Hey, who could it be? (No, it's gotta be...!)

32

TWs: keeping secrets (but not actually), lying (but not actually), brief crying, crushing, disregard for safety. Stay safe :)

10 HOURS

...

The Sun's eyes hovered over each of his planets, analyzing their Celestial forms before realizing-

"Where's Poseidon?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows in concern.

Everyone shook their heads, not having a clue where the clumsy blue Celestial went, all except one.

"Ouranos." Sun prompted, "Where is Poseidon?"

Uranus twiddled with his index fingers, staring at the Sun with a pained expression, "Uh, well... two of Neptune's moons were taken."

"...And?" Sun gestured for him to continue, "I know that's not all."

"Neptune decided to go into the Kuiper belt to search for them." Uranus finished, "...And he took Triton, Callisto, and Io with him."

"What?" Jupiter's eyes widened, "Is he insane!? They could be destroyed out there!"

Uranus shrugged, "They seemed pretty determined to me. Also, have you met Neptune? He's about as sharp as a marble!"

Jupiter frowned at the other, making him feel scrutinized under the stare as he backed away.

"We're running out of time." Spica spoke, "Only ten hours..."

"Ten hours..." Sun repeated, his gaze looking down, letting out a small breath before glancing around at the others, "So we better be prepared for anything. We know they'll probably use the dwarf planets as some sort of leverage against us and we know they're after me and probably the Earth."

Saturn bit his lip, his breathing unsteady as he silently whimpered. Jupiter heard the sound, looking at him in worry.

"Mars, Venus, and Mercury will be keeping the Earth and his Earthlings safe from harm's way- Uranus, since you can't get too close to the Stars, I want you to flank Gliese, the brown dwarf- she doesn't have the same intensity to burn or melt anything in your atmosphere. Jupiter, you're the backup- I want you behind me. And Saturn-"

The ringed Celestial squeaked, having barely paid any attention to what was happening.

"Does everyone understand?" The Sun finished, eyes blazing as he stared intensely at everyone. Sounds of rushed agreements and hums came from the other Celestials, except Saturn, who was frozen still, "Good- meeting dismissed, get back to your orbits! Saturn, I need to talk to you."

Saturn held his breath, slowly shifting before the Sun, "Y-Yes, Sun?"

"You seem... anxious. Are you feeling well?" The Sun squinted his eyes.

Saturn realized he was stuck. He couldn't lie to the Sun, the Star would know immediately.

"U-Uhm, well..." Saturn averted his gaze, "You remember all those years, er- millennia ago, when Jupiter and I tried to cover up what we did to X?"

"Well, sure! I remember it like it was yesterday." Sun grinned.

"And how we both took the blame for it?"

"Mhm..." The Sun's grin twitched.

"There's something I didn't tell you."

The Sun's smile fell. He glanced at the other Star, "Spica-"

"Got it." She nodded, backing away from the duo to give them space.

"Go on, Cronus."

Saturn shivered, clearing his throat, "I... I, um..." He closed his eyes as he forced the words out of his mouth, "It was my idea to eject Nine from the solar system."