CHAPTER 12: DANCE OF THE GYPSIES
Disclaimer: This chapter is rated a T for a very brief mention of prostitution,albeit not directly and again very briefly. I don't think any other chapter in the future is gonna require a disclaimer like this and the story's already rated T,but I still wanted to give a warning regardless for any potential younger readers. Enjoy.
The streets of Paris were now a cold wasteland of silence and darkness. The majority of the citizens were now inside their homes and getting ready for a good night's sleep. The sky was a lovely dark blue and there wasn't a single cloud up in the heavens,instead there was only the light of the full moon and the twinkling of countless stars,and the only noises that could be heard were the chirping of crickets and the hooting of owls.
The gang had been walking through the desolate streets for about thirty minutes and were tracking down Esmerelda and Djali's trail the best they could,and luckily there were barely any soldiers out on patrol as they instead focused the majority of their attention on the cathedral and it's courtyard.
"Are we there yet?" asked a now growing tired Petrie as he slumped on Spike's back only for Cera to sternly refute with a yawn of her own "We'll get there when we get there." before a sleepy Littlefoot couldn't help but admit as his eyes started to feel heavy "I thought finding Esmeralda would be a little easier than this."
"I'm starting to wonder if we might've made a wrong turn somewhere." pondered an also tired Chomper as he looked around their surroundings only for Ruby to calmly reassure with a yawn "Don't worry you guys,we've definitely been following Quasimodo's directions and have followed his directions." before a half asleep Ducky mumbled on top of Spike "I'm feeling really tired right now,yep….yep…yep." Spike's attention would then be drawn over to a nearby flower pot and his stomach started growling as he began eating the newly grown flowers.
Littlefoot turned around and was quick to notice as he politely suggested while he and the rest of the gang approached the spiketail "I don't think we should be stopping for breaks Spike. We might lose Esmerelda *yawn* if we take too long." before his stomach started growling as well along with everyone else's.
"Me feeling pretty hungry right now." groaned Petrie as he sat up and rubbed his growling belly before Cera couldn't help but agree "You said it,there's barely been any green food around here." followed by Chomper especially agreeing with a nod "You think you guys have it bad,I haven't seen a single bug around here. I don't think I've eaten anything all day." prompting Ducky to wonder as she looked back the way they came "Do you think we should go back?"
"I don't know Ducky. Quasi's counting on us to make sure Esmerelda gets back to safety." Littlefoot politely replied as he hung his head with uncertainty before Ruby perked up and suggested "I've been thinking in my thinking place and got an idea from my thinking place. Why don't we find Esmerelda and see if she can help us all find some food?"
"That'd be a good idea if we knew where to look." mumbled a now annoyed Cera with sleep deprived wrinkles under her eyes before Littlefoot looked at their surroundings in the hopes of finding a clue. After a few moments of searching,the longneck squinted his eyes and perked up when he spotted a tavern down an unknown alley "Hey,I think I see some lights down there. Maybe someone in there might have seen her."
"Are you sure?" questioned a slightly nervous Petrie as he flew down on top of Littlefoot's head before Chomper added equally as unsure "And what if there are soldiers in there? If they see us outside the belltower they might try to capture us." to which Cera rolled her eyes and yawned "Why don't we just go back and tell Quasi we couldn't find her? This plan sounded a lot better in my head."
Littlefoot however stayed silent and instead looked around for a way for them to sneak by any potential soldiers,and he quickly found a solution when he spotted a tarp around a fruit stand.
"I got it!"
Meanwhile not too far away,a hooded Frollo was walking down the streets by himself. He found himself unable to bring himself to return alone to his cold and dark chambers. He thought he saw her everywhere as unwanted and unholy thoughts about Esmeralda were creeping into his already twisted mind.
Ando bìrto zhas.
Thai mol piyas.
"You guys look so silly!" mocked Cera when she saw Littlefoot wrap the tarp around himself and the rest of the gang only for the longneck to enthusiastically explain "If we wrap this around us like Esmerelda did,they might not see us. Come on,we can make it quick." to which the threehorn grumbled to herself and reluctantly joined them under the cloak before they started approaching the tavern.
Amáre love das.
Thai mol piyas.
As they got closer and closer to the tavern,the sounds of distant music and laughter grew more and more clear-
Ándo bírto zhas.
Thai mol piyas.
Amáre love das.
Thai mol piyas.
coming from within the tavern the gang entered called-
Gypsies:
La Pomme d'Eve!
The tavern was not filled with a single soldier but instead a huge gathering of gypsy men and women,and among them was a heavily cloaked and hooded Esmerelda as she and Djali happily danced with their brethren.
Dance!
Dance!
Dance!
Dance!
Thai gilaba!
Thai mol piyas!
Esmeralda and Gypsies:
Fill up the tankards let's have another one.
Let's drink it down and shout out in song.
We're gonna drink and dance till the morning sun.
It's gonna come before dawn!
In the dark of the night.
In the dead of the winter.
Male Gypsies:
Pleasure is fleeting.
Female Gypsies:
Ándo bírto zhas.
Male Gypsies:
So lips will be meeting.
Female Gypsies:
Thai mol piyas.
Esmeralda and Gypsies:
Come keep me warm until morning.
Ándo bírto zhas.
Thai mol piyas.
Amáre love das.
Thai mol piyas.
"I don't see any soldiers here." noticed Littlefoot as he scouted around the place before Ducky happily pointed out "Look at all the dancing they're doing. This place looks like fun!" to which Cera asked with a raised eyebrow "Where's a yellow belly when you need them?"
As the gang continued to watch the gypsies dance and drink,they suddenly got a perfect view of Esmeralda and managed to see her face through her cloak as Chomper exclaimed "Hey! Esmerelda's there!" before Petrie pointed when he saw Djali dancing and playing a miniature horn "And there Djali too!"
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Gypsies:
Fill up the tankards let's have another one.
Esmeralda:
In all the town there's no sweeter wine.
Gypsies:
We're gonna get down and dance till oblivion.
It's gonna come and go shine!
Esmeralda:
With the taste of the wine.
Hold me close while we're dancing.
Esmerelda and Female Gypsies:
When I hear you sighing.
Male Gypsies:
Ándo bírto zhas.
Esmeralda and Female Gypsies:
Winter is dying.
Male Gypsies:
Thai mol piyas.
Esmeralda and Gypsies:
You'll keep me warm until morning.
The crowd of dancing gypsies would suddenly be interrupted when none other than Captain Phoebus and another unnamed soldier strolled inside the tavern. Phoebus was no longer in his standard battle armor but now sported a grey undergarment made of wool,almost to make himself appear more friendly to the locals.
"Hey it's Pheobus." pointed out Littlefoot when he saw him walk inside the tavern to which Cera wondered out of curiosity "What's he doing here? Hopefully not to trap anymore people." before the bar keeper happily greeted the captain and his companion as he slid them some mugs of beer "Out on the town tonight Captain?"
"Just looking for a little rest and recreation,for my friend here as well." explained Phoebus with a chuckle as he shoved the soldier towards a group of lovely women before the bar keeper stated "Well not all these girls sell their bodies." to which Phoebus sarcastically joked "No they pick soldier's pockets in other ways? Ah well as long as they're helping the economy." getting a laugh out of the bartender and some of the other tavern goers.
Phoebus's peripheral attention would however be drawn over to none other than the lovely Esmeralda,who was sipping on a cup of wine near a window,all while she was still a gorgeous and beautiful woman even amidst her attempts to hide her identity for the time being.
"Well whatta you know." Phoebus whispered to himself just as he exited his seat and approached the gypsy girl before he smoothly greeted the woman "Well,I was hoping to see you again and never thought I'd find you here. Not the most popular girl around right now,you lose friends easily don't you?" to which Esmeralda cracked a smile and playfully retorted "I have that way about me."
"Too bad,makes seeing you much more difficult."
Esmerelda had to take a double take after hearing that before she looked up at Phoebus and pondered "And does that disappoint you?" to which the soldier smugly answered with another question "Does that surprise you?"
"Frankly yes."
"Me too."
Esmeralda couldn't help but lightly scoff in response to such an answer before Phoebus offered her his hand and she gladly took it as they started slow dancing in the middle of the tavern,all while the gang got closer in an attempt to eavesdrop,but not before Chomper snagged a bite out of a worm he saw slithering on the floor.
"Well…maybe you'll just have to bend the rules a bit. And stop for a good soldier like you."
"Can I tell you a secret? I'm not as good as everybody likes to think."
"That's a relief."
Esmerelda and Phoebus then came together and kissed,much to the shock,confusion and even disgust of the gang as they gagged at the sight of it while the gypsies continued their dancing.
Meanwhile Frollo had managed to miraculously slip inside the tavern,with no one managing to catch his identity in the process. He was absolutely disgusted by the display he saw in front of him,even though Esmerelda's disguise and Phoebus's more commoner like appearance managed to fool him,he still saw the image of her everywhere and it gradually lit the blistering fire that was his slowly growing desire for her.
Gypsies:
Ándo bírto zhas.
Thai mol piyas.
Amáre love das.
Thai mol piyas.
In the dark of the night.
Frollo's Thoughts:
Brazen,lewd and odious this vile,depraved display.
Gypsies:
Ando bìrto zhas.
Thai mol piyas.
In the dead of the winter.
Frollo's Thoughts:
I cannot bear to watch and yet I cannot turn away.
Gypsies:
Amáre love das.
Thai mol piyas.
You'll keep me warm until morning.
Esmeralda and Phoebus had now broken free of their kiss as the soldier marveled with his breath taken away "Well…that was pleasant. For you too." only for Esmerelda to regretfully excuse herself as she backed away into the rapidly growing crowd "I have to go."
"Why?"
"You're not the only one who needs to make a living!" explained Esmerelda before she whistled "Come on Djali!" to which the goat pulled his head out of a half empty barrel of wine and followed after the woman,but before burping purple bubbles while Phoebus pleaded "Where can I find you?!" only for his words to not be heard as Esmeralda had now vanished from the tavern.
"Did you see where she went?" asked Ducky as she and the gang tried to frantically push their way through the crowd only for Littlefoot to shake his head in uncertainty "I don't know. It's getting pretty crowded here. Maybe we should go." before Ruby suggested "I think she might've went outside. Let's check outside."
"Me feel nervous in here." nodded a nervous Petrie in agreement to which Cera couldn't help but agree "Yeah,let's get out of here." and the gang started making their way to the door. Phoebus meanwhile was a little distraught over his time with Esmeralda being cut short but he would soon be snapped out of his disappointed daze when his now drunken and lipstick covered companion for the night gladly approached him with a woman and gleefully announced "Captain! She says she has a sister!" to which a now grossed out Phoebus refused the apparent offer "I'm sure she does. Thanks but I'm not interested."
"Oh Captain-"
"Have a good night Frederick!" bid Phoebus farewell as he stormed out of the front doors of the tavern while the gang was busy getting caught in the wildly progressing dance of the gypsies amidst their attempts to leave. Frollo had now left the tavern after having seen enough with the intent to return to his chambers and offer a very special prayer to Beata Maria.
Gypsies:
Dance!
Dance!
Dance!
Dance!
Fill up the tankards,let's have another one!
Let's drink it down and shout out in song!
We're going to drink and dance till the morning sun!
It's gonna come before dawn!
It's gonna come before dawn!
It's gonna come before dawn!
It's gonna come before dawn!
It's gonna come before dawn!
NEXT CHAPTER: LIGHT OF HEAVEN AND FIRE OF HELL
Author's Note: We're getting closer and closer to Hellfire,the best villain song of all time,Disney or otherwise. So excited to include it.