I still don't own Kingdom hearts. Hey guys! It's been a long long time since I've been able to get back to this story. I did say I would finish it didn't I. I like the plot and the characters too much to leave it alone. Anyways, here we go. Keep reading and reviewing!!!!

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Chapter 26: The End of Miracles

It was her-- Cancer. The lost member of the Zodiac. Aros stood transfixed by her appearance. She looked so weak and ill. He wondered briefly if this was one reason why she was no longer with them, but that wasn't the case. Virgo told him once, that she didn't believe in Aries' ideas. Because of her lost of faith in him, she left them, before Aries could get to her.

"Cancer?" he asked again," Cancer, what are you doing here?" She seemed lost in thought and did not appear to really see him. She scanned the area around them. Riku lie stock still in the webbing; Kairi slowly turned her head in a daze to see what had saved her from execution. After what felt like an hour, she finally spoke. "Why do you inquire about me? How is it you know who I am? One of Aries's little slaves are you?"

At this remark, Aros stiffened. He wasn't sure if he liked this person. "Who are you calling slave? Aries is my father. What about you?"
"You know of me."

"No, I mean, where did you come from? What are you doing here?" She gazed at him thoughtfully, then turned her attention to the sky. "What are you doing here?"

"That's my business."

"So is mine."

Aros was getting pretty annoyed with her. Who does she think she is? No wonder Aries got rid of her. No wait. Virgo said it was the other way around. Virgo. He didn't know why, but all of a sudden, he missed her; like before, when she just left him. It must have shown on his face, because Cancer looked at him with pity and took his hands in hers. "Son of Aries. It appears we were to meet." Aros looked at her skeptically.

"What makes you say that?"

She smiled at him and looked at his palms, then turned to look up at the sky. "The stars in the sky." He looked up too. "The few stars that are left. Have you ever seen them Aros?"
"How do you know my name?"

"You know mine, so how could I not know yours."

Aros gaped at her, not sure what to think. Who is she? "I also know you are a heartless. A heartless who has a father."

"Yeah well..."

"So if you have a father, that must mean you have a mother?" Aros shifted nervously at her statement. He never really had a mother. Except for Virgo, though he called her by her name. But he no longer could call her by anything, now that she was gone. Gone and never coming back. Aros's eyes began to sadden at the thought of her; Out there, somewhere, but nowhere. He turned away from Cancer, not wanting to discuss it and wanting to get back to killing Kairi. Riku grunted,after snapping out of his curiosity of Cancer, while ripping apart the last of the web that kept him captive. He immediately ran over to Kairi, blade in hand, and started to help her to her feet. He was glad to see that she too was snapping our of her ordeal. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Riku, wait!"

Riku stood over Kairi and pointed his blade at Aros and Cancer. "Who are you? What do you want?" But clearly they, at the moment, didn't want anything to do with them. Aros was still thinking about Virgo, and Cancer was watching him, carefully. "So you do have a mother. Yes. She was beautiful. She still is. I've seen her."

"Seen her! When! Where!" Aros could feel a pounding in his chest at the information. Virgo! Is she here too! "Take me to her!"

"Oh dear, what I meant was..."

"What! What!"

"I've seen her when I used to live with the Zodiac." Aros felt the world leaving him again. He hung his head. "Oh." She smiled politely at him and when he looked up, she didn't seem so ill. "She was kind and clever and wanted so much to have a child. We were good friends. She told me this just recently. She told me about you, from the stars. She's hoping for your safety, even though she can't be with you now. But have faith. You will see her again. You know this deep down, though you are a heartless. A heartless that may not be so heart-less."

Aros closed his eyes and remembered the time he and Virgo spent together. It seemed so long ago now. He grabbed ahold of the star necklace she had given him. How he wished he could see her again. But he couldn't; not now. Now, he had an important mission to complete and if he didn't complete it...

He didn't want to think about that. Instead, he pushed aside his saddened to speak to Cancer once more. He was curious about her words. "What do you mean I may not be a heartless?" Cancer seemed a little taken aback by his question. "Oh dear, did I say that? Hmm."

"Well."

She gave him a quiet smile and held her hand against his cheek. "In time you will know." She gazed into his eyes for a few seconds longer before turning around. "Wait! Where are you going?" But she didn't answer. She kept going. Aros ran a few steps toward her to question her once more, but he saw she was fading away into the darkness. Soon, he was alone again, except for Riku and Kairi. Riku held his weapon, ready for battle while Kairi stood next to him looking just as fierce at the same time unsure. Aros said nothing. "Hey!," Riku called out. He could do nothing. He was still thinking about Virgo and all that had happened before and after she departed. He shook his head. I don't have time to think about this. I...I have a job to do. But for some reason, he just didn't feel like doing it anymore. Not after he made friends with Quasi; after he met Cancer; nor after he remembered Virgo. She wouldn't want this, would she? Slowly, he turned to look at Kairi. He didn't just look at her; he was looking into her eyes. He couldn't kill this girl. At least, not now. He wasn't even sure if he really could if they were alone.

He pulled his keyblade up to his shoulder and when he did that, Kairi was sure he wasn't going to kill him. There was saddness there; a deep saddness. As quietly as he could, he turned and walked away from them. "Hey!," Riku called. he charged forward. He wasn't going to let him get away. "Riku wait! Someone's coming!" He halted and turned. He could see the shadows of three figures coming forward. With the dark night, he couldn't see who they were, but they were coming fast. He looked back at Aros, but he could see that he had already disappeared. He gritted his teeth in anger. "Riku!"

Riku moved up next to Kairi. "It's Sora," Riku told Kairi, in a sharp voice. He looked at her and almost glared as though blaming her for Aros's escape. He didn't mean too, but he felt she knew who these three were; she didn't give any indication that she did know.

"Hey guys! Did you find anything?," Sora asked.

"Almost," Riku answered while glancing at Kairi once more. She quickly turned away and looked at Sora.

"How about you guys?"

"Nothing," said Donald.

"Not even a shadow of him," Goofy added. "It's like he vanished into thin air."

"Thin air is right," said Riku as he looked back at the area where Aros had disappeared. "We almost caught him. He had us trapped, then he was talking to some woman. After that..." He sighed and Sora followed his gaze to where Aros had previously been. "Well, let's go," Sora cried.

"What?"

Sora moved over to Riku. "I'm sure we can catch him if we follow that path."

"I doubt it. This guy's tricky. He's a heartless remember? He's not one of us." At Riku's decision of what Aros was, Kairi shifted nervously. As far as she knew, there was something about Aros that didn't quite label him as a heartless. "We still gotta try."

"Sora's right!," Donald cried. "We can't give up." Riku nodded. The late hours would soon become morning. They had to catch Aros. "Com'on then," Riku cried and led his team onward. Kairi hesitated, but followed in the end.

Just as they were running forward, something was running toward them, on horseback.

"Who's that! It's not something big and scary is it?," asked Goofy.

"No," said Sora. "It's Phoebus and it looks like somethings' wrong." He looked like he was in a panic as he rode Achilles. He didn't even seem to realize what was in front of him. "Phoebus!" Sora cried to get his attention. Achilles reared up after being forced to stop so quickly. "No time," he answered. "It's Frollo, he's gone mad! He's burning the villages up ahead to find the gypsies!"

"Then we've gotta stop him. Let's go guys! Aros will have to wait!" Sora's gang didn't hesitate in agreeing, although Riku did wonder what the consequences would be of leaving Aros to run amok. He didn't show it; instead, he nodded with the others.

By now, the light of the morning had just arrived, but it didn't stop Frollo. Apparently, he had been plotting the destruction of the villages for most of the evening. Then during the night, he began. He had ordered his troops to ransack a home where he found hidden gyspsies under a trap door. It was then that the many witnesses surrounding him realized his plan when he tried to make a deal with them. He was actually searching for Esmeralda. He offered silver for anyone who knew where to find her, but when they claimed they didn't know he locked them up. He continued to the next home and then another and another until it reached morning. Frollo and his troops were unrelenting and no one could stop them. Phoebus hoped he could, but the possibility of putting an end to his tyranny looked impossible when he finally found him.

There he stood, Frollo and his army, in front of an old miller's house, built with a large windmill. Frollo advanced on the poor man who was shivering with fear. Phoebus wasted no time in jumping off Achilles and running over.

"Have you been harboring gypsies?", Frollo asked the man. The man gulped and shook harder.

"Have mercy my lord," he begged. "Our home is always open to travelers."

Frollo's eyes narrowed. "Then you have nothing to fear, if you're innocent. Until then, I am placing your family under house arrest." Frollo signals his men to move in and force him back into the house. "But we're innocent!," the man cried in desperation. "We don't know anything about these gypsies!" But Frollo wasn't listening any more. Instead, he barred the door shut with a guard's staff while two of his men barred the windows. Phoebus watched in disgust and moved closer into the scene.

"Why captain," Frollo acknowledged. "So glad you've arrived and just in time."

"In time, for what?"

By now, Sora and his group had made it and were in time to see Frollo hand Phoebus a torch. "Burn it." He ordered.

"What?"
"These people are liers and traitors. Make an example of them."

Phoebus stared into those cold eyes. Frollo could not see that he didn't believe in his actions. But he will see it now. "With all due respect sir, I'm not trained to murder the innocent."

"No, but you were trained to follow orders captain." He pushes the torch right in front of him. Those gleaming eyes danced in the light. Now he had him. He was under orders. He had no choice. The consequences could be much worse than death. Without a word, he took the torch and walked toward the mill.

"No!" Sora cried out as he and his friends ran forward to stop him. "Seize them!" Frollo ordered his men and several of them grabbed ahold of their arms. They fought to escape,(no one fighting harder than Donald), but it was useless. "Phoebus don't!" Sora tried again. He glanced at him, face full of sorrow, and turned away. He knew Frollo was satisfied; pleased that he had established control. He was wrong.

Instead of burning the poor miller's home, Phoebus dunked the torch in a bucket of water. His clear defiance created an angered disappointment. "Coward." Instead of expressing his rage, he grabbed another torch and burned the house himself. "No!" Sora and his group shouted, along with Phoebus. The small home would burn down in an instant. He couldn't let that happen. As fast as he could, he crashed through the window. Everyone watched, believing he would end up toast, until he burst through the front door with the family. They were all safe. "He did it!," cried Kairi. "Alright Phoebus!" Sora cheered. Celebrations for Phoebus's victory were quickly put on hold as two guards grabbed him. "Let him go!" Riku shouted, but a guard shut him up when he punched him in the stomach. "Hey!" Sora argued, but he too was stopped with a similar punch. "Riku! Sora!", Kairi cried.

"Such a pity," Frollo continued. "You threw away such a promising career."

"My highest honor sir."

While Frollo was sentencing Phoebus, Sora's guard was making taunts. "Got anything else to say?"

"Actually." He looked over at Riku who gave him a wicked smile. "I've got something else to do." Both Sora's and Riku's guards were thrown back. They pulled out their keyblade and proceeded to free Kairi, Donald and Goofy. Once Phoebus's guards became distracted, he escaped their grasps and knocked them out. "Stop them! Stop them at once!" Frollo screamed. Unfortunately, the guards wouldn't be able to stop Sora and Riku; they were too much for them to handle. In the mix of the loss of control, Phoebus hopped onto Frollo's horse and took off. Instead of stopping Sora's team, Frollo ordered most of the men to stop Phoebus. "Oh no you don't!" Sora cried. He wasn't about to let them bring down a fellow hero. Unfortunately he had no choice as he was hit from behind and knocked unconscious. "Sora!" Riku shouted, but he too went down, along with Goofy and Donald. It was just Kairi and Frollo's whole army. She held her keyblade in front of her for protection. "I'm warning you! Stay back!" It didn't work. A guard grabbed her from behind and held her in a bone-crushing grip. "Isn't she a pretty flower?" the man laughed. "Much too pretty for such carrying on." "What do we do with her?" But Frollo's attention was on Phoebus. His men were chasing him across a bridge and shooting arrows. Eventually, an arrow struck him and forced the captain to fall into the river below. "Save your arrows men!" Frollo shouted. "We have more pressing matters." He turned slowly and grinned at Kairi.

Frollo's troops moved out with new prisoners at their side, while Phoebus lay in his watery grave. That is, until a mysterious figure below the bridge approached his body. She had seen the whole thing and had attempted to help him by pulling him out of the water. As quickly as she could, Esmeralda carried him away. It wouldn't be an easy task to save him; not with Frollo running about and certainly not with most of Paris burning under his orders. She was sure there was only one place to take him.

Aros didn't know what made him come back; all he knew was that he had vanished from the eyes of his followers and took a different route back to the cathedral. Now he was making his way up the spiraling staircase to the tower. Aros had nothing planned for Quasi. The only reason he was sent to Paris was to kill Kairi. His father didn't say anything about casting Quasi or his world into darkness. Frollo's doing that already. He decided all he was really looking for was some advise or a friend. I've never thought of any of those people out there as my friend. I guess because they weren't. They thought I was Sora. They never knew me, but if they did...He stopped when he reached the top and looked around. It was quiet up here and no one was in sight. "Hello?" He moved in a bit. "Wait, what's that..." He had caught a whiff of a strange order coming over the balcony. When he moved in, he saw what he didn't see before. This side of Paris was in flames. Many of the homes in the distance were burning in red and orange light. "What's happening?," Aros asked in confusion and fright. "Who could have done this?"

"Trouble. Big trouble."

Aros turned to see Quasi and the gargoyles coming toward him. They all looked over the balcony.

"Doesn't look good does it," said Laverne.

"But why?" Aros demanded. "Who's doing this."

"Ya have to ask?," said Hugo. "The guy with the long nose and goofy hat. Frollo."

"He's searching for that gypsy girl," Victor added.

"You mean, you're gypsy girl?" Aros asked as he turned to Quasi who looked as miserable as he did when he believed he couldn't go to the festival. As a matter of fact, he looked much worse. "I hope she's alright." Hugo hopped over to him and attempted to cheer him up. "Are you kidding me? If I know Esmeralda, she's way ahead of Frollo." Hugo was right. Esmeralda was way ahead of Frollo and was now standing at the entrance of the staircase. "Quasi!" They all turned in surprise. "Esmeralda, you're all right!" Quasi cried as he ran to her. Unfortunately, she had no time to celebrate. "You've done so much for me my friend, but I must ask for your help." "Anything." She turned and headed down a couple of steps. Aros stood next to the stone figures of the gargoyles and watched the scene before him. As quickly as she had left, she came back with the unconcious body of Phoebus. "This is Phoebus. He's a fugitive like me. I need you to hide him. Please." Quasi glanced at the stranger and nodded. "Yes, this way." Just as she was starting to follow him, she caught sight of Aros. "Sora? How did you...but I saw you..." "You two know each other?" Quasi asked. Esmeralda nodded, but Aros did nothing. He didn't know this girl. He saw her, that much was true, but he didn't know her that well. Apparently she's met Sora before. "Well, I...uh..." "Nevermind. We have to hurry." She continued behind Quasi. Aros was glad she didn't interriogate him any further, so he followed them to Quasi's bedroom. Here, Esmeralda attended to his wound by cleaning it with alcohol. Phoebus moaned and groaned in pain. "You're probably the craziest soldier or bravest soldier I've ever met," Esmeralda commented. Phoebus gave a weak smile. "Ex-soldier." He smiled at her and she held his hand; Quasi turned away, heart broken. It was clear what was happening; even Aros understood. Oh Quasi. He had to say something. He walked over to him. "Hey, don't..." but he froze. That sound! "Frollo's coming!"

"Frollo?" Quasi quickly turned to Esmeralda. "Hurry! You must go!"

"I will, but watch over my friend."

"I promise."

She took her leave and left Quasi and Aros to do the dirty work. "We have to hide him!" Quasi informed him. "Where?" He looked around frantically. "There! Under the table." Quasi took Phoebus by the shoulders and dragged him toward it while Aros tried carrying his feet. In no time, Phoebus was safely hidden. "You too." "What!" "My master doesn't know about you Sora. Stay with him." Aros sighed and hid himself under as well. It was just in time too, as Frollo was soon standing where Esmeralda had previously been. "Master, I didn't think you'd be able to come." Frollo moved over to the table. "I'm never to busy to share a meal with you my boy." He sits down and clears his throat which is Quasi's cue to set the table. Under the table, Aros pushed Phoebus further away from Frollo, but there was barely enough room for the both of them. Don't screw this up. Quasi appeared to be doing just the opposite of Aros's pleas. He was so nervous about Frollo discovering his secret, that he started dropping and breaking some of the dishes. Frollo sensed his nervousness. "Is something wrong?"

"No no master."

"I think there is. You're hiding something."

"No no master! There's nothing here."

Frollo eyed his suspiciously for a minute before dividing their lunch of grapes. Quasi began to wolf them down in an effort to hurry his stay. Aros's smelled the food and guess Phoebus smelled it too, because he moaned loud enough for them to hear. Aros covered his mouth and Quasi covered the noise by pretending to cough. "Seeds." He explained to Frollo. He, however, didn't stop his curiosity of Quasi's actions. "Something's different in here." He looked around until he found it. He got up just as Phoebus's foot fell out from under the table. Aros and Quasi hurried to push it under again. Meanwhile, Frollo had found a wooden carving of the gypsy he had been searching for. Unlike all of Quasi's other wood carvings, this one was brand new. "The gypsy. Now I know." He whirled around in a wild rage. "You helped her escape!"

"No no!"

"And now all of Paris is burning because of you!"

Quasi could no longer hide it. He knew. Aros, quietly lifed the table cloth and peeked out. "She was kind to me." Quasi continued. "You idiot! It wasn't kindness, it was her cunning tricks. She's a gypsy. Think! Think of your mother!" This apparently struck a nerve and silenced him. Frollo used the time to recompose. "Nevermind. How can I expect a poor boy like you to understand. No matter. She'll be out of our lives soon enough. I know where she's hiding and I will find her at dawn." He turned away from him and headed back down the stairs, but not before giving Quasi a cold glare.

Once he was gone, Aros and Phoebus emerged from the table.

"Thank you Sora. I don't know how you got out...the others...don't worry, we'll save them all." So you know me as well? It was surprising to know how many people knew Sora. "But right now, we have to get to the Court of Miracles."

"I can't," said Quasi. "I can't disobey my master."
"But she's your friend and she stood up for you. Nice way to repay her."

Quasi said nothing more. He simply turned away. "Fine. You do what you think is right. As for me, I'm going. What about you Sora. Are you with me?"

Once again, Aros wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know Esmeralda nor did he know Phoebus. But Paris was burning and Frollo was on the loose. What better way to stick it to that jerk than to help the girl. He nodded. "Let's go!" He moved a lot faster than he normally could which only made Aros feel he might drop. His body was still weak. Someone had to be there for him. He glanced at Quasi before running after the captain. What have I gotten myself into? I promised myself I wouldn't play hero to strangers, yet here I go again. Once they made it to the bottom of the cathedral, they scouted the area for any signs of Frollo or his men. Aros, however, stared at the fires buring away. "This city won't really burn to the ground will it?"

"Not unless you and I do something about it."

"You mean we." They turned and saw Quasi in a cloak. Aros smiled. "I'm coming with you."

"Glad you changed your mind," said Aros.

"I have to help her."

"Do you know where she is?," Phoebus questioned.

"No, but this should help." Quasi pulled out the talisman necklace Esmeralda had given him earlier. "She said this will help me find her."

"Great, but what is it?"

"I'm not sure."

Aros cocked his head and frowned. "Maybe it's a key."

"Or a code. Greek maybe," Phoebus suggested, but Quasi wasn't listening. He was muttering something to himself. "Wait that's it."

"What?" Phoebus and Aros asked.

"It's the city. See? It's a map. There's the cathedral and the river and the--"
"It can't be a map!" Phoebus argued.

"It is!"

"It isn't"

"It is!"

"Guys guys guys!" Aros cut in. They had no time for this. They had to save Esmeralda. "Let's just say it's a map all right. If we're going to save Esmeralda, we have to work together." Phoebus and Quasi glared at one another while Aros looked between the two. This was no time for a fight. Finally, Phoebus slapped Quasi on the back. "Okay, truce."

Quasi thought it over before returning the slap, which was much to hard for Phoebus to take. "Okay." Phoebus winced in pain. "Let's go!" Aros called. He ran ahead and Quasi and Phoebus followed.

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I had hoped I wouldn't have to divided "The Hunchback" chapter into fours, but there's a big battle coming up between two main characters and I didn't want it latched onto this story, because I didn't want it to drag. In this chapter, we met Cancer, Phoebus is wounder, Sora and the others are captured and Aros, Phoebus and Quasi are searching for Esmeralda. I felt it was enough for this chapter. Anyways. Stay in touch with the story. I'm not giving up on it. The next chapter will conclude the Hunchback and establish the battle we've been waiting for. I've actually had trouble trying to put this together, in concern with the movie of Hunchback. I guess that's why it took so long for me to write this. Hope you're enjoying it. and Keep reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!