SHE MUST!!!!! It's inevitable that ash and Misty will get together, but hopefully not anytime soon. I'd like to see how things turn out without her in the group. I think one of these effects is that Ash gets ticked off at many things he should have sooner or not at all. Also, he seems to try his all to get the badges as fast as he can...
(it's a little long, so get some Pok?chow or something)
If you guys noticed, Ash has been really touchy recently. First there was Max...
*Max: "Hey, you're the guy who lost in the second round in the Silver Conference!
Hold on... your name... is Alf!!!":)*
Next, there was May. She was yelled at by Ash because she apparently wanted some Rustburo 'pasta' before they left, but the boat already departed for Dewford Island.
Then, there was Brawley. He didn't accept Ash's challange at first, so Ash decided to persuade him (riding a wave WITHOUT a surfboard, digging throught the sand like Bugs Bunny) And after Ash lost he battle, he seemed to do everthing he can to earn his badges.
Then there was James in the Granite cave. Ash apparantly had a very short temper with James NOW for some stupid reason. I mean, Team Rocket had been chasing Pikachu for over 2 'years' now and didn't complain too much then. And in some episodes, Team Rocket helped out Ash and friends!!!
The most recent episode 'A Corphish outta Water', Ash actually skipped breakfast just to train!!! Now, do you guys remember Ash actually skipping a meal in the past? I think not!
With all this in mind, I personally think that Misty is the cause of all this! Ash's temper seems to be of Misty's. (Ash also passed his battling strategy to Misty, shown in the Whirl Islands championship episodes) His eagerness to earn the badges I think is to try to impress Misty. Thoughout the show, Misty never really seemed impressed with anything Ash does, although we all really knew that wasn't the case. Ash didn't see it though, so he tries everything he can to impress her. This is what I think, so if this is not the case, don't blame me!!!
Misty will forever be in the series. I DON"T CARE WHAT YOU GUYS SAY!!! Now for them to actually admit their feelings for each other... I hope that's a long ways from now. It'll ruin Pok?mon's point if they did!