The zodiacs were standing in the backyard, blindfolded.

"Are we being kidnapped?" asked Pisces.

"Yes," joked Libra. Her and Virgo were the only ones not blindfolded.

"Okay, take off your blindfolds!" ordered Virgo. Everyone took off their blindfolds to see what looked like torture to some people but fun to others. Virgo and Libra had set up a bunch of equipment for the next round of training. Including monkey bars, tires, ropes tied around tree branches, etc.

"More training?" groaned Cancer.

Libra nodded. "This is going to help you physically. You will all try the different obstacles one at a time." She walked over to a path of rocks large enough to stand on. "First you have to jump from rock to rock. If you don't land on the next rock successfully you have to start over. Then you climb the monkey bars." Libra walked past the obstacles and stood in front of two lines of tires. "You put one foot in one tire, the other in the adjacent tire, then you run through all the tires. You have to put your foot in the tire holes, you can't just walk on the edges. Then you come over to this tree, climb the rope, then you swing from this rope to that rope there-"

"Then we WHAT?" asked Taurus.

Pisces crossed his arms. "I think you thought we are all Tarzan or something."

Libra sighed. "Then you swing from rope to rope, LIKE TARZAN. You only have to do it twice-"

"That's two more times than I'd prefer," scoffed Capricorn.

"-and then you have to do three laps around the house."

Capricorn whispered to Cancer who was standing bedside him. "She's trying to kill us. She's sick of our shit so this is how we die."

Cancer nodded. "She could have planned a worst death for us, honestly."

Libra walked back to her starting point. "Then you'll do fifty jumping jacks, fifty push-ups, and fifty crunches all in a row. Okay?"

"I think not," replied Aries. "There's no way I'm doing all that."

Virgo grinned and held up a small bowl. "You won't get your phones back if you don't."

Despite seeing their phones in the bowl, everyone checked their pockets for their phones anyway.

Leo looked at Virgo in surprise. "How did you get those?"

Libra shrugged. "I have magic fingers. Since I made this obstacle course, Virgo and I will not participate and we'll instead encourage you by blowing into our whistles if we see you slacking off. Got it?"

"That's not fair," pouted Scorpio. "If we suffer you do too, mark my words."

Virgo put his whistle in his mouth, and made a very annoying and loud sound. "So who's going first?"

Gemini raised his hand. "I volunteer Gem."

Libra clasped her hands together and smiled. "Perfect! Thanks Gemini. You can start right away."

Gem pointed at her brother and laughed at him in a very loud and exaggerated way.

"Aqua is sneaking away!" screamed Sagittarius.

Aquarius, who was halfway to the house, turned around. "You weren't supposed to rat me out."

Sagittarius ran over to Aquarius, grabbed his hand, and pulled him back over to the group. "Best friends make each other do stupid things. So you're doing this with me. Because it's stupid."

Gemini stood on the first rock. "I'm ready."

Virgo nodded. "Three... two... one..." at the sound of the whistle Gemini took off. Virgo started the stopwatch.

"Wait. We're being timed?" asked Pisces.

Libra lightly smacked Pisces on the head. "You naughty children complain about everything!"

"Look at her acting like she's older or something," muttered Leo.

Gemini climbed up the monkey bars after jumping from rock to rock. He managed to hold on and get across every one.

"Okay while he finishes, let's let the next person go!" announced Virgo. "Scorpio show them all how it's supposed to be done."

Scorpio walked over to the first rock and at the sound of the whistle, Libra pulled a stopwatch out of her pocket to record Scorpio's time.

"Plot twist. They have one stopwatch for each of us in their pockets," whispered Gem.

"Hey guys. I have an idea," smirked Aries. "Anyone interested listen up and don't act suspicious."

"I'm not getting in trouble with Libra today, but I won't ruin your plans," whispered Taurus.

Aquarius nodded. "Yeah, same for me."

Everyone else carefully inched closer to Aries so that she could whisper her plan. Gem, Pisces, Sagittarius and Leo also had some ideas so together they discussed their new secret mission. Cancer and Capricorn listened closely and agreed to the other's ideas.

Gemini reached the part where he had to swing on the ropes. After climbing up, he swung on the rope and perfectly grabbed the next rope while midair.

"He's using his powers to cheat," whispered Aquarius.

Taurus nodded. "Yeah. Ropes don't swing quite the way that one just did. It's too bad I don't have air powers so I can't cheat."

Aquarius smirked. "I'll help you out when it's your turn, but you owe me one."

Taurus smiled. "Perfect. Thanks!"

Gemini sprinted around the house while Scorpio swung from rope to rope from pure skill due to lots of training.

"When does the next person go?" asked Sagittarius.

"Oh yeah!" Virgo pointed to Aries and Sagittarius. "You two go next. I don't have anymore stopwatches so just unlock your phones. We'll use your phones as your stopwatches." He handed the girls their phones to use as stopwatches. "I don't care who goes first. Go at the same time if you want."

"I'll go first," suggested Aries. Sagittarius lined up behind her. When the whistle blew, Aries and Sagittarius hopped from rock to rock one after the other.

"Who's going after them?" asked Cancer.

"NOT IT!" Pisces dropped to the ground with a finger on his nose. Everyone else followed suit except the two unbothered zodiacs.

"It's between Taurus and Aquarius," announced Capricorn.

Taurus shrugged. "I can go I guess."

Gemini reached the beginning. He immediately started doing jumping jacks. Being honest, he took breaks when he had to, but did all fifty before starting his push-ups. Why couldn't everyone be like him?

Scorpio ran over beside Gemini and started her jumping jacks, skipping a few when Virgo and Libra weren't watching.

Aries and Sagittarius just arrived to the ropes. Aries managed to climb up the first rope. She tried to swing to the next one, but fell down. Sagittarius laughed and walked up to try herself. She fell the same way Aries did. They weren't getting through this obstacle anytime soon.

"Next is..." Libra surveyed the group. "Taurus."

Taurus unlocked her phone for the stopwatch and stood on the rock, waiting to start.

"Hey idiots! Can't you do better than that?" teased Leo.

Sagittarius held up her favourite finger for Leo. How thoughtful.

Gemini finished, breathing heavily. Virgo showed him his time. Gemini nodded and hoped to do better next time. Scorpio finished soon after, also taking note of her time.

"When are we going to do the plan?" whispered Cancer.

"When Aries gives the signal," replied Gem. "They're still at the ropes. That could be a while."

Taurus caught up to Aries and Sagittarius. With the help of Aquarius secretly using his powers, she swung from rope to rope easily.

Aries' jaw dropped. "How did you do that?"

Sagittarius sighed. "We really suck at this."

"Next is Aquarius and Gem," announced Libra. They used the stopwatches Gemini and Scorpio used.

"This plan better get on the go soon or else it will be futile," whispered
Pisces.

Scorpio's eyebrows shot up. "What plan?"

"Oh yeah." Capricorn quietly explained the plan to Gemini and Scorpio.

"I'd better help dumb and dumber," sighed Leo. She walked forward and fell, screeching dramatically as she clutched her knee to her chest.

Virgo and Libra turned to see what happened.

Not missing an opportunity, Aries ran past the ropes. Sagittarius ran over to the last one and started climbing. When Virgo turned back around to glance at everyone, Sagittarius swung off the last rope and landed beside Aries.

"FINALLY!" cheered Sagittarius.

"Did they finally get past the ropes?" asked Libra.

Virgo squinted at them suspiciously. "It would appear that way."

Aries held a thumbs up as her and Sagittarius sprinted around the house.

Leo stood up. "I think my leg is okay now. I was being a bit too dramatic I think."

Libra nodded. "As long as you're alright. Take it easy on that leg and don't hurt yourself."

Leo grinned. "Alright."

Doing her part in the secret mission, Gem made it obvious she was using her powers to cheat.

"Hey!" Virgo pointed at Gem. "You clearly used your powers to help you get across those monkey bars!"

Gem put her hands on her hips. "No I didn't!"

Libra and Virgo were so busy arguing with Gem, they didn't notice everyone except Gem and Aquarius sneak away. They didn't even notice that Taurus started her first lap around the house two minutes ago and still didn't come around the other side.

"Wait. Where is everyone?" asked Gem. Virgo and Libra's heads whipped around. They stared at the empty spot where the others were a minute ago, disappointed but not surprised. While their backs were turned, Gem cautiously made some winds lift her in the sky, and carry her over Virgo and Libra's heads.

"Did you see where they-" Libra turned around to see Aquarius swing off the last rope.

Aquarius looked around. "Hmm... the others are so quiet that it seems like I'm the only one here. Oh wait."

Virgo glanced at the phone bucket. It was knocked over as if some kind of breeze tipped it over. The phones were gone.

Libra threw her whistle at the ground. "Let's go find those little shits."

Virgo sighed out of frustration. "They really do act like kids."

Libra took a hair tie off her wrist and quickly tied her long dark hair up. "Yes, but they're going to be punished like kids when we find them." She pointed at the footprints left in the snow. "Let's start with these."

Virgo and Libra quickly followed the trail of footprints.

Being left all alone, Aquarius decided it was the perfect time to make some hot chocolate without anyone else demanding that he make them one too.

***

After running away, the zodiacs split up. The fire signs, Gem and Cancer ended up running through the streets of their neighborhood, towards the city. Scorpio and Gemini led Capricorn, Taurus, and Pisces to the opposite end of the city, and wouldn't tell them what they were doing.

"I'm... tired," panted Gem. The small group stopped to breathe. Right now they were standing on a sidewalk just outside a small café.

"I smell something good." Cancer looked around. "Oh, there's a café right behind us."

"Let's go in and relax!" suggested Sagittarius. Agreeing to the idea, everyone entered the building.

Cancer and Gem ordered a strawberry and custard pastry each and strawberry banana smoothies, Aries ordered a piece of cookie dough cheesecake and a milkshake, Leo ordered a cookie and a green tea, while Sagittarius ordered a doughnut and a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream. They all sat down in a booth in the corner of the room.

"How did we all get split up anyway?" asked Aries.

Sagittarius sipped her hot chocolate, unknowingly giving herself a whipped cream mustache, and shrugged. "I guess we all panicked and ran either left or right at the end of our driveway."

Gem looked out the window. "So where are we going? We escaped that stupid training obstacle course. Where do we go now?"

"I've got it all under control." Cancer pulled his phone out of his pocket. "I'll use the map to see what's nearby."

"You don't know your way around the city?" smirked Aries.

"Do you?" challenged Sagittarius.

"Not at all, it's too large. I've never been to this part of the city before." Aries glanced out the window. "It's nice out here. There's not as much traffic and buildings. It's more peaceful."

"Then why did you smirk at me?" asked Cancer.

"Because tormenting people is my job."

Leo picked up her phone and debated something.

"What is it?" asked Gem.

Leo unlocked her phone. "Should I sign into that GPS app we all have? It will let us see where Libra and Virgo are but it will show them our location temporarily."

Gem bit her lip. After careful consideration she suggested, "why not do it before we leave?"

Cancer nodded. "Perfect. Then we'll be out of here before they come."

"I wonder what the others are doing," announced Sagittarius who was completely tuned out.

Leo shrugged. "I don't have any idea. Oh yeah, it's New Year's Eve tomorrow. Good thing I don't have to work."

"When's your next shift?" asked Gem.

"I put in my two weeks in already. My last shift was yesterday."

"WHAT?" all four others looked at her in shock.

"Yeah. I don't need the money anymore." Leo leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. "I was saving up to visit Serenum, banned or not, but I've decided that now wouldn't be the best time to visit anyway. I'll get back there someday, I'm just too stressed out with everything going on to continue working. I'm glad I put my two weeks in already, because after what Ophiuchus told us, I think I'd rather train than go to work anyway."

"No more discounted ice cream?" pouted Sagittarius.

Leo chuckled. "No. You weren't supposed to get a discount anyway. My boss just let me share with my friends because I was one of her favourite employees."

After everyone had finished, Leo opened her GPS app.

"SHE'S RIGHT THERE! THEY'RE MAYBE THREE MINUTES AWAY!" screamed Cancer.

Everyone sprinted out of the café with nervous laughter as they ran away.

***

"This is odd," noted Pisces as they walked on the sidewalk of the opposite side of the city. The traffic was much more crowded here.

"Shhh!" Scorpio pressed a finger to her lips. "It's in the plan."

"WHAT PL-" Capricorn caught himself just in time. He nervously glanced around. "-ANET is your favourite?"

"I like Earth," replied Gemini who hasn't stopped casually scanning his surroundings.

"Look at that woman's scarf. It's really PINK," hinted Scorpio. "Reminds me of the pony PINKY pie."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh," whispered Capricorn. "Wait why?"

"Just trust them," whispered Taurus. "They thought of this in advance. We're just trying to see if their idea is going to work."

Pisces stuck his hands in his pockets. "I'm nervous."

"We'll be fine," Taurus smiled reassuringly, despite being stressed herself. She acted calm to make everyone else calm, even if her instincts were telling her to run.

Capricorn exhaled sharply. "I hope this works but I also hope it doesn't."

"What are you three whispering about back there?" asked Gemini.

Without hesitation, Capricorn replied, "you."

Gemini rolled his eyes. "It better be about how great I am or else I'll throw you all off a cliff."

Taurus' phone vibrated in her pocket. She unlocked her phone and started texting.

"Who's that?" asked a nosy Pisces.

"Aqua. He wants to know how we're doing."

"What are you telling him?" Gemini looked over to see Taurus' screen.

"Just what we're doing. Pisces!"

Pisces snatched Taurus' phone and began trolling Aquarius. "I'll just mess with him a little."

"How do we attract attention?" asked Scorpio. "I don't even see anyone nearby with pink hair."

"Because a stalker won't just walk around in the open," whispered Pisces. "She's waiting to corner us."

"Then let's play right into her hands." Scorpio waited for the traffic light to change before crossing the street. The buildings were close enough together to create alleys.

"Did you guys feel that?" Taurus resisted the urge to look around. That would be too obvious.

Gemini nodded slightly. "Be very careful guys. Stick together."

Pisces rolled his eyes. "Really? I was going to walk away from you guys and get killed by the stalker."

Capricorn lightly hit Pisces on the back of the head.

Taurus was glad she was wearing gloves to shield herself from the cool winter air. Otherwise her sweaty palms would have revealed how nervous she was. "It's just one girl. No matter how dangerous, it's five against one."

"I THINK I DROPPED MY PHONE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE," announced Scorpio in a casual yet loud voice. Loud enough to be heard by any eavesdroppers.

The zodiacs turned down a dark alley. They followed it until they reached a small opening behind two buildings. Everyone started pretending to search for a phone.

Suddenly a ring of fire burnt around everyone. They all looked around in unison.

On top of a relatively low building, stood a figure with long pink hair, aiming two guns at them.

***

Aquarius was home alone. So far he made himself hot chocolate, played with Handsome, and took a nap while he could.

Now that he was awake, Aquarius decided he wanted to go for a drive around the neighbourhood. He didn't get to drive much.

Sagittarius and the others must be tired. I'll go try to find them and offer them a ride. That way they can rest and escape Libra and Virgo at the same time.

Aquarius found the keys to the fire sign's car and started it up. Where would Sagittarius go?

***

Libra and Virgo entered a small café. They quickly looked around.

"They're not here," stated Libra.

"Libra, I have eyes."

Libra lightly punched Virgo. "Well, I'm kind of tired of running and I'm getting hungry..."

Virgo sighed and pulled out his wallet. "I suppose I'll treat us to some food."

Libra grinned and wrapped her arms around Virgo. "Thanks! You're the best friend EVER!"

"Yes. It will be a special friendship date. Like a date, but like platonically for friends."

"Sounds great!"

Libra and Virgo ordered a cupcake each. Libra also had a hot chocolate while Virgo had an ice coffee. They sat in a booth in the corner, next to a big window.

"Who drinks ice coffee in the winter?" smirked Libra.

"Obviously I do."

"You're weird."

"Not as much as you are."

Libra wrapped her hands around her hot chocolate. "At least this warms my hands up. I wish I thought to grab a pair of gloves."

"Here." Virgo took Libra's hands in his. "My hands are relatively warm from being in my pockets, they'll warm your hands up in no time. Ah, your hands are ice cold."

"But your hands are so warm. It's not fair that you get warm hands while mine are cold."

Virgo chuckled. "Poor little princess, life isn't fair."

Libra pulled one hand away so she could take a bite of her cupcake. "But this is." She quickly swiped her finger across the icing before wiping it off on Virgo's nose.

Virgo stretched his tongue to lick the icing.

"Let's see where the others are." Libra checked her GPS app. "Everyone is signed out except Aquarius. He's actually not too far from here."

"They were smart enough to sign out. I'm disappointed."

"Looks like their three brain cells worked together for once."

"I'll tell them you said that."

"Don't!"

Virgo unlocked his phone.

"Don't!"

Virgo send a text to the group chat.

Virgo: hey guys Librajsndfhdbdbfbdhdhdbdbdhdhehdgduhsahsj he chcghgchhfthurytetekmsmsndj sirbcisnfusb sfwf is really cool, just wanted to let you all know

Sagittarius: cool?

Pisces: we don't care

Virgo: little shit

Pisces was kicked from the chat

Virgo: Libra stole my phone for a minute. Watch out, we'll find you all

Virgo looked up to see Libra fake pouting. "What are you doing?'

"You couldn't have told them I was cool without letting them know I typed that?"

Virgo sighed. Why did Libra always torment him like this?

Virgo: But I typed the part about Libra being cool. That was what I wrote because she's so cool

Pisces was added to the chat

Pisces: we literally don't care

Virgo scrunched his nose. "Pisces is so rude."

Libra read the messages and laughed. "Piscespoo really doesn't sugarcoat anything."

"Look. Snow!" Virgo pointed out the window. Soft white flakes cascaded down in big chunks.

"It's so pretty. But it's going to be so cold."

"Yeah. Make sure you're all warmed up before we go back out to catch the others, okay? We can always go back home if we get too cold."

Libra nodded. "I'm shivering just by looking outside."

"Then let's just call it a day and go home. We'll surprise the others for when they get back."

"But... actually that's a good idea. We have plenty of time anyway."

***

Aries, Gem, Leo, Sagittarius and Cancer were in a children's play place. There was a bunch of tunnels for the kids to climb around in, and slides that led to a giant ball pit.

"I'm surprised we fit in these tunnels," muttered Leo as they climbed up a tunnel.

"I'm at the top. Woah we're up so high!" Gem pulled herself up on a little platform. Walls made out of net prevented them from falling.

Cancer sat on the platform with Gem. "There's two slides up here. Which one should we take?"

Aries pulled herself up. "I'm going down the blue one. It looks like it has a steep drop."

Leo pulled herself up. "The yellow one looks like a has a lot of turns."

"Our mental ages are like three so it's okay for us to be here." Finally Sagittarius reached the others.

"Come get me suckers!" Gem slid down the yellow slide. Aries and Sagittarius went headfirst down the blue slide.

"They really do act like children," chuckled Leo before going down the yellow slide, followed by Cancer.

As soon as he landed in the ballpit, Cancer looked around. "Where did they go?"

Leo clumsily walked through the balls. "Hiding. Be careful not to step on anybody. If you fall you'll get buried under all the balls."

Cancer throw a ball at Leo. "It's harder to walk in this than water."

Leo heard giggling. She got on her knees under the balls and looked around.

"LEO! I FOUND ONE!" Cancer pulled on Leo's foot.

"That's me!"

"Oops. Never mind."

"SURPRISE ATTACK!" Gem and Sagittarius pounced on top of Leo. Leo rolled out from under them and popped her head up from under all the balls. She turned to see Aries and Caner throwing balls at each other.

"Guys. Let's join the ball fight!" suggested Leo. Gem and Sagittarius popped up beside Leo. Soon all five of them were throwing balls at each other. They had no idea what their friends were about to face on the other side of the city.