Chapter Text
“That’s enough, Varian!”
The voice of the blonde-haired Princess cut through the heavy air of battle. Automatrons wired with mechanical noise as they robotically faced off against the troops of Corona. In the midst of the chaos, the largest of them with distinct blood tinted windows turned towards the command. Thickly gloved hands clenched around the controls, levers, and buttons that allowed the machine to act as an extension and outlet of his own pent up anguish and rage. The machine with the strength to do what he could not, the brawn to his brains.
“It’s not enough!” His voice had a hint of an animalistic growl, usually large and wonder-filled blue eyes narrowed into slits overflowing with hatred. “Until you endure the same amount of pain and agony I have!”
There was no turning back, he wouldn’t turn his back as they did. The battle raged on around them, their standoff the eye of the hurricane. The pathetic promising Princess who had the entire kingdom fooled into her little facade. The solution and the cause of his plight. She had fooled everyone, but her deceptive kindness had cracked that night. Her true self had revealed and he alone could see who she really was. His eyes locked, the goal was clear. His jaw clenched back the hateful words he wished to spit at her, all the venom-filled sentences he fantasized saying. He wouldn’t be like her. Unlike her, he would put action behind his words, he would act, he would do something to make a difference.
Lunging forwards, the Automatron dropped to all fours and barreled across the landscape adorned with the jagged black rocks that wreaked havoc through Old Corona. The rocks that had torn his life into pieces. Not that anyone other than Varian cared. She didn’t care about anyone except herself, well he was about to destroy everything she had, everything she loved. It was only fair.
An odd sense of calm washed over Rapunzel as she descended the steps of the alchemist’s home. The bricks, worn from years of travel and tread, were cool under her bare feet. The rocks called out to her, tugging at something deep inside, a force that she didn’t understand herself. It was a calming call, a call for salvation. Green eyes met the red with rage ones charging towards her, a hand reached out. For a second, a thought crossed her mind. Maybe if she reached out for him all those nights ago things would be different. Maybe if she had given him something to hold on to, someone to hold onto, things would be different. Maybe she still could.
Cries of terror from her family and friends forcibly pulled her out of wishful thinking. No, it was too late, this was the price she must pay no matter the cost. It was only fair.
Fingers pressed against the smooth inky black surface, only for it to seemingly come alive with a criss-cross pattern of electric blue. Power flowed through her body, consuming her mind and reducing her to a mere vessel with one goal, not too different from the creations of the Alchemist that she was defending against. In orderly but rapid succession, the sharpened rocks jetted out of the terrain under the command of some force greater than the girl with golden hair. She cried out in sheer agony as the searing pain of thousands of years’ worth of power overtook her. A loud screeching of metal, then another, then another as the automaton was ripped limb by limb.
The final finishing blow through the heart.
“NO!”
Two grief-stricken cries cut through the air. One from the villainous alchemist as his creations fell apart once again like they always did. The other came from the battlefield, the field ominously quiet as metal ruins lay pierced with the rocks. A lone figure broke the frozen atmosphere, desperately running with arms outstretched for the one person out of his grasp. All eyes gradually drifted towards the center of the landscape.
Back arched and bare feet pointed towards the ground in the middle of a mess of brunette hair, their savior, their Princess, his love laid defeated by the object she desperately used to protect them. Her arms hung limply at her side, mouth slightly agape. A large spike shot its way through her chest, holding her suspended above the earth. Her pose was as if her soul was lurching out of her chest towards the sky, leaving nothing but a hollow body behind. But her eyes, her eyes bore their way into Eugene’s mind. Stretched open in timeless terror, was it possible that she knew what would happen? Did she know the risk?
“S-sunshine!”
His boots skidded slightly in the dirt, shaky hand cupped cold freckled skin that used to bring him so much warmth. Used to have so much life. Her eyes, he hadn’t seen so much terror in her eyes since the day he nearly lost her forever. Now he was the one losing her, and they were both without magical hair to restore a life that slipped away. The tears that fell upon her cheeks were not blessed with healing powers. The dream was gone.
Varian winced as a grief-filled scream cut through the air, cupping his ears as his shaky legs made a dash towards his workshop. Maybe there was still a chance, maybe he could still find a way. He could talk, he could negotiate. His life for his father’s. This wasn’t an attempt to run, to sneak through the cracks, and avoid punishment. Varian was well aware of what he had signed up for, he just wanted to see his father one last time before… before he’d never see the world beyond the walls of a prison cell again.
Boots skipped up the cracked stones, the door already ajar. Faint yellow light sent jagged reflections across the wall. Varian stood in the shadow of the man who raised him, who fell because of him. The actions leading up to that moment felt all too familiar, all that was missing was a backdrop of snow and wind.
“Dad I-“ His voice shook, how could he defend himself this time? “I’m sorry. But at- but at least when you’re free, you’ll never have to see me again. You never said it but, I knew how much you wanted that.”
A final shaky breath as he turned to finish his journey on the path he chose, the path of hate had a bitter end. Though, just as he was about to complete the final few steps towards fate, a different sort of golden light caught his attention.
“Impossible.”
A breathy gasp of wonder left his body as the golden glow of the legendary Sundrop Flower gained strength. The glittery petals reformed from the air and regained their unwilted appearance, the stem extended and the flower itself almost floated as it stood upright on the wooden surface. His awe was cut off as footsteps thundered behind him.
“There he is!” Eugene’s voice, hoarse from screaming in agony, ordered fiercely. An accusing finger pointing at the disheveled boy. Guards in golden armor hurried into the room, following the command as they harshly grabbed him by the wrists and shoulders. Varian didn’t expect himself to protest, he hadn’t planned on it. But this was different. This was hope.
“Wa-wait! Wait! Please wait!” He cried and squirmed and somehow managed to squeeze through the squadron of guards towards him. The man he once looked at with infatuation. A hero who used to look at him with the same gaze of an older brother, now his eyes were cold and furious. Varian knew the feeling. “Eugene please, just listen.”
“Why should I! Look at what you’ve done!” Even Eugene didn’t expect such harshness and rage in his tone, looking down at the hand he used to gesture he saw it shaking. Varian had winced and stepped back at the harsh moment, unable to hide his fear. The man’s voice shook like his hand, unable to contain his grief as the sound tore through the air. “You- this is all your fault! You took her from me!”
He lunged forwards, he was going to tear this kid to pieces like his Automatrons. He was going to meet the same fate as his creations. It was only fair. White gloved hands held him back, all pointing to the miraculous flower on the work table. The flower he stole.
“Eugene, please! Please! I can fix this! I can- I can bring her back!” What was he saying? How could he bring her back when he couldn’t even undo his own experiment? When he couldn’t even bring his father back?
“What are you saying, kid?” The past affectionate nickname held so much malice that Varian winced just at the tone.
“Rap- the Princess was the embodiment of the Sundrop, r-right?” His words fumbled over each other as his hand rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. He was backed into a corner, physically and metaphorically. And talking would be his only way out. “An-and whatever force is calling her is a force of equal power. Well, we have the Sundrop’s power here.” He gestured to the plant. “It must have returned to its original earthy form after- after.” He couldn’t say it.
“After she died protecting us from you.” The man growled, finishing his implication. Varian could only nod in response. Taking a breath, Eugene straightened and the guards took their hands off of him. Varian bit back a feeling of fear as Eugene’s eyes narrowed in icy cold calculation. “This opposite force. Can it bring her back?”
“Well I mean- I don’t really have any informati- but theoretically-“
He was interrupted by Eugene’s fist meeting the stone wall, posture slouched slightly. Varian noticed the grime, the sweat, and dirt from battle, with tear carved streaks along his cheeks.
“Can it bring her back, Hairstripe?! Answer me!”
“Y-yes! Yes, it can. It can bring her back!” Varian sputtered out in desperation. Oh god, what was he saying? What was he thinking? The truth, he wasn’t.
“Send him to prison and prepare me a caravan,” Eugene growled, turning around to leave the accursed home before a plea caused him to stop in his tracks.
“Wait! Wait! Eugene, you need me! I-I’m the only one who knows enough about the Sundrop to bring her back. Any- any error and she could be gone for good. I can- I can help!”
“You’ve helped enough! Do you honestly think I want your help?!” He gestured to the large growth of translucent yellow rock in the center of the room. “This is what happens when you try to help!”
Varian gulped and bit back a sob, he was right. Of course, he was. Everywhere the young boy went, tragedy followed him like a shadow. Putting on a cracked mask, a brave face, he gulped. Nothing to lose.
“Well, how do you plan to bring her back, huh? You don’t know anything about this- this force or alchemy at all! You wouldn’t have even thought of bringing her back if it weren’t for me!”
Varian watched as the man stiffened, he knew that pose. That reluctant shift in stance as they processed what he said. He had seen it all too often. Eugene turned and motioned for the guard, taking two pairs of handcuffs from one of them. Varian felt a shiver run up his spine.
“Take care of the wounded and prepare me a caravan with enough supplies for a two-person journey.” The guards nodded and left with the sound of metal clanging together. Varian shrank as a shadow loomed over him. Eugene roughly grabbed his wrists and pulled him closer to tighten the heavy metal cuffs. His movements were jerky, restraining his limbs from forcibly squeezing out what little life was left in the boy. He then knelt onto the dusty floor to secure another pair of shackles to the boy’s ankles.
“In case you get any ideas about running.” His voice was a low growl, Varian nodded and shrank against the wall. “Stay here. You move one inch,” hands grabbed the collar of his shirt and lifted him off the ground, face to face. “I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done. Then and there.”
With that, the boy was dropped into a heap and curled up on to his side in despair. What had he gotten himself into? Shaking, he closed his eyes. Maybe this was all a terrible nightmare, a very long dream. No. The dream was gone.
Defeated but moving forwards with a new purpose, Eugene approached his companions who had been anxiously hovering by the door. Cassandra, who was finally given a chance to prove her worth to everyone around her, including herself. Lance, whose heart and loyalty wouldn't stray even when he had all he could ever want in Corona. Eugene couldn't ask them to go on this fool’s journey and leave behind all that they knew, all that they had.
“Cass- Lance I-“ Cassandra held up a hand and cut him off, and for once, Eugene allowed it.
“I have a feeling my father will need some help with the royal guard here Fitzherbert.” Her eyes looked down at the ground before she reached out and gently punched his shoulder. “Do what you gotta do for her.”
With a final smile, the woman turned to help organize the troops, at last, she was in the position she knew she was meant for.
“Buddy, I-“
“Lance I have to do this alone, I can’t ask you to leave all this behind.” Eugene reasoned and watched his friend deflate slightly, but give him a soft smile.
“I was just going to wish you good luck, bud.” His hand rested on Eugene’s upper arm and for a second, it felt like everything could be okay. Eugene’s lips tugged into a smile as his hand reached across and rested upon the same spot.
“Now don‘t miss me too much, you hear me? Blondie and I will be back before you know it.” His heart yearned to believe the words coming out of his mouth, maybe if he believed it wouldn’t hurt so badly. Maybe if he had, if he had faith. But all his faith was in Rapunzel. All his faith was gone.
The guards were quick to bring him the caravan with two horses, Max and Fidella, ready to take them down the path ahead. Eugene roughly pushed the boy into the seat, his other hand clutching a jar with his Sunshine inside. He guarded the jar carefully, this was his last chance. Farewells were hasty, it was too difficult to keep up the illusion of hope. Rapunzel was always the hopeful one, the optimistic one, the light.
The boy hugged his knees to his chest as he sat upon the wooden seat, brown leather backpack beside him. He tried to take up as little space as possible, cramming his limbs into himself. Eyes stared straight ahead, once filled with fiery emotion now dull. A shiver ran up his spine as he remembered being escorted past the body as it was taken away by the guards. Ignoring the jeers from the crowd, well deserving shouts of belittlement, he ducked his head down. Maybe if he tried hard enough, he could disappear into himself and the black pit of a heart he now had. The caravan creaked slightly as the man sat down next to him, placing the jarred specimen on the side away from Varian.
“I’ll find a way to bring her back! I promise!” Eugene called out to the crowd, his voice breaking ever so slightly. Eyes diverted from the looks of anguish and hope, flicking the reins.
The caravan’s wheels turned with the steady tread of the horses, and as they started on their journey down the path paved in black, the sun started to rise.