(Warning: Singing Ahead)

(Caution: ANGST ZONE)

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Chapter 64 -
Let Me Make You Proud
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“Where do you think you're going?”

You slip on a winter coat and your satchel, “Old Corona.” You hook a lantern onto your bag.

“In this weather? Maybe you should wait until tomorrow.”

You turn to Cass, “This can't wait. I need to get there before Varian leaves.”

“(____), seriously. What is going on? You've been really secretive.” Cass blocks your door. “Tell me something.”

“Just trust me, Cass. Please, I can't leave Varian alone.”

She sighs and moves her arm, “I trust you, just be careful okay? It seems the storm is getting worse.”

You nod and stop, “One more thing. Go to Xavier if it gets extreme. He knows what to do.” You wanted help here too, but Varian is more important to you.

Down the halls, you hear a squeak and look back to see the mouse running after you. She crawls up onto your shoulder then squeaks once like she's ready.

“Hey, you should stay here.”

She shakes her head and buries herself into the fur of your coat. You sigh, smiling, “Alright. At least I'm not alone out there.”

“You know, I should give you name.” You think then smile, “How about Mimi? Sounds simple.”

Mimi squeaks happily and smiles too.

“Mimi it is.”

-

Quirin breaks part of the wall in his room and pulls out a big chest. His hand removes the dust to reveal the mark that he and you have.

The chest opened which held a metal helmet, covered sword and covered armor. Quirin picked up the helmet that held the mark and a scratch where the eye is. Quirin stared at his reflection and sighs.

His eyes gaze out the window at the castle in the distance before shifting to the portrait of him, his wife, and his baby son.

Quirin walks over to the chest again and pulls out an old envelope. Fancy writing was on the front.

For My Sweet Little Prodigy

Quirin opens it and quickly adds on to the letter in his writing before placing back in the envelope. He walks toward Varian’s lab and stops at his door.

Quirin felt anxious and breaths calmly. He opens the door, “Son, I just-”

Varian panics and turns around, accidentally spilling the lime colored chemical on the rock. “Huh? OH oh!”

Rudiger hides behind the table.

Quirin sighs, “Varian. I told you to stay away from those rocks.” He walks up to Varian with a stoick posture.

“Yeah. Okay, I know what you said but-”

“Then there should be NO misunderstanding! Now listen to me while I-!” Quirin’s voice rises.

Varian closes his eyes, not wanting to listen to what his dad had to say and shoves Quirin, “No, no!” Varian narrows his eyes, “You listen to me dad! Our village is dying!” Varian points out the window, “You think, running away from the problem is gonna fix it? No! These rocks aren't going away.”

Quirin felt slightly irritated that Varian wouldn't listen, “I know Varian, but there is more to them than you can possibly imagine!”

Varian groans, “Then why won't you tell me!?”

Quirin walks a bit away from Varian.

“Dad! I just….I deserve to know.” Varian doesn't notice crystallization happening behind him and Rudiger didn't know what to do.

Quirin pulls out the letter and stares at it, shutting his eyes. “Varian, there's something you have to know about-” He turns are and his eyes widen. “VARIAN, WATCH OUT!”

Varian turns around and he sees lime crystals shooting up fast at him. Suddenly, Varian felt himself being shoved and rolled away. He looks up and his eyes widen, “Dad!”

Quirin’s arm catches in the now golden crystallization. It grew and crawled at a fast pace on him. He glances down.

“Dad! Oh hold on, Dad, hold on! I'll get you out!” Varian reaches for his dad, but jumps away when Quirin yells at him.

“No! Stay back!”

Varian stares and almost hyperventilates, “I-I….I'm going to get help!” He runs out without thinking.

“No, Son, Don't!” Quirin reaches out, but Varian had left.

What Varian didn't know, was that you were coming back and left when he did.

-

You light your lantern when it gets a bit dark from the blizzard now. You forcefully trug through the snow and sigh, "Maybe I make things a mess and maybe you're right to have doubts in me."

You think about Quirin and shake your head, "Maybe, but nevertheless. If you, for once could just trust me!"

You nearly fall and accidentally roll into deep snow. You get up and continue on. This time you and Varian are singing.

"Just this once let me/him come through for you. The way that you want me/him to!" Varian hops onto ice plates to cross a river and goes across a fallen tree.

"Let me/him make you proud!" You both pull on your hoods. "Let me/him show you the best in me/him! Let me/him give you a reason to believe that I/he can stand tall!"

The two of you hold up a hand to block the snow from hitting your face, "And when I/he return/s and I'm/he's more than you dreamt I'd/he'd be!"

You two come up to a cave, "Maybe then you will realize that you never actually knew me/him at all."

You climb up and your lantern slips from your hand. You groan and decide not to go back down to get it. Pulling off your glove, your mark gave off enough light to walk through.

Varian leaves his lantern and takes out a vial, shaking it to light up his path.

The two of you look up at the wall of ice, not knowing you're both on separate sides. Varian sees his dad which your light makes a shadow shape of his dad.

You seen Varian's shadow, but you thought it was the ice's shadows and you sigh.

"Sure, I've made lots of mistakes. I know that I've disappointed you." You two both glance down and continue on.

"Still, though, whatever it takes." Varian jumps down to come up to a blocked passageway, while you come up to small edge.

"I'm gonna fix it, just watch me!" You slide down the edge and Varian throws two vials at the blocked entrance as it breaks from a small explosion.

"Just you wait, I'll/we'll make it up to you! If it's the last thing I ever do!" You two sing, both running now.

"I will make you proud!" You and Varian smile, "I will make you have faith in me! I will prove that the way I used to be is all in the past!"

"I/He will save the day!" You jump over the icy river and Varian jumps over a trench. "And come back here triumphantly!"

"'Cause I/he long/s for that look of surprise when you see your son rising at last!" You come up to the village, while Varian stares at the castle.

"The pride in your eyes when you see your son rising at last!"

You run more now and pant heavily once you push open the front door, “Varian!” There was nothing but the raging blizzard making noise. “Varian!” You panic when there's no answer.

“(____)!”

You hear Quirin call from up in Varian's lab and you run upstairs, “Quirin!”

You freeze at door and you felt your blood run cold. Quirin looks up at you with half of his body encased.

“QUIRIN!” You go in and Mimi jumps down to stay on the table. “No, no, no! I told Varian not to……”

“(____), take this, please.” He holds out an envelope to you.

You take it and look at him sadly, putting in your satchel, “No, Quirin! I am not letting this happen!” You pull off your gloves and you hold onto the edge that keeps growing.

The mark begins to glow brightly and you groan in pain, but the growing substance began to slow down. The amber like stuff also began to pulsate with energy and you felt like you're getting weak.

Your hands are pulled away by Quirin’s one hand, “Stop! It's not going to work.”

You stare in despair, “But he needs you.”

Quirin looks at you sadly, “He needs you more. Make sure to give him the letter before you reach Sanghelios.”

You grew confused, “What?”

“They're going to be coming for the three of you, but promise me YOU will keep Varian safe.” He is nearly encased now after letting go of your hands.

“I-I promise.” You say painfully.

-

“Pete! Stan! You have to let me see, Rapunzel!” Varian pants heavily.

Pete and Stan glance at each other in worry, “We're sorry, Varian, but….we have orders-”

Varian pushes past them and runs toward commoners hall. “PRINCESS RAPUNZEL!” He runs in, only to be held back by the Captain.

Pete and Stan follow after giving Varian a head start, “Sorry Princess, he ran right past-”

“Wait!” Rapunzel holds up her hands and Captain lets him go. “It's okay.”

Varian breaths hard from panic and fear, “Rapunzel! My dad's in danger, you're the only one who can help! Please!” He begs. “You have to come to Old Corona with me now.”

Rapunzel glances at everyone then gently leads Varian out into the hall, “Varian, what's wrong?”

“Please, please! The rocks are encasing my dad.” His voice slightly cracks.

“Encasing? What are you saying?” Rapunzel asks in shock.

Varian turns and waves for her to follow, “Come! Go see for yourself! You can help, I-I don't- I-I know you can! You have a connection to these rocks.”

Rapunzel looks down in sorrow and seems to regret not listening to you about making a promise. “Varian….it's a state of emergency here. I'm sorry. I-I-I can't help you, not right now.”

Varian freezes and turns to her, getting scared, “No, no, no, no, no! Listen to me! My dad doesn't have much time! You are the only one who can help!” He gets on his knees and holds his hands together, “Rapunzel, please!”

Nigel walks up, “Your majesty, please. Whatever the boy’s problem. It must be set aside. The storm is growing stronger by the second, we need to-”

Varian lunges in despair and holds onto Rapunzel, “No, no, no, no!! Please, please, Princess!” Varian tries to form his words, “You-you promised you'd help me! You promised!”

Pete and Stan regretfully pick up Varian and he struggles, “Rapunzel! Princess! Ah! My dad needs help!”

Varian screams as he is carried down the hall, “Rapunzel! You promised! YOU PROMISED!”

Pete and Stan put him outside. Varian tries to get back in and Stan holds him, “Please, don't make this any harder.”

“No! I-I just…..let me see (____) then!”

Cass comes out, “Varian, (_____) went back to Old Corona before you got here. She went to go help you.”

Varian stops, “She….she…” He looks back in the direction of Old Corona and takes off.

-

You slide to the floor and lean your forehead against the smooth surface. The door to Varian's lab slams open then shuts, “(____), Dad! The Princess refused to help. I-”

You didn't want to turn around to look at Varian's face.

“Dad? Oh no…..”

You hear Varian run up next to you, “No, no.” Varian slams his fists on the encasement, “NO, NO!”

“Dad! Daddy!” His voice cracks and he tears up, “No!” Varian holds his hands up to his dad, “No, no, no, no!” He couldn't believe this happened and sobs, “N-N-No!” He slides down next to you, crying.

You tear up just hearing how much this affected him. He was breaking. You stood up still shaky from earlier.

Varian looks up at you with tear filled eyes, “(____)? Wha-what ar-are you-you doing?”

You don't answer him and place your hands on the crystal encasement. You shut your eyes and willed the crystal to break. Very slightly your fingers barely went a centimeter in.

Varian watched and notices your mark glowing, but he also realized your body is slowly slumping over and the crystal pulsated with energy.

“(____).”

You don't stop and keep pushing.

Varian gets really worried when the mark starts to flicker like it's going out like a star.

“(____) STOP!” Varian yelled and pulled you away.

You now lay your head on Varian's shoulder, feeling extremely weak. Varian buries his face into your hair, “Stop…..no more. I don't….I don't want to lose you too.”

“But....” You try to talk, but you couldn't.

Varian shakes his head, “No. We'll find another way.”

He kneels on the floor and softly cradles you. You close your eyes and fall asleep in exhaustion.

Varian sits there just holding you and finally stops crying. His eyes look to your mark and he sighs, “Don't worry, Dad.” He tries not to tear again, “I'm going to get to the bottom of this….I promise.”

He shuts his eyes and sings softly, “I will make you proud. Get the answers and set you free.” He looks up to his dad in sorrow, “Don't you worry whatever it might take. I'm finding a way.”

Varian stands up and keeps you in his arms, “And I swear right now.” He takes in a sharp breath, “That no matter what comes of me.”

“Anybody who stands or has stood in my path, they are going to pay!!!”

Rudiger hides under the table and Mimi shakes a bit while hiding behind Rudiger’s head.

Varian holds you tightly and turns, “They...will...pay.” He clenches his teeth and glares at the floor before walking out with you.