Pikachu and Ash - one of the greatest friendships ever known to man (and pokemon.) I never used to question the partnership that they shared, until I started thinking... is this really a healthy relationship? Now I know, I know, you're thinking, "It's just a cartoon and how dare you question the legendary duo?!" I get it, these two have been together longer than most marriages last, but just hear me out.

1. 18 long years

There has been a total of 19 seasons and 20 movies since the 1998 show debut. Ash has been trying to become the very best for 18 years now. Pikachu is probably around 100 in dog years (I'm assuming pokemon age like this) and hasn't had a single break! LET HIM FREE ASH!

2. Eternally dumb

Somehow in that total of 18 years Ash has remained eternally 10. He's also remained eternally stupid. Why does he never know any pokemon when he starts a new season? Why does he constantly put Pikachu through rigorous battles and not know how to take advantage of him? YOU'VE HAD 18 YEARS ASH. You should know every pokemon in existence as well as how to battle with Pikachu.

3. ABUSE

Ash is honestly just cruel to Pikachu, especially in the first season. Remember when he tried to make Pikachu stronger by taping wires to his cheeks and hooking him up to a hydroelectric generator and forcing him to manually generate electricity by running on the wheel non-stop? And when Pikachu whimpered in pain Ash said, "If I can take this, you can take it Pikachu." YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING ASH, YOU'RE NOT EVEN ON THE WHEEL.

All this just to make Pikachu stronger after he'd gotten annihilated by Brock's Onix because Ash didn't even know rock type pokemon were immune to electricity. Smh.

4. Loyalty

The amount of moments Pikachu saves Ash or almost dies battling for him are countless. When they first met and he saved Ash from the Spearows almost killing him.

The time that ruined all of our childhoods - when Ash turned to stone and Pikachu kept trying to wake him.

And when he battled a Raichu even though Ash knew damn well he was not powerful enough to beat him, but Ash cared more about getting the Thunder Badge than Pikachu's life.

5. Weight

If nothing else I've said in this article convinces you of why Pikachu needs to be set free, then this should. The stress of 18 years worth of dealing with Ash has turned Pikachu into a twig. He obviously is not being fed right and Ash doesn't even care.

GIVE HIM A BREAK! Pikachu's barely recognizable anymore compared to his old self. He deserves it Ash, just let him live his own life now.

And on this note I'll end with #FREEPIKACHU