Chapter Text
Varian carried a box filled with vials and metal scraps that he have bought from his trip from Corona. With a project in mind for him as he walks back to Old Corona.
It been days since he first met Rapunzel, Cassandra and Eugene, which he still thinks it’s Flynn Rider, his hero of his favorite story, when they came to discover the secret behind Rapunzel’s long hair. He keeps hearing others saying that her hair is magic, but he moves those tumors aside, telling himself that magic doesn’t exist. After all, it was just a silly thing adults tell for their kids during bedtime, he’s too old to believe in fairy tales.
Once he entered the village line, he feels like he is getting angry glares at the villagers. But of course it is his fault for almost destroying his home, just for trying to invite a heat complaints to create hot water but it went haywire when the tremors start coming out of control and blowing land and buildings up. He just wanted to help his home, make a great use for himself, to make his father proud of him. But it seems that nothing he ever did can be a great use, he feels so alone with no one to see him as a wonderful guy with a great mind, but he does have his raccoon friend Rudiger, but he’s only a animal.
Varian stopped on his track, standing in a path between an open field and the way to his house. He let out a sigh. “Sometimes I wish I had at least a friend to talk to.” He mumbled to himself. He looks down at the ground, with a sad look on his face.
He pulls his head up and continued walking home. He walked past a group of villagers that look crowded, before he can make it home..
“I lose my way, no ones cares. The words I say, no one hears.” he hear what sound like...singing, a beautiful singing. He stopped on his track, then turn his head at the crowded villagers where the source of the singing is.
“My life it seems, Is a world of dreams.” He farrow his eyebrows down, staring at the villagers while he listen to the singing. “Deep in the night, you’ll find me.” The voice sings. “Dream and you’re right behind me. Stay, if you will stay.”
Varian’s curiosity got the best of him, wondering who is singing so lovely. He make his way to the crowd, walking past them. “We’ll dream the night away.” The voice sing loud. When Varian made it to the center and what he saw, the box he was carrying dropped and fell on the ground.
In the center, is what he see as a vision of beauty. It was a teenager girl, in his age too. Her skin is a pale peach color with a rosy color dusted on her cheeks, her eyes are pale blue but to him they look like crystals, her lips is pale pink that look so soft and kissable, her hair, is short brown but she have blues bangs that sweep on her right face. She wear a off shoulder tunic with a brown waist corset, a brown belt, blue pants that look baggy, boots with ropes wrap on them and wear a lapis lazuli necklace.
The girl sing as she dance with a little baby swan who run around her. “Dreams to dream, in the dark of the night. When the world goes wrong, I can still make it right. I can see so far in my dreams. I’ll follow my dreams. Until they come true.” She smile bright.
Varian watch her, in trance. He never seen someone as lovely as her, her voice is enchanting too. His eyes are widen, letting out a breathless gasp. Why is he feeling like this? He never felt like that to Cassandra.
“There is a star waiting to guide us. Shining inside us, when we close our eyes!” She sing into the sky, dancing with a tambourine in her hand. She spun around like a ballerina. “Come with me, you will see what I mean. There’s a world inside, no one else ever sees. You will go so far in my dreams. Somewhere in my dreams. Your dreams will come true.” She walk gracefully around the baby swan with a smile. She then pick up the swan and let it dance around on her arms, she let out a laugh, feeling ticklish.
Varian think he feel lightheaded and feel sick in the stomach when he heard her laugh. Her laugh is like a flutter of butterflies on his ears flapping near his ears. He don’t know why, but he somehow forgotten all reason and sense, only at her. “Sweet alchemy…a beautiful angel..” He whisper to himself.
The swan jumped off the girl arms, flapping it little wings as it landed on it’s feather bum. The girl spin around and dance as she sing her final verse, one that almost all of Old Corona can hear.
“Don’t let go, if you stay close to me. In my dreams tonight, you will see what I see. Dreams to dream, as near as can be.” She spun one last time, singing. “Inside you and me, that always come true.” Then she stop dancing and stood still, still singing her song. “Inside you and me, that always come true!” She and the swan all bow before the villager surrounding them, ending their performance.
A loud round of applause is heard as they throw coins at them for a great perform. After all, it’s not everyday that a performer would entertain for a small village.
The girl get up from her bowing, once she see the coins on the ground and the villager throw them at her, she just smile and geniuses them with a wave of her hand. “Please, no need for that.” She announced. “Just hearing you all love my songs is rewardful enough.” She smile at them.
The villagers all clap at her one last time before leaving and finishing their land work. The girl pick up the swan and place it on top of her head, then she turn around and start walking away and to Corona.
Standing still in his place, Varian stood still like a statue, watching the girl walk away from Old Corona. After a while as watching her walk from sight, his face pull a goofy, lovestruck smile, eyes half-lidded with hearts on them, a blush on his face and the feeling of his heart beating so fast he can’t breathe. He never really feel this on anyone other than Cassandra, but this feeling is so new to him, and it feel like heaven to him. He have become truly smitten with this girl.
~*~
The next day, after the girl performance, things were back to normal, almost normal. Varian can’t stop thinking about the girl and can’t stop hearing her singing voice in his dreams, he can’t even look at his father, Qurin, in the face when he is talking to him. He just feel like he is floating on air each time he think about her, not even alchemy can get his mind off of her.
In the morning, Qurin told Varian that he will in the field helping the farmers with the crops. When he left, Varian start working on a new formula that can help make the crops grow faster in time for harvent. A few drop in a chemical, and he waited for the results. For a few seconds, nothing.
Outside of Varian’s house, a loud explosion is heard. Varian open the door as he run out and cough while smoke comes out from the windows and doors. Rudiger come out from the window and cough as well. Seems he put too much on his work and cause a backfire reaction. Varian pull up his goggles and rub the smudge off his face, right when the smoke have clear out by the air blowing it away. Varian is glad Quirin is not home to see this or he can be in big trouble again.
The sound of singing filled the area. Varian let out a huge smile, knowing who is singing. It can only be the same girl from yesterday. “It’s her,” He said. “My angel.”
He run off to the source, leaving his home behind. Rudiger follow him, it been yesterday and he is already head over heels for this girl.
He look for her everywhere on the village, till he find a crowd of villagers circling around the singing voice and watch. Varian try to jump up to get a better look, but they are taller than him. He thought of pushing through to watch. He walk in, but they are locked tight, keeping him from going through.
He let out a groan of defect, seeing there is no chance to watch her with the villagers all pile up. when he spot a tree on a small hill. He let out a grin and run to it. This is the perfect place to get a great view of the singer of his dreams.
He climb up the tree, it took a few push and pull, but he made it and by a branch tree. He climb there till his get a good view. He watch above the other villagers.
Below him, the girl sings as she dance with her tambourine and the swan. She sing in a language he didn’t know of, but her voice is angelic as she is. She spin around with the swan as the two dance. He watch her as he place his cheek against his fist, have a goofy smile on his face and his eyes have hearts on them, only on hers alone.
A few hours later, the villagers all leave to go back to work and the girl walk up the hill and sat by the tree, which is the same tree Varian is in. Her song was a success as she hoped, it was a nice little town to perform her songs and the villagers, they love her song and her voice too.
Varian look down at her with a smitten look and let out a dreamy sigh. He don’t know why he is feeling like this, he only saw her yesterday and yet he is truly head over heels for her. Maybe it was because she look like a angel, even her voice is like one too. Or it was because he never met another girl around his age before, and was just sere hormones. He just stare at her like a lovestruck fool.
Suddenly, the branch he hang on let out a crack sound. Then let out another and another till the branch start leaning down. It snap him out of his love trance and turn to see the branch is starting to break. He let out a gulp as he hang on tight while the branch begin to break and finally break off and fell with him as he scream.
The girl hear his scream and look up to see the branch and Varian falling on her and landed on her too. Scatter leaves fell from the tree and floated down on the two. The girl get up with leaves on her hair and clothes. Varian get up with leaves on him too. He rub his head from the pain of falling down and let out a groan.
The girl glare at him. “The heck?!” She yell at him. “What were you doing up there?!” She look mad as she glared down at him.
Varian look at her, as she stare at him with a mad look. “A-Ah!” He jumped in panic at the sight of her. Oh great, she must think he’s a stalker and may never want to see him ever again. “I’m sorry!” He stuttered. “Y-You s-see...I-I-I-I-I-I-I..I was watching you c-c-cause y-you’re...you’re..you’re tal-tal..cause you’re gorge-I mean beautiful- I-I-I mean..” He try to come up with an excuse.
She cut him off with a hand. “Okay, that’s enough.” She told him with a calm look. “I just want to know why you’re up in that tree.” She pointed up from where he fell as she look at him with an expressionless face. “No need to acted all flustered.” She comment.
Varian’s face turn all red and sweating. “Fl-Flustered?!” He yell out in panic. “I-I-I-I-”
“Relex, I was just kidding.” She smile at him as she let out a chuckle. “You’re so funny.” She smile at him with a calming look.
Varian face went full red by this, he never know she have a easy-going personality. She stand up while brushing he leaves off of her. He pull out his hand for her to grab. She grab it and help him up with a smile still in her face. He can feel his hearing going stir crazy at the sight of her. He stand up and brush the leaves off of him as well.
She look at him, arms crossed and smirking. “So, you were watching me?” She question him.
He look away with his face still red. “I-I-I uh-uh-I..” He can’t come up with what to say to her without looking like a fool to her.
“Not in a creepy way?” She added with a raise eyebrow. And that really get him nervous. He wasn’t watching her in a stalker way, only to watch her sing and dance cause he can’t get past the villagers.
“Uh-uh…” He stammer, not looking at her face. Afraid of what he might say to give her the wrong idea.
Then, she laughed. A hardy laugh. He look at her and see her laughing while holding her stomach. She look to face him. “Relex, I’m not gonna punch you for watching me sing.” She told him with a huge smile on her face. “ I appreciate you liking my singing.” She pull out her hand to him. “I’m Judy Pot.” She introduce herself.
He feel shaky at first. Judy, it mean “Praised One” in Hebrew, a perfect name for her, cause her voice and personality is something to admire. She is like a praise angel that only the lord is willing to have as his star. He snap out of his thought, steady himself and shook her hand. “I’m Varian.” He replied.
“Varian?” Judy ask in interest. “Like it, very handsome too.” She let out a smile at him. It is a handsome name indeed, Judy kinda like it too.
And that make his whole face turn red and sweating up a storm. “H-Ha-Ha-Handsome?” He ask with a nervous chuckle. Never in his life have a girl say his name is handsome, and to hear it from her is like it’s enough to sent his heart exploding like a chemical reaction.
Judy let out a loud laugh at this, he is so easy to mess with. “You sure get flustered easily!!” She laughed in her sentence. “I like you!!” She playfully punch him on the shoulder as she laugh still. This guy is pretty funny in her books.
Varian let out a nervous laugh of this as he rub his punch shoulder. She sure is something special he thought to himself. He look down with a blush. The awkward silence between the two have grown quiet between them, neither one of them have any to say to each other.
Then Rudiger climb on Varian’s shoulder and rest there. Judy see Rudiger and let out a sequel, it caught Varian and Rudiger attention on her. “What a cute raccoon!!” Judy look at Rudiger who is still on Varian’s shoulder. “Is his your pet?!” She ask him as she stare at Rudiger still.
He look at the raccoon hanging on his shoulder. “Rudiger?” He asked. “Uh..maybe?” He look unsure of the question. He never consider Rudiger as his pet, cause mostly cause he and Quirin have a rodent problem and Rudiger tend to sneak in his house. So he just let Rudiger come in his lab and hang out with him as long his dad doesn't know.
Judy grab Rudiger and look at him close. Rudiger tilt his head at Judy in confusion, wondering what is she gonna do to him. Judy pet him on the head, feeling his fur. “He is so cute!” Judy appealed. She nuzzle her face against his. “And so soft too!”
“You like him? He question her in interest.
Judy look at Varian. “Raccoons are my favorite animal in the whole world!!” She exclaimed. “So cute with their mask and stripe furry tail!” She smile big. Then they hear the sound of a swan quacking. Judy look down and see the baby swan quacking at her. Judy smile at the swan as she put Rudiger down to pick the swan up on her hand. “Don’t be so jealous Odette.” She said to the swan, who name is Odette. “You’ll always be my best friend, it’s never gonna change.” Odette quack at her happily as Judy let out a laugh and nuzzle against her swan friend who nuzzle back.
As Rudiger climb on a tree, far from Judy, Varian stood still with a nervous smile and eyes on Judy as she and Odette laugh happily. She is something he thought to himself again. He never met a girl who have a animal companion and have a love of enjoying life, he wonder if she is like a second Rapunzel. Then again, he never met her before at Corona, so she must be new around here. Maybe he can show her around and help her get familiar around the kingdom.
Judy stop at her moment and look at Varian. He stood straight with a nervous look on his face. She look him over from head to toe, taking in the detail of him. Her face form a scrunch look and it’s making him very uncomfortable.
“What are you?” She ask him. “A mad scientist or something?”
“N-No. I’m a alchemist, not a scientist.” He explain to her.
Judy raise an eyebrow at this, looking interest of this. “Alchemist?” She added. “You do alchemy?” She ask him.
“Y-Yeah.” Varian responded. “Heard of it?” He ask her in question.
Judy nodded. “Yeah, read it from one of the books I use to read.” She confirmed. “It’s like the magic stuff people get confused with but it’s just fancy chemical trick. I find it pretty cool and very creative as well.” She finish with her eyes down on the ground. “Not very popular around these parts.”
And that have caught his attention. She think alchemy is cool? Where have she been all his life?! Finally, someone who like alchemy like him! Best day ever!! They can make great formula together, help make invention to help others, be a great team and maybe be lovers too! Okay, past the lovers till the end, but still can be perfect team together.
“W-Would you like to see one in action?” He ask her. He hope once she see his work, she be so impressed with him and think he’s cool as well. Maybe he’s over thinking this due to teenage hormones. I mean, it’s not every day a pretty girl have the same interest as you.
Judy look at him, staring at him in the eyes. “Can you really do that?” She ask him. Taking interest in this.
Varian let out the biggest grin he ever grin at her and act all mighty. “You’re asking the right guy my dear!” He jested with his hand on his chest. Then he reach out through his apron pocket. “Be amazed with the power of alchemy!!” He said.
He pull out small marbles in color of blue. Judy gapped in awed. Varian spot a empty field behind the tree they stand before and throw them there. It explode in a smoke of blue and outcomes small fireworks as it explode in the sky. Judy let out a laugh and a hoot as she clapped.
“That was so awesome!!” Judy laughed as she clapped. “You’re so talented!!”
“Why thank you.” He grinned at her. She look so impressed of this. Finally, someone who love his flies of work, and a real pretty one too.
Judy turn to him. “Think you can show me more?!” She asked him. “I want to see how you do it!” She look really impressed of him.
Varian let out a huge smile at her. But before he can answer her back, they hear a voice calling out Varian’s name. Varian groan at this, it’s his father, he came back from his work and is asking for Varian. He turn to Judy who is waiting for his answer. “It’s my dad.” He told her.
“Your dad?” Judy ask him. She could hear him.
They can hear Quirin calling out to Varian again, they hear say something about supper. The sun is going down and it is getting late too, which means it’s time for Varian to leave and go home. And just when he was about to answer Judy’s demands to see his alchemy works, and having a real friend or lover too. Wait, lover? They only met and he is acting like a fool to her at start. But he can't keep his father waiting.
He grab Rudiger and turn to Judy. “I got to go.” He said. “It’s great seeing you face to face.” He really mean it. Meeting her face to face have be an opportunity he been waiting for.
Judy put on a smile at him. “Same here, I think I better go or mom and pap will send the band to come get me.” She pick up Odette and set her on the top of Judy’s head, grab her tambourine and hold it. She turn to face him with that smile of hers. “Maybe tomorrow I can come by and see you work on your alchemy?” She ask him.
Varian is taken back by this. “O-Oh!” He nodded at her. “A-Absotutely!” He answered her.
“Great!” Judy grinned. “It’s date.” She said to him.
And that make Varian face lift up like a candle on his face. “D-D-D-Date!?” He yelped in surprised. She was saying this is a date, he don’t think he can make till tomorrow with her.
Judy let out a loud laugh at this. She was laughing so hard, she can feel her side ribs cramping. “I’m just kidding!!” She laughed more till she finally calm down. She let out a relief sigh and a chuckle. She turn her body away from him to walk away, but she turn her head to face him before walking away. “You know, you’re kinda cute.” With that, she left Old Corona and head back to Corona.
Varian stood still as statue with her words running in his mind while holding Rudiger in his arms. She call him cute, she, call, him, cute. Rudiger pet a paw on Varian’s face, lighting slapping his cheek. Then, his face grow a grin. “She...She said I'm cute...She said I’m cute.” He repeat his words, still playing on his mind. A really cute girl call him cute.
Suddenly, he pull Rudiger out and spin around with him in a manner of a lovestruck teenager that he is. Rudiger held on to Varian as he is spin around with him. “She said I’m cute!!” He let out a laugh. He stopped spinning around, drop Rudgier and dance around. Rudiger watch him making a fool of himself because of a girl. “She said I’m cute, I am so darn cute!” He singed while dancing.
Again he hear his father call his name again, breaking him out of his joy manner. He almost forgot about his father while he is acting happy. “Coming dad!!” He yell back, and start running back home with Rudiger following him.
Today have gotten really interesting.
~*~
Corona Inn, it’s a nice cozy place for traveler. But it’s not very popular for many to stop here, that is till the Pot’s family find it the perfect place to rest. Inside the inn, with tables, chairs, a sofa, a fireplace, a cabinet with papers, drinks and utensil for cooking. Even have rooms for a family. Not much to others, but it have a nice cultures to the family staying there.
Sitting on the sofa and chairs, are a group of six. On the sofa is a couple, a woman and man. The woman is a fair skin like Judy and light blue eyes like her too, but have short blonde hair. She is dressed in a blouse with a brown corset vest, a dirty green skirt and brown flat shoes and wear a cross necklace. Next to her is her husband, he have fair skin with deep blue eyes, blue hair that look like Judy’s bangs, wear a blues with a brown vest, blue pants and brown boots. These two must be Judy’s parents.
Sitting on the chairs by the table, four people left, two man and two woman. The man have a tan skin, black sick hair and brown eyes. He wear a blues with a red jacket, brown pants with black boots and black gloves on. The woman next to him have fair skin, brown hair and brown eyes, dressed in a orange dress with a collar, black boots and a belt to hold her dress. Next to them is a tall black skin man, bald with brown eyes, green blouse with a belt to hold it, blue pants and black boots. Next to him is a Asian woman with light skin, green eyes and long black hair, dressed in a off shoulder blouse in light green, a belt to hold it, green skirt and black flat shoes. They must be their friends as a band.
They all are talking and discuss about the plans while staying here. Then the door of the inn opened and in came Judy with Odette. “Hey mom, pap!” She greeted to them.
The grown ups turn to face her. “Judy!” Her mother said. She stand up and hug Judy. “How was Old Corona?” She ask her.
Judy hug her back. “It’s great there.” She said. She back away from her mother and hug her father as he hug her. Then she walk the rest. “Uncle Randol.” She kiss his forehead, he smile at her. She move to the woman next to him. “Aunt Naoto.” She hug her, which Naoto hug her. She move to the rest. “Aunt Sera.” She hug her too, Sera hug her with a smile. Then to the last. “Uncle Murlock.” She kissed his forehead. He laughed at her.
“How’s my songbird?” Murlock ask her, he rub her in the head, Judy let out a giggle.
“Old Corona is great there.” Judy said. “Nice people there too. You should have seen me, they love my songs!” Judy exclaimed. She look so happy of it too. Finally a place where she can perform her music, not too small and not too big too. The perfect place where nice people are.
Sera chuckled. “How wonderful.” She added. “Anything new have happened too?” She ask her. The grown ups look at Judy, as if asking her the same question too.
“Not really, but I met someone who live there.” She answered to them. “A boy-”
“A boy?” Her father implored. His daughter met a boy there?
“Stuart.” His wife testified.
“What Scarlett?” Stuart is taken back by his wife. Scarlett roll her eyes at her husband, he can be such a father sometimes at Judy, but he is her father after all. Stuart let out a sighed at this. He look at Judy.”So, who is this boy?” He ask her.
Judy sit by Sera and Murlock. “His name is Varian.” She answers. “He’s a alchemist that do cool alchemy, he got a raccoon as a pet and lived with his dad too.” She is smiling at this. “I’m meeting him tomorrow and see him do his work! It’s gonna be cool!!” She is jumping on her sit. Sera and Murlock are laughing at her enthusiasm.
“He sound like a sweet boy.” Naoto said, seeing that her niece look excited to go back tomorrow.
“Yeah.” Judy said to her. “He’s a funny, sweet and cute guy.” She is smiling to herself at this.
Murlock raise an eyebrow at her when she said the last word. “Cute?” He repeated. “You think this boy is cute?” He know her father should be the one to be a overprotive father, but he is her favorite person to talk to when she don’t know who to talk with other than her swan friend.
Judy let out a blush when he ask her. She try to come up with an excuse to cover it. “I mean,..yeah he is handsome in some eyes.” She look away. “But we only met, and I don’t know him that well.” She said. She did only meet him, and she don’t know him so well. And beside, she’s s traveler, she have no time for romance when she have to be there for her family.
They laugh at her shyness, and that make her blush more. She get up from her seat in is quick paste. “I..I better get to bed now! Night!” She walk away from them fast.
“And without dinner?” Sera hold a bowl of beef stew, Judy’s favorite food. Judy grab the bowl and rush to her room where she is staying with Odette while her family have own of two. They watch her run upstairs till she is out of sight.
Scarlett turn to her friends and husband. “An alchemist?” She look in interest. “Sound pretty dangerous.” She said, in concern for her daughter safety. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for her to go there on her own?”
“Judy is fourteen Scar.” Sera said. “Sooner or later, she will have to be on her own if she want to have a future. We can’t keep locking her up forever.” She added to that.
“I know Sera.” Scarlett protested. “But ever since she hit her head when she was ten, I can’t risk losing my only child too.”
Stuart grab her hand and hold it tight with their finger entwined. “Me too.” He said, looking at her. He know this feeling, it been four years since it happened.
With Judy, she eat her meal on a small desk by her bed. Her room is small, with a bed by the window, a desk with a chair, bookshelves with books to read, a small sink and a closet with her clothes and bags there. Odette sat on the bed while watching Judy eat her meal. Judy finish her meal, get up and flopped on the bed that made Odette jumped and fall back. Judy stare at the ceiling, thinking back of meeting Varian and him only. He is a sweet guy, she did make him flustered and stutter, but she find it pretty cute she can’t help to giggle at his cuteness. Odette walk to Judy as they not lay on the bed while staring up.
Odette nuzzle against Judy’s face. She look at Odette and smiled. “Looks like we have a new friend here, a real friend.” She said, turning her gaze at the ceiling, tomorrow will be a new day with her new friend.