The ultimate plan to catch Santa Claus turned out to not be particularly complicated. As Orange started listing things the lot of them could do while they waited, she looked around her sleepover mates and saw many of them yawning, causing her to yawn as well. So she changed tactics and went for shifts instead, with The Ice Climbers taking first shift, her and Blue taking second, and Ness and Lucas taking third.

The kids all agreed, set their alarms, and split up, Popo and Nana continuing their game at the table while Orange took Popo's bottom bunk.

As Lucas was preparing his own bed after a very long day, Ness looked between Pit's and Toon Link's beds, before asking, "Uh...where should I sleep?"

Lucas thought for a second. "Well Pit would be pretty upset if you ruined his perfectly made bed. I guess Toon Link wouldn't mind, but I wouldn't sleep there considering how he's been at nights lately…"

"Poor dude. Happening again?" Ness asked.

"I think it's the cold, he just can't seem to get out of bed…" Lucas said. While most of the bedwetters chose to wear diapers, Toon Link's incidents weren't frequent enough to warrant them. Still, that meant occasionally having to display his wet PJ's to all his cabinmates.

"I guess...I guess you can sleep in my bed…" Lucas suggested. "I mean, if you don't want to I completely get it…" He looked down at the blanket cloak he was wearing.

"Yeah, I don't mind sharing with you," Ness told him. He then thought for a second, and added, "If you don't mind sharing with a bedwetter like me..."

Lucas looked at him, a little worried for a second, before Ness put on a big grin to show he was kidding. Lucas gave a little laugh and got into bed, straightening out his blanket cloak and scooting to one side.

Ness shyly joined in next to him, getting under the blanket for warmth and adjusting himself to a comfortable position.

"Sorry about the plastic…" Lucas said, the mattress protector crinkling under Ness.

"It's fine," Ness said nonchalantly, laying still on his back. The boys laid their awkwardly for a few minutes, side by side and doing their best to sleep despite the uncomfortable situation. Eventually Ness broke the silence. "Hey, Lucas," he whispered.

"Hey."

"Thanks again for everything today. Sorry it turned into such a mess...literally..."

"Well we all needed a little cheering up, Christmas can be depressing when you spend it alone," Lucas said. "In fact, this kinda reminds me of Christmas back at home. Me and my brother used to share a bed…" Lucas trailed off, his tone becoming melancholic.

A beat passed, Ness not sure what to say to that, before he finally had to get something off his chest. He whispered, "Hey, can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure…?" Lucas whispered back, not sure what it could be.

The Cabin A leader looked to make sure all the other kids were out of earshot, before leaning in and whispering into Lucas' ear, "I'm wearing one of your pull-ups…"

"Wah?!" Lucas cried, drawing the eyes of Blue from his top bunk.

"Not so loud!" Ness hissed, a playful grin on his face. "With the courage you showed to just strut around in your diaper...I figured I'd wear one too…" Ness gave another little laugh. "Stupid, right?"

Lucas fumbled for thoughts for a second, before bumbling, "Well, do you like them?"

"Do you?" Ness asked back, surprised that was the first thing Lucas thought to ask.

"O-of course not!" Lucas shot at him.

Ness laughed at his reaction. "Same, they're kinda uncomfortable...I feel like everyone can see them under my pajamas even though I spent like 5 minutes checking my butt in the mirror…"

"Y-yeah, they're easier to hide than you think," Lucas told him. "Like, Blue still thinks me and Orange are the only ones who know."

Ness giggled. "Well I'll try not to leak in your bed."

"You're gonna use them?"

"I'm kidding."

"R-right…"

Ness started giggling at the ridiculous question, and Lucas joined along.

When their giggling fit had subsided after a few minutes, Lucas asked, "So, what were Christmas like at your house, anyway?"

A beam of joy entered Ness' eyes as he told his friend. "Well I would start by calling my dad on Christmas Eve…"

o-o-o-o

Night turned to midnight, and midnight turned to the silent hours of the dark. Meanwhile, Ness and Lucas laid together, giggling and reminiscing as The Ice Climbers tiredly climbed into bed and the Inklings took watch. The two giggled briefly as Blue went to his locker, then the bathroom, before joining Orange at the table

Sure enough, midnight turned to twilight and the alarm signifying the start of their shift went off. They laughed, since they could have taken both shifts by themselves, but rolled out of bed anyway.

"I heard you guys giggling like schoolgirls all night, you sure you can stay up?" Orange asked, skeptical.

"No problem!" Lucas declared, wrapping his blanket around himself.

"Easy!" Ness added with a giggle.

"If you say so…" Orange said with a mighty yawn. "Mind if I take your bed, then?"

"Sure, I'll get you an extra blanket," Lucas said, taking his duty to provide as cabin leader seriously. As he reached up into the cabinet for a new blanket, the one he was wearing slipped off him, though he didn't mind. He tossed Orange her cover, then re-covered himself, before going to sit in front of the tree.

Ness joined him and sat on the ground next to him. "Well, glad to see you're still dry…"

"Of course I am, I didn't get any sleep!" Lucas said, matter-of-factly.

"Well considering how much you were laughing and giggling…" he teased.

"Oh, then how about you? Maybe you might have had a little accident!" Lucas declared, a wicked grin crossing his face.

"No way!" Ness defended with a laugh.

"Then let me check!"

"No way!"

"Come on, prove it!" Lucas started playfully grabbing at Ness' pajama pants, and Ness started giggling and pushing Lucas away, and pretty soon they found themselves in a full blown wrestling match.

o-o-o-o

The boys laid on the floor next to each other, out of breath. "I guess-" Lucas started, panting as he spoke. The blanket he was wearing had fallen off at some point in the rumble, "you're dry- after all."

"And same- to you- my worthy- opponent," Ness added, panting as well.

"Of- course," Lucas said. He lifted his head up for a second and looked down at his diaper, seeing that it still appeared dry even after his friend's tickling attacks had taken their toll. Ness' grabs were truly brutal.

The boys caught their breath, getting more and more tired, before Lucas finally asked, "Hey Ness, you think Santa is actually gonna come tonight?" He waited a beat and, at not having an answer, looked up to see Ness fast asleep on his back, a huge smile on his face.

Lucas rested his head, rolling onto his side, and muttered, "Don't worry, I'll watch...for Santa…"

And just like that, Cabin B was dead silent, save for the occasional gust of wind coming through the open window. The Ice Climbers snuggled up for warmth, Nana on her back as Popo laid with one hand over her, his padded butt sticking in the air. Blue laid on the bunk above, the too-big pajama pants and his blanket falling off him as he tossed and turned violently in his sleep, causing him to shiver as well. But just like that, his nightmare ended and he smiled as he got warm again.

Across the way, on Lucas's bed, Orange was sprawled out, visions of sugarplums dancing in her head. Ness slept with his giant smile, the radiant Christmas tree lights providing warmth, as Lucas slumbered on his side, shivering a little without his pants...

...and on the tree, a Pikmin was scurrying down the branches.

He dropped down next to Lucas and covered the poor boy up with his blanket. The alien elve then went to open the cabin door, where a small squadron of Pikmin were waiting, wrapped presents in hand to be put around the tree. Leading from the rear was was Santa Claus, a short little man wearing a fake beard on the outside of his glass astronaut helmet. He admired his work, laughing at the scene before him and fawning over these adorable children on the floor, even if they had come dangerously close to finding his present stash earlier today.

Pouring himself a little milk and and taking a few cookies, he and his Pikmin-elves placed the children's gifts and made their quiet exit from Cabin B. He took out his phone and texted in a group chat titled, "Council of 64 (sans Ness)"…

o-o-o

Olimar: Mission accomplished!

Link: Well done, Toon and Young will be very thankful when they return.

Samus: Understood.

DK: [thumbs up emoji]

Mario: Thanks! And Merry Christmas, everyone!

o-o-o-o-o-o

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I'm sorry to my longtime readers that the wait was so long, but I hope the quality made up for it! As usual, head to my Deviant Art if you ever want to get in contact with me or get updates on what I'm doing. I've posted several stories (not fan fictions) on there since my last fan fiction, so go check it out! And Merry Christmas yall!