FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Cassidy set one more full restore into the basket she held while in the mart. She'd spent roughly ten minutes gathering what she needed for the Elite Four with Fenny's aid. "So... that's fifteen full restores, ten hyper potions, burn heals, antidotes, ice and paralyze heals..."

'And twenty max revives," Fenny finished.

She grinned a little. "I think we're good. Let's take it up front. We're up soon," Cassidy said and stood behind someone in line. It finally set in that she was at the League, about to face the toughest battle Cassidy would ever have to. This would prove if she were truly as adequate a trainer as she hoped.

'Cass.' Fenny tugged on her arm.

"Hm?" She was shaken from her thoughts.

'We're next...'

Cassidy saw the cashier awaiting them behind the counter while she was zoned out. "Right..." She paid accordingly and placed all of the items inside her pouch afterward, zipping it closed and exiting the store, now among many people.

'Are you okay?' Fenny asked, concerned by her behavior moments ago.

"It's almost impossible for me to feel confident enough in myself. If we lose, I fail myself after so much work... Then, how will I even win? The Elite and their pokémon are far more experienced than us," Cassidy vented as they walked.

She was second-guessing herself, and Fenny knew that was deadly. He'd know. He felt about the same way. He didn't want to fail Cassidy. 'But you've only lost one gym and had to retry. That was the first one. With every other, you've kept us adequate enough to keep up. I think you can do it if you stay calm and focus... as you told me.' Fenny looked at her, hoping he helped.

"Mh..." Cassidy sighed to herself. He wasn't wrong about any of it.

They approached the front desk a minute later, as the mart wasn't far, and saw the same woman sitting behind it.

"Ah, all ready?" she asked as they walked up, handing Cassidy a white sticker with a barcode on it. "Stick this to something that keeps it visible at all times... Just walk down the stadium hall and take a right.

Cassidy neatly placed it on the front of her pouch and nodded. "Thank you." She took Fenny's hand for a second and walked with him down the corridor, the buzzing from audience members growing louder as they traversed the empty hall.

Fenny's ears twitched while adjusting to it. The stadium ground was empty. He assumed because they were next in line to battle. He scanned the gated narrow steel bridge leading to the stage, smooth chrome flooring where'd they'd stand, and dark green terrain surrounding it. Three large screens were hanging on the west wall between the red high-seats filled with people.

Cassidy tugged him to the right before they reached the gate and down another hall, where a slim woman older than herself stood by a door. She had short brown hair and wore a white top ending in shorts and a matching jacket that draped down near her calves' backsides. Gold bands were imprinted on the wrists of her jacket and around the waist of her shirt. Cassidy knew who that was. Diantha. Cassidy felt anxious in her presence. What was the champion of Kalos' League doing here?

Diantha took out a small black device and scanned the barcode on Cassidy's sticker then briefly looked at its screen. "Ah, Cassidy. You are lucky to have this spot."

"I... am?" All she did was casually sign up for it. Cassidy figured it was routine.

"This is our final live battle until later during the evening. It was booked originally, but the trainer pulled out at the last minute, which is why I am speaking to you now. Usually, we have trainers interviewed far before they perform live. Unfortunately, we're short on time. We host four live battles during the day and another four at night every Monday and Thursday. Many trainers prefer to fight privately, so it works itself out."

'Wait, we don't have to fight in front of a thousand people?' That would have brought Fenny's nerves down extensively.

Cassidy heard him but couldn't answer, especially since her focus was solely on the woman in front of her. Cassidy was more introverted and probably would have chosen to battle without an audience, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the same time. Plus, these spots had to be difficult to secure-- and it had allowed her to meet Diantha. "Huh, that's... amazing. I'm honored to have it." Cassidy grinned briefly.

"This way, please," Diantha said while opening the door and revealing a small room. It had a white leather couch and a restroom behind a door, along with a TV currently playing a pokémon fashion program. "You may sit, dear. Everything I am going to tell you is crucial."

Cassidy entered the room and sat on the couch with Fenny, hearing the door close behind them and consequently muffling the commotion outside. She had to refrain from staring at Diantha. There were quite a few questions Cassidy wanted to ask her as she'd looked up to her from a young teen, but there wasn't much time.

"Your first opponent will be Elite Four Malva, the fire-type connoisseur. If all your pokémon faint, your attempt is over, and you are sent back to the lobby. If you emerge victorious, however, you will be brought back here for a fifteen-minute break. Every battle follows these rules. You are allowed to challenge the Elite Four once per week. We are only open until 10 p.m. and cannot have the same trainers battling repeatedly..."

Cassidy swallowed. "So... I'd have to walk Victory Road again if I lose?"

"Not at all. Trainers that have already completed Victory Road are given a physical pass and number to the same lesser-known alternate route audience members use." They had less than ten minutes, but something about Cassidy's aura and demeanor interested Diantha. She seemed sealed off and stiff. "What motivated your journey, Cassidy?"

Fenny's ears perked, and he glanced at Cassidy, curious as to what she'd say.

Her heart dropped. Cassidy wasn't expecting an inquiry like that. Why did Diantha care? "I... Well, I found it was my calling. I had nothing in life when I was sixteen and was at my lowest point. Out of curiosity, I looked into competitive battling once I could no longer handle my state. I watched and studied many high-level battles every day... in-including yours, and began challenging Kalos' gyms at eighteen when I felt I and my pokémon were ready. I never stopped, and it became a primary goal to get where I am now. I surprised myself..."

Diantha studied Cassidy with her eyes. "You said you had nothing at sixteen?"

"Oh..." She didn't mind, but she'd only told Fenny about it. "My parents suffered a fatal hiking accident on Pomace Mountain while I was that age. After that, I was on my own and eventually moved from my home, then turned to... this. I think it was the best decision I could ever have made."

Diantha found her story most impressive. "It seems to me you have earned it and did so exceptionally with two fewer pokémon in your party than usual. Congratulations on making it to the League. It is amazing to see trainers find their path through the art of battle."

"Thank you... Ma'am, really." Cassidy looked down shyly for a moment, suppressing a smile with a grin. She would never have imagined the person to realize her adventure up until now would be Diantha.

"You're up in five minutes. Security will escort you then," she said, walking to and opening the door. Diantha slightly turned before so. "You have a strong spirit, Cassidy." She grinned, then shut the door behind her.

Cassidy's grin turned into a slight smile, and again, her eyes welled with tears. She wiped them with her sleeve. She didn't want to feel emotional before going up against the Elite Four. This was twice in one day now.

'Cass'... who was that?' He noticed her reaction, resting his hand atop hers and eyeing her.

She sniffled, rubbing her irritated eyes and looking at Fenny. "The champion of this League... Someone I'm grateful to have met." Cassidy felt a bit more confident going forward. She was never one to seek validation. She just wanted someone to hear her story and tell her she did well.

And there was no one better than Diantha.