Aqua was hanging out with Varian as he thought of what he was gonna make for the Science Exposition coming up soon.

"Ugh! I can't think of anything! I've already invented so many things!" Varian groaned as he put his head on his desk in frustration.

Ruddiger chittered as he nudged Varian. Aquaria stood up from her desk and went to his side.

"Why don't you use one of your inventions then? They are sure to win!" She put a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her.

"I don't just want to use something that I've already made. I want to invent something new and exciting. My dad is finally letting me go to the Expo this year. I have to win this for him, Aqua. Then he'll be so proud of me," he said and she sighed softly.

"He's already proud of you, Varian. Can't you see that?"

"But-"

"Hey, Squirt! Goggles!" Eugene burst in, cutting Varian off. The two looked at him, surprised by the unexpected visit.

"Eugene? What are you doing here?" Aqua asked curiously as he walked over.

"I'm trying to find my calling so I can prove to Cassandra that I'm worth something," Eugene explained and Varian raised an eyebrow.

"So you came to us?" Varian asked him excitedly.

"Yeah! I thought you could teach me some of your magical stuff!" Eugene smiled brightly and Varian huffed.

"I don't do magic. It's called alchemy. It's all science. No magic," Varian clarified, getting a little moody because of how stressed he was. He needed to win the Science Exposition so he could impress Aquaria and make his father proud.

"But you were trying to figure stuff out about Rapunzel's hair," Eugene pointed out.

"I don't believe that it's magical. The reason for its length, color, and its indestructible qualities are due to the chemical makeup in her body and hair. Not magic. Science."

"Then explain how it used to heal people when she sang a special song." Eugene crossed his arms.

"I've only heard rumors of it, but have never seen it do that and it didn't work when she tried to heal my head. There is no proof," Varian stated.

"Me being alive is proof," Eugene said as he motioned to himself.

"But didn't you die after you already cut her hair?" Aqua piped up and Eugene huffed.

"Exactly," Varian crossed his arms, not knowing that Rapunzel's tears had brought Eugene back to life. He wanted to get back to work on figuring out an invention for the Expo. Normally he would've been ecstatic to spend time with Eugene, but he had to get to work.

"Fine, then explain how your girlf- best friend is able to control water," Eugene said smugly.

"I-" Varian was cut off.

"Also, I can breathe underwater and my hair changed colors when I overextended my-"

"Hey! Who's side are you on?" Varian looked at Aqua and she rubbed her neck.

"Sorry..." She let out a little laugh.

"Well, can you explain that, goggles?" Eugene grinned.

"I'm still trying to figure it out," he grumbled.

"Anyways! Can we get back to the reason you're here," Aqua said as she looked at Eugene.

"Yes! I was hoping you guys could teach me some mag- alchemy! I need to find something that makes me useful so I can prove Cassandra wrong. I've tried everything. Even shoemaking! That was surprisingly something I was good at, but I was fired before I was even hired! You guys are my last hope," Eugene said and Aqua hummed.

"Are you sure alchemy is for you?" Aqua asked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Eugene grimaced.

"What I mean is, are you sure alchemy is really what you wanna do? If you're trying to find your calling, find something that complements your skillset. Other than thieving. Don't do that," Aqua said and Eugene groaned.

"Thieving is the only thing I'm good at! Other than shoemaking apparently. Maybe I can start a new cobbler shop in Corona!" Eugene suggested.

"Do you really wanna make shoes for the rest of your life?" Varian questioned and Eugene hummed.

"Good point..."

"Eugene, a job is something you choose only because you can do it. But if you want to find your calling, find something that suits your abilities and make sure that it makes you happy. Find something that you're good at that makes you happy," she said, but he didn't really care about if it made him happy.

"I really just wanna prove Cass wrong. Once I do that I'm probably just gonna go back to doing nothing." Eugene shrugged and Varian just turned back to his desk to come up with an idea for the Expo, feeling like he had already wasted precious time.

"If you find your calling and stick with it then you'll impress my sister," aqua replied.

Eugene seemed to think about it.

"Oh and it'll prove Cass even more wrong because she probably expects you to quit right away," she added and he gasped.

"You're right! Thanks, Squirt!" Eugene went to leave.

"Bye, Eugene!" Aqua called before turning to Varian. "I'm gonna go get a snack. Want anything?"

"Just get me whatever you're getting," Varian said with a smile and Aqua smiled back as she stroked Ruddiger's fur gently.

"I'll be back," Aqua said before she ran out.

Varian watched her leave and he sighed softly.

"I have to win the Expo, Ruddiger. I'll make my dad proud of me and Aqua will get to see me win. I'm gonna keep it a secret once I figure it out."

Ruddiger chittered and Varian frowned.

"I know I promised her no more secret projects, but I want her to be so surprised. It has to be so good that she won't care that I kept it a secret and she'll fall for me for sure when I win first place!" Varian said to his little companion.

Ruddiger walked to the center of Varian's desk with an apple.

"She'll be like, 'oh, Varian! You're so smart and handsome!'," he raised his voice to try and sound like Aqua. "Then I'll say, 'why thank you, gorgeous. Just doing what I'm good at.' Then she'll hug me and say, 'I always knew you could do it. You're my hero'." Varian put his hands together as he brought them up to the side of his face and he tilted his head, batting his eyes before continuing, "and then I'll kiss her. When the kiss is over she'll be like, 'I love you, Varian!' And then I'll look at her and say, 'I love you too, princess'," he said, but then shook his head. "No, she hates when I call her princess. But then I'll ask her to be my girlfriend and she'll say yes and I'll finally get to be with her, Ruddiger!" He looked at the raccoon sitting in the middle of his desk.

Ruddiger just looked at Varian with a blank look as he ate an apple.

Varian sighed and shook his head. "You're right, Ruddiger. It's stupid..."

"What's stupid?"

He turned around quickly to see Aqua walk back in with some crackers.

"Uh, nothing! Just an idea I had for an invention. It was a stupid idea," he said quickly, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. He was so glad that she hadn't walked in when he was going on about his dream of her falling for him.

"Oh, well I brought crackers back for our snack," Aqua said as she walked over to him and Ruddiger.

Varian wanted to keep whatever he decided to invent a secret but he didn't want to upset Aqua. He hoped that she would be too happy to be mad at him but he didn't want to take that chance.

"Aquaria, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," she said with a nod.

"When I figure out what to make, can I keep it a secret?" He asked and she frowned.

"You don't want my help?"

"No! Of course, I want your help! I just want it to be a big surprise. I wanna show my dad I can do it. Please?" Varian also wanted to show her how smart he was and he wanted to impress her. He looked at her and she smiled.

"Alright, but be careful," she said and he smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Aqua!"

"You're welcome, Varian. I'm gonna play with Ruddiger while you brainstorm," she giggled a little as she picked up the raccoon.

"Okay." Varian turned back to his desk to keep thinking of any ideas.

Aqua walked over to the other side of the lab, sitting against the wall with Ruddiger in her lap. She had hoped to be his partner for the Expo, but she understood that he wanted to make his dad proud. She looked over at Varian and watched him bite his lip like he always did when he was deep in thought.

Her heart fluttered, but she sighed softly, not knowing how to tell him that he meant so much more to her than a friend. So many things could go wrong and a few of them involved her losing Varian or their friendship changing forever which scared her.

She looked down at Ruddiger as she kept thinking about Varian.

"What am I gonna do, Ruddiger?"