"Hey, Gem, Aqua needs someplace to hide for a few days and your obligated to take him in under law so he's not assassinated, that work for you? Also he's behind me with bags," Aries told her so quickly that all she felt to do was slam the door on his face.

Aries turned to Aquarius and smiled at him. "That went better than expected."

Aries knocked again and Gemini opened it. She looked particularly tired. She had bags under her eyes that were especially prominent under her messy blonde hair. Gemini took a deep breath.

"Hello, Branch," Gemini said to him. "Do you happen to recall my two days notice rule?"

"Yeah, sorry about this. We need to relocate Aqua so he's not killed," Aries informed her.

"In that case, you may as well come in," Gemini said. "Sorry I'm a mess. Rush hour just finished."

"You sure that's it?" Aries asked her. Even after rush hour, she generally had a smile on her face.

"I'm really starting to hate people," she groaned.

"Mood," Aquarius muttered.

"Oh, hey, Aqua," Gemini waved at him. She was really out of it.

"What happened?" Aries asked her again.

"This asshole hit on me, asked me to dinner," Gemini explained vaguely. "Tried to fucking assault me."

Gemini proceeded to smile as if I'm a dream. "Nice girls helped me out. One punched the shit out of him. Or I've hallucinated the whole fucking day."

"Who is this dude?" Aries asked. Both of the boys were leaning closer to her.

"No clue. New in town. Wore these ridiculous clothes. They were ugly. Red and orange?" Gemini questioned.

"The attackers. He was one, must've gotten away," Aries gasped. Aquarius nodded and closed the blinds.

"Listen, Gem, be real careful around people dressed like that," Aquarius told her. "They're out to get us all."

"You know what? Fuck it alllllll," Gemini groaned. "Aqua, you're staying here?"

Aquarius nodded at her. Gemini sighed. "You mind helping me work the counter during your stay?"

"Would you mind helping me?" Aquarius asked unsurely. He hadn't worked much throughout his life. He wasn't even a people person, unless they were in books.

"Sure thing," Gemini nodded and gave him a thumbs up. "I just need some sleep..."

"Gem, where's he gonna stay?" Aries asked her.

"It can't be the guest room, I've been filling it up with ideas for cakes for Pisces' and Libra's wedding," Gemini explained. "I baked so many cakes that I had to put them in storage."

"So...?" Aries continued, trying to get some info out of her.

"He can room with me or Jaden," Gemini told him. "Jaden's pretty young and his rooms pretty small. If you room with me, you can have Aries' old bed."

"You haven't gotten rid of it?" Aries asked in disbelief.

"I'm a sentimental person," Gemini said with a smile and a shrug.

"You guys were roommates?" Aquarius asked suddenly.

"We were practically siblings," Aries responded. "Her dad took me in after I tried to steal from him. Gemini hated me for it for weeks."

"I would put Mayonnaise in his pillow," Gemini said proudly.

"She loved my brother though," Aries said. "Thought he was adorable."

"Jaden still is. After dad died, it was just the three of us," Gemini explained. "Aries wanted to help out with the money, so he got a job at the castle. And here we are now."

"That's a cool origin story," Aquarius said with a smile.

"Thanks. So where you sleeping?" Aries asked again. Honestly, if he wasn't back within the next hour, he could lose his job.

"If you don't mind Gem, I'd rather room with you than Jaden," Aquarius decided.

Gemini gave him a thumbs up. "I'll bring your bags up. I'm closing early today, anyways."

"What? Why?" Aries asked with furrowed brows.

"It's Veterans Day," Gemini told him. "There's a ceremony in town. I'm planning on going with Jaden and Virgo?"

"I'm in," Aquarius said with a stupid grin on his face.

"Perfect," Gemini agreed. "Bye, Aries."

——————

Pisces sat by a window, watching a few children play in the gardens of Flammae's palace. Pisces pouted and wondered what Aries was doing. He was probably hanging out with Gemini somewhere. She would say, Hey, Branch. He would sigh and reply, I need something important. And she would groan and say, Two days notice.

Needless to say, Pisces was homesick. He missed the way Gemini made fun of Aries and left flour handprints on their backs after a hug. He missed the way Aries would goof around instead of properly work. He missed how Nebula would make fun of him for being such a dork. He missed his moms hugs and his dads pats on the back.

He certainly did not miss being forced into marriage. He did not miss being rejected by Gemini. He did not miss the attacks happening outside his window.

Leona walked by. Pisces look up at her, causing her to stop and look at him in return.

"Yes, your highness?" Leona asked, slightly irritated. She was sharing a room with Sagittarius. Again.

"Leo, have you ever been in love?" Pisces asked her dreamily. "Have you ever wanted someone so so badly, you felt like you might burst?"

"I'm gonna have to say no, Prince Pisces," Leona replied. "My brother did always say that love is for suckers."

"Do you believe that?" Pisces inquired, staring straight into her eyes.

"I believe love is risky for those on the warfront," Leo replied. "There's nothing worse than seeing a loved one murdered in front of you."

Pisces blinked at the bluntness, but slowly nodded. "That puts things into perspective."

"What? You love someone?" asked Leona dubiously.

"I do, Leo," Pisces said, staring out the window. "Her hair shines of a light gold. Her eyes are bright and cheerful. She's small and cuddly like a dog. When she hugs you, she leaves her handprints with flour. She's the best person I've ever met. Besides, Aries, I guess."

"This doesn't sound like Libra," Leona told him. She leaned against the wall.

"I'm afraid not," Pisces agreed. "I'm in love with a simple baker girl. Is it wrong to love someone other than your fiancée when you were forced into marriage?"

"If I'm being blunt, not enough people have been in your situation to ask," Leo told him.

"What would you follow? Head to heart?" Pisces asked her eagerly.

"In battle, of you follow your heart, you or someone you care about will be stabbed through it," Leona said, and stood up straight. "Following your head leads to less pain."

Pisces nodded as Leo walked away. Leo says head. I wonder what the rest think...?

Fortunately and not just for plot purposes of the story, Sagittarius just so happened to be walking by. Pisces stared at him until he stopped.

"Yes, Prince Pisces?" Sagittarius asked him in confusion.

"Have you ever been in love?" Pisces asked him, taking Sagittarius by surprise.

"No, but that girl from Solis was really cute and nice," Sagittarius mentioned. Pisces ignored that part.

"I need advice," Pisces told him.

"Shoot," Sagittarius said, signaling him to proceed.

"I'm in love with a girl who's not Libra, but I'm engaged to Libra," Pisces explained quickly. "What should I do? Follow my heart and get the girl I love or follow my head and protect my kingdom?"

"Follow your heart," Sagittarius decided easily. Pisces looked at him in surprise. "Life has a funny way of getting you where you need to go. Emotions overpower your head anyways. Sometimes it's better to close your eyes and let go."

"Why?" Pisces asked, startling Sagittarius.

"My older brother was going to be forced to join the war force," Sagittarius explained to him. "It would have been smart to have let him, but I volunteered instead. I didn't want him getting hurt. Besides, my mom needed him at home. I don't regret my decision."

Pisces nodded as Sagittarius stalked off. This wasn't making sense to him. If you listen to your heart, you'll get stabbed, but if you listen to your head someone else will? What the hell?? Why doesn't life come with an instructions manual?

"You look depressed," Taurus remarked. She leaned against a wall on the opposite side of the room. She raised her eyebrows at him. "What's wrong?"

Pisces furrowed his brows. Who is this chick again? Tony... tally... taur— Taurus? Taurus!

"I'm in love with someone who's not your sister," Pisces explained briefly. "I don't know what to do."

"Well, What are your options?" Taurus asked him.

"I could follow my head or follow my heart," Pisces explained. "But so far both will get me killed."

"Sounds like you've gotten advice from the toy soldier and the scary chick," Taurus snorted. "The obvious answer is neither."

Pisces opened his mouth in confusion. "I'm not so sure I follow."

"Follow your gut," Taurus said simply. She waved her hand around as she talked. "Your instinct will always lead you to the right way place. Don't think it through. Stand up for what you believe in. Don't move."

Pisces nodded half-heartedly. "Uh-huh."

"Don't forget that," Taurus told him. "I hope that helps." Taurus walked away as she finished her sentence, leaving Pisces more confused than before.

"It helps, alright," Pisces muttered. "It helps create a whole new set of problems."

"Girl troubles?" A voice asked from behind him. Pisces turned his head to see Libra, hands on her hips.

Pisces nodded. "Yeah, How much did you hear?"

Libra shrugged and sat next to him. "All of it. Don't worry, I don't love you either, and besides, I've got some good advice."

"God, I hope so," Pisces grumbled. "You'd be the first to give it to me."

"Do I love you?" Libra asked him softly.

Pisces shook his head. "No more than a friend."

"Does Gemini love you?" Libra asked.

"She rejected me," Pisces grumbled. "Told me it'd never work. Where is this getting me?"

"The secret to life is to use your head and your heart and your gut. If you listen to all three, you're going to go in the right direction," Libra explained to him.

"So, What should I do?" Pisces asked in utter confusion.

"Well, Aries is kinda hot," Libra replied.

Pisces nodded absently, but then looked up quickly in confusion. "Wait, What?"

Libra giggled. "You'll figure it out eventually, I'm sure."

Pisces blinked at her. "No, no I won't. Tell me."

"I'd better go check on Taurus," Libra said vaguely. She skipped off down the hallway, leaving a opened mouthed Pisces.

Pisces let out a long sigh. "I just had to be forced to marry her. At the very least, Aqua doesn't talk in riddles." Then Pisces furrowed his brows some more. "Then again, he kind of is one."

—————

Hello! Another update! Anyways, quick poll. What's your favorite book I've ever written? (If you've read any other than this) also, which do you prefer: Folklore Forest or To Rule the World? See you on the Flip side!
Also check out my Tags and Announcements book cuz I may start to use it more