Chapter Text
Rapunzel hoped that she was finally home. Back in her actual time. But the first thing she noticed after breaking the hourglass was that she was sitting in the castle library and not by the cafe in the town square. Rapunzel noticed that she was holding a book on flora and fauna of the world and the box of Cassandra’s stuff wasn’t in front of her!
“Huh, that’s strange. Pascal?” Rapunzel looked to see if Pascal was still there. But her chameleon was nowhere to be found. “Pascal?”
Rapunzel got up and walked around to see where Pascal was. “Pascal! Where are you?!”
Rapunzel walked out of the library while she continued to call out Pascal’s name.
“Rapunzel?” She heard Cassandra calling out to her and she stopped short, slowly turning to face her.
She was in her Lady-in-Waiting dress again, her hair dark and a concerned expression on her face. Rapunzel moved her hand to her hair to make sure it wasn’t short and brown, feeling confused and at a loss when she realized it was long and blonde. What was going on? Was this another Disciple of Zhan Tiri trick?
“Cass?! You’re here! But you’re not wearing the moonstone!” Rapunzel said, surprised.
“...Why would I be…and where else would I be?” Cassandra walked closer to her. “Are you feeling okay, Rapunzel?”
“Wait, you’re not calling me Raps? This feels wrong.” Rapunzel said.
Cassandra sighed. “I’m just…worried about you. You’re walking around. calling out like a madwoman.”
“But what do you mean?! You know who Pascal is. And Eugene!” She gasped. “Eugene! I almost forgot about him! Have you seen him?!” Rapunzel asked.
“Uhh…is he another lizard?” Cassandra shrugged. “Pascal is around somewhere, there’s no reason to be screaming his name while walking around the castle. Weren’t you supposed to be studying right now, anyway? You know he gets bored when you’re studying.”
Rapunzel was taken back. “Eugene Fitzherbert, remember? You two used to bicker nonstop? But you tolerate him because he was dating me? You used to tease his goatee and hand lotions.”
“Uhm…no, I don’t know any ‘Eugene’.” She shook her head.
Rapunzel’s eyes widened. Surely, this must be some kind of joke! But before she could ponder, Rapunzel turned around and saw another shocking sight! There stood Andrew holding Pascal in his hands!
“Andrew?! What are you doing here?! Let go of Pascal!!” Rapunzel demanded.
Andrew raised an eyebrow, and Rapunzel noticed he was in different clothes from what she knew. “Didn’t you ask me to keep him company while you studied, Rapunzel?”
“She’s been acting weird, calling for some guy named ‘Eugene’.” Cassandra shrugged at him.
“Oh, I sure hope that’s not a sign of her sneaking around to meet other guys.” Andrew shook her head. “Should the King be informed?”
“Maybe we should ask Varian about it.” Cassandra suggested.
That’s a great idea! She needed to get away from this place right now. It was getting too weird for her!
“She said she was
dating
him, and I
teased
him, which…
definitely
hasn’t happened, so maybe it’s just something she read about or dreamed?” Cassandra reasoned.
“Hm…okay, we won’t involve the King, then.” Andrew nodded.
Rapunzel slowly backed away from the two and then bolted to the door. Ignoring the two calling out to her.
“It’s okay, this is probably just a really intense dream! Hopefully Varian will know that I’m telling the truth!” Rapunzel said as she raced to Max and commanded him to take her to Old Corona. As she rode, Rapunzel looked around for any signs of Eugene. But so far, nothing. She doubted that Max would know what she’s talking about. “This gotta be a crazy dream. I hope if that were the case, I’ll wake up now.”
But she sadly knew that she was awake. Why was this happening? Why was Cassandra back at the castle and acting like she never betrayed her? Even though she wanted Cassandra to come back home where she belonged, the fact that Andrew was there and talking to her like an old friend was too strange. But not as strange as no one knowing who Eugene Fitzherbert was. It was like he never existed!
When she finally arrived in Old Corona, Rapunzel headed straight to Varian’s house and desperately knocked on the door.
She heard footsteps approaching the door and then it opened, Quirin looking out at her. “Princess Rapunzel?” He asked, confused. “I wasn’t told you’d be visiting today.” He looked over his shoulder. “Varian, Princess Rapunzel is here. I assume she’s here to see you.”
“I’ll be right out!” Varian called from his lab.
“Would you like a drink, while you wait?” Quirin offered her, gesturing towards the door into the house itself, which Rapunzel realized she had never actually entered before.
“Oh, no thanks.” Rapunzel politely declined.
Quirin shrugged. “Well, have a seat, he’ll be out soon.” He assured her.
Rapunzel debated on barging in. She knew that she was a bit rude but she had an emergency. Hopefully Varian will forgive her. Rapunzel went up to the door and let herself in the lab.
“Varian? Please, I need your help!” Rapunzel said.
“I’m busy at the moment, Rapunzel.” He held up a hand and she gasped as she saw a black rock form and take shape around what he was working on. “Hm…maybe not this shape.” He waved his hand and the rock shifted into another shape. “That’s better, more steady.” He looked over at her. “Is this important?”
Rapunzel’s jaw dropped as she realized his hairstripe and eyes were glowing blue.
“Varian…how did you get the moonstone?! Wait! Did Cass give it to you?! That’s it, isn’t it? You, Cassandra, and Andrew are working together to take over Corona! Where’s Eugene?!” Rapunzel demanded.
“Cass? You mean Cassandra, your Lady-in-Waiting?” Varian shook his head. “No, I got this from the Dark Kingdom.” He turned to her. “And who’s Eugene? And what does Prince Andrew have to do with this?”
“…Prince Andrew? Varian, he’s using you. Oh, he must have wiped your memories.” Rapunzel said. “Don’t you remember Eugene? You thought that he was Flynn Rider when you guys first met?”
His eyes widened. “Flynn Rider?!” He stepped forward. “You’ve been in contact with Baron Rider?! Is he here?! In Corona?! Where?!” He shook his head. “If he’s here, this is really bad. We need to tell the King right away.”
Now Rapunzel was even more confused. “What?! What are you talking about?! Eugene is his real name! He rescued me from the tower!”
“What tower, your bedroom?” He raised an eyebrow. “You and Baron Rider have never met, as far as I know.” His expression softened. “If you’re talking about the one you were kidnapped to, Cassandra was the one who brought you home. Sounds like you had your memory wiped, if you don’t remember that.”
“What? No! I remember breaking the hourglass. That’s the last thing I remember before I found myself in the castle library and I realized that this isn’t the Corona I remember.” Rapunzel said.
“Hm…” He walked closer and placed his hand against her forehead, then took off his glove and did it again. “You don’t
seem
ill…besides, the Sundrop should prevent you from getting sick, anyways.” He stepped back. “What you claim to remember has never happened. Baron Rider, who was once called Flynn Rider and before that, in his much younger years, was Eugene Fitzherbert, has never met you. He hasn’t set foot in Corona in years, ever since he became Baron and started giving orders from Vardaros.”
“How did he become the Baron?” Rapunzel asked, curiously.
“He married the Baron’s daughter, Stalyan. Took over after the old guy decided to retire.” Varian shrugged. “That was years ago. I’ve been monitoring his movements with my various resources, but I haven’t heard of him coming to Corona personally. But, then again, he could’ve evaded them.” He frowned. “I’ll have to consult with Lyle…”
Rapunzel stood there like she was told that the world was ending.“…What?! But that doesn’t make sense!! How could he marry Staylan if he left her at the altar?!”
“Because he…didn’t?” He shrugged.
“But, that’s how we met years later, after he left her at the altar. This is a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I thought by breaking the hourglass that it would send me home.” Rapunzel said.
“Okay, hold on, what hourglass? Why don’t you explain what’s going on?” Varian leaned against his desk and put his glove back on. “It sounds like there’s some kind of situation here that…might require a more
magical
assist.”
Rapunzel takes a deep breath and explains everything. “Okay, so after Eugene found me and brought me back to my parents, I met Cassandra who became my lady in waiting and best friend-”
“Wait, hold on.” He held up a hand. “How did Baron Rider find you? And why would he bring you back to the King and Queen? Look, uh, let’s not start at the
beginning
-beginning, just…tell me what you mean by ‘hourglass’. I’ll ask questions from there.” He suggested.
“Right, sorry. So it started when Old Lady Crowley was removing Cassandra’s things from her room. I went to the storage room where her other things were and–”
“Okay, sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt…what happened to Cassandra?” He sighed. “Maybe I
do
need to go back to the beginning. Okay, so…quick question; you
did
get kidnapped at birth, right? By a woman named Gothel?”
Rapunzel nodded. “Yes, but she turned to dust after Eugene cut my hair.”
“Okay, so that’s the same. And you were…sixteen when you got out?” He asked.
Rapunzel shook her head. “Two years later, on my eighteenth birthday.”
“Okay, so that’s different.” He nodded. “According to
my
memory, you were rescued by Cassandra when you were sixteen. She had seen a suspicious figure going in and out of a hidden tunnel for a few days and she got backup in the Royal Guard and went to explore the tunnel. They found the tower, and you, while Gothel was away. When she returned, the Saporians helped capture her, and she’s currently sealed away. She never turned to dust.”
“Sealed away? You mean that she was a Disciple of Zhan Tiri?!” Rapunzel was shocked.
“Well, yes, but you don’t need to be one of those guys to be sealed away.” Varian shook his head. “So, it looks like you’ve somehow ended up in the world of our Rapunzel. And if you’re in close proximity to Baron Rider in your world…and Cassandra…you said something about her and the Moonstone?” He shrugged.
“Yes, the moonstone was my destiny but Cassandra stole it and wanted revenge for what happened to her mother, Gothel.” Rapunzel explained.
His eyes widened. “...Her mother is
who
? Gothel? This is…wow. She has no idea.” He sat back and sighed. “But, if your Cassandra’s Gothel was…turned to dust, I can see why she might be angry once she found out about her heritage.” He sighed. “So…okay…first of all, the Moonstone is
my
birthright. I was born to carry it, it resides in my body.” He explained. “Cassandra has never had it. I have had it since before you left the tower.”
“But when I first met you, you had no moonstone. And while that was happening, you were in prison-”
“Princess Rapunzel, I think we’ve fully established that things are not the same, that you have somehow ended up in our world, and…I hope that it’s just possession and not a full swap.” He frowned.
“Well, I was previously sent back in time.” Rapunzel replied. “When Eugene and Lance were teenagers.”
“And?” He motioned for her to continue.
“Well, Lance got arrested and Eugene left him. I scolded Eugene for leaving him. I said, Friends don’t leave friends behind. Which was the same thing that I told Eugene before I left the storage room with Cassandra’s things. So, I made him go back and bust Lance out.” Rapunzel explained.
“You taught him to be loyal, to keep to his commitments, and to not abandon people.” Varian raised an eyebrow. “Do you think he’d leave someone at the altar, having been taught that?”
Rapunzel suddenly realized that this all happened because she told him that! “But…he was just leaving Lance alone in prison! He just gave up on Lance like he was telling me to give up on Cassandra after she took the moonstone!”
“And it’s great that you taught him not to abandon people, but in the process it seems you ended up in the world of a version of him that didn’t abandon people when you came back to the present.” Varian theorized. “A version of him that never left Stalyan, never went to your tower, and it sounds like he would’ve been two years late, anyway.” He shrugged.
“But…I just don’t want him to…he said that Cassandra left me behind and I wanted to prove him wrong.” Rapunzel said, tears building up.
He stepped away from the table. “Look…Rapunzel…” Whatever he was about to say, it was interrupted by a mirror on the wall of his lab glowing and he turned towards it. “Huh. That’s going on there?” He walked over and tapped it.
“Whoa. I guess by looking at another me, that it…worked?” Another Varian, who was dressed in clothes Rapunzel recognized, said. “Uh, bit of a weird question. Do you happen to have a Rapunzel that is looking for a Eugene there? Or knows one? Because our Rapunzel is a little…broken.”
“Not ‘broken’, just…off.” Eugene said from the other side. “She’s running from me and told the guards to arrest me, called me ‘Baron Rider’.”
Varian looked at Rapunzel.
“Varian! Eugene! Oh, thank goodness!” Rapunzel ran to the mirror. “Do you know what’s happening?”
“Okay, uh…don’t freak out, but we kind of had to get the Saporians out of prison to help us figure it out.” Eugene said awkwardly. “They called someone over and he says that you, uh…swapped places with another Rapunzel after you changed the past.”
“C-Change the past? But I just told a younger version of you to never leave friends behind.” Rapunzel said. “And how bad can changing the past be?”
“Bad enough that you swapped places with a version of you that thinks Eugene is the Baron’s successor and married to Stalyan.” The other Varian said dryly.
Rapunzel nervously chuckled. “Oops? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just didn’t want Lance to spend his time in prison and especially after Eugene left him behind. It was the same as him telling me to leave Cassandra behind.”
Eugene winced as the other Varian gave him a look. “What? She took the Moonstone! And attacked Rapunzel!”
“You should know by now that Rapunzel is
never
going to give up on Cassandra.” The other Varian said flatly. “Even if she gives up on certain others.” He mumbled, glancing away.
Varian sighed. “Alright, well, let’s get back on track. How are we going to fix this?”
“Well, if they swapped places, then theoretically, we can swap them back just by building a portal.” The other Varian said thoughtfully. “Using the same frequency that we used to contact you through the mirror, we should be able to connect portals built on both sides.”
“Building a portal, huh?” Varian hummed thoughtfully. “That’s something I haven’t tried yet. Oh, is Rapunzel there? Mine, I mean?”
“Technically, but until Eugene leaves, and he refuses to, she’s not coming out from under my desk.” The other Varian shrugged.
“And you said that the Saporians are there?” Rapunzel asked, nervously.
“Yes, they’re in my kitchen right now.” The other Varian assured her.
“Varian, how are you so relaxed about them?” Rapunzel asked.
“We’ll discuss it later, Rapunzel. We have–not
you
! The
other
one!” The other Varian looked to the side. “
Our
Rapunzel!”
“Hey, go easy on her, she’s probably
terrified
with Baron Rider right there. Send him out.” Varian advised.
The other Varian groaned, throwing his head back, then looked at Eugene. “Can you go out and wait, for her peace of mind?”
Eugene sputtered. “But–”
“Go!” Both Varians said, the other Varian pointing to the side.
Eugene looked at Rapunzel. “Do I
have
to?”
“Please? For me?” Rapunzel pleaded.
Eugene sighed and nodded before he walked away. The other Varian watched him go, then looked to the side. “He’s gone, you can come over here.”
The other Rapunzel - her body - walked over to join them. “Varian…I’m scared.”
“It’s going to be okay, Princess. We’ll figure this out.” Varian assured her.
“Hey, umm listen, I’m sorry about switching places. I didn’t know that changing the past would cause this to happen.” Rapunzel said.
“Well, what
did
you expect changing the past to do?” The other Varian asked sarcastically.
“Uhhh, go back home to the present?” Rapunzel replied.
“What, with no changes?” Varian sighed heavily. “Is she
always
this…mm…how to put this nicely…”
“Scatterbrained?” The other Varian asked dryly.
“Varian!” Rapunzel argued. “That’s not nice!”
“What’s ‘not nice’ is you apparently going back in time and changing things!” The other Varian sighed. “Don’t you
ever
think before acting?”
“I do think before acting.” Rapunzel replied despite not fully understanding what he meant.
“Really? And what
did
you think, then?” The other Varian asked. “Because it
wasn’t
about the possible consequences of your actions, as usual!”
“You act like I’m some spoiled brat!” Rapunzel complained. She wonders why Varian would start talking to her like this.
“You’re
both
acting immature, and if you don’t
stop
it, I will make you
regret
it once the portal is built.” Varian said coldly, his eyes flashing a brighter blue as his hairstripe started to glow.
“...What the fuck?” The other Varian breathed, looking at him.
“Language.” The other Rapunzel scolded him.
Rapunzel was scared of the idea of Varian having the moonstone, so she decided to stop and drop it for now.
“Varian, temper.” The other Rapunzel said calmly.
“Apologies, Princess. This day has been a little…draining.” Varian sighed. “So, we need to build a portal. How are we doing that?”
“The Saporian Seer, Kline, is going to be going there to give you the same plans he gave me.” The other Varian explained.
“I know Kline.” Varian assured him. “I suppose he’ll be contacting his counterpart here.”
“K-Kline? He won’t try to hurt anyone, will he?” Rapunzel asked, concerned.
“No, he won’t. Unless you’re Zhan Tiri.” Varian grinned.
“Wait, the Saporians…are actually the good guys?” Rapunzel asked.
“Good or bad is relative, depending on who you talk to, but they certainly aren’t the ones that sided with Zhan Tiri during the war.” Varian said distractedly as he went to work on his project again.
“War? What war?” Rapunzel asked, confused.
“The ‘Unification War’.” Varian replied.
“The one between Saporia and Corona. Corona was allied with Zhan Tiri for it.” The other Rapunzel explained.
“What?! But that doesn’t make any sense! I thought it was the Saporians who declared war on Corona! There wasn’t any mention of Zhan Tiri.” Rapunzel replied.
“Corona lied.” The other Varian said calmly. “The war was started because Zhan Tiri manipulated Herz Der Sonne into attacking. Corona struck first.”
Rapunzel was stunned. “But…the journal, the love story!”
“All lies.” Varian said, shaking his head. “He got her to sign her name after taking her captive as a prisoner of war. He told her that if she didn’t, he’d kill everyone in Saporia. Then he turned around and had Saporia attacked, anyway. With her as his prisoner, the royal family couldn’t do anything and could only flee with whoever they could.”
Rapunzel couldn’t believe it. Was this true?! She looked at the other Rapunzel and wondered if she already knew this. What if the Saporians were just telling Varian this? But if that’s the case then why would he trust them anyway even after he stood up to them?!
The other Rapunzel cleared her throat. “Perhaps, we should focus on returning us to our own worlds. By the way, Rapunzel, when do you attend your lessons? I looked at your schedule and…I didn’t see any.”
“Lessons?” Rapunzel asked. “What lessons?”
“Your…Princess lessons?” She asked, confused.
“Oh those, umm, that’s because I don’t have any? I find them to be taking too much of my free time.” Rapunzel explained.
The silence between the other three was so tense you could hear a pin drop.
“...Well,
that
explains a lot.” The other Varian finally said sarcastically.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Rapunzel asked, getting upset.
“How do you expect to be a good Queen, if you’re not even trying to be a good Princess?” The other Varian asked. “You wear the clothes, you flaunt the power, but you’re not even trying to commit to your responsibilities? With all you must’ve failed to learn in the tower, why are you ignoring your classes? Do you
enjoy
being ignorant?”
“I’m not ignorant!” Rapunzel argues.
“You’re going to start a
war
with how little you know about the Seven Kingdoms.” The other Varian said flatly. “Just watch; you’re going to do something that is an act of war to one of them while at a party and you won’t know what you did wrong because you’re not bothering to learn!”
“Temper.” The other Rapunzel said, shaking her head at him.
“Oh, temper
this
.” He raised his hand in an obscene gesture.
Varian let out a feral growl and the other Varian jolted and dropped his hand to his side. “Do NOT insult my Sundrop.” He said coldly. “I don’t care what you say to
yours
, but if you insult
my
Rapunzel, I’m going to make you suffer for it.”
“...Noted. Sorry.” The other Varian nodded.
“Well…I did find out the hard way during the Contest of the Crowns.” Rapunzel bashfully admitted. “I played the flute while doing the Koton ballroom dance thingy. It was boring and stuffy. But I didn’t know until afterwards when Cassandra explained it. It made sense why she was trying to warn me when I did it again later during the contest. But I thought it was supposed to be fun.”
“The Contest of the Crowns is a respectful event, where each of the Princesses and Queens share a part of their culture with the other Kingdoms.” The other Rapunzel explained. “I suspect they only let you get away with it because of how recently you’d left the tower. I was fully educated by the time we hosted it, having been rescued, apparently, two years sooner.”
Rapunzel blushed, embarrassed. “I feel so ashamed. I guess maybe Varian does have a point. Despite Cass telling me stuff, I didn’t know what is right and what is wrong. I just hate having to follow so many rules.”
“Well, sorry, but rules are a big part of being a Princess.” The other Varian sighed. “And so is taking responsibility and taking care of your subjects. Don’t follow your father’s example, look to your mother.”
Varian looked confused. “...What did King Frederic do?”
“What
didn’t
he do?” His counterpart said bitterly. “How about everything he was
supposed
to be doing?”
Varian sighed. “Well, I’m going to go talk to Kline. I’ll be back.” He walked out of the lab.
“He…was sent to prison and that’s how he met Andrew. They were cellmates.” Rapunzel explained to the other Rapunzel.
“I know, he told me.” She nodded.
“Yeah, I talked to her about everything, when she asked why Andrew, her friend, was in prison.” The other Varian said calmly. “I suppose you must’ve yelled at him over there?”
Rapunzel winced. “I honestly thought that he was holding Pascal hostage.”
The other Rapunzel sighed. “I’m going to have to do damage control.”
“Well, fair’s fair, you slapped Eugene for trying to kiss you.” The other Varian shrugged.
Rapunzel groaned. “Yeah, I suppose that’s fair. I’m very sorry again for this mess. I just didn’t want Eugene to give up on Cassandra. He saw her as a sister. So do I. In fact, I referred to us as sisters after she revealed that she was the daughter of Gothel. She didn’t take it too well.”
“Wait, she’s the what?” The other Rapunzel asked, confused.
“...Gothel had a kid?” The other Varian asked. “I knew she was mad at you, but this…you didn’t mention this.”
“Well, she was mad because Gothel chose me over her and abandoned her.” Rapunzel explained.
“...Okay, we’ll unpack all that later. I need to start building the portal, so I gotta go talk to Kline, uh…we’ll talk later, Rapunzel.” He looked at the other Rapunzel. “Where are you going to be?”
“Seeing what exactly she’s been doing here, since she’s not attending classes.” The other Rapunzel sighed. “...And avoiding Bar–Eugene. He keeps forgetting that I’m not the same…Rapunzel.”
“Can you please bring Eugene back in here? I need to apologize to him too.” Rapunzel asked politely.
“You can apologize to him when you’re in the same space. I need to work, so I’m ending this contact for now.” The other Varian said, reaching for the mirror on his side. Then it went dark.
Rapunzel sighed. She had no idea how ignorant she was. Maybe Cassandra was right to be mad at her? And apparently Varian too. How long did he feel that way towards her? Perhaps ever since the snowstorm? When he was sent to prison? And the Saporians! Not once did she stop and truly wonder why they were seemingly trying to attack her kingdom if the supposedly love story were true. Maybe Day of Hearts was really a lie. Then that means that either the entire kingdom had no idea about it or that her own father knew and lied to her about it anyway…like how he possibly lied about actually helping Varian. It angered her that Varian was sent to prison and ended up as Andrew’s cellmate. He was a child for goodness sake! Yet…she wasn’t much help either. Yes, had she truly known what really happened to Varian, she would have done better to help him. Even if it meant defying her father. Oh it’s pointless to go to him and demand an apology now. Since her parents lost their memories. But perhaps it’s better that way, for Varian’s sake.
“...Rapunzel? Is everything alright?” She heard Andrew saying.
“Raps, come on, what’s going on?” Cassandra said as they walked over to her. “Varian said that you weren’t…yourself?”
“I’m sorry for behaving like that. The truth is that I accidentally went back in time and changed the past in my world. I somehow ended up here. Your Rapunzel is stuck in my world. Right now, Varian here and back in my world are both working on building a portal.” Rapunzel apologized.
“Oh, okay.” Andrew nodded. “That’s…a relief, I thought I’d done something wrong.” He rubbed the back of his neck and Pascal squeaked sympathetically and patted his thumb from the palm he was sitting in.
“No, I was in the wrong. It’s my fault for not considering the consequences of my actions. And I thought you were dangerous because I was told a lie back in my world.” Rapunzel said.
“Uhm…that’s okay, I guess my father never…sorted things out here in your world, huh?” He sighed. “I hope that I, in your world, never did anything too shameful to you.”
“Prince Andrew, you don’t need to apologize for what another version of you did.” Cassandra told him.
“So, you’re a prince? I guess your father is king?” Rapunzel asked.
“Yes, King Crawford of Saporia.” He smiled. “Perhaps…you’d like to come and see the Kingdom? We’ve rebuilt it since the war.”
“Well, since the portal will probably take a while to be built, sure! I’d like to learn more about Saporia.” Rapunzel said. “And your other you was probably as nice as you are, considering that Varian is comfortable working with the Saporians.”
“I sure hope so.” He chuckled a bit. “So, uh…do you want me to hold onto Pascal until his Rapunzel is back, or do you want to hold onto him?”
“Oh, if he’s comfortable with you then you can still hold onto him.” Rapunzel smiled.
Pascal squeaked and tilted his head at her before hopping over and climbing up to rub against her cheek.
“So, what’s your Pascal like?” Cassandra asked.
“I think he’s very similar to this one.” Rapunzel giggled.
“Just spent a bit less time in the tower, huh?” Cassandra nodded. “It…must’ve been rough. I mean, at least our Rapunzel got a couple years of adolescence with her parents before she had to grow up.”
“Well that’s much different from me. I was rescued when I was eighteen.” Rapunzel replied.
“Yeah, Varian told us.” She nodded. “So…looks like you’re going to be sticking around a little while, you want to try going to her classes?” She shrugged.
“I might as well. I thought that I didn’t need those lessons because they cut into my free time. But I was wrong.” Rapunzel said.
Andrew chuckled a bit. “Sounds like you’ve got a bit of catch-up to do. I’d be happy to tutor you, help you get up-to-date on what the current lesson plan is.”
Rapunzel smiled. “Okay, thanks Andrew.”
He smiled, then turned as the door opened behind them. “Are you guys going to hang out in my lab all day?” Varian asked, raising an eyebrow. “Go back to the castle, Rapunzel, I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
“Maybe it would be good for her to visit to talk to her own world?” Andrew suggested,
Varian sighed. “Alright, as long as she stays out of the way of my work. And, this time, wait in the kitchen for me to bring you in. I’m going to start locking my lab.” He walked over and opened a large crate. “Go on, I need to focus and you’re all chatting away and distracting me.”
Andrew bowed his head respectfully as Cassandra did the same and then they ushered Rapunzel out.
“Uhh, why did you two bow to Varian like that?” Rapunzel asked.
“Because he’s the Moon? A God?” Andrew shrugged.
“I guess he’s not in your world?” Cassandra asked.
“At least, not yet. Things are much more complicated in my world.” Rapunzel explained.
“Tell us?” Andrew asked. “You look like you need to get it off your chest. How did you even get here, anyway?”
“Well, it started when I found Cassandra’s things outside her room. I went to the storage room-”
“Uh…” Cassandra looked confused. “Why don’t you skip to the part that
doesn’t
require a whole explanation of your backstory?”
“Cassandra, come on.” He looked at her, then Rapunzel. “Is that part relevant to how you came here?”
“Yeah. As I was trying to bring her things back to her room, Eugene told me that I should just give up on her coming back. I told him that friends don’t leave friends behind. But he said that she left me behind. Like I know that he was trying to protect me but I just couldn’t give up on her. So I went to the cafe in the city for some alone time. It was there that I found the hourglass and I accidentally activated it. I didn’t know until later that I accidentally sent myself into the past when Eugene was a teenager. It wasn’t until he left Lance in prison that I made him go back and break Lance out. After I broke the hourglass, I ended up here.” Rapunzel explained.
“Wait, hold on…where did I
go
?” Cassandra asked, concerned.
“You stole the moonstone because you wanted to avenge your mother. You’re the daughter of Gothel.” Rapunzel replied.
“...I’m the…I’m…” She looked ill. “I put my mother in a crystal?”
Andrew shrugged. “Could be worse, you could’ve killed her.”
“Kline said that would’ve been bad.” Cassandra shook her head.
“Well, it’s a good thing that you didn’t witness her death in my world. She turned into dust.” Rapunzel said, looking disturbed explaining that. “Although, I don’t think that Cassandra witnessed her death either.”
“Dust? Why?” Andrew asked curiously.
“When I was eighteen, Eugene rescued me by cutting my hair. After it was cut, I lost most of my healing powers and because of that, Gothel turned old. She kept getting older and Pascal used my hair to trip her and cause her to fall out of the window but by the time that she reached the ground, she was already dust.” Rapunzel explained.
“Oh…so, does our Rapunzel have short hair right now?” Cassandra asked.
Rapunzel shook her head. “My hair grew back after touching the black rocks.”
“‘The black rocks’? Varian’s rocks?” Cassandra asked.
Rapunzel nodded.
“How did those grow your hair again?” Cassandra asked.
“I suspect it’s because of the Sun and Moon being inherently connected.” Andrew theorized.
“Yeah, I still had a little bit of the Sundrop in me.” Rapunzel said.
“Well, of course you do, it’s inside of your body, like the Moonstone is in Varian.” Cassandra nodded. “Before he got it, he had a bit of the Moon’s power in his body to make it easier for him to collect it later.”
“That’s why he has that stripe.” Andrew mimed a stripe in his hair.
“I guess the moonstone really was Varian’s destiny.” Rapunzel said.
Cassandra nodded. “So…how did I, the other me, take the Moonstone, if Varian is supposed to have it?”
“Well, the thing is that Varian was arrested for a list of crimes and was sent to prison where he was Andrew’s cellmate. I, on the other hand, thought that the moonstone was my destiny. But before I could have it, the other you stole it because you thought I overshadowed your entire life.” Rapunzel explained.
“What in the world
happened
in your world?” Andrew asked, baffled. “How did Varian end up getting into crime?”
“And why were
you
in prison?” Cassandra looked at Andrew, who shrugged.
“Andrew tried to steal Herz der Sonne’s journal and Varian kidnapped my mother.” Rapunzel explained.
They both stared at her blankly. “...So…I’m guessing…my father didn’t get through to yours in your world.” Andrew said awkwardly.
“Well, I’ve never met your father and I had no idea that you’re a prince back in my world.” Rapunzel said.
“...That doesn’t bode well.” He sighed, bowing his head. “That means something went really, really wrong.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to realize that my world is messed up.” Rapunzel said.
“And why did Varian, in your world, kidnap the Queen?” Cassandra asked.
“Because his father was encased in amber and I couldn’t help him.” Rapunzel explained. “In fact, I had no idea until he tricked me into helping him steal the Sundrop flower.”
“...Okay, that’s a whole story. So, uh, going back to how you got here, you said you went back in time, talked to some guys called Eugene and Lance and…then came here?” Andrew rubbed his head in confusion.
“Apparently, I wasn’t supposed to tell Eugene to go back for Lance.” Rapunzel said. “I wasn’t supposed to change the past.”
“Who’s Eugene?” Andrew looked at Cassandra.
“Uh…Baron Rider.” Cassandra shrugged. “Apparently, he’s given up crime in her world.”
“His real name is Eugene Fitzherbert.” Rapunzel replied.
“Well, at least
one
thing isn’t messed up in her world.” Andrew shrugged. “She got the
good
Flynn Rider.”
“Yeah…although I wonder if I’m messed up myself. I mean I tried to convince Eugene to agree with my mindset. Is that considerably messed up?” Rapunzel said.
“Convincing him, no. But, going back in time to change him to match
your
mindset, yes.” An unfamiliar voice said as a blue-cloaked man approached them. He pulled his hood back to reveal he had silver hair and Andrew bowed respectfully.
“True Seer.” He greeted.
“Rise, Prince Andrew.” He said calmly, then turned to Rapunzel. “That is why you are here, Princess Rapunzel. Because you could not just leave well-enough alone. Lance managed to get out of prison before; Stalyan arrived and broke them all out after he told them what happened. But, you changed things, and he went back for Lance himself, and also learned to become more loyal and stick to his commitments.”
“But I didn’t know that this would happen. I honestly thought I would just go back to the present and yeah, maybe have Eugene have a different perspective. But not in a manipulative way like…Gothel.” Rapunzel said.
“You went back in time and tried to rewrite his entire personality and point of view. How is that not
worse
than her?” The Seer asked calmly.
Rapunzel couldn’t believe it! She was slowly becoming Gothel! “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I just…didn’t want to give up on Cassandra when everyone else has.”
Cassandra rubbed at her wrist awkwardly. “Uh…so…Master Kline, is it…true she’s my mother? Gothel, I mean?”
“Yes.” He nodded.
“...Wow. Do you know who my father is?” She asked.
“I believe that will take some more effort to ascertain. But, you look
very
much like Gothel.” He pointed out.
Cassandra blushed a bit. “...Oh.”
“You’re taking the news better than Cassandra in my world.” Rapunzel commented.
“Well…the Gothel in our world didn’t turn to dust, she was stabbed with a sealing crystal...by me. I don’t really have any reason to be angry with Rapunzel.” Cassandra shrugged.
“Oh, right!” Rapunzel blushed.
Kline sighed. “Luckily for you, it seems that the other Varian is already on the task of finding out how to build a portal and he located Demanitus’ tomb to get his blueprints for it. We will do the same here and proceed to work on the portal.”
“Thank you so much. I’m sorry about what really happened to Saporia.” Rapunzel said.
Kline hummed and with a shrug. “Well, you can’t help what a demon did in the past.”
“I honestly had no idea that Zhan Tiri was involved.” Rapunzel replied.
“Most didn’t, only the Saporians knew.” Kline sighed. “Even Herz Der Sonne didn’t know.”
“But why would Zhan Tiri want to attack Saporia?” Rapunzel asked.
“For the Sundrop Flower that Saporia protected.” He explained. “The Sundrop Flower was protected by a temple, countless wards and powerful warriors. But, when Corona attacked, all warriors were sent to fight, and the Disciples took down the Sun Priests and destroyed the temple.”
“So the Sundrop was protected by Saporia?” Rapunzel had no idea.
“Yes. Just as the Moonstone has its warriors to protect it, so too did the Sundrop Flower. The Sun Guards protected it with their lives, but when it came down to war…they couldn’t exactly refuse to go.” Kline looked grim. “Not with Corona using their tunnel system to sneak attack.”
Rapunzel was horrified by this. And to think that her father taking the flower centuries later was a sweet gesture. Even if it was to save her and her mother’s lives.
“But, you shouldn’t feel like you have to feel bad for something that happened in the past, something that you didn’t do.” Andrew assured her. “That was a long time before you were born, Rapunzel.”
“I can’t believe that…I was lied to. WHAT DOES THE WORLD HAVE TO HIDE?! I’m just so frustrated that my own ancestor would do this! I’m the worst princess ever!” Rapunzel felt like she definitely deserved all the guilt in the world. After all, she was just as bad as Gothel and probably worse!
Cassandra and Andrew looked at each other. “Uh…it…could be worse, you could find out that you’re the daughter of your best friend’s kidnapper?” She said awkwardly.
“Still, I’m arrogant and selfish. All I care about is my own happiness and not what others feel.” Rapunzel said.
“Rapunzel, you were a
slave
for eighteen years. When I found Rapunzel when she was sixteen, she was a
wreck
. Finding out the outside world isn’t what her mother said, finding out that her mother isn’t her mother, it was all so much for her. For the first six months, she buried herself in her studies because it was the only thing that still made some form of sense to her.” Cassandra took her hands. “It was Andrew and his sister that finally got her to come out of her studies and see the Kingdom. Nothing I did was working, she was just…so upset. So, no one can blame you for feeling the same way, except that instead of burying yourself in books for months, you tried to embrace the outside and your freedom.”
Rapunzel sighed. “That’s the thing. I desperately want to be free. So when anyone tries to hold me back or say that I can’t be on my own, I feel like I’m back in the tower. Only the castle was like a bigger tower. I mean, I even chose a tower bedroom. Is it possible that despite the tower being my prison that I get homesick?”
“It’s possible, but Rapunzel didn’t choose the tower, it was just the princess’s bedroom, and Prince Frederic before her, and all other Crown Princes and Princesses.” Cassandra explained.
“Oh…but still, I know that she held me captive but Gothel was like a mother figure to me. It’s not right, I know.” Rapunzel said, feeling ashamed.
“It’s perfectly understandable.” Andrew assured her. “She may have been your kidnapper, but she also raised you from infancy.”
“I know. And what’s funny is that my dad started doing some of the things that she was doing. Which was both frustrating and yet bittersweet.” Rapunzel said.
“The King did?” Cassandra looked at Andrew with concern. “Why would the King treat her the same as her kidnapper?”
“Is there any chance he was possessed by her?” Andrew asked. “She
did
turn to dust, which would have turned her into a spirit.”
Rapunzel scoffed at the theory out of denial and fear of considering the possibility. “No way! That’s too outlandish.”
“It is.” Kline nodded. “He is not possessed by anything but grief and trauma.”
“Well, currently he isn’t. That’s because my parents have lost their memories.” Rapunzel said.
“What happened?” Cassandra asked.
“While I was away, Varian and the Saporians wiped their memories.” Rapunzel explained.
“Wow. Things
are
bad there.” Andrew sighed.
“Your version of Varian sounds…interesting.” Cassandra said thoughtfully.
“Terrifying but not as scary as your version. No offense to him.” Rapunzel said.
“Our Varian isn’t ‘scary’, though. He’s disciplined with his powers and raised to be a proper gentleman.” Cassandra shook her head. “How is he ‘scary’?”
“Well…when he gets mad, he’s scary.” Rapunzel didn’t know how to explain that Varian was the most dangerous villain she ever faced.
“Well, it’s not like he trapped you in a cage of rocks.” Cassandra chuckled. “That’s what he did when someone tried to steal from his lab. He sent them right to the castle dungeon!”
Rapunzel’s face paled.
“He’s made things easier for the Royal Guard, for sure.” Andrew nodded. “But, he’s not really that scary, he’s actually very sweet.”
“
And
he’s engaged to Rapunzel.” Cassandra added. “Though, it’s arranged.”
“WHAT?!” Rapunzel said, shocked.
“Yes.” Cassandra nodded. “The princess of Corona and the son of the mayor of the most important village in the Kingdom. Also, the King and the mayor are best friends.”
“Huh, interesting. Well, I guess that’s what happens when I never meet Flynn Rider.” Rapunzel said.
“Yeah, I guess so.” Cassandra shrugged. “But, instead, you’re with Flynn Rider…er, Eugene.”
“Anyways, we should get back to the castle.” Andrew suggested.
Rapunzel nodded.
–------------------
When they got back, Cassandra suggested that they talk to the King about the swap, and so they entered the throne room, where her parents were talking and laughing about something on their thrones.
Rapunzel shyly walked up to them. There was something different about them. They seem…happier. No lingering grief or sadness.
“Your Majesties,” Cassandra walked over and bowed low, “I apologize for the interruption, but something has happened.”
“What is it?” King Frederic asked. “Is everything alright, Rapunzel?”
“Not exactly.” Andrew shook his head. “It seems that, by way of a strange magic, our Rapunzel’s mind swapped with one from another world. We’ve already made contact with the other world and Varian is working with the Varian of that world to build a portal that will swap their minds back.”
“Oh my.” Queen Arianna got up and walked over and gently cup Rapunzel’s cheek. “Oh, you must be so confused and frightened. Do you want something to drink?”
“Oh, no thank you. I’m okay, I just didn’t realize that what I did was wrong. I’m very sorry for this. I guess everything in my world is a bit messed up.” Rapunzel politely apologized.
“Oh, sweetie, it’s okay.” Queen Arianna assured her. “Magic is…complicated, and now I know why you were screaming in the halls.” She sighed and hugged her. “If you need to talk about anything, I’m here. I know I may not be the mother of your world, and I’m sure she’s just as worried about you as I am feeling about my own, but I can help you get through this.”
“Actually…she probably doesn’t know that I’m gone.” Rapunzel admitted.
“What do you mean? Wouldn’t she notice that her daughter is…acting different?” King Frederic asked. “Wouldn’t your father?”
“Well, you see, they…lost their memories.” Rapunzel winced.
“How did
that
happen?” King Frederic asked.
“It seems that someone in her world stole the Wand of Oblivium from my people and used it to erase their memories.” Andrew explained.
“Oh, no!” Queen Arianna gasped. “Oh, that’s tragic…how much did they lose?”
“Probably the last twenty years? They don’t remember me as their daughter.” Rapunzel replied.
“Oh, sweetie…” Queen Arianna hugged her again, then cupped her cheek. “Well, maybe you can talk to the Saporians and find a way to cure them, hm?”
“I’ll take her to talk to Royal Magician Clementine.” Andrew assured her. “She was wanting to go visit, anyway.”
“Oh, I think we have our own Saporians but they’re currently helping my Varian build the portal.” Rapunzel said, leaving out the fact that they were inhabitants of the dungeon.
“Well, in the meantime, you can find out how to help your parents while you are here.” King Frederic said, standing up. “And, if you need anything while you are here, don’t hesitate to ask us. It sounds like Varian is going to be busy for a little while, so I’ll postpone the presentation for his new invention.” He headed out of the throne room.
“Thanks.” Rapunzel smiled.
Queen Arianna smiled. “Why don’t you all join me for tea before you go to Saporia? Nigel, please inform her teachers of the situation and tell them that, until this is handled, lessons will be postponed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Nigel bowed and left the room.
“Okay, I could go for some tea. Thank you.” Rapunzel said.
Queen Arianna smiled and took her hand to lead her out of the throne room, Andrew and Cassandra following them out.