Will Ash and Hikari trade Pokemon?

[Ashfangirl17]

Ok I was reading the episode discussion thread and decided to make a thread for it alone. Buizel with Aipom? It would make sense. I mean Aipom loves contests and would still be able to hang with Ash if she wanted to. Buizel loves battles like Ash and would get to battle more becuase Ash likes to challange every person he comes up to. And there have been hints here and there it could happen. So what do you guy's think? Opinions, please.

 

[FabuVinny]

Piplup layed out the case for the trade:

- Aipom likes contests and not regular/gym battles (it doesn't have anything against them but much more prefers and likes contests)
- In DP12 Nozomi suggested that Ash should give Aipom to Dawn (and they didn't let us see how everyone reacted to this - something that usually would be to make the fans to think about that and wait to see what will happen)
- Because of Aipom's love for contests we even got a case that Ash had to lent Aipom to JESSIE! (that obviously won't happen again and was only because she saved Aipom)
- In that same unofficial contest Dawn said to Jessie something like "you even don't use your own Pokémon" (we can assume this is one of the things she learned from her mother) so probably she won't accept to use in a contest a Pokémon that isn't her's
- When Kengo asked Ash if he's going to participate in the Floaroma contest Ash said that Jubilife was a one-time thing and that he won't enter anymore contests and will continue only with gyms
- The only way for Aipom to do contests is if it will be given or traded to Dawn
- Buizel really fits Ash and -this- Buizel even more fits him because of its personality
- Ash wanted to catch Buizel (and Buizel even went inside its Pokéball but went out back) and after Dawn caught it he repeated that he wanted it but congratulated Dawn for her new Pokémon
- Nozomi said to Dawn to use contest battle style to confuse Buizel to beat it and that worked! contest battle style confused Buizel!
- In the spoiler for the next episode Ash says he wants to battle Lucian but that Buizel also wants to battle him
- Buizel really wants to get stronger and we even saw how it trained itself and invented trainers to battle it and he clearly focus on strength and regular/gym battle style
- The anime = advertisement for the games so they'll want to show more trades than before to advertise Wi-Fi
- Of course Ash and Dawn like Aipom and Buizel but exactly for that reason they'll trade them so their Pokémon will be able to do what they really wants and to not force them do something else and prevents them from accomplish their dreams (and of course Aipom and Buizel also like their trainers but since Ash and Dawn are travelling together they'll still be able to see and play with their original trainers every day and they can even make an agreement that if Ash and Dawn will depart one day they'll trade back)
- This won't be the first time Ash gave up one of his Pokémon to make that Pokémon happier (and in this case like explained he even won't depart from this Pokémon)

I had my own points to make:

While the no-trade people are right that a strong Pokémon would help in the battle round, you are missing an important point: The cute Pokémon do perfectly fine in battles as well. Piplup took down its evolved form in the last contest! Isn't that badass too? Did May use Combusken in all her contests? No. (And that would probably be a bad idea anyway since the judges would get bored of seeing the same Pokémon all the time.) In her last contest (which was her last chance to qualify for the Grand Festival) she used Combusken to appeal. Squirtle did the battling then. In the contest before that, it was Eevee who battled. And while Combusken was allowed to shine at the Grand Festival, all four of her Pokémon got some decent battling in. So, no, it isn't vital that Dawn has Buizel.

The really stupid argument is "it wouldn't really belong to them". If the Pokémon is in their Pokéball, then it is their Pokémon. No question about it. If the trade happened then the inevitable Team Rocket battle that followed would have Ash commanding Buizel and Dawn commanding Aipom. And the Pokémon would be happy to follow the orders since I'm sure they will be consulted before the decision is made.

The actual proof is all the lines: Nozomi thinks Aipom would be better off with Dawn. Ash won't enter any more contests. Dawn will only use her own Pokémon in contests. (As has been explained more than once, Aipom would be hers if it is in her Pokéball.) Ash still wants Buizel. And Dawn is only in the battle next week because Buizel wants to do it while Ash is because he wants to.

It really isn't an impossibility.

Can the people who do not think it will happen please come up with some (good) reason why it won't. No, calling people stubborn does nothing to support your case.

 

[Hidden Mew]

I'm not sure how Hikari feels about trading Pokemon, as I haven't seen the Japanese version of D/P, but I seriously doubt that Ash will trade any of his Pokemon to anyone. He regretted trading his Butterfree away in that St. Anne arc and in a Johto episode where a lot of people were trading Pokemon, and asked trade some of his, he refused to trade any of his Pokemon away.

 

[FabuVinny]

Ash has released Pokémon for their own happiness plenty of times, regardless of his own feelings. (Think of Butterfree's actual departure.) And it wouldn't be "away" in this case since he will still see Aipom everytime Dawn releases it from her Pokéball.

 

[Cybersai]

The circumstances are different here. Back then Ash traded Butterfree to a random stranger for no reason at all and regretted it.

This time he would be trading it to a good friend who he'd know would take care of it, and it would be able to do what it likes doing. Not to mention Aipom would still be near Ash anyway...at least until Dawn decides to stop traveling with him.

 

[Chatsy]

Of course Aipom loves contests, and there's no doubt about it that it would be perfect for her to have a trainer who's a coordinator.

However, there's still this little detail that Aipom adores Ash (or loves?) and definitely never wants to cease from his side (meant in a "not-having-him-as-a-trainer-anymore" kind of way) nor does Ash want to seperate from Aipom judging from the seperation angst he had when Aipom was lended to Jessie.
The boy simply cannot get it over him to trade a Pokémon either, as shown way back in Kanto when he traded Pokémon with that guy on the S.S. Anne - Though, how valid that statement is after so long can be discussed.
However, despite he's not happy to seperate with any of his Pokémon, I agree that he won't stand back when it comes to the happiness of the Pokémon in question. But how happy will Aipom be if she got another trainer who's a coordinator, when she loves Ash so much to have joined him in the first place? That's the bugger in this.

I think it's a question about just how much does Aipom love contests and Ash, as in which one would she prefer over the other?

I'm more tempted to believe that the plot with Buizel is to learn about contest battles and get more graceful with his attacks since he so far seems to be rather brutal. This is a good excuse to show what potential Dawn has as a coordinator as well.

I do agree that a trade would fit Ash and Dawn perfectly, however I find that to be too obvious and simple. I mean, it's so damn obvious that a trade would be fitting that I can't believe that that's what the writers plan on happening. That's a matter of my skepsis, though.

 

[Cybersai]

Maybe the D/P series is trying something new? We've never seen a trade between two main characters before, so maybe they want to do it for the first time.

Remember how we all thought there would never be another electric Pokemon on the cast because it would take spotlight away from Pikachu? Well, Dawn got Pachirisu and the world didn't explode.

The D/P series has done some unexpected things so I wouldn't rule this out but it also may not happen either.

 

[Chatsy]

The D/P series has done some unexpected things so I wouldn't rule this out but it also may not happen either.

But that's the thing. Unexpected.
A trade seems like something everyone would expect to happen because of how Aipom and Buizel are, and even though it would be new it wouldn't be unexpected.

Gah, this is like a brainteaser.

 

[Doctor Oak]

I can see Aipom being ditched, released, Oak'd, whatever. But the notion of it being traded to Dawn just... doesn't sit right.

It's been shown that Ash and Aipom have a really strong bond, hell they made a massive point of it in it's second episode as his Pokemon. It's out and about with him just like Pikachu is for quite a few instances since its capture. I really can't see it going from sitting on Ash's head one week to sitting on Dawn's the next. It's just... not right.

I think it would have been better had Ash caught another Pokemon to do contests with to trade to Dawn later on for Buizel, rather than doing it like this if that's the plan.

 

[Chaosblazer]

I'm more tempted to believe that the plot with Buizel is to learn about contest battles and get more graceful with his attacks since he so far seems to be rather brutal. This is a good excuse to show what potential Dawn has as a coordinator as well.

I'm not so sure, the fact Buizel "finished" off Nozomi's Glowmeow shows a kind of brutality that is going to take a long time to change(talking potential Charizard coming under control period of time), not something that can simply be done overnight, heck i doubt the pwning it will recieve from the rector cannon of Bronzong next week will change things quickly either.

Keep in mind the writers could very well also establish Buizel to be intrested in gym battles like they have with Aipom and contests(like having it watch Ash's next gym battle and it watching intently), or someone could approach and tell Dawn in a contest where she uses Buizel that is too wild and violent for them, though i kind of do expect someone to say something about it to her other than Nozomi(since she wanted to catch it too) cause i do forsee her getting penalized with it should she use it in her next contest for it's over aggresiveness. Should either scenario occur, then a trade will seem much more likely wether people like it or not. There could be other scenarios as well but these two would be the most significant IMO.

Now, I don't like the prospect of a trade as much as others do, but the writers made the mistake of making this Buizel too brutal for it's own good, if it had been portrayed differently then I wouldn't be questioning it's status on Dawn's team, but it was portrayed as a pokemon that would be more suited in a gym battle than in a contest hall.

 

[Piplup]

Piplup layed out the case for the trade:

Thanks for quoting this
I also recommand everyone before replying to read everything we talked about this on the episode thread to not repeat things that already were explained

Can the people who do not think it will happen please come up with some (good) reason why it won't. No, calling people stubborn does nothing to support your case.

Exactly
I still didn't got any good reason for why this won't happen while I listed alot of reasons for it to happen

I'm not sure how Hikari feels about trading Pokemon, as I haven't seen the Japanese version of D/P, but I seriously doubt that Ash will trade any of his Pokemon to anyone. He regretted trading his Butterfree away in that St. Anne arc and in a Johto episode where a lot of people were trading Pokemon, and asked trade some of his, he refused to trade any of his Pokemon away.

Pokémon is really about friendship and love so obviously all of the main characters (including Jessie and James) are against trading because well... trading your friend like it was an item only to get a better one really isn't nice

Ash regretted trading Butterfree and traded back immediatly and since than understood that trading Pokémon is a bad thing
Ash and Misty clearly stated in the Lickitung/Wobbuffet episode that they don't trade Pokémon and actually runned away from trainers that wanted to offer trades to them
We can assume May/Brock/Tracey are also against trades althouge as far as I remember they never got to a situation that someone wanted to trade with them
Jessie accidently traded Lickitung and she does seem to really like her Pokémon and James of course like his Pokémon and will never trade unless again Jessie will force him

So from all of that and also because we already got to know well that Dawn also likes her Pokémon and see them as friends we can assume she probably against trades

BUT that is a special case since thanks to that trade Aipom and Buizel will be able to do what they really want to and still be able to be with their original trainers
Both Ash and Dawn already showed that they will give up their Pokémon if that Pokémon will be better that way (with Ash-do I really need to list them all? with Dawn-Pachirisu)
And they even won't depart since Ash and Dawn are travelling together (and they can also agree that if they ever part ways they'll trade back)

Not to mention Aipom would still be near Ash anyway...at least until Dawn decides to stop traveling with him.

If Ash and Dawn will depart than as I said they can agree to trade back

But how happy will Aipom be if she got another trainer who's a coordinator, when she loves Ash so much to have joined him in the first place? That's the bugger in this.

Why would Aipom care as long as it with Ash? being his or not they're together
Being Ash's = be with Ash and not doing contests
Being Dawn's = be with Ash and do contests

I'm more tempted to believe that the plot with Buizel is to learn about contest battles and get more graceful with his attacks since he so far seems to be rather brutal.

But I really can't see Buizel agree to change his battle style
It really looks like Buizel want to continue with his current style and improve it

I do agree that a trade would fit Ash and Dawn perfectly, however I find that to be too obvious and simple. I mean, it's so damn obvious that a trade would be fitting that I can't believe that that's what the writers plan on happening.

This really is obvious but... obvious things already happened (even in DP)

Maybe the D/P series is trying something new? We've never seen a trade between two main characters before, so maybe they want to do it for the first time.

Yeah even if it's obvious thats still something completely new that will happen the first time

Remember how we all thought there would never be another electric Pokemon on the cast because it would take spotlight away from Pikachu? Well, Dawn got Pachirisu and the world didn't explode.

That was just people jumping to conclusions
There wasn't any other electric type only because of that:
Ash - had Pikachu so no reason to gibe -him- another electric
May - while Plusle or Minun could of went to her I guess the writers prefered her to have other cute ones and later on gave her Pokémon that advertised things
Misty - all of her Pokémon except for Togepi-Togetic/Azurill are water types (and while she could get Chinchou I think Corsola really fits her more)
Brock - he really get random things and doesn't have a "tradition" but really... what electric type could fit him better than what he got?
Tracey - only 3 Pokémon...
Jessie/James - only for them it's logical to not let get an electric type since their goal is to steal Ash's Pikachu which is an electric type

Sorry for going off-topic about that but I really wanted to make it clear that there was never such "no other electric type" rule... people just decide things

But that's the thing. Unexpected.
A trade seems like something everyone would expect to happen because of how Aipom and Buizel are, and even though it would be new it wouldn't be unexpected.

It's still something new that never happened so it can be nice to see
And especially because of how Aipom likes Ash this can make the trade much more interesting

it being traded to Dawn just... doesn't sit right.

I can't see whats so bad about this
Especially since Aipom is still with Ash

Keep in mind the writers could very well also establish Buizel to be intrested in gym battles like they have with Aipom and contests(like having it watch Ash's next gym battle and it watching intently)

Dawn probably again will act as a cheerleader with her Pokémon so I think they might really do that like with Aipom at Kanto's GF
Also I can see Buizel refusing to be a "cheerleader"

though i kind of do expect someone to say something about it to her other than Nozomi(since she wanted to catch it too)

I think Nozomi never clearly said she want it
She said at the start of the episode that she came to catch a water type and at the said she stays there to catch one (so I guess in the next contest we'll see her with that water type she'll catch)
When she battled Buizel that was because it invited her to battle
Also this is possible Nozomi didn't understood Buizel's battle style until later in the episode
So it'll be ok for Nozomi to suggest giving Buizel to Ash like she suggested giving Aipom to Dawn

the writers made the mistake of making this Buizel too brutal

If they'll trade than thats obviously isn't a mistake but purposely made to have them trade
And it's pretty obvious they'll trade

 

[Emerald]

And they even won't depart since Ash and Dawn are travelling together (and they can also agree that if they ever part ways they'll trade back)

Then what's the whole purpose of trading them if they gonna trade back at the end? If that happen than Aipom will be able to do contest for a limited time since it will return to Ash.

 

[Rocketshipper]

I say very unlikely. Of course it's *possible* and considering that DP has had a few surprises already, maybe the writers are preparing to surprise us more. But it seems to me that a lot of the speculation over this trade is fueled by the "Buizel should be with Ash" crowd. So many people were just FREAKING out over the Pokemon going to Hikari, and now this trade thing seems to be the new hope for the Buizel to go to it's *true* owner -_-. I don't buy all this "Buizel fits Ash, it's made for him, etc. etc." retoric that's flying around. The writers can have the characters catch whatever they want.

I think it would be interesting to see Hikari train Buizel and deal with it's agressiveness in a similar way to what happened between Ash and Charizard, so I'm hoping it will stay with her.

a little off topic, but I am starting to get a little annoyed with Nozomi now. Is her role in the anime to keep pointing out the difference between contest battling and regular battling? First she butts into Ash's business and lectures him about not doing contests, and now she's the source of this "use contest battling to confuse a regular battler" stratigy.

 

[Piplup]

Then what's the whole purpose of trading them if they gonna trade back at the end? If that happen than Aipom will be able to do contest for a limited time since it will return to Ash.

I never said they must trade back if they depart
I just said it's a possibility if the Pokémon will decide that they want to stay with their original trainers no matter what (and no that doesn't mean they can't trade since they are still with both Ash and Dawn)

Also there is a possibility of Dawn staying forever - you can never know

And also... "limited time"? a whole journey isn't "limited time" (and there is also possibility of DP containing another journey like Kanto in AG)

 

[Emerald]

Also there is a possibility of Dawn staying forever - you can never know.

Not likely.

And also... "limited time"? a whole journey isn't "limited time" (and there is also possibility of DP containing another journey like Kanto in AG)

Doesn't matter.If Aipom returns to Ash,it won't be able to do contests anymore.And i doubt that Aipom will want to leave Ash.

 

[Piplup]

But it seems to me that a lot of the speculation over this trade is fueled by the "Buizel should be with Ash" crowd.

As I already say I don't care if they'll trade or not
Not everyone who thinks about the possibility of trade also wants it to happen
And you just can't say it isn't obvious that a trade may be

I am starting to get a little annoyed with Nozomi now. Is her role in the anime to keep pointing out the difference between contest battling and regular battling? First she butts into Ash's business and lectures him about not doing contests, and now she's the source of this "use contest battling to confuse a regular battler" stratigy.

It's more the writers than Nozomi

At early/mid AG the writers didn't showed enough how different contests and regular/gym battles are
In late AG and in DP they are fixing this and letting us understand how different those two things are

Thats also why I was sure we'll see again Nando that decided to do both gyms and contests (which I was right about and he'll appear in DP36) and that he'll be a rival for both Ash and Dawn (which is still not sure)
I can't believe with all the writers' effort this time to explain how different those two things are (and that you shouldn't do both) they'll just let us see a character decides to do both and thats it... there must be a conclusion to that

Doesn't matter.If Aipom returns to Ash,it won't be able to do contests anymore.And i doubt that Aipom will want to leave Ash.

Stop deciding things - you can't decide for no reason that it "doesn't matter" X_X
So what if they'll possibly trade back some day? that won't happen in the next 3 years probably if it'll happen at all
Don't worry about that now
And even if they'll trade back I still can't see whats the problam? Aipom and Buizel enjoyed doing what they wanted AND were with their original trainers but when they had to choose they chose one of them
Everything ok
Stop trying to invent things and either think about a good reason why it won't happen or just understand that there is a high possibility for this to happen

 

[Rocketshipper]

It's a little suspicious to me that the writers have just now decided to try and differentiate between gyms and contests. I suspect it may be because they suddenly needed an excuse for Ash to not do the contests. It's still a poor excuse, IMO. There's no reason a trainer couldn't excell at both contests and gym battling, and I think it was a little arrogant of Nozomi to butt into Ash's business like she did.

 

[Cybersai]

Well, Rocketshipper, to be fair the writers really didn't distinguish Contests enough from Gyms back in AG.

The only thing they really stated in the AG era was that coordinators had to be graceful and talented with their appeals, and that the battles can't be a full-on offensive...but that was about it.

Most of May's Contests are essentially Gym battles just with different characters and appeals. They had May battle just like Ash throughout almost all of them, and it wasn't until he tail-end of AG that the writers realized they should have coordinators battle differently.

I think after introducing the whole dress-up stage into the D/P Contest they're trying to make them a little different now. I don't care either way, because the Contest battles have been mostly well done in both sagas. The writers have far more creativity when they write Contests than Gyms, so they probably want to explore it even more. Let them have Nozomi have some character, because she hasn't really been fleshed out enough otherwise.

 

[Rocketshipper]

to be fair the writers really didn't distinguish Contests enough from Gyms back in AG

I think they were already distinguished enough. Contests had the appeals and the contest battles were timed and had points that were deducted based on attacks and dodges. the AG contest arc got by perfectly fine without anyone having to emphasize some huge difference between gyms and contests. Now all of a sudden they are trying to draw a distinctive line between the two battle styles, and starting in with this "trainers should only do one or the other" stuff, and the only explanation for it seems to be as an (unneeded) excuse for why Ash can't do the contests.

They had May battle just like Ash throughout almost all of them, and it wasn't until the tail-end of AG that the writers realized they should have coordinators battle differently.

I don't think the implication was that "co-ordinators shouldn't battle like Ash" but specificly that May needed to work on her own style, rather than subconciously emulating someone else. It's not like the "Ash style" battling was incompatable with contests; May was pretty suscessful.

 

[Habunake]

Anyone think, if they do trade, they might wait till both evolve?