Courtesy Lemon Warning: Fairly descriptive sexual content in this chapter.

Chapter 4 – Catharsis

Dawn came to the Pokémon center as soon as she could. She was held back by the crowd as it emptied from the arena. She knew that Ash would be at the Pokémon center to make sure his loyal companions received the treatment they needed as soon as possible. As soon as she was able to wriggle her way free from the packed hallway leading to the exit of the arena, she made a mad dash to the medical facilities, which at this point in the tournament were far less crowded. When she arrived, she didn't see Ash there. All he saw was a lone Nurse Joy and her Chansey companion working at the front counter.

Dawn, without any hesitation sprinted to the desk, and even while half-winded, asked the pink-haired lady, "Hi! Have you seen Ash Ketchum! I need to talk to him!"

The lady eyed Dawn suspiciously and then answered, "Are you some fan hoping to get his autograph? Because I don't think he'd appreciate that right now."

A look of confusion passed over Dawn's face, which rearranged itself into an expression of shock and embarrassment when she realized what she probably looked and sounded like at the moment, "Oh! No no no no! I'm his friend! He brought me here with him as support, but I lost him after the match!"

"Don't worry, I've seen her with him before," a new female voice, very similar to Nurse Joy's came from the back of the center. Another Nurse Joy walked forward with the trademark Joy smile on her face. She looked a bit older than the one Dawn was talking to, but not by much. She continued, "Her name is Dawn, and she came in with Mr. Ketchum earlier in the tournament when I had to take care of his Pokémon before."

"Oh," the younger Joy said regretfully, with some embarrassment, "My apologies. Mr. Ketchum came in earlier to deliver his Pokémon for treatment, and to check on his Pikachu. He was quite distraught with their conditions. He went straight back down that hall where he came from, towards the red trainer locker room."

"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Dawn said, bowing her head in gratitude.

"You're welcome," they replied in unison.

"If it's ok for me to ask, how are his Pokémon doing?" Dawn inquired nervously.

The older Nurse Joy spoke first, "His Pikachu came in pretty rough condition, but I've stabilized him, and completed his first set of treatments, though he'll need to be attended to more over the course of the night. Otherwise he should be recovered in a couple of days."

The younger Joy added to her older sister, "And his other Pokémon weren't in near as bad shape as Pikachu, so they just need some minor treatment and rest. Though Charizard took quite a beating and has a lot of Crobat poison in his system, that Pokémon is a toughie, and should recover as soon as Pikachu."

Dawn looked a bit more relieved at this news and breathed out a sigh of relief, "Thank you both! Now I need to go help Ash!"

"Please do. The man looked about as beat up as his Pokémon," the younger Joy said sorrowfully.

Dawn quickly ran off in the direction of the locker rooms. Hoping to find her love and help him through what she knew would be a rough patch. Ash helped her before, and she was determined to do the same for him.

Ash sat in his locker room, utterly dismayed.

How? He mentally interrogated himself, How did I lose the match... no... that's not what I should be asking... how did I lose track of what was really important.

Worse, how could I let Pikachu do that? How could I hesitate... That was completely reckless. I'm not worthy of the title of trainer, let alone master.

Sure, the Nurse Joy said he would be ok. But it didn't matter. He knew that he had failed in his mandate to put his Pokémon's interests ahead of his own. For him, it was ultimate insult to his role as a trainer. It flew in the face of his dream. No longer could he look back and say that he became a master while always considering the well-being of his Pokémon before anything else.

He cursed himself silently. Jarrow's demeanour had put him off somehow. He let his opponent's mind games throw him off balance. It just let him lower his guard and lose his focus. He was disappointed, again not with his Pokémon, but with himself. Even with Dawn there, he managed to somehow lose. He was crushed. He couldn't even bear to look at himself in the mirror. After how badly Pikachu had been hurt, Ash didn't know if he would ever be able to send his starter into battle without remembering this battle and recoiling in terror. He didn't know how he was going to look at Dawn either. He knew he didn't deserve to.

"I was going to win it... for us."

A sharp knock on the locker room door shook him from his thoughts.

"Ash!" a gentle female voice emanated from the door.

He couldn't bear to see her. To let her see him. He thought he knew what he was missing. He thought she was what he was missing. He was wrong. He still couldn't win a league. He still couldn't challenge the elite four. He couldn't reach a champion. He still couldn't become a master.

"Ash, please open the door. I know what you're feeling right now, and I want to help! Please!"

Such a wonderful voice, he thought mournfully, I don't deserve to hear it. I failed her. I failed Pikachu...

"Ash, listen to me please! I need to see you! Don't let this send you on another lonely trip around the world! I need you! I can't let you run away!"

Bless her voice, he spoke in his mind. It was pleading, yet somehow, invigorating. He was conflicted. These new feelings for Dawn were so powerful. The emotions that had surfaced through their new journey through Sinnoh, culminating in the events directly before the match, kept pounding back and forth within the walls of his skull. The memories of the kiss with Dawn and the accompanying bliss clashed with the undeniable guilt and snapshots of Pikachu lying unmoving on the ground. They dueled with the inherent guilt from today that now joined forces with the old guilt that sent him on his travels in the first place. His mind was a battlefield, and he felt he was coming undone because of it.

He sat on the bench, his pounding head in his hands, not even noticing the sound of the door unlocking. There was a brief 'thank you' in the distance and the sound of the door opening and closing quickly. Ash remained in his position, motionless despite the new presence that entered the room. She drew closer to him, and for a moment, he nearly felt able to move. Her smell entered his nostrils and he almost breathed out in relief. But then he remembered that he didn't deserve her.

Dawn had changed back into her normal clothes, feeling the cheerleader outfit did not befit the situation. She needed to comfort him and offer him safe ground, free of what had just happened. The pink frilly pom-poms would only remind him of that. She was nervous though. She knew that what she likely said in the next few minutes would determine his future: If he would continue his quest to be a master, or if he decided that it wasn't worth it.

"Ash, I know this is hard. But you'll get through it," she paused and put a gentle dainty hand on his shoulder. The tension in Ash's body began to ebb slowly. She continued, "No, we will get through it."

The battle in Ash's mind took a turn. His feelings of longing toward Dawn began to fight back, stronger than ever, seeming to almost take strength from both her words and her touch. Ash's body, while slowly warming, did not stir.

"I know you think you broke a promise to me today. But you made the right choice. The noble one. You put your Pokémon above all else. And nothing, could make me love you more," Dawn spoke to Ash gently. While her words were true, they only brought on the pain of realization for him. The hesitation; that part of him he now knew existed was evidence that he craved victory. That was part of him which nearly cost him his dear friend. And that was why her words rung hollow in his ears. She saw his continued stillness, and continued to try and comfort him.

"Just remember Ash, what you said to me. That you know, I'll always cheer for you. No matter what," she moved her hand from one shoulder its opposite as she sat down beside him, holding him close, "And it's true. I'll never stop. Never. You are my hero, my saviour and my love."

Ash's mind was on fire. He heard everything she said, but only one word seemed to resonate in his head. Love. The guilt was slowly fading, but it still lay there, enduring, tainting his consciousness. The rest of him, however, was slowly reacting to the presence of the blue haired beauty beside him. Dawn slowly removed his hands from his head, and turned it so that their eyes finally met.

That was it.

The battle was won.

The wonderful face of this gorgeous woman had entered his field of view and he couldn't help but melt. He face went from static to enamoured in less than a second. And even as he stared into the gorgeous blue eyes of this woman he didn't deserve, his own eyes, which he thought already drained, began to tear up once more. He couldn't explain it. This woman was divine. It was as though she was sent to save him and him alone. She, in return, saw his reaction and was utterly relieved and content. She put her hand to his cheek and he closed his eyes reflexively, not out of fear, but out of comfort. She wiped away his tears with the softest, most caring touch he swore he had ever felt. For the first time in what seemed like hours, Ash moved of his own free will. It was a simple gesture. It was one of gratitude and understanding. He mimicked her hand by putting his to her opposing cheek. She too, closed her eyes. For minutes they sat there like that, simply feeling each other's emotions through the physical contact. All their guilt, passion, longing, dreams and love were passed back and forth. They knew one another completely. It was magic.

Slowly they both opened their eyes and gazed longingly into the portals to one another's souls. They both understood one another and just stood up together and kissed. It wasn't the passionate messy kiss like they had before. This one was soft, supple, and delicate. It was what they both needed right then. When it ended, they held each other's hands and finally one of them spoke.

"Let's go Ash. I know somewhere peaceful. Somewhere away from all this."

He merely nodded, not making a sound. She took him by the hand and they left the locker room. He didn't care where she was taking him; only that she was going to be there when they arrived. They snuck away through a side exit of the stadium to avoid the press. Neither of them wanted that at the moment. Dawn, with more force than usually befit the lithe young lady, pulled Ash into the wooded area around the Lily of the Valley grounds. They strode through the trees quickly and quietly, Dawn seeming to know exactly where she going, while Ash was pulled blindly along the way. It didn't matter though. He trusted her completely. She could lead him to the edge of a cliff and he would follow her now. Where she was leading him, however, was far better.

They began to climb a forested hill, the tallest on the island. It was a lengthy and exhausting ascent, but it was worth it. The couple emerged from the thicket onto a mound of grass at the very peak of the island, capped by a single tree. He could see the entirety of the landmass, and even mainland Sinnoh in the distance. In the light of the moon and the stars, it was a vista that they knew they were likely never to see again. It was perfect.

It's not perfect, he mentally corrected himself, turning to her. He saw her bathed in the moon's rays and she seemed to almost glimmer. Her blue hair swayed in the gentle breeze, and her blue eyes reflected the moon's gleam in a most magical way. Her perfect skin shone gently. It really was like she was an angel.

She's perfect.

He tried to speak but he just couldn't. His mouth opened, but no words came forth.

Dawn giggled at this, and put a finger to his lips to stop his attempts. She drew close, and at the last moment withdrew her finger, replacing it with her lips instead. The kiss was like before: delicate, soft and tender. But it grew from that this time. It deepened, becoming more passionate. More and more, it began to resemble their first kiss that day. The carnal, sexual passion took hold and they gripped one another tightly.

His hand wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her to him. The feeling of having her entire body against him was wonderful. She did the same with her hands around his neck, making the kiss even deeper than before. It was in throes of this new deepness that his tongue probed forward, seeking her lips. She opened her mouth slightly, just enough to invite him. He took the invitation gladly, sliding it in slowly, as not to shock her. It explored her mouth cautiously, until at last it met hers. The duel began. They first touched, timidly touching and retreating from one another. Then they competed against one another, writhing, slipping, dodging, and pushing back and forth.

At last, Dawn's managed to sneak about and push his tongue past her lips and through his. Now she explored his mouth deeply. It moved about sensually; glad to know every bit of his wonderful mouth and meeting his tongue once again. While their tongues continued, their hands played a different sort of game. It was one of pure exploration. Ash's hands traveled up and down Dawn's back, tickling her spine and causing her to moan involuntarily. He learned every inch of her supple skin with one hand while the other teased her hip. He grew bolder soon enough and cupped one cheek of her rear with his hand and she gasped, leading her to end the kiss sooner than she would have liked. Her hand continued to draw circles his lower chest. She loved how he felt. Though she hated that his foolish reasoning had led him to travel the world alone, she loved what it had done to his body.

They locked eyes again, having been opened after the kiss ended. They both looked into each other's souls with such longing it would have burned a hole through any other person had they stood between the two lovers. Dawn's hands moved to the hem of Ash's shirt. Normally he would've been startled by such an action, but not now. This was how it was meant to happen. This is what he had been waiting for his entire life. Forget being a Pokémon Master, forget being a great trainer. Forget seeing the world, or impressing his friends and rivals. He never knew it until now, but he found the one thing he was looking for since the day he was born.

The love of his life.

She drew up the shirt over his head and revealed his toned body. He worked out and traveled enough that he was fit. He didn't bulge with muscles, but she didn't want that. She wanted Ash, as he was: The perfect man for her. She laid her hands on his chest, and the skin-to-skin contact felt electric. She exhaled as though she had been holding her breath her entire life, and now she could breathe again. Ash, too, felt something kindling within him. She took the base of her black shirt and began to lift, albeit apprehensively. He stopped midway up, afraid that he was overstepping his bounds. She took his hands, held them gently, and looked at him. She motioned upwards with her hands and put her arms directly above her head in expectation. It was an expectation that Ash would not disappoint. He pulled it up and beheld her nearly naked form. The more of her skin that was illuminated by the moonlight, the more he seemed to come alive.

She took his hands and placed them on her pink skirt. He was still extremely nervous, but she nodded to him. With both their sets of hands, they slid the skirt down from her wondrous hips until gravity did the rest. All that remained on her lower half was a pair of blue panties that matched her bra. She smiled at him and giggled nervously.

For the first time since they left the stadium, Ash uttered one word, "Dawn." His voice was hoarse, but full of feeling. Moved less by what he said, but rather how thick with emotion he had said it, she quickly pulled him to her. The contact of bare skin against bare skin was enough to send shivers into both of them. But Dawn overcame quickly, reconnecting in another deep kiss. Dawn resumed her mission to rid her love of his last remaining articles of clothing and she quickly accomplished her goal. She pulled down his pants which, accidentally or not, took his boxers with them. He became, momentarily, intensely self-conscious, but Dawn kissed the feelings of doubt and insecurity away. He relaxed again and embraced the kiss.

His hands began to move along her form again, until he found the clasp of her bra. He fumbled, but by some miracle, undid them; without even a reaction from Dawn they fell away. However, the contact of her breasts on his chest did elicit a reaction. She let out a long droning moan that seemed to set Ash on fire. One of his hands, guided by nothing more than instinct, moved between them and cupped her left breast, while the other moved southward on her opposite side.

He had absolutely no experience in this field, but it seemed almost instinctual for him. He began to draw circles around her nipple with his finger that grew smaller and smaller. In response, Dawn hands went to work as well. One gripped one of his toned rear, while the other moved in a more devious direction. Just as Ash began slide her panties down, her hand grasped the now erect shaft poking at her midsection. Ash gasped, unable to comprehend the feeling of something so good. His task of lowering her panties was left half finished as he tried to steady his mind and body against the sensation now gripping him literally and figuratively.

She began to move her hands back and forth, drawing hitched sounds from Ash, who desperately tried to remain in control of his faculties as he was driven blissfully mad. At last his hand regained its control as it moved back to the panties and finished the job it had started. They fell to the ground onto the earlier discarded skirt.

They both stepped back from one another to take each other in fully. Now both completely in the nude, they couldn't help but admire one another. Dawn's body was shapely and slender. Her small breasts complimented her perfectly, while her womanhood, while mostly hidden between her closed legs, seemed to beckon him forth, even from beneath that small patch of bluish hair. As she turned away in nervousness, Ash also managed a glimpse of her rear. It was cute and round; perfectly shaped, and more pronounced than her clothes let on. It, too, added to her divine form.

She looked on his toned body as well. His chest and stomach were perfect, his legs and arms were strong, and his shaft was all too eager to reach her. Ash looked hungrily at her while Dawn reciprocated his stare, with her gaze darting between his eyes and his member repeatedly. But there was also love in their eyes, and their mutual reverence held them back from complete and utter animalistic behaviour.

They approached and embraced each other tenderly. And Ash finally found words again, "Is this what you want?"

She gave him a small smile, her eyes glistening with adoration. She loved that, even after all this, he wanted to know what she wanted. He truly was selfless. She held him close, and kissed him on the lips softly; a memory of the first minutes they were up here. She replied quietly, and firmly, "I have never wanted something so badly in my life."

And harkening back to their meeting at her home only months prior, Ash hugged her deeply. There was no sexuality behind it. There was no carnality. It was a hug of love and comforting relief. He said those same words as he done before.

"Thank... you... Dawn."

She almost began to tear up at the memory he was evoking. But that was not the end of what he had to say. He said three more words which nearly sent her to heaven right then and there.

"I love you."

That sent her beyond her emotional edge. Tears fell freely from her eyes and she withdrew her head from his shoulder and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. She could only say one thing. There was no choice in the matter. She was committed emotionally and physically.

"I love you too."

No more permissions needed to be asked. No more declarations. No more words of comfort. Both their bodies and hearts were laid bare before one another. It was a perfect understanding.

Ash laid her back onto the strangely comforting grass on the crest of the hill. He kissed her, lightly at first. She deepened it and their urges took it from there. He eventually broke their kisses to strike at her throat with further pecks of affection, which she gladly accepted. She strained he neck back to give him more of it to love. He eventually moved from it as well and caressed her breasts. Dawn couldn't even fathom the feelings she was having. It was too intense. It grew more so when he finally moved his mouth to them. She truly broke down then, screaming out in pleasure. He alternated between the two with his mouth, while his hand continued on the other. With his free hand, he moved down towards her womanhood and began to encircle it with his fingers.

She gasped loudly, quickly beginning to run out of air from the heavy breathing and constant gasps and squeals. His hand brushed over her clit, and she convulsed, letting out a shrill yell of pleasure. Ash paused momentarily, pulling his head back and looking at her with concern; he was afraid he had hurt her. She saw this and pulled him back into a deep kiss to alleviate any doubts. His hand returned to that little bundle of nerves and he copied his prior act, sending her careening towards the heavens in bliss once again. He continued to tease her entrance with his hand, and though he only did it for minutes, the sensations made it seem like hours. At last she decided it was time.

"Ash!" she gasped, trying to form a sentence. She failed, "Ash- now! Please, I'm ready!"

Ash's patience had begun to run low then as well, as he eagerly complied. He took a moment to admire form of her womanhood. It truly was divine. It was so beautiful, that he felt almost guilty for what he was about to do, as though his actions would somehow despoil her. But he remembered that she wanted it. He placed himself at her entrance, touching it gently with his throbbing head. He went to kiss her once more. He knew she was virgin still. And that meant one thing. He was deathly concerned for her. He didn't wish to hurt her. She saw the worry in his eyes and she whispered in his ear, in the best sentence she could form, "I know, I'll be fine. Please."

They kissed once more, and then he slowly parted the petals of her flower with his manhood. He entered her slowly and surely. It was not long before he encountered the barrier they both feared. She braced herself and nodded to him. He pushed past it and she did her best to hold her scream in. She was only partly successful. She let out a gurgled half-scream which nearly caused Ash's heart to stop dead cold in his chest. More of her tears joined the rest that had come before, and Ash dared not move for fear of hurting her further. She clenched her eyes shut for nearly a full minute before opening them slowly. She opened them to see her one love looking at her with a concerned face. His look softened as she began to smile again. She felt better. In fact, she felt good now.

She wrapped her legs around his waist, and pulled him the rest of the way herself. Ash was shocked, not only her action, but by the feeling. It was indescribable. She felt so good around him as her inner walls wrapped around him so completely that not even an inch of him was without her velvet touch. There was no way any other event in his life was going to compare. She nodded to him, and he began to move.

He was wrong. Being buried in her depths was great. But moving inside her was even better. Standards were shattered time and time again as they moved together, as one united form. They couldn't stop. They wouldn't stop. It was meant to be. It was ecstasy. It was love.

"Faster," Dawn managed to squeak. Ash could only obey as he accelerated. One of his hands held him aloft just enough to allow him to keep him from crushing her, while the other caressed her form; all the way from her hips, to her breasts, to her cheeks. His every touch was fire on her skin. It was driving her insane. And that was nothing compared to how she felt in her core. His every push, every withdrawal, and every throb stoked a flame deep within her; and it was growing by the second. Her cries grew more rapid, and more pronounced. He tried to stifle his own moans and gasps, but failed miserably. The experience drove them to new heights of sensation for all senses: The smell of one another's lust, the fiery brush of their skin against one another, the taste of their tender lips meeting, the sounds of their frantic breathing and unchecked moans, and the sight of the pure love in each other eyes as they locked. This was paradise to them.

They knew they were close. They knew it was inevitable. All the signs were there. Ash just wanted to let it happen, and take her with him, but he needed to make sure. He had to ask.

"I'm close..." Ash managed to gasp, "Do you want me to..."

She interrupted, each sentence punctuated by a deep, laboured breath, "Please! I want it all! I need it all! Please! I love you so much!"

That was all he needed to hear. He wanted to return the words, but her own reply set his body alight. But she saw the sentiment in his eyes. As they continued, the lovers met in their most powerful kiss yet.

He quickened his pace to levels he thought were impossible. She was driven up the wall and her back arched up towards him in reflex, as though she were offering more of herself to him. He continued to thrust forth until they could only barely tell there was a world around them. It was only them. The ground was just a force keeping them aloft. The wind was nothing next to their movements. The light of the moon was just gleam on each other's skin.

She felt it: The inevitable release. It poured from her inner depths and soaked her throughout, allowing Ash to go even faster, even as her body clamped down on his member. That was enough. He erupted inside her. Years of pent up passion were let loose in seconds within the woman he so desperately loved. It took forever for it to cease and every jet caused just a little bit more pleasure for the already overwhelmed lover beneath him. Even as their carnal desires subsided, replaced by the innocent need to simply hold one another, they refused to detach. She felt simply wonderfully filled by him, and he felt like the absence of her surrounding him would leave him unable to feel good ever again.

They simply lay beside one another, wrapped in each other's arms on the warm summer grasses. They never wanted to leave this place. They never wanted to return to a world beyond this hilltop. And they wouldn't, at least not for that night. The summer breeze caressed them, and they felt no need to cover themselves. They were utterly content as they lay there. No cold, no regret, no guilt, no loneliness. It was the perfect night and the perfect union. Under the stars they continued to embrace one another, as though no force on Earth or beyond could rip them apart.

Before they departed from one another into the realm of sleep, Ash, gazing into her eyes, spoke a few last words to her, "I'll never leave you again. I'm so sorry that I did once. Never again."

In the haze before his dreams, he managed to catch her reply, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to help you fulfill your dream."

He himself was unsure if he managed to say it before he drifted away, but he certainly tried, "It already has been."

With that, Ash fell asleep, with Dawn only seconds behind. She relished the last words of the now unconscious Ash. She managed one last glimpse of her beloved before she fell into her own dreams as well.

Ash awoke on the grass the next morning. He felt rejuvenated in the light of the new sunrise. Before he managed to open his eyes, snapshots of the most wonderful dream he ever had flashed before him. It was all so vivid, almost as though he could still feel her next to him.

His eyes slowly cracked open and his blurred vision slowly came into focus. His heart was unable to decide whether or not to race, somersault or simply stop out of shock and relief. Ash's first sight of the new day was the gleaming face of a contentedly sleeping Dawn, with whom he was still physically entangled.

It wasn't a dream...

She slept peacefully, her face the image of serenity. He was eternally grateful and hoped every morning would be like this from then on. Dawn, his true love, a woman who never ceased to amaze him with her ability to turn his sorrows to joys, and her steadfast commitment to both their goals: She was his happiness.

He didn't need to be a master anymore to achieve what he found with her. He thought it was the only way. But he was wrong. He had finally discovered his real goal, his real dream. To be with her.

But he remembered something crucial. Something he couldn't ignore. His Pokémon. His friends. His loyal companions who agreed to accompany him on this journey to become the very best. He had bonded with them on a personal level, all through the exciting prospect of becoming the greatest the world had ever seen. It wasn't just the trainer who would become a master; it would be his Pokémon too. Of course, these thoughts brought him back to the woes of yesterday. Pikachu still lay in the Pokémon Center, recovering because of his hesitance and his overpowering ambition.

It was enough that he needed a moment to himself. He gingerly untangled himself from the pristine, sleeping Dawn and moved across the hilltop towards the eastern side. He grabbed his pants and boxers as he went and put them back on, but didn't bother with his shirt, it having been tossed aside and fallen further down the path leading back to the tournament grounds. He stared at the coming of the new day. Even his sometimes slow mind couldn't help but realize the symbolism at work. It really was the dawn of a new day, and the dawn of a new part of his life; a life with Dawn.

But that wouldn't be the only thing to change for him in his new life. He contemplated how he needed to think as a trainer from that moment on. He thought he had overcome the selfish desire to win at any cost long ago, but it appeared that small part of it remained, buried deeply, but brought to the surface at a time of stress and desperation. He just kept staring at the ocean, reflecting the shimmering light of the newly risen sun, trying to understand how to do that. That was when he felt a small touch on his shoulder.

For a moment, he almost panicked, but remembered that there was only one person it could be. Dawn had redressed herself, though he only processed it peripherally because his gaze was locked on her glowing face. He looked up to see her smiling visage gleaming in the golden light of the newborn day, but only had to crane his neck momentarily as she decided to sit right next to him and enjoy the sunrise right there with him. They put their arms around one another and she rested her head on his broad shoulder.

"You look like you're thinking about something," she quietly observed.

"Yeah," Ash acknowledged, in just as low a voice.

"Knew it. Your forehead is all wrinkled, like you're having trouble figuring it out," Dawn teased, tapping his opposite shoulder playfully.

"You read me like a book..." Ash answered distantly, looking out over the sea, his mind still turning over and over.

"Wanna share?"

Ash was quiet for a moment, and then he turned his head to her as she withdrew hers from his shoulder. His eyes darted momentarily to the ground, then back to her lovely blue eyes. He sighed and explained, "You said something to me yesterday when you were trying to comfort me in the locker room. Do you remember?"

Dawn tried to remember. Between their passionate session the night before and the traumatic emotional exchange in the locker room beforehand, coupled with the vivid memories of that last battle, she had trouble pinpointing precise events. She came up with a vague answer, "I said quite a bit to try and reach you. Which part exactly?"

He drew in a breath and began to lay it out for her, "You told me that I put my Pokémon above all else, and that nothing made you love me more," he paused, gathering himself, and returned his gaze to the stadium yonder, "I wish that were true, but for a moment during the match, it wasn't."

Dawn's face shifted uncomfortably, and she prodded Ash, "What do you mean?"

Ash returned his gaze to her, and admitted dejectedly, "When Pikachu was about to use volt tackle, I knew how tired and how much of a beating he had taken. I was going to tell him to stop, and withdraw Pikachu from the battle and declare him finished for the match. But, something in my mind stopped me. This little voice that told me that we could win right then. It only had me for a second, but it was all the time it needed. That was enough time for Pikachu to start its volt tackle and after that, there was no stopping him. I tried to order him to stand down, but it was too late. That mistake, that second where I put victory over my oldest friend, very nearly cost him his life."

Dawn was taken aback by this admission. She knew Ash as nothing but a saint when it came to his Pokémon, and to hear him admitting this sounded utterly bizarre. But this cleared up many things for her. She knew Ash didn't take losses terribly well, but yesterday was the absolute worst she had seen him. She attributed it to the stakes of the match, and most of all, to the promise he made to her. She realized that those probably only compounded his already massive guilt. Her face softened at the thought of Ash's remorse and she put a hand to his face, just like she had yesterday in the locker room. His eyes involuntarily closed at the touch and his face seemed to relax visibly.

"Ash, it was nothing more than a mistake. We all make them from time to time. We can't be perfect," Dawn began, but Ash interrupted.

"You're perfect!" he said his eyes snapped open and he held her tightly, "And you deserve better..."

This sudden outburst shocked Dawn as he embraced her, and she could feel tear drops on the back of her shirt. Her arms encircled him in kind, and she rubbed his back to bring him some form of comfort. She told him, tenderly, "It's not about what I deserve, it's about what I want. And I want you. I showed you that last night."

"But you didn't know that I-,"

She interrupted him this time, her gentle voice wafting to his ears like a gentle breeze, "I'm not perfect. I'm far from it. We all make mistakes. Pikachu will forgive you. And for me, there is nothing to forgive. You are still the kindest, most generous, most caring person I know; to both Pokémon and people. One mistake will not undo the lifetime of heroics and good deeds you have performed. One act of selfishness that lasted less than a second will not make you a terrible person."

She ended the hug and took his hand in both her hands, "We are both human, and I love you, flaws and all!"

Tears still fell from the face of black-haired trainer. His face was twitching with conflicting emotions until at last his face closed to hers and the shared a long, wonderful kiss. It was like the other ones they had both shared to comfort him in his guilt: clean, soft, tender, and almost chaste.

After he opened his eyes, he looked longingly into hers. They both wore small, reassuring smiles and then gave a small laugh. Ash punctuated his by returning her words yet again, "I love you too."

He stood up, and pulled her up with him. He held her in his arms and looked towards the sun which now sat just a little higher on the horizon since he last saw it. Its shimmering wake on the waves glistened and he was struck by inspiration. He held Dawn closely, put the side of his head to hers and both gazed outwards to the ocean.

"I've figured it out," Ash announced confidently.

"Huh?"

"I know how to keep it from happening ever again," Ash spoke softly.

"The mistake?" she inquired.

"Yes."

"How?"

"Ever since I could even remember, the idea of becoming a Pokémon Master has brought me unthinkable happiness. It was what kept me going. It was the ultimate goal, being so naive; I thought it was the only way to get that kind of happiness." Ash explained, his voice growing distant.

"And?"

Ash continued his explanation, his voice thick with emotion, "I've already found it. With you. I don't think I even realized it until last night, but you make me unbelievably happy. It's same feeling I envisioned having when I became a master. But I'm not one."

Dawn's eyes grew wide and she looked at him, "No! Don't tell me you're giving up your dream for me!"

Ash chuckled, "You are my dream, Dawn... but no, I'm not giving up."

Dawn's expression of panic passed, but was replaced by bewilderment, "I... don't understand."

"It's exactly what we talked about," Ash revealed to her, turning his gaze back to her lovely face, "You said I care about my Pokémon like no one else. When I agreed to take each and every one of them with me on my journey, they had the expectation I would come through for them on my goal. It became their goal. It wasn't just about me becoming a master; each of them would become one too. Each the best of its kind, unmatched in the world by its kin. I made that promise every time I caught or persuaded one to come with me. And I keep my promises. It's not just about me. It never was."

Dawn was surprised again by Ash's sense of honour, but more by this strange turn of logic he came up with. And yet, as she reviewed it in her mind, this was undoubtedly an 'Ash' thing to do. She could see it in his eyes. It truly, wasn't for him anymore; it was for his friends and companions.

"If it's about them, then I won't be tempted to do something like that ever again. What would their victory be, if they weren't there to celebrate it," Ash finished.

Dawn looked up to the taller man in wonder, keen on discovering how in eight years, that the boy she traveled with grew into this sagely, rugged man. Yet, she remembered, that when it came to morals and ideals, he had always been miles ahead of most people.

"Ash, you have no idea how beautiful the words you have just said to me are. You just never stop amazing me," Dawn praised, put her head back on his as they resumed viewing the rising sun.

"And that is how I feel about you every day Dawn. Until yesterday, I was just too shy to say it."

They kissed again, a bit more passionately than the one a few minutes prior, but nothing too involved. When their lips parted, they walked hand in hand to gather the rest of their belongings. After fully redressing themselves, they strode down the hill in much more leisurely manner than how they had ascended. Ash restrained himself from making a mad dash to the stadium's medical facility to see Pikachu, wanting to find out with Dawn at the same time. He knew she cared for the yellow mouse almost as much as he did. He also wanted to know the state of his other Pokémon as well, particularly Charizard, whose painful gaze was seared into his memory when he was being mercilessly pelted by shots of venoshock.

"Welcome back Mr. Ketchum. I'm happy to report that your Krookadile, Sceptile, Glalie, and Garchomp are all recovered from their battles. I do recommend letting them rest for another day if at all possible," the younger Joy told Ash, handing him four of his pokéballs.

"Thank you," Ash responded gratefully, but he still wanted to hear more, "What about Pikachu and Charizard?"

Nurse Joy's smile remained present, though not as strong as before, "All the poison has been expelled from Charizard's system, though he is still quite weak. I would recommend another day here before he leaves. As for Pikachu, we've hooked him up to a small generator to slowly feed him electricity to stimulate further healing, but at this point, he still needs at least two days. Any real danger has passed though!"

Ash let out a small smile, and gratefully thanked her again then inquired, "Can I see either of them?"

"You can observe them both, but each of them is asleep, and I would recommend against disturbing them. They need their rest to recover," Nurse Joy elucidated thoughtfully.

"That would be great, thank you," Ash agreed, trying to hide his somber feelings at not being able to at least be close to his two buddies. Dawn gripped his hand tightly to reassure him, and they shared a glance. This did not go unnoticed by Joy, whose smile returned on seeing to two clearly in love. The younger Joy took them into the back where they were able to observe both of his companions in from behind glass. Charizard's wings were no longer oozing the purple liquid as they once were, and the wounds themselves were stitched, while Pikachu had a number of bandages on. Other than that, they seemed to be breathing comfortably. The elder Nurse Joy was still tending to them, observing the power on the generator, monitoring vitals, and generally maintaining all treatments. The older woman saw the two through the window and gave them a wave and a thumbs-up. Ash gratefully returned the wave and nodded in affirmation, taking his red, black and white hat off in appreciation and respect as he did so.

After observing the two recovering Pokémon for about ten minutes, Dawn prompted Ash, "They'll be ok, let's go so that she doesn't feel too under pressure by having us watch her all day."

Ash nodded and they left, still linked at their hands just as they had when they entered. They walked out onto the promenade linking the stadium and the trainer residences, now quite a bit less busy since the finals that had concluded the day before. The awards ceremony had taken place immediately after, but they had missed it. But neither cared. They walked together through the grounds, simply for the sake of walking. It was a comfort to have her by his side. If this were years ago, he would have fled to try and be alone, and might've taken far longer to recover from such a devastating loss as he experienced. But she saved him. She held on tightly to him and helped alleviate the guilt. It was still there, a small blemish on his mind and in his heart, but it didn't consume him as it could have.

After the night prior, even with the events of that last battle, he couldn't help but be grateful for the hand fate had played him. Pikachu and Charizard would recover, Ash was quickly doing the same, and Dawn had found a way into his heart.

As they walked down the cobbled path towards the trainer dormitories, Ash couldn't help but look at Dawn, glimmering in the morning sunlight, her effervescent blue hair flowing in the wind, her peach skin glowing, her deep oceanic eyes shimmering, her small but reassuring smile lighting his world; it was so hard to keep his eyes away from her.

I don't care what she says; she's human, but she's perfect. Dawn, my love... My Northern Light.