I am warning you all now this is one seriously long chapter so you may want to get something to drink, go to the bathroom, and/or something to snack on because you're going to be sitting their a while. That is if you are sitting.
DISCLAIMER: Do not own Danny Phantom or The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Only the characters you don't recognize.
Danny Phantom/The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Phantress of Notre Dame
Ch. 2-Out There
As soon as the ghoul cried out with glee, in the connected bell towers the rings of the great iron instruments were starting to fade away as a young ghost that was twenty years of human age old had finished the carefully scheduled operation, grabbed a rope and swung down to the floor of the wide crosswalk from the parapet, as as she was just close enough let go and landed in a crouch her royal blue hair, arranged in a layered style, flying all about and some of it boscuring her vision. Huffing a sigh the young phantress slicked it back to reveal her glowing ice blue eyes lit with a fire of self-determination and courage unlike anything known before and her floral birthmark that looked liked it bloomed over the years as she grew up, her attire consisting of a midnight black dress that was skin-tight at the top and flowly at the bottom with a royal blue stripe near the bottom and a same-colored corset holding up the gown. Though it was strapless, she wore two skin-tight sleeves that matched the top edge of the outfit and formed out into a triangle that rested on the top of her hands.
Standing up she smoothed the cloth out, fixing everything so that it would rest comfortably on her body. For as long as she could remember, Nyreena had been ringing the bells the church she was known for ever since she was strong enough to pull the ropes to move the musically-toned shaped iron. Sure it was an okay life but the one thing the spirit wanted the most was a chance to explore the city and walk amongst its people, human and ghost alike, but was made clear by her guardian Judge Damen Phantom, the minister of justice, that she was not to step one foot out the doors of Paranorma Dame. He practically said it everyday, so much so it must have been engraved into her brain by now.
Walking out onto the balcony that stood out the ghost felt a cool breeze blow by even though it was a rather warm late morning for the end of October. Looking down below she watched the townspeople set up the square for Galmateris's annual fair that celebrated the mixed races' cultures and All Hollow's Eve which was the last day of the festival. Every year Nyreena watched the all the events happen and dreamed that every time it came around she was among the fair-goers and enjoying the festivities.
While she was looking about, the young ghost felt a set of figures approaching but she didn't have to worry about any signs of danger however the two that were nearing were her life-long friends and the only friends that she had. One was a gentleman with long white hair, green skin, square-framed glasses, and wore a gray-caped black trench coat named Technus who always proclaimed himself to be the master of mechanical wonder, and the other was a hunched-over black-furred wolf who wore an ecto-green jumpsuit and had a special ability to use his long claws to open portals between the Zone and Earth that was aptly named Wulf only spelled a bit differently. Once they reached her the techno-themed spirit groaned, "Oh man, I never thought I would be able to phase out of that wall!"
"Well, that's what you get for falling asleep while trying to go through marble," the beast countered snorting at the same time.
"Heh, heh, heh. Here's an idea for you: go scare a nun," the mechanically-talented apparition quipped to his companion, then glanced at the young woman continuing to stare over the ledge went over to stand beside her and looking down as well, asked, "Hey Nina, what's happening below? A quarrel? A beating?"
"A festival!," the canine answered for the girl, peering over the edge at the activity that was progressing.
"You mean it's already time for the Feast of Ghouls?," the self-explaining spectre inquired, quickly getting excited.
"Uh, huh," the phantress replied, a bit downcasted.
"Yes, yes, yes!," Technus exclaimed, pumping his arms back and forth. "Pour the wine and cut the ectoplasmic-contaiminated cheese!"
"It is a definite treat to watch the picturesque splendor of the townfolk every year," Wulf observed with pride.
"Especially with great balcony seats to watch it from," the egomaniac added.
"Yep, watching," Nyreena said with dread, her expression clearly showing it as she turned away and walked back inside.
Not noticing the bell ringer leave, the mechanic continued staring down until something caught his eye.
"Oh look who it is, a mime," he said, a cheshire-like grin spreading across his face at the same time charging up an electro-ball to throw at the street performer and just as he was about to fire his hand was stopped by the oversized wild dog, with a gesture from his head, told his comrade that the girl had retreated back indoors.
Taking the hint the shorter ghost noticed her absence and asked, "Hey, hey, what gives? Why'd she go back inside?"
"Don't you want to watch the festival with us?," the creature inquired after her, his voice sounding a bit worried but got no answer.
"I just don't get it," the white-haired ghost pointed out, getting really confused.
"Maybe she's feeling a bit ill," the black-furred wolf surmised.
"That's absurd," a third voice interjected, coming towards them.
The older woman which owned the voice was Penelope Spectra, Nyreena's third and last friend, who had orange-striped red hair shaped into a horn-like style with the bottom in a flip and wore a bright red suit-styled dress that matched her profession as a psychiatrist. Walking right over to them she stated, "If twenty years of having to hear you two hasn't made her bedridden then nothing ever will."
"Well, it's just that watching the festival has been the highlight of every year for Nyreena," Wulf told his friend still a bit concerned.
"But what good is it to watch the gala if you never get to attend it?," the physician of the mind countered as a few birds began to land on her.
"Oh, not again. Get away from me, you bunch of buzzards!," she cried, waving them away in annoyance.
Heading in after their fellow spirit, she had gone upstairs to a loft where a small workstation was set up with a model of the city laid out on it and dozens of small figurines that scattered the tabletop that depicted all of the townsfolk that lived below. Sitting down on the stool that sat in front of the table the young woman rested her head down and fiddled with one of the tiny wooden people with barely any interest. Coming up from behind, the psychiatrist knelt down beside the blue-haired ghost and asked, "Nina, what's wrong sweetie? Do you want to tell me what's on your mind?"
"I...I..I just don't have the heart to watch the festival this time," the rope puller replied, leaning up to look at the former doctor.
"Well, haven't you ever got the idea of just going to it instead?," the beauty-obsessed apparition suggested, hoping to cheer the girl up.
"Yeah, that would be a defintie change to the routine," the beast commented, appearing at the top of the stairs.
"Of course I have, but I would never fit in with them. I'm not..not the same as them," the music maker protested with the same excuse she used every time this type of subject came up between the four.
"Oh Nina, Nina, Nina," Spectra comforted, only to stop as the feathered fowl returned to try to roost on the older ghost again.
Shooing them away she said, "Do you mind? I would love nothing more than to have just one moment with the girl , if that's all right with you!"
Technus, being the last to come up, went over and said, "Hey, you need to stop beating around the bell tower about this. What do we need to do to convince you, paint you a mural?"
"As your pals and protectors, we're wanting you to go and enjoy the festivities this time around," the black-furred animal stated, putting it rather simply.
Getting a rather surprised look on her face Nyreena asked, "Me?"
Suddenly appearing with the wooden figure of the Pope, the techno-themed spook answered, "The Pope, silly! No, we really mean you!," then popped the miniature version of the leader of the church into the flabbergasted spirit's mouth.
As soon as it went in the gentleman-like canine pulled the figure out and advised, "It would be quite the genuine pope-pourri of an educational exprerience."
"There will be wine, men, and song!," the white-haired egomaniac added.
"You can discover how to classify numerous regional cheeses," Wulf suggested.
Holding up a bucket of water, the green-skinned ghoul recommended, "Bobbing for snails!"
Continuing on his rant the oversized hound tracked on, "And you can listen to all the cultural folk music."
Getting a sneaky idea Technus used the same pail and slammed it on the dog's head, demonstrating, "Dunk the monk!"
A little annoyed at the duo's antics, Penelope said to the younger woman, "Nina, take it from a long-time spectator. A life, or afterlife in our case, is not some type of watching sport. If staring is all you're going to do, then you're just going to let someof the best moments of our life slip on by without you even noticing."
"Exactly. You're free to move about this place of your own free will. We're just stuck being the architecture sometimes, right Wulf?," the trench coat-claded spirit asked his friend.
"So, if you chip or pluck us will we not flake or flinch? If you moisten us do we not grow wet or let the water drop right through us?," the now damp wolf answered philisophically, pulling the wooden canister off of his head.
"Nina just grab a fresh dress and a clean pair of sleeves and-," Penelope guided, only to be interrupted by her younger friend who said, "Guys, thanks for all the encouragment but you're all forgetting one very crucial detail."
Looking at Nyreena all three at the same time, clearly not getting the hint, "What?"
Picking up the smaller-scaled version of her guardian the young woman pointed out, "My master, Phantom."
Recognizing what she was talking about the trio all said again together, "Oh, yeah. Right."
"Well, when he dictates that you're forbidden from ever leaving the tower, does he really mean 'ever, ever'?," Wulf clarified, a contemplating look on his expression.
"Never ever!," the bell ringer answered, setting the figurine down. "And above all he hates the Feast of Ghouls! He would be absolutely furious if I asked to go."
A sly grin crossing his expression, the male spirit suggested, "Who says that you have to ask?"
Quickly getting what Technus was hinting at the orphan protested, "Oh, no. Not that."
Ignoring what the girl had to disagree with, he started, "You just sneak right out..."
"It's only going to be for one day," the red-haired ghost pointed out, sort of agreeing with her fellow spirit.
"But I couldn't-," the music maker insisted, just to be stopped by the mechanically-talented ethereal being who finished, "...and you just sneak back in."
"If we time it just right, he'll never know that you were gone," Specta suggested, not wanting to give up on this.
"I mean, if somehow I get caught-," the black and blue dressed woman continued, trying to make another excuse but was stopped again, this time by the big canine who pointed out, "It is better to ask for forgivness later than to ask for permission at the beginning."
"He might notice and recognize me," Nyreena stated, getting a bit scared and worried.
Pulling out a hooded cloak out from under his cape Technus proposed, "You can wear this as a disguise. Just for this one time. What Phantom doens't know will not hurt you!"
"Ignorance is bliss, after all," the beast pointed out.
Snorting a bit, the technological spook said to himself, "Heh, look who's talking about ignornace."
Unfortunately, he didn't say it low enough and was given a low growl from the animal who didn't appreciate the remark at all. Glaring at the two, the red-claded spectre made one last ditch-effort and explained, "Look, from the experience during my days among the living I've seen how people can get stowed away or locked up and go insane from it. All I'm saying is that nobody wants to stay cooped up in one place forever. Especially you."
Taking what the doctor said into consideration, the ghost girl decided that the elder was right. A smile crept across her expression as she said, "You're right, Penelope! I've made up my mind. I will go!"
This erupted a cheer out of the trio, which fueled the young woman's newfound confidence as she added, "I'll get cleaned up," another cheer, "I'll stroll down all of those stairs," a third cheer from her friends, "I'll step right out of those doors and-"
During this all four were advancing towards the door that led to the lower levels, they never noticed that Damen was standing in the way and as soon as the young lass was right in front of him he said to alert her to his presence, "Good morning, Nyreena."
Seeing the man that "saved" her as a baby suddenly appear out of nowhere made the girl gasp in shock and the trio to transform into stone gargoyles in a split-second, a guise they would take in case of an emergency, such as this. As for Nina, her courage instantly turned to shyness her arms going behind her as she fiddled with a bracelet that held a single petal of a blood blossom given to her by the judge who told her that it would help protect her from her power but it really blocked her abilities so she wouldn't be a threat to him. Casting a downward look to the floor, she looked back up and said, "Ah, uh, good...morning, master."
Looking at the statutes, the magistrate asked his ward, "My dear, whomever areyou talking to you up here?"
Shifting her glance so that she was looking out of the corner of her eyes she replied, "My...my friends, sir."
Eyeing the way she was shifting the ghost of power commented, "I see."
Walking over to the frozen Technus Phantom rapped him on the head and quizzed, "And what exactly are your 'friends' made of, Nyreena?"
"Stone," the younger apparition answered, her voice sounding nervous and a bit skittish.
"And can stone talk?," the minister of justice continued with his interrogation-styled test.
"No, sir, it cannot," she replied, now downcasted.
A sly smirk crossing his face Damen praised, "That's right. You're quite a smart girl. Now, it's time for lunch."
On the word "lunch", Nyreena quickly walked away while her guardian sat down at a small table and placed a covered basket on it and a minute later the young spirit returned with a couple of plates and cups, the nicer set for him and the wooden for her. Taking a book out from under his robes then pulling out a bottle of wine Phantom uncorked it and as he poured it asked, "Shall we review your alphabet today?"
"Oh, yes please, master. I would really like that," the young charge agreed, sitting down at her place and smoothing out her dress at the same time.
"Very well, then. What is A?," the judge asked, recorking the bottle, setting it on the tabletop, then opening the book.
"Abomination," the young spectre answered, looking right at him.
"B?," the magistrate quizzed, seeing things go in order.
"Blasphemy," the girl said correctly again.
"C?," the chancellor challenged, nodding his head a bit to say that she was right on the last answer.
"C-c-c-contrition," the woman responded, stuttering a bit to find the right word.
Taking a moment to make a bit of tension form the legal official continued, "D?"
"Damnation," she rebuttled confidently, knowing that one by heart.
"E?," the justice of the peace inquired.
"Eternal damnation," the bell ringer returned, putting a bit of emphasis on the first word.
"Good, good. F?," Phantom questioned, taking a drink of wine from his chalice.
Not even realizing what she was going to say the other ghost plugged right along and spoke without thinking, "Festival."
As soon as it came out of her mouth the liquid that the elder ghoul had poured into his mouth was instantly spitted right back out and the woman, catching what she had just said, clapped her hands over her mouth and a flash of fear crossing her gaze.
"Excuse me? What did you just say?," he asked, his expression changing to a more grave and almost angered one.
Taking her hands away to show her bottom lip almost quivering the instrument operatior answered her voice a bit shaky, "Forgiveness."
"Oh, but I do believe that you said festival," Damen disagreed, his scowl growing a bit deeper.
"I didn't!," his ward almost cried, clearly lying.
Catching her in her fib, the foster father got up and and accused, "You've been thinking about going to the feast , weren't you?"
"Well, it's just that...you get to go every single year," the young eternal being stated, getting up as well to follow.
"I am a public official. I have to go," Phantom explained, walking down a stairway. "But I do not enjoy one moment of it! Robbers and swindlers, along with the rest of the outcasts of both the human and ghostly kinds, all mingling together in a frivolous, drunken stupor."
As they reached the bottom landing , the gentle-natured lass told her custodian to hopefully allievate his anger, "I never meant to upset you at all, master."
Heading outside onto a different crosswalk, this one much more spacious, the judge pleaded with fake pity, "Oh Nyreena can't you understand? When your cruel father tried to kill you and your merciless mother decided to abandon you as a baby, anybody else would have to end you when you were that young. I guess this is my thanks for taking you in and raising you as my own daughter."
Having followed him outside the orphan came up to stand beside her adopted parent and as soon as he spoke a guilty sting struck her heart, causing her to step back and bow a bit, apologizing in a quiet, shocked voice, "I'm so sorry, sir."
Seeing how hurt Nyreena was gave Damen the advantage he needed to dilute the young woman's mind even further. Putting on a comforting expression he pulled her close and consoled, "Oh, my dear, you have absolutely no idea of what it is like out there. However, I do...I do..."
THE WORLD IS CRUEL
THE WORLD IS WICKED
IT'S I ALONE WHOM YOU CAN TRUST IN THIS WHOLE CITY
I AM YOUR ONLY FRIEND
I WHO KEEP YOU, TEACH YOU, FEED YOU, DRESS YOU
I WHO LOOK AT YOU WITHOUT FEAR
HOW CAN I PROTECT YOU, GIRL
UNLESS YOU ALWAYS STAY IN HERE
AWAY IN HERE...
While he sang, the magistrate took her chin and propped his charge's head up to look into her ice blue eyes with a bit of a contradicting look in his blood red ones then in the middle of the second verse pulled away and walked backwards, holding his arms out to persuade the girl to follow which worked perfectly as she went in after him. When they were inside he turned around and advised, "Remember what I've taught you, Nyreena."
Heading up the same stairwell used to come down the official marched up and continued to sing, with the woman repeating heading back up to the platform they came down from, him walking over to the model and she sittling down at it, picking up the figurine of herself then the ghost of justice plucked it out of her hand and placed it in the scaled version of the church,
YOU ARE DEFORMED
(I AM DEFORMED)
AND YOU ARE UGLY
(AND I AM UGLY)
AND THESE ARE CRIMES FOR WHICH THE WORLD
SHOWS LITTLE PITY
I AM YOUR ONLY FRIEND
(YOU ARE MY ONE DEFENDER)
OUT THERE THEY'LL REVILE YOU AS A MONSTER
(I AM A MONSTER)
OUT THERE THEY WILL HATE WITH SCORN AND JEER
(ONLY A MONSTER)
WHY INVITE THEIR CALUMY AND CONSTERNATION?
STAY IN HER, BE FAITHFUL TO ME
(I'M FAITHFUL)
GRATEFUL TO ME
(I'M GRATEFUL)
DO AS I SAY. OBEY
AND STAY IN HERE.
(I'LL STAY IN HERE.)
As Phantom turned to leave, the young woman said to him, "You are always good to me, my master. I'm sorry for causing you all this trouble."
"You are forgiven, my dear. But always remember: this is your sanctuary," the self-righteous spook told her, smirking in satisfaction then left the tower for other business matters.
Watching him leave Nyreena's gaze casted down a bit as she repeated, "My sanctuary," then looked up through the rafters began to sing, softly at first, then gettingup and peering over the small inset balcony to continue watching the proceedings happen below, building up her voice until the end of the second verse.
SAFE BEHIND THESE WINDOWS AND THESE PARAPETS OF STONE
GAZING AT THE PEOPLE DOWN BELOW ME
ALL MY LIFE I WATCH THEM AS I HIDE UP HERE ALONE
HUNGRU FOR THE HISTORIES THEY SHOW ME
ALL MY LIFE I'VE MEMORIZED THEIR FACES
KNOWING THEM AS THEY WILL NEVER KNOW ME
ALL MY LIFE I WONDER HOW IT FEELS TO PASS A DAY
NOT ABOVE THEM...
BUT PART OF THEM...
Using her incredible strength, the bell ringer jumped over and slid down a stone column where the trio had gathered after Phantom left and once landed the music maker continued to sing hugging both Technus and Spectra, then climbed across the pillars, then heading down to stand on the balcony in front of a stained-glass window.
AND OUT THERE, LIVING IN THE SUN
GIVE ME ONE DAY OUT THERE
ALL I ASK IS ONE TO HOLD FOREVER
OUT THERE, WHERE THEY ALL LIVE UNAWARE
WHAT I'D GIVE...WHAT I DARE
JUST TO LIVE ONE DAY OUT THERE
Her eyes spanning out the city, it was like she could see everything from her position. Her mood ever brightening, she continued to sing.
OUT THERE AMONG THE MILLERS
AND THE WEAVERS AND THEIR WIVES
THROUGH THE ROOFS AND GABLES I CAN SEE THEM
EVERYDAY THEY SHOUT AND SCOLD AND GO ABOUT THEIR LIVES
HEEDLESS OF THE GIFT IT IS TO BE THEM
IF I WAS IN THEIR SKIN, I'D TREASURE EVERY INSTANT
Towards the end of the last verse the young spirit had gotten up onto the edge of a railing of a railing that aced the river and slid down an aquaduct, sat down at the spout then scooped up some of the water that flowed out of the spout and splashed it in her face, then raced up to one of the spires that stood on top of the building then across the rooftop to the edge of the building that overlooked the great stained-glass window that sat in the middle of the front of Paranorma Dame and finished the song.
OUT THERE STROLLING BY THE SPIRITEINE
TASTE A MORNING OUT THERE
LIKE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO FREELY WALK ABOUT THERE
JUST ONE DAY AND THEN I SWEAR
I'LL BE CONTENT, WITH MY SHARE
WON'T RESENT, WON'T RESENT
ETERNAL OR MORTAL, I WON'T CARE
I'LL HAVE SPENT ONE DAY OUT THERE!
Well, didn't I warn you that you would be sitting there for a while? Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long for me to write because hardly took any time to type up! See you all next time!