×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Chapter 69 -
Varian's Quest For Rapunzel
×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

Bouquet of flowers are placed in vases and you take one, smelling it softly. You smile tenderly and turn to Rapunzel, “Flowers are done.”

Rapunzel grins, “Great! Maybe place silverware on the tables now.” She tosses a roll of purple streamers at her dad.

You giggle as it unravels around him and they both laugh. You close your eyes in content.

“(____)!!” Varian screams.

Once you open your eyes, you see the scenery had changed drastically. You gasp and put your hands to your mouth. Everything was infested with the black rocks like it was it's own field.

“You don't belong here.” Rapunzel says a bit disgusted.

You turn around to see her stalking toward you with a glare. You back up and go to run, but slam into someone.

“Why do you even stick around? Clearly you're something else.” Eugene glares down at you.

You run around him and duck when you see Cassandra’s reflection swing a sword at you. The sword hits the rock.

“Fitzherbert is right, you should just go away for good.” Cass frowns.

You panic once you see the three of them surround you.

“It's your fault this is happening.” Rapunzel sneers, “You put us all in danger, especially Varian.” She waves her hand behind her. “Stop running away from your destiny, (____) or all you hold close to your heart will be in danger.”

They melt into a shadow and it grows until you see Zhan Tiri screaming.

You yell and run through a maze of cluttered black rocks. You feel a hand grab ahold of you and you struggle in fear.

The hand immediately turns to a metal claw and your now facing a round glowing red window.

Your eyes widen, “V-Varian?”

Varian screams angrily and a look of betrayal in his eyes, “You said you'd always be there for me. YOU PROMISED you'd HELP ME!”

You feel yourself being crushed, “V-Varian! STOP!”

He moves closer and glares coldly, “You just made me relive the pain again.”

You sat up and coughed, trying to breath. Your mark was glowing brightly then dimmed back to normal.

Mimi squeaks and goes up to you in worry after dropping her cheese.

“Varian…... I need to go to him.” You tell her and quickly get up to change. You slip on your satchel and run out, not greeting anyone who passed you in the halls.

Mimi tries to catch up to you and finally does when Nigel comes out of nowhere. “Lady (____). Where are you going?”

You scoff and walk past him, “None of your business, Nigel.”

While you went down the roads, you kept getting a feeling someone was watching you and Mimi knew it too. She sniffs around and in the corners of your eyes you can see someone sneaking around behind the trees or bushes.

Mimi quietly squeaks once a figure runs to another place.

You huff silently, “Who ever they are, they're not good at sneaking around.” You slightly panic when you see another figure on the other side then you thought it was your ruffian friends.

“Guys, that better be you. HookFoot, Shorty! Anyone!” You pout.

No one answers but you hear something pops out of the bushes.

You turn around to laugh then immediately stare at the stranger in the middle of the road. He had a metal helmet that covered his face and dark clothing. Luckily, they didn't have weird swords like the dream you had. Two more pop out and just stand there.

“Not creepy at all.” You laugh nervously and take off running.

They begin to run after you and you try to stay ahead of them. “Everytime I'm in trouble, this mark doesn't work!” You try making something happen, but no luck.

You continue until you open the front door of Varian’s home and slam it closed, panting heavily.

Varian comes down with a bit of an angry face, but it immediately turns to one of concern, “(____)?”

“These…..strange guys are following me.” You pant, “Chased me…”

Mimi crawls down and Rudiger appears and the two run off somewhere.

Varian raises a brow and gently moves you behind him in a protective manner. He peeks out the door then closes it. “There's no one.”

“B-but-” Before you could finish, Varian places a finger on your lips to stop you. Your cheeks turn pink and blink at him.

He looks at you seriously, “I believe you. I've seen a few sneaking around the village a few days ago.”

You're taken by the hand and you follow Varian to Quirin’s room. “I think they're looking for this.” He holds up a bronze colored cryptex.

You take it and tilt your head, “A Cryptex? What's inside?”

“Graphtyc is what I call it.” He takes out a key and opens it, pulling out a small scroll. He unrolls it and you see ancient writing with a picture of the sun and it's drops falling, then next to it is the moon with drops that fall, but half of it was missing.

“I still have to translate it and so far it says the rocks are some kind of ancient darkness and it can only be stopped by its counterpart . The Sundrop.”

You narrow your eyes in confusion because this scroll sounded like bogus. “Are you sure that's what it says?”

“Positive.” Varian smiles. “I bet the King is keeping the flower-”

Glass shatters from the window and one of those guys rolls in.

Varian quickly locks the scroll in the Graphtyc and slips the key in his pocket. He wraps his arms around you to push you toward the door, but two more appear and corner you two.

Varian glares and pulls out two vials and throws it down. A bright flash blinds the guys and Varian pulls you pass them. “We have to show the Princess!”

Right when the both of you run out the door and get a bit away from the house, someone snatched Varian away. “LET GO OF ME!” Varian kicks around.

“Give us the Cryptex!”

The voice sounded familiar, but you couldn't place it since it was muffled by the mask. “Varian!” You run at them, but your held back by more strangers.

“No!” Varian says and gets held down.

You're getting dragged away, “Leave him alone!” You kick back to hit a guy on the shin then yank away, kicking the other guy in between. He falls over in pain.

“Var-” Someone grabs your arm and twists it behind your back. “OW!” You whimper from the pain.

“(_____)!!!” Varian growls and somehow throws the guy back a few feet, but another punches his stomach. Varian falls over, groaning and holds his stomach.

“STOP!” You yell and the ground shook as rocks began to sprout uncontrollably. A few block the men from you and Varian, all growing into a tight space with a few ways in and out.

Varian stands up in panic and looks around, “(____)!” He runs through the maze and stops in a small burrow of rocks. He kneels down to see you're passed out and picks you up, clenching his teeth.

He holds you close and hears the men getting closer. The opening closes up and another glows, making an exit for Varian to follow. He runs through and doesn't question it because he was worried about you.

The opening leads back to his home and he quickly runs in and up to his lab.

Gently he sets you down and frantically cuts out a hole in one of his formula books. He places the Graphtyc in it and closes the book to make it seem that it was part of the mess in his lab.

Varian picks you up again and heads to a trap door. Carefully, yet quickly he heads down with you over his shoulder. Rudiger and Mimi stop as Varian leaves the door open a crack.

“You two let me know when they get out of the house. Cover the trapdoor too.” Varian demands and closes it.

Varian slides down on the wall and lays your head on his lap. He pulls of his gloves to brush his hands through your hair. To him it was soft and he moved his hand to gently run his thumb over your cheek.

Loud footsteps above made Varian glare with hatred. He moves you to hold you protectively.

After awhile, Varian had fallen asleep when they Mimi squeezes through the door and squeaks. Varian opens his eyes tiredly then sees Mimi go toward the door again.

Varian lays your head on the ground though takes off his leather apron, rolling it up and lifts your head to lay on it.

He climbed back up to his lab and slowly walks around to his desk. He writes a note and tries to calm down from losing his temper after writing Rapunzel’s name.

Rapunzel,

I need your help now more than ever. I may have discovered the key to the rocks. Find the bronze GRAPHTYC in my lab. But be careful, they are watching and will do anything to stop you.

Varian sneaks to his room and takes a spare lantern. Before he walks out, he grabs a pillow and blanket.

Your head now lays on a pillow and a blanket is draped over you. Varian kisses your forehead and wraps the key to the Graphtyc in the rolled note.

“Rudiger, stay here and keep watch on (____). Mimi I need you to help me make sure those guys aren't following.” Varian walks through the tunnel.

Soon Varian is in the dark and stood in front of Princess Rapunzel's statue mural. He lights the lantern and ties the note so it weighs down the paper lantern in place.

“Mimi, make sure Rapunzel sees this tomorrow. I'll take care of (____) until those men leave.”

Mimi leaves then slightly looks back at Varian in worry especially what Rudiger told her.

Varian sighs and strolls back to the tunnel that led to his home.

You lay there and you look around, trying to figure out where you were. You knew you passed out, but don't remember being here in this tunnel.

You hear footsteps and see Varian come into view. “Varian?”

He stops then runs and pulls you into a tight hug, “You're okay.”

You nuzzle him, “Slightly fatigue…..but okay.” You chuckle a little.

Varian places his hand on your forehead then gets up, “I'll go get us something to eat. Stay here. They might still be out there.” He climbs up the ladder.

You blink and frown a bit. Varian seems to be acting a little weird. Not his usual self, but then it could be because of those men.

Varian comes back with a cup of something steaming, “Sorry I took long. I had to keep checking if anyone was around.”

You tilt your head, “What's that?”

“Soup. I made it yesterday, but I didn't finish it.”

You go to take it, but Varian grins and pulls it away. He takes out a spoonful and blows the soup gently before holding it out to you.

Your cheek flush and you drink the soup. When you're done, Varian sighs and stands, “We're gonna be down here for awhile and hopefully the Princess will lead those guys away from us.”

You tilt your head. It sounded like he didn't care for a second. “I hope we won’t be here for long.”

The next day, you were asleep close to Varian with his arm around. Up above there were noises and soon shouts and things exploding.

You sit up and Varian hushes you. It almost sounds like Rapunzel, Cass, and Eugene are having a hard time with fighting.

You go to get up, but Varian holds you down by wrapping his arms around you. “Don't.” He warns.

“But they need help.” You whisper.

“And I need you. Just stay here. They can handle it.”

You stare at Varian and soon it sounds like they leave.

Mimi squeezes through the trap door and squeaks at Varian. Varian gets up and you wait for him to come back down.

“They're all gone.” Varian holds out his hand then helps you up into his lab.

“I'm glad they left.” Varian comments with slight anger in his voice.

“Yeah, those creepy guys were a bit annoying.” You say.

“Yeaaah…..them too.”

You look out the window and grimace at the wall of cluttered black rocks in front of Varian's home. “Maybe I should head back to the castle. I don't want to cause another bad thing to happen here.”

Varian turns to you, “NO!”

You and Rudiger jump at his tone, “What?”

Varian calms down and sighs, “I mean, no.” He gives you a sad look, “Please just stay with me a little longer.”

You hum then sigh, smiling softly, “Okay.”

Varian grins and hugs you, nuzzling your hair, “Thank you…...I won't let them take you away from me.”

“Who?” You ask.

“Nothing. I'm just glad you're staying. Just us two.”

You let Varian hug you, but there was something about the way he spoke that didn't sound right.

Mimi and Rudiger stare at you two in worry.