Elvengirl: Happy New Year everyone. Hope it's going good so far. Just a few notes about this story. If you haven't already gleaned, it takes place on Christmas Eve, and I'll be going from there to New Years. Also, this chapter was supposed to be entitled 'Let's all Make Money at Christmas', but that chapter didn't turn out as well as I hoped, so I skipped onto the next one. Also, I think a few characters may be OOC. I didn't mean for that to happen, and I'll try to get better at it. Anyways onto the next chapter.

Burn Baby Burn, Christmas Inferno.

"Are you sure putting real candels on the tree is such a good idea?" asked Rau, who was watching Azreal decorate the Christmas tree.

"Of course. It fights for the whole traditional Christmas theme. What could go wrong?"

"I can think of a few things," Rau shrugged, "But if you know what you're doing..." He turned to leave, slightly brushing the tree. A shower of needles rained upon the floor, leaving the branch bare. Rau looked at Azreal.

"Haven't you been watering the tree?"

"That's Yuuna's job. Yuuna why haven't you been watering the tree!"

"I've had alot on my mind!" the politician yelled back, dropping a picture of Cagalli.

"It's not Valentine's Day. Seesh. Rau, think you could get the fire extinguisher...you know, just in case."

"I was just going to do that."

A few minutes late, Rau returned with a fire extinguisher, only to watch the tree ignite and observe Azreal yell at a very distressed Yuuna. The said fire had destroyed his picture of Cagalli.

"I think I'll go phone the fire department instead."

Rau set the extinguisher down, turned around, and headed towards the nearest phone, wherever that was. As an afterthought, he quickened his pace. On the way he glanced oout the window, noticing Dearka and Miriallia. He knew that Dearka had been working on something all afternoon, but he wrote it off as nothing he should worry about.

Outside:

"Are you finally done?" asked Miriellia, rubbing her hands together and blowing on them.

"You bet. Prepare to see a Christmas light extravaganza!" Dearka announced. He had been creating a display of epic proportions since early that afternoon, using whatever decorations he could lay his hands on. Coming over to Mir, he gave her a hug and grinned.

"Care to throw the switch?" he asked, holding up the master switch to his display.

"Alright," Mir smiled, and did so.

The display lit up the block. Snowmen and Santa waved. Reindeer pranced. Elves stocked the sleigh. The Twelve Days of Christmas boomed loudly through the air. Deakra was ecstatic. Everything was working perfectly.

That was until, sparks started flying from the snowmen and the candels looked like they were really on fire. There was a loud KABOOM! which shook the ground. Dearka shielded Miriellia from the debris, then turned to see the smouldering remains of his triumph. He felt like he was about to cry. Miriellia tried to comfort him. Dearka sniffled.

"The fire department should be here by now. I wonder what's taking them," Rau mused. Not that he really cared. He just didn't want anyone scolding him. Walking back to check on Azreal and the tree, which had probably burnt itself out by now, Rau again glanced outside and blinked. There was the fire department, removing blackened pieces of rubble from the area where Dearka's display once stood. A good crowd had gathered around the site, wondering what the ruckus was. Rau shook his head. It looked like the beginning of another Christmas tradition.

Elvengirl: How was that? I personally don't think that it was as funny as the other ones I've written/am writing, but let me know, alright? Please? A special thanks goes out to my friend for giving me the idea. Again, suggestions still welcome, as well as reviews. Updates might become far more erractic as I have to go back to work, but I'll try to get a good portion of this fic done before my holiday ends. Happy New Year everyone.

Next time: Santa, Fact or Fiction? Special thanks to CrazeIzumi for the idea.