Happy May everyone. Sorry to say there's not much in this chapter, just some siblings fluff, but either way I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 36: Why didn't you?:
It was late at night when the group of friends finally arrived back at the castle. Rapunzel had insisted that Varian and Alice spend the night in a guest room before heading back to Old Corona. Varian protested at first, but Alice wasn't going to let her little brother fall asleep while walking home, so they took the room Rapunzel offered. So that's where the siblings found themselves. Both of them sitting on the bed in the guest room, Alice using her powers on Varian's chest. Thanks to Cassandra sending rocks at him, his ribs were badly bruised, but luckily not broken.
"She is so lucky, she really is ,"Alice mumbled under her breath, her hands glowing green as she healed her little brother.
"Hey sis... why didn't you do more to her... I know you wanted to use magic, so why didn't you sooner ?"Varian asked.
Like it or not, Varian knew that Ballora was right. He knew his sister was willing to destroy anyone who dared to hurt anyone she cared about, especially anyone who dared to hurt him. So, it didn't make any sense than Cassandra was still in one piece, much less have no broken bones. He was grateful that neither women had gotten hurt, but still it didn't add up to what he knew of his sister.
"Did you want me to hurt her ?"Alice asked, looking into his baby blue eyes.
"No, no, of course not !"Varian exclaimed.
"Exactly, I know you still see the good in Cassandra, Vary. Rapunzel sees it too and I know better than to hurt our friend, especially when I know it break your heart if I turned myself into a monster by hurting her ,"Alice told him.
"Thanks sis... Do you really think we can get Cassie back ?"he asked.
"I honestly don't know Starlight...I don't know, I think we can but it will take time... for all of us ,"Alice told him, the glow fading from her hands.
"There, how do you feel ?"Alice asked, having finally finished healing her brother.
"Better, thanks sis ,"Varian said, smiling at her.
"Varian ?"Alice question, raising a brow and asking for an elaboration.
"Seriously sis I'm fine, it doesn't hurt at all, thanks to you ,"he assured her.
"It's no problem Vary, I'm just thankful it was just a bruise and that nothing was broken ,"Alice said, gently getting behind her brother, pulling her brother towards her chest and placing his head just below her chin.
"Why that's ?"Varian asked, with a roll of his eyes at her affection, knowing he would be dead before he told her how much he secretly enjoyed it.
"Mainly because my magic can only do so much at the moment. After going so long without using magic, on my own, it will take awhile for me to handle any advanced spells ,"Alice explained.
"Wait, so you lost your powers ?"Varian asked.
"Not exactly, it's more from lack of practice that I'm struggling from. I can heal bruises and wounds no problem as you know. However going for so many years without using my magic, attempting any advance spell would be like a five year old trying to solve a science equation. It's not that I can't, it's simply that I haven't practiced in awhile. So, if one of your ribs were broken there wouldn't be anything I could do, not after going so long without practice, especially after I already used so much energy today ,"Alice explained, stroking her brother's hair gently.
"Is that why you didn't heal your wrist ?"Varian asked and Alice nodded in confirmation as she looked down at her brother.
"So... which is the winner ?"she asked, a mischievous look in her eyes.
"What are you talking about ?"Varian asked, raising a brow.
"The metal judging contest you were doing in the Demanitus chamber, which metal wins ?"Alice asked, giggling slightly.
"Iron, obviously. It's strong and his a high melting point... Just like you ,"Varian said, and Alice smiled at him.
"Thunder ,"she said, holding out a hand in front of her little brother.
"Lightning ,"Varian finished, gripping her hand tightly.
Both siblings sat in silence for a while after that. Alice could tell there was still something on her brother's mind, but decided not to push it. He would tell her when he was ready. So instead, she gently carding her fingers through Varian's raven locks, trying to get not only her brother but herself to relax.
"She didn't hurt me, by the way ,"Varian started, still gripping his sister's free hand.
"Who ?"Alice asked, knowing that he wasn't referring to Cassandra.
"No, Ballora... She helped me figure out the final incantation, and she... She misses you as well ,"Varian told her, causing Alice to got silent and tense, her hand stopping on top of her brother's head.
"Al, Ballora didn't hurt me. She actually tried to help me talk reason into Cass. I...I think... she really wants to be good again ,"Varian told her.
"I... I hope your right Vary... I really do... How did she know that you needed to use sunlight to reveal the incantation ?"Alice asking, wondering how her former friend knew something about the scroll that she had never even seen before today.
"Actually, it wasn't her who gave me that advice. I had this weird dream back at the tower. It had this really creepy girl in it, and she told me I needed to 'use the sun to see the sun', and well, me and Ballora figured it out from there ,"Varian told her, causing Alice's eyes to widen, tensing once again.
"Ummmmm, can you tell me what this girl looked like ?"Alice asked, moving to sit in front of her brother so that she could look into his eyes.
"Well, she was actually all blue. Blue hair, blue eyes, blue skin, almost like an icy blue... Her hair was in these... pigtail buns, and she wore a really fancy dress... Oh, she also had this creepy smile, it honestly made me uncomfortable ,"Varian told her, and there was no mistaking the fear in his sister's eyes at that description.
"Sis, are you alright ?"Varian asked, sensing his sister's distress.
"I can't be... it just can't... Varian, have you seen that girl before today ?"Alice asked, her voice shaking.
Varian shook his head and he noticed his sister relax, just a little. He reached for his sister's hands, holding them reassuringly and offering her a smile. Alice looked up at him, her thoughts still racing. Noticing this, Varian sighed and tried to calm his sister.
"Hey sis, I'm sure it was just a dream. I'm not hurt, you're not hurt, we'll all alright, and that's what matters, right ?"Varian asked, and Alice shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts as she finally smiled at her brother.
"You're right, but, can you promise me something ?"Alice asked, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb.
"You know how much I hate promises sis ,"Varian told her.
"I know, and I'm sorry I have to say it, but I need to know that you'll keep your word, please ,"Alice begged, and Varian could tell that this was important.
"What is it, I'll do anything for you sis ,"Varian told her.
"Just... if you ever see that girl again, even in a dream... tell me immediately, okay ,"Alice told him.
"Alright I will, but really sis it's no big deal, it was just a dream. Besides she was just creepy and that riddle helped us, didn't it ?"Varian asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah you're right. I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing. Now, why don't we go and get some cake before Lance and the girls eat it all ,"Alice suggested, causing Varian to laugh.
"Race you there !"He exclaimed, jumping off the bed and racing out of the room.
"Hey, no fair !"Alice exclaimed, racing after him, pushing her worried thoughts away for the moment.
"It can't be... that demon's gone... right ?"She thought to herself, racing after her little brother.
I think you all know who Alice is thinking about. Either way I'll see you all next week and I hope you enjoyed this week's chapter.
Don't forget to like if you enjoy, follow if you want to be kept up to date on when I upload next, and if you have any questions of suggestions don't hesitate to leave them below I love reading your guy's thoughts.