Ages
Misty: 23
Ash: 22
Lily: 26
Tracey: 25
May: 26
Daisy: 28
Violet: 27
Clark: 29
Delia Ketchum: 39-40
Prof. Oak: 60's

"Mimey! Mimey, don't forget to put the lamb in the oven," the ever chipper Delia Ketchum reminded.

"Mr. Mime!" The proficient Pokemon, always glad to oblige, removed the large lamb that had been defrosting for a day in the fridge, and placed it into the oven. It turned the heat up so the meat could begin to roast, and be ready for the night. Company was coming.

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"Would you just stop! Do you have any idea how annoying that is?" It was a hypothetical question, of course, but that didn't stop Lily from answering anyway.

"It's not annoying, it's called preparing. Maybe you should try it sometime. Now where was I? Oh! It's a great honor to, like, meet you, Prof. Oak...Damn it! Why do I keep doing that?" She sighed, frustrated by her constant mistakes, and additions of the word "like" where it didn't belong.

Her sisters could only roll their eyes, that is, her sisters, except for Misty. Her mind, and focus was on the surrounding trees that zoomed by as the train traveled on it's way to Pallet Town. She was beginning to create a fog, her face remaining glued to the window glass.

"Prof. Oak, It's an honor to meet you! You're like totally awesome!...uuuuuugh."

"I swear, you are so lucky we are in a private car, because if not, you would have been pelted with something by now." Violet couldn't help but be aggravated. Two hours of being stuck with her sister was more than enough for anybody.

Daisy tried her best to ignore her younger sisters' bickering. She turned away from the feuding family members to view the unusually quiet Misty sitting by her side. The elder sister secretly wished she had the gift of tuning hers sisters out the way Misty did.

"Hey..." Misty heard Daisy's voice as she snapped out of her momentary trance.

"I bet you're looking forward to this visit.," Misty could hear the knowing tone immediately. She simply smiled. Everybody was aware of what she was looking forward to in Pallet, but that didn't mean that she was going to outright admit to it.

"Of course I am. It's been a long time since I've been there. It's only natural that I'd be happy to see my old friends again: Tracey; Prof. Oak; Mrs. Ketchum-"

"Ash Ketchum..: Daisy filled in with a grin.

"Him too." Misty couldn't do anything else but agree. "What's wrong with that?" she asked innocently, pulling at her long fiery hair the way she usually did when she was getting nervous.

Daisy felt for her sister. She knew how much Ash meant to her, but she also wanted the best for Misty. "Just don't get your hopes up, that's all."

"Daisy...you don't have to worry. We're just friends...That's all we'll ever be." Misty turned away from her sister's unsure face just in time to see their train pulling into the station. The loud sound of Lily and Violet's arguing died down as the whistle blew, signifying their arrival.

"Finally! I'm free!" Violet declared excitedly, gaining a glare from Lily.

Daisy began to collect the luggage that sat at on the shelves above them, and hand them to their respective owners. Then they all filed out of the car, Misty lagging behind, deep in thought. She knew that her sister was right. She knew that her own words were also true. So what was she expecting to happen? Why was she so happy? Because it was Ash. Content with her own explanation, she picked up the pace, and followed behind her sisters as they exited the train and found a taxi waiting to take them the next few miles to Pallet. They later found out that it had been sent by Prof. Oak.

As they arrived at the large laboratory gates Misty immediately noticed a change.

"The place looks so big!" The lab. on the hill practically eclipsed the smaller town houses down the street.

"Well, Misty, that's usually, like, what happens when people say they're expanding their research facility," Lily stated matter of factly.

"Where'd you here that?" Violet was curious, and so was everyone else.

"I read it in the Indigo Herald."

"You read something?!" Lily's younger sister teased.

"And it was a newspaper?!" Daisy couldn't help but join in the fun.

"I, like, read newspapers all the time!" she angrily growled out, causing two of her sisters to giggle.

"Since when? The only thing I've seen you read are fashion magazines."

"I hadn't read that..." Misty mentioned, almost to herself because none of her sisters were listening to her. They were too busy focusing on Lily and her unusual behavior. Misty's eyes were drawn to the large white building. She felt so strange as she stared up at it's many windows. One of which there seemed to be someone watching them. She tried her best to see, but the glare from the sun was straining her eyes. When she finally managed to block the rays of light with her hand, the figure was gone, if it had even been there at all.

"And since when are you such an expert on Prof. Oak, anyway?" Lily turned her nose up at Violet's questions.

"He is, like, an expert on Pokemon, and me, being a trainer, am of course interested in what's going on with him."

Violet could only stare at her sister, giving her a "yeah right" expression.

"She is an expert on Prof. Oak, because his assistant is an expert on Prof. Oak." Daisy smiled to herself as her second youngest sister's eyes opened wide in shock, and hilarity at this new juicy piece of gossip.

Lily's heart stopped at the statement. A furious blush rose to her face. "Your insane!" she turned around and screamed in protest.

Violet couldn't help but laugh as she thought about the two together. "You l-like the headband guy?! Haaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"I do not!"

"When did this happen?" Violet questioned her eldest sister.

Daisy shrugged. "I don't know. When he came to visit Misty once."

"Lily and headband guy sitting in a tree-"

"His name is Tracey!" Lily corrected angrily.

"You know his name!!!" Violet gasped in fake exuberance while pointing at her sister, who could only give an irritated pout.

"Hey, Mist, you wanna-" Daisy's amused expression quickly changed to confusion when she turned in the direction of where Misty was standing, and now found her gone. Misty had tired of waiting for her sisters to stop their immature behavior, and had begun to make her way towards the front door of the lab.

"Hey guys! Would you shut up! Misty's left! Come on, let's go." Daisy instructed as her sisters complied and followed Daisy up the stairs.

Misty reached the front door, and waited for her sisters to catch up before she rang the doorbell.

While they waited Lily's nerves got the best of her. She didn't want her stupid sisters, especially Violet, to be blabbing about her...interest in Tracey. She had to make sure that they wouldn't say anything. "If you, like, mention one word about me and Tracey, you'll live to regret it," she warned threateningly. "That means you, Violet."

She waved off her sister's accusations. "Oh, don't get your underwear in a bunch, I have more important things to worry about than you and your silly headbanded crush."

"Ssssssshhhhhhhh! I think I hear something." And indeed Misty did, as the door opened to reveal a distinguished looking older man, wearing a warm smile on his face.

"Hello."

"Prof. Oak!" Misty called out happily, engulfing him in a hug.

Prof. Oak was a bit surprised with Misty's enthusiastic welcome, but he was more than glad to accept the affection offered. "Misty, dear!" Prof. Oak let go of the hug to take a look at her. "My, you've really grown into your looks. I still remember when you had that spiky side ponytail, and red suspenders," he joked, motioning to her rather uncharacteristic silky white day dress and long flowing hair. In fact, all of the Cerulean sister's looked quite dressed up for what was said to be an informal meeting. Misty was the only one who's dress could pass for casual, and even that was a stretch.

Misty blushed embarrassed. "Prof., that was such a long time ago."

The Prof. and Misty had gotten rather close over the years. While she was running the gym on her own during her sisters world tour, she had often called him for advice and guidance on several matters. He had become somewhat of a mentor, and father figure to her. But because of everyone's busy schedule, she hadn't had a chance to speak to, or see him, in years.

"These are my sisters." Misty motioned to each one as she introduced them. "This is Daisy, my oldest sister. This is Violet, she's the youngest before me. And this is Lily, she was really looking forward to meeting you."

"Is that so? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you too!"

Lily, however, didn't take her cue when Prof. Oak offered his hand. She was too busy staring over his shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of a certain Pokemon watcher. Unfortunately, it didn't look like he was there at that time, but she wasn't going to give up. She distractedly shook his hand, and gave a insignificant "hi" as a response.

Her sisters pretended that they didn't know her, while the Prof. sweatdropped. "Ah, always nice to meet those devoted fans."

Misty tried to stifle a giggle as the Prof. led them inside, and invited them to sit down.

"Wow, Prof., I love what you've done with the place. It's so homey, and warm. Not to mention clean. It must be tough to keep a place this big so tidy," Misty commented as she observed the unfamiliar comfy furniture that decorated the living room. Misty remembered how cold, and hospital like his home used to look when she was a kid.

The Prof. scratched his head, flustered. "Well, actually I can't take credit for the decor. Delia, I mean, Mrs. Ketchum, was kind enough to decorate this place when I had it expanded a year ago. This is all her doing. And I really don't do much cleaning. Tracey takes care of a lot of that."

"Tracey, as in your assistant Tracey?" Lily immediately questioned.

"Yes, that's right. He's such a helpful young man. He shows a lot of promise."

'Yes he does,' Lily secretly agreed. "He doesn't happen to be here today, does he?" she asked hopefully.

"No, I'm afraid not. He's taken my granddaughter, May, ice skating." Prof. Oak began to pour the sisters some coffee that he had prepared ahead of time, and had ready on the table.

"Awww, that's so sweet of him." Lily was impressed that not only was he efficient at cleaning, but he's also good with children.

"Well, it's kind of his job," the Prof. laughed inwardly at the private joke.

"I didn't know you had a granddaughter as well, Prof. Oak." Misty thought that Gary was his only grandchild.

"Oh yes, May is Gary's sister," he explained as he handed each of the ladies their coffee and offered some biscuits that only Misty accepted. If it was a desert made with anything more than flour and water, the Cerulean sisters wouldn't eat it. They had to watch their figures, and, unfortunately, Misty was the only one blessed with the ability to eat anything and never gain a pound.

"So, Prof. Oak, when do we get to meet this famous water Pokemon specialist that you told us about?" Daisy wondered.

The main reason for their visit to Pallet Town was to get a project up and running. A project that would make people aware that several water Pokemon species were in danger of soon becoming extinct. Mastering in water Pokemon was becoming a common goal for many young trainers today, thanks to the popularity of the Cerulean sisters, and the competitiveness and difficulty of the Whirl Cup competition. This would be a good thing, except that there have now been fewer and fewer water Pokemon in the wild. And the ones that were domesticated were not being bread to increase the population.

"He'll be joining us in a few moments. He's just taking care of something in the lab. He told me that he's very eager to meet you all."

"Especially you, Ms. Yawa."

Daisy practically jumped out of her chair as she felt the warm, soft whisper tickle her ear. She quickly turned around to see a tall, blond, blue-eyed gentleman smirking at her. Her heart got caught in her throat.

"There you are." Prof. Oak and the remaining three sisters all stood up to meet this intriguing stranger. "Ladies, this is Clark Finstein. Clark, these, as you know, are the Cerulean Sisters."

"It's a pleasure to meet you at last." He bowed in gentleman-like fashion, but his eyes never left Daisy, who was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable.

"We have much to discuss. Please, sit down." He took Daisy by the hand and gently pulled her down onto the couch, as he took a seat beside her. Lily, Violet, and Misty felt invisible. They also took their seats, but it was clear that the only one this guy wanted to discuss anything with was Daisy. Prof. Oak was also aware of where Clark's attention lay, and he wasn't about to keep his opinions to himself, the way the Cerulean sister's were doing.

"A little forward, aren't you? Could we please discuss the matter at hand, and leave the flirting for another time." Finally, Clark turned away from Daisy, much to her relief, to address the Prof. His self-confidence was a little shaken by the Prof.'s stare, but the cocky smile still occupied his face.

"Trust me, Prof., I'm not the one you have to worry about distracting any of the Cerulean sisters from the project. It's that farm hand of yours that you should be lecturing."

Prof. Oak knew just who the water Pokemon specialist was referring to, but it was obvious by his next comment, and defensive tone that he didn't want to get into the subject. "Let's leave him out of this, shall we? That boy is another matter entirely."

"I don't know. Ketchum's hormones have been in overdrive ever since he heard about their visit. I'd watch out for him, girls. Apparently, he has a reputation of being quite a charmer. And from what I hear, he just can't keep away from trouble. Not that he's trying to, right?" he seemed like he was joking, but his eyes were so serious as he voiced his opinion.

'Ketchum?' That name immediately struck a cord with Misty. She thought that Clark couldn't possibly be talking about Ash. The words "Ash" and "hormones" just didn't belong together. And why would they need to watch out for him? At that moment, Misty could have sworn she saw an arm disappear behind the door frame across the room. This was the second time that day that she felt like she was being watched. The feeling irked her to no end, but her curious nature urged her to get closer. A shadow was still slightly visible. Someone was definitely there.

"Yes, well, that's really none of our business."

"Quite right, Prof. We'll let the ladies judge for themselves when they get reacquainted with him later." While Clark spoke, he made sure to look directly at Misty.

Misty's interest, and heartbeat increased as he stared at her. What was going on? What did he know? Something told her this visit was going bring up a lot of unexpected surprises, and this was only the beginning.

To be continued...

A/N: Hey people! Yes, this is a new story from me. And yes, there will be several chapters to this, with no real clear ending in site at the moment. But don't worry, that's a long way from now. As you can see by the genre this will be a drama, in every sense of the word, except for a few humorous scenes that I just can't resist but add in. ^^ Not to mention that this story will probably have more pairings than anything else I've ever written. To list a few, there's Pokeshipping, Eldershipping, Neighborshipping, etc...And another pairing that I'd prefer remained a secret for now. *evil grin* Also, this story is going to be pretty slow moving, so I hope that if you like this story so far you'll bear with me through the next chapter as well. I promise that it gets a lot more interesting once Ash enters the picture. ^_^
Next Chapter: Ash finally makes an appearance. Was Clark exaggerating, or is Ash really all that he said he is? And what exactly makes Ash second guess himself on his actions and feelings towards Misty? And what happens when Lily sees that May Oak is a little more than she pictured?
Anyway, since it should be expected of me by now, I'll just say it and get it over with. Please review! ^_^