The Giant Chocolate Negg

     Kira, a Blue Zafara, excitedly claimed the Chocolate Negg from the Money Tree, planning to save it for later in the day and have it as an afternoon snack. But as she held it, the Negg began to grow warm, then began to shake and vibrate.

     "That's odd," she murmured as she examined the Negg, turning it over in her hands. It jerked once, twice, and then bounced right out of her hands and landed with a soft thunk in the grass. The Negg then began to expand like a chocolate balloon.

     Within minutes, the Negg was the size of a Petpet. Then a Neopet. Kira watched in puzzled astonishment as the Negg continued to grow to the size of a small Neohome!

     Word spread quickly, and it wasn’t long before representatives from every corner of Neopia had gathered in the plaza, watching in amazement as the Chocolate Negg continued its relentless growth.

     "We should eat it!" declared Gordo, a burly Skeith from the Tyrannian Plateau, his stomach rumbling loudly. "Think of the deliciousness! It could feed all of Tyrannia!"

     "Absolutely not!" protested Seraphina, an elegant Faerie Xweetok from Faerieland. "Something this magnificent deserves better than being devoured. We should paint it! Imagine how beautiful it could be!"

     From the crowd, an elder Island Techo named Makoa spoke up, his voice carrying the wisdom of many years. "In the old legends of Mystery Island, when the universe sends us something beyond understanding, we honour it. This Negg is clearly blessed. We should build a shrine around it and revere it as a gift from the spirits."

     The Negg continued expanding, now towering over the Marketplace shops. Neopets scattered as it slowly began to roll, leaving a trail of sweet chocolate shavings in its wake.

     "It's heading toward the Haunted Woods!" squeaked a Yellow Meerca, pointing with a trembling paw. "Quick! We need to stop it!"

     The Neopets sprang into action. A team of strong Neopets positioned themselves in front of the rolling Negg, bracing their shoulders against its chocolate surface. Meanwhile, other Neopets dashed around, putting logs and boulders and anything else they could find in its path to slow it down. With their combined efforts, the Negg finally came to a gentle stop just at the edge of Neopia Central, wobbling slightly before settling into place.

      "Phew!" panted Seraphina, wiping chocolate from her brow. "That was close! We need to make a plan for this thing before it takes off again!"

     Just then, a Royal Uni galloped up, breathless from her journey. "Wait!" she called out. "I bring word from the host of the Annual Chocolate Ball! The Ball is in just three days, and he is in need of a large amount of chocolate! He says this Negg will do perfectly!"

     The crowd gasped. Everyone knew about the legendary Chocolate Ball held within the Chocolate Factory, where Neopia's social elite gathered each year to celebrate chocolate in all its delicious forms. The Kiko who hosted it was famous for somehow outdoing each previous year's magnificence.

     "But what if we can use all of our ideas?" suggested Luna, a thoughtful Purple Kacheek from Brightvale. "And we can work together. We could use part of it for the feast, paint it for decorations, AND build a shrine around what remains!"

     Gordo the Skeith's eyes lit up. "Yes! I could carefully harvest some chocolate and help the host curate the event’s dessert offerings!"

     Seraphina clapped her paws together. "And we could shape centrepieces and other decorations, and paint them with beautiful rainbow swirls! It would make the ballroom even more dazzling than last year's!"

     Old Makoa nodded wisely. "And the Mystery Islanders can craft a shrine around the remaining Negg, making it a statement piece that will have the social elite talking for years to come. After the event, it can be transported to Mystery Island, where it can remain and serve as a reminder of this momentous day."

     Word quickly reached the Kiko, who arrived in his shimmering blue tuxedo. His eyes sparkled with delight as he surveyed the enormous Chocolate Negg.

     "Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!" he exclaimed, adjusting his top hat. "This Negg will be just the thing to make this year’s event surpass every previous Ball! But how do we transport such a marvel to the Factory?"

     The crowd looked at each other uncertainly until Luna stepped forward. "The same way we stopped it… together! If we all work as one, we can roll it carefully to the Chocolate Factory."

     And so they did. The strong Grarrls and Skeiths positioned themselves behind the Negg to provide the main pushing power, while other Neopets ran ahead, gently guiding the Negg and removing obstacles from its path. Flying Neopets like Pteris and Draiks flew overhead as scouts, calling out directions to avoid shops and trees.

     It was a sight to behold; dozens of Neopets from every corner of the world, working in perfect harmony to slowly, carefully guide the giant Negg through Neopia Central. Citizens lined the streets to watch the procession, cheering and offering encouragement as the Negg made its journey.

     On the evening of the 15th day of the Month of Gathering, the Chocolate Factory had been transformed beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Pieces of the Chocolate Negg, now beautifully sculpted and painted with swirling Faerie magic that seemed to dance in the candlelight, were arranged on all the tables. A large chunk of the Negg sat majestically within an ornate Mystery Island shrine. All around, chocolate fountains flowed with divine varieties of silky chocolate, and tables were overflowing with a vast selection of elaborate desserts.

     The guests gasped in wonder as they entered. Even those who had attended every Ball for decades admitted they had never seen anything quite so spectacular.

     "This is incredible!" whispered a Cloud Aisha to her companion, a Maractite Draik, as they danced around the magnificent space.

     The guests danced and enjoyed the chocolate delicacies while the band, Neopian Philharmonic, provided music that echoed beautifully through the Factory's halls. As the evening drew to a close, the Kiko host thanked each guest personally, presenting them with chocolate treats carved from the giant Chocolate Negg itself, each one shaped like a tiny Negg and inscribed with the guest's initials.

     The Neopian Times social column ran the headline: "COMMUNITY UNITES TO USE MYSTERIOUS GIANT CHOCOLATE NEGG AND MAKE ANNUAL CHOCOLATE BALL THE MOST SPECTACULAR YET!"

     And as the guests departed into the night, many were already wondering aloud how such a grand evening could ever be surpassed, though they recognised that this year's triumph was not due to any single host, but to every Neopet who had worked together to turn a rolling chocolate crisis into the sweetest celebration Neopia had ever seen. They left with hearts full of hope that future gatherings would continue to showcase the beautiful things that happen when Neopets from all across Neopia work side by side.

     The End

     Author's Note: No Neopets were harmed in the making of this story, though several reported having very sweet dreams that night.

     The End.