CroodsGirl

|21X FEATURED · GRAND WINNER OF THE 2023 NANO WATT AWARDS! · AMBYS 2023 WINNER!|
  
AI Sada vows to be the mom Arven never had, but when the heinous Mastermind of Deception rises from the future, the young android must do everything she can to stop them from taking her humanity.

***

It has been a month since the events in the Great Crater of Paldea, and Arven is still struggling to accept what AI Sada told him and his friends. A chance encounter with the Legendary Pokémon Miraidon encourages him to use its powers to re-open the time machine and send them back to the time of Paradox Pokémon, where they find the young but mysterious android.

All Sada wants is for Arven to have a mother's love. After a trip through time to the future, she is given the gift to bring her son to her; only this gift proves to be nothing more than something that wants to steal her humanity. 

At the end of the day, Sada's fate does not rest with the human emotions but with Arven's struggle against his infrared. Will he accept Professor Sada's fate, or will the Mastermind of Deception pull him and AI Sada apart before they can call themselves mother and son?

***

DISCLAIMER:
This story is not Mature at all, but it is about how the death of a parent can affect a child, which may be a bit alarming, but it makes for a powerful plot in storytelling. The death happens in a very short but necessary prologue, but it's off-screen and is not graphic. I just wanted to warn you guys ahead of time.

*Volume 1 of the Infrared Tera Tales.*

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Infrared

        Okay, guys, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't almost cry finishing out this story. Those nostalgic memories of my childhood came flying back to me, as well as the lessons I learned when I went through what Arven did. To those who have lost loved ones, they truly will never be gone. They will remain a beautiful memory that you will cherish for the rest of your days. Grief is not to be trifled with. It hurts, but with time, it won't hurt as much.


        Infrared would have not been possible if it wasn't for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Thank you so much, GameFreak, for giving us such beautiful games and an equally as powerful story about loss. Thank you for letting me put my own experience with loss to the test to create this gem of a book. And thank you for never telling me to grow up and throw my childhood away. I'll say this to my grandkids when I'm eighty years old and still playing Pokémon.


        I'm thinking about writing a prequel story to this book about our Mastermind of Deception and what happened during the time he lost the love of his life. I guess it will be the Wicked part of the main story. Honestly, guys, I think the Mastermind of Deception is one of my best villains yet, and I really, really want to do more with him.


        But... until then, I hope you guys will read this story not just in the way of fanfiction but also science fiction and fantasy and will take the lessons I've taught you and apply them to your own lives.


        And remember, your loved one will never truly be gone—as long as you keep their memory alive.


"Gotta Catch 'Em All" | Final Author's Note