A Series of Unfortunate Events!

The thing about the Black Market was that it got to have festivals from time to time.

That sunny day when Dobri's black pony carried him inside was one such day. All the places for the traders were already taken.

There was only one spot left. Under a dark and half-dead birch.

Dobri didn't know if he could sell anything under that tree, but he refused to give up!

He did need to pay the trolls before they ate Morty and Dan the Pony. Probably him too, if the hunger was big enough and the good memories held sentimental value, but not enough to protect the tiny gnome.

He smiled at the passing-by customers. His robes were on display.

Only to see him.

He was a fairy. In a lovely pink and black costume. His hair was let loose around his head, reaching his shoulders. There was the badge of a tooth fairy on his clothes.

Try as he might, Dobri couldn't shake off the feeling that he had seen the man.

The fairy was looking around, fluttering from stand to stand. Always browsing, never buying.

Dobri hoped that the vision was going to deem his stand as important enough to visit as well. That he would flutter his wings his way as well.

"Man, if this one was a troll," Harald said, as he nodded in the fairy's direction. "I would have romanced the stuffings out of him."

"We shouldn't talk about the clients like that," Hans corrected his brother. "But, yeah, if he was only a troll…"

"Do you think I have a chance?" Dobri asked, as he tried to fix his birds' nest of hair.

"I don't know, Dobri," Hans told him, as he tried to see anything about Dobri that would scream high-class as loudly as the clothes on that fairy did.

"Maybe you should set your sights on a gnome?" Harald said, as he smiled at the fairy. "I mean, that is your species, right?"

Dobri narrowed his eyes. Why didn't anyone have faith in him? Was he ugly or something?

The fairy fluttered to the stall right next to Dobri's! The gnome's heart skipped a beat.

"I don't know," the fairy muttered as he took hold of one of the porcelain plates the stall had on offer. "This doesn't look dwarven made."

Which was something Dobri could see as well. The merchant was starry-eyed and ready to take the stars off the sky for the fairy.

"Please, do take a plate! And I never advertised that they are dwarven-made!" The man said, as he took out a box with something that smelled of fresh lemons and walnuts. "And would you like some baklava?"

The fairy smiled, taking a plate. Stuffing it in his already overstuffed shopping bag.

Suddenly, Dobri realized what was happening! The fairy was not the innocent creature he looked to be! This was, and Dobri didn't use that title too often, A Free Stuff Hunter!

The gnome narrowed his eyes. He couldn't just give the fairy what he wanted! The trolls were going to beat him up if he was late with their paychecks!

Or eat him.

Dobri figured that they could also beat him up and then eat him. At any rate, his future was bleak.

The fairy finally came to his stand, taking the hem of a robe between his fingers and then tsking.

"I don't know, this is hemp," the fairy said, as he looked Dobri in the narrowed green eyes.

The being had lovely blue eyes that were sparkling in the faint light.

But Dobri was now part of the movement, which could make or break you without a second thought.

He was a capitalist.

 Cupid could turn him into a pincushion, and Dobri's heart would remain locked!

"If you don't like it, just don't buy it!" Dobri said as the fairy began to blink at him.

"Really?" The fairy asked, his eyes narrowed. "Is that how you wish to present your stuff?"

Dobri nodded.

"I have no time for customers who want free stuff!" Dobri said, resolute that he would never get this fairy's phone number.

"You tell him, brother!" Harald, bless his soul, was proving to be the loyal kind. Hans and Hugo, probably figuring out that one fairy taking off with a free robe would hurt their paychecks, stepped before the stalls.

Their fists balled.

"Don't you know who I am?" The fairy asked. Dobri poked his head out from between Hans and Hugo, only to shake it.

"All my customers are equal!" The gnome said so, as if he were selling medicine and not pajamas. "I can't just hand over a robe! If I do, then the other customers will want free stuff as well!"

All valid points. The fairy sighed, took out his coin pouch, and then looked at the price tag.

"I don't know. Two gold coins is a bit much," the fairy tried to haggle once more.

"No, they are just the right price! I had to procure these fine pajamas from a master tailor!" Read "From the intern who is just trying to graduate without any more student loan."

"I see, and may I have his name?"

Dobri knew that Big Capybara was too close for comfort. He shook his head.

"No. He wishes to remain anonymous! He is doing this," Dobri pointed at the many robes. "To put bread on the table and because he is inspired by the artistic side of it all!"

Which was a bold lie, but as long as Dobri refused to give Matthew's name away, he was safe!

"Ok, and if he still wishes to make something of himself," the fairy said, as he placed 2 gold coins on the counter. "Then he can contact me. My name is Augustine Proudwing. The owner of the Proudwing Trading Empire. You probably have heard about me because of my toothpaste factories?"

Dobri shook his head. It was not like he read about where his toothpaste came from…

"I… you know, if you have the time, do tell me," The fairy placed a piece of paper on the counter as well. "We can just chat?"

Dobri narrowed his eyes.

He was not going to give any free stuff.

But, darn, he could listen to the fairy's sweet voice until the end of time!