The sun began to rise amongst the horizon that connected the oceans and the skies. A few Wingulls and Pelippers were flying just above the ocean's surface before diving down and picking up a few Magikarps for a morning breakfast. Their routine, however, was interrupted by the sound of a loud horn, scattering the flying Pokémon as a cruise line was being piloted towards its designated port.

Aboard the ship, a young raven black haired was waking up from sleeping in his room. Leaning up, he looked towards his Pokémon: a Pikachu.

Pikachu was sleeping at the foot of his bed, so the boy had to be careful not to wake him as he crept out of bed. Managing to pull it off, the boy walked to his bag and pulled out his freshest pair of clothes and changed into them. Looking at himself in the mirror, the boy smiled at his outfit… not any different than usual, but still… felt new.

This boy was Ash Ketchum and he was just returning from his trip to Sinnoh. Walking outside of his room, he got to the railing of the ship and inhaled the salty air of the sea. Seeing the Wingulls diving again, he chuckled.

"We must be getting close to Hoenn."

"Well I should hope so. We have been on this boat for days and I am not that much of a… cruise person."

Ash chuckled at hearing his traveling companion's complaints. Turning around, he saw Dawn was standing in the door to their cabins. They were separate, of course.

"Well, perhaps next time, we can catch a Pokemon that is big enough for both of us to fly," Ash said.

"Or perhaps I could get a Pokemon that can fly just Piplup and I…" Dawn scoffed.

"Someone is cranky," Ash said.

"Ugh… I kept having this weird dream. I can't remember a lot, but I just remember seeing some super shiny Pokemon."

"Huh… well, maybe it's a sign."

"Yeah, a sign I need to get off of this cruise. I am gonna go get some breakfast. Wanna join me?"

"I'll meet up with you," Ash said.

"Alright," Dawn said as she walked away.

Looking back to the sea, Ash looked at the horizon when he heard something below him.

"Phy."

Looking down at the water, Ash saw that nothing was there.

"Huh… I thought I saw… Man, I must still be waking up."

As Ash walked away from the view of the ocean, he failed to notice a Pokemon was staring at him before diving back below the ocean's surface.

"I better go join Dawn for breakfast… yeah, that'll wake me up," Ash said.

After a few minutes of walking, Ash walked into the restaurant area and saw Dawn with her meal… a nice plate of eggs and bacon with a glass of orange juice. For her Pokemon, Piplup, a nice pancake with some syrup and butter on top.

Ash grabbed his "meal", more like a buffet, and sat across from Dawn.

"I still do not understand how you can eat all that on a cruise and not vomit."

"These are confusing times Dawn," Ash said as he started tearing through the food.

Something about the way he ate caused Dawn to chuckle as she politely ate her food.

"So if we can see Wingulls, then that means we should be getting to Hoenn soon."

"Good… I can't wait to get off of this thing. You mentioned that May asked you to come here?"

"Yeah, she said that something came up that she thinks I should know about."

"I see…"

Being his companion for a while, Ash knew when Dawn had a hint of some emotion to her voice… at least he believes that he knows.

"Did May say something mean to you last time we met?"

"What? No it isn't that…" Dawn said as she looked away, giving a small tint to her cheeks, "I just wonder what she wants to talk about."

Hearing the horn again, Ash smiled, "Well, looks like we will get to find out soon."

"Oh thank god…"

As the two children continued eating, the "chefs" were watching from a distance.

"Ugh… why did we decide to board as chefs? Could we not have been passengers," The magenta haired woman asked.

"We're making money, have beds that are away from the brat, and we can sneak away all the fries and shrimp we want," The purple haired man said.

"And besides you don't seems like the kind of woman for this cruise," a talking Meowth said.

Jessie then smacked Meowth on the head, "Say that again, and we will be serving Meowth stir fry."

Later

The boat pulled into the Hoenn Port and the two were walking down the ramp to land, one of them faster than the other.

"Oh thank god… land…" Dawn sighed in relief.

"I thought that you like being on the water."

"When it's on the back of a Pokemon and not some floating petri dish."

Ash chuckled as Pikachu walked up next to the two humans, sucking a small packet of ketchup that Ash got him.

"Wonder where—"

"We are?"

Ash and Dawn looked to see May and Max walking up to the two, their arms and smiles both wide. The four all embraced in a group hug as the two team rocket members snuck off of the ship, unbeknownst to the group.

"How was Sinnoh," May asked.

"It was fun. We caught a few Pokemon and Professor Rowan was very pleased with the progress that we made. I even caught a Lucario with the help of Maylene," Ash said.

"Do you have it on you," Max asked, wanting to see a new Pokemon.

"I left him in Sinnoh. Maybe if May says yes, you can come with me next time I head back there."

Max gasped and looked to May, who chuckled, "You can once you become old enough to get your trainer I.D."

"Aw come on," Max waved his arms.

"So May," Ash said, "You said that something came up that you wanted to talk about?"

"Well, instead of explaining, why don't I show you," May said as she started jogging down the side of the beach with a smile on her face.

"Well she seems excited," Dawn said.

"Come on Dawn," Ash said as he jogged after May, leaving Dawn at the port.

"Ugh… we just get off of a ship after being at sea for four days and he's already running," Dawn sighed as she proceeded after them, with Pikachu following behind as he continued to sip the ketchup packet.

Meanwhile, the three Team Rockets were watching them leaving and saw the perfect opportunity to try and steal Pikachu… and that moment was now.

"Okay, here is what we are going to do. Jessie, I am going to need twenty red balloons and a packet of ketchup. Meowth, I need you to go take control of the ship. We are going to lure Pikachu back onto the ship and drive off with him."

"And what will you be doing," Jessie asked.

"Me," James had pulled out a chair and tanning mirror, "I am going to be catching some rays after a hard day's work."

Jessie shattered his tanning mirror and kicked James out of his chair, "DO SOMETHING USEFUL!"

Pikachu looked to the trio and saw them fighting each other and just kept following Dawn, not really caring for Team Rocket's latest schemes.

"We are running out of time, Jessie, either do your job or—"

"Oi! What is that?"

James looked down and saw his tablet was beeping.

"EEP! That means it's from the boss," Jessie said, "Answer it!"

James did so and placed the tablet to his ear.

'Name.'

"James."

'Faction.'

"Rocket."

'Kanto. Vermillion Gym. Two days.'

James put the tablet back where it was and looked to Jessie.

"We have to get to Vermillion within two days."

"Next stop: Kanto Region!"

Jessie sighed as she put a chef's hat on as Team Rocket slowly got back onto their ship to head home.

Meanwhile, May was running now along the border between the ocean and the sand as Ash ran behind her.

"May! Wait up," Ash said.

Behind them was Max, who was simply behind because of his age. And behind Max was Dawn, who was walking at a leisurely pace as she was getting used to being on land. Pikachu sat on her shoulder as he was also getting used to the land again.

"Where are we even going," Dawn asked, "If she wanted us to go to the beach, she could have waited a few hours."

"Pikachu."

"I am not acting jealous," Dawn said, that same tint returning to her.

Running around the corner, May smiled, "Looks like he saw you coming in."

"He," Ash asked.

Running around the same corner, Ash saw what May was talking about… someone who was dear to both May and Ash not too long ago.

"Manaphy?"