Chapter XI: Dance of the Masquerade
"What's our next destination?" asked Reyna. Fayt looked at the scanner.
"It's called Notre Dame. Looks like some French place."
Fayt directed the ship and they flew in towards the world. Fayt steered in towards an abanding building and landed ("More like crashed," mumbled Tyson.) inside the top floor. After making a dusty exit, they found themselves on the streets of Paris. The people seemed to be running to and fro, enjoying some kind of festvities.
"Hey, look!" said Namé. There was a wagon of gypies, and on a small stage one was dancing. She was beautiful, with wild black hair tied with a bandana and a peasant dress.
"I wonder who that is," said Tyson.
"That would be Esmeralda. She is the leader of a very popular band of gypies."
They turned to see a clown standing near them. "Oh, my apologies. My name is Clopin."
"Nice to meet you," said Reyna.
Suddenly bells from a large cathedral began to ring. "What's that?" asked Fayt.
"Oh, that. That's the Quasimodo ringing Notre Dame's bell."
"Let's check it out," said Tyson. The others nodded an followed after him.
"Quasimodo," said an older man in a dark robe of black, purple and red wearing a large, purple hat. He was Claude Frollo, the Minister of Justice in Paris.
Quasimodo turned to look at him. "Yes, sir?"
"I have business I need to take care of. While I am gone, I must remind you not to leave the cathedral, especially with the festivities. Am I understood?"
The hunchback lowered his head. "Yes."
The man turned on his heels and left. Quasimodo walked sadly over to the window and sighed.
"What fun they all must be having."
"Why don't you join in then?"
Quasi (I'm abbreviating since his name is too darn long) turned and saw four kids standing behind him. He smiled, then seemed to realize his situation.
"Oh, you must go, before Frollo realizes you're here."
"Who's Frollo? Is he that old corpse we saw down there?" asked Tyson, earning him a slap from Reyna and Namé.
"Why...aren't you afraid of me? Everyone in Paris would be if they saw me."
Reyna smiled at him. "It doesn't matter what you look like. You have a good heart, and that makes you beautiful."
"Thank you," he said with a smile. "But I still can't go to the Masquerade Dance. It's supposed to be wonderful."
"Well, we'll all wear disguises. It is a masquearde after all. No one will notice you in a disguise."
He nodded happily. "That would be wonderful!"
The kids found some costumes for a low price and returned back to Quasi. He was dressed like a jester with a mask, Tyson was wearing blue and silver with a pointy hat, Fayt was wearing interchanging black and white and had his face painted, so he rather looked like a mime, Namé had a gypsy-like outift with a mask, and Reyna wore a gold and black dress with a small mask covering her eyes, and looked rather elegant. The five took the streets and joined in the merriment. Hours passed as they continued to join in the festival. Then it became time for the Dance of the Masquerade. People crowded into the plaza and found a partner to dance with. Tyson was grabbed by fat and unsightly old woman who wouldn't let him out of her grip. Fayt and Namé quickly partnered up so as to avoid such a gruesome fate. Reyna looked around when she was suddenly tapped from behind. She turned to see a boy slightly taller than her. He was wearing gold and black like her, with a mask on his eyes, a beautiful blue-green, and a hat like a top hat. He offered her his hand, and she took it. The moment she did, she felt a certain familiarity to him.
"May I ask whom I have the privilege of dancing with?" He smiled sympathetically and shook his head.
"You...can't talk?" she asked. He nodded.
"Oh, I see..."
He seemed to be rather good at dancing, and Reyna let him lead her through the steps. She looked into his eyes and noticed the beautiful blue-green color (like Riku's. He has the most awesome eyes EVER ).
"I love your eyes. They're a beautiful color."
He gave a slight nod in thanks, and she giggled. "You know, you remind me of someone. You may not be able to talk, but you seem rather...charming..."
She moved in a little closer to him, and her face inched towards his. As the tips of their noses touched, they heard a crash nearby. Reyna looked up to see soldiers standing where Quasi was. Suddenly Frollo appeared. He ripped Quasimodo's mask off, and the people shrank back in terror. Suddenly Reyna noticed her partner missing, and she heard a whisper from behind.
"I'm glad I got to dance with you, at least once."
Her eyes widened in shock. "Kai?" she whispered. She turned but he was gone. She turned back and saw a young man with blond hair and a beard step forward to grab Quasi, but Esmeralda stepped forward.
"Leave him alone! What has the poor creature ever done to deserve this treatment?"
The man stepped back, obviously feeling sorry, but Frollo stepped forward. As he approached Esmeralda, Reyna noticed something different in his eyes. He suddenly checked himself, and shouted, "Captain Phoebus, have your men withdraw. I think the hunchback has learned his lesson."
The man nodded and the men withdrew. Frollo stayed and eyed Esmeralda for a moment longer, then turned and walked off. Esmeralda comforted Quasi, and she and the kids took him back to Notre Dame.
"I'm sorry the people treated you so wrongly," she said sympathetically.
"It's nothing I'm not used to." But Reyna could tell that he was hurt. Suddenly the doors to the cathedral opened. The young general from before appeared in the doorway.
"May I speak with you for a moment?" he asked.
Quasimodo nodded and he walked in. "My name is Captain Phoebus, and I'm very sorry for what happened. If you could find it in your heart to forgive me..."
Quasimodo smiled. "Of course I do."
Phoebus then noticed Esmeralda. "My apologies to you too," he said, kissing her hand. She blushed and withdrew.
"If Quasimodo can forgive you, then so can I."
"Good," he said with a smile. Suddenly they heard a laugh and Frollo appeared out of the darkness. Suddenly Armored Night and Joker Heartless appeared (see Jiminy Journal).
"Frollo is with the Heartless!" said Tyson.
Phoebus pulled out his sword as the kids pulled out their weapons. Quasimodo stood in front of Esmeralda, shielding her with his body.
"Heartless, destroy them all, except the gypsy girl. I must have her!"
The Heartless attacked in a swarm. The Heartless forced the fighters apart. Reyna could see Frollo approach Quasimodo.
"You wretched monster, move out of my way!"
He blasted Quasi away with magic, then grabbed Esmeralda by the arm.
"No, Esmeralda!" shouted Phoebus.
Frollo laughed evilly as the last of the Heartless were destroyed. "I'm afraid I must be going. But first-"
He raised his hands and an orb of magic appeared over his hands. "Sacred Ether!"
The magic in his hands exploded and sent off a blast that knocked them all to the ground. Reyna looked around. Frollo had disappeared.
Nightshroud: I hope I did well. I only saw the movie once, and it was a while ago, so I hope the characters weren't OOC. Anyway Frollo (at least in the book) was fascinated with alchemy, so I gave him that Sacred Ether spell. Anyway, leave a review and I'll put the next chapter up either today or tomorrow. Toodles!
Next chapter: Conflicting Forces: Showdown in the Bell Tower