Reunion at Sea

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Varian didn't come to the secret dock under the bridge. Rapunzel managed to slip out, but didn't see him anywhere. She decided to head for Old Corona to check on him and took the boat they were intending to take to the monument. She knew she couldn't be gone long, Eugene and her father would no doubt be looking for her soon, but she had to know why he didn't come to the dock.

So here she was, going through the woods, by herself. She hadn't even thought to bring Maximus or Pascal, not trusting either of them in this world. She had never felt so alone before, and she was even more determined to find Varian.

She finally found Old Corona and made her way through town, noticing that most of the lights were out. What if Varian was asleep? What if Quirin was awake? She got to his home and checked windows, then tried the front door. When that didn't work, she opened the outside door into Varian's lab and stepped inside, closing the door behind her before opening his lab's actual door. "...Varian?" She whispered.

"Princess." He looked surprised to see her. He was in his old clothes again, goggles on his head and gloves on his hands, apron tied around his waist. "What are you doing here?" He cast a worried glance to the side, then walked over to her. "You should go. Quickly."

"But--"

"Varian?"

Varian gasped and pulled her to hide under a table, then adjusted a tarp draped over it to cover her. "Dad! Hey!"

Quirin walked over to him. "Still working hard, eh?" He chuckled. "I made some dessert, if you're still hungry after that big dinner."

"Oh, uhm, maybe later? Or if you could bring it in, maybe? I'm working on the blueprints for that secret project, heh." Varian tugged on his glove awkwardly.

Quirin smiled and walked over to hug him, stroking his hair fondly. "Alright." He kissed his forehead. "I'll be back soon." He walked off.

Varian waited until he was gone, then breathed a sigh of relief before kneeling down to look at Rapunzel. "What are you doing here?" He whispered.

"What am--I went to the dock but didn't see you, I got worried!" She whispered back.

"Yeah, uhm...I...let it slip I suspected him and he confirmed that, yes, we are in a dream world and he's not my dad, so I couldn't slip out." Varian admitted. "B-Besides, it's not so bad here."

"'Not so'--Varian, we're trapped in a dream world." Rapunzel glanced away. "Look, I understand. I don't want to leave, either. But, we're losing our memories of the other world, and we don't know what's happening to us there!"

"I know, I know, but...but, I'm happy here! I haven't been hurt and lied to and beaten until I bleed here! I know it's all fake, but it's better than what I've been living! My father cares about me, my inventions all work, people love me and don't forget I exist for three months!" He wiped at his eyes. "No one's leaving me in a cabin overnight because a storm started and I got dared to go inside, no one's looking at me like I'm about to do something stupid, there's no rumors about me being a Wizard or whatever else! For once in my life, I'm...I'm happy." He lowered his arm, tears slipping down his cheeks. "And I'm afraid to go back there. What if...what if, after all I've done, my father disowns me? What if I'm thrown away? What if this is the only place I can be accepted and loved like I've always dreamed of?"

Rapunzel slowly crept out from under the table and pulled him into her arms. "Oh, Varian, I understand. My friends aren't always arguing, my father is accepting of me, I'm not getting lectured on my habits every day. I'm happy here, too, but is our happiness in this other world worth what could be happening to our bodies, our friends, in the waking world? What about your aunt and uncle? What about Ruddiger? What if, by staying here, we end up hurting people? Could you live with that? Because I can't. We need to go, Varian."