“Ashes, ashes.” Her whispered words of an old rhyme smashed through the silence as thunder, and in unison, the shadow figures answered.“We all fall down.”

“Shine and shimmer my Harvest Moon,illuminate the shadows in the sky.”

“The stars sparkled above the mist shrouded tents and caravans of the carnival. The night crackled with an odd vibration, as if a veil of peculiarity settled over the company.”

“Sulphurous wind gusted in his wake the dust of the street swirled and the folds of his black coat flapped against his thin body. ”

“I marched to the head Elf. “Where’s the frog?”

“Yes sir, the fish was left in place of the crystal ball. It's been bagged and tagged for analysis.”Great. Now we have another red herring on our hands.”

“I’m Detective Piper of the Fairyland Metro Police, and I've been called in to investigate the incident of the missing frog prince…”

“Ashes, ashes.” Her whispered words of an old rhyme smashed through the silence as thunder, and in unison, the shadow figures answered.“We all fall down.”

“As they walked, it seemed almost every building had some similar contrivance as decoration, adorning the street in a cacophony of clangs, bangs and whirs. The street’s surroundings danced with steam and smoke, the scent of oil and grease its perfume.”

“I told you. I’ve been watching.” She twirled, her arms outstretched. “Watching, watching, watching.”

“So, I poisoned his coffee this morning and watched him drink it.”