Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Infrared

Chapter 13: Grief comes in waves.

Song: "My Heart Will Go On" - Céline Dion

"Miraidon, let me see him." Sada struggled to her knees and smiled feebly at Miraidon. "I haven't forgotten what you did, but please." Her eyes moved over to Arven. "He's my son."

"Agias. Agias," Miraidon protested, shaking his head.

Sada glared at him.

"Gias," Miraidon whimpered. He sighed and shuffled away from Sada.

At the sight of the opening, Arven was quickly on his feet. Mabosstiff snuck up on him, but Arven paid him no attention. He sprinted for Sada but tripped on a tree root and fell. Arven crawled the rest of the way to her.

Scarlet, who watched the whole thing, covered her mouth with her palm. "Oof," she said in a low voice. She heard rustling in the bushes behind her.

Slither Wing and Koraidon emerged from deep within them. Leaves and flowers stuck to the Pokémons' coats, and Nemona and Penny dangled from Koraidon's back because he had been running so fast.

"Koraidon, did you seriously have to cut through the most overgrown part of the thicket?" Penny wanted to know. She looked like she was about to be sick.

"Are you kidding? That was awesome!" Nemona cheered. "Penny, I thought you liked riding Koraidon."

"I do, but not when he gets leaves in my hair. I mean, look at this!" Penny rolled off Koraidon and stood up. Running her fingers through her hair, she plucked leaves from it. She made sure she was leaf-free before she jogged to Arven.

For a long while, the two said nothing. They merely stared at one another, with lightning flashing between them.

Finally, Arven spoke. "Penny."

"Arven," she said back. "So... Robot Mom broke her arm?"

"Her name's Sada!" Arven snapped. "And as long as I'm here, you will call her that. We were ambushed, Penny, and it hurt her." He wrapped his arms around Sada and pulled her close to him. He had to keep her safe. "Can you just get on with it and fix her?"

Penny folded her arms. "That depends on two things. One: you change your attitude, and two: you let her go when I do."

"Don't tell me to let her go! Just stop." Arven bounced Sada because he felt her slipping. "Why are you being such a jerk, Penny? You're acting like she's a monster."

Penny tapped her left arm. "I'm just looking out for you, Arven."

"Well, you're doing a pretty bad job of it," Arven admitted. His bottom lip twitched. From out of nowhere, he felt the world's weight on his shoulders. It pulled him down like an anchor.

Scarlet hopped off the log. She went to Arven and pulled him away from Sada, but he freed himself.

"No!" He kept his arms around her and got up. "Come on, Mom. We don't have time for this." He didn't care what Penny said. Sada was his mom, and he was going to fix her.

Arven led her toward a small river in the distance. The setting sun and brook's clear water made the area picturesque, but he did not admire the scenery.

Halfway to the brook, Arven suddenly stumbled and dipped his shoulder into Sada. He collapsed to one knee.

"Arven? Arven!" Sada shouted. She helped him onto the ground. "Help! Help!"

Scarlet, Nemona, and Penny hurried to them.

Penny snatched Sada's good arm and chucked her like a rag doll.