Charlotte

Lore by Riarkraa

---

The market was mostly quiet, save for the sound of shopkeepers moving goods into place in anticipation of a busy day and chatting among themselves about business. Sweets, costumes and toys filled a great many of the stalls, though some dragons had prepared for the hungry crowd instead with a grand assortment of flavorful options to fit the many diets that would be present.The festivals always brought out shoppers, and the month of mischief was no exception. However, it also brought out pranksters, both good and bad in nature.

~

Charlotte peeked around the corner, searching for their first target. The first day of the festival was always the best for pranks, they'd learned. Every dragon was in full spirits as the season went into swing, making them perfect unexpected participants for a good prank. Thankfully they were still small, which made what they had planned for this year much easier.

Charlotte dropped into a stalking posture as the door they had been watching finally opened, pressing their belly as low to the cobbles as possible and wiggling their rear like the kitty had done when they had seen it hunting a mouse. It was silly, but somehow it made the wind up to a good prank much more fun. Fun was very important, especially when you were planning on pranking the crankiest old dragon on Market Lane. They reached into the pouch hanging from their neck and balled up their claws around the Pixie crystal, pixie dust at its highest magical concentration, and closed their eyes to will the mischief in mind into the magic. Pixie dust was one thing to get hold of, but when it came to finding a way to prank a smile onto the face of their favorite cranky old shopkeep, Charlotte had spent a week hunting a crystal down.

Target in sight, all they could do was wait for the right opportunity. They didn't want to make Valridoon drop any of his goods or possibly knock something off the stall; pretty much have any part of the prank cause lasting damage of any sort; they cherished the old bogsneak too much to allow that to happen. That meant the chance to get him was going to be small and if they didn't do it before the morning crowd arrived the chance for today would be lost. Inside, claws empty, out, claws full.

---

As Charlotte waited for their chance, they were too focused on following Valridoon's movements to take notice of the other shop keeps stopping their work to watch the scene that was about to unfold.

"Shh shhh shh, look, the little nestling is at it again! She got him right at the end of the Starfall Celebration by setting lose hundreds of Crakle-flies through a window he'd left open. It was like the entire Starfall festivities had been poured into his store! At first I thought he was going to be furious with her after hearing that horrific panicked scream when he woke up to the sound of them, but then he did something I'd never heard before; he laughed!"

The Spiral merchant chuckled as he opened another crate of festival masks and went back to setting up his stall, only to be knocked upside the head with a hard candy when the Fae candy-merchant chucked one of her treats at him.

"They, Noqu, they are a they. I explained this months ago, give the little one some respect if you're going to appreciate what they do to make Valridoon smile. That little coatl is the only dragon I've met in a long time who has gotten old V' to do anything besides be grumpy. Now hush or we'll spook them."

Noqu winced and nodded apologetically,

"Sorry, Aita, old habits and all. I didn't mean ill by it. I love the little cow's antics. "

~~~

Charlotte eased forward as they saw the window of opportunity begin to open. As soon as Valridoon set the box down was the chance they needed-

With a scrabble of claws Charlotte leapt into action and rushed across the lane as Valridoon stepped away from his booth. The old bogsneak took notice, but Charlotte was already making their final leap to close the gap, crushing the crystal as they hurtled through the air, little wings flapping madly to carry them crashing into him in a fit of giggles. Purple and blue smoke exploded outward, enveloping Charlotte, Valridoon and his entire stall.

The moment Charlotte sprang into action, even the assistants present stopped to see what would come of the little coatl's prank. As the smoke began to clear a great, booming, gurgly laughter filled the air, shortly accompanied by further giggles from Charlotte. Valridoon's stall quickly became visible as a gust of wind carried away the remaining smoke to reveal that everything, from Valridoon himself, his stall and even little Charlotte was covered in squirming masses of magically animated gummy worms.

"Oh great heaven's, little one, what have you done to me now!" Valridoon bellowed in between fits of laughter. "What a mess you've made! Why, I'm going to have to press you into helping clean up after this one. Care for a snack? Might make fine bait with all of this, you little rascal."

Valridoon laughed again as he grabbed hold of Charlotte and gently rubbed their head, a massive grin spreading across his face as he regained his composure. The surrounding shopkeepers taking the smiling Valridoon as a queue, erupted into cheering and laughter as several broke away from their tasks to lend a claw towards cleaning up.

"Little one, I'll be mighty sad when my time to serve the gods comes. I'll miss your mischief greatly. For now, though, how about we clean up and enjoy the festival's opening, I'm sure I can get someone to watch my stall for a day."

In response, Charlotte simply grinned up at her friend, trying her best not to giggle as a worm fell into his eyes.

---