The Heart of the Beast
By Destinationxunknown

Green, large, and full of fury,
And collecting your taxes in a hurry.
This Yurble beast, so misunderstood,
Seems but a terror in your neighbourhood.

Neopians fear his Random Event,
And when he comes they weep and vent.
They've lost their earnings, so they cry.
Their Neopoints vanished, they wave good-bye.

Bitter they stay for quite some time,
Recovering from this heinous crime.
They won't forget what this beast has done,
They'll continue to hate and snub and shun.

This monstrous Yurble is not what you think,
He's not a horrible and wretched stink.
He doesn't bully you out of spite,
But merely for his employer's delight.

In sleep he dreams of a better day,
When he doesn't take your Neopoints away,
And dreams of Neopia's understanding,
His tax raid is not of his own demanding.

One day he will give back to those in need,
And resign from his employment of evil greed.
He hopes for Neopia's forgiving hand,
For peace would be most certainly grand.

He'll show the world what he can do,
And Neopia will know what they never knew.
For the Tax Beast has quite a stunning heart,
But you wouldn't see it from the start.

The Reluctant Hero
By Anjie

When victory still lingers sweet,
But memories fade away.
One hero, an unlikely sort,
Has helped to save the day.
Commander Gormos, serving Sloth,
Did make one fatal choice.
Cylara, Gorix in his sights,
He did not raise his voice.

Within Sloth's ranks the Kougra rose,
To fight at dark one's side.
Insulted and too overlooked,
That loyalty had died.
Enraged at Sloth's dismissive wrath,
Away did Gormos storm.
Humiliation gripped his soul,
Betrayal soon did form.

Resistance claims he was the key,
To Sloth's vital defeat.
The Kougra, though, should fear Sloth's wrath,
Should he learn of deceit!
They toast to Gormos, Kougra foe,
His act was born of rage.
Yet turning his head from the scene,
Allowed the war to wage.

Secret of the Sea
By Silent_snow

Neopia's oceans, clear and blue,
Seem meek and innocent to you.
But far beneath, a secret lies
That's hidden from all land-born eyes.

A city built from coral bright
Knows not a change from day to night,
And kelp that waves in ocean breeze
Will have to do instead of trees.

The pets here go about their day
With flick of fin and easy play.
Legs they've lost and gills they've gained
So their utopia can be maintained.

Innocence here has long been lost
From horrid past and dreadful cost.
And if a pirate you happen to be,
From watery soldier it's best you flee!

So dive into the murky deep,
If murky secrets you can keep!
But from the rules, do not dare stray --
King Kelpbeard rules the seas this day.

Do Not Enter the Haunted Woods
By Iridaceous

Dare you stroll into the Haunted Woods?
Where eternal darkness reigns,
Unblinking eyes follow your steps,
To the sound of clinking chains.

The cursed land of dread,
Where most fear to tread...

Moonlight ebbs from eerie sky,
A flutter of Barbat wings,
Echoing through the cragged paths;
A wicked laughter rings.

The cursed land of fright,
Where beasts take flight...

Cold, chilling gusts of wind,
Wafts with horrid green hue.
Tales of woe whisper in your ear,
Swelling your fear anew.

The cursed land of evil,
Triggering panic's upheaval...

A flail of branches
Thump at the ground!
'Tis the grisly Brain Tree,
Its knowledge renowned.

The cursed land of terrors,
Home to midnight horrors...

A ghost-infested carnival,
Where one can only lose.
Sly ones summon you to their stalls
To achieve a crafty ruse.

So heed my advice and don't dare stray
Into the Haunted Woods -- stay well away!

The Koi Inventors
By Brilliance109p

Koi are known for inventiveness,
Ideas formed at a swish!
What better thing to prove this thought
Than the great Utility Fish!

From vacuumfish to plierfish,
A place to rest your head?
Forget your fancy rugs and beds --
Try pillowfish instead.

Koi -- creative, kindness, care,
Their minds as sharp as tacks!
What better place than beanbagchairfish
To rest our weary backs?

Lampfish light your way at night
(Ingenious, are those Koi!)
Sawfish, fanfish, anchorfish,
A fish you use for toys!

But overall I must say this;
The item of my wish!
The all-important super-useful
The squidtoothbrushfish!