A/n: Get in losers, it's time for the found family trope.

I think I crammed in a lot of rushed information in the last chapter to where I don't need to spend chapters upon chapters of prison angst. Time for a prison break bestiesss🫶🫶🫶

This is basically just me writing Varian trauma and recovery lmao✌️🤪

ALSOOOOO another thing, Cass doesn't turn evil during this. She still took the moonstone, but instead of leaving her (because Varian didn't take over with the saporians in this) Rapunzel was able to convince her to return it before they got back to Corona. SO SHE WAS EVIL FOR A LIL BIT,,

Why did I decide these changes? Because i'm lazy and just want this to be a simple found family book with limited evil people and drama😤😤😤

It had been a long...long year for the gang. After all, they'd had many adventures that transpired between Corona and the dark kingdom.

From turning into birds, to meeting mermaids, to getting themselves driven crazy because apparently they weren't saying spire right, to Cassandra and Rapunzel figuring out that they were kinda sorta sisters if you squinted, and then Cass nearly betraying them—well, it was a long year. And they were exhausted, all just happy to finally be somewhere familiar.

Cassandra was immediately questioned by a very concerned father when she got back. They'd never really been apart from each other before because well, hello, overprotective captain of the guard father. He was even a bit reluctant to let her go with Rapunzel and the gang. None of them ever expected big bad captain of the guard to have separation anxiety but there they were.

He knew that she could handle herself of course. She was a strong, independent, grown woman after all, so after a small while she was able to convince him she'd be fine. Though, as he almost immediately looked her over to see if anything was wrong, he found her hand and froze, "what is that?"

Cassandra had just rolled her eyes, "dad, i'm fine. Really, don't worry about it" she said.

His eyes flickered up to his daughter's face. Was she seeing the same thing that he was? She was most certainly not fine....that hurt incantation really did a number on her hand. It was healing as good as it was going to get.

"Cassandra...it's black. It's crusted, and—and ashy! It looks like it's going to fall off! What happened?" He questioned once more, his eyes widening with concern.

She was exhausted though, not really in the mood for answering questions. Especially ones that needed context and backstory, though she supposed she could give him a watered down version, "Oh, i'll tell you everything soon enough" she chuckled, "but i'm fine. Really. This actually just happened because we found a new incantation for Rapunzel. Her other one was healing, this one was...the opposite. It turned her eyes and hair black and took over her, like she was in a trance."

"Did she..attack you?" He asked slowly.

"No, dad. Princess sunshine would never do such a thing, even under the influence of an ancient evil" she joked, "this happened because I tried to snap her out of it. I was going to shake her, but all I did was barely even touch her, and the spell melted my gloves off and did this to my hand. It caused a lot of destruction, it was dangerous and powerful, everything in the area died and we couldn't even breathe" Cassandra explained, "it was actually kind of cool, minus the injury."

Her father smiled, "i'm just glad that you're okay..and that nothing horrible happened."

He opened his arms and brought her in for a hug.

And going back home, seeing her dad's smiling face, she was just so glad that Rapunzel stopped her from making a huge mistake with that moon stone. What would her father say when she told him that she'd almost let everything get to her head? When he figured out that she betrayed her entire friend group? Hell, almost the whole kingdom. And all because she was jealous.

Sun, why was she jealous? What was she jealous of? Gothel, that woman, never loved her. Instead of a life of abuse and neglect, Rapunzel's kidnapping actually gave her a life of purpose. She could train to be a guard, with a strict, sure, but protecting, loving father.

It hurt in the moment, when she figured out that Rapunzel took what could have been hers. But now that she could really think of it with a clear head, Rapunzel was manipulated her entire life. All the love she received had been fake. She was sheltered, and neglected, and always longed for more. She was kidnapped, taken away from her home and family.

She just felt selfish now, really. What would her father think when she told him, 'hey, I betrayed everyone because I was mad at Rapunzel. Why? Oh, she was kidnapped as a baby and her entire life was stolen from her for eighteen years and I was upset because that life of seclusion from the rest of the world could have been mine—'

It was tough to think about, because it just made so much sense in her head at the time. She entertained the thought, briefly, if that was how Varian had felt.

Oh, Varian. Right. She had forgotten about him. She was almost inclined to ask her father how he was doing. Almost. She wasn't quite over what had happened. She kinda wanted to see him again, just to rip into him. The kid was a story for another day though, because her father didn't let her get out any questions, claiming that he'd held her for long enough, and it was heavily insisted that they rest for a while, especially after such a long trip.

Before that though, Eugene and Lance asked around to see if Angry and Red had come back to Corona, though nobody said anything about seeing them, which greatly disappointed the two men, but they'd never admit to missing them—nope. They weren't soft.

....Okay, maybe they were...

Rapunzel was welcomed back warmly by her parents, as well as the entirety of Corona. They'd missed their lost princess dearly while she was away, and were happy to have her back. Her father couldn't stop checking up on her,  as over protective as ever, and everyone had so many questions about their journey.

All was well.

Until Rapunzel brought up..a sensitive subject, after speaking with Cassandra about how her inquiries were shut down before she was able to question her father about Varian.

It had been a few days since their return, and there was a ball in their honor to welcome them home. There were many, many people there and the room was lively, countless people twirling and spinning around the ballroom, loud chatter from every corner.

It wasn't until a slow dance took her traveling around the room with the love of her life that she noticed the absence of someone.

She could have found herself caught in a dance with Eugene for hours, lost in the beautiful pools of his chocolate eyes, peaceful and content. But she couldn't help but feel anxious with the burning question on her mind.

When the dance was over, she gave Eugene a brief kiss on the cheek, and then made her way to her father and mother, who were standing and chatting together. She noticed a familiar raccoon chittering at the queen's feet. She relaxed a little. Surely, her father had kept his word.

"Dad" she began, sprinting over and getting his attention, "where's Varian? I haven't seen him around!" Eugene followed closely behind her, taking her hand.

King Frederic looked at her incredulously, before his features hardened. He was acting as if the question she had just asked was completely ridiculous, "what do you mean?"

She let out a surprised laugh at the tone of her father's voice. He had to be joking, "What do I mean? Wh-what do you mean? You told me that you'd get him the help he needs! I assumed that meant some kind of therapy, or questioning to get into his mind and see what's up, or—or making him feel like he isn't alone? Get him a room and help him find a way to free Quirin? Something?"

She was met with silence, and the king looked stunned. He spoke eventually, after trying to collect his thoughts, "What, you think we'd let him just roam free?" He laughed, "Help him? After all he did?"

"Um, yes? Because you promised me you would!" She exclaimed, "I told you that I would not leave Corona until you agreed to keep him safe! He was fourteen, dad. He was just a scared, lonely kid."

"He is safe, just confined" he cut her off as she opened her mouth to speak again, "And we are safe as well, as long as he is there. I can assure you..." King Frederic hardened his gaze, "the boy is where he belongs. Where he deserves to be."

Eugene and Rapunzel shared a concerned glance, "what do you mean..where he belongs?" She asked in concern, trying again when she received no response, "dad—"

"Rapunzel, do not worry about Varian" her father said, interrupting her with a warm smile spread across his face, "we've been taking good care of him, I can assure you! I get reports on him every so often, and they're always good. They say he's well fed, and well behaved. Amazing behavior, actually. Though I'm sure he's still very dangerous. You've seen how manipulative he can be."

"What do you mean?" She questioned, "when was the last time you actually checked up on him?! Like, went to go and see him? What if he's changed!"

"Rapunzel, honestly. There's no need for me to check, I get detailed reports on him. Besides—you really think I would go down to the lower dungeons—" he cut himself off, realizing his mistake,"I mean—"

Eugene cut in, his eyes bulged wide, "You've kept him in the lower dungeons all this time? Like—the lower dungeons? Like—like the lower lower dungeons?"

"Is—is there a difference?" Rapunzel questioned, wondering if she needed to brush up on her prison knowledge. She was actually quite stunned to figure out that Varian was in prison at all.

"Yes! Lower Dungeons are for...well, not for children! The worst of the worst, y'know? Less maintained, worse care, more neglect, harsher guards! It's freezing, and no sunlight gets down there. Heck, Varian might be the only one down there!"

"Dad!" Rapunzel gasped, turning to face her father, "that is no place for a child!"

"Well—he is the worst of the worst!" He countered weakly.

"Are you sure he isn't dead?! You haven't checked on him once?!" Eugene asked, "what if the guards are giving you false reports?!"

"I get reports from the captain of the guard himself. He would check to make sure that there was no funny business, I assure you" The king told them, "or at least—he's supposed to. He's a very busy man. I wouldn't blame him if he skipped checking on Varian, as long as Varian's two guards are giving good reports."

"I used to check up on him" Arianna piped up, "though your father banned me from doing so after a while..." she glared at her husband, before looking towards her daughter, "Varian was angry" she began, "For a little bit. Though, after a few talks, the boy seemed very...remorseful. All he wanted to do was see you—all of you, to apologize. He didn't really even care about getting out of the dungeons. He told me that he just wants you to know how truly sorry he is. He never once complained or begged to be set free. He kind of just seemed..defeated. But I haven't seen him since your father switched out Stan and Pete."

Rapunzel smiled, "awe, really? he's always been so sweet—"

"Sweet?! Sweet?! Did I miss something?" The King asked, "because the last time I checked, he committed high treason, kidnapped my wife, terrorized half the kingdom and put the entirety of the royal guard in danger!" His voice got louder as he spoke, "that boy is a menace! He trapped his own father in a block of amber, and who knows if he's even aliv—"

"Dad!" Rapunzel exclaimed, "Varian didn't do that part on purpose! Besides, this whole thing happened because I asked him for help! Because you lied to me, lied to everyone, and wouldn't even listen! The rocks were hurting the town, hurting people and you lied about them! So technically, everybody has some blame! Like, first of all, what were you thinking? And what was I thinking going to a child for help?!"

"I was trying to keep everyone safe!" The king snapped, "there was no sense in starting a panic!" He sighed harshly when his daughter opened her mouth to speak again, "Rapunzel" the king said sharply, "we are done with this. Leave it alone, and leave him alone. He. Is. Dangerous."

She shook her head, "i'm not so sure about that" she mumbled. Anybody could snap when pushed over the edge, "Are you sure? I just want to talk—please?!" She asked, bright green eyes lighting up in concern, "you can't leave him in there! That isn't fair!"

"She worried about him every day" Cassandra commented, as she waltzed past with shorty, who had begged her for a dance(she was practically carrying him), "and I suppose that we all did to some extent."

"I'm sorry" King Frederic said, "you are forbidden from seeing him. I don't want you getting hurt."

"King Frederic, with all due respect—which is none—it's been almost two years now" Eugene began, "I think everyone's had time to process the whole situation. Both Varian and Rapunzel made mistakes, some more...intense than the others, and everyone has at least some blame! A lot happened that was beyond anyone's control, like the blizzard."

The King sighed, "boy, if you know what's good for you, you'll be quiet."

"Frederic" Arianna scolded, petting the raccoon in her arms gently.

"Hey—why do you have Ruddiger if Varian isn't around?" Rapunzel asked.

"I'm watching over him" Arianna smiled, "he really is a good raccoon. And don't feel too bad, as I said, i've been forbidden from seeing Varian as well" she sighed, "I used to talk to him every day. He'd go on and on about you, Rapunzel, gushing about how he did such terrible things when you've always been so kind—he apologized to me personally every five minutes...But he never really said anything bad. He was worried that he'd never get to see you again. He wanted you to know how sorry he was."

"I knew he'd apologize every waking moment" Eugene asked with a smirk, sighing when she nodded with a fond smile, "you just can't stay mad at the kid, can you? He's so awkward..."

"He's so polite" Arianna smiled, "he bowed every time and kept calling me 'your majesty."

"I can certainly stay mad..." King Frederik mumbled, "and he's supposed to do those things. You're royalty!"

"We know" Arianna sighed, "but believe me, dear, this child is misguided and needs more help than he's being offered. As Eugene said, it's been a whole year. I think he's earned a little freedom. He doesn't seem to hold resentment towards any of us. And as long as he doesn't have alchemy...and is under a watchful eye, I see no harm in giving him a room."

"This is not appropriate party conversation" the king snapped, before clearing his throat. He sighed as he walked away, leaving no room for arguments, "just leave him alone. I don't want any of you getting hurt."

Rapunzel huffed, glaring at her father's back as he walked away. Why was he so difficult!?

"Who took Ruddiger anyways? A guard?" Cassandra asked, finally getting rid of her dance partner, "i'm pretty sure the kid has an emotional attachment to that thing. And let's face it, if he's in prison he isn't getting much warmth or comfort.." she frowned.

"Oh.." the queen said, a look of realization crossing her face, "he must be so lonely. You know, only the guards are allowed to see him, and i'm sure they aren't very kind."

Rapunzel frowned, "we need to convince dad to let him out....how long have you had Ruddiger?"

"Just shy of a year" the queen said with a gentle smile, "he's a very dear raccoon. The guards talked about just throwing him outside of the palace, but I told them that I wanted him in good health for when Varian is released."

"That long, alone?" Rapunzel breathed, "he loves Ruddiger."

Eugene frowned, "knowing the guards, they probably told the poor boy they killed him."

Arianna's eyes went sad, "yes...I think they did, actually. We had some reports from the guards...he cried so hard he made himself sick, and he screamed until he passed out. When he woke up he didn't move for days. It was the one and only time he ever resisted, i'm sure."

Cassandra's look matched her friends as she threw shorty across the room, "that's horrible..."

Rapunzel scrunched up her nose, and lost herself deep in thought. She needed a plan.

"Well, if it brings you any comfort, the guards watching over Varian report to the captain, and they have a file. According to that file, Varian is perfectly healthy" the queen told them.

"I can't say I entirely trust the kid" Eugene began, "not after all he did. I'm still...bitter. But I get where he's coming from, and I know he can change. We just need to get the King on your—" he corrected himself, "our side."

Eugene couldn't admit that he didn't trust the kid, not when everyone else was so adamant about getting him out. Who could blame him for his distrust, though? A part of him felt like the king was right! The kid was clearly dangerous, and had proven to be capable of a whole heck of a lot of harm. And Eugene was still upset about the whole team awesome thing. Varian was like a real friend to him, and then he went and betrayed him.

It was hard to stay mad though. Stay untrusting. Especially when he thought about the kid he knew prior to the betrayal. Sweet, innocent Varian. The boy who cared so much about his village and helping people. Team awesome. Nerdy science stuff.

Things just went so wrong so quickly.

Eugene sighed, because both sides had valid points. But all he knew was that the dungeons, especially the lowest level, were no place for a child. So he agreed on that part.

They had to get Varian out of the dungeons.

—————————————————

"Cass, it's been so long! I know he's had plenty of time to think—and so did I! And it's like my mom said, he isn't even angry anymore! —Unless he is?! He was pretty good at pretending he forgave me a year ago—oh, I can't believe he's in the dungeons!"

"Hey, Raps. I understand that you're worried, but—"

"Cass, no" Rapunzel stated firmly, "d-don't make me try to feel better. He was scared and misguided, and had no one to help him. That blizzard was a death sentence and I just let him get thrown out! If I had insisted for the guards to let him stay, we could have talked! And even after the storm, I didn't check up on him. None of us did. There's no excuse. Sure, my kingdom needed me, but after everything was ok?! I should have helped!"  Rapunzel cried.

"Okay" Eugene said, "Wow. You've certainly been thinking about this a lot." She nodded and he gave it some thought, "I agree..he was only fourteen...maybe prison was the wrong thing? I mean, at least a few weeks maybe on house arrest to think things over? Maybe he needed—"

"My father promised that he would take good care of him!" Rapunzel cried, "he needed someone to help him!"

"Raps, wait! Calm down...." Cassndra said, before smirking, "if you shout our plan to the rooftops, word might get around to your dad."

Rapunzel gasped in excitement, "you have a plan? Let's hear it!"

She sighed, "Okay, since my dad is the captain of the guard, he's sure to have some information. I'll see if I can get any from him. And, since Eugene and Lance are basically still a part of the guard, i'm sure he could slip down to check it out. Technically, only you were banned from going down there."

"That's actually not a bad idea Cass-and-ra" Eugene said, "let's check it out tomorrow...that ball has me pooped."

"Will you ever learn how to say my name right?" Cassandra glared.

"Probably not" Rapunzel chuckled, answering for Eugene before he could start an argument. She frowned, "oh, I just can't stop thinking about Varian. If he really has been alone in the dungeons this whole time then I need to have a serious talk with my father" Rapunzel frowned.

"Don't worry, Raps. We'll get to the bottom of this." Cassandra said, "but remember something. That kid—even though he's just a kid, is incredibly intelligent. Which makes him incredibly dangerous. You saw how manipulative and cunning he could be. He was able to terrorize corona and kidnap royalty just with alchemy and inventions at the age of fourteen. So yeah. I don't fully trust him. And neither should you two. Trust isn't a right, it's a privilege that's earned."

"I agree wholeheartedly with you" Eugene said, grateful that he wasn't the only one who was untrusting, "for once. We need to go into this cautiously, and expect some lashing out. Some anger, resistance, something."

Cassandra turned to Eugene, "Be careful. I'm serious. As much as I'd like to believe he's harmless...you just never know with these types of things." She thought about the moonstone, how she grabbed it just as Rapunzel was about to. How she'd acted so rashly just because she felt betrayed. So she understood, and she empathized. Even if they had different reasons for doing what they did. She'd betrayed Rapunzel's trust too. And after thinking things over clearly, it hurt so bad to know that she hurt someone she saw as her closest friend.

"You're right" Rapunzel sighed, "we'll be careful. You'll need your partner in crime—where's Lance at?"

"Probably the snack table" Cassandra smirked, "we'll fill him in. He wasn't really close with Varian. But we need as much help with this as we can get."

—————————————————————————-

Rapunzel hummed a tune as she walked through town the next day. She hadn't realized how much she had missed everyone! She stopped by the Sweets shop first to say hi to Monty, who surprisingly seemed to actually miss her! Well, maybe he didn't miss her. Perhaps he missed their rivalry. That seemed right. He offered her some free jelly beans but she insisted upon paying. She understood the gesture, and appreciated it, but she was a princess. There was no reason not to pay.

As she walked around town, she noticed an absence of the black rocks. That made her happy, to know that her journey helped her people. There were villagers out rebuilding shops and houses that had been destroyed, and filling in the holes where the rocks once sprouted from.

She visited the snuggly duckling after checking up on around the rest of the town. Everyone was so happy to see her back. She was surprised her dad hadn't locked her in her room again the moment she got home, honestly, but it was nice to walk around.

"Princess!" Attila exclaimed as she came in, "how are you?"

"Attila! What are you doing here?" Rapunzel exclaimed, "I saw that your portion of Monty's shop was closed for the day!"

"I've been giving these guys cooking lessons. Can't have a bar without somewhat decent food" he chuckled.

"Yeah! And I need to impress my lady friend" Big Nose said, "nobody wants a man who can't cook!"

Rapunzel giggled, "oh you can't be that!—"

"BIG NOSE DID YOU PUT GARLIC POWDER IN THE CAKE?!"

"...bad" Rapunzel finished with a sigh, sitting down in one of the seats, "never mind then. Okay, I came here for some information—and to drop in and say hi, of course!—First of all, as Eugene requested, is there any info on the girls? Angry and Red?"

"Oh, Red is such a sweetheart" Attila said, and Rapunzel beamed when she could hear the genuine smile in his voice, "she always tells me how wonderful my baking is and how cool I am. It's a real self esteem booster."

"And Angry is quite...the charming young lady" Big Nose forced out, his eyelid twitching as he said it.

Rapunzel giggled, "so you have seen them around?"

"Oh yeah, they live in a treehouse nearby" Attila shrugged.

"A treehouse?" Rapunzel muttered, "that can't—can't really be healthy. I'm going to check out this treehouse of theirs and make sure it's safe, But...on an unrelated note, now that all that's taken care of...do any of you know anything about Varian? Any news at all? My dad won't let me see him or tell me much of anything."

Everybody in the kitchen froze, the room going deathly silent. Ulf and Vladmir shared a look, before Ulf tried to condense himself down into a box with one of his little mime tricks.

"What—what's wrong?" She chuckled nervously, "come on, don't leave a girl hanging!"

"That's the thing" Big nose joked, earning a punch on the shoulder, "ow!"

"Princess..." Attila said sadly, "did you really not hear?"

"What?" Rapunzel asked slowly.

"Rapunzel" Big nose began cautiously, "He's in the dungeons. Did you know that at least?" He asked.

Rapunzel nodded, "is—is there more...?"

Attila gave her a grave look, "Well, as you know, the king sentenced him to prison, for life, on the bottom floor of the entire dungeons to rot in the dirtiest, darkest cell. I'm sure he isn't being treated right. No solutions for his father were offered. Nothing about possible freedom...he didn't even have a trial. There are even rumors floating around about..." he trailed off, looking down sadly.

"...execution" Big nose finished for him.

Rapunzel stared with wide eyes, shock evident in every feature of her face. The world seemed to go in slow motion as her heart felt like it had stopped. She leaned against the counter to steady herself, letting out a shaky breath.

"Princess, don't freak out it's just—just a rumor, and i'm sure your father isn't that cruel, he—"

But she didn't listen. She let out a rushed goodbye before she bolted out of the pub and all the way back to the castle, because she knew her father. He was prone to rash decisions.

When she arrived to the throne room, panting and disheveled, she bursted the door open, "DAD! We need to talk!" She stomped up to him with a glare, and Arianna glanced between them, stroking Ruddiger. She'd never seen her daughter look so angry.

—————————————————————————

"Hey dad, can we talk?" Cassandra questioned, sitting down across from him from where he sat at his desk, seemingly doing some paper work, "if you have a minute."

"Of course. I always have time for you" he smiled, setting down his pen after signing something and giving her his attention, "what's on your mind?"

"Well, the princess has some questions about a certain prisoner, and the king is being...rather difficult..." she said carefully.

Her father hummed, "which prisoner?" He asked, opening a cabinet, "i'm sure I  have a file here somewhere."

"Varian" she said bluntly.

He froze, before looking back up at her with wide eyes and coughing a bit, "oh. Um. Varian, eh?"

"Dad" she said, narrowing her eyes, "did you kill him?"

"No, no! What?! Why did you even jump there?! I just..haven't checked up on him lately..." he said, picking at his shirt nervously.

Cassandra raised a brow, "how long?"

He hung his head low, guilt evident in his. Body language.

"Dad, how long?" She asked again.

"Oh, um, you know, just...or twelve...or...fourteen...months" he mumbled.

Her eyes went wide, "dad!l" she chastised, "Why not?"

"The King switched us! He didn't want me around him because apparently the kid is 'manipulative' and he doesn't want me going easy on him or getting soft because he's a kid" he explained, "i'm the strictest guard there is though, so I have no clue why he was so worried. The only people allowed to see him are Jefferey and Frank."

"Okay, just—you get reports, right?" She questioned, running a tired hand down her face. He nodded and she sighed, "what do they say?"

He looked in his cabinet and grabbed a file, "Varian, son of Quirin" he began, "Has been behaving well, though is quiet and withdrawn. He is fed and given water every day, shows no signs of anger and it's reported from the guards that they are being nice to him and going easy on the kid since he's been so good..." He continued to read, "huh. Well, everything on here seems like a perfect report. He's well behaved, he's fed, the guards are friendly with him."

He handed the file to Cassandra and she read over it too, "seems a little weird for him to be treated that good when he's alone at the very bottom of the lower dungeons."

The captain shrugged, "exactly as I was thinking. Maybe it's because he's a kid?"

"If everything's going so smoothly, why wasn't he allowed to keep Ruddiger?" Cassandra questioned. Her father raised a brow, as if asking 'who?' And she rolled her eyes playfully, "the raccoon."

"He doesn't have the raccoon?!" He exclaimed.

"Dad, is this the first time you've read his file?!" She cried.

"It says right here that he has it!" He defended, pointing to a bullet point underneath a small section.

"When was this updated?" She questioned, "the queen has had the raccoon for over a year now."

"It was updated yesterday" he frowned, "I get reports every day. Perhaps it was a mistake."

She thinned her lips, staring at the scarily perfect report, before skimming over the others, all saying he had Ruddiger, "perhaps not" she murmured, "hm. I'll report back to the princess, then. Thank you dad." She was unsure. It seemed suspicious. Maybe the report was fake and he was actually being treated horribly. Surely, the guards knew that Varian didn't have Ruddiger.

Or maybe, she was just paranoid and it was just an honest mistake on his file.