A towering snow-covered mountain, capped with ice that never melts, stood like a sharp blade piercing the sky. Victor, shivering from head to toe, huddled tightly in the arms of Incineroar for warmth.
---
Due to the incident involving Latios and Latias, Victor's journey to the second gym had been delayed by nearly half a month.
It was now April 4th, the transitional period between spring and summer. In theory, the weather should have been mild, neither the chill of winter nor the heat of summer.
To avoid further delaying his preparations for the National Youth Cup, Victor had no choice but to board a direct train to Frostwind City, the second stop of his gym challenge tour.
Before arriving, Victor had checked an entry on Frostwind City in the Triangular block database.
The description read:
> "Frostwind City experiences extremely low temperatures in late autumn, winter, and early spring. Outside of these seasons, except for Icepeak Mountain, where snow persists year-round, the city's temperature is mild, requiring only long sleeves."
Victor trusted this information and dressed accordingly.
---
A Cold Reality
When he disembarked from the train, the attendant gave him a look that suggested she wanted to warn him about something but hesitated.
The moment Victor stepped out of the warm train compartment, an icy wind—so cold it felt like an armor-piercing enchantment—slammed into him.
"!!!"
Wearing only a long-sleeved sweatshirt and three-quarter jeans, Victor instantly felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Despite his ability to launch Aura missiles powerful enough to defeat elite Pokémon, he was utterly defenseless against this bone-chilling weather.
---
Calling for Reinforcements
With frigid winds howling from all directions, Victor had no choice but to release Incineroar from its Luxury Ball.
The fiery Pokémon materialized with a questioning growl.
"Roar?"
[What's going on?]
Incineroar's body radiated heat, creating a small haven of warmth around Victor as he clung to the Pokémon for dear life.
"Why is it so cold?! Didn't pokedex say it's warm this time of year?!" Victor exclaimed, teeth chattering.
Incineroar snorted, as if to say, Maybe next time, trust your instincts more than the internet.
---
A Cold Solution
Incineroar had been secretly doing push-ups inside its Luxury Ball when, all of a sudden, everything went dark. Moments later, it found itself standing on the freezing platform.
Seeing Victor trembling from the biting cold, Incineroar quickly used its Heat Wave move to create a gentle, near-powerless warm current.
"I feel alive again!"
The warmth offset the cold wind, and Victor immediately felt as if he had been resurrected on the spot.
"Thanks, buddy."
Victor patted Incineroar on the shoulder. Seeing how far the Pokémon had come, Victor couldn't help but feel proud. His hard work raising Incineroar was paying off.
---
The Second Problem
Although Incineroar now served as a walking heater, it wasn't a perfect solution.
As a natural powerhouse, Incineroar lacked the energy control finesse of some other Pokémon. Its battle style was aggressive and overwhelming, with no room for subtlety.
Maintaining a harmless warm current while walking alongside Victor required intense focus. The result? A slightly awkward Incineroar followed its trainer in a clunky manner as they made their way to a store selling thermal clothing.
---
A Bold Idea
As Victor approached the brightly lit store, he glanced at Incineroar's thick fur and had a sudden, daring thought.
"Incineroar, carry me to the clothing store!"
What was pride, anyway? Victor thought optimistically. It doesn't keep you warm.
Without hesitation, he climbed onto Incineroar's back, securing himself with its fur. The Pokémon snorted but complied, striding toward the store with Victor perched on its shoulders like a king riding a fiery steed.
---
Arriving at the Store
The store specializing in winter and mountaineering gear was brightly lit and spacious. Victor planned to stock up on everything he needed.
"Haaah~" Victor let out a big yawn as he approached.
The automatic doors slid open with a soft electronic chime. Incineroar adjusted its grip on the bags to spare Victor from fumbling with handles.
"Welcome~" the synthesized voice greeted.
The store's temperature was pleasantly warm, and Victor, feeling revitalized, leapt off Incineroar's back.
Pulling off his scarf with a dramatic flourish, he addressed the approaching salesperson:
"Take me to your best cold-proof clothing and mountaineering gear!"
---
A Close Encounter
After making a sizable purchase, Victor stepped out of the store dressed in a sleek light-blue jacket. Incineroar trailed behind him, weighed down by an armful of bags.
Just as they were leaving, Victor almost bumped into a pair entering the store—a boy and a girl.
"Ah, my bad! I didn't notice someone was there," Victor apologized sincerely.
The boy smiled warmly, showing his pearly white teeth. "It's okay! No harm done."
Meanwhile, the tall, ponytailed girl beside him added with a surprisingly gentle voice, "We didn't notice either. All good!"
After exchanging polite nods, Victor stepped aside to let them pass.
As the duo walked in, Victor glanced over his shoulder and mused, They look so good together. Are they a couple?
---
A Rivalry Ignites
Inside the store, Dennis chuckled and turned to Alice , who was busy browsing winter gear.
"That boy's Incineroar was impressive. I bet it's well-trained with excellent combat power. What do you think, as a fire-type specialist?"
Without looking up, Alice replied, "The fur and physique are flawless. But most importantly, I could sense that its flames are incredibly hot. If I get the chance, I'd love to battle it with some Blaziken."
Her eyes sparkled with determination. A duel between fire Pokémon was her ultimate thrill. She wanted to prove whose flames burned brightest and hottest.
For both Alice and Dennis, their encounter with Victor had sparked a desire for battle. Would they cross paths again?