In a place that seems familiar, under a red sky as if ablaze, the planet Mars stretches out in stormy tranquility. Its soil, the color of Earthlings' blood, is covered with scattered rocks and towering mountains that touch the horizon, telling ancient tales from a bygone era. The plateaus are interspersed with deep ravines, like the wounds of a planet that lived an eventful past. Strange symbols carved on the rocks seemed like silent warning cries, messages left by those who knew the truth... then disappeared.
Amidst this desolate scene, a faint blue light cut through the thick dust clouds. As you approach, you see two figures standing atop one of those high mountains, gazing at the extending crimson horizon, their features sharply contrasting. The first, clad in gleaming red armor that shines under the red sky's glow, his face bearing firm features and a deep gaze; he is the leader of the planet Mars.
Beside him stands another figure, draped in a dark green cloak that blends with the color of his blue and dark green armor; he is the leader of the planet Earth.
Amidst that charged atmosphere, the latter broke the silence of the place, asking:
"Alright, what now?"
The recipient of the question hesitated slightly, then grumbled in annoyance:
"Tsk, why are you asking me? I'm just like you, I know nothing. I never wondered who I am or what the reality of this world we live in is. And don't expect me to consider you a friend just because that ugly screen threw that myth at us."
A strange silence fell, as if the wind itself had stopped howling. Earth looked away, his blue eyes telling of clear disappointment, then spoke in a rough voice:
"Fine, I'll go back where I came from. All my attempts to befriend you have failed. I wanted to accept the idea of that screen, but I've already changed my mind."
He turned to leave, but before he moved away, Mars's voice echoed loudly, a voice never heard from him before, a voice carrying pure fear:
"S-Stop!"
Earth stopped as soon as he heard the word, but paid him no mind and continued forward before Mars continued speaking:
"D-Don't leave... I... I don't want to feel that killing loneliness again... Don't go..."
Earth smiled again, as if he wanted to draw those feelings out of his friend. He returned to his spot and sat beside him, then added:
"I feel there's something bigger than just a union of planets or whatever. The Ex-Politas gave us information about our weapons, our abilities, even our weaknesses. Can you imagine how dangerous this thing could be if it fell into the wrong hands?"
Mars's features changed, confirming his tension, but the tone of his voice denied it:
"Or maybe it is the wrong hand itself."
He paused slightly, then added, changing his sitting position so his gaze turned towards Earth:
"But let's leave this for now... What if the 'Union of Planet Leaders' is the key to understanding the truth? What if..."
Amidst a heavy silence, Earth's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a sharp gasp. He turned quickly to see Mars standing stiffly, his hand gripping his head tightly as if trying to prevent something from tearing apart inside him. His eyes narrowed, his teeth clenched, and his body began to tremble under the shock of the sudden situation.
Earth approached him and asked with killing curiosity:
"Mars! What's happening to you?!"
Mars didn't answer immediately, but groaned in a muffled voice, his body trembling as if an invisible force was pulling him down. He almost fell, but his grip on his skull tightened, as if trying to prevent something terrible from invading his mind.
Finally, he whispered in a hoarse, broken voice:
"It's... it's the same pain... I felt when you came here..."
Earth's heart trembled in his chest, his pulse racing wildly, as if a dark premonition had struck his soul then. But he didn't hesitate to ask in a trembling tone, barely escaping his throat as he tried to find answers:
"What...? Do you mean that..."
Mars raised his head with difficulty, his gaze burning with something Earth had never seen before; fear, astonishment, and a realization akin to disaster. The one in the red cloak whispered nervously, after being freed from the grip of words that almost choked him:
"Yes... there's someone else... entered through another gate... It could be... one of those the screen talked about..."
There was no time for confusion, no room for doubt. They exchanged a single glance, just one glance was enough to launch them at top speed, running over the red rocks, their feet barely touching the surface.
Everything around them changed. The air became heavier, a mysterious pressure crushed their chests, and the horizon blended with the dark color of blood. The feeling was like the planet itself screaming, trying to stop them, trying to warn them of something terrible to come.
The closer they got to the energy source, the stranger the atmosphere became, until they reached the place the Ex-Politas signals led them to. The giant screen that had turned their world upside down.
But upon arrival... time stopped, and their steps stopped with it...
There, amidst the dancing fog around the screen, stood a strange person.
He was short, his skin unnaturally white, as if carved from moonlight, his eyes glowing with a strange silver light.
He didn't move... didn't turn towards them... but was slowly extending his hand, protected by its black glove, slowly, deadly slowly, towards Earth's cosmic weapon.
The double blade was there, like a living being, pulsating with mysterious energy. Its sharp design, the deadly curves adorning it, the intricate details carved on its blade, all gleamed with a hidden aura... warning... threatening... screaming that what was coming was not natural.
Their eyes widened in a moment of terrifying realization, until Earth screamed, trying to warn him of something more dangerous than he thought:
"Stranger!! Don't touch it!! If you touch it... you will di—!!"
But... his warnings went unheeded...
It was too late, and the short one grasped the handle of the cosmic weapon. Suddenly, a horrifying scream echoed, the air vibrating from its intensity. A scream that wasn't just pain, but existential suffering, as if this being was being torn apart from the inside. Instinctively, Earth and Mars turned their faces away, unable to watch the cruel scene.
Then... silence fell, and Mars spoke in a low voice, his tone expressing an uncharacteristic sadness:
"Rest in peace... You were a good person, I would have liked to work with you."
Earth replied sarcastically:
"Enough drama, Mars, we don't even know his name."
But, as soon as he finished his words, strange words interrupted them, carrying a new voice, low, but perfectly clear:
"My name is... Pluto, who are you two?"
Mars whispered in shock, his eyes still closed:
"Earth, I think I have the ability to hear the dead."
Very slowly, the two turned... to see the impossible scene.
Pluto, as he introduced himself, holding the thing that almost killed him, but his features held nothing but astonishment.
He raised the hand holding the weapon before his eyes, then glanced at his body, then said slowly as if he couldn't believe it:
"Man, that was dangerous... You two should get rid of this thing immediately."
Earth and Mars exchanged glances.
The first said with a sarcastic smile:
"Mars..."
While the other interrupted him in a stern tone that knew no jokes:
"Shut up."
Earth turned towards Pluto, and spoke without the smile leaving his face:
"I am Earth, leader of planet Earth. And this is Mars, leader of planet Mars. And you are now on his planet. And now... Who are you? And where did you come from?"
Pluto stared at them in bewilderment, the words he heard seemed like they were from another language:
"Earth? Mars? Leader? Planet? What are you two lunatics talking about?"
Earth added with the same smile adorning his lips:
"We'll explain everything later. But for now, relax, no need to be so tense."
Pluto's body stiffened. "He noticed my caution... Who are these two people?"
And before he could utter another word, Earth commented analytically:
"Given your ability to withstand my cosmic weapon, there's no doubt you are a planet leader too."
Mars added, examining him from all sides:
"And from your appearance, you are the leader of one of the three icy planets... And since you are short... you are..."
They both looked at each other, before speaking in unison:
"The leader of the ninth planet."
Pluto's eyes widened, a hidden pride creeping into his heart.
"Leader?" he muttered, before straightening up confidently:
"I am Pluto, and I am..."
But before he could finish, crimson energy shot from the ground beneath him. Pluto dodged it at the last moment, but felt a sting pierce his hand.
Yes, his hand was pierced by that crimson thing. He looked at them, and found them smiling.
He shouted angrily:
"What is happening here?!"
Earth said calmly:
"You passed the first test."
Pluto looked at him suspiciously and inquired:
"Test?"
Mars nodded, pointing to the injured hand:
"Yes, and now, look at your hand."
Pluto looked at his hand and found it had returned to its normal state completely. When he stared at the wound, it had healed with unnatural speed.
He stepped back in shock and mumbled:
"Did I do this?"
Mars laughed mockingly at Pluto's conclusion, saying:
"Tsk, no, your crystals did that."
Pluto became confused and didn't know how to respond before he tried to understand his situation, inquiring:
"My crystals?!"
Earth spoke in a calm voice:
"We told you, we'll explain everything after you join us. We are the leaders of the universe, protectors of the core of this solar system."
Pluto felt like he was swimming in a sea of mystery; everything was fast and strange. He muttered worriedly:
"I don't understand anything you're saying..."
But his question was met only with more annoying laughter from Earth, who gestured for him to calm down:
"Alright, don't jump ahead. But I have one more question for you. If you answer it, you will officially become the leader of the ninth planet."
Pluto stiffened, then smiled defiantly:
"Leader of the ninth planet... Leader of planet Pluto, heh... Alright, what is your question, Earth?"
Earth stared at him with glowing eyes,
as if his gaze pierced the depths of Pluto,
searching for something hidden in the shadows of his thoughts.
Then came the question —simple in its words,
but carrying a strange weight, as if the answer could change everything:
"Are you alone on your planet?"
Time stopped for a moment before Pluto's face tensed, and the word escaped him before his mind could process it:
"No..."
It was an instinctive answer, coming from his depths, from a place he didn't even realize existed within him.
But after uttering it, he felt a coldness run through his veins, as if the truth he had tried to suppress all his life had slipped through his lips without permission.
His eyes widened, as if they told of Pluto's lack of understanding of what he had just said.
So he quickly corrected himself,
trying to fix what he said:
"I mean... Yes."
But the voice that came out this time
was shaky and hesitant.
He didn't understand what had happened.
Felt a slight prick, but couldn't pinpoint its source.
Faintly, a vague, faded image seeped into his
mind—like a lost memory.
But it quickly vanished.. He paid it no attention, thinking it was just a fleeting hesitation, and continued talking as if he had forgotten something important.
So why did Pluto give that answer initially?
— End of Chapter —