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"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 The times when only her Pokemon are withdrawn give her hope.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.
I'm sorry, Juliana...even if you never forgive me...I just want you to be okay. Please...be safe.