ACT IV: Eclipsine, King of Darkness Chapter 1: The Black Sheep

The Mewman Sea...

King Solarius "Monster Carver" Dragonfly nervously paced around the ship's deck, listening to Alphys' scream from inside her cabin. Two members of the crew were inside the cabin with her to carry out the delivery, and refused to let the king inside until they were finished. Overcome with anticipation, he resorted to punching the ship's mast until his knuckles were sore.

"Your majesty…" Erika, the first mate, flinched at the painful sight. "Perhaps, you should take a seat-"

"GRRRAGH!" Solarius growled, clawing at his shaved scalp. "I just feel so helpless! I should be in there!"

"I assure you, my king; Joanne and Marian are the best doctors in Mewni. And Captain Alphys is strong. She will be fine."

"It's not just her I'm worried about! What if something goes wrong with the-" He stopped his raving once he realized that he could no longer hear the captain screaming. Instead, his ears perked up to the sound of a softer cry. The king ran as fast as he could towards his lover's cabin, forcing his way through the door.

Alphys was breathing heavily, but otherwise, she was in good health. With her blouse undone, she held her newborn child close to her breast, nursing him. Once she spotted the child's father, she gave him a come hither motion with her free hand. "It's a boy." She whispered, happily.

"A boy?" Solarius cupped his hands over his mouth so that he wouldn't startle the infant. Still, he proceeded to inch closer to the bed.

Once he had his fill, the baby finally calmed down and rested in his mother's arm. Alphys sighed in relief and readjusted her blouse. The captain felt her lover sit down at the end of the bed and observed his longing gaze. "Would you like to hold him?" She asked.

"M-me?" Solarius trembled, nervously. "But… w-what if I drop him? Or crush him? Or-"

"Solarius, it's okay. He's your son. I believe in you." Alphys smiled, softly. The king slowly reached out his arms to take the newborn baby. "That's it. Keep his head up. You've got it."

Solarius felt his child's steady heartbeat as he held him close to his chest. The infant was practically a mirror-image of his mother; having a small tuft of green hair, perfect porcelain skin, and a pair of beautiful indigo eyes. If it weren't for the dual spade-shaped birthmarks on the boy's cheeks, Solarius would doubt that this was actually his own child. A wonderful sensation swelled up in the king's chest as tears of joy ran over the lightning bolts on his own cheeks.

"Eclipsine Totalis Dragonfly…" The Monster Carver smiled. "You are destined for great things, my son."

Eight Years Later...

Prime Minister Jeshica Dragonfly-Spiderbite practically skipped her way into her family castle, carrying a special surprise over her shoulder. On her way, she was greeted by a handful of the delegates from other kingdoms who respectfully bowed in her presence. But as she finally reached her nephew's room, she heard crying coming from the other side of the door.

"Eclipsine?" She slowly stepped inside, only to see the prince weeping into his pillow. She quickly sat down on the bed, rubbing his back. "Eclipsine, what's wrong?"

"Aunt Jeshica…?" He whimpered. "Am I… strange?"

Jeshica's eyes flared with rage. "Who do I need to kill?" She scowled, gripping the dagger attached to her belt.

"Everyone…" He sobbed. "I went into town and tried to play with some of the other children, but when I tried to show them my dragonfly collection, they said I was too strange to play with them!"

"Oh, sweetie…"

"And I heard their parents talking, too!" He went on. "They said they were scared about having me as a king one day! They said they could see evil in my eyes! Everyone's scared of me!"

Jeshica cooed and continued to rub his back. It was true that some of the boy's behavior was odd to the average Mewman; such as his fascination with horror stories and his gothic sense of style. But she adored how much joy it brought him, and she knew his father shared the same sentiment. "Eclipsine… there aren't many other people who share your hobbies. But then again, none of them were a prince."

The prince paused to gaze into her eyes. "You know what you're guilty of? You're guilty of distinctiveness. You have a gift that lets you see the beauty in things others shun. And that makes you a kindred spirit. So, yes. You are strange, but it is nothing to be ashamed of." The prime minister smiled. "It's something that deserves to be celebrated. No one 'normal' ever did anything special."

Her nephew wiped his eyes, finally smiling. "Thank you, Aunt Jeshica." After another tight hug, Eclipsine felt the bag. "What's this?"

"Oh! Of course! I almost forgot!" The prime minister jumped to her feet, and stripped away the plastic. Eclipsine's jaw dropped open at the sight of the sleek, indigo tuxedo with a green bow tie and ruby-encrusted pendant shaped like a black widow spider. "Happy birthday, Eclipsine!" She announced with much enthusiasm.

It only took a few moments for the boy to put on the outfit, showing off how perfectly it fit him. "Well, what do you think?!" She squealed, excitedly. "Do you love it?!"

"It's… it's nice, Aunt Jeshica, but… um…"

"Oh…" Jeshica's face fell, slightly. "I suppose you'd rather wear something like your dad's, huh?"

"Actually…" Eclipsine rubbed his arm, sheepishly. "I was hoping it could come with a hat, like yours?"

The former princess nearly fainted. "I've been waiting eight years for you to ask me that." She happily wept before reaching into her purse for the needed supplies.

Mewni's Wharf...

A certain sea captain sadly puffed on her tobacco pipe as she looked out over the vast body of water. Today was her son's birthday, and she was hiding away on a boat. The thought of the young boy celebrating his special day with everyone else he loved nearly brought her to tears. It had been a mutual agreement between her and Solarius that they wouldn't tell Eclipsine who his mother was, out of fear of him not understanding why she didn't live with them in the castle. But after eight years of watching him grow from afar, she couldn't help but wonder about the road not taken.

Suddenly, the conch shell next to her rang out, and she lazily lifted it up to her ear. "This is Captain Alphys Gibbs of the Royal Mewman Navy," she answered. "How may I help you?"

"Hello, Alphys!" A cheerful voice replied. "This is Jeshica!"

"Jeshica…? Jeshica…?" Alphys tapped her finger against the mast, trying to jog her memory before it clicked. "Oh! Jeshica! Right, right. Um, sorry, I've just been so busy with my own responsibilities, I think it's taking a toll on my mind. In fact, you're lucky you called while I had a little free time. What can I do for you?"

"Well, I was thinking about taking Eclipsine on a little boat ride for his birthday, today." The intelligent fashionista explained. "But if you're too busy, we could try another day."

Alphys choked on her pipe's smoke out of excitement. She took out a small notebook, pretending to look through it as she calmly answered back. "Well, I wouldn't say that. Let me just check my schedule… hm, hm, hm… sure, I could squeeze in some time! How soon will you be here?"

"Is this fast enough?" Jeshica snapped her magic compact mirror shut, chuckling as her friend jumped in surprise. Alphys straightened her jacket and cleared her throat before turning around.

"Welcome aboard, your-" The navy officer gasped in delight at the prince's attire. "Eclipsine, my boy! Look at you, with your suit and tie! You look just like one of those paintings in the castle halls!"

"Thank you, Captain Alphys!" Eclipsine smiled, proudly. "My Aunt Jeshica made it for me! She said it made me look… distinguished."

"Well, then it serves its purpose." The captain nodded in approval. "Will the king be joining us?"

"He's tied up in the war room, today. Sorry to disappoint." Jeshica rolled her eyes before she continued. "But until he can join us for dinner, we were hoping you could give the birthday boy a nice ride!"

"Oh, please, Captain!" The prince bounced on his heels. "Can we?! Can we?!"

"I would be honored to!" She smiled. "In fact, I think I know a certain area that you will definitely appreciate."

A few minutes later, the trio set off in a small tugboat towards the Waterfolk Isles. But instead of the typical trade routes that were protected by the Mewman Navy, Alphys set course for murky waters. While his aunt was a bit unnerved, the prince happily breathed in the foggy air, excited by the ominous atmosphere. The hull bumped into something, and Alphys activated the ship's searchlight.

Eclipsine propped himself up on the tips of his toes to see over the rail. Their destination turned out to be a macabre collection of wrecked warships and fishing boats. The captain carefully maneuvered into a safe spot to drop the anchors and idle the engines before she lifted the prince onto her shoulders. "What do you think, Prince Eclipsine?"

"It's so creepy!" He giggled. "I love it! What is this place?"

"This where your father first waged war against the monster hordes." Alphys explained. "The Royal Navy spent almost an entire year trying to reclaim the Waterfolk Isles. It was a massacre. Casualties on both sides by the hundreds."

"Wow… that must have made so many ghosts!" Eclipsine's eyes sparkled with amazement. "Do you think we'll see any?"

Alphys chuckled. "Actually, your highness, there's no such thing as ghosts. Those are nothing more than silly urban legends. Right, Jeshica? Jeshica?"

Jeshica didn't verbally answer. She just shivered in fear as she hid her face behind her hat.

"But… but that doesn't make any sense." The prince sounded slightly distraught. "If people don't turn into ghosts, then what happens to them when they die?"

"Uh… we just don't know." The captain shrugged. "There are those who believe that there is something called 'the Afterlife,' but it's more about faith than hard science. Personally, I try not to think about it too often. Your father would say it's just one of life's great mysteries."

"... you talk about my dad a lot." Eclipsine pointed out, bluntly.

"Oh, do I?" Alphys blushed. "Well, he's… he's a good king. And a better man."

After a few hours of wading through the murky waters, Jeshica noted that it was getting dark and that Solarius would be home soon. So, Alphys brought the tugboat back to shore and led the royal duo back to the carriage. "Well… it was a pleasure to see you again, your highness." She sighed, wistfully. "I'm glad you shared your birthday with me."

"Come along, Eclipsine. Your father will be ready any minute now." Jeshica led her nephew back to their carriage.

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait!" Eclipsine pulled his and free from Jeshica's hold and ran back to the dock. The sea captain pivoted on her heels at the sound of the prince's voice. "Captain Alphys! I wanna tell you something!"

"What would you like to tell me?" Alphys knelt down, pleasantly curious.

"I like you!"

Alphys felt her cheeks warming up as she gave him a quick hug. "Oh, I like you, too. Thank you so much for telling me that. But, you really should be heading home, now. Your father will want to see you."

"Okay…" Once Eclipsine reached the end of the docks, he turned back one last time before leaving. "Bye, mom."

The sea captain's eyes widened in shock and her heart skipped a beat. The prince was long gone by the time she looked back, but that didn't stop her from smiling to herself. "That is the smartest boy I've ever met." She mused to herself.

Later That Night...

Solarius wandered back into the castle, looking over the latest report from the front with a malcontent expression. But as he entered the grand hall, a stifled laugh drew his attention to the ceiling. "Eclipsine?" His son was obviously struggling to keep quiet, but the king could clearly hear him sneaking up from behind. Nevertheless, he playfully tucked the scroll into his belt and crossed his arms, smiling. "Eclipsine! I know you're here~! Come on out! You can't hide forever!"

"YAAAGH!" Eclipsine clumsily jumped out from behind the curtain, brandishing a wooden toy sword. "En guard, dad! The crown will be mine!" He giggled.

"Oh, ho ho ho!" Solarius wielded his scepter as if he were to activate the magic blade. "If you want my crown, you'll have to take it!"

"Have at thee!" Eclipsine sparred with his father, pretending he was actually in battle. After a few more minutes of playing, the prince tapped his father's shin with the tip of his false weapon.

"OUCH!" The king dropped his scepter and feigned injury, jumping on one leg as he hugged the other. "Ow! Hey, now! That's not fair! MOMMY!"

Eclipsine laughed and continued to tap at his father with the sword. "Death to the old king!"

"Ah! Oh! You got me! I'm dying! UGH!" Solarius humorously exaggerated and laid down on the floor.

Eclipsine frowned and rubbed his father's arm. "I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"

"No, I'm fine." Solarius chuckled, propping himself up on his elbows. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. But I have a special surprise for you…"

The prince watched with anticipation as his father dug through a pouch on his belt. At last, the king handed over a small sack to the boy. Eclipsine gently tugged away the string, and gasped at the sight of the bag's contents. "Are these…?"

"Yep." The Monster Carver smiled brighter than ever. "Purple rose seeds. I went to ten different markets and talked to fifty different merchants, but I found them. Happy birthday, Eclipsine."

"Oh, thank you, dad!" The prince cheered, wrapping his arms around his father. "This will complete my garden!"

"Shall we plant them, now?" Solarius suggested.

"But you hate gardening."

"Oh, I know. But it's your birthday, so you call the shots."

Eclipsine grabbed his father's wrist and gleefully led him towards the center of the castle. Ever since he was five years old, the prince had tirelessly worked to transform an isolated area of the palace into a private haven all to himself. But out of all the flowers he had grown, the one type he treasured most were roses of all colors. Solarius was never too fond of the activity, but he was content that it brought joy to his son's life.

"There!" Eclipsine grinned, sprinkling water over the fresh soil. "Now, in just eight weeks, there will be a new color of roses in this flower bed!"

"Congratulations, my boy!" Solarius proudly patted his child on the back. "What was once a small patch of dirt, you've turned into a paradise."

Later in the evening, after sharing a delicious roast followed by a half of a chocolate cake, the king, his heir, and the prime minister spent hours talking about their day. But after a while, Solarius led Eclipsine up to his bedroom. The prince couldn't help but notice his father's dejected frown as he shut the door behind them. "What's wrong, dad?"

"Eclipsine, I… I have to go away, tomorrow." The king clenched his fist, as if he wanted to punch something. "I'm going to be gone for a year."

"What…?" Eclipsine's heart sank. "You're… you're leaving me?"

"No… no, buddy, I'm not leaving you." The king got down on his knees so that he could look his son in the eyes. "It's just that… this war's gone on longer than we expected it to, and my generals need me on the front lines."

"I hate this stupid war!" The prince pouted and kicked his bedpost. "Who's gonna take care of me? Who will I talk to when I feel alone? Who's gonna sing me Leaves from the Vine when I have nightmares?"

"Hey, hey, c'mon." Solarius did his best to sound reassuring. "You'll be fine. I can send letters through a messenger so we can still talk. And you'll have Indexia to help you with your teaching, so you'll never be alone. And your Aunt Jeshica and Alphys will come visit you when they can. They can sing for you, and they sing… uh… I'll hire a songstrel for you."

"I'm gonna miss you…" The poor boy whimpered.

Solarius gently brushed his child's hair and sighed, heavily. "I'm really gonna miss you, too, pal. But… w-we have to be very brave about this, okay? We've got people counting on us to be brave, so can you show me a brave face? Can you smile for me, before I go?"

Not wanting to disappoint his father, Eclipsine smiled as best as he could manage.

"There you go." The king grinned. "Okay, now that we got this bravery thing out of the way, I want you to give me the biggest, most gigantic, most greatest hug you ever gave me in the whole, entire world! Ready? And go!"

Before the prince could react, he was scooped up into his father's strong arms. He giggled, uncontrollably, as he was assaulted by multiple sloppy but affectionate kisses. Solarius gingerly placed him down onto the bed and covered him with the blanket. While his father sat down beside him, Eclipsine reached over to his nightstand and handed his drawing to him. "This is a goodbye present." He declared, softly.

Solarius was briefly taken aback. "Eclipsine, this is your drawing. Are you sure?"

Eclipsine bit his lip, conflicted about parting with the simple piece of artwork. But deep in his heart, he knew he wanted the king to have it. "Yes, I'm sure." He replied, at last.

Solarius felt an ache in his heart as he folded the paper and tucked it under his chest piece. Shifting in his place, slightly, he removed a bracelet from his wrist and placed it in his son's hand. "Well, in that case, I want you to have this. This is your… your grandmother's bracelet." The Monster Carver struggled to keep smiling as he forced back his tears. "I want you to wear it on your wrist, and whenever you look at it, you'll know that I'm thinking about you, okay?"

"Thanks, dad."

Solarius kissed his boy's forehead one last time and walked over to the door. He turned back to see his son's dejected expression, one last time. "Goodbye, Eclipsine…" He whispered, shakily.

"... bye, daddy…" Eclipsine sniffled, crying softly.

That finally did it. Solarius couldn't stand to stare into his child's innocent eyes anymore. He closed the bedroom door and leaned against the wall. The king reached back under his armor to examine the drawing again. And with a heavy heart, he hugged the artwork close to his chest, finally allowing his tears to fall free.

To Be Continued!