Farah raced down to the bottom of the hill, where she found Jackster panting as he laid atop the cheese wheel, which was now rather gooey. "Blech," he said, rolling off the back of the cheese wheel, which still stood upright. "I've got melted bubbling blueberry cheese all over my fur." He tried to wipe it off, but his efforts were in vain.

That's when the Techo from the Cheese Shoppe arrived at the bottom of the hill. "I'm sorry, but it took you 87 seconds to finish, so I'm afraid you don't get to keep the cheese."

"That's okay, it doesn't really look very appetizing anymore," replied the Zafara, still trying to wipe the cheese off his stomach.

"Oh, and I'm afraid that your score was FAR too pathetic to receive any neopoints, either. Have a nice day," he added before heading back to the shop.

Jackster hung his head dejectedly. "Ugh... I'm NEVER going to get that Cheeseroller trophy."

"Don't give up," Farah said, grabbing her friend by the arm. "Maybe you'll get it tomorrow. Come on, we've already used up all of our tries for today, so there's no point in sticking around here... and I do mean sticking," she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust as they tread over a grass infested with melted cheese. "This is really disgusting."

The two Zafaras bounced their way out of the mess, to find themselves on a grassy (and cheeseless) hill. "Well, where to now?" asked Farah.

Jackster looked around. "Umm, how about..."

"Can't," replied Farah. "We already did a quest for Jhudora this morning, and you know how Illusen gets about helping Dark Faeries."

"Ok... what about Tower of Turnips?"

Farah gave a small sniff. "Can't... I'm allergic, remember?"

"Double or nothing?"

"You still owe neopoints from the last time we played."

"Pick your own?"

"The berries aren't very good this time of year."

"Grumpy King Skarl???"

"I think he banned you from playing, didn't he?"

Jackster threw up his paws in frustration. "Well, I don't know! You pick something!"

The starry Zafara gazed over the lands of Meridell, then spotted the Kiss a Mortog game. "Why don't we try that?"

Before Jackster could say a word, Farah grabbed his arm and started to lead him towards the attraction. There were lots of other Neopets around; some were counting the neopoints they had earned, while some girls were flirting with the Mortogs that had been turned into princes. There were also a few others, who were trying desperately to get rid of the Mortog taste.

"I've got enough neopoints to play," Farah said, pulling out her purse. "Do you want to try?"

"Are you kidding?" cried Jackster. "I just got pummeled by a dairy product! There is no way I'm risking getting covered in Mortog guts!"

"Fine," Farah calmly replied, while paying the game owner. "I'll try. It might be kind of fun."

"This I've gotta see."

Jackster watched as Farah stepped up to the first two Mortogs. She petted each one and studied them closely. They both looked basically the same, but the one on the left seemed just a tad cuter to the Zafara. Gently picking up the Petpet, she planted her lips upon its slimy green skin.

Jackster quickly covered his eyes, in case she had picked a bad one, but then heard a small tinkling sound. He looked up to find a handsome Kacheek prince kissing Farah's hand.

"Well done, m'lady!" said the Kacheek. "For changing me back, here is your reward." He offered Farah a bag of neopoints.

Jackster merely stood there, amazed at his friend's luck. "You seemed pretty positive about that choice, Farah," he said to her. "How'd you know that Mortog was a prince?"

Farah shrugged. "I dunno. He just seemed kinda... princely, I guess." Farah then glanced down behind Jackster. "Uhh... Jack?"

"What?"

Farah pointed behind her friend, and when Jackster turned around, the Mortogs from game were crowding around him. They were all licking their lips and staring at him hungrilly.

"I think they can smell the cheese on you, Jackster!" Farah said as she watched him back away.

As if by cue, the Mortogs leaped upon Jackster and started to lick his fur. They were trying their best to get the cheese bits off him.

"AAAAH!" Jackster screamed, swinging his arms and whipping his tail around, trying his best to ward off the hungry creatures. "Get offa me! Get off!"

Jackster bolted away, running as fast as he could. Undeterred, the group of Mortogs hopped after him. When Jackster looked back to see how far ahead he was, he slammed into a passerby, knocking them both into a large mud puddle.

"Hey! Watch it kid!" a rough voice said, pushing Jackster off, then standing up. Jackster looked up. It was a rather dingy-looking Zafara, who was glaring down at him. He heard Farah running up behind him.

"Don't worry Jack, the Grundo has them under control again..." her voice trailed off as she caught site of the rather dangerous looking Zafara. "Umm... excuse him. He's... uh, a bit of a klutz sometimes," she said, pulling Jackster up by the arm.

"I'm sure," said the irritated, roguish looking Zafara. "Hmm, two Zafara kids, huh? You know, we might have some room for you in the guild if you want to join. You help the guild, the guild helps you..."

"Like, helping us win a Cheeseroller trophy?" Jackster exclaimed hopefully.

"Sure, kid. Anything you like." replied the stranger. Farah was still a bit afraid of the bigger Zafara, but she was too scared to speak her mind. The stranger turned, then motioned for them to follow. "This way... and keep up!"...

...The Zafara started walking quickly down the dirty path and Jackster did not hesitate to follow. Farah, however, hung behind.

"C'mon Far, what's the matter?" Jackster asked when he realized that his blue friend was not following him.

"I dunno, Jack. I mean, we don't even know his name. Besides, if this guild supposedly helps him so much, then why is he dressed like that?" she asked uncertainly as the roguish Zafara turned around.

"Are you two comin' or not?" the roguish Zafara asked impatiently. "I haven't got all day, ya know."

"Coming!" Jackster called as he grabbed Farah's hand. "Let's go, Farah! When will we ever get another chance like this to join a guild?"

"Hopefully never," she mumbled, and they ran to catch up with the other Zafara.

"By the way, what's your name?" Jackster asked.

"It's Dadger... now hurry up, it's this way!" Dadger said, leading them past the Turdle Races and Turmaculus towards Darigan's Castle.

As they rounded a tree, Jackster saw that Cheeseroller was only about a hundred feet away. He felt a pang of sadness, and then excitement, as he imagined winning a trophy. Jackster was so caught up in his daydream that he bumped in to Dadger, who stopped suddenly in front of a large gray stone.

"Sorr--" he began, but was cut off by Dadger, who was whispering some words. Farah twitched her long Zafara ears, but all she heard was "Draik Nest" and "Open sacred Guild Door."

Then, as if by magic, the stone creaked forward on invisible hinges, allowing a stream of warm, steamy air to blow against the young Zafaras' faces.

"Welcome, young Zafaras..."

They stared in front of a dimly lit cave. A nest full of Draik eggs lay in the center, with a few Zafaras huddled around it. They turned their heads to greet the newest members. "Members, meet Jackster and Farah," said yet another large Zafara; this one was wearing a cloak.

"Hello Jackster. Hello Farah," the smaller Zafaras said in a rather dismal tone. Farah glanced at her friend, who had noticed this, too. What exactly was so exciting about this guild?

Dadger cleared his throat, bringing the two Zafaras to attention. "Now guys, join the circle," he told them. "I'll tell you everything that's going on."

The two Zafaras did as they were instructed, sitting beside a rather scraggly looking brown Zafara. "The Secret Zafara Guild is for gifted Zafaras who we've had our eye on," Dadger declared. "Every member is expected to run their daily errands. When the time is right, we will help you with whatever you desire, in return what you've done for us." The Zafara rogue suppressed a chuckle. This was the greatest scam yet! he thought, throwing a wink at the other two, similarly clad Zafaras.

Farah looked slightly suspicious. "Sir, what's our errand today?" she inquired. Dadger smiled, staring at the Draik eggs...

..."You are going to take these Draik eggs to 557 Winding Wood Drive, in the village. There will be another Zafara there, who will take them from you."

"Can we then have our trophy?" asked Jackster.

"We shall see..." muttered Dadger, who then walked off into another of the guild's rooms. As he did so, his ears happened to be twitching. A jumpy striped Zafara ushered Jackster and Farah out the door, slamming it behind them.

The two Zafaras, with the eggs in sacks over their shoulders, immediately set off; Jackster going because he wanted his trophy, and Farah coming along because she didn't particularly want to anger Dadger.

Did you hear him?" Jackster asked. "He said I could win a trophy... it's brilliant!" Jackster kept jabbering on about Cheeseroller, and how he might be helped, but Farah wasn't listening. She was more concerned with what they were doing right now. She thought hard about their short time in the guild, and remembered the queer look of excitement on Dadger's face. Was there something about their packages?

"Farah. Farah!" Jackster called.

Farah snapped out of her thinking, then turned towards Jackster. "What?" she asked.

"We're here."

Jackster walked up to the door and eagerly knocked. An old purple Zafara came out to look at the two young Zafara visitors.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

Farah tried to put on a smile. "Dadger sent us. He told us to bring these."

Both Jackster and Farah were about to put there bags down when the Zafara suddenly screamed at them. "Not HERE! Inside... NOW!!!"

She shoved Jackster and Farah into the house, taking their bags in the process. "Sit." she commanded, and the Zafaras did.

The Zafara walked into another room, returning after awhile with the bags. "Tell Dadger that they were perfect, and that I want more."

The Zafaras nodded, picking up their bags and shuffled out the door. That's when they found the whole Neopian Police Force in front of them.

"Put the bags down, and come out with your hands up. You're under arrest!"...

"I said put the bags down!" the policeman yelled. Farah and Jackster let go of the bags, then quickly shot their hands up. A horde of officers scrambled through the yard to surround them. Others went into the house to find evidence.

"You have the right to be silent," one of them said, while handcuffing the two.

"Over here, I found one more!" another officer yelled, just as Jackster and Farah were being cuffed. They turned to see that it was the purple Zafara who was being led away from the house.

"I've been framed!" she screamed, trying to point at Farah and Jackster. "It was them! Not me!" The police grabbed all of them, and dragged them to headquarters.

"F-Farah? Is this r-really happening?" Jackster asked, trying to hold back tears. His eyes were as red as cherries. Farah nodded, and also started to sob.

"We didn't do it!" she sobbed. "We're just kids... you can't send us to jail!" Farah stared at the purple Zafara, who was muttering under her breath. The Zafara glared at Farah, then started to mumble about how this was Dadger's fault.

"Enter the headquarters," a red Grarrl demanded. The purple Zafara was the first to be led into the building; she was doing her best to act as innocently as possible. Farah and Jackster followed. As they passed, the duo could see the eyes of all the officers glaring at them, as if they were criminals.

They were placed in a dark room, and ordered to sit on a chair, "So, these are the criminals that have stolen the Draik eggs?" a voice asked.

"Yes, we found the eggs in the older Neopet's cupboard," another voice replied. "The children were only found holding the bags." A glitter of hope lit up the young Zafaras' eyes.

"Who sent you?" a stern shadow Techo commanded, staring at all of them...

...."A Zafara called Dadger!" Farah burst out.

The shadow Techo gave a small gasp. "Dadger the Zafara?" he said, looking very concerned. "Why, he is one of the biggest criminals in Meridell! We've been trying to catch him for months. He's wanted for stealing Draik eggs, robbing shops, kidnapping Neopets... and much more!"

"W-we joined his Guild. He said he'd help us in Cheeseroller," Jackster stammered.

The Techo turned to the Purple Zafara. "And who are you?" he asked her.

"I have nothing to do with this Dadger individual, or either of these two Zafaras! However, I AM sure that they work for him!" she insisted.

"Liar!" Farah cried.

"Be quiet!" a Chia policeman said sternly.

"Dadger tried to steal from my shop," the purple Zafara lied, "I wouldn't let him in, so he swore revenge upon me. Now, he's sent these two to frame me! I caught them putting stolen Draik eggs in my cupboard!"

"She's lying!" Jackster yelled.

The purple Zafara seemed very convincing, though. "If they weren't working for Dadger, then why didn't they suspect anything? He gave them a pile of Draik eggs to deliver!" she said to the Techo, her eyes large and innocent.

"Yes," the Techo replied, nodding, "That IS odd." He gave Jackster and Farah a sharp look.

"However, I do know where Dadger's hideout is," the purple Zafara said, smiling. "I will take you there, and you can arrest him straight away!"

"Really?" the police officer said excitedly.

"No!" Jackster protested. He knew the purple Zafara was guilty, and she would lure the police into a trap. Dadger would probably hold them as hostages!

"See, he protests!" the purple Zafara cried, "He doesn't want his boss caught!"

The police gave Farah and Jackster very nasty looks. "Very well," the Techo said, smiling at the purple Zafara, "We'll take these two criminals away, and then you can lead us to Dadger! Thank you for your help, Miss."

The police dragged Farah and Jackster, who sobbed all the way, to a dark and cold cell. After they'd been thrown in, the doors were locked.

"I c-can't believe we've been arrested..." Farah wept.

"We have to help the police; she's leading them right to Dadger's trap!" Jackster cried.

"But how will we get out? The door is locked!" Farah said sadly.

"I don't know... we have to think of something..." Jackster replied slowly.

Watching through the cell bars and out of the window, Jackster saw a group of police officers following the purple Zafara into the trees. As they disappeared, he saw the purple Zafara give the police station one final, evil look.

Jackster sighed, laying his head on the bars... which slid right through, causing him to bump his head on the cement frame! Surprised, he called to his friend. "Farah! These cells were made for grown ups! I think we can squeeze through!"...

"I think I'm getting a stitch," Jackster said weakly.

"Let's hope it's a stitch in time, because that saves nine... as in the nine policemen who followed that creepy, purple Zafara! Hey, I think I can hear voices now!" said Farah.

They ran on in silence for quite a while, straining to hear the policemen or the purple Zafara.

"If she was trying to lure them into a trap, don't you think they would've been caught by now?" Jackster asked his friend gloomily.

"We just have to hope--" At this point Farah was interrupted by a loud scream.

"One of the policemen!" shouted Jackster, but he need not have done that. Farah had already took off towards where the scream had come from.

What met Farah's eyes was a surprising scene. She had run into a clearing which held the policemen (who were bound together by a rope and gagged with handkerchiefs) the purple Zafara, and Dadger. The purple Zafara had Dadger backed up against a tree. She was trying to bind and gag him, like the policemen.

"How could you let the police find out about us!" screamed the purple Zafara, "I would have gotten arrested if it weren't for those rotten kids! You're too conspicuous. I should have let this whole thing drop like a rock when I found out you were stealing all this stuff! I shouldn't even pay you!"

Farah was caught so much by surprise that she forgot she would have to rescue the policemen. She slipped quietly into the clearing and untied them, then took off the gags while signaling for them to stay quiet. When they were all free, the officers blocked off all the exits from the clearing, including Jackster's, who had now arrived.

"You're under arrest!" shouted the head policeman towards the two quarreling Zafaras.

"One of the most baffling cases I've seen in my 40 years of police work... cracked by two kids! Amazing!" exclaimed the police captain. "Of course, you two will receive medals..."

"Wow!" Jackster whispered to Farah, admiring the large medallions. "Now THIS I could roll down a hill in under a minute!"

"Oh, Jackster!" laughed Farah.

THE END