Twisted Wonderland 2

Topsy Turvy Fest

"Your attention, please!"

You look to the stage to see a man in a jester outfit walk onto the stage, wearing the same colors as Cloupin from your dream. He looks like Cloupin. Has the same puppet too.

"It's time to put down your work, leave your worries at the door, and celebrate... Topsy-Turvy Fest!"

"Topsy-Turvy?" Grim tilts his head. "What, we all gonna stand on our heads or somethin'?"

Rollo folds his arms as he watches the stage. "The idea is that the participants' social standings are inverted-hence festivalgoers need not worry about titles or status. The weak become the strong, and everyone can play the part of a king."

Malleus tilts his head. "So you could call it an unceremonious ceremony."

"Indeed." Rollo nods. "As such, everyone wears masks for the duration of the festival."

"Sensible enough." Azul looks to the stage. "That way no one will recognize you, and you can conduct yourself however you please."

"Oh yeah," Idia glances at some of the people gathered. "I did notice people selling masks around town. There's something cool about seeing everyone looking all mysterious like that."

"Mrah!" Grim throws his paws in the air. "Partyin' sounds like a good time to me!"

You glance back to the stage, not noticing Rollo's sneer.

"We all love Topsy-Turvy Fest." The jester says. "But the one who loved it most of all was... the Kindly Bell Ringer!"

"Who's that?" Grim asks.

Malleus looks to Grim. "Have you truly never heard of him?"

"Nope!"

Azul rolls his eyes. "Grim, did you not even read a LITTLE about Fleur City before coming?"

"If it ain't food, I ain't interested." Grim folds his arms.

Idia shakes his head. "You know, your one-track mind is oddly reassuring."

"What's this?" The jester talks to the puppet. "Have you never heard of the Kindly Bell Ringer?"

"Never!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Grim quirks an eye. "That guy's talkin' to a hand puppet. Is he okay?"

"Why are you concerned?" Rollo asks. "The puppet is clearly meant to evoke a ventriloquist's dummy."

"Ventri-what now?" Grim tilts his head.

"The clown behind the puppet is basically dubbing over it," Idia clears his throat. "uh, I mean, he's talking without moving his mouth, so it looks like the puppet is talking."

Grim looks back to the stage. "So... He's talkin' to himself? Why would anyone do that?"

"It's an act." Trein says. "Now quiet down and watch."

"Since you don't know," The jester looks to the crowd. "then I will tell you the tale of the Kindly Bell Ringer. Our tale begins in the small city where the Righteous Judge lived. The Righteous Judge was fair and just. Everyone respected him and abided by his judgments."

"That's the personage Flamme told us about at Noble Bell College." Malleus says.

Grim nods. "Oh yeah, there was a big stone statue of him in front of the school, right?"

"So you remember." Malleus chuckles. "I'm surprised."

Grim folds his arms. "Hey, I resent that! Of course I remember somethin' I learned today!"