Okay, I'm going to be writing something completely different today because I'm getting a little tired of writing Phantom and Twilight stuff. I'm not going to stop writing, but I just want a little break, that's all. For this, I'm going to be writing something that I've never written before and I really hope you all like it! Please, Phantom phantics and Twilight buddies, give this story a chance! I'll love you all forever if you do!
The Pink Scarf
Two young children ran through the Court of Miracles, giggling as they reached the tent that hosted all the entertainment. Plopping down on one of the many pillows behind the other eager children, a few of the candles went out as the small curtain parted, revealing the puppeteer and Alek, the main puppet of the show.
"Bonjour, children! Ready for Clopin to tell you a story?" the puppeteer smiled, listening to laughs and replies of the kids. Looking over their heads, he found the two he had been searching for hours to find. "Alright then! What story do you want to hear today?"
"One about a princess!" Alek cut in, causing even more giggles to escape the children. They knew that a fight between the puppet and its master was about it ensue; it was always fun to watch!
"Non, Alek! The children must decide!" Clopin argued with himself.
"But what about me?"
"Nobody cares about you."
There was a large uproar from the children, protesting that Alek was important! Almost as important as the story itself!
"Fine, fine, everyone cares about Alek, but you all must agree on a story." Clopin declared, pretending to mope over his loss. Peeking through his half shut eyelids, he saw the perfect woman that would set off a perfect story. "How about the hunchback?"
"But everyone knows that story. Besides, Quasi wouldn't like it if you told a story about him." girl said, straightening her blue dress and messing with her headband. The story of listening about Quasimodo was getting old; didn't Clopin have anything new to tell them?
"Yes, I know everyone knows the story, but have you ever heard it from the lady's point of view?"
All the children in the tent brightened at this; they all knew who the lady was and were excited for the woman who treated them all so specially was going to be telling them a story!
"Clopin, you know I'm not a good story teller." She laughed from the back of the tent. Putting a piece of raven black hair behind her ear, her green eyes sparkled with amusement as she watched her Gypsy stumble for words; she always had this type of affect on him.
"What are you talking about? What is she talking about, Alek? Is she not the most talented woman in all of Paris? Children, can you help me convince this lovely lady that she can tell a story?"
"Please, lady, please tell the story!" Alek begged, his voice high and squeaky. All the other children gave the same plea, some asking kindly, some demanding. Finally, after much consideration and thought, the lady gave in. Walking up to the puppet stage, she sat cross-legged on one of the pillows. The two children who were sitting in the back followed the lady up to the front, the younger of the two sat in her lap while the other raced around to the back to grab Clopin from his position from behind the stage.
"So, you children want to know my story?" the lady's pretty voice asked, running her fingers through the child's hair.
A unanimous yes buzzed through the crowd, but there weren't just children sitting in the group anymore; there were adults who were interested in listening to the Gypsy woman's story of the hunchback that lived in the bell tower.
"Well, let's start from the Festival of Fools…"
Five Years Ago
"Dance, la Esmeralda, dance!" Clopin sang out my cue. I was blinded momentarily by the smoke as I rose through the trapdoor, but quickly regained myself as I heard whistles and cheers coming from the crowd. The Festival of Fools. Everyone's favorite day of the year; I believe it even beats out that holiday that they celebrate…what was it called? Oh yeah, Christmas!
Twirling my body around and around, I loved how the silk cloth of my skirts and dress clung to my body, how the sun made me sweat, and the looks of lust that the men gave me as I continued my dance. I see that Frollo has come to the festival, as he has every year, but there seems to be someone else with him…a handsome someone to boot!
Cart-wheeling over, I jumped onto his lap, wrapping my sparkling scarf around his sagging neck, leaning in as to give him a kiss, but pulled his hat down and smacking his chest at the last second. Dancing my way back over, I grabbed one of the many soldier's spear, plunging it into the ground and performing my last part of my act.
Twirling around and around, I thought I would never reach the end, which didn't bother me; dancing was the only time I felt free in this city. Reaching the end of the staff, I nodded my head towards my life-long friend, letting him know that it was time to do our favorite part of the festival: crowing the King of Fools. It has been a tradition of mine and Clopin's since we were young and we, so far, have no plans on giving it up!
"Ugly folks, forget your shyness!" Clopin cried out, searching for people we could pull up. I soon spotted the man who nearly knocked my tent down; he was still wearing that cloak, too! It was so hot outside! How could he possibly stand the heat?
"You can soon be called Your Highness!"
This man's mask was great; I have to pull him up! I wonder what he looks like underneath all that make-up and the mask. Grasping the man's hand, I also notice that he has a fake hunchback. This man definitely went all out for this festival.
One after another, Clopin and I kicked them off the stage, with the help of Djali of course, and I was more than excited when we reached the man I had pulled up. Grasping his face, I expected to feel the rough edges of a mask or some type of make-up to rub off onto my fingers, but I didn't. I tugged, just like I had with all the other men, but this mask wouldn't budge! I pulled harder and harder until it dawned on me: this wasn't a mask. This was his face. Releasing his face, I gasped and took a few steps away, not out of revulsion or horror, but merely out of shock; I wasn't expecting him to be…for his face to be…real. The crowd followed suit with gasps coming from the men, several women fainted on the spot! Why would the women even bother coming to this event if they couldn't stomach seeing a deformed man? This, after all, was the Festival of Fools.
I could tell Clopin was panicking; he hated losing a crowd, especially when another man was showing him up or getting more attention than him. Jumping back up onto the stage, I smiled as my attention hogging friend took over the spotlight.
"Ladies and gentleman, don't panic. Didn't we ask for the ugliest man in Paris? Well, here he is! Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame!" he cried over the roar of the crowd. With the reassurance of Clopin, everyone seemed to accept the man, or Quasimodo as Clopin called him, and brought him up onto his throne and leading him to the middle of the square. Turning around to dance for the men and women who couldn't get a clear view of the new King of Fools, when I was met with a hateful, but somewhat lustful glare, from Frollo. What was he staring at? Was it me? Or was it that man, who was now officially crowned and robed. Perhaps dancing wasn't such a good idea…Perhaps I should put on something less revealing! Walking back to my tent, I found my usual clothes and changed as fast as I could. Tying my pink headband into my thick, raven hair, I heard shouting and laughter. Stepping outside, I saw the man who I had pulled up and crowned him king, was now tied down, his shirt torn open, and produce being thrown at him.
"Permission to stop this, sir." I heard the guard ask the judge, who simply ignored the man and watched the hunchback back with an evil grin. I couldn't take it! This man had done nothing wrong and the man who was supposed to be considered the holiest and most lawful man in the city wasn't going to do anything!
Pushing my way through the drunk and smelly crowd, I finally reached the stairs, where I found Clopin knocked out; a gash on his forehead. What the hell was wrong with these people? Just because this boy and my people were different that gave them the right to treat us like dirt?
"Master, why won't you help me?" I heard the man cry. Turning my attention to my bleeding friend, I promised him silently that I would return and slowly made my way up the narrow set of stairs and once I reached the top, there was dead silence over the crowd. Kneeling in front of the filth covered man, I pulled on of the many scarves that I kept with me, and began to wipe off the rotting fruit and vegetables off of his body. I was horrified that he had flinched; he shouldn't be afraid of me! I was trying to help him! But then, I remembered that I was the one who had gotten him into this mess. This was all my fault.
"Don't be afraid. I promise I, or anyone else, will hurt you," I whispered soothingly, "I never meant for this to happen."
I could feel him lean into my touch and I gave a hint of a smile, but it disappeared as I heard the voice of the man I despised the most, "Gypsy, get down from there at once!"
"Yes, you honor, but first let me help this poor man." I called back, trying to sound calm and cool when I was all ready to beat the life out of that wretched old man.
"I'll not allow you to do such a thing!"
That was it; I couldn't take it anymore! Pulling the knife out the knife that I concealed within the folds of my skirts and cut the thick ropes in one strong tug. Putting an arm around the poor boy, I set him down next to Clopin, who seemed to be regaining some form of consciousness, and turned back to that disgusting excuse for a judge.
"You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat us! You are cruel and vile and even more so to those who truly need your help!"
"You will not speak another-"
"Justice!" I cried, shocking everyone that I was standing up to Frollo. I have never been a very emotional person, ever since I lost my parents, but this man…this man was enough to drive a priest insane!
"Mark my words, Gypsy, you'll pay with you life for this!" he growled, pointing his ugly finger at me.
"Then I guess we have crowned wrong, Clopin," I laughed, looking down at my semi-awakened friend, "because the only fool I see here, is him!"
Grabbing the crown off of man's head, I tossed it at Frollo's feet, feeling a bit sad that it hadn't hit him in the head!
"Captain Phoebus, arrest her." I heard. So, the handsome guard was completely loyal to the judge? I think he lost some of his charm just now. Clicking my tongue to call Djali, I watched as the guards encircled us. Counting, I could see that there were ten guards and I had to find some magical way to get me, Djali, and Clopin out of here without getting harmed…
"So, there's ten of you and only one of me. What is a poor girl like me to do?" I sobbed, blowing a sneeze into my handkerchief, making sure that my goat and Clopin were holding onto my skirts, we disappeared in a cloud of red smoke.
The only sound to be heard was the collective gasps of awe and cheering coming from the people who had treated us so badly.
Let me know what you all think! I need to get to bed so I'm going to make this quick; whether or not I get any reviews for this, I'll write it and finish it. The lady at the beginning was Esmeralda, if you couldn't guess, and the whole story, until the end, will be from her POV. So, I hope you enjoy this and I promise that the chapters will get better; it's just getting really late and I've been working on this for days! Good night and have fun reading. Oh, I nearly forgot: REVIEW!
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