The next few hours after that training incident was spent in the offices. Zeke went along with their work, Eclipsa begrudgingly did hers, and while Ben had little they mostly helped out before heading off to bed. Zeke and Eclipsa left alone with their paperwork. “Ugh, how can you do this all day?” Eclipsa groaned.
“It’s kinda like when I’m hacking. A lot of reading is involved when hacking, not just fast typing.” Zeke said, signing another document. “How you feeling?”
“Still a bit sore, but not nearly as bad as earlier. Yesh… Power comes at a price. I nearly…”
“You were eger. Nothing serious became of it, and Ben’s Greatsword Keyblade will be repaired soon.” Zeke said. “Everything worked out.”
“I guess but… All this power. I’m just...worried, when I’ll face Scotch.”
“At least you’ll be talking to them…”
“... I take it you have a more… bloody idea for Rune?”
“Bloody isn’t exactly how i’d put it.”
As the two wrapped up their documents for the day, there was a knock at the door. “Wonder who that is?” Eclipsa asked, turning to Zeke… only to not see them. “Uhhh…” The door was suddenly blasted open.
“Zeke! We’re here!” Zeke’s mother entered from the smoke, Zeke’s father entering behind.
“And we got candy!” Zeke’s dad said.
“... Really?” Eclipsa asked, realizing why Zeke was gone now.
“Where is Zeke? Twilight told us he was here.” Mary said.
“He was…” Eclipsa said.
The parents sighed. “Darn it, and we were going to go invite him camping.” Bary said.
“Well… why don’t I go with you two?” Eclipsa said. “My...family life is complicated to say the least, so this might be fun. I’ve never even been camping before.”
“Huh, well you are a Ventral.” Mary said. “Alright, this can help us get to know you also! Pack your things, we’ll be waiting at the shuttle.” With that, Mary and Bary left, Eclipsa snapping her fingers and fixing the door.
“Camping huh… This will be fun. Now… where the hell did Zeke go?”
Meanwhile, Elsewhere.
Zeke sat within the Castle Library, having evaded his parents they began researching and studying spells and enchantments. Magic was still their weak area.
Eclipsa packed mostly a few clothes and it was all tops and such, given her lower snake half was unable to be clothed. The shuttle was Ben’s castle’s main hanger for all kinds of vehicles. Finding Zeke’s parents, she slithered aboard and they were off. “So, where are we camping at?” Eclipsa asked, having informed her family she was going camping and planned on sending texts when possible.
“This little planet known as Kegg.” Bary said. “We found it while exploring around before we found out about you and Zeke and all this, so we thought it was a perfect place to catch up and have some fun.”
“You’ll love it. Poison swamps, man eating plants, monsters all around, and freezing cold nights that drop below zero.” Mary said.
“That’s camping?” Eclipsa asked.
“It is for us.” Bary said. “We used to go camping in the most dangerous areas back on earth. MT. Everest, Death Valley, Amazon rainforest, true story, we found both a long lost tribe of cannibalistic humans… that we ended up killing all but most of the women and children. And on our fourth camping there we found actual amazonian warrior women.”
“Wait, seriously?” Eclipsa asked with interest.
“Oh yeah.” Mary said. “I was treated fairly and Bary and the boys were all nearly killed on the spot, but Ventrals. The ones they left conscious were all kinds of broken in their limbs. Their queen, the strongest warrior, Zeke roundhouse kicked into the wall of their own temple. Broke her nose, sprained her back and dislocated her arm.”
“Yikes! What did they do?”
“They ended up giving them some respect, though I think that Queen had a crush on Zeke after that… or wanted to crush him. Hard to tell, they typically only find a stray male and screw for a kid and that’s it, but I like to think she liked him. Zeke always did like taller girls.”
“Oh really?” Eclipsa said with a cheeky grin, knowing full well she AND Ben were both much taller than Zeke… Come to think of it, so are most of the Equestrian wives from his reflection. Eclipsa thought, knowing that Ben, even in human form was taller than most of his reflections ones save for Celestia and Luna in his reflection originally, while Zeke’s were half a foot taller on average, and his Celestia and Luna were a foot to a foot and a half taller than him. “I wonder why?”
“Oh, remember when we camped in New York.” Bary said.
“You camped in New York? How did that work?” Eclipsa asked.
“Set up camp atop a tall building, bring lots of rope and zipline equipment, Bungee Jump down for free Hot dogs, pizza or whatever else the poor saps have in their hands below, move to the next before the cops climb up, and if they bring out a helicopter, hey, free helicopter!” Mary said.
“Oh my god that is amazing!” Eclipsa said. “This is going to be fun.”
“Yeah.” Bary said. “Just wish Zeke was here. I always thought they loved it when we went camping.”
“I’m sure they do.” Eclipsa said, trying to reassure her lovers parents. “He’s just busy lately.”
“I know. I just wish we could spend more time with them.” Mary said. “We used to always be together.”
“... Did Zeke ever tell you he never wanted to lead the Ventral family, before all of this?”
“Always.” Mary said. “A blood soaked destiny is what the Ventrals call the heads of the family. Those who inherit it just add to the ocean. He never wanted that. To be fair, who would? But the world hated us. Dead or alive we were worth several million each to bounty hunters. Not many tried. I remember when he ran away this one time. He was in this small town out in the middle of nowhere in Colorado. He was actually living with a police officer who was taking care of him, given he was so young back then. Though, not that young I guess.”
Eclipsa stayed quiet… knowing this was the time when Zeke SHOULD have met her as Marcy, and Ben as Diane.
“I remember that.” Bary said. “Poor guy. He knew who Zeke was but didn’t care, said he felt like, somehow, they were family already. We talked for a while. That man lived a hard life. He and his wife tried twice for children and twice she miscarried. The second time she was almost due. Wife was so heartbroken she died of a broken heart. Both would have been daughters.” Bary said, giving a sigh. “He lived on because something told him to. Made him to. I found out a month after we picked up Zeke from him that he hanged himself. No letter, no nothing, just found a week after not showing up for work in his house hung from the stairs. Cops there swear it was us who did it but we didn’t… he was a good guy. Would have made a great dad had his kids lived.”
“You… have no idea why he killed himself?” Eclipsa asked, trying to hold back tears.
“Not a clue. Maybe whatever was telling him to keep on going finally stopped telling him to stay strong. Maybe he was just meant to meet and look after Zeke for that short year. I visited his grave once, left some flowers and a bottle of scotch, a brand he was drinking when we talked. Hope whatever demons what were haunting him all those years rot in hell for killing such a good guy.”
Equipsa stayed quiet, tears running down her face silently and without end. She felt her nails digging into her hand and drawing blood as she remembered all those memories. Good and bad memories of her time as Marcy flooding, her father as Marcy…
The landing was simple. They were atop a large hill, or perhaps a small mountain. Setting up camp they set up tents, two large tents and a small parrimater fence. Once all was set up Vary started up a campfire. "Hey Eclipsa. You ever start one of these?"
"Once. Normally I just use a little magic but one time, in an old life, my sister bet I couldn't make one. I was always the more feminine one of us, but I couldn't turn down a dare. Five attempts later I finally got it lit… as well as our tents and food and clothes." Eclipsa chuckled.
“Hah. My uncle Joseph would have liked you. He was a pyro… set fire to the white house once, not for a job, solely because he was drunk.”
"Yet, believe it or not, the magic element attuned to me was ice, and I am a pretty damn good cook if I am to brag." Eclipsa sighed. "God's… been forever since I could just take time to destress besides sex." The naga said, stretching to pop her back.
“I can relate.” Mary said. “Before I met Bary and we married, my only destresser was vibrators and porn.Working in a family that sold slaves to foren elites was highway, high stress.”
“Hehe, Sounds about right. Back when I was Colin, I was just empty, so what stress I had I got rid of through gaming, and music, and the occasional writing. But kinda hard to find anytime for anything anymore.” Eclipsa said, staring into the small flame. “Everything I’ve done, everything I will ever do, I wonder if it was all worth it. I know I regret none of it, but…”
“It’s impossible to not have regrets.” Bary said, tending to the fire. “No one can truly live a regretless life.”
“I know that…. But I just feel like I’ve always been just… Useless. I mean, I helped Zeke get over himself but everything I touch eventually falls apart. Only need to look at both my past lives for proof of that… hell, even this life with Scotch.” Eclipsa said, letting out her heart and worries to her family.
“Everyone worries about their family falling apart.” Mary said. “We did that often with Zeke. In our family the only path for generations was crime. Zeke wanted something else, and we worried if he chased a normal life, one slip up would kill him.”
“In my first life, I was killed by Grandaddy-in-law, in my second I was killed by Zeke’s brother in a tank, in both I caused so much death around me.” Eclipsa dead paned.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Bary sighed. “Dilen and Dad were almost the same person at times, equilin cruelty and skill. Was scary how alike the two are.”
“Funny how my death has always been at the hands of family. Makes one wonder… if I need to, could I kill Scotch?”
“There’s the million dollar question.” Mary said. “In the end it depends, do they still have a place in your heart? And if they do, who would you value if such a situation happened. Them, or those who stayed with you?”
“I don’t know… I caused them to leave. I killed their family. Could I finish it…”? Eclipsa sighed. “Sorry for being a downer. Kinda promised Zeke I would drop the masks and show how I feel at all times.”
“It’s okay. Are they really all alone now though? No grandparents or cousins?” Bary asked. “I can check real fast if you want, maybe they might shed some light on what’s up?”
“No no, its fine. I guess I’m not looking forward to having to kill more of my family, directly or not.” Eclipsa said.
“Who said you have to kill? You could imprison them. I hear Cript has the perfect kind of prison for beings of all kinds of power, called The Vault.”
“...I believe in freedom. Freedom of choice, freedom to be who you are, freedom of an honorable death. Hell, part of the reason why I have a sub kink is the lack of freedom is exsotic to me… I don’t know what I would prefer, his death, or him never again knowing freedom.”
“Whatever you choose, it’s your choice that will either end or spare the life of another.”
“Story of my life.” Eclipsa chuckled before singing gently.
”Breath, should I take a deep?
Faith, should I take a leap?
Taste, what a bittersweet
All my, all my life
Let me face, let me face
Let me face my fears
Oh, let me face, let me face
Let me face my fears
Won't be long, won't be long
I'm almost here
Watch me cry all my tears
Watch me cry all my tears
Lose, soon have nothing to
Space, this is what I choose
A mile, could you walk in my shoes
All your, all your life
Let me face, let me face
Let me face my fears
Oh, let me face, let me face
Let me face my fears
Won't be long, won't be long
I'm almost here
Watch me cry all my tears”
Aftercamp was a bit more fortified Bary handed Eclipsa a gas mask. “We’re going hunting now. Swamp gas here is as deadly as they come. But one species of frog lives here that is not only immune to the fog gas but also is said to taste like duck and goat meat.”
Eclipsa nodded, taking the gask mask in her hands and placing it over her face… looking quite creepy with her lower snake half adding to the effect. “How do I look?”
“Kinda like a comic book bad guy.” Bary laughed, placing his own gas mask on. “Let’s do.” He said, handing me a rather odd looking rifle. He headed down from our camp to the swamp below. It was all fog, no real trees or plants to be seen. The water, if you can call it that, was so thick. Even my snake lower half, that was largely pure muscle was having a hard time slithering through it. “So, how has Zeke been?”
“Better than I have seen them in a long time, but still not as happy as when I first met him a… long time ago.” Eclipsa said honestly.
"I see. Know what's bothering him?"
“Oh just betrayal, the ever looming presence of a threat to all life, running a reality sized country, the works.” Eclipsa said with a slight chuckle.
"Betrayal?"
"Yeah… Ben, Zeke and I… one of each of our spouses worked for Nexus. Zeke's was the worst because Coco didn't want to, and Although Scotch hates me, his love for me was genuine...at least at a time. Rune though… that Sociopath never cared at all." Eclipsa explained while focusing on everything around them though subtle pulses of grey.
“What a bitch.” Bary huffed. “Wish Zeke would just talk to us about this kind of stuff. Kid has always been distant between us, the only person they were ever close too was Jenny and Nathen.”
“Heh, I barely get him to talk, and I’ve known him for three lifetimes.” Eclipsa chuckled before sensing something with her pulses, her red eyes glowing faintly behind her gas mask. “Got something…”
"Is it the frog?" Bary said, lifting his gun.
“If a frog is about the size of Celestia’s ass, yes.” Eclipsa said, her echolocation use of grey outlining a rather large figure.
"Just one will make us a good meal."
“5 degrees northwest, about a klick away, it feels our disturbing of the water and is slowly hopping this way.” Eclipsa said, her eye glow bright enough to be faintly seen through her gas mask, making sure she looked like a damn villian with it on.
"Skin is slimy smooth but hard. Aim for its nostrils, even the things eyes can be bulletproof."
Eclipsa nodded before taking a breath and recalling every time she had shot a sniper… which is scarily a lot since her old life’s mother, the one of Marcy’s, was an ex assassin…. A deep breath, let it fall, everything shuts out, all sound, all feeling, all reality. Lift up the rifle. Don't see a target, see it’s every movement, every muscle, every heartbeat through its veins. Aim for your mark. Time it. Time it so their action leads into your bullet. Take a deep breath, let out yours as they let out their last, and fire.
The bullet zoomed through the fog, letting out a last roar the frog fell into the swamp much dead. Bary and Eclipsa began heading over. "Nice shot. You are Josh's kid… still not gonna get used to all that."
“Hehe, also Heaven Lawson's child. But hey, still, food." Eclipsa chuckled before slinging the rifle over her shoulder.
"Either way, you have skills." Bary said.
"I better." Was all Eclipsa responded with before they found the body. "Quite the monster." Lifting it up with her tail, they began back to camp. As we were heading back Eclipsa was remembering the old days, back before when it was just Twilight and Eclipse… 'I should call her.' Eclipsa thought.
After they made it back to camp, and after a long time searching for the one specific Twilight, Eclipsa hit call.
"Hi Eclipsa. Yes I know it's Eclipsa now. Always wanted a sister." Twilight answered with a laugh.
“Hehe, yeah I know, especially after that genderswap prank.” Eclipsa giggled. “Hows it going sis… or is it ‘hunny’ now… or Mom? God this hurts my head.”
"Whichever is fine. In all honesty out of all the research and talking I have done since this whole thing started, I learned love has no limits or walls, and those who put them on it are just narrow minded."
“Still annoying when my sister is my mother yet also my wife, but honestly I’m glad to hear from you again sis… I kinda miss the old days you know?”
"Need a cheat sheet for advanced magics again?" Twilight chuckled.
“Hehe, sis, by now my magic is a cheat sheet.” Eclipsa chuckled, sending a small sample of pure grey over for Twilight to see.
"Thanks. So, something on your mind? If you want I can teleport over for a talk in person?"
“No it’s fine, spending time with Zeke’s parents right now. I just...Sigh. Have you heard about Scotch?”
"Yes… yes I have. It was surprising to us all. I found out their brother knew nothing of it. Surprising really."
“It hurts… and its my fault. And I don't know if I could kill them if I need to.” Eclipsa said over the assistant, not caring if the other two hear.
also brb
"I don't think it will come to that."
“They hate me… enough to actively betray me… to want me dead, even if they love me.”
"I don't think so, Because the element of Kindness is still glowing strong. If Fluttershy was thinking like you said, it would have faded like when Rarity passed away."
“Heh, just a reminder that I still need to listen to Harmony and find the new element bearers.” Eclipsa remembered. “But yeah… but Kindness can be what they believe they are doing.”
"Whatever the case, there is one thing that I know still makes Fluttershy, Fluttershy. After the reveal I checked on her cottage. The only animal friend missing was Angel Bunny, and the others were still well kept and fed. I think she is still taking care of them."
“And I know she still loves the kids, they are the whole reason she betrayed, because my lifestyle endangers them.” Eclipsa said.
"So does hers. I don't think she realizes that fully."
“No, she doesnt…” Eclipsa sighs. “I just miss the simpler times, back when I was just a Keyblade wielding mortal saving the day and getting the princess, forming a small but loving herd… now, everything is so… big.”
"Was that a sex joke?"
“Could be~” Eclipsa chuckled. “But you get my drift.”
"Yeah. So, I hear you had your first kids already. I was actually thinking of heading down over to see them. We do live in the same place now."
"Hehe, yeah… they are beautiful. They will like their momma-aunty." Eclipsa said, her warm, happy smile being felt even through the call.
"I can't wait to see them."
“They are so precious sis. I know you'll adore them."
"I know I will. I look forward to seeing you again soon."
"Me too."