Chapter Text
There was a lot on Rapunzel’s mind. Most importantly, her dying future fiance, of course. When his crazy ex-girlfriend, Stalyan, didn’t have her way with forcing him to marry her, her father (the baron) just poisoned Eugene. There was no antidote, and Rapunzel wasn’t sure how much time was left. Probably just barely enough to get back to Corona.
Her attempts to get the antidote had also resulted in the discovery of a new issue: Her hair didn’t react with the rocks anymore. Well, if you could the lack of explosion an issue. It was just different, and she had no idea what it meant.
Cassandra looked at her with a concerned expression.
“Raps, staring at him isn’t gonna help. You should get some rest, too.” She said. She may have a point with that, but Rapunzel couldn’t get herself to sleep, even though it was the middle of the night. The thought of perhaps missing a moment of Eugene being conscious was too much of a threat.
She sighed.
“I know. But what if he- what if he wakes up one last time and I’m asleep?”
“He’ll be fine, I’m sure. We’ll find a way. Xavier must know something, he knows everything.”
In a way, Cassandra’s thought always comforted Rapunzel. It seemed as if Cassandra was always right, she was too cynical and blunt to be wrong or lie. But even so, Rapunzel knew she wouldn’t relax until her lover was saved.
Meanwhile, Varian was also wide awake. Imprisoned, alone and left to deal with his guilt. Not guilt about betraying Rapunzel, no, but guilt about failing his dad. He sobbed into Ruddiger’s tiny body, the little raccoon pressing himself closer to Varian.
Varian wasn’t feeling too well. He had been in prison for a couple weeks now, but he still had a headache from the fight. He hadn’t slept for a while now, his only way of falling asleep was passing out from exhaustion. Worst of all was his loneliness. Without anyone in the world at all, besides Ruddiger, there was no hope left in him. He kept thinking about the things he could’ve done differently, how he could’ve saved his dad, how he could’ve been better. But there was nothing he was able to do anymore besides lay there in his tiny cell and cry.
“I’m sorry, princess. I don’t think I can be of much help.”
Xavier’s words shattered Rapunzel. The excitement of the reuinion had quickly faded after Rapunzel had explained the situation. While Xavier knew all about legends, his knowledge on poison was limited. The personality-change potion he had once given Maximus and Pascal hadn’t been created by him after all, he had just bought it from a different kingdom. One too far away to reach.
Falling into Cassandra’s arms, Rapunzel cried quietly.
“I don’t know what to do.” Her eyes went to the motionless Eugene, who would seem as if he was just sleeping, if not for the green rash all over his body. Xavier gazed upon him as well and sighed.
“It doesn’t look like he has much time.”
Rapunzel’s body began to shake as if it was just as affected from poison as Eugene’s, as if they were too connected to suffer seperately. Cassandra hugged her tightly and thought. After a few seconds, she spoke.
“I think I might have an idea who could help. Varian.”
Cassandra was right. Rapunzel’s hope came back at once as she stopped shaking violently, instead tensing up.
“Let’s hurry.” She only responded, already heading towards the castle.
They quickly passed through, not even taking the time to greet the king and queen. Instead, Rapunzel basically sprinted to the dungeon, slowing down as she entered the cold, dark hallway. She walked through hesitantly, afraid to see how Varian would greet her after all that has happened. Cassandra followed her closely.
The sound of footsteps made Varian sit up. His headache made itself signifanctly more noticeable, making him groan and rub his head. Ruddiger jumped onto his lap as Varian wiped his tears away with a tired gesture. He glanced outside the window, confused at the sound of footsteps at this hour. Had he passed out again? No, it was still night. The footsteps also sounded light, not like the sound of the heavy armor of the guards. Before Varian could make much sense of it, he could already see the source of the noise - Rapunzel.
Was he hallucinating? He must be.
“Varian,” Rapunzel said, “we need your help.”
Varian flopped back onto the bed and groaned at the movement of his head. It was best not to indulge in hallucinations.
“Varian?” The voice appeared more panicked now.
“Go away.” He mumbled, closing his eyes as if that would help.
“Please, Varian. Eugene has been poisoned. I know we’re not- I know we’re not exactly friends right now, but Eugene didn’t do anything to you. He needs your help.”
Now this was unexpected. Varian sat up again, painfully suddenly, but he ignored the pain in his head for now.
“Rapunzel? You’re actually here?” He was too surprised to be mad.
“Yes! Yes, and you have to help us.”
When had she entered his cell? And since when was Cassandra here?
Varian needed a moment to understand, his exhausted brain too overwhelmed with the situation. Rapunzel was back and needed his help to- to WHAT?
“Poisoned?” He repeated, not sure if he had heard correctly.
“Poisoned,” Rapunzel confirmed, seemingly relieved that Varian was somewhat following along, “By some spider.”
Varian stood up, only for his vision to go black, making him sway. Rapunzel was suddenly there, an arm around him, to stabilize him. But Varian quickly pushed her away.
“Don’t touch me.” He hissed. He regained his balance and rubbed his head. “Eugene, where?”
It was silent in the castle’s lab, the only sounds coming from Varian mixing liquids, moving around frantically and every now and again stumbling or wincing. He grabbed for a vial without paying much attention, making his hand miss it by a little. It fell over, the neon yellow fluid spilling over the table. With a curse, Varian moved the other vials away and set the spilled one upright. He grabbed a towel to clean it, hoping the acid didn’t leave too much damage.
Saving Eugene proved to be more difficult than Varian had thought. Of course, the poison wasn’t anything like the things Varian had made a connection with before. He had quickly given up on making an antidote and instead was now working on something to get him more time. Rapunzel didn’t exactly know that yet, but it wasn’t like she could complain. Even while worries were spiraling in Varian’s head, and it became increasingly more difficult for him to keep his eyes open, there was one thought that kept him going:
This was a chance.
Maybe not exactly for redemption, but Varian didn’t need redemption. He just needed to get to his lab, stay out of prison, and save his dad. If what he was working on right now would work as he calculated, it’d mean that he’d have more than enough time to figure out a deal with Rapunzel. Rapunzel wouldn’t be able to ask much, Varian was the only one who could save her lover’s life. And he knew that the princess would do anything for her knight in shining armor.
Rapunzel wasn’t a fool, she noticed how tired Varian was. She’d be worried, if not for the situation. And Varian wasn’t exactly the person she should be worried about anymore. He did almost kill her mother, after all. The feeling in her gut was telling her it wasn’t good to trust him with Eugene’s life, but what other choice did she have?
She kept tracing Eugene’s face, gently running her fingers through his hair while their friends watched in silence. They all seemed tired, closing their eyes for a couple of seconds every now and again. It was to be expected, after all, they had all been up for a few days. Cassandra was the only one who didn’t have her eyes constantly on Eugene, she was watching Varian. Sure, her gaze flickered to the worried Rapunzel and the poisoned one now and then, but for the most time, she was making sure Varian didn’t try anything. She was wary of how fast he had agreed to help. Though, if he had wanted to attack them, he certainly would have done so by now. He was getting weaker by the second, stumbling more often and yawning every minute. There was no guarantee he’d create what they needed in time.
But he did, eventually. Dragging his feet over the ground, one of his shaky hands held a small vial with a dark purple liquid. He held it out to Rapunzel.
“Won’t fix him. But it’ll give us time.” He mumbled.
Rapunzel looked up to him with teary eyes and snatched the vial from his hands almost desperately, opening Eugene’s mouth without hesitation. Cassandra’s eyes narrowed at the unfolding scene.
“Wait, Raps.” She said, pushing herself up and positioning herself between Rapunzel and Varian, facing the young alchemist.
“How do we know you’re not making it worse?”
Varian blinked slowly, apparently not even nervous at Cassandra’s authorative tone.
“I need sleep.” He just responded, looking around for a suitable place to lay down. There was none, it was a lab, of course. With a shrug, Varian resigned himself to the floor in the corner. The others watched in silence as he did so.
Until Cassandra scoffed.
“Hold on, you’re just gonna sleep? What about Eugene?”
Varian yawned. “Tomorrow. I want to be at my own lab, I can work better there. He’ll be fine for the night.”
Cassandra was just about to run over there and make Varian fix Eugene, but Rapunzel took her hand gently.
“We can’t make demands.” She said quietly, in such a vulnerable voice that it made Cass pause.
She only then realized how scared Rapunzel really was. Varian was her last hope, of course she didn’t want to upset him in any way. If Eugene was going to recover from this, it would only be thanks to Varian.
Cass nodded solemnly and sat down next to Rapunzel, helping her with Eugene and the vial.