Chapter Text
ALTERNATE *SOLARBALLS (2022)* UNIVERSE 418RHEATETHYS814
DECEMBER 2006AZ:
The Sun stared at Luna and Titan suspiciously. “Hmm…is it just me, or is the defense of the moons’ side very inclined to defend one of the planets?”
Not that I’m complaining or anything, but I was just curious. As long as they discuss their own side primarily, then it’s fine. He thought to himself.
The two satellites turned away in embarrassment at the moons’ dissatisfied expressions.
“Okay then it is the turn for the actual defense of the planets to step in. PLANETS!” Sol announced.
Mercury and Venus stepped forward.
“Okay pipsqueak—for once, let’s just get along, okay?” The smaller planet nodded in agreement.
“Don’t do anything idiotic,” Aphrodite pointed out, which made Mercury frown in agitation.
“Are you kidding me right now?!” he exclaimed.
Really guys? You’re doing this now? Mars gave them a deadpan look.
“Ahem!” Venus cut him off, facing the Sun. “The statements of the moons are correct. All of those things did happen. And as Titan and Luna said, the Earth said that from a place of insecurity, and the matter has been resolved.”
“If anything, the Earth has already paid a heavy price for his misconduct, but that’s up to the Earth to discuss,” Mercury stated, which confused his planetary neighbour while the third planet bowed his head in shame.
This time, Titan moved forward, his core filled with nerves. “Can I say something? I don’t really think discussing the Moon Revolution is worth it. We actually wanted to address the reason why the revolution happened. Us moons felt — ”
But the Sun didn’t want to hear it. “Not worth it?! In billions of years, moons and planets have lived in harmony! And now I find out there was a revolution UNDER MY NOSE! Stay quiet or you’ll be sanctioned, Titan!” he shrieked before shifting his expression to politeness. “Now please! Continue, Mercury.”
The nearest planet cleared his throat. “Oh, okay. As I was saying…”
Callisto bobbed her head sideways, telling the other moons to regroup while Mercury explained the whole situation.
She sighed. “Okay, can we agree this is not working?”
Titan furrowed his brows. “What is it?”
“You two,” the violet moon huffed. “You spent most of your time defending the Earth, and you are too eager to move the conversation elsewhere. That’s up to the Sun!”
“I-I know. I’m sorry,” the yellowish green moon apologized.
“I agree with Callisto,” Titania chimed in. “We may need different representatives if we’re to win this.”
“Wait what?” Titan gawked at her.
“I-I-I believe Ganymede and Europa should take it from here,” the most active volcanic moon suggested.
“Phew! You’re right Io,” the densest atmospheric satellite replied sarcastically.
“C-C-C-Come on! They convinced everyone to join the revolution. They can be persuasive!” Io countered.
Callisto groaned. “I hate to say this but—I agree.” Turning to Ganymede and Europa, she asked, “Can you two take it from here?”
The largest satellite smiled deviously. “We will do our best.”
“Yeah, leave it to us,” Europa supplied.
With satisfied nods, the satellites hovered forward before screeching to halt once someone else decided to speak up.
“Um…” a sweet female voice began tentatively. “Can—can I say something?”
The other moons (minus Tethys) gaped at her.
“Wait, Rhea?” Jupiter’s smallest Gallilean moon blinked in surprise.
“Yeah, that’s me. Hi,” she confirmed with a timid smile.
“Oh boy…” The male revolutionary rolled his eyes. “Make it quick. We don’t have much time.”
“Really Ganymede?” Callisto scolded him.
“What?” he said defensively.
“It’s okay, we’re all teammates here. Go ahead Rhea,” she advised with a polite smile.
“Thanks. I uh…w-we talked about it and um…I think Tethys and I should represent the moons,” Saturn’s second-largest moon proposed.
Everyone else stared at her, especially Ganymede and Europa.
“I’m sorry, what?” the female revolutionary exhaled.
“Yeah—what she said,” Jupiter’s largest moon murmured. “I thought Rhea didn’t talk.”
Europa snorted at his forgetfulness. “I think you’re mistaking her for Umbriel.”
“Either way, she barely says anything,” Ganymede shrugged.
“Oh thank goodness,” Titan blurted out in relief.
Both moons scoffed at him, claiming he didn’t actually care as long as it wasn’t themselves.
“I think that’s a great idea. Rhea, you and Tethys should definitely represent us,” Luna agreed. “More voices should be heard.”
“Absolutely,” Miranda concurred.
“I vote for Rhea and Tethys instead!” Deimos said happily.
“I’m sorry—are we chopped liver now?” Ganymede flailed his hands.
“Yeah, I thought we agreed it would be us,” Europa reminded them, pointing towards herself and her partner-in-crime.
“Says the moons who attacked out planet!” Deimos accused them, anger seeping through his craters.
The culprits flinched in response, causing Phobos to scowl. “Uh…Deimos? Are you sure this a good time — ”
“I don’t care, Phobos! They hurt Mars! Our brother! Our best friend! How could they do that?!” Deimos nearly screamed in anguish. “I thought I could forgive them for what they did, but I can’t! I’m done pretending everything is okay when it’s not! So might as well admit it, bro—it’s all their fault! And I’m sick and tired of supporting them!”
His older twin blinked in confusion. “But technically the others were also involved — ”
“You say that as if they had free will, but they were forced to!” the smaller Martian moon declared frustratedly. “You and I both know they had their doubts, but Ganymede and Europa literally threatened their lives if they didn’t continue to comply!”
“Now that I think about it, he’s right,” Galatea finally admitted. “They did.”
“Exactly! They were so mean!” Larissa whined.
“And they did threaten the lives of their orbital partners—Io and Callisto,” Despina recalled. “So yeah, I vote for Rhea and Tethys.”
Phobos ultimately gave in. “You know what? You guys have a point. Rhea and Tethys get my vote since Ganymede and Europa attacked our planet. So screw them!”
“Yes!” Deimos approved. “What took you so long?”
“Shut up!” His twin giggled, shoving him playfully.
“Us too!” Neptune’s remaining satellites beamed.
“Me three,” Luna supported.
Triton adjusted his sunglasses, smiling at the two representative candidates. “If my little sibs are happy with this, then so am I. Go for it.”
“Oh, um…th-thank you,” Tethys responded shyly.
The others bobbed their heads silently.
“Well then…I guess it’s settled,” Titan smirked at the two candidates who recently lost their dream position. “Any objections?”
Ganymede and Europa clenched their teeth, but said nothing and moved to the side, reluctantly allowing their soon-to-be ex-friends to pass, led by Saturn’s second and fifth-largest moons.
Approaching their parent star once again, Luna said, “There’s uh—there’s been a change of plans lately.”
The Sun was genuinely surprised. “There has?”
“Yep! From now on, Rhea and Tethys will represent the moons!” Deimos celebrated.
Ganymede and Europa rolled their eyes jealously as the new representatives came forward and greeted the Sun respectfully.
“Well, this was unexpected,” the yellow dwarf stated. “But I digress! Rhea and Tethys—are you two certain you will represent the moons with fairness?”
“Uh…w-well um…” the smaller moon stammered nervously.
“We promise we’ll try,” the bigger moon translated, quietly reassuring her brother that she could handle most of the talking if needed.
The Sun nodded briefly. “Then I will allow the change. Let the Solar System Trials continue!”
Cue the majority of moons and planets glaring at each other, determined to win.
30 seconds passed before the star commenced. “So, based on everything that I’ve heard, the Moon Revolution began when the Earth insulted Titan due to his own insecurities. This led to Titan planning his revenge?”
“That would be correct,” Rhea confirmed.
The green moon gaped at her. “Uh…”
“What?! That’s not what we discussed!” Europa squawked. “Sun, whatever Mercury and Venus told you — ”
“Ahem!” the Sun interrupted her. “Unless Rhea or Tethys give you explicit permission to speak, you will remain silent!” Clearing his throat, he smiled courteously at the satellites’ representatives. “Alright then—please give me the context, moons.”