For Whom The Bell Tolls

Chapter 1: Love’s Tone

The bells were to the ears what Notre Dame herself was to the eyes. Citizens strolling in the square lost themselves for a few blissful seconds in the bells. Like a parents loving cradle, the vibrating dings left the audience with a warm sense of comfort throughout their bodies.

After the sufficient amount of rings, Quasimodo released the rope to the bells. A small sigh escaped his lips. He then jumped down off the rafter he stood, catching onto another wooden beam. He continued the process until he landed on the level with his model of Paris. Lazily he sat down on his chair in front of the table with a both eyes looking on placidly but appeared to turn gloomy.

“Hey, you aren’t clocking out this early are ya?” The gargoyle Hugo asked hopping up the stairs, followed by his fellow architecture.

“Oh, uh, no. I was just uh, resting my eyes?” Quasi responded weakly.

The gargoyles deadpanned.

“Are you feeling ill?” Victor inquired, offering a comforting hand to Quasi’s hump.

“No, I just. . I feel like something's wrong.”

“Like what Quasi?” Laverne jumped in, her sentence reeking with concern.

“I've just thinking back to the day Frollo passed. When I walked outside, the people paraded me all around Paris, chanting my name. . I felt truly content for the first time. I felt as if there was nothing else I could possibly need in my life. But then, I recently heard the news from Esmeralda and Phoebus. They’re going to have a kid!” Quasimodo’s tone lifted up like the wind in an updraft.

The gargoyles laughed joyously. They hugged each other and then the hunchback, continuing the pattern for several minutes. Quasi couldn’t help but to be infected by their happiness, and he himself joined in on the commotion. But eventually it had to die down.

“N-now, now, there’s more I wanted to say.” Quasi chuckled in between fits of laughter. “They said that if they had a girl, her name would be Nuha. If they had a boy, his name would be Zephyr.” Quasi’s voice faltered towards the end.

“Oh, both of those names are just perfect for whatever those two have,” Laverne said with both clasped together and her right cheek resting on them.

“I agree, both names speak with a distinguished and elegant air,” Victor spoke one hand to his chest, the other in the air.

Hugo, surprisingly, caught the falter.

“You sound like something is troubling you.”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

Victor and Laverne wasted no time in seeing what Hugo saw.

“What are you thinking about Quasi?” Laverne asked first.

“Nothing, I just, it’s nothing.”

“It’s most definitely not nothing. And if you keep it bottled up it’s will just eat at you.” Victor said.

“. . I’ve just been thinking over that ‘best’ moment in my life. When the town accepted me, it was the moment I waited for. I needed something like it for as long as I could remember. Just having a day out there would make me happy for the rest of my life. But I still feel something missing.”

“Esmeralda?” the gargoyles said in unison.

“No no no. I’m happy for her and Phoebus. Both of them are some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for, next to all of you of course. And to see them happy makes me happy. . Seeing them together, though, it makes me wonder what I’m missing. Esmeralda, she's been a dancer for most of her life, and she's always on the look out for people like Frollo. Phebus is a war veteran, seeing things that I wouldn’t even dare fathom. But despite those hardships they are so content when they’re together. Even though they have suffered far more than most, it doesn't matter when they are together. And every time I see it, something tells me that I’m missing out. And I see it with other couples too. I don’t want to sound selfish but despite what I have. . There’s more to be gained from life. Happiness, even being content, isn’t just fame, praise, or normality. I think, I think it's also loving too.”

The gargoyles blinked.

“That’s uh. .” Hugo stammered.

“Well, I think. .” Victor tried.

“It’s really not a uh . .” Laverne was next to have her voice fail.

Quasimodo sat in the silence. His stone friends inability to respond gave him the answer that he was expecting. He turned back to his model of Paris and began carving away at a new statue he had been working on. For the first time in a long while, the knife became difficult to grip. It was like small dull pins were being pressed into his palms by the hundreds. Quasimodo swallowed the nearby air with a large gulp, focusing back on the knife.

The wood decided to be stubborn today. The more he tried to cut through it the more it seemed to liken to resistance. It didn’t matter how many times he calmed himself down, the blade and the wood wouldn’t cut right. With a sigh, he removed himself from the stool and began his descent from the tower.

“Where are you going Quasi?” Laverne asked.

“For a walk.”

Paris had a reputation for beauty. This fact was made obvious mostly at night when the small lights outlined buildings with sculpted perfection. Every street clear of debris due to a hard day's work. Not a single tile out of place.

In the day, it was a slightly different matter. Not that it didn’t retain some of it’s fantastic aesthetic. The bright sun shadowed the city giving it delightful dimensions, and the light blue cloudless sky served as a wonderful backdrop.  Plus the astonishingly tall yet simple buildings contrasted beautifully with the wave like green fields around the city.

Collective humanity in tight spaces didn’t exactly present the best of sanitary conditions, though.

True the street cleaning business was in a boom. But there was only so much they could do without a larger group. They could eventually get the job done, but that wasn’t until nightfall. Quasi found this out during one of his previous walks. Certain districts dictated a strategic maneuvering to avoid an unkempt street.

‘If only there was another festival. The effort going into making everything clean and ready just to be dirtied again is amazing.' Quasi thought as he strolled about.

Around him, from the streets to the highest level of nearby houses, the denizens of the city greeted the hunchback with bright smiles.  His heart fluttered a bit. Surroundings aside, kindness could shine through any muk. But that old nagging sensation still bit at the back of his brain.

“You’re the bell ringer, aren’t you?” a little girl suddenly appeared tugging at the bottom of Quasimodo’s shirt.

“I-I am.” he replied.

“You do a really good job.” with that compliment she sped off.

Quasi stood, taken aback, but a large toothy grin appeared and his laughter filled the streets much like the tolls of the bells he rings. Also, like the bells, the denizens enjoyed the sound all the same.

The laughing fit lasted quite long. Not long enough to warrant any worry, but it lasted long enough for a couple to pin-point the laughter's epicenter.

“Quasi! Quasimodo!” a female voice called.

Turning, the hunchback saw a man with gold tinted armor smiling, and a gypsy who looked positively glowing.

“Esmeralda, Phoebus, it’s great to see you!” Quasi ran to the couple nearly suffocating them with a large hug.

“Quasi, can’t breathe.” Phoebus coughed leading to his release.

“Sorry.”

“No it’s fine. We’re happy to see you too.” Esmeralda assured.

“So. . What are you to doing over here?” Quasi casually asked.

“Oh, just stopping off in the neighborhood to pick up some pastries for the party.” Phoebus said holding the gypsy closer to himself.

“Party?”

“Yeah, we’re getting married. So we need a few things to eat.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense.” Quasi mumbled.

The gypsy woman looked at her fiance with an expectant eye. Phoebus starred in blissful ignorance. After a short silence she jabbed her elbow into his side. He quickly turned to her and saw the look she had been giving him. It then turned into a small glare when Phoebus finally put two and two together.

“Quasi, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Would you be the best man at the ceremony?”

Quasimodo blinked a few times. It took several seconds for the man to grasp each syllable spoken to him. The realization finally hit and what it meant hit hard. His mouth hung open agape, and all of his teeth were visible. His eyes opened as wide as possible, or what was physically possible.

‘Married. Best man. Party.’

He quickly grabbed his friends hands.

“You need to come with me."

“Where are we going?" Esmeralda asked her voice slightly intrepid, yet excited by the prospect of a new adventure. Her fiance. .

“Have you gone mad?!?”

“Your getting married. Ha ha!” Quasi let his glee guide him.

The three weaved in, around, and by groups of people. It was only a short way to the church so it wasn’t long until arrived at the doors of Notre Dame. Their commotion however brought the attention of Paris unto their heads. Many citizens stood in front of the cathedral to await news on all the excitement.

Dashing up the stairs the group was in the bell tower quicker than most could manage. The spiral staircase was a tight a narrow fit, so holding onto the hands of two full grown adults was made significantly more difficult. Eventually they made it back to the floor of Quasi’s living quarters, where the hunchback released their hands.

Before they could ask about anything Quasi kept moving up the bell tower via a wooden ladder. It was no use in asking any questions when he was this excited so Esmeralda and Phoebus followed. Up more and more levels the group went.

Then they finally stopped at a bell that seemed to be more polished than the others. It was large and gold tinted like the ‘sun-gods’ armor, looking like a large jewel. But it exuded a feeling of strength and enormity at the same time.

“This is ‘Aime Ton’. It was added to the architecture several years ago, it was made to announce engagements to all of Paris. Frollo never let me ring it though. Always said  that there was never time during war to announce such petty things.” Quasi did a mock impression of the judge, causing the couple to chuckle.

“So you wanted us to be here when the bell was rung?” Phoebus asked.

“I wanted you to ring it.”

“What?”

“I ring the bells all day, and since this is a special moment, I-I thought it should be done by special people.” he held out the rope connected to Aime Ton.

Esmeralda and Phoebus looked at each other for a moment.

“This is the best wedding giving anyone could ask for.” The gypsy said taking hold of the rope.

“I made the right decision for the best man, didn't I?” Phoebus grabbed hold.

The bell began to toll. A loud harsh clang at first, the bell soothed to the beating of their hearts in tandem. The couple embraced still having the ability to work the bell. It was so touching even the gargoyles whispered "Aw." Quasi watched for a second but then turned away. He figured it would pass a line of creepy with anymore of his attention. The city focused hard on what they were hearing, confused at first. They soon, however, ignored any discomfort and gave into the gift. Even applauding in front of Notre Dame.

Elsewhere, another being felt the bells toll.

“Where is that divine sound coming from?” Princess Cadence asked to herself as the crystals that made up her palace glowed with a gentle blue hue.

"What is that music?" A crystal pony, behind Cadence, wondered aloud.

Cadence turned to see more than just the one servant waiting behind her, the entire staff made the journey to her throne room quicker than she knew possible. However they all were resting their eyes, losing themselves in the cadence of the dings and tangs in the distance. But there was a certain unicorn present that attracted most of the pink alicorns attention.

"What is that noise, is it an attack?" Shining Armor spoke only so Cadence heard him.

"Don't be silly, just listen to it. Is it not the most beautiful sound?" Cadence asked dreamily.

"I don't like not knowing where it's coming from."

"Eh, Don't you think you're overreacting?"

"No."

"Really?"

"I almost lost you to Chrysalis in Canterlot, the same city I was captain of the guard. I almost lost you again right here in the crystal empire to Sombra. I'm not taking any chances anymore." Shinning's voice cracked ever so slightly.

Cadence looked at her husband with a small, sad smile. She walked up to him and put her front left hoof around his neck. She rested her neck on her husband.

"I'm a lucky filly to have such a caring stallion love me so much." Cadence said softly, still nuzzled up to Shinning Armor.

The stallion couldn't hold up his stern look anymore. He returned the hug and held his wife tightly against himself.

"If this is a real problem for you though, I can ease your suspicions." Shinning looked confused.

Candence chuckled and trotted over to one of the mesmerized crystal ponies. Cadence bent over and whispered something in her servants eye, and as if a nuclear explosion went off, the pony snapped out of her daze. Frantically she yelled at the other crystal ponies who shared a similar reaction. They soon evacuated the room and would go on to alert the entire empire.

"Uh, what was that?"

"Oh, I guess you could say that I just gave the order to put the empire on lock down until I'm done with alicorn business."

". .Makes sense, I think."

"Nevertheless, you'll have nothing to worry about while we're gone."

"Gone where?"

"To where that music is coming from silly."

"How are we suppose to get there?"

"Whatever is creating that wonderful melody is also radiating a great amount of love. All I have to do is make a portal that is targeting the source of the energy and we'll appear in it's general vicinity."

Shinning tried to speak but his throat wouldn't allow it. Cadence giggled at his antics. With a deep breath, Cadence began to light her horn, which was a brilliant pink hue. The ball of light was then ejected from her horn, to the floor, in front of the princess and her husband. It then extended vertically into a door like shape with a blinding white shine in it's center, just as tall as the doorway itself. The couple looked at each other, and with a small nod they walked into the entryway together.