Angel: To that guest reviewer Unknown since they don't have an account for me to send a message to: ...
Never mind, I'm not gonna go there. Nope. But I will say that I was never planning to have Varian not be present in Rapunzel's Return. I had no plans to change that major plot point. And, a little reminder...he's going back to Corona before Destinies Collide even happens! So he'll still be in Corona when they get back. I know what happened in these season 2 episodes XD
In the city of Vardaros, the caravan is hiding in an alley, the group having gathered supplies.
"Alright, Cass, here's the last of the water. Just a few more supplies, and we are ready to roll," He turns around to the horses. "Looking good, Max!"
He walks up to Rapunzel, who's staring at the run-down city. "You know, Blondie, this might not be the glamorous city it used to be...Don't step there. Or there. You should really put shoes on. Honestly. But part of me is actually going to miss my old stomping grounds."
"OH MY GOD, WHAT IS THIS?!" Harmony shouts from the spot Eugene pointed at.
"Huh?" Eugene looks at the concerned Rapunzel. "Hello? Rapunzel?" He waves a hand in front of her face.
She stares at the citizens begging for money, Vex walking around trying to mack a buck, and two citizens bumping into each other.
"And what are you starin' at?!" The old man hollers at the woman.
"I dunno, but it ain't much, ya clod!"
A mule sounds off as a bunch of garbage is thrown into the money hat. "Huh? Oh!" Some of it lands on him, an old woman just laughing. A man slides in front of her and steals her purse.
"Stop, thief!"
No one does anything to stop him.
"This place is...it's so sad," Rapunzel frowns a little.
"It has gone a little downhill..." Varian comments as he joins the two.
"It's like no one cares," Harmony appears next to Rapunzel.
"Yeah, but maybe now that we've run the Baron out of town, this old city will turn itself around," Eugene guides his girlfriend away, but a large shadow looms over them.
"Uhh, guys?" Varian speaks up nervously as a large flag is mounted, with a W symbol. "I think this is the opposite of turning around."
"Ladies and gentlemen of Vardaros!" Weasel steps up to the crowd, everyone gasping.
"Or this could happen..." Eugene comments as Harmony narrows her eyes.
"Ugh, haven't we had enough of this jerk?"
"You may have noticed that the sudden departure of our beloved Baron has left a conspicuous vacancy in this city's management." Weasel smirks as the thugs surrounding him jump off the platform. "Well, good news...the position has been filled!" He holds up the Baron's ring.
"Is that Weasel?" Rapunzel stares at him.
"Weasel. The Baron's right hand man."
"He's also just changed the city for worse," Varian states as they look on.
"With that sadistic egomaniac in charge, you can bet things are about to get a lot uglier around here," Eugene glances to the others, skeptical about Vardaros' future now.
"I got plans for my city. In a word: Expansion." The people gasp at the word. "Any neighboring field, forest, or fjord now belongs to me. And, people, growth like that requires capital. So, I've come to collect." He grins, clenching a fist.
The thugs start stealing money. "Hey!" Vex protests, trying to get her earnings back, but is pushed away. The others look on in worry as money is placed in front of Weasel.
"Alright, Raps, I know you see people in trouble, but this isn't our fight," Cass whispers, looking towards her. "Don't do anything-" She sighs once she sees that Rapunzel is no longer in her spot. "Drastic..."
"Hey!" Rapunzel runs up to the stage. "Weasel! Leave the people of Vardaros alone!"
"Ah. Princess, still in town? Let me see you out." He snaps his fingers, a guard running up to her. She smirks and pulls apart her hair, capturing him. She throws him into a cart and it breaks into pieces. Harmony whistles with her fingers and Rapunzel looks up to see her sister throwing a frying pan. She catches the weapon, spinning it around.
"C'mon...you don't mind if we stick around for a little bit, do you?" She challenges the man. He grunts angrily, pulling out his sword. He steps down from the platform, charging towards the blonde. Harmony steps in front of her sister, having blocked the blow with her bow. Rapunzel grins at her, and they start battling him together. Cass fights with the large one, knocking his sword into the air. Owl catches it, tossing it to Eugene. He deflects swords from two guards, who eventually run away out of fear. They're suddenly caught in goop, looking up to see a smirking Varian.
Rapunzel knocks Weasel off his feet using her hair, and Harmony kicks his sword away, pointing her arrow towards him. Pascal and Daisy squeak bravely.
"You fancy you're helping these people, don't you, princesses?" He spits at them, standing up. "They know I'll be back. Only now, I'll bring extra muscle. In four days' time, we'll be taking it all, thanks to you!"
The crowd grumbles towards Rapunzel. "Thanks a lot, Princesses!"
"Yeah, beat it, ya clod!"
"You're not wanted here!"
"Pfft," Vex scoffs at the princess. "Vardaros is no place for heroes."
"Charming, aren't you?" Harmony challenges back. "Just where'd you get it?"
"None of your beeswax!" Vex glares at her, walking off. Rapunzel looks on with a frown.
They return to the caravan to eat lunch. "Look, I'm all for helping the little guy, but say we fight Weasel when he gets back, we can't stay here, and beat him up forever," Eugene frowns towards his soup.
"Though, pummeling that guy is kind of satisfying, Eugene is right," Cass points her spoon at him.
"Yeah, you can't help someone who doesn't wanna help themselves," Lance shrugs lightly while Max is eating apples. Lance snatches it from him. "Take it from a guy who is a pro at helping himself. Don't mind if I do."
He takes a bite, to Max's dismay.
"Raps, I admire your dedication, but Vardaros doesn't seem like the place that wants to be helped," Harmony shakes her head.
"You saw those guys. And we have to follow the rocks to wherever they're taking us," Varian states while holding some berries. Ruddiger sniffs them, snatching an apple from Max's bag. He whinnies towards the raccoon angrily.
"You know..." Rapunzel speaks up. "I keep hearing how great this city used to be. Well, greatness does not go away. It may get beaten down, or hide itself from fear or doubt, but it does not go away. You, of all people, should know that sometimes, all that's needed to get the best of what's inside of you, is a little help."
Lance looks to Max, who eats his stolen apple. "So, I say, we go out there, go door to door, if we have to, and rally these people to take a stand!" Rapunzel pumps her fists in determination, both Eugene and Cass smiling at her. She stands on the crate. "Because if we can inspire one person, just one person, then the battle is half won!"
"YEAH!" Everyone cheers, pumping a fist into the air.
Later, they sigh in defeat as they sit down. "I can't believe we couldn't inspire one person..." Rapunzel states sadly.
"Oh, I don't know," Shorty steps in between her and Cass. "That lovely young lady handing out fish seemed inspired." He eats it whole, leaving the bone.
"That was a seagull," Cass pushes him down.
"No, I'm pretty sure that was a rainbow trout."
Harmony rolls her eyes at him.
"I don't get it!" Rapunzel looks at all of the indifferent people, who all have one thing in common: hating her. "Why won't these people let me help them?" She sighs, blowing a bang away from her face.
"There's a reason why they're not willing to pitch in, Raps," Harmony crosses her arms.
"Because you're an outsider." They look to the shadows to see Vex approaching. "Also, you're a naïve princess who insists the glass is half full, even when it's obviously bone dry." She drags her cart over to them. "That's a really annoying trait. Especially here. You're basically everything people in this city despise."
Pascal growls quietly, narrowing his eyes.
"You could've stopped at outsider, but okay, get it," Rapunzel chuckles lowly. "The people need someone they trust. Someone who can offer a long-term solution." Max smiles towards everyone. "Someone they look up to..." She glances behind Vex and pushes her slightly. The sun shines over a statue, which has bird poop all over it...
"Captain Quaid," Eugene walks up to the statue, recognizing the man. "He was the sheriff of Vardaros back in the day."
Lance wraps an arm around him. "And he was the first guy to ever arrest us. And the second. And the third." The two sniffle at the memories. "In a way, he was family. Captain Quaid the Blade, we called him. He was known for his cunning, strength, and bravery! But, above all else, he was proud of his city. His pride was infectious. People loved Quaid, and they loved Vardaros."
"What happened to him?" Rapunzel asks curiously.
"He quit," Vex states to her, "Or, at least, that's what I was told. It was before my time, but the few people who are still here from the glory days, say he met his match. No one hears much from him anymore."
"That's just great..." Varian sighs at this.
"Do you know where we could find him?" Rapunzel wonders hopefully.
"I do. But it's gonna cost ya," She wiggles her fingers together, holding out her hand. Rapunzel rolls her eyes and hands her a coin.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, lemme get ahead of this one here," Eugene speaks up, "You wanna find a way-past-his-prime lawman, somehow convince him to come out of retirement, and inspire these poor people to fight back against Weasel, and/or any other lowlife who tries to claw their way into power in this flea-bitten city? And you wanna do this all in four days?!"
"Yup. That's my sister for ya," Harmony glances up at the older princess.
"Do you think it'll work?"
Vex sighs in annoyance. "If we say not in a million years, would it change your mind?" Cass asks knowingly, Eugene slightly glaring at Vex.
"There is a high chance that this Quaid won't help us," Varian holds up a finger.
Rapunzel smiles a little towards the beaming Pascal. "I know, but probably not." She starts walking, the others following her.
"Well then. Let's go find us a sheriff!"
They leave behind the stained statue.
The caravan moves down the path they're given from Vex. "I know it's crazy, guys, but if Quaid is even half the inspiration Lance and Eugene say he is, Vardaros could be on its way back to greatness," Rapunzel puts down her paintbrush, looking at her painting of Quaid. Her hair acts as a hammock for herself and Harmony.
"Well, I'd say you're crazy, but you are persistent," Harmony points to her.
"Aw," Rapunzel smiles at the girl. "Hey...do you think Varian is still angry with me?"
"I can't say for sure..." She murmurs slowly, closing her journal. "But I think we should do something nice for him! And hopefully everyone can help..."
"I'm sure we'd love to," Rapunzel smiles softly.
"Hm...Vex seems to be hiding something about why she is the way she is..." Harmony rubs her chin.
"What do you think it could be?"
"I dunno. She's not exactly the friendly type, but...I know that she's hurting. I can see it in her eyes," Harmony looks towards outside. "It was the same look I had when Vari betrayed us..."
"Alright! We're here!" Vex announces as they stare at a cottage on a rock. Rapunzel knocks on the door, Quaid slightly opening it.
"Captain Quaid?" Rapunzel questions hopefully.
"Who's asking?" He replies in a gruff voice.
"It's Rapunzel."
Quaid quickly slams the door in her face.
"Told ya everyone hates you," Vex inputs to Rapunzel, but she's not giving up just yet. She turns around towards the door.
"Uh, Captain Quaid?" She puts a strand of hair behind her ear. She knocks on the door again, and gets no answer. She bends her head down and peeks through the mail slot. "If you don't open this door, I will, uh...I'm just gonna keep knocking." She knocks, frowning slightly. "And knocking!" She knocks even harder, hurting her hand. "Ow!"
"Is this really gonna work?" Varian whispers to Harmony skeptically.
"Just watch."
"And when my knuckles start to hurt...I'm just gonna knock with my other hand! You do not want to test the commitment of these knuckles, Mister!" Rapunzel punches her hands together, and goes to knock again, falling to the ground. Quaid is staring down at her, having opened the door. "Hi!" She smiles sheepishly with a wave.
He holds up an hourglass, spinning it around. "Three minutes. Not a grain more."
She smiles with a thumbs up directed at everyone. The boy turns to the younger princess in shock.
"Persistence is key," She smirks in amusement. Vex, Harmony, Varian, and Rapunzel step inside, but Quaid stops Eugene and Lance from going in.
"Hey-ya Quaid! Remember us? The not guilty twins?"
They step forward, but he plants his hands in front of their faces. "You degenerates stay out here. Touch, look at, or breathe on anything, I'll get you where you sleep. That clear?" He closes the door on them, and while it was hostile, the two just smile.
"Ah, family..."
"There's nothing like it," The two smile towards each other fondly.
Vex looks at Quaid's old badge. "Okay, so here's my idea. The people of Vardaros need Quaid the Blade to stand up against Weasel."
"The guy's a jerk," Harmony narrows her eyes.
"And he won't stop attacking the city unless a hero steps in," Varian gestures to Quaid.
"Ha! Believe me," He stops putting honey on his bread. "The people of Vardaros need a lot more than that."
"What's this?" Vex holds out a yellow pot.
"Funny you should ask," He actually smiles as he stands up. He places it on a table outside the cottage, bees behind him. "Best honey in Vardaros. My friends here work like a single, well-oiled machine. Together, they gather all sorts of varietals."
"Fascinating," Varian gasps at them. Max whinnies towards all the honey jars.
"We make buckwheat honey, orange blossom honey, kudzu honey." While the horse is sniffing around, one of the pots gets stuck to his mouth. He snorts it off him. "Oops! Looks like he just got a face full of pheromones."
"What are those?" Rapunzel asks curiously as she's never heard of them.
"Think of...pollen for flowers," Harmony tells her.
"It's like a love potion for bees. They think they got themselves a new queen," Quaid walks up to the mini-hives, turning around to the horse.
"And they'll start being affected by it right about..." Varian starts off, the bees forming a heart at Max. He whinnies in alarm, running away from them. "Now."
"Listen, Vardaros' heyday is long gone," Quaid slowly shakes his head hopelessly. "And now, so's your sand."
They look to the hourglass as all the sand has stopped moving. Vex and Cass walk past the dismayed Rapunzel. She looks at the land that could be taken by someone who doesn't deserve it...
"Weasel's gonna expand, you know. Every nearby forest, field, and fjord will belong to him. Do you know what that means?"
"It means, I'm gonna have to get myself a dictionary to look up what a fjord is," He replies in a deadpan voice.
"Oh, it's like a river surrounded by a glacier," Harmony states to him. Quaid turns around to glare at her and she smiles nervously.
"...I'm sorry, I'm just realizing that you didn't need a comment for that."
"It means you can say goodbye to the field of buckwheat, kudzu, and orange blossom," Rapunzel turns around, walking in the other direction. "Come on, guys."
Varian and Harmony follow after her when Quaid speaks up.
"If I was gonna stand up to this Weasel, I'm awful rusty." As much as he knows that the people have given up, he still loves that city.
"Don't worry. We'll help you," Rapunzel smiles, Max running past them. Harmony and Varian stare after the horse.
"Right after we help Max..."
Quaid puts on his old badge, opening up a drawer. A cobweb surrounds his gloves, and he puts them on, grabbing his sword. He puts on a heroic pose, his badge falling onto the floor. Harmony fires an arrow into a target, getting a bullseye.
"Alright. Let's start easy," Rapunzel encourages him. Harmony hands him her bow and arrow, gesturing to the target.
"Take your best shot."
He prepares the arrow, but he doesn't even make it to the target...
"Ooh, so close!" Rapunzel exclaims, Vex and Eugene facepalming.
Cass holds out an apple that Harmony and Varian picked. She tosses it up into the air and uses her sword to cut it. The pieces land in her hand to look like a bunny.
"Alright, Quaid the Blade, let's go," She challenges him. Vex tosses her apple over her shoulder, and he cuts it, but the sword slips from his hand. It hits Shorty's food and goes flying towards the couple.
"Oh!" Varian shouts in alarm, pushing Harmony onto the ground. They look up as the sword and the food hit a tree.
"My yam!" Shorty exclaims in dismay, getting looks from Harmony and Varian. Little pieces of apple fall on Quaid's head.
"Maybe next time, don't aim for us," Varian calls out from the grass.
Rapunzel tosses her hair like a lasso, throwing it at Max and capturing him. She smiles towards Quaid, who throws around his rope, and ends up being captured in it. He falls in front of the teenagers, Vex facepalming in embarrassment.
Quaid sighs towards his beehive house. "This was a mistake..." He plants it back where it was, Rapunzel peeking around the corner.
"Captain? You're not leaving, are you?" She steps up to him.
"Weasel can have this place. We'll find another field."
"That could be miles away for all you know," Harmony speaks up, stepping to her sister's side.
"So you're a little out of practice..." Rapunzel tries to cheer him up.
"A little?" He asks skeptically, gesturing to Harmony. "Your sister here could've been skewered because of me."
She shivers, Varian walking up to her. "I don't wanna be nearly skewered again..."
"I know," Varian hugs her from behind.
"Vardaros doesn't need a warrior, they need a symbol, Captain," Rapunzel insists to him. "The people are-"
"Stop with the people, already!" He interrupts sharply. "The people are the reason I gave up on this city in the first place!" He storms past the three, his cape blowing in the wind. "It all began with the Collector. He was a sword-for-hire. The Baron employed him when he first started to take over Vardaros. Real bad guy. I tried to take him in, and, well, let's just say, that didn't work out."
"Oh...so he's how you met your match," Rapunzel states, the others looking on in sympathy.
"The Collector? Nah. At the end of the day, he's just another bad guy. I met my match when I tried to get the people to fight back against the Baron and his men, but they just gave up." A bee flies past him and he walks back to his cart. "If we'd stuck together, like my friends here, we woulda stood a chance against the Collector, against the Baron, against anyone." A bee flies off Rapunzel's bird accessory. "But they lost faith in Vardaros." He sighs slowly. "The look on little Vex's face reminded me that it would take a lot more than training to bring that back."
"The people of Vardaros were probably just scared," Harmony speaks up softly.
"They just thought that they couldn't take that guy..." Varian places his hands on her shoulders from behind.
"Or they just didn't care."
They look towards the ground sadly. "Vex used to be friends with Morgan, you know."
Their eyes widen as they look towards him. "The two were thick-as-thieves, always causing trouble. Morgan took Vex under her wing, but when they pulled off stealing Weasel's loot, Morgan blamed it on her. Vex went into the wind, selling knives, and she swore to never let herself have friends again. I don't blame her. That girl is nothing but trouble."
Harmony blinks slowly at the story, Rapunzel looking away.
"So, Princess, just so we're all clear here, the guy you chose to re-inspire the people, needs to be re-inspired himself," Vex states once they're all made aware of what Quaid said.
"We just need to get the ball rolling."
"Annnd, how do you plan to do that?" Vex asks skeptically.
"I'm not. You are," She points at the girl.
Vex wiggles her fingers, Rapunzel holding out Pascal with another gold coin. He reluctantly drops it into her awaiting hand. He knew that she'd been through a lot, but she was really pushing it with the money...
She bites onto it to make sure it's real. "So, what's the plan, Blondie?" Eugene wonders curiously.
"Yeah, just how are we gonna do this?" Harmony looks up at her.
"Uh, Lance, how is your acting?" Rapunzel smiles a little.
"My acting?!" He simply laughs. "You are looking at the star of Vardaros' own, A Walk in the Bushes!" He dances in front of them using two bushes. One as a skirt, and one as a wand. He pirouettes in front of them. "I was the bush."
Varian stifles a laugh, clearing his throat and looking away.
"Please tell me you have a backup plan," Eugene smiles nervously. Rapunzel smiles in amusement.
Weasel walks up to a door. "What we doing here?" A short guard asks him.
"Upholding my promise to the people of Vardaros," He smiles widely. "I said I'd be back with extra muscle, and he will more than suffice," He jerks a thumb to the door. He steps up to the guard, pushing him towards the doors. "You knock."
He glances over his shoulder and knocks twice.
The door is unlocked, and then slowly opened. A low growl is heard from inside. "I have a job for you..."
The townsfolk are simply minding their own business, Quaid walking onto the streets when he hears a cry.
"Help!" Shorty calls out. "I'm in Mortimer peril! Someone do something!"
"Stand and deliver!" Lance is in a cloak and mask, holding a sword.
"I am standing," Shorty gestures to himself. Harmony and Varian both facepalm.
"Okay, Vex, you're up," Rapunzel smiles at her and she stands up.
"Give me thine coin purse! Oh, bearded homunculus!" Lance points the sword at Shorty.
"Oh no! A holdup! In broad daylight?" Vex gestures to the two. "What can we do?" She holds her cheeks in dismay. "Oh, look! Captain Quaid!" She points to the man in the crowd, everyone around him gasping. "Thank goodness you just happen to be here!"
Lance dangles Shorty by the leg, shaking him for loot. He's just laughing until Lance spots Quaid, dropping the short thug.
"Thou thinkest thou can defeat me?" Lance pulls out his sword. "Tis to laugh!" He twirls his fake mustache, laughing exaggeratedly.
"I mean, honestly, he wasn't any better as the bush," Eugene whispers to the others, Cass rolling her eyes.
"What world is he living in to the point that he thinks he needs to talk like that?" Harmony drags a hand down her face.
"A deluded one," Varian glances away.
Lance continues to laugh, pulling his cape over his face to laugh some more. He approaches Quaid, shouting wildly as he dances around. He swings his sword towards the man, who blocks it with his own. He smirks and engages in a sword duel with Lance. Vex looks between the two, turning her attention to the citizens.
"Hey everyone! Look at this!"
The crowd turns and sees Quaid knock Lance's sword out of his hand. "Oh, disarmed!" He kneels onto the ground. "Oh, the ignominy! Quaid hath returned like a tempest of justice that rain upon the parched Earth of crime!" He starts fake weeping.
"Let's make some noise for Quaid!" Vex calls out, the crowd cheering.
"Quaid! Quaid! Quaid!"
"You saved me!" Shorty runs up to him, hugging his leg. "My life flashed before my eyes. Did you know I used to be a doctor?"
They continue to cheer his name and smiles, finally feeling inspired again to help out the city.
"Ha! Told you, Quaid just needed a little push," Rapunzel nudges Vex, who smiles a little. "Now watch: hope is contagious."
Quaid walks through town with Vex nearby. Someone slides up to a man, stealing his sack. "Huh? Hey, give that back!"
He runs towards the thief, who pushes past someone, but is tripped. Quaid takes the bag back, Rapunzel nudging Vex once again. She looks towards the crowd approaching Quaid, who hands the sack back to the citizen. He smiles up at the man, silently vowing to help him.
Then someone is about to toss guts out onto the street. Quaid stomps the lid of a barrel, and it goes flying into the air. He slides the barrel over and catches the lid. The contents fall into the barrel, and he throws the lid, where it falls into place like it was nothing. He nods sharply to the shopkeeper, who puts the bucket's contents into the barrel. Harmony and Varian couldn't help but feel impressed, Rapunzel walking past with a small smile.
Vex looks to the shopkeeper, who actually looks happy for once as he's sweeping outside. Vex smiles too, walking after the four. The shopkeeper too joins in on the army.
An old woman at the market turns her back to grab something, the customer snatching taters. He puts them into his coat and runs off, the woman looking to see him run away. Quaid tosses around a lasso and tosses it, capturing him.
Vex points to Quaid happily, Daisy and Pascal squeaking with big smiles on their faces. They had just watched the scene. Earlier, he couldn't even catch anything, let alone a thief! But now it's like helping the people re-taught him. Rapunzel, Varian, and Harmony all grin as the girl runs up to the role model, gesturing other people to look at Quaid. Soon, they all join together, walking into the streets.
A little boy gasps sharply. "Kitty!" He points to a little gray kitten stuck from a mast, a horse pulling a crate right above it! Because of the heavy load, the rope snaps and it threatens to squash the kitten. Quaid snatches a violin and bow, using that as a makeshift bow and arrow. It hits the rope that held the heavy box, stopping it right above the kitten's head. The horse blinks at Quaid, shocked by what just happened. The kitten breaks free on its own.
"Yay!" The boy cheers, the kitten running away just before the box smashes. The kitten jumps into the happy boy's arms, and he runs past Quaid. He stands bravely, his cape flowing in the wind. Rapunzel smiles, glad that it worked. Vex looks up towards the man happily, and he smiles at her.
Later, they go back to his cottage to celebrate him being a hero again. "Ah, to Quaid!" Eugene holds up his mug.
"To Quaid!" They all cheer, holding up their mugs in the air.
"Oh! I almost forgot," Rapunzel digs into her pocket. "I made you something. Well, with Harmony and Varian's help too." She holds out her hands to give him something wrapped in a napkin. "We couldn't help but notice your old one had seen better days." He opens it up to see a new badge, with a bee as the symbol.
"Suppose you're gonna throw this thing out?" Vex points to his old badge that has a ship as the symbol. He takes a hold of it.
"Well, it occurs to me, that every respectable sheriff needs a deputy," He places his old badge on her, and she touches it, smiling. Then she drops her expression.
"Oh! Yeah, uh huh. Okay. Whatever."
"To a new Vardaros!" Rapunzel declares, standing up.
"Vardaros!" The others cheer along, some taking a sip. Cass stares at Lance.
"I'm pretty sure that was bee pheromones."
He immediately spits it out onto Max upon hearing that. "Why is this just sitting here in a drinking glass?!"
The bee houses start to shake, and Max neighs in alarm. They fly out of their habitats, forming a heart and then Max. They fly towards the horse, who runs around wildly, knocking things off the table. The cloak that Lance wore lands on Quaid. He takes it off and recognizes it.
"That cloak...it's the same one that blasted crook in the town wore."
"Oh no," Harmony murmurs, eyes widening.
"No, no, this isn't a cloak! It's a towel," Lance snatches it. "I...I was going swimming later," He places it over his neck, but then the coins that Vex collected fall out of the bag.
"Vex...did you..." He bends down to them, taking one in his hand and realizing the truth. "You never believed, did you?"
"Captain, it's not what it looks like!" She pleads with him.
"You staged the whole thing."
"I guess it is what it looks like," Hook Foot frowns towards the others.
"I think you all best leave," He tosses the coin over his shoulder, opening up the door. Rapunzel and Vex have regretful looks on their faces.
"Sorry, Captain. I just thought that you-"
"Now!" He slams the door instead of listening.
"You said that you gave up on this city because no one wanted to fight for Vardaros," She argues to the door. "Well, you just made a deputy. And she's ready to fight! Are you gonna let her fight alone?"
However, he's too hurt by what they did as he clenches the badge in his hand.
"Captain...all that stuff you did to help the town...that was all you. You got the inspiration you needed to come back to Vardaros and fight for the people again," Harmony presses her hand to the door. "And you inspired someone else too...someone who lost a friend..."
Vex blinks at the girl, wondering when she found out about Morgan.
"The people aren't going to fight back unless you help them take a stand," Varian speaks up. "Can't we just talk about this?"
They get no response in return. "Sorry, guys," Eugene walks up to them, guiding Rapunzel away. "I don't think he's coming out..."
"Now what are we gonna do about Weasel...?" Harmony sighs sadly as they walk away.
"...He told you about Morgan...didn't he?" Vex asks her slowly.
"Yeah...he sounded really concerned for you about that. She abandoned you, and because of that, you've had to tough it out on your own."
"What would you know about it?" Vex raises a brow at her. "You're a princess. You grew up in a castle, surrounded by probably a lot of friends and servants and adoring people..."
"Actually...I didn't," Harmony replies, looking away. Vex stares at the girl. "See this?" She holds out her left hand, showing the crescent moon symbol on it. "It means I have the power of the Moonstone Opal. I can cause death and destruction, and I'm also the reason for those black rocks." The girl opens her mouth in shock and confusion. She didn't realize that not everyone like her has it so easy... "I grew up secluded from my people, Vex. These powers are basically a repeller for normal people...I guess that makes all my friends the opposite of normal," She smiles towards the others. "I found my place with them. So...I know what it's like to be alone. But that badge...it's a symbol of dedication. You wear it proud."
Vex smiles weakly at the princess.
The next day, crows are cawing as the bell rings. The group is standing, waiting for Weasel as a tumbleweed rolls past. Pretty much everyone has abandoned the plan.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Vex states in disbelief. "I feel like an idiot..."
"Yeah, kid, becoming one of the good guys will do that," Eugene places a hand on her shoulder. She smiles lightly, the men approaching. The citizens turn to look, a woman gasping at the army. Weasel smirks at them.
"Well, well! The princesses and their playgroup are still here. And it looks like there's a new sheriff in town," He notices Vex's badge.
"I'm a deputy, jerk!" She shouts at him, showing her badge.
"If you're gonna trash-talk, do it right! Boom!" Harmony points at the man boastfully.
"Alright then, Deputy," He brushes off his glove. "Allow me to introduce you to a special guest. He is the most deadly, the most fearsome, and quite possibly, the nastiest bounty hunter money can buy...The Collector!"
"Did he just say what I think he just said?" Varian whispers to Harmony, who nods slowly. The Collector walks up to them, breaking a streetlight with his bare hands. The remains lay in front of him, which he steps over. Pascal hides in Rapunzel's hair, Daisy ducking into Harmony's bag. The crowd screams in fear at the sight of him, running past Eugene.
"Come on, people! Don't be scared! I've heard the stories about this guy too, but how bad can he really be?" He backs away into metal, looking up at the intimidating face of the man. "There I go, speaking too soon again!"
He whimpers, running back to the others.
"Seeing as how I went through the trouble of hiring him, I'd hate to lose my deposit," Weasel smirks smugly.
"If you think I'm backing down, you are-"
The Collector's growl interrupts Rapunzel, staring her down.
"Rapunzel!" Cass pulls out her sword, Eugene and Harmony running up to her. They run in opposite sides, Harmony in the center. He fires right at them, Harmony flipping into the air. She looks behind her as Cass and Eugene are now tied up. He then traps Lance, Varian, and Hook Foot with them.
"Guys!" Harmony shouts in concern.
"Collect this!" Rapunzel grins, attaching her hair to Max. He, Pascal, and Daisy run around him. The horse gives Vex the other half, and together they pull, tripping him. Harmony fires a bolo using her bow, trapping him. "Alright, you got him!"
He rips himself free of the restraints, Harmony's eyes widening.
"Annnd I don't got him."
He picks himself right back up through a piping in his back. The others glance to each other as a wooden stick slips into his hand from his sleeve. The blade appears so that it's now an ax. Rapunzel snaps her hair, but he grabs onto it, throwing her into some hay.
"HEY!" Harmony screams, pointing her arrow at him. "Nobody does that to my sister!"
He turns to face the two, everybody around shutting themselves in their homes or shops. Harmony stands bravely in front of Vex, firing every arrow she's got in her arsenal, but nothing works. Vex stares at the girl, impressed that she's still willing to fight for her sister. Morgan would've just abandoned her in a situation like this.
"So much for Vardaros' new sheriff," Weasel grins at them evilly, Harmony gripping the bow in her left hand.
"Mona, no!" Varian gasps a little, seeing them defenseless and with no weapons.
"Do something!" Vex urges Harmony.
"I'm out!" She looks towards her empty quiver. "I knew I should've done more sword practice!"
"Weren't you listening, you filthy crook?" Quaid steps up behind them. "She said she was a deputy. The princess said to get it right." His new badge Rapunzel made for him shines on his chest. "And I'm the sheriff."
The two girls smile happily, Rapunzel digging herself out of the hay. "Quaid the Blade!" Weasel just chuckles in amazement. "How perfect is this? The Collector crushed you in your prime. What makes you think you can defeat him now?"
The Collector stares down at his former opponent, the group tied up glancing to him quizzically. "I can't...but we can!" He throws a jar of pheromones to Vex, who smiles widely and throws it above Harmony. She hands her a spare arrow.
"All yours, princess!"
She smirks and fires it straight at the jar between her and the Collector. She hits it dead on and it explodes into the man's face. Quaid releases all of the bees he had, which form a skull face. They fly towards the Collector, getting into his suit through the holes and sleeves. He growls as he runs into a wall, running away screaming. His mask falls off as the girls turn to everyone.
"Come on, people! Enough hiding! This is our city!"
"Are you just gonna let some punk take it for his own?" Harmony gestures to Weasel.
Weasel turns around in confusion. "She's right! Together, we can take back our home!"
"You heard them. Let's show 'em Vardaros doesn't belong to them...anymore!" Quaid declares, running with all the people to the army. Quaid battles two guards, the shopkeeper tossing a barrel over one. The fiddler pokes one of them with the bow, eventually knocking him down. Vex takes the ax, running up to a pulley. She slices it and a piece of the flag flies off. Two people pull it off, Rapunzel smiling. She flings her hair at the rest, Harmony sticking out her tongue as she aims upwards. She pulls it back and it hits the string. Rapunzel yanks it off and it falls. Weasel gasps in a panic, bumping into Vex and Quaid. They both punch him in the face and he falls. He stumbles onto his feet, running off in fear.
"And don't ever come back, you jerk!" Harmony shakes a fist at him. Vex smirks up at Quaid, who winks at her. The people gather around, cheering for their victory. Harmony cuts the others free, Varian hugging her. They watch as Eugene and Rapunzel clap.
"Well, what do you know? These people can smile after all. It's kinda nice," Eugene comments, leaning in towards Rapunzel. "Those are smiles, right?"
"...Yeah, they are," Varian tilts his head at some people. "7-75 percent certain..."
Soon, the Quaid statue is cleaned up to its former glory.
"I have a feeling that beneath all the grime, dirt, and gunk, is a beautiful city just waiting to shine," Rapunzel states happily.
"Princess," Vex walks up to Harmony just as they're about to go back to the caravan for dinner.
"Just Harmony," She smiles, waving it off. "That is, if you insist on me calling you deputy."
"Hmm, it still has a nice ring to it," She smirks, crossing her arms, causing Harmony to chuckle. "Anyway...after seeing you trying to stand up to the Collector and all, and how you always protect those close to you...I dunno, I..."
"You...?" Harmony drags it out, just wondering what it is that she's trying to say.
"Well...thank you. For trying to protect me even though you knew that you were defenseless."
"That's the thing about me. I don't quit," The girl smirks, hands on her hips.
"At least you're more to swallow than your sister," Vex lightly rolls her eyes.
"She has that effect on almost everyone. Even her best friend Cass had to get used to her at first. Anyway, if that's all you wanted to say-"
"Uh, not really," Vex rubs the back of her neck. "Look, you and I both know that Mo...did some bad things to me. And I'm not saying you can replace her, but...you're pretty close. But you didn't hear that from me."
Harmony smiles lightly at the almost-compliment. "Huh...never had a girl friend my own age up until now."
"Anyway, I wanna help you with your little boyfriend. You said you wanted to do something nice for him, right?"
"How'd you know about-"
"I have my ways," Vex smirks lightly. "If you really wanna make it count, here's what you gotta do..."
"Okay, two questions I immediately have," Varian states as Harmony is covering up his eyes with her hands. "One, why can't I see? And two, why do I have to be blinded?"
"Oh, stop worrying," She smiles excitedly. "Since you proved that we can trust you...we thought that your temporary home could use a touch-up."
"What are you-" Harmony removes her hands and he opens his mouth in shock. Standing in front of him is a newly-painted caravan painted with beakers, Ruddiger...and a painting of everyone in the center, including him, smiling. Not one spot was left untouched as it has something to represent Varian, or at least others close to him, and alchemy. Not only that, it's now attached to the main caravan, Silver mounted next to Fidella up in front.
"This...this is for me?" He points to himself.
"Yes~! We all worked on it!" Harmony sings behind him, pushing him towards the caravan. "And that's not all!"
She opens up the door, where the others are waiting. The interior is decorated to be just like his lab at home, but instead of a barred window from the front door, there is another window right above his table for him to get some extra sunlight. The walls have also been painted with a mural to commemorate his life after he met Harmony. All of their adventures were there: helping Attila with his bakery, watching the Challenge of the Brave, helping Rapunzel with Andrew and that hot balloon. Even the couple signing the book was painted.
"H-How...how did you...?"
"Harmi let me borrow her journal for inspiration," Rapunzel holds up the open book, and he can see the fresh paint still on their hands. "We didn't want you to have to look at a dark, dreary caravan during your stay here...but we did have a little help from Vex too."
His eyes widen slowly. Despite all that he's done to the whole kingdom and the whole group...they all pitched in and did something nice for him.
"Wow..." He murmurs, taking in all his surroundings. "T-This is amazing! Thank you." And for once since Rapunzel broke his promise...
He meant it.
"And look! Vex also found some new clothes for you to wear!" Harmony holds up a dark blue vest with a red belt and buckles that goes across the right shoulder and stops at the left side of the waist. Dark blue gloves with red accents are included, along with a beige satchel, and maroon pants with a black belt. The boots are a dark blue as well. Varian blinks at them, taking them into his hands. He smiles up at her.
A few minutes later, he steps out wearing the outfit, examining himself. "Wow, it fits great."
"Looking good, Goggles," Eugene smirks, pointing at him.
"Now you look like one of us!" Rapunzel smiles and he returns the gesture, looking back towards the caravan. He didn't know when they'd find the answer to free his dad, but he had a good feeling that they will eventually.