Disclaimer: I think that we should go raid the Pokemon headquarters in Japan, hog-tie the creators and stuff them in the closet so that we don't have to do disclaimers anymore. Who's with me? (And the song is 'Always' by Plumb which-guess what?-isn't mine)

Characters: My OCs Damon and Angel from my PMD2 and 3, along with manaphy.

Summary: Damon and Angel have to let manaphy go.

Selfish

~I won't always be this strong, and I won't always be the one to kiss the bruise

Or heal the scrapes,

To wipe the teardrops from your face

But I will always love you more each day~

Manaphy sat on the beach, building tiny castles in the sand as Chatot continued to talk. I watched her, aching to grab her and make a run for it.

"The Guildmaster and I decided to invite Walrein from the Northern Sea. We felt that Walrein would be ideal for looking after Manaphy," he was saying.

And we're not? I wanted to scream at him. We love Manaphy! We've taken care of her! Why are you taking her away from us?

Except I knew the answer to my question, and that made it hurt even more.

"Aye," Walrein said, oblivious to my rage. "I've heard all I need to hear from your Wigglytuff. You've my word; I'll take full responsibility for raising Manaphy."

Angel was stroking my back, trying to keep my calm. She could probably feel the tension in my body. "Take good care of her," she told Walrein through her tears. Then she gave my arm a painful squeeze, and knelt down to Manaphy's height. "Manaphy," she called softly, in the special tone that she reserved for the baby. "Manaphy?"

Manaphy turned, her face brightening. "Mommy!"

I heard Angel swallow. "Manaphy, from now on I want you to be good and listen to Walrein. You'll be happy in the sea, I promise…"

She cocked her head to the side. "Mommy, why are you crying?"

Angel's voice quivered as she ignored Manaphy and continued on. "Don't forget us, okay? We love you. We're only doing this because we love you."

Manaphy waddled forward, placing a flipper on the side of Angel's face. Her lip had begun to tremble. "Mommy?" She tilted her face up to look at me, blue eyes shining with unshed tears. "Daddy?"

It took all I had to keep my face expressionless.

"Prolonging this will only make it worse," Chatot said heavily. "Walrein, please…"

"Aye. We're going, Manaphy."

No.

"I love you," Angel sobbed, stealing the words from my mouth. "I love you, Manaphy."

"…Love…you?" Manaphy echoed thickly. She cringed away from Walrein as he approached, clinging to my legs. "I…love…you. I love you. I love you."

A low noise of deprecation was torn from my lips.

"I love you, Daddy!" Manaphy wailed as Walrein grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, dragging her down across the beach. She thrashed, tears streaming down her face. "Mommy, I love you! What did I do? Don't be mad!"

"Manaphy!" Angel sobbed, starting towards her. I reacted instantly, trapping her within the restraining circle of my arms. "Manaphy, we're not mad! We love you! We love you!"

"I love you, Manaphy," I was finally able to say, but it was too late. She had already been consumed by the waves.

~I will always

I will always love you~