#fantext;

Kieran doesn't think he's fit to rule the kingdom. He's not confident, he's small, and timid. The young prince has a hard time speaking up for himself and tends to hide behind his older sister.

Carmine is the one suited to rule. She knows how everything works, she's not afraid to raise her voice, and even if she does have a temper, no one pushes her around.

A part of him is glad that he's the secondborn. Less responsibilities fall onto his shoulders, but he's still royalty. And royalty needs to study. Which he isn't against. He'd rather pick up a book and read than be forced into one of those etiquette classes. He always dreads those, especially before one of the fancy balls their family hosts.

"Hey, Kiki, you like all those...creatures, right?" Carmine asks while spending time with him in the library. It's a rare moment when she isn't forced to take her own lessons and can spend time with her brother. Her eyes scan over the pile of books left on the table, mentally noting each one.

"Mythicals or Legendaries?" He asks. He had to tear his gaze off the current book in his hands, one about dragons from a neighboring kingdom.

"Whichever. Look, you want to meet them one day, right?" She asks, and he nods.

Meeting such creatures seemed like a dream. Most are kept under the guise of ancient myths or forgotten legends, but he knew otherwise. With secrets passed down in his family, he's learned that they're real. Their own kingdom had a few of them, such as the Ogre, whom he enjoys reading about.

"Then you're going to have to start training."

"Train?" Kieran frowns and has a bad feeling about this. Especially upon seeing that grin on her face. "Wh-What do ya mean?"

"Just trust your big sis, okay?"

~

The next day, the young prince finds himself at the training grounds meant for the knights. It's a place he doesn't avoid, but it isn't one that he would willingly approach. Now he's standing on dusty grounds as a knight, covered head to toe in shining armor, and stands tall across from him.

"Meeting a Mythical or Legendary isn't something just anyone can do," his sister starts as she stands between the two on the field. She faces her brother, looking down at him. "You can't just hide behind a book and call it a day. If you want to explore? Plan an expedition to go out to ancient grounds? You have to learn how to fight."

Kieran holds back a groan as Carmine practically forces a sword into his grasp. He fumbles with it before holding onto it tightly.

"Here's the deal. Beat my friend," she motions to the knight behind her, "and once I'm queen, I'll help you get permission to see the Ogre. And maybe see if you can see some others, but only if you get the okay from her!"

His eyes widen at the prospect of getting a chance to meet those fabled creatures. His parents wouldn't allow it, saying it's too dangerous or he isn't ready. But he knows that his sister would keep her word.

If only he didn't have to learn how to sword fight, then maybe he'd be a little happier about her promise.

"Good luck, Kiki~! I'll be rooting for you!"

With a smug smile, she leaves him with the knight.

He gulps and looks at the sword in his hands. It's easy to imagine how fighting a knight would go. He's imagined all the creatures he's read about and how they've fought against humans. Some fell, some were befriended, and some were never seen again.

But he's never seen himself on the side of the humans. The young prince didn't want to hurt any of them. Especially the more docile ones like that Victory Mythical. Some of the more fearsome ones, like that ferocious legendary ice dragon, he might need to know some sort of self-defense.

The knight before him doesn't say anything. She doesn't rush him or talks down to him like he expects. She simply stands there, covered in armor, with her sword in hand.

"H-Here I go!"

Kieran tightly grips the hilt of the sword and swings. The knight doesn't move until the last moment, parrying his strike with ease. Startled by her movement, his grip on the sword loosens, and it flies out of his grasp, landing in the dirt.

"Oh..."

For once, those etiquette lessons don't sound so bad.

~...~

Kieran both looks forward to and dreads his daily training. He likes getting better, learning little tricks to wield a sword, but he hates the constant failure. No matter what he does, he can't land a single hit on Juliana's armor. He should have expected this, considering this is one of Carmine's knights.

Stubborn determination makes him keep his hopes up, just a little. He's been learning the way Juliana fights. Honestly, she's like the perfect knight. She always knows when and how to react. And she even gives him tips, too!

While he's learning about the sword, he's also observing her. The way she puts more weight on her right leg, how she holds her own sword with a light grip, and how she always seems to hesitate before landing a crucial blow. Juliana never lets her blade get too close to him. It might be per Carmine's request. Not even her own knight could harm her little brother.

Still, that's something he could use to his advantage. It feels a little dirty to try, but it's worth a shot.

At the training grounds, he has his sword in hand. Kieran looks down, making sure his hands are the way instructed. It feels more natural holding it now.

The young prince takes in a breath, holds it, and exhales. When his gaze meets the knight, his eyes go sharp, as if focusing on prey.

Swinging the sword is becoming like second nature to him. He holds back every now and then, but he's gotten more confident in trying to parry Juliana. It's harder than it looks, but he lasts longer now compared to when he first started.

While practicing, he can feel his stamina decreasing. He's never been one to last too long, but he doesn't want to give up. Kieran's eyes follow her blade as he tries to inch closer. It's a little risky, but he just needs to get close enough to land one blow.

And he does!

It's nothing lethal, far from it, but his blade manages to scrape against her armor. It's the first hit he's gotten on her!

During his moment of joy, he leaves himself open. Juliana takes this moment to knock his sword out of his grasp. The sudden loss of momentum makes him trip over his own feet and fall flat on his backside.

"Ah..." He lets out a whine while staying on the ground. "Thought I had ya..."

"You did," she answers, voice always muffled behind her helmet. "I wasn't expecting you to get close to my sword. Your sister would have my head if I really hurt you."

She holds out her hand for him. Kieran takes it and gets to his feet with her help. He lets out a sigh and runs a hand through his hair. He knows he's close, he's getting better, he just needs more practice.

"You've grown," she adds.

Juliana does something that she's never done before. Her sword returns to its sheath before her hands slowly lift her helmet. Kieran watches- stares as her helmet is taken off and now rests under her arm.

"I think Carmine would be proud."

Kieran tries to find something to say. It's not like they haven't talked before. They're talking right now! All of a sudden, it's just very, very hard to speak.

He's always known Juliana is a girl, but he's never seen her. Maybe it's a mistake knowing that she's not just strong but pretty too. She's nothing like the other royalty he has to mingle with. Even with light sweat against her skin, she's radiant.

"Your Highness...?"

The young prince blinks as she speaks once more, her voice sounding lovely now that nothing is holding it back. He shakes his head, trying to break himself from this trance he's fallen into.

"S-Sorry! I'm alright. Fine. I just..." Ugh. He feels so uncool as he trips over his own words now. He doesn't even want to address the fact that his cheeks feel warmer than usual. "Y-You know my sis well...but, I also think that yer really amazing too!"

"Really?"

"Mhm!" Kieran nods. "I...can't wait to actually beat you!"

Juliana laughs, and it makes his heart flutter. He feels like a fool for falling for a knight, his sister's knight. He just didn't expect someone to be so strong, cool, and pretty.

...

When his magic was running low, he didn't stop. He couldn't. He had to keep going. Despite his body aching, pleading for him to stop, he didn't.

Kieran was focused on one thing. Power. And he had gotten it.

Ink-like darkness had taken over his body, his person. It felt like he was drowning, suffocating, while his magic spiraled out of control. Whatever was happening, he didn't care. His body could crumble, be consumed by blot, he just needed to keep hold of that power he was granted.

Some giant creature formed behind him. A Phantom with multiple heads, and at its core, it took on the shape of an apple. Truthfully, Kieran didn't care what it was or how it looked. It helped get what he wanted, and that's what mattered to him.

Unfortunately, after that, things get fuzzy. He struggles to remember what happened while he had overblotted. The one thing he remembers is fighting.

Fighting against her.

Juliana.

Why was he fighting her again...?

The magicless student was a surprise to the entire school. Alongside her was that robotic lizard, always hungry and dragging her around the school as if it owned the place. No one thought she would stay, but the headmage granted her a place in the school.

Kieran thought that maybe, just maybe, they could be friends. She was an outcast in a school full of magic users, and he'd always been the one left out. It would be a start to a new friendship!

But then his sister got involved.

It wasn't too bad, though. Carmine could see the way he looked at the magicless student. So, she made sure that he would look out for Juliana when she couldn't.

The boy did his best to help her around the school. It proved to be difficult when everything revolved around magic, and she had to rely on Miraidon for nearly everything. Still, he wasn't going to let her down!

Then she started to make more friends.

She took a housewarden straight on.

And won.

Kieran felt like he was losing her. Being pushed aside in favor of others, even his own sister!

Then came the competition to gain the Ogre's favor. A yearly tradition passed down at the school, one that he always looked forward to. It was the first time he could participate in it and-

Juliana won.

A dark feeling bubbled up inside him, one that had been festering for far too long. He looked at her friends with disdain, resented her for doing everything he couldn't. The more he thought ill of her, the more disgusting he felt. Yet, he couldn't stop.

Maybe he deserves this. The pain wracks his body, and feeling as if he's at death's door.

"Kieran!"

The sound of his name is faint; it sounds like someone is calling him from across campus. The boy struggles to open his eyes, his vision blurry. As it comes into focus, he finds a panicked Juliana at his side, struggling to hold back tears.

"Kieran!" She shouts, relief flooding through her expression. "You...How are you feeling?"

Kieran groans in response, unable to push himself up off the ground. He wants to tell her he feels like shit, emotionally and physically. It's hard to even believe that he's awake after taking a beating from her, Miraidon, and everyone else.

His gaze drifts from her to the world around them. He can see Miraidon trying to get closer, yet not wanting to upset him. Some of her friends are trying to help his sister to her feet despite her shouting otherwise. And...the whole area looks absolutely destroyed.

"I..." Kieran starts. He stops as he takes in everything. Realizing what he had done.

"I-I'm sorry..." He blurts out. "I...I didn't want this to happen. I just..." He pauses, breath hitching. "I always...wanted a friend. But then...I saw you getting further and further away. You could do so much without magic! M-More than I ever could. And I..."

Kieran clenches his fists. He knows he's rambling.

"I never wanted to leave your side. But...I shouldn't have let myself get this way. I was supposed to help you, not..." He bites down on his lip.

"Kieran." Her voice is soft, gentle. It stops him from trailing off. He looks up at Juliana, his chest aching with the way she's looking at him. Although it's hard to tell if it's from the pain or something else.

"I'm sorry. I got caught up in a lot of things that I...didn't realize what was happening to you. I guess I should have been by your side," she pauses. "You were one of the first people to stay with me when I arrived. So...maybe you can still stay?"

Kieran feels her hand slip into his, squeezing his tightly. He does his best to do the same, but his strength is abysmal. It doesn't help that he wants to tell her that she doesn't need to apologize. She did nothing wrong. He had just jumped to conclusions, letting his emotions get the better of him.

He doesn't deserve her kindness, her forgiveness, after nearly killing her.

"I-I'm so sorry, Juliana!" He cries out as tears begin to fall. He doesn't even have the strength to move his free hand to hide these tears.

"Please, Kieran, don't catch it," Juliana practically begs as she sees him with the Master Ball in hand.

She's been through this before and knows his response. But maybe this time, things will be different.

Or not.

Kieran's gaze meets hers. Those sharp, golden eyes remain cold and empty, devoid of the shine they once had. The shine that she had unintentionally stolen. She needs to get through to him, to stop him before it's too late.

Without a word, he turns his back on her. She holds her breath. Before she can get a word in, Briar encourages him to catch Terapagos.

Without fail, the Pokemon is captured.

Juliana stands still, motionless, until he looks her way. She drowns out the familiar conversation between him and Briar. This is something she can't turn down. No one else could handle a fight against this Pokemon.

She doesn't want to fight.

She doesn't need this to happen again.

She just wants this all to end.

Without a choice, she takes her partner's ball in hand. Her Pokemon are itching for a fight as if this is their first time getting a chance to battle a Pokemon like this.

Juliana wins.

Kieran loses.

In disbelief, he terastallizes Terapagos to unleash its full strength. The moment the Pokemon shines, she can feel her heart begin to race.

It's hard to keep track of how many times this has happened. She's seen this story play out far too much for her liking. And it never has a happy ending.

She's seen when Miraidon is too late to save Kieran from Terapagos' attack. Sometimes the attack reflects off her Pokemon and wounds Carmine or Briar. Without anyone else's help, Juliana is unable to fend off the Tera Pokemon. Sacrificing herself only brings her back to when Kieran tries to free it.

Most of the time, no one gets hurt. Miraidon is quick, saves Kieran, and no one gets hurt. She used to be able to relax, briefly. That just left the fight against it. And somehow, it's worse. Even if she knows its attacks by heart, they don't.

Carmine tries first. She gives it her all, getting hurt in the process. The times when only her Pokemon are withdrawn give her hope.

Kieran...doesn't always join in. She's seen Terapagos target him specifically, too. Whether it's a grudge to being captured or not, not even she knows. All she knows is that they're not able to win.

Together, they fall to Terapagos.

This time is no different.

Kieran tried to help. Hydrapple is barely conscious. Juliana is forced to have Miraidon join in the battle. One more blast and it would be over for them. There would be no stopping Terapagos then.

"Kieran..." She breathes out his name. He doesn't look her way, the dread in his eyes overtaking any hope he may have had.

Terapagos is readying its final attack. Its target? Kieran.

There's no time to lose.

Juliana pushes herself to move and step in front of him. The blinding light comes her way. She knows that this won't be the end. She'll get another chance. And another. As long as the others make it out alive, as long as he can get his second chance, then this will be worth it.

I'm sorry, Kieran. I couldn't save you this time either...

~...~

"Please, Kieran, don't catch it," Juliana practically begs as she sees him with the Master Ball in hand.

Hearing Juliana say it causes Kieran to hesitate. The sound of her voice is different, desperate. She almost sounds tired. Normally, she doesn't interrupt him. Briar spews whatever nonsense about Area Zero while he gets the chance to catch a legendary Pokemon.

He can't not catch it.

If he doesn't, then she will.

She'll take everything from him, again and again. He'll be left with nothing.

Does it even matter at this point?

Things take a turn for the worse because of him. He catches Terapagos, fails to control it, and then...

He doesn't like thinking about what comes next. The ending always makes him shudder, makes him regret what he's trying to do.

Kieran tries to focus on doing better, to make things right this time. This time, he'll control Terapagos. This time, it won't break the Master Ball. Just one more chance, that's all he needs. He can prove that he's worthy, that he's strong.

But that moment never comes.

Terapagos is captured.

They battle and he terastallizes the Pokemon.

The Master Ball breaks. Again.

"Why...Why can't I control it...?" He mumbles as he stares at the blinding Pokemon standing before all of them. Terapagos stands stronger now, more dangerous, more deadly. All thanks to him.

As if wanting revenge, Terapagos aims an attack at him. He doesn't move or flinch. Miraidon is always quick to save him. Kieran looks back to see Juliana looking relieved, although that doesn't last long.

The battle against Terapagos is a long and hard one. Juliana stays in the fight the longest. His sister joins in, but Sinistcha can never last long. It's impossible to keep battling on her own.

So, he joins in. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later, and sometimes not at all.

No matter what he does, it never ends well.

Juliana takes a fatal hit. Kieran can only watch as the girl falls. She's not supposed to lose, not to anyone but him. Some stupid, legendary Pokemon defeats her over and over.

It stings more knowing that this is all his fault. It makes his chest ache every time this happens. He never wants to see her smile falter, watch her collapse in front of him.

He doesn't want an ending like this.

"Juliana!" Kieran shouts, quickly shoving her aside as Terapagos releases a blast meant for her.

Kieran knows he'll wake up completely unscathed. It's happened before. But if she takes this hit? She won't be waking up. Despite everything, he can't bear the thought of losing her forever.

Kieran is not a dragon-type specialist. He doubts that he'll ever be one. He has two on his team, both strong Pokemon who helped him reach the top rank in the league at school. Any more would ruin his team's balance. It's not like he wants to get demolished by certain type advantages. So, he's perfectly fine with only having two dragons on his team.

The only exception he'll make is for the one that will hatch from this Pokemon Egg.

The boy stares at it intently as if waiting for the little one to come out. It's currently nestled on the bed, surrounded by blankets and pillows. Probably too much, in his eyes, but according to the dragon expert, this was necessary.

"Staring at it won't help it hatch, ya know?" Drayton says.

"I know," he rolls his eyes.

Drayton sits up on the bed, currently behind the mountain of a nest. He adds another blanket to the pile, this one nearly concealing the Egg.

"You could just let our Dragonites keep it warm."

"I could," Drayton replies as he looks over the pile and deems how comfortable the Egg is. After a moment, he moves back, careful not to jostle the bed too much with his movements, as he has his back against the wall. "But they'll get tired. This is an easier way to take care of it without an incubator."

The school had offered them one the moment they were alerted to having an Egg. An incubator would help ease the process for both trainers and Pokemon, and yet Drayton had declined the offer. It shocked Kieran more than he would like to admit. Incubators were easy, less hassle than whatever this is. All they had to do was leave it in there and keep an eye on it. Instead, Drayton announced that he would take care of it...and that Kieran would help.

Kieran didn't argue with him, for once. The Egg had come from both of their Dragonites, so he had some responsibility for it too. He was ready to take charge and take care of it, thinking that Drayton wouldn't bother with caring for an Egg.

To his surprise, Drayton did put more care into the Egg than he initially thought. Kieran had given him a look of disbelief whenever Drayton took charge of it. Normally, he would think the other boy was tricking him, telling him how dragon-type Eggs need special attention and all that. As much as he wanted to doubt the older boy, he was more knowledgeable when it came to dragon-types. If surrounding the Egg in a pile of blankets and pillows would help, then it has to be true.

Probably.

"Still," Kieran sighs before settling onto one of Drayton's plush beanie bag seats. He sinks into it and regrets his decision immediately. "It's been almost two weeks, and it's not even moving..."

He looks at the egg with worry in his eyes. He's never taken care of one before. The school does offer a class on Eggs, but it hardly seemed important when choosing classes. Even with his minimal knowledge, he thinks that it should have moved occasionally.

"Ah, don't worry about that. Dragons take the longest to hatch. Let them rest while they can."

"Feels like you're just sayin' that so you don't have to take care of the baby..."

"Hmm...maybe!" Drayton grins.

Kieran sighs and sinks into his seat. He tries to get comfortable, but can't. He doesn't understand how Drayton finds this comfy.

As he tries to adjust himself, he notices the egg move. Just a little. But it's enough to get him motivated to escape the beanie bag seat and get onto his feet.

"Didja see that?!"

"'Course," Drayton says, a little unenthused.

Kieran ignores his comment, gaze focusing on the Egg. His eyes go wide as he watches it shake slightly. As the shaking increases, his mind begins to race with far too many questions.

Is it hatching already? What does he need for a newborn Dratini? Berries? Moomoo milk? Even more blankets? He tries to recall what Drayton had told him, but most of what Kieran remembers is him telling him that he shouldn't worry so much.

His thoughts are cut short as the Egg's shell begins to crack. He takes a step back to give it room. As the cracks begin to grow, the Egg shakes more and begins to glow. After one final shake, the shell cracks apart, and a Dratini is left in the nest.

"W-Wait- no way...?" Kieran gasps as he sees the Dratini. "A pink Dratini...?"

The little dragon shakes off a piece of the shell, its cute, big eyes looking up at Kieran. It lets out a happy cry, wiggling around in place. It seems oblivious to how special it really is.

"Oh man," Drayton actually sits up, no longer resting his back against the wall. He looks over from behind the pile to get a better look at the Dratini. He whistles when seeing it up close. "Even I haven't seen a pink one before."

"Can't believe it..." Kieran mumbles. He's never had the luck to see a different colored Pokemon before. Sure, he's heard the tales and sightings of some, but not many trainers get a chance to encounter one.

The Dratini is still wiggling in excitement, its whole body shaking with joy. It escapes the remains of the egg, tumbling out of it and onto the hoard of blankets. Perhaps that is what they're meant for. Still, better to be safe than sorry, Kieran carefully scoops the Dratini into his arms.

"Ya gotta be careful!" He tells it. The Dratini doesn't seem to understand him yet. Instead, it raises its head to nuzzle his cheek.

"Aww, it likes ya. Think yer guna be the favorite," Drayton chuckles as he watches the scene play out before him.

Kieran wants to snap back at him, but finds it hard with a new baby Pokemon in his arms. Rather than staying still, it starts to slither around him, finding itself comfortable as it hangs loosely around his shoulders.

"I don't mind," he says, smiling and holding back a chuckle as it nuzzles his cheek again.

It makes him recall training his own Dratini. He was...different back then. Maybe he wasn't the perfect trainer for it, but it's not like his team hated him. They were trained to be strong.

This Dratini didn't have to be. It's too young to put into the battling scene. Even if some are raring to go and fight, he'd rather let this one take it easy. After a moment, he reaches out to gently pat Dratini's head.

"It's cute..."

"Has it charmed ya already?"

"You know, I'm not letting you dump all the responsibility on me. Don't forget your Dragonite also helped with this," Kieran says, pausing his affectionate moment with the Dratini to remind Drayton.

"Man...I can't escape ya, huh?" He sighs, but not in a bothered way. He knows the tone that he uses when Drayton finds something to be a real drag. That wasn't it.

"Nope! Besides, you got more experience with'em. And I'm...going to need your help..." It's embarrassing to admit that, especially to Drayton of all people.

"Alright, alright, since ya asked nicely. Guess we can play mom and pops."

"Apple picking is easy. You just gotta beware the Applins." Kieran reaches for an apple, picking the one hanging closest to him. With trained eyes, he knows this one is ripe, juicy. And definitely not a little Pokemon in disguise.

"It seems easy enough," Juliana says, her eyes focusing on the apple in his hand before flicking back to him.

"You think it's really that easy?" Kieran asks. "Pickin' an apple off is easy, but it's knowing which ones are good too."

The boy walks around the tree and points to another hanging apple. This one is slightly smaller than the one in his hand, a sign that it still needs time to grow. Not to mention the color. It's not too noticeable, but it's not fully red.

"Eating that one would leave a bad taste in your mouth." Kieran sticks out his tongue as a memory resurfaces. He'd been too eager to pick some apples in his youth and gotten a bitter one. He learned his lesson back then.

Juliana chuckles at his expression. She looks between the two apples, studying the differences. Unlike him, she can't tell at a glance, but she thinks she gets it. All she needs to do is pick the firm, big apples, right?

"I think I can manage," she says. "And...I bet I can pick more than you."

"Huh?" Kieran stares at her for a moment. That playful grin on her face meant she was serious. Or ready to tease him, but it had to be the former this time.

"Not even sis can pick as fast as me. Though, she does get some good ones cuz of her height..." He grumbles out that last part. Carmine definitely has the height advantage over him. But maybe this time there would be an even playing field. It's not like Juliana is that much taller than him anyway.

"Well...why don't we see who picks the most then? And we'll only count the ripe ones! So it's not just a matter of speed."

"If you really wana..." Kieran nods. He can't deny her a friendly game. It feels a little unfair when he has the advantage, though.

After a moment to lay down the simple rules, no roughhousing or stealing apples, they begin their countdown. The boy is confident that he can win this. His eyes sparkle with determination, already spotting the perfect apples at the starting line.

If only he took into consideration how fast Juliana can go.

One moment she's circling one tree, and when he blinks, she's already moved onto the next one. It's hard to tell if she's picking recklessly or not with how fast she's moving. She can't be picking ripe ones that fast.

Regardless, he's not going to let her speed slow him down!

Kieran begins to pick up the pace, the competitive spirit firing up inside of him. His sharp eyes are quick to find the best apples within reach. Even if he has fewer apples in his basket, he knows that these are all ripe.

"Ah!" Juliana shouts.

"Juli?"

Worry immediately takes over when he hears her shout. He stops in his tracks, turning to find her amongst the apple trees. She's finally come to a stop with a fallen, empty basket of apples at her feet.

The reason for her shout is in her hand. An Applin. The little green dragon worm is chomping down on her hand. Kieran lets out a sigh of relief, grateful it's just an Applin and not anything worse.

"I told ya to be careful," he says as he comes to her side.

The Applin glares at him as he approaches, but doesn't let her go. This one seems more stubborn than most, but he's had enough experience to know how to deal with them. Slowly, he reaches a hand out. He holds his breath, not wanting to accidentally spook it or make it bite down harder on Juliana.

"There, there..." he says as he gently pets the Pokemon behind its eyes. "It was an accident. She didn't mean to pluck ya from your hanging spot."

The Applin looks as if it wants to stay upset, but its bite begins to loosen. After a moment, it lets go of Juliana completely and retreats into the apple.

"Sorry, Applin," Juliana apologizes with a sheepish smile. Truly, she never meant to upset the poor little dragon. She just got so caught up in her desire to win that she didn't realize she'd upset an innocent bystander.

The Pokemon looks at her, unmoving. Then it shimmies a little in her hand as if forgiving her for the accident.

"You know, I thought I'd be able to recognize an Applin," she says with a light-hearted laugh. Still optimistic despite being bitten. "I guess I should have studied them a bit more."

"Nah. They're tricky. If their eyes aren't stickin' out, you can really only tell by their tail," Kieran says as he points to the green tail hanging from the apple. "Lots of people can't tell the difference."

"I know. It just feels like I should have known, you know? I know Hydrapple enough, but I guess he's different. Bigger too."

Her gaze softens as she looks at the Pokemon in her hands. The Pokemon is cute when it's not nipping at her.

"Oh! Hey, do you want to take this one?"

"Huh?"

"Well...remember when you gave me an Applin?"

Kieran's cheeks go red at the memory. He remembers that moment too well. He never knew about the Galarian tradition of gifting Applins to someone you love. After learning about it, and from Juliana too, she made sure that he never lived it down.

"Wh-What about it?"

"I'm supposed to give you one back. Technically. I guess it might be a little late, though. And I haven't caught it yet, but...I think this one likes you, just like I do!"

The boy feels his cheeks warm even more at her words. He'd never understand how she can be so open about her feelings without getting flustered. But he liked that about her.

The Applin in her hands looks up at him. It's swaying and even pokes its head out once more to give a happy chirp before receding. He doesn't really need another Applin on his team, but...

"I-I'll take it. But only if it really wants to come with me."

Applin bounces in Juliana's hands, nearly jumping out of them. She's quick to adjust to make sure the little dragon doesn't fall.

"Perfect!" Juliana is quick to pull out a ball. The Applin doesn't fight, knowing that it's going to Kieran anyway. Once the Pokeball is secured, she holds it out to him.

"Now I can say I've finally responded back to you."

"Does this count if we're already dating?"

"Hmm. I don't really know!" She laughs. "I know I don't need an Applin to let you know how I feel anyway. But it feels right to give one back to you."

Kieran takes the ball from her hands. It may just be an Applin, but since it's from her, he'll definitely treat it well. Even if it doesn't become a fighter, it could become a companion to his Furret.

"And...I think you won this one."

"Really?" Kieran's gaze lifts from the ball to her. "I-It doesn't have to count since-"

Kieran loves festivals. Well, he loves the festival held in Kitakami. He doesn't have much experience with ones outside his homeland. It's easy to assume that they would be the same. A bunch of people celebrating something, coming together and having a nice selection of treats, and even some fun games!

The festival in Paldea is just like he imagined. Just...bigger.

There are more people, more stalls, more things to do. He should have expected this when stepping foot into Uva Academy. The whole city joined in, making this feel more like an important ceremony rather than a school culture festival.

The boy had to follow alongside Juliana, the one who invited him here in the first place. Curiosity about her school had always gnawed at him since they met, so he wasn't about to let this chance slip away.

"Wowzers...there's so much to do. Is it even possible to see everything in one day?"

"If we don't get sidetracked, I think so," Juliana responds with a determined grin. "Don't worry, I have a plan."

Her plan was to start at the bottom of Mesagoza and work their way to the top. It made sense, at least to him. Once they climbed up those stairs, there'd be no going back.

There's plenty to see and do. Perhaps a little too much. Some games are familiar, throwing rings onto bottles or trying to fish for the right Pokemon, while others are completely foreign to him, like imitating a Pokemon Ranger and 'capturing' wooden Pokemon with a Capture Styler.

The amount of food offered was definitely too much for him to handle in one sitting. While he was drawn to the sweets, Juliana insisted on trying the skewers or the paella. Everything was freshly made and hard to resist. Although he couldn't say the same for the candy apples. The ones in Kitakami are fresh, sweeter. Juliana had laughed upon hearing his biased opinion.

"The fireworks are going to begin soon..." Juliana says. The sunny sky was slowly losing its bright colors, shifting into the darker orange until darkness consumed it. "I know a good spot."

Kieran doesn't hesitate to take her hand and follow her. He trusts in her decision to take him to the best spot the city can offer.

They stop in a spot outside the school, a place where the school and city meet. It's quiet compared to the bustling festivities going on around them. No food stalls or games are set here. It reminds him of his home. Sort of. There are more spots he could disappear to whenever the festival got too much, too overwhelming.

"When are they going to start?"

"I think Penny said they'd start once the whole city's lights go on."

As she says that, a nearby light from a building flickers on. It grants them, and the other students looking for an escape, light upon their darkening world. They can easily see more turn on, the city coming to life to fight off the darkness.

On cue, a loud whizzing sound comes from above. Kieran immediately tilts his head up to see a streak in the sky. There's a loud bang that follows as it suddenly explodes into sparkling lights. Another bang goes off with a different color, this one taking the shape of a Pikachu.

Kieran's eyes go wide, his mouth hanging agape. The fireworks here are big, spectacular. Kitakami couldn't use any fireworks like these. They had to be careful with firing them and making sure they didn't cause any damage to the land around them. Sometimes, it was safer to just play with fire sparklers instead.

"These are so...cool!"

It's hard to take his eyes off the night sky that's being colored with various lights and filled with loud booms. He manages to do so for just a moment to look at Juliana.

"Juli-"

His voice gets stuck in his throat once he sees her, his heart skipping a beat.

Juliana is looking up at the fireworks just as he was. The fireworks sparkle behind her, lighting up her face. She seems to have an ethereal glow around her. Each new light dances across her features, making her eyes sparkle a little more, or bringing focus to her lips.

The sound of the fireworks dies down the longer he looks at her. Even the distant chatter seems to become nonexistent. It's as if they're in their own little world together.

Then she looks his way. That bright and gentle smile of hers shines brighter than the fireworks. Her beautiful brown eyes meet his sharp golden ones.

Feelings bubble up inside of him, ones that have been kept locked inside for far too long. At this moment, he can't describe how beautiful she is. How amazing she is.

"I love-"

A very loud bang goes off, and Kieran hurriedly slaps his hands over his mouth. He can feel his cheeks burning from nearly letting that slip.

"What was that?" Juliana asks, tilting her head with a curious and cute look.

"I love the candy apples! I'm going to go get us some more!"

That's probably the worst lie he could ever say, but he needs to say something. Kieran is quick to turn on his heels and dart away from her and back into the crowded streets.

For once, he's glad that no one knows him here. No one would ask him why he's running away like a spooked Furret or why his face is redder than an Applin.

"I can't believe I almost said that..." He mumbles to himself once he's ran far enough. He isn't even sure where he is, hopefully near the (not so sweet) candy apple stall. Kieran takes in a breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He isn't sure he can manage to be around Juliana without fumbling over his words now.

"How could anyone like Drayton?" Kieran asks as he looks at Crispin. He props his arm up on the table, cheek resting in his hand.

"Hm?" Crispin tilts his head, confused by the sudden question. "Well, don't people like him cuz he's strong?"

"I guess..." He's not wrong. Drayton is a strong trainer and in a school that prides itself on battles, that has to mean something. "But, there has to be more than just that, right?"

"Well, he's a good guy! I mean, I know Lacey yells at him a lot, but he's always tired. He never says no to helping me out with my food, though!"

Kieran sighs at Crispin's answer. The fiery boy doesn't get it, but maybe that's for the best. A part of him wishes he could think the same.

Golden hues go from his classmate to the boy in question sitting across the room. Lacey is standing beside Drayton, the latter sitting back on the couch while trying to drown out her scolding, probably.

Kieran truly does not get it. People like him, sure, but he can't understand why.

Strength is one thing. From what he's been told, Drayton became Champion during his second year, which is pretty amazing. No one else had done that before, not until they were in their third year at least. He set a new record for the youngest Champion at the school.

But aside from that, what?

His personality...it's nothing special. If anything, it's annoying. Drayton knows how to get under his skin. If he wants to rile him up, he can do it with a few easy words, and Kieran falls for it every time.

Despite the teasing, he isn't a bad guy. Drayton has never truly hurt him. The name-calling gets a bit redundant, and he wants to forget about that time, but he does deserve it after ruining his version of the club. And he hates to admit it, but a part of him is getting used to being called Ex-Champ.

Still, he did help orchestrate the plan to knock some sense into him. If he hadn't pushed Juliana to join the club, he might still be that obsessive version of himself. He shivered thinking about never returning to normal.

Maybe Drayton does care more than he lets on. He's not one to ask how anyone is doing and get caught up in some troublesome tasks. But he will offer to lend a hand, stay beside you if you just need someone at your side. Sometimes he'll offer a snack or find a way to indirectly cheer you up.

Okay, maybe he isn't all that bad.

Plus...he is pretty smart. Not that he shows it. His grades are abysmal due to him skipping classes. He does enough just to get by. Outside of class, he really knows his stuff. Kieran had spoken to him about type advantages and how he managed to defeat Lacey despite his team being weaker. He had expected Drayton to brush off his question, yet he'd told him that type advantages can work against your favor. Kieran had to probe more out of him, but it was insightful and good to note down for the future.

His biggest flaw is his lack of motivation. Obviously, he's allergic to anything that involves paperwork. Sometimes, Kieran thinks he's allergic to just moving in general, with how he sighs about having to move from a couch to a chair in the same room.

Drayton is different when he is motivated, though. It's a rarity, but Kieran remembers seeing it before. During battles against an opponent who can really challenge him, he seems to light up. It's subtle, and most people wouldn't be able to tell, but Kieran can. The way he trusts in his Pokemon to battle, to win.

He wouldn't mind seeing that flame ignite in his eyes again.

The more he thinks about him, the more he comes to terms with the fact that he isn't so bad after all. Not that he would admit that aloud.

Kieran's gaze focuses on him. Drayton yawns, still listening to Lacey ramble about club activities. Amarys had jumped in, trying to help, but she had as much effect on him as Lacey did. Whatever they want him to do, he'll most likely brush it off onto Juliana.

Or him if he feels like it.

Drayton looks away from the girls, and their eyes meet. They hold each other's gaze for just a moment, two golden hues meeting. Drayton gives him his cliche, lazy grin as if trying to win someone over.

Kieran hates that his heart thumps a little in his chest.

He turns his head away, looking back at Crispin instead. He hadn't realized the other boy was still trying to point out some good points for Drayton.

"Besides all that...he's our friend!"

Friend.

They are friends, right? After everything? Drayton is comfortable around him, at least he assumes so whenever he walks up to Kieran and slings his arm around his shoulders. He teases him more now than ever, asks for a battle every now and then, and even lets him stay in his secret, cozy spot in the Polar Biome.

They had to be friends.

When he looks back at Drayton, he finds the other boy free from the girls. Another yawn escapes him, he stretches, and then goes limp in his seat. Maybe it's just the lighting, but he looks really relaxed and peaceful, basking in the glow of the club room.

Nope.

No.

He's not thinking about how Drayton looks good right now. Kieran shakes his head to try to get rid of those thoughts. He really regrets bringing up that topic now.

Crispin nudges him, bringing him back to reality.

"Hey! Drayton is calling you!"

Kieran looks over and finds Drayton waving at them. He would prefer if he were waving Crispin down instead.

"Ugh. Can't he just come over here?" Kieran grumbles. But he still gets up from his seat.

He already imagines what he's going to ask him. Probably to look over the newest students who want to join the club, or go talk to one of the teachers in his place. Kieran can already hear Lacey telling him not to let Drayton push him around, but it's hard to say no to him.

"What do you want?" Kieran asks, sounding more annoyed than he would like.

"Bad mood?" Drayton frowns, feigning a pout. "Didn't eat the chocolates I left out for ya?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah." Drayton points to a small bag of chocolates on the table. The bag is open, an invitation for others to take some, yet it still looks full. "Brought them over for ya."

"Oh...you didn't have to."

"Hey, if I'm gettin' myself a snack, I figured I should get others some too."

Was it true? Kieran didn't see him get snacks for the others. Then again, they didn't have a sweet tooth like him. Maybe this was going to be used against him? Get him something tasty so he would be easier to sway when it came to getting on his good side?

"You really think too much," Drayton says.

Kieran tenses when he realizes he's gone quiet, thinking too much over a free snack.

"Sorry," he replies and scratches the back of his head. "Thanks. You can tell me next time instead of just leavin' it there."

"I was guna tell ya, but then Lacey came over," Drayton sighs. He looks defeated, even his hair seems to droop slightly.

"She wouldn't bother you if you just did your work."

"Aw, you going to bother me about that, too? After I got ya a snack?"

Kieran turns away from him, not about to fall for his teasing, not this time. Well, he might if he keeps talking while he heads back to the table to try the chocolate.

The small bag lies open for him. It's practically tempting him to eat more than just one. And he most likely will eat everything in one sitting. For now, he reaches for one, a small chocolate that's shaped like a Pokeball. He pops it into his mouth, chewing on it.

The outer chocolatey shell breaks and out comes some more liquid chocolate. It's surprising, but tasty. He remembers having these once before. They were pretty hard to find, and the school store rarely stocked these.

He glances back to Drayton, but the other boy is already getting comfortable in his seat, looking ready for a nap. Kieran holds back on asking him how he got these. It probably wasn't easy.

Kieran turns back, picking out another one and popping it into his mouth. These taste sweeter than when he first tried them.

Maybe Drayton is likable, but he's never saying that to his face.

Nope.

"You're hurt..." Kieran says as he looks at Drayton.

It's not obvious; he isn't in pain, or at least isn't showing it. But Kieran knows better. He sees it in his movements, how his normally lax posture stiffens with each movement, like he's carefully avoiding moving too much. Most would overlook it, thinking Drayton is just being lazy, but it just looks unnatural to him.

"I dunno what you're talking about," Drayton waves off his worries. He turns his head away from him, hands resting on his lap rather than behind his head.

Kieran huffs, glaring at him. Of course, he would try to hide this.

"You do." He taps his foot against the ground, thinking of how to press him for an answer. He's never been good at it. If he tries too hard, Drayton somehow turns the tables on him. There has to be a way to get him to talk.

An idea strikes. It might not be the best, but it's something he hasn't done before. Kieran takes in a breath before going up to Drayton.

Without warning, he grips the loose sleeve of his jacket and tugs it up, revealing more skin.

"Hey!" Drayton shouts, his cool facade breaking for just a moment.

"There." Kieran's eyes lock onto the very obvious injury. There's a patch of skin that's red and cold to the touch. He swears that he can still see the ice surrounding it.

Drayton doesn't let him inspect his injury any longer. For once, he's rough, pulling away from him so he can pull down his sleeve. He winces, but tries to play it off.

"It's nothing."

"It's nothing...?" Kieran repeats quietly. His glare darkens, reminding Drayton of the time when he was obsessed with being strong. Although it feels different this time. "It's not nothing! You're hurt!"

Drayton sighs.

"I get hurt all the time," he leans back, putting one hand behind his head. He's unable to lift the other one, keeping it in his lap. "It's fine."

Kieran frowns. Normally, he wouldn't care so much. Drayton can take care of himself. He's strong enough to handle dragons from a young age, so something like this shouldn't mean anything. It's an injury that will heal in time.

But Kieran is the reason he was hurt in the first place.

Alolan Ninetales are rare. Normally, Alolan Vulpix are found running around the Polar Biome, never their evolved form. Curiosity got the better of him when he found one. Kieran never meant to intrude upon its territory, but perhaps he had gotten close enough to be considered a threat.

He tried to get one of his Pokemon out, but the cold made it hard to call one out. The trainer fumbled as the wild Pokemon approached. Its mouth opened, ready to hit him with an Ice Beam.

But the cold blast never hit him. Instead, he was tackled to the snow just in time. Drayton kept him covered while his Archaludon was already dealing with the Ninetales, scaring it off to protect the humans. Kieran couldn't tell if he had been hit; everything happened so fast. He didn't hesitate when Drayton said they should head to the Polar Plaza.

Drayton should have been fine. He shouldn't have gotten hurt for his sake. Kieran's gaze lingers on his sleeve, the one hiding his cold injury. His fists clench without realizing it.

"You're really going to make this a big deal?"

"Yes!" He shouts before realizing that he raised his voice. It wasn't intentional. He lowers his voice, speaking quietly. "I mean...you're hurt cuz of me. I should have reacted faster. It was a stupid move on my part."

Drayton doesn't tease him or reassure him that he's fine. He looks at the younger boy and lets out a long sigh.

"Didn't want to worry ya," he replies, genuinely concerned. Kieran looks at him, catching a glimpse of a sad smile on his face before it turns into his usual grin. "Anyway, if you want, ya can help take care of me."

Kieran wants to agree despite the ominous feeling in his gut. Maybe he can help until the ice burn goes away.

"Sure."

"Cool! You can hand feed me-"