Chapter 17
☊ ♏ 23°17' 🏠3
"Serenity, we're going somewhere new," muttered Ceres.
Their surroundings change to a desert-looking area. Cloudy, but the sun's out.
The sun smiles at the two women. Valleys, mountains, and rivers are a part of the landscape.
Scents of cinnamon, daisies, and strawberries fill their nostrils.
Surrounding them are colossal sculptures of the 12 zodiac signs depicted as their symbols. 3 heads each, 4 colossal sculptures total. Spread throughout 2,000 feet and 4 corners.
All of them are carved out of the stones granite, galena, and pyrite. In addition, each zodiac birthstone is carved in. Uniquely attached to each zodiac.
One in each corner. Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn in the left corner. Mount Earth.
Mount Fire. Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Right side.
Mount Air. Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Back left, and last but not least, Mount Water. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Little to no breeze. Serenity checks her surroundings and begins to panic.
"Um-um, where are we? Get me out!" pleaded Serenity.
Light rain pours.
Ceres is no longer the 25-foot woman she was. She's Serenity's height now.
Pollera Colora Colombian dress. A ruffled skirt, off-the-shoulder blouse. Lace and floral patterns.
Yellow, red, and blue. Wheat crown decorated with sapphire.
Luminous glow. Long brown hair. Latina.
Serenity rubs the back of her head. Ceres is… Colombiana now?
"Ummm… you look… different," mumbled Serenity as she pointed at her.
Drizzling stops.
Ceres puts her hands on her hips. Full of energy.
"Yes ma'am! I love being in this form! Before you go, we're going to teach you some viable lessons, young lady," Ceres said, wagging her finger playfully.
"Wait, who's we, and she needs to make the rain stop," Serenity pondered.
Ceres begins to explain some things to our heroine.
"First, don't call me Ceres anymore, hehe. Call me Maryella. We're friends now. Now I want to introduce you to your training place. The Zodiac Grounds," explained Maryella.
The Zodiac Grounds is a separate realm that is found inside the earth. There is no nighttime there.
However, only Maryella has access to the Zodiac Grounds.
"I want to get stronger. I feel like I barely know myself. Like I'm in slow motion sometimes, Maryella," Serenity said sadly.
The sky shifts to purple. Serenity notices but ignores it.
Maryella lifts up her spirits.
"And you will. This is only the beginning. I'm going to teach you how to transform into my transformation, Maiden Ceres mode. My ascended form. I will also give you a special sword that I crafted called the Embroidery Blade.
Once I have determined you have mastered my transformation and my precious blade, I will then release you back to the physical world. Ready?" Maryella stated.
Now it's blue again. Rain stops.
"Rain, purple skies. All in 1 minute. Why is the environment changing so rapidly?" wondered Serenity.
Serenity checks out every colossal sculpture. Fixates on the Earth signs.
"Maryella… how are the other zodiacs like? Like personally speaking to them," asked Serenity.
Maryella chuckles. Gazes at Mount Fire.
"The zodiacs are an exclusive, collective group. You can't interact with one how you would the other. All of them are nice, though, and are themselves at their highest. No shadow side. Perfect according to their traits," explained Maryella.
"So May…" Serenity trailed.
"The Maiden? She's awesome. A very good friend of mine. We used to train and spar together. I've known her for over 8,000 years," Maryella said.
"Wow," Serenity thought.
Serenity looks perplexed by the thought that Maryella knows May personally. And this transformation and sword she's talking about? Sounds dope.
Maryella bows out of respect. Gets in position to transform. Clenches fists tightly.
Spreads feet. Calm, focused look.
"Now watch me, and watch closely, Ms. Rice. Hahhhh-ah!" she belted.
Black Virgo symbol on stomach. Glowing green. 2 more underneath her eyes. White-light green. Has stardust.
White, gold, green, brown aura. Scleras radiate gold. Image of sun faint in her eyes. Alternates between being visible and faint.
Virgo insignias as pupils. Outer space pupils. Stars inside.
She looks magnificent. Majestic even. Her eyes twinkle with starlight.
"Look at her form!!" Serenity lit up.
Serenity, full of glee, throws a fist in the air. Runs around, jumping for excitement.
"Hehe! Glad you like this form! I'm going to teach you how to do this. You'll look very similar, but just in your own unique way. You'll be able to use my zodiac power-based techniques," explained Maryella.
"So cool!! So cool!!" Serenity still celebrating.
Sky turns bright blue. Clouds leave. Sun out full blast.
Birds chirp. Sounds of the river water flowing louder.
"Wow, I love this excitement! Happiness I've ever seen you! Then my Embroidery Blade. It's my sword. A stitching needle is the blade. Wrapped in yarn.
But don't be fooled. It can launch attacks, create things out of yarn, sentient, and it can even transform into me, and the embroidery blade itself will be your shadow attack partner. And of course, other things too, but that's just some things about it. Sounds cool?" questioned Maryella.
Serenity stops jumping around.
"Are you serious?? Heck yeah!! Teach me!" Serenity responded.
Her excitement is palpable, and who can blame her? She's about to get a major upgrade in power. She needs it.
Maryella takes note of the landscape change.
"Serenity, look around you. What do you notice?" probed Maryella.
Observes.
"That everything changes here more than Drokeo Bay's weather," said Serenity.
"Hahaha. Good answer, but it's something deeper you should know. This environment is a personification of your inner world, but physically inside the earth," explained Maryella.
Wait, what? How is that possible? That's a thing?
"Wait, slow that down a minute. You said what, Maryella? Come on," said Serenity.
Light blue sky again.
Serenity notices.
"Uh…"
"Don't you see, Serenity? When you're sad, it darkens and rains; euphoria, it brightens. The birds sing. Uncertainty makes it purple. Be aware of what's going on in the inside. You may not show it, but you will feel it in your body, heart, and soul," explained Maryella.
"Wow, that was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard," said Serenity.
"It's only beautiful because it's you and yourself at your happiest."
Serenity tears up. Wipes her cheek. Begins to cry.
Maryella comes over to hug her.
"I've been up and down emotionally, not accepting my destiny, and I finally see what it does to me. I understand what it means. How it feels. This has motivated me to push myself beyond my limits. To be uncomfortable and fight using my strength. Teamwork when needed. I needed this…"
Serenity whimpers, but she's not scared.
It seems she has clarity.
Maryella comforts her. Rubs her back.
"Tears of joy. I'm happy you finally see just how valuable and precious you are," said Maryella warmly.
Separate. Maryella goes back to her spot.
"Good?" asked Maryella.
Wipes tears. Smiles.
"I'm more than good. I'm tapped in."
"Love the wisdom and confidence. Let's transform. Every zodiac sign can transform. Some are animalistic, others more abstract, but all manifest everything about their sign when the host transforms.
This is done by focusing all of your zodiac power to your erogenous zone. Different for every zodiac sign. Yours is the stomach. The symbol will then manifest on that zone. Now try it," said Maryella.
Spreads her stance. Focuses. Makes X with arms. Closes eyes.
"Okay. Hahhh-aaah-hahh!" Serenity powers up.
#
Evening. Sunset. K.C. rides Centaur through the Fire Sector.
Stops at Anaretic Hill. Anaretic Hill is a piece of secluded land in the Fire Sector.
10 acres. 100 years ago, an ember caused a fire, burning every leaf off the trees.
Only the stalks remain. Across the land is black smoke. Fogging up the landscape.
Not enough to restrict vision, but visible enough to be noticed.
Majority of the ground is burnt leaves and ash.
Sky is orange now. A beautiful sight to see.
K.C. gets off his high horse, places his palm on him.
"Thank you, Centaur. I got it from here, and thanks for giving Jasiah a ride earlier," K.C. said warmly.
"Not a problem, sir. It's my pleasure. I am at your service always. Best of luck to you on your journey. Being a Sag makes you the brightest star amongst the constellations in my eyes," Centaur replied.
Turns into orange energy. Absorbed into his map tattoo on his pec. Neighs as it changes form.
Snags canteen from satchel.
Chugs it. Water eeking out of his mouth. Smacks lips in enjoyment.
Belch.
"Ahhhh. Delicious. Just what the Sag ordered. I'm going to find some shelter," said K.C.
K.C. is a country boy through and through. Carries a twang in his voice. Easily distinguishable.
Sees a shadow behind burnt-up shrubs. Tips his wide-brim hat. Smiling.
Sunlight reflects off his pearly whites.
"Alright, come on out, little bugger. It's not safe for little guys like—"
Shrub lights up in flames. K.C. backs away because of the heat.
Burns down. Those eyes… beady. Black. Deep-set.
It's MICAH. The honey badger. Body fully exposed. On all fours.
Green foam coming out of the mouth.
"What in the—" he said, surprised.
Rises to his feet. Cracks neck.
Pop.
"I just want to let you know that I've come to kill you. I want you as my carrion!!" Micah bellowed.
Man, is this guy aggressive and insane as hell. Talking about carrion like it's water or holy bread.
Unbelievable, I tell ya. Now as for K.C., my mans is looking mighty shaky.
Not scared, but just surprised. This world is full of surprises. I'm surprised they haven't caught on more yet, but it's just beginning.
With Micah attacking K.C., that leaves three more mutant orphans. We've seen a bit of action already, but it only goes up from here.
So buckle up. The Zodiac Defenders are on their way. They will fight evil and themselves and overcome it.
So no matter what happens in their lives hereafter, these events in their lives will change them… forever.
K.C. slowly backs up. Putting his hands out to calm him down.
"Look, man, I don't want no problems. I'm trying to get to my friends in the Air Sector," said K.C.
Micah grins. Crosses his arms. Lets out a hearty, evil laugh.
Every laugh sounds a teeny bit wheezy.
"Ahahahaha!!! You're not going anywhere, you bastard. I hope you aren't talking about Syimphany, Nicki, and Samuel. Aquarius, Libra—"
Pauses.
"Gemini," Micah hissed with bloodlust.
K.C. snarls. Clenches his fists. Veins pop out of his arms and chest.
"How do YOU know them!" K.C. seethed.
Micah's tone softens. Lowers voice. Talks to him in a condescending, arrogant tone.
"Ooooh, that got the fire burning up in you, huh? Any reason I should tell you, K.C. Springs? Born November 25th. Fire Sector. Sagittarius," Micah said.
K.C. is still seething. Can't bring himself to speak.
"This mutant thing knows me, my birthday, and where I was born? He knows about the Air Signs? So that means… oh no, HE KNOWS ABOUT THE OTHERS!" K.C. panicked frantically in his head.
"You still look mad. I can tell you're asking a lot of questions. I'll spare the details, then eviscerate you afterwards. I was recruited by Maine Rice. Hence the cloak. He's Serenity's sister. I'm a mutant orphan. He gave us a place to stay, eat with free shelter! What a guy. The best part is that all of us got to handpick a Zodiac Defender to kill!
Well, for me, that is, hehehe!! I picked you because centaur meat is very rare… and from a Sagittarius? One of one. I also heard dark meat was the juiciest. I don't do dry. Your skin tone fits the bill because of its darker complexion. It ain't personal; it's pure predatory instinct," Micah went on and on.
K.C. finally responds. However, he doesn't appear offended or mad.
"You've told me everything I need to know. Thank you. I don't care about your sick obsession with how I taste anyhow. Get out, you demon," K.C. responded authoritatively.
"You really think that will make me go away? Do you know what the hell I am, you blubbering fool?" provoked Micah.
"You're a mutant honey badger. And??" asked K.C.
Shrugs shoulders.
"You're goddamn right I'm a honey badger, and there's one thing about us you should know as a farmer boy. WE DON'T CARE!"
His voice deepens considerably. Becomes more animalistic. He's gone mad.
Body catches fire. Foam dries up. His honey badger fur covers him completely. Grows 5x his size.
Now 6'8.
Cloak tears but is still intact. Tail tip on fire.
Claws grow to 6 inches.
"I call this state… Ultra Honey Badger," Micah said.
K.C. keeps a poker face.
"Trying to kill me already? Don't say I didn't warn you that I didn't want to fight ya. You picked the right one today, buddy. Bring it on. Centaur Style: Sagittarius Ascension! Haaa-aahh-hahh!!" K.C. powers up.
Burnt orange-red aura. Body grows 2x its size. Feet become hooves. Indigo quiver. In a ring of fire.
9 arrows inside of it. Luminal.
Sagittarius symbol on left mid-thigh. Depiction of Jupiter burned on his right pec.
Inside his already present tat.
Micah comes after him.
"Honey Badger Instinct: Claws of Terror."
Claws grow to 10 inches. On fire. Tips are dripping with his saliva.
Contain venom from venomous snakes. Swipes at K.C. Ducks.
Another going for his feet. Jumps up. Micah's beady, deep-set eyes move around in his eye sockets.
Opens mouth.
"Honey Badger Instinct: Honey Swarm!"
Out comes a colony of bees. Stinging K.C. all over.
"Damn, this don't feel too good!" K.C. said.
A raging fire belts out from Micah's throat. Burns K.C.
"Arghhhh!!" he screamed in pain.
Micah swipes his chest. Draws a little blood, but not much. Scars him up good.
Closes his fist and punches him in the chest.
Rolls in the ash and burnt leaves. Gets back on his feet. Clenching his chest. Heaving.
26 feet away.
"That's not all you got, is you?" K.C. said confidently.
Spits out a tooth.
"You know you're all cap. A Sag is supposed to be the truth seeker of the zodiac. So tell me why you're acting like everything is ok," Micah said.
His speech getting more and more heated.
"I'll admit that was a good attack. I definitely wasn't expecting you to be so quick. But I can still fight plenty."
Micah raises his eyebrows.
"How precious. Much better attitude than I was expecting. I'm just glad because you won't fight too hard. You don't have it in you. Fire Element: Burning Primal Rage!"
Two fire discs appear in his hand. A set of his claws, detached, are in the middle of them.
Throws them.
"Say goodbye, Sag boy. It's been fun," Micah said.
"I reckon you're too cocky, honey badger. Fire Element: Raging Fire!"
Uses his finger to draw a ring of fire above his head. Grabs it. 10 feet in diameter.
Fills in the middle with more fire. Looking like a frisbee.
On top of it is his Sagittarius glyph. Throws it.
Collides with Micah's discs. Leaves on ground start burning.
Overtakes his discs. Fire from them makes his technique bigger.
Micah sidesteps the attack. Doing a cartwheel to evade it.
"That was it? That's the best you have? I need somewhat of a—ARGHH—"
9 spiritual arrows are in his back. Indigo energy going through his fur. Jupiter nocks on all of them.
Micah stands down. On one knee. Taking them out one by one, but struggling. He's hurt. Bad.
"Why can I barely move my arms? Why is this so painful? My skin is tougher than this," said Micah.
"Those arrows not only stun your body but weaken it. I have many more types than that. While you were busy talking, it exploded behind you and lodged in your back," K.C. explained.
Micah rips the last one out. Shakes his body. He looks a little sluggish.
"Clever. Not bad for a puny, weak zodiac," said Micah.
"Here's more for ya. Centaur Style: Saturn's Delight," said K.C.
Draws 5 bow and arrows from his quiver. Rears them back.
All tips have a different color flame. Orange, red, indigo, rust, and gold.
Fires. Grabs 3 beige grenades from satchel. All have map drawings. Throws them too.
Micah jumps backward up into the air. Grenades go off, producing dreamcatchers and webs to trap him. One explodes, releasing small Jupiters.
Arrows heat-seek after Micah. Lodge into his fur, but this time no damage. Takes them out with ease. One. By. One.
Grunts every time he does it.
"You put venom in these, didn't you? Anxious to kill already, eh?" Micah said.
Holds all of them in his hand. Drops them to the ground. Floating in the air.
"But how??" K.C. wondered.
"Us honey badgers are immune to venom. It just makes me tired. Just like how I am of you. Honey Badger Instinct: Hide Assembly."
Sticks arms out. Fur extends past his claws and comes after K.C. Sentient in nature.
Each end has the mouth of a honey badger. Moves like serpents. Mouths wide open.
"Here's another one, Sag, since you like to run like pathetic prey. Make this fun for me, Sagittarius! Show me how blessed and strong you are, star child! Hahaha! Desert Style: Covert Storm!" Micah shouted.
Blows sand, fire, and fog out his mouth. Excess out his ears.
Green mist comes from his backside. His signature stink bomb.
Makes a large cloud. Grows larger and larger. Rises sky high.
Produces a sandstorm raining fireballs, honey badgers, while spreading his stench.
"Centaur Style: Travel!"
Lower body becomes a horse's. Jupiter glyph on his belly button. Sagittarius glyphs on his centaur legs.
Jumps in the air and gallops on it. Leaving a fire trail.
Micah's sentient fur, sandstorm fireballs are still pursuing him. Micah's stink bomb makes him a little nauseous. Shrugs it off.
"He's bloodthirsty like a bat out of the abyss. I just need to keep evading him until I find an opening I prefer," K.C. thought.
"Keep running, K.C., you can't run forever!"
Micah's getting more excited.
His fur honey badger heads still pursue him. Endlessly swiping, grappling, punching, trying to hit K.C.
"There's my opening. Centaur Style: Master Strokes," K.C. said.
K.C. grabs a feather from his ear and throws it up. Supersizes.
With one stroke, it blows away the sandstorm and everything with it.
"You maggot!" Micah raged.
The sentient fur with honey badger heads catches up to him.
"These boys look awfully mad. I'll fix that, son."
K.C. grabs one. Wiggles like a snake. Puts his hooves through it, breaking it in half.
No blood.
Grabs hay from his satchel and shoves it in its mouth. Chokes and dies.
Lets go of them. Crashing to the ground. All while still galloping in the air. Great multitasker.
Takes the other and stomps the head.
CRACK.
"Now get out of my sight. Fire Element: Incineration."
Grips the head, forcing the mouth closed.
A raging indigo fire from his palm burns the head. The fire travels to Micah.
"Oh, hell no!"
Bites off extra fur, careful to not dig into his own. Falls down. Makes dust clouds.
Arms regenerate back to their original state.
He watches as it burns to a crisp. K.C. stands still in the sky.
"You rat…"
"You're closer to one than I am. But, son, I'm tired of this foolishness. You've done it now," K.C. said confidently.
Micah can't help but laugh. Hands on stomach. Keeling over.
"You? Kill me!? Are you out your skull, Sagittarius, or have you gone mad? I'm indestructible. My fur is tougher than Teflon, and that's underselling it," Micah explained.
"Glad you think so. Now get a taste of my domain. What I rule. Come get this work, honey badger. 9th House: World Map Expansion," K.C. uttered.
Brings hands together.
Their environment begins to shift to a literal map of Drokeo Bay and all the sectors, including its nearby areas.
Baroque cartography style. The sun is now a compass.
The terrain, environment, sky… everything is warm beige. Every color on the map is vibrant.
"You put me on a map? What is this place?" Micah questioned.
"My 9th House ability. This is my area. My domain. I know every spot here like the back of my hand. Time to die, Micah," said K.C. harshly.
Gallops to a drawing of a mountain near the Air Sector.
"Not so fast!"
Micah gets on all fours and chases after him. Running over 60 MPH.
"Oh, he's fast. But not fast enough," K.C. whispered to himself.
Micah loses sight of him. In the middle of all four sectors. Mountains surround him.
"Come out!!!"
"So glad you asked. Fire!"
K.C. pops up from a mountain behind him. Throws a ring of fire, grenades. Teleports into a flame.
Micah gets hit.
"Argh, damn it! The heck are you!!? Get in my sight!" Micah bellowed.
Half his fur is burned up on his back. Grenade explosions send him flying forward.
Breaks his fall on a nearby mountain. Looks down at Drokeo Bay. Sees everything in bright, vibrant colors.
Red Fire Sector, baby blue Air Sector, green Earth Sector, dark blue Water Sector.
The contrast is gorgeous and striking.
Keeps foaming at the mouth.
"K.C., get over here!"
Micah jumps from mountain, whizzing through the air, trying to locate K.C.
"Welcome to the end. Centaur Style: Sagittarian Truth."
Micah attempts to jump from one mountain to another. In mid-air.
Lands in a 17-foot dreamcatcher.
"I hate you, get me out!!"
K.C. doesn't respond.
A massive version of Jupiter rotates high in the sky. Makes things icy.
Micah shivers. Grabs his body to stay warm.
Sagittarius comes out along with two other centaurs by his side. All comparable to Jupiter in size.
Sagittarius is in his purest form. Horse lower body. Jupiter glyphs on his thighs. Glowing.
Ring of fire on back. Energy now half his size, being cocked back. Jupiter nock. Tips on fire. Feather design.
Spiritual in essence. Arrow is indigo. Bow is burnt orange. Sagittarius markings on mid-thighs and pecs.
The two archers beside him are regular centaurs. Left archer's arrow tip yellow. Right one gold. Towering over him. All 70 feet tall.
Arch them back. The world map starts to crunch up.
K.C. teleports well above Micah, so he's not in range to get hit by his own ability.
Tips his wide-brim hat.
"I suggest you stay tight and tell those other critters that you won't be coming back tonight. You won't sleep this one off."
K.C.'s aura leaves his body. Quickly constricting Micah. Acting as a rope.
"Damn you. I hate you, you filthy bastard. You won't kill me!"
"Shut those whiskers."
K.C. whips around Micah like he's doing a hammer throw in the Olympics.
"Lightweight. Lighttt weight, baby. Just like a bale of hay. Wake. And. Bake!"
Throws him up in the air. Still bound by the dreamcatcher.
"My truth will set you free. Sagittarius. Release!"
They launch their arrows.
Kaboom!
Everything on the map is flatlined. High-impact winds are literally blowing things off the map.
Creates an aurora out of indigo, burnt orange, yellow, and gold.
Fire runs through the landscape, destroying everything. Jupiter stops spinning. Goes into outer space.
"Let me know if you need me again, K.C.! The zodiac world can be so boring sometimes. Oooh, I just love a good adventure!" said Sagittarius gleefully.
Eviscerates Micah. His furry remains, along with his cloak, rain ceremonially to the ground.
Sagittarius and the archers disappear as well. Fade into Sagittarius constellations.
K.C. descends back to the ground. Environment changes back to Anaretic Hill.
Goes back to his base form.
"Syimphany, Nicki, Samuel. I have to warn them in time!"
Rushes to the Air Sector.