.:.A Pokemon Theory...:.

     As we all know, Pokémon is a very popular show both among children and young adults to adults who have followed the franchise from the beginning. But have you ever wondered why Ash never truly changes? Sure, his clothes change, but he's always the same, goofy, immature boy that made the show so funny to watch in the beginning. Pikachu joins him in is immobile state – both never to see the light of an age line or age spot.

     Ash started off his journey a carefree boy who, despite all his TV-watching, didn't really know much about Pokémon other than you catch them in Pokéballs, sometimes while fishing. He got a rather ill trained Pokémon named Pikachu, and soon after in the same episode, he earned its respect and they became fast-friends. And though Ash and Pikachu have taken many deathblows that would kill a normal person (disregarding the fact that this show isn't real), it seems they both are perfectly fine and continue on their adventures season after season.

     Which is where the truth sets in.

     Many characters come through the show both to pal around with Ash or battle him and become one of his many rivals. But Ash, Pikachu, and Team Rocket seem to be the only characters that never age…

     Each region takes only a few months, maybe, tops to complete in Ash's time, so it's understandable that he doesn't seem to mature or age in the slightest, but in reality (again, disregard the cartoon essence) these whole continents would take more than a few months or so to trek across on foot, even on the occasional boat or other vehicle.

     Let's take a look at the characters.

     Misty – the first person Ash meets on his journey, and a partner for three seasons (my definition of seasons meaning regions – Kanto, Orange Islands, and Johto). She leaves Ash on his way to Hoenn, and though she only comes back for two or three episodes since, she does appear to age – and mature, but, of course, she was always more mature than Ash.

     Brock – Ash's second companion, and his longest running partner thus far (even though he is rumored to be leaving in the new region of Isshu). Brock never does mature concerning women, though he does have a wide range of knowledge that is seemingly vast, because, even though he is a Kanto gym leader, he does know of Pokémon in other regions and is quite qualified to become a Breeder with all the knowledge he has. This could mean that he learns along the way, aside from being with Ash, and he matures along his journey. He does appear to get older, though only slightly – who knows, maybe he will look like his father the next time Ash sees him.

     Gary – Ash's rival since they were both kids. While Gary's appearances are infrequent, he does age as the show goes on, and he matures from being a snooty bully to a friend-figure towards Ash; his knowledge of Pokémon increases as well.

     Tracey accompanies Ash only in the Orange Islands as a replacement for Brock, and he seems quite carefree and enjoys drawing not only Pokémon (being a Pokémon Watcher), but also girls he may see along the way. He is in no way as immature as Brock is around women, and mostly keeps his thoughts and urges to himself. He learns many things along the way, and seems to know a lot already. Ash and company leave Tracey with Professor Oak and gain Brock back, and they occasionally see glimpses of him when talking with the Professor. He is sure to gain even more knowledge in that position, and though he doesn't appear to age in those glimpses, he does mature as he helps others instead of worrying with his own problems.

     May and Max both appear for only one season, and neither are really given time to mature or age. May is much like Ash in her ways, and Max is quite smart, even replacing Misty to drag Brock away from women. May does mature in the ways of Pokémon, having been previously afraid of them to winning competitions with them, and Max does learn more along the way – as do most of the "smarter" characters of the show. May is seen later in the Sinnoh region, and she doesn't appear to have aged but has matured slightly.

     Dawn met Ash in the latest region, Sinnoh (excluding Isshu), and she's like a female version of Ash himself. She, like May, enters Pokémon contest rather than earning badges, and she learns along the way how to use attacks together in success to get a higher score – along with how to properly battle, though she still does lose often. Her travels with Ash end in the Sinnoh, and, though it is unclear if she will ever be seen again, it is unlikely due to all other main characters who left have not, if not rarely.

     Jessie, James, and Meowth – they follow Ash constantly, always after Pikachu or some other Pokémon that is either not worth Giovanni's time, or it too good to get caught by these three. Like Ash and Pikachu, they do not age, and they have been through many dangerous experiences that would otherwise kill them. Why are they drawn so closely to Ash and Pikachu? What have they all got going for them that are similar in nature?

     Note these facts.

     Though Pokémon are data, they take the form of living, breathing creatures. They eat, sleep, get hurt or sick, and reproduce just like any animal in reality can do (though, they are super-charged with unnatural powers). They also age, something that Pikachu and Meowth have not done. Animals age faster than humans, and so it is likely that Pokémon would be the same way (EXAMPLE: Puka the pikachu in episode 67 "The Pi-Kahuna"). And though in the beginning episodes Pikachu was chubby, he increasingly got skinnier and then stopped gaining or losing weight all together.

     Of course the whole show has only taken maybe three to four years tops, supposedly (excluding Isshu), but in the time it takes to scale continents and battle through competitions housing hundreds of challengers, it would take much more than a mere three or four years.

     Psychic Pokémon and Ghost Pokémon dislike each other, and that is shown in the anime (EXAMPLE(s): Episodes 22-24 "Abra and the Psychic Showdown", "The Tower of Terror", and "Haunter Versus Kadabra"). Ash has only "owned" one ghost Pokémon, though it was never caught with a Pokéball and it was later given away – this was in the first season. Later he does encounter ghost Pokémon, but he never tries to catch them, and they merely play tricks on him or want to play. Ash has never owned a psychic Pokémon, and though Ash and Pikachu can befriend psychic Pokémon, any attempt to catch or keep close on a permanent basis failed. Jessie and James have owned three psychic Pokémon, but none of them are majorly used for battling, and they are often seen not listening to them or using non-offensive attacks. They have never owned a ghost Pokémon, though they will help a ghost Pokémon in need (EXAMPLE: Episode 146 "Fear Factor Phony").

     What is this conclusion I have yet to get to?

     Ash, Pikachu, Jessie, James, and Meowth are dead.

     Ash died some time before the Hoenn season, maybe even in Kanto or the Orange Islands. He most likely was brought down by one of the many attacks he gets hit by, but his spirit was so alive that he seemed to live on, no one noticing but a few Pokémon and his dead companions. It is unclear when exactly Pikachu died, but it's presumably around the same time Ash did – perhaps he committed suicide after the loss of his best friend and trainer, and then continued to live on with him. Jessie, James, and Meowth died maybe even before their first attack on Ash, or, perhaps, his first attack on them killed the trio. This is why they never changed or learned how to properly steal a Pokémon, because they couldn't change. Maybe Ash and Pikachu actually died in the Spearow fight, along with Misty's bike. That's why the trio followed him, because they were all dead, and they felt connected. That could also be why Ash so willingly attacks Team Rocket with deathly blows; because he knows they can't be hurt. The trio being dead could be why they are the only continuing Team Rocket characters – other teams replacing them in their "bad guy" role.

     They all could've been dead from the beginning, yet no one notices. That could be why Haunter is so willing to join Ash, they are one in the same. Maybe that's why Ash could never catch a psychic Pokémon. This is why all other characters seem to mature and age yet Ash, Pikachu, and the trio never learn and never change.

     Ash might know, however. He may even take his newer Pokémon with him to the grave. Why are Ash's Pokémon, for the most part, untouchable? He may lose battles, but he wins more often. Sure, it could be because he's a great trainer – but this is Ash we're talking about; goofy, ditsy Ash. It may explain why some of his Pokémon pull off astounding things, like how Pikachu can use a thunder attack to shield himself and Swellow – an attack that would otherwise seriously injure or kill the flying type. You see, ghosts may be able to walk our world, but it takes energy to do so. When Ash's Pokémon are at a loss of energy, they lose – otherwise, they always win. Ash is always hungry or in need of rest, a naïve way of showing his loss of energy. Team Rocket share this constant hunger and needing rest.

     How do they eat if they're dead? They don't. As soon as any of these characters touch food, it turns into energy for them. Food is the energy for the living, right? So for the dead, they merely transfer the living's food into energy for themselves.

     Professor Oak never seems to age either, it seems. Perhaps he is dead too, and that's why he and Ash are so close. They understand each other, as do Jessie, James, and Meowth – no matter how much they want to deny it.

     And if Ash has succeeded in the leagues, going as far as the top 16 and even winning some, how can no one in future regions recognize him? Unless they traveled from their region to a previous region and met Ash, no one knows who he is. This could be why he is on a never-ending journey to be a Pokémon Master, even though he has conquered more than any league champion ever has. He is on the search for fame, but he will never be able to achieve it due to his condition. This could be why the show never ends…