Chapter Text
“…Are you sure you can go alone?” the Sun asked him, and Earth rolled his eyes.
“Yes, I'm not that useless.” Earth said before turning around and drifting back toward his orbit. He heard the Sun yelling after him, but he didn’t bother answering.
Somewhere between Venus’s orbit and his own, he heard a voice whisper something incoherent close to him. When he looked around, there was nobody.
“Ugh, not again…” he groaned, continuing forward and ignoring the murmurs in his ears. He was getting exhausted by these hallucinations and visions. Why did he have to hear or see things that weren’t there? Half the time they didn’t even make sense.
“He’s a Freak of nature.”
“He’s mad. You should hide” A new voice sneered more clearly.
Oh, so they were making full sentences today? Earth thought sarcastically. They were dumb, there was no need to hide from The Sun, he had just embarrassed himself in front of him. Even if it was mortifying, the star wasn’t going to do anything to him over that.
“Because he needs you.”
Earth didn’t notice he stopped moving forward, too taken aback for that comment. The Sun didn’t need him. He might need his life, but not him.
“You think you are better that the rest of us, don’t you?”
The quiet voice sounded like Mars, and that sent a cold shiver through Earth’s mantle.
“You are important.”
“I can’t help being special”
Just ignore them… LALALALA. Not paying attention! LALALA! —He tried to drown the voices out by making his own thoughts louder. He knew these weren’t real, but they were always so… weird. One second they told him he was better than everyone else or said awful things about his friends, and the next they were just plain cruel to him.
“Moons should know their place”
“You don't need them.”
“Then you can play solitaire, dude”.
“They are so tired of you.”
“They are not tired of me.” Earth murmured to himself. …Are they?
“Let's not pull this heading to the sun stunt again,”
Earth felt himself flinching. And for a moment, the path back to his orbit blurred.
“You’re special, you have life.” Another voice cheered mockingly.
“Even if it's difficult, even if it fails”.
“Important things are allowed to be burdens.”
“Shut up!” The blue planet felt so disoriented. These stupid voice weren’t making any sense. And suddenly getting to his orbit was feeling like the most difficult task there was.
“…Are you sure you can go alone?” He heard the Sun’s voice asking once more.
“Yes, I can!” he yelled into empty space, feeling as unhinged as he probably looked.
He caught Venus in the corner of his eye, watching him from a distance with a confused, questioning expression. Earth realized that, to Venus, it must have looked like he’d been floating there, murmuring and yelling at nothing for the last fifteen minutes. Heat rushed through him as he looked away ashamed and hurried back to his path.
Ugh, c’mon, Earth. Get it together, you are almost back in your orbit. He thought, shaking his head like that could silence the noise inside it. He needed to pull himself together before Luna saw him. His moon worried about him more than ever now.
So he pushed the voices to the back of his mind and forced himself to smile. The grin was weak and unsteady, collapsing almost instantly. He swallowed and tried again, settling for something that at least looked neutral.
“Earth, you’re back!” Luna called, brightening as they watched him approach. “Are you okay? I could hear the Sun yelling from here!”
“Haven’t I done enough for you to think I don’t care about you?!"
The Sun voice echoed in his head.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little argument, you know how it is,” Earth said, trying to sound normal and not flinch at the intrusive whisper.
“Wait… something’s wrong, are you ok?” Luna squinted at him, orbit slowing with concern. “What happened?”
“What? N-nothing is wrong. You’re getting way too paranoid, haha...” Earth knew it sounded like the fakest laugh he’d ever done, judging by Luna’s unimpressed expression.
“You can’t do this alone…”
“Earth, you're clearly lying…” Luna pointed out, drifting closer. “C’mon. Talk to me.”
When Luna met his gaze, Earth felt a pang of guilt. He was supposed to be honest with them, more open about what he felt, but here he was again, hiding and trying to gaslight them in the most obvious way.
“Honest? Who needs honesty?”
“I’m s-sorry… you’re right. I—I… the voices are back,” he admitted, heat rising in his core as his eyes began to fill with tears.
“Hey, it’s okay, you’re okay,” Luna said, their worried expression softening as they pulled him into a gravitational hug, wrapping gently around Earth’s axis the way only a tidally locked moon could. “Don’t pay attention to them. We’re here, it’s only you and me. Focus on us. What happened? Why did you go to see the Sun?”
“Don’t. They’ll leave you again.”
“I just… wanted to talk to him,” Earth sobbed, letting Luna’s words anchor him and ignoring the background noise. “To tell him I was sorry I didn’t appreciate him before… and stuff.”
“Okay… and what did he say?” Luna asked carefully.
“You messed up.”
“He said thanks, but that it doesn’t change how much I’ve messed everything up,” Earth whispered.
Luna’s glow dimmed. “Did he really say that, those exact words?”
“Well, no, not with those exact words, but yeah. Basically.” Earth sniffed, clouds thickening as a streak of storm ran across his northern hemisphere. “Then he got mad because I said he didn’t care about me. We started arguing ‘cause he said he obviously cared about me, because I have life in me. And I was so pathetic that I asked if he’d even give a fuck about me if I didn’t have life. ‘Cause… what is there of me if not that?”
He trailed off, letting the silence settle. Luna looked like he wanted to argue with that, but didn’t interrupt.
“And he got mad,” Earth continued. “And I started crying like an idiot. I ended up having a panic attack. It was so mortifying, Moon. I feel so ashamed.”
Luna nodded in understanding. And somehow, that made it easier for the him to keep talking.
“Then Mercury came and the Sun used it as an excuse to send me away and asked Mercury to escort me back. But I said no because, yeah. Fuck Mercury. I'm still mad at him. It was so awkward.” Earth twisted on his axis, trying to center himself as the moon kept listening patiently. “Then… Then I started hearing voices again, and I know I’m supposed to ignore them but— I didn’t.” He let out a sigh, disappointed at himself.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Luna shifted a little closer.
“No, it’s not. Venus saw me,” Earth explained. “He probably thinks I’m nuts.”
“Like he isn’t?” Luna replied dryly. That earned a weak laugh from Earth.
“I’m serious” Earth said with a grin.
“Me too,” Luna replied grinning back. Then he got a little more serious “Earth, look, I don’t—”
Unfortunately, the moon was suddenly interrupted when both of them felt an incoming tug, subtle but unmistakable, the gravity of a small planet approaching. Luna immediately slid in front of Earth, tense and defensive.
“What are YOU doing here?” They snapped, as Mercury drifted closer.
“Um—wow, hostile much?” Mercury said, slowing his orbit confused by the moon’s reaction. “I just wanted to talk to Earth?”
“He doesn’t want to talk to you,” Luna said sharply.
“Why, what did I do!?” asked the smallest planet, genuinely baffled.
“Oh, like you don’t know,” Luna scoffed.
“I really don’t!” Mercury insisted.
“Stunt. Stunt. Stunt.”
Earth sighed, feeling the start of a headache as the two of them argued while that word repeated on his head. He was officially drained and in no mood to watch Luna fight Mercury for his honor or whatever this was.
“What do you want, Mercury?” The blue planet asked, shooting Luna a look to please move aside. Luna did, reluctantly, but his glare stayed locked on Mercury.
“I… wanted to talk,” Mercury said, eyes flicking between the two. “You seem mad at me back there, and I don’t know why. And apparently you don’t want to talk to me… Did I do something wrong?”
“Stunt.”
Earth exhaled. “I don’t really want to talk about it. I’m still hurt.”
“I… hurt you?” Mercury asked softly. “What did I do?”
“Stunt.”
Earth looked down. He wasn’t ready for this conversation, but Mercury was watching him with such worried expectancy that he decided to just rip the bandage off., “It’s not something you did, more like something you said”.
“What was it?” the smaller asked.
“You told me… You told me ‘to not pull my heading into the Sun’ stunt again.’” Earth said, avoiding Mercury’s gaze and turning to look at Luna instead. His Moon’s glare intensified into pure cosmic murder. Even though Earth thought this reaction was nothing compared to when he had told Luna about it the first time.
Mercury froze. Then his expression shifted into realization. “Oh…”
“Yeah. Oh.” Luna repeated angrily with a tone of mockery.
“Earth, I’m so sorry—” Mercury said immediately.
“Is that really what you thought?” Earth asked, voice trembling. “That I was being dramatic? Or doing it for attention?”
“Of course not!” Mercury said. “Earth, I was terrified for you when that happened.”
“Then why did you say that…?” Earth whispered.
“I…” Mercury swallowed. “I wasn’t thinking. Venus was being mean to me, as usual, and The Sun was pretty unstable after the whole Jupiter and Planet X situation... I was tired, stressed, and I said something cruel without realizing how it sounded—It’s not an excuse, I know, I’m not trying to make one. I shouldn’t have said it, no matter how stressed I was, I took it out on you and that’s not ok. Earth… I’m really, truly sorry.”
After the small planet explained himself, there was a silence between them. On one hand Earth could understand Mercury’s point of view, everyone was stressed and sensitive after Jupiter was exiled and Theia was mentioned. But on the other hand…
“Stunt”
“I wanted to end it all that day, Mercury—” Earth’s voice cracked. “And you were there. You helped me. You and Luna both did. I thought you understood how bad I was, if any planet would understand, it would be you. You were there". His own voice shook with disappointment. “But when you said that… it felt like you didn’t believe me. Like you thought I was just trying to bother everyone. Or annoy you. Was that why you helped me on the first place? Did you think ‘oh well, Earth’s being dramatic, let’s help him so he shuts up’, was that it?”
“What—NO!” Mercury said, horrified. “Earth, I swear, that’s not what I meant. I wanted to help you. I still want to help you. What you went through wasn’t a joke. And if my words made you feel like it was, I’m so sorry. I swear it is not what I think at all.”
Earth looked away. Luna’s orbit tightened protectively around him.
“Look…” Mercury’s voice softened. “I know I broke your trust. You don’t have to forgive me now. Or soon. But I’ll work on being a better friend and earn your trust again. I- I don’t want us to stop talking or anything like that. I care about you. And If you let me be there for you again… I’ll be right there when you need me.”
“Thanks… I don’t want us to stop talking either, man. You’ve helped me so much” Earth hesitated… then sighed. “But, yeah, I don’t think I can forgive you right now, Mercury… I’d be lying if I said I could. I’m sorry”
“No, that’s ok.” Mercury nodded, eyes a bit watery “I get it, take your time…”
Seeing the smaller, teary face made Earth’s core tighten with guilt. But he kept silent not really knowing what else to say.
“I... I should go—um—back to my orbit…” Mercury suggested, breaking the silence.
“Right…” Earth nodded avoiding Mercury’s teary eyes.
“B-bye, Earth. Feel better, and again, I’m really sorry”. He said and then looked over The Moon who was still glaring at him “Bye, Luna.”
Luna didn’t reply. They only watched Mercury leave until his gravity faded from the area. Once he was gone, Luna looked up to the Earth. “Well, that was... a lot, how do you feel?”
“Tired...” Earth said, forcing an exhausted smile.
“Are the voices gone?” Luna asked quietly.
“Mostly, they are mainly whispers and background noise now” Earth explained and the Moon hummed in acknowledgement.
🎵🎵🎵
“Want another hug?” Luna asked with half a smile.
“Please” Earth responded and they immediately adjusted their gravity to hug him tightly.
He really was exhausted. If he’d known talking to the Sun would trigger a chain reaction of deep, emotional conversations, he might have stayed in his orbit in the first place. He could tell Luna still wanted to talk about it but wasn’t sure whether he should. Not wanting him to bottle up his feelings, Earth decided to give him a gentle push.
“What’s wrong?” Earth asked gently.
“I’m sorry the talk with the Sun didn’t go how you hoped.” Luna said, brows arched in concerned.
“It was a bad idea. I should’ve listened to you…” Earth sighed. “I thought I didn’t care what he thought. Guess I was wrong. At the end of the day… he is my star.”
The moon hummed in agreement, but Earth noticed the hesitation, something else still troubled them.
“…Anything else you want to say?” Earth asked. Luna gave him a small frown, then looked away.
“Earth…” Luna tightened the hug, pressing gently into him along their tidal lock. “You are more than just your life.”
Oh, so it was about that… Earth thought. There was a silent pause before the planet finally responded.
“I know you mean well… but I’m not,” Earth whispered. “Life has always been everything that defined me as a planet. What am I if not the planet with life on it?”
“You are my brother,” Luna said quietly. “And even before you had life, you have always been the most amazing planet I know.”
Earth went quiet, trying not to make Luna feel bad by arguing. So he looked away and muttered “Thank you...”
“No need. I’ll repeat it until you actually believe it,” Luna said. “You’re amazing. With or without life.”
Earth didn’t say anything, he just tightened his hold on the other. He couldn’t be more thankful for having fixed his relationship with Luna. Some bitter part of his mind whispered him that he shouldn’t have let it fall apart in the first place, or that he was better off without anyone at all, but those weird dumb voices couldn’t reach him right now. Luna was here, and they were finally becoming close again. Earth felt a deep sense of tranquility that he allowed himself to enjoy as the Moon started humming softly into the quiet space around them. At first Earth didn't recognized the song, but when he did a smile appeared on his face as he started humming back. Eventually, their sounds blended in a sweet and familiar melody.
“And you’re my brother, I know you from before, before we both were born〜” Luna sang the lyrics quietly.
“And you’re my other, never asking more, taking all the falls, I know you from before〜” Earth continued with the end of the song. He finally felt steadier. He pulled back and smiled weakly but sincere. “Thanks, Luna.”
“Any time,” Luna said, smiling back gently.
🎵🎵🎵
They remained there, wrapped in that peaceful moment, until Earth suddenly remembered something.
“Wait—don’t you have a moon club meeting today? You told me yesterday.” He asked.
“The heck I’m going,” Luna replied instantly.
“Luna… I don’t want you missing your stuff because of me,” Earth said.
“I’m not leaving you alone after all of that!” Luna protested.
“He doesn’t have to be alone,” said a familiar voice as another small planet drifted closer.
“Mars?” Luna blinked.
“AND PHOBOS!” Phobos shouted from Luna’s right, appearing out of nowhere and catching the earth’s moon completely off guard.
“AND DEIMOS!” Deimos shouted from the left, joining with perfect timing.
Earth laughed watching his Moon getting ambushed by the Martian moons. He then looked at Mars, who had drifted right beside him “Hey dude.”
“Hey man,” Mars said, giving him a supportive smile. “Rough day?”
“You have no idea,” Earth said, smiling faintly.
“Yeah, figures” Mars tapped him gently with his orbit. And then looked at Luna “Don’t worry, I got him. Go to your moon club, I’ll keep him company.”
Luna wasn’t convinced. “Thanks Mars, But I don’t think—”
“I’ll be fine, Luna.” Earth interrupted. “Mars knows how to keep my axis.”
“Let’s go Luna we’ll be late for the meeting!” Phobos exclaimed.
“YEAH!” Deimos immediately agreed, “If we are late, it’ll be your fault!”
“Well, not completely, you were also eating asteroids instead of getting ready, Deimos!” Phobos argued.
“But, I don’t need to get ready!" Deimos shot back. “I’m a moon, I'm always ready!”
As the two smaller moons continued their casual bickering, Luna turned to him.
“Are you sure?” Luna asked, worry flickering across their face.
“I am” Earth nodded. “Really. Now go”
“You heard him! Let’s go!” Phobos exclaimed.
“Yeah! Let’s go!” Deimos agreed.
Tugging at Luna’s gravity like overexcited toddlers. The two tiny moons yelled, "LET'S GO GO GOOOOO!”
“OKAY, OKAY, I’M COMING—bye Earth! Thanks, Mars!” Luna called as he was dragged away.
“BYE MARSSSSS!” Phobos and Deimos screamed dramatically.
“Bye guys!” Earth and Mars called back, laughing.
“Oh, man,” Mars smirked. “I love those two but I feel so bad when I leave them with anyone else… they can be chaos.”
“Oh, yeah, totally. But don’t worry I think Luna is getting used to them.” Earth mentioned.
“Well, he’s already used to you, so…” Mars nudged him, earning a laugh. “Hey… you wanna play cards? Get your mind off things?”
Earth smiled, genuinely. “Yeah, That actually sounds great. Thanks man”