Esmeralda
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One of the many gypsies that reside in Paris, Esmeralda's charm and beauty caught the unfortunate attention of Minister Claude Frollo during the Festival of Fools. She sees deeper than appearances and finds the good in others, and can easily hold her own when threatened. As something of a role model and savior amongst the gypsy community, they would sooner die than to sell her out to her enemies. She gave Quasimodo a helping hand when he had all but completely given up after the Nightmares destroyed the wonderful celebration of the Feast of Fools. The two were able to find sanctuary within the confines of Notre Dame, but she just couldn't remain there trapped in captivity, no matter where it was. Rejecting Quasimodo's offer to remain in the cathedral, he instead helped her escape from Frollo's watchful eye by scaling down the outer walls. In return, she gave him her pendant and some advice: "When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand." It was because of that pendant that Quasimodo, Phoebus and Sora were able to find her later in the Court of Miracles, intending to warn her that the minister knew of the location of the gypsies' haven and was on his way there. What they didn't realize was that it was all but a bluff, and they had led him there themselves. Although she struggled to fight back, Esmeralda was quickly captured and then taken to the square to be burned as a witch. However, Frollo found his plans foiled when Esmeralda was saved from her impending death by Quasimodo. Esmeralda met Riku when she was on the run from Phoebus and Frollo. To her surprise, rather than selling her out, he claimed to have not seen her instead. When the danger had passes, she confronted Riku and thanked him, revealing to him that she, as a freedom-loving gypsy, was a victim of Frollo's tyranny as he hates what he can't control. A great darkness lies in that man's heart, and upon hearing so, Riku greatly wanted to meet with him, having been in a similar position himself. Esmeralda directed him to the cathedral as it's a place for answers, and disappeared into the streets. The two met again in the square, where the Wargoyle had been causing massive amount of damage and instilling terror into the citizens. Quasimodo had just saved Esmeralda from being burned at the stake by Frollo, and Riku ran ahead to defeat both him and the Nightmare once and for all. When the battle was finally over, she was able to give the young Keyblade wielder a moment of peace, telling him that everyone has secrets locked deep within their hearts, at least until they can figure them out. Doing so doesn't implicate good or bad; it's just something that happens, and often needs to be done. With smiles on their faces, they departed and went their separate ways. |
