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??