A/N: So I've been getting more and more requests from a loyal reader/reviewer asking me to find a way to work in the Tangled: ever after short, and it will be included in this, but I also got a request from said reader and reviewer to bring Artemis' mother back from the dead, I'd considered the idea in planning this story, but it would undo a lot of what I planned for season 3 if I did So, sadly Neither Delilah nor Freya will be making anything other than Cameo's, that being said, I have some future chapters in the works that I think all of you will be both shocked yet pleased by involving our lovely couple of Varian and Artemis.
Now, that being said. I really love hearing what you guys would like to see, and I do have an alternative story planned based around a 'What-If' scenario involving Varian going on the road with Rapunzel and the others in season 2 and them finding Artemis inside the great tree. I'm hashing out details but I'd love to know if you guys would read it! Maybe He just leaves Corona and through some fluke they end up travelling together, you'll have to wait and see!
Blue and gold eyes watched in confusion as Varian started laughing like a Psycho, "Are…you okay?"
"Rudiger, get out of my apron, that tickles."
"Okay…two questions…okay, never mind, one questions, how did he get into your apron?"
Varian quirked a brow at her, "He's very sneaky." Varian shrugged as the raccoon chittered and ran away, "Are you sure this is going to work?"
"If my new machine works the way I think it should, and it will, we are moments away from reversing the effects of the Sapporian's memory wand." Artemis winced as King Frederick's beard puffed out,
"Is…that supposed t happen?"
"Eh, minor side effect from the electricity." When the machine suddenly powered down one of the hoses disconnected.
"You forgot to secure the compound line?!" Pink liquid splattered all over the room, dousing the king, Queen, Rapunzel and herself with the horrid substance.
"Eh, where am I, and why am I so…gooey?" Rapunzel looked on with dismay, "I'm sorry, Rapunzel. I was so sure this was gonna work. I've tried everything."
"You did your best. And besides, I have another method up my sleeve. Don't get me wrong, the power of science is impressive, but it is nothing compared to the power of love." Artemis scrapped some of the pink goop off her face,
"Don't beat yourself up over it, Varian, we can just make a few modifications to your machine and try again, right?" The hose backfired again, covering the princess in more of the goop,
"Mm, strawberry."
"You made an edible compound?" Varian just shrugged in confusion, "You're not mad?"
"Why would I be mad? Because you didn't screw a hose on tight enough? Mistakes happen, Var."
"Ooh, Var?" Rapunzel coaxed, "What have you two been up to?" she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and both teens turned bright red.
"Wh-what? Nothing—"
"Stay out of it, Rapunzel." The younger blonde's voice carried warning with it, "All right, all right…" she rose her hands defensively.
"The day of hearts was always your day of the year because it was the day you proclaimed your love for one another by signing Herz de Sonne's diary. Remember?"
Artemis nudged Varian, "It's also, sort of, our anniversary." She teased, watching him turn that cute shade of pink she thought added to his charm.
the king and queen shared a look and just shrugged their shoulders.
"You guys, it's the day of hearts, not the day of parts."
"You know, speaking of signing books, I know one couple that hasn't committed their love to paper."
"Oooh, Big brother Eugene wants to seal the deal?" Eugene looked at the teen startled and she just gave him a devilish grin,
"You know what I meant! And seriously, no more books for you!" The blonde took a quick step sideways, hiding behind Varian.
"He's gonna get me!" Varian just shook his head, "H-Hey, Keep me out of your sibling disputes. I love you, but not enough to get punched." Artemis flashed him the puppy dog look, "Besides, Eugene and I are team Awesome, Bro's before…" He stopped his sentence where it was, he knew if he finished, she might just leave him. Rapunzel smiled,
"Aww, Eugene. Of course we're gonna sign the book together."
"Good, I was just kind of worried with everything going on that we'd…forget." He poked the tip of her nose as a show of endearment.
"Aww, Cute. Young love."
"But they're older than us…" Varian just stared at the girl next to him with confusion, "Yeah, but She spent 18 years in a tower and he spent 24 of those years in and out of orphanages and on the run. Besides…He definitely traded up form Stalyan."
"Stalyan?"
"She's the psycho daughter of a guy Eugene crossed a long time ago, she kidnapped him, her father poisoned Lance, blah blah, blah, we crashed a wedding, Rapunzel stole him back, and everyone lived happily ever after."
"You crashed a wedding?"
"Kidnapping, Poison, use of lethal force and that's what you choose to focus on? Varian, we need to straighten out your priorities."
"My priorities are straight; I just don't take you for the party crasher type." Artemis rested a hand on her hip, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just saying, you're not usually the risk-taking type."
"Not usually the—Need I remind you we kicked your butt in the battle against the Sapporian's"
"Touché, but I let you win." Artemis gave him a look of mock shock, "Let me—I don't think so!" Rapunzel and Eugene watched the teens with a look of humor,
"Forget? Eugene, I love you too much to forget about something that important and my parents love each other, too, which is why I'm sure that if they remember how it felt when they signed the diary, maybe it will bring back some memories. The mind may forget, but the heart always remembers.
"Would you look what your father has done to my room…" Artemis looked at all the eggs scattered about.
"You'd think a giant chicken was let loose in here…" Eugene was unimpressed, Artemis merely shrugged, "Tell me I'm wrong."
"Hello, Roomie." The king placed a plain egg in Eugene's hand, Artemis quirked a brow, "Oh, ha ha, roomie…that's such a strong word. Well, make yourself at home your majesty." Shrugging as the two left the room, she grabbed her satchel, "Oh. Hello, dear." The blonde turned to look at the king, "Hello, Your Majesty. Is…is there something I can do for you?"
Frederick merely offered a fatherly smile, "I don't think I've gotten your name, with everything going on." She shifted nervously,
"Uh…" did she introduce herself with her title…or just give a name? being a statesperson was hard.
"Princess Artemis, of the Dark kingdom. Oh! B-but please don't feel like you have to use any formal titles. I'd rather just go by Artemis…if that's okay." He chuckled, "You know, I never cared much for stuffy titles either, but a king's duty is never done." A look of realization spread across his face,
"Oh, I'm not keeping you from anything, am I?"
"Not at all, your Majesty. I was just going to go get a few things in the marketplace. but it's not important. Varian can wait."
"Ah, The boy from earlier. Are you two close?" She smiled fondly, "You could say that, we've known each other since we were kids, it's been a long, but enjoyable, eleven years."
"It sounds like you really care about this boy."
"Yeah, I really do. He's been there through everything. I know you and Queen Arianna don't remember much, but even through all your differences, you found a way to make your relationship work, and look at what an amazing Kingdom Corona turned into under your reign, Your Majesty. We spent an entire year on the road, and not one place that we visited was as lively or welcoming as Corona." She picked up one of the eggs.
"My mother used to sing this silly nursery rhyme to me, about an egg that sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty, he sat on the walls of the kingdom every day, observing the people as they went about their humdrum lives, trading for their goods and wares, but one day, a strong gust of wind knocked him from his perch and he fell to the cobblestone ground below and his shell shattered. The king of this small village sent his best men to try and put Humpty back together again, however, despite all of the king's best men doing what they could to put Humpty back together, they failed." The king looked confused as she handed him the egg,
"Is there a lesson behind this story, My dear?" Artemis smiled, "Eggs are like memories, if it's broken it can be incredibly difficult to repair, but sometimes, if you can't put it back together, maybe you should try making something new from the pieces." Frederick looked at the egg she handed him in confusion,
"Oh, I really have to go, I'm sorry your Majesty. But I hope it all works out for you and the Queen."
"The kingdom of Corona is in crisis, Pascal will give each of you a copy of my comprehensive plan to save it."
"Operation royal romance. Uh, this is about setting your folks up on a date? You said the fate of the kingdom is at stake."
"Oh, it is, Lance" Artemis stared at the painting of the king and queen as Rapunzel flipped the page, "If the King and Queen fall apart, other couple's will follow their lead."
"Rapunzel, I don't think—" The princess cut her off as she flipped another page,
"And soon, all of Corona society will crumble and you know what they say, as goes Corona, so. Goes. The world. Do you want that to happen, Lance, Do you?" Everyone else hid as Rapunzel kicked over the easel, a crazed look in her eyes,
"I think you're overreacting…"
"No, no! no, no, no, no, no, I don't want, no, no…"
"That's the spirit! Okay, there's no reason we can't teach these love birds to fly again. And nothing! Is gonna stand in our way."
An explosion made her flinch as she neared Old corona, smiling she just shook her head and picked up the pace, god only knew what that boy was up to now. Once inside the tower where his lab was, she threw open the door, coming face to face with,
"You look…hilarious!" his hair was blown all over the place and bits and pieces were different colors, "This isn't funny, Artemis!" the girl was crouched by the door laughing.
"I-It's a-a-a little f-funny! Y-you should s-see your h-h-hair!" A mischievous look crossed Varian's face, "So, you think this is funny, do you?" he grabbed one of his alchemy mixtures and strolled towards her, his movements fluid,
"Wh-What are you doing?" before she could react he threw the chem ball at her, waving the awful smelling smoke from her face she heard him crack up, "Now we can look ridiculous together!" tugging a strand of her hair down towards her eyes seeing the color orange, she looked at Varian, "Oh, so that's how it's gonna be, huh?" She flashed a devilish grin, "Artemis, Artemis no….N—Oof!" she had tackled him to the ground, sitting on his stomach with his arms pinned on either side of his head,
"You know, some people might take this the wrong way, M'lady." He flipped her over, so the situation was reversed,
"Hmm, I could get used to this." Artemis felt her cheeks warm, "I think all the time in a cell warped your little brain."
"Or did it warp it just enough?" he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, smiling as he pulled away, "You know, orange is really not your color." He offered her his hand, pulling her up from the floor,
"Purple really isn't yours." The two gave one another a blank stare before laughing.
"I miss this, but in all fairness, whatever you mixed together could actually turn a profit, but I'd maybe alter the formula a bit." She walked towards his work table, "Ammonia, p-phenylenediamine,… diaminobenzene…Varian, I'd cut the amount of Ammonia down a bit, Add some safer binding agents, and maybe try and extract some more natural colors and you have some kind of Hair dying agent, you could also modify this formula to make dying clothes easier as well." He grabbed the journal out from under her and looked at it,
"Hey, you're right! why didn't I think of this?" Artemis merely shrugged, placing a soft kiss on his cheek, "Aww, don't worry little buddy. We can't all have great ideas." She stuck her tongue out, teasing him. He growled,
"Don't tease me, Artemis." He winked at her, eliciting another blush. "Put up or shut up, Varian." She fired back. Looking out the window she noticed it was rather late.
"Is it okay if I stay here for the night?"
"No arguments from me." He winked again, sliding his goggles back down over his eyes, "There's my room or the couch. Take your pick."
"Are you sure you can handle sleeping next to me?" He smirked, sending a chill down her spine,
"I think I can manage."
"Trevor says he respects inter-kingdom law, but I know that he's up to something. It's just figuring out what." Artemis buried her giggles as Frederick glared at Eugene who was about to crack open his egg.
"Dad, how can you just sit there, don't you wanna go with them?"
"The sea makes me queasy. Besides, he did ask. But even if I were to join them, how would I best trevor? He has it all." Artemis fished around in her bag for something,
"I have the queasiness covered, your majesty. It's still in a trial phase, but Varian and I are working on perfecting the formula, I tested this batch on a few of the fisherman at the piers and they said they didn't have any problems." She handed him a small fabric pouch with a few round tablets in it,
"The thirst for adventure, the barge, a pet seal. I haven't a barge, nor an adventure thirst…nor a seal."
"Why would you want a pet seal?"
"Nor do you have to sail a hundred miles out to see a couple of sea lizards. Ha ha, up high." The king ignored Eugene,
"Wait, Max. May I see your corona law Handbook?" the horse passed over the book and there was an awkward moment of silence as Rapunzel pulled the dagger out of it.
"He's not taking her to see sea serpents, he's taking her outside the inter-kingdom waters."
"Um, yeah. 'cause that's where the sea serpents are." Lance leaned over to Frederick, "You gonna eat the other half of that?"
"Laws don't apply out there, not even marriage." Closing the book, a look of panic spread across Rapunzel's features, "He's going to try and marry my mother. we've gotta catch that boat!"
"They're still so far ahead of us. Can't this…thing go any faster?"
"Must I remind you that I am prone to sea sickness?"
"Take one of those tablets I gave you, you'll be fine." Artemis peered out at the large teal colored barge,
"He's asking her to sign the diary!"
"Does everybody get to sign this book but me and you?"
"Calm down you spaz, she said you two would sign it, but we kind of have bigger issues, right now!" Eugene narrowed his eyes at the teen, opening his mouth to say something but closing it immediately.
"We gotta hurry." There was a school of something swimming towards them at rapid speed, "Incoming!"
"What is this guy's deal with the seals!?"
"Hole in the boat, there is a hole in the boat!"
"We're taking on water."
"Somebody untie me."
"Artemis, help my dad."
"Already on it!" she managed to scramble her way up the mast and undo the ropes, The ship was going down, and fast and the seals whooping their buts weren't helping,
"I should have stayed in old corona." Getting annoyed Artemis grabbed one of the seals by the tail and threw it off the remainder of the surfaced boat. Suddenly it seemed as if they had all but given up, leaving the wrecked ship behind.
"Anybody wanna guess why they are leaving while they are winning?"
"Knowing our luck, probably something bad."
"Uh, guys…" Artemis pointed to the water, "I think we have company."
"Grab whatever you can to fend it off."
"Stand back! The overgrown snake is mine." Artemis watched In horror as Lance grabbed the ships anchor, throwing it at the serpent only to have it fall barely five feet away and put another hole in the boat.
"Lance!"
"Sorry. I overestimated my strength."
"We're sinking, fast!"
"Need a ride?" Everyone turned to see Arianna, they quickly made a jump for the ladder but Frederick missed as the serpent lunged for the remainder of their tiny boat.
"Dad!"
"Help."
"Frederick!" All eyes watched as the Queen swan dove off the ship to help him, "I got you."
"Arianna, thank you."
"Aww, how cute." Artemis smiled, watching the show of affection,
"They do love each other, so much."
"I know, isn't it beautiful?" Artemis flashed King Trevor an annoyed look, "If I didn't fear the repercussions of decking a king, I'd punch you so hard right now you vile, conniving, weasely son of a –"
"Oh-ho-kay, that's enough out of you, young lady." Narrowing her eyes, the teen licked her brother's hand.
"Oh, that is disgusting and very unlady like." Eugene retracted his hand, wiping her spit onto his shirt
"Thank you."
"Mom, dad, no!" drawing their attention back to the water, it seemed the Sea serpent had a hold of the King and Queen, watching as they leaned in to kiss, Rapunzel used her hair to tie the serpents mouth shut before it could bite her parents,
"Watch your mouth!" Annoyed, the sea creature yanked it's head back, pulling Rapunzel off the boat,
"Rapunzel, let go!"
"I…Can't!" her hair continued to wind around the monster's mouth until she landed safely on the beasts snout, Eugene made quick work of turning the Barge around as the monster dropped the King and Queen safely on board.
"I can't use the rocks out here!"
"Seal team, strike and strike true!" Trevor lunched himself and the chunky seal off the boat and onto the Sea serpents back, quickly saving Rapunzel as the seal tram from before went to work getting rid of the monster, Rapunzel hurried towards the captain's wheel,
"Let's get out of here!" clearly, the seal's didn't do a good enough job as the giant snake returned seconds later, trying to destroy the ship,
"If anybody knows how to make her stop, all suggestions are welcome."
"I don't know what's wrong with her. They're not known to be aggressive." Something rolled to a stop in front of them.
"The sea crystal?"
"What?" Frederick picked it up, walking towards the beast
"Dad, what are you doing?"
"The Sea Crystal, it's not a precious jewel it's—'
"She doesn't want us, she wants this!" he held the blue spiked orb up,
"My Sea Crystal."
"It's no crystal, it's a serpent egg!" the serpent took the shiny blue orb and immediately took off,
"Oh, Frederick, you were so brave!" Arianna kissed him on the cheek, "Well, you know me." He chuckled, "I'm very…brave." When they finally docked back in Corona Everyone quickly dispersed.
She sat in her room at the castle that night, Varian perched at the foot end of her bed,
"So, you're telling me you fought off a giant Sea serpent because that moron King from Equis stole it's egg?"
"Pretty much, yeah. You know, it sounds a lot less exciting when you summarize it like that." Varian shrugged, "It was still a fun adventure, but it was weird not being able to use the rocks when we really needed them"
"Well, maybe it's a good thing. Someday, when the rocks are gone, you might not be able to use them at all anymore. Are you prepared for that?"
"I guess I never gave it much thought, I know I've only known about my power for a little over a year, but when it's gone…will a part of me be gone too?" she glanced down at her hands, "I've got a lot to think about, not to mention, with Cass still out there, we have a big fight to look forward to. And what about when it's all over?"
"What about it?"
"What if my father expects me to leave, no matter what happens when this is all over, whether it's my brother or myself, one of us is going to have to take the throne, and Eugene has Rapunzel and Corona." Varian took her hand,
"Who knows how far off that is, and whatever it comes down to in the end, I'll be right by your side."
"Varian, that's really sweet, but I can't ask you to give up your life here in Corona. Not for me, that would be selfish."
"it would also be selfish to make you take on a kingdom on your own." She chuckled a little, "Looks like Sir Varian the Brave is still there." She said remembering their battle against the imaginary Howler Incudora.
"Well, not every Princess should have to suffer in their tower alone."
