Phoebus- this atrocious act will not go unpunished. I will make my mission to find the perpetrator and bring them to justice. While Minister frollo and I didn't see eye to eye be both shared a mutual respect and admiration for justice. His death hurts us all, but we cannot let the pain overshadow our responsibilities. In order to maintain the stability of Paris I will have to assume control. Until such reluctance, and accept a temporary leadership time as our king, assigns a proper replacement. *The council members look at each other with.*
Pierre- has a messenger been dispatched? Phoebus- yes of course that was one of my first actions upon learning of dear frollos death.
~later that day at Notre Dame Cathedral~
*A house of worship lays empty except for one coffin. A short misshapen figure comes down from the bell tower and enters through the side door to the church to figure makes its way towards the stage and the coffin of the only father he has ever known. As he takes one more step, a soft voice comes from the back pew.*
Esme- hello Quasimodo. *he slowly turns around to see a hood partly concealing raven black hair sitting at the back of the church.*
Quasi- Esmeralda! *runs toward her, esme stands up, Quasi hugs her tightly esme begins to rub her hand on the back of his head as he begins to sob*
Esme- there, there quasi. It will be okay.
Quasi- why? *the only word that escapes him*
Esme- I don't know quasi. Sometimes we lose the people we love. ~in the back of her mind~ and sometimes they are taken from us continuing to comfort him. He is in a better place. *just then, the archdeacon approaches them, placing his hands on quasi s shoulder*
Ad- Quasimodo. It's almost time to ring the bells for the afternoon service. Quasi-*slowly releases esme and turns to the deacon* can I stay?
Ad- it's not that you can't stay. You have responsibilities that must be kept.
Quasi-*in a quiet tone with a gentle smile quasi looks at the deacon one last time I understand.
*as quasi was walking away esme, grabs his arm and pulls him back towards her for one last embrace. Esme, slowly, lets go and watch qausi go back to the bell tower.
Ad- do you seek to spill more blood. My child?
Esme-*slowly turning her head* no father. I am to set things right.
Ad- it is not for you to decide what is right at us for our Lord to do.
Esme-*whips around and gets directly in the deacons face and says with fire in her eyes with all due respect, father. I'll let them judge what I do from this point forward. Esme turns around and looks at his coffin. One last time, and storms out of the church.
esme arrives at the court of miracles, heading straight for clopin s tent polling the flap back esme sees clopin eating before he can say a word*
Esme- I need your help. There are skills that I lack, that i need you to teach them to me. No questions asked.
Clopin- *as the spoon of porridge, goes back into its bowl Clopin stares into esmes eyes* hello to you to share. I have 15 minutes.
*in a familiar hidden room in a court of miracles, teacher and student push each other's limits. Their training progress from the basics of speed and strength to advanced tactical analysis. They go from simple sparring to weapon combat. In one such weapons session clopin wields his broad-sword teaching esme how to respond to the powerful attacks from such a weapon. A lesson on blocking overhead attacks comes at a steep price as esme s twin blades break, while blocking.
Esme- *eyes widen in shock esme yells DAMNIT CLOPIN!
Clopin- well I wasn't expecting that to happen *just as surprised as esme, clopin looks at the blade shards on the ground and looks at esme* do you need better blades? Or learn how to block better?
Esme-*smirking* very funny. And yes I do need better blades.
Clopin-*turns from esme and walks towards the door I think there is something we can do about that. I ll be back later, relax till I get back. Opens the door and leaves* ~Several hours later~ clopin returns with a medium-size mahogany box as he kneels down. He opens the box, revealing to twin blades, motioning esme to come closer. He picks one up them up and hands it to her. That one is Ebony fill the grooves on the hilt? Ebony is specifically designed for the left hand as esme plays with a blade balance she notices. The blades contours and deep black handle, clopin hands esme. The second blade. That one is Ivory specifically made for the right-hand. Again esme balances the blade and admirers the opposing color of Ivory. Esme holds each blade parallel in front of her, esme sees in grading of names on both blades written in French. E bene and Ivoire.
Clopin-* now standing in front of her* those two blades were made for speed, quick attacks, but are not very high on the defensive end, unless you use them together. Esme continues to adjust and look over her new weapons, as clopin continues to speak, alternating and manipulating his voice abruptly clopin asks where am I?
Esme- What do you me-? Stopping midsentence esme realizes he's no longer in front of her hearing a familiar chuckle she looks up and sees him sitting on a support beam eyes wide open in shock clopin! How! When!
Clopin-*dropping down to the floor* I'll very good questions my dear. I've been thinking about this since you have decided to pursue this endeavor. You will need every skill that I can teach you what I just did is called cadence esme repeats the new word. As she sits on the floor and crosses her legs as clopin continues to lecture her walking as he talks. It's the manipulation of your breath, voice, and actions. Everything has to be controlled and performed in a exact rhythm for this to work. This skill doesn't make you invisible. It just puts your opponent any kind of trance that prevents them from focusing on you. This will take a while for you to learn, as it did me. If you're going to learn this lets get started. *over the next few days, the mental and physical training intensify more mastering the new skill and handling new weapons proved taxing to esme, however her will, would not be broken.*
Esme-* at the closing of the third day, esme gain some control over her new skill heard new skill painting and out of breath she sheathes her weapons and looks at clopin. thank-
Clopin-*raises one hand* don't bother we both know that the only way I could stop you in by killing you. Walking closer to esme replaces one hand gently on her shoulder I love you as a sister. But inevitably, everyone asked to stand on their own. With a laugh. He pushes her away. Besides, nobody wants to see two highly trained assassins engage in a life or death battle that could potentially level half the city of paris to the ground . or do they?
Esme- clopin why are you staring at that wall?
Clopin- *turning back to her. He point at the wall with his thumb* oh this fourth wall? No reason. With a big grin. He walks back to her hugs her, and leaves.
*famished dirty and exhausted esme gathered what little strength she has and hobbles to her tent. Esme lays down her head and closes her eyes .opening her eyes she finds herself in a formal ball, a green dress adorns her body as she looks down her ring sparkles and shines bringing a smile to her face, raising her head esme sees frollo standing in front of her and black formalwear, her fianc looks more dashing than any storybook hero. Smiling at her, he reaches for her hand and walks her to the dance floor. They begin to dance and music sways and carries the back-and-forth like ocean waves as the lights continues to sparkle and shine esme draws him closer to her, putting her head on his chest. The rhythm of the music changes to a fast thumping Gallup to her surprise. She is at his back while they ride through familiar fields on a black steed. Off in the distance, a bright orange flame comes closer and closer. They soon arrive at a campfire esme dismounts and instead of landing on soft grass. She looks down and sees she is standing on a wooden floor, looking up she sees him poking the fireplace. esme rushes to him and embraces him from behind. esme spins around behind her looks at the flames and begins to dance. She turns around to phoebus pulling a knife from frollos chest. The screen is never heard has esme wakes up in a pool of sweat wakes up in a pool of sweat, groggy esme emerges from her tent. She sees people returning to the court of miracles from their daily labors. Have I really been asleep for an entire day? As fast as lightning, the memories flood back to her, remembering his body. The blood and the pain, the god-awful pain it doesn't matter anyway. I'm putting a end to this once and for all. _
*At the Palace of Justice, one week later it more to be considered the darkest night of the year with no moon might darkness covers the land in the Palace of Justice acting Minister phoebus basks in his seat of power at the same time. A shadow begins to move and creep up the vines that line the outer wall of the Palace. Controlled and smooth movements produce little sound. Esme climbs up the wall with one goal in mind, the death of phoebus.. Continuing her climb esme makes one mistake as she sees a pebble falling down, her heart races eyes widen. The pebble hits the guard shoulder, and he hushed whisper damnit the guard turns and instantly looks up, victor locks eyes with esme with a faint nod. He turns to the other guard and says isn't it time for the perimeter sweep? The second guard agrees and begins to walk away esme smiles only lasting a second conveying. Thanks, above her esme hears ramblings of her target.
Phoebus-*flailing about, he spills some wine on the floor, while ranting you festering old fool. Did you really think you would last? I bowed and fetched for you, like a good dog. Until this dog decided to bite you re hand. As you burn in the bowels of hell know that I took your place, position, your power. I took everything from you!
Esme-*crouching on the window seal esme says in a cold angry tone not everything.
Phoebus-*wide-eyed. He turned around to the window and says ahh well! If it isn't La Esmeralda! What do I owe this lovely visit? I was wondering when you would show your face again. It's been a whole week. *With a sanctimonious tone*
Esme-*hopping down from the windowsill* oh I've been busy. esme moves in the same fashion as her teacher calculated smooth and seamlessly, her emotions are almost hidden by her words you see phoebus. I've learned a lot over the last week. esme continues to manipulate the cadence in her speech so heard movements remain undetected. I've learned that the people have access to military uniforms. Even fewer from that list have access to the Palace of Justice and out of those can you venture to guess how many are fair-haired? Before he could reply esme puts her clinched left fist in front of him releasing the locks of hair. I believe these are yours. phoebus surprise doesn't last long as esme's right fist goes across his jaw.
Phoebus-*stumbling back. He draws his sword* how have your head for this!
*esme pulls back and draws ebony and ivory. Her left arm extended her right close to her chest, esme takes her fighting stance. They both rush at each other. Phoebus takes a side swing esme ducks and thrusts at his chest and dagger bounces off his armor. With no effect, as phoebus comes around for a return swing esme backflips away. She lands and assesses that a direct hit won't work, till his armor is removed. phoebus Chargers straight towards her with his sword. She deflects his attack with one dagger while swiping at his sides with the other. Her graceful movements place her directly behind him, phoebus mule kicks her causing esme to fall back landing on her back, rolling with the added momentum to the other side of the room phoebus turns around before is making get her bearings, tackling her into the hallway as they fall esme makes her second strike at his side. phoebus now on top of her esme lands a series of punches, to his face. Stunning him, she rolls them to the right, away from her is back to the stairs. Both fighters rise to their feet, sluggishly both panting trying to catch their breath. They stare at each other intently. esme rushes towards phoebus jumps and lands a straight kick to his chest, forcing him further back.
Esme-*thinking to herself* this is taking too long. I need to finish removing his armor. Just then phoebus takes a swing at her, ducking esme rises and lands an uppercut to his jaw. Staggering further back phoebus teeters closer to the stairwell, esme sheathes her weapons and grabs a nearby torch and flings it at him. He raises his forearms to shield its face. However, the gantlets do not provide enough protection from the shower of embers onto his face, causing him to flail uncontrollably crying out in pain. At that moment esme rushes him knocking him down a flight of stairs.
Esme-*watching them fall esme tries to catch her breath, thinking to herself again I've got to get the chest plate off. So I can end this. *watching from the top of the stairs as he crashes to the floor esme un-sheathes her daggers and cautiously walks down the stairs, kicking his sword to the lower level. As much as I hate to you, I don't want you to have an excuse when you die.
Phoebus- *as the sword lands at his feet, his shaking hand picks it up this isn't a excuse gypsy, this is the last mistake. You'll ever make. With every step down esme makes phoebus take one back until they are on even ground. They lunge at each other and continue their battle every swipe, every cut, every thrust, brings the Battle closer to an end. phoebus takes another swing at her she avoids it sprints behind and makes her last two cuts on his shoulders, immediately phoebus turns and grabs esme by her hair and yanks her to the ground. Raising his sword above his head for one final strike as a swing comes down in a fraction of a second esme crosses her blades dampening the attack, absorbing the remaining energy. She redirects it into a kick to this breastplate as he staggers back his armor comes crashing to the ground. Seeing his armor fall to the ground esme sees her opportunity for revenge has arrived with a last bit of her strength. esme rushes at phoebus stabbing one of her blades through his rib cage crying out in pain. phoebus falls to his knees, dropping his sword he clinches he is wound, esme then kicks it away and walks behind him putting one of her daggers away. She uses her free hand to yank phoebus head back, forcing him to look at her.
Esme-*smiling oh by the way Claude sends his regards. And with one motion is me places that dagger at Phoebus neck slicing from ear to ear. Still holding his head, she throws his head to the ground. She reaches into her shirt, pulls out Claudes rosary, kisses it and walks away.