A/N: So this was supposed to be some sort of slice of life short story that i never finished, but I might if you guys want it? It was inspired by a similar event that happened to my sister a long time ago.

Summary: Varian finds a little girl all alone in the streets of Corona, not knowing how to interact with kids, he tries his best. But he can't help but wonder, where did she come from? 

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The day was Saturday. That was when it happened. What you may ask? An event that would change an alchemist's life.

It all started out like a normal day.

Varian strolled down the streets of Corona, he was on his way to the castle for his daily meeting with Rapunzel.

Every day Varian and Rapunzel would have a meeting discussing a project he was working on or a future project proposal one of them had come up with. The boy was the kingdom's royal engineer, so he wanted to try and impress Rapunzel by showing up early.

Varian's worn, but heavy, leather boots thudded on the hard ground, he could smell the dust from the road and the freshly cut fruits from a stall nearby. The day was so glorious, he could almost smell the sunshine itself.

Xavier worked at his blacksmith shop, hammering a blazing orange piece of metal, scourging hot from the fire. Sweat beads pooled on his forehead, dripping down his neck and face as he worked hard. He suddenly stopped when he saw the teenage alchemist.

" Varian!"

" Oh, hey Xavier!" The boy greeted with a smile as he walked over.

" You came at just the right time boy, I was just about to leave to deliver these fire pokers. Could you stay here and mind the flames?" He gestured to the oven that he used to melt the metal in his shop.

" The...flames?-" Varian asked. He was supposed to be heading to the castle.

" Indeed. That fire cannot go out, it will take me all day to get it hot enough if it falls below what i need it to be. It'll only be for an hour."

The alchemist thought about it. He did technically have about 2 hours and 30 minutes left to get to the castle. He could spare at least one.

" Sure." He smiled kindly. Xavier laughed, a deep roar of joy as he slapped Varian's back.

" Good boy! I'll be back within an hour or so. DO NOT LET THAT FIRE GO OUT!" He slung the bag of metal over his shoulder and walked off.

Varian sighed and leaned against the rough stone of Xavier's shop, watching the crowd of people going about the town. The fire roared in the oven as the flames glowed.

A fruit merchant's wooden cart was being hauled by a donkey as it came down the street. Suddenly a small girl ran into the road, not seeing the cart.

Varian's eyes widened, the girl was too short for the man on the cart to notice her. He quickly ran into the road, waving gloved hands in the air.

" HEY! WAIT!"

He made it just in time to scoop up the little girl as the man in the cart pulled the reins of his donkey, making it rear back. Varian quickly backed up with the small girl in his arms.

" I'm so sorry," The man profusely apologized. " I didn't see her." His voice broke slightly in guilt.

Varian panted from the adrenaline. He took a deep breath and nodded curtly at the man. " It's all right. It wasn't your fault."

He put the girl down and held her shoulders as he looked down at the little girl. She couldn't have been older than 5 or 6 years old. What was she doing running around alone?

" Are you okay?" He gently asked with concern in his eyes. The girl didn't respond as she put her head down sheepishly.

" Does anything hurt?" He asked as he ran a comforting hand through the little girls messy dark hair. She shook her head.

" Where are your parents?" He asked with a breath. The girl didn't respond again, still looking at the ground with dark eyes.

" You can't be an orphan, were your parents with you here earlier?" She nodded, fiddling with the hem of her dress.

Varian's face was dark with concern and worry for the little girl.

" Do you know where they are now?" She shook her head.

The boy's determined blue eyes looked to the ground in thought. He stood, holding her hand.

" Does anyone know who this girl belongs to?" He yelled into the crowd. Some people shrugged or sadly shook their heads as they kept walking.

He suddenly remembered his task. He looked back to the fire in Xavier's shop. It was still burning brightly. His gaze set as he looked back at the girl and the blacksmith shop a few times. He kneeled down to meet her gaze.

" What's your name?"

The girl still didn't speak. She fidgeted around with her feet, kicking the dirt around on the ground.

" Look, if you want to be back with your mom or dad, you're gonna have to help me out here." He sighed.

The little girl seemed to think for a while. She got an idea as she pointed to the fountain in the center of the square with a smile. The boy looked at the fountain, confused.

" What?"

She pointed more urgently.

" Um-..." He grimaced. He looked closely at the fountain.

Water? Her name was water? No- thats stupid, Varian. Um- stone?- no-

He narrowed his eyes. Maybe it wasn't the fountain itself, but the things inside the fountain.

" Are you sure you won't tell me?" He asked one more time with a pleading look. The girl shook her head.

Varian sighed, " Fine." He turned back to the fountain. The first thing he saw were coins, wishes in the water. Some pebbles, a shoe? A frog that sat on a lillypad-

Wait.

" Lilly- Lillypad- Is- Is your name Lilly?" He asked with widening eyes. She smiled bashfully and nodded with a grin.

" HA! Oh yeah~ You got this Varian-." He congratulated himself as he smirked. He stood, still holding the girl's hand.

" We can't stay out here, Lilly. Do you mind if we hang out in the blacksmith shop for a while? Then I can introduce you to Xavier when he gets back. Maybe he can help find your parents." He asked her sincerely.

The girl thought about it, and nodded. Varian led her to Xavier's shop. He sat her on one of the stools. This place wasn't exactly child friendly. Sharp tools, edges, scalding hot fire, it wasn't exactly a playground.

He sat himself next to her on a table. For the first time, he studied her. Lilly was a small girl as previously described, she wore a tattered green dress, and dark maroon and lavender purple striped leggings. Patches were roughly sewn into her clothes, making them fit a bit weird. She had pale skin, and longer dark wavy hair. It almost reminded him of Cassandra. Except her eyes were more of a hazel color, and her face had very different features.

" Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Varian." He said as he put a hand on his chest. Lilly cocked her head, seeming to run over the name in her head. Then she rose a brow.

" What? Not a common name where you're from?" He joked.

The girl shook her head. She rose her hand and rotated it midway a few times. Gesturing an 'eh'.

" Whats wrong with the name Varian? I've always thought it sounded smart and intelligent." He asked, suddenly offended.

Lily giggled, an adorable sound. Varian smiled. He was surprised that he seemed to be doing well with the girl. He'd never even thought of himself as a kid-person, the boy was a man of science. The alchemist worked by himself all day with chemicals, metal, and machines. He'd never once stopped to consider that he had never spoken to a kid younger than him until today. He'd held a baby once for a neighbor, but he was only 13 then. And it didn't last more than a couple of seconds. But Lilly was a child, not an infant. Maybe it was his dorky nature or natural charisma, or even his sweet demeanor that made the child comfortable around him.

Even as a child himself, Varian wasn't very popular with the other kids. He was never wanted. Never invited to sleepovers, playdates, or even games. Not that he cared, ever since a very early age, the boy had always shown an interest in science. He kept to himself and was fine with reading a book or playing pretend doctors alone wherever, whether it be in his room, out in the fields with his dad, or even just around the village. He never really considered friends until he was a little older. But after realizing he was almost never wanted, he became content in his own company, that is- Until he met Rapunzel.

The boy was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts when a deep voice says his name.

" Varian! Who is this young creature?" Xavier says as he chuckles and picks up Lilly with a smile. " And, what is she doing in my shop?"

Varian smiled nervously as he scratched the nape of his neck. He had some explaining to do.