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The Pokémon Center lobby was packed.
Holiday lights blinked along the walls, garlands wrapped around the railings, and a large decorated tree stood near the healing counter. Trainers and Pokémon filled the room with warm chatter as snow drifted gently outside the windows.
Ash Ketchum stood near the snack table looking extremely pleased with himself.
“This is awesome!”
Pikachu sat on his shoulder, munching happily on a holiday cookie.
“Pika!”
Ash looked around the room again.
He had invited a bunch of old friends to meet up during the holidays. It had seemed like a great idea at the time.
Now the Pokémon Center felt like a reunion party.
Brock and Dawn were arguing about decorations near the tree.
Clemont was trying to fix a string of lights that had stopped blinking.
And standing near the window, Misty and Serena were talking.
Well.
Mostly talking.
Ash waved enthusiastically.
“Hey! You two met already?”
Misty crossed her arms.
“Yeah.”
Serena smiled politely.
“We’ve been talking.”
Ash nodded happily.
“Great!”
Pikachu tilted his head slightly.
“Pika…”
Serena glanced at Misty.
“So… you traveled with Ash during Kanto?”
Misty sighed.
“Yeah.”
“And Johto.”
“And Hoenn for a bit.”
Serena blinked.
“That’s a long time.”
Misty smirked slightly.
“Yeah, it is.”
Serena folded her hands behind her back.
“I traveled with him in Kalos.”
Misty raised an eyebrow.
“Oh really.”
Serena nodded proudly.
“He helped me discover what I wanted to do.”
Misty chuckled.
“Sounds like Ash.”
Serena smiled softly.
“He inspires people.”
Before Misty could respond, Ash suddenly ran over to them.
“HEY!”
Both girls jumped slightly.
“What?” Misty said.
Ash pointed toward the entrance doorway.
“You guys know what that is?”
Serena blinked.
“What?”
Ash pointed dramatically upward.
Above the Pokémon Center entrance hung a sprig of mistletoe tied with a red ribbon.
Serena’s eyes widened slightly.
“…Oh.”
Misty groaned immediately.
“Oh no.”
Ash grinned.
“It’s a holiday tradition!”
Misty rubbed her face.
“Please don’t explain.”
Ash ignored her.
“If two people stand under it, they’re supposed to kiss!”
Serena tried very hard not to laugh.
Misty glared at him.
“Ash.”
Ash pointed again.
“See? Like that!”
Serena looked up at the mistletoe again.
Misty looked up at the mistletoe.
Then they both looked down.
Because somehow. While Ash had been explaining the tradition.
They had drifted directly beneath the doorway.
And the mistletoe above it.
Ash clapped his hands excitedly.
“Oh cool! It worked!”
Misty stared at him.
“…Worked?”
Ash pointed proudly.
“You guys are under it!”
Serena covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Misty looked like she might throw Ash through the nearest wall.
Ash blinked.
“…What?”
Serena spoke first.
“Ash.”
“Yeah?”
“Why did you bring us over here?”
Ash shrugged.
“I wanted to show you the mistletoe!”
Misty closed her eyes slowly.
“…Of course you did.”
Ash grinned.
“Well! Tradition!”
Then he turned and ran back toward the snack table.
“HEY BROCK DID YOU SEE THE COOKIES!”
And just like that… He left them standing there.
Under the mistletoe.
Together.
Misty and Serena slowly looked at each other.
Neither of them moved.
Serena finally spoke.
“…He’s never going to realize what he just did.”
Misty sighed.
“…Nope.”
And above them. The mistletoe swayed gently.
Waiting.
For a moment after Ash ran off, neither of them moved.
The Pokémon Center lobby buzzed with noise around them: trainers chatting,
Pokémon calling to each other, the soft beeping of healing machines behind the counter.
But right under the doorway.
Everything felt oddly still.
Misty stared in the direction Ash had disappeared.
“…Unbelievable.”
Serena tried, and failed, to hold back a laugh.
“He really doesn’t know, does he?”
Misty groaned.
“No. He really doesn’t.”
Serena leaned slightly against the
doorway frame.
“He looked so proud of himself too.”
Misty crossed her arms.
“That’s the worst part.”
They both glanced upward.
The mistletoe hung there quietly, tied neatly with its red ribbon.
Serena tilted her head.
“…So.”
Misty immediately looked at her.
“…So?”
Serena smiled innocently.
“Well.”
She gestured upward.
“Tradition.”
Misty’s face went pink almost instantly.
“Don’t start.”
Serena laughed softly.
“I’m just saying.”
Misty pointed accusingly toward the snack table where Ash was now enthusiastically talking with Brock.
“This is his fault.”
Serena nodded.
“Oh absolutely.”
Misty sighed again.
“We should move.”
Serena didn’t move.
Misty noticed.
“…You’re not moving.”
Serena shrugged.
“I was waiting for you.”
Misty sputtered slightly.
“Why me?!”
Serena grinned.
“Because you were here first.”
Misty rolled her eyes.
“You’re impossible.”
Serena leaned closer to inspect the mistletoe again.
“You know… it’s actually kind of cute.”
Misty stared at her.
“…You’re enjoying this.”
Serena smiled.
“A little.”
Misty glanced toward Ash again.
He was still completely oblivious.
Pikachu sat beside him happily eating another cookie.
Misty groaned.
“He’s never going to understand social cues, is he?”
Serena giggled.
“Probably not.”
Another quiet moment passed.
The mistletoe swayed gently above
them.
Serena spoke again, more softly now.
“…You really did travel with him for a long time.”
Misty nodded.
“Yeah.”
Serena looked thoughtful.
“I can see it.”
Misty blinked.
“…See what?”
Serena smiled slightly.
“Why he talks about you the way he
does.”
Misty immediately stiffened.
“…He talks about me?”
Serena nodded.
“Sometimes.”
Misty crossed her arms again, trying to look unimpressed.
“…What does he say.”
Serena tilted her head.
“That you kept him in line.”
Misty snorted.
“Someone had to.”
Serena laughed.
“And that you were always there when things got difficult.”
Misty blinked.
“Oh.”
Serena’s smile softened.
“He cares about you a lot.”
Misty glanced toward Ash again.
He was still laughing loudly at something Brock had said.
Then Misty looked back at Serena.
“…Yeah.”
Serena nodded gently.
“…Yeah.”
Another quiet pause settled between them.
Then Serena glanced up again.
“…Still under it.”
Misty groaned.
“I noticed.”
Serena smiled mischievously.
“So…”
Misty narrowed her eyes.
“…So?”
Serena’s voice became playful again.
“Tradition.”
Misty pointed at her.
“You planned that.”
Serena laughed.
“Nope.”
Misty looked up at the mistletoe again.
Then back at Serena.
“…Ash can never know.”
Serena immediately agreed.
“Oh absolutely.”
They both glanced toward him again.
Ash was now explaining something very loudly about Pikachu’s Thunderbolt.
Serena smiled.
“…He really has no idea.”
Misty sighed.
“…Nope.”
The mistletoe swayed gently above them.
Neither of them had stepped away.
The mistletoe swayed quietly above them.
Serena looked up at it again.
Then back at Misty.
“…You know what.”
Misty narrowed her eyes.
“…What.”
Serena stepped slightly closer.
“Tradition.”
Misty blinked.
“…You’re serious?”
Serena shrugged lightly.
“Why not?”
Misty opened her mouth to argue.
Then paused.
Because Serena was right.
It wasn’t that big of a deal.
And Ash had started it.
Misty sighed dramatically.
“…This is his fault.”
Serena laughed.
“Oh absolutely.”
Misty rolled her eyes.
“…Fine.”
Serena blinked.
“…Fine?”
Misty pointed upward.
“Tradition.”
Serena smiled.
“Well then.”
Serena leaned forward.
And kissed her.
Soft.
Quick.
Warm.
Misty froze for half a second. Then relaxed into it.
When they pulled apart, Serena blinked.
“…Wow.”
Misty folded her arms quickly.
“…Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Serena laughed softly.
“I wasn’t going to.”
Then Misty glanced across the room.
And froze.
Serena followed her gaze.
At the snack table Ash was staring directly at them.
Grinning.
Pikachu sat beside him clapping happily.
“Pika pika!”
Ash gave them a huge thumbs up.
Misty’s face went bright red.
“…HE DID THIS ON PURPOSE!”
Serena burst out laughing.
Ash called across the room proudly.
“HEY! I TOLD YOU IT WAS TRADITION!”
Brock shook his head beside him.
“…You’re unbelievable.”
Ash grinned even wider.
Serena leaned toward Misty, still laughing.
“…I think he planned that.”
Misty pointed furiously across the room.
“I am going to drown him.”
And across the Pokémon Center Ash looked extremely pleased with himself.
Misty was already marching across the Pokémon Center.
Serena hurried beside her, still laughing.
“I can’t believe he did that.”
“I can!”
Misty pointed directly at Ash as they approached the snack table.
“You!”
Ash looked delighted.
“Hey! It worked!”
Misty grabbed him by the collar of his jacket.
“You set that up!”
Ash blinked innocently.
“What?”
Serena folded her arms, smiling knowingly.
“You explained the mistletoe rule.”
“And then brought us directly under it.”
“And then ran away.”
Ash shrugged.
“Well yeah.”
Misty stared at him.
“…You’re unbelievable.”
Ash grinned proudly.
“It was a good idea!”
Pikachu nodded enthusiastically.
“Pika!”
Brock leaned against the snack table watching the entire scene unfold.
“You know,” he said calmly, “I warned him.”
Misty turned.
“You knew?!”
Brock raised his hands.
“I didn’t help.”
Ash pointed at him.
“You totally helped.”
Serena laughed.
“I can’t believe this.”
Ash looked between the two of them
with complete confidence.
“Well?”
Misty narrowed her eyes.
“Well what?”
Ash gestured between them.
“You’re welcome!”
Misty sputtered.
“You don’t get credit for this!”
Serena laughed harder.
Ash crossed his arms proudly.
“See? I told Brock it would work.”
Misty stared at him.
“…You discussed this.”
Ash nodded happily.
“Yeah!”
Brock sighed.
“He’s been planning it since you both arrived.”
Serena blinked.
“…Seriously?”
Ash grinned.
“I noticed you two were kinda… circling each other.”
Misty threw her hands in the air.
“We were talking!”
“Yeah!”
Ash said proudly.
“And now you kissed!”
Misty turned bright red again.
“That’s not the point!”
Ash tilted his head.
“…It’s kinda the point.”
Serena leaned against the table, still smiling.
“You’re really proud of this, aren’t you?”
Ash nodded immediately.
“Yep!”
Pikachu raised his tiny paws.
“Pika pika!”
Misty groaned loudly.
“I can’t believe I got manipulated by Ash of all people.”
Serena laughed again.
“That might be the most impressive part.”
Ash looked extremely satisfied.
“You’re welcome.”
Misty pointed at him again.
“You are never allowed to plan anything ever again.”
Ash blinked.
“…But it worked.”
Serena patted his shoulder.
“For once.”
Ash beamed.
“See!”
Brock chuckled quietly.
“You just accidentally played matchmaker.”
Ash shrugged.
“Not accidentally.”
Misty groaned again.
“I’m leaving.”
Serena followed her toward the door, still smiling.
As they passed beneath the mistletoe again Serena nudged her.
“Tradition.”
Misty shot her a look.
“…Don’t push it.”
Serena laughed.
Behind them Ash leaned back against the snack table, looking very pleased with himself.
Brock shook his head.
“You know you’re going to pay for that later.”
Ash grinned.
“Totally worth it.”
Pikachu agreed.
“Pika!”
Later that evening, the Pokémon Center had grown quieter.
Most of the visiting trainers had either gone to their rooms or gathered around the Christmas tree near the lobby to exchange stories and snacks.
Ash sat cross-legged on the floor beside the tree.
Pikachu rested comfortably in his lap.
Across from him, Brock sipped from a cup of tea, watching Ash with mild suspicion.
Ash looked extremely pleased with himself.
Brock noticed.
“…You’re still smiling.”
Ash blinked.
“Huh?”
“You’ve been smiling for the last twenty
minutes.”
Ash shrugged.
“I’m in a good mood.”
Brock raised an eyebrow.
“You set up your friends under mistletoe and caused chaos.”
Ash grinned.
“Yeah!”
Brock sighed.
“…Unbelievable.”
Ash leaned back on his hands.
“Well, they kissed.”
Brock chuckled quietly.
“That part seems to have escaped them.”
Ash blinked.
“What do you mean?”
“They’re pretending it didn’t happen.”
Ash looked toward the far side of the room.
Misty and Serena were sitting together near the window, talking quietly while watching snow fall outside.
Serena laughed at something Misty said.
Misty tried very hard not to smile.
Ash nodded knowingly.
“See?”
Brock followed his gaze.
“…See what?”
Ash pointed proudly.
“They’re getting along.”
Brock shook his head.
“You really believe you did that.”
Ash grinned.
“Of course I did.”
Pikachu clapped happily.
“Pika pika!”
Brock laughed softly.
“Well…”
He glanced toward the doorway.
The mistletoe still hung there, swaying slightly as trainers came and went.
“…Maybe you did.”
Across the room, Serena leaned slightly closer to Misty while pointing at something outside the window.
Misty rolled her eyes but didn’t move
away.
Ash nodded with complete satisfaction.
“Yep.”
Brock smiled.
“You’re not going to stop talking about this, are you?”
Ash shook his head proudly.
“Nope.”
Pikachu lifted one paw in agreement.
“Pika!”
And above the Pokémon Center doorway. The mistletoe swayed quietly.
Mission accomplished.