Jeez, do I need to put a disclaimer on every single one? I don't own Neopets!

NTAG Adventures

Twas The Night Before Christmas

"No, really, I need to get in."

"..."

"Please?"

In frustration, Dragon plumped herself on the ground. For nearly half an hour she had been standing outside the Neopian Times Appreciation Guild's door. Or rather, front yard. The thing blocking her from her destination? It was the one and only Evil Vacuum Pit of Doom. EVPOD just glared right back at her. As soon as she came galloping up the street it had decided to block her path.

Dragon wiggled her eyebrows... nothing happened.

"Hey, Dragon... why aren't you in the house yet?" Nithe said, trotting up to his owner.

Nithe was a very happy person at the moment. Dragon had spent 300k on a Lupe Trans. Potion and another 40k on a Yellow Paint Brush. Rhalley came bouncing behind him, not as gleeful. He, in return, was next in line for the Lab Ray and was certainly dismayed when he changed from a male Green Kougra into a female Yellow Blumaroo. Athia, a Halloween Ixi, flew behind them, with her baby Blue Lutari brother, Riiku, on her back.

"EVPOD won't let me in. I don't know what got into it," Dragon said in dismay. She was looking forward to a big welcome back after she spent a long time away from NTAG. She had her armor polished with a good ol' spit and shine and delivered to the house. We still don't know what happened to the delivery boy. She brushed her brown hair, though it was cut to a short length and she wore jeans, a cream-colored hoodie, and brown clogs. Her outfit was nice and cushioned for any surprise glomps.

"I don't think it recognizes you," Riiku said, hopping off Athia's back. Dragon looked bewildered.

"I'm a Head Journalist! How would it forget me? I haven't been away that long," Dragon said.

"I think fuzz-face is onto something, Dragon. You were gone for a few months, and with all the n00bs- I mean newbies that join each day, it probably forgot about you," Rhalley said. Rhalley is the brains of the family, like I'm talking like a freaking genius. He wasn't wrong often.

Dragon sighed and pulled out her membership card. It was written with the same handwriting as the Neopian Times. Her named shined on the card with gold ink, the rest of it black. Dragon showed it to EVPOD, or at least as best as she could without it sucking it up.

"Is this what you want?" Dragon said, holding it just out of it's range. It seemed to grumble in defeat, moving on. Dragon thought she saw a nearby bird getting sucked out of the air.

Dragon walked up to the front door. There was something that vaguely resembled a credit card slider there. She looked at her pets.

"I would do it just to be safe," Rhalley said.

Dragon nodded, and slid it through. You could hear it unlock the door. Dragon just stood there.

"Uhm, Dragon, can we please go in now? I kind of have to use the bathroom," Athia said.

"Okay, okay," she said and pushed the door open. Err, well that's what she tried to do.

"Push the handle down first," Rhalley piped up. Feeling stupid (not that it was a new feeling) Dragon opened the door with ease, a small breeze flowing in through the open hallway. There was a jingling sound, as Dragon found golden jingle bells placed on the door. The building looked as grand as ever, and as always it looked brand new. Except for the cheese stains and the ketchup that were being fired across the room.

"Ketchup.. But who use ketch-"

"Look! Dragon's back!"

What followed that were many glomps followed by the clash of chains.

"Hey guys?"

There were a murmur of replies.

"I kinda need to, oh I don't know, BREATHE!"

Dragon finally saw who the glomps came from. Nano, Plankton, Leah, and Nut.

"Arrived just in time, too." Leah said, flying to sit on top of the Elf's head. That lazy good for nothing.. Uhm anyways. She sat on her head.

"Pardon?"

"It's the day before Christmas and no doubt we've all procrastinated getting each other's presents," Nut piped up.

"Remember the last time we all went shopping?"

"Okay I'd rather not talking about that," Leah said giving Dragon a glare for bringing it up.

"Ready to go group- Dragon here! Whee!" Nimras flung herself onto Dragon.

After this happened as more members made their way into the Grand Hall, Dragon was glomped over and over again. It was also a delightful surprise to see Planny there. That explained the ketchup.

"Okay, we're going to the Bazaar! Let's go!" shouted Nimras.

They marched down Guild Street. One poor girl thought there was going to be a revolution and she quickly ran inside, boarding up her guild. Finally they came to the entrance to all the guilds. Nimras, Nut, Belle, Leah, Dragon, Nano, Sage, Chris, Planny, Meep, Luau, and Plankton marched on out into the bazaar each individual going in separate sections.

Leah, Nano, and Sage decided to head to Plushie Palace. Shelves upon shelves were loaded with plushies.

"Who should we get plushies for?" Leah asked.

Silence. Then...

"Dragon." came the replies.

"I wonder if we can find one that she DOESN'T have," Nano said rolling her eyes.

"I wonder what her room looks like."

"Doubt we could find the bed if we tried!"

They saw Dragon down the aisle.

"Look at this cute Gnorbu plushie!" Dragon squelled. Chris, who was with her, pulled her away.

"We're shopping for OTHERS!" Chris said, dragging the elf away.

The three down the aisle looked at each other and then raced towards the poor Gnorbu plushie. It wasn't that Dragon was hard to shop for... no wait, Dragon is hard to shop for. Nevermind. Leah flapped as hard as she could, Nano beat her wings as fast as she could. And Sage just ran like his life depended on it, occasionally making swipes at Nano and Leah with Pillow.

They crashed into the shelf and plushies came rolling down, each trying to find that single Cloud Gnorbu plushie. Stuffing flew everywhere along with parts.

"HEY HEY! BREAK IT UP HERE!" A Cybunny came over.

"Make your next move a better move," Leah said holding up her ray gun while sifting through the plushies.

And with that three people were kicked out of the store.

"I think the wrong move was on your part, Leah."

The Weewoo just glared moodily at the ground.

Meanwhile...

"Hey Belle! Belle!"

"Huh?"

"Do you think Jeran would like these new pajamas?" Nimras asked the Water Faerie.

"Nim.. That's woman underwear."

"Are you calling me fat?" The Lupess shouted.

"WHAT?"

"Just because you're a faerie doesn't mean you're better at picking out stuff... and calling me fat!"

"Nim, I didn't say tha-"

"I hate you! Where's the emo korner in this store?" The white Lupess ran off sobbing.

"Must be a full moon." The faerie shrugged before splashing her way to some clothing.

Meanwhile...

"Luau, I need a Kiko's opinion on this."

"Nut, you ARE a Kiko." Luau said, hovering over to the Purple basketball... er.. Kiko.

"Nano is being impossible. I don't know what to buy her besides cheese! And she has too many of that!" Nut sighed, looking at an arrangement of cheese.

"Do what I do." Luau shrugged, taking a sample of cheesecake.

"And what's that?"

"Wrap it in cheese."

"...Nice."

Meanwhile...

"Meep stop running back and forth across the street! You're making us look weird!" Plankton shouted at the hyperactive, silver Lupess.

Plankton and Planny were walking along the sidewalk towards the Toy Store, while Meep was zig zagging to and fro.

"I thought we always looked weird?"

"Oh right..."

"Plankton! Ketchup!"

"Planny, you just ate a full bottle of ketchup?"

"I thought we said that when it was time to meet to go?"

"It's been THAT long?"

"I told you we shouldn't have stayed at the Magic Shop so late."

"Din's Fire! C'mon Meep. This way!"

The trio walked towards the people that were starting to form a crowd by the Rainbow Pool. Shopping bags weighed down the members and the Christmas lights were starting to light up on the Money Tree, which had somehow transformed into an Evergreen for the season. There seemed to be a commotion though...

"What do you think you're staring at?" Came a squeaky, yet familiar voice from the center.

"Aw! Doesn't she look adooooorable?" came Nano's voice.

"Finally short enough, too!"

"Watch it!"

They came to find a short little Elf, the kind Santa has, in the center, decked in pirate clothing. In fact, it looked like a mini version of Dragon.

"Hi Plankton."

It WAS Dragon.

"What happened to her?" Plankton shouted, trying to hold in the giggles.

"Well, Dragon and I were at Kauavara's shop and Dragon started rambling on about how her race of Elves were superior to the short elves (I believe she called them midgets) and there was a Christmas Usul in there at the time. Didn't seem to like that, and apparently that Usul had magic, too." Chris finished.

"So when does it where off?" Nano said, poking Dragon's shoulder.

"Christmas day. Dragon's having the strange urge to sing Christmas songs, wrap up presents with other little midgets, and pretty much spread the Christmas cheer," Chris shrugged.

"You mean, she won't be celebrating Christmas Eve the NTAG version?" Nimras said, worridly.

"Afraid that Dragon will be a good little elf this year and go to sleep instead of staying in the fort with us in the Grand Hall." Chris drawled.

"Well that's super. Now I can't get her back after what she did to me... that time... which I don't talk about," Sage said.

"Why don't we just prank her?"

"You guys do realize I'm standing right here?"

"That wouldn't work Leah, remember when Mashy tried to get in her room?"

"I can hear every word you're saying, y'know!"

"We can always pick her lock, it's regular door now."

"I'm going to make plans to defend myself!"

"I guess so, but what if Dragon hears? She might make plans to defend herself?"

"I give up." Dragon muttered and stalked away.

Back at NTAG...

"The NT is coming tomorrow morning! Five o'clock SHARP! Be ready to aim and FIRE!" Tdyans made over the announcer.

The Grand Hall had been transformed into ONE GIANT FORT. Normally Dragon would've whipped up a lot of hot chocolate, cookies, brownies, and pretty much any sugary treat that would keep you up all night. But being a good little elf this year, she made a few cookies for Santa Claus, set out some milk and made her way to bed. That meant that the rest of the members had to fend for themselves. Which was bad because the rest of them had no skill whatsoever in the kitchen.

"Are you SURE I should be adding salt to brownies?"

"I'm positive! What else could S-U-G-A-R spell?" Belle said.

"Beats me." Leah shrugged.

"Exactly."

There were multiple levels of the fort, and those who were lucky enough got the top level. That way you could jump and the people below you would get mad. You could dive into the giant pile of blankets that was located in the center and actually get some air. Not to mention if the whole thing collapsed, chances were you would probably receive less damage than the rest.

The lucky few who got these spots were Nano, Leah, Sage, and Meep. They tied Meep down to keep her from destroying the fort... again.

"Let's tell GHOST stories!" Nano whizzed around.

"It's Christmas Eve, Nano. We're supposed to be waiting for a hobo in a red suit to give us some stuff for supposedly being good," Leah objected.

"Well, Belle banned us from annoying the other members. Most of them have fallen asleep already. And the rest are hardly staying awake, being glued to caffine, sugar, and video games." Sage pointed out.

"So what left is there to do?"

The object was all on their minds...

"Dragon."

Upstairs, the elf slept soundly in her bed, her pets asleep. Slowly, her body began to grow back to it's normal stature. Thankfully because she was buried in her pajamas. A rumbling came from her stomach.

"Not now tummy, gotta sleep..." she mumbled.

It rumbled again... and again.

"Alright!" Dragon sat up. It was midnight and she was back to her old self fully. "'Bout time!" She threw off her covers, revealing blue pajama shorts and a grey hoodie she was wearing. She stepped into her slippers and made her way out of her dorm and down the stairs, where she walked into Sage.

"AAAHH!"

"Shut UP Sage! Do you want to wake the house?" Leah hissed.

"What in the name of sugary sweets is going on here?" Dragon demanded.

"My you're looking awfully tall!" Nano commented.

"Cut it."

"Well we came to prank you, but we think we heard some noise in the Main Hall so we were headed that way." Leah replied.

"Well, I was on my way to the kitchen for a midnight snack."

"You don't want to go in there."

"Leah, if I walk in there and there is a SPOT out of place, you're gonna get it."

"Which is why you're not walking in there until we clean it up!"

"Whatever."

"Now then, we think we're going to catch Santa Claus in the act!" Leah said, jumping into the air.

"Super, let's go."

"So Miss Goodie-Two Shoes is coming?"

"You want me to make you or Meep scoot over in the fort?"

"Meep..."

"I suggest you can-it."

"Got it!" Nano said in a rather gleeful voice.

Meep had stayed back, rather by force than by choice. She was still tied down, and she was still vibrating. Nano, Leah, Sage, and Dragon made their way down the Grand Staircase, where they found the gigantic Christmas tree. Presents were overflowing from beneath it. It seemed like Santa Claus already came.

"I hear munching!" Dragon whispered, her elven ears picking up the slightings sound.

Leah cupped her ears.

"I do too! Let's go!"

They peeked around the Christmas tree. A lone figure sat on a chair, munching away at the cookies that Dragon made.

"I smell something other than cookies... Leah?"

"We made brownies."

"GACK!" The lone figure sitting on the chair began hacking away, coughing up the bite of brown he just took.

Dragon, Leah, Nano, and Sage ran over to the wheezing guy. Nano hit him with a baseball bat that somehow found it's way into her hands. The food came flying out into the darkness. Leah flew to the switch, and turned it on. Blaring lights streamed into their eyes which recoiled, having been use to the dark.

"ADAM?" They yelled. Lights from other rooms began to turn on.

"What can I say?" He said sheepishly.

"Oh I don't know, WHY YOU'RE HERE? And eating Santa's cookies, too!" Dragon shouted.

"Actually, all the cookies were gone. He left the brownies here."

"What's wrong with my brownies?" Belle shouted, storming into the room.

"You're not supposed to put salt in them."

"Oh." Came the reply from the Water faerie.

"What in the Neopian Time's name is going on out here?" Tdyans said as she walked into the room, her nightgown on.

"We found Adam here." The four sneaksters said together.

"Adam?" Tdyans gave a look. And when she gave that look, you didn't question it. I mean, c'mon. It's The Look.

"Last year's Christmas was fun, and I saw the fort you guys made... all I was going to do is eat the cookies- or brownies in this case -and raid your asparagus storage!" Adam whined.

If there was a good headdesk moment. That was it.

"It's four o'clock in the morning guys. Don't see the point of going back to sleep for another hour if we're just going to get up and pelt snowballs at the delivery boy." Nimras said, glancing at her watch.

"I thought you told us it was midnight?" Sage nudged Dragon.

"Yeah, I really need to get that fixed..."

There went another good headdesk moment.

And a knock at the door.

"Whoa! Delivery boy is early!" Nano exclaimed.

"It's not the delivery boy! I think it's for you Adam!" Leah said opening the door.

All the head staff from the TNT stormed in, giving Adam a menacing glare.

"Adam! I can't believe you left our fort for THIS!" shrieked Donna.

"How'd you find me here?" Adam asked feebly.

"You left a trail of asparagus."

"Oh... right."

"You guys might as well stay with us and pelt the delivery boy with snowballs." Tdyans said nonchalantly.

"And why is that?"

"We're officially snowed."

"Well how do you expect to get the NT from outside?"

"That's why it's good to have people with wings!"

The staff decided to stay. Not like they had a choice. The delivery boy came and went, with a new look, a new set of mind, and new voice pitch that he was able to reach. Dragon was especially enthusiastic to show everyone her comic in the NT. Once eight o'clock rolled around, Dragon made Leah clean up the kitchen while she made breakfast for everyone. They also discovered a new, more fun, way to give gifts to each other. It was like a food fight... only with presents.

Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good morning.

No seriously it's four am right now.

THE END

Erm yeah. I sort of stayed up and wrote this in like two hours on Christmas morning. Which explains any typos or horrible grammar you might find. Hope you liked it:D