Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Varian’s day was going just great.

Yep, totally.

After two weeks of preparation and discussion with the captain of the Coronan royal guard, his first royally commissioned project aside from the hot air balloon designs and new mechanics he’d begun taking pride in, could finally be built and tested within the castle walls or mounted on one of its balconies for that matter as an early warning system.

The Rooster was meant to be a huge break for him, once it worked that is, and luckily for him even his luck had finally been turning around… apart from Cassandra kidnapping him for his knowledge, an incident which he liked to pretend wasn’t his fault.

Even if it kind of was… for having a brain, he supposed as he tried to console himself over that.

Of course, though, after his friends had all finally shown up to his presentation, three pieces of information came to light, all of which his brain was still trying to process.

So apparently, pertaining to the first piece of information, and despite the fact that the old captain had given him his word that he would arrive there on time to oversee the installation, he was a no show, but of course, Varian never liked him anyways so he hadn’t exactly been too disappointed for that matter.

The second piece of new information was much more interesting and even gave him hope for a new dawn! 

Okay, maybe that was pushing it a tad bit as there was a fine line between thievery and kidnapping with an almost double murder…

He quickly pinched his arm to prevent himself from going on a downward mind spiral of his own guilt as Lance liked to call it.

But still…

This literally changed things for him and maybe even all of freaking Corona !

Flynn Rider, ex-convict and infamous ex-thief with ten years of experience, the poster person of literally turning your life around in Corona and now known as Eugene Fitzherbert, had just been appointed the new captain of the royal guard.

This either meant that there was still hope for him yet, or the world he lived in was kind of just insane and someone was playing an extremely elaborate prank on him.

However, his excitement died down just moments after congratulating the man, and his sort of mentor in the ways of adapting to life after, well, life happened , when he learnt that the princess’ crown had been stolen again that very morning by none other than another man posing himself as Flynn Rider… again.

“Ah well, shoot - uh sorry, kid…” Eugene began awkwardly, rubbing a hand down his face, after having pulled Varian aside outside the castle gates as he waited for Rapunzel to return with Maximus before setting off on his first mission as captain.

“I’ve just got to deal with whatever just happened today… geez, what the actual heck was he thinking? I swear some of those guys from the Snuggly Duckling gave me death stares when they passed us just now… is it just me or does Attila seem out to get me too?!”

Eugene looked very conflicted, nervous based on how his eyes were darting around self-consciously, and rather out of place as he tugged on the collar of his newly fitted uniform, for which Varian couldn’t blame him… he looked very uncomfortable.

And for Eugene to suddenly seem so unsure of himself… 

Suns!

If Varian wasn’t working his hardest to maintain his own composure, he’d be sweating from nerves just by seeing his friend getting all worked up like this from having received such a great promotion.

It was also very strange and incredibly unsettling to see his friend in that uniform but then again, while it would take a little time to adjust, maybe he should’ve been more happy that the newly appointed captain was actually someone he could finally trust to actually look out for Corona’s people, regardless of their past or even social class. Someone who he could actually look up to… even if right now, that someone seemed rather out of it.

Although Varian wasn’t quite sure how he’d wound up in such a position where the roles of who had to take the time to try and reassure the other member of Team Awesome had switched, he was so glad that he could at least somewhat return the favor now.

“Hey! Earth to Eugene!” Varian called, punching him in the shoulder to regain his attention as one of the guards passed by, nodding towards Eugene with a salute but then being greeted by a slow, hesitant response, causing the guard to just roll his eyes.

“What?” Eugene asked, quickly shaking himself and staring at his half raised white gloved hand in confusion from the awkward interaction.

“You’ll be fine.” 

Eugene raised an eyebrow, clearly wondering whether Varian was reading his mind filled with self-doubt, despite that being plainly written on his face. 

“I mean who better to capture the guy that stole the princess’ crown than the guy who stole it first.”

“Okay, so fine, maybe I do have the expertise…” Eugene said, shaking his head,  “But, I dunno, I’m apparently captain and it feels like some random person also just stole my legacy?”

Varian winced, with his own personal experience of having such a reputation or ‘legacy’ so to speak, he knew that it wasn’t exactly a good thing and that it was something he thought Eugene had understood much better than he did, “Is that really important or even a bad thing though?”

Eugene scratched his head, finally seeming to get an edge of what he was getting at.

“No… no, it’s not like that, I probably shouldn’t expect you to understand -“

One look at Varian’s deadpan expression, caused his eyes to widen.

“Eh, sorry, I forgot…” Eugene said sheepishly.

“Huh, I feel like I should be happy that you did.” He retorted, raising an eyebrow at Eugene as he couldn’t help but still feel conflicted about what he’d just said about a stolen ‘legacy’. In fact, he couldn’t stand it.

“But, so what, everything you tell me about how your mistakes don’t define you… or the fact that people can change, that we all did… were they just empty words?”

“Wait… kid, what’s brought this -“ Eugene started, surprised to hear the hurt in his voice.

“Are you proud of your reputation as a criminal then?” Varian interrupted, pressing on despite suddenly feeling like he shouldn’t.

“No, of course not!” Eugene snapped but when he realized that his tone had caused Varian to flinch slightly, even with his unwavering and determined look, Eugene sighed and looked away for a moment.

“Oh man, sorry bud, of course I’m not.” He repeated more softly, placing a hand on Varian’s shoulder and offering an apologetic smile.

“I think I get why you thought I did just now, but I’m not, and you’re right…”

“I know.” Varian interrupted, causing him to roll his eyes.

“Of course you know,” Eugene muttered under his breath before continuing.

“I guess I’m still just kinda confused right now, somewhere in between, what-just-happened and what-on-earth-am-I-wearing… “ He gestured at his clothing.

“I guess being on the other side still feels strange then… that it doesn’t go away.” Varian said quietly, looking down.

“But trust me,” Eugene said kindly as he lowered himself to meet his eyes, “It does get better, kid… and I suppose I’ll just have to prove that to you again today, don’t I? Even if this whole situation is as annoying as heck.”

Feeling relieved that he’d managed to get his point across, Varian smiled at him.

“Yeah, I suppose you do.” His eyes then fell to the practically crumpled wanted poster in Eugene’s hand.

 “But are you a hundred percent sure you don’t have a twin brother, another long lost prince or something like that?”

Eugene looked irritated again, “No! Wait - argh! I don’t know… and is it just me or does that seem like something my dad would forget or just choose not to tell me until a more important occasion?!”

“ Maybe?” He offered, “In my experience, that’s kind of something dad’s do and I mean I only met yours after I got - err, I mean your birthday party, so, I dunno.” He shrugged and then looked up at the sun’s position in the now afternoon sky.

 “I guess this means the Rooster installation will have to wait indefinitely though.” Varian sighed. “I really wanted to do it today so I could run some tests, it’s good weather and everything.”

“Hey now, wait a second.” Eugene suddenly said with a grin on his face, “You didn’t really think I’d leave you hanging now, did ya?”

“Huh? But you’re leaving right now aren’t you?” Varian asked in confusion. “As soon as Rapunzel gets back?”

“Well, my youth-filled nerd friend, I’ve got a brilliant idea for how we can kill two birds with one stone!”

“Really?” He asked skeptically.

“While I’m out, Lance, my good man, will be acting captain as I have decreed, plus as a bonus,  it’ll at least get him out of slacking off with Cat and Angry all day, so there you go, a captain’s supervision for you.”

“Oi!” Lance called, having apparently appeared out of thin air and suddenly placing a hand on Varian’s shoulder from behind causing him to let out an undignified yelp as he turned around to see the man’s teasing face. 

“I heard that! But yes, thank you very much for the promotion my dear good sir!”

“Wait but…” Varian said quickly as this third piece of information was still being processed, turning back to Eugene after fixing the man a stern glare for sneaking up on him and now giving him a pleading look.

Lance, well, what else could he say other than the fact that Lance was a great and awesome person in general .

He was the first person aside from his father and the princess, alongside quite a few of the Old Coronans… surprisingly , to be willing to immediately look past his mistakes. Not to mention how the man had helped him work through many anxiety and panic attacks and saved his life after Cassandra had… and the tower… and the…

He quickly bit his tongue to thwart yet another downward mind spiral.

Despite the fact that he did owe Lance his life and a whole lot more for the kindness and immediate acceptance that he had shown him, well…

The man kinda had an even worse problem with continuously getting into his alchemy supplies and even meddling with his inventions, then Eugene did… At least Eugene had finally learnt his lesson after his hot air balloon motor prank, but Lance on the other hand, seemingly from multiple occasions did not.

“Don’t worry Hair Stripe,” Eugene said in mock exasperation and then patronizingly ruffling his hair, “I’m sure that he will listen to the professional this time, right buddy?” 

“ Obviously , now come on kid, it’ll be fun, please… ” Lance was now giving him puppy eyes, while holding his palms together. Varian groaned miserably as the people-pleaser part of him gave in and he facepalmed himself.

“Ugh, fine, but I’m serious this time!”

“But I’m serious this time!” Eugene mimicked, but then patted Varian on the back and winked at him.

“Of course, if you really don’t want to do it today, we postpone it and force you to take a nap.”

“I’m almost sixteen!” Varian suddenly exclaimed, much to both of their amusement, “I don’t need a nap!”

“Hmm, I dunno, you seem awfully whiny today.” Lance added with a lopsided and annoying grin, earning him another eye roll and a muffled “oh-come-on!”

“Now I just wanna get this over with.” He sighed as he pulled out his notepad, “The king gave me permission to use the tower in the west wing for this project.”

“Great!” Lance exclaimed with a bounce in his step, “In fact, I’ll go get prepared and tell the girls to meet us there after they finish the reading practice you assigned them!”

“Wait - What?!” Varian all but shouted, it would be one thing to get Lance to follow his orders but trying to control him and the girls?!

When those three were together, they were an unstoppable and indestructible force of chaos!

And yes, he was quite aware of that irony.

“Lance! No!” He yelled but the man, as quickly as he had appeared, was already out of ear shot on his back inside the castle, leaving both Eugene and Varian standing there in the wake of his dust.

Varian shot a frustrated look at Eugene and gestured towards the direction that Lance had left in with both hands. The man let out a somewhat nervous half-laugh.

“Whoops… those were some unforeseen circumstances, uh, good luck and well wishes to you then?” He tried apologetically.

“Hmmph, you’re still probably gonna need it more than me.” Varian replied unamused as he crossed his arms.

-

After requesting that Ruddiger remain within the laboratory chambers in order to guard it from intruders and more specifically from the three amigos as Eugene liked to call those three, he stopped by the kitchen to grab an apple for himself and headed towards the tower’s staircase in the west hall.

His thoughts, as they usually did slowly began to spiral as he remembered how he'd officially been given them to work on account of the queen’s hospitality… once again, another bout of kindness that he didn’t deserve, especially not from her of all people.

She should still hate him… as should all the kingdom… one good deed couldn’t make up for all he had done… could it?

What shook him out of his thoughts this time though was when he nearly bumped into Stan the guard.

“Oh hey, how’s it going kiddo?” The man asked, smiling at him kindly.

“Heh, fine… err, I mean sorry sir.” He said sheepishly, avoiding eye contact with him for a second.

“Seriously, what’s up with all this sir business?” He asked with a hearty laugh and then raised a hand, “Come on, up top!”

And yet another one of Corona’s people showed him undeserved kindness, but he supposed that was just Corona for you. 

And besides, who was he to leave someone hanging?

He high-fived him and continued on his way, a feeling of happiness in his chest and a slight bounce in his step now. 

Maybe Eugene was right, maybe things would get better… especially when after the red rocks incident, people stopped walking away from him and actually asked him for help more.

He liked that feeling, of being able to help someone, of being able to finally get acknowledged for it and of actually feeling like he belonged. It made him feel whole, almost as if it was his life’s purpose.

Almost as if he weren’t just meant to bring trouble wherever he went.

For it seemed that trouble simply just followed him wherever he went.

With his constantly overthinking mind finally at bliss for a moment, he didn’t check the corner behind him as he turned into the stairwell and pulled out a copy of the Rooster’s schematics as he began his climb, taking a bite out of the apple. 

All of a sudden he had the wind knocked out of him when something huge from behind him suddenly shoved him into the side wall hard. He yelped as lost his footing and dropped what he was holding, hitting the wall.

Before he could even make another sound after painfully having hit the wall face first, a large hand roughly seized one of his shoulders and turned him around, shoving his back against the wall to face the now definitely an attacker and covering his mouth.

“Not a sound.” A man’s rough voice snarled, brandishing a jagged looking knife in his other hand.

Varian felt as though his heart was pounding out of his chest as he stared at it, pure dread filling him all the way from his stomach. All he knew for certain was that he would dare not test fate until he figured out what was happening and until his mind caught up with his heart.

Not that anything would help if he was dead though.

The person in front of him as far as he could tell in his now panicked state of mind was large in build beneath their black cloak, almost massive and practically inhuman… until the man tucked his knife back in and pulled down his hood.

Varian sucked in a breath as he saw the large man’s disfigured face covered in strange scars, green splotches and reddish-purple bruises, a disaster accompanied by his unkempt blonde hair and mustache.

His eyes widened even more after studying his facial features for another second.

Oh god… 

It - It couldn’t be…

The Flynningan Rider books couldn’t be that accurate… could they?!

He let out a stifled gasp when the man shook him.

“You scream and that knife will be through your heart before you can blink.” The man hissed as he slowly uncovered his mouth and moved his hands to keep Varian’s arms pinned against the wall, now unable to open his satchel’s flap or to even try as he was still paralyzed with fear.

“Now tell me,” He said with a sinister edge to his voice as he studied him, his one hand being strong enough to suddenly lift Varian off the ground by his collar.

Fire… airships… the Quirineum… Him… 

“Traitor’s pay with their lives!”

Varian couldn’t stop the tears that betrayed him as he uselessly hung there, pinned against the wall as the man ripped off his satchel in one snatch.

“This you?” The man demanded, shaking him again as he then pulled out a piece of parchment that unfurled right in front of him, leaving him looking at his own rage-filled face… looking so different to how he felt at the current moment.

“Y -  you’re - you’re… the… the - ” He practically squeaked, regretting it instantly when the man’s frown twisted up into a cruel and vicious sneer.

“Speak up, boy.” He smiled like a ruthless fanged viper, revealing an ugly golden tooth in the process.

“The Baron…” Varian finished, staring at him in horror as the Baron let out a harsh bark of a laugh, sending shivers down his spine.

“And you, The Alchemist, as difficult as you were to reach for this long, are coming with me.”

-

“Alright girls,” Lance said in front of the west tower’s staircase as he donned the golden armor of the Coronan guard with ‘borrowed’ badges, for indeed they would be returned as soon as the true captain returned, “What do you think?”

“You look like an eyesore! A bedazzled eyesore!” Angry cried as she dramatically covered her eyes, causing her sister to giggle.

“Oh come on,” Lance admonished, unamused. “Young lady, is that any way to address your new captain ?”

“Temporary!” Catalina chimed in, echoing the princess’ words when Eugene had proposed the idea in front of them, causing him to groan.

“Kids these days, no respect.” Lance grumbled himself as turned towards the stairwell. Of course, he did still have a job to do he supposed, so what did it matter. 

He took one step when something hit his foot, causing him to feel absolutely disgusted when he saw what it was. 

An apple with just a single bite in it!

As the new captain of the Coronan royal guard, he now had three main purposes today. 

To serve and protect, to assist in another thrilling endeavor of science and engineering, and to now find and condemn the wasteful culprit who would commit such an atrocious crime.

Didn’t they know how many children starve in underfunded orphanages? Or how many people could barely afford a meal, let alone the clothes on their backs?

Of course, as angry as that made him, he had a certain science kid to meet up with and help out first. One who in his honest opinion pretty much deserved the world after all he had been through, and maybe he’d even be able to use some of his alchemy skills to help sniff out the culprit once they were done… especially after adding the feathers to enhance his designs.

When they got further up the stairs however, Angry pointed out a piece of parchment that had gotten stuck between two of the stone steps.

“Huh… it looks like Varian’s handwriting.” Catalina acknowledged after hopping ahead and picking it up, showing it to Lance.

“Ah, the designs for the Rooster, he must’ve dropped it.” Lance announced as he took it from her to study more closely.

Hmm, just as he suspected, no feathers.

By the time they got to the balcony at the top of the tower that led to the ledge upon which the Rooster was meant to be installed though, there seemed to be no sign or even a single trace that would’ve implied their alchemist had been there.

“With how excited he was about it earlier, you'd think he would’ve been here before us.” Angry said, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes.

“Wait a minute… but how come his schematics were on the stairs then if he didn’t come up here?” Lance suddenly asked, looking at the two girls to see if either of them could think of a possible explanation.

“You don’t think he fell… do you?” Catalina began worriedly as she looked over the edge of the rail towards where a guard had already placed a ladder.

“No, of course, not!” Lance said quickly, recalling the last time the kid had fallen off a tower or more so been knocked off it. “He’s not stupid… he’d probably have all of us use a rope tied against the rail or something to keep us from getting knocked off the tower, in fact maybe he came up here, realized that he had forgotten the rope and went back to get it.”

Yep, that seemed like a perfectly sound and logical explanation.

“So then… do we just wait here?” Angry asked impatiently.

“Yep!” Lance said, and was met with another one of Angry’s eye rolls and Catalina’s forced supportive smile.

About twenty minutes and a hundred and forty five… no forty six now, matches of rock-paper-scissors later, there was still no sign of the kid and Lance couldn’t help but begin to feel worried again. The kid hadn’t exactly seemed keen on having him there for ‘scientific’ company, but this was getting ridiculous… Was Varian avoiding him? Had he inadvertently hurt the kid’s feelings somehow or even gone too far in his teasing earlier in any way? Something he knew about Varian for certain though, was that he was a kid who absolutely hated being treated like a kid… but oh boy, he really hoped he hadn’t hurt or offended him earlier. Seriously, Varian had enough hurt for a lifetime.

“I give up! I’m going to his lab to yell at him for wasting my time!” Kiera exclaimed as she stomped back inside, followed by her sister who shrugged at Lance before leaving as well.

“Of course, the lab!” Lance laughed to himself, Varian never did specify where he wanted to meet him first, now that he thought about it.

Yep, everything was gonna be just fine.

Or so he thought until they found his lab empty, except for an extremely possessive raccoon who hissed whenever one of them even neared any alchemical supplies.

Lance felt his heart sink.

Where are you kid?

Chapter Text

And so after another extremely daring and beautifully executed heist, Flynn Rider had set off once again, claiming the princess’ crown and the other spoils from his adventure, all of which he had proudly procured in broad daylight, now riding off to his bright and gold-filled future all while maintaining his handsome face and form.

All in a day’s work, one might say, or rather just one simple morning.

Of course, the one last thing he had to do before securing it all was shake the weirdly look-a-like slowpoke guard and some blonde woman, one he hadn’t managed to take a good look at yet unfortunately , off his tail.

He’d already seen them following him from afar and heard them as they had drawn near. The Coronan guard already weren’t exactly well known for their stealth in those shining uniforms but this was just absolutely ridiculous. The doofus in bright red was loudly whispering smack about him.

Of course, he knew for a fact that they wouldn’t be able to catch him. 

For he was the one and only Flynn Rider, greatest thief that ever lived! 

Losing a single guard? Pfft, that was child’s play!

-

It took but a moment for Eugene to realize that the ‘Flynnposter’ in question that they’d finally managed to track down, a pun that he would’ve been very proud of himself and said aloud at any other time mind you, must’ve heard them and had run out of the clearing in the blink of an eye, much to his increasing aggravation at the day’s turn of events.

“Blondie, quick! He’s onto us! Let's go!”

And in just a few moments, they were both atop of Maximus who took off at full speed.

Eugene Fitzherbert, the captain of the Coronan guard, riding upon his trusty steed was now in pursuit of this low-life, identity stealing idiot who apparently thought he could outrun the fastest horse in all the seven kingdoms on foot .

This highly incompetent and pathetic excuse for a thief.

Either very luckily or unfortunately for the kingdom of Corona, Captain Fitzerbert, an ex-criminal with a hundred times the brains of that man, was on the case.

“Captain Fitzherbert…” He grumbled to himself, “Doesn’t even sound cool.”

Max, clearly not impressed with Eugene’s rather pessimistic mood today, rolled his eyes and let out an indignant snort as his hooves stamped the ground, increasing the speed of their pursuit with every stride as they rushed through the woods, following the man who was both incredibly fast and agile in his maneuvering through the woods.

Irritatingly.

“Come on, Max, you can go faster than this!” He urged before realizing what Max had just communicated with him, “Wait… What do you mean he’s faster than me?!”

“ Seriously?! This guy?! Come on, don’t need to over exaggerate just cause you’re out of shape!”

“Eugene!” Rapunzel’s voice rang out from behind him accompanied by Pascal’s chiding chirp and Max’s offended whinny, her arms that were wrapped around him, squeezed his shoulders a little more tightly for a moment, “ Focus! ” 

He quickly shook himself as he held onto the reins more tightly, leaning forwards.

“Sorry, sorry! Heeyah!” 

They continued the mad chase through the forest’s terrains for several more moments before the thief’s intended target, causing Eugene to internally curse himself for not realizing it earlier, soon became apparent. The man was running straight into the wildest, thickest part of the woods in his attempt to lose them within the trees and the undergrowth that would soon follow.

“We’re going to lose him!” Rapunzel yelled as a determined Maximus kept going despite their path narrowing and the terrain becoming harder to navigate as he just barely missed running into a patch of thorny brambles, dodging out of the way.

For a moment, Eugene almost did in fact believe they were going to lose him, right before an adjacent overpass of boulders leading off to the side suddenly caught his eye.

“Oh no, we’re not!” He proclaimed as he suddenly pulled Max’s reins back much to the horse’s surprise as he was forced to skid to a halt. 

“Max, I’ve got an idea.” He said as he quickly brought the quartet’s attention to the stony overpass. 

“That way! Hurry!”

Max’s ears perked up as understanding passed through him and he quickly built up speed in that direction.

“And Sunshine,” Eugene quickly called, his determination to capture this man now knowing no bounds. “I’ll need your frying pan.”

“One state-of-the-art frying pan coming right up, Captain .” She smirked, giving him a knowing look as she drew her weapon.

He tried and failed to suppress the sigh that escaped his mouth in response to that. He still didn’t exactly like the sound of that but he supposed he had a job to do first, even if he hadn’t exactly officially accepted the position just yet.

-

“Ha! Take that, stupid laws!” Flynn exclaimed, having realized that he could no longer even hear the guard horse behind him as the air continued to rush past him while he dodged through the trees laughing to himself as he thought about the loot in the sack over his shoulder.

Ooh mama, I’m rich!

All he had to do now was get to his benefactor on the Knight Path and he’d be home free, though maybe he’d stop at that awful little pub full of barbarians for a bite to eat first which was just a small detour trip back through the thicket he was currently in. Sure, it was the most irritating of all the establishments he’d passed through, but he supposed he might as well see all those sorry faces for the last time. Besides, he was starving after all his hard work and then after that, it would be goodbye to the rags and hello to the world of the high-scoring elites.

He let out a whoop as he kept going, still trying to put a little more distance from where he’d been spotted before changing routes, but honestly, at this point, he was pretty sure his pursuers were long gone, very typical of those higher-ups in the king’s guard to give up so easily and head for back-up instead and by that time he’d be long gone.

And as a king I shall soon live.

Oh, wouldn’t it be fun to have people to order around?

Though still wound up in his fantasies about what he’d be doing with the drastic increase of the gold, fame and grandeur coming his way as he ran, the stripe of gold that had suddenly flown overhead, crossing the branches of two adjacent trees did not go unnoticed as it continued to do so, following him in a zigzag pattern even as he outran it.

Wait… is that a woman?!

His mind slow to process what he’d just seen caused him to quickly look back and do a doubletake at what he was witnessing, even as he continued to run forward.

Too distracted by the purple figure and gold ribbon swinging in the trees to have even noticed the white steed and it’s red-clad rider, frying pan in hand, leaping out in front of him from between the trees and a nearby ridge in the land.

“What the -”

CLANG!!!

Head hit metal and he was out like a light.

-

“ Varian? ” Lance whisper-yelled into yet another empty and darkened guest chamber that he’d poked his head into, “ Are you in there kid?! ”

“Obviously not.” Kiera muttered with an eye roll as she and Catalina watched Lance close the door and run across the hall to open the next.

They’d both been following Lance in their search for the past two hours and despite now also having her own doubts that Varian was still even in the castle considering he wasn't in the library which was she’d admit, only mildly concerning especially if he hadn’t told anyone he’d left and it was also kind of hard not to be annoyed at the nerd when his raccoon was tightly curled around her neck and practically trying to strangle her.

Seriously! His claws were irritatingly sharp and digging uncomfortably into her shoulders!

“Can you please get him off me?!” She pleaded as she turned her back towards her sister. The raccoon had shifted a bit and his tail was now whacking her face.

 “I’ve tried like a dozen times already!” Catalina cried, reaching towards Ruddiger who suddenly let out a terrified squeak and curled around Kiera’s shoulders even tighter, much to her dismay.

“Argh! You made it worse!” She groaned, attempting to remove him herself but to no avail as he clambered onto her head the moment she’d even tried reaching for him.

“Please Ruddiger!” Catalina begged the creature, “She doesn’t even like you and I am the one who actually wants to cuddle you!”

Her words had no effect on him as he continued to give her a wary look while messing with Kiera’s hair.

Kiera facepalmed, one thing was clear, any step her sister even took towards her would cause the clingy creature to cling to her even tighter. 

“No offense, but it’s probably because you’re a werewolf.” She sighed, turning back to face her sister.  

“But that’s not fair!” Catalina protested, stomping one of her feet, a tint of red briefly flashed in her eyes as her teeth sharpened for a moment before changing back and causing the frantic racoon to let out another frightened squeak and to scramble back down to Kiera’s shoulders, much to her disgruntlement.

“Oops.” She said a little sheepishly as Kiera raised an eyebrow.

“Oh believe me I’d switch any day.” She grumbled as Ruddiger nuzzled the side of her face.

“Girls!” Lance suddenly called from quite far down the hall now and waved them over, still sporting his overly polished “borrowed” guard armor. “I know where we haven’t searched yet! The kitchens and all the wings on the other side of the throne room! Let’s go!”

“And here we go again…” Kiera said exasperatedly as she took the lead for her sister who was still watching Ruddiger, her eyes filled with envy and the obvious yearning to snatch up the fuzzy creature up against his will.

She was so going to get back at Varian for this.

-

“And that’s just how we roll!” Eugene exclaimed victoriously, tossing the frying pan to his other hand as he hopped off of Maximus, the horse letting out an equally giddy neigh. Eugene held the other out for Rapunzel as she leaped down from the trees, landing right beside him gracefully and giving his hand a tight squeeze.

“You said it honey.” She smiled back at her beloved but couldn’t help but notice that his face fell again as he knelt down and began to study their unconscious victim, going deep into thought as he frowned. She wished he would tell her the truth behind what he’d been feeling all day, having noted that he wasn’t exactly taking the news of his promotion really well. Then again the day he’d also tried starting up as a guard all that time ago also hadn’t gone as planned at first either, so she supposed she’d give him a bit more time to open up to her about it himself.

As she also began to study the ‘Flynn Rider’ lying on the ground, she couldn’t notice how strangely similar, especially now that they’d finally gotten a closer look, that he really did look like Eugene. Of course, though they did look similar enough to be confused for one another, they didn’t look exactly the same even apart from the mustache that the doppelganger thief wore, especially due to the fact that the scars that Eugene had on the side of his neck were obviously not present on the unconscious man who also seemingly looked younger than him.

“Hmm, how new do you think he is to this business?” She asked Eugene curiously after a moment, seeing without a doubt that this was indeed his area of expertise, however, her question caused him to scowl at the man.

“New enough to have no original ideas of his own that’s for sure.” He grumbled, “But now I suppose it’s high time we get those answers.”

“Well, let’s tie him up first then.” Rapunzel said a little resignedly at his still rather negative attitude and began gathering up her hair as Eugene proceeded to drag the man towards a nearby tree.

Once the man was securely tied up against the tree, Rapunzel gave her hair a quick tug to ensure that her golden strands were tight enough to prevent the thief from escaping upon waking and that they weren’t so tight as to constrict his breathing, Rapunzel was quick to notice the mischievous smirk that Eugene was exchanging with Pascal as he stood beside the tree with Pascal on his hand.

She shook her head at the two, “Alright, you’re all clear.” She called as Eugene readily placed Pascal on the unconscious man’s shoulder. 

“Okay bud, do the thing,” Eugene said, a little too eagerly as Pascal, who was just as eager, proceeded to stick his tongue into the unconscious man’s ear, causing the man to wake up with a start and to let out a loud yelp.

Eugene stepped back towards where Rapunzel was and already had his arms crossed, giving the man an extremely scrutinizing look as they both waited for him to regain his bearings.

“Is - is this hair?!” The bewildered man spluttered out staring down at his hands that were pinned to his sides as he tried to move for a moment, clearly still dazed.

At that Rapunzel could barely hide her incredulity at how uncannily similar this situation was to the day she first met Eugene… well, more or less anyway, so much had changed since then. 

“Yeah, it does the job.” She said, unable to rid herself of a half-smile and gaining his attention.

“Oh,” He said looking up in surprise though he seemed to be quick to get back his wits which seemingly lowered the probability of them having given him a concussion, “It’s your hair…”

Or maybe not… she realized as he fell silent for a moment and looked to the ground.

“Ah, well in that case,” He suddenly began, lowering his voice dramatically.

It took only a second for Rapunzel to realize she knew exactly what he was going to say next as he suddenly cleared his throat and lifted his head again with ‘Flynn Rider’s’ smolder spread across his face.

Oh for the love of -

“ Hi .” He said, raising his eyebrow with a completely ridiculous-looking smirk on his face. “The name’s Flynn Rider .”

It took every fibre of her being to resist facepalming with her frying pan in her hand as she rolled her eyes. Just then, Eugene placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her behind him looking entirely outraged at the man for many more reasons than one now.

“Nope, no, nu-uh, liar ! It is absolutely not your name and you are definitely not doing whatever the blazes that was ever again!” He yelled as he marched back over. “In fact, I will be telling you exactly what we’ll be doing here today, discussing the even longer list of more significant offenses that belong to the man, starting with this one, to even have the thought that h e could steal this crown even better than me!” He declared as he revealed the diadem, brandishing it just inches away from the man’s face before pausing as he stared at it for a moment and turned to Maximus.

“Can you lock that thing up someplace safer, please?” He asked Maximus, cutting his own rampage off for a moment as he looked to the horse who gave him an affirmative nod while still glaring at the criminal. “Thanks.”

He spun around again and approached their captive. “Theft of gold, diamond and the real offense, grand theft of blue!” He declared, pointing to the man’s blue vest accusingly before finally getting to the more pressing question. “And how do you look exactly like me?!”

Though Flynn had been silently thinking for a long moment, he finally threw his head back and laughed “Oh, exactly like you?” He mocked, clearly amused by Eugene’s agitation although that all may have just been the overconfidence of the ‘Flynn Rider’ mask shining through.

“Come on, don’t flatter yourself pal.” He snickered, purposely finding his way under Eugene’s skin from what Rapunzel could now tell.

“Don’t… flatter… myself…” Eugene stated in utter disbelief, unable to believe the nerve of the man. “ Myself?! No, don't flatter yourself buddy! ”

“ Blondie, can you believe this guy?” He asked her without waiting for a response. “That is such big talk coming from a persona stealer !”

Clearly enjoying himself now, Flynn interjected once more.

“You stole it first.”

“False! I adopted the persona, there is a difference!”

“Law man sell-out.” Flynn replied with a roll of his eyes.

Rapunzel could tell that hit a nerve as Eugene clenched both fists. She, Maximus and Pascal all exchanged concerned looks.

“Who are you calling a sell-out?!” He demanded through gritted teeth and a harsh glare. “And why do you even have a mustache then, fraud?”

Flynn shrugged, his voice filled with snark. “I simply gave Flynn or I suppose the old you a long over due upgrade .”

“How dare you!” 

At that moment, Rapunzel was almost certain that Eugene could barely hold control his temper anymore, which she could tell that he was already trying his hardest at before, and seeing as Eugene’s current interrogation technique could use some work or perhaps just a little nudge in the right direction, she decided to quickly intervene before this could escalate.

“Eugene.” She finally interrupted, gently grabbing his shoulder and pulling him a little further back from Flynn who had begun jeering at him. Eugene finally met her eyes after glaring at the man for another moment and his eyes had just slightly softened. “Relax.”

That, of course, did not help his case as Flynn began to snicker upon hearing his actual name.

“Yeah, Eugene.” He dragged his name on a bit, “ Relax .”

Before Eugene could respond, Rapunzel pulled the strand of her hair which she’d been testing earlier towards herself, causing the strands around Flynn to tighten a little more for a moment and drawing back his attention to her. 

“Don’t test me Rider.” She said firmly, looking him directly in the eye and fixing him with a glare of her own before turning to Eugene again who now had his arms crossed, obviously still fuming. “Let’s get this Flynnposter back to Corona.” She noticed the corner of Eugene’s mouth twitch at the pun, an attempt to now keep his face expressionless in front of Flynn, before he resignedly followed her to deal with the prisoner without another word. 

Eugene was still quiet now, even as Flynn had decided it was a great time to take a few more jabs at him, causing her to reach the conclusion that either he was biting his tongue or seemingly thinking about something else now. Once they’d untied Flynn from the tree but had kept her hair coiled around him and were now some distance away with the prisoner being kept under Max’s watchful eye, she figured out that it had been the latter as Eugene let out a sigh.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, now especially concerned after he’d suddenly snapped his head up at the sound of twigs snapping in the bushes to the side but as her gaze followed his, there appeared to be nothing there.

“What?” He quickly asked, shaking his head, “Somethings wrong?” He let out a forced laugh as if she’d told him a bad joke. “Nothings wrong! Why would anything be wrong? I mean we caught the bad guy already and now we get to go home and call it a day…” He trailed off when he noticed the look on her face.

“I know that look, Eugene.” She said tightly squeezing both his hands for a moment as Pascal gave an affirmative squeak to back up the validity of her statement.

“Cause it’s just so devilishly handsome?” He offered, still so obviously trying to avoid the subject but she rolled her eyes with a soft smile and tilted her head knowingly to the side.

He glanced back at their captive for a moment before looking back at her again and she could clearly see now that there was conflict in his hazel eyes that gazed into hers.

“Well, It’s just that…”

He was hesitant for a moment but at her encouraging nod, he let out a breath and squeezed her hands in return, offering her a half-smile.

“I just feel -”

“ Woah there now!” Flynn suddenly called and interrupted him, causing them both to shoot him dirty looks. “I just didn’t know the royalty of Corona could be, oh so scandalous!” 

He let out a long, loud laugh that irritated Maximus into giving him a rough shove but even that didn’t seem to phase him.

“Suppose that's just what happens when you let the lowlife street scum into the castle, your highness… or actually, perhaps your lowness may suffice.” 

“You’ve got the right to remain silent you know!” Eugene yelled as Maximus let out an angered snort, clearly offended on Rapunzel’s behalf.

“Oh but Eugene,” He chided in a mockingly high-pitched voice. “You’ve got to make use of those big ears you’ve got there!”

“Alright that’s it!” Eugene snapped self-consciously before pausing to think for a moment and continuing. “You know what Blondie, you are right. There actually is a problem and it's that I'm actually absolutely famished right now, aren’t you? To the Snuggly Duckling!”

Rapunzel gave him an entirely bewildered look, now feeling completely clueless as to what on Earth was going on inside his head.

“Eugene, heading to the Snuggly Duckling, now? Are you sure that’s a good idea? What about him?” She asked, jerking a thumb in the direction where Flynn was still standing tied up, looking almost bored now actually.

“Ah well, suppose he’ll have to come too, go figure.” Eugene said dismissively, causing her to feel a little suspicious of his intentions there.

“Just a quick little stop and then I’ll walk him straight to the dungeons.”

There really wasn’t anything she could say to oppose his suggestion, maybe that was why he seemed so easily irritated at the moment.

“Alright, alright, I suppose a quick stop couldn’t hurt.” She relented, choosing to trust him on this. “But come on,” She then tried, “Are you sure that’s all that’s bothering you?”

“Like a wise person once said, you can’t perform your best on an empty stomach or something  like that.” He declared clapping his hands together and his mood noticeably seeming more positive now. 

Perhaps his mood had lifted at the prospect of food? She wondered though she did still have her doubts about that being the only thing weighing on his mind.

 “Now let’s go,” He said. “The days-a-wasting!”

Chapter Text

7 YEARS AGO

- 

Eugene… no that’s not right, he hadn’t gone by that name in years by now…

-

Flynn paced back and forth in front of the study belonging to none other than The Baron himself. 

“This’ll be fine… this’ll be fine..” He murmured repeatedly, feeling as though his heart was jittering as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He could do this. He could absolutely do this! It wasn’t like he hadn’t requested audiences with The Baron before… honestly, he had no idea why he was so -

Actually no, he knew exactly why he was so nervous.

It wasn’t everyday that you galumphed up to The Baron and tried to call off his daughter’s wedding.

Or simply just went up to that man and proclaimed, “Good day to you sir, I am not interested in marrying your daughter and becoming your son-in-law. Hope there’s no hard feelings though, I sure don’t have any!” 

Atleast, he’d never heard of someone ever doing that before… he wondered why.

He’d been having nightmares ever since The Baron had all of a sudden publicly announced the union of Flynn and Stalyan without informing him just a week ago. Ever since, Stalyan had grown even more insufferable and that had practically confirmed she’d told her father to do so behind his back. He’d actually had the courage to confront her about that but she’d blown him off, telling him that he should count himself lucky that she wasn’t the kind of girl to get upset over his commitment issues and that she’d simply just make all the decisions for him.

“This is what you want.” She whispered into his ear as she walked past him just that morning. “You’ve just got too much of an ego to admit it, jerk.”

Maybe they’d really had a great many seamless heists together but well… 

She was downright crazy if she thought she could just control his life like that! He certainly didn’t want to be locked in a relationship with her for the rest of his life if he couldn’t even trust her to hear him through! 

“Best not to call her crazy in front of her father though.” He muttered to himself. Still working up the nerve to knock on that man’s door.

Maybe he may have accidentally let himself get a bit too comfortable staying in The Baron’s manor… but the man had after all saved both him and Lance from drowning at the hands of a few thugs a few years back and then offered them shelter in exchange for working for him, so perhaps this wouldn’t go too badly. 

He and Lance had both been terrified out of their minds at first, having heard of the man’s reputation but he ended up always falling through with his promises. He’d done a lot more for them than any other adults had after all. So right now, all Flynn had to do was say that he may not be a good fit for Stalyan, surely the Baron would at least appreciate his honesty and let him make up for it.

Right?

Honestly, by speaking up now he was practically doing everyone a favor anyways. Cause he certainly did not want to get married and who wanted to marry someone who didn’t want to get married?

Well, Stalyan perhaps…

 So why was part of his brain telling him that he was being stupid and should turn back right now? 

He could literally just ditch the manor and Stalyan without a word right now. He'd never cared about being chivalrous, so why was he even doing this?

He sighed and finally decided to get this over with. 

He took a deep breath and faced the door. He raised a hand but the door swung open before he could knock. 

“I was wondering when you’d drag your lousy feet in here.” The Baron boomed as he dropped one of his enormous hands over Flynn’s shoulder, catching him by surprise and nearly causing his knees to buckle.

“Haha, yeah just uh- making myself presentable sir.” Flynn said, fighting to keep the nervousness out of his voice as he cleared his throat.

“Good, good, I expect nothing less from my prized protege and future son-in-law.” The blonde-mustached man said, steering him into the study. “Come now, I wanted to show you a procured item recently brought in. It’s a real beauty.”

The Baron’s study was always such an interesting place. What with its blood-red carpet that Flynn always hoped was simply its original color whenever he visited, not that it mattered of course if someone had been - yeah, he wasn’t going to get into that -  and the manacles that hung from the stone wall in a corner of the room… Thank goodness they were empty today.

Other than that dreadfully drab place in the room, the rest of it was a bit more ‘official’ looking. There was a large bejeweled chest pushed against a wall to the side. The desk and shelves were all made up of some sort of really expensive looking dark wood. The walls were covered in a variety of things that the Baron liked to flaunt, from golden framed paintings to artifacts procured from palaces or gifts from allies, and a mounted bear head that was stuck snarling at him for eternity.

Actually that was horrifying. Seriously, who put dead things on their walls?

 Flynn never liked looking at the giant grizzly bear's head whenever he entered the room, he wasn’t sure why but he’d always thought alive bears were pretty cool, from a distance of course.

Too bad he’d lost Teddy when he was twelve. He’d dreamt that a crazy-eyed crow had dropped the pristine and initially almost completely new looking orange bear on his head when he was about five or something.

“Take a look at this gauntlet Flynn.” The Baron suddenly said as he took a seat behind his desk. There weren’t any chairs on the other side of his desk so Flynn remained standing as the Baron lifted off from its stand a silver gauntlet that had shining hinges and what intriguingly looked like knife points at the end of each finger. It also seemed to be the Baron’s size as he slipped it on and made a show of opening and closing it.

“Looking very sharp sir.” Flynn said, trying his best to look completely at ease despite what was weighing in his mind. He did note that there seemed to be silver pinpricks on the gauntlet arranged in a pattern across the back. “Oh and so obviously made in Ingvarr.”

“Indeed.” The Baron nodded. “There are very few of these ever made by a single manufacturer who died in recent years. These are always saved for their most elite warriors.”

“I wasn’t aware that your business has roots in Ingvarr.” Flynn inquired, though curious, he also wanted to postpone what he requested a meeting for as long as possible.

The Baron barked out a laugh that made him jump.”Even if I had extended my business there yet I wouldn’t have told you, at least not yet… perhaps you’ll learn quite a lot more once you’re part of the family.”

Flynn gulped as The Baron continued. “This gauntlet in particular was procured by Lady Caine and sent here as a token of her gratitude for investing in her most recent expedition. It was most profitable if I may add, even if she’ll likely turn out to be some backstabbing nuisance later on.”

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then nodded at Flynn who was fidgeting with the buttons of his vest.

“Luckily I won’t be having to worry about that with you, eh Flynn?”

“No sir.” He replied, internally screaming.

“Excellent, you’ve always been one to see the greater picture and I couldn’t have taught you any better.”

He finally looked away from the gauntlet as Flynn questioned all his life choices… something he didn’t do often. “Now why did you request this meeting? I’ve had to schedule time away from other important business, including your wedding arrangements.”

Flynn bolstered up all the courage he could muster. “Well sir, you’re in luck… this is entirely wedding-related.”

The Baron frowned at him. “The arrangements have all been entirely finalized to fulfill my daughter’s wishes. Has she sent you to discuss a change with me?”

“Uh- well…” Flynn scratched the back of his head, he felt a rush of blood as he continued to venture further and further into dangerous territory. “Not exactly, however - I believe that what I suggest would be highly beneficial for all those involved.”

“Go on.” The Baron prompted, staring at him very, very intensely. 

“Maybe-we-could-postpone.” Flynn put the words together far too quickly and gulped as The Baron’s fists closed.

“And why do you suggest that?” The Baron’s eyes narrowed like a hawk as he stood up, blocking the window and casting a dark shadow over the room.

Flynn shifted back and rubbed the back of his head. Why had he thought this was a good idea? Civility wasn’t a thing amongst criminals!

“I - well you see, here’s a funny story! Stalyan didn’t actually tell me that you were announcing the wedding. And I thought we could all use a bit more time to prepare! For such a life-changing event and all!” 

The Baron’s expression was unreadable for a moment as he crossed his arms, looking at his gauntlet again.

“Surely you are prepared at this point, no? I’ve allowed you to court her for quite some time and I don’t make mistakes, Rider.”

“You haven’t made a mistake sir! There are other reasons too!” Flynn blurted out. “We are very much not in sync on the whole getting married thing to begin with. I mean I didn’t even think she was considering it yet. What kind of person am I to be so inconsiderate of her feelings? I truly couldn’t deserve her, you know what I’m saying?”

His eyes widened as he realized what he’d basically just admitted. “I didn’t mean that I don’t want to - well, okay so maybe that is kind of what it sounds like I’m saying but… if we gave it just some more time to make things work…’

Yes, more time to think his way out of the mess he created just by walking into this room.

“Ah, is that all?” The Baron said as looked him directly in his eyes, his tone sounding … cheery again?

The man smiled at him almost warmly which made him feel uneasy for a moment but just in case, he nervously smiled back.

“Well, I’m sure my daughter would understand. You should’ve just said something earlier.” The man boomed, pounding his ungloved fist down on the table before coming around the table and placing one of his massive hands onto Flynn’s shoulder, much to his astonishment. “I very much appreciate your honesty, Flynn.”

Relief beyond measure flooded through him. Hah, turned out this was going to be a good day after all and maybe actually being honest does work out favorably sometimes.

“You do?” Flynn laughed as he wiped away the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead. “Because for a second there I thought -”

“No.” 

The smile was gone.

And the gauntlet of silver caught the remains of the fading sun.

Then it descended.

Tearing sharp and quick across his neck and shoulder.

Flynn yelped as pain shot through him and then found himself on the ground. His defenses had been down and his mind was now racing to build them back up. There was chaos inside though and it wasn’t quick enough.

The Baron who loomed over him with his outstretched hand, sighed disappointedly, stepping closer as Flynn scrambled backwards away from him, heart beating out of his chest. 

“Now look at what you did, Flynn.” The man tsked, looking at the raised bloodied gauntlet on his hand. It glistened a crimson red. 

“Injuring your looks just before the wedding, eh?” He shook his head. “Nothing a well-fitted collar won’t cover up I suppose.”

Flynn’s eyes treacherously glanced over to chains in the corner of the room and sure enough there it was among the manacles too.

He quickly tried to turn and get to his feet but at that moment he saw the Weasel - Had he been here this whole time? - silently shutting the doors to the study.

The arm on the side of his injury was suddenly grabbed into the Baron’s excruciatingly painful grip. He suddenly panicked, trying to struggle away as the man forcefully hauled him to his feet before even more painfully tearing away the hand he’d been clutching his neck with.

Examining the wound.

Flynn couldn’t breathe.

He was going to die.

“Hmm, too small to pass off from a run in with a bear that’s for sure, not that you’d survive one anyhow.” The Baron laughed suddenly and shook him, as though they were just the chummiest of pals and Flynn’s heart was racing as he was unable to get his arms out from the bear’s claws. 

He was beginning to feel light-headed, from fear or blood loss he’d no clue…

At the point where he thought his arms would tear right off, The Baron let go and Flynn fell back and immediately backed himself up against a wall… no no no no he was still trapped! 

“Ah well, one could simply say you had a run in with one of those mountain cats. Still quite the tale to tell to impress my Stalyan, maybe even the grand kids.” He continued and Flynn realized he was a mouse that a giant cat was toying with.

Just then the bloodied metal gauntlet went slamming into the wall right next to his head. 

“So - so much for unused, am I right?” Flynn choked out against his better judgment as he was inches away from death’s face. 

“You dare mess with me or my daughter and there’ll be consequences to pay, Rider! You hear me?!” He roared and all Flynn could do was vigorously nod, eyes flying around for an escape.

The Baron shook his head furiously. “I get you off the streets, invest in your success and this is thanks I get. For just the audacity you had coming up to me, had it not been for my daughter’s personal interests and had you been anyone else, I would have had you lashed and killed, your body strung high as a lesson to many. The world would’ve never even come to know your name Flynn Rider had I never had plans for you to begin with.”

A cruel smile spread across his face. “I’d never have sent my men to collect you at the harbor to begin with.”

The words were a blow straight to his heart and there was an odd feeling that began to pound on Flynn’s bones.

He couldn’t quite place it but something had shattered…

Oh no no no, was that trust? 

Had he been stupid enough to look up to The Baron?

Had he been foolish enough to trust  him?

How could you trust someone and never even know?

What was this?!

The man stepped back and began to pace but Flynn didn’t dare move, despite desperately looking at the door which was still being guarded.

“Oh, there won’t be any place left for you here if you don’t follow the plan. I’ll spare no expense at tearing apart everything you hold dear… and before you find any solace in having no blood, Strongbow has always been your brother, no?” He looked back at him, smile widening.

Flynn felt sick to the stomach and paled at the thought of what The Baron could… no, would do. He’d always told him that his attachment to his childhood best friend was a weakness.

“Yes, it’ll be a good riddance of that weak-minded and barely even passable excuse for a thief.”

Flynn said nothing and looked down. The Baron backed off and looked satisfied. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to him, the movement making him flinch. It took him a few moments to realize that the Baron had given it to him for the bleeding and he ever so carefully reached out and took it. His hands were shaking badly and a strange thought drifted through his head about the skin just falling off like leaves in autumn.

“I’m glad you and I are in agreement then.” The Baron suddenly said loudly as if performing for an audience, his tone making the miraculous switch back to as if they were simply striking a deal on a business proposal. He removed the gauntlet and placed it back onto its holder, still gleaming red. “In fact, in light of recent events, the wedding date has been moved up to be in two days' time.” He said, not looking at him but at The Weasel. 

“Inform the servants and caterers, if they’ve got a problem then send them straight to me.” The metal sound of the gauntlet closing again echoed around the room.

“Right away, sire.” The Weasel said in a nasally voice, giving Flynn a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders before he left.  

“My Stalyan will be very pleased. She’s been looking forward for this for months but no wonder she never brought up the wedding sooner. Thank you for being so understanding Flynn.”

Flynn couldn’t bring himself to say anything but The Baron gestured towards the door.

Was this good luck or bad luck or just his last chance to live?

He took two cautious steps before The Baron attacked him again, seizing his arm and pinned it behind his back, causing him to cry out.

“Please…” The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them, tears from the pain pricked the corners of his eyes. 

“I just gave you a mercy, Rider. And that is going to cost you. You owe me. Now get out of here before I change my mind.” 

With that, The Baron dragged him to the doors and tossed him out before slamming them shut.

He lay on the ground in a daze and breathing heavily before realization mixed with a wave of dread hit him.

Oh, he was getting out of here alright. 

But he needed to move. NOW.

He jumped to his feet but stumbled into a wall, hissing with pain as he hit his throbbing shoulder right into it. That certainly caused him to black out for a moment as he blinked away the spots.

Where was he going again? 

He eventually wound up back in front of his room somehow, barely acknowledging that the door was already open.

In his room he found Lance using his favorite comb on his beard, using his favorite hand-held mirror.

“Lance.” He snarled but felt woozy all of a sudden as he grabbed the door edge for support. Unfortunately, it swung and tossed him forward as he slipped. He caught himself before face-planting into the frame of his bed but just barely. Lance turned around with a start, looking guilty for a moment before his eyebrows went shooting up higher than Flynn thought was humanly possible.

“What the heck happened to you?!” Lance yelped, clearly having seen the blood on his fingers as his wound bled through the handkerchief. Flynn cursed as he heard his prized comb and mirror clatter to the floor with a definite shatter- like he needed bad luck- but was hit with another dizzy spell.

“Haha just had a run-in with a - a bear-cat… no, wait I mean a mountain Baron.” Flynn blubbered out as Lance ran over to his supply kit, grabbing something and then leading him to his bed by the window.

“Just - just sit on the bed, okay man… I’ll get you some water and… wait, DID YOU JUST SAY BARON?! DID HE DO THIS?!”

Lance’s hysterical screaming brought him back to his senses.

 “Shut up!” Flynn snapped, cursing his unlucky stars that the door had still been slightly ajar. He pushed past Lance and rammed his shoulder into it, turning the lock before he slumped against it, feeling tired again.

This time, Lance began to lead him back to the chair which was nearer.

“What did you do man?!” Lance hissed as he began to treat Eugene’s wound, despite looking incredibly squeamish as he removed the bloodied handkerchief from his hand.

“Why’s it always something I had to do?” Flynn complained, closing his eyes for a moment.

“Flynn! It’s always something you just had to do.” Lance groaned, pouring him water from a pitcher and into a wooden mug. 

“Fine.” He said after taking a sip and wincing as Lance began cleaning the wound. “All I did was tell the Baron that I didn’t want to marry his daughter and he whipped some weird claw thing at - HEY OW -”

Flynn leapt out of the chair after Lance had practically spilled half the bottle of disinfectant on him.

“You WHAT?!” Lance began stringing together curses and tossing them at him, it took a few minutes for him to wind down. In the meanwhile Flynn had begrudgingly gone to his wash basin, cleaning and dressing the wound himself. 

“Strongbow has always been your brother, no?”

“Yeesh, relax Lance, this doesn’t concern you, you’re such a worry-wart.” Flynn said meekly, trying to sound annoyed despite knowing it was a lie.

“Like blazes it doesn’t man! I know he only lets me stay here because of you! Yeah, that’s right! I overheard him saying that to you just yesterday! Liar!” 

The trouble was that now, this did concern Lance… it very seriously did concern him as Flynn recalled The Baron’s dislike for Strongbow, always telling Flynn behind his back how this bond of their brotherhood made him soft. Made him weak.

He now felt something he didn’t like to feel. Guilt and self-loathing. He scratched his head and turned around.

“ Okay so maybe -”  He started but Lance interrupted him.

“Why couldn’t you just go along with it Flynn!” Lance hurled at him, for some reason looking even more angry and… hurt? Why was Lance hurt? Flynn was the one still bleeding at the neck and he didn’t like Lance’s tone.

“We’ve had it good here, food on our plates, roof over our head and oh well- I don’t know immunity from the Baron and his gangs, but all of a sudden you go along and destroy it all!”

Was Lance blaming him for trying to free himself from a fate worse than death? A life of being controlled and tied to some stuck-up and spoiled snob who’d never been told no once in her life? 

That sure riled him up.

 “Oh yeah? And why should I be stuck with Stalyan the rest of my life? It’s literally Stalyan! Just so you can live like a prince? Let’s be real here Lance, this wasn’t going to last anyways. Don’t you remember our pact? Your whole all for one and one for all speech?”

“Don’t you dare bring that up!” Lance snarled. “You’ve broken it plenty of times already! Why couldn’t you have just taken one for the team? I’ve been thrown straight into the prison cart multiple times, maybe it's your turn!”

Flynn couldn’t believe this. “And what about the fact that I’ve broken you out multiple times?”

“It took you more than a month last time!” Lance complained. 

“Well that’s just life then!” 

They both glared at each other for a solid minute in silence before Lance gave him a resigned look. 

“Hope you’re happy, Rider. ” He snapped.

Flynn scowled at him as he left and slammed the door behind him - wow, twice in one day - but as soon as Lance was gone, he collapsed onto his mattress and pressed a hand to his throbbing neck.

His mind was still reeling. Betrayal sinking deep into his bones.

-

The next morning, Lance was gone and Flynn couldn’t care less. Had their situations been switched, he would have done exactly the same. Strongbow was simply just that predictable… well, except for the part that he hadn’t even made the effort to at least officially say goodbye for now. It was completely stupid to have expected he would, Flynn knew of course, but then why did it still - 

Nope, he didn’t freaking care.

After all, once he ditched the wedding with the plan formulating in his head involving The Baron’s prized stallion - and the fact that Stalyan would obviously be much too busy with how her hair looked instead of watching him like a hawk, well, he’d simply just build a criminal empire on his own.

Because frankly, he was certain that would be much easier than ending up in a lifetime’s engagement with that control-freak and her oh-so-very loving father. 

He berated himself for staying in one place too long anyhow.

How could he have even thought for a second that the man had actually cared? How has he actually gotten comfortable working under The freaking Baron whose hands were literally covered in blood… Flynn’s blood included now?

He didn’t know. 

What he did now know was that The Baron had orchestrated the attack at the docks. 

The one where Lance had dislocated a shoulder and he had broken two ribs. They’d thought The Baron had simply been passing by and taken pity on them, pulling them both out of the water and telling them that he’d managed to scare the rest of the men off. There’d even been two bodies on the ground which had been more than convincing enough at that time, both their judgments having been clouded by the pain and freezing cold.

Yet the more he thought about it now, the more he realized that he’d been blind to all the facts that pointed to the set-up. 

But in the end, that just added to the lesson learned. 

Flynn Rider would always work alone.

-

“Flynn scoured across the crumbling ancient ruins, even as the ceiling caved in behind him. Perhaps he could salvage something, anything, to preserve what would soon be lost as the castle erased its own existence. Maybe he’d find just the right something, something worth the risk on his life.”

Chapter Text

Eugene and Rapunzel walked behind Maximus and Flynn as they neared the Snuggly Duckling. Max carried the end of the rope which they’d now secured their prisoner in by tying up his wrists. Rapunzel had argued that the rope was a bit much considering the fact that Eugene had also handcuffed him but this seemed to be the best arrangement as Maximus seemed adamant on having the terrible excuse of a criminal within his sights. 

As satisfying as it was for Eugene to see that the jerk genuinely seemed to fear Maximus at this point, he was now seriously wondering why the ex-captain hadn’t simply just given the position to the horse instead. Or maybe the only reason he hadn’t was because hooves didn’t really give one the ability to file in paperwork instead… or wait, would that even be part of his job or was that what the soldiers or guards did? 

Gah! See, another reason he shouldn’t be captain! Not only would no one take him seriously at this point if he were to try and command them due to his past but other than the ‘arrest criminals’ part– based on his own experiences, he had no idea what else he’d be expected to do. 

First he’d become a prince which, technically was expected to occur eventually given that he was with the princess, even after a third failed proposal attempt - she’d been going to ask him!!! 

The prospect still brought him so much joy.

But this, becoming captain of the guards after a life on the run…

Well, this was a bit too much! How much would his life change now? Was he even ready for it? And what about the Coronans… would they still accept him? Could he really trust himself with the safety of an entire kingdom?

When he’d first proposed to Rapunzel six months after she’d returned home, he’d been a complete idiot and when the second time came around and he thought they’d both been ready, he’d also been a buffoon, only coming to an understanding of what Rapunzel must have felt like after well…  almost being forced to marry someone else, again . 

He shuddered at that memory. 

Yet, on his birthday… she’d planned to propose to him!  

How he would have immediately said yes, had they not been interrupted. But suddenly becoming captain had made him finally truly understand what it must have been like for Rapunzel before, to be in her shoes - ironically, and why it had been so hard for her at the beginning. He recalled how distraught she’d been after the blizzard all those months back, how uncertain she was of the future and how she’d told him she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be queen anymore.

He’d already seen how hard it could be for Rapunzel to be in charge, especially in the past few months, but he found it laughable now how he’d always tried his best to console her and ease the burden. 

He so bitterly felt like a hypocrite now, having given her advice that day which turned out to be a much tougher pill to swallow then he’d realized. Though he would do anything and everything to protect his kingdom and the ones he loved, the truth was that he was absolutely terrified of the moment she would see him as a failure.

“Eugene.” Rapunzel said just then, snapping him out his thoughts as she playfully shoved his shoulder with hers. He looked right into her glittering emerald eyes as she smirked at him. “I’ve been meaning to ask, why do you keep bringing people here if you hate it so much?”

She placed her hands on her hips, looking rather smug to have taken a jab at their first meeting and despite his conflicting emotions, he couldn’t help but be a little snarky.

“Because I know they’ll absolutely hate it.” He flashed a grin at her as he watched the glare of realization slowly come across her face before she shook her head exasperatedly. “Then I suppose you’re not all that hungry are you?”

Her eyes landed on their prisoner again.

“No no, absolutely starving.” Eugene replied, now realizing that Max was pounding at the door of the tavern with one hoof while also baring his teeth at Flynn who held his bound hands up in surrender and looking back at the both of them pleadingly. “Seriously! What do you feed these things?!” He yelped, but that did not help his case with Maximus whatsoever.

“Would you look at that? Max! You’re doing terrific, keep it up buddy!” Eugene called over, even more satisfied to see the smirk wiped off the man’s face. He turned to Rapunzel as they both sped up their pace on the paved stone pathway. “Doesn’t Captain Maximus sound positively radiant, Blondie?” He asked. 

“The position of captain has always been a bond between the horse and their rider from all the Coronan history books I’ve ever read.” She replied with a gentle smile, placing a hand on his shoulder. “They’re always stronger together, you know?” 

“And that’s the lesson.” He murmured but felt bad immediately at the worried look she gave him, her eyes were warm though as she seemed to be trying to understand.

“We’re stronger together too, remember?”

She leaned her head against his shoulder while slipping her hand into his and squeezing. “You lean on me and I lean on you.”

There she was, Sunshine. Always with a positive spin on everything and the kind, warm and fuzzy, encouraging words always present when she could sense he was feeling down. He wished he’d been able to find the words to respond but they were interrupted once more by the slamming of the tavern door as Max had simply continued pounding until Shorty had fallen off whatever he’d perched on today and it swung open. 

Eugene really wasn’t kidding about how Maximus was on a roll today.

-

“Come on Lance, think.” Lance muttered to himself, placing a palm on his forehead. “He’s got to be around here somewhere.”

“Maybe he needed to go home for something.” Catalina suggested, having suddenly appeared beside him as he paced around in a circle in the library. He’d taken off the decorative armor set he’d borrowed by now. Honestly that thing was just so heavy.

“But he knows he shouldn’t be traveling around Corona by himself.” Lance grumbled dismissively, before noticing the girl deflate slightly, having wanted to be helpful. He sighed and patted her head with a gentle smile, “Of course, that is still a good working theory, thanks. You’re very smart.”

She smiled at him shyly, clearly pleased by the compliment. She then skipped over to where Kiera was now lying on a sofa, having fallen asleep with Ruddiger curled up by her head but now on the cushioned armrest. It wasn’t that late yet but for some strange reason the probably nine year olds were very early risers. Who knew?

Well, he did now, having been victim to a spider clown prank at five am after the girls had snuck in. He shuddered. 

Clearly, he wasn’t going to be living down having one of his irrational fears being publicly revealed anytime soon but hey, he’d sang his way to victory and at the very least it wasn’t just his fear that got revealed. The whole incident had practically been a total kingdom bonding moment

Attila’s fear had been burnt flying pastries.

Nigel’s had been dragons… which wasn’t that irrational considering Pascal’s marble incident.

Eugene’s had apparently been having a bad hair day, which was clearly a lie, but he was also one of the bravest people Lance knew so go figure.

And Varian’s had been… huh, he didn’t remember the kid ever mentioning what his had been after the incident, having used the power of alchemy to save the day with the princess. Lance had noted that after they’d returned though, Rapunzel had routinely checked in on Varian while they all worked to ensure that order really had returned to the kingdom. 

Lance let out a frustrated sigh. His one job had been to keep an eye on things here while his friends were gone and he’d basically messed it all up before he’d even begun. 

Varian up and vanishing like this was just way too concerning considering his history, and though time among a number of other factors had done the fifteen year old a favor in that he didn’t attract as much attention as he used to from the main city’s eyes, they still didn’t want to risk someone taking their temper out on him. 

Or someone kidnapping him again for that matter. 

Cassandra wasn’t in a relatively good mood these days to say the least and Lance supposed he’d add not reaching out to her when they were traveling together to his long list of regrets. But how was he supposed to know her deepest desire was to dye her hair blue?!

Still, it didn’t seem to be in Varian’s nature to suddenly run off on them like that, even if he was upset. He knew the risks. But while Varian wasn’t exactly a child, he wasn’t an adult either. 

There was a reason that they’d taken all these precautions in the first place considering the last time his needs had been neglected.

Lance didn’t really acknowledge the sound of the castle’s library doors opening as he continued to pace, scratching his chin.

So maybe Catalina was onto something… in fact he should probably go and ask around to see if anyone had seen Varian leave. Why he hadn’t done that earlier, he didn’t know. Honestly, it probably would have been a lot less stressful if he’d done that earlier and found out that Varian had simply requested to leave with a guard instead.

“Cat, actually you know what I think you’re - ‘ He paused mid-sentence as he turned around and found that Catalina had now also fallen asleep on the sofa, having snuggled up next to her just definitely-slightly-older sister as emphasized by Kiera herself despite not actually knowing that for sure. Kiera turned and wrapped her arms around her sister almost protectively, mumbling something quietly.

“Aww.”

Lance felt like he’d melt at how adorable the sight was. It was just so precious to see them like this, safe , after everything they’d been put through together. They’d both been so young when The Baron had swept them off the streets to train them as thieves, without a care for their safety. He’d probably only cared about the fact that no one would ever suspect a pair of little girls would be able to overtake their carriage or steal jewels from right beneath their noses. 

It still infuriated Lance just thinking about The Baron these days. Besides the time when Lance had ended up getting poisoned and used as a bargaining chip to force Eugene to marry Stalyan, he wished he didn’t have a perfect memory of abandoning Eugene behind after The Baron had lashed out at him. Sure, he’d known Flynn could handle himself but that didn’t justify not standing by his side.

He distracted himself from a ‘downward mind spiral’ as he liked to call it, in the task of retrieving a blanket from the basket near the fireplace for the girls. He gently tucked them both in while also being careful of not disturbing Ruddiger who looked absolutely miserable without his human.

“Oh my goodness, aren’t they just precious?” A soft voice sounded suddenly, causing Lance to yelp, jump and whirl around with his hands in an defensive stance. Only to find himself facing none other than Queen Arianna of Corona herself giving him an apologetic yet slightly amused look. 

“Y - your Highness!“ He shouted but quickly caught hold of himself realizing that it looked like he was about to fight the queen and immediately dropped to his knees, bowing as low as he possibly could. “I - I offer you my most humblest of apologies! I swear I didn’t hear you come in!”

“Nonsense, I apologize Lance, I’m the one who didn’t announce myself. Honestly, I assumed you would’ve already known I was here.” She said, shaking her head with a good-natured smile. “Also, you can rise now.” She added after a few moments.

“Yes, of course… thank you, your majesty.” He said jumping up immediately and giving her a salute. “At ease Lance, any brother of Eugene is a son of mine.” She said, sounding even more amused now but his jaw dropped.

“He called me a brother… in front of you, your highness?” The question tumbled out before he could stop himself. 

Her smile faded slightly at his reaction. “Both he and my daughter think very highly of you Lance, you’re more than a friend to them. You’re family. And by extension that means to me as well.”

Lance felt flabbergasted and wiped a tear from his eye. “Gosh, well… I don’t know what to say to that, thank you, your highness.” And she gave him a kind nod and then looked over to the young girls, probably trying to make sure they hadn’t disturbed them.

“I was actually looking to speak with you Lance.” She said suddenly, and the seriousness in her tone made Lance feel nervous again. “Am I in trouble?” He asked but then winced and she shook her head, gesturing for them to move away from the girls.

“No, you’re not in any trouble Lance. I just happened to notice that you and the girls were wandering the halls earlier, searching for something or… someone?” 

Lance gulped, oh boy, he’d be in trouble soon enough at this point. “Well, as you know, Eugene headed out on his first mission as captain with the princess, being appointed on such short notice too, and well…”

 Gah, the responsible thing to do was tell her the truth.

After his explanation about what he thought was going on, her eyes widened. “So currently the whereabouts of Varian are unknown?” She asked, and Lance absolutely hated how it sounded when she put it like that.

“I wasn’t supposed to be working on any missing-persons cases!” He blurted out, the panic finally getting to him, “I just wanted to help Eugene and Varian out!”

“Easy there, it’s best to remain calm.” She quickly reassured him in a smooth tone, “This isn’t your fault. I’m sure Varian’s just fine. You know that boy, he’s probably just fallen asleep somewhere or has gone home for a bit as you suggested.” Of course, the concern never left her face as she touched a hand to her forehead and looked down for a moment.

“Actually that was Catalina’s suggestion.” He sighed, feeling awful. “I - I just feel responsible for taking care of him and the girls for that matter.” He looked back towards them as they slept peacefully. “They’re all so young but have been through so much. Heck, Varian didn’t deserve to have been…” He stopped right there, eyes widening when he realized who he was talking to. But he noticed the queen did not look angry or upset or really anything at all for that matter.

 “Go on.” She said,

“He didn’t deserve to have been abandoned in his time of need.” Lance finished and the queen nodded again. He was now beginning to understand that Rapunzel had certainly taken after her mother when it came to being a caring and compassionate leader. In fact, the queen also seemed to have acknowledged that he had quite a bit on his mind and listened attentively as he continued. 

“And then the girls… they were barely even four or something like that when The Baron picked them off the streets. Neither have any recollection of their parents, just each other and I still don’t have a lot of information about the training he put them through, just bits and pieces. They’re just so small !” 

Now the mention of The Baron is what seemed to cause her calm demeanor to slip away, her eyes hardened and hands curling into fists. “I swear if that man ever crosses onto Coronan soils, I’ll ensure that the walls of the dungeon are what he sees for the rest of his life.” She declared firmly. “For what he did to them, you and Eugene, and everyone he’s ever hurt and exploited. You have my word.”

This turn of conversation had been completely unexpected by Lance and it seemed that the queen realized that too as she took in a calming breath. Before she could say something, Lance bowed again. “Thank your majesty, again, you really don’t know how much that means to me.” He said as gratefully as he possibly could, because what she said had truly meant a lot to him even if it seemed that The Baron had disappeared off the face of the Earth, for which he was also really grateful.

She sighed and her eyes lingered towards the girls again. “You’re a good person, Lance. But you shouldn’t thank me for merely saying words. I appreciate how much you care about those in need, especially the children.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Have you ever considered adopting Kiera and Catalina? I’ve noticed that they’ve grown rather attached to you over these past few months.”

“Well I don’t know if they’re that attached to me but I - uh have actually considered…” He trailed off awkwardly before shaking his head. “But well, I don’t really think the girls would appreciate having an authority figure following them around everywhere you know? They’re really independent. I mean who knows how much of the world they’ve explored without us even knowing, right?”

“If you were to adopt them, you would be a parental figure not an authority figure, Lance.” She pointed out, “And perhaps you’d be surprised by what they’d appreciate if you proposed the idea to them, when you believe the time is right of course.” She said, her eyes twinkling as she left him to his thoughts for a moment. The grandfather clock in the library began to chime.

 “I must return to the throne room now but I’ll ask around carefully if anyone knows where Varian is or saw where he went. His father entrusted his safety to us until he arrives back from Vardaros and I must fulfill that obligation.” She said looking at the time, “However, I think it's for the best now that you keep an eye on those two as you’ve been searching for a while after all. I’ll have a guest-chamber arranged for them.”

Lance hesitated before responding, still very concerned about the whole Varian potentially being missing thing. Yet he also didn’t want to risk the girls wandering off on their own when they woke up. Looking at them now just reminded him to poke fun at them later for denying the fact that they had both needed a nap when he’d asked them.

He was about to open his mouth when all of a sudden they both heard the library doors burst open, slamming against the walls and followed by the sound of heavy boots running across the floor.

“Your majesty!” Pete The Guard exclaimed loudly as another guard skidded to a halt beside him, both looking incredibly relieved to see the queen as though they’d been running all over in a panic to find her. “Thank goodness you’re safe!”

However, Queen Arianna gave them both a stern look. “Shhh! The children are sleeping!” She scolded in a hushed tone before realizing what he’d said and causing him to look taken slightly aback.

“What is the matter?” She asked, switching back to the serious tone she’d been using before. “Why wouldn’t I be safe?”

“We suspect an enemy of some sort has infiltrated the castle.” The other guard explained. “Five of the guards patrolling the West Wing of the castle were found tied up and unconscious in an unoccupied guest chamber by a maid. We haven’t found a trace of who they are or what they want yet but the king wants us to escort you to him in the throne room immediately.”

Her eyes widened for a moment but despite that she still kept her wits about the situation with her carefully chosen words. “Alright, I was just heading there now.”

She turned back to Lance whose eyes were widened at the mention of the West Wing and then gave him instructions. “Lance, you must protect those girls at all costs. You must stay with them while I deal with the matter we discussed. Don’t worry, I’ll check in with you as soon as possible. Everything will be okay.” 

He nodded, unable to say anything and with that she left the library while also leaving Lance with no choice but to stay. Now he was even more worried about his young companion as he slowly went and sat down on the other end of the couch, placing his head in his hands. He refused to leave the young sisters’ side with an apparent intruder who could possibly still be in the castle but his guilt only worsened when Ruddiger crawled over to him and curled up on his lap. Scratching the poor creature as a distraction, he tried to tame his thoughts which were running like wild horses. 

The West Wing, what else was important in the West Wing of the castle other than the fact that a teenager with quite a reputation, enemies known and unknown, had been scheduled to build and test a prototype of a one-of-a-kind warning system in, that was also probably more advanced than anything within any of the other six kingdoms?

“Dang it!” 

-

“On your feet!” 

The hinges on the door of the stolen prison cart squealed loudly, indicating that it had been opened. Though Varian actually couldn’t see a thing through the sack over his head, he tried to lift his head in the general direction of the man’s voice… which was difficult considering he’d spent the entire journey lying on his side on the wooden platform, gagged and tied up with his arms bound behind his back.

He also wasn’t quite sure how to comply with the man’s orders because by the time he’d felt himself get thrown into what he initially thought must’ve been a wagon and before having recognized the sound of a prison cart closing– not a pleasant memory, the man had tied his legs as well.

“Right, never mind.” He heard the man grumble before Varian felt himself get dragged across the floor and soon had the ropes untied from his leg before he was lifted out of the cart by the ropes and set on his feet, legs shaking on the solid ground… it felt more like he’d stepped on stone or tightly packed dirt rather than the soft soil of the farmlands and forests surrounding Corona, ruling out at least two areas of the many, many, many places he could possibly be.

By the time Varian had finally managed to become vaguely aware that the thing he really needed to do was fight back at the castle, the man had already tied him up and placed the sack over his head before practically tossing him across his shoulder as though he weighed nothing more than a half-filled bag of flour.

“Move.” The man ordered and Varian did what he was told without any struggle this time. 

He’d unfortunately learned what could happen the hard way back in the castle after he’d finally made a feeble attempt to struggle against his captor to try and get someone’s attention. His left shoulder was still sore from where the man had squeezed and squeezed it. To the extent that he couldn’t breathe and his eyes had begun to water, causing him to stop struggling completely.

“You do that again and well… I believe the consequences are very, very, clear.”

They were clear as rain.

As they continued to walk, the man firmly keeping a tight hold on him from the ropes at his back as he led him forward, Varian’s legs still felt like jelly from being tied up, not to mention his body having been tossed around whenever the cart had hit a bump in the road. Being unable to see, he tried to focus on the sounds around him.

Was that water running somewhere in the distance… above him? Waterfall or - 

“Faster!” The Baron shoved him forward and he realized he must’ve paused for a second. Of course, the man’s rising voice had caused his heart to nearly beat itself out of his chest again  and as he couldn’t see in his attempt to quicken his pace, he stumbled and tripped over something hard, falling to the ground face-first as he couldn’t throw his arms out. 

Flopping to the ground like jelly.

He heard the man groan before he was roughly lifted back onto his feet and the sack was finally pulled off his head. The light was almost blinding at first and it stunned him for a moment as it hit his eyes. Something must have scratched him as he immediately felt a sting of pain across the bridge of his nose as a breeze blew past him. He did welcome the fresh air though, because he felt entirely numb with fear inside.

Maybe he was terrified jelly. Would that be the color green or purple? Why was he even thinking about the dessert right now… oh right, he skipped breakfast. The one thing his father had ordered him not to do before he left for his trip. Would the last words he’d ever hear him say be a threat to ground him for skipping meals?

Oh well, so much for being his perfectly obedient son… but of course, that ship sank a long time ago.

The man continued to push him forward, not giving him a moment more to collect himself but as he began to take in his surroundings, his heart sank and all thoughts of jelly disappeared. So much for the bag lying discarded on the ground, he already knew exactly where he was being taken as he stared at the opening of the cavern in front of them.

Into the mining tunnels of Corona they went and unfortunately, Varian also knew them all by heart, having surveyed them for safety himself.

Meaning that he also soon knew that the grand and ruthless Baron was specifically taking him towards the most unstable tunnel section that he himself had deemed as off-limits to the miners during his stolen reign as Corona’s Royal Advisor.

He was no longer jelly.

He was The Alchemist , ex-criminal, and ex-anarchist, who had now, most heinously, also become a skeptical believer in magic and fate and maybe, just maybe, destiny . 

And so it was with near certainty he believed that the universe was having a great laugh at him right about now. 

Chapter Text

It was so obviously clear that this was a horribly unstable mining cavern in Varian’s mind, what with the woosh of what was probably a river coming from somewhere above them. He was seriously wondering if this was the best hideout that The Baron could come up with. Of course, he supposed that not everyone could have the privilege he had of living in the perfect place for a lair.

Even the beams, such as the one his arms were caught behind his back around, looked like a breeze could knock them over. Well, maybe a particularly strong one and perhaps additional force would have to be applied but -

“So, you’re probably wondering why I’ve brought you here.” The Baron who’d been observing him silently from the shadows a few feet away interrupted his train of thought and the voice sent spiders crawling down his spine as another drop of water joined the puddle on the ground in the center of the cavern. 

Ever since he’d handcuffed him to the wooden support beam, he’d stepped back and begun to pace in the shadows. He’d also removed his gag but Varian hadn’t dared to make a sound. 

“Actually, wait.” The Baron said, “If you’re even half as intelligent as they say you are, why don’t you take a guess?”

Varian did not like the sound of they . Who was they ? Were they after him too?

Yet after he’d managed to calm himself down, very, very, slightly on the ride and walk over here, he had a nonspecific and quite obvious guess. “You - you didn’t knock me out… so you need me clear-headed, to make something for you?” He managed weakly, looking down as his breathing began to pick up again. His voice was raspy from the time he'd spent gagged.

“Indeed.” The man said from his spot in the flickering shadows, before stepping closer into the light and causing Varian to attempt to press himself further against the wood beam. Not that it did much. “Do you recognize the symptoms of my physical appearance?”

Did he need some medicine or something? “I - well, no. There are quite a few causes of something like that occurring to skin though.” Varian really wanted to vanish at that moment, for fear that his tongue was getting away from him and that he’d given the wrong answer.

“Fair enough.” The man said gruffly after a few moments and Varian flinched as he came closer reaching for something beneath his cloak, but instead of the dagger, he pulled out a golden locket with a gem on it. It dangled back and forth for a moment before The Baron opened it and let something drop onto his gloved hand. “Take a look.” He said, holding his gloved hand out even as Varian shrank back. There was the husk of a spider with a noticeable distinctive pattern that allowed him to identify it right away and come into understanding of what was required of him.

“Kai spider, highly venomous… barely anyone survives its bite.” Varian said in a low voice. So far, the man was no longer threatening him if he made a sound, which made sense now, but he didn’t want to risk it. “How - how long ago were you bitten?”

“Almost a year ago.” 

“Your body likely fought off the… death-inducing component, but there were after-effects.” Varian stated slowly, eyes widening as he felt rising hope inside, “You just want a cure then?” Before he could stop himself he also asked, “Will you let me go if I make you one?”

The Baron let out a sharp laugh and he inwardly recoiled, if that was a thing… he couldn’t do much in the position he was in. “I wouldn’t have come all this way just for one measly antidote but with the addition of you making me one, I’ve had a proposition for you for quite some time, The Alchemist.”  

Stupid, stupid villain name. Stupid, stupid him for endorsing it with the Saporians' encouragement. Stupid, stupid him for letting just that small taste of power fill him. He’d taken too much of a dose after having close to none and it had been intoxicating, poisoning him until all that was left was the bitterness and rage now directed at himself.

“You see, several years ago I was wronged.” The Baron began, seeming to stand taller now as he walked away. “I was wronged by someone I thought I could depend upon. I was betrayed by someone I trusted.”  

Varian felt a wave of coldness wash over him. It was a bitter cold, the biting cold of a blizzard. Except this time, he didn’t even have the luxury to try and wrap his own arms around himself for warmth.

“Today, I am here to right that wrong. To reinstate myself to the position that is rightfully mine. And most importantly, destroy the one who wronged me.” The man was jeering at the thought of his own malicious intent and Varian shifted panickedly despite being chained. He certainly would have remembered wronging The Baron before he even became a traitor to the kingdom, much less crossing paths with him… No, this wasn’t about him, at least not all of it anyways. There was a sinking feeling in his stomach.

“You are a valuable asset and not just through your skillset.” The man continued. “For I once heard the tale of a boy driven to madness at the loss of his father to a golden crystal and the destructive acts of a selfish king. Does this tale sound familiar?”

“Stop.” Varian whispered but even if the man had heard him, he ignored him. “Though as rumors have it, he’d been mad long before that, that a yearning for destruction had always been in his mind.”

He already knew what the people thought of him. The rumors? Well, he’d lived them alright and even made them come true. Yet it still stung to have someone call him out for it, over and over.

“Oh yes, perhaps this boy was mad but he was also powerful. He created an army of metal monsters and faced down an entire kingdom on his own. Months later, he practically ran it. But I suppose, all good things don’t last forever, for he later gave power back to his enemy. One who is highly acquainted with my enemy.”

Gave in to his enemy? But the Saporian’s were - No wait, his enemy had been…

His eyes widened as his mind raced rapidly. This man intended to harm someone close to the princess. The king? The queen? No, there was one person that best fitted the profile considering this was The Baron… 

Eugene.

Would he be used as bait once more? He could feel his pulse quickening. The weight of his debt to Rapunzel, Eugene, and the kingdom bore down so heavily on him that sometimes, to even face a new day, he would have to force himself to get out of bed. He’d be forced to fight himself. Today though he realized, it may just finally crush him. Eugene was in danger and he couldn’t even warn him.

“The reason the boy was not put back in chains,” The Baron continued but Varian finally chose to speak with a defiance that he knew could get him killed. “Was because I chose the right side.” He interrupted and the man actually paused and looked back at him with surprise. It didn’t last long and Varian scrambled back or attempted to as The Baron approached and knelt beside him. “Was because they were afraid of having him as their enemy again.” The Baron said with a menacing grin.

“That’s - That’s not true.” Varian said, trembling badly as the ideation he’d never thought of joined the rest in the darkest areas of his mind. “But you know it is, don’t you?”

Varian closed his eyes and shook his head. The man stood up again, towering over where he was on the floor of the cavern.

‘They hurt you so you fought back and now the kingdom will torment you about it for the rest of your life.” He taunted and Varian winced.

“I was pardoned.” He said weakly.

“Those are mere words on paper, but you know that far too well. You know that you’ll never truly be forgiven. It must be very difficult to be left with no choice but to reside in the very kingdom that abandoned and betrayed you, to have to work for those people, paid in nothing but the very few compliments and praise you work far too hard to get. All that work, yet you still suffer for the sake of the kingdom. What with the dark tower on the horizon?”

Varian said nothing, but suddenly he wanted to throw up. The black rock tower that loomed in the distance served as a reminder of the looming threat yet to pass and beacon of dread for everyone. It was after all visible for miles on end and cast terrible shadows at dawn and dusk.

The Baron had apparently been around or did quite a bit of research since he knew that Varian had been taken prisoner there as well. But how was that possible? Could there be a spy in the castle? An informant he paid? Or was it just a rumor he’d picked up on?  Varian suddenly recalled the lack of palace guards in the West Wing, the ones that guarded the staircase.

“I offer you a proposition that will free you from all that.” The man said sympathetically. “In addition to making me the antidote, you work for me as an alchemist and I guarantee that you will be paid grandly. Your creations after all will sell quite highly given your reputation. It's very difficult to capture my attention after all so why not reward you for that?”

Varian opened and closed his mouth. Was The Baron offering him a job? 

“In fact, I also guarantee your safety, given the state of the kingdom's guards anyhow. You work for me and you’ll have everything you desire. You’ve proven yourself worthy for this opportunity after all and if you work for me, you’ll never be stopped from reaching your potential ever again.”

When Varian had been younger, he’d always wanted to be a hero. He wanted to prove to everyone, and especially his father, that he could accomplish something big. Well, he’d finally done just that and lived his potential. He certainly wasn’t a hero and knew that after everything he’d done, he could never be.

“The boy in the tale stopped at nothing to get back what was taken from him. You stopped at nothing, taking every opportunity you could get. That’s what happened with the Saporian’s wasn’t it? You knew they were a lost cause, that their plans for the kingdom would never be profitable or be of any use to you in the long run. The moment you could get rid of them, you did. So strategically in fact, that you managed to get yourself a pardon in the process. So what do you say about this opportunity, son?”

Varian felt disgusted by the man’s words and himself. He forced himself to look back up and fought back his terror as he carefully crafted his next words.

“I can’t help you because I was wrong.” Varian said quietly. He was surprised when the man showed no emotion to that, almost like he expected him to say those very words. He continued with the truth he’d accepted when the princess came back, that he’d be alone and forgotten forever even after helping the Saporian’s with their plans.“I hurt people because I was hurting but I shouldn’t have. I never should’ve even thought about doing what I did… but I was weak.”

The man still sounded calm as words of silver continued to spill from his tongue but Varian was no longer deaf to the songs of manipulation.

“Are you really going to listen to the words from those in the kingdom that mocked and scorned you? To those who left you to rot and suffer in silence when your father was taken from you? You’ve managed an outstanding feat boy. After all you’ve done to that pathetic kingdom, you’ve gotten free reign of it now. It is truly an accomplishment to be proud of -”

“It was nothing to be proud of!” Varian snapped, surprising himself especially as he suddenly rose to his feet and glared at the man. “If you actually believe it was, then you’re really just an old fool.” The Baron’s eyes narrowed and his expression darkened. The man seemed to grow in size as fury burned like fire in his eyes but Varian stood his ground. 

“You dare disrespect me?” He asked, voice now low and dangerous.

“If that was disrespectful, then I suppose it's true that bullies have poor egos.” Varian said frankly, rolling his eyes. “I have extensive notes on my observations of that as a matter of fact, actually, I’m planning to donate them to the castle’s archives.”

“Do you know what I could do to you, boy ?” The man spat, closing his fist and raising it. Varian wasn’t sure where his courage or stupidity was coming from but assumed it had something to do with the human fight-or-flight response.

“If you need me to even be capable of helping you, then you can’t exactly do much to me can you?”

Unfortunately, the rush of adrenaline that compelled him was not enough to quicken his reflexes. The side of his face getting backhanded was a complete shock to him and he cried out. He fell to his knees immediately, bile filling his mouth as the impact with the ground jolted him forward causing his vision to blacken briefly.  His shoulders had been pulled backwards painfully for a moment due to the restraints on his hands to the beam and he was left gasping. 

He was wrong… he was oh so very wrong and being wrong hurt very much. He really should have realized that by now.

The man suddenly grabbed his chin and forced him to look up at him. Varian tried to struggle away, but he was far too panicked and far too trapped. The man was seething and looked as though he was about to yell at him or maybe break his jaw before there was a sudden noise from the cavern’s entrance. The man let go of him and whipped around. 

There was someone in the tunnels. 

Though Varian’s eyes watered, facing stinging badly and there was something metallic tasting in his mouth, he strained himself to try and look around the man. His heart beat with anticipation and fear. Could that be a rescue? Could someone have found him? He’d been gone for several hours now… maybe someone had seen something.

The Baron took his dagger out from beneath his cloak and cautiously began to walk forward. Varian could hear footsteps and finally saw the flicker of shadows in the lantern light. A slim man who was shorter than The Baron by at least a head or two appeared in the entryway. The man’s nose was rather crooked and he reminded him of a scarecrow.

Varian could barely feel anything above his heart’s thumping and he held his breath as the silence held for just a moment longer. 

“My lord.” The hooded newcomer finally said, bowing his head and striding inside. The Baron tucked away his dagger again and all hope drained out of Varian. He resisted the urge to sob as he remained pathetically on the ground. He had no idea much less a say in what was about to happen.

“Weasel.” The Baron greeted curtly, regaining his composure apparently but keeping his back to Varian. “What’s the report?”

“They are headed to the Snuggly Duckling and should be arriving there within the hour, sire.” The man said in a nasally voice. “Excellent.” The Baron said, walking across the cavern and towards a bunch of barrels Varian hadn’t noticed before. “Which means we’ll be there first.” He reached inside one of them and pulled out a sheath with its sword.

The Weasel came closer and looked directly at Varian, practically studying him with what he recognized as a look of interest driven by greed and raised an eyebrow. Varian looked at the floor immediately, trying to look inconspicuous and insignificant even if that was quite literally impossible with him being the only prisoner in the room. “Hmph, he really did look a lot more impressive in the posters.”

“Indeed he did.” The Baron said nonchalantly, having pulled out the sword and giving it a few swings. “And it has also dawned upon me that he is a boy who lacks discipline. That shouldn’t be too difficult to deal with of course, I’ve broken far stronger men.”

Varian shuddered but it sounded as if The Baron was planning on leaving… at least temporarily, and if that was the case, then hopefully he wouldn’t bother taking him with them.

“What happens if I can’t make the cure?” Varian asked shakenly, his jaw didn’t want to move but he forced it too. There was pin drop silence in the room. He had really hoped they wouldn’t have heard him but The Baron stopped swinging his sword. “I- I’ve never made it before.” Varian stuttered, considering his options as he kept his head down, eyes squeezed shut.

There was a gleam in The Baron’s eyes and he came closer again, kneeling down beside him and placing the sword on the ground right beside him. Even if he could use his hands, he was terrible with a sword.

“I did mention that I’d have other uses for your creations.” The man drawled, “But if not…” He laughed. “Well, an alchemist… the infamous one at that, would sell quite highly on the Knight Path. Don’t you think?”

Varian’s head snapped up as his eyes flew open. 

A smirk came across The Baron’s face at his reaction. 

The Knight Path . 

Varian had heard of it before. He remembered thinking about how clever a name it was. A clever name to disguise the fact that it was the most expansive network of the criminal underworld in all seven kingdoms. Most normal civilians wouldn’t suspect a thing as even guards kept most information about it amongst themselves, not wanting to cause a panic and with the desperate hope to catch them by surprise. While raids occurred at transactions or small group meetings practically all the time, chopping off one strand seemed to cause more to grow in its place like the legendary hydra his mother told him a story about when he was six years old. One of the last stories she’d ever told him. 

The Knight Path was always moving and impossible to track. He obviously never made any direct contact with them, but the other prisoners talked. Andrew had done whatever negotiating with the Knight Path that he apparently had to do and Varian had dutifully ignored it. He’d been given more responsibilities on managing the kingdom itself, particularly by ensuring the miners were paid. 

He’d even overheard Eugene discussing it with Lance once, but he didn’t want to let them know that he knew about it too. They had been quite worried about a string of robberies and spike in illegal activity recently, something about people taking advantage of the chaotic events and fear in the kingdom for the past few years… including those caused by him. Eugene and Lance had been assisting the old captain in the investigation. 

“There are many things I can do to force you to work for me, Varian.” The Baron said, using his name this time and grabbing his attention once more.

“For example, Lord Quirin of Old Corona is en route back to Corona from Vardaros. Why, that’s the city I used to run, such a pleasant surprise as soon Vardaros will be in my grasp once more, especially with your help.”

Varian gasped.

He couldn’t… he wouldn’t dare… 

He couldn’t handle this anymore, his mind and his heart… he couldn’t take this-

“He’s to arrive back in three days' time. I received the pigeon early this morning from one of my trusted associates who's been keeping a careful eye on him. It would be such a shame if an accident were to befall him when he’s so close to home, wouldn’t it?”

Varian saw red. 

“YOU’RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH HIM! YOU HEAR ME?!” Varian roared so loudly that dust fell from the ceiling. All his mixed emotions, the fear, the terrible memories, and everything , everything had just gone up in smoke. He attempted to lunge forward, failing both miserably and painfully as he was thrown back once more from his doing against the wooden beam and fell to the ground, seething. His vision was blurry now and there was something that felt like steam pouring down his face. Two drops of water fell onto the ground before him and he finally came to acknowledge that his own tears were burning him. He let out a scream of frustration as he tried to push himself back up, trying to pull against the wooden beam again but he was far too weak for that and fell again and again. Finally his energy was completely drained and he hung his head down in defeat, staring at the ground as his silent tears continued to fall, breathing raggedly like knives were stabbing his chest.

He could hear the laughter from his captors but his throat had run dry. “Now this is someone who looks more familiar.” The Baron said and held up his wanted poster in front of him again. The man crumpled it in his fist and threw it at his head. Varian gritted his teeth, refusing to look up. “Seems that the boy from the tale is still in there after all.”

“Sire, the time.” The Weasel said suddenly and The Baron picked up his sword again, pointing it at Varian. He felt it touch his head but he couldn’t react anymore. “Thanks to your pathetic little demonstration, you’ve proven that you’re not going to be getting far anytime soon. Take the time we’ll be gone as a mercy. You’ll need it, to make your decision after all. Though I do wonder what kind of son would even think about backstabbing his own father for even a second.”

With that, Varian heard them leave and the moment he only heard the soft pitter-patter of the leaking cavern roof again, accompanied by the sound of the nearby river, he slowly tried to twist his hands free from the handcuffs but it only caused them to bite into his skin even more. He tried hitting them against the beam again, but he could barely even move from the exhaustion. His voice may have made the cavern dust fall but perhaps he’d given the wooden beam far less credit than it deserved. Maybe this cavern was a bit stronger than it looked. Either that or he was far too weak.

“You wouldn’t be so weak if you just ate your meals.” His father had teased him a few weeks earlier when he’d been attempting to haul some of the supplies for The Rooster into a horse cart on his own, struggling immensely before his father came to see what had been taking him too long.

He laughed deliriously and half-heartedly into the silence, “Thanks dad… no , dad…” He finally let out a loud sob.

He couldn’t prove if The Baron wasn’t just bluffing but could he risk it? 

His mind screamed no but his heart tugged at him in the other direction. He let out a shaky breath and closed his eyes.

Bad guys lie… he knew that for a fact and through his own personal experience for that matter. The Baron would have to go through great lengths to prove to him that something had happened to his dad. If The Baron had someone tailing his dad, wouldn’t a pigeon take a bit of time to travel? He couldn’t know exactly where his father was at the exact moment, three days was too specific.

But even if it was too specific, that still didn’t stop The Baron from tracking his father down regardless. He was returning to Corona soon after all and it probably wouldn’t be too hard for him to find the stronghold considering it was the largest building in Old Corona and always flooded with people.

“But dad is also a retired knight.” He murmured to himself. That was still relatively new information for him but he’d already seen his father’s feats of strength all throughout his life.

Surely, that means he’d be able to defend himself? Varian hadn’t obviously been much of a fight for The Baron who had quite literally just picked him off the ground, but his father could fight him off right? 

Yet if he couldn’t… if he lost that fight… then The Baron, what exactly would he do?

 If his dad was gone, then Varian wouldn’t have anything to really live for and The Baron still needed leverage, so maybe… No, but that would be just as bad, wouldn’t it?

He could get hurt again…

Because of a decision Varian had made again. His head hurt and not just because of being hit in the face.

Would he end up stuck in this cycle forever?

The more he thought and argued with himself, slowly but surely, his mind and heart began to steer in the same direction. He hated his decision all the same.

“I'm so sorry.” He finally whispered though no one would hear it, no one would care.

And sure, he couldn’t wipe away his tears right now but when that man returned, he knew exactly what he would have to do. 

What he would have to do was…

Absolutely nothing.

He’d never been good at following orders after all, in fact, he excelled at that once. He would simply refuse to do whatever he was asked to do. He’d done it before, and he could do it again… probably . These circumstances were rather different but he would try his absolute hardest, even if it ki-

He winced and didn’t bother trying to finish that thought as he pushed himself to his feet. That was one of the possible inevitable outcomes in all this, but whether he could or couldn’t keep up his resistance to The Baron, no matter what he did to him, was beyond the point.

 The truth? 

His father would hate him forever if someone else got hurt because of him, and someone certainly would get hurt if he willingly created things for The Baron or anyone else on the Knight Path.

And so he would refuse to work for The Baron, sealing both his and his father’s fates.

“I’m so sorry.” He repeated, his hoarse voice breaking alongside his heart as he shook his head, a new flood of tears prepared themselves.

 “I’m so sorry, dad.”

Chapter Text

Eugene sat slumped against one the tavern’s tables with a mug of murky-looking water –he was on duty after all– rolling his eyes in annoyance as Flynn began to recount his adventures and heists, entirely wrong and entirely as though he had gone on all of them himself. It took every ounce of energy for him to not go up to the bartender's counter that all the thugs had placed Flynn on, despite his restraints. Perhaps, though he hated to admit it, this was the best arrangement as he had asked for them to do their part in keeping an eye on the crown thief while they took a short break but there wasn’t even a single eye that was not trained on him. 

Funny, how they had never taken such a liking to him. In fact, he was now a millions times more unpopular among the Snuggly Duckling crowd as no one would even sit within six feet of him, most casting his uniform nasty looks and cursing him under their breaths. Ugh, the entire place also smelled like bad breath and a lack of poor hygiene. Seriously, why wasn’t self-care in terms of hygiene a priority here? Weren’t there some sort of regulations for these things?! 

Shoot. Was he in charge of enforcing those?

Eugene dropped his head onto the table in defeat and groaned miserably. “Aw, what’s wrong now? Not hungry anymore?” Rapunzel teased from beside him, ruffling his hair. Unlike him, she’d been watching the group’s reactions with amusement as they continued to demand for Flynn’s ridiculous retellings.

”Whose great idea was it to come here, again?” Eugene asked, not bothering to look up and his voice was muffled by the table. “Uh, yours.” She reminded him. 

”Oh right. Maybe you should be in charge then from here on out since I’m terrible at everything, like making decisions for example. Or better yet let’s just keep on listening to that guy, his résumé’s even better than mine.”

“Eugene, look at me.” She said firmly, and he turned his head to face her though still resting it on the table. “That’s absolutely ridiculous. You are not terrible at everything. You are far from that. In fact, you even caught a thief on your first day as captain.”

“It’s not like we haven’t caught thieves and criminals before, Blondie.” He muttered. “According to that guy, it's all pretty meaningless either way. Steal stuff. Get caught. Break out. Steal more stuff. That was pretty much my life for a decade so maybe he’s right and that’s all I am.  A law man sell-out who is in way over his head.”

—

 Rapunzel frowned as she looked down at Eugene who looked absolutely miserable on the table so she poked him gently. “But that isn’t true either. This is a really good thing now. This job… your job now if you accept it. It’s really important to a lot of people who have been wronged and need justice. It’s not even just about catching people who do bad things you know? It's also about helping them, even people who are… misguided in a sense.” 

“I suppose so.” He mumbled, still sounding rather sad.

Her gaze returned to the prideful Flynn still standing in the spotlight that the thugs had placed him in. Corona itself really needed a better criminal justice system, especially when it seemed to be a bit too heavily reliant on the mood of its head. She couldn’t deny that things needed to be changed and now that her father was finally taking her advice seriously, she finally had a chance to be the advocate of that change.

 It had only taken him facing the wrath of an angry teenager and then a temporarily successful coup –involving the same angry teenager but hey, silver lining! He was doing so much better now too-- mixed with a bit of amnesia to actually do so, but again she preferred to look at the positive side of things. Of course, she also suspected that her father may have had a hand in the captain’s choosing to select Eugene as his successor, which was obviously done with good intentions and was something she had thought of as an amazing opportunity for him… but what she hadn’t thought about was what receiving that responsibility would do to him. In fact, though he seemed to have acknowledged what she’d said, he slowly tucked his head beneath his arms again. 

She supposed she’d have to go on to another tactic to get him up. “You’re not jealous of Flynn, are you?”

That jolted him upright. “No! Of course not!” Eugene exclaimed. “He’s a thieving, lying scoundrel who just so happens to look almost exactly like me despite the fact that Max says he’s faster than me, that the guys like him more than me, or that he tells my stories better than-” Eugene caught himself mid-sentence and looked surprised at the smug look on her face as she crossed her arms.  

—

He sighed, eyes falling back to the mug of murky water. “So unsanitary.” He mumbled, still itching to get away from the subject of his emotions but the more he stared at the water, the more he realized that he felt just as muddled up inside. He sighed again. Rapunzel’s smile softened as she placed a hand on the side of his face. “Eugene, what’s really going on in there?” 

“I don’t know. Not really.” He began but then found courage in her eyes as she placed a hand on his. “It’s just that I know I spent a good chunk of my life doing the wrong things. Stealing without remorse, sometimes just to impress others. But I guess meeting that guy -“ He sent a pointed glare in Flynn’s direction who was still atop the table, now recounting a swordfight for his gleeful audience but with a wooden broom in his still thankfully tied up hands now. “Was just absolutely infuriating!” He proclaimed, slamming his fists down on the table and wincing. “Agh, sorry, working on that.” He said quickly, letting out a weary breath as he looked back at Flynn feeling sore. “It’s just that…How can I actually become the captain of Corona’s guard if I started out as nothing but a pathetic pick-pocket and loser like him? I’m just Eugene Fitzherbert. An ex-thief who stole and lied. Someone who really isn’t anything special all things con -”

Rapunzel suddenly grabbed his hand with both of hers and pressed it over the left side of his chest. “You feel that?” She asked after a beat and he stared into her eyes that shone like stars. “That’s Eugene Fitzherbert’s heart beating. The heart of a man who vowed to change his life entirely just as he changed mine. The man who gave up his life to free mine. You have helped so many people and you care for this kingdom. You’ve also worked hard to right your wrongs which is not something everyone can say. Don’t ever think you aren’t good enough, ever. In fact, I’ll remind you that you are every day for the rest of our lives. You’re stuck with me after all.”

—

She embraced him tightly as if to further press that point. It took her a few moments to realize he was shaking, causing her to pull back in concern and to see that there was a wonderful smile on his face though his eyes were watering.

”Thank you.” He said softly with a sniff as he wiped at his tears with a sleeve. “Sorry, but that was - I just… I needed that. I love you Rapunzel. Thought I oughta let you know that, you know?”

She laughed and leaned forward to give him a kiss on the cheek. “And I love you Eugene Fitzherbert. Thought you should know that too.”

“And I guess you are right, it is about helping people even if I’m not quite sure what I’m doing at this current moment, what with all the rules… I’m not good at those.” He laughed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there to help you. Just like you’ve always been there for me, I mean you supported me through all my lessons before the coronation after all” She said, beaming at him brightly, causing him to laugh again. “No offense, but those were absolute chaos with Cass always trying to kick my -” He winced as did she at those memories coming back. To think of those early days out of the tower now as the easier days was beyond scary sometimes. She sighed, finally speaking the words that had been weighing on her mind too. “So much has changed.”

“Believe me, I know.” Eugene added softly, placing an arm around her and giving her a light squeeze as he returned his attention to where Flynn was, looking a little more thoughtful now than annoyed. “I suppose we should be heading back to the castle now.” Eugene said after a moment but accidentally knocked his mug of water off the table as he got up. “Dang it.” He murmured and ducked under the table to retrieve it. Rapunzel's eyes wandered the room when a sudden gleam of silver caught her attention among the raucous Snuggly Duckling crowd. 

“Hey, where’s my satchel?” Eugene asked, still beneath the table but she was busy looking for the source of the light. Then she saw that there was a hooded figure holding up a knife and reflecting the light from a lantern at her. He was looking away from the others in the crowd who still faced Flynn, though someone was now on the counter beside him, whispering in his ear. This cloaked person was facing her though and seemingly trying to catch her eye. The person tucked their knife back into a holder beneath their cloak slowly, making a grand show of it. They then pulled down their dark hood, causing her to stand up immediately. As she did so, the man sinisterly nodded at her and began walking towards the exit.

—

“Eugene.” Rapunzel hissed and he felt her tightly grip his shoulder as she stood up, causing him to follow immediately as he placed the mug back on the table. There was a harsh look in her eyes, directed at a man crossing through the tavern with his back towards them. A sinking feeling filled him. “The Weasel. That’s the Weasel.” She whispered, hands curling into fists. He, however, felt his hands begin to tremble slightly at the name but forced them to stop, gritting his teeth instead. He hated those childish impulses that remind him of his past helplessness. “He can’t be up to any good.” Rapunzel continued in a low, dangerous voice. “You got that right.” Eugene replied with a grimace. 

The Weasel showing his face again was pretty much a bad omen. According to rumors on the streets, he hadn’t been seen for as long as The Baron hadn’t. Yet, even after all this time, rumors neither confirmed nor denied whether or not The Baron had succumbed to the venom of the very spider he had used to poison Lance. He had in all honestly certainly hoped so but when Rapunzel had that misadventure with Stalyan, he was pretty sure that if The Baron hadn’t survived… well, things would have gone downhill very fast and it would’ve been all his fault.  Beyond that, there was only one man that The Weasel had a known history of ever taking orders from.

In other words, this was a very, very bad omen indeed.

“We need to go after him.” Rapunzel said firmly as she began marching in his direction and it wasn’t everyday you’d see the princess looking at someone with pure hatred in her eyes. “Wait!” Eugene called, going after her and putting a hand on her shoulder. “Let me just roundup that jerk of a  - WHERE THE BLAZES DID HE GO?!” 

Flynn Rider was no longer standing on the counter and the group of rowdy thugs had shifted their attention back to playing cards or taking turns throwing darts and Shorty at target boards on the walls. Shorty had a Flynn Rider Wanted Poster stuck to his face with eye holes cut through it as he drunkenly yelled at the others to look at his smolder. Eugene stormed over towards where the gathered thugs were all clinking their mugs together and leapt onto the counter. He scowled. Just as he’d suspected, the barrels hiding the not-so secret passageway out of the taverns were shifted and the hatch was pulled wide open. “What did you guys do?! Why the heck did you help him escape?!” He yelled, turning back to the crowd in frustration. He looked down and found his satchel in the nearest man’s hands. He snatched it back. Rolling his eyes when he saw that the crown was gone because of course it was. “And you gave him the crown back too, isn’t that just fantastic? What is wrong with you people! He was a prisoner for crying out loud!”

“Aren’t we all?” One man with several missing teeth and a large matted beard cried as though he was a preacher. “Prisoners to the constraints of societal standards and the inability to legally play a drum with our heads!”

“Not a law! Just extremely good advice for your physical well-being and preventing concussions!” Rapunzel called distractedly as she kept an eye on The Weasel who seemed to have paused right at the door, watching them. 

Almost as though he was waiting. 

“He was a lying, cheating thief!” Eugene exclaimed in agitation as he was now seriously wondering whose side these supposedly reformed people were on. 

”So were you!” Someone else chimed in. “We helped you escape!”

”He was also very funny!” Another thug added at the same time. “Too funny for the dungeons! The world needs his genius!”

”And we love helping people!” A woman in the back roared, banging her fists on the counter. Her proclamation was followed by a loud chorus of agreement, fist bumping, and head-butting. These people clearly did not care about head injuries.

”But this isn’t - but that’s -” Eugene spluttered, glaring down at all of them and feeling as though they were unruly children, but of course that was an insult to unruly children. “I mean helping is good but - Oh! Forget it!” 

This was clearly not the time. Eugene needed to go after Flynn, because as strange as it was, Rapunzel’s words made him feel that maybe it really was important for him to be the one to put an end to the man’s reign of stealing. Maybe he owed this much at least to the person he was in the past. However, right before he jumped down into the tunnel to chase the man down, he remembered that The Weasel was still in the tavern. He looked back at Rapunzel and a flicker of understanding passed through them as she nodded. “Go! I’ll take care of him!” She called, undoing her braid while she rushed to the exit, following The Weasel as he just slipped through the door.

“Toss me a lantern!” Eugene ordered the nearest person who thankfully obliged swiftly. “And straight on till morning.” He said aloud as he entered the tunnels and began running, grateful that for at least the first long stretch there were no other tunnels leading off in different directions until this passage got closer to the quarry. He was confident he’d catch up with the man in no time which was exactly what he did… but only because, as he soon realized when he’d heard a yelp from up ahead where the tunnel widened, someone else had caught up to him first. 

He’d heard the sound of boot’s scuffling on the ground and the sound of a sword hitting rock. He quietly set the lantern down, trying to evaluate the situation as he pressed himself up against the first turn of this tunnel. “Look man! I don’t even know you!” The voice of Flynn Rider yelped, genuinely sounding scared. “You’ve got the wrong guy! I swear I didn’t steal from you… I think?!”

 “Enough games, Rider! You ruined me and now it’s time for retribution!” Another familiar voice roared, his voice amplified by the tunnel as it echoed. Eugene’s eyes widened, heart nearly dropping into the pit of his stomach. 

“But I swear I’d remember if I did, cause I mean your face and don’t take this the wrong way, is really hard to forget… because believe me, I’m trying!” Flynn yelled again, sounding pleading as the panic was clear in his voice. Eugene‘s suspicions about The Weasel still working for The Baron, were likely correct if that really was The Baron’s voice and not just the echoes of the tunnels messing with him. His palms began to sweat as he realized the implication, did they just fall for a trap?

He quickly glanced back the way he came. He knew she was more than capable of handling The Weasel but his concern mainly lay around whether there could be others even if he wasn’t exactly sure who else would be dedicated enough to remain on The Baron’s payroll given that he’d been brought to ruin and run out of Vardaros for good. There was also the fact that it had remained so since they’d last heard from Quaid, but considering he had suddenly shown up in Corona of all places, something must have changed. 

Eugene could go back right now and he could practically feel himself inching away. He didn’t even have to go beyond that wall. He could just leave Flynn behind as a distraction for that man to deal with and make sure Rapunzel was okay. Protecting the princess was officially part of his job now more than ever…  even if she’d protected and gotten him out of danger more times than he could count. Still, he could just get out of here while he could. He should just get out of here while he still -

He heard the ring of metal strike metal followed by another yelp. Eugene cursed under his breath and cautiously peeked around the corner. Sure enough, there was Flynn being pushed backwards as he blocked an oncoming blow by the man who was very much the size of a bear. Though Eugene couldn’t see his face, judging by the gargantuan silhouette in the flickering light of another lantern currently rolling on the floor and the mop of blonde hair, he knew that it definitely couldn’t be anyone other than The Baron himself.

Flynn had a bleeding scratch on one arm but still his two hands desperately gripped the hilt of his sword that he must’ve gotten ahold of thanks to some helpful thug. He was trying to push back against The Baron’s sword that was descending down on him but was struggling immensely and groaning under the pressure. His feet were slipping back and the space between him and the wall continued to close. He likely had never been up against someone of this magnitude nor had come across The Baron before which made sense considering he’d been out of commission for many months. While a reputation was worth more than the face it preceded, knowing the face came rather handy in times like these.

Just then, Flynn was finally knocked to ground and had begun scrambling away from The Baron in terror, who raised the hilt of his sword as he advanced. And it was just then that Eugene jumped into action realizing, as he ran forward while drawing his sword, that leaving Flynn to The Baron had been a seriously horrendous thought given that The Baron clearly thought that Flynn was in fact him. And if he knew The Baron as well as he did, well… he probably wanted Flynn Rider extremely dead.

He couldn’t leave another man to fight his fight and face the consequences of igniting The Baron’s wrath when those consequences were clearly intended for him. Even if that man was a highly annoying, obnoxious, and loud-mouthed thief with no originality whatsoever. 

With the element of surprise on his side, Eugene darted in from The Baron’s blind-side and quickly knocked the blade out of his hand with his own, jumping between him and Flynn who was leant up against the wall.

“WHAT THE -“ 

 “Hey, Barry!” Eugene called, throwing a daring smile at the shocked man as he pointed his sword at The Baron’s neck though the flickering shadows didn’t allow him a clear view of the man’s face just yet. “Can’t believe after all this time you mistook someone else for me. It’s rather unflattering truth be told, seeing as I am the genuine article here after all.” He tilted his head to the side. “Weren’t you the one who taught me how to recognize a counterfeit?”

“Eugene! You came for me!” Flynn cried in relief. “Yeah, to arrest you.” Eugene scoffed, not even sparing him a glance. He was much more focussed on the man towering over him, face hidden in shadows, 

”Why are there two of you?!” The Baron spluttered, taken aback and clearly still processing his words as he took a step back from the blade, hands raised. It was just then that the lantern light shifted again and he could finally get a clear view of the absolutely priceless look on The Baron’s face, one that he would’ve really enjoyed under different circumstances… and if The Baron’s exposed skin was not literally half green.

“You - uh really aren’t one for considering a new skin-care routine are you?” Eugene asked, unable to stop himself as he gaped at him and took in the splotches of discolouration all over his face.

“You know this guy?! His name is Barry?!” Flynn asked quickly with a nervous laugh, still behind him as The Baron looked between them in confusion. “Really, I don’t wanna be that guy but your choice of company is kinda -“ He made a judgmental clicking sound and Eugene practically screamed. “Flynn! This is the freaking Baron!”

“Oh okay… Wait, WHAT?! HOLY -“

“You’re the real one!” The Baron snarled when his eyes narrowed as they fell to Eugene’s throat though he didn’t move but his hands were now clenched into fists. “Well that’s offensive, he’s like not even a third of me.” Flynn chimed in unhelpfully and Eugene finally spared a quick look back at him, irritation filling him when he realized he was still on the ground. “Fake Flynn, shut up! Are you getting out of here or not?” Eugene barked and sucked in a breath when he looked at The Baron again and realized that he was brimming with cold calculation as he watched their interaction. 

“I was wondering where the wedding present I’d given you had gone.” The Baron finally said as an unnerving smile slid across his face and he stood taller. It felt like a phantom pain had just shivered through his faded scars but Eugene refused to let that man see any fear as his grip around his sword tightened. He just knew that he couldn’t give him that satisfaction even though he wasn’t quite sure what his next move was yet. He gritted his teeth as he heard Flynn finally begin to creep away because of course Flynn Rider would just abandon him with The Baron without another word. That’s exactly what he would’ve done not so long ago.

“I don’t believe you’ve got the guts to do what’s needed here, Flynn.” The Baron taunted as he crossed his arms but Eugene didn’t flinch at that, knowing that it was a test.

”Oh yeah? Try me. And the name is Eugene by the way.” He said, hoping that sounded as cool as it did in his head as thrust the sword closer to the man’s neck and continued. “As you are currently in the kingdom of Corona, our laws apply to you now. So either get out of here right now or you’re heading straight to the Coronan dungeons and believe me, a lot of people would love to see that.”

“Is that so?” The Baron asked threateningly, rolling his shoulders back as he stepped towards the blade this time and let it touch his neck. Eugene felt beads of sweat form on his forehead despite the fact that he was the one who was armed, but  still he stood his ground. “I admit, I admire this newfound resolve but who are you to give me orders, boy?”

“Well - uh… as you can see…” He glanced at the Corona sigil on his uniform for a moment and wasn’t quite sure why that question struck him with this hesitation considering he’d been fine with speaking his mind just seconds ago. The Baron jeered, looking down on him.

”Snake around your throat, Rider? Or perhaps the old mountain cat has clawed your tongue.”

”That’s still not my name Baron.” He finally managed to say but as he looked at his sword, he realized that the Baron may have been right as he really wasn’t sure about what he was about to do.  Eugene knew he could just thrust the sword through the man’s neck at just that moment… but then what? He’d never killed before. He really wasn’t sure if he even had it in him, especially given that the man was unarmed and reading him closely. Why did it feel like no matter what he chose to do at this given moment, none of it would matter? 

His eyes fell to the man’s wrists for a quick second and recalled that he had an extra set of handcuffs on him as Rapunzel had told him to bring them. Of course, the tricky part was getting them on his wrists because the moment he attempted to go for that angle, The Baron could immediately cease the advantage with his sheer strength. Whereas Eugene’s sword was in the exact right position… it was the easiest solution, no matter how cold and no matter how ruthless. He could only imagine what Rapunzel would say if he truly stooped as low as that, even if The Baron really, really deserved it.

But what choice did he have?

Just then there was a clattering noise and they both heard a gasp, causing them both to whip their heads in that direction. Flynn was still there and now frozen in place near the corner wall of the tunnel with his hands raised. Shouldn’t he have gotten himself out of there by now? 

“Oh uh- sorry…” Flynn laughed nervously and his eyes darted towards where the rolling lantern was still on its side having come to a stop. However, a glint of gold was caught moving within the light.  “Don’t mind me!” Flynn exclaimed with a wave, inching towards it cautiously. “Just continue on with your business men, cause boy you two seem to have a history!”

A cascade of rainbow light suddenly became visible on the ground as the golden ring of the princess’ crown stopped rolling, falling upright in front of the lantern such that light shone through its diamonds. 

”Well, isn’t that ironic?” The Baron said after a moment. “I suppose I see Anthony’s angle now.”

”Wait! Anthony as in that Weasel guy?! He’s working for you?!” Flynn exclaimed, looking from The Baron to the crown quickly and a relieved smile came across his face. “We’re on the same side then! You’re the one who hired me!”

“Are you freaking kidding me?!” Eugene shouted in disbelief.

“Suppose I am.” The Baron responded simply to Flynn, rolling his shoulders back. “But our thief was never leaving alive.”

Flynn’s smile vanished faster than the blink of an eye but instead of running, he stupidly dived for the crown. Having been distracted, Eugene’s sword arm was suddenly snatched up by The Baron. His upper arm was held so tightly that he could practically feel the skin breaking into bruises. He fought to keep a grip on his sword but the struggle was futile because The Baron simply confiscated the sword with his other hand and flung it at Flynn hard. The man barely dodged it in time but ended up tripping backwards over a rock before colliding head-first into the wall behind him, dropping the diadem.

“Seems that I’ll be getting rid of both of you after all!” The Baron bellowed and Eugene lost his footing as the man charged at Flynn, dragging him right behind him. The Baron knocked Flynn out, mid-scream as he descended upon him with a single-handed blow to his head and it was at that moment Eugene made the mistake of putting all his weight into pulling his arm away just when The Baron slammed him down hard into the ground. White hot and intense pain tore through his shoulder and though he knew he must have yelled in pain, it felt as though it was someone else’s cry echoing down these very tunnels.

He slowly realized his arm had been released but the wind had been knocked out of him and spots danced across his vision. A dark shadow suddenly loomed over him as The Baron stood above him, examining the tiara that was raised high in his hands. Eugene panickedly attempted to twist around, trying to push himself back to his feet but a powerful force crashed into his ribs, throwing all chances of escape out of the quickly narrowing window that was his vision as darkness seemed to collapse all around even further. 

He struggled to breathe as the pressure on his ribs, his chest, became excruciatingly stronger. He desperately tried to grasp his hands around the man’s leg, to at least try and push it off of him but that just made the pain in his shoulder so much worse. Just when he thought his bones wouldn’t be able to take it anymore, the pressure on his ribs was released but he was then lifted by the neck of his shirt and pinned against the wall, facing The Baron whose face was filled with rage.

Despite the fact that his mind was spinning or his body was aching so intensely and that he realized his shoulder would suddenly not move, if this man expected him to plead as he once did then he was certainly not going to be pleased. 

”You’re not getting away with this.” Eugene managed through gritted teeth. “Cause no matter what you do after getting rid of me, Baron… well, you’ve got the wrath of an entire kingdom coming right down on you. I’m the captain of the royal guard after all.”

But was he really? Well, it didn’t matter now. His reign hadn’t even lasted a day.

A moment of silence passed before The Baron’s mouth curved into a grin once more. ”Now, now, Rider, that is exactly what I’m counting on and your promotion has given me both the confirmation and the opportunity I needed, especially given the current state of your guards after all.”

Eugene held his gaze defiant but panic began threatening to drown him. If that was true, then all the people he cared about were in danger.

”You took everything from me.” The Baron continued slowly with a snarl, admiring Rapunzel’s crown that he still held high. Eugene’s breathing hitched as The Baron met his eyes. “So now it’s only fair that I make you watch as I take everything away from you… starting with your beloved princess?”

“No!” Eugene finally yelled, but with that, The Baron flung the princess’ crown away as though it was nothing more than a piece of copper.  Eugene never heard it hit the ground for his head made impact with the wall long before that.

—

“Maximus!” Rapunzel called and let out a whistle as she burst through the tavern doors, seeing that The Weasel had broken into a run. With his impeccable timing as usual, Maximus emerged from the rather makeshift stable beside the pub at full gallop. He reared on his hind legs upon recognizing The Weasel and immediately caught up to him, attempting to ram him from the side. 

The Weasel almost impressively managed to dodge this attack but unfortunately had still fallen right into the duo's trap as he’d stumbled into the exact position which Rapunzel had been aiming in order to capture him with a bundled up segment of her hair. He yelled in surprise when he fell to ground, having tripped once his entire torso had been lassoed in her indestructible golden hair.

She pulled him toward her and then firmly tugged on the section of the bundled up hair just as she’d done earlier that day to ensure her prisoner was secured as she stood in front of him, fixing him a firm glare as she crossed her arms. She would also definitely be giving her hair a lengthy and thorough wash after all this capturing random people with it. She didn’t give the man the opportunity to get to his feet, letting him remain laying on the ground as Maximus got into a guard stance behind him. The man’s surprise had apparently worn off by now as he lifted his head and tilted it to the side with a lopsided grin.

”Long time no see princess, though I’d hardly say it's a pleasure.” He said in his raspy voice and Rapunzel rolled her eyes, cutting to the chase. “Why are you in Corona, Weasel?” She demanded, pulling her hair a little tighter. 

“No exchange of formalities? Now that’s a surprise coming from you. Is it a crime to simply be passing through, princess?” He drawled, seeming rather bored. Maximus let out an annoyed snort as Rapunzel stepped closer to him, feeling impatient. “No, but I doubt that’s the case so I ask you again, why are you here? Who are you working for?”

The Weasel scoffed. “Ah yes, cause we’re always working for someone, your highness.” 

 “You and Flynn Rider made it really difficult for us to find new employ in Vardaros or with any other respectable gang so we found it best to regroup.”

”First of all, that’s not his name and secondly, I’d have thought we’d given you all a deep perspective of what you could actually be doing with your lives given how long you’ve kept quiet and how far you ran.” She snapped back before realizing his usage of the words ‘we’ and ‘us.’ She knelt down, tightening her hair even more now.

“So you are working with someone, dare I ask who?”

“Consider it, as you’d like to put it, a reformation.” He continued, still not even trying to struggle and Rapunzel noticed Maximus’ ears perk up. “After all, The Baron can now only have our services as long as he can afford us, which he certainly will be able to with your crown as his down payment.”

”The Baron? Here?” She’d been caught off guard by that and Pascal had just let out an alarmed squeak when they heard soft thuds from behind them. Maximus snorted in anger as they both turned around.

“Isn’t that right my friends?” The Weasel called gleefully from the ground and lifted his head, “We’re taking it all back now!”

There were cheers that went around the group of men and women in dark clothing that had emerged from around or inside the tavern or dropped from the trees. The group was advancing and from what she could tell, there were at least a dozen of them all with swords or daggers drawn. She recognized the nearest man as the one she’d seen whispering into Flynn’s ear moments before he’d escaped.

This had all been a ruse to get her outside. A trap!

Just then she recalled something Cassandra had told when they’d been on the road, she'd been trying to teach her to be more vigilant and to pay more attention to different cues. Ironically, her lessons had helped Rapunzel recognize Zhan Tiri but for some reason hadn’t helped her.

“Yeah, it’s a trick. That’s the easier part to recognize, princess, but the angle isn’t always so. You need to focus.”

She didn’t have the crown but The Weasel clearly knew that if he’d been listening when Eugene was yelling at the crowd.

Think, Rapunzel! Think! She urged herself, letting out a slow breath as she fixed her enemies with a stern glare. Maximus got into a fighting stance with his teeth bared, as did Pascal who was still on her shoulder. She still clutched onto the strands of her hair attached to the prisoner but closed her other hand around the handle of her frying pan. “As I last recall all of you were scrambling straight out of the city of Vardaros.” She called coolly but acknowledged that they were sorely outnumbered and that she didn’t have any reinforcements planned this time around. She bit back the bitterness surrounding the thought of being alone and attempted to stall the fighting until she at least had the glimpse of plan in mind. “I truly wonder what makes you all believe that you won’t be doing the exact same thing right out of my kingdom.”

She quickly tried to recall some of the other strategies and tactics Cassandra had taught her but that just brought forth the recent, painful memories of their broken friendship. Since The Baron was involved though, he likely wouldn’t be too far away from the action and since this had something to do with the stolen crown as well as helping Flynn escape… 

Eugene was in danger and Flynn’s escape was leading him right to it! 

One of the goons broke into a run, letting out a battle cry as she charged towards her. Max immediately jumped right in front of her, knocking the woman down and ceasing her sword in his teeth. All the while a man tossed a knife at her from the side. She’d sensed that coming though or perhaps her hair had as she felt it hum with warm golden energy as it suddenly soared in that direction. To her surprise, it actually wrapped around the handle of the knife that time and tossed at the man, flicking like a wrist. The man barely managed to dodge it and backed away, clearly in shock. Those who hadn’t seen that feat though continued on but apparently her hair had a lot more where that came from even as it kept hold of The Weasel.

It seems that they may not have been as outnumbered as she thought, considering she could feel that her magic was growing stronger ever since she’d used the fourth incantation. She’d been discovering its newer abilities in the strangest ways. When their balloon had crashed on the way to the spire, Eugene had run himself into a panic thinking she had hypothermia when she’d told him she felt pretty warm despite the fact they were walking in snow and ice while she was also barefooted. It turned out that it had been her magic as when they’d been leaving her hair had lit up with light and warmth while she’d tried to come up with a tune for the Hope incantation— so far, she still had nothing on that. Today it was like her hair had gained its own consciousness as it swerved around her attackers, disarming and even dive-bombing them. Was this how Cassandra’s complete control over the black rocks felt? 

Of course, despite the fact that her hair was now taking the offensive and causing most of their attackers to hang back and avoid becoming entangled, she had no time to ponder on the ever-changing powers of her hair or Varian’s most recent theory on that. She needed to end this fight and get to Eugene now! 

The trouble was that since they were trying to either distract her or subdue her, she doubted she could simply run away without them following her. ”Max!” She yelled in warning just as three of the thugs attempted to throw a net over the rampaging stallion. She gasped though as a section of her hair suddenly shot forward and knocked them all off their feet. Max looked very surprised but shook his head, at this point, they were all used to this weirdness. Of course, that gave Rapunzel an idea as looked back towards the entrance of the Snuggly Duckling and as she realized that The Weasel was finally trying to escape his restraints, perhaps realizing using himself as bait had been a poor idea.

She grabbed the segment of hair attached to him, focussed on the words of the Hope incantation in her mind and immediately felt another more powerful pulse of energy travel right through it. She couldn’t help but smile as she tapped into her power and let it feed into her strength, causing her to stow her frying pan away. She grabbed the strands with both her hands and whipped it at the goons who blocked the way to the entrance, causing The Weasel to scream. 

She wasn’t planning on letting him get away at the very least for he was much more trouble than he was worth. “Max! Cover us for a second here!” She called as she ran towards the entrance and threw open the door, allowing it to slam into the wall loudly to get the occupants attention.

”Hey there!” She called breathlessly and gestured outside to where Maximus was solely fending off The Weasel’s oncoming goons now. “I could sure use some help out here!” 

Tables and chairs flipped as practically everyone inside the pub rushed straight out the door in a giant mob, all expressing their extreme willingness to help her— albeit some a bit more drunkenly than others— as they passed. Maximus gave them all an extremely scrutinizing look but then tossed his mane back with a snort as he trotted inside when Pascal let out an impatient squeak.

Rapunzel caught one of the last remaining thugs by the arm before he left. She smiled at Vladimir as she dragged The Weasel inside, knowing that the antique unicorn collector was certainly perfect for this job. “Hi Vlad! Do you mind keeping an eye on this one, please? I’d hate for him to escape.”

The large man who she’d never heard make any noise other than the occasional grunt gave her a friendly smile and nodded as he ceased the man by the shoulder. His smile, however, immediately morphed into a look of disgust when he seemingly looked at the man with recognition. “YOU!” He roared. “You broke Fluffy’s neck!”

”Excuse me?!” The Weasel spluttered, desperately trying to get away now and Rapunzel raised an eyebrow. So Vladimir could talk! There wasn’t any time to dwell on that at the moment but she made him a mental note to get him a replacement unicorn. She ran towards the underground tunnel entrance, focussing on the incantation in her mind once more to light their way. She kept up a fast pace with her hair bundled up in her arms and Maximus behind her in this narrow tunnel section. She finally saw light coming from up ahead but was not at all pleased by what she found when she got to the bend.

”No.” She breathed, as she stood in the center of it all by a lantern that had lay on its side. There were scratches on the walls and drops of what looked like blood on the ground. That made her mind spin but still she continued to look around. Her breathing hitched when she saw Eugene’s satchel lying abandoned on the ground, alongside two swords, blades overlapping. Maximus, who'd been sniffing around, quietly trotted over and gave her a gentle, sympathetic nudge.

”He’s been taken.” She spoke aloud, trying to calm herself by stating a fact but that was a horrible fact and her hands were now both squeezing her hair as she rubbed them down her head and neck. All she could think about was what happened the last time the man who just had to be behind this all had taken Eugene. How she felt like she had lost all sense of direction and purpose in just those few hours when she’d thought she would never see him again. She remembered when she’d asked Eugene about the faded scars on his neck and how he had opened up to her about a rather grim misadventure of his past. It didn’t help that she suddenly realized she’d been putting so much pressure on him today in her efforts to help him adjust to the role he hadn’t actually wanted and now, he was gone.

 The fear of losing him was as overwhelming as it always had been and now it felt like the walls were closing in around her. Rocks threatened to crush her, just as they had threatened to crush him.

“You won’t fight me, but will you fight for him?”

She shakingly picked up the sword she knew was his and rubbed her finger across the small gem embedded in its hilt, only to realize it wasn’t a gem at all. It was a small copper plaque that was like a coin. In it, the letter R had been engraved in cursive. It may have been copper but the very sweet gesture was worth a million times more than diamond. It filled her with determination and cleared all doubts, fears, and regrets from her mind. 

She had no more time to waste.

She let out a breath and quickly braided her hair up again. She held her frying pan in one hand and Eugene’s sword in the other. She began marching forwards and looked back at Maximus once more. “ Come on, Max. You’ve got his scent already, don’t you boy?” 

The horse’s white coat seemed to be shining unnaturally bright given that they were underground and he gave her a curious look before eagerly nodding and pointing his muzzle in that direction as well. ”Great!” She exclaimed and broke off into a run, barely acknowledging that her hair was glowing much, much brighter now.

No one took Eugene and got away with it, but The Baron had still not learned that lesson. Unfortunately for him, she was a force to be reckoned with and he had messed with the wrong princess, for the very last time.

In fact, he wasn’t even going to escape like last time.

No. This time, he was going to pay the price.

Chapter Text

“Quirin is going to kill me.” King Frederic stated matter-of-factly.

Queen Arianna could not stop herself from rolling her eyes as she watched him pace before their thrones. “Yes dear, you’ve said that three times in the past hour.”

“Yet I am still correct, am I not?” He rubbed a hand down his face exasperatedly. “You should prepare to be a single ruler.”

“For heaven’s sake Frederic, at least try to keep your wits about you.” She scolded and he gave her a sheepish, apologetic look. She shook her head sympathetically, acknowledging he was under immense stress right now and not just from their current predicament. “Why not try and get some fresh air while we wait for news from the scouts?”

 He strode over towards an open window that was blowing in the evening air and gave them a full view of the clear… well, relatively clear skies. The crescent’s moon light was cut off from this direction due to that wicked dark tower, the sight of which being both anxiety-inducing and enraging.

To think that Rapunzel had been so near for all that time…

Arianna absolutely hated that tower. Not because of who resided in it but because it showed them exactly where their daughter had been hidden away, for all of eighteen years and that was just the beginning. It tainted their kingdom’s horizon with darkness and it was a tormenting reminder to those citizens whose villages had been infected by black rocks. Not all had returned after being forced out by the rocks but those who had, upon hearing the truth behind their existence, blamed those who lived in complete ignorance to their suffering until the night the rocks infected the island city. Of course, that blame was nowhere near the extent as it was on the one who had been fully aware. She watched as her husband stared at the tower, still looking extremely worried.

 He was under a lot of pressure due the fact that Varian was just as caught in the middle of the throne's efforts to make amends to their people. The fact that the boy had gone missing while working on a project for them did not help the matter.

As intriguing as it was to learn that the particular Old Corona village which had once hated Varian now respected him, his disappearance would not help with the tensions between those in the capital and the outskirts villages in the slightest. She was very concerned for his well-being despite their history, especially because he had thrown himself at their mercy the moment their memories had returned, only to find out his pardon would be allowed to stand. 

“Do you think Cassandra took him again?” Frederic asked, turning around. She’d already thought about that and shook her head. “Unless she’s found a better way to hide herself, she would’ve been much too noticeable to break into the palace once again with her posters on every notice board. You remember the mess the rocks made last time?” She gestured towards the tower. “I don’t believe her threat is meant to be subtle either.”

”No it isn’t.” The king muttered, turning away again. After her conversation with Lance, she’d quickly filled him in and he’d sent out a few scouts that they could trust to not scare off the teenager if he’d gotten into any trouble. Unfortunately those scouts were also the guards assigned to escort him around the capital if he wasn’t with Rapunzel, Eugene, or Lance and since they had all been accounted for, it meant that Varian was on his own. 

She went over and placed a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder. “We will find him and everything will work out. It always does.” 

“But that boy has quite the reputation.” He spoke grimly, forehead furrowed. “A reputation and far too many people who may still be harboring harsh emotions against him. In all honesty, if Cassandra had taken him again… at least we would know where he is.” He shook his head and she couldn’t deny his words. “I simply do not understand how no one in the castle witnessed anything when there are now several men in the infirmary and that a prisoner’s cart was reported missing as well.”

He paused and placed a hand on his beard. “Not to mention that Rapunzel’s crown was stolen today as well. This means something, doesn’t it?”

”It is quite strange.” She agreed. It was as if the enemy who had invaded the castle earlier had been invisible and she frankly did not see how that was possible. The fact that the castle had been infiltrated twice on the same day, perhaps maybe just an hour or two apart, also made her suspect that this was not just a coincidence. “Once Rapunzel and Eugene get back, we will inform them at once.” She said, suddenly feeling useless when she realized she had no other ideas.

“Why have they been gone so long?” King Frederic suddenly asked, sounding even more anxious as he walked away from the window and returned to his pacing that was now more frantic. “What is the hour now? It is rather late, is it not? She should have -“

”Frederic, relax.” Arianna quickly interrupted, going after him with her eyebrows raised. Of course, his behavior did not surprise her in the slightest and she pressed her lips together.

“How can I?!” He exclaimed. “Our daughter could be hurt or -“ He stopped when he saw her expression and crossed arms. His shoulders slumped and let out a breath. “I apologize, dear. I’m being rather controlling again aren’t I?”

She tried to suppress it. She truly did, but a soft laugh escaped her lips anyway. His eyebrows rose in surprise.

”Now your daughter coming home late is one of the most ordinary concerns a father can have.”

He blinked at her before understanding and managed to give her a meek smile. “How is it that you are never this worried about her?”

“Oh, don’t you dare underestimate my worries. It is just that after all this time, especially given that our daughter was away from us for a months- long trip and that she managed the kingdom entirely on her own while we were unable to, I trust her to return to us no matter what.”

After a few moments of silence, He spoke again but much more softly this time. ”As do I.” 

“Good.” She said but a sudden guilt filled her and she looked away. Her child was a courageous fighter and highly confident even if she occasionally tried to handle far too many things on her own. Right now though, there was the child of another whose heart and mind were in the fragile process of healing as he tried to find his place in the world. They needed to find him fast, for if they failed Varian again the consequences could become permanent and entirely unbearable on him. “Now we must focus on returning Quirin’s son to him.”

“Indeed.” Frederic said, finally seeming able to focus again. “We should send another message to his village and then -“

There was a knock on the doors of the throne room and two guards opened them. The royal advisor had returned but there appeared to be an irritated scowl on his face as he marched in, followed by the six guards, including Pete and Stan with equally angered expressions plastered on both their faces. Each pair of guards marched one man inside, stopping before them and forcing the prisoners to their knees. She watched as her husband’s expression hardened when he too noticed that all the apparent prisoners were wearing Coronan armor. They exchanged a look and she clenched her fists.

”Your majesties.” Nigel proclaimed, bowing to them both. “I apologize for this suddenness, but I believe that these traitors have something very interesting to say.” He condescendingly glared down at the men who’d been brought before them.

“I see.” The king said stiffly as he looked at them and then back Nigel who was absolutely fuming. “And what may that be?”

“Go on!” Nigel snapped at the prisoners clad in guards uniform. “Tell them exactly what I heard you speaking about.”

One of them seemed to have broken into a nervous sweat and the other looked to the ground in shame. The one in the middle glared right back at Nigel far too boldly for someone who’d been brought before the king and queen. 

”Why do you even care?” The man spat as he looked up at Nigel defiantly. “You despised the alchemist! Have you no regard for the safety of this kingdom?”

The other two men suddenly looked towards him in surprise, sending each other alarmed looks which the man in between them ignored.

“Oh yes, you certainly spoke of Corona’s safety and not what you would do with that extra gold in your pockets no doubt!” Nigel snarled and king Frederic placed a hand on his old friend’s shoulder to hold him back. Queen Arianna on the other hand stepped forward.

”What did you do?” She asked, her voice firm and dangerous as she glowered down at him. When he remained silent, she raised her voice and addressed all three of them. “As your queen, you answer to me. What have you done to Varian?”

“We were paid to look away and distract the others guarding the West Wing!” One of them blurted out, looking sick to the stomach and the man who spoke first scowled at him. “We just thought it was some noble planning to meet a uh-  lover…”

 The man on the other side of the angry one nodded his head fervently. “We were not aware that it was a hostile threat. We had no reason to suspect that he was not who he seemed as we’d been told he had official documentation. We didn’t even know that Varian went missing today until just now.” He gestured his head towards the man in the middle who looked even more furious.

“Were you not on alert after the princess’ tiara was stolen this morning?” She demanded and two who had spoken both glanced at the silent one quickly before returning their gazes to the floor. That man had the answers they seeked, but he would not answer. She looked at her husband who was now by her side while Nigel stood on the other. “What is his name?” She asked Pete and Stan who were holding him. “His name is Arthur.” Stan replied seriously but she could also hear the concern laced in his voice. The king’s eyes widened and Stan continued. “I was with the royal advisor when we overheard their conversation. The other two are Charles and Macmillan. They were supposed to be guarding the West Wing staircase as we are still working according to the previous captain’s schedule until Eug- er Captain Fitzherbert has a chance to revise it. As for Arthur, I am uncertain of where he was originally supposed to be posted.”

“Let Arthur stand.” Her husband ordered with urgentness. The man was compliant as he was allowed this but his eyes were still staring daggers at their royal advisor. 

“You were assigned to assist the captain and Varian with the installation of the new warning system.” The king said to the man sternly, causing him to finally tear his eyes away from Nigel. “You were also aware that he is missing while you were not among those who have been entrusted with that information. You are just as complicit in his kidnapping now as the person who paid you to help, and now you shall be taken to the dungeons to await trial on that charge. Do you understand?” His voice had grown louder and angrier at each word. Arthur’s eyes seemed to now bulge with rage. 

“And how am I any worse than the traitor who kidnapped your wife, your highness?” He yelled, causing Pete and Stan to tighten their grips on his arms as he lunged. Arianna sighed and stepped back, having sensed that would come up again as the king shook his head at the man’s tone disbelievingly.

 “How dare you speak to the king and queen in such a way?” Nigel snapped defensively and the man directed his next words at him.

“I tried to help you Nigel, remember? You wanted to have him banned from the castle months ago for the kingdom’s safety and I brought you the paperwork you requested! You would have succeeded had I looked through them first and found the forged orders because a single piece of blasted parchment broke your resolve! He is the traitor, not me. I just did the kingdom a favor and am now being punished for it!”

”Varian served his time and now you must serve yours.” Nigel stated matter-of-factly. “That piece of parchment you are referring to provided evidence of a much larger threat and allowed me to understand the position Varian should not have been placed in, both two years ago and during the month before the Saporian’s took over. I cannot overlook those facts, regardless of what he did.”

”So you choose to trust him over that?!”

”No. I do not choose to trust him over that. He was in the wrong before but he will become a powerful ally whose contributions will ensure the welfare of Corona with the guidance we are providing.” He scoffed at Arthur. “As for your contributions? I have nothing else to tell you other than the fact you have just successfully weakened the kingdom’s defenses tenfold. A job well done, indeed.”

Arthur scowled at him and the queen stepped forward again, eyes hardened.

”Who paid you?” She asked, working to control her temper so she could get the information she needed. The man looked towards his feet. “Where did they take him?”

“Answer the queen’s questions now.” The king commanded furiously and Arthur finally let out a bitter sigh and spoke with frustration. “All I can tell you is that it was a man of large stature. I did not see his face or recognize his voice. I told Charles and Macmillan that story and offered to split the pay amongst them solely because of their post. They told me nothing of their plans for him other than the fact he required his expertise.”

Queen Arianna took in a deep breath and turned away as this sank in. They had received confirmation that the boy had been taken away by someone but they still didn’t even know where he was or who took him. 

“Take these men to the dungeons, immediately.” The king boomed. “We will decide upon their sentences later.” 

As the men were marched away she walked towards her throne and sat down, placing a hand on her head.  

”Are you alright, your highness?” Nigel asked, having followed her and she met his worried eyes. She shook her head and let out a sigh.

“If you’re not careful, I’d say you’ve become fond of the boy.” She managed to say to Nigel in a rather weak attempt to keep her mind clear. This should not have happened again. She didn’t want to imagine what Varian could possibly be going through at this given moment. He may have been their enemy once, but she now saw him for what he was. A youth haunted by his mistakes and tragic past.

 ”With all due respect, your highness, you must be mistaken.” Nigel said stubbornly. “As ironic as this seems, he is quite well-versed in politics. That is the sole purpose of our discussions and he should not be allowed to skip our match… meeting for a second time. It show’s poor form which must be corrected.”

 She hadn’t been surprised by what he had told Arthur as Nigel had been the one to uncover exactly how Varian had ended up with the Saporian leader as a cellmate to begin with. He had found the original, forged proclamation that gave that order with the royal seal. An order her husband had not given, indicating that the seal had been temporarily stolen. It was also evidence that the therapist assigned to the boy was not who he claimed to be, proven even further by the fact that the man had not been seen again after the kingdom was rescued. 

And so, Nigel had resorted to enacting his revenge on Varian’s impersonating him as Corona’s royal advisor in the form of snide remarks and never allowing the boy to win a game of chess against him, all while forcing him to play regardless. This occurrence had been reported to only have increased after the red rocks incident which had stirred back their memories. Though she’d seen the boy at his worst, his frustration at losing constantly was amusingly, a near second to that.

Before she could point out that the last time Varian missed their chess session was also because he had been kidnapped, the king gave him an order. “As always, thank you for your assistance Nigel. I now need you to send out guards in search of the princess and the captain. They must be informed of this situation immediately.” The royal advisor bowed his head to them both. “Yes, right away your highnesses.”

He turned to leave but stopped midway to the throne room doors, looking back.

“That boy is resilient, Queen Arianna. But I do fear what could happen to the kingdom if he breaks once more. His mind is both a gift and a curse.”

”That is why we do what we must to find him before that happens.” The king responded, meeting her eye.

She stood up once more. “We don’t do it for the kingdom.” She corrected both men firmly. “We do it for him.”

Chapter Text

Soft thuds echoed through the tunnels, the source being from the damp and dark cavern that was lit only by a single, dying lantern in the cavern entrance. No light arrived through the skylight anymore as night had finally fallen. Varian could barely see anything in his surroundings anymore other than the nearby support beam directly ahead in the path of the light.

“Why? Why? Why?!”

He hissed in frustration as he struck the wooden beam with the heel of his foot again and again and again . Dust continued to fall from the ceiling but it still didn’t budge. He destroyed things by accident so many times so why couldn’t he break this stupid beam of wood when it would actually count? The Baron wouldn’t need his dad if he didn’t have him. The Baron couldn’t use him if he just disappeared, if he could find a way to escape. His dad would be safe if he could just follow through on the third option.

He should’ve remembered that he was just a liability to all those that care about him now. He’d been so selfish, choosing to stay after he’d been pardoned. He’d been so selfish, choosing to be cared for when he didn’t deserve it than leaving before he could make any more mistakes that would hurt those he loved. His friends had nearly died trying to rescue him from Cassandra. The princess could have died when she had stayed to destroy the airship instead of him. Suns, he had tried to kill her all those months ago, he had tried to destroy them all.

A wave of light-headedness overtook him. He’d become a monster. A monster, a villain, and an idiot as he finally reminded himself that there was no third option. The man would probably find a way to use his father as a bargaining chip even if he ran. There was never a third option because Baron knew he had nowhere else to go. His lip stung bitterly as he bit it once more, deepening the self-inflicted wound. Accidentally tasting the blood made him feel nauseous but he couldn’t help it. This pain would be nothing compared to what was to come as he fell back into that familiar dark void of hopelessness. He was feeling scared and helpless and sick with grief. His tears had all been cried out but he was still breathing rapidly and wishing he could at least have some water. There certainly was a river nearby as he now recalled, though it hadn’t necessarily been naturally formed. Perhaps a day or two before the princess had returned, he’d remembered hearing reports that part of the Coronan dam had been broken but most were quite unsure as to how it had happened.

He’d no control over where his mind wandered, especially when it went to the places it hadn’t been in months. Be it to his hours of loneliness in his cell or the forced silence he’d vowed himself to for months into his sentence before finally giving in to words of the traitorous doctor and then… even later, of Andrew’s.

He gritted his teeth and shook his head in yet another attempt to banish his memories but a severe pain suddenly flared through his neck. He yelped and finally gave into his need to rest, leaning back against the beam with a shudder. He felt stiff and sore all over from the long hours spent in this place and the prison cart. It didn’t help that it was getting colder, indicating that night had fallen. He didn’t like the cold. He even wore extra layers while he worked in his lab at home.

Home…  

It wouldn’t be home anymore. 

Not after the decision he had made. Not after what he had done. He fell further into the haze of despair.

“What have you done, Varian?” The amber had taunted him with his father’s voice.

“What have I done indeed, father?”  He had finally replied to it coldly as one of the knights in golden armor that he had once admired when he dreamt for glory slammed the cell door shut in his face. The very moment he had finally been left alone on the fateful day of his arrest, he had passed out cold on the hard stone floor.

Sleep never sounded any better than it did right now as his eyes fluttered and he slowly sank back to the floor. The Baron and Weasel had been gone a while and he was tired, so tired. What would happen if they returned and found him asleep? He huffed at that thought as his mouth curved into a bitter smirk. Yes, if he was planning to defy them, then this would be his first act of defiance. A nap. The ultimate weapon. The worst thing they could do was wake him up. 

Unfortunately, he’d just begun to nod off when a metallic clang burst around the cavern. His head jerked upright again and hit the back of the beam, not that he felt it as he attempted to rub the sleep and drowsiness from his eyes, ultimately failing when he was reminded for about the hundredth time that his hands were bound behind him. A sword had been tossed in from the tunnels, he could partially see the glint of his blade but all he felt now was the ever-present fear returning tenfold when a monstrous figure even larger than The Baron followed it into the cave. His heart nearly stopped as he was cast in pitch darkness, the figure blocked the meager lantern's light as it moved forward. 

“No… no no no no… please no…” Varian began to hyperventilate as he practically jumped to his feet and pressed himself against the beam holding him prisoner. His exhausted mind was quick to cloud with terror. He desperately struggled with the handcuffs but his attempt was once again futile.

The shadowy figure, however, stopped at the other support beam from what he could make from the brief glimpse of light he managed to get. It was just then that shadowy creature shrank in size as it split into three. Varian couldn’t stop his horrified shout as two shadowy parts of the creature collapsed onto the ground with heavy thuds.

Blazes! Blazes! Blazes! What in the seven kingdoms was this thing?!

It seemed that in his distraction, the monstrous form which now resembled a human had moved back towards the cave entrance, blocking the nearly dead lantern light completely again. He heard stone strike stone… once, twice… three times and the place was flooded with light, stunning him out of his miserable thoughts for a moment.

He blinked twice before finally realizing what was actually happening beyond his deluded interpretation. The Baron had returned, not alone but not with Weasel either. There were two nearly identical men who lay unconscious and bruised on the cavern floor, one dressed in a familiar blue and the other in a red that took him a moment to recognize. 

“Eugene?” Varian whispered quietly, far too disturbed by what he was witnessing. The Baron ignored him and moved to handcuff both men to the remaining support beam. The infamous thief Flynn Rider and Captain Eugene Fitzherbert of the Corona Royal Guard, his friend, had been caught in Baron’s intricately woven trap. 

“Eugene?!” He called more loudly, and though his friend didn’t reply, he seemed to grunt with pain as he was propped against the beam. Varian hoped that was a sign that he’d be awake soon enough. Surely Baron hadn’t gone through the effort to capture him and bring him here just to destroy him… yet? It was a sickening reassurance. But maybe, just maybe there was still time!

From Varian’s place where he could do nothing but helplessly watch as The Baron worked, when the man moved away, he could see that there was something terribly wrong with his friend's shoulder judging by the ripped sleeve. He didn’t think it was possible for his heart to sink any further but it did, so deeply that his fear became buried with it, slowly being replaced by something else. Something much more powerful.

”Eugene! You have to wake up!” He yelled again and for the first time all day, felt victorious when the man continued to stir, albeit sounding like he was in serious pain. “Wake up!”

“Silence!” The Baron snapped, finally spinning around to face him.

He yelped when something sharp whizzed past his face, clattering against the stone. The Baron continued to glower at him with his arm outstretched, holding a piece of flint for a moment. Varian felt the stinging pain grow even worse on his face but he didn’t care. Eugene was hurt. The man he looked up to, who had called him his little brother during the dark tower incident, was hurt. They may have had a rocky past to say the least, but he’d grown to see Eugene Fitzherbert as family and he had a thing about people who hurt his family. He also knew that he wasn’t the only one. 

“Do you know what you just did, Baron?” Varian laughed incredulously, causing Baron to turn back with a raised eyebrow as the realization more fully dawned upon him. If Eugene was here, then she was not far behind and oh boy, she was going to be hopping mad. He was smiling widely, almost maniacally now.

“Great plan Baron! I really love the part where, just like I did, you unleashed the wrath of an entire kingdom on yourself!”

”Funny,” The Baron said, and Varian’s smile dropped immediately when he realized that the man was grinning from ear to ear as he gestured towards Eugene. “That’s almost exactly what he said.”

“Because, he’s… he’s right.” Varian said uneasily, looking towards Eugene again and feeling disappointed that his head still hung down limply.  “She - the princess, will stop you once and for all. Princess Rapunzel is coming after you, no matter what.” He was beginning to realize he was saying it aloud more to convince himself, trying to convince himself that she was the shining hero who would save the day once more.

”Yet her arrival is what I’m counting on.” The Baron turned away. Varian’s eyes widened.

King Frederic’s beard. The Baron was leading the princess towards himself instead of escaping with Eugene on purpose… but why?

“And unlike during the siege that was led against you…” The Baron continued, interrupting Varian’s thoughts as the man stepped back towards the two unconscious prisoners. “I’ve ensured that she’ll come to me alone.”

Varian’s breathing hitched as panic flared through him once more.  “Why?! What - What did you do?”  

“Even if she escapes The Weasel and his gang, she knows exactly what will happen to Flynn Rider within the next few hours regardless of if she shows up or not. Then she shall die.” The Baron laughed, a crazed look in his eyes as Varian trembled with horror. He looked obsessed with the power, just as Cassandra looked when her gray eyes turned electric blue and crackling with energy as she harnessed the power of the moon and built her awful tower.

“Until she arrives,” The Baron declared, turning his back on him, “Flynn Rider, both his image and the genuine article, will finally begin paying their dues.”

Varian realized Eugene’s eyes had finally opened, that they were staring right at him in bleary-eyed confusion. ”Varian?” Eugene croaked, he seemed dazed but furrowed his eyebrows. “Eugene! Eugene! It’s the Baron!” Varian cried out in desperate warning, tears of helplessness filling his eyes as The Baron raised a fist. His tears were not dried out it seemed. Eugene winced when he turned his neck towards The Baron, eyes widening with realization before his head swiveled back to Varian.

”VARIAN?! WHAT THE ACTUAL- !”

His panic-filled tirade was cut off when The Baron slammed a heavy blow right into Eugene’s chest, the impact practically reverberating around the room. “No!” Varian screamed as he watched and heard his brother begin to writhe and cry out in agony in his restraints.

”STOP! PLEASE!”

-

”You - you serious?” Eugene wheezed, struggling to place his words together as Baron pulled his punches for a moment, basking in his apparent victory. “Is-dis-all-I’m to you now? A -a Punching bag?”

Eugene managed to duck his head down in time by dropping to his knees for Baron’s responding blow, only for him to get kicked in the stomach again . He coughed and hacked, hoping that it was only spittle he saw flying through the air in the dimly lit… cave? Tunnel? Cavern? That’s what this place was right? Spots danced all across his line of vision.

”You choose now to mouth off?!” Flynn screamed from behind him, sounding pained despite not even being the centerpiece of The Baron’s pounding. “Seriously?”

“Says the guy who immediately began flirting with my -GAH!”

He had been struck in the jaw.

If Eugene could just get one more moment… a single tiny moment more to think, to focus beyond the pain, his struggle to gradually slip the lockpick out his immobile arm’s glove while his wrists were rudely cuffed together with Flynn’s would become slightly easier, but no, he was still being bombarded by a continuous onslaught of earth shaking blows. It was an instinctive move, the moment he had regained consciousness, to let his eyes remain closed to ensure that his lockpick was indeed still inside his gloves as he listened in to his surroundings. However, the moment his clouded mind had heard Baron threaten to kill Rapunzel and recognized Varian’s voice - the kid’s voice - through the ringing of his ears, he’d been unable to keep up the act any longer, shocked out of his own escape plan of feigning unconsciousness until he could unlock his cuffs. He was paying the price for not being able to keep a level head but in his defense, his head really hurt.

Each hit made him want to throw up, the white hot pain in his shoulder seared through him tenfold each time the man struck him and sent his head crashing backwards into the wood, leaving him gasping for breath in those precious few moments of respite before yet another punch was thrown at him. He’d managed to get himself standing up again though, which he’d argue was a minor victory.

Corona’s Royal doctor had once praised Eugene for his rather high tolerance to pain but he was now learning that it really wasn’t enough to earn him a bragging right as his mind began to reel. He’d been in similar situations before… never at the hands of the man who had lured him into his snake’s den, a labyrinth with only one destination, death. 

He was trying the best he could to get the lockpick out, but it was terribly hard to focus when on one side Flynn was wildly yelling incoherent things and on the other, Varian was desperately begging The Baron to stop on behalf of his life. Eugene had tried to smile reassuringly at him, more than once during his session of being pounded to a pulp, but he was beginning to think that his forced smiles were not at all comforting as Varian had begun fighting against his own restraints even harder.

“You have to stop! Stop it! Please! You’re gonna kill him!” Varian pleaded tearfully over and over, but his gut wrenching pleas remained ignored and rebounded around the cave, adding to the chaos. Eugene wanted to yell at him to keep quiet, to keep his head down and to not attract Baron’s attention, but he could barely breathe and that would probably make things worse. Besides, Varian being here meant it was already far too late for that. Despite his vision beginning to falter again and the pain becoming increasingly worse, from what he could tell by the blood and bruises all over Varian’s face was that he had clearly not had a great day… but seriously how in the seven kingdoms did he even get mixed up with The Baron to begin with?!

He’d been safe in the castle from what Eugene could remember, with Lance and Kiera and Catalina. He had his own security detail in accordance with the plans laid out for his protection by the previous captain of the guards. Baron should not have been able to get his hands on Varian unless those plans went awry… unless this is what Baron had meant by the current state of his guards .

”Baron!” He snarled, gritting his teeth as he powered through the delirium that threatened to overtake him. “Let the kid go! Now!”

”On whose authority, Captain ?” He asked, sounding slightly surprised. “Don’t tell me it’s yours? One would think you’d be pleased to have one less charge in your hands.”

”You already have me!” Eugene demanded but still chose his words wisely so as to not put the boy in any more harm… yet the only possible reason Baron could have for Varian being held prisoner here was… Suns, he hoped his suspicions were wrong, he so hoped his suspicions were wrong.

 “You have the crown! You even have a counterfeit version of me!”

“Oi!” Flynn interrupted, for some reason choosing now to be offended. He was ignored as Eugene continued.

 “What the blazes more do you want?! What could you possibly want with the kid?”

Please be wrong, please be wrong…

The Baron seized his good arm tightly causing him to wince, the man’s face was inches away from his. “My rightful dues you imbecile! The Alchemist will be helping me take back my city. Isn’t that right, Varian?”

Eugene opened and closed his mouth in dismay as Baron turned to look at Varian..

”Wait, that twig’s The Alchemist?!” Flynn blurted out unhelpfully, attempting to crane his neck to get a better look now and the movement nearly caused Eugene to lose hold of the lockpick that was almost out of his glove and his opposite hands fingertips. Even so, he still felt even more sick to his stomach, now knowing that he’d been correct. Varian’s identity might have been compromised to the criminal underworld after all.

Eugene met Varian’s eyes in serious concern just as the teenager's blue eyes lit up into an inferno of rage he'd only seen in them once before. 

”Kid!” Eugene called out in alarm, realizing Baron's attention was now falling completely on the kid. “Don’t -“

”My answer is still no Baron! You don’t speak for me!” Varian snapped and despite the tear tracks staining his face, his voice switched from being full of panic to a concentrated anger in the matter of seconds. Eugene was nearly paralyzed with trepidation, Varian was standing up to Baron. Varian was defying the man directly. Eugene knew very few people who’d been given the honor to be approached by The Baron and had the guts to refuse his double-edged offerings. He knew even fewer who had lived to tell the tale, also known as no one. 

”Do whatever the blazes you want, but I am never helping you!”

Varian was yelling at The Baron, one of the most revered men to have ever walked The Knight Path. 

The Baron released Eugene’s arm and shoved him back against the beam roughly as he prowled over to where Varian now stood tall, eyeing him with a horrifying defiance. “Hey! Stay back! I - Baron! Stop! Don’t hurt him! Whatever it is, just take it out on me!” He gasped in pain, having overexerted himself as he tried to lunge forward.

“Baron! I’m warning you!” He yelled.

The Baron stepped forward and Varian purposely looked away, not out of fear. Something was wrong… something was seriously wrong with Varian’s mannerisms. Unless it wasn’t and Eugene had just been so used to seeing him with a smile on his face these past few months as he began to overcome his past that he hadn’t noticed the remnants that remained until the bad things happened. The kid who often nervously stuttered when he spoke, the kid who he had seen freeze with panic in the Demanitus chamber when Cassandra attacked was not the same one he saw here right now. It was so easy to forget that this kid could be a force to be reckoned with. Varian had tried to reason with Cassandra with no weapons or powers at all. Varian had challenged an entire kingdom on his own and even helped stage a coup. This was the kid who defied the throne but Eugene knew that The Baron dealt with defiance even more poorly than the king of Corona once did.

He pushed down the panic, trying bitterly to ignore the pain when he realized he had no choice but to quickly use the time Varian had given him, to save the kid, Flynn, and maybe even himself if good fortune would ever rain down. If they escaped quickly, Rapunzel wouldn’t be in any more danger either. He cursed himself for racing off alone. For not having seen through Baron and Weasel’s plan to divide and conquer sooner. Finally realizing attempting to use his injured arm to pick his cuffs was useless if he could barely move it without screaming in pain, Eugene roughly shoved Flynn in the shoulder with his good one, biting his tongue hard to not make another pained sound. He gestured with his head at their hands that were cuffed together and prayed that Flynn understood what he was asking. After a moment, he felt the man take the lockpick and start to shuffle in his restraints. “Unlock yours, then mine.” Eugene whispered but winced as The Baron yelled. “Look me in the eye, brat!” Eugene heard a pained gasp and realized that The Baron had forced Varian to face him by grabbing his chin. 

“Baron! I’m warning you! Let go of him!” Eugene yelled out again, divided attention was never a good thing but he had to fall back on his training and focus on focusing. “Come on Flynn, hurry!” He urged, kicking the struggling man’s ankle behind him. “It’s like thieving 101 Flynn!” Eugene hissed irritably. Suns, if anything else happened to that boy... “You do know how to use them, right? Don’t you have your own?!”

”Shut up!” Flynn whispered-yelled back, clearly panicking judging by how badly he could feel the cuffs rattling. “I’m trying! I’m trying! I - it’s harder when both hands are in the handcuffs!” 

Eugene let out an exasperated breath, knowing that trying to pressure and criticize a panicked, less experienced thief would not work. “Alright, alright. Don’t think about anything else. Just keep at it, and trust your instincts. Take your time.” He murmured both for himself and Flynn, even if time was definitely something they did not have. He heard Flynn exhale and continue to work. The very small click that followed after a moment sounded promising but he really hoped The Baron hadn’t heard it as he continued to jeer at Varian. It was only adding to Eugene’s pain that Varian was currently the distraction they were leveraging to break out of their restraints. He could see the sweat pouring from Varian's forehead in the lantern light as the Baron continued to loom over him, intentionally trying to scare him. His eyes darted back from the man behind him and over to Varian again who began glaring at Baron. 

Another click sounded and he tried to cover up the sound of the metal rattling by yelling at The Baron again and again. The man ignored him even now and Eugene suddenly remembered something else he loved almost as much as revenge.

Instilling fear.  

That’s what The Baron had done to him before, that was what he threatened to do once again. Varian, who had dared speak back to him, was his latest target and if The Baron wasn’t stopped, he wouldn’t be the last. The Baron wanted the boy to fear and respect him. He wouldn’t stop until he got the response he wanted, the vulnerability he would abuse the blazes out of if Eugene didn’t get Varian out of there fast. Varian was one of the strongest people he knew but no one could stand strong alone forever. That he knew from experience.

Just hold on a little longer, Varian. Eugene wanted to say but clearly, Flynn was still struggling. Eugene’s best guess was that Flynn had never actually been in such a predicament but had at least practiced his skills with a lockpick. 

”Are you telling me that you’d rather let your father die than work for me, Alchemist?” The Baron slowly and though Varian flinched, his eyes remained rigid, focused and clear.  “I’m not helping you.” Varian forced out hoarsely, struggling to get out the man’s grip. He trembled badly but his voice remained firm. “He wouldn’t want me to help you. I won’t help you take back Vardaros. I won’t help you with any of your business.” When Varian’s ice cold and calculating eyes met Eugene’s again, however, they warmed. “But if you stop hurting him, I’ll - I’ll make you the cure at least.” 

He was slipping. 

”No, kid…” Eugene began dreadfully as he recognized the vicious, victorious look that flashed through Baron’s eyes. The look that meant he had found a means to control him. The look that had flashed through Gothel’s eyes when Rapunzel had begged to save him, had begged to exchange her freedom for his life. He had seen someone who he had cared about become so willing to give up their entire future and morales just for him once before. Rapunzel, the embodiment of the Sundrop, had been prepared to live in darkness for the rest of her life, for him , and here Varian was, prepared to face it just like her. 

“You think you’re in the position to call the shots now, boy?” 

The Baron barked out a laugh that shook the entire cavern and let go of him suddenly. Varian fell to his knees, exhausted but still looking up warily at Eugene, asking for help, for reassurance . There was a heavy guilt and shame in his eyes. “I suppose I got my work cut out for me now, Varian. You truly aren’t how I imagined you’d be, you insolent creature.”

Eugene gritted his teeth as Varian closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head and mouthing something that looked like, “I’m so sorry dad.”

“Almost there .” Flynn whispered from behind. Two more clicks followed, covered up by The Baron’s own words this time.

”You aren’t willing to help me for your father’s sake but will still barter for a traitor's life?” He continued, pointing at Eugene who quickly shifted to cover up the fact that one of Flynn’s hands was now free which he realized when Flynn managed to turn around. Varian’s eyes brimmed with tears again but his jaw remained firmly shut. Eugene felt a surge of rage rush over him but as long as he was stuck to this pole he couldn’t even act upon it. Varian had already been at these crossroads twice before. He would not let someone do this to him again. He would not let this pathetic excuse of a man get away with tormenting his kid brother with choices like this again.

He also hated how hopeless and exhausted Varian’s looked, so he jerked his head down quickly towards where his hands were still bound to the beam behind him, painfully moving out of the way so he could see Flynn’s single hand. He saw Varian’s eyes brighten in recognition after a moment, the fire burning in his eyes came blazing back.  Wait… oh no, Varian pushed himself back to his feet again. The fire reignited in his eyes was as stupidly dangerous as the smile forming on Varian’s face. He looked up at the ceiling where his support beam was attached to the rest of its wooden frame, then to the skylight.

“Better a traitor than a monster like you.” Varian challenged as he leaned away from Baron as far as his restraints would let him.

“ What in the blazes - Varian !” Eugene berated in wide-eyed panic as Baron’s face reddened with fury. What the heck Varian?! Was he seriously choosing now to be snarky with the freaking Baron ? When they were so close to getting fr-

Shoot. 

This was Varian purposefully trying to add to the distraction now. Who the blazes did he learn this from?

“Are you still trying to be smart with me?” The Baron snapped, suddenly lifting the kid up by the neck of his vest. Eugene saw Varian’s legs instinctively begin to flail as panic clouded him for a moment before he gulped and became slack. Eugene watched in horror as the kid winked at him with a terrifyingly confident laugh as he looked Baron in the eye again.

King Frederic’s beard

Varian had learned this from him.

”Isn’t that why you kidnapped me you dimwit?” Varian asked, turning the tides and The Baron shook him violently, causing him to yelp. The man raised his other fist and was shaking with fury at the Varian’s madness, preparing to strike.

“ Kid, did you just -“ Eugene spluttered, suns he couldn’t watch this anymore, the other half of team awesome was about to be pulverized right before his eyes.

”I’m free! I did it! You were right Eugene!” Flynn cried out idiotically at that exact moment before realizing what he had done. “Uh-“

The Baron whirled around in surprise and dropped Varian who astonishingly managed to land on his feet, Eugene began cursing at Flynn incredibly loudly, and Varian…

 Well, Varian proceeded to kick The Baron in the shin.

”Eyes on me, you giant green freak.”

-

Everything happened so quickly.

The Baron animalistically roared with fury, ignoring the fact that Flynn was now free and attempting to pick the locks on Eugene’s handcuffs with a whirlwind of apologies as Eugene struggled to pull his hands out of them, cursing the intense ache in his shoulder with every push and pull, trying desperately to get to Varian. He desired desperately to stop the inevitable as the teenager purposely messed with The Baron’s ego. The Baron’s apparent sole weakness which Eugene had learned about far too late. His fist swung at Varian’s face with full force. Eugene refused to shut his eyes for Varian’s sake but still cringed away when a loud, splintering CRACK echoed around the room. 

“NO! VARIAN!” Eugene screamed as The Baron stepped back and now saw that Varian had slumped to his knees once more. Tears filled Eugene’s eyes.

Suns , he couldn't breathe… had Baron just killed… 

It was only then when heard the boy’s frantic breathing that he dared a second look, realizing his initial evaluation of what just happened, of what he had just heard had been completely wrong as The Baron stepped back shaking his fist, cursing and staring above Varian’s head.

Varian was still breathing, still conscious. He had dropped to his knees and avoided the direct hit to the skull, copying Eugene’s move from earlier. Though he was trembling even worse now and it appeared that his nose had started bleeding now, he attempted to give Eugene a reassuring grin that totally did look more like a grimace. Eugene laughed wildly with relief. Stars above , he was going to ask Quirin for grounding privileges for the heart attack Varian just gave him.

But there had still been that terrible cracking sound and the fact Baron was frozen, staring at the beam where Varian was still trapped. Eugene froze too as his gaze lingered upwards, towards the frame, even as Flynn finally released the hand of his uninjured arm. Above Varian, not only had Baron splintered the wood leaving it quaking and slowly sliding downwards, but cracks had begun to spread all over the frame attached to the cavern’s roof as well. The crackling sound got louder and louder as more and more dust fell from the ceiling. Eugene suddenly became aware of the sound of rushing water nearby.

And another loud, finite CRACK sound sealed the deal and the back wall crumbled, rocks and a violent onslaught of water began crashing in all at once and shook the world. Varian just so happened to be in their direct path and was the first to become entirely drenched. Flynn finally managed to release both of Eugene's hands and he staggered forward. He tried to push himself forward and get Varian to safety and out of the path of the rocks but the collective ache from his chest, head, and shoulder all worked as one to collapse him onto the ground in a heap of desperation. He pushed himself back onto his knees, reaching forward but only in time to see that The Baron, who’d been much closer and clearly much faster on his feet at this point had single-handedly snapped the interlink of Varian’s handcuffs. He seized the boy’s arm and tossed him out of the trajectory of the oncoming rock slide.

Varian went flying into the barrels across the cavern and Eugene heard him cry out after a crash sounded but lost sight of him behind the fallen barrels. He could hear the sound of frantic scrabbling across the floor. “Varian!” Eugene tried calling standing up again, limping as fast as he could but to no avail as Baron beat him to the kid again and the world tilted sideways. He fell back against the remaining wooden beam, splashing into a pool of water. His mind was fogging up as he grabbed onto his injured arm roughly. He could feel new injuries he did not desire to learn about with every move he made. Out of the corner of Eugene’s eye, he could see Flynn inching towards the exit. Eugene heard a struggle as The Baron tried to apprehend Varian from where he had crashed into the barrels and he pulled himself back up using the remaining support beam as water pooled around his ankles. “Now look at what you’ve done boy.” The Baron was shouting. “As a punishment for your insubordination and ruining my revenge, we’ll both be paying your dear old father a visit sooner rather than later!”

”Baron!” Eugene roared as the man extracted Varian from the mess of barrels roughly by the shoulder, finally lifting him onto his feet but the Varian was hunched over, arms hugging his stomach. “Move!” The Baron ordered and he began pushing him forwards with the tip of his sword. He staggered along, not even trying to look up or resist this time. 

”Flynn stop him!” Eugene barked and Flynn, who looked extremely hesitant, stepped even closer to the exit and was quickly shoved out of the way hard by The Baron as the man forced Varian forward. Eugene bit his tongue till it bled as he tried walking for the third time. “Baron! You’re not finished here!” Eugene shouted frantically. “We’re not finished yet! Get back here!” He fell into the water again, onto his knees and cursed as he struggled to set himself upright, head spinning.

The blonde, monstrous man paused and turned around, looking at Eugene on the ground. He tutted as he pulled the princess’ tiara out from beneath his cloak, admiring it once more while his sword was still pointed at Varian. “You’re right. We aren't finished yet. Unfortunately for you, you’ll simply have to wait till me and my new apprentice take back Vardaros and return to burn both you and your beloved princess right to the ground. Then perhaps, I’ll even consider expanding my empire, right into the heart of your precious Coronan soil. It’s no wonder why Corona seemed so adamant on keeping this weapon stashed away.” With that he left, sheathing his sword and dragging Varian, who still alarmingly hadn’t made another sound, by the scruff of his collar. 

“Go after him!” Eugene barked at Flynn who was still clutching his head, he looked up at him in surprise. ”Me go after The Baron ?!” Flynn exclaimed as he got up shaking his head. “You think I’m crazy?”

Eugene rolled his eyes but groaned miserably as he pulled himself back up, seeing spots even worse now. ”Fine! I’ll do it myself, just help me get out of here!” The water was up to his knees now, making him realize that there must’ve been an entire river running in that they had clearly disturbed. Eugene barely managed to stand up this time and though he knew it might be advantageous to take a short rest, he didn't have the time. The Baron implied that both Varian and Quirin were in trouble. He could not afford to lose any members of his newfound family and his job was to protect the citizens of Corona.

He was left gasping, however, as he slumped against the wall again. Flynn waded through the water towards him cautiously. “Dude… Eugene, you really don’t look so good.” He said apprehensively, quickly glancing back at the wide opened exit again. “And if that kid’s The Alchemist… and you’re the captain of the guards of the kingdom he attacked… why do you care so much about rescuing him?” Flynn laughed warily as he pushed his wet hair out of his face. “Heck, you even jumped in to protect me from Baron even though you didn’t have too. You could have just let me take the fall but you didn’t. Flynn Rider would never do that…”

Eugene sighed, using the wall as support as he tried to make his way towards the exit on his own.

“Look, that kid is entirely innocent in this situation. He is also working hard to overcome his past and bloody blazes, so am I. I refuse to let The Baron do to him what he did to me. I stepped in to save you because The Baron wants to punish me for some things I did, not you.” Eugene smiled sadly. “You made yourself his target just by taking the name that I once went by because of who it represents, a lying, thieving scoundrel who cared for no one but himself. I don’t want to be that person. I don’t want to be Flynn Rider anymore, no offense to you.” He tilted his head and Flynn flinched but reached an arm out to help steady him before looking away, conflicted. 

“That - that isn’t my real name.”

”Well duh.” Eugene grunted as Flynn helped him slowly make progress to the exit. Too slowly judging by the fact that water was still rising. “Eugene,” Flynn continued, sounding surprisingly sympathetic for a change. “I - I think I need to apologize. Now seems like a good time.” Eugene’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head disbelievingly eyeing the water level that was up to their waists now. ”You really think so?” He deadpanned.

Flynn ignored him. “I’m really sorry pal. I stole your name because it gave me an instant reputation.” Eugene sighed again, Flynn really did think they had time for a heartfelt apology. “I mean without it, I’m nobody.” Eugene supposed he understood the feeling though. “Alright.” He grumbled with a nod, but Flynn kept going, still sounding dejected and shaking his head sorrowfully. “Without it, I’m just plain old, boring Brock Thunderstrike.”

”Cool. Fine. Sure. Apology accepted now can we hurry this -.” Eugene muttered dismissively before pausing to gape at the man beside him. “Your name is what now ?!” He spluttered. 

“Anyways,” Flynn said ruefully as he let go of Eugene the moment they reached the entrance to the tunnels that would lead them out to higher ground and safety causing Eugene to waver, eyes widening further as the man began to back up. “After all this, I’ve learned that I only want your reputation. Not your problems. You’re a real decent guy Eugene, but Flynn Rider is out!”

”What?! Where are you going? The exit is this way!” Eugene exclaimed in bewilderment as Flynn walked backwards and back into the cavern. Flynn grinned and shrugged.

”Well, clearly I have no idea how the tunnels lead out since The Baron knocked us both out and frankly I don’t have enough time to figure it out anyways unless I want to drown.” Flynn pointed up at the cavern's skylight and Eugene wanted to hack that smug look clean off Flynn’s face. “That’s my real way out but given how you can’t even walk by yourself at the moment, I doubt you’ll be able to climb so I did my heroic deed of the day and pointed you in that direction. Better hurry though.”

Flynn saluted him and pulled himself out of the water, climbing the newly fallen rocks up towards the skylight. 

“Wait!” Eugene called out in a panic, wanting to kick himself as his eyes darted between the tunnels that were also filling with water and back at the skylight. The fact that had so completely slipped his mind. He literally had no idea how to get out of the mines through the tunnels that The Baron had just gone through and must also have brought them in here through. If he got lost or couldn’t get out through the tunnels within the next few minutes, he’d drown anyways. In the cavern, he had at least a little longer.

  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“You can’t just leave me here! You literally just apologized, scoundrel!” He yelled. The water level was still rising by the minute and Eugene fought through his unsteadiness as he made his way back into the caverns. It didn’t help that he was heading in the opposite direction of the flow and was now fighting that too.

“You’re not my captain! I don’t need to follow your orders!” Flynn called back, now pulling himself through the skylight, leaving Eugene behind. The lantern was extinguished when the water reached Eugene’s chest and he cursed furiously as the only light source he had now was the brief slivers of moonlight coming through the skylight Flynn’s figure was still currently blocking. He had to reason with him, he had to make that dolt see sense.

“Flynn, please! The Baron’s dangerous and I need to stop him! So many others could be in danger now!”

It wasn’t just Rapunzel and Varian, but his entire blazing kingdom.

Flynn’s back was turned towards him as he stood, idly for a moment right outside the skylight, having reached the surface. “This is not my fight.” The man called down but did not move.

“Come on Flynn!” Eugene roared, fueled both by his own pain and misery and by the fact that Varian’s goggles suddenly surfaced by his head. He instinctively grabbed them with his uninjured arm.

Suns, I’m so sorry Varian.

“You wanna be Flynn Rider?! Go ahead! Leaving Baron unchecked and someone to drown like this is definitely something he would do!”

Flynn’s hands balled into fists.

”But ask yourself this…” Eugene struggled to catch his breath and had managed to grab onto the remaining wooden support beam as he tried to hoist himself up, straining to keep his neck above the water now. “Is this something that Brock Thunderstrike would do?”

A moment passed.

Then another. 

And Flynn walked away.

Flynn Rider was gone but in all fairness, he died in that tower. In all fairness, Eugene Fitzherbert would be gone now too.

It was at that moment that Eugene’s only coherent thoughts became a chain, weighing him even further beneath the surface as the water crept up his face and drew what could be his final breath as he tried to move towards the light.

  I failed, Rapunzel. I’ve failed you. I’ve failed Varian. I’ve failed the kingdom. I couldn’t stop Baron. I couldn’t help Flynn. Rapunzel, I’ve failed you. Rapunzel, I’m so sorry.

Rapunzel.

A shadowy figure moving away, allowing a full ray of moonlight to finally pass through the skylight was the last thing Eugene saw as the water rose over his head, pressing him against the ceiling. He was going down and up and left and right even as he tried maneuvering himself towards where he had last seen the light. He couldn’t see anything now, the water’s current began beating him badly against the wooden beam. He tried to fight it with everything he had, tried to swim towards the sole blurring circle of light in the darkened watery depths but his injured arm and torso refused to do as he wished and instead, he was stabbed by a thousand knives. He screamed mechanically but no sound came out of his mouth, instead water went in and set his insides, his outsides, his everything on fire. He burned . He burned so badly and everything became black, then red, then radiant gold. He burned so badly that he knew he must’ve been engulfed by the sun when he found her glistening emerald green eyes.

Rapunzel.

Chapter Text

  A plan. A plan! For the first time in freaking hours, Varian had a freaking plan ! 

All it had taken to get inspired was being drenched in freezing water, being tossed into barrels which had caused wood pieces to splinter into his skin and then even more painfully slamming into the stone floor. He’d cried out and choked for the air that had been knocked clean out of his lungs. He’d groaned as he rolled onto his side but when he’d opened his eyes, he’d found salvation staring him right back in the face. 

His satchel!

It must have been hidden in the barrels. He hadn’t even noticed Baron storing it there earlier and immediately began scrabbling across the stone towards it. He just needed to quickly grab something, literally anything, from inside there and throw it at Baron to help both him and Eugene to escape… heck, even a bath bomb would suffice to cause a momentary distraction for him to search for a pink goo bomb. He’d just managed to grab it when he realized that The Baron was coming up fast on him from behind, voice exploding with fury. “Now look at what you’ve done boy!” Varian’s eyes widened as he heard the man stomp over the splintered wood and immediately clambered over the satchel, hiding it from view with his body and then scrambling to stuff it under his vest as he got onto his knees and hugging his arms around his stomach to prevent it from falling. And gooooodbye plan… bloody blazes! He couldn’t grab anything from inside it now but he also couldn’t let Baron see that he had his bag back!

“As a punishment for your insubordination and ruining my revenge, we’ll both be paying your dear old father a visit sooner rather than later!”  The back of his collar and one his shoulders were roughly seized but he fought all instinct to scream again or to even try and pull himself out The Baron’s grip. His teeth ground together as he curled his upper body protectively over his concealed satchel. Don’t let him see it or he’ll hurt dad! Don’t let him see it or he’ll hurt Eugene more!

He heard Eugene yelling frantically and water still crashing into the cavern but he kept his eyes squeezed shut. Don’t let him find out! Keep it together, for dad! You can still save him! He was yanked off of the ground and forced to stand but he stumbled, struggling to steady himself in the position he forced his body to rigidly remain in. Something sharp suddenly pricked his back and his eyes opened again, another wave of terror rushing through him. “Move!” The Baron ordered and Varian had no choice but to follow his orders immediately, despite hearing Eugene’s protests. Varian couldn’t try anything right now, the man had too much control over the situation and was far too close to not notice if he did try to grab something from his satchel or make any suspicious movements. Suns, he hated this. He hated having to wait… But it was impossible for Eugene to not have been super injured after the beating he had been forced to watch and hear him endure. Varian had to tread very carefully now, he had to ensure that Baron’s guard was let down before he made a move or things could end up getting even worse for Eugene. Just then the sword tip jabbed him in the back again, harder, urging him to hurry up and move towards the tunnel entrance but he suddenly heard a splash from behind them as Eugene continued to shout. Varian didn’t dare try to look back but guilt continued to dig deeper as his friend continued to yell frantically, desperately trying to make Baron stop moving but sounding like he was in excruciating pain. “We’re not finished yet! Get back here!”

I’m so, so sorry Eugene. Varian thought miserably as he couldn’t even try to reassure him. But I’ll be back as soon as I can. I hope. Eugene must at least have been freed from the beam now but the cavern was beginning to flood now as he kept his eyes downcast and saw that the water was lapping over the shafts of his boots. He prayed that Eugene would be able to get out here before it completely flooded… hopefully that other guy, the fake Flynn, would help him. And at the very least, if Baron was now occupied with getting him out of Corona, Eugene would be out of further harm's way… for now.

The sword was at the nape of his neck causing him to suck in a breath and to stop walking immediately. He wasn’t prodded to move forward this time. “You’re right. We aren't finished yet. Unfortunately for you, you’ll simply have to wait till me and my new apprentice take back Vardaros and return to burn both you and your beloved princess right to the ground. Then perhaps, I’ll even consider expanding my empire, right into the heart of your precious Coronan soil. It’s no wonder why Corona seemed so adamant on keeping this weapon stashed away.” 

A weapon stashed away by Corona itself? Yet he was still often looked at as a bomb that was about to explode by the kingdom's own citizens. Ha!

He had no time to further dwell on the irony as he was suddenly grabbed by the scruff of his shirt and shoved forwards, knees splashing into the water for a moment before they were scraped by rocks as The Baron began dragging him up the ascending tunnel. “Stop…” He couldn’t help but hiss but was ignored, typical . His legs flailed for quite a while beneath him as he struggled to regain his footing and keep up with man’s intense pace at the same time. He gritted his teeth, flinching badly throughout the cruel endeavor, certain that his knee caps were now bloody and scraped raw. But perhaps this would help make his upcoming charade all the more believable, especially if they were heading back to the prison cart.

 Another plan was already putting itself together in his head. 

Of course, he could barely even walk by the time they exited the tunnels without feeling the agonizing pain in his legs which stung even more bitterly when the nighttime wind struck him but still he kept his arms wrapped tightly around his stomach as Baron shoved him forwards yet again, just as water began to pool around their feet. Even out here? Seriously? The flooding wouldn’t have been so severe if Corona had just gotten its damn dam fixed properly!

“Get in the cart, rat!” The Baron barked hurriedly after having flung open the doors as the water continued to rise rapidly around and causing Baron’s horse to whine in dismay. Using Baron’s order as his cue, Varian let out a whimper of pain - which wasn’t entirely feigned at this point - and promptly collapsed into the murky water with his eyes closed and breath held as the water rushed over his head. 

”I don’t have time for this, you wimp! To think that you took over Corona!” He heard as he felt himself get lifted off the ground before being roughly flung into the cart. He just barely managed to suppress his groan by biting his tongue after being manhandled and slamming into a hard surface again but he didn’t dare open his eyes until he heard the doors get pulled shut and barred. The first stage of his plan, despite being simple and highly irritating in nature considering that he was now filthy with dirt and mud - alongside the blood he was working very hard to ignore - that stung him badly , had been successful. The Baron hadn’t even attempted to restrain him in any way perhaps due to the rush but also perhaps because he’d finally caught himself a lucky break. Varian lay still until the cart started moving before pushing himself into a sitting position and spitting out the blood from the cut that had formed in his mouth, the taste of which had been threatening to make him vomit. “That’s really how you transport people, Baron?” He muttered nauseously, recalling how he’d just dropped Eugene and that other guy on the floor of the cavern when they’d been unconscious.

Eugene.  

Varian had to initiate stage two immediately and pulled the satchel out of his vest, smirking to himself when he realized that a third option to saving his father from The Baron’s wrath had also opened up. Escape and foil The Baron’s plans. He should have considered it sooner instead of letting The Baron’s words cut into him so deeply. Perhaps, he wasn’t so unlucky after all considering that he’d built a satchel-sized prototype of The Rooster , which he’d taken apart for safe transportation and kept in his bag. The miniature version of the device itself was single use as it only had one chemical-holding chamber that would get slightly distorted due to the small size and excess heat after a charge was fired which wouldn’t be a problem once the larger version was appropriately calibrated with more support and insulating material but nonetheless, it would serve a different purpose extremely well now. Apparently, his presentation getting interrupted by the new Captain of the Royal Guard, during which he would have fired it in the air a safe distance away from the others, may have actually been the greatest thing that had happened to him all day! Well… alright, that bar was already set pretty low but he supposed befriending Rapunzel again had the effect of her sometimes slightly overwhelming positivity rubbing off on him.

He refused to let The Baron hurt her either.

She’s saved his life multiple times already and had given him a chance when no one else would have. She treated him as a family member just as much as Eugene did.

His father. Eugene. Rapunzel. Even Corona!

Maybe he could still help them all! Maybe he didn’t have to choose after all!

It was rather dark so he first felt for one of his glow tubes which he’d recently modified into a thin, flexible plant-based container which he snapped to activate and then tucked it behind his ear. He then began taking the device's components out of his satchel, carefully and one by one due to the fragility of the halves of the cylindrical metal device as well as the fact that he was currently in a moving horse cart that was bouncing along whatever road it was on just as badly as before. He shoved himself into the back corner of the cart to keep himself steady as he placed the halves in his lap, wrapping the longer end of the sliced satchel strap around one of his aching arms to prevent it from flying across the cart in case of a sudden swerve or large bump in the road. He grabbed a gear and pulled a wrench out of the satchel, beginning the reassembly process.

No. He realized as he began piecing together the prototype. Neither his father nor his friends and his father thought he was a weapon for the kingdom or a ticking disaster waiting to happen. He held the small wrench in his teeth to free his hands and connected the wires between the two halves of the hand held cylindrical device before bringing those together using a few more bolts and gears. 

Because if destruction and causing others pain had been all he was destined for, then he wouldn’t have been able to find all the good in his life worth protecting even after having screwed up so badly in the past. He wouldn’t let Baron turn him into someone he wasn’t anymore. In fact, he wouldn’t even give him the chance.

The device was finally completed, all that was left was to add the Flynnoleum. He unstopped the vial, holding it as steady as he could in the moving cart with his thankfully still gloved hand and then uncapped the chamber on the device. He hesitated for a second before pouring upon realizing he didn’t have goggles protection. He sighed and somehow managed to pour it into the chamber without spilling it, accepting that desperate times require desperate measures and hoping that nothing splattered or shot into his eyes when the device fired. He only had one shot at this.

He somehow managed to clamber up the now slanted floor towards the center of the cart as they seemed to be descending while balancing his fragile device. He saw that they were now surrounded by walls of trees that were swallowing the moonlight through the barred windows. This thicket which would be the perfect cover if he timed this next bit just right .

He held up the completed cylindrical device that was now about the length of his forearm and began to rapidly crank the lever to charge it up, feeling the vibrations as the device gained energy and became activated. He could see a few wisps of smoke and winced when he realized he may have added a little too much Flynnoleum given that he hadn’t used a dropper in his rush to complete it. Despite the alarming sizzling sound and the fact that he was now beginning to see the green liquid dripping between the two halves, he quickly aimed it upwards and directly between the two doors. He braced himself for the inevitable knockback.

  It’s now or never.

He pulled back on the triggering cord hard just as the cart came to a sudden halt, throwing him backwards onto the floor and sweeping the prototype clean out of his hands. He was left in a daze for a moment, not even hearing the snap of the cords recoil. That was weird… Why had the cart already -

BOOM!

—

Given that there had been no word received from the new captain and princess in hours, all Nigel knew for certain was that he would not be getting to sleep anytime soon. Suns, what was wrong with this kingdom? Yes, a simple check-in wasn’t exactly protocol from the captain when on a time-sensitive mission, especially given what had been stolen, but it certainly would be nice at this time of night, especially given that the sole heiress to the throne had unorthodoxly gone with him! But frankly, Nigel didn’t know what qualified as unorthodox in this kingdom anymore and thus, he finally realized he was probably just expected to roll with it as the princess would say.

Nigel had halted the planning of the former Captain of the Royal Guard’s commemoration ceremony to delegate the king’s orders amongst the rest of the guard until Captain Fitzherbert returned to deal with the current crisis and yet another potential imminent threat to the kingdom… almost as if Corona hadn’t had enough to deal these past few years to begin with.

The resignation of Corona’s Captain of the Guards of the past twenty years had come to no one's surprise after the princess had stumbled back to the castle coughing and wheezing with her dress torn and covered in dirt just a few weeks prior after yet another run-in with his rogue daughter. The king had never blamed the captain for the actions of his daughter but it was clear that he’d been absolutely furious despite the princess’ reassurances that no serious harm had been done after escaping Gothel’s cottage. In fact, the king had been so outraged that he had actually willingly sought out The Alchemist, of all people, himself with the request that the boy build a kingdom warning system and Captain Regen had been begrudgingly forced to oversee its planning and installation.

Though Nigel certainly did not full-heartedly trust Varian as much as the princess did, what he could tell was that Varian, having been ever so willing… almost dangerously willing , to prove himself to the throne after all his wrongdoings accepted the job without so much as a second thought. Of course, the Royal Advisor also knew that it would have been unwise for him to have rejected the king’s direct request anyhow and the matter had already been out of his hands since the king had made this request without anyone else’s consultation.

He would never admit that the alchemist had slowly grown on him after he confronted Varian with the forged order documentation a few months ago but in truth, after the princess’ chameleon befriended a dragon, he supposed learning to open his mind also meant accepting the harsher truths such as the fact that he had more in common with the boy than he would've liked to admit. After all, the throne had given him a second chance after his misadventure with dragons when he was younger that left him ostracized from his childhood village which was perhaps why he had acted so brazenly in the throne room earlier after receiving a tip from Pete and Stan about a trio of oddly behaving guards , leading him to overhear a rather insightful conversation.

By god, it had been absolutely sickening to have learnt that Arthur had actually been proud of being the reason why several good and loyal men to the throne were now injured.  When Arthur had revealed this information to Macmillan and Charles who’d at least had the humanity to have been mortified to have heard about the guards who had been injured in the West Hall after they had forsaken their duties for extra gold, Arthur had gloated about the fact that he’d “rightfully” sentenced The Alchemist to “a fate worse than death,” and the injuries his comrades had been subjected to were apparently just a “price to be paid.”

Arthur’s words in the hallway had still left him perturbed. He paced quietly in the library with his quill and scroll, trying to figure out how he would break the news to Lord Quirin that his son had been kidnapped again… unless they could get the boy back before Lord Quirin’s travelling party returned from their trading expedition in Vardaros. The longer information about the boy’s kidnapping was kept hidden from his village, the worse the fallout would be and since they had already sent inquiry about the Varian’s whereabouts to his neighbours at least once, it must have aroused suspicion. Simply bringing him back would not be enough this time after word got out, as rumour and speculation spread like wildfire in Corona. An arrest and actual progress would be needed to keep the peace, avoid even more fear-mongering and restore trust in the throne’s ability to protect their kingdom after the black rocks incident, the Varian-deciding-to-lay-siege-on-their-kingdom and kidnapping-the-queen incident , the most recent coup staged by the Saporian’s and Varian , the red rocks incident and the looming Cassandra threat who had not only attacked the princess thrice but also apparently abandoned her in a caved in tunnel filling with poisonous gas. People had already been demanding action after the red rocks incident and the princess’ last encounter with Cassandra had finally gotten her to agree to the drawing up of wanted posters, not out of concern for her own safety though but for that of the kingdom.

“At least it isn’t dragons.” He muttered illogically before sighing and pinching his forehead. It was two hours past midnight now and his tired eyes began lingering towards where the orphan pair formerly known as the Silent Strikers were fast asleep on the chaise sofa near the fireplace. Upon the queen’s request, Nigel had come to the library to get Mr. Strongbow up to speed on the Varian situation. The man had then proceeded to beg him to watch over the youngsters as he went to consult with their majesties and the guards and so Nigel had reluctantly agreed. 

The library ambience was calm and cozy, with the crackling of the fireplace being the only sound that radiated around the room. If he weren’t so concerned at the moment, he definitely would have taken advantage of the fact that the peaceful sanctuary was practically empty and would have found a place to read by firelight instead. He decided to step towards the window to take in some of the refreshing night air when he suddenly noticed something incredibly odd in the horizon. His eyes widened as he leant out of the window to get a closer look. Something large, green, and glowing was rapidly streaking across the sky in the distance but it couldn’t have been a shooting star… its sky trail had begun from the ground. The quarries were in that direction and a hunch weaved its way into his mind. He quickly left the library, signaling down a guard at once to continue watching the two children, before walking towards the throne room at full speed. Somehow he just knew that the origin of the green streak of light in the sky had The Alchemist written all over it.

Chapter Text

Varian must have blacked out because the next thing he knew he was lying flat on the forest floor and the night sky was green. Half the roof of the cart had been blown off, the cart floor was slanted beside him, the back wheels were now nonexistent and what little remained of the cart was expelling smoke and blocking his view of the driver's seat.

It never had to be just the doors.

A skull-splitting, Earth-parting roar suddenly cut through the ringing in his ears. “ALCHEMIST!!!!” 

He bolted upright, What the blazes was he still lying around for?! It was time to go! Go! Go! G- “AGH-”

He bit back his scream as he rolled out from the wreckage and swayed violently as he got back to his feet, his head felt like it had been bludgeoned with a spear and something sharp was piercing into the back of one of his arms, causing him to grimace. Flipping blazes… he could barely think with the pain exploding in the back of his head as he began to hurriedly stagger off the path and away into the forest.

  Wait… which direction did he need to be going again? The quarry, which way was it from here? He couldn’t remember! There were too many trees… he lost the path… It was dark…  but activating another glow stick would scream I’M RIGHT OVER HERE BARON! PERFECTLY AVAILABLE FOR KIDNAPPING AGAIN! Yet he also needed to make his way back to the quarry! He still needed to get back to Eugene! 

“ You can’t run from me, boy!” The Baron bellowed from behind and Varian suddenly broke into a run despite the pain in both legs as he continued his descent, further and further off the path. Deeper and deeper into the woods with its tree branches so thick, hardly any moonlight was getting through. 

“I will find you, Alchemist!” 

His eyes widened. The horses were coming so he had better run.

He couldn’t feel the pain anymore and his strides grew wider as he practically flew through the black rocks , allowing the momentum and force of gravity to propel him as he sprinted down the hill with the shadows as his cover. 

“ We will find you, Alchemist! ”

He could hear the horses. Yes, he could hear the horses of the masked men pounding in his ears, drumming into his pummeled head as desperation fueled him. His eyes began to grab at the meager starlight and his footfalls became like air. He dodged most tree branches and ignored the ones that whipped across his face as he ran fast for his father’s sake, for his father’s life. All of Varian’s longing for a place in Corona had long since been left behind. After all, he couldn’t carry it with him if he wanted to survive. 

–

Rapunzel stood atop a stone ledge overhanging the moonlit quarry below. She squinted as she gazed towards where one of the main entrances to the abandoned mining section lay below, noticing something quite out of place. There was a light-coated horse attached to a cart. The cart wasn’t a carriage nor was it a merchant’s cart. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, it looked like the windows were barred with metal even from how far she was from it right now.

“Max, is that a prison cart?” 

The horse's ears flicked up as he joined her in surveying the quarry below. After a moment, he flicked his head towards where the rocks seemed worn with travel, a pathway. As they made their way down towards the carriage, more and more worrying questions continued to flit around her mind. Why had Baron brought Eugene and possibly Flynn here of all places? Baron clearly wanted the crown that he had once hired Eugene to steal all that time ago and he wanted revenge on Eugene— her pulse quickened and heart rang with ache— but neither of those reasons answered the question as to why Max’s nose had led them here, right into the still draining quarry from the dam incident from nearly over two years ago. An excellent hiding spot, but was it really just that? Why hadn’t Baron kept moving? And if he wanted to destroy Eugene… why hadn’t he done so where he must have stood back in the tunnels? She shivered at the morbid question her own mind had conjured and shook her head. No, all that mattered, was rescuing Eugene and she would rescue him.

She approached the cart and sure enough, confirmed that the opened wooden doors were barred with metal in their windows. Oddly enough, she found Corona’s crest imprinted on the side of the cart, indicating that it belonged to the palace. The wheels in her mind spun even faster as she hurried over to the horse's reins and sure enough she found her kingdom’s insignia imprinted on them as well. Rapunzel looked back towards the pathway they had just descended and frowned. The Baron had clearly brought Eugene down that very path according to Maximus, but it was far too steep and narrow for an entire prison cart to travel down so it must have travelled the long way down or an alternative path that circled into the quarry from one of the nearby forests. Beyond that, it certainly wouldn’t have been able to fit through the Snuggy Duckling’s tunnels either, so why was it here? Had it something to do with the morning’s break-in? Yet, Flynn’s escape from the castle had been entirely on foot. He hadn’t even a horse with him. 

The mare let out a distressed whine so Rapunzel moved to stroke her muzzle for a moment. Maximus approached the mare with a curious tilt of his head as well, seeming to communicate with her before hurrying towards the mining tunnel entrance with widened eyes. A foreboding feeling filled her chest as she too rushed towards him but hadn’t the time to think on this further, not when the quarry’s silence was broken by what sounded to be a very violent crash that echoed out of the tunnels, causing her to jump and Pascal to let out a surprised squeak. “What was -?!“

Max whinnied loudly, rearing back on his hind legs and came galloping back towards her. He urged her to get on, eyeing their surroundings in a panic. Trusting in the guard horses’ instinct immediately, she jumped on and understood the reason for Max’ panic soon enough. The sound of rushing water suddenly became apparent. She could now see water beginning to fall over the edge of one of the surrounding rocky overhangs and into the quarry behind them as Max bound back up the pass they came from but given that the abandoned mining tunnels were bound to be Baron’s hiding spot, if that water were to wash over the quarry they had just left…

“Max! If Eugene’s trail led you here, the water is going to wipe out their scents!” She shouted in alarm. “Find a way to circle back!” He snorted affirmatively as he made a sharp turn back where the Snuggly Duckling’s underground had let out, causing her to grab onto Pascal before he could go flying off her shoulder. Max backed up to give himself more space before taking off at full gallop once more, this time taking the path that led upwards and onto the higher ridge surrounding the quarry instead. She looked over the edge and back into the quarry as Max ran through the torrent of water beginning to fill the rocky terrain. She could see that it was rapidly flooding and that the back of the prison cart had just disappeared beyond her line of sight behind the rocks, likely speeding away down some alternative route that was large enough for it. The horse must have gotten spooked and ran off with the cart while they had been backtracking. She couldn’t focus on that though, not when Eugene’s trail had led them to a tunnel entrance that was now entirely spewing out water, blocking their entry point now. She gritted her teeth but it was just then that Pascal squeaked on her shoulder to get her attention, pointing in the opposite direction, somewhere on the same level. The moon light illuminated a figure dressed in blue who was running in the distance. 

”That’s Flynn!” She exclaimed and Max leapt atop a rock to get out of the rushing water for a moment. “But where’s Eugene?” If Eugene had gone after Flynn and Flynn was right there, he had to be nearby. She looked back to the water-filled quarry and the tunnel, trepidation and a new rush of fear beating at her chest. Suns! What if he was trapped below?! 

“Eugene has to be around here… Max, please tell me you still have his scent? We have to get back down there!” She tried to pull his reins to help steer him back but Max pulled them forwards and out of her hands, turning his head away from the tunnels and in the direction that the water was still coming rushing towards the edge of the ridge they were on. Maximus whinnied, immediately beginning to charge in the direction they had seen Flynn running away from and she came to a realization. “The water is coming from this side and out of the cave, there must be a connection from here!” Max jumped into the water again, fighting against the current as they got closer to what appeared to be a heavy river flowing over the unsteady terrain and ruins that must have gotten disturbed. There had also been several thunderstorms in the past few weeks and the Corona dam which had still been under repair had suffered even more damages. Rapunzel leapt off of Max to help him keep going, running by his side as a path lit up in front of her.

The moment she caught sight of a white gloved hand disappearing within a rocky gap full of water in the ground, she dove straight in without hesitation, her golden hair billowing around her and Pascal– who clung to her shoulder– in the water as she was surrounded by darkness. The verses of the Hope incantation immediately wove themselves around her just as they had back in the tunnels.

Power of the Sun

Gift me with your light.

Shine into the dark

Restore our fading sight

The darkness was expelled by her hair's golden glow and her eyes locked with Eugene’s immediately but then his eyes closed right in front of her. His arms were spread yet still reaching forwards as he slowly sank towards the floor of the cavern. One of his hands was still just barely clenching something that glimmered bronze in the light. She kicked towards him fast, strands of her hair wrapping around him on its own accord and radiating warmth within the water. She swam down behind him, wrapping an arm around his chest and tugging under his shoulders as she lifted him and used the floor of the cavern to launch them upwards as she reached for the light.

Rise into the dawn

Blazing star so bright

She propelled herself upwards with him in her arms, the weight of her hair miraculously being lightened, somehow pulling her up towards the surface, towards the moonlight, instead of dragging her back down. She gasped as she broke through the surface, straining a bit as she lifted Eugene up higher so that he could breathe, Maximus immediately seized the back of Eugene’s tattered collar and dragged him the rest of the way onto the wet rocky soil. She clambered out of the gap that was now overflowing with water but didn’t even bother to drag the rest of her hair out of it. She stumbled over to Eugene, tripping over her soaked dress but landing on her knees beside him, urgently patting the side of his cold face and moving the wet hair away from his still closed eyes. ”Eugene, come on! You have to wake up!” She urged, panic beginning to rise when he didn’t even so much as move. That’s when she began to take in the bruises and redness all over his face that climbed up from around his neck and under his jacket, his bluish bloody lips, and she gasped when she realized that his shoulder seemed rather deformed under the golden shoulder pad and badly damaged red sleeve. “Oh no no no … Eugene ! Wake up! Please! Please, Eugene!”

She grabbed his wrist and then the other, struggling to find his pulse. She immediately laid her head on his chest but still felt nothing, emptiness, darkness . “He’s not breathing! He’s not breathing!” She screamed, tears erupting from her eyes as her mind clouded with panic.

Oh suns no… please, please no…  She couldn’t think… she couldn’t breathe… He couldn’t breathe… He wasn’t breathing… What if he was…

Burn away the strife

Maximus roughly shoved her with his head, snorting sternly. Move! His eyes commanded and she quickly got out of his way as the horse raised his front hooves and suddenly plunged them into Eugene’s chest. 

Let my hope ignite

She let out a shocked guttural cry when Maximus proceeded to do so twice more before realizing what he was actually doing and scrambling to Eugene’s other side just in time to see his eyes fly open as he gasped and began to cough.

“Let hope ignite.” She whispered, sobbing with relief as she grabbed his arms and remembered what else needed to be done to help him, to save him. “Let hope ignite.”

—

“Thank you, thank you, thank you Maximus! You saved him! Eugene!” 

Eugene was gasping, sputtering, and coughing as his senses immediately became overwhelmed with the pain flaring through his body, especially his chest, his ribs… it just felt so tight. Blazes! He wanted to scream. He wanted to choke down the air. He wanted to -

His stomach lurched and it was at that moment he was rolled on to his side where he began to heave and throw up even more of the water he had swallowed. And it still bloody burned! He was still gasping as he struggled to recover, to regain his sense of reality and direction, when he felt something familiar and soothingly warm being wrapped around his body. The golden locks that were as soft as a blanket. He tried to look up but even the muscles in his neck were sore, in an instant though, a soft hand was placed on the side of his face and he looked into her terribly tearful green eyes. He didn’t want her to cry. ”You’re gonna be okay… you’re alive, Eugene! Alive! My love… my Eugene…” 

She trailed off, pressing her forehead to his and he instantly melted into her, his face falling into her shoulder as she gently wrapped her arms around him and lifted him up, so gently that he could hardly even feel them around him but still she gave the side of his head a kiss as he felt her fingers lightly comb through his wet hair. “Punzel...” He rasped, tears blurring in his eyes and falling onto her purple dress as he carefully maneuvered the only arm he could move to be around her, gingerly gripping the back of her dress. He winced as he tried to lift his head again but felt Rapunzel lean forward with him still held in her arms. She lowered him, a movement that forced him to let go of her dress, so that he was lying on his back again with his head in her lap, still leaning towards her. He let out a pained groan from even that small exertion but it seemed that the ground wasn’t that hard… no it wasn’t the ground he was laying on. Her golden hair was cocooning him and acting as a cushion. His mind was cloudy and he stared up at the moon in the dark sky for a moment, blinking as he lethargically tried to recall why there was something, a sense of urgency beginning to stab into his being. His vision faltered for a moment, threatening to go dark but something made him resist the intensive urge of falling into a deep slumber. What was he doing? He didn’t have time to rest. He had to go… He had to do something… He wasn’t finished yet…

“I failed…” He suddenly choked out. “I- I couldn’t-” What had he failed? What was it? He needed to know. It was too important. “I failed you.” He whispered, looking straight into her eyes. But he had failed at a lot of things. 

“No, no you didn’t. You didn’t fail at anything, Eugene. You could never, ever fail me.” Rapunzel said soothingly as her soaking wet face came into vision again, blocking the moon. Her words were soft and comforting but she didn’t feel what he did. Something… something… he had failed at something else as well. No… he had failed someone else. He had failed them badly… again! He tried to speak but his throat burned and he coughed instead. His throat just felt so scratched up, as though he had been screaming for hours.

“I’m so sorry, Eugene. You must be in a lot of pain.” Rapunzel suddenly whispered sorrowfully and he leant into her warm touch as he felt her thumb rub under one of his eyes, over a part that was rather sore but her warmth yet again made him feel better. He became aware that there was a golden glowing halo cast around his vision yet it also made sense that everything was aglow . The sun was wrapped around him, warming him and helping him through the pain it was to breathe. There was something crackling, something burning in his chest… something he didn’t have time for…

“I couldn’t hear your heart,” Rapunzel said softly, eyes gleaming as she looked at him with such warmth and affection that he just wanted to stay in her arms forever as she continued to stroke his hair. “For a moment there I thought…” 

“Sunshine, m’right here.” He managed to mumble despite the ache and attempted to reach for her in a daze but could barely lift his good arm. “S’okay now. M’not going nowhere.”

He felt her hands gingerly begin to turn his head, and she appeared to be inspecting his injuries. Her hand moved to his injured shoulder and saw her suck in a breath when he flinched and gritted his teeth. 

“I’m so, so sorry Eugene.” She murmured again, there was obvious pain in her expression as she frantically shook her head. “You’re really hurt. I shouldn’t have pushed you to do this… we could have brought others or sent a troop of guards after the thief instead… This wouldn't have happened if I realized that The Weasel was trying to split us sooner…he was a distraction. Oh suns, this - this is all my fault…” 

“Like… blazes itsnot!” He blurted out immediately, causing her eyes to widen. He bit his tongue to prevent from crying out and forced himself back into a sitting position with his good arm, allowing the warm golden strands to fall away from around him as he leant against her shoulder. 

“Eugene, what are you doing?! You need to rest, you need to -”

”This isn’t your fault.” He croaked more loudly, voice regaining strength as he let out another slow, pained breath and forced his good hand to shakily reach towards hers which were beginning to hover over his presumably dislocated shoulder based on the white hot pain and continued immobility. His awareness was growing stronger again. He grabbed one of her hands and squeezed, albeit weakly. “This isn’t your fault… me getting hurt… it's just one of the hazards of the job. I’m kinda your Captain of the Royal Guard, remember?” He managed to smile at her, though it felt a lot more like a grimace as he still felt like there was something, someone screaming… someone else who needed him. “But you just saved my life again, didn’t you princess? My knight in golden armour is who you are... even if I'm the one in the golden uniform.”

  She let out a watery laughter and wiped at her eyes, shaking her head again. “Eugene… your - your uniform is red and Max is the one who saved you! He got the water out of you with his hooves!” He blinked at the horse as Max gently bent down and began to nuzzle the side of his face. “You - you saved me, Max? Wow, guess I owe you my life… again but, ah… suppose we should start calling you Doctor Hooves from now on.” He snickered despite himself. “And we can’t give you anymore apples, doctors are allergic to them so I’ve heard.” Maximus shook his mane disbelievingly, snorting at him in offense. 

“Max!” Rapunzel giggled, reaching up to stroke the horse's muzzle. “You should know by now that he just means thank you in Eugene.”

Eugene really was grateful –albeit a tiny bit confused about the mechanics of a horse’s application of CPR -- but also did not want to think about the fact that he now also likely had hoof-shaped bruises on his already burning chest which pained him with every breath… accompanying the fist and boot-shaped ones he likely gained from The Baron. Not that they’d probably be the brunt of his worries judging by how much dizzying pain was still coursing through his entire body.

Wait… The Baron… the continuous onslaught of pain… the pleading on behalf of his life. He sure as blazes hadn’t been the one pleading, but if he hadn’t been the one pleading... His head felt like shattered glass but his memories of the day were now completely being restored. Becoming captain, stolen crown, catching fake Flynn… His body began to shake as he recalled what Rapunzel had just said about The Weasel… they had seen him in the pub. Then he ran after Flynn or… Brock? Where did that name come from?   They had been captured by Baron and the first thing he remembered upon awakening in the cavern was hearing voices, Baron’s and…  

He gasped painfully, his heart threatening to pound its way out of his chest as his blood went ice cold at the sudden and sharp impact of his memories’ restoration.

Varian.

“What’s wrong?” Rapunzel asked urgently, still practically cradling him in her arms but he broke out of her embrace and a violent tremor drove through his entire body, as he left the haven of warmth and security. But at the moment, he couldn’t care less about his safety even as he struggled to explain the suddenly increased direness of the current ordeal that certain wasn’t over yet.

“Rapunzel, Baron captured me and Flynn! Flynn escaped and left me behind, but Baron…” Eugene yelped, head thundering badly as something snapped inside him. “ Baron , I can’t just let him get away! We have to find him, now!” What the blazes was he lying around for?! He couldn’t afford to fail anyone! Especially not that kid! His friend! His honorary little brother!

“Eugene… your injuries… you can’t -“ Rapunzel protested but he could barely focus on her words as he fought to get himself onto his knees even as pain surged through one of his legs. He cursed badly as he then grabbed his injured shoulder and immediately began to stumble by the time he got onto his own two feet, swaying badly. Pascal squeaked in dismay and Maximus was already right behind him, whinnying his obvious disapproval, but Eugene simply thanked him for catching him. Scanning the rocky ground around them, it appeared that they were in the quarries and behind him he saw a flooded gap in the ground, that was causing water to pool on the surface where they stood. There were wet bare footprints in the dirt that went to where Rapunzel stood, where he realized her dress was also entirely soaked and caked with mud. Rapunzel had jumped straight in after him. He realized. And then, a glint of light caught the corner of his eyes right beneath Max’s hooves from a familiarly-shaped object buried in the wet clay-like soil.

“Blondie, we have to go after him, right now.” He repeated firmly but still struggling to get the words out, to get his friend’s name out without physically recoiling or risk throwing up due to the extremely sickening fact that a sadistic megalomaniac with an incredibly violent history had somehow stolen Varian from the castle and then dragged him away right before Eugene’s very eyes when he had been absolutely powerless to do anything. In fact, he had practically just let the man get away with the kid by being too weak, too trusting! He wanted to kneel and grab the object out of the mud but felt even more pain flare through his body as he tried to bend down. If he fell to the ground, he highly doubted he would be able to get himself back up again. He was also pretty sure that there was something horribly wrong with his right leg. He could still barely move and his damn shoulder. That probably needed to go back into the socket. He’d done it for Lance once… how hard could it be to do it on himself? The thought of Varian caused energy to surge through him. His bloodshot eyes and blood covered, bruised up face. His terrifying bravery as he spoke to The Baron, looking him directly in the eye. The Baron would destroy him for that. The Baron was already blackmailing him through threatening his father and bloody blazes, he must have known that had already created a crack. The Baron would break his friend into a thousand pieces if Eugene didn’t do this and go after him right now!

“But…” Rapunzel began again but without warning any of the others, he got his arms into the correct positions and screamed wildly as he shoved it back in, feeling a wave of nausea after hearing the pop.

“Eugene!” Rapunzel cried as he collapsed to the ground on his hands and knees, wheezing. Bloody blazes. The sharp pain in his shoulder had slowly dissipated into an intense throbbing but everything else still hurt just as bad! Apparently Baron had been very thorough during his beat-down.

  Rapunzel was instantly kneeling in front of him again and he desperately grasped her shoulders weakly, looking her directly in the eye as he struggled to convey his message with words, barely able to breath or even think through the pain. 

” Help… help me get onto Max! We need to go after them… now!”

”But why?” She asked Eugene, just as desperately trying to understand what he was saying. “Eugene, you just nearly drowned! You nearly died! Your heart stopped for a moment and it’s clear you’re badly hurt! You can’t face him again in this condition, much less fight him. Catching The Baron is a mission for another day, we need to get you to Doctor Albrecht, now !” 

“But there’s no time!” Eugene cried, panting because of the overexertion and searing pain that still remained as he hugged an arm around himself. “Rapunzel… he’s - he’s got Varian.” He finally coughed out, feeling a horribly metallic taste on his tongue.

”What?” She gasped, eyebrows shooting up in alarm. “But how? What about his safety protocols?”

”I don’t know. I don’t know. But Baron’s got a plan to burn down the kingdom… to kill you. ” Eugene seethed as something hot and raw bubbled inside him. “And he’s kidnapped Varian and is planning to go after Quirin next!” Eugene snapped as he searched through the mud with his hands, causing Pascal to come darting towards him, seeming to recall something. He was furious at Baron for being the manipulative scoundrel he was and at his body for trying its very best to give up on him. He needed to keep fighting, he needed to stand. He didn’t care how many broken bones, cuts, or bruises his body obtained, he just needed to save Varian. It was Pascal who found Varian’s now cracked and mud-covered goggles, helpfully dragging them towards Eugene’s hands. Eugene lifted them in the air which caused Rapunzel to quickly grab them from him with a dismayed shake of her head. He knew what she was thinking. They had taken almost every possible precaution to keep him safe but something must have still gone terribly wrong. “I don’t know how he got to him but what I do know is that I promised Varian that I’d have his back!”

He would never abandon that boy and though he may not have promised it aloud to the kid, he had promised nonetheless. 

”So did I.” Rapunzel agreed, her eyes burning with a similar rage-filled determination as she held the goggles up to Max. “Can you get either Varian or Baron’s scent?”

Maximus obliged by sniffing them and then walking around with his muzzle in the air. As he worked, Rapunzel carefully helped Eugene back to his feet and though he could tell that she was trying her absolute best not to hurt him, it was still a torment with the constant stabbing sensation rebounding in his chest. He was also still very unstable and leaned heavily on Rapunzel who had hooked an arm around him to keep him upright, worry brimming her eyes when he grimaced and flinched at her touch. Eugene regretted not requesting back-up, now realizing that as Captain of the Royal Guard he really could have ordered a troop to accompany them. In all honesty, he hadn’t even thought about that before leaving. He had just grown so used to heading on missions with Rapunzel alone but now that they really were both stepping into yet another new chapter of their lives, finally embracing their roles that perhaps had always been destined with open arms… taking on problems like this on their own wouldn’t really slide anymore.

Max marched in a circle before his eyes narrowed in disappointment. He shook his mane and Rapunzel’s eyes widened as she regarded the deepening pools of water around them again. “No…” She whispered dreadfully and he felt his own fears for the boy’s fate increased a thousandfold.  “The water’s washed away the trail.” She looked at him, expression severely painted with guilt and regret. “Eugene, I hate to even suggest this. I hate how it sounds like we’re just leaving him behind… but I think we need to go back to the castle, send out guards to warning Quirin and your father, and strategize how to get him back. I’ll lead the search myself but I seriously don’t think your body can handle much more without time to recover.”

”But what about the kid?! What about how much more he can handle, Rapunzel?” Eugene argued immediately, still leaning on her for support and recalling that Varian hadn’t seemed able to lift his head, that he’d been hunched over when Baron had walked him out of the cavern at sword point. “You - you didn’t see how he looked.” He said looking into her eyes seriously as panic and guilt laced his tone. He couldn’t abandon him to suffer for even longer just because he, himself was injured. “He looked hurt, maybe badly … but even though Baron threatened his father, he argued on my behalf. Then he insulted the man to his face…” He let out an almost hysterical laugh as his vision blurred for a moment before he shook his head. “And oh suns, Rapunzel… he kicked him. Varian kicked the Baron. You know what that man does to those who insult him… but what - what do you think he does to someone who fights back? What do you think he does to someone like Varian?!” 

Frustrated tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “I know! I know what Baron can do, Eugene!” She exclaimed frantically, eyes landing on his neck. “Do you think I want to leave Varian in the hands of someone like that for even a minute longer? I - I just don't know what else to do except return with reinforcements… we still have no idea which direction he went and -“

She was interrupted when a blast exploded to their right and sky above the nearby forest cast the land in bright green light. The sky was streaked as the almost ethereal-looking orb soared through the air, causing Eugene and Rapunzel to look one another, wide-eyed with understanding. 

“Varian.” They said simultaneously and a grim smile made its way onto Eugene’s face as Rapunzel swept into action. Varian was still fighting! Varian was fighting Baron! Of course he was! This was The Alchemist they were talking about!

But if Varian was still fighting, that meant he wasn’t out of the woods yet. It meant that he was likely in even more danger than before. Without time to braid her hair again, Rapunzel quickly wrapped it around her arms in a vest-like fashion so it wouldn’t slow her down and then handed him Varian’s goggles which he placed around his neck. One of her feet was already in the stirrups before she looked back at him, biting her lip as her eyes fell to the arm he still held around his torso. He quickly tried to put it down and straighten up somewhat but grunted and winced. “Eugene… I really don’t think you should be riding. Maybe you should stay here while we go after -“

He shook his head stubbornly, planning to stand his ground against her worries– which he knew were probably well-placed but he also honestly couldn’t care less about his own well-being at the moment. “Not a chance Blondie. Baron’s my mess. Plus, I bet you that Weasel separated us for good reason.” He smirked at her and did his very best to mask the pain, “Besides, you know me. I’ve been through worse.” She looked very upset for a moment but accepted without further argument given their lack of time.

“Doctor Albrecht is so not going to be pleased with me.” Rapunzel grumbled with a roll of her eyes as she stepped back down quickly helped him mount Maximus first— who crouched low to assist given Eugene’s rather fragile state— before taking on the reins with an unrelenting fire in her eyes. “Hang on, Varian!” She cried. Maximus reared before beginning to dash at full speed towards the forest and Eugene wrapped his arms around Rapunzel, gritting his teeth as intense pain and discomfort threatened to overtake him but he couldn’t let it, He wouldn’t let it, even as the Maximus’ gallop across the rocky terrain caused him to hiss and suck in gasps of pain. It would all be worth it once Varian was safe and sound. “We’re coming for you, kid.” Eugene said determinedly, praying that Varian, despite his lack of experience with typical weapons as well as the lack thereof— could somehow find a way to hold his own against Baron with what he did have for just a little longer. “We’re coming for you, I swear!”

But still, he could only hope that they would not arrive too late.

Chapter Text

All it had taken was a single misstep.

Varian’s arms had been seized from behind after an overturned root sent him spiraling into the ground. 

 “Don’t scream, we have to go.” A man’s voice whispered.

Varian opened his mouth to scream anyway but a hand was slapped over his mouth and before he knew it, he was being dragged away.

The guards who had struggled to suppress and silence him for months had finally caught him. They hadn’t even let him scream as they lifted him out his destroyed automaton and to the prison cart, all the while he had kicked and fought like they were dragging him all the way to the depths of the blazing pit.

Because they were…

They were taking him away from dad.

The one person in the world who meant anything to him.

The one person in the world who meant everything to him.

Varian’s mind resorted to screaming as he began to flail but continued to be dragged silently away, somewhere else into the woods, somewhere deeper and darker . He tried to twist and turn to at least catch a glimpse of the guard who captured him or to even reach for his satchel but his arms were now pinned against him as the man’s arms wound tightly around his chest and he was pulled backwards. Hopelessness tried to drown him as the pressure around his chest became constant and the stinging in his right arm only increased but then he heard that little nagging voice again… the one that had kept him going all these months, despite all the setbacks, the rage, and agonizing pain from the loss and loneliness he had been forced to endure.

No… He still has places to be! Dad still needs help! There were things that still needed to be done! He has to make them hear him! He has to make them pay! The guards have to let him go!

He tried digging his heels into the ground but to no avail as the hands that gripped his arm and covered his mouth pressed against him harder. They began moving even faster now.

“Stop that! I’m trying to help you!” The guard hissed.

Yeah, right! Varian thought venomously before quickly coming to a realization. He has to make them let him go! 

He bit down hard.

The guard yelped and his grip loosened just enough for Varian to pull away, falling to his hands and knees for a moment before pushing himself up as blood rushed past his ears. One of his elbows however, was caught before he could get further but his other hand had already been his satchel and he now had a vibrant purple globe caught right at the man’s side even after having been swung back around and pinned against what must have been a tree trunk. Realizing his arms were both caught yet again and that he had no space to throw the beaker nor could he unstopper it, he desperately tried to crack the glass globe with his own gloved hand but struggled immensely with his arm being as sore and stiff as it was now. Come on! Come on! Come on!  

“Get off-!” Varian gritted out but gasped for air painfully when the man smacked his arm and threw him to the ground. Then there was a knee on his back and the hand holding the globe was pinned behind him. No! Not again!

Despite the fact that his teeth were practically ground together as his jaw pressed into the dirt, he opened his mouth furiously, fully intending to cuss at his captor only to have his face pressed further into the ground as the man covered his mouth again and leaned over quite closely his ear. “Kid! Shut up!” He hissed irritably again. “I’m not trying to hurt you, I swear.”

Liar!  Varian tried to snap even though his entire body was quaking badly from the fear he fought badly to suppress and the over exertion but it simply came out as “Mrrr!” He glared at the figure in the dark but no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t get his attacker to budge and the hopelessness bubbled up inside him again despite his best efforts to keep it at bay. “Just stay down for one freaking second, twig. ” The man— whose face he couldn’t see between the darkness of the woods and the dirt that was getting into his eyes now— admonished, directly into his ungrounded ear even as he continued to try and summon the strength to twist around and toss the clearly much stronger man off him. “We just need him to get a little further past us and then you’re home free. Seriously, just listen to me Variatos .” 

Varian’s eyes widened and he ceased struggling immediately. Only one person had ever mispronounced or messed with his name so phenomenally before and it certainly had not been any one of the guards. Wait a minute… guards? There were no guards in the West Wing. They were gone. The queen was alone there. He had been alone there… He needed help… His father was still in trouble but not like before!

Reality sunk back in just as he heard Baron call out his name. He heard the man that was keeping him pinned to the ground suck in a breath as the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs on the forest floor got louder. Varian found himself holding his own breath too, squeezing his eyes shut for what seemed like forever until finally, finally the footsteps began to grow softer and softer. He slowly regained his senses by focusing solely on the force that kept him to the ground and then slowly evened out his breathing, the way Lance had taught him. Lance! He hadn’t known him before but now he began to remember. Flynn Rider had mispronounced his name like that but that was before he had learned that his real name wasn’t Flynn at all.

His confirmation that The Baron had missed them was the weight finally disappearing. The moment Varian was released, he practically sprang upright as he spun around and threw himself into the man’s arms.

”Eugene!” He quietly exclaimed, entire body wracking as he wrapped his arms around his brother, tightly gripping his back. He vowed that he was never, ever letting go… actually, scratch that. It was a highly unrealistic promise to make but nonetheless he was simply not going to let him go for a very, very long time after what happened in the cavern. He squeezed eyes shut as he tried to get the images and sounds of Eugene’s far too recent agonizing plight out of his head.

  “You’re okay! You found me! You’re here! I was so scared after what - what Baron did to you! Oh blazes, I am so, so sorry, Eugene!” Tears welled up and he immediately began to sniffle into the man’s vest as he recalled every single horrifying thing that he had experienced or witnessed today. Though he could barely see beyond the dim purple light that changed his surroundings colours, he recognized Eugene’s old and familiar blue vest which was comforting and helped ground him back more fully into their current predicament… at least until the gears in his mind got jammed at one miniscule detail. Eugene spent over thirty minutes complaining to him about his red uniform jacket, not his blue vest!

”Ah no…” The other began, voice sounding very off and incredibly taken aback. In fact, the man did not even return the embrace and seemed to be trying to get out of it. “This is a bit awkward but I’m not…” 

Before he could finish however, Varian— now having realized that something was suddenly very, very wrong with Eugene’s demeanor and the sound of his voice— quickly released him and backed away. His purple glowing globe was instantly in front of the man’s purely guilt-ridden face and once he recognized him, he gasped.

“Fake Flynn…?” Varian trailed off, mind beginning to spiral again as he wiped his eyes in confusion. It wasn't Eugene who had saved him. It was the other guy from the cavern. The lookalike thief whom he and Rapunzel had gone off chasing what must have been so many hours ago. But where was Eugene, then? Surely, he must be nearby.

“I’m not a fake.” The mustached man retorted, pushing the glowing bomb away from his face. “In fact, if there is anyone here who is likely to be a fake, it’s probably you. I’m pretty sure The Alchemist is supposed to be an adult and not a twig like you, Varitus.” Varian scoffed and rolled his eyes, trying to beat back the embarrassment for the mix-up. “My name is Varian and that was simply a lie spread by certain guards who were ashamed that I beat them.”

He attempted to push himself to his feet so that he could take a look around now and so that he could begin to put more distance between himself and Baron but his legs shot up with pain and he collapsed, wincing badly. His knees stung horribly, so much so that he could practically feel the skin’s agitation with every movement. It also didn’t help that he was beginning to feel really dizzy as the taste of blood in his mouth was still there and became even more unpleasant. He flinched when two hands hoisted him up from beneath the shoulders but they gently set him on his feet. Fake Flynn then knelt and lifted one of Varian’s arms around his shoulders to support him. He regarded the man warily. He didn’t know him but he seemed to be trying to help. Baron had been holding him prisoner earlier as well… but could he trust him?

“Ack, woah I think there’s something stuck in your arm.” Flynn suddenly said, looking down at him with concerned and widened eyes as they began to walk but the comment simply flew over Varian’s still spinning head. Still, despite the fact that there were now several issues at hand and questions that needed to be resolved, he managed to pinpoint his scattered thoughts and memories towards working on the most pressing one.

“Where’s Eugene?” Varian asked dizzily, trying to keep the exhaustion from his voice as he stared at the ground and attempted to blink away the squiggly shapes that danced across his vision.

“Keep your voice down, kid.” Fake Flynn muttered, eyes fixed straight ahead but the slight quiver in Fake Flynn’s voice did not escape his notice. “I’m going to drop you off at the Snuggly Duckling… you do know that place, right? And how to get back to wherever you live from there, yeah?”

Varian nodded slowly but even though he may have begun feeling incredibly sickly and completely sapped of energy, Fake Flynn’s avoidance of the question did not escape his notice. He wasn’t going back to the castle without Eugene.

“And those guys are super nice, they’ll probably fix up your-”

“Where’s Eugene?” Varian inquired again, beginning to roll the glowing purple bomb in one hand and holding it out in front of them. Even this slow pace that they certainly wouldn’t be able to afford for much longer was making the pain in his head worsen as his eyes began to dart around. He definitely had a migraine coming on around now… unless the pain stemmed from something much more serious. He then gingerly reached for where he could definitely feel the stabbing in the back of his arm. He hissed with pain when he accidentally jostled what seemed to be a sharp foreign object that jutted through his skin. That… probably wasn’t good. He did not dare to look at it for fear it was bleeding. He knew he would have to fight through the pain though. Even with Baron now hunting for him in the wrong direction they certainly weren’t out of the woods yet… literally. Plus, Baron would definitely circle back sooner or later. However, the trees in all directions looked exactly the same to Varian despite the help of his glowing beaker, meaning that at the moment, he could only trust the fake Flynn Rider's determined sense of direction. 

“Did you not hear what I said? Quiet down.” The man replied, still sounding annoyed but even in the dim purple light Varian could see that his expression had only grown grimmer and that his jaw had become tense. Flynn was hiding something. 

Varian planted his feet firmly on the ground and refused to move any further. “Where is Eugene?” He demanded a little more loudly in spite of the danger he knew they were both still in but his friend was worth the risk. “Is he okay? What happened to him?” Worry continued to pour over him when the man hesitated before responding.

“I said be quiet.” The man snapped but then he nervously glanced around before quickly lowering his voice as he stood in front of him, placing both hands on the younger’s shoulders.   

“You must keep quiet, Varian.” Dad had ordered before they arrived at the castle the day before a fateful blizzard. “Don’t make a sound or they’ll find you, Varian.” He had repeated in his head as he hid from masked men that had invaded his home.”You have the right to remain silent, Varian.” The former Captain of the Royal Guard had stated as he was dragged into the prison cart. Varian had never listened.

“We don’t have time for this. We have to keep moving. Eugene’s fine . He’s in the quarry.” 

Oh, Varian had definitely played this game before… far too many times.

Varian glared right up at him in downright refusal, shoving his hands off him and tossing his globe to the other hand. He had ironically become very good at discerning truth from lies in the past few months. Blazes, apart from two betrayals, he had been on truth serum for three whole days and had both observed and felt the tells of truth speaking in his own behaviour. Tells that Flynn was certainly not exhibiting. 

He smashed the globe at the fake’s feet and quickly dove away as the man screamed before quickly slapping his own two hands to his mouth, staring at the growing purple ooze that had climbed over his lower half and now trapped him to the ground. Varian’s breathing had grown ragged again as he used a nearby tree to pull himself up, soaking in Fake Flynn’s look of horror. “What the heck is this?!” Immediately, he began to struggle against it but he was clearly stuck.

“A terribly viscous compound of my own design.” Varian explained tiredly, legs still quaking as he rolled his shoulder, wincing bitterly. “Luckily, in several hours, it’ll dissipate on its own and you’ll be freed. But if you tell me where Eugene is, I’ll neutralize it right now and release you.”

“Release me?! But why did you trap me to begin with?! I literally came to rescue you!” The man demanded angrily, clearly fighting to keep his voice down as he continued to struggle but all Varian responded with was an exasperated shrug. He truly didn’t have time to be messing around, even as Flynn’s tone grew more accusative. “What the freaking blazes is wrong you?!” He grasped his forehead with one of his hands as they were still free because the substance’s growth stopped just above his abdomen. “I seriously wouldn’t have attacked the cart if I knew you’d been planning to blow it up!” The man paused, eyes widening. “Oh my god, I attacked The Baron… he’s gonna have my head!”

“Where. Is. Eugene?” Varian snapped with a scowl on his face as he forced himself to stand without the tree and stepped closer to Flynn, allowing the glow to illuminate his face as he roughly seized the front of the man’s vest. “I am not asking again, Rider . If you don’t give me a straight answer, I’ll leave you here for Baron to find.” Varian was both incredibly angry and upset now but he was also bluffing, of course– Baron was quite literally a mad man. All he needed was confirmation that  Eugene was safe, then they could go.

“But- but Baron could be back at any- he-’s… I-” Flynn dithered, guilty eyes darting anywhere except for Varian’s face but they both winced as they heard something that sounded an awful lot like a branch breaking somewhere in the forest. “The cavern or - or the quarry! Maybe! Probably! I don’t know!” Flynn finally blurted out in a hushed tone and rapidly continued. “But… the cavern… it was filling with water really fast and Eugene was too injured to climb out so I- uh… may have sort of left-him-in-there-so-I-could-escape but - ”

Varian didn’t let Flynn finish as the world had flipped upside down and Varian immediately released the man with a gasp, backing away in horror as the implications sunk in. But that would mean… no, it couldn’t mean that! It couldn’t mean that! This was Eugene Fitzherbert, The Flynn Rider they were talking about… he - he couldn’t be…  His hand shook badly as he raised it towards Flynn. “You… what ?” He croaked as an entirely crushing sense of dismay rocked his core.

”Wait! That didn’t come out right and I now realize that sounded really bad … but you have to let me explain-“ Flynn rapidly spluttered, looking entirely regretful but Varian felt as though there was a burning inferno under his eyes as his vision blurred. 

”EXPLAIN WHAT?!” Varian screamed, losing all regard for their safety now as his gloved hands ran through his hair. “You left him! You left him to die, Flynn! You left Eugene to drown -” Oh no, but the cavern filling up with water had been his fault! He had antagonized Baron into punching the beam in an unstable mining cave! How long ago had that been? He didn’t know! All he knew was that the water had already been sweeping out of the tunnel entrance and into the rest of the quarry by the time Baron had rushed him out… 

Varian’s hands were over his ears as he lurched over, unable to breathe. Oh suns… what had he done?!

“Please calm down!” Flynn begged hushedly. “I swear I was gonna go back for him but then I saw that the princess had arrived there.” He stammered, sounding far too uncertain to be reassuring as Varian continued to spiral. “Maybe he’s - I mean he’s probably still -”

 “But Eugene is — He’s– you– my fault. My fault… It’s my fault!” Varian choked out, covering his mouth as the colour of amber flitted over his vision. His fault. It was his fault, always! The crackling in the woods that had begun to grow louder again but all Varian could do was cry out as his chest grew heavier. 

“Varian, Baron’s coming! I can still help get you to safety! Please just let me go, kid! Please!” Flynn pleaded, also no longer trying to keep his voice down as he desperately tugged against the slime even harder now, but was still unable to free his legs. All the while Varian had fallen back against the tree, sliding back to his knees in anguish. By the time his mind was able string together a coherent thought again, it was too late. 

“Well, isn’t this interesting?” A chilling voice boomed and there was an entirely terrifying image as the large figure of The Baron re-emerged from behind Flynn and the glowing mound, pushing through a thick wall of bushes and snapping the heavy bramble covered branches with ease. Flynn cursed as he looked over his shoulder and sent a glare over to where Varian was now cowering on the ground, still unable to make a sound as he frightfully looked away from Baron and back to his hands , his stupid blasted hands . They ruined everything! He ruined everything! He broke everything! Everything he tried ended in failure… everything he tried ended with someone he cared about getting hurt…  And stars above, it hurt. Everything hurt…

“For a moment there, I really did think The Alchemist had managed to evade me once I realized he must have gotten his hands on his solutions.” Baron’s face was still cast in shadows but he ventured further into the light, his silhouette regained its detail bit by bit. Varian’s lungs felt as though they were being crushed, there was a heavy pain in his chest that throbbed dully. All he did was look up, trembling as the Baron’s shadow was cast over him as he stepped around the glowing mound of light. What was happening? What was he doing? What could he do now?

“Thank you for this excellent little demonstration, Varian. After your father has been accordingly punished for the trouble you have caused, we’ll revisit how your creations can be modified to better suit my needs, however.” Baron drawled on. Varian shuddered at the mention of his father again and somehow managed to shove a trembling hand into his satchel but mournful tears continued to pour down his face and blurring his vision once more.He was petrified. His plans went up in smoke, just like they always did. He had failed again. What was the point in trying now? What if he just made things worse? What if being captured was inevitable in the end and Baron would hurt his father more the longer he delayed? And Eugene…  The torture….  The unstable mines… The flooding… what logic put forward was simply too much, it was all too much.

 Varian ducked his head once Baron was only a foot away and stared at the man’s boots instead, but the man paused, remaining there for a few moments before turning towards Flynn. Varian glanced up again and saw that Baron had apparently elected to acknowledge Flynn’s predicament first by looking him up and down. “Honestly, Rider, you originally barely had anything to do with this but I should have realized that anyone who takes up that stupid Flynn Rider mantle would become just as much of a damn nuisance as their predecessor!” He snarled as the magenta glow illuminated his face, Varian’s eyes widened when he realized there were fresh bloody cuts that went right across Baron’s face. Flynn, despite initially having both looked and sounded terrified, closed his eyes for a moment and then sighed boredly when he opened them again, smirking at Baron with a newfound cocky expression on his face. “Well, what can I say Baron?” He said with a tilt of his head and a shrug, looking and sounding far too much like Eugene now with that awful boisterous courage. “I play the part well.” Flynn winked at Varian but pointed into the woods with his eyes, clearly trying to convey the message: Run!

“You really should have left when you had the chance, Rider. And you’ve had multiple, idiot.” Baron snapped as he suddenly stepped between them, finally blocking Flynn from Varian’s view.

Flynn Rider really had been trying to save him. Varian realized . Even now, even after he had attacked him, Flynn was still trying to save him. He hadn’t given up. Baron’s back was turned. Varian could run. He could gain some sort of a head start right now as slim as a chance it would give him to outrun Baron.  

Varian finally stood up again but suddenly realized he could not run. It wasn’t just because his torn up legs were wobbling but because Baron knew he wouldn’t run, it had been the reason he hadn’t even bothered securing him. After all, he himself knew he wouldn’t run. Eugene especially, wouldn’t do that.

Not when it was so very obvious that Varian had just rendered Flynn trapped and defenseless against the man. Not when it was so very obvious that the man had genuinely been trying to save his life.

“ Now if you don’t mind me saying, that new bit of red on your face really does complement the green and the purple… “ He heard Flynn saying as he quietly retrieved another globe from his bag, this one glowing dark blue. “...But I’m sorry, it truly is quite arrogant of me to compliment my own handiwork. I am just a huge fan of rebrandin -GAH!”

Varian jumped and stifled a gasp as Flynn cried out when Baron roared and roughly seized his throat and lifted him upwards, throwing Varian back into action once more. “Let him go, Baron!” Varian called out, crackling voice still raw with pain as he tossed the beaker at Baron’s legs now. Baron actually let out a shout of surprise as the glass shattered against him and a crystalline ice-like substance began to spread over his legs. In his surprise, he had released Flynn and Varian quickly got over to the man’s side– who was practically keeled over and gasping as he held his throat with both hands– and poured the neutralizing compound over the ooze. “Come on!” Varian cried, pulling the stumbling man by the elbow as the ooze dissipated but to their dismay Baron had grabbed on Flynn’s other arm and already shattered the artificial ice before it could fully harden as he stomped forwards. 

“Kid, just go!” Flynn gritted out, shoving Varian off of him and just out of Baron’s reach as he swiped a dagger out of his belt’s pocket and whipped back around to face Baron again. Varian tumbled away, downward into the forest’s undergrowth once more and only managed to right himself just in time to see Flynn attempt and fail to strike Baron with it in the face. “Flynn!” Varian yelled but it was too late. Baron’s fist collided with Flynn’s head yet again and he crumpled to the ground as his dagger flew out of his hand. Varian scrambled to his feet as Baron tossed Flynn’s form out of his way as though he was nothing more than a sack of flour and lunged for him again. The teenager had already begun to run again, throwing another chemical globe from his satchel back at The Baron at random. Something exploded behind him but he realized that it must have missed Baron when he felt the man’s hand snag the remains of the satchel’s strap. It got ripped from Varian’s arm but somehow he was still running and managed to evade getting pulled backwards, even if he was running just as blindly as before. His weapons were gone. He had no more plans. He was lost. He had lost. He had lost again and again and again… 

And Eugene… he was…

Yet, Varian was still running.

He was always, somehow still running and he never knew why.

Why did he deserve to still be running?

Why had it not been his father? 

Why had it not been Eugene?

Why was it always him who got away?

He gasped when the trees parted in front of him so suddenly and all that lay ahead was clear starlight skies. He managed to just barely stop just before being struck with a great height with his arms outstretched for balance as he gazed over the edge of a ravine, the tips of boots not even touching solid ground. He backed away, just barely.

He had been proven wrong yet again.

He wouldn’t get away this time.

Fate had finally decreed it.

Oddly enough, he didn’t find the comfort that he had expected from knowing that now.

He stared down the ravine, a great crevice in the earth so vast and deep that though the world was freely lit with the moonshine and starlight again, he couldn’t see the bottom but simply the ledges that were so far below. He breathed in the cool nighttime air and felt a lulling breeze brush through his hair as though attempting to offer him comfort but he still, truly found none. Instead, he began to buzz with even more anticipation and turmoil instead. What was this? Why did it bring tears to his eyes?

It didn’t help that the trees no longer restricted his eyes' access to what could have been a grand beauty of the night. 

Not could have been...

It still was beautiful, despite the raging tempest in his continuously breaking heart.

The other side of the ravine was so very far across and lowered so that he could see the endless shaded trees stretching beyond and into the horizon. The midnight sky cast them in a gradient of soft and dark blues. Standing atop of it all and gazing down, it was like there was no limit to the world. That this entire vision of the world was meant for him and him alone.

But of course… none of this was meant for him. He was someone who absolutely knew better than that.  

Eugene was dead.

Because of him .

The woods crackled behind him again and brought him back from the brink of stupor again. He slowly turned back around, still gasping and panting, vision blurring in the wave of awful scalding, burning, unbearable heat that he finally felt tear through and overtake him as a result of the self-destructive endeavor he’d put his body through. He fell to his hands and knees, listening to the intense, earth-shaking throbbing of his pulse with his back towards the edge of the cliff and facing the woods as the world caught up, swirling into existence.

He heard the horses again and here they finally came.  

“Nowhere left to run now, is there? Weapon .”

The Baron emerged from the woods and Varian got a much better look at the bloody scratches marring the side of his face. He looked like the great evil himself as he surveyed the scene and his face morphed into triumph when he met Varian’s eyes. Varian’s arms, legs and abdomen ached so horribly as the overexertion began to regain control over his consciousness that he feared he would faint right there and then.

“I told you, didn’t I?” The man sneered as he wiped his bloody forehead, taking a step towards Varian. “You can’t run from me. No one can. Admit to yourself that you were always destined to be a catalyst for destruction. Admit that you’ll always be seen as a monster. Admit that you were always destined to be a villain. Admit that you were always destined to become my weapon. You can’t change your destiny, Varian.”

Even as Baron spoke he glanced back at the great height behind him for a moment before returning his resigned gaze to the man ahead of him. “Admit it!” Baron repeated loudly.

But Varian couldn’t.

Not when there was someone else out there, who was so willing to prove that she could change her own destiny, so certain that she could control it, that everything would fall exactly according to her plan despite the fact she truly believed with every fibre of her being and the core strapped to her chest that in order to do so, she would need to take someone else’s by force regardless of who would get hurt along the way.

“Admit it!” Baron demanded again, taking another step forward and then another and another…

Two people driven by their thirst for vengeance and power.

But Varian had already been on both sides, Varian had already crossed the line long before finally, finally , picking which side to remain on. So despite everything, all her faults and rage that were far too similar to his of the past, Varian knew that Cassandra was still more right than the Baron in the regard that destinies could be changed.

Varian bowed his head, fists tightly clenching the front of his shirt for a moment before letting go.

And he was proof of that himself, wasn’t he?  

It was even in his name, wasn’t it?

He slowly pushed himself onto his feet, wincing and clutched his side as he looked Baron directly in the eye with defiance . 

After almost two years of struggle, he had finally begun to rewrite his own destiny and he wouldn't ever let anyone take that accomplishment away from him. Never.

Varian turned his back on Baron, feeling the exact moment one of his heels felt nothing beneath it. He quickly brought it back to solid ground again, hesitating as he sucked in a breath, feeling himself trembling. Dread became his entire being as he stared down the stony embankment. Would it hurt? Varian was stuck still for a moment more but then prayed that both dad and Ruddiger would forgive him for what he was about to do, that they would forgive him for breaking his promise.

He had to do it though.

For real this time.

It wasn’t like that time he had screamed and raged at his father, dangling a foot over the fine line between sincerity and offhandedness as he threatened to do so only to be immediately drawn into the man’s trembling arms.

Their second hug after an eternity.

All he could do now though was hope that dad would understand because Rapunzel had trusted him and even though Eugene might be gone, no one else would get hurt because of him.  

He would not be used by Baron and he would certainly not be playing the villain anymore. 

Varian sure as blazes, had to be able to guarantee that without regrets.

“Don’t you bloody dare!” The Baron yelled and the sounds of twigs snapping and leaves rustling and a horse's stamping growing a hundred times louder behind him but never louder than the sound of his beating heart.

“I am not a weapon.” Varian declared, no longer fearful or mournful. 

And then he bloody dared, leaping off the edge.

In that moment, only for that moment, he finally rose high above it all. He soared and watched as the world became endless before closing his eyes, hearing the world as it finally called out his name– wait a moment, his name wasn’t Kid…

He felt as the world rendered him breathless.

No, literally.

The air was sucked from his lungs as he was suddenly slammed into the cliff’s edge as the Earth tried and failed to pull him into its depths.

Oh blazes no! He had been caught! He had been freaking caught!

“NO!” Varian screamed furiously as he felt himself collide with the cliff’s wall but proceeded to try and kick off it, hearing the man grunt with pain as Varian blindly grabbed at his arm in a desperate attempt to tear at the hand that tightly gripped his right forearm, “LET ME GO! I’M NOT GOING WITH YOU! I'M NOT! I WON’T! YOU KILLED HIM! YOU KILLED-“ 

“I'm here, kid!” A very familiar, agonized-sounding voice suddenly interrupted. “And I am certainly not letting you go! Agh!”

His eyes flew open in time to meet a familiar pair of hazel ones, to see that a white gloved hand attached to a red sleeved arm was single-handedly holding onto him, making all the difference between his life and his death. “Eugene?” He whispered in disbelief. “In. The. Flesh.” Eugene strenuously, painfully gritted out and Varian scrambled now to dig his feet into one of the impossibly small crevices in the canyon wall as his friend struggled badly to keep hold of him but his boots kept slipping and his wound was stretching as he tried to reach for the stones instead of Eugene’s arm for fear he would pull them both down. Despite it all though, he couldn’t keep himself from crying out, “You’re alive!”  The goateed man’s horribly bruised grimace shifted to an expression of shock for split-second even as half his upper body practically hung over the edge, his other hand gripping onto the cliff’s edge, so hard that the white of Eugene’s glove had begun to seep red. “Wait, you thought I-”

Eugene couldn’t finish, his eyes widening alongside Varian’s when they both heard yet another, horrifying splintering CRACK for the second time that day. Varian could do nothing but watch in sort of awestruck terror as rocks beneath the cliff’s edge– the edge that Eugene was currently hugging onto— crumbled away.

Though both members of Team Awesome were screaming now, they still gripped onto each other tightly as they fell to their inevitable doom and the stars of the night sky spiraled around the beaming moon.

Chapter Text

Maximus had been bolting along the rising path through the forest at full speed for several minutes now but had been forced to come to a rather harsh halt to prevent from crashing into the frightened mare from earlier as she sped past them down the narrow road in the opposite direction, her Coronan tackle still just barely clinging. As Maximus recovered and gained speed once more, Rapunzel felt Eugene’s grip around her get tighter as he attempted to and failed to muffle yet another groan, causing her heart to pinch with anxiety yet again. “Eugene, you holding on okay?” She asked worriedly.

 “Perfectly peachy, Blondie.” Eugene replied through gritted teeth from where his chin rested over her shoulder. Pascal, on Rapunzel’s other shoulder, tapped her and turned his scales dark purple, giving her a shake of his head. She sighed, knowing exactly what he was trying to convey about Eugene’s condition and in all honesty she was surprised that he’d managed to simply remain conscious thus far. As they continued forward, following glimpses of the pale green smoke trail in the sky between the trees which was beginning to dissipate, Rapunzel noticed planks of burnt and splintered wood littered across the road and soon enough, the smoking wreckage of the prison cart came into view.

Of course.

Everything that had occurred during the day finally pieced itself together like a patchwork quilt.

The crown had been stolen before Varian’s presentation. She had given him, Lance, and the girls a hurried goodbye before she and Eugene had gone after Flynn. She didn’t know how long Varian had been in the quarries but he had been taken after they had left and had likely been transported by Baron in the very prison cart which had been parked right outside the caverns. But how had Baron stolen the prison cart and gotten into the castle to search for and capture Varian? She wasn’t quite certain but perhaps the guards had still been distracted from her crown’s theft, directing their attention towards protecting the castle’s vault and the other crown jewels. Knowing Baron, he certainly would have taken advantage of such an opportune moment to strike. 

“We’re taking it all back now!” Weasel had declared. It must have had something to do with what Baron had planned for Varian. To take over the kingdom… or rather burn it all down, just as the Saporian’s had planned to do… and now what Cassandra was still planning to do—under the influence of Zhan Tiri, so Rapunzel still desperately hoped because Cass couldn’t want that all on her own! She just couldn’t! Even Varian hadn’t desired that after she had returned to Corona! He had just wanted to start over!

And on top of everything was still the issue of Flynn. Oh… how she despised him right now. 

He must have gotten out of the cavern before it had completely flooded… They had seen him running from it! But Eugene had also been down there! How could he have just left Eugene behind to drown like that? What kind of a person did that?!

Could it then really have been a pure coincidence that Flynn had stolen the crown on the same day that Baron happened to be in town plotting his revenge or had he been involved with Baron from the beginning. What if he had known this was a trap for Eugene and purposely led him into it? What if he had never been Baron’s prisoner at all and was instead a co-conspirator? All Eugene had managed to tell her was that Flynn was long gone. The implication that he was still struggling to speak just made her even angrier but for now, those extra details as to what had happened back at the castle didn’t even matter. 

Only getting Varian back mattered now. 

She quickly and carefully made the decision to dismount Maximus, nudging Eugene to lean over the horse's neck. The glow of her hair had not faded when she realized that consistently repeating the Hope Incantation on her mind really did enable her to tap further into her powers' strength as Varian had suggested but it had never worked this purposefully before after the battle of the black tower but perhaps it had needed time to grow. She surveyed the destroyed state of the cart and circled around it, evidently finding two tracks of wet boot prints heading into the forest, despite the fact that the surrounding dirt beneath the wooden, green remains was completely dry. “This way!” She called urgently, quickly placing a foot back into the stirrups of the saddle as Maximus sped that way, neighing loudly as he appeared to have caught a scent trail again. Eugene groaned again, grabbing on more tightly to Max’s neck but the only thing she could do to try and soothe him was hug an arm around his shoulders. “Almost there.” She hoped. She hoped. 

“Princess Rapunzel!” A voice suddenly called out and her hair’s glow quickly vanquished the surrounding darkness as the trees continuously grew thicker.

“You!” Rapunzel snapped loudly, recognizing the man in the woods at once and leapt off of Maximus without warning.

Maximus barely had time to stop himself from colliding with Rapunzel and Flynn but Rapunzel paid no notice to that nor to the fact that Eugene was now calling out her name in warning. She could feel her own temperature rising, acknowledging that her hair began to shine more fiercely as she stormed towards the cowering Flynn Rider who was staggering backwards from her in fright, frying pan at the ready.

“How could you? How dare you leave him in there?!” Rapunzel roared as her hair rose and billowed around her. She knew she didn’t need to specify anything more as she raised her weapon, ready to strike him down right there and then. 

“Punzel, no time!” Eugene gasped, forcing her to come to terms with the knowledge that she should save her rage for a certain someone else. 

“Wait, please! You just have to listen!” Flynn yelped with his hands in the air, gasping with pain as his back hit a tree and the glow from her hair illuminated the stream of blood trickling down the around the side of his neck from the back of his head. “I tried to stop Baron! I swear! They went that way! Him and the kid!” He gulped and desperately pointed towards the right and Rapunzel realized that there was a path through the woods covered with broken tree brackets, glass shards, and spills of multicoloured liquids.

She inhaled sharply. So close.

“Try to keep up or leave then, whatever you choose doesn’t matter to me.” She coldly said to Flynn, changing her trajectory as she grabbed onto Max’s reins again with a foot in the stirrups without bothering to get back into the saddle, knowing Maximus was strong and coordinated enough to handle it. 

And forwards they ran following the fresh trail as fast as possible. The wind and branches in the woods whipped past her face, for a few moments  all she could feel was the rush of blood and pounding in her ears as she stared straight ahead but then she felt Eugene shift beside her, seeming to now be leaning off the saddle with an outstretched hand reaching for the trees. She heard him mutter, “Gotcha,” and a purple glowing globe was pressed into her hand, just in time for her to see a familiar, blond and large figure running forwards just where the trees parted to reveal a magnificent inky blue sky full of stars She threw the globe at the man’s back without hesitation. The Baron shouted in surprise as the glass container exploded and the purple goo crawled all over him in an instant but just as Maximus skid to a halt at the alarming sight of the cliff ahead, an image that was certainly to haunt her for an eternity became captured her eyes and mind, causing her to let out a terrified scream.

She saw Varian deliberately leaping off of the cliff and even if he had heard her screaming his name, it was too late for any kind of reaction on his part.

“Varian!” She called again, running forwards and tossing out her hair only to be pushed to the side as someone pummeled past her. 

“KID!”

“Eugene, wait!”

But before she could stop him, Eugene had launched himself off of Maximus before he had stopped completely and landed on the ground with a guttural scream of pain as his upper body began to slide over the edge, leaving him almost hanging.

She continued to run forward, her hair beginning to soar like an arrow in their direction again but one of her wrists was suddenly snagged and she was painfully dragged backwards with the jolt causing her to lose her focused rhythm-like repetition of the Hope incantation in her head and realizing in horror that the Baron’s hands had still been free and one of them was now wound far too tightly around her wrist. Maximus immediately began to ram the man with all his might, using such a pounding force that should have even broken bones given how strong the stallion was but Baron somehow even managed to withstand that as well and barely budged in the face of the onslaught despite letting out a grunt. 

It should have been impossible…. 

It was impossible! 

“Let go of me!” She demanded furiously.

“I was hoping he’d have to watch you die, but this is gonna be good enough.” Baron laughed victoriously, so savagely in her ear that her powers betrayed her with her hair splaying in the air, no longer under her control as though her magic had now reflected her own panicked state of mind. “You two took everything from me, even my precious Stalyan! You deserve what you wrought!”

“No, we didn’t! You lost her yourself!” She strained to regain her composure, her calm, as she silently begged her hair to rise up again but knowing she had very little time as she watched Eugene’s body get dragged further and further off over the crest only made things worse. “You pushed and pushed until she’d had enough so she left you behind to find herself!”

”Lying royal scum! You turned her against me!” He crushed her arm so bad that she was certain the skin had broken and she couldn’t stop herself from crying out. Something was forcing Sundrop's magic down. Stopping her from breaking free from his grip. Not now, not now, not now! She couldn’t lose them! She couldn’t!

She gasped as her hair fell to the ground, overpowered, and though she’d been struggling to pull her hand out of the man’s ferocious grip, her distraction had been enough for him to wrench her other wrist, preventing her from using her frying pan. She’d just managed to look over her shoulders in sheer desperation but was then forced to witness the exact moment Eugene’s body disappeared over the cliff. She screamed, tears of helplessness burning her as they welled in her eyes, falling onto her cheeks. “NO! EUGENE! VARIAN!”

“Let go of me!” She yelled more desperately this time but all he did was laugh and laugh and laugh. Time was slowing and slowing….

She knew that her magic had limits from her past experiences harnessing its powers to such extremes that it had caused her to collapse but it had also faced off against Cassandra’s magic and she had been able to hold onto it with a focus for so much longer today that it had practically responded to her every emotion and thought. It had been acting upon its own accord in a manner that had never happened before.

It was though when her hope and energy began to waver that pain and fear threatened to overwhelm and steal away from her power. She had to believe that she could still save Eugene and Varian, she had to believe! She had to! Belief was what fueled the Hope Incantation.

But why had her magic failed her now? She had faced off the Moonstone’s might for the blazing Sun’s sake! Why was she failing and losing everything to The Baron, an evil and despicable man who lacked magic, right now?

He shook her so roughly that she let out a yell of pain but a flicker of silver caught her eye and when she looked down there was a silver, glowing band wrapped around one of the wrists of the man holding her having previously been hidden by his sleeve. 

It was then she knew the answer.

He didn’t lack magic.

Her hope renewed, magic flaring around her in blaze again now that it knew the source of the resistance as well, redirected itself as it changed and readied a new charge.  It was as if her magic called to other magic, as if it drew it into her from the world around her. She had felt the Moonstone’s pull during her battle with Cassandra, for it hadn’t willingly wanted to clash against the Sundrop’s powers. It had only wanted to unite with the Sundrop but the two wielders of the ancient celestial powers, who were once as close as sisters, had been at odds.

This magic was different though, she could almost taste that it came from this world instead, a world that had been marked with traces of the Sun’s and Moon’s magic for millenia. Yet, it was the magic from the band of silver marked with a mysterious rune created by the unknown that would help her now. The circular insignia bisected by what astronomers called meridian lines to represent the Earth and allowed the celestial energy that resided in her body to visualize what was needed from it.

The energy filled her again and it was as though the ground cracked open as she called upon the power of the sun once more. Despite the fact that his grip on her increased tenfold or that she heard a cracking sound that she knew could have only come from the bones in both her wrists, she only felt mere pressure and tilted her head him, simply glaring at the man who had harmed so many of those closest to her with downright disgust.

Eugene and Lance.

Kiera and Catalina.

And now Varian.

“What are you?” The Baron asked, trembling now and his grip loosened. He was triumphant no longer and his eyes shone with a pure, satisfying kind of terror at her unflinching response and his body began to shake violently as a golden pillar rose from beyond the cliff behind her. She knew it had risen, without even needing to look back. 

Eugene and Varian were safe, not unharmed or undamaged but safe and alive. She could hear two beating hearts, one eerily steady and the other far too rapidly. Even from this distance, her magic knew that was what she needed to retain her strength and amplified it right into her mind. Though her form was now beginning to feel the strain upon her body from all around with the magic of the Sundrop humming and pulling at her in so many different directions, each begging her to pay it more attention, she mustered the strength to power through the noise and slam her frying pan right into his head, watching as his head lolled to the side and his body collapsed in a heap within the purple mess on the ground. His hands finally released hers. 

The skin of her wrists wasn’t even bruised, the inferno of her magic instantly floating around it as a golden wisp and healing her wrists, mending the broken bones that she never even felt.

Her eyes widened, her powers had never healed her injuries that quickly before… 

But mending her bones must have severely unbalanced the energy that her body used to fuel the Sundrop’s magic again and she was forced to drop the frying pan as a heavy wave of exhaustion crashed over her. Still, even as she fell to her knees and fought to catch her breath, she snatched the silver band bracelet off of Baron’s wrist. Its own magical energy immediately imbued her with the very strength that she knew must have been what allowed him to seem so inhumanely strong. He’d been using enhancement magic. Something she had come across reading about in her research about magical artifacts, inspired by her most recent and highly regretful trip to the Spire. Her head was still spinning though and she still felt rather groggy so perhaps the bracelet’s energy simply wasn’t strong enough to overcome the weight from her use of Sundrop’s magic. So many questions, so many theories...

“R- Rapunzel?!” A petrified voice called down from above her and she finally turned, gasping as she looked up and finally took in what she had actually accomplished with her own two eyes, the reason that her animal companions had been left silently gaping.

She had managed to summon a large golden platform to break Eugene and Varian’s fall, but she didn’t even know how that was possible. It had risen almost over twenty feet and the stars illuminated Varian’s blue hair streak as he peered over the ledge.

“Varian! I’m here!” She called upwards urgently, despite being very relieved to see him. “Are you alright? What about Eugene?”

“Eugene’s unconscious!” He yelled back, not answering her first question but she still heard the shakiness, the fear, in his voice. ”I- I don’t know how to get us down!  Please… you need to… you have to… I can’t… please!” Stars above, his terror-filled pleading was cutting into her heart like a glass shard. 

“Just hold on, Varian! I’ll get you down! I will! I will!” She called up trying her best to sound reassuring. She pushed herself to her feet, placing the oversized bracelet on her wrist. 

Trust.

“Keep away from the ledge!” She called up as a precaution and the silhouette of his head disappeared promptly. She then stepped towards the golden and instinct drove her to place both of her hands against its familiarly warm and glowing surface. 

Down.

She closed her eyes, willing it to lower with a command and slowly but surely, she began to feel its surface slip beneath her hands as the ground gently rumbled beneath her feet. She somehow felt more tired when it finally came to a stop and when she opened her eyes the platform was ground level, revealing that Eugene’s upper body was now laying in Varian’s arms as the trembling teenager curled protectively over him in the centre of the golden circle. She surged onto the large platform that must have been at least a few meters in diameter and quickly settled upon her knees, opposite to Eugene with all the instinct to bring him into her own arms but Varian wouldn’t even look up. He was clinging to Eugene as though he was a lifeline.

And Eugene was her lifeline.

“Varian.” She whispered softly as Pascal made his way up her shoulder again, “It’s all over now, you’re safe. I’ve got you, both of you.”

But as she spoke, she began to process his state as he remained heaving with his face hidden in the remains of Eugene’s coat as he held onto him tightly. His hair was also dripping wet. His clothes were also muddied and torn. And his shoulder… oh stars, it was rather densely stained with blood and something small and sharp, like a thin shard of metal, seeming to protrude from it. Did Baron do that to him?! Cassandra had taught her the most vital aspects of first aid but she’d only practiced on hayfilled sacks. Even along their journey towards the Dark Kingdom, the others had always seemed proficient and well-practiced at treating injuries with her magic speeding up healing her own cuts and bruises within hours. 

She felt sick but tried to reason with herself, knowing that her hesitation would only make this worse for him. Given that he was still conscious, nothing more on the serious side must have been cut but he must be feeling weak. She shook herself out of her thoughts, reaching for his uninjured shoulder but he alarmingly flinched at her touch, heavy breathing hitching as he quickly sat upright and looked up at her with a haunting unfocused look in his unevenly dilated pupils. The bruised and bloodied condition of his exhausted face, the rest of which was practically devoid of colour, only surmounted her distress. Although it was a relief that she could see Eugene’s chest rising and falling, it was just so blazingly obvious that they both needed a doctor. 

“Rapunzel, thank the sun!” Varian choked out with relief. “You’re okay! The Baron said that…” He looked off to the side to where the Baron lay, eyes somehow widening further. “He set out a trap for you! He said he was gonna… that he was gonna… He was going to kill you, princess!” He cried, words stricken with such horror that they made her heart pound even more heavily in her chest. He quickly shook his head, snapping his focus back to her and she saw him wince as he took in her disheveled appearance. “W- wait, are… are you okay? You - you look tired, like really tired!”

She certainly felt it and when she glanced at the bracelet upon her wrist, she realized that its glow had faded. She’d read that some enchanted objects had their limits, perhaps she’d already absorbed the rest of its magic.

“You’re one to talk.” She tried to tease mildly, but he remained silent, still waiting for confirmation.

“Oh Varian, I’m fine. I swear.” She reassured quickly with a worried murmur and gently cupped his face in her hands, concern growing upon realizing that his skin felt feverish. She could also practically feel the pain that his apprehensive teary eyes conveyed as she tilted his head to the side so she could better examine his black eye, the cuts, and the bruises along his jawline. He flinched at that movement and let out a hiss of pain so she cautiously moved her hands away. She bit her lip briefly as she fought to keep her inner turmoil off of her face but it was becoming so much more difficult with every passing second to stave off the lingering fear of what she had almost lost, churning with her continuously growing mountain of rage at the man who had done this to him. 

“Today was just…  today, really just wasn’t yours or Eugene’s day, was it?” She asked and he shifted his head gingerly as if to shake it in validation of her point. When she tried to coax him to allow her to shift Eugene into her arms instead, he still wouldn’t let go… or maybe he just couldn’t with how badly shaken up he was. “I’m sorry.” She said emphatically but began to feel unsettled when he just kept staring at her as if he could hardly believe she was there with his wide-eyed and eerily unsteady gaze.  “Varian… could you, maybe tell me what happened?” She asked softly, eyes landing on his arm again and then towards Maximus who had now sympathetically crouched beside them despite eyeing the shimmering stone platform warily. Varian anxiously gulped before he began to speak, finally breaking eye contact with her.

“Baron… he - he was gonna hurt my dad because I said I wouldn’t help him and then he wouldn’t stop hurting Eugene.” He shuddered, refusing to let go of Eugene even though his entire body was trembling. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry but I  - I couldn’t … I didn’t stop him. He kept on hurting Eugene even- even when I tried to negotiate with him and then the beam broke and the cavern collapsed… Flynn, he- left Eugene there but then tried to save me but I - he… I think he’s dead. I got him killed!” He squeezed his eyes shut with a gasp of pain.

“Easy there, Varian.” She tried to soothe with widened eyes at the revelations she couldn’t quite understand fully just yet but she placed her other hand on one of his gloved ones that clutched onto the fabric of Eugene’s jacket in a tight, quaking fist while his other arm hung limply at his side. “Flynn’s not dead and Eugene…” She brushed the still wet hair out of Eugene’s flushed face which was furrowed with pain. “Eugene’ll be okay.” He had to be okay. “He’s strong. You know he is.”

She glanced back up, watching as relief hope revealed itself in Varian’s ghostly pallid facial features before the light inside of him sank away again as his shoulders slumped, causing him to cringe, guiding her to his wound once more. “Your arm.” Rapunzel mentioned cautiously, now searching the satchel for something, anything that could possibly help right now. She needed tweezers…  or did the region have to be cleaned first? Yes, probably that. But then what about removing whatever was stuck inside it? Should she leave it in and secure it with bandages until the doctor could take a look at it? Stitches, he might need some of those. She let out a shallow breath as she tried to sort through her thoughts.

“How did this happen to your arm?” She repeated at Varian’s look of confusion. He replied dizzily, not even glancing at it. “My… arm?” He shifted it and then through gritted teeth, “I guess it is stinging a bit.” That was clearly an understatement. “I think it was… yes, it must have been when the prototype blew up the cart. Mmm, I think I need to revise the Rooster’s mechanics a bit? A universal fail-safe?”

Blazes, with all that happened she had completely forgotten that overseeing the construction of his project had initially been her agenda of the day. 

“Varian?” She tried interrupting him before he could go on a tangent as she pulled out a roll of bandages and held it in front of him, wanting to consult him on the matter so that she could at least try to help ease his pain while she figured out a way to get them all back to the castle as safely and quickly as possible but he didn't seem to hear her and continued completing thoughts she could barely follow along aloud.

“Yes, yes, that would work…” He hummed to himself airily. “But also to be considered, a stronger stabilizing compound for the Flynnoleum.”

“Varian?”

“I suspect increasing the insulation around the loading chamber would give a similar effect, might need to run a few tests.”

It was a near torment to hear him weakly ramble on about his invention when she honestly couldn’t care any less about whether it worked properly or not at the moment. Even if she did have a pretty good understanding about this coping mechanism based on her own first hand experience, she knew that he desperately needed support to deal with the day’s events.

 “Course, that would have drawbacks. Safety versus utility.” He began coughing much to her dismay but then looked back at her in almost a daze when he had stopped, now speaking with a rasp. “Do you have a piece of paper? I need to recalculate…”

“Varian, I need you to listen to me right now.” She instructed firmly, unable to take this any longer and he looked at her with almost fearful eyes. She sighed, having not meant to scare him but didn’t let it deter her and spoke to him kindly, setting down the bandages and holding onto his uninjured arm, hoping it would help ground him. “What happened to you today was absolutely awful and I am so, so sorry that I didn’t get to you sooner. I don’t know exactly what you went through but I do know that it must have been really scary.” She looked away, trying to figure out how best to get her words out. “And scary things make us want to run away and hide from them but doing so won’t make them go away or fix them or even change them.” 

She heard him start to sniffle and saw that the tears he had been holding back just moments ago were now silently creeping down his face as he nodded at her in understanding. She inhaled deeply, holding her breath for several seconds before releasing it and he mimicked her motions until he was brought back to her speed. She then reached over to gently brush Varian’s tears away with her sleeves. 

“You helped me learn that, did you know?” She asked after a few repetitions and he shook his head. “I’m… pretty sure it was the opposite.” He croaked but even so his split lips cracked into the smallest of smiles. 

“Untrue.” She replied as he finally allowed her to tuck his head under her chin. She tugged him into a slightly awkward side-hug to prevent further aggravation of his injuries. He was still shivering but it slowly began to ease with what little warmth she could provide to him. “And that wasn’t the only thing you were right about.” He pulled away and gave her a questioning look. She placed one of her palms flat against the platform his tired eyes followed, shimmering with traces of curiosity.

“You summoned a rock.” He said softly as though just realizing the platform was beneath them but his expression revealed his awe as he finally dared to look away from both her and Eugene to stare at it. He winced as he shifted just a bit so that he could remove one of his gloves, revealing a metal cuff upon his scratched up wrist and he touched the surface as well. “A golden rock.”

“Yes, I think your theory about my powers were right. They seemed so responsive and adaptive to the fourth incantation and my emotions.” She nodded with a hum, relieved to see that a little colour had returned to his face but she knew that he was likely still in a lot of pain based on how he just barely appeared to be managing to hold himself upright. Her mind then asked a question: Had landing on the platform hurt? Her eyes widened, realizing that the impact might have been what rendered Eugene unconscious so she finally convinced Varian into letting her move Eugene into her lap, one of his hands still caught around his sleeve with a rather cloudy expression had drifted onto the younger’s face. “Do… you think you can stand, Varian?” She asked uncertainly but her doubts grew when he replied after a yawn and she was forced to grab his arm when his whole body swayed due to a particularly chilly breeze blowing past them. 

Perhaps she could somehow get Maximus to carry both Eugene and Varian?  No… Eugene had already been in so much pain and Varian clearly wouldn’t be able to hold on either if a simple gust of wind had just threatened to knock him down.

“It… it might take me a minute. Cause the stars and moon...” He suddenly breathed and she followed his gaze skywards. “They just look so awesome right now but I don't think they should be spinning. Feels almost like I’m still falling, really.” He jittered out a short, shaky laugh but suddenly the image of him jumping off the cliff filled her mind and caused her breathing to hitch as she was brought back down to Earth, staring at him in horror.

 “You… you really scared me, you know?” And back to Earth he came too. She just couldn’t help but shake her head, trying to push away the memory from mere minutes ago but it wouldn’t leave her and the question came out before she could stop it. “Why, Varian?”

”What?” He asked in a fragile voice.

“I saw you jump.” She clarified in a whisper, “Why did you?”

 He froze, submerging into silence as he looked back out into the endless, starry wonders of the nighttime world again, expression reforming into an afflicted grimace. She thought he wouldn’t answer when she saw the spirit of fear in his eyes and opened her mouth to apologize for being so blunt. She hadn’t wanted him to…

”I’m sorry. I didn’t… ” The teenager faltered before clearing his throat and unexpectedly looking her dead in the eye. “I didn’t want to risk Baron using me to hurt you and Corona. I don’t want to hurt you. Not ever again... I’d - I’d rather be dead.” He shook his head and repeated it with a louder, more fierce conviction. “I’d rather be dead.”

The way he said those four words near-physically hurt her and she gasped. ”Blazes, Varian! Don’t ever say that! You’re my friend! I care about you! You- you- shouldn’t… you can’t just…“  

“You’ve got to get off this ship… Rapunzel, I’ve got to clean up my own mess.”

“And you’re my friend.” He interrupted, argumentatively yet with reverence for her in his voice. A deep loyalty that filled with that fuzzy warmth of camaraderie but also made her skin crawl as the darker implications sunk in deeper and deeper. The only difference was that he didn’t look apologetic at all anymore.

“But I- I don’t want you to be hurt either, Varian.” She just barely managed to say, almost choking out the words due to the torrent of emotions he had just caused her. Not because of me.

He huffed out a quiet laugh, a small glint of light and steadiness returning to his darkened eyes. “Then, I suppose we’re at an impasse, princess.” 

Rapunzel hesitated before responding, heart so chockfull of conflict now, but she decidedly gave his forearm a gentle pat instead and forced herself to smile sweetly. This was a conversation to be had some other time. “You’re brave Varian, really brave… but let’s… let’s just get ourselves home now.” Somehow, someway. “There’s a warm bed and a cup of hot cocoa with your name on it, ya know?”

She felt that she’d said something wrong when she saw the familiar weight of gilded guilt and regrets return to him, glazing over his broken blue eyes once more as he lost that boldness to his own thoughts but more words, words had become so much harder for them both until the winds began to pick up again, sending a terrible chill through them all. She tried to blanket them with her hair as best she could but it was clear that they couldn’t stay out here any longer. Varian worriedly stared down at Eugene. “We need to get him a doctor. Baron hurt him a lot… He hurt him real bad, Rapunzel. I saw it…” He trailed off and her eyes widened with realization. Varian must have seen everything Baron had done to Eugene. And his injuries… mixed with the fact that Eugene had drowned… 

She had to ensure he was locked behind bars for good, she had to ensure that he would not escape justice! But if she just left him there… he could wake up and escape before she could even alert the guards to his location. He would come after Eugene and Varian again. He would do something worse. 

She left this unspoken, not wanting to cause the teenager to panic again but her eyes had begun to water now as she looked down at Eugene again, taking in every single bruise she could see and the blood seeping through the cracks of his lips. Quickly though, she blinked the tears back for Varian’s sake and decided on taking action first.

“Varian, I told you already. Eugene is strong, he’ll get through this. He’s… he’s just  gonna need to rest.” She affirmed for both of them. “But you’re right, we do need to go. I’m going to treat your arm first, though. I’m pretty sure that it feels much worse than just stinging a bit.”

He bit his lip for a second but then winced badly. ”Do… you have to?” He asked quietly, strands of hair were still plastered over his face, his other arm hugged around himself cautiously and she nodded grimly. “It looks… not so great, Var. And I know that this might make the pain worse for a bit but I think we have to do this. So what do you say?”

He hesitated but then nodded in quiet confirmation. “Okay.” 

“Thank you.” She breathed, picking up the roll of bandages and eyeing the sharp metal. “I don't have much to clean it with right now and I don't know how deep it is, so what I’m just gonna do is make it stable for the journey back so the doctor can take a look at it.” 

“You… don’t have any gauze?” He grimaced, shifting his arm a little further away in defense but the movement caused him to turn yet another shade of pale, causing her to cringe at her forgetfulness. “Oh, right, yes. Gauze first.” Cassandra’s lessons were all coming back to her now.

She retrieved and began to layer gauze over his no longer white sleeve as gently as she could over and around the object without touching it but could hear Varian trying to stifle whimpers of pain, could feel him struggling immensely to keep still which was causing her to have to keep a bit of a tighter hold on his uninjured arm. “Hurts.” He eventually gritted out, eyes squeezed shut. “Stop.”

 “I know, I know. I’m sorry, so sorry.”  She kept profusely apologizing as she worked,  feeling awful even though she knew this had to be done. She tore a hole into one of the strips of the bandages once she was done with the gauze, placing it over the metal to dress and bind the wound. 

By the time she was finished and certain that it was just snug enough, he was leaning forward over Eugene with his head pressed against one of her shoulders and he was breathing raggedly again. “All done. You did really well.” She whispered softly but in devastation, beginning to rub a hand in soothing circles on his back and wishing she could take this pain away from him in an instant instead. “You holding on okay?” She asked sympathetically, after his breathing seemed to have evened out and the tension with which he had been holding himself up with had dissipated. He didn’t respond. 

“Varian?” She asked again, giving him a gentle shake before realizing that he must have passed out from exhaustion. She lowered him as carefully as possible, allowing him to lay on his uninjured arm next to Eugene and ensuring that his wound remained elevated. Maximus then nuzzled the side of her face, bringing her attention back towards the forest with his head. She knew what he was saying and nodded, not seeing any other way forward. They needed help. “Maximus, you need to go to the Snuggly Duckling while I stay here and keep an eye on things. I’ll send a note with you for the thugs to hook you up with a cart,” Her eyes wandered to Baron’s still form. “And some rope so that -”

”They're over there!” 

There was a loud yell from within the trees, causing Maximus to immediately turn around and jump into a protective stance in front of them. Rapunzel couldn’t get to her feet with Eugene still laying in her arms but she drew her hair back over both his and Varian’s unconscious forms as a shield. Pascal snagged her frying pan from back upon the cliff and she held it at the ready. 

She saw Flynn running out of the woods first, illuminated by the starlight and her first panic-filled thought was that he was beckoning forward members of Weasel’s gang. Several lanterns were quick to follow him from behind and she could hear hooves. Her breathing hitched. With the bracelet drained and her body still feeling depleted, all she had left was her own wits and the hope that she could muster up enough magic to fight them off again. Her hair would shield them but they were already so close to the cliff’s edge and… No, she couldn’t think like that! She wouldn’t give up. She’d never stop fighting to protect those she cared about… she had to fight… she had to…

”Rapunzel! Oh blazes, are you alright?!”

“Lance!” She cried out in relief, delighted to see her friend as the man ran past Flynn, flanked by several guards in their standard golden armour. Maximus abandoned his stance and let Lance through, giving a nod to his comrades and their horses.

“Holy heck! Is that the Baron?” She heard Pete the guard exclaim and the soldiers circled around the body, gawking at him. 

Her tiara was laying on the ground several feet before Flynn but he didn’t even make a move towards it. In fact, he sank to the ground against a nearby tree, simply resting his head on his arm, propped over his knee. 

“Woah!” Lance skidded to a halt at the edge of the cliff to where it crumbled against the golden platform. “This had to have been some of your amazing handiwork, wasn’t it princess?”

She nodded in disbelief, unable to stop herself from grinning at the man. “It’s safe, you can stand on it. Thank goodness, you’re here… Eugene and Varian-“

Lance’s face twisted with anguish at mention of the boy’s name as he shakingly stepped onto the platform. “Oh my gosh, Princess! Something terrible’s happened! Varian’s-gotten-kidnapped-its-all-my-fault-there-were-traitors-and-an-explosion-and…”

“Lance!” Rapunzel interrupted, moving her hair to reveal Eugene and Varian. He gasped, looking as though he was running through hundreds of mixed emotions just as she had been. “You found him.” He breathed with a sharp intake of air, looking both relieved but horrified by the sight at the same time as he quickly knelt beside her. “Oh no, Eugene… What happened to him?”

”The Baron.” She said with a shudder, gesturing towards where the soldiers were now securing the man to take him into custody. Lance’s expression contorted into a fierce scowl. “He did this to them?” His words, serious and angry as she had never heard him before. “Yes.” She whispered. “Baron used Flynn to lure and kidnap Eugene and then he took him to where he was holding Varian. I didn’t even know he had Varian until I got to Eugene.” She couldn’t stop herself from sniffling now, letting out the soft hiccup of a sob she’d been holding back. “It’s been such a long day, Lance. I got so afraid of losing Eugene and then I was scared for Varian. And then I- I nearly lost them both in one go. I just wanted to get us all home now but they are both so hurt. I just want them to be okay. I just want them to be safe.” Her tears fell onto Eugene’s jacket and she tried to wipe them away but they kept falling now. She was just so overwhelmed and had no more reason to hold them back.

“Hey, hey, hey, they will be okay and they are safe now. I suspect that it is all thanks to you, Rapunzel. You're a hero.” Lance said and placed an arm around her shoulders, putting aside the anger in his voice and giving her a gentle squeeze, smiling at her warmly. “And that's what I want for everyone too so you’re awfully lucky that’s what I’m here to do, princess. I’m gonna get you home but you don’t need to force yourself to discuss what happened before you’re ready. In fact, I think we can discuss all this after a good meal and once you get some rest. What do you think?”

”I think you are a real hero, Lance and I’m really glad you’re here.” She whispered, closing her eyes and leaning exhaustedly into her brother’s embrace.