Sora's second stop in his quest to free the Sleeping Worlds is in the streets of Paris, France. He walks past Judge Claude Frollo, who mistakes him for a "gypsy" due to his attire. Before Frollo can execute Sora, he is interrupted by Captain Phoebus, who informs him that monsters have invaded the square.
Sora arrives in the square during the Festival of Fools, where he sees a hunchbacked man named Quasimodo riding atop Nightmare Dream Eaters. Frollo admonishes Quasimodo, enraging the Nightmares, but Quasi is rescued by a Romani woman named Esmeralda, who gets away much to Frollo's consternation. Defeating the Dream Eaters, Sora follows Quasi into Notre Dame.
Inside the church's bell tower, Quasi expresses that Esmeralda can get sanctuary inside, and when she wants to help her people, Quasi takes her out of the tower. Sora, touched by his compassion, meets Quasi's gargoyle companions and learns that Frollo has been keeping Quasi in the tower for almost his entire life.
Deciding to help, Sora leaves Notre Dame and reunites with Phoebus, who explains that Frollo has found the Romani's hideout, the Court of Miracles. Using a trinket Esmeralda had given Quasi showing a map, the three go through the catacombs and attempt to warn her, but Frollo intercepts them and captures her before knocking Sora out. Upon coming to, Sora chases Frollo to the square, where Frollo prepares to burn Esmeralda for her crimes. But Quasi rescues Esmeralda and declares that she now has sanctuary. As Frollo follows, Sora attempts to chase him, but is blocked by the Wargoyle Nightmare, which he soundly defeats.
Atop Notre Dame, Frollo knocks Quasi down in an attempt to kill him like his mother. As Esmeralda saves him, Frollo prepares to murder her and cast her into the fiery pits, but the gargoyle he's standing on cracks and sends him plummeting to his death. Later, Quasi thanks Sora, having realized that Frollo had made him a prisoner in his own heart. As Sora reflects on this, he is accosted by the Mysterious Figure again, who warns him that his own heart is a prison, even if he is not the prisoner. As the figure speaks, Sora also sees an illusion of Vanitas, much to his confusion. Sora then seals the Sleeping Keyhole in Notre Dame before leaving.
Meanwhile in Radiant Garden, Lea has a dream of Roxas reminding his Nobody, Axel, of a promise they made of them always being with each other. Waking up, a now adult Lea discovers that he, Dilan (Xaldin), Even (Vexen), Aeleus (Lexaeus), and Ienzo (Zexion) are now human. However, while noting that Terra-Xehanort probably doesn't count, Lea notices two people are missing: Where are Braig and Isa?
Tropes:
- Arc Villain: Frollo, as in the film.
- Bowdlerise: Much of the original film’s darker elements such as its religious and mature (read: Frollo’s lust) themes are heavily toned down. Frollo is more interested in protecting the law as opposed to his religious ways, and only once makes a suggestive move on Esmeralda. It makes it clear what his true intentions for Esmeralda are without dwelling on them. That said, Frollo still gets his implied smiting from God, and it’s made abundantly clear he still intends to commit genocide.
- Clipped-Wing Angel: Subverted for the Wargoyle. While Riku had broken its wings in his side of the world, limiting its movements and agility, it's still no less formidable, if not more so, in this state.
- Early-Bird Cameo: When confronted by the Mysterious Figure, Sora sees an illusion of Vanitas, Foreshadowing Vanitas's role in the real Organization. They will eventually meet in the flesh in Kingdom Hearts III.
- Giant Space Flea Out Of Nowhere: The Wargoyle, at least for Sora. Riku's side explains where it comes from.
- Right-Hand Cat: Well, cat-dog, but Frollo has a few Nightmare Meow Wows for his minions.
