Varian and I were sitting on the roof of the caravan. I was shuffling my tarot deck and he sat across from me looking somewhat bored with his head placed in his hand. I finished shuffling the cards and spread them out for him. "How many should I take?" He asked and I shrugged my shoulders. "However many you feel is necessary." I said and he nodded. He took a few cards and handed them back to me.
I put the rest of the deck back inside the box and laid down the cards he handed back to me. I turned the first card over to reveal a picture of his back and Rapunzel staring down at him with a glare. "You're still holding onto what happened. It's been almost a year now, love." I said looking up at him and he stared down at the card with a glare. "What's the next one?" He asked not wanting to hear the same rant I give him every few months. I sighed and turned over the next card.
The image on the card was split in half with Varian in the middle. The left side of the card was yellow, and the right side was blue. He was wearing a bandana around his neck, a large black jacket, and vials around his torso. He was on his knees with his hands in his black and blue hair.
"In the future you're going to have to make a decision that you won't like. Both outcomes have bad consequences to them. It seems like there's no hope and it's going to cause you to feel like all has failed." I said and looked up at him to see his eyes staring down at the card and gulped. "A-am I going to...you know?" He asked asked scared and I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm not sure."
I flipped over the next card. The background was covered in yellow and he was smiling brightly in a red vest and a white button up. His father was by his side out of the amber, Ruddiger was around his shoulders, and I stood next to him as well. "While the choice in the last card is very difficult, if you make the right decision, everything should turn out just fine. Better than fine actually. You're happy!" I said a smiling up at him and he only nodded.
I flipped over the last card and the background was covered in the same blue from earlier. Varian was sat on his knees hunched over with his hands covering his face. Ruddiger was sat behind him with a paw placed on his back. In the background to the right was a silhouette of the amber we left back in Corona almost a year ago. To the left was a dark shadow of someone being hung.
"If you make the wrong decision, it will feel like your entire world will come crashing down. You won't have anyone left except Ruddiger. You'll live out the rest of your days swallowed by your own sorrow and thoughts of what should have been." I said softly and he stared down at the cards. "Where will you be?" He asked not looking at me. "Do you want me to be honest or do you want me to lie?" I asked and he looked up at me. "Please...be honest." I sighed and pointed to the hung figure. "Based on the previous card, I can only assume that the hung figure is me." I said and he stared down at the card once more.
"So to put it simply...in the future...I practically decide if you live?!" He asked and I bit my lip before nodding. I watched as he ran his gloved hands through his hair. "Hey, hey, calm down." I said softly as I placed my hands in his. "I know you'll make the right decision. And if you don't, well, let's just say I'm going to have quite the time haunting you." I said trying to lighten the mood. "Are you trying to joke about you dying right now?!" He said and I shrugged my shoulders. "You can't worry about these things now, Sapphires. Worry about it when you get there." I said smiling and he forced a small nod. I put the cards back in the box and cleansed the deck before putting it in my satchel.
"The hamlet of Pincosta. Known for its warm smiles, hearty handshakes and world famous Pincostan Pecan Pie!" Rapunzel said said and Varian and I looked over to see Rapunzel and Cassandra talking. "What'd you do? Memorize the travel guide?" Cassandra asked and Rapunzel shrugged. "Only through the V's. That's why I wasn't very much help in Zuhlberg." Rapunzel said with a smile.
"Did someone say pecan pie?" Lance said popping out of the window. "What are we waiting for? Can't this thing go any faster? Never mind, I'll meet you there." Lance said leaving the caravan and running only to fall down the hill. "Probably should have waited until we got to the bottom of the hill." Cass said.
"Do we have to go to the Hamlet of Pincosta? I mean, what is a hamlet anyway? Sounds like a tiny ham. Am I right? No thank you. And you can get a hearty handshake anywhere." Eugene said and Varian and I shared a knowing glance. "Look, I say we take the scenic route. I love scenic routes, you love scenic routes, (Y/n) especially loves scenic routes! And you know why? Cause there's scenery." Eugene said and Varian and I giggled. "Eugene, are you wanted here?" Rapunzel asked with a smirk already knowing the answer. "Yes, I am wanted here. Very, very much so." Eugene said. "We have to go, Eugene. We need food." Rapunzel said and Pascal's stomach growled.
"We can't keep sending Sunny through my satchel to take actual food. He gets tired and he's been grumpy because Lance keeps sending him to get more and more food." I said looking down at Eugene. "We've got plenty of food!" Eugene said taking out a large sack. "Look how full this thing is!" He said and snoring came from inside the bag. "Shorty's in here, isn't he?" He asked. "Just five more minutes mom." Shorty said and we headed out for the town.
We were all walking through the town and Varian and I were walking next to each other hand in hand. "You know, on second thought, maybe I should just hang back with the camper." Eugene said trying to hide his face in Max's side. "Don't worry, Eugene. These people have probably long forgotten-" "Look, it's Flynn Rider!" A man yelled cutting off Rapunzel. "Yup, they have completely forgotten." Varian said as all sorts of weapons were ready to be used against Eugene. "So, how's about one of those hearty handshakes I've heard so much about?" Eugene said trying to lighten the mood.
Eugene was placed behind bars and we all stared at him. "Five minutes in town and he's already arrested." Cass said and Lance stuffed his face with a piece of pie. "That's a new record." Lance said with food in his mouth. The door slammed open and a very short man walked through. "Alright, where is he?!" The man said walking in front of Eugene's cell. "Well hello, Flynn Rider. Long time no see." The man said. "Uh, Constable Lumph is it?" Rapunzel said, but she was cut off by the man holding his finger up towards her not even sparing her a glance. "Wait, wait! Don't ruin my moment." The man said before he was handed a key and struggled to reach the lock. "Lewis." He said and the guard lifted him up enough to lock.
"Oh yeah! I've been waiting so long to do that! Let me do it again." The man said locking and unlocking the cell multiple times. "Great. Okay, back to the charges?" Rapunzel said with her hands on her hips. "This rapscallion walked away with the town's most sacred treasure: the Eye of Pincosta. Which is-" "Which is the biggest diamond in the land. Yeah yeah, I know. I read the travel guide." Rapunzel said with a smug grin and the constable rolled his eyes. "The second biggest, actually. Zuhlberg's is bigger." He said and Rapunzel glared at the ground. "Zuhlberg."
"Okay, yes. I stole the Eye. But that was ages ago." Eugene said. His voice came from behind all of us and I turned around to see Eugene in between Varian and I. "I'm a changed man!" Eugene said and the constable growled at Eugene. "Granted I did just pick your jail cell lock. Habit?" Eugene said rubbing the back of his neck.
They ended up putting Eugene in a full body suit that was under lock and key. "Wow that's way worse than what anyone has ever put me in." I said softly as I stared at Eugene. "Even the palace didn't go to such lengths with me." Varian said and I nodded. "I'd have been fine with don't do that!" Eugene said and I giggled.
"Under Pincosta law, I sentence Flynn Rider to a lifetime of servitude in the Copper Mines of Malanay." The constable said and Rapunzel gasped. "The Copper Mines of Malanay. Miles upon miles of caves where miners are forced to dig day and night without rest, food, or light." Rapunzel said and there was a pause as we stared at her. "It's a very thorough guide." Rapunzel said. "The thing is, I actually am kind of more of a rest, food, and light type of person. So how do you feel about community service? Because I will pick up your litter like nobody's business." Eugene said and Lance leaned over to him as much as he could through the bars. "Don't worry, Eugene. We will break you out of here in no time." Lance said and I heard Varian face palm as the constable cleared his throat.
"Ha ha ha! Lance, funny guy! He is just always the jokester." Eugene fake laughed trying to cover what Lance said. "Oh right! I'm joking! Definitely won't break you out of here." He said fake laughing. "Yes we will." Lance said in a loud whisper. "Just messing with ya!" He said normally. "No I'm not." He said whispering once more.
We all ended up thrown into the jail cell. "Sometime, we're going to have to have a frank discussion about whisper volume." Eugene said glaring at Lance. "Constable, wait!" Rapunzel said and Pascal used his tongue to stop him. "What if I could find the Eye?" She asked. "Hmm...how?" He asked and she smiled. "Let me worry about that. If I can find it, would you release Eugene?" She asked and Varian piped up. "Also everyone else because that is also mildly important."
The constable snapped his fingers and Rapunzel made her way towards the door. "Blondie, do not do this." Eugene said as he watched her closely. "I am not letting you go to those mines." She said and the large guard opened the door for her. "The carriage to the mines leaves in two days. So the jewel better be in my hands in 48 hours. Or your friends will toil in the mines forever." He said and I tilted my head to the side. "I'm sorry friends? Eugene is the only one that has committed a crime here!" I said and the man ignored me. "Wait! May I bring one of them with me?" Rapunzel asked and the man sighed rolling his eyes. "You may pick one of them, but not Flynn Rider." The man said and Rapunzel smiled.
"(Y/n), you're coming with me!" She said and I nodded. The large man opened the door and I gave Varian a quick hug. He hugged me tight and kissed my forehead. "I'll see you in two day." He said and I nodded. I walked out of the cell and the door slammed behind me. "Okay, if we have any chance of tracking the Eye down, you have to tell me everything." Rapunzel said staring into Eugene's soul.
"Uh...well...What's to tell really? You know, I stole a thing. A thing was stolen. That's the end of the story." Eugene said starting to panic. "And you have no idea where it is? Eugene. What is it?" Rapunzel asked and Eugene broke. "Okay, see, the thing is, it was a two-man job. So if anyone knows where the Eye is, it would be my partner." He said and my eyes widened. "That's why the Eye of Pincosta sounded familiar! You stole that thing with your ex fiancée!" I said and Eugene nodded while Rapunzel groaned.
Rapunzel and I made our way to a pub named The Glass Supper. We walked in and saw a familiar woman playing darts with a thug. "Didn't think Princess Sunshine and the Wicked Witch of the East could find me in a place as shady as this." Stalyan said not looking at either of us. "Well, maybe you're not the judge of character you thought you were." Rapunzel said with her arms crossed over her chest. "Let me guess. Rider's I'm trouble, and you want my help to save him." She said placing a dagger on the table. "Yeah. We need to find the Eye of Pincosta. And you two stole it together." Rapunzel said and Stalyan tried to get the jewels out of the dagger.
"We stole a lot of things together. Yeah, I know where it is but why would I help you two?" She asked and Rapunzel gave an unsure smile. "Because I'm charming?" Rapunzel asked and I facepalmed. "Eh it was worth a shot." She said and I looked up at Stalyan. "We both know you still care about Eugene." I said and Rapunzel nodded. "And there's good in everybody." Rapunzel said and Stalyan laughed. "Ha! And you are a terrible judge of character. I want nothing to do with Rider. And doing the right thing has never been a priority of mine." Stalyan said taking a sip of her drink. "W-we can pay you." I said reaching into my satchel and pulling out a key and handed the key to Rapunzel. "This unlocks the trunk back in our caravan. A trunk full of gold. It's all yours." Rapunzel said and I looked over at the dart board that Stalyan and the ruffian were using to play.
"Wow, Punz, would you look at that! The darts her and that guy were using..." I pulled off one blue dart and one red dart. "Oh my gosh look at that! His are a lot heavier than yours. Isn't that just...strange?" I asked with a smirk and Rapunzel caught on to what I was saying. "Huh. It's almost like you cheated. Maybe we should go tell that guy about this, right (Y/n)?" Rapunzel asked and the man from earlier ripped a barrel in half and threw his table across the pub. "He looks really mad." Rapunzel said to Stalyan. "Guess we've got a jewel to find, partners." Stalyan said and we left the pub.
"If we want to get the Eye of Pincosta back, we better get a move on." Stalyan said and Rapunzel looked at me. "Alright (Y/n)! Do what you do best!" She said smiling and I rubbed the back of my neck looking down at the ground. "Yeah...Um...about using my magic...I-I am actually taking a small break. J-just until I can figure out if it's really safe or not." I said and I felt three pairs of eyes staring at me. "I'm sorry. You're taking a break? B-but that's what you do! You're a witch that does magic!" She said waving her arms around and I shrugged my shoulders. "Listen, Punz, I'm not going to put anyone in danger until I get some answers. And for your information witchcraft isn't just about spells and so much power that it just comes out of your eyeballs!" I said crossing my arms over my chest. "No one has answered me for weeks now. Sorry if you only brought me along for convenience." I said glaring at the ground.
"Let's just get a move on." Stalyan said going over to three horses that were tied up. "Right. I think...wait...is this your horse?" Rapunzel asked her. "Of course not." Stalyan said. "Well then whose is it?" Rapunzel asked and I turned around to see the same thug from earlier.
"My horse!" He yelled. "I think it's his horse." I said and Stalyan groaned. I watched as the man broke apart the fence and started coming towards the four of us. Rapunzel moved in front of me pushing her hair behind her ear and stopping the man. "We were only admiring your beautiful horse. Right, Stalyon?" Rapunzel asked taking the horse from Stalyan. "Hey, has he been kind of out of sorts?" Rapunzel asked the man. "He has been a little ornery lately." The man said and Rapunzel smiled. "Of course. Look, his saddle is too loose, which is chafing his belly. And there's a thorn in his bridle. Ouch! Also, don't hitch him next to Rye grass. It gives horses a tummy ache." Rapunzel said giving the man a lesson on horses 101.
"Is she always like this?" Stalyan asked me and I nodded. "Surprisingly, this isn't even as bad as it can get. If you need a piece of amethyst to get you through the journey let me know." I said as I continued to stare at Rapunzel. "Alright, you take care now! Bye!" Rapunzel said as she dragged both of us with her.
I was walking behind Stalyan and Rapunzel as they talked. My hands were in my pockets and I felt something move in my satchel. I opened it and my black kitty jumped out of it. I waited for him to look around and he rubbed against my legs. "Do you really think I'm the type of person who would steal a horse? And you said I was a bad judge of character?" Rapunzel said and I rolled my eyes. "Frankly, you both suck at figuring people out." I said and I watched as Sunny ran towards the bushes. 'He'll be fine.'
We continued walking some more and I was staring up at the trees. In the trees, I saw a familiar black cat in one of the trees. Rapunzel was too busy talking and Stalyan was too busy ignoring her to notice Sunny. He watched as the two got closer and his butt wiggled in anticipation. 'What are you planning kitty?' I asked myself and I watched as Sunny let himself fall down from the tree purposefully not landing on his feet. He landed in his head and multiple cracks were heard. Stalyan and Rapunzel both yelled in fright.
They both backed away slowly and I stared at the now disfigured cat. "Ha ha very funny. You got your revenge, now cut that out. You're scaring them." I said and Sunny's eyes went from being wide and unblinking to look at me. He stood up on one front leg and one back leg. The other parts of his body had gotten moved around and he meowed at me. I was about to reach out for him when Stalyan grabbed my hand. "What are you crazy?! Don't touch the damn thing!" She yelled and I rolled my eyes getting out of her grip. "Relax. He's not hurt. Besides...you just need to put everything back in place." I said reaching down to Sunny and forcefully moving his limbs back into place. The only spot left was his head which was upside down. The two girls and Pascal stared at me in horror at Sunny.
Sunny stared right into Stalyan's eyes and I forcefully snapped his head back into place with a few loud cracks. "There we go. Good as new." I said smiling and Sunny shook with a few more cracks and pops putting anything I missed back into place. "That was worse than the arrows." Rapunzel said and I shrugged my shoulders. "Eh I've seen him do worse." I said and picked him up into my arms. "Worse?! Your cat just broke it's neck and spinal cord and you're trying to tell me you've seen worse?!" Stalyan yelled and I nodded. "I have. The worst times were when an eagle got to him, and when he was accidentally inside of one of Varian's experiments that exploded. My poor baby didn't have any skin on his face for about a week. I'd take broken bones over that monstrosity any day." I said petting Sunny and he purred. "Imagine waking up to a faceless cat every morning. It's not fun." I said and Stalyan and Rapunzel just stared at me. "Let's just keep going. I don't even want to think about that mangy feline anymore than I have to." Stalyan said walking ahead.
Stalyan pulled out a pouch and took a drink from it. "May I have a sip? I am parched." Rapunzel asked. "Plenty of water right over there." Stalyan said drinking from her pouch once more. I stood next to her as Rapunzel went down to the stream. "When you come up for air maybe you could tell us where the diamond is?" Rapunzel said and we went down to where Rapunzel was. "Virtuous St. Goodberry." Stalyan said and Rapunzel turned to face her. "Where's that?" "Not where, who. Eugene lost the Eye to him years ago. If we want the Eye we have to get it from Goodberry."
Rapunzel used her frying pan to drink from the stream and Stalyan scoffed. "You know they make cups for that." "Yeah, but with a frying pan, Pascal and I can drink at the same time." Rapunzel said and I smiled at the two of them. "Look, we should probably get moving. Goodberry's place is a three day walk." "Three days?!" Rapunzel and I said at the same time. "Why didn't you say that before?! We have less than two to get that diamond!" Rapunzel yelled. "We it would be one of somebody would let us steal horses and maybe a few minutes if the little witch wasn't a scaredy cat." Stalyan said and I crossed my arms over my chest. "Listen Stalyan, there is no reason for you to be rude. One day the universe is going to come down on you full force and I'm going to laugh when it does." I said glaring at her. "And I told you. We are not stealing anything." Rapunzel said before she got distracted by the branch that was thrown into the water by Stalyan.
"Goodberry's place is due east, right?" Rapunzel asked. "Whatever you're thinking right now is an awful idea." Stalyan said and we ended up on a log with branches as paddles. "I told you this was an awful idea!" Stalyan yelled as I laughed as I got splashed with water. "This is so cool!" I yelled smiling. "Uh right! Go right!" "No we want the left!" Rapunzel and Stalyan started fighting and I rolled my eyes. "We needed to go right!" "Wrong! Your way has rocks!" Stalyan yelled turning to face Rapunzel. "Yeah, but your way has that!" Rapunzel said pointing to the waterfall in front of us. "And when we're you going to mention the waterfall?!" "I was trying to! But you interrupted me!"
I held tightly onto Sunny as we started to go even faster. "Well this current is too strong!" "And we're gonna have to go over. We can do this!" Rapunzel yelled and I cheered. "Did I mention I hate you both?!" Stalyan said and we yelled as we went over the edge.
We stopped, but we weren't met with water. I opened my eyes and saw we were stuck on a rock. "Worst. Day. Ever." Stalyan said and I stood up on the log. "You're right. This worked out great. See ya." Stalyan yelled about to get off the log as did it started rolling over. "Stop! We have to jump off at the same time. (Y/n), you jump first." Rapunzel said and I nodded. I placed Sunny around my neck and quickly jumped to the other side grabbing into the rocks and pulling myself up.
Once I was in the ledge I put Sunny on the ground. "This is a fine situation you've gotten us into." I heard Stalyan say and she glared at the ledge. "On three. Ready? One. Two-Hey!" Rapunzel yelled as Stalyan jumped early and grabbed onto the ledge. "You were supposed to jump on three!" Rapunzel yelled grabbing onto the ledge. "That was a close one." Rapunzel said and Stalyan grabbed into the ledge onto for the rock to break making her fall. "Stalyan!" I yelled reaching out for her, but I was a second too late. I watched as she fell and was able to grab ahold of a tree branch.
"Hang on!" Rapunzel yelled and threw her hair around a branch. She quickly went down to where Stalyan was hanging and grabbed a hold of her in just the nick of time. I grabbed into Rapunzel's hair and started climbing down before looking at Sunny. "You coming?" I asked as he nodded before jumping off the edge. I rolled my eyes as I went down Rapunzel's hair to the ground. Sunny landed on his feet and held something in his mouth.
I took it from him and saw it was Stalyan's water pouch. "Stalyan, Sunny found this. I believe it's yours." I said handing it out to her and she took it. Rapunzel put her hair back up and we saw tents. "Goodberry's tents. I can't believe it." Stalyan said and I smiled. "What are we waiting for? Come on!" Rapunzel said and I nodded. "Let's go!!!" I yelled running ahead of them with Sunny in my heels. "Let's get that jewel back!" I yelled smiling and I heard Rapunzel giggle behind me. 'This trip had a rocky start, but I think it's only uphill from here!'