Would you rather see Ash battle Iris or Drayden?

[SnowyPiplup]

Uh...Drayden? Haven't watched the anime, but that would be awkward if he battled Iris, because my friend said she's traveling with him.

Plus, I'm biased for my Black version, and I hate Iris, she's an annoying little...well, you know...

[KibaLG8]

Uh...Drayden? Haven't watched the anime, but that would be awkward if he battled Iris, because my friend said she's traveling with him.

Plus, I'm biased for my Black version, and I hate Iris, she's an annoying little...well, you know...

Wait.... when you say "he", do mean Ash or Drayden because it sounds like you mean Drayden, who Iris isn't traveling with. But if you did mean Ash, why would it be awkward... Ash fought Misty.

[Sapphire Kirby]

Or he can do like in Brawl and turn into a giant ball of electric energy that flies around and annihilates everything in its path.

Pikachu learned Fusion Bolt! *shot*

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On topic: I want Ash to battle Drayden for the 8th badge. Anime Iris =/= Game Iris, and Anime Iris doesn't look like a skilled gymleader to me. The impression I got from BW episode 09 is that Iris recently started her jouney with Axew and is learning about being both a trainer and adult. I also don't belief that she is super trainer hiding tons of strong Pokemon from her friends (barring Exadrill), as that wouldn't be realistic (for whatever counts for realistic in the anime that is). In the games, Iris is Drayden's apprentice. We don't know if anime Iris even knows anime Drayden, and their would be little reason for a gymleader to let a complete stranger battle in his case.

Edit: If Ash battled Iris for practice in order to learn more about dragon types, then I would be fine with that. I just don't think the girl is qualified to hand out gym badges.

[Sr.Serperior]

186;

When Ash (inevitably) goes for his eighth badge in Unova, would you want him to battle Iris or Drayden? I'd rather him battle Iris because it's better for the story where she works with Ash throughout the journey to get stronger with Axew and then Ash would eventually have to battle Axew (or whatever it is if it ends up evolving.) It would also be like when he battled Misty in the original season (only hopefully Team Rocket wouldn't interrupt before a winner is decided.) I have an idea of what Iris would say before the battle if it happens: "You think you can beat me? You're such a little kid!"

Of course we all want an Ash_misty remake, they already gave us a dawn remake and iris axew and she was only in the past season, and we've had plenty of ash remakes their even gearing up for another one with iris and excadrill..... But hes yet to battle another gym leader after they were friends.

[Karzon]

Both at the same time. I wanna see a real triple battle!

[CyberCubed]

He's probably going to battle both.

Iris first as practice, then Drayden for the badge.

[Thriller]

I don't want to see Iris as a Gym Leader, so hopefully Shaga.

[catzeye]

I was thinking how about both. It could be a double battle or maybe he battles them both one-on-one. I want to see Iris and Ash go at it in a serious match. I also want to see Drayden get a chance to battle as well. They might have Ash do what he did in the Striaton City gym; he will asked to challenge both of them.

Someone on the first page had mention they would like to see Ash/Trip vs Iris/Drayden. That's not too bad of an idea. Having both rivals at the same spot getting ready for the league. Plus it would be original, having rivals face off against the same gym leader at the same time.

[Haunter227]

I think that Ash needs to beat Iris and show her who's the kid.

This is the best and greatest idea ever known to man.

[Profesco]

He's probably going to battle both.

Iris first as practice, then Drayden for the badge.

This is probably the fairest way to go about it.

If they're going to give Iris a bunch of strength training and what passes for character development as the saga progresses, then they're probably going to give her a battle with Ash as a culmination point of some kind.

They can't just take Drayden out of the picture, though. He's the real Gym Leader, and a notable character to boot. We are going to see Iris day in and day out, during every episode of this entire saga. By the time Ash's 8th Gym battle comes around, I'm not going to want to miss the only chance to see Drayden battle.

The greatest way would be to have Ash battle both of them. However, if we had to forgo one of them, I think it'd be a bigger loss not seeing Drayden battle than it would Iris.

[InappropriateGoat]

Ash might lose to Drayden, then Iris will beat Drayden, and Ash will beat Iris in her first battle as a gym leader.
Although I'd prefer to see Ash beat Drayden...

[streetlightdsb]

He's probably going to battle both.

Iris first as practice, then Drayden for the badge.

Agreed.

Though if it had to be one, I'd say Drayden. The last gym battle should be an epic one to match up to all the others except Kanto, and I just don't see that happening with an Iris gym battle...

[Caseydia]

I wanted Iris to battle Ash because I have the pokemon white game but since Iris's Pokemon on the show is different, then I'll have to say Drayden.

[BLABO]

i dont think it even matters! he should battle both! or neither! and battle mr.pie instead!

[Locormus]

Uh...Drayden? Haven't watched the anime, but that would be awkward if he battled Iris, because my friend said she's traveling with him.

Plus, I'm biased for my Black version, and I hate Iris, she's an annoying little...well, you know...

Wait a second... You haven't watched the animé, yet you find that Iris is an annoying something? You sure make it easy for us to comply to your views if that's how well they are argumentated..

This is probably the fairest way to go about it.

If they're going to give Iris a bunch of strength training and what passes for character development as the saga progresses, then they're probably going to give her a battle with Ash as a culmination point of some kind.

They can't just take Drayden out of the picture, though. He's the real Gym Leader, and a notable character to boot. We are going to see Iris day in and day out, during every episode of this entire saga. By the time Ash's 8th Gym battle comes around, I'm not going to want to miss the only chance to see Drayden battle.

The greatest way would be to have Ash battle both of them. However, if we had to forgo one of them, I think it'd be a bigger loss not seeing Drayden battle than it would Iris.

Yeah, uhm as far as I'm concerned, Iris is the real gym leader too, and Drayden is the mayor from Opelucid City.. They are both the real gymleader, depending on which game. How is Drayden a more notable character to boot? Iris does far more in the games then he does! She actually shows up before the gym in Castelia City, and she actually befriends one of your rivals.. and she shows up in Undella Town. Saying that Drayden is a notable character and Iris isn't just at least as notable is just a bit off.. :S

About the solution. There's also the following option:

- Ash battles Drayden: Ash LOSES
- Iris battles Drayden, to show that she is a capable Dragon trainer well on her way to become a Dragon Master: Iris WINS
---- And don't tell me she can't challenge him, we already had Dawn vs. Maylene...
- Ash goes on a training trip..
- Iris stays with Drayden to train for 'Gymleadership'..
- Ash rechallenges Drayden, but Drayden says that he should battle Iris instead, as she fullfilled the requirements to become a gymleader.
- Ash vs. Gym Leader Iris: Ash wins.

Therefore we get to see:
- Ash vs. Drayden
- Iris vs. Drayden (Heck, we get to see Drayden fight twice!
- Ash vs. Iris (Heck, if Iris beats Drayden when Ash could not, that should mean that she is stronger then Drayden right, and prove more then enough of a challenge for Ash, right?!)

If it goes this way, then we all have what we want. We get to see Drayden fight. We get to see Iris getting a big step up towards her goal (at least enough to say goodbye at the end of Best Wishes, and she'll be doing so without it seeming fixed.

The only thing is that we won't actually see Ash beat Drayden, but that shouldn't matter if Iris is able to beat him when Ash isn't. That should tell everybody that Iris is a worthy opponent by then. Of course, she isn't much now.. But once she gains control over Excadrill and Axew starts to evolve, she'll be more then a handfull I'm sure. Ow yeah, and that Volt Switching Emolga could be troublesome as well..

Agreed.

Though if it had to be one, I'd say Drayden. The last gym battle should be an epic one to match up to all the others except Kanto, and Hoenn's, and I just don't see that happening with an Iris gym battle...

How about three gym battles as I mentioned above? Is that epic enough?

[Venomrec]

I think it will be drayden, i bet he's Iris's dad or something. He seems more fitting to a final gym battle besides Iris's isn't at the gym right now so she cant be the leader.

[Waterpokes]

I would say Drayden, since I want Ash to battle someone with Dragon Pokemon, and unless Iris catches any Dragon Pokemon, Ash should battle Drayden for the Gym Badge. But something that would be cool, is Ash battling Iris as well, in a non-Gym match.

So basically, Ash VS Drayden for the Gym Match, and then Ash VS Iris for a normal match.

[Bullkid]

My idea, just for fun : Ash & Trip VS Iris & Drayden :3

A nice way to include both Gym Leaders, and develop the rivalry between Ash & Trip. IMO ^^; I dont really want either of them left out.

This actually sounds like a pretty good idea. It's probably not going to happen, but one can dream...

[pokemon fan 132]

After being revealed how Iris wants to become dragon master possibility of her taking over gym from Drayden becomes questionable.

If Misty is anything to go by and her goal of becoming water pokemon master it showed how it involves travelling to become best one type trainer out there awell existing certain tasks someone needs to pass to achieve this(like Whirl Cup showed).Sure she retook(she was already gym leader) over gym but not because she wanted being forced because of sisters incompetence with writers leaving her goal to go nowhere.

Now with Iris they will probably do better job out of it and define better whole thing and judging by Lance being viewed as dragon master some rough picture of what is this supposed to mean exists.In that case so much about idea of her becoming gym leader.
Unless Iris goal doesnt involve same thing as Mistys goal did not being required to become one of best.I that case all bets are still open.

However even if battle between Iris and Ash doesnt occur during 8th gym its not like it cant be expected to see them clash for some other occasion being good way to serve as testament to Iris development as trainer and her ability to handle properly dragon pokemon aswell Ash showing his true skills which were built upon over all this years which Iris at moment questions.

[Graham Aker]

I want to see him battle them both honestly. Drayden in the gym, and Iris on the side before she leaves or something.