A/N: The three reviews came pretty fast! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, subscribed, or faved! It really means a lot to me!

The Ikari Shipping begins! WHOOT!

I do not own Pokémon or any of the songs mentioned below.

A week had passed since their breakup. True to her word, Ursula had tried to make his life a living hell, spreading all sorts of rumors about him. She even went as far as saying that he tried to attack her once.

Even with all the rumors and stares he was getting, he never told anyone about his relationship with Ursula. Who would listen? Heck, who would even talk to him? So he just sat at his old spot, hidden from the world with no one for company but his guitar.

On a semi good note, he'd finally finished the song he'd started writing and added the words. But the song turned out pretty sad, reflecting most everything that had happened in his life and what he thought was yet to come. He strummed a few more notes before starting his first complete run through of the song he'd written.

(Boulevard of Broken Dreams, by Green Day. If it helps, play the song while you read it.)

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's only me, and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one, and I walk alone

I walk alone, I walk alone
I walk alone and I walk a

[Chorus]
My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
Till then I walk alone

Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line of the edge
And where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's ****ed up and every thing's all right
Check my vital signs to know I'm still alive
And I walk alone

I walk alone, I walk alone
I walk alone and I walk a

[Chorus]

Ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah

I walk alone, I walk a

I walk this empty street
On the boulevard of broken dreams

Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one, and I walk alone

...

As he finished, he heard clapping from behind him. He turned around, wondering who was actually coming near him. To his surprise it was a girl. A blue haired one at that. She seemed kind of hesitant, but bravely stepped forward anyway.

"You're good." She commented. "I never knew you could sing or play guitar."

He sent her a blank gaze, taking in her slightly dark clothes. "What are you doing? Don't you know who I am?" he asked blankly. Who in their right mind would approach him? According to Ursula he was an insane violent freak who might kill you if you got too close.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Of course I know who are, silly. You're Paul Shinji, who everyone thinks is some kind of crazy violent pothead. Hi, my name is Dawn." She told him.

He snorted. "So I'm a pothead now?"

"Yup," she agreed. "One rumor even says you talk to your knife. Ridiculous, isn't it?"

"But why are you talking to me?" he asked again blankly, having no clue why she should talk to him. She seemed sane. A bit odd, but sane.

She gave him a serious look. "Do you really think I believe any of that stuff?" He opened his mouth to reply, but the blunette beat him to the chase. "Besides, I saw you and Ursula making out behind a tree once. I'm guessing this is just her way of covering it up, right?" the purple haired teen could do nothing but nod.

"Do you mind if I sit?" But instead of waiting for a reply, she sat herself down anyway.

After a few moments passed in strangely comfortable silence, Dawn decided to speak up. "Do you write a lot of songs?"

Paul cast her a sideways glance and shrugged. "I've written a few. I have to be in the right mood." At Dawn's confused look, he explained further. "I have to have really strong emotions when I write, or it comes out weird."

Dawn nodded in understanding. "I know what you mean. I can't write a song out of the blue either."

Paul looked up with surprise. "You write songs too?"

Dawn looked down shyly. "Sometimes. But they're not that good."

"They can't be that bad." Paul said, surprising both himself and Dawn.

"Really? You think so? But you've never heard them!" Dawn said, eyes wide.

Paul shrugged. "I wouldn't mind hearing them."

They lapsed into silence again, leaving Paul wondering. Why was this 'Dawn' girl speaking to him? Even if she didn't believe Ursula's rumors, she still didn't have any reason to be there. If someone caught her talking to him, she might end up being shunned just like him with rumors being flung at her. Why would she want to risk that? And wait… why was he talking back to her anyway?

He looked at her again. She had navy blue hair, which was odd. She also had brilliant blue eyes that seemed to bright for the dull punk clothes she was wearing. On second thought, her eyes looked a bit sad, but somehow they were cheerful too.

"Why are you talking to me?" he asked again suddenly.

Dawn looked up with a raised eyebrow. "I told you, I don't believe those stupid rumors."

Paul looked at her in the eyes. "That's not a reason. People would shun you and make rumors of you if you're seen with me. Don't you value your friends?"

The blunette snorted. "What friends? Trust me Paul; I won't lose anything by talking to you. There's nothing left."

"Oh." He said, not knowing what else to say. They sat there in silence for a few more moments.

Dawn slipped her phone out of her pocket and glanced at it. She got up and slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Sorry, I gotta get going or I'll be late to work. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

By the time her words sank in, the blunette was already gone.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The next day after school found Dawn approaching Paul's secret spot again. To her surprise (although she didn't show it) Paul was already there, even though she'd told him that she'd come.

So he didn't mind her company?

She smiled as she sat down next to him. "Hi."

He looked up from whatever he was scribbling in his notebook. "Hey."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

A week and a half passed like that. They would both just sit in companionable silence, doing homework or in Paul's case, strumming on his guitar. They talked sometimes, mostly about music and other random stuff. Dawn usually only stayed about an hour each day before having to leave for something or other.

Today seemed no different. Paul was scribbling in his book, no doubt writing another amazing song.

Glancing over, she found out that it was just social studies homework.

She opened up her own textbook and placed it in front of her. "Do you mind if I stay here a little later than usual? My shift starts later today and I don't feel like going home yet." But despite the question, she'd already opened up her notebook and started on the questions.

Paul looked at her oddly for a second, wondering why she was even asking if she already planned on staying. But he shrugged and grunted "Sure, whatever." anyway.

After a few minutes of scribbling in their notebooks, Paul finally spoke up. "Why do you have a job anyway? Don't your parents cover your stuff?"

Dawn flinched at the word 'parents'. Paul looked over at her in confusion.

"Uh-um well…" She glanced over at Paul, who'd focused all his attention on her. "Well I don't really have parents." Paul's eyes widened and opened his mouth to say something. Dawn quickly held up her hand. "NO, they're not dead. They just disowned me, that's all. I was just a fail of a daughter and they disowned. Don't be sorry for me." Dawn was staring down at her homework, obviously not concentrating.

"Sorry, I didn't know." Paul apologized. He hesitated for the next question but his curiosity got the best of him. "Who were they? Your parents I mean."

Dawn looked down. "You'd think I'm a freak." She mumbled.

Paul snorted slightly. "No. At least you don't 'smoke pot and murder people'." Dawn opened her mouth to protest the rumor. He waved her off.

Dawn looked at him for a second before taking a breath. "Fine, I'll tell you. Just promise me you won't tell anyone else." Sapphire met onyx for a few seconds.

"I promise." Paul murmured sincerely.

"Okay. So you know the Berlitz Fashion Designers? The really rich family?"

Paul nodded, not seeing where she was going with this.

"Well they had a daughter. A biological one, anyway. Her name was Dawn Hikari Berlitz. She was born with a case of dyslexia, but no one diagnosed it at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Berlitz sent the girl to all sorts of prestigious schools, but she did poorly in all of them. Also unsatisfactory about her was her style. It was darker and weirder than the Berlitz's elegant pastels. Mr. and Mrs. Berlitz kept quiet about their daughter, not wanting the press to find out that anyone in their family was less than perfect. After she failed another school's entrance exam, the Berlitz couple lost their patience and simply disowned her. They adopted another girl, Platina, and had her take Dawn's place. To the rest of the world, it seemed that the Berlitz's camera shy daughter had stepped out into the spotlight with her wonderful new fashion designs and charm. In reality, a lucky orphan girl became rich and the rich girl became orphaned. That girl now goes around with the name Dawn Hikari, living in a small apartment and working everyday to pay the bills. Oh, and she was finally diagnosed with dyslexia a few years ago. That's her,- I mean my story." The blunette let out a tired sigh and glanced over at her companion to judge his reaction.

After a few antagonizing long minutes, the purple headed teen finally spoke up. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"No need to be sorry." Dawn muttered, looking back at her books. "The truth is never pretty."

The two lapsed into silence.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, my family life isn't all puppies and rainbows either." Paul finally said quietly. Dawn looked up curiously. That was all he needed. He launched into the story he'd never told anyone.

"I'm a failure." Dawn's mouth opened to unleash a strong protest, but his look silenced her. "It's always been like that. My older brother Reggie has always been our parents' pride, while I've always been their shame. He was always smarter, wittier, and more athletic than I ever could be. Even now, he's getting record scores at his lawyer school while I'm at some unknown low key public high school barely passing half my classes. My parents are always comparing me to him, irritated that I only got A-'s compared to his A+'s. But my grades just got worse and worse. Eventually they just gave up on me. We're not really even family anymore. They'll give me whatever I want; I just have to stay away from them." Paul looked down at Dawn's wide eyes. "I know my story's not nearly as tragic as yours, practically nothing really, but I just want you to know that not everyone's life is a hundred times better than yours."

Dawn stared at him for a second. "How could you say that's nothing?" Dawn burst out angrily. "It's just as bad as mine! Having parents who don't care is practically the same as having none!" The blunette snapped, poking him the chest several times. Suddenly, Paul found himself in her arms which she was using to hug him tightly. He struggled to restrain the blush that threatened to break out at her touch.

"I'm really sorry to hear that Paul." She murmured, still hugging him. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll have you know that you're not a failure." She said, letting go of him at last.

"No, they're right, I am. I don't even understand why an amazing person like you is even talking to an idiot like me." Paul said quietly.

The fierceness in Dawn's eyes surprised him. "NO! Don't ever think for a moment that you're a failure! Ever! You Paul, are special. Do you want to know why I'm hanging around with you? It's because you're different. There's something about you that draw people in. Until a week ago, I had no idea what it was. Now I know. It's because you have potential." She said, looking deep into his eyes.

"P-Potential?" He asked, confused.

The fierce look was still burning in her eyes. "That's right; potential. You have the potential for a lot of things. A Popular. A hot boy friend. A trust worthy friend. But there was one thing that over shadowed the others: the potential to be somebody. Somebody important who could change people. That day, when you were singing that song you wrote. You were singing so soulfuly, meaning every word you said. It was just so deep, so effecting. Paul, you can be somebody big." Dawn looked at him once more, determination etched on her face. "I'm going to help you. I'm going to do my best to help you grow into that someone."

Paul just sat there, shocked by her speech. Sure, it wasn't unlike the generic speech that most teachers and coaches gave their students, but the way she said it made him want to believe her. The passion and determination that shone on her face backed up her speech.

Not being able to sort through his thoughts fast enough, he just chose the first question that came to mind. "What will you do after that?"

The question was met with a small smile. "Once you get as far as I can possibly get you, I guess I'll just… disappear. You won't need me after that." To his confused expression she replied: "I don't really mind what happens to me after that. I just wanna be able to make other people happy. If I can do that, I'll be able to die happily." She assured him with a smile

There was a second of silence as Paul soaked in everything she just said. Dawn glanced down at her phone and started to get up.

"Guess I better get going. My shift's gonna start soon." She dusted herself off and started walking to where she'd left her skateboard.

"Wait!" She paused as she heard Paul shout behind her. She turned around questioningly. "If you can get me to the top," he said quietly, "You're going to stay up there with me. Got it?"

Dawn's eyes widened in surprise before melting into a smile. "Alright. We'll get up there together, and nothing can stop us!" She said determinedly with a fist pump. Paul couldn't help but smile slightly at her enthusiasm.

"Oh, and don't forget to show me those songs you wrote tomorrow!" He called out behind her, the slight smile still on his face.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

And that was the start of a beautiful friendship. As it turned out, Dawn was amazingly talented at singing and song writing. As the days passed, Paul's secret little spot became their meeting spot. They spent every free period there. Paul even let her come when he wasn't around. It wasn't long before Dawn introduced him to her small group of friends at work, something she'd never done for anyone else.

The school year eventually lapsed into summer vacation, but that didn't stop their friendship. They met almost daily at cafés or hung out at each other's houses. It turned out that Reggie himself was a pretty nice person, and he quickly warmed to Dawn, much to Paul's relief.

But by the time that school started up again, their relationship slowly became closer than friendship. The transition from friends to couple was slow and smooth. Unlike his heated passionate relationship with Ursula, theirs was slow and sweet. They were already two months into the relationship before they even thought of making out. By December, their relationship was made public and official.

Ugly rumors were thrown around about Dawn. She was supposedly a slut, whore, prostitute, etc. But Dawn and Paul could care less. They had eyes only for each other.

The insults eventually died down, but people still went out of their way to make hell for poor Dawn. Of course, that stopped too once they realized any physical bullying would mean facing Paul.

By graduation, they were the most known and in love couple throughout the high school. Ursula was one of their biggest haters.

They graduated happily with no regrets, and disappeared from the sight of Veilstone City.

A/N: Well what do you think? Good, Bad, Horrible? How was my first attempt at Ikari Shipping? Did I go a bit overboard with the tragic pasts? TELL ME!

Alright, two chapters down, one to go. Sadly, there's not as much Ikari next chapter. Guess who's coming back into the spot light! That's right; a certain disliked-by-some-Ikari-shippers peach head is coming back! But luckily, there's no more Mock shipping hints. :)

The faster you review, the faster I update! ;)