Return to Notre Dame: chapter 7

The next morning, it was lazy for Cherry. She was sleeping soundly and in dreamy dream land. "Zephyr? Zephyr! Zephyr!" She heard Esmeralda's voice. Esmeralda then came into her bedroom. "Cherry, have you seen Zephyr?"

"Huh?" Cherry sat up on her bed and rubbed her eyes wearily. "No, I don't know where he is..." Cherry then remembered last night Zephyr told her he was going to run away to Cirque de Sarousch. "Or maybe I do!" she gasped.

"Come on, we better find your brother!" Esmeralda grabbed Cherry's hand and rushed her right out of bed and dragged her downstairs.

The girls ran into Quasimodo on the way and stopped suddenly. "La Fidele's been stolen!" Quasimodo exclaimed.

"A bell was stolen?" Cherry was surprised. "But how?"

"Phoebus was right, Madallaine was using me!" Quasimodo exclaimed sadly. "She works for Sarousch."

Everyone then gathered together and it seemed Phoebus was a bit right to suspect the circus folk while robberies were in process. They searched all around Paris to find Zephyr and Sarousch. They were all about to give up.

"Zephyr's gone after Sarousch..." Quasimodo sighed.

"We've looked everywhere." Esmeralda explained.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but I miss the little bugger," Cherry added.

"We'll find him," Phoebus reassured his family.

"You're looking in all the wrong places," Madallaine said as she was locked in the undergrounds of Paris with everyone. "Sarousch has made a living from illusion, but I can outthink him. It's the same as the disappearing elephant. T-There was always a tunnel under the stage. He's taken the bell underground."

"The catacombs, he could be using the catacombs." Cherry thought.

"And she could be saying exactly what Sarousch wants her to," Phoebus glared at the blonde girl.

"We go underground, and he slips right out-of-town," Madallaine continued. "Can't you see? Listen to me. Your son's life is at stake. Maybe you shoud look again like you did with me."

"All right," Phoebus agreed. "But she's coming along as prisoner."

Just then, a familiar goat with an earring stormed in and bleated like Lassie the Wonder Collie.

"Djali!" Cherry greeted and petted the goat. "Where's Zephyr, boy?"

"Hurry Djali," Esmeralda advised. "Take us to him!"

Meanwhile everyone did as Madallaine instructed and went to the catacombs to find Sarousch.

"Which will go better with my eyes?" Sarousch narcissistically thought to himself. "Diamonds or sapphires?"

"Sarousch!" Phoebus called out. "Surrender now! You've got no way out!" Phoebus blocked all the exits, leaving Sarousch trapped.

"Oh really?" Sarousch said smugly. He then made Zephyr appear magically in his possession. "I see things a bit differently."

"Mama! Papa! Cherry!" Zephyr cried for help.

"Let him go!" Phoebus ordered.

"Let him go?" Sarousch taunted. "I think not, Captain! He's my ticket out of here."

"You're not going anywhere Sarousch, now drop my little brother!" Cherry scowled at him.

"Let me pass safely and you may see your precious little boy again..." Sarousch held Zephyr in a dangerous manner over the river to possibly drown him.

Quasimodo looked down at the boy and villain, unsure what to do. Madallaine then came right next to him. "Quasimodo, he means it," she said to him. "He'll hurt Zephyr, but I know how we can save him. Please untie me."

"Why?" Quasimodo huffed. "So you can escape with Sarousch?"

"Don't test me Captain!" Sarousch taunted.

"Papa!" Zephyr cried and Cherry saw actual tears in his eyes.

Sarousch evilly chuckled at the heroes. "Lovely..." he said to himself with a devilish Cheshire Cat grin.

"Quasi, listen to me," Madallaine said gently. "I know I hurt you. I'm sorry, but I am someone you can trust."

"How can I?" Quasimodo asked. "I've already made that mistake."

"Quasimodo, there's more to me." Madallaine sounded sincere.

Phoebus then gave in and brought the exits back out allowing Sarousch to escape. "Well done, mon capitaine!" Sarousch smiled, but kept Zephyr in his hands as he was on his way to escape, much to everyone's misfortune.

"You hold the rope, I'll do the rest," Madallaine told Quasimodo as they made the rope like a high wire. Right before anyone could get away, Madalline mumbled to herself and Cherry closed her eyes as she saw her younger brother would be gone forever.

"What... What are you doing here!?" Cherry heard Sarousch's voice. She turned and opened her eyes to see Madallaine holding Zephyr in her arms.

"Just standing here looking pretty." Madallaine answered as she kept a firm grip on Zephyr over the rope.

"Burn!" Cherry mocked with a laugh.

"Seize him!" Phoebus ordered his fellow guards.

As the guards went to pummel Sarousch, Cherry quickly dashed over to Zephyr as he reunited with his parents and sister. Cherry held Zephyr up high and covered his face with kisses. "Whoa! Hey! CHERRY! Leave that for Mom!" Zephyr groaned as he struggled to get out of Cherry's grip.

"My baby brother...Mmm..." Cherry nuzzled her nose into Zephyr's, still holding him close.

"MOM! CHERRY'S BEING WEIRD!" Zephyr yelled out as Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Phoebus came to be with Zephyr.

"Fools! I am Sarousch! No prison can hold me! This is not the ending I had in mind! Did I mention I do birthday parties?" Sarousch's attempts were useless as he was gone forever and Madallaine was finally free from him.