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“From now on, we will represent the moons.”
“Hmm… I didn't agree to this change… but go ahead!” The Sun grinned. Titan silently scoffed in the background, but one less-than-friendly glare from Luna and he composed himself.
“Right… anyway,” Europa started, “I think I speak for all of us moons when I say that the whole revolution didn't start just because of what the Earth said to Titan. Yeah, maybe it kinda kickstarted it, but we must think, why was this stigma towards moons around in the first place? Yeah, Earth had his own problems to address, but his ego wasn't the only reason he was so quick to insult Titan.”
Ganymede continued, “For as long as really any of us can remember, there's always been some underlying belief of hierarchy in the solar system. The moons, and the dwarf planets too, now that I think about it, are just… looked down upon.”
“The planets think they're simply better than all of us, or at least most of them do. Jupiter is always keeping secrets from us, he's insensitive, and he can't even remember the smaller moons’ names,” Europa picked up, “Saturn and Uranus have similar problems. While I agree that me, Ganymede, and Titan were the most to blame for organizing the whole revolution, it doesn't change the fact that the other moons took little to no convincing that rebelling against the planets and making a stand was the right thing to do.”
“Titan told me that when he found Uranus's moons, they were hiding out in the Kuiper belt. Apparently Uranus made some stupid, insensitive joke about destroying his moons to make his rings bigger. Great thinking on your part,” Europa glared at Uranus, who shrunk back slightly.
“I understand that I should've never made a joke like that. I wasn't thinking, but that's no excuse. I tried to apologize but my moons didn't stick around long enough to hear me out, though I don't blame them…” Uranus admitted, sending an apologetic look towards his moons. He could've sworn Titania had a ghost of a smile on her face.
“That's nice and all, but I don't want to hear ANY jokes about DESTROYING the residents of MY SOLAR SYSTEM ANYMORE! If you do I'LL PERSONALLY SHOW YOU WHAT IT FEELS LIKE!” Sun exploded angrily at them. His eyes turned red for a moment, but went back to normal as he switched into a slightly unsettling cheery grin.
“Uh… you got it mate,” Uranus smiled awkwardly.
“Ahem… As I was saying,” Europa started, “Even though Uranus apologized, it still doesn't change the fact that jokes like these, and other treatments towards us moons, is simply unfair and was the entire reason for the moon revolution. We needed a movement that would make a big impact on the hierarchy of the solar system. Thus our recent actions.”
“This makes me unhappy. Mercury, make me happy and fix this,” Sun said.
“W-wait, what!? I'm representing the planets too!” Venus exclaimed.
“Yeah, but you yell a lot. Mercury's voice is nicer to listen to,” Sun grinned at the smallest planet.
“Uhh… thanks? Anyways…” Mercury began, “As one of the only planets who does not have a moon, and the only one without a quasi-moon, I don't feel like I could even begin to understand why exactly the planets treat their moons in the way I've only really heard they do, but from what has happened recently with the Earth, I think I could provide a better solution to our problem.”
“For privacy reasons, I won't go into detail about what happened with the Earth during the organization of the moon revolution, only that after he managed to push away all of his friends, including Luna, he wasn't in the greatest state of mind. His axis was unstable, and he was only starting to truly realize the effects of his actions on others. When Luna came back and realized what was happening, he asked me for help. Eventually we were able to help Earth get back on track and truly change for the first time. And I'm very proud of him for that.” Mercury nodded to Earth, who couldn't help but smile.
“When it came time for the height of the revolution I wasn't there, but Earth and Luna were. All I know is that Earth was able to step in and help convince the moons that what they were doing was wrong, though I later found out that Pluto and his moon were there for the same reason, to stop the revolution and convince the moons that hierarchy was a stupid concept.”
“What I'm basically saying is, I understand the problem and I see an easy solution. Violence is, well, not the answer, change is. If the Earth was able to change and better his relationships with all that he hurt, I have no doubt the other planets could as well. I know you moons want to fix the problems now, but time and patience are really what it takes. If you truly want to be respected and treated as equals, you can't threaten with violence. Talk to your planets, and if they don't listen, there are other planets who'll make them listen.” Mercury finished his speech.
“You got that right!” Venus interjected, and Mercury sighed annoyedly.
“Mercury, we appreciate your little speech and all, but don't you think we tried that already? They don't listen, they never do,” Ganymede objected.
“Well- wait, can I say something?” Titan spoke up, glancing at the Sun, who nodded.
“Great, uh. I don't mean to disagree with you Ganymede, but we really haven't tried. Or at least, the moons of Saturn haven't. Our main problem with Saturn is that the only name he remembers is my own, but the thing is, is that we never really tried to teach him our names. We just assumed he would remember them, and when he didn't, we would only yell at him for not remembering, and after a while, most of us just accepted it.”
“Uh, Titan, are you forgetting that we did try to teach him our names? And he forgot all of them, like always,” Dione interrupted.
“That's the thing, we tried to teach him all of our names. We introduced ourselves once, and never gave him the time to actually memorize. I suggested that we try going over them a couple of times, but you guys had already given up. I know, it's tiring, and I understand, but if you truly want to change the situation we're in, we need to try harder. And so does Saturn.” Titan looked up at the ringed planet.
“Oh, my moons, I am very sorry. I felt so bad when I wasn't able to get your names right. But if it helps, I wrote down all the ones I could remember, and if you want to practice names again, I'd be more than willing!” Saturn amended.
“You- you wrote them down? I- jeez I, I think some of us were under the impression that you didn't really care much about remembering all the names… yeah, if the others are willing, we could go over them again,” Titan turned to look at his fellow moons. Dione hesitantly nodded.
“... Yeah, yeah… we could do that,” she answered for them.
“Well! Glad we got that out of the way. I don't necessarily appreciate you guys arguing against your sides, but as long as there's no more reasons to MISBEHAVE WITHOUT ME KNOWING, please keep going!” The Sun fell back into his cheery demeanor once more.
“Right…” Europa started, “Well if we've addressed the issues with Saturn and Uranus, there's only one planet left we truly have a problem with. Jupiter,” said planet looked up, but didn't show much surprise in his expression, “you might be the worst one here. You can't remember most of your moons’ names either, and your excuses are always so insensitive. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you literally asked some of the smaller moons ‘where they even came from,’ as if that's not the rudest thing you could've said in that moment. Honestly, Jupiter, it baffles me that you can remember all the characters in your stupid little mythology books, but can't remember just a few 90 or so names of real people. Especially when half of the characters are named after us!”
Jupiter suppressed the urge to correct her.
“And then you expect us to not wonder what's wrong with you when you go through some paranoia episode and get yourself lost in the Kuiper belt? We may not like you very much right now, Jupiter, but we're still your moons, and by not telling us what's obviously bothering you, you're not doing yourself a favor in helping us like you any more.” Europa finished.
“She's right, Jupiter. I'll admit… I look up to you, but right now I, it's hard to… especially when I can name all your moons, but you act like you've never seen them before in your life. I have a bit of an ego, shocker, but at least I'm somewhat likable,” Ganymede shrugged.
“The likable part is still being decided,” Europa shot back, to which Ganymede whisper-screamed a “shut up babe!”
“I… I don't know what to say…” Jupiter spoke, “I guess you're right. I don't respect you guys, and I don't put in the effort to learn your names. I guess I just… didn't realize. I should've realized, and I do now. I'm sorry guys. If there's anything you need me to do to make it up to you guys, I'll do it, I promise.”
Ganymede glanced at Europa, who nodded, “I guess we just need ya to be a bit more considerate. And if you wanna do the same thing that Saturn is doing with his moons, I'm not against that. I think you'd be surprised how many of our names are in that book of yours.”
“We also need you to be more honest with us. Your ego is not a reason to keep your worries from us, and I think the other moons would be more inclined to trust you with their problems if you trust them with your own,” Europa added.
“I, yeah, I can do that.” Jupiter smiled.
“So… are we done now?” Sun asked, tilting his axis.
“I think we are, Sun.” Ganymede nodded.
“Great! So that means no more revolutions! Got that!?” The Sun exclaimed.
“Ohh yeah, definitely not after that,” Venus muttered.
“What's that supposed to mean, Venus?” The Sun tilted his axis again, sending a questioning look to Venus.
“Uhh…” Venus glanced at Earth, then back to Sun.
“Venus, don't say it,” Mars warned.
“Say what,” The Sun asked, his voice descending deeper.
“Nothing, I swear!” Venus said a little too loudly.
“Venus… Do I have to shoot a solar flare at you to tell me what is going on?” The Sun's eyes glowed red.
“No! N-no not at all! Please don't!” Venus pleaded. The Sun seemed to charge up a solar flare, if that was how it worked.
“Alright! Alright, fine! I only said that because the moons were planning on attacking the Earth as part of their revolution!”
“... What.“
“Seriously Venus!?” Mercury yelled, glaring at the other.
“Shut up pipsqueak!” Venus shot back, to which Mercury grabbed an asteroid in his gravity from seemingly nowhere and threw it at Venus.
“Ow!”
“You mean to tell me that you were planning on destroying the Earth?” Sun's eyes turned an impossibly deeper red, his surface visibly flaring up in anger.
“W-wait! We can explain, Sun!” Titan spoke up.
“NO! This is UNACCEPTABLE.” The Sun turned to the moons, looking like he would destroy them any second.
“SUN! STOP IT!”
…
The Sun did as The Earth said.
“Sun, don't. Don't try to hurt them because they saw it necessary to hurt me. They had their reasons. I already forgave them all.” Earth's tone was surprisingly soft.
“But…”
“I know. I sorta traumatized you, didn't I? I'm sorry. But don't hurt them. Alright? I can protect myself, don't worry too much about me.”
The Sun practically deflated, a sad expression on his face, one that nobody in the solar system had seen before. Except for a few select residents.
“But you.. You always get yourself into trouble, don't you, Earth,” The Sun sighed.
“Earth, what're you talking about?” Mars questioned, looking worried.
“... I wasn't planning on telling you guys but…” Earth's gaze locked on Mercury's, “since we're all here…”
“I haven't been completely honest about what happened while I was alone.”
“And maybe this could bring some insight into how important it is, like Mercury said, to focus on change and bettering ourselves.”
He took a deep breath. “I wasn't in the greatest state of mind, I was unstable, even Mercury and Luna don't know that I was… seeing stuff I wasn't supposed to.”
“Mixed with the fact that I was and still am facing… tremendous pain because of my earthlings… I forgot the reason I ever wanted life on my surface in the first place.”
“And I was more than ready to throw it all away, because I felt I didn't deserve it. I thought that, after being such a horrible person towards my friends, that I didn't deserve to… feel happy.”
“That I didn't deserve to… to live.”
“...”
“WHAT!?” Practically everyone shouted in unison, sans the ones who already knew.
“Don't, don't go crazy about it, I'm not done,” Earth said, and the ones who were ready to keep shouting shut their mouths quickly.
“When Luna found me, I was close to being at my lowest, and spiraling. Luna was able to convince Mercury to help, and I'm honestly extremely thankful he did,” Earth sent a smile to Mercury, who smiled back, “but at that point it seemed like it was too late.”
“I thought that I could just… crash into the Sun, and all the pain would be gone.”
“Oh, Earth,” Jupiter looked about ready to tear up.
“If I had a better choice of words I would use them, I'm sorry about the little moons,” Earth sent an apologetic look towards the moons.
“Luna and Mercury were able to stop me before I did anything I would regret. They helped me find the value in myself again, and they helped me find the value in everyone else.”
“I learned something extremely important. Just because I'm not the only habitable planet in the galaxy, doesn't mean I'm not special. Just because Titan is similar to me in terms of habitability, doesn't mean either of us are any less special. In fact, there's nothing in this universe that could ever make any of the planets, or moons, or dwarf planets in this solar system less special. And I know that now. I understand that we're all equal in the fact that we're all special, and we all deserve to be treated that way.”
“I went through a whole crisis to realize this, and I'm hoping that my experience can help others who need to change, do so. I wholeheartedly agree with the moons’ cause, and if they ever need my help to support them, I gladly will.” Earth grinned at Titan.
“And don't worry about me. I don't plan on pulling stunts like that again-”
“You better not! I almost had a core-attack!!” Sun shouted, glaring at Earth.
“Yeah, that too,” Earth chuckled.