TWs: Past manipulation/torture/ejection, self-deprecation. Stay safe :)

A white planet lay on the outskirts of the solar system. Alone. He was shaking with anguish.

He let out a low growl, staring through the debris where he blasted through. Once, he had called them friends, but now... nothing. They were never his friends.

A storm raged on within him, one that could rival Uranus.

Why couldn't they see? He was just trying to get their attention, and now no one would listen to him again.

He wandered the ethereal beyond the Kuiper belt, searching for something to do, something to pass the time. He found nothing, but an empty abyss.

He figured out a way to hide his true color. From then on, he didn't go by 'Nibiru' or 'Erebus'. Instead, he went by Nine. He preferred it that way.

Then, as he fell into a deep sleep, a voice spoke to him;

"Don't you wish everything could change?"

And if that didn't entice Nine, well...

« × »

"So, your true color is white?" Pinwheel inquired.

"Yep. Every bit down to my core is frozen solid." Nine waved his hand, "My wind speed is more chaotic than Uranus, my gravity is unparalleled compared to Neptune, and my orbital period is unlike any other celestial being in the solar system."

"Does anyone else know?"

"The planets. I don't think they care, to be honest. I'll always be the same old X to them; an outcast from the start."

"Neptune cares."

"Of course he does, he's Neptune- he cares about everyone the same."

Pinwheel laughed, "Do you think he'd care about Sagittarius A* if he'd knew what it did to you?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Do you think he'd let the others treat you like a bad guy for everything you've done?"

"...No."

"And all those times Neptune visited you, sometimes more than once a day- you're telling me he doesn't care about you more than the others? Not even a smidge?"

Nine didn't respond, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"I mean, he even calls you his brother despite celestial beings having no form of connections whatsoever!"

Nine sucked in a breath, a shaky chuckle pouring from his lips, "Hah, you're right... why are you right?"

"Heh, it wasn't easy... I did have to search through some of your memories though, hope you don't mind..."

Nine swiped a hand over his eye, "Not at all... you- thank you, Pinwheel."

"For what? I'm merely the messenger." Pin hummed.

"For helping me realize... I don't actually know what I'm doing." Nine's frown deepened, "I can't tell the others and I can't trust anyone, not even myself."

"Uhm... I don't want to alarm you, but there's someone behind you."

Nine craned his head to peer behind him. His eyes widened slightly, "Sedna? What are you doing here?"

"Sorry," The red dwarf Celestial spoke from behind the debris, "I didn't mean to... intrude? It's just- you ran off and I was so worried, so I followed you, and, well..."

Nine nodded, "I understand, but I'm alright now."

"Are you sure?" Sedna continued to stare at him apprehensively.

"I'm sure." The navy Celestial gave a small smile in assurance, "I promise."

Sedna returned the gesture, "Okay... I'll be with the others if you need me."

"Okay." Nine watched Sedna back away.

"And Nine?" Sedna looked back at him.

"Yes?"

She bit her lip, contemplating for a moment before speaking, "You know you can trust me with anything, right?"

"Wha...?"

"Anyway, I'll see you later."

Nine watched her fly away, his gaze unblinking and trance-like. His head tilted slightly, an aching feeling swelling deep within his core.

"Oooohhhh~ someone's got a crush...~" Pinwheel sang, snapping Nine back into reality.

"What!? No, I don't!" Nine yelled.

"Mmmhm..." Pinwheel laughed to himself, "Your mind says otherwise~"

"Get-!" Nine growled, then huffed, "Of all the NovaStars to be stuck with..."

"Hey!"

« × »

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Regulus turned to the bigger Star, "I mean, this is Arcturus we're talking about!"

Spica sighed, "I hate to admit it, but right now... we could use any help we can get."

"Alright, so you two will set the plan into motion!" Proxima pointed to the two blue Stars, "We'll stay here in the meantime to figure out the rest."

"Except for Sol," Sirius spoke.

"What? Why me?" Sun looked at the white Star with a panicked and questioning gaze.

"One of your planets was just attacked. You should be there to keep watch in case something else were to happen."

"But-"

"Sirius is right. I know you want to help, Sol, but your planets need you more than us, especially one that can sustain life." Spica smiled.

Sun averted his eyes, nodding slightly, "Yeah, you're right. I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Of course."

The yellow dwarf caught the orange dwarf's eye and looked at him for a few seconds which felt like minutes to them. Then Toliman smiled wryly, "Don't get into too much trouble, Sol."

The words caught Sun off-guard, making him cackle. He grinned, baring his fangs, "Hah! Who do you think I am!?"

With that, the Sun disappeared into the inky abyss.

"Maybe therapy would help." Spica wondered after a moment of silence, a hand on her chin.

"Or maybe an exorcist," Regulus uttered. Everyone turned to look at him, "What?"

. . .

When the Sun awoke, he was greeted by five faces staring up at him.

"Why is everyone crowding me? Do I have something on my face?" Sun slapped his cheeks.

The Rocky Planets backed away, Mercury stepping up to the plate, "Uh, Sun? Do you have any idea what's going on with Saturn or Nine?"

"Am I supposed to...?" Sun raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah, you're the Sun for crying out loud!" Venus gestured wildly. Sun furrowed his eyebrows, opening his mouth to say something when he was cut off.

"Hey, what's going on over here?"

"Titan?" Luna tilted his head, "What are you doing here?"

"Came to return some runaways." The moon spoke, "Go on, Phobos and Deimos."

"Wha- Phobos? Deimos!? Where the heck were you two!?" Mars knitted his brows, reaching out to hug the smaller moons.

"We were spying on the Giants!" Deimos responded.

"We were trying to find out what was going on!" Phobos continued.

Mars sighed softly, patting them on the head, "Well, at least you two are safe..."

Sun cleared his throat, "Ahem. As I was about to say before I was interrupted..."

Titan hung low under the heat of the Sun's glare.

"I may be a Star of 'limitless amount of knowledge,' but the truth is..." Sun took a deep breath, looking between his planets and moons, "I don't know everything."

"What!?" Everyone was genuinely shocked as their faces grew wary and nervous.

"B-But- you're the Sun!" Earth exclaimed.

"And...? I'm a Celestial being like the rest of you. Despite being ten times your size, shooting solar flares, and being the center of this solar system... there's not much I can do."

"What- are you even hearing yourself, Sun!?" Mercury flew up until he reached the Sun's point of vision, "The solar system would disintegrate without you. Planets, moons, asteroids, and comets would fly off into the abyss due to the loss of your gravitational pull! You keep us in place, you ensure we're not wandering too far from our orbits- you care too much to let anyone else go!"

"That's... mmh..." Sun tried to avert his gaze, yet Mercury followed, holding it.

"You're giving Planet Nine a second chance for something he did in the past, right? And what about your past friends? You were the one who messed things up, yet you apologized. Sure, some of them are still holding grudges, but they gave you a second chance, right?"

"That's right... they did."

Mercury crossed his arms, "Now I don't want you saying there's not much you can do. You still have a whole solar system looking out for each other, and that includes you."

Sun smiled, watching as the small Celestial regrouped with the others.

"Wow, Mercury, that was amazing!" Mars grinned.

"Yeah, way to go!" Earth ruffled Mercury's hair, annoying the latter. Luna had stars in his eyes as he stared at Mercury, his mouth shaped like an 'o.'

"I could've done better." Venus grumbled, making the other Rocky Planets look at him, "What? I'm kidding! Good job, pipsqueak, or whatever."

Sun smiled slightly, feeling the pit in his stomach dissipate as he took his friend's words in.

However, it quickly returned when he noticed the other Giants heading towards them.

"Sun! I think I know what's going on!" Jupiter exclaimed, a hysteric look on his face.

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