AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just so you all know, this is the penultimate chapter of Book I. I'm still working on Book II, but after this Thursday, there's going to be at least a couple weeks' gap before the next update. There WILL be more, though. I have the entire six-part story sketched out, and I have finished a good chunk of Book II. So hopefully it won't be TOO long.

Book I: Serial Dilution

Chapter XXVII: Goodbye Old Corona

The Sun was rising steadily, revealing a sky that was clear of clouds.

As dawn broke over Old Corona, one could see several wagons filled with broken, battered, Automaton fragments rolling away down the road towards the capital. Flynn Rider smiled as he helped hitch Maximus up to a final cart, and nodded to the stallion, patting his side. Max smiled back and nodded respectfully to Eugene as the ex-thief turned and walked to join the group behind the last wagon.

"Well," he said with a light chuckle, "Always look on the bright side of life: at least now Xavier the Blacksmith's gonna have a loooot of scrap metal to play with."

None of the others so much as cracked a smile, and only Donald and Goofy bothered to look at him. The dog and the duck looked rather sad, while the King and Queen looked suspicious and cross.

Sora, Rapunzel, and Pascal, meanwhile, all looked…worried. Concerned. Empathetic.

Flynn frowned, and turned away, looking to where the eyes of all were trained, trying to keep his own expression as cool as a cucumber.

He'd never understood that phrase, to be honest: seriously, what was so cool about cucumbers? They didn't even taste that great.

Musings upon old idioms aside, the source of the emotional responses was quite clear: the last wagon was not a cart hauling machine pieces, but instead a jailer's trailer. Stan and Pete wore uncharacteristically stern, stoic expressions as they led a familiar, small figure up the steps and into the back of the wagon.

Just as the figure entered the cart, something brushed up against Stan's leg. He looked down and was surprised when a raccoon scurried up the steps…then scrambled up and around the body of the teenager inside.

Varian stood stiff as a board in the back of the wagon. His eyes held a haunted, far-away sort of look, filled with bitterness and smoldering anger. His freckled face seemed gaunt, his pinkish nose pale, the countenance not helped by the tear stains on his cheeks. Ruddiger let out a croon and pawed at Varian's cheek to try and get his attention; it did no good. Varian seemed to barely be aware his faithful pet was even there…if, indeed, he was aware at all.

One of his eyes was twitching as he cast his empty, steely gaze down upon the floor of the cage cart. When words finally left his mouth, they were croaking, damp and lifeless, as if his voice had been drowned.

"I will make you proud of me, Dad…"

Slowly, he lifted his head up…and cast a snarling look of purest, most acidic hatred – an intense gaze of vengeful disgust – towards the group of seven (eight, counting Pascal) who watched his arrest take place.

"…If it's the last thing I ever do."

CLACK.

The door to the wagon was shut and locked…and Maximus tossed his head with a snort before beginning to trot off down the lane back towards the main city. Varian's sneer of loathing did not leave his face, nor did his eyes leave the gaze of those who watched his "departure," till – after what seemed like an eternity – the prison wagon disappeared over the crest of a hill on the horizon.

For several seconds, there was silence. It was Rapunzel who broke it.

"Don't be too hard on him, Dad," she said to her father.

Frederic looked down at Rapunzel, then off in the direction Varian had been hauled away. Something stirred within his own eyes.

"I'll be sure to do everything I can to get him help," the King of Corona promised, then glanced towards the ruined old castle. "As for Quirin…I will not rest till I find a way to free him."

The King then looked to Sora and Company, and smiled kindly. He moved towards them, and bowed his head respectfully.

"I have much to thank you for," he said, obeisantly. "You have all helped to save my life, my family, and my kingdom. I am sorry for all the trouble I caused you in your attempts to provide aid, and I hope you can forgive me."

Sora blushed and scratched the back of his head, looking rather self conscious.

"Ahhh…heh heh…i-it's okay, really…trust me, we've been through a LOT worse elsewhere…"

Donald and Goofy sniggered, and then nodded with large smiles to the King, to show they forgave him, too.

Frederic smiled wider, then turned as Arianna approached and took him by the arm.

"If you would like," the Queen offered, "We are planning to host a victory banquet. Perhaps you would like to come?"

"I think it's best we left, actually," Sora said, with an apologetic smile. "But thank you for offering."

"By all means," Arianna said, though she looked somewhat sorry to hear it.

"If you should ever choose to return to the Kingdom of Corona," Frederic added, "You will be more than welcome."

So saying, the Royal Couple turned away and walked off, hand in hand, waiting for the newly-repaired royal coach that would carry them home.

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider watched the pair go, then turned to look towards their allies.

"Are you sure you have to leave?" Rapunzel asked quietly, and Pascal made a sad chirping noise. Sora smiled and moved closer, petting Pascal with one finger till the chameleon smiled back.

"Our mission was to seek a shadow in the Kingdom of the Sun," said Sora. "That's why we came here. I don't know if we found what we were supposed to find…but I think any other problems you guys may face, you can handle on your own."

"Oh, trust me," chuckled Eugene, "If there's one thing Sunshine and here are used to, it's saving the World."

"Actually," Rapunzel said softly, and smiled to Flynn. "I…wanted to talk to you about that."

Flynn frowned and tilted his head.

"Saving things?"

"No. The World," Rapunzel said, and addressed the whole group. "Ever since I was a little girl, I spent my whole life locked in a tower. This entire experience has me wondering what else is out there…"

She looked down at her hand…which was clutching a bundle of her hair.

"…And if there are more secrets to uncover," she added, faintly. "We still don't know where the Black Rocks come from, or why they only seem to react to me."

She looked up to Eugene with a radiant, beaming smile.

"I don't know when I'll get the answers there, or what else they may show…but I want to learn. If I'm going to be a Queen, and make decisions, I need to know my people…and I should know how the rest of the world works."

Flynn smiled gently, and hugged his fiancé close.

"If a world-class vacation is what you want, Blondie, I'll be there for you all the way," he said faintly.

Sora's blush deepened, and Donald and Goofy smirked impishly as the teenager dipped his head at the sight of the pair giving each other a quick kiss.

"Awwww…don't be like that, Sora!" Donald quacked.

"Yeah!" Goofy teased. "I'm sure Kairi would be happy to go on a trip with you sometime!"

The keyblade master looked up fast. He seemed downright mortified.

"That's not…! I wasn't thinking…! Just…HEY, STOP LAUGHING!"

No one could.

When the laughter DID die down, Sora couldn't help but smile.

"I hope you two do well," he said, then his expression turned serious. "And…keep us posted when you return. Let us know how things go with Varian, okay?"

"We'll do our best," Rapunzel promised, then smiled. "And wherever you all go, keep your friends close, alright?"

"I know it sounds weird comin' from handsome, dashing, devil-may-care little ol' awesome me," Flynn Rider chirped, "But the ones you care for most will always be the things you should hold onto the tightest."

"Trust me, I know," Sora said, and gave the pair a salute. "If you ever do need help, we'll be there. See you both later!"

And with these parting words, the Princess and the Rogue went one way, while the Warriors of Light went another.

The Sun did not seem as bright as usual in Corona…but at least it still shone strong and true.

And where there was light, there was always hope.