Giving Up

It was very near the beginning of the New Year, and already Ross was distressed.

At the previous New Year party, everyone had made their new year's resolutions. Veruka resolved to train a bit more every day, and Vincent resolved to conquer his fear of the dark. Rupert resolved to kick his addiction to sugar, while Saria resolved to best her own fear of bugs. Scratch resolved to be an awesome pirate-ninja-robot-space explorer and Sibelius resolved to be a super awesome pirate-ninja-robot-space explorer. Heck, even Elizabeth, at their trainer's insistence, resolved to give up smoking.

While admittedly few of these resolutions were actually accomplished, Ross was especially disappointed with his own lack of achievement: the raichu had resolved to finally tell Saria his feelings for her, but with less than an hour left of the year it seemed unlikely his resolution would be seen out.

Ross sighed. He still had time, of course, as the fireworks were set to continue up until the countdown, but time was not his only issue. Ross did not know how he was supposed to approach the leafeon; each time he managed to build up the nerve to talk to her in the past, she would flash her wonderful smile and his stomach would knot up and his heart would leap up into his throat, leaving him babbling like an idiot. Soon after he would run away, embarrassed, and the process would begin all over.

And he knew it would all happen again if he tried again tonight. It was inevitable.

Another firework crackled into the sky, igniting the cloudless night with an explosion of green stars. Everyone oohed and aahed at the display, their silhouettes cast against the light of the explosion. Everyone seemed to be paired up for the night's celebration: Napoleon and Cotton nuzzled each other fondly. Matthew held Elizabeth close, his broad wing wrapped around her protectively. Vanilla surprised Rupert with a visit, and now the two were in a nigh-inseparable embrace. Even Veruka seemed to be allowing Vincent to sit closer to her than usual.

Everyone has someone, Ross thought glumly. Everyone but me.

Almost everyone. "Has anyone seen Edna?" Jenna asked suddenly. They all looked around, but it was clear that no one had seen the mismagius. Jenna turned to her raichu. "Ross? Would you mind looking for her?"

Ross snuck a glance at Saria to see if she was watching, but she had already turned her back to him again, returning to watching the fireworks. Ross sighed and nodded at his trainer. "Sure thing," he mumbled, though he knew she would not understand him. Nothing else left for me here, anyway.

"Thanks, Ross!" Jenna called, smiling as the raichu rose to his feet. "Try the lake, maybe? She may have gone up there."

Ross got up slowly, navigating his way through the dark. He climbed under the fence surrounding the ranch then followed the familiar trail north, deep into the woods.

----------------------------------------------------

Though it was nearing midnight, Lake Verity seemed to be illuminated by some ethereal light. Ross found the lake easily and sat down at its shore, examining his surroundings. Though it was in the dead of winter, the lake had not frozen, as if kept warm by the same mysterious force that light up the glade. Everything seemed so different at night. It was bigger and more intimidating, but above that Ross felt as if there was something missing from the picture.

Saria, Ross thought. This is our favorite spot on the ranch. The raichu's heart sank. He sat for a long time, watching his reflection ripple slowly in the water, completely forgetting his purpose for being there.

"Is something wrong?" A voice came from behind him; Ross turned his head. Floating behind him, wide grin plastered across her face, was Edna. Though she did not look it, she sounded genuinely concerned. "You're not here with Saria. It is unlike you."

Ross groaned. "Don't remind me."

"Is something wrong?" Edna persisted, floating closer to Ross. "You're acting strange."

Ross sighed. Edna knew all the little odds and ends that went on at the ranch. Maybe she'd be able to give him some advice. "Well. . . I kinda like Saria. A lot."

"Pfffffft. Well, duuuuh!" Ross hadn't expected such a strong reaction from the mismagius. She flew uncomfortably close to his face, her grin as wide as ever. "I mean, only everyone knows that!"

Ross blinked. "Everyone. . .?"

Edna groaned. "C'mon, what's really bothering you? Girl troubles?"

Ross nodded. As young as she was, Edna was very intuitive, and more nosy than was usually necessary. "I made a resolution to tell her how I feel about her before the year is over. . . but it's almost midnight and I haven't said a word."

"I see, I see," Edna said thoughtfully, tapping her chin with a ghostly hand. "And you're having troubles talking to her. You get butterfrees in your stomach just thinking about it, right?"

Ross nodded again, clutching his stomach. "If I just knew how to approach her, I think I might be able to do the rest! But I don't have the first idea how to do that. . ." He sighed. "I give up."

Edna cackled, her already impossibly wide grin widening even further. "Never fear, for you're in luck! I, the Amazing Edna, just so happen to have the perfect icebreaker for you!" With a flourish, Edna revealed an object concealed behind her back: a single, blood-red rose.

"These. . . these are Saria's favorites!" Ross looked up at the ghost, eyes wide with shock. "How did you find one in the middle of winter?"

Edna chuckled. "The Amazing Edna has her ways."

"Thank you so much, Edna! You won't believe how thankful-" Just as Ross reached out to take the flower, Edna snatched it away, clicking her tongue.

"Now, now. This particular flower was not easy to find, and the Amazing, Beautiful Edna's services don't come cheap."

Ross gulped. "Wh-what do you want for it?"

"Your desserts. . ."

That was it? "Done!"

". . . for the entire year!"

Ross didn't hesitate for a second. "Done!"

Edna extended a ghostly hand, faintly glowing purple. "Now we shake on it, and the pact shall be completed."

Ross took her hand gingerly, a warm sensation flooding his body as the soft purple glow enveloped his paw, flashed once and then disappeared. Ross examined his paw, but nothing seemed to be amiss.

"Okay, here ya go!" Edna shouted cheerfully, shoving the flower into Ross' outstretched paw. "Good luck with the girl! And be sure to come see the Amazing, Beautiful Edna for anything you need!"

Ross nodded and bowed and said his thanks simultaneously, then bolted straight for the ranch, leaving Edna behind cackling to herself. He passed through the trees that were once tall and menacing in the moonlight but now, for some reason, seemed tiny and insignificant. He was on top of the world. Holding out the rose before him, he smiled. There were only a few moments left of the year, and he had to make them count.

------------------------------------------

When Ross spotted the Night Lamp lighting up the entrance to the ranch, he slowed to a walk, hiding the rose in one paw behind his back. He climbed over the fence, being careful not to mess up the flower, and approached the group. The firework show was still going full steam, with rockets firing faster and more frequently to signal nearing the end of the show.

Ross stepped up to Saria quietly, the familiar feeling welling up in his stomach. He gave the stem of the rose a gentle squeeze, feeling the courage well up inside him. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

"Ahem. . . uh, Saria?" She did not respond at first, perhaps he couldn't be heard over the fireworks. He cleared his throat again and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and smiled at him, and Ross once again suppressed the rising squirmy feeling in his gut by squeezing the flower. "H-hi, Saria. . ."

"Hello, Ross!" Saria said cheerfully, smiling warmly. "Are you enjoying the show?"

"Y-y-yeah, haha. . . yeah, it's-it's pretty cool. . ." Focus, Ross! He cleared his throat again. "Uh, Saria? There's something I've been wanting to tell you."

Saria raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Ross?"

"Saria, I. . ." The flower! Give her the flower! "Oh, ah. . . Saria, I want you to have this." Ross pulled the flower out from behind his back, presenting it to the leafeon.

The flower was dead.

The "rose" was just a common daisy, black and dried up long since the winter chill first began. There was no way it could possibly be mistaken for a beautiful, living rose, and yet. . . it had seemed so real!

Edna, Ross thought glumly. The wily mismagius, on top of being the group's gossip, was a notorious trickster. It was a glamour. She must have used an incantation or something to make me see what I wanted to see.

Saria eyed the dead flower for a moment, confused, before looking back at Ross. "What is it?"

"I-I-I-I. . ." Ross stammered, all remnants of self-confidence torn to shreds. He couldn't bring himself to say a single word, and worst of all, that fluttery feeling in his stomach was coming back.

An especially loud explosion distracted Saria. She turned back towards the sky, her eyes lighting up in wonder. "Ross, Ross! The finale is starting!"

And there goes my last chance, Ross thought sadly, plopping down on the ground beside Saria. This was nice, but he had failed for the umpteenth time to admit his feelings for the leafeon.

The explosions grew louder and more complicated, signaling the beginning of the New Year's countdown. Everyone began chanting excitedly in time. 10. . . 9. . .8. . .

Ross couldn't help but notice the pairs- Rupert and Vanilla, Napoleon and Cotton, Vincent and Veruka- drawing closer together in preparation for the most sacred of New Year's rituals: the New Year kiss. Ross sighed, feeling to down to count down with the rest of them.

6. . .5 . . .4. . .

"This is it, Ross!" Saria said excitedly, patting Ross's paw. Ross pulled his paw away, feeling too depressed to even be cheered up by the object of his affections.

She'll never like me the way I like her, Ross thought sadly.

3. . .

It's hopeless. I was a fool to think a girl as wonderful as her could like a guy like me.

2. . .

I give up.

. . .1!

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" the whole ranch shouted as one final rocket erupted, filling the sky with a blaze of dazzling light. Ross saw as the couples shared an embrace- even Vincent managed to sneak in a quick peck!- and began to get up to leave, but was stopped by a paw gently turning his face to the side.

In that instant, a warm sensation brushed past his lips. A thousand nerves cried out at the point of contact, filling his whole body and driving the cold and the sadness out. Ross dared to crack open one eye, and what he saw made his heart soar: Saria's face, eyes closed, lips pressed lightly against his.

After a moment, Saria broke away, planting one more kiss on Ross's cheek. "Happy New Year, Ross. Let's make it a good one!" She gave him one last smile before standing and rejoining the rest of the party.

Ross was stunned for a moment, face flushed, his whole body tingling. He reached up to touch the spot where Saria's lips had been a moment before, and couldn't keep the smile off his face.

New Year's resolution for this year, he thought. Get another kiss from Saria!