As usual the Zodiacs split into two teams.

As instructed by Scorpio, Capricorn took a group containing Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Ares, Vinn, and Scor to the castle.

Scorpio didn't tell them what was wrong, but the group could sense that there was something she couldn't share with them out loud.

They took the gondolas to the castle. Capricorn guided them around, his castle was just like the others ones, except for the library. The library contained so many books arranged in hundreds to book shelves. A spiral staircase even led to a second floor full of books. A few tables sat in the middle of the room, currently not in use. Capricorn escorted his group past rows of bookshelves, to the back of the room. Making sure nobody was around, he pulled one very old book out of the shelf. The entire shelf silently moved backwards, allowing them into another room. They all walked through, and Capricorn replaced the shelf.

"Woah. Just like in the movies." Libra looked around at the hidden room. It was like a mini library, with a table in the centre surrounded by bookcases.

"What's going on?" asked Vinn after they all sat down.

Ares dropped a stone tablet on the table. "Scorpio and I discovered a bunch of these last night. Somebody else came and had the intention of killing us. They then stole the rest of the tablets, but I managed to save this one."

"So whatever information is written on those tablets, it's very important." Scorpio inspected it. "It looks like it's written in Arabic."

Capricorn picked up the tablet and read it. "This doesn't make a lot of sense on its own. It's talking about something called Ultimate Power."

"Let me see." Vinn studied the tablet. "I read this exact page in a book in my country. In Sub-Terra, we also have a hidden library room with secret books."

Virgo furrowed his brow. "So the tablets talk about power... what does it have to do with anything?"

"And who retrieved the rest of the tablets?" asked Scor. "It couldn't have been Ophiuchus, she was in Ingenio."

"As far as we know." Libra processed this information. "I want to suspect Ophiuchus, even if she's not physically here."

"Whether it's Ophiuchus or not, somebody stole a bunch of tablets about power." Ares looked at his tablet. "And they were willing to kill anyone else who found them."

Gemini sighed. "It sounds kind of fake. Some teenager probably stole a gun from their parents and thinks they'll be blessed with ultimate power or something."

"I'll need to look into it more." Vinn studied the tablet. "Do you guys think it has significance to the trials?"

"Everything is weird and there's already so many things being hidden from us," announced Virgo. "It wouldn't surprise me."

"How many secrets can Ophiuchus keep from us before we start to discover some things?" Gemini pulled Gina's note out of his pocket. The note that apparently contained important information, but was written using an alphabet she created with Gem. Even with Gem's memories restored, she still couldn't read the note.

Somehow, he felt like the note related to either Ophiuchus, or whatever secret involved the tablets.

Capricorn stood up. "I'll show you guys the rest of the castle. We'll discuss this if Vinn manages to find the book when we visit Sub-Terra."

Scor sighed. "For all we know they're just old stories that someone made up."

Vinn crossed her arms. "Do you really believe that?"

"Not at all."

"I can't help but to feel like something big is going on." Libra looked at Scorpio. "Ophiuchus has been cruel to us, but ever since the trials it's like she's trying to sabotage us. Could it have anything to be with... power?"

Scorpio shrugged. "We already know she likes to abuse her authority and is on a power trip."

"We'll discuss this again in Sub-Terra." Capricorn led them out of the secret library, and back into the rest of the castle. "Where do you guys want to go next?"

"I kind of want to try the hover boards." Virgo reached for Libra's hand as they walked.

Libra interlaced her finger's with Virgo's. "Can we take a hover board to a restaurant? I'm getting hungry."

Vinn looked out the windows. They spent so much time looking around the castle that it was almost evening. The sun sat high in the sky, slowly beginning to descend. "I didn't even realize we spent so much time here before going to the library."

"I'll find a restaurant then." Capricorn bit his lip. "I'd like to order food from the kitchens here, but I don't have any authority here anymore." The reason he led his group through the castle because Capri wanted to visit the small farm towns instead, so she told the guards to allow Capricorn and his group to tour the castle. The guards gave him permission to walk around, but eyed the group suspiciously.

Just one year ago they would have died to protect him if they needed to.

"Isn't there one in a mountain with a really nice view?" Ares scrolled through recommendations on his phone. "Here! It's called Mountain Grill. Wow, that was so uncreative."

Capricorn nodded. "It's not too far from here. The service is really good too."

***

The restaurant was built into a small mountain. Several stories of dinning areas were built through the mountain, every floor more expensive than the one below. The most expensive was an outside patio on top of the mountain.

Capricorn asked for a table on the patio, and they waited approximately ten minutes before a waiter escorted them to the elevator, and picked out a large table for them. The restaurant was crowded, but not overly noisy.

The zodiacs then looked through their menus, and planned what they wanted to order.

After the waiter took their orders and served their drinks, the Zodiacs took in the beautiful country that was Capra.

"I'd like to travel here again after the Trials." Scorpio looked at the mountains in the distance. "This would be a nice country to go hiking and exploring."

Ares nodded. "When you're not almost killed after you find something cool."

Scorpio kicked his leg.

"I still prefer my own country." Virgo sipped from a fruity drink mixed with a bit of rum. "I can't wait until you guys get to visit."

"There's one thing that's been bothering me." Gemini looked at Vinn and whispered, "you said you restored Gem's memory, but she still doesn't remember the note."

Vinn nodded. "I did restore the memories I blocked in her brain. She should have remembered unless I'm not the one who hid them."

"Then who else is blocking her memories?" Even though Gemini asked the question outloud, a strange possibility came to mind. Could Gina have something to do with this?

Gina wasn't unreliable, but she was definitely on Gem's side before anyone else's. Gemini was about to dismiss the idea because it didn't make any sense. Why would Gina seal Gem's memory if she wanted Gem to read the note?

Unless Gina wanted to keep Gem from reading it yet. If being a ghost even gave Gina the ability to erase memories.

Gemini sighed, realizing he'd have to wait for Gina to contact him again before he could question her about this.  Gemini knew she was hiding something, he just didn't understand what in the note was so secret that only Gem was allowed to read it.

It had to be Gina. Who else could block Gem's memories?

"What's that?" Scor pointed to two people in the distance. They looked like they were trying to ride horses, while struggling to stay in the saddle.

Vinn sighed. "That looks like two idiots who tried to take a pair of horses out for a ride without knowing how to ride them."

Libra shook her head. "I wonder if they're our idiots. They're too far away to recognize them."

"Pisces and Cancer rode at two hundred kilometres per hour on a hover board yesterday." Virgo pressed his lips into a thin line and shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised."

"What if we run away?" Scorpio sounded half joking, half serious. "Escape Ophiuchus and not do anymore Trials."

"We never had a choice in whether or not we wanted to do them in the first place." Ares grabbed Scorpio's hands and rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles. "But if you did want to run away into the mountains over there, it's not like I'd let you go alone."

Libra looked from Ares to Scorpio.

Nothing everyone's attention on them, Scorpio knew she could deflect everyone's attention from how close her and Ares seemed.

She instead decided to lean in and kiss him, leaving everyone frozen from shock.

Capricorn furrowed his brow. "Wait what?"

Scorpio smirked, loving the way she took everyone by surprise. "We're together now. Tell everyone except Pisces and Sagittarius."

"Does everyone know about Pisces and Sagittarius at this point?" asked Virgo.

"Yes," replied Capricorn. "They stopped trying to hide their relationship a week ago."

"Wait you're both together?" asked Scor. "Didn't Scorpio lunge at Ares with a knife at one point?"

Ares shrugged. "I mean I did provoke her. It's not like she was actually going to stab me. I hope."

Scorpio sipped from her drink, leaving him guessing.

Libra shook her head, wondering why her friends were so crazy.

"I'd give you a firm warning to treat our Scorpy well but-" Gemini glanced at Scorpio. "I think she's more than capable to taking care of herself."

Vinn picked a fresh cherry from the rim of her drink. "Why are you getting protective over Scorpio out of all people?"

"Because Scorpy does so much for the rest of us," replied Capricorn. "We just want to make sure she's happy."

Scorpio rolled her eyes. "You can make me happy by not calling me Scorpy."

"Silver scorpion then?" Ares brushed through Scorpio's hair, picking out the silver pieces.

"You really like the silver highlights in my hair." Scorpio flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "I should dye your hair silver in your sleep."

"Then we'll call him silver ram!" Scor cringed at what he just said. "It's not as funny when I say it out loud."

"I think that's our food!" Libra grinned as the waiter returned with their meals, saving Scor from feeling embarrassed.

***

"I'd love to have a horse as pretty as this one." Aries fed carrots to a white horse with a silver mane.

Leo petted a black horse with a black mane. "They're so friendly too."

Aries, Gem, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Pisces, Taur, Cancy, Lee, Saggi, Capri, Aquari and Pie were on a horse farm that raised horses. The horses were free to wander around an area so large, you could barely see the fence in the distance. The owner of the farm offered courses to teach people how to ride horses, and let visitors in to play with the horses.

Leo looked around, noticing part of their group was missing. "I'd ask where Gem, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Pisces went, but I don't know if I want to know."

They all wore riding gear, having been in riding lessons all day. They knew enough to climb onto a horse's saddle and hold on as the horse walked. Some zodiacs learned quicker and could steer the horses to some degree, and others already knew how to ride horses.

Pie, Cancy, Saggi, and Aquari were those people, sitting confidently on their horses who galloped around the yard.

Aries fed her horse another carrot. "I'm too sore to ride my horse anymore."

Leo stole a carrot from Aries to feed to her horse. Her eyes widened as she watched Lee approach Capri. "Oh no."

Capri stepped back, not wanting to be confronted by him.

Before Leo could intervene, Pie rode by, stopped, pulled Capri up on the horse with her, and galloped away, her horse kicking dust in Lee's face.

"I think they needed each other," noted Aries. "Pie needed a friend as chill and able to handle her drama like Capri does, and Capri needed someone that isn't Lee."

Leo nodded, wrapping her arms around her horse. "Can we trade the problem children for these horses?"

"Should I ask who the problem children are, or do I already know?"

"It's everyone you think it is. Although we're probably considered problem children too."

"But we don't cause trouble."

"As much as the others."

Aries rolled her eyes. "We don't cause trouble as much as the others."

"I think we should buy horses after the trials."

"Leo you'd buy one of every animal if you could."

Leo sighed, knowing Aries was right. "Maybe we should just stick to our sugar gliders then."

"I'll buy you a horse if you really want one."

Leo smiled, carefully brushing the horse's mane.

***

"I need to really break things off with Lee," announced Capri. She held onto Pie as the horse showed to a trot. "I just can't manage to do it."

"You'll tell him when you're ready to." Pie smiled. "And all your friends will be there for you when you do. We can even fly to Pertinax and dump Lee in a volcano."

Capri laughed. "You've been a really good friend to me."

"I just don't want you to feel alone."

"Do you feel alone?"

Pie furrowed her brow. She had friends... but sometimes it felt like everyone had someone else they were closer with. Her closest friends were probably Leon and Aquari. Leon was a lot closer with Vinn than her, and Aquari spent more time with Saggi. Pie didn't blame Aquari, who had a huge crush on Saggi.

Then there was Cancy. Cancy was still one of her friends, but she would leave her side at the first opportunity to talk to Scor. Pie also understood why Cancy did this, but it still hurt.

There was nobody who considered Pie their closest friend.

"Well, I'm not alone now."

Capri frowned. Something in Pie's tone sounded almost.. sad.

Capri tightened her arms around Pie. "You appear intimidating and manipulative to others, but I know you're a caring person. After seeing how much you really care about me, I promise I'll always be your friend."

Pie said nothing, not having to words to tell Capri how much she appreciated her.

***

Aquarius sighed as his horse trotted back to the farm. Before they had the proper instruction, Sagittarius and Gem decided to take their horses for a ride outside the farm.

Their ride didn't end well, and they ended up lost. Aquarius and Pisces found them, and led them back to the farm.

Sagittarius and Gem walked with their horses back to the farm, being too afraid to ride their horses again. Aquarius managed to learn enough to be able to ride his horse, with Pisces on his back. Pisces was too nervous to ride his own horse.

"Why does Pisces get to ride on the back of your horse?" asked Sagittarius.

"Because he didn't escape with one before he knew how to ride it."

"Pisces, switch places with me!" Sagittarius smiled cutely. "Please?"

"No." Pisces wrapped his arms tightly around Aquarius. "I am enjoying a romantic horseback date with Aqua!"

Aquarius sighed and stopped the horse. "For that comment, you can walk with them."

Gem pointed and laughed at Pisces. "Fucking loser."

Pisces climbed down and walked between Sagittarius and Gem. "I can't believe Aqua betrayed me."

"Aqua! Can I ride with you then?" asked Sagittarius. "My feet hurt."

Aquarius extended his hand to Gem. "Come on."

Gem stuck her tongue at Sagittarius and Pisces before climbing on the back of the horse.

Aquarius chuckled at Pisces and Sagittarius who had to walk. "Just follow this path and it'll take you back to the farm." The horse sped ahead of them.

Pisces sighed. "Why did he let Gem ride with him?"

Sagittarius shrugged. "Maybe because they're both air signs. Or maybe he likes her."

"I shouldn't have said anything."

"You should know better to flirt with Aqua, even as a joke."

"Its more fun to mess with Cancer anyway. He gets so embarrassed."

Sagittarius chuckled. "No matter what I say to Gem, she'll say something twice as weird back."

"Sometimes I wonder why you like me. We have similar personalities, but I'm annoying. You're not annoying, you're funny."

"But I find you so funny." Sagittarius smiled at him. "I'm annoying too."

"You're not annoying to me."

"And you don't annoy me either."

Pisces returned her smile. "You're literally the best girlfriend."

"And you're... an alright boyfriend."

"Only alright?"

"Well, you're not holding my hand right now."

Pisces quickly reached for her hand. "Now?"

"You're an amazing boyfriend."

***

Gem wanted to lean against Aquarius, but she didn't want to dig her helmet into his back.

After they arrived, Aquarius dismounted the horse before helping Gem down.

"My calves are on fire," whined Gem.

Aquarius picked her up bridal style. "I should make you walk it off for being careless enough to escape with a horse like that."

"So why won't you?"

"I'm in the mood to be nice." He lowered Gem to the ground before sitting beside her on the grassy field. "Only because you're cute."

Gem took off her helmet and leaned on Aquarius. "We should talk more."

"About what?"

"Anything. I don't talk to you often, but you're so easy to hang out with."

"How so?"

Gem shrugged. "We just get along well. And I feel so safe around you."

"Is it because I'm muscular?"

Gem laughed. "Well, partially yes. But I just feel like I can trust you to look out for me. Like today when you found me and Sagittarius in the forest."

"Well it's not like I could make you find your own way back."

"What if I demand that you talk to me more often?"

"What if I question your authority?"

"What if I declare myself the queen of the world! My word is final."

"If you're queen of the world, then I guess I can't question your orders."

"Exactly."

Aquarius gently pulled the hair tie out of Gem's hair. He slid it around his wrist before wrapping an arm around her, playing with her hair.

***

Taurus, Cancer, and Leon all sat in Taurus' room, playing with her new puppies. Virgo even let her babysit Sparky for the day since the three puppies liked playing with each other.

Sable rested in Cancer's lap, while Sachi and Sparky played with Leon and playfully tugged at the sleeves of his shirt.

"I don't want to train or practice using my powers anymore." Cancer stroked Sable's black fur. "I just want to play with the puppies."

Someone knocked on the door.

Leon furrowed his brow and opened it. "Cetus, why are you here?"

"I won't tell Ophiuchus you guys skipped the tour if you let me play with the puppies." Cetus let herself in and sat down, playing with Sachi and Sparky. "They're so young."

"Why are you here?" repeated Taurus who couldn't help but to sound blunt.

Cetus sighed. "I came to talk to you guys. Those trials are dangerous."

Leon rolled his eyes. "Yeah we already know."

"I don't understand why Ophiuchus risks your safety."

Cancer glanced at Cetus, not particularly wanting to trust her. "Well, she must know what's best."

"But why do you guys think she's risking your lives like that?"

Taurus sighed. "Cetus, we don't trust you. I'm not going to tell you anything that I don't want Ophiuchus to know."

"I probably wouldn't trust me either." Cetus scratched Sachi behind the ears. "I'm on your side before Ophiuchus."

"We appreciate that." Cancer glanced at the door. "Anything else?"

"Your shoes look a little wore out. Maybe go to the mall and buy a nice pair of boots. This country is famous for hikes and rock climbing. Everyone should have a nice pair of hiking boots." Cetus stood up and left.

"Did she... insult our shoes?" Cancer glanced at his worn out sneakers.

Leon furrowed his brow. "It sounded like a warning."

"We wear body suits to the trials, but we wear our own shoes." Taurus' eyes widened. "Is she hinting to us that we should buy good hiking boots for the next trial?"

Cancer chewed the inside of his cheek. "So do we trust her, or is she screwing us over?"

Leon shook his head. "We'll only find out during the trial."

"The trials have all been based on the counties so far!" announced Cancer. "A dark maze for the country of sunlight, a tree in Aquarius' country, a trial in the middle of the ocean for Cancer's."

Taurus nodded. "It would make sense for the next trial to involve climbing."

"But can we trust Cetus?"

Leon sighed. "She's either helping us or luring us into a false sense of security. I don't know about you guys, but I think I'll go to the mall to get a new pair of boots."

Taurus rolled her eyes. "If I have to do one more trial without my chair..."

"I don't think Ophiuchus can do that to you again since it's being televised. Wouldn't it look too cruel?" asked Cancer.

"Unless she edits me smiling and walking the same way she edited the last footage."

A/N: school is starting up again. I don't know how heavy this semester's courses are yet, but I will update as often as possible