Tangled: Stardust and the 12 Zodiacs (Varian Fanfiction)

Chapter 36: What is this feeling?

It was about six in the morning when the group left the foot of Mount Ina. Currently, it's ten near lunchtime, and Soul was still sleeping soundly. Aside from the fact that nobody wanted to feel the wrath of the girl, knowing that she hates getting woken up, they also thought that she needed more rest prior to what happened last night. Varian was brushing Ruddiger's tail when Lance seated himself next to the teen.

"Don't think I forgot what you told me last night, little man." He said, placing his chin on his hand and leaning on his lap, looking at the teen. Varian blushed a bit before Lance spoke again. "SOoooooOO? What made you accept it so soon?"

"Umm, I guess it was just hard for me to keep it in..." He answered, putting the brush down as Ruddiger got off his lap to play with Flick.

"Oh, come on! I'm sure there's more to that. Spill the tea." Lance prodded, leaning closer to the teen so no one else would hear them. Especially a certain astrologer, who was sleeping on the couch across from them. "What did you like about her?"

Varian looked down, fidgeting a bit. "What I like about her? Well, I like how -" A groan interrupted what the teen was saying. Turning their heads to the source, they saw Soul stretching her arms out as Sir Hoots-a-lot flew circles above her, hooting loudly, suggesting that the owl had woken her up. "Let's talk later." Varian whispered. Lance pouted, disappointed he won't get to hear the teen's answer right now but agreed nonetheless.

"We're moving?" Soul murmured, rubbing her eyes.

"Good mornin', sleeping beauty~!" Varian greeted in a somewhat flirty tone, smirking while Lance tried to hide his squeal. Pink dusted the girl's cheeks as she muttered a small greeting.

"Did we already leave Mount Ina?" She asked, sitting properly, folding her blanket, and placing it under her pillow. "What about Gene? Will he be okay?"

"We left hours ago. I visited Gene before we left, and he still seems pretty angry." Rapunzel answered while painting on a piece of paper. 

"If we weren't in a hurry, we could have stayed for a little while. Losing someone is hard, and you really need a shoulder to cry on during those times, whether they like to or not." Soul stated, looking down when she felt someone hugging her.

"I'm so sorry about Rico. I know you never wanted that to happen." Rapunzel consoled as the girl leaned in more in the hug.

"Thanks. I'm a bit over about his death, really. It's just I don't think I would be able to stomach getting close to cliffs again. I've had enough of them." Soul reassured, pulling away from the brunette. 

"If you say so." 

"By the way, what time is it?" Soul wondered as she looked out the window. The sun was high enough not to be early morning.

"10:24." Lance answered, looking at his pocket watch.

"We let you sleep in. We thought you needed the rest." Rapunzel added.

"Thanks, but don't worry. I'm fine." Standing up, Soul grabbed her spellbook and walked to where Kiera and Catalina were, pulling them up. "Want to come with me up on the roof?"

"Why? What are we doing?" Catalina asked, getting up from the bed and following the older girl.

"Didn't you two say you want to see more magic spells?" The astrologer asked in a playful tone, causing the two younger girls to break out in wide grins. "So, come on!"

Catalina and Kiera cheered as they followed Soul climb up the ladder to the roof. "Be careful not to fall off you guys!" Rapunzel called, earning a chorus of 'yes' from the girls upstairs.