Sunlit Moon (Varian x OC. Complete! [sequel cancelled for now.])

The lost treasure of Herz de Sonne.

A high-pitched whistle echoed in the destroyed Throne room, followed by a prompt 'Ouch!' as Artemis smacked the alchemist beside her upside the head,

"Hey! What was that for?" the blonde looked unimpressed, "Well, considering this mess is your fault...I thought a good smack to the head was deserved."

"Yeah...but you hit hard...like a man." Eugene looked at the teen with wide eyes, "Oh, Kid...those were not the right—" he flinched as Artemis hit Varian again, "—words." The former thief took a step away from his sister.

"Okay, guys. After the Sapporian attack, this kingdom could use a real pick me up, and what better way to bring everyone together than with a community project?" The room was filled with cheers,

"With a little hard work and a whole lot of Corona spirit, we can rebuild this kingdom. So let's do it!" Rapunzel tossed shovels out to everyone, Artemis looked around at her friends, she had a feeling this was going to go south....really fast.

And...not even 20 minutes in there were already arguments,

"Hey, I have the artistic eye."

"You dip, I paint." Her eyes wandered from Catalina to Kira who were fighting over a pain brush, over to one of the guards struggling with some other project.

"I know this is typically your thing, Sunshine, but if you're trying to bring everyone together maybe grueling manual labor isn't the best idea..." Artemis flinched as Rapunzel swung the axe in her hand, cutting the log in half, "Don't think if it as grueling manual labor, think of it as...creativity...through destruction"

"Yeah, well, no offense, Rapunzel...but Creativity can't be forced." A sudden explosion started all of them, "Oh, now look what you made me do."

"That was your fault, ya loafer!"

"Loafer? I've never been so insulted." Artemis eyed Feldspar and Ms. Crowley. "Looks like those two could use some advice." Rapunzel gave Artemis a light shove forward, the teen looked mortified.

"You want me to talk to them?"

"Oh, come on, it's a way to see if those diplomacy lessons have been paying off."

"I don't know Rapunzel..." She felt a comforting hand on her other shoulder, looking back she saw Varian, his usual goofy smile on his face,

"You've got this." Artemis passed her shovel to Rapunzel and walked over, doing her best to remember to keep her head up,

"Feldspar, Ms. Crowley, let's not fight. Yes, we were supposed to keep that wall, but this just gives us more room to make improvements...together." There was a collective groan between the two and Artemis felt like shrinking back into herself, "This is why Crowley works alone." The teen watched in dismay as the elderly woman walked away.

"I'll go get glue." She watched as feldspar walked away as the wall next to her crumbled, "Oh boy..." waving some dust from in front of her eyes she was intrigued to see something etched into the wall.

"Rapunzel?" the blonde hurried over.

"Here lies King Herz de Sonne's lost treasure?!" Rapunzel turned around, excitement written all over her face, "You guys, this is an honest to goodness treasure map!"

"I have heard the legend of Herz de Sonne's lost treasure. It is said to be buried in his crypt. The tale begins millennia ago—"

"Uh, Xavs, bottom line us, would ya?"

"She's right, it's a map." Artemis looked at the blacksmith with mild intrigue,
"How do you know so much about Corona's history?" the man just gave her a cryptic smile,