Looking around again at this beautiful hot city in California, I wondered why I ever left it to begin with when I went with Barbie the first time to the Real World.

I would soon take back my thought about this world as a heavy cloud grew up from above, letting out a big strike of lightning, thunder rumbling throughout the land.

"Wow…" I said to myself, holding out my hand and feeling actual REAL water drop on me. I watched as the water slipped down my palm before dripping off my hand and I gazed my eyes up to the greying cloudy sky, just watching in wonder of what would happen next.

"HEAD FOR COVER!" Somebody yelled from away, and suddenly the sky made a huge ripping noise as rain was released all at once and came pounding and thundering down on us all.

"We never have weather like this in Barbie World," I whispered to myself amazed. All around me, people were ducking into buildings and under any cover they could get. I just smiled at the crying sky, holding my arms straight apart like I was on a cross or something, and felt the real world shower me with my first thunderstorm.

Finally, a man grabbed me around my waist and yanked me under a beach umbrella. When he let go of me, I turned to look at him and he said in complete disbelief.

"Are you an idiot or something?!"

I crooked my eyebrows confused.

"You could get struck by lightning out there!"

I again, remained silent, and just looked at the young man, blinking my eyes twice in bewilderment.

"I'm sure nothing like that could happen to me," I said with a grin, and looked up at the dark heavy sky above, "I mean, I AM the main character so-"

Suddenly the umbrella fried as lightning smashed through its fibers and the two of us stared at one another in shock, before I admitted.

"I spoke to soon!"

the two of us then began to run for better cover to protect us and soon I found myself huddled with three other people all trying to squeeze at a door for the shelter it provided above us.

"So," I said, amazed at the storm, and glanced eagerly at the four other people I was sharing shelter with.

"Get weather like this often? Is Mother Nature sad or-"

"Mother Nature is pissed!" One of the men declared to me, and the two women and the other man all nodded their heads in solemn agreement.

"Why?" I asked innocently, watching the rain lash down, "What upset her?"

The four adults that were with me all just looked at me amazed till one of the women said weakly, "You're special… aren't you?"

"Well, I hope so!" I said with a gleeful smile, and the four only looked between one another at my innocent answer.

I finally stuck my hand out from the door's cover and felt the drops were still heavy, but definitely not as much as before.

I knew I had to seize my chance, right then and right now.

I walked straight out from under the door's small veranda and felt the rain lash on me, but I didn't care.

I could feel my heart thumping excitedly in my chest, as I walked through the stormy weather to reach my Barbie. I bet she would be even more impressed when she knew of all I did to get back to her.

I walked for around an hour or two, feeling the people who were hiding from the rain, just stare at me in bewilderment, but also amazement.

"He is ONE brave young man," I heard someone say.

"More like a fool," Someone else admitted and I frowned at this but didn't let it get to me.

I wish I had a horse right now, I thought to myself as I braved the bad weather. I dug my hand into my pocket, pulling out the sheet of paper with the directions on it. But the minute I did, it quickly started to get soaked and torn apart.

"No! No!" I yelled in terror, trying to read the now runny writing. But I couldn't…

I… I was lost again.

But I think fate was being kind to me – for once – as I looked up ahead and recognized the pink convertible that was driving by and the woman who was driving in it.

"Barbie!" I gasped, about to wave her down, but she kept going, not seeing me in the mist of rain.

I quickly chased after the car, running with all my might but soon it too disappeared in the heavy rain.

I didn't care.

I kept going down the same road and after twenty minutes more I found myself in a suburb, looking around at all the green gardens and beautiful homes.

I walked down the sidewalk, just completely amazed at it all, and when I turned my head to the side, I saw what I was looking for.

Barbie's car was parked in the driveway with another car – probably Gloria and her family's car.

I took a big brave breath in, swaggering up to the door and pressing my fingertip to the doorbell.

I could hear it chime and after a few moments the door pulled open and there she stood.

There she was.

Barbie.

My Barbie.

"Barbie," I said in a whisper before a big happy smile grew up both sides of my cheeks.

She only looked back at me. Her eyes wide. Her whole manor shocked and surprised.

She was silent. Frozen like a statue.

"Barbie?" I said to her again, waving my hand in front of her and she finally snapped out of her shocked trance.

"Ken!" She peeped, and I nodded quickly back at her.

"That's ME!"

"What are you doing here?"

"No one told you?"

"Who would tell me what?"

"I'm not just a Ken doll anymore,"

Barbie stared at me, complete and utter puzzlement on her face.

"I'm a REAL MAN!"

Barbie remained still pretty frozen so I decided I had to prove it.

"Here!" I said, suddenly yanking down my pants and she only looked down at my new genitals, before back up at me. It was not even a second later she dropped backward as she collapsed to the ground and I pulled a worried awkward face.

"Mum?!"

I looked up at who was standing behind Barbie and saw the tween girl Sasha. The young girl was gawking at me and my manhood in horror before her mother Gloria ran to her and placed her dark hand over her daughter's prying eyes.

I smiled awkwardly, pulling back up my pants. The two just stared at me with no words.

I quickly looked back down to Barbie and peeped in fright, "Barbie!"

I bent over, hurriedly picking her up and carrying her to a lounge in the sitting room.

"Careful, careful!" Gloria yelled at me as I placed her gently down and I then took two steps back from Barbie, seeing the other two girls looking at me in pure astonishment.

"Okay…" Sasha said quietly, eyeing me very suspiciously as she asked, "What the HELL are you doing here?!"

"I, um…" I began to say weakly, looking between the two, and finally confessed, "I'm not a Ken doll anymore." The two still stared at me, "I'm now a Ken Man."

"What does that even mean?" Sasha said with a cold grumble and glaring hateful eyes.

"I'll show you!" I said and began to pull down my pants again but the two yelped.

"DON'T!"

"K-Ken..?"

We all looked down at the couch when Barbie uttered these words, her eyes still shut as a cold sweat could be seen developing on her brow.

"Yes, it's me, Barbie," I said instantly, dropping to my knees and holding her hand in my two as I gazed hopefully at her closed quivering eyelids.

"I had a terrible nightmare…" Barbie said in a deep aching voice, "That I saw Ken… at the door…"

"It wasn't a nightmare, Barbie," I whispered to her, a big smile still on my lips as I gripped her hand tighter, "I'm really here,"

The love of my life fluttered open her eyes weakly, looking into mine.

I gazed back at her with complete devotion and love, and after a long second, she opened her mouth to speak.

But she didn't speak.

She SCREAMED!

"KEN!?" She screamed at me terrified and I nodded my head eagerly, "What are you doing here!?"

"I'm here, to be with you!" I answered back in glee and Barbie continued, fast and bewildered.

"But didn't you listen to my speech, or how I don't love you?!"

"Honestly, Barbie," I said back with a grin, my teeth twinkling white, "It went completely over my head."

"Oh!" She said with despair as she sat herself up and yanked her hand out of my grip, "Ken, you're NOT meant to be here."

"But I'm meant to be with you, and you're here so-"

"Oh, no, no, no!" Barbie said to herself, shaking her head in despair.

"So!" I said, standing up straight again and looking and Gloria and Sasha, "Where do I sleep?!"

"Um!" Gloria mumbled and Sasha blinked her own eyes wide as she looked at me and added.

"He can't be serious,"

"But I am!" I declared and the two looked at one another again, then at Barbie who joined the silent stares with a scared look of her own.

"I guess we do have one more spare room…" Gloria began to say but Sasha nudged her mother hard in the rib with her elbow.

"HE can't stay."

"B-but!" I peeped, looking at them all and feeling a tear begin to rise in one of my eyes. It slipped down my chiseled face and I only turned to gaze at Barbie, hopeless in myself, "I can't live in Barbie world… it's not home to me anymore."

"Then where is home?" Gloria asked weakly but intrigued.

I glanced at her, then back at Barbie who I held my hand to and Barbie just looked down at it in terror before back up at me.

"Where Barbie is,"

"Aww!" Gloria cooed but Barbie reluctantly took my hand offer and stood back on wobbly weak feet.

"Ken, can I talk to you alone?"

"Yes please!" I said back in excitement. Barbie gave me a strained smile before nudging her head to the outside world and the two of us opened the front door going out to it.

"You really can't go back to Barbie World?"

"No, no I can't at all,"

"But-"

"Barbie, I have a penis now,"

She looked at me surprised at my words before glancing down at the bulge in my crotch before back at me.

"And a heart."

She stared at me, hopeless in herself and her method of getting me to leave.

"A heart that only beats because of you… for you…"

"But, Ken," She said in despair, her own eyes watering just the littlest, "I don't want you here."

"When have I heard that before?" I only laughed, laughing off her words.

She stared at me, so upset now.

I looked back at her, my own eyes wet and upset.

"Please… just… don't turn me away."

She watched me in silence as I uttered this, turning my eyes to the ground pitifully, "I have nowhere to go…"

She gulped. She hesitantly reached her petite hand forward, placing it on my shoulder and saying with such a weak voice.

"Okay…"

I blinked baffled when I heard her say this. I turned to look back in her deep caring blue eyes and repeated, still so amazed.

"Okay?"

"Yes… okay,"

"Oh, Barbie! I love you so much-"

She held her hand to my mouth, silencing me instantly as she continued in pain.

"I don't love you that way, Ken, but you can stay… till you find yourself… like I have found me."

"Okay," I peeped and she gave me such a beautiful warm smile.

She turned to leave but I took hold of her hand before she did, and I lifted it up, holding it with my own two hands.

"But you will love me one day… because you're Barbie, and I'm Ken," I smirked a little bit as I told her the solemn truth, "We're made for each other… aren't we?"

She gulped a heavy swallow again, before looking back at me and shaking her head.

"I just don't know anymore…"

That was better than hearing a 'No' from her.

Her hand slipped softly away from my grasp and she came inside, leaving me alone and to myself.

I watched her as she left and only smiled sadly to myself.

"We are… we are meant to be…"

I was no longer just Beach Ken. I was Brave Ken. I was Strong Ken.

But most of all… I was Man Ken… and one day, she would love me again because I was changing – both mentally and physically.

I was changing… and soon she would see that.

That I was the one she was looking for all along.

I came back inside and asked Gloria and Sasha with a big grin.

"So, where am I sleeping?"

Gloria had a worried smile on her lips, Sasha rolling her eyes before she lazily pointed her finger to the room's door down the hall.

"Home, sweet home!" I cheered and headed to my new room.

"Soon we'll be getting Bratz and Monster High dolls here too…" Sasha said with annoyance and Gloria just smiled at her, saying.

"One can hope,"

The two shared a look before breaking into giggles and laughter.