TWs: Keeping secrets, a brief confrontation, angsty dialogue(?). Stay safe :)
"Neptune lost his memories...?" Galatea uttered, her face scrunched up in confusion.
"But how?" Proteus questioned.
Uranus averted his eyes, "I wish I could explain everything, but I don't think you all will quite understand what happened..."
"What's not to understand?" Larissa spoke.
"Yeah! It was probably that big meanie- Sagittarius A*!" Nereid frowned, puffing her cheeks out.
Uranus' eyes widened, "You know of Sagittarius...?"
"Of course! Neptune mentioned it a few times, but always ignored us when we asked questions!" Naiad spoke.
"It wasn't like Neptune at all!" Neso waved his hands around, "He always answers our questions!"
"That right?" Uranus quirked an eyebrow, then sighed, "Knowing Neptune, I'm sure he was trying to keep you all safe and out of harm's way."
Triton crossed his arms, huffing under his breath. He made eye contact with the other dwarf planets, who were listening in on the conversation. They were tense, their faces laced with apprehensiveness and concern for their newfound friend. Triton nodded to show he was fine, but deep down he knew he wasn't and they knew too.
"So, I figured that one way we could trigger his memories was to 'introduce' him to you mates," Uranus spoke, knocking Triton from his inner turmoil.
"No-!" He shifted forward, appearing almost scared of the notion.
The tiny moons cast each other glances before looking at their big brother.
"Why not, Triton?" Proteus asked, tilting his head.
"Because, uh... because I, uh..." Triton clenched his hands into fists, eyes averting from the moons to look at the Celestial instead, "Uranus, can I talk to you for a second; alone?"
"Sure, mate..." Uranus nodded, uncertainty crossing his features. Triton led them a few units away, his gaze downcast. Uranus waited patiently for the moon to get his words together.
"Right, so..." Triton bit his lip, hesitating for a few seconds, "Around one hundred million years ago or so, I was formed. Everything was great, y'know? I was free, traveling the Kuiper Belt, and doing my own thing... until I found myself in Neptune's orbit. I tried to get out, but no matter what I did, I couldn't escape. Since I travel in the opposite direction of his moons, I ended up... colliding with them."
Uranus sucked in a breath, eyes going wide.
"Neptune's moons aren't debris that came out of the Kuiper belt... they're fragments of those past moons."
Uranus didn't respond, looking at the moon with an indistinguishable stare. Triton looked anywhere else, avoiding the Giant's piercing gaze. He fiddled with his hands, a nervous habit he picked up from Neptune.
"Does he know?" The Celestial uttered.
Triton looked up, "Huh?"
"Does Neptune know...?"
Triton pursed his lips, "He doesn't like talking about it... or remembering it."
Uranus dipped his head, letting out a sigh, "Poor Neptune..."
For a few moments, nobody spoke. Triton eyed the Giant warily, watching as he took deep breaths.
"Right, well..." Uranus quickly composed himself, lifting his head with a look of determination on his face, "We're still going to go through with this."
"What- why?" A startled expression appeared on Triton's face as he quirked an eyebrow.
"Think about the other moons," Uranus stated, "You can't hide the truth from them forever. They're going to find out eventually."
"But- ugh, there has to be another way..." Triton grumbled, shaking his head in dismay.
"We're running out of options, mate... either we confront Neptune now and actually get somewhere, or we do nothing but wait until Neptune miraculously remembers something useful."
Triton huffed, eyebrows twitching in indignation, "Fine... let's get this over with."
Unbeknownst to them, a small moon scurried away to join the others, his face expressing significant panic.
« × »
"Is there a reason why you're watching me?" Poseidon asked, squinting at the ringed Celestial.
"What...? No, of course not!" Saturn waved his hands around, "I'm just, uh... ensuring your safety..."
Poseidon scoffed, rolling his eyes, "Since when did you and Zeus care about anyone's safety? You guys literally destroyed potential planets that could have formed."
Saturn stumbled with his words, trying to come up with something to say, except he couldn't. He had nothing to say. He couldn't defend himself for his past actions. Instead, he chose to stay quiet, averting his shameful gaze away from the other.
"That's what I thought..." Poseidon uttered, "If you'll excuse me, I have some things I need to take care of."
Saturn huffed, watching the other leave with puffed-out cheeks and crossed arms, "I prefer the old Neptune..."
"You and me both." A voice stated.
"Nine! Wh-What are you doing here?" Saturn whipped around to face the white Celestial.
"Oh, you know... I was going to my 'temporary' orbit, but I decided to check on you." He spoke, shrugging.
"Check on me...? What for?" Saturn questioned, becoming self-conscious as the other one looked at him critically.
"Don't get me wrong, it's not like I care about you after what you've done to me." Nine told him, turning away before sighing, "I thought I understood you and Jupiter more than anyone else... but as it turned out, I was wrong. You two are just as bad as the Sun."
Saturn let out a noise of indignation, "What-?"
"How do you deal with guilt, Saturn? How does Jupiter deal with it?" Nine squinted his eyes, "How can anyone be riddled with pain such as the heavy burden weighing on my core?"
Saturn was quiet, letting the other one rant his feelings.
"How can anyone- anyone- live like this? Feel like this? For billions of years, I've never felt this strongly about anything! I've never felt- I've never felt... anything. So why now, am I feeling like it's the end of the universe?"
"...Because it is." Saturn responded, voice just above a whisper, "Who knows when Sagittarius A* will cease to exist? Who knows what will happen to the Milky Way when it does? Who knows if we'll be reborn again...? None of us know... it could be seconds, minutes, hours, days until we all die out, leaving nothing but the empty void."
Saturn had looked away, a despondent expression covering his features. A pressure weighed heavy on his core, making him somewhat nauseous.
Nine analyzed him, a smirk rising on his face, "Hah, you always were the sensitive one."
Saturn lifted his head, expression turning into bewilderment, "Huh?"
"Seriously...?" Nine raised an eyebrow, "You, Saturn, are an open book. Anyone can tell what you're feeling by barely glancing at you. You may feel saddened by 'Poseidon' over there, but me...? Mmh, you've convinced yourself that you were right to eject me without a second thought. Why is that?"
"B-Because... I don't feel guilty." Saturn held himself close as Nine scrutinized him.
"Oh...? Well, in that case, I don't feel guilty either."
The two didn't speak for a few minutes, merely avoiding each other's gazes.
Nine turned away, huffing as he floated away, "It was nice talking to you again, Saturn... and I genuinely mean that."
« × »
"So, what's this about again...?" Sun asked Toliman as they and the others clustered around the Etheralink.
"Arcturus made contact with M87." Toliman answered, "The Red Giant supposedly has more to tell us."
"Honestly, Helios, do you listen to anyone-"
Sun raised a finger, opening his mouth.
"Except Spica and Toliman, whenever we have to meet up here?" Regulus glared at the other.
Sun scoffed, "Of course, I do! It just... depends on what it's about."
"So that's a no," Sirius uttered.
"Ugh, you too, Sirius? You're supposed to be the neutral one here!"
"You've always ignored my lectures about different Stars, comets, and planets."
'Maybe because it's boring...' Sun thought.
"Come on, guys, let's not get on Sol for not listening when Proxima is right here." Toliman spoke, gesturing to his sibling.
"H-Hey! Don't bring me into this!" Proxima crossed their arms, glaring at Toliman.
"You know I'm just kidding." Toliman elbowed Proxima in the side, a small smile on his face.
Sun watched the interaction, head tilted as he stared longingly at the Orange Star.
"So...?" Spica piped up beside him, "When are you going to make a move?"
Sun blinked, the lovestruck gaze dissipating. He looked at the Blue Star, uncertainty crossing his features, "I don't know..."
"Well, you like him, don't you? Why not go for it?"
Sun looked down. There was a low rumble as the Etheralink glistened.
"Oh, that should be Arcturus now!" Proxima stepped forward, pulling on a red thread.
Spica shifted forward to help them with welcoming their visitor.
"Y'know... you were right, Spica..." The Sun uttered to where only she could hear.
The Blue Star hummed, looking back at her friend, "What do you mean?"
"Stars like us cannot be together... for the distance is too great and the consequences are even greater..."
« NOTE »
Man, poor Sun...
I almost feel bad for him...
Almost.
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