Elizabeth's POV:

I knocked on Varian's lab door.

"Enter" i heard from inside.

"Hi Varian" i said as i opened the door.

"Hey Ellie, you're early" he said, while mixing some kind of compound.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I'm running tests on the black rocks" he said.

"V, isn't that dangerous?" I asked.

"Maybe, but i'm so close now to figuring them out i can feel it!" He said excitedly.

"But your dad said-"

"My dad doesn't know and he doesn't need to" Varian said.

"Ok...anyway, i was wondering if it was ok for me to take a short break? I'm heading up to the castle to train with Cass for a few weeks" i asked.

"Oh, yeah no problem!" Varian said with a sweet smile "i'm just gonna be running some tests on these rocks for a while anyway" he tapped on one of the rocks.

"I knew you'd understand, i'll be back soon" i said, hugging him and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, making him a little flustered.

Just as i turned to leave he grabbed my arm and i turned to look at him.

"Hey! Don't forget to write" he reminded me.

I nodded and ran out of the lab.

Later

I walked up to the castle gates where two guards stood.

"Name?" One asked.

"Elizabeth Sanders, i'm a friend of the princess" i said.

"Ellie!" Rapunzel called down from the balcony.

"Hi Rapunzel" i said.

The guards let me in.

Rapunzel ran down and gave me a hug.

"How have you been?" She asked.

"I've been great!" I said.

"How's it going with Varian pigtails?" Eugene asked jokingly as he snuck up behind me.

I just smiled and rolled my eyes.

"Ready to get started?" Cass asked.

"As i'll ever be!" I said, pulling out my bow and arrow.

Varian's POV:

I was walking around outside with Ruddiger when i heard my dad talking with the village people.

"What do we do, Quirin? My home these rocks are destroying everything in their path!" Someone said.

"Take ease, friends. Our situation may seem dire but we mustn’t lose hope." Dad said, trying to reassure everyone.

I went to get a closer look.

"But what are they? Where are they coming from?" Another person asked.

"I’ve been studying these rocks and I think I discovered a vulnerability in their alchemical makeup." I said, as the crowd including my dad turned to me.

Uh oh...

"Son, I told you, leave those rocks alone." He said.

"yeah, I know, I know, I know, but something has to be done, and I think I may be onto a solution." I tried to explain.

"something is being done. In fact, I plan to travel to see the king this afternoon about this very matter." Dad said.

Wait...he's going to the castle...isn't that where Ellie was going?

I wonder if he'll see her!

"Oh. Well, um, then can- can I come with you?" I asked.

Dad sighed.

"ah...very well, you can travel with me."

"really? Yes! Yes! Roadtrip! Varian and dad going to see the king! I will pack ham sandwiches." I said before running off towards the house.

"Yes. In the mean time, stay away from those rocks." Dad said.

I stopped to look around.

"Uh, okay, but um...that’s getting harder to do by the minute." I said.

Another one appeared dangerously close to me.

This is getting a little crazy.

Later

Dad and i were waiting in line to talk to the king.

"Okay, Dad. What’s our strategy? I mean, I tried to get a sample of the rocks to show the King, but they just won’t cut-" i said.

"Son. Wait here while I speak to the king." Dad cut me off.

"Dad, I think I should go in there to help explain the scientific-"

"Varian. Children have no place in court." Dad cut me off again.

"But I—I’m not a..child-"

Dad walked into the throne room leaving me out in the hall.

I snuck around the side to listen in to the conversation.

"Quirin, my old friend. What brings you from Old Corona village?"

"Your Majesty, Old Corona is facing quite the dilemma."

"Oh?"

"Uh, yes, it would appear this year’s harvest has proven quite bountiful. So much so, that I humbly request more land to accommodate such bounty."

I couldn't believe what i was hearing.

"What?!"

"Hmm...Quirin. I am pleased to hear how well Old Corona is faring, and even more pleased to grant your request." The king said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Dad walked back over to where i was.

"Dad! None of that was true. Wha- Old Corona’s being destroyed!" I tried to say.

"Old Corona will endure, you’ll have to trust that I can handle this."

"How? How can I trust anything when my own father just lied to the king’s face?" I asked.

"That is enough, Varian." Dad yelled.

I was silent for a minute.

"Yes, sir." I said.

Dad walked away.

What just happened?

"Varian..? Is everything okay?" My thoughts were interrupted by Rapunzel.

"No! No, it’s not. Rapunzel, we came to see your dad about the rocks in Old Corona." I said.

"yeah, but your dad just said-"

"My dad lied. Things have gotten worse." I interrupted.

"How much worse?" Rapunzel asked.

I thought about all the fields and houses the rocks had destroyed.

"Alot worse." I answered.

"Don’t worry, Varian. I haven’t forgotten our agreement. We’re going to figure out the mystery behind these rocks. Together. Just- give me until my father returns. Everything is gonna be okay. I promise." She said.

I smiled at her.

"Thank you Rapunzel.." i said walking away.

I turned back around for a second.

"Oh! And tell Ellie i said 'hi'!" I said.

Rapunzel nodded.

Elizabeth's POV: a few days later

"We hope to make it to the mountain retreat by noon." The queen said.

Her and the king were leaving to do something for their anniversary, leaving Rapunzel in charge.

"I am so excited for you guys! Take good care of them, Max!" Rapunzel said.

"You two kids have fun now!" Eugene joked.

"Are you sure you’ll be okay, Rapunzel? Because- your mom and I can always stay. We have plenty of anniversaries to come, you know?" The king asked Rapunzel.

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty. We’ve totally got everything under control." Lance said.

"Uh, thank you...you. That’s comforting. I’m sorry, are those my shoes?"

Lance laughed nervously and walked away.

"Hmm. I won’t let you down, Dad." Rapunzel said.

"I know you won’t, sweetie. Now remember, you’ll discover when you become queen, many voices will demand to be heard, but when all is said and done, the voice in your heart is the one you should follow." The king said.

The king and queen got in the carridge.

"Have a fun trip!" I said as it rode away.

"KITCHEN RAID!" Lance yelled as soon as they were out of sight.

He and some others ran to the kitchen with Cass chasing them with a sword.

"Hey, hey, hey, Cassandra, make good choices! Make good choices!" Eugene called after her.

Well Cass seems busy, i walked over to Rapunzel and stared into the distance.

I couldn't even see Old Corona from here.

I wonder what Varian is doing...

Varian's POV:

I looked out the window at my dad talking to the townspeople.

I turned to the rock going through my lab and sighed.

I picked up Ruddiger who was walking around my feet.

"Running away isn’t going to fix the problem. These rocks must be stopped. Okay, Ruddiger, so what do we know about them?" I said.

"They’re...unbreakable, they’re somehow connected to the princess, and...worse yet, they are growing at an exponential rate. Within a matter of months, they will have reached the castle." I said, looking at a map of the kingdom.

I sighed.

"Well, now, physical force has no effect on these rocks, but! They have yet to reckon with the awesome power of alchemy." I said, uncovering my alchemy gear.

I took a solution and put a drop on the rocks.

A small fire started that i put out by rapping a tarp around it.

"Varian! Son, are you okay in there?" Dad called from outside.

"Yes, Dad, yes- yes! I just dropped a book!" I said.

Suddenly there was an explosion.

"One of my-one of my big boo-books." I added.

Elizabeth's POV:

"Good, now don’t forget the trim on the left." Eugene said as Lance and i walked up to him.

"Really taking advantage of that king clout, aren’t we, your majesty?" Lance said.

"Blondie asked me to do a check-in on the renovations as part of her queenly duties. It’s an important job." Eugene said.

"Right..." i said sarcastically.

Suddenly a paint bucket fell on his head making me laugh.

"Sorry buddy! My bad!" Someone called from up on a ladder.

"It’s good to be the King, huh?" Lance asked.

"Okay! You wanna see me flex a little muscle? Watch this." Eugene said, turning to the workers "Alright, boys! Let’s get the lead out. After we wrap this up, I’m gonna need some renovations to my room. I'm thinking sunroof." He said before another paint bucket fell.

"Just for the record, that one was on purpose!" The same worker said.

Later

I was standing out with Rapunzel and Cassandra as Rapunzel was about to start her first day as queen.

"There's still a lot to go, sure you can handle it?" Cass asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure I can. Come on!" Rapunzel said, running off as we followed after her.

Royal decision making?
Hey, I was born to do it.

Yes sure I'm slightly faking
But there's not that much to it.

Bring it on, I'm ready 'cause I've got this.

I've got this
Just watch.

"Princess Rapunzel, may I present your most humble subjects."

A crowd of people came in.

won't let my sheep graze
Next to his without a fight!

Hmm

How can I cut hair
With this guy fiddling day and night?

Gosh.

Lately half the city's
Overrun by cats and kitties

Eating everything in sight

Right!

And just like that, Rapunzel knew what to do.

Pasture land is public
I decree you'll have to share.

Earplugs will do wonders
You'll receive a royal pair.

Henceforth it is written,
We'll feed every cat and kitten
Here within the palace square.

"Fair?"

The crowd cheered as Cass took a box of cats from her.

Folks, the line starts there

Cass turned to me as we walked out of the room.

She's got a knack for reigning
So far she's holding steady.

But folks are still complaining
So let's not throw confetti.

Nonetheless, I guess our girl has got this.

She's got this
No prob.

Later

I was in the room Rapunzel gave me reading a letter from Varian that i had gotten this morning.

I had written to him about everything that happened with Rapunzel's interviews, they weren't great.

So he wrote back:

Sounds tough, hopefully she's able to get a hang of it though, you and i both know she'll get better at it eventually.

Not much to report over here, other then this exciting revelation i had, the black rocks have been reacting to the compounds i tested, even if it kinda started a fire...

I miss you, can't wait for you to get back, it gets boring sitting in silence all the time...Ruddiger isn't exactly easy to hold a conversation with.

-Varian ♡

I could almost hear his adorable laugh as i read the last bit.

I miss him alot.

I'm only staying for a few more days though then i'll be going back home.

I looked up at the window and realized.

Was it snowing?

I got excited and ran to the closet to get the winter jacket Varian got me.

Don't ask why i brought it with me.

"Rapunzel! It's snowing!" I said excitedly when i bumped into her in the hall.

"I know! This is so exciting! I've never been outside when it snowed before!" She said.

"Oh yeah, cause you were locked in that tower..." i said.

She nodded.

We went outside where everyone was dressed for the winter.

"Loyal subjects of Corona! As your temporary queen, I officially declare today a snow day!" Rapunzel announced, making the crowd cheer.

Cass and i noticed Eugene struggling to get down the frozen stairs.

"Woah- hhh ah! Hoo, is there anything worse than snow?" He complained.

We slid down the railing near him.

"Hello your royal travesty." Cass joked.

"I spoke too soon."

I slid down the rest of the way to hangout with the village kids.

Little did we know a storm was coming.