Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, Disney, Digimon or copyrighted material referenced in this chapter. I would like to make one thing inescapably clear, Princess Emily of Egypt is MillenniumPrincess's OC, not mine. I do not own her interpretation of the beloved Yu-Gi-Oh characters.

Episode XXIII (23): A Festival of Lessons

"Has the festival started yet?" Natius asked.

"Not yet. We've still got about an hour. For now, we should meet up with everyone." Darius pulled the hood of his cloak down to conceal his face. After that, he left the bell tower and began walking down the stairs and into the church.

Natius began to scurry to catch up with the others and he noticed an older rat who looked almost like the rat from the previous day. The rat was standing next to small hole,

The rat stated in a kind voice, "This is a secret passage that will lead you to the festival. Don't worry, I have used this series of tunnels in my youth. Also, be sure to watch your step, you might end up swept into a current for the gargoyle aqueducts that would have water. If you know what I refer to."

Natius thought about what he should do. Should he stick with Darius and regroup with his friends or take his own route and put his own ideas in motion?

Natius found a flight of stairs that he saw Darius take to get to the church, and he found a piece of wood with a small piece of string to use as a board and this gave him an idea!

Natius began surfing down the stair banister using the piece of wood as a sled board and using the string to control the board.

Natius kept a tight grip on the string not wanting to fall off the stairs.

Darius stepped into the church, and he turned around and noticed a rat sliding down the banister using a piece of wood and string and he noticed that the banister had an endpoint, and he stopped the rat using his hand to act like a banister knob.

"Natius, are you crazy?" Darius scolded. "If Frollo was here to see you doing that, you'd be found out."

Natius replied, "I couldn't trust a rat."

"Next time, stay on my shoulder or in the sleeve of my robe," Darius advised.

Natius decided to enter the sleeve of Darius's robe and he stated, "Let's get moving."

Darius looked around to make sure the coast was clear. Cautiously, he walked towards the doors and exited the church. He saw the rest of their friends and approached them.

"Are we all here?" Mokuba asked.

"We're all here," said Darius.

Natius peeked from the sleeve of Darius's robe, and he looked around for anything familiar.

He saw a blonde haired soldier clad in golden armor walking with his horse. "Hey, look over there."

The heroes looked in his direction and saw the man. He looked down at a map in his hands, then looked around. "It must be here somewhere," he muttered.

Rebecca walked over to him. "Excuse me, sir, are you lost?"

He looked down at her. "I'm afraid I am," he admitted. "This place has changed so much since I was last here."

Rebecca grinned. "Pardon my asking, but would you happen to be Phoebus de Chatapuers?"

"Indeed." he answered.

Rebecca smiled. "I thought so. We've heard a lot about you."

That was when Leon and Mokuba came by. "Maybe we can help you," the redhead offered.

"Would you happen to know how to get to the Palace of Justice?" Phoebus inquired.

The children knew the city well from staying in the bell tower often. Leon pointed the way. "It's south by south. We'd take you there ourselves, but we're not exactly on good terms with the minister."

Phoebus stifled a chuckle. "I doubt you three could be any trouble."

Rebecca crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, Frollo hates everybody, including children."

Phoebus stated, "I will keep that mind."

Watching from the sides, Bianca muttered, "What are those kids doing?"

Phoebus looked to his front. "South by south, you say? Well, thanks for your help."

"Don't mention it," said Mokuba.

With that, the soldier took his horse by the reins and continued on his way.

Leon faced his friends and wondered, "Do you think we should have told him about Frollo being a you-know-what?"

Rebecca shook her head. "It's too soon for that. He'll know when the time is right. Besides, if Phoebus said he heard it from a few kids, that jerk would know he'd be talking about us."

Mokuba agreed. "We just have to be extra cautious from here on out."

Danyal stated, "I doubt Phoebus will give a crap about that bear rumor Frollo is trying to spread."

"Should we follow that man?" Brutus asked.

"No," Mokuba answered. "The Palace of Justice is surrounded with soldiers. Frollo could have them seize us right away even just for being snoops."

"And he made it clear that he wanted us to stay out of his way," said Leon.

Maria agreed. "He'd think you'd be nosing around for some scandal."

Danyal agreed, "They have a good point. So let's get to the square."

On the way, Darius continued looking around in different directions. This was getting to be annoying for his sister. "Eyes front, Darius. You need to watch where you're going." He sighed and looked ahead.

"Are you still looking around hoping to spot a Digimon?" Chucked asked. He grinned and said, "I know. I want to see them as much as you do."

"I guess it would be grand to see one," said Matthias.

Danyal commented, "I have watched their show and played video games from that franchise and it would be awesome to see one."

Mokuba sheepishly laughed. "Well, you never know. It could happen."

By the time the group returned to the square, a fanfare went off, signaling that the festival was about to begin.

Danyal stated to Natius, "Ken Ichijouji is the bearer of the element of kindness in his dimension."

Natius looked at her in confusion, "What?! That demon?"

Danyal scolded, "Like Bakura, he was corrupted in the first part of Adventure 02 by a villain. So don't ever call him a demon. If there was anyone who deserved that insult, it would be Frollo, Zorc, and the man who corrupted Ken."

Mokuba cried, "We have someone who represents that element. Her name is Serenity."

"Joey's little sister?" gasped Natius.

Mokuba answered, "The same."

Natius wondered if she was the one Snow White was referring to in his dream.

Bianca asked, "Does that girl have underwater vision like Aquaman?"

Danyal answered, "No. I would given her powerful goggles that would not only protect her newfound sight, but can grant her underwater vision."

"Has Serenity been coming here with you guys?" Natius asked.

"No," Mokuba answered. "She doesn't know about this place."

Zander looked at Natius. "Maybe it's better that way; not knowing."

"Why?" Natius asked.

"Then at least the Dark Masters won't know about her or come after her," he said.

Rebecca called for everyone's attention. "Okay, guys. It's about to get lively now. So try to stay together, be careful, and most of all, have fun!"

Everyone cheered and the festival began.

People began singing and dancing around wearing silly costumes.

Danyal began to perch herself away from the crowd to ensure that she wouldn't get injured by the celebration. She looked at them with annoyance as it would remind her of some neighbors in that would play annoying music.

Natius looked around for other rodents.

Nausicaä perched herself on a tree branch to watch her friends.

Zander began to follow Natius to make sure that he wouldn't cause any trouble.

The mobbed streets were a little scary for Brutus. He was used to seeing large groups of people come to his exhibit, but he wasn't used to being part of large crowds.

He noticed a mink following a small rat. Brutus rolled his eyes in annoyance as he walked to the direction that mink was going as he avoided the crowd.

"Zander! Natius!" He cried, trying to be loud enough for the animals to hear him through the crowd.

Zander turned to see Brutus and he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Where are you guys going?" Brutus asked. "We're supposed to stay together."

"Tell that to Natius," Zander snapped.

Brutus asked the rat, "Natius, We're supposed to stick together. What's wrong with you?!"

"You're going to get stepped on," Zander warned him. "And if anyone sees you, they'll scream and throw objects at you."

Natius stopped and he turned to them and he asked, "Do you know where I won't get stepped on?"

Brutus held out his arm. "Climb into my sleeve."

Natius climbed into Brutus's shoulder and he began to look at the drunken revelry in intrigue, until he spotted a familiar tomato cart.

Brutus rejoined the others with Zander at his side and Natius still on his shoulder. Both the mink and the rat looked and saw Frollo step out of his carriage and take his seat near the stage with Phoebus next to him.

Natius extended a middle finger to the terrible minister.

Brutus was not having anymore trouble and he gave Natius a glance that looked as though he was telling Natius, "That's enough."

He warned in a stern "If you put one more paw out of line and I will make you regret it. Is that clear?"

Everyone's attention was soon directed to the front of the stage. Clopin, the leader of the gypsies, appeared and announced, "Come one, come all! Come see the lovely Esmeralda and friends dance!" And he disappeared in a puff of colored smoke. As it cleared, three girls stood poised before the cheering crowds and began to dance. One was a gypsy girl with shining emerald eyes and wavy raven hair. The other girl had short brown hair reaching her shoulders and eyes blue like topaz. The last was a younger girl with long blonde hair and eyes like sapphire.

Natius's eyes widened. "What the-?"

"Téa, Emily," Mokuba whispered. "So you girls came after all."

Danyal muttered, "I hope the unfamiliar two are unnoticed."

Maria replied to Danyal, "Relax, Parker."

Frollo watched the dancing girls with anger and disgust. Suddenly, before he knew it, Esmeralda danced over to him and wrapped her scarf around his neck. After that, she pulled his hat down and danced back to the stage.

The girls continued their dance with a few acrobatic movements. Once they finished, the audience tossed flowers and gold coins.

Matthias looked at them in silence as he noticed Clopin announcing the time to pick the king of fools.

Darius was still keeping an eye out for any Digimon.

Esmeralda was already bringing Quasimodo up on the stage. Mokuba saw this and cried, "No, wait!"

He tried to cimb up, but a man pulled him back and said, "Get off, boy!"

"No, you don't understand," Mokuba cried. "He's not-!"

"We have to do something," said Mahad.

Danyal argued, "There's nothing we can do about this."

It was true. All the heroes could do was watch as Esmeralda removed the masks of the contestants. Once she reached Quasimodo, she gasped, realizing that he wasn't wearing a mask at all! Everyone else in the crowd began gasping of horror as they looked at the hunchback. Frightened and ashamed, Quasimodo buried his face in his hands.

Clopin came to take care of the situation. "Ladies and gentlemen, don't panic. We asked for the ugliest face in Paris, and here he is!" He placed a jester's crown over Quasimodo's head and the audience erupted into cheers.

Natius was about to scurry to the tomato cart, but Brutus had enough of the rat's attitude and he picked up the rat!

Brutus stated, "I warned you about this. Let's go."

Natius looked at Zander crying, "Sandy! Please help me!"

Zander told him, "It's for your own good."

Natius tried to free himself, but realized he couldn't move. "What the hell? Why can't I move?"

"Your friend Zander taught me that if you pick up a rat by the nape of its neck, the rat will be partially paralyzed," Brutus explained.

"Damn you, Zander!" Natius cursed.

Brutus was unfazed by his choice of words as he took the rat to a small corner that was seldom used by anyone in Paris, and it had a small pool of water.

Brutus had the rat face the water below him and he stated, "Tell me what you see in that reflection, rodent."

Natius asked, "Why should I?"

Brutus answered, "For generations, water has been used as a way to reflect past choices whether good or bad."

Natius looked at his reflection. "I see a rat that looks like Remy, but with darker fur."

"Look a little deeper," Brutus ordered. "Maybe you'll see that you are just as sly and as troublesome on the inside as rats are on the outside."

"What do you mean?" Natius asked.

Brutus decided to be blunt for the rat's sake. "Your sneaky tactics can put both blame and credit on others. You get away with your actions and leave others to clean up after you. It may be harmless while it lasts, but eventually, you will have to pay the price and the consequences can be devastating."

As Natius thought about what Brutus was telling him, he thought back to the scene where Remy's father brought his son to a pest control shop. Looking through the window, they saw dead rats caught in traps. The alpha rat was using this as an example of what would happen if his son wasn't careful.

Brutus ordered, "You need to stay put and keep close."

Natius began thinking about the nightmare he had last night, and Brutus asked him, "Are you okay?"

Natius confessed to him about the nightmare he had about trying to free Quasimodo while that wheel thing was spinning, but I ended up falling."

As Brutus listened to Natius, he came to an honest conclusion, "Ignatius, that dream was just telling you not to interfere with events beyond our control."

Natius felt sadness for what was about to come, and he glared at the oafish guard in anger.

He turned to Quasimodo who was still being cheered, and he began to feel tears threatening to fall down his face as he muttered, "I'm so sorry."

He began to remember the day he and Darius had to stop a food fight from going on any longer.

Brutus asked, "Are you okay?"

"Just thinking about old times," he replied.

Brutus asked confused, "What are you talking about?"

Natius began to explain about the time he and his classmate, Darius had to stop a similar situation from going on any longer. He also told Brutus about what a bully did to him. Brutus was familiar with that incident, and he was furious about what happened. Especially with a theft that would have ended with devastating consequences.

The two of them suddenly noticed that there was no more cheering. They looked to the stage and saw the citizens laughing and pelting Quasimodo with food. They even tied him to the pillory wheel to prevent him from escaping.

Mokuba was still struggling in the grips of a few men. "Stop it!" he shouted. "Stop! That's my friend!"

Rebecca was struggling against their grips as well. "No! Quasimodo!" she screamed.

Matthias froze as he watched in horror. The memories of the times he was bullied like this began flashing before his eyes.

Danyal looked on in disgust and anger, but noticed Matthias upset and she decided to perch on his shoulder.

Matthias was snapped out of his thoughts as he felt Danyal on his shoulder. He gave a yelp of surprise, then noticed her and said, "Oh, it's you, Danyal."

Danyal stated with a reassuring tone, "Sorry I startled you. Compared to what happened with you, those bullies who attacked you were not only forced to clean up the whole mess, but they were also severely punished by their furious parents and one livid principal who had them barred from field trips for the remainder of that year."

Darius felt enraged by this as he remembered those times, he had to stop pelting fiascos from escalating into chaotic food fights.

Natius looked at the upset Matthias and he begged, "May I at least give comfort to my fellow churchgoer?"

Brutus asked, "Why? So, you can get back at the bumbling idiot who started this childish bullshit?! No!"

Before Natius could reply with a snide comment, the crowd suddenly went silent. Everyone looked and saw the gypsy Esmeralda and the blonde-haired girl Emily climb up to the platform. The blonde girl looked at the hunchback with sadness and guilt for failing to defend him. She took her handkerchief and began using it to clean his face.

Esmeralda helped out too. "We're sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen."

Frollo rose from his chair. "You! Gyspy girl! Princess!" They turned around and gave him their attention. "Get down at once!"

Brutus silently gasped as he heard the minister say the word 'princess'.

"Not yet, Minister," Emily replied. "Not until we help our friend."

"I forbid it!"

"Gatomon!" Emily called, and a white cat with blue eyes and purple on the tip of her ears sporting green gloves used her sharp claws to cut the ropes and free Quasimodo from his bindings.

"Well, I'll be a son of a gun," gasped Chuck. "A real Digimon!" Darius laughed with amazement.

"How dare you defy me!" Frollo snarled.

"You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people," Esmeralda told him.

"How can you call yourself minister of justice when you are cruel to those most in need of your help?" asked Emily.

"Silence!" he shouted.

"Justice!" the girls shouted back. The crowd gasped, astonished with their boldness.

Natius asked, "Princess?"

Brutus answered, "I was informed of a princess with the same element as mine."

"I think I might know her," Danyal whispered to herself.

As Esmeralda and Emily helped Quasimodo back on his feet, Frollo warned them, "Mark my words, you girls will pay for this insolence."

"Then it appears we've crowned the wrong fool," said Esmeralda. "The only fool we see is you!" And she tossed the crown towards the minister. Her goat Djali and Gatomon also blew raspberries at him.

The crowd laughed as the crown landed at Frollo's feet. The minister had now lost whatever composure he had left. "Captain Phoebus, arrest them!" he ordered. The captain snapped his fingers, commanding the soldiers to surround the girls.

Emily smiled slyly at Quasimodo. "You're in for some fun." She and Esmeralda nodded at each other and disappeared in a puff of colored smoke, leaving him alone on the platform.

"Witchcraft," Frollo muttered. He had forgotten that Emily was talented with magical powers.

"Oh, boys," Esmeralda called. "Over here!" And she and Emily began dodging and weaving their way through the crowds while trying to evade the soldiers.

Natius began laughing as the guards fell on the ground as the people got out of their way! He noticed the oafish guard who started this fiasco getting pelted!

Zander muttered thinking that Natius had something to do with this retribution, "Christ Natius, you're going to get us all killed."

As Natius was laughing at the guard's well-deserved humiliation, the children also found that they were no longer being held back. Now they could help their friend. "Come on," Mokuba said to Leon and Rebecca. They climbed up the platform and helped get some of the residue off.

Mahad noticed Gatomon and a Lopmon as they pushed a cart full of melons, causing the fruit to roll towards Frollo.

"No way!" Darius cried. "Another Digimon! And it's a Lopmon!"

Chuck began laughing at this!

Natius laughed, wondering if those two Digimon were the ones who pelted the soldier earlier.

Frollo gasped as two soldiers on horseback were heading towards him!

Matthias laughed as the pole crashed into Frollo destroying his tent!

As the minister got out of the mess he was in, he saw that the girls and the Digimon were gone. He mounted his own horse and ordered Phoebus, "Find them, Captain. I want them alive."

"Yes, sir," Phoebus said obediently. "Seal off the area, men. Find the girls and do not harm them!"

Leon placed Quasimodo's cloak over his back. "We've got to get you back to the bell tower before-" but he was interrupted by the sound of Frollo clearing his throat. "Uh-oh." The children looked and saw Frollo looking at them with anger and disappointment.

They stood in front of Quasimodo and stretched their arms out to shield him. "Please don't hurt him," Mokuba begged. "None of this is his fault."

But Quasimodo didn't want to see his friends have to suffer because of him. He placed a comforting hand over their shoulders, then said to Frollo, "I'm sorry, Master. I will never disobey you again."

Natius felt better as he began to move again, and he noticed Zander who was disappointed in him.

Zander asked Natius, "Did you urge that brown rabbit to pelt that guard?"

Natius argued that he did not give a rabbit the idea to pelt the guard as he was with Brutus the whole time.

Zander remembered that and he asked, "Did you learn anything Rémy? That behavior you displayed would have risked exposure."

Natius yelled, "Why did you do this me?"

Zander answered, "Like I said, it was for your own good. You would have gotten yourself killed. I'm sorry it had to be this way."

Natius began remembering the nightmare and he stated, "You're right. I thought that I would prove my kindness by trying to see if I would make one minor change, but I was wrong."

Brutus ordered, "Let's go boys. The cycles of reckless behavior must end."

The two animals entered the church.

They walked into the church and climbed up the stairs to the bell tower. Mokuba looked at the hunchback. "Oh, Quasi, I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I'm so sorry."

"Me too," said Leon. "We tried to stop it. We wanted to, but those people-" he stopped and took a deep breath. "If anyone is to blame, we are."

Rebecca was in agreement. "It's our fault you suffered out there."

"No," Quasimodo argued sadly. "It was my own fault."

Rebecca wouldn't have it. "But we're the ones who urged you to go out there."

"In the end, it was my own choice," he justified. "Look, I'll talk to Frollo when he comes back; explain to him I made my own choice, so you won't get blamed."

"Quasi, no one explains anything to Frollo," she told him.

Danyal stated, "She has a valid point. That minister doesn't listen for anything."

Matthias approached the hunchback. "If it helps, I know how you feel."

Quasimodo looked at him. "How could you know?"

"Because I went through a similar situation." He explained how he always got bullied at school and how a bully even dumped food on his lap. Matthias jumped, causing another student to accidentally dump their food on another. Then the whole thing turned into a fiasco as almost every student was engaged in a food fight.

Darius stated, "I stopped the food fight and had all the participants clean up the mess and to add insult to injury, I had the principal rescind their field trip privileges for the remainder of the year. Natius helped, but he got injured."

Quasimodo asked, "What happened?"

"One of the bullies who got involved stole a rattlesnake and I got bit," he explained.

Quasimodo asked, "What's a rattlesnake?"

Danyal answered, "A rattlesnake is a snake known for the rattle on their tail to warn humans to not step on them. Their bite is venomous usually used to kill their prey such as small animals like rodents, but it would make a person very sick."

Natius stated, "The bite on human can be fatal if the person has an allergy to the snake. Fortunately, I had no allergy to rattlesnakes."

"Jeez," said Mokuba. "You still could've been killed."

"I hope whoever it was who was responsible got discovered and sent to juvenile hall," Rebecca commented.

"Did you have to take in a lot of anti-venom for the venom to be diluted from your body?" Leon asked.

Natius answered, "Yes. Luckily, that bully was caught, and he was dragged to the principal's office by Zander."

Zander gloated, "I dragged that boy to the principal by the ear and the principal called the police immediately and that boy was arrested and charged for his actions."

Rebecca asked, "Did he get sent to juvenile hall?"

"No, he was permitted to stay in school under strict supervision." said Natius.

Zander added, "It didn't stop there, that bully carved Mr. Virgil's desk with a knife, and he was forced to sand off all that vandalism on the desk and had three weeks of detention."

"That's harsh," said Leon.

"Sounds like that bully has a lot of issues," Rebecca commented. "He should've been expelled and sent to juvenile hall."

Natius stated, "Luckily my dad sent a probation officer to ensure that he wouldn't set another toe out of line."

The children looked at each other, hoping that something good would come from that. But they still felt bad that their friends went through such awful experiences.

Danyal stated to Natius, "You are just like Ken. Impulsive and reckless."

Natius asked, "Didn't the Digimon kill him?"

Danyal pointed out, "No. You're thinking about Kenny from South Park. If Ken Ichijouji was here, he would have asked Wormmon to use his webbing on you so he would give you a lecture about your reputation as a person. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd roast you."

"You've got a lot to learn about what it means to be kind just as he did." said Jeanette.

Mokuba voiced his thoughts. "Maybe if Serenity were here, she could help you."

"Which reminds me," Brutus was saying. He got on his feet. "I'm going down into the church. Maybe the princess and her friends will be there."

"How can you be sure?" Maria asked.

"Because right now, this church is the only place where they'll be safe from that minister," he explained.

"Well, in that case, I think I should go with you," said Rebecca.

Natius asked, "Can I come?"

Bianca answered, "No."

"Why not?" Natius asked.

"Her little cat Digimon may try to eat you," Chuck teased.

"That's not funny," Natius scolded.

Danyal stated, "You would get caught by a disgraceful minister."

Rebecca got an idea. "You can hide in my sleeve, Natius."

"I want to come too," said Jeanette.

"Okay," said Rebecca. "You can hide in the pocket of my apron."

Maria stated, "I will go with you too."

"Bec, if Frollo sees you, he's going to be mad," Mokuba warned her.

Leon agreed. "Yeah, he could take his anger out on you for what happened."

"He can't do anything while we're in the church," she assured him. "Besides, he's always mad."

"Well, we just want you to be careful," said Mokuba.

Danyal perched herself on Rebecca's shoulder, meaning she was coming along too.

Mokuba asked, "Danyal? Why are going down there?"

"I'm just curious about something," she said bluntly.

Mokuba shrugged in response. "Okay."

Brutus and Maria pulled down the hoods of their robes to conceal their faces and began following Rebecca and the others down into the church.

Darius approached Mokuba. "I got to hand it to your girlfriend, Mokuba. She's got guts."

"And I do find her spirit admirable, but I do still worry," he admitted.

Mahad began thinking about his late father and Mokuba asked him, "What's on your mind?"

Matthias answered, "From what I've heard from my brother Claude, Mr. Jafar Mustafa Nasir died from anaphylactic shock when his neighbor used a member of the pit viper family to kill him."

Both Mokuba and Leon were in shock. "Tell me your brother wasn't named after the minister," Mokuba begged Matthias.

"And please tell me your father wasn't named after Aladdin's enemy," Leon begged Mahad.

"Wait a minute," Mokuba interrupted. "Nasir was the family name of Aladdin?! That has a nice ring to it."

"This is way too much of a coincidence," said Leon.

Both Mokuba and Leon were in shock. "Tell me your brother wasn't named after the minister," Mokuba begged Matthias.

"Wait a minute," Leon interrupted. "Your dad has Jafar as a name."

Mahad pointed out, "The name Jafar meant holy water in Arabic. My father told me that his father wanted to bring that name in a new light."

Matthias stated, "My brother was named after a saint with that name."

"Kind of ironic that those names would be used by villains," Leon muttered.

Mahad stated, "I concur. My father dealt with students that would spread lies about him. He was the history teacher of Roy O. Disney High School from 1988 to 2006 the year that he died."

Matthias stated, "My brother tried to save Mr. Nasir, but he could not. That day crushed him emotionally. However, he testified against that neighbor who was on trial for murder."

"That's awful," said Mokuba. "I'm sorry for your loss, Mahad. I'm sorry too, Matthias."

"Since that day, my brother hasn't exactly recovered," said Matthias. "He's been so buried with his work that he hardly comes home. My father wants us to be forgiving of the people who wronged us and our neighbors, but it's so hard with the cruelty we have to face."

Mana stated, "The unruly neighbors should do some community service if they keep up with that attitude."

It seemed like a fair punishment to some, but others didn't think it would bring any justice to those who were hurt. All everyone could do was hope that the heroes and their friends and families would recover from the pain they were caused in due time.

Meanwhile, Rebecca, Maria, and Brutus made it down into the church and saw the girls and their companions. Rebecca was the first to approach them. "Téa, Emily, Esmeralda. Boy, am I glad to see you girls."

"Rebecca," Emily replied. "Glad to see you're all right."

"Esmeralda, this is our friend Rebecca," Téa introduced.

The gypsy girl remembered her. "I saw you watching our dance at the festival."

The younger blonde nodded. Then she turned to her own companions. "These are my new friends. The mouse is Jeanette, the rat is Natius, and the magpie is Danyal. And over here is Maria and Brutus."

Emily was familiar with the name Danyal. It was the name of a friend she met on the internet once before. Before she had time to think, she heard Djali bleating fearfully and saw the goat hiding behind Esmeralda. "What's wrong, Djali?" The goat bleated, looking at Brutus fearfully and saying he wasn't a human.

Brutus looked at the goat. "You saw through me, didn't you? Don't be afraid. I mean no harm."

Danyal asked, "Who has heard of the story of a bear named Kenai?"

"You can talk?" Téa asked, surprised.

"We sure can," said the rat.

Emily looked at the magpie. "Then are you Danyal Parker?" Seeing her nod, she laughs and says, "No way."

Rebecca looked at the two of them. "Wait a minute, you two know each other?"

"I met a girl on the internet named Danyal," Emily explained. "I just never thought we'd actually meet; especially here in this world. And as a bird?"

"It was so we could avoid detection from that disgraced minister," Natius explained. "Anyway,"

"Oh, right," Emily said, remembering Danyal's question. "You must be talking about the movie Brother Bear."

Danyal replied, "Correct, Brutus is a descendant of Kenai."

Téa asked, "What?"

Natius stated, "It's not a joke."

Brutus took out his family amulet and Téa looked at the necklace amazed to see it in person.

"Whoa," she sighed.

Little did any of them realize that Phoebus was in the church and quietly approaching the group. Esmeralda sensed his presence and stopped him. She also took his sword and pointed it at him. "You!"

"Easy, easy, Phoebus said, backing away. "I just shaved this morning."

"Oh, really? You missed a spot," Esmeralda told him.

"All right, all right. Just-" he said, feeling his back against a pillar. "Calm down. Just give me a chance to apologize."

"For what?" the gypsy asked.

Phoebus knocked her down and took his sword back from her. "That, for example."

"You sneaky son of-"

"Ah, ah, ah, watch it," he warned her. "We're in a church."

"Are you always this charming or am I just lucky?" Esmeralda asked, gripping another candelabra and using it to fight.

"He can be chivalrous," Lopmon commented.

Danyal stated, "That man is a candidate for valor."

Phoebus stopped himself, but by letting his guard down, he got hit. Téa decided to break it up. "I think that's enough," she said to Esmeralda. The gypsy looked and figured she was right. She didn't realize he stopped paying attention.

Emily held out her hand to help him up. "It's not like a soldier to let his guard down so easily."

He took her hand and got back on his feet. "I was just taken by surprise when I heard a magpie talking like a person."

"Magpies are intelligent birds and can imitate the voices of anyone they hear," said Rebecca. "But Danyal here is no ordinary magpie nor is she imitating anyone."

Danyal answered, "She has a point. I was sorely tempted to imitate one of the guards to have them take the blame for that melon cart, but I did not want to be detected by a prejudiced disgrace of a minister. My comrades: Natius, Jeanette, Bianca, Zander, Mahad and myself are Americans, but we have different ethnic backgrounds and I hate the thought of them getting killed over something that stupid."

Gatomon smiled sheepishly and raised her paw. "I was responsible for that."

"As was I," Lopmon confessed.

Phoebus blinked in astonishment. "You little ones?"

"We didn't mean any harm. We were only trying to create a diversion," said the brown rabbit.

Phoebus continued looking at the Digimon. "What are you two, anyway?"

"I'm a cat," Gatomon answered. "Isn't that obvious? My name is Gatomon."

"And I'm a rabbit. My name is Lopmon." She then introduced Djali. "And this is Djali. He can't talk like us, but he still says 'hello.' Right, Djali?"

In response, the goat smiled mischievously and butted Phoebus in the stomach.

Gatomon laughed. "That's just Djali's way of saying 'hello.'"

Danyal stated, "They may look cute, but they can take down enemies bigger than them."

Phoebus noticed Brutus and he asked, "And you are?"

Brutus answered, "Brutus Arctos."

Phoebus held out his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Brutus."

Brutus looked at his hand, then into Phoebus's eyes, unsure if he could trust this man. After all, he worked for Frollo.

"It's okay, Brutus. We can trust him," Rebecca assured him.

"Hey, I remember you," said Phoebus. "We met this morning. I didn't get your name, though."

"Oh, right. Sorry about that. It's Hawkins; Rebecca Hawkins."

"Where are those boys who were with you, Rebecca," the soldier asked.

"Yeah, Rebecca. Where are Mokuba and Leon?" Téa asked.

"Don't worry, they're safe," she replied. "Hiding from Frollo, like you."

Phoebus asked, "Why?"

"Apparently, he blames us for the whole fiasco." she replied.

"Why?" Esmeralda asked. "You didn't do anything."

"You don't know the half of it," Emily was telling her. "They're friends with the hunchback."

"Is that bad?" the gypsy asked.

Téa understood. "I get it. Frollo thinks you guys encouraged Quasimodo to go to the festival."

Rebecca nodded. "And since he doesn't like us very much, we're trying to avoid him."

Danyal stated, "He needs to get a dictionary and look up what mentally unstable actually means. Just because I have autism doesn't mean I'm mentally unstable."

Emily felt she understood. Though she never actually thought she had autism, she too, had been called mentally unstable just because she saw and thought of things differently from everyone else.

Seeing that everyone was getting along, Esmeralda figured she could lower her defenses. "Are you really not here to arrest any of us?" she asked Phoebus.

"I can't as long as you're in here," he replied.

"Then what do you want?"

"I'd settle for an introduction," he said.

The gypsy smiled and introduced herself. "Esmeralda."

"Beautiful," Phoebus commented.

"I'm Téa," the brunette introduced.

"My name is Emily," said the blonde.

"Emily," Brutus repeated. "At the festival, Frollo called you 'princess'. Are you really?"

She hesitated for a bit. "Um, well, I, um-,"

"It's true," Gatomon interrupted. "She really is a princess."

Brutus stated, "I was told of a princess in this world."

"You mean you were looking for me?" Emily asked.

"Master Yen Sid sent me to find you," Brutus told her. "It seems you and I both represent the element of love."

Emily remembered that love was also Kenai's element and wondered if Brutus was also trying to understand what it meant.

While they were talking, Maria tapped Rebecca's shoulder. "Rebecca, take Jeanette, Natius and Danyal back to the bell tower," she whispered.

"Why?" the younger blonde silently asked.

"That minister is going to come into the church soon," Maria reminded her. Rebecca understood and headed for the stairs.

As the heroes returned to the bell tower, Frollo walked into the church and stated, "Now arrest her."

Maria said in Latin, "Dico Sanctuarium."

Frollo asked, "What did you say?"

Maria answered bluntly, "We claim sanctuary."

"We claim sanctuary," said Emily. "I thought you were well educated in Latin."

Frollo stated, "I'm waiting, captain."

Phoebus knowing some Latin stated, "I'm sorry, but they claim sanctuary. There's nothing I can do."

"Are you deaf?" Gatomon asked.

"I'll take care of this," Phoebus whispered. He turned around and said to Frollo, "I'm sorry, sir, but there's nothing I can do."

"Then drag them outside and-"

But the archdeacon stopped him and said, "Frollo, you will not harm them." He turned to the others. "Don't worry. Minister Frollo learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the church."

Frollo was furious at this, but he did know, so he commanded the soldiers to leave. Phoebus was being escorted outside by the archdeacon.

Maria looked at Frollo with anger as he touched Emily!

Gatomon jumped on him, trying to make him release her. "Get away from her," she growled.

Maria snarled, "I know what you're imagining, Frollo. You better leave this sacred ground now or face excommunication for your sin."

Frollo looked at the group. He said to Maria, "You won't always be able to protect them." He looked Emily. "I'm not finished with you, young princess. I still have a score to settle with you." He then said to Esmeralda, "And you know as well as I do that gypsies don't do well inside stone walls." He headed for the exit. "You've chosen a magnificent place to stay, but it is a prison, nonetheless. If any of you try to leave, you'll be my prisoners." And he finally left the church.

Maria stated, "That minister always infuriates me."

"Tell me about it," said Téa. "Are you okay there, Emily?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Thanks, Maria. You too, Gatomon."

"What did he mean by a score to settle?" Brutus wondered.

"Frollo and I have had many encounters," said Emily. "But now I think he wants to get back at me for the time I humiliated him."

"What happened?" Maria asked.

It was a few days before the festival. Emily and her friends were out on the streets of Paris and were running from Frollo. That was when it happened. Emily fooled the minister into thinking he had her cornered at the end of a bridge. Suddenly, she frightened his horse and the minister was thrown off and into the river.

Maria giggled, "He's lucky enough not to be a customer for my salon. I would've had Chuck kick him out."

Téa asked, "Salon?"

"I'm a hair stylist," she explained.

"Oh, you're not from this era," Téa realized.

Maria stated, "No I'm not."

Téa asked, "What brings you here?"

Esmeralda told the girls to be quiet as she looked outside a side door. A soldier said, "Frollo's orders. Post a guard at every door." Hearing that, Esmeralda grunted in frustration and sat against the door.

"Now what?" Lopmon asked. "We're trapped."

"Don't worry, Lopmon," Téa said. "If Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he's wrong."

Anakin came down to see the statue of the Holy Mother and he began to sob as he began to remember a dream that he had on the previous night.

Maria noticed this as she heard some sobbing and she asked, "Are you okay?"

Anakin confessed as he began to calm himself down, "I had a dream seeing a woman that looked like the statue."

"What animal is that?" Lopmon asked.

"It's a mouflon," her partner answered.

Danyal stated, "Omar is the mouflon. Anakin here is a beech marten. A member of the weasel family."

Maria asked Anakin, "Did the Holy Mother say anything to you?"

Anakin was confused and he asked, "Holy Mother?"

Danyal answered, "Mary, mother of Jesus and the holy mother of the church."

"You didn't know that?" Lopmon asked.

"We have a different name for her in my country," said Anakin.

"Where are you from?" Emily asked.

"Wales," he answered. "She is called Our Lady of Cardigan there."

Maria commented, "I take that she showed you your past. Is that what happened?"

Anakin was trying to remember if the Holy Mother said anything in the dream.

Anakin replied, "She told me that my physical body is in good hands. What did she mean?"

Emily and Téa looked at each other in confusion. Even Esmeralda didn't understand.

"Are you a ghost?" Gatomon asked.

"No," Anakin answered.

Rebecca came out from the stairwell. "Mokuba told me of something like this; how a person's mind and soul is separated from the body and transported to another world." She looked at Anakin. "That's what happened to you, isn't it, Anakin?"

He nodded and explained his situation, how a servant of the Dark Masters caused this to happen.

Rebecca asked, "Why did they do that?"

Anakin replied, "The Dark Masters didn't even approve this."

Natius asked the others, "Do any of you know what kind of punishment awaits anyone who defies or betrays the Dark Masters?"

Emily had one guess. "Death," she said quietly.

"That's why Frollo is keeping me, Mokuba, and Leon in check," said Rebecca. "If we take it too far, he'll kill us."

Anakin asked, "What do we do about this?"

Mahad stated, "There is nothing we can do."

Gatomon pawed at her partner's dress. "Can we go to the bell tower? I want to make sure Quasi's okay."

Lopmon agreed. "Please, Téa?"

"I should go too so I can apologize for what happened," said Esmeralda.

"Come on," said Brutus. "We'll take you there." So the group of friends walked up the stairs to the bell tower.

Natius noticed the group climbing up to the bell tower!

"Wait for me," he said, trying to keep up with them.

Brutus picked him up. He scolded Rebecca. "You were supposed to have gone up to the tower with Natius, Danyal, and Jeanette. Why didn't you?"

"We were about to, but that was when Anakin was coming our way," she answered.

Brutus asked, "Why did he come down here?"

"Were you not paying attention to what was going on a few minutes ago?" Rebecca asked as they continued climbing the stairs.

Brutus clarified, "I was, but what I don't understand was why Anakin would rush down to see a statue of St. Mary."

Danyal stated, "You don't get it, do you? In that era, it would be a sign of something imperative that he needed to know."

Maria stated, "I have been reading articles about a boy comatose."

Brutus asked, "What?"

Anakin wondered if that was the state he was in back home. If so, someone had to be looking after his body. Was that what the Holy Mother meant in his dream?

When they reached the tower, Rebecca called out, "We're back."

Mokuba approached her and hugged her. "Thank goodness. You were gone for so long, I was worried."

"Frollo didn't see you, did he?" Leon asked.

"No," she answered. "I was hiding while Maria was defending everyone from him."

Natius stated, "I agree with Maria that he needs to be excommunicated for what he had done."

"The archdeacon is too easy on him," Mokuba commented. "And the church officials know what a tragic past he's had."

Mahad asked, "What?"

Danyal answered, "Frollo lost his parents to the plague and turned to religion. It's too bad, that he's disgraced what the Church had stood for."

"Oh," Brutus sighed. "I almost feel sorry for him."

Gatomon and Lopmon entered the bell tower, calling Quasimodo's name. They found him in the main area and began climbing on him playfully, happy to see tnat he was all right.

"Wow, they really like you," said Jeanette.

"All right, you two," said Téa's voice. "Come here." The Digimon obeyed and went back to their partners.

Chuck laughed, "If Clopin had a Digimon partner, it would be a Piedmon."

Danyal began thinking of the many ways Piedmon would torture Frollo and she began laughing!

Emily observed Chuck and wondered, was it possible? "Excuse me, by any chance, are you related to-?"

Chuck placed his hand over her mouth to silence her. He knew what she was asking, and that was why he stopped her. To answer her, he gave a small nod. "I'll explain later, Princess."

Mahad asked, "What's so funny?"

Danyal replied, "I can think of many ways Frollo would be punished by Piedmon."

Mahad groaned. "I hate that Digimon. He reminds me so much of Jafar."

Mana concluded, "Then Frollo is the Disney equivalent to Machinedramon."

"I had to battle a Machinedramon in the Digital World," said Mokuba.

"I find Frollo to be scarier than Myotismon," Lopmon commented.

Natius stated, "I agree. I wish I was turned into a shrew."

Danyal asked, "Why? So you would acquire a poisonous bite? You would be as cruel as Grimhilde."

Natius argued, "At least it would give the Dark Masters something to be afraid of."

Esmeralda didn't understand what they were all talking about. She instead turned her attention to the table where the model of Paris was with the figurines of the townspeople.

Natius smiled as he looked at the figurines, "I have to say, this model of the cathedral is rich with detail."

Mahad noticed Djali about to eat the figurines and he stated, "Don't do it."

Djali backed away, startled by the polecat. Lopmon gently petted the goat. "He's right. That's not food. Though I don't blame you for being hungry."

Mana looked at the bells and she was amazed at the sight of so many bells in this cathedral.

She asked Natius, "How many bell does your church hold?"

Natius answered, "Two."

Quasimodo began to eagerly show everyone around the bell tower, introducing the bells. He even took them to the roof where they could get a grand view of the city.

Mahad muttered, "No way."

Mana was amazed at the sunset.

"Yeah, it's awesome," said Mokuba. "It's better than the view we have back home in our world."

Brutus asked Natius, "Did you learn your lesson about that reflection? About your actions. Have you put any thought of what I said while you in the church?"

Natius answered, "Frollo is starting to annoy me."

Quasimodo asked, "Why?"

Natius answered, "What kind of man allows this kind of bull-"

Zander scolded, "Hey, rodent! You're still on church property. So, you might want to keep that language away from the church."

Danyal agreed, "He has a point."

She asked Esmeralda, "Is the Court of Miracles sacred ground? Just out of curiosity."

"It's sacred to me and my people." she answered.

Danyal stated, "If there is one thing, I have to say about Frollo is that he is a disgrace to Notre Dame."

Lopmon asked, "Isn't that a bit harsh? Like you said he lost his family."

Danyal argued, "It doesn't excuse his appalling transgressions towards his fellow human being."

Brutus looked at Emily. "He also seems to think you're a witch. Why is that?"

"I'm not a witch," she stated. "He just doesn't understand what magic is."

"Magic?" Brutus asked. "You're a magician?"

"Of sorts," she replied.

Danyal asked, "What if that minister calls me mentally unstable? Because it is starting to become irritating."

"You could scare him by imitating Maleficent's voice," Bianca suggested.

"Don't you think he'd be too smart for that?" Jeanette asked.

Danyal stated, "The mouse has a good point. We need to think of something a little smarter."

"I told you, that's no easy task," said Rebecca.

"I think it's best that you avoid him as best as you can," said Quasimodo. "For your safety." He looked at the children. "Especially the three of you. More than once, I've asked you be careful. I know you don't like him very much, but-"

"You don't know the half of it," Rebecca interrupted. "Your master's not the good person he's fooled you into thinking he is."

"We understand your loyalty to Frollo," said Mokuba. "Really, we do. And we get that you're trying to protect us. But we don't want to see him hurt you either."

Danyal stated, "That minister is a disgrace to the Cross upon which Christ died for the sins of humanity. Frollo has become more monster than man."

"Danyal!" Quasimodo snapped.

Esmeralda didn't understand. "How can you defend him like that? Why are you so loyal to him?"

Emily looked at her. "Because Frollo is the one who raised Quasimodo."

The gypsy was surprised to hear that someone as cruel as Frollo would raise someone like Quasimodo. That made her wonder how much the minister had influenced him.

"We'll tell you about it later," Téa whispered to her.

"It's true," said Quasimodo. "He took me in when no one else would. I'm the real monster."

"No, you're not," Mokuba protested.

"I want to get a better look at you," said Emily. Rather, she wanted to look inside his heart. As she did, she could see that he had been suffering from loneliness, fear, and pain. "You've been alone for so long. There's so much you want to learn and see, but you're afraid because of the things you've been told. You're also afraid for yourself and that people will only see you for the monster you've been fooled into believing you are. But you're not a monster. You're very good and caring towards those you care about. And you're very loyal and devoted too."

Quasimodo was amazed. "How do you know all of that?"

"I have the power to look inside a person's heart and see their truth," she answered. "And I saw no evil in your heart; only good."

Danyal apologized, "Sorry about that. Like I said, he committed appalling transgressions towards his fellow human being. He even killed a mother of a child. Not to mention, he's a pathological liar."

"And he's consumed with lust," Gatomon added.

Natius stated to Danyal, "You're right about him being a disgrace."

Mana began giggling, "I wonder how Frollo would react to that roasting?"

Bianca cried, "He'd be furious."

Mana laughed, "Then again the Gypsies, would be laughing."

Esmeralda leaned against the railing and looked at the view. Quasimodo got an idea on how to repay her. "You helped me. Now I would like to help you."

"But there's no way out," she told him. "Frollo has soldiers posted at every door."

He smiled slyly. "We won't use a door."

Esmeralda swallowed hard. "You mean climb down."

"Sure. It'll be easy."

She looked down, then back at her friends. "But what about Téa and Emily?"

The two of them looked at each other. "You go on, Esmeralda," Téa told her. "We'll be all right."

"Are you sure?" she asked, not wanting to leave her friends.

Emily nodded. "You go on and let Clopin and the others know we're safe here."

After thinking about it enough, Esmeralda decided she would do it. She embraced her friends and took Djali in her arms. Quasimodo began climbing down the cathedral while carrying Esmeralda.

Natius asked Esmeralda, "Can you tell them about us, so they wouldn't mistake us for pests?"

"Don't worry," she replied. "I will."

Mana smiled, "Good thinking, Natius."

Brutus looked at Emily. "You actually decided to stay?"

"You went through a lot of trouble trying to find me," she told him. "I didn't want it to be for nothing."

In a way, he was glad that she chose to stay. "How did you know all that stuff you said about Quasimodo?"

"I simply looked inside his heart and searched for his truth," she reminded him.

"If I tried that, I'd get a headache," Gatomon commented.

Brutus wondered if that was the power of the element of love. So he asked Emily, "Would you teach me?"

"It's not something that can be taught," she replied. "One just knows."

Natius asked Brutus, "I don't remember the bear clutching a stylized heart in its paws. Will it turn a brighter red than the crest of kindness?"

Chuck stated, "I thought it would be a bird like Sora."

Lopmon was confused. "I thought the bear represented inner knowing."

"You're thinking about the Balto films," Emily told her.

Danyal stated, "In some Native American tribes, bears represent not only strength but also great love. Especially the love that Sitka displayed when he laid down his life for his younger brothers."

"Only Sitka wasn't a bear," Jeanette pointed out.

Danyal stated, "Good point, but Koda demonstrated great love when he stopped Denahi from killing Kenai."

While everyone was still chatting, Leon left the roof and walked downstairs. As he came to the balcony, he met Phoebus. "Hi, there," the captain greeted. "You're one of the boys I saw with Rebecca this morning."

The redhead gulped. "I'm Leon."

"Well, Leon, do you think you could help me again?"

"With what?"

"I'm looking for the gypsy girl and her friends," Phoebus said. "Have you seen them?"

Leon didn't want to tell Phoebus that Esmeralda had escaped or that Téa and Emily were hiding in the bell tower. He didn't like lying either, but he had to protect his friends.

Phoebus began to pressure him. "Don't worry. You can trust me."

"I trust you," Leon said. "It's Frollo I'm worried about."

"Rest assured, he's not here," Phoebus promised him.

Leon heard a voice asking, "Leon?"

It was Quasimodo and he noticed Phoebus and he stated, "Get behind me Leon!"

The young redhead turned around. "Quasi?"

Quasimodo didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like seeing this soldier near his friend. He began to drive Phoebus away. "No soldiers! Sanctuary! Get out!" he shouted, waving a flaming torch.

"Wait!" Phoebus cried, backing down the steps. "All I want is to-"

"Go!" Quasimodo shouted.

"I mean no harm," the captain said. Quasimodo wouldn't listen. He continued waving his torch. Phoebus drew his sword and pinned the torch against the wall. He knew he wasn't going to find Esmeralda or the others since their friends were protecting them, so he had to try a different approach. "You must give those girls a message from me," he reasoned. "Tell them I didn't mean to trap them here, but it was the only way I could save their lives. Will you tell them?"

"I will if you go, now," Quasimodo demanded, his voice softening.

"All right." Phoebus turned around to leave, but stopped and said, "Oh, and one more thing: tell Esmeralda and her friends that they're all very lucky."

"Why?" the hunchback wondered.

"To have friends like you and those kids and the talking animals," Phoebus finished. He sheathed his sword and finally made his departure.

Natius began laughing at this confrontation and he asked, "When does evening mass start?"

Danyal asked, "Why do you want to know that?"

Natius stated, "To ask if Saint Michael would know anything about Brutus or even know why my family took the name Gimhilde, when they were establishing the estate."

Danyal asked, "Why would you want to ask him that?"

"Even the Dark Masters were curious about that," Natius recalled. "I guess I am too."

Danyal still didn't think it would be wise to go into the church during mass. The smell of incense would be wafting through the church and make her and her friends sick.

Matthias smiled as he saw Quasimodo and Leon walk back inside the bell tower. Looking at them, he thought that they almost looked like they were related.

"Princess," Brutus whispered to Emily. "After mass, I hope you and I will get to talk."

Emily nodded, thinking she understood what he wanted.

Natius began to hear some chanting in Latin, and he watched as the Archdeacon was leading the mass.

Anakin walked beind Natius and he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Shh," he hissed. "I'm here for the same reason as you."

Natius clasped his paws in prayer, hoping that the saints would hear him. Little did they know that the archdeacon was swinging his thurible back and forth as he and the monks were chanting a Latin prayer for protection during the nightfall.

The scent began to fill Anakin's nostrils and he began feeling weak and lightheaded. He had to get back to the others.

Natius felt lightheaded as the scent of the incense began to ensnare his mind.

He began to scurry back to the bell tower behind Anakin!

They made it back to the entrance of the tower only to meet their disappointed friends. "Where were you two?" Bianca asked.

Zander smelled incense on their fur. "Oh, great," he grumbled. "Some incense got to them."

Danyal snapped, "I warned you two, but you didn't listen!"

She asked, "Does anybody have something to cleanse the incense out?!"

"You idiots," Nausicaä scolded them. "Weren't you told not to get close to any incense?" The only responses she received were a couple of groans.

Natius collapsed on his side.

Danyal asked, "Is there any way to cleanse out the incense?"

Natius began to see Queen Grimhilde and he frantically began to scurry around the bell tower as he screamed, "Leave me alone!"

Nausicaä pinned the rat to the floor in a gentle manner, causing Natius to struggle in a frantic manner crying for someone to rescue him!

Natius screamed thinking that Nausicaä was Lucius, "Zander! Help! Help me!"

"Snap out of it, Natius!" Zander shouted. "Come on!"

Anakin screamed as he felt Nausicaā holding him down.

Matthias noticed bottle and saw a small note that explained that it was a potion created by Master Yen Sid. It was made to calm someone when they were in a trance or state of madness.

Anakin screamed, "Help!"

"We've got to get them to take this potion," Matthias said.

"How?" Bianca asked. "In the state they're in, they won't be able to drink it."

Darius had an idea. "I need a cloth."

Emily handed him her handkerchief. Darius dabbed it with the potion, trying to be careful not to get too much.

"Are you crazy?" Mokuba asked. "What if that stuff kills them?"

"Trust me," he said.

He pressed his fingertip against Natius's face and the rat began to breathe in the potion.

He finally stopped thrashing around and his breathing became even. It was the same for Anakin as he breathed in the potion. Both of them had finally calmed down.

"Nothing to do now but let them rest." said Matthias.

Brutus looked at Emily. "Couldn't you have used a magic spell to save us the trouble?"

"This tower is still part of sacred ground," she reminded him. "Granted, I'm not in the church itself, but I still can't use my magic."

Matthias stated, "She has a point."

Maria yawned. "I think we all should be getting rest; especially after such an exciting day."

Everyone ageed and began making themselves comfortable.

Meanwhile, in the Palace of Justice, the minister was kneeling, praying for protection from the girls he had lustful desires for. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Maleficent's voice. "Feeling tormented, are we?"

Frollo opened his eyes and saw her in the fire. "I'm not going to tell you again, Maleficent, don't interrupt me while I'm thinking."

"Settle down," she told him. "I only came because I'm concerned. You haven't been keeping to the objective. And you seem to be distracted."

"I haven't forgotten about my task," he snapped. "You informed me that the flame brat and his friends would be here in my world. You also warned me to watch out for a bear. But I haven't seen any of them since I've been here."

Maleficent chuckled. "Oh, they're here, all right; hiding right under your nose."

Frollo didn't understand what she meant. Were the heroes taking refuge with the gypsies? He also thought about Leon, Mokuba, and Rebecca and wondered if they knew anything.

"Don't let your obsession with the gypsy girl and the princess cause you to stray from your objective," Maleficent warned him.

Frollo looked at her. "Those witches are not going to keep me from finding the flame brat or any of his friends. But the princess and I still have a score to settle."

"I understand," she replied. "By the way, your intended prisoners escaped."

"What?" He didn't want to believe her.

"It's true," she told him. "The gypsy girl and her friends found a way out of the cathedral."

"But how? I-" he interrupted himself. "Never mind. Leave me be, you witch," he growled. "I'll find them, all of them," he promised himself, holding Esmeralda's scarf. "I'll find them if I have to burn down all of Paris!"

Maleficent saw that he was beginning to lose it. "Frollo, I'm serious," she warned him again. "Don't let your obsessions with those girls lead you astray!"

Author's Notes: Looks like two of the heroes got high on incense. Will they pull through? Tune in next episode: Hellfire on Paris.