Capricorn screamed. At the top of his lungs. He woke up in a cold sweat. Ursa was dead. Ursa was dead. Ursa was dead. That's what was real. But he kept having nightmares. Ursa dancing in his head, dancing with Leo. Until they both got stabbed. Leo was alive. Leo was alive. Leo was alive.

And I'm the cot next to him. Shit. Leo sat up in bed. They were still stuck in the infirmary. And after that, they'd be sharing the generals room.

Leo looked at him with hollow eyes. Her hair was tangled and her hospital dress was crinkled. She glared at her friend.

"Tell me what's wrong or I'll smack you so hard your nightmares will disa-fucking-pear," Leo growled. Also, she was not a morning person.

"It was you and Ursa. You were dancing," Capricorn mumbled out.

"That is terrifying," Leo muttered, but let him continue.

"And then you both got stabbed," Capricorn told her. Leo quieted down. She didn't exactly know how to respond.

Leo hauled herself out of bed. She dragged herself over to Capricorn's cot and sat down. She swung her legs on to the bed and sat next to him as he laid down. She gave him a weak smile.

"It's okay," Leo said soothingly. "I'm still here. What happened to Ursa was not your fault. We will make sure he has an awesome funeral, just like he asked.

"I just didn't think the end of the line would be so soon," Capricorn choked. He grabbed Leo's hand with both of his and cried. Leo pulled him in so that he was leaning against his waist. And he cried. Capricorn cried so long and so hard, he didn't know if he'd ever smile again.

Leo didn't look at Capricorn as he cried. She stared directly at the wall. She hadn't known Ursa well, but Capricorn was so distraught even she was upset. But she, too, had lost a dear friend. Nebula should not have gone into battle that day. If Leo hadn't gotten hurt, the Nebula would not have gone out. If Nebula has not gone out, she wouldn't have been killed.

This was obviously not Capricorn's fault. This was not Ursa's fault. And it was certainly not Nebula's fault. In her mind, every death of every soldier that day was her fault.

"The funeral is today," Leo added, stroking his hair. "You can make the best speech known to man."

Capricorn sobbed some more and hugged Leo around her waist. "He was my best friend. He deserved better than this. He deserved better than me."

"I know, sweetie," Leo murmured to him. "It's hard. It doesn't get easier."

"I'm a general. I watched my friends die around me. You would think that's the worst part? It isn't," Capricorn cried into her.

"The worst part is that you didn't," Leo agreed. "I know. I feel it everyday. I feel it for so long. And it doesn't go away."

"I want to change it," Capricorn wailed. "I wanna go back in time and fix it."

"There are three things I wish I'd known," Leo told him, "when I was younger and dreamed of glory: you have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story."

Capricorn just clutched her waist tighter and cried harder. There was nothing more Leo could do for him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Pisces was happily preparing to leave Flammae. It was perfect. He could go home, see his parents, his sister, Aries, and Gemini. Nebula was going to have so much fun when she hears his stories. He missed her teasing him so much. But he'll see her soon, right?

A knock was heard at the door. Pisces peered around the room. Who would be visiting him? Could it be Libra? Sagittarius? Taurus? Pisces wasn't sure. He got up and opened his bedroom door. Outside was a messenger. He gave Pisces a letter and turned around without saying goodbye. He left Pisces to be alone with it.

Pisces furrowed his eyebrows and opened up the letter. His eyes watered as he read it.

My dearest Pisces,

I regret to inform you that your sister is dead. Nebula was killed in the Battle of Astri against Flammae. I'm afraid this means you will be king of Flammae.Your sister was incredibly brave when she died. She died fighting for what she believed in, and leading people who believed in it. I can only pray you will be as brave as her when handling this news. Remember, you have yur friends and your family by your side. I love you.

With much love, Mom

Pisces dropped the laundry he was holding. He dropped everything. He practically dropped his will to live. He stormed out of the door. He was not wandering blindly. He was looking for Libra. She had to be responsible. It was her soldiers. It was her country. The blood was on her hands.

Pisces slammed his fists on the door until Libra answered. Libra did not look happy when she answered it.

"What? What is so important this early in the morning?" Libra groaned. Her hair was a bigger mess than my life. She was still in her nightgown

"Nebula is dead," Pisces said in a monotone voice.

Libra instantly melted down into tears. "Oh, Pisces, i'm so sorry."

"Save your fucking pity," Pisces scowled. "It's your fault."

Libra looked up and wiped away some of her tears. "What? Pisces, I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"Flammae soldiers killed her," Pisces said, his disgust growing. "They're calling it The Battle of Astri."

"That wasn't my fault, it was my fathers," Libra told him. She started to raise her voice. "I didn't even know it was happening?"

"Don't lie to me!" Pisces said through sobs. "Don't fucking lie to me. I am so fucking done with being forced into these situations."

"It's not your fault Nebula is dead, Pisces," Libra told him. "But it's not mine, so take your shit out on someone else."

As Libra went to close the door, Pisces stopped her. HE looked down as tears dropped to his shoes. "I'm sorry."

Libra nodded and didn't close the door. "I know you are."

"I have to be king now," Pisces told her.

"You were going to be from the moment we got engaged," Libra said. "This time, it'll be of your own kingdom. Now, Taurus will be forced to be queen."

"Libra?" Pisces asked her, going in for a hug.

Libra brought him in for the hug. "Yes?"

Pisces squeezed her tightly. "Will Gemini like me more now? Will she love me now?"

Libra sighed. "I think she'll want to be with you less. But she'll still love you as a friend. But, Aries is still always there for you."

Pisces was even more confused now, but he nodded into her shoulder. He missed his sister who would say he was being dumb. He missed his best friend who would pat him on the back and say it would be okay. He missed Aquarius who would make him smile. He missed Gemini who would give him the best pie ever.

---------------------------------------

Scorpio sat at home when she got the letter. It was similar to Pisces' letter. She knew what this meant. Commetes was currently weak. Flammae had the current possesion of their future king and queen. This was terrible.

Nebula was always such an amazing princess, and an even better friend. In some ways, Scorpio knew it was better for her to die a brave leader than to die a cowardly follower.

But still, she couldn't help but wonder... why? Why would Nebula risk it all for one battle? Without friends, or backup, or anyone knowing?

Why would she leave without saying goodbye?
—————

Aquarius and Gemini sat together in the corner of the bakery. On the floor. It was closed. Everything was. They were recovering from the battle of Flammae.

"I can't believe that just happened," Gemini mumbled.

"Is this really what's it like living in a town?" Aquarius asked her with worry.

"Not generally," Gemini replied, "this only happens during wars. It's the first one I've been alive during."

"What happened to the kids we saved?" Aquarius asked curiously.

"Shipped off to foster care," Gemini explained. "I hear the lesbian couple across the street took a few in."

"And us?" Aquarius asked. He almost wanted Gemini to reply with, Yes, we're taking some in. You and I can raise this kid together and he'll be perfect and love us.

But, instead, she said, "Nothing. We don't have the room right now. Plus, we've got Jaden. I sent some out to a few contacts. Virgo's got Jacks cousin too."

"Virgo's ending up having his own little family," Aquarius chuckled.

"Their work pays their rent and stuff," Gemini replied. "It's why they're still there. But they're old enough to know what they're doing. I think he's grown fond of them."

"Just like you grew fond of Jaden," Aquarius mentioned.

"No, I was always fond of him," Gemini explained. "It was Aries that took some getting used to."

"Was it like growing up here?" Aquarius asked. He leaned up and peered out the window. Even after the bloodshed, the town was bursting. Neighbors making sure everyone was alright. It was a calming sight to him.

"It was fun. You could stay out until dark as a kid. We played outside a lot. We played tag, hide-and-seek, even manhunt—"

"Wait," Aquarius interrupted. "What's manhunt?"

"How have you never played manhunt?" Gemini asked him in utter shock. "It's where you split up into two teams. One hides, one finds. If the hiding team can get to base before their tagged, they win. But they can get arrested. If they're tagged out of jail, they have a chance. It's so much fun."

Aquarius has no idea what any of that meant, so he politely nodded along. "What else?"

"Well, there was school a lot," Gemini explained. "It was the worst. Six hours a day of sitting inside and learning. Twelve grades. Of course, Aries and I are dropouts."

"Wait, you dropped out of high school?" Aquarius asked. He didn't go to a school. He was privately tutored with Scorpio. Going to school with only your sister is the absolute worst.

"Most kids did," Gemini said, with a shrug. "Most kids had to drop out to help their parents. Usually only the richer could complete it. They had more time. Aries and I were gonna before dad died. Jadens still going. He's gonna finish, or so help me—"

Aquarius interrupted with a chuckle. "It's so different than growing up royal."

"How So? What was your childhood like?"

"Well, we didn't do much playing. It was really lonely. The noble boys all had their schools and couldn't play with me all day," Aquarius mentioned. "And Scorpio and I were privately tutored, and it sucked. First, the guy was the worst. Second, you try living up to your wacko sister."

"I'm sure Aries can tell you something about that," Gemini told him. "Since I always overshadowed him."

"Ah," Aquarius mused, "So you were the loser."

Gemini scoffed. "I am not a loser."

A knock came at the door. Aquarius got up and answered it. A messenger gave him a letter and walked away. Aquarius opened it to have tears flow from his face.

"Aqua, sweetie, what is it?" Gemini asked him, standing up.

"Nebula is dead."

———-

Sorry it's late swims got me beat. Anyways contests still stands. Here's the prizes:

1) To be a character in Folklore Forest (and all things below)

2) To have a shoutout in this book, FF, and my convo board thing

3) To have a shoutout in this book and convo

All three pieces will be featured in this book

Anyways, see you on the Flip side