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The first sensation he felt upon waking was cold. Bitter, biting cold. It seeped into every pore, infecting his body in shivers he couldn’t control, clattering his teeth. It was widespread, from the tips of his toes to the top of his head, he was engulfed in a full-body freeze.
The second sensation was akin to falling, which didn’t make sense, because he’s in space. Gravity doesn’t exist. He can’t fall. But he felt it anyway, and it left him gasping for air, (there’s no air, just as there’s no gravity. It’s space. He’s never understood why he feels the need to breathe. Maybe it’s a consequence of having life.) clutching his chest.
The third sensation was not physical. He knew it was not physical at all. The third sensation was the rush of memory, of knowledge. Theia, Proto, the collision, his need, want, desire for life. It was like cracking open a glass, or maybe more akin to a present on Christmas Day? He didn’t know. He didn’t even fully understand anything, but he thought he could live with it now.
It took him a moment to register his surroundings, but when he did, he jumped in his spot a little. “W-Woah.. hey guys..” he coughed, smiling awkwardly. Luna jumped up, eyes wide with joy. “Woo!! He’s alive!!” Luna clapped, as everyone joined in saying something similar.
“Hey, one by one!” Earth chuckled. “EARTH! You had me dead worried!!” Luna ran over, taking Earths hands into his. There was a big grin on his face, and Earth couldn’t help but find it infectious. “I’m sorry, Luna.” Earth apologized.
“Yeah dude, you may need to put a leash in your orbit.” Mars shook his head. Earth looked over in surprise for a split second, before nervously grinning, “not a bad idea.”
“Earth! Earth, I’m so sorry mate!” Uranus pushed mars aside, grasping the rocky planets hands next. Uranus spoke rapidly. “It’s all my fault! I-I left and then Jupiter followed and then—“
“Hey, don’t blame yourself. Uh- Caelus!” Earth grinned. Uranus paused for a second, briefly, before shaking his head and smiling. “I’m Uranus, mate.. and Ur-anus!” He turned to Luna, “and yours!” He turned to Venus and Mercury this time, “and yours!” To the dwarf planets, “and everyones!” He announced, turning to face the gas giants.
“What’s.. wrong with Uranus?” Saturn looked confused, even a bit worried. “Nothing at all.” Jupiter smiled. Earth looked over, glad that everyone seemed to be happy. That was, until a small body caught his eye in the distance. He turned over, raising an eyebrow.
There, behind an asteroid, sat a tiny body. Ceres, Earth recalled. He was smiling at the planet with life intently. Earth shivered, for a reason separate to the cold now. Suddenly though, Ceres looked.. scared? And ran off. Earth frowned.
There was a moment of silence, until Earth felt a small itch, and he saw a familiar spaceship exit his atmosphere. His face lit up. “Hey Astrodude!!” He bounced over. “It was you, wasn’t it!? You woke me up!” Earth clapped his hands together.
“Yeah.. almost died though..” Astrodude sighed, heart still racing, though the adrenaline was cooling off now. “So, please don’t leave your orbit and drift through space again..!” Astrodude chuckled nervously.
“I promise, I won’t!” Earth held out a pinky finger. Luna rushed over as well, clapping for everyone’s attention. “Three cheers for Astrodude!!” He shouted. “Hip hip—“ “HOORAY!” Everyone cheered. “Hip hip, HOORAY!” A second time.
“Thattt is the coolest thats ever happened to me..” Astrodude laughed.
Venus pushed a couple asteroids with his gravity, sighing. “Okay everyone, path is clear. Earth, you may go back to your orbit.” Venus nodded towards the open clearing. “Use me as a gravitational slingshot to get there faster.” Jupiter extended a hand to earth. “Okay?”
“Copy that!” Earth took Jupiters hand. “By the way, Proto and Theia say hi.” He cast his gaze down slightly, smiling. Jupiter, and everyone else too, looked taken aback. “They also told me, that they’re proud of both of us.” He turned to Luna. He then turned to Venus.
“You either had a dream, or you’re making this up.” Venus snapped. “Either way, I don’t care!” Earth just smiled and shook his head. “Theia wanted me to tell you, that you will always be her best friend. No matter what. She also wanted you to go and be happy.”
Venus felt tears well up in his eyes, as he covered his eyes with one hand. “You meant a great deal to her.” Earth finished. “Go, Earth,” Venus choked out. Earth simply nodded, smiling fondly. He turned back to Jupiter, squeezing his hand.
Jupiter nodded in return, and picked the earth up, spinning him. As they spun, he heard a voice below him, looking down he saw metis. “The closer you are, the faster you go!” She smiled, zipping off. Earth smiled back, nodding.
After two more spins, earth was let go, quickly moving through the clearing and towards the inner solar system.
…
“News just in! The earth is somehow returning to back to its orbit! The temperatures have started to rise again, after facing the heaviest ice age humanity has ever faced. One way or another, life prospers.”