AN: Sorry it has been a long time since I last posted here. I was taking a break from this site and got into new stories for my addiction. Then Covid began so I thought about what I'm going to contribute to the fight. People are writing about characters fighting Covid, but I decided to go to my roots. Why I became a writer is to be a part of making something that people can get away from reality for a while, like I had done as a child. So I decided to write a story about the embodiment of sunshine in a place with the same name as the pandemic.
Enjoy
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It has been sometime since Rapunzel and Eugene's wedding. All their friends were at the event, even Rapunzel's kinda sister, Cassandra. Rapunzel's aunt Willow and Eugene's dad was there with all the members of The Brotherhood. After the battle against Zhan Tiri the people of Corona started rebuilding. Quirin took everyone who works in the castle and Rapunzel's parents to rebuild Old Corona. Zhan Tiri only destroyed some of the castle while Cassandra destroyed the town and some more of the castle. However, to repent for what they've done to Varian everyone will be rebuilding Old Corona and working there for at least one year. Afterwards the former queen decided to retire there since Corona is in good hands now that Rapunzel accepted her role as next in line for the throne. The former queen drags her husband there as well after a public confession and apology. The servants on the other hand begged to be allowed to come back, and with begging Varian for his forgiveness they were given their jobs back. Once word spread about the victory over a castle sized demon everyone from all seven kingdoms came to help out. When it was all done the queen of Ingvarr gave permanent ownership of the trophy of the Conquest of the Crowns to Corona. She said the biggest thing they have ever faced were the kind of stuff that was in the final challenge, never a demon.
In the deepest dungeons underneath Corona Castle
Andrew is sitting at one of the tables in the common area of their floor of the dungeons. Clementine sits down opposite the man. They strike up a convocation, in the meantime small lines of black smoke comes out from inside one of her sleeves. The smoke zig-zags into letters to form a message,
I'm currently making a magic jewel. However, I need some of your hair to link you to yours. One of its powers will give you the ability to transform into a bat. With that ability you can sneak off to use another one of the jewel's powers to kill the traitor and bring him back as a servant of
The Separatists of Saporia. You get to kill him, which is what you want, and he'll become a slave to Saporia, something that is good for our cause.
Andrew looks around at the guards. He then rearranges the trails of smoke to make his message,
Next time they let us out our cells.
With a wave of Clementine's hand all the smoke over the table goes back into her sleeve. They give each other an evil smirk as they part.
Sometime later the guards gets the prisoners back into their cells to wash up for dinner in the common area. That's when Andrew let his hair out of the man bun, picked his prison issued comb free of hair already on it, combs his hair and replaces the man bun, and picks the comb free of hair again. Only this time instead of the trash basket like earlier this time the hair is wrapped in a sheet of paper Rapunzel allows in the cells as drawing tools to give the prisoners entertainment. She even had Varian create colored charcoal sticks to draw with. Something that is passable to allow prisoners to have.
The delivery happens as Andrew sits next to Clementine. The act is quick, so the guards would have a few seconds to see anything if they were looking, but the two evil schemers looked before doing the delivery.
Up in the throne room
Rapunzel is sitting on her throne after dinner with her family and Varian. Sitting next to her is Eugene wearing the uniform of the captain of the guard and a black, very pointy crown. The crown was a wedding gift from his dad. His dad explained that it is the same crown wore when he was prince.
"Why did Varian say I need to be here if what he made is for you?" asks Eugene.
"He said it will help me defend Corona," answers Rapunzel. "And according to protocol: the presentation of a weapon must be overseen and then approved by the captain of the guard. And I believe you are still in charge of that department."
"Yes, I am," sighs Eugene. "But we both trust him so much. So why does he think he needs to be so formal with the gift?"
"We'll find out," says Rapunzel with a smile.
"The Royal Engineer is ready for you," exclaims Nigel. He is standing in the doorway across the room from the royal couple, with one of the double doors open.
"Let him in!" calls Rapunzel's response. Nigel closes the door and within about two moments both of the double doors are flung open. A tall wooden crate is wheeled in.
"Thank you for doing this so late," says their friend from behind the crate.
"Varian, you know we would always look at your creations no matter what," replies Rapunzel.
"Yeah, but this is a weapon for you," continues Varian. "And you know the protocol." He stops when he's a few yards away from his two best friends. He walks to the side of it and take a hold of a piece of rope attached to the top of the crate.
"My dear short-haired princess, I give you," begins Varian before pulling the piece of rope. The sides of the crate falls away revealing a practice dummy wearing something like a helmet of the royal guard with strands of chainmail links cascading from the back and wrapping around the body until there's little peeking out from the top.
"Your Chain \Hair," finishes Varian.
"Wow, this looks amazing," comments Rapunzel as she jog up to the practice dummy.
"Way to go goggles," cheers Eugene. "I'm willing to bet it took you a very long time to make this."
"You can say that again," responds Varian. "I used what's left of one of the helmets that was destroyed when one of your trainees caused all of the horses in the stable to go wild in the training ground."
"Oh yeah, how can I forget," says Eugene with an eye roll. "He was so sure that since he comes from a long line of royal guards he should get into the ranks without going through training. I had to bring Max into the mess to get the other horses to stop stampeding."
"Well, I was able to salvage the top and sides of one of the ruined helmets," continues Varian. "I was also able to salvage another with the back untouched to use as reference to form a square of chain links. To that I attached each seventy feet long strand of chains."
"This is perfect," exclaims Rapunzel as she lifts the helmet off the dummy and onto her head.
"How does it feel?" asks Varian.
"Not bad," answers Rapunzel. "I can get used to this."
"The chain links are steel," explains Varian. "So you can use them to block swords."
"Well, I love it," exclaims Rapunzel. "It has my seal of approval."
"Mine too Buddy," explains Eugene.
"Nigel!" calls Rapunzel.
"Yes Your Majesty," responds Nigel as he enters the doorway.
"Have this taken to my room," orders Rapunzel as she puts her helmet back on the dummy. "Eugene, is there a chance I can play around with my new weapon in the training grounds?"
"If I have the trainees do the obstacle course in the morning while you do paperwork before breakfast you can use the grounds after breakfast," replies Eugene.
"Perfect," says Rapunzel. "How about the three of us with Pascal, Max and Ruddiger have a game night before bed?"
"That sounds like fun," chimes Varian.
"I'm in," chimes Eugene.
The next morning in the dungeons common area at beakfast time
"How's it coming along?" asks Andrew quietly as he sits next to Clementine. She takes his hand and presses something into its palm.
"It's done," answers Clementine.
"That was fast," comments Andrew.
"I practiced by making one for myself," replies Clementine. "The difference between ours is that mine allows me to turn into a rat, yours gives you a bat transformation. You lose the ability to transform and turn people into undead slaves at sunrise, but you gain them back at sunset. So as you turn the traitor back to our side do it slowly, to cause panic, but hide as a bat when the sun even rises. Once you are done come tell me and I'll deliver the other's theirs."
"Okay," replies Andrew with an evil smile. He's facing down so the guards don't see his face.
"Now, here's how to do each ability," continues Clementine. The rest is in a hushed voice.
That night in Varian's room
"Okay, okay, I'm coming," says Varian as he climbs into his bed. He was talking to his pet raccoon who is making its sounds very loud.
"But boy did Rapunzel enjoy playing 'Guess that Picture'," continues Varian. "She and The Queen are good artists." Another loud, shrill sound from Ruddiger makes the boy genius stop talking.
"Okay, okay, geez, good night," says Varian before blowing out the candle on his bedside table, thus throwing his bedroom into complete darkness. A little while later and his breathing signals that he's asleep, along with his pet raccoon. He never heard the faint fluttering of wings that entered his room by way of his open window while he was talking to Ruddiger. When the young genius sleeps the bat those fluttering wings belongs to transforms into a man that approaches the bed. The man uses his newly acquired fangs to pierce near the boy's throat. After a while of drinking blood the man seals the holes almost closed, transforms back into a bat and makes itself at home hanging from the ceiling of the room.
In the morning
Everyone is woken up by alarms ringing throughout the entire palace. Varian jumps out of bed, but as soon as his feet hit the floor he stumbles a bit and sits down for a couple moments before standing up. He walks out his room at a fast pace, taking his bathrobe from the rack on his way. He puts it on as he walks fast to where Eugene is barking orders. Rapunzel is to the side watching the guards running around.
"Do a sweep of the entire castle!" calling out Eugene. "I also want one of the trainees to go down there with a list of prisoners to make an account for every single one of them! The report has to be given to me as I'm eating breakfast! Only then can you have yours while I present it at the emergency meeting afterwards!"
"What is going on?" asks Varian.
"A prisoner has disappeared from his cell overnight," answers Rapunzel.
"Then I better wear my nice uniform today," exclaims Varian as he turns back to the hallway he came through.
Later in his private bathroom
He enters the bathroom completely naked. Private bathrooms are put into the higher-ups and guest rooms. It has a little bit separated from the rest of the bathroom for Varian's running water invention (AN: a shower). On his way into the said room he passes the mirror above a mini version of the same invention (AN: a sink). In it he sees two welts near his throat as if he's been feasted on my mosquitos all night.
"I can take care of this quickly after breakfast," groans Varian to himself.
After his washing he opens his closet and takes out a version of his work clothing that looks nicer and is undamaged, and a familiar bandana that has a picture of rows of fangs on it. He also digs out a seam ripper from an emergency sewing kit.
"Here Ruddiger, rip the teeth out of this while I get dressed please," says Varian as he hands the items to the raccoon.
Later in the dining room
The boy and raccoon enters and goes to two different tables. Varian, with a red bandana around his neck, joins the royal family while Ruddiger goes to a table for the pets of the royal family. They are allowed in that room because Rapunzel and Eugene made them an exception.
"Varian, your new addition to your uniform looks so familiar," comments Rapunzel.
"That's because the only time you've seen it is when it had fangs sewn into it," replies Varian.
"Oh, from that time," responds Eugene. It has gotten to the point where Team Awesome can chuckle about the time Varian fell into darkness, but it is still uncomfortable to Varian to talk about it, so they don't go into much detail when they do talk about it.
"Still does not excuse the fact that it is not a part of the uniform," points out King Frederic.
"I'm just wearing it to hide some mosquito bites from last night," defends Varian. "But I do have some chemicals in the lab that can help treat them." This is when the servants brings out the food onto the two tables in the room. A guard also enters the room and hands Eugene a couple pieces of paper.
"Thank you," says Eugene. "Have the first guard to finish their breakfast return here to escort The Royal Science Genius to the lab for him to treat his mosquito bites before the meeting. They are to also clear the room before letting him enter it."
"Yes sir," responds the guard before leaving.
"Well, if mosquito season is coming up than we better prepare for it," exclaims Rapunzel. "Varian, after the meeting your next big assignment is to invent a mosquito repellent. Your small assignment is to make sure there will be enough of what ever you are going to treat your bug bites with for the castle and the poor people of Corona."
"I'll see what I can do," replies Varian.
"I'm going to get together with all of the maids to sew curtains for beds to keep mosquitos away from the poor people while they sleep," continues Rapunzel.
"That is a plan alright Sunshine," cheers Eugene. "That will keep you busy while I work with the guards to put any escapees back behind bars. Since protocol says the entire castle has to be in lockdown until the escaped prisoner has either escaped the palace, or put back behind bars. So no seeing subjects until I give the all clear."
An hour later
As Varian stands to leave he had to quickly brace himself in order to hide him about to stumble. He makes his way to the Demanitas Chamber, which has been turned into the royal lab with a guard by his side. It took a moment or two for the guard to give the all clear so Varian could enter. As he takes a bottle from the shelf that's labeled ammonia, and a ball of cotton from his first aid kit from another shelf, he undoes the bandana from around his neck. He tips some ammonia onto the cotton. While using a metal mortar as a mirror he dabs the liquid onto the welts. Once that is done he replaces the bandana around his neck. Then he walks out of the room. He quickly walks with the guard by his side to the throne room.
In the throne room
All of the heads of all stations of employment in the castle are lined up alongside the red carpet. Varian is standing at the end farthest from the throne in one of the lines. Rapunzel is sitting alone in the middle throne.
"Thank you for coming to this emergency meeting," begins Rapunzel. "This meeting is to address a potential crisis. This morning there was a jail break. Eugene Fitzerbert, will you step forward and give a full detailed report on this matter?" Eugene is in the middle of the line opposite of Varian. He steps forward to be in the middle of the carpet and turns to face his wife.
"On the first patrol of the deepest floor of the dungeon of the day the guard, Pete, found one of the cells empty," begins Eugene. "He was the one to raise the alarm. After a thorough headcount of all of the prisoners only one of them is missing. The prisoner's name is Andrew, who is in there for two counts of treason."
"Excuse me, sorry," interrupts Varian. "Did you just say that Andrew was the one that escaped?"
"Yes, he was," answers Eugene before continuing the report. "Although it is unknown how he did it. The door was locked when the escape was discovered."
"Varian, are you okay?" interrupts Rapunzel. The young man's face had been getting paler and paler since Eugene confirmed to him that it was Andrew that escaped, and he's been rocking back and forth as if it's hard to stay standing.
"I'll be okay," replies Varian before falling forward. Before he hit the floor Eugene manages to catch him. The head doctor, named Richard, and nurse, named June, rushes around. The nurse hurries to take off the bandana while the doctor check his vitals.
"He's fainted," exclaims Dr. Richard.
"Eugene, have a guard help take Varian to the medical wing for further examination," orders Rapunzel, who had just joined the group around the limp young man. "Have some more guards escort them. Varian is a target due to his history with Andrew." Eugene nods before turning to the guards along the walls of the room.
"Stan, you carry Varian!" orders Eugene. "Pete, Michel, Alan and Olmar, you four are the escorts." The five guards carries out their orders.
"Eugene, is there anything else in the report?" asks Rapunzel.
"Just one thing, the sweep of the palace turned up no sign of Andrew," responds Eugene. "But to be on the safe side you better arm yourself with the helmet Varian gave you. Varian will also need some guards around him at all times."
"Sounds good," comments Rapunzel before turning to everyone else that's around them. "Meeting concluded. Back to work everyone." Everyone separates and Rapunzel and Eugene makes a beeline to their room.
Fifteen minutes later in the medical wing, the resting room
"How's Varian Doctor Richard?" asks Rapunzel.
"He'll be okay," replies Dr. Richard. "He only fainted due to shock."
"I'm afraid it's more than that Dad!" calls out a voice from a room next to the resting area. A woman comes through a door connecting the resting area from another room next to where the group is.
"Please excuse the interruption Your Majesties," apologizes the woman. "My name is Rebecca. I'm visiting from a village on the other side of The Capital from Old Corona."
"It's great to meet you Rebecca," greets Rapunzel. "But what were you saying? There's more to Varian's fainting?"
"It's true that the shock triggered the fainting Your Highness," responds Rebecca. "However, I examined the welts on his neck closely, and found holes in the middle of them. Looking through the history of illnesses in Corona I found out that your friend has been cursed."
"What do you mean?" asks Eugene.
"A long time ago during a convention of the seven kingdoms a plague spread among the nobles attending," begins Rebecca. "After the plague went away Princess Vivian back then announced that it was brought on by a curse. The caster was a Countess named Claudia. The welts are stage one. Stage two is the inflicted gets weaker and weaker. Then they died. A couple ladies died, another one thought her husband died but he did not. The children and a few lords started acting strange, but nobody couldn't put their finger on what was up. All they said was they were more obedient, especially to Countess Claudia. Princess Vivian said The Royal Sorcerer, Derick, died from taking it all at once to break the curse. Once the curse was lifted the people that were acting strange immediately went back to normal, then in time the welts healed."
"The caster this time is Clementine," exclaims Varian. They look at the nearest bed to them to see the young man awake. Ruddiger is laying on his chest as he pets the raccoon.
"Clementine cast it on behalf of Andrew," continues Varian. "We need to figure out how the sorcerer broke the curse before I either die or become obedient to his cause again."
"I agree," says Rapunzel. "We need to look for Derick's journal. Maybe he left anything behind that can help us now."
"Well, that is the only lead we have," says Eugene. "But where would it be?"
"In The Royal Library," answers Rapunzel. "Let's go see."
"I'm coming with you," exclaims Varian as he slowly is helped up by Rebecca.
Later in the royal library
The three of them are looking through the bookcase with a sign on top saying "journals".
"Here it is," exclaims Rapunzel as she takes out a book with the name Derick on the cover. She flips through it.
"Anything Sunshine?" asks Eugene.
"He does talk about the time the curse was around," replies Rapunzel. "The last entry is of him going to confront Countess Claudia when the welts appeared on Princess Vivian's neck."
"It seems that he cared for Princess Vivian," muses Varian. Then he turns back to the books on the same bookcase that Derick's journal came from. He pulls out the one with "Princess Vivian" on its cover and flips through it.
"Aha, here's something," cheers Varian. He begins reading,
The sickness is over, but with a price.
It has been two and a half weeks since the illness was discovered. It was only among the nobles. However, just yesterday morning the welts appeared on my neck. It was so strange at that time. Since the sickness appeared I was immediately sent to my bedroom to keep me safe. My only saving grace from going insane from being alone was an occasional crystal ball message from Derick. My dear friend knew me so well he had enchanted a crystal ball to connect to another one he keeps in his workshop. So we can see and hear each other through them. The last message was when I told him about me getting the welts. He said he had found out everything about the sickness and is going to confront the one that released it. I thought he would be fine and I'll soon be able to step outside again. However, last night he stumbled into my room in person. I cradled him as he lay dying on my floor. He gave me a small chest, and said he wants to be put to rest with it. He said in it is everything he had found during his investigation. He had taken the time to store the last bit of information instead of getting his wound looked at. I asked him why he didn't get the wound healed. He told me just in case this dark curse resurfaced in the future. His last words were "I wish this never happened. Then we would be able to grow old together. I was glad to have you as a best friend". I cried out for help when he went limp after saying those words. The servants came quickly, and sent for the royal doctor as soon as they saw the state of Derick. But, by the time they got my dearest friend to the medical wing, he passed. I demanded Mother and Father to let me decide Derick's final resting place. I even went as far as telling them that I'll tell everyone that they don't care for the dead, even those that were close to them. That was what made them accept my demand. So, as they were planning the funeral I ordered stone bricks and a painter to come as quick as possible. I spent the rest of the day moving his work table to be against the wall and arranging his stuff. His work room will be the only place perfect to be his tome. No person can be as great of a magician as Derick. He wasn't just the strongest and smartest magician, he was the greatest friend anyone can have.
Varian turned the page and kept reading.
It is done. Derick has been placed in the stone box I made with most of the bricks I ordered, and a stone slab put on top. I placed the chest he gave me next to his body in the stone coffin. After the last of the guests left I built a brick wall to replace the door to Derick's old work room, now his eternal resting place, sealing him there with all things magical in this castle, even both crystal balls we used during my time lone in my room. I left a small hole so that I can hang a portrait of us together on it. All this with my bare hands. It's the least I can do for my greatest friend I ever had. After my work was complete Mother and Father told me that they are proud of me.
"This is it," exclaims Varian. "This is what we're looking for."
"But she sealed it behind a brick wall," points out Rapunzel. "How are we to get through it?" After a moment of thinking a smile spreads across Varian's face.
"I got it, remember the time I kidnapped the queen and you confronted me," explains Varian, with a nod from Rapunzel he continues. "That time I tried to use a drill with the tip covered with your hair to try to free my father. We can use that to break down Vivian's wall."
"But the tip was destroyed when that experiment failed," reminds Rapunzel.
"I built that machine, I can repair it," states Varian.
"Great," says Eugene. "After lunch I will take the guards that are off duty to bring it here. I do have to tell your father about the situation here anyways."
"I'm going to stay here," says Varian. "As much as I would like to have my dad around at the moment, it is safest for me to stay here. Andrew is still out there. The reason he hadn't showed up yet is because he's waiting for weakening, little me to be in a good spot for him to strike."
"I agree," responds Rapunzel. "I'll stay with him. With the weapon he made me I can protect him from Andrew."
"Great, it's a plan," replies Eugene.
That evening at around five in the throne room
It has been five minutes since she seen the last subject that came for the day. Since her one day being queen during that magical blizzard she made it a point to seeing subjects that came for help, no praises, just business. Varian was, and still is, standing next to her, wearing the red bandanna to hide the welts again. He's rubbing her back as she drinks a glass of water a servant brought her. His pet raccoon is wrapped around his neck like the bandanna.
"Rapunzel, Varian, we're back!" calls Eugene as he and Quirin walks into the room.
"Dad!" calls out Varian as he runs towards his father. After a quarter of the way Varian stumbles. The second before hitting the floor Quirin catches him in his ever strong, but gentle, arms. Ruddiger scurries to hang on it's friend's chest chirping comfort to it's weak friend.
"Woah, easy there, I'm here," Quirin says in a soothing tone. "Now, can I look at the welts Eugene told me about?"
"Yeah," Varian slurs weakly. The oldest man gently lifts up his son into a sitting position on the floor and removes the bandanna from the young man's neck. After a moment of looking at them he rubs that side of his son's neck with the same hand holding the bandanna. His other arm hold Varian pressed against his body.
"Varian," Eugene says softly, now kneeling on the young man's other side with a hand on his shoulder. "Your drill is on the side of the training grounds. You will start the repairs tomorrow morning."
"But," begins Varian.
"No buts," interrupts Rapunzel, sitting on her knees across from Varian. "Aside from protecting you, I am having your father stay here to care for you during dark times like these. After dinner you two are going to sit side by side in the sitting room while we think of places to look for Andrew. With him in custody we'll force Clementine to take the curse off of you. Every evening after dinner we are going to focus on strategy until it is time to turn in for the night." On cue, Nigel pokes his head in to say that dinner is almost ready. On the way to the dining room Rapunzel orders for the guest room right next to Varian's to be prepared for Quirin, so that he could hear every peep from his son's room. Dinner was spent filling in Quirin on the situation.
After dinner in the sitting room Rapunzel and Eugene sits in the loveseat while Varian and Quirin takes the sofa. The feeling of being in his father's arms lulls Varian to sleep. Quirin just moves to the end of the sofa closest to Rapunzel and Eugene and lays Varian so that he's lying on the sofa with his torso in his father's embrace. Ruddiger is wrapped around Quirin's shoulders with his head on Varian's. At eight the small group turns in. Varian is woken up for the traveling to his room. This night Ruddiger chose to sleep on Varian's pillow, but still leaves space for it's friend's head.
Late at night in Varian's bedroom
Andrew flies out from his spot on the roof of Varian's closet. He transforms into his human form and walks around the sleeping young man's bed to be on the other side of the pet raccoon. The enchanted man just bites into the sleeper's neck first. As he is drinking he slowly picks up Varian's head in one hand and wraps the sleeper's torso with the other arm. The movement Andrew makes when picking up Varian's head is felt by Ruddiger through the pillow. This wakes up the raccoon, who attacks Andrew's head with a noise no one had ever heard from the little critter before. Due to the raccoon's scratching the man releases Varian with a scream, which wakes up the young man quicker than the battle cry. A moment later Quirin bursts through the door as Varian stumbles out of bed and Andrew stumbles away. Ruddiger drops down at the midway point from the bed to the window leading outside. Andrew continues to stumble backwards until he's pressed against the windowsill. At this point Quirin is charging around Varian's bed. With a smile Andrew jumps out the window. Quirin reaches the window as Rapunzel and Eugene arrives at the doorway.
"He jumped!" calls Quirin.
"Rapunzel, stay here with Varian," says Eugene. "Quirin, with me." Eugene runs off calling out for the guards to get outside with torches. Rapunzel approaches the now trembling Varian still laying on the floor, now having his hand pressed against his neck. Ruddiger crosses the bed and jumps down onto Varian's body and begins licking the shaking young man's face to try to calm him down.
"He was right here, how," mumbles Varian. "He was nowhere to be found yesterday."
"Shhh," whisper's Rapunzel in a calming tone as she pulls him into her arms. "It's okay, we're here." Once some servants arrived to see what the commotion was about Rapunzel orders them to get Dr. Richard and Nurse June.
Later, in the sitting room
Rapunzel is back in the loveseat, Quirin is on the sofa cradling Varian while Ruddiger is hanging onto the young man's pajama top over his chest, Varian is stroking the raccoon's fur as he calms down, Eugene is pacing to the side of the room. The wounds on Varian's neck only needed one stitch for each hole. Varian's neck now has a bandage around it.
"This makes no sense," thinks Eugene outloud. "He was able to get to Varian's room undetected and, I believe Quirin when he said he jumped, vanish without a trace."
"I'm just as confused as you are," states Quirin. "I was on high alert the whole night. I would have heard even the faintest sound of someone creeping through the halls."
"I looked around Varian's room as he was being stitched up," exclaims Rapunzel. "No weapon in sight. So how could Andrew make the wounds on Varian's neck?"
"With his teeth," exclaims Varian, this got everyone to turn to him. "As I was waking up I felt something pull out of my neck, I didn't hear anything being dropped. Ruddiger was attacking Andrew's head, so that means that was the closest body part to him. I think Clementine's spell wasn't cast on me, but on Andrew. It made him able to drink blood which explains me growing weaker."
"But what kind of magic can make him be able to sneak around and disappear like how he did?" asks Eugene.
"I don't know," answers Varian. "But I do know that Derick came across the blood drinking magic part. Let's focus on that first."
"We'll do that first thing after breakfast," says Eugene. "For now you, Varian, you will sleep in the same room as your dad. I had the servants put a cot in there when we returned from the search."
After breakfast in the training grounds Eugene and Quirin are drilling the trainees. Quirin is in his armor from his brotherhood days. Every once in a while Quirin will glance towards Varian as the young man works on reshaping the drill tip back into shape. Near the end of the trainees' workout Varian put his tools down and steps back to admire his handy work. The tip of the drill looks kind of good. There are lines of where the metal needed fusing together. Other than that Varian is happy with what he's done.
"Captain, why is he here?" asks one of the trainees as he points at Varian.
"Because a prisoner who wants him dead has escaped," replies Eugene bluntly. "Therefore, he needs to be kept under constant watch." Eugene dismisses the trainees and walks up to Varian.
"Well Goggles?" says Eugene.
"It's ready," responds Varian. "There's not a minute to loose. You get the off duty guards to haul it to be right in front of Vivian and Derick's portrait I'll meet you there with Rapunzel." Varian begins to run back to the palace doors with Ruddiger right behind him. However, a quarter of the way there he collapses. Eugene and Quirin runs to him calling out his name. Varian slowly rises to his hands and knees while his pet raccoon is by his side holding his arm, the chittering it is making is laced with concern.
"Not good," groans Varian as his father and Eugene helps him sit down on the ground. "He managed to weaken me more. I don't have the strength to run anymore."
"This is bad," comments Eugene before turning to Quirin. "You carry Varian on your back to find Rapunzel. I'll meet you at the portrait." Quirin only nods before turning his back towards Varian. Eugene helps turn the youngest man's body the right way and Varian wraps his arms around his father's neck, Quirin hold of his son's thighs. Ruddiger climbs up to be wrapped around it's owner's shoulders and licks his face as they are lifted up. As Quirin walks at a fast pace the raccoon changes to rubbing cheeks with Varian.
The two humans and raccoon finds Rapunzel outside reading Princess Vivian's journal in the gazebo. Upon seeing Varian being carried by his father she puts a bookmark in the journal, puts it down, and runs up to them.
"What happened," demands Rapunzel.
"Andrew managed to weaken him further last night," explains Quirin. "He can't run anymore. But the drill is ready."
"Let's go," exclaims Rapunzel. Before the small group runs back inside.
Later in front of the portrait of Princess Vivian and Derick
They arrive at the spot and hear grunting noises coming closer at a good pace.
"Sounds like they're moving faster than they should," says Varian.
"Well that's good," comments Rapunzel. Quirin sets Varian down on the floor.
"Stay here," instructs Quirin. "I'm going to help them make it go faster." As he runs off Rapunzel kneels on the floor and leans Varian back until she is cradling him. Ruddiger moves to be in his lap.
Later
It turns out Eugene also got the trainees to help out as well. The drill is being moved on a small wagon. While the off duty guards and the trainees turns the drill to face the portrait Eugene and Quirin removes it and sets it aside. Once in place Rapunzel helps Varian up and he walks to the drill controls. The drill works like it did all those years ago. The guards and trainees are holding the massive drill in place. In no time the brick wall comes crashing down.
"Okay, move it back to the training grounds for now!" commands Eugene. As the guards and trainees are following orders Eugene, Quirin, Rapunzel and Varian with Ruddiger on his shoulders enters the huge room. The walls of the room is lined with shelves holding books and items on them. There is a gap in the shelves where a table with sheets of paper and writing quills with an inkwell on it. Right in the center is the groups' target. Eugene and Quirin slides the stone slab off the coffin. Inside is a skeleton with a wooden chest next to it.
"Thank you for all you have done in life Derick," says Varian as he pick up the chest and puts it on the edge of the coffin. Inside it are slips of paper with a thin book on top of them with a drawstring bag on top of that. At this point Nigel pokes his head into the room.
"My word," gasps Nigel. "What is all this?"
"This is the tome of the one that researched the original spell that's effecting Varian now," explains Rapunzel.
"Well it will have to wait for some time," says Nigel. "It is time to be heading to the dining room for lunch."
"Okay, thank you," responds Eugene.
"I'll take these with me," says Varian as he closes the chest. "I can look through this better as we are eating."
During dinner
Varian is sitting just one chair away from Eugene and Rapunzel, who are sitting on either side of him, Quirin is across from him. The papers are strewn around his space of the table with the book in his non-dominate hand open, his fork in his other hand as he eats and reads.
"Well Varian, what is there?" asks Rapunzel.
"Everything," answers Varian. "The papers are secret notes Derick took while talking with the ones that were acting weird. His investigation had to be secret due to the fact that he figured out that what was happening was no illness. How he figured that was that it was so selective. The medical recount of the event only said that people died, but here he is noting that those who died were all female. It was just the males and children that acts weird. What was weird was that they were obedient to Countess Claudia. Derick was watching everything from the shadows before moving in to talk to ten of the men and ten of the children. The common thing they said was that she invited them into her room for a drink the day before they started being obedient to her. The adults got wine while the kids got juice squeezed from apple mush. However, both set described the taste to be heavenly versions of the drink, with a hint of copper. Derick only confided in the queen and king of those days in order to have them allow him to open up a few of the dead ones. The cause of all their deaths was that they were drained of every drop of blood. When Princess Vivian told Derick about her welts he knew that according to the pattern she is doomed to die. That's what pushed him to confront Countess Claudia. During the beginning of the confrontation he cast a spell that sends a moving, talking image of their conversation in where she talks that she was the one that was causing the death and the obedience. He sends it to the king and queen."
"What is in the bag?" asks Quirin. Varian slowly turns the now opened bag upside down to allow the contents to pour out and onto the table. It was some kind of shards.
"These remind me of the shard of The Moonstone Cass and I were left with after Zhan Tiri left us powerless during our final battle," comments Rapunzel.
"This is what's left of the source of Countess Claudia's spell that allows her to do all that," explains Varian. "He observed a spoiled child try to take a jewel she was wearing. She was so protective of it. The battle has her attacking Derick so fast he couldn't defend himself in time before getting his fatal wound, a big chomp out of his neck. While she dug into him he managed to freeze her in time. While he was trapped in her embrace he took the gem and rips himself away from her. But due to the blood loss he wasn't able to maintain the freezing spell. She turned into a bat and attacked him, inflicting minor wounds all over his body. But he manages to bare it long enough to cast a spell that destroyed the jewel. When he did that Countess Claudia instantly turned back into a human. Then he felt the magic energy inside the jewel escape it. Then the guards show up to arrest the countess. This is when Derick retreated to his workshop to store his research in the chest. The rest we know from Princess Vivian's journal."
"Haha, way to go Derick!" cheers Eugene.
"This explains everything," comments Quirin. "What Andrew was doing the night we saw him in Varian's room, why he was drinking Varian's blood, and how he vanished after jumping out the window. He turned into a bat and flew away. Plus this explains why you never found him between his escape to last night, he was hiding as a bat."
"Varian, I want you to reconstruct Claudia's jewel, it will give us an idea on what our first target looks like, and to make lots of corrosive stuff to destroy the one Andrew has," exclaims Rapunzel. "Eugene, notify the guards that Andrew can turn into a bat. Quirin, you will be the one watching over Varian. Eugene will teach us and the guards how to pick a pocket. That will be a useful skill to have to get the jewel away from Andrew. Once the jewel has been destroyed Andrew will be easier to apprehend. I'll tell all servants to clear out of the castle after dinner to minimize the possible hostages Andrew can use, but for Dr. Richard and Nurse June to stay nearby in case of injuries."
"Sounds like a plan," agrees everyone else there.
Later at sunset
That night when the occupants would normally be on their way to bed they split up for a search. Varian is with Quirin, Eugene and Rapunzel are together and Pascal and Ruddiger are with their respective humans. The off duty guards are paired up with other guards with Max in that group. The plan is that each group will take one floor each and they will search one room at a time. The animals will stand watch, if Andrew tries to sneak up on the humans they will make loud noises as an alarm. That will also alert the other groups to head to the location as well. The guards on duty are patrolling outside the palace in case Andrew gets out at any point. Rapunzel is carrying around a cage that Eugene says he had Xavier forge all afternoon. It is a metal cage with metal wires as bars with small holes. Varian and Quirin reaches a hallway of armor throughout the ages. Varian checks behind one before lifting Ruddiger to the top of it. After a while the two humans head back to the end of the hallway to collect Ruddiger to go to the next room. Suddenly there are the sounds of two glass items shattering and then pink smoke. Varian had thrown down two glass alchemy bombs, thus trapping Quirin and Ruddiger in his pink goo.
"Sorry Dad, Ruddiger, but he's not coming out unless I am alone," says Varian before leaving the room.
"Varian, wait!" calls out Quirin as Varian closes the door behind himself. Quirin doesn't call out again, knowing what it might do. Back when Cassandra was the big threat to Corona red rocks shot up in the kingdom. After they went away Rapunzel brought Varian back home. She sat them down and had them talk about their fears. His fear was his constant worry about Varian's safety. But Varian confessed that he still thinks about him being the one that sealed his own father in amber, and everything surrounding that time period. Quirin told him that he never held any ill feelings toward him. The only disappointment he ever had was towards the other villagers for only focusing on the destruction his explosions cause.
"Ruddiger, sound the alarm now," commands Quirin as he cover his ears. The raccoon gives a nod, breaths in a huge amount of air, and gives a shriek like no raccoon is able to do normally.
With Varian
Varian manages to dive into the library before he hears running footsteps heading to the room he was in before. In it is a secret passage way behind the bookcase he opened up beforehand. Before dinner he split from his dad to put Derick's research into the library and set it up. He tosses another goo bomb at the crack separating the door from the floor. He goes through it and navigates through the tunnel system back to his lab.
"Don't forget to lock the door behind you," says Andrew before flicking a note that is in Varian's handwriting with another piece of paper at him. "So kind of you to invite me into your new lab." While Varian was preparing for dinner he leaves a note behind. It says,
Andrew,
I know all about what you are doing. I'll drink your blood in order to become your servant if you leave all life in Corona alone. Meet me in my lab tonight. Follow my directions on the next page.
Varian
"I trust you used one of my beakers to bleed yourself," replies Varian as he gets scissors from the first aid kit and goes to the mirror.
"I did," responds Andrew as he holds up said tool with a little more than an inch of red liquid in it. "How did you figure out it is the blood of the jewel owner that is the key to turning you into a slave?"
"It is the hint of copper Derick said the survivors tasted," answers Varian as he is now cutting the stitches out of his neck. "I'm guessing the heavenly tasting part came from the spell the jewel owner is under. Not the first time I've seen the same thing change depending on something different to it."
"Now, we don't have much time left so let's do this quickly," says Varian as he walks to be in front of Andrew.
"Can't wait," says Andrew as his face stretches into one of pure evil while he hands the younger man the beaker. Varian downs the entire amount fast, and as soon as he puts the beaker down on the table Andrew wastes no time in grabbing him by the shoulders and turns him around. Varian cries out in fear, but leans his head back to give his soon to be master full excess to his wounds.
In the tunnels
Rapunzel with her chain hair strands looped around her hands and Eugene, Quirin and the off duty guards have their swords drawn and all of them ready hears Varian's cries of fear from deep in the tunnels. Rapunzel is carrying the cage in one hand.
"That means we're close," exclaims Eugene before raising his voice a bit more. "Okay here's the plan, Rapunzel will attack first. She is going to use her chain hair to pull Andrew's head away from Varian. Quirin will get Varian away and to safety. Guards, you're with me in getting Andrew in the cage.
"Got it," agrees everyone. Rapunzel tosses the cage to the guards.
In the lab the plan is executed so fast that before anyone knew it they have Andrew safely in the cage designed for him with chains wrapped around it so that the door can't open and Quirin cradling Varian on the floor. Once that is done Rapunzel runs to kneel opposite of Quirin. Ruddiger runs from what used to be the back of the group to be beside Rapunzel, rubbing his cheek on Varian's.
"You made great time Princess," smirks Andrew. "To watch as your precious nerd die. But don't worry, he'll come back, as a Separatist of Saporia."
"And to thwart you," slurs Varian before turning to Rapunzel. "Right hand." Quirin lifts his son's arm, and laying him so his head is on his lap, gently opens Varian's hand to reveal a blood red jewel in his palm.
"Nice Buddy," complements Eugene before turning to the guards. "Take the prisoner back to the dungeons. Then search Clementine's cell for any more of these stones." The guards nods and then carries the cage holding Andrew out of the royal lab. Eugene walks to the small group around the rapidly paling young man. He sits down behind Varian.
"Hold on Varian, we'll get you to the medical wing," Eugene calmly says.
"Not gonna work in time," slurs Varian. "Rapunzel, remember what happened to the turned victims of Claudia?"
"Yes, you want to do that?" replies Rapunzel.
"Do we really have a choice?" slurs Varian. "Acid's on the shelf behind you."
"Wait a minute, are you saying you're going to let that monster have control over you?" exclaims Quirin. Rapunzel runs to the said shelf, takes some test tubes of yellow liquid, runs to the table takes a beaker from there and runs back to her group.
"Only for a moment," responds Varian as he hands Rapunzel the jewel. "I'm trusting all of you in helping me now. I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"Wait a minute, what's the plan though Goggles?" exclaims Eugene. That is when Varian's eyes flutters closed and his body goes limp.
"Varian!" calls out Quirin as he pulls his son's body tighter in his embrace. Ruddiger makes a few alarmed chitters.
"Relax, this is temporary," assures Rapunzel with a hand on the father's shoulder.
"Rapunzel, do you know what Varian was thinking there?" asks Eugene.
"Yes, I believe so," answers Rapunzel as she pours the acid from the test tubes into the beaker. "He said Andrew's going to control him for a moment, he also had me get the acid. So when he comes back is when the stone goes into the acid to destroy it. But the counting on all of us is what's confusing me."
"He wants the rest of us to restrain him," exclaims Quirin. "He also apologized for hurting us, which is like him, not really wanting to hurt anyone."
"Well, if that's the case then you stay where you are," Rapunzel instructs Quirin. "Eugene, you hold his legs." Eugene nods before crawling around to his spot. Quirin takes his chainmail glove off and cradles his son's head in a way that his bare hand is in front of the young man's nose and mouth.
A bit later
"Now!" exclaims Quirin. It all happens so fast. Rapunzel drops the stone into the beaker, Quirin hugs Varian very tight in his arms and Eugene pushes down on the youngest man's ankles. As the jewel is turning the acid it turns the yellow liquid blood red. During that time Varian's body jerks around in the two men's hold and he yells out as if he's in pain. Once the acid turned all blood red Varian's body goes limp again. A moment or two later Varian bends his elbows up to rub his hands on his father's arms.
"Thank you," breathes out Varian. "It's all over." Eugene lets go of Varian's, ankles and Quirin adjusts his son's position on the floor to be sitting up, but still in his arms. Ruddiger scurries to hang onto Varian's vest. Varian hugs his father tightly with one arm and holds Ruddiger close with the other.
"Hey Buddy," Eugene softly says.
"Physically, getting better," replies Varian. "However, I feel so relieved now that Andrew is back in his cell."
"I'm glad too," says Quirin.
"Hey, Varian, I'm going to set this on your workbench," says Rapunzel. "You can put it into a different container tomorrow, after sleeping in."
"Actually, not yet," exclaims Eugene with a mischievous smile. "I say we swing by the prisons for a little visit."
Later
The four human exit the prisons laughing like lunatics. Varian is still holding the raccoon and the chameleon is on Rapunzel's shoulder.
"Rapunzel, when you get the time, please paint what Andrew's face looked like when he saw Varian," requests Eugene.
"I think I have time tomorrow after I do the paperwork for the day," responds Rapunzel. "I'll just drop this of in the lab really quick. Good night." All but Varian heads for their rooms for the night. Varian is led by his father to sleep in Quirin's room.
The next morning
The group is eating breakfast when Quirin starts talking about plans.
"Now that Andrew is back in prison I think I'll stay here another day, to make sure he'll stay there," says Quirin.
"Oh, he'll be staying there," responds Eugene. Then he tosses a pouch in front of Varian.
"These are all of the same kinds of gems as the one just destroyed," explains Eugene. "I even had the other cells searched. These were the only ones found, and they were all in Clementine's cell."
"Thank you," responds Varian. "I'll destroy these right after breakfast." He then turns to Rapunzel.
"Now, I want to talk to you about what is going to happen to Derick's tomb, Rapunzel," continues Varian.
"Yes, I am thinking of that now," replies Rapunzel. "I was thinking of putting a door in the hole we made in a way that it will be hidden by the portrait that was there before. However I'm leaving the design up to you if you want."
"Yes I'll do that," agrees Varian. "But we'll do all that after I've returned the shattered jewel to Derick's remains."
"Sounds like a plan," agrees Rapunzel.
Epilogue
With the leader of The Separatists of Saporia safely back in jail and the magic jewels taken away from Clementine, things are safer in Corona. Varian melted the jewels from Clementine's cell in a separate acid bath than the one Andrew had. That one got its own Erlenmeyer flask with the label saying that Andrew had it. The shattered jewel was returned to Derick's remains while his writings on his case is placed in the library. Varian turned the portrait of the princess and Derick into the new door to the man's tomb. Everything went back to normal around the kingdom of Corona.
The End