Quasimodo was hopelessly lost.
A bag of wooden figurines was held limply at his side. He looked for the main stage, wondering if Jim and Ariel had already beaten him to the rendezvous point, but he couldn't locate it through the massive crowd. Frowning slightly, Quasi attempted to make his way forward, only to be shoved backwards into a tent by some angry-looking women. He lost his footing and tore through the opening. He tried desperately to regain his balance by grabbing a curtain, but it ripped. A woman dressed in nothing but a robe cried out in surprise.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry!" Quasimodo apologized.
"It's okay." Esmeralda laughed, helping Quasimodo to his feet. "Just be a bit more careful next time, alright?"
"Of course." He smiled.
"By the way," she said, pointing at his face. "Nice mask."
"There's just one more thing we have to do before we meet up with Quasimodo." Jim said.
"And what could that be?" Pocahontas asked slyly. "Going to get roses for your girlfriend?"
"No." said Jim, refusing to take the bait. "I promised her some new clothes, so I'm going to get her some."
Ariel grinned as Jim took her arm and led her to a nearby clothing booth. Pocahontas quickly ordered a big green cloak that hid all of her features. Once she donned her cloak, she followed Jim throughout the various aisles, teasing him under her breath; Ariel, meanwhile, disappeared into one of the far aisles.
"What about this one, Jim?" Pocahontas said, holding up a pink dress with puffy sleeves. "Wouldn't she look divine in something like this? More importantly, wouldn't she look divine if this was on the floor behind her?"
"Maybe you should heed your dad's advice and marry Kocoum." Jim snarled. "Sounds to me like you're desperate for a good time."
"Not as desperate as you, Butterfly Cheeks." She responded, grinning. "And don't pretend like you didn't blush a little when I mentioned it."
Jim opened his mouth for an angry retort, but stopped when Ariel tugged on his arm, her eyes wide.
"How long have you been there?" Jim squeaked; Pocahontas laughed and ducked behind a rack of clothes.
'I just got here.' Ariel said, puzzled. 'I was looking for pants like yours, but the merchant told me to go to the more feminine section.'
"What a jerk." Jim growled. "Come on, let's get you some pants."
'But he said—'
"What he said doesn't matter." Jim said, taking Ariel's hand and leading her back to the men's section. "You're the one who wants to wear them, not him. Besides, you're a paying customer. As long as he's getting money, he has nothing to complain about."
'He's not the only one who thinks that way, though!' Ariel protested. 'Quasimodo—'
"—is his master's pet." Jim finished harshly. "And definitely not your owner. Now, do you want green ones like mine, or do you want the blue?"
"The blue would match your eyes." Pocahontas offered from two rows back. Jim grabbed an empty wooden hanger and threw it at her, intentionally aiming too far to the left to actually hit her.
Ariel smiled as Pocahontas began to laugh.
They met up with Quasimodo ten minutes later, a paper bag filled with clothes held precariously in the nook of Jim's left arm. Quasimodo smiled as the redhead silently inquired about the large purple butterfly on Jim's cheek.
"It's a butterfly." Jim said sullenly.
'I thought you said you didn't want one?' Ariel said, frowning.
"I didn't, but then you didn't know what it was and I didn't know how to explain it, so I had Poca—oh, forget it. What have you been up to, Quasi?"
"I got some figurines to add to my town model!" Quasimodo answered excitedly. "Including a beast with a cloak—it's really scary to look at. It reminded me of you." He added, smiling at Jim.
Pocahontas let out a hearty laugh.
"Oh, I like this one!" she said.
"You would." Jim muttered under his breath. Quasimodo's smile widened.
Ariel tugged on Jim's sleeve roughly.
"What?"
Ariel pointed.
The Captain of the Guard, a man named Phoebus, stood proud and scowling in the late February sun. His golden uniform glared brightly and Jim found himself momentarily blinded.
"Jeez, Ariel," Jim said angrily. "Why did you want me to see him? Do you think he's cute or something?"
Ariel grabbed Jim's face with both of her hands and shook her head vigorously. She looked pleadingly at Jim and then pointed again towards the Captain. This time, Jim carefully avoided Phoebus' shining armor and instead looked next to him—and gasped when he saw Frollo shaking some dust from his sleeves.
"We've got to hide!" Jim said; he grabbed Quasimodo and Ariel's hands; Ariel, in turn, seized Pocahontas' wrist, and the four painstakingly made their way through the crowds and back to the clothing stands.
"Jim, what's going on?" Quasimodo asked in alarm.
"Frollo is here, not too far from the main stage." Jim panted. He looked at Pocahontas, worried. The second he had mentioned the judge's name, Pocahontas' stature had shrunk and her eyes, usually so warm and playful, showed nothing but fear.
"We need to get you out of here." Jim said, grabbing her shoulders.
'I'll take her to the tower.' Ariel mouthed; her hand still circled around Pocahontas' wrist. 'No one will suspect me of escorting a fugitive, mostly because they have no idea who I am. It can't be either of you, because you two have no disguises and anyone who goes to church while there is a festival going on is bound to draw some attention.'
"I can't just leave Esmeralda." Pocahontas whispered. "She has done much for me."
"Jim and I will stay behind and tell her what happened. She'll understand." Quasimodo said gently.
"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Jim asked Ariel. He was biting his lip and his brows were furrowed.
'I saved Paris, remember?' Ariel raised an eyebrow. 'It shouldn't be too hard to walk five hundred feet.'
"Hide her near your cot." Jim said. "If Frollo comes up before we do, he won't be able to see either of you."
Ariel nodded.
Jim and Quasimodo watched as Ariel and Pocahontas hurried towards Notre Dame; Quasimodo grabbed Jim's hand and squeezed it.
"She was right about something else, you know." He said softly. "We need disguises, Jim. It's the only way we can stick around long enough to tell Esmeralda what's going on."
"We will." Jim said, his gaze never leaving the girls' figures. "Just let me make sure they don't run into trouble."
"I'll buy the cloaks." Quasimodo said and he released Jim's hand. Jim gulped as Ariel and Pocahontas squeezed through the church doors, seen only by common townsfolk.