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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Prologue

Chapter One: Six Years

Chapter Two: Cassandra's Return

Chapter Three: News At Dinner

Chapter Four: Castle Wanderings

Chapter Five: Unexpected Travelers

Chapter Six: The Journey Begins

Chapter Seven: The Thief

Chapter Eight: What's In the Bag

Chapter Nine: The Angst

Chapter Ten: The Past

Chapter Eleven: The Journal

Chapter Twelve: Declaration

Chapter Thirteen: What Happened In Corona

Chapter Fourteen: Decoding

Chapter Fifteen: Return of the Thief

Chapter Sixteen: Light As A Feather

Chapter Seventeen: Reflection

Chapter Eighteen: Search And Rescue

Chapter Nineteen: Truth Ray

Chapter Twenty: Onward to Pincosta

Chapter Twenty-One: An Old Acquaintance

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Hatch

Chapter Twenty-Three: Riddle

Chapter Twenty-Four: Terapi Island

Chapter Twenty-Five: Fights

Chapter Twenty-Six: Bruised

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Searching

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Mermaid Transport

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Misty's Admission

Chapter Thirty: Submerged

Chapter Thirty-One: Rising Water

Chapter Thirty-Two: Almost

Chapter Thirty-Three: Anchors Aweigh

Chapter Thirty-Four: Struggle

Chapter Thirty-Five: Return To Vardaros

Chapter Thirty-Six: Wanted

Chapter Thirty-Seven: What To Do?

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Letter

Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Mysterious Note

Chapter Forty: Two Alchemists

Chapter Forty-One: Make It Rain

Chapter Forty-Two: Entering the Mine

Chapter Forty-Three: Minecart Adventure

Chapter Forty-Four: A Hint

Chapter Forty-Five: Arriving In Arendelle

Chapter Forty-Six: Warning

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Cliff

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Fall

Chapter Forty-Nine: Ready

Chapter Fifty: Four Orbs

Chapter Fifty-One: So New

Chapter Fifty-Two: Preparations

Chapter Fifty-Three: First Date

Chapter Fifty-Four: Photoreactive

Chapter Fifty-Five: Distraction

Chapter Fifty-Six: Return To the Dark Kingdom

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Memories

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Key

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Infinity

Chapter Sixty: Not Ashamed

Chapter Sixty-One: Mission Accomplished

Chapter Sixty-Two: Not What It Seems

Chapter Sixty-Three: Reunion

Chapter Sixty-Four: Home

Epilogue

Chapter Text

Love is such a strange and complex emotion. It can be felt for anyone, at any time, anyplace. You never foresee it. Falling in love can happen so quickly, and there is nothing you can do about it. It can happen over the course of time, or all at once.

     Love is still such a confusing topic for young Opal. She looks at her parents, and can tell even at her age how in love they are. But then she looks at her Aunt Rapunzel and Uncle Eugene, who are also so obviously in love, yet their relationship is completely different than her parents' relationship. How can something that most everyone feels at some point in their life be so different in different people?

     Lately, Opal has been having to spend a lot of time with Aunt Rapunzel. She loves getting to have all the one-on-one attention from the Queen, and hear all her stories about her past adventures. Rapunzel is her favorite person in the world (besides her parents, of course), and because she is queen and has so many royal duties Opal felt as if she didn't get enough time with her.

     But now Rapunzel has been teaching Opal all about courtly life and royalty, for the young girl has been chosen to be the future queen of Corona.

     "Hey Little Gem, you know what time it is."

     Opal's thoughts are interrupted by her father, Varian, entering her room. She glances out the window, and realizes that the sun has vanished beyond the horizon. But to her dismay, the sky is darkened with thick clouds, making it impossible to see the beautiful moon she knows is just behind them.

     "Bedtime already?" She whines with a cute little pout.

     "Yep," Varian replies, pulling back the covers on her bed and gesturing for her to crawl in. "Let's get you settled in for the night."

     "But where's Mommy?" Opal asks, climbing into bed. "She's usually here to tuck me in, too."

     "Your mom has a later shift tonight," Varian replies. "She's here in the castle somewhere, doing what guards do." He offers her a kind smile as he tucks her into her blanket snuggly and gives her a kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, Opal."

     "Wait!" She protests before he can exit. "Can you tell me a story first?"

     "You're always asking for stories," Varian chuckles. "But you know it's time for you to get some sleep."

     "But Luna wants to hear one too!" Opal adds as her pet albino fox rushes into the room and hops onto the bed with her.

     Varian shakes his head. "You need your rest so that you can continue your studies tomorrow."

     "Pleeeeaaaase?" Opal says, making sure to give her father the perfect puppy-dog eyes and wide smile that always melt his heart.

"Ohhh... Okay," Varian reluctantly caves in. He just can't resist those big, sweet eyes! It's a problem of his that Cassandra never ceases to tease him about.

     "Yay!" Opal exclaims, clapping her hands excitedly as Varian sits at the edge of her bed.

     "So, what kind of story do you wanna hear tonight?" Varian asks.

     "I want to hear about how you and Mommy fell in love," Opal replies without hesitation.

     "Oh, wow. Really?" Varian says. "That's actually a pretty long story, Opal."

     "I don't mind," Opal says, causing Varian to smirk. "Aunt Raps told me how she and Uncle Eugene fell in love."

     "You might still be a bit too young for this story, Little Ge—"

     "I'm not, Daddy, I promise!" Opal insists. "I wanna know! Was it love at first sight?"

     Varian sighs. "Well, um... No, not at all. It's actually something that took a while to happen."

     Intrigued, Opal wiggles farther down into her bed, snuggling Luna closer and listening with rapt attention.

     "Okay, where to begin...?" Varian rubs the back of his neck. "Now, I'm going to warn you. Not everything in this story is happy and fun. In fact, it starts off pretty sad. And has some sad stuff in the middle... and kind of ends on a sad note, too."

     Opal's eyes widen, but she is still resolved in her determination to hear this story. "I'm ready."

     Varian clears his throat and takes in a deep breath. "The day your mother decided to leave Corona was one of the saddest days of my life. But sadder still, was the day she finally returned..."

Chapter Text

"So, what do you think?"

     Varian vaguely registers Queen Rapunzel's question. He is hard at work in his lab, as he often is, and Rapunzel has once again decided to pay him a visit. It isn't far for her to travel, considering Varian's lab is now in the castle. As is his bedroom, and most of his belongings.

     "Well, um... I-I'm not really sure," Varian responds, never taking his eyes off of the device he is fiddling with on his work table.

     Rapunzel shakes her head disapprovingly. "Varian, have you been listening to a word I've said?"

 In all honesty, Varian has mostly been tuning her out. Whenever she comes in here to check on him, she usually prattles on and on about some girl she knows in the castle or in the kingdom. And typically, she attempts to set Varian up on a date with said girl.

     "I heard... enough," Varian says.

     Rapunzel sighs. "Come on Varian, Faith is a very sweet girl! Admittedly, she was never handmaiden material. But she has so many other incredible skills! And..."

     Varian rolls his eyes as Rapunzel continues her speech. He has been on a few of these blind dates that Rapunzel has set up for him, but none of them have ever worked out. He just hasn't connected with anyone, and he doesn't really want to. He only agreed to them to make Rapunzel happy. But if he had known that she would continuously do this, he never would have accepted her invitation to move into the castle.

     When Varian turned eighteen, his father Quirin decided to return to the Dark Kingdom with the goal of helping King Edmund rebuild. Varian encouraged his father to do so, but the fact remained that he was afraid to be alone. He has had some extremely unpleasant experiences in the past with being alone...

     Rapunzel seemed to pick up in this, and invited Varian to move into the castle. It made sense, considering he is the official Royal Engineer. Now Varian is twenty-two, and while he and Rapunzel are close friends, he can't help but become irked at her almost constant meddling.

     "Rapunzel, please," Varian interrupts. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm really busy right now. I'm attempting to finish this project for Eugene."

     "Okay, fine. I'll leave you alone," Rapunzel says. "But, will you at least think about going out with Faith?"

     Varian shakes his head. He has been polite this long, but enough is enough. "No, I won't. I'm done with these blind dates."

     "But—"

     "No buts!" Varian says, spinning around to face her. "I said I'm done! Why do you keep trying to set me up with someone, anyway?"

Rapunzel seems surprised by his outburst. "I just... I just want you to be happy," she replies quietly.

     Varian raises an eyebrow. "What makes you think I'm not happy?"

     Rapunzel scoffs. "Let's see... You've been extra snippy lately. You rarely attend social events. You hardly ever sleep or eat. You barely talk to anyone unless you have to. And all you ever do is stay holed up in this lab, working." She ticks each point off on her fingers. "You're not yourself, Varian. You haven't been for a while. And I'm not the only one who's noticed!"

     Varian lowers his gaze to the floor, because he realizes that Rapunzel is right. He knows exactly why he hasn't been himself, too, he just hasn't possessed the courage to tell Rapunzel or anyone else. They would think he is crazy...

     "Well, thanks for the concern, but a date with another random girl is not going to make me any happier." He turns back around to his table, and continues working.

     After a brief silence, Rapunzel says, "Okay then... Guess I'll talk to you later." She exits the room, and he listens as the sound of her footsteps diminishes.

     Varian sighs, feeling guilty about the way he spoke to Rapunzel. He knows she is only trying to help him. She is his friend, and she is worried about him. But he isn't quite ready to talk with her —or any of his friends— about what's been on his mind.

     Six years. It has been six years since Cassandra left Corona. The day she left crushed his heart. He had always cared for her, but he hadn't realized exactly how much until she was no longer in his life. Despite everything she had done, he had fallen for her, and there was nothing he or anyone else could do about it. A part of him was happy for her, that she was going out to brave the world on her own to find her destiny. But a selfish part of him wished she would stay, so he could still see her. Talk to her. Be around her.

     After a few years, he thought he had gotten over her. He had managed to get to a point where he could move on with his life, without feeling the pang in his chest that came with the memory of her. He thought he was over her, until...

     Until the letters started coming. Each one began with the words, "Hey, it's Cass. I hope you're doing well." She would go on to impart some simple story, something she saw that reminded her of him or that she thought he would have enjoyed. Then each letter ended with, "Your friend, Cassie." That was it. They were short, they were to the point, and they never included a return address.

     He is aware that he isn't the only one receiving letters from Cass. He knows that she is practically writing novels to Rapunzel. But those letters have once again stirred his feelings, and he finds his heart leaping every time he receives another one from her.

     But his heart also sinks whenever he finishes reading her latest letter, knowing that she is out there somewhere having all those adventures and he is sitting here in Corona pining after someone who only thinks enough about him to write a short, simple letter. It hurts, which is why he has been acting so strange lately. He cannot inform anyone else of this, though... They would think he has completely lost it.

And maybe he has lost it... Even if Cassandra were still here in Corona, there is no way he would ever have a chance with her. What would someone as amazing and beautiful and independent as her see in a nerdy loner like him?

These are the thoughts that have been consuming him for months now. Rapunzel is right, he has been acting differently. It has even been interfering with his work. He has been toiling away all day in his lab, and he has barely made any progress on his current invention.

"So if I put this here, and then twist this..." He mutters to himself, wedging a screwdriver into the device.

Suddenly, his raccoon Ruddiger rushes into the room. He chitters frantically, pointing at the door.

"What, is Rapunzel coming back to give me another speech about some girl?" Varian says, rolling his eyes. He doesn't look up from his work as he hears footsteps approaching, even once he hears a light knock on the door frame.

"I told you already, I'm not doing it!" Varian says, just as sparks fly up from his invention and shoot smoke directly in his face. He coughs and shakes his head in surprise.

"What exactly are you 'not doing'?"

Varian freezes when he hears this unexpected voice. This familiar voice. He spins around, not permitting his brain to believe it is truly her until he sees her with his own eyes.

"C-Cassandra?"

Chapter Text

As soon as I saw your mother, for the first time in six years, I knew in that instant that I still had feelings for her," Varian tells Opal, continuing the story. "And I'm pretty sure some sparks where flying for her, too," he adds with a chuckle.

     "Only the sparks from that contraption of yours," Cassandra says, entering the room wearing her guard uniform and a smile. She puts her arm around Varian's shoulders and gives him a gentle squeeze.

     "Mommy!" Opal shouts excitedly, jumping out of bed to give Cassandra a hug.

     "What's going on here? Shouldn't you already be asleep?" Cassandra asks, booping her daughter's nose affectionately.

     "Daddy is telling me the story of how you two fell in love!" Opal replies.

     "Is that so?" Cassandra says, raising an eyebrow at Varian.

     Varian shrugs, smirking. "She asked, and I figured it couldn't hurt."

"Okay then," Cassandra says as she tucks Opal back into her bed. "I want in."

"Sure," Varian says. "But, uh, I was doing just fine on my own."

"Didn't sound like it," Cassandra says, giving him a playful shove. "You shouldn't be giving her inaccurate information. So, where were you guys?"

"You just came back to Corona," Opal informs her.

"Oh yes, the day I returned to Corona..." Cassandra says, recalling her memories of that time.

"Daddy said it was a sad day, but it seems like it would be a happy one to me," Opal says, evidently confused.

Cassandra nods. "I was definitely happy to be back. But what made it sad was the news I had to tell your father..."

"What exactly are you 'not doing'?"

     Varian spins around, a surprised expression on his face. "C-Cassandra?"

     Cassandra smirks. "The one and only."

     Varian blinks a few times, standing motionless. Cassandra has to admit, she expected a bit more of a reaction from him. After all, it has been six years since they've seen each other.

     And those six years absolutely show. Varian is no longer the short, skinny kid he was when she last saw him. He remained that kid in her mind, but now there is a man standing in his place. He still has the same stupid goggles and floppy hairstyle, but he has definitely filled out more, and he shot up. He is actually taller than her now! She might even describe him as handsome... If it weren't for the black soot spread across his face at the moment.

     Folding her arms, she chuckles as she stares at his hair that is standing up in all different directions due to his invention malfunction. "Well that's definitely a, um... look. Did Fitzherbert style your hair for you?" She says jokingly.

Varian opens his mouth as if he is about to speak, but no sound comes out.

     Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "What's the matter? Raccoon got your tongue?"

     Ruddiger chitters, offended, as Varian finally seems to shake himself out of whatever daze he was in. He smooths out his messy hair, wipes his face off with a rag on the table, and takes a step towards her. "Right, sorry... I'm, uh, I'm just surprised."

     "Yeah, I gathered that," Cassandra says. But then she breaks into a smile as she bridges the gap between them and embraces him. At first he stiffens up, but after a couple seconds he relaxes and returns the hug.

"Wh-What are you doing here?" Varian asks, smiling that dorky, buck-toothed smile of his. At least that hasn't changed.

     Cassandra's smile fades when he asks this. "Actually, can we discuss that later? I have some... news. Something I need to talk with all of you guys about. I've already got dinner plans tonight with Raps and Fitzherbert, so I'd like it if you joined us too."

     "Yeah. Yeah, of course," Varian says.

     "Great." Cassandra glances back at whatever Varian is working on. It's some sort of small machine... He isn't creating a weapon, is he? "What is that contraption, anyway?"

     "Ah, that," Varian replies. "It's just a little project I'm working on for Eugene." He grabs the portable, gun-shaped invention and holds it up for her to see. "Within this device, I have combined a mirror shard and a couple of my own alchemical solutions, causing a directional projection of light energy to radiate from the opening when this switch is toggled. Now, theoretically, when the beam is shone directly into the subject's pupils, the calming effect of the blue light relaxes the amygdala and thus allows the person to—"

     "Um, yeah... to the point please?" Cassandra interrupts. "Preferably in terms I can understand."

     "It's essentially a Truth Ray," Varian says simply.

"A Truth Ray?" Cassandra repeats. "Fitzherbert ordered that? What for?"

     "Oh, he didn't," Varian replies. "He doesn't know about it yet. I'm planning on having it completed by his and Rapunzel's anniversary, as a surprise for him."

     "And, what is he going to do with a Truth Ray?"

     "I figured it might help with suspect interrogations."

"But, didn't you make a truth serum before? Why make this?"

Varian bites his lip. Okay, so maybe she shouldn't have mentioned the truth serum... Lots of bad memories wrapped up with that one. "I've suggested it before, but Eugene thinks it would be too difficult to force someone to drink the stuff. So, I figured this might be an easier way."

     "Ah," Cassandra says with an understanding nod. "Well, good luck with that." She nods toward his Truth Ray.

     "Thanks, I'm gonna need it..." Varian says. "I can't seem to get it to work properly."

     "I'm sure you'll figure it out. You always have." She gives him a bittersweet smile, and then heads out the door. "See you tonight."

After departing Varian's lab, Cassandra winds through the castle hallways until she arrives at her old room. Just as Rapunzel told her, it is exactly the way she left it. She knows she will always have a home here in Corona.

     "There you are," a voice behind her says. "Did you talk with your wizard friend?"

     "I told you, Abhu, he's an alchemist," Cassandra replies, turning around to face the man behind her. He is quite a bit taller than she is, with dark black hair and brown eyes. "And yes, I did. He's coming to dinner tonight."

     "I don't understand why you're waiting so long to tell them," Abhu says. "It's pretty important. Don't you think they should know now?"

Cassandra sighs. "Trust me, I know them. They don't take bad news very well... This needs to be done delicately."

     "Alright, fine... they're your friends." Abhu steps into the room, and glances around. His nose crinkles as he wipes a finger across a desk. "A bit dusty in here, isn't it?"

     Cassandra fakes a chuckle. She's known Abhu for a few years now, and he's always been a bit snarky and judgmental. She finds these traits extremely irritating about him (probably because she, herself, has them), but she doesn't want him to know... "Yeah, well... Raps wasn't kidding when she said it's exactly how I left it."

     "Huh. Maybe you should have dusted more often. I thought that's what you did for a living here?" He smiles at her teasingly. She returns the smile, but really all she wants to do is slap that smirk off his face.

     Abhu heads for the doorway, but halts and turns to face Cassandra again. "And you're sure I can't come to dinner with you? I would love to see how the Royalty here eat."

     "I'm sure," Cassandra replies. "They would be overly curious and ask you a ton of annoying questions. Tonight's focus needs to be on the news I have to tell them. Besides, you've been to plenty of royal banquets with me in Arendelle."

     "Yeah, but I'm sure Arendelle Royalty and Corona Royalty feast totally different. And you're a special guest to them, so they'll really be pulling out all the stops!"

     Cassandra folds her arms, and shakes her head slowly.

     "Alright, fine. I guess I can miss out on Coronan delicacies." Abhu leaves the room and heads down the hallway toward the guest bedrooms. "But you owe me!"

     I don't owe you anything, Cassandra thinks. For the millionth time since she's known him, she feels the desire to tell him to hit the road and leave her alone. But, as usual, the feeling quickly fades and she continues on like normal.

Chapter Text

"Abhu?" Opal says, the name feeling strange on her tongue. "Who's Abhu?"

     Cassandra and Varian exchange sad glances. "He's... an old friend," Cassandra replies. "But you'll learn more about him later."

     "Yeah, he ended up helping us out a lot," Varian adds. "Even though, you know, I never really liked him."

     "The only reason you never liked him is because you thought he had feelings for me," Cassandra says.

     "He did!" Varian says with an irritated expression.

     Cassandra shakes her head, and then turns back to Opal. "Anyway, I wasn't looking forward to dinner. I knew the news I had was going to devastate everyone."

     "And on the other hand, I was looking forward to dinner," Varian says. "I wasn't sure what kind of news your mother had, but I was happy she had returned and I was eager to spend some more time with her..."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. You always have." The bittersweet smile Cassandra gives Varian causes butterflies to flutter in his stomach. "See you tonight."

"Y-Yeah! See you tonight," Varian replies. But she has already gone out the door.

     For a prolonged moment, Varian doesn't move. His body feels frozen in place. Did that actually happen? Has Cassandra really returned after all this time? He didn't hallucinate the entire thing, did he?

     "You saw her too, right?" Varian asks Ruddiger. The raccoon chitters in annoyance, but nods his head.

     A smile spreads across Varian's face. "She's back... She's really back." And she is even more beautiful than he remembered her being! Her once-short hair has now grown to a length well past her shoulders, and her gorgeous hazel eyes still have the same sparkle in them. But his smile disappears once he remembers the expression on her face when he asked why she is here. "I wonder what her news is?"

He faces his table to get back to work, but he can't focus on it at all. Cassandra is the only thing on his mind right now, and his brain keeps pondering what her news may be. Guess I'll find out tonight... he thinks.

Later that evening, Varian arrives at the dining room dressed in his best. "How do I look, buddy?" He asks Ruddiger, straightening out his clothes.

Ruddiger gives him a once-over, hops up onto his shoulder, and smooths out the cowlick in his hair. He then leaps back down to the floor, smiles up at Varian, and gives him two tiny thumbs up.

     "Thanks Ruddiger," Varian says, patting the raccoon's head. "I'll see you later tonight." As Ruddiger rushes off, Varian takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly before finally opening the door and walking into the room. He discovers Rapunzel, Eugene, and Lance are already there.

"Varian! Isn't this exciting?!" Rapunzel says as he takes a seat. "Cass is back! I almost can't believe it."

"I've gotta admit, it isn't too bad seeing her again," Eugene says. "Even if she already made fifteen snarky quips about me in the few short minutes I spoke with her earlier..."

     "Actually, that would be sixteen," Varian says. "She made one while talking to me."

     "Seventeen," Lance chimes in.

     "...Twenty-three," Rapunzel adds with a slight chuckle.

     "What can I say? I've missed teasing you, Fitzherbert," Cassandra says with a shrug as she enters the room. "It just isn't the same with anyone else. No one else in all the kingdoms has quite the flare for the dramatic as you do."

     "And no one has quite the biting, sarcastic wit that you do, CassAndra," Eugene remarks. But he smiles warmly as he gestures for her to sit down.

Cassandra walks around the table, and takes the nearest empty seat... directly next to Varian. "Hi again, kid," she says to him with a smile. "Although, I guess I shouldn't call you that anymore. It's not really true, is it?"

"Oh, it's fine," Varian replies. Though it is difficult for him to focus on what she is saying, considering he is acutely cognizant of how close her leg is to his; they are within an inch of touching.

     "Alright, dinner should be served soon!" Rapunzel announces. "In the meantime... How have you been, Cassandra? We've all missed you so much!"

     "Some more than others," Eugene smirks, putting an arm around his eager wife.

     "I've been... good," Cassandra replies. Her smile is almost genuine, but Varian can tell there is a bit of despair keeping it from completely reaching her eyes. "I've missed everyone too."

     "So, how are things out there on the road?" Lance asks. "Have you run into Adira? How is she? Did she ask about me?!"

     Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "Nooo," she says slowly. "I have not seen Adira."

     "That makes... all of us," Eugene says, shaking his head at Lance.

     "Actually, not all of us," Varian corrects, as their supper is brought in to them. "I saw Aunt Adira when I went with my dad to help him move to the Dark Kingdom."

     A deep frown appears on Cassandra's face. But as the others begin to tuck into their food, Varian is the only one who notices. "Cass, is something wrong?" He asks.

Cassandra sighs, as the others detect the change in her mood. "Speaking of the Dark Kingdom... I think I'm ready to tell you guys the news now."

     "What is it, Cass?" Rapunzel asks worriedly, as Eugene quits eating and sits up straighter in his chair.

     Cassandra is silent for a few seconds, as if gathering her words. Varian is growing anxious about what she has to say. "Not long ago, I decided to make a stop at the Dark Kingdom. Just to check up on things. To see how progress was coming along. And, well... I discovered something."

     Eugene's expression turns serious. "What did you find?"

     "I found..." Cassandra closes her eyes, as if she can't bare to say it. "I found that the Dark Kingdom had been destroyed."

     The room grows so quiet, Varian can hear his own heart. It is beating rapidly, and there is a ringing in his ears. The Dark Kingdom, destroyed? No, it couldn't be true...

     "What do you mean, 'destroyed'?" Eugene asks.

     "I mean, destroyed," Cassandra replies. "Demolished. Leveled. But..."

     "But what?" Eugene presses, standing up.

     "But, there's some kind of strange barrier around the entire area, like a dome" Cassandra says. "It's transparent. I don't really know how to explain it, just that everything inside it seems... still."

     "Still?" Varian repeats. "What do you mean?"

     "Almost like everything inside is frozen in time or something," Cassandra says. "I saw people in there, and even though they were standing up and had their eyes open they weren't moving. Or even breathing."

     "People? What people?" Eugene asks hesitantly.

     Cassandra sighs again, deeply. "I'm sorry to tell you guys this, but... Eugene? Varian? Both of your dads are trapped inside the dome."

Chapter Text

No.

     This couldn't be happening.

     Not again.

     Not again!

     Varian's father is trapped. Incased. Gone. It's his nightmare coming true all over again.

     "You... You can't be serious," Eugene responds to Cassandra, his face expressing a mixture of anger and dismay.

"When have you ever known me to not be serious, especially about something like this?" Cassandra says.

Varian drops his fork. It clatters to the table, as his heartbeat pulses louder in his ears. His head is spinning. His breathing is beginning to quicken into a shallow wheezing. He feels as if the room is about to collapse in on him.

He has to get out of here. Now.

"I... I need some air," he says quickly, hopping up from his chair and rushing out of the room.

"Varian!" He barely registers Rapunzel's voice calling after him.

He doesn't know where to go, just that he needs to go somewhere. Anywhere. He winds through the castle halls aimlessly, past his lab and his room. He finally drops to the floor and leans against the wall, exhausted. Tears begin to flow, and it feels like hours have passed before he realizes where his wandering led him.

"Varian?"

     Recognizing the unexpected voice addressing him, Varian instinctively hops up off the floor. "King Frederic, sir..." Despite his best effort, his voice catches in his throat.

     Frederic takes in the sight before him. "Is there any particular reason you are sitting in front of my bedroom door, young man?"

     Varian glances behind him, realizing that he is, indeed, outside of the former king and queen's chambers. "Uh... I can honestly say, sir, that I have no idea."

     Frederic raises an eyebrow, but his expression is still sympathetic. "Please, son. Call me Fred."

     Varian nods respectfully, but he knows that he will never be casual enough with the former king to call him this. If he is being honest with himself, he has never completely forgiven Frederic for the way he treated him. Tossing him in jail and forgetting all about him, despite promising Rapunzel to get him the help he needed. Varian was a child, lost and misguided. He needed someone to direct him and assist him back onto the right path, not cage him up like an animal.

     But, the royal family allows Varian to work and live here. So he will continue to show Frederic the needed respect.

     Varian steps aside to let Frederic into his room, but the older man doesn't move. He continues to regard Varian with an uncertain gaze.

     "Look Varian, I know we've had our... issues in the past. And I know I would never be the first person you would choose to open up to," Frederic says. "But, it's obvious something led you here. If you need to talk, I'm willing to listen."

     Varian ponders this. It is true, something inside him led him here. Could it be that, with the news about losing his father, his brain subconsciously selected Frederic as the nearest potential father figure? He can't say for sure. But he does know, he is not yet willing to open up to Frederic.

     "Thanks, but... I think I'm just gonna go now." Varian begins to walk down the hallway, but he comes to a halt when he sees Rapunzel, Eugene, and Arianna rounding the corner.

     "Varian, there you are!" Rapunzel envelops him in a crushing bear hug, making it nearly impossible for him to breathe. "I was so worried about you when you rushed out like that!"

"Rapunzel and Eugene just told me the news," Arianna says, also embracing Varian but not quite so air-constricting. "I am so sorry. Truly."

     As Arianna releases Varian, he manages a weak smile. He has never considered himself all that close to the former queen... especially since he once kidnapped her to lure Rapunzel to his home and force her to help him free his dad. But that was so long ago, and she has such a sweet, compassionate manner about her. He doesn't remember much of his own mom, so he occasionally takes comfort in her motherly ways.

     "How you holdin' up, kid?" Eugene asks, expressing nearly as much pain and distress on his face as there is on Varian's. His eyes are reddened and his cheeks are tear-stained.

     "About the same as you, I'm guessing," Varian replies.

Eugene nods, and places a hand on Varian's shoulder. He keeps it there for a moment, the two of them silently taking comfort in each other. Varian has to admit, it is different having somebody to share this pain with. The last time he lost his father, he had to endure through it alone... and it drove him over the edge. But right now, though it still hurts to be going through this again, it helps a little knowing Eugene is experiencing the same emotions. Or, at least similar emotions.

"I, uh... I think I need to get some rest now," Varian admits. He gives the others a slight wave, and then walks away. He heads to his room, where he is immediately greeted by an eager Ruddiger. The raccoon leaps onto his shoulder, swishing his tail excitedly.

"Not now, buddy. I got some really bad news tonight..." Varian says, plucking Ruddiger off his shoulder and placing him back down on the floor. Ruddiger suddenly appears concerned, and watches as Varian allows himself to fall backward onto his bed.

Varian sighs deeply. "What am I going to do?" Tears threaten to sting his eyes again, and he hops up from his bed. He begins to pace, a still-confused Ruddiger staring at him.

His dad is gone. How can his dad be gone again? He is struggling to believe that it is true.

But wait... his dad isn't gone. He's trapped. At least, that's what Cassandra said. She actually saw him, inside that mysterious dome. If somebody is trapped, there's a chance they can be set free!

     "I have to talk to Cassandra again," Varian says, rushing out of his bedroom and down the castle halls. Ruddiger has no clue what is going on, but he follows after Varian in hopes of finding out.

     "Cassandra!" Varian shouts, a little too loudly considering the lateness of the hour. He knocks on her bedroom door frantically. "Cass!"

     Cassandra opens her door with bleary eyes. "Varian...? Where's the fire?"

"When are you leaving Corona?" Varian asks.

     "Geez, I just got here!" Cassandra replies. "You in a hurry to get rid of me?"

     "What? No!" Varian shakes his head. "You're misunderstanding. When you leave, are you going back to the Dark Kingdom?"

     "I was planning on it," Cassandra tells him. "That dome is super weird. I'm gonna try to figure out what it is and where it came from."

     "That's what I was hoping you'd say." Varian stands up straighter, his face hardening with resolve. "I'm coming with you."

Chapter Text

"This story is getting really sad..." Opal admits.

     "I tried to warn you, Little Gem," Varian says, softly tucking a strand of hair behind his daughter's ear.

     "Maybe we should stop there," Cassandra suggests. "It really only gets worse from here."

     "No, I wanna hear the rest!" Opal protests. "I wanna know how something good, like you two falling in love, came from so much bad."

     Varian and Cassandra smirk at each other. Their daughter inherited her persistence from both of them, so they know that she won't let up.

     "Alright, alright..." Cassandra tells her. "So, your father had just decided that he was traveling with me to the Dark Kingdom. But he wasn't the first to come to this decision..."

Cassandra feels horrible that she had to break the news of the Dark Kingdom to Varian and Eugene. And she especially feels bad when Varian makes a swift exit from the room. A part of her wants to follow after him and make sure he is okay, but she holds herself back. She isn't sure he would want her to check on him...

Varian has been acting really strange around her ever since she returned, and she can only guess why. Could it be that he never truly forgave her for what she did in the past? It doesn't make sense, considering he, himself, has a similar past to hers. She never imagined that he'd be that hypocritical. But she can't figure out why else he would be reacting this way when she's around...

But here she is, worried about the way Varian may think of her, when there are things much worse to be worrying about.

"I... think I'll take the rest of my dinner to go," Cassandra says, standing up from the table.

Eugene steps in front of her, blocking her way. "What else can you tell me about this dome?"

"I've told you all I know," Cassandra replies.

"Are you sure? There's nothing else?" Eugene presses.

Cassandra shakes her head.

Eugene suddenly slams his fist on the table, causing Lance and even Rapunzel to jump. "There has to be something else! Anything else!" He shouts.

"What do you want me to say, Fitzherbert?!" Cassandra shouts back, as Lance begins to slowly back into the corner with his plate of food. "I don't have some magical answer to fix this!"

Eugene opens his mouth to retort, but Rapunzel gently touches his arm. He sighs deeply, and then plops back down in his chair. "I know, I'm sorry Cass. I'm just—"

"Hey, no need to apologize," Cassandra tells him, her voice softer.

"We'll work through this together," Rapunzel adds, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his neck.

But as Cassandra exits the room, Eugene stands back up and follows after her. "I'm going."

"Going?" Cassandra repeats. "Going where? To the Dark Kingdom?"

"No, to Pittsford. Of course to the Dark Kingdom, CassAndra!" Eugene replies.

"But Eugene, I can't go," Rapunzel informs him. "I'm the queen. I have duties to attend to right now."

Eugene turns around to face Rapunzel, gently stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. "I know, Sunshine. But... I have to go."

Rapunzel's eyes grow misty, but she nods. "I understand. Just, please be careful."

"Whoa, hold on," Cassandra says. "Don't I have any say in this?"

"Nope," Eugene tells her. "I'm coming, Cass, whether you like it or not. I have to find out what happened to my father, and if there's any way to save him."

"I'm sure if there is, I can figure it out on my own," Cassandra says.

"You don't understand," Eugene tells her. "I have to be there for him..."

Oh, joy... a trip with Fitzherbert, Cassandra thinks. She can come up with about a hundred other things she'd rather do, but she knows she can't do anything to change his mind. And honestly, he can't be much more annoying than Abhu...

Finally, Cassandra heads back to her room as the others begin to search the castle for Varian. Again, she feels an urge to join them. But she fights against it, believing that it is for the best.

A while later, after she settles in for the night and falls asleep, she hears a frantic knocking at her door and someone calling her name. Wait, not just someone... Varian.

     With a yawn, she hops out of bed and opens the door. She finds, to no surprise, Varian standing there with his pet raccoon. "Where's the fire?"

     "When are you leaving Corona?"

     Cassandra blinks a few times. "Geez, I just got here! You in a hurry to get rid of me?""

     "What? No! You're misunderstanding. When you leave, are you going back to the Dark Kingdom?"

     "I was planning on it. That dome is super weird. I'm gonna try to figure out exactly what it is and where it came from."

     "That's what I was hoping you'd say... I'm coming with you."

     Cassandra sighs. Another unexpected traveler joining her. "Honestly, I'm surprised it took you this long."

     "What?" Varian says.

     "Fitzherbert already beat you to the punch," she explains. "He's coming, too."

     "Without Rapunzel?" Varian asks, sounding shocked.

     "Yep. Crazy, I know."

     "Cass, are you okay? What's with all the shouting?"

     And cue Abhu... Cassandra thinks with a groan.

     Once Abhu spots Varian, he stops. Varian turns to face him, and raises an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Varian, Abhu. Abhu, Varian," Cassandra says hurriedly. She is still exhausted from her trip and would love nothing more than to get some shuteye.

"Ah, okay. The wizard," Abhu says, extending his hand. "I've heard a lot about you, Varian."

"I'm an alchemist, actually," Varian corrects, hesitantly shaking Abhu's hand. "And you are...?"

"Just a friend of Cassie's from Arendelle," Abhu replies.

Cassandra rolls her eyes. "I told you to stop calling me that!"

Abhu chuckles. "She pretends to hate that nickname, but she really loves it," he says to Varian.

Cassandra notices how annoyed Varian seems to be. "Yes, I know. I called her that first," he says.

What is happening? Whatever it is, it's the last thing she wants to deal with right now. "Great! Now that we all know each other... let me get some sleep." She slams the door shut before either man can protest. She crawls back into bed, and she believes she can hear a whispered conversation between the two of them through the door. But she throws a pillow over her head to drown them out, and before long she is slumbering peacefully.

Chapter Text

"Yay, road trip!" Opal says excitedly, believing the story may finally be taking a turn for the better.

     "Heh, sort of," Varian says. "The trip to the Dark Kingdom actually didn't take us that long... And it was more in the air than on the road."

     "But it was the first leg in what would be the craziest adventure any of us had been on," Cassandra adds. "An adventure that would've been a lot better if some people could get along." She glares pointedly at Varian.

     "What're you looking at me for?!" Varian asks. "I wasn't the only one who didn't get along with Abhu. You argued with him just as much!"

Cassandra rolls her eyes, then turns her attention back to her daughter. "Our journey may have gotten off to a rocky start..."

"...But we figured things out along the way," Varian adds. "We figured a lot of things out along the way..."

"Great! Now that we all know each other... let me get some sleep."

     Cassandra slams her bedroom door in both Varian and Abhu's faces. Varian glares at this new guy, who seems surprised, and wonders who exactly he is and why he is here.

And who does he think he is? Showing up out of nowhere and calling Cass "Cassie" like that?! That's Varian's thing!

"Okay then..." Abhu whispers. "I've never seen her be that rude before. I guess she's had a rough day."

Never seen her be that rude...? "Do you even know Cass?" Varian asks with obvious irritation in his voice.

"For your information, I've known her for four years!" Abhu replies.

"Well, I've known her for eight years!"

Abhu shakes his head. "You may have met her eight years ago, but how well do you know her now?"

Varian stares at the ground, the six years since he last saw Cassandra feeling like a giant void all of a sudden. "...She sent me letters."

"Oh, guess you're best buddies then," Abhu says sarcastically.

"Hey, you have no idea of the history we have!" Varian tells him, struggling to keep his voice low.

Finally, Abhu's expression falters. "Actually, you're right, there... I don't know much about her past at all."

     "You've known her four years, and you don't know about her past?" Varian wonders just how much of Cassandra's past Abhu doesn't know.

     "She doesn't really like to open up," Abhu says. "She's been a tough nut to crack."

     This is something Varian understands. He, himself, has a difficult time opening up to people... especially about his past.

     "Yeah, well... We better get going before she kills us both," Varian whispers. Abhu appears as if he is about to retort, but Varian walks away without giving him the chance.

After a few days of packing and making preparations, the small group of travelers are finally ready to hit the road. Or, rather, the air.

     "Are you sure you're okay with letting us borrow the Royal Balloon?" Cassandra asks Rapunzel as Varian loads their supplies into its basket. "I'm not sure when we'll be able to bring it back."

     "Of course I'm okay with it!" Rapunzel replies. "You know I'd do anything for you, Cass."

     The two of them embrace, and Varian finds himself smiling at the sweet scene. He, like most of the kingdom, is overjoyed and relieved that Cass and Raps restored their friendship. And it's even stronger than it ever was before.

While giving Rapunzel and Eugene a moment to say a tearful goodbye, Cassandra approaches Varian and begins to assist him in loading up the hot air balloon.

"Really? You have to bring this along?" Cassandra asks, holding up Varian's Truth Ray.

Varian nods. "Of course! I still can't get it to work correctly. I'm hoping to rectify that on the trip."

Cassandra tosses the device to him, and he gently places it into the basket. "I thought you were coming to figure out why there's a huge dome over the Dark Kingdom, not play Inventor."

"First of all, I'm not playing Inventor, I am an inventor," Varian replies. "And second of all, I can do both. It's called multitasking."

Ruddiger hops up onto Varian's shoulder, and leaps into the balloon's basket excitedly. He then stares up at Varian expectantly, tapping his paw.

"Well, at least somebody is eager to get going," Varian says, glancing around and realizing that they are still missing one of their party members. "Where is that friend of yours, anyway?"

Cassandra rolls her eyes. "Probably drilling guardsmen on the correct protocol to protect the castle." When Varian doesn't seem to understand, she adds, "He and I were both on the Guard in Arendelle. He's a bit particular about protocols..."

"Okay," Varian says slowly. "That's great that you finally became a guard, though! I'm happy for you." He hesitates for a moment before asking, "Who exactly is Abhu, though?"

     "I just told you. He's a fellow guard from Arendelle."

     Varian still feels as if there is more to the story. "Yeah, but—"

     "Who's ready to fly?" Abhu finally emerges from the castle, looking cleansed and refreshed. "Man, that hot shower is everything!"

     "I know, right?!" Eugene agrees, clapping his hand against Abhu's back. "We have our very own Royal Engineer to thank for that." He gestures to Varian.

     Abhu's expression falls, and he turns to Varian looking unimpressed. "So you're a wizard, an alchemist, and a Royal Engineer? Well, aren't you just a Triple Threat..."

     Varian glares at Abhu. He basically admitted that he considers Varian a threat. "I'm not a wizard. I don't work with magic."

     Before Abhu can respond, Eugene gives Rapunzel one last kiss and then hops into the basket. "Let's get going, time's a-wastin'!"

     Rapunzel grabs both of Abhu's hands and shakes them enthusiastically. "It was so wonderful to meet you, Abhu! Now, you be sure to take care of our Cassandra out there." She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.

     Cassandra groans, facepalming. Varian glowers at the queen, but she doesn't seem to notice. Seriously, Rapunzel, do not do that... Varian thinks. But it only makes him realize that he isn't the only one who suspects Abhu's... for lack of a better word, 'intentions' toward Cassandra.

As the four of them (plus a raccoon) pile into the balloon, Varian is thankful that it won't take them long to fly to the Dark Kingdom. They begin to lift off the ground, and Rapunzel continuously waves to them. Even though she seems in good spirits, Varian notices her eyes are misty with tears. He knows that she would love nothing more than to be coming along with them, but she has duties to fulfill as Queen.

     Once they are high in the air, the wind whipping through their hair, Varian hears a hoot and sees Owl soaring along with them.

     "Owl!" Varian says eagerly. "Long time no see, buddy!" He holds out his arm invitingly, and Owl perches on it with his wide, joyful eyes. But once Owl catches sight of Abhu, his eyes narrow.

"Yeah, same to you, you flying rat..." Abhu mumbles. "You better just get out of here before I shoot you with Cassandra's bow."

     Owl lets out an irritated screech, and then takes off again. But he still flies alongside the balloon.

     Varian and Eugene exchange glances, and then look to Cassandra. Varian wonders how she is going to handle Abhu's attitude. He watches as a protective anger builds in her eyes, but she takes in a deep breath and lets it out in a long sigh. She turns away, leaning against the edge of the basket to gaze down at the passing scenery below them.

     Varian has to keep his mouth from hanging open in shock. Why didn't Cassandra say anything? Why didn't she take up for Owl?! He knows she wanted to. He saw that much in her body language. And the Cassandra he knows would have absolutely given Abhu the what-for. But as he looks between her and Abhu, the latter staring at her intently as she continues to quietly observe the view, he wonders what is going through her head.

     "Alrighty then," Eugene says, his voice an octave higher than usual. "The new guy does not like birds... Noted."

     "It isn't birds I mind," Abhu says. "Just owls, in particular..."

     Varian shakes his head, still wondering about Cassandra. Why isn't she being herself? What is holding her back?

Chapter Text

The expression, "Time flies when you're having fun" could not be less accurate in Varian's case. They are literally flying, but time seems to be dragging on. The awkward silence is almost too much for him to bear, and to make matters worse Abhu never seems to take his eyes off of Cassandra.

To keep himself occupied, Varian pulls out his Truth Ray and starts to fiddle with it. Ruddiger even brings a few of his tools over to him to help him out.

"What kind of weapon is that?" Abhu asks once he spots the strange device.

"It's not a weapon," Varian replies. "It's a device that creates a directional projection of light energy that, when shone directly in the subject's pupils, will—"

     "Ugh, not this again..." Cassandra moans. "What Genius Boy's trying to say here is, it's a Truth Ray."

     "A Truth Ray? Like, to make people tell the truth?" Abhu says.

     "Essentially," Varian explains. "It's supposed to calm the subject into revealing their secrets, but..." He toggles the trigger a couple times, scratching his head as nothing happens. "It still needs some work."

"Well, forcing people to tell the truth still sounds like a weapon to me," Abhu remarks.

"This is the first I've heard of it," Eugene says. "You're supposed to keep me informed about whatever new inventions you concoct. Just in case, you know..." He mimes an explosion, making a sound effect with his mouth.

     "It was supposed to be a surprise," Varian tells him. "A gift. You know, for your anniversary."

     Eugene cracks a smile. "Well thanks, Hair Stripe."

     "Don't thank me until it's finished," Varian says. But he returns the smile.

     As Varian continues to work on his invention, Eugene regards Cassandra and Abhu. "Sooo, what exactly is the deal with you two?"

     "Way to be subtle, Fitzherbert..." Cassandra says with an irritated sigh.

     "No, really. How do you get her to keep you around?" Eugene asks Abhu. "I mean, no offense, but you don't seem like the type of person CassAndra would choose to hang out with."

     Varian listens with rapt attention. He, himself, has been wondering the same thing.

"We just... kept meeting each other," Abhu says. "It's like we were destined to be a team."

"Kept meeting each other?" Varian repeats. "How?"

"Let's save that story for another time," Cassandra says. "We have other problems to worry about right now." She points to the sky ahead of them, and they all notice the dark, ominous clouds approaching.

"A storm is coming!" Eugene says as rain sprinkles over them. "Brace yourselves, everyone! We're setting this thing down."

Varian complies, and brings the hot air balloon down as Ruddiger chitters nervously. While the rain begins to cascade down in sheets, the balloon lands along the outskirts of a small, charming village. But the gang don't have the time to admire their new surroundings, as they rush to seek cover from the torrential downpour.

Discovering a decorative gazebo nearby, they huddle underneath it. Varian is sandwiched between Eugene and Cassandra, and he takes the opportunity to move slightly closer to Cass. Feeling her shoulder brush against his causes an enjoyable warmth to spread throughout his body, despite the chill of the weather.

"I hope this storm doesn't last long," Abhu says. "All of our stuff is in the balloon!"

"Don't worry, we still have a clear view of the balloon from here," Eugene replies. "Not that anyone would be crazy enough to try to take our belongings in this weath— Hey, is that someone in our balloon?!"

They all turn their attention to the balloon, and sure enough a stranger is digging through the basket.

"Hey!" Cassandra shouts, drawing her sword. "Get outta there!"

The stranger snaps his head out of the basket. He is tall, bespectacled, wearing his bright blond hair in a ponytail, and has piercings in his left ear. And... are those goggles around his neck?

Realizing he has been spotted, the stranger grabs the bag closest to him and darts away.

     "No, come back!" Abhu calls out. "That's mine!"

     "I'm pretty sure he already knows that," Cassandra says. She begins pursuing the stranger, her sword at the ready.

     Instinctively, Varian follows after Cass. He soon hears the footsteps of Eugene and Abhu close behind as they slosh through the mud, the terrain changing from dirt road to forest. Even Ruddiger joins the chase, his tiny paws leaving prints as he runs.

     Varian sees Cassandra up ahead, hot on the heels of the tall thief. She is quick, but the thief is quicker. He weaves smoothly around the trees, obviously attempting to lose her. He leaps over an old log, and shoves it in her direction. She evades it with ease, but doesn't expect the large boulder that he rolls at her next.

     "Cass!" Varian calls out worriedly. He pulls a light brown sphere from his pocket, and tosses it at the boulder. Within seconds, the stone has disintegrated into dust.

     Seeing this display of alchemy causes the thief to pause in surprise only briefly, but it is enough for Cassandra to catch up with him. She leaps toward him, grabbing his ankle and causing him to trip. When he falls to the ground, she stands over the top of him, pointing the edge of her sword at his chest.

"You're pretty good, but I'm better," Cassandra tells him, as Varian comes up beside her. Thankfully the rain has mostly stopped, so they have a clearer view of this stranger.

     The thief smirks, as if he is completely unfazed by the threat of the weapon. "What's a gorgeous damsel like you doing with the likes of him?"

     Varian raises an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

     "Hey, I meant no offense," the thief says. "Oh, wait... Yes I did."

     "Just give us the bag you stole," Cassandra demands, pressing her sword slightly into his shirt.

     "Alright, alright," the thief says, his smirk never leaving his face. "Whatever is in this must be pretty valuable."

     "It isn't anything that would be of interest to you," Cassandra says as the thief slowly hands her the bag. "It has sentimental value to my friend."

     "Who? Freckles, here?" The thief asks, gesturing to Varian.

     "Absolutely not," Varian says, folding his arms.

Before the thief can respond, Eugene and Abhu finally catch up to them. Eugene leans against a tree, panting. "Hoo man, it has been a long time since I had to run like that..."

Still lying on the ground beneath Cassandra's sword, the thief's eyes widen in recognition. "Heeey, it's Rider!"

Eugene looks to the thief in surprise. "Hugo? You're the one we've been running after?"

"You know this guy?" Cassandra asks.

"We sort of teamed up once back in my Flynn Rider days," Eugene explains.

"Sort of?" Hugo repeats, feigning offense. "I thought we were closer friends than that, Flynn."

"It's Eugene now," Eugene corrects him.

Abhu approaches Cassandra, and takes his bag from her. He checks inside, and then sighs with relief. "It's still here."

"Care to share what in that bag has you so wound up, that this raven-haired enchantress refuses to move the tip of her weapon from my torso?" Hugo winks at Cassandra, who rolls her eyes in return.

     Varian doesn't like this guy flirting with Cassandra. He doesn't like it one bit. And what's worse, Hugo notices that it bothers him and seems to be finding amusement in it.

     "Like I would ever tell a rotten thief like you!" Abhu says. He stomps off, heading back toward the balloon, clutching his bag and its contents close.

     "Okay, the bag is clearly out of my reach. Wanna let me go now?" Hugo says.

     "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Cassandra says. "But it's not gonna happen. We're turning you in to the local authorities." She faces Eugene and adds, "Why don't you go find them, Fitzherbert? Varian and I will keep this clown under control." Eugene nods, and heads back towards the town.

     "Ooh, I like a lady who takes charge." Hugo smirks at Cassandra, but then pointedly glances at Varian.

     "Would you stop that?!" Varian shouts.

     "Why?" Hugo asks, though it is evident he doesn't actually care why. "Are you two...?"

     Varian feels a blush creeping up on his cheeks, which only causes Hugo to chuckle.

     "No, we are not," Cassandra replies quickly, taking Varian aback. Did she have to say it so sharply?

     "Oh, but someone wishes you were," Hugo says with a sly smile.

     He did not just say that...

     "Huh?" Cassandra turns to look at Varian, as if noticing him for the first time. He bites his lip nervously, his blush deepening.

With Cassandra briefly distracted, Hugo twists his feet under hers. She falls backward, her sword skidding across the ground.

     In a split second, Hugo pulls something from his pocket and tosses it at Cass as he sprints off. With a puff of silver smoke, she is suddenly paralyzed in place, unable to move.

     "Hey, get back here!" Varian shouts, chasing after Hugo. Did this guy really just use alchemy?

     Hugo is too fast, so instead of running further Varian pulls an alchemical solution of his own from his pocket. He tosses it in Hugo's direction, and in an explosion of pink the blond's feet are trapped in a gooey substance.

     "Wha...?" Hugo attempts to escape out of the trap, but it is useless.

"That is alchemy," Varian says proudly, folding his arms.

     "Great job Freckles," Hugo says. "But it's a bit juvenile, don'tcha think?" He pours a green liquid all over the pink goo, and it instantly dissolves.

     "B-but..." Varian stammers.

     "It's okay, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it someday," Hugo teases, actually having the nerve to pat Varian on the back.

     "At least I don't use my talents for petty theft!" Varian shouts.

     For a moment, Hugo almost seems genuinely affected by Varian's words. But his typical smirk quickly returns. "You've got some nice tricks Freckles, I'll give you that. But I've got some tricks of my own..."

     Before Varian can react, Hugo tosses a vial to the ground. A thick, black fog billows around Varian, stinging his eyes. He coughs as he loses sight of Hugo.

     "It's really a shame, you know. The fact that we're on two different sides," Varian hears Hugo say from somewhere in the fog. "I feel like you and I might've gotten along swell. But I guess that's a story for another life."

     The fog clears. Hugo is gone.

Chapter Text

"What was in the bag that Hugo stole?" Opal asks. She is curious why it would be so important, that her mom would run after a thief to retrieve it.

     "You'll soon find out, Little Gem," Varian replies. "I was wondering the same thing at the time."

     "I knew what was in that bag, and what it meant to Abhu," Cassandra says. "But none of us knew just how important it would be to our journey..."

Once the alchemical solution Hugo used on Cassandra wears off, she and Varian head back to the hot air balloon. On the way, they come across Eugene and a short guy wearing a Sheriff's badge.

     "What're you guys doing?" Eugene asks. "Where's Hugo?"

     "He got away..." Cassandra replies, dejected. She can't believe she let the thief escape! She feels as if she is losing her edge.

     "I'll get my people on it," the Sheriff tells them. "I'm sure we can catch that rascal!" He turns around, and heads back to his town.

     "They'll never catch him," Eugene says with a slight chuckle.

     "He... he was..." Varian stammers, struggling to find his words. "You never told me you knew another alchemist before!"

     "Oh, yeah," Eugene says with a shrug. "Guess I did."

Varian stares at him expectantly.

     "What do you want me to say, Hair Stripe?" Eugene says. "I really didn't know him that well. We just partnered up once for a quick caper. And I do mean quick. That guy has some exceptional tricks, let me tell ya. I don't even know why he needed me!"

Varian retorts back at Eugene, but honestly Cassandra doesn't hear it. She walks away from their conversation to inspect the rest of their items in the balloon, mulling over everything that just happened. In the past, she never would have let a lowlife thug like Hugo get the drop on her so easily. But what did allow him to gain the upper hand?

His remark... What had he asked?

"Are you two...?"

Then what had he added?

"Oh, but someone wishes you were."

What had he meant by that? And why had Varian turned pink as Rapunzel's favorite cupcake frosting when she looked at him?

     "Something on your mind?" Abhu asks.

     Cassandra glances up at him briefly, but then turns her attention back to their luggage. "No, not really," she lies. "I'm just ready to get moving."

     "You and me both," he says. He steps closer to her, and places a hand on her shoulder. She tenses up, but he doesn't seem to notice. "Thank you for getting my dad's journal back."

"You're welcome," she replies, pulling away from him but doing so in a way to make it appear nonchalant. "I know how much it means to you."

     "A journal?" Eugene says as he and Varian approach the two of them. "That's what all the fuss was about? Yeah, Hugo would've definitely been immensely disappointed if he had looked inside that bag."

     "It's not just a journal," Abhu explains. "It's the only thing I have from my dad."

     "But he can't understand a thing in it," Cassandra adds. "The pages seems to have riddles or something..."

"Okay... What for?" Eugene asks.

"Some kind of legend he devoted his life to studying," Abhu replies. "But, um... It's not really something I want to talk about right now."

"Oh, that's too bad," Varian says. "I-I'm actually considerably proficient at solving riddles. Maybe I could take a look at it?"

Abhu narrows his eyes, clutching his bag containing the journal tighter. "Sorry, but no."

     "Okay... Why not?" Varian asks, sounding offended.

     "Because it's private!" Abhu replies.

     "If you can't even comprehend what's written it it, then it's obviously not written for you," Varian says.

     "But that doesn't mean it's written for you!" Abhu says.

     "But someone more intelligent should consider it," Varian says. "Otherwise it might never—"

     "Enough!" Cassandra shouts, standing between them. "I don't know what is going on with you two, but it needs to stop!"

Varian is mildly surprised by her outburst, but Abhu seems absolutely stunned. Ever since she left Corona all those years ago, she has been trying to leave her past behind her... including her negative, snarky, easily-annoyed personality. She knows that if people like Abhu knew about all the horrible things she has done, they would never understand. They would judge her unkindly, and she would feel like an outcast all over again. So, she tries to bury this side of her deep, deep down.

     But her return to Corona seems to be bringing out the old her again, and it's terrifying. She could sense the judging eyes of the Coronan people from the moment she set foot back into the kingdom, and it's that kind of judgement that can cause her to feel so alone in the world.

     She has hidden herself considerably well from Abhu for the few years she's known him. But now, being around her old friends, it's getting harder to keep herself in check.

     "I wholeheartedly agree," Eugene says in response to Cass. "Less arguing, more flying!"

They all hop back into the balloon and take to the sky. Cassandra once again leans against the side of the basket. Owl swoops in, landing on her outstretched arm, and she strokes his head gently. But, despite her back being turned towards the others, she can still feel Abhu's questioning gaze upon her. She pointedly ignores him.

     "We're almost there!" Eugene announces after what feels like an eternity. "Or, at least, I think we are..."

     Cassandra can hear the concern in his voice, and she understands where it is coming from. They have been here before, so the terrain should seem familiar. But whatever happened here, whatever caused that dome, has made the area practically unrecognizable. All that King Edmund worked so hard to rebuild in the last six years, has been totally demolished. The kingdom looks worse than it did the first time they arrived here.

     "Whoa..." Varian says, taking in the defaced region below them.

     "I'm not sure I want to land here," Abhu says.

     "We have to," Eugene says, his grim expression turning to one of determination.

     The dome Cassandra informed them of comes into view. They can see the castle within, at the center of it.

"Where's the village?" Eugene says in dismay. "My dad wrote about a new village they built around the castle..."

     "Yeah, I saw it when I came here with my dad," Varian says. "But it's... it's gone."

     "I told you everything was destroyed," Cassandra reminds them.

     "Well, the castle looks the same as always!" Eugene points out with irritation.

     Varian lands the balloon only a short distance away from the dome. As they all pile out of the basket, they see a figure in the mist rushing in their direction.

     "No, get out of here!" Adira shouts at them in the distance. She is still so far away that they can barely make her out, but her voice is undeniable. "It isn't safe! You have to leave!"

     Cassandra doesn't ever remember hearing Adira sound so... panicked. A chill runs through her veins as her instincts sense the danger around them. But in the split second it takes her brain to register everything, it is already too late.

     "What... Is... That?!" Varian shouts, terror evident in his entire being.

     What they see is unlike anything they have ever witnessed before. It is immense. It is unnerving. And it is coming straight for them.

Chapter Text

"What was it? What was at the Dark Kingdom?" Opal asks anxiously, her and Luna's eyes wide as saucers.

     "At the time there was only one word to describe what we saw," Varian replies. "...Monstrous."

Varian has done a lot of research in his young life. But in all the books he has read, he has never seen or heard of anything like what he and the others are currently observing.

     Floating towards them is a gigantic red and black mass, similar to that of a cloud or even gas in appearance. But it is too close to the ground to be a cloud, and it is not spreading like a gas. It is moving in a stable and collective manner, like a sentient creature. And it is approaching speedily, making a soft 'whooshing' sound as it draws near.

"Get out of here!" Adira repeats, barely outrunning the mass.

     "I think we'd better listen to the strange, tall person!" Abhu says, climbing back into the balloon. The others follow suit, and even Adira clambers in just before they take to the sky.

     "Always a pleasure to run into you, Adira," Eugene says sarcastically. "Now, if you would be so kind as to explain to us... What the heck is that thing?!"

Before Adira can respond, the balloon jolts, causing some of the ropes attached to the basket to snap. The basket turns on its side, and everyone lose their footing. Varian, Eugene, Adira, and Ruddiger manage to stay inside the basket, but Cassandra and Abhu roll out. Cass quickly reaches out and grabs onto the edge of the basket, but Abhu only manages to cling on to her legs. His extra weight makes it difficult for her to hold on, and her fingers start to slip as she loses her grip.

"Cass!" Varian shouts worriedly. He carefully crawls over to her, and grabs onto her hand just in time. While he holds onto her, Eugene slides over to them and helps drag Abhu up. Once Abhu is safely back in the basket, it is easier for Varian to pull Cass in. She falls into his arms as relief floods over him.

But he doesn't have time to enjoy the moment. As the gang glance below, they observe the cause of the sudden jolt... the mass, or creature, or whatever it is, is flying after them.

"Whatever you do, do not feel fear," Adira tells them in almost a whisper.

"Don't feel fear?" Abhu repeats. "Do you see what's chasing us?!"

"Besides, you sounded moderately scared yourself a second ago," Cassandra remarks, still sitting close to Varian. She may not be aware that her hand is touching his, but he is. Extremely aware.

     "I was worried for your safety," Adira says. "And that worry is possibly why we are in this mess."

     "So you finally admit you did something wrong?" Eugene says.

     "No, I would not have been worried if you had not shown up!" Adira replies.

     "Okay, less fighting and more explaining, please," Varian says. "What is that mass, and why can't we feel fear?"

"Don't you mean, how do we not feel fear?!" Abhu shouts. "Whatever that thing is, it's gonna cause us to crash!"

     As if on cue, the balloon lurches again and inexplicably begins to plummet downward.

     "What is happening?!" Eugene asks as they all cling to the basket for dear life.

     Adira looks Abhu directly in his eyes. "Take a deep breath," she tells him calmly.

     "What are you talking about?!" Abhu yells, his eyes wide with panic.

     Before Adira can explain, the balloon crashes to the earth violently. The basket bounces along the ground, spilling them and their luggage out across the rocky land.

     "Ouch..." Varian moans, rubbing his head as he sits up. He vaguely registers hearing a soft 'whoosh' receding in the distance.

Ruddiger... Where's Ruddiger?! He glances around, and notices that Owl seems to have swept in and caught the raccoon before any harm could be done to him. Varian heaves a sigh of relief.

"My leg, I think it's broken!" Eugene announces, wincing as he lies sprawled across the ground.

     Varian rushes to Eugene's side. His leg is twisted into an abnormal angle. "Yep, it's definitely broken," he says.

     "Oh, excellent deduction," Abhu says sarcastically. "You make it a habit to state the obvious?"

"Okay, I think you need to calm down," Cassandra says to Abhu.

"I agree," Adira adds. "The balloon crashed because of you." She gestures to the wreckage, around them.

"Because of me? How is this my fault?" Abhu asks.

Adira breathes in deeply as she approaches Eugene and tends to his leg. "That creature that was chasing us... I have been observing it for a long time now. Studying it. While I may not completely understand how it operates yet, it seems to me that this being thrives on fear."

"What do you mean by that?" Varian asks, his curiosity piqued.

Eugene screams out in pain as Adira unexpectedly sets his leg. "A little warning would've been nice!" He shouts.

"From what I've seen, it causes what a person fears to come true," Adira replies to Varian as she grabs a nearby stick, completely ignoring Eugene's outburst. "I am afraid that is what happened to this kingdom. Hand me a piece of cloth."

Varian digs through their belongings and finds Adira some cloth, then hands it to her. She uses it and the stick to make a splint, and attaches it to Eugene's leg.

"I'm still confused," Cassandra admits.

Adira stands up. "King Edmund has been worried about rebuilding the Dark Kingdom ever since he began. He is concerned that he will never be able to bring it back to its former glory."

"What? That can't be true," Eugene says. "He wrote me letters about his progress all the time! He always seemed fine, and even excited about it."

"With all due respect, Fish Skin, you haven't been here," Adira says. "He has been hiding it well, but I've seen the distress in his eyes."

"'Fish Skin'?" Abhu repeats with a chuckle.

"It's a long story..." Eugene says. "And actually, it's a compliment!"

"Uh-huh, sure," Abhu says, barely able to contain his laughter.

"Adira, what happened here?" Cassandra asks. "Tell us everything."

Adira nods. "I had gone out for a morning stroll to get some fresh air, as I often do. The warm sun on my face seemed to tell me it was going to be a peaceful day. Finally being rid of my bronchitis, I rested in the grass and observed as the residents of the kingdom worked on repairing a spire atop the castle in the distance—"

"Okay, maybe not everything," Cassandra interrupts with a groan.

"When did that creature show up? Where did it come from?" Varian asks, barely able to get his questions out fast enough. "W-Why does it thrive on fear? How does it—"

"Whoa whoa whoa," Adira says, holding her hands up to stop him. "I do not know where it came from or why it does what it does, but it showed up months ago. All I know is, when a team were excavating a site to rebuild a neighborhood, the Angst appeared."

     "The Angst?" Cassandra repeats.

     "That is what I have decided to call it," Adira says. "It's rather fitting, no?"

     "So, it showed up out of nowhere," Varian says, still trying to put the pieces together. "And then, what, it just created that bubble over the kingdom?"

     "It is more than a bubble," Adira says. "It is a way of halting the rebuilding of the Dark Kingdom... The very thing King Edmund was fearful of."

     A twinge inside Varian tells him his aunt may be on to something, but he also has a feeling that they are still missing the full picture.

     "Okay, so where is this 'Angst' now?" Eugene asks. "Why did it stop chasing us?"

     "Because we no longer feel fear," Adira replies simply. "It has likely moved on to the next fearful victim."

"Well that's no good," Cassandra says.

Varian couldn't agree more. "What can we do? Is-Is there any way to keep it from attacking anyone else?"

Adira sighs. "That, my young nephew, is a question I cannot answer."

Chapter Text

After such an exhausting event, plus the added encumbrance of Eugene's injured leg, the gang decide to make camp right where they are. The destruction didn't reach this far, so the area around them is still green. But Varian can perceive the silhouette of the dome encircling the Dark Kingdom... and he imagines his father within.

As Eugene rests against a nearby tree, the others attempt to salvage what they can from the balloon's wreckage. Varian discovers his Truth Ray amongst the disarray, a bit banged up but still in tact.

"Thanks, Owl," he hears Cassandra say. He faces her direction, and sees that her avian friend has uncovered her stuffed bag of belongings within the mess. She opens it and digs through it to insure its contents are secure, but before she ties it shut the sparkle of a familiar piece of jewelry flops out...

The necklace. The Cassandrium necklace he gave her all those years ago, when he discovered the element and named it after her. He last saw her wearing it the day she left Corona, but she still has it now? He is stunned.

What am I doing? He realizes, pondering his behavior ever since Cassandra returned. He has been acting shy, timid, and childish around her. Heck, even when he was a kid he didn't act this way around her! He recalls the day he gave her the necklace, how he undertook the task of impressing her, confidently and openly. And successfully, if he does say so himself. What happened to that Varian?

He silently resolves to channel this younger version of himself, from now on. Observing that Cass has kept that necklace all this time gives him hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, if he can play his cards right, he might actually have a chance to win her heart.

"So... You still have the Cassandrium, I see," he says as he approaches her.

     Cassandra pauses, momentarily taken aback. "You're snooping in my stuff, I see," she replies.

     He shakes his head. "Nah, just saw it when you opened your bag," he explains. "I, uh, honestly can't believe you kept it this long."

     "I kept it as a reminder," she says. "A reminder of a friend who means a lot to me."

     Friend. Not his favorite term, but better than others she could use. "I never got to tell you how much I missed you while you were gone."

"Really?" Cassandra seems genuinely surprised. "You've been acting kinda strange around me ever since I got back. I thought... I thought you were still mad at me."

"Mad at you? For what?"

Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "Seriously? Stealing the Moonstone, using it to take control of the kingdom, kidnapping you... the list goes on and on."

"That would be a bit hypocritical, wouldn't it?" Varian points out. "I mean, I stole the Sun Drop flower, used giant automatons to attack the kingdom, and kidnapped the queen." He shrugs as he says this. "It's all in the past."

She smirks slightly at his nonchalance, but immediately becomes serious again. "I wish it was that easy for me..."

     "What do you mean?" He asks.

     But she ignores his question. "Wait, if you weren't mad at me... Then why have you been acting so weird?"

     Varian freezes up. No, you are not going to do that! He mentally scolds himself. You have no reason to be afraid of your feelings... Now's your chance.

During his momentary pause, Cassandra chuckles. "You don't still have a crush on me, do you?" She jokes.

But Varian doesn't even crack a smile. "Well, I wouldn't exactly call what I'm feeling a crush..."

"What're you two talking about?" Abhu asks, speaking over the end of Varian's sentence as he approaches.

Can he read minds or something? Varian thinks with annoyance, taking note of the pointed glare Abhu gives him. This interruption was absolutely deliberate.

     "How's Fitzherbert doing?" Cassandra asks, apparently choosing to ignore Abhu's question.

     Cassandra is actually asking how Eugene is doing? Okay, that is flat-out strange. And she's accusing him of acting weird...

     "Fish Skin will be okay," Adira says, coming up behind Abhu. "But it will be a while before he is able to journey anywhere."

     "We aren't 'journeying' anytime soon," Varian says. "I plan on staying right here until I find a way to free my father."

     "But I have been here for months and have not learned a way to remove the dome," Adira tells him. "If there is an answer to this predicament, it may not lie here."

     "If the answer can't be found here, then why are you still here?" Cassandra asks.

     Adira closes her eyes dismally. "As the only sole survivor of this attack, I have a responsibility to watch over what remains."

     "Please don't say it like that," Varian says. "'Sole survivor' makes it sound like they're all dead. But we know they're not! We can see them through the dome!"

     "Nephew, we may be able to see them. But we do not truly know the status of their well-being," Adira says.

     Varian's expression hardens. "I refuse to believe that."

"You may refuse to believe it," Abhu says, "but that doesn't make what Tall Lady is saying any less true."

     Varian shakes his head. He cannot accept that nothing can be done to save his father and the others trapped inside that dome. "There has to be something we can do! I need to get a closer look at the dome and—"

     "And what, get attacked by that thing again?" Cassandra says. "It's likely to stick you in there with the rest of them! Then you definitely wouldn't be able to save your dad."

     "What else am I supposed to do?!" Varian shouts, feeling the pressure of the situation. "I came all this way to fix the problem, and that's what I intend to do!" But he immediately feels guilty about his outburst. "I'm sorry, I just... I feel so helpless, like I did last time..."

     "Last time?" Abhu inquires.

     "I, um, would rather not talk about it." Varian glances around, realizing that Abhu is the only person present who doesn't know about the amber. Or the snowstorm. Or the villainous things Varian did because of these events. And he doesn't plan on sharing these truths with this annoying guy whom he barely knows.

     "Okay then," Abhu says slowly. "Would you rather talk about whatever it was you and Cassie were discussing earlier?"

     Varian is so irritated with Abhu's use of Cassandra's nickname, that he feels as if actual steam may be billowing from the top of his head. But before he can speak, Cassandra tells Abhu, "Just... the past."

     "The past..." Adira repeats, contemplating the statement.

     "Yes," Cassandra says, dragging out the word as if she is nervous Adira will inquire further.

     "Sometimes the only way to solve a problem is to look to the past," Adira explains. "I have never heard of anything like the Angst before, but perhaps someone else has?"

     Varian lights up as hope begins to grow inside of him once again. "And if someone else knows about its past, maybe they know a way to defeat it!"

     "Precisely," Adira says, giving him an approving wink. "However, the only problem is... Since this creature seems to have originated from this area, anyone who would possibly know about it is most likely inside there." She gestures to the dome.

     Abhu opens his mouth as if he is about to speak, but he quickly closes it and begins walking away.

     "Wait wait, hold on!" Varian says, running after him. "Since when do you not say what's on your mind?"

     "I'm not sure I should say," Abhu says.

     "Okay, now you definitely have to," Cassandra says. They all regard Abhu curiously.

"Well, it's... it's about my dad's journal," he says. "His life's work, actually."

     "What about it?" Varian presses.

     "If what my dad researched is true," Abhu replies, "he might have found a way to look into the past."

Chapter Text

"Looking into the past?" Opal says with a grin. "I know a little bit about that!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Little Gem," Varian says, tickling her until she cackles.

"Yes, some of this may sound kind of familiar to you," Cassandra says. "But trust me when I say that, to us, what Abhu was saying sounded completely unreal..."

"You need to give us more of an explanation than that," Cassandra says to Abhu. He has never told her what exactly was in his father's journal—before this moment, she never cared. But now that this topic has been opened, there is no way she is letting him dodge it any longer.

Abhu inhales and exhales sharply, as if this is the last subject he wants to discuss. "When he was a kid, my dad heard this legend of some magical cavern. It was said that, upon entering this cavern, you would be shown the past, present, and even the future. All of Infinity. Of course, my dad didn't think this was just a legend... He believed with every ounce of his being that it was true. He devoted his life to researching the legend, to finding this 'Infinity.'

"Only when he married my mother did he briefly take a break from the search. He settled down for a while, they had me... But not long after I was born the desire to continue his search was too strong to resist. He left, and Mom never saw him again. I don't know if something happened to him, or if he maybe found what he was looking for. But either way, all I have of him is this journal." He holds the book up for them all to see. "It just showed up on our doorstep one day, long after my dad disappeared. We have no clue how it got there."

     Varian holds his hand out expectantly. "I'm sorry Abhu, but I think it's time for you to let me see the journal now."

Abhu stares at Varian's extended hand, indecisively scrunching his nose. But instead of giving the journal to Varian, he hands it to Cassandra.

Cass raises an eyebrow as she takes the book. "Why are you giving it to me?"

     "Because I actually know you," Abhu replies. "I just have a weird feeling about this one." He jerks a thumb in Varian's direction.

     Varian sighs heavily. "If what you said about that journal is true, then I need to examine it!"

     "What, you think you're the only smart one around here?" Abhu retorts. "Cassie is the smartest person I know!"

Despite his statement being a compliment, Cassandra still bristles. She can't stand when he calls her Cassie. She can't stand when anyone calls her Cassie! Well, except for one person. She didn't mind when Varian called her that, for some reason. But that was years ago, and he hasn't called her that since she returned...

"Okay, enough out of you two," Cass says.

"I agree," Adira says. "Someone needs to read the journal and see if it can be of any use to us."

     Cassandra glances at Varian, who is glaring at Abhu. She knows he is the one who should read this journal, but as she looks to Abhu he shakes his head at her. "Ugh, fine," she says with an eye roll. "I'll look over the journal. But I'll need some peace and quiet."

     She stomps away from the rest of the group and, realizing she doesn't have many options, plops herself down next to a sleeping Eugene. The moon above being her only light, she flips the journal open to a random page and reads it in a whisper:

"'Visit Gemma Ross and answer her obscure questions; Mysterious fungi near abode'. What the heck does that mean?! I thought this thing was supposed to be filled with riddles!"

As she says this, Eugene mumbles in his sleep: "Don't worry, Rapunzel. Everything will be fine..."

     Cassandra rolls her eyes, and not-so-subtly elbows Eugene's side. He awakens with a start, then moans in pain. "What was that for, CassAndra? I have a broken leg, here!"

     "Oh, stop being a wimp," she says. "I came over here because you were the only one being quiet. Key word, were."

     "Hey, you woke me up!" Eugene says.

     "I meant, you were talking in your sleep," Cass informs him.

     "Oh," Eugene says, suddenly sheepish. "Sorry 'bout that... Guess I'm just worried."

     "About Rapunzel? Yeah, I gathered that."

     Eugene sighs. "I really shouldn't have left her, you know? Not during a time like this."

     "A time like this?" Cassandra repeats. "What do you mean?"

     Eugene glances at the others, who are settling in for the night. Varian and Abhu are both staring at Cassandra with curiosity, but they are far enough away to be out of earshot. "Rapunzel has been a bit... well, anxious lately."

"About what?" Cassandra asks, growing worried. When Eugene seems hesitant to respond, she adds, "Spit it out, Fitzherbert!"

"To put it bluntly, she has been under serious pressure to produce an heir to the throne," Eugene says rapidly. "Like, a lot of pressure. From everyone."

At first Cassandra isn't sure how to respond. Her initial instinct is to say something witty or sarcastic, but she sees the genuine stress in Eugene's eyes. "Well, it has been a while since you got married. I'm honestly surprised the two of you don't already have a whole slew of kids."

Eugene chuckles. "I know, right? Trust me Cass, I am all for the huge family! But..."

"Raps is hesitant, isn't she?"

Eugene nods. "We've discussed it at length. And, while she says she does want to have kids someday, she just isn't sure she's ready right now. I mean, we both have so many responsibilities; I'm the Captain of the Guard, and she's Queen of the entire Kingdom for crying out loud! How could we take care of children right now? At least, that's what she thinks."

"But that isn't how you feel?"

"Honestly... it's not. I think I'm ready to be a father. But Rapunzel, she... Something is holding her back, and I'm not sure what it is. But the pressure from everyone else, just wanting her to give them an heir, it isn't making the situation any easier."

Cassandra doesn't blame Rapunzel a bit for being nervous about parenthood. She, herself, is terrified by the thought of being a mother and isn't sure it's something she could ever do. But Rapunzel and Eugene have so much love to give. She wholeheartedly believes they would be amazing parents!

"I wish I could help, Fitzherbert," Cassandra says, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But really all I can say is, the choice about if and when to have a kid is something that should be up to you and Raps. And only you and Raps."

Eugene's smile is bittersweet. "Actually, just getting it off my chest was a huge help. Thanks." The smile fades as he says, "I only wish Rapunzel could feel the same relief. She's really upset. And, I think she's scared."

     A large shadow passes by them overhead with a 'whoosh', but it happens so quickly that they barely notice.

     "I'm sure she'll be fine," Cass says. "Maybe a bit of time to herself will do her some good."

     Eugene nods. "Hey, it's actually kind of nice talking with you like this. You know, without all the classic 'scary dragon lady' violence or biting sarcasm."

     "Yeah, I guess it is kind of nice," Cass agrees. She then punches his shoulder playfully, but still enough to make him groan. "But don't expect too much of it."

Chapter Text

"I don't understand what the journal meant," Opal says, her eyes squinting in concentration.

     "Neither did I, at first," Cassandra says. "And that was just one page. I knew that, despite what Abhu wanted, I would need help from a certain someone to figure it out." She pointedly smirks at Varian.

     "And I am so glad that she asked me for help," Varian says, pulling Cass closer. "Though, at the time, I was afraid that the moment caused more harm than good to our relationship..."

Varian is sitting alone inside of his tent, fiddling with his Truth Ray. He knows he can get it to work! He just has to figure out exactly why it isn't working.

     "Alright Ruddiger, let's hope that helped," he says after tinkering with it for a couple hours. "I'll test it out tomorrow. Something tells me Abhu would make the perfect guinea pig..."

     But the raccoon doesn't respond. He is already sound asleep, curled up on Varian's pillow.

Varian shakes his head, and decides it best to follow Ruddiger's example. He is about to crawl into his sleeping bag, when he hears a whisper at the entrance of the tent: "Varian, you still awake?"

     His heartbeat quickens at the unmistakable sound of Cassandra's voice. He hops up, and pops out of the tent eagerly. "Yep, I'm awake. Everything okay?"

     "Shh," she continues to whisper, her finger on her lips. "I don't want Abhu to wake up."

"I don't blame you there," Varian whispers, his nose crinkling up at the mention of Abhu's name.

Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "What is with...? Nevermind, not the time. I need your help."

"Of course, anything," he says, again a little too eager. "With what?"

Cassandra grabs his wrist and pulls him along. "This stupid journal, that's what."

"But I thought Abhu doesn't want me to see it," Varian replies, too fixated on the touch of her hand to remember that he doesn't care what Abhu wants.

"This is too important for that to matter," Cassandra replies, leading him far enough from the camp to be unheard by the others. "And I can't take the pressure. As long as we get results, it should be fine."

Varian smirks. "And you believe I'm the one to yield results?"

"You said you're good at this kind of thing," Cassandra replies as she hands him the journal. He honestly can't tell if she noticed the flirty tone in his voice or not, but he hopes she did. "Just don't open it to a random page. I started that way, and it only confused me even more..."

     Varian chuckles. "Well yeah, when conducting research like this you always start at the beginning."

     "Um, I know that... now," Cassandra says, folding her arms.

A part of him is still amazed to have her standing in front of him. After all those years of being apart, he was beginning to wonder if he would ever see her again. But now, not only is she here but she is also relying on him for help.

     "So.... You gonna open it, or what?" Cassandra asks.

     "Yes! Of course," he replies, realizing that he has been staring at her a little too long. Her presence may be too much of a distraction for him to study this journal properly... But he is going to attempt it anyway. Flipping to the first page, he reads it aloud:

     "'First, last, repeat. This is key.'" The words are in large, bold handwriting. Below the script is a drawing of a key, with a swirled pattern sketched onto it.

"The key to what?" Cassandra says. "I looked through the entire thing, and I can't figure out what it means."

"Everything in this journal must mean something, even the illustrations," Varian says. "Considering this is on the very first page, it must be fundamental in figuring out the rest of the journal."

"Uh-huh. That, and it literally says it's key."

Varian smirks. He has actually missed her snarky remarks.

Flipping to the next page, Varian reads: "'Prepare zucchini, not garlic or asparagus tips, via Fresh Area Ripe Farm.' What, was this guy a chef or something?"

Cassandra shrugs. "Not that Abhu's ever told me."

     Varian turns his attention to the next page. "'To cure River Bertawa, place octopi in waters. Lend marina nearby aid.' Okay, this is just getting worse."

     "Tell me about it!" Cass says. "I've been staring at the thing for hours. Why do we need to cure a river, and what do octopi have anything to do with it?!"

     "Not to mention what kind of aid does a nearby marina need? And where even is this River Bertawa?" Varian wonders. "It doesn't make any sense... Th-there has to be more to it." He reads the next page: "'Visit Gemma Ross and answer her obscure questions; Mysterious fungi near abode.'"

     "That's the first one I read," Cass says. "I have no idea who Gemma Ross is."

"Have you asked Abhu? Maybe he'd know," Varian suggests.

"I haven't talked to anyone else since I started trying to figure this thing out," Cassandra replies. "But something tells me if he knows who this Gemma Ross is, then he's probably already visited her."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Varian says. "He doesn't seem like the type who would try to get the answers. He didn't even want to tell us about this journal."

"That's because it's personal to him," Cass explains. "It's—"

"—The only thing he has left of his dad, I know..." Varian finishes, attempting to conceal his sneer but failing miserably.

"Alright, I've had enough of this," Cassandra says with such intensity that it causes him to wince. "What is going on between you two? I get how annoying Abhu is, trust me. But you have hated each other since the moment you met."

Varian shakes his head. "Come on Cass, I know you're intelligent. You're telling me you don't already know?"

"Do you think I'd be asking you if I did?"

"He has feelings for you!" Varian blurts out, louder than he meant to. He glances around the campsite to make sure nobody heard, but no one else seems to be stirring.

"What?" Cassandra says, seeming genuinely startled. "No, that's... I think you're wrong."

"No I'm not," Varian says. "Trust me, I recognize the look in his eyes when he's around you. I recognize it because..." He sucks in sharply as his heart thuds quicker within his chest. He can barely see Cassandra's face in the moonlight, but the look in her eyes tells him she has already guessed what he is about to say next:

"I recognize it because, I have the same look when I'm around you."

Cassandra shakes her head. "I know you had a crush on me when you were a kid. But I didn't expect you to still have it after all this time."

"That's because it's more than a crush," Varian tells her, barely able to hear his own voice over the pulsing of his heartbeat in his ears. Is he really admitting all of this to her? Well, it's too late to back out now. "I always knew you were important to me, but I didn't realize how important until the day you left Corona. I'm... I'm in love with you, Cass."

This admission has been weighing him down for so long. He is relieved and invigorated, but the feeling quickly transforms into apprehension once he takes in Cassandra's reaction; her eyes are wide, her shoulders are tense, and she is biting her lower lip. He didn't expect her to be thrilled about this, but does she have to look so... freaked out?

The silence that follows is deafening. Should he say something? Should he wait for her to say something? Will she say something? Would she please just say something?!

     "Varian, I—" She starts to say.

     "What are you doing?!"

     Abhu's furious shout slices through the thick discomfort. Why does he always seem to come around when Varian gets a moment with Cass?

"Abhu, don't be mad—" Cassandra starts to say.

"Don't be mad?!" He yells, jerking the journal out of Varian's grasp. "I specifically said I don't want anyone but you looking at this!"

     "Actually you weren't that specific," Varian says, thrilled to have any opportunity to correct Abhu. "You only made it clear that you don't want me to look at it."

     "Yet here you are, looking at it!" Abhu says, flipping through the journal. "And look, there's even a page missing! What did you do with it?!"

     "I don't have anything to do with a missing page!" Varian says. "If a page is gone, it's your fault!"

     "I have been extra careful with this journal!"

     "Oh yes, that's obvious. You only allowed it to get stolen!"

     "But we got it back! You are still dodging the fact that you're snooping where you're not allowed!"

"Because somebody has to figure out if it'll be of any use to us!" Varian's volume grows with his frustration.

"Cass can figure it out just fine!" Abhu says.

"Actually, I can't," Cassandra says, stepping forward. "I've been looking over this thing for hours, Abhu. I haven't solved a blasted thing!"

"So you're just gonna give up that easily?" Abhu says, rounding on her. "I thought you had more willpower than that."

"Cassandra never gives up," Varian says. "She just recognizes her limitations."

"I don't need you to take up for me, Varian!" Cassandra shouts, stepping towards him. But she immediately casts a side glance Abhu's way, and then backs up.

"Well someone has to, considering you aren't doing it anymore!" Varian says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cassandra asks. "I'm not—"

"Quiet!" Another irritated shout pierces the air. The three of them turn around to see Adira has exited her tent and is approaching them. "I have heard enough out of the three of you. Bickering isn't going to solve anything."

"But they—" Abhu begins to say.

"I said, quiet," Adira cuts him off, giving him an intense glare that says she is not playing around. She then turns to face Varian. "Now, Nephew, do you think you can get anything out of that journal?"

Varian shrugs. "I mean, I haven't had much time to study it. But I've already discovered that it's written in some sort of code. It's just a matter of figuring out what type of code."

Adira turns back to Abhu. "You have had this journal for years. Did you realize it was written in code?"

Abhu is speechless for a long moment. Varian can see the pride in his eyes keeping him from admitting it, but finally he opens his mouth. "No... No, I didn't."

"Then it's settled," Adira says. "Varian, you will continue to study the journal. I have faith that you will decipher the code in a short amount of time." She takes the journal from Abhu, and returns it to Varian.

Abhu groans, but he doesn't say another word. He simply stomps back to his tent, and disappears within it.

Adira gives Varian and Cassandra a brief nod, and then returns to her tent as well. Once Varian realizes he is alone with Cass again, he opens his mouth to speak to her. But when he turns, she is already gone... probably to get some much-needed sleep.

And possibly to avoid continuing their awkward conversation. With a despondent sigh, he heads into his tent, lights a lantern, and gets to work on the journal.

Chapter Text

"Yay, Daddy finally told Mommy he loves her!" Opal shouts happily, startling a snoozing Luna awake. "So then you told him you loved him too, right Mommy?"

     Cassandra purses her lips. "Well, not exactly kiddo."

     "Your mother doesn't like to talk about her feelings," Varian says with a teasing smirk, invoking a playful punch on the shoulder from his wife.

     "I admit, at the time, the thought of actually being in a relationship with your father had never even crossed my mind," Cassandra tells Opal. "Not until that moment, when he confessed his love for me."

     "Knock-knock!" An enthusiastic voice says, surprising all of them.

     "Aunt Raps!" Opal says with a wide smile as the queen enters the room.

     "Hey Rapunzel," Varian says, he and Cass still sitting at the bottom of Opal's bed. "What're you doing here?"

     "Cass said she wanted to discuss something with me," Rapunzel explains. "I was on my way to meet her, when I noticed this little one's bedroom door was still open." She steps forward and taps the tip of Opal's nose.

     "Oh, right!" Cassandra says, facepalming. "Sorry about that, Raps. I got a little distracted."

     "So what's going on here?" Rapunzel asks. "I figured Opal would be asleep by now."

     "Mommy and Daddy are telling me a story!" Opal replies.

     "Oooh, story time? I love stories," Rapunzel says with a grin. "What kind of story are we telling?"

     "Our Little Gem, here, asked to hear the story of how Cass and I fell in love," Varian tells her, gazing adoringly at Cassandra.

     "Oh come on, you were in love with her from the day you met her!" Rapunzel chuckles. The slightly uncomfortable expressions on both of her parents' faces cause Opal to giggle.

     "Okay, so it's more the story of how we got together," Cassandra says.

     "You mean, the story of how long it took you to finally admit your feelings for Varian?" Rapunzel adds teasingly, receiving a glare from Cass.

     "Actually, you might be able to help us with this next part of the story," Varian says to Rapunzel, his expression turning solemn. "Opal said she's ready to hear everything about what happened, including the not-so-great parts..."

     Rapunzel's expression falters. "What are you saying?"

     Varian hesitates a moment before adding, "I think it's time you explain to Opal exactly why she is the chosen heir."

     "But only if you're ready," Cassandra adds, taking Rapunzel's hand in hers.

     "Ooh boy," Rapunzel says with a shaky breath. "I figured this time would come soon..." She kneels down next to Opal's bed and looks directly into the young girl's concerned eyes. "While your parents and Uncle Eugene were out on their adventure, something very upsetting and scary happened to me..."

As a red and black shadow rises from the remains of the Dark Kingdom and tears through the sky, the citizens of Corona wind down from the busy events of their day and prepare for what they hope is a good night's rest. They shut their doors and windows, reverse their shop signs to 'Closed', and blow out their lanterns. Today has been one of many peaceful and joyous days in their kingdom, the type of day that has been occurring more often. Corona hasn't had the best past; numerous terrible and horrific events have come about, and there was a time where something awful was happening nearly every week! But now, under the rule of Queen Rapunzel, things seem to have changed.

"Queen Rapunzel!"

Rapunzel groans once she hears the voice of Nigel, the Royal Advisor. She has been avoiding him all day, and now that she is heading to bed she thought she had succeeded in evading him. But it appears he has finally found her. Even Pascal, who is perched in his usual spot on her shoulder, glares with agitation.

"Queen Rapunzel, we really should finish our conversation from earlier," Nigel says.

Rapunzel has no interest in finishing this conversation. She knows that when her father was king, he trusted Nigel as his advisor. And she admits that Nigel has helped her out many times over the years. Sometimes, though, Nigel is a bit too... well, pushy in his 'advising.' And the particular subject he is pushing now is one that Rapunzel believes he really shouldn't have any say in.

     "Nigel, I've had a long day," Rapunzel tells him, faking the sweetest smile she can muster. "My husband, who also happens to be the Captain of the Guard, took off on a potentially dangerous mission with my Royal Engineer and my best friend-slash-sister —kind of— and her mysterious new friend, leaving security around here more lax, engineering problems unfixed, and moral support for me at an all-time low." She sucks in a breath before adding, "I really just want to go to sleep now." Pascal squeaks his agreement, patting Rapunzel's face comfortingly.

Nigel seems stunned, but only briefly. "I understand the circumstances, Your Highness. But you must also understand the predicament you leave me in!"

     Rapunzel rubs her temple. "I'm sorry, but... how exactly am I leaving you in a predicament?"

     "As your Royal Advisor, it is my job to... well, advice you," Nigel attempts to explain. "The advice I have been offering regarding your producing an heir has been going unheeded for quite some time now! How do you think it makes me look to the rest of the kingdom, when my advice is not followed by our own Queen? And how do you think it makes the kingdom feel?! Without an heir, their future is now uncertain!"

     Rapunzel sighs heavily. "I appreciate your advice, Nigel, I really do. But that's the thing, it's just advice! As my Royal Advisor, you're supposed to advise me. But it's my choice whether I heed it or not." She turns on her heels, and heads to her room without another word. She can hear Nigel still attempting to converse with her, but she blocks him out and shuts her bedroom door.

     "Phew..." Glad to finally be in the peace and quiet, she slips into her nightgown and plops onto her cushioned bed. Her fluffed pillows feel especially soft and comforting tonight. She grabs one, and hugs it close as she pulls her knees up.

"What am I gonna do, Pascal?" She says as the chameleon curls up on the pillow next to her. "It's not that I don't want to have kids, it's just... I don't feel ready! Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready..." Her eyes grow misty.

Pascal pats her arm with his tiny paw, but her tears flow freely now. "I'm so sorry Pascal," she chokes out between sobs as the chameleon's expression grows increasingly worried. "I guess all the pressure is finally getting to me. This is such a huge deal! What if I'm not a good mother? What if my kid hates me? What if I don't have the time to give them the love and attention and affection they need? I'm just... I'm so scared!"

     Whoosh...

     The moonlight that was shining through Rapunzel's window disappears. Composing herself the best she can, she wipes her eyes and stands up from her bed. She steps out her window curiously, but gasps at what she sees on her balcony:

     A humongous floating mass is hovering in the air directly in front of her, blocking out her view of the sky. It is mostly a pitch black color, but strings of deep red run through it like veins. A strong wind is billowing around it as if it were a miniature storm.

     Rapunzel's startled scream rips through the night air. The mass backs away slightly, as if her shriek actually surprised it. But then it darts forward, enveloping her within its smoky shape. It begins to spin around her rapidly, forming a sort of cyclone.

Pascal frantically rushes out to help, but he is unable to penetrate the cyclone. Barely able to see Rapunzel through the mass, he makes out her voice shouting to him, "Get out of here, Pascal!"

     Within the mass, Rapunzel is unsure if her friend heard her or not. She can only hope he managed to get away safely. But even if he didn't leave, it seems like whatever this thing is, it's only after her. And as it encircles her, the powerful wind whipping her hair and forcing her to kneel on the ground, she can feel something changing. Something changing... within her. She cannot explain it, whether it's some sort of telepathic connection with this monster or maybe just instinct, but somehow she knows exactly what is happening to her...

     Finally, the cyclone stops spinning and the wind dies down altogether. With another distinct 'whoosh', the creature disappears into the night, having accomplished its goal.

     Rapunzel remains kneeled, her eyes closed and her head hanging low. Even as she hears the voices of her parents and other concerned castle residents enter her room led there by Pascal, she doesn't move save for the quickened rising and falling of her chest.

"Rapunzel?" Frederic says, kneeling down beside her. But his voice is drowned out by the ringing in her ear.

     "Rapunzel!" Arianna shouts worriedly, grabbing her daughter's shoulders. "What happened? Are you alright?"

     Still dazed, Rapunzel meets her mother's gaze. "It... It took it away." She is barely able to whisper.

     "What?" Arianna says, brushing back a strand of Rapunzel's hair from her face. "It took what away, sweetie?"

     "My ability... to have children." Silent tears stream down Rapunzel's cheeks. "I can't have kids."

Chapter Text

"So, do you understand Opal?" Rapunzel asks.

     "I... I'm not sure," Opal admits.

     A single tear trickles down Rapunzel's face, and Cass places a comforting hand on her arm. "You see, if Uncle Eugene and I had a kid then they would be the rightful heir to Corona. But because the Angst made it where I can't have kids, then we had to choose someone to rule when I no longer can. And, well, we chose you." She offers a sad half-smile.

     "Oh..." Opal considers this. "I've always been excited to be queen someday, but I never realized the reason was so sad." She jumps out of the covers and wraps her arms around Rapunzel's neck.

     "It's okay sweetie," Rapunzel tells her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "You are an amazing gift to all of us. I love you as if you were my own."

     Opal smiles softly, then climbs back under her blanket. Varian tucks her in, and strokes her hair lovingly. "Maybe it's time to put a pause on story time, Little Gem."

     "No!" Opal protests. "If we end it there I won't be able to sleep! I need to know what happened next!"

"If that's the case, I may stick around a bit longer," Rapunzel says, pulling the chair from Opal's vanity closer to her bed. "I could use a good distraction right about now."

"Alright, alright," Cassandra says as she gently pulls Opal's blanket up farther until it covers to the little girl's neck. "So where were we...?"

"I just took the journal," Varian reminds her.

"Oh, right! And you stayed up all night studying it."

"Typical Varian," Rapunzel chimes in.

"Hey, it yielded results, didn't it?" Varian says defensively.

"It did," Cassandra agrees. "I was just surprised how quick you decoded it..."

"I'm in love with you, Cass."

     Varian's words echo within Cassandra's mind. Him? In love? With her? It couldn't be true. How would he know what love is? He must be confused, or insane. The thought of it makes her furious! How could he say something like that?

     But why? Why does it make her so angry? Lying alone in her tent, she ponders this question. Is she really angry with Varian for having feelings for her? Why should he have feelings for her? She's been nothing but a disappointment to everyone she's ever known her entire life. She has done a host of terrible things, and a few of them she did to Varian, himself. He should be infuriated with her, not confessing his love for her!

Now she realizes: She isn't angry with Varian. Shocked, yes, but not angry. She is angry with herself, for not being the type of person who deserves for someone like him to have feelings for her.

'Someone like him'? Okay, what does that even mean? Her own thoughts are confusing her.

"I've got it!" Varian's unmistakable voice announces to the entire camp just outside her tent.

You've got to be kidding me... already? She thinks, exiting her tent as the sun begins to rise. A scowling Abhu and an intrigued Adira emerge from their tents as well, as Eugene hobbles out of his.

     "You're joking," Eugene says in disbelief, leaning against Cassandra for support. "You figured out the entire journal?"

"Well, not the entire journal," Varian admits, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm still not sure about the gibberish on page six, and the final sixteen pages are all totally blank. But, I've figured out how to decode all four of the weird phrases!"

"You mean like all the 'answer Gemma Ross's questions' stuff?" Cassandra asks, giving Eugene an annoyed side glance as if warning him to find another crutch to lean against.

     "Exactly! Come look." Varian excitedly opens up the journal, and lays it out on a large boulder for all of them to see. "So the phrases have absolutely nothing to do with what they actually say, but they have everything to do with what's written on the first page!"

"'First, last, repeat. This is key,"' Abhu recites from memory, finally losing his scowl... mostly.

"Precisely," Varian says. "It's the key to solving the puzzle!" He snorts at his own cleverness.

"Okay, keep explaining," Eugene presses, now leaning against Abhu. The latter doesn't seem to notice.

"Consider the first one for example," Varian continues. "'Prepare zucchini, not garlic or asparagus tips, via Fresh Area Ripe Farm.' Following the guideline of the first page, we should take the first letter of the first word, the last letter of the next word, and repeat the process through the entire phrase. 'First, last, repeat.' It's so simple! I can't believe no one's noticed it before!" He shoots a pointed look in Abhu's direction.

"So if we do that, what do we get?" Cassandra asks.

Varian pulls out a pencil, but Abhu jumps toward him, causing Eugene to lose his balance and fall to the ground. "Hey, hey! Don't write in my dad's journal!"

Seriously? Does Abhu have to fight everything Varian does? Cassandra thinks with an irritated groan.

"Okay..." Varian says slowly. He points a finger to his tent and snaps, and after a few seconds Ruddiger emerges with Varian's backpack. Varian digs through it until he finds some paper of his own. "Alright, now the first word is 'prepare,' so we write down the letter 'p.' Then the next word is 'zucchini,' of which the last letter is 'i.'" He scribbles the letters onto the paper. "'Not,' so that's an 'n'. 'Garlic', 'c'..." He follows the pattern until the last word of the phrase, and everyone who can stand leans in to see what is now written on his paper:

"Pincosta Farm?" Abhu reads aloud. "Why would we need to know that?"

"Let's decode the rest of the puzzles before we think about the why," Eugene says, sitting on the ground. "Varian? Decode away!"

"Alright, so the next one is: 'To cure River Bertawa, place octopi in waters. Lend marina nearby aid'." Varian reads.

"I searched map after map for a Bertawa River, but could never find it," Abhu says. "Now I understand why, and I feel so stupid..."

Cassandra notices Varian's mouth open to respond, but she clears her throat loudly. He sees her glare, and immediately bites his tongue. He turns his attention back to the journal, decodes the phrase, and writes it out on his paper.

"Another location," Varian says.

"That place?!" Cassandra gets a sickening feeling in her gut when she recalls the island they once were shipwrecked on. They were stranded for weeks, and the locals were a total pain to deal with.

"Oh yes, Terapi Island..." Eugene says, his voice thick with sarcasm. "I'm just dying to go back to that place, with its gigantic fireflies, killer fish creatures, condescending leaf people, hostile statues, psychotic wishes—"

"I think they get it," Cassandra interrupts. She doesn't need a refresher of the terrible dangers they faced on the island, although she admits that she has no clue what he meant by the last one.

"Come on, keep focused!" Abhu tells them. "Varian, the next one?"

Varian raises an eyebrow. "You seem awfully eager for me to decode this, for someone who didn't want me looking at it in the first place."

"Hey, instead of picking fights can you please just finish decoding this thing?" Cassandra says. She can tell by Varian's clenched jaw and narrowed eyes that he isn't thrilled with her constantly taking up for Abhu, but she knows it's only because he doesn't understand. She and Abhu have a bit of a strange relationship, and Varian's reactions are partially her fault for not explaining things to him.

Varian sighs. "Now, the next one: 'Visit Gemma Ross and answer her obscure questions; Mysterious fungi near abode'. He scribbles on his paper, and reveals the answer to them.

"Ah, Vardaros. My old stomping grounds," Eugene says, a nostalgic glimmer in his eyes.

"I've heard it's an amazing city," Varian says. "I've always wanted to check it out."

"Not so amazing as you think, trust me..." Cassandra says.

"So far that is three locations," Adira brings out. "I have no doubt the final code will be a location as well."

"Let's find out," Varian says, turning the page to the fourth phrase. "'Another power emerges within. Destinies lie littered, all encircling themself, just to return unwanted'."

"That always sounded so creepy to me," Abhu says. "I thought it had a deeper meaning to it than just being a code, though..."

"Not to mention 'themself' is grammatically incorrect," Varian says. "It should be 'themselves,' but it looks like your father did this purposely so that the code would work out." He decodes the phrase, and writes down the final location:

"Home sweet home..." Abhu says.

"Please tell me this is all just another code of some kind, and we don't actually have to travel to all of these places..." Eugene says.

"I don't believe you are going anywhere else for a while," Adira says, gesturing to Eugene's broken leg.

"We don't know if any of us are going anywhere," Abhu points out. "I mean, why would we? We have no idea what we'd be looking for!"

"J-just give me some more time," Varian says. "I'm sure what's written on the sixth page is another code, I just have to figure out how to decipher it."

     "Not to mention, the missing page would likely be an aid..." Abhu says, throwing an accusing glance in Varian's direction.

     "I told you, I don't know why there's a page missing!" Varian says. "But since you seem to have it all memorized, could you tell me what it said?"

     "It didn't say anything," Abhu replies. "It was just a sketch of the infinity symbol, but part of it was like... a feather."

     Varian's eyes narrow. "Well, that's... really helpful."

"Ugh, this is hopeless! Lemme see that thing again," Cassandra says as she leans past Varian to grab the journal from off the rock. She realizes that the close proximity causes him to blush slightly, so the second the journal is in her hands she backs a couple steps away from him. But she forgets that Eugene is still sitting on the ground. She stumbles into him, trips over his broken leg, and falls hard directly on her back and tailbone.

"Ow! Watch what you're doing, CassAndra!" Eugene shouts, wincing in pain.

"Are you okay?" Varian and Abhu say in unison. They both extend a hand to help Cassandra up, but then glare at each other.

Cassandra closes her eyes tightly, more than a little embarrassed. She knocks both of their hands away, and leaps off of the ground herself. "Just hurry up and figure this out!" She shouts, throwing the journal to Varian with such force that he stumbles back once he catches it. She stomps off to her tent to be alone, hearing a concerned hoot from Owl on a nearby tree branch.

Why do they have to be so annoying?! She thinks, throwing herself onto her sleeping bag. A part of her has known that Abhu has had a thing for her ever since they met, though she's never wanted to admit it, but now with Varian added to the equation...

And again she wonders, why? Why her? Why do these two guys care about her so much in this way? No one else has before!

Although, with Abhu, she knows it isn't real. The person he thinks he has feelings for isn't really who she is. She has succeeded for so long in keeping her true self hidden from him, but after her recent display she fears those days may be over.

Chapter Text

Opal scrunches her face in reaction to her parents' story. "I don't like Abhu. I want him to leave."

     Varian laughs, a bit louder than he means to. "That's my girl!"

     "Yeah, well, as annoying as Abhu was, your father was getting on my nerves just as much," Cassandra says to Opal.

     "And I noticed," Varian adds. "I was disheartened by your mother's reaction to my confession, but soon we would have more issues arise to distract from the awkwardness... including a new member to our party..."

"Okay... What just happened?" Eugene asks. The others stare after Cassandra, apparently sharing his befuddlement.

Except for Varian. He knows exactly why she reacted that way, and he knows he is to blame. He shouldn't have confessed his feelings for her so soon, he just couldn't hold them in any longer! But now he has made things awkward between the two of them, and awkwardness is something Cassandra does not deal with well.

Yet, even after her actions, he feels a desire to follow her. To talk with her. To console her—or attempt to, anyway. He may be in love with her, but he is her friend first, and friends help each other. He takes a step toward her tent, when a voice from above stops him in his tracks:

"Sheesh, looks like you guys have loads of drama within this little gang of yours. Fortunately, I'm all about drama."

Varian grimaces as Hugo leaps from his perch on a tree branch and lands smoothly on the ground in front of him.

"Hey, it's the thief who stole my journal!" Abhu shouts, pointing at Hugo. "Adira, apprehend him!"

Adira raises an eyebrow. "I do not work for you. Or anyone."

"Hey hey hey, relax," Hugo says, holding his hands out innocently. "I'm only here to talk."

"About what? How you apparently followed us here?" Varian says. "How did you get here so fast, anyway?!"

"That's for me to know, and you to... not know," Hugo smirks. "Great to see you again, Freckles."

Varian glares at him. "The feeling is not mutual."

"What're you doing here, Hugo?" Eugene asks. "And it better not be to get my help for a job. I'm a changed man now."

"Oh yes, I've heard how the infamous Flynn Rider is now reformed and lives the royal life in a sparkling castle with his dazzling queen," Hugo says indifferently. "No, I'm not here for you."

     "Then what are you here for?" Varian asks, unsure whether he really wants to hear the answer or not.

     "Let's just say I overheard your little predicament, and I might have some valuable info," Hugo replies, tapping the journal in Varian's hands.

"How would you know anything about my father's journal?" Abhu asks.

"I still would like to know why you followed us in the first place," Varian adds.

"My, my, my, everyone's so inquisitive," Hugo says. "What if I just found your gang charming, Freckles?"

"Would you stop calling me that?!" Varian says. Hugo's presence is increasingly infuriating him. "Adira's the one with the nicknames!"

"He's right," Adira says, stepping forward. "Now, what do you really want, Spectacles?"

"Ooh, so original," Hugo says sarcastically.

"No worse than 'Freckles'," Eugene chimes in with a chuckle.

     "Do you guys want to know why I'm here, or not?" Hugo says, a hand on his hip. "Because I'm happy to share. But if not, then I'll be on my merry way."

     "Fine," Varian says. "What are you here for, Hugo?"

     "Glad you asked, Freckles!" Hugo dramatically reveals a piece of paper from his pocket. "Thought you might miss this."

     Varian can't tell what is on the paper on account of the angle Hugo is holding it at, but Abhu recognizes it immediately. "The missing page from my dad's journal!"

"That's right," Hugo says. "A short spell after you left, I found it on the ground."

     Varian reaches out to take the page, but Hugo holds it above his head. "Not so fast."

     "Should've known you weren't returning it simply out of the goodness of your heart," Eugene remarks.

"You know me so well," Hugo says, wiping away a fake tear.

Varian rolls his eyes. "Would you get to the point?! What do you want?"

Hugo arches an eyebrow. "He's a bit hostile, this one."

"You have no idea..." Abhu says.

Varian grits his teeth. "Just tell us what you want, or leave!"

"I want a cut of the prize," Hugo replies.

"Prize?" Varian repeats. "What prize?"

"Whatever it is y'all are after," Hugo says. "Money, riches, fame, glory. It's gotta be something huge, right? After all, big-man Eugene here who already has everything in the world is in on it." Varian believes he detects a twinge of jealousy in Hugo's voice.

     "I'm not here for any 'prize,' Hugo!" Eugene says. "I'm here because my father is trapped inside that preposterous dome!"

     For the first time since Varian has known him, Hugo's face turns serious. "Your... your father?" He traipses forward a few steps in the direction Eugene us pointing, and takes in the disturbing sight. "Your father is down there?"

     "My father is too," Varian admits. "We're here to figure out a way to remove that dome, and we're hoping this journal of Abhu's may have some answers."

Hugo gapes at the dome for a moment longer, then stares at the journal page in his hand. He turns back around and glances down at Eugene's injured leg. "Okay, well... I'm still in."

     Eugene's expression reveals his genuine surprise. "You're kidding."

     "Nope!" Hugo leans down and pats Eugene hard on the back, seemingly back to his usual self. "Whatever answers you guys find, there's still gotta be some sort of prize, right? Even if it's just the glory of being a hero."

     "Hold on a minute, we never agreed to let you join us," Varian says.

     "You will once you learn what I know," Hugo says with a wink. "Besides, it seems you're down one thief—" He points at Eugene's broken leg. "—So you'll need another one to fill the role on this journey."

     "What journey?" Abhu asks hesitantly.

     "The one I'm helping you start out on!" Hugo replies cheerfully. "You see this sketch?" He holds up the journal page, revealing the infinity symbol exactly as Abhu described it. "I've seen it before. And lucky for you, it isn't far from here!"

Varian sighs begrudgingly. "Okay, fine... Lead the way, 'Spectacles'."

Chapter Text

After Adira agrees to watch over the campsite, Varian and Abhu (along with Ruddiger) set out following Hugo through the nearby woods. Eugene waves them off, leaning against a tree. Cassandra never comes out of her tent; Varian wonders if she is even aware that they have a new party member.

     A new party member that he is still unsure about. "Where are you taking us?" He asks Hugo, being careful to avoid the tree roots poking out of the ground.

     "You'll see soon enough, Freckles," Hugo replies, ducking under a low-hanging branch.

     "I can't believe we're really gonna trust this guy," Abhu whispers to Varian.

     "For once, I agree with you," Varian whispers back. "But right now, we don't really have a choice."

"Ah-ah-ah, no whispering!" Hugo announces. "Rule numéro uno, All Conversation Must Be Heard By All!"

     Varian chuckles derisively. "Um, yeah... You don't get to make rules here."

     "Oh really?" Hugo replies with a smug smirk. "Who's leading whom?"

     "Currently, you are only a means to an end," Varian says. "Don't push it."

     Hugo rolls his eyes, and continues trailing through the foliage. "Whatever. But soon enough, you'll change your tune."

     After what feels like hours to Varian, they arrive... at a dead end. A gigantic rock formation blocks their path, towering above them.

     "Here we are!" Hugo announces proudly.

Varian and Ruddiger exchange confused glances, while Abhu sighs in agitation. "Don't tell me we have to climb that thing..." Abhu says.

     "And what if I said we did?" Hugo says.

     "Then I'd say, forget it and forget you!" Abhu spins around on his heels, heading back in the direction of the campsite.

     "Hey, hey," Hugo says, running in front of Abhu to stop him. "Don't get all bent out of shape, Achoo. It was only a joke."

Varian stifles a laugh. "What did you call him?"

"Achoo," Hugo repeats.

Abhu glares at Hugo. "It's Abhu," he corrects.

"I know," Hugo says. "But I like Achoo better!"

"I don't!" Abhu says.

     "As hilarious as this is, can we move forward please?" Varian says. "So we don't have to go over this rock?" He wonders if this guy ever serious.

     Hugo approaches the rock formation, and kneels down to push a few shrubs aside. "See for yourself."

     Varian kneels down beside him, and that's when he spots it: The exact same figure on the missing journal page is etched into the side of the stone!

"Whoa," Abhu says, leaning in behind them.

     "How did you find this?" Varian asks Hugo.

     "I am a considerably curious person," Hugo replies. "Also, you never know what you'll discover when searching around a giant rock for shelter from the rain."

Varian studies the symbol carefully, comparing it to the journal page. "The infinity symbol I understand, if this is all truly connected to the cavern your father was trying to find. But, why a feather?"

"Who knows," Abhu says with a shudder. "I wish it was literally anything but a feather." His annoyance turns into a sneer when Owl flies by overhead and lands on a tree branch directly above them with a curious hoot.

"What is it with you and birds?" Varian asks, recalling Abhu's reaction to Owl when they first took off in the hot air balloon.

"I told you, it's only owls!" Abhu says.

"Wait, back up," Hugo interrupts. "What's so special about a cavern?"

But Varian has now returned to studying the symbol, and what it could possibly mean. Sure, symbols are meant to be symbolic. But is that how this is to be taken? Feathers stand for all sorts of things; strength, growth, hope, freedom. But what could an infinite amount of any of these things have to do with a magical cavern that can show you the past?

     Or maybe it is meant to be taken literally. Feathers represent air, hence the term 'light as a feather.' So, what if...?

     Varian leans closer to the stone, and blows gently on the etched symbol. He waits a moment, but nothing happens. So he tries again, only slightly harder.

     Still nothing.

     Hugo and Abhu stare at him blankly. Even Ruddiger gazes at him with a confused expression. "Um, you trying to blow off a bug or something?" Abhu asks.

     "I mean, I've heard of ruffling someone's feathers. But I don't think it refers to stone feathers," Hugo remarks.

     "Would you guys stop and help me out?" Varian says. "I need more air."

     "I may have a solution." Hugo smirks as he reveals a small sphere in his hand. "You might wanna hang onto your goggles." He crushes the sphere over the top of the stone symbol, pulling his own goggles up over his eyes. In an instant, a swirling vortex of artificial wind whips around them, centered on the stone. Varian ducks down, covering his head with his arms, as Abhu and Ruddiger cling to a nearby tree to hold themselves steady.

"Your alchemical solutions are... very intense!" Varian says to Hugo, shouting to be heard over the cacophonous whipping of the wind.

"Something you should know about me, Freckles. I never do anything minuscule," Hugo replies.

After a few moments of the powerful wind pounding against the stone symbol, it finally lets up and then dissipates altogether. "Is it over?" Abhu asks, hesitantly releasing the tree he is grasping on to.

Varian stares at the infinity symbol, willing something to happen. Anything to happen. And to his surprise, something does happen: The outlines of the etched symbol begin to glow a pale blue.

"It worked!" Varian shouts triumphantly, as a door-sized outline illuminates on the rock formation, the same color that the symbol is glowing. The rock within the outline lowers, revealing a dark, ominous tunnel.

"Wow," Hugo says. "And so it begins..."

Varian breathes in deeply, then lets it out slowly. Here we go, he thinks. I have to find answers. I have to find a way to free my dad... He and Hugo step forward, but Abhu takes a few steps back.

"Um, no. Nope! Not doing it!" He says, shaking his hands wildly in front of himself. "Not going into a creepy, ominous tunnel!"

"You're not afraid, are you Achoo?" Hugo teases.

"Don't even joke," Varian says. "If any one of us shows fear, there's a chance the Angst could return. And I'm not sure we're prepared for an attack like that."

"Well, I mean, you do seem like the angsty type to me," Hugo says. "But your mood swings are bad enough to call an attack? Seriously?"

     Varian is absolutely done with this guy. "It's a creature, Hugo!" He shouts in frustration. "A gigantic, insane, dangerous creature!"

     "One you do not want to see, trust me," Abhu agrees.

"Alright then," Hugo says. "So it sounds to me like Scaredy-Cat Achoo needs to stay outside the mysterious tunnel so he doesn't bring this Angst in after us."

"Fine by me!" Abhu says, folding his arms and placing himself firmly on a fallen log. "I'll just sit here and keep watch."

"Hoo-hoo!" Owl screeches above him.

"You just keep your distance!" Abhu shouts up at him.

Varian rolls his eyes. He is eager to discover what may be at the end of this tunnel, but he is also annoyed that he has to be alone with Hugo. Abhu irritates him about as much as Hugo does, but at least he serves as sort of a buffer between the two of them.

"Let's get to it, Freckles!" Hugo says in a singsong voice, slapping Varian on the back.

Ruddiger chitters angrily at Hugo, but Varian silences him. "It's alright buddy," he whispers to the raccoon. "Just help me keep an eye on him, okay?"

Ruddiger nods, and climbs back atop Varian's shoulders as the two alchemists journey inside the tunnel.

Chapter Text

"Wow, that was amazing Daddy!" Opal says enthusiastically. "You figured out how to get into the tunnel! And then you found the magical cavern, right?"

     "Heh, not quite Little Gem," Varian says.

     "Not even close," Cassandra adds. "We had no idea that the real adventure hadn't even started yet..."

Cassandra sits alone in her tent, hugging her knees. She is embarrassed about what happened, but even more embarrassed about how she reacted to... well, being embarrassed. Why did Varian have to say what he said?! Now things are just going to be awkward and uncomfortable between them. And she does not deal well with awkward and uncomfortable.

But, she knows that she needs to quit acting like a child and figure out what the plan is. She heard the others conversing once she entered her tent, but she was too distracted by her own emotions to hear what was being said. She sucks in a deep breath, and then wills herself to stand up and exit the tent.

     "Ah, you finally decide to rejoin the party?" Eugene says.

     "Can it, Fitzherbert," Cass says. But she quickly shuts her mouth and glances around to make sure Abhu didn't hear her. Before her return to Corona she felt that she had grown considerably adept at keeping her attitude from slipping out. But now, it's as if she has to begin all over again.

     When she doesn't see Abhu, she involuntarily sighs with relief. But she realizes that, not only does she not see Abhu, but Varian, Ruddiger, and Owl seem to be gone as well. She only sees Eugene laying against his tree, and Adira sharpening her sword nearby.

     "Um... Dare I ask where Varian and Abhu took off to?" She asks Eugene.

     "Well after your little performance, they took off with Hugo to find something from the missing journal page," Eugene explains.

"Wait, Hugo? As in, the thief we chased down after the storm?!"

"That's the one," Eugene says, seemingly growing bored with this conversation.

"Why would they trust him?" Cassandra asks.

"Look Cass, I'm not gonna recount the entire event to you," Eugene says. "Let's just say you missed a lot, and leave it at that." He folds his arms behind his head and closes his eyes.

Cass sneers at him, and then gives his injured leg a swift kick.

"Ack!" Eugene exclaims, bolting forward to cradle his leg. "Seriously?!"

"Your leg needs to hurry up and heal," Cass says. "You were already irritating enough without it, now you're practically unbearable!"

"It would heal a lot quicker if you'd leave it alone!" Eugene shouts at her.

"Quit being such a baby," Cass says, tossing her hair as she strides over to Adira. She knows she was a bit rough with Eugene, but she needs some kind of outlet to release her frustration... "Which way did they go?" She asks Adira.

Adira points in the direction the guys disappeared in without looking up. Cassandra begins to head in the direction she is pointing, but she stops herself.

"Hey, Adira... I have something to say." This is the last thing Cass wants to do, but it is something that has been bugging her for a while now. Ever since she left Corona, she has been trying to turn over a new leaf. If she is being honest with herself, she knows that she hasn't been totally successful. But she still wants to mend as many fences as she can.

"Say what's on your mind," Adira says, still not glancing up.

"So, um..." Where to begin? Apologies are not something that come easily to Cass, especially when they're to people she doesn't even like. "Look, it's no secret that you aren't exactly my favorite person. But... that doesn't excuse the way I acted in the past. The things I did, especially to you. I'm—"

Adira holds her hand up to silence her. "There is no need for an apology. It's in the past, and that's where it shall stay."

"Seriously? You're not mad?"

Adira shakes her head.

"Not at all? Not even a little bit?" Does this lady feel anything?

Adira finally meets Cassandra's eyes. "Do you want me to be angry?"

"I mean, I would be..." Actually, Cassandra is still angry. Angry at herself.

Adira stands up, and briefly places a reassuring hand on Cassandra's shoulder. "We're good, Short Hair."

"Really?" Cass says, patting her lengthy locks. "That nickname isn't exactly accurate anymore."

But Adira doesn't say anything more, simply walks away and stares out at the dome in the distance.

Cassandra shrugs. She wants to repair the bridges she burned, but it feels strange having someone actually forgive her. She is still so furious with herself for the things she did, that she feels she doesn't deserve anyone's forgiveness. Why should anyone else forgive her when she can't forgive herself? She even struggles with how kind Rapunzel has been to her, since she is the one who bore the brunt of Cassandra's fury.

Then there's Varian, who has not only forgiven her but has confessed his love for her...

Every thought she has tends to wind back to his profession. And it is rather tiresome. She shakes her head in frustration, and then heads into the forest to track down the guys.

As Varian, Hugo, and Ruddiger make their way into the tunnel, both guys pull out their own alchemical source of light —Varian's being a vial full of luminous green liquid, and Hugo's being a smooth, ovoid stone that is radiating a bright white. Hugo snorts derisively at Varian's, who only glares.

It isn't long before the three of them come to a dead-end. They shine their lights in every direction, yet the only way to go is back the way they came.

"Well, wasn't this fun?" Hugo says. "Guess this mission's a dud."

"Do you always give up so easily?" Varian asks, not really desiring a response.

"There isn't anything here, Freckles. What're we supposed to do?"

Varian contemplates this. What are they supposed to do? They can't go anywhere, but they can—

"Look up," Varian says, holding his vial high above his head. Hugo does the same with his stone, and the brightness of their two light sources shines dazzlingly upon a single mirror hanging from the tunnel's ceiling.

"Okay," Hugo says slowly. "What's that supposed to be?"

"I'm surprised you don't recognize a mirror when you see one," Varian says. "You seem like someone who never stops looking at one."

"And you seem like someone who doesn't look at one nearly enough," Hugo retorts. But when Varian no longer responds, he turns his attention back to the mirror. "So what's the deal with it, anyway?"

     "I'm not sure. I need to get up there and examine it," Varian replies.

     "Sorry to tell ya, but I don't have a ladder I can pull outta my back pocket."

     Varian mentally calculates his and Hugo's combined heights. "You could be a ladder."

     Hugo glowers. "You're joking."

     "Come on Hugo, you're the jokester."

     "Ugh..."

     Reluctantly, Hugo squats down enough for Varian to clamber onto his shoulders. It takes a moment for Varian to gain his balance, especially as Hugo begins to rise up. But once Hugo is able to stop swaying, Varian holds up the illuminated vial and inspects the mirror.

"There's gotta be something..." Varian mutters.

"Could ya hurry it up, Freckles?" Hugo groans. "You're not as light as your twig-like frame would lead one to believe."

After observing the mirror for a few moments, Varian notices something behind him in the reflection. But it's too dark for him to make it out. "Walk over there," he commands Hugo, pointing.

"What? Get down and walk over there yourself!"

"Stop being difficult and just do it!" Varian says.

"Fine, fine. The longer I know you, the bossier you get..."

Hugo slowly wobbles to the opposite side of the cave, Varian leaning slightly to cling to his head. Ruddiger can no longer hold in his laugher at the hilarious sight of the two alchemists.

"Okay, stop!" Varian tells Hugo, who immediately complies. After regaining his balance, Varian shines his light upon the tunnel wall. His expression falls at what he sees.

"Well? Don't leave me hangin'," Hugo says.

"It's... it's just the gibberish written on the sixth page of Abhu's journal," Varian says.

"Okay... Something tells me it's not just gibberish, then," Hugo says.

Varian ponders this. What could this jumble of letters mean? He gazes behind him at the mirror, remembering how he saw them reflecting in it. Then it hits him.

"That's it!" He says, snapping his fingers and almost toppling off of Hugo's shoulders in his excitement. "How did I not see it before?! So dumb, Varian!"

"Again, care to share your findings with the rest of the class?"

"The gibberish isn't gibberish at all! It's another code. It's the Reflect Method!"

"That does make sense," Hugo says. "So are you gonna translate it anytime soon? My back is killing me."

"No need to translate here," Varian says. "Like I said, it's written in the journal."

"Which is where...?"

"Outside with Abhu, duh."

The second Varian finishes his sentence, Hugo shoves him off of his shoulders. Varian falls flat on the hard floor of the tunnel, yelping with surprise and pain.

     Hugo darts toward the tunnel exit, followed by a furious Ruddiger. The raccoon grabs the bottom of his pant leg, viciously tearing into it. But Hugo swiftly kicks him away, and pulls out an alchemical sphere that explodes in a cloud of dust when he tosses it to the ground.

     The explosion causes the tunnel to quake, and large boulders fall from the ceiling. Varian leaps up, grabs his raccoon, and races after Hugo. But a pile of rocks falls directly in front of him, blocking his way to the exit.

     "It was fun, Freckles," he hears Hugo say on the other side of the rock pile once the dust settles. "But a thief's gotta do what a thief's gotta do."

     "Why are you doing this?" Varian coughs, having inhaled some of the dust.

     "Admittedly I don't know what this cavern is that you are all fussing about, but it's gotta be something phenomenal for some guy to dedicate his entire life to finding it!" Hugo laughs triumphantly. "I'm sure once I snag the journal and find the cavern, I'll figure out a way to capitalize on it. Why would I share that?"

     "I knew I should've never trusted you!" Varian shouts. Ruddiger chitters his agreement.

"Oh, boo-hoo. How will I ever live with myself?" Varian can almost hear Hugo rolling his eyes, as he dashes out of the tunnel. "¡Adios, hombre!"

Chapter Text

"How could he do that to you?!" Opal shouts, angered by Hugo's actions in the story. "He's just a bad guy!"

"But always remember, Opal," Rapunzel says, still listening from the corner of the room. "Bad guys can sometimes change. Your parents did, after all."

"I know," Opal replies, and then returns her attention to her father. "So what happened next? How did you get out of the tunnel?"

"Your mother came to the rescue," Varian says, smiling lovingly at Cassandra.

"Yeah, well, I had to find him first," Cassandra adds. "But that wasn't too hard to do..."

Cassandra follows the path through the forest that the guys left behind. Footprints, broken branches, a browned apple core that she assumes was Ruddiger's doing... Tracking them should be a breeze.

     But it isn't long before she realizes she doesn't have to track them. She hears an alarmed hoot from Owl as he swoops down from the sky. She extends her arm out, but he doesn't land on it. He only flits in urgent circles above her head.

     "What is it?" She calls up to him. "Do you want me to follow you?"

     Owl hoots in response, and flies away through the forest.

     "I'll take that as a yes," Cassandra says, racing after him.

As she follows her feathered friend, she hears shouting coming from nearby. Once she draws nearer, she realizes it is Abhu. She quickens her pace, and emerges from the brush to find him yelling at Hugo.

     "No, you are not taking it!" Abhu has a firm grip on his father's journal, and Hugo is grasping the other side.

     "Ugh, not again..." Cassandra moans. She rushes at Hugo just as he is about to pull something —most likely alchemical— out of his pocket. Before he has the chance to react, she has him pinned against a tree. "What is going on here?!"

     "Ah, there you are Gorgeous," Hugo smirks. "I thought you disappeared for good."

     "Don't you dare start that again," Cassandra says, pressing her forearm to his throat.

     "You're right," Hugo chokes out. "It's no fun when Freckles isn't around, anyway."

Cassandra's eyes narrow. "Where is he?"

     "Your boyfriend is too much of a fun-sucker. We don't need him."

     Cassandra adds more pressure to his throat. "I said, where is he?!"

     "He's in that tunnel over there," Abhu speaks up behind her, hugging his journal as Hugo wheezes. "I think he's trapped."

     Finally having received an answer, Cassandra releases Hugo, allowing him to drop to the ground. As he coughs and gasps for breath, she walks over to Abhu's bag, pulls out a rope, wraps Hugo's arms around the tree, and ties the rope around his wrists as roughly as possible. "I am not done with you," she warns him.

Cassandra heads out of earshot from Hugo, towards the tunnel Abhu pointed to, but Abhu runs after her. "Wait wait wait, hold up! Don't go in there, Cass. It could be dangerous!"

"Varian is my friend," Cassandra says, looking him directly in the eyes. "I'm not abandoning him."

"Just a friend?" Abhu asks.

Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It's just, I noticed you've been acting weird," Abhu replies. "Ever since we arrived in Corona, as a matter of fact."

Uh-oh... So he has noticed the old me coming out, Cassandra thinks.

"And what was up with whatever happened earlier?" Abhu continues. "Disappearing into your tent like that? Something is going on with you."

"To be frank, Abhu, it's none of your business."

"See what I mean?! You never used to talk to me like that!"

"Stop acting like you know me!" Cassandra says. "You may think you do, but you couldn't be farther away from the truth."

"Then let me in." Abhu takes her hand, causing her to stiffen. "You've had a wall up ever since I've known you, Cassie. Please, let it down."

"You really don't want that," Cassandra replies. "You wouldn't like what you see."

"Try me."

Cassandra shakes her head, and pulls her hand out of his. "I have to go help my friend."

"There you go with that word 'friend' again," Abhu says.

"Because that's what he is!"

"He sure seems like he wants more than that."

"I know!" Cassandra shouts, and then covers her mouth. But it is already too late.

Abhu's brow furrows. "What do you mean you know?"

"Abhu, please, I have to find Varian."

"Did he say something to you?"

"I'm not going to—"

"He did! He did say something to you!"

Cassandra cannot take any more of this conversation. "Just keep an eye on the thief!" She turns away from Abhu, and dashes to the tunnel before he can inquire further.

     Inside the tunnel, it isn't long before she comes to a pile of large boulders blocking the path. "Varian! Varian, can you hear me?"

     "Cass!" Varian's excited voice comes from the other side of the boulders, and Cassandra finds herself sighing with relief. "I'm so glad you're here!"

     "Yeah, yeah..." She says. "Are you okay? How do I get you out of there?"

     "You'll have to go back to the campsite and get some of my supplies," Varian tells her. "I should've already been able to get myself out, but that thief Hugo stole my backpack and everything I had on-hand..."

     "I snagged him before he could escape," Cassandra says. "He's right outside. Just tell me what to get from him."

     "He's still here? That's actually great! I mean, you can take back from him what he stole from me. There's a dissolving solvent that—"

"Uh-huh, I don't need an explanation. I'll go get it." Cassandra runs out of the tunnel, and returns to where Abhu is watching Hugo closely.

"You find your boyfriend?" Hugo asks, receiving glares from both her and Abhu.

"He says you stole a dissolving solvent he needs," Cassandra says. "So give it."

Hugo actually laughs. Laughs! The nerve of this guy! "You think I'm gonna hand it over to you, just like that?"

Cassandra sighs exasperatedly. "What do you want? I haven't got all day."

"Tell me about this cavern you're so interested in."

"What? Why would you care about that?" Cassandra asks.

"Just tell me, and I'll give you the solvent."

"Or I could dig through all your pockets until I find it myself!"

"As pleasant as that sounds, we'd be here for hours," Hugo informs her. "I have tons of pockets and tons of alchemical solutions. And as you previously stated, you don't have that kind of time."

Cassandra wishes she could slap that smug grin off of his face. "Alright... What do you want to know?"

"What is it?" Hugo asks. "What's so special about a cavern, or cave, or whatever you want to call it?"

"Legend has it that it can tell you about the past," Cassandra explains quickly. "We need to find it in order to learn more about the creature that is terrorizing this kingdom."

Hugo raises a suspicious eyebrow, as if he isn't sure whether to believe her or not. But he shrugs and says, "Good enough for me. Back, left, second pocket under the button."

Cassandra follows his instructions, and rushes back into the tunnel. She tosses the solvent onto the boulders, and they disintegrate before her eyes, bringing Varian and Ruddiger into view. Ruddiger immediately rushes past her, and out of the tunnel.

Varian runs toward her, and for a moment she believes he may embrace her. But he stops himself, and awkwardly pats her shoulder instead. "Um, thanks. You know, for saving me."

"No problem," Cassandra replies, finding it difficult to make eye contact with him but forcing herself to because not doing so is ridiculous. "Now let's get out of here."

Varian follows Cassandra out of the tunnel and to the spot where Hugo is tied. "What. Was. That?!" Varian shouts at him, scooping up his backpack. "Even for a thief, that was low!"

"Hey, I only take care of Number One!" Hugo replies.

"And how'd that work out for ya?" Cassandra remarks. She then calls up to Owl and tells him, "Go get some handcuffs from Fitzherbert! I'm sure he's got some on him."

Owl hoots in response, and soars away toward the campsite. The four of them wait in awkward silence, avoiding looking at each other, until Owl returns with the handcuffs Cassandra requested. She unties Hugo from the tree, and slides the handcuffs onto his wrists.

"What are we gonna do with him?" Abhu asks.

"I don't know," Cassandra says as she shoves Hugo in front of her. "Throw him off a cliff? Drown him in a river? I'm sure we'll think of something."

"Ha ha, you're so funny," Hugo says sarcastically, having no choice but to walk forward.

"Yeah, I don't think she's joking," Varian whispers to him.

The entire trek back to the campsite, Cassandra can't help but notice the deep scowl that Abhu is exuding onto Varian. She can sense the tension in the air, and knows a blowout is most likely imminent.

Why did I have to open my big mouth? She thinks.

Chapter Text

Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu each keep a close eye on Hugo as they walk back to the campsite. Once they have finally returned, Cass forces Hugo to sit next to a still-injured Eugene. Varian would rather let him dangle over a bridge, but he lets Cass do her thing.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Eugene asks, taking in the sight of the handcuffed Hugo. "And was it absolutely necessary for you to send your feathered claw-beast to accost me?!"

"I needed your cuffs," Cassandra replies simply. "Your old pal, here, nearly got Varian killed."

"Well, that's a bit extreme..." Hugo says. "I knew Freckles could get outta there."

"He betrayed me," Varian explains to Eugene. "Left me trapped in a tunnel without my supplies, and tried to sprint with the journal."

Eugene shakes his head. "Honestly, I'm not surprised."

"Was your excursion successful?" Adira asks.

"Actually, it was!" Varian replies, recalling the discovery he made in the tunnel. Renewed excitement courses through him as he holds his hand out to Abhu expectantly. Abhu rolls his eyes, and reaches into his bag. He pulls out his journal and slaps it onto Varian's hand so hard that it stings through his glove. "Okay then..." Varian says slowly, but he ignores the intense glower he is receiving from Abhu as he flips the journal open to the sixth page and holds it up for the others to see.

"So... Other than some pretty circles and a buncha mumbo-jumbo, what're we supposed to be looking at?" Eugene asks.

"This is another code," Varian explains. "It's the Reflect Method!" He takes out a piece of paper from his backpack, and writes out the alphabet:

a b c d e f g h i j k l m
n o p q r s t u v w x y z

"With the Reflect Method Code, each letter mirrors another letter. So it should be a piece of cake to decipher this journal page!"

"Alright then, let's see it!" Abhu says impatiently.

Paying no attention to Abhu's tone, Varian turns his gaze to the coded message on the journal page. "So since the first letter written is 'G,' that would make it a 'T." He scribbles a 'T' onto his own paper. "Next is an 'e,' which would make it an 'r.' Next is 'n,' so that's an 'a'..."

Decoding the page letter by letter, Varian finally has a full message:

"The locations you decoded before," Cassandra says. "We do have to travel to them."

"How are 'four orbs' going to help us find this cavern?" Abhu whines.

Varian's face hardens with determination. "Guess we'll have to figure that out."

     "You mean, you'll have to figure that out," Abhu says with a touch of sarcasm. "Since you're so smart, and all."

     Why is he trying to pick a fight with me? Varian wonders. He and Abhu have not got along since they met, but it seems like Abhu really wants to argue right now.

     "Um, no, I meant exactly what I said," Varian says.

     "The first place was Pincosta, right?" Cassandra says. "It's a few weeks away on foot, so we should get going soon."

     "It wouldn't take that long to get there with my method of travel," Hugo says with a smirk.

     "No. Not gonna happen," Varian says. He must admit that he is a bit curious how Hugo found their group so quickly, when they were flying in a hot air balloon. But he already put his trust in Hugo once. Not again. "I can repair the balloon, and have it ready for flight by tomorrow morning."

     "I hate to say this Varian, but you might want to hear Hugo out," Eugene says, gesturing to his own injured leg. "I won't be traveling anywhere. It's probably best I use the balloon to fly back to Corona."

     "I will accompany him to make sure he arrives safely," Adira says. "Then I shall return here to continue keeping an eye on the dome."

     Varian groans, and then walks over to Hugo. "Okay, spill. How do you travel so fast?"

     "Yeah, I can already tell you it won't be that easy," Cassandra says. "He's gonna want something in return."

     "You repeatedly astound me with your intelligence and quick wit," Hugo says with a wink, casting a side glance at Varian.

     Varian can feel his ears turning red from the anger boiling inside him. "Just tell us what you want!"

     "I want to be released," Hugo replies. "And I want the original deal re-enacted. Let me be party to this escapade of yours."

     "Are you joking?!" Abhu says.

     "What makes you think we would ever trust you again?" Varian asks.

     Hugo smirks again. "Because you need me."

     "Do explain," Cassandra says.

     "That journal page says there are gonna be four orbs, right? What if you get to the end of this quest, and you need four people? One for each orb?"

     "That's a pretty big if," Cassandra says.

     "And besides, we could find literally anyone else, and they'd be a better choice than you," Varian says.

     "You really willing to tell anyone else about this phenomenal cavern you're looking for?" Hugo asks.

     "Like you aren't going to tell every single one of your thief buddies about it!" Cassandra says.

     "Oh no, that's not how things work, hon," Hugo says. "I know when and how to keep secrets."

     "You should've thought of that before you betrayed me!" Varian says. And before you kept flirting with Cass, he adds in his thoughts.

     Hugo's eyes narrow. "So is that a no, or...?"

     Varian turns to Cassandra with an inquiring expression. Abhu glances between them, and shakes his head. "Wait, you guys aren't actually considering trusting him again, are you?!"

     Cassandra pulls Varian and Abhu to the side, facing away from Hugo. "Do we have much choice?" She whispers. "We need to get this figured out, and we've already wasted enough time as it is. Let's just bring him along, keep round-the-clock watch on him, and make sure we don't give him an opportunity to betray any of us again."

"This is insane!" Abhu says. "How do we know he isn't pulling a fast one on us right now? He probably doesn't have any quicker way of transportation."

     "I can test out my Truth Ray on him!" Varian says. "I've been needing to, anyway. This is the perfect opportunity."

     "You do that," Cassandra says. "If it works, we may be using it a lot on Hugo."

     "Really? We're going with that?" Abhu says, looking disgusted. "Just because Varian suggested it?"

     "No, Abhu, because it's a good idea," Cassandra replies, the severe annoyance she is feeling written all over her face.

     Varian races into his tent, and returns with his Truth Ray. He strides over to Hugo, and aims it at him.

     "Whoa, hold up!" Hugo shouts, jumping up. "You're going to shoot me?!"

     "Chill Hugo, it's a Truth Ray," Varian says. "This is its first test run."

Varian pulls the trigger on the device, and a huge cloud of bright blue envelops him and Hugo at the same time.

"Is it supposed to do this, Freckles?!" Hugo shouts, a bit of anxiety coming across in his voice.

"Not exactly," Varian replies, stunned. "It's supposed to shine the blue light just on you, not me!"

After a moment, the blue cloud disappears. Varian scratches his head, wondering what could have went wrong.

"So, did it work?" Cassandra asks.

How could it have worked? The beam was too bright to have the desired effect.

"Yes, I am aware of that Hugo!" Varian says. "I don't need your commentary."

Hugo gives Varian a befuddled look. "I think you've officially lost it. I didn't say anything."

"What do you mean you didn't say anything? I heard you!"

"He's right, you're going insane," Abhu says.

"Wha— You heard him, didn't you Cass?" Varian asks.

"Uh... No?" Cassandra replies.

Varian turns to face Eugene and Adira, who both shake their heads.

"Well, I heard something..." Varian grumbles.

     "Sure thing," Hugo says. Might wanna get your hearing checked out.

     "My hearing is just fine, thank you!" Varian shouts, rounding on Hugo again.

     "Uh... Hair Stripe, you okay?" Eugene asks.

     "What do you mean?" Varian says with a raised eyebrow. "He just said I need to get my hearing checked!"

     Hugo's eyes widen. "Yeah, I didn't say that... I thought it." It wasn't witty enough to say out loud.

     "Not everything you say has to be witty," Varian retorts.

     "Alright, this is seriously freaking me out," Cassandra says. "What is going on here?"

     Varian stares at the Truth Ray still in his hands. "I think... I think I built a device that can read people's minds."

     "That's great and all, but I hope the effects are temporary," Hugo says. It would really suck if you could read all of my thoughts for the whole trip...

     "For you and me both," Varian says. "Which reminds me, how are we traveling?"

I knew you'd admit you need me. "Check the sheathe."

Varian opens the sheathe Hugo has been carrying on his back, and pulls out a smooth wooden pole. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"Push the button," Hugo says.

Varian finds a small button on the side of the pole, and when he pushes it the pole extends and two green 'wings' made of cloth and thinner wooden poles pop out on either side.

"I present to you, the Glider," Hugo says proudly.

"That thing actually flies?" Cassandra asks doubtfully.

"Well, it needs a little help to get started," Hugo explains. He faces Varian and adds, "Remember my little wind trick that got us into the tunnel?"

     Cassandra leans closer to Varian and whispers, "Is he serious?"

     Varian listens for Hugo's thoughts for a moment, but he doesn't hear anything. "I think the effects of the Truth Ray wore off," he says.

     "If you're hesitant to believe, I could always demonstrate for you," Hugo says, gesturing to his cuffed hands.

     "No need for a demonstration right now," Varian replies. "I can see for myself that this mechanism could guide a person through the air with a burst of wind like your alchemical solution provides." He studies the Glider closer. "And I believe I can replicate it, as well, with supplies I brought along with me in the balloon."

     "Ah ah, I'll do the replicating since it is my invention," Hugo says. "You just focus on that balloon." He again gestures for the handcuffs to be removed. "However, I can't work with bound hands."

     Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu exchange hesitant glances. They gaze down at Eugene, who shrugs. "Don't look at me! I'm headed home to my wife. I'm not the one who would have to babysit this backstabber."

     "Again, that's a tad extreme..." Hugo says.

     Cassandra sighs, and holds out her hand to Eugene. He hands her the key to the cuffs, and she uses it to remove them from Hugo's wrists.

     "Thanks, Gorgeous," Hugo says to Cass with a wink. Varian bristles, but Abhu actually stomps forward.

"I've heard enough of that!" Abhu shouts, pointing his finger into Hugo's face. "If you're coming along with us, you will respect her!"

Cassandra shakes her head. "Abhu, I can handle myself."

"I actually agree with Abhu this time," Varian says. He feels as if steam will billow from his ears every time Hugo flirts with Cassandra.

"Oh, don't pretend you're on my side!" Abhu shouts, only this time at Varian. "I know how you feel about Cass!"

Varian is taken aback. Cassandra looks like she'd rather be anywhere else but here. "S-So what?!" He says.

"So, give it up!" Abhu says. "I've been trying to win her over since the day we met! Then you don't see her for six years, and suddenly you think you have any kind of chance?! Back off!"

"I want both of you to back off!" Cassandra yells, causing them to stop and face her. "You wanna talk about disrespecting me? You both are, arguing about me like I'm not even here! I get a say in this too, you know!"

     Varian knows she is right. Admittedly, it was mostly Abhu shouting. But he still added fuel to the fire. He normally wouldn't act like this, but the way he feels about Cass... it drives him crazy.

     "Now I want you two to shut up and listen," Cassandra says sternly. "I am not looking for a relationship. It is not something I want. It is not something I need. So just stop already!"

     Varian already figured he didn't have much of a chance with Cass. He can't help the way he feels, though, and her words still cut him to the heart. But Abhu looks more furious than he has ever seen the man look.

     "If this is what you guys are like all the time, this is gonna be a fun trip!" Hugo says with an amused smile.

Chapter Text

"Mommy, why were you so mean?" Opal asks, her large eyes glistening.

"I was frustrated, kiddo," Cassandra replies. "I was afraid to have feelings for anyone, so if there was the slightest chance that I might I shoved them down."

"So, were you already having feelings for Daddy?" Opal asks.

"Well... That's complicated," Cassandra says. "I didn't think I did, but what I was feeling did eventually turn into feelings for him."

"I... think I understand?" Opal says, unsure.

"Like I said, complicated," Cassandra says, stroking her daughter's cheek with the back of her hand.

"But in the meantime, I was completely crushed," Varian continues the story. "I had no idea that she only said the things she did out of fear, so I believed I no longer had any chance with her..."

The deafening silence that follows is almost too much for Varian to take. It could be minutes, it could be mere seconds. But it feels like hours to him.

     "Okay," Eugene finally speaks up, sucking air through his teeth. "Seems there's a lot more drama going on here than I realized. Hey, you guys have fun with that."

Varian reaches out to Cassandra. "Cass...?"

"Not right now Varian," she responds, backing away. "Just get that balloon fixed so Fitzherbert can go home..."

The rest of the evening, and on through the night, is busy yet uncomfortably quiet. Cassandra, Eugene, and Adira rest in their respective tents. Abhu perches on a rock, flipping through his father's journal. Hugo works on building rudimentary models of his Glider for the others to use. And Varian spends all night repairing the hot air balloon for Eugene and Adira.

Varian doesn't mind working this long. He enjoys having something to do with his hands. And right now, he is especially thankful for a distraction. Otherwise he would drive himself insane mulling over everything that Cassandra said —or rather, shouted. Did she really mean it when she said she didn't want a relationship? Or did she mean she didn't want a relationship with either of them? With him? One thing is for sure... All his hopes of ever winning her over have been dashed to pieces.

Finally, as the sun rises, Eugene and Adira prepare to depart in the newly-repaired balloon. Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu take only a few of their necessary belongings with them in smaller bags, and leave the rest of their things in the balloon to retrieve later.

     Despite his protests, Adira lifts Eugene up with ease and sets him inside the basket. She then steps into it herself. The others surround them, saying their goodbyes.

"Psst, Varian!" Eugene whispers as the others converse, leaning against the edge of the basket for support. When Varian approaches, he asks, "Let me get this straight... You've actually got feelings for CassAndra?"

Varian sighs. "Yes, Eugene. But I really don't want to talk about—"

"I've just got one question," Eugene interrupts. "Why?"

Varian glares at Eugene, then rolls his eyes. "I'm not going to answer that."

"We are being watched," Adira informs them in a low, chilling voice.

Turning around, Varian spots what the others have already noticed... The Angst. It is hovering just above the ground, a good distance away but still close enough to be seen. Everyone freezes in place.

"Well, uh... can something without eyes really be watching us?" Eugene points out.

"What does it want?" Abhu wonders, beginning to quiver.

"What is that thing?!" Hugo asks, his eyes widening at seeing the creature for the first time.

"Whatever you do, do not feel fear," Adira says. "Fear attracts it."

"Then whatever you fear actually happens. Or, so it seems," Varian adds.

"I'm afraid of it," Abhu says. "Can't it go away already?"

"That fear may be the very reason it is here," Adira says.

"But I didn't start feeling it until I saw the thing!" Abhu says.

"How can you not feel fear when looking at something like that?!" Hugo says.

"It's not bothering us," Cassandra points out. "It's almost as if it's... waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Abhu asks.

"For one of us to be afraid of something, most likely," Varian suggests.

"Well I'm not waiting around for that," Eugene says. "Adira? Let's take to the skies!"

"I suggest all of you do the same," Adira says to them. "And quickly. Perhaps if you ignore it, it will leave you alone."

     As the balloon lifts in the air, Hugo straps his sheathe on his back and hands Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu their own Gliders. "These aren't perfect, obviously, but they're as close as they can get!" He says.

"You're actually admitting something of yours isn't perfect?" Varian remarks.

Abhu stares at his Glider uncertainly. "How is this supposed to work, again?"

Varian grasps onto the longest wooden pole at the front of the glider with both hands, as Ruddiger skitters onto his shoulders. "Just hold on here, right?"

Hugo nods, doing the same to his Glider. He bends forward slightly, making sure the 'wings' are just above him. Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu reluctantly follow suit.

     "Alright everyone, prepare yourselves!" Hugo pulls out a familiar small sphere, and crushes it in his hand. Almost immediately, a vortex of swirling wind blasts forth. It gusts around them, and the Gliders catch the air underneath the 'wings.' All four of them are shot high into the air, quicker than the hot hair balloon could ever take them.

"This was a huge mistake!" Abhu screams, holding onto his Glider tightly.

"What are you talking about? That was the best part!" Hugo says, an exuberant smile on his face.

     The experience causes Varian's stomach to flip. Ruddiger fearfully digs his claws into the side of his head, but once the initial shock is over and the raccoon finally relaxes, Varian stares at the fading view of the Dark Kingdom below him. The Angst remains in the same spot, like a sentry guarding a castle. I will discover a way to make you free my father, Varian thinks. We'll be back!

"Which direction are we supposed to be headed?" Cassandra asks.

Varian points his index finger. "We want to head southwest, that way."

The four of them tilt slightly, causing their Gliders to guide them southwest. Varian finds the sensation almost calming. Freeing. The view from up here is incredible!

     Glancing at the others, Varian's eyes rest on Cassandra. Owl is soaring alongside her, hooting cheerfully. Much to Varian's surprise, she actually has a joyous smirk on her face as she gazes down at the landscape below. He knows that she accompanied Rapunzel on her trip across this very land, so he is sure she must have numerous memories she is recalling. A strange maze, an unusually large fallen tree... He wishes he knew what all happened on that journey of theirs as they crossed those landmarks.

"There it is! Pincosta," Hugo announces.

     "We're so close, but still so high," Abhu says. "How are we going to—"

     Before he can complete his sentence, Hugo reaches over and pulls the chord that closes Abhu's 'wings.' Immediately, Abhu plummets downward, screaming the entire time.

     "Hugo!" Varian scolds. "What—?!"

     But then Hugo tosses a small, mechanical box down to the ground. It explodes open into a large, air-filled cushion, and Abhu falls onto it unharmed. "I really hate you!" They hear Abhu shout up at Hugo.

Hugo laughs, and then closes his 'wings.' "Don't be that way, Achoo!" He lands on the cushion next to Abhu, and then gestures for Varian and Cassandra to follow.

     Cassandra sighs. "Here goes nothing..."

     After closing the 'wings' on her Glider, she drops toward the cushion. But instead of landing on it, Abhu reaches out and catches her in his arms. He quickly releases her, and she slides off of the cushion on her own. But the moment is still enough to cause Varian to bristle with jealousy. He jerks on the chord to close his 'wings,' but in the heat of his anger he misses the mark of the cushion and instead he and Ruddiger crash into the branches of a tree.

"You okay up there, Freckles?" Hugo hollers up to him.

     "Just shut up," Varian grumbles as he climbs down. Hugo snickers, while Abhu gives Varian his usual glare and Cassandra simply shakes her head.

Hugo repackages the cushion and returns the box to one of his many pockets. "Onward we go!" He says. The others put their gliders in Varian's backpack.

     "Alright, we're here in Pincosta," Abhu says as the four of them head into town. "Now, where are we supposed to go from here?"

     "The message said 'Pincosta farm'," Cassandra replies. "So... I guess one of those orbs is hidden somewhere on a farm here?"

     "Hopefully someone will have some useful knowledge," Varian says. "We should ask around."

     "No need," Hugo says with a smirk. "I know a person here we can ask."

     "Great... One of your thief buddies?" Cassandra guesses unenthusiastically.

     "Something like that," Hugo says. "Let's just say, we used to have a mutual friend."

Chapter Text

"Those flying-things sound fun!" Opal says, spreading her arms wide as if she is flying herself. She leans over too far, and almost falls out of the bed, but Cassandra quickly catches her and sets her up right.

     "They were... something," Cassandra says with a chuckle. "I guess I enjoyed it a little more than I thought I would. It reminded me of another time." She shares a smile with Rapunzel as they recall how free they felt when they were transformed into birds.

     "So where was Hugo leading you?" Opal asks, her attention back on the story.

     "He was taking us to meet with someone who could help," Cassandra replies. "And, much to my displeasure, someone I had already met before..."

Great, back in Pincosta...

This is not exactly Cassandra's favorite place, considering the last time she was here she spent days in jail... along with Eugene, Lance, Hook Foot, and Shorty. That is definitely not a visit she wants to repeat.

But anywhere is better than being in the Dark Kingdom right now. Spending too long there, she was starting to have some major flashbacks. Memories she wishes she could forget. Actions she wishes she could take back.

She also doesn't want to be anywhere near the Angst. She remained silent when the subject was brought up, but she feels as if she may have been the reason the creature showed up today. Last night, when she yelled at Varian and Abhu... she lied. Lied about not wanting a relationship. Her past self, sure; it was the last thing on her mind. But now, the thought of having a significant other doesn't sound as horrible as she used to believe.

     If only it weren't for her fear. She is afraid to open up to somebody, to be vulnerable. To seem weak. Plus, who could ever truly love her once they learned of the things she has done?

     "I could," Varian says.

     "What?" Cassandra says in surprise, her train of thought derailed.

     "I asked if you think I should use my Truth Ray on Hugo again," Varian says. "I could, just to check that he's really taking us where he says he is."

     Phew, she thinks, sighing with relief. "For a second I wondered if you had used that stupid contraption of yours on me."

     "Why would you think that?" He asks, the edge of his mouth twitching as if he is holding back a smirk.

For a moment, she smiles without realizing it. "I..." But once she sees a small glimmer of hope flicker within his eyes, she remembers the tense situation between them and any ease she felt around him quickly fades. "Never mind," she says, turning away as her mental walls go up.

     "Oh... okay," he responds. She doesn't have to look at him to sense his deep disappointment.

     Varian has already confessed his love for her. But she wonders how genuine it could really be. He is fully aware of the things she has done. The things she did to him. Could the love he believes he feels for her just be an echo of the childhood crush he once had on her? The longing for things to return to the way they used to be, before either of them decided to turn on their kingdom?

     And what would that matter, anyway? It's not like she could ever have feelings for him...

     "Ah, here we are!" Hugo announces. "The Glass Sipper."

     "A pub?" Varian says, sounding unimpressed by the building standing in front of them upon a small hill. "You've brought us to a pub?"

     "I thought we were trying to find someone, not go out drinking," Abhu says.

     "Oh ye of little faith," Hugo says. "We are still looking for someone. She is known to frequent this fine establishment."

Varian crinkles his nose at the paint peeling off the sides of the moldy walls. "We have different definitions of 'fine'."

As they enter, Cassandra sees a familiar woman with long, dark hair sitting alone at a table in the far corner. "Oh no... Not her."

"You know her?" Varian asks as Hugo leads the group closer to the woman.

"Unfortunately," Cassandra replies.

The woman finally notices the band of people coming toward her. She rolls her eyes when she sees Hugo, but a bewildered look of recognition crosses her face once she sees Cassandra.

"Stalyan!" Hugo announces grandiosely, his arms wide as if he expects a hug. "How's my favorite—"

"Do not finish that sentence," Stalyan interrupts, shushing him. "I'm surprised you'd even show your face around here again."

     "Unlike Rider, I am not wanted here," Hugo brags. "The difference between us is, I didn't get caught."

     "Rider? As in, Eugene?" Abhu whispers.

     "She knows Eugene too?" Varian says, equally confused.

     "She's Eugene's ex," Cassandra explains, quickly and quietly. "Raps and I once stopped her from forcing him to marry her. It was a whole thing."

"What do you want, Hugo?" Stalyan says, sounding impatient. "And why is she with you?" She gestures to Cassandra.

     Cassandra takes a couple steps forward. "Ah, so you do remember me."

     "Remember? Yes. Want to remember? As badly as I want to muck out the stables."

     "Hey, we saved you in the long-run, right?" Cassandra says, folding her arms. "I hear you've got a new flame."

     Stalyan stands up. "As fun as this little reunion is, I've got things to do." She attempts to walk around Hugo, but he holds his arm out to stop her.

     "Whoa whoa whoa, what's your rush?" Hugo says, receiving an irritated glare from Stalyan.

"Just spit it out," Stalyan says. "What're you here for?"

     "We're searching for something," Hugo replies. "I know you are well-acquainted with the surrounding area. I think you can help us locate it."

     Stalyan laughs disdainfully. "And what makes you think I would help you?"

     Hugo smirks. "You owe me a favor."

     Stalyan's expression falters. "That was a long time ago. Favor's expired."

     "Don't try that on me, favors don't expire." Hugo leans in closer. "Unless you really want me to inform the manager of this wonderful pub that you plan on having your daddy buy out his only means of living so you can run it yourself."

     "Wha— How do you...?" She stammers. "He wouldn't believe you! You have no proof!"

     "You really wanna test me?"

Stalyan studies Hugo's face. Finally, she sighs. "Fine. What're you looking for?"

Varian steps forward to explain, when a few drunk men start fighting each other directly behind him. "Maybe we should discuss this outside," he suggests, flinching.

The gang exit the pub, where it is much quieter and safer. A few years ago, Cassandra might have found herself joining in on the bar fight. She knows she could whip every one of those guys in there! But right now, they have a mission to complete.

"Have you heard anything about an orb around here? Particularly on a farm?" Varian asks Stalyan.

Stalyan raises an eyebrow. "That isn't very specific. What kind of orb?"

     Abhu pulls out the journal, and flips to the sixth page. He turns the book around to face Stalyan, showing her the sketched image of four colorful orbs.

     After staring at it for a few seconds, Stalyan shakes her head. "Nope, sorry. Haven't seen anything like that around here."

     "Would you actually tell us if you had?" Cassandra asks, folding her arms.

"She's telling the truth," Hugo says. "I can tell."

     "Oh, like I trust you any more than I trust her," Cassandra remarks.

     "Okay, let's stay focused here," Varian says. He pulls out the piece of paper with the infinity symbol on it and shows it to Stalyan. "What about this? Have you seen this symbol anywhere?"

     Stalyan considers this for a moment. "Now, that I can help you with. It isn't exactly the same, but I've seen a similar symbol in a field nearby. I was scoping out the area, and—"

"No one cares what you were trying to steal," Cassandra says. "Just take us there."

"Alright, Miss Snippy," Stalyan says, rolling her eyes. Her shoulders slump as she reluctantly adds, "Follow me."

(Stalyan's new outfit was designed by my best friend, Cricket.)

Chapter Text

"Stalyan? That's a weird name for a girl," Opal laughs.

     "Tell me about it..." Rapunzel mutters.

     "I'm sure Aunt Raps has a lot she could say on the matter," Cassandra says. "But we're gonna continue with the story."

     "I'm excited to hear where she'll take you!" Opal says.

     "Where she led us was exciting," Varian says. "But at the time, it was difficult for me to focus on the task at hand...

As the gang follow Stalyan through the countryside of Pincosta, Varian has to force himself to remain focused on the mission. Because all his brain wants to do is think about Cassandra. All his eyes want to do is stare at her. All his heart wants to do is hold her in his arms.

     But she made it abundantly clear that she doesn't want any of those things, so he must retrain everything within himself to think and act completely opposite to how he wants to think and act around her. How does one teach himself to not be in love?

"You're lagging, Freckles."

"Huh?" Hugo's grating voice pulls Varian from his thoughts.

"You're falling behind," Hugo says. "You stopping to study every bit of the flora and fauna along the way?"

Varian now realizes how far ahead Stalyan, Abhu, and Cassandra are. "I'm just... thinking."

"'Bout what?" Hugo asks.

Varian scoffs. "Like I would tell you." But his eyes involuntarily scan ahead and fall upon Cassandra.

To Varian's horror, Hugo follows his gaze. "Ahh, you don't have to tell me, Freckles."

"Shut up. You don't know anything."

"I know a certain feisty Warrior Angel's rejection has got you down in the dumps."

Hugo's statement both disheartens and infuriates Varian, but instead of the snapping quip he wants to make he simply sighs dismally.

"Don't be so glum, chum!" Hugo says, placing his arm around Varian's shoulders. But Varian promptly shoves it off.

"How can I not be?!" Varian remarks. "The woman I've been in love with for years wants nothing to do with me..."

"I wouldn't say nothing," Hugo says.

Varian hates to admit it, but he knows Hugo is right. He still means something to Cassandra. Why else would she have kept the Cassandrium necklace for all this time? "I... I wish she felt the same about me as I do about her."

"Don't give up all hope yet," Hugo tells him. "You should've seen her when you were trapped in that tunnel." He shudders.

"Wait... What do you mean?" Varian asks.

"I mean, no woman is that scary and determined for just a friend," Hugo replies.

Varian ponders this. Could there still be hope for him and Cass? "Why are you telling me this?"

Hugo shrugs. "I guess you could call it remorse? I'm sorry for what I did to ya, Freckles."

Varian raises a skeptical eyebrow. "Uh-huh, I totally believe you."

"It was worth a shot," Hugo laughs. "Despite what you may believe, though, I do view you as a... sort of entertaining acquaintance."

"Thanks," Varian says flatly, as Hugo gives him an enthusiastic thumbs up.

"You boys gonna chat all day back there?" Stalyan hollers at them. "I've got places to be."

     Varian and Hugo rush to catch up with the others. Hugo may still be one of the most annoying and obnoxious people Varian has ever met, but... maybe he isn't so terrible after all. If given the choice, Varian would definitely prefer his company over Abhu's... And maybe there is something to what he said. He's waited this long already; Cassandra could possibly come around eventually.

After walking for a couple of miles, Stalyan leads them to a large farm. The property is encircled with a worn wooden fence, and is covered with countless acres of crops. Stalyan hops over the fence, ignoring the painted sign hanging on a nearby tree that reads Private Property.

"Really? We're breaking the law to do this?" Cassandra says.

"According to reports I've heard from Corona, that's not something that seems to bother you," Stalyan retorts.

Cassandra's face turns white as snow. Varian bites his lip nervously, wondering how she is going to react. Abhu seems as if he is about to inquire further, but Stalyan groans. "Are you coming or not?"

Varian shrugs, and then climbs over the fence. "We have to see this through," he says to the others.

Cassandra and Abhu exchange glances, and then reluctantly climb over the fence. They continue to follow Stalyan through the wide fields. Eventually, they end up in a thicket of tall grass.

"It's grown up a bit since I was last here, but take a look," Stalyan says, gesturing with her hand.

Varian and Cassandra both step forward. "What exactly are we looking fo—" Varian begins to say. But the sound of metal clanking under his boots stops him in his tracks.

Cassandra draws her sword. She uses it to cut away the tall grass, revealing a large metal hatch. Varian immediately takes notice of the image etched into it; an infinity symbol, but with what looks like rocks or stones where the feather was on the last picture.

"Well look at that," Hugo says, as Varian squats down to better observe the hatch.

     "There isn't a handle on it," Cassandra points out. "How are we supposed to get into the thing?"

     "The symbol at the entrance to the tunnel had a feather on it to represent air," Varian says. "This one has what appears to be stones, or earth."

     "So, what, are we supposed to throw some dirt on it or something?" Abhu asks apathetically. He scoops up a handful of dirt, and tosses it onto the hatch. To no one's surprise, nothing happens.

     "The last place required more than just blowing on it," Hugo says. "Something tells me this one isn't so simple, Achoo."

     Varian runs his fingers along the grooves in the hatch. "This symbol is etched in pretty deep. Like... maybe something is supposed to go inside it?"

"What, like liquid?" Hugo suggests.

"Possibly," Varian replies.

"So... mud?" Abhu says. He begins to pull his canteen of water out of his bag, evidently to pour on the dirt to create mud. But Varian stands up and grabs the canteen out of his hands.

"You're not helping," Varian says with a pointed glare.

Cassandra shakes her head. "Well, my guesses are about as good as Abhu's. You two are supposedly genius alchemists, so figure it out."

"Your lady is a bit bossy," Hugo whispers to Varian. "You sure that's something you wanna live with the rest of your life?"

Varian shoves Hugo away. "Just look around for something that might help us out!"

While Varian continues studying the hatch, Hugo, Cassandra, and Abhu explore the surrounding area. Grass, rocks, shrubs... nothing much of interest.

Leaning against the trunk of a tree, Stalyan lets out an exaggerated yawn. "Not that this isn't fascinating, but have I served my purpose?"

"Yes, Stalyan. Thanks for the assist," Hugo says, holding out his hand towards her. But instead of shaking it, she pushes it away.

"Just make sure you keep those loose lips of yours sealed," Stalyan says. "And consider your favor repaid." As she begins to stride away, the heel of her boot catches on something in the tall grass and she falls to the ground. "What the...?"

     Feeling around in the grass to discover what tripped her, Stalyan stands up with a bar of copper in her hand.

     "Weird place to put a bar of copper," Hugo says.

     Varian's brow furrows. "Something tells me it may not be coincidence..."

     "What do you mean by that?" Cassandra asks.

     Varian takes the copper from Stalyan. "Copper is a naturally-occurring metal. Meaning, it could be considered earth."

     "And, metal can be melted," Hugo adds, pointing to the deeply-etched symbol on the hatch.

"In a lab, yes," Varian says. "But I don't think it would be possible to generate enough heat to melt it with a simple wood fire."

"Good thing it won't be a simple wood fire," Hugo says with a smirk, revealing another alchemical sphere from his pocket.

     "What, does that create a giant spinning vortex of flame?!" Abhu asks, backing away.

     Hugo snorts. "As spectacular as that sounds, Achoo, this only creates an instant intense heat. Can't be seen, except for its effects."

     "Like melting metal," Varian says.

     Varian pulls a beaker out of his backpack, and hands it and the copper to Hugo. Hugo places the copper bar on top of the opening, and crushes his alchemical sphere over it. The copper immediately melts into the beaker.

"Et voilà !" Hugo says, revealing the melted copper with a dramatic flourish.

Varian takes the melted copper, and pours it into the etched symbol on the hatch. The symbol begins to glow a bright yellow, along with the edges of the hatch. After a few moments of intense quaking, the door flies open.

"Haha, another success!" Varian exclaims excitedly. Yet, something keeps nagging at the back of his mind...

First Abhu's journal, then Hugo's extreme air solution, and now his heat alchemy... How do they keep having exactly what they need to continue this quest?

"In we go!" Hugo says, stepping forward.

"Ah ah ah," Cassandra says, holding Hugo back. "We're keeping a closer eye on you this time! You will have someone in front of you and someone behind you, at all times."

"Whatever you say, Sandra," Hugo says with an indifferent shrug. "Achoo?"

"What? Why me?!" Abhu protests, but Hugo grabs him by the arm and shoves him in first. The two of them disappear into the darkness of the hatch.

"Did he just call me Sandra?" Cassandra says, staring blankly after Hugo.

"And that's my cue to leave... again," Stalyan says. "Nice knowin' ya! Or not..."

As Stalyan leaves, Varian turns to Ruddiger and Owl, the latter of which is perched on a nearby bush. "You two stay up here and keep watch, okay? We are trespassing, after all."

Cassandra stares into the deep hatch, which is now slightly illuminated by Hugo's light source down below. She is about to step down, when Varian grabs her hand to stop her.

"Cass, I... I want to say something first," he says, somewhat surprised by the fact that she is allowing him to hold her hand.

"Okay..." Cassandra says, drawn-out and hesitant.

Varian breathes in deeply. His conversation with Hugo plays out in his mind, giving him more confidence and courage. "I just want you to know, I'm... I'm not giving up on you."

"Varian—"

"Please, listen," Varian insists. "I heard what you said, but honestly... I don't believe it. I think you're just afraid which, trust me, is something I absolutely relate to. You may not feel for me the way I do about you now, but I know I'm important to you. And no matter what, no matter how long it takes..." He pulls her hand closer, and briefly presses his lips to her knuckles. "I'll wait indefinitely for you, Cassie. You are the moon and the stars to me."

Chapter Text

"That was so sweet of you, Daddy!" Opal coos.

     "I meant it. And I still do," Varian says, reaching for Cassandra's hand and gently kissing it in the same manor he did that day. She rolls her eyes, but cannot hide the smile that has spread across her face.

     "Ooh, you two are still the cutest!" Rapunzel squeals.

     "I can't wait to see what's in the hatch! Whatever that is," Opal says.

     "It's an opening that allows passage from one area to another," Varian explains. "We were basically going down into a basement."

     "Oh," Opal says with realization. "But basements are so scary!"

     "This basement wasn't scary, kiddo," Cassandra says. "In fact, it led to our first real discovery..."

"I'll wait indefinitely for you, Cassie. You are the moon and the stars to me."

     As Varian ducks down into the hatch, Cassandra remains motionless, too stunned to speak or move. She figures she shouldn't have expected anything less from him, but she wasn't aware of how deeply he cares for her. She isn't used to the attention, and she feels that she doesn't deserve it at all.

And he called her Cassie, for the first time since her return. When Abhu calls her that, it makes her blood boil. But hearing Varian say it, it feels so natural. Almost... comforting.

But what really stands out the most to her is, how is he aware of her fear? Again she wonders if he may have used his Truth Ray on her somehow, but she knows that this is not something he would do to her. Does he really just understand her that well?

No, that's crazy. No one could ever understand her that completely.

Right?

Frustrated with the direction of her thoughts, she blows a stray hair out of her face and follows the others into the hatch. A few feet down the concrete hallway, she discovers that the guys have already run into a dead-end.

"This is great," Abhu grumbles. "We've hit a wall!"

"I don't think it's just a wall," Varian observes, moving his light source to the center of the barrier. "Look!"

     The light reveals a small box attached to the wall, that seems to be a locking mechanism. There are four dials, with letters instead of the expected numbers.

"It's clear that the combination is a word," Varian says. "But what word?"

     "A four-letter one, obviously!" Hugo says with a laugh. But no one else laughs with him.

     "Everywhere we go, there seem to be clues leading to the next thing," Cassandra says. "So maybe there's a clue somewhere regarding the password."

     "You're probably right," Varian says. The smile he gives her makes her uncomfortable, so she turns her gaze away from him. But her eyes fall upon Abhu, who is glaring at Varian. Ugh, how did things get so complicated?

Once Hugo and Varian both roam around the hallway with their lights, they discover a metal plaque screwed into the floor.

     "'A head and a tail I have, but a body I lack'," Varian reads the plaque aloud. "Heh, according to Rapunzel and Eugene this sounds like something Lord Demanitus would put here."

"A riddle?" Cassandra groans. "Who has time for riddles?"

"Apparently, someone thought we do," Abhu grumbles.

     "This shouldn't be too difficult," Varian says. "I'm pretty great at riddles, if I do say so myself."

     "Then quit bragging about it, and solve it already!" Abhu sneers.

     Varian rolls his eyes, and then studies the plaque. "A head and tail, but no body..." He glances back at the lock on the wall. "Four-letter combination..."

     "A coin!" Hugo shouts. "The answer is a coin."

     Cassandra and Abhu look to Varian for confirmation. He appears none-too-thrilled that Hugo solved the simple riddle before he did, but he strides over to the lock and turns the dials until they read 'coin.' To everyone's delight, the lock clicks and the wall splits apart at the middle. Once it opens, Varian and Hugo head inside first to check things out.

"It's an elevator!" Varian says excitedly once he has observed their new surroundings.

"All aboard!" Hugo says, gesturing for Cassandra and Abhu to enter.

"Is this safe?" Abhu asks.

"We're about to find out," Hugo replies, unworried.

Abhu hesitates, but Cassandra pushes him forward. "Just come on!"

Once everyone has set foot onto the elevator, Hugo steps over to the pulley system. "Ready for me to show you the ropes, Freckles?" He laughs at his own bad joke, while the others shake their heads. Varian joins him, and the two of them work together to pull the rope and move the elevator up.

Reaching the top of the shaft, they tie the rope off and illuminate the path ahead of them.

     "It's just another room," Cassandra says.

     "A small room," Abhu adds. "Remind me why I'm here, again?"

"I wonder that all the time," Varian remarks.

     "Look!" Cassandra says, distracting them from starting yet another argument. "There's something over here."

     The guys approach to investigate her discovery: a miniature door at the end of the room, that is only a couple of feet tall. It doesn't have a doorknob.

"Well, we're definitely not going out that way," Hugo says.

     "I knew I shoulda let Ruddiger come in here with me," Varian says.

"So what're we supposed to do with a tiny door?" Abhu asks.

     Cassandra kneels down to get a better look at the door, as does Varian. He is near enough that she can smell the scent of burned chemicals and slight sweat coming off of him, and she wonders if his close proximity is on purpose or if he is simply excited about their discovery and doesn't notice.

     But then she catches sight of the hint of a blush on his cheeks, and knows for a certainty that he absolutely recognizes their closeness but is choosing to ignore it, as she is.

"Hey, what's this hole here?" Cassandra asks, pointing at a small slot in the door. "Could it be for a key?"

     After staring at the door for a moment longer, Varian's eyes widen with realization. "It isn't for a key." He digs around in his pocket, and pulls out a small, shiny object with the Coronan seal on it. "It's for a coin."

"Ah, so the riddle had double meaning!" Hugo says. "Way to go, Freckles!" He slaps Varian on the back, causing him to drop the coin. But Cassandra reacts quickly, catching the coin before it can roll away as Varian glares at Hugo.

Cassandra slides the coin into the slot while the others wait with bated breath. After a few clicks! and a couple seconds of silence, the small door pops open and... a bright yellow orb rolls out, directly into Varian's hands. The orb is shiny and mesmerizing.

     "Just like my dad's sketch in his journal," Abhu says, his astonished voice barely coming out as a whisper.

"We have our first orb!" Varian says excitedly, hopping up and holding it above his head for all of them to see. "We're one step closer to solving this mystery!"

Chapter Text

"The first orb!" Opal shouts. Her eyes are squeezed shut, and her nose is scrunched up from the huge, excited grin she is wearing.

Cassandra chuckles fondly. "Yeah, that's about the same face your father made when we found it."

"I wish I could have been there," Rapunzel sighs. "But I was back in Corona, breaking the bad news of my encounter with the Angst to Eugene."

"Trust me Raps, you did not want to be there for the next leg of our journey," Cassandra says. She turns back to face Opal. "I was already dreading our next stop to that awful island, but things didn't go well from the minute we arrived."

"I definitely wasn't prepared for it," Varian adds. "But we managed, like we always do..."

After exiting the hatch, the newly-discovered orb safely secure in Varian's backpack, the gang discover Ruddiger scurrying around the open field in the distance as a tall, bearded man furiously chases after him.

"Uh-oh, looks like we have company," Hugo says.

Varian realizes how good of an idea it was to leave Ruddiger up here, otherwise that man (whom he assumes is the owner of this property) may have found them out. He doesn't know what his raccoon did to tick the man off so badly, but it seems to have been the perfect distraction.

"Come on, we better get off of that guy's land before he sees us," Cassandra says. They quietly begin making their way back to the wooden fence, taking care not to be seen by the angry man who is now headed in the opposite direction.

     After finally reaching the fence and hopping over it, they run quite a distance away just to be safe. Once Ruddiger loses the man and catches up with them again, they get out their Gliders.

     "Here we go again..." Varian mutters after checking the map.

     "Just try not to land in a tree this time, okay Freckles?" Hugo jokes. Before Varian has the time to retort, Hugo uses alchemy to blast them into the air once again. "Next stop, Terapi Island!" He announces happily as the others gasp and scream from the sudden motion of being shot into the air.

     "Don't sound so excited," Cassandra says as they soar. "It's not a pleasant place..."

     "A tropical island sounds pretty amazing to me," Abhu says. "Maybe it's just the negative way you see things."

Wait, is Abhu actually trying to pick a fight with Cass now? And is he serious?! He's one of the most negative people Varian has ever met!

     "Maybe you need to shut your mouth," Cassandra mumbles. Too low for Abhu to hear, but loud enough for Varian to understand. He lets out a soft chuckle, glad to hear a bit of the old Cassandra coming out that he's missed. He can tell that she notices his amusement, but she pointedly ignores him.

     It doesn't take long for them to reach the vast, open sea. Varian remembers flying over it a few years ago on his trip with his father to the Dark Kingdom, but there's something different about being above the world in a hot air balloon, and gliding over it like this with no bottom below you. He feels more freedom, more immersed in the experience.

     Finally, Terapi Island comes into view. "Let's land on that beach," Cassandra says, pointing. "Raps and I built a shelter nearby. It should still be standing, as long as the Lorbs haven't messed with it."

     "The what?" Abhu asks.

     "Lorbs," Cassandra repeats. "The islands, um... delightful locals."

     "From what Eugene has told me about them, they don't sound delightful at all," Varian says.

     "Troublesome locals," Hugo says with a smirk. "My favorite kind!" He tosses down the mechanical box, activating the inflatable cushion. He closes his Glider just above it, and lands softly. The others follow, one after the other; first Cassandra, then Varian, then Abhu. After each of them roll off the cushion onto the sand, Hugo repackages it.

     "Well that was a smoother landing, huh buddy?" Varian says to Ruddiger as he gives the raccoon on his shoulder a loving pat.

     "I hope that shelter of yours isn't far, Sandra," Hugo says, gazing off into the west. "The sun will be setting soon. Wouldn't want to be wandering around a deserted island in the dark."

     Wow, it's been a really long day... Varian thinks. It's incredible to him that, just this morning, they were at the Dark Kingdom. Now they have one of the four orbs they're searching for. They'll be able to find that cavern in no time!

That is, if Abhu's dad ever did find it. And it still keeps bothering Varian that this whole quest seems like it's been a bit too easy for them to figure out...

After following Cassandra down the beach, they see a large shelter up ahead.

"Wow, you and Rapunzel built that?!" Varian says.

"Well, Pascal helped," Cassandra replies, smirking proudly. "But, yeah."

Hugo lets out a low whistle. "Impressive, Sandra."

     "You can stop calling me that anytime," Cassandra says.

"It's okay," Abhu grumbles regarding the shelter.

Yep, he's definitely mad at Cass, Varian thinks. He glances at her, and notices that her brow is furrowed and she has positioned herself to where her back is facing Abhu. Some serious walls are going up.

"Wait," she says as they draw closer. "Not only is our shelter still standing, but it looks like someone has been keeping it up."

"What, you think someone lives here?" Varian asks.

As if in response to his question, a tiny leaf-shaped creature strides out of the shelter holding a bowl full of peppers. After catching a glimpse of the unforeseen guests, he drops the peppers, causing them to roll in every direction.

"FREINFLOOFERS! FREINFLOOFERS!!!" He screeches out a warning, scurrying away in a panic as his arms flail wildly.

"That was, um..." Varian isn't sure how to complete his sentence.

"...Unexpected," Cassandra finishes for him.

"Is that one of the charming locals you mentioned?" Hugo asks.

"That would be correct," Cassandra replies,

"What was its issue?" Abhu asks.

"I don't have a clue," Cassandra says. "But we should probably get out of here before—"

All of a sudden, a horde of leaf people bolt out of the bushes and trees from every direction. Frightened, Ruddiger darts up a palm tree as the Lorbs encircle the gang, brandishing spears and pointing them at each person.

"Hey, watch it!" Abhu shouts, as one of the spear tips gets a bit too close to his leg.

"We're not here to make trouble," Varian says, holding his hands up innocently.

Cassandra scans her eyes over the group of leaf people. When she doesn't seem to spot what she's looking for, she hollers out: "Alfons! Show yourself right now."

An orange and yellow Lorb steps forward, and a few other Lorbs stack up underneath him so he can be more at eye-level with Cass. "How do you know my name?"

"I've been here before, you dolt," Cassandra says. When Alfons raises a questioning eyebrow, she adds, "I was with your great Lizardus?"

     "Lizardus?" Varian repeats.

     "Pascal. These weirdos thought he was their king," Cassandra explains, quickly and quietly.

     Alfons shrugs. "All you freinfloofers look the same."

"I don't even know what a freinfloofer is, but that's offensive," Abhu says.

     "My point is, you know I can be trusted," Cassandra says to Alfons. "What's with the hostile welcome?"

     "We are being cautious," Alfons explains. "Every time freinfloofers show up, it is nothing but trouble for us Lorbs!"

     "Why are we even having this discussion?" Hugo asks, pulling out an alchemical sphere. "We can ditch these sprouts!" He tosses the sphere to the ground, and an explosion of thick, black smoke billows around them.

"Some warning would've been nice!" Varian says as the Lorbs cough.

"Let's just get out of here before they can catch us!" Hugo says.

Varian spots the shadowy silhouette of Cassandra in the smoke, and instinctively grabs her arm. He pulls her out of the smoke, and follows after Hugo up the beach and away from the Lorbs.

"Wait!" Cassandra protests, sounding frustrated. "Abhu didn't come."

Varian glances back, and sure enough Abhu is still standing amidst the Lorbs, coughing as the smoke clears. The Lorbs close in on him tighter, pointing their spears.

Varian groans loudly, rolling his eyes. Hugo is still running, too far out of earshot. So Varian and Cass slowly make their way back to the Lorbs.

"You used magic!" Alfons screams furiously as they approach.

"It is not magic, it's alchemy!" Varian corrects. But Alfons doesn't seem to care.

     "Confiscate all of their magical items!" Alfons commands his people. "And anything else dangerous you can find!"

     "Hey, you can't do that!" Varian says as the Lorbs draw near. He is about to use more alchemy on them, when Alfons shakes his finger at him.

     "I wouldn't do that, stupid freinfloofer!" Alfons says, pointing to Abhu, who is still surrounded by tiny spears. "We have your friend."

     "If you don't mind, I'd prefer not being shish-kabobed," Abhu says.

     Really? I have to give up all of my supplies for him? "Actually, he's not—"

     "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Cassandra says. "What's with you?! I haven't seen you guys this deranged since that weird idol made you go psycho. Isn't this a little extreme?"

     "The idol of Vershaftsbezeigungengien is a perfect example of why we are doing this," Alfons says. "Magic is dark and dangerous. We have completely sworn off of it. None shall be allowed on this island!"

"Again, it's not magic!" Varian yells.

"That is for us to decide," Alfons says. He motions for his people, and the little Lorbs climb all over Varian and Cassandra, checking every pocket and removing every bag, totally stripping them of their supplies... including Cassandra's sword, Varian's Truth Ray, and both of their Gliders.

"You can take our things all you want, but our other... acquaintance... escaped!" Varian says.

"You really betting Hugo is going to come save us?" Cassandra says with a raised eyebrow.

"You are correct in assuming I won't be saving you," they hear Hugo say. Another group of Lorbs arrives, dragging him along with them. They have him tied up with ropes. "They stripped me of everything I have, too."

"This is ridiculous!" Cassandra says. "What do you expect us to do now, Alfons?"

"Last time you were here, you waited for the ship to arrive, yes?" Alfons replies.

     "Right, the ship that comes every new moon..." Cass says.

     "Considering the last new moon was yesterday, that would mean it'll return in about twenty-nine-and-a-half days," Varian says.

     "What?!" Abhu shouts. "We're stuck here for a whole month?!"

     "Nearly a month," Hugo corrects.

     "Oh joy, just the experience I wanted to repeat..." Cassandra says sarcastically, rubbing her temple.

     Actually... this may not be so bad, Varian thinks. Sure the leaf people are a pain, and he really wants to get back to their mission so that he can free his father as soon as possible. But being stranded on a beautiful tropical island for an entire month, with Cassandra? Well, he may be able to find ways to use this to his advantage.

Chapter Text

"Those leaf people seem weird," Opal says, still listening to the story with enthusiasm.

"You have no idea, kiddo," Cassandra says. "When I met them before, they were just an annoyance. But this time, they actually seemed like a threat."

"More than just the Lorbs would turn out to be threatening, though," Varian says. "Someone within our own group became a bit hostile..."

"And your father, here, didn't help the situation," Cassandra says, rolling her eyes. "It was a pretty rough first night on the island for most of us..."

Spending more time on this island is not at all what Cassandra had in mind when they arrived here, but what else can she do? These Lorbs, while small, are fierce. And she knows from experience how crazy they can get.

     "Alright Alfons, we'll cooperate," Cassandra says reluctantly. "But under one condition: We get the shelter back."

     "What? No!" The Lorb from earlier steps forward. "That is my home! Where am I supposed to go?"

     "Deal," Alfons says to Cassandra. He turns to the other Lorb and adds, "It is only temporary. You will stay in the village for the month. We certainly don't want them staying in Lorbwalla." He jerks his tiny thumb in the gang's direction.

The Lorbs finally put away their weapons, and untie Hugo. "Toodaloo, freinfloofers!" Alfons says as the Lorbs begin to return to their village. "We hope not to see you again."

     "Wait!" Varian says.

     "Seriously?!" Abhu says. "Just let the leaf creatures go!"

     Varian ignores him. "Alfons, do you know anything about an orb somewhere on this island?"

     Alfons shakes his head. "If it has to do with magic, we don't want it!" Without another word, he disappears along with the rest of his people.

     "But... but it's not..." Varian sighs as the end of his sentence trails off.

     The sun begins to set as the gang head into the shelter. After choosing their rooms, everyone settles in for the night. Cassandra reaches into her bag to unpack, only to remember that most of her supplies have been taken. "Ugh... Fitzherbert better have made sure the rest of my things got back to Corona safely," she grumbles.

     "What are you complaining about now?"

     Cassandra turns around to see Abhu in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms folded.

"You're one to talk," she replies. "You complain all the time."

     "I usually have reason to," Abhu says.

     "I'd say being stranded for a second time on an island is enough cause for complaint."

     Abhu ponders this for a moment. "True."

     After a moment of awkward silence, Cassandra asks, "Is there any particular reason you're here? Because I'm pretty exhausted and would really appreciate being left alone so I could get some sleep."

     Abhu stares at her, long enough to make her feel uncomfortable. "I just... I don't get you."

     "You don't get me?" She repeats. "What's there to get?"

     "It's hard to explain. You're not who I thought you were."

     Cassandra can feel her heart sink lower in her chest. This is exactly why she has been hiding who she really is... "Well I'm sorry to disappoint."

     "Me too," he says. Rather sharply, in her opinion.

     "Look, I'm not in the mood to be judged right now!" She snaps at him.

     "See? That! That is exactly what I mean!" Abhu says, pointing at her. "The Cassie I know would never speak to me like that!"

     "And what about the way you speak to me, huh?" Cassandra retorts. "Maybe I'm sick of taking it!"

     "Well this is who I am! At least I don't pretend to—"

     "I'm not pretending anymore!" Cassandra shouts, tears stinging her eyes. "This is who I am!"

The two of them stand in silence again. Finally, Abhu breaks it. "When we met, I thought that you were the one. That we were meant to be." His face hardens. "My mistake."

     Cassandra shakes her head, too angry to speak.

     "Um, what's going on in here?" Varian says, appearing behind Abhu.

     "She's all yours," Abhu says, not taking his eyes off of Cass. "Once we leave this island, I'm done." He shoves past Varian, disappearing into his own room.

     Cassandra turns away and shuts her eyes tightly, not wanting Varian to see her tears. Abhu has always irritated her, from the moment she met him. She isn't even sure why she let him hang around for so long; it was almost as if she had this inexplicable feeling that he needed to stick around her. But now that he is going, she almost feels... relieved.

     She is still furious, though. And upset. It isn't the fact that he is leaving that makes her upset, it is that everything she feared about being herself has come true in him. When she doesn't keep herself in check, people around her only get hurt. It's what she's been worrying about since the day she left Corona.

     "Cass...?" Varian says. He has been quiet for so long, she forgot he was there.

     "Please Varian, just go," she says, her eyes still squeezed shut. She rubs her arm uncomfortably; she hates feeling vulnerable.

"Okay, if that's really what you want," Varian replies. "But, if you need to talk, you know I'm here for you."

The truth is, she doesn't want him to leave. She wants him to stay, even if it is just to offer silent moral support. But she wouldn't dare admit this to him. She is used to handling things on her own. Alone.

Varian hesitates for a moment, but then finally leaves. She hopes that he goes to his own room, instead of confronting Abhu like she's sure he is dying to do. She can't handle any more drama tonight...

Varian is furious. Livid. How dare Abhu speak to Cassandra like that?! What is that guy's problem, anyway? Varian has always felt there was something off about him, but now he knows that Abhu has some serious issues. He is being this judgmental of Cass, and he doesn't even know about her past. What would he do if he knew about the things she has done? Not that Varian cares, but it is evident that Abhu would...

Speak of the devil... Varian thinks, as he catches sight of Abhu storming out of the shelter. Varian glances back at Cassandra's room briefly, and then chases after Abhu.

"What the heck is your problem?!" Varian yells, catching up with Abhu just within the jungle of palm trees.

"Leave me alone!" Abhu shouts back, still stomping forward. "I don't have to answer to you."

Varian grabs his shoulder, stopping him. "You have no right to treat Cassandra that way!"

     Abhu spins around to face him. "And what gives you the right to tell me how to act? You have no idea what it's been like for me!"

     "Do explain," Varian says with a sneer.

"My life feels like nothing but a hazy memory," Abhu says. "The only thing that has ever felt real was her. From the moment I met Cassandra, I felt like my life had meaning. Had purpose." He shakes his head. "But I guess it's all been a lie."

     "You claimed to have feelings for her," Varian says. "If you truly love someone, you love everything about them, even their faults."

     "I loved who I thought she was," Abhu says. "How can you love someone when you find out they were pretending to be someone they're not?"

     "You stick with them, and figure out why they felt the need to hide who they are," Varian replies matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, how can you say you truly loved them at all?"

     Abhu shakes his head. "Again, you just don't get it."

     "You're right, I don't," Varian says. "I don't get why you can't see how incredible and strong and inspiring Cass is. She has weathered more storms than you can imagine, and despite everything she's been through she continues to see herself in a negative light. She needs someone who can lift her up, to help her see her own beauty and worth. She does not need someone else to make her feel like she doesn't deserve to be who she really is."

     "I guess that's the difference between you and me. You don't mind having low standards."

     Varian has had enough of this guy disrespecting Cassandra. Rage bubbles inside of him like a volcano preparing to erupt. In the past he has always let his alchemy or inventions do the fighting for him. But without any tools to use, he throws the first punch of his life. His knuckles collide with Abhu's eye, and Varian has to immediately cradle his hand from the onslaught of pain.

     Abhu stumbles back a few steps from the blow, his hand covering the spot where Varian struck. For a moment he seems dumbfounded, in disbelief.

But his urge for retaliation kicks in, and he hits Varian in the jaw with such force that it knocks him to the ground. The pain is so excruciating, that for a moment Varian wonders if his jaw may be broken. But he simply rubs the area in shock and anger as Abhu towers over him.

"Leave. Me. Alone," Abhu says gravely, and then he disappears into the night.

Chapter Text

"Daddy, I can't believe you punched Abhu!" Opal says, her mouth agape.

     "That's what love does to you, Little Gem," Varian explains. "It makes you do crazy things, even against your better judgement."

     "Crazy is right," Cassandra says.

     "Oh, like you wouldn't have done the same thing," Varian teases. "I know for a fact that you've clocked a lot more people than I have."

     "Touché," Cassandra says with a grin.

     "So where did Abhu go?" Opal asks.

     "We'll get to that later," Cassandra says. "But the next day, there were a few surprises in store. Including the start of something that I didn't understand yet..."

The next morning, Cassandra arises after struggling to sleep. Her mind kept returning to the conversation with Abhu, and now she can't help but feel worthless. Worthless and exhausted.

     After doing the best she can to make her wardrobe more island-appropriate, she exits the shelter and heads to the beach. There was a particular rock just offshore where she used to sit every morning the last time she was stuck here, to enjoy the peace and quiet. Once she swims to it, she settles in and watches the sun slowly rise in the orange and yellow sky.

About ten minutes pass, and she hears footsteps clomping along the sand behind her. She assumes someone else has finally awakened, but when she turns around she is surprised to discover that Varian is emerging from the palm tree jungle rather than the shelter. What was he doing out there, and so early? She wonders. She hops off of the rock, and returns to the beach.

"Whoa! What the heck happened to you?!" She asks, catching sight of the huge bruise on Varian's jaw. There is also a bit of dried blood on the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, um... it's nothing," Varian says, instinctively reaching his hand up to touch the bruise. But as soon as he does, he winces from the pain.

Cassandra shakes her head. "You confronted Abhu, didn't you?" She realizes. "And he punched you?! I can't believe he would—"

"Don't blame him entirely," Varian says sheepishly. "I, uh... Well, I-I punched him first."

Cassandra raises an eyebrow in disbelief. "Yeah, sure you did."

"No, really," Varian insists. "I was so angry with how he treated you! It just... kind of happened."

Cassandra pinches the bridge of her nose. "You two are infuriating... Alright, where is he?"

"I don't know, he took off into the jungle last night."

"Last night... and you've been out here all that time?"

Varian again looks sheepish. "I, um, saw my own blood and fainted..." He rubs the back of his neck, chuckling embarrassedly. "I guess I fell asleep after that, because I only woke up just now."

He's so afraid of blood that he passes out at the sight of it, yet he slugged Abhu... for me? Cassandra is unsure how to feel about this. "Ugh, come on," she says, motioning for Varian to follow her through the jungle.

     "Where are we going?" He asks, not hesitating to go after her.

     "There's a grove nearby with this weird plant," Cassandra explains. "I found it the last time I was here. The leaves from it helped soothe any cuts or bruises I would get from sword fighting. I'm sure it's still there."

     Once Cassandra locates the grove, she tears a couple of leaves off of one of the purplish plants. But Varian only seems interested in studying them.

"I've never seen flora like this!" He says, clearly fascinated. "I wonder what exactly is in its chemical makeup that causes it to have medicinal qualities?" He reaches for one of the plants, but Cassandra grabs his arm and leads him to a large rock.

     "Sit," she tells him, and he complies. She does her best to ignore the adoring gaze in his eyes as she gently presses one of the plant leaves to his bruised face. At first he winces from the pain of being touched, but after a couple of seconds the soothing plant begins to do its job.

     "Thanks, that... that feels a lot better," Varian says. His cheeks are brushed with a light pink blush, and for a moment Cassandra is surprised by the swell of affection that she feels for him.

"Now, I do not want any more of this fist fighting between you two!" She scolds. "You're lucky Abhu only punched you once!" But when she sees the dorky grin he is giving her, she can't help but smirk herself. "But, thanks... you know, for taking up for me or whatever."

Varian leans closer to her. Only slightly, but it is enough to make her fully aware of just how close their faces are. She can clearly perceive every freckle on his flushed face, and for some reason her heart begins to beat faster. "It was worth it," he says softly.

Cassandra clears her throat, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "Um... just keep that there for a couple more minutes, and you should be fine," she tells him, removing her hand so that he can hold the leaf up with his own. She exits the grove and heads back to the beach, forcing herself not to check if he is following after her.

     "There you two are," Hugo says once he catches sight of Cassandra, confirming that Varian is indeed right behind her. "I was beginning to think I had been abandoned, for once."

     "Wouldn't dream of it," Cassandra says sarcastically, meeting Hugo beside the water. Varian comes up beside her.

     "Anyway, we have a new guest," Hugo tells them. He bows dramatically, and steps aside to reveal...

...A mermaid bobbing in the waves behind him.

"Wh-What?! You're a... a..." Varian can't even spit the word out.

     "A mermaid? Yes, I know." She smiles sweetly as she flips her fins with gentle motions, creating ripples in the water. "My name is Misty."

     "Fascinating!" Varian says, stepping closer to her. "I wasn't aware that mermaids existed!"

     "Neither was I," Hugo says. "Trust me, I was just as shocked as you."

     "I'm not," Cassandra says. She isn't sure why, but she finds Varian's captivation with this mermaid irritating. "I met a mermaid last time I was here."

     "Of course you did," Hugo remarks, folding his arms.

     But Varian doesn't seem to have heard her. Instead, he and Misty are locked in some kind of intense staring contest.

     "Actually, you look—" Varian starts to say.

     "—Familiar," Misty finishes. "Have we...?"

     "No, it's impossible," Varian says.

Cassandra can't help but scowl. An anger builds up in her that she can't explain, and she has an urge to fillet this fish into sushi... If she only had her sword. "What are you here for, mermaid?" She sneers, stepping between Varian and Misty. "The last one of your kind I met didn't have great intentions."

     "I'm sorry to hear that," Misty says. "But I promise you, I am here purely out of curiosity. I saw you humans arrive yesterday, and I've always been fascinated by your ways! I wanted to come and introduce myself."

     "Well, there's not a lot of 'fascinating' going on around here, so maybe you should just move on," Cassandra says.

     "Hold on Cass, maybe she can help us," Varian suggests. "Hey Misty, have you ever seen a symbol similar to this around here?" He squats down and traces an infinity symbol in the sand with his finger.

     "Not that I can think of," Misty replies. "But I'll keep an eye out for you." Her smile widens as she continues staring at Varian.

     Cassandra doesn't like the look this mermaid has on her face, and again an inexplicable anger flares. "Great, thanks. We'll see you around." She stomps away furiously, hoping to find anything that could be a distraction.

(My full design of adult Misty! She is my OC that you can also find in my fanfic, "Alchemist Out Of Corona.")

Chapter Text

"You said that day would be the start of something you didn't understand yet," Opal says. "I don't understand what it was, either."

     "That will come later," Cassandra says.

     "It's okay Little Gem," Varian says. "Neither me nor your mother had any clue what had begun inside her that day. But what we did know is, to find that orb, we had a lot of searching ahead of us..."

Varian watches Cassandra tromp off towards the shelter. He has to admit, he has no idea why she is so riled up. But he assumes it may still have something to do with everything that happened with Abhu.

     "So, what's it like under the sea?" Hugo asks Misty, causing Varian's attention to return to the visiting mermaid. "Are there lots of treasures? I'm sure you've found lots of treasures."

     "What're you going to do, pull an underwater heist?" Varian remarks. When Misty appears confused, Varian explains to her, "Blondie, here, is a thief."

     "I am a procurer of valuable objects," Hugo corrects. "And we are currently in search of some very valuable orbs."

     "We actually don't know their monetary value," Varian says. "But we need them to find something important." He is still amazed by Misty's existence, but they don't know this mermaid. He doesn't want to give away every detail of their mission.

     "It sounds like a noble quest," Misty says. "I really wish I could join you! But my tail will only get me so far..."

     "There's nothing wrong with having a tail," Varian says, but he facepalms when he realizes how stupid this sounded. Even Ruddiger shakes his head.

     "Smooth," Hugo says.

Misty chuckles. "It was a pleasure to meet you guys. I'll let you get back to your quest, but if there's any way I can help please let me know!" She waves, and then disappears under the water with a splash of her fins.

     "Yeah, our quest..." Hugo says. "Where to begin when we're marooned on an island?"

     "An island that is hiding the next orb," Varian reminds him. He imagines the smooth, shiny surface of the one they've already obtained, tucked safely in his backpack inside the shelter. He is thankful that the Lorbs didn't consider it dangerous and confiscate it. "We need to search every inch of this place until we discover its location!"

"Hmm... We know the indigenous leaf-folk don't know or care a thing about it," Hugo says. "Anyone else around here we could ask?"

"I'm not sure," Varian says. "Cass might know, though, since she's been here before."

Varian starts to head to the shelter after Cassandra, but Hugo stops him. "Hey, what is going on with her and grouchy Achoo, anyway? I heard some shouting last night, but I needed my beauty sleep and deemed it too unimportant to investigate."

     "Yeah, they had a bit of a tiff," Varian says. "Some harsh words were said, and, well... He's basically done with this whole thing."

     "I'm assuming he took a swing at you, hence the darkening contusion on your face?"

     Varian nods. "But, uh, I took the first swing."

     Hugo's eyes widen in surprise. "No way!" He laughs hardily, slapping Varian on the back. "Looks like li'l Freckles is growing up!"

"Would ya stop that?" Varian shoves Hugo away, but he still has a small measure of pride inside of himself at the compliment. "I-I shouldn't have done it. I probably just made things worse."

     "I doubt it made the situation worse with your raven-haired lady love," Hugo smirks.

     "Don't talk like that," Varian scolds.

     Hugo shrugs. "I'm just sayin'."

Varian hopes Hugo is right, even though he knows he isn't. Cass didn't seem the least bit proud that he had punched Abhu, and she especially wouldn't be if she knew that the blow he landed probably only managed to give Abhu a black eye, while Abhu's blow practically knocked Varian out.

And now Abhu has disappeared, off somewhere on this crazy island to most likely get himself into some sort of trouble. How will his attitude and decision affect their mission once they are able to leave the island? He will probably want to take his journal with him. Varian has the passages memorized that he has already decoded, but he strongly suspects that there is still more to that journal than they have discovered. He only hopes he can figure it all out before their time on Terapi Island is up.

The days pass by, long and slow. Varian, Cassandra, and Hugo begin a coordinated search of the island, planning on covering every inch of it by the time the boat arrives. The first couple of weeks, their efforts are futile. Misty even attempts to help where she can, but to no avail. They don't find a single sign of the orb, or of Abhu. But they continue their hunt, never once lessening in their endurance or determination.

And once the day is over, they have a beautiful view on the beach to wind down and relax to the sound of the crashing waves hitting the shore. Varian would almost call it romantic, if it weren't for Cassandra's adamant refusal to even look at him when they are sitting in the sand... and Hugo constantly being the irritating third wheel. Varian hasn't been able to get a single moment alone with Cass since the day she showed him the grove of strange plants to help with his bruise, which has finally healed.

Now it is almost the time for the new moon. In only a couple of days, the boat will arrive... and they haven't found anything. Varian is worried they may end up having to spend another month here to continue searching for the orb. And each day they haven't progressed in their mission is another day his father is trapped in the Dark Kingdom.

     As Varian, Cassandra, and Hugo trek through the jungle in an area they haven't been before, Cass grumbles as they push through the thick vegetation. "This would be a lot easier if I had my sword..." All at once, she halts and holds her arm out to stop the guys.

"Shh, do you hear that?" She whispers.

     The three of them listen to the sounds of the island; birds singing in the distance, frogs croaking, insects buzzing, water trickling nearby, and... footsteps stomping through the foliage?

     "Someone's walking ahead of us," Varian says.

     "Could it be our leafy amigos?" Hugo suggests.

     "No, the footsteps are too heavy," Cass says. She picks up the pace, while still remaining stealthy.

     Before long, the three of them see the familiar figure of Abhu up ahead. Where has he been this whole time?! Varian is about to call out to him, when Cass stops him.

     "Wait," she says. "Look at him."

     Varian takes a moment to observe Abhu. He is walking slowly, cautiously. He glances around anxiously, causing Varian to duck lower. Once Abhu is sure he is alone, he speeds up. Why is he acting so suspicious?

"I say we follow the Ditcher," Hugo says.

"For once, we're in agreement," Cassandra says with a smirk. This may only be a small one, but her smiles always cause butterflies in Varian's stomach.

After tailing Abhu through the jungle for a few minutes, he disappears behind a curtain of vines. The others follow him, and gasp in surprise at what they see:

A large lagoon of crystal-clear water glistens magnificently, the deepest blue any of them have ever seen. Walls of rock encircle the pool, while tall palm trees and thick shrubbery block out the sky above them. The beautiful sight is captivating, and for a moment the three of them forget that they are supposed to be remaining out of sight.

     "Over there," Hugo whispers, pointing to Abhu's current whereabouts. The three of them duck behind bushes and boulders as they silently follow him to the rock wall closest to the lagoon.

     At this proximity, Varian notices something on the wall and gasps. "It's an infinity symbol!" Only this one is a normal symbol, no extra image attached.

"That little sneak found the orb, and wasn't even gonna tell us!" Cassandra hisses.

     "Well, he found the location of the orb," Hugo corrects. "Judging by the way he's acting, I doubt he's figured out how to get to it."

     Sure enough, Abhu is running his hands along the rock wall, as if searching for something. He has discovered the infinity symbol, but it looks as if he can't identify a way to where the orb is.

     Varian plans on spying longer, but Cassandra can't hold herself back anymore. "Were you ever planning on coming back?" She shouts at Abhu, revealing their hiding place. "Or where you just going to find the orb and keep it for yourself?"

     Abhu spins around in shock. "What are you guys doing here?"

     "We've been searching for the orb, and we found you," Varian replies. "Turns out, you already know where it is."

     "Well, sort of know," Hugo adds.

"I can't believe you spied on me!" Abhu says angrily.

     "I can't believe you punched Varian!" Cassandra shouts.

     "Hey, he punched me first!" Abhu retorts. "I thought that black eye was never going to heal!"

     "Oh, I'll give you more than a black eye," Cassandra says. She clenches her fists, but Varian rushes in front of her to keep her from attacking.

     "Hold on Cass. I totally get your desire to knock him out, but I don't think fighting will get him to tell us what he knows about the orb." He turns to Abhu and adds, "That is, if you know anything about it."

     Abhu rolls his eyes, but nods. "I know that it's going to be impossible to get this one."

     "What makes you say that?" Hugo asks.

     Abhu points at the infinity symbol on the wall behind him. "This isn't the real entrance to the orb. This is only painted onto the rock to get our attention."

     "Okay, so where's the real one?" Cassandra asks.

     Abhu points to the lagoon. "Down there. A couple days after I discovered this place, I dove in to investigate and found it etched into the stone wall."

     "Alright, but I'm still failing to see the impossible part of this," Varian says.

     "You know how we had to use air to get into that first tunnel, and then earth to get into the hatch?" Abhu replies. "Well, getting to this orb... requires fire."

Chapter Text

"Fire?" Varian repeats. "You're sure it's fire?"

     Abhu groans. "I get that you think I'm an idiot, but I know what fire looks like, even if it is just a representation etched into stone."

     "How the heck are we supposed to get fire down there?" Cassandra wonders, gesturing toward the lagoon.

     "There's gotta be a way," Hugo says. "We've managed to figure everything else out, up to this point."

     "Maybe there's, like, a drain somewhere?" Cassandra suggests. "Something that'll get rid of the water."

     "I thought of that already," Abhu says. "I searched up here for a switch, and down there for an opening. Nothing."

     "Could something that isn't fire work?" Hugo says. "Like, just some kind of heat source?"

     "Nope, I heated up some rocks and placed them up against the symbol down there. Nearly scalded the skin off my hands doing it."

     "What about—" Varian begins to say.

     "Tried it already," Abhu interrupts.

     "You don't even know what I was going to say!"

     "Doesn't matter, I've tried everything!" Abhu's voice rises in frustration. "I even got desperate enough to trick that freaky giant firefly into coming here, and nothing!"

     "Hold up... Giant what?" Hugo says, eyes widening.

     "Obviously you haven't tried everything, because we still don't have the orb," Varian says to Abhu, completely ignoring Hugo. "There has to be a way, we just haven't found it yet."

     "Well when you figure it out, let me know," Abhu says. "Because I'm finished."

     "We're aware that you're a quitter, Abhu. You don't have to keep saying it," Varian says.

     Abhu growls with irritation, but only shoves past the three of them and leaves the lagoon area.

     "Eh, we don't need him anyway," Hugo says, crouching down to stare into the clear water. "We'll get to the bottom of this!"

Cassandra knows they don't need Abhu. She's known she doesn't need him for a long time. But his harsh words from a few weeks ago still weigh heavy on her mind. It isn't necessarily because they came from him, it's the fact that anyone said those things about her at all. And without even knowing all the horrible things she's done in the past... He just already believes she's a horrible person. So, maybe it's true.

     "Earth to Cass! You alright?"

     She breaks out of her thoughts, realizing that Varian has been trying to speak to her. "Yeah, sorry. Guess I'm just tired," she tells him. "What did you say?"

"I said, maybe Misty would have some ideas," Varian says. "She is a mermaid, after all. Who knows more about the underwater world than a mermaid?"

Cassandra's lips curl up. "Ah joy, we get to see the fish girl again..."

Varian doesn't seem to notice her tone at all, but Hugo is giving her a knowing smile. What's his issue? She has a strong desire to slap that smirk right off his stupid face, but she holds herself back.

Returning to the beach, it isn't long before Misty swims to the surface. "You guys look like you're waiting for me. Is something the matter?"

"We finally found where the next orb is," Varian tells her with an excited smile. "But getting to it will be a bit complicated..."

"It's underwater," Hugo explains. "So, we figured you might be the expert on all things submerged."

"I don't know about that," Misty laughs humbly. "But I'll see what I can do. Tell me more."

     "Well, the thing is, even though it's in the water... we kind of need fire to open the door," Varian says.

     "Fire. Underwater." Misty repeats. "Isn't that...?"

     "Impossible? We know," Hugo says. "But maybe you could, I don't know, come with us to the lagoon and take a look? You might be able to figure something out that we can't."

     "Sure," Misty says. "Where is this lagoon?"

     Varian grabs a stick and quickly draws out a rudimentary map in the sand. Though, Cassandra has to admit, it still looks pretty accurate.

     "It's about here," Varian says, drawing an 'X' on the map.

     "Hmm, I've never been to it before," Misty says. "I'm not sure if there's a way for me to get to it from the sea."

     "Well, we'll just have to figure out a way to get you there, won't we?" Hugo says. "Challenge accepted!"

     Varian turns to Cassandra. "You've been awfully quiet over there. Anything you'd like to add?"

     Cassandra shakes her head. "You guys are the brains of this. I'm just here for moral support."

     After a few minutes of discussion, Varian and Hugo come up with a plan. They collaborate on the small project, tying a giant palm tree leaf to a couple of thick branches to create a sort of hammock for Misty. Before long, they're ready to go.

     "Okay Misty, how long can you go without water?" Varian asks.

     "Not too long, but I should be able to make it to the lagoon," she replies.

     "Should be?" Hugo repeats, almost worriedly.

     Varian thinks for a moment. "I'll be right back." He rushes into the shelter, and returns with a hand-crafted bucket left there by the resident Lorb. He dips it into the sea, filling it to the brim, and then hands it to Cassandra.

     "What? Why me?" She asks. She still isn't totally convinced this mermaid will be able to help them in any way, and she feels no desire to lend her assistance.

     "Hugo and I will both be carrying Misty in the hammock," Varian explains. "I need you to hold the water, in case she needs it." He smiles sweetly as he adds, "Please."

Again, Cassandra's heartbeat quickens inexplicably. Or... is it inexplicable? There is something about those big, blue, puppy dog eyes of his that makes her—

No. She stops herself right there.

"Ugh, fine," she says with an eye roll. She takes the bucket from him, being as careful as possible not to spill any of its contents. Varian's smile widens, and she forces herself to look away.

It only takes a moment to get Misty loaded up into the makeshift hammock. Hugo takes the front, while Varian lifts from the back. Cassandra walks a few paces behind them, carrying the water, wondering what on earth is going on inside of her right now.

About halfway to the lagoon, Misty begins to look a bit pale. "Hey, are you okay?" Varian asks.

"I'm... I'm fine," she says. But she sounds out of breath.

Cassandra steps closer, holding up the bucket. "Should I...?" She asks Varian.

"Really, I'm fine," Misty insists, though her scales already seem like they've been baking in direct sunlight for hours. "But, uh, thank you for checking up on me."

The smile she gives Varian causes Cassandra to shoot her an intense glare. Without warning, Cass dumps the entire bucket of water over Misty, making the mermaid gasp in surprise.

"Watch it back there!" Hugo says, having been splashed by the water.

"Cass!" Varian says.

"What? She needed it," Cassandra says quickly, scurrying ahead so the others can't see her stifling a laugh at the sight of the drenched mermaid. She can feel their eyes on her, but she doesn't dare turn around to face them.

Finally, they arrive at the lagoon. And to their surprise, Abhu is here again.

"I thought you were quitting," Cassandra says.

"Well, I... I thought I might be able to find something else," he says.

Cassandra only shakes her head. She really couldn't care less why Abhu is back.

"Um, what's with the mermaid?" Abhu asks, as Varian and Hugo approach the water. Misty eagerly leaps out of the hammock and dives in, splashing her tail happily.

"We thought she might be able to notice something we couldn't," Hugo says. When Cassandra and Varian glare at him, he holds his hands up in defense. "What?"

"He doesn't want to be part of this anymore," Varian says. "I don't think he deserves to hear about our plans."

"Oh, come on!" Abhu says. "I'm working on figuring this one out too, you know!"

"Doesn't matter," Cassandra says. "You don't want to be part of the group? Then you're not part of the group."

"Okay, I may have been a bit hasty when I said that," Abhu admits. "The truth is, I still want to see if everything my dad believed in was true."

"So, are you apologizing for the way you talked to Cass?" Varian asks.

Abhu shakes his head. "No, I still meant everything I said about her."

Cassandra flinches at these words, and Varian looks like he is about to punch Abhu again. But before anyone can make any moves, Misty pops out of the water. "You guys! I think I might have an idea."

Chapter Text

"Ohhhh, now I think I understand what started, Mommy!" Opal smiles knowingly. "You started to fall for Daddy!" Her large eyes sparkle excitedly.

     Both of her parents smile. "That's one way of putting it," Cassandra says. "Even though, at the time, I still had no clue. Or, I guess I may have had a tiny speck of an idea, I was just in major denial."

"And I certainly didn't know," Varian says. "I still wasn't going to give up, but at that point I believed she wasn't anywhere near falling for me yet."

"We had more important things to think about, anyway," Cassandra says. "We needed to get that next orb."

"Which wasn't easy," Varian says. "But Misty turned out to be just the help we needed..."

"What's your idea?" Varian asks Misty. He is curious how she could have come up with something so quickly.

     "I'm not sure if it'll work," Misty says. "But, there is a little trick us mermaids have."

"I'm aware that you mermaids have tricks," Cassandra says, hands on her hips.

Misty is briefly taken aback by this comment. "I'm sorry your last experience with a mermaid was negative, but I assure you I am nothing like the thief Seraphina."

     Cassandra huffs with irritation. "My mistake. Just go ahead and tell us your idea."

     "It would be easier if I show you," Misty says. She ducks underwater for a moment, and then reappears to gesture for them to follow.

     Varian steps forward, but Cassandra grabs his arm to stop him. "Do you really trust her that much?" She whispers.

"Cass, we've known her for nearly a month," Varian says. "Stop worrying so much."

     "We've had a few conversations with her on the beach. Is that really knowing her?"

     "She wants to help."

     "But does she? For all we know, she could be luring you down to a watery death."

     "She's a mermaid, not a siren," Varian says. "Besides, you trusted Stalyan enough to let her help us. You really think Misty is worse than her?"

     "I think I know the real reason why little Sandra, here, dislikes our ocean friend so much," Hugo says, leaning closer to join the whispered conversation. He smirks at Cassandra, who turns away with a frustrated growl.

"Wait, am I missing something?" Varian asks. "Why does she—"

"Why do you guys keep whispering?" Abhu asks.

     "You know, I'm sensing a bit of hesitation here," Misty says. "We can always do this later."

     "No need," Varian says. He places a reassuring hand on Cassandra's shoulder, only briefly. Then he walks to the edge of the lagoon. "Show me your trick!"

     Misty giggles, and then dives under the water. Varian takes in a deep breath, and holds it as he follows after her.

     Misty doesn't swim too deep. She turns to face Varian, and spins her hands around in a small circle. Within the circle she creates a bubble, and then she places the bubble over Varian's head. "You can breathe now."

     Varian lets out the breath he was holding, and inhales another one. To his surprise, he is able to breathe as easily as if he was on land! "This—This is amazing!" He says, genuinely astounded. He pokes his finger into the bubble, tapping himself on the forehead. When the bubble doesn't pop, he laughs with amusement.

"I figured you might like it," Misty says, swimming closer to Varian. "I thought maybe we could somehow use my air bubbles to bring fire down here, to get that orb." She points to the nearby wall of rock, where the familiar infinity symbol is etched into the stone. Just as Abhu described, an image of fire is also etched into it.

"I believe it's something we can brainstorm," Varian says. He begins to swim to the surface eagerly, but Misty grabs his arm.

"Wait, I... I have a question." She blushes slightly as she asks, "You and, uh, the dark-haired lady with an attitude. Cass, is it?"

"Yeah, what about her?" Varian says.

"Are you two, um..." She touches the ends of her index fingers to each other. "...Is there something between you?"

Varian is surprised by this question. "W-Well, I mean... I don't know if I would say, um..." Despite Eugene, Hugo, Abhu, and even Cassandra herself knowing about his feelings for Cass, he finds it slightly awkward to talk about them with someone he barely knows. "I-I am in love with her, but..."

"Oh," Misty says, sounding disappointed. "You are in love with her." A small, polite smile appears on her face, but Varian can tell that it is forced. "I thought there might be something between you two, but I guess I still hoped not..."

"Well, it's not like she has feelings for me. She—" But he stops himself as he realizes what Misty has just admitted. "Wait, you hoped not?"

Misty blushes again. "There's something special about you, Varian. You're unlike anyone I've ever met, on the land or in the sea." She instinctively reaches her hand out towards him, but holds herself back. "But, it's evident you truly love Cass. I won't try to get in the way of that. Just know that if it ever doesn't work out between you two..." Her voice trails off, and she gazes down sadly.

Varian feels bad for rejecting Misty's affections, but it wouldn't be the first time he has turned someone down. He thinks back to all the dates Rapunzel set up for him back in Corona, and how he now realizes that the reason none of them worked out is because he was still in love with Cassandra, even back then. None of them could measure up to her.

     "I'm sorry Misty, I really am," Varian says. "I know I'm probably crazy to be in love with Cassandra. But I can't help it. We've both been through a lot, and I see so much in her that she doesn't see in herself. She's headstrong and proud, but also passionate and resilient. I don't know if she'll ever love me back, but I still hold out hope. Maybe someday, she'll let me show her all the things I see in her."

Misty smiles again, but it still doesn't reach her eyes. "That is so beautiful, Varian. I... I hope things work out for you. Truly."

Varian smiles sympathetically. He knows how ridiculous his love for Cassandra must seem from the standpoint of others: She knew him as a kid. She is eight years older than him. He nearly killed her when he was blinded by rage. She kidnapped him and attempted to take over the entire kingdom, not letting anything or anyone get in her way... including him. She currently shows zero interest in being anything more than a friend to him.

But somehow, all of these things only make him love her more. The fact that they have gone through so much together, even being at odds with each other, and can still remain friends proves to him that what they have is unique and valuable. Nothing worth having is ever easy to attain, and he has no plans of giving up now. And even if he never achieves his dream of having a romantic relationship with Cass, well, at least he still has her in his life. That is something he will always treasure, no matter where their paths may lead.

"We, uh, should probably head back up," Varian says. "This orb isn't gonna find itself."

Misty nods, and the two of them return to the surface to discuss a plan with the others.

Chapter Text

"What's taking them so long?" Cassandra says. She paces back and forth, and then stares into the water where Varian and Misty disappeared. "I'm about ready to go in after them!"

"Your boy can handle himself," Hugo says with his typical smirk. "Is there, uh, any particular reason you're so antsy?"

"NO!" Cassandra shouts in his face.

"Uh-huh," Hugo says. "I don't believe it."

"Wait," Abhu says. "Are you implying—?"

Before he can finish, Varian and Misty resurface. Cassandra breathes a sigh of relief. She did not want to hear what Hugo was implying...

     "So? Did you find a way to get to the orb?" Hugo asks.

     "Maybe, I think. Possibly," Varian says. Is it just Cass, or does he seem a bit flustered?

     "Okay then," Abhu says with annoyance. "Gonna tell us what the big fuss is all about?"

     "Misty can fabricate a sphere of oxygen, allowing us to breathe underwater," Varian explains.

     "Whoa, is it completely dry inside?" Hugo asks.

     "I think so?" Misty replies.

     "Awesome! We can use your ability to take some fire down to where the orb is!" Hugo says eagerly. "Nice job, Misty."

     Misty smiles proudly, but only for a moment. "There's still a problem, though," she says. "I can only create air bubbles under the water. And, well, we can't take the fire under for me to make a bubble around it."

     "Great! So we're back to square one," Abhu says sarcastically.

     "Does he have to be here, now?" Varian whispers to Cass and Hugo.

     "As a matter of fact, Achoo, I have the solution!" Hugo announces.

     "Of course you do..." Varian grumbles. He then whispers again to Cass, "Does he have to be here?"

"What's the matter Var, upset you're not longer the smartest person around?" Cassandra teases.

     Oops. Joking with Varian seems to be a mistake, as she catches a glint of hope in his eyes. His sparkling, adoring eyes...

     "Yes!" Hugo continues, holding up yet another alchemical marble. "When crushed, this solution instantaneously becomes a flame. We can take it below the water as it is, Misty can make one of her air bubbles around it, and then we crush it to make fire. Problem solved!"

"Didn't the Lorbs take all of your stuff?" Abhu asks.

"This was very well hidden," Hugo replies. "Trust me, you don't wanna know."

     "You have a solution that generates extreme heat," Varian says. "Why did you need to create another one that makes a simple fire?"

     "This was the predecessor to my heat solution," Hugo says. "But it'll turn out to be helpful after all, right?"

     Varian nods, if not reluctantly. "Alright then, let's get to it!"

     All four of them dive into the water with Misty, while Ruddiger again keeps watch just in case. Once they are under, Misty creates an air bubble for each of them. Cassandra has to admit that it is a pretty impressive trick. But she still strongly dislikes this mermaid...

     "And now, we shall create fire below water!" Hugo says, a little too excitedly. He holds out the alchemical marble, and Misty swirls her hands around until a bubble appears. Hugo places his marble into the bubble, and crushes it. Sure enough, a perfect flame sparks to life.

"Here we go," Varian says as he gently places his hands around the bubble. The flame flickers slightly as he guides it to the symbol etched into the stone wall. As soon as the fire comes in contact with the symbol, the symbol illuminates bright red. A glowing red outline shaped like a door appears, and the portion of the wall within the outline rises to reveal a tunnel.

     "This feels familiar," Abhu remarks.

     "Except we didn't have to get wet with the first tunnel," Hugo says.

     "And this time, we all go in. No funny business," Cassandra says, giving Hugo a pointed glower.

     Hugo holds his hands up innocently. "Hey, I am completely invested in this group and this mission now. No more betrayal planned."

     "I'm still keeping my eye on you," Cassandra tells him.

     "I know I'm not the only one you have your eye on," Hugo says at a volume that only Cass can hear. "Right, Sandra?" He briefly glances Varian's way, and then swims ahead into the tunnel.

     "What did he say?" Varian asks Cass.

     "Nothing," she tells him, still glaring daggers after Hugo. Would he stop suggesting what she thinks he's suggesting?! It's exasperating!

     As they begin to swim into the tunnel, a thought suddenly strikes Cassandra. Isn't this a bit too easy? Everything they've come across so far almost seems like it's specifically tailored to them. Who else would have had the solutions to these puzzles that they have?

     Misty is the last to try to enter the tunnel. But before she can, the rock door slams down in front of her, separating her from the rest of the group. "Hey!"

"Oh no," Varian says. He tries to lift the door up, but of course it's no use.

     "So... we're trapped? In a dark, underwater tunnel?" Abhu says, as Varian and Hugo pull out their lights.

     "Way to state the obvious!" Cassandra snaps.

     Abhu shakes his head at Cassandra's outburst, but Varian smiles. Why is he smiling? Is there anything about her that he doesn't like?! It frustrates her tremendously! So then... why does she have such a warm, fuzzy feeling in her stomach?

"Guess the only way is forward," Varian says, and the four of them swim farther into the tunnel. They have no idea how long the air bubbles Misty provided will last, but they hope it's long enough for them to return to the surface.

     The tunnel seems to go downward for a long time, deeper and deeper. But after a while, it tilts up and up again. Finally, they arrive at the end. They swim to the surface of the water, and discover they are in a cold, damp cave. As soon as they resurface, the air bubbles around their heads pop.

     Glancing around, they realize there is no visible way out except for the way they entered. "Great! How are we gonna be able to get back?" Abhu says. "I can't hold my breath for that long!"

     "We'll figure that out when we come to it," Varian says. "For now, let's find that orb!"

Climbing onto the slippery rock surface, they begin searching the small area for clues. It isn't long before they spot their next puzzle:

In the far corner of the cave, on an elevated platform, are eight large, flat, square stones, in three rows. Each of them have numerous luminescent lines painted all over them.

"What do you think they're for?" Cassandra says.

Varian and Hugo examine the stones closer. Varian traces his finger along the lines, his jaw set in concentration. "The lines on these stones... they don't connect."

"But, maybe they're supposed to?" Hugo suggests.

     "Please just get this over with as quickly as possible," Abhu says. "This place is making me feel claustrophobic..."

Varian's eyes light up excitedly, and he grabs one of the stones. It won't lift from its spot, but it will rotate. He turns the stone until its lines connect with the neighboring stone's.

"Look at that, I was right!" Hugo says with a smug smile.

But their enthusiasm is short-lived when they hear the sound of water flowing.

"What's that?" Abhu asks hesitantly.

"Over there!" Cassandra says, pointing.

Sure enough, on the opposite end of the cave, a large opening has appeared and water is pouring in.

"I knew it," Abhu says. "I knew as soon as we entered that tunnel, we were going to drown..."

Hugo grabs Varian's shoulder urgently. "We need to solve this now, or none of us are getting out of here!"

Chapter Text

Cassandra grabs the largest rock she can carry, and rushes to the opening where water is gushing out. She shoves the rock against the stream, slowing it slightly, but the water is still pouring into the cave.

"Do something, geniuses!" She screams at Varian and Hugo.

Varian quickly scans over the stone puzzle in front of him. "You start at the top, and I'll continue from here at the bottom!" He tells Hugo.

Hugo nods, and the two of them get to work rotating the stones so that the painted lines match up. But it seems like with every turn of the stones, the opening of water widens.

Abhu follows Cassandra's example, and carries another rock over to the opening. "It's not working!" He says.

"But it's slowing the water down," Cassandra tells him. "We're buying them time!"

     "Are we, though?" Abhu remarks. "We're still gonna be underwater in no time!" He gestures to the rising water, that is already up to their knees.

Cassandra bites her lower lip nervously. "Hurry!" She shouts at Varian and Hugo.

The two alchemists continue to work the puzzle, until they finally meet in the middle. "There!" They say in unison.

But the water continues to rise. It is now up to their waists, and about to cover over the puzzle.

"I-I-I don't understand," Varian stammers. "Why didn't it work?"

"Are you sure you solved it correctly?" Cassandra asks.

"Of course we are!" Hugo replies.

"Well you obviously did something wrong!" Abhu yells. He and Cassandra have still been trying to slow down the flow of water, but the opening has become too large and the current is too strong. It pushes them back, and they slip into the ever-rising water.

"Cass!" Varian screams worriedly. He dashes through the water to where she disappeared, and dives under. He pulls her back up above the water, and a couple seconds later Abhu resurfaces with a gasp and a sputter.

The water is now up to their chests. It won't be long before the cave is totally flooded.

"What now?" Cassandra asks.

"Isn't it a little weird that there are three rows, but only eight stones?" Hugo points out.

Varian considers this. "You're right! There's even an empty spot!"

"So, what, you're saying a piece is missing?" Cassandra says.

Varian and Hugo both nod.

"Wait!" Abhu says. "I have it!"

"What?!" Varian says in surprise.

Abhu reaches into his vest, and pulls out a stone the same size as the other eight. The painted lines are not lit, but otherwise it looks exactly the same.

"Why do you have this?" Varian asks.

"I found it lying on the ground near the lagoon the day I discovered the area," Abhu says. "It looked important, so I kept it."

"And you're just now showing us this?!" Hugo shouts, taking the stone from Abhu.

"If you guys didn't solve the puzzle, I was going to come back later and do it myself," Abhu explains. "Obviously, I didn't expect our lives to count on me handing it over!"

Cassandra groans. "Please, somebody just finish that puzzle!"

With the water currently up to their chins, their heads are about to hit the ceiling of the cave. Hugo, still in possession of the final stone, sucks in a deep breath and dives under. The seconds tick by while he is gone.

Three seconds.

Six seconds.

Ten seconds.

Their heads are now pressed against the ceiling, and the water is still rising. Without thinking, Cassandra finds herself reaching out for Varian. He doesn't hesitate to accept her, and the two of them hold onto one another as the water completely submerges them.

It is cold. It is dark. It is horrifying. Cassandra's lungs burn painfully, screaming for air. She never imagined this is how she would go out... The only comfort she has is the warmth of Varian's arms around her.

Click!

Swsh!

After what feels like an eternity, a circular opening appears above their heads. Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu swim with all their might to the opening, bursting out of the water as they cough and choke, grateful for the sweet air that is finally filling their lungs.

     After they take a moment to regain their bearings, they realize that the opening has led them outside. The bright blue sky above them, they climb out of the cave and find that they are standing atop the rock wall that surrounds the lagoon.

"This is where it led us?!" Abhu complains. "Why couldn't we have just found a way to climb the wall? It would've been a lot less life-threatening!"

Varian catches sight of a glowing line, the same as the lines on the stone puzzle. It comes out of the hole they exited, and extends to a metal compartment. The door to the compartment is open, and a shiny, red orb is inside. "Something tells me that compartment wouldn't have opened without working the puzzle inside the cave."

"And we wouldn't have been able to get out of the cave if it hadn't flooded..." Cassandra adds. She turns back to the opening with a raised eyebrow. "Should we maybe go back for—"

Before she can finish, Hugo emerges from the hole, gasping for breath. He crawls out and lies on his back, clearly exhausted. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine..."

Varian approaches, helps Hugo stand up, and gives him a grateful pat on the back. He then points to the orb within the metal compartment, a smile on his face.

"We... we found the next one!" Hugo says. He approaches slowly, and takes the orb in his hands, admiring its glossy surface.

"Two down, two to go!" Varian says. He enthusiastically places one arm around Cassandra's shoulders, and the other arm around Hugo's shoulders.

Abhu watches them, his arms folded. "Yeah, yeah... I guess I have no choice but to stick with you lot."

Cassandra approaches Abhu. "It's an understatement to say that I'm still ticked at what you said to me," she tells him. "But we're not done with your dad's journal, and with that journal comes you. So... truce?" She holds out her hand, but her facial expression remains hardened.

Abhu stares at her extended hand for a moment, and then reluctantly takes it. "Alright... truce," he says. "And that extends to all of you." He turns his gaze to Varian and Hugo.

Varian nods his agreement, but Hugo raises an eyebrow. "Why you lookin' at me? I'm neutral, here."

After using Hugo's inflatable cushion to safely get down from the wall, they discover Misty still swimming around in the lagoon.

     "There you are!" She says, relief evident on her face. "You guys were gone for so long! I was sure something horrible had happened."

     "Something horrible almost did happen," Varian admits. "Buuuuut..." He draws the word out to build anticipation as he reveals the newly-found orb.

     Misty gasps. "You found it!"

     "We couldn't have done it without you," Hugo says, giving Misty a subtle wink.

     Varian turns to Cassandra. "Things got pretty... um, intense in there. Are you okay?"

     Cassandra is almost sure she knows what he is referring to, but she doesn't want to talk about their near-death experience —or the brief moment she and Varian shared— right now. "Yeah, I'm fine." She replies simply. She can feel the mermaid's eyes on them, but Varian doesn't seem to notice.

"Come on Freckles, let's get the hammock ready to take Misty back to the sea," Hugo says.

     "While you guys do that, I'm gonna head back to where I've been staying," Abhu says as he leaves the lagoon area, making it clear that he does not wish to disclose this mystery location. "See you on the new moon, I guess..."

     Varian's gaze lingers on Cassandra for a second longer, then he follows after Hugo to fetch the hammock. Cass breathes a sigh of relief, happy to have avoided an awkward conversation.

     But it seems that Misty intends to start up another one. "You're lucky, you know," she tells her, swimming closer to Cass once the guys are out of earshot.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Cassandra asks.

"You're lucky," Misty repeats, "to have the love of someone as wonderful as Varian." She glances away sadly. "I admit, I'm a bit jealous. He only has eyes for you. Please... please be good to him."

Cassandra is speechless. But thankfully she doesn't have to say anything, as Hugo and Varian interrupt the conversation, totally oblivious. They load Misty up in the hammock, and begin the journey back to the beach.

Chapter Text

"This is the most amazing story ever!" Opal exclaims.

"Awww, the part with you two in the cave?! So many details to this story that I've never heard!" Rapunzel coos. "You guys are adorable!"

Cassandra smiles sheepishly. "Honestly, Raps, knowing how you are... if you were there to recognize what I was feeling then, and to tell me what a clueless idiot I was being, Varian and I might have gotten together a lot sooner than we did." She slips her hand into Varian's, and he gives her a loving kiss on her cheek.

"Well, also knowing you, you probably would've completely denied everything and ignored me," Rapunzel teases. "You still don't listen to me, on occasion."

Cassandra rolls her eyes. "Alright, moving on." She turns back to her daughter and continues, "With the discovery of the second orb, we were about to make our way to the third one."

"But while we were waiting for the boat to arrive that would take us off the island," Varian adds, "A moment happened that would completely change things between your mother and me..."

A couple of days after the gang find the second orb, the time for the new moon is finally upon them. They gather up what few belongings they have with them, and patiently wait.

"Hey!" Misty says, waving as she swims up to the beach. "I wanted to come bid you farewell."

"Goodbye Misty," Hugo says with a flourish and a bow. "It's been a pleasure."

"Yeah, uh... thanks for all your help," Cassandra adds reluctantly.

"Maybe we'll meet again someday," Varian says, offering a small smile.

"Before I go, I have something..." Misty digs into the purse she has strapped to her side, and reveals a familiar device.

"My Truth Ray!" Varian says, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his invention. "But how...?"

"I have my ways," Misty replies as she hands the device to Varian. "I'm just sorry it was the only thing the Lorbs confiscated from you that I could retrieve."

Varian tucks the Truth Ray into his backpack. "Thanks, Misty."

     "Oh, and this..." The mermaid tosses Cassandra's sword and sheathe onto the sand.

     "Wha— You didn't have to..." Cassandra says.

     "I know," Misty says.

After one final wave, Misty disappears beneath the sparkling waters.

"And now... we wait," Hugo says, shoving his hands into his pockets as he heads off on his own to pass the time.

Varian sits down in the sand as the sun starts to set, admiring the glittering orange and pink reflection it casts on the waves. Much to his surprise, Cassandra takes a seat next to him.

"Mind if I join you?" She asks.

"Not at all," he replies, his heart beginning to thump faster. He glances around, and realizes that he and Cass are alone. Finally! He thinks gleefully.

For a while, the two of them sit in silence. It is a comfortable silence for him, and he hopes it is for her, as well. The sun sinks lower and lower as the sky darkens and the stars begin to appear.

"Is it terrible for me to kind of hope that Abhu doesn't show up tonight?" Cassandra says, breaking the silence. A slight smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, indicating the humor in her statement.

"I don't think it's terrible at all," Varian says. "If it weren't for him having the journal, I would hope the same thing."

She chuckles wryly, but to Varian it is a beautiful sound. "Truthfully, a part of me wishes I had never met him..."

Varian is a bit surprised by her admission, but he is happy to hear her opening up. "I... I agree," he says. "To me, he seemed to be holding you back." After a brief pause he adds, "You've still never told me how you two met, you know."

Cassandra's brow furrows. "It's the weirdest thing, Varian. I... I can't really remember it clearly. It's like, one second I'm arriving in Arendelle for the first time. And the next, Abhu is standing in front of me introducing himself."

     "You can't remember it clearly?" Varian finds this strange, but familiar. "Would you say it's like a hazy memory?"

     "Yeah," Cassandra says. "That seems like an accurate description."

     "That's how Abhu described his entire life," Varian tells her. "Well, until he met you, that is..."

     Cassandra digs her fingers into the sand. "It didn't just happen when we met, though. It happened over and over again... until we were together all the time. He never left my side. Became an unwanted sidekick." She scoffs.

     "If you didn't want him around, why didn't you simply tell him to leave?"

     Cassandra's expression falls, and Varian's heart hurts that his question was the cause of it. "I..." she starts to say, but hesitates.

     "Cass, you can tell me anything," Varian says reassuringly, placing his hand on hers. "I'm always gonna listen."

Cassandra looks into his eyes briefly, but then turns away and gazes out at the ocean. For a moment he believes she isn't going to say anything more, but then she speaks: "Ever since I left Corona, I've struggled with figuring out exactly who I am. With finding my place in this world. I've traveled all over, and I feel like I haven't gotten any closer to finding it."

     "What about Arendelle?" Varian asks. "You've always wanted to be a Guard. What happened there?"

     "The Queen of Arendelle is a sweet girl, and she gave me a great opportunity," Cassandra says. "But, even though the job was one I always wanted, the place never felt right. It never felt like... like home." She sighs. "I've been searching for somewhere that felt like home ever since, but I'm not sure I'll ever find it..."

     "Maybe you could, if you start being yourself again," Varian says. He means this genuinely, with no offense intended, but apparently that isn't how Cassandra takes it.

     "You don't know what it's been like, Varian!" Cassandra's voice rises. "The looks people would give me in Corona. The looks other people would give me when they found out what all I've done. I can't let that part of myself out again!"

     "Actually, you know full well that I can relate," Varian says, his voice remaining gentle and caring. "I did terrible things, too. And people in Corona still act judgmental around me on occasion. But you know what? I don't care."

     Cassandra's face softens again. "You're right. I... I know we've been through similar experiences." Her eyes lighten up slightly, as if this realization is truly hitting her for the first time. "It's just, I seem to struggle a bit more with how people view me. I've always disappointed everyone around me, and I'm tired of it. If I let the old me out, I'll only disappoint more people... and myself."

     "But isn't it more of a disappointment when they find out who they thought you were isn't really you, like in Abhu's case? Isn't it better for people to know the real you?"

     Cassandra remains silent, evidently unable to come up with an answer.

     "Look, Cass. It wasn't always easy for me either," Varian admits. "I struggled with feelings of guilt and self-loathing for a while, too. But I finally realized that I couldn't change what I had done. Those things happened. And they will always be a part of me. But rather than let my past dictate my future, I remember those experiences so that I don't repeat the same mistakes, and I let them mold me into a better person. Someone worthy of forgiveness and redemption." He squeezes her hand as he adds, "And you should try to do the same. Because you, Cassie, are unequivocally worthy."

Cassandra stares down at his hand holding hers, and he briefly expects her to pull away. But much to his delight, she allows her hand to remain in his. "Varian, why... why do you care for me so much?"

Varian never expected a question like this. His brain immediately rattles off the reasons: You're brave, you're mesmerizing, you're intelligent, you're resilient, you're beautiful, you're strong, you're fascinating... But rather than overwhelm her with the millions of reasons he loves her, he decides on one.

     "You have so many layers to you. You try to put up all these walls, but that doesn't make you shallow. When you care about something, you care deeply, and you always see it through. I could tell from the day we met there was more to you than meets the eye, and from the moment you saved me from my own invention that had gone awry, I knew I wanted to discover each and every one of those layers of your personality. Because, while they are all tremendously different, each one is so unique and amazing. You are amazing."

     He has never seen her blush before, but there is a first time for everything. Her cheeks turn a bright pink that is clearly evident even in the dim starlight.

"I think you're giving me way too much credit, Var," she tells him after clearing her throat awkwardly. "I'm not as amazing as you think. Trust me. You'll find out eventually, and only end up getting hurt..."

     "I'm willing to take that chance."

He suddenly feels a strong pull towards her, almost magnetic. His eyes dart to her lips, and he begins to lean in. It feels comfortable. It feels right. And... is it his imagination, or is she leaning in as well?

Could this be the moment he's been waiting for?

     He leans closer. And closer. What feels like forever is only a fraction of a second, in reality. But if this is really happening, he wants to soak every bit of this moment in. He closes his eyes. His heartbeat quickens to such a pace that he fears it may give out and stop altogether. Their lips are mere inches apart from each other...

"All aboard!!! The boat's here!" Hugo unexpectedly announces.

     Startled, Varian and Cassandra jump apart faster than should be humanly possible. Hugo notices, and smiles a toothy grin.

"Did I interrupt something?" He asks.

     "No." Cassandra replies sharply, standing up and quickly rushing past Hugo.

     "N-Nothing at all," Varian adds, just as quickly. Only there is a slight waver in his voice. "Um, th-thanks for letting us know."

     As Varian heads for the dock, his mind races. Was that moment real? Did he and Cassandra... almost kiss? Would it have actually happened?

     No, it couldn't have. Cass has made her stance toward him abundantly clear. He must have imagined the chemistry he felt between them. If Hugo hadn't come when he did, Varian likely would have only embarrassed himself. Nope. She couldn't have been about to kiss him. There's no way.

     No way at all that would ever happen...

Chapter Text

Cassandra is panicking.

She knows the boat has arrived, but she needs a moment to breathe. Rather than heading towards the dock, she is standing alone in the dark jungle.

     Her heart is working overtime in her chest. She can't seem to intake enough oxygen. Her knees feel wobbly and weak. She braces herself against a palm tree, leaning her forehead against its rough trunk.

     She can't believe it. She can't believe she was about to kiss Varian. And as if that wasn't unbelievable enough...

     She wanted to.

     She actually wanted to kiss Varian.

The exact reason why is difficult for her to pinpoint. He was saying all those things about her. She was opening up to him like never before, and he was really listening. He was genuinely caring and concerned. Something in the air just felt right. She felt... safe. Safer than she's ever felt around anyone else.

    Could I... Could I actually be developing feelings for Varian?

     The thought stirs her emotions in a way she has never experienced. She has always tried to avoid all of that touchy-feely, mushy stuff. She needs to hold an air of strength about her. She doesn't want to appear weak or soft.

     But somehow, Varian seems to have chipped away at that wall she has upheld for so long. Now, she doesn't mind the thought of lightening up on occasion. As long as it's with him.

     Will she ever get to that point, though? She is about to hyperventilate over almost kissing him. What would have happened if she had went ahead and kissed him?

     She has experienced debilitating fear before. But this... This is a different kind of fear. It's a fear of what the future may hold. A fear of being unable to give what she should. Is a romantic relationship something she is even capable of?

     Is a romantic relationship with Varian something she is capable of?

     Her thoughts are interrupted when she hears the sound of footsteps approaching. She doesn't have to guess who they belong to...

     "What are you doing out here?" Abhu asks. "Hasn't the boat arrived yet?"

     "Yes it has, I'm just taking a moment for myself!" She snaps. Now that she knows how Abhu truly sees her, she doesn't feel the need to hold anything back around him.

     "Okay, sheesh," Abhu says. "Let's just get off this rock."

     "Gladly." Cassandra pushes herself away from the tree, and stomps through the jungle with Abhu in tow.

Once they are all aboard the boat, it's anchors aweigh. They stand on the deck, watching Terapi Island slowly disappear into the mist.

     "Don't lean on the railings," Cassandra warns Varian and Hugo, who are doing just that.

     "What? Why can't we—" Hugo begins to say.

     "Trust me, just don't," Cassandra says with more urgency.

     Varian and Hugo exchange glances, and then slowly back away from the railing.

"So... I have a question," Abhu says.

     Cassandra freezes. What could Abhu want to ask? It doesn't have anything to do with her being in the jungle, does it? Or something to do with what happened on the beach? Did he see her and Varian?! She begins to panic again internally.

     "How are we going to travel to Vardaros?" Abhu continues. "Those leaf freaks took our Gliders. Not that I'm totally complaining about that... But still, it would be nice to have some quicker transportation."

Cassandra exhales the breath she was holding. Of course, it was completely irrational to be afraid that Abhu was going to say anything about her and Varian. But it's still so fresh on her mind, that it is difficult for her to think of anything else right now.

"I've been contemplating that as well, Achoo," Hugo says. "Of course it would be a piece of cake to build us some more of my Gliders. But it's finding the ingredients for my air burst solution that would be more problematic."

"I don't think we'll need either of those," Varian says. "There should be a small town near the next port. If we can find somewhere that sells common supplies, I can build us another hot air balloon. Maybe not as nice as the royal one from Corona, but still something."

"I don't care what it looks like, as long as it gets us there," Abhu says. "A hot air balloon is way better than those Gliders."

As the boat continues moving through the water, Cassandra finds the gentle rocking from the waves soothing. She gazes out at the open sea for a few minutes, before her eyes begin to scan the boat's occupants.

Hugo is splayed across the deck; his position looks uncomfortable, yet he is sleeping soundly. Abhu is laying across some crates with his eyes closed, seemingly experiencing a touch of seasickness. And Varian is sitting against the cabin door, staring up at the stars as he absentmindedly pets his napping raccoon.

Cassandra's eyes linger on Varian. What should she do? Was their almost-kiss a fleeting moment of weakness? Or is something more profound blossoming inside of her? Should she share with him what she is experiencing?

No. Not yet, if ever. She doesn't entirely understand what is happening inside of her right now. For all she knows, these feelings could disappear in a couple of days. She wouldn't want to give him false hope.

As if telling him how she is feeling would be an option, anyway... What is she thinking?! She mentally scolds herself for even considering it. These can't be true feelings she is experiencing. It must be due to all the emotional damage she has inflicted upon herself for so long. That has to be it. They have a mission to complete, anyway. There is no time for such things.

Whatever happened tonight between her and Varian, whatever feelings it caused inside of her... she plans on taking every bit of it down to the grave.

     Her expression apparently concerns Owl, who lands on the railing and gives her a worried hoot. She holds out her arm, and he eagerly hops onto her hand. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I think. I'm just... overthinking things."

Owl tilts his head curiously, and she wonders what the bird could be thinking. Does he have any idea what is on his master's mind? When he glances Varian's way, she guesses that he at least somewhat understands.

     Speaking of Varian... again... his gaze is currently in her direction. But as soon as he notices her looking back, he quickly turns away. She shakes her head, and contemplates what trials may lie ahead of them.

     On to Vardaros, she thinks. It'll be interesting to see an old friend there...

Chapter Text

"This is so exciting!" Opal says. "I'm so happy you finally started to have feelings for Daddy."

     "Not that she would've admitted it," Varian teases.

     "I know you're joking, but you're right," Cassandra says to Varian. Turning back to Opal, she adds, "My feelings for your father did begin to stir that day. And they terrified me... I didn't know what to think about them, or if they were even true. It wouldn't be long before I learned the answer, though."

     "And while she was struggling with her feelings, I was struggling with some of my own," Varian says. "I still believed our almost-kiss was all in my head. While I didn't want to give up on your mom, I also wanted to respect her boundaries. But experiencing a brief moment of what could have been made that tremendously difficult for me..."

The entire boat ride, all Varian can think about is Cassandra. Not that it's really unusual, but right now his thoughts are more intense. He is already aware that he has been in love with her for a while. But something he didn't think was possible is happening... His feelings for her are growing. Deepening. Ever since he almost kissed her on the beach.

He almost kissed her... what an idiot. If he had gone through with it, he can just hear her screaming at him: "What the heck are you doing? Do you have a death wish?!" She may have even slapped him, or worse. Yeah, it's a good thing Hugo interrupted...

But now, ever since he almost kissed her, kissing her is all he wants to do. Every time he looks at her, he imagines his lips upon hers... What it would feel like, what it would taste like. The desire is so strong, he is afraid he may not be able to hold himself back if another opportunity arises.

As much as he loves being around her, being near her, it is probably best that he stays a decent distance away from her for now. At least until these feelings subside a little. His life could depend on it...

     The journey feels like it takes an eternity, but finally they make it to land. They disembark on a dock in a small town, and immediately set out to find somewhere they can buy supplies.

     Abhu follows along with them, but he still keeps his distance, which Varian is perfectly fine with. He used to be jealous of how much time Abhu got to spend with Cassandra, but now he feels sorry for what Abhu put her through. He wondered why Cass kept Abhu around for so long, but after hearing her side of the story he realizes she didn't have much choice.

"Hey nerd," Abhu says, walking behind the others. He has his father's journal out, studying it closely.

Varian spins around to face Abhu with a glare, but Hugo also turns. "Yes?"

Varian whacks Hugo on the shoulder, and rolls his eyes.

"Well, you are both nerds, but I was addressing Alchemist Number One," Abhu says.

"Considering I'm older than him, wouldn't that still make me Alchemist Number One?" Hugo points out with a smirk.

"You make it sound like there's decades between us or something," Varian retorts. "You're only a year older!"

"Doesn't matter," Hugo says. "I'm still older, and thus wiser."

Varian scoffs "You—"

"I met Varian first," Abhu explains simply. "But anyway, have you figured anything out about these blank pages?"

"Honestly, I haven't had much chance to look at them, between deciphering the codes and finding the first two orbs," Varian replies. He takes the journal from Abhu and flips to the back, where there are exactly sixteen empty pages.

"Could it be possible that your dad just... stopped writing?" Cassandra suggests. "Maybe there isn't any significance to those blank pages."

"It's possible, I guess," Abhu says. "But that doesn't feel right."

"Strangely enough, I agree," Varian says. "Going by the rest of the journal, everything he put in it has some sort of significance. Perhaps it's just not time for us to figure out what the empty pages are for."

After coming across a couple of shops and purchasing everything they need, Varian and Hugo get to work building a hot air balloon. While they do, Cassandra and Abhu take the opportunity to rest up nearby. Cassandra is leaning against a tree, while Abhu sits on the ground looking through the journal again.

     "This may sound crazy," Cassandra says. "But this entire thing, solving puzzles to get to these orbs... It feels a little too, I don't know, exact? Does that make sense?"

Varian briefly stops working to meet her eyes. "Yes! I know precisely what you mean, and I've been thinking the same thing! Almost like everything we've come across has been too easy."

     "Too easy? We almost died in an underwater cave!" Abhu says.

     "But if the cave hadn't filled up with water, we wouldn't have been able to get out of the exit," Cassandra reminds him.

     "And we always seem to have just what we need," Varian says, hopping up enthusiastically. He is thrilled that he isn't the only one who has noticed this. "I mean, what are the odds that we meet a mermaid who can provide us with the air we need to open that tunnel?"

     Cassandra steps closer. "Not to mention both of your alchemical solutions that always seem to come into play. I mean, who else but you guys would have the things we need to get these orbs?"

     "It's like this entire mission was made for us, and only us!" In his excitement, Varian hadn't realized he was drawing nearer to Cassandra. But now he is aware of how close in proximity they have become. He could just reach out to her, pull her body against his, and—

Warning bells sound off inside his brain. He is too close to her, and about to make the same mistake he almost made on the beach. He turns away quickly, and begins working on the hot hair balloon again. "But, I mean, it-it's just a theory..."

     "Yeah, but a good one." Cassandra watches Varian and Hugo work for a minute, before returning to the tree she and Abhu are resting against.

     Varian has to force himself to focus on the project. His eyes keep wanting to trail away from his work to Cassandra. No matter what she is doing, the sight of her causes his stomach to do somersaults. He almost needs blinders to keep himself from staring at her.

     A few times, when he has allowed himself to glance her direction for a couple of seconds, he could have swore that she was already staring at him. But he knows that this has to be in his imagination.

     Finally, Varian and Hugo complete the hot air balloon. It isn't as large or as neat as Corona's Royal Balloon was, but it will certainly do its job.

"Let's get going!" Abhu says, the first to hop into the basket. "I'm ready to get this over with."

"That's the spirit!" Hugo says, also climbing into the basket. Varian can't tell if he is being sarcastic or serious.

Varian turns to Cassandra. "You ready?"

"We'll see," she replies. He holds his hand out to her, and she takes it hesitantly as he helps her into the balloon. He has to force himself to let go of her.

Varian loves getting to spend so much time with Cass. But he has not forgotten the main point of their mission: To save the Dark Kingdom. To free his dad. To find this mysterious cavern that Abhu's father dedicated his life to researching. Did he ever find it? Varian hopes that these clues they are following to these orbs don't lead them to a dead-end. But he can't help but worry. Especially considering Abhu's father never returned... If he had found the cavern, why didn't he go home to his family?

     Too many questions rattle around inside Varian's brain. But he can't answer any of them right now, so it is best to stay on task. Take one thing at a time.

     Next stop, Vardaros.

Chapter Text

"I don't like Abhu," Opal says. "But it's sad that his daddy never came home." She hugs Varian tightly, as if willing him to stay beside her forever.

     "Don't worry, Little Gem. I'm not going anywhere." Varian gives Opal a loving squeeze in return.

     Cassandra smiles as she watches the two of them, and patiently waits for Opal's attention to return to the story.

     "So what happened in Vardaros?" The little girl asks eagerly.

     "We began our search for the next orb," Cassandra replies. "My old friend helped us out, but... I wasn't as happy about it as I thought I would be..."

Vardaros.

It is not the most thrilling city. Definitely not one Cassandra ever dreamed of returning to. Even in all her years of traveling, she has never once considered dropping in. But here they are.

The city does look a great deal better than it did the last time she was here. It's cleaner, it's busier. People are enjoying life, rather than simply existing. It seems as if Rapunzel may have actually helped these people to change their tune. But there is still a dreary element to the atmosphere.

     After landing the balloon in the main hub of town, the gang climb out of the basket. It isn't long before a curious crowd has encircled them. Nervousness starts to churn in Cassandra's stomach as she wonders if any of these people have heard about the things she's done since she was last here...

     "Who are you?" A lady sneers.

     "We are weary travelers, descended upon your humble city in search of answers!" Hugo announces dramatically. "We—"

     Varian elbows his side. "You can stop that now. We're not performing a play."

"We're looking for someone," Cassandra tells the residents. "Where can we find the Sheriff?"

     "Cass!" A familiar voice says. A lanky young woman with black hair in a single, long side braid makes her way through the crowd.

"Vex!" Cassandra takes a moment to gage her expression. She isn't sure how Vex will react to her return. But she seems happy, so Cassandra approaches the woman and clasps her hand on her shoulder. "It's good to see you again."

     "You too," Vex says. "Things haven't been the same around here without your crew causin' a ruckus."

     "Thank goodness!" A random person shouts.

     "No one asked you!!!" Vex shouts back. She then turns to Cass and chuckles. "Ignore them. They don't like anyone new."

     "It's fine, I remember how they are," Cass says, relieved that news of her hostile takeover of Corona doesn't seem to have spread here. "Speaking of new..." She points at the badge on Vex's vest. "Looks like someone got a new promotion."

     "Yeah," Vex rubs a speck of dirt off the badge. "It's great to be the sheriff, but not so great how it happened..."

     Cassandra pats her shoulder sympathetically. "I heard about Quaid's passing. I'm so sorry."

     "He taught me a lot," Vex says. "I honor his memory by carrying on in his place."

From above, Owl hoots and then lands on Cassandra's shoulder.

"Owl!" Vex says, giving the bird a loving pat on the head. "Good to see you're still around, too."

Behind Cassandra, Abhu clears his throat.

     "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" Vex asks. She takes in the sight of them, and as her eyes fall upon Varian a sparkle appears that Cassandra has never seen in the girl.

     Uh-oh...

     "Um, right." Cassandra motions for them to come closer, as the crowd around them finally dissipates. "This is Abhu, Hugo, and... Varian." Ruddiger chitters, and Cass rolls her eyes. "And that's Ruddiger."

     "Welcome to Vardaros," Vex says. She holds out her hand in Varian's particular direction. "I'm Sheriff Vex."

     "Are you called that because you're so vexing?" Hugo jokes. Cassandra glares at him, but Vex doesn't seem to notice his quip.

     Varian shakes Vex's hand. "Thanks," he says. "We're, uh, glad to be here."

"You don't have to lie," Vex says. "I know our city isn't on the top of the 'Best Places To Visit' list. But I'd like to think we're a work in progress."

They have only been talking for a few seconds, but to Cassandra it seems like entirely too long and she feels the desire to interrupt them. She steps in front of Vex, standing directly between her and Varian. "Hey Vex, is there somewhere else we can talk? Away from prying eyes?" She glances at a random citizen, who is not-so-subtly eavesdropping nearby.

"Sure, you guys can come with me to my office." Vex motions for them to follow her, and she leads them through the city to a familiar building that Cassandra recalls visiting before. Inside, Vex takes a seat behind the desk. "So, Cass, what's brought you here?"

"We're looking for something, and we were hoping you might be able to help," Cassandra replies. "The only clue we have to its whereabouts is that it's in a mine."

"We have a lot of mines around here," Vex says. "Could take a while to search them all. What in particular are you looking for?"

"An orb," Varian says. He pulls the previous orb they found on Terapi Island out of his backpack, and shows it to Vex. "We can't convey all the details, but it's extremely important that we find it."

"It might have a symbol similar to this nearby, if it helps any," Hugo says, showing her the journal page of the infinity symbol.

Vex regards the journal page. "Oh yeah, I've seen that symbol outside of the abandoned mine," Vex says. "The door is sealed, though, and there's no other way in. No one's been in there for years."

"That won't be a problem," Varian says, his excitement evident. "Can you take us there?"

"I would be happy to," Vex says. A strange phrase to hear coming from her. Vex seemed to bond with Cassandra when they visited here last time, but as Cass recalls the girl didn't want to do anything to help them without receiving something in return. Particularly money. But the way she's looking at Varian...

     "You would?" Cassandra says, raising an irritated eyebrow. "I don't remember you doing anything for free." Her tone is sharper than she meant it to be, but it's too late to do anything about it.

     "I've changed," Vex says, seeming surprised by Cassandra's words. "I can help, just as long as we're not gone too long. My people... Well, we're facing a bit of a crisis."

"Oh? What kind of crisis?" Varian asks, as Ruddiger climbs up onto his shoulder.

"We're in the midst of a drought," Vex explains. "I can't remember the last time it rained here. Drinking water has been scarce, crops are suffering... It's been a problem, to say the least."

"Well then, we wouldn't want to impose," Cassandra says, overeager to jump at the chance to keep Vex from traveling with them. "Maybe you could show us where the mine is on a map, and we'll head there ourselves."

"Oh, okay." There is slight disappointment in Vex's eyes as she briefly glances in Varian's direction. But Cassandra shifts herself in front of him to cut off Vex's line of sight. "I can do that. Probably for the best, anyway."

"Great," Cassandra says, a smidge too fervidly.

Vex pulls out a map, and spreads it across her desk. She uses a pencil to circle a specific spot. "It's around this area. It would be about half a day's hike on foot, so you should take your balloon instead. You know, since you're in such a hurry."

     Is that a bit of sass that Cassandra detects? "Thanks," she says abruptly, grabbing the map and heading towards the door.

"Thank you for the help," Hugo says to Vex with an exaggerated flourish.

"I wish we could help with the drought problem," Varian says. "Maybe if we—"

"You boys coming, or what?" Cassandra shouts.

Abhu grimaces. "She keeps getting more bossy..."

"Really?" Vex says. "Seems to be about the same amount of bossy as I remember." She gives Ruddiger a scritch under his chin, which he leans into so much that he almost falls off of Varian's shoulder. "Hope you guys find what you're looking for."

(Vex's new outfit was designed by my best friend, Cricket.)

Chapter Text

"If Vex was your friend, why did you act like that?" Opal asks.

"It's called jealousy," Cassandra explains. "I recognized that she had her eyes on your father, and I wasn't happy about it."

"But, if you were trying to not have feelings for Daddy, why did you care?" Opal genuinely doesn't get it.

"You'll understand when you're older," Cassandra says, lovingly stroking her daughter's cheek.

"Let me guess," Rapunzel says from her chair in the corner of the room. "Varian, you had no idea that anything had changed about Cass."

Varian shoots Rapunzel an unamused look, but he shrugs guiltily. "Okay, yes. I was clueless. And anything odd about her behavior towards me that I did notice, I convinced myself that it was all in my head. That I only thought I was seeing it because of how badly I desired it to be true..."

After hopping in their balloon and flying to the area Vex circled on the map, the gang land on a tall hill and disembark in front of the mine's entrance. Just as expected, the infinity symbol is etched into the wall next to the door.

"And, of course, there's no normal way to open this," Hugo says, inspecting the door as Varian takes a closer look at the symbol.

     "The marking on the symbol this time... It's water," Varian says.

     "Well that shouldn't be too big of a problem," Cassandra says. She pulls out a canteen, but to her dismay it is empty. "I guess I drank the last of it."

Abhu digs through their supplies, checking all of their canteens. "Seriously? Are we completely out of water?!"

     What? That doesn't seem right, Varian thinks. He knows they were starting to run a bit low to the point that they were going to need to replenish their supply soon, but he is certain there was at least some water left.

     Then he notices his raccoon slinking away out of the corner of his eye.

     "Ruddiger? Ruddiger!" Varian shouts, until the raccoon slowly turns around to face him. Varian folds his arms and taps his foot. "Did you drink the rest of our water?"

Ruddiger nods sheepishly. He pants heavily as if to say, "It's too hot here! I couldn't help myself."

     "What?!" Cassandra says. "All of it?!"

     Varian shakes his head disapprovingly at Ruddiger. "Apples are one thing, but this is water! It's very important to all of us."

     "You should have just left him behind in Corona," Abhu remarks angrily. "Then this wouldn't have happened!"

     "I wouldn't leave him behind like that!" Varian replies. "He's always been there for me."

"Well, now he's just made things harder for us all!" Abhu says.

Varian groans. Why does Abhu have to be here, again? He asks himself for the millionth time.

"Dude, chill," Hugo says with an upbeat tone. "We'll figure out a solution. We always have."

"Hugo is right," Varian says, though the words taste bitter on his tongue. "Let's think of our options."

     "We could always spit on it," Abhu says sarcastically.

     "You know as well as I do that wouldn't work," Varian says with irritation.

"We could ask the people of Vardaros if they'd spare some water," Cassandra suggests. "But they're experiencing a drought. And they've never been the most hospitable of people, anyway."

     "It's worth a shot, I guess," Varian says.

     "Maybe if Varian asks Vex real nicely," Hugo says mischievously.

     Before Varian has the chance to ask what he means, Cassandra suddenly shouts at Hugo, "SHUT UP!" Even she seems surprised by her own outburst.

But Hugo only chuckles. "Ooh, Sandra's a bit testy."

     Varian is totally confused right now. "What do you mea—"

     "Let's just get back to town and see if anyone will help, okay?" Abhu says impatiently, already in the balloon.

     Once they've made their way back to town, they return to Vex's office. To no surprise, she is still sitting behind her desk. "Wow, that was a quick trip," she says.

     "We need some water," Cassandra says. "We know you're going through a drought, but... Would you happen to have any to spare?"

     Vex seems unsure how to respond. "Cass, I... I don't think I can do that."

     "Vex, please," Varian says, stepping closer to her desk. "My father, he's... he's trapped. And the only hope I have of saving him is finding all of these orbs. I know it may not make much sense, but trust me when I say that this is extremely important. We don't need a ton of water, just enough to pour over that symbol on the outside of the mine." He pauses briefly before repeating, "Please."

     Varian has no idea why Hugo suggested it, but his asking Vex seems to have worked. "You know what?" Vex starts to say. "I think I might be able to—"

     The door to the office slams open, and a slim man steps in. "Y'all best be gettin' outta here."

     "I'm sorry?" Varian says, immediately feeling intimidated by this tall stranger, though he isn't sure why.

     "Don't you be comin' in here and tryin'a run the place again, Raymond!" Vex says to the man. "These people are my guests!"

     "Guests?" Raymond repeats. "Are you aware that there are criminals in our midst?"

     Vex raises an eyebrow. "So what? We're a town full of low-lives. Pretty sure most of us were criminals at one point or another."

     "Not like this," Raymond says. He holds up two Wanted posters, one featuring Cassandra and the other, Varian. "This be you two?"

Varian and Cassandra exchange anxious glances. Although Cass looks more terrified than nervous.

"That... that is you two!" Abhu says, shocked. "What's going on?"

     "You two are wanted in Corona for a multitude of crimes," Raymond says. "Treason, larceny, kidnapping, attempted murder... Shall I go on?"

     Varian is furious! Especially when he glances at Cassandra and realizes she has gone white as a ghost. "Where did you get these?" He asks Raymond, jerking the posters from the man's hands.

     But Abhu jerks them from Varian's hands. "Him I expected to see on Wanted posters," he says, gesturing to Hugo. "But these... Care to explain?"

     Cassandra seems frozen in place, so Varian continues to speak to Raymond. "These posters are from a long time ago. We are no longer wanted in Corona. Ask Queen Rapunzel! She's our friend!"

     "Friend? Seems she was the recipient of most these crimes you committed," Raymond says.

     "What's going on?!" Abhu repeats insistently.

     "We'll explain later," Varian tells him dismissively.

     "You'll explain now," Vex says.

"It... It's true," Cassandra finally speaks up. She stares down at her boots, unable to look anyone in the eyes. "I... I've done terrible things."

Varian's heart aches every time he sees how badly Cassandra's past still affects her. "We've both done things we regret," he explains, looking directly at Cass as he speaks. "But that was in the past. We're completely different people now, and we know what we did was wrong. We do not justify our mistakes, nor do we ever intend to repeat them. We shouldn't have to keep explaining ourselves! Our friends, our true friends, have forgiven us and moved on. They love us and trust us. So, we need to trust ourselves."

Somewhere during his speech, Varian and Cassandra become the only people in the room. Or, at least, that's how it seems to him. Everything he said, he meant it just for her. He wishes he could help her heal somehow, if she would only let him. She finally meets his gaze, and for a moment he believes the glossy shine in her eyes may be telling him his words are working.

Again, he has to hold himself back. Lord Demanitus, how badly he wants to kiss her right now...

     Vex sighs, reeling his attention back in. "That may be. But... I'm not sure how to feel about this. Please leave. At least for a little bit."

     Varian and Cassandra nod slowly, and turn around to leave. Hugo and Abhu follow behind them.

Chapter Text

"Did people really treat you that way?" Opal asks, lips curled up in a pout. "Because of your pasts?"

     "They still do, sometimes," Varian says. "But it's not as often as before."

     "And it's okay," Cassandra adds. "Because we don't care anymore. I don't care anymore." She smiles lovingly at Varian. "Wonder who helped me with that?"

     "Hmm, no idea," Varian teases, snaking his arm around her waist.

     "Well, I care," Opal says, folding her arms. "It isn't right!"

     Cassandra chuckles affectionately. "No it isn't, kiddo. Some people are gonna be like that. But we've got to rise above it. That's a lesson I had to learn..."

As the gang exit Vex's office, Abhu continues to hold up the Wanted posters. "I keep learning great things about you two," he says sarcastically.

     "Would you stop waving those around?!" Varian says, reaching out to grab them. But Abhu jerks them out of his reach.

     "No! Not until you tell me what all this is about!" Abhu says. "What exactly did you guys do?"

     "What does it matter?" Varian says. "Like I said, it was in the past! That's not who we are anymore."

     "Do you both believe that?" Abhu asks. He points to Cassandra, who is still staring at the ground with her arms wrapped around herself protectively. She hates being called out for her past mistakes, especially after how hard she has worked to try to forget them.

     Varian turns to Cassandra. "Cass, please don't let this upset you. That guy is just some random stranger who doesn't know anything about us. About you. The opinions of narrow-minded people like him don't matter."

     Cassandra thinks it's sweet how Varian keeps trying to reason with her. Very sweet...

     "Um, hello?" Abhu says. "It's not narrow-mindedness to—"

     "No, you are not going to finish that sentence!" Varian interrupts, rounding on him. "You are even more small-minded than that Raymond guy! You know Cass for years, and the second she shows an ounce of her true self you turn on her! What kind of person does that? She has done things personally to me and my family, and I've gotten over them! She's never done a thing to you!"

"Varian..." Cassandra says, attempting to stop him. She is appreciative of his protectiveness of her, more appreciative than she'd like to admit. But she doesn't want another punch-out between the two of them. It would only be another excuse for the Vardarans to kick them out of town... Or join the brawl and make it worse.

     "Don't talk to me like th—" Abhu starts.

     "You constantly complain about how people talk to you, when you talk way worse to them!" Varian continues. "Did you ever think that maybe if you were nicer to people, they'd be nice to you?!"

     "Varian," Cassandra repeats, slightly louder.

     "And another thing, what is it with you and Owl?! He's a loyal bird who has always stuck by Cassandra's side and—"

     "Varian!" Cassandra shouts. If he keeps defending her like this, they're likely to have another incident like on the beach. But she has to hold back... He finally shuts up, and faces her. "It's okay."

And she means it. It is okay... or, starting to be. She still isn't totally comfortable with her past, but she is finally seriously considering everything Varian has told her. It... it makes sense. She thinks it might help her to heal.

     "Really?" He says. She can tell in his eyes that he understands. Who else in this world understands her so well? Only Varian...

Wait, she has to stop thinking about him like this! Not the time, not the place.

"Well, it's still not okay with me," Abhu says. "If I didn't need help figuring out everything my father researched, I'd—"

"You'd be gone. We know," Cassandra says, rolling her eyes. She wishes Abhu didn't have to keep traveling with them. Do they really need that journal of his, anymore?

Suddenly they hear Hugo chuckle. He's been so quiet, they forgot he was there. "And you guys say I'm the dramatic one," he says. "Watching you guys is exciting! Where's the popcorn?"

"You could've, I don't know, actually helped back there!" Varian says.

Hugo shrugs. "Hey, I'm no stranger to Wanted posters. Been on a fair share of them, myself. You won't get any judgment from me. But a little advice: When someone has as unwavering an opinion as that scary dude in there, it's best just to skedaddle."

Varian sighs. "Unlike you, Hugo, I don't run away from my problems."

Run away from my problems... Cassandra realizes that is what she has been doing. That's all she has been doing. She left Corona to get a fresh start, to find her place in the world. Her destiny. Her home. Whatever you want to call it. But has she found it yet? Will she ever find it?

"Speaking of problems," Abhu says, folding his arms. "What do we do now?"

"Figure out the water solution," Varian replies.

     "We do have a hot air balloon," Hugo says. "We could always fly to a town that isn't experiencing a drought, and bring some water here."

     "Great! Let's go," Abhu says. But Cassandra holds him back.

     "We could do that," she says. "But that doesn't feel right."

     "It doesn't feel right to me, either," Varian says. "We've gotta help these people." He gestures to a small group of children nearby, who are leaned up against a building attempting to hide within the shade of its shadow. One has a ball in his hands, evidently wishing he and his friends could play a game with it. But they are all panting and most likely dehydrated, too hot and thirsty to play.

"What are we supposed to do about a drought?" Abhu asks.

"That's what we've gotta figure out," Varian says. He turns to Hugo. "We're alchemists! Surely we can come up with something."

     "But even as smart as the two of you think you are, something like that is still gonna take time," Cassandra says.

     "We spent nearly a month on an island," Varian says. "Helping these people seems like time well spent."

     "Despite how... inhospitable they may be," Abhu says, returning glares that the town's occupants are sending his way as they pass.

     "Maybe we should get out of here," Cassandra says. "At least until you guys come up with something."

     Returning to the balloon, they fly back to the abandoned mine on the hill. Varian and Hugo bounce ideas off each other, while Cassandra and Abhu explore the area around the mine.

"Okay, so what are clouds?" Varian says. "Basically water."

     "Droplets of water condensed onto one another," Hugo says. "When those droplets expand, it rains."

     "So we need to stimulate growth of the water droplets," Varian says.

     "I'm sure there are gases that, when shot high enough in the air, would crystallize into ice," Hugo says.

     "That could be enough to seed the clouds and make it rain!" Varian practically shouts.

     Look how cute he gets when he's excited, Cassandra thinks, watching Varian from the entrance to the mine. But as soon as the thought enters her mind, she shakes her head vigorously. Gah, stop that!

     "You okay?" Abhu asks, raising an eyebrow.

     Cassandra freezes up for a moment. "Yeah, fine. Just... had a bug in my hair."

"Uh-huh," Abhu says, as if he doesn't believe her.

     Not that he cares anyway, right? Cassandra thinks, as Abhu continues exploring.

     Returning her gaze to the brainstorming alchemists, Cassandra realizes that Hugo is preparing the balloon for flight once again, and Varian is approaching her. "What's up? You figure something out?" She asks.

     "Maybe," Varian tells her. "But we don't think Vardaros will have the supplies we need. Hugo knows of a place, so we're going there."

     "Shouldn't take too long," Hugo says. "But it'll probably be a lot quicker if it's only the two of us."

     "Just you two, got it," Cass says. "Lose the extra weight."

     But then she realizes this would mean leaving her with Abhu, alone. After they met he was her constant shadow, but ever since their fight on Terapi Island he is the last person she wants to be around.

     Varian doesn't seem to like this idea any more than she does. "I don't want Ruddiger getting into trouble, so... Do you think you could keep an eye on him for me while we're gone?"

     Oh great, a raccoon is going to make everything better... But she appreciates his effort. "Yeah, sure."

     "Thanks," Varian says, offering her a smile. His soft, endearing smile...

"Let's get going, Freckles!" Hugo calls out.

     "Right," Varian says. "See you soon."

     A small part of her wishes she could hug him goodbye, but after everything they've been through recently it would be super weird and awkward. Even patting him on the shoulder might give him the wrong idea. Hold it back, she tells herself. Just hold it all back...

     "Be careful," she says to him, without any physical contact.

     His eyes light up, only slightly but still noticeable. Who is she kidding? Whatever she says or does, he is going to adore it... His smile widens in response, and she watches as he climbs into the balloon and he and Hugo take to the skies.

Chapter Text

While Varian and Hugo are gone, Cassandra sits down with a pencil and paper. She knows Rapunzel and Eugene's anniversary is nearing, and she wants to write them a letter like she has every year. Just this once, she thought she might be there to celebrate with them. Not only was she unable to make it to their wedding, but she has missed every anniversary since. However, it looks like this one will be no different than before.

With Abhu otherwise occupied (what he is doing, she doesn't know nor does she care), she begins to scribble words onto the paper:

Dear Rapunzel,
(And Fitzherbert)

Happy anniversary! I'm sorry I couldn't be there... again. But knowing how well you two are doing is enough to keep me going. I'll shoot for attending the celebration next year.

It has already  so long  since we were in Corona. When we left, I didn't realize how crazy an adventure this would turn out to be. It reminds me of the old days, Raps, except I've traded you in for Varian. He has been a... slight aggravation to deal with. But he has also been extremely helpful. He believes the mission we have set out on will lead to answers that can free his father. I, on the other hand, am not so convinced. But I can't argue with the results his research has yielded. His alchemy and big brain keep coming through in unexpected ways. He—

She stops, and reads over what she has written. She groans once she discerns how much she is writing about Varian. There is nothing in the letter about how rude Abhu has been, or how surprisingly useful Hugo has been.

Why do all of her thoughts seem to gravitate back to that skinny, freckle-faced dork?! Frustrated, she crumples up the letter and tosses it on the ground. She leans back, and decides to use this rare moment of peace and quiet to take a nap. If the guys are successful in inventing a way to make it rain, then she'll need her energy for whatever they may have to face to achieve the next orb. That last one almost did them all in...

Before long, she has drifted off into a light sleep. But the thoughts that have been weighing heavily on her mind press down on her dreams:

A frightfully dark day. A demolished castle. A rampaging, goat-headed warlock on the loose. And it's all her fault.

"I've done terrible things! All this time I tried so hard to prove that I was more than everyone thought, but they were right."

They were right. She can't stand the things she did. She can't stand the supposed reasons she did them. She can't stand herself! She doesn't deserve anyone's forgiveness.

They were right...

Or were they?

     Her mind takes her back to Terapi Island. The beach. Varian sitting in the sand next to her.

     "I struggled with feelings of guilt and self-loathing for a while, too. But I finally realized that I couldn't change what I had done. Those things happened. And they will always be a part of me. But rather than let my past dictate my future, I remember those experiences so that I don't repeat the same mistakes, and I let them mold me into a better person. Someone worthy of forgiveness and redemption. And you should try to do the same. Because you, Cassie, are unequivocally worthy."

Unequivocally worthy. Is that really what he said? Is that really how he feels? She doesn't deserve such love and adoration, but nothing she did and nothing she does seems to change how he feels.

Could it... could it be true? Could she be worthy? Worthy of others' forgiveness? Worthy of love?

Could she be worthy of forgiving herself?

     "Cass? Hello, Cassandra!"

     Cass wakes up with a start. The sun has almost disappeared beyond the horizon and the sky has grown dark. How long has she been asleep?!

     She identifies the voice who awoke her as Vex. The sheriff is snapping her fingers in front of Cassandra's face, trying to get her attention. A horse is tied to a tree nearby. "Oh good, you're awake!"

"I am now," Cassandra says, standing up with a groan. She stretches, and glances around. She doesn't see Abhu, but she didn't expect to. And the balloon is still gone, so Varian and Hugo haven't returned yet. "What are you doing here?"

Vex seems hesitant to respond. "The truth is, I felt bad about kicking you out," she says. "I'm still not sure how to feel about the things they say you did, but I remember the Cassandra I became friends with back when I was a little girl. I want to help that Cass."

Cassandra gazes down sadly. "I'm not sure that Cass is here anymore, Vex."

"Well, whether she is or not, I'm helping her anyway." Now Vex gazes around. "Hey, where are the guys?"

You mean, where is Varian? Cassandra thinks, immediately annoyed. "Varian and Hugo took off in the balloon to get some supplies," she replies. "Who knows where Abhu went? He tends to wonder off like that, now."

Vex nods. "Hey, since you've got that balloon... Would'ya mind maybe bringing us some water back? I know it's a lot to ask of a town full of people who constantly judge you, and it would take quite a few trips to bring back enough for all of us, but—"

Cassandra holds her hand up to stop her. "No need to ask, Vex. The guys already have a plan, one that should work more efficiently than bringing in water from somewhere else."

"Oh, okay then," Vex says, intrigued. "I look forward to their return, so I can hear all about it."

She looks forward to their return? Or she looks forward to Varian's return? Cassandra thinks, her lip inadvertently curling up into a snarl.

"Um, are you okay?" Vex asks. "You look like you're getting ready to murder someone."

     Oh, I'll show you murder! An overwhelming desire to punch Vex in her pouty face overtakes Cassandra, but she fights hard to hold herself back. Why are you acting this way?! Vex is your friend! You're being completely irrational. She takes a moment to relax herself, and then says "I'm fine." Though it's still through gritted teeth.

     Vex is puzzled at first, but then a knowing smile spreads across her face. "I have a question I've been meaning to ask since you got here," she says. "Do you happen to know Varian's relationship status?"

Vex can barely finish her inquiry before Cassandra reacts. "He's not available, stay away from him!" But as soon as the words are out of her mouth, she facepalms.

     "Alright, sheesh," Vex says. But the smile still remains.

     Embarrassed, Cassandra spins around and begins to stomp away. Vex was simply goading her on, and she fell right into the trap.

"Cass, stop!" Vex yells after her, and she complies. But she still keeps her back turned towards Vex. "I think I know what's going on."

"Oh really? Enlighten me." Cassandra knows too. Knows it well. But a part of her still hopes that maybe she is imagining things.

"You recognized that I was interested in Varian from the moment I met him," Vex continues. "But for you, it's more than that. You're jealous, because you have feelings for him."

     "That is not true!" Cass lies. But even as she says this, it feels wrong.

     "Oh, really?" Vex scoffs.

Now Cass faces her again. "Yes, really! That is insane! Why would I have feelings for Varian?! He's annoying. He's clumsy. He's frustrating. He's a lot younger than me. He's infuriatingly persistent. He's smart. He's funny. He's... he's caring. He's reliable. He understands me better than anyone I've ever met. He..." Her sentence trails off as she realizes her argument has become invalid.

Vex smirks, amused. "Didn't even notice when you started listing off good qualities, did ya?"

Cassandra scowls. "It... It doesn't mean anything!"

Vex steps forward, and grabs the crumpled-up letter Cassandra began to write. After opening it and taking note of how much Cass wrote about Varian, she holds it up. "Uh-huh. It doesn't mean anything. That's why you had such a strong reaction to your own letter."

Cassandra winces as the reality finally sets in, solid and whole, like a boulder flung against her chest. "Dang it... I'm falling for him, aren't I?"

Vex places her hands on her hips. "You, my friend, are far beyond falling for him. You have fallen for him, harder than a tree falls for a feller."

A surprising chitter causes Cassandra to gaze down. Ruddiger is staring up at her, mouth agape, clearly in shock by her realization. She forgot the little guy was here.

"You will not clue Varian in on this, in any way, shape, or form," she says gravely, pointing a threatening finger at Ruddiger. "Got it?!"

Ruddiger stiffens, straight as a board, and nods vigorously.

Trying to make light of the immense embarrassment that she feels, Cass says to Vex, "So, um... Varian may be off the table, but if you like alchemists I'm pretty sure Hugo is single."

Vex snorts. "Nah, he's so over-dramatic. And what's up with that hair?"

"I know!" Cassandra agrees. "It's like he couldn't decide what style he wanted, so he tried them all!"

The two share a laugh, but Cassandra still feels shaky. She shuts her eyes tightly, and when she does all she can see is Varian's face: His caring, blue eyes. His soft freckles. His adorable smile that gives her butterflies. What should she do? Misty the mermaid was right, back on Terapi Island. Cassandra is lucky to have Varian's love. Already, two suitable young ladies have admitted their interest in him, and she knows others most likely have in the past. But he has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is the only one in his sights. He is loyal to her, despite her rebuffs.

     Her fear is prevalent, though. Will she ever be able to completely demolish her walls and give Varian her love?

     Love... she is no longer denying it.

     Cassandra is in love with Varian.

Chapter Text

"So, you finally admitted to yourself that you loved Varian," Rapunzel says, smirking.

     "Hey, no commentary from the back!" Cassandra says. "You've already heard this story."

     "Now that you knew you were in love with Daddy, what happened?" Opal asks.

     "Nothing," Varian teases, receiving a shove from his wife.

     "Who's side are you on?!" Cassandra says as Varian snickers.

     "What do you mean nothing?" Opal looks tremendously disappointed. "You knew he loved you. Why not tell him?"

     "Because, kiddo, I was still afraid," Cassandra replies. "I know you are too young to understand this, but being in a relationship requires being vulnerable. And that wasn't something I was good at being."

     Opal sighs exasperatedly, kicking her blanket off. Cassandra chuckles and turns to Varian. "She really is your daughter."

     "You mean our daughter," he corrects, pulling Opal's blanket back over her.

     "Okay then, so what did happen next?" Opal asks.

     "Not much else happened that day," Cassandra says. "Vex waited with me for the guys to come back. I rewrote my letter to Rapunzel and Eugene, then sent Owl off to deliver it for me."

     "I remember getting that letter," Rapunzel says. "But it wasn't the only correspondence we received that day..."

The festivities have finally wound down. Today has been full of joy, celebration, and lots of cake. A much-needed distraction from recent events.

But now that the day has come to a close, Rapunzel finds herself where she has every night since the strange attack... In bed, crying into her pillow.

Eugene hobbles over to her side of the bed, still needing to use a crutch ever since he broke his leg during his trip to the Dark Kingdom. He sits next to her, rubbing her shoulder in silence. He had hoped maybe tonight would be different, after having celebrated their anniversary. But his wife is still distraught over having lost the ability to conceive children, and he doesn't know what to do to comfort her. He hasn't even had the sufficient time to properly contemplate his own feelings on the subject. He just spends his nights doing what he can to soothe her. But as desperately as he tries, nothing seems to be enough.

At least her crying has lightened up, somewhat. When he first returned home and she gave him the news, she sobbed so loudly each night that her cries echoed through the castle hallways. Now, while she still sheds many tears, her cries are softer but still heart-wrenching. He can only stay by her side, offering whatever comfort his presence may give until she relaxes enough to fall asleep.

Tonight, though, does seem different. She is actually sitting up, and wiping her eyes. "I... I'm sorry, Eugene. I know I've been such a mess..."

"Hey, you have nothing to apologize for, Sunshine," he tells her, enveloping her in an embrace. "You let it out as much as you need to. I'm always going to be right here to pick up the pieces."

She smiles. The first genuine smile he's seen on her face since his return. "I love you so much, Eugene. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I love you too, Rapunzel." They kiss, and he can taste the faint saltiness of tears on her lips.

After a moment, a sound of knocking at the window startles them both. To their surprise, they discover Owl perched on the windowsill.

"Looks like Cass sent another letter," Eugene says, opening the window and removing the paper tied to Owl's leg. He hands the letter to Rapunzel, who is sitting on the edge of her bed.

Rapunzel sniffles, and eagerly opens the letter. She glances over it, and then reads it aloud:

          Dear Rapunzel,
          (And Fitzherbert)

     Happy anniversary! I know I couldn't be there again, and I apologize. I'll try to join the celebration next year. Hope you are doing well! See you soon.

     Love,

          Cass

     "Well that was... brief," Rapunzel says. "She usually writes more than that."

     "I'll say," Eugene says, taking the letter and flipping it around in his hand. "There's usually at least two or three pages attached."

"And there's nothing about the mission," Rapunzel says. "I hope everything is alright."

     Eugene notices her brow creasing. "Come on, I'm sure everything is fine! The last thing you need is something else to worry about." He sits beside her again, and tucks her hair behind her ear. But the truth is, he is worried too. With his injury keeping him here, his father's life is in the hands of Cassandra and Varian. Oh, and those other two guys...

     Caw! Caw!

     An obnoxious call blares through the window. Owl hoots loudly and dives out of the way as Hamuel, the clumsy raven, crashes into the room.

"Wha— Hamuel?" Eugene says in shock. "How did he get here?!"

     Rapunzel stands up and approaches the bird, who is now flopping around on the ground like a fish out of water. "Um, he has something tied to his leg." She chases Hamuel around the room, until she can finally grab ahold of him and untie the paper. Once she does this, he quits flopping and makes himself comfortable... under her armoire.

     Rapunzel unfolds the small piece of paper, and gasps. "Eugene..?" She hands it to him, and he gasps as well.

It's not what it seems.

     "This is my dad's handwriting," Eugene says. "He must have sent it right before..." His sentence trails off as he glares at Hamuel. "There's no telling how long that crazy bird-brain has been floundering around the kingdoms instead of delivering it!"

     "But you have it now," Rapunzel reassures him. "What could it mean?"

     Eugene repeats the short message aloud. "I have no idea. 'It' could refer to a lot of things."

     "He probably didn't have time to be more specific," Rapunzel says. She hugs Eugene as she adds, "Hopefully our friends will get some answers for us."

     Eugene continues to stare at his father's note. "Why would he send this, though? There has to be a reason."

     "To encourage you not to give up?" Rapunzel suggests. "Maybe he knew of a way to free everyone trapped in that dome."

     "Yet I'm not there, figuring out how," Eugene says, gesturing to his injured leg.

     "You can't help that," Rapunzel says. "We have to put trust in our friends. Have faith that they will solve this mystery." She pulls out a quill and some paper from her bedside table. "In fact, let's reply to Cassandra's letter. We can request more information about how things are going."

Eugene nods. "Hopefully, things aren't quite as tense between them as they were when I left. Hoo man, you will not believe it when I tell you what our favorite alchemy nerd admitted to CassAndra!"

Chapter Text

"What did the note mean?" Opal asks. "I wanna know!"

"One thing at a time," Rapunzel says, chuckling at the young girl's eagerness. "I'm sure your parents are ready to take the story back."

"Aww," Opal pouts, as Luna paws at her comfortingly. "But I wanna know now!"

"Dial it back, kiddo," Cassandra says. "There's still a lot we needed to learn before any of us could understand what the message on that note meant."

"When are you gonna find the next orb?" Opal asks.

"We're getting closer," Varian replies. "Hugo and I found all the supplies we needed for our research. It would just take some time to work out the needed evaluations for this project..."

Somewhere in a small town that Varian has never heard of before, he and Hugo have set up shop at an inn. Hugo was right when he said this place would have everything they needed to restock their alchemical supplies. There isn't anything they can't find here! And Hugo seems to know exactly where to go to get it all.

     Now they are teaming up to invent a way to make it rain. They've already been working on the calculations for hours. It won't be long before they are ready to begin experimenting.

     In the time they've spent together, few words have been spoken between them that didn't have to do with their current project. At first, Varian was fine with that. Hugo isn't exactly his first choice in association. But now that the excitement of delving into something new has worn down, things have been suspiciously quiet on Hugo's end. Varian realizes that, as much as Hugo may talk on a regular basis, he really doesn't say anything. There isn't a lot about himself that he has revealed. Varian hardly knows anything about this fellow alchemist he is collaborating with.

"So... How'd you find this place?" Varian asks. "The area seems like the ideal spot for an alchemist. I could almost live here!"

Hugo seems surprised by the question. "I actually did live here," he says. "This is where I'm from."

"Really?" So that's how he knows his way around. "You're pretty casual about it, though. Doesn't seem like you have much attachment to it."

     "I try not to have much attachment to anything," Hugo says. "Life rule."

     "Okay," Varian says. "Well, since you are from here, do you have any family or anything?"

Hugo hesitates to reply. "Nope, never had any family. I... I'm an orphan."

"Oh." Varian isn't sure how to respond. "I'm sorry."

Hugo's expression falters, but he takes a moment to regain himself and his usual smirk appears. Varian wonders how often this demeanor of his is faked. "Eh, it's fine Freckles. Having no one is all I've ever known. Can't miss something you never had."

Varian knows this statement isn't true, and he can tell that Hugo doesn't really believe it. He may hide it behind witty remarks, but in his eyes there is an unsatisfied weariness.

"I don't know about that," Varian says. "You had to come from somewhere, so that means you had a family at some point, even if you don't remember. I don't remember my mom, but I still miss her."

Hugo ponders this. "Still... I've always worked better on my own, anyway."

"You've always been alone?"

"Well, I mean, I was in and out of orphanages and foster homes for a while. But who wants to stay in those? I escaped that life the second I could take care of myself."

     Varian nods, though that is not a life he has ever understood or desired. He was on his own while his dad was trapped in amber, and it is an understatement to say that the time alone drove him mad.

     "Why do you ask, anyway?" Hugo says.

     "Just curious," Varian says with a shrug. "And slightly surprised that it was so easy to get the answers out of you."

     "It's not like I hide my past," Hugo says. "No one's... No one's ever cared enough to ask."

     Varian never thought it possible, but he feels bad for Hugo. Maybe there is more to him than he initially thought. And, who knows? If at least one person puts a little faith in him, maybe it could be enough to change him for the better. It worked on Varian, himself, after all.

     Before Varian can inquire more about his past, Hugo regards him with folded arms. "What about you? Have you always been with this merry band of misfits?"

     "Not always, no," Varian replies. "I met Cass, Eugene, and Queen —then Princess— Rapunzel when I was a kid. We've had some... misadventures along the routes of our relationships. But now, I can't imagine my life without any of them."

     Hugo smiles mischievously. "Especially a certain one of them."

     Varian rolls his eyes. "Yes, yes. We've long established that I'm in love with Cass." He sighs exasperatedly as he adds, "I only wish I could've done something about it instead of going six years without seeing her."

     "You know what they say: 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'," Hugo teases.

"Yeah. Right." If only that were true. Varian still feels as if Cassandra barely spared him the occasional thought while she was off on her adventures. And the worst part is, it seems that her journey of self discovery was futile, anyway. So all that time spent apart was pointless.

     Hugo smirks. "Believe what you want to believe, but there is something different about the way she is acting."

     Varian has noticed... something different about Cassandra's behavior. But he's pretty sure it has to do with Abhu's change in attitude. He knows Cass never cared much for Abhu, but she has always cared what others thought of her.

"Enough about me and Cass," Varian says. "Has anyone ever caught your eye?"

"There's been one or two, but nothing that worked out," Hugo replies nonchalantly. "Although, I might have my sights on someone new... if we ever reach the end of this journey. And alive, for that matter."

"Hmm," Varian is curious now. "Who is this mystery person?"

"Yeah, I am so not ready to share that!" Hugo laughs. "But while we are sharing..." He rubs his chin in thought. "About those 'Wanted' posters... What exactly did you do? I gotta know! Because I really can't see you doing any of those things they accused you of."

     Varian rubs the back of his neck anxiously. "Erm, well... that's a long story."

"Eureka!" Hugo exclaims, hours later. "I think we've got it!"

Varian holds a cylindrical, metal capsule in his hands. "This... This should help the people of Vardaros."

"And get us that next orb!" Hugo adds, wrapping an excited arm around Varian's shoulders.

Varian smiles triumphantly, as the two of them rush out of the inn. "We should test it first, just to be sure."

"Why test it here?" Hugo asks. "Then we'd just have to build another one. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty confident in our work. Now let's get going!"

Varian nods, and follows Hugo to the balloon. Once they've loaded in, they navigate their way back to Vardaros. But before they approach the abandoned mine, Varian notices a large hole in the ground below them that he is pretty sure wasn't there when they left.

     "That seems suspicious," Varian says, pointing the hole out to Hugo.

     Hugo's eyes narrow as they draw closer. "Looks like someone's down there."

     Varian realizes this, too. "Is that... Abhu?"

     Putting the balloon down next to the hole, the guys disembark and walk to the edge. "Hey Achoo! I know you've been in a funk lately, but isn't digging your own grave a bit over the top?" Hugo asks.

     "Just shut up and get me out!" Abhu shouts up at them. "I'm stuck!"

Varian retrieves a long, thick rope from his backpack, and lowers it down to Abhu.

     "You just... carry a rope around with you?" Hugo asks with a raised eyebrow.

     "All the weird and crazy things you both have on you, and that's what you're questioning?!" Abhu says as he grabs onto the end of the rope.

     Varian shrugs. "Let's just say, somebody who once had really, really long hair inspired me to carry it."

     Varian can tell that Hugo doesn't get it, but he doesn't inquire further. The two of them work together to pull Abhu out of the hole.

"You wanna explain now?" Varian asks Abhu with a raised eyebrow.

     "I got tired of waiting on you two, so I decided to try to search for some water myself," Abhu says. "I found a shovel lying around outside the mine, and when I started exploring this area I discovered an 'X' marked on the ground. So I dug. Only, I forgot to leave myself a way to get out..."

     "An 'X'?" Varian repeats. "Like, for buried treasure or something?"

     "Maybe," Abhu says, ignoring Varian's condescending tone. "I didn't find water, but I did find this." He holds up a stone tablet, with the letters 'R' and 'L' repeatedly etched into it.

"Either someone was extremely fond of these two letters, or you've just stumbled on another code," Hugo says.

     "'R' and 'L'," Varian says. "Could it simply refer to right and left?"

     "Guess we'll find out when we get into that mine," Hugo says. "Something tells me they're connected."

     "Me too," Varian says. Yet another 'coincidence' in this journey of theirs.

     'Coincidences' that are looking more and more like anything but with each mysterious discovery.

Chapter Text

"That was a weird thing to find," Opal says, referring to the stone tablet that Abhu dug up. "What did it mean?"

"We would figure it out soon enough," Varian replies. "But first, we had to get into that mine."

"Vex and I hung out by the entrance until your father and Hugo returned," Cassandra says. "Which, thankfully, they finally did..."

What is taking the guys so long? Cassandra figured they would need some time, but this much time? It feels like they've been gone forever! She is beginning to grow concerned.

Mostly for Varian. It would be just like Hugo to have double-crossed him again. Maybe she should try to track them down and—

Before she can complete her thought, she sees the hot air balloon approaching in the sky. Relief washes over her, especially once she catches sight of Varian's familiar figure standing in the basket, seeming none the worse for wear.

Ruddiger notices too, and chitters excitedly. He rushes towards the balloon as it sets down, jumping into Varian's arms. "I'm glad to be back, buddy," Varian says, holding his raccoon up affectionately.

The desire to embrace Varian re-emerges within Cassandra, especially when she sees how his face lights up at laying eyes on her. She had hoped that admitting to herself she had fallen for him would somehow calm her when she is around him. Before, she was shoving all her emotions down and her actions where causing things to be awkward between them which, in turn, was stressing her out. But now, acknowledging and accepting these feelings has only caused the desires she was trying to ignore to grow in strength. Holding back how she feels about him is going to be a lot more difficult from here on out...

     Before Cassandra can come to a decision on how to react to Varian's return, Vex steps forward. "Welcome back, boys," she says to them.

     Cassandra is mildly disappointed that she didn't act quicker, but now she notices that Abhu is with Varian and Hugo. How did that happen?!

"Did you do it?" Cassandra asks the alchemists. "Did you invent a way to make it rain?"

"Did we ever!" Hugo says eagerly, holding up a metal capsule. "This will solve everything!"

     "I mean, technically we haven't tested it out yet—" Varian starts to say.

     "Ah, ah, ah," Hugo scolds. "What did I say, Freckles? Have a little faith in our work!"

"Haven't tested it?" Cassandra repeats. She recalls Varian's inventions in the past, and how they tend to... well, go boom. She knows it's been years, but his track record doesn't seem to have changed much. She hopes the added variant of Hugo's input might change the outcome.

     "How is that thing supposed to make it rain?" Vex asks, sounding unconvinced.

     "I'm glad you asked," Varian says, always thrilled to explain things scientifically. "Within this capsule is a mixture of gases. These gases, when shot into the sky, are rigged to be released once the capsule is high enough. Theoretically, the gases will crystallize into ice, stimulating the growth of cloud water droplets. Thus, resulting in rain!"

There is a special sparkle in his eyes that only occurs when he is excited about science and alchemy. Cassandra has noticed it plenty of times before, but now every time she sees him this way it makes her smile. She can't let Varian see, though...

"How are you going to shoot it into the sky?" Cassandra asks, forcing an expression of indifference onto her face.

     Hugo and Varian both begin to pull boxes of supplies out of the balloon. "We're building a catapult," Varian says with a wide grin. "Won't take long."

     And he is correct. Within no time at all, he and Hugo have the catapult pieced together. They place the capsule on it, and draw the lever back.

     "Will this thing really send it high enough?" Cassandra asks.

     "Come on Sandra, don't you know us at all?" Hugo says.

     "We've rigged it to give it more of a kick than your average, run-of-the-mill catapult," Varian says.

     "Of course you have..." Cassandra backs away from their device, just in case, and gestures for Vex to do the same. Vex seems confused, but she follows suit.

"And we're a-go in three... two... one..." Varian counts down.

     "Blastoff!" Hugo shouts, releasing the lever. With an explosion of sparks and smoke, the capsule hurtles high into the air. The strength of the blast knocks Varian and Hugo backward. Hugo tucks and rolls, landing flat on the ground. But Varian is launched directly into Cassandra's arms. She catches him, and their eyes lock onto each other's. The world seems to stop, and they are the only two in existence. She could almost get lost in those deep pools that are his blue eyes.

She holds onto him for a moment too long before coming to her senses. She sets him down hastily, practically dropping him.

     "Ow..." He moans.

     "Now what?" She asks Hugo pointedly, ignoring the befuddled but adoring smirk Varian is giving her as he slowly stands up. Actually, his eyes aren't the only ones on her. As she glances around, she realizes that everybody else here either knows about or suspects her feelings for Varian. And they all witnessed what just happened... How long will she be able to hide the truth from Varian?

"Now, we wait," Hugo replies, smirking knowingly. She dares him to say a single word about this, unless he wants a few less teeth...

"How long?" Vex asks.

     Hugo and Varian share a look. "Unconfirmed," they say simultaneously.

     "So, what, we just stand around and do nothing?" Vex asks. "How are we supposed to know if it failed?"

     "Hey, check your tone Miss Sheriff," Hugo says. "We're the ones helping you out, remember?"

     "It won't fail," Varian says, staring up into the sky. He offers Hugo a smile as he adds, "I believe in our work."

     "Now you're talkin', Freckles!" Hugo says, returning the smile as he gives Varian an enthusiastic slap on his back.

     But their enthusiasm is short-lived. They wait for five minutes. Then ten. Then twenty. By the time half an hour has passed, Cassandra wonders if maybe they have failed this experiment of theirs.

"Well, looks like it's back to the drawing board for you two," Abhu says.

Varian's shoulders droop with disappointment. Cassandra impulsively reaches her hand towards him, but catches herself and pretends to scratch an itch on her arm. That's when she feels it...

A drop of water. On her cheek. She smiles.

"Varian?" She says. "Look up."

Varian raises an eyebrow, momentarily confused. Until he feels a drop on his forehead. Then another one splatters against his goggles. Within moments, there is a sprinkling of rain all around them. Then a downpour, that spreads all throughout the gorge below.

"Woo-hoo!" Hugo shouts triumphantly.

"You did it!" Vex pumps her fist in the air.

"Alright!" Varian's grin is wide enough to nearly reach his ears. "We made it rain!"

"Before you celebrate, you might wanna collect some of that rain water," Abhu says, pointing to the infinity symbol at the entrance of the abandoned mine. "We don't know how long this shower will last, so you'd better do it quick."

They turn their attention to the symbol, and realize that it is too far under the entrance's roof for the rain to reach it. Cassandra springs into action, grabbing a canteen and holding it above her head to catch the raindrops. "You could've done this yourself, you know," Cassandra says, glaring at Abhu, "instead of ordering someone else to."

     "You were closer, anyway!" Abhu argues.

     "Ugh..." Cassandra groans, rolling her eyes. She barely has the energy to deal with Abhu, anymore.

     "This was really amazing," Vex says, shaking Varian's and Hugo's hands, respectively. "I should return to town now. But on behalf of the people of Vardaros, thank you. You've been a bigger help than you know."

     "Aww, you flatter us, Miss Sheriff," Hugo says, batting his hand in mock bashfulness.

     "Alchemy. It's just what we do," Varian adds.

     Vex approaches Cassandra, who is still holding the canteen out. "I'm assuming once you get that orb you're after, you'll be off again," Vex says.

     "Most likely," Cassandra replies.

     Vex nods in understanding. "It really was great seeing you again. I hope you don't wait so long to pay our town another visit."

     "I'll try my best," Cassandra says. And she genuinely means it. She isn't the biggest fan of this town, as a whole. But her heart goes out to Vex, because she sees a lot of herself in her. Cass knows that she will always have a friend here in Vardaros.

     Cassandra also knows that Vex isn't much of a hugger, so she is surprised when the sheriff pulls her into an embrace. "Don't let him get away," she whispers in Cassandra's ear. "Love may not be the sort of thing you gravitate towards, but he could very well be the best thing that ever happens to you."

Vex pulls away, says goodbye, and then rides back to town atop her horse.

Wow, that girl has really changed, Cassandra thinks, mulling over Vex's advice. She's matured a lot. She glances at Varian, and chuckles when she sees that his wet hair is practically plastered to his face. She assumes hers doesn't look much better, though.

Gently shaking the canteen, she determines that it is filled with enough water. "Okay boys," she says, a hand on her hip. "Let's get us another orb."

Chapter Text

"I hope finding this orb isn't as scary as the last one," Opal says, hugging Luna closer to her.

"It was still an adventure," Cassandra says, recalling the event in her mind.

"There was a lot of quick-thinking involved," Varian says. "But, I did finally find a good use for my new invention..."

"Let's do this," Varian says, eager to get inside the mine. He and the others gather around Cassandra as she tilts the canteen and pours the water over the infinity symbol. The symbol glows blue, as well as the outline of the door. There is a resounding click! and then the door opens.

Varian stares into the deep darkness of the mine entrance ahead of them. After almost drowning while retrieving the previous orb, he attempts to mentally prepare for the dangers that may lie before this one.

"Deep breaths everyone," Hugo says, taking one himself. "Here we go."

Varian and Hugo each pull out their own light sources, and Cassandra lights a lantern she brought along with her from the balloon. Abhu trails behind them, and Ruddiger clambers onto Varian's shoulders as they begin their trek into the mine. But as soon as they all step foot into the mineshaft, the door slams shut behind them.

     "What?!" Abhu shouts. Being the last one who entered, he immediately spins around and attempts to open the door. Varian and Hugo join on either side of him, but it's no use. "Why does this keep happening?!"

     "Looks like we're trapped... again," Cassandra says.

     "I'm sure there's another way out," Varian says hopefully.

     "Yeah, the last orb's way out was such a thrill..." Abhu grumbles.

The longer they walk down the dark shaft, the more Varian starts to gravitate towards Cassandra. If anything else unpredictable were to happen, he's pretty sure being closest to her is the safest bet.

But thankfully, the most dangerous things they come across are a few spiders scurrying along the old walls. Before too long, they enter a wide chamber with a high ceiling and minecart tracks leading into more mysteriously dark tunnels. There is a single minecart, rocks in front of its wheels so that it remains in place.

     As everyone spreads out to explore the chamber, Varian approaches the largest wall to the far-right. While all the other walls are boarded up, this one is open to the dirt around them. He shines his light along the wall, and eventually comes across a large panel. It is similar to the locking mechanism they discovered in the hatch to the first orb, only this one is much larger. The blank dials are separated into three words—fourteen letters altogether.

"Hey guys, check this out," Varian says. Everyone but Cassandra comes to see what he has found.

"Great, another code..." Abhu says.

"Three words, fourteen letters," Hugo says, coming to the same conclusion as Varian.

"Last time we saw one of these, there was a riddle to solve," Varian says. "Is there one somewhere in this chamber?"

"I don't think we have a riddle this time," Cassandra says from the other side of the room. She is standing beside the minecart, her lantern illuminating the wall above it. Etched into the wall is an arrow, pointing in the direction of the tracks. "I think we're supposed to go that way."

"That seems safe," Abhu says sarcastically. "There's no telling how many twists and turns that track would take!"

"Twists and turns..." Varian repeats. "Abhu, let me see that tablet you found."

Abhu hands the stone tablet to Varian, who eagerly glances over it. "My initial speculation may be correct! I-I think these R's and L's mean right and left!"

     "Where did that come from?" Cassandra asks, having missed the hole that Varian and Hugo found Abhu in earlier.

     Hugo inspects the cart closely. "It's pretty small. I think only one person would fit comfortably. Two, really snug."

     "So, what, we take turns riding in it?" Abhu asks.

     "More like someone should scout ahead," Cassandra says. "Since the actual puzzle is here in this room, it may not be necessary for all of us to go wherever the tracks lead."

     "Are you volunteering?" Hugo asks.

     Cassandra shrugs. "Might as well." She hops into the cart, but Varian grabs her arm.

     "Make room, I'm coming too," he says, gesturing for her to scoot over.

     "What? No. I'll be fine," Cassandra says.

     "It wasn't a question," Varian insists. "I'm not letting you go alone."

     Cassandra stares at him for a moment before reluctantly allowing him into the cart. Hugo wasn't kidding when he said two people would be snug. Cass sits on her knees, while Varian sits on his bottom. There is no way for them to shift where they aren't touching. But Varian isn't too distressed about the matter...

"You know, I'd feel a lot better about this if we had some way to communicate," Abhu says. "Kind of feels like we're getting left behind."

     An idea suddenly strikes Varian. "I might have just the thing!" He reaches into his backpack, accidentally elbowing Cassandra's shoulder as he does so.

     "Watch it!" She shouts, reflexively elbowing him in the ribs in return.

     "Ow! Sorry," he says quickly, still focused on his backpack. He pulls out his Truth Ray for all of them to see.

     Hugo smirks. "Great idea, Freckles!"

     "Since we've already had the displeasure of experiencing what my invention can do," Varian says to Hugo, "I figured we might as well try it out again."

Hugo nods, and Varian pulls the trigger. Just as before, a bright blue cloud encircles them and then disappears after a moment.

Did it work? Varian hears Hugo's voice in his mind.

     It did for me, Varian thinks, testing to see if his invention works both ways. Can you hear my thoughts?

     But a Hello? from Hugo is all he gets in response.

     "It looks like it only works one way," Varian says aloud. "Unless..."

     "I get to shoot you this time?" Hugo says, enthusiastically swiping the Truth Ray from Varian's hands. "Don't mind if I do!"

     Before Varian can protest, the blue cloud envelops the two of them again. Only most of it surrounds Varian, causing his vision to blur for a moment. Guess it's slightly different when you're the one getting shot...

But hey, it worked! Hugo thinks. I can hear you in my head just as well as if your whiny voice was screeching in my ear!

     Oh, you think my voice is whiny? Varian thinks. Have you heard yourself?

     "You boys gonna stare at each other all day?" Cassandra asks, tapping her fingers impatiently. "It's getting a little awkward..."

     "Right," Varian says, chuckling as he imagines what they must look like thinking amongst themselves like this. "We should hurry. The effects of the Truth Ray are temporary."

     Hugo leans over and removes the rocks away from the wheels for them. He waves as the cart begins to roll forward slowly into the darkness.

Chapter Text

It is difficult enough for Cassandra to conceal her newfound feelings around Varian when the others are present. But now that they are alone? She fears it may be impossible.

Good thing the poor guy is clueless, though. He still seems to wholeheartedly believe that she could never fall for him. At least she has that going for her.

As the rickety cart takes them farther into darkness, Varian pulls out his alchemical light. Cassandra has always been slightly curious what, exactly, causes the liquid it contains to glow. But she knows that if she were to ask, Varian would give a long-winded explanation that she most likely wouldn't understand, anyway. So she remains silent, and focuses on the tracks ahead of them.

Meanwhile, Varian is struggling to center his thoughts. He knows Hugo can hear what he is thinking, and he doesn't want anything embarrassing to cross his mind that Hugo could use as more fuel to tease him. That's all he needs...

How's it going over there, Freckles? Hugo asks.

Nothing to report yet, Varian responds.

     "Since you're up front, keep a close eye on the track," Varian tells Cassandra, as he studies the stone tablet Abhu found. "It should fork soon."

     "Soon is correct," Cassandra says, pointing ahead.

     Sure enough, the track splits into two separate directions ahead of them. In each direction, there is a tall, wooden pole with a letter painted on it. The letter to the right is 'T', and the letter to the left is 'N.'

     "According to the tablet, we need to go right," Varian says.

     "If we go right, does that mean that's the correct letter?" Cassandra asks.

     "I'm assuming," Varian says.

     "I wonder what would happen if we didn't listen to the tablet and went left."

     Working together to tilt the cart, the two of them head down the right track. As they do, they can see that the left track leads to a dead-end... a drop-off straight into a deep pit.

     "There's your answer," Varian says.

     Cassandra gulps. "Guess that's why you're the brains of this outfit."

Varian opens his mouth to respond, but he hears Hugo's voice in his head:

     Would you quit thinking up flirty remarks for your lady love and tell me what's going on? I'm picking up on some excitement.

     Just came across our first turn, Varian informs him. There was a letter painted: 'T.'

     'T'. Got it. I'll put it into the panel.

"I'm taking your silence as a conversation with Hugo," Cassandra says. "But wrap it up, 'cause we've got another turn coming!"

Exactly like last time, there are letters painted onto poles. The right one has an 'O,' and the left one has an 'I.'

Varian glances down at the tablet. "Next is a left."

They tilt the cart left, as Varian informs Hugo: Next letter is an 'I'.

'I' is now on the panel!

"We've got a 'D' and a 'T' next!" Cassandra says.

"Go right for 'D'," Varian says. He tells Hugo, and then they proceed.

The track is fast-paced, but Varian and Cassandra make a good team. A fact that not only warms his heart, but that he is thankful for in the moment... With each correct turn they make, they see that the opposite turn leads to a literal dead-end.

"Okay, right for 'E' or left for 'W'?"

"'E'," Varian replies, tilting the cart.

"'H' or 'A'?"

"Left, 'A'."

"It's an 'N' or another 'A.'"

"It's a right, 'N'."

     "'T' right, 'D' left."

     "'D'."

     That's two words, Freckles! Hugo says. One to go.

     "How about an 'I' or a 'C'?"

     "Left for 'C."

     "'U' or 'T'?"

     "'U', right."

     "'S' and 'R' coming up."

     "Take the 'R' —I mean, take the left!"

     As they tilt the cart left, its wheel hits a bump in the track. Varian loses his grip on the stone tablet, and it tumbles over the cart and cracks into numerous pieces once it collides with the ground.

     "You did not just do that," Cassandra says in disbelief. "Varian, our next turn is coming up! And this thing didn't come with brakes!"

Gotta think fast, gotta think fast... Varian thinks, not having time to feel embarrassed about his mistake.

     What're we thinking fast about? Hugo asks.

     I just lost the tablet, Varian admits. Quick, remind me what we have so far!

     "Varian, are we taking a left or a right?" Cassandra asks, panic in her voice.

     'Tide and cur,' Hugo says.

     Varian gazes at the next turn's letters, which is coming up too fast. 'E' is right and 'R' is left... Tide and cur... Tide and current! That's gotta be it!

     "Go left!" Varian shouts to Cassandra. "The next letter is an 'R'!"

     She tilts at the last possible second, almost derailing the cart. Thankfully, Varian's assumption is accurate and they continue in the correct direction.

     Try 'tide and current,' Varian tells Hugo.

     After a couple seconds of silence, Hugo replies: That was it! An exit opened up, but no orb. That must mean you're headed in its direction. Be car—

     His sentence ends abruptly, and Varian assumes the effects of the Truth Ray have worn off.

     "Tide and current," Varian tells Cassandra. "That's the combination for the panel."

     "Okay, but we have another problem," Cassandra says.

     "What is it now?" Varian groans, unsure if he wants to know the answer.

     "Our next letter is obviously 'E,' but the next turn... Both directions have an 'E'."

     "Oh no..." Varian practically whimpers, as the turn draws near.

     "What do we do?" Cass asks. "Not much time to make a decision, here!"

     "I..." Varian glances around for anything that might help them, but his brain is drawing a blank. "I don't know!"

     "We've got a fifty-fifty chance here! Should we just wing it?"

     Varian shuts his eyes tightly, racking his brain. He thinks back to dangerous situations he has encountered in the past. Most of them were with Rapunzel, when she still had her long hair...

"I've got it!" He says, quickly pulling out the rope in his backpack. He ties the end, spins it around, and lassoes the upcoming pole on the right. Using the rope as Rapunzel would her own hair, he swings all the way around the pole, getting a view of both turns. The right turn ends with a deadly pit.

"Left! We're going left," he says, crash-landing back into the cart.

Cassandra takes the left turn, and they both sigh with relief. But Varian is still holding onto the rope in his hands, and the other end is still lassoed to the pole. He is yanked backwards, but Cassandra reacts quickly and grabs onto his legs. "Oh, no you don't!"

Varian releases his grip on the rope, and falls back into the cart... into Cassandra's arms. "This is the second time today I've ended up here," he says teasingly, though his heart is about to pound out of his chest.

"Yeah, well... Don't get used to it," Cassandra says, pushing him away. Could he be imagining that hint of a blush on her cheeks? Nah, it's gotta be the poor lighting in this place... "Now, focus! We need to get to that orb."

They only have two turns left. At the next junction, with right being 'N' and left being 'M,' they take right. Then for 'T', right, and 'S,' left, they take another right. Finally, a couple of well-placed hills in the track cause the cart to slow down, and it comes to a complete stop just before a wall. To their left is the deep pit they've been riding over, but to the right is a small tunnel.

Varian hops out of the cart, and holds his hand out to help Cassandra. Much to his delight, she accepts his help. Once she is out of the cart, the two of them inspect the tunnel.

"It's really narrow. Only one of us can go at a time," Cassandra says.

"Ladies first," Varian says with a dramatic bow.

"You just want me to be in front to protect you from danger," Cassandra quips.

"Yeah, that too," Varian smirks.

Cassandra enters the tunnel, and Varian follows behind her with his light. It isn't long before they arrive at the end of the tunnel... a dead-end.

"Wha— This can't be right," Cassandra says. "Where's the orb?"

Varian shines the light around the small tunnel, when it lands upon another panel, only this one is much smaller than the one at the beginning of the mine. "Here," he says, pointing.

Cassandra turns around, and they study the panel together. "Great, something else to unlock..."

"It's another combination with letters," Varian says. "A five-letter word."

"There aren't very many of those," Cassandra says sarcastically. "Should we start guessing?"

"No no, it has to be connected to something..." Varian says. "We've always had exactly what we need to figure everything out."

"I know, but why?" Cassandra wonders. "How could someone, or something, possibly know to set all of this up for us?"

Varian shrugs. "That's a mystery we'll solve later. Right now, we need to figure out this password."

"Could it have something to do with the passphrase for the first panel? You said it was 'tide and current,' right?"

Varian considers this. "You... You might be on to something!" He smiles widely as he continues, "What has both tides and currents? The ocean! That's five letters!"

Cassandra returns his smile. "Give it a go, Brainiac."

Varian turns the dials on the panel until they spell out 'ocean.' They hear a satisfying click! and the panel swings open. Varian reaches in and pulls out a bright blue orb.

     "Yes!" He says triumphantly, pumping his fist in the air as he holds the orb tight to his chest with his other arm.

     "Careful, you don't wanna break it," Cassandra says, gently taking the orb from him. She motions for him to turn around, and once he does she opens his backpack and places the new orb inside with the first two. "Wow, you can fit a lot of stuff in this thing..."

"Only one left to find," Varian says, giving her a soft smile. He is so ecstatic and excited about the success of their mission, and he wishes more than anything he could show Cassandra exactly how happy it makes him that she is here to share the joys of adventure with him. He wants to hug her, to kiss her, to spin her around and then hold her close.

     But she doesn't want that. Her friendship has to be enough for him.

     "So.... Now what?" Cassandra asks.

     Oh yeah, we're in a dead-end tunnel... "I, um... I'm not sure. I kind of thought discovering the orb would lead us to the exit."

     "It obviously didn't," Cassandra says. "Let's head back out of this tunnel. Maybe we missed something coming in."

     Sure enough, as Varian leads the way and examines the walls of the tunnel more carefully, he finds a sphere-shaped indentation that could easily be mistaken as a curve in the tunnel's shape. "Let me see the orb."

     Cassandra retrieves the blue orb from his backpack, and hands it to him. He promptly places it inside the indentation, and turns it. For a second, nothing happens.

"You sure you're supposed to—" Cassandra starts to say.

Suddenly, the ground splits open beneath them and they find themselves sliding down a long chute. They scream in surprise as they hold onto each other through every twist and turn the chute takes.

At the end, it spits them out in the main chamber of the mine where they started. Varian lands first, cushioning Cassandra's fall.

     "Ow..." He groans. She stands up quickly, and then holds out her hand to help him up. But before he can take it, the blue orb rolls out of the chute and collides with his head. Then everything goes black.

Chapter Text

"Wow, that was exciting!" Opal exclaims. She pats Varian's arm gently as she adds, "I'm sorry about your head though, Daddy."

"Thank you, Little Gem, but I was fine," Varian says.

"Yeah, he just took a short nap," Cassandra says jokingly. "But while he rested, I came to a huge decision..."

"Varian? Varian!"

Cassandra shouts at him, but he doesn't budge. Sighing exasperatedly, she grabs the orb and places it inside of his backpack. She lifts Varian up under his armpits from behind, and drags his unconscious body through the exit that was opened by Hugo. Outside, it is no longer raining.

"Looks like Freckles had too much of adventuring," Hugo jokes. He then clears his throat as he adds more seriously, "Really, though, is he okay?"

Cassandra sets Varian up against the trunk of a tree. "This fell on him and knocked him out," she says, pulling out the orb and tossing it to Hugo.

"Whoa!" Hugo catches the orb, his eyes wide. "You guys got it! Nice!"

"That's three down," Cassandra says. "One to go."

     "The balloon isn't far. Abhu's already there. It's a little bit around that way," Hugo says, pointing. "But, uh, looks like your Romeo could use a rest first."

     When Cassandra nods in agreement, Hugo feigns a shocked expression. "What? No biting remark for me? No threat that you'll off me if I ever insinuate you're harboring romantic feelings for Freckles again?"

Cassandra feels frustration and irritation bubbling inside of her, but she no longer has the need to lash out. She did before because she was fighting these feelings so diligently. She still is to some degree, but now she admits to herself that they are real and true.

"I'll let you off with a warning this time. Just... go make sure Abhu doesn't get into trouble," Cassandra tells Hugo. "I'll wait here with the klutz until he wakes up."

"Yes ma'am," Hugo says. "Oh, and this was in the balloon. Thought you might want it." He tosses her bag to her, and then heads back to the balloon.

As Cassandra watches Varian lie unconscious, a warmth stirs inside her chest. His breathing is soft and slow, and his silky black hair is partially covering his face. In this one small moment, she can sense her affection for him deepening. He still sleeps with his mouth open, she thinks with a chuckle as she reaches forward to brush his hair back from his eyes.

But her hesitation once again stirs within her. These feelings have always terrified her, but the fact that they are growing stronger only means she will eventually have to confront this issue head-on. And that is more terrifying than anything she has ever faced.

Now, she feels anger. She is angry with herself! Not angry for having these feelings, as she was in the past. No, now she is angry that she is too cowardly to do anything about them. She will not allow herself to be a coward any longer.

But there's still the matter of, is now really the right time?

Well, this is just great! It's obvious she is struggling to decide what she should do. The last thing she wants is to take away from the focus of their mission, but maybe... maybe it is finally time for her to embrace these feelings.

     Wow... okay, she thinks with a deep, nervous breath. Now that she has accepted this, it is a matter of when and how to tell him. The guy may be a genius, but he is clueless when it comes to this sort of thing. And it's not like she can thrust this on him the next chance she gets. She has been playing extremely hard to get. She still has a measure of pride to uphold. Keep holding it back, she tells herself. Hold it back for a little longer...

     An idea comes to her mind, though. She may not feel comfortable telling him she is in love with him outright, but she can drop a major hint! She reaches into her bag, and pulls out the Cassandrium necklace Varian gave her all those years ago. She hasn't worn it for a while; definitely not since her return to Corona. She clasps it around her neck, and clutches the pendant fondly. Who knew, the day he made this for her, that she would one day fall for that impressive young alchemist who named the element after her? It is an outcome she never saw coming in a million years.

Finally, Varian groans and his eyes flutter open. Her heart flutters, as well. Here we go... let's see how he reacts.

"What... What happened?" Varian asks, rubbing his aching head.

"The orb conked you in the noggin and you passed out," she explains. "I thought you had a thicker skull than that." She smirks teasingly.

"Ha ha," Varian fakes a laugh, unamused. He is about to attempt standing up, when he notices that she is discreetly fiddling with the pendant of her necklace.

"Y-You... You're wearing your Cassandrium," Varian says. She can't tell if he is deliberately keeping his expression unreadable, or if she is just really bad at reading expressions.

"Yeah," she says, desperately trying to keep herself from blushing. A problem she never had before, but that seems to keep popping up when she is around Varian. "I thought it went with my outfit, you know?"

"Uh-huh," Varian says. Does he believe her? Does he suspect anything? She has no idea. But he breaks out in a smile that is enough to make her go crazy. "I-I think it looks nice."

She was not expecting this compliment. "Of course you would. You made it," she says, playing it off.

"No, I meant—"

"Hey, look who's awake!" Hugo says, coming around the corner. "Now we can get going. Achoo is chomping at the bit."

"Why am I not surprised?" Cassandra grumbles. Varian has noticed the necklace. Perhaps that's enough, for now. She stands up, and offers a hand to him. He happily accepts, and the two of them follow Hugo to the balloon.

After taking to the skies, Abhu's eyes land on the Cassandrium. "Hey, isn't that the necklace the dweeb gave you?" He says, jerking a thumb in Varian's direction.

"Dweeb?" Varian repeats. He then adds sarcastically, "Ouch. I'm so hurt by that clever insult."

Cassandra chuckles lightly, but Varian doesn't seem to notice, because Hugo is now pointing to something ahead. "Owl incoming!"

Sure enough, Owl lands on the edge of the basket. "Welcome back," Cassandra says, giving her friend a loving pat and ignoring the expression of disdain on Abhu's face.

"Where's he been?" Varian asks.

"I sent him to deliver a letter to Raps and Fitzherbert," Cassandra replies. Her eyes light up eagerly once she notices the paper tied to Owl's foot. "And it looks like they sent one back!" She smiles as she unfolds the letter, but once she begins to read the smile quickly fades.

"What is it?" Varian asks worriedly.

"The Angst attacked Rapunzel," Cassandra says, her voice barely more than a whisper. "It... It took away her ability to have children."

"What?!" Varian rushes to Cassandra's side to read the letter for himself. His body being so close to hers is a feeling she would enjoy much more, if she wasn't so worried for her best friend.

"Wait, by Raps do you mean Rapunzel? As in, Queen Rapunzel?" Hugo says.

Abhu sucks in through his teeth. "The queen of Corona is unable to bear an heir? That could be problematic..."

"It's more than that, Abhu!" Cassandra shouts. "Rapunzel is probably devastated right now, and I can't be there for her!" She was already guilty about missing their anniversary, but now... Regretful tears sting her eyes.

Varian places his hand on her shoulder, and she finds it more comforting than she thought she would. "Hey, I'm upset we can't be there for Rapunzel too," he says softly. "But she and Eugene know that we have a mission to complete. We're always there for them in spirit."

Cassandra nods, knowing he is right. But that still doesn't keep her from wishing she could be there with them, right now. "There's something else in the letter, too. Apparently Eugene got a weird note from his dad."

"His dad?" Varian says in surprise. "But how? He's trapped in the dome, same as my dad."

"I guess he sent his raven out with it just before the dome went up," Cassandra says.

"Oh..." Varian nods with understanding. "I know that bird. No wonder the delivery of the note was delayed."

"Don't leave us hangin'," Hugo says. "What did the note say?"

     "The note said, 'It's not what it seems'," Cassandra says.

     Varian's expression hardens with confusion. "You're sure?"

     "Yeah," Cassandra says, holding up the letter. "That's what they say here."

     Varian begins to pace. Or, as much as he can in the limited space available in the basket of the balloon.

     "Would you stop that?!" Abhu fusses. "You're tilting the basket!"

     "What's going on with you?" Cassandra asks Varian, concerned.

     "When we were in the minecart, I kept a mental note of the other letters. The ones that were written on the wrong turns," Varian explains. "They also spelled out a phrase: 'Not what it seems'."

     A stunned silence overtakes them for a brief moment, until Cassandra breaks it. "What do you think it means?"

     "I'm not sure," Varian replies. "But it seems that King Edmund may have known more than we realized. Maybe even something that could have helped us."

Chapter Text

"What was it that King Edmund knew?" Opal asks. "Did he know how to defeat the scary creature?!"

"You're getting too far ahead again," Cassandra says. "If you want to hear this story, it has to be in order."

"I know..." Opal says. "I'm just so excited!"

"If you think that's exciting, wait until you hear about Arendelle!" Varian says. "It's a gorgeous kingdom, with surprises around every corner..."

Varian could never have imagined the fjord of Arendelle's beauty. The shimmering waters, the luscious grass and trees, the towering mountains... It is enough to rival Corona, itself.

What makes the scenery more beautiful is watching Cassandra gaze down at it. Her dark hair wafting in the wind. Her hazel eyes sparkling in the sunlight. And she is wearing the Cassandrium necklace. The necklace he made for her. He is aware that she wore it the day she left Corona, but the fact that she is wearing it now brings him more joy than she could ever know.

But why is she wearing it? Is it a sign? Nah, that couldn't be. His brain keeps trying to create proof that maybe, just maybe, she reciprocates his feelings. But he knows it can't be true... Why would anything have changed?

They land the balloon just past the docks. Cassandra immediately hops out, gesturing for the others to follow. "Come on, this way to the castle."

"The castle?" Hugo repeats with eager eyes.

"Do not get any ideas," Varian warns.

Hugo folds his arms behind his back. "I'll be the perfect gentleman."

"Why don't I believe you?" Abhu says, his eyes narrowing.

Varian shakes his head, and turns back to Cassandra. "I know you've been here before. But why do we need to go to the castle?"

"Queen Anna and her sister Elsa have experienced some pretty weird stuff around this kingdom," Cassandra explains. "If anyone here has heard of this orb, it's most likely them."

As they approach the castle gates, they hear a horse approaching behind them. But it doesn't sound like typical hooves against cobblestone; it sounds more like ice hitting the ground.

Spinning around, Varian gasps in amazement. A horse that appears to be solid ice and snow is standing before them! And a sleek, blonde young woman is riding along its back.

"Cassandra! Abhu!" The woman says upon seeing them. "Welcome back to Arendelle."

"Thank you Elsa," Cassandra says, as Abhu bows. "I wasn't sure if you would be visiting or not, but we're actually here to see your sister."

"I figured as much," Elsa says. "She should be up ahead. She is awaiting my arrival."

The others are still in shock at the magical sight before them. Ruddiger draws closer to the horse, and attempts to touch its icy leg curiously. But it neighs a warning, and he backs off.

"Oh, this is Elsa," Cassandra tells them. "Former Queen of Arendelle, now Protector of the Enchanted Forest."

"Enchanted Forest?" Varian repeats. "And... this forest has creatures like ice horses?"

Elsa chuckles. "It's actually one of a kind. This is the Nokk, water spirit of the forest. Normally it can only be in water, but I am able to use my magic to freeze it so it can run on land."

"Fascinating!" Varian says, reaching towards the Nokk. It senses that Elsa is at ease with this stranger, so it allows him to pet its muzzle... briefly.

"Please excuse Varian," Cassandra tells Elsa. "He's an alchemist. He's amazed by things he can't explain."

"And a second alchemist right here," Hugo says, also gazing intently at the Nokk.

"Oh! Yes, I'm sorry," Varian says, remembering himself. He bows slightly. "I'm Varian... like she said. I guess I should have asked first before I touched your horse—I mean, water spirit."

"It's okay," Elsa says. "People come from the farthest kingdoms to see the wonders of Arendelle. Your reaction is not the worst, I can assure you." She urges the Nokk forward as she says, "Now follow me."

They follow closely behind Elsa through the gates. Directly outside the castle wait another young woman with red hair, and a tall, blond man with a reindeer at his side.

"Elsa!" The young woman says excitedly. Once Elsa dismounts the Nokk, the two share an embrace.

"Welcome back," the man says, also hugging Elsa.

"I'm happy to be back," Elsa says with a wide grin. "But I'm not alone." She gestures to Varian and the others, who step forward.

"Queen Anna," Cassandra says, kneeling. Abhu kneels, as well, while Varian and Hugo bow.

"Cassandra and Abhu," Anna says in recognition. "I wasn't sure if you two would ever return."

"We've been a bit... busy," Abhu says.

"Good to know," Anna says. "Arendelle still thanks you both for your service to this kingdom."

"Thank you, your Majesty," Cassandra says.

"Elsa's back!" An eager cry echoes out, as a snowman rushes towards them... A snowman! Cassandra wasn't kidding when she said this kingdom had some weird stuff.

"Hi Olaf," Elsa says with a fond smile. After hugging her, it is now that the snowman notices the guests.

"Hello, new people! I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs. Oh, Cassandra and Abhu! You're not new."

"No we're not," Abhu says.

Varian leans closer to Cassandra and whispers, "Pretty sure you never once mentioned a live snowman in your letters."

"Would you have believed me, Mister Science-Over-Magic?" Cassandra replies.

Varian considers this. "Possibly! I've seen some crazy things, too."

"You know, I'm not sure what to make of this place..." Hugo says, staring in awe at Olaf.

"You get used to it," Cassandra tells him.

"So, what brings you here?" Anna asks Cassandra.

"We're searching for an orb," Cassandra explains. "The last of four." She gestures to Varian, who removes one of the orbs from his backpack to show the queen.

"Ooooh! It's so shiny!" Olaf says, his eyes sparkling.

"And you think it's here in Arendelle?" Anna asks.

"So far, all the clues we've followed on our journey have been correct," Varian says. "It's supposed to be somewhere here in the fjord."

"That search could take a while," the man standing next to Anna says. "This is a pretty large fjord."

"Yeah, we know," Abhu says. He then extends his hand to the man. "Good to see you again, Kristoff."

"You too, Abhu," Kristoff says, shaking his hand. "Things haven't been the same without you and Cassandra standing guard." The reindeer nods in agreement.

"Have any of you seen this symbol anywhere? Or something similar to it?" Varian asks, holding up the paper with the infinity symbol on it.

Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff study the symbol closely. "Sorry, but I haven't," Anna says.

"Me neither," Elsa says. "But there are still many unexplored areas of this fjord."

"I've never seen it around here, but my family might have," Kristoff says.

"Or maybe Gale has seen it!" Olaf suggests. "She goes all over the place."

"Gale? Who's that?" Hugo asks.

As if on cue, the wind suddenly picks up. Leaves swirl around them, as Anna chuckles and Elsa smiles. "New visitors, please meet Gale the wind spirit," Elsa says.

Gale blows around Abhu, tousling his hair familiarly. She then whirls around Hugo enough to make his goggles go up over his mouth.

"This one's a jokester, isn't it?" Hugo says, pulling his goggles back down around his neck.

"Takes one to know one," Abhu remarks.

Gale blusters around Ruddiger, ruffling his tail. The raccoon grabs his tail protectively, swatting at the air.

Finally, Gale swirls around Cassandra and Varian. At first she is gentle, fondling Cassandra's necklace. But then her breeze grows stronger, almost as if she is trying to push the two of them closer together. She succeeds, and their hands lightly touch.

Even this random forest spirit can sense we're meant to be together, Varian thinks, letting his hand linger against hers. Why can't Cass?

"Gale, do you recognize this symbol they're looking for?" Elsa asks.

Varian is unsure how a wind spirit can see without eyes, but he holds the paper up anyway. The paper flutters gently, then stops. For a moment, Varian wonders if Gale has left.

But he would be incorrect. The wind picks up, whirling around them enthusiastically.

"She wants us to follow her," Elsa says, hopping on top of the Nokk in one graceful motion.

"I hope you guys are good at skating," Kristoff says with a smirk.

"What do you mea—" Varian starts to say, when Elsa waves her hand. Magically, they all have skates made of ice on the bottom of their boots. "Whoa..."

"Come on," Elsa says. "This is the quickest way to go after her." As she rides away on the Nokk, she creates a trail of ice behind her.

"Let's go!" Anna says happily, grasping onto Kristoff's hand as the two of them skate after Elsa together. Olaf is close behind.

"Now this is how I should've been traveling!" Hugo says as he skates ahead, leaps, and twirls in the air.

"Stop showing off!" Abhu shouts, skating behind him.

"This kingdom is... different," Varian says, rubbing the back of his head in bewilderment. "But, I like it."

"I'll admit, it was hard for me to leave," Cassandra says. "But, as amazing as it is, it still doesn't feel like home."

     Varian nods with understanding. He attempts to follow after the others, but he loses his balance and falls hard onto the ice.

Cassandra laughs. Even though it's at his expense, it is such a beautiful sound to him. "Still clumsy as ever." She helps him up, and assists him in keeping his balance as they skate after the rest of the group.

(New outfits! Elsa's was completely designed by me. Anna's was designed by me, with inspiration from some of her past outfits. Kristoff's is his typical outfit for warm weather, just with different colors to match Anna.)

Chapter Text

"Arendelle sounds so amazing!" Opal says excitedly. "I wanna go there!"

     "Maybe someday," Varian says. "It has been a while since we paid our friends a visit."

     "I wanna meet Elsa," Opal says. "I've never met someone with magic like hers!"

     Cassandra chuckles. "You have, kiddo. She just doesn't have magic anymore." She smiles at Rapunzel, who is still listening to the story in the corner.

     Opal gasps. "That's right!!! I forgot about the long, magic hair you used to have, Aunt Raps."

     "Yep," Rapunzel says. "I miss it sometimes. But it's nice to have the burden that it came with off my shoulders." She hesitates as she adds, "Abilities, whether magical or not, can often be a burden if you're not careful."

     Opal's brow creases worriedly. "Will my powers become a burden? I don't know what that means, but it sounds bad."

     Cassandra strokes Opal's cheek affectionately. "Don't worry about that right now. No matter what happens with your abilities, we're always going to be here for you."

     Opal nods, reassured. "So where did Gale lead you? Did you find the next orb?"

     "The next step in our journey was... intense, to say the least," Varian says.

     "It was," Cassandra agrees. "But, despite the hardships we faced that day, it all led up to something wonderful..."

After a couple more falls, and quite a few slips, Varian finally gets the hang of ice skating. It never ceases to amaze Cassandra how quickly he can learn something. He is remarkably talented, a fact she always knew but that now endears her to him.

     Following the wind spirit through the forest that lines the fjord is a lot easier of a task than Cass expected. Because of Elsa's powers, they are able to hurdle every obstacle. Gale whirls across a chasm? Elsa creates an ice bridge to cross over. Gale whooshes down a cliff? Elsa makes an ice slide appear for them. Cassandra was aware of Elsa's magical abilities, but she never had the chance to witness them firsthand. They are incredible!

Finally, Gale stops in front of a huge boulder in the side of a cliff, and seems to dissipate. Elsa hops off of the Nokk, and regards the boulder closely. Anna and Cassandra come up behind her on either side.

"This is the place we're looking for," Cassandra says, observing the infinity symbol etched into the boulder. Only this time, instead of including an element, there is a strange snowflake with four different patterns on each point.

Anna seems surprised, but Elsa is utterly stunned. Both sisters are speechless.

"Let me take a look," Varian says, standing next to Cassandra. Close enough for her to reach out and take his hand...

Not now, Cassandra scolds herself, folding her arms so she isn't tempted. Hold it back...

"These patterns... Each of them is a symbol for a different element," Varian says.

"But we already used all four elements to open the other passages," Abhu complains. "What could it possibly be asking for now?!"

"Could we need to combine all four elements to open it?" Hugo suggests.

"No," Elsa says, her eyes still fixated on the infinity symbol. "You don't need all four elements. You only need me."

Everyone except for Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf stare at her with quizzical expressions. The latter three seem to understand the symbol as Elsa does.

"My magic is what will open this," Elsa says. "I don't know why this is here, but I'm willing to open it. That is, if the rest of you are ready."

Varian glances at Cassandra, and she gives him a determined nod. "Okay," he says. "Open it up!"

Elsa places a hand over the symbol, and an icy glow emanates from her fingers. The symbol illuminates bright purple, and the huge boulder rolls away just enough to reveal a tunnel behind it.

"You guys go," Elsa says. "I'm going to stay out here and figure out who set all of this up..."

Cassandra has been wondering that since they started this journey. How does Elsa think she'll figure it out right here, right now? But she doesn't ask. They have a mission to focus on.

"Be careful in there," Anna says. "It could be dangerous."

"Sadly, we're already aware of that fact..." Abhu says, swallowing nervously.

Varian and Hugo enter the tunnel first, followed by Abhu. Cassandra is about to go with them, when Anna gently touches her arm to hold her back.

"Before you go, I wanted to tell you how good it is to see you again," the young queen says. "I've missed seeing you around the castle, you know, guarding stuff."

     "Thank you, Queen Anna," Cassandra says. She was never super close to Anna, but she still considers her a friend. In some ways, she reminds her of Rapunzel. "It's good to see you, too."

"I remember how depressed you seemed when you left to search for whatever you're missing," Anna says. "Have you found your home yet?"

"Well, not quite..." Cassandra replies.

     And it's true. Cass remembers telling Anna she was going to search for her home, wherever or whatever that may be. That feeling she so desperately desires still eludes her. Though, something deep down is telling her she may be getting closer...

     "Well, I hope you find it soon," Anna says with an encouraging smile.

     Cassandra nods in gratitude. "Thanks."

     Anna's eyes suddenly fall upon Cassandra's necklace. "Wow, that pendant is gorgeous! What is it?!"

     Cassandra can't stop the wide smile from appearing on her face. "It's called Cassandrium. It's an element that Varian discovered, and named after me."

     "Awww, that's so sweet!" Anna clasps her hands together. "You two must be really close. Is there something between...? Wait, no, you don't have to answer that. I know it's personal."

     "It is, but you're fine," Cassandra says with an uncomfortable chuckle. "I, uh, should probably get going though."

     Anna nods, and waves as Cassandra enters the tunnel. Cass jogs to catch up with the guys, who have stopped at a turn like it's a dead-end.

     "What are you doing?" She asks them.

     "There's a warning here," Varian explains, casting his light on the wall for her to see.

Cassandra leans closer and reads the words painted on the wall: "'WARNING: Hypnotic crystals ahead. Their colors may have a maddening effect.' Well, that sounds fantastic."

"Now what do we do?" Abhu asks. "I'm certainly not going to be driven crazy by hypnotic crystals!"

"Do you even know what that means?" Hugo asks.

"Of course I do, Hugo! I'm not stupid!" Abhu snaps.

Hugo shrugs. "Was genuinely asking, dude. Not attacking or nothin'."

"What, exactly, would this 'maddening effect' be?" Cassandra asks.

"Hypnosis could have any number of effects," Varian says. "It would depend on the crystals, themselves."

"So is it something we should, I don't know, just go ahead and risk?" Cassandra suggests. "We've come too far to let a few crystals stop us."

"We're not gonna let them stop us, but we should at least try to come up with a plan," Varian says. "We've always figured things out, this far."

"Have we really, though?" Abhu says. "It seems like everything has been practically laid out for us, every step of the way."

"I agree," Hugo says. "Yes, we've had to use our big brains a few times. But everything we needed was always right there."

"It's basically a fact that this mission was only for us," Varian says.

"If it was only for us, then how did my father get through it enough to write all of this down in his journal?" Abhu points out.

Varian shakes his head. "We'll figure that out later. One thing at a time... For now, how are we going to get past these crystals?"

They all go silent. Cassandra is at a loss; no ideas are coming to her. She still wonders if they could withstand or endure whatever effect those crystals supposedly have. But probably best not to chance it. If any of them go mad, who knows what the consequences could be?

Ruddiger comes up to Varian, and chitters as he pulls on his hand. "What is it, buddy?" Varian asks. "Did you think of something?" But he sighs as his raccoon rubs at his stomach hungrily in reply. "Fine. Here's an apple for you."

Varian tosses the apple to Ruddiger, but instead of catching it the apple rolls right past him... around the corner of the tunnel. Ruddiger runs after it eagerly.

"Ruddiger, no!" Varian starts to run after him, but Cassandra pulls him back.

"Whoa, I don't think so," She says, holding onto his arm. She knows he is worried about Ruddiger, but there is no way she is letting Varian anywhere near those crystals.

The gang wait for Ruddiger with bated breath, expecting to see a crazed raccoon come back around the corner. But when Ruddiger returns, he is happily munching on the apple with no noticeable effects.

"Hey Ruddiger," Varian says, approaching the raccoon cautiously. "Did you see the crystals?"

Ruddiger nods, taking another bite of the apple.

"And how do you feel?"

Ruddiger smiles, and gives Varian a tiny thumbs-up as he devours the rest of the apple.

Varian turns to face the others, confusion evident on his face. "He isn't affected at all."

"Could the warning be a fake?" Abhu says. "Maybe the crystals won't affect us."

"I wouldn't be so quick to assume that," Hugo says, staring at the warning on the wall again. "My mind is going in a different direction."

"Share, please," Varian says.

"This warning says that the crystals' colors may have a maddening effect. Most animals, including raccoons, are color blind!"

Varian smiles excitedly. "That actually makes sense. You may be on to something!"

"Of course I am," Hugo chuckles, receiving an eye roll from Varian.

"So we send the raccoon after the orb?" Abhu asks.

"I don't want Ruddiger going in there alone," Varian says. "Besides, there may still be something we need to do once we get past the crystals."

"What do you suggest?" Cassandra asks.

Varian smirks, and pulls a red bandana out of his bag. "We blindfold ourselves."

Abhu shakes his head. "Nope. I'm not blindly following that water thief!"

Varian regards Abhu with an unamused stare. "Fine, you can stay here. Or better yet, go back outside. I'm sure the Queen and her sister would love to have your company. We'll find the last orb on our own."

Abhu glares at Varian, his lip curled. "This is all because of my father's journal, you know!"

"Yes, you have reminded us a million times," Cassandra says with frustration. "So just come with us, instead of complaining!"

Abhu groans, but reluctantly complies. "Only one orb left to go," he reminds himself. "Just one more orb..."

"But then we still need to find the actual cavern," Hugo reminds him.

"And as soon as we do, you'll never have to see my face again!" Abhu says.

Cassandra almost responds with a sarcastic retort, but she would rather focus on the task at hand. The quicker they find the last orb and move on, the quicker Abhu will be gone from their lives and finally out of her hair.

Chapter Text

Hugo pulls out a piece of cloth, tears it in half, and shoves the two halves behind the lenses of his glasses. "Never know when you'll need a random piece of cloth!"

Abhu uses his armband as a blindfold. "This had better work..."

Varian pulls out a red scarf, and approaches Cassandra. "You can use this," he tells her, gesturing for her to turn around. She does so, and allows him to tie the scarf around her eyes. The gentle brushing of his fingers against the back of her head causes a pleasant shiver to go down her spine. Absentmindedly, she clutches the pendant of her necklace.

Once Varian has tied his own bandana around his eyes, he reaches out for Ruddiger's paw. "Alright Ruddiger, lead the way!"

Ruddiger grabs Varian's hand, and begins leading him around the corner. Varian reaches his other hand out, and takes the first hand he feels... Cassandra's. She is surprised for a moment, until she realizes what she needs to do. She reaches out and grabs a hand that she unfortunately recognizes as Abhu's. Abhu reaches out and grabs Hugo's hand.

     Now that they are all connected, Ruddiger leads them through a maze of twists, turns, and climbing. Lots of climbing. It is strenuous, and the trek takes quite a while as they stumble their way through. Cassandra catches a faded glimpse of red, orange, and green lights through the scarf, but to her relief she never feels any hypnotic sensations.

However, she does feel a measure of enjoyment at the thought of Varian's scarf over her eyes. It is well-worn, but it is soft and it smells like him. She is glad he cannot see the smile that is on her face because of it. For the first time since admitting her feelings for him to herself, she actually looks forward to the moment she confesses to him... whenever that may be.

     Finally, Ruddiger chitters enthusiastically, and they take this as a sign to remove their blindfolds. As they do, they realize that they are outside once again, but they are now on top of the cliff. The tunnel they traversed is behind them, the hint of the illuminated crystals' lights leaking out of the darkness.

     "Thanks, bud," Varian says, giving his raccoon a loving pat on the head. "I'll be sure to give you all the apples you want once we're done with this mission."

     Cassandra steps to the edge of the cliff, and gazes down. They are so high up, she cannot see the ground below.

     "The air's a bit thinner up here," Hugo says, attempting to breathe in deeply but struggling to do so.

     Abhu glances around. "Okay, where's the orb?"

     "It has to be here somewhere," Varian says. "Why else lead us up here?"

     The gang search around the area for some kind of clue, taking extreme caution around the edge of the cliff. A fall from this height would likely be fatal.

     After minutes of searching, Ruddiger chitters and points down over the cliff.

     "Did you find it?" Abhu asks. He approaches the raccoon, and looks down in the direction he is pointing. "I don't see anything."

     Ruddiger's chitters intensify, and he waves his tiny paws around.

     "Um, Abhu?" Varian says. "I don't think he's showing you something, I think he's trying to warn us. Maybe you shouldn't—"

     But Abhu is already on his knees, bending over the edge to get a better view of whatever Ruddiger discovered. The raccoon squeaks and chitters frantically.

     Abhu slowly raises up, and then freezes. Cassandra notices a strange, glossy look in his eyes. Uh-oh... This can't be good.

"Um, what's wrong with him?" Hugo asks.

     Ruddiger runs up to Varian, pointing into the tunnel and then covering his own eyes with his paws. Varian's eyes widen with realization. "There's a crystal over the edge of the cliff, isn't there?"

     Ruddiger nods. Cassandra cautiously inches closer to the edge, and sure enough she catches sight of a faint glow of red, orange, and green. It is concealed by a rocky ledge, but Abhu bent far enough to see it.

     "Great, so he's hypnotized now," Cassandra says, watching as Abhu sits unsettlingly still. "I wonder how long it'll last, or if we have to—"

     Before she can finish, Abhu hops up with insane speed. He dashes around in circles, screaming manically. A wild expression is on his face.

     "This must be the maddening effect the warning was referring to!" Hugo shouts, ducking out of the way as Abhu charges at him.

"Thanks for the information. I wasn't aware!" Varian says sarcastically,

     "Look out!" Cassandra says, pulling Ruddiger out of Abhu's path.

     "Hopefully this is only temporary," Varian says, as Abhu flails about and growls like a feral animal.

     Cassandra gasps as Abhu gets too close to the edge and nearly falls over the side of the cliff. "He's gonna get himself killed!"

     Abhu turns to Cassandra, his glazed eyes not recognizing her. He rushes at her, arms outstretched ahead of him in preparation to push her over.

     "Cass!" Varian calls out. He pushes her out of the way, but this only places him directly in front of Abhu. Abhu shoves Varian over the cliff, too fast for anyone to do anything to prevent it.

"Varian, NO!" Cassandra screams so loudly her throat hurts, but she cannot hear her own voice over the pulsating of her heartbeat in her ears. Without thinking she races to the edge of the cliff, her hand outstretched. Somehow, Hugo is there to hold her back and keep her from leaping after Varian. Tears stream down her face as she watches him fall, farther and farther, until the fog consumes him.

No. This isn't real. This can't be happening. This can't be happening! She cannot lose the one person she has finally fallen for before she gets the chance to tell him how she feels. He has to still be alive!

"Quick, we have to go find him!" She says. "He's always got some alchemical solutions to save the day." She ties Varian's scarf over her eyes. It is almost immediately drenched with her tears. "Ruddiger, take me back through the tunnel!"

Hugo gently pulls the scarf down from her eyes, and she perceives the sorrow and sympathy on his face. "I... I don't think anyone could survive that fall, Cassandra."

"No, don't say that!" Cassandra says harshly, shoving Hugo away. "He's fine, you'll see! You'll see..." Her knees suddenly give out on her, and she falls to the ground with overwhelming grief. She clutches Varian's scarf in her hands, sobbing. Hugo places his hand on her back in an effort to comfort her, but it does little to soothe her. She wishes more than ever that Rapunzel was here.

Abhu shakes his head, finally coming back to himself. "That was weird... What happened?" He observes Cassandra on her knees, Hugo next to her, and Ruddiger staring over the cliff in shocked disbelief. "Where's Varian?"

A fury burns within Cassandra unlike anything she has ever felt before. "You did this! This is your fault!" She jumps up, and shoves Abhu with such force that he falls to the ground.

"Hey, what gives?!" Abhu says, holding up his hands in defense.

"You really don't remember?" Hugo asks.

"Remember what?" Abhu says, disturbed by the anguish on Cassandra's face.

"You looked at one of those stupid crystals!" Cassandra screams. "You went insane! You pushed Varian over the cliff!"

"Wh-What?" Abhu looks so genuinely mortified, that she feels her anger towards him subsiding. "No, I couldn't have..."

Cassandra isn't the only one angry, though. Ruddiger growls furiously, and leaps at Abhu. He claws and bites at his head, until Hugo steps in and pulls him off.

"Keep that thing away from me!" Abhu shouts, stomping away. But Cassandra can hear the despair in his voice. "I-I couldn't... I didn't mean to..." He hangs his head, still processing what has happened.

Cassandra whistles loudly, tears still stinging her eyes. Owl flies into view, responding to her call, and lands on her arm. "Go to Elsa," she tells him. "Do whatever you have to do, but somehow let her know we're up here and we need her magic to get down quickly. And hurry."

Owl hoots in response, and flies off.

"I... I'm sorry," Abhu says. "I can't believe... I mean, I shouldn't have..." He takes in a shaky breath, gathering his thoughts. "Maybe it would've been best if I had never tried to follow my father's footsteps..."

"It's too late for that," Cassandra says.

"So... What's the plan now?" Hugo says, hanging his head in such a despondent way that Cassandra wasn't aware he was capable of.

"I already told you, we have to find Varian," Cassandra replies, her determination the only thing keeping her going. She places Varian's scarf around her neck, letting its ends hang loosely on either side of her necklace. "I refuse to believe his story ends here. He is still alive. I know he is..."

Chapter Text

"Wha— Daddy, you fell off a cliff?!" Opal stares at him in horrified amazement. "Were you okay?!"

     Varian chuckles. "Of course I was okay! I'm right here, aren't I?"

     "I had never been that terrified in my entire life," Cassandra admits. "I was so worried about your father. I couldn't believe that he was really gone."

     "And it's a good thing you didn't believe it," Varian says to her with a smitten smirk. "A very good thing..."

Varian has felt the sensation of falling on many occasions. But usually Rapunzel was there to catch him with her hair. Or Lance, that one time.

     This time, though, he is on his own. His choices are to either find a way to break his fall, or die. The first option would be preferred. He reaches out for something, anything, to grasp on to. Unfortunately, there isn't anything around but rocky walls.

     Desperately, he digs around in his pockets for something to use. But he doesn't believe that the alchemical solutions he has on him will provide any help in this situation. He closes his eyes tightly. It looks like this really is the end...

He doesn't regret it, though. If he hadn't stepped in front of Abhu when he did, it would be Cassandra plummeting to her death instead of him. And he wouldn't have been able to live with himself if that had happened. He would do it over again in a heartbeat, for her.

     He would do anything for her, whether or not she would do it for him in return. He only wishes he could see her one last time. Hold her hand again. Be near her again.

     If only...

     Finally, he forces his eyes back open. Below him, could that be... a ledge? A ledge! With an extended, thick branch from a tree growing out of the side of the rocks!

     What are the odds?

     Who cares?! It's here, and he's going to use it to his advantage! He reaches out for the branch, but it is too far away. He fears he may not be able to save himself after all, when he feels a sudden strong gust of wind blowing him towards the branch.

     "Gale!" He shouts joyfully, managing to grab the branch with her help. "Thank you!"

     While the branch breaks his fall, it also cuts his cheek. He uses the branch to swing onto the ledge, and prepares himself for a bumpy landing. After tucking and rolling, he lands flat on his stomach within the small crevice behind the ledge. He can already feel the bruises forming, but he is alive. Alive!

     Barely able to believe it, he rubs his face to make sure he is really here. But when he sees the blood on his glove from the gash on his cheek, he sighs.

     "Oh no..." He says, barely able to get the words out before he loses consciousness.

After what feels like an eternity, Elsa's magic finally manifests in the form of a slide. Cassandra is the first to go down it (with Ruddiger on her shoulders), followed by Hugo and then Abhu.

     "Wow, you were really high up there," Elsa says.

     "We had to play charades with your owl friend," Anna says, "but thankfully we finally got—"

     "No time for chit-chat. We have to find Varian," Cassandra says.

     "Find him?" Anna says. "Where did he—"

     "I pushed him off the cliff," Abhu says, staring at the ground blankly.

     Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff gasp. Holding onto each other, the three of them begin to back away from Abhu slowly.

"It was an accident," Hugo tells them. "You see, there were these crystals—"

     "We don't have time to explain!" Cassandra shouts. "We need to find him!" What do they not understand about this?!

     "Okay, we'll help you," Elsa says with her soft, soothing voice.

     Cassandra nods. Finally, somebody gets it! "Abhu, Hugo, Kristoff, you go that way. Queen Anna, Elsa, you're with me this way. Let's go!"

     "M'kay, what about me?" Olaf asks, staring up at Cassandra with wide, eager eyes.

     "Ummm... You can go with the guys, I guess," Cassandra tells him.

     "Consider your friend found!" Olaf says, saluting her. The two groups then separate to search for Varian.

     Cassandra doesn't want to think about what condition they may find Varian in. All she cares about is finding him, and she hopes more than anything that he is okay.

Varian comes to, and for a brief moment he forgets where he is. He glances around, and remembers the fall. The tree branch. The ledge. The crevice. The blood on his face and hand...

     Don't look at that again, he reminds himself, wiping his hand off on his clothes.

     He attempts to stand, but immediately collapses once he feels the shooting pain in his leg. Did he break it? He examines it carefully, and it doesn't appear to be broken. Perhaps he only sprained a muscle.

     Now what? He is stuck inside a crevice, on a ledge, with no idea how far down the ground is below him. As he ponders what he should do, he notices something shiny behind a rock near the back of the crevice. He crawls over to it, and is shocked to discover a purple orb. The orb! The final orb!

"But, what's it doing here?" He wonders aloud. He grabs the orb, and leans back against the rocky wall, gazing into its sparkly surface. Finally, he places it in his backpack.

     A couple of minutes pass before his ears pick up the faint sound of voices below. Could that be...? Yes! He recognizes one of the voices as Cassandra's! But she is too far away for him to understand what she is saying.

     "Hey, I'm up here!" He calls out, wondering if it is possible for her to hear him. But it isn't long before an icy ladder appears, and Cassandra climbs up it.

     "I told you there was a ledge up here," Cassandra shouts down to Elsa. "I'm gonna check it out!"

     "Cass!" Varian says excitedly.

     "V-Varian?" Cassandra stares at him for a moment, as if she is unsure whether or not to believe he is truly here. But finally, relief floods over her face as she rushes to him and throws her arms around him. "Varian! I knew it! I knew I hadn't lost you..."

     Varian is caught off guard by her embrace, but he buries his face into her long hair contentedly. "I'm okay."

Cassandra releases him, tears glistening in her eyes. "I didn't think... I mean, I couldn't let myself believe that you... that you..." She can't even complete her sentence, and he is slightly taken aback. He has never seen her like this before.

     "Cass, really, I'm alright," he assures her, offering a small smile.

     She nods, but spots the cut on his face. "You're hurt," she says, gently touching her hand to the dried blood on his cheek.

His skin tingles at her soft touch. "It's not the worst thing. I think I may have sprained my leg... I can't walk."

     "If that's the worst that happened to you, I think we can handle it," Cassandra says. She strokes his cheek for a moment longer, an action that he is pleasantly surprised by, but then she removes her hand and punches his shoulder.

     "Ow!" Varian says. "What was that for?"

     "For scaring me to death!" Cassandra says. "You shouldn't have stepped in front of Abhu like that!" Then her face softens again as she adds, "But... thank you."

     "Of course, Cassie," he says. "There's no way I was going to let you—"

     He is interrupted when she abruptly pulls him into a heated kiss. He had convinced himself that the notion of her possibly wanting to kiss him was absolutely insane. But here she is, right now, her lips sliding along his.

"Wh-What are you doing?" He stammers, pulling back with surprise. Not that he is complaining in the least.

     "What do you mean what am I doing?" Cassandra replies, never wavering in the firm grip she has on his shirt collar. "I thought it was pretty obvious."

     "B-but... you're doing it... to me," he says in total disbelief.

     "Yeah, well... It's something I should've done a long time ago," she tells him.

     "A long time ago?" He wasn't even aware that she had developed feelings for him at all. Just how long has she been concealing them?!

     She nods. "I'm sorry it took so long. I was just... I was just scared. But you know what?" She smiles, her expression filled with both elation and mischief. "I'm done holding back."

     She pulls him back in, kissing him again, and he ardently reciprocates. Each kiss is more dizzying than the last, and he wishes they would never end.

     Kissing Cassandra is nothing at all like Varian imagined it would be...

     It is exceedingly better.

Chapter Text

Opal can barely contain her excitement. "It finally happened! It finally happened! You two got together!" She hugs her parents eagerly.

"Yep, that's the story of how we got together," Varian says, standing up from the bed. "So now you've heard it. Goodnight!"

Cassandra chuckles at his teasing, but Opal is genuinely upset. "No, no! You have to finish the rest of the story! What happened with the orbs? Did you find the cavern? Tell me!"

"We will kiddo, but we should probably go check on your little brother first," Cassandra says.

Rapunzel stands up from the chair in the corner. "That's alright, I'll go check on Jasper. You guys finish your story."

"Thanks, Raps," Cassandra says with a grateful smile, as Varian sits back down. She then turns back to Opal. "So, yeah. There is definitely a lot more left to go. We had to figure out what those orbs were for. And your father and I needed to have a conversation..."

The moment has finally come.

     At last, Cassandra has admitted her feelings to Varian.

     And now she is kissing him. Kissing him! She can barely believe it. Yet, she is astonished at how right it feels. Neither of them experience any hesitation.

     But sadly, their wonderful moment must come to an end. "Are you okay up there?" They hear Elsa call from down below.

     I'm more than okay, Cassandra thinks with a grin, resting her forehead against Varian's.

     "Wow..." He says breathlessly, smiling from ear to ear. She can sense every ounce of his elation with this single word, and it brings her immeasurable bliss. He is even trembling slightly.

"We'd better go," Cass tells him. "They still think you're dead."

     "Heh..." He can only chuckle in response.

     She finds it precious how amazed he is by what has just happened. "Come on. I'll help you down," she says.

     "W-Wait," he says as she assists him in standing. He is unable to put pressure on his injured leg, so he leans against her for support. "I can't... I-I don't..."

     "Breathe, Varian. Just breathe," she teases.

     "What... What does this mean, exactly?" He asks.

     "Hello?" Queen Anna pops up the ladder. "We got worried when you didn't— Oh, Varian! You're okay! That's great!"

"Yeah, it is," Varian says, never taking his eyes off of Cass.

"Sorry," Cassandra says to Anna. "We're coming."

Anna nods, and climbs back down the ladder. Cassandra leans closer to Varian and whispers, "We'll talk about it later." She gives him a quick kiss on his cheek.

"I... I look forward to it," he replies, pure joy reflecting in his eyes.

After Cassandra manages to get Varian down from the ledge, Elsa approaches them. "We need to find your other friends," she says. "There's something I have to show you."

"Okay," Cassandra says. She has no clue what Elsa could possibly need to show them, but she admits that it has her curious. She follows Elsa and Anna, helping Varian hobble along, until they return to the boulder that marks the entrance to the crystal tunnel. Only now, there is a life-sized ice sculpture of a man in front of the boulder.

Cassandra and Varian exchange confused glances. Is this what Elsa wants to show them? "Oh, it's... um, nice," Cassandra says. "Who is he?"

"That's something I'm hoping you or your friends can answer," Elsa replies.

Now Cassandra is even more confused, but she figures Elsa will explain. She calls Owl once again, and sends him off to fetch the others. She then helps Varian prop himself up against a tree while they wait.

Queen Anna prattles about events that have happened in Arendelle since Cassandra's departure, but Cass barely hears a word of it. The only thing occupying her mind is the kiss she shared with Varian. And she can tell that the same thing is on his mind, too. When she glances his way, he is already gazing back at her, with his dorky grin and red face. She can't keep herself from smiling. The ghost of his lips against hers still lingers, and she longs to do it again.

Finally, Owl returns with the guys. Hugo rushes to Varian and wraps him in an unexpected and tight embrace, lifting him off the ground. "Glad to see you're not dead, Freckles!"

"Ow, careful! Watch the leg!" Varian complains. But once Hugo sets him down and releases him, he smiles. "Thanks. I didn't realize you cared so much."

     "If you weren't around, who else would I bug?" Hugo says, slapping Varian on the back.

     "Oh, I'm sure you'd find someone..." Varian replies.

Ruddiger dashes over to Varian, zooms eager circles around him, and climbs onto his shoulders, hugging his head as tightly as his little front paws can handle.

"It's okay, bud, I'm alright," Varian reassures his raccoon, gently stroking him.

     Hugo glances back and forth between Varian and Cassandra. "You two okay? You seem a little... flush."

     Cassandra's eyes widen, and Varian clears his throat nervously. "We're fine," Cassandra replies quickly.

     "I just fell off a cliff. Let's see how you look after that," Varian says to Hugo.

     Abhu appears from behind Hugo. His eyes are downcast, and his demeanor is solemn. "Varian, I... I know we've never gotten along, but... I never wanted to... I mean, I wouldn't ever..." Tears well in his eyes, which is a sight Cassandra never thought she would see.

Varian reaches out, and clasps Abhu on the shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Abhu. I know it wasn't really you. And I'm fine, so there's nothing to worry about."

"But if you actually had died I... I couldn't have lived with myself..." Abhu says.

"Good thing I didn't die," Varian says with a small smile, trying to make the situation a bit lighter. But Abhu still seems weighed down. Cass has to admit, though... it is good to see that Abhu does actually have a heart.

"Now that all of you are here, I want you to see something," Elsa announces. She gestures to the ice sculpture of the man. "Water holds memory. Thus, I am able to use the water within the area to see a past memory that happened here."

     "I taught her that," Olaf says to the gang with a wink.

     "This man, whoever he is, is the one who set up this search for your orbs," Elsa explains.

"The last of which we still didn't find, since Freckles decided to distract from the search," Hugo jokes.

"Or did we?" Varian smirks smugly, revealing a purple orb from his backpack. "I found it in the crevice on the ledge I landed on."

     "You found it?" Cassandra takes the orb from Varian, amazed. Is there no end to what he manages to accomplish?

     "Yep," Varian says, his gaze lingering upon her. "We have them all, now."

     Cassandra smiles, and hands the orb back to him. She catches his eyes flit to her lips, before he turns away.

     Abhu is unusually quiet. Cassandra expected him to be more excited about finding all the orbs, and what may come next. But right now, he is silently staring at the 'memory' of the man.

     "Is this some kind of joke?" Abhu asks Elsa.

     Elsa's brow creases with concern. "No. I would never joke about something like this."

     "Why would you ask that?" Anna says.

     "Because," Abhu replies. "This man... He's my father."

"Wait, what?" Cassandra says.

     "How is that possible?" Varian asks. "Some of the orbs we've recovered, the setups to find them... They're older than your father, or even your grandfather, would be!"

     "This memory is from very long ago," Elsa says.

     "Perhaps this man only looks like your father?" Hugo suggests. "Relatives to each other can often bear a striking resemblance."

     "No, this is my father," Abhu says, regarding the memory closely. "I may not have known him, but my mother hung his portrait in our sitting room. I doubt an ancestor of his would have the exact same scar on his face in the exact same place." He points to a small scar on the man's left cheek.

     "Ooh! Maybe your dad's immortal!" Olaf says enthusiastically. When the others stare at him questioningly, he shrugs. "What? It would explain everything!"

     Cassandra approaches Abhu, who seems on the verge of a breakdown. "Look, I don't know how or why your dad set all of this up, but if we continue on maybe we'll figure it out. So let's go."

     "Go? Go where?" Abhu asks. "We found all of the orbs, and nothing's happened."

     "What, you expected the cavern to magically appear as soon as we found them?" Cassandra says.

     "Well, wherever your journey may lead you next, you've got a place to stay in Arendelle until you figure it out," Anna says.

     Cassandra turns to face her. "Thank you, Queen Anna. We appreciate it."

     As they all begin to make their way back to Arendelle's castle, Cassandra once again supports Varian. With his injured leg, the two of them wind up at the rear of the group. Varian hobbles along slowly, his arm around her shoulders and hers around his waist. But as they start to drift farther and farther back from the group until they are out of earshot, she realizes he is slowing down on purpose.

     "You wouldn't want to talk or anything, would you?" She says jokingly.

     "Talk? What's there to talk about?" He jokes back. "The woman I have been in love with forever who has been strongly rebuffing my affections just ambushed me with a rather adamant kiss, that's all."

     "I wouldn't call it an ambush..." Cassandra says.

     "Considering I had no clue how you felt, I would," Varian tells her.

     She raises an eyebrow at him, and holds up the Cassandrium pendant. "This wasn't enough of a clue for ya?"

"You've worn it before!" Varian says defensively. "How was I supposed to know?!"

     Cassandra chuckles. "You may be smart, Varian, but sometimes you can be so dumb."

     "Then please don't tease me about my next question," he says. "Um... how do you feel? About me?"

     At first, Cassandra isn't sure how to answer this. She figured the kiss would say it all, but apparently she has to spell it out for him. How does she feel? "All I know is that I started seeing you in a different light. You get me better than anyone ever has. I've developed feelings for you, and they have been growing stronger. What, exactly, that may mean, I'm not sure yet."

     Varian ponders this for a moment, and then smiles. "Hey, it's enough for me. It's better than I ever expected to get from you."

     "I'm glad you're satisfied," she jokes, nudging his side gently.

After a brief pause he continues. "I do have to know, though... What changed? I mean, you have apparently been hiding these developing feelings for a while now. What made you finally give in?"

After carefully considering how to respond, Cassandra says, "I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. When you fell off that cliff, I lost all control. And when I found you... all the fear I felt washed away with the flood of relief that you were still alive."

"So I was right, before. You were scared. Of being in a relationship."

Cassandra nods. "And I'll admit, I'm still scared... In fact, I'm terrified. But..." She squeezes his waist tighter, finding pleasure in causing his cheeks to brighten. "I feel safer with you than I have with anybody before."

Varian smiles sheepishly. "So... Does this mean we're, you know, official?"

Cassandra bites her bottom lip. She meant it when she said she is terrified, but she also meant it when she told him she is done holding back. She no longer wants to allow fear to keep her from what could be the greatest thing to happen in her life.

"Let's not put a label on things yet," she says, with a small amount of déjà vu. "But, it means I'm ready and willing to try... with you."

Chapter Text

"It means I'm ready and willing to try... with you."

Varian can barely believe he heard those words come from Cassandra's mouth. Of course, he still barely believes that she kissed him. That she admitted to having feelings for him. That she wants to be with him. It has been a whirlwind of a day, and it feels like a dream. But he hopes for things to only get better from here.

Upon returning to Arendelle castle, Queen Anna gives them a brief tour of the palace and escorts them to their individual rooms. "If you need anything please just ask me, Elsa, or Kristoff," she tells them. "Oh, and there's a meeting room down the hall you can use if you need a place to conduct research on your orbs or whatever!"

Cassandra helps Varian settle into his room. He sits down on the edge of the cushiony bed, unable to tear his eyes away from the gorgeous features that make up her face. Her dark, stern eyes. Her perfectly arched eyebrows. Her plump, red lips. He has always considered her beautiful, but something has changed now that these features belong to a woman whom he has the honor of calling his. His Cassie.

And I am hers, he thinks proudly. I am actually hers! She has finally allowed him to give her his heart, and he has never felt happier in his life.

Glancing around to make sure nobody else is around, she pushes his bangs back and plants a gentle kiss on his forehead before heading to her own room. Even after all that she has done and said regarding her feelings for him, this small display of affection takes him by surprise. This is gonna take some getting used to, he thinks gleefully.

Now that he is alone, Varian digs through his backpack and pulls out a few supplies to create his own splint. His leg doesn't hurt quite as much as it did earlier, but he believes this may be from the euphoria he still feels from kissing Cassandra. His leg needs support, and this makeshift splint of his will have to do.

As he finishes putting on the splint, Hugo suddenly appears at the door. "Knock-knock," he says.

"Oh, hey," Varian says, standing up to test that the splint is working. It is solid enough to give him the support he needs to walk on his own, so he is satisfied.

Hugo is silent for a long time, grinning smugly, to the point that it begins to make Varian uncomfortable. "Um, any particular reason you're here?" Varian asks him.

Hugo folds his arms, but the smile remains. "Just thought I'd mention an observation," he says. "You and Sandra looked awfully cozy on our way back here."

Varian stiffens. "It's none of your business." While this may be true, a part of him does want to tell Hugo what is going on with him and Cass. If he's being completely honest, he wants to scream it to the world! But he knows how private Cass is and how difficult it can be for her to discuss feelings, so he doesn't think she would appreciate him talking about it with anyone else right now.

"Judging by your reaction, I would estimate that I am correct in assuming something happened between you two today," Hugo says.

"What do you not understand about 'it's none of your business'?" Varian says.

Hugo holds up his hands in mock defense. "Alright, alright. Keep your secrets to yourself, Freckles. But I know something is different with the both of you, and it will come to the light eventually." He shrugs as he adds, "That isn't why I came to see you, anyway."

"Why did you, then?" Varian asks.

"I guess I was hoping you were feeling as wide awake as I am," Hugo says. "There's no way I could settle down and get any sleep right now, not when we've got all four orbs in our possession!"

Varian shakes his head. He is amazed because this is exactly what he was thinking, as well. "I was about to head to that meeting room Queen Anna told us about. I guess an extra set of eyes could be useful."

     "My eyes shall be of use!" Hugo says with a dramatic bow. "And my ears too if, you know, you decide to talk about a certain someone."

     Varian groans. "Why do you care whether anything happens between me and Cass, anyway?"

     Hugo leans closer, as if he is about to whisper a secret. "One word: Drama. Why do you think I've stuck with you guys for so long?"

     Varian rolls his eyes. "You don't have enough of your own drama in your life?"

     Hugo considers this. "No. No I don't."

     Despite himself, Varian can't help but chuckle. Hugo may be obnoxious and egotistical, but there is more to him than meets the eye. He's here for the drama? Please. Varian believes Hugo may have grown fond of this little group of theirs.

      The two of them head to the meeting room. Varian places his backpack on the long table, and begins pulling out the orbs. Yellow, red, blue, purple... Their colors are bright, and their surfaces are translucent. Now that they are all together, Varian notices that they give off a soft glow.

Hugo picks up the purple orb and examines it closely. "Okay, so we have them all now. There has to be something about them that'll indicate what our next step is." He flips it around in his hands, observing it from every angle. "So far, I'm seeing zilch."

Varian picks up the red one. He remembers the watery cave they found it in. Thinking back to the moment they almost drowned, he recalls Cassandra holding onto him. The feeling of her arms wrapped around him... No Varian, now is not the time! He scolds himself. Gotta focus...

     They may have found this orb in a watery cave, but it is red because of the element they used to enter that cave: fire. "Could it have something to do with the elements we used to find each one?"

"What, like each element might unlock something within that orb?" Hugo asks. When Varian nods, he shrugs. "I guess it's worth a shot."

     Varian lights a candle on the table, and places the red orb directly against the flame. As he does, the soft glow the orb puts off grows brighter and becomes a brilliant beam of crimson light.

"Whoa," Varian gasps in amazement.

     Hugo grabs his canteen, and pours the water out on the blue orb. As expected, the glow transforms into a blinding, azure beam. "Alright, I think we're onto something!"

Varian stares at the yellow orb, rubbing his chin in thought. "We had to melt copper to open the hatch this one was in. But opening a hatch is different than activating a mysterious orb."

"You think regular ol' dirt will work?" Hugo says.

"Only one way to find out," Varian replies.

Hugo heads to a potted plant in the corner of the room. He grabs a handful of soil, and then tosses it onto the yellow orb. To their pleasant surprise, the orb's golden beam appears.

"Three down, one to go..." Hugo says, gesturing to the purple orb. "Shall I go fetch the Snow Queen?"

"What do you need Elsa for?"

Varian's heart nearly skips a beat at the sound of Cassandra's voice. She strides into the room, hands on her hips.

"Look at the orbs, Cass!" Varian says excitedly, holding one up for her to see its bright glow. "All we needed was to expose each one to the element we used to get to it! It-it's incredible!"

Cassandra holds up her hand to shield her eyes from the beam, but a soft smile is upon her lips. "I'm glad you boys are having fun."

"What brings you here, anyway?" Hugo asks, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Were you looking for someone?"

Cassandra glares at him. "I came to see what the fuss was all about. I could hear the two of you vociferating down the hall."

"Mmhmm." It is obvious Hugo doesn't believe her. "Well anyway, to answer your question we need Elsa's magic to activate the last orb. So I'll go get her." He smirks at Varian, and then exits the room.

Varian rolls his eyes at Hugo's antics, but he is grateful to be left alone with Cassandra again. And judging by the gleam in her eyes, she is happy to be alone with him, as well.

Chapter Text

"I bet those orbs were really pretty," Opal says.

     "They were," Varian says. "I'll have to show you my sketches of them sometime."

     "Yes please!" Opal says. "But I can probably see them when I dream tonight."

     "That could work, too," Varian says, ruffling Opal's hair.

     "There was still a lot more to learn about those orbs," Cassandra says. "But, at the time, your father was a little distracted."

     "I wonder why?" Varian says, nudging her playfully.

     "Yes, yes... I know it was my fault," Cassandra says. "But you've gotta admit, I'm a pretty great distraction..."

As Hugo leaves to get Elsa, Cassandra can't help but shake her head. Despite her best attempts to hide her feelings for Varian, she knows that Hugo has suspected for a while. She only hopes he doesn't make things awkward for them.

     Or at least, awkward for her. Varian doesn't seem like he would mind people knowing about them. And it's not necessarily that she minds, really, it's just that she isn't good at dealing with her emotions around other people. Besides, this thing with Varian is so new, and she would like to keep it between them for as long as possible. There is something that makes it extra special knowing that it is just theirs, and theirs alone.

     Ever since she entered the room, Varian's gaze has remained upon her. Now that they are alone, she finally draws closer to him. "Hugo bothering you?" She asks.

     "When isn't Hugo bothering me?" He responds.

     "You know what I mean," she says.

     Varian smiles, and she can see a hint of pink on his cheeks. "Yeah, he's guessed that something happened between us and keeps trying to draw it out of me. But don't worry, I have neither confirmed nor denied anything."

     Cassandra reaches out and takes his hand. "Good to know."

Varian gives her hand a gentle squeeze. "It is pretty difficult for me to hold this in, though. I have literally been dreaming about being with you for years! And now that it's actually happening, well... I-I want to tell everybody."

     "I get that," Cassandra says. "I'm excited too Var, but... it's still so new. And I—"

     "—You don't like to open up about your feelings, I know," Varian says. "That's what I figured." His smile remains soft and considerate.

     Cassandra is continually astounded by how well Varian understands her. It is one of the reasons she has fallen for him. Moved by his devotion, she closes the gap between them and places a tender, lingering kiss on his lips. He returns the kiss, but then pulls back and gazes at her intently.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks, not sure whether to feel giddy or concerned.

"Sorry, I'm just... making sure this isn't a dream," he tells her. His eyes are filled with such warmth and adoration, it causes her heart to flutter in a way she never thought possible.

She kisses him again, with a bit more intensity. "Did that feel like a dream?"

Varian smirks playfully. "Maybe you should try again, just to be sure."

     Cassandra chuckles, and barely presses another kiss to his lips, when Hugo appears in the doorway. "Ahem, am I interrupting something?"

     Startled, Cassandra and Varian jump apart. "Noooo," Varian lies nervously. "I-I tripped and fell... on her face."

Cassandra raises an eyebrow at Varian. "Really?"

     "I realized how stupid it sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth," Varian whispers to her. "But I panicked!"

     "Pretty sure he already knows..." Cassandra tells him, as Hugo cackles.

     "You fell? On her face? Oh man, that's a new one!" Hugo continues to crack up, clutching his sides. "You may be clumsy, but I don't think even you could manage that! You kill me, Freckles. You really do."

"Glad I could provide some amusement," Varian says with an eye roll.

As Hugo attempts to stifle his laughter, Elsa strides into the room. "Okay, I'm here. How can I help?"

Varian motions for her to approach the table. "We activated each of these orbs with the element we used to retrieve them. We only have one left, the one that required your magic to get it."

"Understood." Elsa holds her hand out, and a swirl of ice and snow appears in her palm. She presses her hand to the purple orb, and its soft glow becomes a bright violet beam.

"Amazing," Varian and Hugo say in unison.

     Cassandra stares at the orbs, expecting more to happen. But nothing does. "Alright, so they're more glowy than they were before. Now what?"

     Everyone in the room remain silent. Cassandra doesn't take this as a good sign. So far, everything on this journey has been set up for them one thing after the other. But this? She feels like they are missing a piece of the puzzle.

     "Maybe something will come to you once you get some rest," Elsa suggests. "Get a good night's sleep, and start fresh in the morning."

The others nod, and begin to file out of the room. Elsa first, then Hugo, and Cassandra. But Varian holds back for a moment, quickly packing up the orbs, before running to catch up with Cass.

"Why am I not surprised?" She says with mock annoyance as Varian gently touches her arm to stop her.

"So, Cassie, I-I um..." His cheeks are bright and he struggles to maintain eye contact with her. "Well, I was thinking... There's no telling how long it'll take us to figure out what the deal is with these orbs. Would you maybe, possibly, want to take a day off... w-with me? Tomorrow?"

It takes Cassandra a moment to process his words. "Varian, are you asking me out on a date?"

Varian breathes in deeply, and then stands straighter. "Y-Yes. Yes I am. Arendelle seems like a beautiful kingdom. I just thought—"

Sheesh, he works fast... "Do you really think that's a good idea right now?" Cassandra asks. When she sees Varian's expression start to falter, she adds, "Not that I don't want to, but it's the timing. Figuring out how to find that cavern is extremely important. It should remain our main focus, right? I don't want to distract from that."

Varian chuckles lightly. "You shoulda thought of that before you kissed me. I... I can barely think about anything else." He gazes down at the ground embarrassedly, and while this is one of the many things she was worried would happen if she opened up to him, she still feels a warm glow of affection at his reaction. "I'm going to keep being distracted by you, no matter what. I figure, maybe, spending a whole day with you in town might actually help me focus on the task at hand, you know?"

"Or make it worse," Cassandra says. She truly believes that this is not the time for a first date, but she cannot resist the hopefulness reflecting within those sparkling blue eyes of his. "Oh... Alright. If you really think it'll help you."

The joyous grin that spreads across Varian's face creates butterflies in her stomach. "Great! It's... a date."

She smirks, and presses her lips to his cheek. "See you tomorrow, Var."

"Goodnight, Cassie. See you tomorrow."

Once she has returned to her room, Cassandra snuggles into the soft, comfortable bed. So much has happened today, and it is difficult for her brain to process all of it.

A date, she thinks. I have a date tomorrow. With Varian. It feels strange, like it isn't real. And she is sure he feels the same way about it. But, again, it feels so right. Like it was always meant to be.

Cassandra closes her eyes, reliving in her mind the kisses that she and Varian shared. The memories of him make her feel safe. They make her feel hopeful. They make her feel a happiness she didn't believe she would ever find. Eventually, she drifts off into a deep, blissful slumber.

Chapter Text

"Yay, your first date!" Opal says. "I'll bet it was amazing!"

"That's an understatement," Varian says, giving Cassandra a loving grin. "But before the date, I was so nervous! I wanted it to go perfectly, but I wasn't sure what we were even going to do. So I asked for some help..."

Varian awakens early the next morning, and immediately heads to the meeting room. He pulls the orbs out of his backpack, and places them on the table. They are still glowing brightly, almost blinding. What is he supposed to do with them?

     Maybe Abhu could provide some insight, although he has been MIA ever since they arrived at the castle last night. He doesn't know of the new discovery they've made with the orbs yet... but really, he isn't missing much.

     "Gotta figure this out..." Varian thinks aloud. But as hard as he tries to concentrate, all he can think about is the fact that he has a date. Today. With Cassandra. Cassandra! He has waited so long for this to happen. How did he get so lucky?

     After a few minutes of staring at the orbs, his brain drawing a blank, Kristoff enters the room. "Hi! Just thought I'd check in and see if I could be of any assistance before I head out."

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't think so," Varian replies, not taking his eyes off the orbs.

     "Alright then," Kristoff says. "See ya later." He starts to head out of the room, but an idea comes to Varian.

     "Actually... Wait," Varian says. "May I ask you something?"

     "Sure," Kristoff says. "Though I can't promise I'll be able to answer it."

     "I think you can," Varian says. "I was just wondering... What kind of things are there to do in Arendelle?"

     "What kind of things are you talking about?" Kristoff asks.

     Varian rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "Things like... for a date. I have one today. With Cassandra."

     Kristoff smirks knowingly. "Ahhh, I gotcha. I know all the best places for dates around here. And most of them don't require a reindeer..."

After discussing optimal dating locations with Kristoff for a while, Varian believes he knows the perfect itinerary for his and Cassandra's date. "Thanks, Kristoff. You've been a big help."

     "No problem," Kristoff says. "Good luck!"

     As Kristoff leaves, Hugo and Abhu come in. "Look who I found wandering the hallways like a lost little lamb," Hugo says, gesturing to Abhu.

"Don't call me that," Abhu says with a glare. He then turns his attention to Varian. "So, uh... I heard you made some progress with the orbs?"

     "Sort of," Varian says, holding up one of the orbs for Abhu to see the bright beam coming off of it. "We're still unsure about our next move, though."

     Abhu approaches the table, and absentmindedly plays with the orbs, rolling them around. Varian and Hugo share a concerned expression.

     "You okay there, buddy?" Hugo asks Abhu.

     "Fine," Abhu replies sharply. Neither of them believe him.

     But, as he rolls the orbs around each other, Varian notices something...

     "Hold it!" Varian shouts, startling Abhu. Abhu jumps back, as Varian grabs the yellow and the red orbs. He turns them to where their beams are aimed at each other, and a glowing ball of orange light appears between them.

"Good job, you've learned the basics of color mixing," Hugo says.

     "No, I think it's more than that." Varian aims the blue orb's beam at the orange light, and it changes to a strange bluish-gray color.

     "Well, now you broke it," Abhu remarks.

     "Just give me a second," Varian says. He takes the purple orb, and once he turns the beam to hit the gray light it suddenly bursts into a blinding shine of white.

"Whoa," Abhu and Hugo say in unison, shielding their eyes with their hands.

     "Another step forward," Varian says. "Now to figure out what we're supposed to do with this light."

"I'm beginning to think this is all a waste of time," Abhu says.

Varian and Hugo stare at him. "Where did that come from?" Hugo says.

"Why would you think this is a waste of time?" Varian asks. "We've come so far! And I have a feeling we're closer than we think to—"

"To what?" Abhu shouts, unexpectedly his fist on the table. "We have no clue whether or not this ridiculous odyssey is actually leading us to the cavern! For all we know, these orbs are just a dead-end."

"I don't believe that," Varian says. "I can't believe that. We are going to find that cavern, and it is going to show us how to save the Dark Kingdom. How to save my father."

"It's all about your father, isn't it?" Abhu sneers. "What about mine? Apparently, he had nothing better to do than set up this whole wild goose chase for us! However he did it..."

Varian could say a lot more in response, but he bites his tongue. He knows that Abhu has been through a lot the past couple of days. Losing his mind, almost killing someone, discovering his father is not who he thought he was... Varian actually feels sorry for Abhu.

"I think we should keep examining the orbs, and let our research decide whether this has all been for naught," Hugo says. He turns to Varian and says, "Me and Achoo will spend the day with the orbs. You need to go get ready." He waggles his eyebrows.

Um, what? "H-How do you know?!" Varian says. He only asked Cass out last night. Was Hugo eavesdropping?

"I overheard you and Kristoff earlier," Hugo says with a smirk. "You have fun today."

"Wait, what are you doing today?" Abhu asks.

"Uhhhh..." Varian pulls at the collar of his shirt nervously. "Well, you see, I..."

"I'll tell you later," Hugo says to Abhu. "Now get outta here, Freckles!"

Varian nods, and exits the room. He is both elated and anxious about his date with Cass. But mostly excited. He really hopes everything goes well. Now, to head off and prepare what he has planned...

The brilliant golden glow of evening's light has fallen upon Arendelle. Varian paces outside of the castle, awaiting Cassandra's arrival. He has removed his goggles and is wearing a nice shirt and sash that Queen Anna let him borrow from Kristoff's wardrobe (according to her, Kristoff never wears it, anyway). Some tailors in the castle were able to fit the clothes to his size.

Finally, he sees her. Cassandra exits the castle, and spots him immediately. As she begins to walk towards him, a gentle smile on her face, his breath catches in his throat. Her long, raven hair is pulled back loosely, and she is wearing a simple but gorgeous deep purple dress. And of course, the Cassandrium necklace falls perfectly around her neck. To him, she has never looked more beautiful.

"Hey," she says softly. "You clean up nicely."

"Th-Thank you," he replies, forcing himself to breathe. "Y-You look... Wow! I mean, you look amazing. Really... amazing." Calm down, Varian... He tells himself. Focus on your words.

Cassandra chuckles. "Thanks. It's not exactly my first choice in attire, but Queen Anna caught wind of our date and wanted to contribute so... I couldn't say no."

Anna really is generous, Varian thinks. "Well, I'm glad," he says. "It's really..."

"...Amazing?" Cassandra teases.

Varian facepalms. "Sorry, I... I know I'm not acting like myself."

"Trust me, I get it," she says. "This is new for me, too. But..." She takes his hand, and he can feel the heat rising in his cheeks. "I think we can handle it."

"Agreed," Varian says. He raises her hand to his lips, and brushes them against her knuckles. "Shall we, milady?"

"Lead the way," she says, holding onto his arm as he guides her towards the village.

(Here are their new date outfits without the 'golden hour' lighting! Designed by me.)

Chapter Text

     Here she is.

     On a date.

     With Varian.

     Cassandra is feeling a mixture of emotions. This makes everything real. Well, okay... their first kiss made everything real. But this? This makes it really real. She is nervous. She is terrified. She can barely believe she is doing this.

     But she plans on shoving all of those negative feelings aside. She is going to give this date her all, and truly determine whether or not she and Varian are meant to be.

     At the moment, the two of them are strolling through the cobblestone streets of Arendelle. She spent a few years here, back when she was a guard for Queen Anna. But she was too focused on her work at the time. She didn't really explore much of what leisure activities the kingdom has to offer.

     "I thought our first stop could be this bakery Kristoff told me about," Varian says. "He said they have the best krumkaker."

     "Hold on," Cassandra says. "A bakery?" She doesn't go to bakeries. Someone might see her. She has never wanted anyone to know about her secret sweet tooth.

     "Yeah," Varian replies with a smirk. "You still enjoy sweets, don't you?"

     "Still? What makes you think I ever did?"

     "Come on Cass, I've known about your secret love of sweets since before you left Corona."

     Once again, Cassandra is stunned by how well Varian knows her. "So, we're having dessert before supper?"

     "Yep. I like to live on the edge."

     "Uh-huh. Sounds like Rapunzel's influence."

     Varian laughs. "It may be a habit she and I share."

As the two of them enter the bakery, hand in hand, the sugary aroma immediately reaches Cassandra's nostrils and causes her mouth to water. Varian orders some krumkaker for them, and once the baker hands the desserts to him they take a seat at a small, round table.

"You know, I've never had a krumkake before," Varian says, observing the cookie closely.

"I've had them plenty of times," Cassandra says. "They're Queen Anna's favorite dessert, so they're at every banquet. She's practically made it mandatory that everyone in the kingdom eat them. Although, I've never tried them from this particular bakery."

"And you like them, right?" Varian says.

Cassandra glares at him, but finally caves. "Alright, yes! They're... delicious."

"Thought so," Varian says with a wink. He then proceeds to take a bite of the krumkake. "Mmm!"

Cassandra bites into her krumkake. The cookie has a pleasant crunch, and the sweetness of the cream dances along her tastebuds. Kristoff was right... This is the best krumkake she's ever had!

"It's... not bad," she says, severely understating her feelings about this dessert. She then chuckles when she sees a dab of cream in the corner of Varian's mouth. "I think you missed some."

"What? Where?" He asks, wiping his hand along every spot around his mouth except for where the cream actually is.

"Here, let me get it..." Cassandra grabs a napkin, and stands up across the table to gently rub the cream off his face. As she does so, he delicately tucks a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. This action catches her off guard, and she sits back down in her chair, positive that her cheeks are glowing pink. "There, I got it," she says, turning away and staring at the floor.

"Maybe I was saving it for later," Varian says, unable to stop smiling.

He thinks he's being so smooth, Cassandra thinks. She finds this mildly annoying, but also incredibly endearing. A strange combination that confuses her.

Once they have finished their krumkaker, Varian leads Cass out of the bakery and to a horse-drawn carriage down the street. "You up for a carriage ride?" He asks her.

Cass smirks playfully. "What if I say no?"

"Then you'd be missing out on the surprise I have planned," he replies.

"The krumkaker and carriage ride aren't already enough of surprises?"

"Just trust me. Hop in!" He extends his hand, and assists her into the carriage, bowing slightly as he does so.

"What a gentleman," Cassandra says, as Varian takes his seat next to her in the carriage. She hesitates for a moment before looping her arm through his. It may be difficult for her to show affection at times, but she reminds herself that she is giving this date everything she's got. Shoving her nerves down, she cuddles closer to Varian as the coachman begins to drive forward.

For a few minutes, they enjoy the ride in silence. She is content with simply taking pleasure in his company, but when she gazes up at him his facial expression seems worried.

"You okay?" She asks.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah! Why do you ask?"

"You're awfully quiet," she replies. "While I'm perfectly fine with it, it doesn't seem like you."

"Yeah..." He says again. "I guess... I guess I'm just nervous. You know how much I care for you. How much I have cared for you for a long time. Now that you're finally giving me a chance, I really don't want to screw things up." He chuckles anxiously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh, sorta have a history of screwing thinks up."

Cassandra strokes his cheek with the back of her hand before she can stop herself. "I want this to work out too." She gives the same spot on his cheek a light kiss, and feels a warmth spread within her chest as he leans into it. "If it eases your concern any, you're doing great so far."

He takes her hand, and squeezes it gently. "It does. Thank you."

After a pleasant ride through Arendelle's picturesque village, the carriage stops along the outskirts. Varian hops out, and gestures for Cassandra to follow him.

"Where are we going?" She asks as he helps her disembark.

"You'll see," he replies. "You trust me, right?"

"Of course," she says. "Although, the way you're saying it right now makes me a little hesitant."

"Don't worry," he says. He then smiles teasingly as he adds, "You've still got my scarf, right? You know, since you never gave it back to me."

"Oh..." His red scarf. The one he tied around her eyes to protect her from the hypnotic crystals. It proved to be such a comfort to her after his fall off the cliff, that she found it difficult to return it to him. "You noticed, huh?" She bites her lip embarrassedly.

     "Yeah, but it's fine," he says. "Do you have it with you?"

"Not on me, no," she replies. "It didn't exactly go with this outfit."

"Gotcha. Say no more." He reveals his red bandana, the same one he wore around the crystals. He gestures for her to turn around.

"Wait, why do I have to be blindfolded?" She asks. But she goes ahead and spins around.

"Like I said, just trust me." He ties the bandana around her eyes, taking care to do so as gently as possible. He then grasps her hand, and leads her along as she blindly follows.

A few minutes pass, and the terrain begins to grow more difficult to travel. It becomes clear he is leading her up a steep incline, and since she is unable to see he practically has to drag her along.

     "How are you able to do this?" Cassandra asks. "Doesn't your leg hurt?"

     "A little, but the splint I made for it helps," Varian replies.

Finally, they reach what seems to be the top of the incline. "That was... a workout," Cassandra says, panting exhaustedly.

"Sorry about that," Varian says. "But I promise it'll be worth it."

He removes her blindfold, and the sight before her causes her to gasp. The two of them are below a humongous wisteria tree. The long branches dangle around them, their gorgeous purple blossoms casting off a magnificent and relaxing scent. The tree is atop a lofty hill, overlooking the village below.

"It's... It's beautiful," Cassandra says in awe.

"It is, isn't it?" Varian says. But when she turns to face him, his eyes aren't on the view but rather are on her. When he notices that she is looking, he averts his eyes. "Uh... follow me. Over here."

     Next to the trunk of the tree, a picnic basket is laid out on top of a blanket that dons Arendelle's familiar crocus. The two of them take a seat on the blanket, as Varian unpacks dishes from the basket.

     "I had a talk with the chef at the castle," Varian says. "He whipped up a few things that he said you ordered frequently during your previous stay here."

     Cassandra is again surprised. "You keep pulling out all the stops, don't you?"

     "Only the best for you," Varian replies softly. "But I'm not done yet." He points up into the tree, and when she gazes through the branches she notices something silver and shiny amidst all the light purple blossoms. Actually, she spots a few shiny silver things spread throughout the tree.

     "What are those?" She asks. But instead of replying to her, Varian speaks to the wind:

     "Gale, you ready?"

     In response, Gale blows gently through the wisteria branches. As she does so, the silver objects turn out to be wind chimes. Their gentle tinkling plays a beautiful melody. A familiar melody.

     "That's... That's the lullaby my dad used to sing to me," Cassandra says, her eyes misting at the nostalgic memory. "It's my favorite song. But how did you—?"

     "How did I do it, or how did I know it's your favorite song?"

     "Both, really. But mostly, how did you know?"

     Varian smiles softly. "Let's just say, Rapunzel shared a lot of her knowledge about you with me over the years. And as for how I did it, I simply attached tubes that emit a certain note to each wind chime and placed them strategically throughout the tree. Gale did the rest."

     If Cassandra still had any doubts about her feelings for Varian, they are no longer present. She is continuing to fall harder for him, not because he can pull off a smooth and successful date, but because he knows her so well. And because he cares so deeply about her to do all of this for her. Leaning forward, she plants a tender kiss on his lips. "Thank you, Varian. Really. I'm... I'm very impressed."

"Mission accomplished," Varian says. His smile couldn't be any wider if he tried.

     After digging into their dinner and enjoying a bit of small talk, the two of them lay back against the tree trunk and gaze at the stars. Varian drapes his arm around Cassandra, as she rests her head against his chest. The rising and falling of his breathing soothes her.

     "So... Is it too early to ask for a second date?" Varian asks bashfully.

     "How about we wait until our mission is finished first?" Cassandra says. "But, my answer is yes. I will absolutely go out with you again, Varian."

     His elated expression makes her heart melt. "I, um, I know I've sort of said it before. And I know this is only our first date, but... I can't help it. I... I love you, Cassie."

     Wow, the L-word already. Way to lay it on thick. But she can't really blame him. He has been waiting a lot longer for this than she has. And considering she can barely keep the butterflies in her stomach under control when he calls her Cassie, she may be well on her way to saying it herself...

     He seems to notice that she has grown slightly uncomfortable. "I-I'm sorry. Please don't think I expect you to say it back yet. I'm not trying to put any kind of pressure on you or anything, it's just how I feel. I—"

     She silences him by placing her finger against his lips. "It's okay, I get it. I know you're not trying to pressure me, and I appreciate it. It may be more awkward for me to share my own feelings, but... I'll admit, it's nice to hear how you feel."

     She is about to give him another kiss, an action that has become much easier for her to do than talking, when the sky suddenly lights up with a stunning array of blues and greens.

"The aurora borealis," Varian gasps in awe. "I've heard of them, but I didn't think they would be this stunning!"

     "What, you didn't plan this?" Cassandra jokes.

     "Well, Kristoff did say this was the best spot in Arendelle to observe them. But since they don't occur every night, I didn't think we'd be lucky enough to see them."

Living here before, Cass has seen the Northern Lights plenty of times. But this is the best viewing she has ever seen of them, and it isn't just because of the location.

"I'm glad to be sharing this with you, Varian." She gazes deeply into his eyes, feeling her heartbeat thump faster.

Varian blushes and clears his throat. "Um... May I kiss you?"

Cassandra chuckles. "Varian, you don't have to ask permission to kiss me."

"I'm just making sure. Y-You've been kissing me a lot, but I'm never sure when to kiss you. I don't want to upset you."

"What? You're not going to upset me. I agreed to be in a relationship with you. It goes both ways."

"So... is that a yes?"

"It's an indefinite yes."

Varian cups her face and kisses her, long and slow. She closes her eyes, losing herself in his touch, as he leans her back against the tree and she tangles her fingers in his hair. The brilliant display of lights above them reflects upon their faces as he deepens the kiss. Once they finally break apart, they are both breathless.

The perfect ending to a perfect night.

Chapter Text

"Everything sounds so magical!" Opal says, a starry look in her eyes. "I hope I can visit that hill in Arendelle someday!"

Cassandra smiles, laying her hand over Varian's. "It was definitely an incredible date I will never forget."

"And, as if it wasn't already amazing enough," Varian says, "a conversation we had ended up turning into an idea that helped us figure out what the orbs were for..."

Varian cannot accurately put into words how perfect today was. It was wonderful. Marvelous. Magical. Superb. Sublime. Fantastic. He could go on and on. But no matter how many adjectives he comes up with, they still are not enough.

     He thought he had already fallen hard for Cassandra, but with every moment they share his feelings grow more intense. He is past the point of no return.

     He doesn't just love her.

     He can't live without her.

     After one last kiss, the two of them head back down the hill—a much easier task than going up it.

     "I've gotta say, I'm a little surprised you didn't pull some kind of alchemical stunt today," Cassandra says once they reach the bottom.

     Varian smirks. "Give it a second." He points up, and fireworks shoot from the wisteria tree, lighting up the sky.

     "Wha—" Cassandra is stunned. "Where did those...?"

     Varian shrugs nonchalantly. "Eh, just some simple fireworks I attached to the tops of the wind chimes. Gale has a little friend, Bruni the fire spirit. I told her to have him light them as we left."

     Cassandra shakes her head. "When you first asked me out, I almost expected you to do something over-the-top."

     "Hey, I gotta save something for our second date," he jokes.

     Cassandra lays her head against his arm as they walk. "I can't wait."

     Simply the thought of her willingness to go out with him again brings him indescribable bliss. He never dared to dream that she would go out on one date with him, let alone two!

     Together, they take a carriage back to the castle. The entire way, Cassandra remains silent. Varian hopes that maybe she is reliving their time together tonight in her mind's eye, like he is. But once they arrive at the castle and hop out of the carriage, he notices how concerned she looks. Her forehead is creased in concentration, like she is thinking deeply about something.

     "What's on your mind?" He asks.

     For a moment she doesn't meet his eyes. Hesitantly, she replies, "Varian, I have something I want to say to you."

     "You can say anything to me," he says. He wants to reach out and take her hand, but she has her arms wrapped around herself.

     "Well, I... I don't really know where to start." She takes in a deep, shaky breath. With every second she delays, he becomes increasingly concerned about what she is going to say. "I had the best time tonight, and of course I want our relationship to continue. But I want to go into it with a clean slate."

     "What do you mean?"

     "I mean, I never really apologized. To you, directly. For all the things I did."

     "Cass, you don't have to—"

     "Yes, I do!" She sighs, and stares down at the ground. "As much as I try to fight it, I still struggle with the bad choices I made. And now that we've started going down this new path together, I don't want to have any regrets. And something I regret, especially now, is not apologizing to you. So... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for kidnapping you. I'm sorry for not listening to you when you were only trying to help me see reason. I'm sorry for imprisoning you, for using you, for hurting you... in more ways than one. I'm sorry for mindtrapping your family." She finally takes a breath before adding, "And I'm sorry for making you wait so long for an apology."

     Varian steps forward and places a comforting hand on her folded forearm. "You don't ever have to worry about those things again with me. I was in the same place as you were, once. I understand, and I don't hold anything against you. We are going into this relationship with a clean slate. It's the cleanest of slates, as far as I'm concerned!"

     Cassandra shakes her head. "How can you be so okay with all those things? I brainwashed your father!"

     "Cass, you were brainwashed," Varian reminds her. "I don't blame you anymore, I blame Zhan Tiri."

     "Anymore?" Cassandra repeats.

     "What, are you trying to make me mad at you?" Varian sighs. "Okay, I'll admit that at the time it was a struggle for me. I wanted to be mad at you, and for a time I was. But I also knew that I had done practically the same thing, except I didn't have anyone else to blame for it but myself. So I got over it."

     Cassandra smiles, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever understand why you care for me so much."

     "Even though I've already told you why?"

     She finally unfolds her arms, and wraps him in a tight embrace. "Yes, no matter how much you tell me. But I'm glad you feel that way."

     Varian returns the embrace, wishing he never has to let go. He also wishes he could make Cassandra see herself the way he sees her. But maybe, allowing his love into her heart can help her see her life differently. He can only hope, and try to be the best man he can be. For her.

     "You know," he says as they head into the castle, hand-in-hand. "You may have only bad memories when you reflect on those times, but when I remember them I recall thinking how, well... how attractive you looked in that Moon Stone suit."

     At first Cassandra is taken aback, but then she begins to laugh. "Oh, yes. And I'm sure I looked so attractive from the vantage point of that rock cage I kept you in."

     "There you go with the negative memories again!" He says. But he is happy that he can help her joke about that time.

     "You're telling me you actually enjoyed being held captive by me?!"

     "No, I'm not saying that," Varian replies. "Like I said, at the time I was pretty angry with you. And scared... I was more scared than anything." He winks as he adds, "But it helped that the view wasn't too bad."

     "Now you're just being ridiculous." She rolls her eyes, and shoves him playfully. "But I guess I learned something else I regret. I'm sorry for scaring you."

     "No more apologies from you tonight," Varian says. "Besides, if anyone should apologize it's Zhan Tiri. She didn't just manipulate you. She appeared to me in a dream while I was in your rock cage. Sheesh, it was freaky..."

     "She did?" Cassandra's eyes widen in surprise. "What did she say?"

     "She told me that, to discover the hidden incantation on the scroll, I had to 'use the sun to see the sun.' It took me a while to figure out, but..." The end of his sentence trails off as an idea strikes him.

     'Use the sun to see the sun'... He used a concentrated beam of sunlight to reveal the photoreactive ink written on the scroll.

     What if...

     What if the beam coming from the combined orbs is meant to reveal something that is invisible?

     What do they have that appears to be blank?

     The last sixteen pages of the journal.

     What if a sort of photoreactive ink is written on them, as well?

     He has to test this theory out, right now!

     "Yoo-hoo, you still there?" Cassandra waves her hands in front of Varian's blank face.

     "I think I've got it!" In his excitement, he grabs her face and kisses her hard on the mouth. "I knew going on a date with you would help!"

     Her facial expression indicates she is pleasantly stunned. He grasps her hand, and drags her through the castle with him all the way to the meeting room. They burst through the doors, where Hugo and Abhu are standing over the orbs.

     "I need to test something!" Varian says, ignoring the confused looks the others are giving him. "Abhu, give me the last pages of your journal! Please."

     Abhu hands him the journal, and Varian immediately flips to the back.

     "You wanna explain what's going on, Freckles?" Hugo asks.

     With the orbs' lights already combined, Varian places one of the empty journal pages within the blinding beam. "I have a theory. The empty journal pages may not be empty at all but, in fact, have a type of photoreactive ink on them. The beam from the orbs could be the concentrated light specifically designed to reveal what is hidden!"

     Hugo seems skeptical at first, until dark lines begin to appear on the blank page. "Okay, that's rather genius."

     "Isn't it?!" Varian says with a delighted snort. "It's really so obvious! I can't believe I didn't think of it before."

     They all gather around Varian to observe what has appeared on the page.

     "That's quite the discovery," Cassandra says sarcastically. "A bunch of squiggly lines..."

     "Do another one," Abhu tells Varian. He complies, noticing that the lines disappear as he removes the page from the light. But the next page is only more unrecognizable lines.

     "It almost looks like it could be a map," Varian says. "But it's not any area that I'm familiar with."

     "Maybe if we put them all together?" Cassandra suggests. "Like a puzzle."

     "But we can only place one page at a time within the light," Abhu says.

     "Guess that means we'll have to transfer them onto other sheets of paper, by tracing," Varian says.

     "Great idea, Freckles! Why don't you get on that?" Hugo says, slapping Varian on the back enthusiastically.

     "Wha— But I discovered this!" Varian says. "Shouldn't you help, at least?"

     "Like Achoo said, only one page can be done at a time. Besides, figured you'd be anxious to give it a go."

     "Yeah, I need some shuteye anyway," Abhu says. "While you were out, ahem, having fun, we've been working all day on experimenting with these orbs."

     "Fine, I'll do it myself," Varian says. Judging by the look on Abhu's face, he assumes Hugo told him the reason Varian and Cass were gone today. He honestly expected Abhu to have more to say on the subject. But he only slinks out of the room, and off to bed.

     Hugo smirks at Varian and Cassandra. "The two of you seem in good spirits. Hope everything went well."

     They both shift uncomfortably, something that Hugo seems to take pleasure in. He chuckles, and then exits the room.

     "Well, guess I better get to work," Varian says. He pulls out his notebook, and takes a seat at the table.

     Cassandra stands behind him, and kisses the top of his head. "Mind if I stay for a little while, just to keep you company?"

     "I don't mind at all," Varian says. He knows she will most likely be a distraction, but at least tracing something on paper doesn't require a lot of thought. "You know I never mind your company."

Chapter Text

The hour is growing later. Cassandra should be going to bed, but she knows she wouldn't be able to sleep. After an amazing first date with Varian, and his newest discovery with the orbs, there is too much to be excited about for her brain to shut down. So instead, she is sitting in the meeting room with him and his raccoon, the latter of which is curled up in a chair sound asleep.

     Queen Anna, being the sweet girl that she is, told Cassandra she could have the run of the castle. So Cass decides to take a break from distracting Varian, change out of her date clothes into something more comfortable, and heads to the kitchen to make herself some soothing tea. While she's there she makes Varian a cup of coffee, as well. She figures he'll probably be at his work for a while, so he'll need it.

     As she walks back into the meeting room and sets the coffee in front of him, he doesn't so much as raise his head. Did he even realize she left? She stands next to him, unable to take her eyes off of him. He is so confident, so determined. He has an air of maturity about him, an unwavering stability in his resolve to complete his work and unravel this mystery.

     And it is extremely attractive. How has she never noticed any of this before?

He is so immensely engaged in tracing the journal pages that he has been utterly unaware of anything else, but he must sense her gaze upon him because he finally meets her eyes. "What's wrong?" He asks, genuine concern in his voice. "Is there something on my face?"

Cassandra chuckles. It is so cute how he still isn't quite used to the fact that they are together now. "Yes, your lips. Now give 'em." Pulling him toward her by his shirt collar, she crashes her lips into his. His eyes widen at this sudden display of affection, but then they slide closed and he melts into her deep kiss.

"Sorry," she says once they separate. "I couldn't resist."

     "That is never something you have to apologize for," he says, a smitten expression on his face.

     Cassandra takes a seat next to him, and sips on her tea as she pushes the coffee towards him. "I thought this might help."

"Oh, thanks," Varian says, taking the coffee eagerly. "Eugene won't let me have coffee anymore after the 'Sleepless Week' incident."

At the mention of this incident, whatever it is, Ruddiger awakens and begins chittering fearfully. He grabs the mug of coffee before either of them can stop him, and dashes out of the room with it, spilling its contents everywhere.

"Do I want to know?" Cassandra asks, staring with wide eyes after the raccoon.

"Uh... forget I mentioned it," Varian says, promptly returning to his work.

Cassandra sighs, twirling the end of Varian's hair around her finger. "I missed a lot while I was gone, didn't I?"

"Maybe," Varian says. "But it's what you had to do. No one holds that against you."

"Good to know," she says.

A surprising knock on the doorframe startles both of them. "Sorry if I scared you," Abhu says. "I couldn't sleep, so I just wanted to check on your progress."

Varian and Cassandra gaze down at the journal pages. Three out of sixteen... May I am being too much of a distraction for him, Cassandra thinks.

"It's... coming along," Varian says.

Abhu quietly takes a seat across from them and watches Varian as he works. He isn't saying a word, but Cassandra can feel him judging them. And it is making her uncomfortable.

"You know, I'm suddenly feeling exhausted," she lies, standing up. "I think I'll head off to bed now." There is a part of her that desires to give Varian a kiss goodnight, but in front of Abhu? No way.

"Oh please, don't leave on my account," Abhu grumbles. "I already know about the two of you."

"Yeah, I figured..." Cassandra says.

"Were you ever going to tell me that there was something going on between you?" Abhu asks.

"This is not something I want to discuss with you," Cassandra says.

"I mean, I knew how he felt about you," Abhu continues, jerking his thumb in Varian's direction. "But when did you start to reciprocate?"

"Abhu, it's really none of your business," Cassandra tells him firmly.

As they bicker, Varian's eyes remain glued on the journal pages, as if he is unsure whether to speak up or remain silent.

"Fine, fine," Abhu says, holding up his hands. "I just thought we used to be friends."

"You forfeited your right to call me a friend when you said you were done with me!" Cass shouts.

     To her surprise, Abhu backs down. "About that..." He sighs heavily. And are his hands shaking? "I may have been a bit too harsh."

     "May have been?" Varian repeats, finally joining the conversation. "You basically told her she wasn't worthy enough to love!"

     "I know!" Abhu says. "And it was the biggest mistake I ever made!"

     An awkward pause permeates the room. "You're not saying what I think you're saying," Cassandra says.

     "What, that I still have feelings for you?" Abhu shakes his head. "Please, I wouldn't dare say that. I can already tell the two of you are too chummy for me to ever have a chance with you."

     "Then what are you saying?" Varian asks, growing defensive.

     "I'm saying, I pushed all of you away. And I'm sorry," Abhu says. He meets Cassandra's eyes again as he adds, "Setting my feelings for you aside, you were my best friend. I know I was never yours, but I still knew that I could count on you. And now that I'm going through the worst time in my life, I find that I have no one to lean on... and it's my fault."

     Cassandra realizes that she does feel some sympathy for him. Almost killing Varian, finding out the mystery of his father is deeper than he ever imagined... It must be tough. She knows a thing or two about going through difficult times and not having anyone to lean on.

     "As much as you've been a jerk, and you have been a jerk," Cassandra says, "you're still a part of this group. That means we stick together, to the end."

     Abhu actually smiles, a rarer sight than Cassandra's own smiles. But it is still weak.

     Varian clears his throat. "Just to be clear... to the end refers to the end of this mission, or...?" When Cassandra scowls at him, he chuckles. "Just kidding. We're here for you, Abhu."

     Abhu nods. He lets out a relieved breath, visibly relaxing his shoulders. "So, um... You figure anything else out?"

     "Not yet," Varian tells him, returning his attention to the pages. "I still have some work to do."

     "Do you think we'll ever really find it?" Abhu asks. "This cavern my dad searched for?"

     "I still think it's possible," Varian replies. "Otherwise, what is all of this leading us toward?"

     Abhu nods again, but he still doesn't seem totally convinced.

     "Something else on your mind?" Cassandra asks, noticing how fidgety he is.

     "I guess it still bothers me, what Elsa discovered about my dad," Abhu says. "How could he have set all of this up? I've run through a billion scenarios in my head, and none of them make sense."

     "Maybe the cavern can show you, when we find it," Varian suggests. He has begun to work on the pages again as he converses.

     Abhu's face lights up. "Hey, maybe you're right. It's supposed to know all of Infinity, right? It should be able to show me my father's story!" He clasps Varian's shoulder, causing his hand to jerk and mess up the tracing. "Thanks!"

     "No, thank you," Varian mutters sarcastically. "Now I've gotta start this page over again..."

     Cassandra can see that Varian is doing his best to be kind, but Abhu is beginning to try his patience. "Come on, Abhu. We'd better leave the alchemist to his work." As they leave, Varian gives her a grateful smile, and she gives him a subtle wink in return.

Walking through the castle, they arrive at Abhu's room first. "Hey Cassie, I really did mean it when I said I'm sorry for how I spoke to you. You know, back on the island."

     "I know you did," she says. "And I appreciate your apology. But seriously, can you please stop calling me Cassie? You know I don't like it."

     Abhu glances back in the direction of the meeting room, where Varian is continuing to work. "But you like it when he calls you that?"

     "Um..." Cassandra bites her lip. Yes, she loves it when Varian calls her Cassie. She didn't used to, but now she feels heat rise in her cheeks and her knees grow weak whenever he does. Can she explain it without sounding insane? No. "I've already told you, I'm not comfortable discussing mine and Varian's relationship with you."

     "Alright, alright..." Abhu finally yields. "Guess all I can say is, I hope you find the happiness you've been looking for." He offers her a small, genuine smile, and then disappears inside his room, shutting the door behind him.

Cassandra strolls to her own room, and finds Owl waiting for her in the windowsill. She gives him a gentle pat on the head, and he hoots contentedly. As she settles into bed and snuggles under the covers, she finds herself feeling relieved to have patched things up with Abhu. Yes, he may be frustrating. Yes, he may have been an annoyance to her since the day they met. And he still is. But it was bothering her more than she realized that he had grown to despise her so much.

     However, as much relief as it brings her knowing things are okay between her and Abhu, it brings her more joy than she can describe thinking about her and Varian. Their relationship is only beginning, yet her feelings for him are stronger than she ever thought possible. It perplexes her how something so strong can cause her to feel so weak at the same time, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

     Closing her eyes, she drifts off to sleep, dreaming of the past adventures she shared with Abhu and the future adventures she will share with Varian.

     "I hope you find the happiness you've been looking for," Abhu said.

     In this moment, she truly feels that happiness that has eluded her for so long.

Chapter Text

"I've done it!" Varian shouts triumphantly. He rushes out of the meeting room, down the hallway, and into Hugo's room. "I finished tracing the map!"

     Hugo bolts out of bed in shock. "Wha— Freckles? It's still the middle of the night!"

"No it's not, it's just really early in the morning," Varian replies. "Besides, it's not like you were sleeping, anyway."

     "And now I never will again," Hugo says, clutching his chest as he gets out of bed, puts his glasses on, and changes out of his pajamas.

     After rousing Abhu and Cassandra, they all head to the meeting room. "All sixteen pages are complete!" Varian says, gesturing to the table where they are neatly spread across it in four even rows.

     "So, it is like a puzzle," Cassandra says as they observe the pages closer.

     "Yep, and I put them all together!" Varian replies proudly, pointing out that the pages are now glued to each other.

     "What is it a puzzle of, though?" Abhu asks.

     "I say it's a map," Varian says. "The location is, as of yet, unrecognizable. But, this page here—" He points to the page in the top, left corner. "—has the Dark Kingdom's emblem on it."

     Abhu groans. "We're going back to the Dark Kingdom?"

     "That is where this all began," Hugo says. "It only makes sense."

     "But the Angst is still there..." Cassandra points out.

     Varian notices a flicker of fear on her face. He instinctively moves forward to give her a reassuring hug, but she steps back slightly. Right, no displays of affection in front of the others... He thinks. He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, but a part of him is still mildly disappointed. "I guess we'll have to be extra careful not to show fear," he says instead.

     Hugo scans his eyes over the map. "This doesn't seem right, though. These lines here look like rivers, but... where in the Dark Kingdom would this be? I've traveled all over, and I've never seen rivers make a shape like that." He points to squiggly lines that form a sort of spiral towards the bottom of the map.

     "I guess we'll have to figure it out when we get there," Varian replies. He glances at Cassandra again, who appears more calm outwardly than he can see that she actually is in her eyes.

     "Alright... Let's pack up and head out," Cassandra says. He knows none of the others hear the catch in her voice. But he does.

     When the others aren't looking, Varian touches Cassandra's shoulder lightly. "Hey, you okay?" He asks.

"I'm fine," she tells him. "Let's just get going, okay?"

     No, it's not okay. He can tell when she is putting up a wall. He figured that, now that they're together, she wouldn't feel the need to do that anymore with him. But old habits are hard to break. He'll just discuss it with her later at a more convenient time.

     After repacking their balloon, and saying goodbye to their Arendelle friends, they take to the skies. It feels good to actively be back on the mission. Arendelle is incredible, and Varian had more of an amazing time here than he ever thought he could have anywhere. But he still felt that they were a bit stagnent, mission-wise. He continues to worry about his father with each day, and now he has so much to tell him!

     Oh no... He has so much to tell him! What will Quirin think of Varian and Cassandra's relationship? His father never really got to know Cass all that well before, and Varian isn't sure if he ever truly got over her hostile takeover of Corona... or the fact that she brainwashed him. And kidnapped his son. Will Quirin approve of them?

     "Looks like you've got a lot going on in that big brain of yours," Hugo says, leaning against the edge of the basket with Varian.

     "I guess you could say that," Varian says. Surprisingly, he wouldn't mind discussing his concerns with Hugo. But not at the moment, with Cassandra and Abhu both so close within earshot.

"Don't tell me you're having troubles with your lady already," Hugo whispers.

Varian rolls his eyes. "Not exactly..."

Owl hoots above them, happily weaving around the balloon. Abhu scowls up at him, pure disgust on his face.

"Still wish I knew what Achoo's issue was with owls," Hugo says.

"It's a mystery we may never uncover," Varian says.

Time crawls along, but finally they see the familiar appearance of the Dark Kingdom drawing near. To no one's surprise, the dome is still surrounding the rebuilt section of the kingdom. But one thing is yet to come into view...

"Where's the Angst?" Abhu asks.

Cassandra glares at him. "Are you insane? Don't even mention that thing when we're this close! You might summon it or something."

"So what's the plan?" Hugo says.

"We bring the balloon down, take a look around, see if anything resembles any of the landmarks on the map," Varian replies.

"I guess we could land over there," Cassandra says, pointing to an open area where Corona's Royal balloon is parked and a campfire is set up. "That must be where Adira is camping out now."

After bringing the balloon down, they hop out of the basket and approach the campsite. After a moment, Adira appears. And behind her is Lance.

"Hey guys, long time no see!" Lance says to Varian, Cassandra, and Abhu. Once he sees Hugo, he gasps. "And Hugo! Wow! It's been even longer."

"Lance Strongbow!" Hugo says in recognition. "I wondered what ever happened to you, big guy. After you stopped partnering up with Flynn Rider, you fell off the face of the earth."

"Ah, you know, livin' the dream," Lance replies.

"Uh, Lance..." Varian says. "What are you doing here?"

Lance casts a cool smile Adira's way. "After Adira brought Eugene back, she practically begged me to come with her! I couldn't say no to her angelic face."

Cassandra raises her eyebrow, and turns to Adira. "Yeah, what actually happened?"

Adira sighs exasperatedly. "He ran after me when I left, and grabbed onto the basket as the balloon was lifting up."

"Yep, that makes more sense." Cassandra knows how infatuated Lance has been with Adira ever since they met her on their journey to discover Rapunzel's destiny, despite the fact that she is old enough to be his mother and she has shown barely any signs of returning his interest. But he has always remained steadfast, pursuing her without letup.

Cassandra's first thought is to feel sorry for Adira. But it worked out for her and Varian... So who is she to judge?

"Has there been any sign of the, uh, you-know-what?" Abhu asks.

"The Angst has kept its distance," Adira says. "Neither of us have shown any signs of fear."

"That's right!" Lance agrees. "When we're with each other, we're not afraid of anything."

Adira pinches the bridge of her nose, but there is a softness behind her eyes that wasn't there the last time they saw her. Adira may not know exactly how she feels about Lance, but Cass can tell there is still some type of affection there, be it romantic or otherwise.

"What brings you back?" Adira asks them. "Did you discover the mystical cavern?"

"Not yet," Varian admits. "We found an invisible map on the blank pages of Abhu's journal that led us back here, but we're not sure where the map is actually located."

When his response is met with quizzical expressions, he takes out the glued journal pages and unfolds them for Adira and Lance to see. "The Dark Kingdom insignia is in the corner, but none of these landmarks make sense."

"That one does," Adira says, pointing to a bizarrely-shaped marking right below the insignia. "It's the same shape as a rock I pass every day when making my rounds."

"What?" Hugo doesn't seem convinced. "But look at these spiraling rivers! There's nothing like that around here."

"Maybe you're looking at it from the wrong point of view, and those are not rivers," Adira suggests.

"What she said," Lance says, desperately wanting to be a part of the conversation but apparently falling short of anything to contribute.

"I'm not sure what you mean, but we won't know until we go check it out," Cassandra says.

Varian smiles at her, and for a brief moment she considers holding his hand as they follow Adira to the strange rock. But there are too many people around, and she isn't comfortable with the idea... A small part of her feels bad about doing this to him, especially considering how sweet and sympathetic he has been about it. She only hopes that he continues to be understanding of her feelings.

But what if he doesn't? What if he grows tired of her bashful antics regarding public displays of affection? She can't stand the thought of losing him over something like that. Would he ever do that, though?

She knows the notion is ridiculous. Nevertheless, the thought of losing him for any reason strikes fear into her heart. She has come too far to lose him. She resolves to do whatever it takes to make sure that never happens.

Whoosh...

As the gang make their way towards the rock, they freeze once they see what is in their path.

Oh no... Cassandra thinks, a realization dawning on her as the Angst blocks their way. I allowed myself to feel fear...

However fleeting that brief moment of fear may have been, it was apparently enough to attract the horrifying creature.

(Lance finally gets his full outfit revealed! He was in a couple of images in the beginning of the story, but you couldn't see the whole thing.)

Chapter Text

"Oh no, the scary creature is back!" Opal buries her face into Luna's soft fur.

     "Scary is right," Varian says. "It was definitely not a welcome sight."

     "And the worst part was, I knew it was there for me," Cassandra says. "I just didn't know what it had planned for me..."

"Everyone stand completely still," Adira commands gravely, as they face off against the Angst.

"If one of us is feeling fear, do you really think not moving is going to solve anything?!" Abhu says.

Cassandra cannot believe she brought this upon them. How could she be so careless? "You guys go. I'll... I'll hold it off somehow."

"What?" Varian steps closer to her. Ugh, and he is wearing his annoyingly adorable expression of concern. "Cass, are you... are you the reason the Angst is here?"

When she doesn't respond, he takes both of her hands in his. But she forces them out. "Not now, Varian. Just get out of here!"

"Like I'm going to leave you," Varian scoffs.

Lance stares at the creature with wide eyes. "I think leaving is an excellent idea!"

He's right, Cassandra thinks. If the Angst really is after me, leaving is exactly what I need to do.

"Just get to that rock," Cassandra says. "I'll figure something out..." She highly doubts she can figure out a way to fight back against the Angst, but she has to get it away from the others. Away from Varian. She sprints off, and just as she expected the Angst chases after her. But to her dismay, so does Varian. He even tosses his backpack off so he can run faster. Why does he have to be so darn devoted to her?!

"Cass, wait!" She hears him call out as she runs, dodging trees and leaping over stones.

"Varian, just get away!" She shouts back. "I... I don't know what this thing will do!" For all she knows, it could zap Varian out of existence. Great, more fear... I can't think like that right now. I might make things worse.

The Angst is hot on her heels, and Varian is right behind it. She is so focused on yelling at Varian to stay away, that she isn't paying attention to where she is running. She trips on a tree root jutting out of the ground, and within a split second the Angst is encircling her like a furious cyclone.

     "Cass!" She can barely hear Varian's voice over the whooshing storm that is the Angst. "Cassandra! No!"

     At first she has no idea what the creature has planned for her. But the more it swirls around her, she can feel it. Deep inside, somehow she knows...

     It is erasing her memories.

     Her memories of Varian.

"No, please don't!" She begs the Angst, tears streaming down her face. "Please stop this, I don't want to lose my memories of him!"

Ever so briefly, the Angst pauses. But it continues to work on erasing Varian from her brain. She obviously cannot remember the memories it is taking from her. But she can feel them as they slip away, one by one. Even his face is already becoming fuzzy in her mind's eye.

"Stop it, I said!" Cassandra shouts, drawing her sword and slashing at the air in a futile attempt to fight back the only way she knows how. But the Angst's powerful whirlwind rips the sword right out of her hand.

More and more memories keep disappearing, and now she can't remember what color his eyes are. Clasping onto her Cassandrium pendant, she strains to cling on to one specific memory... when Varian gave her the necklace. He made an invention that created it, and she gave him... something... in return. What did she give him?!

Overwhelmed, she falls to her knees. In one final desperate attempt, before the memories are gone forever, she slams her fists on the ground and screams at the top of her lungs, "You have to stop! You can't take him away from me! I love him!"

The Angst hesitates. Can a creature like this show hesitation? Cassandra wouldn't have believed it if she didn't see it and sense it for herself. All at once, the Angst billows away out of view, like a fog disappearing over a misty lake.

The Angst is gone.

It left her sword behind. But did it leave her memories?

She checks, closing her eyes tightly. She can see Varian's face clearly in her mind, gazing at her with his piercing blue eyes. She feels what it was like to kiss him for the first time. She recalls her regret at rejecting his initial declaration of love. She thinks of when he tried to talk her down in her tower of black rock while she was in possession of the Moon Stone. She even remembers how excited and proud he was the day he unveiled his new discovery, Cassandrium, all those years ago.

And she remembers him giving her the necklace, and she gave him the first-place ribbon for the Science Expo that he so deserved. The ribbon! That's what she gave him!

It worked. She has no idea how, but it worked! She fought against the Angst, and won.

"Cass!" Varian rushes to her. He kneels down in front of her, enveloping her in a warm embrace. She does her best to fight the tears that continue to flow from her eyes, but ultimately she gives in. She knows she doesn't have to fight them around Varian.

"What did it do to you?" Varian asks, pulling back to check her over. "Did it hurt you?"

"It... It didn't do anything," she says in amazement. "I mean, it was going to. It... was erasing my memories. Of you."

"What?!" Varian can't contain his shock. "Why would it—"

"Because I was afraid of losing you," Cassandra admits. "I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true."

Varian tucks her hair behind her ear, and gently caresses her cheek. "Cass, you could never lose me."

"I almost did already, before I even got the chance to tell you how I feel about you," she reminds him.

"That is true..." He says. "That's life, though. Every day that we brave venturing out into this world, we run the risk of something horrible happening. But you know what we should do?" His smile softens as he adds, "We should live every moment together like we're going to lose each other. Never take anything for granted. It's worth the risk. We're worth the risk."

She sighs with relief, and kisses him exuberantly. It still astounds her how she got so lucky to have someone like Varian fall for her.

"So... you love me, huh?" He says with a sheepish grin.

The heat rises in her cheeks. "You heard that?"

"It was kinda hard to miss," he says, resting his forehead against hers. He may be teasing her, but she can tell that he is floating on Cloud Nine.

"Oh... shut up," she says jokingly. They kiss again and again, totally absorbed in the sensation of each other, until they completely lose track of time.

Finally, the sound of footsteps stomping their way snaps them back to reality.

"There you are!" Lance says, as Varian hands Cassandra her sword and helps her to her feet. "You guys okay?"

"We are now," Cassandra says, smiling up at Varian. She slips her hand into his, much to his surprise. It may only be a small display, but for her it is a huge deal. And she knows that he knows it.

Lance smirks knowingly, and Cassandra wonders if Hugo told him anything in their brief absence. But none of them say a word as he leads them to the others.

Adira, Hugo, and Abhu are standing around the rock from the map. "It's good to see you're okay, Short Hair," Adira says.

Cassandra groans at the nickname. Despite the fact that it is no longer applicable, she realizes it is here to stay.

     "We made a discovery while you were gone," Hugo says. "This rock? Yeah, it isn't a rock at all."

     "What do you mea—" Varian starts to ask. But before he can finish, Hugo shoves the huge stone forward. It shouldn't be possible, as large as it is. But it is now obvious that the rock is a fake.

     And under the fake rock, is a small wooden hatch.

     Cassandra squeezes Varian's hand tighter. "Well guys, looks like we're one step closer to this mysterious cavern."

Chapter Text

"I'm so happy the Angst didn't take your memories, Mommy!" Opal says, hugging Cassandra.

     Cass smiles. "Me too, kiddo. I fought hard to keep it from stealing them, and surprisingly I won!"

     "I don't know what I would've done if your mom forgot all about me," Varian says, leaning his head against Cassandra's while gently stroking Opal's hair. "I know I would've been beyond devastated."

     "So what was under the fake rock?" Opal asks. "Another tunnel?"

     "Yep, but thankfully the last one we would have to go through on this journey," Cassandra says.

    "It had all led to this," Varian adds. "And we were not truly prepared for what we would find..."

Varian gazes at the fake rock, and then he pulls out the journal pages. "Guys, I know why this map didn't make any sense. It's not a map of the land, it's a map of underground!"

"So what are the spiraling 'rivers'?" Abhu asks.

"A drainage system, maybe?" Varian suggests. "I don't know. Guess we'll have to find out."

"For now, how are we going to get into the hatch?" Hugo says. "All the other entries required an element. What's left?"

"Maybe there's a clue around here somewhere," Varian says, glancing around.

Lance begins to snicker, and Adira rolls her eyes. When Varian gives them a quizzical look, they point to Cassandra.

"Hey geniuses," she says, a smug smirk on her face as she opens the hatch door. "It's already unlocked."

"Odd," Varian and Hugo say in unison. Hugo seems slightly , but Varian can't help smiling at Cass. She climbs down into the hatch, followed by Abhu, Adira, and Hugo. But before Varian can enter, Lance holds him back.

     "So... You and Cassandra," Lance says. "That's new."

     Varian's mouth is agape. "Wha— How do you know?"

     "Oh please, it's so obvious!" Lance said. "And also, Hugo told me."

     "Of course he did..." Why isn't he surprised? "Just be cool about it, okay? Discussing it around others makes Cass uncomfortable."

     "What, like she's ashamed of you?" Lance blurts out. "Oh, not that I'm saying you're someone to be ashamed of! I meant, I understand feeling like someone is ashamed of you."

     "Would you stop saying 'ashamed'?!" Varian says. "Cass is not ashamed of me!" Or, at least, he doesn't think she is... "She's just a very private person."

"Mmhmm," Lance says, halfway like he is agreeing but partly like he doesn't believe it. "All I know is, you've got it better than me. How'd you do it?! I spent a lot of time with Cass on the road, and she does not seem like an easy nut to crack. You gotta share your secrets!"

     Varian isn't sure how to respond, but thankfully he doesn't have to. Cassandra pokes her head out of the hatch and asks, "You guys coming, or what?"

     Varian nods, and he and Lance follow Cassandra down into the hatch. As they descend into the darkness, he can't help but ponder Lance's words. He knows that Cassandra isn't ashamed of him! If she was, she wouldn't have agreed to date him. But, it would be nice if she was a bit more open about their relationship... He knows that she can be a locked door, and he has somehow managed to pick that lock and wedge his way in. Can't she open up her door a little bit, even if it is only a crack? Show others that she is proud to be dating Varian the alchemist-slash-Royal Engineer?

     Eh, who is he kidding...? He is a nerdy, freckle-faced kid compared to her. Why would she be proud to announce that she is dating him? He is not worthy of someone like her.

     Finally arriving at the bottom of the ladder, the gang walk through the tunnel, guided by Hugo and Varian's light sources.

     "This isn't creepy at all," Lance says with a shudder. Suddenly, he shrieks. "Something touched my leg! Something touched my leg! Is it a spider?! It's a spider!"

     Varian aims his light at Lance's feet, revealing Ruddiger walking close to him. His tail is brushing against Lance's leg. "Maybe give him a wider berth?" He tells his raccoon, as Lance calms down.

Varian studies the journal pages until he has the path memorized, then folds them up and places them back into his pack. He leads the others through the tunnels. "The map seems to be taking us directly to the spiral," he observes.

     "Do you think... this is it?" Abhu asks. "Is this leading us to the cavern? Was it beneath the Dark Kingdom the entire time?"

     "I don't know, but I have a feeling we're about to find out," Varian replies.

     "Me too," Hugo says.

It finally hits Varian. This could be it. This could be the end of their journey. Will they find this cavern? Will It show them what they want to know?

What if It doesn't? What then? Will they ever discover a way to free the Dark Kingdom? To free his father?

That's a bridge he'll have to cross if he comes to it. For now, he needs to remain focused. Following the map, he leads the others through the underground passageways. He remains alert to any traps or puzzles they may have to encounter, but to his surprise none arise.

Finally, they reach the area on the map that should be the spiral... whatever that may be. But to them it is only—

"A wall?" Abhu mutters. "We came all this way for a wall?"

Varian pulls the map back out. He definitely took them on the correct path, so what now?

"Are you sure we went the right way?" Lance asks. "Lemme look at that thing..."

Lance reaches for the map, but Varian smacks his hand away. "Don't touch it! Yes, I'm sure we went the right way. This is where the map led us."

"Well, looks like this is the part where we look for a clue," Hugo says.

Varian runs his hand along the wall in front of them, feeling beneath the layers of dust. For a spilt second he almost believes that he hears someone whispering his name. But he quickly forgets about it when his fingers come across an indentation in the wall. He wipes off the caked-on dust, and discovers a large, silver button.

"A button? That seems a little too easy," Hugo says.

"I get the feeling there's more to this," Varian says.

"Are you really going to push it?" Lance asks. "What if it's a trap?"

"That is one thing I don't believe it is," Varian replies.

"Me neither," Hugo says. "I think Abhu's dad put this button here just for us."

Adira raises an eyebrow, and turns to Abhu. "Your dad?"

"It's a long story," Abhu says. "One that I don't know, anyway..."

"You'll find out," Cassandra tells him reassuringly.

"I hope so..." Abhu says, not looking her in the eyes.

Varian breathes in, deeply and anxiously. He glances at Hugo, who gives him an approving nod. Slowly, he reaches his hand out and pushes the button. After a resounding click! followed by a hiss! And a few more clicks! a panel opens up on the wall. There are four perfectly round grooves that are obviously for the orbs. Each one is marked with a symbol; Earth, Fire, Water, and Magic.

"Get 'em out, Freckles!" Hugo says eagerly.

Varian removes his backpack, and pulls out the orbs one-by-one as he places them in their corresponding spots. The orbs slide in perfectly, but once all four are placed nothing happens.

"Perhaps there is more you must do," Adira says.

"That much is obvious," Cassandra remarks.

Varian and Hugo study the orbs closely, when Varian notices a small symbol below the panel...

A key.

The exact same key drawn on the first page of the journal.

And what did the passage say along with it?

"'First, last, repeat. This is key'," he says aloud.

     Could the passage have had double meaning? Why else would the same image of a key be here?

     "Let me try something," Varian says. He reaches forward and presses hard on the first orb, Earth, and the last one, Magic, like buttons. But again, nothing happens.

     "Maybe try turning them instead of pushing them?" Cassandra suggests, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Varian complies, and to his delight the two orbs rotate and lock in place with a satisfying click!

     That was 'first' and 'last'. But what is 'repeat'?

     As Varian wonders this, there is a low, rumbling sound that shakes the ground. The wall is moving! But the panel stays in its place.

     "This could be what the spiral on the map represents!" Hugo says. "It'll turn until the spiral's end reaches us."

     But the wall doesn't turn that long. It stops moving, and still remains a blank wall.

     Returning his attention to the panel, Varian realizes that the orbs have rotated order! Magic is now in the first groove, followed by Earth, Fire, and Water.

     First, last, repeat. Varian turns Magic and Water, and the wall begins to move again. The orbs shift order, and the wall stops.

     "We've got it!" Varian says excitedly. He turns the first orb, Water, and the last, Fire. Another click! and the wall moves more.

     "Almost there!" Hugo says, as the others watch on with bated breath.

     After the orbs shift again, Varian turns the first and last ones: Fire and Earth. The panel suddenly slams shut, with the orbs still in it.

     "What? No!" Hugo shouts, attempting to pry the panel open. But Varian stops him.

     "I don't think we need them anymore," Varian tells him. But he still recognizes the disappointment on Hugo's face.

The wall moves for the final time, revealing a doorway into another dark passageway. From inside, Varian hears a chilling voice whispering his name...

     "Varian..."

     He gasps, inadvertently backing away from the doorway.

     "What's with you?" Abhu asks after noticing Varian's shocked expression.

     "D-Do you not hear that?" Varian asks.

     "You mean a creepy voice whispering my name?" Cassandra says. "Yeah, I hear it."

     "Your name?" Varian gazes at Cassandra, and realizes that she appears as jolted as he is. "It's whispering my name."

"What are you guys talking about?!" Abhu says. "I don't hear any voice whispering anything!"

     Varian gulps. If this is truly leading to the mysterious cavern, it seems to only be reaching out to him and Cassandra.

Taking in deep breaths, the two of them enter through the doorway. A large door slams shut behind them before anyone else can follow.

     "Guess we're the only ones allowed to enter," Varian says.

     "No! Please!" They hear Abhu on the other side of the door. "I've come this far, please let me in!" But when the door remains closed, his voice becomes so low they can barely make it out: "Please find out about my father for me. If you can...

     "Please..."

Chapter Text

The darkness that surrounds her is so deep, Cassandra feels as if it has completely consumed her. She has never known such a total physical darkness. Is she alive? How long has she been standing here? Is she standing? She can't tell. It's too dark!

     The only thing keeping her rooted in reality is the sound of Varian's breathing directly next to her. If it wasn't for him, she would believe she was dead for sure. She feels around in the darkness for his hand, and sighs with relief when her fingers brush his. He laces his fingers between hers, and squeezes tightly.

"What's going on?" She asks, finally daring to speak. "Can't you bring your light out?"

     "It's already in my hand," Varian tells her. "It stopped glowing as soon as the door shut."

     "That's not creepy at all..."

     "The voice calling both our names was already creepy enough," Varian agrees.

     "I wasn't calling your names, I was whispering them in your minds."

     Cassandra feels Varian jump at the unexpected voice. Her own shoulders tense up, and she steps closer to Varian.

     "I apologize for startling you," the voice says. "I have been awaiting the two of you for a long time."

     "Who are you?" Cassandra calls out to the darkness.

     "What are you?" Varian adds, equally as curious.

     "I am known simply as Infinity," the deep, eerie voice responds. "I have the ability to show you the past or the future; all of time. As for what I am, your simple human brains could not comprehend. To make sense of what it cannot understand, your mind perceives me as some sort of cave or cavern."

     "Right now all we perceive is darkness," Varian says.

     "Yes," Infinity says. "But soon you shall see more than you ever imagined."

     "Is that an offer?" Cassandra asks. "Because we kind of came here for a reason..."

     "Ask and you shall receive," Infinity says. "But choose wisely. You will only be allowed one vision."

     "One each, right?" Varian asks hesitantly. "I mean, there are two of us..."

     "No. One, total."

     Cassandra sighs. "That's disappointing."

     "I... I agree," Varian says. He is silent for a while, and she is about to ask him what is on his mind, when he tells her, "I think we should ask about Abhu's dad."

     "What?" Cassandra can't believe what she is hearing. "But what about the Dark Kingdom? What about your dad? Finding this place —or thing— or whatever it is— so we could ask it how to defeat the Angst was the whole point of this mission!"

     "I-I know," Varian says. "But think about it, Cass. You fought back against the Angst, and won. That proves it can be defeated! We'll find a way, I'm sure of it. But Abhu... His entire life has been a mystery, and he's a total mess because of it. He wasn't allowed in here, but we can ask for him. We can help him. When will we ever get an opportunity like that again?"

     Varian is making sense, and she totally hates it. All this trouble, decoding that journal and searching for those orbs, traveling to location after location, only to ask about the father of some guy that she doesn't even like? Why do they have to be such good people?

     "You're right," she says with a reluctant sigh. "It's the right thing to do."

     She can feel Varian stand up straighter. "Infinity? We wish to see the story of our friend Abhu's father."

     If Cassandra didn't know any better, she would almost believe she could feel Infinity smiling. "That is exactly what I was hoping you would ask for."

     "Really?" Cassandra raises a surprised eyebrow. The more they talk to this Infinity, the stranger the situation seems. But perhaps they are about to get some answers.

     "Yes." Finally, the flickering light of a dim candle appears in the corner. As Infinity said, Cassandra and Varian seem to be inside a cave. "I have much to show you..."

     A man suddenly appears in Cassandra's mind... or right in front of her and Varian, she can't be sure. Either way, she recognizes him as the same man in Elsa's icy memory back in Arendelle.

 "Abhu's father," Varian says in recognition, evidently also seeing this vision.

     "The man you are seeing is named Kaspar," Infinity explains. "As a young man, he met a young woman named Divya."

     A gorgeous woman with long, dark hair appears behind Kaspar. He smiles as the woman wraps her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek.

 "Kaspar and Divya grew closer to one another, and fell in love. Eventually, they were married."

     Somehow, Cassandra can see their entire love story in the blink of an eye. Judging by the expression on Varian's face, he can too. It is a beautiful story of best friends who become lovers, knowing they were meant for each other and no one else. They have plenty of ups and downs, but their trials only make their love stronger.

     "Sadly, life doesn't always work out as planned. What should have been a full life of bliss together was brought to a sharp end. Divya disappeared one day, and never returned. After searching and searching for her, it drove Kaspar insane that he never knew what happened to his beloved."

     Inexplicably, Cassandra can feel the pain and desperate longing that Kaspar felt for his missing Divya. A tear trickles down her cheek as Infinity continues:

     "Desperately desiring to find her, Kaspar dove further than ever into his research of a mysterious cavern... Me. After searching and searching, he finally discovered my location at the time. He asked me to show him what happened to Divya."

     Location at the time? Cassandra and Varian witness Kaspar discovering Infinity, but it doesn't look anything like the Dark Kingdom or anywhere else they've ever been.

     "I showed him the events that transpired... You see, Divya was from another kingdom called Agrabah. She was a princess, arranged to be married to a prince. However, she wanted to marry for love and not for politics. So she ran away from her kingdom, sailing across the sea to the kingdom of Arendelle. That is where she met Kaspar.

     "While picking herbs in the forest on the day she disappeared, Divya was discovered by her family from Agrabah who had been searching for her ever since she ran away. They grabbed her and took her on a ship back to Agrabah, never allowing her to return to Arendelle again."

     Cassandra watches as three large men grab Divya and force her onto a ship. She feels the heartbreak Kaspar felt upon learning the truth of his wife's disappearance. Varian wraps his arms around her comfortingly, though she knows he feels it as well.

     "I made the mistake of trusting Kaspar too much. I didn't only show him what happened to his beloved Divya; I allowed him to travel there. He begged me to. But despite my warning not to interfere, he couldn't resist. He stopped his wife's family from taking her, allowing her destined path to be altered."

     Wait... Infinity allowed him to travel there? As in, travel through time?

     "This should not have happened. Messing with the time stream creates holes in the fabric of reality. Paradoxes. One such hole is the existence of a person who should never have existed. That is what happened with Abhu. Because his mother was supposed to have returned to her country, he was never supposed to be born. But because Kaspar misused my abilities, Abhu was created. Such a person can cause chaos in the stream of time, and it is my responsibility to fix it.

     "Because Kaspar was the one to cause the paradox, I commanded him to help me fix his mistake. His punishment for abusing my trust was that he must never know his son. He spent the rest of his life traveling through time, wherever I told him to go, doing whatever I told him to do. But that much time travel is difficult on human minds... He slowly went insane, and his remains currently lie within my previous location."

     A chill runs up Cassandra's spine as they see Kaspar's descent into madness, something she hopes she never has to see again.

     Varian speaks up. "Wait... What do you mean, commanded him to fix his mistake?"

     "I gave him an ultimatum," Infinity says. "He could either help me fix his mistake, or stay trapped within my consciousness forever."

     "Not much of a choice," Cassandra says.

     "So, what about Abhu?" Varian asks.

     "Yeah," Cassandra adds. "If Kaspar spent the rest of his life fixing this mistake, then... why isn't it fixed? Shouldn't Abhu no longer exist?"

     Again, Cassandra feels like Infinity is smiling. It is an unsettling sensation. "That is where you two come in. And the rest of your friends."

     "Gonna need more explanation," Cassandra says.

     "For the mistake to be fixed, Kaspar could not simply return to the moment Divya was taken and then stop himself from saving her. That would create another paradox. Somebody else would have to stop him. So I kept my eye out for anyone who was worthy of my trust. And I learned of you two.

     "I re-emerged in a new location, and then sent Kaspar out to set up clues to my whereabouts. As I was able to foresee exactly how the journey would play out, I had him design the clues especially for you and your friends, making it so you and only you could find me."

     This is so much for Cassandra to take in. She doesn't know how to react. "But... Why us?" She asks. "What is so special about the two of us, that you trust us enough to draw us to you?"

     "Your pasts," Infinity replies. "Someone who has done as many terrible things as you, and still managed to turn yourself around and prove yourself trustworthy, has a special kind of endurance that is extremely rare. And I was lucky enough to discover two of such a person in the same time period."

     Varian gives Cassandra a soft smile. "See? I told you some good could come from your mistakes. It got you noticed by a sentient, powerful cave!"

     Cassandra chuckles. "You too," she says, nudging him gently.

     "What do you want us to do?" Varian asks Infinity.

     "I am relying on you to travel back in time," Infinity says. "To the day Divya is taken. Stop Kaspar from saving her."

     Cassandra tenses up. "I don't know... It doesn't feel right stopping two people from being together like that." Her saying this surprises even herself. Before she wouldn't have thought twice about something like this. Who cares if they're in love? The time stream needs to be fixed! But ever since falling for Varian, she views love in a totally new light...

 "If it helps you to know, Divya still has a long and happy life in the original history," Infinity tells them. "She has to go through with the arranged marriage, but she becomes one of the strongest and most benevolent rulers her kingdom ever saw! Trust me, this is what is best for her and for Agrabah."

     Cassandra still doesn't like it, but she relents. "Alright..."

     "How are we supposed to stop Kaspar?" Varian asks. "If I were in his shoes, I highly doubt two random strangers could convince me not to save the love of my life." He squeezes Cassandra's hand as he says this, causing her heart to flutter.

     "That is for you to decide," Infinity says. "I will send you back a couple of hours before Kaspar rescues Divya. That should be enough time for you to formulate a plan."

     A bright light from behind them grabs their attention. They turn around to face a pink, swirling portal.

     "Be careful," Infinity tells them. "And please don't allow my trust in you to be in vain..."

     Varian nods determinedly. "You can count on us."

     The two of them are about to step through the portal, when Cassandra stops and holds a finger up. "One more question... The last orb. Why was it in that crevice? If you set everything up exactly, then you had Kaspar put it there. Was it really necessary for Varian to fall off a cliff to get it?!"

"Yes," Infinity replies simply. "That was the event that cemented your relationship, was it not?"

     Cassandra recalls the intense moments leading up to her and Varian's first kiss, and despite herself she can't help but smile at the memory. "Yeah, but why do you care about—"

     Before she can finish, a strong gust of air blows her and Varian through the portal. They are tossed through time, unsure of what awaits them in the past.

Chapter Text

"The cave's name was Infinity?" Opal scrunches her nose in thought. "But Daddy, you've talked about Infinity before."

     "Yes I have," Varian says. "It is my theory that, somehow, your abilities came from It."

     "So, do you think Infinity is somehow showing me things from the past?" Opal asks. She then gasps as a thought occurs to her. "Do you think I could see the future too, like Infinity? Do you think I could travel through time?!"

     "Whoa, slow down!" Cassandra says, concern evident in her expression. "We aren't sure what you are capable of yet, but let's not rush into anything."

     "Okay..." Opal sighs. "What happened next? Where did the portal take you?"

     "To a familiar place," Varian replies. "But a few decades into the past..."

Falling out of the portal, Varian stands up and glances around. Where is he? It looks like he might be around the fjord of Arendelle, which makes sense as this is where Abhu is from. But his surroundings look slightly different than he remembers them being.

Oh yeah, he and Cassandra have been sent back in time.

Wait, Cassandra! Where is Cassandra?! She was right next to him when they were pushed through the portal!

He is about to panic, when he hears a yelp. Cassandra comes flying out of the portal, and collides with him. He falls flat on his back, with her landing directly on top of him. Their faces are inches apart.

"Hello there," Varian says with a flirtatious smirk. "I thought I lost you, for a second." He gives her nose a quick peck.

"Not a chance," she replies with a chuckle. She then stands, and helps him up. "Hey, where'd the portal go?"

Sure enough, the portal has vanished. "Maybe Infinity will bring it back when we're done?" Varian suggests.

"That's a pretty big maybe," Cassandra says. "But I guess we don't have a choice. Alright, mission analysis: Where are we?"

"It looks like we're in Arendelle, approximately thirty-four years ago," Varian says.

"Do you think Infinity dropped us in the same location Divya is supposed to be taken?" Cassandra asks.

"Hmm... I see the village nearby," Varian observes. "If a kidnapping occurred this close, there would most likely be witnesses."

"Okay, so if this isn't where Kaspar is going to wind up, then how do we find where we're supposed to go?" Cassandra says, already sounding frustrated.

"We'll figure something out," Varian reassures her. "I guess that's why Infinity sent us here a couple hours early. Let's take a walk around, and maybe something will come to us."

She nods, and follows him into town. As they walk down the bustling street, Varian reaches for her hand. But she pulls it away, and folds her arms.

Okay, hint taken... He thinks. His mind returns to his conversation with Lance. Is Cassandra really ashamed to be with him?

"Hey, are you okay?" Varian asks.

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You seem a little... stressed."

"No idea why I'd feel stressed," she says sarcastically. "We're just blindly obeying a sentient cave that sent us back in time to make sure the father of our friend doesn't save his wife from being kidnapped by her own family, thus causing our friend to no longer exist. What's stressful about that?"

"Okay, maybe stressed wasn't the right word," Varian says. "I mean, you seem kind of distant all of a sudden. From me."

Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "What, you mean because I wouldn't hold your hand in the middle of a crowd?" When he nods, she adds, "You know that this is difficult for me."

"You seemed fine on our date," he points out.

"That... That was different."

"How? There were still people around."

"It just was! There weren't as many, and... Ugh, it's hard to explain!"

     "And it's hard to understand," Varian says. "Cass, because I love you I've tried being supportive and considerate of your feelings. But I can't help but feel like, well... you're ashamed of me."

     "What?" Cassandra seems genuinely shocked. "Varian, that's insane."

     "Is it?" He says. "I know there are plenty of things for you to be ashamed of... I'm just a dorky alchemist, who's inventions misfire more than they work how they're supposed to. There's a significant age gap between us. I'm clumsy. I'm not exactly the most muscular guy around. I could go on and on..." He sighs as he adds, "When I take a look at myself, the best thing about me is that I'm in a relationship with you."

     Cassandra shakes her head. "Stop beating yourself up! You are not giving yourself enough credit. You are absolutely incredible, Varian, and I'm not just saying that. You've already accomplished so much in your life, and I've barely done anything with mine. I am not ashamed of you! I—"

     She stops mid-sentence, and her eyes move to something behind him. He turns around to follow her gaze, and sees a familiar-looking man.

"Isn't that one of the men who takes Divya?" He asks.

     "I think so," Cassandra replies. "He sure looks like one of them."

     "Come on," Varian says. "We should follow him."

Taking care not to be noticed, they follow the familiar man to a packed pub. After he heads inside and takes a seat at a table, they do the same and sit at another table where they can keep an eye on him inconspicuously. A waitress comes, and they order a couple of drinks. They sit there together, trying to relax. But Cassandra's thoughts keep traveling to her interrupted conversation with Varian.

He thinks she is ashamed to be with him? What on earth gave him that idea?! He knows she isn't the most emotional person around, especially when it comes to being on display in front of other people. But, from his standpoint she can see how it could come across as being ashamed...

     After a few minutes of awkward silence between the two of them, Varian decides to break it. "Um, Cass? I'm sorry if I upset you earlier. I should never have brought it up."

"No, you were right to bring it up," Cassandra says. "I don't want you holding things in like that, especially when they're false."

"You don't have to keep pretending for my sake," Varian says. "Like I said, I get why you'd be ashamed to show that you're in a relationship with me. I'm just happy you agreed to date me at all."

"Would you stop saying that? I already told you, I'm not ashamed of you!"

He nods. "Okay, I hear you." But she can tell that he doesn't truly believe it, especially considering he can barely meet her eyes.

She has to do something about this. Something to prove to him that she is not ashamed to call him hers. She glances around the pub, and notices a stage in the corner. An idea comes to her mind, one that terrifies her to her very core. But that's how she knows it is the right thing to do.

Hopping up from her chair, she grabs Varian's arm and pulls him onto the stage with her. He protests, but he still allows her to lead him.

"Hey, everyone?" She announces at the top of her voice to the pub's occupants.

"Cass, what are you doing?" Varian asks nervously as all eyes turn on them.

Cassandra doesn't reply, and instead continues addressing the crowd. "May I have your attention, please? You see this man, right here? Well, he's my boyfriend! I am insanely in love with him, and proud to say that he is mine! Got it?!"

Varian blushes brightly as a few scattered chuckles spread across the room. "Cass, you really don't have to—"

Cassandra silences him by sweeping him into a passionate kiss. She dips him, kissing him like there is no one else in the room.

When she stands him back up, he is too stunned to speak. Her heart races faster than it ever has, and she feels herself starting to panic at making such an attention-grabbing public display of affection. But when she catches sight of the tender, adoring gleam in Varian's eyes, she knows her plan worked. And it was absolutely worth it.

From the stage, the two of them suddenly spot the man they followed heading for the door. They hop down, hand-in-hand, and sneak out after him, ignoring the applause and the occasional murmur of, "How much did she have to drink?" from the crowd.

After exiting the pub, they see the man ahead of them. They follow quite a few feet behind him, making sure they aren't noticed. After a while, he meets up with the other two men they recognize from Infinity's vision.

"Have you located her yet?" The man from the pub asks, as Cassandra and Varian watch from behind a tree.

"We have," one of the other men replies. "She is in the forest, alone."

"Here we go," Varian whispers, his cheeks still slightly pink from Cassandra's display in the bar.

"Yep," Cassandra agrees. "We have to keep an eye out for Kaspar. If we can catch him as soon as he comes through the portal, we might be able to stop him from rescuing Divya."

Chapter Text

Varian and Cassandra follow the men deeper into the forest. Varian isn't the best at being stealthy, but he tries to imitate Cassandra. He knows she's had plenty of practice in that area.

     He is having to force his brain to remain focused on the task at hand, because all he wants to think about is what Cassandra said in the pub. He will never be able to tell her how much what she did means to him. He knows it was extremely difficult for her, being in front of a crowd like that, but she did it anyway.

     Because she loves him.

     A fact that will never stop amazing him.

     But here he is thinking about it again! Focus, Varian, focus... he tells himself, as she presses back against a tree to remain unseen. He copies her pose as much as possible.

"This must be their camp," Cassandra whispers, pointing to the tents set up around a meadow in front of them. "I bet they've been staying here to keep an eye out for—"

     Behind them, in the forest, Varian hears the faint sound of a woman humming. "That must be Divya! Do you think it's about to happen?"

     "Must be," Cassandra says. "So that means Kaspar should show up any second now."

     As if on cue, a familiar pink light emanates from nearby. Varian and Cassandra turn to see Infinity's portal has appeared, and Kaspar emerges from it at the ready. "I'm coming, Divya!"

Before Divya can hear or see him, Cassandra rushes at Kaspar and puts him in a headlock. But to her surprise, he remains grounded and balanced. He escapes the headlock, flipping her backwards.

Before Kaspar can run, Varian tosses a sphere of his raccoon trap at his feet. The man's legs are encased in the pink goo, and he is unable to move.

     "What the...?" Kaspar struggles, but it's no use. "Who are you?!"

     "Kaspar?" The commotion having caught her attention, Divya stares with curious caution at her husband and the two strangers.

     "Divya, stay where you are!" Kaspar warns. "Your family is about to—"

     But before he can complete his sentence, the three men come up behind Divya and grab her. "We've finally found you!" One of them says, as she struggles in their grasp.

     "You're coming home, where you belong!" Another says.

     "No!" Kaspar screams, as he strains harder against Varian's trap. "Please, don't take her!"

     But the men don't listen, and begin carrying Divya away, covering her mouth so she can't scream out.

     "Please, help her!" Kaspar implores Varian and Cassandra.

     "I'm sorry, but we can't do that," Cassandra says, genuine empathy in her voice.

     "Why not? What is going on here?!" Kaspar shouts. "I don't know you!"

     "But we know Infinity," Varian tells him.

     "You... you know of Infinity?" Kaspar says.

     Varian and Cassandra both nod. "It sent us to stop you," Cassandra explains.

Kaspar considers this for a moment. "No... No, that doesn't seem right," he says. "Let me go, right now! There's still time to catch up with them!" He fights against the raccoon trap, with no signs of letting up.

"I'm sorry, but you have to come with us," Varian tells him.

"No!" Kaspar screams again. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"You disobeyed Infinity!" Cassandra says. "It told us this has to be fixed. It's what's best for time, and for Agrabah. And for Divya."

Kaspar shakes his head. "I love her, and she loves me," he says. "How can our being apart be what's best for her?"

Varian and Cassandra exchange glances. How would they feel if someone showed up randomly, and forced them apart? Knowing he can no longer live without Cass, Varian's very soul would be crushed. And looking in her eyes, he can tell that she is struggling with this mission, too.

But do they really have a choice? If they don't do what they were sent here to do, they could be stuck here in the past for the rest of their lives. Or worse, Infinity could force them to stay inside its consciousness forever. Neither option is optimal...

     Cassandra shakes her head. "He's pretty determined. How are we supposed to get him back through the portal?" She says to Varian.

Varian thinks of an idea. "Hold your breath," he warns Cassandra.

     "Huh?" Cassandra is confused, but she complies. Varian does the same, and then tosses his sleeping powder at Kaspar. Immediately, Kaspar goes limp and falls asleep.

Cassandra gazes at Varian, clearly impressed. "You handled that well. What do you even need me for?"

Varian frees Kaspar's legs from the raccoon trap. "I need you to carry him," he replies.

Cassandra cracks a smile. "Um, excuse me? We'll carry him."

Varian gazes in the direction that Divya was taken. "I hope we're doing the right thing," he says.

     Cassandra places her hand on his shoulder. "We are. I can feel it."

Varian nods, grateful to have her reassurance. The two of them grab Kaspar, Cassandra picking him up under his arms and Varian picking up his legs. As they carry him, a portal opens up.

"Oh good! We're not stuck here," Varian says.

"Were you worried about that?" Cassandra asks.

"The thought may have crossed my mind," Varian admits.

After traveling through the portal, they find themselves back inside the cavern. They place the still-unconscious Kaspar down as gently as they can.

"Congratulations! It appears you have succeeded," Infinity says.

"We have," Cassandra says. "And time travel was the most disorienting thing I've ever done, so that better be the end of this."

"For you, it is," Infinity tells her. "And I am grateful for what you have done."

Varian smiles briefly, but a thought occurs to him. "I may not know much about time travel, but something is bothering me... Since we stopped Kaspar from saving Divya, wouldn't that mean he no longer has a reason to travel through time and set up all the clues we had to follow to find you?" He asks Infinity.

Cassandra's brow furrows. "Ouch, that makes my head hurt..."

"You're a smart one," Infinity says to Varian. "But you do not have to worry. I will still send Kaspar to set up the clues. Everything will work out as it was supposed to."

"So, basically, Kaspar's whole purpose is simply to set up a scavenger hunt for us and then go insane?" Cassandra asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Again, that is not for you to worry about. You have done all you need to do. I will take care of the rest."

Cassandra sighs. "Okay then. Guess we're done."

"There is one more matter," Infinity says. "Because of your services to me, I will reward you with a gift."

"What kind of gift?" Varian asks. He is grateful that Infinity wants to reward them, but he is slightly skeptical of the type of gift a sentient cave would give.

"I cannot tell you yet," Infinity says. "But when you receive it, you will know."

"That doesn't sound ominous at all..." Cassandra mutters.

The dim candle in the corner goes out, leaving them in complete darkness again. For a brief moment, Varian believes he sees the image of a young girl in his mind. About thirteen or fourteen years old. Long, raven hair. Bright blue eyes. Pale skin with freckles. But before long the vision of the girl disappears, and the door they originally entered through reopens.

"Thank you, once again," They hear Infinity whisper. "And good luck with the rest of your endeavors..."

     After stepping through the door, it immediately slams shut behind them.

"There you guys are!" Hugo says. "Finally! You left me alone with the Odd Couple, over here..." He jerks his thumb toward Lance and Adira.

Ruddiger chitters angrily, offended.

"Okay, fine. You left me alone with the Odd Couple, and your trash panda."

Ruddiger chitters louder, evidently more offended than before.

Adira shakes her head. "We are not a couple," she says exasperatedly.

"I love it when she plays hard to get," Lance says with a grin, leaning against Adira.

"Alone?" Varian says, confused. "But... What about Abhu?"

"Ab-who?" Hugo asks.

"Tall, grumpy guy? Small mustache? You call him 'Achoo'?" Varian replies.

Cassandra nudges Varian. "We just stopped his father from rescuing his mother," she whispers. "He doesn't exist anymore."

"Yeah, but we still remember him," Varian says. "I guess I just assumed the others would too..."

"Maybe we remember because we're the ones who changed things?" Cassandra suggests.

Varian shrugs. "Possibly. But what do I know about time travel?"

"Whenever you're done with your secret conversation, we'd really like to know what happened," Hugo says.

Where would we even begin? Varian thinks. "It's a really long story... Let's just get out of here first."

"Seconded," Adira says.

The gang walk through the tunnels and climb out of the hatch. As soon as the last of them exits, the hatch and the fake rock mysteriously vanish.

"Uhhh, that's not normal..." Lance says.

Varian and Cassandra exchange glances. "I guess Infinity has moved on again," Varian says.

"Now can you tell us what happened?" Hugo asks. "The suspense is killing me!"

"Okay, but prepare for things to get weird..." Varian says.

As they walk back to camp, Varian and Cassandra begin explaining everything to them. At camp, they continue their story over a campfire supper.

     "So you guys remember a completely different version of this journey?" Hugo asks once their story is complete. "One where this 'Abhu' guy was with us?"

     Varian and Cassandra nod. "I don't just remember this journey, I remember knowing him in Arendelle," Cassandra says. "Well, vaguely... Some of it is still fuzzy, like it always was."

     "And he was the one with the journal?" Hugo continues.

     "Yes," Varian says. "What do you remember?"

     "I found the journal lying on the ground, with a note that had your names on it," Hugo says. "After I attempted to rob your balloon during that storm, then followed you to the Dark Kingdom, I overheard you talking about needing a way to defeat the Angst. So I stepped forward with the journal."

     "And I'm guessing you did so out of the kindness of your heart," Varian says sarcastically.

     "Of course!" Hugo says, feigning offense. "That, plus the promise of shared spoils, whatever they may be." He sighs as he adds, "But it looks like we don't have any. Not even the orbs..."

"Not yet, anyway," Lance says. "What do you think this gift is that Infinity wants to give you?"

"Something valuable, hopefully," Hugo says. "I mean, you did literally change time for It."

For some odd reason, Varian's mind goes back to the vision he had of the young girl just before he and Cass left the cavern. But he shakes the image away and says, "I don't care what it is. All I know is, now we're back to square one. We still don't know how to get the Angst to free everyone from that dome..."

Cassandra leans back against him affectionately, turning his worried frown into a smile. "We'll figure something out."

"It will be a difficult task," Adira says. "We have seen what that creature is capable of. It was pure luck that you were able to fight it off earlier."

"I still have no idea how I did it," Cassandra admits.

"Who knows?" Hugo says. "That thing just thinks differently than any other being we've ever known, I guess."

"You know what would be really helpful?" Lance says. "If we knew someone who could read minds. Then we would know what that creature was thinking, and maybe even figure out how to defeat it!"

Read... minds?

Read minds!

"Lance, that's genius!" Varian shouts, jumping up with renewed excitement. "But don't get used to hearing that!"

     "Actually, it's not the first time I've heard it," Lance says with a smirk.

"Whoa," Cassandra says, hopping up with Varian. "What's going on?"

"My Truth Ray!" Varian replies.

Cassandra's eyes widen with realization. "Ohhh... Yeah, that could work."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Hugo says, as Varian begins digging through his belongings in their balloon. "You don't know that that thing will work on something like the Angst! It's physical makeup is completely different than ours."

Varian locates his Truth Ray, and holds it up triumphantly. "Only one way to find out."

Chapter Text

"Infinity said it would give you a gift..." Opal ponders this. "So, is that why I have my powers? Are they the gift Infinity gave?"

Cassandra strokes Opal's cheek tenderly. "We think so, kiddo. We're not sure why It decided to give you these abilities, but that seems to be the only explanation."

"For whatever reason, I believe Infinity knew exactly what It was doing," Varian says. "It seemed awfully invested in your mom and me getting together. It even helped us, apparently."

Opal smiles. "Well, I'm glad it did!"

Cassandra chuckles. "Me too, Opal. Me too."

"So what about the Angst?" Opal asks. "Did your plan work?"

     "I'm getting to that," Varian replies. "Turns out, the Angst wasn't what we thought it was at all..."

Varian approaches the dome, his Truth Ray at the ready. His heart is pounding and his hands are shaking. His dad awaits somewhere within this dome. Hopefully his anxiety is enough to attract the Angst.

     Cassandra comes up behind him, and grabs his hand. "You're crazy if you think I'm letting you do this alone."

     He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. He would be okay if she decided to sit this one out; it would insure her safety. But he would prefer that she stay by his side. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

He isn't surprised that Cassandra has decided to join him. But he is surprised when Lance, Adira, and Hugo appear as well. Even Ruddiger and Owl linger nearby.

     "Wha— Guys, you don't all have to be here," Varian says.

     "We figured our moral support may assist," Adira says.

     "Yeah, what if we all think of something that scares us at once?" Hugo says. "It might overwhelm the Angst. Who knows?"

Varian has to admit, it isn't a bad idea. "Okay, let's do this..."

     Gathered behind Varian, everyone close their eyes. Each one of them imagines whatever scares them the most. For Varian, it isn't hard to do... He is terrified that this will not work. That the dome is here to stay. That he will never see his father again. This fear brings up too many familiar feelings, from his past experiences when his dad was trapped in the amber. Rapunzel helped him rescue Quirin before, but this time it is up to him. It is dependent on the success of his plan. His invention. Does he have what it takes?

     Whoosh...

     They all open their eyes, and the Angst is already before them. But this time, it doesn't immediately attack. If it had eyes, Varian would say it was watching them.

"What are you waiting for? Do it now!" Hugo shouts.

     Varian aims the Truth Ray at the Angst, and pulls the trigger. To his relief, the bright blue beam envelops both him and the creature. In his surprise, he drops the device to the ground. "It-It appears to be working!"

Cassandra wraps her arms around Varian nervously. "Can you talk with it?"

Varian stares up at the creature, considering what to say. The feel of Cassandra's arms around his waist comforts and calms him. "Hello, my name is Varian," he says, attempting to reach out to the creature. "Can you think of something so I can hear you?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

Nothing.

"Maybe it doesn't understand?" Hugo says.

"Shh!" Cassandra scolds him.

Varian tries one more time. "Please, if you can understand me, think of something. Anything! I really want to know wh—"

what did you do to me?

The voice is so soft and quiet in his mind, that Varian almost doesn't perceive it. But once he registers what the Angst has said, he grins. Cassandra sees this, and sighs with relief. She turns her head to face the others, and gives them a thumbs-up to confirm.

"This is an invention I created," Varian explains. "I was hoping it would allow me to communicate with you. It's harmless."

why would you want to communicate with me?

"Because you've been attacking us, and we want to know why!"

attacking... you...? Varian can't explain how he feels it, but he can tell that the creature is genuinely perplexed. i have not been attacking you. i have been trying to help you.

"Help?" Varian feels anger rise inside him. "You call destroying a kingdom and keeping people hostage inside a dome helping?!"

The Angst actually appears to recoil. please do not be angry with me. i only wanted to be of assistance.

"Do explain."

the king of this realm you call the dark kingdom was fearful of rebuilding. he was afraid he would not succeed.

"I figured that out. And you make people's greatest fears become real!"

what? no, that is not my intention. my goal is to take away whatever is scaring a person, so that they no longer have anything to fear.

This surprises Varian, but he knows the Angst is being honest. "Can you see how that could come off as an attack?"

The creature doesn't respond for a moment. it had not occurred to me before, but now i am aware of how it could be perceived as such. thank you for bringing this to my attention. you humans think so differently.

"So, can you remove the dome now? And restore the Dark Kingdom?" The others' faces light up as he says this.

i will do so, for you. i apologize. again, i was only trying to help.

Wow, this turned out easier than he thought it would be. The Angst truly seems upset to learn that it was causing grief instead of aid. "If you were trying to help, how come you stopped before you were finished with Cass?" He gestures to her.

     "Varian, you don't have to bring me into this..." Cassandra mutters.

i became confused when i wanted to help the one that is currently holding on to you. her fear of losing her memories of you was greater than her fear of what lies ahead for your relationship. i was unsure how to help, so i simply returned her memories and departed.

     Varian knows he doesn't have much time left before the effects of his Truth Ray stop working. "Where...Where does a creature like you come from?"

     i have always been here. long before life on this planet existed. when the first residents of this realm began to build their kingdom around the fallen moon stone opal, i wanted to help. i was confused as to why my efforts were rejected, but now you have shown me that they were most likely perceived as a threat. the first king of the dark kingdom used the power of the moon stone to entrap me, and as the current king worked to rebuild he unearthed me.

     "And that's how all this started..." Varian can feel his connection to the Angst slipping away. "Please, fix what you've done!"

     i will do that right away.

     Immediately, the dome begins to disappear, fading away from top to bottom. The desolate landscape is revitalized, with plants regrowing and everything turning green once again. Varian cannot contain the joy he feels as he sees the residents of the kingdom moving about once again. Adira smiles wider than Varian has ever seen, while Hugo and Lance cheer.

"It worked!" Varian enthusiastically spins Cassandra around, and when he sets her down he kisses her as she wraps her arms around his neck.

"I never doubted you could do it," Cassandra says, her lips still close enough to his that he can feel her warm breath as she speaks.

     Elated, Varian turns to face the Angst again and thank it. But it dissipates right in front of their eyes. "Wait, where are you going?" He asks. "You still need to fix what you did to a friend of mine!" He wants the Angst to undo what it did to Rapunzel, but it seems that the creature is gone. And he isn't sure if it will ever show itself again after this.

     "Congratulations, Nephew," Adira says. "You have succeeded in rescuing the Dark Kingdom." She gestures to the crowd of people, who are gazing around in confusion.

     "I'm not the only one who deserves credit," Varian says. "We all had a part in this."

     As Adira, Lance, and Hugo make their way towards the crowd, Varian and Cassandra hang back. Varian is looking forward to seeing his father again, but at the moment he has a lot of things on his mind that he needs to sort through first...

Chapter Text

Cassandra couldn't be prouder of Varian than she is right now. His invention was instrumental in saving the day! It would have been nice to know that they had what they needed all along... but still. She hopes this event helps to raise his self esteem a bit.

But of course, who is she to be criticizing his self esteem issues?

"Hey, Varian?" She says, gazing up at him.

"Yeah?"

She smiles as she fiddles with the end of his hair. "I'm proud of you."

His eyes light up slightly, but not quite as much as when he is genuinely flattered. "Thanks, Cassie. That... That means a lot to me."

"It better," she teases. "I mean it. You were amazing today."

"We were amazing today," he corrects.

"Alright, yes," she says. "We make a pretty good team, huh?"

"Yep," he agrees. But he seems distracted. Why is he still standing here, anyway? Doesn't he want to go check on his dad?

"Um... Should we maybe get going?" She says.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah! Of course."

She can tell he is trying to act upbeat, but something is bothering him. "Okay, what's wrong?"

"What? Nothing. I'm fine." His smile is sweet, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"No, your body language is telling me otherwise," she says. "You're acting like a kicked puppy, not someone who's about to be reunited with his dad."

Varian chuckles as he takes her hand in his. "Alright, fine... since you seem to know me so well." He sighs, growing serious. "It's just... it's all over, you know? Our journey, our mission, whatever you wanna call it. We're done."

"Yeah, so?" Cassandra says, unsure where this is going. "That's a good thing."

"But now what?" Varian asks, his tone growing deeper with concern. "I have a life to get back to in Corona. I can't just abandon it. And you... you left Corona to find your place in the world. Your destiny. So... where does that leave... us?"

"Wait, that's what you're worried about?" At first she can't believe that this is even a question to him! But when she thinks about what she has put him through these past few months, how indecisive she has seemed, she can see how he might be uneasy about exactly where her heart will lead her. It's best to put any of his anxiety to rest right now.

"Varian, I want you to listen closely." She steps in front of him and grabs his tense shoulders firmly, making certain he is looking directly into her eyes. "I love you. That is not something I take lightly. I may have questioned my place in the world before, but now? Now, you are my place. You are my destiny. You're... you're my home."

Home. The feeling that has eluded her for so long. She is now absolutely certain that she feels it with Varian. As long as she is with him, she knows she is where she belongs.

She can tell that her reassurance has stirred Varian's emotions, for his eyes are glistening with tears. Her hands still on his shoulders, she can feel him relax as he heaves a sigh of relief. Swept up in the moment, he grabs her face and pulls her into a long, deep kiss. Due to the affirmation of her statement, the promise of their future, she feels as if it is the best kiss they have ever shared. As she lowers her arms to wrap them around his waist and pull him closer, her body flush against his, she never wants to let him go. Ever.

A few minutes later, Varian and Cassandra are strolling through the streets of the Dark Kingdom. Not only did the Angst raise the dome, but it also restored everything it had destroyed... Everything King Edmund built.

"Looks like the Angst really wasn't what it seemed, just like King Edmund's note said," Cassandra points out.

"And Kaspar's message in the Vardaros mine," Varian says.

Cassandra smirks as she ponders their travels. "We've really had quite the adventure, haven't we?"

Varian nods. "And something tells me, we have plenty more adventures to look forward to." He chuckles nervously as he adds, "Like the one now, for instance."

"What do you mean?" She asks, raising a curious eyebrow.

"I mean, we're about to find my dad," Varian says. "And, you know, a lot has changed since he was last free..." He gestures between the two of them.

Cassandra feels as if all the blood has drained from her body. The thought of telling Quirin about hers and Varian's newfound relationship hadn't occurred to her. Why hadn't it occurred to her?!

"Oh, um..." Small beads of sweat pool up on her forehead. "Varian, do we really have to tell him about us now? He's probably trying to reorient himself. Let's... let's hold off on that, okay?"

This is a conversation she is certainly not prepared for. How would it even go? Hey Quirin, remember me? I'm the one who kidnapped your son, mindtrapped you and your fellow Brotherhood members, and tried to take over the kingdom. Ha! Good times! So anyway, I'm dating your son now. She can practically envision his horrified reaction.

Varian takes in her pale face and wide eyes. "Okay, we'll—" He starts to say. But a voice from up ahead causes him to freeze.

"Varian?"

"Dad!" Varian shouts. He rushes into his father's arms, which are still much larger than his own. Despite her concerns, Cassandra can't help but smile at the scene before her.

"I'm happy to see you, son," Quirin says. "Although, I must admit that I'm not sure what happened."

"Don't worry, I'll tell you everything," Varian says. "And trust me, there is a lot to tell..."

Quirin grins, but his smile fades once he notices Cassandra standing back, watching them. "What is she doing here?"

Cassandra gulps, but steps forward. "Hello again. It's... It's good to see you." She holds her hand out to him, and for a moment she believes he won't take it. But finally, he shakes it reluctantly.

"Dad, Cass played a significant role in helping free you and the others from that dome," Varian says.

Quirin's brow furrows. "You sure she didn't play a role in causing the dome?"

Mixed emotions stir within Cassandra. Anger, regret, shame. She wraps her arms around herself protectively, and averts her eyes.

"Dad!" Varian scolds, shifting in front of Cassandra protectively.

"I'm sorry son, but you know how I feel about the things she's done."

"Don't be that way. You've forgiven me for the things I did."

"That's different."

"Is it, though?"

Cassandra glances up long enough to notice that Varian's face is red with anger. She has seen him take up for her before, but she never believed he would stand between her and his own father like this. She knows from past experience that he looks up to Quirin more than anyone else.

"Varian, I know she was important to you before, but—"

"'Was?' No, Dad, she is important to me. More important than you know. In fact, I love her!"

Cassandra gasps. Did he just...? Yep, he really told his father. Here we go... She thinks.

Quirin stares with his mouth agape, as Varian interlaces his fingers with Cassandra's. "Sorry, but I couldn't let him keep talking about you like that..." Varian whispers to her.

Facing Quirin again, Varian confidently stands taller. "Dad, I would appreciate it if you apologize to my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend...?" Quirin repeats. He sighs heavily, and shakes his head.

     Varian stares at his father expectantly. "Dad?" He insists, after a long pause.

     For a moment it seems as if Quirin will totally ignore Varian's request. In fact, Cassandra believes he may even turn from them and walk away. But to her surprise, Quirin steps forward. "I do apologize for what I said. I may not be thrilled about this situation... In fact, it's rather difficult for me to process. But... I only want my son to be happy. So I will try to see past the mistakes you made. For him."

"I... I appreciate that," Cassandra says. "But you don't need to apologize. You have every right to feel the way you do. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I regret the horrible things I did in the past, and I wish I could take them all back. They have been a source of great pain for me over the last few years, but... but Varian helped me see that I can learn from them, rather than let them drag me down. He has helped me more than anyone ever could, and I am extremely grateful to him." She smiles softly at Varian, and then continues, "I want you to know that I genuinely and deeply care for your son. I... I love him."

Quirin actually manages a small smile. "I'm glad to hear that."

Varian hugs his dad again, and pulls Cassandra in close. Cass can tell that Quirin is still unsure about this relationship of theirs, but she has faith that he will eventually come around. She can see that he is a good man, and it is evident how much he loves his son. She only hopes that, in time, she can prove to Quirin that she has truly changed for the better.

Chapter Text

"You saved Grandpa!" Opal shouts excitedly, leaping up from her covers for the millionth time during this story. "But did he really not like you, Mommy?"

"He struggled at first," Cassandra says. "But he eventually came around, just like I knew he would. Especially when a special little girl came into our lives." She boops Opal's nose, resulting in a joyous giggle from the young girl.

"And with that, our journey came to an end," Varian says.

"Awww," Opal says disappointedly. "It can't be over yet! What happened when you got back to Corona?"

"We had a lot to discuss with Aunt Raps and Uncle Eugene," Cassandra replies. "And as it turns out, they had a couple things to discuss with us."

"But first," Varian says, "we decided to spend some time in the Dark Kingdom..."

Varian has to admit, that wasn't quite the reunion he envisioned having with his dad. But he is glad that Quirin is willing to reconsider his feelings against Cassandra. He is certain that, one day, his father will see all the amazing things Varian sees in her and love her too. As Quirin heads off to check on some of his associates, Varian gives him a small wave.

"Well that was... unexpected," Cassandra says, sitting down on a stone bench nearby in the newly restored part of the kingdom. She looks utterly exhausted.

Varian sits down next to her, his knee brushing against hers. "Again, I'm sorry I told him so soon. But I figured it would be best to get it out of the way, you know?"

Cassandra nods, but Varian can tell that she is still slightly upset about her interaction with Quirin. Varian has already had so many conversations with her about not worrying what others think of her past, but he knows that her progress in this area may yet be a difficult journey for her.

"Hey," he says softly. He cups his hand under her chin, then turns her face to meet his and waits until she looks him in the eyes. "Don't pay attention to anything my dad said. He is genuinely gonna try to put the past behind him. I can tell."

Cassandra manages a half-smile. "I know. It's just still hard to hear someone say those things about me, even when they have every right to."

"Varian!" An eager voice says in recognition. Cassandra instinctively jumps away from Varian in surprise, but not wanting him to think she is ashamed of him again she immediately slides her hand into his. The two of them look up to see King Edmund approaching them. "And... Cassandra. Wow, it's been a while since I've seen you."

Cassandra cringes, remembering how Edmund was yet another victim that she mindtrapped. "I am no longer the person you knew before," she informs him. "I promise."

"Good to hear," Edmund says, seemingly unbothered. "My son has told me all about your change of heart in his letters."

"Really?" Cassandra says. Fitzherbert is talking about her in his letters? Weird...

"And speaking of my son, I would like to return to Corona with you to see him!" Edmund continues. "I'm sure he is worried sick about me."

     "He really is," Varian confirms, as he and Cass stand up from the bench, their fingers still interlaced. "He wanted to be here with us, but he got injured early on and had to head home."

Edmund nods. "Yep, that sounds like my Eugene."

"You mean, Horace?" Cassandra says with a laugh.

Varian smiles lovingly at her. It makes him happy to see her returning to her normal self.

Edmund chuckles as well. "Oh, Eugene warned me how much you enjoy badgering him. Hey, would you two like a tour of my kingdom? Its restoration is coming along just fine, if I do say so myself."

"We would love a tour," Varian says, placing his arm around Cassandra's shoulders. "It's good to see you restored as well, Your Highness."

As Varian and Cassandra follow Edmund around, listening while he describes the work that went into each new park and neighborhood, they hear cawing coming from above. Hamuel swoops out of the sky towards them, crashes into the ground, and then clambers up Edmund's clothes until he reaches the king's shoulders.

Varian shakes his head. This bird has always concerned him...

"Ah, Hamuel!" Edmund says gleefully. "Good to see you again, my feathered friend."

A hoot sounds from the sky, and they look up to see Owl soaring above them. He circles a couple of times, before landing on Cassandra's shoulder. She gives the top of his head an affectionate pat.

"You have a feathered friend, too?" Edmund says, laughing hardily. "I like this new you, already!"

"Actually, it's the old me," Cassandra tells him. "The me I should've been all along."

"Even better," Edmund says, as Owl and Hamuel stare each other down warily.

"Rapunzel informed us that she and Eugene got the note you sent them," Cassandra says.

"I was hoping that note would make it to them," Edmund says. "I didn't have long to get it out..."

"What did it mean?" Varian asks. "How did you know about the Angst? I had to use my Truth Ray on it to communicate with it in order to learn that it meant to help and not harm."

Edmund raises a questioning eyebrow. "The Angst?"

Varian and Cassandra both nod. "You can thank Adira for the name," Cassandra explains.

"Okay, makes sense," Edmund says. "The Angst, as it has so been dubbed, was accidentally unearthed by my workers. I instantly knew what it was, as its discovery was in the history books of the Dark Kingdom's beginnings. After generations of studying that event, the past rulers determined the Angst's true nature. However, none of them knew where it was. When it was released, I didn't have time to stop the Angst before it tried to 'help' me. I only had time to get my short message out, before the dome arose and froze us all."

"We're glad you did," Cassandra tells him. "It helped us to keep an open mind about the creature."

After completing the tour, the three of them meet back up with Quirin inside the castle. Adira and Hector are also with him.

"Uncle Hector!" Varian says eagerly, shaking the man's hand.

"Nephew," Hector says, regarding him with a respectful nod. "I hear we have you and your friends to thank for releasing us. Are you sure you still don't want to join the Brotherhood? We could use someone like you."

Varian's eyes land on his father before returning to meet Hector's hopeful gaze. "I appreciate the offer, but I have a job to get back to in Corona."

Hector nods, but when he sees Cassandra his expression turns into a grimace. "Oh, joy. You've returned."

Varian can see that Cassandra's initial reaction is to cower. But gripping his hand tightly, she stands tall. "Yes, I have. And I don't plan on ever returning to my villainous deeds again. How about you?"

Hector is taken aback by her remark, but Adira smiles. "Hah! She got you there, Hector."

Rolling his eyes, Hector extends a hand to Cassandra. "Fine. I guess we can call a truce."

"Alright by me," Cassandra says, shaking his hand.

"I would like to extend the same offer Hector gave Varian to you," Adira says to Cassandra. "It would be nice to have another woman in the Brotherhood."

"Oh," Cassandra says. Her facial expression gives away how surprised she is to hear such an offer from Adira. Varian is honestly surprised, as well. "Thanks, but I can't accept. I'm sticking with my boyfriend." She leans against Varian, and blushes when he gives her cheek a quick peck.

"You two are... absolutely disgusting," Hugo says, appearing from the shadows. "But, somehow, I still approve."

Varian rolls his eyes. "Of course, you would manage to find your way to the castle..."

"So you do know him?" Quirin says. "I wasn't sure he was telling the truth when he said he was a friend of yours, but he insisted you'd be okay with letting him in."

"'Friend' is stretching it a bit," Varian says with mock irritation.

"Ah, come on Freckles!" Hugo says, throwing his arm around Varian's shoulders and receiving a prompt glare from Cassandra. "Despite your best efforts, you know I've grown on you. We're practically brothers!"

Varian fights against it, but he can't seem to keep a smile from appearing on his face. 'Brothers'? As much as he hates to admit it, he likes the sound of that.

Chapter Text

Varian and Cassandra decide to spend a few days in the Dark Kingdom, to rest up after their nonstop adventure. King Edmund gladly allows them to stay in the castle.

     One morning, Cassandra awakens early and decides to explore the corridors. As she wanders the empty halls, she contemplates her life and what surprises may lie in store for her and Varian in Corona.

Corona.

     Rapunzel! Cassandra realizes that she never sent a letter to let her know that the Dark Kingdom is okay! She discovers a small, quiet room and sits at the table within. She finds a pen lying nearby, but to her dismay and mild annoyance, she realizes that there isn't a piece of paper in here.

     "Looking for something?" Varian says, leaning against the doorframe as he holds up some paper.

Cassandra shakes her head in surprise, taking the paper from him as he approaches. "Okay... One, how did you find me? And two, how did you know I needed paper?"

     "I saw you pass by my room, and decided to see where you were headed," Varian responds to her first question. "And as for the paper, I always have some on me. Never know when you might need to jot down a few notes."

     Cassandra rolls her eyes as he sits down next to her, but then she kisses his cheek. "You are surprisingly useful. I guess I'll keep you around," she teases. "But don't stalk me. It's weird."

Connecting pen to paper, Cassandra begins writing her letter to Rapunzel. She believes that Varian is reading what she writes, but when she glances at him out of the corner of her eye, she realizes that he is watching her instead. She pretends that she doesn't notice, but she is pretty sure that he knows she can see him. However, this doesn't deter him. He continues to gaze at her adoringly, until she finishes the letter.

"Here. Read it and tell me what you think," she says, handing the letter to him, "since I know you were gawking at me instead of reading while I was writing."

     Varian takes the letter, smirking sheepishly. He skims over it, and nods in approval. "Sounds good. I'm sure Eugene will be excited to hear that his father is coming."

     "I'm glad my letter has your blessing," Cassandra says jokingly. To Varian's surprise, she suddenly wraps her arms around his neck, almost knocking him out of the chair. "Don't look so shocked. I'm just making sure your patience pays off." She kisses his brow, then his nose, and finally his lips.

"I would wait indefinitely if it meant I got to be with you," Varian tells her, his hands around her waist. "You are still, and will always be, the moon and the stars to me."

     She recalls the last time he told her this, and how uncomfortable his feelings for her made her at the time. But all of her hesitation has long since dissolved, especially now as his lips connect with hers and they kiss passionately. She may have made him wait for her to reciprocate his love, but finally she realizes that, after all this time, she was waiting for him as well.

     And he is so much more than worth the wait.

Sitting in the sill of the open window, Owl hoots awkwardly. Cassandra and Varian both chuckle giddily as they break apart. Cass never knew that she could feel this much bliss all at once.

"Yes, Owl. It's is ready," Cassandra says as she walks over to the window and attaches the letter to his foot. "Be careful out there."

     Owl takes to the skies, screeching cheerily. Cassandra watches him disappear with a content smile upon her face. She once felt trapped within her own mind, like a caged bird. But now, having opened up to Varian —and opened up to herself— she can feel a change within her. A change for the better. Her heart is wider, and ready to accept new challenges. To face new possibilities. She feels as if she is ready to soar, as free as Owl. Yes, she is strong enough to continue life on her own. But she no longer desires this. All she desires is to be with Varian, wherever their path together may lead.

Finally, after resting up and preparing for their trip, the day comes for them to return to Corona. Varian knows that the kingdom is likely to be the same as when he left, but his entire world has changed now because of Cassandra. Being with her makes everything seem new and exciting again.

     Lance helps Varian and Cassandra ready Corona's hot air balloon for flight. They have decided to officially bequeath the other one to the Dark Kingdom. Once they have finished, Lance turns to face Adira. "You sure I can't convince you to come back with me?" He asks her, tears in his eyes.

Adira rolls her eyes. "As I have told you many times, my place is here. And your place is in Corona, with your daughters." She allows herself a small smile as she adds, "But I wouldn't mind the occasional visit from you. Emphasis on occasional."

     Varian chuckles as he overhears their conversation. He then turns to Hugo. The other alchemist has been silently watching them prepare to depart, a contemplative expression on his face. "How about you, Hugo? You wanna take a trip to Corona? I'm sure Rapunzel would love to meet you."

     Hugo smirks. "Thanks for the offer, Freckles, but I'm not sure a place like Corona is really my style."

"What is your style?" Cassandra asks. "Are you really going back to the life of thieving?"

     Hugo seems hesitant to reply. "I'll be honest, after what I've been through with you lot, it isn't something I want to do... You guys have shown me what having actual friends is all about. But I guess I'll have to see where life takes me." He winks as he adds, "I've got a plan, though. Places to visit, sights to see... Or rather, someone to see."

     This is the second time Hugo has referred to this. "Someone, hmm? Could it be that mystery person you mentioned a while back?"

"Heh," Hugo responds with a shrug. "Again, I'm not admitting anything!"

Varian claps him on the shoulder and says, "Keep in touch, Hugo. We'll miss you, and I mean it."

     "Speak for yourself," Cassandra remarks with folded arms. But her smile gives her away. "Good luck out there," she tells Hugo.

 "You too, Sandra," Hugo says. Cass rolls her eyes, but waves goodbye along with Varian as they watch Hugo stroll off to find his next adventure.

     Once everyone has said their final goodbyes, Varian, Cassandra, Lance, and Edmund pile into the balloon. As they soar through the skies, Ruddiger curls up next to Varian, and Owl flies alongside them, vocalizing happily. Lance and Edmund carry on a lively conversation, while Varian and Cassandra relax.

     "You know, I actually kind of miss Abhu," Varian admits. The two of them are sitting down in the basket, cuddled together, their fingers intertwined.

 "I never thought I would say it, but I do too," Cassandra says, "It feels so weird that he just... no longer exists. And that we're the only ones who remember him."

     "Really," Varian agrees. He stares up at Owl as he adds, "I did think of something, though."

     "What?" Cassandra asks, also gazing up at Owl like she'll see the answer to her question there.

     "You know how Abhu hated owls?" Varian says. "Well, I've read that in some cultures, owls' screeches are considered an omen of death."

     "...Or of non-existence?" Cassandra considers this. "So, you think he didn't like owls because—"

     "—Maybe, in some weird way, he sensed he wasn't supposed to exist," Varian finishes. "Even if it was only subconsciously. And also, we may have known subconsciously. Maybe that's why he was so... dislikable."

     Cassandra sits up slightly to look him in the eyes. "Sometimes, Varian, you think too much." She briefly presses her lips to his. "But don't ever change."

 Varian grins. "As long as you love me the way I am, I don't have any plans to change."

Chapter Text

Finally returning to Corona, Varian, Cassandra, Lance, and King Edmund head into the castle. There, they are immediately greeted by Rapunzel and Eugene. Keira and Catalina are also there, and ambush Lance with a group hug.

Eugene tearfully embraces Edmund. "I'm sorry I wasn't much help," he says. He turns to Varian and adds, "But thank you for freeing my dad, Hair Stripe."

     Varian smiles as Eugene throws his arm around his shoulders. "Anything for Team Awesome," he says.

"I'm so glad you guys are back!" Rapunzel says, giving Varian and Cassandra each a tight squeeze. "I want to know everything about your trip!"

"We'll be sure to tell you every detail," Cassandra says. "Starting with the news that... I'm here to stay."

     Rapunzel gasps. "You're staying Corona? Cass, I can't believe it!" She grabs Eugene's arm, pulling him away from his dad. "Eugene, Cass is staying in Corona!"

     "Gotta say, I did not see that coming," Eugene says.

     "What made you change your mind?" Rapunzel asks Cassandra.

     Varian and Cassandra exchange glances. Varian isn't sure if Cass is ready to reveal their news or not, but he grows hopeful when he sees her mischievous smirk. "Should we tell them?"

     "I don't know if they can handle it," Varian replies, matching her playful tone.

Rapunzel raises a quizzical eyebrow. "What are you guys talking about?"

     Cassandra and Varian grab Rapunzel and Eugene by their arms, and pull them aside into an empty hallway. Their smiles widen, as they lace their fingers together. "Rapunzel, Eugene... We have some more news," Varian says.

     "During our journey, Varian and I... became closer," Cassandra says. "And, well... we're dating now."

     Rapunzel and Eugene stare at them blankly. Finally, Eugene begins to laugh uncontrollably. "You two, dating?! Oh, that's rich! Nice try, guys. But you can't prank us that easily." He doubles over, still laughing. "Can't breathe..."

Cassandra folds her arms angrily. "Is it really that unbelievable, Fitzherbert?"

     "Quite frankly, yes!" Eugene says, wiping a tear from his eye. "The thought of you, CassAndra, dating anyone? Let alone Varian? It's too much!"

     Cassandra glowers at Eugene. Varian fears for the man's life.

     "Ice demons can't date!" Eugene continues. "It would be against the laws of nature! It—"

     Having had enough of the aggravation that is Eugene Fitzherbert, Cassandra does the only thing she knows of to prove to him that they are dating. She pulls Varian to her by his collar, and plants a hard kiss on his lips. She kisses him repeatedly, and breaks away only when she hears the shrill squealing that escapes from Rapunzel's mouth.

"It's true! It's true! You really are dating!!!" Rapunzel wraps her arms around both of them in a huge bear hug, and jumps up and down enthusiastically. "I'm so, so, so, so, so happy for you! Ahhh I can't believe it!"

 "Now I can't breathe," Varian wheezes, feeling faint as he is crushed by the force of Rapunzel's eager embrace.

     Rapunzel finally releases them. "We have so much to celebrate! Oh my goodness! You two are so adorable! I'm so happy you're finally together!"

     Cassandra holds her hand up. "Whoa, what do you mean finally together?"

     Rapunzel smiles sheepishly. "Cass, I've known how Varian felt about you for a long time."

     "You have?" Varian is surprised to hear this.

     Rapunzel nods. "Oh Varian, I'm sorry but it was so obvious. You completely changed, almost immediately after Cass left."

     Varian's brow furrows. "Then why did you constantly try to set me up with other girls?"

     "She did what?!" Cassandra says, jealousy immediately flaring up.

     "Easy, Cass," Rapunzel says. "I did it because I only wanted you to be happy, Varian. I knew how you felt about Cass, but I also didn't think she would ever actually..." She pauses, unsure how to finish her sentence. "But thank goodness I was wrong! Everything seems to have worked out for you guys!"

     After giving them one more hug, Rapunzel turns to face her husband, who has been unusually quiet. Eugene is gaping at Varian and Cassandra, his eye twitching in shock and... well, what Varian can only describe as horror.

Probably should have eased into the news a bit more with Eugene, he thinks. A kiss, right in front of him, may have been too much.

     "He'll come around," Rapunzel giggles. "Come on, Eugene, we've gotta finish getting ready for the banquet we're throwing for King Edmund!" She winks as she whispers to Varian and Cassandra, "It'll be for you guys, too." She grabs Eugene's arm, and drags him away with her, his face still contorted in disturbed speechlessness.

     Varian and Cassandra share a glance, and then burst out in a fit of laughter. "I have never seen Fitzherbert like that!" Cassandra says. "This is the best day ever!"

     "And I'm pretty sure all of the Seven Kingdoms heard Rapunzel's squeal," Varian says. "I don't think she's ever been that excited before."

They continue laughing together, until they can finally calm themselves down enough to go get ready for the banquet. The evening is full of delicious food and joyful fun... though they catch Eugene constantly staring at them in disbelief.

A few days later, Rapunzel sits down with Varian and Cassandra, joined by a reluctant Eugene. "Eugene has something he would like to say," Rapunzel says.

     "Actually, I don—" He starts to say. But Rapunzel elbows his side. "Ow... Okay! I'm sorry about the way I reacted to your... news."

"What news would that be, Fitzherbert?" Cassandra asks, messing with him. "You'll have to be more specific."

     Eugene grimaces. Varian pats Cassandra's shoulder. "Come on, Cassie, go easy on him this once."

     "Fine. But only for you." Cassandra taps Varian's chin, and then scoots closer to give his cheek a gentle kiss, causing Eugene to squirm uncomfortably.

"If I had known this would affect you so strongly, I would've done this a long time ago!" Cassandra jokes with Eugene.

     "So now that that's handled, there's actually something else I want to talk with you guys about," Rapunzel says, growing more serious. "As you know, that creature —the Angst— took away my ability to have children." She chokes up momentarily as she says this. "That means Corona will be left without an heir." She scoots closer, and takes Cassandra's hand in one of hers and Varian's in the other across the table. "Corona Law stipulates that, if the ruler of Corona does not have an heir, they may be allowed to choose their successor. That being said, I have decided... I would like any child the two of you may have to be Corona's heir."

     Varian gasps, and all the color drains from Cassandra's face. "Geez, Raps, we've literally only been on one date!" Cass says.

     "I know," Rapunzel says. "I know this is huge and I'm throwing it on you with no warning. But this is something that a lot of people are putting pressure on me to do. And honestly, just in the few days I've seen you two together, I can tell how much you love each other. I know you guys are gonna make it." She smiles softly. "I wouldn't trust this to anyone else."

     "W-We're grateful for the opportunity, Rapunzel," Varian says. "But it is a little too early to agree to something like that."

     "I understand," Rapunzel says. "Please keep it in mind, though. I'll be awaiting your answer patiently." She then turns to Eugene and says, "Wasn't there something else you wanted to say?"

     "Right." Eugene clears his throat. "Cass, you still interested in joining the Royal Guard?"

     "Really?" Cassandra says, her eyes lighting up. "You'd give me a job, just like that?"

     Eugene nods. "Why not? I know we've had many, many, many... many differences over the years, but you've become like a sister to me. An aggravating, frustrating sister. But still. Plus, you're the most important person in the world to my wife —besides me, of course. That's enough for me."

     Cassandra smiles, then stands up to shake his hand and make it official. "Looks like you've got yourself a new Guard, Fitzherbert."

"Ah ah ah, that's Captain Fitzherbert to you!" He says.

     Varian slinks his arm around Cassandra's waist. "Congratulations, Cassie," he says.

     Rapunzel puts her arm around Varian's shoulders, and pulls Eugene into the group hug. "This is so exciting! We're back together, like old times!"

     "Well, not exactly like old times," Cassandra points out, laying her head against Varian's shoulder.

     Varian gazes at the faces of his friends, and the love of his life. "I think the best of times are yet to come," he says. A new life for them is just beginning, and he looks forward to experiencing it all with the best people he could ever hope to call family.

Chapter Text

"...And, eventually, that's how you became the chosen heir," Varian tells Opal. "Once your mom and I got married, we made everything official with Aunt Raps that our firstborn would become the future king or queen."

Opal is silent for a moment. "So, how did you and Mommy get married?"

Varian laughs, while Cassandra shakes her head. "This kid is never satisfied!" He says.

"That is definitely a story for another time," Cassandra says. "For now, it is way past your bedtime."

"But I'm not—" Opal yawns involuntarily. "—tired..."

"Uh-huh." Cassandra tucks the blanket tighter around Opal, and kisses her forehead. The girl's eyes flutter sleepily.

"Goodnight, Little Gem," Varian says, as he and Cassandra stand up to leave.

"Goodnight," Opal replies softly. "I... I'm glad you are my parents. Love you..." Just like that, she drifts off to sleep. She travels to wondrous places in her dreams; the Dark Kingdom, Terapi Island, Arendelle... All the places her parents traveled on their adventure. And she sees the faces of all the people they came across; Hugo, Misty, Vex, Anna and Elsa... even Abhu. The one being and place she can't seem to find, however, is Infinity and its location...

Varian and Cassandra exit Opal's room, their hearts swollen with so much love for their daughter. And each other.

"That was a nice trip down Memory Lane," Cassandra says.

"It was," Varian agrees. "Even though years have , sometimes I'm still amazed that you chose me."

Cassandra strokes his face with the back of her hand. "I am grateful every day that things worked out how they did. If they hadn't, we never would've had that wonderful girl in our lives."

Varian smiles softly, takes her hand, and kisses her wrist. "Or our amazing baby boy."

Entering Jasper's room, the two of them find that Rapunzel is still here, watching silently as the baby sleeps soundly in his crib.

"How's he doing?" Cassandra whispers.

"He's just fine," Rapunzel replies. "He was a bit finicky when I first came in, but I gave him a bottle and now he's out cold."

"Thank you," Cassandra says. She takes a long, loving gaze at her son, and then the three of them exit the room as quietly as possible.

     "So, what was it you wanted to talk with me about earlier?" Rapunzel asks Cassandra.

     "It's about Opal," Cassandra replies. "Her abilities are getting stronger, and honestly... It's starting to worry us." Varian nods in agreement.

     "I agree that she is pretty young to have such powerful abilities," Rapunzel says.

     "Exactly," Cassandra says. "And we know she is going to test them out. Try to figure out what all she can do." She sighs before adding, "You spend a lot of time with Opal, training her to be queen. Please, just... keep an eye on her. You grew up having powerful abilities, so you know what it's like more than anyone."

     Rapunzel places a reassuring hand on Cassandra's shoulder. "I promise, I will help guide her in any way I can. I love Opal like she was my own. You know I will always take care of her."

 "I do," Cassandra smiles. "Thank you, Raps. I don't know what we'd do without you."

     "There you are, Sunshine!" Eugene comes down the hallway. "I've been looking all over for you! Thought you'd be in bed by now."

     "Headed that way!" Rapunzel gives Cassandra and Varian one last smile, before heading off to her room. The two of them are about to go to their own room, when Eugene reaches out and grabs Varian's arm.

     "Hey, Varian. Can we talk for a minute?"

     Varian glances at Cassandra, and gives her a nod to go on without him. "Don't keep my husband too long, Fitzherbert," she says before walking away.

     "What's up?" Varian asks Eugene.

     Eugene glances around, making sure no one else is within earshot. "I've been thinking about something. And I know it may sound crazy, but... You remember how you got the Angst to undo what it did to the Dark Kingdom years ago?"

     "Yes," Varian says slowly, unsure where Eugene is going with this.

     "This is gonna be a humongous ask," Eugene says. "Do you think you could get it to undo what it did to Rapunzel?"

     Varian isn't sure how to respond at first. "Eugene, the Angst disappeared."

"It couldn't have disappeared completely," Eugene says. "It had to go somewhere!"

     "What are you saying?" Varian asks.

     "I'm saying... I want you to track down the Angst," Eugene says.

     Varian raises an eyebrow. "What? Why?"

     "I know this is out of nowhere," Eugene says. "But you haven't seen what that thing did to Rapunzel. Not really. She pretends she's fine and dandy, but when the two of us are alone she's a completely different person. She's depressed, Varian, and I know it's because she knows she can't have a child of her own."

     "But, Opal—"

     "—Is an incredible, beautiful, fantastic kid," Eugene interrupts. "And Rapunzel loves her like her own daughter. We both do! But the fact remains, that we still don't have kids of our own. Every day that Rapunzel spends with Opal, her love for her grows... but so does the desire to have her own child. She wants to be a mom, and no matter how much she loves Opal she will never be her mother."

     Varian ponders his words. "I guess I get that. But still, Opal has been chosen as the heir to Corona. If you and Rapunzel had a kid, wouldn't that change things?"

     "It probably would," Eugene replies hesitantly. "And Varian, please don't think of this as anything against Opal. That is not what I'm saying here at all. I know she would make an amazing queen! It's just..."

     "...You want a kid of your own. I understand."

     "And I love Rapunzel with every fiber of my being, and just want her to be happy," Eugene adds.

     Varian isn't completely sure how he feels about Eugene's request. "I don't know what to say, Eugene. I wouldn't even know where to begin looking for the Angst."

     Eugene places his hands on Varian's shoulders. "I have faith in you, Varian. You can track that thing down, I know it! Please, for Team Awesome... For Rapunzel."

     Varian glances down the hallway towards Opal's room. What if he could track down the Angst? Would what that mean for his daughter? But when he looks back at Eugene's face, full of compassion and heartbreak for his wife, he can't resist.

     "Fine. I don't make any promises, but I'll do what I can.

"I'll try to track down the Angst."

The End...?