A/N: I can't believe I'm writing this. Please give me some feedback so I can move on with my life.

Disclaimer: I have no rights or claims over any of the Pokemon franchise's property. I'm writing this for enjoyment.

Dear May,

I have something in mind, so I will be away in training for some time. I do not expect to return to my home anytime soon, which brings me to a request - I want you to take the Poké Ball that you should find on my desk. The Beldum inside is one of my favorite Pokémon. I hope you will treat it as your own, as I know it can only thrive in your care. I hope that upon my return it will be the best version of itself that it can be.

Yours sincerely,

Steven Stone

prologue

The sound of water crashed distantly against the cliffs of Mossdeep City. Waves lapped against the rocks, glinting blue and gray and green. The sun was high and bright above the islands, hot with the impending summer. The city below bustled busily with its inhabitants rushing to and from the market and the space station with their Pokemon trailing behind them.

But inside one particular house, it was quiet and dark. The walls were lined with sleek glass cases full of rare stones and metals that shone with the faint traces of light that spilled in through the blinds. Beyond the shelves, there was only a bare table; there was a simple bed.

And there was a young woman.

Her hair was brown and tied messily with a red scarf. Her arms and legs bore scars and bruises that spoke of many adventures held in her young body. Her face was downcast, away from the window, towards a single letter and Poke Ball in her lap.

The young woman took the Poke Ball in her hands, letting the letter slide to the floor unnoticed. She stared at it intently, lips tight. Her fingers trailed over the smooth surface delicately, tracing over a web of invisible lines, before carefully pressing the center button with her thumbs. The ball opened, and a sheen of white light illuminated the room. The stones shone brilliantly, as if to laugh.

The light then faded and in her lap was a small metal Pokemon with a single red eye peering up at her curiously. She smiled softly and brought her hands around it. It shivered slightly, but it did not fight her grasp. She cupped it gently and held it up closer to her face.

Its body was silver, almost pale blue - an unusual color for its species. She recalled silver hair, sharp eyes, a deep rumbling voice that filled this stark room.

It was cold, just like him. She smiled sadly. The Pokemon tilted itself slightly, as if to ask what she meant by it.

Her throat tightened as the Pokemon's weight truly settled into her hands, and she suddenly understood that the master of this house was gone. This Pokemon was all she had left of him. A shuddering breath rippled through her lungs painfully, but she kept the grief away. She would not mourn him. There was no reason to.

And yet, his voice echoed through her mind as she held the small Pokemon in her hands. The rare smiles, the encouraging words - he'd never known how much they'd meant to her, had he?

She would never tell him now.

"Hi, Beldum," she whispered. The Pokemon lit up at the soft sound of her voice. She couldn't help but smile despite the burning of her eyes. "My name is May. I'm a Pokemon Trainer." She paused and noted that it still was listening intently. "Your Trainer left you here in the hopes that I could take you with me, but it's up to you."

May thought of tall metal chambers, of dark island caves and crashing waves. She thought of arms wrapped tightly around her with roaring winds and salt water stinging her eyes.

"I've met more people than I can count and had enough adventures to fill a lifetime, and if you come with me, I can promise to do my best to give you the same. We'll face Battles and obstacles, and you'll get to learn from other great Pokemon and Trainers who can push us to be stronger. "

She thought of flickering yellow light in gray-blue eyes, of hot breath on her face and the whisper of cool fingers along her cheek. She remembered callused hands on hers and the deep rumble of soft laughter in her ears.

"But I can also promise to take care of you and love you as my partner, not just as my Pokemon," she continued earnestly. "You're my friend before anything else, so your well-being is the most important thing to me. So whatever you want comes first. If you want to join me in Battle, that's great. If you want to just be my companion, I'm happy with that too." Her throat tightened. "Or if you'd like to go back into the wild, I'll understand. It's completely up to you.

"So what do you want to do?"

The small Pokemon looked up at her with an intense gaze that seemed to shoot through her very being. With the deep red of his eye, unblinking and unwavering, she was sure it could see her innermost thoughts. But she held his gaze, knowing viscerally that she could not part with this Pokemon.

And then it jumped, and though its face did not change, she felt as if it were smiling. She hesitated to smile.

"You want to come with me?" she asked breathlessly. It shifted again as if to say yes, and she grinned, bringing it up to her face joyously.

Despite the metal of its body, it was quite warm now, and as the Beldum rubbed itself against her cheek, she remembered surprisingly warm hands on her face, the rough pads of calluses on her cheeks and shoulders. Her face burned, and her lungs quivered.

After she left this house, she knew she would not return again. For that reason, she would stay just a little longer, among his stark and cold belongings. Just a little longer, she would pretend he was coming back for her. Just a little longer.