I honestly don't if the people requesting to do artwork are actual artists or bots. If you are a person, sorry for not responding. Regardless, I'm NOT INTERESTED in collaborating with anyone to make artwork related to the story. Don't know if this will stop the fake reviews and PMs, but might as well address it.

As usual, please leave your thoughts and questions in a review so I can address them. Now let's get to it!

Chapter 8: Windy Summer

James munched on his rice ball, savoring the salty taste. He couldn't remember the last time they were able to afford a decent lunch, but he was making the most of it. The Rocket grunt didn't know when they'd eat like this again. Though eating kept him mostly distracted, he turned to his vigilant partner. "What are the twerps doing now, Meowth?" James took another bite.

"Ya'd know if ya did yur job instead of grubbin'," Meowth kept his binoculars focused on the targets inside the Pokémon Center's dining hall.

Jessie waved him off as she also enjoyed her rice ball. "Don't be such a sourpuss. You'll get your break once we're done eating."

"Wobb!" Even Wobbuffet got to eat his rice ball before the cat.

Meowth side-eyed Jessie when he lowered his binoculars. "So nevah."

"C'mon, old friend, no need for attitude," James sighed.

Meowth always had a soft spot for Jimmy. The feline used his binoculars again. "Well, it seems da twerp from da future is talkin' to da twerps. From wat I'm hearin', they're discussin' more details bout da evil twerpette."

"After I saw that future twerp, I started to remember things from our mission in Unova. Do you think the reason he's here is related to that?" Jessie wondered.

"I remembered, too. I can't believe we got fired from Team Rocket," James gulped.

Meowth shrugged. "It don't matta. Whateva happened afta dat undid everyting, an da boss nevah fired us."

Jessie picked up her binoculars. "Well, I'd like to know more about the twerps. We might learn something that could help us."

"You're right, Jess. Maybe something that will help us get a promotion," James dreamed.

"Health insurance, retirement pensions, expense accounts, and travel discounts!" James and Jessie sang. They locked arms and danced around but realized that Meowth didn't join them.

Jessie rubbed her chin. "You don't sound excited, Meowth."

"Did ya forget why we're still tailin' da twerps?" Meowth looked back.

Jessie clenched her fist. "Of course not!"

"Pikachu," James's head hung low.

"I always tot dat if we earned a promotion, it'd be cuz we finally caught Pikachu," Meowth reflected.

Jessie sighed. "We'll make do with what we can, Meowth."

"Take a break. We'll take over," James got his binoculars.

"Right," Meowth moved away from the bush they hid behind.

"Enjoy your meal," Jessie sighed. She kneeled next to James as they placed their earbuds to listen in on the twerps.

Meowth sat down with a rice ball in hand. "Lemme know if ya learn anyting." The Rockets observed the heroes eating. They appeared deep in discussion based on their tone and expressions. What Jessie and James learned from their conversation was more unsettling than expected and reminded them of traumas from the past.

"So you were lured here through a time machine that was laid out as a trap," May recapped. Red confirmed with a nod.

"By the evil May, right?" Ash got confirmation from him.

May narrowed her eyes at him, "Do you have to call her that? Red already said that the woman was more like Sapphire."

"Sorry, I forgot," Ash let out an uneasy laugh.

"I blame Goh," May rolled her eyes.

Red took a sip of his water, "I think it's important to emphasize that the woman you fought isn't an evil version of May." May stared at Ash to signal her validation.

"So an evil Sapphire?" Ash raised an eyebrow.

Red nodded sideways, "No, it's not Sapphire. You fought an android powered by artificial intelligence and modeled after my sister."

"An android?" May gasped.

"That's insane," Ash gawked.

Red understood their shock. "If I hadn't seen her for myself when I arrived here, I wouldn't have believed it. However, I learned about research into artificial intelligence from these books that Lucario and I discovered in the future." He pulled out the Scarlet Book and the Violet Book.

"They look pretty old," May eyed them.

"They belonged to a pair of famous professors from Paldea named Sada and Turo. However, the books were written by an adventurer named Heath many years ago. The books cover many things, and among them are notes from Professor Turo and Professor Sada on androids who are capable of independent thought and action," Red detailed.

May was curious, "Are you saying that these professors made HER?"

Red corrected her, "No, but I believe they laid the foundation for her inception."

"Who made her then, and why?" Ash leaned over the table.

Their son crossed his arms, "My best guess is that Sapphire was built to collect the plates. Why model the android after Sapphire is something I haven't figured out. As to who created Sapphire? When we discovered the lab, we encountered a trio of enhanced Malamar."

"Malamar from the future?" Ash froze.

"That sounds familiar," May got goosebumps.

Red raised his eyebrows, "You've seen them?"

The couple nodded. "When we journeyed in Kalos, we ran into an evil Malamar that possessed an Officer Jenny and tried to build a machine that would help it take over the world. We stopped it and the other Malamar, but after they escaped, we never saw them again," Ash recounted.

"Do you remember where they escaped to?" Red listened.

May was unsettled, "They escaped to the future. The Malamar said they were from there and warned that they would return someday. I'd forgotten it until now."

"So, they've been operating under our noses for years. If they were in the past before, then that means they've traveled between our timelines more than once," Red concluded.

"What makes you say that?" Ash questioned.

Red tapped the Scarlet and Violet books. "These books don't exist in my timeline. At least, not anymore."

"How can you be sure?" May asked.

"The Professor Sada and Professor Turo of my timeline died before I was born. They also never got as far with their research as the ones who jotted their studies in these books," the trainer clarified.

"Wow," Ash became as unsettled as May.

Something still bothered May, "If the Malamar built Sapphire, then what reason did they have for wanting the plates?"

Red sighed, "I don't know. The Malamar died when their lab detonated." Ash and May were disappointed by the mystery's dead end. Their son clenched his fist, "They desecrated my sister's memory by creating that android. To make matters worse, she desecrates the image of my sister by harming others and going against everything Sapphire stood against. I don't understand why things unfolded like this, but I won't let her get away with it."

May placed her hand over his fist to calm him, "I'm sorry, Red."

"It's not your fault," Red relaxed. He pulled his hand away, "We can't do anything except press on. I'm glad we ran into each other. That means we can do stop her together and save your friends."

"That's right," Ash balled his hand into a fist. He thought about their foe's skill and her Pokémon, "There was a Pokémon that resembled Gallade and Gardevoir with her. We'd never seen it before and our Rotom Phone's couldn't read it. Would you happen to know something about it?"

Red nodded, "The Pokemon is called Iron Valiant. It's a Paradox Pokémon that originated from Area Zero."

"Area Zero," Ash muttered. "I wonder how she got her hands on a Pokémon from there."

May raised an eyebrow, "We'd heard of Area Zero but have never been there."

Red remained serious, "If the Malamar were able to get their hands on Professor Sada and Professor Turo's work, it's plausible that they also obtained Pokemon that belonged to them. Records show that both professors conducted studies within Area Zero. It all appears connected." Ash and May took in the information with stern yet curious expressions. It seemed all mysteries tied back to the findings recorded by the Paldean Professors. Unfortunately, they had little to go off of right now.

"I know you said you were lured here, but why didn't you have Nate, Rosa, or Hugh accompany you when you revisited that splinter cell's lab?" May remembered her son's friends.

Red looked away, "I didn't want to involve them in any more violence. They've been through enough as it is."

"And they let you go off on your own?" Ash found it odd.

"They had their reasons and I had mine. It was for the best. Besides, I never would've forgiven myself if something happened to one of them," Red answered. Ash and May still had questions, but Red abruptly stood up, "I'm going to the Pokémart to get supplies before we leave Goldenrod City. Don't wait for me."

May watched him leave, "Okay." She wasn't fooled by his demeanor.

"Let's head to the room, May. I'm beat," Ash collected their dishes.

"Right," May shifted her attention to her husband after Red exited.

As Red made his way to the Pokémart, he examined the Scarlet Book and the Violet Book. The books were a frustrating reminder of how little he knew. After sometime with them, he had his theories but recognized that he was no expert. He knew there had to be someone who could understand the books. His mind went to Heath, the original author. His recounting set Turo and Sada on the path that led to their current predicament. Perhaps there was someone who could interpret Heath's work, and by extension, Sada and Turo's. "Let's see," Red pulled out his Rotom Phone. he searched for information related to studies of Heath's work until he discovered that the adventurer had a descendant working at an academy in Unova. "Briar, huh?" Red read her profile. Not only was she Heath's descendant, but she was committed to continuing his work. The trainer's eyes shifted back to the books in his satchel. "Seems like she's our best bet to learn something," Red knew he had to get the books in Briar's possession as soon as possible if they wished to make progress. As luck would have it, Red found himself standing before the office of Delibird's Delivery service. He stepped inside.

Back at the Pokémon Center, Ash stretched his arms when they entered the room. "What a day! Good thing the Magnet Train exists."

"Yeah, we should be in Cianwood City by tomorrow," May sat on the edge of the bed. She held her knees as she looked at the floor.

Ash noticed her pensive state, "Are you alright, May?"

"It's just so much to take in. I guess what Red said overwhelmed me a little," A sheepish May smiled at him.

"I know," Ash returned the same smile.

May tightened the grip on her knees. "In the span of a day, we found the Insect Plate, battled Lance, reunited with our son, and learned that our enemy is an android modeled after our daughter."

Ash grabbed her shoulder. "The Insect Plate is safe." The trainer showed his backpack where it was stored. "We stopped Lance," Ash sat down. "Red is here and safe," he put his hand on her lap. "And we'll stop Sapphire," her husband reminded her. "So far, our journey is off to a good start."

"Despite the hurdles," May cracked a smile. "You're right. I should be grateful," the coordinator admitted.

"I wouldn't see things that way if you hadn't snapped me out of it," Ash hugged her.

"You don't know how happy I was when you did," May buried her face in his chest.

Ash kissed her head. "Me too."

May pulled away from him. "Do you remember the windy summer night of our wedding?"

Ash was confused by the sudden question. "Yeah, Max spilled soda on your dress and it almost turned into a funeral."

May blushed and slapped his arm. "No, silly. I meant after that," the coordinator giggled. Ash struggled to follow. May had a sneaky grin. "I meant after everyone went to sleep."

It was Ash's turn to blush. "Oh, that." He rubbed the back of his head. "What about it?"

"It felt special," a shy May recollected.

"But don't we do that often?" Ash sweated. "I mean I know it's been a while lately, but you know."

May grabbed his arms. "Yes, Ash." The girl blushed as red as her bandana. "I know it sounds cheesy, but." She struggled to say it.

"Yeah?" Ash tilted his head.

"That night I felt yours," the girl rested her head on his chest.

"May," Ash caressed her head as he mustered a warm smile.

His wife raised her gaze. Her sapphire eyes glistened when they met his auburn-colored stare. May leaned toward his ear and whispered, "And you felt mine." Her soft yet seductive whisper made the hairs on Ash's arms stand. He didn't utter a word, but he reached for May's chin and lifted her tempting eyes. The trainer closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her. May stuck her tongue in his mouth as she unbuttoned his blue shirt. The brunette moaned when she felt Ash's lips on her neck. Ash's hands reached to untie her bandana. Suddenly, nothing mattered. Not the danger of the future. Not the pain of the past. Not the urgency of the present. It was only them and the heat of the moment. As Ash started to unbutton May's blouse, they heard the sound of someone clear their throat. The couple stopped halfway through their kiss and turned around. Red stood at the doorway, blushing more than Ash and May combined. "I thought you went to the Pokémart!" May yelled. She frantically buttoned up her blouse in shame.

The trainer from the future looked down, "I, uh, forgot my wallet." Red shuffled his feet on the floor.

"Sorry," was all Ash could utter as he tried to laugh off the embarrassment.

May saw Red's wallet on the counter and reached for it. She stomped toward Red with her face down, "HERE!" She tried her best to suppress her flustered face.

"Ex-excuse me," Red's hand trembled when he reached for the wallet. He didn't dare look at May in the eye as he turned around and left. "I wouldn't mind having that memory wiped," Red pulled down the brim of his hat as he walked down the hall.

Meowth looked at James, "Jimmy, what was that yell?"

"Yeah, I heard that without needing to listen in," Jessie stopped polishing her Pokéballs.

James took off his earbuds and set down his binoculars. His face was almost as red as Ash and May's. "The twerps were about to make the future twerp, and I don't think I'll ever see them the same way again," James shed a tear from trauma.

Meowth and Jessie's faces also turned red. The duo tried to contain their laughter but fell back and rolled on the grass in amusement. "No way! I've gotta see this!" Jessie cackled.

"I tot my nine lives wud neva see da day," Meowth lifted his binoculars.

James was aghast, "We've sunk to a new low."

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet also joined in Jessie and Meowth's snickering.

Meanwhile, Ash and May recomposed themselves after Red left. Ash looked at May as she arranged their bed. "Do you still want to-" Ash got interrupted.

"No!" May struck him with the pillow.

"Hey, what was that for?" Ash rubbed his arm.

May facepalmed, "You were the one facing the door. Didn't you hear or see him?!"

A bashful Ash scratched his cheek, "I was focused on the kissing."

May sighed, "Let's just lie down. I'm tired."

"OK," Ash sighed.

They settled in the bed and cuddled, falling asleep before Red even returned from the Pokémart. Outside, even the Rockets fell asleep spying on the gang and made the grass their bed for the night with Wobbuffet's body as a pillow for the three of them. When Red returned with goods for their journey, the son ensured not to wake them as he organized things and made himself comfortable afterward. He slipped into bed, but before he turned off the bedside lamp, he watched Ash and May snooze without a care in the world. Red couldn't remember the last time he'd spent a night with his parents, but now that Ash and May were older he started to see more of a resemblance. They kept their baby faces, but years of adventure reflected in their eyes. "Good night, Mom and Dad," the trainer smiled before he flicked off the lights.