(A/N: Yeah, this one is short and not the best, but whatever. Happy 5-year anniversary to Epic! I wanted to finish this one by tonight, hence why it's not that great. Enjoy this new, short oneshot!)


B, for Brother

Summary: After reminiscing of her brother Taurus, Venus starts feeling depressed from his permanent absence, leaving a hole in her heart. Can Nod fill the void?


-Start of Flashbacks-

"Mom, Dad! I'm home!" 13-year-old Taurus Woods called out after entering the Solar Meadow palace.

"Taurus!" 4-year-old Venus Woods ran up to him from the bedroom she shared with her twin sister, Mars.

He couldn't help but laugh when she jumped in his arms. "Hey, baby sister!" He ruffled her black and green hair, which barely reached her shoulders, and she giggled.

"Hello Taurus," Their mother, Mercury greeted him, "How was the tutoring session?"

"Fine," He replied, "Dad's still out?"

"Yeah. A king's job is never done."

"Nope," He agreed, "Well, I'm going to fly around for a bit."

"Be careful out here."

"I will, Mom."

"Can I watch?" Venus asked him eagerly.

"Sure," He shrugged.

"Yay!"

"Just stay with your brother, and the owner of the bird stables," Mercury added.

"Okay, Mommy!" Venus nodded. "I promise!"

At the clearing, the little girl watched in awe as Taurus flew his brown sparrow around the area, doing flips and turns of all kinds. "Wow," She breathed out in sheer amazement. Her big brother was so cool! She wanted to be just like him when she grows up!

After a while, he flew back down, and she followed him as he led the bird back to the stables. "What'd you think, little sis?"

"That was so awesome!" She exclaimed. "You're the coolest bird rider ever!"

"Aww, I'm not sure if I'm the best," He shrugged modestly.

"You are too!"

Taurus chuckled as he patted her head. "Thanks, Ven."

l-l

3 years later

7-year-old Venus watched fearfully and helplessly with Mars as boggans slaughtered their people one by one, right before their eyes. To their horror, their family was next. "Venus, Mars! You need to get out of here!" Mercury yelled to them as she tried to fight one of the vicious creatures.

"No!" Mars bravely protested.

"We're not leaving you!" Venus added.

"It's for your own good!" Their father, Orion insisted. "Go! Run!"

"You need to get out of here, and to a safe place!" Taurus shouted to the twins when they were paralyzed with fear, as a boggan had him on the ground. "Go! Get out of here!"

The two girls hesitated, before they ran as fast as they could, staying together. The image of their family beaten by the boggans was stuck in their minds, and were surely going to stay for the rest of their lives.

-End of Flashbacks-

"Venus?" A now teenaged, almost adult Venus snapped out of her thoughts, and saw Nod looking at her with concern. "You okay? You looked like you were in a daze."

"Yeah," She nodded, "I, I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Uh huh."

"Well, alright. But if you need support, we're all here for you. That's what a family does."

"M-m hmm," She hummed, the "family" part making her choke up a little. She loved living with Nod, Ronin, and Tara since that fateful day, but she still missed her first, real family. She was at least grateful that Mars was still alive and well.

Nod noticed that she was looking depressed. "You sure you're alright? You look sad."

"Well, I... I was just missing my parents, and m-my brother."

"Ohh. I know how that feels," He laid his hand on her shoulder in comfort, "I miss my parents too, although I couldn't ask for a better father figure than Ronin."

"Me neither. And... Mars and I couldn't ask for a better brother figure."

Nod smiled at that. "Thanks, Ven." He pulled her into a hug, and she reciprocated. Little did he know, he just caused a flashback to return to her mind.

l-l

"That was so awesome!" She exclaimed. "You're the coolest bird rider ever!"

"Aww, I'm not sure if I'm the best," He shrugged modestly.

"You are too!"

Taurus chuckled as he patted her head. "Thanks, Ven."

l-l

By now, she was sobbing quietly in Nod's shoulder, as his hold on her tightened. "Shh, it's okay, little sis," He tried to sooth her, "It's okay."

She was calm after a few seconds, as she pulled back, wiping her eyes and cheeks. "Thanks, Nod."

"Anytime, Venus. Um, do you want to watch a bird race with me?"

"Sure," She nodded.

l-l

The adoptive siblings cheered with the crowd when the race ended. "That was great!" Venus exclaimed, now feeling much better from her flashbacks. On the way out, they saw that Bufo the bullfrog was collecting the currency he won in a bet with some other watchers. "Hey, it looks like Mr. Bufo won a bet again! How does he do it? It's like he can predict the future!"

Nod didn't have the heart to tell her that it was all rigged. "Yeah, it does," He agreed with her for a cover up, "So uh, you feeling better?"

"Yep," She nodded, and hugged him with her head on his chest, "Thanks, big brother."

Nod smiled as he returned the affectionate gesture. "Anytime, baby sister."


(A/N: Well, there's B. Sorry if Nod's out of character; let's say this takes place after the movie, okay? You know the disclaimer. I wanted their brother-sister relationship to be represented here.)