Chapter Text
The ground shook with the force of the explosion. Her ears twitched from the loud impact.
Saturn had only been to this planet for a few hours when Neptune's troops started attacking. He wasn't supposed to be in this sector, she had planned a meeting with some allies under the guise of being hidden from the war. Everything was chaos around her. People running for their lives in all directions, her guards ushered her away from the central hub. She was too 'important' to be on the ground they said.
But there was something stopping her, she was like an unmovable wall to her guards. They could push and pull on her all they wanted but Saturn wasn't moving. Not yet.
There was a tug in her mind. Like a pull to something nearby, she's felt this before but only with those of her bloodline. It could be one of her siblings, but why would they be on this remote planet so far away from their colonies? Neptune wasn't one to fight with his army, he was more the type to stay hidden away commanding from a safe distance. So what was this pull?
That's when she heard it. The faint sounds of crying, a young sounding voice. Her ears perked up at the noise, it was nearby for sure. Looking around she couldn't see anyone small enough to be making the noise, people rushed past her some even running into her. There was fire spreading around the building that had been hit earlier. The brighter the flames the worse the noise became. She knew that's where she needed to look.
Brushing off her guards Saturn sprints into the building, past flaming debris and rubble. Her head whipping around for any sign of life.
"Hello? I can hear you! Where are you?" Saturn calls out, hoping whoever was here could hear her. A shout can be heard a short distance away, she manages to climb over a massive pile of rubble.
"Amma!"
There standing in the middle of a small ring of fire was a little girl. One that had a striking resemblance to Saturn herself. The little girl looked terrified, the edges of her dress burnt and she was swaying in place slightly. She ran towards Saturn, arms outstretched only to stop when she got closer, pulling away from her abruptly.
"Amma?"
"Hello there, I'm Saturn I'm here to help you" Saturn greets in her best sweet talk voice, mimicking how Eclipse talked to the cadets. Slowly approaching the little girl as to not startle her. The little girl looks at her weirdly, tilting her head, confused. She must not know English then. But there's a billion languages across the multiverse, how is Saturn supposed to know which one she knows.
Crouching down just side the fire Saturn offers her hand to the little one. She hesitates for a second, big eyes staring into Saturn's like she was looking for something in them. Her hand was so small compared to Saturn's. Four fingers, just like Saturn's people along with her own tiny little halo floating around her small head. Maybe she was part of her clan, but what was she doing her all alone so far from their family?
Saturn reaches out and easily lifts the child into her arms, She fit perfectly into the crook of her shoulder, clinging to Saturn's armor. Saturn could feel the little one shaking in her hold.
"Where are your parents?" Saturn tries her native tongue. The little one perks up, almost bonking Saturn in the face with her head. Her eyes wide staring at her.
"You look like my Amma." Was all she responded with, tucking her head back into Saturn's shoulder. Amma was slang for mother in their tongue, mostly used by very young children.
"Yeah? Where is she? Does she need help?" Saturn asks, gently petting over the girls short pigtails.
"Not here. Cedric ran away, too many people, got lost" she was speaking in broken sentences, her voice just slightly slurred. "I'm dizzy. can you take me home now?"
"Wheres home?"
The child shrugged. Saturn could tell she was going to fall asleep, she couldn't let that happen. There were clear signs of head trauma in this little one. Saturn started on her journey back to her guards, bouncing the little one kinda harshly. The jolting kept her eyes open.
"We're gonna go to my ship okay... a nice medic is going to make sure you're okay."
The child hums quietly. Saturn tries to keep her steady as she climbs through the rubble. Twisting and turning herself to avoid the growing flames around them. The heat was unbearable but only a short distance left. The little one coughed as they passed through a badly smoke filled area.
"I'm Saturn, whats your name?" tried to distract her.
"mm Mercury"
Well. That settled it in Saturn's mind. This child MUST be related to her in some way. It was strictly royal members of the clan who were named after the planets.
"Hey we match! That's such a pretty name"
Saturn could feel the little one sit up a bit, from what she could see Mercury had a bright grin adorning her face.
"I was named after the smallest planet in the milky way! Did you know that? Amma says its because I was the smallest girl she had!"
"Wow, That's so interesting little one."
She could see the opening, just a bit further. It was getting harder the breath, Saturn tucks Mercury's head further into her chest in an attempt at keeping the smoke out of her small lungs.
"You have siblings?"
"Mhm a lot of them! But they don't like me very much. Pluto's such a bully!"
Annnddd that settles it. There's no doubt in Saturn's mind that this little girl was related to her. Her sister? But she had never heard of the sixth child of the Grand Celestial. But to be fair she wasn't keeping up with the family that abandoned her. Saturn held onto her just a bit tighter.
Finally they made it out of the crumbling building. The bright sunlight blinding Saturn for a moment.
"COMMANDER!" She could hear her guards trample their way over to the two.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW RECKLESS THAT WAS-"
"ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?
They all yelled over each other. They surround her and Mercury. Saturn has to turn away from them to give the little one space.
"Give me space. We need to get to the ship immediately." Saturn's voice was strong. Big eyes stared up at her. The guards hesitate around her, hands hovering just outside of the child.
Mercury takes in the destruction that surrounds them, holding onto Saturn tightly. The trip to their small travelling ship was short, the area had mostly cleared out and the sounds of explosions could be heard in the distance.
Saturn sighs in relief as they make it onto the ship. Guards fluttering about preparing for take off around her. She collapses into one of the seats, Mercury oofing as they sat.
"Do you know where you're staying little one? We can take you home if you do."
Mercury shakes her head, pigtails slapping her face at the motion making her giggle slightly. Saturn smiles at her antics.
"I'm going to take you to my home ok? We can search better from there, we'll get you home Mercury I promise"
The little girl doesn't respond, just stares at Saturn. It was weird, she had these big dark eyes unlike that of Saturn or her siblings.
"You look familiar." was all she said after staring at Saturn for a couple minutes. It was incredibly awkward. The ship rumbled as they took off into space, thankfully Mercury's gaze was redirected to the windows where the stars filled the sky.
"Who is your Father child?" Saturn asks more firmly. Mercury's head whips back around to her.
"The Grand Celestial... but I've never met him."
Saturn nods feigning thoughtfulness. She hums, leaning forward Saturn whispers
"Mine too"
Mercury looks confused. Saturn could see the gears turning in her little head, like a light bulb lit up Mercury suddenly gasps and grabs onto Saturn's face.
"Are you the moonfallen?" She asks excitedly, then her face drops into fear. "Amma said no ones allowed to talk about the moonfallen."
Mercury wrings her small hands together, fidgeting with her fingers. "I'm going to be in so much trouble"
"I won't tell If you don't." Saturn whispers back. That seemed to make Mercury happier.
"You look just like Amma! Sooo pretty"
Saturn just chuckles and ruffles her hair, picking her up and turning her so she was sitting against her chest. Mercury now has a front row seat to the gorgeous stars and passing planets. She babbles in awe.
Mercury bounces in excitement as they approached Saturn's main ship base. The large ship had an amazing view of the Earth and it's surrounding planets. Saturn felt a sort of tense anxiety building in her chest. What would Eclipse think about this situation? She's sure it wasn't going to be a big deal but that fear of his rejection lingers in her heart.
"Come on little one, I have someone who needs to see you"