[Trade] Ring around the Duck

A Carnival came into town quite suddenly overnight, and about as quickly as it popped up within the bones of the old museum, did word spread about its arrival. Rumors of what this strange festivity was about varied from dinosaur to dinosaur, yet the curiosity surpassed any of the lurking danger theories that floated in the frosty winter air. For Milkthistle and Edelweiss, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to stretch their legs and look for trouble, with their adopted baby brother Nutmeg in tow. 

And, soon enough, the trio, freshly nipped by the cold and eager to seek refuge in the bowels of the museum, entered into find a space unlike anything they had ever experienced. Blue, red and yellow triangle tassels reached across the vast ceilings, and adorned the ropes to massive tents. Aircraft parked around the room of various sizes and shapes, whilst others were almost suspended in time from the domes above. Bright lights illumated from different wings of the museum, whilst the soft glow from the action inside these cloth homes, enticed for a magical night. 

The twins, looking almost identical save for Edelweiss's green dimorphic marking, were almost impossible to tell apart. Yet, their slight differences in colors seemed to be the only differences they had. For, these two paras they greatly enjoyed causing mischief- and they enjoyed even more dragging along little Nutmeg to do the same. 

"Step Right up! Come one, come all! The game is about to begin!" 

"Let's go! There's no time to waste!" Milkthistle beckoned, practically knocking over both Eldeweiss and Nutmeg in the process... though both boys quickly chuckled and raced after their sister to see the event for themselves. "Wait up!" Little Nutmeg called as he tried to keep up with his shorter legs. 

It was there at the booth that they saw the game they were supposed to play, toss a ring around a rubber duck and win a prize... at least that's what the booth runner would continue to shout to any dinosaur that would pay them heed. The golden ducks innocently floated along in the water, their eyes black and Glazed over, beckoning for you to try whilst also foreboding a tragic end. Yet, they were so innocent in nature and lulled any sense of doubt to sleep. It was a simple concept for a game so truly, how hard could it be? Certainly that was what the trio concluded as they thought it over. This thing would be a piece of cake!  

"Give me one of those rings!" Eldeweiss demanded, quickly snapping one up into his mouth. 

"No, me first!" Milkthistle replied hastily, ripping the ring from his clutches before quickly tossing it at the ducks- and missing. The ring splashed against the water, before floating innocently on the surface.... calling for yet another attempt. 

"Ha! You call that a throw!" Eldeweiss chortled as it was his turn to attempt the feat. "Watch and learn!" He boasted, tossing the ring with much gusto at the ducks, only for his ring to meet the same fate as his sister's. 

"May I give it a try?" Little Nutmeg asked, his head slipping between his two siblings legs to peek at the pool of ducks and hopefully get his shot at trying. 

"Oh right, of course Nutmeg!" Milkthistle said almost apologetically, having entirely forgotten he was there in the excitement. 

"As if he's gonna get it-" Eldeweiss added, and was quickly silenced by a burning glare from Milkthistle. 

"Go right ahead buddy-" Eldeweiss finished, stepping aside to give his little brother a chance at ringing a duck. 

Excitedly, Nutmeg tramped up to the edge of the duck pool. The water glistened like a million stars from a far off galaxy in the night sky. Like liquid magic that filled his heart with indescribable hope and excitement. Grabbing the ring, and reaching over the edge of the pool with his front legs, Nutmeg tossed his one chance into the air. 

As it flew, the suspense was almost unbearable. Nutmeg was pleading for it to catch a duck, Eldeweiss was just in shock it was flying at all, and Milkthistle closed her eyes tight, too afraid to watch it unfold and the aftermath should Nutmeg fail. 

The ring clipped a ducks head, sending It careening into the water, bouncing back up with a pop, though the ring was no longer on it. Nutmegs toss had ultimately missed. 

And there it was, as the tears began to well into the little paras eyes, both twins knew that they couldn't let such an injustice stand... even if the kid wasn't a good shot. So, they began to whisper, lightly under their breaths. A mischevious fire lighting in their gazes as they continued to concoct something no one else could make out. Yet, when they had finished discussing, suddenly they were acting normal again. Sympathetic to their younger brothers plight. 

"Oh poor Nutmeg! Poor boy!!" Eldeweiss spoke, shaking his head in feigned sadness. 

"How could it have missed! This game must be rigged!" Milkthistle exclaimed in horror. 

As others began to look over at the booth with uncertainty and confusion, the shop keeper hastily jumped in to dissuade any such notions. 

"Please! Please!" The dinosaur begged in distress, "I assure you, the game is not rigged, it is merely a challenge." 

"Yeah right!" Eldeweiss scoffed. "All three of us tried and all three failed! It has to be rigged!" 

"Truly! With the right technique the ring most certainly will make its mark!" The booth runner insisted. 

"Please can we just go-" Nutmeg spoke up softly, now wanting nothing more than to leave, his disappointment immeasurable. 

"No way kiddo! " - "yeah! You're trying again!" Both twins said in unison. 

"Okay..." Nutmeg replied grabbing another ring and tossing. 

Only this time as he went, Eldeweiss and Milkthistle distracted the booth runner- pointing out some commotion closeby at another booth. Two dinosaurs had broken out into a brawl over a prize, though from where they stood you could hardly hear the full extent of what had happened. Yet, it was a perfect opportunity for the twins, who slyly, as the shopkeeper went to look over, slipped the second missed ring around the neck of one of the golden ducks.

 And just like that they began to cheer! "Way to go Nutmeg!!" They exclaimed, jumping up and down in exhurberent joy- forcing the booth runner to look back to see what had happened. To his surprise, or dismay, he saw the ring around one of the ducks. He wanted to call foul play, but because he didn't see it- how was he to know. 

"Wait but i-" Nutmeg began to argue and was quickly cut off by the twins. 

"Shhhhhh," they intervened, pushing Nutmeg up to the side counter where all the prizes are. 

"He won! Where's his prize!" 

"We'll, I.... uhhhhhh... I guess he did, win." The shop keep said nervously, before grabbing a falling apart stuffed bear and tossing it to Nutmeg. "Congrats kid." 

Though the bear was tattered, one eye missing, stuffing pouring out from its gut and left leg. The brown color was dingey and faded in spots- while parts of the ears and cheeks were stained with crusted mud. It was a sad sight of a prize, yet when Nutmeg held it and looked it over, the little Para was beyond excited for his new friend. 

"I won!!!" Nutmeg bellowed, prancing around in joy by the twins. " good work kid." The twins said in unison, smirking uncontrollably as they began to walk away. 

Once they were out of earshot to the booth, Nutmeg started to slow down before turning to Eldeweiss and Milkthistle. "I didn't actually win you know." He said, somewhat guiltily. "You guys cheated." 

"Yeahhhh.....we did." Eldeweiss spoke first, nudging Nutmeg gently with his front leg. 

"That game was rigged anyhow Kiddo" 

Milkthistle piped up, "if it hadn't been, you would have won just based on natural talent." 

Her comments earning an affirming nod from Eldeweiss. 

"But, if you really don't like the bear- you can always give it back!" She teased.To which Nutmeg quickly raced off, "no way! It's my bear! I won, remember!!" He yelled over his shoulder. The twins offered each other one last proud look for their grand accomplishment, before chasing off of their little brother into yet another tent to try their ploy again.