A Day Before the Posters Went Up

Tooth Fairy Land smelled like peppermint and sounded like little bells.

Every tooth that ever fell out of a child's mouth landed here — soft and safe — in a place full of bouncy pink clouds, candy-stripe bridges, and rivers that sparkled like mouthwash.

Sierra skipped along the main path, humming to herself and brushing her bright white surface as she walked. Her pink bow caught a little breeze.

"Good morning, Gulch!" she sang to no one in particular.

Then she stopped.

A giant banner was being stretched across the sky — glittery letters, enormous and bold.

Sierra squinted up at it.

"The… Giggle Games?" she whispered.

A Voice from the Wobble

Sierra stared up at the banner until a loud CRACK made the ground shudder beneath her.

Then another crack. And another.

Pink clouds tumbled sideways. A candy-stripe bridge swayed and groaned.

"That's not supposed to happen," she said.

Above the shaking, a strange drone buzzed low over the Gulch. It was small and yellow, shaped like a molar, and it kept dropping paper flyers that fluttered down like snow.

Sierra caught one.

*ATTENTION, TEETH OF THE GULCH. THE GIGGLE GAMES START NOW. ALL PLAYERS MUST REPORT TO THE BOUNCE BOWL. MISSING THE OPENING MEANS DISQUALIFICATION.*

Another crack. Louder this time.