Rifts

Part 16~Eclispa

Solar yawned as he walked through the castle grounds. So what if it was three am, that's just the best time for walks.

Stopping, he had to pause to work out if he heard things or if someone else was alive. Looking out the window, Solar stopped to look at the green-haired lady singing to her plants. Stepping closer, Solar tried to stay quiet, but... it was 3 am, and he fell over.

The lady jumped up, spinning around as the guards rushed over, pointing their spears at Solar as he laughed. "Hi, sorry to interrupt. I'll... I'll just go."

The lady shook her head, rushing over. "Oh, no, no, no. You're hurt."

Solar chuckled, sitting up and laughing. "Don't worry about that." He lowered his hand, placing it over the graze. "Healing purple ray." His hand burst out the purple light, and when it went away, the injury was gone.

"You can have magic."

Solar shrugged. "Apparently, I get it from my mum, but... I'm not sure if that's a good thing."

The lady sat beside Solar, a concerned look on her face. "Why you would think that?"

"It's not important."

"Clearly, it's important to you, and I can't sleep anyway. I may as well talk to you." The lady nudged Solar's side, and that's all it took for the boy to break.

~~~

Solar yawned as he woke up surrounded by fresh green plants. "Now, either I slept a lot longer than I thought, or I got kidnapped."

The lady from last night laughed, tending to her plant. "I'm afraid neither. You tired yourself out."

Solar frowned, filing through his memories before he paused. "Ah. Sorry. It's been a stressful week."

The lady laughed again. "I could tell. Say, do you want to join me in my tower? I want to show you something."

Solar narrowed his eyes. "That depends on what it is."

The lady laughed, boobing Solar's nose. "You'll just have to find out."

~~~

As Moon walked up the tower, her earlier conversation with Star played in the back of her mind. She didn't believe Star's story about the family, but something wasn't right. As she approached the door, she could hear the rock music playing.

She took a deep breath before opening and freezing. "Solar? What are you doing here?" Solar was sitting behind a set of drums while the lady played on a guitar made from a skeleton.

Solar paused, stopping his drumming. "I'm... I'm playing the drums."

Moon took a very deep breath. "I can see that. But why are you playing the drums with her."

The lady chuckled. "What? Can't I play some music with my grandson?"

Solar snapped his head to the side. "Excuse me?"

Moon gasped. "You knew what Star was saying?!"

The lady chuckled. "Not really. Solar hear just told me last night."

"You did what?"

"I did what?" Solar stood up. "Wait, I'm confused. What's happening?"

Moon gritted her teeth. "That person you're playing music with is the evil Queen Eclipsa."

Eclipsa hummed. "Isn't the evil bit a tad much?"

"No." Moon let out a sigh. "Listen, this should be quick. Star just stormed into my office with some crazy idea about who your daughter is."

Eclispa shrugged. "Okay."

"Look, I just need you to identify her from a picture. Can you do that?" Moon put a large book on the table as Eclispa and Solar looked over its pages. Eclispa hummed. "What is it?"

"I just... I haven't seen my daughter in 300 years."

The room grew tense as Moon avoided eye contact. "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

"No, it's fine. I'm fine." Eclispa reached out, turning the page over to wear Festivia was displayed, a girl with diamond cheeks and long purple hair.

"Is this your daughter?"

Eclispa looked horrified. "Festivia? No."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Oh, I'm sure. My daughter was Meteora." Eclispa left the table, sitting by the window and staring out.

"Well, the name may have been changed."

"But that's not her. My daughter had pretty little clovers on her cheeks and the cutest tail in all of Mewni."

Solar gasped as he stumbled. "Did- did you just say tail?"

Ecslipa smiled. "Yes, I imagine it to be much like yours. She got it from her daddy."

"I'm still struggling."

"I can imagine so. When you told me your story, I knew who you were. I'm unsure how far down the line you are, but you're definitely my descendent."

Moon gasped. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You can't deny it, Moon. Solar has natural magic, something only royals can do."

Moon did not look convinced. "But how is that possible?"

"Well, when a queen and a monster love each other very much," Solar started screaming, stopping Eclispa's explanation.

Moon was getting increasingly annoyed as well. "I mean, how could this not be your daughter? This is the complete history of the Butterfly family! If this isn't your daughter, then who is she?"

"I wish I could tell you! The Royal Archive would have the truth."

"The Archive? In the Bureaucracy of Magic? Where do they keep lunch receipts and office supplies?"

"Don't judge a room by its supplies."

"Actually," Solar spoke quietly, "Eclispa might be right. Marco's always talking about the quills in that room. Something about their natural... complex... Something to do with infinity magic and that being rare or something. I stopped trying to understand it after the fourth time of failing."

Eclipsa nodded. "The Archive has the real history beyond what's in your book. And Solar, you can call me grandma."

Solar let out a distressed noise as Moon ignored him. "Well, I don't have access to the Archive, don't even know how to get there."

"I could come with you."

"No, no, no. That won't be possible. I'd never hear the end of it if I took you out of here."

"Well, good luck." Eclispa walked back to her window as Moon began to exit. She paused before she pulled Solar behind her. "If you find out what happened, please let me know. I had a daughter. I'd like to know what happened to her."

Solar straightened up, clearing his throat. "If you really want to get into the Archive, you should take us. She knows the way, and I can get you to the Magical bureaucracy, past the guards."

"You can?"

Solar chuckled, swinging his scissors around. "Let's say Heckapoo's division isn't the best at following the rules."

Moon hesitated before grumbling. "Fine. Let's go. I can't believe I'm doing this."

"Think of it as a family bonding night," Eclispa sang, "If that makes you feel better."

"It doesn't."