“Yana I want to go home!” Perril squeaked. The Plushie Shoyru’s eyes were wide with terror as he stood at the gates of the Deserted Fairground with his sister.

The Faerie Kiko rolled her eyes. “Oh come on Perril, it’s not even that scary.”

An unearthly, lilting tune wafted across the abandoned game booths and Perril shivered. The scent of stale and molding popcorn permeated the air, and the Shoyru swore he could hear ghostly laughter echoing in the distance. Yeah. This was pretty scary, regardless of what Yana claimed.

From the corner of his eye he saw something move; a bony hand reaching out of the darkness, fingers stretching out to grab them both. He spun to face it. It was a creaking dead tree, limbs cracking in the sinister breeze. There was no skeletal hand.

Yana gave an exasperated sigh and grabbed his paw. Perril shrieked at her unexpected touch.

“No! I don’t want to!” The Shoyru tried to pull himself away from the Kiko’s iron grip but she was determined to hold on.

“You’re the one who lost the amulet Perril!” she snapped. “Betting something like that on a game of toss. What were you thinking?”

“I was feeling lucky,” he said defensively before hanging his head, “until I lost it. That old warty Quiggle cheated. I know it!”

“It wasn’t yours to gamble in the first place,” she hissed. “You don’t bet away items you borrowed! You said you lost it in a game of coconut shy?”

“Y-Yeah,” the Shoyru said uneasily.

“Then let’s go find that booth. I’m pretty sure it’s over here...”

She pulled Perril along, floating forward at a determined pace. Perril, who was being unceremoniously hauled along behind her, tried his best not to look around.

He had been a fool to come here all alone last week, pockets bulging with neopoints, thinking he could actually win something. Before he even knew what hit him he’d been left penniless, and had also somehow managed to gamble away his sister’s favorite amulet in the process. Then, as if to add insult to injury, he had been chased out, unearthly ghosts nipping at his heels while he fled. He’d been having nightmares ever since and had sworn to never return to this cursed fairground.

Unfortunately, angry sisters don’t care much about personal promises, and Yana was most certainly angry with him. The worst thing about it was that he couldn’t even blame her.

His heart sank even further as he heard the familiar, high pitched voice of the coconut shy booth owner. “Why hello there young lady! Would you and your friend like to play a game…”

"No," Yana said flatly. "I'm not in the mood for a game, or for your games. I know you have my amulet. He took it and gambled it without permission." She jabbed a finger in Perril's direction, and the Shoyru hung his head. "If you don't want me to go to the authorities and tell them that you are allowing people to launder stolen items at your game, then you'll give it back."

The Quiggle proprietor laughed, a high-pitched, wheezy giggle that made Yana's skin crawl. Could he be any slimier? "I'm afraid I can't do that. I won it fair and square. If you want it, you'll have to win it back fair and square. So what say you? Shall I line up the coconuts? Winner take all?"

"You know what, I'll pass," the Kiko said sweetly, with a glint in her eye. "Come on, Perril."

"Wh-where are we going?" the Shoyru asked in alarm as his sister began to tug him along again.

"Away." Once they were out of earshot, Yana turned to Perril. "If he wants to play dirty, we can too." She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, mulling over all the ways she could think of that the Quiggle could cheat, and how to counteract them.

Perril whimpered. While Yana was lost in thought, she failed to notice a figure approaching them. Perril noticed, though, and he did not like what he saw one bit. His mind flashed back to the ghosts that had chased him. This being seemed a little more corporeal, but you could never really know. He tried to pull Yana away, but his sister tensed her arm and snapped, "Would you just let me think for five minutes, Perril?"

The figure drew close, although it was standing in the shade of a nearby tree so the Shoyru could not make out any identifying features. "Pardon me," the figure said in a silky voice. "I couldn't help but overhear that you are having trouble with that Quiggle. Maybe I could help you out..."

"The name's Mr. Krawley," the Neopian replied with a lopsided smile before giving the pair a tip of his top hat. "And do I have a proposition for you."

"What kind of proposition?" Perril squeaked before his sister elbowed him in his ribs.

"Be more confident," she hissed at her brother.

Mr. Krawley watched this interplay expectantly, calculatingly, his smile never flickering.

The siblings grinned awkwardly at the Krawk.

"I will give you the object that can fix all your problems and more," Mr. Krawley spoke, the words dripping like poisoned honey off his lips. "I only ask one favor in return."

"And that would be?" Yana inquired, her eyes betraying her otherwise brave demeanor.

"Once you start," the sinister Krawk started whilst digging his hand in the pocket of his long dark overcoat, "you follow through."

Flashing his teeth in a grin, he bestowed upon the Shoyru a...

Though both Perril and Yana were old enough not to be distracted by the smallest shiny object for more than a moment, both siblings were transfixed by the vial in the plushie Shoyru's hands.

"What is this?" Yana spoke what they had both thought.

Oil ran thick in Mr. Krawley's voice. "Revenge." He folded his arms.

Perril moved to uncork the vial and smell it, but his soft paw was smacked away by Mr. Krawley's claws.

"Now is not the time!" he snapped, his smile vanishing quickly. "One drop will be all it takes for your revenge to begin."

"Will it help us get the amulet back?" Yana asked.

The Krawk shrugged. "Most likely. Now listen closely: place one drop anywhere on the Quiggle--even in his food will do--and one drop on every Neopian who runs a booth or game in the Deserted Fairground." The smile returned in a mere ember of its former self. "And don't get caught."

The Kiko and Shoyru exchanged nervous glances.

"We won't." Perril's voice trembled but rang with certainty all at once.

Mr. Krawley turned to go. "Come back when you're done. And...good luck."

"Step right up and play a game of ring toss! Hello there, youngsters, fancy another game?" The warty Quiggle smiled in mock ridicule.

Yana fluttered her way to the counter and held out the vial.

The Quiggle's eyes widened. "So lovely," he whispered, his tone sincere, no longer acting as the fishing rod to lure in customers.

"It's cologne from Faerieland!" The Faerie Kiko boomed with all the confidence she didn't have. "One drop and you'll smell like roses."

Before the Quiggle or Perril could blink, she edged closer to the former. "In fact, I think I'll let you try a sample before we bet it."

Yana felt a twinge of hesitation and guilt but decided not to let it faze her...for the most part. It was almost as she was watching herself uncork the vial, grab the Quiggle's hand, splash a drop of revenge onto his wrist, and watch the Quiggle change before her and her brother's eyes...

The Quiggle sniffed at his wrist a few times before recoiling in disgust. "Yuck, this smells like grave moss, I thought you said I'd smell like roses!" He protested.

"Well...yeah!" Yana improvised. "Dead, rotting roses! You know, for Dark Faeries! They'd want something for themselves too, you know!"

"Ugh... you could have warned me first..." Leeroy recoiled again, the aroma still getting to him, "I need to go wash this off. The stand is closed for now. Ugghhh..."

The Quiggle staggered out of his booth, gagging a bit as he headed to get the scent washed off of him.

"I thought that was supposed to get the amulet back?" Perril asked after a few moments.

Yana didn't have an answer, but after a moment, a realization hit her.

"He said we need to put it on everyone in the fairground who ran a booth." The Kiko said, "Not just him."

"Are you sure we should do this?" Perril asked, "I mean, he's not in the booth. We could take this time to look and search it and see where he stashed the amulet!"

The Kiko thought this over some, before her gaze turned back to the little orange vial. "I...think..." She said, almost like she was in a daze...

"But," started Perril, "he isn't there; we could get your amulet back. I know we could! I know it!."

"No, we should do this." Yana walked off in the direction of the Scratchcard Kiosk with the vial. Perril stood for a moment, considering going into the Coconut Shy booth and looking for the amulet, but as he turned around he thought he saw another ghost and chased after his older sister.

By the time he could catch up to her, she was already deep in conversation with the owner of the Scratchcard Kiosk.

"So, if I let you try this magical elixer, and if it works, you'll give me a scratchcard free?" "Yana," whispered Perril, "what are you doing?"

"I told him I wanted to buy a scratchcard and would trade him this bottle for one. He didn't believe it was anything special, so I'm going to put a drop on him so he can test it, and then change my mind."

"But, Yana, that's mean, usually you're nicer than that."

"Shhh." As Yana shushed her brother, the hunchbacked owner of the scratchcard kiosk opened his mouth and began to answer Yana, "Well, my dear...

"OK, this shouldn't hurt a bit." Replied Yana, relieved he was agreeing.

However, Perril was much less optimistic. "'Shouldn't' being the key word there." He muttered angrily, wanting to kick his sister for falling into what seemed a trap.

Yana fumbled with the cork, her sweat making her fingers slip and let go. She was in a rush and cursed how the bottle couldn't seem to stay still in her paw.

"Just a moment! Seems to be a bit slippery..." She desperately wiped her now wringing wet paws on her bright pink skirt, which looked out of place in the gloom of the Fairground. After several attempts, she finally managed to un-cork the vial. With shaking and unsteady paws, she poured a single drop onto the wrinkled skin before her.

"Hmm..." Thought the old stall owner as he considered wether to swap the bottle for a scratchcard. "I think..."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that I wanted... Uh... Something else! I guess I'll need this! Bye!" Yana half-yelled, trying to be cheerful in her haste to get away.

"What? Where are you going? I'll give three free cards for that!" Croaked the owner at her back.

"No, sorry, I really, really want this item! It's like my life depends on it!" Yana called over her shoulder. "Sorry!"

Perril had to half-run to keep up with his sister's hurried footsteps. "Hurry up! Keep moving!" Yana constantly threw comments like this at him, trying to get away from the frantic man, still shouting offers for the vial.

Then Perril realised something. "Yana, you shouldn't be doing this..." For this was a trap that could've only been set by Mr. Krawley himself...

"Yana, you need to stop this!" Perril hissed. "It's dangerous!"

The irate Kiko wrenched her arm out of Perril's grip so violently that the small Shoyru tumbled to the ground.

"I need to get my amulet back!" Yana growled. "I'll do whatever it takes." She turned and continued toward the Test Your Strength kiosk without a backward glance at her brother.

Perril sat on the ground, bottom lip quivering. Yana had never been the kindest of sisters, he knew, but she'd never been so mean before. He watched hopelessly as Yana worked her magic on Arnold, the owner of the Test Your Strength kiosk. As he watched, he wondered idly what Yana said to the Mynci that made him extend his arm so willingly so she could place a drop of shimmering golden liquid on it.

Perril's thoughts wandered back to Mr. Krawley. He knew the Krawk was dangerous, but he couldn't quite recall why. He vaguely remembered some creepy stories about potions and monsters, but the details were hazy. But one thing was clear: he had to get Yana to stop. But how?

Movement caught Perril's eye, so he looked over at what had drawn his attention and saw an Aisha moving around behind the counter at the Cork Gun Gallery. Perril watched her for a minute, knowing it was only a matter of time before Yana tricked her as well. But then an idea occurred to him.

"That's it!" Perril suddenly gasped. "I know what I have to do to stop Yana! I just need a little help..."

With a start, Perril realized that, during his distraction, Yana had moved on to the Bagatelle kiosk. The Shoyru scrambled to his feet and rushed toward the Cork Gun Gallery, knowing time was running out...

Perril froze and turned around, hoping the figure wasn't who he thought it was.

It was.

"Did I not say to follow through?!" Mr. Krawley snapped, towering over the plushie Shoyru. "Where's the other one?"

The other one, meaning Yana. Perril's pulse raced. "We... got separated," he lied, not feeling brave in the slightest. But in his panic, a thought trickled in.

"Whose revenge are we seeking, anyway?"

"Yours against Leeroy, the Quiggle; mine, against the fairground. That should have been obvious." Mr. Krawley said with a condescending sniff.

Perril shook his head, not caring about the amulet anymore.

"I don't have your precious revenge, and we're not going to have any part in your plans."

"No? Take a look here, kid." Between Mr. Krawley's claws was a golden chain, the familiar green gem dangling off of it.

Perril froze more so than he already had. "How... how did you get that?" he stammered.

Mr. Krawley just grinned. "You're a bright one, young Shoyru," he commented cryptically. "You knew better than your sister. You knew the need to the amulet whilst the Quiggle was... incapacitated. But you let me the chance to acquire what 'tis you seek."

"Where's the Quiggle now?" Perril asked, newfound confidence in his voice.

"Dazed and tied up, like the rest of them," Mr. Krawley spat. "And like you and Yana may be too," he finished, staring into the eyes of the young Shoyru, "if you don't complete the task."

The Krawk stormed off, slipping back under the veil of deserted darkness.

Perril had ever more reason to find Yana and the Cork Gun Gallery Aisha. He had to stop this thing at the root, and his last chance was quickly slipping away...

"And even better, I'll let you try a drop for free," came the Kiko's voice, slick as the poison honey dripping from Mr. Krawley's words.

"Stop!" Perril shouted as he ran up to them, gesticulating wildly.

"Huh?" the two females inquired in chorus.

"What are you doing, Perril?" Yana asked him, an angry fire in her eyes. "You're screwing everything up!"

"No I'm not!" Perril shouted back. "I ran into Mr. Krawley, he has the amulet!"

"WHAT?" Yana yelled. "How can he?"

"I TOLD you we should have searched the Quiggle for it after we dripped the potion on him!"

Yana hesitated... then the fire in her eyes quelled and her hands formed fists. "That slimy, two faced--"

"So are you going to let me try a drop or not?" the Aisha asked.

"Look," Perril started as he walked up between his sister and the booth owner, "I think I have an idea."

The Aisha folded her arms. "And why would I want to participate?"

"Because if you don't and the carnies don't come back, you won't get any business," the Shoyru returned.

"I should think I'd get all the business!" The Aisha giggled.

"In a fairground with then only one game, deserted because the majority of the original attractions caused people to disappear, and the ones that haven't yet disappeared now have?" Perril shot her a stern look.

The Aisha hesitated. "Alright. What do we have to do?"

Mr. Krawley came around the Cork Gun Kiosk, the Aisha waiting in the back room of her booth.

"It is finished," Yana said to him. "She went in a daze to her cart, like the rest of them."

"Give us back the amulet!" Perril dictated to the Krawk.

"Give me back my potion."

Yana handed over the vial.

"Now give us back the amulet," the Kiko continued, feigning braveness.

The Krawk huffed. "Once I confirm your work," Mr. Krawley finished as he went to the back of the booth.

The siblings followed step behind him to see the Aisha, sitting and drooling and with a glaze over her eyes. He took her hand and commenced handcuffing it to his own.

"Where are you taking her?" Perril squeaked.

"To the rest of them."

"And where is that?" Yana inquired.

"To the mouth of the abandoned roller coaster for now, but by the end of the night they'll never see the light of day ag--"

And at this time the Aisha, having feigned her incapacitation, leapt up and kicked Krawley in the stomach.

"Oof!" he yelled, going down with the blow.

"Now!" Perril shouted as he and his sister restrained the arms of the mischievous Krawk, preventing him form using one of his potion tricks.

"Get... off of me!" he stuttered, squirming.

And then the Aisha shot him right in the head with a cork gun.

He lay still on the ground, breathing sporadically.

Perril took the amulet from around his neck and placed it around that bodice of his sister.

"Now you two run off," the Aisha started. "I'll get back the carnies and find out what to do with him." She lightly kicked his shoe with her foot.

"Thanks again!" the siblings said before dashing out of the booth and out of the Deserted Fairground.

The two walked along through the Haunted Woods.

"So," Yana asked her brother, "what will you do next time with our precious family heirloom?"

"Not barter it at Coconut Shy," Perril said shyly. Then he smiled wryly. "And what will you do next time a mysterious man asks us for help carrying out his revenge?"

Yana smiled. "First of all, make sure my brother is with me." She patted his back. "Second of all, run away really fast."

Perril grinned. The two weren't unalike after all.

The End.