Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

So. My sister and I were picked for this year’s field trip with another school. Naranja Academy, was it? Sounds… Paldean? Eh, I don’t know. Just so long as I get out of here for two weeks, I should be fine.

Carmine had to, “rescue,” me earlier from two of the League Club members who were giving me trouble. She’s the Champion, she reminded. Why take it out on me, she demanded. Ugh… I hate her sometimes. I’m strong enough to fight my own battles! Now if only she’d let me…

I mean, I was able to convince Briar to let me go on the trip after the student who was originally supposed to go with her had a family emergency at the last minute, so I was able to go…

Anyway, the plane ride was grueling. Briar was off in Paldea doing Arceus knows what, so Carmine and I flew home alone. Thankfully, we both had two welcoming faces greeting us and picking us up:

“Hello, you two!” Grandpa greeted. It didn’t take long before I ended up in a hug from both of my grandparents. … I missed them, actually. Quickly, they took me and Carmine home so we could drop off our suitcases, enough for two weeks.

“Uh… don’t we have to meet the Paldean kids at the Community Center?” I reminded.

“Do we have to…?” Carmine groaned.

“No worries, you two. We can wait. It’ll give us more time to get dinner ready.” Grandma said, beginning on our first home-cooked meal in a while.

Some time later, waiting at the Center while Carmine grumbled about meeting, “filthy outsiders,” or something—and now I’m wondering how she survived two years being surrounded by them. Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps rushing towards us. Oh, that must be them!

…Maybe I could be friends with them?

“Sis, look! There! There’s some now!”

And then they came into view: two figures, both in what appear to be school uniforms. One of them was tall, brunette with a green streak in her hair, and what looks a like brace on her right arm. The other…

Oh my gosh… she’s so pretty…! Her eyes, her freckles, her smile… My heart was skipping a beat. Y-Yeah I’ve been in love before—I think—but this… was this, “Love at First Sight?”

“Whoa… way cool…”

“Shh, Kieran.”

“I’m Juliana, bonjour.”

I didn’t even care that my sister was being rude at the moment. I was too busy staring at this new girl standing in front of us. Juliana… That’s a nice name.

…And then Carmine mentioned, “battle.” Oh. Carmine was challenging the new kids.

“Come on sis. You just wanna battle, makin’ this big fuss over nothing.”

“I said hush, Kiki! …Just ignore my little brother.”

Ugh… Dangit, sis. I knew you had to flaunt your Champion status some time during this trip.

But her cheering snaps me out of whatever funk I had found myself in. Cheering the other girl on. Heh… they were probably together. E-Even so, didn’t she even like guys? … Probably not. She wouldn’t go for someone like me… and yet, that warmth in her voice gives me hope…

Oh. The battle’s over? And Carmine… lost?

“W-Wowzers! You actually beat my sister?” I asked, as the taller girl—Nemona, I think?—recalled her Pokémon.

“I mean, it was tough. But I’m a Champion. I could handle it.”

…Hah! HA! S-Someone was actually able to beat my sister?! …Was it possible…?

Before I knew it, Carmine was running off. Wh-where was she going?!

“Ah geez, wait up Sis!”

“Thanks for the warm welcome!” I heard one of them call as I continued chasing after my sister… and then I noticed the Caretaker. Yeah, I don’t think he was looking forward to seeing us again.

Still, that Juliana girl… I think we’re gonna be friends. Maybe more?

At least… I hope so.

Chapter Text

I’ve been visiting Kieran every day for the past week… and I’m going to be flying back to Unova tomorrow. So I wanna make this last day especially memorable. Kieran was supposed to come out today too, right?

Thankfully, he’s been recovering well enough; his Koraidon was making sure of that. Thankfully, she’s adjusting—as much as she could while in a hospital room with her new trainer. And from what I could understand, she’s grown to be rather protective of him. At least she’s letting me and my Pokémon around him.

… Thankfully, this includes Ogerpon. To say she was happy that Kieran was going to be alright—and that her Teal Mask was able to revive him—was an understatement!

“To think… I tried keeping this from you guys…” I heard Kieran mutter, holding the Teal Mask in his hands.

“Do you think any of this would’ve happened if Carmine and I had just been upfront about her in the first place?” I asked. Both of them just looked at me, confusion written clearly on Ogerpon’s face.

“I’m not sure,” he answered.

“Still, I’m sorry for everything… Maybe you wouldn’t have gotten yourself in trouble.”

To my own confusion, Kieran started laughing… probably for the first time since I’ve started visiting him.

“I honestly think I would’ve gotten in trouble regardless…” he answered. Somehow, I had a feeling that there was something he wasn’t telling me. Should I pry? Should I ask about that purple gas that left seemed to leave him when his ring broke?

No… he’ll tell me when he’s ready.

“Hmm… I wonder…” I heard him mutter, looking at the mask again. “Maybe I could ask Grandpa to teach me how to make masks when I fly back home.”

“Oh, for winter break?” I asked. Kieran just sighed, giving the mask back to Ogerpon.

“Actually, my grandparents are going to be picking me up… and taking me home once I’m checked out.”

… What?

“H-How come?”

“Carmine told them everything,” Kieran answered.

“Even how you d… d…” I couldn’t bring myself to say that word. Fortunately, Kieran just sighed with a nod, so I didn’t have to.

“They’re currently on a plane over here. I’ll be heading home in the morning, and… will be homeschooled.” I didn’t say anything in response. What could I say in this moment? On the one hand, I wanted us to go back to Blueberry Academy together! He’s still technically Champion since I outright refused the position, and I wanted to see him start managing the League Club as himself. On the other hand, his grandparents are doing what’s best for him. He… he needed to heal. And he can’t do that in a battle-obsessed school.

“Ponio?”

Ogerpon could sense the tension and propped herself up onto my lap, looking at the both of us. Smiling, I gave her a hug.

“She’s gonna miss you…” I finally say.

“I’m gonna miss her too,” Kieran responded, taking my free hand. An idea then popped into my head.

“I wonder… is there a way we could share custody of her?”

“Ponyo?!” Ogerpon hopped down, running over to Koraidon, chatting at her, who just looked confused.

“I mean, you’ve loved her before either of us met her, so—”

“But she chose you, remember?” Kieran reminded, chuckling nervously. Again, it feels like he’s hiding something… And again, I don’t feel like prying. If he wants to tell me, he will. “And she has a home with you now.”

“I know, but…” I began, but I couldn’t really come up with a good response. And… I think Kieran tried kissing me again, but he just ended up pulling me onto the hospital bed. Thankfully, we weren’t in a too awkward position, so I sat myself up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Kieran just turned redder than a tamato berry. Finally, I said, “I’m gonna miss you…”

“Me too…” Kieran replied.

We spent the rest of the visit in silence, save for the sounds of our Pokémon talking with each other. When visiting hours ended, I gave Kieran one last kiss goodbye and left, Ogerpon in tow.

… There was stuff I wasn’t telling him either.

What am I supposed to do to make up for letting him die? Was it my fault he got taken over by whatever took him over? … I couldn’t help but think that it was.

Chapter Text

Alright, Kieran. This is it. It’s finally time for you and her to battle, and for you to defeat her. Why she decided to take a month to go through the Elite Four is beyond me. It took you a few days to completely obliterate them!

Still… she’d always pick the same day of the week. That way I’d be able to see her battle every time… save for earlier today. I… I still can’t believe I zoned out training!

You know it was your own fault for zoning out and missing it. Now, you need to keep your crown. Focus.

…Fine.

I quickly made my way up to the battle court at the entrance to Blueberry Academy, informing the front desk lady that I would be battling at sundown. Soon enough, I saw Juliana arrive with her Kaiju. Judging by the way he went straight to the audience next to Carmine, he’d be sitting out this battle. Fine. I’ve waited long enough.

This was the moment we had been waiting for since the Dreaded Den. Since I was able to take the win, just ONE win. Needless to say, I think I might’ve become addicted. And now, the plan is ready. Steps 1 and 2 are already complete, after all. Now, all I need to do now is win, and the rest will come naturally. 

Okay… I think it’s time.

“I have worked so hard for a chance to show you what I could really do, Juliana. I put everything into studying and making my Pokémon stronger. I crushed the Elite Four and my own sister to become Champion. All of that hard work… All of it… All of it was just so that I could beat you right here, right now!”

“Kieran, no matter what happens, I don’t want anything to change between us! I still see you as a friend—a dear friend!”

What was she saying?

Reaffirming that she will never see you as anything more than just a friend? That’s what it sounds like to me.

“Win or lose, it doesn’t matter! I’m still going to care about you and—!”

“This better not be your way of telling me you forfeit the match. DON’T YOU DARE HOLD BACK!”

She’s starting with a type advantage. Okay, good… she’s not holding back after all. No matter, all I have to do is Attack her directly—I mean, use strategy. Where did that come from?

…And now I screwed up already. Of course. Recover, knock out her Espeon, Attack her directly—What are you saying, brain?! I want her to kiss me, not die!

“How do you like that?! See how hard I’ve trained?! Not like the pathetic kid you battled in Kitakami, huh?!”

…Where did that come from?

Okay, put that aside; focus! We’re both down two all—how did that happen? Never mind—and now it’s— why are our cats falling in love with each other?!

…Of all the things. I’ll figure that out later. Just need to take out her Meowscarada and Delphox and—Okay, now… we’re both down to one left each? But weren’t we just…? It doesn’t matter! I go ahead and send out my ace, Hydrapple. It was gonna be one-on-one from here on out.

She sends out Ogerpon because of course she does… so why do I feel so… so…

“Gyro Ball… Towards her!”

…What?

What is he doing? He’s throwing away the battle! I didn’t even have time to recall that command before that blast went her way. Thank Arceus that Ogerpon caught on and used her Cudgel to protect her.

Still… Why did I say that?! No… why did he say that?!

…Does he even care about me? What about the last nine months? Was he going to throw it all away?! … I need to fix it! I need to make it up to her! I need to—!

“Hydrapple is unable to battle…! I… I can’t believe this! Kieran… lost!”

“Blueberry Academy, we have your new Champion: Juliana Escarlata!”

…Lost? This wasn’t supposed to happen! This wasn’t part of the plan! I was supposed to win! This was the part where I’d go comfort her and she’d confess her love for me! This was… was…!

…Never mind. I’ll win next time.

Next time? What makes you think there’s going to be a next time?

Huh?

I can’t believe it. You actually lost to her? She had to come to your side? AND punch Drayton in the face on top of that?! …All that really changed about you these past few months was your hair and your team. You’re still the same kid who needs to be rescued, protected, because you don’t know any better. You really are that pathetic kid I met back in Kitakami.

…You’re just like them. You always have been.

…You lied to me.

“KIERAN!”