Chapter Text
Crouched down next to a giant copper tank, Varian leaned in close to a small meter, watching it carefully as he adjusted the various dials and switches underneath. A swath of dark, blue striped hair fell into his vision and he brushed it back hastily. This process was a delicate one and required all of his concentration. He took a slow calming breath as the needle on the dial came closer and closer to just the right spot…
Something collided with the side of the tank with a resounding ring, sending vibrations through Varian's bones and making him jump back with a shamefully alarmed shriek. He snapped his head up to find the Captain of the Guard, Eugene Fitzherbert, leaning against the tank, having apparently just smacked it with his hand.
"So Goggles, just so we're clear," said Eugene, his grin clearly masking concern, "This is the same device that you were working on when we first met. The same machine that nearly took out your whole village. The same machine that almost crushed mine and Rapunzel's beautiful faces."
"Oh Eugene, I'm sure it's fine," said Princess Rapunzel, coming to stand next to her husband to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Varian knows what he's doing this time around. He and his dad have been working on this for months now, right Varian?"
Varian took a quick look back down at the meter and felt a smile tug the corner of his mouth when he saw that it was at precisely the correct setting. "Right you are, Princess," said Varian, "Those other machines were built when I was just a naive kid starting bravely on the path of science." He jumped up and pulled a lever with gusto. "Now…" He jumped past Eugene, forcing him to take a few steps back, "I'm older..." He grabbed a wheel on the side of the device and sent it spinning. "Wiser, aaand…" He put his hand on another big lever. "I've had a chance to adjust my calculations to a margin of error of just point five two percent!" He yanked the handle down.
Eugene and Rapunzel jumped, and Varian's raccoon Ruddiger scampered away as the whole machine began to tremble. The pipes jutting off of it started to shake. "Uh… Varian?!" Rapunzel blurted, bracing herself and her husband for the worst.
Varian watched the meters calmly, hushing the voice in his head that kept telling him he was about to blow them all to smithereens. The tank started banging as steam began to roll out of small cracks. The commotion moved up the pipes and across the room until it finally arrived at a metal piece full of holes that Varian had engineered to spout hot water in an approximation of rainwater.
Sure enough, they all watched as first, a burst of steam rolled out of the holes, and then a gentle stream of warm water sprayed harmlessly down into the metal wash bin. Varian's smile grew as Rapunzel's friend and companion, the chameleon Pascal, crawled onto the wash bin and felt the warm shower water with apprehension. Once Pascal realized how nice it felt, though, the chameleon relaxed and turned a soft shade of pink in approval.
"Yes! It worked! It really worked!" cried Varian, jumping up and punching the air with excitement before remembering how 'old' and 'wise' he was supposed to be. He calmed himself and focused on speaking more appropriately to his royal company. "Um... I'm mean, of course it worked." He moved back over to the dials and adjusted them slightly to stabilize the machine and calm the vibrations. "As I was just saying, I've grown a lot these past few years."
Rapunzel took one of Varian's hands in hers and looked at him in that way that always made Varian feel safe and secure, "You really have, Varian," She said softly. "After everything we've been through, you have really shown how smart and capable you are. And as the Royal Engineer, you'll be able to really help the people of Corona."
"Yeah," said Eugene, "And everyone will totally forget about your whole evil villain phase."
Varian flinched as dark memories flooded his mind, dredged up by the guard captain's comment.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel chided. "That has long been forgiven."
"Kidding, kidding," replied Eugene hastily. He seemed to realize that his joking had gone too far and Varian watched as the older man looked at him with a more genuine gaze. "In all seriousness, Kid," he said, placing a gentle hand on Varian's shoulder, "you've done an amazing job here. We're really proud of you. I'll bet your dad is as well."
Varian felt a small blush rise in his cheeks at the praise from two of his closest friends. "Thanks, I think so too."
~ * ~
Varian felt lighter than a helium particle. He nearly skipped back to Old Corona, ready to tell his father, Quirin, that he'd finally completed his latest hot water prototype for the castle. As the alchemist passed through the small village, Ruddiger, who had been riding along on his shoulders, hopped off. Varian followed the raccoon with his eyes as he pounced over to two familiar faces.
Catalina giggled and accidentally dropped the bucket of apples she'd been carrying with Kiera as Ruddiger jumped up into her bright red hair. A few apples went rolling into the dirt, and Ruddiger eagerly dashed back down, snatched one up, and returned to Varian's shoulders. Varian winced as Kiera shot him a glare.
"Uh, sorry about that," he stammered.
"Oh no worries," said Kiera. "We'll just bill you for it later."
Lance came running over with a giant sack on his shoulder. "I got the flour! Now, are you girls ready to head home and make my legendary apple pie?" He looked up and finally noticed the person his adoptive daughters were talking to. "Oh- Hi, Varian! You in on some pie? It's my special secret recipe," he sang.
"That actually sounds incredible," said Varian, very much tempted by the offer. "But I really want to see my dad. Maybe I'll come around later?"
"Don't come too late, or I'll have already finished it all off," taunted Catalina.
Varian laughed and waved goodbye as he continued on his way home. A moment later, he swung open the front door and raced inside.
"Dad! Dad, guess what? It finally worked! I finished it, I -" Varian cut himself off as he realized he was speaking to no one. "Dad?" He looked around, but the main room of his home was most definitely empty. Ruddiger jumped onto a shelf, and Varian looked at him with a shrug. "Maybe he had to go out?"
Just as he said that, though, he heard a noise coming from his father's bedroom. "Dad, you there?" Once again, no one responded. Instead, he heard what sounded like a bang. Varian moved swiftly to the door and opened it. "Dad, you o-"
Varian froze as he saw his father's bedroom wholly ransacked. His bed had been overturned, and the floorboards had been pulled up. Varian watched in shock as a figure who was definitely not his father leaned over an open chest next to the hole in the floor, emptying its contents. The stranger looked up, and Varian snapped back to his senses.
"Hey! Put that down right now!" He barked.
The figure stood up, tucking books and papers under his arm, and Varian was able to get a better look at him. He was tall but entirely hidden under a mask and dark clothes. He cocked his head as he looked at Varian but didn't speak.
Then the figure bolted for the window. Varian shoved his hand into his pocket and grasped a glass bottle. Hoping it was the compound he thought it was, he hurled it at the open window. With a smash, the bottle burst, and a thick pink mass of goo blocked the exit.
Varian let out a whoop of triumph. "Ah, ha! Alchemy strikes again! If you want to get out, you'll have to go through me!" The figure skidded to a halt and snapped his head toward Varian. "Uh oh… um..."
The stranger rushed towards him. Varian yelped and tossed another bottle at the oncoming stranger. The stranger dodged as the bottle hit the wall, and large transparent bubbles filled the room. With surprising agility, the stranger avoided the bubbles. A split second later, Varian was shoved into the doorframe as the stranger pushed past him and sprinted out of the house.
"Hey!" Varian leaped up and ran outside, his eyes darting around for the thief. He watched as the dark figure disappeared around a wall. Varian pursued the stranger through alleyways and side streets until they turned a corner. Varian saw him run past Lance, Catalina, and Kiera.
"Thief!" shouted Varian.
His three friends threw their hands up in a show of innocence, apples once again tumbling to the ground along with the bag of flour.
"No! Not you! Him! He just stole from my dad! Help me!" Varian waved desperately toward the fleeing stranger until his friends spotted him and started off after him.
Varian began to follow but then stopped and doubled over panting with exhaustion. If anyone could catch a criminal it would be Lance, Catalina, and Kiera, but if they couldn't he had to think of another way. He had to use his brain.
Moments later, Varian was carefully crawling to the peak of one of Old Corona's buildings. The projectile device he just cobbled together hung over his shoulder. His foot slid on a shingle, and he steadied himself with a deep breath as he looked out and tried to find the thief once more. It was easier than expected. Lance and the girls had been playing cat and mouse with the stranger, and they hadn't exactly been quiet about it. Yet another crash alerted Varian. He looked over to where the stranger was just barely slipping through Kiera's tiny grasp before checking her into a wall.
Varian gritted his teeth and lifted his device to his shoulder. He took aim on the bundle of books and papers under the thief's arm. He breathed out, pulled the trigger, and with a jolt, a claw shot out of the barrel, propelled towards the stranger. It closed in around the books, and quickly Varian pulled a lever on the side of his device to start reeling the claw back towards him.
The books and papers slipped from under the stranger's arm, but he quickly whipped around and took hold of the pile with his hands. Suddenly, Varian was in a tug of war with the thief, leaning back on his precarious place on the roof to try to break his opponent's grip. As if the thief realized this weakness, he stopped resisting and let himself be pulled forward. This threw Varian's balance off, and the alchemist went tumbling back over the side of the building. He screamed and braced himself for the ground but found a soft landing in Lance's arms instead.
"I'm worried about this becoming a thing with you," said Lance. But Varian was already scrambling back onto his feet.
"Come on! He's getting away!" He cried.
"Right," agreed Lance as they sprinted. "You got any more bright ideas, cause this guy is speedy."
Varian looked around desperate for a plan. Then he spotted a cart nearby. "Then, we have to be faster. Lance, I need you to get him over to that intersection somehow."
"Kid, you got it," said Lance, running off. Varian hopped onto the cart and started rummaging through his bag.
"If I can just create enough propulsion…" He grabbed a bucket and, with shaking hands, combined a few powders into the bottom of it. Then he pulled out a bottle of Flynnolium.
"Now, Varian!" shouted Lance.
Varian poured the explosive green liquid into the bucket then quickly turned it to face the back of the cart.
With a boom, the bucket spouted a burst of flaming energy. Varian was delighted to feel himself and the cart rocket towards the intersection until he collided with something and heard a loud scream.
He peeked over the front of the cart to see that his last-second plan had worked perfectly. The thief was splayed on the ground where the collision had flung him, and the books and papers were scattered on the ground.
"Ha! Yes!" Shouted Varian. He sprung from the cart to give Lance a high five as Catalina and Kiera joined them. "That's what I'm talking about!" He looked around at what the thief had been trying to steal. The papers looked like a series of letters, but Varian was more curious about the two books. He looked closer at the one next to him and felt a jolt when he saw that it was covered with alchemical symbols. "What?" he whispered.
He heard a groan, and a moment later, the thief was back on his feet. Varian snatched up the book he'd been looking at just as the stranger grabbed the other. The stranger seemed to consider trying for both books but then looked between the four people surrounding him and chose to bolt instead. They all gave chase but were so tired from running around that within moments they'd lost track of him completely. Varian sighed in defeat and hugged the remaining book to his chest.
"I'm sorry, Varian. We tried our best. Guess we're a bit rusty," said Lance.
"Speak for yourself," said Kiera. "I would have totally caught him if you losers hadn't gotten in my way."
"What was he trying to steal anyway?" asked Catalina.
Varian looked down at the book. "I don't know… I've never seen them before in my life…" He flipped to the middle. "It's some sort of alchemy journal... but why would my dad have this... And why would he have hidden it?" Varian flipped to the front of the journal, and his eyes widened in shock. Tucked into the inside of the cover was a family portrait. Varian as a baby, his dad, and- "Mom?" Varian's eyes darted to the opposite page where his mom's name, Ulla, was clearly written.
"Varian. Varian, are you okay?" Quirin jogged over to the group as Varian stared down at the journal. "Varian?"
"Dad," said Varian, his voice weak, "What's this?"
~ * ~
Varian stood in the middle of the room. His hands were still clutching the book as Quirin sat in an armchair, his head down, shuffling half-heartedly through the letters they'd retrieved from the ground. He'd refused to speak about anything until they were home alone.
"Those were your mother's journals, Varian. Your mother..." he said finally. "... was a smart, beautiful, capable woman. You are every bit her son. No more so than in your love of science. Ulla was an alchemist just like you. She dedicated her life to the pursuit of knowledge. She spent hours researching and experimenting.
'One day, she had to leave to pursue her research. Ulla was reluctant to go. She didn't want to leave us. But I encouraged her. Told her to follow her dreams. Assured her we'd be there for her when she returned.
'For months, everything was fine. Every day Ulla would send a letter, and every night I would read them to you, dreaming of the day we'd all be together once again." Varian listened intently as his father let the letters fall and laid his head in his hands. "But she never did return. The letters stopped. Weeks later, Ulla's research partner, a woman named Donella, arrived to tell me what I already feared. That your mom had gotten herself into danger and had not survived it."
"Dad," said Varian, softly teetering between heartbreak and frustration. "Why did you never tell me this? I've asked you countless times about mom. Asked about what happened to her. Why did you hide it? Why keep her things locked away?"
"Why do you think I tried to keep you from practicing alchemy, Varian?" said Quirin, looking back up at him with mournful eyes. "I was trying to protect you. I just couldn't stand the thought of losing you the same way I lost her. Please understand that I just wanted you to be safe."
"So you lied to me…" Varian muttered.
"I lied to you," repeated Quirin, getting up from his chair and placing his hands on Varian's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Varian."
Though still bitter about the years of being kept in the dark, the small apology was enough to soothe Varian for now. "But why was someone trying to steal this? There was another book that they got away with."
"Yes, there were two journals. Three, actually, but the third one was lost with your mother… and as for why someone wanted them, I don't know. There could be fans of her work out there, but I don't know who would go so far as to steal it."
Varian clutched the journal closer and looked back up at his father. "Can I at least read it now? Now that you've told me everything?" He could see the reluctance in his father's face, but after a few moments, Quirin sighed.
"Yes, of course."
~ * ~
"It's incredible," gushed Varian, flipping through the pages of the journal as he paced around Rapunzel's room. The princess was sitting cross-legged with Pascal on the window seat. She had been listening to Varian's babbling for about the last hour with a supportive smile. "Her theories. Her formulas. Most of them are in code… I guess to keep others from stealing her work. And I think some are only half complete, but others are sheer genius. Rapunzel, she figured out a compound that can make plants grow twice as fast."
"That's amazing, Varian," said Rapunzel. "I'm so glad you're finally getting the chance to know your mother."
"I mean… hehe… it all makes sense now when you think about it. Why I'm such a prodigy," Varian said with smug delight. "It's been in my blood this whole time. This whole time this was always meant to be my legacy."
"Legacy?"
"Rapunzel, I've been pouring over this journal for days now. I haven't cracked her code yet, but there are some parts I've started to figure out." Varian flipped more furiously through the pages looking for a specific spot. "My mom, she wasn't just doing regular old research, no, no, she was looking for something." He dropped down next to Rapunzel on the window seat to show Rapunzel what was sketched on the open page. "The Eternal Library."
Rapunzel's eyes widened, and Pascal crawled over to get a closer look.
Varian continued. "Now, I'm not entirely sure what it is yet… and it's possible I got it wrong, and it's actually the Infernal Library... but most of her notes seem to be about it and how to get to it. I think… it's like some kind of real-life legend. If I just knew more about it, it would be so much easier to figure out my mom's code." He gritted his teeth in frustration. "But trying to ask my dad for help is useless. To be honest, I don't know how much he even knows."
Rapunzel thought for a moment then gave Varian a sly smile. "Hm… an obscure legend... I think I might know who could help…"
He looked up at her, suddenly realizing who she was talking about.
~ * ~
"The Eternal Library, you say," said Xavier. "Yes, I know it well."
"Really!?" exclaimed Varian. Xavier walked over to an absurdly large bookshelf.
"Indeed. The Legend of the Eternal Library features a man you are already familiar with," he pulled a book off the shelf and turned to a page with an illustration of Lord Demanitus.
"He really does keep popping up, huh?" said Varian in an aside to Rapunzel. Xavier put the book away on the shelf and continued searching for another tomb. Finally, he pulled a different one down. He opened it up to an illustration that looked very much like the depiction of the Library in Ulla's journal.
"It is said," recounted Xavier, "that The Eternal Library is a place of great knowledge that exists far beyond the borders of our realm. Many have heard of its secrets, but only one man was ever able to find it."
"Demanitus…" whispered Rapunzel.
"Precisely. Through his great wisdom and skill, he built a device able to open a door to the Library. For years he used the door and learned the secrets of alchemy and magic. But as you know, Lord Demanitus had his enemies, and they wished to use these secrets for their own dark designs."
"Zhan Tiri," muttered Varian.
"Believing the Library's knowledge should only be known to those that were worthy, Demanitus destroyed his device. In its place, he created seven trials in each of the seven kingdoms, representing seven different elements." Xavier flipped the pages to show the depictions of the different kingdoms. "Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Dark, Iron, and Light."
"Hey…" said Rapunzel, leaning closer. "That kingdom of light. That's…"
"Corona," finished Xavier with a nod. "Legends claim that if someone were to complete these trials, they could recreate Demanitus' device and gain access to the Eternal Library once more."
Varian stared at Xavier in awe, then shook his head and dropped down to sit cross-legged on the floor. He pulled out his mother's journal and started flipping the pages again. "Yes, yes... Okay, I'm getting it now… this is about those trials. How to do them… how to find the Library. This is it! This is why she left Rapunzel. My mom was looking for the Library. And I'll bet it's all here. If I can decode her notes, I can figure out how she got through the trials, and maybe I could… could figure out what really happened to her…"
Rapunzel knelt down next to him. "Varian, that's amazing. A real-life quest."
"Heh, not like you're a stranger to quests," said Varian.
Rapunzel carded her fingers through her short brown hair. "Well, I don't like to brag, but yeah, I could give you a few pointers."
"But someone was after these," said Varian in dark realization.
"And if someone is looking for your mom's journals," continued Rapunzel, catching on. "That must mean they're looking for that Library."
"Exactly." Varian hopped up and posed with one fist high in the air and the other at his hip. "Which is why I need to honor my mother's legacy and find it first!"
"This is so exciting!" cried Rapunzel, her hands clasped under her chin.
"I know!" agreed Varian.
With the help of Xavier and Rapunzel, Varian set to work, trying to decode at least the first part of his mother's journal to figure out what the first trial was. With his mother's pictures and diagrams, it was not too tricky.
"And this… this must be... if that word is fire… yeah, the first trial."
Rapunzel leaned over his shoulder and looked at the kingdom depicted in the journal. "That looks like The Kingdom of Bayangor."
"Then that's where I need to go." He looked into Rapunzel's joyful eyes. "Rapunzel… this… I would have to step down as Royal Engineer."
"Oh, you know you'd get your position back as soon as you returned," said Rapunzel. "I'm sure Eugene can wait a little longer for you to install that jacuzzi tub you promised him."
Varian laughed, but then reality came crashing down on him, and he let out a big sigh. "Not that any of that matters because there's no way my dad would ever agree to let me go."
Rapunzel moved closer with an assuring smile. "Varian, you can't know that unless you ask. If this is your dream, you need to at least talk to him about it."
"Yeah, you're right."
~ * ~
"No, Varian," snapped Quirin, making Varian and Rapunzel take a step back.
"But, dad, this could be my chance, our chance to find out what really happened to mom."
"I said no," Quirin growled. "This is exactly what I was afraid of. Give me the journal, Varian."
"Dad, no," said Varian, clutching the journal even closer to his chest. "Dad, I can do this! Why can't you trust me just once?"
Rapunzel stepped forward. "Don't you think Varian deserves the chance to at least try? He-"
"With all due respect, Your Highness," said Quirin, giving Rapunzel a short controlled bow. "This is a family matter and not subject to a royal decree." He looked back at Varian. "Your mother died for this. Do you think I'm going to watch the same thing happen to you? Give me the journal."
He held out his hand. His demeanor was calm but firm, and his eyes bored into Varians until slowly Varian broke and in inches handed the journal over to his father. He hung his head as Rapunzel placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
~ * ~
Later that night, Varian leaned on his windowsill, rolling one of his alchemy vials back and forth with a dejected disinterest. Ruddiger hopped up on the sill and nudged Varian in concern as the vial accidentally went over the edge. A tiny puff of harmless pink smoke came up from below, and Varian dropped his head down to the sill with a groan.
"I don't get it, Ruddiger," grumbled Varian, his voice muffled by the wood. "After all this time..." He turned his face towards the raccoon. "Why is it still so hard to make him understand me?" Ruddiger cocked his head, and Varian sighed.
He pushed himself back up and looked up at the stars. "I just… I feel like… like I have to do this. Like there's a voice calling my name. Like mom wrote that journal so I could be the one to continue her work…"
Ruddiger pawed at Varian's shoulder with concern, and Varian, despite himself, smiled at the gesture before letting out another groan of frustration.
"What I can't stand is the thought that if I don't do something that thief… that… that lowlife with my mom's other journal… he could do the trials. And if he's dirty enough to steal my mom's work, he's definitely not worthy of the greatest secrets unknown to all of mankind."
Varian punched his hand and fist together and scrunched his eyes closed, grappling with a decision. After a moment, his eyes snapped back open. "I can't let that happen."
Varian hastily threw a bag of supplies together. After catching on, Ruddiger helped as well, tossing in a few apples. Then Varian grabbed a couple of vials of shimmering blue liquid, tiptoed to his father's room, and pressed his ear to the door. When he heard snoring, he slowly pushed open the door and crept inside. "Where is it?" said Varian under his breath. His eyes darted around at each surface, and he ducked his head under each piece of furniture. Then, finally, he saw the dark corner of a book poking out from under the mattress.
"Ruddiger," Varian whispered and gestured toward the journal's hiding spot. Ruttiger nodded and padded over to retrieve it with his deft raccoon fingers. "Carefully."
Ruddiger did as he was told at first, tugging ever so gently on the corner of the journal. But when that was failing to dislodge it, he gave a much bigger tug. The journal was freed from its soft prison, but it also sent Ruddiger flying back into the drawers behind him. The resulting thud made Varian wince, and he panicked as his father started to wake.
In an instant, Varian uncorked one of his bottles and hastily splashed a sleeping solution into his father's eyes. With a soft groan, Quirin's head dropped back down, and he started snoring once more.
Varian let out a sigh of relief then looked at his father regretfully. "I'm so sorry, dad. I just have to do this."
Moments later, Varian was walking briskly under cover of dark towards the walls of Old Corona, Ruddiger bounding by his side. "This is the only way. If he refuses to listen, then I'll just have to show him."
When he'd gone far enough, Varian looked back to take in his childhood home one last time. "I promise you, dad…" said Varian solemnly, "I will make you proud of me." he turned to start walking once more, "When I get- AH!"
Something caught Varian's foot and sent him crashing to the ground.
"Now, that is impressive. You were completely right, Sunshine. He was about to up and sneak out on us."
"Eugene?" Varian looked up from where he was splayed on the ground to see none other than Fitzherbert himself, holding one end of a rope. Varian followed it to see Rapunzel walking over with the other end.
"Well, it's the sort of thing I would have tried to do," she said matter of factly.
"If I recall, you more than tried. You did it on multiple occasions. Now, Kid," Eugene offered Varian a hand, and Varian let himself be pulled up onto his feet. "You weren't really going to just leave us without saying goodbye, were you?"
Varian looked away. "I'm not a kid anymore. I'm eighteen. If my dad can't see that- If he can't support me, then I need to leave before he can stop me."
"Varian," said Rapunzel. "You know I want you to follow your mother's journal. I fully support you going on this journey, but you can't do it like this."
"I have no choice!" Pleaded Varian, his eyes snapping up to hers. "Rapunzel, you heard him. He wasn't listening to me… to anyone. He'll never let me go."
"So you disappear into the night. And then what?" asked Eugene.
"Then I prove to him that I have what it takes," said Varian.
"Which is a great plan," agreed Eugene. "But let's say, just as a little thought experiment, that instead of proving yourself, you wind up dying a horrible and sudden death." Varian flinched at the thought as Eugene continued. "What then? You want your dad's last memory of you to be an argument?"
"No… of course not..."
"So don't leave like this," said Rapunzel.
"And what am I supposed to do?" snapped Varian, his frustration building. "Let my dad keep me trapped here like you were!?"
There was a moment of stunned silence as Varian realized what he said. "Ugh... I'm sorry I didn't mean that I just-"
"No," said Rapunzel, cutting him off with a firm voice. "You're right, Varian. I do know what it's like… to have your freedom taken in the name of safety. And it's something I had to fight for every day. My dad and I... it took time for us to understand each other." She took a deep breath and continued. "You told me that your mother left on her own journey years ago, and she never came back. Now you might be about to do the same thing. Can't you see how that must terrify your dad?"
Eugene put a hand on Varian's back. "I don't think it's that he doesn't believe you're ready or that he doesn't trust you. He's scared to lose you, Varian. To be honest, Rapunzel and I are too. The difference is we realize that we have to let you take that chance. You just need to make your dad see that too."
"How?"
"Just talk to him," said Rapunzel. "More importantly, listen to him. Try to get him to open up to you. Let him know you see things from his point of view."
"If he still doesn't listen," added Eugene, "Then Rapunzel and I will personally bust you out of here ourselves. But you have to at least try to make things right with your old man. The world is a wonderful but scary place. You have no idea what you might face out there. You're going to be at your best if you know he has your back."
Varian looked between the two of them until his face finally melted into a weak smile. "Okay, okay, I'll talk to him," he relented.
~ * ~
Varian couldn't have slept that night if he tried. After returning home, he carefully shoved the journal back under his father's mattress and then got to work in the kitchen. With hours left before sunrise, he had time to do a lot of baking and a lot of thinking. By the time Quirin sleepily walked out of his room, Varian was sitting in front of a considerable spread of bread and sweets, offering a nervous smile.
"Breakfast?" he asked.
His father stared in confusion at Varian, then back down to the table of food. Varian waited anxiously for him to process what was in front of him and was rewarded with a humoring smile. "Sure."
They ate silently for a while as Varian internally debated which of the thousands of things he'd rehearsed in his head to say to his father. To his surprise, it was Quirin who spoke first.
"Is this your attempt to change my mind?" he asked.
Varian frowned and kept his eyes on his cinnamon roll as he replied. "This is me… trying to talk. I.. I was very close to running away last night-"
"Varian-?"
"But the Princess stopped me. She made me realize that as much as I want to go on this journey, it wouldn't feel right if I didn't have your support. And I know you're scared. I get it..."
"Do you?" asked Quirin. "Varian, you're young, so it's harder for you to realize… the guilt I've carried after supporting Ulla's dreams only to have her leave us…"
"Dad, I'm sorry, but do you really think you need to talk to me about guilt? Or even about what it feels like to think you've lost someone forever?" Varian locked eyes with his father. "I may be young, but I've been through... a lot, and I understand what the risks are. But just because there are risks, that doesn't mean it's not worth trying. I have to believe that mom felt the same."
Silence hung in the air until finally, Quirin rose from the table and walked away. Varian slumped down in his chair, feeling defeated until he realized his father's footsteps were returning. He turned to see him holding the journal. Varian stared, mouth open.
"You really are just like her. Your mother... she would have been so proud of you, Varian. If you truly feel that this is your destiny, then I will support you. Just…" he held out the journal for Varian to take. "Please promise me you'll take care of yourself."
Varian let his father place the journal in his hands then looked up at him with a smile which Quirin returned. Varian, feeling like his heart might burst with joy, leaped up out of his chair and threw his arms around his dad. "I promise," he said.
~ * ~
Days later, Varian was checking and rechecking the supplies in his bag as Ruddiger pranced around him. His friends stood close, ready to wish him the best on his impending journey. There was even a banner that read 'Good Luck Varian!" which Rapunzel just spent the last ten minutes stringing up between two trees.
Finally satisfied, Varian hoisted the pack up and set about buckling it onto Prometheus, his father's old donkey.
"Sure have a lot of things there," said Eugene.
"I still don't know what sort of trials I'm going to be facing," said Varian. "I want to be ready for anything."
"I'm sure you will be. Just don't get too cocky. And try to say out of trouble best you can, okay?"
"So just don't do whatever you would do," said Varian with a sly grin.
"Oh, haha, very funny."
Varian laughed and held his palm up. "Team Awesome?"
"Team Awesome," replied Eugene with a high five.
"So…" said Kiera, "You're going on this big epic quest. Facing countless dangers. Possibly even certain doom, and there's not even going to be a big treasure at the end? Just some dusty old books?"
"That does seem like a bit of a rip-off," agreed Lance.
Varian tutted at his doubters, "This is why I'm so misunderstood around here. No one appreciates the power of knowledge like I do. These are challenges put in place by Lord Demantitus himself!"
"That guy really does keep popping up, huh?" said Eugene.
"Heh, not to mention a library that holds the greatest alchemical and magical secrets is bound to also have the secret of turning lead to gold."
Lance seemed to suddenly reconsider his opinion. "Lead to gold? Uh… you don't have room for two on that donkey, do you."
Varian chuckled and bent to grab his larger pack, only to jump back as Shorty's head poked out of the top. "Or three?" slurred the drunk as he took a bite of one of the sandwiches Varian had made for the trip.
"Hey, get out of there!" Eugene exclaimed, yanking Shorty out of the bag and chucking him away. Varian glared with annoyance into the bag as he saw that Shorty had made his way through half of his food supplies.
"Don't worry, Varian. I made extras," said Quirin, stepping forward and handing Varian a package of food.
"Thanks, Dad," said Varian. "And thanks for letting me do this. You have no idea what this means to me."
"I expect you to tell me all about it when you return."
Rapunzel stepped closer, holding something folded in her arms. "I made you something too, Varian. I figured you might want some good travel clothes, so I created this vest for you." She handed it over, and Varian wasted no time putting it on. "I sewed pockets on the inside so you can stow some notes or bottles. I hope you like it."
Varian stared down at the vest, already messing with the pockets. "Heh, heh, I love it. This is perfect. Thank you," he looked back up at her. "Really. Thank you. For everything... Rapunzel, I have no idea where I would be without you. You always believed in me when no one else would. And you saved me from yet another big mistake by convincing me to talk to my dad."
"That's what friends do, Varian," said Rapunzel warmly. "Go find your dream, but remember that Corona will always be here when you need it." They hugged each other tightly before Varian reluctantly pulled away.
He grabbed Prometheus's lead as Ruddiger hopped onto his shoulder. Varian took one last look at everyone and nodded goodbye. Then he turned and started down the road, ready for a new journey.
~ * ~
Donella stared down in disapproval at the single journal that had just been tossed onto her desk.
"And the other one? Where is it?" she demanded.
Across the room, the tall figure in black stepped closer and pulled off his hood and mask so that Donella could clearly see Hugo's pale, freckled face was full of annoyance. "I'll admit, I ran into more trouble than I expected. Though if you'd let me use some of my tricks-"
"As I told you already, this mission required discretion. I don't need that husband of hers tracing this back to me and causing unnecessary drama. It's unusual of you to disappoint me like this."
"I know, right?" said Hugo with a shrug. "Not my best work. It was a bit unfair, actually… four on one. And who knew that backwater Corona would have someone actually trained in alchemy… even if it was very crude.."
"There was an alchemist in Old Corona?" spat Donella.
"Yeah, some scrawny dark-haired kid. I'm actually pretty grateful I had that mask on. Losing to him is definitely not something I want anyone to know about."
Donella stroked her fingers down her former partner's journal, considering the implications of this new information. "Hugo, I have a new mission for you. I want you to figure out who this alchemist is. Don't engage yet. Just watch him for me."
She opened the front cover of the journal to where a painting of a small dark-haired baby was secured to the front page. "I'd like to confirm a suspicion…"