-1A/N: Oi vey. Pokemon...'Nuff said. And you can bet that I don't own it. Review please!

----

Chapter 1: A Meeting of Circumstance!

We join our heroes on their journey to Mauville city. Ash, Brock, May and Max. The stars of our show, have stumbled upon a Pokemon Day Care just outside of their desired destination.

"Hey guys," Ash glanced over his shoulder, calling back to his companions. "Why don't we stop and rest here for a while. It looks like a nice place."

Brock nodded slowly, crossing his arms over his chest. "Yeah, and I wouldn't mind checking out the atmosphere here. Day Cares are always a good place to learn more about breeding. After all, they sometimes churn out eggs while looking after certain trainers' Pokemon."

May and Max followed suit as Brock and Ash moved to open the door. They stepped inside and were greeted with two large, oval eyes. "Vaaay!"

"Whoa!" The four travelers were almost thrown back when a powerful jet of water came cascading their way. It collided with them, impacting dead center in the middle of the group, and sent them tumbling to the floor. Ash wiped the water from his face, and growled. "Hey! What do you think your doing?"

May, however, had beat him to it. "Aw, what a cute little Vaporeon. It's so fast too! Man, I just want to hug it!" Needless to say, Brock, Max and Ash sweat dropped.

Picking themselves up off the floor, they heard a disgruntled yelp, and were instantly assailed by a young woman in a black shirt and long, flared, black pants. She rushed towards them with towels in hand, and presented one to each of the group.

"Oh dear, I am so very sorry. Please forgive Vaporeon. It was just startled, that's all."

The young woman bowed hurriedly, so quickly, in fact, that Ash, Brock, Max and May had no time to get a good look at her face. As she straightened from her bow, they noted that she was wearing glasses, and had reddish brown hair. Of course, that second trait had already been obvious...

"Don't worry about it, my dear!" Brock rushed forward and clasped the girl's hands in his own. "It was nothing! You must be the owner of this day care. What say you and I watch over this place together? I would be happy to devote my time to you and the Pokemon!"

Max sighed, and grabbed Brock by the ear. "I think you should devote your time to drying off, Romeo."

The woman smiled uncertainly, before extending her hand to Ash. "Hello, my name is Molly. I am indeed the owner and care taker of this Day care. Who might you be?"

Ash took her hand, and shook it, Pikachu on his shoulder beaming at the young woman in it's own mousy way. "I'm Ash. And these are my friends-"

"I'm May," the only girl of the group, May, piped up cheerily. She tilted her head and gave Molly a little wave.

"I'm Max," the youngest boy, pitched in, offering up his own name. "And this is Brock," he supplied, motioning to the boy he had held by the ear earlier.

Molly offered them all welcoming smiles, before beckoning with her hand. "I am really sorry about Vaporeon, once again. Come on in and make yourself at home. It isn't often that I get such nice visitors."

Only a few minutes later, all five of the teens were seated at the table, a small cup of hot chocolate in their hands. Molly patted her Vaporeon gently, who sat by her chair, staring up at the visitors with large, doleful eyes. It seemed to regret it's earlier actions. "Vaay..." it cried softly, fin-like ears drooping.

Ash chuckled, and Pikachu leapt off his shoulder to sit by Vaporeon and the bowl of Pokemon food. Molly smiled. "Vaporeon seems pretty sorry about what it did, too." She scratched it behind it's ear, and chuckled.

"Cheer up. They said they forgave you, after all." That seemed to lift the water-type Pokemon's spirits, and it began to eat it's food once more, stopping to chat excitedly with Pikachu every so often.

Ash watched the two Pokemon interact for a moment, before turned back to Molly. "So, what other kinds of Pokemon do you have here?"

May nodded excitedly, while Brock pitched in. "Yeah, we'd really like to see them, if it's okay with you. I'm studying to become the world's top Pokemon breeder. I need to learn all I can."

Molly offered them a small, acquiescing nod, before scooting her chair backwards. "Well, I am taking care of only a few baby Pokemon right now. But my Pokemon are out back as well, looking after them. Come on, and I'll introduce you."

"All right!" Max and May cheered simultaneously, before rushing out to the backyard, ahead of Molly, Ash and Brock. Molly raised her hand to stop them, but they were out the door before she could utter a single syllable.

"Oh dear."

"Gah!"

Molly hurried out the back door, with Ash and Brock in tow, to see a pair of very dizzy looking kids, rubbing their heads and trying to figure out what had just happened. "Did anyone get the number of that Snorlax?" May asked, shakily getting to her feet.

Molly let out a soft laugh, followed by Brock and Ash. "So, what exactly happened there, Molly?" Ash questioned. By this time, Vaporeon and Pikachu had followed them outside. The blue-water Pokemon beckoned to it's new friend, and they both bolted out into the yard.

Ash and Brock followed their movements as Molly tried to help Max and May to stand and get reoriented. "Wow, there sure are a lot of Pokemon out here," Ash commented with a smile. Brock nodded, before crossing his arms and moving forward.

Molly straightened as Max stood up and laughed. "Well, May and Max here just ran into my Ampharos. And I wouldn't be surprised if it used Thunder Wave to paralyze them. Ampharos is like a guardian out here. It makes sure no one who isn't supposed to be here stays out."

Ash and Brock chuckled as May and Max nodded along, their gazes finally coming to rest on the yellow and black Pokemon, who was standing only a few feet away. It had a dark expression on it's face, but the moment it saw Molly, it changed completely.

"Ampha," it called, bouncing over to it's trainer. It bent it's head to receive praise from it's trainer, it's long, lighted tail wagging happily. Molly patted it on the nose and smiled.

"Come on everyone. Come and meet our new guests."

Ash, Brock, Max and May laughed as they saw the flurry of movement come towards them. There was a few tiny, baby Pokemon, and they seemed so very excited to see them.

"Aw, what a cutie!" May exclaimed, reaching down to pick up a baby Sunkern that bounced towards her. It chirped and tittered happily, glad to have someone appreciate it and play.

"Yeah, they're all so healthy looking, aren't they?" Brock exclaimed, glancing at Molly. The Day care lady smiled, and nodded.

"Well, yes," she explained, bending down to pick up a little Vulpix that came towards her and called out. "They are. I let my Pokemon out to play with them and take care of them. And in return, they grow and learn from my Pokemon. It's really a wonderful way to raise them."

Ash laughed when he saw Pikachu and Vaporeon standing next to a large pond with a pair of Wooper and a Marill and Octillery swimming about. The water Pokemon stopped their playing to go and greet their old friend and new one.

"They sure look really happy. This is a nice place, isn't it?" Ash grinned. "Hey, are those your Pokemon?" He pointed to the larger, evolved Pokemon that had begun to move towards Molly.

Molly glanced up from where she had been showing Max a baby Teddiursa. "Huh? Oh, yes. Ash, May, Max, Brock, this is Ninetails and Miltank, my other two Pokemon, aside from Ampharos and Vaporeon."

"Nine," the large, fox Pokemon called. It nuzzled Molly's hand, before poking the Vulpix in her arms softly with it's nose. The tiny fox Pokemon gave a small yip and jumped down onto Ninetails' fluffy set of tails. "This Vulpix is actually an egg hatched from my Ninetails. So it's actually one of my Pokemon too."

Brock patted Ninetails on the head gently. "I have a Vulpix too, but it's back at my gym, with my mom."

Molly looked genuinely interested. "You do? I've been raising my Vulpix for quite some time now, and it's been getting a lot stronger." She paused as her Miltank clipped forward and sat down beside her.

"This really is a nice place for Pokemon..."

----

A/N: Read and Review please!