GW: Here's chapter 2, where we'll meet Ed, his pals, the gargoyles, and extras with Naraku.
Ed: Glowworm, will that mean guy be there again?
GW: Wait and see, Ed.
The Life of Ed
Years have passed since Naraku took in Ed, and since then, the child had grown up.
A preteen boy came out of the bell tower and watched the scene below. He had yellow skin, black fuzz on his head, a monobrow, a blissfully stupid smile stretched on his face, and was wearing a red and white shirt under a green jacket, blue jeans, and sneakers. He was Ed, the one Naraku took in.
He smiled. Today, hopefully, was a very special day.
He walked on until he sees a small baby Taillow, who was currently resting in a statue's mouth. Ed laughed. He had been watching the baby bird Pokemon for a little while and now today was a special day for this one.
"Hey there, little birdie," Ed greeted.
Although Ed looked scary, the Taillow wasn't afraid because he knew Ed was nice.
"Today's the big day, isn't it? Are you going to fly to the unknown regions of Zygon and defeat the Mud Monsters?" Since the Taillow was used to Ed's weird non-sequiters, it didn't find that sentence weird. But, it did chirp in concern because of flying.
Ed frowned as he could tell what the baby Taillow was thinking. He said, "Oh, come on, it is alright to trust me because I am smart and it is special today." He picked up the Taillow as he continued, "If I wanted any day to fly, this would be it. Today's the…um…Oh, yeah! Today's The Festival of Fools!"
Ed grinned as he showed the bird some activity below. Today was the day of the annual Festival of Fools, where people would go out and be fools. The Taillow looked concerned however.
"Yeah. It is so fun with juggles, music, and dancing. And chickens are down there as well," said Ed with a chuckle.
But he then sighed sadly. For you see, he dreamed of one day being allowed to go out into the open and be along the people. Sadly, his master and the one who took care of him, Naraku, refused his and his friends requests and always found a way to make poor Ed and his two comrades stay.
Ed let the Taillow go slowly. The bird Pokemon's instincts took over as it began to flaps its wings. The bird smiled, then realized what it was doing. Alarmed, the bird returned to Ed's hand. The Pokemon looked as it saw another flock Taillows flying by, in a 'V' pattern. It smiled, wanting to fly with them.
"Come on, off you go, little fella. No one should stay locked up here forever!" insisted the big lovable oaf with a smile. The Taillow nodded as it began to fly off, at last. Ed smiled, but then looked sad. The bird was lucky. It got to fly around free, while she had to remain trapped in Cartoonre Dame. She hoped to leave...one day.
Then, two other boys about Ed's age came up to him. One had a black sock-hat on his head and wore a red shirt, purple shorts, and black shoes. He was Edd, or Double D.
The other was short with three hairs on his head, and was wearing a yellow shirt with a red stripe on it, blue jeans, and sneakers. He was Eddy, and these two were Ed's friends.
"Bravo, Ed! You handled that very well and made a bird fly to his friends!" Edd complimented, getting a half-hearted, "Thanks, Double D," from Ed.
"Did that bird have two quarters in its mouth!?" Eddy asked, still mad that the two quarters he got from the authoress' first story wasn't in his pockets.
Ed didn't reply as Edd scolded his friend, "Eddy, can't you compliment
Ed for helping someone solve their problem?"
"Not if that problem was a bird!" Eddy snapped.
Suddenly, some spitting and coughing could be heard. The Eds turned as they saw that the statue the bird was in had came to life. It was a girl with pink hair in two buns, pale violet eyes, and wearing a red and gold kimono, black boots, and an umbrella by her side. Next to her was a giant white dog. She was Kagura and her pet Sadaharu.
"Oh, gross, finally! I thought he was gonna stay forever! My mouth is gonna take forever to get out all the feathers, uh-huh!" yelled Kagura in disgust as she continued spitting out feathers. Sadaharu also growled as he spat feathers out as well.
Chuckling was then heard as another statue transformed. It turned into a boy with black hair, violet eyes, and he wore glasses, a white shirt, and blue pants. He was Shinpachi.
"Well, come on, you asked for it the moment you left your mouth open while sleeping," said Shinpachi in amusement. Kagura then glared at her friend while Sadaharu bit Shinpachi's head for his master.
"Very amusing. Go go scare your momma, yep-yep!" snapped Kagura while Sadaharu backed off. She noticed Ed looking down to the crowd below and stood next to him. "Hey, what's going on below, Ed, my man? Is there a street fight? A flogging?"
"Nope, just a festival."
"Oh, you mean the Feastival of Fools?!"
Ed sighed sadly as she said, "Yeah. That is the one."
"Oh, I love the festival!" Edd said cheerfully. "The colors. The culture!"
"The gypsy girls! The profit of scamming pigeons!" Eddy chuckled greedily.
"Oh, yeah! Pour the whine and cut the cheese, uh-huh!" said Kagura grinning.
"You got that right. It's a treat to watch the colorful pageantry of the simple peasant folk," said Shinpachi as he nods.
"Boy, nothing like balcony seats for watching the old F.O.F!" Eddy said
"Of course. Watch," said Ed said glumly, groaning as he walked in. What fun is it to watch the Feastival of Fools?
"Oh, look, a drunk pirate, yep," said Kagura mischieviously. She and her pet were about to spit, but Shinpachi and Edd covered their mouths and gave them stern looks. Kagura groaned as she was forced to swallow. She hated it when Shinpachi ruined her fun! As the boys let go, Ed's friends noticed the lummox going back inside.
"Hey, Monobrow? What's going on with you?" asked Eddy as he and the others looked concerned for their friend.
"Yes, Ed," said Edd in concern. He knew Ed was depressed, being that he and Eddy were also cooped up here with their friend as well.
"What's with him, huh?" Kagura asked
"Maybe he's sick," Shinpachi guessed.
"Ha! Baka," A young man came in. He had curly silver hair, dark eyes, and wore a white coat over a black shirt, pants, and boots. He also had a wooden sword by his side. He was Sakata 'Gin' Gintoki. "Come on, if all these years of listening to you all haven't made him sick by now, nothing will!"
"True, but Ed always enjoyed watching the Festivals of Fools. It's always a highlight for him, like petting chickens are being lathered with butter," Shinpachi agreed, but still annoyed by Gin's remark towards him and Kagura.
"Yeah, but what good is watching the party if you never get to go to hear it?" Gin stopped as he looked annoyed.
A bunch of owls about to stand all over him. The owls always wanted to use him for a place to sit on. He shooed them away, yelling, "Get out of here! Just because I have naturally permed hair doesn't mean you can use me as a rest stop!" Once the owls left, Gin continued, "Those three kids aren't made of stone, like us!"
The three statues, including the dog, agreed. They then went inside. They saw Ed sitting in front of a table, looking depressed, while Edd and Eddy sat with him, also looking depressed. In front of the tall Ed-boy were models of the city and figures. It was a hobby of his. He liked to make them and play with them.
Edd put a hand on Ed's shoulder and said calmly, "Ed, what's the matter? You want to tell me all about it?"
"Oh, Double D. I...I just don't feel like watching the festival, that's all," said Ed with a sigh.
"Well then, if you don't wanna watch, did you ever think about going there instead?" Eddy asked.
Ed looked at his friend, surprised. He would of been excited but instead, he looked concern. He said, "Guys! I'll never fit down there. I'm not…normal."
"Oh, Ed, my poor deluded friend..." Gin noticed a bird landing in front of him. He shooed it off, yelling, "Hey! I want a moment with the kid, if you don't mind!"
"This is the reason I hate birds," Eddy muttered.
"Come on, Eds, quit beating around the bell tower. What do we have to do? Paint your fresco?" asked Shinpachi.
"Ed, as your good friends and guardians for years, we insist that you and your two comrades go to the festival, yeah-huh," said Kagura. She wouldn't be happy unless her pals went to see the festival itself.
"Wait, Me?!" asked Ed in disbelief.
"No, the King, moron," said Eddy sarcastically as he pops a figure of the King Mickey in Ed's mouth. "Of course, you!!"
"Yes. It would be a very educational experience for us," said Edd with a grin.
"Wine, women, and songs," Kagura said, while juggling figures and hitting them off of Sadaharu's head.
"You can learn identify various regional cheeses."
"Bobbing for apples!" said Shinpachi, excited.
"And you might become butter-toast," added Gin.
"Play a game of dunk the monk," added Kagura as she took a bucket of water and slamed it on Shinpachi's head, getting on his nerves a bit.
Gin rolled his eyes. Those two could be so immature, at times. Well, he wasn't one to talk, but whatever.
He continued, "Take a word of advice from these old spectators: 'Life's not a spectator sport.' If watching's all you're going to do, then you're going to watch your life go by without you."
"Wow, that was pretty deep, Sakata," Edd said, while Gin just nodded his thanks.
"Yeah, sure you are a little different, both inside and out, but you're human, with the flesh, and the hair, and the navel lint. We're just part of the architecture, right Shin-chan?" Kagura asked.
"True, but if you chip, do we not flake? If you moisten us, do we not grow moist?" added Shinpachi as he got the bucket off. He then shoved the bucket over Kagura's head.
Eddy chuckled as he continues, "Anyway, it's easy. Just grab some fresh clothes and a clean pair of hose and…"
Ed groans as he interrupted, "Thanks for trying, but you're all forgetting one thing?"
"What?" asked the friends at once.
"That mean guy, Naraku," groaned Ed as he picking up a figure of Naraku.
"Oh, right," groaned they others, realizing he was right. They knew Naraku had forbidden the poor Eds from leaving the bell tower. If Naraku were to catch either one of the Eds in the open, it would be bad news for them.
"Stupid loop-holes," Eddy muttered as Edd said nervously, "Oh, my. That is troubling."
"Well, when he said you're forbidden from ever leaving the bell tower, does he mean 'never ever'?" asked Shinpachi, hoping to catch a loophole.
"Never ever, and he hates the Festival of Fools. He'd be very angry if I even asked to go." said Ed glumly.
Eddy grinned as he said, "Well, no one said that you had to ask..."
"Oh, my..." said Edd. He knew what his short, scamming friend was thinking...and looked concerned.
"Here's how it goes; we sneak out..."
"I can't, Eddy..."
"And then we sneak back in!" concluded Eddy eagerly.
"Yeah! I like where this is going! Naraku won't know you were out of the bell tower," said Gin, liking this idea.
"Well, yes! But what if we get caught?" asked Edd, freaking out.
"Well, better beg forgiveness than to ask permission," said Shinpachi with a shrug.
"Just wear a disguise and be yourself!" insisted Kagura as she got a cloak and put it around her pet. "There has to be other kids like you in the festival. Besides, what Naraku doesn't know can't hurt you."
"Ignorance is bliss," Shinpachi rolled his eyes.
"Look who's talking," Kagura glared daggers at Shinpachi for what he just remarked.
"Like you said before, nobody wants to stay cooped up here forever," insisted Edd, reminding Ed what he told the Taillow before.
Ed paused and thought about this for a few minutes. If he went, there was the possibility that Naraku could find him and he would get into serious trouble? But if he didn't go to the festival...he would miss out entirely.
Ed knew then that his pals were right. If the Taillow shouldn't have stayed cooped up in the bell tower forever, why should he?
"You're right! I will go!" Ed said eagerly, resulting in her friends to cheer, even Edd, who was slightly worried. He, while grabbing his two friends, headed inside the bell tower and he began to make plans. "I'll storm down the stairs. I'll march through the door and...?"
Ed was cut short however as a familiar figure appeared, making him scream in alarm. It was Naraku! The Minister of Justice always come by to visit Ed to raise and trained her. The Eds looked alarmed as eight figures were behind the imposing figure. The first was a cat-boy with spiky yellow hair with a purple blotch on it, purple eyes, and he was sporting a sleeveless purple shirt with a picture of a dog on it, a pink-and-yellow shirt underneath, purple pants with hints of dark purple and yellow on it, purple gloves with outlines of a dog in one and of a cat in another one, and he also had a purple cat tail with white stripes on it. This was Odd Della Robbia.
The second was a green robotic monkey with large black eyes. He was Otto.
The third and fourth were two boys wearing red monk outfits. One was a small boy with a round, bald head and the other was a Brazilian teen with brown hair and green eyes. They were Omi and Raimundo.
The fifth was a girl with short curly brown hair and blue eyes. She wears a red shirt with a blue skirt, and brown sandals. She also wears an apron over her skirt. On her shoulder was a green fairy with light green eyes, long blonde hair, and pink wings. She wears a pink flower dress and has no shoes. The girl was Rowan and her fairy was Spritekin.
The sixth was an older boy with curly brown hair and blue eyes. He wears a brown shirt, blue jeans, and black loafers. Next to him was a dog with navy colored fur and light grey eyes. She also wears a black choker with a golden name tag. The boy was Elijah, Rowan's brother and his dog Azure.
The seventh was a girl with long blonde hair and dark blue eyes with a scar running down the right eye and a black eye-patch on the left. She wears a red tank top under a blue denim jacket, blue torn bell-bottoms, and black knee-high boots, and a red bandanna. On her shoulder was a falcon with a blue body, a yellow stomach, black eyes with yellow rings around them, and yellow talons and a black beak. She was Arwen, Elijah's girlfriend, and her falcon Gus.
The last was a young boy with blown-back blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. He was Dash Parr. They were all taken in by Naraku to be his personal helpers. And they hated him, but stayed so they can have a place to stay.
"Good morning, Ed, Edd, and Eddy," said Naraku with a smile that could kill if possible.
"Oh, good morning, Naraku," said the boys as they back up a bit.
"Hello, my weird-behaving friends," Omi said while bowing. The others all said, "'Morning, Ed, Edd, and Eddy," or something along those lines. They were all friends of the Eds and treated them kindly.
While Naraku looked at his helpers sternly, the three Eds saw that their friends had turned back to stone. They always did that so that no one, but Ed and his two friends, would know about their secret.
"My dear boys, who ever were you talking to, just now?" Naraku asked
"We were just talking to each other, Naraku," Edd was about to say until Ed said, "Just the statues." The assistants looked sympathetically while Odd chuckled, "A little creepy," thus getting smacked by Arwen. "What?" the cat-boy asked her, which she ignored.
"I see..." said Naraku as he observed the statues and tapped the stone of Shinpachi. She knew Ed liked to talk to the statues and liked to tease him on the fact. "Ed, do remind me: what are your friends made out of?"
"Stone," said Ed with a sigh, knowing he and Naraku had been through this many times before.
"Yes. Now tell me, does stone have the ability to talk?"
"No, it doesn't." Eddy, Edd, and the assistants glared at Naraku for making fun of Ed as Rai mumbled low to his friends, "Jerk-face"
Thankfully, Naraku didn't hear as he smiled and said, "Very good; you're learning fast." He then went to a table nearby and took out a basket. "Now then, time for lunch."
Ed grabbed a tray where he usually put the dishes at. He came back to the table and placed each dish in front of the cruel man.
Naraku took out a book as he said, "Shall we review your alphabet, today?"
"Oh, yes. I would like that very much," groaned Ed. By alphabet, meaning words that Naraku knew would make the poor boy feel bad, abnormal, ect. The two other Eds and the others knew what Naraku was doing as well and that made them upset as well.
"Very well, A..." Naraku began.
"Abomination," Ed responded.
"B..."
"Blasphemy?"
"C..."
"Contrition." Ed didn't really know what that word meant, but presumed it meant him, but in a bad way. Arwen frowned, "I doubt that even the authoress knows what that word means."
"I think you're right," Otto said as the group chuckled.
"D..." Naraku continued.
"Damnation," Ed nearly gagged as it had a nasty word in it while his friends frowned at the word.
Naraku nodded as he continued, "E..."
"Eternal damnation," replied the preteen, nearly gagging at that word for the same reason.
"Very good. Now, F..."
"Festival!" said Ed with a smile, making his friends gasp.
"Oh, boy," Dash groaned.
Dash was right, for Ed realized that he said a bad thing as this resulted in Naraku spitting out his drink. Looking at Ed sternly as he wiped his bottom jaw with a napkin, he asked, "What was it that you just said?"
"Uh...forgiveness," said Ed, hoping Naraku would be fooled by it.
Unfortunately, the man knew what he heard as he remarked, "Now, do not lie, Ed. I know you said festival."
"Wha-?! Oh, no! Big Trouble!" yelped Ed alarmed and concerned.
Naraku sighed in annoyance as he closed the book and got up. "You are thinking about going to the festival, am I correct?"
As Naraku walked away, the Eds and the assistants followed him as Ed said, "Well, you and Cat-man and the rest go every year. My friends and I just want to go, too."
"That is true, what would it hurt if they could come?" Raimundo asked.
Naraku sighed in annoyance as he turned around saying, "Ed, you must understand. I am a public official. As just, I must go and so do Odd, Rai, and the others. But I can assure you that we don't enjoy a moment of it."
"If you only knew," Dash smirked with his pals, but frowned and looked down as Naraku glared at him.
The Minister of Justice and his group continued to walk down the stairs as the Eds continued to follow behind her. "You must understand. The festival is full thieves and hustlers and the dregs of humankind, all mixed together in a swallow, drunken stupor!"
Edd gulped in concern as Naraku continued to walk outside while he is still at the bell tower. The sock-hat boy tried his best to fix things as he said, "I'm sorry, Naraku. We didn't mean to anger you."
"Ed, can't you understand? When your heartless mother abandoned you as a child, anyone else would have drowned you. I even took these other souls in," Naraku points to Odd, Otto, Rai, Omi, Rowan, Elijah, Arwen, their pets, and Dash, who shook their heads and mouthed 'Not happy!' as Naraku continued on the lovable oaf, "And is this the thanks I get for taking you in and raising you and your pals as sons?" Naraku knew this was ironic as he tried to do the same thing to Ed years before.
Ed stood next to the man, his head hung down as he said, "I am really sorry, Naraku."
"Oh, lovable fool, you do not know what it's like out there. I do…I do." As Naraku looked at the view, he began to sing.
Naraku: The world is cruel
The world is wicked
It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole city
I am your only friend
As the Eds listened, with the Naraku's helpers, Eddy, and Edd mad that Naraku was bashing on their friend, Naraku grinned as he continued to sing.
Naraku: I who keep you, teach you, feed you, dress you
I who look upon you without fear
How can I protect you, boy, unless you
Always stay in here
Away in here?
Going back inside, Ed and his friends looked at the preteen's caretaker as they followed, still listening to the stuff he had to say.
"Remember what I have taught you all these years," explained Naraku.
Naraku: You are different
Ed: I am different
Naraku: And you are abnormal
Ed: And I am abnormal
Naraku: And these are crimes
For which the world
Shows little pity
You do not comprehend
Ed: You are my one defender
Ed listened as he picked up a few figures, including one of his own likeness.
Naraku: Out there they'll revile you
As a freak
Ed: I am a freak
Naraku: Out there they will hate
And scorn and jeer
Ed: Only a freak
Naraku: Why invite their calumny
And consternation?
Stay in here
Be faithful to me
Ed: I'm faithful
Naraku: Grateful to me
Ed: I'm grateful
Naraku moved the figures out of the way so he would have room for the basket he was holding. Now, he took the figure of Ed out of the bell ringer's hands.
Naraku: Do as I say
Obey
Naraku and Ed: And stay
In here
Ed: I'll stay
In here
Naraku now put the figure in the model of Notre Toon. As he gave a stern glare at Ed, Naraku now took his leave.
"You are good to me. I'm sorry for what I asked," said Ed, trying to make amends with Naraku.
"Of course. You are forgiven," said Naraku with a grin, once again, foiling any attempts for him to leave.
"Uh, Naraku-dude; is it alright if we stay and tell the Ed-dudes here why it isn't right to go out of the tower?" Raimundo asked. Instead, he and his pals were going to speak to Ed about something else.
"Fine, but be quick for we must leave soon for the festival," Naraku said. Before he left, he gave the thing he raised some more words, "Just remember, Ed; this is your sanctuary."
Naraku nodded as he left the bell tower.
"You should do what you want, Ed," Arwen told the boy gently.
"Yes, my tall and dim friend; steer your own story," Omi said in determination, lifting the three boys' spirits up a bit.
"Pilot your own life, Omi," Otto corrected.
Azure came to Ed and nudged the Ed-boy, saying softly, "This is all of our opinions, but, you and your pals should go to the festival."
The eight friends then left with Odd saying merrily, "See ya' at the F.O.F, Ed, Edd, and Eddy!"
Ed thought about what Naraku said. Then he thought about what her friends had said. He mumbled, "My sanctuary..."
"Well, Ed; whadda ya' think?" Eddy asked while he and Edd looked at his friend expectantly. Looking up at the bells, Ed then began to sing once more.
Ed: Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone
Gazing at the people down below me
"Ed's kindacreeping me out with his intelligence and singing, Double D," Eddy whispered to Edd, who just shushed him.
Ed now climbed up the bell tower to take a look. He smiled his blissfully stupid smile as the festival was about to be held soon.
All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone
Hungry for the histories they show me
All my life I memorize their faces
Knowing them as they will never know me
All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day
Not above them
But part of them
The lummox picked up a few figures and looked outside to take another look at the festival. He smiled. He really wanted to be down there.
Ed: And out there
Living in the sun
Give me one day out there
All I ask is one
To hold forever
"Come on, my friends!" Ed said happily as he grabbed his comrades again.
He greeted his gargoyle friends, who waited until now to come back to life. Both Kagura and Shinpachi smiled as Sadaharu licked the Eds happily.
"Ew, dog spit," Eddy said, though he was happy to be going as well. Edd, happy as well, began to sing..
Edd: Out there
Where they all live unaware
What I'd give
What I'd dare
Just to live one day out there
The camera moved from the Eds to a quick view of ToonCity. We see a lot of people and animals doing whatever. Eddy also began to sing, a little begrudgingly at first.
Eddy: Out there among the millers and the weavers and their wives
Through the roofs and gables I can see them
Ev'ry day they shout and scold and go about their lives
Heedless of the gift it is to be them
If I was in their skin
I'd treasure ev'ry instant
The boys smiled as they slid down a water pole nearby, liking every moment of it.
All: Out there
Strolling by the Seine
Taste a morning out there
Like ordinary people
The boys laughed as Ed splashed water onto Eddy's face and looked at the stoned men. They then climbed back to the bell tower, with Ed still hugging his friends.
Who freely walk about there
Just one day and then
I swear I'll be content
With my share
Now Ed jumped off the tower and in front of Notre Toon, this time letting
Won't resent
Won't despair
Old and bent
I won't care
I'll have spent
One day
Out there
A flock of Taillow flew by as the Eds smiled. No matter what Naraku said, they would go out there no matter what. And it looked like today was the day.
GW: Yeah! Go Ed-boys! Power to freedom!
Eds: ….Okay
Edd: Hope you enjoyed the chapter and be on the look-out for the next one.
Eds, Yorozuya, Odd, Otto, Rai, Omi, Rowan, her brother, Arwen, and Dash: Read and Review