Hi guys!

Just wanted to let you know really quickly, if you're into that kinda stuff, listen to the song above for extra effect. When I put this symbol - *_* - turn up the music, and voila!

So yeah, hope you enjoy! :)

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Rain.

Taurus always thought of rain as something that made everything more dramatic, whether it be a test, confessing to your crush, or even just driving home. It could be calming when it drizzled against your window, scary when it knocked on your door at the dead of night, melancholy when it slid across the car windows with the foggy blue sky as it's backdrop. Right now was no exception - an already bad situation only seemed more frightening - no thanks to the rain!

Even the sky cried at the sight before Taurus and her friends. A glowing blue beacon with a sort of ray about 6 feet tall was pointing at the sky, towards the spot where the sun was just 2 days ago. Now, the bright sky was replaced by angry storm clouds, their gray color matching the mood. After all, hope was lost. The Zodiac Academy GT students, the 12 real Zodiacs, were all tiny, immobile creatures. People had died, sacrificed themselves, hid secrets, and manipulated people to save the world, and at the last moment, the very keys to the world's being salvaged had screwed up.

How pathetic.

Me. Stern sauntered across the room-turned-roof to the beacon. He set a long hand on the sleek surface of the beacon, spinning around as he chuckled softly to himself. He shook his head condescendingly and began to speak.

"Ahhh... isn't it funny? How you all had so much hope? How you went and did all that just to try and be little 'heroes'," - he said this with hand quotations - "and at the end we won. Good luck in life, kids. Oh wait - you won't have one!" He cackled into the sky, reaching for a handle on the side of the ray.

"Not if I can help it."

Every head turned to the left to see someone standing at the door leading up to the roof. The door was wide open, revealing the stairs & white walls.

Standing there was a plump man with graying hair, a Santa-esque potbelly, and a determined grin on his face. To his side stood two tall & skinny kids, one an Asian girl with blue-black hair, and the other a Blonde-hair-blue-eyes skinny guy. They looked about the same age as Taurus, if not a year younger. Not too mention their familiarity, like Taurus has seen them somewhere. And as the gears clicked in Taurus' head, she could feel herself grinning victoriously.

It was Michael & Kylie.

Taurus bleated, her best attempt at a cheer, and stuck a hoof in the air, making herself fall right back onto the treadmill. She groaned, but got right back up and restarted to screech awkwardly. Slowly, her peers began to follow suit, everyone creating a cacaphonial chorus of animal noises. Taurus assumed it would be been funny if, y'know, the world wasn't about to end and everything was chill again.

Kylie grinned. "That's right! Mike and I are here to save the day!" She smiled, showing off her pearly whites, pumping a fist in the air.

Mike grinned. "That's right! And we brought along a friend or two!"

Mr. Stern scoffed. "What, the school nurse? Dr. Davie can't do anything."

The chubby man stepped in front, letting out a hearty laugh. Looking Mr. Stern straight in the eye, he said, "Correction, Mr. Stern - we've got more."

All at once, kids started streaming in from the open door behind them. Students of all heights, ages, races, everything ran into the biting cold air, forming a hasty cluster around the three leaders.

The final two kids carried a large bucket of a green liquid above their heads, running to the front of the group. For some reason, Mr. Stern's face seemed to fall, like this liquid was troubling him in some way. And even though Taurus had no idea what the liquid was, nor what the group's plan was (if they even had one), Mr. Stern looked scared.

Taurus liked that.

The crowd looked back at Dr. Davie, who nodded back at everyone without breaking eye contact with Mr. Stern. They all screamed aloud, messy and wild, but perfectly rebellious, as they rushed forward toward the Zodiacs.

Everybody ran toward Mr. Stern, who's face hilariously resembled Dr. Doofenshmirtz from Phineas & Ferb. Especially with his equally tall ray standing right next to him, and his white lab coat, all he needed was a matching hairstyle.

But as most everyone ran to the nerved principal, Taurus hadn't noticed that Kylie, Michael, Dr. Davie, and the two bucket kids were running toward the treadmills, each with their own, new buckets of mysterious green liquid. They rushed towards Taurus, who bleated away, trying to desperately squeal for help. As they reached her, they took a bucket and swung it at Taurus' face.

Taurus gasped, the cold liquid stinging against her skin. Green smoke filled the air, making her squeeze her eyes shut. Taurus coughed and coughed, trying to get all the stuff out of her system. As the smoke cleared, she opened her eyes...

"Oh my God, I'm human again!"

Taurus looked down to find her own clothes drenched in a water-esque liquid, the stuff dripping from her hair. Kylie handed Taurus a towel as Water Boy 1 (as Taurus had coined him) blow dried her hair faster than anyone she'd ever seen. When everyone stepped away, Michael handed her a mirror and stepped back with the others.

"Oh. My. Gosh."

On seeing herself in the mirror, Taurus found herself to have been rendered breathless. Her straight, brown, shoulder-length hair was now transformed into a beautiful blue-purple hue, much like that of the tiny bull she had been just minutes ago. Her face had tiny little gems implanted into the left side of it, accentuating her eyes, which somehow looked prettier, although Taurus didn't know how. Overall, Taurus looked... pretty?

The four kids parted way to reveal Dr. Davie, who Taurus noted was much larger and cuddlier in front of her. She looked up at his enormous figure curiously. "What... who... how?"

Dr. Davie chuckled. "Antidote," he said with a grin. Taurus guessed he recognized her blank expression, seeing that he replied, "Who do you think saved you all those years ago? Don't worry, the hair only stays for a week or so." He smiled, turning around to go to the next person, leaving a flabbergasted Taurus behind.

Kylie and Michael were at her side in seconds. Taurus looked at them, confusion dotting her eyes. Michael smiled kindly, and said, "Don't freak. If Ky & I didn't when we found out, you shouldn't."

Kylie slapped Michael playfully. "Aww, come on, Mikey! We're not the ones going through it! Imagine what she's going through!"

Michael shuddered. "I'd rather not!"

Kylie laughed, turning to Taurus and squeezing her shoulders. "Look, I know it's a lot to take in, but you're human now. You've gotta fight this battle. As much as I'd love to go kick some Stern butt, this isn't my war. It's yours."

Taurus mumbled, "Sometimes I wonder who's the victim - me or you!"

Kylie laughed. "Come on," she urged. "Let's go!"

Taurus nodded. It was showtime. *_*

Taurus screamed loudly and charged toward the horde of kids surrounding Mr. Stern. The crowd parted slightly as Taurus ran and leaped, ready to charge at the principal. However, at the last minute, a male teacher rushed in front of the sitting principal, blocking Taurus' shot. She fell awkwardly on the new teacher, who knocked Taurus onto the floor. She rolled onto her side and sprung up, ready to attack.

The teacher swung hard, his fist aiming for Taurus' face, but she sucks just in time, making the teacher lose his balance and fall. Surprised, she patted herself off, mumbling, "Well then!" She turned just in time to see a fist aimed toward her face. She ducked under it, shrieking in the process, as the fist crashed into the wall behind Taurus. A howl escaped from the teacher, the man grabbing his fist in pain. Taurus took a deep breath and ran from the fallen teachers.

Taurus scoured the area, looking past all the fighting people for the very principal who has caused all this turmoil. She spotted him near the ray, using it to prop himself up onto his feet. Taurus sprinted to him, her feet barely touching the floor as she jumped over people, slid to the sides, and jumped from one place to another. But just as she nearly arrived, she felt something stop her. She nearly fell to the floor, stumbling.

On the floor behind Taurus was a female teacher. Her cheeks looked bruised, her glasses shattered slightly, wisps of her hair fallen out from a bun atop her brunette head. Her eyebrows looked severe, matching the scowl on her face. Her bony fingers held the border of Taurus' top, keeping her from advancing.

"Oh, you're not going anywhere!" the lady snarled. Taurus tried to escape the creepy woman, but found her attempts to be fruitless. The woman began to pull at the t-shirt, pushing Taurus farther back and closer to the teacher. Taurus turned and tugged at fabric, but the fabric didn't budge.

"ARGGHHHHHHH!!"

Taurus & the fallen teacher looked up at once just in time to see a figure jumping toward them. The person kicked the teacher hard, making both Taurus and the teacher fall back in opposite sides, the fabric ripped from Taurus' shirt. She sat up on her elbows to see who the attacker was.

"Don't you ever come near my friend!" The figure screamed. She pushed off the teacher, her long white hair spinning as she turned to look at Taurus.

"Aqua!" Taurus exclaimed!

Taurus leaped up from the cement, running to her friend. They hugged each other, then held each other at arm's length.

"Ohmigosh, look at you, T!" Aqua exclaimed. "Your hair!"

Taurus grinned. "Your hair is even better though!"

Aqua giggled. "I think I'm going to keep this color even after it wears off!"

CRASH!

The friends looked to see the principal fall on the cement awkwardly, but stand right back up, the ray supporting him like a crutch. Taurus and Aquarius looked at each other, a silent agreement, and ran toward the ray.

The principal's white coat flew in the wind, the higher altitude and wind doing a number on his hair. He reached for the handle, pulling it down, but Aqua leaped onto the ray just in time, pushing it downward at the ground. The ray blasted, and a large crater emerged in the spot.

All at once, everyone screamed, kids running downstairs. "Evacuate!!" Dr. Davie screamed. "Get everyone out of here! Evacuate the school!" Most everyone ran into the school, screaming, "Evacuate!" into the dark sky, screaming into the wind. A flash of lightning struck in the distance.

In the flurry of kids, Taurus found herself lost. "Hello?" she called. "Aqua! Where are you?" Someone jostled Taurus, making her fall to the floor. She struggled to get back up, getting knocked over again and again.

Suddenly, in the crowd, Taurus saw a hand. She latched on, and the hand tugged, pulling Taurus onto her feet. And right there, among the hordes of kids, was the one person who made Taurus stop forget everything and just stare.

"Uh.. hi."

Cancer blushed, smiling softly at Taurus. Taurus found herself staring at him, awkward as ever. She dropped her gaze, but found herself looking at their interlaced hands. Cancer followed her eyes, and upon seeing their hands, dropped it.

Taurus turned beet red. "Actually," she started, but when she looked up, Taurus forgot what she was saying. Cancer was staring at her.

"You look really pretty."

Taurus felt awkward, not sure what to say, so she just looked away, smiling like an idiot. "Thanks," she whispered, not sure what to say again. Taurus made a mental note to come up with stuff to say next time. Taurus was sure this looked awkward and cringey.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Cancer & Taurus looked to see Aquarius screaming at them from a corner surrounded by cardboard boxes. "You can ogle at each other later! Quick!" She called, making a motion for them to come to her. Cancer ran off, leaving Taurus with an overly excited heart and a stupid grin. She ran to her best friend.

Upon arriving, Aquarius shushed them, motioning for them to get low. Once they were down and hidden, Aquarius began to speak.

"So here's what we're going to do. I'm going to go distract Stern with my awesome alien-butt-kicking moves."

Taurus sighed. "Qua, they're not  aliens."

Aquarius' eyes got big. "That's what they want you to believe!"

Taurus rolled her eyes. "Just go on!"

Aqua laughed. "Anyways, so while I distract, Cancer and you will go from the back and look for a shut-off button on the ray. Taurus, since I've seen that you've got more skills than Cancer over here-"

"Hey!"

Aquarius shrugged. "Sorry! But it's true."

Cancer glared. "Just go on."

"So while Taurus guards the ray and fights any evil teachers, you try to disable the ray. And then break the handle so they can't restart it or work it."

Cancer and Taurus shared a look. Aqua sighed. "Trust me.. this will work." The two shrugged, and Aqua pumped her fist. "Yesss! Ready?" She stuck her hand in the middle, motioning for the other two to do the same. "Go, Ghostbusters!" She cheered, and the three split off.

Taurus lept up, scouting the area to make sure nobody was there. When she was sure the coast was clear, she called Cancer, who rushed to Taurus. The two crept along, reaching the ray easily. Taurus lept up from her crouch and stepped up onto the platform that held the ray. Cancer began to examine the ray, looking for a opening or door of some sort. He saw something, nodded briskly, and began to feel around the sides.

Taurus frowned. "Any luck?"

Cancer nodded briskly. "I need a screwdriver," he said, holding his hand out without looking at Taurus. Taurus simply stood there, gaping. Cancer turned, and upon seeing Taurus' face frowned. "What?" He asked, clueless.

"Why would I have a screwdriver on me?" Taurus questioned.

Cancer shrugged. "Well, why would we try to disable a ray without any tools?"

"Hey! Don't ask me, it wasn't my plan!"

Cancer sighed, sitting on the platform. "Well then... now what?"

Taurus stood there, thinking for a second. Suddenly, she said, "Stand guard."

Cancer gaped. "Me?! I can barely hold off my own little brother!"

Taurus rolled her eyes. "Just do it. I have a plan." Cancer receded, his arms up in a surrender pose. Taurus lept up to the platform and felt around for a screw hole. When she found it, she fished around in her hair, her fingers clasping around something cold and flat. She pulled it out and stuck it in the hole, twisting until the screw fell into her palm. She pocketed the screw and pried open the latch. "Done!" She said, an easy smile on her lips.

Cancer gasped. "A bobby pin?!"

Taurus grinned. "When you're a girl, you pick up these kinds of tricks."

Cancer and Taurus switched places. "Yeah, I can't exactly relate. I'm gonna have to ask Virgo about that." The two snickered.

The two went on for a while, Taurus keeping guard, and Cancer messing with the hatch in the ray. Suddenly, Taurus frowned.

"Isn't it weird?"

Cancer didnt look up. "Well, this whole situation is odd, so I mean... you're gonna have to specify."

Taurus shook her head. "I get that theres chaos all around us and stuff..." she said, looking around at the fighting all around her. "...but does nobody see us here?"

Cancer stopped and looked around, nodding. "Yeah, why hasn't anyone tried to stop us?"

Taurus suddenly felt uneasy. "Uh... Cancer? I don't feel so good about this anymore."

Cancer shot her a reassuring smile. "Everyone's busy, it's probably fine." He went back to his work.

Taurus shrugged, looking at Cancer doubtfully. "Okay," she stammered, forcing herself to man up. Yet the uneasy feeling refused to go away, a heavy ball at the base of her stomach.

"What was that?" Taurus asked suddenly.

"Hmm?" Cancer questioned, skepticism clearly in his voice.

"Never mind..." Taurus trailed. "I thought I saw a shadow."

Cancer's brows furrowed together in worry. "Well, okay..."

Cancer continued to work, wnen he noticed Taurus hadn't said a thing in a while. Not leaving his sight from the panel, he asked, "Hey Tau, is everything okay?"

No response.

Cancer stopped working, his eyes still glued to the intricate workings of the compartment. "Taurus?" He looked to the side without moving to see Taurus still at her position.

No reply.

"T, you're scaring me."

Nothing

"Taurus?" Cancer's lip quivered.

"CANCER!"

Cancer ripped his eyes away from the panel just in time to see Mr. Stern hovering over Taurus, his bony fingers poised to attack. Cancer slid in just in time, throwing an experienced taekwondo kick at the principal, hitting him square in the crotch. He yowled, falling back dangerously close to the ledge.

Cancer pulled Taurus up and ran to the panel, working feverishly. Taurus chuckled nervously in the background. "Well, uh, thanks for that save back there."

Taurus wasn't sure, but she thought she saw him smile for a split second. "I like to pay off my debts quickly." He went back to his work.

Taurus looked behind her shoulder, seeing Mr. Stern trying to get up. "Hurry!" She said, rushing Cancer. "He's getting up!"

Mr. Stern pushed upward, using the ledge to hoist himself up. He scowled, the rage in his eyes deep and dark. He stood, towering over the two. "How dare you little-"

"RUN!"

Aquarius stood on the other side, looking bruised, burnt, and seriously hurt. She beckoned for them to join her, which only Cancer followed. Taurus was about to run, until she saw the panel. The gears in her head clicked, and it all made sense.

"I've got it!" She exclaimed. She tugged on the blue wire, pushing it out of the way so she could access the red one. She pulled the green wire under it up, sparks flying under the friction. It tore, the red one flying out as well. Taurus dug her hands into the panel and pulled hard, sparks hitting her hand painfully as she tore out the final, yellow wire. "Got it!" she exclaimed, waiting for the ray to power off, or shut down somehow.

But it didn't.

Taurus frowned. "What...." She mumbled, scanning the panel carefully, her heart beating frantically.  "It's supposed to work!" Taurus yelled into the air. "Why is this still on?!" She slammed the panel with her fists, frustration seeping through her fingers. She banged her head down, mumbling under her breath.

A chuckle. "You thought it would be that easy?"

Taurus' head snapped up as she whirled around to see the tall Mr. Stern. He had rid himself of the white lab coat, and was now dressed in a neat black suit, his glasses fogging her eyes over. He snapped, sauntering forward in a smooth & sleek manner.

"We aren't that stupid. And to think we had you children fooled for so long... what simple, stupid, children." He spat the word 'children' like it was nasty and below him.

"What do you do?!" Taurus whimpered. "Why can't you turn this off?"

Mr. Stern chuckled, menacing and smooth. "Stupid child," He bent down to face Taurus. "There is no way to shut it off. It's invincible." He brought his hand up and clawed, his long nails scratching Taurus' face painfully. She yowled, jumping back, her hand shielding her face. She fell off the platform, falling into Cancer, who hoisted her up onto her feet.

Mr. Stern snarled, walking forward. "I needed you. I used you. You're useless to me, now. So I'll dispose of you, because I'm done with you." He swiped again, only this time, Taurus slid to the side, his fingers ripping only her leg this time, the fabric tearing. Taurus fell to the ground dramatically, blood seeping out of the ugly scar.

She shuddered, shaking in fear. "Who... who are you?" Taurus pointed a shaky finger at the tall man above her. "Who the hell are you, and what do you want from us?" As if scripted, everyone around her dropped their things and filed up behind Taurus & Cancer in a messy crowd.

Mr. Stern stood up tall and chuckled, his chuckle slowly turning into a cackle, menacing and horrifying.

"Who am I? A question I haven't been asked in quite a while..." he trailed off, his eyes glazing over. "Who am I..."

"I am..."

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This one's pretty long 'cause I felt I owed it to you for not updating sooner... I'm really sorry, so this is my apology. Hope it made up for everything!

I'm so sad cause this is almost over! I'd like to address a couple things though, so please read on! :)

First off, I have to ask you something. I have two versions of the next chapter, only I'm unsure of which to post. Do you want both of only one? And if only one, would you rather a quirky sci-fi ending or a fun thriller-esque finale? I might just do both, but tell me what you think.

Second - THANK YOU SO MUCH! Even though I update slowly, you still read this, and thanks to that, I just got 20k reads, and almost ONE THOUSAND votes! It's impossible to imagine, and can only be credited to you! My undo thanks to y'all, fam! :)

Lastly, I was wondering if anybody might be interested in any extras involving certain characters, like spin-offs or whatever, or if not, maybe some contest or something? I know this book is insignificant and tiny, but still, of you're interested or have ideas, comment or DM me. Still open for casting ideas! :D

Signing off till next time,
ThatOneGirl083 <3

:)