Secrets of an Alchemist

Curses: Part 3

(Good graces, it's been a long time. I wrote around 250 words for this in June of last year, then COMPLETELY creatively crashed and stopped. I hope you'll all forgive me, and maybe give SoaA a chance again 😉
And now, with no further ado...
Please welcome back...
VARIAN!)

(Chapter warnings: Coronan swears and mentions of cursing, cut off swear and also use of the world "tipsy" (gasp no), and Varian dealing with fear via ✨humorrrrr✨, a decent amount of small revisions by me because I feel like there's a few unnecessary bits in this part (and I wanted to add some new bits, as it is my obligation as a fic writer to do))

"You guys might want to get a different recipe," Eugene observed, cradling Rapunzel for a moment before setting her down.

"Wh- hey- it's Goggleboy's fault!" Hook Foot exclaimed, pointing a finger at Varian. Varian took a step back before putting a hand on his hips.

"Excuse me?" He exclaimed, gesturing with his hands as he talked. "You're the ones who performed a ritual in a cauldron that clearly had chemicals in it!"

"Boys, boys," Rapunzel intervened, standing in between the two as to stop them from advancing. She sighed and looked at Hook Foot. "It's no use, Hook Foot." She turned her head away slightly. "There's only one thing left to do." She began walking away. "Return the telescope to Madam Canardist in the morning, and put an end to this curse."

"But that telescope is really important to you, Princess!" Varian protested.

"Varian, my man," Hook Foot clapped a hand on Varian's back, his anger suddenly fading. "If the lady wants to return it, let her return it."

"Yeah! We'll pitch in and get her a new one," Cassandra added, uncharacteristically positive. "A better one. One with-" She paused a moment. "-more glass."

"Uh-" Varian interjected. "-more glass would actually-" Cassandra gave him a smack on the back of his head, leaving him rubbing it. Rapunzel sighed heavily.

"I'll take it back first thing tomorrow morning," Rapunzel said, a note of finality in her voice. She began walking, quickly passing the group. "If I can even make it through the night," she continued, sounding uncharacteristically defeated, a hint of sarcasm creeping into her voice. "Oh look, a family of black cats-" Varian winced as scratching and meowing sounded from the Princess' position in the darkness. As he turned back to the others, Varian noticed Eugene putting a hand to his chin, seemingly in thought.

"What is it, Eugene?" Varian asked, a small yawn escaping as he did. He suddenly realized how little sleep he had gotten since this whole curse debacle had started. His yawn turning to a sigh, he slipped his goggles off his head and began rubbing his gloved finger around the him, just to have something to do with his hands. Eugene was startled out of thought by the young alchemist's voice and motion, and quickly turned back to the group. Ever so slowly, a smile spread across his face.

"This is a lot of standing around looking like an empty headed moron even for you, Fitzherbert," Cassandra quipped. Eugene's smile brightened.

"I think," he began, motioning for the group to huddle closer. "I may have a way to get Blondie's spirits back up."

Hook Foot groaned. "Oh boy. Can't wait."

🧪

As the next morning dawned, Rapunzel moved sadly, her telescope gently resting in her hands. As she began to walk in the direction of Madam Canardist and Vigor, Eugene scampered out of the caravan, book under one arm.