Ash's Pokemon
All of Ash's Pokemon currently in his possession that do not have their own folders above.
- Acrofatic: Despite being a tubby humanoid pig Pignite is pretty agile, especially after using a few Flame Charge attacks.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Ash catches Dracovish during the pre-Darkest Day arc, a fair few episodes before he would in the anime.
- Ascended Extra: Due to their arrival to fight against the Unown and subsequent move of operations to Oak's lab the full roster of reserves are in use in story instead of their minor roles in Journeys as in canon.
- The Bet: All his Pokémon make bets as to who Ash will end up with. Oshawott is mad that he lost the bet as his was "everyone but Trip."
- Chekhov M.I.A.: Charizard being off on an errand (to find Ash a 'birthday present in Kalos') is mentioned as the reason he's not present during Blossoming Trail's events. He returns at the climax of Wisteria, alongside Greninja who was his birthday present.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: Buizel is the only mon who doesn't take one of Raihan's Pokemon down, but his Swift Swim and Ice Punch combo weakens Raihan's Goodra enough for Pikachu to finish the dragon off.
- Cuddle Bug: Dragonite loves giving out warm hugs...but they seem flabbergasted when Chloe hugs them in Voyage of Wisteria.
- Interspecies Romance: Bayleef has a crush on Ash, though he never knew about it until she told him after UnChloe removed Pokémon Speak.
- Limit Break: A number of them can use Ash's Z-Moves, but the non-Alola teammembers aren't as trained in them and he doesn't have a crystal that works for every one of them (for example Riolu).
- Mundane Utility: Gengar frequently gets used in story not to battle but to use his Intangible Man powers and telekinesis to spy or restrain people.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Their wins in the Raihan's Rival Returns cup, including defeating Raihan in a full battle, with the attention of the story being on Chloe learning about Dynamax instead of the battles.
- Original Character: Ash captured a Rhyhorn and shiny Chansey at the Safari Zone while obtaining a Hitmonlee at the fighting dojo and a Applin from Trip at the tailend of Wisteria.
- Playing with Fire: Pignite, Torkoal, Infernape, and Charizard are all Fire types.
- Shipper on Deck: All of them have been betting on who Ash will end up with in the future.
- Super Mode: Alongside Greninja's Ash-Greninja form, Infernape and Lucario both tap into so much of their potential powers against Eternatus via Blaze and Aura that Gladion compares it to the four of them (plus Pikachu's use of Ash's cap and special Z-crystal) as going Super Saiyan.
Extended Family
Hilary
Delia Ketchum's bitchy sister in law who wants her sons to become Pokemon Trainers and blames Ash for "ruining" their futures.
- Bitch Alert: As soon as she walks into the cafe.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Visibly envies both Delia and Ash for Ash's success.
- Remember the New Guy?: She apparently moved to Vermillion City sometime before the story, but there's nary a hint of her existence until near the end of Act 2. Considering her attitude, it's not hard to see why nobody likes talking about her. And in a meta sense, most people probably wouldn't know who she is; she's actually from some old live-action promos for the anime
. - Psychological Projection: Assumes that her two sons share her anger at Ash for being a successful trainer while they aren't. She couldn't be more wrong.`
- Stage Mom: It's clear that she sees her two sons as extensions of herself, and is angry that they won't be going into a glamorous career of Pokemon training on her behalf.
- Shadow Archetype: She's essentially what the Cerises would be if they had actively forced Chloe to be into Pokemon like everybody else and discouraged her love of horror.
Trey and Troy
Ash's cousins.
- Accidental Misnaming: Because they can't quite get their names right, they just call Zacian and Zamazenta 'Argo' and 'Toby', respectively. Better than 'Zammyzenta', at least.
- Adventurer Archaeologist: Are quite keen on becoming this after hearing about Ash's adventures with the ancient giant Jigglypuff. They get a chance when they join a dig in Galar...and then when Darkest Day comes down.
- Cheerful Child: Nothing gets them down for long.
- The Dividual: They aren't twins, but they act like it. It gets to the point where without nametags, Ash can't tell which one is which.
- Finishing Each Other's Sentences: They do it quite a bit.
- Motor Mouth: When they're excited. Which is often.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Apparently had a fight with Swordbert and Shieldbert to save the legendary dogs while Ash and his friends deal with the Darkest Day.
- Token Good Teammate: Of Hilary's side of the family, though apparently their unseen father and uncle are on the level.
- You Meddling Kids: Got this shouted at them by Swordbert just before the Darkest Day.
