Stardrop- A Tangled Adventure (Slow)

Searching, Seeking, Seeing

Varian, Rapunzel, and Eugene continued their cautious journey through the depths of the Dark Kingdom. The corridors twisted endlessly, the walls lined with ancient carvings that seemed to hum faintly with forgotten power. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of stone and something unplaceable, almost like ozone after a lightning storm. Ruddiger clung tightly to Varian's shoulder, his tiny claws digging into the boy's jacket, while Pascal peeked nervously from Rapunzel's own.

"This place is downright cheery," Eugene muttered, his voice echoing too loudly for comfort.

Rapunzel shot him a glare but said nothing. Her focus was fixed ahead, on the dim path barely illuminated by her glowing hair. "We're close," she said softly, more to herself than anyone else.

Varian's hand drifted to his chest, where the Stardrop's energy pulsed faintly. After his encounter in the mirror chamber, the power felt... different. It was still there, still potent, but quieter somehow, less like it was consuming him and more like it was waiting for him to decide its purpose. That thought both comforted and terrified him.

"What exactly are we looking for again?" Eugene asked, breaking the silence.

Rapunzel stopped and turned, her brow furrowed. "The writings here are supposed to hold answers about the Sundrop and Stardrop. They're connected somehow, but no one's ever explained how. If we can figure that out..." She glanced at Varian. "Maybe we can understand the cost—and how to prevent it."

Varian nodded, his mouth dry. He didn't need to say it aloud; they all knew what she meant. The cost wasn't just about power—it was about people. Cassandra, Zhan Tiri, his father... The price of wielding forces like the Stardrop was written in the ruins around them, carved into the stories of those who had come before.

As they moved deeper into the kingdom, the carvings became more intricate, depicting figures holding orbs of light and shadow, their faces twisted in triumph or torment. The imagery was disturbing, yet Varian couldn't look away. One figure caught his attention: a cloaked figure standing between the Sundrop and Stardrop, arms outstretched as if trying to control both. The figure's face was obscured, but its posture radiated desperation.

"Hey, take a look at this," Varian called, his voice hushed. He gestured to the carving, and Rapunzel leaned in to examine it, her glowing hair casting soft light over the stone.

"It's... holding both powers," she murmured. "But it doesn't look victorious. It looks..." She trailed off, searching for the right word.

"Like it's falling apart," Eugene finished, crossing his arms. "I mean, look at the cracks around it. Whoever that is, they're not having a good time."

Varian traced a finger over the etching, feeling the rough grooves under his glove. "What if that's the point? Maybe the powers aren't supposed to be combined. Maybe trying to control both is what destroys people."

"That's comforting," Eugene said dryly. "Any other fun discoveries, or should we keep walking toward our inevitable doom?"

"Eugene," Rapunzel chided, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness. She turned to Varian. "But you're right. If the Sundrop and Stardrop can't coexist in one person, we need to find another way."

The faint hum in the air grew louder as they pressed onward. The passage opened into a vast chamber, the ceiling arching so high above that their light barely reached it. In the center stood a stone pedestal, weathered and cracked, with a crystal shard embedded in its surface. The shard glowed faintly with alternating pulses of golden and blue light, each shift casting eerie shadows across the room.

Rapunzel approached the pedestal cautiously, her steps deliberate. "This must be it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The heart of the Dark Kingdom."

Varian hesitated, the memory of his doppelgänger's mocking voice still fresh in his mind. He gritted his teeth and stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the shard. It seemed to pulse in time with his own heartbeat, as if it recognized him.

"Be careful," Eugene said, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "I've seen enough magical artifacts to know they're usually bad news."

Ignoring him, Varian reached out, his fingers trembling as they hovered over the shard. As soon as he touched it, a wave of energy surged through him, sharp and electric. He staggered back, but his hand remained on the shard, unable to pull away. Visions flooded his mind—memories not his own, of people wielding the Sundrop and Stardrop, their lives consumed by the forces they sought to control.

Rapunzel grabbed his arm, her voice cutting through the haze. "Varian! Let go!"

With a gasp, he tore his hand away, collapsing to the floor. The visions stopped, leaving him disoriented and shaking. "It's... it's alive," he managed to say. "The shard—it's a fragment of both powers. It's like they're fighting each other."

Rapunzel helped him to his feet, her expression filled with concern. "What did you see?"

"Everything," Varian said, his voice trembling. "People trying to use the powers, thinking they could control them. But it always ends the same—they lose themselves."

Eugene frowned, his usual levity gone. "So what does that mean for us? For you?"

"It means..." Varian hesitated, the weight of the shard's knowledge pressing on him. "It means we can't let the Stardrop take over. I have to find a way to separate myself from it—completely."

Rapunzel's eyes widened. "But what about your father? The power is the only thing keeping him alive—"

"I know!" Varian snapped, then immediately softened. "I know. But if I don't do this, I'll end up like everyone else in those visions. The Stardrop doesn't save people—it consumes them."

The room seemed to darken, the shard's glow dimming as if in response to his words. The air grew colder, and a low rumble echoed through the chamber.

"Uh, is that normal?" Eugene asked, backing away from the pedestal.

The carvings along the walls began to glow, their figures shifting as if coming to life. Shadows pooled at the edges of the room, coalescing into forms that resembled the doppelgänger from Varian's vision. They moved with a purpose, their hollow eyes fixed on the group.

"We need to go," Rapunzel said, her voice steady but urgent.

Varian nodded, his resolve hardening. "Not yet. This shard—it's the key to understanding both powers. If we leave now, we'll never get another chance."

Eugene drew his sword, stepping in front of Rapunzel. "Fine, but let's make it quick. These guys don't look like they're here to talk."

Varian turned back to the shard, his hand hovering over it once more. This time, he didn't hesitate. He gripped it firmly, bracing himself as another surge of energy coursed through him. The room exploded with light, and the shadows lunged.