Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Uranus was a strange planet, that was for sure, except if you were to ask anyone, from his star to his moons to even the other planets, they would not be able to explain or give you a proper answer. If you had to describe it, it would likely be by saying it was as though he was a ghost planet. There, but not actually . 

His moons orbited him like necessary except sometimes, when they were distracted or fully focused on something in particular, it was as though his gravitational pull disappeared and yet, they never stopped orbiting and the moment they looked over at him in confusion he was right there, everything normal, either painting or writing or even staring off into space. 

It was an absurd feeling that a few of them had talked about to each other, murmuring when his back was turned and he wasn’t paying attention or could hear (at least…they believed so, whether that was true or not was unimportant knowledge for them to know). And yet they could never pinpoint the problem or actually describe what or how it felt wrong and stars forbid, why it occurred. 

It truly was like he was a ghost of a planet, he rarely talked, if not for muttering to himself occasionally (the moment anyone got close enough to potentially listen he’d freeze and clam up, staring into space and avoiding or just ignoring them until they gave up) and talking with the occasional other planet (typically Neptune when he came around or if for whatever reason Saturn (or even more unlikely, Jupiter ) came to ask a question (because, as they’d come to realize, they never stayed to chat, it was as though he wasn’t a planet to them, or even alive ) and even then it would be a few words and he’d mostly just end up listening, staring at them intently and only replying when necessary), he sometimes noticed them (as though he didn’t remember they were there or that they were his, in a strange way, seemingly as though… he couldn’t believe they were his..? No, that wasn’t it… it was as though he believed they weren’t , as though they belonged to another planet and if not for one of them occasionally mentioning it he believed they were merely visiting) but it was never for long and he could never look any of them in the eye when he spoke. 

It wasn’t as though they were unhappy with the arrangement they’d been given, in fact Uranus had made it fairly clear from the beginning that he didn’t mind when they left to do as they liked, giving them almost entire freedom to do as they pleased. They supposed that was possibly one of the only perks that came with being a moon for a forgotten planet, they could enjoy as much freedom they wished as no one remembered they existed (an exaggeration, celestial bodies remembered they existed, they didn’t remember what planet they orbited (not belong to, they did not belong to anyone and certainly not him )) and therefore were almost never constrained to their orbits. However, it also meant they had almost no “relation” to their host-planet unlike most other moons, stars , even those of Saturn and Jupiter (despite how much they always complained about never having their names said correctly or unremembered) had some type of connection to their planet (they most certainly considered them their kids or perhaps little siblings (most likely in Neptunes case)). 

It wasn’t that they wanted something like that, they had all seen the Earth's moon and how it was treated, how with so many of them they were never individually remembered by Saturn, or even with what had happened with Triton! (A topic only the major moons of Uranus knew from accidental slips ups while their planets had been conversing). But there was no denying that some of them (namely the younger ones) wished they had some type of relation, anything . It was as though they didn’t exist to Uranus the same way he didn’t exist to any of the other planets and (even though the older ones would always deny it) they were somewhat attention starved. 

They knew it was an absurd thing to think, almost any moon would kill (and almost had ) to be in their position, the lack of rules, the most freedom amongst the whole Solar system, the only thing they likely wouldn’t be as partial to was where their orbit was and even then it wasn’t the worst, they were next to Saturn and Neptune (and technically Jupiter) so it wasn’t like they’d miss out on any moon (or planet) gossip. But the thing was, it was truly as though their planet didn’t exist . 

Despite multiple other planets, moons, pretty much every other celestial body (even sometimes including the sun ) moving around, leaving their orbits, going into others’, Uranus never left his. Aside from occasionally being pulled out and forced into Neptunes or dragged along to search or talk with Saturn or Jupiter, Uranus stayed in his eighty-something earthling year orbit, practically never stepping foot outside it willingly . And sure the moons could always go and leave themselves (they often did, remember, most freedom in the system) it meant they almost never got the chance to get in on any planet gossip just by hanging around. And sure- he was an introvert and all that (the floating earthling had explained it after they asked why he always kept to himself (they hadn't been expecting an answer, not an accurate one)) but even that was too much for the definition of the word. 

It was almost absurd . Really! One orbit, they divided into groups and spent the whole trip around the sun always having eyes on their planet, watching and counting for when he left and how many times. To say the least, it had been less than the amount of fingers they held on their humanoid bodies (said planet had been strangely annoyed and grumpy, seemingly glaring at nothing (occasionally whatever moon was watching him though he never let them notice) and muttering tenfold to what was normal). 

It was just one of those things they added to the list of strange inexplicable occurrences that had to do with their light blue ringed planet. And really, it wasn’t like they were being overdramatic about it either! More then once and by more then one moon they’d seen him talking to quite literally nothing or, on the even rarer offense, practically flickering in and out of existence (except it was always caught from the corner of their mind and the moment they looked at him properly it was as though nothing was wrong, ever ). 

And then came the turning point. The joke . 

It had been strange and so unexpected it had taken them a few moments to process what he’d said. 

It had already been a strange enough day what with Uranus actually speaking with someone outside of his orbit (though one person quickly became two and three with the addition of Saturn and Astrodude) and when they started talking about rings it had caught the attention of a few of the moons, curious about what could possibly be the cause. 

It had all gone downhill from there, from Saturn freaking out and sobbing as he ran away (likely to Jupiter), to Uranus not only mentioning them, remembering how many there were, and essentially threatening to kill them, it had been plentiful confusing to say the least. (It had been the most attention they’d received from him in centuries and the reasoning behind it had not made that fact any better.)

During the entire moon revolution they’d seen or heard of their planet a total of three times; when he and Neptune had gone looking for them (something that had surprised them and left the other moons with them confused behind belief), when he’d confronted Titan about their location (the fact such a thing had made the younger ones rethinking their choice because of that small gram of knowledge that he’d been looking for them was not comforting) and when he’d confronted them and tried to apologize. Titania had had to forcefully pull everyone away, not letting them listen to the words being ‘sweetly’ spoken as there would’ve been no chance they wouldn’t have fallen for it, and what an absurd thought that was. 

The craziest part, was that he wasn’t even a sweet talker like Earth who knew how to say just the right thing (or Iris, but they didn’t know him yet to be able to use him as a comparison), in fact to anyone else, if they’d heard the apology, they'd probably have been even more motivated to continue the revolution, not…whatever was wrong with them and the reaction they had. 

(Titania would one hundred percent have to think about that later, about how fucked up they possibly had to be to think that that was the best apology known to celestial kind.)

But after the failed attempt…they did not see or hear of him until the trials, multiple weeks without noticing their planet as their focus was switched between a multitude of different objectives and tasks and in the end, the apology of the earth (seeing how much attention he paid his moon, how much he cared , it had made a decent amount of them tear up for completely different reasons that had nothing to do with the habitable planet they didn’t actually have anything against). 

When the trials arrived and they were to confront the planets before the Sun they noticed that Uranus wasn’t overly…excited to be there, though they couldn’t exactly come up with a reason the only thing they could think of was how close he was to his star and he was worried about melting (but the major moons realized that that hadn’t been the case, as, despite how he was supposedly the coolest planet and made mostly of ice, he had not paid the extreme change in orbit any mind, as though it didn’t affect him whatsoever) or (in the case of the younger ones who still held some childish hope) that he was worried for them and that they might get punished by the sun. 

In fact, Miranda realized about halfway through the trials when they delved into chaos between the two sides, the sun hadn’t actually called for his presence, he had named just about every other celestial body and yet… when they glanced over, there he was, sitting with his arms crossed, at the back of the grouped planets and looking unamused at the whole situation (a strange difference in emotion to his typical apatheticness to just about everything ). 

During the entire trial he was not called on once despite being one of the main offenders/reasons for the revolution (or at least, to his moons. They supposed in the grand scheme of things, much like their planet, it went unnoticed or was not as important compared to the others), something that if it were not for most of their attention being on the current debate they would’ve found incredibly strange. 

Then the break was called and they were all allowed to cool off (for some of them, quite literally (and yet once again, that did not seem to include their ice giant)) or chat for a little while. Somehow, until the very last minute of the break not one of them had noticed that their star and the icy planet were speaking (in a strange manner as well, the sun, for once, barely spoke and Uranus (much to his moons’ surprise) seemed to be mostly-emotionlessly recounting a story that the other seemed incredibly (and…worriedly..? No that wasn’t right..) interested in). 

In fact, it was so strange that sun didn’t even bother calling a finish to the break, practically forgetting the matter at hand as he listened, entirely raptured by the words being spoken, to the point even the other moons and planets noticed, watching them curiously out of the side of their eyes (or in some cases annoyedly (or…happy? No wait Neptune was just…always happy..)).  

It wasn’t until Mercury coughed into his palm beside the star in the almost entirely silent Solar system that it seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in, blinking rapidly and looking at the surrounding celestial bodies before going back to his violently cheerful self (if not a little more…forced (not that anyone would be able to tell)) and Uranus fell silent, floating back to his previous spot as he was swallowed back into the background and effectively forgotten once more. 

(And the strangest part, was that even with them all silent and watching, they hadn’t been able to discern a single thing said between the two, speaking in voices so hushed it was already hard to hear and then in a strange language that only Neptune seemed to understand by the slight scrunch in his brows and concerned expression that he quickly replaced with a silly one upon realizing he was being watched.)

Ganymede and Europa were expelled, the system was quiet for a few days (or, as quiet as possible) and everything went more or less back to “normal” (Umbriel had noticed briefly at the end of the trials the Sun and her planet speaking once more, this time it was almost as though the sun was telling him off) and Uranus had apologized to his moons, properly (it had made a concerning amount of the younger moons quite literally pass out from excitement and joy at his words (the older ones would never say so but they themselves were barely holding themselves together as well)). 

(And yet, over the course of everything, he still had not looked anyone in the eye.)

Then they came back, another trial was held, this time surrounding Jupiter and what he’d done in the Proto-Era, and the so-called “X” had returned (bringing with him knowledge about a now dead planet known as “Theia”), and he’d been expelled as punishment. 

(Despite the panicked and anxious looks and voices of the other planets when the dead one was mentioned the sun seemed strangely… happy ..? when he mentioned her name, as though she wasn’t really gone despite what everyone else thought.)

And then they’d watched as their planet was quite literally, quite obviously , manipulated into believing this new planet was a better choice rather than Jupiter even though there were definitely bound to be problems if they switched. 

And yet Uranus seemed to go along with it, for some strange unknown reason he seemed to completely believe what the exo-planet was saying and telling him (even if when he turned around he let his uncomfort show and when he thought he was unwatched he seemed to roll his eyes in annoyance). 

Even when Saturn attempted to convince him only to get verbally attacked by ‘X’ (one of the first times they’d seen the other ringed planet speak to him for anything other than a request or a question and for longer than seconds at a time) he had done nothing but watch “timidly” before completely agreeing with whatever the darker blue planet had said or ‘lamented’ about, as though he was the star their planet revolved around. 

Neptune had tried multiple times, from showing how he was wrong to almost fighting him to resigning with a ‘defeated’ sigh, nothing got through to either planet (though…even then it was strange, they’d heard some stories from the planet’s moons (namely Triton) about how he was the system’s guardian and even with only half a mind he was still one of the strongest as he had to be able to stop any… unwanted problems , so they couldn’t wrap their heads around why the stars this planet had been let in, allowed to take Jupiters spot for some time and manipulate Uranus, why had Neptune not just stopped him at the beginning before the whole fuss happened?). 

It was so strange and unheard of for the moons that they mostly just watched and stared in shocked silence as everything happened, once or twice being approached by another’s’ moon to ask if they were alright. And yet they could never explain it, you just had to know what they were talking about to be able to understand the peculiarity of the situation. 

By the time they held the games Uranus had started to look more and more agitated, like he was seconds away from pulling someone’s hair out (or in some of the older moons opinions, someone's core ). But he kept his belief in the exo-planet true no matter what, only looking partially more “worried” right before the last game, asteroid dodgeball (a fact Miranda tried to not let any of the younger moons focus on as they headed towards the field). 

Most of the smaller and younger ones had thankfully already given up before it started (but they’d been given for protection back to Neptune, even though most of them were not his moons (namely Uranus’s)) and then everyone’s attention had been intently focused on the match and the fear of the possibilities that could occur. 

(No one had been paying attention to the icy giant as he flickered in and out of existence, as a cool wind surrounded the moons, guiding most of the asteroids just out of reach of directly hitting a smaller moon or helping them move quicker. No one noticed that the Sun seemed strangely okay with the events at hand, almost unaffected by the obvious chances that the moons might lose, that it seemed as though his heat was less prominent in that moment, as though he was purposefully holding it back for reasons not related to the planets at hand.)

And then X lost. He lost and he was mad about it, and then he left and Jupiter came back and the mess that had been created was minutely resolved (even if the moons of him and Saturn kept more of their distance from their planets than usual and said celestial bodies seemed a little more disheveled and quiet then normal) and then when everyone went back to their orbits to cool off ( still not including a certain ice giant) or relax after all the stressful events they watched as their planet went and talked with the sun once more in hushed tones on the side of the system none of the planets were in the middle of orbiting. 

The moons watched curiously as the star was almost… thanking him? despite the fact he’d been one of the main aggressors for the whole situation and- was Uranus embarrassed ?! Umbriel was sure all 28 ( 27? idk ) froze on the spot, eyes wide and mouths agape as they stared. There was no fucking way this was real. There was no way they were the only ones seeing this, right? Except when Umbriel glanced to the side at everyone else it was as though they couldn’t see anything, like absolutely nothing was wrong, all chatting about stars knows what or worrying over their moons/each other. 

She felt like she was going insane, like everything was just an abruptly vivid hallucination her mind had conjured up because there was no other explainable explanation for what in the stars they were watching right now. Like- actually . 

All in all, even now, they still could not explain why their planet seemed so strange. Truly, as though a ghost . 

Chapter Text

Despite being the “first” ice giant in the lineup for the orbits (he wasn’t originally), the “first” ringed planet (though that was now another thing of the past), the only planet that was tilted (an incident he refused to ever elaborate on when asked), he was also the forgotten planet (even more so than Pluto or X, one had a partner and the other was always remembered even if it was in fear), the one that wasn’t special (there was nothing he did or had or anything that made him different from everyone that surrounded him), the one that smelled bad (it wasn’t his fault his atmosphere was like this, it wasn’t like he wanted it and besides- he wasn’t even the only one! Venus also smelled but no one ever commented on that ), the one with a joke of a name (no one ever pronounced it correctly even though he corrected them (or used to- he no longer tried to do so)).

He was a lot of things but one of them was not included, somehow, he didn’t know exactly how , he was invited to things even less than Neptune which, of course, did not exactly help his case of being remembered by people (though… they wondered if he wanted to be in the first place, since he rarely made an attempt to partake in any activity and it was hard to tell if it was merely because he’d resigned from trying or because he didn’t care). 

So what did they think of it- him? Well- at least those who remembered who or what he was, it was pretty simple!

If you were to ask them about Uranus they all would have fairly different answers, each one with an opinion that depended on how well (or if ) they knew him, completely different from one another, but they would also be inherently the same . Although not all vocally expressed (some would refuse to tell such parts or (semi-)skillfully dodge the question or hint and move onto something else) they would all say something along the same lines of; “it was as though he was not real ”. 

Even the planet himself, if told the others’ answers would merely lift an eyebrow, the ghost of a smile (as not-there as he was) playing at his lips, and shrug in response, not bothering to prove his existence in the slightest (as though he didn’t care . As though it didn’t matter (whether he was there or not, whether he was alive or not, whether he was real or a ghost )). 

(The most peculiar instance of this whole fact was that out of everyone there were two that refused to give an answer whatsoever (or in one’s case, gave one so backwards and twisted you could not understand it ( purposefully )); the Sun himself and Neptune. Ironically, the two you would not expect whatsoever.)

Mercury was a small planet and one that had quite a few problems, from being bullied to pressured, (to somehow becoming a therapist?? (a much needed one…)), and much more but that wasn’t important at the moment (because that wasn’t what we were talking about right now). 

If he was being honest, he knew very little of the ice planet, far too far ( ha ha ) from him to really establish any proper relationship or like- friendship or even really talk whatsoever. He’d seen him painting before which he found was cool (on the strangely rare occasion he actually saw the ice giant despite him literally almost never leaving his orbit to the point Mercury was beginning to wonder if he’d listened to too many of the Earth’s scary stories that he was growing paranoid or if there was really something up) and sometimes wondered if that was something they could share or maybe do together (…which considering where they were located was about a zero percent chance, but he was still allowed to think about the possibilities of getting to share a hobby without dealing with the other person laughing or looking down on it (he was looking at the other Rockies for that one)). 

There was of course the whole joke with his name and all of that but in Mercury’s opinion it wasn’t that funny (it was more of a Venus and Earth thing to joke about then him and Mars) and sometimes on the off chance he’d actually feel bad for the Jovian, he was painfully aware of how annoying it was to get made fun of for something you couldn’t control at all and it made him sympathize a little when the other two (or sometimes three) were nowhere near as… ‘kind hearted’.

But aside from that and the incredibly occasional (as in- literally practically never ) Solar flare that was directed in said planets direction (and yet his name was never, not once , yelled into open space, as though it was taboo or would summon a demon instead of a british ice planet (though, he supposed, if his name was that he wouldn’t want anyone yelling it either so he supposed it was fair). Also was the accent even British? Why did they even have accents when they were planets and not Earthlings… whatever, sentient planets were already strange in the first place so oh well (but was it a matter of normal strangeness or just something specific to him? ). 

Anyway, the only time he’d really come close to the planet was during Solar trials (which before the whole… fiasco were rare ) or some type of event hosted by the star (normally a game or competition of some type) in which everyone had a mandatory attendance (and yet not once had he ever heard the Sun call the tilted planets name, neither to testify, to partake, or even to appear ). 

Normally said planet would just end up in the background watching the whole thing, maybe, maybe , speaking very very briefly with Neptune to pull him back to reality or explain something the blue planet had likely forgotten, but otherwise it was as though he was not even there. 

And then the whole moon revolution had happened and despite what he’d been told (about what Uranus had said (read: threatened )) the Sun had not brought him up once, somehow going about the whole trial while still including what had happened without bringing up the icy planet. 

(If it weren’t for the matter at hand he’d probably have been impressed .)

And then during the break everything seemed to have gotten to a head, with the two speaking in worried hushed tones away from everyone else and in some strange unrecognizable language. It had been as though they were in their own world, practically forgetting everyone else was there at all or that they were in the middle of a trial (and wasn’t that ironic? The absolute switch that as soon as he spoke with the forgotten planet everyone else became forgotten in return, what irony. Truly ). 

(And, specifically to Mercury who was stuck with the star the most and talked to him around ninety percent of the time, seeing the Sun so…quiet and just listening to what the other was saying without interrupting him was strange . It reminded him partially of when he’d had to help stop the Earth from killing himself, how for one of the first times in probably millions (or even billions ) of years he hadn’t been smiling whatsoever.)

And then to top it off at the end of the ‘X’ trial games and all that stuff he’d heard the Sun thanking him profusely. If anyone had seen his expression they would’ve been as confused as he was at that exact moment, jaw agape as he stared at the ball of fire thanking someone that had almost just ruined the whole Solar system.

He was sure he was going fucking crazy. 

(Maybe this was what the blue planets’ moons were going through…)

Venus had no specific correlations or acquaintanceships with the icy planet, having essentially never interacted with the other aside from the off chance when he was making fun of some aspect of him (normally joined by the Earth, which- it wasn’t his fault it was funny as hell) so in all honesty he didn’t really have an opinion on the other aside from thinking he was sorta pathetic (and incredibly… strange . The planet’s entire existence felt off putting in a manner he couldn’t put into words or actions whatsoever). 

The only relation they really could have was either through others or their orbits . Ironically, much to Earth and Mars’ chagrin, they shared the exact same orbit only reversed (so why was it so different ? He couldn’t help but wonder if their roles had been reversed if he would’ve become as… unreal as the other (and what a terrifying thought, truly )). It had taken him finding an extra sharp asteroid to get them to shut up and eventually forget it (just like how they forgot Uranus. And wasn’t that horrifying ? The possibility that as soon as a topic involved the celeste planet it disappeared into nothingness alongside him (he’d pretty much refused to be included in most topics that had to do with him after that, too worried he’d be forgotten just the same)). 

But he hadn’t, that was for sure. It wasn’t like he really… cared but…he knew some of the other planets had “relations” with their opposite orbiter, some type of connection between the differences they always held from one another that he felt himself a little envious of (and oh what a joy , just another thing he could add to his every growing list, really, just what he needed on top of every other fucking growing nuisance in his celestial life). Mercury and Neptune held a similarity in their more carefree personalities (and their ability/attempts to listen to others and help with their problems), the Earth and Saturn were both… sensitive to a certain degree but specifically very ‘caring’ to those surrounding them and those they cared about (he refused to think about the times he would silently beg the stars to include him in that group, to be someone wanted and not just… there (and oh, maybe they did have similarities)), and Mars and Jupiter were “friends” ever since back in the Proto-Era after the giants had calmed down enough it wasn’t a major threat to be around them anymore (and even if he never saw or asked, he had a feeling said Rocky planet had something to do with it (he was kind like that…it wouldn’t surprise him after all)).

And what about him? Well- …

…

..

.

(They were one and the same.)

(Nothing had changed…)

(It was always his fault.)

(He should’ve known better-)

( Why?! )

(…)

(There was very little that differentiated them and yet so much at the same time it made his head spin and core ache . 

They were both lonely in a forever sense, surrounded by people yet always alone (one of them had seemingly accepted that, even playing into it as an advantage and the other fought back, forcing himself and others to be present ). 

They were forgotten (one had chosen to be that way (for reasons he doubted anyone would ever understand) and the other made himself unforgettable (it didn’t matter if it was in a good or a bad way, all that mattered was that he was there )). 

They were both ghosts of the past and who they had once been (one in a manner so literal he wondered if that was the truth and the reality of his nature, his existence twisted and changed beyond the laws of nature and possibility. And the other by changing so drastically you could almost not find any similarities whatsoever to the point he sometimes wondered if he was the same planet or had been reborn anew. (He wondered, sometimes, if the icy planet had always been this way or had changed just as dramatically and if he would still be seen if it were not for making his presence obvious every time he arrived).)

They were one and the same and yet they held no similarities.)

Earth… well let’s just say… it was… weird , his ‘relationship’ with the ice giant. On one hand he made fun of him on multiple aspects but on the other… he personally preferred to stay away from the topic of the blue planet as much as possible (especially after the whole thing about their Greek ‘counterparts’, he’d made sure they almost never retouched the subject much less actually delved deeper into it. It was bad enough he was technically a woman and considered the creator of everything (something he knew the Sun would not be happy about finding out) but also that he was technically Uranus’ wife (and mother ). He still shuddered every time he thought of it or it was brought up, like no offense to the other but… not for him you know..?). 

He was sorta just… there (or a better description; he wasn’t ). Even his Earthlings didn’t really find the planet intriguing, and he meant that literally , the planet was just very…uninteresting..? (Was that offensive? He was trying to not be too mean but he was trying to expressive reality. The Jovian literally had nothing going on below his surface, no materials, no strange phenomenon, only the fact his clouds were orange because of a chemical reaction (the same one that made him smell (idk if that’s actually true, I dropped physics for Latin for a reason)) and that he sometimes had Diamond rain (but nowhere near the same amount as Neptune).)

Sure, he was tilted and that meant he was stuck orbiting essentially backwards (but so was triton , and no offense, but the ‘moon’ had a much more interesting backstory in his opinion) and had rings (that were technically more than Saturns but much less prominently visible which sorta made them less cool) and… well that was about it!  

(If he was really any more bored he’d probably wonder about the fact that there was so little information on the other, even despite not being the farthest away. He’d always brushed it off as just the fact that there wasn’t anything interesting about him (also he was British . Why .) but perhaps that was his fault for never checking for the truth, really, how could he have known this was what was being hidden?! He was pretty sure no one would have guessed it was possible, much less it was him! (And maybe that was why, the perfect way to hide in plain sight, though if he thought back on it, the other hadn’t even needed to bother hiding and wow, what did that say about everyone…))

And then the whole “thing” happened and he was now getting better thanks to support from Mercury and his amazing moon and he was trying to be kinder and more considerate and he was hoping he was doing a good job and that he was changing . He no longer made fun of everyone (or he made sure they knew it was all in good fun and not… for worse reasons) which meant he just had another reason to stay away from the topic of the ice giant and he never really tried to bring it up (out of… courtesy or just because he was not interested it dealing with any of them… recounting Earthling stories to say the least). 

In fact they went a long time without even mentioning the other at all, only being subtly reminded about the seventh planet occasionally by either an appearance in the cards they would play (which was another weird incident, despite having one of the highest points with how far and large he was compared to the others you’d think his card would be played or used more right? But for some inexplicable reason they had pretty much never drawn his card. Even Mercury, who literally collected every single version of every single one, and who definitely had more than one of them, practically forgot they even existed ) or by one of the giants in conversation (though they typically held their tongue when it came to the topic, like it was simply something they did not speak of (and not even for nefarious reasons (like X, but they didn’t know of his existence at this point) despite what one might think), as though they did not remember he existed at all ). 

Then they switched orbits and his surface was frozen over, something he was still mad about, but it meant he was near the asteroid belt, and, consequently with how they’d been arranged, near Neptune and Uranus. Neptune had changed into a super knowledgeable and smart person (he’d seen some of the other giants watching him with mournful looks, even Uranus, who typically looked pretty much emotionless even when it came to his ‘best friend’, look regretful at the sight) and Uranus…was still…forgotten? Well- sort of. It was strange, because he was closer the disappearance or “not there”-ness he seemed to always carry an aura of was so much more… obvious .

Whenever he would “flicker” (as he’d come to call it because he couldn’t figure out anything else to call it that would work or explain the strangeness of the matter) in and out of existence in the edge of his (or even Venus’ peripheral, because he’d heard the other mumbling about it with a raised eyebrow before pretending nothing had happened when he saw the Earth watching him) vision it felt like he could actually see it or at the very least, identify the fact he was not relapsing with the stupid hallucinations (which hallelujah because they were so annoying. However, …from what he’d heard occasionally when the planet’s’ moons would talk to his, and from what he occasionally saw, he was starting to think he was definitely not the only one who suffered from them (seriously- who in the star damned galaxy was this dude talking to?! He’d once caught him laughing . Laughing at literally nothing . Laughing for what Earth was sure was the first time in his entire existence)). 

And then, as soon as they essentially fought the Sun (the Celeste planet had not spoken once during the entire thing, not even looking straight ( was he tho? lol ) at the star and yet somehow still managing to do something that convinced him to listen and in the end agree ) and got to get everything to go back to normal, it was as though everything literally went back to normal, as though the switch had never happened (as though an entire chunk of memories had just been stolen from his (and everyone else’s apparently) mind, leaving behind a really really strange sense of missing something, like he knew something was wrong, had even figured it out and then just… forgot ). 

But soon even that…weirdness was forgotten, slipping his mind and being pushed to the back with everything else he would probably never think of again or remember (though he wasn’t sure if that was purely because of how he worked, or if it was because of Him ). 

Out of all the Rocky planets Mars was the closest to the giants and therefore, closest to the icy planet. However if anyone for whatever reason thought that meant he knew more about him then the others they were even more wrong then assuming Venus was delicate because he was “the goddess of love and beauty” (said planet would’ve most definitely stabbed him twenty seven times if he found out he’d said and called him that). 

In truth the only ones he really knew a bit more information about was the gas giants, they were closer and back in the Proto-Era, the two he’d speak with most frequently (namely Jupiter) as his orbit was pushed further and further and his water cooled and became toxic (a topic he didn’t necessarily like speaking on or even thinking about, finding there to be no reason to dwell on the past when one couldn’t change it (except on the days it got bad, when he got bad, and he’d normally sit with Venus (or sometimes alone) in the asteroid belt and… cry . Watching as the water he’d loved so much was turned to poison as it fell down his cheeks and through his atmosphere)). 

( No one could change the past, no one .)

Which meant…he really only knew about the blue planets from occasional sightings as he floated around his orbit (and even then it was rare, for both of them. Neptune had just gone a little… crazy from how long his absurdly wonky orbit was, which generally meant he was either hidden or too far away to be seen and Uranus… well he was just…never here nor there . Every time he’d look past the two Jovians on accident (or because he was bored) and essentially straight into the ice giant’s space, there was never anyone there (now don’t go blaming him with the whole “his orbit takes longer and is farther away and he could just be somewhere else”. He knew better). Even though, from what Mercury (and the occasional moon) had told him (which was strange considering he was one of the farthest away from said planet) he never left his orbit for just about anything . So he knew that that wasn’t the case which meant something else was). 

Sometimes, when he was tired as too long had passed since he’d last slept (typically because the Rockies had been playing games super late or Phobos and Deimos wouldn’t (or couldn’t) go to sleep so they'd spend the whole time talking (which he generally didn’t mind but he needed his beauty sleep) or even on the off occasion he’d stay awake just to watch everyone else sleep (no it was not weird, it just gave him a strange sense of comfort to watch everyone and know they were all safe)) he’d look around and see the icy planet talking to someone (no one) only for them to disappear the moment he focused on it (or on some nights when he was really tired, they would only violently flicker in and out of existence, even more so then the planet talking to them typically did sometimes, but their form would stay and he’d be stuck wondering as he stared if he was hallucinating the fact they were see-through and looked a concerning amount like certain dead planets). 

So all in all, Mars was not actually very… close to him or knew much about him whatsoever. (Though he doubted anyone did. Even those who were closest would fail upon being quizzed. He was just the definition of his unofficially dubbed title, the first planet.)

Chapter Text

Jupiter. 

(Why had he done it?! What had he done to deserve this? Was his proposition so outlandish and absurd he deserves this as a punishment? Not even 3rEbU5 had been given such a horrendous consequence for his actions. 

Did everything in the past mean nothing? All the time he’d spent? Had it all been for nothing?  

…

Was it his fault? Was he the reason it had happened? The cause that became the effect? Was he why it had all gone downhill? 

Or was there another reason he did not know of? Had they hidden the truth from him ? Had they looked at his actions and words and laughed at the possibilities? Had they been scheming it from the beginning? Had they known? )

He’d been around since the beginning, the oldest planet that had seen just about everything in the solar system (only being shadowed by the Sun himself, and even then, there were things kept hidden from either one (or both) that they did not know (and never would) ) and the planet that held the most authority and power (both figuratively and literally, his celestial weapon and magic were the strongest in the system, offense-wise at least). 

Although he had technically seen the ice giant be created or “born”, it had been a very different era (one that they didn’t talk about, (almost) everyone agreeing to leave it in the past, there was no changing it anyway so why drag up old regrets?) and he’d been a little…preoccupied in the moment to pay the other much attention (…he wonder if maybe he should’ve, if it would’ve stopped this from happening, if they wouldn’t have to be like this because of his stupid choices, but then again, no one can change the past…). 

The two ice giants, Uranus and Neptune (because back then they hadn’t been the only ones, they hadn’t been alone , they hadn’t been pushed away ), had met shortly after gaining consciousness and had quickly become friends, practically glued at the hip (…maybe it had been his fault, if he hadn’t…passed judgement so quickly, believed so easily, given punishment even quicker, perhaps the two would not be so shut off now (though he knew very well that wasn’t the only reason, nor was it even the most important one, though both had been because of him ) ). 

It had been a rare instance to see them not together, even as time went by and their orbits were pushed further and further, they’d defy the sun’s orders (though, and he was guessing they’d quicker figured out as much, with how far they were (and how they kept straying even farther ) the suns attention was very early on them and what they were doing (for better or for worse…) ) even if it meant to just spend a little more time together (and he couldn’t blame them, if that had happened with Saturn he would’ve done the same, he just wished, billions of years later, that it hasn’t been a necessity ). 

But at the very least, it had been less to worry about for both the Sun and him (after he’d been appointed by the star to be in charge of ask those past the asteroid belt (or- what was now known as that)) and the two planets had quickly slipped his (and everyone else’s…) mind, becoming background noise essentially (…he should’ve never let that happen, he should’ve never let it get so bad. He should’ve-). 

Even then, from what he’d seen and… heard , it wasn’t like the two necessarily tried to stay out of trouble (even if it was nowhere near as bad as the others ( read: Rocky planets ) there had been a few… strange incidents that…they now chose not to talk about (they weren’t allowed to. —— wouldn’t let them, and no one wanted to test the unforgiving possibilities of 7h3M) ) and he’d had his own ( unfortunate ) hand in dealing out some punishments (light as they were, he was still pretty sure they could’ve been worse and more…appropriate (but he forgot , that would’ve made it all the worse, it would’ve made them unforgiving )). 

(Perhaps, if he’d kept a better eye on them, on what they’d been doing, how they’d been (how they were forgotten and excluded) , it wouldn’t have ended so horribly. Perhaps, if he had not been the one (whose hand had never truly been forced, throughout the whole course of things), if he had not been the reason and the light on the fuse (except he wasn’t, he had been the fuse, the whispered words he believed, violently sweet in his ear, had been the true flame), he would’ve had a chance at forgiveness (it was unforgivable, even more so then what he’d done to Erebus , and nothing would change that (the past was “ unchangeable ” but it was nothing in comparison to this ) no matter how he wished and hoped (because his hope had been crushed all those years ago, how could the reason be allowed something he wasn’t?!)). 

But ‘perhaps’ could only get you so far when you never once acted on those thoughts, when you merely watched impassively and unfeeling as it happened and only later went on to regret (only when it was far far too late, when no trick in any Solar system or galaxy could fix what you’d done (when it was “safe” to look back and regret because no one could blame you anymore for someone that happened so long ago)). Especially when it affected everyone around you, changed lives for better or for worse (except they were the only ones that got it better, everyone else was doomed, lost with nothing to grab onto, floating through space like an exo-planet) and your lack of action became the cause of it . 

But he’d ( tried to) change(d), he was kinder now, more careful, patient with everyone, always quick to apologize or dismiss a mistake, letting accidents slip because “they were still young and learning, it wasn’t their fault, they didn’t know” (so why , when it had been exactly the same case back then, had he not been given the same leeway ( neither of them had) , why had he been forced to endure such a horrific 3npd1uG??? It had been an accident so why had no one treated it like one?! (Especially when they treated him like one!)). 

He was even revered as the “older brother” of the solar system or sometimes even a dad to the younger Rocky planets, he was someone they looked up to, someone they admired, someone they thought could do no wrong (and he’d once thought that as well, for both him and Saturn, stars, he was pretty sure they all had at some point, but alas, to think back on those times only made the betrayal all the worse, only made it hurt more) and Jupiter was happy (…he was the only one, the only one that had gotten his happily ever after even with what he’d done, what he’d caused , everything that had happened because of him, washed away like a black hole’s pull as he was granted the best ending out of them all).

It was almost strange how different everything felt nowadays (how quick and easy it was to forget , to ignore ), how nice it was, the way to fall into repetition of everyday life in the solar system (sure there were always things changing (more so now than ever before) but that didn’t matter, they were all ( ...? ) together and they would be able to overcome anything (…). 

…

He wished it had stayed that way…

He’d been sure, that after everything, after how much it had all changed, they had all changed (and forgotten ), that it would be alright. But in hindsight… he probably should have known better (everything had been fine and better for them , for the gas giants, the Rocky planets, stars even the sun. …how could he have forgotten the other two ( three ) ice giants behind them? How could he have dismissed them from his mind so quickly? To the point he never once took into consideration their displeasure ( especially after what had happened, what they’d done , what he’d done. How could he have not remembered? )). 

(The answer was unfortunately , very simple . He had not been supposed to. He had not been allowed to. No one had. (Except for the one(‘s) it concerned, except for the one(’s) that had to deal with on a day to day basis, the one who had been cursed (by them ).)

Almost as though to show just how far he had come, he had been sad, he had been regretful , and most of all he had been ashamed (ashamed of what he’d done, even if those memories were now blurry, even if he could no longer submerged himself in the feelings, in all he wished he could go back and change, all he wanted to do differently (and yet he hadn’t and here they were)). 

He saw it. 

(SAW) 

( HE IT)

(DID!)

(HE SAW -.?)

(HOW IT DI-?,;)

(IT EVERY-:?)

(ALL KNOW-:/,!)

(SHOULD DOES HE IT.?)

(H- E-&!,)

( P /‘- L /.,:)

(ES- HOW-:,? DON’T!&,- YOU CANT-/:;,)

(…)

(..)

(.)

()

(RUN)

(.)

Ever seeing. 

All knowing. 

Saturn . 

(You can’t hide from him? 

…

You can’t hide from him.)

Don’t try. 

(Futile to escape. Like asteroid to a star) 

Running. 

Time. 

Out of. 

Life told you. 

Was now not him. 

He told we said. 

Don’t try-…—-….—-…. TRY-!

(…)

Did you know that Saturn actually has less rings than Uranus? The only reason he’s known for having them (despite also getting them later ) is because they’re more prominent in their visibility. If it weren’t for that Ur4nus would be the one with the title, though even with that being said (he doubted he would’ve been allowed to keep it for long, at least as things were now , it had been E a S y, and quick and a much more…painless he supposed (it wasn’t in the slightest, only so long had passed he couldn’t bare to feel it once more (he couldn’t. He couldn’t feel anything anymore…) )) it wasn’t that big of a deal or something he really cared about so he was more than happy (A5- 1F-) to let the other take the title in his place. 

If Saturn was being honest, he didn’t know a lot about the ice giant ( he knew everything - there was no escap- ) , even despite orbiting right next to him (he didn’t used to) there wasn’t much he knew (there wasn’t much to know, and anything there was…he was already well aware of). Sometimes he would try and talk to Uranus, only to get an apathetic look or response, obvious disdain in his being to those who knew , so that became a very rare occurrence (his eyes would crinkle at the edges when he smiled, hiding the brief flickers of red in his eyes that would let you see his use of power (though he was not keeping it from him, it was more so…for the sake of everyone else )). 

Occasionally (almost never ) one of his… hundreds of moons would get a little too curious (they would remember ) and ask about him, speaking of how the other’s moons were… strange (he hadn’t expected them to notice, to know ) or how much freedom they had (never to his face, either they knew better or were just… unsure ) in comparison, and he’d gladly answer, talking so much he went in circles and left the topic without any obvious recognition, and it would satisfy them enough for a while. 

The orbit swap had been… annoying to say the least, their switch a detriment to his ‘curse’ and a worrying introspection of the past being brought up. He wouldn’t admit it, ever , but the possibilities that had been revealed and his… talk with Jupiter…had sparked a teeny tiny practically nonexistent (and yet there ) fear in him. He knew Uranus was not…happy with him to say the least (he’d never bothered to change that, no longer quite sure of the reason) but there was no way he would… do something like that right?

No matter how much he disliked them, committing treason against the solar system was a harsh crime and would be judged accordingly (would it though? Ever since what had happened Sol had been concerningly partial to the icy planet, almost more so then to him and Jupiter, the favorites ). Besides, it wasn’t like the chance would ever come to be anyway, neither Neptune nor the Sun would let intruders (much less him ) in (…Uranus was a guardian as well, a powerful one too, but the curse hid his activities and defenses from even Saturn's eyes, besides, he did not have enough power to fight everyone on his own, much less his own star (or them. He hadn’t been able to back then and it had gotten them into this situation, there was a negative chance he would be able to now )). 

Saturn had changed as well, even if Urxnus didn’t want to acknowledge the fact (because then all that anger, all of the emotion he had barely managed to hang onto, had been able to feel, would disappear and he’d be left with nothing. No anger, no hate, no regret, no sadness, nothing), and he hoped (in the back of his mind) that it could be okay. Despite the fact he couldn’t undo the ‘past’ (couldn’t remove the ‘curse’) and despite the fact even he was affected (and he forgot, sometimes even to the point he couldn’t remember it was his fault, that he was the cause), he wanted forgiveness, wanted to try (TRY- DON’T-! FAULT-!! Hi- S-..!), even if it produced no results. 

(Because they always say it doesn’t matter if someone accepts your apology as long as you tried , as long as you wanted to be sorry, wanted to change (even if you never did, even if it was only because the guilt would destroy you from the inside, even if… ).)

It had been so long, flickers of time flashing around him as he watched the solar system grow, change and develop around him ( them ), some growing kinder, some becoming meaner, nothing stayed the same ( … ‘nothing’ ) and… as much as it… pained him to admit, he grew fond of it, of the others, of ev x ry u ne, of what had been created . It had softened him, the way the Rocky planets looked up to them, thinking they were the best (…they hadn’t been the only ones, Uranus only wondered how long their childlike admiration would last (he hoped…he hoped it was longer then ‘theirs’) before it was shattered into a million pieces (…not long…) and they were shown the gas giants true selves), and he felt himself begin to care , in a way that wasn’t self centered for once. 

(And yet his term for ‘everyone’ seemed to be hypocritical; forgetting one, ‘forgetting’ a second, “ forgetting ” a third, whether that was on purpose or not was ‘unknown’ (not that it mattered, it happened was the only important part (well- that and the fact, there was never anything “unknown” in the solar system, his name was [ S4TURN ] after all, the only thing unseen being that which could not be {UR4NU5} )). The past keeping him from the future yet letting him live freely in the present, a kind of liberty that had been stolen from him , torn from his grasp until he was forced to be present and yet never there .)

The problems had started later, as one of the moon revolutions main reasonings. 

His forgetfulness. 

(Except he was not. So how did he?)

He couldn’t seem to remember any of his moons’ names aside from Titan (and Rea) for the life of him. 

(He wasn’t allowed to remember them.)

(…)

(He should’ve known better then to think of casting such a curse.)

And then they'd learned of where his beautiful rings really came from, and as a testament to how far he’d come, he’d cried at the news that it was made from murdered moons. 

(…He couldn’t even remember who they were, he couldn’t remember that he had been to one to crush them, pulling them into his gravity far too close, watching with a sadistic smile as parts of their body were cracked and pulled apart until they surrounded him like a dance, forever flowing around him like his high speed winds, an eternal partner.)

And then he’d learned of what they’d (almost) done to poor earth! Close to wiping out his life just because of something he hadn’t realized he’d been doing or that it was so terrible in the first place! 

(A certain icy planet merely watched, not even bothering to be hidden in the asteroids that surrounded everyone, as unfeeling as he was always cursed to be.)

(…)

(The screams. The cries of pain. His eye had almost been taken out. The feeling of his own self dying with his life.)

(It was all too reminiscent. It was all the same. Only one difference. …He survived.)

(…)

The trials had been tricky, the reason behind it all going further than what he’d ( they’d ) originally thought (…it had been so much worse. Even him and Jupiter hadn’t been able to calm the sun down ( …someone else had), narrowly avoiding being exposed with them). While he… “ agreed ” (to a certain degree) with what they had said, they should’ve known better then to say it like that, not even they could say such a thing without consequence (…only one could, though- it wasn’t like there was much consequence that could be dealt, in reality ). 

He’d been sad, truly , when they’d been forced to leave, mourning the loss of two ‘children’ (…even though there had been two, way back when, that he had never tried to know, and yet he had never mourned them either) as they were given the (same) “fate of the dead” (a term that had come into existence for a reason he could no longer remember (…he would never be forgiven) and was used as a… nicer way of saying…ejected (a taboo word in most systems)). He really had wanted them to stay, even going as far as to fight So - Sun , even if it changed nothing in the end (their fate had been decided long ago, the void - skies around them watching in something akin to amusement (that could no longer be felt…)). 

…

It got worse. 

(He’d wondered briefly, a while ago when a curse had gone wrong (one he’d been testing on an old planet, as punishment for treason ), whether being around the cause enhanced the effects, especially when situated right next to them (even without communication or interaction, being so close seemed to be enough).

He wished he’d never learned the truth (it wasn’t like it would last long though, quickly being pulled from his mind until he could no longer pinpoint why it was wrong ). 

…

He should’ve known better than to cast such a curse. )

—— had come back, smile sharp and cruel. 

(S4turn had seen it, had tried to warn the star, but it had been too late (he had already known).)

He was worse than before. Far worse. 

(It was such a strange thing to recognize Uranus (to see him, to remember him), everywhere X went he followed close behind, his presence practically demanding to be acknowledged (it felt wrong . Every time he turned to look, every time he heard him speak, every time his thoughts somehow drifted back to the icy planet, the headache typically softly pounding in his head would end up increasing tenfold, to the point he would look away, not able to handle the feeling anymore (the feeling of something he had placed on himself, forgetting something that could not be forgotten)).)

And while Saturn knew why X was mad, why he despised them for what they’d done, there seemed to be something else, something he couldn’t remember that was worse (if the gleaming hatred in his eyes when the other looked at his rings, as though they had been the ones to cause him all his pain (it was so much worse than that, so much worse and yet he couldn’t remember)). 

He’d watched as Uranus practically hung onto every word spoken, looked at him like he was the star he orbited, agreed no matter what he said (even when it was against the other planets or even the sun ), express …emotion… (except he could never pinpoint how wrong it felt, why it never felt right, not only as though he didn’t actually feel it but… like he didn’t know how to feel it, like he’d forgotten ). It was so wrong and yet he couldn’t figure out why . He’d even tried to talk to them, to apologize , to do something to prove he’d changed (because he had, hadn’t he? But… could you really change if you couldn’t even remember how you used to be, if you had no way to know if you were any different?). 

…Nothing had worked. Uranus had just watched behind X, apathetic for the first time in a while, a singular raised eyebrow as he listened to X make snide comments, backhanded ‘compliments’, making no move to stop him at all, to help Saturn in the slightest (…he hadn’t helped him either so he supposed this was karma, the roles switched in entirety, Jupiter losing his mind far away from everyone and Saturn scorned and mocked, oh how the tables had so pitifully turned). 

Even when it had come down to the final game, where their moons could be hurt (or killed ), his moons could’ve been hurt, all he’d done was haphazardly plead X to go easy on them, to be careful (but not to stop the games, not to call off this horrible situation (and yet he’d done much worse, so much worse, a long time ago)). It was as though he didn’t care , couldn’t be bothered to do so (even though he could clearly remember how much the icy planet loved his moons, how much he cared for them (or, had… he supposed. It was rare to see (him) his moons nowadays)). 

Despite wanting, multiple times, to glance at the ice giant from the corner of his eye, to see whether or not he regretted it yet (he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer or not, if he wanted to see the consequences yet (or at all)), but it was like he couldn’t pull his eyes away from the battle ( literally ), couldn’t make himself stop counting each of his moons (that were still on the field and hasn’t given up beforehand (and who would’ve thought he would care for them…)) as more and more asteroids were thrown, each barely avoiding them or getting away with merely a graze (he couldn’t get over how…wrong it felt, how cold ). 

In the end X had left, had given up , walking out of the solar system as everyone ( everyone ) checked up on each other, as they let out breaths of relief (even though they had no need to, merely a comforting feeling when everything was so out of the ordinary at that moment), as Ouranos- Ur4nu5 and Sol- 5un spoke in hushed voices, his head feeling like he was the one being hit by asteroids, not his ‘children’ . 

(And oh… if only the past ( …present ) him could see him now, what a joke .)

But it was fine, Jupiter was coming back soon, everything would go back to n0rm4l , they'd be f1n3 , nothing was going to ch4ng3 . 

(So why did it hurt , why did he know that he didn’t . Why was it ( not ) working?! Why did he remember that he didn’t . Why?! )

(…)

(The gaps were filled by that which was not, the memories were remembered by never being there, the curse was vanishing by being alive .)

( )

 (.)

  (..)

   (…)

    (3-)

     (R-)

      (e-)

       (B-)

        (n-)

         (5-)

(3 R e B n 5)

       (…)

(E R E B U S)

      ( X )

(They’d known each other way back then, when the system was still in the Proto-Era and all the ‘incidents’ (because there had been many , far too many) hadn't occurred yet. They hadn’t exactly spoken very often, despite being situated between him and S4turn, he was technically older and stuck more to the gas giants while the other stayed with the ice giants. 

It hadn’t necessarily been on purpose or for any specific reason, it had just been an old time and things were different (…to say the least that’s for sure). 

(He wondered if he’d chosen differently, stuck with the others that were like him, even if it would've been boring or annoying, if perhaps nothing would’ve happened. If he wouldn’t have seen what Jupiter had done, if he hadn’t tried to tell Sol, if he hadn’t been ejected . (Nothing would’ve changed, Ur4nu5 knew as much, it didn’t matter what he’d have chosen, one way or another it would happen.)

Still, it had been strange to come back, having watched well enough who to target for his plan and realize just how …not-right the ice planet felt, he couldn’t necessarily explain it. Sure everything had gone well and correct, manipulating the other easily enough (almost too easily) and making every u ne take sides, but it felt like every time he reached out to touch him his instincts tried to hold back, telling him something wasn’t right, that everything wasn’t as it seemed. 

He’d heard some of the other planets speaking, learning that he’d apparently talk to nothing a lot of the time and yet wherever he watched him from the corner of his eye, or listened closely, there was nothing. So either they were finally going crazy just because Jupiter had left for like- a week or something (he couldn’t be bothered to count how long it had been (he absolutely had and Uranus was 100% judging him) ) or there were things being kept from him. 

It wasn’t until he’d been talking to Saturn, well- more like insulting him, and had turned around to say something to the ice giant that he noticed it. His body had flickered, deepening in color by the background around them briefly, the edges of his form blurring, as though space was trying to pull it apart. It had shocked him to the point he’d stopped talking for a good second before continuing pretending like nothing had happened. 

(Because that was essentially the entire solar system. It was all pretend and make believe. Nothing was real or the truth (something he’d realized a long, long , time ago and yet too late). It was just lies built upon lies built upon lies, no one really knew what was true anymore, everyone just had their own assumptions of what was and what wasn’t and nothing could really be proved because no one knew (someone had, a long time ago, someone who had known everything but that was no more (instead someone else had taken that role, except no one knew they knew)). It was pitiful and sad and yet no one made any move to change it (except they had, the whole moon revolution had tried, but they'd gone about it the wrong way, they’d been so close and yet so far ).)

That had stayed with him, stuck to him like glue, unable to stop thinking about it even though it didn’t happen even once after that (except it had, when no one had been looking, his whole body flickering at random intervals, entire parts disappearing briefly, like looking at something that shouldn’t be visible and yet forcefully was ). It was a tiny invisible itch at the back of his mind, like something was trying to make its way into his mind yet wasn’t welcome (and yet was needed ). 

It had been strange to watch anyone who spoke to them either (unconsciously or not) leave out mentioning Uranus’ name or even using the name he’d come up with, the one he technically should’ve had back in the Roman days. The way the other’s name was practically never spoken whatsoever (he’d only heard Posi- Neptune say it once and it had been while trying to convince him to not agree with what he’d been saying, with his plan for revenge), even Sol did not speak it into the void even once (he almost didn’t even address him in the first place, like he couldn’t see him, like he wasn’t there). 

He’d had a feeling that it wasn’t true, any part of it (because nothing in their Solar system was), but to be proven correct was different (it hurt more). And yet when he was leaving, when he saw no regret in those eyes, when he saw Sol thank him, when he saw his form flicker in and out of visibility, he wished he’d never looked back. 

He wished he’d never known them. 

He wished there hadn’t been so many lies. 

He wished…)