Riku arrives in the streets of Paris, France, where he notices a dark-skinned woman sprint past him. He is soon accosted by Captain Phoebus, who asks him if he has seen a "gypsy" woman, but says no. The woman, Esmeralda, thanks him for doing so, even though Riku admits that he doesn't even know what a "gypsy" is. She explains that Phoebus works for Judge Frollo, who is hunting down her people, the Romani. She advises him to go to Notre Dame for answers.
Investigating the cathedral, Riku encounters Quasimodo, a hunchbacked man residing in the cathedral's bell tower, and learns that Frollo is on the outskirts of Paris. Quasi explains that he's been under Frollo's care for his whole life, and that Frollo has told him the outside world is cruel and harsh towards someone like him. Riku assures Quasi that he could find friends and advises him to think about what's really keeping him from leaving the cathedral.
Leaving Notre Dame, Riku is soon ambushed by a Nightmare, the Wargoyle, who chases him across a bridge and onto the outskirts of town. He soon encounters Frollo burning down a citizen's house for supposedly harboring the Romani and Phoebus preventing Frollo from doing so. Upon seeing the Wargoyle, Frollo explains to Phoebus that the Nightmare is a divine power granted to him to smite the Romani and knocks out Phoebus, forcing Riku to pursue Frollo to Notre Dame.
Riku arrives at the burning Notre Dame and finds Quasi, who has just rescued Esmeralda from being burned. Quasi explains that the Wargoyle is at the top of the cathedral, and Riku praises Quasi for following his heart. Riku makes his way upwards to the cathedral, where he finds Frollo reveling in the chaos. When Riku tells Frollo he's corrupted by darkness, Frollo declares that Riku will be judged like the rest and falls to his death. But before Riku can take action, the Mysterious Figure arrives, accompanied by Riku's old archnemesis: Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. Ansem explains that he has accepted the darkness, and unless Riku learns to do the same, he will suffer Frollo's fate. The Mysterious Figure also cryptically says that Sora is never far, before the two leave. Riku then defeats the Wargoyle, breaking its wings as it plummets to Sora's side of the world.
Afterwards, Quasi thanks Riku for making him realize Frollo had forced him to shackle himself in his heart. Phoebus and Esmeralda admit that everyone has their private secrets, but can eventually sort them out. Having realized his own path, Riku then seals the Keyhole.
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?
