[X] My Assistant

[Kamaitachi]

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

[Master Houndoom]

She was down. But she wasn't out. Not yet. "Torkoal! U-"

She knew that the rapidash couldn't possibly know it, but she thought, just briefly, that November had teleported to where the torkoal was, striking it in a fury that belied the recent sudden calming that had happened. Darryn must have trained her to harness any natural fears and angers she might feel. It was a rare talent in some trainers, but she knew some had it. There was a rumor that Marshal of the Elite Four in her region did it regularly.

Darryn was, in Branwys' eyes, amazing.

The torkoal pulled his head and legs into his shell, but when the fury attack ended, he didn't pop out again.

NOW she was down AND out.

"Torkoal is unable to battle! The winner is Mr. Darryn Kellor!"

Branwys recalled the pokemon, then hopped off of her dias and went to meet Darryn in the middle, surprising him when, instead of shaking his hand, she hugged him around the waist.

"That was amazing!" She said, her smile wide and sparkling, a fair sight different than when they'd left each other's company last.

[Living Arrow]

There was an undeniable wave of relief that met Darryn as the Torkoal on the other side of the field fell. The winner was announced and the Co-Ordinator found himself disbelieving how close the battle had come.

Is that the same Branwys that we met before in the forest? He thought again as he recalled November and hurried to meet the small girl in the centre of the field. Where had that battle strategy and confidence come from? How was she able to battle so well with two Pokemon that she didn’t even know?

“That was amazing!” Branwys’s delight was something that took Darryn by surprise almost as quickly and sharply as her Wrap-tight hug.

“Uh, yeah.” Darryn hugged her shoulders awkwardly. “Thanks for the match, Branwys – that was a really close call. You were brilliant out there.” He smiled down at her. “I’ve not had a battle like that since my last Ribbon Match!”

Giggling together, the pair hurried off of the battlefield and towards Cesc and Lyla who were waiting at the sidelines. Lyla gave Darryn a narrow-eyed glare but said nothing of his abuse of his power in front of the others. Even so, Darryn could tell that his cousin would be spouting off at him about it all later. As one group, they began sharing their experiences in excited tones as they continued back to the Main Area to discover the identities of the next opponents in the tournament.