Gem knew it was going to be difficult to come back to this country. As she stepped off the private jet onto the hotel roof, she scanned her surroundings. The capital city Duo was the same as always. A large city located in the middle of a giant pit surrounded by canyons.

It looked like a normal city from here, but if she moved close enough to the outskirts she'd see the canyon walls. The canyon walls with all kinds of buildings carved into them, including apartments. If she wanted to, she knew she could find the apartment she once shared with Gina.

Gem pulled her luggage to the elevator and tuned everyone else out. She didn't care if this was technically her country, she wanted to leave as soon as possible.

After everyone paired up and choose a classless room on the main floor, they awaited Cetus in the lobby. Tomorrow was their next trial, which meant today would be for exploring the city.

Gem didn't plan on going anywhere. It was too hard to see the city where she once won a race on bike against Gina. Where Gina saw a street vendor selling flowers, so she bought some and braided them into Gem's hair. Where they sat on top of the canyon overlooking the city, talking about what they were looking forward to most in life.

Gem didn't cherish her time with Gina enough. She was so worried about finding her brother at that time. She wasn't too focused on the stranger she had met who had amnesia and was also secretly her twin sister.

"As usual, I don't care what you guys do. Split into two groups and be back by eight pm. I'll be in the meeting room helping arrange the trial tomorrow if anyone needs me."

Cetus then left, leaving everyone to choose their groups.

"I'll take the city if you want to lead everyone around the canyons," offered Gemini.

Gem pulled out her earphones. "What?"

"Which part of the tour do you want to cover? I can show everyone around the castle since you've never actually lived there."

Gem shrugged. "Works for me."

***

Gemini's group composed of Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio, Ares, Leon, Vinn, Scor, Cancy, and Taur.

"I've noticed that the five of them always to everywhere together lately," whispered Cancer to Taurus as they walked around the hallways of the castle.

"The alternates?" asked Taurus.

"Yeah. It's like there's a big love triangle or square going on."

Taurus pressed her lips together, remembering what Leon told her. "Maybe. I don't know."

"I think... Taur likes Vinn and Cancy likes Scor, so they tag along whenever Leon, Vinn and Scor do anything together. Vinn definitely likes Scor too. I can't tell if he likes her back or not though."

"That sounds like a lot of drama."

"You know something."

"I can't tell you things I was told by others in confidence."

Cancer stuck his hands in his pockets. "That's fair. Not like it matters anyway."

"What doesn't matter?" Pisces appeared at Cancer's side, placing his arm around him.

"The fact that Aquarius has a crush on Aquari," replied Taurus.

Pisces- who still didn't know Aquarius was dating Gem- frowned. "I think you're lying to me."

Taurus smiled innocently. "Do I look like a liar to you?"

Pisces smiled at Cancer who gave him a warning look. "Of course not haha. Wait why am I scared of Cancer? Actually, you do look like a liar."

Pisces ran as Cancer charged at him.

Taurus sighed. "They don't even know where they're going."

"They'll get lost and we'll have to find them." Scorpio appeared by Taurus' side, Ares walking beside her.

"I like how there's so many balconies here." Ares' eyes sparkled as he looked around the floating castle.

"Why is it with you rams and liking being up high in the air?" Scorpio put her hands on her hips. "Aries is the same way. She always wants the top floor, top bunk, top whatever."

Ares shrugged.

"I like being closer to the ground," added Taurus. "Heights make me nervous."

Scorpio bit her lip, not quite knowing what to say in response. Taurus used to enjoy sitting at the top of that large tree in their backyard.

"So, what do you guys think the next trial will be?" asked Ares.

"Something to do with air," replied Scorpio.

"Something I won't be able to do. Maybe Ophiuchus will just push me out of a plane." Taurus rolled her eyes. "If she does I hope my parachute doesn't work."

"EXCUSE ME?" Scorpio put the breaks on Taurus' chair, standing in front of her with a look that could kill. "You will NOT start talking like that."

"I'm just so tired of all this trials stuff."

"If your parachute doesn't work, I'll make you take mine. Nothing will happen to you while I'm around, understood?"

"I don't actually want to die, it's just a bit of dark humour."

"Your dark humour makes me uncomfortable. I don't like it when you talk like that."

"Fine. I won't do it around you anymore."

"Of course not because if you do I'll shower you with affection."

The thought of Scorpio going out of her way to be deeply affectionate with Taurus genuinely made her cringe. "I get it, I get it."

"Cancer has been really worried about you lately too. He's been losing sleep trying to think of what he can do to make you happy."

"Did he tell you that? It's got nothing to do with him. I'm mentally and physically drained and I need a break from all this but we're not even half way through."

"Then run away from this shithole. Fake your death and go back home or something."

"I'd live the rest of my life looking over my shoulder incase Ophiuchus decided to get back at me."

"ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY MY EAR? KEEP GOING SO I DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE."

Pisces stumbled by, Cancer on his back twisting his ear. "Next is your tongue, so we don't have to hear YOU anymore."

"Should I physically separate them?" asked Ares.

Scorpio shook her head. "They do this all the time."

Gemini watched as Pisces elbowed Cancer before running away. "This is why we can't bring children anywhere."

Capricorn walked beside him, an arm around Gemini's shoulder. "How immature."

Gemini elbowed him. "You're just as immature."

"But im a cool type of immature."

"You THINK you're cool."

"I AM cool."

"You are not."

"Fine. I'll cling to somebody else then. Taurus-"

Gemini locked an arm around Capricorn's waist. "Maybe you're a little bit cool."

"Where are we going now?"

Gemini shrugged. "I already showed you guys the throne room and ball room... I don't particularly want to visit the roof... maybe the cafeteria."

"Why not the roof?"

Gemini shook his head. "Too many memories."

That's where he liked to meet up with Gem and Gina. He knew Gina was dead while Vinn was still blocking his memories of her, so her loss hadn't really hit him. Still, she was technically his cousin. It was a weird feeling... losing someone you know you're supposed to miss but you didn't know them well enough to miss them.

But Gem grieved enough for the both of them.

"Cafeteria sounds nice. Then let's go relax on one of the massive balconies!"

"Only if I get a kiss." Gemini pointed to his cheek.

Capricorn smiled and kissed him.

"Is it nerve-wrecking? Living in the sky?" Leon appeared beside Gemini.

Gemini shook his head. "When you can fly, its not."

"But what if the entire castle crashed while you were sleeping and unable to use your powers?"

Gemini paused. "I never considered that."

"I'm sure our powers will save us if we're unconscious."

"Somehow this place always made me feel comfortable." Capricorn looked around. "I could probably draw a map of this place off the top of my head."

Gemini lightly smacked the back of Capricorn's head. "That's because your gay ass always visited me claiming it was a "business trip" and that you regularly visited other countries to better understand them."

"What are you talking about? I did visit the other countries and yours equally."

Gemini turned around. "Hey Scorpio? How often did Capricorn visit you and your country when we were rulers?"

Scorpio furrowed her brow. "Not once. He didn't even attend my coronation."

"Not once? But he visited my country... I think every second weekend and sometimes throughout the week as well."

"He also had a massive crush on you back then."

Capricorn blushed, hiding his face in Gemini's shoulder. "I just didn't like her country. There's a constant layer of water covering the ground, even in buildings!"

Scorpio tapped Taurus on the shoulder. "How often did he visit you?"

Taurus shrugged. "I think he visited a few times for trade deals. He also attended half my coronation but ditched the after party."

"Oh so you were madly in love with me?" asked Gemini. "Because this castle was practically your second home. I remember you bringing your paperwork from your country with you and you'd fill it out in my office."

Capricorn looked up at Gemini and smiled cutely. "But you always let me stay. You even let me borrow your private office and ordered your staff to obey my every command."

"That's not true."

Scorpio called out to a pair of guards nearby. "Random question. Back when Gemini was king, what would you have done if Capricorn was visiting and he ordered you to cook him a fancy steak dinner."

The guard blinked from surprise. "King Gemini ordered us to obey King Capricorn's every demand, so I would have dropped everything to cook him a fancy steak dinner."

Capricorn smirked at Gemini. "Simp."

Gemini pulled on Capricorn's ear. "Your ears are still red from your blush after you got exposed as a clingy simp. I may be a simp but at least I'm not clingy."

"Okay." Capricorn removed Gemini's arm from his waist and tried to walk away.

"Fine. I'm clingy too." Gemini backhugged Capricorn. "I despise you so much."

"I love you too."

***

Aries, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius, Saggi, Capri, Aquari, and Pie stepped off the train at the edge of the crater. From this point, they just had to take an airvater up to the canyon.

Libra looked around. "Wait. Where's Gem and Aquarius?"

"They were sitting in the back." Leo counted everyone. "Did they jump out?"

Virgo checked his phone. "Aquarius texted me saying Gem wasn't feeling well so Libra will have to guide the tour instead."

"I barely know this country." Libra sighed. "Well, let's start with the airvaters. It's literally an elevator that used strong air currents. It's a lot more comfortable if you hold your breath."

Libra led everyone to a wall full of airvaters. They were tubes attached to the crater walls with massive currents blowing either upwards or downwards. Arrows indicated which way the currents blew. She walked into one, and was immediately blown upwards. Everyone followed one at a time, until they stood on a path within the upper part of the canyon.

"As you can see, houses are built into the canyon walls up here. There's not really much else to see, but we can walk around a bit and sneak back to the hotel early."

Sagittarius sighed. "After being in my country, this one is so cold."

Leo elbowed Sagittarius. "You're literally a fire sign."

Sagittarius caught herself on fire, casually following behind the rest of the group.

"Well if Gem and Aquarius get to ditch the tour then so can we." Pie pulled Capri away from the group.

Aquari jumped on Saggi's back. "What else is there to see here?"

Libra looked around. "Let's find a convenience store to buy snacks. I don't know what else is here."

"I wonder why Gem and Aquarius ditched the tour," thought Virgo outloud. "She knows we don't know our way around her country."

Aries stuck her hands in her hoodie pockets. "Did she live here with Gina at some point?"

Sagittarius gasped. "She did."

"I forgot... coming back here must be really hard on her." Libra used her phone to find a map. "There's a convenience store just up ahead."

"I can't imagine losing a sister who I didn't know, but actually knew quite well, but we both have amnesia and forgot that we know each other." Virgo frowned. "Why can't we just have normal lives?"

"Normal people can't do this." Sagittarius made the fire disappear from around her.

"We'll be halfway finished the trial after this one," commented Aries.

"Not including the final trial." Virgo didn't even want to imagine what the final trial could be.

Saggi sighed. "This tour is a little boring. Someone do something funny."

"All in favour of throwing Saggi off a cliff?" asked Aquari. Everyone except Libra raised their hands.

Aries sighed. "I kind of want to tour the city when we get back."

"I'll go with you." Sagittarius linked arms with Aries. "We'll find new pastries and desserts." 

"I'm worried about Gem." Leo checked her phone. "I want to check up on her but I also want to let her have some space."

"I'm sure Aquarius is taking care of her." Virgo slid his hands into his pockets. "Wherever they are."

***

Gem sighed as her ankles started to burn. She sat in the back of the train so that she could sneak off easier, but it took awhile before everyone got distracted enough not to notice her escape.

That left her having to walk back to the hotel on foot. She had already been walking for ten minutes but she could see the hotel a little further up ahead.

The only person she could think about was Gina. Ophiuchus messed with her memory so badly she could barely remember her own sister. Then killed her because she remembered too much.

It was a lot of bullshit. Ophiuchus was on a power trip and needs to be put in her place.

Gem's fingers were starting to go numb from the cold when she heard gravel crunch behind her.

"I'm genuinely scared of being stalked so if that's you Aqua please reveal yourself."

Aquarius walked beside her. "I wanted to give you space, but I also wanted to stay close enough to keep an eye on you."

Gem rolled her eyes. "So you're one of those clingy puppy-type boyfriends."

"I guess."

"I can't stand being back here. I was excited to come back at first, but all I can think about is her."

"You can talk to me."

"It's just really overwhelming." Gem pointed to a bakery. "That's where we shared a cheesecake after we bought our apartment together. And that's the gym where we bought memberships which we cancelled after a month because we were always too lazy to go. And up there is the street where we raced each other on skateboards that neither of us knew how to ride."

Aquarius sighed, not knowing how to respond. "It sounds hard. Having all those memories."

Gem's eyes teared up. "I just want to talk to her again."

Aquarius pulled her into a tight hug. "One day you will. As for right now, she wouldn't want you to be upset."

"If I was dead I'd want everyone to be upset. I'd want you all to mourn me every day for the rest of your lives."

Aquarius rolled his eyes. "Really?"

"Maybe I meant it just a little bit."

"Well... I'd set up a shrine in your honour."

Gem smiled against his chest. "That sounds nice."

"I don't know how to build a shrine so you'd better not die on me."

"I'll try not to."

"Where do you want to go now?" Aquarius lifted Gem into his back.

"Back to the hotel. Can we cook popcorn and watch movies?"

"Of course we can."

***

A/N: This was meant to get published a lot earlier but life got crazy really quick. If you're still here waiting for updates I want to thank you so much