Chapter One
Judge Claudia Frollo strode along the path beside the river, his aged face impassive as always.
Aside from his past sins and the responsibility of repentance that was his adopted son Quasimodo, there was one goal that had stayed on his mind continuesly for decades. The Court of Miracles. Safe haven to the blasphemous gypsies, and the home of Esmeralda. The vile witch had been haunting his thoughts day and night since she made the mistake of hiding away in the Notre Dame Cathedral. Hopefully, the arrival of Eric and Vanessa would serve as a happier distraction.
The young prince had been searching for a bride for some time now, and now that he'd at last settled on what he felt was a good match, the two wished to celebrate by holding their marriage at Notre Dame. Of course, the gyspie girl would remain hidden along with Quasimodo so as not to cause a scene.
Frollo's steps faltered when he heard a dog barking in the distance. He was both suepeised and disgusted to find that just ahead, sitting atop one of the rocks along the riverbank, was a naked woman. Well, she wasn't entirely nude. At least she'd made the effort to cover herself with a large white tower. Vibrant red hair fell down her back, and peircing blue eyes looked all around with childish curiosity.
"You there!" Frollo's gruff command was enough to scare the dog away. He marched toward the young woman, who was still sitting atop the uneven rock. "Have you no sense of decency!?"
She didn't reply.
"Well? Answer me!"
She tapped her delicate had against her throat and shook her head, her once beautiful excited face suddenly replaced with sadness.
"Oh... A mute, are you?" Frollo removed his regal hat and extended a hand to her. "Come, then. My horse isn't far from here. I'll take you to the church."
Frollo cried out as she clumsilly stumbled into his arms without any grace or balance. With her arms around his neck and his hand suddenly around her waist, the situation had become more uncomfortable than ever. They maintained eye contact for a moment until Frollo looked away and awkwardly cleared his throat.
"You've lost the use of your legs as well?" he asked her softly, to which she nodded.
Frollo pointed back the way he came. "Perhaps my home would be better than the church for now. At least I may commission for some new clothes to be made for you."
*
Flounder and Sebastian looked on from the water as the strange human male practically carried Ariel with him back down the path.
"But that's not the right human!" Sebastian cried. "Just look at the poor girl! Doesn't she remember what her father said about talking to strangers!?"
Flounder pondered this for a moment. "Well, she's not actually talking to him."
"You know what I mean!" Sebastian anxiously tapped his chin while pacing back and forth until he had a somewhat reasonable idea. "I know! We'll have Scuttle keep an eye on her. That the best we can do for now."
"But what about the prince?" Flounder asked.
Sebastian pointed as his finned friend. "Get to his boat as fast as your fins can carry you. In the meantime, I must return to Atlantica. King Triton must know about this before Ariel gets herself into anymore trouble!"
*
Vanessa stared into the vanity mirror, her jaw dropped at the sight of the misshappen young man. Twenty years old, innocent, with a heart so sweet that she could almost die.
No... It couldn't be.
But he looked just like--
It was him! It had to be!
Her lovely face was marred by the harsh scowl that creased her brow. She balled her fist and slammed the mirror, creating a long crack in the reflective glass.
"Frollo... You lied to me," she hissed. "I make you this promise. When I am queen, I will strip you of any power you think you have... so that you may know what the power of vengance feels like!"