The picture is where the idea for this story came from, so don't give me all the credit for the idea. However, the characters and central plot are mine.

The picture gave me an idea, but that will not be exactly how it goes. Have fun~

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     Twelve empires rule over a planet they called the Sphere. ( Possibly the only thing they have ever agreed on.) These empires were Aries, Taurus, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, Gemini, Aquarius, Libra, Pisces, Capricorn, and Sagittarius.

     To put it bluntly, they all hated each other. However, there was a corner of each of their lands that touched. In this little spot, there was portion of neutrality. Right here was a hospital reserved only for pregnant couples. It was quite big, and every baby born in this world began there.

     The idea came from a group of scholars after realizing they had no control over when a baby was born. Obviously, children born under different signs could not live with their parents. It would destroy the whole purpose of the separated empires.

      The entire staff of the neutral hospital was raised from the moment of birth by the previous staff. Any child born on the first of any month of the year, every four years, and did not match the signs of their parents, were kept by the hospital.

     The staff was raised to have no biases in their hearts and weren't told their signs until they are the old age of 52. At that age, they are sent to the empire where they belong. This job wasn't an excuse from the rules, though. If anything, they were more strict.

     No marriage or love in the hospital at all. No emotional connection to children at all. The staff is there mainly to assist with childbirth and any necessary procedures afterwards. Not to mention, they were peacekeepers.

     Rather patriotic parents could have violent tendencies towards even their own children of different signs. It is a rare instance when a parent can muster up the strength to harm a newborn. Sadly, it had happened in the past and measures had to be taken to prevent it.

Moving on, children born of parents from one sign that do not match in signs are called Imbreds. They are taken from their parents, a single picture of their parents holding them is put in a locket around their neck. They are put in waiting cribs on separate ends of the hospital depending on their sign.

The children stay in there, cared for by staff, for a week. Then, they are loaded carefully into a truck and taken to the orphanage in their empire. The orphanage is where parents who can't have children or don't want to risk carrying another sign's child for nine months.

Another matter of different sorts would be crossing the border between two empires. It is not common that an event such as this happens, but the occasional Royal must go and arrange certain things with other Royals. It is very illegal to simply cross the boarder.

Therefore, one must check in with the hospital before crossing into another kingdoms via the entrances located there. Not like it would be possible to enter another sign's territory anyway. There are walls set up on the borders that were built hundreds of years before. They are surprisingly stable for their age and range between 30 to 16 feet tall.

     The terrains in which the people of the kingdoms live varies. It was decided when the empires were starting off as mere towns. Their symbol plays a big part in where they have chosen to place their capital.

     The Aries are rams, they live in the mountains.

     The Taurus are bulls, they live in grassy planes.

The Gemini are twins, they live in mild climates that are not too cold and not too hot.

The Cancer are crabs, they live on the shorelines.

The Leo are lions, they live in dry grasslands.

The Virgo are maidens, they live in forests near rivers or lakes.

The Libra are balances, they live in climates that are equally warm and cold.

The Scorpio are scorpions, they live in the desert but never stay in one place for very long.

The Sagittarius are centaurs, they live in grassy areas near woods.

The Capricorn are goats, they live in rocky areas.

The Aquarius are water bearers, they live on floating, man-made islands in lakes.

The Pisces are fish, they live on house boats on lakes or large bodies of water.

Each sign has adapted accordingly to the areas their ancestors have left for them. It suits them quite well.

You see, no one has ever successfully gone against the order of things. Most people don't accept this order in their younger years. Their ideas of rebellion often diminish once they do cherish what wonders life in their empire has for them.

This takes us to the beginning of our story, back in the hospital. A small baby boy has just been born. His Scorpio parents weep tears of joy knowing that they will keep their first born son.

After all, he shares their sign.