Tartarus

The fireworks exploded in the crisp summer air, reflecting off the surface of Error's crimson eyes. The journey to the circus had been a long one, but he had no doubt it would be worthwhile. He was sitting between two large visiting Earth dragons and was feeling rather squished, but had high hopes for the show regardless. When the fireworks first went off, without much warning, he had jumped, but soon found himself enjoying them.

"Buncha light, sky lights. Argh," the dragon next to him grunted, before shifting in place and squishing him more.

"Uh, down here?" Error asked, looking up at the dragon. He had no idea dragons could get so big. They smelled of dirt and mud and slightly of rotting flesh... well, maybe the last one was just him.

He looked up and saw a striped dragon on stage. She was a pale purple skydancer, wearing a long cloak and large hat. "For my first act," she said, "I need a volunteer to come up here on the stage!"

Error practiced screamed. "Me, me please!" The two dragons next to him glared down, but by the time they could open their mouth he was already flying towards the stage, the skydancer nodding her approval.

"Hello, what's your name?"

"Error."

"Error. I see you're from plague."

"Yes, I am."

"Well, as a plague dragon, I'm sure you're very familiar with... dismembered limbs?"

Error jumped. "Well..."

"Who wants to see me saw and saw back on Error's wings?" The crowd went wild. The skydancer threw a black blanket over his wings, said some words, and swept it off; the crowd looked surprised. Error glanced back. He could feel his wings, but when he looked for them, they weren't there! Before he had a chance to comment, the skydancer waved her wings over his own and made them reappear.

He was not excited to return to his own seat between the crushing dragons, but it was much more bearable, and he enjoyed the rest of the acts. After the show, he made to head home, when the pale purple dragon stopped him.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hey."

"Thanks for helping me out there."

"It was... fun." Was she flirting with him?

"Come again, Error." She handed him an envelope, turned, and flew off.

He opened it, peeling away the red wax circus seal. A golden slip fell into his claws. Admit one admission, out of flight it read. Grinning, he tucked it away, and started on his journey home.