"You must lift yourself from the ground and run towards life..."

Chapter ten: The Final Dream

"…knowing that somehow, it will get better if you put the hard work into it. "

"Take this."

"What?"

A sudden burst of words woke Paul from the silence. Turning back he saw the brunette handing over the glass flute. Her hands were trembling, her eyes filled with nothing but fear. Paul gazed at her face to the flute and carefully accepted it. May afterwards wrapped her arms around her skinny figure as she closed her eyes before without warning, tears fell.

"Save her." Looking up Paul could see how quickly May's eyes had turned red. "Save her." She muttered. "Please."

Paul could not speak any words due to seeing how broken down May had become over the last few days. He had arrived with Dawn to speak of Ash's death to only see another one place right in front of her. And also seeing Ash's sprit to see her once again for the last time was the cherry on the top.

She wanted to come. Her heart begged to go and save Dawn. It would give her relief, a sense of gladness over not able to save Ash from his destiny. She could remember all the journeys they made together and how many times his defeated his destiny. He was so strong and May loved that about him. When the odds were against him, he would still prove everyone wrong. He wasn't the strongest trainer, she knew but his spirit, his determination made up for that.

And now, he was gone. He wasn't afraid to lose his life if he could help another one come back to life. Ash never feared death.

"I will."

Drying her tears away. "Thank you."

From the rails of the boat Paul stared at the stared at the musical object in his hands. He admired how it could be made completely out of glass. He looked over to his right to see Pikachu had jumped onto his shoulder. Something he would always see Ash let his pokemon do every time they would cross paths. Pikachu felt as if Paul didn't enjoy his company and was about to slip off.

"No, you can stay."

A grateful smile was seen on Pikachu's face as he rubbed his face into Paul's shoulder and cooed, in the corner stood Garchomp enjoying the scene of the sea. Compared to what he had faced, a simple view of the sea was gold to him, to any one of them it was.

Reaching over to his pocket Paul pulled out a poke ball, it was the same ball he had in his hands right after Dawn had removed him from his cell and from the curse. He watched as the ball opened and soon a small blue penguin was released. He shook his small body before looking right up to Paul.

"Pip pip lup!" The penguin complained. He flapped his small fins and continued to bicker. When the water type finished his rant he fell onto his back to get a gasp of air.

"I think it's better if you explain what has happened in the last few days Pikachu."

With a nod. "Cha."

As soon the little mouse planned to remove himself from Paul, the boat shook hard. The force was so hard it swept Paul off his feet. Due it was on a angle, Paul and the other pokemon started to slid down right pass the deck and into the ocean. Garchomp slid down ahead of them and stuck one of his claws into the deck and caught the three of them with ease.

Other screams from the other passengers could be heard all over the place as others fell into the depths of the ocean while others were saved by their pokemon or some were lucky enough to get indoors. While still in Garchomp's arms he looked up to the island of Sinnoh.

It was covered in darkness. A thick fog surrounded the island and nothing could be seen beside the black shape of the island.

"Attention all passengers, Sinnoh has been confirmed to be an out of bounds area. We will return back to Johto as soon the seas calm down."

"We'll all be dead by then." Paul cussed. "We have to get there, no matter what cost."

"Very well. I'll use your life as a entry fee to my little dream world."

A raspy voice echoed around them and it seems the other pokemon and passengers that were once holding for dear life froze in their place. Their begs for help muted and their struggling was postponed. Looking ahead they all saw a ghost shadow figure of Dawn. She was transparent and all could still see the island through here.

Her eyes were red and bright, her white hair had de saturate into grey. Her black dress was ripped and her red scarf had melted into a dark maroon colour and it to, was ripped. She opened her arms and raised them into the sky.

"Are you ready to die?"

A horrible mocking laughter surrounded them all as a dark aura engulfed them all. It was a horrible sensation. Paul could felt his arms and legs being pulled apart while being chocked. He reached for over his neck where the aura was chocking him and he desperately tried to pull it off him. This caused him to let go of Garchomp and continue to slide down the deck and straight into the ocean.

The chocking didn't stop as Pikachu and Piplup raced down and held onto the rails as they screamed for Paul's name. Tears started to build.

Breathing became impossible as Paul finally gave up on released the aura chocking him and on his body as his eyes closed as he continued in sink into the deep depths of the sea.

"What you're holding is a time flute. It can remove any sort of event from the timeline and also any plans for that to happen again are removed." Drying the last of her tears, "But the down side is that the longer you play the more of your life is taken from you."

"I see." Paul gazed at the wonderful crafted object. "I wonder why it was ever created if it had such a huge drawback?"

May shrugged. "I don't know. I guess that whoever made it wants to know that playing with the flow of time has its risks."

"Makes sense,"

The horns of the boat were heard clear and loud. It was the sign to go.

"So what are you plans now, do you plan to continue your dream? your journey here after what has happened?"

May nodded confidently. "Yes. I know Ash doesn't want me to stop know. I'll show him I'm strong and everything he has taught me isn't going to waste."

Paul smirked. "Somehow, you seem to resemble a lot of Ash right now."

With a soft chuckle, "Of course, he did teach me a lot. He made me to the person I am today."

Paul turned back at the boat and the sea ahead. Somehow he couldn't help but deny that Ash helped him change to the person he was today. Even he hated that boy had gone under his skin he couldn't hide it any more.

Ash had made a impact to all of them.

Opening his eyes he could see his 'death' had led him to the front of his home. The darkness he had saw earlier consuming Sinnoh was even worse inland. He could hardly breathe as the air was so thick of the sent of blood it made his stomach ill. Walking closer to his family home the sent of blood was even stronger as it was painted right on the walls as he entered inside.

"Am I dead? Is this my version of hell?"

Paul couldn't stop walking. He had to know what happened - he just had to. A path of blood started to show at the hallway that led to his and his brother's bedroom. Paul started to run; the fear of his brother scared him. On his journey, ever since he had received the mark of Darkrai he had learnt how to fear again. It reminded him he was only human and perfection did not exist for him or anyone.

There, behind a small gap of the door lied a sick man. Paul didn't have to ask who it was as he raced inside. There, silently sleeping was his older brother. He checked all over him and saw he had no major wounds yet he was covered and stained in a pool of his own blood.

"His dying Paul. You are no longer part of reality but mine."

Turning around, the ghost-like figure that resembled Dawn could see the anger on his face.

"And so are you. As long you remain here, you will die."

His eyes widen before looking away. He placed his hand at where the mark once stood. He knew that one day, ever since he received the mark that he would die eventually. But now the time had come his mind refused to accept death. He hated that he had lied to himself believing that he was ready to die the way Iris and Ash had done.

He was not as strong as he wanted himself to believe in.

"You could of saved yourself. Dawn used all her life to save you yet you still came back. Why?"

Fear can always make people says things they would dare to talk about.

"Because of Dawn, with her I'm strong; with her I can face anything that heads my way. With her death doesn't scare me."

The ghost seemed surprise as it quickly faded from Paul's sights. Paul turned back to face his brother and saw he was still alright.

Was he in pain or didn't he feel a thing at all? Does he remember how all of this started? Paul placed his head on his brother's arms as he forced himself not to cry.

Holding his brother's hand tightly, "You told me to not to die out there yet here you are," Looking up, "losing your life as each seconds comes by." Paul pressed his head back down. "Don't you dare go dying on me!" Paul screamed. Now he couldn't help but lose all control of his emotions.

All the sadness, the fear and the desperation of save a life came out in the form of tears. He held his brothers hand tighter, so tight that he wished it would wake his brother up, even for a minute. He just wanted to hear his voice - he wanted to hear he was ok. But as he looked up, nothing had changed.

"I don't want to die, no, not like this. Not now."

Dark aura started to wrap around his brother's body. Paul placed his arms over Reggie's body but it made no difference. The aura continued to wipe away his brother from existence and before Paul could come up with a solution to save his brother, it was already too late. Reggie was gone.

"Your brother is dead. You were simply too late to save him. You are nothing but a useless and weak brother."

"Shut up!" Paul screamed at the Dawn illusion. His punch simply passed through her as she faded from his sights, laughing at him from above. "He isn't dead! You're lying!"

"Your brother is slowly dying. Everyone in Sinnoh is. Don't think your brother is the only victim here."

The illusion didn't reply nothing but with a horrible laughter afterwards.

"Why did you get this anyway?"

"Ash told me once, to steal it."

Paul blink in utter shock. Ash? Telling his friend to steal? Surly they were still talking about the same person.

"He said he wanted to us it. He never told me why. And it was Iris that told me the powers that flute had."

The horn of the boat blew once more loudly into the evening sky. Paul held onto the glass flute tightly. "Thanks."

May smiled. "Hey, your Ash's friend too, right? As Ash's friends we have to help each other out!" May held her fists and cheered on in a determined manner.

Paul paused. He had never considered Ash as his friend. He only saw him as a irritating trainer who couldn't stop telling him that he should treat Pokemon as his friends. And when he defeated him he was shattered. No words could explain how he felt. but in the end, that lost made him stronger.

"Yeah, you can call me that."

"My brother is dead, Dawn is probably too. And so am I."

Paul slammed his head on the edge of the mattress. He had lost it. He was convinced it was all over. Clenching his fists Paul's eyes look towards the sky. It was getting darker and the air was getting too heavy with the scent of blood. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. Paul had never let him so exposed - so lost in his whole life before. Paul looked up where his brother laid. He didn't even have the chance to say goodbye.

"Hey cheer up."

The trainer turned to only see his brother was only a steps away from where he was. He was smiling and looked like a ghost. Even though he could finally hear his voice again it didn't change that Reggie was dead.

"Come on. We finally get to see one another and this is how you greet me?"

He still had that teasing smile on his face any older brother would have. It annoyed him and he didn't know why, maybe because he was never going to see it again. But at the same time, he was glad to see it. He wasn't thinking straight. He was so lost. He ran off his feet and right at his brother and embraced him tightly. This surprised Paul.

"Your...alive?"

Reggie shook his head. "No, you're only able to touch me because you starting to die and you're accepting it."

Paul pulled back. "No, I can't die. I need to end this curse."

"Paul," Reggie spoke warmly. "There is no way to end the curse."

"No!" Paul rejected. "There is a way. I'm not going to die without trying."

Reggie smiled, "If you insist. Go."

Paul smiled as he raced passed his brother as Reggie continued to stand there. He closed his eyes and looked at his hands. He watched as he started to fade. Looking at his bed he saw a young woman sitting there. She was smiling and very happy. She went by the name of Dawn.

"You really want to go, don't you?"

The smile was still on Dawn's face as she nodded. Reggie sat right beside her and looked up at his bedroom ceiling.

"His fighting for you. I never seen him so determined like that before." He turned to look back at Dawn and saw how quickly the sadness had come over her. She faded from the boy's sight by turning into golden grains of dust. It seemed to be the only clear colour to be seen besides the red blood everywhere. Reggie sighed as he closed his eyes as he too, faded into tiny grains of dust, all hoping for the best.

"If there is one thing I'll always treasure from Ash it is that to never give up, keep fighting. Don't dare to stop because if you do, you'll live with rejection asking yourself why you stopped. And that my friend, hurts more than death itself."

The image of his house melted as soon he had stepped outside. In fact, the whole image of his hometown melted like paint on a canvas. There was nothing to look back on, nothing to run back to. Looking ahead the walls of his town changed and ahead of him stood a weak woman locked and wrapped in chains formed by dark aura. Blood, bruises were everywhere. The black marks he once saw on her had multiplied and covered most of her skin. Her once gleaming sapphire eyes had faded to a shade of black that were too creepy to look at for long.

"Dawn!" Paul screamed as he rushed towards her before a huge shadow inter fear and blocked the two.

"You." The shadow hissed. It didn't take long to see it was no other but Darkrai. "You started this mess."

"I'm not the one creating curses am I?" Paul spat. "Let her go! Stop gathering victims. Stop the dying!"

"If you only let me do my job all those weeks ago, you wouldn't have to lose so much." The dark type floated over to Dawn's weak body. She was empty, lifeless like a puppet. It held her up her hair. "I'm only after her. The other deaths were simply foolish people preventing destiny from doing it's job."

"Stop it!"

Darkrai dropped the lifeless girl covered in chains back on the ground and made his way to Paul. He pressed his forehead against his. "Death is the only thing that will greet you here boy."

"I made a promise to my brother and to her I would stop his curse and I will."

"Foolish human."

A blade appeared in Darkrai's shadow hands and soon the dagger was seen through Paul. As he fell to the ground the ghost type picked him up and threw him next to his other puppet, Dawn. Blood could be seen dropping from his dagger. Paul wrapped his hand around his stomach and saw the life being sucked from Dawn. the colour in her eyes were fading the longer he looked at them as the black marks on her skin grew bigger and longer.

"Once your in boy, the only way out is death."

Crawling over the the empty girl Paul moved close enough to hear him. "Hey, you in there?"

Like a doll, Dawn made no reply. Paul somehow expected her answer to be nothing but silence. He crawled a little closer until he could reach for her hand.

"I know your tired but we will get through this."

"Now your really sounding like Ash. That is starting to get on my nerves you know. How on earth did you ever stand him?"

"Cause I'm tired as well Dawn." Paul muttered as he rolled over to his back. He looked up the sky. It was a mixture of black, dark blue and purple. "Who knew things would turn out like this by trying to save that silly Piplup of yours?" Paul tried to chuckle the pain got in the way.

Looking down at his feet Paul gazed at the Piplup and held him by his flipper. "A Piplup? Did you escape from Professor Ronan's lab?"

Panicking Piplup tried to describe his horrible ordeal to the trainer but it only turned Paul off. He dropped him and continued on his way. Shaking his little fins in the air, Piplup continued to scream before receiving a shadow claw attack from Darkrai. The attack was so loud it caused Paul to look back and saw Piplup was sending Bubblebeam at empty space. Suddenly Piplup jumped out of the way as the ground made a hold in thin air. Paul knew that whatever was happening was not right, especially for a quiet town.

"And that mark. That really changed everything, didn't it?"

Paul stared deeply into his bathroom mirror. He wasn't gazing at his ruffed up hair or his eyes. It was the strange Darkrai mark placed on his neck. His mind wondered back to where Johanna showed Dawn's mark. It was at the same place where his was. Placing his hand over it Paul wonder if there was really a way out or else he would travel with a soon-to-be killer.

"I can still remember the fear all over my brother's face when I told him I was dying. If I only knew he would be the first to leave."

"In other words, I'm dying Reggie."

Composing himself Reggie just walked over to his little brother and embraced him tightly. Without saying a single word Reggie just simply shed a few tears behind his brother's back. Paul felt his whole body freeze when Reggie suddenly came to hug him. His brother had never hugged or kissed him since he was a child. For once, Paul was lost.

"You better go and find a cure then." Reggie put on a soft smile as he broke his embrace with his brother. Reggie patted his brother's head. "Don't give up, you hear me?"

"Then Cynthia came."

"Do you want to lose all of us or just me?" Her voice was dropping.

Garchomp looked over sadly at the two teens where Paul had slipped out of consciousness as Dawn called out Paul's name over and over again with her low voice. Her blood was surrounded them both. He looked over his trainer as she smiled at her pokemon and placed her bloody hand on his chest.

"I'm proud of you. Now go. I'll be fine." The woman smiled as she closed her eyes and soon her hand slipped down. Lastly a tear ran down her face and soon crashed onto the ground below them. Garchomp held his trainer for the last time before placing her gently on the ground and stared at his trainer for the last time.

"Followed by Ash and Iris."

With a cheeky smile Ash nodded. "And can you do me a favor Dawn?" Dawn felt like she had no choice but to agree. Ash dug into his pocket and showed a half ribbon. "Give this to May. This will explain everything to her."

Forcing to smile, Dawn accepted and with the last second of their breath Ash and Iris released their grip on the girl. Dawn could feel how Ash's hand slipped from hers as she could hear her heart break like like glass, watching their bodies fade into dust and from their sights. Their smiles clearly stamped in their minds.

They had no regrets. Ash left with a smile, knowing if there was a way to stop the curse for good. It would be her.

Paul rolled back onto his stomach, even though it pained him dearly before pushing himself onto his knees. There in his pocket, covered in blood laid a glass flute. It seem to be the only thing gleaming in hope. Darkrai just watched on as Paul pressed his lips onto the musical item and soon a sweet soothing song filled the eerie world.

Every note was perfect, the tone was beautiful. The pitches and flats added personality to emotion to the simple song. As the blood dripped from his wound he kept on playing. Paul had never played a flute before and was surprised to know what to press to play a note.

But perfection had its cost. This one decided it would be Paul's life.

May smiled at the thought of her good friend. "Easy, his view on life was simply charming and warm. Anybody could see that. That is Ash's best quality. He never gives up."

The dome began to crack like glass, as it broke it scattered into pieces that looked like glitter. The dome continued to shatter as Darkrai did nothing but watch.

"Well played human." Darkrai muttered. "I think I know why you were so confident you could break this curse." His red eyes crossed to Dawn. "It was her."

And with that the chains around Dawn's body broke and the marks that claimed her body melted off her skin. As her eyes returned to the wonderful shade of blue they once had her ears heard a horrible shattering sound of glass.

Paul had paid his debt, his debt of playing the deadly flute.

Looking around she saw a fainted boy right beside the tiny fragments of glass.

Her hair returned back to navy blue and her usual favorite attire she wore returned back onto her as she made her way to Paul.

Dawn didn't care what Paul had broken as she looked around her and saw Veilstone returning to it's old self. With her strength Dawn crawled over and reached for his hand.

He was starting to turn cold.

The blunette held onto Paul's hand tightly. She even shook it hoping she would expect a reply back, a yell - anything. But the longer he stood still the more fear entered into her body. As more strength came she crawled even closer and turned the boy onto his back. She shook him vigorously as her tears fell on him. She shook, and shook but nothing had changed expect on how cold his body was becoming.

She embraced him tightly. So tight she wished that when she would look back at him, he would show her that usual smirk that would annoy her so much. But as she did, nothing came, thus making Dawn hug him once more.

"Paul, please come back to me."

May watched on from the gentle and quiet beach of Johto. The sea was calm and had the soothing colour of orange that wanted her to fall asleep to it. Beside her was a rival and now good friend, Drew. Both spoke nothing to one around and continue to gaze at the beauty the sea could make at the evening. A soft gentle breeze from the ocean blew their way, as May looked down at the object in her hands.

It was her lucky charm - the Terracotta ribbon.

"You really miss him, don't you?"

Drew's words caught May off guard. She had remembered. She had never shown this ribbon to any of her rivals. May was surprised to see Drew knew that the ribbon in her hand was something part of her and Ash, having no intention to hide it from him anymore. "Yeah. This is my lucky charm. This reminds me of all the great times I've had with my friends in Kanto and Hoenn." May smiled. "They were wonderful times."

"I know. I was there too." Drew continued to look at the warm sea before back at May briefly. "I really miss those times."

Chuckling, "What, you miss fighting with Ash over me?" The brunette teased.

Drew held his arms up defensively. "No, not like that!" Drew turned away blushing. "Why would I want to fight over you? I got plenty of girls after me."

May punched her rival softly on his shoulder. "Pft, you wish lover boy."

Both looked at one another and burst into childish laughter.

May stopped before Drew did. She had not told him of the crazy short adventure she had with Paul and Dawn. She was glad her rivals were out of town when the incident occurred. She saw things she never saw before. She was comforted with things she expected to deal on later on with life. Looking back at the ribbon she held it high up into the evening sky and watched as the golden centre piece shined in all it's glory. To this day, not a single scratch could be seen on it.

Bringing the object down the woman felt the soft ribbon material between her fingers as the battle of receiving the ribbon flashed back into her mind. She couldn't believe how strong she had become over the years travelling with Ash and that battle she shared, her last one with him made her so grateful to know him. When she saw Ash cut the ribbon in half she was shocked.

May pushed off herself off the stone fence and run towards the beach until she had reached the water's end. Drew couldn't help but chase after her.

"What are you doing?!" The coordinator puffed.

"I'm saying goodbye." May spoke softly. "It's time to let go."

Opening her palm laid Ash's half of the ribbon. She kissed it softly. "Thank you for all you have taught me."

And with one final toss the ribbon shined in the sun's rays before dropping into the ocean. But both teenagers didn't hear the object drop.

A certain figure could be seen from the ocean, it pop up from the surface with a certain object in his hands. Both couldn't get a clear view how on earth it could be. As the sounds of the water being crushed under his feet only did both see who it was. May couldn't express her joy right and instead ran into the sea after him. She jumped towards him and embraced him tightly. Drew could only watch with happiness.

May rubbed her face into his chest as tears of joy escaped her. "You're alive!" She cheered as she looked at the boy. "Ash!"

Ash smiled and laughed before hugging the girl tightly and dragging her into the water. He splashed water all across her face before receiving a giant gulp of water at him as well. Both laughed before May ran back at him and hugged him tightly.

"You have no idea how happy I am." May began to tear up.

Ash stroke the girl's cheek softly and smiled. "You have Paul to thank for that."

May covered her mouth in shock. "No, he didn't. He didn't use the flute?"

Ash sadly nodded as he held the girl in his arms lightly before pulling back. "I'll always thank him for this chance to be by my best friend's side once more." Ash smiled warmly.

May smiled back warmly before greeting his face with more water. She burst into laughter before she felt a gush of water come onto her back. She turned to see it was no other than Drew.

"You think I would let you two have the fun?" The teen smiled before turning back to face Ash. He put on his usual smirk. "Welcome back Ash."

Ash replied with a grateful smile back at his friend's rival before back at his close friend. "It's good to be back. It really is."

Patting his cheeks Dawn hoped she would get a response. But nothing came. Pulling from his body she tried endlessly to keep warm she had to accept it that Paul was gone. She traced over his lips and his cheeks with her weak fingers. Looking up she could see a certain person rushing towards them both accompanied by two other pokemon.

The sounds of rushing footsteps stopped as soon they were confronted with the truth. The man fell to his knees and held the lifeless boy into his arms as he removed his fringe from his innocent face. Dawn stood up and ran into Garchomp's arms. Crying endlessly as Pikachu walked over to his new master. His ears dropped as he rubbed his cheeks on his lifeless arm. The little mouse picked his arm up and embraced it.

"Paul, come on." Reggie begged. "Wake up. Don't give up on us now."

Bags packed. Food was more than enough. Cilan was truly not use to travelling alone. Not since he first joined them back a few years back. He had seem to lost the passion to cook wonderful desserts like he had once did. The gym leader sighed as he sat back onto the bed as Pansage jumped up onto his lap.

"Pan?" The little green monkey asked.

"Don't worry about me." Cilan sighed. "Just getting use to the idea of travelling alone."

Pansage jumped out of his lap as Cilan stood back up and stretched his arms high into the air. He turned back on the belongings his friend had left behind. On one bed laid Axew touching Iris's pink backpack. It seemed to be the only way he could cope with his trainer's sudden disappearance, and on another laid a completely messy bed with Ash's things scattered everywhere.

"It's going to be a long road ahead of us buddy." Cilan tried to speak confidently. But Pansage knew too well his trainer too well and jumped up into his arms as his trainer embraced him tightly.

A harsh knock soon followed. Making Cilan curious on who would knock on the door so hard.

Ash and Iris both went missing only a week ago. He knew ever since Ash rushed over to Dawn and Paul he knew something wasn't the same between the three of them as Iris rushed behind him irritated. In the few seconds he had sights of her, Cilan swear that he saw her outfit changed into something resembling a warrior princess.

Opening the door finally Cilan couldn't believe who was at his door. There stood a cheeky ten year old girl with her tongue poking out at him followed with a cheeky smile.

"Missed me?" She teased.

Cilan smiled gracefully back at his dearest friend. "Oh, you have no idea Iris. No idea."

Dropping to where the shattered pieces of the glass flute laid before looking at Paul. He had used the flute to change time back to when the curse had never occurred, causing everyone to die, not. And since the flute could removed the intention of the event that had been erased to ever happening again. In other words, the curse was gone for good.

Picking up the dust of the glass flute left behind, Dawn blew it towards the cold boy.

"Grant my last wish. Bring Paul back to me."

Reggie watched as he saw the dust sprinkle over his younger brother before fading from sight. Like a miracle Paul's body started to glow lightly for a few seconds before fading away. Within seconds his eyes began to flicker and soon a boy with onyx eyes was looking back at his brother. Turning his head slightly he was greeted with a young teenager about to burst into tears.

Like he feared, the woman started to cry in his arms.

"Oh come on. Let go!" Paul complained as he tried to get the overwhelmed woman off him.

Reggie laughed as he watched Paul refusing to be embraced by Dawn. Paul soon gave up as Dawn made her arms around him. Dawn looked back at the trainer with a giant smile.

"It worked!"

Paul blinked before looking around himself and saw everyone that said to die, was alive once more. There was no doubt that Ash, Iris and Cynthia was back alive, wherever they were. He looked at his hands and saw he was really alive and the dream was over. He saved everyone. For once, he wasn't thinking about whatever would happen to him.

"You save us." Dawn spoke, trying not to let her voice break. "Thank you Paul."

"Thank you Paul."

Rushing into his arms once again, Paul stood there in shock as Dawn's words echoed in his mind. He couldn't believe it. Somebody was... grateful for what he had done. He raised his hands and hugged the teenager back, both causing their face to fluster.

"I'm sure you know the reason why I came after you, right?"

Pulling back, Dawn nodded. "It was me, wasn't it?"

The boy took a sigh of relief, "Well mainly you but there were others too." Dawn tilted her head. Confusion was all over her face and the others as well. Paul tried to hide the smile on his face as he replied, "It was my friends as well."

Dawn moved in closer and stroked his cheek as a cheeky smile crossed her face as she rushed to his lips, catching everyone off guard, mainly Paul. Pulling apart Dawn pulled out her tongue at him as she rushed over to his hands and forced him to his feet. She laughed at how red Paul's face had become. She patted his frozen face lightly as she continued to laugh.

Paul soon returned to reality as he looked over his shoulder and nodded towards his brother. After laughing Dawn looked back at Paul and saw a cheeky smirk on his face. Grabbing onto her arm he pulled her closer to her, locking lips with her. It was Dawn's turn for her face to turn all red and Paul's turn to smile at her flustered face.

After their kiss, "But mainly you, I hope that kiss told you why."

"I-I" Dawn continued to stutter. Paul smiled as he patted Dawn's head as she watched him making his way back towards his home. Passing his brother. Taking in a minute to get herself together Dawn stomped her way to Paul and stopped.

"I like you too you jerk!" She yelled with a flustered face.

With a smile Paul turned around. "Yeah, I figured that."

And everyone around couldn't help but smile.

"Finally, I'm able to see you smile of yours once again."

A/N: There you have it. This story is done. I hope you enjoyed reading this very unique Ikari story. I was very flattered with this story was up for an award back on serebii and the fact people even voted on it to win makes this author very happy.

I hope you enjoy this story. This story was originally meant to have a sad ending but i decided after what Dawn and Paul had been through, I decided not to. But if people request for it I might post a alternate or original planned ending.

Oh, what ever happened to Team Galactic? I'll leave that up to you all. Did they ever make it to Sinnoh seeing it covered in nothing but darkness? Use your imagination.

Until my next Ikarishipping story, thank you all for reading!

~midnight