After a lot of work, here's the new chapter seven. I'll post chapter eight after this, and then we'll be back to where we were before.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Tangled. I only own this story idea.
Pascal dashed through the castle halls while he played hide and seek with Rapunzel. Glancing around, he quickly concealed himself as the princess turned the corner in pursuit of him. She walked past several decorative pieces, where Pascal hid atop a bronze horse statue in disguise. Suddenly, Rapunzel popped up out of nowhere.
"Boo!"
"Aah!" Pascal squeaked in shock as he comically tumbled from his perch. The princess laughed, prompting the lizard to look up at her in annoyance.
Getting to his claws, Pascal blew a raspberry at them before scurrying underneath the Princess, who smirked as she took off in pursuit. The lizard raced down the corridor, passing Rapunzel's parents and Eugene as the blond chased after her. The king and queen exchanged happy glances before their daughter returned to hug them. Rapunzel turned to Eugene and kissed him on the cheek before running off again. The man chuckled awkwardly at the look her father shot him.
Rapunzel's search led her to her room. She opened the door, looking for Pascal, but gasped in shock when she found something else. A mysterious figure stood by her window. They wore a hooded cloak, and their back was turned, leaving Rapunzel unaware of their identity… until they spoke.
"Hello, Rapunzel."
The figure turned around and threw back her hood, revealing herself to be Mother Gothel. She looked exactly as when Rapunzel last saw her before her hair was cut. "Did you think I was gone forever?" the older woman smirked as she sauntered over to the princess, causing her to stiffen in fright. "What's the matter, dear?" she taunted as she circled Rapunzel, stroking her face and lightly touching her hair like she used to. "Aren't you happy to see your mummy?" Gothel returned to the window before spinning around and throwing her hands up as the black rocks burst through the ground.
Rapunzel flinched back with a sharp gasp, terrified as the rocks closed in around her. She tried to escape but quickly found herself cornered. Suddenly, a gloved hand grasped her wrist and pulled her away from the rocks. She looked ahead and saw the Moonlight Phantom in front of her as the black rocks encircled them. Then, without warning, he propelled her forward ahead of him. She hit the ground and rolled before looking up just in time to see her view of the Phantom blocked by the black rocks surrounding him.
Rapunzel scrambled to her feet and dashed forward, her hair glowing as she placed her hands on the rocks. Her braid burst apart as the black rocks shattered around her. She gasped in alarm upon seeing the masked boy lying on the ground and rushed to kneel beside him. Rapunzel assisted him in pushing himself up while her hair floated in the air, pointing toward the sky.
"And look! Your hair has returned! Ooh, isn't it wonderful?" Gothel laughed mockingly, causing Rapunzel to glance up as reflections of her kidnapper flickered in the rocks. "Come now, dear. Let's get you back to your tower, where you will be safe and secure."
"Rapunzel…" Moonlight groaned, prompting Rapunzel to look back down at him with concern.
"Phantom," she whispered.
"RAPUNZEL!" Gothel yelled as her rocks burst apart with a bright flash…
At the same time, Rapunzel and Varian suddenly awoke in their bedrooms. The princess's hair floated above her bed while small black rocks jutted from Varian's walls. Pascal gasped awake just moments before Rapunzel's hair tumbled to the floor. Varian looked around in shock at the rocks, panting from his nightmare. If this continues, he should start wearing his gloves to bed. Getting up, Varian walked toward the nearest rock. Taking deep breaths to calm his nerves, he focused on the rock, willing it to vanish. As he did, the rock sank into the wall, leaving a hole where it had been.
Varian smiled faintly before gazing out his window thoughtfully. These nightmares had plagued him ever since the coronation. It was always the same. Varian would enjoy a peaceful day until his rocks appeared everywhere, and he suddenly found himself in his Moonlight Phantom disguise. He would see Rapunzel fleeing from them and try to guide her to safety. When Varian realizes that only one can escape, he sacrifices himself to ensure Rapunzel's escape, leaving him trapped among the rocks. Then, he hears a voice, never quite able to decipher what it says before he starts to feel weaker and collapses. Suddenly, the rocks would shatter, and Rapunzel would be at his side as a new voice taunted the princess while her hair glowed and floated toward the sky. Finally, the rocks would burst apart again before he woke up. Sighing wearily, Varian fell back onto his bed, cradling his head in his hands.
(At the castle)
Later that day, Rapunzel sat at the breakfast gazebo, writing in her new journal. The princess tried to talk to Cass about her dreams, but the other woman was concerned about someone overhearing them. If word got out that Cass snuck Rapunzel and Varian outside the castle walls, she could get into serious trouble.
The biggest issue was that they couldn't tell Eugene about this. He was notoriously bad at keeping secrets, which he demonstrated right in front of her during their discussion. Even though Cass had a valid point, it was still stressful for Rapunzel to keep this from her boyfriend since they shared everything with each other.
Pausing for a moment, Rapunzel thought about how Varian was faring. She hadn't seen him since the coronation, and it was a bit of a trek to Old Corona.
"I was just thinking about your hair," Rapunzel looked up as Cass approached her, sitting beside her. "Maybe there's a way we can discreetly try to get some answers, just the two of us. We actually know someone who can help."
"I still think you're being unfair about Eugene," Rapunzel replied, closing her journal before crossing her arms with a smirk. "But, um, who are we talking about?"
"Remember our friend, Varian?"
"Mhm." The princess nodded.
"According to rumors, he's supposedly some kind of wizard."
Rapunzel gasped in awe, covering her mouth. "Wow! A real wizard?!" Pascal squeaked in excitement, too. "Do you think he'll have one of those pointy hats and, like, a robe and a staff and cast spells?"
"No, I do not," Cass replied, Pascal sagging in disappointment. "Very little is known publicly about Varian, and what is, isn't good. Some say he's dangerous."
"Cass, I think those might just be rumors," Rapunzel countered. "I mean, we've spent time with him. Did he seem like someone dangerous to you?"
"Honestly, no. Still, he might be our best chance at getting answers."
Rapunzel and Pascal exchanged glances before the human sighed and stood up with Cassandra. "Well, let's go see our resident wizard."
(In Old Corona)
A week after the coronation, it was business as usual for Varian and Quirin. They set aside their fancy clothes and resumed their daily lives. Quirin worked on the farm and tended to the town, while Varian got into alchemical mischief, secretly practicing with his powers.
Over the past week, he discovered that his control over the rocks had improved. He learned he could shape them into anything he desired, conceal objects within them (he didn't want to try with living things), and see through them to observe the surrounding area. The last ability helped monitor a major project he was undertaking.
"Okay, if this works as planned, it should create a liquid-like compound that will harden to secure anyone caught in it," he murmured as he filled a glass ball with the alchemy solution he had just finished. It was designed as a humane trap for critters stealing from the gardens–rabbits, raccoons, and the like. However, it could also be helpful in a fight if he needed it.
Speaking of fighting, Varian had been thinking about the coronation battle. While everything turned out well, transforming with people still around was risky. He needed to consider learning how to fight without his powers. He had some archery skills from an attempt to bond with his dad, which somewhat worked. Maybe he could find a way to attach his alchemy to the arrow tips. He hummed as he set up a test trap before returning to work.
Varian noticed something outside his window and paused. Looking closer, he saw that Rapunzel and Cass were in town. Smiling at the unplanned visit, Varian pulled the lever to open the door for them and waited for the girls to come inside.
"Varian? Are you here?" Rapunzel called as they opened the door to his lab.
Before he could reply, they tripped the goo trap. Varian watched in embarrassment as it activated, engulfing them in pink smoke before solidifying around them. Judging by the confused chitters, he guessed the raccoon lurking nearby was also caught.
"Sorry about that," Varian said as he approached them. "I set that up for another experiment."
"Oh, it's fine," Rapunzel sighed with relief as both women relaxed. "No harm done. What is this stuff, anyway?"
"It's a chemical compound I just finished making," he said. He reached into his apron and pulled out a small vial, lightly sprinkling its contents on the compound to dissolve it. "We have a bit of a critter problem out here, so through the miracle of modern alchemy, I've found a humane way to solve the problem." To emphasize his point, he walked over to the raccoon caught in the trap and did the same. He then picked it up and took it to the door, tossing it outside before shutting it. "There. That one, in particular, keeps getting into my lab. I decided to test the compound here before offering it for use around the farms."
"Well, it seems to work great," Rapunzel said, looking around with interest. "Look at all this! Did you make these?"
"Uh-huh!" he chirped, walking over to her. "So, what brings you all the way out here?"
"Oh, right," she remembered. "I was hoping to ask you about my hair. I mean, since you're such a magic expert—"
"Oh, not that rumor again," Varian groaned before explaining. "There's usually a line between science and magic. Alchemy occupies that space where they intersect, but I primarily focus on the scientific side. The most I've ever ventured into the magical side was when I bought a book of alchemical solutions that included some potion recipes."
"Oh, I see." Rapunzel understood, though she looked disappointed.
"But," Varian continued, "I might still be able to help. Maybe not with figuring out why it grew back, but we'd have more answers than we do now."
"Great!" The princess perked up. "Thank you, Varian!"
"Thanks a lot, kid," Cass smiled before becoming serious. "Now, this goes without saying, but nobody can know what we discussed down here."
"Don't worry. If anyone asks, it was just a visit between friends. However, next time, you might want to take the back roads. Outside of farming, there's not much to do in this town, so people gossip to pass the time." He warned them before muttering, "Especially about me."
"Got it," Cass nodded.
"Also, for future reference, you might want to send a messenger bird to let me know you're coming over. Sometimes my projects need to be watched to make sure they work."
"Noted."
"Alright," Varian said as he sat at his lab table. He picked up a pocket notebook and pencil before turning to Rapunzel. "Let's get started. First, let's review what happened again."
"Okay," Rapunzel agreed, sitting beside him while Cass leaned against the wall beside her. "So, my hair got really long again after I touched these strange rocks by the Sundrop Monument."
"Right." Varian nodded as he wrote that down.
"And now it's indestructible."
"I have fifteen broken weapons and a busted table for evidence," Cassandra added.
"Uh-huh." Varian set his notebook and pencil down before standing up. He gently lifted Rapunzel's large braid into his arms. "And was your hair indestructible before?"
"No, it was easily cut back then," Rapunzel said, watching as he unfastened the beads holding her braid together.
"Can you still heal with it?"
"I... don't know. We haven't tried that yet."
"Well, let's try now. The magic starts when you sing, right?"
"Right…" Rapunzel looked at them, closing her eyes as she began to sing the song he knew by heart. "Flower, gleam and glow.~ Let your power shine.~ Make the clock reverse. Bring back what once was mine…~"
Everyone else was silent as they watched her hair closely, waiting for something to change. Pascal looked around in anticipation before his expression fell when he realized nothing was happening.
"Bring back what once was mine, what once was mine.~" She stopped singing and turned to the others. "Well?"
"Nice singing, but aside from that, nothing happened," Cass replied.
"Huh," she stared at her hair in confusion. "My hair should've at least been glowing…"
"Well, silver lining: we've gathered some data about your hair. It no longer possesses its legendary healing powers. So, progress. Let me check something…" He grabbed some of her hair and took it to his table, placing it under a microscope. "Hmmm."
"What?" Rapunzel and Cassandra asked in unison.
"I think I've seen something like this before."
That was an understatement. He had indeed seen something like this before.
Himself.
"Really?" Rapunzel asked, her eyes widening.
"Maybe, but I'll need to run the same tests to be sure," Varian murmured, his hand on his chin in thought. He then walked to the back and pulled aside a blanket covering a large machine filled with surgical tools. "Haven't used this in a couple of years…"
"What is it?" Cass asked.
"This machine can analyze any substance for its chemical makeup, bitopic composition, and urgu-structural integrity." He elbowed it, causing a medical bed to unfold. "I built it myself."
"Nice!" Rapunzel said with a smile, though Cass looked skeptical.
"If I'm right, this should tell us more about your hair," Varian said, stepping up to the controls.
"Raps, are you sure you wanna–" Cass began to ask before noticing that the princess was no longer beside her. "Rapunzel?!"
"Let's do this." She was already strapped into the machine.
"Okay," Varian grinned before turning to Cass. "Don't worry; I've done this with someone before. It's perfectly—well, mostly harmless. It stings at times." That didn't reassure Cass very much. "But that's the worst of it! Plus, Rapunzel's hair is longer than that person's hair, so she might not even fill it," Varian assured her before returning to the princess. "Still wanna go through with this?"
"Well, I'm already all strapped in!" she chirped, unaware of the tools above her hair glinting in the dim light.
"Then let's get started!" He pulled a lever, activating the machine.
The device began to shake, causing Pascal to jump off. Rapunzel glanced around with some second thoughts before the machine started spinning her around rapidly. "Ah!"
"Don't worry, it's supposed to do that!" Varian reassured them as Cass stared anxiously at Rapunzel being moved into different positions.
"Whoa-kay! Whaaa!" She was upside down one moment, her hair pulled in every direction before being wrapped up like a mummy. After the next spin, she was upright again, with the machine's arms tugging at her before everything stopped. "Whoa!" A bell rang from a timer next to the machine.
"And there we are! Done," Varian concluded as Rapunzel panted.
"Alright. Not super fun, but it's over," the princess laughed nervously.
"Oh, sorry. I meant done with the first test," Varian said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But don't worry; there are only eighty-six more to go." He pushed another lever as the timer began counting down the remaining tests. The table laid Rapunzel flat as a buzzsaw popped up.
"Uh…" Cass said, observing this test.
"Don't worry," Varian repeated. "If I thought it was dangerous, I wouldn't have suggested it."
"Okay…"
They then saw that the saw wasn't cutting Rapunzel's hair. "Wow!" His eyes widened as he stepped aside when the saw flew off, knocking off a piece of the control panel. Pascal peeked over the device with a shocked expression. "I know we talked about this, but it's still amazing!"
Suddenly, Eugene burst through the door. "Here's something less amazing! Let her go!"
Varian and Cass stared at him as the machine sat Rapunzel up to face him. "Eugene! Hey!" She smiled nervously as the device continued to pull on her hair.
"Blondie, you're okay," he chuckled in relief before his expression grew serious. "You wanna tell me what's going on here?"
"Uh, you invaded my home, for starters." Varian raised an eyebrow. "I can forgive them for coming unannounced, but you're just being rude." While calm on the outside, Varian was beaming and slightly embarrassed inside. He knew that Rapunzel's boyfriend was the famous Flynn Rider, someone Varian idolized. He was happy to meet Mr. Rider again, but it happened while the princess was strapped into one of his machines. It would have been unbelievably awkward if he had seen the test with the buzzsaw.
Rapunzel cringed, remembering what Cass had told her earlier. Looking at the woman, she noticed Cass's unhappy expression, which made Rapunzel laugh nervously and say nothing.
"Oh, wait, wait, I remember you now," Eugene said, realization dawning as he looked at the kid. "You're from the coronation."
"Yup," Varian nodded as he walked over to him. "Your girlfriend's fine, by the way. She's just undergoing a test to determine her hair's new properties." He glanced back at Cass. "Miss Cassandra, could you watch the machine? I need to check on another project I'm working on and grab the spectrometric press. It's the only way I can read the test results."
"Sure." Cass nodded, observing a stone being struck against Rapunzel's hair. "And Cass is fine, Varian."
"Wanna come, Mr. Rider?"
"'Mr. Rider?'" Eugene looked taken aback.
"Uh, yeah." He chuckled and hurried over to a dark green curtain, pulling on a tassel to reveal several books and a wanted poster of 'Flynn Rider.' "You are the great Flynn Rider, aren't you?"
"Hey now," Eugene smirked. "Flynn Rider, nice to be met."
"I used to see your wanted posters all the time. You're my hero," Varian grinned back. "Seeing you in fancy clothes really threw me for a loop."
"Well, 'hero' is a bit much," Eugene chuckled. "But it's 'Eugene' now."
"Varian." He gestured for him to follow. "Come on, l wanna show you something."
"Wait, but I should be with–"
"One person watching is enough for the test."
"Just go, Fitzherbert," Cass said.
"We'll be fine, Eugene," Rapunzel reassured him.
"Come on." Varian walked out the door, and Eugene sighed as he followed him.
As they stepped outside, Eugene hurried to catch up with Varian. "What do you need to check on?"
"It's a surprise," he grinned. "And a secret. Can you keep secrets, Mr. Rider?"
That caught the older man's attention, his eyes lighting up. "You want to tell me a secret?"
"Sure."
"Yeah!" Eugene nodded.
"Hope so. Because this is a big one." They walked to a storage shed, and Varian glanced around the shelves. "Let's see, where did I put the press… I know I put it in here, Flynn."
"Again, it's Eugene."
"Here it is!" Varian uncovered a small printing press before bending down to inspect it. "And once the tests are done, it'll print the results on parchment paper–"
"That's muy interesante, but I'd like to talk about what the Princess told you–" He was cut off when the ground started shaking before it stopped after a few minutes. "What was that?"
"I believe I promised you a secret…." He moved Eugene aside to open a trap door. Varian climbed the ladder, and Eugene followed him into an underground tunnel. "Now, if my dad knew I was down here, he'd kill me," the alchemist chuckled sheepishly as he led the way, holding a lantern. "Of course, if he knew what I was actually doing down here, he'd probably be impressed, or at least, I hope he'd be impressed. These tunnels run through my entire village, which makes them perfect for my project."
"What project?" Eugene couldn't help but ask.
Varian led him to a chamber containing a large machine, multiple pipes, and various glowing dials. A few familiar black rocks were scattered throughout the room. "This project." He gestured to the device.
Eugene gazed at it in awe before his interest faded. "I don't get it."
"Through the miracle of alchemy, not magic, I have found a way to heat this entire tank of water with a single drop of my newest yet-to-be-named compound." He walked over to a table and picked up a beaker filled with a green liquid. "I was thinking of calling it 'Flynnoleum,' after you."
"I still don't get it," Eugene repeated in confusion.
"I'm gonna surprise my village by bringing people hot, running water!" Varian chirped, gesturing to the machine that was releasing steam. "I've constructed five of these babies all throughout the caverns."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Eugene waved his hands, realizing a connection. "That— that tremor; your machines caused that?"
"No, it wasn't the machine," Varian assured him, taking a dropper from the beaker of Flynnoleum. "It's the reaction triggered by the machine's chemicals." He added a drop to a barrel of glowing liquid, which produced a short yet fiery explosion, causing him to lean back to avoid it.
"And no one else knows you're doing this?" Eugene asked as he walked over to him. "Okay, listen, kiddo, I'm no expert in… whatever this is, but anything that can cause earthquakes can't be safe."
"Don't worry, I'm keeping a close eye on the heaters," Varian said as he checked a gauge reading. "As long as it's closely monitored, everything should run smoothly."
"'Should?'"
"There are no definites in science."
"We've gotta warn people about this!" Eugene pointed to the machine, clearly not trusting it at all.
"No, we can't! Okay?!" Varian protested. "You gave me your word you'd keep it a secret! I'm keeping an eye on it, so let me handle it! Everything's perfectly fine!" Another tremor shook the ground as a bolt from the machine shot between Varian and Eugene, embedding itself in the wall. The older man looked at the alchemist with wide eyes. "It's fine." He brushed it off but glanced at the screw with a hint of worry.
(Back at the lab)
Rapunzel was still going through her tests as the table vibrated. "Only twelve more tests to go!" She glanced toward the birdhouse counter. It dinged to signal the end of the test, and the table stopped shaking, although she still shivered slightly. "Yaaaaaay..."
"We're baaaack!" Varian announced, arriving with the press in his arms as Eugene followed him. "Thank you for your patience, especially you, Princess. I know these tests aren't the fun-est thing in the world."
"Oh, no, it's been plenty fun!" Rapunzel laughed, waving it off. The machine suddenly shot electricity through her hair, causing Eugene, Cass, and Pascal to flinch. The chameleon's scales even changed color to match. "Okay, that wasn't fun." Rapunzel retracted, her hair a mess.
Varian set the press up by the machine, giving it a slight kick. "In a minute, this little guy will give us all the answers we need."
"Woohoo! Answers!" Rapunzel cheered.
Eugene looked a bit anxious, glancing nervously at the door. Cassandra noticed and walked over to him. "What's wrong?"
"I, uh… the kid's got… uh…." He cleared his throat. "Nothing, sorry, can't tell ya!" The ground shook as another earthquake struck, causing debris to tumble from the ceiling.
"Another earthquake?" Cassandra winced.
"They're becoming more frequent," Rapunzel said with concern as Varian looked up from the press. They heard a ding and turned to the countdown to see only eight tests remaining.
Eugene observed Varian's reaction and noticed that he was beginning to appear concerned. Good, at least the kid was taking the problem seriously.
Varian started feeling a knot in his stomach, the kind he experienced when danger loomed. He had just checked the heaters, but perhaps… Shifting slightly to stay out of sight, he pretended to check the press as he slipped off a glove. Focusing, he peered through the rocks he had placed in front of his machines, examining various dials for their readings. They were higher than they should be. What could have gone wrong? Slipping his glove back on, Varian got up and walked toward the door. "I need to double-check something. I'll be right back."
"What was that about?" Cass wondered aloud after Varian left.
Eugene glanced at the door before turning to the girls. "I'll go help him. Wait here for us, okay?" Without waiting for a response, the ex-thief dashed out the door after the younger male.
(With Varian)
Varian ran through the tunnels, his anxiety at an all-time high. When he reached the shed door, he removed his gloves and used moon orbs to light the way instead of grabbing a lantern. Upon reaching the first machine, he immediately knew something was wrong. The metal was turning red hot, and steam was pouring out everywhere. Looking through the rocks, he noticed that two other machines were in the same condition, and the last two were heading in that direction.
Varian wanted to fix this. He had worked so hard on these, but there wasn't time to work on all five, especially since he didn't know what was wrong. At this point, it was too late to shut them down manually, so he would have to destroy the machines and rebuild them later.
Varian held out his hands and focused on his magic. He visualized what needed to happen: His hair turned blue with a white stripe, and his eyes turned solid blue. The black rocks re-angled themselves so that they were pointed towards the devices. Thrusting his hands in a crossing motion, he stabbed through the instruments like spears, ending the tremors for good. Then he focused and drew them back into the ground like they were never there. Varian collapsed to his knees as his body ceased glowing, panting from the immense power he had just expended. Even though he was getting stronger, controlling the rocks still required effort.
"Well, back to the drawing board, I guess," he sighed, trying to catch his breath.
"What the heck…?" a stunned voice asked behind him, causing Varian to tense up. He slowly turned around to see Flynn Rider staring at him in shock.
He had seen that.
He had seen that.
Varian suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe, unaware of smaller rocks appearing around him in response to his distress. He could hear his heart pounding loudly, deafening in his ears. His vision began to blur as a hundred horrifying scenarios raced through his mind.
"Kid?"
Reacting to his panic, Varian scrambled away from the older man. His back hit one of the rocks, which had grown slightly taller. He clutched his head, unsure if he was trying to protect himself or get his powers to calm down.
"Hey, hey, Varian, it's okay," Eugene said, recognizing the signs of a panic attack. "It's okay. It's just me."
"Don't... Don't hurt me," he whimpered.
"No one's going to hurt you," Eugene assured him, kneeling in front of the rocks. "Varian, I need you to count with me, okay? Take a deep breath through your nose and count to seven. Then breathe out through your mouth and count to five."
Varian did his best to follow the instructions, and Eugene maintained a calm and even voice. Gradually, the teen alchemist began to uncurl as he relaxed. The rocks sank back into the ground, leaving holes in their wake. Eugene hesitantly scooted closer, trying not to scare the kid. "There you go. Now, do you want a hug, or do you want some space?"
Rather than answering, Varian launched himself at Eugene, wrapping his arms around him. Eugene returned the gesture, maintaining a comforting hold on the kid. "So, are you the...?" Eugene didn't finish the question. Only one person summoned black rocks like that.
"Don't tell anyone..."
"Hm?"
"Please, don't tell anyone about this," Varian begged, holding on tighter. "It's... not safe."
"The power's not safe or...?"
"It's not safe for anyone to know I have magic."
"Why not?"
"Flynn... Eugene, you didn't grow up here. You didn't see how bad things were while Rapunzel was gone."
"What do you mean?" Eugene asked, confused and concerned.
Varian sighed, pulling back to meet the man's gaze. "Eugene, Lady Caine's story isn't unique. The King went on a rampage, locking up more than just criminals. Orphans were arrested for stealing an apple because they were hungry. Some never left prison at all. People suspected of knowing magic disappeared and were never seen again. One of those people was a neighbor who practiced apothecary. She was in the middle of treating a patient when she was taken, and that patient died since she was our closest thing to a doctor at the time. My dad may be friends with the King, but I doubt that would be enough to protect me."
Eugene looked into Varian's eyes and saw the genuine fear within them. It was a stark contrast to the headstrong confidence he had seen earlier. "How long have you had your powers?"
"I think I was born with them, but I didn't discover my powers until I was eight. I became the Phantom at twelve."
"But if you know the danger, why do it?"
"Because someone had to stand up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. The laws no longer protected people, so… I did. And I still do." Varian took Eugene's hands, looking him directly in the eye. "Eugene, no one can know about this! Not Cass, not Rapunzel, no one! Rapunzel might be okay with it and keep my secret, but Cass is a member of the Royal Guard, and her dad is the captain! I don't want to believe she'd turn me in, but I can't take that chance! And I don't want to make Rapunzel lie to her best friend."
Eugene stared at Varian and then smiled, understanding. "You got it, kid. I won't tell a soul."
Varian breathed a sigh of relief, smiling back before hugging the older man again. "Thank you."
"No problem," Eugene replied, pulling Varian to his feet. "Now, we should get back to the girls before they come looking for us."
"Right." Varian nodded.
"Sorry about your machine, kid," Eugene said, placing a hand on his shoulder as they walked back down the tunnel. "I know that wasn't an easy decision for you."
"Well, at least everyone's safe," the alchemist admitted before changing the subject. "So, are you…?"
"Sorry, Goggles, but I'm not the same Flynn from the books," the older man replied. "But I am a fan of the series. Which story's your favorite?" Varian smiled as they headed up together, discussing the Flynn Rider books.
(Back at the lab)
The tremors had stopped, and the town had sustained minor damage. After the tests concluded, Cass assisted Rapunzel out of the machine just before the boys returned. Varian walked in, gloves back on, and offered Rapunzel a reassuring smile, though it seemed pained. "What happened?" she asked with concern.
"One of my inventions… malfunctioned. I had to shut it down." He sighed and glanced to the side. "At least the goo works…"
"What was it supposed to do?" Rapunzel asked as she walked over.
"Well…" He sighed. "It was meant to be a surprise, but I was trying to bring hot, running water to my village."
"Varian, that sounds wonderful!" she said encouragingly.
"Yeah, but something went wrong…." Varian sighed.
"Varian?"
He looked up as his father entered, looking concerned. "I heard there were tremors." Quirin moved closer and knelt to examine him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he assured him, glancing away. "It's… it's nothing. An invention of mine got… out of hand. I handled it without any trouble."
His father pursed his lips and sighed, placing his hands on Varian's shoulders. "You're alright, though?"
"Yeah, everyone's fine. No one's hurt," Varian assured him.
"That's not what I mean." His father sighed. "I mean…"
"I'm fine," he said again, then looked up at Rapunzel. "But good news: Rapunzel and Cass came to visit."
"It's nice to see you again, Sir Quirin," Rapunzel smiled politely.
"You too, Princess."
"Rapunzel, we should probably be getting back," Cassandra said. "It's getting late."
"Okay," Rapunzel nodded.
"Will you come by and visit again?" Varian asked.
She nodded and then headed out with Eugene and Cassandra. Eugene gave Varian a wink and took Rapunzel's hand as they left. Varian just smiled back and walked to the door to watch them go.
"Well," Quirin sighed, "I suppose I should see what damage those tremors caused. Varian, please take a break from alchemy for today?"
Varian nodded. "Alright." As he walked back to his lab, Varian reviewed the results they hadn't had a chance to examine. It was probably for the best. Eugene knew only his secret, not the one he shared with the girls.
As he read the parchment, he realized his suspicions were correct. Rapunzel's hair was identical to his hair stripe. If that wasn't a sign of their connection, he didn't know what was. Still, that didn't answer one question…
"What does it mean?" Varian murmured, gazing out the window at the sky.
(Meanwhile)
Eugene kept their conversation to himself as they rode back to the Capital, even though it bothered him. Varian mentioned things about people disappearing and orphans never leaving prison, which struck a chord with him. He understood that the King wanted to bring Rapunzel home and keep her safe, but targeting someone just because they knew magic? The thought of the kid being taken away by guards after seeing how terrified he looked made his stomach churn.
Eugene might not have been great with secrets (and he'd never admit it), but this was one secret he was determined to keep.
(Elsewhere)
Beyond the Corona walls, another black rock emerged from the earth…
Okay, I'll be right back with the next chapter, and we'll be caught up.