A/N: Yet another update in Esmeralda's adventure. Sorry it took so long to update... I get sidetracked and lazy sooo easily.


"Yes, I want to go to Bucharest," Esme repeated, "you see, I'm trying to find--"

However, Clopin didn't seem to be listening. He was eyein eagerly as he circled around her. Esmeralda, however, wasn't in the mood for people not taking her seriously.

"Why are you circling me? Were you a vulture in another life?" she asked grumpily. Coming out of his trance, Clopin proceeded to answer her again.

"Oh, its nothing," Clopin said airily, "it's just that you look an awful lot like-- uh, nevermind. So Eez-muh--"

"It's pronounced Ez-may," Esme said, cutting him off.

"Alright Esme," Clopin replied, "do you have a last name?"

"Um," Esme said, massaging her temples, "this is going to sound strange. But I don't have a last name. I was in an orphanage by the time I was eight years old."

Clopin nodded, massaging his goateed chin "And before all that? Do you remember anything else?" Esme was about to answer, but then she heard laughter mixed in with Djali's bleating. Valdemar was cuddling Djali, who looked estatic as he started to lick his bearded cheek.

"Oh look! He likes me!" he said, his bulging stomach jiggiling from laughter. Rolling his eyes, Clopin turned back to Esme, "well, I am planning to travel to Bucharest with myself and Valdemar. But the last one is reserved exclusively for Esmeralda."

"Who is she?" Esme asked.

Clopin gasped in shock, trying to get his counterpart to participate in the conversation. However, he was too busy scratching Djali in between his horns to notice. Exhaling in annoyance, Clopin began his monolouge.

"Nearly a decade ago, these catacombs were a refuge for outcasts and Gypsies alike. They called it the Court of Miracles. And on the night of its 300th anniversary, Judge Claude Frollo found the place and slaughtered everyone, including the royal family. Few managed to escape. However, one of those who escaped was the Grand Duchess Maite. We have reason to believe that her granddaughter Esmeralda survived as well. So it is our hope to reunite the royal family together."

Esme didn't know what to say. Were these men off their rockers? How did they even have proof that Esmeralda was alive? She could only assume that they were taking a leap of faith. Just like me... she thought.

"You do look like her though!" Clopin insisted.

"Yes!" Valdemar exclaimed, placing Djali on the ground as he finally joined the conversation, "you have Niklaus's nose!"

"And Alondra's chin," Clopin remarked, tracing a finger along her jawline. Recoiling at his touch, she stomped off in the opposite direction.

"Wait, don't go!" Clopin cried, chasing after her.

"You honestly think that I am Esmeralda?" Esme scoffed, "I've been living in an orphanage for most of my life! How would I even know if I'm related to this Maite person?"

"You don't know what happened to you," Valdemar pointed out, "and know one knows what happened to her.

"And you're looking to go to Bucharest!" Clopin added, "and her only family is in Bucharest!"

"The question remains if I'm allowed to go with you or not," she reminded them. Clopin exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked at his friend "What do you think Vald?"

"Well, she certainly does look like Esmeralda," he said truthfully, "and if you aren't the princess it's an honest mistake. But if you are the Princess, you will be reunited with your family!"

"Exactly!" Esme cried, looking exceptionally cheerful since encountering the two men. Djali bleated loudly, looking up at Esme with curiosity.

"Djali, we're going to Bucharest!" she exclaimed happily.

"The goat is staying," Clopin said matter-of-factly.

"I'm his owner, and I say he goes," she replied hotly.

"I'm allergic to goats," Clopin confessed.

"You don't look allergic."

At this, Clopin began coughing for emphasis, doing his best to be histrionic. However, it wasn't having the effect that he had been hoping for. Esme chuckled, shaking her head at the boy.

"I take it the goat can come, then?" Valdemar asked.

"Yes," Clopin sighed. Suddenly, a cold breeze came through the Court of Miracles, ruffling everyone's hair.

"Let's get out of here," Clopin said, placing a hand on Esme's shoulder blade to push her onward. Valdemar followed suit; but little did they know that they were being watched. At least ten feet above them was a small stone perch. And on it stood a man, a hideous man. One eye was hidden unterneath a massive wart. His hunchback was crooked and his red hair hung in front of his face. And in his hands, he carried a hat with a red ribbon attatched to it. The hat hadn't moved in over a decade until that girl came in the room. So that meant that the impossible had happened.

"Esmeralda's alive?" he whispered.


A/N: YAY! I'm finally done with this chapter! It's about time that I started writing again. In case you didn't get it by now, Quasi will be playing the role of Bartok (which I personally think is quite cute). Please R&R!