Warning: A bit of blood
 
Varian was in an empty, dark oasis surrounded by a thick and damp mist. He tried calling out the names of his friends, but no reply came.

“Where am I?” he muttered to himself. He decided to walk around to see if he’d find anything or anyone. After what seemed to be forever, he finally saw someone standing in the distance. “Rapunzel, Eugene, Cassandra, Lance, Emma, is that you?”

The figure turned around to face him with sad, milky brown eyes. It was Emma! Once she had seen Varian, she darted away as fast as she could.

“Emma, no, wait! Come back!” Varian called out. He ran after her, knowing that she couldn’t outrun him. However, Emma seemed to be faster than usual, which made Varian start to panic a bit. After a while, Emma slowed down her pace and eventually began to walk. “Em, wait for me! Em, I-”

Suddenly, one of the black rocks shot out from the ground towards Emma at the speed of light. Out of sheer panic, Varian fumbled through his pockets, clutched onto a bottle with liquid in it, and flung it at the rock.

“Emma, watch out!”

It was too late. The black rock had already pierced through Emma’s stomach and carried her with it off of the ground. When the glass bottle smashed and let the liquid drip onto the rock, an amber-like substance started to form. Varian stared at the scene in disbelief and horror.

“Emma! I’m so sorry!" Varian cried as he approached Emma quickly. "I'll get you out. Everything's gonna be ok!"

Blood poured out from the corners of Emma's mouth and from her impaled stomach. "What have you done? I'll be stuck here forever," she managed to say.

Tears welled up in Varian's eyes. "I-I'll get you out of there. I promise!" Varian's voice cracked as he spoke. "P-please let me find a way before you're fully encased. I-I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost you." He began to rummage through his pockets frantically, trying to find a way to destroy the amber, but it was no use. He suddenly remembered that only Rapunzel could melt it which made him feel worse since they were isolated from the Princess.

Meanwhile, he kept hearing Emma curse softly, "This is all your fault! You could've saved me if you hadn't thrown that bottle!", which really pressured Varian into trying harder. Then, it happened. Emma had been fully encased in the amber with her final words being, "Look what you've done…"

Varian let out a cry of grief and pounded his fists against the amber. Soon enough, he could sense two figures approaching him from behind. Turning around, he saw Rapunzel and Eugene frowning at him, their eyes dark.

"Princess, Mr. Ryder, it's Emma… she's trapped! You've gotta help her, please! I tried everything, but it didn't work and-"

"There's nothing we can do," Rapunzel said solemnly. "The black rock already impaled her. She's most likely dead already."

"If you hadn't thrown that amber-creating stuff, we could've gotten her out and saved her," Eugene added. "Because of you, it's too late. You've murdered her."

"N-no! Y-you don't understand! I didn't try to kill her, I swear!" Varian stammered.

"You've harmed others in the past," Rapunzel reminded. "What made you think we believed you wouldn't try to do it again?"

Varian faltered. Tears fell from his eyes.

"Guards, take him to the cells!" Rapunzel ordered. Two large guards matched towards Varian and clutched his arms tightly.

"Wait! Please! I didn't explain. I never wanted this to happen. You can't take me down there again!" Varian pleaded. Rapunzel and Eugene didn't say anything.

Varian could hear Emma's voice crying, "Varian!" as he was being dragged by the guards. It wasn't until the third time he heard his name that he had woken up.

Emma was reading one of Varian's Flynn Ryder books when she heard a rustling noise coming from the couch. She set the book down and gasped softly when she saw that Varian was freaking out in his sleep. Varian was muttering, "E-Emma... I'm so sorry.."

What is he dreaming about? Emma thought as she rushed over to Varian's side.

"N-no... I didn't try to kill her, I swear..." Varian started to tremble. "Wait... Please... You can't take me down there again..."

Emma began to shake Varian gently and called out his name until he sat up, breathing heavily. When Varian looked up at Emma, he scooted away from her. He looked like he was terrified of something.

"Varian, it's ok. I'm right here," Emma whispered. "You don't need to be afraid. What happened?"

Tears welled up in Varian's eyes and he flung himself at Emma as he wailed.

"I thought I'd lost you, Emma! You gotta tell them you're alive before they send me down there!"

"Where's 'down there'?"

The sound of Rapunzel and Eugene hurrying down the stairs was soon heard.

"Emma, what's wrong? We heard crying," Rapunzel said, her eyes wide with surprise. Just seeing the Princess and her boyfriend sent Varian to tears again.

"Th-they're gonna put me down there! It's cold and scary and I can't go back!" Varian cried even more and clung to Emma tighter.

"It's ok, Varian," Emma stroked Varian on the top of his head. "They're not gonna do anything to you. I promise." She turned to Rapunzel and Eugene. "He was having a nightmare. Must be a fever dream."

"Hey, kiddo, everything's gonna be alright," Eugene comforted Varian. “There’s nothing to fear. We’re here for you.”

Varian’s crying calmed down a bit, but tears still rolled down his face.

“I’ll try something.” Emma held Varian in her arms gently. She took a small breath and began to sing softly:

Starlight gleam and glow,
Oh, how your powers shine,
Make the pain erase,
Until it all is fine.

While she was singing, a baby blue light swirled around Varian, which seemed to make him calm down.

Heal the past that hurt,
Change the broken mind.
Save your wounded heart.
Until it all is fine,
Until it all is fine…

Once Varian had fallen back asleep, Rapunzel froze and asked, “Where did you learn that song?”

Emma gave her a confused look. “What do you mean? I learned this song when I was little."

"It sounds similar to the healing incantation I used to sing when I was locked up in the tower," Rapunzel explained.

"Did you… heal Varian?" Eugene questioned.

"I only healed his emotional pain," Emma replied. "That's all the song can do."

"I had no idea you had healing powers," Rapunzel said with bewilderment. "When did you realize that you had them?"

Emma rolled up her left sleeve, revealing a white, star-shaped birthmark on her tricep. "I've had this birthmark since I was born. One day, I traced my fingers on it and the song just popped into my head. That's all I can remember." She self-consciously covered the birthmark up again. "It-it's nothing special. Don't worry about it too much."

"Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest?" Rapunzel told Emma. "You look tired. Let me and Eugene handle Varian."

Emma hesitated but reluctantly agreed. "Ok, I will. Thanks."

As Emma trudged up the stairs, she could feel Mercury try to wrap herself around Emma's legs affectionately. Emma couldn't help but smile at her kitten. When she laid down in her bed, she yawned, proving Rapunzel's point.

What is going on with Varian? He hasn't been himself lately. Almost like he's...sad or scared...

Word Count: 1276

I know you guys are probably confused about Emma's emotional healing incantation, but it'll make at least some sense later on in the story. I changed the lyrics to Rapunzel's healing incantation to fit Emma's, so you can try humming along to it if you'd like to. I know I'm a terrible songwriter, but I tried. Anyway, I hope you guys liked the chapter!