Tangled: The Series

Alternative Episode, Story #2: Great Expotations

Hello my readers! A Happy Year New to u all (also a Happy Chinese New Year)!

This is the 2nd story in my 'Varian & Ophelia Alternative Series.' I'm not gonna go through the trouble of plugging Ophelia into episodes that Varian isn't in or have nothing to do with him. However, I will let u all know now that after this story is complete, the next few stories in this series will be originals of my own before going back to the main story line of the episodes.

Back to the story; this 1st chapter takes place before the first scene of the episode when Varian is talking to Cass as she's hanging the Expo banner...

Getting his invention into the castle wasn't easy, wheeling it in on a cart and covered by a sheet. Varian was so excited to be in the capital for the Science Expo. He couldn't wait to promote the merits of alchemy by showing off his latest invention. But Varian had to make a stop in the servant's quarters first before going to the courtyard to sign himself and his invention in.

As the young alchemist approached the room he was looking for, Frieborg walked out the door with a tray in her hands. The strangely-silent lady-in-waiting turned her head to Varian as he came up to her. Frieborg simply looked at him, giving him her ever-present, friendly smile, and tilted her head toward the door.

It was okay for him to go in.

Varian gave her a smile back as she turned and walked down the hallway in the opposite direction.

After making sure his cart was parked securely off to the side of the hallway, Varian stood in front of the door and knocked.

"Frieborg? Is that you?" a slightly scratchy and stuffed-up voice uttered from the other side of the door.

"No, it's me," the young alchemist replied.

"Varian?" the sickly, female voice asked a bit louder, followed by a heavy cough. "Come in," she said when she was done. Varian pushed the door to the servant's bedroom open and saw his best friend laid down in bed under a mountain of blankets. "Hey, Vary-Berry," Ophelia said, happy to see her best friend.

This was Varian's first time seeing the room Ophelia had been living in for about half a year. Ophelia's room was a standard bedroom for servant's that lived in the castle. Gray brick walls and not much furniture. The foot of her bed was just across from the door, the head of it against the wall. There was a window in that wall just to the left of the bed. To Varian's right, as he stood in her doorway, was a small round table with two chairs around it. And the last piece of furniture in the room was a dresser up against the wall, to the left of her bed.

It wasn't that dreary-looking though. Ophelia made sure to decorate her living quarters to brighten it up. The small table had a doily just big enough to cover the surface, a beautiful landscape painting of a meadow at sunset hung from the wall to the right of her bed (a little gift commissioned by Rapunzel), and a lovely mixed colored rug was laid out on the floor between the foot of her bed and the door.

"Hey," Varian said as he walked into the room and closed the door behind him. "How you feeling?" he asked as he walked up to her bedside.

"A little better. Frieborg just gave me some soup and I've been resting all day." Ophelia kept her head nestled in her pillow, but pulled her arms out from under her covers, revealing the top of the lavender nightgown she wore.

"Are you drinking plenty of water?" he asked.

"Yes." Ophelia's answer was quickly followed by another deep cough, which lead into a coughing fit, prompting her to sit up in bed. She made sure to turn her head away from Varian as she hacked. With her facing away from him, Varian reached out to pat her back until she stopped. "Evidently, not enough," she said jokingly, her voice even more scratchy. Varian stepped away from her bed to her dresser. On top of it was a pitcher of water and a glass. After pouring some water into the glass, Varian brought it over to Ophelia. "Thanks," she said gratefully, taking the glass from him. After a few swallows of water, Ophelia cleared her throat. "Uhhh. This is the worst time for me to be sick. I'm gonna miss the Expo."

Ophelia and Varian had been excited for weeks, anticipating the Exposition of Sciences being held at the castle. Varian couldn't wait to submit his intention and hopefully win the first-place blue ribbon. And of course, Ophelia was excited to have Varian finally visit the capital and they would have fun exploring all the festivities of the Expo. But, sadly, Ophelia had written Varian just a few days ago that she had caught a cold that was going around with the castle staff. Most of the other staff members who caught it were better and back on their feet, but now it was the day of the Expo and Ophelia was still very sick and bedridden.

"Yeah. We were gonna have so much fun together; checking out all the other inventions, hanging out with Princess Rapunzel and her friends…" Varian trailed on, but in the back of his mind, he was thinking about his special plan about how he wanted the day to go regarding a certain special someone. Still, he was very disappointed that he couldn't also share it with his best friend.

"And I can't be you're assistant when you present," she added. Ophelia always assisted Varian when he was testing or demonstrating an invention. She liked to show her support and interest in his scientific endeavors by helping him.

"Oh, yeah. That is a bummer," Varian said, his hand going to the back of his neck to rub it, his eyes also trailing to the other side of the room. He was a little uncertain about telling her how he planned on going about the Expo with her out of commission. And of course, he was afraid of making her feel worse by mentioning his back-up plan for an assistant. He had been thinking of it even since she wrote him that she was sick. Lightly biting his lip, the fourteen-year-old turned his head back to his sick friend. "But you know, since you can't be my assistant, you know who would make a great substitute?" he said with a smile a bit too big. "Cassie," he said after a few seconds paused.

Ophelia stopped her water glass mid-sip and just looked at him for a second, her eyebrow raised. "You mean Lady Cassandra?" she asked, putting the glass on the night stand at her right. The sick kitchen maid wasn't sure why Varian thought Cass would be at all interested in being his assistant, nor was she sure why he was acting so weird about the subject.

"Yeah. She can do it."

"I don't know, Varian. I heard Cass has a lot of things to do to help set up for the Expo," Ophelia explained as she scooched back under her covers, laying down again. Even though she was confided to her bed, she was kept up to speed on things going on. "Plus, because I'm sick, she's also taking a few of my chores today too. She's gonna be pretty busy."

Varian paused to think about that for a moment. "Well…I'm gonna ask her anyway. No matter how pretty she is." Varian's eyes widen as soon as he said that. "Ah! I mean busy. Even if she is pretty busy. Hehe," he quickly tried to correct himself. "Or just busy," he added nervously, hopeful Ophelia would disregard his slip of tongue.

Ophelia, however, saw right through his poor attempt at hiding what he just said. "You like Cassandra," she stated. It wasn't a question.

But Varian just chuckled nervously in response. "What? No. I just think she's cool, and smart, and…" the young alchemist's rambling ceased as Ophelia's eyes bore into his soul. He could never hide anything from her. It just wasn't physically possible for him. "Okay, maybe I like her a little," he finally admitted, sheepishly scratching his arm. "Which is why, when she sees my invention, she's gonna see just how awesome I can be," he said more confidently. Varian had a plan to woo the lady-in-waiting during his demonstration and was sure it would impress her.

"Okay. And when exactly did this start?" Ophelia smirked.

"Oh, you know, when she came to Old Corona with the princess and saved me from that pipe that burst from the ground and almost killed us," he said simply but with a bit of nervousness laced in. He felt bad about that day. And about everyone that could have gotten hurt from his invention malfunctioning and causing so much damage. Still, he was mesmerized by the fair, lady solider who pulled him close and held him so the pipe that flew at them harmlessly landed in the ground around them.

"Right. I remember," Ophelia nodded in acknowledgement. She saw them in that pipe together and watched them climb out unscathed.

"Anyway, I have something very special planned for her during my presentation. And, you know, since you're sick, she could also be my assistant so she can be right there with me on stage when I show her," Varian explained animatedly.

Ophelia smiled as she watched him. He was quite the smitten-kitten. However, the young kitchen maid couldn't help but be skeptic about who his infatuation was directed towards.

Cassandra was like twenty-three years old. Nine years older than him. And, if she remembered correctly, the lady-guard was rather rude to Varian when she introduced them. And even before she introduced them, she made some pretty unfair assumptions about Varian based on vague rumors that he was dangerous and untrustworthy. Then there was her cold and rather bossy personality.

But, regardless of how she felt, Ophelia was never one to rain on her best friend's parade.

It wasn't the first time Varian had puppy-love for a girl he had almost no chance with. So she would do what she always does; let him have his fun fantasizing and trying to woo her, let his infatuation run it's course without completely shooting down his enthusiasm, and of course, be there for him if/when he gets his feelings hurt by said female.

It didn't happen often, just enough times for Ophelia to develop a system.

"Sounds romantic," she said with a sarcastic smirk. Then again, what kind of best friend would she be if she didn't also tease him a bit about it too?

Recognizing that look and tone in her voice, Varian smiled back with a playful roll of his eyes. Even while she was sick, Ophelia did not fail to always be the supportive yet annoying friend when it came to his love life.

"So, you wanna know what the surprise is?" Varian asked. The young alchemist looked about ready to burst if he didn't share with someone how awesome his invention was gonna be and how impressed Cassandra was gonna be with him.

"Sorry Varian. I'd rather be surprised with everyone else," she replied with a slight shake of her head.

Varian's look of excitement quickly turned into concern. "Wait, you're still planning on going down to the Expo?" he asked, sitting down on the side of her bed. If she was still sick, she shouldn't be going anywhere.

"Of course, I am. I don't want to miss your presentation or when that doctor hands you the blue ribbon," she said, giving him a proud smile.

Varian smiled back, happy to hear she whole-heartedly believed he would win. He paused to think for a moment. "Well I do go second to last," he pondered with his hand caressing his chin. If she just came down to see him present, she could spend most of the day in bed and wouldn't have to go down until later. "But are you gonna be okay enough to go down?" he asked. She didn't look too bad at the moment, but that could change by later that afternoon.

"I'll have Frieborg help me. She's been taking care of me all day," she reassured him. While Frieborg's constant silence, always-present little smile and eyes that hardly ever blinked were a little creepy sometimes, she was a sweet young woman and Ophelia valued her friendship. "I'll ask her to help me down there just in time for your presentation, then I'll just sit through the last one, and then I can watch the judge award you as the winner," she explained.

Again, Varian took a minute to think over her plan. As much as he was concerned about her health and her coming down to the Expo at all could have some sort of negative effect, he really wanted her there to support him, while he presented and during the judging. Plus, he knew Ophelia felt bad for not being able to be with him all day while he was there in the capital. This was the very least she could manage for the day and she didn't want to give it up.

"Well, if you're sure you'll be fine to go down, then okay," Varian agreed and Ophelia smiled. "I'll save you a spot up front."

"Thanks Vary-Berry," she said happily. She was glad Varian wasn't being more stubborn about this.

As overprotective as she was with Varian when it came to other people, Varian could be just as overprotective with her about other things. Like her health. After she moved into his house, when she got sick, Varian would insisted on doing all the house work she normally did for her, and she not lift a finger and just stay in bed.

Varian just sat there for a minute, patting the top of Ophelia's right hand that lay on top of her quilt. He hated being sick and he knew Ophelia hated it too. Not being able to do anything. True, she got a few days off from work, but she still couldn't even do the things she enjoyed. She couldn't go down to the kitchen to cook anything for fear of contaminating the food with her germs. And, because of her scratchy throat, she couldn't sing to amuse herself, which she hated most of all. The most she could do was read. But even that she tired of eventually.

"Well I should get going. I still gotta take my invention back down to the courtyard and sign in," Varian said. As much as he enjoyed visiting her while she wasn't well, he needed to get himself ready if he wanted to compete. And, if Ophelia was going to go down to watch him later, she was going to need her rest. With one final pat on her hand, the young alchemist stood up from her bed and walked back over to her door. His hand on the door handle, Varian looked back over his shoulder to his sick best friend smiling back at him from her bed. "I'll see you later," he said.

Ophelia gave him a small wave before watching him open the door and walk out.

When she was alone again, Ophelia let a mighty yawn escape her mouth. The sick kitchen maid leaned to her right to grab her glass of water and took one more sip before placing it back down, settling back under her covers and closing her eyes.

Again, I won't be writing out what happens in the actual episode with no changes. Since Ophelia won't be coming down to the Expo until Varian presents, that is where the story will pick up next chapter.

Not sure when I'll be posting the 2nd chapter. With the coming of HTTYD 3, my mind is mostly in that fandom in preparation to see it (SO PUMPED!) I might come back to this briefly and work on it a bit, but I don't plan on really coming back to this at least until I finally see it.

So, see u all then!