c155: Changeable Offensive and Defensive Tactics!!
Ash opened the system panel for Froakie and confirmed the change. As expected, the once-inactive hidden ability displayed within brackets [Protean] was now fully activated. The system no longer listed it in parentheses; it had taken its place as one of Froakie's primary traits.
"Thank you, Mew! I really love your present!" Ash said with genuine joy. "But…I don't really have anything valuable to offer in return."
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "How about this—I give you a hug? Or next time you come over to my house, I'll bake you a peach pie myself!"
He grinned, sincerity shining in his eyes as he looked up at the playful legendary floating before him.
"Mi~ I am the origin of all Pokémon in the world," Mew replied with mock indignation, hovering lazily above the meadow. "Guardian of the World Tree, bearer of the Law of Mew Master Mew! Don't compare me to some domestic kitten looking for treats!"
Still, his tail flicked with amusement.
"But...a hug is fine," Mew added after a moment's pause, pretending to relent. "And as for your sweet peach pie when my divine schedule allows, I might just visit your home for a taste. Just make sure you practice well. Last time, even Pikachu spat out your baked cookie. And believe me, my palate is far more refined."
Before Ash could respond, Mew's body glowed faintly with psychic light. He turned midair, momentum building as he prepared to vanish into the sky.
"I'm off!"
With a burst of speed, Mew streaked into the clouds like a comet trailing psychic mist.
"Okay!! Just don't forget that dinner invite!" Ash called after him, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify the sound.
"Mi~ It's a sampling of destiny, not dinner!" Mew's cheeky reply echoed down from the distance, faint yet playful.
A mountain breeze swept over the grassy plains, rustling through the field in green waves. Ash stood there quietly, Froakie resting calmly in his arms. He stared long at the patch of sky where Mew had vanished, heart still pounding from the surreal encounter.
The summer camp's final event had just ended. Tomorrow morning, all students including Ash would be leaving. Wanting to make the most of his last hours here, Ash had ventured into the valley's edge, hoping to copy a few wild Pokémon moves using the Trainer System.
He never imagined he'd meet Mew, the elusive ancestor of all Pokémon.
And whether it was a mistaken identity or truth buried in the soul, Mew had seen something in him perhaps recognizing the aura of Sir Aaron, the legendary aura guardian from ancient times, whose soul may well have been reincarnated into Ash.
Whatever the case, the result was clear: Ash had become a psychic, now able to contractually summon the mythical Mew.
Moreover, through this bond, Ash had inherited the Law of Mew, a metaphysical mark that would magnify his aura training rate five- to tenfold a feat unheard of since the age of ancient guardians.
Ash had grown strong. Not just as a Trainer, but as a chosen individual powerful in ways others couldn't yet comprehend.
And on top of that, Froakie's hidden ability, Protean, had awakened something worth celebrating on its own.
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Note on "Protean" (Change Freely):
Protean alters the user's own elemental typing to match the move it's about to use. This change happens before the move is executed and lasts until the user switches out or uses a move of another type.
For Pokémon with dual types (like most evolved forms), activating Protean temporarily replaces their original typing with a new singular type one that matches the type of the next move they use.
Froakie, though currently a Water-type Pokémon, could no longer be classified as a standard Water-type in battle. Its classification was now fluid, literally.
For example, based on Froakie's current move pool:
When using Pound, Growl, or Quick Attack (all Normal-type moves), Froakie's typing becomes Normal, and it will benefit from the Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) for those moves.
This boost means the move's damage multiplier increases from its base to around x1.2–x1.5, depending on Froakie's synergy and state at the time.
This adaptability allowed Froakie to unpredictably shift roles mid-battle, alternating between offense and defense, playing a style similar to Greninja's Battle Bond form seen in the Kalos Crisis arc a style that even elite Trainers like Diantha and Korrina found difficult to counter.
Ash's path had just begun, but already, he was setting foot on the road once traveled by legends.
In addition, when defending, if the opponent mistakenly assumes Froakie is preparing to use a Water-type move and commands their Pokémon to counter with an Electric-type attack, Ash can instantly adapt. By having Froakie use a Ground-type move such as Mud-Slap or a future-acquired Dig—Froakie's Protean ability will change its typing to Ground before the move executes.
This typing shift allows Froakie to completely nullify incoming Electric-type attacks, as Ground-types are immune to Electric damage. Even if Froakie remains stationary and doesn't evade the move, the elemental immunity makes it untouchable during that moment an invaluable advantage when facing Electric-heavy teams like those used by Trainers such as Lt. Surge or Clemont in the manga.
Though Froakie's current level remains unchanged at LV.17, the awakening of its hidden ability Protean has significantly increased its tactical combat potential. From a surface perspective, its raw stats may appear the same, but the versatility in type adaptation makes Froakie's practical power level much higher—especially in the hands of a Trainer who understands synergy and counters.
Of course, the extent to which Froakie's combat effectiveness can be realized still depends heavily on the Trainer's own strategic competence.
In Ash's case, he is already deeply familiar with the Protean ability's mechanics and tactical applications having read about it in the Battle Tactics Handbook written by Korrina's grandfather and studied footage of Elite Four Siebold's Greninja in the Kalos League manga arc. Ash can naturally guide Froakie to fully unlock this newfound potential in actual battle situations.
"Even though I received a huge opportunity today by meeting Mew," Ash muttered to himself, looking at his palm where the Law of Mew's aura-mark shimmered faintly, "to truly become strong, I still need to rely on my own effort, step by step."
"Let's head back. We've wrapped things up here," Ash added, gently patting Froakie's small head.
"Quack !" Froakie nodded enthusiastically. The moment Mew activated its hidden ability, Ash had instinctively protected it despite not knowing what was happening. That simple gesture moved Froakie deeply. Their bond strengthened quietly in that moment.an emotional thread beginning to resemble the Fetter Evolution Path that only certain chosen Trainers could activate.
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Forest Camp –
"Xiaolan, have you seen Ash?" Serena's voice rang as she returned to the camp cabin. After taking some 999 cold granules from the medicine shelf and resting for a while, Ash's absence became apparent to her.
"Ash? I think he took Froakie for a walk in the forest just outside the camp," Xiaolan replied cheerfully as she looked up.
"To the woods? That's just like Ash," Serena muttered with a soft smile.
"Xiaolan, Shauna... You two keep practicing for tomorrow's mini-tournament. I'm going to find Ash in the forest," Serena declared as she hugged her Clefairy tightly and headed out of the cabin.
"Serena's really…" Shauna trailed off with a laugh.
"Let her go. You and I both know she likes Ash. Tomorrow we'll be returning to the Kalos Region. Let them have a little time alone before that." Xiaolan sighed gently.
"Coming here to Kanto for Professor Oak's summer camp was such a great decision," Shauna added. "We made so many wonderful friends."
"But if we're talking about change," Xiaolan said thoughtfully, "the person who's grown the most these two weeks is definitely Serena. She used to be so reserved and timid, but thanks to Ash's encouragement, she's become cheerful and confident."
"It's no wonder she's so close to Ash now," Shauna agreed. "He helped her find her path, so naturally she's grateful... and it's obvious she likes him. I mean, Ash changed her life. He's not just strong he's mature, thoughtful, and really kind."
"And handsome," Xiaolan added with a teasing grin.
"There are so many girls in this camp who have a crush on Ash," Shauna said, smiling meaningfully.
"Does that include you, Shauna?" Xiaolan smirked.
"You brat! Are you teasing me now?" Shauna gasped, her cheeks turning red as she reached over to lightly shove Xiaolan, sparking a playful scuffle.
"Hee hee~" Xiaolan giggled. "With a boy as amazing as Ash, it's only natural that he'll have more than one girl interested in him in the future. Times are changing love isn't bound by ancient rules anymore."
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