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"They don't suck."
"They hurt you," Venus retaliated.
"They don't-,” Earth hesitated looking for the right words. “They don’t mean to."
"They don't mean to? What does that even mean?"
"Venus," Mars hissed. "Be nice!"
Ugh. Did they think that he was incapable of everything now? He could defend himself against Venus.
"I can handle it, Mars," Earth snapped. "I'm not helpless-
"I'm not saying you are-"
"Stop changing the subject!" Venus snapped back.
"Guys this really isn't helping," Mercury muttered, looking shocked at the scene unfolding.
"Who says I need help?" Earth snapped.
"No one said that-" Mercury tried.
"And here we go changing the subject again!"
“The Earthlings are fine Venus!” Earth rounded on him yet again.
“Tell me the truth, Earth, everyone else already knows!”
“It’s complicated.”
“How complicated could it be?”
“What do you want me to say here Venus?
“The truth,” Venus spat. “That they hurt you.”
“Fine. They hurt me. Happy?”
Venus was quiet for a moment. Almost thoughtful. Earth’s core was pounding in frustration. What started as a simple game of cards turned into- whatever this was.
Then-
“Why don’t you get rid of them?”
This drew a sound of outrage from Luna, who had previously been watching the augment like a game of human ping pong.
Earth was livid.
“How could you even ask me that?!”
At the same time Luna yelled-
“Why would you say that?!”
“I’m just saying, you’d probably be a lot happier if-”
"Can it Venus! You're making it worse-”
"Making what worse?" Earth rounded on Mars angrily. "I was perfectly fine until all of you all decided it would be a great time to spontaneously confront me! Telling me what you think is wrong with me, giving me bad advice-"
“Hey, I never gave any unsolicited advice, that was all Venus-”
“You’re just as bad! You treat me like I’m about to break or something. At least Venus is being real with me.”
“I am being real with you.”
“No, you’re dancing around what you really want to talk about.”
“Enlighten me then,” Mars was clearly starting to get frustrated. “What do I really want to talk about?”
“The time I tried to fly into the Sun,” the Earth answered bluntly. “You’ve wanted to talk to me about it since the trials but you’ve been too scared.”
“I- I-” Mars stuttered, looking for the right words. “I mean I did- I do- want to talk about that. I was just trying to find the right time.”
“Now or never. I'm right here.”
“Now doesn't seem like the right time-”
“There you go, deciding I'm too fragile. Again.”
“I never said that!” Mars shot back defensively. Looking to Luna and Mercury for support.
Mercury watched nervously, seemingly not sure what side to take. Luna's eyes were watching the Earth with a mixture of shock and concern.
That look alone was almost enough to bring Earth to a stop. To reassess the situation-
“You want to talk about it, let's talk about it,” Venus cut in assertively, almost as a challenge. “The Earthlings hurt you so much that you tried to end it all. If that's not a sign-”
“Enough about the Earthlings!” Earth snapped. “Do they suck sometimes, yes-”
“Why do you let them treat you like that?”
“What do you mean let them? I can’t control them, Venus! If I could then none of this would be happening-”
“None of what would be happening? What exactly are they doing?”
“I don't know why I'm explaining this to you. You'll never understand.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Venus challenged.
He was beyond frustrated at this point. What did they want him to say? ‘Yeah the Earthlings are parasites that are slowly making my surface uninhabitable for all living things, which fills me with existential dread because what am I without them?’
Yeah. No. He wasn't explaining that to Venus of all planets. Venus who now thought the solution to Earth's problem was getting rid of all life in the solar system.
Instead-
“Why are you doing this?” Earth redirected. “Why are you picking a fight with me right now?”
“I'm not picking a fight with you-”
“You know, if you guys really wanted to check on my mental state maybe you could start by- I don't know -listening to what I'm saying to you!”
“We are listening," Mercury spoke up hesitantly. “Or- well- I'm trying to listen.”
Earth couldn't argue with that. Mercury was actually listening. Mercury was letting him fight his own battles. He shouldn’t be mad at Mercury.
Right?
Then why was he feeling so- so heated?
They were quiet for a moment. Letting the last few minutes settle around them. Venus looked as angry as ever. Mars, having regained his composure, looked at Earth with an unreadable expression. Mercury gave him an awkward smile.
And Luna. Luna was looking down deep in thought. When suddenly-
“Can I say something?” Luna's hesitant voice cut through the silence like a knife.
Earth's frustration softened at the sound of Luna's voice.
“I guess I'm just- confused,” Luna began, all eyes on him. “I mean it makes sense that you guys are concerned. I'm honestly surprised this didn't come up sooner. It's just- kind of - kind of crazy that this is the way you went about it.”
They were quiet for a moment.
“Not to throw blame around, but Venus was the one who just started yelling,” Mars pointed out matter of factly.
That was true. Mars and Mercury hadn't picked a fight- they were just- irritating him.
“Right,” Luna agreed, though he looked at Mars thoughtfully. "But, I mean, the rest of you too. Right? I shouldn’t be calling anyone out here. I'm just as much to blame as anyone. But, shouldn't we all take some responsibility for everything that's happened?"
There was another wave of silence following Luna's words. Earth looked at his moon thoughtfully. He couldn't help but agree. He wanted to take responsibility for his own part in everything that had transpired.
“I think you're right Luna,” Mercury inserted. “We've all been pretty nasty to each other these past few months.”
Mercury's quick glance at Venus did not go unnoticed
Right. How could Earth forget about the unresolved saga of Mercury and Venus.
“I wasn't being nasty,” Venus defended, clearly having noticed Mercury’s tiny glance.
“I never said you were-”
“You implied it!” Venus sent back angrily.
Now this was a familiar sight.
“I didn't mean to-”
“I was showing concern,” Venus interrupted, still as angry as ever.
This made Mercury chuckle sarcastically.
Uh oh.
“What?!”
“Showing concern? Great job Venus. Message received."
“Look who's being nasty now,” Venus deadpanned, glaring daggers into Mercury.
“You deserve it.”
Earth shared a look with Luna. They silently agreed, this wasn't going anywhere good.
“I deserve it?” Venus challenged. “So much for Mr. Nice planet.”
“Who are you to judge me on being nice-”
“High and mighty Mercury,” Venus spat, approaching the smaller planet. “You pretend to be this- this goody two shoes. Always helping everyone, right? You pretend you're so perfect, when, in reality, you're just as screwed up as the rest of us!”
“And whose fault is that!?”
“Mercury come on,” Mars cut in, frustration clear on his face. “I thought we just agreed to stop fighting.”
“Me? You're telling me to stop? Are you serious?”
“I've been trying to get Venus to stop all day. It hasn't worked, so I'm appealing to you.”
“So it's my responsibility to pull it together, while Venus just gets away with- with whatever?”
“Or maybe Mars just knows I'm right,” Venus smirked, vindicated. “Maybe Mars knows that you're not as perfect as you pretend to be.”
Earth watched Mercury's face move from shock to fury in record time. Maybe it was time he stepped in here-
“Mercury-” He started.
“No, you know what?” Mercury looked venomous now as he rounded on Earth and Mars. “I don't want to hear it, Earth. You guys have never.
Ever. Defended me. Never included me. You just watched as Venus insulted me day in and day out. And if it wasn't Venus it was the Sun.”
Okay so all of it was coming out now. Guilt seeped deep into Earth’s core. Maybe he wasn't the only one with pent up anger-
“All I have ever tried to do was help!” Mercury yelled in frustration, looking close to tears now. “But I'm done. I'm done helping. Figure this one out without me.”
Mercury turned quickly to leave, hiding a world of emotion behind his back.
“Wait!” Earth called desperately.“Don't go Mercury.”
Earth shot Mars a ‘help me out here’ look. Mars nodded once in understanding.
“I'm sorry Mercury,” Mars began, causing Mercury to stop in his tracks, back still turned to the group. “You're absolutely right. We haven't been fair to you.”
“We totally should have included you more,” Earth continued. “And defended you against Venus-”
“Hey-”
“And the Sun,” Mars supplied.
Mercury's back remained turned to them, but he stayed rooted in place.
“I mean,” Earth tried again. “You're awesome Mercury. I wouldn't even be here right now if it weren't for you.”
Woah. He hadn't meant to say that. He hadn't meant to bring the subject back to this.
He watched as Mars's face morphed into something unreadable. The anger that had previously lined Venus's features fizzled into something foreign.
Earth then turned to face Luna, who was looking at him with guarded curiosity.
“You and Luna,” Earth corrected, smiling at his moon. “I've always taken you two for granted. I- I'm so grateful to you - to both of you.”
Mercury turned to face them again, eyes landing directly on Earth. His usual kind eyes gave a look of quiet understanding.
“Well actually,” Earth continued, looking again toward Mars and Venus. “If we're really taking responsibility for everything that's happened- I'm sorry to you guys too.”
“Us?” Mars asked in surprise. “Geez Earth, I should be the one apologizing to you. I should have been there with Mercury and Luna-”
“No you shouldn't have-”
“Yes I should have. But even beyond that, I should have been there the second time.”
“The second time?”
“The Kuiper Belt.”
Oh. Right.
“There's nothing you could have done for me. I was too far gone.”
“Well, that's not entirely true.”
“Yes it is-”
“We saw you losing it,” Venus interrupted, taking over for Mars.”And we knew you had a history of losing it after hearing her name.”
Earth blinked at them in shock. This was new information.
Earth opened his mouth to respond, but he was beaten to the punch.
“Wait, you knew?” His moon's voice was almost unrecognizable. It took Earth a second to realize who was talking.
“Well, yes-”
“You knew the whole time?” Luna looked- hurt.
“He freaked out once in the past,” Mars explained quickly. “A long time ago.”
“Didn't think to clue me in?” Luna continued. “Didn't think that was information that I needed to know?”
“I'm sorry Luna, I honestly forgot about it until we were searching-”
“What's with all the secrets in this solar system?” Luna accused, looking around at the group of them. “Planet X, Theia, and now this-”
“Look, we're sorry Luna,” Mars attempted. “Truly, we thought we were doing the right thing. We thought that not mentioning Theia would protect the Earth from another episode-”
“You could have told me about Theia! It's just as much my story-”
“We weren't sure how you'd react to hearing her name,” Mars reasoned. “We didn't want to risk it.”
“You left me in the dark, and look what happened,” Luna scolded. “I mean, do you have any idea how worried I was?”
“Of course,” Mars assured quickly
“Of course I know. I was right there searching with you.”
Luna gave Mars a stoney look before turning to face Earth.
“If you ever do that to me again-”
“I promise, I won't,” Earth assured, trying to convey his sincerity to Luna. “I promise Luna.”
Luna took him in a moment longer before rounding on Venus.
Well that was unexpected.
“And you-”
“What did I do?”
“Never suggest getting rid of the Earthlings again-”
“Alright, geez-”
“And you owe Mercury an apology.”
“It's fine Luna-” Mercury muttered shyly. “I'm used to it.”
Luna shook his head.
“What Venus does to you is exactly what the planets have been doing to the moons for so long. The hierarchy is so stupid. I won't just sit around and let it happen anymore.”
The group turned their eyes to Venus, awaiting his response.
“I'm not- I wasn't trying to be mean to anyone,” Venus grumbled, looking around at the notably skeptical expressions of the other rockies.
“I'm not!”
“Dude, just apologize,” Earth jumped in. “Even if you didn't mean to, you obviously hurt some feelings-”
“Fine, okay. Fine. I'm sorry.”
They continued to stare at Venus, willing him to plow forward.
“Look Mercury, I know I can be- bad to you. I just, I don't know how to explain this… You're so honest. Right? There's a lot you pick up on,” Venus trailed off.
“Okay?” Mercury looked on in confusion.
Earth couldn't blame him. What was Venus on about?
“What I mean is, you know me too well.”
“Know you too well? I barely talk to you-”
“You just, like, have a good read on me.”
“You mean I realized you're projecting your insecurities onto me?”
“Yeah, that. You can like psychoanalyze me or whatever-”
“I don't just go around doing that,” Mercury defended.
“But I know you're doing it anyway.”
Mercury furrowed his brow.
“Like in my head?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait,” Earth cut in, the curiosity getting the better of him. “Are you?”
“Psychoanalyzing you?”
“Yeah”
“Sometimes I guess-”
“Woah really?” Earth amazed. “All of us?”
“I have a lot of time to think.”
“What's your take on the Sun?” Earth pressed in interest.
“How long do you have?”
“Got any opinions on Jupiter?” Mars asked, joining the interest in the conversation.
“Some.”
“How about the moons?” Luna questioned.
“The ones I know,” Mercury supplied nonchalantly.
The look on their faces must have driven Mercury to defensiveness as he plowed forward.
“It’s not that crazy. I'm sure we all have opinions on each other.”
“Sure,” Mars agreed easily. “I definitely have my opinions. I replay some conversations over in my head when I'm alone in my orbit.”
“When I'm alone in my orbit I'm usually thinking about my Earthlings,” Earth mused aloud. “They always have a million things going on, so it's never a dull moment.”
“Sounds exhausting,” Venus grumbled.
“Back on the Earthing hate train,” Earth rolled his eyes.
“What's a train?”
“Nevermind,” Earth brushed off. “Doesn't matter. I'm way off topic.”
“There really is no topic,” Luna inserted. “This conversation has been kind of insane.”
“I thought we were working out our differences?” Earth looked out at his friends.
“If that's the case then I want to apologize for something too,” Mercury cut in looking at Earth.
Apologize to him? What did Mercury have to apologize for?
“When you were freaking out over Theia, I was kinda mean. I should have been there for you.”
“Oh. I honestly don't even remember that-”
“Then I won't rehash it,” Mercury concluded. “But I am sorry.”
“Me too,” Mars inserted. “I was also a total jerk.”
“I was too,” Luna joined in. “I was selfish, and- and entitled.”
“Geez guys, it's fine. And Luna, you're allowed to be selfish and entitled sometimes-”
“No, I was a jerk-”
“Oh please. I'm the king of jerks. You guys are fine.”
“If you're sure…”
“I barely remember that day anyway,” Earth brushed off. “Plus of the secrets in the Solar System, the Jupiter Planet X thing was way worse. Right?”
Earth's words were met with a chorus of agreement.
“Oh yeah.”
“Definitely.”
“That was shady.”
“We should get the gas giants here next time,” Earth joked aloud. “Lay into them about something.”
Venus, Mercury, and Luna laughed at that. Mars looked thoughtful.
“I'd actually love that,” Mars muttered, causing the other 3 to stop laughing.
“Really?” Venus inquired. “We barely know them.”
“You guys barely know them. Jupiter and I were close.”
“Were?” Earth asked.
“I just- I feel differently now.”
“So you want to talk to him?” Mercury asked in interest.
“I don't know,” Mars answered earnestly. “I just- this conversation we had today was really helpful. Don't you guys think so?”
Another chorus of agreement filled the space.
“This conversation was definitely important,” Earth smiled at his friends. “Uncomfortable, but- important.”
“We should be honest like this more often,” Mercury agreed.
“You gonna go talk to Jupiter?” Venus asked Mars.
“I will, but not today. We've got a game of cards to finish.”
“Right,” Earth smiled, turning to his moon. “It was your turn, wasn't it Luna?”
“I thought it was your turn.”
“Wasn't it my turn?” Venus asked, causing a chorus of laughter to erupt among the small group of planets.
“Guess we start over,” Mars turned to face Earth with a wide smile.
“Guess so,” Earth smiled back, dealing out a new hand.
And as they played Earth felt a feeling of gratitude form deep in his core.
Because what did he do to deserve friends like these?