Snowbelle
#24 of Cassidy's Journey
'Cassidy said my flame charge and ember are both amazing, but I'm still so nervous. It's making me feel sick.' Fenny vented to Garna while sitting on the couch's left arm. He was waiting for Cassidy to get her outfit together before they left for Snowbelle. After a week of beneficial training, the day finally arrived.
'Are you nervous because you may lose the battle?' Garna asked. She stood by the dining room table.
He nodded. 'Yes, but not so much for me... for her. I have to win for her.'
'Where is your confidence, Fenny?' Garna walked to him and stood a small distance from where he sat.
'It's barely there when it comes to battling.' Fenny quickly looked back once he heard Cassidy's bedroom door open.
'Think of and see yourself as she does you.' That was what Fenny was left with.
"Is everyone ready? Sorry I took so long. I had to bundle up." Snowbelle Gym's interior would be frigid, so Cassidy ensured she was prepared. She wore a black button-up parka, tight black gloves, two pairs of jeans with the pair in front being the same color, and the matching boots she wore usually.
It was a cute getup in Fenny's eyes. He nodded in response to her question, and opportunely, everyone was ready.
"I'll see you guys soon..." Cassidy returned three of her pokémon to their pokéballs, excluding Fenny. She was worried her other pokémon would notice her unintentional favoritism, but Cassidy wondered if they'd care. Añu and Violet liked doing their own thing most of the time, but Cassidy was closer to Garna once upon a time. It wasn't a time to think about that now, however. She grabbed her pouch and badge case, then promptly headed out the door with Fenny. She was glad Snowbelle was a neighboring city, as was Anistar. "I'm nervous but kind of excited." Cassidy kept it within, but it was genuine.
'I think I'm just nervous...' Fenny held his tail in his hands while walking beside Cassidy. It was what he usually did when he felt nervous or down.
"That's okay. You'll be the one battling physically, but I'll be right behind you the entire time." Cassidy attempted to give him some reassurance.
--
They entered Snowbelle City in just over twenty-five minutes. Fenny already remembered the city from when they previously walked through it on the way to Pokémon Village.
"The air will get colder the longer you're exposed to it, and you'll have to deal with that enough while battling in the gym, so I'm going to return you for now." She leaned in front of him and caressed his cheek with her gloved hand, and Fenny tilted his head against her delicate touch while looking into her eyes. When she spoke, her exhaled breath was momentarily visible in the air because of its freezing temperature. "This is our last gym, Fen, but I'll repeat it, I know you'll perform so well in there. Save your worry for the league. That's what I'm doing." Cassidy grinned.
Fenny kept his eyes on her. 'Okay...' Cassidy was right. This wasn't even the Elite Four, and he was already more nervous about battling the gym than he should be.
Cassidy gave him a light kiss on his cheek. "I love you, okay?" she spoke lowly and gave his cheek a small and loving nudge with her nose, a shade of pink from the temperature. There were other trainers around, but it wasn't that odd of an action.
'I love you too...' Her voice and words made him feel somewhat better.
Cassidy stood back up. She took his pokéball out of her bag and returned Fenny, then placed it back inside and closed it accordingly. The gym was located in the center of the city, so that's where she headed.
Cassidy adjusted her parka while trudging north through the thick snow. The weather was getting to her already. She hugged herself for a few moments, emitting a few shaky breaths. Cassidy shortly remarked a large, off-white hexagon-shaped building ahead near the base of Snowpeak Mountain. That was the gym.
Once she made it, Cassidy entered the building without much thought. The conditions were slightly colder inside the gym than outside. She looked in front of her at the vibrant and multicolored colored tiles under her boots, then ahead at the double set of stairs that would take her down into the gym. With another small shiver, Cassidy ventured into her eighth big battle.