Chapter 2: Topsy Turvy
Inside an orange tent, the teenage gypsy was in the middle of changing into his performance attire when suddenly someone barges in and pulled down the changing curtain. Startled, the gypsy quickly covered himself with his teal bathrobe. "Hey! What do you think you're-" he snapped.
His pet goat rushes up to the intruder, deciding if the person is a threat or not.
The gypsy looked as the person lying on the ground with the brown curtain covering him. It seems that he accidentally stumbled inside and tried to grab the curtain to prevent himself from falling down, and it obviously didn't work.
"Oh my goodness, are you alright?" The boy asked worriedly.
"I-I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." The person apologized profusely, crawling out from under the curtain. He's wearing hood and looking down in shame.
"Well, you're not hurt, are you? Here, here, let me help," The boy gently started turning the man's face and pulled down his hood.
"No! No!" The man protested until the teenager saw his face, which is grotesque and deformed. Djali makes a disgusted noise, while the gypsy smiles kindly. Little did he know is that this is Quasimodo, the bell-ringer and the hunchback of Notre Dame.
"See? There, no harm done." Quasimodo's eyes widened in surprise. This young man doesn't seem horrified or disgusted by his appearance, and noticed how... beautiful he looked. Leading him out of the tent, the gypsy huffed out a small laugh. "Just try to be a little more careful next time."
"I-i-i will." Quasimodo stuttered.
"By the way, great mask!" Zaphyr complimented, before closing the sheet of his tent.
"Gather round, gather around." Hundreds of other heads turned to the brightly-dressed man Clopin singing on the stage. "Come and witness the most beautiful man in all of Paris... Zaphyr!" He threw some dust to the floor. When it cleared, the man disappeared and in his place was the handsome young gypsy. Zaphyr is wearing red pants with a purple sash tied around his hips, there was a flashy gold bracelets at his wrists and a gold headband and they caught the sun and created a heavenly light around him as he started dancing across the stage, doing flips and moving his hips in a sultry manner.
Phoebus was on his horse Achilles besides Judge Claude Frollo, who sits on a throne to watch the Festival of Fools. He was surprised to see the gypsy boy from earlier. Frollo himself was shocked to see such a person.
The crowd cheered, as he was indeed well-known around Paris by everyone of both genders, as he was very attractive.
However, the judge was not enjoying his performance at all. In fact, he was rather repulsed by it. "Just look at this disgusting display." Frollo scoffed to the captain.
"Yes, sir." Phoebus lifted the brim of his golden helmet, giving the beautiful gypsy his undivided attention, impressed with his flexibility and gymnastics.
Zaphyr then danced towards Frollo's chair. He sits on top Frollo's lap and wrapped the scarf he was using to accentuate his moves around Frollo's neck, using it to pull him forward. For a moment, it looked as though Zaphyr was going to kiss Frollo. Even Phoebus think so, he felt his gut twist with the picture he had painted himself. The gypsy gives the worried judge a smug smile, seemingly that intention in mind. But Zaphyr just barely brushed Frollo's nose with his lips, pulled down his hat and then prances back to the stage, with the crowd laughing in amusement. Zaphyr left the judge his scarf, which he removed from his neck in disgust.
The dance ended with Zaphyr swinging around a long spear he took from a soldier and posing with finesse. Loud cheers and whistles are heard from the crowd, as coins are thrown towards the gypsy. Phoebus himself joined the applause.
Then Clopin shows up on stage and spoke loudly to the crowd. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the piece de resistance!"
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!
"Do you all remember last year's king?" Clopin asked, pointing to the person who was king last year, he was wearing a jester costume and had a bottle of wine in his hand. He was being carred on a thrown on the shoulders of four people, and was belching loudly as he waved at the crowd in a drunken stupor.
So make a face that's horrible and frightening
Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing
For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools. Why?
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Clopin: Ugly folks, forget your shyness
Crowd: Topsy Turvy!
Clopin: You could soon be called "Your Highness"
People in costumes with masks begin to pile onstage, while the gypsy boy directs them to stand in a line.
Clopin began pulling contestants onto the stage with Zaphyr's. The gypsy boy also offers his hand to Quasimodo in which he takes it and Zaphyr pulled him in.
Chorus: Put your foulest features on display
Clopin and Chorus: Be the king of Topsy Turvy Day
Zaphyr makes his way down the line, and then rips off the mask of the first person, he made an ugly face bbut the crowd bood, so Djali head-butted him off the stage. He unmasked the second man and he also made a disgusting gesture but the crowd booed at him too, so Zaphyr used his hip to push him off stage. It was the same with the other 12 men, none of who were the ugliest to be king, so the gypsy and his goat push them all out. Djali got close to the last person but got scared when he sees Quasimodo again and ran off. Zaphyr got close to Quasi, places his hands on his face and pulls his mask off but it didn't come off. For a seccond, he was confused but then gasped when he realizes that it wasn't a mask at all, it was his real face.
"That's no mask!"
"It's his face!"
"He's hideous!"
"It's the bell ringer from Notre Dame!"
The crowd gasped even louder and their wide eyes stared at the bell ringer who they have heard only from the stories. Zaphyr was completely speechless to see the actual bell ringer in front of him.
Frollo's eyes widened as he realizes that the only man left standing on stage is Quasimodo, and questioned why he was there of all places. Since he specifically told him earlier why he can't ever be outside.
Quasimodo could only see how the Parisians were looking at him in disgust. He begins to fear what they would do to him, and regretting ever deciding to come here.
However, Clopin stands in front of the hunchback to try to keep things calm and bring back their festive spirit. "Ladies and gentlemen, don't panic. We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and here he is! Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame!" He announced and crowns Quasimodo as the King of Fools.
Upon hearing Clopin's announcement, the crowd appear to have once again grow festive, and they cheered and gather around Quasimodo to carry him off the stage. And they all began to sing again.
Clopin: Ev-er-y-bo-dy!
Chorus: Once a year, we throw a party here in town
Clopin: Hail to the king!
Clopin takes a stilt from under a man's costume, which caused the man to fall but the gypsy still march on and twirl the stick around the crowd behind him followed while carrying the hunchback along.
Chorus: Once a year, we turn all Paris upside down
Clopin: Ha ha! Oh, what a king
The former King of Fools was tossed out of the throne and the crowd place Quasimodo on it and two men began taking him for a ride.
Chorus: Once a year, the ugliest will wear a crown
"Girls, give a kiss!" exclaimed Clopin in which the girls did, much to Quasimodo's surprise. The hunchback looks to his Master and sent a nervous smile and waves at him. The Judge crossed his arms and was not pleased at all by seeing the hunchback enjoying himself with the people. Quasimodo was then taken to a small stage in the middle of the crowd in front of Notre Dame.
Chorus: Once a year on Topsy Turvy Day
Clopin: We've never had a king like this
Clopin places a royal cape on Quasimodo, making the young man feel so much happiness he started crying tears of joy.
Clopin and Chorus: And it's the day we do the things that we deplore
On the other three hundred and sixty-four
Once a year, we love to drop in
Where the beer is never stopping (Where the cheer is never stopping)
For the chance to pop some popinjay
Quasimodo was then given a golden scepter with a crown on top by Clopin who then pushed him in front of the crowd as they continue cheering.
And pick a king who'll put the top in Topsy Turvy Day!
(Topsy Turvy, mad and crazy, upsy-daisy, Topsy Turvy Day!)
The crowd cheered louder and a blast of millions of confetti was thrown at the King of Fools. Quasimodo's face had the biggest smile he has ever made and the cheers from the audience was the greatest day of his life.
Inside his tent, Zaphyr changed out of his performance clothes and into his regular attire, his mind was still on the unexpected show-up of the bell ringer of Notre Dame. Never in his life did Zaphyr thought that such a person like him existed, not to mention his strange physical appearance. And to think he was the same person who crashed into his tent earlier.
"Who would have thought?" he said to himself.
He took off his headband when he suddenly heard some loud commotion outside. Curious, he got out of his tent to see what it was all about. His eyes widen in shock at the awful scene he was witnessing. Not just a few seconds ago everything was happy and festive after the crowning of the King of Fools, but now the gypsy boy was seeing the crowd of Parisians throwing fruits and vegetables at the bell ringer and laughing as they had ropes on him like he was a prize cattle.
He started passing through the rowdy crowd towards the stage. Everyone then watched in silence as the gypsy boy walked up the steps for Quasimodo. He took off the cloth he had around his waist and slowly approach him.
"Don't be afraid." Zaphyr reassured Quasimodo, who flinched as he came closer to clean him up. "I'm so sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen."
Frollo stood up from his chair. "You! Gypsy boy! Get down at once!" he demanded.
Facing Frollo, Zaphyr stand up and replies amicably. "Yes, your honor! Just as soon as I free this poor creature."
Frollo responds displeased, "I forbid it!"
The gypsy gains a defiant look and retaliates by unsheathing a small dagger from his pocket. The crowd makes noises of surprise when the gypsy slides the dagger under the ropes, freeing Quasimodo.
"How dare you defy me?!" Frollo hissed.
The gypsy continues to face Frollo, "How dare me? How dare you?!" Zaphyr said, pointing his dagger at Frollo then gestures to Quasimodo. "You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people. You speak of justice, yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help! And you don't even treat your own people any better either!"
"SILENCE!" Frollo yelled.
"JUSTICE!" Zaphyr shouts back, as he throws a fist into the air.
The crowd gasps at the sheer audacity of the gypsy boy, while Phoebus is impressed. Zaphyr helped Quasimodo stand up.
"Mark my words, gypsy. You will pay for this insolence." Frollo warned.
"Then it appears we've crowned the wrong fool." The boy gives a mock bow and scornful smile to the judge. Then he removes the false crown from the hunchback's head. "The only fool I see is you!" Zaphyr declared as he throws it at Frollo's feet. Djali blows raspberries at the judge. The crowd laughs, and Frollo's expression turns to rage.
"Captain Phoebus, arrest him!" Frollo orders the captain.
The captain snaps his fingers, gesturing to his fellow guards who begin to surround the gypsy. Though he rather he did not, as he doesn't wish to arrest the boy for speaking his mind.
Seeing himself surrounded, Zaphyr just places his hands on his hips and a smile crept across his face. "Alright, let's see," the boy places his finger to his chin, in mock thought as he counts out the number of soldiers around him with his pointer finger. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... so there are 10 of you and one of me." He gestures to himself blithely, before his smile shifts into a frown. "Aww, it's so unfair." He pulls out a handkerchief from his shirt and looking up to the sky, he says sorrowfully, "What's a poor guy to do?" He starts crying invisible tears into his handkerchief, before blowing into it and causing a large pink smoke bomb to go off on the stage. The horses whined in surprise and fear at the loud noise and the smoke, forcing the soldiers to back off.
"Sorcery." Frollo whispered in fear, his eyes growing wide at such a sight.
"Over here, fellas!" A coy voice called out. Everyone turned to see the gypsy boy in the gallows, where he placed their head on the executioner's basket full of pumpkin heads, and his goat Djali did the same. Zaphyr gave a cheesy smile and winks directly at Frollo.
The crowd laugh at the silly display. Phoebus himself choked his laughter, while the soldiers start chasing the gypsy.
"There he is!" The fat guard said.
"Get him!" The tall guard yelled.
Zaphyr gets up and runs with Djali to the end of the stage, where they jump off into the crowd that carry them off. The gypsy crowd-surf on his side and cheekily wave at the soldiers.
The two guards rush to the end of the platform and jump after him, only for the crowd to deliberately move away so the guards would fall to the hard ground.
Reaching the end of the crowd, the gypsy flips onto the ground along with his goat. Hearing the unsheathing of swords, the wide-eyed boy sees three more soldiers coming after him, before quickly grabbing onto a hanging cage and using it to knock the soldiers over.
The chain from the cage then breaks, sending it and the gypsy rolling forward. Djali runs in front of Zaphyr running on the rolling cage until they both are able to jump on a platform with wheels with help from a legless gypsy. Several soldiers that were chasing Zaphyr were halted by one of the men on stilts who kick them in the family jewels. They let out high pitch squeals that send the crowd into laughter.
The gypsies jump over four more guards, using a broken cart as a ramp, and landed which caused the rolling platform to break.
The guards then got ran over by the cage. "I'm free! I'm free!" The old prisoner that was inside was overjoyed by his freedom, until he tripped and got himself stuck in the stocks. "Dang it!"
The gypsy and the goat run passed him, being chased by a soldier riding a horse. They head into the direction of another man on stilts, the gypsy jumps onto the goat's back to reach the long pants of the stilt man and pulled them down. The soldier following behind the gypsy run into the fabric and was catapulted off his horse.
The crowd cheers for the gypsy boy as he takes a bow with the soldier's hat that landed on his head, a smug smile on his face.
Three more soldiers on horses are charging the gypsy with their swords raised. The boy gives a sly smile and takes the hat in one hand; closes his eyes, cocking his hip, and throws the hat, which ricochets off all three soldiers' heads, knocking them out before it embeds itself in the wood right above Phoebus' head, nearly took off his head. But the captain was rather impressed by the gypsy's skills. "Whoa, that guy!"
The gypsy boy continues running, two soldiers on horses hot on his trail. Another stilt an appears in front of the soldiers and drops a pole between them as they head right towards Frollo's tent! The soldiers, not reacting quickly enough to stop, topple right into the judge's tent, knocking it over on top of him.
The audience continues laughing uncontrollably, even as Frollo emerges beneath the tent, furious.
At the edge of the crowd, the gypsy boy and his goat are helped onto the top of a flat-roofed tent by two more stilt men. The gypsy boy bows again to the crowd, giving an alluring smile and taking a large cloth, twirling it around himself and his goat in a showy manner, hiding them from view. A moment later, the cloth drops to the floor of the roof, and when it was removed, the gypsy and his goat are gone.