The gang are nearly to the Dark Kingdom. With each mile that they draw closer and closer, the knot in Varian's stomach becomes tighter and tighter. He has a terrible feeling about what is going to happen to them there, and he cannot seem to shake it.
And he isn't the only one worrying, either. He notices Eugene sitting outside of the caravan, his brow creased in concentration as he studies the three pieces of the scroll.
"Hey, you alright?" Varian asks, sitting down next to him. But Eugene doesn't seem to hear him.
"Just another day's travel and we are at the Dark Kingdom!" Rapunzel announces optimistically, strolling into view. "Hope we packed our torches!" She stifles a laugh and glances around at everyone else, who only give her unamused looks. "Because the Kingdom is dark... is where I was going with that," Rapunzel adds awkwardly.
"Yeah, I think we all got it..." Varian tells her.
She glares at him, but then notices that Eugene has not even bothered to glance up from the scroll. "Are you okay, Eugene?" She asks. "You seem distracted."
Hearing his name, Eugene finally looks up as Rapunzel sits atop a barrel beside him. "Huh? Oh. Uh... I didn't want to make... light of it?" He offers, giving her an extremely forced smile.
Varian facepalms, and even Pascal sighs exasperatedly.
"Look, it's just... now that we're so close to the Dark Kingdom, it all feels more real, ya know?" Eugene continues with a nervous chuckle.
"I know what you mean," Varian says, as Rapunzel listens to them both sympathetically. "Uncle Hector said that if we went there, we were doomed."
"Uncle Hector?" Eugene repeats, raising an eyebrow.
Varian hadn't realized he had said this aloud, but he has been pondering it a lot lately. With his dad having been a member of the Brotherhood, wouldn't that make the other members of it like his family? "Well... yeah," he replies with a shrug.
"Okay then," Eugene says, seeming to have accepted this. "Well, if what crazy rhino-man said is true, then we have no idea what we're in for! And our only clue as to what's waiting for us is on three stupid pieces of a torn scroll... that we can't even read!"
Finally getting a good look at the scroll, Varian picks up the piece with the hooded man on it that the group found at the Spire. "This... this is Lord Demanitus!" Varian shouts.
"What?" Rapunzel says in surprise.
"Why didn't you tell us that before?" Eugene asks.
"I never looked at this piece of the scroll before," Varian admits. "But..." He pores over the rest of the scroll, his eyes bouncing between the lines of each piece. "If you gave me some time, I might be able to work out a translation key so we could read what it says."
"How much time we talking?" Eugene asks.
"Well, um... a few weeks, possibly?" Varian says.
"Weeks?" Rapunzel repeats. "We arrive at the Dark Kingdom tomorrow."
"You had the first part of this scroll before any of us," Eugene says. "Did you translate any of it back then?"
"I had other priorities back in Corona," Varian remarks.
"And how come you haven't been translating it this whole time on our trip?" Eugene adds.
Varian begins to grow frustrated. "Because apparently none of you trusted me enough with it!"
Rapunzel and Eugene stare at him blankly, surprised by his outburst. He has even caught the attention of Lance and Cassandra, who look at him with raised eyebrows. He hadn't meant for it to come out like that, but he's still been in a sour mood lately ever since they left the House of Yesterday's Tomorrow. "I'm... I'm sorry," he says with a sigh. "I guess I'm just... really feeling the stress of our journey coming to an end."
"Guys, I know it's scary," Rapunzel tells them. "But we can't turn back now."
Varian knows she is right. They have come too far to reconsider. He just wishes they still had more time...
"Besides, Eugene, you and I have other plans," Rapunzel says mischievously. "Or at least, we should have other plans." When Eugene doesn't seem to understand, she adds, "Birthday plans?"
"Oh my gosh, I forgot your birthday!" Eugene shouts."
"How could you forget, Eugene?!" Rapunzel yells at him.
"I'm so sorry!" Eugene rubs the back of his neck nervously. "You know what, I'm pretty sure that giant firefly scorched my datebook and—"
"Would you stop it already?" Varian interrupts. "She's pulling your leg! It isn't her birthday." He should know, since Corona celebrates it every year with the lantern festival. Not to mention it was also the day he was arrested...
Sure enough, Rapunzel can't keep a straight face any longer. "Ha ha, got you! Oh, you should have seen your face! Pascal, do his face."
Pascal imitates Eugene shocked expression, causing Rapunzel to laugh even harder.
But Eugene is even more confused. "Well, then who's birthday is it?"
She smiles at him, then grabs his arm and pulls him along with her. Varian begins to follow, but Rapunzel stops him. "Listen Varian, not that I mind your company, but... I think Eugene and I need some time alone, okay?" She whispers to him kindly. "He doesn't know when his actual birthday is, so I've decided to make today his birthday."
"Oh... okay," Varian says. He sits back down next to the caravan, as Rapunzel and Eugene head off together. He glances at the three pieces of the scroll again, and then pulls out his notebook.
"Hey, whatcha got there?" Lance asks, approaching Varian.
"Oh!" Varian exclaims, slightly startled. "Well, I just figured I might as well start attempting to decipher the scroll. I know it can't be completed before we get to the Dark Kingdom, but I need something to take my mind off of..."
The end of his sentence trails off, as he catches sight of Cassandra in the distance. She is still trying her best to train herself to use her sword with her uninjured hand. It's pretty much all she does now. She barely talks to or interacts with anyone else in the group, unless absolutely necessary. She and Varian have hardly spoken a word to each other ever since what happened after the House of Yesterday's Tomorrow, and it is tearing Varian up inside.
"Ah," Lance says, seeming to understand. "Love can be so fickle. But you know what you gotta do?"
Varian sighs. Lance is the last person he would take advice from, but he does appreciate that he at least seems to care enough to try. "No I don't, Lance. What have I 'gotta do'?"
Lance offers a genuine smile as he replies, "Just keep the friendship alive. That's what's most important. Sometimes that means giving a bit of tough love, but it's worth it."
Varian is surprised at Lance's words. "Wow, that's... that's actually good advice."
"And if that doesn't work, you better get down on your hands and knees and grovel. That always gets the ladies' attention!"
"Uh... thanks, Lance," Varian says, as Lance pats him on the back and walks away. He isn't sure about that last part, but one thing Lance said is true. Cassandra is still his friend, and he needs to make sure he keeps their friendship alive... even if that means giving her some 'tough love.' Otherwise, he may lose her for good.
Varian stands up, and slowly approaches Cassandra. "Hey, Cass?" He says hesitantly.
Cassandra barely spares him a glance. She just keeps swinging her sword. "I'm a little busy right now, kid."
"Yeah, I know. You're always busy now," Varian says.
Cassandra finally stops, and turns to face him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You've become so distant lately," Varian tells her. "From all of us! It's—"
"It's what, Varian? It's not normal?" Cassandra interrupts. "News flash, this is who I am!"
Varian gives her a serious look. "I was going to say, it's worrying us. You're our friend, Cass. But you haven't been acting like it."
Cassandra sighs exasperatedly, but her expression transforms from furious to downcast. "Maybe that's for the best," she says, staring at the ground.
Varian shakes his head. "Look Cass, I don't know what is going on with you, but you don't get to just shove us aside! We're not giving up on you. I'm not giving up on you." Believing he has made his point, he stomps back to the caravan, grabs the pieces of the scroll, and heads inside to work on decoding them... Pretending that he doesn't notice Cassandra mumbling to herself.