Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Infrared

        For the third time that day, the sky above Area Zero flashed infrared. Wavelengths bounced off the clouds and hit the pedestal next to the Zero Lab's gate.

        "Arven, please, let Miraidon and Celebi guide you," Sada begged in Arven's head. "I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

        Now Arven knew for sure that the voice belonged to his mom, but he kept his lips zipped. He didn't want to risk another fight with Penny.

        Before Arven knew it, Miraidon's eyes lit up cyan blue, ridding him of his pupils, and giving him the appearance of AI... No, Professor Sada's defensive mode. Instead of attacking, he came within reach of the gate and placed his forehead on it. Electrical energy blasted through it, and the gate booted up.

        Scarlet, Nemona, and Penny placed their hands on their pokéballs because the last time they and Arven opened the Zero Lab, Past Pokémon ambushed them.

        Celebi, who seemed to be in a trance, shook its head and smiled at Arven; however, he could not find the guts to return it.

        Slowly and carefully, Zero Lab's gate opened. A creaking sound passed through the Tera crystals in the area, and the gate clicked in place.

        "Are there any Past Paradoxes to battle?" Nemona wanted to know. She still had yet to get her battle.

        "Come on, Nemona," Penny groaned. "For once, can you not think about Pokémon battling?"

        "I can't help myself!" Nemona excitedly argued. She hopped up and down. "I'm losing my mind here, Penny. Losing it!"

        Arven guessed that Nemona was too excited to be in Area Zero again. He wished he loved Pokémon battling as much as her, but no. Cooking and Mabosstiff would always be his preference over it.

        The infrared sky faded, but Miraidon's eyes still glowed. He started up the Zero Lab's ramp and peered back at Arven and his friends.

        The look Miraidon gave them seemed to remind Koraidon too much of the Alpha Koraidon who scared him out of Area Zero a few months ago. His eyes suddenly widened, and he stretched his body like a cat Pokémon. He plopped down on the ground.

        Scarlet's hand on his head comforted him, and Koraidon followed her up the ramp.

        Arven and the others stayed close on their heels.

        Zero Lab was still messy as ever. There were scattered books and papers on the floor and a single bed in one corner of its hexagon—all of which had built up some dust in the past month.

        Arven recalled what Scarlet told him about that chair behind the bed. That was where she found Professor Sada, still, with her eyes wide open. Apparently, she thought something was wrong with her, but then it turned out that Sada had been in sleep mode.

        Arven noticed that Scarlet was staring at the chair. He approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. Arven nodded, and then he and Celebi accompanied Miraidon to the elevator at the back of the lab.

        "I'm sorry, guys, but this is something I must do myself," he told his friends, who snuck up behind them. "I can't put you in danger."

        "What are you talking about, bro?" Nemona inquired, pointing at herself. "Danger is my middle name!"

        "Arven, we're not letting you go in there by yourself," Penny sternly stated. "One bad move and that time machine will kill you."

        "At this point, if it means being with my mom, I don't really care what happens to me." Did Arven seriously just say that as his counter? Why did it feel so right, though? The thought roamed through his mind, but he pressed the button for the elevator anyway. If this was the only way to see his mom again, he was going to take it, no matter what the others said.

***

        The very bottom of the Zero Lab was still Terastallized. The enormous crystals on the walls and floor sparkled like spectrums, covering the void in a few other colors: red, green, and purple. There was the time machine, hanging from the ceiling like a spider on a thread. It had the legs of one.

        Miraidon, Arven, and Celebi hurried to the time machine's main computer, which was in the heart of the room. Why did it suddenly look even more intimidating than before? Perhaps it was because Arven knew there was a chance he could die if something went wrong. Yeah, that sounded accurate.

        "Be brave, my son," Sada's voice said again. "I know you can do this. Take the Violet Book and put it on the pedestal. Celebi and Miraidon will do the rest. You need the time machine to travel to the correct time period, where I am."

        Arven glimpsed at Celebi. It clutched its bulb-shaped head with both hands. He wondered if it was the one communicating with Sada. Arven never recalled her having a superpower when he was little. A Pokémon had to be helping her.

        He unzipped his knapsack and pulled out the Violet Book. He ran his palm across its cover and took a deep breath. His infrared, his treasure... He had to do this.

        Arven placed the Violet Book on the pedestal.