Disclaimer: I do not own any copyrighted material nor do I intend to use this for any profit. This episode is dedicated in loving memory of Kazuki Takahashi and Kevin Conroy.
Episode XXV (25): He Shall Smite the Wicked
Danyal was about to follow, but she noticed Toboé was a little high on incense and she ordered a pair of crows, "I need you two, find a pigeon in the bell tower and have bring down a dark blue bottle with a handkerchief. Please hurry!"
She suddenly heard a voice telling her, "There's no need to."
The two birds and Danyal turned to see an owl holding a handkerchief and a dark blue bottle.
She asked, "Who are you?"
The owl replied, "I am afraid, it is not important right now. You need to render your friend out cold."
Danyal understood and she took the handkerchief praying, "Lord Jesus. I need your help in this dark hour. I do not like the idea of my friends getting killed because of differing religions. Please forgive her and those who know her."
She placed it over the wolf's forcing him to breathe it in and the wolf fell unconscious.
Looking at the handkerchief, Danyal saw that it was the one that belonged to Emily. It was like the princess was giving a little bit of help even though she was now a prisoner.
By the time Danyal returned to Notre Dame, she saw Quasimodo being taken to the bell tower by a few soldiers.
Danyal took the handkerchief in her talons, and she asked another magpie, "Any ideas?"
The magpie replied, "You have to urge the hunchback. you can use that handkerchief to help."
Danyal stated, "Thanks. I would recommend that you guys keep searching for all the doves and pigeons of the church. Also, we don't have a lot of time."
She flew into the bell tower where Quasimodo was in chains of irons.
She muttered, "That disgraceful demon is getting on my last nerve."
Meanwhile in the dungeons, Natius was in a state of despair knowing that the bear he met years ago was now going to be killed.
Natius asked, "What if the Lord will never forgive those folks? Would it have been better if I hadn't gone to that shrine?"
Bianca asked Natius shocked to hear him say such things, "What is wrong with you?! Don't let that God wannabe get to you! He's playing God and he's going to burn for this!"
Mokuba was feeling the same guilt. He looked to his brother and friends with tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, you guys. I never meant for any of this to happen. I especially didn't mean to get any of you involved."
"It's not your fault," Rebecca assured him. "We wanted to come here with you."
"But I didn't mean for us to be Frollo's prisoners," he sobbed.
Joey looked outside his cell. "I bet he plans on bringing all of us to Maleficent after this."
Bianca slapped Natius in the face and she stated, "Get a grip on yourself."
Jeanette yelled Bianca, "Bianca!"
Bianca argued, "It's time we put the differences aside and work together to think of a plan."
"We've escaped Frollo's wrath before," said Kaiba. "We can do it again."
Emily looked outside. "Danyal, wherever you are, I hope you're safe," she whispered.
Matthias looked down at the pendant below his neck. "Forgive me, Father. I've failed," he whispered.
Natius looked at Matthias and he stated in a kind voice, "No. You didn't yet. Bianca's right. We need to think of a plan of attack."
Meanwhile Danyal and other crows and ravens were making good progress of freeing the doves and she asked the doves, "Can you please help in preventing a mass genocide? I don't want any of my colleagues to suffer because of the differences."
One dove stated in a gentle voice, "We will. Calm down."
Danyal asked as she began to hear crowds, "Why should I?! A friend is going to be executed for having a differing religion. I don't want her to be sent to eternal damnation. Please, I ask the Lord to forgive them for any transgressions."
Another dove reassured her placing a wing over her shoulder and he whispered, "He already has forgiven."
One raven flew towards Danyal. "Hurry back to the bell tower and help the hunchback. We'll take care of things from here."
Danyal smiled relieved to hear that her colleagues have been forgiven. She flew to the chained Quasimodo, as he looked on in despair as Frollo was rambling about the two women were witches.
Danyal stated to Quasimodo, "Frollo has not won yet. The Lord has special plans in store for you. Please, do not let that demon win."
The hunchback sighed in dismay. "What can I do?"
Danyal stated to Quasimodo, "What makes a monster and what makes a man are the choices that we make as well as understanding the gravity and impact of those choices whether good or bad. You have proven to be more of a man than Frollo ever will be. Please break these chains to end the man's cycle of wrath and abuse."
Quasimodo began struggling against the chains!
Down in the square below, Brutus, Esmeralda, and Emily stood on a platform tied to stakes and garbed in tattered white robes. The crowd shouted protests, demanding that the three of them be released, for none of them had done anything wrong. Frollo's announcement fell on deaf ears as Emily raised her head and looked up to Heaven, whispering, "Forgive me, Lord, for I have failed."
Frollo cried, "For Justice, for Paris and for their own salvation, I will send them back to Hell!"
As Frollo was about to drop the torch, Brutus suddenly began changing as he felt himself growing ten feet tall and he changed back into the bear he was!
As minister proceeded to try and set Emily ablaze, a powerful pink barrier shielded her stake!
People looked at the sky to see beautiful doves and pigeons flying from the church!
Brutus' necklace was glowing in a bright red light and he pushed Frollo out of the way with a swipe of his massive paw and cried, "Emily, climb on my back."
She nodded and burned off the ropes around her wrists. Before climbing on Brutus, she looked back at Esmeralda. "Just go," the gypsy urged her. "I'll be fine!"
Brutus cut the ropes binding Esmeralda using his long and very sharp claws and he broke off the stakes as he used the mass muscles on his back with enough power to push them to a side that had little fire on the straw.
He cried, "I made a bridge. Let's go."
The trio walked quickly down the bridge and Brutus noticed the guards were heading towards them. He
"Everybody!" she cried out.
The crowd turned to Esmeralda to see her unscathed by the flames.
"It's Esmeralda," Téa said as she saw her making her way to the prison carts.
"Don't worry, I'll get you all out somehow," the gypsy promised.
"Look out!" Téa cried as she saw soldiers coming to seize her friend.
Seeing this, Emily said to Brutus, "They need our help."
Brutus agreed, but he had a different plan. "I'll help them. You get inside the cathedral."
"I won't," she protested. "Besides, it's still being guarded by soldiers to prevent anyone from claiming sanctuary."
Suddenly a small red magical rod appeared in Emily's hand. The rod had a pink sapphire orb that resembled a heart.
Emily raised the rod to the sky and a blast of light turned three guards into pigeons.
She was amazed with her newly acquired weapon and wondered what else it could do. Well, one way she could find out was by helping her friends. She hurried to the cages they were all contained in.
As Bianca watched from the cage, she rolled her eyes. "Just what we need; a Sailor Moon wannabe."
The rod began to melt the locks making the cage doors open.
Everyone who was locked inside the cages broke free, ready to fight the soldiers and defend the church.
On the platform, Frollo saw Emily with the rod in her hand and drew his sword, ready to kill her. "That princess is a witch," he said to himself.
Bianca was getting fed up with Frollo's behavior and she screamed, "Says a corrupted minister!"
Natius saw Frollo coming their way. "Get out of here, Emily," he warned her. "Hurry before he kills you!"
Suddenly her rod began to change the heroes back into humans.
"We're humans again," Jeanette cheered.
"Emily!" Gatomon cried.
"Gatomon!" she said happily, catching her and hugging her as she jumped into her arms.
Mahad snapped, "We're one member behind! Where's Danyal?"
Danyal was still up in the bell tower trying to encourage Quasimodo to break free and help their friends.
Danyal stated, "What makes a monster and what makes a man are the choices that we make in our lives and understanding the gravity and impact that the choice made can have upon others. It is time for the cycle of abuse and prejudice to end here."
Quasimodo looked down and saw the whole commotion going on. He thought, perhaps he still had time to help his friends. So, with renewed strength, he began to break free from the chains that were binding him.
Danyal noticed the bells were ringing louder than before giving her the urging to leave the bell tower to meet up with her friends, hoping that she wasn't too late.
As she flew, she saw the minister making his way through the crowds, trying to get to the others. "Look out!" she screamed.
She decided to dive bomb the minister and she snapped, "Back off! You sinner!"
The sound of Danyal's voice caused Emily to turn around. When she did, she saw her in the air, but she also cried out as she saw Frollo. The minister raised his hand and backhanded her, causing her to fall backwards. Gatomon jumped, ready to attack him, but the minister pushed her back.
Frollo was ready to attack, but he groaned as he felt something strike him from behind. It was Danyal. "Leave her alone!" she shouted.
Natius stated, "Go ahead, Bianca. Use the shurikens with the truth plants."
Bianca having enough of Frollo's nonsense tossed a truth shuriken and it began to pierce his leg!
Natius looked at Emily. "Get out of here, Emily, while we hold him off!"
"Hurry and get inside the cathedral while you can!" Mahad cried.
Emily didn't want to leave, but she nodded in response. She carried Gatomon and turned on her heel and ran towards the church. Brutus cleared a path for them by fighting the soldiers. At that moment, Quasimodo came to the square and began carrying the princess and the cat Digimon back to the tower, where they'd be safe.
"Come on," Mokuba said to Rebecca and Leon. "We've got to help them." They nodded and response and hurried to the church.
Danyal realized that she wasn't changed back into a human, and she asked, "Why did I not change back?"
Jeanette realized this as well. "Oh, no. We forgot to ask Emily to use her magic to change you back."
"Damn it!" Bianca cried.
Mahad stated, "You should fly ahead and give Frollo a scare. You should try to mimic Grimhilde. He never liked her."
Danyal already knew that the tactic wouldn't work after her friends tried suggesting that yesterday. They agreed that Frollo was too smart for such a petty trick. And it wouldn't work anyway because he already knew that Grimhilde was dead. Nonetheless, she and her friends had to keep the minister from getting into the cathedral.
He was still unable to move after being struck by Bianca's shuriken, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He used his sword to cut the plants surrounding him and free himself.
Danyal noticed that two magpies began to use their talons to claw at the minister's face, giving Danyal enough time to enter the bell tower.
She snapped, "That demon is heading for the church!"
The gargoyles began to gather supplies to unleash molten lead.
Mokuba, Rebecca, and Leon helped out by dropping stones on the soldiers and knocking ladders over. Emily signaled for the pigeons and doves to swarm and attack the soldiers who were attacking her friends.
Leon wiped the sweat from his brow. "Detective Basil was right. Frollo is a monster of depravity.
"Yeah, but hopefully after this, he'll finally be defeated," said Mokuba.
Danyal flew to the three and she ordered a parliament of magpies to dive bomb the soldiers and minister.
Danyal snapped, "The demon is on his way to the church. I meant Frollo."
"Say no more," said Rebecca. She and the boys hurried to the vat room where a cauldron of molten lead stood. Together, they pulled the chain with all of their might, causing the molten lead to be released. The fiery liquid cascaded down the church and into the square, preventing the soldiers from getting into the church.
Frollo was astonished at the amount of molten lead, and he entered the church cutting down the door.
Upstairs, the children cheered for their victory. "We did it!" Mokuba cheered. "Let's hurry and get the others."
"Yeah!" Rebecca laughed. She was on her way to the stairs until she stopped in her tracks and screamed as she saw the minister.
Danyal began to dive bomb the minister and she snapped, "Get out! You sinner! You crossed the line more than once and already my Lord Jesus is not thrilled with your actions! I can imagine that He is setting up a council with other deities to discuss your judgment."
Mokuba muttered, "Oooh."
Frollo paid her no mind. "Where is she!?"
The children refused to tell. They would be damned if they surrendered their friend. The problem was, they were at a disadvantage. They had nothing to protect themselves with.
Leon spoke up. "In the words of our acquaintance, Detective Basil, you're nothing but a corrupt, vicious, demented, lowlife scoundrel."
Mokuba agreed. " There's no evil scheme you wouldn't concoct."
"No depravity you wouldn't commit," Rebecca added.
Danyal was losing her patience with the minister, and she warned him as she ranted, "You have assaulted the house of my Lord and people like you are the reason why some Catholic communities have been corrupted. You are consumed with lust. Plain and simple."
Frollo tried to attack Danyal but could not reach her. Being a bird certainly has its benefits, like being able to avoid a sword as well as outmaneuver enemies.
Frollo's sword ended up getting stuck on the wall.
Danyal used this advantage to claw at Frollo and she maneuvered away from Frollo as he began to scream in pain.
Meanwhile outside, the others were trying to find a way to get to the church.
Natius looked at the square covered in molten lead.
He muttered, "Holy shit! Quasimodo has definitely made the guards run like chickens with their heads cut off!"
Bianca asked Zander, "How long will it take for it to cool off?"
"It shouldn't take more than a few minutes," he answered.
"We can't wait that long," said Bianca.
Back in the tower, Danyal continued to claw at Frollo. The children found some rope that they would use to tie up the minister. Frollo still had one last idea. It was risky, but he had to take a chance since Danyal was close enough. He took a handful of incense and tossed it, causing the magpie to breathe it in and succumb to a daze.
"Oh, no, Danyal!" Rebecca cried, hurrying to rescue her.
The minister got his sword out. He saw Rebecca running while carrying Danyal.
Leon realized where she was going. "No, you'll lead him to Emily!"
"She's the only one who can help her," she cried.
Mokuba tried to hold the minister off, but ended up being pushed back, crashing against the wall.
Leon noticed that some doves began to peck at the minister!
The redhead helped Mokuba get back on his feet. They had to hurry and get help. Looking down, they saw a path that wasn't covered with molten lead. If they could find the entrance and guide their friends, then they might still have a chance. But they had to hurry.
Leon and Mokuba went down into the church and saw Natius and the others coming in. It turned out Phoebus had found a clear path that led them to the church.
Vandela was shocked and furious to see Father David on the floor of the church.
The archdeacon wasn't severely injured, but he decided that his own injury was of little concern. He told the heroes to hurry up the stairs and stop Frollo.
They understood and wasted no time as they hurried up the stairs.
Meanwhile, the minister had found Emily and had cornered her as she was figuring out how to help Danyal. She couldn't use her magic to heal the magpie. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to use her newly acquired rod either. At that moment, Emily's life began to flash before her eyes; everything and everyone she knew and loved. Was this the end of her? She looked at her most hated enemy as she held Danyal, uttering one single word. "Why?"
The minister took a deep breath and composed himself. "Because," he was saying, "you are an abomination."
Once Natius and the others made it, they saw the confrontation, but waited before doing anything. Half of the heroes expected Emily to fight back, but they knew she wouldn't. She would not be like him and bear blood on her hands in a holy place.
Frollo then reflected on past events as he looked at Emily. "I have to say, young princess, looking at you now, you look exactly like how that gypsy woman did before she died trying to protect Quasimodo."
The hunchback gasped as he heard his master's words. All his life, Quasimodo had been convinced that his mother had never loved him and therefore abandoned him. Now Frollo was saying that she died trying to protect him?
"What?" he silently asked.
Frollo pointed his sword towards Emily. "Now you and your magpie can meet her along with others of your kind in Hell, where you both belong."
Fueled with a strong desire to protect his friends, Natius came up from behind Frollo and knocked him down and slashed his hand. The minister screamed as he felt a burning sensation in his hand.
"Lord, forgive us." Danyal muttered.
Mokuba held Frollo down. "Murderer!" he shouted.
"Why, you impertinent little-"
"Tell him the truth!" Mokuba growled, forcing him to look at the hunchback. "Tell him what really happened all those years ago!"
Bianca tossed a truth telling shuriken and she snapped, "Don't say that Quasi's mother is in Hell! Tell him the whole truth!"
The minister knew it was futile to resist. Try as he might, he couldn't be silent either. He hissed in pain for a second, then admitted, "It's true. I killed her."
The thorny vines produced from Bianca's shuriken ended up accidentally pricking Mokuba as well, causing him to tell the whole story. He explained that twenty years ago, a group of gypsies entered the city only to be met at the dock by Frollo and his soldiers. Most of the gypsies were seized, but a young woman fled, carrying what Frollo assumed to be stolen goods. She made it to the cathedral and cried out for sanctuary, but unfortunately, never made it inside. At that moment, Frollo caught up to her and killed her by throwing her against the stone steps.
"He was going to kill you too," Mokuba continued to Quasimodo. "But the archdeacon stopped him in time and convinced him to raise you to atone for your mother's murder."
Quasimodo started to sob as he began to realize the truth.
Emily suddenly felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she turned to notice that the hand had small a hole in the palm area, and she looked up to see a man. It was a man who was very familiar to Natius. He physically resembled a thirty-three-year-old man with dark hair and brown eyes. He was dressed in white robes and upon the man's head was a crown made of thorns.
Accompanying the man was an angelic man with dark hair, but warm blue eyes and he was dressed in armor suitable for a commander of God's Army.
The princess knew who this was. It was Christ Himself. "My Lord," she whispered, with a hint of fear. Had He come to lay down His judgement? She knew He was aware of who she was and what she's done in her life. As such, she could not deny that no matter how good her intentions were or how noble she thought her ideals seemed, it was all still sinful because she was in service to another deity, which was against the Commandments.
Christ whispered, "My Father has forgiven you and all of the warriors that have come before you. I was visited last night by a goddess of light from Ancient Egypt. Her name was Millennia and she asked Me to forgive all of her warriors past, present, and future.
Frollo begged Christ, "Please condemn these two. The princess and the magpie."
Michael took out his sword as if telling Frollo to stay away from Christ.
Words alone could not describe how grateful Emily was to have received the Lord's forgiveness; even after all she and her friends had brought on themselves. This reminded her once more that her sins had already been paid for when the Son laid down His life for her and had risen on the third day. It was the same for her friends and all sinners of her generation and past and future generations. There was also no need for her to say anything. The Son could understand by seeing the tearful smiled she carried. She then looked down at the magpie in her arms, but there was no need to ask. Christ had already understood.
Christ then placed a loving hand over Danyal. "Love and faith are the greatest of virtues, for they are not of man, but of God." He began using His divine power to heal Danyal by cleansing the incense from her and turning her back into a human.
Joey was shocked and he cried, "Serenity? How did you end up here?"
Danyal replied, "Hate to burst your little daydream. I'm not your sister. I'm the same height as Dorothy Gale."
Joey asked, "What?"
Frollo was outraged as he backhanded Danyal in the face leaving small gashes on her cheek.
Those who were bowing on their knees immediately stood up. Natius almost charges in but stopped himself as he realized that he and his friends were still in the presence of Christ Himself. It would be a mistake to act rashly.
Apparently, Frollo didn't care about any of that as he proceeded to slash Emily in the side with his dagger, causing her to scream in pain. Just when he was about to stab her, the Archangels Michael and Gabriel held him back.
Frollo protested, "These are unholy demons!"
The Archangel Raphael appeared ready to heal a princess who had been injured.
Frollo protested, "These are unholy demons!"
Christ scolded having enough of the disgraced minister's behavior, "Enough. You do not judge someone else like that nor do you injure someone who had earned My Father's forgiveness."
"But why?" the minister asked. "Why those two girls?"
Michael smirked at him. "That would be telling."
Gabriel agreed. "That is for our Lord to know."
Natius agreed. When it comes to the Heavenly Mandate, the answers can't always be given out. And Christ did always speak in Psalms and parables to make his point in every situation he faced.
Michael asked Christ, "My Lord, shall we lay judgement down on this man?"
Christ looked directly at Frollo. "A judge does not pass sentence before the accused stands trial."
Frollo snapped, "Then place those two girls on trial for their sins."
Christ replied with a firm tone, "No. They have committed no crime to be placed on trial."
Vandela remembered what Aeson said last night about Frollo being put on trial. She placed her hand over the scroll he gave to her but stopped herself. The scroll had to be used outside the church. Other than that, Christ probably wouldn't permit her to use it since it was given to her by a man of divine Greek heritage.
Danyal stated to Frollo, "Injuring someone in the presence of my Lord was a bad move on your part."
"At least this young woman and her friends knew better than to act in such a manner," Michael said, referring to Danyal.
After Raphael finished healing Emily, he helped her to stand. She was a little wobbly on her legs, but she managed to keep herself from falling.
The minister growled. "My Lord, You said it Yourself, love and faith are virtues of God. Those girls are not worthy of such virtues for they are not capable of love or faith."
Danyal commented in a cold voice, "You are not even capable. You have disgraced both virtues with your abuse and lust."
Frollo protested at Danyal, "It is true. You have no idea what faith really means. You are mentally unstable."
Emily looked Christ. "May I have Your permission to speak?"
He gave her a gentle nod.
She cleared her throat. "I'm sure there must be a reason why Danyal and I represent the purest of elements. But right now, I can only speak for myself. I may represent the element of love, but that doesn't make me an expert. I don't know everything about love, and I probably never will. I know this, however, as established, it is one of the Lord's virtues, meaning it was His long before I was even born. If anyone knows more about love than I do, it is Him."
Danyal stated, "I may represent faith, but I am far from an expert myself. If anyone who has more knowledge about that element, then it is my Lord and Saint Daniel, patron saint of fortitude and courage and his faith saved him from the lion's brutal method of killing their prey. I have a speculation that he is the precursor for all who represent the element: past, present, and future."
Frollo snapped, "Silence! You mentally unstable demon!"
Danyal stated, "That holy water you soaked in has been poisoned by your abusive actions towards others different from you."
Frollo protested at Danyal, "You have failed faith!"
Danyal was getting annoyed with Frollo's attitude towards her, and she remained silent for a moment.
Frollo smirked at her silence.
Joey asked Frollo, "Who are you to judge?"
"Quiet," Natius hissed at him. They were still in the presence of the Son of God. Realizing this, the blonde silenced himself.
Frollo asked Danyal, "What's wrong? The truth hurts? You have failed your faith in God."
He then turned his attention to Emily. "You're no different, young princess. You admitted it yourself that you failed love."
She said nothing, for she knew he was right. It was true that she confessed with her own mouth that she had failed her own element. As such, Emily decided not to retaliate. There was no point in doing so anyway because she knew that her actions would make her a hypocrite.
Christ was not impressed by Frollo's words.
Danyal began to feel a sense of confusion as she tried to convince herself that she had not failed faith.
Frollo smirked at Danyal, "What's wrong? Not accepting the truth?"
Christ told Frollo, "Enough."
Frollo protested that his words were true.
Joey remained silent as he hoped that Christ would put Frollo in his place as the minister not caring that he was in the presence of the Son of God, Himself.
Christ asked Vandela to show Him the scroll she was clutching. She hesitated but relented. "I was told to use this scroll so that the minister would be placed on trial before the council of King Mickey," she explained. "But seeing that You are here, maybe it's not necessary."
Christ read the scroll and He requested for Michael to see check the ground if the molten lead has cooled off.
With Michael checking the square's ground, Frollo saw this as an opportunity to get close to the girls.
Christ looked at Frollo like a disappointed father scolding a child.
"The molten lead has cooled down, my Lord," said Michael. "These people can walk out of the church if they wish."
Christ stated to Vandela, "You can still use the scroll. However, I recommend doing that when you're outside the church. This is to ensure the Holy Ground stays sacred. That same night in the council of deities from all over the world, Zeus brought up that scroll."
Vandela was still amazed that Christ was permitting her to use the scroll Aeson gave her. The Ten Commandments stated a warning that the Lord was a jealous God. However, it is times like these when deities from all over the world are willing to put their differences aside and work together to stand against forces that would threaten to destroy the world and upset the balances.
Danyal noticed the square and she stated, "That lead square below is an ideal location for a trial."
Frollo smirked, "It's time that you two girls to face judgement."
Joey rolled his eyes in annoyance, but he remained silent.
Christ and His angels began disappearing, returning to the Heavens. They had decided that they were no longer needed and that the heroes could handle it from here.
The heroes stepped out of the church and Danyal stated to Frollo, "If Moses was here, he would have your head for breaking all ten of His Commandments."
Frollo looked up at the Heavens as if begging the Lord to save him from his fate.
Danyal ranted since she was outside of the church, "My Lord is not going to save your ass! You, ex-Judge Claude Frollo have pissed Him off one-too many times that I could care to count. The Holy Mother herself is not amused with your bullshit either! Just be thankful that you're not in the Fortress of Solitude. You'd be sent to the Phantom Zone in a heartbeat."
Natius began to laugh!
Frollo snapped, "Mind your tongue, squirrel. You have failed the element of faith."
Danyal stated in a cold voice, "No Frollo, you're wrong. You failed both faith and love. Emily never failed the element of love in my eyes. Now riddle me this Dark Master, what makes a monster and what makes a man?"
The minister remained silent.
"You don't know?" Natius asked. "It's not about what someone looks like. It's about the choices we make. Your actions made you more of a monster than a man."
Vandela started to read the scroll and she stated to Frollo, "You never shown any mercy to your fellow human being, now what it is like to beg for mercy."
Danyal stated, "One minor note here Frollo, you are a disgrace to the cross upon which Christ died upon for the sins of humanity and a disgrace to the church that My Lord established."
Joey muttered, "Ooh! Roasted!"
Frollo looked at the heroes in anger and outrage. He then noticed that Quasimodo was looking at him in sadness more than anger. "I forgive you," the hunchback whispered.
The portal began to open and Frollo ordered the portal, "Drag those brats to their judgement!"
Vandela stated, "That's not going to work. It never listens to Dark Masters."
Danyal made a sign of the cross as she recited, "In nomine patris, et fillii, et spiritus sancti, amen."
But Frollo wasn't going to give up. "In that case, I'll take you with me!" And he grabbed Emily by her wrist. Gatomon jumped and bit his arm, causing him to cry out in pain and release his grip.
Danyal stepped back six feet and she fired an arrow at Frollo!
The arrow struck him in the back where his shoulder was.
"Nice shot," Joey said, amazed.
Danyal noticed that the portal was starting to act like a high wind, and it blew Gatomon back to Emily's arms.
Once the minister was completely drawn in, the portal closed itself.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," Danyal commented.
Joey agreed. "I hope we've seen the last of him."
"But don't forget, three more Dark Masters remain," Emily reminded him. He nodded in understanding.
Yugi noticed the rod in her hand. "Where did you get that?" he asked her. "I don't remember you ever having that when we came here."
Emily looked at the rod. Even she had no idea how she got it. "All I know is after Brutus and Esmeralda and I were freed from the platform, it just appeared. Then I heard a voice I didn't recognize, telling me how to use it."
Natius had an idea. "Maybe it was the voice of Master Yen Sid."
"Who?" Joey asked.
Emily knew who he was talking about. "The great sorcerer from the number the Sorcerer's Apprentice in Fantasia."
Mahad stated, "Good thinking."
Gatomon's eyes widened noticing that Danyal resembled Serenity.
Danyal knew what she was thinking. "I know, I look like your friend Serenity."
"You sure do," Gatomon told her. "Except your hair and eyes are different colors from hers. And you're shorter than her."
Danyal added, "We represent different elements. I doubt that she would have seen military bases in her life. One other thing, that disgraced minister should learn some accountability."
She looked at the mirror and noticed that Quasimodo began to have a mark on his hand. It depicted a white stylized M with rays of light surrounding it.
He looked down and asked, "What's this?"
Rebecca looked at the mark. "It looks like the crest of Miracles from the Digital World." Then she looked at the hunchback. "But then, does this mean-?"
He was wondering the same thing. "Is this... my element?"
Leon gave a joyous laugh. "Way to go, Quasi."
Mokuba smiled at him. "It's perfect for you."
Maria's mirror began to unleash powerful lights and Esmeralda was wearing a white battle dress with a lavender stylized mirror symbol on the the shoulder area of the sleeves.
Emily's dress was a white battle dress, but it had a red stylized heart on the chest area of the dress.
Matthias noticed that the same mark on his necklace was reflected on the sleeves of his shirt. Darius' shirt had a crimson stylized roaring lion's head on the shoulders of his sleeves. Maria's dress had the lavender stylized mirror symbol on the arms of her sleeves.
Esmeralda also saw the same mark on Maria's mirror appear on the back of her hand. The mark on Darius' shirt sleeves also appeared on the back of Phoebus' hand. A symbol appeared on the sleeves of Chuck's shirt as well. It was a magenta stylized jester's mask. Nearby, the same mark appeared on the back of Clopin's hand.
Darius stated to Natius, "Let me accompany you to find Brandon."
Natius replied, "And end up with you as a missing persons case? Hell no!"
Maria agreed. "Our father has enough to deal with. The last thing he needs is for us to be reported missing too."
Darius relented and he advised Natius, "Be careful with Brandon and don't let what happened to you consume your kindness."
Natius nodded in understanding.
From behind the doors of the cathedral, Quasimodo looked at the crowds of people. "I don't think I can do this," he said nervously, remembering what happened the last time he went out there.
"Yes, you can," Mokuba encouraged him. "And don't worry. Whatever happens, we'll be here for you," he promised. He and his friends might not have been able to defend Quasimodo at the festival, but at least now they would support him.
To Quasimodo's surprise, they praised him for his actions that saved the city of Paris.
Danyal stated, "Quasimodo has become more of a man than Frollo will ever hope to be. I just hope that Frollo gets severely punished for his actions against my Lord."
All of her friends agreed. Suddenly, a light shined on Vandela's hand, revealing the image of a stylized candlestick. It was the symbol for the element of mercy.
Before she could say anything, a broom servant suddenly appeared, presenting a message from Master Yen Sid. Natius took it and read the contents. Their next objective was to go to the land of Prydain and help the destined warriors to discover the elements of humility, mischief, and harmony. The message also stated that they would also find Brandon in Prydain.
Upon hearing the word 'humility', Yugi and his friends remembered that they had a friend back home who also represented that element.
Danyal stated, "That was a huge contribution as to why I asked if Natius had read the passages regarding pride vs humility."
"Pride comes before demise, but humility comes before honor." Emily recited.
Natius stated, "I doubt mythological Wales would even be familiar with the Bible."
The scroll Vandela read turned into four separate portals each would return Darius, Matthias, Brutus, Maria and Chuck home.
Chuck asked, "Which portal leads to the hair salon?"
The symbols of beauty and merriment appeared before Chuck and Maria and the symbols created a trail in their respective colors to the portal that would lead them to the hair salon. The symbol of love made a crimson trail for Brutus to follow.
Matthias noticed that that necklace started to create a trail of white light.
Darius noticed the symbol of valor began to create a trail that would lead him home.
Natius noticed the symbol of kindness began to create a fifth portal that would lead him and his friends to Prydain.
"Are you leaving?" Téa asked.
Natius nodded. "We have to find Brandon and get him home. And we also have to find and rescue our history teacher."
"I wish you the best," said Yugi. "It was also great meeting you; even if it was only for a little while."
Natius smiled. "Maybe someday we'll see each other again." And he and Yugi shook hands.
"Thanks for everything, Danyal," Emily said to her. "Good luck on your journey." And she held out her hand.
Danyal shook her hand and scratched Gatomon's ears. She also noticed that strangely, her allergies weren't acting up around the feline Digimon.
Danyal asked, "How is it that my cat allergies are not going off?"
Gatomon not understanding cat allergies asked, "What do you mean?"
Danyal answered, "Normally my eyes would be bloodshot and watery."
Gatomon stated to Danyal, "My fur is digital. It doesn't have any dander and I don't shed because I'm digital."
Meanwhile Frollo woke up and he noticed that he was not in the Forbidden Castle.
It didn't take long for him to realize he was standing in the middle of the courtroom of Mickey's castle, meaning a trial was about to begin.
Frollo looked around and he snapped, "I'm not supposed to be here!"
He cried out as he felt a sharp pain behind him. He had forgotten that Danyal had shot him with her arrow and it was still embedded in his shoulder.
Suddenly Frollo's pain began to feel as though a white-tailed deer was using its own weight to crush his older bones.
He continued groaning in pain as he felt it coursing through his body. A few seconds later, the pain gradually began to subside. The arrow had been removed.
Frollo looked up to see Master Yen Sid.
Frollo asked, "What brings you here, enemy of God?"
One protagonist yelled, "You are in the courtroom of King Mickey. Master Yen Sid is one of the Big Five of the Disney Golden Age."
Frollo snapped asking, "What am I doing here?! That mentally unstable magpie should be here for her little fiasco in the Warner Domain years ago!"
"That's enough," Prince Harald snapped.
"Take it easy," Snow White said gently. "Calm down or you'll hurt yourself."
Frollo understood her warning. The arrow may have been removed, but he would still experience a little pain from any aftereffects.
Mickey asked. "Shall I read the long list of crimes you have committed?"
"What crimes?" the minister asked.
Mickey stated. "You are charged with breaking all Ten Commandments."
Grumpy snapped, "You slandered the First Walt Maiden by calling Snow White a witch! She ain't no witch, she is the one who set the standard of animation that can never be replicated!"
Snow White stated politely, "Please calm yourself, Grumpy. While your outrage is justified, you are still in King Mickey's courtroom."
Frollo asked as he showed her his burned hand, "Can you explain this?"
Aeson laughed as he saw the man's burnt hand. "Your hand looks like it would make good smoking material for Hades. Just be glad he's not getting your soul today."
Mickey continued on, adding, "You also stand before this council accused of kidnapping, abuse, murder, destruction of property, and attempted genocide."
Frollo protested, "It was the will of God!"
Snow White didn't like what she was hearing.
"Enlighten me," he was saying. "How have I broken the commandments?"
Mickey read them off. "The first commandment declares that none shall have other Gods before the Lord. You broke that one when you pledged your allegiance to Chernabog and became a Dark Master."
"That damned princess has broken the first commandment as well as the second for her allegiance to Millennia," Frollo argued. "I heard her admit it herself."
Snow White pointed out, "In times when the balances are upset, deities from all over the world would put aside the differences between them in order to work together to stop those who would upset those balances!"
"That means that the Lord and the Great Goddess have mutual respect for each other," said Aurora.
Master Yen Sid got back into the matter at hand. "You also consider yourself an epitome of virtue, which is against the second commandment."
"And regarding the princess you mentioned," Mickey was saying, "you claim to despise her so much, yet you are consumed with lust for her. And it is written that if a man looks at a woman with lust, then he has committed adultery - which is also against the commandments."
"How disgusting and repulsive of you," one protagonist jeered. "Having lustful desires for someone so much younger than you."
"The princess is to blame," Frollo argued. "She had me under a spell. She filled my mind with impure thoughts."
Jasmine snapped, "I don't see any symptoms of curses or spells."
Flynn joked, "You and Gothel make a better pair."
Frollo growled at that. He hated being compared to that old woman. "Why are you even defending the princess when you know she's from the Warner Domain?"
Mickey stated, "While the Warner Domain is a rival, we have a mutual friendship that dates as far back as 1940s."
Frollo protested, "That mentally unstable magpie should be in here!"
He wasn't finished as he added, "In addition, Mokuba and his friends Rebecca and Leon should be here for their crimes of trespassing in these worlds to begin with."
"They are not trespassers," Basil of Baker Street informed him. "It was fate that they found a way to come to our worlds."
"I met those children too," said a small voice. It came from a mouse girl named Olivia Flaversham. "I've been good friends with all of them; especially Leon. He became my best friend."
Frollo spat, "You are disgraceful rodents! They are from a rivaling domain!"
Basil merely sneered at Frollo. He also thought about how the children used his own words at the minister, causing him to slightly grin.
Frollo noticed this and asked, "What, pray tell, is it that you find so amusing, Detective?"
"Only that those children quoted what I said you and your comrades were about being the depraved villains you are," he simply said. "And if you must know, those children have been coming to me to provide any useful information about the four of you."
The minister rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised? he grumbled.
Pinocchio commented, "If I didn't know any better, I think you have similarities to Gaston!"
"Why are you here?" Frollo asked the puppet boy.
"I am one of the members of the Big Five," he reminded him. "And like Olivia here, I am also here regarding Leon. He does represent the element of innocence, after all."
"That boy has no innocence," Frollo protested.
"Do you have any proof of that?" Olivia asked. "Have you ever seen him lie, steal, or cheat?"
Frollo snapped, "You are in an inter-species relationship."
Olivia scolded him, "I saw him as a twin brother that I never had. Though we mice rarely interact with humans, we still depend on one another in order to survive."
"And mice from the Rescue Aid Society continue to save human children from the hands of depraved villains like you," Basil added.
Frollo hadn't forgotten about that. He and his comrades had to frequently deal with operatives from the Rescue Aid Society who would come to the castle to rescue their prisoners. But that matter didn't need to be up for discussion right now.
"Well, another thing," Frollo was saying, "I don't appreciate being compared to that swine."
"Well, I think the puppet boy is right," said Aladdin. "Like Gaston, you had your sights on a few girls who were nowhere near interested in you and your feelings for them were impure."
Pinocchio pointed out, "You also have a manipulative personality like Stromboli."
Frollo snapped, "I am nothing like that gypsy!"
"Tell that to the hunchback," Aladdin scoffed. "You used him and manipulated him to fulfill your own ambitions."
"You were even willing to go as far as turning him and his friends against each other," Jasmine added. "Thankfully, they took that matter into consideration and their friendship proved strong enough to overcome that."
As accurate as these arguments were, Master Yen Sid decided that it was time to return to the matter at hand. "Minister, you are also guilty of stealing and commiting murder."
Aurora agreed. "You killed so many people when you set the city of Paris on fire in your search for Esmeralda and her friends. And in the very beginning, you murdered that poor gypsy woman and stole her child in the process."
Frollo spat, "The hunchback is an unholy demon."
Snow White scolded, "Shame on you Frollo! You are being judgmental."
Frollo said to the first Walt Maiden, "Enlighten me. How am I being judgmental?"
Cinderella scolded, "You treated your fellow men like puppets and criminals when clearly they had committed no crime to earn imprisonment. You have been lying about those children."
Frollo taunted. "So says a deceptive manipulator who disobeyed and condemned her stepmother!"
Prince William warned, "You would be thinking twice before saying those kinds of words if you were in her courtroom. Stop slandering the Walt Maidens or you'll make things worse for yourself."
Pinocchio added, "You insulted the Big Five of Disney by calling Snow White a witch back in Paris and backhanded a girl who just regained her humanity with your ring covered hand."
Frollo protested that Danyal brought that on herself. Thomas glared at the disgraced minister.
Nakoma was getting irritated with Frollo.
She pointed out, "You should not have done that in front of Christ, Himself. Why else would He give you a glance like a disappointed father scolding a child?"
The minister scoffed. He figured that this woman had no business to speak of the Lord. It didn't matter to him if she had converted to Christianity after marrying Thomas. She was still an Indian.
"You even tried to kill her friend in the presence of Christ Himself," Thomas added.
"The princess is a witch," Frollo argued. "She had to be eliminated for that. And if Danyal wasn't a magpie, I would have burned her and the princess."
Thomas snapped, "She has committed no crime to earn a brutal penalty like that!"
John Smith had enough, and he asked, "Why? Just because she was defending her friends from a prejudiced disgraced minister?"
Frollo argued, "Magpies represent witchcraft and the devil. Therefore, she should be punished for that."
Nakoma pointed out, "There are tribes who consider the magpie as a prophet or a messenger from a higher authority. There are also some cultures that depict them as angels."
Mulan snapped, "In my culture, you would be facing a severe penalty or bad luck for killing a magpie."
Belle agreed as she stated, "Here's something else you should know, magpies were used to alert the French people of wolves. That's why there's always some laurel and heath tied to trees."
"That's irrelevant to this," Frollo shouted. "The magpie and the princess are evil creatures and are undeserving of the purest of elements."
"I find them to be more deserving of their elements than you are," Basil argued. "And to think, you claim to stand for justice, my own element."
Pinocchio took out a wand that he earned in 1944 that had white wings that resembled the wings of the Blue Fairy and he warned, "If I hear one more snide remark regarding Danyal and/or the princess, you will be a puppet under my strings. It has a lie detection ability and whenever you lie, those strings will dig deeper into your skin like a cat-o-nine-tails whip, and it also depends on how deep the lie is. So, the deeper the lies, the more painful it will be."
Frollo scoffed, "You should use it on the two you have mentioned."
Thomas snapped, "That's enough! You have disgraced all three elements with the Hell that you raised on a city and made it look like a war zone. In addition to the abuse and lies that left a devastating impact on generations of humanity."
Iago flew into the courtroom, and he was clutching articles regarding Anakin's predicament in his talons.
He glared at Frollo, and he snapped, "You tortured a Lost One!"
Thomas asked, "A what?!"
Iago explained, "A mind and soul of an individual who had fallen into a coma. There hasn't been a case like this since that Kimura boy from Japan back in 2003. In some cases, the soul and mind would stay with the human body to ensure it stays alive. Unfortunately, there have been rare cases like this and Dorothy Gale's where the soul and mind are tested, and the pain is amplified the longer they are trapped in a world they are unfamiliar with."
Frollo argued, "That is irrelevant, and those people brought it on themselves."
Pinocchio raised his wand, but Mickey stopped him. "Use of weapons is prohibited at this time. That goes for the rest of this council. No one may use their powers while court is in session."
So, the puppet boy reluctantly lowered his wand.
Mickey then turned his attention back to the minister. "The case of Anakin's mind and soul being separated from his body is not irrelevant. According to my subjects, one of your minions named Elvira used a pair of magical gloves, causing the young man to fall into the state he is currently in."
Frollo argued, "That boy brought it on himself!"
"Even my own stepmother Grimhilde wouldn't have approved of this," said Snow White.
"Upon mention that name Kimura, it has brought the matter of Digimon to my attention," Aladdin was saying. "No one in this domain has seen these creatures in years, now they suddenly return not too long after the time the children from the Warner Domain arrive and bring their own Digimon with them to our worlds."
"We have too many problems of our own," said Adam. "Those children should have stayed in their own domain where they belong."
Soon everyone in the courtroom began arguing with each other, clamoring about the heroes from the Warner Domain doing harm or good by coming to the Disney Domain.
"Order!" Master Yen Sid declared, trying to calm the situation. "Order!"
Pinocchio stated, "It is possible that the Digimon have a code that prohibits their powers and abilities unless they are in their respective domains or home worlds such as the Digital World or home worlds of their partners."
Jiminy Cricket came out the puppet boy's jacket pocket and joked, "Unless a merging happens."
Pinocchio asked, "Seriously?"
Frollo argued, "This is irrelevant!"
Frollo added telling Adam, "That boy who fell comatose brought this on himself. If he had not told Elvira anything, he would have been safe. As such, he should be punished for trespassing and wishing on a star."
"The old 'wish upon a star' thing," said a familiar voice. It came from Jim Hawkins. "I wouldn't be surprised if that was how those children from the Warner Domain came to our worlds."
"Jim?" Mickey asked.
"I heard that a kid from the Warner Domain who shared my last name was sighted in our domain and I came to see if it was true."
"You have no business here, boy," Frollo snapped. "Rebecca has no ties to you."
"True, but Mr. Milo Thatch had an appointment, so he asked me to come here on his behalf," Jim explained.
"This boy happens to represent the same element I do," Phillip was saying.
Master Yen Sid interrupted him. "I'm sorry, but it's best that we return to the matter at hand." The rest of the council agreed. There were still a few more commandments to go over before the jury could reach its verdict.
Aurora brought up the commandment about honoring one's parents.
Aurora clarified, "Another Commandment that was broken is 'Thou shall honor thy parents.' Frollo, you have dishonored the Holy Father with your cruelty and deception."
In the matter of the commandment that says to honor one's parents, Jim thought back on when his own father left him and his mother when he was young. As such, Jim felt great bitterness towards his father. Then on the voyage to Treasure Planet, he met Long John Silver. True, Jim and Silver didn't exactly start out as friends, but as time passed, they slowly started warming up to each other.
Jim hated to admit it, but he saw Silver as a sort of father figure. At the same time, he didn't feel ashamed of having those feelings. He then wondered if Quasimodo felt the same way; if he saw Frollo as a father figure. It wouldn't surprise him if he did, given the fact that the minister was the one who raised the hunchback.
Philip asked, "Who would have expected someone who was raised by the Dark Masters to represent one of the purest elements?"
Frollo asked outraged and confused, "What?!"
Snow White agreed with Philip, "I too was raised by a Dark Master. I represent kindness. You Frollo have failed that element as well."
Frollo asked, "Excuse me?"
Rapunzel spoke up. "My heart goes out to Quasimodo. Like him, I was also raised by the villain who took me from my real family and kept locked in a tower."
Flynn-, rather, Eugene, spoke up and told Frollo, "Another reason I think you have common ground with Gothel. The both of you share the same sin of stealing a child and using them for your own benefit."
"At least Gothel didn't bear blood on her hands in her case," said Rapunzel. "As for you, Minister, despite your efforts to keep the hunchback locked away, you overlooked one thing."
"What do you mean?" Frollo inquired.
"You failed to prevent anyone from the outside world to enter the bell tower," she explained. "As such, love and friendship found a way into Quasimodo's life when those children met him and became his friends."
It was true. Frollo didn't expect for Mokuba, Rebecca, and Leon to come to his world and enter the bell tower and meet and become friends with Quasimodo. No one ever thought something like that would happen. And like Rapunzel said, they showed the hunchback true friendship.
This time, Olivia spoke up. "You tried to convince Quasimodo that Leon and the others were only pretending to be his friends. But when that didn't work, you decided to try to take advantage of their friendship in hopes that they would turn against each other. Thankfully, our friends wouldn't let that happen because their bond with Quasimodo proved strong."
Frollo raised a brow. "Our friends?"
"Just as I said, his friends are my friends too."
Pinocchio stated, "I have yet to meet Leon, but he demonstrated his worth of the same element as mine."
Frollo snarled. "That boy is not deserving of the element that was bestowed upon him. Not even the magpie, or the princess, or Quasimodo, or any of the rest of their friends. None of them are deserving of even the purest of the elements!"
"They are certainly more deserving of their elements than you are," said Jasmine. "Just like Emily said, there is a reason she and her friend represent the elements that chose them."
Frollo argued, "That's a lie! I am more worthy than those evil and unholy demons!"
Frollo was not done yet as he added, "That mentally unstable magpie has failed the element of faith. Especially when she is descended from a mentally unstable farm girl and has heathen blood."
Nakoma stated, "Be thankful that one of her arrows didn't pierce you in the heart."
"We already made our point clear," John Smith was saying. "It was you who failed love and faith and you disgraced the very meaning of justice with your misguided ideals and prejudiced nature."
Frollo made a snide comment in his mind, accusing Smith of being no better when he proved himself untrustworthy not too long after he discovered his own element.
Prince Harald faced Smith. "One more comment out of you, and I'll have you held in contempt. Is that understood, Smith?"
John nodded in understanding.
With that being settled, Master Yen Sid decided to move on. "The commandments also declare that none shall covet their neighbors' property or bear false witness against their neighbors."
Frollo argued, "I didn't bear any false witness!"
Pinocchio pointed out, "You lied about a nomadic people who might have the similar religious beliefs. You tried to covet women who rejected you multiple times. Also they have their own relationships."
"Esmeralda found her love in Captain Phoebus," Jasmine explained.
"And the princess already loves Yugi," Basil added.
Snow White stated, "The commandments also declare that all must remember the Sabbath or in my case, a holy day to worship the Lord. You thought of yourself as too holy to attend a mass that was reciting a confession prayer."
Pinocchio stated, "Instead of confessing your sins, you chose to be at your Palace of Corruption."
Frollo snapped, "Palace of Justice you ignorant Puppetmon! You are a sociopath and a liar wooden boy."
The puppet boy narrowed his eyes. "What were you doing that night?"
Frollo didn't want to admit that Maleficent was visiting him that night, so he answered, "I was being driven mad because my mind was filled with impure thoughts for the gypsy girl and the princess."
"So you admit you were having trouble controlling your lust," Jasmine wondered.
Frollo argued, "No."
Pinocchio joked, "Your nose grew!"
Basil scowled at him. "We know you better than that, Minister. All the atrocities you committed combined together have brought fear to the people of Paris, destroyed countless lives, corrupted the church, and brought the Lord's name in vain - which, by the way, is also against the commandments."
Harald explained to Frollo, "Your hand is being burned by holy fire, the same fire of Saint Michael the Archangel."
The minister looked down and saw that he was right.
It was time for the verdict. The members of the council combined their thoughts together on a form along with the list of crimes committed by Frollo.
It was a huge stack and Pinocchio muttered, "The higher the stack, the deeper the trouble he is in."
Mickey was presented with the verdict. "Claude Frollo, we find you guilty of murder, lust, theft, destruction of property, abuse, theft, and disgracing the Lord."
Pinocchio commented, "That rebellious rabbit could use a playmate."
Basil stood on his feet and pointed a finger at the minister. "The time has come for you to be brought to justice, you fiend!"
Frollo argued, "God will save me."
Without warning a dark vault appeared behind the disgraced minister.
Pinocchio smirked, "Looks like the Vault of Darkness can do my job of punishing you for your disgusting and idiotic lies! God is not going to save you."
Aeson added, "Even if you get saved, it will never change the fact that you are now a convicted criminal."
Frollo looked at the vault that was directly behind him in fright!
Jiminy remarked, "This will teach you Frollo not to mess with the Big Five. Snow White and Pinocchio are two of them."
Mickey raised his hand. "In addition, the Heroes of Millennia and any of their friends will be under the protection of the heroes of the worlds of our domain," he declared.
"I second the notion," Jasmine said in agreement.
"Hear, hear!" Aladdin cheered.
Pinocchio agreed, "I agree. So you Frollo better stay away from all toy stores."
"What is that supposed to mean?" the minister asked casually.
"He means as he says," Olivia was saying. "My father's toyshop is under Pinocchio's protection. So me, my father, and my friends will be safe even from you and your minions."
"And if your employee Ratigan gets any ideas about attacking those children, tell him to think again. Because I also happen to be allies with the Heroes of Millennia," Basil added.
The vault began to open!
Suddenly, a dark figure appeared, taking Frollo and disappearing in a puff of smoke.
As soon as the smoke cleared, the protagonists noticed that Frollo was gone!
Pinocchio was very angry with this, and he asked, "Should I alert the Pixar folk?"
Mickey answered, "No. Put an all-points bulletin on the disgraced minister."
Aeson asked, "Since Frollo has been convicted, he better stay away from Olympus Colosseum."
Frollo found himself in the throne room of the Dark Masters.
Frollo walked up to Maleficent and he cried, "You saved me?"
Maleficent was furious with Frollo as she backhanded him!
Jafar and Turbo stifled their laughs. They knew this was coming.
It didn't take long for Frollo to realize what this was about. His comrades only rescued him so they could punish him on their own accord. And he also knew Maleficent was not going to be lenient with him. He tried not to show how afraid he was as he thought about the punishment that awaited him.
Even for Maleficent, it was taking every ounce of her willpower to keep her composure. "You took it too far, this time, Frollo. Rather than keep to the objective and concentrate on the magpie and her friends, you gave in to your obsessions and you meddled with those children from the Warner Domain."
Frollo protested, "Those brats were trespassers!"
"You said you would avoid them," Maleficent reminded him. "Was it really that difficult?"
Frollo cried, "It's nothing like that!"
"Then what was the problem?" she wondered. "Enlighten me. And don't tell me it wasn't your fault."
Frollo placed his hand against his cheek. "Those children were beginning to be too nosy. I had to keep them in check so they wouldn't stand in my way."
Maleficent glared at him. If that was just the case with the children, she would let it go. However, she also knew it was because of his lust. "You asked for my permission to deal with that princess and I gave it to you, hoping you wouldn't go too far. I hoped you would just do what you asked and be done with it without any problems."
Father Phobos was right behind Frollo.
The minister turned around and saw him. "Why is he here?" he asked Maleficent.
She continued to look at him angrily. "I should have you executed not just for failing to take care of Natius and his friends, but for disobeying me and letting yourself lose your way." She then grinned sinisterly. "But I won't. Instead, I've decided to make your punishment one of great suffering."
Turbo smiled wickedly at him. "Something nice to go with that charred hand."
Frollo begged, "Please don't do this to me!"
"Would you rather face death?" Jafar asked. "It's this or death."
As much as Frollo thought that he had faced enough humiliation and suffering, he really didn't want to be put to death. He sighed in defeat. "Let's get on with it," he replied.
Father Phobos grabbed him by his wrist and began taking him to his chambers.
A minute later, a servant came by with a newspaper. Turbo took it and read the contents. "Get a load of this," he said excitedly. "It says here that Digimon are returning to our domain."
Jafar snatched the paper from him and saw that he was right. More and more Digimon were being sighted. He wondered if it was because of the Digimon who came with the heroes from the Warner Domain.
Maleficent wasn't listening to them. Another servant came and informed her that Millennia's heroes and their friends would be under the protection of the heroes of the worlds they would visit. She groaned in exasperation.
Maleficent noticed a small page that read that Frollo had been convicted of his crimes.
Turbo looked at her. "Maleficent, if I may..." he paused, then continued, "express an opinion."
"What?" she asked, annoyed.
"Well, since Frollo is no longer a villain of power now that he's no longer Paris's minister of justice, I was thinking that you should revoke his position as a Dark Master and have someone else take his place."
"It is in accordance with our by-laws," Jafar informed her.
It was true. Frollo would have to step down now that he had lost his power just as Grimhilde and Lady Tremaine had to step down for the same reason. But the next difficult part would be finding someone suitable to take his place and there weren't any eligible candidates at the moment.
"Maleficent?" Jafar asked.
She gave him her attention. "I think we should discuss the matter in a more opportune time."
Turbo and Jafar were surprised. That wasn't the answer they were expecting. That wasn't how Grimhilde handled the situation when she was still leader. They wondered, did Maleficent still have some use for Frollo?
Turbo voiced his question, "Do you still have usefulness for Frollo?"
"Perhaps," she said. "For now, I'll just use him as an example of what happens when someone defies me."
Jafar smiled, "Brilliant!"
Meanwhile, down in the chambers of Father Phobos, Frollo was down on his knees with his arms chained above his head. He looked back and saw the branding iron in the man's hand. The minister shuddered. He was not going to enjoy this at all. But he would rather face this than face execution.
Father Phobos was holding a cryo-branding iron and the symbol on the iron depicted a stylized bell with an upside down cross.
If he was going to apply the branding iron, his victim's flesh needed to be exposed. Father Phobos tore off a piece of Frollo's robes, exposing his back. He then pressed the branding iron against his back, causing the minister to scream in pain.
Frollo felt a freezing cold sensation on his back!
Frollo asked, "What is this?"
Father Phobos removed the iron, revealing the mark of the stylized bell with the upside-down cross. He smiled at himself in satisfaction.
Frollo looked at Father Phobos' helmet that was covered his eyes and nose. It resembled the head of a black goat with curled horns.
He snapped, "Demon!"
Father Phobos nodded to two guards. They released Frollo from his chains and the minister fell and gave a painful grunt. The guards then picked him up by his arms and began carrying him out of the chamber. As he came outside, he saw Maleficent looking at him. "Well?" she asked expectantly. "Did you learn your lesson?"
He breathed sharply through his pain. "It won't happen again," he hissed.
Maleficent wasn't sure of that. She trusted Frollo's loyalty but had begun to question it since the events that transpired in his world several weeks ago when he first met the heroes from the Warner Domain. But for now, she decided to just let it be. "Very well," she replied. And she ordered the guards to escort him to the infirmary to get treated.
Frollo was taken to an infirmary and a pink woozle wearing dark scrubs started to order some of the staff to get antifreeze!
One orderly took out some antifreeze.
The woozle tending Frollo began to apply the antifreeze on the minister's back. Thankfully, he was sedated so he wouldn't hurt himself.
The woozle was disgusted by the sight of the minister's back.
After applying the antifreeze, the woozle began applying bandages. He then informed Maleficent that the process was complete, but the minister would need a few days to rest. It was understandable, given what he had been through.
Turbo asked the woozle, "What did you see on the man's back?"
"There was a mark in the shape of a bell with an upside-down cross," he answered.
"The mark of his sins," said Maleficent.
The woozle began to laugh!
Maleficent dismissed the woozle. She decided it was best to return to the situation at hand. According to what she heard, Natius and the others were still in Paris celebrating their victory. She also knew King Mickey would congratulate the heroes of that world for discovering their elements. Now she and her comrades had to figure out where they were going.
Another woozle with black fur stated in a deep and intimidating voice, "The children are heading for Prydain."
Upon hearing that, Maleficent immediately thought of Brandon Kyle. Prydain is the land of his ancestors, meaning that there is the chance that Brandon may end up in that world. This caused Maleficent to hope that in the event it would happen, Brandon and Natius will end up meeting and possibly fight each other.
Turbo asked, "What do we do about Brandon?"
"Leave it to the Horned King," Maleficent ordered. "Let him be the one to deal with Brandon."
Author's Notes: Looks like the heroes have defeated the Dark Masters, but that doesn't mean, they're out of the woods yet. Will they find Brandon Kyle? Tune in next episode. I would like to give special thanks to MillenniumPrincess for help with this episode.