Author's note: Hey, guys!

I started this one a while ago, when I caught... uh, the pokémon mentioned in the one-shot... on Alpha Sapphire, but then I stopped writing it, for some reason. So, now, it's back!

Hope you enjoy it!

A colouring of the pokémon in question can be found on my DeviantArt profile~!

P.S. I had to change a character's name in A Gracious Gift, 'cause it fit better in this one-shot. XD Go figure.

Shine On

Pikachu smiled to himself, concealed behind a tree. Hide-and-seek was always so exciting, especially when there were so many places to hide. Considering how many trees there were in the current area, it would take Buizel a while to find him. Sniggering, he listened carefully for any approaching footsteps.

Suddenly, there was the sound of hopping behind him. He panicked. Had Buneary discovered his hiding place? Why was she not hiding, herself? Or was she planning to hide with him? He could have sworn he'd seen her hop in the opposite direction.

"(Hey there,)" the voice of a buneary said.

He spun around, opening his mouth to quieten her, but paused. Yes, that was definitely a buneary he was looking at, but it had bright pink fluff.

"(Um... hi,)" he replied.

It was then that he caught a scent on the air. Male. A pink male buneary.

"(I was wondering if you could help with something, dude.)" He glanced around. "(Unless you're busy, o' course.)"

... Well, he was playing hide-and-seek, but he could never turn down a fellow pokémon in need. Something he'd probably picked up from Ash.

He moved away from the tree. "(Sure! What's up?)"

"(Well...)" The pink buneary suddenly looked uncomfortable. "(See, there's a... pikachu I like and, well... I wanna tell her I like her, but I'm not sure how to... and then I saw you and, since you're a pikachu, too, I was hoping you could help me out.)" He paused. "(What do you think?)"

Pikachu's eyes widened. Someone was coming to him for love advice? That sounded like a bad idea, right from the start.

... Wait. A buneary, courting a pikachu? He blinked. Then blinked again. What an odd - and slightly awkward - coincidence.

He'd been about to suggest the buneary go elsewhere for advice, but now he felt oddly... intrigued. So, he supposed it couldn't hurt to at least attempt to help.

"(Uh... yeah, sure! I can... try.)"

The pink buneary grinned. "(Awesome. Thanks, man!)"

"(No problem...)"

Just what was he getting himself into...?

Buneary pouted from behind her tree. In the chaos of running around, trying to find a good hiding spot, she'd been separated from Pikachu.

Well, she supposed it was only for a short while. Once they grouped together again later for dinner, she'd be sure to sit next to him, like usual.

Suddenly, there was movement behind her. Believing it to be Buizel, she spun around, only to pause at what she saw. It was a pikachu, though not the one she knew. This one was a much darker shade of yellow - almost orange - and had a heart shape at the end of her tail.

The dark yellow pikachu smiled shyly at her. "(Um, hi,)" she said.

"(Hi,)" Buneary replied, still surprised. There was a long, awkward pause. "(Um... can I help you?)"

The dark yellow pikachu blushed. "(Well... see...)" She fidgeted. "(You're a buneary, so, when I saw you, I thought... I mean... well...)" She paused. "(Wait, let me start again. I...)" She breathed deep. "(I like a buneary... a male one... and you're a buneary, so, when I saw you, I thought maybe you could help me.)" She paused again. "(It's kinda silly, I know...)"

Buneary's eyes bulged. A pikachu who liked a buneary? Wow, that was like her own crush, except reversed! What a strange coincidence!

Wait, she'd asked her for help, hadn't she? Her eyes sparkled at the thought. Helping a pikachu court a buneary?

Screw the game of hide-and-seek! She had matchmaking to do!

"(Sure! I'd be happy to help!)"

The dark yellow pikachu smiled in gratitude. "(Oh, thank you.)"

She beamed back at her. "(No problem!)"

This was sure to be fun!

Inside the bush he'd found - which he was sure would keep him hidden from Buizel for a while - Pikachu settled into a sitting position. Looking across him at the pink buneary, he felt slightly nervous. Could he really do this?

... Now that he was getting a closer look at him, though, more seemed different about this buneary than he'd first thought. The most striking thing about him, of course, was the bright pink fluff on his feet, waist, ear-tips and eyebrows. Closer inspection, however, told him that his brown fur was a much more diluted shade than of the buneary he knew. Even closer inspection told him that his nose, the soles of his feet and the insides of his ears were very pale brown, almost grey. It was oddly fascinating.

"(... Something wrong, dude?)" the pink buneary asked.

Pikachu reeled back, blushing in embarrassment. "(Oh, uh, no, sorry!)" he replied. "(You just... look a lot different to my friend, is all.)"

"(Oh, you know a buneary?)"

Pikachu smiled. "(Yeah!)"

"(Oh, cool.)"

"(So, Buneary...)" Wow, that felt weird.

"(Please. Call me Taffy.)"

"(Taffy?)"

"(Yep! That's my name! 'Cause of... well...)" He indicated his bright pink fluff.

"(Ah.)"

Taffy chuckled. "(When I was born, my family spent a long time arguing over what to call me. Most of the names they came up with were way too girly, though.)"

"(Oh yeah?)"

"(Yeah. Cherry, Blossom, Rose, Candy... You can see the problem. They eventually settled on Taffy.)"

"(Oh, okay.)"

"(So, what about you? What's your name?)"

"(Uh, well...)" Pikachu hadn't been called by his real name for a long time now. "(I go by Pikachu these days.)"

Taffy blinked. "(Huh.)" After a moment, he smirked. "(Lemme guess. Unimaginative trainer?)"

Pikachu laughed awkwardly. "(Yeah...)"

"(Well, no worries, man! A name's a name, after all.)" Taffy paused a long moment. "(So, anyway... about that pikachu...)"

"(So!)" Buneary started with a smile as she sat down. They were hidden in a bush, away from the prying eyes of Buizel. She paused. "(... Pikachu.)" She paused again, then giggled. "(Wow, that's gonna get weird.)"

"(Hmm?)" the dark yellow pikachu asked. "(What is?)"

"(Calling you Pikachu when I already know a Pikachu!)"

"(Oh.)" The dark yellow pikachu giggled. "(Don't worry. You can call me Amber.)"

"(Amber?)"

"(Yeah. I'm called that 'cause I'm an ambery colour, as you can see.)" She indicated her fur.

"(Oh, okay!)" Buneary paused. "(Wait, what about when you were a pichu? They're not amber, are they?)"

"(Well, no... but I was still a darker yellow than the other pichu, so I guess it was still appropriate.)"

Buneary giggled. "(Okay, makes sense! Well, you can just call me Buneary!)" She chuckled awkwardly. "(I haven't gone by my old name since being caught.)"

Amber giggled. "(Alright, then.)"

"(So, tell me about this buneary you like!)" Buneary's eyes lit up. "(What's he like? And why do you like him?)"

Amber blushed and looked away. "(Well...)"

"(It was never easy being a different colour to the other buneary,)" Taffy explained. "(They either put me on a pedestal for being special, or looked down on me for being different.)"

"(Oh...)" Pikachu replied in pity.

"(And not many pokémon understood, you know? 'Cause most of 'em are the right colour.)" He paused to smile into the distance. "(But that's when I met her.)"

"(We became friends, because he was different, like I was,)" Amber explained, "(and, at first, that was the only reason we were friends... but then...)"

Buneary was wide-eyed. "(Yeah? Yeah?!)" she asked excitedly.

Amber smiled down at the grass. "(Then I realised he was really cool... and really nice... Before I knew it, he was more than a pink buneary. He was my best friend.)"

"(Wow, that's... really cool,)" Pikachu said, smiling.

"(Yeah,)" Taffy replied, "(she's one in a million, that Amber.)"

Pikachu's smile fell. "(I don't really know how you think I can help, though... I mean, sure, I'm a pikachu, too, but...)"

Taffy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "(Yeah, I dunno... When I saw you, I just kinda jumped the gun without thinking. It's probably a stupid idea. I mean, what one pikachu likes, another might not.)"

Pikachu observed him for a moment. Then he smiled again. "(That may be true, but I'll still do all I can to help.)"

"(Aww, thanks, man!)"

With a large grin, Taffy reached over and slapped him across the back. He yelped as he nearly fell over.

"(So, I really wanna show Taffy how much he means to me...)" Amber explained. "(I... dunno if he feels the same, but...)"

"(Woooow!)" Buneary said, paws to her face in wonder. "(That's just like me and Pikachu!)"

"(It is?)"

"(Yeah! That pikachu I mentioned earlier? Well...)" Her paws moved down to fidget with her fluff. "(I really like him. Like, a whole lot.)"

Amber's eyes widened. "(You do?)"

"(Yeah.)"

"(Oh, wow. So, I like a buneary and you like a pikachu?)"

"(Yeah!)"

"(Wow, that's so strange!)"

"(I know!)"

"(So, how did you meet this pikachu?)"

"(Well, I was just getting breakfast one morning, when I saw him catch a potato.)"

Amber blinked. "(A potato?)"

"(Yeah! Someone threw it and he caught it and... and then he did three somersaults and landed on his feet!)"

"(Wow, really?)"

"(Yeah.)" Buneary pulled the fluff over her face. "(Though it's kinda embarrassing to admit that's the only reason I liked him, at first.)"

Amber giggled. "(... And now?)"

Buneary lowered her fluff and peeked over it. "(He's really nice... and cool... and sweet. He'd do anything for his friends.)" She rocked back and forth. "(After all, he got himself captured by Team Rocket to save me.)"

"(Team Rocket?)"

"(Bad guys who steal pokémon.)"

"(Oh.)" After a pause, Amber smiled. "(Well, he sounds like a great guy.)"

Buneary blushed happily. "(Thanks. So does Taffy.)"

Amber also blushed happily. "(Thanks.)"

"(Okay...)" Pikachu said, "(so I guess just telling her you like her is out of the question...)"

"(Yeah...)" Taffy replied, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, "(I wouldn't know how to. I mean, we're best friends, so I don't know if she returns the feelings...)"

"(Hmm. Best to work up, then, I guess.)" Pikachu paused. "(Now, I'm no expert, but you might wanna avoid anything my trainer's friend does.)"

"(Oh?)"

"(Yeah. He'll get right up in a girl's face and spout poetic nonsense, until someone pulls him away.)"

Taffy burst out laughing. "(Oh, wow...)"

"(Yeah. Just don't do that and I'm sure you'll be fine.)"

"(Duly noted!)"

"(Being too forward's never a good idea. It tends to freak people out.)"

Suddenly, an image of Buneary nuzzling up against his fur entered his mind. Then another of her winking at him. He felt his heart skip a beat at that.

"(Alright, got it!)"

Pikachu shook his head to clear the image. "(... Though I guess it couldn't hurt to give her... I dunno, a present, or something.)"

"(Yeah, that's a good idea.)"

"(What sort of things does she like?)"

"(Well... she's a big fan of flowers. Roses, especially.)"

Pikachu smiled. "(Okay, well, you could start by getting her some roses. I think I saw some near here.)"

"(Okay, cool!)"

"(Alright, so what does he like?)" Buneary asked excitedly.

"(Well...)" Amber replied, "(he's a big fan of mushrooms.)"

"(Well, we should get him some, then! I know a good place nearby!)"

Amber's eyes lit up. "(Oh, you do?)"

"(Yep!)"

"(Oh, that's great! I haven't lived in the area very long, you see, so...)"

"(That's alright. So, what kind does he like?)"

"(Oh, all kinds. As long as they're edible.)"

"(Alright, we'll get him a handful, then!)"

"(Great!)" Amber paused. "(But how do I go about... you know... confessing?)"

"(Oh, well-!)" Buneary paused.

Only now did she realise that not a single one of her attempts to win Pikachu's heart had actually worked. So, what made her qualified to give love advice?

Every nuzzle, every wink, every hug had only been met with awkwardness. Resistance. Discomfort. Her ear drooped slightly.

Amber suddenly looked concerned. "(Hey, are you okay?)"

She immediately snapped out of her slump. "(Huh?)" She forced on a smile. "(Oh yeah! Of course!)" After a moment, she put on a determined smirk. "(Now, let's go get those mushrooms!)"

"(... Well, okay, then.)"

"(Okay, got 'em!)" Taffy said proudly, holding up a bouquet of red roses. "(Now what?)"

"(Well, I dunno...)" Pikachu replied. "(Give them to her and...)"

What was he supposed to say? What advice was he supposed to give? He didn't know how to handle his own love life, never mind anyone else's.

"(Yeah?)"

"(Um...)" He searched his brain for any inspiration he could think of. "(Maybe... compliment her, or something? Call her pretty? Say that she suits her name? I dunno.)"

"(Huh. Well, okay.)"

"(Any ideas?)" Amber asked, carrying a bundle of mushrooms that were hand-wrapped in a large leaf.

"(Hmm...)" Buneary replied. "(Well, you could tell him he's handsome... or wonderful... or...)" She paused, reminded of her own failing love life again. She quickly shook it off. No. Now was not the time to be feeling sorry for herself. Right now, she had to help someone else! "(Or just, I dunno... flirt with him!)"

Amber's eyes widened. "(Flirt with him?)"

"(Yeah!)" Buneary paused again. This tactic had never worked out for her, so was it really a good idea to tell Amber to try it? "(... Then again, maybe it's better to start small.)" She smiled comfortingly. "(Compliment him, or... something. Call him cute. Say he's nice. Or cool!)"

"(I... suppose I could try that.)"

"(Yeah! That's the spirit-)" Suddenly, Buneary's ears picked up some noise.

"(What is it?)"

"(Huh. Sounds like...)" She listened closer. "(A buneary?)"

Amber's eyes widened. "(Oh goodness, is it Taffy?!)"

Buneary's eyes also widened.

Well, the plan would have to be cut short, it seemed. She could tell Amber to run away and deal with him later, but it might be better doing it now. There was no time like the present, after all.

The only problem was, she didn't want to be there, getting in the way.

Her brain racing, she quickly looked left and right for a hiding place. Once she found one, she waved a paw to grab Amber's attention.

"(Okay, new plan. You stay here and work your magic. I'll hide in the bushes. Good luck!)" She quickly hopped away.

"(Wait, what?! Don't leave me here!)"

Taffy's ears pricked up. "(Huh?)" he said.

"(What's wrong?)" Pikachu asked.

"(I thought I heard... a pikachu...)" His eyes widened. "(Was that Amber?!)"

Pikachu's eyes also widened. She was here? Now?! No, this was too soon! They'd barely gotten anywhere with their plan!

Then again, this might be a good chance to get the ball rolling. The only problem was that he'd get in the way. He quickly looked around him, searching for a solution. Spotting a good hiding place, he nodded to himself.

"(Alright, I'll be over there, if you need me. Good luck.)" He got on all fours and ran.

"(Hey, wait! What?!)"

Pikachu dove behind a row of bushes, sighing in relief to himself. With any luck, Amber hadn't heard him leave. Crawling across the ground, he tried to get himself into a better position. While glancing sideways at the bush, however, he suddenly bumped into something.

"(Ack!)" he cried. Looking forwards, he was surprised to see a familiar face. "(Buneary?)"

Buneary's eyes widened. "(Pikachu?)" she asked. "(What are you doing here?)"

"(I could ask you the same-)" He cut himself short as he heard two sets of footsteps approaching each other.

Both he and Buneary glanced at the bushes, then back at each other. Without a word, they opened a small hole amongst the leaves to peek through.

"(Oh, hey, Amber!)" Taffy said, a bouquet of red roses behind his back.

"(Hey, Taffy!)" Amber replied, holding some sort of leaf wrapping behind her back.

They approached one another, then stood still.

Taffy looked around him, trying to appear casual. "(Soooo, how's it going?)"

Amber looked at the ground. "(Fine, thanks... and you?)"

"(Great.)"

There was a long pause. Eventually, they both blushed, holding out their presents. "(This is for you!)" they both cried at the same time. Both sets of eyes widened. A moment passed. "(Thanks!)" They swapped gifts.

Pikachu blinked, then looked sideways at Buneary. She was looking back at him.

"(Did you...?)" he asked.

Buneary nodded slowly. "(And you?)" she asked.

"(Yeah...)"

So they'd both helped out, had they? What a bizarre coincidence. Trying to shake it off, he turned back towards the hole in the bush.

Taffy was peeking inside the wrapped leaf. "(Are these mushrooms?)" he asked.

"(Yeah,)" Amber replied, smiling at the roses. "(Your favourite.)"

He smiled. "(Thanks.)"

"(No problem.)"

After a moment of smiling at their gifts, Taffy looked up and cleared his throat. "(Hey.)" Amber looked up at him. "(Did anyone ever tell you how pretty your fur is? 'Cause it is.)" Amber's eyes widened. "(You know, with it being... amber and all. Like your name.)"

"(Oh, uh... thanks. Well... your fur is nice, too... Well, I mean your fluff... though your fur is nice, too!)"

"(Thanks.)"

Pikachu put a paw to his face. Okay, that was just cringe-worthy.

He glanced back at Buneary, who was wide-eyed with a paw to her mouth. It was clear that she found this just as awkward as he did. He looked back through the bush.

"(And your personality's cool, too!)" Taffy rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "(Like, really nice and stuff.)"

"(Yours is, too! You're sweet and cool and... really nice.)"

There was a long pause as they looked away from each other.

Suddenly, they both snorted. Then they burst out laughing.

Taffy put a paw to his own face. "(Oh, good lord! This is ridiculous!)"

Amber put a paw to her own mouth. "(I know! I feel so silly!)"

Pikachu blinked, confused. He exchanged a look with Buneary, who seemed to be equally confused. Then they looked back through the bush.

Taffy finally managed to stop laughing. "(Aww, man...)" He smiled at Amber. "(Lemme guess. Someone gave you advice, too?)"

"(Yup.)" Amber giggled. "(She's actually hiding in the bushes.)"

"(No kidding? That's where my helper's hiding.)"

Amber continued to giggle. "(Wow.)"

"(Yeah.)" Taffy turned towards the bushes. "(You guys can come out now.)"

After another quick glance at one another, Pikachu and Buneary sighed and stood up, poking their heads above the bushes.

"(Hi...)" Pikachu said.

"(Hey,)" Buneary said.

Taffy laughed again. "(Aww, man...)" he said. He looked sideways at Amber. "(So, we had the same problem, huh?)"

She looked back at him shyly. "(Looks like it,)" she replied.

After a moment, Taffy reached out a paw. Smiling wider, Amber took it in her own paw.

Buneary squealed. "(I'm so happy for you two!)" she said.

"(Yeah,)" Pikachu agreed, smiling, "(congrats.)"

"(Thanks!)" Taffy replied. "(I've been wanting to tell Amber how awesome she is for ages now.)"

Amber looked bashfully at the ground. "(Me too.)" She paused. "(For him, of course. Not me.)" Taffy laughed and she blushed harder.

"(Well, I'm glad it worked out,)" Pikachu said.

"(Me too~!)" Buneary said, leaning against him. His muscles stiffened at the contact.

Amber blinked. "(Oh, wait...)" she said, "(is this the pikachu you were talking about, Buneary?)"

Buneary froze. "(Oh, uh...)" she replied.

"(The one you have a crush on?)"

"(... Maybe.)"

Pikachu felt his face explode in heat.

Taffy burst out laughing. "(Oh, man!)" he cried. After a moment, he caught his breath. "(And is this the same buneary you mentioned earlier, Pikachu?)"

"(Uh... yeah...)" Pikachu somehow managed to reply.

Taffy burst out laughing again. "(Wow... looks like he doesn't mind the attention too much!)"

Buneary glanced curiously at him. He tried to avoid her gaze, while also avoiding the urge to Iron Tail Taffy in the face.

"(I wish you both the best,)" Amber said with a smile.

Yep, he wanted to Iron Tail her, too.

"(Y-Yeah, well...)" he started, but he was unable to finish.

Taffy laughed. "(Anyway, we'd best be off,)" he said. "(Thanks for everything, man!)"

"(Yeah,)" Amber agreed, "(thanks so much!)"

"(No problem,)" Pikachu and Buneary replied in unison. He looked away from her, embarrassed.

"(Later, lovebirds!)" Taffy said as he and Amber turned and walked off.

Lovebirds. Really? Had he really needed to go out, saying that?

Pikachu chanced a look at Buneary. She was blushing and fidgeting with her fluff as she looked at the floor.

... It was hard not to draw comparisons. It really was. They'd just helped a pikachu and a buneary get into a relationship, after all, so...

... Perhaps it was time to stop avoiding the subject and actually evaluate his own feelings.

Before he could think any more on the matter, though, a paw landed on his head. He jumped in fright.

"(Gotcha!)" Buizel cried. Pikachu looked up to see the weasel had a paw on Buneary's head, too. "(What are you two numbskulls doing out in the open?)"

Oh. Right. He'd completely forgotten that they'd been playing hide-and-seek.

He smiled awkwardly. "(Oh, heh,)" he replied. "(Silly us.)"

"(Well, back to camp with you! I've nearly caught everybody.)"

"(Alright, alright...)"

Buizel removed his paws, moving elsewhere. Pikachu shot an exasperated smile at Buneary, who giggled in return.

After a moment, she held out a paw. "(Shall we?)" she asked.

His blush deepened. "(Um... sure...)" Reaching out, he grabbed it with his own paw.

She beamed. "(Hee~!)"

Her smile must have been contagious, because he couldn't resist beaming back as they headed back to camp.

The End