I recently got obsessed with Ikarishipping. Not sure how, I always had respect for it, but never obsessed. Then I started watching more AMVs, making more AMVs…And well, here I am writing this. I'm so happy  I get to write about a tough, I-don't-care-what-anyone-thinks character! And I'm partly annoyed, since the two Ikarishipping fanfics I read were fluff, so let's hope that doesn't happen in this story. It may seem rushed at first, but I promise it slows down. 

Chapter 1

Paul walked into the house. The lights were all off, and silence carried on throughout the place. Everything was clean, not surprising. Reggie's incomplete collection of Gym badges immediately caught Paul's eye every time he was in this house. It almost felt like they were laughing at him; mocking him for his brother's fault. Those little things made this room cold. Home did not feel like home to Paul. Ever.

"Reggie!" Paul called out. No one answered, and he sighed.

No one was here. Again. Paul headed toward the central of notes left for this situation. The refrigerator.

"Paul-Gone out with Maylene. Dinner's in the fridge. Oh, and your friends came by today. They were asking if you were competing at some Shaw's Challenge…thing… No idea what Ash was going on about. If you know; great.-Reggie." said a note in Reggie's scribbled handwriting. Paul twitched. Reggie thought Ash was his friend.

Paul thought about the note as he picked out some cold lasagna from the fridge. Shaw's Challenge Thing? What? He looked at the clock. 6:30 PM. Paul's curiosity was growing. If Ash were here in Veilstone City, he'd be at the Pokemon Center.

He stabbed a fork in his lasagna and ran out to the Center.

The slidey doors opened and Paul ran in.

"NURSE JOY!" He cried as his fists punched Nurse Joy's desk. She jumped, "W-What do you need?"

"Where's. Ash. Ketchum?" he spat. Nurse Joy contemplated the question for a moment, trying to remember if she knew Ash Ketchum.

"You mean the boy with the cap?" she asked. Paul nodded. Nurse Joy told him that Ash had gone out with his friends to a restaurant. He sighed, but ran out of the Center to continue his quest.

A smirk spread on his face when he finally found Ash sitting with his friends in the restaurant's window. The blue-haired girl pointed at him, and he scowled. She gave him a brilliant smile in return. Dense, he thought. Now, Brock and Ash had gotten the message, and they turned their heads. Ash piled a mouthful of fish and ran out to meet Paul. Paul rolled his eyes.

"Paul, are you entering the Shaw's Pokemon Challenge they're holding at their mansion?" Ash asked.

Paul tried not to show a stunned expression. Usually, he knew about things before this dunce. He replied that he was, to show that he knew what he was talking about.

"Then you should come with us," said Brock's strong voice as he walked out the doorway. Paul gave the two boys an indifferent look, and replied, "Whatever."

Dawn finally followed her companions, feeling left out from the conversation. Brock explained that Paul would be accompanying them to the Shaw's mansion. She nodded, now up-to-date.

They left immediately. Paul groaned and looked back at all the food the three friends were leaving. It felt like a giant hole had grown in the boy's stomach, giving him a painful reminder that he hadn't eaten. He tried to shrug it off, but he was slowly falling apart because of it.

They hardly walked together at all. Brock, Ash, and Dawn walked in front, while Paul lagged behind. The three friends were wrapped in a conversation that Dawn was soon drifting out of. She frequently looked back at Paul, but quickly looked back when he returned her stare. Dawn finally quit. While Brock and Ash continued to walk, she stopped until Paul had caught up with her. Then she began to walk with him.

"So, are you excited about the match?" she asked. Honestly, she was only talking to him out of pity.

"Not really," he spat, "I didn't have dinner."

"Didn't you have some before you came?" a hint of worry was in her voice.

"I didn't know we'd be going straight to it."

"Why? We're actually going to be late! Didn't you know when it was?" Dawn asked.

Paul gave her a terrifying glare that made her shudder, but she made him stop. From her bag, she pulled out a red apple and handed it to him. Paul glared once more and tried to give it back saying, "I don't eat fruit."

Dawn pushed the apple back to him, "It's good for you, and beggars can't be choosers."

"I wasn't asking for food!"

"EAT IT!"

Paul scowled, but took a bite in defeat. Ash commented from in front, "You sure are defensive about your fruit, Dawn."

She giggled girlishly and ran back up to Ash, forgetting about Paul's existence. His grip on the apple tightened with anger, but he continued walking. "Dense," he commented again, taking a bite.

They began to hit a street that wasn't like the others they had walked on. This street was made of yellow bits of grain-size rocks. The scenery around them was getting much greener. More trees, lush grass, and the sky's stars were coming out.

Dawn noticed Brock listening to a PokePod Nano, the latest in music technology. She grabbed one of the earphones and listened. She seized Ash's arm and cried, "Ash! This is our new song!" Ash got a quick listen before Dawn ripped the earphones from him and ran to Paul. She urged him to listen to the song. He rolled his eyes and plugged his ears with the phones.

"I'll put a spell on you…You'll fall asleep and I'll put a spell on you…And when I wake you, I'll be the first thing you see…And you'll realize that you love me," the song sang. Paul looked at her in confusion, "This fits you and that dunce?" (Sorry-obsessed with the song…)

Dawn nodded. Paul rolled his eyes once more and handed her the PokePod. They walked on, with Dawn's quiet singing the only noise for miles. Brock and Ash were quite annoyed with it, but they didn't say anything. Paul was distant; he could barely hear Dawn.

Paul finally spoke up, "Are we there yet?"

Brock shook his head, "Not yet, but we're almost there."

"What's the matter, Paul?" Ash asked coyly. "Can't stand thirty minutes of walking?"

"I can stand walking." Paul replied. "What I can't stand it walking with you guys."

Ash began to argue with Paul. Brock and Dawn kept walking, tired of the fighting. Soon, the bickering boys followed.

Finally, a large mansion could be seen behind a great circling drive-way. Dawn and Ash leaped for joy and began making a mad dash for the manor. Paul and Brock followed at a slower pace. The rest of the road was tiring, butt they walked it.

The maid let them in, and they followed her. She commented that they were a bit late. Ash laughed at the comment, but the others were a little too worn out to say anything. They were led into a large battle field, where a crowd was seated on one side, while trainers were lined up on the other.

Paul still had no idea what they were competing for. He shrugged the notion off.

"I'll be rooting for both of you!" Dawn assured Ash and Brock. Surprisingly, Brock was also competing. Paul began to think of ways to defeat the two. He nervously clutched his Pokeballs as he scanned the competitors. They were all adults. Adult=years of experience. Years of training.

Dawn danced around her friends in her cheerleading get-up. Brock and Ash were completely ignoring her, but she didn't mind. Her eyes drifted to the purple-haired boy, who, to her surprise, looked intimidated. She shook it off. No way could Paul, the Paul, be afraid. It was a total impossibility for him to feel any emotion other than arrogance and anger.

Dawn asked Brock if she could use his PokePod while he was battling. He dropped the PokePod in her clutches, and she immediately plugged her ears with music.

She saw the announcer proclaim the beginning of the competition, but couldn't hear him. Dawn looked at the familiar faces. Paul's anxious expression had melted into an arrogant frown. Ash was confidently nodding to Pikachu, who was on his shoulder. Brock was looking over the crowd. All were separated from each other by strangers.

"Are you competing?" said an elderly woman beside her. Dawn quickly took the earphones out, trying to be respectful.

"No ma'am. I'm here to watch my friends. They are competing."

This elderly woman was dressed like she was the Queen of Sheba. Purple covered her black dress in the shape of tulips. Her white hair was up, firmly incasing her head. This hairstyle was usually done to show thickness of hair, and it was certainly working for this woman. She wore a striking green scarf around her neck. They matched her alligator-skin shoes and purse. Her fingers were lined from top to bottom with emerald rings that clashed with her bright red finger nails.

Dawn couldn't stop examining every detail of this woman. She looked so interesting!

"Your friends, as in that purple-haired boy?" the elderly woman asked, breaking Dawn's concentration on her.

Dawn began to shake her head violently, "No ma'am. My friends aren't bitter." (Burn) She began to point Ash and Brock out for the woman. The elderly woman shook her head in disappointment. Dawn gave her a questioning look.

"Those don't look like your friends," she continued, "that purple-haired boy looks like he should be your friend."

What is this lady's problem? Dawn asked herself. She began to try and explain to the woman how awkward that relationship would be. Her, a radiant butterfly hailing from Twinleaf Town, being best friends with Paul, the cold-hearted and cruel beast residing in Veilstone City. She scoffed at the thought.

"Haven't you ever heard of Beauty and the Beast?" the old woman asked. It was amazing that even though both females were being stubborn on the subject, their voices were still calm.

Dawn looked the other and gave an exasperated look. She turned back with a forced smile on her face, "When the Beast is totally indifferent of Beauty, there's no point. Plus, I'm not that…well…"

"Beautiful? Well of course you are!" she smiled like she had won the battle, "If he's so indifferent of you, let's call him over for a chat after the competition."

Dawn sighed and gave up. Even though she wasn't competing in a Pokemon battle tonight, she was still battling. It was like everything she had said had disappeared before it could reach the woman. Nothing would get through to her. She was stuck on the idea that Dawn and Paul befriending each other was a good idea.

Dawn looked back at the competition and buried herself in her hands. Two battles had already passed and she hadn't noticed. Sometimes, she could hear only one thing. This was one of those times. Luckily, none of battles contained Ash or Brock. Everything was still okay; she could still cheer for them.

"Next battle!" the announcer started, "Brock vs. Austin!"

Dawn stood up and released her Piplup and Buneary. They jumped in front of her, already wearing their cheerleading outfits. Brock and Austin stepped on their sides of the arena, ready to go.

The referee flung a red handkerchief in the air, and everyone began.

"Croagunk! Go!" Brock cried, releasing the ball.

"Come on out, Marshtomp!" Austin, from the other side, cried.

Dawn and her Pokemon began to cheer for Brock.

"Marshtomp, water gun!" Austin cried. A burst of water came out of the Marshtomp, but Croagunk quickly leaped out of its way, causing the forceful water to make a dent in the ground. After being ordered, Croagunk circled around the Marshtomp and used Poison jab. Unfortunately for Austin, this attack did land.

Marshtomp cried out in pain. Austin made a step backward, but shook off the shock.

"Marshtomp, tackle!"

Marshtomp jumped high above Brock's Croagunk and tackled him from above. Croagunk flew back in recoil.

Brock scanned Croagunk, "Man! That Marshtomp is freakishly strong!" He continued, "Croagunk! Watch out for Marshtomp's strength! Now, brick brake!"

"That boy's a hypocrite," said the elderly woman, "Using a move that requires strength right after he complains that the opponent's Pokemon is freakishly strong!"

Dawn stopped cheering, "That's my friend!"

The woman laughed, "No, no, your friend is over there." She pointed to Paul. Dawn sighed in aggravation, but began to try and explain again.

From a corner, Paul was eyeing Brock's battle. Just all of a sudden, Brock was now doing poorly in his eye. How could that… he began to trail off as his gaze drifted toward Dawn. She was talking to some old hag.

Wasn't she cheering before? He thought. His thoughts began to race; Maybe that's why those two are doing so well as of late. Yelling makes Pokemon more exhilarated, and the more exhilarated a Pokemon is, the better it does. Its senses are heightened, and everything's a lot clearer. Why haven't I noticed this before?

Now, we all know Paul is dead wrong. Brock and Ash have gotten their power from training, but Paul does have a point. Loud noises make you a little more aware of what's going on, but it doesn't account for power and training. But, you know, let's just let Paul think what he wants, it's being caused by his growing hunger anyway. Like it'll matter…

Dawn turned around to see Croagunk defeated. She sighed. When a friend lost, it was like she had lost as well.

"Winner! Austin!" Brock returned to Dawn's side.

"Next up! Ash vs. Autumn!"

Paul's hunger-enthused mind began to race again, I have to get that girl out of here so Ash can lose and I won't have to waste my Pokemon's energy on him.

He ran up to Dawn, and put a hand to his face, realizing he would have to do this in front of Brock. "Urm…" Paul began, and then he stopped.

He had forgotten her name.

Susie…No! That's not it! Tami? NO! He tried remembering, Darlene? No! Rachel…No…Sonny?? Samantha? Raven? D-D-WAIT I KNOW!

"Dusk?" Paul asked. Dawn glared at him.

"Dawn," she muttered. He hit his forehead with his palm. So close…he commented in his head. He tried to restart, "Dawn, would you like to go outside for a second? I saw something you might want to see."

"Really? What is it?" Dawn asked. Brock looked at the two suspiciously.

"It's a surprise," Paul muttered, "and you need to see it now."

Dawn sighed, but agreed and followed Paul out to the balcony. The elderly woman giggled in glee, while Brock looked at her oddly.

The two headed down the steps of the balcony to the garden. They walked over a sparkling, blue bridge. Their reflections could be clearly seen in the water. Dawn had never really looked at Paul so clearly before. Most of the time she would just awkwardly look down, but he actually pretty good looking. Too bad he's bitter and cruel, she thought.

Dawn had also never been with Paul alone before. It was really…awkward. Paul kept shifting forward, and Dawn had a tough time keeping up. How is it that he was really slow before, and now he's The Flash? Dawn thought. An unsettling silence was over the two. As a cheerleader, Dawn couldn't take silence well. It was nerve-racking.

"Are we almost there?" Dawn asked.

Paul looked around for an answer. The truth was he was looking for something to gawk at now. They went into the entrance to a forest.

Dawn looked back nervously. Did Paul even know where they were going…?

Paul smiled as he saw something in the distance, "This way," he muttered, grabbing her wrist and pulling her forward. Dawn blushed awkwardly. She kept looking back, expecting Ash to come to her rescue. Save me from the creepy guy! Come on, he has big eyebrows! She cried in her mind.

They reached a cliff. Paul told her to stand back, but to look. Dawn looked down.

"Wow! You can see the rest of the forest from here! It's really pretty!"

"Yeah, whatever," Paul muttered, looking backwards.

Dawn took a step forward, "Whoah! You can see Lake Valor in the distance! It's so pretty…I should go see it sometime!"

Paul groaned. What fate just trying to torture him with cheerfulness? How could she be so hyper? Dawn took another step closer to the edge, "AH! I can see tiny people! They look like ants! HI ANT PE-"

Crack came from below Dawn's feet. Paul immediately turned around. They both stared at each other, unsure of what was going on. The boy asked what that was. Dawn shrugged.

Just then, another crack came and Dawn abruptly sunk a step lower. She screamed, "Paul!"

Paul's eyes widened. He may be bitter, but not heartless! Okay, he may be bitter and heartless, but he wasn't going to have someone's blood on his hands! He gave Dawn one of his hands, and she clung to it.

Crack, Dawn had got another step lower. Then-

BOOM! The ledge Dawn had been standing on crumbled and fell below her. Dawn began to hyperventilate. Her pulse had gone haywire by now, and it was making her sick. She could hear the quick beat in her ears. It could be felt when she swallowed. Her ears began to ring soon after. Her eyes closed; hoping for the nightmare to be over.

Paul scowled. Dawn was heavy! And hyperventilating!

"Get a grip!" Paul yelled. "It's not you're going to die!"

Dawn was taken aback by the lack of sympathy, but she shook it off, "Promise?!? 'Cause this looks really bad."

"Yes," Paul replied bitterly, "I promise."

Crack, Paul looked down, "Spoke too soon."

Dawn suddenly felt herself moving backwards unnaturally fast. She opened her eyes to see Paul, forcedly holding her close to him. He had an odd expression on his face. He looked angry, but a hint of fear was there too. Dawn almost felt sorry for the Beast. She finally let herself cling tighter to Paul.

Paul smirked. He had control.

It felt like Paul and Dawn were flung down, they were going so fast, but Paul saw a ledge and grabbed onto it.

"THANK YOU FOR CAT-LIKE REFLEXES" Dawn yelled into the sky.

Paul's grip was slipping. He looked down at the scared little girl crying and sighed.

"Dawn, hug me tight! Now," Paul ordered.

She looked up and nodded. Her arms snaked around Paul's chest and she pressed herself toward it. Paul let go of Dawn and got a better grip of the ledge.

Dawn looked down, "Well, now what?"

Crack.

By now, EVERYONE should know what that means.

"CAN'T WE CATCH A BREAK FOR ONCE?" Dawn screeched.

"I think it's about to break right now," Paul replied calmly. Dawn was amazed. How could he be so calm? They were about to die! His calmness was creeping Dawn out

"You want to take back your promise?" Dawn asked as the ledge cracked again. From above her, Paul shook his head and scowled. I hope that old hag's happy, Dawn cursed to herself, Paul and I are together, but we're about to die.

The ledge broke.

"OH MY GOODNESS! PAUL, I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE! I'M LIKE TEN!" Dawn screamed as they plummeted toward the earth.

"I REALLY DON'T CARE! AND I ALREADY TOLD YOU YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE!" Paul screeched back.

Great, Dawn thought, I really wish I replace people. Then, Paul wouldn't look like my knight in shining armor and I could get someone else…But, come to think of it, he is acting really heroic randomly.

Paul moved Dawn above him, so he would hit the ground first. Why was he being so protective…?

"P-Paul! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Dawn screamed.

"Keeping a promise."

Paul gave a ear-shattering screech as his back hit the ground. Dawn landed on top of him, "PAUL??"

(And now I'll leave a CLIFF HANGER! HA, HA, HA!)