"Wow!" Capri stood in front of a water fountain that was almost the height of the room. All her stuff was packed into boxes and suitcases in the hallway.

"This is a major upgrade." Saggi let Raiya out of her pet carrier. The puppy sniffed around the room happily.

"The map of the building says there's even room service?" Scor folded the map and put it into his pocket. "What do the rooms look like?"

"Probably really nice." Libra passed out keycards to the rooms.

"Capricorn told me the floors have pure gold tiles, and the walls are made of marble with embedded gemstones." Virgo sighed as he passed a mini statue of Ophiuchus. "Why is this here to pollute such a nice place?"

Leo grinned. "This gives us an opportunity to have fun!" She attempted to lift the statue. "We could probably get this is move if we all lift together."

"Later. I'd like to drop off my luggage first." Libra walked down the hallway towards her room.

***

A few hours after everyone unpacked, class A looked at the Ophiuchus statue in contemplation.

"We could make it look really weird," suggested Saggi. "Or destroy it."

"Or we could find someone who carves this type of stone. We could have our own faces carved. What kind is it anyway?" Leo ran her hand over the smooth surface. "Send a picture to Capricorn. He really likes rocks. He should be able to tell us."

"How about we just shit on it?" shrugged Scor. "And leave it in her office."

"I'm in favour of messing it up." Capri took a sharpie out of her pocket. "Starting with some facial hair."

"Make sure someone films this. I'll send it to the others to make them jealous." Libra took the sharpie, checked to make sure Virgo was filming her, then drew a moustache on the statue as everyone cheered.

"Pose for the camera!" cheered Virgo.

Libra posed by leaning against the statue. She stuck up her middle finger, her hand blocking Ophiuchus' face.

"Let me add something." Saggi gave statue Ophiuchus a beard.

"She probably would agree with this." Scor took the sharpie and wrote I am a shitty person who supports Trump on Ophiuchus' shirt.

Leo's face curled in disgust. "She probably does support Trump."

Virgo nodded. "What now? I'm in favour of taking this statue to the roof and pushing it off."

"Not yet!" Capri smiled mischievously. "I want to bring our new friend around town. We can take pictures and everything."

"We can publicly embarrass a statue of Ophiuchus." Libra high-fived Capri. "Good idea."

"How will we do that?" asked Saggi.

"If we put her in a sled or something and tow her around." Scor attempted to lift the statue. "She's not particularly heavy."

"Alright." Libra glanced at everyone. "We need a sled, some rope, and whatever else you can find to embarrass her with. We're making a public statement, and we are not afraid of the consequences."

"Should we be a bit concerned?" asked Saggi. "We could become classless again."

"And she is already using the trials to hurt us," added Virgo. "If she wanted to test us on our ability to rule, she would make the trials stuff like running the government, or pleasing as many citizens as you can, or stuff like that. She's just trying to harm us mentally and physically."

"We've been knew! Ophiuchus hates us and wants to hurt us." Libra paused. "But I'm not letting that stop me from showing the world how much we hate her."

Leo applauded. "Yeah! Let the citizens know we don't stand with her."

"Speaking of Ophiuchus... what has she been doing lately?" asked Virgo.

"I'll check." Scor began searching on his phone.

"Guys, I'm not sure I can make a public statement like that." Saggi looked at the floor. "I just escaped class F. I want to spend some time in class A, not get kicked out."

"I understand what you mean," said Virgo. "You don't have to accompany us if you don't want to."

"This may change your mind." Scor turned his phone off and changed the tv to the news station. The screen showed images of small communities in the background, next to a picture of Saggi.

"... the new law will come into effect starting the first of September." The screen changed to show a news anchor standing in the small village. A small Filipino boy stood next to her. "I am here in Pamilya, a small Filipino community in Pertinax. Let's hear what locals think of the new law to be passed."

The boy spoke English fluently. "They want to pass a law where everyone in the communities outside the city's capital Rubrum will have to pay extra taxes? I have no idea how this law came to be passed. There are more of us in communities outside the capital than there are inside. Many of the smaller villages still live in poverty. I can't believe King Saggi would do this."

A little girl took the microphone from the boy. She wore a uniform from a local elementary school. She spoke with a slight accent. "I want to say something too! For a king who has donated a lot of money to help the poorer places in his country, this new law doesn't make sense. Why is he discriminating against the poor?"

Saggi threw the remote at the tv, shattering it. "Ophiuchus pass a bullshit law and framed ME as the one who approved it? I would never approve this! Ever!"

"How did she forge your signature on the documents?" asked Leo.

"She has all of our signatures," replied Scor. "We had to sign documents before she gave us the kingdoms."

"But that's illegal!" Libra looked at the news anchor who could barely be seen behind the cracked glass. "Why would she do this?"

"To turn our people against us!" Virgo's eyes widened in realization. "Physically harming us isn't enough. She's trying to turn our people against us too. That's why she passed that law. Taking what little money the poorer communities have left. She's turning as many people against us as she can."

"But she has to know that we know she's the one who did it." Scor shook his head. "Unless she denies having any part in this. But why turn our citizens against us?"

"The pieces are all here. We just need to put them together." Capri squeezed her eyes shut. "Why make our people hate us... if we're going to run the kingdoms anyway... unless she has an ulterior motive... but what's her motive?" Capri's eyes snapped open. "Is she trying to sabotage the alternates to make the original zodiacs more favourable?"

"That's it!" gasped Leo. "She wants the alternates to turn against us. That's why she's sabotaging Saggi's reputation. She wants him and the alternates to blame us for this, which will turn us against each other. As of now, we're all unified and that scares her. You guys can't fall for this."

"How do we know they weren't in on this?" asked Scor.

Capri sighed. "She wants you to make that conclusion. I don't believe these guys are in a plan with Ophiuchus to sabotage us. They looked just as shocked as we were when we heard the news. We cannot let this divide us."

Saggi nodded. "Alright. If you say so."

"Does that mean she'll damage the rest of our countries?" asked Scor.

"I'm going to be honest." Virgo's expression turned sad. "Probably."

"What if Saggi makes a broadcast announcing that he didn't approve this?" suggested Leo.

"Ophiuchus likely has forged documents that prove he did." Libra sighed. "They would accuse him of lying and attempting to play the victim for damage control."

"The only way to stop this is to change the law after Ophiuchus gives one of us our kingdoms back." Capri shook her head. "I hope we're wrong and she doesn't try to hurt anybody else."

Saggi turned to the Ophiuchus statue. "Let's make a public statement."

***

Taur, Taurus, Cancy, Leon, Vinn, and Pie decided to go for a ride in one of the private jets. They even hired a pilot to fly them around. These jets used solar panels for energy. Leon sat between Vinn and Taurus in the back. Taur sat in the row in front of Vinn, while Cancy and Pie sat in the row across from Taur.

"Technically we can kill her." Pie looked up from her tablet that displayed the news from Pertinax. "We can drug her and then I'll take a knife-"

"And face the wrath of King Cepheus when he finds out?" asked Leon.

"She w-wouldn't hurt citizens of the, the other countries... right?" asked Cancy. "She only did th-this because the law can, can be stopped before it-t begins."

"Ophiuchus is such a bad person." Taurus glared at Pie's tablet. "Wait, what is she saying now?"

Pie turned up the volume. Ophiuchus stood from a balcony in front of the castle. Protesters stood below, holding up signs and chanting.

"Everyone, I know you are angry and shocked with the new law to be passed this September." Ophiuchus smiled as the crowd hushed. "I am also outraged. Unfortunately, King Saggi made this decision without consulting with anybody else. I will try to do everything in my power to destroy this law built on discrimination. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to stop this law since I cannot overrule a law made by the king. However, there is another candidate running for his position of power."

The crowd stared at Ophiuchus, giving her their full attention.

"It's exactly as we thought," announced Taur. "She's trying to turn us against each other."

Vinn rolled her eyes. "Like that'll work."

"The Kings and Queens of the elemental continents are competing against the former rulers of each country," continued Ophiuchus. "All twenty four zodiacs are competing for their thrones in a series of trials. They have already completed two trials. Now that this information is public, you will all be updated on what placement everyone has at the end of each trial. I will also set up a website with a poll to vote for which Zodiac you would all prefer; since your opinions are the most important."

"What is she doing?" asked Taur.

"Voting?" asked Vinn. "Why does she want our citizens to vote?"

"The Zodiac that is favoured will receive benefits during the trials to help them win. If you don't like the ruler you have now, vote to return the position of power to somebody who deserves it more."

"She's trying to further divide us!" announced Taurus. "She thinks the benefits will cause us to try and sabotage each other."

"But she already sabotaged Saggi," thought Leon outloud. "Why is she trying to bring down the alternates' reputations to favour the Originals?"

"Because th-their reputations are al-already ruined," replied Cancy.

Pie nodded. "Cancy is right. The originals all got kicked out of their countries for starting a massive war that killed millions of people, and genuinely not being very good at ruling. If she ruins our reputations, it evens things out since we'd otherwise be favoured."

"Who do you prefer? The ruler that started a war and killed many people? Or the one currently destroying your city?" Leon sighed. "The Originals' problem was more severe, but you could also argue that they've grown and learned the difference."

"So she WILL do something-thing to-to hurt the r-rest of us." Cancy curled up into a ball.

Pie patted Cancy on the back. "It's okay. We'll fix all this after the trials. As long as we don't turn against each other."

"I think we'll all be smart enough not to turn against each other. Right?" asked Taur.

Taurus sighed. "We'll all be safe except Libra."

"If Lee tries to hurt her..." Vinn cracked her knuckles. "We'll kill him."

***

Gemini, Saggittarius, Gem, Aquari, Pisces, and Cancer all trained in the training room. Gemini and Aquari actually tried to work out while Sagittarius, Gem, Cancer, and Pisces played truth or dare.

"I dare you to... give Aquari a kiss on the cheek," smirked Sagittarius.

Cancer gulped and glanced at Aquari. "TRUTH!"

"Too late." Gem pointed to where Aquari lifted weights.

Cancer sighed and slowly walked towards Aquari. "Hi."

"Whatever your dare is, it better not involve me." Aquari continued lifting weights without even removing her earphones.

"I have to kiss you on the cheek."

Aquari paused. "Fine. Then leave me alone."

Cancer hesitantly gave Aquari a quick kiss on her cheek. "I'm sorry!"

Sagittarius, Gem, and Pisces all laughed as Cancer ran back with a red face.

"Should I send this to Taurus?" asked Pisces who took a picture with his phone.

Cancer's eyes widened. "She could misunderstand!"

"Nah," scoffed Gem. "Taurus is very understanding. And smart enough to realize we are playing truth or dare."

"My thumb is getting heavy." Pisces went to send the picture until he was interrupted by Cancer tackling him.

"While they try to kill each other, truth or dare?" asked Sagittarius.

"Dare," replied Gem.

"I dare you to break up the fight."

Gem began wrestling with both Pisces and Cancer at the same time in attempt to break them apart. Gem eventually got pulled into the fight, until a fire started under all three of them. They all jumped back, away from the fire.

Sagittarius yawned and the fire suddenly disappeared. "I believe it's Cancer's turn."

"Pisces, dare or dare?" asked Cancer.

"Dare."

"Give me ten dollars."

"You learned that one from Scorpio!"

"It doesn't matter where I learned it. Pay up."

Pisces took a ten dollar bill out of his pocket, spitting on it before shoving it in Cancer's hand.

Cancer grimaced at his hand before pocketing the bill and making a bubble of water appear in front of him. He washed his hand in the water, before throwing it at Pisces.

Pisces was about to start a water fight when Sagittarius cleared her throat, making him behave. "Gem. Dare or dare?"

"Truth."

"That wasn't an option."

"Truth."

Pisces rolled his eyes. "Fine. What's your relationship with Aquarius?"

"Aquarius?" Gem furrowed her brow in surprise. "I've been hanging around him lately because all of you are always busy. Don't misunderstand."

"So you only hang out with him because there's nobody else?" asked Cancer in attempt to provoke her.

"I didn't mean that. I meant that's why I started hanging out with him. Now we've bonded over the fact that we have a best friend in common."

"The best friend being me!" Pisces posed. "I know, it must be hard being so popular. Well, it is hard. You see-"

"Anyway Sagittarius truth or dare?" asked Gem.

"Truth."

"When did you plan on telling me you and Pisces are dating?"

There was a sudden awkward silence.

"We wanted to see if we could hide it from everyone," explained Sagittarius.

Pisces bit his lip. "We probably should have told you guys though."

"Yes, you should have told me!" Gem stood up to storm off. "I can't believe you guys."

"Wait, how about I make it up to you?" offered Sagittarius.

"Just kidding. I'm not mad." Gem sat down. "I just wanted to pretend I was. Your faces were so funny. But since you offered to make it up to me, some candy would be nice."

"So you guys are dating?" asked Cancer.

"Yeah," admitted Pisces. "But don't tell the others yet. Let's see how many people catch on."

"I would have appreciated you telling me though," added Gem. "But honestly I would have done the same thing."

"How did you even find out?" asked Sagittarius. "Did Aquarius tell you?"

"I saw you guys hugging earlier. When I asked that question I was just guessing. If you denied it, I would have believed you."

"Now our whole friend group is dating except Gem!" announced Cancer. "We'll have to set you up with someone."

Aquarius! mouthed Pisces.

Gem rolled her eyes. "Shut up before I kill you both."

***

"She's doing an interview now." Gemini sat on the training mats in front of Aquari.

Aquari sat beside him, watching from Gemini's phone.

"So how do these trials work?" asked a woman.

The camera changed to Ophiuchus. "They will compete in trials that test their problem-solving skills, their physical condition and their intelligence. A true leader should have all those qualities, but they should also be admired by their people. That's why I'm making the trials public and added a poll. Citizens may vote only for one of the leaders competing for their country."

"You mentioned there being twenty four zodiacs. But Gina the former leader of Geminus is dead."

Ophiuchus smiled at the camera, knowing most of the zodiacs were watching. "But she isn't dead."

The audience gasped.

"She faked her death and lied to us all. She used a body double, in order to escape her responsibilities. We found her trying to live on the normal continent. She's very much alive and able to compete in the trials." Ophiuchus reached for her phone and showed the camera a picture of Gem. "She has learned from her mistakes and wants another chance to get her kingdom back after abandoning her people."

"The world doesn't know about Gem," announced Gemini. "That's why she's doing this."

"And Gem can't announce who she really is because she looks identical to Gina. And now everyone thinks she's a liar for faking her death. Without Gina, there's no proof that two of them ever existed."

"I thought they tried covering up Gina's death. Someone must have found out the truth since I last talked to my spies."

"The whole Gina and Gem situation is confusing as it is. Now she wants Gem to pretend to be Gina."

"As we can see from the poll, the citizens have already eagerly created accounts to vote." The host pointed to the screen behind her that displayed the results. "It would appear the following rulers are favoured: Ares, Taur, Gemini, Cancy, Leon, Vinn, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capri, Aquari, and Pie."

"So all the alternates except Saggi, Scor, Lee, and Gem," announced Aquari. "Why is Scorpio so popular?"

"Because her people believe in her. She was a good leader, even during times of war." Gemini laughed at the screen. "Lee only has ten percent of votes."

Aquari rolled her eyes. "There'll always be people who want the asshole in power."

"And the sexist people who'd rather a man in power. I'm disappointed that ten percent of Libra's country are like this."

"I'm surprised it's not higher."

"What's this?" Gemini opened the group chat to see various pictures. Class A shoving their middle fingers in the face of a stone statue of a Ophiuchus. Class A sliding down a snow-covered hill in the southern part of the country, sitting on top of stone Ophiuchus who was lying down in a sled. Stone Ophiuchus covered in dirt and bugs. Stone Ophiuchus wearing a party wig and a moustache, sitting outside the window of a restaurant while the others ate indoors. Stone Ophiuchus lying in the sled with shattered legs and arms. Stone Ophihus covered in spit. Stone Ophiuchus abandoned, lying upside down in a snow bank as the others walked away.

Aquari chuckled. "I'm glad they're having fun."

***

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you purposely failed so you'd end up in the same class as me. Since you're so obsessed with me." Scorpio leaned back in the couch, resting her feet on Ares' lap. Class F all sat in the small living room.

"Get your feet off my lap!" Ares pushed her feet away.

Scorpio moved her feet back on his lap. "Sit somewhere else."

"The other couches are full."

"That's not my problem."

"And you saw Aries haul me down!"

"Why am I being brought into your lovers quarrel?" Aries ducked as Ares and Scorpio both threw their shoes at her.

"I guess we all got pushed by those stupid blocks," complained Lee.

Aquarius shook his head. "I fell two seconds before the blocks popped out."

"Taur only made Class B because he was five feet off the ground while the rest of us were lying on those nets." Lee rolled his eyes. "I thought he was going to lose because he's afraid of heights."

"Afraid of heights?" Scorpio smirked at Ares.

Ares shrugged. "You'll never find out what I'm afraid of."

"I'm afraid of losing to Ares in that popularity poll." Aries checked the results. "You're only ahead of me by eleven percent."

"Ophiuchus isn't too smart. The poll closes in three days." Capricorn pointed to the timer on his phone. "That'll likely be when the next trial starts."

"Unless she wants us to know." Aquarius scratched his head. "But why make the trials public now?"

"She feels threatened by us all getting along," replied Aries.

"We do not get along," scoffed Lee.

Capricorn shrugged. "Everyone except you with everyone else, and Ares and Scorpio with each other."

"There is nothing to do in this class," groaned Aries.

"My rank was technically higher than yours." Scorpio kicked Aries. "I'll have something planned for you to do as punishment."

"Like this?" Ares showed a picture of Scorpio when she had to do her punishment. She held a sign with a message he wrote himself, and wore a shirt with Ares' face on it. She looked like she wanted to die.

"I'll make you do something worst."

"Looking at you is enough of a punishment."

"Hearing your voice is making me go deaf."

"I assume we'll be in different classes next time. Right? You won't try to purposely get stuck with me again."

"I fell before you did."

"It would appear that way, wouldn't it?"

"That's literally what happened. You're the one who can't spend five minutes away from me."

"I have to make sure you're not plotting behind my back."

"What a pathetic excuse."

"You could probably ditch me if you wanted to."

"I'll plot in front of your back then. Watch me plot against you right now."

"Find out what my phobia is first. Then you'll stand a chance."

"Guys-" Scorpio turned to see everyone disappeared.

Meanwhile, Aries, Capricorn, Aquarius and Lee sat in the dining room away from Scorpio and Ares.

"They argue over everything." Capricorn sighed. "It's like listening to two children."

"What would happen if we try to run away?" suggested Lee. "We can escape Ophiuchus."

Aquarius shook his head. "Then we don't get our kingdoms back, leaving Ophiuchus in charge."

"Is there any way for us to communicate with king Cepheus and tell him what Ophiuchus is doing?" asked Aries.

"If you find a way to speak privately with the king of the universe let me know," said Capricorn. "I think he has to summon you himself."

"So we're stuck playing her game?" Lee sipped his coffee. "There's got to be a way to mess with her."

"Whatever she's up to, we should comply," suggested Aries. "If we pretend to obey her while occasionally acting out, she won't see us as a threat. We should pretend that we're not getting along with each other. Maybe then she'll leave us alone."

Aquarius nodded. "We fight with our alternates when she's around, but stay friends when she's not."

Capricorn yawned. "But some of us have been getting along really well with the alternates. How can we pretend to hate them?"

"Scorpio and Ares do a good job of pretending to hate each other." Aries pointed to the living room. "Let's follow their example."