I don't need no light to see you SHINE

3

TWs: References to Earth Alone, pain, brief dissociation, insecurities, self-deprecation, mention of past extinction events. Stay safe :)

Earth winced as he felt another jolt of pain from within his surface, 'What are they doing now...?'

He was always in pain. It didn't matter what he was doing, he couldn't distract himself from it. He acted as a model for his Earthlings, the tiny netizens always changing what was meant to help them live, and all for what? Money? It was a strange concept to Earth. Why deform and disfigure everything beautiful about the Earth? Was he not good enough?

Earth frowned as he raised his hands up, peering at them. They shook subtly as he turned to look at his palms.

Were they always this shade of blue? Were these actually his hands? Why did everything look so blurry?

He felt something splash against the surface of his wrist. He blinked as more droplets of water fell from his face.

Oh, he was crying now. Just great.

"Earth...?"

The lively celestial jumped, quickly wiping away his tears as he turned to look at his moon, "Luna! D-Didn't see you there, heh..."

"I'm always here..." Luna furrowed his eyebrows in concern, "What's bothering you, Earth?"

Earth shook his head, forcing a smile on his face, "Nothing- it's nothing. Don't worry about me."

"It's too late for that... you're my planet, I always worry about you."

Earth paused, eyes wider than usual as he gazed at his moon, lips trembling the more he stared. He bit his bottom lip, trying to contain his quivering, "Mmh... well, as I said, it's nothing." He winced at the way his voice cracked, covering his mouth with a fist as he coughed to clear his throat.

"Earth, I've known you for billions of years. I know when you're hiding something."

"Oh, really? That's a relief cause I barely know anything myself." Earth joked, forcing out a chuckle.

Luna gave him a pointed look, crossing his arms.

"Heh... ha..." Earth couldn't contain his facade anymore, mask crumbling slowly as fresh tears poisoned his eyes, falling from his blue and green face.

Luna knitted his eyebrows in worry, "Earth-? What is it? What's wrong?"

Earth gave a weak chuckle, hands shaking as he tried to wipe his face, "I-It's just... why-" He bit his lip, concealing a whine, "Am I really... good?"

Luna's eyes widened, mouth agape as he stared at his planet. Was the Earth feeling insecure?

Before the moon could respond, Earth shook his head, his wavering watery eyes peering at his hands, "I mean, I'm the planet that harbors life, of course, I'm good- but am I perfect? A-Am I good enough for my Earthlings? Do my Earthlings feel unwanted? Do I need to do better- be better so they never leave me?"

"Earth-"

"Am I not good enough?" Tears fell from the planet's eyes, dripping into the void below. He sniffled, hiccuping as he placed his head in his hands, "The pain never goes away..."

Luna couldn't help but watch his planet cry. How long had he been suffering in silence? Why didn't he tell his moon? Luna thought he knew everything about the Earth, yet he was wrong.

'He needs to talk to someone.' Luna thought, his eyes darting around. Even if the moon knew the Earth better than everyone, he couldn't comprehend the pain that the planet was going through.

He needed a planet that did understand.

Luna's eyes landed on the hot-headed planet from afar, watching as he laughed at the smallest planet, who looked annoyed.

'Of course! Venus could talk to him.' Glancing at the Earth, Luna quickly flew to the duo, "Venus! Venus, I need your help!"

"His help?" Mercury asked, tilting his head.
"My help?" Venus raised an eyebrow, "What for?"

"No time to explain- it's the Earth, I need you to talk to him!"

Venus furrowed his eyebrows, becoming serious, "Alright."

The sulfuric planet followed the moon to the Goldilocks Zone. Venus' eyes perked once he saw Earth's disposition.

"Earth...?" He uttered, blinking.

"Please, he's hurting and needs someone to talk to." Luna pleaded, "I figured you might have some experience considering..."

Venus immediately understood, nodding slowly before making his way toward the Earth. He cleared his throat, "Heyyy, Earth..."

Earth gasped, glancing at Venus as he tried to cover up the fact that he was crying, "V-Venus! What are you, uh- doing here?"

"Quit the act, Earth." Venus snapped, watching as the other flinched. He sighed, "Sorry, I just- I know how you feel."

Earth scoffed, "How could you possibly know what I'm going through? The overwhelming pain I'm in all the time?"

Venus huffed, "I told you already, Earth. I know what it's like to have life and I know how hard it is to... lose it all before it even began."

The once lively planet was silent, his eyes tired and red from crying, "What was it like?"

"Huh?"

"What was it like for you?" Earth met the other's eyes, a few tears slipping out, "Having life?"

Venus hesitated, contemplating what to say, "Well, I can tell you it wasn't easy, that's for sure."

"Hah, tell me about it..." A small smile formed on Earth's face.

Venus gave an awry smile as he continued, "Especially when you consider things such as volcanoes, tsunamis, global warming..."

Earth frowned, "Yeah..."

"But," Venus paused, "It's worth it in the end."

"How so?"

"Take yourself for example- you've had life for three point seven billion years and five mass extinction events, yet... life somehow finds a way to survive on your surface."

"So...?"

"There's a reason you have life, idiot. It could be luck, it could be something we can't comprehend- whatever the case, you have life. The pain may be unbearable but just think of how you felt during the Great Dying."

Earth's eyes widened, "The Great..."

"You're not alone, Earth. You don't have to suffer alone or put on a display, not when you're with us."

"But-"

"I'm still talking, idiot!" Venus scowled, "Your Earthlings have no idea the pain they're causing you, but when they 'suddenly' run out of materials and resources, they'll regret it."

"...What makes you so sure?"

Venus didn't answer, merely looking away as his eyes met Luna. He gave a curt nod as the moon mouthed his thanks, "I'll see you guys later."

Earth opened his mouth, yet didn't say anything as he watched the hot-headed planet fly away.

"How do you feel, Earth?" Luna asked, eyes analyzing the other.

"Uh... a bit confused, but... I feel better." Earth spoke, his eyes blinking slowly as he curled up.

"You should rest. I'll take it from here." Luna hovered over the Earth, watching the small Earthlings on the surface.

"Mmh..." Earth yawned, his eyes steadily closing as he fell into a deep sleep.

« NOTE »

I didn't mean for this chapter to just be about Earth- It just happened lol

He's my favorite character, therefore... I have to torture him :)

Comments are appreciated <3