#tangled max

Hello, Tangled fans.

Even though it has now been 4-and-a-half years since Tangled: The Series/Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure has ended, the show still has a big impact on the fandom. However, there has been one question that has been in my head since the show ended: What would happened if Cassandra didn’t reform? I had even made a post about it back in 2021. After some thinking, I decided to make a fanfic about that theory loosely based on the A Twisted Tale novels that are centered in alternative universes of the Disney films. I also thought that it would be fun to write an “what if” fanfic about a Disney show. However, it might take a while since I am still working on other fanfics, including the current Tangled fic, Varian and Vex: The Mystery of the Crystal Caves. So far, the title is called Tangled: Wither & Decay - A Twisted Fanfic and here is the summary:

What if Cassandra betrayed Rapunzel again?

Zhan Tiri has finally been defeated, the sundrop and moonstone have been united, and Corona is finally safe…at least that's what Rapunzel thought.

Out of nowhere, Cassandra managed to grab ahold of the infused opal and claim its power for herself! After a failed attempt to stop the fallen handmaiden gets them banished to a faraway land, Rapunzel, Eugene, and the gang must hurry back to the kingdom to save it from further destruction. During their journey, the group will learn even more about the magic that enhances the gemstone’s user and the consequences it holds in the wrong hands.

However, as time passes on, tensions rise between Rapunzel and her friends as the princess’s leadership is tested throughout not only their expedition, but for the future of Corona as well. Meanwhile, Cassandra plans on expanding her conquest towards the entire world.

Takes place in Cassandra’s Revenge, when the gang got back to the castle with Varian. Hope you enjoy!

         The princess watched as Lance set Varian down on the bed. The group were in a guest room. The alchemist had passed out when Rapunzel and Eugene met up with Lance, the girls, and Maximus.

“Is he going to be ok?” asked Catalina in a trembling voice.

Lance smiled at her. “I’m sure he’s going to be right as rain tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

Eugene cleared his throat. “Hey, Lance? Would you mind if…” he trailed off still a bit shaken up about what happened with Cassandra.

Thankfully, Lance got the hint and quietly lead the girls plus Max out the room. Rapunzel went over to the bed. She gently shook him awake. “Varian? Varian, wake up.”

Nothing.

Pascal got off her shoulder, walking to where Varian’s ear is and stuck his tongue in it.

That woke him up.

“Ack! Ahh! Don’t eat me!”

Rapunzel shushed him. “Calm down, Varian. It’s just us.”

Varian stared blankly at the couple, waiting for his eyes to adjust. When he saw it was them, he relaxed. 

He chuckled nervously. “ Oh. Hey. I-I must of went to sleep there. Sorry about that.”

Eugene sat down at the foot of the bed beside Varian. “Are you ok, kid?”

“I’m..ngh.. really shaken up from what happened in the tower.”

Rapunzel raised an eyebrow, puzzled. His answer came out rather quickly. 

“What’s going on?” she asked him. 

Before the alchemist could respond, Eugene piped up. He covered Varian’s mouth as he replied, “Cass-an-dra had drugged him with his own truth serum in order to tell her the third incantation. Also, he’s compel to answer any questions you ask him.”

Rapunzel was horrified. She can’t believe Cass drugged Varain and then put him in a cage. “No…Is…Is that true?” She looked into the terrified blue eyes of the alchemist. Eugene removed his hand so he can answer. Varian winced in pain of the serum. “Agh! Y-Yes.”

He slumped forword causing Eugene to grabbed him before he fell off the bed. While Eugene explained to the princess, Varian answered automatically which exhausted him. Rapunzel took her place on the other side of Varian on the bed. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Varian.”

Varian sighed. “It’s okay, Rapunzel. You didn’t know Cass kidnapped me.There was a lot going on back at the Demantius Chamber.”

“He has a point, Sunshine.” said Eugene.

Rapunzel grabbed Varian’s backpack, wanting to cure the alchemist. She opened it and started rummaging through it finding an antidote. Rapunzel pulled out small bottle that is labeled “truth serum antidote.”

“Here’s the cure, Varian.” She opened the bottle, held it out in Varian’s direction.

“Say Ahh.”

“Ahh.” The alchemist open his mouth so Rapunzel could pour the antidote in.

Varian swallowed the stuff, feeling better already. He was glad he made a cure for the truth serum. The princess put the backpack aside. “Ok..” she began, testing to see if it worked. “How are you feeling?” Eugene and Pascal nervously waited for Varian to respond. The alchemist’s face did not show any signs of pain whenever he felt the truth serum kicked in.

Varian sighed in relief. He was cured.

“Well, I’m fine now. Thank you, Rapunzel!” he hugged her, letting out a joyful laugh.

Rapunzel laughed along with him, returning the hug.

“Soooo what happened after that tower…uh, got build?” Eugene asked.

Rapunzel pulled away from the alchemist. She wanted to know too, but judging how Varian bit his lip nervously it was probably not the time. “Eugene, Varian has been through a lot today. Maybe we should let him rest first.” she suggested.

Varian suddenly grabbed Rapunzel by the shoulders, startling her in the process. “No! I…have to tell you now.” he said, replaying the whole ordeal in his head. Rapunzel didn’t say anything. She motioned him to go on with her hand.

Varian breathed in sharply before taking his hands off the princess and got his backpack. Brows furrowed, he held it tightly against his chest.

Eugene started to comfort Varian by rubbing his back in repeated soothing circles. “It’s okay, Varian. Take your time.” The man told him.

Varian looked between Eugene and Rapunzel, mouth covered by the backpack. The princess gave him a warm smile as Pascal climbed back on her shoulder. 

Varian finally calmed down and began to tell what happened.

“Cass put hand cuffs on me with her powers, then she took me in the tower. As we were going up the stairs, she….started talking to herself…but it wasn’t herself.”

Rapunzel narrowed her eyes. “She did that back at the Demanitus Chamber.” The princess pointed out.

Eugene groaned. “Oh, great. She’s gone completely insane. Well, not as insane as before, but this is a whole different level!”

Varian went on. “It was really weird. It’s like she’s having a conversation with someone she can see. When we got to the um, top, Cass said that I wasn’t part of this, she didn’t want to hurt me. Cass took the hand cuff off me.”

The alchemist was looking at Rapunzel, his expression sorrowful. “I tried to talk her out of what she’s doing, Rapunzel. She is on the same path I’ve been! I-I really didn’t want to see her go through that route. But…it wasn’t enough. And that’s when she put me in that cage.”

Varian hung his head. “I failed getting through her.”

Rapunzel exchanged a concerned look with Eugene before placing her hand on his shoulder.

“Varian, I appreciate you trying to convince Cass. It shows how far you come. You know how it feels to be on the dark path that you want her to not go the same way.”

Varian lifted his head back up, his gaze downcast. “It’s a horrible way to handle anger. It twists your mind until you can’t think straight.”

He shivered. “One of my biggest regrets of my life.”

Eugene gave him a gentle nudge. “We’re proud of you for trying though.” he said grinning.

Varian stared at him in surprise. “R-Really?”

Eugene nodded.

Varian rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Gosh. I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, you could say thank you.”

“Um…thank you, Eugene. heh.”

They both shared a laugh.

Varian started to remember how threatening Cass was when she pulled him and Eugene back in the tower. She never looked more like a villain than the alchemist has ever seen. “Varian? What’s wrong?” Rapunzel asked, noticing him tense up again.

Eugen felt the alchemist trembling slightly. “She scared you, huh?” he said in a gentle voice. The man wasn’t teasing him, Eugene was worried about Varian.

“Yeah.” The alchemist admitted, bringing the backpack closer to his body.

Varian sniffled, a tear rolled down his cheek. “Cassandra…”

Rapunzel offered him a hug which he took, sobbing uncontrollably. Eugene held his backpack for him. The princess comfort him like a sister to her little brother. She was glad Varian is safe now. Rapunzel considers making him stay for the night so he can recover.

Okay, I love this episode! It’s hilarious and gives me insight on what happened to the King and Queen.

So Trevor was in love (and still is) with Ariana, but she fell in love with Fredrick. Huh, I would love to get more in that backstory! Did Ariana and Trevor meet first and Fredrick stole her heart or was Trevor a creepy stalker at some royal get together? (I’m betting stalker)

Also the fact that Trevor has a painting of the king and queen of Corona above his chair with his face taped over Fredrick’s continues my Trev’s a stalker theory. When people come to visit him do the ask why he has the picture or do they just back away slowly?

We see Varian for only like a minute but I will take it! My son deserves the best! Look at my precious bean! Gah!

So the King and the Queen don’t remember anything but that Rapunzel is their daughter and who they are, which is odd in my opinion. I know they’re memory is slowly returning but how is it that they know exactly who they themselves are and who each other are but don’t remember how they feel about one another?

They continuously tell Rapunzel how much they love her, know who they are down to their very core, and know who everyone around them is. I know it’s been awhile but shouldn’t they have remembered their romantic conection before this? I didn’t like how they did this part of the episode because of how confusing it is.

ADORABLE ALERT! ADORABLE ALERT! HE BOOBED HER NOSE! I REPEAT, HE BOOPED. HER. NOSE!

Fredrick has an egg collection? I have so many questions. How does he keep them from going bad?Why does he stack them up into piles? If he’s brought all his eggs into Eugene’s room, does he usually keep them in Ariana and his’s room?

Or has this only started happening since he’s lost his memory? Did frying with his brain give him a strange egg infatuation? When do you think Eugene’s room will start smelling of sulfur?

Also Eugene pulling Raps away as she babbles on is adorable! This episode is giving me the content I so crave!

This scene was hilarious! It also gave me Despicable Me meme vibes which I am here for! The way Raps totally slammed the stand on the ground after she went to all the trouble to paint those pictures.

Plus this episode is full of fantastic facial expressions!

They have a specific time for daily Shorty tossing! This episode is everything!

I hate this guy for many reasons, but he genuinely makes me laugh. When his outfit poofs up after he dove in the water, I wasn’t expecting it and I enjoyed it very much!

Later, he’ll make faces and movements that I will laugh at too, him presenting the book to Ariana for instance. And the fact the fact that he named his fleet of combat seals the NAVY SEALS!

Okay the King looks adorable here, the way he’s portrayed in this episode is like an innocent child and while I don’t particularly like it when characters are pictured as such, I will admit he looks pretty cute swaddled in that blanket.

Tell me this picture does not look like Raps and Eugene are frowing disapprovingly at their child, Lance, who is about to be sat down and sternly reprimanded for his misbehavior.

Eugene’s line “Well, what do you know, he does have a heart...but, you know, so do snakes” is one of my favorites.

Perfect ending to a perfect episode! Love this episode so so much! I am confused with the whole memory debacal and I felt as if the whole falling in love all over again this was a bit rushed, but all in all a heartwarming episode. Plus I got to see my boy Varian!