Chapter 30: Chapter 27: Arven Learns the Truth

        The trip back to Arven and his friends was quiet. Miraidon was both confused and enthralled by what he did for Koraidon on the bridge. And this was after he was such a jerk to him in the past. Before Miraidon and Sada traveled to the future, he promised himself that she would be his only friend. Here he was, though—making friends with Koraidon.

        Miraidon’s confusion switched to worry when he and Koraidon made it to the camp. His feelings for Sada re-surfaced, and he came within reach of her. Miraidon drew back when he saw Arven sitting next to her.

        He and Miraidon met eyes. For a long while, they did not move, but then Arven moved off to the side and opened a gap for Miraidon. He still didn’t like him, but at the same time, he knew Miraidon was Sada’s Pokémon.

        “Agias,” Miraidon said in a low voice. He finished his journey to Sada, and the first thing he did was close his eyes and nudge her head.

        She did not wake, but she did move her right hand a little, and Arven took it. The second he did, a new batch of crystals appeared on her fingertips.

        “Oh no,” Arven whimpered. Sada’s life flashed before his eyes. She was growing weaker and Terastallizing faster. What was Penny not telling him?

        Arven blinked back a few tears and pecked Sada’s hand. “You’re going to be okay, Mom,” he said in a slightly choked voice. “You’re going to get better, and we’re going to finally be a family.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the card Kenji gave him.

        Kenji’s Lab, it read. Levincia.

        Was Levincia close? No, Arven was not going to take Sada there.

        He released her hand and clutched the card in between his thumb and index fingers. No matter how hard he tried, though, he just could not bring himself to rip it.

        Arven jumped when Penny snuck up on him from behind and asked, “You’re not seriously thinking about taking her there, right?” He was already in too much danger.

        Arven seized up. Goosebumps ran up his arms, and he shuddered like he was cold. “I-I don’t know,” he admitted, after a moment of silence.

        Penny leaned down and clutched his arm. “Arven, may I speak to you? Alone?”

        “What about?” he said. He already had an idea of what Penny was going to say.

        She helped him to his feet and led him away from Sada.

        Penny and Arven went to the stream Miraidon and Koraidon played at earlier. Thanks to the rays of the moon above, the water sparkled.

        A lump formed in Arven’s throat. He swallowed it and prepared for the bad news. It took him a minute, but he managed to ask the question, “What aren’t you telling me, Penny?”

        Penny peered up from studying her feet and a few fish Pokémon settling down for the night. Inhaling, she turned to Arven and adjusted the glasses on her face. “Arven… Your mom is dying.”

        “I know she is.” Since when did Penny become Captain Obvious? Narrowing his eyebrows, Arven clenched his fists and dug his fingers into his palms. “That’s why I’m going to find my dad and destroy Infrared.”

        “You can’t,” Penny said with a shrug.

        “What do you mean I can’t?” Arven thought his friends were supposed to support him and his decisions—especially when it came to family.

        Although it was clear she was a little frustrated, Penny kept her cool and explained, “Because Sada is bound to Infrared—meaning that if you destroy it, you destroy her.”

        “What?” Arven unclenched his fists. Why didn’t Penny tell him this before? He ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay. Then I’ll take her to the lab and get Kenji to fix her.”

        “The only thing Kenji is going to do at that lab is turn her into a robot. A real robot,” Penny described. “You heard him. He wants her to interact with other AIs. Not humans, but AIs.” She knew this was going to be hard for Arven to hear, but he had to accept the reality of the situation. “Either way, Arven,—left or right—she’s going to die. Don’t you see? You’re being deceived.”

        Deceived? Arven? No way! He was smarter than that.

        His vocal cords seized up, and his breathing intensified. “No. No, you’re wrong, Penny. I don’t get deceived.”

        “But you are,” Penny said. “This is what your dad wants. He wants to kill you, and he’s using Sada as bait.”

        A second volcano erupted from Arven’s head. Its ash turned into rivers of tears that rolled down his cheeks like lava. “You’re wrong!” he snapped. “I know my dad is psycho, but he wouldn’t straight up murder me.”

        “Please listen to me,” Penny begged with a small blush. “I know how the world of machines works. I’m just trying to protect you.” Did she seriously just say that out loud?

        The tears kept falling from Arven’s sockets. Snot dripped from his nose. “I don’t need your protection! I’m sixteen years old!”

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        Penny hated getting into a scuffle with him, but she had to keep on trying. “You’re sixteen and you’re grieving,” she elucidated. “It’s the perfect opportunity for Turo to deceive you.”

        “I’m not being deceived!” Arven rubbed his nose. “I’m going to the lab, and I’m going to fix my mom. Once I do, we’ll take my dad down together.”

        “But he’ll kill you!” For once, there was genuine worry in Penny’s voice. It was strange because she was usually so collected and hid her emotions well. However, it was to that point that she was so scared for Arven, she had to let it all go.

        A tear ran down Penny’s own cheek. “Arven, please. Don’t do this.” She shook her head. “I can’t lose you.”

        I can’t...? Did Penny have a crush on Arven?

        She quickly corrected herself. “I mean, you’re being pulled into a trap, and we can’t let you fall for it—all because you’re obsessed over your already dead mom.”

        “I’ve had enough, Penny,” Arven choked out. “You’re trying to take my mom away from me. You’re no better than my father.”

        Ouch. That stung.

        “I’m trying to help you accept death.” Penny hiccupped through her tears. “If Scarlet did it, you can, too.”

        “I’m going to fix her,” Arven repeated, “and you’re not going to stop me.”

        “Arven!” Penny held her hand out to him, but Arven was already gone. “Miraidon!” he called when he reached the campsite again. “We’re leaving… right now.”

        Nemona was just getting ready to doze off when he said that. “Whoa!” she chirped, sitting up in her sleeping bag. “What happened?”

        “Get up, Miraidon!” Arven ordered. He hurried to Sada and grabbed her upper left arm. “Get up, Mom!”

        Sada snapped awake when he jerked on her arm and yelled, “Ow!” Arven was never rough with her.

        He threw her onto Miraidon’s back… so hard that her face banged into the back of his head.

        Miraidon stumbled.

        Celebi quickly flew to him and tugged on the piece of hair Arven wore over his eye. “Bi, bi, bi,” it begged.

        “Arven!” Scarlet and Nemona announced at the same time. They snatched his arms and pinned him down before he could hurt Sada further.

        Penny rushed onto the scene. “Get him away from her!” she ordered, still crying.

        “No!” Arven screamed, kicking his legs. “No.”

        His friends pulled him to the ground and dragged him away from Sada and Miraidon.

        “No!” Arven shouted. “I want my mom! Don’t take her from me!” Dirt and grass splashed onto his clothes.

        In an instant, Mabosstiff’s pokéball flashed open, and he soon stood next to his trainer.

        Nemona pushed Arven into Mabosstiff, and Scarlet let him go.

        She and Penny hurried to Miraidon and worked together to calm him. Scarlet noticed Penny’s hands shaking the whole time they worked. As soon as they calmed Miraidon, she pulled her friend into a quick hug.

        Sada’s eyes landed on Arven.

        Sobbing, he dug his cheek into Mabosstiff’s neck and returned her stare.

        Nemona rubbed his back and whispered, “Shh, shh. You’re okay, Arven.” But she, too, feared for him.

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