"THREE! SMILES GO FOR MILES!"

"That's the spirit!" Mr. Chatosky seemed happy today. "And now I have an announcement." Mr. Chatosky opened the door to Mr. Waggletuff's room, and three boys walked out. What a pleasure it was to see the foul-smelling (literally!) runts known as Mike, Sam, and Mr. Skunk.

"Ugh! What reeks?!" Flora and Clara pinched their noses tightly.

"By golly, it sure wasn't me!" Barry pinched his nose as well.

"Members of the Guild, may I introduce to you to our new friends! They will be our guests here in the Guild and will accompany us on our expedition!"

"The name is Team Skull. Remember it. Especially you two." Mr. Skunk pointed at us and laughed.

"Oh, so you've met! Great! That simplifies things," Mr. Chatosky said, smiling. By now everyone had their noses pinched.

"Doesn't Mr. Chatosky think anything stinks about this? Literally?" 'loud' Red whispered this, which was a surprise because we were only used to yelling from him. We all frowned and nodded.

"What is with you all? Come now! Lighten up!" Mr. Chatosky was no longer leaping for joy. He seemed furious. "I will not dismiss you until I see you all smiling!" All of us glared at Team Skull, then managed a smile. The day continued glumly.

At dinner, we all sat to eat, but since the only open seats were by Kris and I, we had to let Team Skull sit with us. I pinched my nose during the entire meal. Kris did the same. When dinner was over, Kris and I leaped from our seats and hurried to our room. I noticed that Team Skull did not move, however. They kept sitting and eying the perfect apples, Mr. Waggletuff's favorite food. I left, but with some wonder and worry.

The next morning Kris and I headed over the Request Board, when we were stopped by Mr. Chatosky.

"Well good morning to you both!" We returned the greeting. "I have a favor to ask of you to. You don't have anything to do today, correct." I said that was correct when I noticed that Mr. Chatosky was shifting from right to left and had hunched over his shoulders. "Good, good! In that case, would it be alright if you to went over to Apple Woods? The location should be on your map. See, someone ate all of the Guildmaster's perfect apples last night, and I need them to be restored, and fast. Or I will have to face the Guildmaster's wrath!" Mr. Chatosky shuddered. I instantly remembered from the night before how Team Skull had been eyeing the apples. They must have waited for everyone to leave so they could eat them all! I growled, before assuring Mr. Chatosky we would retrieve some apples. He seemed relieved.

Kris and I headed out for Apple Woods. The woods were vibrant and full of bright red apples. But, according to , we had to pick the large ones located at the heart of the forest. It took a great deal of walking, but given time, we made it to the core of the forest. There was a tall tree, with plenty of apples, and three heavy, sleeping boys. I took a step back. Team Skull? First they ate Mr. Waggletuff's supply, and now they had come for more?

"HEY! YOU BUFFOONS, GET OUT OF THE TREE!" My shouting worked. Mike and Sam woke up startled, and fell out of the tree, and Mr. Skunk climbed down overshadowing his pathetic assistants.

"Chaw-haw-haw! So you have chosen to get some apples? Here, allow me and my colleagues to help you!" He kicked the tree, and a few apples fell out. "There! Take them and skedaddle back to the Guild!" He chuckled. I did not move. Mr. Skull squinted his eyes.

"What, not going to take them? After I so nicely got them for you?"

"You are just waiting for us to step forward so you can pull some prank, aren't you?" Team Skull seemed shocked by my response.

"How, how did she know? Gosh, she is smarter than I expected." Mike and Sam looked pleadingly at their leader for a solution. Mr. Skunk laughed.

"Well, if you won't accept our kindness, at least accept this!" He pulled out his spray gun. Kris and I stepped back, but we were too late. We were enveloped in the stench of his gun, and fell to the ground.

"Tina, wake up!" I looked up to see Kris, helping me off the ground. I turned back to the tree. Team Skull was gone, and they had taken the apples with them.

"What? Kris, Mr. Chatosky expected us to return with the apples! What will we do now?" Kris sighed, and I realized we would have to try our luck and tell Mr. Chatosky the truth.

Two hours later, we learned that the truth was not enough.

"I refuse to listen!" Mr. Chatosky was angrier than I had ever seen him before. "First you fail to complete a mission, and now, you accuse our guests! I cannot think so lowly of you. Of course you will need to be punished. Let's see…well, I can only start by saying, no dinner for the both of you. Afterwards, you will accompany me to face the Guildmaster. It would not be fair otherwise! Now leave my sight!"

Kris and I could do nothing but stand back at watch everyone else eat. I could hear both of our stomachs grumbling, and there was nothing we could do about it. After everyone ate, Kris and I miserably followed Mr. Chatosky over to 's room.

"G-Guildmaster?" stammered. I wondered why he was so worried. The Guildmaster stood silently.

"Hiya! Friends, how are you? Friendly friends!" Mr. Waggletuff looked over happy, which was normal for him. "You got a perfect apple for me? Yay! Friendly friends!" With that, he began to dance.

"Um, Guildmaster, we have a problem. The rookies failed in their mission-"

"Oh, that's okay! We all make mistakes, but we learn from them! Then we get better!"

"N-no, Guildmaster, but that means we don't have any perfect apples," Mr. Chatosky cried.

"So, there are no more left?" began to tear up as well. Suddenly the walls began to shake. Kris and I jumped back.

"TAKE COVER!" Mr. Chatosky yelled. The ceiling began to shake, and small bits of rock fell. I shut my eyes. What was happening?

"Sorry to disturb you! We have brought a perfect apple!"

Everything came to a standstill. I opened my eyes to see Mr. Skunk hand the Guildmaster a perfect apple.

"Thankyou, friends!" Mr. Waggletuff happily accepted the apple, and Team Skull became victim to endless praise. Mr. Chatosky told us to leave the room. We did so, and he shortly followed.

"Look, you two. That was extremely risky. You need to thank and apologize to Team Skull."

"What?!" I shouted.

"Go and do as I said." Kris and I sighed as we did just that. Team Skull laughed in our faces. I was angry, and hungry. Kris and I went towards our beds, our heads drooping.

"Oh, and one more thing! You two- don't think you have a chance of being picked for the expedition now. I highly doubt it is even remotely possible now." Mr. Chatosky yelled after us.