"How are you guys doing?" Gemini sat at the cafeteria table with a bowl of cereal.

"Good," replied Pisces. "You?"

"Not quite ready to die. But the trial tonight will progress regardless."

"I just can't wait until it's over and we have free time." Scorpio smiled. "The hot springs here are so nice."

"I wonder where everyone else is." Gemini narrows his eyes at Pisces. "Why aren't you with your friends?"

"You're not my friend?" Pisces pouted. "That kind of hurts."

Scorpio embraced Pisces while messing with his hair. "It's okay Piscespoo. I consider you my friend."

Gemini rolled his eyes. "I meant Gem and Sagittarius. This is the first time I've seen you just sitting alone, not plotting anything."

"Maybe I AM plotting something."

"I think he couldn't find them, so he came here to eat." Scorpio pinched Pisces' cheeks. "Isn't that right Piscespoo?"

"Morning." Capricorn sat beside Gemini with a plate of waffles. "Watch Ophiuchus host the trial in the hot springs next to the volcano. Last one to boil alive wins."

Gemini flicked Capricorn on the forehead. "You're not funny."

"What's this?" Scorpio placed her phone in the middle of the table.

"Breaking news!" announced the anchor. "It appears King Ares has decided to cut free healthcare for citizens of Fortis. This will not affect the citizen's taxes, since those fees will be used to build King Ares his own private mansion."

"What the fuck?" Capricorn frowned. "Ares wouldn't do that."

Pisces rolled his eyes. "But guess who would."

Scorpio exhaled, balling her fists under the table. "I wonder if this new house is full of snakes."

"Furthermore, citizens will also have a curfew of ten pm with the exception of employees driving to or from work or emergency situations."

Gemini rubbed his temples. "I guess Ophiuchus deems Ares a greater threat than Aries. Aries' popularity just skyrocketed."

Scorpio rolled her eyes. "Do these citizens actually think that popularity poll will determine who wins?"

Ares walked into the cafeteria. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"You're officially more hated than Saggi." Scorpio pointed to her phone.

"WHAT?" Ares sat down and picked up the phone. "What did Ophiuchus do to my country?"

"She's slowly turning you into a dictator." Pisces sighed. "At least Ophiuchus considers you a bigger threat than Aries. That's why she's messing with you."

Ares glared at the wall. "The citizens have to know I wouldn't do that."

Gemini shrugged. "Ophiuchus forged your signature, and right now everyone trusts her."

"Speak of the snake-bitch devil." Scorpio watched as Ophiuchus appeared on the screen. She had dark bags under her eyes, and she looked helplessly into the camera. "I am shocked and appalled by King Ares' actions."

"You're in charge of all the potential rulers." A woman sitting in a chair across from Ophiuchus looked towards her. "After King Saggi tried to introduce a new tax law, how could King Ares be allowed to introduce his own ridiculous law? If anyone could have stopped this, wouldn't it be you?"

Ophiuchus sighed and buried her head in her hands. "I tried! He did it behind my back! I have thoroughly educated them on selflessness and the importance of putting people before yourself. For him to directly disobey me like that... I don't believe he is suited to be a king."

"What can you say to explain this behaviour? Ares is known for being a selfless person. This is very out of character for him."

Ophiuchus sat back, pretending to think. "I think he's being manipulated."

"Manipulated?" The interviewer leaned in out of curiosity. "How so?"

"Well," sighed Ophiuchus. "I assume you all know former Queen Scorpio and how clever she is?"

Scorpio sighed and smacked her face against the table. "I have never wanted to punch someone so badly."

"She has always been clever," continued Ophiuchus. "As you can see, King Ares and former Queen Scorpio are in a romantic relationship now." Pictures of Ares and Scorpio hanging out together in the training room appeared on screen. "I believe Scorpio misses her days of tyranny, so she's pulling the strings over Ares' head. I couldn't believe it at first, but she did instigate the elemental wars that occurred just last year."

"I'll turn that off before you smash your phone." Capricorn turned Scorpio's phone off.

"At least she fears me more than Scor," muttered Scorpio.

"She killed two zodiacs with one stone." Gemini shook his head. "First Saggi then Cancer, and now you guys. Who will she sabotage next?"

"It'll probably be your turn at some point." Pisces sipped from his orange juice. "She'll sabotage Taur since Taurus is paraplegic and Ophiuchus underestimates her. Everyone and their grandmothers hate Gem since they think she's Gina, so she'll sabotage you instead. She'll probably also sabotage Leo, Vinn, Libra, Capri, and me. I don't know which Aqua she'll deem a bigger threat."

Scorpio rolled her eyes. "She will not sabotage you. There's no way you're a bigger threat than Pie."

Pisces frowned at Scorpio. "Why is Pie a bigger threat than me?"

Capricorn sighed. "Have you ever seen Pie?"

"Have you ever killed or shot anyone?" asked Gemini.

Pisces rolled his eyes. "Okay so maybe she's a stone-cold killer who only cares for one person and one person only. I'm still a bigger threat!"

Scorpio petted Pisces on the head. "If you say so."

"Lets go train with the others." Gemini stood up. He sighed when Capricorn remained seated. "Come with me."

"Are you that clingy?"

Gemini pulled on Capricorn's arm. "I need someone to work out with."

"I don't like you."

Gemini picked Capricorn up bridal style. "You're such a brat."

"Love you too!" Capricorn chuckled as Gemini carried him towards the training room.

Ares poked Scorpio. "I can carry-"

"Don't even think about it."

***

Aquarius lifted weights while Sagittarius sat on the floor, smiling at him.

"What?"

"I'm just studying your expressions. Carry on!"

Aquarius put the weights down and sat across from Sagittarius. "You're acting weird."

"That's offensive!"

Aquarius pinched her arm. "I know what you're doing."

"What am I doing?"

"Minding my business."

"You guys locked me and Pisces in a closet together. I have every right to intrude on your love life."

"My love life? What does Aquari have to do with this?"

Sagittarius rolled her eyes and smacked Aquarius on the arm. "I'm not dumb enough to fall for that."

"Then I guess you'll never know that I actually like Vinn."

"What is it about Gem that you like so much?"

Aquarius rolled his eyes. "Gem? Well, I like all my friends."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Yes."

Sagittarius messed up Aquarius' hair. "We've been friends forever. I want you to find someone good for you."

"Me and Gem is an interesting concept that I have never considered. What would you think of us as a couple?"

Sagittarius shrugged. "I'd feel like Gem could do better."

Aquarius kicked her. "Seriously."

"I dislike that I'll become a third wheel, but we all get along so well. You should confess to her."

"Pie and Capri just got together. Shouldn't I wait?"

"They will not care if you and Gem get together a day after they did. They don't like attention anyway."

"I don't either."

"If she's going to date a man, it'll obviously be you."

"Are you sure?"

"She does like you. And I know you like her. I'm talking to you without Pisces because I know we can be honest with each other."

Aquarius rolled his eyes. "She's... cool."

"But what do you like about her?"

Aquarius shrugged. "I've never quite met anyone with her odd personality. Like she's so random, but it's entertaining. She makes up the best excuses off the top of her head and she's so smart. I'm impressed by how thought out some of her pranks are. She's also so emotionally strong. She's been through a lot, it makes me want to hold her and comfort her."

"With the Trials ongoing, you never know when you'll see someone for the last time. Confess to her because you never know what could happen in the trials."

Aquarius nodded. "I'll try. I got rejected once though, so I'm nervous."

"You got rejected by a lesbian who was in love with her female best friend. You stood no chance. That had nothing to do with you."

Aquarius chuckled. "You're right. It's not like she rejected me because of my personality."

"Exactly! Plus you're so popular. You have so many best friends."

"Don't remind me."

"I can find Gem if you want."

Aquarius shook his head. "I'll tell her when I'm ready."

***

Aries and Leo were hanging out on top of the monkey bars.

"I can't wait for the trial to be over so I can relax in the hot springs." Aries sighed at the thought.

"What if Ophiuchus decided only class A can use the hot springs?" teased Leo.

"Then I'll boil her in the springs beside the volcano."

"That's... violent. But we'd all help you."

"I can't wait until I can see my country again. I miss the stone walls enclosing the capital city."

"If there's ever a zombie apocalypse, I'd like to hide in your country."

"And all the pretty beaches outside the city..."

Leo checked her phone. "Speaking of your country, your citizens now heavily favour you."

"What did Ophiuchus do to Ares?"

Leo scrolled through her phone. "I found an article about it. She made another new law or something and now the citizens hate both him and Scorpio."

Aries frowned. "Wait does that mean she thinks I'm weaker than Ares?"

"Ares is comparable to Scorpio. Do you really think you're stronger?"

Aries pulled Leo in for a hug, ignoring the question. "Be careful during the trial later."

"Are you worried about me?"

"Only a little bit."

Leo rolled her eyes. "I guess I'll try not to die then. Only because you're a little bit worried about me."

"Sounds good."

"Then we'll go visit the hot springs tomorrow with Sagittarius."

***

9pm that night, the private jet dropped everyone off in front of what looked like a track in front of a row of mountains that surrounded the volcano.

"We're not going to climb in the volcano, right?" whispered Capri.

Pie stretched her legs. "I hate these track suits. Though, I wouldn't put it past her to make us scale the volcano."

Ophiuchus pointed to the path cleared on the ground. "This is a flag hunt. I added an extra part to this trial to compensate for the one you guys missed in Capra. All you have to do is follow this path, and retrieve a flag. There will be no punishments or advantages given since the last trial did not take place."

"But I was class A during the trial before and I didn't get an advantage!" argued Aquari.

Ophiuchus shrugged. "There is still a punishment according to the popularity poll." She tied a three-pound weight band around the ankles of Ares, Taurus, Gem, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Lee, Scorpio, Saggi, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Taurus bit her lip, waiting for Ophiuchus to take her chair.

"You will begin when you hear an alarm." Ophiuchus walked back into the jet which took off immediately after.

"Where do you guys think the flags are? Do you think they're hidden or in plain sight?" asked Cancer.

"I think they're in there." Virgo pointed to the volcano.

Scorpio rolled her eyes. "If we're lucky they'll be lining the edge and only a few of us will fall in and die."

Taurus sighed. "She let me keep my chair because the path is on an incline and full of rocks."

Cancer frowned. "I'll help push you if you get stuck."

"Ophiuchus obviously doesn't know how fast she can go in that chair." Libra looked ahead. "The path IS on a slight incline. Will we really be expected to climb the volcano?"

Suddenly a loud alarm sounded. Everyone started running.

***

Cancer ran for what felt like a hour before he reached the end of the path. He already stopped to catch his breath multiple times, but he stopped again while looking up. The next part of the trial seemed to be climbing the mountain.

Cancer just hoped the trial would stop at the top of the mountain before they got too close to the volcano. It was still quite far, but it was starting to get too hot to breathe.

Or maybe that was from all the running.

After taking a short break, Cancer looked up. The mountain wasn't too steep, he would be able to walk up instead of climbing, but it looked dangerous without a harness.

Cancer started wishing he did more rock climbing in the training room as he began walking. There seemed to be various areas to stop and rest along the way.

Cancer thought about Taurus as his ankles burned. The mountain was. too steep for her to climb in her chair. He just hoped someone would help her as he continued ahead.

"Cancer!"

Pisces looked down to see Pisces at the bottom of the mountain.

Pisces excitably caught up, breathing heavily. "I'd be surprised if I even reach the top. This is a tall mountain and I'm already out of energy."

"Everyone is out of energy." Cancer pointed to Scorpio and Ares who were barely within sight ahead of them. They were sitting down, regaining their breath.

"How many people are ahead of us?"

"Unfortunately him." Cancer pointed to Lee who was also far ahead of them.

Pisces rolled his eyes. "As long as we're not class F."

"How do you think Taurus will get up?"

"Doesn't she have super human arm strength?"

Cancer rolled his eyes. "Not enough to climb a mountain using only her arms."

"Worst case scenario, she stays at the bottom and gets last place. At least she won't get hurt trying to climb like the rest of us."

Cancer paused to look behind him. "What do you think will happen to anyone who falls?"

Pisces shrugged. "As long as they don't roll all the way to the bottom, they should be fine. This mountain isn't steep enough to really hurt us."

"Unless you roll all the way down from the top."

"I'll hold your hand if it'll make you feel better."

"Jokes on you, I wouldn't mind that."

"Me either." Pisces linked arms with Cancer. "This is more comfortable. Your palms are probably really sweaty."

"You look like you took a bath in sweat."

"I'll push you down the mountain."

"You are linking arms with me."

Pisces rolled his eyes. "We're wasting our breath by talking. Keep walking."

***

Taurus sighed as she reached the mountain. She was thinking of ways to climb the mountain, when she decided she did not care anymore. She parked her chair beside the mountain and watched the others climb.

"Taurus!"

Taurus turned her head to see Taur standing beside her. "Hi."

Taur looked up. "I can't climb that."

"Your phobia is heights, right?"

Taur nodded. "There's no way I can climb that."

Taurus smiled. "Then wait for this stupid trial to end with me. I'm just going to wait here until everyone else gets their flags and the trial ends. It's physically impossible for me to walk up that mountain."

Taur sat on the ground across from Taurus. "I never considered giving up as an option."

"I usually don't either."

"So we just wait... for several hours."

"We're guaranteed to be class F but I don't care anymore."

"Let's get something to eat after this."

"Even if it's three am by the time this is over?"

"Yeah. McDonalds is open all night."

"Well I can't say no to that."

"We can invite other people along! You can bring Cancer and I'll bring..."

"Vinn?"

Taur blushed. "Its hopeless liking her. She likes Scor."

"You'll never know until you try."

"Have you asked anyone out before?"

"Actually I have. I asked Gemini out."

"You guys dated?"

"For like a week or two before he realized he had a massive crush on Cap. Now we're all really close. I also went on one date with Aqua before we were crowned."

Taur chuckled. "You're a lot braver than I am."

"Did you know that Cancer asked me out literally seconds after I confessed to Gemini? If you like Vinn, you have to talk to her before someone else confesses to her."

"I can't tell if Scor likes her back or not."

"Worse case scenario, she rejects you. You'll have me to support you."

"I'll think about it." Taur looked up. "I would have definitely fell by now had I tried to climb that mountain."

***

Gem panted as she finally reached the top of the mountain. She immediately sat down, her ankles throbbing and burning. Straight ahead, barely visible in the distance was one red flag. Five people who appeared to be Scorpio, Ares, Pie, Capri, and Aquari stood around the last flag, holding their own r.ed flags.

Wondering if she had enough time to rest before making a final sprint or not, Gem looked down over the mountain. A few others were catching up to her.

Wondering why she even sat down in the first place, Gem groaned and stood up. Then she noticed a blue in the corner of her eye. Scor had just reached the top of the mountain.

Wanting to secure that last red flag, Gem broke into a sprint. She was grateful that although her stamina was terrible, she was a fast runner. She could hear shouting in the distance, but the adrenaline helped her drown it all out. It was probably just her friends cheering for her.

It wasn't until she heard screaming that she snapped out of it. Suddenly aware of her surroundings, Gem slowed a bit to listen.

"CAREFUL! THERE'S-"

Gem hadn't even considered there were traps set along the way until the ground crumbled from beneath her.

Gem screamed. Somehow her whole flashed before her eyes, yet everything was happening in slow motion.

Gem gasped when she felt her body slam into the side of the hole. Someone grabbed her leg, keeping her from completely falling in.

Gem blinked, staring at the bottom of the pitfall. She couldn't move.

She felt like she was on the brink of passing out by the time she was hauled up.

Gem layed on her back, taking a few seconds to recover from the shock before she became once again aware of her surroundings.

"That would have hurt, if you had fallen in."

Gem glanced at Capri, who had saved her. "What-"

"Did you think Ophiuchus would make you sprint over flat ground at the end of the trial? I've been calling out to you, warning you of the pitfalls."

Gem sighed. "I'm so tired that I didn't even think about it. Thanks for saving me."

"You're so fast. Come on, the last flag is only a few meters away!"

Gem stood up with Capri, noticing Scor was still behind her. Aquarius was also sprinting towards her at full speed.

Gem pushed herself to follow Capri around the pitfalls. As soon as she reached the flag, and grabbed it and collapsed.

Scorpio knelt beside Gem, shaking her shoulder. "Gem?"

"I'm not dead. I'm just tired."

Scorpio laughed. "Next time, announce that before you drop to the ground out of nowhere."

She was half asleep until she heard her name.

"Gem?"

Gem opened her eyes to see Aquarius knelt beside her. "Hi."

"Are you okay?"

Gem pulled herself into a sitting position. "Yeah. Why?"

"I watched you almost fall in the pitfall."

Gem sighed. "I was too tired to think about anymore traps. I just want to sleep. We've been climbing that mountain for the last few hours."

Aquarius pulled her into a hug. "I was so worried when I saw the ground collapse beneath you. It felt like everything played in slow motion."

"Funny how the best moments always pass so quickly, but the near-death experiences always go in slow motion."

Aquarius let go of Gem. "Here, get some sleep. You can use my knees as a pillow."

Gem was too tired to protest, and fell asleep using Aquarius' legs as a pillow.

***

After the trial, everyone met with Ophiuchus in the meeting room. Scorpio- who wouldn't stop making Ares painfully aware that she beat him, Ares, Capri, Pie, Aquari and Gem were class A. Gemini, Cancy, Leon, Libra- who twisted her ankle climbing the mountain, Taur and Taurus were class F.

Libra was given a pair of crutches, but her ankle was expected to mostly heal before the next trial. Mostly.

***

Gem slept through the rest of the next day. At one point Sagittarius invited her to go to the hot springs, but Gem declined. There was nowhere more comfortable to sleep than the class A beds.

By the time Gem woke up, it was evening. She checked her phone, seeing a bunch of messages from the group chat. It was mostly Pisces and Cancer texting random stuff and annoying everyone.

Then Gem sent a text to Aquarius.

Gem: hey

She changed into a pair of clothes and brushed her teeth before noticing a reply.

Aquarius: hey. You're alive

Gem: you had the option to sleep through the day too

Aquarius: I tried but I was wide awake by eight am

Gem: what are you doing now?

Aquarius: there's a group of us having a water fight on the roof

Gem: aren't you not allowed up there?

Aquarius: Ophiuchus left for her secret project in Ingenio again. Cetus said we could

Gem: has anyone fallen off yet?

Aquarius: multiple people. All the air signs here made wind currents blow around the edge to catch anyone who falls though

Aquarius: wanna join

Gem: I would rather do another trial

Aquarius: great! See you soon!

Gem rolled her eyes and headed for the elevator.

***

By the time Gem arrived, everyone seemed to be done. Several zodiacs were soaked, everyone holding water guns.

Gem carefully walked across the water-soaked roof as the others headed for the elevator, most of them eager to shower.

Gem sat on the edge of the roof beside Aquarius.

Gem made a breeze swirl around her hand, making sure her powers were back and working.

"You should be more careful in the trials. I was scared for you yesterday."

Gem playfully rolled her eyes. "You didn't HAVE to be scared for me."

"I did. I care about you."

Gem paused to look at Aquarius. He was looking directly at her, his wet red-orange hair plastered to his face. "Why?"

"I've known you for so long. I care about everyone from the mansion."

"It's too bad I missed the water fight."

Aquarius picked up a water gun and squirted Gem until she was soaked. "There."

Gem brushed her hair out of her face. "At least give me a water gun."

"Fine." Aquarius handed the gun to Gem.

Gem squirted him with water while he looked at her with an odd look on his face. He looked like he was in his own world, yet content. As if he was in the middle of a daydream.

"Earth to Aqua!" Gem squirted him in the face.

Aquarius blinked. "I think I zoned out for a second there."

"What's on your mind?" Gem placed the gun behind her and scooted closer to Aquarius until their knees were touching.

Aquarius gently combed through Gem's hair with his hand. "I'm worried about the future. That's why there's something I want to say incase later is too late. If this bothers you it's completely fine, but I think I kind of like you."

Gem paused, staring at Aquarius' eyes. "I guess everyone expects us to get together since we're the only two from the mansion not in a relationship."

"I don't like you because of that. I genuinely admire you. You're the mentally strongest person I know, and you have this infectious energy that motivates me when I'm tired. I've realized lately that I enjoy spending time with you. But it's completely fine if you want to be just friends."

Gem tangled her hands in Aquarius's hair and kissed him. "Why would I want to be friends?"

Aquarius laughed. "Is this real?"

"No I'm a hallucination. You'll wake up tomorrow and find that this was all a dream. Then you'll be sad because it's the best dream you've ever had."

Aquarius playfully punched her. "It's starting to get cold. Want to grab something to eat?"

"Sure." Gem reached for Aquarius' hand. "But if you're going to be my boyfriend, you have to cuddle me every now and then."

"Alright."

"I hope Saggi won't mind."

"She talked me into confessing to you. She likes the idea of us together."

"Perfect."