Authors note: Hello everyone. So, Halloween is over and we are now moving to Thanksgiving and then it is on to Christmas. How many people ship Varian and Cassandra together? From a little show called Tangled Before Ever After, well, any nods or hmms? Anyway Varian has a crush on Cassandra but he just isn't her type…enter a strong stalwart figure who captures her heart…setting Varian in a situation where if he does not speak…he may lose her…not that he had her, but, it is still something that weighs heavily on his young heart and then there is the fact he cannot match this guy. However he fears something is amiss about him…and it will lead him in a place he has never been before. Varian will have to take a hero's journey to discover what it means to fight for the one he has strong feelings for, it will not be an easy road either and he will face much hurt. I really do like the character and wish to explore this side of him more as the show will no doubt do in upcoming episodes. Still this is my take on it much as it was with my Miraculous fanfic. Those who ship these two travel with me, those who don't well if you are still here you are more than free to tag along. Anyway this is all leading up to Christmas.

Tales of Varian: Journey of discovery

CH.1: Blinded by alchemy

Varian had heard the tale many times, boy falls for strong girl, strong girl crushes boy, boy falls deep…needs oxygen from being crushed. Ok so that wasn't exactly a tale but it was close as possible to how he felt when he was around Cassandra. She was beautiful and strong and when she looked at him he felt like he was falling hard. However no matter what he did or said he could never quite stand up to her, er, stand to the side of her…this was all so difficult.

Varian had first met Cassandra while working from the lab…which did not exist anymore. He was trying to figure out a way to help out Princess Rapunzel with her indestructible hair. It was blonde and 70ft and boy was it tough. And of course he met his hero, Flynn Rider, the Flynn Rider…nose and all.

"Just a smidge of this…yes, the chemical reactant is substituting well for the one I took out. Success…now…where is my notebook?" Varian was by himself in his secret bunker he had made sure was not in the newly rebuilt village that…well…due to circumstances he did not foresee…it no longer stands, but, with the help of Corona it was rebuilt.

Varian looks around the lab with beakers and test tubes and all the stuff he could scrounge up from many side projects he did. Truth was not a lot of people would hire him so it was often making ends meet. Varian had pitched many ideas of time efficient manners and methods that his inventions could insure…but…King Frederic waved it aside noting with a gruff look that said it all, well not really, after all the King only had so many looks.

"Ah yes here it is…wouldn't want to lose this now. Right…so…just got to put the equations in here…and…" He muses to himself. Truth be told he didn't have a lot of people to talk to. His father did not really believe in his experiments as being worthwhile time spent when it could be placed elsewhere in more efficient manners.

It was hard getting his father to understand that what he was doing was important to what he believed…what he hoped to achieve with his life. He was not strong like most people and his brain is what kept him sane. However it was in his heart that longed for love, longed for someone to accept him for all his quirks. So here he was in his bunker, his lab all strewn with the works as he works on defining himself in a way only he can…through Alchemy!

Placing his goggles down before his eyes he makes sure his dark hair is kept from his vision. His father had told him time and again to get it cut but he found it would hinder him, change him and change was bad…though in some cases good as it would really open his life to new and interesting…nope, no distractions, time for change…his change.

"If these calculations are correct, which I am certain they are…I should have a concoction worthy of the brilliant minds of Corona and maybe even past that. I cannot fail…not an option…not this time, at least; so, with that here is the last smidge of success, hopefully." He begins to apply the last known ingredient, a red yet highly unstable drop surely to bring the elixir or potion to a vibrant color and the scent quite cinnamon like perhaps.

It was all based on research and calculations and well red tended to associate well with cinnamon, in his expert opinion. The chemicals begin to mix and shake the beaker and leaning down he waits for the desired effect…however…something is truly wrong. The colors were not right…and…something else just didn't…no the smell!

"Ok, I can fix this; I just need the right counter…now where did I put it?" His voice was a bit higher than usual and his gray blue eyes were frantic and wide eyed as he stumbled about. The beaker was rocking a bit more and he rushes over to try and hold it still. "This is not working…ohhh…who am I kidding, like this would be a quick fix to my problems…"

Varian kept thinking about his father Quirin and the look he had as he walked through their village. The shamble, the muck, he would not be happy if this led to another incident. Alchemy was his first love and while not all of his experiments or creations lasted…some were stable and proven victories, if not really looked at that well by others.

"Do not explode…do not explode…" Varian had high hopes of somehow impressing Cassandra and showing her what he was made of. If this worked he would be able to be all he could be…brave and true and worthy of her heart. The beaker stops and he lets out a breath…though a bit too soon as it shoots up at his face and he reels back knocking over most anything in his path.

Varian stumbles and bangs his knee before hitting the ground and lying there he looks up at the ceiling…only…it is getting dark. His eyes burn and he rolls about before he blindly scrambles to pull himself up to splash water at his face. Rubbing at it with a towel he looks in the mirror…but…he sees nothing. Well…this was great…now he wouldn't even be able to see Cassandra.

Authors note: Varian is in trouble. Next chapter Cassandra will find herself smitten by a new arrival that will turn her world upside down. Varian of course will seek help in his new situation.