Elfalon_228, Elfina_228, Pikachu, and Desert_Star_Mirage were all sitting at a table in their neohome, playing cards while watching a Cheat Tournament on neotv. Their owner, Quatrill, sat in a chair nearby, reading the latest Neopian Times.

"You're cheating, Desert Star," Elfalon_228 declaired. Desert Star Mirage frowned, but turned over the top three cards she'd just played and then added the pile to her hand.

How do you always do that?" asked Pikachu. "I was watching her face closely, but I didn't see anything."

"My secret," Elfalon_228 grinned. He paused to look at the TV, where Branston the Eyrie, ChifferBob the Meerca, and Brucy B were taking on a non-pro challenger, and their challenger was losing badly. "Chiffer just cheated," Elfalon_228 declaired, and indeed when Brucy B called him on it, he had to take the pile.

"Wow!" exclaimed Desert Star. "You're awsome at that. Maybe you should compete." Quatrill smiled, looking up from her paper.

Things might be harder in the professional Cheat circle, Desert Star. But I agree, our Elfie is the best Acara Cheat player I know of, even better than the Princess." Elfalon_228 beamed.

"I love playing Cheat! It's so fun, and with my secret strategy, I hardly ever lose." He laid his last two cards down confidently. "I played two kings." Quatrill checked, and nodded.

"Winner, Elfie." Elfalon_228 just smiled.

How he loved Cheat!

ooooooooooooooo

One week later....

"Where are we going now?" Desert Star asked as they strolled through the Lost DEsert from visiting Coltzan. He'd been genererous enough to increase the shoyru's agility, so she was feeling extra perky.

"I don't know. Where do you want to go?"

"Home," answered Pikachu glumly, head hanging low. They instantly stopped, and Quatrill knelt down.

"Are you feeling okay, Pika?"

"Not really." He coughed a few times, and wobbled on his paws.

"Looks like a trip to Fairieland is in order."

They headed to Faerieland, to the Healing Springs. There all of the pets stood before the Faerie, and she cast a spell of healing on them. But unfortunately it didn't take to Pikachu.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help," she apologized. "But my magic is limited. I can try again tomorrow."

"Okay>" They left, Quatrill carrying Pikachu, who was coughing roughly. "I'm going to drop you all off at home, and then take Pika to the hospital." They all just nodded, and waited paitently at home for her to return. When she did, she looked grim.

What's wrong?" asked Elfalon_228.

"Pika has Ugga Ugga." They shuddered, knowing how rough that was. Quatrill tucked Pika into bed, him coughing and trying to speak, only the only thing that would come out was "Ugga, ugga." He looked miserable. As his siblings gathered around, Quatrill went to check her medicine cabinet, then sighed. "No Sporkle Syrup. I'll have to go check the shops."

"We'll stay here with Pika," Elfalon_228 offered. Quatrill nodded, and left. She was gone for quite a while, then returned looking distraught. Elfalon_228 left the others to talk to her privately, as if was clear she didn't want to upset them. "What's wrong?"

"The pharmacy is out, and didn't know when more would come in. And the shop wizard said...." She took a deep breath.

"What did he say?"

"He said that... that the shops he checked were out, or were too much for me. That's all. I'll try again tomorrow. Now, you four get some sleep."

"Okay." Elfalon_228 went back in with the others, then Quatrill shut the door for them. The green acara instantly looked at the others. "I think something is seriously wrong. Tomorrow, I'm going to check the shop wizard myself."

ooooooooooo

Early the next morning, before the others awoke and after Quatrill had left for the day, to tend her shop and such, Elfalon_228 put on his jacket and went to visit the shop Qizard. As usual, he was fairly busy, and it took Elfie a while to get up to him.

Good thing I have a lot of patients,Elfie thought. At last, he got up to the kiko's desk.

"What can I help you with, young acara?"

"I need some sporkle syrup please." The wizard consulted some books, and pulled out a list.

"These are the shop owners I found who carry sporkle syrup." Elfalon_228 gasped. Each of the prices were over 90,000 np, way more than they had in the bank! "

"Umm... this is too much for me. Anything under 40000np?" He looked, but shook his head.

"Nothing. Would you like to try again?"

"NO. That's okay." Elfie left feeling like he had a knot in his tummy. Poor PIkachu! No wonder their owner had looked to unhappy. He himself felt a little ill as he returned home, to find the others, Quatrill included, waiting for them.

"Where were you?" she asked. "I was getting worried."

"Sorry. I was looking to buy something, a surprise for Pikachu, but it's too expensive." Quatrill smiled, sadness in her eyes.

"That was thoughtful of you. Maybe you'll think of something yet. AFter all, you're very clever. But I'm going to take Pika back to the Faerie. Want to come along?"

"I'll pass," Elfie replied. "I'm going to keep looking." As Elfina and Desert Star agreed with Elfie, the gelert and his owner went alone. Once they were out of sight, they looked to their older brother.

"What did you find out?" DEsert Star asked. "You look like you're coming down with something."

"I just came from the shop wizard," he replied. "The medicine Pika needs is over 90,000np!" The other two gasped.

"What are we going to do?" moaned Elfina, looking over worridly at the sick Pikachu, who was sleeping fitfully.

"I don't know..." Elfalon was baffled and distressed. Then, abruptly, Desert Star saw their deck of playing cards on the desk, and beamed.

"I know!"

"What?" the others asked in unison. She pointed to Elfalon.

"You could play Cheat, in the pros! I bet they give a lot of money if you win, and with that we could maybe buy the medicine!" Elfalon thought about it for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"Maybe... it might work...." Elfina nodded eagerly, the idea catching on.

"You said it yourself: With your secret strategy, you hardly ever lose. I bet even Spectre couldn't beat you!" Elfalon nodded slowly.

"Okay then. Tomorrow, lets go play Cheat!"

oooooooooooo

Quatrill went out again the next morning with Pikachu, to visit the Healing Faerie again and to see if medicine could be found. The other three said they were going to some hunting themselves, for a 'get well give' for their brother. But in reality, they went to the Cheat Tournament. The building was big, with Neopets of every species and colot there, even some painted. Most were a LOT older than the three siblings, and a few gave them looks as if they didn't belong there.

"Steady," Elfalon said to the others. "We've go as much right to be here as they do, more in fact. We're going to be playing for Pikachu!" The other two nodded and kept close to their older brother, until they reached the sign-up table. There they were greeted by a Kau.

"Well, hello. How many viewing tickets will you need?"

"We're not here to watch," Elfalon said. "We're here to compete."

"Oh... well... how old are you?"

"I'm 1222 days old," Elfalon answered, "Desert_Star is 1189, and Elfina is 1218 days old."

"Well, you're all old enough to play, but... are you sure? It's rough out there."

"Yes, we're sure." Elfalon had to fight to keep his voice level. He was getting annoyed at the Kau's constant patronizing tone.

"Well then, if you're sure, fill out this form, each of you, and then wait your turn for the preliminary rounds."

"I didn't know there were preliminaries," Desert Star said.

"They aren't shown on TV. You play against others here to challenge the professionals, and if you win so many rounds, you go on to the real games." The neopets filled out the forms, and were soon called in for the prelims. Desert Star, having a too honest face, was quickly out of the running. Elfina soon followed, unable to catch the others when they cheated, and therefore called 'cheat' too much. But Elfalon soared through each round, near flawless. He was soon cleared to go through, and since they'd tried to enter themselves, Desert Star and Elfina were given seats in the stands to watch. They took their seats a round before Elfalon was schedualed to go on. The gelert who was competing was obviously nervous; he was up against Brucy B, Kalora the Kau, and Princess Fernypoo.

"Wow, he must be good to have gotten this far," Desert Star whispered. Elfina nodded, then grinned.

"But Elfalon will get further. With his secret stragety, he's unstopable! Not even Spectre could - " He was interrupted by a voice from behind them.

"'Not even Spectre' what?" They gasped in unison and looked over their shoulder, as on the arena floor the gelert lost to the Princess, to see said red Jetsam standing there. He was grinning fiercly, his red eyes searching their faces. "You kids got a friend competing today?" His low tone frightened them, especially the younger Desert Star. Just then came a call over the loudspeaker.

"Round One: Competetor: Elfalon_228 the Green Acara!" Instantly the two spun about to watch as their brother entered, head raised proudly, confidently, holding the dark red velvet bag that he'd been given before entering to hold any neopoints he won during the game. Without a word, he took his seat amidst cheering and clapping, to wait for his oppoents to enter. Spectre chuckled quietly.

"Ah, the acara." Desert Star and Elfina spun back around to face him. "He's your friend."

"He - he's our brother!" Elfina managed to get out. "And he - he's gonna w - win, you'll see." Desert Star nodded. Spectre just laughed.

"Is he now? Well, to win, he's got to get through me." With that, he turned and vanished through the crowd, as Elfalon's first challengers entered: Capara the Kyrii, Little Timmy the Tuskaninny, and Branston the Eyrie.