Author's Note: HEY! THIS IS ACTUALLY UPDATED! AREN'T YOU, LIKE, TOTALLY SURPRISED! So, here's the deal. I was grounded because of an "F" I got in one of my classes (which is now a "B", if any of you'd like to know), and THEN my phoneline got busted. But, here it is, Chapter 20, sorry that I can't say that much, but I'm sort of busy. Read and Review, have a great night! The next funfact (if anyone reads them) will come along with the next chapter!

Chapter 20

The pounding rain took the vast skies that hung above old Paris, never really disappearing over the long night that had passed. The falling drops had, in fact, seemed to harden, and the grey clouds took more of the wide heavens than it had the dreary day before, not allowing a single golden ray of sunlight to permeate its thick surface. It was a cold winter morning, and it was not very early, but the tortuous streets remained mysteriously empty, save for a few shadowy figures, probably out for business of the shady variety. Nobody seemed to want to chance even a quick trip along the narrow avenues during the rain. So, most remained within their drafty houses, lingering by an early crackling fire, keeping warm as the gloomy storm continued outside and the howling wind swept along.

In one of these old, half-timbered houses, situated very near the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame, a middle-aged woman stoked the dancing flames in her brick fireplace. She looked worn, understandably tired, and there was a look of inexplicable worry on her wizened face as she wrapped her old shawl about her for warmth, glancing above one shoulder at a small figure that lay haphazardly upon an old hay mattress, swathed in a frayed blanket. The young girl breathed heavily in her sleep, her expression pained and fatigued. The French woman sighed worriedly. Dawn had been struck with a mysterious illness just the night before; why it had come to occur was a thing hidden deep in the shadows of reason. Her husband had left in hopes of finding one of Paris's doctors that would help aid them in their predicament. But, he had yet to return from his appointed task.

Dawn's mother had wept throughout the night by her daughter's side. She was the only child she had; if she was lost to an illness, she would probably herself die of grief.

The woman moved to the bedside table, where there sat a wide-mouthed ewer and a large basin, both filled with water. She took an old rag that lay folded beside the bowl and dipped it gingerly into the pool of water, twisting it to remove any excess, which dripped quietly back into the basin. She dabbed at her daughter's sweat-dotted forehead, a frown of concern flitting across her face. She released a tired sigh. She hoped that something better would come soon.

It was all the fault of that gypsy and his horrid pet! thought she as she perused the expression that took her daughter's fair countenance. That blue creature had cursed her with that look of his, that shocking glare from those cold black eyes… Her face fell into her hands. How could she have allowed this to happen…? If she had only opposed to her daughter's request and taken her away from the street show, then perhaps Dawn wouldn't be in such a sad state.

Feeling a strong emotion rising up in her chest, the woman folded the rag onto the rim of the wide basin and made her way to the window, not wanting to cry anymore beside her daughter.

She opened the wooden shutters to stare out into the damp city streets, her tears now mingling with the number of raindrops that fell upon her creased visage. Notre Dame towered above like a sentient being, standing strong and tall against the storm that ensued. The old woman glanced up its face, searching the faces of those old statues that decorated its façade for some inkling of hope, praying as her eyes wandered across the surface of that grand edifice.

Then suddenly she stopped, and drew away from the window in horror, closing the shutters as she moved further inside. She rushed to her daughter's side and clutched the young girl's hand, burying her face onto her soft skin. She had seen him… she had seen that cursed demon that roamed through Notre Dame's halls… That hideous deformation of reality, that Quasimodo! Oh, no good could come of this happening, she thought, her sobs strengthening as her contemplation focused on that single omen. He'd probably cursed her as that creature had done…

The woman ran a thin hand along her daughter's face with all maternal gentleness.

May God allow a miracle, thought she. May my daughter be saved from all the wickedness that has blighted her life. May the horrible creature and the hunchback burn in the fiery recesses of hell, and may my daughter's soul be exorcised of this curse.

And, with that prayer lingering in her thoughts, she put Dawn's hand to her forehead and closed her eyes to rest.

Quasimodo noted the slight movement of the aged shutters, and heard but a whisper of noise against the backdrop of pounding rain as they swung to a close. His eyes remained on those wooden boards for but a second, before finally returning to the square that stretched out below him. He had been searching that plaza for quite a while already, moving to stand out in the rain after he had rung the morning bells, not moving from his spot since then. He was looking, forever looking, for someone, someone who he hoped would appear in that square, someone who had promised she would.

Quasimodo had been waiting for Lilo since the afternoon of the day before. But she hadn't come, and Scrump remained in his possession. Whether or not she had chosen to leave him, as he had feared before she had left, or had been obstructed by something horrible that had prevented her to come home was not something he could determine just yet. But neither possibility seemed wonderful, for both her and himself.

He allowed his breath to escape in a steamy haze. He hadn't felt it before, but he was beginning to… the coldness in his wet clothes, the uncomfortable clinging of that green fabric to his skin… his hair was also dripping, his sight partially blurred by the rain… he had been waiting out there for so long… was she even going to come?

No… no, he wouldn't allow that feeling to come into his mind again, that stab of rejection that flowed into his brain whenever he considered the idea. He wouldn't allow himself to believe that she would break that promise. Even she understood the sacred workings of an oath, he thought. If she destroyed her word, she would destroy what credibility she had. And that would be a point of dishonor that could be read almost immediately upon the faces of those who carried it. He hugged himself tight, trying to reinforce himself against the chill of both winter and some other frozen thing. He would wait out here… until she returned.

There was a loud clamor deep in the Court of Miracles, one that resounded noisily against its confined halls. The gypsies that resided within the subsurface hideout lifted their heads questioningly to the uproar. What in the name of all that was holy was going on?

Suddenly, from within an old tent set up against one aging wall, Matthias's blue dog (a fact that was established the night before) burst out into the roofed square, screaming. Behind him, Lilo rushed clumsily after, straightening out her hair, her fingers clutched about that old talisman that she had taken from Quasimodo.

"We're late, Stitch!" Lilo exclaimed after him, dodging past a few bewildered gypsies in her attempt of getting out of the court.

"Yeah, Stitch already knows that, Lilo!" the experiment screamed back, leading her toward the case of wide stairs that led to the mouth of the sewage-flooded catacombs. A few of the court's inhabitants exchanged glances, hearing only a gurgle of incomprehensible syllables, but recognizing the sounds of a language. And, what was more confusing was the little girl's response, which seemed to be in the same language as the creature's.

"We'll never get to their on time!" She yelled, wiping away a few tears. "Quasimodo will be mad at me!"

Stitch shot her a look, maybe of jealousy, maybe of something else, but it didn't reflect any pleasantness in it. Perhaps it was the fact that he had woken up so abruptly to the fifteen minute alarm on the transmitter. They had only a quarter of an hour left until the transmitter automatically sent them across time and space, back to the island of Kauai, and Lilo was not feeling quite so happy about this.

"If Lilo wants to get their so quickly, then maybe Lilo should run a little faster!" Stitch growled in irritation.

Lilo pouted angrily.

"Well sorry if I'm not a super genetic experimentation like you!" she screamed indignantly, still straining to keep up.

Stitch stopped after these words, so that the speeding Lilo ended up crashing into his backside.

"Get on!" he ordered, presenting his back for her to sit on. Lilo nodded and climbed onto his back, just able to cling onto his large ears before the experiment suddenly burst away at his top speed. He jumped swiftly into the pool of liquid that slid across the floors of the dark tunnels, making a quick jump past a gigantic pile of skeletons that rose to the side. It was lucky Lilo wasn't able to see anything in such darkness; otherwise this might overwhelm her.

Suddenly, from the side, a torch was lit and one man in skeleton garb stepped forth from the wall. Stitch stopped for a moment to look at him. He grimaced. It was that very man that had stuffed him into the sack originally. But, where were the rest of his skeleton guard?

"I see the dog is leaving," he said, approaching with the same bag, probably made of that famous 'Matthias's material' that had trapped him at first. "You know, little creature, your master would be very upset if you left, and the king would be even angrier to see that you are taking away his new guest."

Stitch growled, yelling out several words in his native language that made Lilo laugh at the vulgarity.

"Oh, let him go, Balthazar," a familiar voice said. "He desires to be free, it seems, more than the rest of our animals."

Clopin stepped out into the light, his clothes adorned with bones as well, a half-skull mask worn upon the top of his face. He smiled, making his way to the Hawaiian and her pet, and put a hand on Lilo's head as he ruffled Stitch's hair.

"You want to see your hunchback, don't you?" he asked Lilo.

"Yeah," Lilo answered, nodding her head.

"Then go!" he said with a laugh, nudging Stitch's backside as if telling him to get a move on. "You wouldn't want to keep that poor boy waiting, now would you?"

"Nope," Lilo answered swiftly. She patted Stitch gently on the side. "Go, Stitch!"

And, with that, Stitch exploded forward growling loudly, Lilo letting out a spirited "Yee-haw" as she and her pet disappeared into the darkness.

Clopin scratched his chin contentedly as he watched the two depart, and he leaned gently on Balthazar's shoulder.

"That child is going to change the world one of these days," he told the guard. He sighed. "I remember when she first came in here like it was yesterday."

"It was yesterday…"

"Don't interrupt; let me be sentimental," Clopin snapped temperamentally. He fell back into that mood he had earlier. "I remember when she first came in here like it was yesterday," he repeated, sending Balthazar a look as if daring him to say something. The guard remained silent. "When she arrived in my arms, such a tiny little thing, with only that talisman and her bag… just a minute!" he said suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. "Her bag! By the gods, I've forgotten to give it to her!" he skipped backward making his way toward the court. "Ah well. I suppose I'll have to hand deliver it, then, won't I?"

Balthazar watched as his king sped back to the mouth of the square and shook his head, sighing. What a strange man.

Lilo and Stitch bounded down the streets of Paris, Lilo still clutching tightly the creature's ears as he sped along. They had only eight minutes left, meeting many detours as they tried to make their way along the confusing and unfamiliar paths that veined along the face of the French city. Finally, they were near the tower, and the street that they now ran downward directly led to the square before the cathedral.

Stitch hastened forward, his speed reaching almost its limit, when he suddenly slipped upon the slippery surface of a damp cobblestone. With a shriek, the experiment landed face down on the walkway a few feet from his tripping spot, as Lilo was thrown forward beyond him, tumbling along, gaining a few bruises.

With a groan, she got to her feet. She looked down the path. Notre Dame was only a square away, she thought. She might have a chance of getting to Quasimodo if she just ran as fast as he could to the tower. She glanced back over her shoulder at the experiment who lay groaning almost in defeat in the rain. She grimaced at the sight. She didn't have time for this!

Lilo rushed out onto the square without Stitch, slipping minutely on a few cobblestones but having the will to keep going. Close… she was close! Quasimodo wouldn't hate her!

The doors were so near to her now, she could just feel the coldness of the iron handles…

Just a few feet away… Up the stairs, right there, the doors… reach out, touch the handles… pull it open!

"Oh no you don't!"

Lilo felt the strong grasp of two hands as they clutched at both of her arms, pulling her away from the doors.

"What? What's happening?" Lilo looked around her. Two guards, eyes hidden behind metal helmets, towered above her, dutiful frowns on their faces. Thy dragged her away, down the steps up a side street. "What are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

The guards ignored her questions.

"NO!" Lilo exclaimed, struggling to get away. "Let go of me! I need to see somebody! Let go of me!"

And still, the guards showed no attention to her.

No! This was wrong! What were they doing; what did she do?

"Stitch!" she screamed out suddenly, "Stitch, help me!"

As if in immediate response to her call, a blur of blue leapt upon one of the guards, clawing horribly. The attacked man released Lilo's arm, yelling in pain as Stitch continued his assault. The other watched with fear and confusion at the happenings, and Lilo was able to slip from his hands. She made her way back to the square, back toward the cathedral. She looked at her transmitter. She only had five minutes left…

But, before she could get in, she was recaptured. He led her back down the street. This time, she struggled horribly, pushing at his hands, until suddenly, he pulled horribly against her wrist, the clasp on the transmitter breaking apart. The metal band fell onto the street. They rejoined that other guard, who stood alone, tending to his wounds. Stitch lay, partially knocked out to the side, a bludgeon laying beside him.

"Come on, let's go," he said, gesturing with his head down the street. "Leave that little demon."

And, with Lilo weeping horribly, they forced her down the street, the unconscious Stitch disappearing from sight as they turned a corner.

Quasimodo had begun crying. She wasn't there yet… she wouldn't come, would she? She'd just left them there to wait… just left him with that broken promise…

He laid his head down on the balustrade and closed his eyes, allowing the tears to flow freely down his cheeks. It was this strange feeling, this emptiness in his heart… he just wanted to end it…

He heard a slight noise from below, like someone screaming…strange… it was the most noise he had heard all day. He lifted his head up curiously, and looked down at the square below. His heart skipped a beat.

"Lilo…" he muttered gently. There she was, running to the cathedral! He saw her… that was her red dress; he would recognize the white on red print anywhere! She was going to the door...

Quasimodo pushed away from the stone banister and rushed down the steps that led to the main of the church. An ecstatic smile stretched across his face. He knew she wouldn't break her promise, he just knew it!

He received several stares as he entered the main hall, dripping wet. He looked around, still smiling expectantly, looking for a flash of red from her dress, or something else that might clue him in on her location. His face fell slightly. She's not here…

Outside! She must be outside! With a sudden rush, he made his way to the doors, and pushed it open.

He felt his heart fall for another second. There was nothing there… nothing there but the pouring rain, no sign of the little girl. He sighed sadly. It must've just been an illusion. So, with tears staining his cheeks again, he withdrew, shutting the doors behind him.