Chapter Text
Corona.
The light kingdom.
The final stop on this 15-month long journey.
Hugo had never been to Corona, only hearing about it in stories from Varian or
Donella
his former boss. Something about stones and ancient demons and a princess with 70 feet of long, blonde hair.
Needless to say, Hugo wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when they got to the kingdom.
Varian had grown excited for WEEKS at the mere prospect of coming back to his home. After that… erm,
incident
with
Donella
Ulla’s ex-research partner a few weeks ago, Varian had been determined to get to the kingdom of Light and lanterns and all that preachy shit before her, no matter how much Nuru pressured him into resting and taking it one day at a time.
Varian, taking it one day at a time? Please, you’d be more likely to get his hairstripe to turn into a snake than have THAT happen.
The small alchemist had been ranting and raving about everything he wanted to do when he got back home, mentioning his pseudo-sister’s up and coming 23rd birthday only a billion times, his dad, and all of his friends (Hugo doesn’t really think he’s friends with the captain of the guard though - he probably only said that to make sure Hugo doesn’t snatch up all the riches) that he had left behind when he started this journey to get the totems.
Hugo knew full well that Varian coming back home was a full-circle experience, the end of a heroic tale, and as such was DETERMINED to make sure that his return home was nothing short of wonderful. They meet Varian’s family, get the final totem, make the portal, go in the library, gain eternal knowledge, badabing badaboom game over. The only caveat was
Donella
the people who wanted to stop them, but considering that the ragtag group of 5 ½ (Olivia, Ruddiger, and Prometheus each counted as a half, according to Yong, who had gotten VERY upset when Hugo once tried to imply there was only four of them) had managed to evade the worst of her anger so far, the group was feeling rather confident.
Or rather, 4 ½ of the group was feeling confident.
Hugo hadn’t exactly told everyone about his past with
Donella
Ulla’s ex-research partner yet, on the account that it wasn’t really “past” until a month ago. After that incident in his home kingdom Ingvarr, he finally managed to stand up for himself and tell her that he was DONE, he found a group of people that made him happy that could be his family. Sure, they may get rather mad once they figure out that he had secretly been planning to betray them for 14 months, but hey, what’s 14 months of lies between friends?
...uh oh.
---
With each minute of travel that they got closer and closer to the castle, Varian felt his excitement grow.
It kept growing as they passed by Old Corona, with a few of Varian’s ex-neighbors glaring at the slow-moving wagon. (He wasn’t exactly forgiven by the citizens of Old Corona for his past with the kingdom and village, attempting to overthrow the monarchy and accidentally causing explosions left and right tends to create some bad blood)
It kept growing as they rode along the bridge, wanted posters flowing against the railings as the faces of criminals loomed up at them.
It kept growing as they went through the main arch of the city, the streets overflowing with people and flags of purple and gold, a clear sign that Prometheus wouldn’t be able to walk through the packed crowds without getting them all arrested for vehicular manslaughter.
He was so excited by the time that they had dismounted Prometheus and taken him to the public stables that he could barely register his friend's conversation next to him until Ruddiger gave him a small jab in the cheek. Rubbing his now sore cheek, Varian put that excitement aside so that he could be a useful member of the conversation.
“Sparkles, you know how much we love your explosions, but maybe the sticks of dynamite should stay IN THE WAGON” Hugo was saying, raising his voice as loud as he could without alerting any passerby or guards.
“But Hugo, what if we need them for the final trial? I won’t let them explode, I promise!” Yong whined.
Flinching a slight bit at Yong’s use of the word promise, Varian decided he should probably step in to keep Yong’s happiness and Hugo’s nerves intact.
“Yong, we probably won’t need 5 sticks of dynamite for the final trial. Besides, my mom’s journal says that the portal has to be built in the Demanitus Chamber, and I don’t think that the princess would like me damaging it more than I already have.”
“Yeah, see, Goggles gets it- wait, what do you mean more than you already have?” Hugo inquired, Nuru looking up from her map of the kingdom to see what all the fuss was about.
“Hugo, he's the royal engineer, of COURSE he’s damaged whatever room the princess lets him into. You’ve been traveling with him for how long? You know his tendency to get into trouble, keep up.” Nuru swiftly ended the conversation there, taking Varian’s hand and starting to drag him away from Prometheus’s stable. “Now come on, I’ve heard that the princess’s birthday is in two days and the festival is AMAZING, and I need you to point out everything that makes it great.”
With a laugh, Varian and Nuru started leading the way through town, Hugo and Yong following alongside them (Hugo with his sanity, and Yong begrudgingly accepting the fact he wasn’t allowed to explode anything) as Varian pointed out the best festival stalls and his favorite shops.
“Well Monty, he runs the bakery with Atilla, used to have the best candy stall for the princess’s birthday, although he stopped it once she was found. They have a grudge against each other or something, from what she’s told me. Oh, over there is the most popular food stall for the festival, but if you want my opinion it’s overpriced. There’s this one really good food stall that only is open on her birthday, I’ll show it to you when it’s there…”
The sound of Varian’s excited ramblings about the festival over the sounds of music and laughter carried the group all the way up to the castle. Varian didn’t even stop to look at his group as they made their way through the gates, waving hi to Stan and Pete who immediately let him in and gave him a fist bump upon entry. It took Hugo’s confused voice to snap him out of his chatter.
“Hey Hairstripe, don’t mean to alarm you, but this is the castle? You’d think that, since you live in this town, you’d know where your house was.” That finally caused Varian to turn around, seeing the bewildered looks on Yong and Hugo’s face. Next to him, Nuru seemed to be going through the same thoughts.
Varian facepalmed, realizing he never told the group his plans. “Well, yeah, you’re right, but my friends all live in the castle and since it’s work hours, Dad is probably here doing the royal engineer duties until sunset. I don’t want to wait in Old Corona for hours, and Rapunzel will probably just let us stay here for a few nights, considering that the castle is much closer to the Demanitus Chamber than my house.”
“So we get to stay in a castle again? And it’s where your lab is?” Yong sounded excited at the idea that he’d get to see Varian’s lab. He probably wanted to find Varian’s blueprints for his automatons.
“Yes and yes, but you’re DREAMING if you think that you can ride in an automaton.” Varian laughed. “Ruddiger and I destroyed the blueprints ages ago anyway, so you can’t find out how to make them yourself.” Ruddiger chittered in agreement, making Yong put on his best pouty face.
“As interesting as automatons are Sparkles, I think the more important question is who Varian’s friends are that live in the castle!” Hugo glared challengingly at him. “And don’t you say the captain of the royal guard because I know full well that you’re lying with that shit.”
“That’s a coin for the swear jar!” Nuru piped up next to Varian, causing the smaller alchemist to laugh as the blonde boy's face turned red.
“Oh come on-” he mumbled as he dug through his possessions for his money purse, finally grabbing a coin and putting it in Nuru’s outstretched hand, who then put the coin in a jar in her bag that was nearly filled to the brim with coins (mostly from Hugo), “This is just a scam you do to rob innocent people like me from our money! Besides, Yong’s heard it all at this point.”
“Maybe Yong has heard it all, but if we’re going into a castle and you get us thrown out because you’re swearing, it could ruin relations between Koto and Corona. So PLEASE, keep the swearing to a minimum.” Nuru chided as the group approached the castle’s front door. Varian swung them open before turning to grin at Nuru.
“Nuru, it’s fine, the princess has an ex-thief as her husband, I’m pretty sure that she’s used to it by that point. Besides, she knows me, and she hasn’t thrown me out for swearing yet, so your case is nullified.” He held the door for them at that, causing Nuru to glance around and check that no one was coming before she stuck her tongue out at him, grabbing Yong’s hand and making their way through the giant doors.
Hugo muttered a small “Thanks” as he stepped through the doors, Olivia on his shoulder chittering in agreement. Varian felt the heat rising up his cheeks before he turned away, muttering something that vaguely resembled “You’re welcome”, causing Ruddiger to nearly fall off of his shoulder in laughter.
Making his way to the front of the group in order to lead them (NOT- repeat, NOT so that Hugo didn’t see him blushing), he led them through the halls he was all too familiar with, memories of battles and trips to the castle filling his heart. He was so caught up in the memories, however, that he didn’t notice the person in his way or his friend’s warnings for him to watch out before he bumped into someone and promptly fell on his ass. Nice.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was- Lance?” Varian cried as he stood up, ignoring the pain from his arm as he used it to push himself up. It had been a month since Donella’s attack, his arm could learn to suck it up. But that wasn’t important, what was important was the man standing in front of him, a man he could recognize anywhere - Eugene’s best friend, Lance Strongbow.
“VARIAN!” Lance’s voice jumped up three octaves before he gave Varian one of the biggest bear hugs in his life (preparation for the inevitable Rapunzel bear hug), promptly forgetting that he had been run into by the tiny alchemist. Who wouldn’t forget- considering how much Varian’s friends tease him for being short and small, it’s no wonder that Lance barely registered being run into before he heard Varian’s voice.
“Okay, Lance, you’re squishing me-”
“Oh, so I can’t hug my child?”
“Since when have I been your child?” Varian had escaped Lance’s bear hug and was smoothing out the wrinkles in his vest, ignoring the inevitable confused stares from his friends. Damn, he probably SHOULD’VE mentioned the fact that nearly everyone close to the royal family has tried to adopt him.
“Since right now, I’ve decided. I’m getting the adoption papers. Quirin and I will duel for the right to be your father.” Lance laughed as he turned to look at Varian’s friends. “Aw, you’re not gonna introduce your father to your friends? Now that’s just rude, I raised my son better than that!”
“LANCE!” Varian yelled, his voice cracking with laughter. He turned back to his friends, who, as he predicted, seemed confused out of their minds. “This *asshole*” he muttered under his breath so that Nuru wouldn’t be able to hear his swear, “is Lance. He’s the really good cook I told you guys about and no, do not let it go to your head, Lance.”
“Too late, it’s in there. I’m spectacular. You must be so proud to have me as a father.”
“Ugh- anyway, he’s Eugene’s best friend and he lives with Angry and Catalina in the woods because he’s THEIR dad, NOT mine- speaking of which, why are you at the castle?” Varian turned back to the bigger man, who gestured wildly with his hands.
“So you see, my darling son- we heard your return would be sometime this week, so we decided to come up to the castle to celebrate with you and meet your friends! Also, it’s Rapunzel’s birthday this week, and if I didn’t come to celebrate with her and Eugene he probably would disown me. Speaking of which, have you talked to them yet? I know they’re so excited to see you! Rapunzel’s been talking over and over again about how you’re almost home-”
Varian cut off his tirade. “No, Lance, I haven’t seen them yet. We were actually looking for them, I really want them to meet her!”
“...You want us to meet the princess, goggles? I thought you were trying to show us your sister or something.” Hugo asked confusingly. Varian quickly felt embarrassment rising up in his face as he realized he hadn’t ever said Rapunzel’s name whenever he mentioned his pseudo-sister. The embarrassment was only increased by Lance’s larger-than-life laugh.
“Did this twig... not mention that... Rapunzel is basically... his sister? I swear, she’s the... only one who can pretend... to follow along with your crazy... science antics!” Lance’s words kept getting cut out by his laughs, as he slapped himself on the knee. “Oh god… I’ve missed you… kid”
Varian chanced a glance at his friends, who were all looking at him like he grew a third head. “Um… surprise?” He squeaked out. Once they realized that this random dude that knew Varian wasn’t pulling their leg, Hugo looked pale at the realization, Yong looked like he was about to join Lance in dying of laughter and Nuru just pressed her lips together like she was prone to do whenever she got stressed.
“So, let’s get this straight- the reason that you know the princess will let us spend a few nights in the castle is because she’s this pseudo-sister you’ve been hyping up and you never thought to tell us?” Nuru questioned, raising her eyebrow when Varian lamely responded with a thumbs-up. “Okay, great to know. Hugo, remind me to always ask Varian who he’s talking about whenever he gives a lame answer like ‘my sister’ or ‘my third cousin’s aunt twice removed’.”
Lance had managed to recover from his laughing fit, coughing slightly as he composed himself. “I’m not surprised, but yet I still am. I just lied. I’m surprised. Anyway,” he lightly chuckled, wrapping an arm around Varian’s shoulder and earning a light hiss from Ruddiger, “Rapunzel and Eugene are in her room, I can take you guys if you want.” At the sight of urgent nodding from Yong, who seemed to take a shine to Lance, the man jumped with confidence. “PERFECT! Follow me for the wonderful Lance tour! Financed by Lance, written by Lance, and most importantly presented by Lance.”
The group followed Lance through the halls as he stopped next to various rooms and explained their purpose in the castle. Yong seemed to be hanging on his every word, while Nuru and Hugo paid a pretty fair amount of attention. Varian zoned out, wishing that the ground would swallow him whole for his stupidity. He’d heard about a forest from Eugene with a weird ground-swallowing tendency, maybe he could go there-
“And we’re here! The princess’s room. Now, I don’t normally show this place on the Lance tour, but considering that you guys are with the kid I’ll make an exception.” Lance interrupted Varian’s thoughts with a wink thrown his way. Varian couldn’t help but laugh- he hadn’t seen Lance in 15 months, his usually annoying antics didn’t bother him nearly as much as he thought they would.
With a wide push of the double doors, the group was ushered into a room that Varian had seen countless times, but must be rather impressive to an outsider- floor to ceiling paintings of a blonde girl with long hair and all her adventures and friends. Varian’s chest swelled with pride a little as he looked at a painted younger version of himself on the wall. It never stopped being amazing to him that Rapunzel was one of his best friends.
Speaking of the devil, Varian heard the chipper voice coming from the balcony and saw her mop of short brown hair talking with Eugene. “Even though Cass said she can’t come for the festival this year, I know it’s going to be a blast Eugene! Varian is due back any day now, and-”
“You’re right, Rapunzel, he IS due back any minute now. Say, Varian, when are you getting here?” Lance interrupted the princess’s voice with his joke, causing her to fall silent. Within eight seconds flat, Rapunzel had made it to the window of her room and managed to tackle Varian into the biggest bear hug he had ever had. (Yes, it was an even bigger bear hug than Lance had given him, somehow)
“VARIANOHMYGODI’VEMISSEDYOUSOMUCHANDNOWYOU’REHEREHOWHAVEYOUBEENDIDYOUMISSMEIKNOWIMISSEDYOUANDRUDDIGERANDALLYOURFUNNYANTICS-” Now, Varian may have been able to translate the Demanitus Scroll, but trying to translate excited sister was a whole different ballpark, especially when she’s hugging him half to death, so he just let himself fall into the hug without saying anything. Somehow, over Rapunzel’s ranting about how much he was missed, he managed to hear Eugene’s boots as he came in through the window. Oh, great, 2 on 1.
“Long time no see kid! But Blondie, I do think he needs to breathe now.” Rapunzel muttered her apologies before the bear hug was promptly removed by Rapunzel, leaving Varian gasping for air on the floor. Rapunzel was so excited that she could hardly contain herself from hugging him again, but luckily for him, she gave him a moment to collect himself.
“Your letters to me have been so amazing Varian! It’s like I’m traveling all over again. I love reading about you and your friends! Speaking of which…” Rapunzel’s gaze was cast over to the three kids smiling at the wholesome reunion, but being silent so as to not interrupt. “So nice to meet you three! Well, three and a half,” she noted as she regarded Olivia on Hugo’s shoulder, earning a happy squeak from the mechanical mouse, “Varian’s written to me and Eugene all about you and your adventures! I’m Rapunzel!” She held her hand out in greeting, looking elated when Nuru reached out to shake it.
“Hi, your highness, I’m Princess Nuru of Koto. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Rapunzel.” Nuru dropped her hand in order to dip down into a curtsy, but Rapunzel just smiled and politely shook her head.
“No need for formal titles, Nuru, just Rapunzel is fine. Any friend of Varian’s is a friend of mine.” Rapunzel’s warm greetings had won over the group, from the looks of it- Hugo was less, well, Hugo, while Yong and Nuru were positively beaming. “Am I right in assuming that the one with the mouse is Hugo and this sweetheart over here is Yong?”
“Yes, your majesty. But why is your hair short?” Laughing slightly (having recovered his breath from the bear hug attack), Varian could see Nuru facepalm as Yong asked his blunt question like only Yong could. “Varian said you had really long hair, but it’s not that long. He over exaggerates sometimes though, so he could’ve just been lying.” Rapunzel laughed at Varian’s stuttered protests that no, he wasn’t lying, thank you very much-
“Well it used to be a lot longer, but I cut it in a fight with a mean demon lady. Before that, Eugene cut it so he and Pascal could save my life.” The chameleon croaked in agreement from his placement in Eugene’s hands, who evidently had been passed Pascal the moment that Rapunzel had realized Varian was there so that he wouldn’t be squished in the bear hug that had engulfed the land.
“Oh right, that ancient demon thing. Probably as likely as your husband being the captain of the royal guard.” Hugo snickered under his breath. Nuru, Yong, and Varian all simultaneously groaned. The dumbass hadn’t noticed Eugene yet, who had puffed up his chest at the statement.
“Why I’ll have you know, Hugo, that I am indeed the captain of the royal guard and…” He trailed off, staring at Hugo’s face. His joking face transformed into one of a slight scowl, much to Varian’s surprise. “...and I can have you arrested for double-crossing me on that job with the baron 8 years ago! THAT’S why I recognized the name!”
Varian stared at Hugo’s
beautiful
face, which was slowly turning red. “Wow, you must've had to have been really fucking bad to have gotten a dumb guard job,” he mumbled under his breath. Oh, wait, right. Flynn Rider's past. Hugo used to be (and probably still was, despite Varian's dislike for it) a thief. Baron was a crime lord asshole. Makes sense.
Varian felt himself sigh as he turned away from Hugo (who was begrudgingly handing Nuru another coin for the swear jar) to see Eugene. “Really dude, the first time we see each other in 15 months and you want to bring back pasts? Hugo’s good, he’s with me, let it go.” Varian felt some annoyance rise in his voice, but he didn’t care. Eugene was being annoying right now, so might as well let him know that Varian was annoyed.
Eugene sent a death glare Hugo’s way. “Fine, but don’t think I’m not watching you, mister. My gut knows when someone’s hiding something, and-” He cut off his tirade when he saw the look on Varian’s face. Varian couldn’t see his own face, but if he had to guess it was probably a face that insinuated Eugene was about to die.
Rapunzel, ever the one to despise tension, cut in. “So, Varian, it’s getting late and I know that you’re tired- *sleep deprived but won’t admit it* -so why don’t I show you guys to your rooms?” She grabbed his hands and led him towards his friends, where Hugo was staring absentmindedly at the walls and Yong and Nuru were looking at him, concerned. It’s not every day the captain of the royal guard says you’re hiding something, after all.
Varian let himself relax as she led him out, his friends following close behind. Although he wished that Team Awesome had been more receptive to his
crush
friend, Lance and Raps had gotten along with everyone from the looks of it. For now, he let the matter of Hugo vs Eugene slip his mind as they walked through the halls.
---
Hugo wasn’t going to suck up to some snotty ass ex-thief who he had managed to double cross in the past just because his
crush
teammate had a brotherly relationship with him. Nope. Not one bit.
So WHAT if the asshole was
completely
slightly right that Hugo was hiding something? It’s not like Hugo has to tell him, of all people. Hell, he hadn’t even told his friends yet. Not like he could, after that whole fiasco last month.
Hugo slammed the closet doors of his room shut, barely even caring about Olivia’s startled squeaks at the loud noise. He was annoyed that it was so big. Why was everything in this castle so big? Who even NEEDS all this space? It’s not like there’s people probably starving in the streets while the royal family lives high and mighty with their stupid stuff and their stupid castle and their stupid captain of the royal guard-
“Hugo?”
The voice made him pause. He turned around from his silent rage fest to see Varian, who had entered the room Hugo had been allocated for the next few nights with Ruddiger perched on his shoulder. It was clear from Varian’s face and voice that he could tell Hugo was upset. Varian’s adorable face, lined with freckles and ocean blue eyes that if Hugo looked into for too long he found himself drowning-
Not the time. Right. “What is it?” Hugo cringed as he felt his voice crack. He wasn’t going to let himself be upset. Nope. Not one tiny bit.
Ok, maybe he was upset.
“I’m really sorry about Eugene, I don’t know what came over him,” Varian said as he ran a hand through his messy hair, “but it’s not okay for him to treat you like that, ESPECIALLY when he had a similar past to us. I made him agree to not be a complete and total asshole to you next time we see him, but I still want to apologize.”
Hugo felt slightly shocked. He didn’t even know why. Just the thought that someone cared enough for him that they’d get in a fight with their pseudo-brother just to make Hugo happy, even though he didn’t deserve this care and appreciation at all. He really wanted to just give Varian the biggest thanks, hug him and tell him how much he appreciated him and everything he’s ever done, break down and tell him the worst parts of his past and how he’s such an asshole that doesn’t deserve love-
“Good thing Nuru isn’t here, she’d make you add a coin.”
Well, Hugo was Hugo. He wasn’t going to go all deep and inner emotions kumbaya stuff. When in doubt, sarcasm.
Varian smirked. “Why do you think I said it? I’m just smart enough to know when to curse, and when to not curse. Anyway,” he gestured with a wave of his hand, “just wanted to apologize for Eugene and tell you to get some rest. My dad is apparently at a conference in Bayangor for the engineer duties, according to Rapunzel, but he’ll be back tomorrow night. Just in time for us to get the final totem and enter the library!”
His eyes shone with excitement. Hugo felt a large part of him join in that excitement, but that small voice in his head was the one that made its way to his mouth first.
“What about Donella?”
Varian tilted his head next to Ruddiger and kept his eyes on Hugo, almost confusingly. “What about her? We’ve been traveling so much that it’s nearly impossible that she’ll make her way here. Besides, I mentioned to Eugene that there was a crazy lady fiasco last month in Ingvarr, and he said he’d have some of the guards keep their eyes out for her. Even if she did make it to the Capital by some chance, there’s no way she could make her way to the Demanitus Chamber.”
Hugo wanted so badly to scream at Varian, tell him to run away from this crazy journey because no matter how BADLY he wished that Varian was telling the truth, Hugo knew the truth- Donella always had a way. She snuck in through the most unexpected places and got a leg up on her opponents. She managed to take down anyone who stood in her way, and right now, VARIAN was in her way, and Hugo could protect him by just telling him the truth-
“Yeah, you’re right. We’ll be fine.”
Varian smiled at the response, seemingly not noticing the dead look in Hugo’s eyes or the too-tight smile he gave. With a small wave and a quickly muttered “Goodnight!”, Varian turned his back to him and made his way out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Once his footsteps had stopped echoing in the hallway, Hugo groaned and face-planted into the bed.
G R E A T