[Varian casts a worried glance at Will, trying to judge his reaction. He's still with him, though, and that...helps. His friend hasn't abandoned him yet and that means the world. He closes his eyes, taking a moment to gather himself before continuing. ]

It didn't work. Her hair did nothing to the amber. I- I didn't know why. I was freaking out over that when Rapunzel and her parents escaped. I saw them hugging each other, just her together with her family and I snapped. I got into one of my robots and attacked them. I- [he looks at his hands again] I caught hold of the Queen and Rapunzel's best friend with it. I- I told her if I couldn't get a happy ending, then neither could she and started crushing them to death.

[He came SO CLOSE to ending the lives of two decent, innocent people and it makes him feel sick.]

Rapunzel stopped me, she accidentally figured out a connection with the rocks and used them against me. I- I'm glad she did. At least no one died. I was sent to prison where I stayed for a year. My uh...cellmate was an insurgent and he convinced me to help us escape and join his people. So that's what I did- when Rapunzel was away trying to understand her connection with the rocks, we escaped. One of his people had magic to wipe the memory of the King and Queen and I-I stepped in to control them, pretending I was their advisor- getting them to force their people into mines to gather minerals I needed.

[So let's add attempted murder and slave labour to his list of crimes, fun. He winces.]

I wanted to erase everyone's memories. To-to just...remove everything I'd ever done. I tried to take a stupid, easy way out.