The Chosen 13 (Chinese Zodiac RP - PLEASE JOIN :D )

(Sorry I didn't really reply yesterday. I've been working on my new roleplay, and it has a heck of a lot of coding on the first post. x__x)

"It feels sooooo good walking with you girls." Ray commented after Mai shot me another dark look. "We should really make a band sometime. Y'know, after all of this bullcrap is over... And I..." I made a face at Ray's suggestion. Mai would probably hit me with drumsticks in the head, or if she played the guitar, she'd slam it on my head as well. We wouldn't get along very well in a band... I noticed that Ray had trailed off and I looked somewhat concerned. "You know what? Forget it..." Ray said in a somewhat dispirited way, and I frowned. "Oh. My powers? Well, the pistol is not exactly my 'weapon', it's just an old gun from my... Father... My power is to control living things." he then shrugged "Nothing special compared to you two." I rolled my eyes. "Please. That power beats fire any day." I said.

I glanced over at Ray when he commented on not feeling vibrations in the forest. This made me frown, because I didn't like suspicious places. No one in the forest could mean that they were either planning a sneak attack or something dangerous like that. Or... that meant that the people in the village were all dead. And from the smell in the air, it seemed like it. Had someone set fire to the village? The stench was unbearable. Wait one second... I'm feeling a faint vibration coming from... There. Asclepius said. Sakura leaped into my arms and then crawled onto my neck, curing around in the hood, hidden in the shadows. "That's where the village is, smart-pants." Raymond commented. I'm not talking about the village, dumbass! I'm talking about-- Two rats suddenly crawled out of a bush, right into the clearing, then froze as soon as they saw us. I wasn't at all tempted to eat them, for I normally found rats somewhat stringy. I liked mice more. But Ray didn't seem to care. Suddenly, one of the rats turned into a human. "We're not food!" the girl shouted, and I felt my hands clench at the sight of the girl. Sakura hissed, and I just scowled at her. First a dragon, now a... rat. I spat that last word out in my mind. "Raymond, I'll be taking a walk." I growled at him and stalked off into the treeline.


I wasn't expecting rats to appear, neither was I expecting a human in one of their places. I wasn't always a big fan of rats. At the tavern, they always scared me when I was little, and they stole our food. Sometimes when I was falling asleep, I would hear them scurrying through the rafters, their nails scraping against the wooden beams. We were a pretty clean place, but rats always managed to find their way into the tavern, by door, by rat hole... It was a never ending battle. So obviously when I saw the rats at first, I wanted to hit them with a broom. But I didn't get the chance because one, I didn't have a broom with me, and two, one of them turned into a girl. The Rat Zodiac. Natasha commented, but I really didn't need her help to know who the two were. Mai didn't seem to like them at all. Her reaction to me, when she first saw me wasn't so bad if you put it into context, but this was obviously not somewhere Mai wanted to be. I noticed how her face tightened, as did her fists, and all her muscles seemed to stiffen up. Not to mention the scowl on her face. It kind of made me feel bad for the rat girl, because obviously, if she was staying with us, it'd be a long trip for her, as it will be for me. "Raymond, I'll be taking a walk." she snarled to Ray, and then bounded off into the trees. I stared after her, but then tried to ignore, turning back to the new Zodiac. "Hi. My name is Emilie!" I said, putting on a smile. I didn't want all the girls to be hostile to me.

My hearing was well enough to hear the last remark that the rat Guardian commented about me. By the way you acted, dear hooded lass... I would say that you're the Cat Zodiac. I didn't know that someone would be born under the Outsider. How dare she call me an outsider?! Her scum was the one that prevented me from being in the Zodiac. The one that tricked me. I snapped my teeth together in anger. Shows what you know. I snarled at Hester in my mind, and continued to bound through the forest. I swear, I would probably "accidentally" eat her in my sleep. It wouldn't be uncommon if that happened, for I sometimes do sleepwalk. I didn't like that know-it-all rat. She knew too much. That means that she knows about me. She can understand my thoughts. She can see all about me. My memories. Dear god forbid if she snuck into those. I had gone through some mental training with Sakura though that helped guard my thoughts, but it was only small. It was sufficient enough though for now. I shot another glare over my shoulder, but the rat wasn't in view. I had walked a little bit from the clearing before noticing it. Or maybe I could "accidentally" summon an owl spirit that could somehow eat Hester. That'd be nice. Mai, as much as we both hate her, and believe me, I'm simmering with rage, harm to another Zodiac could prove fatal. Sakura warned, and I spat on the ground in anger. "I'm willing to take that risk."

"Hey, I just remembered something! Be right back! Wait for me Mai!" I heard Raymond's distant voice and slowed down a little bit, then turning around. I wasn't really in the mood to talk to anybody right now, since that rat just smart-mouthed me. I will personally kill myself if Ray invites that scum to join our little trio. I growled to Sakura. Emilie was bad enough, but then this was too far. I leaned against a tree as I waited for Ray to catch up. No doubt the Rat would be eavesdropping though.

I looked up as Ray walked towards me. I opened my mouth slightly, but then thought better of it, feigning off my anger for now. I shut my mouth, my eyebrows creased in fury as I stared back at the ground. "God forbid, that rat scares me..." Ray said quietly, and I sighed. I wasn't scared of them. I was furious of them. You say that again. Hester hasn't changed one bit since we first met. She always played pranks on me... Asclepius said. I decided to start to say something, when suddenly I heard a voice. "Hey! You there!" came a voice. I whipped to my left to see two ninnys that looked like they were playing dress up soldiers. I glanced over at Ray, about to crack a comment, but I realized how scared he looked. I turned back, trying to be serious. Was this really what fancy smanshy guards wore these days? I guess I never saw enough of guards. Well, don't get me wrong, I've been chased by a ton of guards before, but never ones that were dressed like this. "You cannot come in here! There's a plague going on and we have to verify you."

Surprisingly, I felt like laughing. This couldn't be real. I mean... just... a plague... Suddenly I noticed the seriousness. Ray started to hide his face, and I bit my lip. Oooooohhhh shiiiiiiiiiih...... I said in my head. They probably knew Ray from before. I mean, this was his home village after all. I knew that I had to come to the rescue. "You, boy... You have the plague?" one of the guards asked as he drew his sword, and I froze. I know I'll regret this. I grumbled to myself and then popped up in front of Ray. "Good morning gentlemen, sorry to disturb you." I said with a beaming smile. Kill me now. I thought. "My brother has always been a little frightened of guards though, so he often tries to hide when your sort comes along. Sometime he hides because he's just so jealous of your awesome uniforms. I am sorry for his odd behavior, but it has almost always been that way, and we've sadly never been able to find a cure for his fright. I assure you though, he does not have the plague. We were just returning home from the forest though, to fetch a few things for our mother." I said in an easy-going manner. "Again, I am terribly sorry."

(My bad. xD)


"Well... The thing about that is... My brother has this other condition." I said tersely. Dear god Mai, how much are you going to test the limits? Sakura asked, and I shook my head mentally. Not now Sakura. I didn't change my face on the outside, but was frowning on the inside. Sakura, tell Ray that if all else fails and they recognize Ray, we knock them unconscious, okay? I asked her, and Sakura relayed the message to Ray. Another one of you're simply BRILLIANT master plans. "He is not going to look at you. I'm sorry, but he's just too afraid. If he does, he'll faint. It's terrible really..." I said, and tried to look saddened. "Look, it may not seem possible, but this one time... one time my brother saw a guard in the face, and he was passed out for three days straight." I said, and sobbed slightly. "It was terrible. We spent almost all of our shillings on trying to get him to be better. Please sirs, I don't want him to pass out again." Uh... hey, Mai? Do you recognize this village? Or these guards? Sakura asked tersely, and I replied in confusion, Uh, no... Why? I've never seen outfits like this. I replied, and Sakura seemed very tense. Well... you know how the word travels? And you've been in many different places where you've robbed and stolen and killed people? I frowned inside my mind. What are you getting at Kura? I asked. "Hey, you look... somewhat familiar." one of the guards said, and I shook my head. "Good heavens no. I have never seen someone as dashing as you. I'm just a simple daughter, trying to make a living for my poor, confused brother and my poor mother." I commented. "A poster perhaps?" he asked, and I shook my head again. "I am not famous enough to be on a poster. Now, we please, must get home. Our mother will be worried."

I listened absentmindedly as Raymond whispered to me about how guards are stubborn. I tried to ignore the fact that he was probably right, and put on another innocent smile, which turned into a frown when the guards spoke again. "Miss, you're going with us, you and your brother, to the station... We need to ask a few questions." the guards said, and I snarled. "Darn right you aren't." I growled, and whipped out an arrow, about to plunge it into one of the guard's necks, when I felt myself being pulled away. My arrow dropped from my hand as Ray grabbed my arm in a strong grip and started to run. "Hey!" I called in anger, but Ray started to talk as he ran. "We can't stay to pick a fight with them! Royal guards are very well equipped and they won't think twice before leaving you without an arm and take you to interrogation." he informed me, and I growled. I could have killed them. Suddenly I felt the trees disappear and we ran straight into a clearing. The village. "Great work." I grumbled. "Stop! Don't let them get away!" a bunch of the guards yelled, and then suddenly they stopped short. "Y-You Majesty!" the two guards said as they attempted to grovel at Ray and my feet. Other guards started to bow, and Raymond seemed thoroughly disappointed and slapped his face. I stared at the guards. "There isn't any chance that they're talking to me, right?" I asked, and turned to Ray. No answer. "Thought not." This was one heck of an afternoon. "Ray, why the h*ll haven't you told me about this before?" I snapped, turning. "I mean, we run, and I put on that WHOLE show, making a fool of myself, and then you just, POOF. I'M A MAJESTY." I wasn't angry. I was really furious and confused. Mostly furious because I was confused actually. "Your majesty, with your permission, we will take the girl to the jail." One of the guards mumbled, and I turned to him, baring my teeth. "Just try it." I hissed.

I didn't like today.

There, I just wanted to put that out there. I hated today, and I really wished it would end. Ray was a prince, now he wasn't, but then people say he was, but he's convinced he's not. "I'm NOT the prince! I'm just a random guy, for crissake!" Ray screamed at the guards, but they didn't seem to care. Was this really how it was with royalty? I would never know, since I grew up as a lowlife. "Uh... Ray..." I said in a low voice, making sure the guards couldn't hear me. I stopped him from walking, standing in front of him. "Ray, they knew me. Okay? These guys... well, I've never been around here, but they knew who I was because... well... ehehehe.... I'm kind of... well known in a not-so-good way." I said. Note to self: explain to Ray how you're wanted in a million villages. I mentally told myself. "Listen, if they know you're not the prince, or at least, you convince them that you're not, (I don't even know who this prince-guy is...) then they will take us to... wherever they were talking about. Niterrobation room? Oh, Interrogation. Right. They recognized me faintly... It's dangerous if they know you're not the prince, so let's just run." I told him.

I stared at Ray, following him, not uttering a word. "Alright, listen... I should have told you earlier and I'm sorry... But I don't like telling people that I'm the prince because then... They start treating me different. Instead of treating me like Raymond, they're going to treat me like Prince Holand vas Immrick IV. And yes, that's my title." He seemed adjitated at telling me this, but I didn't hint any emotion, my face blank as I waited for him to continue. "Yeah, I uhh... I fled from home after I found out about my powers. I first fled to the village I said it was my hometown, but it's actually Harmonia. I kept on low profile until now... I didn't want all those years of hiding to be wasted. I'm such a fool." I stared at him for a little bit longer, contemplating something. I could either slap him, but that's the sissy way out, tell him that it's cool, or... say... "Sooooo... Your name is Prince Hammock?" I asked, with a small grin. "Listen snake boy, I don't care what you are. As far as I knew, royalty was too stuffy to even think about running away from home. I could have gone the whole time with knowing you were a prince, and I wouldn't treat you any differently. It's not an insult." I added, hoping he didn't think of it that way. "You'll always be a snake boy to me." I said and my grin broadened. "I must admit though, you had me fooled there for a moment when you were saying you weren't the prince."

"Whoa, seriously?" I nodded, not really sure what he was expecting of me. "God, I was already getting worried... You wouldn't believe the pain I went through at my aunt's house..." as he talked about how his aunt went to ridiculous reasons for his royalty, I wondered why I didn't really feel shocked about this information. I mean, not that I wasn't the slightest bit surprised, but I didn't feel that it was a big deal. I didn't feel the need to grovel at his feet, treat him royally, or anything. It wasn't in an insulting way, but it was just... I treated everyone as equals I guess, or at least... most people. A lot of people I didn't treat like me, and they ended up dead, but let's not talk about that now, okay? "Man, you're the first that doesn't care whether I'm the prince or not... You have no idea how relieved I am." Ray said, smiling at me. I couldn't help but give a little smile back. It was good that he got that off of his chest, because now he probably felt more relaxed. I knew that if I was a princess or something, and I wasn't telling my... I guess friend for that same reason, I would have a lot of pressure placed on my shoulders. Sorry to butt in... Raymond, did you forget what the guard said? He said your parents are ill and they do not have an heir. If they die, the kingdom will go down in chaos without a king! Asclepius commented urgently. "Wait one second! Are you saying that I could become king?" Ray asked, and I shivered a little. "Ray as a king... now that's a scary thought." I murmured.

I'm not saying you 'could', I'm saying you MUST. Asclepius continued, and Ray instantly leaped in with an argument. "Nuh-huh. No way. Did you already forget about my condition? Even if I do become king, I'll die very soon and the kingdom will turn into chaos anyway. I prefer not to become one, thank you." I opened my mouth to interject and put in a word for Ray, but he continued. I agreed with him, because one, his reasons were good, and two, Ray as a king, would not end well. Heck, it's like me being queen. The world would probably be bombed right as I became queen, and I wouldn't give a whit about it. I glanced around. "So uh... Ray... I don't know what you want to do now... but... should we get going, or stay for a moment?" I asked, wondering what the guards would do next. I didn't like guards, and all of them down on their face, bowing, just made me feel like they were planning a sneak attack, and that thought didn't make me feel comfortable.

I smiled thankfully when Ray mentioned that he wouldn't make me wait any longer. "Now that the guards know that I'm alive, they'll no doubt start telling to the world of my location, and people may hunt you down too." Ray said, and I grimaced a smile. They already are... I thought grimly. "Also, why are you being chased? I have a feeling I've heard a man saying of a bounty on your head. You're quite famous on the underworld, if I say so myself." I smiled. "Well... I don't think that you'll need to-" I started to say, but then I heard a voice. I glanced over my shoulder and scowled. Rat girl. I grumbled in my head. "I actually suggest you, your Majesty, returning to the palace at once." Asclepius made a comment, and the girl seemed offended. "Hey, I'm not the one you should be hatin' on... I don't even know about this story of Zodiacs and all. It's Hester that likes to run her mouth saying nonsenses." I didn't change my scowl.

It's not nonsense. It's the truth. Hester oh so politely commented, and I shot her a look. "Keep your mouth shut." I grumbled, glancing over my shoulder at the guards. "Sorry about that... Look, I don't want to be seen as the bad guy. Besides, it wasn't my fault that I was born under the year of the Rat." the girl said, and I bit back a scathing comment. "Why are you suggesting that I return to the palace? Do you even know what it's like to be surrounded by minions..." I dropped off from the conversation there. I didn't get involved with what happened on inside a palace. If I wanted to know, I could just seem for myself by sneaking in. "...Let a civil war start just because of a selfish thought?" I glanced up as the conversation ended. "Wars? I like wars." I said, grinning. Then I noticed that that was not the subject. I glared at the ground as Sakura commented mildly, Now is not the time Mai.

Finally, I felt that it was my turn to stand up when Ray mulled Velvet's words over. "Okay, listen. I respect the part about everyone not wanting to have or start a civil war, but seriously..." I frowned as I tried to form my words. "Okay, look at it this way. Ray... no offense at all... isn't exactly what I would think of a leaderly type... I mean, leading a whole nation? That is a lot of pressure, as if we don't already have enough. Secondly, I am unashamedly being selfish, Ray, even if he had the power to free people in jail and stuff, I'd go back to being a lowlife. Well... not that I don't like that life, and not that I am not a lowlife right now, but Ray won't be able to reverse what I've done. I'll still be going in jail, even if he orders people not to capture me. I've been hunted for years. Heck, he might even be forced to EXECUTE me if I ever get caught (which will totally not happen.)" I stared at them all with wide eyes. "Do you catch my drift?" I asked finally, hoping that I hadn't said that all for nothing. You would make a terrible debater. Sakura commented and I shot her a look.