Chapter 1
Marketplace

As the Kingdom always was, it was a beautiful morning with a plenty of people. Varian had been in the city at the time, finding some parts for his inventions. Even though Quirin didn't care for his inventions. They destroy the town, he said, they cause trouble, he said. It's called science, not trouble. It...just needs some work before it can be nice and stable.

With the company of his new raccoon friend named Ruddiger, he wandered the marketplace. Yes, the same raccoon Varian had been trying to get rid of, out of his bedroom. The raccoon trespassed into his heart. "Alright Ruddiger, it'll be quick I promise. And I'll even get you an apple if I can afford it." Varian said, explaining to the grey creature.

Ruddiger twitched his tail and chattered at him. "What do you mean I take forever- Ruddiger, what do you know?" Varian crossed his arms. Noticing the shiny sprocket he was seeking in one of the stalls, he ended the argument with Ruddiger and headed to the stall.

"How much for the bronze-plated sprocket?" He picked it up, his eyes gleaming and glowing. "Huh? Ah, hey kid. 2 silver pieces." The man turned around, almost surprised that such a young boy was interested in it. "Y'know, kids like you aren't usually into engineering stuff. Pickin'up a part for ye dad or something?" The man then raised a brow.

Varian dug around in his apron and muttered, "Nah. My dad hates when I make stuff. Thinks it causes trouble, and that farming is more important." He said, pulling out two silver pieces from his pocket it and placing it on the counter. "I'm just a engineer trying to make the world a better place. Starting young I suppose." Varian laughed warmly.

"Ha, atta boy. You chase that dream." The man took the silver pieces and then handed Varian the bronze-plated sprocket. "I was young when I started being interested in engineering, but never could make anything special. As I got older, I still couldn't make anything useful so that's why I'm sellin'it all. Y'know?" The man explained.

Varian frowned. "Hey, you tell me to chase my dream and put yours in a grave..."
"Don't be that way. I'm sure you have great ideas."

The man sighed, adjusting his overalls. "Ah. I have the ideas, just not the talent I'm afraid."

Varian then pointed at him, "We're gonna talk later. I wanna know those ideas, and we'll see about getting your talent too." He winked and put the bronze-plated sprocket in his pocket.

"Ha, okay kid... Whatever you say. If you think you can do it, guess you can." The man snickered. "Name's Aaron by the way, if you wanna find me, I'll be here all week. I'm heading back outside of Corona after, so remember." He added.

"Name's Varian! I'll remember, bye Aaron!" Varian waved and continued down the marketplace streets. Varian looked around, Ruddiger laying around on his shoulders like a neck scarf. "Okay, let's see. Gears, gears... Silver gears." He looked around, "Probably should have asked Aaron about that but oh well-" Then he peered up upon hearing a familiar voice.

He glanced around, Ruddiger looking at him confused on why he stopped. Varian saw Cassandra and he lost all train of thought. Her. Ever since that day Cassandra saved him from his own invention, he had a crush on her, a big one. He was head over heels for her.

Cassandra had also saved him at the Science Expo when that stupid judge messed with his invention and caused a vortex in the air. Crazy man... Varian didn't mind being saved, as long as it was by her. Oh and of course since he wanted to live, because that was one of the main reasons for saving someone. Varian warmly smiled, Ruddiger smacking him gently on the cheek trying to snap him out of his little stare. But Ruddiger didn't have to, as something else did. Varian shook his head briefly and then squinted his eyes at someone next to Cassandra.

That...wasn't Rapunzel, or Eugene.

It was a tall, tan man with dark-brown hair, a fuzzy-necked vest, black shirt, pants and shoes. Varian wouldn't have thought much about it, until he realized they seemed to be...in..love...

Ruddiger blinked, trying to figure out what was going on in Varian's little head. But he had the feeling that he'd learn about it soon enough. Varian glanced at Ruddiger and pointed at the tall man, "Who is that?!" He raised his brow. Ruddiger shrugged, he never seen that man before a day in his life. Varian kept watching for a moment, a bit furious.

Jealous? Ha, why would he be jealous?
His crush had a boyfriend, not a problem.

Nothing to be jealous about.

Varian forgot what the heck he was doing. He shook his head and blinked, looking around. "Oh- Gears, silver gears..." He said, but his focus still wasn't on the silver gears he needed. But that tall man with Cassandra. Varian wandered off, looking back at the couple, only to see them disappear within a crowd, leaving Varian to think about it all day and night now.

This was going to be a problem.

"Silver gears, bronze-plated sprocket, metal polish, rivets..." Varian counted the things he got from the marketplace, "Okay! I've got everything. Perfect!" He clapped his hands together. Varian did an evil-sounding giggle and then put his goggles on, pointing at Ruddiger. "You, Ruddiger, are going to see science and engineering at work; my friend!"

Ruddiger stared and then carefully just hopped off the table and walked off.

Varian pulled his goggles back onto his head. "Ah com'on." He narrowed his eyes.

He grabbed his papers and began writing on it what he had planned to do with all those fancy new things he bought at the market. Yes, he bought Ruddiger an apple. Don't worry.

Varian then remembered what he had seen and stopped writing. He frowned, putting his hand to his cheek. "Maybe I was seeing things wrong?" He said quietly to himself, though Ruddiger turned around when he heard Varian. "Cassie's hard to even befriend, why would she have a boyfriend, ha that's silly..." Varian nervously laughed. He put his hand back on his bed, looking at the note. Furrowing his brows, he mumbled something underneath his breath and continued writing, albeit a bit vigorously.

Ruddiger rolled his eyes. Oh great. The boy was jealous.

(Author's Note):

This was a series suggested to me by manuelmusical14!

It's been a really slow project I've been working on and decided to post the first chapter, since I haven't posted anything new in a while.

Also, for those who get the Aaron reference... Here's a purple cookie for you. :)

~ Valeal