The crowds were gathered in the village square. The midday sun beat down on them as they sat back, digesting the action they had already seen that morning and contemplating what was about to happen, all while taking in a traditionally prepared lunch. As predicted, Mei had breezed through her matches as only a reigning champion could, but now all eyes were on Tegryn as he prepared for his own vital matchup, accompanied as always by his loving Musa who hugged him tenderly.
"I can't believe this could be it." she said sadly. "This could be the last time I hold you. This sucks."
"I know it does, I know." he said, stroking her hair in a vain effort to comfort her. "But I promised you before - I won't lose."
"Tegryn! It's time!" a voice shouted from above them. Pui Yin was standing on the pole, clutching a long staff, glaring down at Tegryn and Musa.
"Yes, in a minute!" he shouted back. He looked at Musa's big, sad eyes. "Don't be scared babe, we'll still be together when this is finished." With that, he kissed Musa, who was only too happy to return the favour. All too soon, the kiss ended and Tegryn clambered up onto the pole. He shakily balanced himself and looked angrily at Pui Yin.
"This was pretty low of you Pui Yin - I thought you were better than this."
She looked shocked to hear this. "What! How can you say that to me? I love you."
"Look, I don't want to hurt you. Just withdraw your challenge and walk away."
"NEVER!" she growled. "I will never give up on you! I'll win your heart, even if I have to defeat you to do it!" With that, she thrust her staff at him, barely missing his head, before spinning around and attempting to catch his legs with it. Tegryn easily jumped over it, but as he did, Pui Yin spotted an opening and took the opportunity to catch him square in the face with a high kick.
Tegryn staggered back and felt his eye - it was throbbing and already starting to swell up.
"And I thought you loved me." he said sarcastically.
"Don't worry my darling - I'll kiss it better as soon as I've beaten you."
"It'll be Musa who does the kissing, not you!"
That last comment made Pui Yin even angrier than before. She started spinning her staff around her, quicker and quicker until it was just a blur.
"Whoa!" said Sky as he looked on in awe. "Look at the speed of that thing! She's twirling that staff around like it's just some kid's cheerleading baton!"
But this was no toy, and Tegryn was all too aware of it as she rained lightning-fast blows all over his body with her weapon. He knew had to do something quick, as there was no way he could withstand this attack for much longer.
"Why is he holding back?" said Musa, getting more and more worried with each second. "Come on Teggy!"
"Why doesn't he use his magic?" said Tecna.
"I dunno. Maybe he thinks that'll be cheating." Bloom replied.
"Maybe, but there's nothing in the rules that says he can't, right Mei?"
"Hmmm... I guess so." his sister replied. "Only blades are forbidden."
"Teggy!" Musa shouted over the noise of the crowd. "Give her a Rage Blast! Use your powers. It's okay!"
"What? No! I don't need to resort to that."
Pui Yin laughed when she heard this. "Rage Blast? What on earth is a 'Rage Blast'?"
"I'm glad to say it's something you'll never get to see."
"I guess it could wait until after our wedding, anyway."
"Wedding? That'll never happen and you know it."
"Oh, but it will - and sooner than you think too! Today will be a good day for our marriage... and guess what? It's already been arranged! All you have to do is let me win, and I'll be your forever-loving wife by the end of the day!"
As Tegryn backed away from Pui Yin's assault, an idea came to him - he backflipped over towards the end of the pole, then grabbed one of the chains. He span himself around faster and faster, then let go. He shot across towards Pui Yin and kicked her staff away, then aimed a low kick at her legs as his momentum carried him forward. His kick hit home, knocking her over the edge of the pole - but she somehow managed to grab a rather shaky hold in a notch in the wood.
"It's not over yet!" she yelled as without warning, she grabbed Tegryn's ankle and yanked him off the pole before losing her own hold. Time seemed to go in slow-motion as they both fell, crashing together to the floor in a dusty heap.
Tegryn groaned as he picked himself up. Pui Yin laughed as she watched Musa race over to him.
"That's it! I've won! Tegryn's mine!" she shouted victoriously.
"What are you talking about?" Musa answered back angrily. "YOU hit the ground first, not him. My Teggy won. He's mine!"
"Never! I saw him - he fell before me!"
The two girls squared off, glaring fiercely at each other.
"Neither of you won!" an imposing voice boomed behind them. They looked around to see a large man towering over them - it was the village chief. "You both hit the ground at the same time - this match is a tie. Whatever your issue was with each other, it won't be resolved today."
Pui Yin looked at Tegryn in disbelief, watching him hugging Musa as she happily showered him with congratulations kisses.
"This isn't over yet! Just you wait Tegryn - one day, I will be yours, not her!" she yelled as she stormed off.
"Thank goodness that's over!" Tegryn said to Musa, breathing a sigh of relief. "I tell you something though - I was wrong about one thing."
"What was that?"
"I did need to use magic after all."
"Did you? I didn't see any."
"As I was falling, I used my telekinesis powers to slow me down a bit - if I hadn't had done that..." Tegryn shuddered - THAT just wasn't worth thinking about. "It's just a shame it wasn't enough to beat her completely though - she's gonna be hanging over my head every time I come back here."