The explosions eventually stopped. Jaiden had fell asleep under Aries' arm. Pisces has fallen asleep on a pot and Aquarius fell asleep on Pisces. Cancer and Aries were sleeping on the floor. Gemini was stress baking while Virgo watched.

"I think the attack is over," Virgo stated plainly. "We should be okay."

Gemini nodded, aggressively mixing cookie dough. "Perfect. We just have to clean everything up, fix the town, oh, and find a way to stop a war."

"Pretty much, yeah," Virgo agreed, nodding cooly.

Gemini started balling up the cookie dough and putting them on a pan. "Piece of cake."

Cancer stirred in her sleep. She proceeded to slowly sit up and run her eyes. "Whats going on? Did the attack stop? Are we safe?"

"For the moment," Virgo replied, staring at her.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Cancer asked. "The bookseller?"

"Yeah. I'm Virgo," he said, holding his hand out to shake. Cancer shook it.

"I'm Cancer," she replied.

"I'm Gemini, welcome to my lovely bakery," Gemini welcomed her.  "It was lovelier before the windows shattered."

"And the roof caved in," Virgo added.

"And the roof caved in," Gemini repeated, shoving the cookies into the oven.

"Here, Gem. Why don't I watch everyone and the cookies and you and Cancer can clean up the glass." Virgo took of his glasses, which were shattered at the lenses. "I'd help, but my vision is impaired at the moment."

Cancer nodded and slowly sat up. "That's a good idea. C'mon, Gemini." Cancer took her arm and lead her into the front of the bakery where glass was all over the floor.

The two cleared away some glass and sat on the floor. Gemini grabbed a dustpan and Cancer a mini broom. They sat there in silence for a moment.

"So, you're Jaiden's aunt?" Cancer asked.

"Not exactly. I'm more like a big sister or something, he just calls me that," Gemini replied.

"Are you okay? You were pretty shaken when that kid stopped crying," Cancer said, looking at her with concern.

"I was just really scared for that poor kid," Gemini replied, wiping her hair out of her face.

"You really love kids, don't you?" Cancer asked with a chuckle.

"You have no idea," Gemini replied, smiling.

"Are you going to have some one day?" Cancer asked.

Gemini's smile melted away and she seemed to look older. "I can't," she said hoarsely.

Cancers heart skipped a beat. "What?"

"I can't have kids," Gemini repeated. "I was tested about a week ago. Just before I met Pisces. I can't have children." Tears were slipping down Aries' face.

"Oh, Gemini..." Cancer pulled her into a hug.

"You can't tell anyone. Especially not Aries or Pisces or Jaiden or Virgo or Aquarius or anyone. Definitely not Jaiden," Gemini pleaded.

"I promise," Cancer told her. They heard a crack from the door.

Both whipped their heads around to see Aquarius standing at the door way. Gemini started crying again.

"Aquarius... how long were you standing there?" Cancer asked him.

Aquarius uncomfortably pulled on his collar of his shirt. "A bit too long. I'm really sorry.... Gemini, was it?"

"You can't tell anyone, Aquarius," Cancer threatened.

"I won't. I wouldn't do that," Aquarius promised.

"Good. I'm holding you to that," Cancer said, a warning tone in her voice.

"Okay, good. By the way, I was sent to help clean up." Aquarius mentioned, walking towards the girls.

"Okay. Grab a dustpan and broom," Gemini said with a hoarse voice. Her eyes were red and skin blotchy.

"Sure," Aquarius said, doing as told. He had to cheer her up somehow. Especially if she wanted nobody to know about her secret. "So, what's your favorite thing to bake?"

"Peanut Butter Flower Cookies. It's a peanut butter cookie with a kiss on top," Gemini said.

"A kiss?" Aquarius asked, slightly surprised. Who would kiss a cookie?

"A Hersey's kiss? Ever hear of it?" Gemini asked him, her eyebrow as high as McGonagall's.

"Oh, um, yeah. That makes more sense," Aquarius agreed, scratching the back of his neck.

The two girls glanced at each other and burst out laughing. Gemini grinned. "What did you think I meant?"

Aquarius gave an awkward smile. "Nothing."

Aries came into the room, rubbing his eyes. "Hey, Gem. Cookies are ready."

"Perfect. Thanks, Rie," Gemini thanked him. "Have Virgo take them out. I have to finish up here."

"Suit yourself. But if Jaiden—"

"If Jaiden eats those before I'm done he's grounded for a week," Gemini threatened.

"Wow. For a sixteen year old, you sure act like a mom," Aries observed.

"For Pisces' personally escort, you sure act really lazy," Gemini countered.

"Touché, Gem. Touché." Aries turned back into the other room.

——————

"They've attacked. This means..." Scorpio said with wide eyes.

"We need a peace treaty. We need Pisces," Draco concluded.

"You can't take away my baby!" Andromeda cried. "You can't!"

"I'd really rather not do this either, Andromeda. If Aquarius was of age, then I would be volunteering him. But he turned sixteen last month, and he won't be of age for too long," Scorpio assured her.

"Capricorn!" King Draco shouted for the boy. Capricorn ran up and kneeled.

"Yes, your majesty?" He asked.

King Draco gazed down at him. "I'm sending you to Flammae to deliver a handwritten message."

Capricorn looked up in terror. "I could be killed! I don't have any training in this sort of thing."

"You'll be going unarmed," King Draco said. Capricorn looked like he might faint. "But you'll also have a general to accompany you."

"Which one?" Capricorn asked. He hoped it was someone he knew and liked.

"Leona Solis, of the Solis kingdom," Draco announced.

Capricorn paled. "But- but—"

"Spit it out, boy!" Draco roared, annoyed by the objections.

"But she's scary! Have you seen her? If looks could kill we'd be dead!" Capricorn cried.

"Soldiers aren't meant to be nice." Leo was leaning against the doorway, her sword in her sheath.

"Capricorn, Leo is our best soldier and General. She is plenty capable of protecting you even if she can be a bit... uh, fearsome," Scorpio explained, coming to Leo's defense.

"I don't doubt she can protect me. She seems plenty capable of that. She's just not friendly. Or nice," Capricorn added, realizing what he said and looking at Leo with fear.

"Leo is plenty nice. Especially once you get to know her," Scorpio defended, getting slightly mad at his insults.

"Scorpio, if I may, I don't care what he thinks. Whether he finds me the sweetest girl in the world of the cruelest doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that he doesn't trust me," Leo explained, stepping to her own defense this time. "Soldiers need to have trust in each other. I can't have his back if he won't have mine."

Capricorn looked at her. He looked startled, as if he wasn't quite expecting that response. "I'll trust you. I'd say you've earned it."

"Perfect. We leave at dawn. Travel lightly. We're sharing a horse," Leo told him as she walked away, one hand on her sword.

Capricorn stared after her as she walked into the palace. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Damn. She is full of surprises."

"By the way, you aren't so nice yourself," Scorpio muttered at him, a frown etched on her face. "Insulting Leo... ha! She's the twice the soldier he'll ever be."

—————-

Pisces sighed as everyone finished cleaning. They sat around at a table and were finishing up Gemini's cookies, which were really good by his standards. Aries looked at him and mouthed, what's wrong?

Pisces looked at Aries and then at everyone else. They deserved to know. "Hey, um, guys?"

"Yeah?" Aquarius asked through a mouth full of cookie.

"I think I'm getting married," Pisces blurted out.

Aquarius choked. Gemini stared at Pisces and then glanced at Aries. Cancer raised a brow.

"You think?" Cancer questioned.

"I might be put in an arranged marriage after the attack to make peace with Flammae," Pisces explained to them. "With Princes Libra."

"Well, I hoped you didn't mean King Cepheus," Aquarius chuckled, causing Gemini to lightly smack him.

"We support you, Pisces," Gemini told him. "That's what Aqua meant to say, I'm sure."

"No, it wasn't," Aquarius shook his head. "On the bright side Libra's not a bit—"

Gemini aggressively covered his mouth with her hand. "Finish that word with Jaiden in the room and the only Prince you'll be is prince of your coffin, you hear?"

Aquarius nodded quickly and Gemini removed her hand, wiping it on his shirt. Aquarius turned back to Pisces. "As I was saying, Libra is a very nice human being and not a big meany. Happy, Gem?"

"Very. Anyways, Pisces, if you need anything we're all here," Gemini told him.

"I have a book you could borrow on how to get out of an arranged marriage," Virgo volunteered, leaving everyone confused.

"Why do you have such a specific book?" Aries asked him.

"You'd be surprised on what people want to buy," Virgo shrugged. "A lot of women from Flammae get it, which really says something about the kingdom."

Cancer and Gemini shuddered. Cancer shook her head and said, "I couldn't bear living in Flammae. It's like the people there have no rights."

"My bakery would be shut down because I'm not a man," Gemini added, pouting at the thought.

"Wait, really?" Pisces asked, furrowing his eyebrows and looking at everyone slowly. "I thought they were doing well. That's what Cepheus always told me and Aqua."

"Everyone knows about how terrible it is there," Aries mentioned. "Bandits on the road. Deserted streets. People hiding whenever a cop comes by. People marry for power and money and not for love."

"I've had women come into my bakery in rags, get some food, and run out as if they're scared to be noticed. If they come back again, I always ask and they're always from Flammae. Except one lady who tried to steal a horse," Gemini informed them.

"I didn't know about this either. Do our families?" Aquarius asked Pisces, who shook his head.

"I don't know. How could we have not known this?" Pisces asked. "We should. We are leaders in our kingdoms but we don't even know what other kingdoms are like!"

"I guess we've got some things to change," Aquarius decided.

"Definitely," Pisces agreed. "Speaking of change, we need to get home. My parents and Scorpio must be worried about us."

"We can all walk you," Aries declared. "As your official escort and his posse."

—————————

Hey! Folklore Forest is up. I won't update that as often, only when I feel like it. Anyways, what's your favorite mythical creature? See ya on the flip side!