But yea Misty being in rival like role would work just fine as well joining Ash and co for few episodes, come back for important tournaments or help to fight villains bumping in each other at times.
It would be especially cool if at some point after traveling Ash and Misty realized how(to add on one idea on how her story could be advanced from before) if she becomes E4 and Ash wins league becoming champion they would have to face each other putting to test their relationship and if they can out aside their friendship with nothing holding them back if match happens. Match which would be remembered and
Her return I just feel would deliver more twist to storyline through her dreams never having someone in cast who wants to reach E4 member position and this is tied to water master career on so many levels with Misty showing like you said in HOSO how she has enough charm, fun aspects and mysteries waiting to be explored about her to carry story on her own. One of things writers brought but never dive deeper in about Misty past is Misty parents who according to head writer for OS Takeshi Shudo abandoned Misty and her sisters possibly influencing her personality suppressing bad things which happened in childhood. Because aside from sisters which downplayed her as shown in OS there could be some other background leading to need for her character in becoming self sufficient, independent and tough to hide her insecurity, fears and lack of confidence. Being especially violent in early days. I mean aside from dreams, Misty had so much untapped potential in many other fields worth to flesh out being in essence very interesting character.
It would be especially cool if at some point after traveling Ash and Misty realized how(to add on one idea on how her story could be advanced from before) if she becomes E4 and Ash wins league becoming champion they would have to face each other putting to test their relationship and if they can out aside their friendship with nothing holding them back if match happens. Match which would be remembered and
Her return I just feel would deliver more twist to storyline through her dreams never having someone in cast who wants to reach E4 member position and this is tied to water master career on so many levels with Misty showing like you said in HOSO how she has enough charm, fun aspects and mysteries waiting to be explored about her to carry story on her own. One of things writers brought but never dive deeper in about Misty past is Misty parents who according to head writer for OS Takeshi Shudo abandoned Misty and her sisters possibly influencing her personality suppressing bad things which happened in childhood. Because aside from sisters which downplayed her as shown in OS there could be some other background leading to need for her character in becoming self sufficient, independent and tough to hide her insecurity, fears and lack of confidence. Being especially violent in early days. I mean aside from dreams, Misty had so much untapped potential in many other fields worth to flesh out being in essence very interesting character.