Total Eclipse of the Dark (A Lishi and Eclipse story)

Lishi was surprised to hear a knock at the door to her quarters early the next morning.

It was Eclipse. Sweet Eclipse, who harbored no resentment or anger in her heart at all towards Lishi. Just disappointment, which felt worse.

"Can we talk? You seem to be going something, and - even though I fully disagree with the decisions you have made recently - I am still your friend and I want to help you. The dark side apparently has a very strong grip on you, but you're not lost, yet."

Lishi wanted to cry.

She invited Eclipse into her quarters and opened up to her, revealing the glimpses of her past that had come upon her during the night. She expected judgement, but was met only with a warm paw on her shoulder.

"You cannot change what's been done to you, or who you've lost. You obviously wanted to cut yourself off from the force in having your memory rewritten, but it seems your connection to it is too strong for that to work. It was a novel effort, but there are no shortcuts to this. If you want to change you have to actively create that change."

Lishi simply nodded her head. She felt as if she and Eclipse, sitting side by side on that bed, were polar opposites. Eclipse sensed something different.

"I know your intentions are good. You want to keep younglings out of the Empire's hands as badly as I do. You're eager to learn. You just... struggle with application."

Lishi looked up at Eclipse, who was grinning at her. Her benevolence shining through her shiny bared fangs. And, in that smile, she sensed Lerokee's presence. It was as if the weight of his death finally lifted off her shoulders as she made a realization. Yes, this was crystal clear to her. She could not scratch out the pages of her past and pretend that the beginning of her journey was something entirely different, she could only continue to move forward. And, it wasn't that her chance to complete her training with Lerokee had been stolen from her. No, she'd simply found a new teacher to continue that work.

She smiled weakly back at Eclipse, the energy sapped from her after a night with barely any sleep.

"I can't promise to change overnight," Lishi sighed. "Who knows what will happen tonight? But, I'll try to at least be more discerning."

Eclipse sighed heavily.

"Well, I suppose I can't ask for more than that... yet."