Tangled: The Series

Alternative Episode, Story #1: What the Hair?!

Hello FanFiction universe and all who inhabit it!

Just a few short months ago, I got into 'Tangled: the Series.' Why I started watching it was not because I loved the show, but because I fell in love with Varian.

Varian is one of the most interesting and lovable characters I've ever seen in an animated TV show.

And because I love him so much, I thought he deserved a love interest. And because I am not a shipper of him and Cassandra (I don't even like Cass that much), I created my own. Her name is Ophelia.

This story will follow the events and main story line of the original episode 'What the Hair?!' but with Ophelia plugged in, as well as a few of my own small changes here and there.

Hope u guys like it ;)

Working as a kitchen help in the Corona palace wasn't her dream. But for Ophelia, it was good enough for the time being. The rest of the palace staff was nice, the royal family were lovely to serve, and she was paid well. And of course, the palace kitchen was a glorious place indeed for those who loved to bake.

As a servant in the palace kitchen, Ophelia always wore a white apron that covered over the front of her dark purple dress. She always kept her dark auburn-brown hair up in a braid that ended around her lower back while she worked. And in the right light, there was a bit of a violet tinge to it.

Ophelia had already cleared the table under the gazebo in the gardens after the King and Queen had had their breakfast. But their daughter, the used-to-be-lost princess, Rapunzel, had just finished her breakfast. So the fifteen-year-old kitchen maid was clearing the table from her meal. After she had finished eating, Rapunzel had stuck around, but stayed out of the younger girl's way as she cleaned. The princess sat on the steps of the gazebo, reading a book, with her beloved chameleon companion Pascal on her shoulder, while Ophelia neatly piled dishes from the table on a tray, which she would carry back to the kitchen to be washed.

She was almost done when Lady Cassandra came over. The young kitchen maiden couldn't believe the princess had such a close, yet casual friendship with her lady-in-waiting. Then again, Rapunzel wasn't like most royalty. She was raised in a tower for eighteen years, unaware of her royal blood. Being a princess, living in a castle full of people there to serve you was still really new to her. Even after being back for a little over six months. It was odd to Ophelia sometimes, but she at least understood why. Nor would she complain about it. Ophelia liked Rapunzel. She was always super nice to the staff, treating them all like her friends, and never looking down on anyone. The King and Queen were both very nice as well. Ophelia felt lucky to be in their employment. She didn't mind serving those wealthier and more powerful than her. She only cared that they were good people.

Ophelia would never serve anyone who treated her or anyone she cared about badly.

"Hey Raps," Cassandra informally greeted the princess. Rapunzel looked up from her book. "You all set here?"

Rapunzel smiled. "Yeah, I'm just-" she let her sentence go unfinished and her smile dropped as her hand ventured up to fiddle with her hair.

"Fussing with your hair again?" Cassandra said as she sat down beside her friend on the gazebo stairs. Rapunzel nodded.

"I don't know what to do Cass," Rapunzel looked down as she closed her book. "This has to mean something. Doesn't it? And the dreams I've been having… they've got to mean something. I know they're trying to tell me something but I don't know what." Cassandra listened attentively to her friend, giving her a comforting pat on her arm. Ophelia listened to, unable to help herself from hearing what they were saying. "Even since that night-"

"Shhh!" Cassandra hushed the blonde girl. Rapunzel quickly shut her month. "Raps," the lady-in-waiting whispered, gesturing with her eyes to behind them, where Ophelia was still clearing the table. With her back to them, Ophelia continued with her work, pretending like she wasn't paying any attention, but she knew their eyes were on her. Ophelia wasn't one to pry or stick her nose in where it didn't belong, but she did consider herself a very curious person. Plus, she couldn't help it if she could hear everything the two older girls were saying just a few feet from her.

"Right," Rapunzel said. Her next words, she chose carefully before she spoke them. "Even since my hair's turned back, I've been having these dreams, and I don't know what they could mean. Or what my hair returning to the way it was is supposed to mean," she said before groaning in frustration, then burying her face in her hands. "I just wish someone knew something about what's happening to me."

Still listening, Ophelia felt bad for the sweet princess. Like everyone else in Corona, she knew the princess's incredibly long blonde hair had mysteriously grown back. She had also heard that it was impossible to cut when she and Lady Cassandra tried. Nobody, not even the princess herself, knew what was going on. She was concerned for the princess. And if she was concerned, she could only image how freaked out Rapunzel herself was about how this happened and why.

If only there was someone Rapunzel could go to that could help get her some answers about her hair…

Ophelia almost dropped the glass she was holding as she was struck by her greatest idea that didn't involve baking or music.

There was someone who could help the princess. And she knew exactly where to find him.

After gently putting the glass down on the tray, then wiping her hands off on her apron and quickly straighten out her braid, Ophelia turned around. The two older girls were still sitting on the gazebo steps together, their backs to her. Taking a deep breath, the young kitchen maid stepped closer to the stairs and spoke.

"I might know someone who can help."

Cassandra and Rapunzel both looked back up at the younger girl standing behind them, surprised looks on their faces. As they both stood up on the top step, Ophelia took a step back. The young kitchen maid suddenly felt small under the startled gaze of the princess and the suspicious glare of Lady Cassandra. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Ophelia quickly apologized with a curtsy and bow of her head, fearing the princess might be mad that she had been listening in on what was meant be a private conversation. Timidly, Ophelia raised her head a bit before she continued. "It's just… I know you must have questions of why your legendary hair has come back, and I believe I know someone that can give you some answers."

"Really?" Rapunzel said hopefully. "See Cass, there is someone who can help us," she said excitedly to her best friend beside her.

Cass, however, did not look so glad. "Who exactly is this friend of yours?" she asked skeptically, crossing her arms.

Feeling less timid about speaking freely to the two, Ophelia looked at them both and smiled. "His name is Varian," she said confidently. "He's my best friend, and he's very smart. And very gifted with things like this," she explained proudly.

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "So he's… some kind of wizard?" she asked.

"Uh, actually-" Ophelia tried to correct the lady-in-waiting, but the princess's astounded gasp cut her off.

"Wow! A real wizard?!" Rapunzel said excitedly. "Does he have one of those pointy hats? And like a rod and staff, and casts spells?" she asked.

Again, Ophelia opened her mouth to correct them, but Cassandra beat her to the punch. "Hold on a second," she said before turning back to the younger girl. "I've heard of this Varian guy. In Old Corona?"

"Yes, that's where he lives. It's also where I lived before coming here," Ophelia answered, not liking the tone the older maiden was using to talk about her friend. "What do you know about Varian?"

"Just that very little is known about him, and what is, isn't good," Cass explained, her glare turning more suspicious. "Some even say he's dangerous."

That accusation, Ophelia wouldn't stand for. While she was still cautious of her behavior around the royal family, she had no issue speaking up to a lady-in-waiting. Best friend to the princess or not, Cassandra was still a castle staff member just like her. And she would not let anyone talk about Varian like that.

Her eyes narrowed, Ophelia stepped closer to Cass. "Varian is my best friend," she said straight in the older girl's face. "He is nice, clever, smart, talented, friendly, funny, loyal, and a bit odd," she defended. Cass narrowed her eyes back at the younger girl as she spoke. "But dangerous…?" she asked before slowly shaking her head. "he wouldn't hurt a fly."

Sensing the tension, Rapunzel decided to intervene. "Hear that Cass? Wouldn't hurt a fly," she said with a big smile, stepping in the space between the two female castle workers. "I think Varian is safe to talk to," she said to her best friend. Cassandra looked at Rapunzel but then looked away, not sure if this was a good idea. "And Cass, if we want answers, he's our best bet," Rapunzel added.

After a few seconds of thinking it over, Cassandra sighed. "Fine," she said. Rapunzel grinned triumphantly and Ophelia smiled, but the younger girl's smiled faulted when Cassandra turned her next words back to her. "But if your friend turns out to be not as 'harmless' as you say he is, and puts me and the princess in danger, you will not only answer to me, but the King too," she told the kitchen maid. "Understood?"

"Of course," Ophelia said with a solid nod.

"And this is a private matter. So you will keep this a secret from everyone else," Cassandra added.

"I swear I will tell no one else," Ophelia promised.

With that settled, Rapunzel clapped her hands together with a grin. "Well," she said. "Sounds like we have a wizard to visit." After saying that, the princess excitedly ran out of the gazebo, Cassandra following behind her. Ophelia once again tried to speak out to them to correct them on their perception of what Varian really was, but again, her words fell flat as they both left the gazebo. Turning back around, Ophelia quickly gathered what was left on the table onto the tray and carefully carried it back inside.

She'd let the other kitchen workers wash them. She had a journey to prepare for. Ophelia smiled while she bit her lip. She was going to see Varian again!

2nd chapter will be up soon. Please review (nicely) and keep reading.