Author's note: Hi! Well, you wanted it, so you're finally gonna get it! Get what, exactly? Read to find out!

... I'll admit, I didn't feel entirely comfortable about writing this thing, but the people have spoken!

... And I listened. Painfully.

So consider this your New Year's present, dear fans! Happy New Year!

Stupid storyline, go!

Under The Light

Buneary giggled as she ran through the bushes with Pachirisu. The other pokémon, including her beloved Pikachu, were all running around elsewhere. They weren't really playing anything specific today. They were just running around for the sheer joy of it, while the humans prepared their lunch.

As she emerged into the clearing, Pachirisu dashed past her, heading towards Buizel and Sudowoodo. She made to follow him.

"Oh, it's so exciting!" Dawn suddenly squealed.

Buneary paused, wondering what her trainer was talking about. She turned to watch.

"Yeah, I know!" Ash replied excitedly. "My battle with Paul's coming up real soon!"

"Yeah," Brock agreed, nodding, "just a couple more days."

"Not that!" Dawn cried in exasperation.

"Huh?" Ash asked, confused. "Well, what, then?"

Dawn beamed. "New Year's Day, of course!"

"Yeah? Why are you so excited about it?"

"Ah, yes, of course," Brock said with a warm smile. "It's the coming of the new year. The time to start afresh and make New Year's resolutions."

"Not just that!" Dawn replied. "The tradition!"

"… Tradition?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dawn blinked. "You don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

"I must admit," Brock said, "I'm confused, as well."

Suddenly Dawn's face lit up with comprehension. "Of course!" she replied. "You two are from Kanto, right? So, you probably won't know about the tradition!"

"Then explain it to us," Ash said, putting his wrists on his hips.

Dawn gave a smug grin. "Here in Sinnoh, we have a long-standing tradition that, if you kiss someone at midnight on New Year's Day, you'll be lucky in love for the rest of the year!"

"Really?" Brock cried in joy. He clasped his hands together and danced around. "I could be lucky in love? It's like a dream come true!"

"... Sounds kinda silly, if ya ask me..." Ash said.

The grin never left Dawn's face. "Oh, Ash, where's your sense of romance?" she asked. "I personally think it's really sweet!" She paused for dramatic effect. "The boy and the girl... standing side-by-side beneath the stars... 'It's beautiful tonight, isn't it?' he asks... 'Yes, it is,' she replies... then he turns to her with a twinkle in his eye... 'But not as beautiful as you," he says... She turns to him, the breath catching in her throat..."

"This story's getting weird..."

"I think it's amazing!" Brock said, still dancing around.

"Hush!" Dawn said. She cleared her throat. "As the countdown commences, he leans forward, ever-so slowly... Entranced, she leans forward, too... and, just as the countdown reaches zero... their lips connect. The rest of the world vanishes as they kiss... under the light of the fireworks..."

"... Uh, okay then..." Ash said.

Brock had tears streaking down his face. "That story was beautiful!" he cried.

Ash gave him a confused look. "You think?"

"Yes!" Brock suddenly clenched his fist, a fire burning in his eyes. "Tonight, that boy will be me! I must make it my goal..." He raised his hands to the sky, spreading them wide apart. "To find that girl and get my good luck kiss!"

From nearby, Croagunk silently raised an eyebrow at him.

Ash turned back to Dawn. "So, why is this exciting, Dawn? Did you have someone you were gonna try it out on, or something?"

Dawn laughed, looking slightly embarrassed. "Oh, gosh, no!" she replied. "I've just always thought it was really cute... Don't you think it's cute?"

"Not really..."

She pouted. "Hmph, you have no taste." She playfully stuck her tongue out at him. After a moment, she smiled. "Actually, my mom always told me that was what happened between her and my dad. They kissed at midnight on New Year's Day, and stayed together ever since!"

Ash smiled back. "Huh, really? That's kinda nice, Dawn."

Dawn beamed. "I know!"

Brock, still crying, was chewing on a handkerchief. "Proof that it works!" he cried. He let go of the handkerchief and ran off. "I have my mission!"

"Wait! Brock!" Ash cried after him.

"You haven't finished making lunch yet!" Dawn cried. "Brock!"

Croagunk rolled his eyes and slowly trudged after his trainer.

Buneary's eyes shone in wonder. So, a kiss at midnight would give her good luck in love? There was no way she was going to pass up such a golden opportunity! It was just too perfect!

There was just one tiny issue. Being a pokémon, this human method of displaying affection was rather foreign to her, but Dawn had said nothing about licking, nuzzling or hugging. She had specifically said kissing. Well, if that was what she had to do...

She formed an 'o' with her mouth, then retracted it. Well, that had felt weird. She tried again. She knew how to do it – due to having seeing the odd couple here and there on her travels – but actually doing it was a different kettle of remoraid...

She tried kissing her paw, then retracted it. Yeah, this would take some practice. It felt rather unnatural...

She glanced over the field and spotted Pikachu chatting to Piplup. A warm smile spread across her face. Unnatural though it may feel, she would have to get it right by midnight. She would just have to! A future with the guy she loved depended on it! She started to make a plan.

After lunch, Buneary tentatively approached Buizel, going over in her head what she'd say to him. When he turned to look at her, she snapped to attention.

"(Hey, Buizel!)" she said with a smile.

"(Hey,)" he replied, nodding at her. "(What's up?)"

"(Um...)" Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea, after all.

"(Yeah?)"

She shuffled her foot. "(We're friends, aren't we, Buizel?)"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "(Yeaaaah?)"

"(And you're a fairly humanoid pokémon, right?)"

He blinked. "(Wait, what?)"

"(Do you think you could teach me how to kiss like a human?)"

There was a long pause.

He frowned in confusion. "(Wait, wait, wait... kiss like a...? What brought this on?)"

She blushed. "(Can you, or not?)"

He indicated himself with his paws. "(Buneary, I'm a weasel. Not a human. What makes you think I can teach you weird stuff like that?)"

"(I just figured you were more human than most other pokémon here...)"

Buizel heaved a sigh. "(Trying a new way to win Pikachu over, right?)"

She blinked at him. "(... Is it that obvious?)"

"(Yeah.)"

Buneary heaved her own sigh. "(I just want something to work, you know? I try so hard and get nowhere, and I just...)"

"(Yeah, I know... Pikachu can be a little dense, sometimes... but he's a good guy.)" He paused. "(I guess we can try practicing together, then.)"

Buneary's eyes stretched wide in shock. "(Hmm?!)"

Buizel blushed. "(Not like that!)" He paused again. "(Unless that's really what you meant when you said you wanted me to-)"

She rapidly shook her head. "(No, no! That's not what I meant at all!)"

Buizel sighed in relief. "(Okay, good.)" He paused again. "(So, what the heck are we supposed to do?)"

"(I'm... not sure...)"

Pikachu wandered around, trying to find Pachirisu. The silly thing had run off in a sugar rush, and now he had no idea where he was. He knew it was a bad idea for Dawn to give him candy. He sighed and shook his head.

He paused when he noticed Buizel and Buneary nearby and smiled. He was about to call out to them and ask if they'd seen Pachirisu, but then he halted. Just what were they doing?

Buneary was making weird faces, and Buizel was analysing them. She'd make an 'o' with her mouth, then he'd stand back with his arms folded for a moment, then shake his head. After recycling this for a while, Buizel started making the weird faces himself.

Confused and perturbed, Pikachu turned and walked away, continuing his search.

Buneary sat in the snug confines of her pokéball, and continued to practice as the group travelled. She honestly wasn't sure if she was making any progress with this. How was she to know if she was doing it right? She was a pokémon, not a human.

She supposed to could try asking Dawn how to do it, but she likely wouldn't know, either. Not that it would be easy to communicate what she wanted Dawn to do, anyway.

Eventually – though it was hard to tell exactly how long from where she was - she felt a disturbance in the pokéball. It clicked open, and she felt herself being pulled, molecule by molecule, to the outside world. It was a weird feeling, but she was quite used to it by now. It wasn't painful, just weird.

Once she materialised on the ground, she gave a happy cry. It was always nice to be outside. Not that she hated her pokéball, of course. She just liked the smell of the fresh air, as well as the company of her friends.

After being healed of their fatigue by Nurse Joy's miraculous healing machines, she and the other pokémon were taken outside, where they were set to train for a while.

"Lake Acuity's not far from here, is it?" Dawn asked, staring into the distance.

"I can't wait!" Ash said excitedly. "How far away are we, Brock?"

"Beautiful maiden!" Brock cried from nearby. Everyone turned to see him holding the hands of a girl with blood red hair. "Your hair is the colour of the burning passion I hold for you! Our love shall reach the far corners of the galaxy, if you would only grant me a single lucky midnight kiss!"

"I'm sorry, who are you?" the girl asked with wide eyes.

"(Oi, Casanova!)" Croagunk called out, jabbing his glowing fingers into Brock's rear end. "(Cool it.)"

"Or... maybe midday would work better for you..." Brock muttered in pain before he collapsed. Croagunk silently dragged him away.

Dawn cleared her throat awkwardly. "... Well, Nurse Joy said there'd be fireworks later tonight!" she said, smiling.

"Yeah, that'll be cool!" Ash replied.

"Maybe we'll even see some kissing couples!"

Ash gave her a sheepish smile. "Uh, yeah..."

Buneary clenched her paws in determination. She had to get back to work.

As Ash and Dawn had a double battle, one using Grotle and Chimchar, and the other using Piplup and Pachirisu, Buneary snuck off to find someone else to help her. She had plenty of options, but most of them were standing too close to Pikachu, the one pokémon she didn't want overhearing her plans.

Wandering around, she eventually spotted the perfect pokémon, as he was far away from everyone else. She didn't know how well this would work, but she was willing to try, so she trotted over to him. He was currently lying on the grass with his eyes closed.

"(Hey, Mamoswine?)" she asked.

He opened one eye and looked at her. "(Hmm?)" he asked. "(What?)"

"(Can you help me with something?)"

"(What's that?)"

"(I wanna learn to kiss like a human.)"

He stared at her. "(... What for?)"

Buneary faltered. "(To... Because... Look, can you help me, or not?)"

The single eye blinked. "(Do I look human to you?)"

"(Well... no, but...)"

"(Then I can't help you.)" He closed the eye.

She huffed in exasperation. "(Oh, come on, Mamoswine!)"

After a moment, the eye opened again. "(I'm trying to sleep, you know.)"

"(You can sleep later! I need your help right now...)"

He paused for a long moment. Eventually, he sighed. "(Fine...)" He opened both eyes. "(Tell me what to do.)"

Pikachu was eagerly watching the battle between four of his friends. It was so intense! It was even getting him pumped up to fight Paul and his blasted electabuzz in a couple of days. He couldn't wait! He'd beat him this time, for sure!

He excitedly looked around for Buneary, to see what she thought of the battle, but was surprised when he didn't see her. Looking around for a moment, he eventually noticed her in the back of the crowd with Mamoswine.

He blinked in confusion. She was pulling those odd faces again, as was Mamoswine. Just what the heck was going on? Buneary was normally pretty weird, but this was just beyond comprehension. As for Mamoswine? He looked rather freaky pulling those expressions.

"(This is ridiculous...)" Mamoswine grumbled.

"(You don't think it's working?)" Buneary asked tentatively.

"(No.)"

"(Hey, guys!)" Staraptor said. He drifted down and perched on Mamoswine's back. "(You look funny. What are you doing?)"

Mamoswine gave a displeased grunt. "(Buneary here wants to learn how to kiss like a human.)"

Staraptor tilted his head. "(Why?)"

Buneary sighed. "(It's apparently good luck to kiss someone at midnight...)" she replied, "(so I wanted to try it.)"

"(... Ohhhh, I see!)" Staraptor straightened his head and grinned."(You wanna use it on Pikachu, don't you?)"

"(... Maybe.)"

"(Well, I'll help! Just show me what to do!)"

"(... But you don't have lips.)"

He pointed a wing at her, but he was still smiling. "(Hey, don't be racist against birds! Come on, let me try!)"

Buneary sighed again. "(Okay.)"

Pikachu blinked. Now Staraptor was at it! Just what were they doing?

If only he'd been able to hear them talking, he might have an idea, but they were too far away. Plus, the yelling from Ash and Dawn and the attacks from Grotle, Chimchar, Piplup and Pachirisu were drowning out all outside noise.

He just didn't get it. Perhaps there was something he was missing. Maybe some inside joke he wasn't part of. He really didn't know.

Buneary sighed to herself. The day had been less rewarding than she'd hoped. She'd had so many hours of practice, and she was still no better at kissing. She just had to face it, she had no idea what she was doing.

"Why, hello there!" Brock cried. Buneary looked up to see him swooning over some random girl with green hair. "My name's Brock, and I think you're my ticket to a lucky year!" He suddenly put on a seductive air. "Perhaps you'd do me the great honour of a kiss at the stroke of midnight?"

"(Cease and desist!)" Croagunk cried, using Poison Jab on him again.

"Argh! Or just a peck on the cheek is fine..." Brock collapsed.

"(That's the tenth one today... This guy's getting desperate...)"

"(... Don't you want your trainer to find love?)" Buneary asked with a light frown.

Croagunk turned to her. "(Yes...)" he replied, "(of course I do...)"

"(So then why do you keep stopping him?)"

Croagunk stared at her in silence for a few moments. "(Look... I want him to be happy... Really... I do...)"

"(Hmm?)"

He indicated his barely-conscious trainer. "(But this isn't the way to do it.)"

"(No?)"

"(No.)" There was a long pause. "(He's being creepy.)"

"(Creepy?)"

"(Yeah. Someone's gotta tell him to back off... when he starts getting too creepy.)" He paused again. "(If he'd court properly... then fine... but this forcefulness? It's creepy.)"

Buneary blinked, then blinked again. A sudden thought occurred to her. "(So... if you're forceful, you're creepy?)"

"(Yep.)"

"(... So... kissing someone at midnight... Is that creepy?)"

Croagunk continued to give her that unnerving stare he was known for. "(Is that someone expecting it?)"

"(Well... no...)"

"(Does that someone want it?)"

She hesitated. "(... Probably not, but...)"

"(Then it's creepy.)"

Her ears drooped. Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea, after all.

Pikachu blinked. "(Wait... what?)" he asked.

Happiny beamed at him. "(I heard her!)" she replied. "(She said she wanted to kiss you at midnight! Not sure why, though! Seems really weird to me!)" She giggled.

Kiss? Buneary wanted to kiss him? As in, a human kiss? He blushed. What on earth could she want to do that for? He knew she liked him, but this was just...

He had no words for how he was feeling right now. He just knew that he had to talk to Buneary.

Buneary was sitting on the grass when she heard an unmistakable voice say her name.

"(Hey, Buneary?)" he asked.

"(Hmm?)" she replied, turning to him. Upon seeing Pikachu's face, a beaming smile appeared on her own. "(Hi, Pikachu!)"

He looked perturbed. "(Can I ask you something?)"

She felt slightly concerned at the look on his face. "(Sure! What's wrong?)"

"(... Happiny told me you were planning to...)" His face flushed red. "(Kiss me at midnight...)"

Her eyes widened. Happiny had heard that?! "(Oh... well...)" She blushed and shuffled around on the grass. "(Yeah, I was... b-but it was a stupid idea, anyway! Plus, I guess it was kinda creepy... so I wasn't gonna do it anymore...)"

He stared at her. "(... Oh, I see. Okay.)"

"(Mmm-hmm...)"

"(... Can I ask why you were gonna do that?)"

Her paws started to fidget with the fluff around her waist. "(I heard from Dawn that it's a human tradition in Sinnoh... Kissing at midnight brings good luck in love for the rest of the year...)"

Pikachu's blush seemed to darken slightly. "(Oh... I see...)"

"(It was a stupid idea...)" She smiled apologetically. "(I'm sorry.)"

"(No, no, it's... fine...)"

"(... So, we're cool?)"

"(Yeah... we're cool...)"

A while later, after they'd eaten dinner in the pokémon centre and trained some more, Buneary began to notice something odd about Pikachu. He'd been very quiet since their conversation earlier that day. Even after training with Ash, he'd seemed oddly distant. Now, this late in the day, he was sitting on a rogue tree stump and staring into space. He looked deep in thought about something. She couldn't imagine what.

She only hoped that he wasn't upset about earlier. Maybe he really did find the whole thing creepy...

It was now very late at night. Normally, Ash, Dawn, Brock and their pokémon didn't stay up this late, but, since it was a special occasion, they'd allowed for a slight change in the status quo. Even Nurse Joy, who was normally very strict about the eleven o' clock curfew, was standing outside, waiting for the fireworks to start.

"I'm so excited!" Dawn squealed. "It's nearly midnight!"

"Yeah!" Ash replied excitedly. "The firework show should be fun!"

Brock was crying to himself. "I didn't find a girl to kiss..." he mumbled mournfully.

"No need to worry, Brock!" Dawn replied, beaming. "There's always next year, right?"

There was a pause. Suddenly, Brock did a very dramatic fist clench. "You're right! I won't let this stop me from getting a girlfriend!"

"Atta boy, Brock!"

Buneary smiled and shook her head. The idiot really had no clue at all.

After a moment, a yellow figure appeared beside her. Surprised, she turned to see Pikachu standing there, staring up at the sky.

"(Hey, Pikachu!)" she said cheerfully.

"(Hey, Buneary...)" he replied distractedly.

She eyed him with concern. "(You okay?)"

"(Yeah! Yeah...)"

She watched him for a few more moments, then turned back to the sky.

Dawn squealed. Buneary looked at her to see that she was looking at her pokétch. "It's almost time!" she cried.

"Alright!" Ash replied happily.

"Ready? It's time for the countdown!" She paused a moment. "Ten! Nine! Eight!"

Everyone else started chanting with her. "Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!"

Suddenly, something yellow obscured Buneary's vision. Before she could figure out what was happening, a pair of lips pressed against hers. She squeaked in surprise.

"Happy New Year!" everyone called out.

Cheers erupted from the crowd, just as the fireworks starting exploding in the sky, bathing the area in a rainbow of colours.

After a moment, Pikachu moved away, his face bright red and a shy smile on his face. "(Did I do that right?)" he asked.

Buneary felt like her heart had stopped. She stared dumbly at Pikachu, her eyes wide and her face heating up like she'd eaten a tamato berry.

He gazed at her in concern. "(Um... Buneary?)"

She didn't respond.

Pikachu suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "(I did it wrong, didn't I? Sorry... I didn't really know what I was doing, but I thought I'd surprise you, so I-)"

She squealed in delight and tackled him in a hug.

"(Gah!)" He flailed his arms around in an attempt to stay on his feet. Eventually, he stabilised himself. "(B-Buneary?)"

"(I can't believe you did that!)" she cried with delight. "(Why did you do that? Not that I'm complaining, but... wow!)"

"(Well, you said you wanted to kiss me, so...)"

"(But I said I'd drop it! I wasn't gonna do it anymore!)"

"(Yeah, well... I gave it a lot of thought and, well... you looked really sad when you said you weren't gonna do it anymore, and I guess I... felt bad about it...)" He paused. "(And I also kinda... was a little... sad it wasn't gonna happen... so I thought I'd, you know... let it happen...)"

"(Oh, that's so sweet!)" She snuggled into his fur. "(You're the most adorable guy ever!)"

"(Heh... thanks.)" He paused. "(It did feel weird, though.)"

She giggled. "(Oh, I know! I've been trying to get it right all day!)" He chuckled in response. There was a short silence. "(Thank you, Pikachu... Thank you so much...)"

"(Heh. No problem, Buneary...)"

The two of them turned to watch the fireworks together, a warm glow brimming in Buneary's chest. It seemed the new year would be lucky, after all.

The End