Chapter Text
"Eugene, can you grab my bag while you're there?" Rapunzel asked the former thief.
"Sure thing, Blondy!" He responded.
"Thanks, Eugene!" She said, gratefully taking the bag from his hand.
"You guys ready?" Cassandra said, walking up to them.
"Yes," Rapunzel said, slinging her bag on her shoulder.
"Let's get a move on!" Lance said, joining the group.
"I’m so glad to be on dry land finally," Eugene said, stretching his arms and putting them on his girlfriend's shoulders.
"So are the rest of us; I think I still have sand on my dager," Cassandra said.
The group continued to walk along the beach, enjoying the sunset.
"Hey, what is that?" Rapunzel said, pointing at a small shape in the distance.
The rest of the group instantly recognized it.
"Trust me, you do not want to go over there," Eugene said.
But unfortunately, she was already walking over there.
"Oh no," Cass said, walking over.
The group looked around, running over to the way gone blonde.
Unfortunately, when they got over there, Rapunzel was already screaming at a group of guards, and if you know anything about Rapunzel, you know that it was NOT good.
"No one deserves to die just because there isn't enough room on the boat!" Rapunzel yelled.
"Princess, it is not just because there isn't room on the boat. He was basically already dead," The guard said, rolling his eyes.
Eugene immediately felt a knot in his stomach. He had once been on the chopping block himself and lost some friends because of it; he knew all too well how easy it was to get there.
Lance also felt much the same way; Cassandra, on the other hand, felt that whoever it was, they must deserve it.
Meanwhile, Rapunzel and Eugene had begun rescuing the fugitive.
Eugene ran into the water, grabbing the unidentifiable criminal from the freezing water.
Picking up the concerningly light body, he placed him on his back on the sand on the beach and performed the Heimlich maneuver.
It was too dark to see a face, but he successfully managed to save whoever it was.
After the man started breathing, Eugene pulled out a small lighter to look at the person.
The light flickered across a gaunt face onto black matted hair and, to his horror, a patch of light blue amongst the dark strands.
"No!" He yelled, a mix of sadness and anger filling his voice.
"What is it?" Rapunzel asked after sending the guards off.
She walked over to Eugene, and when she recognized the figure in the sand, she gasped.
"Varian!" She shouted.
"What?!" Cass and Lance said, running over.
"The poor kid," Lance said.
Cass stayed silent.
"Let's get him to the doctor!" Eugene said, picking up the boy.
They ran through the town and to a local doctor, waking them up.
"What's going on?" a sleepy middle-aged woman in a doctor's coat thrown on over a nightdress said, answering the door.
"We found him on the beach. The guards were trying to execute him, but we stopped them. He's not in danger; he didn't deserve it. We managed to save him from drowning , but we need help!" Rapunzel rambled.
"Calm down," The lady said kindly.
"Can we bring him in?" Eugene asked, stressed.
"Yes, of course," the doctor said, opening the door.
Eugene walked into the room, placing the small boy on the sterile white hospital bed.
"Can you get his shirt off?" The doctor asked.
"Yes," Eugene said, gently pulling off the shirt, if you can even call it that, with all the stains and holes.
To the older man's horror, it unveiled a black and red mess of scars and bruises that covered the small boy's body.
But they were ushered into the waiting room before they could process this.
"How is he?" A very concerned Lance said.
The look on their faces answered the question.
The couple plopped onto a nearby couch.
After a while Rapunzel timidly asked, "How could my father let this happen?"
"I don't know, sunshine," Eugene responded soothingly.
"I'm sure he didn't know," Cass said confidently.
"Yeah," Rapunzel said, unsure.
"Let's focus on how to take care of the kid; we can ask how it happened later," Lance said.
"Thanks, Lance. You're right. We need to work out the logistics of this situation." Rapunzel said sitting up.
"Ok, first things first, where will we put him in the caravan?" Eugene asked.
"Well, there is the hook foot's bed," Rapunzel said,
"What are you guys talking about? There is no way we are letting an extremely dangerous criminal, who might, I remind you, almost killed your family and destroyed old Corona join us." Cass said, sitting up.
"Cass, you can't just--" Eugene said.
"Just because you haven't destroyed anything yet doesn't mean Varian won't!" Cass argued.
Rapunzel stood up abruptly.
"Cassandra, we are taking Varian; if you do not want to travel with him, I will gladly seat you on the next boat to Corona. If you want to continue to travel with us, you will travel with Varian; that is an order." Rapunzel said.
"Do you guys need a minute?" The doctor asked, walking in the door.
No, can we see him?" Rapunzel asked abruptly, changing moods.
"Yes! But there is only room for two." The doctor said.
"That's fine; Eugene and I will stay here, and Lance can stop in and sit here for a minute before he and Cass leave," Rapunzel said.
"Sounds good." Lance agreed.
"Alright, come in." The doctor said, motioning to the couple.
Rapunzel and Eugene followed her into the small room.
Varian lay in the white bed on his back, sound asleep in the corner of the room.
"Aww," Rapunzel said, looking at the boy.
"He is a sweet boy," The doctor said softly, sitting down.
Rapunzel and Eugene both sat on a loveseat placed snugly in the corner.
"I have him settled in for the night, but I need you to fill out some papers for me." The doctor said, handing Rapunzel a notepad.
"Of course," Rapunzel said, taking the papers.
"In the meantime, I will get some blankets for you two." The doctor said, getting up.
"Thank you," Rapunzel responded.
The couple sat silently, letting the silence wash over them.
Rapunzel looked around the cozy room, a stark contrast to the sterile white hospital in the palace.
"Cass and I are going to head out now," Lance said, poking his head in the door.
"Ok, see you later," Eugene agreed.
"Here are those blankets," The doctor said a moment later, handing them out and leaving the room.
"Night, blondie," Eugene said, placing the blanket over his knees.
"Night," The Princess said, following suit.
They had so many thoughts running through their heads, but there was not much they could do at the moment, so they decided to get some shut-eye.