"Sure you don't need any oxygen?" Brock asked one last time as he adjusted Ash's bowtie.

"Brock, I'm fine," Ash insisted as his friend escorted him up to the elaborately decorated gazebo where the ceremony was being held. "Wow, whoever decorated this did a great job."

"Thanks, twerp," smiled James, who was busy draping a floral garland across the minister's podium.

Ash's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "What…what are you doing here?"

"We're the caterers," James beamed. "And the florists. There, that's perfect." He produced a small brush and dusted a piece of lint off of Ash's shoulder. "And now you're perfect, twerp."

"Wobbuffet!" The blue Pokémon, who was wearing a black bowtie, was standing at Ash's feet, holding a tray of champagne.

"You're here, too?" exclaimed Ash.

"Time for dis ceremony to get on da road," said Meowth, who made his way to the organ sitting on the opposite side of the stage and began playing a tune.

"All right, everyone, places!" Jessie was shouting at the wedding guests through a huge megaphone. "You! Get in your seat now!" she shouted at the stunned-looking Masato, who had just returned from his tour of the Oak Pokémon Preserve with Sami.

"Jessie just loves bossing everyone around," James explained. "So being a wedding coordinator is the perfect job for her."

"You! If you're not in your seat by the time I count to three…" Jessie was now ready to hurl a cream puff at Professor Elm, who had just arrived for the ceremony. "Hey, wait a minute…you're the professor who had the evil Totodile that destroyed my beautiful hair!"

James caught her hand as Jessie prepared to fling the pastry at Professor Elm. "Ease up, Jess. This is how we got fired from the last wedding, remember?"

"Oh, all right," Jessie grumbled, dropping the cream puff. She picked up her megaphone once more. "Everyone, listen up! This wedding is going to start in two minutes, so all of you get in your seats NOW!"

The congregation immediately scrambled into their chairs.

Brock grinned. "Even though Jessie may be bossy, you have to admit that she's doing a good job at keeping everyone on track."

"As long as they don't start stealing everyone's Pokémon," Ash replied.

Jessie was now pushing the members of the wedding party into position for the procession down the aisle. "All right…twerp with the Pikachu goes first, then the twerp's mom. Then you're next, Blondie." She shoved Daisy into position. "Then Professor Twerp with the woman who looks like she ate a Snorlax…"

"Hey, just because I'm pregnant…!" protested Violet.

"Just shut up and waddle into line," Jessie ordered. "Next is the other chick with the guy whose hair looks like he stuck his finger in a light socket."

"Huh?" Gary said, confused.

"Well, that spiky hair of yours is awfully out of control," James said helpfully. "A little hair gel would work wonders as far as keeping it under control. Not to mention adding some much needed luster and shine."

"Save the grooming tips for later, James," Jessie replied irritably, shoving him out of the way. "Okay, where's the old geezer and the red-headed twerp?"

"Right here," Professor Oak replied as he appeared with Misty on his arm.

"Nice dress, twerp," Jessie said. "Now stand over there until I tell you that it's your turn to go down the aisle."

Misty's mouth fell open in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

But Jessie was already tossing AJ into the aisle as Meowth began the wedding prelude. "Get moving, you chubby little rodent!"

AJ turned around to face Jessie, and angry sparks began flying from its cheeks. "Pi-ka…"

"Here, AJ," said Sami, picking up the pillow with the rings on it that AJ had dropped. She handed it back to her miffed-looking Pokémon. "Just go down the aisle to where Ash is."

The Pikachu recovered its composure and proceeded down the aisle as the ring-bearer. Next came Sami, who thoroughly enjoyed flinging rose petals in all directions. (At one point, Professor Birch ended up with a handful of rose petals in his mouth.) Next came Delia, who began weeping at the sight of her grown-up son. She sniffed and wiped her eyes in the soft yellow fur of Electra, whom she was carrying in her arms.

"Aw, Mom…" Ash met his mother halfway down the aisle, gave her a comforting hug, and escorted her to her seat.

Matron of honor Daisy came next, then an uncomfortable-looking Violet on the arm of Tracey.

"Violet looks like she's about to pop," Ash whispered to Brock. "Hope she doesn't have the babies in the middle of the ceremony."

Brock grew pale. "Oh man, don't even joke about that."

Gary dodged an attempt by James to put some gel on his hair and proceeded with Lily down the aisle.

"Well, hello, Pikachu," Jessie smiled evilly at the yellow Pokémon, who was wearing a top hat and a bowtie. "Aren't you just adorable?" She then turned to Togetic, who had a crown of flowers atop its head. "And aren't you cute, too!"

James, who was reading Jessie's thoughts, grabbed her arm as she reached for the two wary Pokémon. "Snap out of it, Jessie!" James said, shaking her roughly. "We're here to make money, not steal Pokémon. We gave that up years ago, remember?"

Jessie quickly came to her senses. "Sorry. Old habits are hard to break." Pushing her partner away, she seized the two Pokémon and began shoving them down the aisle. "All right, Pikachu…you and that flying egg thing get going!"

With an uneasy glance backwards at Jessie, Pikachu took Togetic's arm and the two proceeded down the aisle to where Ash and the rest of the wedding party were standing. Everyone grinned at the sight of the Pokémon in a top hat, and Ash's grin was the biggest of all.

"Looking good, buddy," Ash smiled at his Pokémon. "You too, Togetic."

"Be careful," Brock grinned mischievously at Pikachu. "Remember what I said about Misty marrying you instead."

Electra leapt out of Delia's arms and joined her mate at Ash's side, taking Pikachu's paw firmly in hers.

"Okay, Pops," Jessie addressed Professor Oak. "Time for you and the twerp to get going." She motioned to Meowth, who started playing the wedding march.

"Here comes da' twerp…and she's actually wearin' a skirt!" Meowth sang as Misty and Professor Oak began walking down the aisle.

"I'm going to kill Team Rocket when this is over," Misty said through clenched teeth.

"She's gonna marry da' other twerp an…GAHHHH!" A well-timed Thunderbolt from Pikachu silenced Meowth's serenade.

Ash's heart gave a huge leap at the sight of Misty in her wedding dress.

"Put your eyes back in their sockets, Lover Boy," Brock whispered, although he couldn't help but admiring Misty also.

"Will you look at her, Brock? She's gorgeous!" A stunned Ash whispered back, unable to take his eyes off of the woman who would be his wife in just a few minutes.

"You're a lucky man, my friend," Brock smiled.

"I can't believe how handsome Ash looks," an equally stunned Misty whispered to Professor Oak.

"He certainly looks different when he's not wearing a T-shirt and jeans, doesn't he?" Professor Oak smiled back. "Smoothed his hair down, too."

"Who gives this woman to be married?" the minister asked as the pair reached the gazebo where the rest of the wedding party was waiting.

"Her family and friends do," Professor Oak replied. He lifted Misty's veil, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and led her to the man who would soon be her husband.

"You look incredible, Mist," Ash beamed at his future wife.

"So do you, Ash," Misty smiled back.

"Dearly beloved," the minister began as Ash and Misty joined hands. "We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone has any objections to this union, I ask them to speak now or forever hold their peace."

To be continued…