Tangled: Stardust and the 12 Zodiacs (Varian Fanfiction)

Chapter 4: The Solution

((This chapter would be rewritten soon))

Taking out a huge scroll, Soul laid it out on the table, pushing the two books aside. Everyone watched the astrologer with curiosity, huddling closer to the girl.

"This, my friends, is a star chart of the Zodiacs. As an astrologer, I studied everything about the stars and constellations, and such. It took a long time, but I have successfully tracked down the position of the stars every year. According to my research, the stars stay in the same position where they appear every year. Like, for example, the constellation Lyra, you can see it every June to October and you can see it again on the same date next year. Fascinating, right?" Soul explained with an excited tone, smiling widely.

"Yeah, but spare us the details, and get on with how we can find the orbs." Eugene rudely interrupted, earning a harsh nudge from Varian. The alchemist gave him a look, and Eugene muttered an apology to the girl. Soul's smile faltered a little, irked that the man interrupted her, but she continued nonetheless.

"Ahem, as I was saying. Every month, a different zodiac appears in the sky. And I have a theory. The theory is that the place where the zodiacs placed their orbs are in their respective temples, which only appear when the constellation is at its peak." Soul stopped for a moment, taking another scroll from a barrel full of scrolls, and another book from the shelves." Fortunately, I know where the temples are."

Laying out the scroll, opening it, revealing a map. Flipping the book open, and turning to a certain page, Soul marked out some places on the map.

"Here! These places are where the zodiacs' temples are located."

Rapunzel took the map, and scanned the places. Her eyes widened as all of the places were out of Corona. "Wow, these places are so...far." She commented, smiling sheepishly. Taking the map from the brunette, Eugene also scanned the places.

"Going around to these places will take almost a year to complete. Not only that, but some of the cities that we would need to get through are overrun by thieves and thugs." He informed as Lance took a peak from his shoulder.

"That's kind of like the point." The astrologer flatly stated.

'Hey look! We're going through the city of Aradia. Been a while since we went there." Lance said happily.

"Oh, by the way, what date is it today?" Soul asked, putting away the unneeded scrolls and books and giving back Demanitus' journal to Varian.

"April 6. Why?" Catalina asked.

"Well, princess, you better get permission from the king to allow you to leave Corona for this quest. We need to leave soon if we want to catch Leo's peak. His temple is a little far from Corona, and we need to get there by April 30." Soul explained as she leads the group back to the living room. "It would be best to leave as soon as possible, unless you want to wait for next year."

"Alright, I'll ask dad later. How would we meet you though?" Rapunzel asked as they went outside the treehouse.

"Don't worry, i'll meet you guys outside the castle. I'll send Sir Hoots with you guys, so you can send me a letter if we are leaving." Soul answered as she let Sir Hoots-a-lot out, perching himself on Max's head. "I'll leave Sir to guide you guys out of the forest. I'll leave them to you, Sir, can you handle it?" The owl hooted happily, mocking a salute with his wings.

"Are you sure that your owl can lead us safely through the forest?" Lance asked, unsure of the choice that the lavender-haired girl made.

"Yep! I mean, the exit is just past that bush." Soul pointed to a bush between two oak trees a little farther from the treehouse. The astrologer waved them goodbye as she entered her house, closing the door. The group looked at each other, and went to the bush Soul pointed, and lo and behold, they were back to the clearing they were in earlier that day. Their jaws dropped as they turned to look back where they just exited.