United Against Hate: Chapter 20

She could see the stars. She could see how they hung in the sky and how they tied together. The white lights linked together to form the shapes and symbols that represented her and her family. When looking at the sky she always played a game. Which one of the Zodiac could she identify first?

She avoided the easy one, herself. She could see her own constellation in her sleep. The virgin was her, even if that wasn’t exactly accurate anymore. But that left eleven others to locate. Her brothers and sisters, lovers and broken hearts, friends and enemies. So many generations of Zodiac all the way back to the beginning.

As she floated in the darkness of space with the stars around her she looked. She could find the lion. She could see the goat. She could see her scorpion. She could see the bull, the scales, and more. But she couldn’t see the crab and she couldn’t see the fish.

She didn’t see them disappear. She didn’t see them get taken away by those others. All she knew was that when they got back home, they were ten, not twelve. Leo was screaming and Gemini was quiet. It tore her heart apart to see them like that.

She’d been doing her best to find them. She knew Cancer was out there, somewhere in the cosmos. She knew the area where he commonly resided. She even saw some of his stars but they wouldn’t connect. Like the constellation was scattered. But scattered meant they could be restored.

The area of the sky where she knew Pisces should be was just blank. As if the stars had suddenly gone out. And stars didn’t just disappear. She searched and searched but couldn’t see them. She couldn’t see a single glowing dot that would connect to his constellation.

When she came back to her body, she was on the ground. She almost slid to her side, but she was caught. Her eyes were huge and everything was dark. She looked at the sky and she saw the stars properly. Saw the bear and her child. Saw many shapes that she knew personally.

Virgo rubbed her eyes and shook herself. “Easy V,” Scorpio whispered her arms around Virgo instantly. Shutting her eyes, she leaned her back against Scorpio’s chest and nodded. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

“I can’t see them Stingie,” she said looking up at her. “I can’t find them.”

“It’s okay V. You’ll find them.”

“It’s been almost a month Stingie. I’ve searched the stars over and over. But I haven’t found them,” she shut her eyes tightly. “I can’t find them. Are they gone? For good?”

“I don’t know V,” she turned to face her. “All I know is you are doing your best. And that’s all any of us are asking of you.”

She made a face and then hugged her tightly. They were out in Zodiac Forest, not quite at the place that connected them to the temple but it was more peaceful in the forest than in the castle. Especially right now.

“Come on V. Let’s get you up,” Scorpio took one of her hands and helped her to stand. She kissed her forehead but Virgo made a face until Scorpio kissed her properly. Virgo loved these moments of affection but Scorpio was still very much getting used to them.

They walked through the trees and everything else above them it was peaceful. The birds called and the branches cracked. It may have been night but everything was very much awake. But for the time being, they were the only people.

Virgo looked around slowly and felt the breeze on her face. Virgo traced her fingers through the air slowly manipulating the currents with her powers. Bringing a strong breeze over them and teasing their hair. Scorpio smiled feeling it over the short hair starting to grow and the ponytail against her back.

The leaves swirled around them along with acorns, branches, and dirt. It was like they were their own mini constellation. It was a small fun thing to see that made Virgo smile. She needed something pretty and simple after being in the dark for so long.

Scorpio marveled at it and a leaf hit at her nose tickling it. She wrinkled her nose and stepped away from her but Virgo sent even more of them her way so that she was the only one dealing with the nature twister. “Virgo! Stop it!” she giggled as she swiped at them and tried to throw them off.

“I had a feeling I’d find you two out here.”

They both turned and saw Libra coming out of the trees with flowers in her hands. She swept them back and forth and shook her head. Virgo didn’t bother to hide her blush or her laughter as she looked at her caretaker. “Hey Libra.”

“What’re you doing out here?” Libra asked motioning toward the forest. “Especially at this time of night. There’s nothing you guys can’t handle but still. It’s not exactly warm or soft.”

“No its not,” Scorpio glanced back at Virgo.

She took a step forward and squeezed her hand, “I was looking for Cancer and Pisces again.” She looked down. “I haven’t been able to find them.”

“We’re all looking Virgo,” Libra said gently. “We’ll find them.”

She nodded and then glanced at Scorpio. The scorpion met her gaze and gave her a gentle smile but looked back toward Libra. She pointed toward the flowers, “Who are those for?”

“Visiting an old friend,” she turned and waved the flowers forward. “If you want you can come with me. It’s a place where you two were bound to see anyway.”

They started walking and it was an old dirt path. It had a lot of grass overgrown over the spot. It was hard to know that it was even a path from the outside. But there were some indentations on the steps themselves.

The ground bounced with the moss they stepped on. “Where are we going Libra?”

“More like where are we Virgo,” she stepped off the path and into a small clearing. In the center of it was a large stone monument. As they got closer to it they realized it was more like a small monument. Libra walked straight up to it while Virgo and Libra stared.

Libra pressed her hand against the cool stone of it and lowered her head. She down her flowers right next to a single old stem and a few wilted petals. She was careful to not step on them in the process. “It’s been a long time. Sorry I haven’t been back in a while but this is just kind of an anniversary.  I brought friends this time. Well not quite friends. More like family.”

She stood and waved for Virgo and Scorpio to come closer. Scorpio was apprehensive, but Virgo pulled her forward eagerly. They stood just behind Libra as she turned around. “Virgo, Scorpio, meet my Virgo. As well as every past Zodiac that’s ever been born.”

“What do you mean?” Virgo asked her eyes widened.

“This is the place where we bury the Zodiac. Well, not bury. Cremate. Our souls go back to our mothers and with this, we send our bodies as well. But even we need somewhere to grieve and remember.”

Scorpio paused, her eyes wide. She took a scared step away from it. She stared at it and shook her head quickly. But Virgo’s hand tightened in hers. There was a shine of panic in Scoprio’s eyes and Virgo met it calmly.

“It’s okay Stingie,” Virgo said gently.

Virgo led her forward and though Scorpion dragged her feet she followed. They stood in front of it and together reached out. Virgo touched it first and shuddered while Scorpio held her hand just away from it. Taking a deep breath though she touched it as well.

“You said you were meeting your Virgo,” Scorpio said her hand shaking. “What did you mean? Why today?”

Libra sighed, “Today’s the anniversary of their deaths. And Virgo was. Virgo was really special to me. But you know that don’t you Virgo.”

“Yeah I do,” she beamed at her but then looked at Scorpio. “And you should breathe. Remember what we talked about?”

“Hard V. But you’re right,” she took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m not him. Not him.”

Libra held out her own hand to her. Scorpio looked at her confused, “Come on. Give me your hand.” Scorpio nodded and took her hand she felt the rush of power between them. “Balance Libra.”

Instantly Scorpio relaxed as did all of them. She felt good, like she’d just woken up from a nap. But more than that, her mind felt clear. She looked at Libra and frowned. “What was he like?”

Libra’s eyes widened at that question and then nodded, “Patient. Kind. Not unlike your Virgo actually. Though he definitely liked talking a lot more. I guess that was part of why he was a preacher.”

“V can talk a lot,” Scorpio snorted. “And trust me it can get annoying but she’s cute when she really gets ahead of herself.”

“Stingie!” she hit her arm lightly. “I don’t talk that much.”

Libra laughed at her expense, “He also loved all of the Zodiac. And even when Cancer was at the point of no return, he didn’t want to give up on him. And I have a feeling you’re the same way. I think some call it stubbornness. A lot of Virgo’s share that trait really”

“I can’t imagine a legion of stubborn Virgos,” Scorpio said kissing Virgo’s forehead.

That made Virgo giggle contently but then her eyes widened as she stared at the monument. “Wait. Wait. Stingie! That’s it! I know what I have to do.”

Her eyes glowed and she was lifted off the ground and landed on the monument. She turned around and sat quickly, crossing her legs and putting her hands on her knees. Her eyes didn’t stop glowing as the world around her disappeared. She stopped seeing the forest and her Zodiac.

Suddenly she was in the endless night of the sky above her head but not searching the stars. She was bathed in the light of her own constellation and it was thick around her. They separated from their links in the constellation and slowly began to morph into human shapes. Each one in their own way smiled and greeted her. But one stepped forward gaining definition with his dark skin, long braided hair, and fair appearance.

“Hello my young self.”

“Hello my old self,” she replied and he chuckled. “I need help Virgo. And maybe you can help me. One Virgo to another.”

“I will do what I can as you know. What do you want to know young one?”

“Have you or any of our past selves heard of, or met, a man named Daze?”

A quiet fell over the stars around her as they dimmed stepping back or fading so as not to distract. For a long moment, she thought that none of them had and this idea of hers was doomed to failure but then one came forward.

A shape in long robes came forward. Their hood pulled down, their skin beige, and hair black. Their hair was long and in thick curls going down to their waist almost. Their eyes were brown and when they smiled at her Virgo almost blushed. They were beautiful beyond belief. “This Virgo is one very old to us all. But he was also a friend to me in my time.”

“You used me as a confidant many a time Virgo,” he replied and chuckled. “And I am more than willing to help another of myself in her time of need.”

“Thank you,” Virgo lowered her head. “Did you know Daze?”

He turned and walked along the stars with them, “A long time ago. Before I came out as trans, Daze was someone that I was close to. And after I came out he was there for me more than many others. The idea that he still walks this world fills me with some kind of trepidation. And also some amount of joy. But that’s not what you asked my new self.

“When we were together, Daze obsessed over knowledge of our mothers. He was obsessed. But beyond that obsession was his craving for knowledge. Especially to the east of us.”

“In Xye? What was in Xye?” Virgo asked confused.

“I don’t know. I would never go with him there. But he talked often of a dragon. A dragon to the east. Each story he described was different. Scaled beast on four legs, a serpentine creature, some that could take human form. I thought they to be stories for some time but I always sensed there was some truth to those stories.”

“A dragon in the east,” Virgo said her eyes widening slightly looking at him. “In Xye? Of course. I’ve never thought to look there.”

“I know the predicament that you are in,” Virgo said to her and nodded. “Great change is coming. Dangerous change for you and our siblings. I fear for some, it may be too late.”

“How are we going to get there though. Xye is so far away,” she frowned hard. “No I’ve asked you too many questions as is.  I should figure some of it out for myself.”

“What’s the point in having your past selves if you don’t ask them for aid,” Virgo said and the other two Virgos laughed. “But as one final piece of advice there are travelers coming to your lands. From the north. Travelers that you know very well. And they will be able to help you.”

“Travelers?” Virgo repeated but shook her head. “I’ll see them when they arrive. Thank you, Virgos. Thank you.”

“My pleasure Virgo.”

The pair of Virgos glowed before her and then they disappeared. Virgo gasped but she didn’t return to herself. Instead, she closed her eyes and journeyed in the stars a while longer.  She cast her star filled gaze away from Nerodala. She looked to Xye, a country almost as big as Nerodala but sat on the edge of the ocean.

But more than anything she could see power within it. Xye glowed with it from the very ground. It was as if the stars fell from the sky and made their home within the soil, within the earth, and sent their light back into the sky. It was hard to look directly at but she couldn’t turn her gaze away.

“Alpha and Omega,” she whispered as tears ran down her cheeks. “It’s beautiful.”

As she stared into the lights, seeing the reds and golds of it all, she looked even deeper. Within the energy she could see many beacons that drew her focus. Twelve of them in fact. She couldn’t make out the symbols within those beacons but they whispered a familiarity to her.

However, near one such beacon was something she did know personally. Stars. A constellation. One diminished to almost nothing, almost like it was incomplete. Another wrapped around it protectively shining its light where it couldn’t.

She pointed to it, “There. There you are Cancer. And is that Pisces too?”

She reached toward the spot in the land and the feedback was immediate. She gasped as if she was struck but the location was seared in her mind. Her eyes opened and she gasped falling off the stone slab. Scorpio caught her, eyes panicked,

“Virgo! Are you alright?” Libra asked.

“You were out for so long V,” Scorpio shook her head. “You had me worried. Had us both worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Virgo groaned and rubbed her neck slowly. “Wow I’m stiff. How long was I sitting like that?”

“Over an hour,” Libra frowned. “What did you do?”

Virgo looked at the sky and sure enough, the moon and the stars were in different positions. A lot of time had passed indeed. “I talked to my past selves. The past Virgos. I asked them if they had met Daze before. Turns out one of my selves was his lover once.”

“Wow. That’s unexpected,” Libra said blinking quickly and she saw the quick scowl on Scorpio’s face. “What did she say?”

“He now. And they don’t know where Daze is but they gave me a good clue as to where Cancer and Pisces might be. So I followed that lead and that led me to Xye.”

“Xye?” Scorpio repeated. “Xye is huge. We have no idea where to even start to try and find them.”

“I have an idea. At least where to start,” she breathed hard and smiled. “But we have to hurry if we want to catch them. And if I’m right we’re going to discover something together that no other Zodiac has seen in a really long time.”

“Well you’re definitely talking like a Virgo,” Libra said and Virgo smiled all the wider at her.  “Come on we’ve gotta get back to the castle.”

Wriggling out of Scorpio’s grasp she got to her feet and wobbled for balance. Squaring her feet and she looked back at the two of them. “Come on Stingie. Libra. We gotta go.”

“What’s your hurry?”

“We’ve got visitors coming. Soon I think. And they’re going to help us find Cancer and Pisces! We can bring everyone back soon.”