A/N: HEY, LISTEN! It's been a long time, hasn't it? I'm sorry it's taken me FOREVAH to upload, but I have been SO busy lately, I haven't had time to do hardly anything. But I finally sat down and wrote this sucker! And it's awesome! ...I hope. :/ Lol. I've also realized that my story began to lean more towards a Penguinshipping story than an Ikarishipping story, and I was like "CRAP!" ...so I put an end to that in this chapter. :) Sorry to those of you who were like "Where the heck is the Ikarishipping?" It's coming, believe me. ;D

Enjoy~!

~Dolphizn514

Chapter 7:

A Turn of Events

Where are you, Kenny? Dawn ran down the trail hoping to find Kenny sooner than later. She stumbled her way down the side of Mount Coronet, watching the path beneath her as she searched for Kenny's footprints possibly left in the dirt.

It's all my fault, I just know it! How could it not be? I saw the way he looked in my eyes, and I saw what was in them: Pain and Love. How am I supposed to help him? Dawn continued blazing down the trail as tears began to gather around her blue orbs. I'm so sorry Kenny!

Nearly out of breath, Dawn paused on a wide step on the trail, bending over to place her hands on her knees as she inhaled and exhaled steadily. While resting, a pebble cascaded down the mountain side and hit her sharply on her left shoulder.

"OUCH!" Dawn grabbed her shoulder as she stood up straight to glare up the mountain where the rock came from. Seeing a small shape moving slightly around thirty feet up, Dawn used her hand to cover her eyes from the sun's rays to see the shape easier. It's Kenny!

Dawn looked around her to see if there was any smaller trail that would lead her to where Kenny's location was. Not seeing any, she decided to climb up the mountain side herself. Grabbing onto the nearest rock with both of her hands, she jumped and hoisted herself onto the sloped, rocky terrain. This is going to be harder than I originally thought. Dawn remained in that spot, now afraid when thought of her falling to the rocks a few feet below crossed her mind. Gaining focus once more, she shook her head vigorously and set her eyes on Kenny's figure above her. No, I can't give up! I must get to Kenny!

Grabbing onto a rock higher than her head, then placing her foot to a rock higher than her knee, Dawn carefully but quickly made her way up to Kenny. Pausing a moment again for another break, she glanced ahead to see that Kenny's figure had stopped to sit on a large boulder twenty feet higher than her location. With even more motivation than before, Dawn gritted her teeth together and pushed herself up the rocks once more, feeling her limbs going weak. Almost there!

Kenny was sitting on a large rock twiddling his thumbs around each other, lost in thought. ...I should just give up. I try to get Dawn's attention, but I don't earn it no matter what I do. I don't even deserve it anymore. The way she looked at me after I hurt Paul...I feel so ashamed and pathetic. I will never win her heart.

"Ow!"

Kenny's head shot up as his gaze traveled from his hands to the area in front of him. What the...? What was that? Kenny shifted his body to allow himself to glance behind. What he saw amazed him: Dawn clinging onto the rocks below him for dear life as she struggle to make her way towards him.

"Dawn? What are you doing?"

"Kenny! Please help me! My feet are slipping!"

Without a second thought, Kenny leaped up and bent over the small ledge towards Dawn. Stretching out his hand, Kenny used his other hand to brace himself against the ground. "That's as far as I can go, Dawn! Reach up your hand to grab mine!"

"I can't! I'll fall! Can't you reach down more?" Dawn squeezed her eyes shut as the thought of falling once again came to her.

"If I do, then I'll fall, too! You can trust me!"

Dawn opened her eyes to look at Kenny above her. His hand was only a few inches out of her reach, so she thought. She was simply too afraid to test if she could really take hold of his hand.

"I won't let you fall." Kenny promised, watching Dawn tremble in fear.

Faithfully, Dawn released her grip on the rocks with her right hand and stretched it as far as she could towards Kenny. Unfortunately, she realized that only their fingertips touched; she wasn't tall enough to grab his wrist. Decided to take another leap of faith, Dawn bent her legs slightly, and jumped off of her foothold, using both of her hands to clasp tightly to Kenny's arm. At that moment, Kenny fiercely yanked upwards, pulling Dawn with him. She collapsed on Kenny as he fell backwards, laying on the ground.

Breathing heavily, Kenny looked down and blushed heavily when he saw that Dawn was laying on top of his body with her head on his chest. Pushing his embarrassment away, he put Dawn's current state before his own feelings. "Dawn, are you okay?"

Still trying to gain her breath, Dawn sat up and rolled over slightly to sit on the ground. "Yeah," she gasped, holding her hand to her chest, trying to calm her accelerating heartbeat.

"That's good." Kenny stated before standing up. "Can you stand?"

Nodding, Dawn took Kenny's hand again and got up on her shaky legs. Kenny led her slowly to the rock he was sitting on previously and sat down beside her once he knew she was steady.

"What were you thinking? Hiking up the mountain? Are you crazy? What if you fell?" Kenny's fear of her falling overwhelmed his mind as his questions constantly poured out.

"To find you, Kenny."

"What...why? After what happened back there, I didn't thi-"

"Well I was the one who was dumb, Kenny. Not hearing your story well enough, I took Paul's side in that battle, and I really hurt your feelings. I don't blame you if you don't forgive me. I wouldn't forgive me either..." Tears started to appear again around her ocean eyes.

"Don't say that, Dawn," Kenny comforted as he placed his right hand on her left. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself."

"Why?"

"Because I-" Kenny looked forward, trying to figure out the words he wanted to say. Not sure what was crossing his mind, Kenny finally blurted out his feelings for Dawn. "Because I was so frustrated! I wanted to prove myself to you, but you don't want me. You like Paul, and I got jealous! Jealous that I couldn't make you laugh like he does. That I couldn't see your smile, and know that it was meant for me!" Realizing what he just said, Kenny's eyes widened as he quickly slapped his hand across his mouth.

"You...like me Kenny?" Dawn, now confused, looked into Kenny's terrified eyes.

"I-I...uh.." Kenny stammered, not even sure how to respond anymore. How can I hide it now? I don't even know if she likes me at all! ...How can I know? ...Wait...that's it!

Without any more hesitation, Kenny quickly leaned in to kiss Dawn on her soft lips. Dawn's eyes widened from this sudden action, and wasn't sure what to do next. So..he does like me. Oh Kenny...

Kenny removed his lips from Dawn's as he straightened his body out again. "Did you feel anything?"

"What?" Dawn was now extremely puzzled.

"Answer the question, Dawn. Did you feel anything from that kiss?"

"I-I'm not sure..."

"That's my answer then," Kenny muttered turning forward to look at the ground.

"Kenny, I-"

"Dawn, it's okay. If I'm not the one you're in love with...I...I can't change that, no matter how hard I try."

"Kenny..."

"Don't worry about me," Kenny ordered, his sternly pained yet delicately sorrowed gaze returning to the questioning gaze of Dawn. "I'm sorry for...well...you know."

Kenny stood up to leave and Dawn grabbed his right arm to prevent him from departing her. Her head hung limply while her other hand was to her face as tears streamed down her silken cheeks and onto her lap.

"I'm-I'm so sorry, Kenny! I...I never noticed you liked me so much! I've been so naïve! You were always there for me, but now I am never there for you! You are one of my best friends, yet I've been nothing but a jerk! You say you love me..." Dawn looked up to meet Kenny's wondering stare. "But I cannot return your love; I am in love with Paul, Kenny. I'm sorry, but that's how it is...Please remain as my friend...I don't know what I would do if I didn't have our friendship anymore!" Dawn sobbed harder than before and hung her head once more. Waterfalls of salty tears fell hopelessly to the ground as she pleaded for her best friend.

"Of course I'll remain your friend, Dawn." Kenny stood in front of Dawn placing a hand on her shoulder as she put all of her support on Kenny. Her face was in his chest as she cried, her fragile hands curled into fists with Kenny's shirt in between her fingers. "I'll always be here...I'd do anything for you." I'm sorry you couldn't love me, Dawn, but as long as you're happy...I'm happy. I will still love you, and when your heart is broken, or you simply need a friend to talk to, I'll be waiting with open arms. ...I hope you will never forget this.

"Thank you, Kenny," Dawn said as she stood, wiping her tear-stained face. She wrapped her still-trembling arms around Kenny as she attempted to calm her breathing.

Kenny hugged her in return, not wanting to ever let her go. "You're welcome." Kenny let go of Dawn and looked above him at the sky to see that the sun was nearly right above them. "It's a little past noon, I believe. We should head back."

"Okay," Dawn agreed. She followed Kenny back down the mountain side and they walked side-by-side on the path leading up to the campground. When they were in sight of the others, Brock waved at them signaling that lunch was almost ready.

"So hurry and wash up, you two!" Brock hollered across the clearing.

"Dawn! Kenny!" Barry yelled as he ran towards them. "Glad you guys made it back! You guys okay now?"

"Yup," Dawn answered, glancing back at Kenny and smiling. "Everything's going to be okay."

"Sweet! Well lunch is going to be sandwiches and fresh fruit, so I hope you guys came back hungry!"

"We did, believe us," Kenny said. "We did a little bit of climbing, so we've worked up an appetite."

"HEY GUYS!" Ash exclaimed from the outside of the clearing. He was along the mountain side pointing at a large hole in the ground. "COME CHECK THIS OUT!"

Everyone exchanged glances and ran over to the large gap in the ground. Paul walked up behind Dawn and touched her arm to get her attention.

"Is everything okay now?" Paul interrogated, still worried about how Kenny and Dawn's friendship is working out.

"Yeah, everything's fine." Dawn slightly turned slightly to meet Paul's concerned eyes.

"Glad to hear it," Paul finished, smiling at Dawn, who smiled back. They turned themselves back towards the giant indent in the ground.

"It looks like a tunnel," Drew said, folding his arms while thinking.

"It does, doesn't it?" May agreed. "We shouldn't get to close to it, in case the ground around it is loose or weak."

"Good idea," Misty stated, backing a ways away from the hole.

"I think it's okay," Dawn muttered, wandering closer to the edge of the hole. She got within a foot of the gap's opening, but didn't dare go any further.

"Be careful," Paul advised as she stepped towards Dawn until he was beside her.

"HEY PIKACHU!" Ash yelled. His hands were cupped around his mouth to enlarge the amount of sound he was making and his eyesight was set on the mountain side. He had noticed that Pikachu and Piplup were playing on the rocks, and the two were close to slipping.

"Ash, you shouldn't yell," Misty scolded as she placed her hands on her hips. "That's not always a good idea when on a mountain."

"PIPLUP!" Ash continued, ignoring Misty momentarily.

"Why is that, Misty?" May asked.

"I've heard about a number of landslides that have happened because of people yelling, causing their voices to echo throughout the mountain side, vibrating the mountain and the rocks raining down around them." Misty answered back, her gaze focused on Ash.

"Maybe she's right, Ash. I would stop yelling," Barry told Ash, backing away from the mountain side.

"Wait, I 've got to get Pikachu first." Ash turned back towards the mountain side. "GET DOWN HERE YOU GUYS! IT'S ALMOST LU-"

At that moment the mountain side began to shake vigorously. Everyone looked up above Pikachu and Piplup and saw rocks beginning to roll down the mountain.

"Piplup! Return!" Dawn exclaimed, pulling out her pokeball to make sure that Piplup was safe.

"Pikachu!" Ash yelled, holding his arms out. Pikachu ran as fast as he could down the mountain before jumping in Ash's arms. "Okay let's go!"

Suddenly a scream appeared in the air, and it drew the attention of everyone as May hollered at Dawn and Paul, who were still near the hole.

"DAWN! PAUL! LOOK OUT!"

A/N: *Le gasp!* Oh no! What happened to Dawn and Paul? ...I don't know yet. XD Well I do...but I don't know what I'm going to do AFTER that...grr.

Poor Kenny! I felt so bad for him when I was writing this! :'( I wanted to give him a hug myself! Hopefully the chapter was exciting to read! :D Please review! :D GIMMEH YOUR THOUGHTS, PEOPLE! And do you know what else you should do? ...REVIEW. ;D Lol. Love you guys, and thanks for reading my story! ^3^

I'll update asap! :)

~Dolphinz514

*cough cough* REVIEW! *cough cough*