"Froakie, good, just like that! Aim upwards—use Water Pulse!"
"Froooog!"
A brand new day had begun.
Early in the morning, Ash and his friends were already awake, busy training Froakie's moves.
Froakie leapt lightly, gathering energy between his palms before hurling a powerful Water Pulse skyward!
The shimmering orb of water surged upward with all its might, before gravity inevitably pulled it back down.
"Froakie, don't panic. Focus. Feel its rhythm, sense the speed of its descent. At the very last moment—dodge."
"Froooog!"
Froakie gave a firm nod, determination in its eyes.
Nearby, Clemont was tinkering with yet another of his gadgets. Bonnie giggled while feeding her Dedenne. Serena, meanwhile, seemed absorbed in knitting something with delicate care.
Around them, Ash's other Pokémon were gathered. Meloetta and Gardevoir—two elegant, almost ethereal figures—were tending to the rest of the Pokémon, making sure everyone had something to eat.
The Water Pulse continued falling faster and faster…
Froakie narrowed its gaze, focusing on every ripple of movement.
Ash too felt the rhythm, his Aura power resonating faintly with Froakie's intent.
And then, in perfect synchronicity—
"Now!"
"Froooog!"
Froakie shifted just one step aside.
Half a second later—
Boom!
The Water Pulse crashed against the ground, barely brushing past Froakie's body.
"Excellent. You did great."
"Froooog!"
But just then— Froakie froze. Its sharp eyes darted toward a nearby bush.
Without hesitation, it hurled another Water Pulse straight at it!
Ash smiled faintly. So, you noticed already?
Indeed, hidden inside that thicket were two distinct life auras. Ash had sensed them with his Aura Power long ago, but he'd wanted to see if Froakie could detect them on its own.
The Water Pulse struck home—and the bushes shook violently!
Out sprang two figures.
One was a young man in full ninja garb. The other—a Frogadier of his own.
"Froooog!"
The Frogadier gave a cry, locking eyes with Ash's partner.
"Not bad," the young man said calmly, "to have raised your Froakie this far. Just now, it even managed to detect both me and mine. Impressive… but not enough."
His sudden appearance drew the attention of Clemont, Serena, and Bonnie, who all turned to watch curiously.
The man straightened politely. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sanpei, from the Ninja Village. I travel with my Frogadier, undergoing rigorous shinobi training."
He bowed. "I must apologize for startling you. When I saw you and your Froakie training so earnestly, it reminded me of my own bond with mine. I couldn't help myself."
Ash grinned. "No worries. In fact, your coordination with Frogadier was flawless—that's something I want to learn from, for me and mine."
Sanpei shook his head modestly. "You're too kind. But I still have urgent training matters, so I'll take my leave."
With that, he turned away.
Yet just before disappearing into the trees, Sanpei's Frogadier glanced over its shoulder—locking eyes with Ash's Froakie for the briefest of moments.
That single glance was enough.
Ash's Froakie narrowed its eyes, its spirit ignited like fire.
Ash understood immediately. He didn't need a battle to stir his partner's heart—the look alone had already planted the seed of rivalry.
"So," Ash crouched beside his partner, "you don't think you'll lose to him, do you?"
"Froooog! Froooog!"
Sceptile called back, understanding Ash's intent. This wasn't about showing off—this was training for Froakie. So Sceptile deliberately slowed its speed, just enough to test the very edge of what Froakie could handle.
From the ridge, Clemont adjusted his glasses. "They're really fired up…"
Bonnie's eyes sparkled. "Ash's Sceptile is amazing! It feels stronger than any Pokémon I've ever seen!"
She turned, tugging Serena's sleeve. "Right, Serena?"
"Ah… y-yes. Very strong," Serena stammered, accidentally pricking her own finger with her knitting needle.
She had been working on a special project—quietly weaving a warm sweater for Ash. After all, their journey would soon take them through snowy cities and icy landscapes. She wanted him to wear something she had made, something from her heart.
Meanwhile, Froakie stumbled often at first, its body struggling to keep pace. But every time it felt its strength falter, the image of Sanpei's Frogadier flashed in its mind—the calm, confident look in its rival's eyes.
With a growl, it grit its teeth and pushed harder.
Its footsteps grew lighter, faster.
Until suddenly—its movements aligned perfectly with Ash and Sceptile's.
"Chamoo?"
Sceptile glanced back in surprise. This little brother… broke through his limit?
If that's the case—time to raise the bar.
Sceptile slammed its foot onto a boulder, sending a booming echo through the canyon before launching itself skyward.
Its powerful leap carried it high into the branches of a towering tree.
Ash followed right after—
And Froakie, burning with fierce determination, roared out—
"Froooog!"
Leaping into the air, unwilling to fall behind!
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