Chapter VI: Topsy Turvy land part II
Pete was now standing with Maleficent who had not spoken for sometime as she gazed into the endless darkness of the 'World That Never Was'. Many heartless were already outside as they flew about the grand castle aimlessly. Though inside anyone would know that what they truly wished for were hearts to devour…
Pete felt nervous as he stood with her, for he knew that inside her patience was running thin for she still had not returned yet…what's her name?
But as the thought appeared in his mind a portal of darkness emerged which made a stir in the air, that caused Pete to immediately turn and look at what was causing it. From within its twisting dark depths appeared a familiar face, framed by long brown hair with those three purple diamond marks on each cheek, still dressed in her black leather costume with her wings spread out wide. Her eyes were closed as the portal disappeared behind her as she knelt upon one knee on the floor. She said coldly with obedience, " I have returned my master…"
As Pete stared at her, he noticed something but before he could say anything Maleficent acted first. Turning at her servants return she looked at her with fierce displeasure. Pete looked on even more nervously as she walked past him and approached the girl; the footsteps that echoed around made the whole atmosphere more ominous, even though it was done in barely under a minute. Maleficent silent for a few moments then took her servants face in her hand. This caused the girl to look at her with her emotionless green eyes, "you took longer than I expected… Hari…"
Her servant did not reply.
"Were you successful?" She continued.
At this a reply then came, "I must report that the answer is no, there was an interference and it activated before I could proceed any further…"
At these words Maleficent's displeasure increased as she held the girls face tighter, her longs nails digging into her skin. Hari looked on unblinking, Pete looked at the scene with wide eyes as Maleficent continued with slight irritation in her voice, " So you're telling me you've failed?"
At this Hari replied calmly, "no not quite…"
Hearing this Maleficent's grip lessened as she listened intently, "it is true it managed to escape me, but I was partially able to access half of it's power, which has left a trail that I will be able to find no matter where it may stray." With this a smile crept upon Maleficent's face as Hari finished " and it will lead me to the others all the more quickly for you…"
That said Maleficent's hand detached from Hari's face as she smiled now with content, " I am glad to hear you have not failed me entirely… and this may actually be a better result then I had first anticipated." Saying this she turned away from Hari and started to walk back towards the window as she began to think quietly to herself.
As Pete watched Maleficent walk past him, he looked back at Hari who had now stood up, her eyes still emotionless. But the sides of her face were slightly red from the pressure that Maleficent's long nails had made leaving marks on her. He was also looking at the thing that he had noticed before, a red bruise upon her arm that he assumed had resulted from an injury. He was in confusion, if it had been him he would have been moaning and complaining about such injuries or even the terrible treatment that he'd just seen. While this girl she only-
"Since things have turned out this far," Maleficent spoke breaking Pete out of his thoughts, "I suggest we take action and seize what we can while we have the opportunity." Both Pete and Hari were quiet as they heard Maleficent's commands, " now I want the two of you to go… and do whatever you need to, to succeed… I expect this to be done adequately."
Pete looking at Maleficent, was slightly confused and before he could begin to ask, Hari spoke first, "very well…"
Then his concentration was being stolen again as he saw that Hari had once more started to open a portal of darkness. Seeing this Pete ran quickly towards her as the portal had fully formed and she started to proceed into it, "hey wait up!" He yelled as he continued to run, his weight slowing him down. Hari looked at him with indifference as he finally made it through just before the portal closed up leaving the room once more.
Maleficent watching the two of them leave only smiled as she then looked on outside again, "Soon it will all be mine…" she smiled sinisterly to herself.
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King Mickey then finished his theory as he turned his head back up to see Riku's reaction. As the white haired keyblader heard all the information and it sunk in, he looked on with shock and horror at this terrible possibility…
"So you see that's why-" but before the king could finish he saw that Riku had started to run down the alleyway and towards the crowded town square, "Riku wait!" He called out worried.
However the white keyblader was trapped in his own worried thoughts, for if what the King had said was true. Then this meant even worse trouble than what they were already in! As he got more and more into the crowd his thoughts sounded loudly in his mind 'If that idiot's done something stupid, I don't know what I'm going to do!' He thought bitterly.
As he ran further and further into the crowd, he was pushed and shoved forwards towards a big veiled decorated stage that was obviously the main attraction, "I can't move in all this-!" It was then the music sounded out loudly as the main performance had began.
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Nozomi now was behind the curtains in her costume that she had quickly changed into, she felt nervous as she looked at the crowd. All of them she could see were expecting something truly grand. She gulped though nervously as she spoke aloud to herself, "how do I get myself into these situations…?" Quiet for a few moments she then sighed with a heavy breath, "I guess it can't get any worse than-"
But she was cut off as she heard something loud outside, looking up again quickly she saw a huge metal caravan with a lot of guards surrounding it, a few of the others she noticed dispersed as they went into the crowd.
She was puzzled at this but she turned her attention back to the caravan where it stopped next to a bigger tent. This one compared to the other tents which were all bright and colourful, this one was shrouded in very dark colours like one storm cloud in a sky of blue brightness. As she looked closer at this caravan she saw someone sitting in a grand chair dressed in black clothes with a dark frown on his face.
"Who's-" but she was cut off as she was suddenly pushed outside the doorway and onto the stage.
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As Riku looked at the stage he saw someone stumble out from the curtains. He was baffled at first of who this person was, but as he looked on he recognised her instantly! Though her clothes now were completely different.
For instead of the pink waistcoat and blue trousers he had first met her in, she was now dressed with a blue veil hair band that was tied together with her pink cherry blossom hair clip, she was also wearing a gypsy dress with veils on her shoulders showing a light lilac. It also had light pink that covered the upper part of her dress that was laced together showing off her belly button. Then to finish off the whole package she was now wearing a blue long skirt with another on top that was also a light pink swaying slightly to and throw with bells. As he saw her looking around, he also noticed she had golden earrings as well as some other jewellery on her arms.
His reply to her overall appearance was, "what is she doing?!"But before he could call out to get her attention, the crowd around him shouted loudly as they wanted some entertainment.
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Nozomi blinked bewildered as she saw now in the full view of the crowd on the stage! Her brain immediately froze. 'What the heck am I supposed to do now?!' She thought to herself, her eyes widened. Suddenly there was singing again,
"Topsy Turvy!"
At this she jumped again as she realised that she had to perform! But she was still frozen with nervousness, the routine had completely fled from her mind! What was she supposed to do?!
"Beat the drums and blow the trumpets!"
Looking she saw that the jester had suddenly appeared again! As she looked at him he was smiling devilishly as he was looking at the crowd, then as he turned he winked at her. Blinking Nozomi was baffled when suddenly-
BANG!
She gasped as she suddenly jumped hopping slightly and as she stumbled again-
BANG!
She was shocked as this sound made her spin around slightly, this time she also brought out the veil she'd been holding which now fluttered in the air from her hand and then-
BOOM!
Another sound echoed out as she was surprised again. This one made her stumble backwards but as it looked like she was going to fall down she then realised what was happening as she pulled her arms out and landed on her hands quickly making a cartwheel. She landed on her feet again slightly startled at her reactions to this, but-
BANG!
She was surprised again as she did another spin but this time she felt an arm through hers as she realised she was doing a dose do with the jester once more! Her mouth was a gasp from all the loud sounds and surroundings, but as the atmosphere sunk into her and the cheers rang out everywhere, she smiled widely as she realised she had finally caught onto the rhythm! Then released from the dose do, she started to dance on her own as she hopped and twirled to the music happily.
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As Riku watched Nozomi's clumsy movements as the music went on, he couldn't believe that she'd managed to drag herself into this nonsense! "she's such an airhead!" He said irritated.
While he watched on though and looked at her smiling face, she really seemed to be enjoying herself. Then suddenly an image of Sora flashed into his mind who was also dancing like she was as he smiled with his same old goofy grin. He blinked at this thought as he continued to look at her, he could see a vague similarity between the two of them and as he realised it, he couldn't help but smile amused slightly as he shook his head saying, "they're both just total goofs!"
But as he continued to look on, he was quickly reminded of the King's information that then made him shudder with horrible realisation, as he felt that dark presence from before! Turning Riku looked to the dark caravan as he saw the sinister holy man looking on ahead at the stage and obviously he was bored of this mundane and pointless dance. The keyblader cautiously hoped that this man hadn't discovered or sensed anything about this girl.
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"Join the bums and thieves and strumpets
Streaming in from Chartres to Calais"
Nozomi was washed away with the excitement and adrenalin as she continued to dance on the stage, seeing the many colours of the feast with all the many people cheering and yelling at the festivities. She twirled as for a moment she looked at the sky feeling a sense of complete heaven as she smiled upward wishing for this sensation and moment to never end.
"Come one, come all!"
It was these words that distracted Nozomi from her happy moment as she was reminded of the words from the gypsy lady that she'd spoken to earlier. It was time to make the entrance! Remembering what she'd been told to do, she started moving towards the end of the stage as she continued to listen to the jester sing on.
"Hurry, hurry, here's your chance
See the myst'ry and romance"
She twirled more gently on these words trying to make a sense of anticipation for the audience as she continued to smile with a slight look of cheekiness as she knew what was in store next.
"Come one, come all
See the finest girl in France
Make an entrance to entrance"
With these words the jester that she had been dancing with, took her hand in his holding it up high. Remembering the gypsies words again she held up her other free hand which held the little object she'd been given.
"Dance la Esmeralda!"
With this Nozomi's anticipation was building up as she was prepared to drop the little pink illusion ball, but she was suddenly distracted as something white caught her eyes in the audience, looking she then saw him!
"Dance!"
Suddenly it all happened so fast as she dropped the ball she was holding as her face became bewildered as the jester also dropped his own ball, making them instantly both vanish in a smog of pink and red smoke.
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As Riku had turned to look at the man in black once more just to be cautious, he heard the singing and turning back he watched with wide eyes as both the jester and that idiotic girl vanished!
"Not again!" He muttered as he started to try and once again move through the crowd, but he couldn't budge! Then before any negative words could pass from his lips he looked back to the stage again as he watched in amazement as a woman appeared! She was wearing a golden tiara and dressed in a slinky red dress with a silk purple scarf in her arms as she entranced everyone with her dancing. Looking at her Riku stared with his mouth wide open.
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Meanwhile in the shadows of the town a portal of darkness opened, revealing both Hari and Pete as they came out and stared at the festivities of the 'Feast Of Fools.'
"Now what's this ruckus here all about?!" Pete asked as he scratched his head puzzled.
Hari didn't reply to the question as she continued to stare on at the stage as she felt a certain power emanating, "So it's here…"
Pete blinked at her, "what is?"
"What we're looking for," Hari replied as she continued to look on.
As Pete looked at the stage he saw the woman in red dancing and immediately it clicked about what she meant, he laughed as he rubbed his fists together, "alright then well we'd better get busy eh?"
But as he started to walk away he was suddenly pulled back, he looked baffled as he turned and saw behind him that it was Hari who'd done it as she stared up at him still with her cold seriousness as she had her hand on the edge of his trousers.
"What're ya-" but he was cut off as she pulled him fully back making him fall on the ground with an almighty thump.
"Hey-"
"We should not reveal ourselves too early, it is better to bide our time… for I can feel a presence that will give us service," she said as she interrupted him.
Pete blinked at her again, he was baffled at what she was talking about but looking he saw that she had turned from him and was now instead gazing at the only dark caravan in the whole of the colourful kaleidoscopic scenery.
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As Riku stared at the gypsy's dancing he was truly mesmerised, for he had never seen such graceful yet strong steps of dancing done in his life! As his eyes followed her he watched as she suddenly approached the dark caravan and the man who sat in the centre of it. She ran up to and got very close to him, almost climbing upon him, in a flirtatious manner as she pulled him close to her and it looked like she was about to kiss his nose! But in that same moment as the man was startled gazing up at her, she pulled his hat down humiliating him as the crowd laughed loudly. She left her scarf behind on his shoulders which infuriated him as he stared after her angrily.
Riku blinked at this, in his mind he didn't know whether this woman was extremely foolish or even brave, if that could be said.
Then to finish off the spectacle she grabbed a spear as she spun around it in a graceful twirl as she finally bowed to the audience. This was one dance Riku was not going to forget in a hurry, but now since the enchantment was now over a more desperate situation was at hand.
"Where the heck has that girl got to?!" He said loudly aggravated as he started to try and move through the crowd.
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Nozomi now was finished getting undressed as she took off the dress and the many pieces of jewellery she had been wearing. Putting them down neatly on the dressing table she was finishing getting herself ready once more in her original clothes, taking her hair broach in her hand she proceeded to tie it back in its rightful place.
"I hope I can still find him out there!" She spoke hurriedly as she slipped on her shoes quickly, tapping them gently she made sure they were on comfortably as she ran out of the tent and proceeded into the crowds as more music began to sound out.
" 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!"
As she heard these lyrics she continued to push through the crowd as she spoke aloud to herself, "king of fools? Well I'm certainly not gonna be counted into that! I've been dragged into too much already!."
With that said she continued to search through, as she looked from right to left at everything it all seemed to look the same, she couldn't tell where anything was, "this is ridiculous I'll never find anyone in this!" She could hardly hear anything through the crowds singing and shouting, but then she managed to hear something else.
"You could soon be called Your Highness!"
'Must be starting now?' She thought to herself as she continued to look through everyone. She then heard a lot of booing and hissing going on obviously meaning that there were disappointments. But as it continued everything suddenly stopped at once as there was a huge gasp from everyone that made Nozomi stop in her tracks.
She wondered what was wrong as she turned to see what was on the stage, but unfortunately due to her small height she couldn't even see due to the tall crowd of people in front of her.
"What's going on?" She asked, but then suddenly all at once she heard some mutterings from the crowd, "It's the bell ringer from Notre dame!"
Nozomi looked at this puzzled, "bell ringer?" She asked, "what's wrong with a bell ringer?" She wondered to herself.
But then as she mumbled over the many possible reasons why there could be something wrong with it, the celebrations suddenly started up once again, she was baffled by this, "Okay… "
Looking at everything strangely she decided to head over to see what the fuss was about as she made her way through the many crowds of people again.
"Oh, what a king!"
As the rhythm started up once more confetti started to rain from the sky, not being distracted though Nozomi still continued to weave in and out through the crowd.
"Once a year, the ugliest will wear a crown"
"Ugliest?" She asked, but shaking her head again she pushed further and further into the crowd past the many clowns, gypsies and other weird sights until finally she came to an open space in the crowd of people, as they started to make a dancing ring. She saw someone further ahead being carried in a throne of some kind who was wearing a crown and a long purple cape.
"Oh so that must be the king?" She asked herself but as she looked at this person she was distracted as she saw again a familiar shade of white.
A smile immediately came to her face as she then shouted out, "Hey snowball!"
But her voice was quickly drowned out as the last of the chorus sounded.
"Mad and crazy, upsy-daisy, Topsy Turvy Day!"
The final fall of confetti rained down as it distracted her making her turn for the first time to actually look at the stage again where she stared on wide eyed, for there was that once cloaked person she had met before as he was dressed as the king. She was agape as she stared at him totally surprised, but she smiled as she saw the happiness that was reflected on his face.
But it was all too soon as suddenly a tomato was thrown from seemingly nowhere hitting the poor young man in the face. Nozomi looked on with utter shock, as did the person on the stage as the once friendly exciting environment changed into something dangerous and terribly frightening.
