The Impossible Cure

Chapter One

A/N: Sorry this chapter is a bit short, but I wanted to post a day early cuz I have rehearsal tomorrow. I promise it'll get longer!!! :D

~()~

"All right, buddy, let's get to work!"

Varian hadn't been this excited in months. He had only ever been to one Exposition of Science in his life. For the majority of his childhood, his father would not permit him to attend one, let alone participate. Then, over two years ago, he finally was allowed to participate- and he would have won, but a series of complicated events got him disqualified. The year after that... he didn't like thinking about the circumstances that incapacitated him. Needless to say, he was unable to attend the expo that year.

When Rapunzel originally announced that she was bringing the fair back, Varian was surprised. It had been months since the battle against Zhan Tiri, but repairs for the castle and the kingdom were taking a lot of time, not to mention money. The princess, soon to be queen, hadn't been sure Corona could take the kind of financial hit an exposition would bring. Thus, the original date had been skated over.

However, when she had been coronated, Rapunzel seemed to gain a better understanding of the running of a kingdom and the strings attached. With the subtle guidance of her parents and the support of her husband, she almost single-handedly pushed Corona back to its feet. Via an announcement two days ago, despite the heavy repairs still underway, she had stated that the Exposition of Science was to take place two weeks hence as part of the peace treaty with the overseas nation of Altara- the same nation Eugene had left to visit that very day. Both kingdoms would participate in the invention presentation, and an overseer from Altara would be coming over to judge alongside Rapunzel herself.

Varian could only hope the Altaran judge was a better human being than the last judge he had encountered.

"Where did we leave off?" Varian asked Ruddiger, who, admittedly, looked adorable in his miniature goggles and gloves.

The raccoon pointed to the work in progress on the table and picked up a small, convoluted spring-like piece.

Varian smiled and took the spring. "Ah, of course," he said, holding it up to the artificial light in his lab. "In the midst of creating the greatest invention known to mankind! Thank you, Ruddiger."

His pet chittered cheerily.

Varian grabbed his sketches and sat down in front of his project. Over the past two days, he hadn't had much time to work on his invention. Being promoted to High Engineer of Corona had added a lot of work to his plate, not to mention the daily commute to the castle from Old Corona (Rapunzel had gently urged him to live in the castle, but there was no way he'd leave his father alone). But all the responsibilities in the world couldn't stop him from attending the expo- and this time, he was determined to win first prize.

He patiently began to insert the spring into the control board on his invention. This was one of the most painstaking parts of the process, and he could not afford to get it wrong. Even Ruddiger seemed frozen in concentration when-

"Hey, Son."

"Gah!" Varian jumped, his hand jerking to the side, and a small snap told him the spring was broken. He sighed and set the shattered piece on the table.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Quirin said from the doorway. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, no, it's fine, Dad." Varian turned to face his father, offering a small smile. He even waved a bit, hoping to convey that this was a minor inconvenience and not a major setback that probably meant days gathering parts for a replacement piece. "I'm just a little... jittery nowadays." He laughed uncomfortably.