The Smitten That Stole Christmas

## Author

Alarrick

***The Smitten That Stole Christmas*** was a book written by the Loremaster Alarrick.

It recounted Smitten's attempt to steal gifts and good cheer from the Swampwater Secret Santa before striking a deal with Acey in return for a very special present of his own.

Tox wrote a companion book, *The Smitten That Saved Christmas*, told from a point of view sympathetic to Smitten.

# Locations

### Second Era

* Chests around Swampwater
* Redwood Gardens Library
* Woodlands Museum

# Content

One time a year, when all the world is full of good cheer, there is a wonderful celebration.

However. this was a very special occasion, for when everyone was asleep, dreaming of all the wonderful gifts they could keep there was an angry kitten, whose name was Smitten.

He fumed and stomped and stamped about, shouting "This Christmas I want a mouse!"

But Smitten was a bad kitten, and had been stealing the other kittens' milk.

Then, Smitten hatched a plan. It first started as a whim, and grew and grew, bigger and bigger, it dominated his mind like a gem.

"I'll steal Christmas!" he thought, cackling and planning out the plot.

So, late on Christmas night, Smitten snuck out that night to tell Santa of his plight. He went outside where Santa and his crew flew about, he jumped out his house and let out, a very large shout!

"Santa, I am in a very sorry state! I can't see to my house, it's far too late!”

But sly Smitten could see everything in the night. Then Santa got off his jolly sleigh, rode down to greet Smitten, but his dismay, he had walked into a trap!

"Haha, silly Santa! I've got you and your wonderful presents now!"

Now Smitten's plan was going, there was no telling what could happen to others unknowing! Then someone had awoke through the night, for they could not sleep. Her name was Azureila and she was thirsty, and went outside for a drink. She heard ruffling and shuffling and Santa muffling, crying for help! Oh, what a sight it was!

Then, she got out a stick and poked and prodded about until she found poor Santa without ride or gifts for the small village, not even a whiff. Every last present was gone, every décor, every wreath and rug at the door.

The Smitten had taken all of Christmas with him, and he thought, the village's spirit for hope and good cheer. He sifted and searched, going through each and every gift, trying to find the one he hoped to get. He found it, indeed, though it wasn't what he expected to find. He found a small tag with his name, scribed, right there, sitting atop a large piece of coal.

Smitten roared his tiny roar as he stamped and stomped once again. He hadn't gotten what he wanted again! However, he thought, he had stolen Christmas from the small village and maybe, their hope and good cheer.

Azureila untied Santa, sent him on his way, and skulked blindly back into her home, after hearing the sad news. Although, someone else had been awake the entire time watching through the trees.

Acey had! She sighed as she kicked her feet over a snow-covered branch. It was about time to bring a happy ending to this Christmas story. So she made her way to Smitten's cave, seeing all the décor, the presents, stuffed into a tiny cave. She also had an idea.

She went to Smitten and said, “What are you doing, little kitten?”

“I went and stole Christmas, that's what I did!” Smitten shouted defiantly.

Acey shrugged her shoulders and sighed. “Well, I guess I'll have to keep this then.” She held up a tiny pouch that jingled when shook.

Smitten pounced up. “Another gift? Give it, give it I say!” meowed the little kitten. Acey simply shook her head. “But this is a special gift. Only if Christmas is restored to the village will anyone be able to open it.”

The kitten stared apprehensively for a moment, then said, “Oh all right, but only if you promise to give me that pouch instead.”

Acey agreed, and the deal was struck! So Smitten gathered his things and packed his sled. Then, before they departed, Acey said one last thing.

“You also have to finish it before dawn, and you mustn't wake a soul, you hear?”

Smitten nodded, and made his way, for he had a Christmas to save. He trudged through the sand dunes with his sleigh, which went quite slowly to the swampy village. However, fate had something different in mind.

A caravan of monsters stopped and went to shout, “What are you doing with that sleigh all about?”

Smitten sighed and said, “I'm saving Christmas for this year!”

The monsters looked at each other and laughed with wicked delight, and shook their heads and said, “We're very sorry, but we can't let you do that.”

Smitten hadn't even a thought afterwards, it happened so quick! A whack here, and there, and he was smit! The monsters laughed as they rode away with all the items Smitten had worked for. He cried and sobbed, meowing pitifully as he trudged back to the village, only a small crimson ornament as his part.

There was only a tiny, weak sapling outside the village. He couldn't even muster the courage to tell them! Oh, he was a sorry sight, then he thought, “Why not?” as he placed the single ornament on the tiny sapling and said, submitting to the fact he had ruined Christmas.

“Here, little tree, maybe you can make better use of it than I did.”

Oh, and how the wind started to howl! He curled up next to the tree to keep it warm, and with that, the small kitten fell asleep. The next morning he awoke in his bed, and exclaimed, “What's going on?!” his face full of dread.

He went outside, and Christmas was saved!

There were extravagant decorations and gifts, the tree larger than it ever was before, and oh, the beauty! And on one of the limbs, Smitten noticed, a shiny ornament which he had placed on the sapling on Christmas Eve!

“But how could this happen?” Smitten said in a small voice.

Then a man came from behind in a hearty voice and said, “What are ya' standing around for lad? There's presents to be had!”

He turned to see it was his friend, Tox beaming a large smile. Then, he heard a faint jingling. He turned around, and it was Acey, smiling her deceiving smile, handed a skeleton hand with something in it.

It was the pouch!

He thanked Acey and quickly opened it, containing a mouse with a bell on it's tail. Smitten meowed with delight, for Acey had heard his plight!

So it was, Christmas was saved and all went happily surprised. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year!

# Behind the Scenes

*The following is out-of-universe information about the real world Dragonhollow.*

The Smitten That Stole Christmas was based upon true events. Acey caught Smitten trying to steal Christmas presents from the party room via a glitch at Swampwater Town Hall and requested that Alarrick—her Loremaster—turn it into a story.

The book's title, content, and the lyrical style were based on *How the Grinch Stole Christmas!* by Dr. Seuss.