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Varian looked around. He couldn't tell where he was. He stepped out, a soft ring of blue light under his feet.
"Hello?" he called out as he looked at his hands. They glowed a slight blue, his hair strand glowing as well. He looked for his gloves in his pockets to no avail.
He bit his lip hard as he started wandering further out. The blue rings still appeared as he walked, a soft hum around him.
He felt something like grass under his feet. He looked down, seeing fresh grass right beneath him. The rest of his surroundings remained dark, a complete black void.
He ran faster through the grass when the sky began lightening until it was a soft blue, clouds surrounding him.
He looked around as nature appeared. Trees, bushes, flowers.
He saw a swingset in the distance, movement on it.
He rushed towards it, out of breath by the time he reached the swing. A little girl, who seemed to look almost like a ghost, a pale translucent blue, sat on the swing in a puffy dress.
"Excuse me? Do you know where we are?"
The little girl looked over, batting her eyes. "Ah, you must be Varian. I've been expecting you." Another swing appeared out of thin air. "Sit, please."
Varian hesitantly sat down, swinging slightly.
"I've been ordered to help save your friends."
Varian's brows furrowed. "Save my friends? What are you talking about?"
The girl looked over with innocent eyes. "They're in danger. And only you can save them."
They were teleported to a piece of land. Cass, one of Varian's closest friends, was fighting somebody whose face Varian couldn't make out. Varian himself tripped, a spike rushing to him. Cass pushed him out of the way, the spike impaling her.
"Wait, what?!" Varian's voice rose as he watched another version of himself cry over Cass's body. "Who were we fighting?"
"I... don't know. I only could find this much of this timeline." The girl answered, looking at Varian's concerned eyes, biting back a smile.
"Is she okay? She's okay, right?"
The girl put on a grim face, shaking her head. "She died. Wiped out."
Varian's face switched to horror as he felt his hands shake.
"Don't worry, my boy. I can tell you how to prevent it soon."
The girl snapped her fingers. They were in a different setting, the Dark Kingdom.
Varian ran from a set of guards, his heart thundering against his ribs.
"Eugene!" His voice was hoarse and strained.
Suddenly a guard caught up to Varian, preparing to pierce the boy with their sword.
Eugene pushed Varian out of the way, the sword digging into his flesh instead.
"Eugene!" Varian cried as the guard backed away, satisfied with their kill.
Varian watched in even more horror. "Do these happen in the real world?" Varian asked, voice shaking.
The girl nodded softly. "Unless..."
"Unless what?" Varian felt his heart leaping.
"You have to take the Moonstone instead, Varian. The others, they can't understand." The girl informed Varian, looking up at him with soft eyes.
"But taking the Moonstone, it would..."
"Kill you? Yes, it would sadly. But it's the only way for your friends to live." The girl insisted as she rubbed her arm. "Maybe you won't die though... who knows?"
Varian frowned. "Of course I'd die. The power is too strong."
"Well, I hear the strongest people with purest intentions can survive." The girl told Varian. "Which means you could survive and nobody would die..."
Varian tilted his head. "How would that keep people from dying?"
"The Moonstone, it caused this. Taking it away from its current vessel could fix it." The little girl looked up at Varian, eyes big and soft. "They need you."
Varian's frown deepened as he crossed his arms. "How do I know you aren't lying?" he asked as he turned slightly, the blue rings appearing once more.
"Oh, Varian... I'm your friend, I promise. I wouldn't want to hurt you." The girl assured him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Of course you could always let your friends die..."
"What?! No, I'm not gonna do that. It's just... a lot to ask." Varian held himself closer.
"Don't worry. It will all be okay. Just take the stone."
Varian nodded, eyes tearing up against his will.
~
Varian stared at Rapunzel as Cass and Eugene planned how to approach her.
He took a deep breath, looking at the building Rapunzel was ransacking.
"What do you think, V?" Cass asked as Varian looked over to her.
He hadn't really listened to their conversation. It had turned into more of a background buzz as his mind had been racing.
"Huh?"
"How should we get her down to give her the elixir?"
Varian tapped his fingers. "I dunno," he replied, his leg bouncing up and down.
"You okay, Varian? You've been weird ever since last night." Eugene said, frowning as he leaned in closer.
"Yeah, I'm fine..." Varian took a deep breath. "You guys trust me, right?"
"Yeah... why?" Eugene's tone switched to an even more concerned one.
"Trust me." He told the two before dashing off towards Rapunzel.
"VARIAN!" he heard Cass and Eugene yell.
Rapunzel was almost repelling him by all the wind she stirred up.
"Rapunzel!" he yelled out as he took one step forward, almost knocking himself off his feet.
The woman turned to face him, her head tilting as she forced a spike towards him.
Varian dodged it, biting down on his lip. He used his hand to shield his eyes from the drying wind, reaching closer to Rapunzel.
"Rapunzel, I know you're in there! Trust me!"
He looked to the princess's almost soulless eyes. Almost.
Varian stumbled backward, the top layer of skin rubbing off his palms. He grimaced as he struggled to stand back up.
"Varian!" He heard the barely there screams of Cass and Eugene in the distance, filtering them into a buzz.
It felt like only him and Rapunzel existed. This one moment would dictate the rest of both their lives. His heart thundered against his ribs as he was arm's length towards Rapunzel.
He reached out, grabbing her. She thrashed against him as Varian managed to hold her against her torso firmly. He reached towards her chestplate, the side with a glowing blue stone.
He gripped it stronger than anything he ever had, ripping it out of her armor.
An electric blue pulse of light flashed as Varian and Rapunzel were flung into the air.
Varian landed on his elbows, narrowly managing to not hit his head.
He braced for some pain or impact, but none came. He opened his eyes, the Moonstone in his palm. Quite literally in his palm. It had burrowed into his skin almost.
He stood up, noticing a slight blue light from his peripheral vision. He looked upwards, noticing a glowing blue strand of hair like the one from his vision.
He looked across from him. About fifty feet away was Rapunzel. Her hair looked normal again.
Varian felt a soft breeze surround him as the rest of the world faded to black.
~
He was alone again. He looked around, his feet emitting blue rings as he stepped again.
"Varian. You did it." The little girl's voice came as she walked towards him.
"What?"
"You saved your friends!" She informed him, grabbing his hand, pointing to the stone in his palm. "They're safe. And so is Rapunzel."
Varian bit his lip, nodding. "What happened to me?"
"You see, my boy... you are connected to the Moonstone. In a way."
"Wait, what?"
"Your father, Quirin, he was around the Moonstone so much some of its power infused into his DNA. When you were born you had some of that DNA in you. You're the Moonstone's vessel."
"But Rapunzel is...?"
"Oh, that's what they want you to believe. But listen to me, Varian. You're special. And so am I. I can teach you how to control your powers. I had them first before I passed."
Varian heard a voice. He couldn't quite make out the words.
"What's that noise?"
The little girl's eyes narrowed. "Don't listen to it."
"Why?" He strained his ears to hear it.
"I said don't listen to it!" she yelled at Varian, her face turning into a demon-like appearance for a split second.
Varian felt like throwing up all of a sudden. He shook his head, walking backwards.
"I don't want you to teach me."
"Oh, but you need me."
Varian shook his head as the little girl came towards him, holding his wrist. Varian pushed her off him with all his might.
She fell to the ground, her face turning demonic again.
"You'll pay for that."
~
He opened his eyes, the sun blaring behind three figures.
Cass, Eugene, and Rapunzel.
He rubbed his head, looking around.
"Varian, are you okay?!" Rapunzel asked.
Varian's head snapped towards her.
"You can talk?!"
Rapunzel nodded softly. "You saved me." She hugged the boy. "But your heart, it... stopped beating. We thought you had..." Rapunzel looked away, eyes tearing up.
Varian hugged the three of them tightly. At first they were taken aback before everyone leaned into the hug, a silent tear of relief rolling down Varian's face.