For the Love of Pikachu is a Pokémon Shipping fanfic written by PokeMaster64, published and completed from December 7th 2012 to November 9th 2013. The story focuses on Ash's Pikachu and Dawn's Buneary, taking place during the Sinnoh saga.
The trio of Team Rocket, having experienced their latest blast-off after failing to capture Pikachu, found themselves hundred grand gifted by their boss. And with their recent failure having them take note of Buneary, they proceeded to hatch an elaborate plan to. Meanwhile, a female Pikachu incorporates themselves into Ash and company's group of Pokémon, vying for Pikachu's affection and Buneary's jealousy, with her possibly having malicious intentions at heart...
A sequel story, The Forest of No Light, was published on April 13, 2014. Taking place during the Unova saga, Pikachu finds themselves trapped in an unusual forest after getting attacked by Team Rocket, with the gang's Pokémon going in to find them and discover the secrets of the Forest of No Light.
The story can be found here.
, while the sequel story can be found here.
Tropes:
- Almost Kiss: Pikachu and Buneary almost shared a kiss during their date before Laura scared Buneary away, leaving Pikachu heartbroken.
- Big Damn Kiss: Pikachu and Buneary finally share their first kiss during an incredible moment by the lake where they had their first date, illuminated by the moonlight.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Laura, even before the reveal that she's a robot that's assisting Team Rocket, she's evidently has it out for Buneary by deliberately being a wedge in the relationship towards Pikachu, with her cheery and friendly attitude being a facade.
- Call-Forward:
- Ryder, visiting Sinnoh for the time being, originates from the Unova region. Furthermore, after the climatic fight with Team Rocket, he informs Ash and Dawn of the Unova region and to consider going there to see them again, setting in motion Ash's journey into Unova, Dawn's return for an arc, and the Sequel Hook to this fic.
- After Team Rocket's latest plan ends in total failure, James remarks that maybe they should get some jet-packs to avoid the pain of blasting off, something they'd do exactly in the Unova region.
- Dream Walker: Pikachu's first encounter with Ryder is within his dreams of both Laura and Buneary flirting with them.
- Foreshadowing:
- Laura's true nature as a robot and not a Pokémon is hinted at several times throughout:
- She freaks out at the idea of being captured, since at worst that would expose the fact that she isn't a Pokémon.
- When Pikachu shocks both Buneary and Laura to quit their Lover Tug of War, Pikachu notes in his Inner Monologue that Laura should've been less affected by the electricity, instead of being equally as affected as Buneary.
- In a battle instigated by Buneary, Laura fights mostly with attacks that aren't considered moves, said attacks being disproportionately strong.
- The fact that Team Rocket tried to save Laura hanging onto their machine for dear life is the first blatant clue that Laura's part of their latest plan, further confirmed by Laura trying to receive Team Rocket's help in the moment.
- Laura's true nature as a robot and not a Pokémon is hinted at several times throughout:
- Hammerspace: James's solution to save Laura dangling from their machine is to use a long metal pole for an extended reach. Jessie and Meowth naturally question where James got the prop from.
- Let's You and Him Fight: A benevolent example with Ryder disguised as Piplup goading Buneary to fight Laura. While exploiting Buneary's jealousy, it was done to put Laura in weakened position so he could help counter Team Rocket's plan without them getting in the way.
- Love Confession: After their first kiss, Pikachu and Buneary confess their love for one another.
- Lover Tug of War: The following morning after Laura's incorporated into the group, Pikachu becomes subject to both Laura and Buneary tugging at his arms over who's eating with who. After enduring enough of the escalating nonsense, Pikachu retaliates with a small Thunderbolt shock to get them to knock it off.
- Mysterious Watcher: The mysterious cloaked Pokémon, Ryder, who's observing the group in secret, and helping Pikachu and Buneary in an indirect fashion. What's more, he's got quite the extensive knowledge about everybody, down to the Team Rocket trio's past.
- Out-of-Context Eavesdropping: Buneary listens in on Pikachu and Piplup's conversation over the former's love troubles, and upon overhearing Pikachu say he likes Laura, immediately gets heartbroken — retreating back to camp in tears. If she'd listen in on the conversation for longer, she'd hear Pikachu also confess to liking Buneary, feeling conflicted with both girls displaying affection towards them.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: In several instances, Laura seems to sport glowing red eyes from the perspective of Buneary, all while she's portrayed in a threatening manner. Justified, since she's a robot, it's perhaps a by-product of her design.
- Robotic Reveal: Laura, a prototype robotic Pikachu retrofitted by Team Rocket to deceive and manipulate Pikachu so they could successfully capture them.
- Running Gag Stumbles: Per the Running Gag from the Anime, Ash's Gible casting Draco Meteor results in it gravitating towards Piplup, who naturally reacts accordingly and tries to run away, only for the orb of energy to pass by harmlessly. Just when Piplup thinks they're safe, the Draco Meteor ricochets off a nearby rock to aim directly at the penguin, cratering them.
- Shipper on Deck: Several of the other Pokémon show interest in seeing how Pikachu's relationship with Laura and especially Buneary unfolds.
- Shipper with an Agenda: Ryder, who has a vested interest in seeing Pikachu end up with Buneary so he can thwart Team Rocket's agenda.
- Spot the Imposter: Ryder, with the use of his Camouflage Cloak, pulls this trick on Team Rocket by impersonating Meowth, even faking the act of getting knocked back by "fake" Meowth to fool Jessie and James into believing they grabbed the real deal.
- Tertiary Sexual Characteristics: The key traits defining Laura's appearance is a comparatively thinner build, a pink bow with her name on it, and (like in canon) a heart-shaped end to her bolt-shaped tail.
- Unknowingly in Love: In the end of Chapter 12, When Ryder told Pikachu to listen to his heart, he started to think of every moment he had with Buneary until he soon realized he was in love with her.
- Villainous Rescue: Ryder is saved from near death during his fight with Laura by his evil doppelgänger Dark.
- Weak, but Skilled: Discussed by Buneary in her battle with Laura, as despite the latter proclaiming themselves to be stronger than the former, she still has the capabilities of countering them with her skill; catching the opponent's punch and throwing them at a tree.
