There was a silver-haired boy named Pluto that was breathing in and out to slow his racing heart. He was sitting alone in a field of white grass with an icy breeze surrounding him. His life had been as normal as possible up until a month ago.

Every ten years there was a ceremony held to celebrate the day when first settlers left the planet, Rosilir, and made there home on the moon and called it Nix Berdra. There were eight stones that were taken with them and put inside a temple they had built. The Gran Chief selects someone at random to go in and inspect the stones and thank the Maker for the last decade of prosperity and the next decade to come.

Pluto was the one that was selected for the ceremony. His parent’s were proud. They were humble farmers and thought that it was the greatest thing that had happened to their family. Pluto on the other hand was very nervous.

Sweat formed on his hands and brow as he thought about the ceremony. He had stolen away to a field to escape the pressure he felt. He had himself all but calm, when the sound of bells echoed in the air; it was time for the ceremony to begin. Pluto got up and headed for town.

The outskirts of town were empty. Wind whistled as it blew unobstructed between buildings. His feet felt like lead as they hammered the barren streets. All stores and homes were empty as everyone joined the ceremony at the temple in the center of the town.

Pluto followed the noise of the bells as they clanged. He turned a corner and saw the throngs of people , cheering with excitement, waving banners, and all around having a good time. Pluto smirked at the contrast that was going on inside of him. He passed the vendors, denying offers of smoked meats and fruits imported from the other side of the world; although the butterflies in his stomach were starting to get hungry. He walked through groups of people that he believed were much more suited for the task ahead than he.

For instance there was Reymus Kinster, who was the magical oddity of brains and brawn. He strengthened his muscles as well as obsessed with the moon and vowed that one day he would leave and travel the planet below. Pluto could envision Reymus strutting through the crowd with his arms raised high and everyone cheering his name.

Most folks didn’t even know who Pluto was when his name was chosen and it proved the randomness of the choosing should anyone claim unfairness. He was able to stroll through the townspeople with ease due to the fact that he wasn’t of any special status.

In the deepest part of the crowd his heart, like gravity, grew heavy. There were tall figures adorned in black and gold ceremonial robes. The men flashed him a quick smile and led him through the rest of the crowed. They took him to where the temple stood.

The temple was made of stone that was made half of stone brought from Rosilir and stone from Nix Berdra. There was a large staircase that led to a black door. The temple had three spired towers and one large stained glass window above the door. Two of the towers housed ancient bells that were turning green from age, but still chimed with beauty and strength.

At the base of the stairs, the men placed Pluto between them and faced the crowd.

“Today this young man will enter the temple; a great honor!” One of the men bellowed.

“There have been rumor’s of wars beyond our star, but yet the Maker has given us prosperity!” The other men exclaimed.

“Pluto, the task before you is to inspect the sacred stones and to give thanks to the Maker on behalf of our entire world!”

The crowd roared. There were a few townsfolk that launched confetti into the air. The robed men dressed Pluto in a black and gold robe, similar to the ones they were wearing, and stood at the base of the steps with their arms outstretched welcoming him in.

Pluto put his foot on the first step and let out a deep breath. He climbed the steps, wiped his palms on the robe, and pushed open the door. The crowd erupted again as he walked inside.

Inside was a long room with sleek black walls. While the outside of the temple was an example of the world’s origins, the inside was the result of progress. The sunlight shone through the stained glass window letting colors dance all over the walls.

On the wall to the right of the entrance, etched in gold, was a mural of the history of the world. The Song, as he was known, was depicted as a lion. The story was that the Song was lonely as wandered through the vastness of space. He began to cry and from his tears stars came into being. When he visited this star system, he created the planet from his mouth and placed it into orbit. He swiped at the planet with him paw and took some of the new earth and formed the moon that follow the planet wherever it went. The Song then created nine guardians that would tend and govern the planet. The Song vanished and explorers came from beyond the stars to inhabit the world. The story ends with a hope that one day the Song will return with starlight in his paws, to bring an unending era of peace to the universe.

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When Pluto was finished looking at the etched story he followed a long cranberry colored carpet that led from the door, past rows of seats, to a type of altar that housed eight different stones.

Pluto made his way up the row to the altar. There was a light that came to life at his presence. The stones were in a line and each had symbols underneath; a language that Pluto couldn’t translate.

The first stone was gray and jagged. There were lines etched into it. As Pluto reached for it blue lines ran across it and he could feel an electronic humming that pulsed where his fingertips were placed. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary so he returned its housing.

The second stone was pink and shimmering. The surface was smooth and round like an egg. When he picked it up he felt joy come over him and felt the urge to laugh. He also felt confident, like holding the stones washed his fears away.

The third stone was deep brown that seemed to shift in his hands. Some of it crumbled off in his hand and fell to the floor. When Pluto looked the stone over again the pieces that were missing had grown back. With a shrug, he placed the stone back.

The fourth stone was bright red with black layers, square, and had cut edges like a ruby. The stone seemed to make his heart race and it was hot where its fingers were placed. It frightened him a little so he put it back quickly.

He thought he heard a shout and felt the floor vibrate beneath him. He stood completely still for a moment and when nothing else happened he returned to his duty.

He picked up the fifth stone and he swore he could feel a fresh breeze around him. It was deep green with a yellow center and he smelt a scent like flowers. The stone had a mossy feel to it even though it was flat and smooth.

The next stone was the strangest of the bunch. It was shaped like a group of small squares, all different colors, that came together to make a bigger square. As he looked over all its protruding edges, he felt like in his soul there was a sun rising after a long night in the dark.

Before he inspected the seventh stone he heard voices. He looked around and was still as alone in the room as he had been before. He felt the room rattle this time and his body tensed. There were only two stones left, so he decided to inspect them in tandem. The one in his left hand was all white with sharp edges that didn’t slice his skin. The other in his right hand was smooth, and tear-shaped, numerous shades of blue, and felt wet to the touch, even though his hands were completely dry.

As he went to put the stones back, one of the robed men burst through the door. Pluto turned in shock; it was unheard of for the ceremony to be interrupted.

“Collect the stones!” He shouted. “Quickly!”

He was covered in dirt and sweat, with a trickle of blood coming from his forehead. He rushed towards Pluto. He ripped some of his robes and made a makeshift bag with some twine he had brought. He loaded the stones into the bag and drew the string shut tightly. Before Pluto could react, the man grabbed him by the arm and led him to the wall behind the altar. It was then what was taking place was revealed.

An explosion shook the temple. The roof and one of the walls were completely obliterated. Pluto looked on in horror as there were people running and screaming. There were others that were lying on the ground motionless. Reymus Kinster, covered in blood, was running around frantically trying to get the survivors to safety. There was a deep rumbling coming from the sky and when Pluto looked through the hole in the temple, he saw a large, black starship hovering over them. He watched as a yellow beam launched from the ship down into the moon’s surface causing an explosion.

“With haste!” the man pleaded.

“What about my family?” Pluto questioned.

“There’s no time for that, I’m afraid. The stones need to get off-world immediately. That ship up there belongs to the Cult of Cheron.”

The man pressed his hand to the wall and a small door was revealed. There was a metal table and a circular platform. He guided Pluto onto the platform and started pressing buttons that were on the table.

“The Cult of Cheron,” the man said remembering. “Believe in a myth that there was a legendary hero named Cheron that was banished for betraying the Maker’s children. There is another belief that the stones here have sealed away a great evil somewhere in this star system and the Cult was seeking them out. That is the true reason that people came to this world and brought the stones with us.”

Pluto couldn’t believe what he was being told. His mind was swirling until he felt something tighten around him. There was a blueish gel that covered his body and part of the wall closed around the platform. He banged on the door, but the man didn’t move from his position.

“I’m sorry,” he yelled. “There was no other way. We can’t let them have the stones. Find the temples and they should guide you in hiding them again.”

These were the final words of the robed man as another beam of light cut from the sky, crashing into the temple. The man covered in rubble and blood got up, pushed one last button, and fell to the ground to breathe his last breath.

That day a pod small enough to leave the moon’s surface undetected was launched and carried the stones and a silver-haired to uncertainty on the planet below.