Flanz - Assenine Antics

Makepeace stepped forward, extended a graceful and courteous gesture toward Flanz-le-Flore, donning his most princely smile and doffing his tricorn hat. "O beauteous queen of fae, neighbor and even sometime friend to my kingdom, the good hero has experienced much difficulty of late, and is in no proper state of mind to consider such serious matters of the heart. Would it be not prudent to allow him first to rest and reflect on your offer, so that your marriage might be one made in love's true embrace, rather than—"

He got no further, because Flanz-le-Flore snapped her fingers and Makepeace's head became a donkey's. The rest of the speech emerged as pneumatic braying, accordion-like.

The entire court erupted in laughter at the ass in princely armor, laughing and pointing and tumbling out of their trees and floating to the ground like feathers. The attendants attempting to crown Jay laughed, Flanz-le-Flore laughed, the dueling mouse and sparrow laughed, and Jay realized he was laughing too. He couldn't help it. Makepeace slowly realized his changed state. His inset eyes flickered alarm as his hands reached to pat his elongated snout and he brayed frantic dismay. But then Makepeace's brief moment of alarm passed. The braying changed from panic to laughter, as though he were in on the joke and not its butt, and he followed it with a bow and a folksy style of tapdancing made only slightly ungainly by the armor he wore. The ungainliness added to its comic mode.

***

"How surprising," said Flanz-le-Flore. "It may have taken four hundred years, but the seed of John Coke finally learned the meaning of humor. Well done, so very well done indeed!" As if in reward for his efforts, she snapped her fingers and Makepeace's head returned to normal.

***

[6] Trickery, Stage Machinery