"All leaks have been triple check and they're all secure," a woman said.

Rapunzel sighed.  "Phew.  That's a relief..."

"Uh... Princess..."  Dara called.

"Yeah?"  Rapunzel had to hold off a groan.

"The light isn't working anymore," Dara answered and Rapunzel realized that it kept flickering.

"Oh, no!" Rapunzel breathed.

"We can just use lanterns," a man said.

"No, no, you don't understand!  This light can't come off or we might end up meeting a giant mole!  And for one, he is one face I would not like to meet again!"

"Our Alchemist is currently stuck, right?"  Someone asked.

"Oh!  I don't know...  I hope he get out but I promised I'd meet him there, but there's so much to do here..."  Rapunzel took in a deep breath.  "Xavier can you try something with the light?  I have to run and pick up Varian.  He can work with it then.  I'm sorry to leave you all in this mess..."

"Go, we can handle this!"  Dara encouraged.

"Ok," Rapunzel said before taking off.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Varian and Irene sat on the ground.  Irene was making a flower chain and Varian was just plucking the grass while they waited for Rapunzel to come get them.  They weren't exactly sure where they were, so they thought it would just be safer to wait.  Unless they had come out of the wrong exit, Rapunzel should be around pretty soon.

"So... you um... how long have you been into alchemy?"  Irene asked.

"As long as I can remember.  I used to do it with my mom when I was really little, but I don't exactly remember those days."

"Oh.  What happened?"

"She left when I was three.  I don't know why, I think it was some sort of unfinished mission.  I'm not certain.  My dad can't talk about her.  She died on that mission.  Don't know how or why, but that's just how things have been.  Me and my dad."

"I'm sorry to hear that..."

Varian shrugged. "Meh... how about you?"

"I um... I uh... my mom has been gone since before I was little and dad well.. I also had a brother... but..."

"I'm sorry..." Varian immediately decided to change the conversation, seeing that she was bothered by the topic.  "You know, I always wanted a sibling. I mean, I have Rapunzel and Eugene-"

"I should have guessed that was the girl you claimed as your sister.  You two get along very well-"  Irene exclaimed.

"Did... did I forget to mention who she was?"  Varian asked.

Irene nodded.

"Oh... well, now you know," Varian chuckled nervously.

They stopped talking when they heard hooves hitting the ground.  Varian smiled.  "That must be Rapunzel and Max!"

"Oh, thank goodness!"  Irene exclaimed.

"Hey, Rapunzel!  We're over here!"  They both froze when they saw that the rider was a cloaked figure.

The rider came to a stop, taking off his hood.  "Excuse me, are you waiting for someone?"

"Yes..." Varian said slowly, trying to pick his words wisely.  He was very skeptical of strangers like him.  Of course he didn't want to just assume things because he looked villainy.

"Do you mind helping me?"

"What can I help you with?"  Varian asked.

"You see, I'm looking for someone.  He's a friend of an old ally of mine and I'm told he can help me.  I was told that he'd be around this area, helping prepare for some big storm or the other," the stranger replied.

"And who may that be?  I'm afraid that I'll need a name..." Varian answered.

"Well, I really only have a description," the man continued.  "He's about your age, black hair, large blue eyes, and an unmistakable blue streak of hair.  Much like yerself."

"You could have just said that to begin with instead of causing this whole roundabout conversation," Varian said in annoyance.  He slowly began to reach back behind him, grabbing a pink sticky bomb that was attacked to his belt.

The man chuckled.  "What you can help me with is very simple.  You don't have to do much.  You just gotta help me get my pay!"  The man suddenly threw something at Varian.

Dust covered his face.  Varian shouted as it got into his eyes, making them burn and blinding him.  He dropped his alchemy ball and rolled a distance over as he stumbled back.

"Varian!"  Irene gasped and quickly picked up the pink ball.

Varian started wheezing and coughing, gasping for a breath of air.  He suddenly sank to his knees, unable to gain the air he needed.  Consciousness was quickly fading from him.

"Stand back!"  Irene held up the ball, threatening Weasel.  She stepped in front of Varian.

Weasel, who had already dismounted his horse merely slapped the ball out of her hand.  It broke on her own foot, causing it to trap her.  "Argh!"

Anthony merely chuckled before waking past her.  Varian had fallen completely unconscious at this point, laying on the ground.  Weasel bent down, picking up the victim like a rag doll.  "Was this really that easy?  You think it would be harder for the pay, but I'm not gonna complain."

He tossed Varian over his horse.  Before he had time to mount his horse, a frying pan suddenly flew out from the trees, hitting him on the head.  He immediately fell backwards, unconscious.

Rapunzel came running out of the woods, panting.  "Well, that couldn't have been better timing..."

"Princess!"  Irene exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" Rapunzel asked as she ran to Varian.

"I'm fine but he did something to Varian," Irene replied.

Rapunzel gently took Varian off the horse and laid him on the ground.  She took out his old salt shaker that held the solution and got Irene out of the trap.

"Thanks."

Rapunzel then trapped Weasel with a sticky goo.  "I'll have to send Eugene back for him, but for now, you two need to get somewhere warm where you can dry off and get clean clothes.  You all look terrible, no offense... Why is Varian using your cloak as a... sling.

"Long story.  We ended up falling-"

"Falling?!"

"Yep, and he hurt his wrist.  So we had to take different tunnels out," Irene explained.

"We need to get you two home so a doctor can give you all a check up.  Come on... actually, can you help me get Varian back on Weasel's horse?  I didn't think that through..."

"Did you come here on foot?"  Irene asked.

"Yeah... all the horses are being used for other tasks.  I was late because I had a situation back at the cave I had to deal with.  If I came sooner, this wouldn't have happened..."

"You can't blame yourself," Irene said.   "You saved us still."

Rapunzel gave her a weak smile.  "Can you hand me my frying pan?  Thanks... I don't think I caught your name."  The princess mounted the horse, setting a hand on Varian to make sure that he didn't fall off.

"It's Irene," she answered as she sat on the horse behind Rapunzel.  She set the frying pan in between them to and put her arms around the princess's waist to keep from falling off.  "I'm a new cleaning maid at the castle."

"Oh?  Well, welcome to the castle, sorry that was late..."  Rapunzel flicked the reigns and got the horse walking a fast trot.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Is he gonna be ok?"  Rapunzel asked.

"He'll be fine.  Nothin' a little smellin' salts won't do," the doctor said calmly before waving smelling salts under Varian's nose.

"Gah!"  Varian's eyes snapped open and he sat up coughing.

"Woah, nellie!  Don't wanna rush that head yet.  Make yerself pass out again."

"But-" Varian started.

"We're ok," Irene cut in.

Rapunzel set a hand on his shoulder.  "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, it's just...  who was that guy?"

"That was Anthony the Weasel.  He's old enemy of Lance and Eugene's," Rapunzel explained.

"So why was he after me?"  Varian inquired.

"Maybe he thought you would help him get revenge... and I mean in way that used you to lure us in and..."

"He said payment," Irene suddenly spoke up.  "He said something about he was getting paid an awful lot for how easy it was to get you.  He must be working for someone else."

Rapunzel and Varian looked at each other, both full of worry.  At that moment, Eugene came in the room.  "So I've got some good news and bad news."

"What news?"  Varian moanded.

"Hey, kid, you're awake.  Glad to see you're ok," Eugene smiled.

"What's the good news?"  Rapunzel asked.

"The cave area is finally stable and no gas leaks.  However, the light keeps glitching-"

"I better go back and fix that," Varian said as he start to stand up.

"No!  You're still drugged!"  Rapunzel cried, making him sit back down.  "Someone else can do it."

"But there's no one else for miles around that can-" his voice trailed off as he looked at Irene.  "Wait.  Irene, do you think you can figure it out?"

"Me?  I don't know, Varian... I couldn't even get my own machine to work right..."  Irene tugged nervously on one of her curls.

"Can you try?" Varian pleaded.

"I'll try," she agreed at last.

"What more news do you have?" Rapunzel asked.

"Well, we have a supply problem.  An accident happened and now two wagon loads of supplies was lost... and-"

"There's an and!"  Varian ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a deep breath.

"Weasel was not where you left him.  He's gone.  He's left some goo behind, but somehow, he freed himself.  What did he want with Varian anyways?"

"Payment.  Someone else was paying Scarecrow to pick me up for them."

"Scarecrow?"  Eugene snorted a laugh.  "You're right!  He does look like a scarecrow!"

"Eugene!"  Rapunzel hissed.  "This an inappropriate time to be laughing!"

Eugene cleared his throat.  "Sorry, but I could not help myself, but you're right, this is serious."

"And something we'll deal with when everyone is safe," Varian said, beginning to get up again.

"Nuh-huh.  You're staying here," Rapunzel frowned.

"I'm fine-Egh!"  Varian felt his world spin and he stumbled forward only for Rapunzel to catch him.

"Varian, you can't even walk.  You're staying in the bed.  That's an order," Rapunzel said sternly.

"...Ok..." he sighed and went back to bed with the help of Rapunzel and without anymore fuss.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Aaaaaand... that should do it!"  Irene exclaimed, stepping back from the light.

"Hurray!"  Dara exclaimed.

Rapunzel flipped the switch and light turned back on.  "Woah!  Ouch!  My eyes are not accustomed to this much light at the moment," she chuckled.  "Well, done Irene!"

Irene blushed.  "Thanks, but Varian made it..."

"Now we need to start evacuating Corona in here, supplies or not.  It's going to take some time getting that many people in here by noon," Rapunzel said.

"Then let's get started!"  Dara replied.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

A knock sounded on the door.  Varian's eyes opened, realizing he had fallen asleep.  He sat up.  "C-come in?"

The door opened, revealing Quirin.  "Are you ok?  I heard you'd be here and not the cave.  He sat on the bed, setting a hand on his son's forehead.  "You didn't overwork yourself again did-"

"Dad, I'm ok," Varian gently grabbed his father's hand that was being lowered from his forehead.  "It was just some knock out powder-"

"Knock out powder?  You were drugged?"  Quirin's eyes widened.  "Why?"

"Yeah... um... you see umm..."  Varian took in a deep breath.  How did kids tell their parents, 'oh, yeah, um someone tried to kidnap me again today.  You know, it's happened before.  No biggy.'  "It was nothing-" Varian finally began.

"Varian.  Tell me what happened," Quirin said sternly.

Varian sighed.  "You'd just worry..."

"As your father it's my job," Quirin replied.

"Ok... Well, there was this guy, he uh... he tried to um... take me hostage for some reason... hence the two guards outside of my room..."

Quirin and Varian looked at each other for a moment in silence.  Then they both stood up at the same time.  "You were going to hide that from me?"

"No!  It's not like that-"

"You told me it was nothing," Quirin frowned.

"Yeah, I know, but I was going to tell you later when Corona wasn't at risk.  You already had so much to worry about right now, I didn't want to distract you with my incident..."

Quirin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.  "Was the culprit at least caught?"

Varian scratched the back of hid neck.  "Well... no...  and we don't know the mastermind behind it yet...  but like I was saying, we can't focus on me right now.  We've got to continue the evacuation.  Once the storm is settled then we can discuss it... dad?"

"As a father, the last thing I wanna do is let you go off, but as a village leader... you're right.  We will have to deal with it later..."

◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Everyone has been evacuated into the tunnels in Old Corona," Eugene said as he walked up to Rapunzel.  "I left Captain in charge until Quirin returns to Old Corona.

"Where's Varian going?"

"I assume he's going to stay with his dad.  After all, I'm pretty sure we made it clear that he had to rest.  If he came here, he would be trying to double check everything and you know, not stop working..." Eugene said.

Rapunzel sighed.  "I hate the fact that I even thought about giving him the role as a council member.  He's still a kid, a teenager... but he is the best person for the job, and I wouldn't want to give it to anyone else, but the shoes to fill are so big..."

"And are shoes he can easily fit into.   That kid is special," Eugene comforted his wife.

"I have no doubt that he can, it's just... I hate doing it to him when he's so young... and I don't want him to think I'm just using him, because that's not the case-"

"I'm sure Varian understands why you chose him.  And, if makes you feel better, we can sit down and talk to him once this storm blows over and things are settled."

"Right... it's never a dull moment in this kingdom, is it?"  She let out a nervous chuckle.

"Hey, guys..."

Rapunzel and Eugene turned to the speaker.

"Hey, Varian... I thought you would stay with Quirin," Rapunzel said slowly.

"I was, but this place has been under so many complications, I knew I wasn't going to be able to sit for twelve hours worried this place would have complications..."

"You're supposed to rest," Eugene reminded him.

"And I did.  I slept the drugs off.  Besides, everyone else is working, and I couldn't stand by when everyone else is working."

"Hey, Varian... Just because you're a council member does not mean you have to sacrifice all of you for it," Rapunzel reminded him softly.  "As Crowned Princess, that's my job.  You don't have to."

"I know, but you should not have to be the only one, Rapunzel.  Besides, I still got a lot left in me.  I'm rested and ready to kick this storm's tail!"

"I love that energy!  Just don't overdo it-"

"Rapunzel can you please stop hovering me like an overprotective mom?  I appreciate that you care, but I can take care of myself.  I'm basically sixteen. If I need to rest, I promise I will, but you gotta let me handle myself.  Show some faith in me.  I know you have some, otherwise you would not have given me this position in the first place."

"Sorry, you're right.  I'm not helping you at all am I?  I'll back off a bit, ok?"

"Thank you," Varian smiled.

Suddenly, the ground rumbled and shook.  Varian held his arms out and steadied himself.  The quaking ended.  "What was that?"

The light suddenly went out, everything turning dark.  Screams erupted from the crowd and children began to cry.

"What is going on?"  Rapunzel gasped.

Lanterns were being turned on.  Eugene lit a match and lit a lantern.  "Hurry, we need to fix that light before the mole comes in," Eugene hissed.  The three began to push through the crowd.

"Ugh, I don't have my tools on me," Varian said.

"I got you covered!"  Irene exclaimed, coming up with the tool box.

"Oh, thanks!  You're a life saver!"  Varian beamed.

"I'm sorry that it broke again... I thought I fixed it..."  Irene apologized.

"Don't be, it happens," Varian assured her as he went to work on it.

The ground started to rumble again.  "That can't be good..." Eugene muttered.

Then came the crashing sound as the mole came burrowing into the room.  The crowd screamed.

"Eugene!  We gotta fight this mole off!  Varian, take the time you need to fix that light, we got your back," Rapunzel assured him before running off with her frying pan, Eugene following him.

"Gah!"  Varian gasped as his sprung wrist hit the side of the light he was fixing, due to the quaking.  "I can't!  My wrist won't let me..."

"Then let me do it and you tell me what to do!" Irene laid herself underneath the light next to him.

"I need you to loosen those screws so I can figure out what's wrong on the inside," Varian instructed.

With a wrench, Irene began to quickly unscrew the screws.

"Now, see those wires?  Let's try switching them," Varian said above the chaos around them.  Carefully, Irene did as requested.

"We need to draw this thing away from the people," Rapunzel said.

"Now, how to do that, is the real question," Eugene replied.

The giant mole went charging at them.   Rapunzel and Eugene gasped, jumping out of it's way.   "Oh, no!  Varian!"  Rapunzel called when she realized where it was heading.

Varian heard the warning.  He grabbed a wrench and threw it next to the animal, hoping it would get distracted by the noise.  After all, if it didn't stop charging, it would crush the light.  It did cause the creature to stop and try to figure out what the sound was.

"Do you have this?"  Varian asked.

"Maybe," Irene said unsurely.

"Try.  I got something else to do!"  Varian got out from under the light.  He ran towards the side lines where he kept his alchemy belt.  By the time he grabbed it, Rapunzel and Eugene were trying to distract it again by banging pans together.  He ran to them getting a pink alchemy ball ready.  Once in range, he threw it at its feet.  Then he threw a few more.

"That should hold it," Eugene said.

"At least until Irene gets the light ready," Varian agreed.  "On that note, why does it keep malfunctioning?  It worked just fine, it was more like someone..."  Varian froze.  "I'm an idiot!  Irene!  Stop, stop!  Don't touch it anymore!"

"What?"  Irene called.

Varian turned to run to the broken light, but something suddenly grabbed him by his torso and was yanked back.  A cold knife was immediately pressed against his neck.

"Weasel!"  Euegen hissed, stepping forward.  "What-"

"Not another step, Ryder!  You don't want a hole in his skinny little neck, do you?"

Eugene froze at the threat, Rapunzel right next to him.  Both realizing that they were helpless at the moment, because they were not about to risk Varian.

"You turned it off, didn't you?"  Varian growled.

"Shut it!"  Weasel hissed, pushing the knife dangerously closer to his throat.  Varian clenched his teeth, doing his best not to get nicked.

"Don't hurt him!"  Rapunzel pleaded.

"No one makes a move and I promise that I won't hurt him," Weasel said.  He began to back away.  Obviously, this was another attempt to kidnap him, but it was pretty well orchestrated for Weasel.  Eugene didn't understand at all.

Suddenly, there was a thunking noise and strings to a ukelele echoing in the room.  Weasel suddenly fell forward on top of Varian.

"Oof!"  Varian gasped.  He immediately shoved the unconscious man off of him slid the knife across the room.

"Ugh!  He broke my ukelele with his stupid hard head!"  Dara said in disgust throwing it down on the already unconscious Weasel.

"Thanks," Varian gave an exhale.

"Oh, my gosh!  Are you ok?"  Irene asked as she and Rapunzel and Eugene ran up to him.

"I'm fine, but I'll admit, I'm a little traumatized," Varian answered.  Rapunzel immediately threw her arms around him into a hug.  Eugene secured Weasel.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Varian looked at the town around him.  "Well, it's not as horrible as we thought it would be...  but it's gonna need a lot of work..."

"We should work on the castle first, that way the town can sleep there," Eugene said.

"An I... I'm gonna go home and help there," Varian said.  "My town will need me."

Rapunzel nodded.  "I understand.  That's why I had Pete run and get Stain for you."

As if on cue, Pete came over and handed him the reigns.  "Thanks, Pete!"  Varian grinned.

"Aw, no problem kid," Pete said.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Two weeks later...

"Here today, we're celebrating two things," Rapunzel began her speech. "One: The survival of the storm and coming together as a kingdom to rebuild what was lost.  And two, we're making our next council member official as our Royal Alchemist."  She turned to Varian.  "So you want to say a few words or..."

"Ummm... I just wanna thank everybody so... uh... thank you!"  Varian said before blushing and stepping back.  He was wearing his new blue uniform that Rapunzel had the royal dressers make specifically for him.

The crowd clapped politely.  Varian noticed that there were many standing in the crowd, unimpressed.  He shook it off.  Not everyone had to like him.  He had to remember that, but it still hurt to see so many look at him with such distrust.

Varian suddenly felt a large hand on his shoulder.  He looked up, offering a weak smile to his father.  Quirin smiled back, mouthing the words, "I'm proud of you."  Varian's smile grew brighter.  He was content.

In the crowd, Adira, Hector and king Edmund were in the crowd.  Varian didn't know them well yet, but they were supposedly his honorary aunt and uncles.  Perhaps he'd get to know them soon.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Varian watched the festivities from the broken wall in the room to one of the towers.  Crowds weren't his strong suit.  Never was, but his anxiety worsened after the automaton attack.

"Hey, are you going to go enjoy the festivities?  There in your honor," Irene said.

"Huh?  Oh, uh... maybe in a minute... you know... take some time to take it all in..."

"Oh... ok... I'll um... I'll save you some cupcakes?"

"Sure... thanks..."

"No problem," Irene grinned before leaving.

Varian looked back down at the people sighing.

A chapter has come to a close
In my life I have been through storms
I will prepare for what life throws
Like problems from all shapes and forms
And it is just the beginning
So, I will face it all head on

But I'll rise to the challenge
No matter cost
And I will make sure that all
Distrust is lost
I'll make this all right
I'm ready for it all
So come what may
And nothing will stand in my way!

◇◇◇◇◇◇

A hooded figure quietly walked though a cave.  Their gloved hand gently brushing against the wall as they walked.  A technique used to keep from getting lost in caves.  They stopped where there was a whole in the wall, just big enough for them to climb through.  They pulled themselves up into it and crawled through it.  Once they reached the other side, they hopped out.  Then they made a torch and lit it up.  They took off their hood.

Cassandra stepped closer to the walls, looking at the paintings.  There was the sun, with the sun incantations.  The moon and it's incantations, but she stopped when she reached a marking completely foriegn to her.  "What are you?"

The End

Well, there's the pilot movie done and completed!  Now the series has been set up!  As for the theme song and the other songs, I hope you like them.  I'm sorry that I don't exactly have a tune for them, so male up your own of you want.

Just wanna thank @inkwell33 again for their help with the storm idea.
Thank you all for reading!

This story is 36 Google doc pages long people and I write it in less than a week... I'm pretty proud of that.

P.S.  as of now, I'm not writing a credits song, so we'll just continue using the "More In Me" for now.

I also had to republish this chapter because of some difficulties.