The Planets Are Aligned (Original)

Chapter Fifteen: Weird Feeling

          Mercurius continued to cry into Terra's dress as everyone else remained quiet and afraid. Everyone was feeling different emotions: fear, sadness, hope, and helplessness. However, Jupiter could not identify his emotion. Jupiter was used to being happy and joyful without a single thing bringing him down, but this time, it seemed different. One of his closest friends had been taken away from him, and all of his older friends seemed to be trapped with Jupiter. Something felt wrong to Jupiter. He looked over the other eight Planetoids and observed all of their faces. Jupiter felt like something stabbed him through the chest.
     "What have I done?" Jupiter muttered a little loudly. Everyone looked up at him in concern. "It's my fault that you're all here. I dragged you all into this mess." He put his hands on his head and shook.
     "No, it's not your fault at all!" Neptunus shouted from across the room. "This was probably all mere coincidence or fate." The word "fate" rang through Jupiter's head. He remembered the conversation he had with Mars back in Bloodstone before they left on this whole journey. Jupiter remembered that he suggested that fate was related to everything.
     "Well then, fate hasn't been very kind to us, hasn't it?" Jupiter spat mean-spiritedly. Venus looked at Jupiter worriedly. When she was with Jupiter, he was not like this at all.
     "Jupiter," Venus said soothingly. "Fate controls everything. It does certain things for a reason, and sometimes, they have to be bad things. For example, Mars loosing his family must have shaped his future and ambitions for a reason--"
     "And now he's going to get murdered!" Jupiter cut her off. He started to look infuriated.
     "The Helioids said they weren't going to kill us!" Neptunus countered Jupiter's claim.
     "Can you trust them?" Jupiter growled. "At this state, they might as well kill us!" Jupiter was shaking violently, similar to how Mars shook.
     "Jupiter has a point," Pluto said bluntly. Venus attempted to step on Pluto's foot, but she failed because her leg was at a weird angle.
     "Don't listen to him!" Venus shouted over to Jupiter. "He doesn't know what he's talking about." Jupiter did not reply or make any noises. "Jupiter?" Jupiter was refusing to talk to anyone anymore. He had never felt a presence over him that was so heavy in his whole life. Jupiter slowly lowered himself to the floor and rolled over onto his side. He had his back turned to the other Planetoids. He stared blankly at the steel and surprisingly cold wall. He could hear the other Planetoids calling for him, but he still kept his mouth shut. The more he heard his name, the worse he felt, and the more he wanted to cry. Jupiter never liked crying, so it was difficult to hold in his tears while he knew it was a form of release. He covered his face using his arm as he continued to hear is friends call for him.
     "Leave me alone," he finally said as he began to get choked up. His throat felt like it was closing in, and it hurt. He tried to breathe as calmly as he could, but his breaths were long and painful, and he could not help but to start crying. His tears burnt on his face because of the gashes that stretched across his face. Pain did not matter to him anymore, and he continued to cry, which slowly started to turn into disturbing sobbing. His entire face grew red and his nose was runny and hot. More spit than usual formed in his mouth as he sobbed and he attempted to keep his mouth shut, but he was too caught up in his sobbing that he failed, and his cries could be heard within the room. His tears were nearly blinding him and falling into his mouth, which tasted like bitter, salty mourning, one thing Jupiter thought he would never have to taste.
     "Jupiter!" Terra cried out. "Breathe, Jupiter!"
     "I-I can't!" Jupiter said shakily through his tears and crying. His breathing became heavier and sounded dreadful. He sounded like he was gasping for air. Jupiter's sight was beginning to fade away again. His whole body felt hot, but his head felt light. Jupiter was on the edge of passing out until the steel door clicked and opened. Asis was in the doorway. The other Planetoids looked up at her grimly. Asis walked into the room and slowly walked by the Planetoids. She stood before Jupiter and looked down at him.
     "Breathe, Jupiter," she spoke in an ironically chilling voice.
Asis' voice jolted Jupiter with sudden energy, and he turned his head to see her. He said nothing to her. He only tried to start breathing normally.
     "Excellent," she walked away from Jupiter and looked at the Planetoids. "Mars is all ready. We need another Planetoid now." She walked up to Venus and put her hand out to her. "You were once one of us, weren't you? Then you weren't and you were found out to be a Planetoid. Please, will you do the honors and be our second Planetoid? Second is the best, after all." Venus stared up at Asis and submissively took her hand.
     "Alright, Asis."
     The other Planetoids gasped in horror and fear. Venus seemed fine to have been picked by Asis. Venus never needed any escorts either: Asis simply took her out of the room and left the Planetoids alone once again.

    Jupiter watched it all happen before him, all while he was grieving. His grieving worsened and worsened as he saw his friends get picked off of one by one. After Venus, the Helioids took away Mercurius. Jupiter's gashes experienced intense pain. After Mercurius was Terra, and Jupiter's eyes were eerily red because of his tears. After Terra was taken away, Asis took away Neptunus. Jupiter's blood pumped faster than usual. Eris was taken away after Neptunus, and Jupiter was running out of tears. Uranus was dragged away after Neptunus, and Jupiter watched in horror. After Uranus was Saturnus, who the Helioids handled carefully, but Jupiter was still not taking the situation well. Finally, it was just Jupiter and Pluto left alone in the room. Pluto was the only Planetoid who showed no signs of fear, anger, sadness, or any other emotion for that matter. He looked almost dead. Jupiter was staring dead at the door, waiting for the Helioids and Asis to come back in.
     "Jupiter," Pluto finally said after being quiet since Venus was taken away. "I must tell you something." Jupiter looked over at Pluto angrily, but at the same time, he was curious.
     "What is it?"
     Pluto sighed and cracked a small smile. "Your father says he has faith in you. He believes in you, Jupiter."
     "My father?" Jupiter repeated in disbelief. "How would you know he said that? Mom said that he was in another country on a special mission." Pluto looked down grimly and put his fingers in between each other.
     "Your mother has been feeding you lies to keep you happy, Jupiter," Pluto sighed. "Your father was involved in a war, and he's never coming home. That's how I can pick up what your father really thinks of you." Jupiter looked at Pluto, he was shocked, but he showed no expression of it. Jupiter had no idea that his father was never coming back. His mother said that his father was out in another country doing something very special for his family, but it was all a lie now. Just then, the Helioids came into the room again to take away another Planetoid. Asis trailed behind the Helioids.
     "Alright," she skimmed over the last two Planetoids. She grinned as she looked over at Jupiter. "Pluto? Would you mind coming with us?" She walked over to him and got the chains off of him.
     "Not at all," Pluto said as he let the Helioids take him away. The Helioids and Asis left the room, and now, Jupiter was all alone. He lifted up his necklace to see his lightning bolt-like symbol. He clutched it in his hands and waited anxiously for the Helioids' return.

     After about ten minutes, the door clicked once more, but instead of the Helioids, it was just Asis at the door. She walked into the room very slowly and cautiously. She stood before Jupiter again, and Jupiter set himself against the wall.
     "You're the last one, but you're certainly not least." Asis helped Jupiter up to his feet. "I hope you're ready." Deep within Jupiter, he was afraid, but at the same time, he felt another new emotion he had never felt before. It felt bold in some way. He was feeling gallant. It was a very strong feeling inside of him.
     "I'm ready."