Wow would you look at that. Chapt 3 already. I'm really on a role with this story. I hope I can keep it up. From this chapter, you'll learn one thing. Dawn can't keep secrets XD She also has a bad memory. Also there's some one-sided Appealshipping in here. If you don't know what that is you'll find out soon enough.

Ship of Truths

About two months had passed since Ash last saw Paul. Over this time period, Ash had won his last badge and was ready for the Pokémon League.

Right now, the gang was leaving the Grand Festival that Dawn had competed in. Unfortunately she didn't win the Winner's Cup but came in best eight. They were also joined by Dawn's friend and rival, Zoey. She came in best sixteen after she lost to Dawn.

"Don't worry Dawn." Ash said. "You did great."

"Yeah!" agreed Zoey. "A lot of people don't make it that far on their first try."

"Thanks you guys… But I still wish I could've done better. But I guess I'll have to work harder next year." she said with a smile.

Later on, the four trainers headed to a port that would take them to the Pokémon League. Once they got on the ship, Ash had to answer Nature's Call.

"Scuse me for a second. I need to take a leak."

"Ash, we didn't need that much information." Dawn said.

"See ya in a minute."

"Man, I'll never understand boys…" Zoey said.

Once Ash reached the restroom, he heard someone in one of the stalls. It sounded as if this person was sick. He was retching and coughing. Ash could also hear the sound of vomit splashing into the toilette. Soon he heard the toilette flush. Once the stall door opened, Ash became shocked by who it was.

"Paul…?"

Paul looked up after wiping the drool off his face with his sleeve and became disgusted by the sight of Ash standing in front of him.

"I don't frickin believe it… As if I didn't feel sick enough already. I thought we had an agreement."

"Well sorry… But this boat does go to the Pokémon League."

"Great…"

Paul then went to the sink and washed his hands and face.

"You don't sound so good… Are you coming down with the flu?"

"…No… I'm just sea sick…" he sighed

"But we didn't even leave the dock yet."

"What's with the damn interrogation? The agreement was that you would never talk to me AGAIN. So stay the hell away from me. I don't want to see you within 10 feet of me."

Paul left the bathroom.

After Ash was finished, he rejoined his friends.

"Hey guys, guess who's on the ship."

"Um… Let me guess… Paul?" said Brock.

"Right…"

"Who's Paul?" asked Zoey.

"Paul is Ash's rival." Dawn explained. "But they're not friends like you and me. Paul is an arrogant, selfish little brat who mistreats his Pokémon."

"So what'd he say to you?" Brock asked.

"Just that he didn't want me near him. But I am a little worried about him. When I was in the bathroom, I heard him vomiting violently. He said it's just sea sickness but I don't think that's the case."

"Ash, take my advise this time. Do not try to talk to him. He's obviously an unstable boy and I don't want him to shove you of the side of this ship. Just stay away from him. You got it?"

"Yeah, yeah. I got it. Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna go check out the buffet. Come on Pikachu."

"Pika-pika!"

"That Ash…" sighed Dawn. "Always thinking about his stomach."

"And I'm gonna check out the girls!" said Brock as he could no longer contain himself around all the pretty Pokémon trainers."

"Like I said before, I'll never understand boys." Zoey commented.

"No need to worry. I'm sure Croagunk will stop him."

"Why is Ash so concerned about that Paul guy anyway? Form what it sounds like, Paul doesn't even give a damn about him."

"Well it's a long story… Ash sort of has a crush on Paul."

"Really? I never knew Ash was gay."

"Neither did he up until two months ago. Now he likes Paul but Paul doesn't want to like him back."

"I understand how Ash feels… Being in love with one of your rivals but there's nothing you can do to make them love you back. It's really hard to deal with."

"You're in love with one of you rivals? Who is it. Come on. You can tell me. I won't tell anyone else."

"I think it's best if I don't tell you… Things might become awkward between us if I did."

"Oh… Okay then."

After the ship left the port, Paul decided to take a walk around the deck hoping that his nausea would go away. He had lied to Ash about it being sea sickness. Truthfully, he had felt this way for over a week. And he knew the reason why.

Being out on deck didn't help very much either. As he walked down the deck, he felt as if the ship was extremely swaying from side to side when in reality is was only moving a little. Paul then felt the contents of his stomach rush up his esophagus. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, ran over to the railing, and vomited over the side of the ship. He continued for about twenty more seconds before he finally picked his head up. Much to his embarrassment, everyone on the deck was staring at him. Paul then walked away while staring at the deck, avoiding eye contact with everyone.

"Just great…" he thought "Now I'm going to be remembered as 'the boy who puked on the ship' rather than be remembered for my Pokémon skills…"

Paul decided to go back to his room for the rest of the evening to try to get some sleep. However, sleep didn't come easy for him. He laid there in the dark with his eyes wide open. He then went into deep thought as he had his arms wrapped around his stomach.

"Why did this have to happen now…? I'm so close to the Pokémon League. Maybe I should just get rid of it. But would that be fair to him…? Screw him! It's his fault for taking advantage of me. Anyway, I'll deal with it after I become champion…"

Later Ash was on the deck near the bow of the ship looking at all the stars in the sky. Pikachu was sitting on his head watching them as well.

"We finally made it Pikachu. Were finally on our way to the Sinnoh Conference. And this time I know we're going to leave with the championship title!"

"Pikachu!"

"And there's no way I could of done it with out you, Staravia, Grotle, Ambipom, and the others. You guys are true friends."

"Pika…" he said while blushing.

"So there you are." said a voice from behind.

"Huh? Oh Zoey. What are you doing out here?"

"Just came to tell you that they're holding a huge banquet for all the Pokémon trainers competing in the Sinnoh Conference. There's lots of food there."

"Ew… No thanks. I filled up too much at the buffet." he said as he patted his stomach.

Zoey then leaned again the railing of the ship and looked up at the sky.

"So Dawn tells me you have a crush on your rival."

"Dawn told you that huh…? I guess you can say that. I just can't stand the way he acts."

"If you don't like the way he acts than what made you attracted to him?"

"It happened when we where in Mt. Coronet. We inhaled the fumes of a spring filled with sake. When he was intoxicated he told me all these things that he would never normally tell me. He said that he was in love with me and he wanted to travel with me. But that all changed once he sobered up and denied everything. He said he only said those things because he was wasted."

"I hate it when people say that. I believe when people are drunk then they expose all their true feelings. Just look at Mel Gibson."

"I just wish he'd be like that all the time…"

"Well at least you know he likes you deep down. Me? I spend all my time wondering if my rival thinks of me as more than a friend."

"Your rival?"

"Yeah…" she said as her eyes dreamily squinted.

"It's Dawn, isn't it?"

Zoey was silent.

"I knew you liked her."

"Well… would you happen to know if she would like me?"

"Well, I can't say that she wouldn't. I really don't know what she's into. She's never shown attraction to any gender. Way different from the other girls I traveled with., she seems very indifferent about romance. Sort of like how I was. I suggest that you wait a little bit longer and see if she gives any hints."

"I guess that could work. Thanks Ash."

"No problem. Say, why don't we go down to the banquet? I think I have enough room for a little more dinner."

"Don't go exploding on me."

The two trainers laughed as they headed below deck.

Later, Dawn tried to head back to her room in order to retrieve something. However, she forgot exactly were her room was.

"Oh man… Now where was it?"

Dawn stopped for a moment to think. She just so happened to stop in front of a slightly open door. She heard a voice coming from inside and immediately recognized it as Paul's. She peered inside a little to confirm what she thought.

Paul was sitting on the bed turned towards the wall. He apparently was on the phone with somebody. Dawn knew that eavesdropping was very rude but being that she felt Paul was a rude person, she figured she had a right. She remained perfectly quiet and listened.

"… Yes, I've been puking up my guts for nearly a week…" he said to who ever was on the phone. "…I never thought it would be this hard… No… I haven't told him… Well why should I…? …Yes, I know he's the father but still… …What!? No way I'm dropping out of the league. I'm not going to let this stupid pregnancy keep me from competing.

Dawn became shocked be what she heard.

"Pregnancy?!" she thought.

Just then, Zoey, who had been looking for her, approached from behind and tapped her.

"Hey Dawn. What's umm!!?"

Dawn had placed her hand over her mouth to keep her voice down. Dawn placed her finger to her lips and made a shhh-ing sound.

"What are you…?" Zoey whispered.

"Be quiet!" Dawn whispered loudly. "He'll hear you!"

Paul began to hear the sounds they were making. Though he wasn't sure what was making them.

"…Can you hold on a second?" he told the person on the phone.

Paul approached the door and saw that he didn't close it all the way. He then opened the door wider and looked outside. But he didn't see anyone. Little did he know, Dawn and Zoey were on the other side of his opened door. They were being sandwiched together against the wall. Dawn was worried that Paul would see them. Zoey on the other hand was becoming more turned on then worried. Dawn was against her body while laying her head on her chest. Never had she been this close to her. When Paul believed no one was there, he went back inside his cabin and closed the door this time. The two girls regained their space. Zoey wiped away the sweat from her forehead. Then Dawn grabbed her hand and dragged her down the corridor.

"What the heck was that all about!?" Zoey asked. "Who was that!?"

"It was Paul! I was trying to listen to what he was saying over the phone."

"Dawn, that's an invasion of privacy! You shouldn't do that."

"I have to talk to Ash. It's important."

Dawn and Zoey retrieved Ash and Brock from the banquet. This time Brock brought them back to the correct cabin.

"Dawn, what's this about?" Brock asked.

"Ash, Paul's been keeping something from you! I heard him say it!"

"Whoa, whoa, slow down Dawn." Ash told her. "Now start over slowly…"

"I heard Paul talking to some one over the phone… He was saying how sick he was and about not telling somebody about something… And then he said he wouldn't drop out of the competition because of his pregnancy."

"PREGNANCY!?" said Ash, Brock, and Zoey.

"How is that possible?" asked Brock. "Guys can't get pregnant. Are you sure he didn't say something else?"

"I heard it clearly! That's definitely what he said. He even said and I quote 'Yes, I know he's the father'. And I bet anything that the father is you Ash."

"M-m-me…?" he stuttered.

"He was planning not to tell you about it. Ash, you have to confront him about it. What if he decides to abort the baby without your consent?"

"Hold it Dawn." Brock interrupted. "This is clearly a delicate situation. It's not the best thing for Ash to just confront him about it with no clear warning. It's best if Ash waits and sees if Paul decides to talk to Ash. If it really is Ash's baby, then I'm sure he'll want to tell Ash sooner or later."

"I'm not so sure about that Brock…" said Ash. "Paul made it pretty clear that he never wanted to talk to me again… What if he really does abort the baby and pretends like nothing happened?"

"I… don't know… I really don't know what you can do."

Ash was silent for a second as he looked at the floor.

"I'm going to go talk to him." he said as he made his way to the door.

"No Ash!" Brock said as he grabbed his arm. "Trust me on this. Do not let him know that you know. Confronting him out of the blue will just upset him. You believe in Paul, right? Then believe that he'll get up the courage to come talk to you about this. I'm sure if he has the heart that you say he has, then he won't just get rid of the baby without talking to you first."

Ash was staring straight into Brock's eyes while he was saying.

"Brock's right Ash." said Zoey. "Remember what I said. One's true feelings come out when they're drunk. And if Paul said he loved you, then it's probably true."

"Pika-pi…" said his Pikachu.

"Yeah… That's right. Paul will eventually reveal his secret to me. And when he does, I'll be supportive."

"That's a good idea." Brock said. "Isn't that right, Dawn?"

"…Yeah… I guess so. Sorry for freaking you out Ash…"

"It's alright. I know that wasn't your intension."

After that, the four trainers decided to head back to the banquet. Once there Ash scanned the room to see if Paul may have come out to eat. However, he didn't see him anywhere. Ash then started to worry. He realized that it was important for Paul to be eating normally in his condition. Then he came up with a plan.

He asked Dawn if she remember which room number Paul was staying in. Dawn couldn't remember but Zoey did. It was pretty much implanted in her memory after she stared at it while she was getting off on Dawn being squished next to her body. "#26 B". Ash then gathered a few pieces of different kinds of food and put it on a big plate. He then brought the plate to Paul's cabin. He placed the plate on the floor and knocked hard on Paul's door. He then dashed down the hall so he wouldn't be seen.

Paul, who was awakened by the loud knock, slowly opened the door.

"What in the world?" he said as he rubbed his head. "No one's here…"

When he went to shut the door he noticed the plate of food sitting off to the side. He picked up and stared at it for a little bit. He then looked up and down the hall. He didn't see, but Ash was watching him from around a corner. Paul then picked up a piece of the fruit on the plate and took a bite. He then took the food in to his cabin before closing the door. Ash giggled a little bit before leaving. He was happy to see Paul enjoying something.

Aww wasn't that last seen shweeet! Review plz.