I know you know I know you know I know we all know that Neal is not really the idiot he portrays in this fic. So pretend he is.

Disclaimer: I own no Tamora Pierce characters.

PsychoLioness13, FlamingKnight, Kassi of Pirate's Swoop: You guys are my favorite reviewers, among three others who don't seem to be reviewing this story -_- Did you know that? I just love you guys so much! *tear* But anyways…hi.

~*For The Syrup!*~

When Neal burst in Keladry of Mindelan's room she sincerely thought something was wrong. As it turns out, there was something wrong.

With Neal's head.

"Oh, it's awful," Neal sobbed into his best friend's comforting shoulder. "It was there one minute and then—poof—gone the next."

"There, there," Kel murmured sympathetically. For the time being she was succeeding in keeping her laughing fit at bay. If Neal got any more sillier (if that's even possible), however, she would not be able to hold it back. "You can borrow my syrup."

Neal wiped his eyes and looked up hopefully at her with his emerald eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, really," she said, getting up and moving toward the kitchen.

Kel opened her cabinet and looked on the left of the top shelf, where the syrup should be.

It was not there.

She screamed and started running around in circles. Neal hurried in and stared at her wide-eyed.

"What's wrong?" he cried.

"Oh, Neal," she bawled, putting a mushroom down her shirt in an attempt to stop her agony. "My syrup—it's gone too!"

"What?!" he wailed. "Oh no! Then what's going to happen to all my pancakes? To all my hard work?"

In his overwhelming grief he grabbed a cherry and stuck it up his nose then ran out the door screaming, "Do the dew!"

Cleon of Kennan watched Neal run by then poked his head curiously in Kel's room.

"Er…is he alright?" he asked, concerned. He blinked, seeing Kel jumping on her bed stuffing mushrooms in her clothes. "Are you alright?"

"It's awful, Cleon," she wailed, bouncing off the bed and into the wall. "First, Neal's syrup was stolen…then mine was!"

"Um…yes. That is very awful. But, Kel…why don't you just eat the pancakes without the syrup?" (A/N: I have FlamingKnight for that little dialogue thingy.)

Kel stopped crying abruptly. "Yes…yes, I see where you're going. Wow Cleon! You're so smart!"

Cleon watched Kel bounce out of the door with raised eyebrows. "You know, they really should get together," he said to no one in particular. "They're both idiots."

~*~

"Neal!"

Neal turned around and spotted Kel. "Hi," he said sadly.

"You'll never guess what," she gushed enthusiastically.

"You found the syrup?" he squealed excitedly.

She shook her head, and his face fell. "But I have a good idea. Why don't we just eat the pancakes without the syrup?"

For a brief moment Neal's eyes lit up; then a shadow passed over his face and he muttered darkly, "No…we can't do that. That's what the syrup-nappers want you to do. Forget all about the syrup…go on your merry little way. That's what they want you to do. Then, when they're sure you don't care anymore, they'll do unmentionable horrors to the syrup…like put it on ham."

Kel drew in a deep shuddering breath. "Yes, I see your point," she murmured fearfully. "Oh, Neal, what are we going to do?" She began to cry. "I want my syrup back!"

Understandingly Neal hugged her. "I know, I know…we'll have to be strong, okay? For the syrup!" He punched the air.

Kel wiped the last tear from her face and punched the air. "For the syrup!"

~*~

"'The Syrup-Napper-Hunters' Secret Headquarters'," Cleon read. The door opened and Neal peered out.

"Sssssshh!" he hissed. "You'll give away our Headquarters!"

"Um…oops. I guess." Imbeciles.

"Thank you!"

He slammed the door shut. The sign on which those ridiculous words were printed on clattered to the floor from its spot on the door. Cleon blinked then walked away.

That's it. I'm moving to Scanra.

~*~

Shorter than I would've liked, and that last scene was kind of pointless, but…eh. Who cares? I posted it.