The Naughty List

Summary: To redeem herself for being on Santa's naughty list all through her childhood, Alex decides to help Santa prepare for Christmas, which she finds might not be happening this year.

A/N: This is really a tester chapter for me. I'm still working out the details, and it might be a little while before I update again. However, I have the beginning worked out so that should be up shortly - wanted to give myself time so I can finish it before Christmas Eve.

Other chapters won't be this short, I promise.

Chapter 1

An annoying classic holiday song cover still stuck in her head, Alex Russo arrived back at the Manhattan loft she called home, full shopping bags on her arms. She found herself humming said holiday song as she passed through the common area and went up to her room, where she planned to go over the presents she bought. They were mostly for herself, of course, but there were a few items for her family members' Christmas presents. She particularly liked a pair of earrings she bought Harper and was debating whether she should keep those as well.

While she liked the results of her shopping, she wished the trip had been more enjoyable. She didn't mind shopping by herself, of course, but she would've liked Harper to come. Unfortunately, the better student was spending that Saturday in mid-December at the library, where she could "finally" get some peace and quiet to do her report for school. Alex had the same report to do, but of course she couldn't care less if she ever got around to it.

At least she'd been able to pick up some Christmas presents for Harper, and some gifts she had in mind for other members of her family. Her generally uncaring attitude would give the impression that she considered herself "too cool for Christmas." However, people were often surprised to find that she loved the holiday...Halloween was her favorite, but Christmas came close, and she always tried to get in the spirit. After all, what other time of year could you write a list of stuff you want, and then tell people to get it for you? And though she wouldn't admit it, shedid like the giving aspect too. Making other people - particularly her parents - happy for once, instead of angry, was actually kind of nice.

But when she opened her bedroom door, all thoughts of Christmas cheer disappeared as she dropped her bags in shock. Her roomwascovered with what looked like pieces of cotton. And, much to her horror, the empty, mangled body of one of her stuffed animals lay on the floor next to her bed.

"What the heck happened here?" Alex wondered aloud as she approached the stuffed animal remains. She froze when she realized which one it was.

It was her beloved Mr. Ed, the brown pony she'd had since she was five. She'd gotten it "from Santa" that year, and when her dad jokingly suggested it, the name stuck. It was her comfort, the childhood object she pulled out whenever she got in trouble.

In that overwhelming moment, she remembered that Max had brought home a dog he was watching for a neighbor. And she'd left Mr. Ed on her bed.

"Max!" Alex screeched, so loud she was sure the whole neighborhood must have heard it.. She grabbed the ruined fur, which was partially coated in slobber, and ran for her little brother's room. Her soon-to-be former little brother's room.

She dashed through the living room and made a beeline for the side hallway. "Max Russo! Get out here so I can hurt you!" When there was no response, she went to his room, but found the door open and the room empty. Furious, she let out an aggravated scream and stormed back into the common area.

Tense from anger, she actually jumped when the door opened. Her parents walked in - they must have been done with the shop for the day since it was late. And they were followed by Max.

"There you are, you horse killer!" Alex cried, then whipped out her wand. At that point she didn't care that her parents were also in the room.

Terrified, Max backed up until he hit the front door, confusion mixed in with the fear. "What are you talking about?"

"That stupid dog you watched killed Mr. Ed!" Alex accused as she held up Mr. Ed's limp body. "How would you like it if I turned you into a stuffed animal and ripped you to shreds, huh?"

At that point, their parents intervened. Jerry stepped in between them and held out his arms like a referee, and Theresa grabbed Alex's wand out of her hand fast before the enraged wizard could pull it away. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," Jerry said in a deep, intimidating voice. "No one is turning anyone into anything. Alex, I'm sorry about your stuffed animal, but that's no excuse to threaten your brother with bodily harm."

"Why are you even mad at me? Comet's the one who did it," Max said in his typical irritatingly oblivious manner.

That only increased Alex's anger, and she tried to take her wand back from her mother. "Give that back! He's toast!"

"Alexandra Margarita, you calm down right now," Theresa demanded as she held the wand out of her daughter's reach. "I'm sure it was an accident. Max, apologize."

To his credit, Max tried his best to look apologetic. But Alex was peeved to note that he seemed to be pleased with himself that he had finally gotten back at her, if accidentally. "Sorry, Alex," he mumbled.

"Keep one eye open when you sleep tonight," Alex warned in response. It took all of her self-control not to attack him when he ran to his room. Determined to take her anger out on someone, Alex whirled around to face her parents. "I can't believe you're letting him get away with this."

"Who said we are? It's going to be a long while before Max is allowed to bring a dog in this house again, I can tell you that," Theresa assured her.

Jerry nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we'll discuss his punishment later. And Alex, since Mr. Ed means a lot to you, I'll let you use magic to fix him."

"Thanks, Dad," Alex replied. She could feel herself calm down more the longer Max was out of her sight, and the thought of being able to fix her beloved horse made her feel better. Her temper soon faded enough that she felt she could hold her wand without running to Max's room and doing more than threatening him with bodily harm. To prove she was calmer, she let out an exaggerated, deep breath, then turned to her mother. "Okay, I'm better. Can I have my wand back?"

Though skill skeptical, Theresa reluctantly handed over the wand. "Fine. But I'm keeping a close eye on Max for the next few days, in case you're planning anything."

"Why don't you cast the repair spell on the stuffed animal now so I can supervise?" Jerry suggested as he and Theresa went to the kitchen to get dinner started. At her annoyed face, he sarcastically added, "This way you don't, oh I don't know, bring it to life or anything."

"That was one time!" Alex retorted. She put Mr. Ed's remains on the coffee table, then readied her wand and chanted, "This stuffed animal was my childhood friend, now he is what this spell will mend."

She stared at the pile of fur with expectancy for almost a full minute. Nothing happened.

"Dad? It didn't work!" Alex cried as panic crept into her voice. "Why didn't it work?"

Distracted by helping his wife with dinner, Jerry absentmindedly glanced at his daughter. "It's probably the spell, honey. Try 'Murrieta Repairreta.' Your stuffed animal is small enough that a basic fix-it spell should do it."

"Thanks," Alex replied, then aimed her wand again. "Murrieta Repairreta!"

This time, both she and her father were worried when again nothing happened.

She had his full attention then, and a concerned Jerry asked, "That's odd. Have you used magic today?"

Alex hesitated. They hadn't had class that day, so any magic she used would be against the rules. "Um, is that a trick question?"

Jerry sighed. "No explanations necessary. I just need to know if your magic is working."

"Then yes, I have," Alex answered. She wanted to get to the bottom of this too. If there was a problem with her magic, she needed to know.

Confused, Jerry left the kitchen and went over to her. "That's really weird. Test your magic now. I don't know...turn on the TV with your wand." When Alex did so easily, then flicked her wand to turn the TV off, Jerry was downright perplexed. Then his widened. "Oh. You're trying to fix Mr. Ed. You got him from Santa, didn't you?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah, so?"

His expression completely serious, Jerry replied, "Then Santa's the only one who can fix it. You can try to schedule an appointment with him and take the portal there, but as you can guess he's really busy this time of year."

The response made Alex's jaw drop, and a shocked Theresa whirl around to face them. Alex managed to voice what they were both thinking. "Santa Claus exists? Seriously?" She then paused. "You know, after summoning Cupid, you'd think this wouldn't surprise me so much."