Chapter One
The Canterlot train station was busy as usual again. Even on the weekends, Twilight Sparkle still couldn't believe the number of upperclassmen traveling throughout Equestria. She was on her way to the Saddle Arabian desert to discuss trades for the third time that year. Her only problem with leaving was that her bodyguard was late. Again.
For one of the best of the Royal Guards, his punctuality sure is lacking, Twilight thought as her bags were loaded onto the train.
“Is he still not here yet, Twi?” her husband, Flash Sentry asked as their children Solar Flare and Starlight roamed around not too far away.
Twilight nodded and looked over at their children. As twins, Starlight and Solar Flare were both alike and different in many ways. While both liked reading as much as their mother, Solar Flare didn't read as much as his sister. He was more into training to join his father with the guards. Starlight preferred reading to study twice as much as her mother.
While that set them apart, both were joined by overcoming desires to follow their parents. Solar Flare wanted to join his father and defend Equestria. Possibly becoming the Captain of the Royal Guards as well. Starlight studied and studied to improve her magic, hoping to aid her mother in running the country one day.
Thirteen years... I can't believe they're that old already, Twilight thought as Starlight's hands started glowing as pink as her hair. In contrast, Solar Flare was ruffling his beige wings.
As she watched her children, Twilight felt someone directly behind her to her left. Even in such a crowded area, he was still able to approach her unseen and unheard. Her bodyguard truly was talented.
“You decided to be late again, I see,” Twilight said without looking.
“You know me,” her bodyguard replied, “I wanted to make sure I was prepared. The desert just isn't my favorite area.”
Twilight started giggling, “It's good to see you haven't changed, Eclipse. Is it just going to be you again?”
Eclipse Shadow walked in front of her, his face calm. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, I will be all you need during your travel. I would like to ask: which of your children will be joining us to speak to the Saddle Arabian ambassador?”
“I decided that Solar Flare should come with. It will be a good experience for him,” Twilight replied.
“As in the trip, or the fact he can talk to a Royal Guard that is seen rarely by the civilians?”
Twilight looked at her son speaking with his father. The small sword he had received as a gift hung from his waist like always. Twilight turned back to Eclipse with only one answer.
“Both, Eclipse. He needs both.”
Eclipse stared at her before giving her a rare grin. Taking his bag off his back, he nodded and walked over to Flash to talk to him. Up till then, Solar Flare had only talked to his father about becoming a guard in the future. Speaking with Eclipse would be a different experience all together.
After Eclipse was close enough, he decided to make himself known, “Hello again, Flash.”
Flash turned around and gave a half smile as he saw Eclipse, “Hello again, Eclipse. Late again to go with Twilight, I see. How are you?”
“I've been well, thank you. As to why I was late, I had to make sure I was well prepared for the desert,” replied Eclipse.
As he heard that, Flash drew a puzzled look on his face. “Prepare for the desert? I thought you just took a vacation to Las Pegasus two weeks ago?”
“That was my first experience with sand and the storms. I am more prepared now. My armor won't get as much sand in it as it did last time.”
“You wore your armor on the trip there? That just seems odd in my book.”
Eclipse sighed at this, “I like saving as many bits as I'm able. You travel for free that way, remember Captain?”
As Flash started laughing, Solar Flare walked up and asked, “What armor? You're hardly wearing anything. Not to mention your sword is the weirdest of all the guards.”
“Even more so than Bronze Wings' custom spear?” Eclipse asked.
“Definitely,” replied Solar Flare.
“Hmm. Looks like someone's getting a story on the train ride. Also, Flash. Your wife would like me to teach your son somewhat. She feels having a second, trustworthy example for him to know about joining the guards is a good idea. I'll only do so with your permission, however.”
Flash took a moment to look at his son. He then turned back to Eclipse. “Don't go to hard on him. He doesn't have your speed, after all.”
Eclipse grinned. “I can get him there. It'll be rough, but I can promise you he will learn.”
Flash smiled. “That's what I like to hear, Eclipse. Just one thing though. Don't break his sword. He's very fond of it.”
Eclipse started laughing at that, drawing a glare from Solar Flare. Once Eclipse was able to straighten his face again, he turned his attention towards Solar Flare.
“Grab your bag, your sword, and open your ears, young prince. What I'm going to teach will be much harder than your father's training. Are you up for the challenge?” Eclipse asked Solar Flare.
“Of course I am!” exclaimed Solar Flare. “My father's Captain Flash Sentry. If I can do his, then I can do yours.
Eclipse looked at Solar Flare, and his gaze darkened after hearing him. Crouching down to get more even with Solar Flare's face, he looked at him straight in the eyes, “Young man, you have no idea what I went through at your age. Now, let's not keep your mother waiting any longer.
With that, Eclipse stood and moved to onto the train to take his seat. After Flash had given Solar Flare a hug, Twilight stole a kiss from her husband, and promised to be back sooner than the two months. After Twilight and Solar Flare had secured their bags (the majority being books in Twilight's) and Eclipse's sword was stored safely, the train started moving. Saddle Arabia was in sight within three day's time.
Little did they know, Eclipse had a guest waiting right after they arrived.
Author's Note
Hello there everyone! I'm back with a new story and it feels GREAT to get this one out of my cranium at last!
I've been brewing on this story for probably six months now, so I hope I can deliver what I've been cooking up.
I know the chapter is rough, but that's the way I like it. If there's anyone out there who can do a good pre-read and edit, please step up and help with what I hope to be my best work of fanfiction.
Peace!
Chapter Two
Four hours and two books later, Solar Flare was already bored. While he loved his mother and respected her work, he hated sitting longer than two hours. With two days and twenty hours of the trip to go, he decided to ask Eclipse about what he said.
“Eclipse Shadow?” Solar Flare asked, getting a glance from Eclipse. “You said that I couldn't have any idea of what you went through. What did you mean?”
At this, Eclipse sat up and looked at Solar Flare. “You just turned thirteen recently, yes?” Eclipse asked, getting a nod from Solar Flare. “Well, when I was thirteen, I had been training for the academy for five years. My father had me start training at eight years old. When I finished the academy, I was twenty two. However, I was held from going for a few years by my uncle.”
Hearing this, Twilight closed her book, and looked up at Eclipse. “Eclipse... Are you sure you need to tell him that? I mean, he is only a teenager.”
Turning to Twilight, Eclipse replied, “He wants to be a guard. They fight and sometimes have to kill. There are times when they die as well – by age, disease... or even blade. So,” Eclipse turned back to her son, “are yo willing to be one of the few to raise their hand, give up their rights and privileges and even their life,” here Eclipse paused for his words to sink in. He could see he had Solar Flare hooked now, “to defend their country, it's citizens and it's princesses?” Eclipse brought his hands together as he looked at the boy, “There's no right or wrong answer here, Solar Flare. Take your time, for I have plenty.”
Solar Flare sat there for one minute. Then one turned into five; five turned into twenty. Eventually, twenty minutes turned into an hour. As Solar Flare sat there thinking, Eclipse just watched him, waiting for a yes or a no. He could almost see the wheels turning in Solar Flare's mind as the time ticked away.
It wasn't until the second hour mark that Solar Flare finally spoke, “Yes. Yes I will. For my country and for my family, I will.”
After Solar Flare had finished, he was surprised by Eclipse giving him a small smile and a nod. Before he could say anything, he felt his mother sitting beside him, capturing him in a hug.
“Well done, Solar Flare,” Twilight said, holding her son, “I'm very proud of your answer, and I know that your father would be too.”
“Mom...” Solar Flare whined, “please don't call me that. Just 'Sol'. Even Aunt Cadance calls me that. And she's the Princess of Love, ruler of the Crystal Empire for cryin' out loud!”
Twilight laughed after Sol was done with his little spiel. Once she calmed down, she continued, “That she is, Sol. But you know, it's not every day a mother hears her only son firmly state his wish to join the military. Or their daughters, for that matter.”
“Well, he or she still needs to meet the physical requirements in their age group. At the pace you're going, Sol, I say you've got a good chance. However, you're going to be challenged more as well, and not just by your instructors. No; the cadets will challenge you quite a bit as well.”
“Why?” Sol asked, “Why would they want to? I'm no diff-”
“You're the son of a princess AND a captain,” Eclipse said, cutting him off. “You'd be taken for granted, with the image that you get everything handed to you. I know for a fact that you don't, but that's just how they'll see you... at first, anyway.”
“I'm sorry, Eclipse,” Sol said, “but... I'm still a little lost... It's almost as if you know this firsthand.”
“Well, maybe it's time for that story I told you I had, hmm? After you've heard it, maybe you won't be that lost anymore. You see, I started training at eight years old to get into the academy, as it was family tradition for the males to join the Royal Guard. My father taught me combat skills, had me study regulations... You name it, I learned it. It wasn't too hard, really. No, my real troubles... they happened just before graduating high school. I was seventeen, and I was coming home...
12 Years Ago
Eclipse Shadow was very excited. Two more days, and he'd be into summer vacation. This summer was important to him as well. This summer, he'd go stay with his uncle to train. For now, however, that could all wait. His mother's signature double-fudge, white chocolate chip and walnut brownies were waiting at home.
I wonder what dad's gonna have us do today, Eclipse thought as he passed his favorite little ice cream shop. Maybe it'll be speed kicks. Or maybe even doubles!
Eclipse's mind was whirring as he rounded the corner before his home. He was so caught up in his thoughts that as he unlocked the door, he failed to notice one detail. Every day, he'd either smell his mother's cooking or hear her music playing. Sometimes it was even both.
Today, however, something was off. The house was entirely silent.
“Mom? I'm home,” Eclipse yelled as he stepped inside and closed the door. No music was playing, and it didn't seem that any brownies were baking.
Moving inside, Eclipse dropped his backpack and started for the kitchen. As he neared the entrance, Eclipse hoped to find a note form his mother, saying how she needed more supplies. What he found instead, froze him, sending a shock through his senses.
“No... no, no, nonono NO!”
Quickly stepping into the kitchen, he didn't find a note from his mother. He found his mother and father on the floor instead. The blood spilled covered over half the floor.
Eclipse couldn't hear himself scream as he ran out of the house, searching for help.
Present Day
Solar Flare couldn't believe what he had just heard. The man in front of him had not only lost his parents; he had been the one to find them. To go through something like that... No wonder he came off so cold, Solar Flare thought.
“A few months after that, I was living with my uncle,” Eclipse continued. “I spent the next two years training, learning the regulations, and of course, over time, I learned to live with my grief.”
The three of them sat there silent for the next few minutes. Twilight sat playing with her hands, having both heard and read up on the old case. Solar Flare was still processing what he heard. And Eclipse... he was just trying to not break.
“Eclipse?” Solar Flare asked. “Your parents... they were murdered, weren't they?”
Eclipse sighed. “Yes. Yes they were, Sol. Living with that has been hard... but it wasn't impossible. But do you know what the hardest thing about all that has been?”
Solar Flare shook his head as a 'no'.
“They were killed twelve years ago. Twelve years, and they've come nowhere near close to finding a suspect.”
Author's Note
Well, here you are, everybody! It's chapter two!
Admittedly, I did some rewriting from what was in my notebook. Hopefully, you all like it well enough.
So we know now a bit about Eclipse's character and past. How's this to play into the story?
You'll just have to stick around now, won't you??
