I'm sorry for taking this story down. I had reasons before, but now I'm bringing them back.
Verian Evans: Yes, you may translate my story. All I ask is that you give me credit for the original story.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the "Tangled" franchise. I only own the story idea and any minor OCs I make up.
"This is the story of how I died… and went to heaven!" Eugene chuckled at his joke. "Okay, so the Kingdom of Corona, to be exact, but hey, let's not get hung up on semantics. Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens– You know what? I'm just gonna give the rapid-fire shorthand here. The Sundrop created a golden flower with healing powers. Creepy, old Mother Gothel sang a song to said flower to regain her youth. Yada, yada, yada, the Queen got sick. Flower healed Queen. Queen gave birth to Rapunzel, who was born with the flower's magical healing powers, and everything was all flying lanterns and cheering subjects until Gothel stole the Princess and kept her locked in a tower for eighteen long years. Then, the Princess was rescued by a dashing, steely-eyed, suave, smoldering, devilishly charming rogue. Now some people might have called him a thief, but I always preferred the term 'misunderstood good guy.' You see, it wasn't always easy for young Eugene. Raised as an orphan on the rough streets of–"
"Hey, Eugene," Rapunzel interrupted the story. "Focus?"
"Huh? Oh, right, sorry. So, the beautiful maiden, that's you, and the handsome rogue, that's me, made a deal. We followed some lanterns, I saved you from Gothel, you saved me from death, and then you got arguably the world's most overly dramatic haircut, and then–"
"And then I was reunited with my long-lost family," Rapunzel finished for him. "Well, most of them…."
"I know, Sunshine, I know," Eugene said comfortingly. "You see, eight years before I found Rapunzel, her birth father, King Frederic, became sick. Really sick. Despite the best efforts of several doctors, he died before ever reuniting with his daughter. Due to an old custom or law or whatever, Queen Arianna was expected to remarry, and she did. That's where a man named Sir Quirin Ruddiger comes in. Quirin was a retired knight and the mayor of the farming village, Old Corona. He was also an old friend of King Frederic. He had lost his wife, Ulla, a short time before this, leaving him to raise their son, Varian, alone. Believing they could help each other in their darkest hours and wanting to keep a promise she made to Ulla about looking after Varian for her, the Queen chose Quirin to be her new husband. It may not have been true love, but she trusted him. So they married, and Varian was crowned a prince."
"Eight years later is where our new story began," Rapunzel chimed in again. "Six months had passed, I was loving life inside the Kingdom of Corona, and my coronation to officially become princess had finally come."
"We all had a few surprises that day. Didn't we, Sunshine?"
Pascal squeaked at him in laughter.
"Laugh it up, Frog!"
"Now, I know what you're all thinking. Yes, Eugene and I did get married. But make no mistake, getting to the wedding day and our happily ever after would be the biggest adventure we would ever face. Including meeting my younger brother."
"Ooh, that's good."
(Six Months Ago)
Rapunzel jumped up and down excitedly as they waited in front of the castle's archway.
Her younger brother was coming home from the Kingdom of Koto today, and she couldn't wait to meet him. Technically, he was her stepbrother, but she didn't quite understand the difference. They were family at the end of the day, so semantics weren't important to her.
There had been some highs and lows in her life since her return. After getting to the castle, she was reunited with her mother and father, King Quirin and Queen Arianna. To show their gratitude for bringing her home, her parents pardoned her boyfriend, Eugene Fitzherbert/Flynn Rider, for his crimes in Corona. They also allowed him to stay in the castle. Her friends from the Snuggly Duckling were also given clean slates, allowing them to chase their dreams.
The low times came when she learned the man she met on her return was actually her stepfather. Her birth father had passed away eight years prior, and Quirin was one of his closest friends. Once she had settled in, Rapunzel was shown her father's grave, a heartbreaking experience, to say the least. Eugene had to console her for hours after that.
While she was sad to lose her dad before meeting him, Rapunzel was eager to get to know Quirin.
He was a tall, strong-looking, middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes. He was dressed in royal attire similar to what King Frederic wore in the portraits, only it was more teal than blue, and he always wore black gloves. He wore her father's old crown whenever he performed his official duties as king.
Quirin was a calm, serious, and focused man, the opposite of Rapunzel in many ways. However, she's also seen a kind, caring, and understanding side of his character. He was a good king, having been the leader of a farming village before marrying her mother. Like her birth father before him, he was loved and respected by everyone in the kingdom.
To top it off, Quirin had a son from his previous marriage, Varian. That was who they were waiting for at the palace gates.
Quirin and Arianna stood behind their daughter, looking more skeptical than happy.
Don't get them wrong, they were delighted to see their son again, Quirin especially. They just didn't know how he would react to Rapunzel being back.
He had been away for almost nine months in another kingdom that needed his help, and it was the first time he had been outside the castle, let alone Corona. After Rapunzel's abduction, they were worried something would happen to Varian, and they had to send him off with almost half their guards.
Even so, deep down, they knew he would be okay…
"I can't wait to meet him!" Rapunzel exclaimed happily. "Do you think he'll know it's me? I mean, I did lose my hair after all…."
"He was so young when he learned what happened to you," King Quirin reminded himself with a sad sigh.
Varian didn't know much of that night besides what was known publicly. He knew that Rapunzel had been taken, and no one knew when she would return.
The younger teen never reacted much to the story, which was understandable. Varian didn't have the emotional connection his stepmother had with Rapunzel. Even so, he did understand how much her absence hurt everyone.
Every now and then, Quirin and Arianna would find him looking at the one portrait of her as a baby, wondering where she was as they did.
"He's also changed a lot since then…." Queen Arianna gave a slight frown.
"He's my brother! What could be so different?" Rapunzel asked.
Before they could give an answer, a horse's whinny was heard. The family looked up and saw a royal carriage passing through the archway.
Rapunzel gasped at its appearance. "He's here!"
The carriage stopped in front of the castle. They all waited as guards surrounded the coach in a straight line.
"Presenting Prince Varian Ruddiger of Corona."
The doors opened, and a black boot slowly stepped out. Rapunzel watched as the person descended the stairs.
Standing in front of her was a teenage boy who looked to be about fourteen. He had a slender build and two front buck teeth. His skin was fair, with freckles across his cheeks, and he had light blue eyes. His black hair with brown highlights and a single teal streak (which made Rapunzel stare for a minute) was about chin-length, with long bangs on the right side of his face. While neatly brushed at the moment, she had a feeling that on a typical day, his hair would be messier than that.
His clothes were a theme of blue and indigo. The long-sleeve collared shirt was a cornflower blue with a white cravat, and his pants were a dark gray. Over the shirt was an indigo vest with a darker collar, gold buttons, and Corona's new crest, a fusion of a sun and moon, on the right breast. What stood out on the outfit was the brown belt with a pocket, two holsters with vials of unknown substances, and the large, thick, bulky gloves that nearly reached his elbows.
A monochrome raccoon was on his right shoulder with its tail wrapped around his neck.
Though tired from the long trip, Varian smiled slightly at the home he hadn't seen in almost a year. Not much has changed. It was still the same old castle he had called home for eight years…
His smile fell at the thought. If he was being honest, a part of him hadn't wanted to come back.
He loved his father and hated being away from him, but he didn't want to return to royalty life. Alchemy and inventing were where he was at home, not entertaining nobles. He could always sneak out when he needed a break, but that wasn't true freedom like when he stayed in Koto.
He was surprised his parents even let him go in the first place, but he had a duty to help Corona and other kingdoms. Besides, he had become good friends with the youngest princess, so there was a possibility of a new alliance between the nations.
A squeal interrupted his thoughts, and he was suddenly pulled into a tight hug by a brown-haired woman.
"Varian! It's me, Rapunzel, you're big sister!" She pulled back and got a good look at him. "Oh, look at you, such a handsome boy!"
"Uh, thank you…." Varian blinked, smiling awkwardly.
"I can't wait for us to know everything about each other and–"
"Whoa, uh, can we-can we slow down a minute, please, heh!" Varian held up his hands, looking more uncomfortable than before, confusing the woman. "I-I'm still registering that you're here. You're finally home! We-We missed you…."
Rapunzel smiled and hugged him again. "I missed you, too!"
"Okay, hugs! Sure!" He responded though he didn't sound entirely sure.
The raccoon had moved from his shoulder to his head to avoid another hug attack. He started chittering to get their attention, reminding them he was still there.
"Oh, yeah, this is Ruddiger." Varian gestured to the animal, who moved back to his shoulder.
"Isn't that–?"
"Yeah, I gave him my last name. Figured it would do alright."
"Well, I think it's cute." Rapunzel smiled, poking Ruddiger's nose playfully and receiving a happy squeak.
Varian managed a genuine smile before speaking again. "Anyway, I'm kind of tired from my trip. Do you think we can wait to get to know each other?"
"Sure, I understand." His sister nodded.
Varian nodded in thanks before walking past her to reach their parents. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad."
"Welcome home, Varian." Arianna smiled warmly.
"How was your trip, Son?" Quirin asked, relieved his boy was home safe.
"It was great. We couldn't solve the meteor problem completely, but we were able to come up with a long-term solution that should cut down on the damage and give people more time to rebuild."
"Excellent." His father nodded approvingly.
"Now, you've had a long journey. You should get some rest." His stepmother encouraged him kindly.
"Alright," Varian agreed before heading inside.
The Princess smiled after her brother, but she was also confused.
What were their parents talking about before? She didn't see what was wrong.
"That was actually an improvement compared to when he left," Quirin sighed slightly. "I suppose time away from Corona did more good for him than we could've asked for…."
"What do you mean?" Rapunzel asked, returning to their side.
"Varian used to be more… outgoing than what you've seen. Much like you in a way." The new king explained, struggling to find the right words. "He's been acting… different ever since I married your mother and we moved to the castle."
"As time passed, his powers became more noticeable as well," Arianna added.
"Powers?" The Princess questioned.
"Rapunzel, do you know about the Moonstone Opal?" Her stepfather asked.
"No." Rapunzel shook her head.
"As you know, you received your powers from a magical flower created from a drop of sunlight that fell from the sky," Her mother explained. "However, the Sundrop wasn't alone when it fell to earth…."
"There was also a drop of moonlight that created an opal stone known as the Moonstone Opal," Quirin continued. "But its powers were the opposite of the Sundrop. Instead of healing, it hurt people, unleashing a deadly plague that would kill anyone who got too close. It was kept hidden in a kingdom far away from here until it fell because of the Moonstone's magic."
At first, Rapunzel didn't understand what this had to do with Varian. As they talked, though, she began to put the pieces together, eyes widening in realization as she murmured, "Was… Varian…?"
"Yes," Quirin nodded, looking towards the castle forlornly. "At first, his powers weren't noticeable. The odd stripe in his hair was the only clue that something was… different."
The Princess subconsciously fiddled with a lock of hair, remembering her once golden locks.
"It was a few months after we moved to the castle that he realized something was amiss," Quirin sighed heavily, looking as disheartened as he felt. "I don't know what caused it, the change in living, the stress of being royal, but one day, there was no denying that my son possessed some of the Moonstone's power. Having seen myself firsthand how dangerous it could be, we limited Varian's contact with people until we could figure out a way to block his abilities. Wearing gloves seemed to do the trick, but under stronger emotions, his powers would… leak out regardless of whether his hands were covered."
"It didn't help that his powers seemed to get stronger as he got older," Arianna continued, looking just as solemn as her husband. "Varian became so frightened of himself and what he could do to others that isolating himself became the norm. Neither of us liked it, but we didn't know what else to do."
"Ever since you returned, there were reports that his powers have completely vanished. However, before he left, Varian was very… Well, it wasn't uncommon for him to throw himself into his projects, but after an incident with his abilities, he started withdrawing from public settings and avoiding interacting with others completely…."
He hated admitting it, but Quirin felt he was responsible for that. He had tried so hard to hide Varian's moon powers that his fear of the Moonstone became ingrained in his son, causing the boy to be afraid of himself. The stress of being thrust into the life of royalty didn't make things easier either.
"The people of Corona… most didn't accept him because of his dark powers. It seems that with your presence, they've looked past that, but…." Arianna stopped before smiling gently at her daughter. "Give him time. After all, he'll be teaching you how to be royalty."
Rapunzel stared after Varian retreating into the castle.
She saw how nervous and scared he had been with his words. A part of her understood how troubled he must've been living with powers he barely understood and the isolation they imposed. It was almost exactly like her old life.
The difference was she maintained her heart of gold… her brother had to hide his out of fear.
"Varian…" She murmured in sympathy for him.
While they were siblings, they were very different.
Still, Rapunzel believed they could make this work. Even though Varian had been scared and alone, he had the same kind and caring heart that she did. She could see it when he talked about the good he did in Koto.
Like their mother said, she just needed to give him time.
(Present Day)
Outside the Capital of Corona, Rapunzel was horseback riding through the woods by the wall.
Her horse was a brown-haired mare with a black, braided mane and tail, plus a touch of white above her hooves and the stripe on her face. She wore a brown saddle with the sun symbol of the Kingdom of Corona on her saddlebag and had a red saddle blanket with gold and black trim. Her name, 'Fidella," was etched in gold into the saddle harness above the sun.
The Princess's boyfriend, Eugene Fitzherbert, soon joined them, riding the guard horse Maximus.
Behind them were three Coronan guards on horseback chasing them.
"They're gaining on us!" The Princess glanced behind her, urging her horse to go faster.
Eugene followed her example.
They weren't the only ones, however. The guards picked up speed as backup arrived.
"There's more of them!" She noticed, looking concerned.
"Good. It'll keep things interesting." Eugene smirked as they rode down the dirt path, the threat still following them. They raced along, leaving dust clouds in their wake.
The guards kept pace as they rushed down after them.
"Man, these guys are persistent," Eugene commented.
"So am I," Rapunzel smirked toward him. "I'll meet you at the Wall!"
"Sounds like a challenge!" He called out as the brown horse pulled ahead, taking the higher road.
"Think you can keep up?" She called down cheerfully.
"Oh, it's not me you have to worry about." He gave her a smug look.
Confused, she looked over her shoulder and saw what he meant. "Uh oh!"
One of the guards had caught up to her.
"They're your problem now!" Eugene chirped, his voice echoing a little off the walls.
However, as Maximus ran between a pass, Eugene noticed that he had two of his own guards to deal with.
"Oh, great!" He muttered, rolling his eyes.
The Captain of the Guard was right on his tail, and he looked mad. Then again, when didn't he?
"Okay, Max, follow my lead–Oh!" He started to say but gasped when he noticed a tree branch stretched across the path in front of them. "Log, log, log!"
Eugene leaped off the horse to let him run under it and then landed back in the saddle. He looked behind him to see that the Captain pulled off the same maneuver and continued after him.
However, the other guard's horse suddenly stopped, causing him to be flung out of the saddle and crash into the dirt.
"Ohh, good thing the ground broke his fall!" Eugene said teasingly before looking forward.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel was having less of a fun time. She and her horse were still in the sight of the guard.
Looking forward, she saw bunnies munching on carrots all over the road.
"Whoa!" Rapunzel pulled on the reins, urging her horse to avoid them. "Bunny crossing! Careful, Fidella!"
Fidella carefully navigated through the herd, cautious of fluff balls under her hooves.
"Watch out, watch out, cute little bunnies!" Rapunzel cooed as they were able to get safely past the colony and continue on.
The guard chasing them didn't have as much luck. He ended up crashing right into the bunnies, forming a horse-and-rider-shaped pile.
Pascal stretched out his tongue to snag a carrot from one of the bunnies, taking a smug bite as they raced on.
Back with Eugene, he was having more problems of his own. The Captain had caught up real close, and the former thief was getting worried.
"You're not getting away this time!" The Captain said aggressively, reaching out a hand towards the former thief.
"He-yah!"
Rapunzel suddenly jumped out in front of him, startling the Captain's horse. While his ride was rearing from having to stop short, the Princess and her boyfriend raced down the road.
"Sorry!" She called over her shoulder before looking forward. "We're almost there!"
Just as she said that, the Captain suddenly jumped out behind them, catching up.
"Oh, come on!" Eugene groaned at this.
However, Rapunzel just grinned, and so did Eugene.
Looking ahead, they galloped toward a stream in the distance. The only way across was a log that had fallen into the water.
The couple's horses jumped over it like it was nothing.
"Woohoooo!" The Princess hollered as they soared before she and Fidella landed safely on the other side.
Max had to land on the downed log to get across, causing it to fall, but he and Eugene made it, too.
Judging by the splash, the Captain wasn't so lucky.
Eugene pulled on the reins a bit, coming to a stop. He turned to see the Captain and his horse getting out of the water, looking annoyed.
"Looking good, Cap!" Eugene grinned, pointing at him before riding after his girlfriend.
Rapunzel rode on through a field until she reached the tall wall at Corona's borders and slowed down.
It was called the Wall of Corona, indicated by the sun symbols on it, one of the last significant projects her birth father was working on before he died.
They slowly approached the Wall. Fidella glanced back at the young woman, who gestured for her to move. The horse planted her hooves on the wall, allowing Rapunzel to climb on her head and grasp the edge of the stone.
Rapunzel got on top of the wall and took a deep breath, looking out at the expansive, beautiful view.
"Pascal…" She said dreamily. "Look at that view."
Her chameleon squeaked in agreement, sighing in contentment.
"Ha ha!"
Hearing enthusiastic yelling behind them, they turned to see Eugene standing on Max.
The horse stopped abruptly, launching the man off his horse's back. He landed on the wall a few feet away from the Princess.
"Okay, okay," Eugene straightened up, adjusting his vest before stepping toward her. "I know what you're thinking. Now, it may have seemed like you won, but you gotta take into account that my hair is actually longer than yours now, so we gotta factor in wind resistance."
"That's not how that works." An amused voice cut in, startling the couple.
They turned to see Varian standing on the Wall a few feet away, Ruddiger ever-present on his shoulders.
Unlike their first meeting months ago, the teenager was dressed in a teal-blue shirt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows and his usual black gloves. He had a black vest with several pockets, brown pants, and black boots. As Rapunzel predicted, Varian's hair was typically shaggy and messy, and he had a pair of brown and gold goggles on his head.
"Good try, guys, but we still managed to catch up to you." He said, kneeling down to give his horse, Sky Dancer, an apple for his effort.
Sky Dancer, or Sky for short, was a pure-black stallion with his mane and tail left loose instead of tied up like the guard horses and blue eyes similar to his rider. He had the same saddle and blanket set as Fidella and Max, but the blanket was blue with silver and white trim, and the saddle had the moon symbol on the saddlebag and his name in silver on the harness.
Ruddiger, the ever-hungry little beast he was, licked his lips before hopping down onto the horses to raid their saddlebags for apples.
Maximus huffed in annoyance but couldn't really do anything to stop him.
"Caught us again, huh, Kid?" Eugene rolled his eyes, but he was still smiling.
"Please, these woods are my old playground. I know them like the back of my hand," Varian explained before turning shy. "Just, uh, don't tell my dad I've been out here. He'd freak."
"Our lips are sealed." The older man mimed zipping his lips to assure him.
Rapunzel giggled a bit, watching her brother and boyfriend interact.
She remembers when she first introduced Eugene to her brother. Apparently, Varian was a fan of the Flynnigan Rider books just like Eugene and thought the older man was the real Flynn Rider. Trying to tell him the truth was awkward, but he still liked hearing about some of Eugene's real exploits, so it was okay.
It wasn't much, but they managed to get Varian somewhat out of his shell. Some taboo subjects and situations would shut him down, but as long as those topics were avoided, they were making progress.
Rapunzel turned back to the outside world again. "Wow! Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?"
Eugene looked out at the majestic view before taking her hand with a soft smile. "Yes. Yes, I have."
They turned to each other and smiled, leaning in towards each other. Pascal covered his eyes while Varian mimed a half-hearted gagging face.
"Game's over, your highnesses," The Captain's voice interrupted them.
They looked over to see him and the other guards, who had gathered by the Wall.
"The welcoming ceremony is about to begin."
"Well, I think we showed those guards who's boss," Eugene joked. "Now, what do you say we go and make you an official princess?"
"Ohhh, is that today?" Rapunzel asked teasingly, causing him to laugh.
"Haha, very funny. Now, come on, we'd better get you back to the castle," Eugene jumped off the wall, hanging on the edge as he started to climb down. "Ooh, maybe I can squeeze in a royal message… before my daily trim, of course."
At the mention of the ceremony, Varian's jovial mood evaporated instantly. Sighing heavily, he climbed off the Wall and onto his horse.
Sky noticed a change in his rider's emotions. He craned his neck to look at him, nickering in concern.
Varian rubbed Sky's neck in reassurance, but his mind was elsewhere.
Maximus also noticed the new prince was acting strange as well. When Eugene mounted him, he motioned towards Varian, cluing the man into the problem.
Seeing Varian's mood shift, Eugene walked over to him. "You okay, Hair-stripe?"
"Yeah… Let's just get this over with…." Varian sighed again, motioning for Sky to start walking once Ruddiger was back on his shoulders.
The raccoon shrugged at Eugene as they left, causing the older man to sigh.
He couldn't deny it. He worried about the young prince a lot. Just when they thought he was breaking out of his shell and acting more like a normal fourteen-year-old should, something would cause a regression, and they'd be back to square one…
Rapunzel watched them before glancing at Pascal when he squeaked at her. She turned back to the view, knowing what he was thinking.
"I know, Pascal," She sighed. "We'll get out there soon…."
Ever since she'd returned, she had almost the same restrictions Varian had for years. She was lucky they could go riding at all, though Quirin was willing to negotiate when she wanted to go out.
Rapunzel gave the outside one last look before jumping back onto Fidella. "Ha! Race you back to the castle!"
Fidella took off swiftly, Maximus following in seconds.
The Captain groaned as they raced off. He wasn't paid enough for this.
Varian was brought out of his thoughts when the couple raced past him. Sky and Ruddiger gave him some encouragement, getting him to smile a little.
"Oh, it's on!" He said, smirking as Sky went into a gallop so they could catch up.
Eugene and Rapunzel smiled when Varian pulled up alongside them. It may only be for the moment, but at least Varian was smiling.
The horses slowed to a walk as they crossed the bridge into the Capital of Corona.
This is life after happily ever after
Everyone in town was decorating the city for the coronation ceremony. They hung banners and flags. Event announcements were hung on the walls for anyone who didn't know. One woman hung a lantern with the sun and moon symbol by her window.
Rapunzel would be named Crown Princess, and Varian would officially be named second in line to the throne. However, being king would only happen if, Sun and Moon forbid, anything happened to Rapunzel or Eugene whenever they became king and queen.
By this time, almost everyone had accepted Varian as their prince. However, there were still some that were… skeptical of having him around. As soon as they saw him, they used to either give him dirty looks or scramble away in fear of what he would do, and that was only on the rare times he stepped out of the castle.
It didn't matter to Varian anyway… no matter what he did or where he was, there would always be someone who was either scared of him or didn't like him. He handled it the way he always did: he locked his emotions in a box and threw himself into his work.
And it's all just as sweet as the stories say
A pale-skinned young woman with dark pink lips, hazel eyes, and black bob-cut layered hair with gray highlights was pacing around in front of the city gates impatiently. She wore a blue and white dress with a white headdress and matching shoes.
Her eyes widened when she saw the Princess, Prince, and Eugene enter the Capital.
I feel wild, free, as light as can be
And ready to explore
Eugene dismounted from Maximus and helped Varian and Rapunzel do the same.
Once off the horses, Rapunzel and Eugene were about to attempt another kiss when the woman walked over. She gently grabbed Rapunzel's wrist and pulled her away, much to Eugene's dismay.
With nothing at all standing in my way
Eugene watched them go with annoyance, knowing the woman did that on purpose. Maximus kissed Eugene's cheek, and he wiped it in disgust.
Varian and Ruddiger snickered at Eugene's expression, getting a slight glare from the latter, making them laugh harder.
"Varian!" The dark-haired woman called back.
"Oh, gotta go," Varian said, jogging to catch up with the girls. "Sorry, Cass."
"It's fine."
Cassandra, known as Cass to those close to her, was Rapunzel's lady-in-waiting and best friend. Varian also considered her a friend, but like everyone else, he kept a level of distance between them.
Cass led them through town with the Royal Guard following behind. Citizens along the road would bow and curtsy to the royal siblings, Varian bowing in return.
True, there are certain customs I have to follow
"Curtsy," He and Cass whispered to the inexperienced girl, who also curtsies.
Several small obligations I can't avoid
A little girl held out a bouquet of flowers to Rapunzel, who kneeled to pluck one and put it in her hair.
Cassandra bent down beside her as Varian walked on, trying to ignore the twinge in his chest when he saw how the people treated Rapunzel compared to him.
"Princess, the time." Cass dragged her away, Rapunzel waving to the little girl as she left.
A few rules, too, well, more than a few, commitments by the score
When they returned to the castle, Cass pulled out a to-do list, reviewing what they needed to do before the ceremony.
While walking through the halls, the three abruptly stopped in front of Old Lady Crowley. She was a short old woman dressed in a simple gray dress with long sleeves and was known to never smile.
Crowley pointed disdainfully behind them, revealing the muddy footprints Rapunzel tracked all over the carpet from the entrance.
Rapunzel waved sheepishly as her two teachers pushed her away, leaving the old woman to clean up the mess.
Aside from all that, though, I'm overjoyed
As she was escorted down the hallway to her room, they met up with three maids, a mother and two daughters, who started pampering and fussing over her appearance. Two male servants joined them, who began fixing Varian's hair.
"This way, Princess," Cass said.
And sure, there are corsets and buckles and bows
As they walked, the maids put makeup on Rapunzel and adjusted the ties of her corset… A little too tight. She felt like she would suffocate as the youngest maid, Faith, pulled on her corset strings.
Glancing beside her, she sees Varian getting a similar treatment, the butlers messing with his hair and adjusting his vest. He didn't seem bothered by it at first glance, but a flinch here and there revealed that Varian was uncomfortable with the grooming.
Plus all those names to recall
"Jane?" Rapunzel guessed, pointing to the maid brushing her hair.
"Ethel," Varian and the oldest maid reminded her, the latter looking annoyed that she didn't remember.
"Right!" She could remember the daughters' names, Hope and Faith, but never their mother's.
Still, I can hardly complain, I suppose
Pascal was getting annoyed with all the commotion around his friend, giving a squeak of protest when he got a face full of powder.
Ruddiger's fur was brushed, and he was given a sparkly rhinestone collar to wear.
This is happily ever after, after all
When they reached Rapunzel's bedroom, Cassandra turned around and stared in disbelief at the messy scene. She also saw how uncomfortable Rapunzel and Varian were with the pampering.
"That's enough." She assured them sharply, shooing them all away. "I'll take it from here."
The servants returned to their duties, leaving the siblings and Cass alone.
Cassandra moved behind Rapunzel to redo the messy corset tie. "How you holding up?"
"Busy," Rapunzel laughed awkwardly, brushing away a bang. "But, busy is good."
"If you say so," Varian muttered, staring at the paintings of their parents.
"I'm glad you think so, Raps, 'cause this welcoming ceremony is just the beginning," Cassandra reminded her, holding up Rapunzel's arms to adjust the sleeves. "Tomorrow's the festival, followed by the Royal Banquet, and that's all before the actual coronation on Sunday."
When she turned the Princess around to fix her corset, she looked down and frowned at Rapunzel's hiked-up dress and bare feet. "Oh, come on. Really?"
"Sis, we've talked about this," Varian sighed, gesturing towards her feet.
"Look, Rapunzel, I know this princess thing is new to you," Cassandra knelt down to pull her skirt back down to cover her ankles so that her feet weren't as noticeable. "But you've gotta at least try to act the part. Have Varian's royalty lessons taught you nothing?"
"Trust me, Cassandra, Little Brother, I know how important this is to my dad," Rapunzel smiled, lightly touching a portrait of Quirin.
(At the same time)
"As you've requested, Your Majesty," The Captain of the Guard said as he placed a miniature plastic guard on a model of Corona. "We've doubled security at both the main gates and the south towers."
"Good," King Quirin nodded in approval. "We have guests from all over the world, not to mention the late king left a few enemies behind…."
The last part was muttered with an annoyed expression. King Frederic may have been an old friend, but that doesn't mean Quirin agreed with him on everything.
Frederic had been tough on crime in the years leading up to his death, to the point many would call him a man on a rampage. Even the pettiest of thieves were locked up with punishments that didn't fit the crime. There wasn't a doubt in Quirin's mind that the coronation would be a prime target for those seeking revenge against the Crown. They needed to be ready in case that happened.
"I want to assure them that they are safe." He said before walking out the door and heading to Rapunzel's room. "Everything for the coronation must be absolutely…."
He opened the doors to find Cass adjusting Rapunzel's dress again, with Varian nearby.
"Perfect."
"Hi, Dad." Rapunzel greeted him, smiling.
"And now that, at last, you're back in our arms…." He smiled softly as he walked over.
Cass stepped aside, bowing her head and clasping her hands in a demure manner.
Rapunzel threw her arms around her stepfather while Varian bowed to his father, though he seemed pained doing it.
"I won't allow you to fall."
He pulled back to look at her and his son. He kept a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder while moving his left hand to his son's shoulder, startling Varian into looking at him.
Quirin smiled at Varian, though his eyes showed a glimmer of sadness and hope.
He knows things have changed between them over the past near-decade. Now that Rapunzel was home and their powers were gone, perhaps things could get better.
"I will protect you from all that could harm," He stroked their hair gently, looking into their eyes as he took their hands in his reassuringly. "We'll live happily ever after, after all."
The family smiled at each other for a moment, even Varian, before Quirin got down to business.
"Now, and I don't mean to put more pressure on you, but as Princess and Prince," He explained, walking in front of the balcony window. "You're not only representing yourselves and the family but all of Corona."
"Don't worry, Dad. We won't let you down," She assured him, rubbing her arm nervously before putting it around Varian. "And Vari's been a great teacher and little brother to me. I've definitely learned a lot."
"Well, I tried…." The Prince said quietly, embarrassed by the nickname.
"Alright, then, let's run through what you do at the ceremony," Quirin decided to quickly quiz her, walking back over to them. "Say I'm one of the nobles visiting. How do you greet me?"
"Um…" Rapunzel hummed, racking her brain around everything she'd learned.
She knew there were several ways to greet nobles and nobility, depending on their origins. Would she have to do different greetings for each person? She doesn't think she's memorized them all yet!
Quirin noticed that Rapunzel was overthinking things and decided to change tactics to help her.
"Let me give you a hint." The new king bowed at the waist.
"… Oh!" Rapunzel figured it out after a minute, curtsying in return.
"Very good," Quirin praised, straightening up.
The Princess tried to smile, but she felt embarrassed and disappointed. How was she supposed to greet royals from across the land when she couldn't remember something as basic as a curtsy?
Seeing her doubts, Quirin smiled encouragingly, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about specific greetings for right now. We'll focus on those when you're actually meeting foreign royalty. For today, all you have to do is curtsy and say, 'Welcome to Corona.'"
"Okay, Dad," Rapunzel nodded, perking up a bit.
Quirin then walked over to Varian, surprising the teen by pulling him into a hug. The Prince hesitated a minute before returning the hug.
After a minute, Quirin pulled back to look his son in the eye. "Varian, I know how uncomfortable you are with crowds of people. I promise that the welcoming ceremony will be the only time you have to directly interact with anyone."
"I'll be okay, Dad." Varian tried to assure him, though he wouldn't deny his nervousness.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Hey, Dad, while we're on the whole coronation thingy," Rapunzel spoke up, nervously fiddling with her hair. "I mean, all these royal activities are great, but do you think I might be able to catch a little downtime soon? So that I can get to know my brother more, at least?"
With all these preparations since she returned, she hasn't been able to spend much time with Eugene or Varian. She wanted to get to know her stepbrother better, but outside royalty lessons, she doesn't know the boy in terms of personal life. He definitely doesn't talk about it…
Quirin hummed in thought, thinking it over. "Well, if I recall correctly, there isn't anything happening tomorrow before the banquet. Nothing you need to be present for, anyway. If you want, you can have the morning off to relax or go to the festival in town."
"Oh, thank you, Dad!" Rapunzel almost squealed in excitement, hugging her stepfather.
"Now, if you decide to go out, I would ask that a few guards accompany you," Quirin reminded her. "With all the visitors in the kingdom, it would be for safety reasons."
"I understand, Dad." The Princess nodded. Even if she had to have guards with her, at least she could go have some fun.
"I know this is all new, and things are going to be different after this weekend, but I have faith you'll adjust," Quirin assured them, kissing Rapunzel's forehead and pulling Varian into another hug. "After all, your boyfriend seems to be getting on just fine."
(Elsewhere)
While Quirin spoke with his kids, Eugene was hanging out at the Royal Spa with his friends from the Snuggly Duckling and Maximus. He was getting himself dolled up for the ceremony and regaling everyone with his plans for tomorrow night's banquet.
Eugene was currently checking over his appearance in the mirror, dressed in a new forest-green tail-suit and trying on a black hat with a white feather.
"Ooh-hoo-hoo! Hartmut, my man, this hat tied the whole outfit together!" He praised the tailor, who silently giggled instead of agreeing with him.
Eugene then dramatically tossed the hat aside as he continued talking.
"Now, I know what you're all thinking," He sprayed on some cologne before tossing it to Shorty, who then did the same. "'Why is Eugene in such a good mood today?' I mean, what gives?"
"Now that we're living splendidly." He sang, looking over Big Nose as the thug got a spa treatment and ate the cucumbers.
"Our dreams fulfilled extendedly." He shaved the shaved cream off Attila's helmet, who hummed in approval.
"Why leave things open-endedly for Rapunzel and moi?" The former thief summed up as he handed Vladimir a bride and groom ceramic unicorn, who then had them kissed.
"Tonight, I'll hand this rose to her," Eugene plucked a rose from a nearby vase and handed it to Shorty. He spun the old thug around on a dress mannequin before sliding down on one knee in front of Big Nose, Ulf, and Maximus. "Kneel down and then propose to her."
"And give this ring I chose to her!" Eugene showed them a small box he had pulled out his fancy jacket. Opening it, he showed off a beautiful gold ring with a small diamond in the center.
"Nice," Big Nose commented in approval while Ulf swooned.
"Life's gonna feel like strawberry sherbert," The man sang, dancing around with Max. "Once she is Mrs. Eugene Fitzherbert."
The thugs and Maximus gave him disapproving looks, making him realize his words might have come out wrong.
"Okay, not great, but how about this?" He jumped on a couch in the room, causing it to fall over as Shorty swung by, dressed as a cupid while scattering rose petals. "Once she is Princess Eugene Fitzherbert~!"
Maximus walked over to Eugene, smiling in full support.
"And what better day to propose to a princess than at her coronation?" Eugene grinned, leaning on the horse.
(Meanwhile)
After talking with his dad and stepsister, Varian returned to his bedroom to prepare for the welcoming ceremony.
His room was about the same size as Rapunzel's, with the same layout and furniture. A king-size bed, side tables, a window seat by the balcony, etc.
The differences were that his bed wasn't a canopy bed, no murals on the walls, and blue and the moon replaced where purple and the sun would be. Varian also had several metal contraptions attached to his bed with claws and a comb on one of them, activated by a lever on the right side. On the left side table was a rack of beakers with glowing substances on the left side table that he used as a nightlight.
His bookshelves were filled with The Tales of Flynnigan Rider series and different adventure and mystery books that Arianna recommended to him. He also had books on alchemy, physics, mechanics, engineering, mathematics, botany, herbology, and geology, along with books about history, languages, etiquette, politics, and anything else he thought would help him be a good prince. One shelf was reserved for various gadgets and gizmos Varian had built.
On his desk were various blueprints, writing utensils, and measuring sticks. There was a guitar set on a stand near the window seat, and an archery set was mounted on hooks next to his door.
Varian was sitting at his window, reading one of his Flynn Rider books. He had hoped reading would help calm his nerves, but his mind couldn't focus on the words. He was too anxious about the meet-and-greet.
This is life after happily ever after
Varian looked out the window, thinking about the odds of this going well.
Honestly, he wasn't sure which one of them would blow this: Rapunzel's inexperience or Varian's social anxieties.
But it feels like a life that's not my own
He closed the book, looking towards the forest.
Varian missed his old life before being royalty. He knows the pressure Rapunzel's under, and it doesn't feel any more manageable now than on day one.
I was once happy, free, doing alright
But now, when I see a mirror
He sighed lightly, leaving the book on the seat as he got up. Walking over to the vanity, he looked at himself in the mirror.
The boy looking back is someone I don't know
Taking in the details of his reflection, Varian had to admit that he looked somewhat better than a year ago.
His eyes looked brighter. He appeared more awake and alert, present and happy.
He started thinking about the people in his life. His father and the hope he had seen in his eyes. His older sister and Eugene and how they would include him in their activities, wanting to spend time with him. Queen Arianna who welcomed him into her family and supported him like a mother should, even giving him his own lab in the castle. Cassandra taking steps to get to know him beyond his new title. Even some of the castle staff, such as Faith, were getting more comfortable with his presence.
Now that his powers were gone, maybe he could stop being afraid and be more like himself again.
Sure, there are still some hurts to undo
But maybe this could be the start of something new
He removed his goggles and looked at a silver crown similar to his father's, taking a deep breath.
This is happily ever after, after all
(Scene Rotation)
Rapunzel leaned against her balcony, looking out at the sky.
"This is life after happily ever after." She sang along with Eugene and Varian. "And our story has finally reached its end."
"Settling down here." Eugene hopped into a chair.
"Year upon year," Rapunzel added.
"Contended and secure." The former thief took a bite of his cake while Big Nose, Ulf, and Shorty enjoyed some munchies, too.
"With dozens of duties we'll have to tend." Rapunzel looked around her room, eyes falling on some of her birthday lanterns she hung from the ceiling.
"I don't know how we'll do it, but this day has to end." Varian bit his lip before regaining his determination, moving to stand by his window.
"And now that we've gotten the dream that we chose." All three sang together.
"Now that we're in for the hall." Eugene pulled out the ring and smiled at it.
"Now our adventures can come to a close," Rapunzel spun her globe while Varian glanced at his book, and Eugene put the ring away. "Living happily ever after, after all, ~."
Rapunzel looked at the mural she'd painted on her wall, depicting her life from the flower until her return.
"Now that I've gotten the dream that I chose…." She lightly touched the part where she was reunited with her family before looking around the room. "Why does my world feel so… small?"
She walked over to her vanity table, where her crown sat on a pillow.
"If this is it…." Rapunzel moved to put her hand on her tiara but wavered at the last minute. "And it is… I suppose…"
She then stared at herself in the mirror, her worries becoming known. "Is this happily ever after… after all?"
Rapunzel sighed but tried to regain her focus.
Yes, even if she had doubts, this was her life now. She was a princess and so had to play the part.
"Okay, no pressure. Just introducing myself to the most important people in the world." She told herself, giving herself a mental pep talk.
"Representing my mom, dad, little brother… and the entire kingdom." Rapunzel looked horrified for a second before taking a deep breath. "We got this…."