Cupid Wears Buneary Ears

SUMMARY: Hoping if trainers fall in love their Pokemon will do the same, Pikachu-fancying Buneary plays cupid with Ash and Dawn. But what if Ash likes Misty and Dawn likes Kenny?

GENRE: Romance/Friendship
RATED: G / K
NOTABLE CONTENT: Mildly Crude Humor/Mischief

PAIRING(S): Dominantly Lagomorphshipping (Buneary/Pikachu), with some Pokeshipping (Ash/Misty) and Penguinshipping (Dawn/Kenny). Will Buneary succeed at incorporating Pearlshipping (Ash/Dawn)? Maybe, maybe not. Wait and see!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: I don't own Pokemon / Pocket Monsters
STORY TAKES PLACE IN: Season 11 – D&P Battle Dimension

COMMENTS: Since I love Buneary/Pikachu, I wanted to contribute a fluffy/silly story for the adorable pairing. Pikachu deserves a girlfriend (as does Pikachu's trainer, hehe ^_~). And because I love nostalgia, there's a small tribute in this chapter commemorating the original first season of the Pokemon anime. *Sighs* Good times.

FYI: Usually I refer to Pokemon as "its" in my stories. But in this particular fic I'm taking creative liberties and dubbing Pikachu a male and Buneary a female. Also, I'm assuming Buneary is a little younger (and more naïve) than Pikachu. My apologies upfront if Buneary/Pikachu's sexes/ages bug anybody. I'm doing my best to write the mindsets and love interests of fictitious magical animals, but it's challenging.

So yes, after my half-year-plus hiatus, I am back posting fanfics. ^.^ I missed the excitement of publishing, along with missing some of my readers. I hope everybody enjoys this fanfic!

Cupid Wears Buneary Ears

Aiselne Phoenix

Chapter One ~ * ~ Under the Stars ~ * ~

"If two people's Pokemon fall in love, their trainers will meet and they can fall in love too!"

That line of reminiscence instantly perked Buneary's fluffy ears, eavesdropping on a campfire conversation. She and the other Pokemon curled up on a grassy patch near Ash, Brock, and Dawn's fire. Their peaceful campsite was the perfect ambiance to meditate amongst the chirps of night-crawling forest Pokemon. Stars speckled the night sky, and the crackling campfire's pillar of smoke extended into the heavens. After a long day of training, it was the ideal setting for the Pokemon and their trainers to get some well-deserved rest.

Alas, Buneary's relaxation was disturbed when she listened to the three humans converse. As they often did, the kids sat on logs surrounding the blazing fire. Campfires were notorious for attracting chatter about "the good ol' days," which Buneary found dull and boring. Heavens knew Dawn utilized any opportunity to gush about Johanna's past accomplishments as a top coordinator. Long before the navy-haired girl's Pokemon journey, she used to watch her mother's contests from the sidelines, which undeniably led to Dawn's career ambition. Then came the two boys, Ash and Brock, who frequently enlightened Dawn about their adventures prior to entering Sinnoh. The human trio clearly loved immersing themselves in nostalgia, but Buneary could not agree. Perhaps it was because she was a Pokemon, but the rabbit found subjects about the trainers' pasts to be uninteresting. She never understood human fascination with the past.

However, on this particular evening, one specific conversation about the kids' pasts attracted Buneary's floppy ears.

If two people's Pokemon fall in love, their trainers will meet and they can fall in love too? Buneary repeated to herself. Brock was the one who said the sentence that initially grabbed the brown rabbit's curiosity. Blinking, the bunny remained reclined, keeping one eye open to discreetly listen to the humans' discussion.

"Oh puh-lease, Brock!" Buneary's trainer suddenly laughed, shaking her navy head in disbelief. Dawn was not the only kid making an odd reaction to Brock's words, either. Ash was sweatdropping and sending his older friend grins, whereas Brock was blushing sheepishly. Folding arms over her chest, Dawn cocked her head teasingly for the brunette's benefit. "Don't you think it was a wee bit desperate of you to pair two Butterfree together…just so you could get a girlfriend, hmm?"

Desperate is right, Buneary agreed wholeheartedly, shooting a glance where Croagunk slept a few feet away. She had half a mind to wake up and sic the Poison Type after love-crazed Brock. That's SICK to pair Pokemon together just so their trainers can fall in love!

"Well, believe me, Brock's plan didn't get too far, anyway," Ash reassured Dawn, causing both the coordinator and Buneary to sigh inwardly. Remembering Brock's not-so-smooth matchmaking with Ash's Butterfree, the black-haired boy shook his own head over Brock's desperation. It was no exaggeration to say Brock would do "anything" to win a girlfriend. "After Brock's stupid comment, Misty belted him a second later, warning him to butt-out of Pokemon love affairs."

"Served you right, Brock!" Dawn chastised matter-of-factly. "Pairing Pokemon for your own personal gain? Sicko!"

Buneary shrugged to herself over her and Dawn thinking identically. It never ceased to amaze the bunny how Pokemon and their masters could be on the same wavelength. Like trainer, like Pokemon, and vise versa.

"Oh gimmie a break…I was desperate, okay?" Brock finally admitted, though the only comfort Ash and Dawn gave him were instant "No kidding, Brocko" remarks. Sweatdropping, the teen buried a red face into his hands, shaking his head in small despair. Brock could handle his friends' teases, as long as it meant his desperation led to acquiring a girlfriend. Sadly, being teased whilst being single was plain torture.

"But you didn't see her, either, Dawn," added Brock, lifting his head to unveil glistening eyes alongside a dreamy smile. Ash and Dawn just sighed, knowing the red flags indicating "Warning: Brock is visiting fantasyland again." "That Butterfree trainer was so beautiful! Her hair was so shiny, her skin so clear, her eyes so glittery, her figure so-OW!"

Ash and Dawn cringed not a second after their fantasizing friend's butt got pelted with a Poison Jab. Random as always, neither kid was sure how Croagunk awoke at just the right time (perhaps thanks to Buneary's "same wavelength" theory?). All the same, Ash and Dawn were thankful the Poison Pokemon stopped Brock, before he went into too much detail describing that girl. There were things to be said for Croagunk's convenient (but well appreciated) timing.

Part of their routine, Croagunk dragged away Brock for a much-needed timeout, leaving the two younger group members alone by the fire. Sweatdropping and shaking their heads, Ash and Dawn wondered if Brock would ever learn. Probably not in this lifetime. Dawn, herself, was quite surprised how Brock's girl obsession dated way back before she met the group…though "why" she was so surprised was the biggest mystery. This is BROCK we're talking about.

Ash, on the other hand, was not too surprised, having gotten used to Brock's girl-craziness after years of traveling. Yet honestly, the boy was hoping Brock's hormones would have settled down by now. Some things never change, I guess.

"That guy's gonna' get himself into some serious trouble one day," Dawn predicted with a shiver. She did not wish ill on Brock. Still, Dawn would not be too surprised to learn her eldest friend got arrested for wooing the wrong girl. Frankly, the coordinator was amazed that Brock's arrests and pressed charges had not happened already! "Good thing he's got Croagunk to keep him out of trouble."

Considering how Croagunk "kept Brock out of trouble" with painful Poison Jabs… "That's one way of putting it," Ash chuckled. Then again, Dawn never said anything about Croagunk's methods being "gentle," and frankly, neither were Misty's or Max' unpleasant ear-pulls. Being brutal is probably the only way to override Brock's girl-crazy mode.

"Dare I even ask…?" Dawn started, grabbing Ash's attention from across the campsite. "…But with you and Brock traveling for so long…" she paused, grinning teasingly. "Well, don't take this the wrong way, but how come you don't act all Brock-ish around girls, Ash? Not that I'm complaining, but after traveling with someone like Brock for so long, it's amazing how nothing's rubbed off."

Honestly, Ash was also amazed such never happened, not that he was complaining, either. The boy was aware that upon teenage years, hormones have a tendency to rule the mind, and Ash was not entirely relishing that possibility. After seeing what happened to Brock around girls, Ash did not want to become like him. Ash admired Brock like an older brother, but the teenager's self-proclaimed "bravado" with women was one trait Ash did not revere. In fact, Ash was dead-set not to act "Brock-ish" around girls. For one thing, wooing every female looked embarrassing (at least the way Brock did it), and getting slapped was no fun. Ash got more than his share of slaps when Misty was around, so he was not about to hit on a girl to encourage more slaps.

In time, Ash was sure he would start finding deeper interest in the opposite sex, but for right now, he was perfectly content living the single life. Being in good company of friends and Pokemon ensured Ash never felt lonely. From Ash's perspective, a girlfriend seemed rather unnecessary at this stage in his life. With training, traveling, and badge-collecting being his top priorities, Ash wondered if he would even have time for a so-called 'relationship.' Traveling doesn't seem to stop Brock, though. Of course, he's not in a 'relationship,' is he?

Along with the aforementioned reasons, Ash knew there was one "other" reason why he had yet to become Brock II. Dominantly, Ash Ketchum did not know the first thing about women. Then again, neither does Brock, but I suppose he's a step higher than me. The boy had a difficult time remembering names and Pokemon attacks; girls were even harder to figure out! Misty, May, and Dawn, and other familiar females were good friends, but certain aspects of their personalities left Ash scratching his head.

He loved Misty – as a friend, of course! – but even Ash admitted the tomboy was nearly impossible to understand. The redhead fluctuated between acting sweet as candy, to acting as scary as her Gyarados! Misty's mallet-wielding was another quirk Ash did not comprehend (nor was he stupid enough to question her about it, or get up close and personal with the said weapon). Besides, after the infamous bike fiasco, Ash was 99% positive Misty was interested in guys far beyond Ash's clearance level.

Then came May, who was not quite as disturbing as Misty, but her bubbly "May's Expedition" tangents earned a few raised eyebrows from the black-haired boy. At least Ash was not the only person estranged by May's quirk, since Brock and Max never seemed to fathom it, either. Besides, May obviously preferred classier boys like Drew who maintained suave appearances and grace. "Class, suave, and grace" were the dead-last words used to describe Ash Ketchum.

Jessie was…well, Jessie was a completely different story. And as far as Ash was concerned, Jessie was James' story, too. Enough said.

There were also plenty other puzzling girls Ash met along his Pokemon quest. Giselle from Pokemon Tech was pretty (very pretty, actually, but Ash did not want to sound Brock-ish), but she was too prissy, pompous, and flamboyant for Ash's comfort. Casey was...annoying. Her devotion to the Electabuzz baseball team was commendable, but her obnoxious fan-chant left an awful lot more to be desired. Melody was...interesting, and technically she was the first girl to kiss Ash (not on the lips, though, so maybe she did not count). Gary's teenage sister was...gorgeous (again, not to sound Brock-ish), but even Ash knew she was way too old for him. Latias was sweet, but she was also a Pokemon, so her kiss did not count…that is, provided it was Latias who kissed Ash in Alto Mare. Maybe it was Bianca, but no, it could not have been Bianca, could it? Argh, see? Girls are so confusing!

Last but not least came Dawn, but Ash only knew her for a shorter while compared to Misty and May. At least Dawn did not randomly carry weapons or pretend she was a newscaster. The blue-haired girl's biggest quirk was her insistent tagline, "No need to worry!" All the same, Ash was not dumb enough to assume he and Dawn's relationship was anything beyond friends, and he was content. Ash often dove headfirst into situations, but a romantic relationship was one thing the boy approached with discretion, if not a little trepidation. Being downright clueless about girls and their whims did not help Ash's situation.

Needless to say, nothing Brock-ish rubbed off on Ash. If anything, the Brock-ish-ness flew over the Ash's head like a jet. This was not to say Ash never noticed girls. He did like some girls – or some girl – more than he liked other ladies. But as far as "romantic relationships" went, Ash decided to stick with Pokemon for the time being.

"I guess I'm just not old enough for that stuff," Ash shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. "Frankly, considering how Brock acts, I'm in no hurry, either." All Ash needed was for Pikachu to chaperone him around girls, like Croagunk with Brock. The boy really did not want to get zapped every time a girl crossed Ash's path. Though, considering the umpteen shocks the mouse gave him when they first met, Ash was beginning to wonder if he was shockproof. He was not confident enough to provoke Pikachu to test that theory.

Giggling, Dawn smiled sympathetically. Actually, she was glad Ash was more timid around girls. The raven-haired boy was still too young to be Brock Jr. "I can't say I blame you, Ash," confessed Dawn, knowing she was not quite ready to engage the "boy-crazy" stage in her life just yet, either. Sure, she liked boys, but Dawn was not about to throw herself at every guy within a five-mile radius. Some males stuck in her memory more than others; friends, childhood friends, a preschool friend…but Dawn highly doubted he thought about her as much as she thought about him. "Though to be honest, I always thought the real reason you didn't act like Brock was because..." Dawn paused again, playfully smirking. "...You might already have a girlfriend, Ash."

Ash nearly fell off his seat. Thank heavens he was not eating anything this late at night, else he would have choked. Needing a moment to recollect himself, the boy chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah right, Dawn," Ash replied passively, attempting to automatically change the subject. "As if that'll ever happen."

"Oh, I'm sure it will sooner or later," Dawn teased, narrowing her blue eyes and enjoying the unnerved expression painting Ash's face. Of her limited experience with romance (outside soap operas and chick flicks), Dawn always adored how impishly young boys behaved when broached about potential crush interests. "The way you and Brock reminisce, especially about your days with Misty, almost made me think you've got a thing for her."

"'The way I talk about her'?" Ash repeated to himself, sweatdropping rather sheepishly. He never thought he added any extra emotion into discussions of his travels with Misty. Ash always assumed he reminisced about everything via a standard voice, certainly nothing special. Where was Dawn getting this impression? "Why? Do I make a face or something?" Ash knew it was hard for him not to smile when recalling his old adventures. Then again, every one of his past adventures made him smile, not just the Misty-relevant memories.

Dawn giggled, shaking her head. "No, you don't make a face or, anything like that," she reassured, noticing the boy look relieved by her observation. "You just sound so...happy, that's all."

Granted, not every one of the days he and Brock traveled with Misty were "happy" (especially when Misty was on another bike-ranting, mallet-swinging rampage). Seriously, Misty was crazy sometimes! But for the most part, recalling his days with the fiery redhead did elate Ash. Crazy or not, Misty was still Ash's best friend. "Well, that's probably because I miss those days, and remembering her does make me happy, Dawn," he admitted, unable to restrain a warm grin. "Reminiscing sometimes makes it feel like Misty never left."

Dawn had to restrain the urge to squeal "aaawww" like a teenybopper at a sleepover. She heard all about the friends Ash and Brock used to travel with: Misty, Tracey, May, and Max. But there was something unique about the stories involving Misty. She was Ash and Brock's first female companion, and the trio had been together the longest. Maybe that was why Misty's memories were the most sacred. Of course, Brock clearly preferred older women, whereas Misty was probably closer to Ash's age.

Unable to resist the opportunity, the blue-haired coordinator took a chance to tease the unsuspecting boy, just for fun. "Hehe, you do like her, don't you, Ash?"

Dawn's urge to go "aaawww" intensified when she noticed a streak of blush run across the black-haired boy's nose. "Yeah right, Dawn!" Ash chuckled, though it did not sound overly convincing when halfway through his sentence he turned away. Misty was crazy! Crazy! Craaazy! And it was even crazier to think Ash had a thing for her! Yup, totally crazy. "It's not like that, trust me."

"Oh?" Dawn inquired coyly, enjoying this little game. She was a preteen girl, after all, and she loved mushy romance just as much as Misty and May. The further she teased Ash, the more obvious it seemed that Misty was extra-special to him. Ash may not be ready for a full-blown relationship, but that never negated secret puppy-love crushes. "How so?"

"Well for starters, Misty's a mallet-toting maniac," diverted Ash.

"Hehe, I think you like that aspect of her. It gives Misty personality!" Dawn spoke matter-of-factly, pointing an index finger to the sky. "Sometimes the people who drive you crazy are the ones who leave the biggest impressions. Kenny drove me nuts when we were little, and to this day he knows how to grate my nerves, but we're still close. I'm sure it's similar with you and Misty. Besides, people express their love in unique ways, Ash."

"That's one way of putting it…" admitted Ash, before blinking and re-thinking Dawn's last phrase. Wait, people express their LOVE in unique ways? Is Dawn thinking...Misty hit me with mallets because she...she...Misty might...l-lo-lov…

…No, of course not! Misty already told Melody (and everybody else on Shamuti Island) that she did not consider Ash her boyfriend. Then again, one did not need to be dubbed "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" for somebody to secretly have feelings for him or her. Ash swallowed nervously, noticing his surroundings were starting to get warm, even though the campfire was almost extinguished. He could only hope the dwindling light would not expose the color of his face. The way Ash felt, he would not be surprised if his face mirrored a red traffic light. Could Misty...she might...l-love...ME?

The poor lighting did little to hide Ash's features, making Dawn finally give into her gushy giggles. Actually, this was a first for her, since she never saw Ash look so impish. She always felt like the two boys she traveled with were polar opposites in regards to girls: Brock was obsessed with women, and Ash was oblivious to them. Yet, here was the so-assumed oblivious boy, hiding and lowering his head in a pitiful effort to conceal his flushed face. It was cute, actually. Sympathetically, Dawn secretly understood Ash's self-consciousness. In preschool, Leona teased Dawn, or "Dee-Dee," in a similar fashion, having gotten the impression that Dawn crushed Kenny! Sheesh, just because Dawn and Kenny were close did not mean they harbored deeper feelings. To this day, Dawn failed to understand where Leona got that craaazy idea!

Banishing the blush from her cheeks before Ash could notice, Dawn reverted back to her quarry. Better than anyone, Dawn understood how hurtful it was to be picked on (especially when teased about something that's NOT true! I mean really, where the heck did Leona get the slightest idea that I liked Kenny? He's so annoying with his "Dee-Dee this" and "Dee-Dee that"! Argh! I'd hate his guts if he weren't so cute…I-I mean OF COURSE I hate his guts!). Er, okay, so perhaps Dawn did understand Leona's entertainment in teasing a person about love interests; It's fun…but only when the person being teased is not you! Besides, unlike Dawn and Kenny, it seemed pretty obvious how the furiously flushed Ash felt about Misty. To Dawn, Ash-moments like these were the perks of being a newcomer in the group; being able to see new sides to her companions. Frankly, Dawn somewhat liked this side to Ash. He's really sweet when he blushes.

Dawn just had to ask, "Have you ever told her?"

Blinking, Ash glanced back at her through the corner of his eye. The poor boy feared if he turned his head he might further embarrass himself. "Told who what?"

Mr. Dense did not have to turn around to embarrass himself. Rolling navy eyes, Dawn sighed softly. "Who else, silly?" It was amazing how one minute Ash could be cute, and the next minute he could be clueless. "Have you ever told her you like her!"

"Tell 'who' you like her?" a voice suddenly interrupted, as a recovered Brock strolled back by the campfire, sitting back down beside Ash. Much to Brock's surprise, the younger boy instantly glanced away, avoiding eye contact for dear life. "What'd I miss?" Brock dared to ask, rubbing his hands together. Whatever Ash and Dawn's topic of conversation happened to be, it had to be juicy to render Ash so embarrassed.

For a moment, Dawn wondered if she should confess. Ash may not want Brock to know his secret. Then again, Ash and Brock knew each other for years, close enough to be brothers! In her naivety, Dawn assumed there were no secrets between the boys. Plus, since Brock traveled with Ash and Misty before, the coordinator figured Brock already knew the truth. "That Ash likes Misty."

Brock so nearly did the automatic "no kidding" snort, but did a double-take instead. Ash likes Misty…meaning Ash SAID he likes her? He finally CONFESSED? When it finally dawned on Brock, off went his girl-crazy mode, and on went his "love doctor" mode!

"CONGRATULATIONS, man!" Brock energetically applauded Ash, vigorously patting the boy's shoulder. "Wow, it's about time you admitted your feelings for her!" Naturally, Brock already assumed Ash and Misty liked each other, but were too pigheaded to admit it. Even Tracey suspected the kids crushed each other. Thus, the teenagers never thought the days of confessions would come, but Ash was bound to grow up eventually. "Admitting you love someone is always the hardest step, but now that hard part's done!" And to think, just as Dawn said, Ash was already reaching the stage of telling Misty his feelings! Where was I when Ash grew up? Brock wondered. Oh well, now that he knew the truth, it was time for Brock The Love Doctor to work his magic. With two big thumbs-up, Brock flashed a confident grin to Ash. "Fear not, buddy! With my pick-up lines there's no way Misty will reject you!"

Ash wanted to crawl under the log he sat upon.

The only thing Brock's pick-up lines will get me is a slap in the face!

Why, oh why did Dawn not keep her big mouth shut? Why did this innocent conversation have to escalate to madness? And why in Mew's name was Ash blushing so much? If he felt nothing for Misty, he should not be acting like this, right? And it was not as though Misty liked Ash, right? Crazy! Misty always denied any feelings for Ash, so there was nothing to worry about, right? Then again, whenever people teased Misty of liking Ash, her emotions tended to mimic Ash's current behavior: flushed, avoiding eye contact...

Ash's brown eyes widened.

…Maybe…maybe Misty...DOES...like...me!

And if – supposedly – Ash did not like Misty, why did that last thought make the boy feel so...hopeful?

Just when campfire stories used to be boring, Buneary found an interesting topic. Like her trainer, Buneary was very interested in romance, just on the Pokemon level. It was nice to see a human acting sheepishly regarding the subject of love, which was often how Buneary reacted. She was shy, and often buried her red face into her fur…much how the boy buried his face into his hands while his friends played the game of "Let's Tease Ash!" Ash might not be Buneary's trainer, but the rabbit sympathized with him. After all, Buneary acted just as shy and blushy whenever she was near…

"Pikapi?"

Buneary's heart raced instantaneously upon watching a blur of yellow run past her, scampering to the campfire commotion. As if Butterfrees danced inside her stomach, Buneary felt her cheeks redden. The electric object of her affection reached Ash's feet, curious why Dawn and Brock were picking on the mouse's master. So compassionate and so concerned, the Electric Pokemon always put others before himself, like a dashing prince.

Pikachu…

Buneary's eyes glossed over dreamily. The electric rodent was so cute; his silky yellow fur and big brown eyes intoxicated Buneary's throbbing heart. She fell in love with Pikachu the moment she saw him. It was the classic cliché of "love at first sight." But aside romance, that mouse was everything Buneary admired and wanted to become: strong, attractive, brave, and undeniably adorable. Pikachu was everything Buneary ever wanted.

Yet...there was trouble in paradise.

First and foremost, while Buneary understood her feelings for the Electric Type, she did not know Pikachu's side of the story. Quite frankly, "like trainer, like Pokemon." Pikachu did not seem any quicker on romance than his master. Then again, Buneary was too shy to be overly direct, though she was getting bolder. It was harder to control herself when she watched Pikachu's magnificent Volt Tackle, which was almost enough to make Buneary faint with glee. As long as Pikachu was not nearby, Buneary had no qualms about acting girly and gushy. But whenever the mouse was close, the bunny hid her face.

Why?

Why else?

Buneary feared the romantically-challenged Pikachu did not return her feelings.

Or did he? A while ago, Buneary, Pikachu, and the other Pokemon got lost in a labyrinthine outdoor maze. Pikachu was the one who found Buneary, and to sweeten the deal, Pikachu even let Buneary hold his hand! It was Buneary's dream come true! Had it not been for Happiny tagging along, Buneary would have kissed Pikachu. Still, holding hands was a definite bonus. The bunny's heart nearly burst out of her chest when she felt Pikachu's paw in hers; so soft and warm. If it is possible to fall in love all over again (ten times over), that was what happened to Buneary on that day.

Maybe Pikachu...DOES like me, Buneary wondered as she eyed the mouse from afar. That was always what Buneary did: watch Pikachu from a distance. Sadly, merely watching was not very satisfying. Buneary wanted to hold Pikachu's hand again, hug him, and even kiss him. On a few instances back in the maze, Buneary was almost tempted to purposely get herself lost with Pikachu, just to prolong their bonding.

Any time spent with Pikachu was priceless. The mouse was too adorable for words! His Pokemon impressions were priceless, and Buneary was incredibly flattered when Pikachu impersonated her during the Sinnoh Dress-Up Contest. Maybe that was a hint, too. Maybe all this time, Pikachu was sending Buneary subtle notes. After all, who said Buneary was the "only" Pokemon afraid of unrequited love? Pikachu might be in the same situation, shyly waiting for Buneary to make a move. Brock did claim the confession of one's feelings is the biggest challenge. Once Buneary and Pikachu overcame that hurdle, smoother sailing may be in their futures.

Either way, Buneary was not willing to let Pikachu slip through her grasp. She always feared Pikachu might have met another Pokemon during his travels, animals that he may fall for, too. Like humans, Pokemon chatted amongst themselves. During one past conversation, Pikachu recalled his encounter with other Pikachu. One mouse was nicknamed Sparky, and Pikachu always gave the Pokemon his highest praise and admiration. Buneary was unsure of Sparky's gender, but if Sparky were a female…then Buneary had better start making her move!

But how? Brock said admitting one's feelings is the hardest part!

But...then again... paused Buneary, grinning widely as she stole another glance at the electric love of her life. Brock also said that if two people's Pokemon fall in love, their trainers will meet and may fall in love, too. True, Brock's Butterfree scheme proved unsuccessful, and Buneary was not thrilled with the idea of matchmaking Pokemon for human benefit, either. But in retrospect and with deeper consideration, Brock's concept was not as sick as Buneary once believed.

Pokemon and trainers tended to think and act alike. Dawn and Buneary loved to dress-up and perform, and Ash and Pikachu were similar enough to be human/Pokemon incarnates of each other. Their likes and dislikes were not overly different. Buneary liked cute Pokemon boys, and she knew her trainer liked cute human boys. Both Ash and Pikachu were dense about girls, but the boy and mouse obviously shared love for adventure, battle, and food. Surprisingly, there were minimal dissimilarities between Buneary with Dawn and Pikachu with Ash. Was it so outlandish to assume these near-identical Pokemon and humans could not share romance preferences?

If that were the case, and if humans and Pokemon could potentially fall in love with similar objects of affection, then Brock's idea was not 100% half-baked desperation. Buneary was not certain about Ash and Dawn's "other" possible love interests. She occasionally heard banter about a "Misty" and a "Kenny" before, but where were they right now? Was it not true that long-distance relationships fail? If that were the case, then nobody else in the current group was available for Dawn and Ash to fancy. Brock's interest in older women negated his threat and isolated Ash and Dawn. And while Buneary was not fond of people toying with Pokemon for human gain, the rabbit was more receptive to Pokemon gain.

If Brock believed Pokemon romance would trigger human romance, Buneary found it feasible to believe human romance could trigger Pokemon romance. Truthfully and technically, if Brock and Buneary's schemes worked, then benefits would be reaped for both trainer and Pokemon. There was nothing sick about a win-win situation where both sides live happily ever after.

Maybe, if two trainers fall in love, their Pokemon will fall in love, too!

For once, Buneary tore her eyes away from the handsome Pikachu. Instead of ogling her favorite Pokemon, Buneary's eyes fell upon a different sight. This time around, Pikachu was not the rabbit's major concern at the moment. Instead, Buneary's eyes locked onto her blue-haired master and the black-haired boy. If Buneary's trainer and Pikachu's trainer fell in love, maybe...just maybe...

...Pikachu and I will finally fall in love!

To Be Continued…

A/N: For newer Pokefans unaware of Brock's "If two people's Pokemon fall in love…" theory, it's derived from the "Bye Bye, Butterfree" episode in the first anime season. Classic.

** As a special bonus for "Cupid Wears Buneary Ears," readers are welcome to click my profile for URL links to new fanart just for this story (drawn by yours truly, no less)! **

Updates/chapter postings for this fanfic will probably be weekly, baring unforeseen delays. Sadly, with winter-weather knock knock kockin' on my door, along with the hectic holidays, delays may occur. However, I promise any delays/notifications will be posted on my profile.

Reviews are always appreciated. I hope readers enjoy themselves during this story, along with enjoying this holiday season!