fEsTiVaL oF fOoLs
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     I looked around at all the strange things that were happening at the festival. Dogs walking men, Two headed animals, No headed animals! Every thing was upside down, inside out, backwards, or flipped. It was so chaotic that I thought that everyone had lost their minds. Esmeralda grabbed me on the shouolder, "This is the Festival of Fools where everything is topsy turvy." she began to explain, "Takes this," she handed me the gold Phoebus had given her. "Go have some fun, if you need me i'll be in the Red-orange tent behind center stage," She went towards her tent and i walked into the festival, enjoying the music and taking in the happy atmosphere all around. I had not forgotten about Quasi and i enjoyed myself while looking for him.
     I picked up a strange looking croisant when i say the hood in the middle of the crowd. It was Quasimodo in disguise probably looking for me. I decided to follow him and not call his name since he was trying to be hidden. Suddenly a man wearing a strange colored mask and colorful clothing grabbed me, the instruments lit up and he began to sing. "Come one, come all!" everyone began to sing with him,
     "Close the churches and the schools
          It's the day for breaking rules
          Come and join the feast of ...
          FOOLS! HAHAHA!"
     People in strange costumes began to appear, men with balloon heads, women with beards, a chef being cooked by a lobster, all strange designs and ideas. The festival had officially begun! I ran trying to keep up with Quasi but the crowd pushed me too far back for me to keep up. I looked around frantically and I saw Frollo take his seat at a tent accomponied by Pheobus. I ran there to find some help, I came to Frollo who saw me coming.
     "Yes? What do you want?" Frollo said in a disgusted manner
     "I need some help..." I was interrupted.
     "I'm sorry, i know nothing of the Festival," He said abrubtly, "Go ask on of the evil gypsys or a Fool," I didn't move out of suprise of his answer. He had said it so mean and filled with anger and annoyance. He then realized i hadn't moved, "MOVE!" Pheobus came up to me on top of his horse Achilles. "GO!" Pheobus said shouting, he then leaned closer and whispered, "Find the main stage and stay there, go out to your left after the first performance and you'll be out of the Festival." I nodded and walked off. <Well that was useless> i thought to myself. I needed to find Quasi, or Esmerelda... I felt stupid, she was at center stage, and she had just told me she would be there, I headed to center stage to see the masked man jump over me still singing,
     "Come one, come all!
          Hurry, hurry, here's your chance
          See the myst'ry and romance
          Come one, come all
          See the finest girl in France
          Make an entrance to entrance
          Dance la Esmeralda
          Dance!"
     He threw a smoke ball down and a red smoke appeared around him, When it had cleared it was Esmerelda dancing in red clothing. I looked away and saw Quasi looking up at the stage, I ran to him, "Quasi there you are."
     "Oh finally i found you," he replied, "Isn't it wonderful?"
     "The dance?"
     "That and the festival, all the colors, the sounds, the fun, Oh i've dreamed of this day all my life!"
     "What? don't they do this every year? That's what the man with the mask was singing about!"
     "You mean Clopin was singing?" he asked, "Yes it is every year but Master wouldn't let me down from the bell tower, he said the world is too cruel and would not treat me well, It was safer up there... but i had to know so i snuck out, plus i found you!" I smiled up at him, this man had never left that tower, i felt bad for him, he had no fun, no friends but the gargoyles, he was alone.
     Clopin grabbed me from behind and threw me on stage with Esmerelda who had just concluded her dance. She caught me and looked at me, "Seems like you got yourself a spotlight huh?" she said, I looked around dazed, "I guess so!" I said smiling. Clopin began to sing out to the crowd once more,
     "Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for
          Here it is, you know exactly what's in store
          Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore
          Now's the time we crown the King of Fools!
          So make a face that's horrible and frightening
          Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
          For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools!"
     People with giant masks hiding the entirety of their heads jumped onto the stage, Esmerelda and I began to help them up, then i saw Quasi was on stage. Esmerelda went and removed the first make, Underneath was a man making a face, Esmerelda's goat came behind and butted him off stage. They went down the line throwing off loser after loser until she got to Quasi. She pulled his face thinking it was a mask and realized it was real. She gasped as everyone in the crowd stood in fear at his hideousness. "People Do not panic," Clopin quickly said, "We said we wanted the ugliest face and here it is, Quasimodo the Bellringer, Our new King of Fools!" Everyone began to cheer as i relaxed that Qausi had not been shunned as Frollo had said he would but instead was embraced by them.
     Frollo! he was watching from his tent! I turned to see him quite angered at Quasi's Disobedience. Quasi was crowned with his hat and was thrown up onto the king's seat. Clopin jumped infront as he led a parade for Quasimodo, he finished up with the final verse of his song,
     "And it's the day we do the things that we deplore
          On the other three hundred and sixty-four
          Once a year we love to drop in
          Where the beer is never stoppin
          For the chance to pop some popinjay
          And pick a king who'll put the "top" in
          Topsy Turvy Day!
          Mad and crazy, upsy-daisy, Topsy Turvy Day!"
     Quasi stood on the town square while flowers were being thrown to him. I looked at Esmerelda, "Well he seems happy!"
     "Yes he does," she responded, "I'm glad that he is," Slowly the sun begathn to go down and clouds were beginning to form in the purple red sprayed skies. I felt as though I could no longer breathe as the wind vanished and all the sounds around me left. I just stood there in shock, no movement, no thinking, nothing. I began to fall back as Esmerelda caught me. My head tilted towards the crowd and I saw a figure like a fog dancing through the crowd getting closer to me. It reached me and began to speak. "I am the shadow of the day, it is soon to be night, i would run if i were you! Once the sun is gone i will be free to do as i please with this world," It began to chuckle as it flew up and became part of the clouds.
     I came back to the world to see Quasi get hit in the face by a tomato. Some people started throwing fruits and vegetables at him he slipped on some and fell down. The continued to hit him with objects and their fists if they could reach him. Ropes were thrown as he was pulled to the ground, he tried to resist. He ripped his clothes and pulled men towards him with his unusual strength. I stood in shock as the crowd continued to abuse him. Esmerelda jumped down into the crowd in a rush. "MAsTER!" yelled the bellringer to Frollo, "Master please HELP ME!" Frollo didn't move a bit. "HAIL TO THE KING OF FOOLS!" said the lieutenant of the guards in mockery. I looked at Frollo and caught his attention, "Oh Mighty Judge Frollo," I yelled to him with all my might, "Cease this madness and give peice in this day of festivities! There is no need for this i beseech you, STOP IT!"
     "Shall I stop them sir?" asked Pheobus impatiently as Quasi was tied to the spinning wheel, Round and round he went getting hit by all sorts of things. His face turning black from the bruises and blood dripping out of his lip. "MASTER!" he yelled once more, "HELP ME!"
     "Sir, request permission to stop this cruelty sir" Pheobus said more impatient than before, ready to draw his sword with necessary. "In Just a moment captain!" Frollo finally replied as he leaned back into the shadows of his tent, "A lesson need to be learned here." He smiled as Quasi was whipped by a rope to his left side. He cried in pain and agony then it just ceased. No one spoke, no one moved, just as Esmerelda came onto the platform, the sun still setting. She kneeled next to him and with the ribbon reached to clean him. Quasi twinged in fear, "Don't worry," she consoled, "I'm not going to hurt you," She put the cloth onto his face and began to clean him. I ran across the crowd and joined her there, I crapped a bottle of water and began it onto his wounds. I tore a peice of my dirty shirt and began to wipe away the blood. "This wasn't supposed to happen," Esmerelda apologized.
     "YOU!" yelled Frollo, "Gypsy Girl! get down at once! As well as you peasant boy!"
     "Yes sir," I responded, "But first i will finish cleaning him" i knelt and continued to clean him, "And i will not come down," Esmerelda added, "Untill he is free!"
     "I Forbid it!" shouted Frollo now standing to show that he was of greater stature, "I Promise you that if you do..." She takes out a knife and cuts the roped freeing Quasi from his hellish punishment. "HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME!" Yelled Frollo in anger.
     "YOU MISTREAT THIS BOY WHEN YOU SAY YOU SPEAK OF JUSTICE?" Esmerelda retorted, "YOU MISTREAT HIM LIKE YOU MISTREAT MY PEOPLE! YOU CANNOT SPEAK OF JUSTICE WHEN YOU ARE CRUEL TO OTHERS!"
     "SILENCE!" answered Frollo.
     "JUSTICE!" I yelled abrubtly.
     "You will pay for this insolence mark my words..." Frollo threatened
     "Well it seems we crowned the wrong fool," Esmerelda proclaimed, "The only fool i see is YOU!" Esmerelda takes the crown off of Quasi's head and throws it. It lands in front of Frollo's feet who looks at it in Anger, "ARREST THEM!" commanded Frollo, The guards obeyed and began to surround us. "Let's see... 1...2.3,4,5,6.... so there's 10 of you and 2 of us. What are we to do?" She blew into the handkercheif and dissappeared. I stood aone with the guards, the sword appeared again in my hands. It was heavy and was lined with gold. "Let's do this!"
     "Yoohoo, oh boys," came a voice from behind the guards, there was Esmerelda hiding with a pile of masks. The guards turned as I bashed them on the head leaving them unconsious. "Look out," shouted Esmerelda as i ducked and two guards tripped over me. "Thanks," I shouted back as she jumped into the crowd and was carried to the other end. I did the same when the guards tried to jump, the crowd parted and they fall onto the ground. "Ooh that's got to hurt," I said.
     Esmerelda continued to take them around as I ran to frollo's seat and made a face at him. He was angered as I jumped onto the tent and brought it down on him. As i jumped down a helmet flew and almost hit Pheobus on the head, He quickly ducked and it pinned the tent to the wooden posts behind. "What a women," He said after realizing Esmerelda had stolen it from a guard and thrown it at him. Once again at the center stage Esmerelda grabs a sheet and covers herself and vanishes. I stood there alone now, infront of Frollo's destroyed tent as two guards grabbed me.
     "YOU BOY!" Frollo yelled in fury, "Arrest him and whip him 10 times for his insolence."
     "Sir," Pheobus retorted, "That is too cruel a punishment for a boy."
     "DO IT!" Frollo screamed.
     "Yes sir," The removed my jacket and ripped my shirt to reveal my bare back. I was forced over where Quasi was lying in fear and regret. I was kneeled next to him, I looked him in the face. He looked at me in sorrow because of what was going to happen. "It's ok," I assured him, "I won't let them hit me."
     "This," Frollo began, "Is to show all the people of France that insolence will not be tolerated," The whip was raised as Finally the sunset and everything went black. "I can't see," yelled a guard, "What happened to the moon? The light,"The jewels in my gloves began to shine as two blades appeared appeared in each hand, A silver colored handle with an emblem resembling a mouse on it held the thin blades as sharp as the wind. The two swords could be placed in one hand to create a single sword, twin blade katanas. "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!" sad a booming voice from the sky, "Now you well suffer the shadow of the day." I creature fell before me as if made of air. It twisted until it fully formed into what seemed like a sun that emitted darkness instead of light. It shrunk until it was heart shaped and a body created around it still sucking all of the light out of the place.
     "I've been waiting for this moment," It said to me, "To take the the altered heart of a human." It looked exactly like a human being but with no facial characteristics, no nose, just two eyes and a mouth on what seemed a flat surface. "What do you want?" i asked him, "Why my heart?"
     "I need real hearts to live," it explained, "I stole the heart of a sun from another world. Only by stealing hurts can one live fully, the first to take an altered heart becomes all powerful and controls all hearts and will," It lunged at me as i dodged it, "and you have the perfect heart to do that. Come, it will not hurt, much..." It attacked once more as i jumped and cut it on it's arm with my swords. "heh...hehehehehe." It continued to laugh crazily, "You think that wil defeat me?"
     "No," I said, "but this will," I lunged at him and stabbed it in the heart." It grunted as the sword hit it square in the chest and peirced it's vital life. No blood came out just a wound. It groaned as the sword pushed itself through the other side. "You may kill me," it said, "but it won't stop me from stealing another's heart," It reached to grab my heart but i pulled back just in time. "Keir!" said Neome in my head, "grab an object to become it's prison, a jar, a box, anything!" I frantically looked around and found Esmerelda's Bandana. "Will this work?"
     "Yes, now just hold it against it and say 'heartless shadows, feel this sorrow, alone in here, you shall fear' quickly say it" I lifted the bandana as the Shadow of the Sun charged at me, "YOUR HEART IS MINE!"
     I raised the bandana and looked away, "Heartless shadow, feel this sorrow, alone in here, you shall fear!" A light came off the bandana as the shadow fell before me and began to distort into odd shapes and melt in the ground, It shrieked in pain and was slowly pulled into the bandana. The peice of cloth turned black for a millisecond then returned to it's color. I got up as the moon came out and light was seen once more, but clouds covered the skies and it began to rain. I grabbed my jacket from a guard who stood stunned. I put it on and stuck the bandana in my pocket and grabbed Quasimodo. "Let's go," I said to him as i helped him through the doors of Notre Dame. The crowd stared as we slowly closed the doors and Quasi looked down in shame.
     
                                           Different Perspective
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     Frollo: WELL WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WHERE ARE THE GYPSY AND THE BOY?
     Guard: In Notre Dame sir, we can do nothing, they have called Sanctuary
     Frollo: Keep a guard at every door then! They can't stay in there forever. (He looks down and sees that Keir dropped the bandana, he picks it up) I promise Gypsy, i will get you...