Peppermint tea 🍵

Quirin *Gave him a small smile*: "So Marcellus. I've been wanting to check up on you to see if you're doing alright! Like always," he closed the door. "Seems like someone's doing house chores," he looked at him.

Marcellus: "Yeah, I've been wanting to do so ever since I came here...I've always liked to make sure the house isn't a whole mess, unable to be taken care off."

Quirin: "I'm happy, I hadn't gotten the time to clean it myself...But thanks for helping," he pats his head.

Marcellus: "Dad...I need to ask you something..."

Quirin: "Sure."

Marcellus: "Remember what happened weeks ago, about the black rocks growing in Old Corona. It just became worse, as one of them broke the window."

Quirin: "WHAT? But...Let me see!" he rushed to see and Marcellus's words were true. "HOW?" he sounded panicked.

Marcellus: "I don't know, the rocks kept growing here and it's become worse each time."

Quirin *Grew panicked*: "There's no way, I have no words...Ever since what happened, the rocks kept being everywhere in Old Corona..."

Marcellus: "..."

Quirin: "I'll need to report this to the king the following week, this is going out of hands..." he shook. "There's no way these rocks were growing more and more!"

Marcellus: "..."

Quirin: "Let's not speak off it until the following week when we'll go to Corona to tell the king about it." he sighed, ruffled his hair. "I just hope they don't cause problems in the meantime...Hopeful if they stopped growing, we won't have to tell the king about it but if they continue, there's no other choice."

Marcellus: "I have a lingering feeling that these rocks come from Varian..." he avoids eye contact.

Quirin: "..."

Marcellus: "The rocks grew more and more when the sense the essences of Varian..."

Quirin: "We shall not speak about this, EVER again."

Marcellus: "Yes, Sir."

Quirin: "No, I'm not mad at you...I'm fairly certain these rocks are indeed coming from Varian...I just don't want my son to be...well..."

Flashback (14 years ago)

While in leaving the Kingdom of Umbra, Quirin cradled the baby in his hands, the baby's eyes closed as he slept in his arms. Adira noticed him, as she walked towards him.

Adira: "Hey, how's the baby doing?"

Quirin: "Sleeping...Otherwise the baby's fine, and breathing well." he rocked him back and forth. "The baby has the eyes of his mother, but the black hair might come from my mother, who's dark hair is like the wings of a raven."

Adira: "Crazy Rhino Man's doing his usual shtick, with bringing wild animals here."

Quirin: "..."

Adira: "He's not here but I hate how much he brings so many of wild animals in Umbra Kingdom..." she rolled her eyes.

Hector: "Quit it, I'm done with you constantly telling me not bring them...They deserve a home!" he said, annoyedly.

Adira: "So you brought so many wild animals here, I could understand one or two but so many..." she clucks her tongue.

Quirin: "Please you two, don't argue over this...And Hector, please listen to Adira about having to being so many wild animals." he held the baby, until the baby's eyes opened.

Adira: "Oh, he has his mother's eyes like you said."

Quirin: "Yes, isn't he cute?"

Hector: "He's soo cute, our little nephew might grow up to have wild animals to take care off." he said, cheerfully.

Adira: "But still he's so adorable," she said. "I hope Ulla's doing well after this," she smiled.

Quirin: "..." he nods, calmly.

As the infant babbled, his hair shimmered teal blue as the man's body shook.

Adira: "Uhhhh."

Quirin: "We've fought the Moondrop, right? How did my baby got these powers then?" he asked with concern.

The baby's hair changed back to normal, Quirin trembled.

Hector: "Maybe the Moondrop might've had something to with your baby...Otherwise how else would she...You know, given these destructive powers to a kid?"

Quirin: "Hector, there's nothing funny about my baby boy having these powers...How will I live like this knowing my son had these powers from birth?"

Hector: "I'm not joking, the kid inherited these powers after defeating the Moondrop...Maybe then the kid might've gotten them, from out of the blue."

Adira: "..."

Quirin: "When I thought my days of dealing with magic nonsense were in the past, I didn't know he'll inherit them..."

Adira: "It's tough I know, it's like now dealing with your own baby with these powers...Like you're back in Kingdom of Umbra."

Quirin: "..."

End of flashback

Quirin: "..." he kept his mouth shut, this memory, core memory of the first instances of Varian's Stone being activated, as baby, won't leave from his head.

Marcellus: "Are you okay?"

Quirin: "I'm fine...Just being too overtly concerned like any father would..." he tittered, "..."

Marcellus: "..."

Quirin: "Hey, Marcellus...Could you mind help me organize the shelf of the living room?"

Marcellus: "Sure..."

Giving him the broom after dusting the living room and kitchen, as Quirin grabs it and nods with a smile as he took the broom somewhere.

Marcellus: "..."

Quirin: "Your arm healed a lot," he took his now healed hand, that the one he broke a while back.

Marcellus: "..."

Quirin: "I'm sorry," he cringed in fear. "I'm just happy that it healed!"

Marcellus: "It did healed..." 

He shook his head, knowing that despite his arm healed. Weaker as always, it's not like he even cares if his arm broke, he's useless even with or without breaking every part of his bone. Marcellus didn't care if his arm is weaker, he's already weak as it is. Quirin already knew that he always would be self-loathing of himself, Marcellus grew up like this. 

Quirin: "..." his shoulder slumped.

Marcellus: "But it's weak to move, but I never seemed to care because I'm as weak as a stick..." he wraps his arms around himself.

Quirin: "How about we try doing light exercises or something of sorts with your arm in hopes of it moving like it normally does to anyone?"

Marcellus: "Or go to a physical therapist..." his head drooped. "Why not I attend it?"

Quirin: "Look, there's more ways to help your arm to move smoothly without needing to consult a physical therapist."

Marcellus: "Well, the nurse did said about me needing to do physical and light activities to mend my arm to move like normally." he extends his arm, "I never seemed to care if I broke a bone...I've always been trying to survive over bodily pain, ever since the abuse I've been through from the orphanage and my own parents, I hadn't care if I get hurt...I just wanted to survive...Through this, I myself never been into taking care of myself...L-Let a-alone k-know i-if I-I'm h-hurt o-or n-not...But she did recommend me physical therapy, if I wanna move it like normally."

Quirin: "..." he grabs his bare hands, "Marcellus...There's no need to go through all of this by yourself, you don't need to fight alone and be lonely in this world...You got me and everyone...That care for you, you shouldn't have to be all by yourself...I'm here for you, and so are those around you..." he leans in and nuzzles their foreheads together.

Marcellus *Closes his eyes*: "But what if you die or get hurt? Or what if everyone disappeared in my life? Or vanished completely the moment something bad happened...I might be all alone...Like before!"

Quirin: "..." he cups the teen's head in the cusp of his large palm, "..." his head drooped. The teen's right, if something bad happens to him or anyone...He'll be lonely as always, which makes the man tremble. He doesn't want this to happen to his adoptive baby, much like Varian. Marcellus means so much to him, he'll do anything to protect him from any harm...Yet unlike his son, Varian. If he ever gets hurt or die, Marcellus won't have anyone to love him or protect him...Like he does.

Marcellus: "...I'll miss you..." he avoids eye contact, "Knowing how much you meant to me. Ever since you adopted me, I've never felt protected or nurtured in my life...You were the closest...Ever got to a parent that loved me unconditionally, supported me through all of this...I-I'm so grateful to have a father like you..." a small smile tugged at their lips.

Quirin: "..." he let out a small laugh, before pulling him into a hug. "I'll miss you too, son..." his eyes softened.

Marcellus: "You too, Dad..." he hugs him back.

The man's shoulders eased. As Varian crept behind the wall, frowning. It's not that he isn't happy for Marcellus being loved by his own dad, but because his own dad never been this loving to someone, towards an adoptive kid of all people. Sure he had been the one to save a child from a tree, but Quirin hasn't seen him become so open and nurturing towards Marcellus and be there for him. He walks away from the scene, as Quirin let go of Marcellus.

────୨ৎ────

At Kingdom of Corona, in Rapunzel's bed chamber room. The crowned princess held onto the wooden bird figure that was bought by Marcellus as a kind thank-you gift from him, before putting it aside. A knock on the door was heard, the princess stood up from her bed and went to open it.

It was her mother, the woman entered the room.

Queen Arianna: "Hi, sweetie."

Rapunzel: "Hi, mom."

Queen Arianna: "I've came to visit you and see if you're doing okay, besides I have to tell you something."

Rapunzel: "Oh, what is it?" she asked, curiously.

Queen Arianna: "I'll tell you."

The princess and the queen sat on the bed, as Arianna held her journal to show a drawing of a brunette woman with braids.

Queen Arianna: "That's my estranged younger sister, Willow."

Rapunzel: "Whoa, that's your own sister."

Queen Arianna: "Yes, she hasn't visited me for a while...She's missed my birthday 6 times, previously...She's your estranged aunt of the Queen Consort of Corona, she and I had been close to one another before I got married to Frederic, your father and my husband."

Rapunzel: "You also won the "Contest of the Crowns" with her."

Queen Arianna: "Yes..."

Rapunzel: "Why hadn't I heard of her before?" she asked, confusedly. "Was being in a tower and later in a castle without any knowledge of who I was and being a late-start princess? Never gotten the chance to know more about myself and my own family..." she frowns, "No wonder...I never knew how or why was I trapped in a tower by my moth-Gothel..." she corrects herself. "Haven't knew my own family and relatives...Really shows how isolated I've been locked inside a tower for 18 years of my life, the woman who stole the 18 years of my own life..."

Queen Arianna: "..." her head drooped, that crone stole her daughter's first years from both her and Frederic. She blamed Gothel for taking away her daughter's years from her and her husband...She hated what she's done to her baby girl, that woman ruined her daughter's life by locking her in a tower and lying to her.

Rapunzel: "Was she free-spirited like me?" she asked, curiously. "Like I've taken after her!"

Queen Arianna: "Yes, you take after her. She never wore shoes like you, and she's free-spirited in her own ways," she replied.

Rapunzel: "Whoa, she does act like me in terms of how I tend to be free-spirited in my own rights!"

Queen Arianna: "All I could say is that you have an aunt who is my sister."

Rapunzel: "..."

Queen Arianna: "Anyways, how's things going so far?"

Rapunzel: "It's okay, Mom...I've been getting used to being in a castle, like it's fun to learn new things from there and be taught because my late-start of being a princess..."

Queen Arianna: "..."

Rapunzel *Looked pleased*: "But thanks to you, Dad, Eugene, Cass and anyone I met...I've been able to be happier in a place both outside and inside the castle where I could learn every new thing that comes to not just being a princess but a person as a whole..."

Queen Arianna: "I know."

Rapunzel: "Also, I've been delighted to be friends with Marcellus...He's like a great friend to be around with, even gave me a bird figurine he bought for me."

Queen Arianna: "..."

Rapunzel: "What's wrong, Mom?" she asked, concernedly. Her smile faltered when she saw her mom upset, she hates to see her own parents like this.

Flashback (4 years ago)

The queen walked through the hallway of the castle, it's been 14 years since their daughter has been kidnapped by Mother Gothel, the remaining 14 years spent forming a search party for Rapunzel, trying to find her after the one who stole her from their lives...Beneath all the stress, they also had to go through diplomatic meetings and bunch of other stuff, that occupied them...From looking for their lost daughter, missing posters scattered through Corona trying to find her, as she wandered through the throne hallway, the queen froze when she saw Marcellus...The same teen, but not on his bed but looking at the window. His own wheelchair, aside.

Marcellus: "..." he tapped at the window, while sitting on the chair.

Ever since the rescue, the quiet 13-year-old pale teenager who's been abused his whole life. Is upsetting to watch, this teen lost all hope and grew up so fast by people who stole his innocence. His now short hair, after surgery. Used to be way too long, unkept and messy. The quiet teenager watched the window, filled with fear.

She approached him, lightly touching his shoulder which 13-year-old shakily looked.

Queen Arianna: "Hey, dear...How's your day?"

Marcellus: "D-Doing w-well..." he avoids eye contact, looking to the other side. He flinched, as the woman eyes at him with concern.

Queen Arianna: "Well, me and the king were trying to look for our daughter, a old woman stole it from us...So now we've been trying to find a way to save her," she said.

Marcellus: "..."

Queen Arianna: "My baby was stolen by a crone..."

Marcellus: "..."

Queen Arianna: "And no one reported it early or sooner about you being abused by the orphanage and even your own parents who had just taken away your ability to walk by hacking off your own leg as a cruel "punishment"..."

Marcellus: "May-Maybe th-they did-didn't c-care f-for m-me..." he shook his head.

Queen Arianna: "I know. Hasn't anyone here in your town alone even tried to save or rescue you from them or even the orphanage besides the kind villager who rescued you from your own parents? Dear, no one...I'm assumed they just never even tried and left you to be abused for the rest of your life..."

Marcellus *Covers his face with his hands*: "N-No, l-like y-you s-said...The-They we-weren't th-this c-caring ab-about m-me b-because I-I w-was bo-born diff-differently..."

Queen Arianna: "..."

Marcellus: "Tha-That lo-losing m-my o-own l-leg f-from th-them...A-And m-my f-face be-being sc-scarred b-by th-the or-orphanage...W-Wasn't th-their con-concern..."

Queen Arianna: "..." 

His voice sounding shaky felt like a dagger to her heart, this poor boy looked like he was scared to even utter a word, let alone talk to anyone. Yet, despite the shakiness of his voice, it sounds...Clear, that he's never been given a happy childhood from the abuse he endured from the orphanage and his own parents.

Queen Arianna: "I'll need to go now, hopefully. I'll come and visit you, try to at least make you feel like home despite being in the infirmary...Ask the doctors about any pain medication, even a warm bowl of soup." she steps away from him, as she walks out of the infirmary room.

End of flashback

Queen Arianna: "I'm fine, sweetheart...Marcellus totally loves to be your friend is just that this boy...Never had anyone that cared for him..." she looks at her daughter, frowning.

Rapunzel: "I know the whole story of Marcellus, I feel bad for him too. But hey, he's friends with me, my boyfriend and Cass." her brows lifted with delight.

Queen Arianna: "Even meeting Marcellus while adopted by Quirin, it felt like the boy still afraid of anyone who he met..." she sighed.

Flashback (6 months ago)

Grabbing Quirin's hand, Marcellus knew that he's scared of anyone who he met. He held onto his hand, his pale hand gripping shakily while walking with Quirin. Watching as the rest of the children, played and laughed while the people minded their business as he avoided eye contact. Until the pale teenager met the queen, who seen him before.

Quirin: "Hey, how's your life after Rapunzel was rescued from the tower?" he asked, calmly. "We've never seen each other for 3 months now," he frowns. "Since my duties, responsibilities of taking care of him and my son, and so many more things to deal with got me in the way of visiting you."

Queen Arianna: "Well, it's been wonderful. My daughter was safe and sound, been rescued by a rogue, and he was pardoned for his crimes...Now she's spending time with Eugene and enjoys his presences. Also it's okay, I know how's been for you working through all of this...I know how it's hard to be a parent and a village leader at the same time!"

Quirin *Sighed*: "Well, I feel bad for how many years you've spent with your husband waiting for a miracle to happen where your daughter was saved..."

As the pale teenager hid behind the man, Quirin eyes at his adoptive son, before frowning who's very afraid of seeing someone new to him despite meeting her before.

Queen Arianna: "It's okay, he's just not very used to new people...Even as someone familiar to him, won't cause him to feel familiar of that person...He's new to people, and he's scared...Afraid...even..."

Quirin: "Sooo, I decided to take him on a walk yet he looked so afraid that he clings onto to me as if he'll lose me if I walk away from him." he lightly touches his hair, "...But then again, he's been abused since he was in the orphanage, his own parents and the town...Maybe it's justified that he reacts with worry of meeting new people."

The teen froze to see Rapunzel and Eugene spending time together, the brunette-haired princess didn't notice him neither did Eugene. He scoops her up in his arms, romantically.

Eugene: "Who knew I'll fall in love with brunettes?" he smirked, as she giggled. As she kissed his lips, Marcellus's blank expression as he blankly looked at them before he turned around. Rapunzel glances flirtily over his shoulder, with her pupils dilated. As the alabaster teenager held onto Quirin's hand, looking at the queen with anxious yet scared look.

Marcellus: "..."

Quirin: "I'm happy to see you, hopeful you and your husband were happy that your daughter came here safely." he smiles, holding Marcellus's hand.

Marcellus: "S-Sir..."

Some people stared at him, which he shook. Why are they just blatantly staring at him? He won't help but wish to hide somewhere so no one will see him.

He tugs the sleeve of the man.

Marcellus: "..." he trembled, the people stared at him. Even those minding their bussiness, just stared him. He clings onto Quirin, shaking.

While the only one who didn't stared at him are Rapunzel and Eugene, who were just minding their business and spending time together. The queen moved away from them to see her daughter with Eugene, as Quirin notice who was tugging his sleeve.

Marcellus: "T-They st-stared a-at m-me..."

Quirin: "..."

These people sure have nothing else to do than just stare at him, like he's not something to be stared at, he's a human too yet it's like talking to a wall at this point, they won't listen.

Quirin: "..."

End of flashback

Queen Arianna: "The people in Corona kept staring at Marcellus, like he isn't human in their eyes." she shakes her head, her head ducking.

Rapunzel: "..." 

Queen Arianna: "I have to go now, it's fun talking to you. Sweetheart!" she cracks a solemnly smile.

Rapunzel: "You too, Mom." she nervously smiles back, "It's also fun seeing you."

As the woman stood up and walked away from the bed and into the door, as she opens it and closes it from behind.

Outside of Rapunzel's bed chamber, in Eugene's bed chamber room. While Lance paces through the bed chamber, annoyedly. As Eugene sat on the bed, looking at Lance.

Lance: "Eugene...That white horse chased me through the streets who was that..." he asked, with an annoyed look. "Like I've been trying to buy food for my-for someone in particular and that horse ran after me."

Eugene: "That's Maximus, he's the horse of the Captain of the Guard a.k.a Guardsman, Mascot of the Corona Royal Guard who also chased after me around Corona, you dealt with him before...But you didn't know who is his name till I told you. And I had to constantly had infights and argued with him...He sure is annoying to deal with," he rolled his eyes.

Lance: "That horse could be a nuisances that's for sure...Like I didn't know who he was but that horse seemed familiar to me," he clucks his tongue.

Eugene: "..."

Lance: "Hey, how about we two as good friends go around Corona? Maybe I won't be chased by the white horse AGAIN!" he crossed his arms.

Eugene: "Sure, like good buddies." he said, smirking. "But please don't rob things from any place, I still don't think the Captain trust you enough as he trusted me."

Lance: "Augh, that guy needs to stop yelling at me."

────୨ৎ────

At Old Corona, Cassandra hid behind a tree as she watched through Old Corona. She sighed and walked away from the tree, she came to check up on Old Corona like her father suggested. Cassandra thankfully could catch a break from all of this shenanigans and infights, she watched over Old Corona until Quirin noticed her.

Quirin: "You must be Marcellus's friend." he couldn't hide his smile, "How did you come here?"

Cassandra: "I've came here to watch over Old Corona, my dad suggested me to do so...He's the Captain of the Guards and I'm his daughter," she said. "Anyhow, say hi to Marcus."

Quirin: "Well, I will."

Cassandra: "Heh..." she chuckled. 

In Varian's bedroom, he drops onto the bed as he sat there as he leans against the bedframe as he shuts his eyes. Until Varian lightly taps his shoulder, that caused Marcellus open his eyes. Varian held something from behind, his eyes sparkled with curiousness.

Varian *Hands him a nicely wrapped gift*: "This a present that I hadn't yet given to you, I hope you might like it."

Marcellus: "..." he opens the gift, which was a book and a drawing. 

Varian: "Do you like it?"

Marcellus: "Of course, I like what you gave me." he cracks a small smile, holding it closer to his chest. He puts the book aside, to look at the drawing which was of him and Varian.

Varian: "..."

Marcellus: "Varian..." his eyes softened. "Thank you..." he slings an arm around Varian's side, as Varian just smiled.

Varian: "No need to thank me," he radiated joy. "I love you as my own brother even if you were adopted that's all I could say," he nodded.

Marcellus: "..."

Until Varian noticed Cassandra outside of their house, even their room. Who is just watching over the villagers from Old Corona, his eyes widened.

Varian: "Didn't know she had it in her? She watches over Old Corona," he walked over the window. Staring at it, "Really says a lot considering she is the daughter of the Captain..." he said, as Marcellus nods.

During the afternoon, while outside of the house and in the forest. Marcellus plucks flowers and puts them in the basket, while Varian lays on the patch of grass as he gazes at the sky.

Varian: "Marcus..." he sat on the grass.

Marcellus: "Huh?"

Varian: "Haven't you seen such a beautiful sky before during afternoon?" he asked, chilling in the patch of grass.

Marcellus: "No I hadn't, it looks kinda beautiful during afternoon."

Varian: "I know...It's been nearly sometime when we've gone to the woods to stargaze at night," he tilts his head.

Marcellus: "…" he nods his head, "Yeah…It's been quite a while, now it's the first time to watch the afternoon sky shifting to a nightly sky where stars appear and sparkle across the sky."

Varian: "…"

Till a drift of down brushed Marcellus's hair, softly landing as he took the feather. When he saw a dove nestling on the tree, cozying up from the afternoon's winds.

Marcellus: "…"

Varian: "Hey…" he taps his shoulder, "Haven't you thought of someday we might not be able to see each other like we used too? Like a rift between us, or separation from each other."

Marcellus: "…"

Varian: "I know…Life could be hard sometimes," he frowns. "Knowing how it will eventually become a devasting day for both of us, like we've been inseparable since day one…How will it be for me and you once something bad happens between us? Causing a rift, well…And unable to see eye-to-eye once that happened…I know, kinda depressing to see coming from how our relationship between us, our bond as adoptive siblings might end in a devasting fall if one of us turn on the dark path…Knowing that, it won't take long for one of us to become and it might began way earlier than expected, which won't have great results and become…well, not so great people." he finished his sentence, avoiding his eye contact.

Marcellus: "…"

Rustling from the bush occurred, as Marcellus stood up to approach it until Eugene showed up with Lance.

Eugene: "Hey, Marcel." his eyes softened, "Were you spending time in the woods? During a fine afternoon," he said.

Marcellus: "Haven't bet to see you during this afternoon alone? How did you come here?"

Lance: "Well, Marceli. Eugene and I wanted to go for a walk in Corona during the morning and we two also wanted to visit you at some point, and it's the afternoon."

Marcellus: "So, you were…"

Eugene: "No, we weren't spying on you. Arnwaldo thought it was a "great" idea to sneak in a bush and thought it won't be spying," he rolled his eyes. "Sorry for the way it might've looked…For you, he has ideas but only his ideas."

Lance: "Anyhow, how about we have what's called a boys' night?" he asked, nudging his shoulder.

Eugene: "Lancey, don't you think we're overestimating Marcel…"

Lance: "C'mon, Rider…It's gonna be fun for thre-four of us…It's like hanging out as boys!"

Eugene: "Look, Buddy. These are teenagers, like Varian's like 14 and he's like 17…Don't you think that's a bit weird to take them around when we're twice their age…Like 23 or older, isn't it gonna…be weird if we drag them around during "boys' night" you like to call it? It won't paint a good picture of me and you, s-" he raised a brow but his words fell.

Lance: "Enough chit-chatting let's go," he drags Marcellus as Eugene chased after him angrily.

Eugene: "NO, ARNWALDO. THIS ISN'T WHAT I ASK TO DO," he yells at him.

As Varian ran after Lance, and followed Eugene from behind. Eugene has been used to Lance's tactics for a while but having to drag Marcellus for a "boys' night" makes him reconsider them…Hopeful, the so-called "boys' night" isn't gonna be bad but still, he'll be in so much if not a lot of trouble with Corona's law for underage drinking if Lance decides to go on that route.

In "Snuggly Duckling", Marcellus tucks his knees closer to his chest while sitting on the chair of a wooden table of the pub. He's second time being here with Varian, but also second time here since he hasn't come here for a while now.

Eugene: "Hey," he slid a chair as he sat there. "Marcel, did it remind you of something?"

Marcellus: "Aye…"

Flashback (2 years ago)

While the 14-year-old Marcellus wanders the streets of Corona with empty pockets as his hands hid underneath the pockets, his head hanged low. He hasn't gotten enough money to buy himself clothes and because no one wants to see an "albino" in their shops, Marcellus resorted to rags as form of basic decency.

As he walks through Kingdom of Corona, he met a brunette-haired man beneath the cloak. Dragging him away to somewhere else, he rushed to a hidden alleyway as Marcellus shook like a leaf from the sudden action of the man.

He pulls down the hood of the cloak to reveal to be the brunette-haired man he met in the orphanage as a brunette-haired teenager now older.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "Hey, Kid…Why are you doing around here?" he asked, with a skeptical look.

Marcellus: "Ha-Have I-I m-met y-you b-before?"

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "Of course, Kid. I've met you when I was a teen, around 13 years old." he said, as Marcellus shook in anxious and look at him with nothing but suspicious of the adult. "Also sheesh, Kid. Haven't seen you in a while now and you already sound like you were shaken up by my presences."

It's been 6 years ago since the 14-year-old had last seen him in his orphanage, he looks older with a goatee.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "Now I don't want you to go around town without any money in your pockets, I know exactly which place you'll work at." he extends his hand to hold it.

The thief took his hand and rushed through Corona to somewhere he likes to take him to get money from there.

After a long way to the "Snuggly Duckling", the two finally arrived. As the thief knocked on the door before he opened it, making a creaked sound which trembled Marcellus.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "I brought you here to a place that you could meet new people and talk to, somewhere in the forest where a tavern is at, which is the tavern's name. "Snuggly Duckling"…Of course, I'll like to show you around here so you could get used to these pubs." he showcased the pub as Marcellus stood there like a shaken animal.

Marcellus: "A-Are y-you su-sure th-this i-is th-the r-right p-place t-to b-be i-in?" he asked, trembling.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "Not to fear, Kid. These people will make you feel like home!"

The teenager stepped through the tavern to notice a bucket of grapes, his eyes widened at the sight of it.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "So, Pub Thugs. You have a new patron in this workplace, he's awfully shaken but he's gonna get used to it!"

Big Nose: "That kid seems awfully young, don't you think?" he said, worriedly.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "Well, yes. But let's just move on from the topic, look how interested the kid is when he saw a bucket of grapes."

Marcellus: "Wh-Whoa, I-I d-desire t-to h-have th-the jo-job a-as th-the t-tavern's w-wine-maker." he cracks a small smile, still shaking like a leaf.

"Flynn Rider" (Eugene): "That's the spirit, hopeful the pubs could make you feel like home."

Marcellus: "Th-Thanks..S-Sir!" he quietly said, but when he turned. The brunette-haired man disappeared, he sighed tremblingly.

Hook Hand: "Don't mind him, Kid. He's like this all the time, you shouldn't worry a thing about him being himself."

Attila: "Hey, Kiddo." he brought cupcakes, "Want some cupcakes?"

Big Nose: "We'll have to introduce ourselves to the Kid. That Kid barely even knows who we are, let alone you give him cupcakes just because he's new around here, Attila."

The Pub Thugs took a look at the boy, who steps back.

Marcellus: "W-Why w-was I-I t-this s-scared o-of p-people wh-who s-seem f-friendly t-to m-me?" he asked, quietly. He saw a Pub Thugs holding smaller horses, tiniest.

How come he is this new to people who are friendlier than those in his own town? Even the orphanage, his own parents and town hadn't been this nice to him. Yet Pub Thugs act nicer to him than anyone he met, but his fear tends to get in the way of things.

As the Pub Thugs introduced themselves to Marcellus, there were a lot of them in this one tavern each of them were different in their unique ways, the 14-year-old boy won't help but walked over to the bucket of grapes that have a wooden basket to be poured in. The Pub Thugs' names that he had to memorizer from their introduction, like Hook Hand, Vladimir, Ulf, Big Nose, Shorty, Attila, Gunther, Tor, Killer, Fang, Inn Keeper, Axel, Bruiser, Pirate Thug and Goat Boy so that he won't mistake them when meeting them.

Marcellus: "N-Never s-seen t-this am-amount o-of p-people, i-it tr-truly d-does f-feel l-like f-family." he whispered to himself, as he took the bucket of grapes and poured the grapes from the bucket to the basket. Crushes the grapes, pressing them with his hands to make some kind of wine.

Big Nose: "The kid seems so quiet, like a lot of the pubs here could be talkative but never did I seen a kid who is silent that it's like we're talking to ourselves."

Attila: "He's just getting used to the place."

The teenager spotted a cupcake on the table, and grabbed it. The adult with a helmet over his head, might be a sweetheart to anyone in this tavern.

End of flashback

Eugene: "Marcel, when I took you there, I didn't know how to take you under my wing so I just brought you here and you worked a lot there, but the cons from it. Well, you've overworked yourself, and one of the pubs told me about you…Of you never catching a break, and they didn't know you've been abused by the orphanage, your own parents and even your town, even I didn't know of that," he rubs the nape of his neck, "It took me after deciding to change my paths and become a better person that…I realize that you've been through a lot!"

Marcellus: "It's none of your fault. You were still young and hadn't meet the long-lost princess just yet, there's no need to feel bad about it. You earned a second chance by her and everyone…Besides Cass, the Captain or some citizens of Corona…Even Varian, a super fan of you sees you've improved and become a better person." he compliments him, happily.

Eugene: "Marcel…Kid, this wasn't okay on my part. I was stupid enough to not realize my mistake, being to confident of myself when I was a rogue. None of this is your fault, no one could explain how bad is their childhood because it will…Well, not be a best or outright great experience to watch and hear from…The point is, my blame on not knowing you were overworked in the orphanage and by your own parents…Stupid of me for not understanding the situation," he frowns.

Marcellus: "…" as his one arm crosses the front of his chest.

Eugene: "Maybe Cass was right about me being not-a-great influence to you…But still, I'll try to be there for you if you ne-."

Marcellus: "And also, another thing I want to point out is that Varian is in the pub too."

Eugene: "Yeah, don't remind on that."

At night, arriving back to Old Corona and entering the house. Marcellus and Varian walked inside the home, and climbed upstairs to Varian's bedroom.

Varian: "Well, it was an interesting experience. Don't you think?" he tittered, "Like this is the second time we've entered the pub…" he quietly spoke.

Marcellus: "…"

Varian: "Anyhow, we must go to bed…It's already gonna be noon before we know it," he said.

The 17-year-old nodded in agreement.

Next morning, outside of the house. Marcellus clads himself with a wide-brimmed hat as he took the duties that Quirin gave to him, as Varian tag behind him.

Varian: "Well, that's a lot to take in."

Marcellus: "It has to be done, Dad wants me to help him with duties he hasn't been able to complete." he held the list that Quirin handed him, where it lists off the duties.

Varian: "Dad being Dad…"

Marcellus: "Well, he sure cares for my well-being so the list comes across as only some things he hasn't been able to complete as the rest he could complete without any worry."

Varian: "…"

Completing one's duties won't be hard, like what Marcellus thought. What would go wrong with helping out? He went around Old Corona, doing what the duties on the paper said. Varian, meanwhile, follows him. Some villagers in Old Corona stared at the son of the village leader, one of them whisper to another about it.

Varian: "You know the black sheep of my own village, that's basically me. I act different from Dad, like way more different from him." he shakes his head.

Marcellus: "But I'm also the black sheep for being born different," he said as Varian nods.

Varian: "Yeah, but that's because you were born different. I act different so I basically the vary thing the village keeps on complaining to Dad about, how he should be disciplining me for being destructive?"

Marcellus: "I know the feeling of having to be one's black sheep in a whole village."

The teenage alchemist nodded.

While Marcellus aids the village in Old Corona while marking a checkmark, Varian won't help but feel like an outsider to anyone's eyes. It felt like he's being stared at for existing, as Marcellus helps Old Corona. Varian sees Dad, asking villagers and responding to their questions. Marcellus ticks a mark on the clipboard he held, Varian couldn't help but frown.

Quirin: "Hey Marcellus, how's things going?"

Marcellus: "Good."

As the village leader took the clipboard and nods his head, he waits for Marcellus to reapply the sunscreen on his pale skin of his before giving it back to Marcellus.

Quirin: "Anyways, I could see you checked in the boxes. You've been able to help out with the village, and their needs. I'm proud of having you as my son!"

Marcellus: "Aw, Dad. I did so because you asked me to do it, I'm happy to help in villagers' need."

Quirin: "I'll go and help out too," he walks away from him.

Varian: ""Proud of having you as my son"." he thought to himself, "Yet he never even said to me…I felt happier for Marcellus being praised but he never praises me for my achievements and ideas, he acts a lot more, if not way too stern by the looks of it." he kicks a rock, annoyedly.

────୨ৎ────

At Kingdom of Corona, in Cassandra's bed chamber room. The woman sharpened her sword as she puts it aside, her leg healed. So she could move without the assistances of the sword, the lady-in-waiting took care of her weapon until a knock stopped her.

She stood up and went to open it.

Cassandra: "Who is it?" she asked, skeptically to see it's the crowned blonde-haired princess, herself. Holding a plate of food, she tittered. She shook her head, annoyedly. "Raps…Really, right after I finished sharpening my own sword."

Rapunzel: "Cass, I just wanna offer you a snack after being working so hard on sharpening your weapon." she hands her the plate of food, "As a princess and a friend. My own job is to make people happy," she smiles.

Cassandra: "Well, thanks…" she gave her a small smile.

Rapunzel: "I probably would stop pushing so hard to make you like me if you dislike it, I mean…I don't like the idea of making my friends upset," she nervously laughs.

Cassandra: "Raps, I know that…Seeing how being locked in a tower probably caused you to act like this thinking that someone might find it endearing to see you, but sometimes…I don't think…Pushing someone to like you will help people like you naturally," she said. "I know how isolated you've been being in a tower for 18 years by someone who lied to you, so…" she explained. "I completely understand your reasonings for being well, not the type to form a natural friendship…But you did seem to apologize for it because you wanna form friendships in natural senses."

Rapunzel: "…Cass, how did you know that?!" she asked, surprisedly.

Cassandra: "Well, because you've told me about it a lot…And that made me realize that you did have a rough start, and I never seemed fitting to help you move through it smoothly and naturally…Knowing that I'm your lady-in-waiting," she sat on the bed as the long-blonde haired woman approached her.

Flashback (6 months ago)

While Rapunzel knitted a scarf, the lady-in-waiting entered the room to collect the basket of clothing. The princess dons her classic dress, as Pascal crawled on her shoulder.

Rapunzel: "Hey, I had seen you before in my homecoming ceremony." she smiled, "Were you my lady-in-waiting?"

Lady-in-waiting (Cassandra): "Yes…" she nods, sternly.

Rapunzel: "Well…Thanks for the respond," she frowns. She hadn't seen someone be this stern to her, it reminded her of Gothel. "Heh, that's unusual respond." she thought to herself, as the woman took the basket and walked away. "Pascal, she isn't like Eugene…He acted chill and kinda stern but still the type to be relaxing for me to understand the basics that Eugene tells me to do," she frowns.

Until someone came into her room, Eugene's arms clasped behind his back. Hiding a cupcake, for her.

Eugene: "Hey, Goldie. Look what I gotten for you," he stepped closer to her and showed her the dessert.

Rapunzel: "Thanks…" she took it from his hands.

Eugene: "Are you okay?"

Rapunzel: "Of course, I'm okay…" she nods her head, "It's just that…The lady-in-waiting of mine seemed awfully stern to me…I asked her question and she responded with a stern nod."

Eugene: "Look, Sunshine. Your lady-in-waiting acts like this because she's meant to help you to learn how to be a princess," he said as he holds her hands.

Rapunzel: "I mean…Meeting her, kinda reminds me of mot-Gothel in so-some ways." she corrects herself, shaking her head. She bit her lip, tremblingly. "Li-Like a-as i-if I-I c-could s-see h-her f-from s-someone e-else e-even i-if sh-she's n-no l-longer a-alive…" she shook.

Eugene: "I know…I understand how it might feel to meet someone stern but promise that she's not that stern unlike Gothel…She acts like this to sort of help you be a princess!"

Rapunzel: "…" she swiftly turned to her homecoming dress, a soft pink puffy short-sleeved dirndl dress with golden embroidery on the bodice and skirt, with a laced corset

Eugene: "…"

Outside the bed chamber room, Cassandra shoves a large load of laundry down the laundry shoot. She sighed, annoyedly.

Lady-in-waiting (Cassandra) Took off her headdress as she leans against the wall: "How will I teach her to be a proper princess to her parents when if I make a mistake, I'll be send to a convent." she crosses her arms, "I have to at least teach her the importance of being this status, and her being a late-start princess isn't helping." she facepalms, "…"

She walks off from the room.

After leaving the room, Cassandra puts her headdress on as she goes around the hallway of the castle. While inside Rapunzel's bed chamber room, the footsteps echoed within the room. Rapunzel sat there, hearing them as Eugene tries to reassure her. The footsteps disappeared, as she looks back at Eugene.

Eugene: "How about something to cheer you up? How about at night, we go and sit on the boat like we used to when you were out of the tower?" he asked, reassuringly. Tucks away a hair strand from Rapunzel's brunette hair, as her eyes softened.

Rapunzel: "Sure."

Eugene: "See I've told you that you'll be cheered up from it?" he smiles at her. While Cassandra outside the room, shown sternness in her mannerism outside, looks kinda guilty in the inside...Because the princess appears innocent and wants to ask her if she's a lady-in-waiting...

Until the Captain ambled through the hallway of the castle.

Cassandra: "Hey Dad."

Captain of the Guards: "I've seen you doing well as a lady-in-waiting for the king's daughter, and I praised you for the immense effort you put in trying to teach the princess the duties of being one."

Cassandra: "Well, it takes a lot to take in being the lady-in-waiting and having to teach her...But I'll try to help her understand that being a princess also needs to know etiquette and basic knowledge of being one, she's a late-start princess..So, it takes time to learn. She missed out on a lot of things," she shakes her head as she frowns.

Captain of the Guards: "Just try to make the princess know what being one feels like, you don't wanna be send to a convent by her dad, do ya?"

Cassandra: "Yes, Dad...I won't like being sent there if I fail to teach her anything..." her head droops.

As the Captain moves through the hallway sternly, which makes Cassandra look at him with her brows knitted into a frown. Before the black-haired woman steps through the hallway, to her bed chamber room.

End of flashback

Rapunzel: "Cass." she tilts her head.

Cassandra: "Yes."

Rapunzel: "I've never been able to ask you about what happened to your own parents, Cass?" she asked, curiously.

Cassandra: "..." she sighed, "Either they died or abandoned me..." she avoids eye contact, she never been able to remember who were her parents as she either thought they've died or abandoned her, she shakes her head about it, ever since she was 4 years old, losing her parents to thieves, all she could remember is that the Captain notice her and offered her his helmet...Maybe her parents abandoned her, she doesn't know what happened to her when she was 4, and the king and queen won't grill her for information just because she was a toddler.

Rapunzel: "..." she frowns.

Till Eugene knocks on the door, to which Rapunzel rose from the bed to open the door for him. 

Eugene: "Hey, I've seen you spending time with your lady-in-waiting."

Rapunzel: "Well, I felt the need to spend time with her cause she awfully feels lonely in her room."

Eugene: "Oh...So should I join the fun?" he asked, with a smile which the princess giggled.

Rapunzel: "Yes."

She closes the door after he entered the room, the former thief never seen Cassandra this upset.

Eugene: "Uhh..."

Rapunzel: "Won't quite remember her parents, it's either they died or abandoned her."

Eugene: "Blondie, I too don't remember how my parents look."

Rapunzel: "..."

Eugene: "But then again, I too wasn't sure who were her parents before the Captain took her in as his own."

Rapunzel: "I feel bad for her, having never been able to remember who were her parents must've been hard for her." she mewled, as Eugene places a hand on her shoulder.

Eugene: "Well, not everyone will remember one's parents...Even myself as I have no clue who they were and besides I was an orphan too, all I thought of them is that they were swashbuckling thieves like how I was, before choosing to be a better person and moving on from my past." he crosses his arms, "Even Cass...Not knowing much about her parents, has been adopted by the Captain...So there I say that Cass too like me won't be able to remember a single bit about...her own parents."

Rapunzel: "I too didn't know my own parents until I saw a painting on the wall when we've gone to the Kingdom of Corona, that the baby looked like me, that I knew I was a princess to a king and queen."

Eugene: "Like I said, anyone has something that might remember about their parents..." he frowns.

Rapunzel: "..." she nods, solemnly. 

Eugene: "Anyhow, how about we go somewhere around the castle, shall we?" he asked, his eyes softening.

Rapunzel: "Sure, I would love to spend time with you." she steps out of the bed chamber and followed the former thief as she opened the door and exited with Eugene, before Rapunzel closed the door in front of Cassandra.