The town of Pallet had turned a glistening white as a layer of fresh snow 
blanketed the streets. The smooth, fresh snow was broken by four sets of 
footprints as Ash, May, Max and Brock trekked towards the Ketchum residence.
The small town had only one major attraction, the Pokemon laboratory run by 
Professor Oak, his assistant Tracy, and grandson Gary, all three of which 
were outside making sure that every Pokemon was kept warm. Tracy looked down 
from the hill where Professor Oak’s lab was located, and saw four figures 
walking in the snow. It wasn’t too cold out, only a few degrees below 
freezing, and the fact that there was no wind made the day practically 
perfect. Tracy’s gaze moved towards the Ketchum residence, where he saw a Mr. 
Mime wearing a scarf and mittens, dragging a two story tall coniferous 
(evergreen) tree down the street, and towards the front door of the Ketchum 
house. Tracy laughed at the thought of Mr. Mime trying to bring that tree 
into the house, but was soon left with his mouth open in shock as Mr. Mime 
pulled the massive tree through the front door easily. 
Tracy’s glance shifted over to the Oak residence. Professor Oak lived in his 
lab, but Gary, his parents, and his sister, lived in a house about a block 
away from Mrs. Ketchum. Tracy smiled, as he watched May Oak, Gary’s older 
sister, standing on her lawn trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue. Tracy 
had never told anyone how he felt about May, but he knew that if he did get 
together with her, Gary would kill him. Gary may have been younger then 
Tracy, but Gary was strong.
As Tracy let his mind wander, he remembered that Mrs. Ketchum was having a 
Christmas party at her house in just a few days. Tracy had already gotten 
everyone presents, plus he bought Professor Oak’s presents for him, seeing as 
he was so busy.
“Hey, Sketchit! Stop gawking at my sister and get back to work!” yelled Gary.
Tracy blushed and looked around the Pokemon reserve. Gary was looking at him 
furiously, while Professor Oak was almost laughing. Tracy got back to work.
Meanwhile, Ash, May, Max and Brock had just entered Ash’s home.
“Hi Mom! We’re here!” yelled Ash.
“You’re just in time to decorate the Christmas tree,” responded Ash’s mom, 
entering the room with a box so big, that nobody could see her face. She 
handed the box to Ash, who immediately collapsed under the weight of the 
hundred pounds of Christmas decorations. Ash put the box on the floor, got 
up, and sighed. 
“Never, in a million years, will I know how my mom got to be so strong,” said 
Ash, looking at the box.
“Oh yeah,” said Ash’s mom, “We’re hosting a party here on Christmas day. Not 
too many people are coming, just a few friends.”
“Who?” asked Ash.
“Professor Oak, Tracy, Gary, us of course, Gary’s sister May, Gary’s parents 
are in Hawaii but send their love, Jason and Lisa, and, who am I forgetting, 
Misty!”
“Misty’s coming?” asked Ash, May and Max with excitement. May and Max wanted 
to see the water Pokemon trainer again, remembering the amazing skills she 
had when they met her in Hoenn. Ash had something else on his mind.
“When’s Misty gonna get here?” asked Ash as calmly as possible. 
“Same time as everyone else, Christmas,” responded Ash’s mom.
Ash’s mom and Brock went into the family room to start decorating the 
Christmas tree.
Ash took the mistletoe out of the box, and started hanging mistletoe above 
every door.
“That’s a lot of mistletoe,” said May.
“Yep,” responded Ash. “I wonder what I’m gonna get Misty for Christmas?”
“I don’t know,” said May. May, on the other hand, had a slightly sinister 
plan. She knew that what Misty really wanted was Ash, and May smiled to 
herself as she pictured her plan unfolding. Misty opening a big box and 
finding Ash, all hers.
“I’m going to put the star on the Christmas tree,” said Max as he passed 
behind May and Ash.
“What?” May’s eyes widened. “That my job and it’s an angle, not a star!” said 
May as she chased after her brother.
Ash sighed. He was thinking of Misty. He had a plan that would finally get 
him and Misty together, or make it extraordinarily awkward whenever he and 
Misty were around mistletoe. He was going to hand around near one of the 
doorways with mistletoe above it, and when Misty came by, he would stop her 
in the doorway and start a conversation with her. Then, somehow the couple 
would realize that they were standing under mistletoe, and would kiss. 
It would all work perfectly.