As narrating...

Eugene: This is the story of how I lost my mind...

Rapunzel: Eugene.

Eugene: I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Sort of, but that's not the point. Ok, so everything in a nutshell here. You all know the story of how a single drop of sun fell to the ground, grew a flower, a woman named Gothal used it to stay young for centuries, the king used it to heal the queen, Rapunzel was born, there were lanterns, and then Gothal kidnapped Rapunzel. Eighteen years past, and a charming, handsome, good looking-

Varian: Don't over do it.

Eugene: Ah! Varian! You're not supposed to be here! Ugh! Anyways, I came into the tower, saved Rapunzel, struck a deal, saved her from Gothal, she saved me from, well, dare I say it, death. She got an overly dramatic haircut, got crowned princess, touched magical rocks, got her hair back (except it was indestructible this time so points for that), had tons, and tons of adventures. From chasing down thieves, meeting talking monkeys, to nerdy fourteen year olds almost taking over the kingdom, to best friends being betrayed and reunited, to the creepiest, powerful, demon monster, called Zahn Tri, you will ever face.

Rapunzel: Actually, Eugene. Varian did single-handedly take over Corona. I mean he did have the entire Royal family captive for a few minutes.

Varian: Not that It's something to boast about, but I also took over the kingdom with a little help for a few months while you two were galloping around the Seven Kingdoms.

Eugene: With that said, you'd think it was finally the end, but oh, were we wrong. The end was simply the beginning. Well, honestly, it was practically the 'happily ever after' for Rapunzel and I. There are still journeys and adventures to go on, for our story will continue as long as we still breathe. In truth, this story isn't about me, or Rapunzel. It's about Goggles, here.

Varian: Eugene! So help me if you don't stop calling me goggles, I will literally shove my aging serum down your throat!

Eugene: Alright, you made your point. Man, you do not wanna mess that one. Eash!  But he's only kidding.

Varain: *sarcastically* Right.

Rapunzel: *chuckles* On the subject-It was only a few week after our wedding.

Eugene: I was so stressed, I couldn't even think straight.

Varian: I don't know if that's anything new. I mean since when have you thought completely straight, Eugene?

Eugene: Oh, ho, ho! You're starting dirty, huh, hairstripe?

Varian: Again, Eugene! Stop calling-

Eugene: What?  The nicknames never bothered you until you met-

Rapunzel: *sighs* Guys...

Eugene: *Clears throat* As we said, it was a few weeks after our wedding and everything was just going crazy, you wouldn't believe it.-Varian! Stop looking at me like that and keep your raccoon pet out of my face!-Then something happened that was not on anyone's agenda. Varian also officially became the, well, you'll just have to bear with us...

Varian: (while Eugene saids "then something happened") Come here, Ruddiger.

Ruddiger: (after Eugene finishes) *chitters*

End of narrating...

Varian sped through Old Corona. He was panting with effort as sweat built up on his forehead. He bounded up the steps to his house and swung the door open. "Dad! Dad!" he shouted out of breath.

"Varian? Is something wrong?" Quirin head popped into view from the room over.

The teen boy held up a paper that had been rolled up in his hand. He showed it to his father energetically. "Look! I have been offered the job of becoming the Royal Alchemist!"

"What?" Quirin picked up the paper with his gloved hand. "This is... this is great news! I-I didn't know that was a thing anymore."

"I guess it was probably Rapunzel's idea, but still!" Varian said. Then he rethought his father's words. "Wait, did you say anymore? Had there been Royal Alchemists in the past?"

"Yes, but it was before you were born. I suppose King Fredrick just couldn't find anyone that he felt was good enough for the job. That makes this even greater." Quirin ruffled his son's hair. "I'm proud of you."

Varian blushed. "Thanks, Dad."

"When do you start?"

"Uh..." Varian glanced at the paper. "A week and a half from now. That way they have a little time between the wedding, but better pay the princess a visit to give her an answer."

"So soon? This is all very fast..." Quirin creased his brows together.

"I think I'm gonna pack right now so I can leave as soon as possible!" excitedly, Varian hugged his father before he bounded over to his room.

*Music starts*

V:I know that I've been through
Some overbearing times
But I still have things to do
Life's about to begin!
It is just the beginning 
Of a whole bran new life

A chapter has come to a close
In my life I must turn the page
Settle in the life that I chose
It is just the beginning of
So much more than what I can see
But it's more than enough for me

Quirin smiled as Varian. He hands his son a wrapped up ham sandwich.

*Music continues*

Q:I know that he has had
A different life than
The other kids have had but
Now he's almost a man
Yet, it's just the beginning
With much for him to learn

*Music plays in background*

"Is that it?" a girl, Dara, asked. They were looking at Old Corona from a bit of a distance.

"Suppose it is. 'C'mon. Don't want to waste anymore time," her father said. The girl smiled and breathed in the air, ready for anything to begin her life.

*Music gets louder*

D:I know my days are like
The one I had before
But a door is wide open
With my wings spread to soar
And it's just the beginning
With my life to explore!

V, D:A chapter has come to a close
In my life I must turn the page
V:Settle in the life that I chose
D:And open the doors to the cage
V,D: Now I can start a whole new day
With nothing but me in the way

V:I know that I have made
Some bad choices before
And I tend to still do so
But now I can be more
Though it's just the beginning
As I start a fresh road...

*Music Ends*

"Well," Varian began, "I'm all set." He pulled the backpack straps on his shoulder. "I'll use the horse and be back by tomorrow."

"Be careful, son." Quirin nodded.

"I will. Love you, Dad." Varian gave his father a quick hug.

"I love you too, son."

With that, Varian parted from the house to retrieve a horse from the stables. The one he chose was Stain, a horse that looked like it had once been white, but covered in dirt stains. Although it was not the case, for the horse had been born with his coat that way. It was just the colors of his hair.

"C'mon, Stain! Destiny awaits! I'm going to become a Royal Alchemist! Can you believe it?" The horse whinnied as he shook his mane. Varian chuckled as he put on the horse gear. "Yeah, me neither."

A scuffing noise and a huff made Varian look in the stable behind him.  He chuckled and patted the donkey's head.  "Don't worry, Prometheus.  I'm in a hurry today so I'm taking Stain, but when I have to go the Corona for equipment, I promise I'll take you then."

The donkey seemed pleased with that answer and Varian continued to put the gear on Stain. Varian then walked the horse out of the stables, before mounting. He got himself situated. "I'm in the mood to go fast. How 'bout you, buddy?"

The horse gave him a look. Varian sighed. "You'll get to see Max... and I'll promise to get you a couple carrots while we're in town." Stain's eyes lit up in agreement. "Perfect, now-oh wait!"

Varian hopped onto the horse's back. "Ruddiger! Buddy? I'm going to the palace? You wanna come see Pascal and Max?"  The raccoon skittered out of a tree and onto his friend's shoulder. "Oh, there you are. Almost left without you," the boy chuckled. "Well! Off we go." He remounted Stain and they set off on a brisk run towards Corona.

"The town is so cute!" Dara whispered in awe.

"We won't stay long. There's not enough citizens to actually make a profit," her father snorted.

"Woopse!" The strap on Dara's ukulele broke and the instrument slipped off her shoulder and onto the ground. Her father moved over to the side as she bent down to pick it up.

"Look out!"

Dara didn't know who shouted, but her head snapped up to see a horse coming full speed towards. She gasped, as it stoped only a couple feet in front of her.

"I'm so sorry." The person on the horse panicked. "I-I should be more careful, I was in a hurry. Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"

Dara snapped back into reality and shook her head. "No, no. I'm alright. No harm done."

The rider still looked concerned. For the first time, Dara got a good look at him. He was skinny, and it made him look somewhat tall, but was actually kind of short. His hair was black and a little puffy with an odd blue streak. However, the most odd thing about him was the raccoon that he had on the horse with him.

The boy saw her confused expression and chuckled shyly. "That's Ruddiger. He's my best friend. He wouldn't hurt a fly."

She smiled. "He's so cute! I'm Dara, by the way."

"Varian," the rider answered. "Are you sure you're ok?"

"More than." Dara nodded.

"If you're sure... I gotta go." He flicked the reins and left at a brisk trot rather than the previous reckless run he had been at.

"Let's not dwell on what just happened," Dara's father huffed with disapproval. "Reckless fool."

Dara didn't pay attention. She continued to watch the boy ride to his destination. She couldn't help but have a grin before she finally decided to turn around and follow her father through the town.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

"Hey, Xavier!" Varian pulled Stain to a halt.

"Ah!  Varian!  What brings you in town today?"  The blacksmith smiled.

"This!"  Varian pulled out the paper, showing it to his friend.

"Royal Alchemist, huh?  It's been a long time since we had one of those," Xavier admitted.

"Who was the previous one?  I didn't know this was even a thing..."

"Oh, it was just... the last one didn't work out and King Fredric just never replaced him," Xavier answered.  "At least, that is what they say."

"Huh..."  Varian mumbled in his thoughts as he put the paper away.

"It's an honor that you've been given that position.  I would be very proud of myself if I were you," Xavier said.

Varian's cheeks grew red.  "I didn't realize how big this was until now," he admitted.

Xavier chuckled.  "Don't overthink it.  They are big shoes to fill, but I have no doubt that you'll fit right in them."

"Thanks, Xaves!  I gotta see Rapunzel now, but I might stop by again on my way back home tomorrow," Varian explained.

"The door is always open," Xavier replied.

"See ya around." Varian nodded before taking off again.

He soon reached the castle gates.  He began to slow down his horse from a trot to a slow walk.  Once he had entered the center of the courtyard, he dismounted Stain and let Ruddiger jump on his shoulder.  He handed the reigns to Stan.  "Thanks."

"No, problem!"  Stan grinned before leading the horse to the stables.

"Well, Ruddiger, ready to see the princess again?"  Varian looked at his friend on his shoulder.  The raccoon chattered a reply.  "I'll take that as a yes."

Varian entered the castle.  As he was walking through one of the halls, a machine came out of nowhere.  It rushed into him, hitting his knees.  He gasped in surprise, but someone caught him by his hand before he fell all the way to the ground.  He looked up.

"Oh, my gosh!  I'm so sorry!"  The girl pulled him up before diving on the machine (that had a mind of its own).  She struggled with it before she turned it off with a screwdriver.  She let out an exhausted sigh.  "I thought it would work this time..."

"Did you make that?"  Varian looked at the girl with surprise.

Her pale face suddenly turned a bright red.  "Yeah... I thought I could make a machine that could do the floors to make it easier on the girls, but looks like it's another fail..."

"I wouldn't say fail."  Varian got down and looked at it.

"What are you doing?"

"Do you have a wrench and pliers?"

"Yeah... why?"

"I'm gonna borrow them," Varian replied.

"Ok?"  She handed the tools to him.

Varian set to work and after a couple minutes, with the girl watching over his shoulder, he stood up.  He handed her the tools.  "Try it now."

The girl turned it on and stood up.  Her eyes suddenly brightened up as it began to clean the floors at a decent pace.  "Oh, wow!  How'd you do that?"

"I just rewired some things and tightened some screws," Varian answered.  "It isn't a failed machine when it doesn't work.  Just means it needs a little more work, patients and time and then it will work."

"I've never met someone my age that's into this kinda thing," the girl admitted.

"I can say the same.  I'm Varian, by the way."  He held his hand out.

"I'm Irene!"  The girl smiled as she tucked some of her long, curly, black hair behind her ear.  They shook hands.  Both of them blushed as they took their hands away.  Irene bit her lip.  "Soooo, I haven't seen you around.  Do you work here?"

"Nah, I'm just visiting.  I lived here a short while when my home, Old Corona was destroyed.  My older sister did just offer me a job though, so I'm here to talk to her about it."

"Oh!  You have a sister here?"  Irene asked.

"Well... kinda... she isn't my blood sister, but more like my honorary sister who married my honorary cousin slash honorary brother..." he stopped when he noticed Irene's confused face.  "Uhhh... it's complicated..."

She giggled.  "That's ok."

"Speaking of which, I should probably go speak with her now, so uh... I gotta go... see ya around?"

"Sure!"  Irene waved as Varian began to back away.

"Right!  Oh!  Irene!"  He tossed her a couple bath bombs and she caught them.  "These help with the floors.  Might be easier in the places with a lot of stuff in the machine's way."

"Thanks!"

"No problem!"  Varian called as he quickly left.  Ruddiger chattered smugly on his shoulder.  "What?"  Varian said.  The raccoon smirked.  Varian merely rolled his eyes.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

"So? It's a big storm heading our way, we just hunker down, board the windows and hope for the best.  It's what we've always done," King Fredric replied.

No one noticed that Varian walked in.

"Yes, but these are not normal storms, your highness!"  Nigel frowned.  "The reports are devastating!  Have the population of cities and town are being killed by this storm.  It isn't getting weaker, but stronger as it goes.  We have to evacuate Corona."

"But we don't have that kind of recourses at ready!  Not after Zhan Tiri and sending out what we could manage to the people that was affected by the storms.  Besides, we can't out run this storm if it's moving as fast as you say.  It will reach us very soon and if we evacuate, we'll have no shelter from it," Rapunzel argued.

"We don't have much of a choice!"  Nigel huffed.

"There is always a choice!"  Rapunzel disagreed.

Varian looked between the two.  Maybe this was a really bad time.  He turned around to leave, but Rapunzel noticed him first.  "Varian!  Perfect timing!"

"Oh, uh... hi..."  Varian walked towards her awkwardly.  "Is this a bad time?  We can discuss things later..."

"No!  We could use your brains on this!  Are you accepting becoming Royal Alchemist?"

"Yes-"

"Great!  One of the perks is that you're on the council!"

"Wait, what?"

"And I know you haven't had the whole ceremony to make it official, but desperate times causes difficult situations!"  Rapunzel sat Varian down in an empty seat.

"Um..." Varian looked around the table.  Everyone there were important people.  Rich people.  Powerful people.  "You could have put that in the letter..." he whimpered to her.  "I am not prepared for this!"

"Sorry, I wanted to be a surprise when we talked about it... I didn't know we'd need you right away..."  Rapunzel apologized.  "I'm so, so sorry for putting you on the spot!"

"Ok..."  Varian rubbed his head.  "Can I have a description of the situation?"

A council woman was standing by a board.  She pointed at the crude drawings and notes.  "So reports of this storm has been coming to us this past week.  Before, we were doing what we could to get supplies and help to the people that were affected.  However, the storm has made a hook and changed directions.  It should reach us by noon tomorrow at the earliest and at tomorrow's midnight at the latest."

"How strong is it?"

"Off the charts, off records," she answered.

"So we're talking about an off the handle, category five catastrophe?"  Varian asked.

"Yes," she nodded.

"Is there flooding involved?"

"It's moving to fast."

"So we're saying this storm is causing that much damage going and out?"

"It should last for about twenty five minutes, yes.  It's the wind and lightning, and hail that's causing it."

"Where did this come from?"

"That's the thing.  Nowhere.  The survivors of the first town claimed it came out of nowhere.  The black clouds just suddenly appeared overhead."

Varian looked at Rapunzel.  "This sounds familiar..."

"The blizzard," she whispered.

"But it has a lot of differences..." Varian mumbled.  "It could be natural, but a part of me feels that this is no natural storm.  Like Nigel said.  This isn't normal.  We can't run if what you said is true.  The best thing we can to is board up what we can.  Most importantly, we do evacuate all the citizens."

"Wait, but-" Eugene looked at Varian in surprise.

"I don't mean run from the storm by evacuation as Nigel suggested.  If there is no flooding, the we need to get underground to save us from the winds, lightning and hail."

"But if the castle is demolished, would we not be trapped?"  Nigel pointed out.

"That is a good point, but I don't mean for us to hide underneath the castle," Varian answered.  "We have underground passages in Old Corona."

"But it can't hold all of Corona.  They're aren't large enough," Eugene pointed out.  "Unless there was a part of it that you haven't shown me."

"Oh..."  Varian looked down.

"But not everyone has to be in one place, right?  What if Old Corona used that place, but Corona used a different place?"

"Where?"  Nigel asked.

"There is this large underground area underneath Gothal's old cabin.  It can hold Corona easily.  The only issue is there's a bit of a large critter and bats situation... oh, and the gas that leaks from the ground...  then again, I'm not certain if it's stable..."

"I'll check it out," Varian offered.  "I'll check to see if it's stable, and I can check out the gas and see what can be done.  As for the animals..."

"There is an area where they never bothered, but that's where I fear it was unstable.  Especially after the explosion me and Cass accidentally caused."

"Then we begin there."

"And if this doesn't work?"  Nigel asked.

"I'll be searching for more places," Eugene said.

"And if we don't find any?" Nigel inquired.

"Make do with what we got.  Get as many into the Old Corona place and have volunteers go under the castle and pray that the castle is stable enough," Rapunzel sighed.  "Everyone in raise your hand. " To her surprise, not a single hand was down.  All were up.  It was the first time everyone agreed to something as far as she could tell.  "Then it's decided!  We go with Varian's plan!  I knew we needed you on the team!"

Varian blushed.

Part 1 of the Pilot.

Heh, came out way sooner than I thought!

Thanks Inkwell33 for the idea about the storm!  This helps me set a lot of things up!  Thank!