The Zodiac Kingdom

8

Quick A/N before the chapter!

Updates will also be very slow as school just started again and I have many hard classes this year, so I'll try to fit what I can.

Keep those theories coming as they motivate me to write! I'd appreciate it, but you don't have to!

That's all!

*Disappears into the Shadows*

Silence. It has no sound, yet it could be heard throughout the large cave.

The torches were already glowing with amber flames again. They came back to life once the enemy was gone. There was light, but it was as red as the spilt blood on the floor.

The king looked around in shock. The princess we taken, right from under his grasp. His heart felt like it was chained and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. He failed one of the most important duties in his life and failed the most important person in the world.

He let out a shaky sigh and recollected himself. He looked around to see none of his soliders dead or wounded, but there was purple dust with blood on the ground. The enemy soliders' perhaps?

"Help the injured to the infirmary," Aries commanded, "We were lucky we had little damage this time, I can't say what will happen next time."

"Oh course, your highness!" The guard saluted and proceeded to do as he was told. As he walked away, the king bent over to examine the purple dust. He collected a sample so he could study it later on, perhaps it was a key to winning the war.

A warm breeze filled the cave and Leo manifested himself in front of Aries. The king very quickly bowed as did everyone else.

"My Lord."

"Aries, I wish to speak privately with you," Leo said teleporting them to his secret study.

"What is it? I have to go check on the troops and make sure that-"

"Yes I know," Leo sighed, "But I bring news on who we're dealing with."

Aries quickly stood at attention, "It must be very important." They quickly teleported to the secret study in the castle.

"It is," Leo sighed, "We're dealing with very powerful magic, and it's very dark magic indeed. If one of the troops were to be hit by a spell, it could most likely mean a death of serious suffering."

They both grimiced at the thought. Magic could be pleasant at best, but uses for it could bad in an instant.

"I suggest training in defensive rather than offensive spells, if at all," Leo continued, "Dark magic at it's weakest can inflict minimal damaged, but if concentrated heavily, the spell can become as lethal as a poison in an unsuspecting person's drink that has no smell."

"I will continue to train them in hand to hand as well," Aries added, "Just in case they find themselves without a weapon."

"That's always a good idea."

"Isn't this sweet?" A familiar voice rang out, "How revolting!"

They quickly whipped their heads around to see Pisces standing there. She looked normal, calm, but it was unsettling how calm she was. She looked around before looking at the pair in the center, giving them a smirk.

"You never told me about this place," she faked her sadness, "Did you not trust me enough?" She gave puppy eyes but were hardly effective.

"You aren't Pisces," Aries said firmly, "Who are you?"

Leo looked in confusion at Aries, "How do you know she is not Pisces? My magic says that she is her."

"I know because I have taken her down here," Aries glared at her, "And she wouldn't give me puppy eyes over something as this."

The figure looked stunned for a second before letting out a soul stunning laughter. The laughter had no joy in it, just sick, twisted pleasure as if they were getting a kick out of being found out.

"Oh dear," their voice became distorted, "I can't believe you found out so quickly! I must be out of practice." The figure quickly melted, bits of skin and blood fell onto the floor until all that was left was just a bunch of concentrated magic.

Aries' eyes widened, "What are you?!" He was on high alert, past the point of wary caution.

"We've met before," the seemingly female magic creature said, "Although you may not remember the first time."

The magic disappeared and reappeared behind them, "It was me who killed your guard, frightened the princess, blew up part of your castle, and just kidnapped the princess."

She then collapsed and moved into another part of the room, "It was also me that blew up Sagittarius' library and Scorpio's dungeon." She appeared on the ceiling this time, "And I was the one to throw them out of their precious little sister's mind."

Aries shook his head in disbielf, "But you are different from earlier, there's no way you can do this! No mortal can!"

"That's true," she smirked, appearing behind him, "But I never said I was mortal."

Leo narrowed his eyes, "What business do you have with us? We have never wronged anyone in recent years-"

"That's where you're wrong!" She quickly cut him off, "Do you think a little over a thousand years would eradicate me? Perhaps this form would help you understand who I am."

She quickly morphed into the Aquarius as she was dying. Swords appeared in her midchest, and she swayed backwards.

Out of reflex, Leo caught her. The scene was replaying in his mind as if it were yesterday. The God of Strength and Courage fell to his knees as he held his dead "sister." His mind filled in the gaps, the scene recreated itself, his brothers appeared, and the stench filled his noes.

Aries watched as his powerful god was reduced to tears at the fake person in front of him. He felt sick and hatred for the fake scene that was playing out.

"Aquarius," Leo said, "I'm so sorry. This is my fault. I should have come sooner." A tear fell from his eyes and landed on her face.

She opened her eyes only to stare at him with teary eyes, "Why didn't you come for me sooner? It hurt. It hurts! Did you forget about me? Am I not your sister anymore?"

"You are always my little sister."

There was a moment of silence, almost as if she died, but in a flash her head was up and madness was in her eyes.

"I was hoping you would say that!" She grinned wildly, the scene fading from Leo's view, "You have just unlocked more of my power."

A burst of dark magic flood the room. The room grew darker and darker. Both Leo and Aries felt like they were being crushed under the weight of water. They couldn't breathe as drowning was a way they didn't want to die.

After what seemed like forever, it let up. The lights came on, the strange magic was gone, and the air was lighter and breathable.

Aries looked around for any lingering dark magic, but what he saw truly horrified him more.

His God, the great and fearless Leo, was collapsed on the floor, not moving.