A bank robbery. Four men, all armed. What a great place to practice Polymorphing. One of the first lessons I received from the previous Scorpio Zodiac, Prince Scorpion. Polymorphing was an interesting art, involving the total transformation from one form to another. It was strange to be instructed by a voice in your head, until you're told its really a ghost of the Prince following you.

"So, are you going to change into?" Asked the distant, yet close voice of the ghost. I arrived at the crime scene. Many cop cars surrounded the building, which was mainly windows. The police officers were using a megaphone to talk to the robbers, telling them to release the hostages. The robbers, however, were just making demands, not even stating that they would release the hostages if said demands were met.

"Hmm... The bank looks to be mainly comprised of glass, excluding the support used to hold up the building, so..." I racked my head of something that would be able to be of some actual use in this situation. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

"OH! I got just the thing... Heheh, should tell the cops to cover their ears, though I doubt that would help much. They should use ear plugs." I walked over to the officer with the megaphone.

"You should order your men to get some ear plugs, and back away, you included. Oh, and by the way..." I showed him the amulet, which held a green stone with the mark of Scorpio on it. He nodded, and began to pull his men back, all the while getting them all some ear plugs. I walked up to the stairs. I received a threat from one of the men.

"Kid, back the fuck up! I will gun you down!" He shouted, only causing me to smirk.

"Oh, if only you knew..." I chose my creature, and with the teachings and guidance of Prince Scorpion, began my transformation. I had just the beast in mind. Something I remember from a game. It was a reference to the aliens in AvP, called a Xeno or something. I felt the other pair of arms rip out from my sides, a light blue hue, and very boney, with razor sharp claws. My upper arms changed to match them, and I heard some stifled gasps and screams. My shoes and pants disappearing, revealing thin, yet powerful legs, and at the feet, two red, long toe claws.

"This is going to be so much fun..." I said aloud, my voice sounding high pitched, and scratchy. My legs, at the knees, shot forward, and back up to my waist, and my gut sank into thin segments which traveled up to my new rib-like chest. A long tail now protruded from the base of my tail bone, and was tipped with a sharp barb. Last to change was my head. My scull stretched out, and became more flat. My eyes became pure read, and another four opened up, two below, and two above my normal eyes. I took a moment to admire my handy work in the reflection from the glass doors. I smiled, which looked terrifying in my new form.

"Now, as your punishment..." I said, now looking at the cowering robbers, barely holding onto the guns. My face opened up into four parts, exposing the softer, flesher part of my face, and let out a high pitch, long continuous screech. I increased in volume, and the glass cracked. I raised the pitch more, and it shattered. The cops looked unaffected, but the people inside were trying hopelessly to block the horrid sound with their hands placed over their ears. The robbers dropped their guns, and my opportunity arose. I pulled my face back together, and hopped up the stairs. I landed in front of the first robber, and shot out my tail, and stabbed him clean through the chest, right through the heart. He looked to his chest, then to me. His eyes, rolled into his head, and blood began to drip from his mouth.

"OH MY GOD!" One of the recovered robbers screamed. I turned to him, and threw the dead body at him with bone breaking force. He was slammed into the wall, a loud and satisfying snap as he impacted it. A large spray of blood shot from his nose and mouth, as his rib cage was crushed. I pounced onto the third, and mauled him. I went for the neck first, and with a fast and lethal swipe, cut his throat open. He couldn't scream as I ripped him apart, limb from limb. Once satisfied, I looked at the last man, and barely dodged a spray of bullets. He was shooting madly around, missing most of the hostages.

"This wont do, wont do at all." I said. Opening up my face once more, I spat a glob of acid at the gun, melting the barrel, and two others at the robber. It made a sizzling noise as it dissolved his face and arm. He screamed in agony for only a few seconds, for soon he collapsed, head only a bubbling green ooze.

"Officers, the situation has been dealt with, and the hostages are safe. Call down some ambulances, and bring a few body bags, as well as one garbage bag for the mangled fellow." I screeched to the cops out side. Within a few minutes, three ambulances pulled up, and peoples ears were being checked at. Clean up had begun as well, and upon walking down the steps, I was greeted the police chief.

"While I do thank you for your help, was it really necessary to kill them so brutally?" He asked.

"In reality, no. In the name of training, yes. I'm sorry if my ways are a bit... 'odd', but thats just how I am. You are welcome, and if you would please excuse me." I replied in my normal voice as I returned to normal. Clothing was reappearing, and I heard Prince speak.

"Well done... well done indeed. First time in that form, and you successfully executed four armed men." He sounded pleased. I just grinned.

"Well, I am learning from one of the best, after all." This seamed to please him even more. There was a buzzing in my ear, as my com started to go off. I tapped it, and a familiar voice filled my head.

"Zane, please tell me that wasn't you I just saw on the news. I know most people accept what we do, but that was just..." I cut her off.

"Burtal? Gruesome? Gut retching? Look, you all know i'm one of the most 'strangest' out of us all, but with that strangeness comes effectivity. Is there any other reason as to why you called, Alicia?"

She let out a sigh. Alicia is one of my friends, and a fellow Zodiac, she the sign of Virgo. Out of the other four of us, she was bar far the quickest.

"Yes, actually. We got some Worm-hole activity, and its extremely close to you, so keep an eye out." Alicia stated. She dropped out of the channel, and I began to 'sense' the distortion of a near-by worm-hole opening. I ran over to where I left my laptop bag, containing my, obviously, laptop as well as a crap ton of batteries, and a custom built battery ran laptop charger, courtesy of Libra. I stood there, looking around for the signs of worm-hole distortion. I saw shimmering off to my left, and ran in that direction. Not long after, I stood before a open Worm-hole, but there was no Worm-hole in sight.

"A portal, yet no Worm to make one... odd." I muttered to my self.

"Oh, but some one did make this portal." A mysterious voice answered. I spun around to see a man leaning against a building wall. He was wearing a big coat, and had a fedora tilted over his face. Bulky black pants, and boots.

"Hmm, so I see. What's up with all the black?" I ask. He grins.

"Well, what's up with you not being in all black?" He retorts. Touché.

"Alright, good point. So, what business do you have here in this universe? Looking for some fun?" I say, as my wrist and waist begin to glow, belt and arm braces shining. They showed their real propose, as my segmented scorpion tail extended and my pincers grew over my hands. This made him grin even more.

"Why yes, I am actually. So many things to fight in the Multivers, yet so little can put up a fight with me. You and your Zodiacs, on the other hand, may just satisfy my boredom."

It was my turn to grin.

"You got that right. So, who are you exactly?" I said.

"Oh, apologies, for I have forgotten to introduce my self. I am known as Athisius." He replied.

I nodded. "Alright, any terms you wish to lay down before we fight?"

"Yes, actually, but only one. Loser is sent to another Universe with no way to return. Acceptable?" Athisius asked.

I thought it over. "I'm sure I can take him. Worst case scenario, the other Zodiacs will have to find a way to pull me back here." I nodded. "I accept."

"Good, you get first shot, and please, don't hold back." He said.

Easy enough. I clap my hands together, and stood there. Minutes pass, and Athisius began to grow tired.

"When are you going t..." I cut him off, but not with words. I moved with so much speed and force, we went through about fifteen abandoned buildings. I left a searing hot trail in the ground behind me, and I let out a hearty laugh.

"Thank you SMITE, Mercury, for your Sonic Boom ultimate." I turn to the big pile of rubble, as I hear Athisius laughing.

"Haha! Nice one, but now it MY turn!"

Before I could even breathe, I was blasted by a huge beam of blue, and into a portal. I saw space, black, yet light up as brilliantly as usual. I fell onto a invisible floor, and realized I could breathe, and their was normal gravity working here.

"Wha?" Was all I could manage. I saw Athisius step through the portal, and it closed directly behind him.

"We are in a special dimension, one I like to use frequently for fights, for there is unlimited space, and nothing to run into." He said. I felt pretty beat just from that blast, and was shocked that I almost collapsed on the spot. He saw this and laughed some more.

"Already tired out now? Come on, we're just getting started!" He said. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of this pained feeling. I got into a solid stance, brought my stinger above and passed my head, and lowered my pincers, making a triangle. Green electricity shot out from the gap between my pincers, and the tip of my stinger, and collided in front of me, and started to make a green orb, which slowly increased in size.

"Well this looks promising." Athisius said with a smile on his face. It grew massive suddenly, and moved it with my right hand, and let it grow even more over my head.

"There you go, Zane! Let him have a good shot of pure acid!" Laughed Prince. I jumped up, and brought the orb down toward Athisius, and let it rip open, releasing a large beam of green acid. It collided with a huge flash, and after a few minutes of constant rain, I stopped it, and threw the orb at him. It exploded, and a burst of green light shot upwards. I fell to the ground, exhausted from the energy required to charge such a attack. My heart practically stopped when I saw him, standing exactly in the same spot, unscathed.

"No..." Whispered Prince Scorpion, obviously as shocked as I was. Athisius shook his head in disappointment.

"As much as I would like to say that hurt, it didn't. It's clear that I've won, so I will honor the rules, and will spare you life. However, you still shall be banished to another Universe, as he rules also stated. It was a pleasure meeting you, Zane Zepherman, Zodiac of Scorpio. Don't worry about your friends and fellow Zodiacs, I will tell them of your fate. Goodbye."

And with that, he opened a portal under me, and I fell through to where ever he told it to take me. It was unheard of, someone able to control worm-holes at their will. Whoever Athisius is, he is incredible. I watched the multi-blue and white light that the tunnel of the worm-hole contained as I was sent to a new Universe.

I heard the end rip open, and I fell gently to the ground. It was night, thankfully, so whatever things reside here were sure to be asleep, unless they were nocturnal hunters. I just laid there, to sore and aching to get up. I turned my head about, taking in my new surroundings. What I saw was both a relief, and a horror. I knew where I was, and half wished, half didn't, that it wasn't where I thought it was.

"Oh, please no. Ugh, at least baby-sitting with Alicia has some what paid off..." I grumbled. One big give away, the tree ahead of me. I knew exactly what it really was, a library.

"Oh crap. Least it seems that... oh NO!" I groaned loudly. A light turned on, and shined down through the window.

"Best make like a scorpion and... DIG!" Instead of using the polymorph method, I just turned into the figure of scorpio, in its smallest form, which wasn't really small, for I was as big as a small boulder, and black, with streaks of green covering my chitin-based exoskeleton. I wasn't fast enough. Just about halfway down, I could feel a tingling sensation cover my tail and stinger, and a lifting sensation. I casted a simple dispel, and returned to digging, but felt it once more, with added force. I gave up. I was dangling off the ground, being held by my tail, wiggling about, trying to break free, but to no avail.

I was turned around, and saw a familiar purple unicorn. I then looked up to see the now closing portal.

"Yup, what's not suspicious of an oddly large scorpion directly under a portal to another universe? Ugh, this isn't going to end well..." I whispered silently. I squirmed back and forth, and once I got enough momentum, dispelled the magic holding me up, and I was flung away from Twilight Sparkle. I made my escape, but again, to no avail. I scuttled only a few inches, when I was lifted up once more. I was turned again, and I let out a shrill screech, but it seemed to have no effect.

"What are you, and how are you doing that?" She said, causing me to freeze.

"I need to do something. Hmm... Prince, any help?" I thought to him. No response. Crap. I recalled the terms of my fight. 'with no way to return' rang in my head.

"Great, because he knows how to get back, he's been silenced. Wow, that Athisius guy is REALLY powerful. " I thought. Thinking of something I know I will regret doing, I thought of something I could do to potently escape. I forced my tail to move, and prepared a minor energy blast. The small orb didn't go unnoticed, and before I could fire it off, she dispelled that.

"OH COME ON! Shouldn't expect less though, she IS Twilight after all... This is REALLY going to SUCK!" I groaned, which came out as a scree of defeat. I began to chatter a bit, just incoherent muttering that was turned into scorpion sounds. I tried once more to do SOMETHING to free myself, but fell unconscious due to exerting to much energy. I slowly felt the dark creeping over me, and was powerless to let it over take me. I'm stuck in Equestria, as a scorpion, all because of some guy named Athisius. I swore, just before blacking out, that the next time I meet him, I will kill him, even if its the last thing I do.

*******

"Where did he go?! Oh this is not good..." Said a panicking Alicia. Leo put a hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down. Knowing Zane, he's probably fighting for his life against some alien behemoths or something, and totally killing it. He's one tough nut, we all know that." Leo tried his best to reassure her, and succeeded a bit. Nathan and Bret walked into the control room.

"We came as soon as we couldn't detect him on Earth anymore. What happened?" Asked Bret.

"We habe no idea, but we can only assume he's not here anymore. We just got to find out wh..." A portal opened in the center of the room, and out stepped a man in all black.

"Hello, Libra, Cancer, Leo, and Virgo. I am Athisius, and I am here to explain the new fate of your fellow friend, Scorpio." He said. Everyone stared at Athisius, all thinking the same thing. Nathan spoke up.

"How did you... What are... Huh?" He was dumbfounded. Athisius smiled.

"As of right now, that is not important. Ah yes, Zane. He has been sent to another Universe after loosing a fight to me, as the terms of the fight were. Don't worry, he's safe, for now. I'll make sure you all get to visit him, well, not visit, per say. More like a 'permeant vacation' to where he's at. Now if you excuse me, I have some things to attend to." And before anyone could say a word, he left.

"Leo, check the I.D.S (Inter-dimentional disturbance scanner) for the readings on any worm-hole opened in the last twenty-four hours, and try and pinpoint where he is. Nathan, can you get that 'relic' to work? If what you say about it is true, were gonna need it up and running. Let's go!" Alicia commanded. Everyone scrabbled off to work, Bret following Nathan to assist him. She walked over to the map table, and began to locate any worm-hole locations.

"Looks like we have a lot of work ahead of us. I hope he's ok..." She thought. Oh how right she was...

Ten different Universes, and nothing in any of them even stood close to surviving just a pathetic attack. Sometimes having so much power gets old. Athisius was bored once again. He watched over the excruciatingly slow progress of Zane's friends, and their efforts to find where he was now. That grew boring quickly as well, and he found himself returning to where they had fought. He just stood there, compelled to just stay for a while.

"Oh Zane, so much I wish I could tell you..." He whispered, pulling up his sleeve revealing a large acid burn that Zane caused by his blast.

"You have grown quite well, and the teachings of The Scorpion Prince have made you strong... but you still have much to learn. Soon, so very soon, will you be ready..." He had repressed memories trying to break free of their mental prison, but he made sure they could not. One did, however, manage to slip by him. It was a image of him, with a woman, infant child in her arms. They were both smiling. He knew full well who that infant was.

"My only son... you shall learn when the time is right..."

I never knew my real dad. When ever I had asked mom about him, she would just smile and say: "I'll tell you when you're older." She always had a pained look when ever I asked, and guilt began to set in, so I stayed quiet. She was the only one who raised me, and she was the only one I ever needed. I loved her, and she loved me back. Life was good. Was. I was raised well, never had really bad grades in school, i'm always respectful, and never saw myself hurting another person.

That last one was proven wrong. I never felt normal, though. It seemed the 'bad people' were drawn to me. I was always self secluded, only opening up just enough if school needed me to. So in general, I had everything I ever wanted. That quickly changed. It was near the end of my senior year in high school. We moved to the outskirts of New York City for working reasons. The school was nice, but there were a few gangs here and there. I tried my best to stay out of their way, but in the end, as usual, they ended up coming to me.

"Yo, kid. Get over here." One of the members said. I kept walking.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Him and the others near him walked in front of me. I looked up, and stared strait into his eyes.

"I don't want anything to do with you, or any of the other gangs, so if you would please step aside." I said with a strait face. He seemed unsure wether to be mad, or shocked. He slowly stepped aside, and I continued on my way home. Not three steps later, I hear him running towards me, and the sound of a knife being drawn. I spun around, ducked by him, and kicked him in the lower back of his legs. This forced his legs to close, and he fell face first to the ground.

I hopped over him, and ran the rest of the way home. I entered the apartment and saw my mom preparing to leave for work. I told her quickly about what happened, and that she might want to be careful. She said she would, and out the door my mom went. An hour went by, and I decided to switch on the news. Few minutes in, and a report on a drive by came up. It said multiple people, both gang members and civilians were wounded or killed.

"Typical ga..." I dropped the remote. It showed some pictures of the people killed. My mouth almost hit the floor. The third picture was of my mom. I remember going on a rampage through out the apartment, flipping the dinning room table, and throwing chairs around. I got a few calls from her work, saying that they were sorry, but I was to angry to care. All I was concerned about was getting back at whoever was responsible, and I had a pretty good idea on who.

Wether he did it intentionally, or whatever, I still want him dead. It was around eleven thirty-two when I left the apartment, and made my way To where I've seen them usually hang out. I had no friends to call to back me up. I've been what most call a 'loner'. I never let things like that block what was important. I found the place, and said to the two gang members in the front:

"I want to speak to him." They just laughed.

"Your funeral bro." They led me inside, and to the guy I met that afternoon. When he turned, his face turned instantly into one of hatred.

"YOU! We have some unfinished business!" He said, making his way to me.

"Yes we do..." I said back. He came up to punch me, but with the anger flowing through me, I easily caught it, and with my free hand, grabbed the back of his head, and started to bash is head in with a wall. Before the others could stopped me, a loud ripping sound came from outside the wall. I jumped back, and watch as two portals ripped away the wall, and to hideous worm heads crawled through. One of them landed on top of the gang leader, making a sickening crunch.

The others ran, but I stood my ground. I felt strange, like I just got a big shot of adrenaline, caffeine, and what ever else gives you a energetic rush. Then a light enveloped me, lifting me off the ground. The worms started to scream, revealing their vast rows of blood-stained teeth. I felt a load of weight around my arms, and saw some strange claws appear over my hands. A stinger came over my head, and I turned to see a tail coming from my lower waist.

I was slowly lowered to the ground, and I looked back over to the creatures. For some reason, I felt even more angrier than before, and thats when things got a little hazy. My memories began to blur passed, and finally they cleared up. All that remained was a giant crater where they once were. I just stood there, unable to think of what to do. I heard approaching footsteps, and turned to see a few others around my age running over.

When they stopped, the wore faces of utter awe. They looked at the hole, then to me. They repeated this process a few more times. They began to walk closer to me, but I just watched my tail and claws disappear into a belt and arm bands, and passed out, falling to the ground. Next thing I knew, I woke up with four people hanging over me while I was in a bed. They backed up a few steppes when I sat up, but the girl moved back to me.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Why does it matter." I replied grumpily, recalling the events of last night. I didn't break down, not in front of these people. She sighed.

"Well, I'm Alicia, and I'm the sign of Virgo and these are..." The three guys stepped forward.

"Leo, and ironically enough, the sign of Leo." One said.

"Nathan, sign of Libra." Another said.

"And i'm Bret, sign of Cancer. Nice to meet you." The last said. I just gave them weird looks.

"Signs? Signs for what?" I asked, confused. Alicia explained that they were referring to the signs of the Zodiac, which led me to ask as to: "why is that important for me to know?" She explained slowly that they are a part of a age old group that are destined to keep the Worm-holes that show up in our universe in check, and that they only appear if someone, ore something of great power reside in that universe. She also said that I had to be the sign of Scorpio.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, not believing her.

"You are the new Scorpio. There's not much else to say." Alicia replied. So, I was taken in, and my memories of the year following flashed by up to now. A few times I called them my friends, but after seeing that again, I asked my self, am I really? I talk to them and all that, but I never told them much about my self. I didn't even tell them about my mother. The more I thought about it, the less sure I was about actually being their friends.

It never concerned me much, for all I wanted was to be alone most of the time. Was I really their friends? No, I'm not, I'm sure of it. Why do I care all of the sudden? Why, why, why?!

I felt a cold sensation around my claws, and when I began to fully wake up, I saw that I was restrained, and hooked up to some machine. It was connected to a large crystal, and it looked like it just shut down, for it still was glowing slightly. I was about to start freaking out, when I remembered what I just saw in my sleep.

"Right... oh wait."

I began to look around a bit more, and released I was in some sort of basement. I couldn't see behind me, but I could of sworn I heard something behind me. I just laid there, thinking. After a few seconds, I came to the conclusion that the crystal probably served as some kind of projector, and the reason he had all those memories come forward was to be viewed. But by who?

"Wait a minute... didn't I..." I accidentally said aloud, in perfect english. I heard a gasp from behind.

"Great, I remember now. I was taken by Twilight, and now all my memories are out of the water. What ELSE can go wrong?" I thought. Then I heard that familiar ripping noise from outside.

"Me and my big mouth..."