Disclaimer: All rights for Pokémon and its respective trademarks go to Satoshi Tajiri, Nintendo, Game Freak, et al.
XashXdawnX- I think many of you will enjoy this chapter. It took me so long because I spent so long on the ending trying to decided if I should be mean or not. Was I mean or was I nice? Find out and hope you enjoy!
I sat propping myself up on my elbows waiting for Dawn to come back.
"Why is it always me?" I asked quietly.
First it was Violet possessing me, then it was the aura coma I think that's what she called it, and now it's getting stabbed.
"Useless that's what I am right now." I said irritated.
"You aren't useless. You might be sick and hurt, but you make great company."
I glanced up and saw Dawn. She had a shadow holding some wood and she held part of a bush with berries on it.
She walked to the cave and didn't come out. After a few minutes she walked back out dressed in a black tight shirt, black shorts, and shorter boots. I could only stare at her. A lot of thoughts raced through my head.
"What?" she asked tilting her head.
She held a berry in one hand and cloth in the other.
"Ash?"
I shook my head and glanced at the water. Her boots appeared in my vision and I stayed looking at the water.
"Ash?"
"Hmm?"
"How do you feel?" she asked concerned.
"Better," I replied.
"Uh huh, look at me."
I sighed and looked at her. She frowned and put her hand to my forehead.
"You're hot," she said.
"I know I'm hot, Dawn." I said smirking.
I think the fever was affecting me because I think Dawn was blushing.
"Shut up Ash, you know what I'm talking about." she said.
She held the berry to me.
"Eat this, it should help your fever and the pain."
I took the berry and saw that it was an Oran Berry. I took a bite of the berry and Dawn smiled. Dawn moved to the stream and stuck her hand in the water. She nodded her head and placed the piece of cloth in the water, placing a rock over it.
Dawn and I were in the cave. The glow of the fire the only light. I leaned against the wall with my hand against my side. Dawn was leaning against the wall looking at the fire.
"Feel any better?" she asked.
"Honestly I have no idea." I said.
She leaned over and placed her hand on my forehead. Her hand was cool against my head.
"Damn those berries aren't doing anything. Your fever is still there." she said frowning.
I lowered myself to the cave floor that was cool and laid there. Dawn scooted over and placed my head on her lap.
She pushed my hair back from my face.
"When I didn't feel good my mom would play with my hair. It made me feel better because I wasn't thinking about being sick." she said.
She played with my hair and it did help I wasn't thinking about the pain in my side. I looked at Dawn to see that her eyes sparkled from the flames. She looked like an angel.
"What?" I asked myself.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah I was just thinking."
She just nodded her head.
I shook my head. Wrong move. Everything started spinning. I put my hand to my head and closed my eyes.
"You alright?"
"Yeah I just got dizzy."
I looked at the sky to notice that the sun was going to be setting soon.
"Let's get in the cave. It's almost sunset." Dawn said reaching into the water for the cloth.
I got up and stood still. Everything was spinning. I saw four of Dawn.
"Slow down Ash. You're going to be eating dirt in a second." Dawn said laughing.
She put her arm around my waist and helped me walk straight. We were now in the cave and she let go.
"Thanks Dawn," I said sitting down with my back against the wall of the cave.
"Mhmm,"
She struck a match and the wood was on fire now. I looked at the dancing flames and all was quiet in the cave. I glanced at Dawn and she was looking at the fire too.
She stood up and walked over to me.
"Lay down Ash." she said softly.
"Why?" I asked.
"It looks like it's killing you to sit up."
I felt the pain that was coming from my side. I nodded my head and laid on the ground. Dawn sat down and put my head on her lap.
I jumped when something cool hit my forehead.
"Cold?" Dawn asked with a small giggle.
"Yeah, what's that?" I asked.
"The cloth from the stream. You're burning up Ash."
"Shouldn't the fever be gone?"
"Hopefully by tomorrow it will be."
I looked at Dawn and I remembered the vision I had.
"Ash?"
"Hmm?"
I felt her hands playing with my hair again.
"What's gonna happen?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked looking at her.
She glanced at me and then she looked at the fire.
"I mean we're all getting captured. What if we all get captured? What will happen?"
I could hear the uneasiness in her voice. Everything was catching up to her. She was worried and scared. Misty was captured then Drew and Gary. Earlier today or was it yesterday? Violet was captured. We have no idea if May was captured and what about Seth and Jewel? Soon they would be coming after us and what would happen?
I pushed myself up and looked at her.
"Dawn, look at me." I said.
She looked at me and I sighed quietly.
"Dawn, as long as I'm here I won't allow anything to happen to you. I'm going to protect you. I'll be your knight in shining armor if need be."
I stayed focus on the fire so I wouldn't read her thoughts, but they were loud and invaded my thoughts in pieces.
He's- sweet- maybe- why- I've- for- him- I- tell-
I looked at Dawn and she was still quiet. She hadn't said anything. She saw me looking at her and her eyes lowered slightly.
"Did you read my thoughts?" she asked sounding panicked.
"No,"
It wasn't a complete lie I hadn't read them. They invaded my thoughts.
"Thanks Ash," she said softly.
I starred at the flames and suddenly I was tired. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
I looked at the ashes of the fire and walked out of the cave. I scanned where Dawn had gone and found her.
I sat down near the stream and cupped some water in my hands. I splashed the water on my face and I heard a branch break.
I looked up to find Dawn, but she wasn't alone. She was being held by a grunt with a gun to her back. I grabbed Dawn's dagger and stood up.
"I wouldn't if I were you."
I glared as Dawn's uncle walked out from the trees.
"Why not?" I asked.
"With a snap of my fingers Dawn will die."
I lowered my eyes at him.
"Drop the knife."
"Let Dawn go."
"I will, just put the knife down."
"Don't listen to him Ash!" Dawn cried.
"Shut up!" her uncle cried slapping her.
"Okay okay. I'll drop the knife. Just don't hurt her." I said.
I dropped the knife to the ground and waited.
"So sorry to disappoint." her uncle cried.
My vision became fuzzy and Dawn was shaking her head. Her uncle could take powers too?
"Now time to finish what I started. Princess you're about to be crushed." he said.
A gun went off and then I was falling to the ground. I could see now, but it pained me to even breathe. The grunt shoved Dawn to the ground and the grunt and her uncle vanished.
Dawn ran over to me with tears running down her face.
"I'm so sorry! I should have been careful! I'm sorry!" she sobbed.
She put her hands to the wound. She shook her head and she was shaking more now.
"What?" I asked.
"My ring it's gone. I-I-I ca-can't h-hea-heal you." she said looking at her hands which were now stained red.
"Dawn, it's alright. It's not your fault. I would die protecting you Dawn."
"I know a-an-and you ca-can't d-die As-Ash."
The pain was becoming stronger by the second and I felt my senses leaving.
"Dawn...it hurts...a lot."
"P-Please Ash,"
My eyes were starting to get heavy.
"Don't you dare die Ash!" she screamed.
My eyes snapped opened and looked at her.
"You can't leave." she muttered.
I took a breath and it hurt to do that.
"Dawn..."
She looked at me.
"I'm sorry..." I said quietly.
"Ash no!"
I raised my hand to her cheek.
"I...Dawn I l-"
I could feel my pulse slowing.
"I love you." I breathed.
Dawn leaned down and her lips brushed mine. A few tears hit my face. My eyes closed and my breathing stopped.
"No! Ash no!" Dawn cried placing her head on my chest.
My spirit looked at her as I hovered over my body.
"I love you Ash." she sobbed.
The setting changed and now I was surrounded by darkness.
"If only that would happen. If you died my niece would be crushed. She would be heartbroken."
I couldn't speak my voice was gone.
"That my boy was a nightmare. It was a dream, but I put a charm on that dagger I used. It causes a fever, but at night while you sleep nightmares will come. Enjoy life...while you can."
Dawn's POV
Ash had been quiet for a while and I glanced over at him. His eyes were closed and his breathing was soft.
"Oh he's asleep." I muttered softly.
I saw the cloth was on the ground.
"Must have fallen off when he sat up." I said grabbing it.
I smiled thinking of what he had said.
"That was really sweet of him." I said softly.
Ash made a noise and I glanced at him. He jerked and then he was still. I noticed that his hair was clinging to his head. He was sweating a lot.
I leaned over holding my breath and very carefully touched his forehead. His forehead was still hot. His fever was either getting worse or going away.
"I need to get this cloth wet again." I said standing up.
I walked out of the cave and into the clearing. The cool, crisp night air felt refreshing. With everything going on it's hard to know when your last day will be. Who knows it could be soon.
"Okay Dawn stop it. You just scared yourself." I muttered.
I put the cloth in the water and felt for a rock.
"Ow!" I cried pulling my right hand out of the water.
I raised my hand up to the moonlight and saw that my hand was bleeding.
"Just a cut." I said.
I placed a rock over the cloth. For some reason I felt something calling me to the cave. I hurried to the cave to find Ash's leg almost in the fire. I hurried over and moved his leg over.
I sat back down and Ash jerked again.
"He's going to fall over if he keeps doing that." I muttered.
I was able to get him laying down on the ground.
I looked at my hand and saw that the cut was in the middle of my hand and I had smeared blood on my hands.
Ash muttered something. I glanced down at him and right as I did his eyes snapped opened and he sat up quickly, knocking our heads together.
"Ow!" I cried rubbing my forehead.
Ash was breathing heavy and uneven. I looked at him to see him looking around.
"Ash?" I asked quietly.
He looked at me and then put his hand to his head.
"You okay?" I asked.
His breathing was slowing down and going back to normal.
"Just a nightmare. I can't sleep until this fever is gone." he said.
"Why?"
"The dagger your uncle used was charmed to give me nightmares at night. He told me just now."
"How?"
Ash shook his head.
"Okay,"
A silence hung in the air. I stood up to go get the cloth.
"Where are you going?" Ash asked.
"To get the cloth. I'll be right back, I promise." I said.
I saw his eyes glow blue and I knew he was doing an aura scan for any danger.
"It's clear,"
I walked out of the cave and to the stream. I grabbed the cloth and looked at the stars.
"When you're older and you no longer live with me, just look at the heart in the sky. I'll always be with you Dawn."
My mom had told me those words the day before I left home. I walked back into the cave and over to Ash.
I rubbed the cloth over his face trying to cool his face and to get the sweat that clung to it off. I sat down and Ash still look uneasy.
That must have been some nightmare.
"Hey how about you lay down?" I asked.
"I can't fall asleep." he said.
"You won't Ash. I'll stay up with you."
He laid on the ground with his head in my lap. I ran my hands through his hair.
"...Dawn?"
"Yeah?"
"If you feared you only had a little while left to live what would you do?"
My hands stopped in Ash's hair. I started messing with his hair again.
"Well..." I trailed.
I was hoping what I would say wouldn't freak him out.
"I would spend time with you." I said softly.
"Why me?" he asked.
I can't tell him I've been having nightmares haunt me ever since we split up into groups. I'll just tell him a few reasons of why I would hang out with him.
"Cause you're different. You're really sweet and funny. You've helped me and..." I trailed unable to say the rest.
"That's not all of it." he said with a knowing look.
"You read my thoughts."
"I didn't mean to read them, they entered my thoughts. I choose not to read your thoughts. You know Dawn a wise young woman once told me "if someone always seems to want to be with you more and all...that the person cared for you." I think I know what she meant now."
I looked at Ash shocked. His words then processed and I blushed.
"So A-Ash wh-what abou-about you?" I asked.
Dawn get a grip!
Ash chuckled quietly and then winced.
"Well...I would spend time with you." he said.
"Me?" I squeaked.
"Yeah..."
"Why?"
"Why wouldn't I? Dawn you're sweet, caring, nice, fun to be with, and..." he said muttering something.
I blushed again.
"What was the last thing?" I asked.
"Umm...I wouldn't allow what happened in my nightmare to happen?"
"Uh huh, which was?"
"I...I umm can't tell umm can't tell you."
Ash was nervous and antsy. I looked at him and he frowned and shook his head.
"You took my power." he said.
"No, I didn't...oh oops."
I had taken his power with no intention to take it. Suddenly I wasn't in the world and I wasn't myself, I was seeing from Ash's eyes.
I looked at the ashes of the fire and walked out of the cave. I scanned where Dawn had gone and found her.
I sat down near the stream and cupped some water in my hands. I splashed the water on my face and I heard a branch break.
I looked up to find Dawn, but she wasn't alone. She was being held by a grunt with a gun to her back. I grabbed Dawn's dagger and stood up.
"I wouldn't if I were you."
I glared as Dawn's uncle walked out from the trees.
"Why not?" I asked.
"With a snap of my fingers Dawn will die."
I lowered my eyes at him.
"Drop the knife."
"Let Dawn go."
"I will, just put the knife down."
"Don't listen to him Ash!" Dawn cried.
"Shut up!" her uncle cried slapping her.
"Okay okay. I'll drop the knife. Just don't hurt her." I said.
I dropped the knife to the ground and waited.
"So sorry to disappoint." her uncle cried.
My vision became fuzzy and Dawn was shaking her head. Her uncle could take powers too?
"Now time to finish what I started. Princess you're about to be crushed." he said.
A gun went off and then I was falling to the ground. I could see now, but it pained me to see what I saw. The grunt shoved Dawn to the ground and the grunt and her uncle vanished.
Dawn ran over to me with tears running down her face.
"I'm so sorry! I should have been careful! I'm sorry!" she sobbed.
She put her hands to the wound. She shook her head and she was shaking more now.
"What?" I asked.
"My ring it's gone. I-I-I ca-can't h-hea-heal you." she said looking at her hands which were now stained red.
"Dawn, it's alright. It's not your fault. I would die protecting you Dawn."
"I know a-an-and you ca-can't d-die As-Ash."
The pain was becoming stronger by the second and I felt my senses leaving.
"Dawn...it hurts...a lot."
"P-Please Ash,"
My eyes were starting to get heavy.
"Don't you dare die Ash!" she screamed.
My eyes snapped opened and looked at her.
"You can't leave." she muttered.
I took a breath and it hurt to do that.
"Dawn..."
She looked at me.
"I'm sorry..." I said quietly.
"Ash no!"
I raised my hand to her cheek.
"I...Dawn I l-"
I could feel my pulse slowing.
"I love you." I breathed.
Dawn leaned down and her lips brushed mine. A few tears hit my face. My eyes closed and my breathing stopped.
"No! Ash no!" Dawn cried placing her head on my chest.
My spirit looked at her as I hovered over my body.
"I love you Ash." she sobbed.
The setting changed and now I was surrounded by darkness.
"If only that would happen. If you died my niece would be crushed. She would be heartbroken."
I couldn't speak my voice was gone.
"That my boy was a nightmare. It was a dream, but I put a charm on that dagger I used. It causes a fever, but at night while you sleep nightmares will come. Enjoy life...while you can."
I gasped and looked at Ash.
"I saw your nightmare." I said.
"How?" he asked.
"It played when I realized I had taken your power. I didn't mean to take it. I was just star- uh looking at you."
"I know you didn't mean to take it."
"Ash, that won't happen. I won't allow my uncle to harm you again."
I looked at Ash and a lot of thoughts raced through my head.
Ash sat up and looked at me. I looked back at him.
His chocolate orbs were drowning me. His hair was so soft. I starred at his eyes and I saw the usual playfulness, kindness, and then something I couldn't place.
Ash's POV
Dawn had seen the nightmare. That nightmare had made me think things that I had been pushing back to the back of my mind.
I sat up and looked at her and she looked back at me. Suddenly those thoughts were at the front of my mind. Things that had happened since meeting Dawn played through my head.
"We can't. We almost failed the first few minutes we met you three. I nearly killed you, I caused you to get hurt when fighting you, you almost got hurt by the laser, I almost killed you with a dagger, the nightmare I had you were the one who..." I explained trailing the last sentence.
I felt something grip my hand and I looked down. Dawn had gripped my hand and she was looking at me.
"Ash, it's alright. I'm alive right? Why does almost killing me bug you? Why is the nightmare haunting you?" she asked softly.
I looked at the night sky since it was now dark out and the others were asleep.
"I don't know,"
"You sure?"
"Yeah,"
"I'll let you think about that. Maybe you won't have the nightmare haunting you..." Dawn trailed as she rose from the ground. She kissed my cheek and said, "Anymore. Night Ash."
Her uncle sent a shadow at me and it grabbed me.
"Stop! Let him go! This is our fight!" Dawn cried.
Her uncle looked over at her.
"You two got a thing or something?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"No,"
"Oh so you won't mind if I kill him? I'll kill him and take his powers then I'll be able to easily defeat you."
Dawn stood frozen where she stood.
"Don't you dare kill him." she muttered.
Her uncle clentched his fist and the shadow's grip on my tightened.
"Ack!" I cried.
"I'm sorry Ash..." she muttered.
I looked at her and was able to read her thoughts.
"NO! NO DAWN!" I screamed.
I ran over to where Dawn had landed. She was at the same place she was when she was thirteen.
She laid so still, but she was still breathing. You could see the rise and fall of her chest.
"Dawn," I muttered sadly.
"Ash I'm sorry. It was..the only way..to save you..." Dawn said weakly.
She opened her eyes which were so much lighter than normal.
"No Dawn it wasn't the only way! He's gone!" I cried on the verge of tears.
Dawn coughed and when she did blood splattered my shirt.
"It's no use. I knew this was going to happen. At least the attack didn't make me vanish." she muttered.
"Dawn..."
"Ash...I never got to tell you this..."
"Tell me what?"
"I...liked you...the first day I saw you...I'm sorry we couldn't have what...I and you wished for..." she said barely audible.
"Dawn please don't..."
Dawn's eyes changed to an even lighter shade of blue and her skin had gone deathly pale.
She looked at the others, mainly May and Misty.
"Bye," she said and looked back at me.
"Dawn please," I said choking on my words.
"Bye Ash,"
She took a breath and she stopped moving. Her eyes stared at the sky and I closed her eyes.
"He's there? I can't win. That vision is going to be real." she said crying.
"NO! I won't allow it to come true!" I cried.
"It will Ash. My uncle is too strong. I can't beat him."
"I'll help you Dawn."
"NO! I can't allow you to get hurt or killed!"
"Dawn I'm the only one who can help you.
"Dawn I'm the only one who can help you. We both have an aura. I am not going to let you die...no matter what."
"Touch him and see what happens." Dawn threatened.
Her uncle glanced back over at me since I was becoming weaker.
"Hmm he doesn't look so good." her uncle muttered.
Dawn glanced over at me.
"No," she said softly.
I looked at Dawn and I remembered my vision from earlier. Her face glowed from the flames, her eyes sparkled, and she looked at me with a small smile on her face. I looked at her eyes which held concern, the spark that was always there, and then some unknown look.
I bit my lip unsure what to do. My mind screamed no, my body screamed yes, and then my gut was saying heart! My heart said yes.
I ignored the screaming of my brain and leaned towards Dawn.
Dawn's POV
I looked at Ash and he looked far away. He suddenly bit his lip and looked so unsure. He looked so innocent. He seemed to be having a mental debate with himself. Then he started leaning towards me.
I found myself leaning in too.
My lips brushed Ash's and his hand cupped my face while his other hand held my hand. I pulled away from lack of breath and looked at Ash. He looked back at me with a small smile and his hand still holding my hand. I smiled back at him.
Sooo? Good, bad, hate it, love it?
Please R&R
