Aries

The Unsinkable S.S. Anne.

A massive cruise liner, painted white with more cabins than Ash could count. The smoke stacks stood proud and tall, and Ash swore he could see a battlefield and a pool on the same boat. It was art and it was gorgeous, and he was going to be on it?

Steven gave a fond smile to Ash who was bouncing on his heels at the idea. They both took the walk to the boat- which they realised was leaving later that same day. No wonder Surge was happy to give them tickets like candy- better than them going to waste. Steven shrugged the thought away as he pulled Ash through the security measures, the checks and the booking process as he finally approached the room the two would be staying in.

"Room" was a polite assessment. It was big- with two entire double beds with a wall separating them into two separate mini areas, with a window side one and a non-window side one, along with an en suite. The bedsheets looked needlessly fancy and pristine, and Steven silently sent a prayer to the cruise staff having to maintain everything.

Ash's jaw dropped as he saw the bed, and the room, staring at the flat-screen TV and then at the phone.

When was the last time he phoned Delia?

His face fell as he ran to the phone, much to Steven's interest. He hastily dialled a number, quickly checking a crumpled-up note in his jacket that he must have transferred to the one Steven had given him. The red one- the jacket that Steven had so graciously loaned him a while ago. Steven was already crouched down over a suitcase he had brought with him, pulling out what seemed to be a closet change.

Still. He was still wearing the jacket.

"Hiiii....mom." Ash mumbled on the phone. Steven immediately recognised the fact it was Delia- and not a Dragonite, by the quite loud Kantonian yelling, "ASH KETCHUM YOU HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME SINCE YOU LEFT PALLET TOWN!"

Steven snickered in the corner as Ash put down the phone to complain at him- with a, "Hey! Shut it.." The voice on the other side paused before a less worried laugh came from her. "You have a friend? What's their name?"

Steven's eyes widened slightly and Ash opened his mouth to reply. "Uh..." He began. He surely couldn't tell his adoptive mother who he was actually with. Not with the fact Professor Oak practically lived at her house and visa versa. Steven mouthed the word 'Daigo' before Ash replied with his actual name. "Daigo."

"Is he responsible?" The next question came. Ash hummed in consideration, before replying. "Well, he is, but sometimes... you get this feeling he's thinking of somebody else.. Like a booooo-"

"AND THAT'S ENOUGH CHANGE THE TOPIC!" Steven squeaked into the phone receiver very quickly, much to the bemusement of the lady on the other end. With the speed and alarmed tone, he spoke with- it managed to disguise his (not completely strong, but noticeable) Hoenn accent.

"Well, it seems you are well looked after so I'll leave you be." Delia chuckled softly.

Ash hung up the phone as Steven glared daggers at him. "You will destroy my reputation!" He huffed. Ash shrugged before gesturing to his friend's face.

"I think the red on your cheeks is doing that."

Steven groaned into his palms, before throwing a pile of clothes at Ash. "I thought you needed a wardrobe change. Plus, I think we need to go slightly under the radar."

Ash gave a bemused expression. Steven took a breath, before tapping the table anxiously. "I'm talking to your friend. That- that friend, the one in the dreams? So-"

Oh.

"I trust- yeah, sure, let's do this." Ash laughed nervously. He seriously wasn't interested in contemplating the implications that one sentence had held, in favour of trying on the new outfit.