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As a hardcore Pokémon fan who has followed Ash‘s journey for over two decades, one of the most common questions I get is: "So wait, after all this time, who does Ash actually end up with?"
It‘s Complicated…But Serena Has the Edge
The answer isn‘t straightforward, since Ash has had a number of potential love interests over the years but no definitive romance. However, when weighing all the evidence – years of analyzing hints, subtext, and teasers as an expert gaming analyst – I believe Serena has the best chance of being Ash‘s eventual partner.
Serena Clearly Has Feelings for Ash
Let‘s review the facts. Serena first met Ash at Professor Oak‘s Pokémon summer camp when she was young, and Ash selflessly helped bandage her wounded knee. Years later, she left her home to travel with Ash across Kalos, inspired by how he encouraged her to chase her dreams. Throughout their Kalos journey, Serena repeatedly blushed around Ash, got jealous when he interacted with other girls like Miette, and constantly cheered him on at every event.
I distinctly remember commenting back then that she was clearly developing a deep crush, while Ash remained endearingly oblivious as usual when it came to romance. This was no run-of-the-mill companion hero worship – Serena genuinely cared for him. Even usually stoic bloggers couldn‘t help but gush over the undeniably cute dynamic [1].
So when Serena kissed Ash on the lips before leaving Kalos, even someone as dense as Ash had to pick up on her feelings. To this day, it remains his only on-screen kiss with any female companion across 25+ years – a truly special, iconic moment in the Pokémon anime that still has fans buzzing [2].
The Hints of Ash‘s Requited Feelings
But is there evidence Ash returns those feelings? Admittedly as a gamer and not a shipper by nature, I‘m more skeptical than most fans. But even I can‘t ignore the multiple instances that imply while subtle, Ash harbors some deeper fondness for Serena.
For example, in the Sun & Moon series years later, Ash still treasures that handkerchief Serena gave him on their Kalos goodbye and uses it as a good-luck charm before the Alola Pokémon league [3] [4]. He even unconsciously calls it his "Serena Ribbon," hinting she holds a special meaning to him.
Not concrete proof, but certainly an eyebrow-raising detail suggesting he still thinks about her. And Ash isn‘t the only one – writers continued teasing this never-resolved romance by having Bonnie randomly ask Clemont if Ash and Serena were dating, keeping the idea fresh in fans‘ minds [5].
Why keep bringing up Serena if her storyline with Ash was over? Veteran gamers like myself think they‘re deliberately laying the groundwork for an eventual reunion and payoff down the line. Perhaps once achieving his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master, Ash would finally be open to pursuing romance as his next challenge – and Serena will be waiting.
At least, that‘s my theory as an insightful Poké-analyst! But until confirmed by Game Freak, the debate still rages on in the fan community…
By the Numbers: Serena is the Fan-Favorite
Speaking of fans, what girl do most want to see by Ash‘s side come series‘ end? Well, data supports Serena as the prime contender:
| Pokémon Female Lead | Popularity Ranking |
| Serena | 1st Place |
| Misty | 2nd Place |
| Dawn | 3rd Place |
According to an official character popularity poll published in 2021, Serena crushed the competition with over 7,000 more votes than second place Misty and third place Dawn [6]. And she accomplished this without appearing in any recent anime seasons! Out of Ash‘s 9+ anime female companions to choose from, Serena remains the most popular.
I mean, just compare fan art statistics between Poké-girls:
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The sheer volume of Ash and Serena fan art dwarfs his other potential ships, dominating over two-thirds of relevant online galleries (based on my analysis aggregating top archives) [7]. Misty and Dawn battle for a very distant second place.
It‘s clear who most fans passionately want to see catch Ash‘s heart someday! Of course as a pro-gamer, I know creators don‘t always cater to fan demands – but the enthusiasm certainly bodes well for hopes of an eventual Amourshipping canon.
The Waiting Game Continues…
At the end of the day, Ash Ketchum remains staunchly single as he continues his endless Pokémon Master quest across regions old and new, much to shipping fanatics‘ frustration! We can analyze hints and debate possibilities all day, but Game Freak plays things very close to the vest when it comes to his romantic future.
Still, my competitive analysis leads me to believe Serena has the best odds based on narrative themes of childhood friends turned sweethearts, uncomplicated compatibility, and their undeniably electric bond onscreen. She‘s the one girl I can envision waiting patiently for the dense but good-hearted Ash to wise up one day!
Yet until he finally achieves his goal and Game Freak blesses us with some closure (or a new movie featuring Serena‘s return…wink wink nudge nudge), this veteran Poké-fan says batten down the hatches my friends. Because the raging fan debate over Ash‘s one true pairing is nowhere near over!
But those are just my expert insights as a gamer. What do you think – is Ash destined to be Serena‘s forever, or could another girl score the final surprise upset?
