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The keiper belt called to him.
Earth didn't know why, but ever since Planet X spoke Theia's name, he's been casting glances towards the far side of the solar system.
He needed to know. Why was she so important? Why did he want life so badly that he'd sacrifice his own surface to keep it?
Jupiter would know. He always knows.
Despite being still slightly terrified of him, he's Earth's best bet to squeeze answers out of. And besides, Mars and Venus aren't telling him anything despite clearly knowing something. Some friends they are.
As Earth got closer to Jupiter's orbit, however, he noticed that the gas giant wasn't there, Saturn taking his place, and looking to be struggling with holding the belt together.
"Saturn? Where's Jupiter?"
"Hm? Oh, hi Earth! He left to go find Uranus. Are you alright? Your surface seems paler than usual."
Earth just nods and continues onwards, not hearing Saturn's desperate cries from behind him.
'Life silly!'
Earth's eyes widened, seeing a smaller planet dashing about, beckoning him to move forwards.
"Yes! Tell me why I want life!"
But the vision fades as suddenly as it had appeared.
Earth dragged his feet through the keiper belt. Since when has his legs felt so stiff?
His whole body was resisting moving forwards, which was silly. He was a planet, not one of his fragile earthlings. He could handle a bit of cold until he found answers.
He found his movements to be slowing even more, dragging his feet now. He willed himself to keep going. He had to keep going. He needed to know why he was like this, why he loved the very beings dead set on tearing him up from the inside.
A subtle stinging sensation started making its way up through his body, starting with his feet and ending at the tip of his scalp. It wasn't like the burning when his earthlings were drilling into him or firing deadly weapons at each other. No. This was a feeling that stemmed from the deepest parts of his crust, penetrating deep into his core.
He had to keep going. The promise of the truth was keeping him moving despite everything. He could almost see the vague outline of Jupiter in the distance.
If he just kept...moving.
The burning sensation had been getting worse, almost like his entire surface was being ripped apart by ice and rock. Well that wasn't too far from the truth. Earth hadn't felt this type of feeling since his last ice age.
As he moved the hallucinations became louder, more tangible. Earth's had his fair share of hallucinations before but these...its almost like he's with them. Whoever this figures are.
He didn't even notice when he stopped moving, a cold numbness overtaking his body. He just focused on the two figures in front of him, looking at them through drooping eyes.
Stars, he was so tired.
Maybe...a quick nap would help him understand.
Just a quick nap and then he'll head back to his orbit, try again later.
His earthlings can handle a little nap...right?