Varian and the Seven Kingdoms (Varian's Seven Trials)

Dancing by Lantern-Light

"You said what, now?" Hugo asked, raising a brow.
"I know- I know it was stupid; but you didn't see all of the presents she had! I couldn't just tell her I forgot to get her something..." Varian buried his head in his hands, surrounded by his friends who exchanged looks with each other. The boy sat on the edge of the fountain in town centre, attracting the attention of passersby as he spoke.
"It's alright, Varian. You have the whole day to...think up something amazing in that big brain of yours." Nuru joked, patting the boy's shoulder comfortingly.
"You've been to all the Seven Kingdoms- you probably shoulda picked up a souvenir or something." Yong told the goggled boy, who looked up from his hands at him with furrowed brows and a pout.
"Just saying..." Yong pressed on, reaching into his pockets, "I got souvenirs from all the kingdoms."

Everyone shuffled to get a better look at the boy's hands.
"...Rocks?" Hugo asked.
"Yup- rocks from each kingdom." Yong smiled widely and Varian let out a painful sigh, burying his head back in his hands.
"How d'you know which is from where?" Hugo asked and Yong's smile fell. The young boy looked between the rocks then sighed in defeat, taking a seat next to Varian and resting his chin in his hands.
Nuru shot a glance at Hugo who rolled his eyes.
"Ok, well hows-about we help you find something for Princess Sunshine?" Hugo suggested and Varian looked up.
"Like what? What do you get the girl who has practically everything?" Varian asked.
"Ah, one of life's biggest questions." Hugo grinned and pulled Varian from where he sat,
"Luckily enough," He wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders, "I have the answer."
"Really?" Varian narrowed his eyes.
"As you can imagine, I've dealt with a lot of girls in my time," Hugo smirked smugly and Varian and Nuru scoffed almost simultaneously,
"So trust me when I tell ya, y'need to buy her something expensive."
Varian raised a brow, considering this, "I did imply it was something pretty special- but how am I gonna afford something expensive?" Varian crossed his arms then turned his head when Nuru laughed.
"Are you honestly going to listen to Hugo?" The girl asked and Varian was silent. Nuru rolled her eyes then took Varian's hands into hers and pulled him away from Hugo,
"Varian, you don't need to buy Rapunzel something expensive. The most special gifts come from the heart."
Hugo gagged at the Princess and she glared back at him.
"Trust me, Goggles- expensive's the way to go. What's more special than, say...a gold necklace?" Hugo grinned. Nuru pulled Varian's attention back to her,
"What says I care about you and value our friendship more than a heartfelt gift?"
Varian sighed, "This isn't getting me any closer to a present for Rapunzel."
"Yeah, I don't wanna alarm you- but the kid's missin' again."

"Alright, so...heartfelt gift...heartfelt gift..." Varian tapped his pencil on the side of his desk. Once they had found Yong ogling over some lanterns, they headed to Varian's castle lab and set up there.
"You don't need to overthink it." Nuru told the boy, "It just needs to be something meaningful- maybe something you both share; something only she'll understand." The Princess explained.
"Still think you're goin' about this all wrong." Hugo told Varian from the seat beside him. The blonde leant back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. Varian watched the boy then rolled his eyes and turned to Nuru and Yong.
"When I have to get a present for someone, I get them a present I would want." Yong commented.
"And what's the success rate on that?" Varian questioned.
"...Not great." Yong admitted with a pout, "Maybe you should get her food."
Varian brushed his hair back out of his face and leaned back against the desk on his elbows,
"After the party she threw for me, this present has to be amazing."
"Well, let's start with things she likes." Nuru suggested.
"Ok- so...painting, reading, knitting, cooking, baking, music, darts, arts and crafts, ballet, ventrilquiy, candle-making, sewing...I, uh...I think that about covers it." Varian laughed.
"She must be one busy Princess." Nuru laughed too, "Perhaps you can...paint her something."
"Ha- I dunno about that. Art isn't exactly my forte."
"But you made me out of metal." Yong reminded the boy and Nuru gave a confused look.
"That's- kinda different, Yong." Varian smiled.
"If you wanna waste your time thinking up the perfect gift, that's up to you- but the better option is right in front of you." Hugo added.
"I don't think you need to be particularly good at painting as long as it's meaningful." Nuru smiled at Varian.
"You should make her a firework machine!" Yong threw his arms into the air and Hugo grinned, pointing an agreeing finger at the young boy.
"I...think that's more of a you present, Yong." Varian chuckled.