Actress: Lana Condor

Libra pulled up in her carriage, sneering at her father. Why did it have to be her getting married? Why not literally anybody else? Her father only glared down at her in response. Libra got out of the carriage with Sagittarius and her bags. She slammed the door shut as Cepheus called after them, "It's for your own good!"

Libra stormed up to the palace, knocking loudly on the door. Sagittarius cradled the bags with his arms, wondering how such a pretty girl looked so much like she wanted to murder a bitch. Aries was the one to answer.

"Hello, your highness," Aries said, "I can bring you to your room."

"Please, call me Libra. Someone should," Libra told him with a certain hostility. "And that would be great, Aries."

Libra walked in, past Aries. Sagittarius followed, nodding at Aries. "Sagittarius."

Aries nodded and responded, "I'm Aries."

Aries lead Libra and Sagittarius to Libra's room. It was large, right next to Pisces' room. Libra. Libra spun around on her heel. "Thank you. You may leave."

Aries nodded, turning to Sagittarius. "I'll take you to the general's quarters. You've only got like five roommates."

"Only?" Sagittarius muttered, putting Libra's bags down and following Aries.

Aries lead him down a corridor, all the way into the basement of the palace. It was also a shelter for anyone who lived or worked there, in case of attack. Aries lead him to a few doors. Aries knocked on the biggest one.

Capricorn grinned and opened it. He stood next to a blonde boy with messy hair and a crooked smile. Capricorn said, "Hey!"

"Hey, Cap! Any idea where Leo is?" Aries asked, peering around.

"Leo? No, but she's stopped rolling her eyes at me now that I've started calling her a bad-ass," Capricorn said unhelpfully.

"Thanks. Who's your friend?" Aries asked.

"This is Ursa Major," Capricorn introduced him. "We're old friends."

"With each other 'til the end of the line," Ursa agreed.

Aries grinned and nodded. "I'm just showing Sagittarius to his quarters." He featured to Sagittarius, who only nodded at them.

"He ain't a talker, is he?" Capricorn asked.

"Not that I've seen," Aries responded. "I'll catch you later, Cap."

Aries gestured for Sagittarius to follow, to the room next to the one they just visited. It had a sign reading, 'Guests (Generals).' They walked in, to see Leo inside of it. The only one inside of it. She glared at Sagittarius and Aries as they walked in, not surprisingly. She was wearing a tube top that seemed to be pretty tight. She wore sweatpants and had her knuckles wrapped up.

"Is this him?" Leo asked. "The one I beat up?"

"Can I not room with her?" Sagittarius asked. "Isn't there a girls room?"

"At the moment, I'm the only female general in all three kingdoms," Leo informed him. "I don't have a choice."

Sagittarius sighed and put his few things on an uninhabited bed. "Fine. Whatever."

Leo nodded. She turned to Aries and said, "I'm going for a workout. If anyone needs me, that's what you should tell them."

Aries nodded. "Of course, Leo. Good luck."

Leo smirked. "Luck's for suckers." She ran out of the room.

"She's terrifying," Sagittarius said once she was gone.

Aries shook his head. "Only if you're the enemy."

————

Libra wandered the castle, clearing her mind. Her father just dropped her off. No, 'I love you,' no, 'Goodbye!' Just, 'It's good for you!' Libra signed and sat down on a bench, just as Aries turned the corner.

"Hey, how you settling in?" Aries asked, sitting next to her.

Libra looked up at him. "Pretty well, I guess."

"How was the trip here?"

"It was okay, I guess," Libra sighed again.

"You really don't want to get married, do you?" Aries asked.

Libra stifled a laugh and looked at him. "That obvious?"

"More subtle than Pisces. He laid face flat on his bed yesterday for an hour," Aries laughed. "Are you in love with someone else?"

"Yes." Libra immediately regretted saying it.

"Who?" Aries asked impulsively.

"I'm very bi. Which is frowned upon in my country," Libra explained. "My best friend, Taurus, I'm falling for her. But it's a dead end. She'd never love me."

"Well, I'm in love with your fiancée, so we're even," Aries explained.

"We're both destined for oblivion, then," Libra sighed.

"I know what'll cheer you up." Aries decided.

"You don't even know me," Libra said, raising her eyebrow.

"You're right, but this cheers everyone up," Aries said. "Let's go get Pisces."

He dragged Libra to Pisces' room, where he was laying on his bed face first. Aries sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Pisces, up." Aries demanded.

"No," a muffled Pisces groaned.

"We're going to Gem's," Aries told him.

Pisces rolled over. "She hates me. Libra hates me—"

"Hi, Pisces," Libra said, pursing her lips.

Pisces sat up. "Oh, um hi."

"Get out of bed, we're going," Aries demanded.

Pisces signed. "Fineeee."

Pisces got up and walked to the door. The three of them walked into town, showing Libra places as they went. They pointed out the alleys where Aries got mugged; the place where Pisces threw up in a trash can; They pointed out Gemini's bakery too. The three entered the bakery, as Gemini waved to them. Cancer and Aquarius sat there.

Gemini ran up to Aries and hugged him. Pisces snickered as two white handprints were at the back of Aries' clothes.

"What's up, Gem?" Aries asked. "Finally got some friends?"

"No, we stopped by but she made us stay for a while so she could say she made plans," Aquarius revealed, causing Gemini to scowl.

"It would've worked, too," Gemini pouted. "Who's your new friend?"

"This is Princess Libra of Flammae," Pisces piped, knowing how she would react.

Gemini bowed, with Aries bringing her up. Gemini laughed and said, "Since you've been working at the castle I've gotten a bunch of royal customers."

"I know, right? I guess it's 'cause I'm so likable," Aries grinned.

Gemini rolled her eyes and pushed pass the boys. She turned to Libra with a wide grin. "Hey! I'm Gemini Costello! Can I get you anything, on the house?"

"Oh no, not on the house," Libra tried to protest, but it wasn't any use.

"Any friend of branch is a friend of mine," Gemini grinned.

"Branch?" Libra asked, very confused.

"Me. I'm branch," Aries said, sighing. "Don't ask."

"I guess I could have a piece of carrot cake," Libra said, looking at the treats.

"Sure!" Gemini went back behind the counter and got her the cake.

Libra gratefully took it and sat down next to Aquarius. She took a bite, and said, "This is genuinely the best cake I've ever tasted!"

"So how's the wedding planning? I've got some ideas!" Aquarius said, getting suspiciously excited.

"Such as...?" Libra asked cautiously.

"Okay, So as you guys are kissing or whatever, I drop down from the ceiling wearing sunglasses and sing a solo," Aquarius suggested.

"Yes," Pisces agreed.

"No," Libra dissed.

"It's perfect! Hilarious!" Pisces exclaimed. "Nebula could join you and you guys could sing a duet!"

"No way in hell is my wedding going to be an Aqua disaster," Libra protested.

"An Aqua disaster?" Cancer asked, glancing at Aquarius, who only laughed.

"Whenever he tries to make a party interesting, he does something stupid and everything goes wrong," Libra explained.

"But it happens at all the best parties!" Pisces argued. "Like my last birthday—"

"He fell on your cake while dancing!" Libra groaned.

"My parents got me the wrong flavor anyway!" Pisces reminded. "It worked out perfectly!"

Libra rolled her eyes. "Here's a compromise: Aqua can sing a solo, no hanging from the ceiling. Before you ask, yes you can make a dramatic entrance."

"Sweet!" Aquarius high fives Pisces.

"I already regret this," Libra groaned.

"He's giving you good reason to," Cancer agreed.

Gemini laughed. "Now I've got to see this."

Pisces winked at her. "If I can convince them to let you cater, then you can."

Gemini raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. "I've got one condition this time."

"I know, I know," Pisces waved her off. "More than a days notice."

Gemini nodded and started to put some more ingredients out, pretty clearly getting ready to bake. Cancer and Aquarius we're laughing over some dumb joke. Pisces and Aries we're discussing something or other. Libra sat there quietly.

Libra was thinking. It was pretty overwhelming for her. I'm getting married, she thought. This isn't what I wanted. Let's look at the bright side. Aries is really sweet, Gemini seems to be so nice, and if Aquarius ruins the wedding it'll piss off my dad. Also, we should make sure Aquarius never runs a country.

Libra smiled and leaned back. This may had been the worst thing to happen to her, but she could still be happy. Pisces and her were friends. It would all be okay.

Libra snapped out of her trance when Cancer screamed and stood up abruptly. Libra spun around to see a man holding a sword, ready to strike. Aries immediately stepped out to protect everyone. Him being on the streets was useful. Pisces was stumbling backwards, touching everything to find a weapon.

Cancer was trying to tug Aquarius away, who only stood there muttering, "Of all the days for Leo to be gone."

Gemini calmly grabbed bread from her counter and walked up to him. The kid stared at her in fear, but Gemini calmly put his sword down and sat him down at a table. She gave him the bread.

"Hey, how old are you?" Gemini asked.

The kid looked uncomfortable. "I'm 14."

"You're too young to be on the streets," Gemini told him, sitting next to him. The rest watched quietly. "Do you have any family?"

The boy shook his head shamefully. "No, ma'am."

"Where are you from?" Gemini asked him, pushing the bread further towards him.

"Flammae. I just escaped the army," The boy said, starting to tear up. "I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to get out."

"That's okay," Gemini said, nodding. "Do you have anywhere to go?"

"No, I'm trying to get to Solis," the boy said, "it's the furthest away."

Gemini lit up. "I have a friend who lives there. He owns a bookstore on maple avenue. He's always saying he's understaffed. How about this? I'll talk to him for you, and in the meantime you can take my extra bedroom."

The boy nodded, sniffling and eating bread. Gemini lead him upstairs, smiling at the others as she went up.

"He escaped the army," Libra said, wide eyed. "It is possible."

"Does this happen a lot?" Aquarius asked sitting back down against Cancers better judgement.

"No," Aries said, shaking his head. "Gem did mention a while back that there'd been a bunch of robberies and thieves and stuff, but I don't think she ever experienced one."

"She really knows how to handle it," Pisces noted, visibly relaxing.

"Yeah," Aries agreed, "it's the way her dad handled me."

"God, Aries, I'm so sorry—" Pisces started to apologize, as if Aries was offended.

Aries shrugged it off. "Nah, I needed a family. If it weren't for Gem's dad, I'd still be on the streets."

"I think we all need a family," Cancer agreed. Aquarius looked at her weirdly.

"You have a family?" Aquarius asked.

"I visit them every Saturday," Cancer informed him. "You do realize I have a life outside of castle life, right?"

Aquarius let out a fake laugh. "Ha... ha... yes?"

Cancer rolled her eyes. Gemini came back down, puffy eyed.

"Those poor, poor kids in Flammae," Gemini said. "They have terrible eating and sleeping conditions, and they were forced into war." She then realized Libra was in the room. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Libra, I didn't mean—-"

Libra shook her head. "No, it's okay. I feel the same way. But if it's possible for him to escape, there's a way for the others to escape."

——————

Hey! If y'all get my avengers references then  y'all get my foreshadowing. Anyways, I did it. Not a late update! Anyways, who's your favorite royal? Mines 100% Aquarius. I've got a friend who's and Aquarius and she cracks me up. Anyways, see you on the Flip side!

Ps if you have any questions abt the story or my update schedule for any of my books, comment here, my message page, or private message me!