Icy Vanity
By Keikotoriyamacatnip

Running through falling snow,
Escaping the self within.
Cloak shades frigid fur,
As doubt and fear begin.

Spiraling world covered white,
Seeping shadows drench the soul.
Jealousy, envy, greed, desire,
Feelings rage and take their toll.

Taking refuge within a cavern,
Light reflected from above.
Cast upon mirrors of ice,
An image devoid of love.

She twirls among darkness,
Lost within her vivid dreams,
Of a beauty that envelopes,
Reality unlike what it seems.

Tricked by potent vanity,
An Acara from flowers reigns,
In cold abandonment,
Happiness she still feigns.

Her flowers have frozen,
Sunlight turned to shade.
A past sealed in ages,
From kindness once portrayed.

Laying among icy walls,
Vira takes to yawning sleep.
Monster cast from the frost,
A beauty only skin deep.

Autumnal Sestina
By Padawanariana

Oh hear, Neopia, herald the fall!
Come forth and sing Neopian summer leaves,
And taste we now the first of winter's night.
Come forth, Usul, to gather each acorn;
Come forth, O Lupe, and sing farewell to sun;
Come forth, prepare for winter, Neopets!

Soon winter will come to you, o pets,
And then who knows what chilly days may fall?
As Eyrie eyes mark well the loss of sun,
And Mynci play amongst the dying leaves,
And Pteri peck up the last forgotten bits of corn,
All Neopia moves on to winter's night.

Usul, are your stores ready for this night,
And have you enough to share with other pets?
Have you harvested well berries and corn?
Do you mark well how the last leaves fall?
Tuskaninny and Bruce little mind as summer leaves,
They are well suited to days with winter's sun.

But mark you well how others mourn the loss of sun,
And shiver at the thought of a long night,
Huddling for warmth amidst the fallen leaves,
Summer's darlings among all of these pets,
Shudder at the coming of the fall,
Though it means good fruits and seeds and corn.

A plateau's omelette sizzles with harvest corn
Baking in the heat of fading sun
Here will be less touched in the fall
And heat pervades into even winter's night
A haven of warmth for summer's pets
Amidst the girth of the earth
there may remain green leaves.

The seasonal areas of the world watch who leaves,
Who comes, and who gathers stores of corn,
Which are summer's and which are winter's pets,
And how readily might they follow the sun,
Seeking the proper length of day and night,
Migration in the spring and in the fall.

So, Neopets, welcome corn and drifting leaves,
Or chase the sun away from winter's night this fall.

Glory of Samrin
By Scenette

Enchanting coat of duck-egg blue
Herder by nature; the career he'll pursue
Saving the Babaa, or that tiny Puppyblew
Preventing Balthazar eating a meal for two.

He freezes Balthazar dead in his tracks
And with that, Samrin rapidly reacts
Herding Petpets; they can't be snacks!
And when all is done, he can sit back and relax.

The game's not over; the Petpets stray
Out of the paddock and away, away
Balthazar's hungry, hunting all day
Eyeing the Petpets; his latest prey.

Samrin dashes around the place
Herding Petpets with such eloquent grace
Petpets run as Balthazar begins to chase...
The herding has but into an anxious race!

Who will succeed? Who will fall?
Who will claim glory above them all?
Is it time for one to befall?
Petpets flee, and obey Samrin's call.

Gathered inside their safety paddock,
Balthazar leaves with an empty stomach
Samrin stares after him, awestruck...

And, gesturing towards his Petpets, Gave a glorified smile of pure happiness.

The Keeper of the Cards
By Velvet

In the bazaar, so far away,
In Neopia, so old.
There lies a shop, so small and quaint,
Where goods are goodly sold.

If books are what you search for,
Or n=Neggs or cold ice shards,
Then search elsewhere, for here, so fair,
You'll find nothing but cards.

Shelves and shelves of boxes,
Each stacked and sold with care.
Each box contains a trading card,
The good, the bad, the rare.

The keeper of this hidden trove,
A Buzz, with quick, sharp eyes.
Laying paws near his stash, without suitable cash,
Is definitely far from wise.

He's loved these things for ages,
And now he shares his pride.
Come in with some 'points', and no doubt,
You'll leave with a box at your side.

Some say that the Buzz is not normal.
The way that he glares is so dark.
But to those that he knows he's quite gentle,
And his bite is far less than his bark.

A true legend is what they all call him.
All who know about what the cards mean.
Each small square of paper has a story.
Who they are, things they've done, what they've seen.

Only those who look to them with loving.
And with care, place the cards in their deck.
Every card is unique and important.
If you only took time just to check.

But the Buzz strolls his shop every evening.
Once the sun, and the shoppers have gone.
Every card he will stroke, and with caution,
He will clean them, 'til next day's bright dawn.

Only he knows the stories and secrets.
That the cards, just the cards each do know.
If you asked him, just why, he cares deeply,
He will nod, and his wisdom bestow.

"If you find a card on the streets.
Or receive one from someone you know.
Only you can unlock it's true secrets.
Just to you, the card's story will show."

The Buzz blinks, nods his head, and walks over,
To a large stack of boxes, piled high.
From the box mound (with care) plucks one out.
And to you, whispers soft, eye to eye.

"Here's a card, just to start your collection.
Treat it well, and just maybe one day,
It will open its heart and will tell you,
What a story, that it has to say."

Placed with care, in your paws, you are holding,
A small box, that is labeled and tied.
And you know, just how special this thing is.
And you promise to love it with pride.

The Gladiator Grarrl
By Anjie

A crumbling tome, a name within,
A hero, lost in time.
Who from a conflict rose above,
To honour did he climb.

A realm so caught in hectic grasp,
He rose above the rest.
To stand against a beastly world,
And fight for the suppressed.

Torakor, The noble one,
A hero brave, it's true.
But honest heart and strength of mind
Is what did see him through.

Defying order from above,
He turned to walk away.
Defender of the poorest folk,
So brave this firm display.

The army followed in his steps,
Embracing what was right.
To battle those who hurt the week,
Seemed such a worthy fight.

Legends of brave Torakor,
Did spread to distant land.
The force who battled for the lost,
A Grarrl as their command.

Enlightened souls heard of his name,
And to him, they did call.
The time had come to take his place,
Within the heroes hall.

The Gladiator of such myths,
Who sat beside a King.
Justice to fair Altador,
Is what this Grarrl did bring.