Varian's POV: a year later

I looked over the plan again.

"Ok" i said to myself "first obstacle, Athena"

"Who?" Andrew asked.

"Athena is Ellie- er....Elizabeth's pet wolf, and she...likes to bark alot, and let people know when there's someone in the house, so step one...dodge the dog- wolf- pet?" I said, trying to figure out how to make step one have a cool name in the end, clearly failing.

"Easy, use your sleep powder" Andrew said.

"I haven't tested it on animals yet, it might be dangerous" i said.

That night we snuck to her house.

Luckily, Athena was asleep.

So i didn't need to worry about her.

Or so i thought as i stepped on a branch and woke her up.

She started barking.

I pulled away my goggles and mask to show my face.

She calmed down a little.

I held out my hand to her.

She rubbed her nose against my hand.

"There we go...it's ok girl...it's just me" i said as i pet her head until she fell asleep again.

I was on a time limit now, Athena probably woke Ellie up.

I ran into her house and set up a trip wire at the bottom of the stairs.

I hid under the table, raccoon trap and smoke bomb in hands.

I heard footsteps.

Ellie walked down the stairs, wearing her nightgown...

"Hello?" She called out nervously.

I hadn't seen her in a year.

For a second i wondered if i was doing the right thing, she would be so mad...

Then i realized...she was already probably mad at me...i was doing this so she wouldn't be.

I noticed she tripped over the wire.

I didn't have time anymore to question if what i was doing was right.

I rolled the raccoon trap up to her and while her eyes were closed from the explosion going off, i set off the smoke bomb.

Elizabeth's POV:

When i opened my eyes there was this goopy stuff sticking my hands and feet to the ground.

I was surrounded by a fog.

I examined the goop on my hands.

I had seen this somewhere before.

Then it hit me.

I noticed a figure approaching from the fog but i couldn't get a good look at them.

They had thrown some kind of green dust at me.

Later

When i opened my eyes i was in a dungeon cell.

I was confused till i noticed a shadow in the light coming through the window.

I looked up to see a figure staring out the window.

"Good morning, Elizabeth" a familiar voice said.

"Varian..." i said

"Oh, you remembered me, i'm touched" he said turning around pulling down his mask and pulling up his goggles to reveal his face.

I laughed a little.

"No way you grew that" i said gesturing toward his 'facial hair' on his chin.

"Not important" he said walking up to me.

"Varian...you're not that easy to forget" i said.

"Oh, thank you" he said.

"Why am i here? What are you gonna do? I hope you're not planning to hurt me" i said backing away from him.

"Oh, Ellie" he laughed.

He leaned closer to me.

"You should know me better then that" he said.

"Wait...kid...don't tell me pigtails here is your-" someone said from the other side of the bars "It's complicated" Varian and I said in unison.

"Well...Ellie, if you really want to know what i'm planning" he said.

"My new friends and i" he gestured towards the bars where a few people were standing on the other side.

"are going to use a gas of my own design, to erase the memories of everyone in Corona!" He explained.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why?" Varian repeated my question "because of everything i did! To them! To you!" He cried.

"Nobody is gonna forgive me! This is the only way!" He said.

"Then" he calmed down, his voice shaking "everything will be ok again! You can be my assistant again, we can be happy together again" he laughed a little.

"Varian you're not yourse-"

"Quiet!" He yelled.

It was really loud and scared me a little.

I backed away with tears in my eyes.

Varian had a look of guilt in his eyes.

"Sorry..." he said looking away from me.

"Varian...talk to me...you know this isn't right...what happened to the sweet adorable alchemist i once knew? The Varian i know would never want to hurt anyone" I asked.

"I'm not hurting anyone Ellie, and in less than a few months it'll be like nothing ever changed, do you think i like seeing you scared like this?" He asked, dropping the threatening tone.

"Varian..." i said.

"Of course i don't" he said "i miss seeing you smile...hearing you laugh...all the time we used to spend in my lab, i want things to be ok again too but the only way to do that is by using the Quirineon"

Quirineon?

I smiled.

"That's the Varian i know...always naming his creations after people he cares about" i said.

Varian pulled up his mask to hide his obvious blush.

"I didn't want anyone to forget what they did" he said.