Ash was awakened by Brock banging open his door.
"Man, I can't believe you're taking a nap when you're getting married an hour from now," Brock said, flinging Ash's boutonniere into his friend's face. "What're you doing, saving your strength for the honeymoon?"
"Nahh, just sleeping off the nachos and beer I had last night," Ash replied, yawning. "Your stomach wasn't upset last night, was it?"
Brock shook his head. "No. But then again, I'm not the one getting married in a few minutes. Here." He handed Ash a paper bag. "I threw up a few times before my wedding. I figured you might need this."
"Brock, I don't need a barf bag," Ash insisted, sitting up and straightening his rumpled tuxedo. "Like I said, I'm as cool as an Articuno. Is Misty here yet?"
"Yeah, she's down the hallway in the guest bedroom with her sisters. I heard them giggling."
"Did you see Misty yet? Is she in her wedding gown?"
"You'll see her soon enough, Lover Boy," Brock said, straightening the lapels of his friend's tuxedo. "That's why I came to get you. Todd's taking pictures of the wedding party, and he wants all the men outside. So come on."
As Ash and Brock passed by the door of the guest bedroom and heard the high-pitched chatter of the women within, Ash crept up to the door and tried the doorknob.
"Hey, you're not supposed to see Misty before the ceremony," Brock said, snatching Ash's hand away. "It's bad luck."
"Aw, come on, Brock. I want to peek inside and make sure she's okay," Ash protested.
"She's fine, Ash. Come on." Brock grabbed his friend by the shirt collar and dragged him downstairs.
Inside, Daisy was fluffing the train of her sister's dress.
"Check it out, everyone," Daisy said, pointing to her youngest sister's reflection in the mirror. "Doesn't our baby sister look like a princess? Misty, I can't believe you're, like, all grown up now."
"Misty, sweetheart, you look absolutely beautiful!" Delia exclaimed as she opened the door to the room.
"Thanks, Mrs. Oak," Misty smiled shyly.
"Misty, in less than an hour you're going to be my daughter-in-law, so I want you to start calling me 'Mom'," Delia said, embracing her, being careful not to crush Misty's dress.
"That means so much to me," Misty said gratefully, returning her future mother-in-law's embrace.
"Yeah. Our parents died a long time ago," Violet said. "Daisy took care of us until I was old enough to help out. Then Lily helped us take care of Misty."
"And now Misty's all grown up and going to be a wife just like the rest of us," Daisy said, brushing a tear away.
"Speaking of which, do you have everything you need?" asked Delia. "Something old, new, borrowed, and blue?"
"Well, my earrings are old," Misty said, lightly touching the pearl earrings dangling from her ears.
"They were our mother's," Violet explained.
"And my dress and shoes are new," Misty said, lifting the fluffy tulle skirt of her dress to display her white lace shoes.
"And you've got a blue garter," Lily giggled.
"Guess all I need is something borrowed," Misty said, looking around for something.
"Here, Misty," Delia said, unfastening the sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet sparkling on her wrist. "Sam gave to me the day we got married, and we've been happily married ever since," Delia explained, fastening the bracelet onto Misty's right wrist. "It'll bring you good luck. Not that you and Ash don't need any."
Misty moved her arm slowly back and forth to admire the beautiful bracelet. "Thank you…Mom," Misty smiled, tears glistening in her eyes.
"No crying!" Daisy ordered. "You'll smear your makeup!"
"Whoa, Misty! You look just like a princess!" exclaimed Sami as she and AJ came galloping into the room.
"Thanks, Sami," Misty smiled, giving her future sister-in-law a hug. "You look pretty gorgeous yourself. Ready to be my flower girl?"
"You bet!" Sami said, clutching her basket of white rose petals eagerly. "AJ and I were gonna go practice throwing these at everyone."
"You don't throw those at anyone!" Delia scolded. "You're supposed to gently drop the petals one by one in the aisle."
"But it would be more fun if I told Pidgeot to use his Gust attack and then all the petals would fly all over everyone," Sami insisted.
"You will do no such thing, young lady!" Delia warned her daughter. "I swear, I think you're harder to raise than Ash ever was."
"And that's a tough act to follow," Misty grinned. Her future husband's impulsive behavior had gotten him into numerous jams over the years.
"Is everyone dressed?" asked Professor Oak, cautiously peering around the door.
"You can open your eyes, dear," Delia told her husband. "We're all decent."
"Misty, you look absolutely lovely," Professor Oak smiled admiringly at his future daughter-in-law. "Ash is a very lucky man. Speaking of which, Todd told me to tell you that he's through taking pictures of the men in the wedding party and he's ready for the women now."
"Let's get downstairs then," said Daisy, adjusting Misty's veil.
"Can someone help me out of this chair, please?" groaned Violet, who had sunk into the cushioned chair next to the window and couldn't get up.
"Hang on, Sis," said Lily, grabbing her sister's arms and pulling her out of the chair.
"Thanks, Lily. I'll do the same for you in about eight months from now," Violet said, rubbing her aching back. "I'll be so glad when these babies get here."
As the other women headed downstairs, Misty reached for Professor Oak's arm. "Professor, can I ask you something?"
"Misty, in a few short minutes I'm going to be your father-in-law. You can start calling me 'Dad' or 'Sam' or whatever you're comfortable with," Professor Oak smiled at her, patting her hand.
"My own dad died when I was little, so that means a lot to me," Misty smiled gratefully. "And that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Would you…would you please walk me down the aisle? I was planning on walking down the aisle by myself, but I'd be honored if you'd escort me instead."
"Misty, I'd be honored," Professor Oak said, lifting her veil and giving her a light kiss on the cheek. "Honored and touched."
"Thanks…Dad," Misty grinned.
"Come on. We can't keep everyone waiting," Professor Oak said, gulping back the lump forming in his throat. "Ash would kill me if I kept his bride from him any longer than necessary."
To be continued…