I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Avengers. They are owned by Marvel, Disney, and Square Enix. And we are back in the Disney action. Was kinda hoping for a new Kingdom Hearts trailer last Friday or even a trailer for Spider-Man 2, Wolverine, or Jedi Survivor but I was pretty happy with Midnight Suns update and the reveal for the Captain America and Black Panther team-up game. Looking forward to hearing more of those.
Now then, as for the next world, I'm sure you all guessed it was the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Another classic. This took some time to work on as real life hit hard and I really wanted this world to be included and done right. Hope the first half is proof that it was worth the wait. So, let's knock out the reviews then we can just dive into the chapter...
The Valiant: Wow! Thanks! Yeah, Magento assuming Sora is his actual blood-related grandson will play a big impact on the House of Magus, so look forward to that.
Guest: Thank you for understanding and I hope this chapter is worth the wait.
Guest: It could be, it could be not. There's still one more Disney-related world after this one. So, you'll have to wait and see.
the mysterious Mr.E: Well, wait no more, here's the next chapter! Btw, how did you get to a second review for the same chapter?
Gamelover41592: Yeah, the heroes of Earth had their own craziness while they were gone. Just wait until they compare notes. :D
Guest: Honestly, never heard of the guy. Nice little fun fact though, learn something new every day. I have no plans of placing any supervillains on this world so the main threat is focused on Frollo.
Monkey D. Conan: Thank you! Don't worry, it'll take time for Sora to say the world properly. However, Wanda's going to take her duty as a new mother very seriously. In a very loving way. That pretty much sums up Sora. Like Goofy said, he can make friends with anyone and turn them for the better. And I do have plans for the prologue and it's a lot more interesting than you think it will be.
ABOOK5117: Glad you're liking it. Gotta say I was really dead set on making a nod to Walt Disney for that purpose alone. So, I'm happy I was able to pull it off. Hope you stick around to see what happens next.
GuestWithIdeas: Man, you're review was a lot to digest your review but I'm glad you really liked the chapter. Fun fact, the whole Magento causing the tsunami and nearly flooding New York was based on Marvel's Ultimatum... man, that was a dark arc. But I thought it be a nod to any ultimate fans out there. Thankfully Strange made sure things didn't get that out of control. Anyways interesting ideas but I already planned out how things in the chapter for Hunchback and beyond are going to go. You'll just have to wait and see how things play out.
NaruSaku and SoKai fan in KY: What are the odds? Anyways, hope you enjoy it.
Guest: No, this time everyone will be there and our heroes won't replace anyone. And please, stick with one review. I get it if you missed spelled something and try to make yourself clearer but I would prefer it if you get all your thoughts in one review. Can you do that? Thanks.
Guest: He'll try but you know Sora... he'll get involved one way or another.
Guest: No! Stop trying to suggest making children succumb to darkness! It's just messed up and wrong in many ways! You're talking to the wrong author! I don't know why would you even suggest it! If you want to keep reviewing for this fanfic or any others of mine, apologize and don't suggest it to me again! Thank you!
Now then, with that out of the way, here's the first half of the world of the Hunchback of Notre Dame...
Chapter 9: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
In a barren wasteland, the very same world where he split Vantias from Ventus heart, Xehanort stood by himself near a cliff as if he was waiting for someone. Just then, a man in armor on a flying key-shape motorbike flew down from the sky before landing by Xehanort. Both the armor and the vehicle vanished in a flash of light before revealing himself to be Terra. The young man confronted the Keyblade Master but in a respectful manner, "I have been to other worlds. I know all about the things you've done. I just don't understand why."
"Someone had to safeguard the light... from the demon, I unleashed," Xehanort told the young Keyblade Master, before assuming, "You must know about the boy by now, the one in the mask." He then revealed to him, "His name is Vanitas. A creature of pure darkness. One of my making."
"Vanitas..." Terra hummed at the name before asking, "Are you telling me he came from you?"
The old Keyblade Master shook his head before correcting him, "He came from Ventus."
Terra gasped in shock, "Ventus?!"
Master Xehanort nodded as he admitted, "Yes. Vanitas is the darkness that was inside your friend."
Terra couldn't believe what he was hearing, Ventus didn't seem even capable of even thinking of darkness. That's when Xehanort lied about the truth about Vanitas's origin, "It was an accident. While training with me, Ventus succumbed to darkness, and there was but one way to save him... strip that part of him away. And thus Vanitas was made. In the process, I damaged Ventus's heart in the most horrific way."
"So I did what I felt was right, and left him with Eraqus," Xehanort looked away pretending to feel deep regret, "I knew the boy could not stay with me, the man who did him such grievous harm."
After a moment of silence, Terra looked at him with compassion, believing in the lie, "Master Xehanort..." He comforted him placing a hand over the old man's shoulder, "Ventus has gotten a lot better since then. You shouldn't blame yourself for trying to save him."
Xehanort barely held back a smirk, "Well... Thank you, lad. You know how to put an old man's heart at ease."
"So that's what it was," Terra thought to himself of why his friend couldn't remember anything other than his own name. He then turned his attention back to Master Xehanort, "Master... Why is Vanitas still free?"
"Ah, yes." Xehanort began to tell another lie, "Well, I did my best to contain him the moment he emerged, but..."
"He managed to escape," Terra assumed, once again believing in the lie.
"Mmmm..." The Keyblade Master nodded, "Vanitas uses the Keyblade to sow seeds of darkness. And now, you see... the worlds teem with his ghastly underlings."
Terra gasped in horror, "The Unversed!"
"He has no control over the darkness in his heart. The Keyblade is not his to bear," He turned to Terra with a pleading look in his eyes, "He's an abomination beyond hope of salvation. Lend me your strength, Terra. Right this wrong that I have wrought."
The young Keyblade Wielder looked like he wanted to help but was unsure of what to do, "But I have no idea where to find him."
"What I can tell you about Vanitas amounts to this... his darkness is drawn to the light, which he seeks to disrupt... and then destroy," Xehanort advised the young man, "It stands to reason that he will strike next in the city of light, Radiant Garden."
Terra looked like he was in deep thought before snapping out of it, he then bowed to Xehanort in gratitude as he now believed of where to go next, "Don't worry, Master. I'll take care of Vanitas."
With that, Terra summoned back his armor and vehicle before leaving the world Xehanort stood on. The elder man began chuckling to himself...
When Wanda flashed back to reality, she breathed heavily as Sora ran up to her in concern, "Miss Wanda?! Are you okay?!"
She gave the child a reassuring smile, "It's quite alright, Sora. I'll be fine." Spider-Man then offered her a hand, which she accepted, "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Peter nodded helping her up, "So, another vision?"
"Yup," Wanda nodded, "I'll tell you about it later..." She then looked around at their surroundings, "...as soon as we figure out where we are."
"Oh, I already figured that one out," Spidey reassured her, "Paris, France."
"What makes you say that?" Wanda wondered before Spider-Man gestured to a large church in the distance, Wanda's eyes widened as she recognized, "Oh... that's a pretty good guess."
From the distance, she could see the church: Notre Dame...
"Morning in Paris~ the city awakes to the bells of Notre Dame~ The fisherman fishes~ the baker man bakes to the bells of Notre Dame~ To the big bells as loud as the thunder~ To the little bells soft as a psalm~ And some say the soul of the city's the toll of the bells~ The bells of Notre Dame~"
La Cité des Cloches
"Notre Dame..." She gasped in amazement before turning to Spider-Man, "Didn't they keep the crown of thorns here?"
"Yep," Peter nodded with a smile.
"You mean the same one Jesus wore when he died on the cross," Sora tilted his head getting the attention of two Avengers.
Wanda was shocked Sora knew this but smiled softly, "That is exactly right, Sora."
"Well, good to know Sora goes to Sunday School," Spidey smiled behind the mask, "...and we know what faith his parents were trying to teach him."
The Scarlet Witch nodded to Spider-Man, "True, it'll be easier to teach him our religion this way. I'm sure Kurt would be willing to help too." She then turned to Spider-Man, "So, what Disney Film takes place in Paris?"
"While there's a couple I can think of at the top of my head," Peter replied, "If I'm right about the time period, there's one movie that matches up with this world."
"Which is it?" Wanda wondered aloud.
"Okay, first things first," Peter started to warn the Scarlet Witch, "We might wanna stick to your real name on this world."
"Um, okay," Wanda blinked in confusion, it's not like she hated her own name but she liked her mutant name as well, "Why?"
"Oh, we're a time period where people never heard of mutants and might think of as a w-i-t-c-h," Spidey warned the young woman, "And you know what people tried to do to you and your brother back in Sokovia before your father showed up."
Wanda quickly managed to put together what that meant. Witches would be burned. Not something she wanted to go through again. She nodded in agreement to keep quiet about her mutant name. And powers if it could be helped. She then began to realize another thing, "Wait... why aren't people giving us odd looks?"
Peter chuckled lightly as he gestured to the people around, "Likely because of the fashion choice of the festival."
"Festival?" She then noticed people in silly clothes, tights, and other strange outfits as everyone was preparing for some sort of festival.
Loud music began to play, as the three could hear the people sing, "Come one~ Come all~ Leave your loops and milking stools~ Coop the hens and pen the mules~" The two Avengers and the little boy walked up closer to the group of people gathered around the festival, Come one~ come all~ Close the churches and the schools~ It's the day for breaking rules~ Come and join the feast~ of~"
"Fools~" A man in a mask sang before laughing.
Sora turned to his superhero guardians, "Feast of fools?"
"Spidey," Wanda turned to the web-head, "Explanation."
"Yeah," Spider-Man answered, "This world is based on the Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Wanda's eyes widened, "Oh! Is this based on the book written by Victor Hugo?" Peter blinked in shock as she answered, "Just because I haven't seen a Disney film doesn't me have I haven't read anything back on Genosha."
She then turned to him in concern, "Isn't the story supposed to be a little... dark?"
Sora was easily amazed by the events going around him, "It doesn't seem that dark to me! The sun's out!"
"Not that kind of dark, sweetie," The Scarlet Witch smiled softly at Sora before turning back.
"Well, yes," Peter admitted, "And this movie retains some of those dark themes..." Wanda looked deeply concerned before Peter reassured her, "But it has a happy ending."
Wanda stared at him in concern before sighing, "Fine, I suppose with us here, we can keep things from getting out of hand... we just need to do it... carefully..."
"Oh, yeah," Spidey nodded in total agreement, before looking around, "Uh... we did our cute little spikey hair guy go?"
"Sora?" Wanda blinked before gesturing to her side, "He's right..." She then turned to where she was pointing at before noticing that the boy was definitely not right next to her. She began to panic, "GAH! WHERE'D HE GO?!"
They quickly looked around before noticing the boy was looking around among the main attraction, giggling in amazement at every sight. Wanda ran in after him, "SORA!"
Peter sighed to himself as he followed her, "Here we go again..."
However, before they could reach him, the man from before, which if Spidey recalled from the Disney film, went by the name of Clopin leaped in front of them unaware who they were trying to get to. He started singing, "Once a year~ We throw a party here in town~" He took the Scarlet Witch's hand and twirled her around much to her shook, "Once a year~ We turn all Paris upside down~"
"Every man's a king and every king's a clown~" Clopin sang as he danced with Wanda as much she tried to get out of it, to look for Sora, "Once again it's topsy turvy day~"
"Great..." Spidey spoke up from behind Clopin, "Can I have my Wanda back?"
"Certainly, my friend," As he passed her off to dance with the web-head, as he continued singing, "It's the day the devil in us gets released~"
"Your Wanda?" Wanda repeated blinking at Spidey with a slight blush.
"Er..." Spidey winced, "Let's get back to finding the kid."
She nodded as she added, "Sure, but can we stop dancing first?"
Spidey realized they still were, quickly stopping they went to find where they last saw Sora before picking up their search as Clopin continued, "It's the day we mock the prig and shock the priest~ Everything is topsy turvy at the feast of fools~"
Sora bright in amazement seeing all the acrobats, stunts, and attractions at the festival. He witnesses some pretty odd things, like dogs walking their owners as the people sang, "Topsy turvy!"
"Everything is upsy daisy~" Clopin sang as he lift the boy onto his shoulders much to the latter's enjoyment.
"Topsy turvy!" The crowd as once more.
He then entered a tent with Sora on his shoulders as he sang, "Everyone is acting crazy~" He then reappeared out of another tent with dancing women and Clopin in another, "Dross is gold and weeds are a bouquet~ That's the way on Topsy Turvy day~"
Sora wasn't entirely sure how he ended up like this but he didn't seem to mind. He was currently having the time of his life. When he was finally set down, he accidentally fell into another tent as he let out a, "OOF!"
Just then, a goat with a gold earring came to inspect him sniffing at him as a young woman looked down at him, "We're just getting all kinds of unexpected visitors today, huh, Djali?" She helped the boy up, "Hey, sweetie. Got caught up in all the fun, huh?"
"Uh-huh!" Sora nodded.
She couldn't help but wonder, "Where are your parents?"
Before Sora could answer, Wanda's head peeked inside a tent as the woman turned to her. The Scarlet Witch quickly asked in desperation, "I'm so sorry but have you seen a...?!"
"Small spikey hair easily excited boy?" The other woman finished with a smile on her face.
Wanda blinked in shock, "You've seen him?"
"Yep," She nodded she then gestured to the little boy, who was giggling as Djali continued to sniff him, "He just dropped in."
"Sora! Oh, thank God above!" Wanda sighed in relief as she went to pick him up, as she did she turned to the woman who found him, "Thank you so much! I'm so sorry if he caused any trouble!"
"It's quite alright," She reassured the Mutant Woman, "Children are excited on any holiday be it Topsy Turvy or Christmas." She crossed her arms, "So, new in town?"
"Was it that obvious? " Wanda asked sheepishly.
"Pretty much," She nodded before offering her hand, "My name is Esmeralda."
"Wanda," Wanda shook Esmeralda's hand, "Nice to meet you. You already met Sora."
"Yes," She smiled as gestured to her pet goat, "And this is Djali." The goat tilted his head at the two, before wondering, "So, where's the boy's father?"
"Looking elsewhere in the festival," Wanda answered, "I should probably find him and let him know our kid's okay before he ends up lost."
"We'll see you around then," Esmeralda nodded, "Stay safe. Frollo and the soldiers aren't particularly welcoming to gypsies."
While Wanda never watched the Disney film, she knew enough from the book of what Frollo was capable of. If this world even closely resembled the book, it was safe to assume who the villain was, and would probably be a matter of time before Xehanort recruited him to his cause. Wanda nodded, "We will. Thanks again."
With that, they left the tent before Wanda quietly scolded Sora, "Sora! You can't just run off like that! You scared us half to death! What if Xehanort or another bad person found you before we could!"
"Sorry, Miss Wanda," Sora looked with an apologetic look.
"Sora, I need you to promise me, just like you did in Mousedom," She told the boy, "Not to run off on your own again. You stay with me, Spidey, or any adult friends we know we can trust."
"I promise," Sora nodded.
"Good," Wanda nodded back, "Now, let's find Peter and let him know you're okay."
Just as they walked through the festival, they heard people continue to sing, "Topsy Truvy!"
"Beat the drums and blow the trumpets~" Clopin sang.
"Topsy Truvy!"
Then they spotted Spidey using his agility to look above the crowd for Sora in a believable way, much to everyone's amazement, thinking it was part of the act. Wanda called out to him, "Spidey!"
Seeing both Wanda and Sora, he sighed in relief, "You found him. Thank God."
He then leaped in to join them as a higher power entered the area all while Clopin sang, "Join the bums and thieves and strumpets~ Streaming in from Chartres to Calais~ Scurvy knaves are extra scurvy~ on the sixth of January~ all because it's Topsy Turvy day~"
"Where did you find him?" Spidey wondered.
She leaned in to whisper, "I just met Esmeralda. She found him."
"Ah," Peter nodded as he whispered back, "Good. Better her than Frollo."
"Speaking of which," Wanda nodded, "According to her, Frollo's not a big particular fan of gypsies."
"Sounds right," Spidey nodded, "He hated them, sinners, as well as anyone willing to step up to him saying he's as bad as he thinks everyone else is in the film too."
"So, safe bet he's going to think we're all three," Wanda assumed, "Along that the fact, Xehanort could make him his pawn."
The web-slinger nodded in agreement, "Better keep Sora as far away from him as possible."
She nodded in agreement as suddenly Clopin called out to the people watching, "Come one, come all! Hurry, hurry here's your chance~See the mystery and romance~ Come one, come all! See the finest girl in France~ Make an entrance to entrance~ Dance la Esmeralda~ Dance!"
All of a sudden, Clopin disappeared in a puff of smoke, and the girl from earlier appeared in his place. She proceeds to perform a sultry dance. Wanda blinked in shock, what were the odds of seeing her again so soon... then again, she was one of the major characters in the original story. She then heard the elder man in the booth comment, "Look at that disgusting display."
The man in the gold armor beamed, "Yes, sir!"
She then glanced at Peter then the old man, "Is that him?"
"Yep," Spidey nodded, "That's Frollo, alright?"
She then raised an eyebrow at the golden knight, "Who's the guy in the gold suit?"
"If I remember correctly," Peter replied quietly, "That would be Phoebus. At this point, he should be captain of the guard."
"Will he be trouble," She wondered before turning back to watch Esmeralda's performance.
"Well, that depends if his actions mirror the version of him in the film," Peter replied quietly, "He could be an alley but I'll keep an eye on him just in case."
She nodded in agreement as Esmeralda pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around Frollo's head playfully, using it to pull him closer. She moves in to kiss him but jumps away at the last moment. Frollo yanks the handkerchief off his head in anger. She then finished her dance. Everyone cheered for her and began to toss coins to her while Sora, the two Avengers, and the man in blue cloak just a few feet apart from them clapped for her. The gypsy noticed the few familiar faces among the crowd and assumed Spidey was the husband of Wanda and the father of Sora and gave them a wave in response.
Clopin then reappeared as he declared, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the piece de resistance!" He sang, "Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for~ Here it is, you know exactly what's in store~ Now's the time we laugh until our sides get sore~ Now's the time we crown the King of Fools~" He then gestured to his right, "You all remember last year's king!?"
Last year's king, carried on the shoulders of the crowd, belched loudly. Sora called out, "Excuse you!"
Which earned serval laughs from the crowd and a few cooing the adopted child of the Avengers. Clopin then sang, "So make a face that's horrible and frightening~ Make a face as gruesome as a gargoyle's wing~ For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools~ Why?!"
"Topsy Turvy!" Everyone sang in response.
Clopin sang, "Ugly folks, forget your shyness!"
"Topsy Turvy!"
Clopin continued, "You could soon be called Your Highness~" That's when the crowd joined in as Clopin and Esmeralda pulled serval contestants onto the stage, "Put your foulest features on display~ Be the king of Topsy Turvy Day~"
The dancing gypsy pulled the man in the pull cloak into the crowd leaving his cloak behind. The dancing girl works her way down the line, ripping off masks and revealing the ugly faces underneath. The crowd booed them as one by one Djali knocked them off the stage into the mud. She then appeared the remaining man on stage causing the goat to back away frightened. She tried to pull his mask off, only to find in shock that it wasn't a mask at all. It didn't take long for everyone to realize this as well. The visitors from another world could hear people talking about him, "That's no mask!"
"It's his face!"
"He's hideous!"
"It's the bell ringer from Notre Dame!"
The two Avengers immediately knew that was Quasimodo, the main protagonist of the book and film. Frollo also recognized the deformed man for obvious reasons. Quasimodo realizing that people are disgusted by him, was devastated. Clopin, trying to keep things festive, jumps in, "Ladies and gentlemen, don't panic. We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and here he is! Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame!" Upon hearing Clopin, the crowd once again grew festive, as Clopin crowned Quasimodo as the King of Fools, "Everybody!"
"Once a year~ We throw a party here in town~" Everyone sang as they carried the deformed man.
Clopin declared as he passed the visitors from other worlds, "Hail to the King~"
"Once a year~" The crowd sang as Quasimodo started to cheer up a little, "We turn all Paris upside down~"
"Oh~ What a King~" Clopin sang as they removed the old king from his seat before being replaced by the deformed man.
"Once a year~" The crowd carried him to the center of the festival much to Frollo's anger, "The ugliest will wear the crown~"
"Girls, give a kiss!" Clopin told the women by Quasimodo's side as they did as instructed making the King of Fools blush.
"Once a year on Topsy Turvy Day~" The crowd sang.
"We've never had a king like this~" Clopin sang as he joined in the crowd to sing, "And it's the day we do the things that we deplore~ On the other three hundred and sixty-four~"
"Once a year we love to drop in~ Where the beer is never stoppin'~" They dropped Quasimodo on a different stage as Clopin handed him a scepter as the other placed a royal cape on him, "For the chance to pop some popinjay~ And pick a king who'll put the top~ In Topsy Turvy Day~"
"Topsy Turvy! Mad and crazy, upsy daisy, Topsy Turvy Day~!" They finished their song. Sora and the crowd cheered for the current King of Fools unaware from above three living gargoyles also cheered for their friend. Frollo glared at Quasimodo while the crowd chanted his name.
Wanda looked around worrying someone would start something. Peter turned to her, "You okay?"
"In my experience, when humans see someone born differently like mutants," She started as Sora continued to cheer for Quasimodo, "They don't end up this positive. Not to mention, I don't recall people being so accepting of him in the book."
"Well..." Peter rubbed the back of his mask, "If I'm right, things start turning for the worse from here..."
Before she could ask, she heard a guard behind her mutter to another guard, "You think he's ugly now? Watch this!"
Before either Avengers could react, the guard threw a tomato at Quasi, hitting him square in the face making the crowd quickly goes quiet. The guard laughed, "Now that's ugly!"
Wanda turned to glare at the guard as Sora whispered to her, "Why did he do that?"
Before she could explain to Sora, Another guard exclaimed mockingly as he threw another tomato, "Hail to the king!"
Moments later, Quasimodo was being pelted by other kinds of produce. Shouts and laughter could be heard from all sides. Sora was horrified to see such cruelty to one man just because he was born different. He turned to the two Avengers, "Why is everybody being so mean to that man? He didn't do anything wrong?"
"Your right, Sora," Wanda told the boy, "No one deserves this kind of cruelty. It's what we're trying to prevent back on our world to mutant kind."
Sora tilted his head at that as the deformed man was lassoed and tied down on a rotating platform. He tried breaking from but they were too many of them. He then spun around and was pelted by even more tomatoes as they scorned and laughed at him. Quasimodo turned to Frollo with a pleading look in his eyes, "Master! Master, please! Help me!"
However, it didn't seem like he was going to be helping him anytime soon. Spider-Man looked like he was about to leap into action, Wanda whispered to him although a little loudly, "Peter?! What are you doing?!"
"I'm going to save a certain hunchback," Spider-Man admitted, "Why?"
"I know that," Wanda nodded as she wanted to jump in and help too, "But if people see you use your powers and know it's more than a stunt they think you're a witch too!"
Spider-Man stood back up on his feet as he turned to her, "Wouldn't the technical term be warlock?"
She simply just glared in response, making him raise his hands in defense, "Okay, okay I get it. Not the point. I get the point. Unless Heartless and Xehanort, no powers. Still we've got to do something."
"Agreed," Wanda nodded as she turned to the poor tormented man, "We just got to do it... the old fashion way."
They then made their way through the crowd as Spidey told the people, "Excuse us, pardon us, coming through."
"Excuse me," Wanda added, "Woman with a poor confused little boy here."
Soon, as they went closer to Quasimodo, Peter was close enough to turned to Phoebus, "Yo, Captain, Commander, Sergeant? Whatever? I don't mean to tell you how to do your job but aren't you going to do something to help?"
The Captain of the Guard turned to Spidey, unsure how to react to that the masked gypsy called him other ranks or the fact he never heard of the term, 'yo,' but he had to admit, the guy in the mask had a point. Phoebus turned to Judge Frollo, "Sir, request permission to stop this cruelty."
"In just a moment, Captain," Frollo replied, "A lesson needs to be learned here."
"Dude, it's a weekend," Spider-Man quipped, "School's out!"
Sora pumped a fist, "Yeah!"
Frollo glared at Spider-Man before the crowd went silent and stepped aside, making their path clear. Wanda blinked in confusion, "Was that you?"
"No, stuff like this never happens with me," Peter admitted, "I thought it was you."
However, they realized they didn't clear a path for the two Avengers and their child. They cleared a path for the gypsy Esmeralda, who walked up to Quasimodo, filled with compassion. Peter whispered to the crowd, "We're with her."
They followed the native woman, as she walked up on the platform where The deformed man turned to her as she pulled out a handkerchief, gently telling him, "Don't be afraid." She then proceeded to wash his face, "I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen."
Frollo wasn't to found of what was happening as he glared at the four that came to Quasimodo's aid, "All of you, Gypsies! Get down at once!"
Esmeralda turned to him, "Yes, your honor. Just as soon as we free this poor creature."
"I forbid it," Frollo told them.
"Hey, can I borrow this," Spider-Man turned to a guard and swiped his sword from him faster than he could react, "Thanks."
He then handed it to Esmeralda, who nodded to the New Yorker in apperception, before cutting the ropes that held down the poor hunchback. Frollo glared at them, "How dare you defy me!"
"So, you're okay with people, most of which came from your own guards, persecuting one guy who did absolutely nothing wrong," Spidey raised an eyebrow under his mask, "But you're not okay with people helping their fellow man? I know it's supposed to be Topsy Turvey Day, but where did someone drop on your head when you were a baby."
Frollo glared at him as Esmeralda spook up where Spidey left off but in a more serious tone, "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."
She told Frollo. He demanded, "Silence!"
"Justice!" She called out.
Frollo glared, "Mark my words, gypsies. You will pay for this insolence."
"Sorry, we're a little short on cash," Spider-Man quipped, "Can I just leave an 'I-owe-you' note?"
Esmeralda turned to Wanda, making the latter whisper to the former, "Yeah, he jokes when he's nervous."
"I wasn't judging you or your husband," She reassured her before turning back to Frollo and speaking up as she took the hunchback's crown, "Then it appears we've crowned the wrong fool. The only fool I see is you!"
She then threw the crown at Frollo as Spidey quipped, "Man, I can feel the burn from here."
Frollo's eyes narrowed in anger before turning to the Captain of the Guard, "Captain Phoebus! Arrest her and her accomplice."
"Sir," Phoebus raised an eyebrow, "You do realize one of them is just a boy."
"Then take him from them," He ordered, "And arrest the others!"
The Captain of the Guard complied with those orders before pointing a finger at the group. The soldiers then slowly approached the group, with swords drawn. Esmeralda whispered to Wanda, "You and your family follow my lead." Wanda nodded as the gypsy woman then proceeded to count the soldiers, " Now, let's see. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten of you, and three of us." She then pretended to start tearing up, pulling out another handkerchief, "What's a poor girl to do?"
She then pulled her handkerchief causing a poof of smoke to appear covering their escape. Frollo's eyes widened in shock, "Witchcraft!"
"Oh, boys~ Over here~!" Esmeralda's voice called out to Frollo and the soldiers. They all turned to see the group at another location.
Spider-Man called out, "What are you all doing over there?! I thought you were trying to arrest us?! You need to have your eyes checked!"
Sora giggled as he waved to them. Frollo snarled, "Get them!"
The soldiers then pursued them as Spider-Man's spider-sense tingled, as he muttered, "Spider-Senses tingling?"
"Like we really need it when the bad guys are right in front of us," Wanda quietly replied.
"Yeah, but the odd thing is, the danger is actually coming from..." Spider-Man turned around before realizing the danger, "Oh... of course, you had to show."
The two women, the goat, and the future Keyblade Wielder all turned around to see Heartless appear behind them. Esmeralda gasped, "What on Earth...?!"
Wanda's eyes narrowed, "Heartless!"
The guards stopped from their attack, noticing the Heartless too, as one proceeded to scream like a little girl, "MONSTERS!"
With that the guards turned tail and made a run for it, Frollo ordered, "Come back and arrest them, you cowards!"
Pheobus drew out his sword in case any of them came near him, Frollo, or the civilians. A Heartless leaped at them, as Wanda blasted it away with her power earning some gasps from the crowd. Esmeralda and her goat looked equally as shocked, "Wanda? How did you...?"
"Um... I can explain..." Wanda froze for a moment before noticing the Heartless were closing in, "But maybe when we're not surrounded by monsters!"
Esmeralda stared at her a moment more before nodding, "Fair enough! What are these things?!"
"Monsters that are after people's hearts," Spidey explained, "But in particular they're after Sora..."
"They're after your kid?!" The gypsy gasped in horror before her eyes narrowed in anger, "Say no more! We'll help you protect him!"
With that, they began fighting off the monsters, Spider-Man quietly added to himself, "Well, since the secret is out..." He then fired a web at a Heartless before throwing it back making them crash into each other as he exclaimed, "YES! IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!"
While Peter was more than happy to use his web-shooters in combat once again, Frollo snarled, "More witchcraft! Captain Phoebus! Stop standing there and arrest them!"
The Captain of the Guard managed to cut down a Heartless as he turned to the dark judge, "Sir, right now, these demons are the bigger threat and we don't have the manpower to take on both simultaneously!" He then pointed out as Spider-Man saved a few of the civilians from the monsters, "And from the looks of it, they're actually trying to help us!"
Frollo didn't seem to care very much about that, "It's obviously a ruse!" He snarled, "Fine! I'll have every guard in Paris come here for your manpower!"
"If we survive this encounter you mean," Pheobus muttered as he dodged another Heartless strike.
Djali knocked away a group of Heartless before joining Esmeralda. The latter knocked down a cage holding an old man with a long beard before she and Djali hopped on and used it to roll over some of the Heartless until it finally came to stop and broke the lock. Realizing he could get out, the old man stepped out of it as he cheered, "I'm free! I'm free!" Unfortunately, He tripped and fell into the stockade, which closed and locked, trapping him once more as he groaned, "Dang it!"
Wanda ran getting Sora away and clear from the monsters as she blasted away the ones that came after her. Spider-Man fired web-balls at them knocking them away from both her and the child. Deciding the lead them a hand, Esmerelda picked up a fallen soldier's helmet and threw it like a frisbee at the monster taking three of them out before nearly chopping Phoebus' head off. He couldn't help but beam, "What a woman!"
Spider-Man swung by the women, boy, and goat, "Only a few of them left. It won't be long before the soldiers rework their courage."
"Then finish this fight and follow me," The gypsy woman told the group, "I know how to lose them."
They nodded as they followed Esmeralda threw the city streets as the Heartless chased after them. Spider-Man fired a web line before swinging back and taking out the Heartless with a kick as he beamed, "Web-swinging! I'll never take you for granted again!"
He then rejoined them as they charged right at Frollo as Esermelda told Wanda, "Take out the stand!"
Wanda nodded before firing a hex at the stand, making the dark judge take cover as the stand fell apart as they ran around him. He then stood up unharmed to glare at them before they climb onto a different stand before Esmeralda made herself, Djali, and their new friends disappear just as the soldiers returned. Frollo snarled with anger before ordering, "Find them, Captain! I want them alive!"
"Yes, sir. Seal off the area, men. Find the gypsies, and do not harm them!" Captain Phoebus told the other guards.
As they began their search, Frollo approached Quasimodo, who was still shocked at what had happened ever as it began to rain. Frollo glared at the deformed man making him turn back to the cathedral. He apologized to him, "I'm sorry, master. I will never disobey you again."
"So the poor hunchback retreated back in through the doors of Notre Dame~"
Sometime later, as the guards continued their search for the gypsies, three cloaked figures entered the church as well. Only a certain captain seemed to realize who those cloaked figures really were...
"And there followed the visitors who'd never been through the doors of Notre Dame~"
Inside Notre Dame, the three figures removed their cloaks, one was Esmerelda with Djali on her shoulders, another was Spider-Man with Sora on his shoulders, and the remaining one was the Scarlet Witch herself.
"And they stopped and beheld all the beauty~ Like a beggar receiving an alm~ And each window and pillar~ and arch seemed to fill them with light~ The light of Notre Dame~"
After a brief moment staring in awe, Peter quietly told the others, "We should be safe for the moment."
"From Frollo or the Heartless," Wanda turned to him.
"Both," Peter answered honestly as he set the boy down.
Wanda turned to Esmeralda, "Thanks again out there."
"We really have to stop meeting like this," Esmeralda smiled before turning to Spider-Man, "So, I take it you're the lucky guy." She then introduced herself, "I'm Esmeralda."
"I'm Spider-Man," He shook her head, "Friends call me Spidey."
"So, the costume isn't just a gimmick," She realized, "You really can do whatever a spider can."
"Yep," Peter nodded, "But for the record, we're not witches or warlocks."
"I believe you," She nodded, "Good luck trying to tell Frollo that..." She then couldn't help but wonder, "So, if your not witches or warlocks... what exactly are you... because last I checked ordinary people don't do the things you do."
"Well..." Wanda tried to explain, "...it's a bit of a long story."
Spider-Man's eyes widened, "Uh... which may have to wait."
Everyone turned to see that Pheobus, the Captain of the Guard, had also followed them in the church. Esmeralda turned to glare at Phoebus, "You!"
She forced him to the floor, before drawing out the Captain's own sword, and aimed the tip of the blade at his throat. He raised his hands in surrender, "Easy, easy... I just shaved this morning."
Esmerdla replied and she pointed the sword closer, "Oh, really? You missed a spot."
"All right, all right. Just calm down. Just give me a chance to apologize." He tried to tell her.
Esmeralda raised an eyebrow, "For what?"
That moment she let down her guard, Phoebus took the sword back from her hands and turned it on her, "That, for example."
"You sneaky son of a..." Esmeralda glared.
Before Phoebus waved a finger, "Ah, ah, ah! Watch it... you're in a church and theirs a child present."
Wanda had covered Sora's ears at the moment, as she told their new friend, "But seriously if you could watch your language, I would really appreciate it."
She slightly glanced at the mutant woman, "Sorry." She then turned back to Pheobus, as she then picked up a tall branched candlestick, and went into an offensive stance, "Are you always this charming, or am I just lucky?"
She then swung her newly acquired weapon in her hands which he blocked with his sword. As the two clashed, the two Avengers and the child watched from a distance. Wanda turned to Peter, "Um... should we help her?"
"Nah," Peter smiled under his mask as he crossed his arms, remembering how it went down in the film, "She's got this."
Between blocking Esmeralda's strikes, Pheobus couldn't help but comment, "Candlelight...privacy... music. Can't think of a better place for hand-to-hand combat! You fight almost as well as a man!"
"Funny. I was going to say the same thing about you." She glared as her 'weapon' clashed against his.
Pheobus seemed a little hurt by that statement, "That's hitting a little below the belt, don't you think?"
"No. This is!" Esmeralda declared.
She swung one end of the staff at Phoebus' crotch but he managed to block it in time, only to be hit by the other end of the candelabra, briefly stunning him as he blinked, "Touché!"
Suddenly, Djali head-butts him in the chest. He winced in pain, "I didn't know you had a kid."
The two glared at him remaining on guard before Esmeralda replied, "Well, he doesn't take kindly to soldiers."
"Eh, I noticed," The captain chucked briefly before introducing himself, "Permit me. I'm Phoebus. It means 'sun god.'" Everyone just gave him odd looks, before he asked, "And you are?"
"Is this an interrogation?" Esmeralda asked as she put the candelabra down.
Pheobus answered, "It's called an introduction."
Both Esmeralda and Wanda blinked in shock as the latter asked, "Wait, you're not here to arrest us?"
"Not as long as you're in here. I can't," Pheobus admitted, "Besides, the citizens are all okay because all of you stopped those monsters from harming anyone. Hopefully, everyone else will realize that too."
The gypsy woman stared at him a minute longer before stating, "You're not at all like the other soldiers."
"Thank you." He smiled. Esmeralda asked, "So, if you're not going to arrest us, what do you want?"
He answered, "I'd settle for your names."
She then introduced herself, "Esmeralda."
Wanda followed suit, "Wanda..." She then gestured to the boy, "This is Sora."
Spider-Man nodded, "Spider-Man." Pheobus raised an eyebrow at that, as Spidey added, "Don't forget the hyphen in between Spider and Man."
He turned to Wanda as she admitted, "It's a long story..."
"Well, I gotta say Esmeralda is much better than Phoebus, anyway," Pheobus commented towards the gypsy girl, "It's very beautiful."
As they gazed into each other's eyes, Sora looked back and forth between the two, before turning to Wanda, "Um... what is happening right now?"
"I'm..." Wanda blinked in shock, "I'm not entirely sure myself."
Spider-Man slightly smirking under his mask, "I do."
While it had been quite some time since he saw Hunchback of Notre Dame, he did remember that Phoebus and Esmeralda ended up together.
As the two approached closer to each other, the door to the church swung open as Frollo and the soldiers entered Notre Dame. Frollo called out to the Captain of the Guard, "Good work, Captain! Now, arrest them!"
Phoebus turned to Frollo before back to Esmeralda, the Avengers, and the child as he told them quietly, "Claim Sanctuary."
Esmeralda simply glared at him while Wanda held Sora in a defensive position and Spider-Man prepared for a fight in cause Frollo tried to come after anyway because they could do 'witchcraft.' Phoebus whispered to them again, "Say it."
"You tricked us." Esmeralda accused him.
Frollo was beginning to get lose patience, "I'm waiting, Captain."
Not wanting to risk a fight over Sora in a church, Wanda declared, "We claim Sanctuary."
"I'm sorry, sir. They claimed sanctuary. There's nothing I can do." Much to his relief, Phoebus turned to Frollo with an apologetic look.
Frollo's eyes narrowed, "Then drag them outside at..."
All of a sudden, the archdeacon of the church approached Frollo with a glare, "Frollo! You will not touch them!" He then rubbed the head of the boy making him giggle as he reassured the group, "Don't worry. Minister Frollo learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the church."
The judge snarled with anger as Wanda notice darkness oozing off of him. However, he appear to do as he was told and turned to leave with Phoebus and the soldiers. However as the archdeacon escorted them out, Frollo quickly hide behind a pillar until he believed he was alone with the 'Gypsies.' He was about to grab Esmeralda from behind, when Spider-Man stood in his way, "Weren't you leaving?"
Frollo's eyes widened in shock, "How did you...?!"
"My Spider-Senses were tingling," Spider-Man answered before mentally adding, "That and I remember this part of the film quite well. And I really don't want to explain to Sora your creepy obsession of Esmeralda... and hope you don't have the same lust over Wanda. But you don't need to know that."
Frollo growled in anger, before keeping his temper at bay for now, "You think you and your friends have outwitted me, but I am a patient man, and gypsies don't do well inside stone walls."
"Hmm..." Spider-Man crossed his arms as he smirked under his mask, "If the guy threatening me wasn't wearing a dress."
"Wha...?!" Frollo was taking back by Spider-Man's insult, while the woman held back their laughter, "I'm not wearing a..."
Funny enough Sora turned to Wanda, "Miss Wanda? Why is that old meanie wearing a dress?"
With the comment coming from Sora both women burst out laughing. Frollo growled in anger, "So, help me I see a rope around your necks yet!"
"Right," Spider-Man's eyes narrowed his mask as he whispered, "You and I both know you're having other thoughts of what your doing to those young women..."
Frollo blinked in shock, as if surprised if Spider-Man knew what he was thinking, before shaking his head, "Such a clever warlock. So typical of your kind, to twist the truth to cloud the mind with unholy thoughts."
Spider-Man shook his head, "Certainly no witch or warlock can twist whatever thoughts on you head... you did that yourself."
Frollo growled again, "How dare you...!" He then shook his head, "Well, no matter. You've chosen a magnificent prison, but it is a prison nonetheless. Set one foot outside, and you're all mine!"
With that, Frollo left the church slamming the doors shut. That's when Sora asked, "But seriously, why was he wearing a dress?"
Wanda snickered again as Esmeralda rushed to another door and opened it only to hear the guards say, "Frollo's orders! Post a guard at every door."
She slammed the door back shut, Wanda turned to her concern, before turning to Sora, "Hey, Sora. Why don't you pray for God's help in finding your friends and for a safe journey home."
Sora nodded, "Oh, okay!"
She set him down as Sora ran towards the pews as Wanda approached her with Spider-Man and Djali by her side. The mutant woman asked her, "You okay?"
"I'll be fine," She answered turning to them, "If Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he's wrong."
"Don't act rashly, child. You and your friends created quite a stir at the festival. It would be unwise to arouse Frollo's anger further." The Archdeacon warned them as he lit the candles in the church, "Even after you stopped those creatures of the dark."
"You saw what he did out there, letting the crowd torture that poor boy. I thought if just one person could stand up to him, then..." Esmeralda started before sighing, "What do they have against people who are different, anyway?"
"Mankind has always feared what it doesn't understand," Wanda admitted, "Many mutants have been persecuted just as that young man."
Esmeralda turned to Wanda in confusion, "Mutants?"
"People born with an extra gene, an X-Gene if you will," Peter started to explain, getting the gypsy's attention, "While usually not active until their teenage years, those how have it gain powers and sometimes psychical changes to their body. Some say it's the next step in human evolution, others an act of God, but one things for sure, they live among us."
Esmeralda blinked before turning back to Wanda, "And you're all mutants."
"I am," Wanda admitted, "Spidey is a special case... as he's technically human. Not mutants."
The native woman nodded in understanding, before turning Spider-Man, "Then how'd you get your abilities."
"I got bit by a spider," Peter admitted.
Esmeralda smiled in amusement, "Figures..." She then turned to the little boy who was currently kneeling by the alter while he said a prayer, "What about your son? You said those demons were after him. Is he special like the two of you?"
"In many ways, yes..." Wanda admitted before telling her, "Although, he's not technically our son."
Esmeralda blink in confusion as the two Avengers gave her a quick rundown of what happened as of late without letting her know of the other worlds. They did say the land Sora was born from was destroyed by the Heartless lead by a man called Xehanort. They also mentioned they learned that Sora's power would destroy the monsters and very likely one day defeat Xehanort himself, and the Seeker of Darkness was insuring that he'd make sure Sora would never grow into the man that would defeat him, killing his family and people just to get to him. Esmeralda gasped in horror, "Oh, God..."
"Yeah," Wanda nodded in agreement.
"Just..." Esmeralda turned to the boy with sympathy, "What kind of evil monster would even do such a thing?"
"That's why we're trying to get him back to our home," Spider-Man explained, "We have friends back there who can help us protect him and train him to use use his powers to help people. Humans and mutants."
"Which I doubt Frollo will let us if he has anything to say about it," Wanda crossed her arms in anger.
Esmeralda thought for a moment, "I might be able to help, if we can get you to our safe haven in the city, the Court of Miracles... we might be able to sneak out of the city before Frollo realized what's happened."
"You can't right all the wrongs in this world by yourself," The archdeacon told them, "Powers or not."
Esmerelda sighed, "No one else out there's going to help, that's for sure."
"Perhaps there's someone in here who can." He gracefully motioned towards the inside of the church before leaving, "The boy certainly knew who to turn to."
Esmeralda walked deeper into Notre Dame, staring at a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus before singing, "I don't know if You can hear me~ or if You re even there~"
I don't know if You would listen~ To a gypsy's prayer~" The Gypsy continued, "Yes, I know I'm just an outcast~ I shouldn't speak to You~ Still I see Your face and wonder~ Were You once an outcast too~?"
Wanda walked up to Esmeralda, joining with her in prayer, "God help the outcasts~ Hungry from birth~ Show them the mercy~ They don't find on Earth~"
"God help our people~" Esmeralda sang, "We look to you still~"
Both women sang together, "God help the outcasts~ Or nobody will~"
"I don't know if there's a reason~ why some are blessed, some not~" Esmeralda sang, "Why the few you seem to favor~"
Wanda also prayed, "They fear us~ hate us~ try not to see us~"
Unaware to them, a certain Hunchback was overhearing them as they sang, "God help the outcasts~ The tattered, the torn~ Seeking an answer to why we were born~ Winds of misfortune have blown them about~ You made the outcasts~ don't cast them out~"
"The humans and mutants~" Wanda prayered as Esmeralda joined in, "The weak and the odd~" The young women sang, "We thought we all were~ the Children of God~"
Meanwhile, a parishioner has spotted Quasimodo listening in, "You! Bell ringer! What are you doing down here!?"
Startled, he jumped and knocked over a candlestaff. The man continued to shout, "Haven't you caused enough trouble already?!"
He then quickly dashed back for the bell tower, as the gypsy, Avengers noticed the hunchback. Esmeralda went after him as she told the others, "C'mon! We need to see if he's okay!"
They nodded and followed her but Wanda stopped to see Sora finish up his pray, "...please help my friends have new families on the superhero world too! Amen!"
With his prayer finished Wanda picked the boy up and followed the others to the bell tower. Esmeralda called out to him, "Wait! We want to talk to you!"
Eventually, they caught up to him as if he just had stopped to have conversation with someone else. Esmeralda sighed in relief, "Here you are. I was afraid we'd lost you."
"Yes. Um, well, I uh, I have chores to do. It was, uh, nice...seeing...you...again. Ohh..." Quasimodo told them nervously before climbing up a ladder.
"No, wait," The gypsy woman called out to him as they followed him except for Djali, who took a look at the gargoyles before one briefly came to life making kissing faces at the goat, "I'm really sorry about this afternoon. I had no idea who you were. I would never in my life had... pulled... you... up on the... stage."
As they reached Quasi's room, they couldn't help but admire the model of the city of Paris. Sora was the first the approach it, "Wow!"
Esmeralda in awe couldn't help but wonder, "What is this place?"
Quasimodo answered, "This is where I live."
"Did you make all these things yourself?" Esmerelda asked.
He nodded, "Most of them."
She fingers the mobile, "This is beautiful. If I could do this, you wouldn't find me dancing in the streets for coins."
"But you're a wonderful dancer." Quasimodo complemented.
She replied as Sora started playing with some of the toy replicas of the model, "Well, it keeps bread on the table, anyway." She then noticed something covered on the model, "What's this?"
"Oh, no, please oh, I'm not finished... I still have to paint them..." Quasimodo said as she removed the cover.
Esmerelda immediately recognized them, "The blacksmith, and the baker. You're a surprising person, Quasimodo."
"Not to mention lucky," Peter gestured to the bell tower, "This certainly beats my lame apartment back home."
Quasimodo replied, "Well, it's not just me... there's the gargoyles, and of course the bells. Would you like to see them?"
"Yes, of course. Wouldn't we, Djali?" Djali, who has been munching on an unpainted figure, slurps it into his mouth.
"Follow me. I'll introduce you." Quasimodo gestured deeper into the bell tower.
Up in the bell tower, Esmeralda went ahead, "Never knew there were so many."
Quasimodo sung around on the ropes as he introduced the bells, "That's Little Sophia, and...Jean Marie, Ann Marie, and Louise Marie. Triplets, you know."
"And who's this?" Esmerelda asked as she gestured to bell next to her.
He landed next to her, "Big Marie."
"Hello-o-o!" She said inside the bell as she heard the echo.
"She likes you." Quasimodo smiled before asking, "Would you like to see more?"
"How 'bout it, Djali?" She asked the goat. Djali, under Big Marie, belches loudly, which in turn echoes and resonates richly earning a giggle from Sora from below. Esmerelda answered with a smile, "We'd love to."
"Good. I've saved the best for last!" He replied excitedly.
Peter and Wanda climbed up just behind Quasimodo and Esmeralda. The Scarlet Witch couldn't help but noticed, "He seems a bit excited."
"Can you blame him?" Peter couldn't help but comment, "She's probably the first single woman that he's able to connect to that doesn't mind how he looks."
"True," Wanda admitted, "Seriously, good for him."
The gargoyles behind them came to life, "Indisputably."
"He's tough." Added the shorter one.
The female gargoyle stated, "We may be hard as stone, but Quasi's stronger."
Wanda not realizing who spoke up, turned to them, "Oh, guess we're not the only ones..." Finally taking a glance at who was speaking she back up in shock, "WOAH?! Talking gargoyles?!"
The female gargoyle crossed her arms as a bunch of birds flew onto her back, "Excuses us for havin' personality!"
Wanda still shocked at the fact that the gargoyles were actually alive. Spider-Man webbed down to her, as he whispered to her, "Yeah, I may have forgot to mention in some of these movies, there's living inanimate objects which in this case are the gargoyles."
"Now he tells me..." Wanda thought to herself, "Then again, we did see talking animals for the past few worlds... and Tigger..."
She took a deep breath, as she turned back to the gargoyles, "I'm sorry... it's just... I've never seen... talk to... well..."
The tall male gargoyle reassured her, "Water under the bridge. In fairness, other than Quasimodo, we haven't really talked to anyone really."
The shorter then smirked to the female, who was covered in birds, "And of course, all the birds that come to visit."
The female frowned before scaring them off, "HAVE NONE OF YOU HEARD OF PERSONAL SPACE?!" She quickly calmed down before turning back to the two Avengers, "Now then, we saw what you did out there, and overheard your own crisis with the boy and those monsters that are after him. We figured we'd lend you hand in all of this."
"We'll take it," Spider-Man happily accepted before asking, "Say, by any chance do you know a gargoyle named Bruce."
Wanda gave him an odd look, before Peter quickly explained, "Yeah, there's a gargoyle I named Bruce back home, never talks back, but he never calls me a threat or menace."
Wanda began to sympathize for him, the Bugle must have painted such a bad reputation of him, and with his own secret identity, he doesn't have anyone to talk to about his personal life. She offer a gentle hand, "You know, you could always talk to me about... you know life in general..." She blushed slightly, "Or any of the Avengers in general... but I'm willing to listen."
"...Thanks, Wanda," Peter replied after a moment.
Even though he was wearing his mask, she could tell she was smiling. The female gargoyle answered to Peter's previous question, "Never heard of a Bruce but I'm Laverne." She then gestured to the other living gargoyles, "These two knuckleheads are Hugo, and Victor."
The two gargoyles nodded as Laverne mentioned their names. Sora climbed up the ladder after them, overhearing their conversation, and never missed an opportunity to make new friends, "And I'm Sora."
Wanda rushed over to help Sora up as Hugo smiled, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, young man. It's not often we get visitors."
"Yeah," Victor smirked, "Especially, one's who don't freak out when your talk when you're made of stone."
"Where's Quasi and Esmeralda?" Sora looked around the bell tower.
"C'mon!" Hugo gestured over, "We'll show you."
"If we're in lucky," Laverne told the boy, "We might even see Quasi finally have the special someone he so badly needed."
As Wanda set him down, Sora walked off with the gargoyles to see what they were talking about. Spidey offered, "Hey, how about we see the same thing from a spider's point of view?"
Wanda smiled in response as Spider-Man carried her bridal style before leaping up high but from a distance from Esmeralda and Quasimodo. The two natives of this world proceed outside to a beautiful view of Paris. Esmerelda stared in amazement, "I bet the king himself doesn't have a view like this! I could stay up here forever."
Quasi offered, "You could, you know."
"No, I couldn't." She frowned.
The hunchback pointed out, "Oh, yes, you have sanctuary!"
"But not freedom," She admitted, she hated to agree with Frollo, but he was right on one thing, "Gypsies don't do well inside stone walls."
"But you're not like other gypsies," He told her, "They're...evil."
Esmeralda tilted her head that, "Who told you that?"
Quasimodo answered, "My master, Frollo. He raised me."
She blinked in shocked, "How could such a cruel man have raised someone like you?"
"Cruel?! Oh, no," Quasimodo shook his head in denial, "He saved my life. He took me in when no one else would. I am a monster, you know."
Esmeralda presumed, "He told you that?"
"Look at me." He gestured to himself.
Esmerelda realized Frollo never once show him true kindness so she decided to do something about that, "Give me your hand."
She took his hand and looked at his palm, making Quasimodo looked confused, "What for?"
"Just let me see." She told him as she began tracing his palm lines with her finger, "Hmm, a long life line... oh, and this one means you're shy. Hmm. Hmm, hmm, hmm... well, that's funny..."
The hunchback blinked in confusion, "What?!"
Esmerelda replied, "I don't see any."
He asked again, "Any what?"
"Monster lines," The gypsy answered, "Not a single one."
He smiled at that before she proceeded to ask him, "Now you look at me. Do you think I'm evil?"
He quickly shook his head, "No, no, no! You are kind, and good, and..."
"...and a gypsy. And maybe Frollo's wrong about the both of us." She told him.
Meanwhile, with Sora and the gargoyles, they we're trying to overhear what they were say. Sora suddenly let out a slight gasp, "I knew it!"
"What?" Hugo asked the boy, "What did she say?"
"Frollo's noise is long and he wears a dress!" Sora answered, completely miss hearing what she actually said.
Laverne also miss hearing, confirmed with a nod, "The boy's right. I heard everything."
Hugo beamed as he turned to Victor, "Hah! Told ya! Pay up!"
Victor reluctantly handed him a gold coin before they turned back to overhear the conversion.
Peter and Wanda couldn't help but smile at the moment, even if they knew they weren't likely to end up together, at least it gave the hunchback some hope. In response, Quasimodo made a decision, "You helped me. Now I will help you."
"But there's no way out. There's soldiers at every door." Esmerelda pointed out.
"Then we won't use a door," Quasimodo reassured her.
It didn't take long for Esmeralda to realize what the hunchback was suggesting, "You mean...climb down?"
"Sure. You carry him..." Quasimodo nodded as he gestured to Djali before back to her, "I carry you."
After a moment, she nodded, "Okay. Come on Djali."
The goat hopped in her arms before Quasimodo took them and climbed down. As they watched him climb down, Peter turned to Wanda, "Should we escape too? We do need to find the crack in reality."
"Yes, but it's late and Sora needs food and sleep, he can sneak out tomorrow morning," Wanda answered, "Besides I think Quasimodo could use some friends who aren't made out of stone."
Peter nodded in agreement, as he began to climb them back down. At the same time, Sora turned to the three gargoyles, "So, how come you and Quasimato-moro-Um..."
"Don't give yourself a stroke, kid," Hugo told the kid, "Just call him Quasi."
"Okay," Sora nodded before going back to ask, "So, how come you and Quasi are so close?"
"We've been friends for years." Laverne answered.
Victor added, "More than a decade of camaraderie."
"Breakfast, lunch, and dinner!" Hugo raised a hand.
Sora tilted his head, "He never leaves?"
"Oh, he's not allowed to leave. Judge Frollo forbids it." Laverne explained.
Sora wondered, "Why?"
"Care to pull up a stool?" Victor asked the boy.
Hugo simply explained, "The short version is, Frollo thinks he's doing Quasi a favor by keeping folks from seeing that mug of his."
"After a lifetime of watching from the nosebleed seats, Quasi just wanted to go to the Feast of Fools," Larvene explained before smiling, "And we're so proud of him for finally working up the courage to do it."
"'Tis a shame everyone there dashed his hopes," Victor sighed, "The monsters certainly didn't help things either."
Hugo turned to him in response, "You should talk. When did you last look in a mirror?"
"Well you broke it!" He accused causing the two to glare at eachother.
Hugo raised his fists, "Oh, a wise guy, eh?"
"Knock it off! Ya couple of blockheads!" Laverne told them getting in between them. She then frowned, "I just hope this one failure doesn't cause Quasi to give up. He was so close."
Sora crossed his arms as he whispered to himself, "He can't let his heart be a prison."
Just then, Spider-Man and Scarlet Witch joined up with Sora and the three gargoyles. Wanda knelt down to Sora, "Hey, it's getting late, let's get you some supper and then bedtime."
She picked the child before Victor told her, "You most welcome to join us. We'll see what he can do about getting some food for you."
"Thank you," Wanda smiled softly.
The three gargoyles led the young couple and child around the corner when they suddenly stopped as Victor muttered, "Uh-oh!"
Quickly turning themselves back to lifeless stone, the Avengers saw Phoebus approach them, "Hello again. Spidey, Wanda, Sora."
"Phoebus? What are you doing up here?" Wanda asked before wondering, "Is Frollo with you?"
"No, he's back in the Palace of Justice," He reassured them, "I'm sorry about earlier. I had no intention of happened but it was the only thing I could think of..."
"...to protect us without losing your job," Spider-Man nodded understandingly, "I get it, you were in bad position and you helped us the only way you could."
"Thanks for understanding," The Captain of the Guard sighed in relief before hoping, "I just hope Esmeralda understands that." He then asked, "Listen, about those monsters... do you know what they are?"
Both Avengers turned to each other, mentally wondering if they should tell him about the Heartless and Xehanort, before nodding in agreement considering how big of a threat they were. Wanda answered, "The called Heartless... from what we've learned they're after the darkness in people's hearts... and they're being controlled by a man named Xehanort."
Phoebus's eyes narrowed, "Xehanort?"
"He's been after Sora for quite some time, he's murdered Sora's family and village just to get him," Spidey whispered to Phoebus, not to upset the boy any further then he was.
"This kid here?" Phoebus turned to the Spiky hair boy, "But... but he's just a boy."
"It's true though," Spider-Man added, "Xehanort's a monster. We're trying to get him back home but he's been on our tale since the whole thing started."
"If what you say is true, and there is a killer in Paris," The Captain of the Guard replied, "Then I have him brought in for questioning. What does he look like?"
Wanda answered, "He looked like he was in his late teens or early twenties. Silver hair, yellow eyes, and he wears a black coat."
"Alright, I'll keep my eyes out for him," Phoebus nodded, "In the meantime, I was hoping I could apologize to Esmeralda too. Where is she?"
Not wanting to get her in trouble, Spidey answered, "She's with Quasimodo. If you want to speak to her, you might want to take it up with him."
"Fair enough," He nodded, "Where can I find him?"
Just then they heard Quasimodo climbing back up. Phoebus turned to him as he reached them, "Hi there. I'm looking for the gypsy girl. Have you seen her?"
Quasimodo immediately got very angry at the sight of a guard. He took a swing at him. Phoebus walked backwards avoiding his punches, "Whoa, whoa! Easy!"
"No soldiers! Sanctuary! Get out!" Quasi told him.
The captain tried to explain, "Wait! All I wanted was to…"
"Go!" He told him as he continued his attack.
He tried to reassure him, "I mean her no harm!"
"Go!" Quasi grabbed a torch and begins swinging it at Phoebus. Phoebus backed off, but Quasi continued to swing. Backed down the stairs, Phoebus finally drew his sword and blocked the torch against the wall. Quasimodo has grabbed Phoebus by the chest. He asked him, "You tell her from me, I didn't mean to trap her here, but it was the only way to save her life along with her friends. Will you tell her that? Will you?"
After a moment of thought, he answered, "If you go. Now!"
"I'll go," He reassured him before clearing his throat, "Now, will you put me down, please?"
Quasi had been holding Phoebus several feet off the ground. The hunchback finally set the Captain down. Phoebus turned to leave, but not before turning back to add, 'Oh, And one more thing. Tell Esmeralda she's very lucky."
"Why?" He asked.
Phoebus answered as he left, "To have a friend like you."
Quasi was puzzled by this but returned to his room and the others. With Phoebus gone, the gargoyles sprung to life, and cheered for their friend. Hugo cheered, "Hey, hey! There he is!"
Victor added, "You ejected that tin-plated baboon with great panache!"
"The nerve of him! Snooping around here trying to steal your girl." Hugo added.
That comment made the hunchback stop turning to the Gargoyles with a small blush, "My girl?"
"Esmeralda... Dark hair... works with a goat... Remember?" Laverne asked.
Hugo smirked, "Boy, I do! Way to go, loverboy!"
"Loverboy!? Oh, no, no..." He blushed harder.
Laverne told him, "Oh, don't be so modest."
"Look. I appreciate what you're all trying to do, but let's not fool ourselves," Quasimodo told the Gargoyles before reminding them, "Ugliest face in all Paris, remember? I don't think I'm her type."
He turned away, as Wanda spotted a Moogle, before back at Peter, "Peter? Why don't you get Sora a little something for dinner? I'm going to have a word with Quasimodo."
Also noticing the Moogle, Spidey replied, "Yeah, maybe since where in a city where they're likely have their own garbage system, maybe I can get us something a little special."
She nodded setting the child down, as the web-head went to get something from the Moogle. Wanda approached the Hunchback, "Quasimodo?"
The bell ringer turned back to the Scarlet Witch, "Oh, Wanda, was it?"
"Yes," She nodded as she sat down beside him, "Do you really think of yourself unworthy of love?"
Quasimodo gestured to himself, "Have you seen at me?"
She sighed, shaking her head, "You know, you remind me of an old friend. And a bit of myself actually
The hunchback blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
She looked out to the city of Paris, as she admitted, "I had my own Judge Frollo..."
"Really?" Quasimodo blinked in shock, "Who?"
"My father..." She answered shocking the bell ringer, "I was not raised by him growing up but when he did find me, he brought me to Genosha. My own sanctuary. As well as countless other mutants. It was supposed to be a save haven from the humans who persecuted us. He told me that humans were cruel and hated us. Then I met Kurt, who had been persecuted his whole because how he looked..."
"Wait, was he deformed too," The hunchback asked slightly shock.
"Not in same way as you," The Scarlet Witch answered, "He's blue, covered in fur, only three fingers and toes, and he has a tail."
"Wait," Quasimodo blinked in shocked, "He looks like a..."
"Yes, and many people treated him that way," Wanda confirmed, "But despite how he looks, he is a very holy man. Very strong in the Catholic faith. In fact, he's currently on his way of becoming a priest."
"That's wonderful," The hunchback smiled.
"Maybe in a another lifetime we could have been..." She thought fondly with her time with the X-Man.
Realizing what she was insulating, Quasimodo's eyes widened in shock, "Wait... you mean... he were your..."
"Yes, but God called him for a different path," She answered, "And ultimately He knows best. But if Kurt and I had a chance, don't you think you have a chance at love. It may take a few tries to find the right one though..."
Quasimodo was no longer listening, instead he sang softly to himself, "So many times out there~ I've watched a happy pair~ Of lovers walking in the night~" Hugo signed as he leaned on Larvene who punched him in returned. Quasimodo sang as he looked at the couples below him, "They had a kind of glow around them~ It almost looked like heaven's light~"
"I knew I'd never know~ That warm and loving glow~ Though I might wish with all my might~" The hunchback continued as Wanda smiled before turning back to her child as he watched Peter order them some pizza, "No face as hideous as my face~ Was ever meant for heaven's light~"
The Larvene handed him some wood to work on, "But suddenly an angel has smiled at me~ And kissed my cheek without a trace of fright~"
While Peter was paying for the food, Sora and the gargoyles working on their own art work of Esmeralda for the bell ringer, "I dare to dream that she might even care for me~"
As they showed off their drawings of her, Quasimodo finished his model of her. However, Sora didn't just draw Esmeralda, he also drew pictures of Riku, Kairi, Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, and all the new friends they've met on their journey. Wanda smiled giving him a head rub but when Hugo presented his drawing, it was a drawing of a goat, getting odd looks from everyone else.
"And as I ring these bells tonight~" Quasimodo smiled as he made his way towards the bells, as Peter presented the pizza for everyone, "My cold dark tower seems so bright~ I swear~ It must be Heaven's light~"
With that, Quasimodo rang the evening bells of Notre Dame, for the one time in his life, he was truly happy...
Meanwhile, at the Palace of Justice, Frollo watch from the outdoors of his room as the Archdeacon and others following him while sing in Latin, "Confiteor deo omnipotenti~ Beatae Mariae semper virgini~ Beato Michaeli archangel~ Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis~"
Despite the Spider's interference, he couldn't shake his mind of the two gypsy women who defied him. So, he look up to the Heavens above and sang, "Beata Maria~ You know I am a righteous man~ Of my virtue I am justly proud~"
"Et tibit Pater~"
"Beata Maria~ You know I'm so much purer than~ The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd~" The Judge continued as he turned to the fireplace.
"Quia peccavi nimis~"
"Then tell me, Maria~ Why I see them dancing there~?" He asked seeing images of Esmeralda and Wanda in the fire, "Why their smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul~"
"Cogitatione~"
"I feel them, I see them, the sun caught in their waving hair~ Is blazing in me out of all control~" He sang as failing to see the darkness sprouted from him.
"Like fire~ Hellfire~ This fire in my skin~ " He sang as he pulled out Esmeredla's handkerchief, "This burning desire~ Is turning me to sin~"
Just then, he was surrounded by hooded men. He sang, "It's not my fault!"
"Mea culpa~"
"I'm not to blame!" He refused to believe.
"Mea culpa~"
"It is the gypsy girls, the witches, who sent this flame!" He tried to shift the blame.
"Mea maxima culpa~"
"It's not my fault!" He denied once more.
"Mea culpa~"
He then wondered, "If in God's plan~"
"Mea culpa~"
"...He made the Devil so much stronger than a man~" He sang as darkness surrounded him.
"Mea maxima culpa~"
"Protect me, Maria~ Don't let these sirens cast their spell~ Don't let their fire sear my flesh and bone~" He sang as he held up the handkerchief, "Destroy gypsy women, and let them taste the fires of hell… Or else let them be mine and mine alone~"
He then tried to hug smoke figures that looked like Wanda and Esmerelda before they vanished. Just then a corridor of darkness opened up as Xehanort stepped out of the dark portal, "Judge Claud Frollo, I presume."
Frollo turned to the dark Keyblade Wielder in shock, "Who are you? How did you get in her?"
"Relax," Xehanort raised a hand to calm Frollo, "I came into your city legally." He then pulled out the proper forms, "See?"
Frollo did a quick scan through them, they appeared to check out, "That still doesn't explain why you're in my chambers?"
"Apologies, but it couldn't wait," Xehanort acted apologetically but his smirk remained, "You see, I been tracking down two vigilantes who have come to your city illegally. Spider-Man and his Scarlet Witch, with a child that is not their own. I was told that you knew where they were."
Frollo thought that was all the proof, he need that this Wanda was a witch, but he frowned, "It's true. However, I cannot touch them, not under the protection of Sanctuary but when they do..."
"When they do, do with the criminals as you may," Xehanort answered, "I ask only for the child so I can... bring to where he belongs." He then eyes widened, "Oh, and that reminds me, the gypsy that helped them, Esmeralda, managed to escape."
Frollo's eyes widened in shock, "What?"
"She's no longer in the cathedral," He told Judge Frollo, "She is gone."
"But how?! I...?!" The older man tried to make sense of it all, he had placed guards around all the exits. There was no way she could have escaped.
"Allow me to aid you in her capture," Xehanort bowed in false respect, "And gift you with the power of... righteous judgment."
With a wave of his hand, a crack in reality appear from Xehanort and into Frollo as now, he was in control of the Heartless. The judge stared at his new dark power before clutching his fists as he vowed, "I will find her... I will find her if I have to burn down all of Paris!"
"Hellfire~ Dark fire~ Now gypsies, it's your turn~" Forllo sang, "Choose me or your pyre~ Be mine or you will burn~"
Xehanort smirked as Frollo threw the handkerchief into the fire.
"Kyrie Eleison~"
"God, have mercy on them~" Frollo sang backing up to a wall.
"Kyrie Eleison~"
"God, have mercy on me~" He prayed as he leaned up against the wall.
"Kyrie Eleison~"
"But they will be mine~ Or THEY~ WILL~ BURN~" Frollo finished as a choir sang in the background before the flames died out as Frollo slammed his fists on the floor...
And that will conclude today's chapter! Now, I'd like to state for the record that I do not approve of harems or dating more than one girl at the same time. It's very much against my religion. I just thought it would be even creepier if Frollo was after another woman as well as Esmeralda. Shows how much of a creep he really is and why he needs to be stopped. It does make a good story plot for our heroes to overcome. Don't expect me to do this for any heroes that I write please as it would be out of character for them. I did with Frollo as it is still in his character to be consumed by lust and hatred and still think himself righteous.
Thankfully Spidey stopped him from sniffing Esmeralda's hair. Good luck trying to explain that to a child.
Oh, and here's a fun fact, I even included a nod to it in this chapter. Did you know the crown of thrones Jesus wore during his crucifixion was kept at Notre Dame? I didn't. I only learned about it after the fire. It even survived after all of that, and I thought as unfortunate as what happened at the cathedral, I thought it was really cool. Plus only three were injured, I'd say that was nothing short of a miracle there.
You learn something new every day!
Sorry, getting back on topic here, this will conclude the first half of the Hunchback world. I start the second half of this asap and hopefully, it won't be as long as a wait. Although, before I get to the preview, I want to bring a little topic. Now then, as you know, I've do some polls that sometimes affect what I do with my fanfics. As of recently, to keep you guys occupied while I work on future updates for any of my stories, I included some fun little discussion polls. The current one on my profile page is if you were to write your own version of a story about a hero saving a young Sora from the wrath of a villain's plot before he gets a chance to use the Keyblade, which hero or heroes would you use? Now, it would affect any stories or upcoming stories at the point, I'm just curious and thought be a fun topic to discuss. You can even add your reasoning during your review of this chapter. Heck, maybe your option isn't up there and you could say who and why. If it all goes well, maybe we can continue further in this discussion with different polls, so be sure to vote, and who knows what will happen.
Now to the preview, the hunt for Esmeralda is on, Judge Frollo and the Heartless burn through the city of Paris looking for the gypsy woman and bring our heroes out of the protection of Notre Dame. When Pheobus turns on Frollo, he gets injured and is only saved by Esmeralda... and Peter Parker. After returning to the church, and aiding in Esmeralda's escape once again, our heroes learn Frollo knows where the Court of Miracles is and plans to attack them with a thousand men and monsters. Can our heroes warn before it's too late? Will Wanda and Esmeralda burn in Frollo's blind fury? Will Sora have to convince Quasimodo to help him save the day? And what have our heroes on the Marvelous World been up to? And what of the Master of Masters? Stay tuned and find out!
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to leave a review! Also, if you haven't already, leave a fav and follow this fanfic and I'll see you again real soon! God bless!