Chapter Text
We see Earth and Mars playing cards with one another, as they did in the original story. Luna approaches the pair
L: Hey Earth-
E: (Annoyed) Moon, you know what I’ve said about interrupting my card games
L: Yeah, sorry. Uh, there’s someone who wants to meet you
Titan approaches The Earth
T: Hello, Mr Earth, i-it’s an honor. I-I came here to-
E: (Surprised) Woah! Are you a new planet? I’ve never seen you before
T: (irritated) Why does everyone think Im a pla- No, Im a moon named Titan!
M: Hey, I think I’ve seen you from afar! Your Saturn’s favorite moon, right? What did he call you, his middle Earth?
E: What!? Why would Saturn call him that?
(The first change)
M: Oh, it’s because Titan’s mountains are named after famous mountains from the Lord of the Rings books
E: Oh… thats… cool I-
M: (excitedly) he also is made of rock, has an atmosphere just like yours, and he even also has volcanoes!
E: Volcanoes!? Isn’t he like, really cold?
M: Ice volcanoes
L: Woah! That sounds way cooler!
Earth looks mightily uncomfortable
E: Uh… but my volcanoes are pretty cool as-
M: Nah, yours are scorching hot, but you both also have lakes and rivers!
E: (refocusing) Well… I at least have my oceans-
M: And he even has an ocean under his surface! Not only that, but it’s liquid water! So it’s possible that he could sustain life!
Titan looks shocked
This is the moment, a single choice… that changed the course of the solar system
E: Uh… well… good for him… I guess… heh
Titan looks at Earth confused
T: Uh, everything ok Mr. Earth?
E: Oh yeah… everything is… fine! Totally Fine!
Luna, Titan, and Mars all look at Earth suspiciously
M: Earth? Is there-
E: Oh look at the time! We should really get going huh Mars?
M: Huh?
Mars looks toward the Sun
M: We still have at least an hour-
E: Better get back in our orbits! Have fun Mars, oh… and hi..uh… Titan… let’s go Luna
L: But-
Earth hurriedly rushes off with Luna in tow, leaving both Titan and Mars very confused
T: Uh… Is The Earth always this… skittish?
Mars stares at Earth
M: No… no he isn't
We see Earth look around a little panicked back in his orbit
E: It’s fine, its fine, its all-
L: Uh, Earth?
E: (Startled) Oh hey (nervous chuckle) uh… what is it moon?
Luna rolls his eyes
L: You know my name Earth!
Earth looks down
E: Sorry… Luna.
Luna nods
L: Now, what was that all about?!
E: What was what all a-
L: The conversation with Titan! After Mars told you all about how cool Titan was, you suddenly went pale as a comet, started spouting nonsense, and then left in the middle of it all!
Earth winces
E: I… uh-
M: What the crap dude!
Mars moves up to Earth notably peeved
E: Uh, not sure my Earthlings excrement-
M: You know what I mean, Earth!
Earth shifts around uncomfortably
E: I… went because the Sun wants us in our orbits… right?
Both Mars and Luna look at Earth with doubt
M: So you just all of a sudden decide to follow that rule once I start highlighting Titan?
Earth bites his tongue
E: Ok, yes, that’s why I left, I'm sorry
M: Why??
E: Because… because I was feeling... uncomfortable?
Mars glares at Earth
M: Uncomfortable?
E: I… I kept hearing you talk about all the stuff Titan has… his lakes, oceans, mountains, it felt like I… It felt like I wasn’t as special-
M: You ran off because someone happened to have the same traits as you?
E: Well… uh, I just like feeling special, I mean, I have life, Don't I? So-
M: Seriously?
L: (Whisper) Here we go…
M: Having life doesn't make you special Earth
E: (offended) Oh please, elaborate
M: If you multiply the rate of star formations with a fraction of stars that may have planets and multiply THAT with the number of planets that could sustain life and then THAT with the average lifetime of a planet, we get… uh Jupiter?
Jupiter peaks from the other side of the asteroid belt
J: At minimum, 1.4 billion planets potentially like you in our galaxy, Earth
Earth backs up
E: (stutter) I didn't mean-
M: You didn't mean you thought you were better than everyone else?
L: Hey! Earth went away before he said anything!
Mars glares at Luna
M: Stay out of this Earth’s moon
L: Hey! My name-
M: Since you feel so special and don't want anything to do with anyone who makes you not feel that way…
Mars throws his deck at Earth
M: Then you can play Solitaire from now on.
Mars moves away from Earth
E: Mars! I didn't mean, I wasn’t asking you to leave-
But Mars is already out of earshot. Earth starts looking down sadly. Luna looks down on the Earth who sheds a few tears
E: I… I don't know what to do, I-
L: You did nothing wrong, Earth, Mars should have known how you would feel about comparing you to Titan like that!
E: But I-
Luna shakes his head
L: You left before you could say something wrong, maybe not the “best” choice, but I completely understand Earth!
Earth looks toward Luna with a weak smile
E: Well, at least I still have you Luna
V: ARG you id-
Earth and Luna turn around to see a surprised looking Venus
V: Wait, where's Mars? Weren't you two out of your orbits again?
E; Uh….
V: Hey, where is Mars anyway? Shouldn’t he be in view?
E: I… Uh… well we kinda had an argument earlier
V: Pah!
Venus doubles down laughing
V: Knew your little stints would catch up eventually!
E: Hey… you don't even know what we-
V: Let me guess, your jealousy of Mars was made apparent and Mars couldn't take your ego any longer?!
Venus continues laughing
L: Stop it Venus!
V: Oh I will Earth’s Moon, just because I can't believe it actually happened at last!
Earth looks hurt
E: Hey you only got-
But Venus is already gone, laughing his core out. Luna turns to Earth who looks even more dejected.
L: Oh come on Earth, don't take Venus’s words to your core. Even at the best of times he’s a bully, and he didn’t even guess what happened right!
M: I mean… I have been sorta… jealous of my Earthlings trying to go to-
L: Earth, look at me
Earth looks up at Luna
L: It is FINE to have those feelings, Earth, everyone has them from time to time!
E: (weakly) Even you?
L: Especially me! You realize how many times I've felt small or insignificant next to you? Even Titan when he came and saw me only wanted to see me to see you!
E: He- he did?
L: Yeah!
Earth looks down, ashamed
E: I… didn't realize that you, felt that way
Luna shakes his head
L: Point is, that meeting with Titan could have gone ALOT worse if you had done something different. I mean, imagine how Titan would feel if you had instead chosen to insult him or something!
Earth winces
E: That, that would have been bad
L: I've seen you through all your phases, Earth, and although you haven't always made the right choice, today you made a better choice. Not a great choice, but one you shouldn’t feel ridiculed by!
Earth makes a weak smile at Luna
E: Glad to hear Luna
Earth looks over at the deck Mars threw on the ground
E: You… you know how to play space poker Luna?
Luna looks confused
L: Uh, not really? I always get so lost whenever you and Mars play that game…
Earth grabs Mars’s old deck and looks at Luna
E: Would you… like to learn?
Luna’s eyes go wide as his smile
L: Took ya long enough!
Earth hands over Mars’s deck and the two start playing together. Unbeknownst to either of them, Earth’s decision to leave that conversation would greatly change the fate of the Solar System, from the center of it all, up to and beyond the furthest reaches of the Kuiperbelt