OrangeShipping

File:Misty Azurill.jpg

Misty, Tracey, and their Azurill

This article is about shipping. As hints and evidence for ships are mostly speculation, this page may contain POV.

OrangeShipping (Japanese; ケンカス KenKasu) is the belief in a romantic relationship between Misty and Tracey.

Misty and Tracey first met in EP084. Tracey is a vocal Professor Oak fan, and after realising that Ash knew him quite well, decides to join the group in the hopes of meeting his idol. At first, Misty didn't like the thought of a complete stranger simply inviting himself to their group, but soon they develop a great friendship while traveling the Orange Islands.

There are many who will contend that the Orange Islands (the only series at present in which Tracey part of the main cast) was more suggestive to a romantic relationship between Ash and Misty, and will state that Tracey even hinted at the relationship itself. Other people believe differentely.

When Ash finishes the Orange League, the group returns to his house. Here, they reunite with Brock, and Tracey stays with Professor Oak as Ash, Misty and Brock travel the Johto League

Misty and Tracey only meet again after the Johto League, when she recieves word that she needs to return home to Cerulean Gym. Though no longer travelling in the main cast, there are a series of side-episodes called Hosos in which give detail to Misty's activities as a Gym Leader. With Tracey and Misty now being allowed to interact with each other much more easily due to proximity, their friendship has been allowed to grow, and it is these episodes which many shippers will use to argue the plausibility of a romantic relationship developing between them.

Hoso Episodes

In H005, Sakura meets Tracey for the first time, and askes if he is Misty's boyfriend. This is also the case with Casey in H011. Interstingly enough, there are people who will cotend that Misty is in fact blushing (albiet a small one) in the second case.

There is also the scene in which Misty is asked by Georgio whether or not she 'likes someone else' - This has been a matter of great debate between shippers. There are many who will contend that the line is a reference to Misty's 'feelings' for Ash, whilst others will believe otherwise, stating that it is far too ambiguous, and given the previous blush, may in actuality refer to Tracey, or simply embarrasement over being asked such a personal question. The debating continues.

Interestingly, the dub of H016, (which can admittedly be considered pretty non-canonical), has the narrator saying

"Well, here we are at the Cerulean Gym, where love is in the air. A love so true and so powerful that nothing can stop it. No, this love isin't between Misty and Tracey, this love is not even between two people"

Again, different interpretations have arisen. Whilst there are some who have taken the line to have a somewhat Anti-Orangeshipping connotaton, there are people who believe otherwise. In any case, the lines are different (and spoken by Tracey) in the original.