Aqua hugged Cassandra tight as they stood at the entrance of the palace.

"I'm gonna miss you so much, Cass," Aqua said as Cassandra hugged her back.

"I'm gonna miss you too, Squirt. I'm definitely gonna see you again. Keep an eye on Varian for me," Cass joked and Aqua laughed as Varian pouted.

"I don't need a babysitter," Varian muttered.

"But also, be safe, Squirt. I'd hate to come back only to see you hurt. And what you said before in my tower, I see you as more than just Rapunzel's little sister. You're so strong and brave. You have a good heart. You're gonna do amazing things one day and I think you would've made a wonderful queen," Cassandra said with a smile.

"Thanks, Cass. I had a great role model while growing up." Aqua let go of Cass and then Varian hugged Cass.

"You're a good kid, Varian. Don't mess up though. If you break her heart, Eugene and her father will be the least of your problems," Cass threatened playfully but Varian just chuckled.

"Trust me. I'm pretty sure that my mom would come back and yell at me if I broke her heart," Varian said before he let go and then gently grabbed Aquaria's hand.

"I'll see you guys sometime and I'll definitely keep in touch. Goodbye," Cass said before she left the palace.

Aqua sighed softly and leaned against Varian slightly. "I'm gonna miss her a lot."

"We all will." Varian rubbed her arm gently and smiled. "Remember when you thought I had a crush on Cassandra?"

"Oh, yeah. The Science Exposition. That was a pretty bad day," Aqua admitted.

"Yeah, but I wish I got to kiss you that day. I was so close." Varian blushed and chuckled lightly.

"Well now you get to kiss me all the time," Aqua teased before she pecked his lips.

Varian smiled and rested his forehead on hers. "I love you so much. But I need to talk to my dad later. Are you gonna come over?"

"Yeah, I wanna know what happened during the fight. I had no idea you had magic," Aquaria said as she looked into his eyes.

"I don't know. I'll I do know is that I just had to make sure she didn't hurt you. I was so scared," Varian admitted as he held her close to him.

"I'm okay. I promise," Aqua assured as she gently caressed his cheek and gave him an adoring smile.

"I'm glad," Varian murmured as he leaned against her gentle touch.

"Alright, you two. Break it up!" Eugene joked as he put his hands on his hips and Rapunzel nudged his arm.

Aqua laughed as Varian huffed and she kissed his cheek.

"My father actually wants to see you, Varian," Rapunzel said, looking super giddy.

"He does?" Varian gulped, feeling nervous that the king wanted to speak to him. "A-am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong? Will I get to keep all my body parts? Am I gonna lose my head?"

"No. You're not in trouble. I made a suggestion to my father and he accepted the idea. Now go on! Don't keep him waiting!" Rapunzel pushed Varian into the palace and Aqua followed with a laugh before she stopped.

"Aquaria... please..."

She looked around but shook it off and kept going into the palace.

"Ah, Varian. There you are," Frederic said with a smile when Varian came in with Rapunzel, Aquaria, and Eugene.

"Yes. What did you need, dad- I-I mean your highness," Varian quickly corrected himself.

Aqua blushed, but smiled as she walked up and stood beside her mother. Frederic hummed, a little surprised by the slip-up but he just smiled.

"I was given a recommendation by my daughter and I would like to offer you the position of Royal Engineer, if you are willing to take it," Frederic said and Varian's jaw dropped as Rapunzel held back a squeal.

"O-of course! Th-that-that would be amazing! Thank you, sir. Thank you so much." Varian bowed respectfully and Aqua clapped happily.

"Wonderful," King Frederic said as he clasped his hands together.

"I promise that I won't let you down, your majesty," Varian assured as he smiled bright.

"I know that you won't. And Varian, I'm very happy that my daughter chose to be with you," the king said with a warm smile.

"Me too," Varian said to which Aqua smiled as she ran over to hug him tight.

"I'm so proud of you!" Aqua pecked his cheek and he spun her around before setting her back down.

"My dad is gonna be so excited! I can't believe this!" Varian held onto her tight. He was ecstatic and wished his mother could see him now. She would be so proud.

"Come on! Let's go tell him!" Aqua ran out with Varian and they made their way to Old Corona to see Quirin.

"Dad!" Varian cried out as he ran in and he was bouncing with excitement. "Guess what just happened? I got a job! An official position in the kingdom! Me! Varian! Me!"

Aqua laughed at how adorable he was when he was overly excited.

"What?" Quirin looked surprised and Varian was practically squealing like a schoolgirl.

"My dad just made Varian the Royal Engineer!" Aqua translated and Quirin's eyes widened.

"My son. Wow. I'm so happy for you! This is wonderful! Your mother would be so unbelievably proud of you." Quirin wrapped his son in a big hug. "We have to celebrate this. Cake tonight. I'll bake it."

"Yes! Cake! This is the best day ever!" Varian cheered and Aqua kissed his cheek.

"You know, I have an idea for the first project you could work on as the Royal Engineer," Aqua said and Varian looked at her. "I could help you with the hot running water. It'll work this time. I just know it."

"That's a great idea, Aqua! Dad, you could help too!" Varian suggested as he looked at his father who was starting to make the cake.

"That's a wonderful idea. I would love to help you, son." Quirin smiled and kept mixing the cake batter.

All questions about the strange occurrence of Varian's outburst during the fight had been forgotten.

🧪

Varian showed up at the palace with Ruddiger on his shoulders and the guards let him in.

He hummed softly as he walked to Aquaria's room where he heard singing. He smiled as he opened her door.

"Where the North wind meets the sea
There's a mother full of memory," Aqua sang, unaware of Varian coming in.

"Come, my darling, homeward bound," Varian started to sing and she turned.

"When all is lost, then all is found," they sang together as Aqua hugged him.

"I didn't know you were coming over today," Aqua said happily as Varian wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Yep! I'm here! I thought you could use some help with your room still so my dad let me come over," Varian replied with a smile.

Everyone had been helping each other rebuild the castle and the rest of the city of Corona. Right now Aquaria was working on rebuilding her own room.

"Well you came at the right time. I've been working on fixing the walls for a few hours now," Aqua told him as she looked into his eyes.

"Then I'll help you finish and we can repaint your walls too," Varian said as he rested his hands on her hips.

"Good plan. Come on," Aqua said and they both got to work.

After about an hour, Frederic came in. "Aquaria, darling?"

"Hi, dad!" Aqua smiled and waved from the ladder she was on as she painted her room.

"Your room looks great, sweetheart, and Varian, I didn't realize you were here," the king spoke to which Varian smiled.

"I couldn't let Aqua do all the work by herself. I know she's capable, but what kind of boyfriend would I be if I let her do everything?" Varian winked at Aqua and the king chuckled.

"Quirin and Rosamund definitely raised you right." The king said and Varian smiled. "Lunch is ready though if you two are hungry."

"Oo! Yes! Food break!" Aqua jumped down and ran to the door, Varian quickly following her.

Varian grabbed Aquaria's hand and smiled as he looked at her. He swore that he fell more in love every day, no matter how cheesy it sounded. Something crossed his mind though.

"Hey, um, your mom's birthday is coming up and everything and it's supposed to be our two years, but I know that because of me, it's not... but um, I was wondering what you would like to do when it is officially our one year in October," Varian said softly and Aquaria hummed softly.

"Maybe we could go on another camping trip like we did when you asked me out. I know that our relationship got a little, uh, messy, I guess, but I know that it wasn't entirely your fault," Aqua said, seeing the guilt in his eyes.

"I still should've been able to control my anger and hurt though," Varian said softly. "I ruined what could've been an amazing first two years of our relationship."

"No, you know what? I don't care if you said that we broke up, did you still love me?" Aqua stopped and looked into his eyes.

"Yeah, no matter how much I said that I hated you. I still loved you so much," Varian said truthfully.

"And I still loved you so forget what was said. We'll pretend that year didn't happen. We can celebrate our one year and make it a great night," Aqua said as she cupped his cheek.

"How did I get you to fall in love with me?" Varian murmured as he leaned into her gentle touch.

"You don't treat me differently because I'm a princess, you respect me, you were my best friend for years, and because the rest of the boys in the kingdom want me because I'm a princess. I know that you aren't like that," she whispered as Varian gently leaned his forehead against hers.

"I couldn't care less if you were a princess or a poor country girl. You are still the love of my life. I would love to live in a cottage with you in the woods one day, maybe two kids, Ruddiger would be there too," Varian said softly and Aquaria smiled at him.

"I like the sound of that future," Aqua murmured as she wrapped her arms around him.

"I love you, Aquaria. I love you, not your crown or your title or you money. You," Varian said as he caressed her cheek gently.

"And I love you too. My dorky little alchemist. You are one of the best things that has ever happened to me," she replied as she leaned against his touch happily. "Now, come on. We should get going to lunch."

"Yeah, let's go." Varian trailed his gloved fingers down her face gently and pecked her lips before he gripped her hand.

They walked to the gazebo and smiled as they sat down with the royal family.

Rapunzel was looking at the new shiny ring on her finger and Aqua smiled.

"I'm still so happy that you said yes," Aqua said as she nudged her sister lightly.

"I'm still so happy that I said yes!" Rapunzel laughed lightly and Eugene hummed.

"You know, with Aquaria's hair brown, you guys really do look like sisters. I never knew you were a brownie, Squirt," Eugene said and Aqua hummed, running a hand through her hair.

"Yes, I'm still confused as to how this happened," Frederic said, referring to Aquaria's hair losing it's beautiful blue color and going back to her original shiny brown.

"I'm not really sure myself. I guess when Zhan Tiri used the decay incantation, it did something to my hair," Aqua replied as Varian hummed softly, having been trying to figure it out since it happened. "I still have my magic though."

"Yes and so does Varian apparently," Eugene reminded and Varian perked up.

"I'm not entirely sure what happened. I haven't asked my dad yet, but I plan to. Hopefully he knows," Varian said as he looked at his hands. "Ever since the fight, I haven't had any signs of powers, granted I haven't tried."

"Well try it now!" Rapunzel suggested but Arianna looked around.

"How about we eat lunch first before we destroy the grounds that are only just being repaired," the queen suggested.

"Of course, ma," Eugene said with a bright smile and Arianna smiled back at her future son-in-law.

"Let's enjoy this nice lunch," Frederic said and they all started to eat.

💧

"You know, we should really go to Old Corona and ask your dad if he knows about your powers or whatever it is. He seemed to know how you had to use them," Aquaria said as she sat on her bed with Varian.

The alchemist was lying down with his head in his girlfriend's lap, relaxing as she trailed her fingers through his hair gently.

"Yeah, but I'm having fun just relaxing with you," Varian murmured as his eyes fluttered closed.

Aqua then noticed his fingertips sparking with electricity.

"Um, freckles?" Aqua gently took his hand and he saw the sparks before they stopped.

"What the heck?" Varian looked shocked, not having even been trying to use his powers or whatever they were.

"Maybe we should go to see your dad right now..." Aqua said and Varian nodded before he sat up. He grabbed his goggles and gloves as Aqua slipped on her boots.

🧪

"Dad!" Varian called as he walked into the house with Aquaria.

"I'm in the living room, Varian!" Quirin called back and the two teens ran into the room. Quirin was dusting some shelves when the two came in.

"Dad, we need to have a talk," Varian said seriously and Quirin looked at his son.

"About the powers?" Quirin figured with a soft sigh.

"About the powers," Varian confirmed and Aqua nodded as she sat down.

"It's about your mother... I promised her I would tell you this when you were old enough. I didn't think that you would get the powers because they never showed until the fight against Zhan Tiri," Quirin started as he sat down on the rocking chair.

"How does this have anything to do with mom?" Varian asked, trying to stay calm.

"Your mother wasn't just a commoner from the Dark Kingdom. She was a princess," Quirin said to Varian who looked shocked.

"Wait, y-you're serious?" Varian eyes widened as his jaw dropped open.

"I'm serious," Quirin confirmed with a nod.

"What kingdom?" Aquaria asked curiously.

"The kingdom of Eden," Quirin said to which the two teenagers stiffened.

"But the tyrant in power killed the royal family," Varian said, having researched the kingdom of Eden before.

"Your mother escaped. Her birth name is Ulla, but when she escaped to the Dark Kingdom, she changed her name to Rosamund. The reason she came to Old Corona before I did was because the tyrant had found her so she had to leave," Quirin explained.

"So it wasn't bandits in Corona that killed mom, was it? It was the tyrant..." Varian clenched his fists and Aquaria rubbed his back gently.

"No. Your mother wasn't killed by anyone in Corona," Quirin said and Varian was so confused.

"B-but you always told me that mom was killed by bandits," Varian said to which Quirin sighed as he looked down.

"No," Quirin started and he looked back up. "Your mother died trying to get the the Ever Realm."