All Pokémon fans know that Ash’s dream is to be a ‘Pokémon Master‘, but those same fans often wonder what exactly that title means, as it’s never been fully explained. However, Ash proved not only what it means to be a Pokémon Master, but also that he’s reached that level. In Ash, Misty, and Brock’s final adventure in the anime, Ash finds himself testing his skills when an overpowered Pokémon is in need of help.
In episode #4 of Pokémon: Aim To Be a Master, Ash and his friends encounter Beartic, an Ice-type Pokémon that has trouble controlling its power. With each breath, Beartic causes icicles to erupt and freeze the land (and Pokémon) around him. As a result, the Beartic are quite shy and fearful, making them difficult to approach even without the raging ice powers. Ash decides to try to help Beartic as they pass by, using his entire team to assist him.
Ash knows what it means to be a Pokémon master
Throughout the episode, Ash teams up with Beartic to gain control of its powers. He tries to channel its power by giving it specific tasks, such as forming an Oshawott-style shell out of ice. He also summons his two Fire-type Pokémon, Talonflame and Incineroar, to thaw when things go awry, as well as protect Misty and Brock from stray ice attacks. Ash is patient and supportive of Beartic when he feels down. He even goes as far as to compare Beartic’s strength to that of the legendary Pokémon, Ice-type Kyurem, trying to convince Beartic that its ability is not a curse, but rather a blessing if it does. can be controlled. When Ash, Beartic, Pikachu, and Oshawott all fall into an ice ravine, the injured Ash is able to instruct the Beartic on how to use his powers to form an ice ladder and help them escape.
The episode was the perfect demonstration of Ash’s Pokémon training skills. He sees a Pokémon in need and immediately tries to help it. He can easily win the trust of even sly Pokémon, like this Beartic. He might as well realize the potential here and then hone it into a useful form. His patience and ability to endure failure without discouragement helped keep Beartic’s spirit alive, even when things went awry. As always, Ash attends training with Pokémon, bringing a sense of unity between the two. Although Ash had only known this Beartic for a few hours, he quickly developed a strong bond with the Pokémon, which was what ultimately got them out of trouble. These are all traits that Ash has used, though perhaps not always so proficiently, to raise his Pokémon.
Ash is already a Pokémon Master
Becoming a ‘Pokémon Master’ has always been a nebulous goal, with the official Pokémon website once stating the answer that “It was the intention of the creators of Pokémon that such questions were left to the imagination.” Pokémon fan interpretations and interpretations. However, Ash knows well what that means, even saying that becoming a Pokémon Champion is just a step in that direction. Instead, Ash said in one episode that to him, the Pokémon Master is someone who befriends every Pokémon in the world, and he certainly has the skills to do so. Ash leads by side with his Pokémon, which wins the trust of even the most stubborn. He understands them to a degree that few other characters have ever played and has intuition about what they need.
Looking back on Ash’s skills and achievements, he is now officially ‘retired’ as the leader of Pokémon anime, it’s clear that Ash has achieved his original dream of becoming a Pokémon Master without even realizing it.
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