So I feel like I need to say something here. This idea draws inspiration from the Netflix reboot, Knights of the Zodiac. The reboot is actually how I got into Saint Seiya in the first place, and I don't hate it the way a lot of people who grew up on the original series do. That being said, I'm not drawing only from the reboot. I'm using the original series names, and Shun will be a boy. Since those aren't really spoilers or anything, I figure it's safe to say them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya or any of the included characters. They all belong to Masami Kurumada.


Shiryu watched the female Saint as she strode up to them. It was strange. The Dragon Saint didn't remember there being any girls among the one hundred orphans the Kido Orphanage had sent to Saint training grounds across the world. For that matter, as far as Shiryu knew, only Kido Orphanage Saints knew about the Galaxian Wars.

"So who are you, exactly?" Jabu asked.

"Esmeralda, Saint of the Columba constellation." The girl answered. She had short-cropped blond hair, and extremely pale skin. Like her fellow Saints, she was already dressed in her Cloth, grey armor with yellow detailing and a pair of tiny wings on the back. Her mask was white with three thin, horizontal black streaks on each cheek, reminding Shiryu of a tiger.

"Columba?" Akio, the redheaded Andromeda Saint asked. "Isn't that a Cloth from Death Queen Island?"

Everyone froze at that, and even Hyoga perked up a bit at the mention of the training ground that was said to be like hell itself.

"Correct." Esmeralda answered. "The Columba Cloth is one of the three Cloths kept on Death Queen Island, along with the Fox and Phoenix Cloths."

"Does that mean you know Shun and Ikki?" Seiya, ever the excitable one, asked.

"Shun and Ikki?" Esmeralda asked. "You know them as well."

Geki frowned. "They were sent from the same orphanage as the rest of us." He told the Amazon.

"I see. Interesting." Esmeralda mused softly.

"So you know what happened to them then?" Shiryu asked. He watched as the blond woman tensed, her shoulders hunching near her ears as she glanced away.

"They're gone." She finally admitted, then, quieter. "I lost both of them."

No one spoke.


This was a disaster. Their base was destroyed, Saori's life had been put at risk, and the Gold Cloth Had been stolen by the Phoenix Saint.

Shiryu stood with his back to the other Saints. The others were talking with Saori and Tatsumi, while Shiryu stood to the side, thinking. Some thing was bothering him.

Esmeralda had fought alongside them when the Graude Foundation attacked, but she had gone easier on the soldiers than anyone else had. Then, when the Phoenix Saint had gone for the Cloth, she had hesitated to attack.

Shiryu realized he'd have to confront the female Saint.

"Anyway, we need to find the Gold Cloth." Seiya was saying as Shiryu drew his attention back to the group.

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Akio practically sneered. Shiryu didn't like Akio. The red-haired boy had been one of the more subtle bullies back in the orphanage, but that didn't meant he was any better than the more obvious ones like Jabu. Now, Akio gave Shiryu a bad feeling every time they were near each other, like an impending sense of doom.

"I don't know." Seiya admitted, looking somewhat defeated.

"Is that what we should be worrying about right now?" Shiryu asked, stepping forward.

"What else do we have to worry about?" Esmeralda asked. "The Gold Cloth is in the hands of the Phoenix Saint, who seems to be working with the Graude Foundation. That should be our main concern."

"No." Shiryu said. "Our main concern is you."

"Me?" The Columba Saint asked.

"Her?" Hyoga snorted.

"Yes. You." Shiryu said to Esmeralda, keeping his gaze serious. "You're a Saint from Death Queen Island, you admitted it yourself. You held back against the Graude Foundation soldiers, and you hesitated to attack the Phoenix Saint. Admit it. You're working with the Graude Foundation."

Silence fell. Then, finally. "What?" Seiya whispered. He turned to stare at Esmeralda "Is it true?"

Esmeralda sighed. "Yes. And no." She finally answered.

"What do you mean?" Saori asked.

"To explain that, I need to tell you all the truth."

"And what's the truth?" Akio demanded.

"The truth is that I need your help."


This is the first part. I'll probably end up posting more in a later chapter.

See you all later.