The next morning, Arianne awoke groggily to something tugging at the hem of her dress. She grunted, and turned her face into the silky pillow.

"Mala, what is it, girl?" she asked, thinking the small child had come to wake her as she sometimes did. But a young girl's voice didn't respond to Arianne.

A bleat did.

Arianne's eyes popped open and she lifted herself to see where the noise came from. A small white goat with large doey eyes was chewing on a torn piece of her dress. He swallowed the fabric, looked at her, and bleated again before he resumed attempting to eat. Arianne scowled.

"Oh, no you don't..."

...

Clopin was making his rounds about the court that morning, asking various Gypsies how they've faired since the scare from last night and checking with the Gypsies who were standing watch last night about what exactly happened that allowed the Parisian guards to wander so far into the court unnoticed.

"We traced their footsteps", said one. "The old entrance that opened near the Hanged Goose Pub was found unguarded. They must have been snooping around and stumbled onto it. We've had the entrance closed and barricaded. No one will get through anymore."

"I trust you," Clopin said unconvincingly, "But I want a night watch their every night from now on, just to be safe."

"Yes, king."

"Good, start tonight."

"Of course."

Clopin tipped his hat to the watchman and walked off, glancing around at the large crowd of people talking excitedly to each other as they went about their usual routines. His eyes hooded at the thought that his home could have been very nearly lost last night, had the guard not given up his companion. He shivered. It wasn't easy being king, especially if you were the king of a secret underground society of boisterous people. Grimacing, he forced his mind to look on the bright side.

"At least it is a tiny bit calm this morni-"

Before he could finish, Clopin's words of positivity were cut off and made false by a loud shout of anger from a few paces away. The King of Traunds sighed when he saw that the growl came from Arianne's tent.

"Out of my tent! Out! Before I skewer you!" her voice echoed through the court.

"Merde..." Clopin's eyed widened in wonder at what could possibly make her so angry. As if to answer his question, a small goat with shock and fear on it's face stumbled out of her tent. She followed, her hair a mess from sleep and sword in her hand. She looked crazed.

"If I ever see you in my tent again, I'll skin your hide and sell your carcass to the butcher!" she yelled as the goat quickened his pace, his floppy ears flapping about as he went. Arianne huffed when the gat was out of sight and returned to her tent. People who were near the scene chuckled at her behavior.

"Someone isn't a morning person..." Clopin heard Jaelle mumble irritably from her tent. He smirked, and began to walk towards Arianne's tent when he heard someone rushing towards him from behind. Clopin dodged sideways, and a flash of purple and white flew past him, hitting the ground.

"Ooow!" the fallen person groaned in agitation, and Clopin shook his head smugly.

"After all these long years, you still cannot sneak on a person to save your life. You're much too noisy." he said. The person sat up and threw back their mass of long dark hair to reveal a pretty face with stunning green eyes. The young woman scowled at Clopin, and he bowed. "Bonjour, Esmeralda."

"Hello, Uncle...help a dame out, would you?" Esmeralda asked, holding out her hand for him to take. Clopin took it and helped her stand, and she brushed the dust off her purple skirt. Clopin took in the sight of his niece.

"You are so pretty now, Esme. I can hardly remember the scrawny, bucktoothed seventeen-year-old who left to travel three years before." he said with a playful grin. Esmeralda smiled wide, and hugged him tightly.

"And you've only gotten older." she said, and lifted his hat. She pointed. "See? I knew it. A receding hairline." Clopin laughed, but hurriedly made her drop his hat back onto his head.

"So what brings you back to us?" he asked. "I thought you were to travel the world and what-not." Esmeralda shrugged her shoulders and gestured to the court.

"The travel was great. The sights were beautiful, and the people I met were kind. But, I got homesick. I missed being with my own people. So, after a few more months, I decided to return. I'm happy that not much has changed."

"Ah, yes, nothing has really changed." Clopin said, glancing at Arianne's tent nervously.

"Frollo's still around then?" Esmeralda asked. Clopin nodded, and she frowned.

"I'd hoped he'd be gone..." she said, and squinted her eyes as if trying to remember something. "And didn't he have a bratty daughter? Aria-"

"Oh, cherie, you must be tired from your travels!" Clopin burst out, and wheeled Esmeralda away from Arianne's tent towards his own. "Why don't you rest in my tent for a few hours! We'll talk about your visits over dinner, how does that sound?" Esmeralda looked up at her Uncle curiously.

"Uh, okay, but I need to get Jolly." she said.

"Who is that? A friend?" he asked. As an answer, Esmeralda brought her fingers to her lips and gave a loud whistle. Some moments later, the same goat from earlier came trotting quickly towards them both.

"Oh, merde..." Clopin muttered. The goat reached them and jumped into Esmeralda's arms.

"This little sweety is Jolly. He's a bit of a hassle sometimes, but he gets along with everyone he meets pretty quickly." Clopin gave an unamused laugh.

"Unless you're a sleepy sword-wielding psychopath on a massive hangover..." he mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?" Esmeralda asked. Clopin waved his hands quickly.

"Oh, nothing, fleur! Nothing! Now, to my tent with you! I will call for you later on!" Clopin ushered her towards his tent, and she finally complied.

"O-okay, well, see you soon then..." she said, and walked towards his tent alone with Jolly in her arms, feeling slightly confused about the way her Uncle was acting. When she reached his tent, she walked inside. Puppets littered the tables and walls, and she smiled with mild relief. "You haven't changed at all, Uncle..."

Back outside, Clopin was pacing. Esmeralda didn't like who she thought was Arianne Frollo. To her, Arianne was the exact copy of her father. It didn't help either that a young Esmeralda made multiple dark threats to Arianne's life when she had Clopin sent to the Palace of Justice. If she saw her, she wouldn't make any hesitation to lunge at her.

"Ooooh, Maria guide me..." Clopin muttered, and walked off to figure out what he would do about this insanity.

...

When Arianne finally emerged from her tent some hours later, she was wearing a different dress that reached just past her knees. It was blue, with white sleeves that hung loosely from her arms. Her silver hair was up in a ponytail, and her sword was strapped to her side. Slipping on some black sandals, she walked over to Jaelle's tent and tapped on the entrance.

"Jaelle, good morning. Can I come in?" she asked.

"Of course, dear. Of course. Come in. I heard you this morning, you know. Making friends with the local wildlife?" Jaelle asked. She was sitting on her bed, mending a purple tunic. Arianne huffed at the memory of that goat.

"That thing was chewing on my dress this morning, so excuse me if I wasn't feeling so hospitable." she said, and sniffed. Jaelle chuckled, eyeing the sword at Arianne's hip.

"Expecting another run-in with it today?" she asked, pointing to it. Arianne rubbed her neck in slight embarrassment.

"After last night, I want to keep my sword on me at all times." she said quietly. Jaelle nodded.

"I understand perfectly. Now, I have a small errand for you if you aren't doing anything." she said.

"Alright, I'm up to it. Do you need more rice or something?" Arianne asked.

"No, I need you to take this tunic and return it to it's owner." Jaelle said as she finished a stitch and cut the thread. Arianne took the purple tunic.

"Who do I take it to?"

"It's our dear king's. His tent is just on the other side of court. You won't miss it, what with the puppets hanging by the entrance. I swear, he's such a child when it comes to those things. Always having to show them off..."

"Alright, I'll take it there. Do you need anything else?" Arianne asked.

"No. If I need you, I'll send for you. Go on now, I need a nap and talking won't get me any rest at all." With that, Arianne left Jaelle's tent with the tunic slung over her arm and headed towards Clopin's tent. On her way, she was stopped by something latching to her dress. Thinking it was the goat, she turned around with an angry expression.

"I told you to keep a-" she stopped when she saw that it was Marko who was grasping her skirt. He was sporting a black eye, a swollen lip, and a surprised expression. Arianne calmed instantly. "Marko, how are you doing?" she asked.

"You're wearing a dress." he said. Arianne rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I am."

"You look all pretty and proper."

"Uhm, thank y-"

"I don't like it. Change back into Maria's Jester."

"Marko, have you anything to say to me, boy?" Arianne said in slight exasperation.

"I lost a tooth." he said, and lifted his lip to show that one of his front teeth was missing. "That dumb guard knocked it out when I was beating him up."

"Your sister told me about that." Arianne said, and kneeled down. "You were very brave for protecting her." she said. "You're more a man than all the Parisian guards put together." Marko blushed, but shook his head and put on a look of excitement.

"I used one of the blocks you taught me!" he said. "He was gonna backhand me, but I smacked his hand away with my rapier like this!" he made a motion, and Arianne smiled.

"Very good. You should show me again when we next practice." she said. Marko's face lit up.

"Can we practice now? Please?" he asked. Arianne shook her head.

"No, child. Not until you have recovered from your injuries. And I think your mama wants you to rest up for a while as well." she said. Marko frowned, but nodded in understanding. He noticed the tunic, and pointed to it.

"Whose is that?" he asked.

"Oh, it's Clopin's. Jaelle is having me take it to him." she said. Marko cocked his head to the side as he looked up at her.

"Are you going to marry Clopin?" he asked. The words hit Arianne like a brick, and she blushed furiously.

"I...what? No. No, no, no. Why would you ask that?" she asked, her voice heightened in complete shock. Marko shrugged.

"I dunno. Father said you both have known each other for a long time, and I've heard he kissed you last night-"

"What happened last night was due to too much alcohol." Arianne cut him off quickly. "Your king and I are not in any sort of relationship at all and never will be."

"Why not?" Marko pressed, and Arianne felt like she was being bombarded.

"Uh, um...I have to go." she said finally. Marko nodded, and watched her walk quickly off.

"She looks way too pretty..." he said, and began to return to his own home.

...

When Arianne reached Clopin's tent, her mind was racing. How could a child put her in such a spot as this? It was madness!

"Complete craziness. Stupid even." she said. Sighing, she forced the thoughts to the back of her mind and tapped on the front flap of the tent. "Clopin? It's me, Arianne. Jaelle sent be to bring you your tunic." she called. No one answered. "Clopin?" Again, no answer. Arianne tsked and opened the flap to walk in, resolving to place to tunic on is bed and leave.

As soon as she entered, however, all thoughts of the tunic vanished, and were replaced by awe. A large assortment of puppets hung from the fabric walls of the tent and littered the three tables and the floor. One table was covered in cut fabric and works in progress, thread spilling over the edges and hanging down in curls. Arianne picked up one of the puppets, a smiling blue cat.

"He's gotten so much better since I last saw these..." she mumbled, remembering that his puppets started off with simplistic designs. Now, as she inspected the cat, he'd gotten much better with detail. The cat's eyes were yellow marble with painted black pupils. Stiff, multicolored thread served as the whiskers, and small tufts of dyed horse hair protruded from the inside the triangular ears. The mouth even opened to reveal a felt orange tongue. "So cute." Arianne said, and carefully set it back down on the works in progress table. As she moved back to find his bed, she bumped into a chair covered in sheets of felt, and it crashed to the floor. "Dammit." she bent down to pick up the chair.

"Ugh, what's the noise? Clopin?" came a girl's voice. Arianne froze in her spot, and looked slowly up. A pile of fabric in the back moved, and from under it emerged a young woman, yawning tiredly and rubbing her eyes. "Clopin, you should really make yourself some blankets, I had to use your fabrics..." she said, her eyes remaining shut as she moved to stand. Another figure emerged from under the fabric as she stood, and Arianne scowled when she saw it was the goat from earlier, chomping on whatever he liked around him. He eyed her, and bleated nervously when he recognized her. The woman opened her eyes then, and they widened when they beheld Arianne.

"Arianne...Frollo?" she muttered slowly, her hands clenching to fists. Arianne noted this, and hesitated to answer.

"Um...yes?" she said uncertainly.

Arianne instantly regretted her truthfulness, for then all Hellfire broke loose.

...

A/N: Hellooooooooooooo~! I'm back from Hiatus! Sorry! Had a lot of problems with getting a new computer! But now I've finally got one! Yay! Sorry for the mega lateness!

Hope you enjoyed the chapters! And thanks for the reviews!