Hello, here we are with chapter twenty-one. I'm proud of myself for this story, but I need to work more on dividing my time between my stories.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Tangled. I only own this story idea.
Now, let the Day of Hearts begin.
Varian was in his lab finishing a small project he was working on. "And… done." The Rapunzium element was attached to a necklace with matching purple and blue beads.
"What do you think, Ruddiger?" Varian smiled at his raccoon, who toyed with the necklace approvingly.
"Hey, kid," Eugene poked his head in the lab. "What nerd work are you doing today?"
"Laying it on a little thick, Eugene," Varian smiled at him. "Anyway, I just finished making the Rapunzium necklace for Rapunzel."
"Not bad, kid," Eugene praised when he saw it. "You can give it to her before the ceremony."
"What ceremony?" Varian asked.
"The Day of Hearts ceremony," The older man said. "Geez, Goggles, don't you live here?"
"Oh, yeah," The alchemist realized. "Well, it's a couple's holiday, and I'm single, so…"
"Didn't your parents ever sign the book?" Eugene asked and regretted it when he saw Varian stiffen up. "Oh, right, sorry, don't bring that up, forget I said that."
"No, it's okay, Eugene," Varian assured him. "I just… well, I was really young when Mom… left, so I don't know."
"Didn't you say your dad was more open to talking about her now?"
"Yeah, but… I'm nervous about asking anything actively." The alchemist admitted as he got up.
"Well, for right now, let's not worry about that," Eugene encouraged, following the younger out of the lab. "I'm planning to spend the day with Blondie, so why not go to the festival? Play some games, win some prizes, maybe even find a special girl… or boy, if that's how you swing."
"Eugene!" Varian turned to the other man with a blush, making him laugh.
"I'm just saying, kid, why not take a break and have some fun," Eugene said as Varian locked up his lab, Ruddiger gripping his shoulder.
"Mm, I'll think about it," Varian said. "Besides, I was planning to talk to Xavier about something."
"Fair enough." Eugene shrugged as the boys walked down the hall.
(With Rapunzel)
Rapunzel was in the middle of painting when someone knocked on her door. "Come in."
Varian opened the door and came in. "Hi, Rapunzel."
"Hey, Varian." Rapunzel smiled at her friend.
"I've got a surprise for you." He walked over to her, hands behind his back.
"What is it?" The Princess turned to him in excitement.
"Remember the element I named after you?" He asked before revealing the necklace. "Well, I thought I should do something special with it."
"Oh, Varian, thank you!" Rapunzel joyfully thanked him, immediately putting the necklace on. "I can wear it to the ceremony today." Her eyes then widened as she remembered the ceremony before standing up. "That reminds me, I need to get going!"
"Then, let's go!" Varian smiled as they left her room. "Are you excited for your first Day of Hearts?"
"Yes! Mom told me all about it, and I can't wait to spend it with Eugene!" Rapunzel beamed eagerly. "Have you ever gone to the festival?"
"Not really. I'm single. The Day of Hearts is a couple's holiday. Besides, I wasn't interested in getting hit on by the town drunk."
Rapunzel giggled. "Really?"
"Really." He nodded.
"Wait, the town drunk… do you mean Shorty?" She asked, blinking in confusion.
He shrugged. "Whatever his name is. The short, old guy that's always drunk and pops up in places he shouldn't be."
She giggled again. "That sounds like Shorty! Anyway, maybe you'll meet someone today."
"I don't think so," Varian shook his head. "I'm not really interested in romance right now." He also didn't like the idea of putting someone he liked in danger with his secret.
As they walked towards the entrance, Varian paused when he saw Cassandra down another hallway, looking nervous. "I'll catch up with you," He told Rapunzel. "I needed to ask your dad about something."
"Okay," Rapunzel nodded as she walked on. "I'll meet you outside."
Once she was gone, Varian moved down the other hall. "Cass?" He walked up to her. "Everything okay?"
"Yes… No… I don't know." She admitted with a sigh. "I'm dealing with… some stuff. Stuff that I'm not ready to share, and I'm trying to figure out how to handle it."
"Is it something you can talk to your dad about?" Varian asked. "Is it Guard-related stuff?"
"It is, but I'm not sure telling my dad is a good idea. He might think it's something too big for me to handle."
"Cass, you helped stop two out-of-control machines that would've destroyed the castle." He smiled assuringly at her. "Whatever this is, I'm sure you can handle it. All you need is a good plan."
She sighed again but with a smile. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Varian… and you just gave me an idea." Cass became more confident as she brought her hand to her chin in a thinking pose.
"Do you need any help?" Varian asked.
"No, I think I've got it now," Cassandra declined. "But could you cover for me if Rapunzel asks where I am? If she thinks something's wrong, she's gonna start getting nosey, and this is something I wanna keep to myself. Don't get me wrong, she's my best friend, but she's…"
"Not good with boundaries?" Varian asked sympathetically.
"I was going to say she's a sharer, but that works, too," The handmaiden conceded. "I'm fine with it, but this time, I just want it to handle this on my own."
"I understand." Her friend nodded. "But you'll tell us if something changes, right?"
"Promise." Cass agreed.
"Then I'll let you get back to it," Varian turned and left. "See you later, Cass."
"Later, Varian."
(Outside)
Varian made it to the courtyard just before the ceremony began. He slipped into the crowd and joined the Princess and her boyfriend as the thug, Big Nose, began to tell the story behind the Day of Hearts.
"Centuries ago, Corona was engaged in a years-long war with its rival kingdom, Saporia. Corona's then-king, Herz Der Sonne, created a complex system of tunnels to move his knights and supplies wherever he needed. He then made a detailed map of these tunnels and their secrets in a secure journal."
Varian's eyes widened with a dawning expression as he listened to the story. His Moon Sense was telling him this was something important.
"At the height of the war, Der Sonne's sworn enemy, General Champanier, launched a full-scale invasion on Corona. Champanier fought her way through the castle to face King Herz Der Sonne himself. Their battle waged for hours, with neither side relenting. That is until Champanier discovered that the book's final pages contained Herz's profession of love for her. It was then she realized she held similar feelings for him as well. And soon, the two were married. And a lasting peace was brought to the newly united nations forevermore." Big Nose finished his narration, Attila sniffling into a handkerchief nearby.
"Gets me every time." The baker thug sobbed, Shorty beside him in a cupid costume.
"Oh! Isn't that the most romantic story you've ever heard?" Rapunzel asked Varian, who was distracted as he thought over the story.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, it's… sweet." He replied absently, causing the Princess to look at him in concern.
"And our kingdom commemorates this day, the Day of Hearts," Big Nose continued, gesturing to the pedestal where the journal he described sat. "each year, by displaying the book, so all those who have found true love may sign its pages." Queen Arianna and King Frederic walked up to the book, the Queen carrying a basket full of red paper hearts with her. Once the King signed the book, he and his wife shared a quick kiss before Arianna threw the paper hearts at the cheering crowd.
One of the hearts landed on Shorty, who offered it to a woman beside him, causing her to flinch back. "Happy Day of Hearts, my lady."
"What I tell ya?" Varian leaned close to Rapunzel when she and Eugene saw that, watching the woman step back a few paces. "Every time."
Rapunzel giggled a little before looking around. "Hey, where's Cass?"
"She had some stuff she needed to finish for her dad," Varian said, keeping his promise. "Ever since the expo, he's been giving her more responsibilities with the Guard."
"That's great!" Rapunzel cheered. "I'm happy for her! I just hope she remembers not to overwork herself."
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Blondie," Eugene said before moving closer to her. "Now, we have a Day of Hearts to enjoy."
"I'm going to go see Xavier about something. You guys have fun." Varian smiled at them before walking off.
"Bye, Varian!" Rapunzel waved after him.
Varian waved back at her before turning around with a severe look. He looked around at the different decorations, the festival set up outside, and couldn't shake the sensation his Moon Sense was giving him.
"Why do I feel like this is all wrong…?" He questioned himself silently. Knowing he needed a second opinion, he went looking for Xavier.
Most shops closed on holidays in Corona, so heading to the forge was a long shot. Fortunately, luck was on his side since he found the blacksmith there.
"Xavier?" Varian announced his presence.
"Ah, Varian," Xavier turned to the alchemist with a smile. "I'm surprised to see you today."
"I'm surprised you're open today," Varian responded. "I figured you'd be closed since it was a holiday."
"Unofficially. I'm not working on commissions today, but I keep the forge running in case of emergencies," The blacksmith explained. "Now, what can I do for you?"
Varian glanced at the street behind him, making sure no one was passing by. He asked, "Mind if we talk in private?"
Understanding, Xavier nodded. "Of course."
Soon, they were down in the cellar, and Varian began explaining his problem. "Okay, so I went to the Day of Hearts opening ceremony for the first time. They told the story behind the holiday, and my Moon Sense went off. I felt this was either not the real or the full story."
"Hm, I see." Xavier nodded seriously.
"I was confused, so I figured I should come talk to you," Varian concluded. "Since you know a lot about legends and history, I thought you could help me make sense of it."
"I believe I can…" He nodded again. "Varian, you had mentioned that your father was more open to talking about your mother, correct?"
"Yes." Varian nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
"How much has he told you about her heritage?"
"Um… we haven't gotten to that point," He admitted. "I've still been processing finally being able to know her… and missing her." The alchemist looked down at his hands sadly.
Xavier nodded, giving the boy a sympathetic look. "Well, we should start with you knowing that your mother was Saporian."
"Really?" Varian's eyes widened.
"Yes. Even though the kingdoms have merged, the Saporians took great pride in their heritage and continue to refer to themselves as Saporians."
"Wow…" The alchemist breathed, amazed by this revelation of his heritage. "I… was not expecting that."
"I'm not surprised you were unaware of your mother's heritage. She had to keep her past a secret when she first came to Corona."
"Why?"
"Over twenty years ago, when your parents first came to Corona, King Frederic's father was in charge, and believe me, he was worse than the King was during his madness," Xavier explained severely. "Alchemy was outlawed, and the law mistreated those who were open about their Saporian heritage."
Varian clenched his fists to control his anger as he heard this.
"Things improved somewhat once King Frederic came to power. He removed the laws discriminating against Saporians and lifted the ban on alchemy so your mother could practice her craft freely."
"Let me guess: Things reversed when Rapunzel was taken?" Varian guessed.
"Unfortunately, you would be correct," Xavier confirmed. "The Saporians became a target for the King's grief."
"Why?"
"Centuries ago, after the war brought Corona and Saporia together, there was a small sect of Saporians who felt betrayed and swore revenge on our kingdom. They are known as the Separatists of Saporia, and some believe their descendants are still around, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back at Corona."
"So, the King thought that his daughter's kidnapping was some kind of Saporian conspiracy?"
"Yes." The blacksmith nodded.
"But why would the Saporians see the kingdom union as bad? Didn't they want the war to end?" Varian questioned.
"Once, your mother told me about her past and that there was much more to the Day of Hearts story than we knew."
"Like what?" Varian asked, feeling like he was getting close to an answer.
"Unfortunately, I do not know," Xavier answered regretfully. "She wouldn't tell me more than that, her reasoning that it was for my safety. Those who sympathized with the Saporians were also targeted as traitors by the Kingdom. She didn't want to risk putting me in danger."
"I see." The alchemist understood, feeling a little disappointed.
The blacksmith smiled slightly, seeing an old friend in Varian. "You and your mother are very much alike, Varian. She wasn't one to endanger people with her secrets, nor run from danger if people were being hurt. She also had a stubborn side to her as well…"
Varian huffed out a laugh with a fond smile. "I think I get that from both of them."
"Perhaps it is time for the truth to be found, and if anyone can solve the mystery, I have faith that it is you."
"Then I better get started," Varian said as both males stood up. "Thanks again for your help, Xavier."
"Anytime, Varian." Xavier smiled before they headed back to the surface.
(That evening)
Varian was at his desk in his room, several history books from the Royal Library stacked around him. He had been at this since he returned to the castle, scouring over texts for more information about the Corona and Saporia war.
Surprisingly, there wasn't much information about the war itself. All Varian could get was that it was a destructive war that ended with their leaders falling in love (Which also didn't make sense since Varian couldn't find anything about the General's family). Everything else was incredibly vague.
Then, there was the fact that Varian couldn't find much on the Saporians themselves. Almost nothing was recorded about their culture, kingdom, or language, much like a particular lost kingdom that predated Corona. Anything he could find was obviously written by the victors, making anyone who spoke out against the union look like savage criminals.
Sighing tiredly, Varian sat back as he finished off his cocoa. Ruddiger climbed onto the books, looking at his human with concern. "I don't know what else I can do, Ruddiger," he told his animal friend. "I've checked every reference I could find, but everything keeps pointing back to the Day of Hearts. It's almost like someone didn't want anyone to dig deeper into the matter. It confirms my Moon Sense saying something is wrong with this story."
Something caught Ruddiger's attention outside, causing him to jump off the desk and scamper to the window. "What is it, buddy?" Varian asked, getting up to see for himself.
Looking out the window, the duo saw Cass running towards the archway. "That's Cass!" Varian gasped when he saw her stop by the arch. She looked around the corner before leaving the castle grounds. "Where's she going?"
Ruddiger looked at him before noticing something else, directing Varian's attention out the window. This time, he saw Rapunzel follow Cassandra's path as she snuck out through the archway. "Now, what's she up to?" Varian wondered.
Ruddiger turned to him again before gesturing outside. "Yeah, I should probably go after them to make sure they're okay," Varian understood and agreed with his raccoon. "Besides, patrol might help me clear my head."
Stepping back from the window, Varian transformed into his alter ego before moving towards the glass again. "Cover for me, buddy." He petted his raccoon, who purred in agreement.
Opening the window, Varian looked around for guards before summoning a ramp of moonlight reaching over to the wall. He slid down to the arch before running in the direction the girls went, hoping to find them before they ran into trouble.
As the Phantom, Varian trailed the girls as he made his way across the rooftops. They reached the gondola docks as Cass walked onto the pier while Rapunzel and Pascal hid behind some crates, the Princess peeking over her shoulder.
Varian stopped on a building next to the docks, using the shadows to stay hidden from sight. He glanced down when he heard Rapunzel yelp, finding she slipped on some barrels she had climbed on. Cass had heard her too and turned around, only to find nothing.
Moments later, a floating lantern with a heart on it drifted over to Cassandra, getting her attention. She smiled at the sight and took hold of it. Varian glanced around and ducked down further when he noticed a man approaching the docks with a rose.
"Oh, there you are," Cass said when she saw him.
"I couldn't resist the invitation." He smiled, holding up the flower. He planted it in her hair, and she smiled up at him.
Varian hummed quietly, wondering who this man was and how he was so familiar with Cass. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard Rapunzel yelp again, followed by a splash. Looking down, he saw she had fallen into the water, gripping the platform's edge with a cough. Fortunately, Cass and the young man helped her up, though the lady-in-waiting looked annoyed that the Princess was there.
"Cass… and friend of Cass," She said awkwardly, seeing the unhappy expression on her friend's face. "No introduction? Okay, that's fine."
"Oh, I'm sorry," The man approached her. "I'm Andrew. You must be cold. Please, take my jacket." He placed his fur vest over her shoulders.
"Thank you," Rapunzel smiled gratefully. "Ooh! Nice and warm." She commented on the vest.
"I made it myself," He explained to her. "It was shorn from the fleece of Poquito Juan Pablo, a blind orphan mountain sheep I rescued from a pack of ravenous wolves. I gave him a home, he gave me warmth. I often ask myself, who rescued whom?"
"Wow! This guy is smooth," Rapunzel commented to Cass, who gripped her shoulders.
"Actually, Rapunzel was just leaving," she said, starting to guide her friend away.
"Oh, right! Yes, of course! It's getting late and… I have to rest my muscles after a swim like that, wouldn't wanna cramp up." She rambled as Andrew waved goodbye to her.
"Rapunzel!" Cass hissed at her.
"Right, right, sorry," She whispered before Cassandra returned her love interest. "Good night!" Rapunzel called as she left, yelping when she fell into the bay again. Andrew flinched as he and Cass looked in her direction. "Someone left crates all over the dock!" The Princess called as they watched Pascal float by sheepishly on a box. "Sorry about that!"
"Well, she seemed nice," Andrew shrugged lightly.
Having seen enough, Varian retreated to the castle as his mind continued to wonder who this Andrew guy was.
And that's the end of part one of Under Raps. I'm not sure how many chapters this episode will span over, but I'll see once I get started on the next chapter.
Happy Halloween, and to my American readers, be sure to get out and vote next Tuesday!