| The Hunchback of Notre Dame III * Every Rose has its Thorn by Melissa Chapter 1 The sun was setting over the magnificent city, Paris. People were closing up their shops for the night and heading home. Still, this time was as busy as day time. The local baker was about to pick up his basket of bread from the ground but quickly held back when a young man on a white horse flew past him. "HEY! Watch where you're going!" the baker shouted angrily. The man was obviously in a great hurry, almost knocking people down as he sped past them. "SORRY!" he shouted to the angry towns people. Phoebus and Esmeralda had just happened to be strolling by when the baker approached them. "You need to talk to that son of yours! He rides around like a mad man on that horse!" Phoebus and Esmeralda sighed. "Not again!" Phoebus exclaimed as he shook his head. Meanwhile, the white horse was found waiting outside the great Cathedral, Notre Dame. High in the bell tower, the sun catchers jingled from the rafter in the soft breeze. "Well? What do you think?" a sweet voice asked from behind a great canvas. "Magnifique!" Victor replied. "Wonderful!" Laverne said. "Sure it's wonderful, but this..." Hugo chimed in. "Is amazing!" In his stone claws was a piece of paper. On the paper was a stick figure holding a flower. The gargoyles rolled their eyes. The young girl turned around from the canvas. "Yes, it is Hugo," she said with a smile. The girls blue eyes sparkled. She was of sixteen years. On each side of her head, her red hair was pulled back by black barrettes while the rest of her hair fell down to her shoulders in thick curls. She was wearing a maroon colored dress with puffed sleeves. "Thank you for recognizing my talent, Belle," Hugo said proudly. "Are you kidding? You couldn't draw if your life depended on it!" Laverne argued. "What?!" Hugo shouted. Belle looked on nervously; another fight was about to break out. "I have impeccable talent! Only the blind can't see it!" Hugo snapped back. "Why, I oughta---!" Laverne said angrily as she clenched her fist. "Now guys!" Belle said, trying to calm the two down. They were always fighting. "Hey! How about painting a more sophisticated model?" a voice interrupted. Belle peeked out from behind the canvas. "Zephyr! What are you doing here?' she asked, surprised. "I told ya! I'm here to be the model!" Belle rolled her eyes. "In that case, I think I'll stick to roses for now," she teased. "Hey!" Zephyr said. Belle giggled. "Come here and tell me what you think of the painting." "You finished it already? Wow Belle! You're a painting machine!" "Well, not quite. But I'm almost there," Belle smiled and stepped back to allow Zephyr to examine her work. "As always, it's perfect. You make them look so real!" "Thanks," Belle blushed. "Did you finish that painting already, Belle?" a voice came from afar. "Not yet mom!" Belle answered. "Oh hello Zephyr! I didn't think you'd be coming today. I thought you had lessons with your father." Madellaine said as she entered the room. "Wait a minute! Did you just say lessons?" Zephyr's face went pale. "Yes, she did! And so did I...last night!" a deep voice came from the doorway below them; it was Phoebus. "OH NO!" Zephyr groaned. Phoebus and Esmerelda climbed the ladder to the loft. "Oh, don't be too mad at him! I've seen him on the horse! He's very experienced," Quasi said as he appeared from behind a bell. Quasi was always sticking up for Zephyr, even when the boy was wrong! "Well, the angry mob in the square would like to differ," Phoebus explained. "Son, if you're going to be captain of the guards, you have to know how to ride a horse properly. And you have to have people skills. And, well...you don't have any of those." "I know dad. I'm sorry. But I was only trying to have fun, in fact I was going to ask Belle to go for a ride." Belle's eyes widened. She liked Zephyr, he was her friend. But when it came to horseback riding, Phoebus was right, Zephyr rode too fast. But before Phoebus could protest, Quasi said: "That sounds like a good idea! It would give you a chance to get out, Belle." Belle smiled. "I don't know---" Esmeralda protested. "Oh come on mom! I'll prove to you I can ride Zeus! Right Belle?" said Zephyr. All eyes turned to Belle. "Ummm, yes, sure. Why not?" Phoebus sighed. "Fine! But be back before night fall. And first thing tomorrow, you'll continue your lessons!" Phoebus shouted as Zephyr ran out with Belle trailing behind him. * Of course, Zephyr had no intention of riding Zeus at a slow pace. He sped his horse through the square; he just wanted to have fun. "Isn't this great?!" Zephyr shouted. Belle's eyes were closed shut and her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist. He leapt over a flock of chickens in the middle of the street. They all shrieked in fright and scattered in all directions. "ZEPHYR! SLOW...DOWN!" Belle finally shouted. "WHAT?!" he shouted back. "I SAID..." Suddenly Zephyr stopped Zeus. "Hey! Look over there!" Zephyr pointed. Belle exhaled in relief and then pushing her hair back, she looked and saw a wagon near a huge and dilapidated house. A rusty, iron gate surrounded the front yard. Most of its paint was worn off leaving a gray and dull color. Black shutters hung off the windows. A dead tree sat in the tall weeds in front. It seemed to be isolated from the rest of the town. "That old place has been abandoned for years!" Zephyr said. "I wonder who would want to live there? Lets go see!" "No!' Belle protested. "Why not?" "Well...maybe they would like some privacy?" "Maybe they'd like some friends! After all, my dad did say I needed people skills," Zephyr said and rode the horse forward. He hopped off of Zeus but Belle stayed seated. "Come on Belle!" "I'd rather wait here." Zephyr frowned and folded his arms. Belle sighed. "Fine!" She relented. Zephyr helped her down and they walked toward the wagon. "Hello? Need any help?" Zephyr asked. "No!" a firm and grim voice replied sharply from behind them. The two friends spun around to see a slender man with long black hair. He was wearing a long, dark purple cape and black boots. He had Zeus' reins in his hands. "Take your horse and leave...please." The man handed the reins to Zephyr and brushed past Belle. The two stared as the man disappeared into the wagon. Belle frowned and folded her arms. "What?" Zephyr asked. "So much for people skills! Lets go," Belle said as she walked over to Zeus. But Zephyr was very stubborn; he just wouldn't give up. He walked up to the wagons door. He knocked twice and the man flung open the door. "Hi! I'm Zephyr and I was just wondering if you needed any help? I'd be glad to lend a hand." The man stared at him, un-amused. As Zephyr rambled on, Belle happened to look up at a tiny window at the very top of the house. She saw a black figure standing in it. She looked on at the mysterious figure but the slam of a door surprised her. She looked at Zephyr who was still at the door. "What is that guy's problem? I was only trying to help," Zephyr said, annoyed. He hopped on Zeus. Belle looked back at the window, but the figure was gone. The next day, Belle took a much needed break from her painting and went for a stroll with Quasi and Madellaine. "Hey there's Esmeralda!" Madellaine pointed. The beautiful gypsy was dancing with Djali in the square. The three went and stood among the crowd to watch. Esmerlada never lost her dancing flare; she was as spirited as always. She waved to her friends once she spotted them. She danced through the crowd until she reached Belle and took her hand to invite her to dance. But Belle's shy nature told her not to, so she shook her head nervously. But before she knew it, Belle was up in front of the entire crowd with Esmeralda. Djali handed her a tambourine but Belle stood there, frozen. She glanced at Esmeralda who smiled encouragingly and took her hands to begin the dance. Belle twirled around and finally started to have fun. Quasi and Madellaine clapped their hands happily. At the end, the crowd applauded and Belle stood there, her face all red. "You did great! See? Wasn't that fun?" Esmeralda asked. Belle nodded. "Yes...I guess it was." "She can paint and dance!" Quasi complimented. Belle blushed. "Oh dad." "Hey, why don't we all go and have lunch together?" Madellaine suggested. "That sounds like a great idea! I'm starving!" Esmeralda agreed. But Djali had other plans: he took notice of the baker with a new load of freshly baked bread. He licked his lips and started after him. "Djali! No! Come back here!" Esmeralda shouted after him. "Don't worry, I'll get him!" Belle said and took off after the hungry goat. "Djali!" Belle called as she ran after him. But she lost sight of the hungry goat after turning a corner. Go to Chapter 2 Back to Fanfic Back to Index |