Disclaimer – I Don’t Own Pokemon

Authors Notes – Alrighty guys! Here is a small short peace for you, probably not 
an original idea in terms of a plot, But never the less, here is my 
interpretation on how things would pan out, hope you enjoy!

Summary – They say in life if you really love someone, you’ll let them go…Well 
for Ash Ketchum, he is about to find out just how powerful and instrumental that 
well respected theory is.

Giving Her Away

Ash

You know it’s funny, some people might call this utter nonsense or a typical 
cleche if you like, but in life there is an old saying, that states…if you love 
someone enough, then in the end you’ve got to simply let them go. I for one can 
safely say I was one of those people who would look down my nose at this theory, 
one of the majority, whom would merely brush it off, and place it under the 
category of “Bullshit”. Well now that this very scenario has arrived at my own 
doorstep I am mentally cursing myself for ever doubting it in the slightest.

I inhaled sharply and cast my eyes around my surroundings, it was a mild spring 
day today on Seafome Island, a perfect day for It in fact, my gaze Shifted to 
Brock, as he slowly approached me marching up the small isle that was perfectly 
constructed along the beaches waterfront where the wedding ceremony was going to 
take place.

“God what a turn out…” he muttered emphatically referring to the number of 
people attending the ceremony, as I wearily nodded at him as he came to a stop 
beside me at the end of the beach where the main road came to a halt.

“How you coping? you holding up ok?” he asked in concern taking a seat beside me 
on the small bench.

“Getting by, but barely” I whispered in response, as I lowered my head a moment 
as I bit my lip before refocusing my gaze on Brock.

“How’s he holding up?” I asked referring to the groom to be, while gesturing my 
head in the direction toward the altar located alongside the waterfront upon the 
lash white sand. Brock smirked playfully.

“He’s chalk white, I think he’s about ready to throw up, a bag of nerves….can’t 
say last night would have helped him much though…” he remarked as I razed an 
eyebrow at him.

“Hmm sounds intriguing, you care to elaborate any further,” I asked him with a 
weak smile.

“Well….Uh, you see… he was up till 3AM this morning downing shots of whisky” I 
shook my head in an all to knowing manner.

“And I take it you did nothing to discourage him on the matter” I mused as Brock 
merely shrugged at me.

“What! you would have preferred it if I had left the poor guy sitting there and 
drinking alone?” I smirked briefly.

“So…that explains why Suzie found you with your head slumped up against the 
bathroom sink this morning..” I observed as he had to restrain from falling from 
the bench while faltering.

“She told you about that!” he whined lowering his head to avoid my eyes. A Small 
chuckle emerged from me as I could not help but pat his shoulder reassuringly

“Don’t worry Brock…We’ve all been there….nothing another night of binge drinking 
won’t cure I’m sure.” I teased as he finally locked eyes on me yet again 
realizing I was talking about the huge party that was going to take place 
tonight at our hotel after the ceremony. For the next few seconds a stony 
silence ensued around us as I awkwardly cleared my throat.

“You…Um didn’t just come all the way from your seat just to share stories about 
your drinking session did you?” I quizzed shakily knowing I already new the 
answer, he bit his lip grimacing slightly, looking away from me I feel trying to 
prolong any of the agony he knew I was mere moments away from going through. 
Finally while sadly shaking his head at me, he was able to refocus on me yet 
again and softly spoke.

“No….” he confirmed quietly as he sighed.

“I’m sorry, Ash I realize how hard this is for you, and I hate to stick the 
dagger in any further, so to speak but, James just called, the bridal party has 
left the hotel and they should be here any minute” he said as I inhaled a sharp 
intake of breath as I found air hard to come by at that moment. I wearily got to 
my feet a cold sweat running through my body as I did so.

“Ash….” Brock uttered my name getting to his feet and placing a hand on my 
shoulder. I stiffened slightly at his touch as I weakly reverted my eyes to him 
once more.

“You know despite what’s about to happen down there on that beach….you are aware 
she still and always will love you don’t you?” Brock said as I swallowed the 
lump in my throat whilst gritting my teeth.

“Yeah…..” I got out above a whisper trying to convince myself I feel other than 
Brock. He could do no more but shoot me a reassuring, but at the same time I 
feel somewhat somber smile.

“Well, I suppose I’d better get back, Suzie will be wondering what’s taking me 
so long, and plus if I want a good view and all..….I’ll be seeing you 
afterwards?” he said, I had to ask myself just where the hell he thought I was 
going.

“I ain’t scheduled to be anywhere else today….” I retorted with a tinge of 
frustration behind my tone. Brock stared at me a moment, trying I feel to at 
least try and comprehend even a small amount of the way I was feeling at this 
time, for with each passing second I was ever closer to doing most probably the 
hardest thing I would ever have to do in my life.

“Ash….just keep all those good times with you…..and remember why you are doing 
this….whom you are doing this for…..” Brock reminded me as a wave of inner peace 
seemed to wash over me at that instant.

“Thanks Brocko…” I whimpered gratefully, as he nodded at me with a smile, and 
while taking one last look at me, walked back in the direction he came, to I 
presume take his seat alongside Suzie.

The feeling of inner peace I alluded to earlier did not last to long as the gut 
wrenching feeling enveloped the pit of my stomach yet again. Trying without much 
luck to suppress my nerves, I found I had taken a few steps back towards the 
small bench and plopped myself down upon it. Removing the small hit flask from 
my inner jacket of my tuxedo I begrudgingly twisted the lid from it and 
proceeded to take a sip of its malting contents.

“You know I always said that girl would drive you to drink someday….” A familiar 
voice chimed jokingly, as I looked up from taking a second sip from my flask.

“Oh…hey May…” I greeted her placing the cap back on my flask and placing it back 
within my tuxedo’s pocket.

“Your looking fantastic by the way…” I observed noting the light blue strapless 
dress she adorned on this day. She merely placed her hands on her hips and 
glared down at me with a scowl.

“Oh no you don’t Mr.….in the trade we call that avoiding the issue….” She told 
me taking a seat beside me on the bench while trying not to mess up her dress.

“This whole thing is becoming to much for you isn’t it?” she quizzed, I sighed 
inwardly casting my eyes on her.

“May….I appreciate the concern honey, but believe me, Brock’s already been up 
here and tried to get his two cense in, this is something I have to face alone.” 
I informed her as she proceeded to grasp my hands in hers tightening them 
slightly indicating her support of me in my efforts. A few seconds of silence 
ensued as I reverted my eyes around the beach and to the sky and then finally 
back on May.

“So…..” I started with a small gulp.

“Where’s Max at then?” May released my hands and weakly smiled at me.

“Last I saw he and Tracey were down at the waterfront near their seats, 
seemingly they were trying to count how many Shelder and Clamperil they could 
spot lifting their heads from the seabed to see what was going on” she 
explained. I could not help but let loose a small smirk.

“Leave it to your kid brother and the watcher to have Pokemon on the brain, even 
on a wedding day” I said as May could only reflect a small grin of reassurance 
in reply.

“You know regardless of what’s about to happen….you to can never lose what is in 
each others hearts don’t you?” May proclaimed all of a sudden reverting the 
topic of conversation back to my impending dilemma.

“I know…” I responded to her rhetorically whilst swallowing the lump in my 
throat.

“It just seems so hard to take it all in, the more I think about it May…I just 
hope she doesn’t regret her decision two to three months down the line” I said 
as May sat there taking in my point of view.

“Ash…you know as well as I do how fickle the human heart can be…..” she said 
reflecting a soft smile in my direction while placing a hand over mine yet 
again.

“I know, her happiness of course is priority to me it’s just…..I love her so dam 
much….” I finally conceded as for the first time my voice cracked as a single 
tear rolled down my cheek. May reached up and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Honey….if you love her…….you’ll let her go…..” May said as I slumped my head in 
response as the sound of a car engine descending ever closer snapped me out of 
my seemingly ever decreasing mind set. May stood up and gave a slight wave to 
acknowledge the car as it came to a halt as I got to my feet before her, she 
turned and shot me a subtle grin as she stood before me.

“She’s getting married Ash…..but that can’t erase all of the events of the past 
and good times you’ve had….nor does it diminish what the both of you feel in 
each others hearts” she paused and placed a hand on my cheek.

“Both of you will always be apart of who the both of you are Ash….cherish the 
memories” she advised as I closed my eyes a few times trying to cease my tears.

“May. I..” she placed a finger to my lips silencing me.

“Just remain true to her Ash….that’s all you’ll need” and with those heart felt 
words uttered she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. I nodded at 
her in understanding as I could not help but feel somewhat grateful towards her 
within that moment.

“Thank you…” I got out above a whisper embracing her in a hug.

“Good luck…” She whispered in my ear parting from my embrace and walking back in 
the direction of the beach. My gaze on May was broken as I heard a car door slam 
shut and I whirled around just in time to see James acknowledge my presents with 
a slight wave at me as he walked around the car to the back door, I tried with 
all I could to relax the muscles tightening within my body, this was it there 
was no going back now.

The next few seconds past me by in a blur as before I knew it all of the 
occupants were out of the car, and there she stood a few feet away from me. I 
could only watch in some sort of spell bounded trance as she continually fretted 
with the lace of her wedding gown, I had to wonder why she persisted to bother 
with it, The dress itself was nothing short of perfection on her, At that 
thought I could do nothing but sigh inwardly, For Christsakes! Who the hell was 
I kidding? She looked like perfection to me. Her eyes finally fell upon me and 
she smiled in my direction merely nodding at me as she started conversing with 
one of her bridesmaids.

“Two minutes to show time people!” I heard James shout from behind me as I cast 
my eyes over my shoulder to see him retreat to the beach to take his seat. I 
took a moment to absorb some oxygen within my body as I turned back to discover 
she had approached as she stood alongside me smiling brightly.

“Hey…” She whispered softly

"You' look wonderful," I said quietly.

“Don’t start…” she said mockingly I guess assuming we were going to get mixed up 
in our infamous but playful war of words. I swallowed hard before responding to 
her as composed as I could.

“No, I mean it….your looking beautiful….” I got out shakily while brushing my 
hand past her now lush long red hair and laying it to rest upon her cheek. She 
responded to this by moving away from me slightly trying to hide the slight 
blush that she was unaware that I could detect flutter across her cheeks. I knew 
somewhere in the back of my mind I had always thought she was pretty, even 
though I had teased her about being scrawny when she was a kid. Of course the 
only reason I went down that road, was so I could watch with a degree of 
satisfaction as the sparkles flashed within her eyes and her face change to a 
color that closely matched that of her hair.

"Thanks," she finally was able to murmur out interrupting my pondering state. 
Before a devilish smirk could not help but adorn her face.

"You don’t scrub up to badly yourself." She teased playing with the bowtie of my 
tuxedo

"I do what I can," I replied coyly, my own smile becoming a tad more subdued, as 
I reverted my hands back to my side. For I knew the time was drawing near, The 
emotion seemingly ravaged my inner body at the thought of what I was about to 
do.

For ever since she had asked me to escort her down the isle, it had been like a 
long drawn out prison sentence for me, reminiscent to that of someone on death 
row, and now well, let’s just say I wasn’t expecting any last minute call from 
the governor giving me any kind of reprieve. But my own inner turmoil not 
withstanding I had never turned her down for anything within her life, and this 
would be no exception, Over time I knew I would get over this, but the trick was 
getting through these next few moments whilst keeping my sanity in place.

The starting up of the music broke me from my trance as I saw her move to my 
side an cast her eyes straight ahead before locking them back upon me once more. 
I reciprocated her gaze in toe shakily extending my arm in her direction, a 
radiant smile could not help but emerge across her face as she thankfully 
accepted my gesture in circling her arm in mine, then with one last shuddering 
breath and slightly glancing at her one last time, we began our dissent in the 
direction of the alter down along the beach.

As we walked I knew she could not help but notice how tense and uneasy I was, as 
she placed her hand atop of mine and squeezed slightly to basically confirm this 
fact. I knew she realized just how difficult this whole thing was for me, for 
she knew and understood my heart, probably better than I most likely did myself. 
I could not help but admire, and also at the same time be immensely proud of the 
woman she had become over time. She was always strong willed and independent, 
and none of that had changed but alongside those factors, her temper and her 
stubborn streak had eased somewhat, and she had become more generous and kind, 
especially when it came to going out of her way to help others.

The short march towards the waters edge ended all too soon, and as a result I 
found myself at the altar, I felt her release my arm, and before I knew it, I 
noted myself facing her, my gaze locked upon her eyes, Her orbs portrayed so 
much to me as I shakily grasped her hands in mine, they sought out so much 
reassurance, acceptance, but above all else, genuine love and respect for what I 
had just done. I inhaled some of the fresh sea air within my lungs as I released 
her hands and tenderly traced a hand down her cheek, that was when the water 
works started for her, and I quickly pulled away not wanting to mess up the 
great job the make up girls had done for her on this day. I leaned forward and 
softly spoke.

“This is your time now…..seize the moment…” I got out weakly as she nodded in 
reply whilst biting her lip. Without having any time to comprehend her next 
actions, I just stood there in shock as she had leaned forward and brushed her 
lips into contact with my cheek.

"You know I’ll always be with you. Be happy for me." She whispered in my ear as 
she pulled away an I stepped back, taking a moment to place a hand on her future 
husband shoulder, and gave him a reassuring grin, as I did so, I was barely able 
to see through the tears shining in my eyes, as I reluctantly stepped back and 
could only stair at them both paralyzed to the spot.

All of a sudden a pair of arms snaked around my body and a head came to rest 
upon my shoulder. Turning my head slightly I could not help but reflect a 
radiant smile of my own as the familiar soft and loving face of my wife came 
into view. No words were spoken for several seconds but an understanding past 
between us, as she could only respond to our eye contact by initiating a tender 
smile of her own, she buried her face into the crook of my neck and softly 
spoke.

“I’m so proud of you..….” She told me signifying how serious she was by tracing 
her lips upon my neck a few times, and embracing me tightly from behind. I could 
only shudder at her actions For even after all these years she still had the 
capabilities to make me go week at the knees.

“I know how hard that was for you…..”she said letting me go and moving around to 
face me.

“It was utter torture, apart of me felt as if it was you I was giving away….” I 
commented as the redheaded girl in front of us cut our conversation a little 
prematurely short.

“Daddy….I love you and everything…..but could you and Mom please sit down?…this 
thing is nerve wracking enough without you guys holding up proceedings” my 
daughter said as Misty and myself had to restrain from falling over in shock. 
Without uttering a word any further we simply took our seats as we watched our 
daughter say her wedding vows.

I sat in silence as the service got underway, Misty interlacing her fingers in 
mine, As I sat there coming to a few realizations of my own. For it had just hit 
me, the main reason it felt as if it was Misty I was giving away up there today, 
was due to the fact that she was apart of us both, a symbol of the love an 
respect we shared for each other. That being said I also had no right to deny 
her a life she obviously craved mainly because of the fact she was her mother’s 
daughter for lack of a better term.

All of that aside, as I had stated earlier in time I would get over this, in 
time I would come to realize that she was just going to be as much apart of our 
lives as she had always been, and in time I knew I would be able to embrace her 
new family and converse and interact with them, as if they were apart of my own, 
And once that day dawns consequentially the seemingly difficult task of “Giving 
Her Away” Would have been well worth the struggle indeed.

Authors Notes – Well guys there you go, short and sweet as they say, as always 
any feedback you wish to leave would be fantastic, and till next time, take care 
folks!

TheBossGeo