"Milady, it IS a public sidewalk..." said a bewildered maitre d'. "Besides, they aren't even beggars... they're just middle class Neopians."

Richelle sniffed her nose at the "lesser" Neopians, as if they smelled bad. "Well!" she said, offended that the maitre d' had not sided with her, "I'd best be off now. I must stop by my mansion to freshen up before my game at the Gourmet Club Bowls." With that, she threw her scarf around her neck, then walked out the door in a huff...

...only to run straight into a Uni. "UGH! You wretched beast! How dare you get in my way?!?" The startled Uni just eyed her curiously, as if she were crazy, along with several other Neopians who'd witnessed what had just happened. The Wocky let out another "Hrumf!", then headed back to her mansion.

An hour later, dressed in another fine outfit (and stylish sunhat), the Wocky stepped out of her beautiful home, then stopped suddenly. Standing before her was the Tax Beast! It grinned evilly. "Seems you haven't been paying your taxes, Ms. Richelle. I'm afraid you owe..." He hesitated while flipping through a booklet, then finished... "4,126,345np."

Richelle gasped at the figure. "Why, I don't even HAVE that much np. There must be some mistake!"

"Sorry, no mistake. If you can't afford to pay the tax, then I'm afraid we're going to have to foreclose on your Neohome." With that, the Tax Beast snatched Richelle's house keys away, walked into her home, and slammed the door behind him.

Richelle burst into tears. What was she going to do now? Just this afternoon, she'd had everything she could have ever wanted, and now... all she had left were the clothes on her back... this couldn't be right! Richelle pounded on the door of her Neohome, yelling. However, the Tax Beast only shouted through a window that she was trespassing, and that he'd have her removed by force if necessary.

With no choice left, she sadly walked off the property, wandering aimlessly into Neopia Central...

"Are you alright?" a voice asked. Richelle looked up. Standing before her was the Uni that she'd bumped into outside the club. "Hey," the Uni said, "You're that lady from outside the Gourmet Club... what happened to you?"

Richelle told her everything, about the evil Tax Beast, and how she'd lost all her things. "You poor thing, come with me." Richelle let the Uni lead her; she was being so nice and helpful. Looking around, Richelle noticed that she was being taken towards the poorer end of the market. "What are we doing here?" the bewildered Wocky asked. She'd never been over here before.

"We're going to get some food at the Soup Kitchen," the Uni said cheerfully. Richelle tried to pull away in disgust, but the Uni pushed her inside. The Soup Faerie was standing at her cauldron, handing out bowls of soup to a long line of Neopets.

Once they had eaten, Richelle and her Uni companion walked towards the Neohomes. Finally, Richelle thought, sanctuary. However, much to the Wocky's surprise, the house that the Uni lead her into only had one room. The Uni looked over it fondly. "It's not much, but it's home," she said. "By the way, my name's Amy."

"I can't take it," Richelle blurted out, "Can you not afford to get some decent furniture?"

Amy looked hurt. "I'm afraid I don't have many np... and, apparently, neither do you, so I suppose you'd better get used to it!"...

...Richelle instantly regretted saying something so callous, and understood Amy's reaction. She quickly tried to change the subject.

"Oh, drat. Now I'll miss out on my game of bowls... I was so looking forward to that!"

"Why can't you go?" asked Amy. "You're a member of their club, aren't you?"

"I can't go! I... I'm POOR now!" The Wocky put a paw over her eyes and wailed. "I can't let them see me like this. I would be laughed out of there."

The Uni was silent for a moment, obviously deep in thought. Her brow was furrowed, and she was staring at the floor, as if it could somehow divulge a secret solution to their dilemma.

"You know, if you think you'll be kicked out of the club, then... we might as well go and have a good time while we still have the chance!"

"'We?' Are you suggesting that you should come along as well?" Richelle looked as though the idea made her a bit ill.

"Of course! You're allowed to bring a guest to one of these fancy-schmancy functions, aren't you? Besides, they award Neopoints to the winner, right? Maybe you can start earning some np back."

"I suppose so..." Richelle said, pondering this for a moment. "Alright! It's not as if I have anything left to lose."

At the Gourmet Club Bowls, Neopia's most rich and snobbish had gathered to enjoy their favorite pastime. Amy had tried to look her best, borrowing a friend's hair brush and putting the flower from a broken cheery blossom in her mane. Richelle wasn't so sure that it would convince the others, but for once she kept her mouth shut.

"Oh, Miss Richelle!" a large Tuskaninny with a monocle cried out to them. "I see you've brought a friend! How perfect, we're short a player."

"Oh..." Richelle started, "She can't, you see..."

"Of course I can! I'd love to!" Amy interrupted.

"Splendid!" the Tuskaninny bellowed. "You're up to bowl first!"...

Sir Hefferton snorted at what had just taken place, with the type of arrogance unique to the Gourmet Club's patrons.

"A nice friend you have, Miss," he whispered to Richelle. "Excellent aim... however, we shall see how that fair Uni matches up against a real professional, eh?"

Richelle called upon all the facades that snobbery had granted her, trying to bring some sort of smirk to her features.

"Of course," Richelle replied sweetly, masking her discomfort, "however, is there not an element of 'beginners' luck' for you to contend with?"

Hefferton only turned away from Richelle, walking towards the green and passing Amy without any acknowledgement.

"So, how'd I do with that shot?" Amy asked, once in earshot only of Richelle.

"Well," Richelle stated, "very well, Amy. Well enough to get on Hefferton's nerves."

"And gain my respect!" an approving voice boomed. Amy and Richelle turned to face Lord Briartree, the aforementioned Tuskaninny.

"Well, Milord," Richelle laughed, "those two things go hand-in-hand, I believe!"

"Indeed they do, Miss Richelle, indeed they do," Briartree confirmed. "So tell me, who is this friend of yours that you've brought here today? Some fancy little heiress from Faerieland, perhaps? After all, only a Faerieland native would know that cheery blossoms are set to become the next big thing!"

"This is Amy," Richelle said tentatively, "and, yes, I believe you're right, milord. She is visiting from Faerieland. Are you not, Amy?"

Before Amy had a chance to reply, the maitre d' rushed towards the trio.

"Ah, my dear maitre d'," Briartree said cheerfully, "what brings you away from headquarters?"

"My Lord," the maitre d' began icily, "we have just received a most disturbing account of Miss Richelle..."

...After a slightly puzzled look from Lord Briartree, the maitre d' took him aside. Richelle wished she could disappear.

Beckoning for Briartree to stoop over, the maitre d' whispered something in his ear. Briartree gasped as he looked over at Richelle with a disgusted, horrified look. He stood and, smoothing out his tuxedo, returned to Richelle and Amy.

"Is it true?" he whispered, as if afraid to receive an answer.

"Yes," Richelle squeaked, not even asking what it was.

Briartree stepped back and examined her. He turned to the people that were bowling.

"It seems," he said in a booming voice, "That our own Richelle has lost her entire fortune. She was only pretending to be rich, to try and earn some money from our precious Bowl Club!"

The room's occupants all stared horrified at Richelle. A few men who'd been lingering near the door, apparently security, immediately darted towards Richelle. They each grabbed an arm and began dragging her towards the door. An eruption of murmurs broke out from the crowd. Briartree shook his head sadly and walked away.

Amy began walking to walk after the guards, as if to leave with Richelle. However, two women with overdone perfume held her back, smoothing out her fur and talking to her sympathetically... as if it were a tragedy that she'd ever even been near Richelle.

Oh no! Amy thought, They still think I'm rich!

She looked over to Richelle for help, but it was no use. The guards were already throwing her out the door...

Richelle clutched a cool handful dirt, muttering, "I can't believe this is happening." She looked up and saw Amy, who was walking towards the field. Although Amy had wanted to go with Richelle, she'd been forced into the game.

"I thought she was my friend," Richelle cried, covering her face with her paws. "I had nearly convinced myself, that life, even without being rich, wouldn't be so bad." Richelle shook her head.

"How stupid was I?" Richelle asked herself, trying to hold back her tears. Taking a last glance at Amy, she began to walk, not caring where she went. Richelle just wanted to be alone.

"Richelle!" Amy screamed as she looked for her friend. The game was now over, but by now her friend far away, lost somewhere in the world.

Amy ran towards her home, hoping that Richelle would be there. When Amy arrived, she was disappointed to find that her friend wasn't there. Starting to get worried, Amy then ran towards the police station.

"Excuse me?" Amy asked, tapping the sleeping policeman. "Excuse me!" Amy said louder. The policeman woke up slowly, then stared at Amy.

"What?" The policeman yawned, still drowsy.

"My friend is missing," Amy replied, staring at the policeman's squinting eyes.

"A missing, aye?" the policeman said, starting to get up from his chair. "Give me *yawn* some facts." Amy told him everything she knew, occasionally crying as she spoke.

"Please, can you find her?" Amy asked, trying to hold up her tears. The policeman nodded, then after going into the back office, he told Amy that she could now go. Amy left the police station with a sigh. Then, gazing up towards the night, she looked upon the brightest star in the sky.

Richelle, Amy thought, where are you?...

...her thoughts were interrupted by two gossiping Acaras that were walking out of the Coffee Shop, each carrying a mug of Blairnut Tea.

"I can't believe it," one was saying.

"I know! Who would have thought that someone would be so evil as to pretend to be the Tax Beast?" said the other one.

"I heard they hit Faerieland first, but then had to settle in Neopia Central after Queen Fyora found out and cast a spell."

"How many did he get so far?"

"Only one, I think... it was some rich person. I believe her name was--"

"Richelle?" Amy asked hopefully.

The Acaras looked up in surprise.

"I'm right, aren't I?" Amy asked desperately.

"Um... yeah, I think that was it," the first said.

"Thank you so much!" Amy said before leaving to alert the police station.

There was a huge line in front. Great, Amy thought as she left the huge crowd, who were all talking about the fake Tax Beast.

Amy ran through the streets of Neopia, frantically searching for Richelle. She had to tell her! Eventually, Amy made her way to...

There was silence all around, and then Amy heard a sniffle from behind the Soup Faerie's hut.

"G-go away, you traitor," the voiced hissed. "I never want to see you again."

"Richelle?" Amy asked tentatively as she walked over to her friend.

"Yeah, but what do you care?" Richelle snapped angrily. "You just abandoned me at the bowls--"

"And yet I went looking for you as soon as I could!" Amy snapped. "Richelle, you know I didn't mean to leave you! I had no choice, those people trapped me in there! Besides, I was trying to earn us a little np!"

The Wocky gave her a fierce look, then her face softened. "I know," she whispered. "It was just seeing all of them turn on me like that, just because I no longer had any money. Then, when you didn't come, I suppose that I overreacted. I'm sorry... this is just such a big adjustment for me, knowing that I'll never be able to talk to my old friends again, now that they know I'm broke..."

Amy only smiled. "First of all, those are some pretty pathetic friends. And second, you might not be broke for much longer."

"What do you mean?" Richelle asked while wiping away her tears.

"You know that 'Tax Beast' that robbed you?" the Uni asked.

"Yeah..." Richelle replied.

"Well, it turns out he's not really the Tax Beast..."

...Amy said to Richelle, telling her what she'd overheard the two Acaras saying at the Coffee Shop.

"So, are you saying that whoever took my Neohome and all my possessions wasn't the Tax Beast?" Richelle asked.

"Yeah... hey, what would you think about going to your Neohome and finding out who the culprit is?" Amy suggested.

"Let's go!" Richelle replied eagerly. Standing up, she began to run towards her mansion, not knowing what would happen once she got there. Who would dare to do something so horrible? she asked herself. Her thoughts ceased as Amy galloped past her. "Come on, we have to get there as soon as we can!" Amy said.

The Uni's mane whipped around in the wind, causing the cheery blossom in her mane to fall off. Richelle picked it up to give the flower back to her, but Amy was already too far ahead of her. Looking down at the cherry blossom, Richelle realized that she would have never met Amy if this hadn't happened. The greatest thing that had occurred while she was poor was that she'd been able to see how it felt to actually have a real friend. Richelle looked up. Her friend was so far ahead of her she didn't know where Amy went. Just as Amy had once done for her, Richelle took off in search of her friend.

They were soon at the front of Richelle's mansion... standing on the porch, out of breath. They didn't know what to do. Should they pound on the door? That's when Richelle remembered the "Tax Beast" warning her about trespassing.

Amy moved toward the door, causing the wooden floorboard under her hoof to squeak. Amy saw a shadowlike figure inside, which had begun to move the velvet curtains around so that it could see outthe window. Amy told her friend to duck immediately and hide behind the potted ferns. Peeking through the leaves, the two friends saw the door slowly open. A questioning green nose poked out...

The two Neopets crawled off the porch, then scurried around back. Richelle said, "I know a secret entrance that no one else knows, except the maitre d' and me. He visited once, but I had locked my keys inside, so I had to show him my secret passage. It goes way over there, where the golf course and that first flag are. If you pull it up, there is a lock in the hole. I still have my key for it. It leads into my bedroom and the kitchen... let's hurry!"

The girls ran quickly to the flag and pulled it up. Richelle then inserted her key, which she'd kept around her neck. A small trapdoor creaked as it swung open. They creeped through the dark, damp tunnel, seeing a light at the end.

The light was coming from what used to be Richelle's bedroom. They looked through a peephole in the wall. Then, as they turned the doorknob, Amy and Richelle suddenly heard footsteps coming down the hall, so they climbed back into their hiding place.

In came the fake Tax Beast with a bunch of money, cackling as he stuffed it in a suitcase. Something fell out of his pocket and onto the floor. Richelle knew that it had to be something metal, because of the CLING sound it made when hitting the ground. As the evil Neopet picked it up, Richelle noticed that it was a pocket watch. The watch seemed very familiar to her. She looked at it closer, then realized where she'd seen it before... it belonged to the maitre d'!

If that was his watch, then he had to be the fake Tax Beast! Richelle gasped... she tried to cover her mouth, but it was too late! The disguised maitre d' heard the gasp and knew exactly where it had come from. He burst open the secret door and yanked the frightened Neopets out. "I thought I told you no trespassing," he yelled. "This is my house now... I'm calling the police!"

Richelle got up and shouted, "Oh, no you don't! I think we'll be the ones calling the police on YOU!" The beast looked puzzled. "You aren't the Tax Beast!" she declared. "You're the maitre d'... I thought I could trust you!" With that, Richelle pulled off the disguise that covered the Neopet's face, then took out her perfume and sprayed the evil one.

"Ahhhh! My eyes!" he shouted. "I'm allergic to this... Ahhhh!" Both ladies slammed him into the wall, then Amy ran to the phone and called the police. While they waited for the authorities to arrive, the maitre d' passed out.

He awoke to find that he was in handcuffs. Meanwhile, Amy and Richelle were hugging each other. "Wow! I never knew it was the maitre d'! It should have been obvious, I guess. After all, he was the first to know that my home had been stolen!" Richelle said.

A policeman came up to them. "Will you tell us what happened?" he asked. Richelle told them her story, from the time when she'd been kicked out of her house until now. The policeman thanked her, then took the phony Neopet with him. They waved goodbye to the policeman and went inside to celebrate.

From that day forward, Richelle no longer looked down on poor Neopets. She was very kind to them, and donated Neopoints whenever she could. Amy was now staying with her, as well. When their exciting story appeared in the paper, Amy said, "You know, in a way, the maitre d' was half a Tax Beast."

"How?" Richelle asked.

"Well," Amy answered. "He might not be a tax guy, but he sure was a beast!" They both giggled, and continued to live a happy life with all kinds of other Neopets, rich and poor.

The End