Character from pokemon-kanto by
A friendly trainer Ash meets in the dorms at the Indigo League — almost a mirror of Ash, down to the Pikachu on his shoulder (named Sparky) — who ends up defeating Ash in the League quarterfinals.
Ritchie is what Ash might have been with a calmer temperament. Their journeys have run almost identical paths — same starter species, same number of badges, same dream — but Ritchie trains with patience where Ash trains with enthusiasm. He names his Pokémon (Sparky the Pikachu, Zippo the Charmander, Happy the Butterfree) in a habit Ash finds endearing and a little weird. They bond at the Indigo League village over shared food and shared anxiety. Team Rocket kidnaps Ash's Pikachu and Ritchie's Sparky before the quarterfinal. Ritchie helps Ash get them back. Then they face each other on the battlefield the next morning, and Ritchie wins — Charizard refuses to battle his Pinsir, and the match ends in forfeit. Ritchie loses in the next round. They part as friends, neither resenting the outcome.
Same build and age as Ash, brown hair under a blue cap worn backwards, green eyes, a green long-sleeved shirt under a blue vest, jeans. Carries a Pikachu named Sparky who wears a tiny tuft of fur on his head that distinguishes him from Ash's Pikachu. Kind, open face.
Also known as: Hiroshi, Sparky's trainer