Ash: My feelings on it are kinda complicated. Sometimes, it's the right thing to do to let your Pokémon go, if it'll make them happy to be somewhere else, or with someone else . . . but at least if you trade, you'll be able to stay in touch with them, right?
It's not wrong, but the whole practice kinda left a sour taste in my mouth, as a kid. People would go around at trading events looking to pawn off their partners, like, for fun. I didn't think about it at first, until everyone started asking for my Tauros. And I felt, like, no!? That's my Pokémon! We're friends; I don't even know you!
It actually goes back further than that. You may've heard of the incident with the S.S. Anne, back in '97. The one that sunk to the bottom of the sea? Well, funny story! Me and my friends were on it. But, that's not what this was about. See, I got into a battle with some stiff-lipped snob with a Raticate. Guy had a tophat and monocle and everything; he looked like he was from a cartoon about the evil rich guy who's about to take over the local park to build a mall or something.
Anyway, I challenged him to a battle with my Butterfree, Icarus! We got the upper hand with his Stun Spore, and the guy just... quit and called it a draw. Then he peer pressured me into trading my Butterfree, because 'that's what Pokémon Trainers do.' I gave in, but...
I felt really terrible about it. All I could think about was my Butterfree. So, while the S.S. Anne was in the middle of sinking, I chased the guy down and traded back for Butterfree . . . and, that's how we ended up sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Not a great association to have!
Icarus: Again, I am so, so sorry. If I had known—!
Ash: It's not your fault! It was my dumb decision. And you were worth it.
Don't get me wrong, though; there are exceptions. Like when Zoey suggested that Dawn and I trade Floatzel and Ambipom, because she loved Contests, and he preferred Gym Battles. It was the right call.
Besides! I'm fine with trading with someone I can trust, like Dawn. She'd never steer my Pokémon wrong! It really worked out for everybody.
But, later on, we ended up registering the two of 'em to both of us. Really, that should've been an option from the beginning! What if a Pokémon really likes two trainers; why shouldn't they be with both?
Anyway. I wouldn't try to ban trading or nothin'. But, I was pretty big on those reforms that the PLA made to trading, some years back! Now, Pokémon have a lot more of a say in the whole process, so it's gucci.
Dawn: H-HEY! DON'T SPEAK ABOUT THAT SO LOUD...!
>//////< T-trading is a very personal matter, you know! It's none of your business! Do you like it when other people ask about your deepest-held secrets!?
Ash: ...Babe, you're gonna have to get over this. She thinks trades are like, super intimate 'n private because they're—
Dawn: They're an extension of your very being!!! Our bonds with Pokémon are paramount — the greatest bonds on Earth!
Ash: Y'know, a lot of people would be insulted by that, but I agree.
Dawn: Exactly! To entrust your heart through your Pokémon to another...! Ugh, we really shouldn't be speaking about this in public.
Ash: You're such a weirdo, sometimes.
Dawn: I am devout, thank you very much.
