Pluto and the Dwarf Planets

"**Pluto and the Dwarf Planets**" (also known as **The Quest for the Dwarf Planets** on Patreon) is the 68th episode by air date and the 73rd by chronological order of SolarBalls. It is the 4th episode of Pluto's Arc.

## Synopsis

Pluto is back! His adventures searching for the mysterious dwarf planets continue!

## Characters

* Pluto
* Makemake (debut)
* Haumea (debut)
* Eris
* Charon
* Ceres (thumbnail only)
* Sun (background character)
* Mercury (background character)
* Venus (background character)
* Earth (background character)
* Mars (background character)
* Jupiter (background character)
* Saturn (background character)
* Uranus (background character)
* Neptune (background character)

## Plot

The episode begins with Pluto talking to himself about his mission to find the dwarf planets. But then, Charon interrupts, expressing her boredom and asking if Pluto feels the same way. Pluto is surprised by her impatience and reminds her that she was the one who wanted to join him on this quest. Charon changes her tune, saying that even if they don't find anything, they're still having a good time together. Pluto wants to head back, believing the planets are searching for him, but Charon disagrees.

As Pluto talks about how the planets have noticed his absence, Makemake makes some noise, grabbing their attention. From a distance, Pluto and Charon realize that Makemake might be a dwarf planet. Makemake mumbles about finding evidence of another planetoid, and Charon, against Pluto's advice, asks him about it. Makemake is excited to find another celestial object and asks if they are twin planets or twin dwarf planets. Pluto playfully responds with a personal question, and Makemake introduces himself and inquires about Pluto's identity. Pluto is cautious about Makemake's intentions, but Makemake is thrilled to see something substantial in the Kuiper Belt and explains what a planetoid is. Pluto tells Makemake he's the ninth planet of the solar system, and Makemake is shocked. Charon sarcastically questions the truth of this claim. Makemake, believing Pluto, reveals that he's tracking a planetoid and the sponsor section begins.

After the sponsor section, Makemake mentions that the planetoid will be massive and destructive, leading them to it. He asks Pluto about the other planets, and Pluto describes them as great friends and himself as their protector. Makemake asks about Pluto's gravitational influence, but Pluto responds with a rhetorical question about Earthling rules. Makemake insists that everyone knows those rules and departs. Charon questions why Pluto lied about being a planet, and Pluto asks her to keep it a secret. Charon wonders why Pluto would lie if he's trying to find others like him. Pluto admits he doesn't know and that spending time with the planets makes him feel more connected to them than the dwarf planets. Makemake finally locates the target, and Pluto asks if it's friendly. Makemake assures him, mentioning there are three of them, though Pluto humorously subtracts half from Charon. Charon screams that she heard it before Pluto reveals it was a joke

Pluto monologues about the quest turning into big game hunt, as they discover evidence of a massive gravitational sphere with rings. He ponders whether these dwarf planets are different from him and if he just wants to fit in somewhere. Charon reassures him that being weird isn't necessarily bad. Makemake finally spots Haumea and asks Pluto to lead the way. Pluto introduces himself as a planet, but Haumea's unusual appearance surprises him. Haumea introduces himself and questions Pluto's planetary status. Pluto responds instead with a query about Haumea's shape, and Haumea, insecure, avoids the topic. Charon urges Pluto to be considerate, and Makemake interrupts, eager to continue their search. They follow Makemake, and Haumea confides in Pluto about wanting to be special like him. Pluto appreciates Haumea's uniqueness, contrasting it with the occasional meanness of the planets. Haumea admires Pluto and wishes to be like him, but Pluto finds Haumea even cooler than most planets, who can be quite mean.

Charon, adopting a fortune teller persona, asks Pluto if he likes his new friends. Pluto admits they're fine, but Charon presses further, asking if they also like him. Pluto worries that they only like him because he's a planet, keeping his doubts to himself. Suddenly, Eris, who overheard their conversation appears and asks "knew what?". Pluto and Charon both scream in surprise, before Makemake greets Eris and introduces her to the others as the largest*[sic]* dwarf planet. Makemake tells them that they're also good friends before Eris remarks that they hardly know each other.

Makemake ignores it and asks where she has been, as she missed out on a lot, including meeting Pluto, who he remarks as "The coolest planet ever". Eris becomes skeptical, saying she met a few planets a while ago: Uranus and Saturn, who had some things to say about Pluto. Pluto tries to not mind it and calls Eris amazing, but also states that he is out of energy and leaves. Charon, Makemake, and Haumea try to persuade him to stay, before Eris reveals that Pluto was lying all along.

Makemake just comments that Earthlings like to change the rules a lot, much to Pluto's shock. Haumea comforts Pluto and says that he's sorry the planets demoted Pluto, for "being different". Pluto nervously asks if they're mad or not, and both of them reply they don't really do and is in fact stoked to meet him. Pluto thanks them before Makemake interrupts him with a lot of questions. As Pluto is about to answer, Eris jumps in and emphasizes the fact that while they're not that big and flashy, they still should acknowledge that they are just as good as others and shouldn't think lowly of themselves. After Eris ends her argument, Makemake invites everyone to a game of Dungeons and Dwarf Planets.

## Trivia

* There are several errors in the episode:
	+ Makemake explains that a planetoid is something that is not quite a planet nor an asteroid or meteorite. The correct term to use should be "meteoroid" instead of "meteorite".
	+ Makemake introduces Eris as the largest dwarf planet instead of the most massive dwarf planet. The largest dwarf planet is Pluto.
	+ Makemake asks Pluto about what it's like to be an object outside the Kuiper Belt, despite Pluto's orbit being in said region.
		- However, this may be because Makemake was still under the impression that Pluto was a planet, therefore thinking that Eris was the largest, since she is the second largest dwarf planet.
* Ceres is the only dwarf planet absent during the episode, despite being present on the thumbnail.
* This episode surpasses “Venus vs Mars” as the longest episode of SolarBalls, with 12 minutes and 18 seconds long.
* Pluto and the other dwarf planets pronounce Charon's name as "Kharon" in this episode, despite pronouncing it as "Charon" in previous episodes.