Actor:  Chase Crawford

Virgo walked into Gemini's shop once again, the bell ringing as he entered. Gemini glanced up at him and grinned, running to the back room. She walked out carefully holding a well decorated cake. She cautiously put in on the counter.

Virgo walked up to the counter. "How much do I owe you?"

"Two silver coins," Gemini informed him. Virgo placed the coins in his hand. "Where's your stand?"

Virgo pointed to the left. "About a block that way."

"Good luck. Maybe I'll send Jaiden by," Gemini told him. Virgo nodded.

"You should. He can have a slice of cake," Virgo agreed.

"Totally. If you need anything else, I can send him over," Gemini promised. "He's a hard worker."

"Where is he now?" Virgo asked, peering around the counter.

"He's upstairs in his room. I'll grab him." Gemini ran to the back room as she said this. "Jaiden! Virgos here!"

Footsteps ran through the bakery as a young black boy appeared, his curly hair a mess as he ran in front of the counter and to Virgo.

"Hey, buddy! What's up?" Virgo asked him.

Jaiden laughed and signed, "Nothing much. Are you here for the festival?"

Virgo nodded. "I was wondering if you would like to help me out?"

Jaiden nodded happily, turning to Gemini for approval. Gemini dramatically put a hand on her heart.

"Wow. I'm being replaced," Gemini joked. She then nodded at them. "Go. Have fun."

Jaiden signed, "Thanks. Bye, Auntie Gem."

"Bye, kiddo," Gemini waved as the two walked out the door. Virgo quickly backtracked in. "Forgot the cake?"

Virgo nodded. "Forgot the cake." Virgo grabbed the cake and left once again.

Gemini chuckled and wiped down the counter. She could already see people out an about rather than inside their houses. Pax Universum  Fest celebrated the lasting peace between the kingdoms and it was the biggest holiday among the kingdoms. Everyone enjoyed the festivities.

The door rang to reveal Aries and Pisces,who both looked really happy. Aries ran up to Gemini and hugged her. Gemini hugged him back, slightly confused. But, she liked hugs.

"Guess what?" Aries asked, putting her down. "I've got a promotion!"

Gemini grinned at him. "Dude. No way. What is it?"

"I am now Prince Pisces' personal escort," he said in a fancy accent. "I make twice the money."

Gemini gave him another hug. "That's awesome! So, does this mean you and Pisces can enjoy the festival?" She pulled away as she said it.

"Yeah! Where's Jaiden? I can't wait to tell him." Aries peered around the back room, looking for the little boy.

"You didn't tell me about this in advance, so he's helping a friend of mine. You met him the other day. Virgo Vermillious," Gemini informed him. "He's a block to the left."

"Thanks, Gem," Aries said with a grin. He backed up to Pisces.

Gemini came out from behind the counter to hug Pisces as well. Pisces seemed borderline surprised, like he wasn't hugged very often. Gemini pulled away as she started talking.

"Anything I can do for you boys?" Gemini asked. Wiping her hands on her apron. Aries and Pisces realized they had hands of flour on their backs.

"Can I get two apple flakys?" Aries asked. It was a flaky bread that tasted like apple pie, but sweeter. "For me and Jaiden."

"Fine, but be careful. Do you know how hard it is to get a kid who lives in a bakery to eat healthy?" Gemini asked with an arched brow. Aries remained silent. "It's hard."

"I'll have a brownie, please," Pisces requested.

Gemini served them both up their food. "Anything else?"

"Nah. Here's the pay," Aries dropped two silver coins onto the counter, paying for both he and Pisces.

"It's one silver coin and two bronze. Jaidens is free," Gemini explained.

Aries exchanged the money. "Thanks, Gem."

"No problem, branch," Gem snickered.

Aries rolled his eyes and chuckled. "I'm considering returning this just because of that."

Gemini grinned and grabbed a sign. She placed it on the counter. "Sorry, new policy."

"No refunds if your name is Aries," Pisces read aloud. "Sucker."

"Betrayed by my two best friends," Aries pretended to sniffle. The bell started to ring as people spilled in.

"Either get behind the counter or away from it, please and thank you. I've got customers," Gemini told them. They stepped away from the counter.

"Bye, Gem. I'm gonna find Jaiden and give Pisces a tour!" Aries waved as he skipped out the door with Pisces in tow. Once they got out there Aries stopped and looked at Pisces with concern. "What's wrong, man?"

"Nothing, just something at the meeting last night," Pisces mumbled to him.

"Ah, the confidential stuff. Well, I'll always be by your side. Even if I don't know what's going on," Aries promised him.

Pisces looked at him cautiously. "Can - can I tell you a secret?"

Aries nodded. "Of course, man."

"I might end up in an arranged marriage. But I really don't want to be, especially because I like..." Pisces muttered the rest incoherently.

Aries blinked. "Can you repeat that last bit?"

"I like Gem."

Aries snorted. "Who doesn't? She's nice, sweet, ohhhh. You mean you like her like her. Well, shit."

"You're a bit slow on the uptake," Pisces chuckled.

Aries snorted again. "I've had literally 16 guys come up to me and ask me how to ask out her. Each time, I tipped Gem off. Each time, they failed. You wanna know why?"

"Fifteen of them were assholes." Aries told him, not waiting for an answer. "You're not an asshole. You have a shot at this."

"Who was the sixteenth?" Pisces asked him.

"Jaiden. He was like five and she was like ten," Aries snickered at the memory.

"Who's Jaiden?" Pisces asked in confusion.

"I never told you? He's my little brother. Gem's been taking care of him for me," Aries informed him. "Before I worked at the castle, I hit a real low. Our parents died we were on the streets. I was about eleven and he was five. I was thief, but I was so afraid people would take him away. One day, I stole from Gem's bakery."

"She must've been pissed," Pisces said.

"She was, but it wasn't her bakery. It was her dad's. She was only ten. She was a scary ten-year-old. Her dad saw me and brought me and my brother in. It was an odd family. One dad, a grandfather, one little girl,  and a thief and his little brother. After her dad died, I was sixteen, I decided I needed my own job. To support Jaiden."

"That's really sweet, Aries." Pisces gave him a high-five.

"I think you have a chance with her. Gem is real sweet, you're real awkward. It's perfect," Aries decided.

"I'm not that awkward," Pisces defended.

"You don't know how to respond to hugs," Aries reminded him.

"I'm not hugged often," Pisces admitted.

"Hey, we're here!" Aries changed the subject. A booth full of books was set up. Virgo sat there, selling books to a customer. That customer was Aquarius. Next to him was Cancer.

"Hey, Aqua!" Pisces shouted running up to greet him. "Hey... Cancer, right?"

Cancer nodded. "That's me. Hello, Prince Pisces."

Aries walked up behind him. "And I'm Aries. What's up?"

Suddenly, a little boy came out of the booth and tackled Aries with a hug.

"Hey, Jaiden!" Aries hugged his little brother. Jaiden pulled away.

"I missed you," he signed.

"I missed you too, buddy. I got you something," Aries said, handing him his apple flaky.

"Thanks!" Jaiden signed, taking a large bite.

"This is my friend, Pisces," Aries introduced.

"Hey, Jaiden. It's great to meet you." Pisces held out his hand for Jaiden to shake. Instead, Jaiden hugged him.

"He's been spending too much time with Gem," Aries muttered.

"Good to see you again, Aries." Virgo gave him a smile. "Your brother is adorable."

"Thanks."

"So, Pisces. What are you doing out here?" Aquarius asked.

"Just hanging out with Aries. He's now my official escort," Pisces informed him.

"That's pretty—" A blast cut off Aquarius. It came from about a block away. It caught everyone by surprise. Aries picked up Jaiden.

"We've gotta get to Gem's," Virgo said. "She has the most secure building in town."

Aries nodded. "Run."

——————

Previously.... to now

"The war starts today. Solis and Commetes will see how powerful we are," King Cepheus announced.

Libra looked at Sagittarius and Taurus. They were being marched out with no control over it. They had to fight. At least for today. Taurus glanced at Libra with a plea for help in her eyes. Sagittarius kept marching, pursing his lips in worry. They marched through Flammae, then Solis, then to Commetes. They destroyed everything in their path.

The first thing they did was set off grenades a block away from Virgo's stand. They started to destroy homes and shops. Decorations burned and children were taking prisoner. The generals were in full armor.

Sagittarius was about to knock out a child when a enemy general attacked him. Sagittarius fought back, but the General was better. The general kicked him to the ground, sending his sword flying. His helmet came off and Sagittarius struggled to get up. But the general put a foot on his chest to keep him down.

"You have bested me, good sir. I will go peacefully if you allow me to get up," Sagittarius promised, keeping his hands in sight.

The general took off their helmet. "I am no sir," Leo said, her hair flowing from under it. Sagittarius stared at her. "Under the name of Queen Scorpio and the kingdom of Solis, I arrest you."

"You- you're— you're a—" Sagittarius sputtered out.

"Yes, I know, I'm a girl. A girl who just kicked your bitch-ass," Leo finished. "Now get up."

Sagittarius scrambled to his feet. This chic is freaking terrifying, he thought.

———————-

"We're under attack!" Andromeda cried. "My baby... we have to marry away my baby..."

"We mustn't focus on that right now. Our people are dying." Scorpio kept a level head, despite knowing Cancer and Aquarius were out
there. "I have my troops deployed. My best soldiers are out there fighting."

"We must do the same," Draco agreed. "Capricorn, please send out our best troops."

Capricorn nodded and headed to the barracks. Once our of the kings hearing, he muttered, "I feel like I've been promoted to General without the pay."

————————

Virgo, Aquarius, Jaiden, Aries, Pisces, and Cancer rushes into Gemini's shop and locked the door. It was empty except for Gemini herself.

"What's going on? Why are there explosions?" She asked, stepping out from behind the counter.

Virgo hushed her and hurried them all into the back room. They all sat there quietly, as Jaiden clung onto his brother's arm. Gemini winced every time there was an explosion.

"Flammae is attacking us," Pisces explained in a whisper.

An explosion rang out and the windows of the bakery shattered. Tears came from Gemini, Aries, and Jaiden's eyes. Aquarius looked at Pisces with sympathy.

"Does this mean you have too...?" Aquarius asked, not finishing his sentence.

"Most likely," Pisces agreed.

"I'm really sorry, man," Aquarius told him, pursing his lips.

Pisces glanced at Gemini and muttered, "Me too."

Cancer crawled over and hugged Gemini. They hadn't ever previously met. But Cancer knew the face of someone who needed help. And Gemini had that face. The face of heartbreak and loss.

Another explosion rang out and the roof shook. They hunkered down together as screams echoed from people outside. Aries and Cancer has to hold Gemini down after they heard a child's crying suddenly stop. They couldn't do anything. Not without dying themselves.

——————-

Is it me or Leo just iconic? Okay, I'd got a question for all y'all. How would you feel about me having a second book at the same time? This book would be my MAIN PRIORITY but I've got this great idea. It's called Folklore forest where fairies and mermaids dwell. It's a Zodiac Story. Should I go for it or nah? (Genders and species below)
Aries (F) Mermaid
Taurus (M) Pixie
Gemini (F) Faerie
Cancer (F) Witch
Leo (M) Faerie
Virgo (F) Human
Libra (F) Witch
Scorpio (F) Siren
Sagittarius (M) Centaur
Capricorn (M) Human
Aquarius (M) Fairy
Pisces (M) Merman