JourneyShipping

FirstFriendShipping is the slash ship between Ash Ketchum and Gou from the Pokémon fandom.

Canon
Most notable about their relationship is how often Gou blushes and praises Ash in the first three episodes of Pokémon: Sword & Shield. The two met when they both got on the legendary Pokémon Lugia's back, and after bonding the experience Gou accepts Ash as his friend.

At Professor Oak's laboratory, the pair is appointed as his research fellows, to which Gou, while blushing, asks Ash if he would be his friend. Only for Ash to cut him off asking "we're already friends, right?" Which makes Gou blush and quickly agree.

When Ash was battling in front of Gou, he was in awe and had what some would describe as a love-struck expression.

Fanon
It is the newest ship of the Pokémon: Sword & Shield anime. Although the anime hasn't finished, people have already speculated that Gou is homosexual, as his androgynous and feminine manners along with his likely attraction to Ash proves. This is further hinted to in Episode 1, when Gou is on Lugia's back with Ash he is in awe of the waterfall, and the reflection of a rainbow is seen in his eyes, and the LGBTQ+ flag is a rainbow.

It is the most popular ship for Gou.

Fandom
FAN FICTION

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * If Gou is indeed in love with Ash, it would make him the first openly confirmed LGBTQ+ character in Pokémon.
 * The ship's name comes from the fact Ash is Gou's first "true" friend, as Gou had a difficult time making friends in the past and couldn't keep most of the ones he did make.