** Emily's POV **
When I opened my eyes I knew right away that something was wrong. Hovering in front of me, instead of lurking in my shadow, was Darkrai. Sitting up and stretching I looked at him and arched an eyebrow.
"I did something for your son last night that I'm not sure I should have."
Hearing his words my heart sank.
"What did you do?"
He proceeded to tell me everything. Jake asked Darkrai to suppress almost all of his memories from his past life leaving only what he knew about Pokemon and his System. After he finished speaking he handed me a sealed envelope.
"Just before he went to sleep and I started he wrote this for you."
I opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.
Hey mom.
If you're reading this that means Darkrai has already told you everything. So I'll just tell you how I see it from my point of view.
Ever since I woke up in this world you and dad have been the best thing that has ever happened to me. The love the two of you have given me has touched a part of me I didn't know was there and I just want to say thank you. But at the same time it has felt like I am an outsider when I'm spending time with others. I have tried to reconcile with being a six year old but I can't.
The other day you told me that I would have to figure out who I am and this is what I have come up with, it may not be what you had in mind but it is the only thing I can think of. The suppression Darkrai has put on my memories should fade by the time I turn twenty so unless you notice something wrong please allow me to stay as I am.
Mom, Dad, Thank you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for not abandoning me when you learned about my past life.
I look forward to seeing you both again in the future. From now till then I will love and miss you every second. With all my love and best wishes until then, goodbye.
Jake Grady from Earth.
Tears slid down my cheeks as I read the short letter Jake had written. There were tear stains on it and those combined with the words had my heart breaking. I was about to go to Jake and have Darkrai undo everything, to hold Jake and tell him that we would figure something out together but I held myself back. Reading the letter again I recognized the resolve Jake had to have to do this and the best thing I could do to honor that was let him be and make sure that my son had the happiest life I could give him.
"What do you want to do Emily?"
"What I want is to have you undo everything and hold my son and comfort him, but that's not what we are going to do. We are going to honor his wishes and we will see him again when he turns twenty."
"Very well."
With that Darkrai returned to my shadow. Wiping the tears from my eyes I got ready for the day.
** Third Person POV **
Waking up to the smell of bacon Jake opened his eyes and stopped. All of a sudden there was a feeling as though he had forgotten something important, like a piece of himself was missing and the more he tried to focus on it the farther away it felt. Shaking the thought away he got up and followed the smell of bacon to the kitchen. Seeing his mom he ran to her.
"Mommy!"
He yelled as he wrapped his arms around her. Looking up he saw a tear trickle down her cheek.
"Mommy why are you crying?"
Emily knelt down and wrapped Jake up in a big hug.
"It's nothing sweetie, I just love you so much."
Jake giggled.
"I love you too mommy."
Emily cleared her throat as she let go and stood up.
"Breakfast is almost ready. Why don't you let Growlithe out of his Pokeball and then brush your teeth."
"Ok mommy"
Jake turned and ran back the way he came. Emily just stood there in the kitchen with a sad smile on her lips and a tear sliding down her cheek.
After breakfast the two of them went to Professor Oaks lab, Emily left Jake with Beth knowing she would only be a few minutes. Once she was done checking on her Ninetails she returned to the lab to get Jake. Returning home Emily grabbed their bags and pulled out one saddle, two harnesses, and two pairs of goggles from a closet.
Stepping outside Emily called her Pidgeot from its Pokeball and then strapped the saddle on Pidgeot. Emily helped Jake put on his harness and goggles before putting the last one, which also had a backpack fastened to it, on herself. After lifting Jake up onto the Pidgeot's back and strapping their bags to its sides Emily fed the Pokemon a few berries.
"We're going to Saffron City girl. You remember where that is right?"
The Pidgeot nodded and Emily climbed on its back behind Jake. Using a few clips to attach Jake's harness to Pidgeot's saddle and a few more to attach her own harness to Jake's they were ready.
"Are you ready to fly for the first time Jake?"
"Yes mommy let's fly high."
Pulling the goggles over her eyes Emily leaned forward and grabbed the straps of the saddle.
"Ok girl let's go."
With a light kick of her heals the Pidgeot started running and with a few strong flaps of it's wings they were in the air. A few moments later they were high enough that the whole of Pallet Town could be covered with just one hand. After circling a few times Pidgeot headed off in the general direction of Saffron City.
"What do you think Jake? Cool right?"
"Yeah! It's awesome!"
Jake's head was whipping left to right as well as up and down trying to take in everything at once.
"Take your time Jake we will be flying for six hours. We'll land after three hours so Pidgeot can rest but that will only be for a few minutes."
"Ok. Mommy why did you make me put this thing on? It doesn't feel good."
"I'll show you."
Emily gripped Pidgeot tighter with her legs.
"Pidgeot. Barrel roll followed by a loop."
Following Emily's commands instantly Emily and Jake were tossed against their restraints as Pidgeot did a few combat maneuvers. Settling back into a smooth flight Emily relaxed her grip only to realize that her son was shaking badly. Wrapping her arms around her son in a hug she explained.
"The harness you're wearing will keep you from being thrown off if Pidgeot has to move quickly to avoid attacks from other flying Pokemon. In all the times I've flown I have only been attacked once but having the harness on is a must."
After hearing his mother's words Jake calmed down a bit. The rest of the trip was uneventful and they arrived at Saffron City around three in the afternoon.
Landing just outside the city Emily led Pidgeot to what looked like a stable. Beside the barn door was an open window where a young man was sitting reading a book. Knocking on the windowsill the boy looked up.
"Pick up or drop off?"
"Short term housing."
That got his attention. Housing Pokemon even for a single day was much more profitable than lending out rideable Pokemon. Pulling a clipboard and a few papers off the wall he prepared to write.
"What species of Pokemon and what's it's temperament? Anything we need to watch out for?"
"It's a Pidgeot and it has a mild temperament. Although it hates Dodrio and will throw a fit if one gets to close."
"Any idea how long it will be here?"
"A minimum of three days and a maximum of ten."
"Ok I just need to see some ID for your check in and we do require a deposit of 5,000 PD."
Unzipping a pouch on the side of her bag Emily pulled out her wallet and handed over her ID and her bank card. The young man jotted down her name swiped the card and handed back both cards and a receipt.
"Thank you very much for your business. Would you like to leave your safety gear here as well?"
"Yes please."
After taking off her gear and helping Jake remove his Emily removed her bags from Pidgeot and scratched around it's plumage.
"You be good. Ok?"
The Pidgeot cooed and nodded. The young man came out and took the reins from Emily.
"If you are going to be longer than expected please call and let us know, our number is on your receipt."
With a final pat on her Pokemon's head Emily picked up their bags in one hand and took Jake's hand in the other before heading into the city. Just inside the city gates was a line of taxi's waiting for customers. Opening the door of the nearest one Emily helped Jake in before entering herself.
"Where to ma'am?"
"What hotel is closest to the hospital?"
"That would be the Green Spring Inn."
"Take us there please."
Roughly ten minutes later the taxi pulled up in front of a large building. Emily swiped her bank card on the payment pad and took her receipt as she got out of the car with Jake.
"Thanks for your business."
The driver called before he pulled away. As they stepped inside the Inn Emily's phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID she recognized the number.
"Hello? Emily Grady speaking."
"Mrs. Grady I'm calling on behalf of the Pokemon Rangers. Your husband regained consciousness around three hours ago and is being flown to the hospital in Saffron City as we speak. He will be in room 212."
"Thank you very much for calling. I just walked in to the Green Spring Inn to book a room."
"Oh. Good timing then. Have a nice day."
Hanging up the call Emily walked to the counter to book a room. After getting settled in their room Emily put on a movie for Jake and opened up a book to read for a while. When the movie ended Emily checked the time, it had been an hour and a half since they checked in. Four and a half hours since Green had started his flight. The Arbok nest was 45 minutes away from Pallet Town in the direction of Saffron City so the flight for Green should be a little over five hours.
Wanting to be at the hospital when Green arrived Emily and Jake headed to the hospital and arrived just in time to see Green being pushed into his room on a gurney. They stayed out of the way until the nurses waved them over. Jake broke free from his mom's hand and ran to his dad's side.
"Daddy are you okay?"
"I will be little man. How about you? Have you been good for your mom?"
"I'm always good for mommy."
Green noticed something was different about Jake from the last time he saw him. Looking to his wife he tilted his head slightly towards Jake before raising an eyebrow. Emily gave him a sad smile and shook her head mouthing 'later' at him. He nodded and focused back on his son who was talking a mile a minute. The three of them sat and talked until dinner and then after they ate Emily picked up Jake and settled him on the bed on Green's left side. Not long after Jake drifted off to sleep.
"What's going on Em. He is back to how he was before he remembered his past life."
Emily didn't say a word and just handed him the letter Jake had written. Green looked at the envelope in his hand, turning to look at his wife he saw the sad look on her face and knew something big had happened. Pulling out the sheet of paper he read the letter. After reading it twice he let out a deep sigh before folding the paper and putting it back in the envelope. Handing it back to his wife he sighed again.
"Are you okay Em?"
The tears rolling down her cheeks were all the answer he needed. Holding his arms out to her Emily fell into his embrace.