Meanwhile, Iris works in the dishes, cleans the windows, and washes the rugs and floors. "Whew, what a rough day." Iris walks into the Pokemon room to see them looking out a window. "Hey, you guys. How's it going?"

"Pika, pika!" Pikachu gestures to the window.

"What are you looking out at?" Iris looks out the window to see the pine tree. "A pine tree?"

Using body language, and a lot of effort, the Pokemon explain to Iris that the tree she is looking at is what they call the Tree of Hope. By looking at the health and power of the tree, they can fill themselves with self-confidence.

"Deerling, Deer." The Deerling nudges her nose to a book.

"Hmm... hey, do you want me to read you a story under the Tree of Hope?" Iris asks.

The Pokemon nod.

"That sounds like a good idea, Deerling." Iris says as she leads them outside to the tree.

Iris reads a story to the Pokemon as they lay under the tree. Meanwhile...

Mr. Clout sits in front of a TV, watching the news.

"A wild Snorlax has been identified close to the city. Professionals have also said that it is irritated for reasons they can't explain. If you plan on leaving the city for Christmas Eve, be sure to be quiet as you leave, for if it wakes up, it could become hostile." A girl holding a microphone says as she stands near the entrance to the city.

Suddenly, Mr. Clout hears the sound of Iris outside. "What's going on out there?" He steps to the window and looks down to see Iris reading a story. "I did not allow of this." He says before opening the window.

"Iris!" Mr. Clout shouts from the window. "Come here, immediately!"

"Uh oh. That doesn't sound good." Iris puts down the book, and heads inside. She heads up to Mr. Clout's room, and he turns off the TV as she enters.

"Who gave you permission to read a story to the Pokemon?" Mr. Clout asks angrily.

"I didn't think I needed-"

Mr. Clout interrupts her again. "Let me tell you something, Iris. You don't have time to mess around. You are here to complete your work first before any nonsense!"

"But I have finished my work. I decided to read a story to them in my spare time."

"Did you finish washing?"

"Yes."

"Cleaning?"

"Yes."

"Washing the dishes?"

"Yes, that too. I cleaned the whole house, including dishes and floor."

Mr. Clout growls softly. "You may go, now."

Iris walks out of her room. "What's his problem?" She thinks to herself.

So the day went by, and they spent the whole day under the Tree of Hope together. A few hours pass, and the mayor passes by in his car, watching Iris and the Pokemon getting along.

"Wow, they really are getting along. Iris seems really good with Pokemon." The Mayor says as he passes by.

Iris learned how important the tree was for the Pokemon, and their self-esteem on life. The Pokemon Orphans have never felt so happy before. It was like the one moment when the mayor shows up, except it wasn't one brief moment. It was an entire day. They truly started to have a bond with Iris, and Pikachu, Oshawott, Axew, and Pansage treated the Orphans with open arms.

Mr. Clout continued to get donations from the Mayor. Little did he know the money was destined to pursuits other than bettering the lives of the Pokemon Orphans.

"Mr. Clout, I have good news. This year, I have collected more money for the Pokemons' Christmas. I've got enough money here to get the Pokemon warm clothes for the cold storms ahead. You'll even have some left for their presents as well. Here you go, Mr. Clout. I have upgraded the cash from 150,000 to 300,000 Pokédollars. I'm glad the Pokemon don't have to spend another winter in hardly anything on. Those poor fire types, sometimes. They can hardly make it through the winter with nothing on." The mayor hands Mr. Clout the Pokédollars.

"By the way, where's Iris?" The mayor asks.

As if she could hear the mayor, Iris walks through the door behind Mr. Clout.

"Oh, Iris. It's good that you're here. I just gave Mr. Clout the money, so he can buy new winter clothes for the Pokemon, and something nice for Christmas. I have also noticed that the Pokemon have become very fond of you, so I think you'll be the right person to ask this."

"Okay, Mayor. What would you like to ask?" Iris asks.

"Would you like to help Mr. Clout pick out warm winter clothes for the Pokemon? I have a felling you might know what they like. Will you do it?"

"I would be honored." Iris answers.

"Good! I must return to my office for a meeting. Good day, ladies." The mayor turns around, and with a smile on his face, leaves the Pokemon Center.

"Thank you, Mayor. The Pokemon and I appreciate the donations from the bottom of our hearts." Mr. Clout says dearly as he leaves.

"I'm going to tell the Pokemon the good news!" Iris rushes out of the room.

"Yeah... you go do that." Mr. Clout picks up the phone. "Frank, do you feel lucky tonight? Well, do ya?" Mr. Clout smiles evilly. "Tell Monica the news. We're going All or Nothing. Don't forget the champagne." He hangs up and sits down to read his book.

Meanwhile, Iris talks with the Pokemon.

"...and soon, you'll all get new clothes that will help you keep warm during this time of year. Remember, we should thank the Mayor for the money."

The Pokemon nod, with smiles on their face.

"Pichu Pi!" Pichu adds.

"Hmm... maybe I could also convince Mr. Clout to get red velvet. That way, we can make Christmas Stockings for you." Iris added.

The Pokemon Orphans tilt their head.

"You know about Christmas stockings, right?"

They shake their head.

Iris takes a moment to think. "Have you celebrated Christmas before?"

All of the Pokemon but the main four shake their head.

Oh dear, it seems the Pokemon Orphans don't know what Christmas is!

"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu stands up and gestures to the Pokemon Orphans.

Iris smiles. "Would you four like to explain how Christmas works?"

"Axew, Axew!" Axew and the other three nod.

Iris lets them explain.

"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu pretends to be sleeping.

"Pan! Pan!" Pansage acts like a clock, hands up to signal midnight and making 12 chimes.

Oshawott pretends to jump down a chimney and land. "Osh, Osh, Osh!" He holds his belly and pretends to carry a sack over to a Christmas Tree. He lays nothing down, but shows that he is to signal that he's leaving something. He walks back to the same spot he pretended to come down, and goes back up. "Oshawott!"

Finally, Axew rushes down something, preferably stairs and runs over to the invisible Christmas Tree. Axew picks up a present, and shakes it, then opening it up. Axew gasps. "Axew! Ax! Axew!" Axew jumps up and down, excited.

Iris applauds the four after their performance. "Bravo, that was well done! That was a well done performance!"

And it seems the Pokemon Orphans understand what happens on Christmas Eve, now. That was a well done performance for a Pokemon to understand!

"Even though that's what people like to celebrate on Christmas, there's a more important thing that happens during Christmas. It's a beautiful and happy time of the year, where peace and love are spread throughout the whole world. It's a time when humans and Pokemon come together to stop all the fighting and the hate. A time when people and Pokemon take the effort to get together and think about all the good memories and the ones to come ahead in the future." Iris explains.

"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu also shows cutting down something, and the other three helping to decorate it.

"That's right, it's also a time where you can get a Christmas tree and decorate it for the holidays."

"Charmander?" Charmader asks.

"I guess you haven't seen a Christmas tree before. It's kind of like... the Tree of Hope, if it was decorated with beautiful decorations. But that tree is a pretty big. Usually a Christmas tree is something you can place inside and decorate with lights and ornaments." Iris continues to explain.

"Oshawott, Osha!" Oshawott pretends to act like Santa Claus again.

"Pichu, Pichu?" Pichu asks, acting like an old man.

"No, I don't think Santa Claus is anyone's grandpa. Though, he does care about children of all kinds. Human and Pokemon children could get presents from Santa."

Lilipup walks like a penguin. "Lilipup?"

"Hmm... I don't know if Santa Claus is a Delibird or not. It would explain a lot of he was, but no one has ever seen him before, because he comes around at midnight, and he might not come to your house if anyone is awake."

Leafeon does a flying signal with her hand. "Leafeon?"

"Santa has a set of reindeer to help make the sleigh fly, and each one has its own special name." Iris explains.

"Pi? Pichu?" Pichu asks, doing a thinking gesture.

"Well, Santa knows what presents you want when you right a letter to the North Pole." Iris explains.

Meanwhile...

"Gentlemen, I'm feeling lucky tonight." Mr. Clout smirks.

"Don't be so sure, James!" Monica laughs.

They all pull a hand of cards.

"Hit me." Mr. Clout says as he's given another card.

"Hit me." Monica also says, as she's given another card.

"Hold."

"Hold"

Mr. Clout and Monica both hold.

"How about 17?" Frank asks, laying down his cards.

"19." Mr. Clout places his down on the table.

"20, hah!" Monica laughs as she places down her cards. "You lose, James!"

"Another round!" Mr. Clout exclaims.

"You're going down, James Clout!" Monica smack talks Mr. Clout.

"We'll see about that."

They all get another hand.

"Hit me." Frank says, getting another card.

"Hold." Monica says.

"H..." Mr. Clout looks closer at his cards. "Hit me." He gets another card, but he grunts out in frustration when he looks at the card. "24!"

"Ha! You went over!" Monica laughs again.

"All or nothing, you hear me?! I'm betting it all!" Mr. Clout shouts.

"Are you crazy?" Frank asks.

"That's right, James! Now you're cooking with gas!" Monica taunts.

They each get one last hand.

"Hit me." Mr. Clout gets another card.

"Hit me." Monica gets another card.

"Hold." Frank keeps his hand.

"Hit me!"

"Hit me!"

They both get another card.

"Hold!" Mr. Clout and Monica shout at the same time.

"Let's see what you got, Clout." Monica smirks.

"20." Clout lays down his hand.

"Well, I fold." Frank throws his hand aside.

Mr. Clout smirks at Monica, but she smiles back at him. "Well, Monica?"

She lays down her hand, and Clout's eyes shoot open.

"21, fool!" Monica lays down her hand.

"No... no, no, no!" Mr. Clout screams.

Oh no! Mr. Clout lost all of the money given my the mayor! This does not look good for him. Find out what will happen in the next episode!