>>36558538>Ash was her motivation at everythingWhich is played through her shallow crush. There is a reason people consider it poor development because it was randomly pushed.
Ash and Lillie actually show development as Lillie begins to grow closer and more attached to Ash from their meeting, her mother, and now. Ash even wanted to cheer Lillie up when she couldn't touch shiron or pikachu during the aether arc and even wanted to walk with her. And Ash inviting Lillie to battle him is pretty much like a date to him.
