Chapter VII: Topsy Turvy land part III

Nozomi looked on in shock and horror as the atmosphere had changed, all the people around her had started to throw fruits and vegetables at that person on the stage!

He tried to fight back against the onslaught as he threw his arms back and forth at the people, this created a terrifying sight. But then ropes were thrown over him as they all bound around him tightly as soldiers tied his arms down.

Nozomi couldn't believe the cruelty that was being done, she was in disbelief and in pain as he was spun around upon the pedestal and the onslaught continued mercilessly. Watching on she then heard the young man cry out, "Master help me!"

Suddenly she felt a pang within her own heart as images from long ago returned.

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Walking home again from school was tiring, as it always was in the afternoon as she carried her little rucksack on her back with her various school work and books.

She sighed as she turned the corner of the entrance and started to head to the hill, when suddenly in front of her she saw a group of kids huddled around something near the wall of the school.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she walked over as she saw that they were all laughing at something, getting closer she saw something that chilled her from the inside out.

There on the ground covered in rubbish and bruised was Wairu as he cowered from everyone's stares holding his middle as though he'd been hit.

Nozomi was a gasp as she suddenly heard from around her, "Thinkin yer special? Don't make us laugh! After all yer no magician! Yer a nobody! Just-"

As the words of abuse continued to spill forth Wairu looked up at everyone with angry eyes and gritted teeth. But it was when he noticed Nozomi that his eyes changed from anger to shock and then a deep sadness erupted from within him as tears overflowed from his eyes as he cried out in deep pain and sorrow, "Nozomi help me!"

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As she remembered those painful words and images of her poor lost friend she shook her head slowly back and throw, as it continued her rage built up until bursting point as she heard from the crowd.

"Long live the king of fools!"

Her head snapped up with her eyes in tears showing bitter rage as she felt her power overflow from within which revealed the wings upon her feet! They gave her energy as she ran through the crowd and with an almighty burst, she jumped into the air as she landed on a couple of people's heads as she started running across them all!

She heard them complain as she ran onward but then around her, the complaining stopped as they all turned from enraged shouts into gasps and screams as she landed upon the stage. There she stood before the person as he looked at her in shock, she turned around her face not showing as they then began to throw their food now at her and her acquaintance. Pulling her right arm out, she flexed her right hand as in an instant in a bright sparkle of light the 'Starseeker' appeared in her outstretched hand.

The crowd were amazed once again into silence, but then someone from the crowd threw another fruit, a tomato. It flew straight towards Nozomi's head! But as she turned she reacted quickly as she launched it straight back at the attacker! It hit him in the face with a tomatoey squelch and splat sending him off his feet!

Looking at the crowd angrily she held her keyblade out in a duellers stance as she shouted out angrily, "if any one of you continues this horrible onslaught! I'll give it back to you in spades!"

Everything was sent into deadly silence as they all stared at the unusual spectacle that had taken place and this strange girl. As Nozomi stared back at them she waited for their next move!

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Riku was in shock as he'd seen Nozomi react to this abuse, he'd never even Sora act with such anger before! Any initial idea's that he'd had about her before had to definitely be put on hold! But as he watched on just as amazed with silence as the crowd was, again someone proceeded to walk up onto the stage.

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Nozomi hearing a creek on the stairs turned around as she looked on with fierce determination as she held her keyblade out ready thinking that it was an enemy! But she was surprised as she saw it was the gypsy lady that she had met before! She lowered her blade down and watched her as she approached. The gypsy looked at her as she bowed her head solemnly, but then turned her attention to the rope bound person on the wheel. Approaching him slowly she knelt down on the floor next to him.

Nozomi following her instincts also went over as she too knelt down, she watched as the gypsy lady held out a part of her dress as a makeshift handkerchief, looking at the young man sadly she told him softly "I'm so sorry…" as she started to wipe away some of the residue of the fruit and vegetables. The person whom she'd not known that long was saddened in his eyes as he felt the compassion of the two of them.

As she watched this happen Nozomi's anger started to subside as the person looked at her with his eyes. She was struck with an awkward feeling as he looked at her, but the most powerful thing inside was a pang of guilt. To try and soothe it she began to say something, "I-

But she was interrupted as a voice cried out, "Gypsy girls!"

At this both Nozomi and the other lady turned around, as they looked at the man in the dark tent he was pointing at the two of them accusingly with his ringed fingers as he continued,"you both get down at once!"

Nozomi looked at him confused 'Gypsy?' She thought to herself, but before she could say anything the lady spoke again, "we will your honour just as soon as we release this poor creature!"

Nozomi looking at her again was surprised as she mentally kicked herself! 'I should have done that in the first place!' Looking at the person again she moved her keyblade over him as she went for the ropes knot, but she was distracted as she heard the man again say angrily, "I forbid it!"

Hearing this her anger returned in full force! Taking her keyblade in both hands she cut the ropes away instantly with a single strong swing!

"How dare you defy me!" she heard the man continue like some incurred beast!

Nozomi turned angrily again but this time she only listened as the gypsy lady spoke once more, "you mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak of justice but you are cruel to those most in need of your help!"Nozomi was becoming more and more amazed as this lady's strong words and speech!

"Silence!"

"Justice!"

This sent murmurs around the whole crowd as they stared on fascinated, Nozomi was truly in awe of this lady's strength as she helped her with the person off the mocking round pedestal.

"Mark my words you gypsies! You will both pay for this insolence!" He spoke out to them again with rage in his voice.

But to this, the gypsy lady only looked at him with a sarcastic smile as she spoke out, "well it appears we have crowned the wrong fool! The only fool I see…" she lifted the fallen clownish crown off of the floor as she spoke again, "is you!" She shouted throwing it at the man's dark tent, it squeaked as it bounced and landed on the floor!

Nozomi smiled as she heard those words, but she stopped almost instantly as she heard the man cry out, "arrest them!"

Looking around she saw soldiers starting to gather around on horseback armed with sharp spears and various other weapons that glinted in the light! She looked on with slight nervousness at having to deal with so many and with so little experience! She was in trouble again! Her hands tightened around her keyblade to get ready! But she was suddenly pulled over hurriedly next to the gypsy lady by her left hand as with her other one she began to count out, "well let's see, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten… so there's ten of you and only two of us… oh what're we going to do!?" With that she pulled a handkerchief from her blouse as she started to seemingly cry in distress. Nozomi looked on with a look of disbelief, 'what is she doing!?' She thought to herself.

But suddenly all at once, the woman blew her nose as they both disappeared in a huge puff of smoke.

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Riku had watched on shocked and in disbelief as he saw both of them vanish! This immediately made his anxiety rise sky high again as he quickly looked around for the two of them! When suddenly-

"Oh boys! Over here!"

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Nozomi was a gasp as she had her head on some pumpkins with weird multi-coloured masks on them, the gypsy lady looked at everyone with a wide grin on her face while the female keybladers mouth was wide open in disbelief as she pondered to herself, "what is going on?!"

As she blinked she suddenly heard a cry from some soldiers approaching them, "there they are get them!"

"Huh now wha-"

But she was cut off as she was suddenly pulled by the gypsy again and was now running with her. As she tried to recover herself she was pulled off the stage and into the crowd as they started to carry both her and the gypsy across them.

Looking around dumbstruck Nozomi saw that familiar shade of white again as he looked at her, he seemed to be just as just as disbelieving as she was! Seeing him again Nozomi reacted loudly, "Snowball get me outta this!"

But Riku on the other hand had no time to react as he was suddenly pushed to the side as the crowd parted making the chasing soldiers who'd also tried to leap, fall flat onto their faces in pain.

Seeing this Nozomi was pulled out of the crowd and was next to the gypsy lady again still as confused as ever, but looking around she suddenly saw a group of soldiers running towards them again with more swords and spears!

"Oh no!" She cried out distressed.

The gypsy turning saw her opportunity as she pulled both herself and Nozomi onto a hanging cage and swung it forwards onto the soldiers as they were knocked off their feet!

Nozomi with an amazed look cried out delighted, "we did it! We di-"

But then the chain broke! This caused the cage to start rocking and rolling with the two of them on it! Nozomi who'd never learned to balance on anything other than her old school fence was thumbling and trembling as she was barely managing to keep up with the speed of the rolling mess.

"Aggggh geez!" She cried out as she blundered and before she knew it her feet finally lost control as she fell forwards! Closing her eyes awaiting the horrible pain and impact that was about to occur, she was confused as her hands landed on something and her feet were standing on something seemingly solid!

Opening them she saw she was on the back of some guy in a weird wheel chair as he was rushing forwards! Her hands were on his back as he looked back at her, he looked at her as she did at him with complete bewilderment!

As she stood like that looking around she was lost as her face was in utter shock and bafflement. Then suddenly she felt another pair of hands on her back as she saw it was the gypsy again who'd landed behind her!

She'd jumped off the rolling cage and was now rolling along with her at top speed, "what're you-?" But she was distracted again as she looked behind and saw the soldiers once more as they were hit right on the dot by a very tall performer with an almighty whack where it hurts!

Watching this Nozomi let out a little laugh seeing the silly scene but as she looked forwards again, it quickly turned back into a moment of shock and worry as a cart came towards them with soldiers on the other side! With no time to react they were lifted quickly into the air super fast and sped over them, before landing on the other side!

Getting off the thing quickly but a little shakily Nozomi watched as then the rolling cage crashed into the soldiers! "Ha ha that was great!" She let out with a smile on her face.

But it was too early to celebrate as Nozomi heard hooves again, she turned and saw a soldier with a sword starting to chase them. Running again quickly forwards Nozomi looked on in fright, "oh darn now wha-"

Suddenly she felt a pair of strong hands on her back as the gypsy lady took off using her as a jumping board taking another tall performers trousers down at her landing point! However for Nozomi this sudden use of weight made her stumble and fall as she landed flat on her face!

But as this was done the soldier's horse ran over, missing her and sending the soldier into the performers pants! He was sent ricocheting backwards and landed with a loud crash. This making his helmet fall off and land on the gypsy's head as she bowed to the crowd.

"Ooooowwww that really hurt!" Nozomi complained as she got up rubbing her nose irritated slightly. Looking at the gypsy again she watched her Nozomi saw her use the helmet as a Frisbee sending it into another lot of soldiers, making them all ding dong as she'd hit the tilt!

Looking at her with utter disbelief, Nozomi asked almost breathless, "how can you do all this?"

But there was once again no time for chit-chat as behind them both she could suddenly hear more horses, looking Nozomi saw more soldiers quickly approaching! "Aww not again I'm-"

However being unable to finish her sentence she was dragged by the gypsy who ran with her in hand again. As Nozomi watched her she was in awe of her wild spirit and nature as she gazed at her happy go lucky nature! She smiled as she thought to herself, 'I wish I could be like that…!'

She watched the woman as she put her fingers to her lips and saw a performer release a pole that landed in all the chasing soldier's arms. With them galloping forwards at top speed they were unable to stop! Immediately the dark tent was destroyed as it collapsed and the man inside it appeared from it's ruins entirely enraged!

But Nozomi and the gypsy were now lifted onto another stage as they both stood in front of the crowd. As she stood next to the gypsy happily she looked to the humiliated gentleman as she insulted him by poking her tongue out at him with her hands pulling the sides of her mouth. With that the gypsy lady impressed with a chuckle caused the two of them to vanish into her cloak in a graceful twirl leaving no trace of them!

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As Riku watched the two of them vanish he had been struck in awe the entire time as he saw the spectacle, but now since the spell was broken he had to get back to searching! As he started to try and walk again the clouds had suddenly turned dark as a strong rain began soaking everything in sight.

The crowd he saw was in dead silence as they watched the hunched back figure on the platform quickly run back into the grand cathedral, he moved slowly and clumsily in pain, loneliness and shame as once more entered his safe sanctuary.

Riku looked on sadly himself as he saw the poor sight, but at that moment he knew that there was nothing that he could do for him then. For at that moment there was more important things to worry about, mainly concerning that hidden power in that girl…

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Hiding in the shadows, Hari and Pete had both seen the sight that had transpired. The enormous villain was stunned while his accomplice next to him had only looked on with cold eyes and had been studying not just the performance, but two more additional characters.

"Wow! That there turned into a right old mess!… How're we supposed to get anythin outta this?" Pete pondered out loudly.

Hari was silent a few moments before answering him, "This mess I believe has created the perfect catalyst to start our work."

Pete looked at her queerly as she told him this, "whatdaya mean by that?" He asked her.

Hari turned from her viewing spot after observing both Riku and the dark man's behaviour, "follow me and you shall see."

With that she began to walk away, while Pete who still was confused followed behind her, unknowing of the plot she was brewing inside herself.

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Looking around at the barrage of soldiers as they patrolled around everywhere left and right, they were obviously looking for the two of them. Spying around quickly and cautiously a hand tugged on the gypsy's cloaked shoulder, "it's clear this side…" she whispered as she motioned with her hands. The gypsy nodding then took her chance as she opened the heavy door of the cathedral, quickly this allowed the two of them to enter hopefully unnoticed.

Quietly and hurriedly making their way into the centre, they hid in the shadow of a nearby pillar. Silent they looked around to make sure there was no one to witness them, then satisfied the cloak was removed revealing both Nozomi and the gypsy lady.

"Well I'm glad we got outta that mess!…" Nozomi sighed tiredly as she held her hand over her adrenalin racing filled heart.

"We're not completely out of this yet, if he's that desperate that man Frollo will continue to send out his soldiers…" She spoke quietly.

Nozomi questioningly blinked as she heard this information, "Frollo? You mean that goat faced old man?" She asked.

The gypsy looked at her strangely for a moment and was silent until but she let out a little laugh as she heard the reference. Nozomi on the other hand only blinked at this.

"Yes that would be him… I'm surprised you haven't heard about him," she continued.

Nozomi then laughed a little awkwardly herself as she scratched the back of her head, "yeah well I guess I should of known… oh that reminds me, you never told me your name." She spoke as the question hit her.

The gypsy observing her then smiled as she finally introduced herself to her, " well you should have heard that on the stage, I'm Esmeralda a gypsy dancer."

Hearing this information she nodded as she then smiled extending her own hand out, "nice to know you! I'm Nozomi."

Esmeralda taking this friendly gesture then shook her hand, "the pleasure's mine! You weren't bad for the performance, but you need to work more on your feet."

Nozomi then detaching her hand blushed red as she looked at her shoes…" uh yeah… sorry… "She spoke as she twisted her foot pathetically on the floor like a small child would.

Esmeralda smiled again at her but then she heard a sound, turning around she could see soldiers!"Darn! You and I will have to split up." She spoke quickly.

Nozomi baffled blinked, but looking over her shoulder she noticed the soldiers too, she nodded at Esmeralda's proposal, "right okay! You just be careful!"

Esmeralda nodded as she quick moved away leaving Nozomi on her own as she quickly went further inside.

Nozomi on the other hand was now lost as ever as she tried to head in a different direction mainly staying in the shadows near the pillars as she saw many soldiers around her, barely avoiding any contact she hid behind another pillar and was now cornered "darn… what am I gonna do?" She asked herself worriedly.

Suddenly in front of her she then saw a flight of stairs and a figure, his clumsy heavy movements were all too familiar to her as he ran away realising he'd been spotted! She gasped as she recognised him as the man she'd met when she'd first arrived!

Checking quickly she then ran across to the other side as she made it to the stairs. She ran stumbling slightly as she tried to get up as quickly as she was enabled to. She could hear him as she travelled onwards as he sounded panicked; she didn't wish to cause any more pain and worry for him as she needed to reason with him.

"Hey wait! Wait!" She called out.

But the guy just kept running on obviously in a panic, "listen to me I just want to-"

Though as she began to try and speak more she emerged into a room full of ropes and huge bells, along with some weird statues. It was a very bright-lit room and somehow clean in the air, she looked around awe struck as the sun shone in the rafters making everything feel very warm.

Taking a slow step forwards she began to speak almost breathless from the sight,"what is-"

She suddenly heard a creak and scuttling, looking quickly above she saw something move across the ceiling! Squinting as best she could she asked aloud, "what's that?"

But suddenly as she spoke something fell from above landed quicker than lighting onto her face! Grasping it tightly and painfully with sharp claws, two very bright shiny yellow glowing eyes stared into her own eyes!

"AGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"