Hello everyone! Mango here with another update for you! Those of you who follow my other two stories, rest assured they are still going on. I have had this idea on hold for a long time now so it was about time it came out. I am typing small chapters due to my keyboard going on the fritz, forcing me to use the tablet keyboard on the screen instead. So once again, my apologies to all waiting on new chapters. Now, without further ado...let's do this!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon! All of its characters and content are owned by Gamefreak and Nintendo.

Chapter 2: Letting Go

It took hours for Professor Birch and Yuki to get Satoru to consider going. Did he want to? Not really. It wasn't until Yuki reminded him that he had promised Annelise that he would at least give it a shot that he decided to think about it. He hated when she pulled that card on him. Mostly because it worked. With a soundless sigh, he looked between Yuki and Birch and stood up.

'Tell him I need time to think...I will come down in about an hour or so...'

"Okay Ru...take your time. I know this is hard for you."

Satoru nodded and made his way to his room once more. Beldum hovered beside him, trying to analyze the situation at hand. It could tell that Satoru was giving the prospect some thought. But how long would that last?

X-X-X

"How long has he been this way?"

"Too long Birch...too long. I don't know what to do sometimes."

"I see...talking doesn't appear to help. As I recall, he refused to see me for months after graduating. He was to be off by now. I am guessing it...no...I know it has to do with her."

"Yes, it does...and he just won't let it go. He won't even open his birthday card from her. He says he doesn't want to read it..."

"Maybe he should. Perhaps there is something in there that can help him."

"I know there is...but he doesn't want to open it even if it does help. All we can do is hope for a miracle to happen..."

X-X-X

'Satoru? You have been staring at that envelope for the past fifteen minutes.'

'Sorry Beldum...I can't help it. It's the last thing I was given by her before she died. I'm afraid of opening it...'

'Are you afraid she might say the same thing she said before her passing from this world into the domain of Arceus?'

'Yeah...'

'Then I suggest you open it.'

'Why?'

'My hypothesis is that said envelope contains vital information that you, my trainer, need to read and that said information is critical to you recovering from the loss.'

'If you think you will fare any better than my mother at getting me to open it, you are pressing your luck...'

'It would seem that you need some persuasion. Perhaps, if I were to open it, you will have no other choice but to read it...'

A red light absorbed the Steel-type and sucked him into his ball. Satoru wouldn't have any of that. He put the ball on the table and shook his head. Satoru looked down at the envelope again and then away from it. As far as he was concerned, nothing could get him to open it, yet...there he was, looking at it again. With a trembling hand, he began to open it. Finally. He took out a beautifully decorated card with a picture of the two of them in the middle. She had her arms around his neck and was on his back. Both of them were smiling in the photo. The title read; "Happy Birthday, my beloved..."

Satoru opened it, and what he read almost made him bawl.

'My dearest Ru,

Well...this is it. According to the doc, I won't live much longer. It kinda sucks huh? We were just approaching our third year anniversary too. I figure it might take you a while to open this. You took forever to open a silly love note I wrote you in class all those years ago. You were so shy it was adorable and also very annoying. I had to fight to get your attention. It was quite funny though. Someone deaf trying to talk with a mute. I don't know what got you to notice me first...as a woman. Maybe it was my usual slap in the face. Huh. It always did seem to work. So...why am I telling you this now? Because I know you. I also know that you are probably going to prolong opening this for a long time. I'm right aren't I? I can see the look on your face now as you read this. You are probably crying right? Sad too. Well don't be. It's okay to be sad, but there is a difference between mourning and carrying on. And I am betting you are carrying on right now.

Ru, please, for Arceus sake...stop. I may be dying...or dead when you finally do get around to reading this but please...don't make it harder on yourself. I am the one dying, not you. You have a lot of life left in you. I wish I could sing one last time for you, but I am too weak. I just want to let you know that I love you and always will. It will never fade...even though I die. Now, onto the other important topic. Your journey. Two words Ru; Do it! Get off your butt and do it. I know you can. I watched your graduation match and the strength you displayed was powerful. I fell in love with you all over again. You won and you scored in the top percent of the school. You are an excellent trainer. Now you have a Beldum. Steven himself gave it to you. He knew you had the potential to become something great. Don't waste the talent you were given or so help me Arceus! Well...that's about enough of that.

Lastly...my dear Ru...I am going to ask you to do something very hard. I want you, when you move on, to replace my picture with whoever you find. I know you must wonder why. I am not asking you to get rid of it. I am asking that you keep it in a drawer somewhere when you find love again. The new love you find will be alive and therefore...you won't need my photo around anymore. I know you are probably trying to scream though you know it won't work, but please...do this for me. I love you my dear Ru. Please do not be saddened by my passing. Just be happy that I was there. Can you do that for me? I know you can.

Goodbye...my dear Ru.

Your love,

Annelise

Satoru finished and set the card down. He struggled in his mind with the pain he felt. He read over the last happy line she wrote. She was right. He should treasure the fact that she was there rather than carry on as if the world was ending. He needed to move on. It was time. He feared that if he didn't, she would find a way to come back and slap him repeatedly. She always made good on her threats. She was notorious for it in fact. Reaching a decision, he finally came to grips with the fact that he needed to move on. Tree months was plenty long enough to mourn.

He released Beldum from his ball and began to start gathering essential clothes for his journey.

X-X-X

"He's been up there for over an hour now. Do you think he will be alright?"

"I am sure he will be Birch. He just needs time to sort things out."

"Well, I need to be getting back to the lab. My son was supposed to help me today and he has been messaging me for a while."

At that point, Satoru came downstairs, dressed in a dark green jacket, with black pants and white shoes with green laces. His hair was trimmed and spiked the way he used to do it. It was a sign that he was starting to come out of his slump. On his back, was an emerald and white backpack. Yuki blinked as she saw her son wearing the new clothes she had gotten him to start his journey. He even had on the graduation badge that bore the mark of an Ace. It was there for recognition purposes. The badge was gold in color and was in the shape of an italic A, and it was about an inch in length.

"R-Ru? Are those-"

'Yes...this is what I said I would wear upon departure. I-I decided to go after all.'

"Yuki? Is everything okay?"

"Yes...Ru has...Ru is deciding to go after all. Ru, I never thought this day would come."

'Neither did I...I am sorry mom. I should have just gone.'

"So, what changed? I tried for months to convince you..."

Satoru quietly held up the card that Annelise made for him. Yuki smiled softly as she saw this.

"Of course. I knew that somehow she would get through to you. Well...Professor? I do believe Ru is going to need a Pokedex right?"

"Right you are Yuki. Satoru, if you will follow me to my lab, we will get you started."

And there we go! What? I mentioned it would be short. I want each chapter to focus on a separate issue. I am doing this differently than my others. So, Satoru is finally letting go. It figures it would take a slap in the face, so to speak, from a deceased Annelise, to get him going. I have nothing else to say, save for this; keep watch for the next chapter!