The Third Power: TTS AU

Chapter Thirty-Six

Rapunzel heard the sound of footsteps echoing beneath her.

Varian was back then.

The princess got to her feet with a sigh and tried not to think about the bad possibilities of what she might see. Varian was still Varian, even if Cassandra had gotten him to join her side. Still, she couldn't help clutching at her dress as a means to stifle any anxious behaviour. Cassandra had become even more terrifying than she had been after taking the Moonstone - who knew what having a gift might do to Varian.

The trapdoor opened. Varian climbed through it.

Rapunzel had to bite back her surprise. Varian's outfit... It was so similar to Cassandra's.

Once he'd climbed out, Varian stood and looked her in the eye. "Princess," he said with a stiff nod.

"Varian," she managed. She had to keep it together. Varian wasn't Cassandra. He wouldn't do anything bad... again.

They just stood like that for what felt like an eternity. Just... staring.

Rapunzel couldn't think of anything to say, and what was there to do? They still had to get Varian back to Corona, of course, but how willing would he be? Because Rapunzel really didn't want to have to take him against his will.

Varian made the first move. He walked right past her to the door, but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he turned to look back to her. His eyes glowed softly. "Let's go, Your Highness."

✦✦✦✦✦

Living with magic was going to be... an adjustment.

The soft thrum from earlier had developed into a buzz. It hummed under Varian's skin in a way that, while not exactly uncomfortable, he could do without. It was like there was energy built up that needed discharging, but he'd had the Seastone for not even five minutes so that shouldn't be possible.

Never mind that now. He could talk to Mari, Eclipse, and Cassandra about it. They knew magic better than him.

No, his biggest concern right now was Rapunzel.

The fact that she believed the mind control theory had been sitting in the back of his head the entire time he was down in the cavern. Even when watching the mirrors, making notes on the Seastone's story, the times they'd spoken over the last few weeks ate at him.

She didn't trust him.

So could he trust her?

This was too familiar for his liking.

He finally opened the door. He blinked at the murky light that came at him as he stepped out, Rapunzel close behind.

✦✦✦✦✦

Cassandra turned away from her conversation with Eclipse at the movement in the corner of her eye. Words couldn't describe the relief she felt at the sight of the tower's door opening and Varian stepping out. She bit back the anger she felt when Rapunzel came out after him.

"Varian!" Cass said as she ran over to him before even Mari could and pulled him into a hug, both because she'd missed him and because she was eager to put at least some distance between him and the princess.

"Hey, Cass," Varian greeted in turn with a soft chuckle.

Cassandra then held him at arm's length and looked him over. His hair was still blue, and now he had an outfit to match. The blues and greens really suited him. But her eyes were drawn to the gem over his heart, so similar to her own Moonstone but also very different.

"The Seastone," she whispered, because this was it; they'd finished their quest.

Varian's smile was small. "Yeah." His gaze then went over her shoulder. The smile faded. "Where are the others?"

Ah. Should have seen that being brought up.

"They've been temporarily detained," Mari explained as she and Eclipse joined them.

"Detained?" came the shocked question from Rapunzel. "What do you mean detained?"

Cassandra watched as Mari turned an oddly cold gaze onto the princess. "I didn't want to risk anything after your little stunt." Her voice was icy. "I knew letting you enter Atlantis would be a mistake."

Cassandra stomped down the sense of satisfaction that was bubbling inside her at the indignant look on Rapunzel's face. It was the kind of look that only Caliope - if Cass was remembering correctly - had ever been on the receiving end of.

Then Mari turned back to Varian. "What do you want to happen to them?"

Varian blinked. "Wha- Me?" he asked.

Mari nodded. Some of her iciness melted away. "You now have access to the full power of the Seastone. This decision falls on to you."

Then Eclipse chimed in with, "Did you never tell him what it meant to be the wielder of the Seastone?"

Cassandra was just as confused as Varian looked. In her peripheral vision, she saw a similar expression on Rapunzel.

Then Varian's eyes went wide. "Wait, I'm not, like, y'know-"

"The wielder of the Seastone is one of the highest ranking individuals in Atlantis," Mari cut in. "We are currently without a monarch, so you have the most power here."

If it was possible, Varian's eyes went even wider.

Cassandra was sure a similar look was on her own face. Today was just full of surprises.