Chapter Text
Varian had been Corona's most wanted for a while now. He wished he could change things, make it up to the people, but not in the way Andrew suggests.
"What?! You want me to wipe the memories of everyone in the kingdom?! Including the King and Queen-wha-that's insane!" He had shouted, his hands in the air. They were in a forest near Old Corona Village, so they were completely isolated from anyone else who would've been able to listen in.
"Look, kid it's a foolproof plan. We get to become some of the most powerful people of Corona, and wait until the royals fall and transition to New Saporia at last." A crooked smile (obviously one that was meant to manipulate Varian) spread across Andrew's face. "And plus, nobody's gonna have to remember you, or what you've done. You can start fresh! It's a win-win for us all." He started to bring his hand over to the smaller boy's shoulder.
"All we need is for you to do the science-y stuff and we'll be all set-"
His sentence was interrupted by Varian smacking the taller man's hand away. The youngest backed up, looking angry and disgusted.
"No. I won't-I won't do it." He said, gathering the bit of confidence that started to bubble up inside him. The rest of him was completely and utterly terrified.
"Wow. After everything we've been through, everything we've done for you, you're just going to leave us in the dirt like that? We're giving you an opportunity to help, even to help you! I think you're getting confused about this kid. Think about your goal while we were in the dungeons, even before we were thrown in there to rot away!"
He did. The dark-haired boy looked down, almost as if he was taking Andrew's words to heart. His goal was to destroy Rapunzel, her family, hell, even Corona. As long as it was something Rapunzel loved, he wanted to take it away from her. Just like she had taken what he loved away from him.
But that's what he had wanted. Was he confused? No. He wanted a fresh start, to be on good terms with everyone again, just not like this.
"This is what you want, right. That's what you said."
His tone no longer calm and convincing. It was clear he was getting annoyed with Varian's antics.
He didn't care though. He was going to do the right thing. Start off better. He wasn't sure how, but he knew it wouldn't be this way. Not the groups way, not the kingdoms way, not Andrew's way, his way.
He reached into his belt, and pulled out a smoke bomb. Before the others could react accordingly, it was already on the ground and soon enough, there was coughing. He rushed behind each of them, trapping them each in pink goo. He pushed Andrew into a tree, and did the same to him.
The smoke cleared and Andrew along with everyone else was trying to break free.
"Even if you leave us now, we can still do this without you! Where will you go?! Who's gonna protect you?! You're just a good for nothing kid who cares too much! You need us!" He snarled, while struggling in the goo.
It wouldn't hold for too much longer. Varian had to get away, and quick.
"I may just be a kid, but I do not need you. I never did, you just made me believe that."
After that, he threw another smoke bomb, and was nowhere to be seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ShitShitShitShitShitShitShit-
Was all he could think as he started packing a bag. Goddamn it he hated to admit it but Andrew was right. He had no fucking idea where he would go, what he would do next, he didn't think this through.
He ran around the house throwing things into a satchel, and something he sewed with zippers. He called it a 'backpack'. He had plenty of Alchemical solutions, didn't have much currency (something else he'd have to deal with later), good amount of clothes, and food. He went into his fathers room to see if there was anything useful (or sentimental) he could bring along with him.
He started to walk around and eventually stepped on something.
"Hmm?" He looked down to where his foot was, raising an eyebrow.
Varian lifted his foot to reveal something jammed within the floorboards. It was a ribbon with some sort of mini magnifying glass at the end. What was it? And what was it doing under dad's floors?
He crouched down and pried the wood apart, revealing a dusty pink book underneath. He picked it up, having to wipe dust off of it. He coughed and got a better look at the cover, it was hard to see because of how dark it was but he was able to make out letters. The word 'Journal' was at the bottom of it, did dad keep a journal? It's not likely but also not impossible.
His eyes adjusted to the light and he was finally able to see the name on the journal-
His blood ran cold.
The name on the cover was Ulla. Varian's mother.
Dad had never talked about her much, but he did know basic information like her name, and that she died a little after he was born.
He started to flip and skim through the book, some if it was written in some sort of code or language he couldn't understand at the moment, but some of it was written normally as well. There was something about totems, a library, and the seven kingdoms.
Was she trying to find something? The 'library' she keeps mentioning? What do the totems do? What are they for? Why all of the Seven Kingdoms?
Well, at least now he had an idea on where he might go, what he might do. It was a start.
He grabbed a few things more, along with some wood, and tools. He rushed down to his lab to grab his coat, and turned around to face who he was doing this for.
His father.
After all these years, nobody even tried to help his father's situation (not that he was surprised, the justice system in this kingdom was terrible), and it was up to him to do something about it. Like it always has been. Like it always will be.
"Don't worry dad, this library seems different from others. I haven't read through the whole thing, but if mom traveled all the seven kingdoms to find it, then there must be something in there to help you escape. I can do this. I can make you proud of me. I will make you proud of me", he said with a determined smile.
He went to the door, stuff in hand, and stopped and shuddered before turning back to look at his father. He then took a deep breath, and left one of the only place he's ever known for years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm sorry, I like remember you but I don't remember you. Does that make sense?"
"Really? I almost single-handedly felled Corona."
"Hm..."
Andrew sighed.
"I took you for a ride in a hot-air balloon."
"Ohh! The less-attractive than me guy with the man bun!"
“Can we just start fighting now?” Lance said, taking a sword out from his side.
Andrew rolled his eyes, then lunged at Eugene, their weapons clinking on impact.
“Y’know, while we’re here…how on earth were you able to manage all this? I mean, erasing the King and Queens memories? That’s some serious stuff right there.”
“You know, it took a while. It could have gone so much quicker if the kid hadn’t left us in the dirt.”
“Kid?” Eugene said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, he could’ve used his stupid science to make the process quicker, but the King, Queen, and a good amount of citizens is a start.” He responded with an evil smile.
Eugene seemed to think about this for a moment. Suddenly, his head shot up and his eyes went the size of tennis balls, while Andrew stood and laughed at him.
He took this as an opportunity to disarm the ex-thief, and push him to the floor.
"Awww, Flynn Rider's getting a bit rusty!" Andrew said, holding him down underneath him with his foot, slowly pressing it into his chest.
"What happened to him?! What did you do?" Eugene said between coughs, trying to lift the other mans foot off of him.
"Eh, who knows? Kid just...ran off." Andrew shrugged. "But hey! At least he's probably running rampage somewhere else! He's not in our kingdom, he's not our problem."
Andrews foot pushed harder, causing Eugene to wince. The man below him coughed and started to choke due to lack of air.
All of a sudden, there was a loud clang! as Andrew fell to the floor. Eugene took the largest gasp of air known to man kind as he sat up to see who else was still standing.
Most Saporians were on the ground, some tied against the wall in Rapunzel's hair. Speaking of, that same woman was currently helping him up and leading him toward the throne room's exit. Before they left formally, she yanked her hair back, sending one of the goons spinning and straight into a pillar, knocking him unconscious.
Everything after that was fuzzy. He got some water, sat down for a bit, and finally regained where he was and what the hell was going on.
"Okay, first things first, dispose of the Saporian Wand of Oblivion." His girlfriend said while pacing back and forth, her hair now back in its normal style.
"You know you don't have to say the whole name when talking about it, right?"
"That doesn't matter right now!" She said, seeming to get the slightest bit irritated. After all, she was still on edge about the whole Cass situation. They all were to be completely honest. Eugene would be lying if he said she wasn't starting to grow on him.
"The next thing, well..." She paused, and took a deep breath.
"I have a promise I need to make good on."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They had walked to Old Corona, and stopped once they were at their preferred destination.
They stepped into Varian's house, and Rapunzel immediately went downstairs to where Quirin was.
Eugene ventured deeper into the halls, trying to see if he could find Varian.
No way he could have just-run off, right? Where would he even have gone? What would they tell Quirin as soon as he was freed? How would the Kingdom react? Or the other six? He could have gone on and on, but now was definitely not the time for that. He kept wandering around, poking his head into every room, lifting the cover of every chest, opening every door, but still nothing.
He eventually resorted to softly calling his name. He hadn't exactly told Rapunzel about this newfound information. Plus, who knows if it's even true?! It did come from Andrew after all.
"Eugene?" Rapunzel called.
"Be there in a moment sunshine!"
He rushed down to where Rapunzel had called him, just to be met with her hair wrapped around the amber Quirin was stuck in. Where he had been stuck for the past two years. He looked at the scene before him, closer this time. Rapunzel's hair was wrapped around the rock and she was holding it.
He's never been more confused in his life, and that's saying quite a bit.
"What is your plan, exactly?
"Okay, so, do you remember the thing I told you about...? When my hair was black and it...ah..." Rapunzel fumbled with her hands, trying to find the right thing to say.
"Vaugely."
"Alright! But, Eugene," She said, turning to face him. "Once I start, I can't stop, so I'm trusting you to be able to snap me out of it. Okay?"
"You can count on me sunshine."
"Oh, and one more thing, don't touch me."
He would not at all be questioning that.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
And then started to sing.
"Wither, and decay. End this destiny."
Her hair started to turn black, and he followed it as the color soon took over her entire head, including where it was wrapped around the amber. This was a bit odd. Rapunzel had described this to him, but he never fully understood.
"Break these earthly chains, and set the spirit free."
Her eyes shot open, matching her hair completely. The only other bit of color on them was a slight shimmer.
Eugene turned his head to face Quirin in concern, and he could have sworn he saw smoke, or steam, or, something. Then he squinted his eyes and got a closer look.
The amber was melting.
Rapunzel's hair was melting the amber.
How the hell was it doing that?! Since when could it do that?! Was she able to do that when they first met?! No-she would have threatened him with that when she tied him up in the chair. Varian said that her hair no longer had it's healing powers-
Good Lord he was not about to start thinking about Varian right now.
He snapped himself out of his trance, and turned to look at what was happening. Quirin looked like he was mostly out, and that he was alive thank goodness. But it was still happening.
Rapunzel wasn't stopping.
Right. She told him to break her out of it. How was he going to do that? She said he wasn't able to touch her, (and he still has no idea why) was she able to hear him? How did it work out the first time? He might as well be going insane--
Then he did something incredibly stupid.
"Hey, Rapunzel, dear, sunshine, He's good, y-you can stop now." He said as beads of sweat fell down his face. He was panicking, Quirin was fully freed by now, and Rapunzel's hair was just a clump on the floor, which it was burning through, mind you. He ran over to the large man, and tried to pull him backwards. It was insanely difficult, but he managed to get him a couple of inches away. It wasn't the greatest, but it was far enough to keep him from falling through the hole that was now rapidly getting larger.
He ran back over to Rapunzel, not sure what he should do. He tried cupping her face, but oh what a horrible decision, really. His gloves burnt right off, and next thing he knew, he was pulling his hands back.
Okay, so, now he understood why he shouldn't have touched her.
"Rapunzel, hey, you've gotta wake up. Please, the-there's a hole in the floor, but Quirin's free! So ah-mission accopmlished. Blondie- please-"
She gasped suddenly, blinking rapidly.
Her legs gave out, but not before Eugene was able to catch her. Her hair quickly returned back to its normal color, along with her eyes. She leaned into Eugene's chest, and looked up at him slowly. Then looked past him to look at the hole, which some of her hair had fallen in.
And there was Quirin.
He was rubbing his head, and standing up, placing his hand on a (messy) table full of alchemical supplies.
"What's going on? How long was I in there?"
His eyes then went wide.
"Where's Varian?!" He said, his voice full of concern.
"Oh uh-well he's-" Rapunzel started, but was quickly cut off.
"How about we all go upstairs? Get some rest! regroup!" Eugene said suddenly. Rapunzel turned to him and raised an eyebrow, but soon enough, the three were upstairs.
They all eventually sat down, Eugene and Rapunzel beside one another, and Quirin across from them.
"So, where is my son?"
“Well…” Rapunzel started. Then she took a deep breath. “He’s in jail… serving time.” She finished, her fists tightening on her dress.
Okay, wow. Just getting straight to the point. Oh! Crap—but he’s not. Eugene slapped himself mentally. would’ve been best to tell Rapunzel before the whole thing started.
“Okay, so, that may not entirely be the case.” Eugene spoke up.
“What do you mean by that?” Quirin said, eyebrows furrowing.
“Yes, Eugene, what do you mean by that?” Rapunzel added looking up at him.
Eugene shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
“So, he was in jail for a bit! Let’s say a year and a half or so. Buuttt…heescapedandnowwehavenoideawhereheis.
“WHAT?!” Rapunzel and Quirin said at the same time, Rapunzel jumping up to stand in front of Eugene.
“He escaped?! Eugene—why didn’t you tell me?!”
“My son did time? what for—?
“One! At a time— please!” Eugene shouted, standing up and holding his arms out.
“Quirin i’m sure you have the most questions so you go first.” He said, putting both of his hands together and pointing to the man in question.
"Okay. So, Varian. My son. Was in jail?"
"Yes."
"Why."
Oh jeez. Now they had to go through this again. That's alright; they could do this again. Just explain the whole ordeal to the only family this kid had left, and vice versa! No worries. No stress at all! No pressure!
Eugene sat down, and Quirin replicated the movement. He started to explain what had happened; Rapunzel butted in every now and then to get the details as accurate as possible. She had looks of sadness, regret, and guilt as she did so. He couldn't blame her. Quirin sat there in silence, and eventually responded.
It went on like this for not that much longer, and it was eventually time for Rapunzel and Eugene to leave.
They walked in silence for about two minutes, until Rapunzel spoke.
"Why didn't you tell me about Varian sooner?" She said, looking down.
"Sunshine...look. I'm so sorry. I didn't find out until that fight with the Saporians, and everything else happened so fast. I know I should've said something, but I- sigh I don't know."
There was another silence, and suddenly, Eugene felt something in his hand.
Rapunzel had grabbed his hand, looking up at him softly. His eyes widened, then he reciprocated the expression.
"We'll figure it out." She said, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah. Everything's going to work out just fine."