Chapter Text
Varian had heard stories of the Dark Kingdom before. From his dad. Of course, he believed them to be fairy tales. Xavier, the blacksmith, used to tell him stories too. Varian liked hearing their stories, it reminded him that it wasn’t just him in the world, but countless others as well. It was a nice reminder, especially when Varian was being selfish. But then, Varian hurt his dad, and the last thing on his mind was the stories that he used to be told.
Varian remembers running past Xavier’s place, on his rush to the Castle to talk to Rapunzel. It was empty. Xavier never left it empty. He was either inside or outside making something. But Varian didn’t think of that. He didn’t care at the moment. He was too concerned about helping his dad, and to do that, he needed Rapunzel’s help.
Only…Rapunzel didn’t help him like she had promised. Her promise, which had once been a source of comfort to him, broke him even more. Varian knew, that he would still be upset even if Rapunzel hadn’t promised to help him. But, since she did, it hurt so much more. Varian thought that they were friends, but apparently, Rapunzel didn’t think so. She lied to him. And Cassie- Cassandra, just stood around watching it happen. Varian thought, that at the very least, one of them would have at least heard him out, or had him stay since there was a blizzard outside.
But, no. The guards kicked Varian out, into the snow. The wind, howling, whipping against him. On his way there, the wind had been on his side. Now, it wasn’t. A nice metaphor for his situation. He had just ran a few miles, nonstop, to get all the way there, only to immediately get kicked out. He could have died in that blizzard! And no one would have known. Even after it all, Rapunzel never came to check on him, despite the urgency in his voice and the panic. This hurt even more. He thought, he just thought, that maybe, Rapunzel still cared. That, maybe, Rapunzel would have checked on him afterwards, made sure he was okay, and help him, not just completely abandon him until it was convenient for her to see him.
To make matters worse, the next time Varian saw her, she didn’t even ask him if he was okay, if he had gotten the help he needed, or anything that Varian actually cared about! She simply asked him, if he still needed help. She had worry in her voice, but it wasn’t urgent. Varian could tell that Rapunzel only cared about him to save her own mind. Her own mentality. To help herself. She was selfish. She was incredibly selfish. So, Varian decided, that he was going to be selfish too.
Only later on, did Varian learn that the Kingdom had been going through a crisis at the time. Varian was okay with that. Rapunzel had responsibilities as the heir to the throne, responsibilities that she can’t neglect. Varian understood that. But still, no one told him anything. No one sent a letter, or even someone to warn the people of Old Corona? They just..left Varian and his father to fend for themselves, to die, if nothing was done about it.
Sure, in the end, Rapunzel saved the day. But they had thought that everything was hopeless. They thought that they were doomed. Everyone else was huddled up in the castle, much warmer than Varian, who had been caught in the blizzard, twice.
At least Rapunzel helped him get to the flower- oh wait, it was completely useless anyway! The sunflower had no effect, it didn’t do anything!
So, in the end, Varian ended up drugging cookies with truth serum in order to kidnap the Queen.
He felt a bit bad for the Queen, she actually seemed to care at least somewhat for him, showing such concerns despite having been kidnapped. Though, Varian wrote it off as arrogance to her situation, proceeding to do what he originally planned.
After all of that, he failed, and worst of all, got arrested.
Varian was bitter about it. Ruddiger, however, did join him. Varian was glad that at least one person wouldn’t betray him, even if, by other people’s standards, Ruddiger wouldn’t qualify as a person.
However, the worst thing that they did, was arrest him, only to leave not even a week later. On a journey to end the black rocks, nonetheless. Something that Varian had been trying to do since he first saw them and the harm that they caused. They didn’t appreciate his efforts, it seemed. Only after he got arrested, did they care about important things that he cared about from the start. He called them all hypocrites.
Worst of all, he found this information out from Queen Ariana. Despite having kidnapped her, she was quite kind to him, like a mother. Something that Varian had never experienced. But it was just from pity. Varian knew it. Queen Ariana was only nice to him because of her pity, and she wanted to make herself feel better; just like Rapunzel. Like mother like daughter.
Plus, King Frederick, despite promising that he would make sure that Varian got the help that he needs, hadn’t done anything for him. Only leaving him there to rot and ‘repent’.
Varian would never be able to forgive them.
"No! No! You- you promised! You promised that you would protect her!" Nico yelled.
"Nico-" Percy started.
"No!" Nico yelled at him. Tears welled up in his eyes. Nico pushed Percy, before running off.
"Nico!" Percy called out for him, but Nico was gone. He had run into the forest. Percy didn't know where he went.
"I want to go home..." Nico muttered to himself, leaning against a tree.