The first star in the night sky shimmered amid the afterglow of twilight. Giant dragonflies circled overhead, trailing colorful streamers as they danced through the air, scattering a crystalline mist across the land.
On a broad avenue carpeted with flowers, carnival floats paraded through the laughter of the crowd to the gentle melody of steam bagpipes.
The leading satyr had red-and-white stripes painted across his horns. His panpipes set the hamster dance troupe before him into motion, their fluffy skirts swaying as they danced joyfully.
Brightly colored floats were pulled by centaurs. Beautiful patterns had been painted over their muscular bodies, making them look powerful and imposing, yet they flicked soft ribbons that drifted in the breeze.
At the front of the float stood a Tiefling with pink-painted cheeks. He raised a torch and breathed out purple flames the color of skin, from which several cheerful smoke devil bats darted at the far end.
Sparks splashed into the cauldron at the rear of the float. With a "Gulu Gulu," dense bubbles rose up, growing larger and larger until they floated in the air, perfectly catching several fae who leaped down from the flower canopy atop the carriage.
Their figures were graceful as they danced within the floating bubbles. From time to time, they drifted before the audience and gently greeted them.
One spectator could not resist reaching out to poke a floating bubble. With a pop, it burst into a flash of light. Green smoke exploded from her fingertips and covered her face. When the smoke cleared, they discovered that her head had turned into a donkey's head.
The prank-loving Pixies circled around her, giggling as they placed an apologetic gift in her palm—
It was a hastily drawn stick-figure sketch. On one side was the spectator's cute face, and