La Cité des Cloches

La Cité des Cloches
Japanese	ラ・シテ・デ・クローシュ
Romaji	Ra Shite de Kurōshu
Game	Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Origin	The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
KH3D tracks Field theme - La Cloche Battle theme - Le Sanctuaire
Other worlds Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Dive to the Heart | Destiny Islands | Disney Castle Traverse Town | Wonderland | Olympus Coliseum Deep Jungle | Agrabah | Monstro Atlantica | Halloween Town | Neverland 100 Acre Wood | Hollow Bastion End of the World | Realm of Darkness Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Castle Oblivion | Twilight Town Introduced in Kingdom Hearts II Mysterious Tower | Radiant Garden The Land of Dragons | Beast's Castle | Timeless River Port Royal | Pride Lands | Space Paranoids The World That Never Was | End of Sea | Keyblade Graveyard Introduced in Kingdom Hearts coded Datascape Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Land of Departure | Mirage Arena Dwarf Woodlands | Enchanted Dominion | Castle of Dreams Disney Town | Deep Space Introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance La Cité des Cloches | The Grid | Symphony of Sorcery Country of the Musketeers | Prankster's Paradise Introduced in Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] Daybreak Town Introduced in Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] Game Central Station | Niceland | Cy-Bug Sector | Candy Kingdom Introduced in Kingdom Hearts III The Final World | Secret Forest | Olympus Toy Box | Kingdom of Corona | Monstropolis Arendelle | The Caribbean | San Fransokyo Scala ad Caelum | Quadratum

La Cité des Cloches (Fra: "The City of Bells") is a Sleeping World that is featured in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. It is based on the Disney film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The world previously appeared in the comic El Cetro y el Reino.

Story

Between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

Sometime after Terra-Xehanort's descent into darkness, his Heartless, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, attacked many worlds, including La Cité des Cloches. These worlds were then swallowed by the darkness. Though it was restored after Sora defeated Ansem and destroyed the End of the World, La Cité des Cloches remained in a state of deep sleep instead of returning to the Realm of Light, plagued by Nightmare Dream Eaters.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Side: Sora

Sora arrives in his version of the world in the streets surrounding the cathedral. While treading the streets, he passes Claude Frollo, who orders Sora to stop. Suspecting Sora to be a gypsy due to his strange attire, Frollo interrogates Sora, only to be interrupted by Captain Phoebus. Phoebus, after expressing that Sora is only a child and not a gypsy, reports that monsters have invaded the Town Square. Brandishing his Keyblade, Sora rushes to the square to dispatch the problem. As Phoebus runs after Sora, Frollo's body begins to emanate darkness, as he voices his disgust over the "vermin" overrunning the city despite his eradication efforts.

Quasimodo refuses to run (as Sora tells him to do) because he's been crowned the King of Fools.

In the square, Sora finds a deformed man named Quasimodo happily riding a Zolephant. Sora tells Quasimodo to run, but Quasimodo refuses because he is the crowned King of Fools. Shortly after, Frollo arrives, calling out Quasimodo's name. The Dream Eater throws Quasimodo off of its back, and the hunchback is then surrounded by a group of Dream Eaters. Sora rushes in, ordering Quasimodo to run. A gypsy named Esmeralda appears and escapes with Quasimodo into Notre Dame.

After defeating the Dream Eaters, Sora enters the cathedral to check on Quasimodo. Sora eventually finds the bell ringer and Esmeralda in the attic, where Quasimodo shows her the numerous bells used. Meanwhile, three statues come to life behind Sora, commenting on how strong Quasimodo is. Quasimodo tries to convince the Esmeralda to stay with him forever in the cathedral, claiming she will have sanctuary. Esmeralda gently refuses, saying while she would have protection, she would not have freedom. Disappointed, yet understanding, Quasimodo helps Esmeralda escape by carrying her through the window.

Sora inquires about the gargoyles and Quasimodo's relationship, learning that the group has been friends for many years due to Frollo's commands. Frollo has ordered Quasimodo to never leave the cathedral, claiming the cruel world outside would judge him by his appearance. Laverne fears that Quasimodo's first failure to the outside might prevent him from doing so again. Saying Quasimodo shouldn't let his heart become a prison, Sora runs outside to speak to him.

Phoebus reveals that Frollo intends to eradicate all the gypsies at their hideout.

Sora finds Captain Phoebus outside, who assures Sora that he doesn't want to fight. Instead, Phoebus asks about Esmeralda's safety in the cathedral. Upon learning she has left with Quasimodo, Phoebus reveals Frollo's plan to exterminate the gypsies in their safe haven within the city: the Court of Miracles. Quasimodo overhears the conversation and offers the pendant Esmeralda gave him in order to find her.

The trio locates the Court of Miracles and warns Esmeralda to leave as quickly as possible. However, Frollo arrives with Dream Eaters, having followed the trio straight to the gypsies' haven. Frollo kidnaps Esmeralda, announcing that he will burn her at the stake in the Town Square. Sora attempts to free the gypsy, only to be knocked out by a Dream Eater summoned by Frollo's darkness. When Sora comes to, he sees that everyone is gone and Sora hurries to the square. There, Sora watches as an unconscious Esmeralda is already being burned. Quasimodo swings in on a rope, sweeping Esmeralda to safety. Enraged, Frollo pursues Quasimodo, leaving Sora to battle the Wargoyle.

As Quasimodo fights Frollo, Frollo spitefully reveals that it was he who killed Quasimodo's mother twenty years ago. Frollo attempts to strike Quasimodo, instead knocking the two off the balcony. Esmeralda catches Quasimodo's hand, but cannot pull him up. Frollo, who has survived by climbing a gargoyle statue situated on the side, prepares to kill them both when the gargoyle suddenly breaks, sending Frollo falling to his death. Esmeralda loses her grip on Quasimodo, but is fortunately saved by Phoebus below, who pulls Quasimodo to safety. The three reunite, with Quasimodo blessing Phoebus and Esmeralda's relationship.

Phoebus and Esmeralda prepare to go outside to celebrate their victory over Frollo, eventually followed by Quasimodo, after some encouragement by Sora. Once alone, Sora encounters the young man and Vanitas, who accuses him to be a hypocrite since he has also made his heart a prison, even if he himself is not the prisoner. Although stunned and confused by their words, Sora seals the world's Keyhole.

Side: Riku

In order to flee from Phoebus, who was chasing her under Frollo's order, Esmeralda stops in front a bunch of tents and uses a magic trick to make it seem she vanished in puff of smoke. As Riku arrives, she runs past him while Phoebus spots him, asking Riku if he saw a gypsy woman. Riku, unaware that Esmeralda is one, replies that he did not. Phoebus reports to Frollo that Esmeralda escaped, which further angers Frollo, who expresses his doubts having Phoebus summoned from the wars to help take out the gypsies roaming within the city.

Once they were gone, Esmeralda introduces herself to Riku and thanks him for protecting her. Riku tells her that he didn't know what a "gypsy" is and inquires why Frollo and Phoebus are after her. Esmeralda explains Frollo have been after her and her fellow gypsies for years, who are guilty of nothing but loving their freedom, but Frollo has organized a hunt for them because they refuse to follow his "laws". When Esmeralda wonders what kind of darkness drives on Frollo, Riku comments that he could imagine it. Seeking more information on Frollo, Riku questions Esmeralda about him. Not thinking much of Frollo, she recommends that he could go to Notre Dame to search for answers.

Riku advises Quasimodo to listen to his heart.

Inside the church, Riku meets Quasimodo, who tells that the Archdeacon is away from the cathedral. When Riku corrects him by saying that he was looking Frollo and his whereabouts, Quasimodo informs Riku that Frollo told him that he had business on the outskirts of town, and then recounts on his past and how Frollo protects him from the outside world because of his deformed appearance. Riku convinces Quasimodo that people should not judge people by appearance, but what is important is what is inside, and encourages Quasimodo to go outside and find friends that can understand him. Quasimodo refuses since Frollo forbids him from leaving the church, but Riku knows that was not the reason that was holding him back and tells him to listen to his heart. Thanking him for the information on Frollo's location, Riku goes back outside, muttering that he wish he could take his own advice.

Upon reaching a bridge, Riku encounters a Wargoyle, who begins to fire at him. At a disadvantage, Riku decides to escape for the time being.

At the outskirts of town, Phoebus has drawn his sword on Frollo, refusing to let him burn down a family's house that were believed to be hiding gypsies just as Wargoyle and Riku appears. Upon seeing the Wargoyle, Phoebus calls it a demon before Frollo claims that the Wargoyle is a judgment of God, thinking He gave him the power to exterminate the gypsies. With the corruption in Frollo (who still considers himself a "virtuous man") clear to their eyes, Riku and Phoebus prepares to fight him, but Frollo walks away calmly as the Wargoyle attacks Phoebus. Injured, Phoebus allows Riku to take of Frollo, although reluctantly due to the embarrassment of having to rely on a child. Riku assures him that is not the first to with a small smile, and then goes after the Wargoyle, which appears to be heading Notre Dame.

Riku meets up with Quasimodo, who had just saved Esmeralda from being burned at the stake, and directed him to the top the cathedral in order to find the Wargoyle. Quasimodo insisted on on helping Riku, but was told to stay with Esmeralda and was praised for following his heart. Once inside, Riku meets Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, seeing them take out a Meow Wow without his help. While they dispatch more Dream Eaters, Riku runs towards the roof.

Ansem encourages Riku to embrace the darkness unless he wishes to share the same fate as Frollo.

On the roof, Riku arrives to see Frollo relishing as all of Paris burns with a sword in his hand. Frollo boasts about the power that was granted to him, but Riku states that he views as a "sad old man with a dark heart". Enraged, Frollo proclaims that Riku will be judged as the Wargoyle flew up, causing the deranged Frollo to fall into the inferno below. "Ansem" and the young man appears to mock Riku, telling him he is still afraid of the darkness, but Riku counters that he walks the road to dawn. They depart in a Corridor of Darkness, while Riku assuages himself that he is not afraid of the dark as long as he wields the Keyblade. Riku proceeds to fight and defeat the Wargoyle, sending it falling into the flames below.

Afterwards, Riku speaks with Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Phoebus. Quasimodo thanks Riku for making realize that he was the that built walls around his heart that prevented from going to the outside world. A troubled Riku merely replies that he speaking from personal experience. Phoebus notes that Riku still keeps a lot locked inside his heart, and Esmeralda comforts Riku by saying that "there are just some things we need to keep separate" from the world until they learn how to deal with it. Asserting that he knows what road his heart walks on, the Keyhole appears and Riku seals it before continuing on his journey.

Other appearances

El Cetro y el Reino

In El Cetro y el Reino, Sora and Riku arrive at La Cité des Cloches by mistake while chasing the villain who had stolen the Disney Fairies' sceptre from Disney Castle, when Donald is unable to send them to their intended destination.

The two boys appear out of nowhere and fall on top of Judge Frollo, who accuses them of being witches. They flee from Frollo and are rescued by Esmeralda, who leads them to the Cathedral of Notre Dame where they meet Quasimodo. Finally, after asking how to find a door to their world, the gargoyle Laverne guides them towards their true destination.

Characters

• 

  Quasimodo
  ^{[KH 3D]}

• 

  Esmeralda
  ^{[KH 3D]}

• 

  Captain Phoebus
  ^{[KH 3D]}

• 

  Judge Claude Frollo
  ^{[KH 3D]}

• 

  Victor
  ^{[KH 3D]}

• 

  Hugo
  ^{[KH 3D]}

• 

  Laverne
  ^{[KH 3D]}

Gallery

• 

  Outside Notre Dame cathedral.

• 

  The interior of the Notre Dame cathedral.

• 

  The bells of Notre Dame.

Trivia

• In the cutscene after Sora defeats the Wargoyle, Quasimodo falls from Esmeralda's grasp, but is caught by Phoebus. However, he falls from the roof of the Cathedral and is caught at the supports below the roof between the bell towers. Once Phoebus pulls him up, they are back at the roof of the Cathedral.