The Zodiac: Chapter 6

Pisces saw her, really saw her and he knew that this anger, this large mass of her constellation that was swirling around her was real. It was all for him and also because of him. Turning his gaze toward the ground he readied his weapons.

As he did he saw the white aura of Virgo flare up again. He wasn’t standing but his aura was back with a vengeance. Standing Virgo said, “Leo, he’s stronger than before.”

Tracing his fingers through the air Virgo sent one of his blast at Leo. She jolted a few steps forward and Pisces eyes widened. A white aura now surrounded Leo’s amber aura. The auras began to mix before turning golden before his eyes. This was dangerous. “What did you do to her Virgo?” the fish asked warily.

“You may have stopped me from fighting against you directly Pisces,” Virgo took another breath. “But I can help her fight you.”

Leo took a step forward and then another and before she knew it she was running. She grabbed the blade with both hands holding it tightly. She swung it overhead at him and Pisces raised his chakram’s in defense. He watched the golden flow of the attack and he didn’t like where it ended.

 Ducking low he felt the air split as her blade sailed over his head. Pisces fell onto his side from the force and right into a kick from Leo. He flew backwards, his back slamming into a house. He lost his breath from the blow and fell, winded, into the snow.

Leo didn’t give him a moment as she charged forward. Everything was on steroids. Whatever Virgo had done to her it made her feel like she was unstoppable. She jumped and angled the blade down to where he was prone.

Pisces looked at her and then threw one disc at her while he threw another at Virgo. Leo saw one while Virgo saw them both. Virgo watched as Leo swung her sword and extended as far as she could. The blade slammed into the chakram aimed at Virgo and deflected it into the ground. The remaining one was coming straight toward her exposed back.

Virgo grunted as he threw his arm to the side. Leo, thought she had moved as far as her body would allow, was pushed further to the side. The second chakram flew harmlessly past her and away from him. Leo skidded across the snow and she was surprised. Glancing back at Virgo she gave him a nod and Virgo returned it.

Pisces got to his feet slowly and reversed the flow on both weapons. They left the ground and rested in his hands as he looked at the two of them. The way things stood, he wasn’t going to be able to defeat them on his own. At least not like this.

“Whatever you did to me Virgo, it’s working miracles.”  Leo said, her face was savage. Normally she would be enjoying a good fight. But looking at Pisces, seeing him amongst these horrors she was full of rage.

“I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up.” Virgo said steadily but his breath was coming quicker.

“Then let’s end this now.” She said and dashed at Pisces again.

Pisces narrowed his eyes as he watched her closing in on him. He watched the flow coming toward him and she was going to launch something with her sword. He couldn’t hold back anymore. Pisces increased the energy from his body and it was too a level that neither Virgo nor Leo had ever felt before. But there was no stopping this.

She grabbed the blade with both hands and swung down on him. Pisces raised his chakram and blocked the blow and it almost crippled him. He went down and she pressed her advantage growling with a surge of golden power. Pisces dropped his other chakram and grabbed her head.

“Pisces Control.” The fish stared at her and suddenly Leo turned and swung her sword into the wall of a nearby home. Her eyes were shocked at her own actions. She felt like her body was filled with water and she was powerless against it. She left her blade behind and jumped backwards until she was beside Virgo. The sensation that her body was filled with water left her and she stared at her sword and then Pisces.

“What… what did he just do?” Leo asked and Virgo shook his head in confusion.

Virgo felt the surge in power that had come from Pisces. It was frightening. But above that it was unfamiliar. “I… I don’t know.”

“And you won’t need to know.” Pisces said in a hushed voice. He pulled on the current and let the chakrams return to him but they didn’t return to his hands. They floated around him and Pisces stared at them coldly. He threw his arm forward and sent both the chakrams at them like sharks.

Gemini held his sword tightly as a spear came toward him. He dodged the spear with a step to the side and then jumped. Another spear came down where his legs had been. Kicking off one man’s helmet he turned and kicked the other in the chest knocking him down. Landing hard the twin looked at the soldiers.

They were forming a ring around him with their shields poised to block his sword. Gemini was doing his best to not kill them but it wasn’t easy. After seeing the flames coming from the village he wanted to show these guys no mercy. Half of them had gone on ahead while another half stayed behind. Leo told him to stay behind and slow them down while she went back. With her and Virgo there, how much trouble could they be in?

The soldiers took a step forward and brought their spears up higher. Gemini didn’t like this as he continued to jockey for position. He moved his sword back and forth as he tried to gauge which one of them would attack first. There were four unconscious on the ground around him and he was eager to add to that number.

Finally, one lunged forward and Gemini parried the spear into the snow. Lunging forward Gemini stepped off the soldier’s chest and then jumped. Flipping over the soldier he watched them try to stab after him but he narrowly avoided them. Skidding across the snow he raised his head and smiled at the soldiers. “Too slo-“

He felt it before seeing it. There was a small flash of stars and it was aimed at him. Dropping low he felt it pass over him. He didn’t feel the wind whistle over his head or even hear it. Turning around he watched it sink into the ground. It was an arrow. Black shaft, red fletching.

Turning in the direction of the shot he watched her aim another arrow. She was wearing pants and a jacket unlike her usual dresses. Her eyes were focused. Her curly hair was tied back over her shoulder. Sagittarius stared at her target and loosed another arrow.

Gemini jumped to the side as the arrow sank into the ground before he was sent running. Another shot and another arrow he had to dodge. He was trying to get closer to her but the arrows were getting more accurate. “Come on Sage! Can’t we talk about this!”

Sagittarius watched Gemini dance around her arrows and grimaced. She watched him try to bring this to close quarters. She hadn’t seen Gemini in months and he was just like she remembered. Handsome, strong, and funny. “I’d love to talk again Gem but. I won’t let you get close to me. Aim Sagittarius.”

The energy raced across her arms and it charged through her bow before focusing in the arrow. She fired and it was gone again. The arrow sped across the ground, the tip covered in stars, and Gemini jumped to the side. She gave a knowing smile and watched it swerve just enough. The shot missed him but it sliced through his pants leg.

He felt her energy as another arrow flew toward him this one aimed higher. He narrowed his eyes and focused on it. He ran toward it and then jumped to the side and watched it try to adjust to a new path. It swerved but he was already moving.

“No more games.” She said and pulled three arrows against the string. She let her constellation flare and then released them one at a time. Each one with a burst of energy behind it. Gemini watched each arrow and swore under his breath. He was done running from them. He dashed forward swinging his sword. He deflected the first arrow off the flat of his blade. The second he cut out of the sky. The final arrow however was coming toward his stomach. It was in the shadow of the first and he couldn’t block it.

“Split Gemini!” The arrow passed harmlessly between Luce and Umbra.  Together they started sprinting straight at the archer. Sagittarius gasped and started firing arrows faster while alternating between the two of them. Luce and Umbra did their best to deflect the arrows while protecting one another.

Luce jumped and threw his sword at her. Wide eyed Sagittarius stepped to the side as the sword passed her by. Quickly she raised her bow to fire when Umbra struck. She ducked as his sword passed overhead. She shot her arrow high aimed at his chest. Luce shoved him out of the way and Umbra tossed his sword to him letting him go on the offense.

She blocked with her bow, turning as she swung the bow against his head. He stumbled back dazed and groaned. Umbra raced behind her and picked up his sword and going on the attack. She spun her bow so that she dragged his sword skyward.  Hopping up she kicked him onto his back getting distance between them.

She drew her bow back and aimed an arrow straight at him. Luce swung his sword at her neck but kept still as he looked at her. Sagittarius smiled as the cold steel touched her neck. “Well played Gem.”

Luce brought Umbra into him and Gemini nodded slowly. Holding both swords, he was breathing heavily and then shook his head. “What is this Sage? Why are you and Pisces here?”

“We were here to send a message to Virgo.” She spoke calmly and he couldn’t read anything from her face. She was staring straight ahead but then she turned to face him and gave a smile. “By now Virgo will be agreeing to come back with us.”

“Like hell he will.”

Sagittarius looked at him. “Still so loyal Gem.”

“I don’t turn my back on my friends.”

She stared at him and pressed her neck against the steel of the blade. She felt the blood drip down her neck and she could feel him waver. “Sometimes being loyal also means betraying your friends.”

“You betrayed us! Betrayed Nerodala!” Gemini said angrily.

“You think you know what’s going on Gem but you don’t. You don’t know anything!”

Gemini’s eyes widened at the outburst and he saw the glint of tears in her eyes. He saw hesitation, regret, and something else behind the tears. His anger dissipated as fast as it appeared.

“Sage…“

“Your family needs you.”

The twin faced the archer before he glanced back toward the village. The smoke was getting worse over there and his worry spiked. He couldn’t hide that from his face.

“Go Gem. The soldiers won’t bother you. I’ll make sure of it.” She smiled at him and it was a ghost of the one he’d grown up with.

Gemini bit his lip before fusing his swords and sheathing it. “I’m sorry.”

With that he turned and ran as fast as he could. The soldiers shouted and some prepared to stop him.

“Halt! Any soldier who follows after him will get three arrows in the back!” Her threat was well made and not a single soldier was willing to test the archer.

Gemini silently thanked not only Sagittarius but their mother as well. He whistled sharply and it took a second but Speedy’s stubborn whiny greeted him. He ran toward her and jumped onto her back. Putting both legs into the stirrups and grabbing the reins he raced down the snow trodden path.

“I’m on my way Leo.” He mumbled. “Faster Speedy! Faster!”

Pisces stared at his family, both of them bloodied and tired. Leo had lacerations across both of her arms and a few on her chest and cheeks. Virgo was sporting another deep cut this time on his leg. Pisces huffed visibly exhausted.

Leo’s claymore was on the ground, buried in the snow and out of reach. Pisces stood in front of it, his chakrams floating around him protectively. He stared at the pair and the golden aura wasn’t there anymore. Virgo’s white aura was gone and Leo’s amber lion was a shadow of what it started at.

“Why are you doing this Pisces? Why are you helping Cancer in this war?” Her anger was all but burnt out.

Pisces looked at her with incredulity. “Why am I helping him? Why are you two still fighting me right now? It’s over. Look at this village Leo! This is what Cancer has become. This is what he’s willing to do now! We can’t fight him. He can do things that I can’t imagine!”

Pisces chest was heaving as he looked at them and then shook his head. Leo spoke and her voice was softer than it had been before. “Together. He’s just one man. One Zodiac. We can fight him if we were together. We could end this together.”

“No Leo,” Pisces said and he waked toward her. “We can either join him or be his prisoners.”

“What did he do to you Pisces?! What did he do or say that made you go along with this? What made you change?” There was raw hurt in her voice. Even Virgo winced hearing it.

Pisces felt it and looked away from her. Biting his lip hard he looked at the ground. “I’m sorry Leo.” He thrust his hand forward and sent his chakram flying at her.

She raised her hands to protect herself but the blades didn’t come. Instead a swift hit to her chest came. She jolted and Pisces stepped past her and slammed his elbow into the back of her neck. She stumbled forward and begin to sink into the snow. Pisces caught her before she fell and laid her down gently.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered again and smoothed her hair from her face.

“Pisces,” The fish turned to face the priest. “Do something for me. When you return to Cancer. Tell him that his mother is saddened. Tell him that Alpha wants her children to be family, not at odds with one another.”

Pisces laughed and the action made his chest hurt, turning it into a cough. Closing his eyes for a moment he called his discs back. They flew into his hands and he hooked them against his sash.

“I tell him that and I might lose my head.” Pisces shook his head again. “I need to leave Virgo. Take care of Leo for me. Message has been sent and I have your answer. I’ll probably get punished for not bringing you in,” He turned around and then he walked away from them. “Take care of her and yourself. I won’t be able to let you go again.”

Virgo watched him leave before turning to the remains of his village. The villagers had lost everything because of him. He no longer had a place here. His eyes found the lone rider coming down the road and nodded toward him.

Gemini saw them in the center of the village and he hopped of Speedy’s back. Stumbling through the snow he split, Luce going to Virgo’s side and Umbra checking on Leo. Luce helped get Virgo into the saddle despite his grunts of pain. They helped put the lion in front of him next. Virgo wrapped his arms around her so that she wouldn’t slip off.

Once they were settled on the horse the twins collected Leo’s claymore before becoming one. Virgo grabbed the reins and urged the horse forward. Gemini held his hand out and Virgo placed them in his hands. Pulling on the reins they started forward.

They were heading toward the forest. It was going to eventually lead them back to the castle. They were going to need to recover on the walk over. They had lost a lot but they had also gained as much. The next phase was to free the two captive Zodiac.

Aries was sitting with his back to a tree. In his lap was a book. Another of the dozens from the library. He and Cancer shared books from time to time and this was one of his recommendations. Of the rest of the Zodiac only Cancer, Aries and Sagittarius seemed to appreciate things like literature, art and dancing. Aries specifically enjoyed history more than fiction.

Aries raised his eyes to the sun and watched it hang in the sky with almost no clouds for company. The tree he chose to rest against was far outside of village of the castle. The castle was home for him and the Zodiac were his family. The nobles were like an extended family and most extended family could become exhausting after some time.

There was going to be a party at the castle and he wanted as far away as possible. He wasn’t the only one with the idea. If someone wanted to find the Zodiac tonight they’d have to search the entire countryside.

“Yo whatcha reading?”

The ram closed the book instantly and his face fell to frustration. The ram stood and turned to look at the goat. He was hanging upside down from the tree, waving his arms at him.

Aries scowled and then stood up. “What do you want goat?”

“Same thing as you,” Capricorn slid off the branch and landed lightly. He took a few aimless steps around the ram with an easy grin. “The nobles are being noble in the castle. And I thought that I might puke on all the stuffy hot air. You shoulda saw how Sage was acting. Right at home. So I thought, why don’t I go check on my favorite sheep?”

Aries scowl deepened. If it was one thing he hated with the Zodiac it was that rendition of his sign. It was true, the ram was a male sheep but at the same time he preferred his name or the ram. Never anything else.

“As much as I’d love to spend quality time with you I’d rather spend it on my own. And since you won’t leave I’ll leave for us both.” He began to gather energy and swirl it around his body when he realized his hands were empty.

“Nice book. The Rise of the Lyrian nation? Sounds boring. What’s it about?”

Aries turned around to face him. When did Capricorn get so fast? Aries was the fastest of the Zodiac. “Give that back, goat.”

Capricorn turned and raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh this?” Capricorn raised the book and chuckled softly before shaking his head. “You know everyone thinks you’re the fastest of the zodiac. But I’m pretty sure I’m the best.”

The wind picked up between them and the goat could barely keep his excitement in. He could remember the day he first awakened his powers. The day he started using his power to jump and to run. The days Aries would sit him down and show him how to run. The proper form, how to pace himself, how to kick. Capricorn would never admit it but he did look up to the ram.

“You’re getting arrogant to think you’re faster than me.” Aries said though he couldn’t fight the smirk that formed on his face.

That alone made Capricorn grin gleefully. “Catch me if you can!” he shouted with an explosion of his constellation.

Capricorn dashed forward moving like a force of nature across the plain. He pumped his arms holding the book tightly and shouted. In the midst of running he thought about where to go next. Back toward the village to make some trouble? Away and make this a sprint?

Aries was hot on his heels, wondering where Capricorn had gotten this speed. He could observe his old student from a distance and it made him smile. The goat had taken what he’d taught him and made it into his own. Long strides with short hops in between steps. He could feel the burst of energy with each hop storing up speed. The ram however had consistent speed that had a huge ceiling.

There was nothing but the sound of wind between the two of them. There was no feeling but consistent pumping of their legs. The constellation coursing through them was relaxing instead of making them active. Especially when they were running.

Capricorn deviated from both chase paths and instead aimed toward the Aquarius Lake. He added on extreme burst of energy and then jumped high. Aries watched him arc through the sky and scoffed. Capricorn skidded across the ground as it sloped downward toward the lake. Capricorn took one step against the water and it resisted. He didn’t sink.

Dashing across the surface of the water Aries watched this and he slowed down. He watched the goat skip across the lake nimbly like it was a mountainside. Aries slowed down before touching the water and laughed. He could run across it but this time he let it. “We’ll play again another time goat.”