It is Christmas day in Vaniville Town, and many souls young and old are full of the holiday spirit. The entire town and the landscape around it are covered in a large blanket of snow, every building that stands tall and proud is covered with Christmas decorations and people are passing by singing Christmas carols with cheer. Indeed, there isn't a living person in this town who isn't joyous to be around with family and friends at this time of year.

Walking down the snowy streets is a 17-year-old girl with honey blonde hair who is carrying Christmas quills. She smiles happily at the sight of all the Christmas spirit in her beloved town. Her ocean blue eyes shine brightly as she looks at every smiling face. Following behind her is a twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and a nine-year-old boy with faded black hair. The two younger children follow the honey blonde girl with annoyed looks on their faces.

"Seeerrrreeeeennnnaaaaaaa," the auburn-haired girl groans childishly. "When can we go home already?"

"Yeah, Serena. Mairin's right," the boy complains. "Can't we go home already?"

The honey blonde girl named Serena frowns disapprovingly and turns to the two younger kids.

"Calem, Maririn, behave yourself," she rebukes. "We still have three more houses to go before we can go home. Remember, this is a time of giving, not just a time of getting presents."

"But I want to be done now," Calem whines eagerly. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can come home and open presents. That's what Papa said."

"Yeah," Mairin says nodding in agreement.

Serena sighs and shakes her head at her two younger siblings. Then suddenly, she snaps her fingers and says, "Alright, since there are only three houses to go to, how about we split up and we each go to one house. That way, we'll all be done together and we can go home sooner. How does that sound?"

Calem and Mairin's eyes light up in excitement. They nod and cheer excitedly much to Serena's amusement.

"Alright then," she says as she gives a quill to each sibling. "Marian, you take this to the Captoain's and Calem, you give this to the Adag family while I give this one to Mr. Brock and Mrs. Holly. Once we're all done, we'll meet in front of Uncle Timothy's shop and head home. Sound good?"

The two younger kids nod excitedly again.

"Alright. Then let's get going," Serena says in a cheerful tone.

Without another word, Calem, and Mairin race in opposite directions. Serena chuckles with her mouth closed and shakes her head before she starts walking to her own destination. It isn't long before she makes it to a small, two-story house and knocks on the door. She waits patiently for a minute before a woman with auburn hair and a large belly showing that she's several months pregnant opens the door and gives her a warm smile.

"Well, if it isn't Serena Sycamore," she says. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Hello, Mrs. Holly," Serena greets before handing the quill to the pregnant woman. "Just giving a little Christmas cheer from my family to yours."

Mrs. Holly's smile grows as she takes the gift and says, "Thank you very much. Serena. Please give my best Christmas wishes to your mother and father. We're sorry that we can't come to your party tonight."

"Oh, please don't worry about it. My parents understand perfectly," Serena says kindly. "I'm sure you and Mr. Brock are having a merry Christmas with your children just fine."

Mrs. Holly nods in agreement before she stands back and opens the door more to show the living room where half a dozen little children are running around or playing with toys happily while a tall man with dark skin gives a little girl a piggyback ride.

"Dear, look who's here," Mrs. Holly calls out.

The tall man turns around and sees Serena and smiles.

"Hey, Serena, Merry Christmas," he calls out.

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Brock," Serena replied with a bright smile.

Mr. Brock continues the piggyback ride with the girl who laughs happily. Serena's smile grows at the sight.

"He's such a loving father, isn't he?" Mrs. Holly says giving her husband a pure, loving look.

"Yes, he is," Serena answers. "You don't see many men as devoted to being a husband and father as Mr. Brock, Mrs. Holly."

"I know," Mrs. Holly says as she looks down at her pregnant belly with another loving look, clearly looking forward to meeting the next child she is about to have with her husband. "Though, you're not that far from needing to look for a husband yourself, right? After all, you're almost 18."

Serena's smile falters before turning to the pregnant woman.

"Actually, I haven't been thinking very much about that," she admits.

"Really?" Mrs. Holly asks surprised. "I know a lot of your parents' friends are going to expect you to find a suitor once you become of age just like your sister, Aria."

Serena sighs and says, "I know, but I still wish to become a ballet dancer instead. I would like to be performing in Lumiose City long before I think about looking for a husband."

"Oh, I didn't know that," Mrs. Holly says taken aback. "Are your parents aware of this?"

"They are," Serena says with an assuring smile. "And they respect my decision, unlike their more...skeptical friends."

Mrs. Holly nods in understanding before placing her hand on the teenage girl's shoulder.

"Well, I hope that you might not take too long to look for someone special, Serena," the older woman says. "A dream like becoming a ballet dancer is great, but nothing makes someone happier than to be with the person you love with all your heart and who love you back."

Serena shakes her head and says, "Maybe for you, Mrs. Holly, but I don't see myself getting married and raising a family as important."

Mrs. Holly sighs and is about to speak again before Serena gasps.

"Oh my gosh. I need to get going!" Serena says in shock. "I'm meeting Calem and Mairin at Uncle Timothy's shop!"

"Oh, okay," Mrs. Holly says in understanding. "Merry Christmas, Serena!"

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Holly!" Serena calls out while running. "Merry Christmas, Mr. Brock!"

"Merry Christmas, Serena!" Serena faintly hears Mr. Brock call out.

Serena runs as fast as her legs can carry her until she makes her way to a small shop connected to a two-story house set on the other side of town where thankfully she finds her two youngest siblings standing in front of the building as she hoped. Calem and Mairin have their faces pressed against the display window with their eyes wide and giant smiles on their faces.

"Calem, Mairim, how many times do I have to tell you not to press your hands and faces against the window?" Serena rebukes.

"Aw, come on, Serena. You know Uncle Timothy doesn't mind," Calem says without looking at her older sister. "And besides look at these toy soldiers."

"And look at these swans and ballet dancers," Mairin adds excitedly.

Serena reluctantly complies and looks at the display before she finds herself smiling as well. The display is full of all sorts of mechanical toys from toy soldiers, to swans swimming down a lake, to a figure of a ballet dancer spinning around gracefully. Serena finds herself smiling as she admires the creative detail of every single piece in the display. All three children look at the display while hearing Christmas music jingling in the background. Unbeknownst to them, the door to the store opens and a short bald man turns to them with a displeased look.

"Hey, you kids, keep your hands off the glass," he growls. "Do you know how annoying it is to wash windows because of rascals like you?"

Serena, Calem, and Mairin are taken aback by the bald man's rude demeanor until someone from inside the shop puts their hand on the man's shoulder.

"Come now, Mr. Coovers. It's alright," A kind voice says. "There's no need to be hostile to my godchildren on Christmas."

The three children calm down as a man in his thirties exits the shop. He has long brown hair tied to a ponytail, blue eyes, and a kindly expression on his face as he turns to the three Sycamore children.

"Serena, Calem, Mairin, Merry Christmas," he greets warmly.

"Merry Christmas, Uncle Timothy," The children greet back.

Uncle Timothy turns to the bald man named Mr. Coovers and says, "Mr. Coovers, these are three of the four Sycamore children; Mairin, Calem, and Serena. I've told you about them."

The bald man's grumpy expression fades into a friendly one and he says, "Ah, I see. A thousand apologies to you, children. Sometimes I get carried away after years of running my own shop.

"Your own shop?" Mairin asks curiously.

"Yes, you see Mr. Coovers is a very old friend and a former coworker of mine from Kanto," Uncle Timothy answers for his bald friend. "He's visiting me here in Vaniville Town from his own toy shop all the way in Unova."

"Unova? That's amazing," Serena says fascinated. "You must have a lot of stories about living there, Mr. Coovers, sir."

"Just Mr. Coovers is fine, child," Coovers replies with a smile "And yes, I'd be more than happy to tell you all about living on Unova later at your parents' party."

"Oh, you're coming to our party with Uncle Timothy?" Calem asks.

"He sure is," Uncle Timothy answers. "We're going to be there as soon as we finish some matters first for my nephew."

At the word, nephew, Serena, Calem, and Mairin turn to Uncle Timothy intently.

"Your nephew?" They say simultaneously before Calem states, "You never mentioned about having a nephew before."

"Yeah, how old is he? Can we meet him?" Mairin pleads.

"Is he really your nephew or is he also your godchild and just calls you Uncle Timothy like we do?" Serena asks with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"Enough, enough," Uncle Timothy says chuckling. "Yes, he really is my nephew and I hope you will meet him soon. But you three better run along. Your mother and father and Aria are probably waiting for you."

Both Calem and Mairin gasps.

"That's right, lighting the tree and presents!" Calem exclaims as he and Mairin turn to run. "Come on, Serena!"

"Calem! Mairin!" Serena calls out before she sighs and turns to the two men. "I guess I'll see you at the party, Uncle Timothy, Mr. Coovers. Come as soon as you can."

"Good-bye, Serena," Uncle Timothy and Coovers say simultaneously. Mr. Coovers keeps his friendly face until all three children are out of sight and his face turns serious.

"So Serena is the one for your new plan?" He asks.

"Yes, that's her," Uncle Timothy says with a smirk.

Mr. Coovers gives his friend a skeptical look.

"Are you sure about this?" He asks. "I admit she seems like a very nice girl and she's certainly pretty, but you've been wrong about this before."

"She's the one, Coovers," Uncle Timothy says confidently. "You'll see. We will never find a girl more perfect than her."

Meanwhile, Serena manages to catch up with her two youngest siblings and together the three of them begin making their way through the forest on the other side of town heading home.

"I hope Uncle Timothy brings some of those toy soldiers at the party," Calem says enthusiastically. "Maybe he'll even bring some that can actually fire their guns. Pow! Pow! Pow!"

"I'd like to think he'll bring a pretty toy lake with swans swimming on the lake while wearing beautiful necklaces," Mairin says with a dreamy look.

"Mairin, swans don't wear necklaces," Calem rebukes. "That's just silly."

"Now, now, Calem, don't be rude," Serena says. "Just because real swans don't wear necklaces doesn't mean toy swans can't. You know how Uncle Timothy is just as much of an artist as he is an inventor, so maybe he'll come up with something like that at the party."

"I guess," Calem says in an uncaring tone.

"Easy for you to say though, Serena," Mairin says in a teasing tone. "You still want another doll for Christmas just to look at them instead of playing with them even though you're too old for one."

"Tease me all you want, Mairin, but there's nothing wrong with me admiring the art of something even if it's something as simple as toys," Serena says before giving her sister a teasing grin. "Besides, if you're gonna tease me, then maybe Mama and Papa would like to know how much you like Papa's business partner's son, Alain even though he's three years older than you."

The twelve-year-old girl blushes furiously and immediately shuts her mouth much to the amusement of her older sister. Calem chuckles and begins to childishly tease her sister until they make it to their home. Their house is a massive two-story building that many would confuse it for a mansion. As Serena, Calem, and Mairin reach the front porch, the front door opens to reveal a twenty-year-old woman with red hair and an impatient look on her face.

"Well, it's about time," she says. "Come inside already, mother and father are waiting."

"Alright, Aria. We're coming," Serena says calmly to her oldest sibling.

Calem and Mairin quickly take off their coats and race to the grand living room while Serena takes off her own coat in a patient pace before following them with Aria. They enter the room to find a man with black hair and a woman with brown hair both in their mid-forties waiting for them with loving looks and a giant Christmas tree standing close to the ceiling at fifteen feet. Serena, Calem, and Mairin stare and gasp in awe of the tree with big smiles on their faces.

"Oh, Mama, Papa, this is the best tree we've ever had!" Mairin says happily.

"Every tree is the best tree we've ever had, dear," their mother says chuckling.

"Quite right, Grace, my dear," Grace's husband, Mr. Sycamore says before turning to Serena. "But this must surely be the tallest we've ever had. Right, Sugar Plum?"

Serena smiles and nods at her father.

"And the widest," she adds.

The family then proceeds to light all the candles on the Christmas tree. After they finish, Calem turns to his father with an eager look.

"Can we open presents now, Papa? Can we? Can we?" He asks eagerly.

His father chuckles in amusement before Grace answers for him.

"Now, Calem, you know what we must do first," she says.

Calem's eyes widen before he frowns in disappointment.

"Right, read the Bible," he grumbles.

"Now don't be like that, son," Mr. Sycamore says as he opens the drawer of a living room desk and takes out a bible. "Remember this is what Christmas is really about. Without Jesus coming to Earth there would be no Christmas."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Calem says childishly as he reluctantly sits down on the floor with Grace, Aria, Serena, and Mairin while Mr. Sycamore puts up a chair in front of them and clears his throat.

"I begin with Luke 2," Mr. Sycamore announces as he opens his bible. "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they have been told."

Grace, Aria, Serena and Mairin, smile, enjoying the passage while Calem pretends to be interested. Then, much to the boy's dismay, his father flips over a few pages and says, "Now I'd like to finish with a different passage from 1st Corinthians at the beginning of chapter 13.

Calem groans much to everyone else's amusement before Mr. Sycamore clears his throat.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.' Amen."

"Amen," the rest of the family says with Calem saying it half-heartedly.

"Alright," Mr. Sycamore says cheerfully as he closes his Bible and stands up. "Now it's present time."

"Finally!" Calem explains as he races to the Christmas tree followed by Mairin, Serena and Aria. Mr. Sycamore chuckles in amusement as all four of his children get down on their knees and begin unwrapping presents. Calem is the first to fully unwrap his present first.

"Wow!" He exclaims in joy. "It's toy soldiers with cannons and cannonballs!"

"Oh, what pretty girl doll and a guy doll to go with her. They look like an adorable married couple," Mairin says with glee. "I think I'll call them Dawn and Kenny."

"Oh, this is a beautiful doll," Serena says admiring her present. "Hillary. I think I will call her Hillary, daughter of my oldest doll, Helga and her husband, Entalmorfious."

Grace sighs sadly before turning to her husband.

"I'm afraid this will be Serena's last doll before she turns 18," she says worryingly. "I just hope she'll be able to let go of them when she becomes an adult."

Mr. Sycamore nods in agreement before turning to his second-born child.

"Sugar Plum, I think there's something else inside your present box," he says.

Serena looks down curiously before she gasps in excitement, puts down her new doll, Hillary, and takes out her other gift.

"New ballet slippers! Oh, thank you, Mama! Thank you, Papa!" she says joyously.

Mr. Sycamore and his wife smile fondly as their honey blonde daughter puts on her new slippers.

"Our little ballerina," Mr. Sycamore whispers in Grace's ear while placing his hands on her shoulder from behind.

Serena begins to spin and twirl gracefully with her slippers and confidently says, "One day I'm going to become a famous ballerina and perform in front of many crowds throughout the seven regions."

"I'm sure you will, sweetheart," Grace says encouragingly while her daughter dances until they hear Aria gasp loudly.

"Oh, mother, father, it's wonderful!" she exclaims as she takes out a beautiful white and yellow dress. "Serena, isn't this the most beautiful dress you've ever seen."

Serena stops dancing and gives her oldest sister an unamused look. It's no secret in the Sycamore household that Aria is obsessed with dresses, especially since she always wants to use them to impress a young man named Pierre who has been courting her for the last couple of years. Even though Serena has never said it to her dear sister, she is displeased that Aria is using shallow means to woo her suitor.

"I'm gonna put it on right now," Aria announces as she races out of the living room with her present.

Serena sighs quietly before she begins practicing more ballet moves while Mairin plays with her new dolls and Calem plays with his toy soldiers. As Grace watches her children with a smile, her husband secretly takes out an emerald necklace from his coat pocket and gently puts it around Grace's neck from behind, surprising her.

"Oh, Augustine," she says happily as she turns to him and they lean in for a brief kiss. Serena, who is dancing near them, notices the necklace and smiles.

"Wow, that's very pretty, Mama," she says.

"Thank you, dear," Grave says kindly until everyone hears the doorbell.

"My, my, is that the time?" Mr. Sycamore says while looking at his pocket watch. "Children, the guests are coming. You better put away your presents."

"Alright, Papa," Serena, Calem, and Mairin say obediently with Calem firing one last cannonball from one of his toy cannons before doing as he's told.

Serena and Mairin put their new dolls in the toy cabinet next to the Christmas tree before Serena goes upstairs to put away her ballerina shoes. When she makes it to her room, she walks over to her bed cabinet, opens the drawer and puts in her slippers. After she closes the drawer, she turns around to leave until she notices a pink pillow lying on the floor and frowns.

"Shauna?" She asks concerned. "Shauna? Here, kitty."

She searches all over her room until she hears a faint jingle coming from the hallway. She sighs as she exits the room just in time to see a tiny black kitten turn around the corner and walk downstairs. Serena hears the front door open and guests entering the house and she frowns, knowing her kitten is nervous around large crowds. She races to the staircase only to find no sign of Shauna while a crowd of wealthy men and woman walk through the entrance hall to the living room guided by her mother and father. Serena runs down the stairs and looks around the entrance until she hears a very faint meow. She turns to the dining hall where large tables full of food are set up and hears another soft meow. Serena makes a small smile as she walks over to the dining hall and lifts one of the table covers to find her frightened kitten hiding underneath.

"Shauna, there you are, silly kitten," she says as she bends down and picks up the kitten from its hiding spot. "You know you shouldn't run off like that."

Shauna merely meows softly but cutely, glad to be held by its owner. Serena smiles and pets her cat until she hears an old voice coming from behind her.

"Serena, dear, is that you?"

Serena jumps in alarm before turning around to see an old lady wearing a fancy outfit and glasses looking at her with a cheerful old smile.

"My, how have you grown, dear. You look so much like your mother when she was your age," the old lady says.

"Uh, thank you, Mrs. Budwell," Serena says politely while still holding Shauna.

"My child, I heard that you will be turning 18 next year," Mrs. Budwell says.

"Yyyyeeesss, that is correct," Serena says trying to contain herself, knowing what the old woman is about to say next.

"Have you been looking for a suitor yet?" Mrs. Budwell asks.

"No, I'm afraid not," Serena answers honestly. "I've actually been looking into becoming a ballerina once I am an adult."

Mrs. Budwell frowns disapprovingly and puts her hands on her hips.

"A ballerina? What a wasteful occupation," she rebukes. "You don't even know if you would be able to get a job in that risky field."

"It can be difficult, I'm aware of that," Serena says calmly, trying to not let the old woman's words get to her. "But that's why I want to work hard and give it my all."

"Preposterous," Mrs. Budwell says with a wave of her hand. "That sounds like an absurd waste of time that you could use to find a nice wealthy man."

Serena takes a deep breath before she firmly says, "I'm sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Budwell, but I simply have little interest in chasing silly rich boys just to settle down and have children when there are much grander things I want to do with my life. I'm sorry that you disapprove, but that's my decision. Now if you'll please excuse me."

The old woman scoffs as Serena leaves the room with Shauna. She hears Mrs. Budwell mutter, "The nerve," and rolls her eyes. She walks back to the entrance room and sighs in relief until she sees Aria in her new dress opening the front door to reveal a tall young man who looks just a couple years older than Aria wearing a fancy suit and a white wig that hides his light blonde hair.

"Oh Pierre," Aria says girlishly with a playfully bashful smile. "Merry Christmas"

"Merry Christmas, Aria," Pierre replies with a thick Kalosian accent as he takes Aria's hand and puts a corsage on her wrist.

"Oh Pierre, it's so pretty," Aria says.

"You're the one that's pretty, moi amour," Pierre says plainly with a smile.

"And you look very distinguished," Aria says with a giggle as she wraps her arm around Pierre's arm and leads him to the main hall.

Serena rolls her eyes again at the sight of how her oldest sister is acting to her fancy suitor. She then holds up Shauna until they are face to face and smiles.

"And you look very, very, distinguished," she says before giggling and petting her kitten who merely smiles and meows cutely at her master's affection.