Opposites Attract

Emily had already forgotten where the inn was and didn't know how to get back to her friends. With Gatomon by her side, she decided to stop at Notre Dame, hoping retracing her steps would help her to remember. When she got there, she wondered if Mokuba and Rebecca were still staying with Quasimodo. She was tempted to go up to the bell tower, but thought the better of it. Instead, she just walked inside the cathedral.

Emily still felt like she was underserving of being in the House of God because of her sins, but she believed that the Lord was truly loving and forgiving of all His children no matter what their sins. Once more, she decided to pray to God for mercy and forgiveness and to bless her loved ones near and far.

Gatomon saw the stairs that led to the bell tower and was curious. "Don't wander too far, Gatomon," Emily ordered. "We're leaving once I finish praying."

The cat Digimon nodded. As she saw her partner close her eyes and begin praying, she started climbing up the steps. When she got to the balcony, she stopped as she saw the hunchback. Oh, wow, she thought to herself. He's even better in person. She cautiously approached him to get a better look.

Quasimodo took notice of her and said, "What an unusual looking cat." He looked at Gatomon and asked her, "Hey, aren't you Princess Emily's cat?" he asked, remembering her from the first night the heroes came to the tower.

"Huh?"

"Are you like Guilmon?" In response, Gatomon meowed like a cat, trying to convince him that she was an ordinary cat. "What's your name?" Quasimodo asked her. Gatomon continued meowing, then turned around. "Wait a minute, don't go," the hunchback pleaded, but Gatomon had already disappeared.

She fled to another corner of the balcony. "So he knows Guilmon," she said to herself. "He also knows Emily's a princess." She wondered how he could know about Digimon since they didn't exist in this world and how he could also know that Emily was a princess since they hadn't met yet. At the same time, Gatomon wondered why she was being so shy around Quasimodo. After watching the movie back home with Emily, Gatomon decided that she liked the hunchback and thought he was very nice.

Gatomon came out of hiding and continued on her path to the bell tower. She saw the hunchback going there as well. Quasimodo turned around. "I know you're there," he called to Gatomon. In response, she yowled in surprise at having been noticed. The hunchback gave a small laugh and invited Gatomon inside his home. "You can come in if you want to. Frollo's not here."

As Gatomon heard him say that, she was somewhat relieved. This meant that she could do what she came here to do and explore the bell tower. She would have to be quick, though. Emily would be finished praying soon. So she followed Quasimodo inside.

Gatomon looked around in wonder. At the same time, she imagined hearing the background music for the bell tower playing in her mind. It made her feel so relaxed and happy. It was just like she saw in the movie. Even the main area looked like she thought it would. Gatomon jumped on the table to get a better look at the models and figurines, trying to be careful not to topple them over. She was amazed to see figurines of Mokuba, Rebecca, Leon, and the others. She even saw a figurine of Guilmon. This is all so cute, Gatomon thought to herself. Then she noticed the figurine of Frollo. Ugh, except for him. Then she used her tail to topple it over.

"Do you like it?" Quasimodo asked her, gesturing to the model of Paris. In answer, Gatomon meowed and nodded. The hunchback smiled and placed his hand over Gatomon and began gently stroking her fur and scratching her ears.

The cat Digimon purred contentedly, then turned over on her back, allowing Quasimodo to rub her belly. "Ah, that feels nice," she said, relaxed.

"Hey, you can talk," Quasimodo said, as though he knew all along.

Gatomon sat up and gasped with her paws over her mouth. "Oops."

"It's okay," he assured her. "I thought you were like Guilmon."

She introduced herself. "I'm Gatomon." And she held out her paw.

"Hello, Gatomon," Quasimodo said, shaking her paw like he was shaking hands with another. "What are you doing here by yourself? Isn't Princess Emily with you?"

That was when she remembered. "Oh, she's still in the cathedral. She's probably looking for me right now."

"Well, then you'd better go back to her," the hunchback told her.

Gatomon agreed and headed for the exit. She stopped for a moment to get one last look at Quasimodo. She felt a little sad having to leave just when they met, but hoped to come back again. For now, she had to go back to Emily. On the way back down into the cathedral, Gatomon giggled and thought to herself, Emily was right. He is cute when he's sweet.

Just as Gatomon had thought, Emily had finished saying her prayers a few minutes ago and was looking around for her partner. "Gatomon," she softly called. "Here, girl."

"Emily," Gatomon whispered, coming to her feet.

The blonde was relieved. "There you are," she said, picking her up and hugging her.

Gatomon hugged her back, but gasped as she saw Frollo coming towards them. She squirmed out of Emily's grip and climbed over her shoulders, but apparently, having forgotten her own strength, she accidentally kicked her partner, causing her to fall back. Gatomon turned around to help her partner.

"Well, well, well," came the sound of the minister's dark voice. "Princess Emily."

Gatomon got down on her paws, flattened her ears, arched her back, bared her teeth, and growled at Frollo. The blonde gasped in horror at the sight of the man. It was one thing to see him in the movie, but it was another seeing him in person. He was even more terrifying.

"I wondered when you and I would grace one another with each other's presence," Frollo was saying. "And I can't think of a better place for us to meet."

"You… you're Claude Frollo," she said fearfully.

"I'm pleased that you know who I am," he told her.

"What do you want with me?" she asked.

"I saw your performance in the square the other day, young princess, and I must say, I enjoyed it. Your display was a sight to behold," he said in mock flattery. He approached her and began circling her like a vulture. It was making Emily feel extremely uncomfortable. She also began looking inside his heart and was finding impure feelings.

"Beautiful," Frollo commented. "Amazingly beautiful."

Emily had enough. "Get away from me," she said, trying to keep her voice down.

Frollo grabbed her by the wrist. "I don't think that's how a princess is supposed to act. You may look like a princess, but you haven't got the manners of a princess."

"Let go," she cried, trying to break free. Gatomon jumped and tried to get Frollo to lose his grip without using her powers to attack him, but he grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and tossed her aside like a rag doll. "Gatomon!" she gasped, watching her roll on the ground. Filled with rage towards the man, Emily growled and demanded, "Get your hands off me!" and raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

Frollo finally released Emily. He was stunned, not from being slapped, but from surprise. He certainly had not anticipated such behavior. Besides, it didn't even hurt him. He looked at her in shock for a brief second, then forced a thin grin. "A bold move on your part, young princess," he complimented. "But was it brave or was it foolish? Either way, it seems you need to be taught a lesson in manners. Well, hopefully next time we meet, you'll be a little more dignified and sophisticated." And he left the cathedral. As he walked down the steps, he placed his hand against his cheek. He had to hand it to that girl; she was stronger than she appeared. Full of surprises, too. That made her even more desirable.

Inside the cathedral, Emily carefully lifted Gatomon from the floor. "Oh, Gatomon, are you all right?"

"Yeah, I think so," she answered. "I mean, it didn't hurt when he grabbed me." She looked up at Emily and asked, "Are you okay, Emily? Did he hurt you?"

"No, but he tried to," the blonde answered. "That's not even the worst he has in store for me."

"How do you know?" the cat Digimon asked.

"I saw it in his heart," Emily was saying as she carried her outside. "I saw impure feelings." She saw other things in his heart too, but decided it would be wise not to mention them.

Gatomon couldn't say she was surprised. One thing she and Emily observed from watching the movie was that Frollo was a man full of lustful desires.

And I have a bad feeling that those feelings are mostly towards me, Emily thought to herself. If so, then I may have finally met my match. Emily had no idea how incredibly right she was.

In the Palace of Justice, Frollo was pacing around in his study. His encounter with the princess wasn't like he had planned it would turn out, but he knew they would meet again. But all he could think about was her and it was tormenting him. He couldn't eat, he couldn't sleep, he couldn't even concentrate on his work. His reports from his soldiers even fell on deaf ears as he continued to only think about the princess; her eyes, her hair, her voice, her skin, everything. He thought he was beginning to lose it.

"Help me," he finally prayed. "You know I am so much better than the common folk, but the young princess is tempting me. Guilt and shame should not be mine, for I am a righteous man. Please, do not let me be tempted by this child."

It wasn't just because she was so much younger than him that he knew this was wrong, but Frollo also remembered that Emily had magical powers and was in service to another deity. In his eyes, this meant that the girl was not a child of God and had to be destroyed for the greater good.

Then he had second thoughts. Maybe it is God's will, he thought to himself, for me to show her the way of righteousness. Then he said aloud, "And if she will not be mine, then she must face the fires of damnation. Her and her friends. Yes, those boys must not go unpunished either. They must also pay for sharing the same sins as the princess." Either way, he figured he couldn't lose. If he couldn't make Emily his girl, he could still gain some satisfaction and peace of mind by killing her. It was time to begin the hunt.