For Whom The Bell Tolls

Compassion is Stronger than Hate

"Please tell me you have news on him." Esmeralda said gaining the attention of Princess Cadence.

"No, there's still no news on your friend." Cadence said solemnly to which Esmeralda responded with an exasperated sigh.

The two were in the crystal throne room eagerly awaiting news about the escaped hunchback. Phoebus had left minutes earlier needing to clear his head with a walk. Shining Armor had reluctantly returned to his duties as king of the Crystal Empire while his wife remained with their guests.

Esmeralda stood with her head in her hands, her fingers roughly massaging her forehead. She paced back and forth with each footstep creating an echo that rang with impatience and worry. Cadence couldn't help but to look at Esmeralda from her throne and wonder if what she and Shining Armor did was completely unwarranted. The moment she saw Quasimodo a feeling of horror washed over her. Everything about him screamed that he was some creature out of an E.G. Lovecraft story. That's not necessarily a justification, but that is a fairly reasonable excuse.

It is true though that ponies themselves have had their share of squabbles based on prejudices and stereotypes but nothing like this. For most equine it was a matter of faiths or instances of ignorance that held them against one another. Like an earth pony believing that a unicorn is an elitist who sees them, earth ponies, as nothing more than dirt.  Then that same earth pony sees a unicorn and thinks something like:

'Oh, so they wear a monocle? Well, since they have their magic they don't really needed glasses for both eyes do they? They can probably just use an extra magic sense or something.'

The difference between that and the one with Quasimodo is that preconceived notions lead to the determination of negative traits and the epidemic manifestation that followed suit. With Quasimodo, there were no preconceived notions of him, no stereotypes about his person, nor were there even past encounters that might've led to a disfavorable disposition. Just one glimpse is all it took to determine that he was a danger.

That can't be a bad thing, though. When somepony looks at a cockatrice, hopefully not in the eyes, there isn't a need to learn about the creature. A snap judgment is made that the thing in front of you is bad and you either need to run or fight. Same thing with a manticore, chimera, or any other beast that could kill somepony effortlessly. So what makes Quasimodo different? If he truly wanted to be considered a friend or a non-threat then he should be aware of how his appearance would come across and not be so abrupt when confronting ponies. So when you think about it was Quasimodo's fault.

Cadence tapped her chin as a smile slowly grew on her face.

"Why are you smiling?" Esmeralda asked irritated shaking Cadence out of her thoughts.

"Oh nothing, sorry I didn't mean to come across apathetic," Cadence said bowing her head slightly.

The gypsy shook her head and walked towards the opposite side of the room. Cadence sighed relieved glad that her guest dropped the subject.

'Please just find the creature.'

The Elements of Harmony slowly descended to the ground their mouths agape. Their emotion didn't change as they made contact with the ground and their elemental magic dissipated into the air. Under their gaze, Quasimodo shifted like a child that knew they were about to be scolded.

"Um, was something else suppose to happen?"

The group of seven mares still stood blankly not knowing exactly what to do. After a prolonged silence, the first one to act was Love Tap.

She turned tail and ran.

With just six mares left in the scene Quasimodo felt that it was now or never. If he couldn't convince someone other than a small child than he was doomed to never see his friends again.

"Please, I am just trying to get home. I don't want to hurt you. If you show me how to get home, you'll never have to see me again." Quasimodo said intrepidly but deep down fearing over another bout. Out of all the mares, Fluttershy was the only one to truly hear the hunchback and start doubting their original purpose.

"W-What are you?" Twilight Sparkle asked.

"My name is Quasimodo, and I'm. . ." he was cut off.

"A chimera?" Rainbow Dash finished.

"No, I'm. . ."

"A gargoyle?" Rarity said.

"Do I look like stone?"

"How about a Minotaur?" Pinkie asked a bit too happily.

"Mina-what!?! No I'm a. . ."

"He could always be some sort of manticore," Applejack stated.

"Okay, now I know you aren't even trying."

"How about a human?" Fluttershy asked meekly.

"Oh come. . Wait did you say human?"

"Y-Yes."

"Phew, I was starting to think you guys would never guess it." Quasimodo said approaching the group ending his sentence with a chuckle. He only made it so far though as a solid stomp from a lavender hoof stopped him.

"Now hold on a second," Twilight spoke halting all movement. "You couldn't possibly be a human. A friend of ours in town is a human expert and everything she has told me points otherwise. A human is supposed to be a bipedal animal with a fully erect spine, yours clearly isn't. Also, the male species stands at least at five hoof six inches, you appear to only be five hoof. And then there the plethora of facial features that don't match any description of any human I've ever heard of. No, you have to be something else. Some sort of deviation, an experimental anomaly, a mon--."

"Don't call me that!" Quasimodo shouted.

The ponies took a step back unnerved by the sudden rage. They looked at each other unsure of how to act. Luckily, or unluckily, for the group Quasimodo finally had enough.

"I am not a monster. I am not a f-freak. I am a person, I am a human being, and all I want is to be with my friends! Can you really not see that?" Quasimodo inquired, his voice seething with anger, but his face pained by grief to the point where it was stained by saltwater. The eyes of the ponies mirrored a similar sadness but to a much lesser degree. All except Fluttershy who showed the pain in her heart on her face, but all Quasi saw were eyes that were still filled consternation and contempt. "Think what you want of me, I'm going to find my friends, I am going home." Quasimodo turned his back and started to walk away.

A few of Quasimodo's steps resonated loudly amongst the hush of the surrounding area. His short trek felt like an eternity but as soon as he reached the end of the platform something from behind caught his attention.

"Wait!" a cry from Fluttershy rang out.

Quasimodo turned slightly to be greeted by a yellow pegasus whose eyes spilt water like a hose. She summoned a surprising amount of strength and tackled him to the ground. Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Quasi's broad neck and looked directly in his eyes.

"You're not a monster!" She cried her tears only becoming thicker. While Quasi was processing this new reaction, Applejack approached him from the side.

"Fluttershy what are you doing?" Twilight asked.

"Can't you see what we're doing. This poor creature wanted nothing but our help, and we attacked him!"

"But, the letter. . ." Twilight defended meekly.

"The letter was wrong. He isn't violent or terrifying, he's just misunderstood and he needs our help."

"Fluttershy has Discord been messing with your head again? Even if he isn't violent just-just look at him! What has ever looked like that and been good?" Rainbow Dash said quickly in a hurried sputter.

"Is there anything I could do to prove. . ." the hunchback was cut off by Fluttershy's hoof on his lips.

"Shh, I'm defending you now." she said in a comforting tone. Quasimodo dropped his head in defeat. "Now Rainbow, I'm disappointed in you. Can't you remember when we first met Zecora and we all were afraid of her? I think there's something to say about judging a pony before you know them." Fluttershy turned to her friend giving her a saddened yet stern look. Rainbow Dash couldn't meet her eyes for very long and the pegasus turned her line of sight to the ground. Another long silence fell over the group as everypony mulled over their thoughts.

"I guess I'll be the one to speak first." Applejack stepped forward to Fluttershy and Quasimodo. "I want to say. . I'm sorry too partner. After getting the letter from the Crystal Empire I guess we all got a little heated. Can you forgive us?" before Quasimodo could respond another pegasus approached him.

"Yeah I thought that letter said '. . .some violent monster that's bent on destroying everything in it's way is coming. . .' but he hasn't done anything violent. He didn't even counterattack after we used the elements on him!" Rainbow looked at Quasimodo. "I'm sorry too."

"WAAAH!" Pinkie Pie took the aerial approach and dive bombed on the group. In what should of been physically impossible for a pony, she pulled everypony into a group hug before she hit the ground. Her tears made it a bit more awkward as they splashed onto everypony in the group.

"I think we may have gotten ahead of ourselves. Maybe we should try again? My name is Rarity." the unicorn gave a small bow.

"My name is Pinkie Pie!"

"Hello, I'm Applejack."

"I'm Fluttershy."

"You can call me Rainbow Dash."

"And what about you? I would really like to know your name." Quasi asked pointing to Twilight.

Twilight stood in bewilderment. Everything about her world seemed to crumble around her. In a second she went from leading her friends into battle to standing opposite to them. Twilight felt almost betrayed if it weren't for a simple  observation of hers. In Quasimodo's eyes Twilight could see a sentient being not unlike herself, one that feels and is capable of compassion and love. The sudden rush of information was enough to give the princess a small headache but her job demanded her march ever onward.  A small smile graced her lips and she approached the group.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you. . Quasimodo, was it?"