Rapunzel, and Eugene took Varian to the Dark Kingdom. The only option they could agree on is that since the Moonstone originate at the Dark Kingdom, King Edmund has to know something about this strange occurrence. After all, the black rocks were gone. Except this...looked like the black rocks. Along with the amber Quirin was trapped in. Eugene's been calling it black amber, only because he decided it be best to give it a name.
Ruddiger hadn't left Varian's side once. Whatever was happening with him, it wasn't good.
They arrived at the Dark Kingdom in less days than the usual journey, through Varian's balloon he created for them. They used it a couple of times to travel quickly, and it does come in handy when your friend is possibly going to die.
"Dad!" Eugene called, excited.
"Ho-uh-Eugene!" King Edmund called, arms outstretched. "Nice to see you again, son!"
Eugene hugged his father, then pat him, before releasing the embrace. "Why so quick, son?"
"There's actually something really, REALLY important I need your help with," Eugene replied.
"Ooh, helping!" Edmund cheered.
"It's really important," Rapunzel said, pulling herself out of the balloon.
Eugene went over to the balloon and helped Rapunzel pull Varian out of it. Ruddiger pushed Varian's feet, which didn't do much, except ease the stress he's been feeling, at least a little. Eugene and Rapunzel carried Varian's encased body over to Edmund, then put him on the ground.
Edmund stared at him. "Uh, what's this?" he asked.
"This is Varian," Rapunzel said.
"Remember, the kid I always told you about?" Eugene asked. "Team Awesome?"
"Oh," Edmund said, glancing back at Varian. "And, uh...what happened to him?"
"We don't know," Rapunzel said. "We were hoping you'd know."
"Me?" Edmund asked, pointing at himself. "Why me?"
"You lived in the Dark Kingdom your entire life, dad," Eugene replied. "The Moonstone came from the Dark Kingdom. I thought you, out of anyone, would know."
"I, uh...I'm not sure," Edmund said, a little defeated. "But...maybe the Brotherhood will know."
"The Brotherhood!" Rapunzel cheered. "That's a great idea!"
Edmund carried Varian inside the palace. He placed him down on the floor in the biggest room, then walked off to get the Brotherhood.
He came back with just Adira. "Adira!" Rapunzel cheered. "It's nice to see you!"
"Lance would be sad he's missing this," Eugene smirked.
"Can you help him, Adira?" Rapunzel asked. Pascal sadly squeaked on her shoulder. Adira examined him, at every angle. She put her hand on him. She gasped and moved away, grabbing her wrist. "Get him out of here," she said, quietly, but sternly.
"W-what?" Eugene asked.
"I said, get him out!" Adira replied.
"But...why?" Eugene asked.
"He's too dangerous to keep here!"
"But he's just a kid!" Eugene yelled.
"Adira, why?" Rapunzel asked.
"He's infected," Adira replied. "Bringing here made it worse. He will be fine once he returns to Corona, but his condition will speed up and soon he'll be-"
Black amber started growing from Adira's hand, the one that touched Varian. "Adira..." Rapunzel said. "Wh-what's happening? What is that?"
"This is the power of...the Moonstone," Adira replied. "My sword-"
"The one made from the black rocks?" Eugene asked.
"Yes," Adira replied. The black amber rose from her hand and down her chest, covering her legs, then proceeding up to her neck. "A piece of it has done this. There is only one way to stop it."
"What is it?" Eugene asked.
"It is..." The black amber rose higher, nearly covering Adira completely.
"Adira!" Eugene yelled. "Adira! Wait!"
The black amber completely encased her, leaving her the same as Varian, in a much less dramatic pose. "Adira?" Edmund asked. "Adira!"
The mist emitting from the amber vanished, crystalizing the amber. "Adira!" Edmund cried.
"Dad, I'm sorry," Eugene said. "Well take Varian and leave."
"We didn't mean for any trouble, King Edmund," Rapunzel sighed.
Eugene and Rapunzel picked up Varian's body together, then started walking towards the door. "E-Eugene," Edmund said. Eugene and Rapunzel stopped walking. "I'm sorry, I hope you figure things out."
"Thanks, dad," Eugene said.
Rapunzel and Eugene took the same balloon back to Corona. Max happily greeted them, until he saw Varian didn't change. "It's okay, Max," Rapunzel said. "Adira said he'd be better here."
Eugene and Rapunzel carried Varian into a large, mostly empty room. Rapunzel put her hand on Eugene's shoulder. "I have a few things to do, Eugene," she said calmly.
"I know," Eugene said.
"I'll be back," Rapunzel reassured him.
"Have fun, Blondie," Eugene said.
Rapunzel smiled at him, then walked out the door. Eugene sat on a chair in the corner and put his face in his hands. "Max, how did this happen?" Eugene asked. Max neighed. Eugene sighed. "What do you think will happen to him? He froze Adira in the black amber. He came for a visit, and then he froze. Adira mentioned something about her black rock sword, but then she froze before she got to tell us how to fix him. Max, what am I gonna do?"
A while passed. Eugene fell asleep waiting for Varian in his chair. The black amber started to sizzle, startling Ruddiger. Ruddiger jumped off and landed on Eugene, yelping. Eugene, startled, woke up and stared at Ruddiger. "Ruddiger, what are you-?" Eugene asked, before he heard the sizzling and looked up. Varian's body was freed from the black amber. Eugene jumped off his chair and caught Varian as he fell.
Varian opened his eyes. "Eugene?" he asked.
"Varian?" Eugene asked. "You okay, buddy?" Tears welled up in Eugene's eyes.
"Eugene!" Varian cheered. He wrapped his arms around Eugene's neck. "Ha ha!" Eugene laughed. "Team Awesome is back!"
"W-what happened?" Varian asked.
"You were stuck in this amber looking like black rock thing," Eugene replied. Ruddiger cooed happily and jumped onto Varian. "Ruddiger!" Varian cheered.
Ruddiger sniffed Varian, then he screeched and scurried away. "Ruddiger? What are you doing?" Varian asked.
"Can you stand?" Eugene asked.
"Y-yeah, I think so," Varian replied. "How long was I out?"
"About a week?" Eugene replied. "We went to the Dark Kingdom and met Adira again. She told us that you had an...'infection' of some sort. When she touched you, she got stuck in the black amber too."
"She what?" Varian asked.
"Yeah, she got trapped as well," Eugene said. He helped Varian up. "But Blondie will be so glad to see you're okay!"
Author's Note
Here you go! A shorter chapter!