Dawn in Paris.

Not many places can boast a wonderful sunrise, especially to the eyes of forgeiners. Many would say that you could never see a more beautiful, nor awe inspiring sunrise than in Gay Paree. It was the thing, according to the Parisians, that inspired painters, that gave new hope to fighting lovers, that made Paris what it was. This dawn was no exception. This day was January 4th. Two days before the Feast of Fools. Judge Claude Frollo had been deceased for seven years and the predujical fence between the people of Paris and the Gypsies had been crumbling at a rapid rate over the last seven years.

A bright sun greeted Parisian and Gypsy alike as the tradesmen of the city went about their businesses. Bakers were churning out baugettes to the morning bells ringing from Notre Dame. The cafes were abuzz with gossiping Parisian women as they smiled, listening to the bells of Notre Dame. Bluebirds were landing on windowsills as the bells sang their last chime of the morning. Above in the cathedral, Madelline watched the bustling below with three very animated gargoyles; Victor, Hugo, and Laverne.

"I love mornings in Paris," Madelline sighed, resting her chin in her hands.

"Feh," scoffed Laverne.
"Its the same routine every day. The smell of baugettes and the gossip from La Petit Cafe. The gypsies doing the same song and dance for the same coins. Paris has become too routine."

"Don't say that," said Quasimodo as he jumped down from the bell platform, blushing as Madelline greeted him with a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Sure, Paris is becoming a tad routine, but what can we do about it?"

Before Laverne could answer, the bleating of a familiar goat was heard coming up the stairs, followed by the laughter of a little boy and a grown man and woman. In walked the talented gypsy dancer La Esmerelda and her husband Phoebus Chateaupers and their son Zephyr. The trio greeted Quasimodo and Madelline and young Zephyr and Djali danced circles around the now inanimte statues.

"Bonjour, you two," Esmerelda chuckled, watching her son and her faithful goat dance.

"Bonjour, La Esmerelda," both said in unison.

Phoebus shook his head and laid down a basket of goodies, muttering something to Esmerelda. Esmerelda's brows furrowed as she mouthed a string of curses at Phoebus. Zephyr, oblivious to the silent bickering of his parents, bounced right up to Quasimodo and Madelline and spilled what the adults seemingly couldn't say:

"Hey Oncle Quasi, Tante Maddie, Cousine Clopin is a scaredy cat," he giggled, amused by the looks on everyone's faces.

"What do you mean?" Asked Madelline.

"Maman's cousine from Italie is coming with her gypsy troupe. Cousine Clopin said its a big gypsy reunion!"

"Oui," sighed Esmerelda. "Poor cousin is a bit of a fraidy cat when it comes to our Italian counterparts. Moreso, the fact that their leader is a female."

"That's a shame," chuckled Phoebus, his chuckling subsiding from the molten look Esmerelda was giving him.

"What's a shame about a woman running a family?"

"Nothing, dear."

"Except La Boule de Feu is mean," whispered Zephyr to Quasimodo.

"She is not mean, she's just..."

"Over-bearing," snorted Phoebus.
"Pushy, bossy, dictator-like, a real...Ow!" Dark emerald eyes were ablaze as Esmerelda swung her tambourine at his head again. The cymbals on the tambourine jingled as they made contact with his head, making the poor man's eyes cross. Turning back to Quasimodo and Madelline, she flashed them an apologetic smile.

"Pardonnez," she chuckled, walking the group out into the morning sun. "My cousine isn't the horrid monster my amour makes him out to be. It's just that she and Clopin don't get along because he, like my husband, seems to think a woman can't handle the job as head of a gypsy family."

"I think anybody can run a family," said Madelline. "I just happen to think that just because there's a male as the head of a family, that doesn't mean that there isn't a woman in the shadows making sure he doesn't mess it up."

"I agree," Esmerelda said with a nod.

"Of course you would, La Esmerelda," came a melodic laugh.

Clopin appeared before them, children in tow. He'd just finished his first story when the children heard the commotion and brought it to his attention, asking about the visiting gypsies from Italy and why they had a female in charge. Clopin tried his best to answer as honestly and as humourously as he could, but couldn't bare it by himself anymore, so he set about involving his friends.

"Mes amis, mes enfants, in two days, we host the biggest Festival of Fools that Paris has ever seen! For in two days, there will be not one, but TWO Masters of Ceremonies, AND not one, but TWO dancers for your enjoyment!"

"Is La Boule de Feu going to dance, Cousine Clopin?" asked Zephyr.

"Non. La Boule de Feu is co-hosting this years Festival. Her sister La Ombre de L'eau will be dancing with our very own La Esmerelda," he said to the growing crowd, who cheered at his good news.

"The Fireball and the Water Shadow?" scoffed Phoebus. "What ridiculous nicknames. Don't these girls have any actual names?"

"Of course they do," cried Clopin. "La Boule de Feu is Jada, and La Ombre de L'eau is Fiora."

"They're twins?"

"Nooooo...they're Siamese pine trees," Clopin said with an eyeroll.

"Smartass," huffed Phoebus.

"You asked," Clopin chuckled as a young boy ran to him, yelling his name and waiving a piece of paper in front of him.

"Monseiur Clopin! This letter arrived for you this morning," the boy panted as Esmerelda handed the boy some water. Clopin opened the letter, scanning its contents quietly, until...

"Sacre bleu! Mon Dieu! C'est impossible!"

"Whats the mattter, Clopin?" asked Quasimodo.

"Its from Fiora. My Italian is a little rusty, but according to this, they'll be here..."

"Buongiorno, la mia famiglia!" cried Fiora, running to Esmerelda, hugging her tightly as Jada came up behind her with 10 of their brethren.

"Bonjour, Fiora! Bonjour, Jada!" cried Esmerelda.

"...Now.." Finished Clopin as he turned to face the head of the Italian gypsies.

"Quasi, Madelline, Phoebus, this is the Queen of the Gypsies of Rome. I present La Boule de Feu, Jada Antoine, and her sister, Fiora."

Both girls stood side by side, looking to each other, then smiled shyly as they curtsied to the others.

"Buongiorno, we are pleased to meet the friends of our Parisian counterparts," they said in unison.

"Cugino Esmerelda," said Fiora, "Is the blonde next to you your schiavo?"

"Non," laughed Esme, "He's my husband."

"Poor you," scoffed Jada, who was now standing by Clopin.

"What's a...schiavo?" Phoebus asked.

"Polietly put, my servant," chuckled Esmerelda.

"Bull, Cugino," hissed Jada. "Schiavo is slave."

"Slave?! I am no damned slave!" screeched Phoebus.

"Darling, shut up," chuckled Esmerelda.

"Slave," the twins said in unison, making Esme, Madelline and Clopin fall over laughing as Phoebus seething in blind anger.

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A/N: I've been planning this story for a while. This has some aspects of the book and the Disney movie. I did as much studying as I could and I will be including my research in the author's notes at the bottom of every chapter, plus the translations for each word or phrase that isnt in English.

Cousine/Cugino- Cousin
Oncle- Uncle
Tante- Aunt
Schiavo- Slave/Servant
Bonjour/Buongiorno - Hello/Good Morning
La Boule de Feu- Fireball
La Ombre de L'eau - Water Shadow

I'll go into more detail of the twins and the Italian gypsies in the upcoming chapters, and this is a ClopinxOC story with slight QuasixMaddie and EsmexPhoeb. And it features...a surprise! -Gasp- Let's just say...evil returns.

A Bientot.