Ash and Dawn ran to the bow of the ship and stared out to sea, with all the wingull, wailord, and various fish pokemon making constant appearances and interactions with each other. Brock, with pikachu decided to check out below the decks, and their room. The group resolved all their differences before entering the ship, it was awkward, but it cleared the air and everyone liked each other again.

The fresh ocean air blew into Ash's now long hair.

"It feels amazing."

"What does?"

"The ocean air through your long hair."

"Oh. Feels nice doesn't it."

The air relieved Ash from any stress he was feeling and relaxed him a lot. "It feels incredible."

"So then your going to miss being a woman then huh."

Ash turned away from the wind to face Dawn. That thought never entered his head.

"Yeah. I guess I am. Except for the whole period thing, and being physically weak."

"I will give you periods, but not all women are not weak!"

"Oh I know, but you are."

Dawn shot him a dirty look.

"How about you though, going to miss being a man."

"No, I won't miss being a boy."

"Why do you have to be so harsh."

Dawn just laughed.

"But you know..." Ash began. "I don't regret the incident. I'm sorta glad we switched places."

"Really?"

"Sure, I mean, through all the pain and suffering that we went through. You can't say it wasn't worth it. Can you?"

"I don't know. Sure there have been a lot of laughs and good times... but we can't forget the unpleasantries."

"Sure you can." His voice was rather cheerful. "I believe that everything will always work out in the end. So this accident, no not accident, event is going to end for the better." He looked back out to sea. "Don't you think?"

Dawn nodded, "Sure, why not."

"Like you always say- no need to worry." Ash smiled at her, maybe there was a little something more, but it was hard to tell. "So how about we check out our room, and then hit the buffet, I'm dying to put some food in my stomach."

Dawn laughed. "Sure, let's go."

Dawn and Ash met up with Brock and Pikachu, the rooms were pretty plain, nothing much to see. A single bed and a bunk bed, complete with a small table and a window with a view barely above the water. So everyone headed to the buffet, that made up for the rooms. There was everything you would ever want to eat there. Naturally Ash would stuff his plate, but then have to pass whatever was left to someone else, most of the time it was Dawn, who would never get enough.

"So what are you guys going to do today?" Brock asked.

"There is not much to do, it's basically a twenty four ferry ride, not a fun cruise." Dawn said.

"Well I'm pretty sure that at least there will be trainers who are going to battling each other." Ash said.

"Well" Brock said taking a sip of his drink. "You getting into battling Dawn?"

"Uh" Ash looked to Dawn for guidance or advise, her face didn't give him any, just scorn. "Well actually it's more for Ash." It became second nature to call Dawn by his name. Dawn's face turned from scorn to curiosity. What was he getting at. "He needs practice and training for the upcoming gym battle."

Dawn leaned in to Ash before whispering. "Way to make me oblige to something."

"Sorry", it was all he could say back.

She turned back to the group. "That's right, I got to make sure I am at my best."

They finished dinner talking about different things, making jokes, telling stories, it was a good time. Dawn said she would battle for Ash as long as he was there to support her. Dawn left first after Ash promised that he and Brock would be there in a second.

Brock was busy gathering the empty plates on the table to return them to a place to dispose them. Ash stood around him, trying to reaffirm his decision.

"Hey Brock."

"Yes Dawn." After all this time being called Dawn was sort of natural, it was like his second name.

"I need help, or rather some advice."

"Sure, what is it." Brock was still busy cleaning up after the mess he and his companions made. As always.

"Well, through recent events..." his voice kinda of faded away.

"Could you speak up?" Brock asked, most of his attention was still on cleaning up.

"I think I am love with Ash."

Brock dropped all the plates he was holding, letting them shatter and create a big disturbance. Brock instantly paid the nearest cook the money to pay for the plates. Brock then took Ash up to their room, rather forcefully.

He threw him on the bed. "What do you mean your in love?"

"I mean it like I said it. I love Ash." His face was full of confidence, there was no wavering his voice.

Brock took in a big sigh. "Are you really thinking about what your saying. You can't be in love with Ash. That is a feeling too strong for someone as inexperienced as you."

"Well then why can you. You claim to be in love with every thing female that crosses our path."

Brock looked solemn, "That's a curse. That would probably be my biggest flaw. I don't know, something happens to me every time that a pretty girl passes by. But honestly, I'm not in love with any of them, because I too, am as inexperienced as you."

"But I'm different Brock, I know for a fact that I am in love with Ash."

"What makes you so sure?" Brock thought she was being stubborn. "Do you even understand what love is?"

"All I understand was, that he was the person I sat up every night thinking about." He stood up to meet Brock's eyes. "And when I'm with him I feel happy to be alive" A smile came over Ash's face. "Like I can do anything, even talk to you like this. So that's what I feel love is, when I'm better because he's here."

Brock calmed down. "You... how long?" Finally accepting what was what.

"Well... I guess, that I always, ever since the day we met Nando, I suppose. But it wasn't until recently that I was able to realize and grasp these thoughts, and well, I have talked to a few people before you. Some of them taunted me, others gave reluctant advice. But, I find your advice the most important to me."

"So then was I right when I asked you a few days ago at the campfire?"

"Technically, kinda, I don't know. It is kinda of confusing, even to me. But Brock, what should I do about Ash."

"I say, just confess. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Well what if, she doesn't feel the same way about me. That instead she just wants to be friends, but we couldn't be the same afterwards, because well..."

Brock clapped a hand on his shoulder, "Go for it, Ash might be dense." Is this common knowledge to everyone except me? Thought Ash. "But I'm sure you will get through to him, and if you don't you will regret it, I know Misty does."

"Thank you Brock. Well lets go see Ash, we promised to support him remember?"

Brock laughed slightly, "Sure."

Ash and Brock walked up to the south end of the deck to see Dawn battling against another trainer. Dawn was using buizel, and the opponent was using a yanmega.

Buizel appeared to be losing and yanmega was coming for the kill.

"Quick Buizel!" Ash heard Dawn's voice. "Spin behind him, then use aqua jet!"

Buizel did as he was told, and managed to take the surprised yanmega.

Dawn returned buizel after congratulating him, and walked toward Ash and Brock when she noticed them.

"There you guys were, I was worried you forgot about me."

"Don't worry, we just got a little caught up, when paying for the food." Brock said.

"Butterfingers here dropped some plates." Ash said.

This made Dawn laugh.

"Listen Dawn, could I-"

He got cut off by more trainers who instantly surrounded them, demanding battles. They had to prove that they could beat Ash's pokemon. Dawn was obviously enjoying being the center of attention, just like in contests, and agreed to battle until she couldn't battle anymore.

Ash did feel disappointed by not being able to talk with Dawn. But on the bright side, at least his pokemon will be ready for the gym. At least...

Ash pretty much spent the day waiting. He watched Dawn battle, he walked around the boat a few times. The whole time, he felt anticipation, fear. He was scared of Dawn in a way. He was wondering what she thought about him. Of course the most negative things came to mind, it began to unnerve him. Luckily Brock was able to keep his spirits up and make him committed to telling Dawn his feelings for her.

"Phew. I'm beat." It was dark already, and the officials banned battling at night. Dawn had entered her room to take a break. "What's up Brock, what have you been doing."

Brock was the only person in the room, he was feeding happiny. "Nothing much. How was battling?"

"It was surprisingly fun, sure I lost a few times, but still." She looked around. "Where is Dawn?"

Brock was thinking of what to say. "Um... I think he may be on deck." Brock almost asked if she liked Ash, but he decided to wait until Ash asked her himself, or herself, and wait to hear what happens. "Good luck."

Dawn didn't know what Brock meant by that, but she decided to find Ash, so she left his pokemon with Brock and went up to the deck. There were a few people out and about, enjoying the night air.

Ash was leaning on the rail, looking out to sea. He was alone. Dawn walked up beside him and also leaned on the rail, looking in the same direction.

"Hey there girl."

"What's up man."

"Enjoying the moonlight and sea I see."

"Yeah, I guess I am. How was battling today."

"Exhausting, but fun. You train your pokemon well."

"I try. It's hard, but I found out a long time ago that it was rewarding."

"I could tell, you always seem to have a smile on your face."

Ash couldn't help put smile after that comment. "So tell me Dawn. How have you liked your pokemon journey so far."

"Well I guess that, it has been fun. I learned a lot traveling with you and Brock. Met some memorable people, and pokemon. And like you said earlier, this whole ordeal thing we are going through, yeah, it was, is, and will be fun."

"I'm glad you see it that way."

"So what's up Ash. Your tone of voice and the way your body language isn't usual. Something on your mind?"

"Dawn, for sometime now I have had these thoughts, and well I have come to realize that, well I have some feelings for a special someone." Ash breathed in deep and looked out to sea. Dawn just continued to stare at Ash. "But I don't know whether to go for it or not. What do you think I should do?"

Dawn stared out to sea as well. "I say, just follow your heart."

"What do you think my heart is saying?"

"How should I know, I'm not your heart."

Silence ensued, the rhythmic crashing of the waves on the hull of the boat was the only sound around them.

"Well your most of it."

Those words came out in a barely a whisper, but Dawn heard them loud and clear. It rang a few times in her head. She looked up to see Ash staring at her. His face seemed worried, it appears that Dawn's face reflected the emotion throbbing through her body...

Fear.

And then the story got serious, the original author didn't leave notes for this chapter, must have been deleted somehow, but when he talked about this part of the story, he said it was the most difficult, mostly because he wasnt sure of how to end it, he knew that it must end with them switching back. Would have been a lame story if that didn't happen, but he didnt know how to go about that. So he went with a dramatic story ending kind of thing. He said he also felt the transition was kinda awkward, he said he tried to put as many hints toward this playing out as it does, so I hope you guys will continue to enjoy this fic and thank you for reading.