Phoebus frowned as he and Frollo made their way to the battlements.

The screams of the previous Captain of the Guards still rung in his ears.

"Ah Captain…" Frollo waved over an extravagantly dressed man, with shoulder-length, black hair, "… meet Lord Sarousch, my most loyal advisor, and the financier of the circus, that I'm sure you've seen coming into the city."

"…. Yes, I did."

Personally, Phoebus thought that the crew looked a little bit shifty, but he didn't dare voice these concerns out loud. Instead, he bowed his head, straightening up as the Lord strode closer.

"I hear you have a fantastic reputation Captain…" he chuckled, circling the younger man, "… We expect only the best from you."

"And the best you will get Sir."

The pair seemed to like this answer, both nodding, before Frollo turned his attention to the city down below, "You've come back to Paris in its darkest hour. You will help us save the people from being tricked and mis-led."

"Mis-led Sir?"

"Look…" Frollow gestured down onto the streets, where Phoebus could just about see the heads of people wandering around, including the beautiful gypsy girl he'd seen dancing and fighting earlier, "… gypsies. They live outside of the normal order and their heathen ways do nothing but bring out the worst in people. After the most recent crime wave, we know that they must be stopped!"

Phoebus frowned, "I was called back because of a few fortune tellers and palm readers?"

And there was only a crime wave occasionally? When the gypsies had been in the city for a few decades now?

It didn't seem completely right.

"They are a plague on the city!" Sarousch announced dramatically, "We've been trying to take them out one….by…. one."

The man was squishing ants on the wall, as Frollo lifted one of the stones to reveal a whole colony of ants.

"Yes…" Frollo agreed, "…and yet, with all our efforts, they have thrived. We believe they have a safe haven somewhere in the city… a nest if you will. They call it, the Court of Miracles."

Phoebus frowned again, "So, what do you want me to do about it?"

The stone was slammed back into place and moved about, effectively killing the colony.

"You make your point… vividly, Sir."

Sarousch laughed, a high cackle that made Phoebus's toes curl, "Oh Frollo, I like this one. Can we interest you in some- "

Suddenly the sounds of cheering rose up from the streets, causing Frollo to sigh. "Duty calls I'm afraid Sarousch. Captain, have you ever been to a gypsy festival?"

"Not that I can recall Sir."

"Then this should be an educational experience. Come along."

…..

Madellaine forced the smile on her face as Sarousch pranced about the stage, moving to her assigned position as the festival continued all around them. Their act wasn't the same as making the elephant disappear, but with the Feast of Fools, Sarousch's men could still 'work their magic'.

As the gypsy King made himself known, Madellaine frowned as a hooded figure was dragged into the celebrations.

A very familiar figure.

Seeing that Sarousch was finished with the show, she took the opportunity to sneak away, hoping to catch up with the cloaked figure.

However, before she could catch up to the figure, a group of giggling girls barrelled into her, her hands frantically grabbing onto whatever she could get a hold of as she stumbled back. With a loud yelp, she fell through a tent door, her hands grabbing onto a curtain…. Which then fell on top of her.

"HEY!" A female voice cried out as she hit the ground hard. There was silence for a few moments, before the same voice cautiously asked if she was alright.

"I-I'm sorry…" Madellaine struggled to get free of the curtain, "…. I didn't mean to- I-I'm sorry!"

"Well, you're not hurt are you? Here, let me see!"

As a hand pulled the curtain away from her face, Madellaine couldn't help but stare up at the woman standing above her.

"See…" the woman beamed at her, "… no harm done." She slowly helped Madellaine to her feet, "You just need to be a little more careful next time, okay?"

"Y-Yeah… thank you!"

The woman winked at her, before closing the tent.

Dazed, a stunned smile on her face, Madellaine stood there for a few moments, before shaking her head and turning to head back into the ground, trying to find the cloaked figure again.

It was at this moment, that Captain Phoebus led his team of officers into the streets, protecting Judge Frollo and Lord Sarousch as the pair settled into their own private seats on the stage, where they could watch the festival in safety.

"Come one! Come all!"

Madellaine frowned when she realised that she was right next to the stage, as the gypsy king suddenly disappeared in a cloud of pink smoke… and the most beautiful woman in the world appeared.

The same woman who had helped her earlier.

Esmerelda

Stunned, Madellaine watched as Esmerelda danced around the stage, her sultry red dress emphasising every curve. As the men whooped and whistled in delight, Esmerelda slid into the splits, catching Madellaine's eyes and winking.

Madellaine felt like her face was on fire.

It was then that the gypsy king re-appeared on the stage, calling out that it was now time to crown the King of Fools, with Esmerelda pulling several people onto the stage…. Including the familiar cloaked figure she had been trying to catch earlier.

Feeling ill, like her heart was sinking into her stomach, Madellaine desperately tried to catch someone's attention, needing them to leave the hunched figure alone.

If it was who she thought it was, then he could never be revealed.

But it was too late.

Esmerelda tugged at the man's face, only to recoil in horror, and Madellaine felt like her heart was breaking.

Quasimodo looked so scared as the crowd called out insult after insult, with Frollo and Sarousch leaning forwards in interest.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, don't panic!" The gypsy king desperately tried to calm everyone down, "We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and here he is! Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame!"

From there, they were led on a giant parade through the streets, to the centre of the city, just outside of Notre Dame.

Everything seemed to be going right and Madellaine couldn't help but join in with the celebrations, clapping along with the crowd and joining in with the dances. When she caught Quasimodo's eyes, she gave him the best, reassuring smile that she could, beaming when he flushed in delight, giving her a shy wave.

Which is why the tomato was a surprise.

Madellaine gasped as her best friend was suddenly subjected to handfuls of rotten fruit. "Stop!" she cried out, desperately trying to stop them, pulling at the arms and even trying to push them away. When that didn't work, as ropes were then used to hold Quasimodo still, the platform spinning wildly, she clambered onto the stage.

Ignoring the crowds' laughter as she slipped on the spoiled fruit, staining her dress, Madellaine threw herself over Quasimodo, shielding him as much as she could.

"Look! The monster has his own little whore!"

"Ignore them." She whispered, wincing as he called out for Frollo to help them, "Just ignore them!"

…

Phoebus glanced frantically between the horrific scene, the young woman desperately trying to protect bell-ringer, and the two men seated in the box. "Sirs! Permission to stop this cruelty?!"

The pair smirked, with Frollo leaning forwards. "Not just yet…. A lesson needs to be learnt here."

Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd, prompting the three men to look back at the scene. The gorgeous gypsy girl from before was now walking onto the stage.

….

Madellaine couldn't hear anything over the sound of her own heartbeat and the blood pounding through her veins.

"Hey…"

She couldn't help but flinch at the gentle voice and the soothing hand that was placed on her shoulder.

"Hey, you don't need to be afraid… I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

Slowly, Madellaine glanced up, watching as Esmerelda smiled warmly at her, the sun behind her appearing like a halo… like an angel that had been sent to save them.

"I'm sorry…" Esmerelda knelt down, untying her sash and using it to wipe the rotting fruit off of Quasimodo and Madellaine, "… this wasn't supposed to happen."

Madellaine had just started to relax, when the voice of Frollo cut through the silence.

"You! Gypsy girl! Get down from there at once!"

"Yes, Your Honour, just as soon as I free this poor creature."

"I forbid it!"

Madellaine gasped as Esmerelda growled in anger. Removing a dagger that was strapped to her leg, the gypsy girl sliced through the ropes like they were butter, allowing Madellaine to help Quasimodo to his feet.

"How dare you defy me!" Frollo snarled in anger.

"You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak of justice, yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help!"

"Silence!"

"Justice!"

There was a shocked silence for a few seconds before Frollo spoke up again, "Mark my words gypsy, you will pay for your insolence!"

"Well then, I think we crowned the wrong King of Fools… the only fool I see, is YOU!"

The crowd gasped as the crown that Quasimodo had been wearing, was thrown in the direction of Frollo and Sarousch.

….

Phoebus winced as the festival crown landed in front of Frollo.

The next command came as no surprise.

"Captain, arrest her!"

Phoebus sighed and snapped his fingers, signalling for his officers to arrest the gypsy girl.

…..

Madellaine tensed up, shivers running down her spine as the guards got closer and closer.

Esmerelda didn't sound fussed at all, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine… so there's ten of you and one of me. What's a poor girl to do?" She pulled a hanky out of her dress and sniffed, wiping her eyes before blowing her nose and vanishing in a cloud of red smoke.

Frollo hissed and took a step back in alarm, "Witchcraft!"

"Oh boys! Over here!" Everyone's head span around to stare at the mock guillotine, where Esmerelda's head resting on top of the puppet ones in the basket.

"GET HER!"

Esmerelda jumped off of the stage and was crowd-surfed away from the guards… who weren't quite as lucky in regards to the crowd-surfing aspect. With a lot of help from the crowd and her fellow gypsies, Esmerelda was able to dodge every attempt at capture made by the guards until she was helped up onto the top of a small stall where she disappeared with a twirl of a cloak and another cloud of smoke.

With the excitement dying down, Madellaine helped Quasimodo to his feet, wincing at the scent of the rotten fruit coming off of him.

Before she could even think about helping him to his feet, a hand grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her into a muscular chest.

"Don't think we won't be speaking about this later my sweet." Sarousch hissed into her ear, just as Frollo ordered Quasimodo to go back into Notre Dame, "Do not cause any more trouble for yourself."

Madellaine nodded frantically, rushing after Quasimodo, her own tears streaming down her cheeks as she heard what the crowd was saying about her friend. She nipped into the cathedral, just as Quasimodo shut the door, separating them from the rest of the world.