Me: Well, here's Chapter 5.

Azryl: Hmm, appropriate title.

Me: I thought so too.

Rendan: This story's been progressing well... at least I think it has.

Zero: It's an odd concept, but seeing how things are changing as a result is interesting to say the least.

Me: Perhaps, perhaps not. Disclaimer time. I don't own The Hunchback of Notre Dame. All rights to this movie belong to Disney. All I own are the changes I've made.

Rendan: The changes are going to increase as time goes on.

Me: That goes without saying. Now, read and enjoy.

Chapter 5: Trapped at the Cathedral?

Esmeralda woke up early the next morning. From the looks of the room she was in, though clean, it hadn't been used for quite some time. At her best guess, the room hadn't been used in a few years, at the very least three or four. She stretched her arms and readied herself for the first day of imprisonment at the cathedral. No, imprisonment was the wrong word. Temporary housing. That was better, much less intimidating. She walked toward the door but stopped short once she heard voices on the other side of the door.

"Be quiet, Hugo!" A distinctly aged, female voice quietly shouted.

"Aw, c'mon Laverne," the voice that must have been Hugo complained. "You know this girl's got something for Azy."

"We don't know that for sure, Hugo," a second male voice stated. "For all we know it could be an unrequited love for Azy but not for her."

"You're kidding, right Victor?" Hugo asked. "You saw the way she looked at him!" Esmeralda grimaced. They were being watched? For how long... and by who? "That girl's got the grade A hots for him. If he'd just show his second face she'd fall into his arms without a problem."

"You know how Azy is!" Laverne yelled. "He isn't going to use appearance alone to find love! If he did he'd just be just as bad as the scum of this world!"

"It seems he's acting something like a story in the Canterbury Tales," Victor pointed out.

"The Canta-what? A canterberry tail? Is it a food? Doesn't sound very tasty to me," Hugo said.

"The Canterbury Tales," Laverne repeated. "It's a series of stories written by a man named Geoffrey Chaucer before his death in 1392. Azy's closely following the tale of the Wife of Bath. Here, read." A thud sounded, indicating that someone had been hit with something blunt.

"Aw, I don't want to read!" Hugo complained loudly. This time a loud slap sounded. Esmeralda couldn't help but rub her own cheek tenderly. That slap sounded like it hurt.

"Just shut up and read!" Laverne admonished.

"Hmm, judging by the way this girl looks, she needs a bath!" Hugo joked. A collective groan was heard from the other two voices. There was a momentary silence until the one called Hugo spoke again. "So... he's keeping his ugly appearance until he can successfully find love then can live happily ever after?"

"That's what I assume," Victor answered.

"Did the kid get his idea from this book?" Hugo questioned.

"He didn't," Laverne replied. "When he was still a boy he always talked about finding his true love."

"He always was a softie. Sometimes I used to wonder if he'd bruise if I poked him," Hugo joked.

"If I remember, that was one of the stories I would read to him when he was younger," Laverne said. "Maybe that helped him stay on that path."

"Could be," Victor stated. "He does seem to be the type that would enjoy a story like that one. Hugo! Get that book out of your mouth!"

"I wanted to taste the canterberry tail!" Hugo whined. "I was right. It's not tasty!" Another loud slap was heard. Esmeralda hadn't moved a step from the door since she started listening in on the conversation. She was slightly disturbed, to say the least. Whoever these people were, they had seen her talking with Azryl. Esmeralda decided to listen in a little longer.

"Where is Azryl anyway?" Victor questioned.

"He went out to get some breakfast so he can last past lunch," Laverne answered. "More or less, he went to get the girl some food too. I think he'll have her hold on to the food he gets so she can eat when Frollo brings that crud for him to eat later. I think he'll end up eating that."

"You know me all too well, Laverne," Azryl's voice suddenly entered the conversation. A thud once again sounded.

"How much food did you get?" Victor asked.

"Enough to last the day without any help from Frollo," Azryl answered. "Not that I'd get any from him. If I ate half the stuff he brought for me I'd be dead by now." A collective laugh was heard from the four voices. At least she could recognize one of them but Esmeralda couldn't help but be a little concerned.

Azryl apparently knew who these voices were, but did he know what they did? Did he... allow them do it? Suddenly everything started to be a lot more horrifying. Then again, Laverne, whoever she was, said she knew Azryl from the time he was a child. Could they have been his caretakers? That thought made the situation seem far less scary.

"How long before old, ugly and crazy shows up?" Hugo asked.

"I'd give him another few minutes actually," Azryl's voice replied, sounding a lot more distant. "Given what happened yesterday, I'm surprised he's not here now! Speaking of, you know what to do, I think he's coming."

"Good luck, Azy," Laverne said.

"Thanks Laverne," Azryl replied, now closer to the door.

"What are you going to do about the girl?" Victor asked.

"I'll probably wake her up in a moment or so. The last thing I need is for Frollo to start breaking down doors until he finds her. If I have to show him where she is he may... take advantage of the situation," Azryl answered.

"Like he'd be able to," Hugo stated. "I'm sure you'd kick his behind off the cathedral if he tried anything."

"He wouldn't have time to try anything," Azryl retorted. "His face would meet the stone before he even thought about it." Esmeralda couldn't be sure, but was there anger in his tone? Maybe not anger but... protectiveness?

"Awfully protective there, Azy," Hugo teased. "Do you like her?"

"No," Azryl replied. Esmeralda wasn't sure why, exactly, but that hurt a little bit.

"He's lying," Hugo continued.

"No I'm not!" Azryl childishly yelled.

"You're blushing, honey," Laverne said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"I am not!"

"Are too!" Hugo shouted.

"Am not!" Azryl argued.

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!" Two quick thuds were heard one after the other.

"Ow," Hugo groaned.

"I'm with Hugo on this one," Azryl agreed. "You hit really hard, Laverne."

"You two need to learn to stop bickering like children!" Laverne scolded.

"It's why you love us," Hugo retorted.

"Besides, Laverne, doesn't it remind you of when I really was a child and would argue with him?" A happy sigh was heard.

"That it does," Laverne admitted. "You two acted like brothers then too. Always arguing and always getting into mischief."

"Those were better days," Victor solemnly said.

"Yeah," Laverne agreed with another happy sigh. "I miss those days."

"Me too," Victor said.

"Me three," Azryl stated.

"Me four," Hugo chimed in.

"Life was much more simple in those days," Laverne stated with a somewhat elated tone.

"At least it was until Frollo came into the picture," Victor said.

"He'd try to undo all the lessons we taught Azy. It would break my heart to see it but we couldn't do a thing about it," Laverne cried.

"Relax, Laverne," Azryl said. "You know I'd never let him influence me too much."

"I know, Azy. You're too smart to let him affect you."

"Back to the issue at hand, however, I don't want to risk anything. If Frollo thinks Esmeralda's gone it'll mean big trouble for Paris. I have very little doubt he'd tear the city into pieces just to find her."

"Talk about obsession," Hugo deadpanned.

"That's unhealthy," Victor said.

"No," Hugo disagreed. "For him, living is unhealthy. Being obsessed is just the icing on the cake."

"That man needs a good kick in the pants!" Laverne exclaimed.

"Indeed he does, but for now we just need to give everything time."

"What will take time, Azryl?" A voice that was unmistakably Frollo's asked.

"For Esmeralda to get used to life at the cathedral," Azryl replied, his tone having done a complete turnaround. Now his tone was more calm and collected instead of being harsh and protective.

"The gypsy girl," Frollo mused. "Where is she?"

"Sleeping," Azryl answered.

"Let me see her," Frollo demanded. Esmeralda's breath caught in her throat.

"Not on your life," Azryl threatened, his harsh tone returning. "She has claimed sanctuary and I will not allow you to harm her, in any way."

"You think I would do her harm?" Frollo questioned with a hint of amusement.

"No," Azryl responded.

"Good," Frollo said. His footsteps grew close before abruptly stopping.

"I don't think you would," Azryl started, "I know you would."

"What would make you believe I would do her harm?"

"You don't have a humane bone in your body."

"When did you become this defiant, Azryl? Have I not cared for you? Have I not raised you as my son? Have I not taught you all that I could?" Esmeralda wanted to vomit. Playing a person's emotions was a despicable thing to do.

"In no order whatsoever," Azryl began, "you've barely cared for me. You only show up momentarily to bring some sort of food and then leave after a short talk. Sometimes you'd send a guard to do it because you didn't want to come. You haven't raised me as a son. What kind of man raises his son to believe he's a monster? An abomination on life? What kind of man gives his son rotten and old food when he can get better? You haven't taught me all you could. The archdeacon and a few other caretakers taught me more than you. They taught me things you should and could have! Finally, I became more defiant when I couldn't let your corruption continue any further."

"Corrupt? Who are you calling corrupt?" Frollo demanded angrily.

"Did I stutter?" Azryl answered just as angrily. "Maybe you didn't hear me correctly then. You! Are! Corrupt!"

"On what grounds do you claim this?"

"On what grounds?" Azryl asked incredulously. "Did you forget what was said yesterday at the festival? It's a miracle you remember to dress yourself every morning!" A third slap was heard, followed by a momentary silence. A sudden chuckle that sounded like it came from Azryl broke it. "See?" Azryl's voice was once again calm. "When faced with defiant opposition you immediately resort to to coercion and violence. What part of that doesn't show corruption?"

"You are acting like a spoiled child," Frollo explained. "I had to discipline you."

"Discipline comes from a strike with a verbal reprimand telling the individual what they did wrong. You aren't disciplining me, you are inflicting violence upon me," Azryl cooly retorted. "You only say I'm acting the part of a child. How so? Is it because I'm acting as a child would? No. Am I jumping up and down on the spot for something foolish? No. Am I taking a posture that poses a threat to you and what you stand for? Yes. You are afraid of me right now and will use that corrupt attitude to not only 'discipline' me but convince yourself that you're right when you're not."

Listening closely, Esmeralda could hear Frollo snarling. It brought her some pleasure to see his attitude torn into like that, though she wouldn't say it to his face...yet. She'd wait for a much better time to do that.

"So you would openly defy me." It was a statement, not a question.

"So long as you are corrupt, I'll stand against you," Azryl said.

"It seems I cannot win here," Frollo stated.

"What was your first clue?" Frollo snarled again.

"Never mind. I'll return later, and I had better see her here." His footsteps faded until they were no longer audible. Azryl sighed again from behind the door. Suddenly three knocks came from the door.

"You can come out now, Esmeralda," Azryl said. "I know you were listening." Esmeralda was shocked but stood up and opened the door. She was greeted with a smiling Azryl with a large handprint on his left cheek. Instinctively, she reached her hand up to look at the imprint.

"That looks like it hurt," she stated lowly.

"And a good morning to you too," Azryl greeted, still smiling. Esmeralda blushed in embarrassment.

"Sorry," Esmeralda apologized. "Good morning." Azryl's smile widened. She turned her attention back to the handprint. "Why did you let him do that?"

"The man will never learn until he sees the faults and consequences of his actions. I don't think he'll ever learn but the Archdeacon seems to think he will. I promised I'd at least try to help Frollo change."

"I take it your actions haven't helped?" She asked. Azryl shook his head sadly.

"Not in the slightest." Azryl walked to a small area and pulled out a sack that was filled with food. "Time for breakfast. Do you want anything in particular?"

"Some eggs and bread if it's possible."

"I can handle that," Azryl responded. "Give me a few minutes and it'll be done." He walked away carrying the food sack on his back. Esmeralda couldn't help but smile. She looked around and noticed something that was strange.

There were three gargoyles on the railing that weren't there last night. One was chubby with small wings and had long, thin horns. One was taller than the others and had no horns with large wings. The last one was considerable aged and appeared to be female that had short, thick horns and medium sized wings. There was one thing about them that they all had in common. They were all smiling.

Esmeralda sighed fondly. Even the gargoyles were happy here. This place really wasn't the prison she had thought it was. Even if there were guards at every door, this place was as far from a prison as could be. The only thing that was true was that she was in a good place with better company.

Me: And this chapter's done.

Rendan: That's kinda sweet.

Me: Huh?

Zero: How Laverne seems to be the primary mother-like figure in Azryl's life.

Me: Well, in the movie Laverne definitely showed that she cared for Quasimodo and even gave him advice a few times. That sounds motherly to me. I'm just surprised I made that connection when no one else seemed to. Oh well, their loss is my gain I guess.

Azryl: It works out quite well.

Rendan: Right. Having a mother figure would definitely explain why he can be so kind. He had a mom to teach him.

Azryl: Even if she isn't real?

Zero: Good teaching is good teaching, it doesn't matter where it came from.

Me: Indeed. Well, that'll do it for this week. Be good and be safe. I'm outta here.