The Restart Eclipse

Eclipse is crying

Sun’s POV

I sit in the adults’ section of the building, nursing a glass of spicy oil, hoping to drown out my anxieties. The burning sensation is almost comforting, though I feel my mind swirling with doubts. 'Was I too hard on Lunar? He’s trying his best, but I can’t risk my kids’ lives.' These thoughts keep circling in my head, each one weighing heavily.

A soft hand rests on mine, pulling me out of my reverie. I look up and see DJ, giving him a faint smile as he returns it with a gentle kiss on my cheek. But he knows me too well to miss my unease.

"Are you okay, my sunlight?" he asks, worry flickering in his eyes. "You haven’t been sleeping much these past few days."

I smile, grateful for his presence. Both DJ and Freddy have been concerned, noticing how much I’ve been working. I love my job in the daycare, but if I stop, my mind races with every bad possibility of what could happen to the kids. “I’m okay, my darling, but I think I might need a break. I love working in the daycare, but... I need some time,” I admit, finishing my drink and setting the glass in the sink.

DJ looks at me with understanding. “Are you sure?” he asks, holding my hand and giving it a soft kiss. “It’s only been two months since you had Eclipse. You know you can come talk to me, or anyone else, if you need a break.”

I squeeze his hand reassuringly. “I promise, my spider, I’m okay. I just need a little time off.” I give him a kiss on the cheek, and he smiles. Together, we walk back to the daycare, heading for the elevator to meet Freddy for a movie night.

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Eclipse’s POV

I sit in my bedroom, working on my blueprint for a new star model. My mind is constantly buzzing with all the differences I’ve noticed in this universe.

'So Mangle and Foxy are twins, and Roxy is somehow their younger sister? Mangle is married to moon and even adopted Lunar. I still can’t believe how different he looks here. Moon and Mangle have two biological kids, Luno and Vesper.'

I flick my tail, still adjusting to the odd sensation, and jot down the observations on paper. This universe is far from my own. The differences are obvious, especially from Bloodmoon.

'From what I’ve seen, Sun, DJ, and Freddy are all married,' I think, surprised. 'It seems they have three kids: the two older ones, Lucy and Solar, and the youngest, Apollo. From what I can tell, Apollo and Luno are around the same age. But Solar… she reminds me so much of-' My thoughts halt abruptly as I feel a wetness on my cheeks. Surprised, I lift a hand to touch my face and realize I’m crying. Why? I didn’t think I felt sad… or did I? 'It’s pointless to mourn for someone who isn’t here,' I scold myself, forcing my focus back to the blueprints, trying to forget.

'And then there’s Bloodmoon, who’s now dating Lunar. They still seem keen on finding me, even if they aren’t exactly the same as the ones I knew before.' My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of my bedroom door opening. Quickly, I slide the blueprint under my dresser and look up to see Luno and Apollo, carrying toys and grinning, eager to play with me.

“Eclipse! I found something you might like!” Luno says cheerfully. Apollo, though quiet, is watching me expectantly. Everyone here seems so friendly, so willing to make me smile. But I know what they’re capable of; I’ve seen what Mangle can do, and I don’t want that to happen to me.

Apollo hurries out of the room and returns a few moments later, dragging Sun along. As soon as Sun sees me, he sweeps me up, fussing over me. My cheeks must still be puffy from crying, and they probably think I was scared or hurt. Though I’m not fond of the attention, my tail wraps around his arm on instinct, and his own tail curls around me in return. Apollo laughs at this little exchange, but I won’t admit how oddly safe it makes me feel. 'Why would anyone care for me? Especially not Sun. I’m certain he hated me before…'

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Sun’s POV

Seeing Apollo lead me to Eclipse’s room fills me with concern. As I hold my little starlight close, I wonder what made him cry. It’s probably nothing serious; no one but family is allowed down here. But I can’t shake this fierce need to protect him, to shield him from every shadow of harm. I’d do anything for my kids. Even if it means hiding bodies.

No one will hurt my children, my nephews—anyone I hold dear. They won’t know the pain I’ve suffered. I made a promise to Moon, and I won’t break it. Not when family is at stake.