Chapter 10-Eclipsa's Flashback

310 Years ago

A young woman sat upon throne of black marble, A purple spade made of finest cut amethyst fitted into the top overlooking the rest of the throne room, glowing slightly with the rays of the sun hitting it. She was dressed in a slim black dress with few jewels save for a thin necklace made of silver chain with a purple spade pendant hanging from it. Her dark green hair was tied back into a long ponytale and a small golden crown with yet anouther spade shaped amethyst crystal fitted into it's centre.

She was sat, a bored expression on her face, awaiting foreign dignitaries who were coming to greet her as the newly crowned queen of the kingdom of Mewni. She sighed and spoke in an annoyed tone "Penwood, how long is this going to take, I've been sat here an hour and I'm starving in my own palace".

Penwood, a tall, thin man with slicked back hair and snooty disposition stepped forward and gently bowed at the waist towards his queen. "My apologies your majesty, I have high confidence that they shall appear soon" He spoke in a clear, calm voice.

Eclipsa groaned and slumped into her throne, she hadn't had her usual ration of snookers bars today and was getting irritable, and all this waiting didn't help one bit. It was bad enough with the rest of the magical high comission bothering her about meeting up with the delegates of the nearby kingdoms but to have their delegations be so rude as to show up late to this meeting, Eclipsa wondered why she bothered.

Trumpets began to sing as anouncement of the arrival of the delegation from Helios was spoken by the head of the palace staff. Three men walked in, the first was small and plump, clearly of quite a nervous disposition as he was shaking slightly as he walked towards the throne. The second was a tall, very official looking man, looking between him and Penwood it would be hard to tell the two apart aside from the fact this one also sported a thin moustache that curled at the ends.

The man at the front of the delegation wore a bright red military uniform adorned with medals, a black sash and sported a small golden crown with little decoration on it, it was clearly a ceremonial dress, although it didn't seem to impress Eclipsa very much.

Eclipsa quickly took a glance at the magical high commision to see what they made of the three, most looked serious and ready to get to the matter at hand, except for Hekapoo who seemed to have a slight blush and was staring eagerly at the man at the front of the delegation. Eclipsa chuckled to herself and once again turned to face the men before her.

The man at the front stopped, lightly bowed at the waist so as not to disturb his crown and spoke in a loud, authoritative voice. "Greetings to you, your most serene and beautiful highness, Queen Eclipsa of Mewni" He stood upright once more an smiled as he continued his speech "I am Prince Helvete, sovereign of the Kingdom of Helios, land of the eastern flame, I am most delighted for our two nations to finally make contact and I extend my congratulations on your ascention to your throne".

Eclipsa raised her head and looked down towards the delegation before her before simply saying in a serious tone "You're late".

Hekapoo shot Eclipsa a look, however she didn't notice as the prince once again opened his mouth to speak "A yes, so I am" he said in a confident tone, he bowed his head down slightly to look at the floor, then quickly looking back towards Eclipsa he continued "A grave error on my part and a most sincere embarresment, I would be grateful if you would accept my most humble apologies, as a gift to your nation I bring a selection of fruits from my homeland" The tall servant behind him took a half pace forward and presented a large basket from seemingly out of nowhere which was filled with colourful and exotic fruits, all of which looked better than the last. "I do hope you will accept them as an apology for the act of rudeness I have conducted against you by being late to this, our first meeting your highness".

"Hmm" Eclipsa pondered, she wasn't one for fruit, despite most everyone in the castle nagging her about her chocolate habit and insisting she make the switch. "I do suppose they look pretty, besides this palace does need some more colour around, very well" She gestured to Penwood who stepped forward to his lookalike in the delegation and took the basket from his hand, the two men bowed slightly to each other and Penwood moved the basket onto a table at the side of the throne room.

The prince took a look at the figures sat to each side of the queen, he recognised the members of the magical high commision, and took particular note of Hekapoo, who in the prince's eyes was very lovely indeed, he was glad that the delegation was to stay a day to discuss trade and friendship terms with Mewni, it may give him a chance to get to know her a little better, however his gaze was once again drawn to Eclipsa as she spoke.

"You have been brought here to discuss relations between our two nations, as a show of good faith, these talks shall begin tomorrow, for now" she took a quick glace at Hekapoo to see her lost in a world of her own still staring at the prince, Eclipsa smiled slightly to herself "Make yourself at home and enjoy what my kingdom has to offer".

Eclipsa then excused herself to head to her office, and her secret stash of snookers bars, the servants of the prince made themselves busy taking the prince's items as well as their own the the respective rooms the palace had set for them during their visit. Helvete moved towards Hekapoo and proceeded to stike up conversation with her.

"You must be sissors master Hekapoo, I must say you're even more striking than the stories mention, It is rare to come across such a beauty in this world" He said as he took Hekapoos hand and lightly kissed it as he bowed. Hekapoo could only blush, it was rare for anyone to really take notice of her in such a way, much less someone of this caliber.

"Oh well errm thank you your highness" she said as she curtsied lightly, blushing all the while as she did it and her flame glowing brighter. The prince chuckled to himself and once again spoke "Oh you needn't bother with that, please just call me Helvete" He took her once again by the hand "Would you mind accompanying me for a drink my dear, I fear I have not much time in this land and I wish to spend it getting aquainted with you better".

Hekapoo's face turned red and she nodded, allowing herself to be led to the palace bar, they found a secluded table in the corner and began to talk. It would be midnight before they finally said goodnight to one anouther, and like that Hekapoo was smitten.

In another part of the castle, Eclipsa was getting ready for the talks tomorrow, she was alone in her private study surrounded by books on every subject from politics, to magic, to music and beyond. She was still having a hard time figuring out what she was to be talking to them about. "Maybe" she thought to herself "Maybe if I could find out what they actually want to ask of my kingdom, I can have a better position when it comes to negociations tomorrow" She smiles and picks up the Mewnian magic wand, holding it aloft and chanting a spell of her own design for just such an occasion.

"I summon the All-Seeing Eye, to tear a hole into the sky, reveal to me that which is hidden, unveil to me what is forbidden"

A hole ripped open in front of her and showed an image of the three delegates from Helios in their own room of the castle discussing with each other around a large table, on the table was a map of the Kingdom of Mewni, along with small figures of soldiers and some wooden triangles with numbers and division names printed onto them.

"The 1st Army will move into the market district and secure the bell tower as a vantage point, by which time the 3rd Light Horse Brigade will have swept away the light forces guarding the corn feilds" Prince Helvete was speaking as he moved the figurines of soldiers across the map, his servents aside him took notes as he relayed his plans to them.

"Once the town is secured we will surround the castle and force an unconditional surrender from the garrison, either through starving them out in a siege or if my plan goes well in turning Hekapoo to our side, we shall send in special teams to clear the castle using dimensional scissors which she will be sure to grant us once under my sway" He smiled a sadistic and evil grin as he loomed over the map "Mewni will soon fall under my domination and the royal wand will be in my possesion, then nothing will stop me from claiming the lands of the Lucitors and the Ponyheads, Helios will soon rise to become the dominant empire in these lands my bothers.

His servents stood and saluted their prince by drawing their right arm across their chest "Praise Helios" they cried as the prince returned their salute.

Eclipsa stopped the spell and the image vanished, she took up her own dimensional sissors and opened a portal to the lands of Helios. "Very well Helvete" she said, anger in her voice "If it's a war you want, I'm never one to back down" and she stepped through the portal.

A/N: Anouther chapter done, I've noticed this story is getting quite popular and I'm very grateful for those of you that have chosen to follow it, hopefully you continue to enjoy it as it goes on :) Until next time.