A Temporary Stay
#3 of Cassidy's Journey
Cassidy had to fight three more pokémon rangers along the way, and since she didn't want to overwork Fenny before the final battle against the gym's leader, she used her riolu to get past them. Cassidy climbed the final rope and stepped onto the highest platform in the gym. There were two more she had to use to swing over more netting, and after being through with them, she knew Ramos was waiting around the corner. Cassidy had a ton of confidence in Fenny's ability to battle and within her judgement, but she still found herself gathering courage before approaching Ramos. Cassidy took a deep breath and reached her right hand into her pouch, pulling out Fenny's pokéball. Cassidy walked across the platform with it in her hand until she saw and stood in front of Ramos, a short, elderly male wearing green overalls.
"Ho! So yeh've made it clear up here! I'm the gym leader. Ramos's the name. So what'd yeh think, whippersnapper? Did yeh enjoy the garden playground I made with all these sturdy plants o' mine? Their strength is a sign of my strength as a gardener and a gym leader! Yeh sure yer up to facing all that?" The pale, bearded male gave a hefty speech.
Cassidy silently stood and wait out his dialogue. It wasn't like he let her answer any of his questions, which was for the best.
She took a few steps back as Ramos readied and tossed a pokéball onto the field, revealing his jumpluff. "Heh..." That wouldn't be much of a challenge for Fenny. Cassidy released him onto the battleground.
After beating that simisage in battle, Fenny felt a lot more confident about this one, even though he'd face more than one pokémon this time.
"Okay, Fenny, prepare ember!"
--
The tiresome fight was over roughly twenty minutes later. Cassidy had two empty bottles of potions, an exhausted braixen, and a plant badge in her hand. Cassidy placed the green badge with the outline of a tree in its center beside her recently earned rumble badge with relief. Another was great to have, and she wouldn't have gotten it without Fenny. Cassidy was proud of him for battling so well. She kneeled so she was at eye level with him.
Fenny gave Cassidy tired, but attentive eyes.
"I know you're beaten, but know you did as well as I expected. Get some rest." She grinned and returned him to his pokéball. Cassidy went to heal her pokémon at the local center as soon as she exited the gym. A few hours had passed since noon due to her time spent in the gym, so there was no way Cassidy would make it home before dark. The gym tired her out. Maybe it would be a good idea to stay at Coumarine's hotel overnight. She gave that a few minutes of thought and decided to go with the idea after receiving her healed pokémon.
Cassidy went and checked into the hotel on the northeast side of the city. She needed rest before starting the long walk back to Couriway the next day. She ambled along the quaintly designed lobby's blue and white checkered floor. Lamps hung on the walls, and a few sets of wooden chairs and tables were placed around the lobby. Cassidy took the elevator to the second floor and found her room two doors down the corridor. She closed and locked the door to her room, and after tossing her bag and case onto the bed across from the door, she took off her black jacket and boots. The room had wooden flooring, a small dresser against the wall, and a small lamp hanging up. A red carpet rested underneath the bed to complement the room and spread across a small area of the floor. Cassidy let her pokémon out for the day, starting with Fenny.
He stood a few feet away from the bed while Cassidy sat on its bottom end on the red blanket.
"Feel better now that you're all healed up?" she asked.
Fenny gave her a nod but was currently more focused on Cassidy's body and clothing than her words. He wasn't surprised she wore a purple shirt underneath her black jacket and had on black socks alongside it. It was always one color or the other with her. What always caught his eyes, however, was her physique. Cassidy was fit overall, not so much toned, but slim. All of the walking she did across the region helped maintain that. Her hips were full, and she had plump, soft thighs.
"Fenny?"
He was torn from his thoughts by Cassidy attempting to get his attention. 'I... uh- yes, I do.' Fenny's eyes were back on her face.
"You need to have more faith in yourself when it comes to battling, Fen."
'Well... they were grass types. He found himself looking down, but his furry cheeks were suddenly and gently held up by Cassidy's warm hands.
She looked at his cute face and slowly pulled him in front of her. "Don't say that, Fenny. A battle is a battle. You'll get better as we go." Cassidy softly caressed his cheeks with her thumbs.
The way she touched him made him feel warm and tingly inside. Fenny wasn't entirely sure what that was, but he liked it. He liked it a lot.