Tears flowed down poor Nyorla's face. It was the 24th
day of the month of Celebrating. Pets and owners all over Neopia were getting
their stockings ready while drinking a nice cup of hot chocolate. Christmas
was just one sleep away and joy was felt everywhere...except in Nyorla's heart.
Her owner had just left the poor Christmas Kiko in the pound.
"What a heartless thing to do on Christmas Eve,"
muttered Nyorla to herself. She had no place to go, nobody to take her in. Nyorla
knew life was going to be hard from now on.
"Hey you! The sign says no loitering so scram!"
barked the gift shop keeper. Nyorla was looking in at all of the great holiday
things inside of the store.
"Sorry," said Nyorla apologetically. She walked
away from the store. She traveled to the outskirts of Neopia Central when she
came across a bride. She went under the bridge to sleep. This was going to turn
out to be the worst Christmas ever...
***
"Sorry Santa, but a deal is a deal. When I lent you those Neopoints to buy
parts for your toys, I expected you to pay me back!" growled a voice from atop
the bridge.
"Mr. Vile, have a heart! I will pay you back,
but I need some more time! It's 11 PM NST and I've got to be delivering toys!"
pleaded the voice of an older man.
"Hey! Time is up, unless you can produce the
Neopoints by 1 AM NST you may notice...some toys may be missing or one of your
Christmas Gelerts might have a little accident!" threatened the voice.
"Listen here Malkus Vile! This is Santa Clause,
and you're just a lousy dungbag! If Santa says he'll pay you back, he will!"
came another angry voice.
"You have two hours. Pay me the NP in two hours...or
else." Footsteps were heard as Malkus Vile walked away into the night.
"That's horrible..." whispered Nyorla.
"Hey, Santa! Did you just hear that?" asked the
younger voice. Nyorla knew he was talking about her so she held her breath.
"Yes, I did hear that Takeeran! It's coming from
under the bridge," replied the other voice. Nyorla heard the two walk off of
the bridge. For a moment she thought they had left until they walked down under
the bridge to where Nyorla was sitting. Nyorla looked up in awe, one of them
really was Santa Clause and the other one was a Christmas Scorchio.
"Hi there!" said the Christmas Scorchio to Nyorla
cheerfully, "My name is Takeeran, loving pet of Santa Clause. Who are you?"
"Um...my name is Nyorla," replied Nyorla quietly.
"Well Nyorla, why aren't you home with your owner?
I bet he or she is very scared for you right now!" Santa Clause said to Nyorla...also
cheerfully.
"Not likely, my owner left me at the pound a
couple of hours ago. I ran away from the pound, I couldn't stand all of the
gloom," answered Nyorla forlorn. After seeing the looks on Takeeran and Santa's
faces she tried to change the subject. "Who was that guy? The guy you were talking
to?"
"Well his name is Malkus Vile, you've probably
heard of him. He lent us some Neopoints to help us get through this Christmas.
We thought it was generosity, but it seems he wants us to pay him back...double,"
answered Santa Clause.
"Yeah. Santa does have the NP but it's in his
vacation home on Mystery Island! It would take him too long to fly there, fly
back, give the NP to Malkus Vile and deliver the toys! We'll just have to cancel
Christmas," answered Takeeran sadly.
"Well...I could deliver the toys! I could get
Takeeran to help me while Santa deals with the Neopoints," suggested Nyorla.
"That would be great! I'll get the Gelerts,"
said Santa. He took of his mitten, stuck two fingers in his mouth and he whistled.
As if they were waiting right there for him, eight Christmas (and also magic)
Gelerts flew up pulling a red sleigh.
"OK, you can ride Dasher to Mystery Island while
we take the rest up to Happy Valley," said Takeeran as he unhooked one of the
Gelerts from the rest.
"Good job Takeeran and good luck to both of you!
I'll see you later!" said Santa as he got onto the back of one of the Gelerts
which magically flew off. Nyorla and Takeeran got into the sleigh which flew
off into the night. "Good luck," whispered Santa Clause as he watched his sleigh
fly into the night.
To be continued... | 
