[X] My Assistant

[Kamaitachi]

The preliminaries and First Round Match of Darryn Kellor and Branwys Muphenz

[Master Houndoom]

"All right, so that will be four rental pokemon?" The rental counter lady smiled widely, yet sincerely, something that made Branwys a little wary. She laughed inwardly at that; was she feeling wary because someone was treating her as an adult for once?

Branwys took the pokeballs with a smile. The woman began to list their species, but Branwys lifted hand, looking over her shoulder. "I'd rather find out on my own, thank you!"

"Oh, yes," the woman said with a wink. "No telling who's listening."

Branwys smiled and nodded. Skipping off to the arena she had been assigned, she used her pokedex from her bag to scan the new acquisitions. Quite adequate, she decided.

Dimo and Ongnian followed along, flanking her, looking for all the world like bodyguards. And for their part, they played the part well, walking straight and tall, Dimo putting his new, thick club on his shoulder.

That they were shorter than her in no way detracted from the effect.

She entered the arena and glanced at the screen. There, looking for all the world like a model from a magazine was Darryn's face.

Branwys froze, the tenuous grasp on closure shattering. It all came back, the battle, the clearing, the magnificent way he and Cesc had fought, how helpless she had been, how she had failed Tinka...

She closed her eyes, and Agatha's words echoed in her mind. It wasn't her fault. She couldn't have known. Next came Zola's words. She was stronger than she realized. She was better than she realized.

Branwys' eyes snapped open, and she stepped up to the platform. Ognian and Dimo stepped forward together, but Branwys raised her hand. "Oggie, you've had a battle. Dimo, it will be you, plus our temporary friends, Golurk and Torkoal!"

[Living Arrow]

Darryn never considered the possibility that Branwys would choose to rent some Pokemon for her battle and now he was facing two that he didn’t know the full capabilities of. Yes, he knew what a Golurk was – Pan had had one – but he’d never seen it battle. And then Torkoal was another Pokemon he’d never faced before. Only little Dimo, that gutsy Cubone, was familiar to him and even then he had no stark advantage.

*Defense is the only way to play this without Lady or Bravo on the field… But India wont stand a chance if that Torkoal gets to her…*

“November, go! Use Inferno on the Golurk! And Romeo get in close and use Thunder Fang on the Torkaol!” Darryn sent the stronger two battlers ahead while India fluttered in the bag. He narrowed his eyes while watching his Butterfree move. Keeping back had to be the only way to keep her in the battle but she’d have to make an attack eventually…

“And India, use Quiver Dance!”

Darryn’s lightning-quick Jolteon flashed across the arena straight for the Torkoal while his flaming unicorn summoned a blaze around her body and focused it into a fiercely roaring jet of fire right for the enormous robotic ghost. Back near his podium, India span and flutted in a swaying motion that generated a glowing silver and green aura around her.

*You can do it, India!* He willed the bug type to do her best even as Branwys began her counter attack.