"Are you sure you don't wanna cuddle?" Varian looked at Aquaria with an adorable pout.

"Var, I do want to cuddle, but I'm painting," Aquaria said as she looked over at her boyfriend.

"But you can do that later, sweetness."

"Try again," Aqua said with a side smile.

"Honey?"

"Nah, that makes it sound like we're married."

"Well maybe if you come over here, I'll get some inspiration," Varian persuaded and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine," she gave in and walked over to his desk where he was sitting. She sat on his lap and he let out a giggle.

"Yay! Your the best, pumpkin," Varian tried but Aqua shook her head.

"Keep trying, freckles. You'll get it," Aqua encouraged, pecking his lips gently. She blushed, but smiled, resting her head on his chest happily.

"Yeah, I'll get it soon." Varian hummed softly as he held her close.

🧪

Varian thought about that memory. Maybe he could finally get a cute nickname for Aquaria. The right one.

Well, that was if Andrew didn't drop him off the side of the ship!

"Traitors to Saporia pay with their lives!" Andrew said as he held Varian over the air.

Varian panicked, the only thing on his mind was how he would never get to say goodbye to Aquaria and tell her that he really did love her.

Suddenly, Pascal, in his little bubble, slammed into Andrew's feet. Varian went flying back onto the ship while Andrew flew off the other side.

Varian hugged himself in pure relief and quickly pulled out the picture to make sure it was okay. He then put the drawing back in his pocket and stood up. He ran over to Pascal and Rapunzel before freeing Pascal from his bubble.

"Well that wasn't so hard," Rapunzel commented with a smile.

"Oh, we're not done yet!" Andrew smirked at them as he floated up, his head inside a bubble. "Time for Corona to go boom!"

Andrew slashed at one of the burners for the hot air balloon. The burner exploded and Varian gasped as all but one burner was destroyed. He and Rapunzel grasped the side of the ship, holding on tightly.

"That single burner cannot generate enough heat to keep this ship in the air! Varian said to Rapunzel. "If it crashes, it'll destroy all of Corona!"

He felt so guilty, knowing this was his fault.

"What if we use the Quirineon?!" Rapunzel asked quickly.

"Yes! Yes! Heating the Quirineon will increase the temperature enough for the balloon to rise!" Varian looked at Rapunzel. "We just have to get it high enough so that when its explodes, it doesn't destroy the city!"

Varian sighed and looked down. He knew what he should do.

"You need to get off the ship. Rapunzel, I've got to clean up my own mess..." Varian said and he frowned.

"No, you don't have a shield of magic hair that will protect you when this thing explodes. Plus, Aquaria would never forgive me if I let you die," Rapunzel said as she wrapped her hair around the alchemist.

"What are you doing?!"

"It's your mess, but it's my kingdom." Rapunzel flung him down, letting him roll out of her hair onto a rooftop.

"No! Rapunzel!" Varian tried to run after her but stopped at the edge of the rooftop he was on.

He watched in horror as the ship flew off. He was so worried and when he saw the ship explode, he nearly cried but he saw Rapunzel fall in a ball of her hair that had protected her.

He ran to try and find her. He saw Eugene holding her close and he quickly ran, hugging Rapunzel tight.

"Varian, I want to keep my promise to you. I think I now know a way to free your father," Rapunzel said softly and Varian froze.

"R-really?!" He looked at her in excitement.

"Really, come on," Rapunzel motioned for him to follow, getting on Maximus.

🧪

Varian helped Rapunzel drape her hair all over the amber that had encased his father.

Rapunzel got a bucket of water and looked at the amber.

"Once I start this incantation, I won't be able to stop it. And it could seriously harm you and your father," Rapunzel said as she turned to Varian, handing him the bucket. "So, I'm trusting you to snap me out of it once your father is free." She put her hands on his shoulders and he looked at her.

"You can trust me, Rapunzel," Varian assured with a smile.

Rapunzel bent down and grabbed some of her hair in her hands.

"Wither and decay, end this destiny. Break these earthly chains and set the spirit free," Rapunzel recited the incantation, her hair and eyes turning pitch black. Streams of golden shimmer seemed to flow through her hair as she started to sing while the amber melted.

"It's working," Varian breathed in disbelief.

"Wither and decay..."

"It's working!" Varian cheered.

"End this destiny..."

"Oh! Dad!" Varian went to run to his father but turned to Rapunzel.

"Break these earthly chains," Rapunzel sand eerily and Varian splashed the water on her from the bucket. "And set the spirit free."

"Wake up!" Varian went to shake her, but as soon as he touched her, his gloves melted away. "Agh!"

"The spirit free..."

"Rapunzel! Snap out of it!" Varian looked at her with worry. "Rapunzel... Rapunzel?" He went to touch her again, but then didn't, not wanting what happened to his gloves to happen to him.

"You didn't give up on me. I'm not giving up on you," Varian said as he looked at her.

Rapunzel's eyes closed before her hair went back to it's golden color. Her eyes shot open and she gasped for air, falling to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Varian asked quickly as Rapunzel pushed a strand of her hair back. He hugged her tight with a smile. "Thank you."

He let go of her and turned, sprinting to his dad.

"Dad! Dad, you're alive!" He ran into his father's arms. He hugged his dad so tight.

"Oh, son." Quirin smiled as he looked down at Varian.

Varian saw that the note his father had written was disintegrating in the liquid amber. "Dad, the note. Well, wha-what did it say? I need to know."

"All it said was, I'm so proud of you Varian. I always have been," Quirin said gently and Varian smiled, hugging him again.

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, son," Quirin replied.

"Dad... I need to go to Arendelle..." Varian said as he looked up at his father.

"Arendelle? Why would you need to go there?"

"Because Aquaria is there and I have to apologize... I-I... I did horrible things when you were in the amber... I told Aquaria that I hate her and that I wish we never met... I told her that I never want to see her again..." Varian looked down and Quirin was shocked.

"Why did you-"

"Because I was angry that I trapped you in the amber... I just need to get her back... I can't go another day without her..."

"Well you're gonna have to," Quirin said with a small smile, but Varian's heart broke.

"But, dad-"

"Because the trip to Arendelle is a day and a half." Quirin stood up with his son and Varian smiled brightly.

"Thank you, dad! I'm gonna get packed right now!"

"What about Ruddiger? He is not staying in the house while we are both not home," Quirin said and Varian shook his head.

"Ruddiger is with Aquaria. Queen Arianna asked if Ruddiger could be with Aquaria because he wasn't being treated well when we were in prison," Varian explained and Quirin stiffened.

"Prison?"

"Heh, I-I'll fill you in on the way there," Varian said with a sheepish laugh before darting off to go get packed.