Chapter 3 Ash, Eevee, and Pikachu woke early the next morning, as the sun was coming up, dressed, and went up to the deck. He wandered around for a while, seeing as they were still a few hours from their destination, until he finally stopped at the railing at the left side of the boat. He leaned against the railing and gazed out at the water. The sun was rising over this particular horizon. Then gold, orange, and magenta light danced and shimmered across the surface of the water in a dazzling way. "Its beautiful isn't it?" Ash looked around to see who had spoken just in time to see Misty lean against the rail as well. "I love how water reflects the light of a sunrise. It's just so beautiful. In fact." She glanced briefly at Ash before continuing. "It's one of the reasons I first decided I want to be a Water Pokemon trainer." "Really," asked Ash, though not really expecting a response. As Ash continued to gaze at Misty everything besides Misty seemed to fade away slightly. He became fully absorbed in the way her hair moved in the slight breeze, and how the sunlight shone on her face. His was halfway into a trance when he was jarred to attention by Misty saying, "So are you nervous Ash?" She glanced at him now, forcing Ash to pretend he'd been examining a few Wingull on the water. He looked back at Misty and grinned broadly. "Me? Naw, I just can't wait till my first battle in the champion region." Actually he hadn't really thought about the champion region at all since he'd made sure that they weren't there yet. His thoughts had drifted more on the night before, but they didn't have time to do that now. Now he had to be thinking about what he would do once they reached the champion region. "Ash." Ash looked back at Misty and she looked at him. She looked uncertain somehow. She was biting her lip but her eyes still shone with an intensity that partially made Ash want to run and hide and partially to kiss her, crazy as that sounded. Before Misty could say what ever it was she wanted to say they both heard three voices coming from behind them, probably from the entrance to the stairs to the level below. The both turned around. The voices belonged with Will, Daisy, and Lily, as proved by the fact that they were now exited the stairs. Upon seeing them both Daisy and Lily exclaimed, "Ash, Misty you're watching the sunrise together how cute." "Actually," began Ash, but something kept him from going on. "Well why are you awake?" Demanded Misty in a defensive tone. "Back at home you usually wouldn't be awake until noon." Daisy and Lily glared at their younger sister with a look similar to that of an angry wild pokemon about to attack. Luckily Will stepped in and between the three sisters. "We're awake because I we wanted to have some of the ships breakfast before we land in about an hour. The ships food is far better than the food in the port. I suggest you go eat as well before we land," he added with a small smirk. "That's all right," replied Ash. "I'm not hungry." "Me neither," agreed Misty. "Besides, Brock's a great cook. We can eat anytime." Will shrugged. "Suit yourself." With that, he, Daisy, and Lily walked off toward the other end of the ship. After a minute Misty said comically, "It'll be good to be rid of them." "Hey," replied Ash. "Will's all right." "He is," agreed Misty with a small smile and the hint of a wink. "But where ever he is my sisters will certainly be. And I can't stand to hear too many more of their cracks about us being lovebirds." "I'm not that bad am I?" Ask Ash jokingly. "Ah." As Misty turned more and more red and most likely searched for a response to Ashes question she was saved the trouble by Brock bursting from the stairs. "Oh good," he panted. I thought you'd left without me. For a moment Ash thought Misty looked put out, as she so often did recently, but when she spoke her tone, and expression, was normal. "No, we'd never do that Brock." Still, her tone did carry an odd note that gave Ash the feeling that Misty wouldn't have minded doing just that, at that time at least.