The Restart Eclipse

The calm before the storm

Eclipse's POV

'It feels… odd.' I think to myself as Sun holds me. Apollo and Luno are playing nearby but keeping an eye on me, both looking concerned after seeing me so quiet. I still don’t fully understand why I was crying. Why feel sad when there’s no point?

'Why do I cry when I think of him? I've watched the others die, so why does thinking about him make me so sad? No, I’m not sad… I can’t get sad. Can I?' My mind spins as Sun gently places me on his lap in the living room. Should I even call this place a home? We live beneath the Pizzaplex, but it doesn’t feel as bad as other places I’ve lived.

“It’s okay, my little star. Papa’s here,” Sun says softly, his hand tenderly petting my head. Uncontrollably, my tail wraps around his hand, and his own tail wraps around me. But my thoughts linger on his words as Luno and Apollo come over, both looking sleepy. Sun lets them climb onto him and curl up beside me, their tails intertwining so they know the other is close.

'Papa? What’s a papa? Does he mean… father? But he’s not like a father, not like the ones I’ve seen. He doesn’t yell at me; he actually pays attention to me,' I wonder, looking up at Sun. He smiles down at me, then leans down and kisses my forehead, staying close.

Suddenly, a strange warmth fills my chest, and I feel my face move in a way I don’t fully recognize. Sun chuckles, looking at me fondly. “You smile so cute, my Eclipse,” he says, placing a blanket over me, Luno, and Apollo, all while watching over us.

'Wait, I’m… smiling? No… smiles make you feel cold. Why do I feel so warm? And what is this feeling? Is it some sort of sickness? No, I don’t feel sick. I feel bubbly, like I want to laugh… but not in a bad way.' Sun’s tail stays wrapped around me, and now Apollo and Luno’s do as well. I don’t realize it, but for the first time, I’m feeling something different, something pure—an innocent kind of happiness.

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Sun's POV

I look down at these adorable little ones who mean the world to me. I would protect them with everything I have. Just then, I hear the elevator door open, and my gaze shifts. It’s Luey and Freddy, back from one of his performances.

“Hey, Papa! What are you doing? Why is Eclipse with you? Isn’t he supposed to be napping?” Luey asks, my darling daughter, as Freddy heads off to clean up his makeup for the next show. Halloween is coming up, so it's a busy season.

“Yes, my starlight, but your brother was crying, so I thought some time with me might help him calm down. Now go on and get cleaned up,” I say, giving her a warm smile. She nods, but I notice her worried glance at Eclipse. I’ll let her spend some time with him after she’s ready, especially since she’s been looking forward to helping Freddy in his performance for weeks now.

Looking down at Eclipse, I remind myself that Solar is with DJ today, learning more about interacting with humans. She’s shy, but she needs the experience. Meanwhile, Vesper is helping Lunar learn the ropes of keeping the kids safe—especially after what happened with Apollo.

I can feel my tail twitch as I think about that incident with Apollo. It’s why I’m still hesitant to leave Lunar alone with the kids. Until he learns more about taking care of them responsibly, I won’t fully trust him. Pushing the thought aside, I watch as Freddy comes back out, freshly cleaned up.

“Darling, can you watch the kids later today? I’ll need someone to look after them while I handle a few things,” I ask him, and he looks at me, nodding.

“Yes, of course. I’ll take them with me once Solar’s ready for her first show with the band,” he says, and I smile, grateful to count on him and DJ. With Halloween around the corner, things are getting hectic, and I just want to make sure the kids stay safe. More humans mean more risks, and I won’t endanger my children or my nephews—not for anyone.