Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Infrared

Chapter 38: Stand up! For what is right.

Miraidon moved as fast as his four legs carried him. He slipped and slid off moving walkways and ended up in a lake under one of them. The Pokémon kicked his feet and lugged himself to a park. It had robotic trash cans, Pokémon, and another display of Hologram Pokémon.

People tried grabbing him, but Miraidon booted them away. He finally told himself, "Ah, screw this," and switched to his battle form. With Arven on the brink of becoming a cyborg, he couldn't stall any longer.

Miraidon soared over the heads of people, Pokémon, and robots in the park.

Some scattered, Miraidon accidentally threw others forward, and a few people even ended up in the mouths of the robotic trash cans.

Miraidon saw the hospital and rushed toward it. He landed in the parking lot and returned to his low-power mode.

The security guards from before saw him and yelled, "Hey!" At once, they ordered their Iron Hands to close in on Miraidon.

He stood his ground, but the Future Pokémon pointed their electrified palms at him. Lightning flashed between the creatures, and they prepared themselves for battle.

"I'm trying to protect Arven!" Miraidon roared.

"We told you not to come back!" one of the Iron Hands warned. "If we must, we'll battle it out."

"But he's in danger!" Miraidon gasped for air when the second Iron Hands landed a Body Slam on him. He hopped back and bent his body. He didn't want to fight, but he had no choice.

Before he changed back into his battle form, he heard, "Miraidon!" Penny, Nemona, Scarlet, and Celebi found him.

They hopped off the moving walkway Sada and Miraidon took to the hospital and sprinted into the fray. They were like soldiers emerging from the trench, ready to fight for their individuality.

Penny jumped between the Iron Hands and Miraidon and held her arms out to her sides. "What's going on here?" In the meantime, her friends caught Miraidon's shoulders and dragged him away from the security guards.

"Is that Pokémon with you?" one of them asked.

"He is," Penny said. "We're friends with his trainer. What's the issue?"

"That Pokémon and his trainer are forbidden to come here," the guard explained. "They're nothing but rogue robots. We don't need those creatures on our property."

"Rogue? What are you talking about? They are not rogue! Sada is Arven's mom!" Penny clenched her fists. "I also know that Arven wants his mom right now."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen," the guard snorted. "The child's mom is dead. By law, we need to turn him over to his father." His eyes narrowed. "I know—it sucks being that kid. Iron Hands." He snapped his fingers, and the Pokémon went to him.

The guard fixed his eyes on Penny. "You guys can come in, but that Pokémon is not allowed. Besides, I don't see his puny, little trainer anywhere."

Both Miraidon and Penny glared. How dare the guard call Sada "puny"!

Miraidon almost lunged at him, but Penny held her arm up to his chest.

"You know what? Screw you." She threatened to punch the guards. "I challenge you to a battle!"

They stepped back. "A battle?"

"You heard me. We battle right now. If I win, you let us and Miraidon through. If not, we'll leave quietly." Penny passed her friends and opened the space between her and the guards, drawing a pokéball. With her free hand, she adjusted her glasses.