High above the town square, Zeref, wearing a purple cloak and the black gloves given to him by his gargoyle friends, climbed down from a roof of the cathedral. His whole life, the black-haired youth had seen many things from above; seasons come, people go, and the grand annual celebration of song and joy. Only this year was different. For the first time in his whole life, he had the chance to do more than just watch. Like a bird locked in a broken cage, he had the chance to break free; to get a taste of fresh, sun-kissed air. If only he could snap the last few strings of doubt holding him down…
Zeref glanced to the crowd gathering below, stopping momentarily to listen.
Crowd: Come one! Come all!
Leave your pens and milking stools
Coop the hens and pen the mules
Before Zeref left, he looked up to see Yury, Precht, and Zera waving down at him. It had taken so long to get him to this point, and the three weren't willing to let their friend retreat into the cage he had chosen to leave.
Come one! Come all!
Close the churches and the schools
It's the day for breaking rules
Zeref climbed down onto a wooden pole to get a better view of the festival, holding onto a rope. But as he watched, the rope untied itself and Zeref screamed, swinging down and landing safely in the middle of the crowd.
Come and join the Feast... of...
Natsu and Happy: FOOLS!
From an assembly of hooded figures stationed in front of Zeref, a joyfully laughing Natsu Dragneel popped up with streams of confetti raining down and flags pulled asunder. Accompanying Natsu was Happy, his Exceed friend. Zeref ran to take cover, but every attendant in the festival seemed to have blocked his path. Before he could get away, Natsu took his gloved hands and began dancing with him.
Once a year, we throw a party here in town
Once a year, we turn all Crocus upside down
Natsu gestured to Gajeel Redfox, who changed from a king's outfit to a clown's by turning himself upside down.
Every man's a king and every king's a clown
Once again on Topsy Turvy Day
Noticing that Zeref ran off and hid away while they weren't looking, Natsu and Happy smirked to themselves, deciding to have a little fun with him.
Happy: It's a day the devil in us gets released
Happy found Zeref hiding behind a stock of balloons and cut the strings with scissors.
It's a day we mock the prig and shock the priest
Natsu found Zeref hiding underneath a puppet stand, and he bonked his head with the puppets of a prig and a priest in his hands.
Everything is Topsy Turvy at the Feast of Fools!
As Zeref tried to run from Natsu and Happy's wackiness, he stopped and watched Carla, Lector, and Frosch walking their human partners Wendy Marvell, Sting Eucliffe, and Rogue Cheney, who were pretending to be cats.
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Natsu: Everything is upsy-daisy!
Zeref turned and nearly freaked out when he saw Nab Lasaro riding on Vijeeter Ecor dressed as a horse with two read ends.
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Natsu: Everyone is acting crazy
When Zeref hid in a tent, he was caught in a can-can dance with Natsu, Happy, Laki Olietta, Kinana, and a few other girls.
Dross is gold and weeds are a bouquet
That's the way on Topsy Turvy Day
In the midst of the can-can, Zeref stumbled into another tent. As he fell, he yelped and grabbed a curtain. Tearing it down, it revealed Erza Scarlet barely dressed and holding a large sash around her body.
"Hey!" Erza cried, until she turned around and spotted Zeref with one of his gloves off his left hand.
"Oh, no! My glove!" Zeref cried, his hands shaking slightly in fear. His magic would spiral out of control if they weren't kept in check.
"Are you alright?" Erza asked in concern.
Zeref quickly reached for his glove, "I didn't mean to... I'm sorry."
Noticing how quickly he reached for his glove, Erza said, "You're not hurt, are you? Does it have something to do with your hands? Here, let me see."
"No, no, no!" Zeref screamed, as Erza removed the glove from his right hand. At that moment, a flicker of black dust shone straight from his fingers, and he yelped as the dust transformed into a burst of black energy that shot straight up the ceiling of the tent, ripping a hole above. Zeref was frantic; he feared that his Ankhseram Black Magic would kill everything and everyone in the tent.
However, Erza didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Instead, she just smiled. "There, you see? No harm done. Your magic must've been functioning incorrectly."
Millianna came over and looked a little bemused, tilting her head curiously at Zeref. "Who invited this guy to the party?"
Erza helped Zeref stand up, "Try to learn how to control your magic next time, okay? You need a lot of practice."
Zeref blushed with a flustered smile, "I-I will. Thank you."
"By the way…" Erza smiled, spotting Zeref before he left. "Great magic trick. At any rate, you could be the star of the festival, even better."
As Zeref departed from the tent, Erza resumed changing her clothes. The black-haired youth smiled at the idea of the crimson-haired girl perceiving him as part of the festival. As he realized where he was, Zeref turned and watched the rest of the festivities in amazement, such as Levy McGarden scrubbing her back in a kettle while Jet and Droy, dressed as lobsters, pushed the cart.
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Happy: Beat the drums and blow the trumpets!
The Connells, Alzack, Bisca, and Asuka, were playing respectively the guitar, trumpet, and drum in a music stand, while Mickey Chickentiger, Tono Rabbits, Wan Chanzi, and Chico=C=Hammitt were popping clown balloons on top of their heads, creating confetti explosions.
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Happy and Crowd: Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
Zeref yelped when Juvia Lockser danced with him among the others.
Natsu: Streaming in from all throughout Fiore
Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy
On the sixth of January
Natsu, Happy, and Crowd: All because it's Topsy Turvy Day!
Moments later, a carriage of silver steel arrived, carrying Minister Acnologia, accompanied by Captain Jellal on horseback with Achilles, leading a small group of guards. Jellal gestured the guards to post at the left and right sides, while the rest escorted Acnologia to his reserved seat at a stand in the middle of the square, draped with rich red and purple flags.
Unlike most citizens, Acnologia never saw interest in such a ridiculous celebration. He felt a strange sense of annoyance looming over him, leaving him certain that the Feast of Fools was destined to pester him, every year, for one whole day. At least, until the evening…
Natsu: Come one! Come all!
Acnologia took his seat when Natsu popped up out of nowhere. Acnologia rolled his eyes, indicating he was not amused.
Hurry, hurry, here's your chance
See the mystery and romance
Natsu reappeared at the podium in front of the gathered audience.
Come one! Come all!
See the finest girl in trance
Make an entrance to entrance
Dance de la Titania...
DANCE!
With a throw of his fist, a giant puff of red fire erupted, and when the fire disappeared, Erza appeared in Natsu's place, wearing her orange Flame Empress outfit, and her crimson hair tied in two ponytails. Acnologia and Jellal's eyes widened as they gazed at Erza, who began to dance in the most beautiful and majestic style ever imagined. But what made the dance more enthralling was Erza swinging her Flame Sword, an object with the blade shaped like an actual flame. Every time Erza dances, the Flame Sword erupted and sent miniature sparks and explosions dancing in the air.
"Look at that disgusting display," Acnologia remarked sarcastically.
"Yes, sir," Jellal agreed, looking absolutely infatuated.
Erza performed three cartwheels towards Acnologia, holding a purple handkerchief with star markings engraved on it and wrapping it around his head, playfully using it to pull her close to him. The young woman moved closer as if to kiss the old man, but then jumped away at the last moment. In a rage, Acnologia grasped the handkerchief. Erza continued her exotic dance, and the next minute, she looked at Zeref and gave him a wink of her eye, the latter trying to hide himself beneath his cloak. For the big finale, Erza grabbed a spear from Kawazu and slammed it into the ground. Gripping the spear's base, she spun herself around in the air multiple times, before she stopped with her legs wrapped around the spear. The audience, including Zeref and Jellal, cheered and applauded the young woman's amazing dancing feat, and threw coins as a gift of respect.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the piece de resistance!" Natsu announced to the crowd.
Natsu: 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!
"You all remember last year's king?" Natsu gestured to Loke, who winked at the crowd with a dashing smile, leaving a trail of screaming fangirls in his wake.
So make a show that's magically enlightening
Make a show that's gorgeous as a gargoyle's wing
"Hey!" Yury, who had been watching the festival, was insulted.
For the one who's talented
Will be the King of Fools!
Why?
Evergreen, Bickslow, and Freed Justine were seen changing masks of their costumes randomly.
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Happy: Hey, you folks, forget your shyness!
Mirajane and Lisanna Strauss, dressed as fish, were running from their brother, Elfman, dressed as a shark. Meanwhile, Erza pulled Zeref up on the stage when his gloves and cloak slipped off, much to his shock.
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Happy: You could soon be called Your Highness!
Crowd: Put your finest features on display
Be the King on Topsy Turvy Day!
Once Erza placed Zeref next to the other contestants, Millianna came over and announced to the audience, "Alright, ladies and gentlemen! As you know, the King or Queen of Fools is decided by the most talented and most magical in the festival. So, without further ado, let's see what they got!"
Bacchus Groh stood in front of the crowd and shouted, "Hey, everybody! Check out my wild magic card trick!" He flipped dozens of cards from his hands to his sleeves, but the performance failed when a few cards were misplaced. This caused the crowd to boo him.
Millianna pouted, "Oh, I'm sorry, but you don't get to be King this year. Better luck next time!" Pulling a lever with a sly smile, the stage opened a launcher that sent Bacchus screaming and flying onto a mud puddle. "Who's next?"
The next tricks performed by the other contestants such as Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki, Karen Lilica, Mattan Ginger, Yuka Suzuki, and Toby Horhorta were all revealed to be fakes, and one by one, the fakes were knocked off the stage by the launcher, until Erza and Millianna came to Zeref. Shaking in fear, Zeref backed away and placed a hand on a large collection of plants nearby. At that moment, the black mist appeared from his fingers, the dark color wrapping itself around the plants. From his touch, the mist consumed all life from the plants, leaving them to wither and die.
Erza, Millianna, and the entire audience gasped in absolute shock, realizing that the magic Zeref utilized was actually real.
"Whoa!" Millianna said in amazement, "Look at all the plants! They died with just one touch!"
"Amazing…" Erza marveled.
"That's no magic trick!" Sherry Blendy exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's right, Cousin Sherry!" Chelia Blendy agreed.
"Those powers are real!" Hibiki Lates stated, holding tightly his girlfriend Jenny Realight.
"My goodness!" Jenny exclaimed.
Bob added, "And not just any kind of magic… Ankhseram Black Magic, the Contradictory Curse!"
Ever Tearm pointed out, "It's a legendary dark magic!"
Ren Akatsuki shouted, "Hey, I've seen that guy before! It's the bell ringer from Notre Dame!"
Acnologia stood up and cast a look of surprise, staring at the Black Wizard on stage. Completely petrified by the endless sea of eyes staring oddly at him, Zeref buried his face with his hands, ashamed over that mistake. He knew that he failed to conceal his dark magic from anyone, and if Erza hadn't brought him up on the stage, no one would have figured out his secret.
But all too soon, those concerns were put to rest. Natsu came up and said to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, don't panic! We asked for the person with the most magical talent in Crocus, and here he is! Zeref, the Black Wizard of Notre Dame!"
Zeref stood in shock as the audience turned to look at him. And the next minute, they were cheering wildly for him! Natsu placed the crown on the black-haired youth's head, and the crowd ran towards him.
Natsu: Everybody!
Crowd: Once a year, we throw a party here in town
Natsu and Happy: Hail to the King!
Natsu led the crowd, who was carrying Zeref, and grabbed a scepter.
Crowd: Once a year, we turn all Crocus upside down
Natsu and Happy: Oh, what a king!
The people tossed Loke off the King of Fools' royal chair and placed Zeref in it.
Crowd: Once a year, the magical will wear a crown!
Natsu and Happy: Girls, give a kiss!
Araña Webb and Risley Law kissed Zeref on the cheeks, the left and the right, making him blush.
Crowd: Once a year on Topsy Turvy Day!
Natsu and Happy: We've never had a king like this!
Zeref smiled and waved at Acnologia, who was glaring at him with his arms crossed. During that, Happy wrapped a king's cape around Zeref, who shed tears of joy from his eyes. The day he left the bell tower was far more exciting than he had ever imagined. A circle of people danced harmoniously around the stand the black-haired youth stood on.
Natsu, Happy, and Crowd: And it's the day we do the things that we deplore
On the other three hundred and sixty four
Cana Alberona jumped into a large bucket full of beer. Gildarts Clive, who was very drunk, pulled a cork, but it flew and hit Mest Gryder where the sun doesn't shine too bright.
Once a year, we love to drop in
Where the beer is never stoppin'
For a chance to pop some popinjay
And pick the king who'll put the top
In Topsy... Turvy... Day
(Topsy Turvy)
(Mad and crazy, upsy-daisy, Topsy Turvy Day!)
The people applauded for the new King of Fools, the latter more happier that he had ever felt before. For once in his life, his first day in the outside world started out as good, then bad, now even better. The cheering soon gave way to chants of Zeref's name, with others throwing flowers, gold, and confetti at him. Even the gargoyles, who were watching from Notre Dame, were proud of Zeref's accomplishment as they cheered and whooped.
But that celebration would soon be short lived.