:LOFL: OMFG! I knew it! I knew it! It IS her! Everyone was right! It is Misty's mom! Holy s**t! I can't freakin' believe it! Look at 'em! It just gets freakin' weirder!

You know, I have an idea. It was said that Brock's mother married about 12 different men in order to get Brock the Gym. (This is according to Shudo-san's book.) Here's what I think. I'm going to do a little genealogy.

Let's say that, for starters, Mrs. Slate married Flint Slate. Meanwhile, over in Masara Taun, Senri teh Touka Gym Leader had just gotten married to Deliah Ketchum.

Back in Pewter City, Mrs. Slate divorced Flint and Flint ran. She married, amongst other men, Misty's father. (His actual wife had died. Let's just say that, and also say Misty was never actually told.)

Shortly thereafter, Deliah and Senri grew slowly apart. They divorced - and of course Deliah never said anything to Ash about this. Senri departed when Ash was about two or so. Brock was about four at the time. Misty would also be about two. Misty's father ran off and left Misty in the care of only her sisters and perhaps a Nanny. Why did he run? He and his new wife wanted to see the world. They stopped in Houen. That is where they divorced.

Mrs. Slate/Waterflower/Whatever met Senri, who was now an established GL. They married. They had a daughter named Haruka when Ash would have been four. They had a Son named Masato when Haruka was four, and Ash and Misty would have been eight. Brock would therefore be about ten, maybe. Perhaps he would have been eleven or twelve.

It lasted between Senri and Mrs. Flint's Ex-Wife for about two years after Masato's birth. Then, she ran again.

This is how things would stand then. Haruka and Ash would be half-sibblings. (By Ash's father.) Haruka and Brock would also be related in that way. So would Brock and Misty. However, since there is no true direct relation between Ash and Misty, PokeShipping would keep very safe. (Don't know about Gym or AdvanceShipping.)

Ash and Misty do not have the same mother or father, but Misty's mother and Ash's father married each other and had children. (Still not making any relation between the two. They are still well removed.) Ash does not share any blood with Brock, either. The only link there is that Ash's father did marry Brock's mother a long while after Senri and Deliah had Ash and then divorced. Misty shares no direct link with Ash either. Her only connection to Ash is the same is Brock's- and there is no blood shared between her and Ash. Haruka is the only one who is a real blood-relation to Ash Ketchum.