6| Traveling Through Time
Song: "South Province (Riding)" [Pokémon: Scarlet & Violet] - Gamefreak
Immediately at those words, Miraidon froze for a split second as he diverted his gaze from Arven and stared at Sara, almost like he was looking deeply into her soul through infrared eyes.
"Miraidon, please don't do this..." Sara begged, her voice sounding like two people were speaking to him from inside her body.
"You know she didn't ask you to hurt her own son..."
"Snap out of it! I know you don't have it in you to do this! It would leave a bad taste in your mouth forever!! You know this isn't you, Miraidon! Please return to your senses!"
In sync to those words, a scarlet aura started to visibly appear and outline Sara's body, making Celebi aware of what's going on with her.
"Sara - " Celebi began, but was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the elevator opening, before Nemona, Scarlet, and Penny were seen tumbling out of it a little, as Koraidon was there.
"I swear, Koraidon's too fat for this thing..." Penny began as she untangled herself from Nemona, after Scarlet had already freed herself.
As soon as Koraidon noticed what was happening, while waiting on Scarlet, he immediately ran and transformed into his battle form, knocking Miraidon away from Sara and Arven, as Scarlet was caught off guard and wondering for a moment why is he suddenly behaving like that until she and Penny noticed why.
"Ah, Arven! I knew it! I knew something was gonna happen!" Penny says as she quickly hurries over to him and checks him over for any signs of life.
"You hurt him!" Koraidon angrily cries out at Miraidon in his language.
"I-Is he - ?" Nemona shakily asked, as fear overtook hers and Scarlet's faces.
"No, thank goodness..." She answered as she looked at them.
Relieved, Scarlet glanced over at Sara, seeing she was okay too, and wasn't injured or knocked unconscious.
She was perfectly fine and just...standing there.
"Wait...Something's off with Sara." Scarlet mentions as she adjusted her glasses. "She's standing way too still. Almost like she's in a trance."
"What do you mean?" Nemona asks, while she and Penny share a bewildered look.
"It's not - " Scarlet began to speak, but was cut off by a draft from a charged attack Miraidon had launched at, striking and knocking Koraidon to his side from the blast, as he apparently got up from where he crashed into.
Looking over from his shoulder, as he got in front of his friends, Koraidon gestured at Scarlet, giving her and her friends the indication to hurry over to the elevator while he deals with Miraidon.
"Sara, we have to go! It's starting to get too dangerous!!" Scarlet shouts as she tries to snap her friend out of it, after nodding at Koraidon in return, while Nemona and Penny took Arven with them as they began sprinting for the elevator door.
Oddly, Sara still wasn't moving when Scarlet shook her slightly as her friends were making a run for it with Arven, which almost made her look like a huge idiot just by standing around.
Unfortunately one of Miraidon's attacks crashed into the elevator, right in front of them, when they were only steps away from reaching it.
"Aw, dang it! Abort! Abort!"
The only option for them now was to head to the time machine, but not with the state Miraidon's still in.
Without warning, Sara broke herself away from Scarlet's grasp and bolted towards the two legendaries, while the other two witnessed Sara's reaction as she and Celebi got in between Miraidon and Koraidon, yelling in front of him again to stop the fight.
When she did, Penny, Scarlet and Nemona took full notice that Sara's voice had completely changed unexpectedly, to a very familiar one they all recognized immediately.
"Miraidon, please don't do this...Just let Arven see me again one more time...Please..." Sara spoke up once again, her voice sounding like someone was just communicating to him from inside her body again.
As she spoke, a scarlet aura was seen visibly and outlining her body again, but stronger than before.
Hearing Sara's voice like this, Scarlet stared at her friend in stunned silence, knowing whose voice it was, that she and her friends were hearing right now instead.
"No. It can't be..." Scarlet began.
Just as soon as she said that, Sara turned to look at Scarlet almost as if she was responding to her words.
When she did, all of them noticed Sara's cyan eyes were faintly glowing when she looked at them.
"Is that you, Pro - ???" was all Scarlet started to ask next.
Before Scarlet could finish asking, Sara stared at the girls for a few good seconds, until she blacked out and started to fall to the floor as the scarlet aura faded along with the faint glow in her eyes.
"Sara!"
Hurrying over, Scarlet quickly caught her before Sara could hit the floor.
When she did, while Celebi started trying to snap Miraidon back to his senses too, Sara remained unconscious for a moment until she gained consciousness, just shortly after Miraidon snapped out of it and returned to normal.
Realizing what he just did, after getting an earful from Koraidon, Miraidon lowered his head in shame and approached the time machine again.
Touching the computer and booting it back up, Miraidon glances up at the machine. Even though he looked like he wanted to cry, he still had to follow Celebi's orders whenever or not he liked it.
"Miraidon identified. Time machine is ready to use." Everyone heard the voice say from the ceiling.
"Nnh? Scarlet??" Sara went as she looked at her. "What...What happened?"
"I...I don't know to be honest..." Scarlet answered. "You were acting so...weird... earlier."
"Huh?! What was I doing??" Sara only asked as she sat up a little quickly.
"You were..." Scarlet began before sighing, clearly not sure how to describe it very well to her, on what happened and what Sara was doing.
"You know what? Nevermind...I'll tell you later."
"O-Okay..." Sara replies before she and Scarlet both got themselves up to their feet.
Looking over at the group of five, Koraidon walked over and picked everyone up except for Sara, before he lightly tossed them on him and carried all of them over to the time machine, avoiding eye contact with Miraidon when both legendaries got on the machine's platform.
Just for extra precautions, he remained in his battle form in case Miraidon goes berserk again, while he gave his futuristic counterpart the evil eye for a moment, after he shook Arven a little in an attempt to try waking him.
"You nearly killed him! How do you feel about that? Huh??" Koraidon growls angrily in his language.
"I'm sorry..." Miraidon replies, ashamed.
But sorry didn't cut it. Especially after what just happened earlier a few minutes ago.
As for Sara, since she knew there wasn't any room for her with Koraidon, she walked over to the time machine's platform and got on Miraidon's back instead, since he was in low-power mode, clearly unaffected by her friend's reaction when she approached and got on him.
"I don't care what you say...Even though we know well what Miraidon did was wrong and very dangerous...He still didn't mean to do it." She says in defense a little.
After hearing that from Sara, Miraidon started to feel a little bit better, but was still ashamed of himself for his actions.
"Well...At least someone is on my side. Kind of." Miraidon thought to himself as he looked over at Sara, silently thanking her, before looking away.
In return, Sara reached over and lightly patted him with one hand, by the side of his upper body, before drawing her hand back to where she had it previously.
Hopping in, and with the Violet book in its hands, Celebi handed it to Scarlet, asking her to take care of the book for the time being, in which she nodded and did so, by slipping it into her bag.
"Time machine ready. Please wait..." They all heard the ceiling voice say once more, before the platform shook under Koraidon and Miraidon's feet, then shot up like a rocket.
As it did, Sara leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Miraidon's neck to keep herself steady, while the machine from above twirled and extended out, looking almost like a spider's legs.
Out of honesty, Sara was actually a little bit scared from what's happening right now, but she was ready at the same time for anything that's being hurled at her in her life.
And for once, this is a first for her to get a taste of what her friends had been doing before she came into the picture.
Gazing up at the ceiling for a second before looking away, Sara could only see a glowing hole, as waves of light started to pick her and everyone else up from the platform. She couldn't tell what would be waiting for her on the other side, but again, she was ready.
"Hang on!" She heard Nemona say.
"Please let us live..." Penny was heard next.
Then Sara braced herself as she closed her eyes before everyone disappeared and was taken through time.
Straight to the ancient past where AI Sada is waiting for them.
And maybe...
The AI of her mother, Professor Kirara, too...
- - -
87 years ago, Ancient Past
Tagtree Thicket
Green...
There's something about that color that puts AI Kirara at ease.
Whenever it's either the lush greenery from the trees in the forest she's in, to the grass that spreads out through the entire planet that humanity and pokémon both live among in it together through time.
Thinking about this makes her wonder one thing in her head.
"Is that what it means when a human asks another what their favorite color is?"
As she thought it over, she turns to look over at AI Sada, seeing her replaying one of the original professor's memories again, that were implemented into her head, while sitting on top of her lab coat that was taken off and laid down on a log.
Walking over, and sitting down next to her before patiently waiting, Kira continued to look at the nature surrounding the two of them, until she noticed a mating ritual between a male and a female Brute Bonnet was about to begin.
Reaching over and lightly tapping AI Sada by the shoulder, she got her attention and points over at the two Brute Bonnets.
"Oh. Perfect timing...Thanks, Kira." Sada responded silently, as she reached over and pressed something that was hidden behind the wall and upper part of her ear.
In return, she silently nodded, before both of them began to watch from afar.
Approaching the females, the males made their move first by showing off the spikes on their caps to the females.
Rays of sunlight shimmering through the trees helped the male Brute Bonnets. Some of the females preferred more or less spikes, while some preferred spikes by different sizes.
But, hey...At least both professors got to see how the Brute Bonnets flirted with each other.
Gazing at the sky for a moment, AI Kira started to recall what her original self had said, after asking a question to her related to love, way before hers and the original Sada's death...
- - -
10 years ago
Research Station No. 1
"Hey, Professor Kira?"
"Yes?"
"Have you fallen in love with someone before?
"Huh? You're asking me if I fell in love with anyone?? Even when I was still an academy student or not???" She asked as she looked at her AI self in surprise and disbelief, even though it was to be expected anyways.
After all, she did program emotions into her AI doppelganger's system and did her best to make them more realistic and humanly-like as possible as she can, along with giving her some ideas in what her doppelganger wants her persona to be by her own decision, after all.
"Mm-hm..." AI Kirara nods.
"That's unlikely of you to ask. And to answer that..." She began.
Then Kira blushed lightly a little before she looked over at her AI self, while she scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
"Well...uh...hehe...
Yeah, I did.
I can't really say much about who it is I fell in love with, since I prefer to keep them anonymous for personal reasons, but I will tell you one thing..."
"Oh? What is it?" AI Kirara asked, wanting to know more, just out of curiosity.
"That person I fell for...is both my greatest treasure and the shooting star that I follow after, whenever I go. I will never stop loving and will never ever forget anything about them.
Even if they fall for someone else, get married, and start a family of their own with that lucky person they choose to marry and be with...
And even when I die one day, I'll still always love them." Kira answered as she smiled a little, while her gaze softened as she glanced over at Sada and AI Sada's backs for a moment, as they were both busy and still researching together in the lab as well, before looking back at her AI self.
"Wow...You must be really loyal to whoever it is you're in love with." AI Kirara says, while she had some clue on why her creator is looking at Professor Sada and AI Sada.
"You think so?" Kira asks.
"Haha! Yeah, you lovesick puppy!" AI Kirara chuckles.
"H-Hey! Don't be like that! We still gotta continue helping Sada out!" Kira went as her face turned a little redder before she folded her arms across her chest and pouts a little.
"Heh...Okay-okay...Now, what do you want me to do next, since I've completed your previous request?" AI Kirara asked next.
"Well....You could...." Kira began before telling her AI self the next request, she had in mind, that'll help out with the research.
- - -
After AI Kira stopped thinking about that, she was taken to reality when she looks over and noticed AI Sada was having a small issue in trying to get herself to stand up to her feet before seeing she had to sit back down for a moment.
Why does she suddenly seem to feel so tired?
"Do you need some help standing up, Sada?" She asked, as a hint of concern was heard in her voice.
"No-no...I think I got it now." Sada replies before she attempts to stand up again.
Luckily this time, Sada was able to stand up to her feet now.
"There we go..." She went.
"Yay! You did it!" Kira joked a little bit as she applauded her, after she stood up too and handed Sada her lab coat.
In return after hearing that, once she got her lab coat on, Sada laughed a little at those words, before she stopped.
"I'm glad you're with me...I could only imagine how lonely it would be, if I was all by myself." She says while looking at Kira.
"I'm glad too...If I was alone, I would really hate being here." Kira smiles and nods.
In return, Sada smiled back before she was pulled into a hug next.
If there's one thing both professors are trying to get used to...It's most likely the whole human thing they're both working out on together.
Part of it being because both AIs wanted to be human, and are both trying out some things by themselves that they both had seen their creators do when they were still alive.
Like hugging each other for example, which is what AI Kira is doing right now.
Looking over, Sada hugged Kira back before the two AIs parted from each other.
"I have to admit...It feels weird." Kira mentions
"What does?" Sada asks as she tilts her head to the side a little in confusion.
"Just the fact we're literally in the past and AIs trying to learn and do human stuff." She answered. "But at the same time, it's really cool, because we get to see and do research more on the ancient paradox pokémon at the same time.
The very one thing that our original selves, unfortunately, won't be able to witness all of this themselves now that they're gone..."
"Yeah, that's true...Such a tragedy after everything that's happened to them though...
I can only pray Arven won't go down that rabbit hole too, when he and his friends arrive...Along with your original self's daughter, Sara." Sada nods sadly.
"Ah, speaking of Arven and the others...Where are they? They should be here at any minute. It's been a few hours now."
While asking, Sada fidgeted with her historical themed necklace a little while she looked to her left and then her right for a moment, as her braided dirty blonde hair swayed gently along with her movements as she did so.
"I'm starting to feel worried..."
"I am too...I hope Sara's okay as well..." Kira responds as she looks around, her really long white and red hair swaying gently too as well, before she fixes her fancy hair clip and adjusts her lensless glasses a bit.
The fancy hair clip the young AI wore on the left side of her hair was similar to Iono's fancy pink and blue Magnemite hair clips. Only the difference is that Kira's was a futuristic themed cherry blossom flower that glowed neon pink.
While she wore it and it may seem like it was made from the future of some sorts, her clothes, however, were not.
Instead of a usual t-shirt and pants or shorts, Kira's was a kimono.
Loose and comfortable, but also screams 'tradition' if anyone had to take a good look at her for a moment.
And just like Sada's footwear, she wore the same thing too, only it was more modern themed and she wore boots that looked like something you'd see from the Diamond or Pearl clan instead.
Perking up, the two AIs noticed the ancient pokémon had stopped their mating ritual and looked up at the treetops before they fled, diving into some bushes nearby that were not too far from them.
"Ah...Seems like it's almost time." Kira went as she looked around again for a second.
Then she and Sada both hid behind a tree.
Kira taking the tree by her left, while Sada takes the one by her right.
Just as they did, Arven and everyone else appeared over the grass and on a small patch of flowers a few feet away from them.
Of course, Celebi was there too.
"Five humans detected. Vitals are normal. Only one appears to have sustained minor injuries while another is currently missing." Sada whispers, noticing Arven laying on the ground, unconscious.
Okay...Now, how are both AIs going to do this?
Moving a little bit to make herself more hidden behind the tree, Sada unintentionally stepped on a stick.
So much for stealth.
"Who's there?" Both AIs heard Penny say, as she looks up.
Stirring at her feet, Arven stirred as he groaned. "Ugh..."
"Arven!" Penny adds in next.
While that was going on, Koraidon returned to his low-power mode and glances over at Arven.
"I'll have to admit...It's nice to see someone who cares about your son too." Kira whispers as she looks at Sada and silently chuckles lightly.
"Yea..." Sada silently whispers as she nods.
Before anyone else could say anything next, a loud screech was heard, that clearly belonged to Sara.
"HEY! Somebody help get me down from here!!" Everyone heard her shout, before Scarlet and Nemona were the first ones to look, seeing Sara high up above their heads and stuck in a tree.
"What in the - ?! How did she get stuck up there?!?!" Kira silently went as she stared in shock and horror, while she and Sada looked up and spotted her too.
Good grief! The last thing both Sara and Kira needed was a freaking heart attack.
Well...Not exactly for Kira, since she's an AI.
But, still!
"Hang on, Sara! We'll get you down from there!" Nemona yells out a little through her cupped hands in response, so Sara can hear her too.
"Like that's really helpful, telling me this..." Sara muttered to herself sarcastically as she folded her arms across her chest before rolling her eyes.
On cue, Sara heard a cracking sound from the tree branches she was hanging over on.
"You've got to be kidding me, right?" Sara asked nervously as she looked over at the tree branches, seeing it was starting to break, while at the same time, her school's summer uniform shirt was starting to tear.
As she says that, the branches continued to gradually break more and more.
"Oh Arceus...please...no..." She begged under her breath. "Please..."
Looking back over at her friends as they scrambled around a little quickly to get Koraidon, so they could get Sara down, she could only watch helplessly as she waited.
Unfortunately, cracking sounds from the tree branches were heard more and more, along with her shirt being ripped up too.
"Uh...Guys? You might wanna hurry it up down there. I don't think the tree branches have any patience." Sara yells out at them again.
In response, as the others looked up, they could clearly see the tree was threatening to make her fall.
Unfortunately, Sara spoke too late to warn them sooner, because eventually the tree branches broke and her shirt ripped, just as soon as Scarlet had gotten on Koraidon.
As Sara started to fall, she screamed loudly in fear, scaring off some nearby bird pokémon as soon as they heard her scream.
"Hurry Koraidon! Catch her!" Scarlet says as she swiftly nudged him a little by the sides with her feet, before he immediately responded with a dash and a high jump, and climbed on the tree once he was close and the tree was within his reach.
Climbing high up the tree rapidly, Koraidon waited for a moment for Sara to fall closer, before he leaped away from the tree at perfect timing and caught Sara, who landed on his back, as he glided in the air before circling back to his trainer's friends.
While he was gliding back, Scarlet looked over at Sara worriedly, seeing her sitting herself up carefully before wrapping her arms around Scarlet's waist.
"Are you okay, Sara?" She asked, while Sara adjusted her glasses for a moment.
"Y-Yeah...Thank you. And the same goes for you too, Koraidon." Sara answers shakily, before she reaches over and lightly pats him by the side.
"Gias!" He responded as his way of telling her 'You're welcome!'
Once they returned to their friends, Koraidon made a safe touchdown before letting Scarlet and Sara climb off of him.
After seeing what just happened, Kira and Sada sighed silently to themselves in relief.
"Thank goodness she's safe now..." She whispers while looking over at Sada.
"Yes. The last thing we both didn't want to see was someone dying in front of our eyes again." Sada nods.
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