Art of a Sun's Love Volume 1

It had been a few days since Icy Heart had given birth to her new daughter Sunset Shimmer. Today, Lullaby and Flash had come to their home to see the baby.

"Won't this be fun, Flash?" Lullaby asked her little one.

"Uh-huh," the toddler replied.

Lullaby rang the doorbell to see if they were home. Noble Shield answered the door.

"Oh hello, Lullaby," he said happily.

"We've come to see little Sunset," said Lullaby, "where is she?"

"She's in the living room," said Noble Shield, "I'll lead you inside."

Noble led Lullaby and Flash into the living room. The little one was sleeping quietly.

"Where's Icy Heart at?" asked Lullaby.

"She had a dentist appointment today," said Noble Shield, "thankfully, I didn't have to work today so I could look after Sunset until she gets back."

He then walked over to his sleeping infant daughter. Sunset yawned and stretched her cute little legs and arms, and then looked up at her daddy.

"Hello, my little sunshine," he said softly, "we have company who want to see you."

Noble then picked up Sunset, who squirmed and grunted as he did so.

"Come on now, Sunny," he said gently, "let's go say 'hi'."

"Aww, look at her," said Lullaby the moment she glanced at the three-day-old infant, "isn't she such a darling?"

"She sure is," said Noble Shield.

Lullaby placed a hand on Sunset's head and stroked it softly. Next to her, Flash was jumping up and down, trying to get a glance at the baby his mother was petting.

"Me wanna see," he protested. It wasn't really fair to be short. So, he tugged at his mother's dress, hoping to get her attention. Lullaby felt the tugging and looked down. Flash looked at his mummy with a pouty expression.

"Oh, alright, Flash," chuckled Lullaby, "you can say hi too."

She knelt down so Flash could see the baby. By now, Sunset was resting in Lullaby's arms and she was gazing in wonder at the strange woman holding her. Flash looked at the little baby. Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed at his hair.

"Ow!" cried Flash, "Wet go!"

Sunset had a tight grip on the older kid's hair, and when he pulled himself away and landed on his backside, that was when Sunset began to cry.

"Oh, it's okay, sweetie," siad Noble Shield, taking his daughter in his arms and gently rocking her.

"Flash!" his mother scolded, "You went and scared Sunset! She just wanted to say hello!"

"She pull my hair," pouted little Flash.

"She didn't mean to," said Lullaby, "she's just a baby."

At that moment, a car pulled into the driveway.

"That must be my wife," said Noble Shield, and he went to open the door. Icy Heart walked in.

"Thanks, I guess," she muttered, "and what are they doing here, might I ask?"

"We just came to see your daughter," said Lullaby, "it wasn't like we were gonna steal anything from you."

Later, Noble Shield made some tea for Icy Heart and Lullaby. The latter was talking about her troubles.

"If I hadn't been so stupid and told Flame Barrier I was pregnant with a second child when I found out," she said sadly, "he'd still be alive."

"Hmm," said Icy Heart, with a hint of indifference.

"Thanks for listening," said Lullaby.

"Yeah, whatever," muttered Icy Heart.

"Is that all you can say right now?" asked Lullaby, "I was expecting some more sympathy."

"Hey, look, sister," said Icy Heart, slightly irritated, "just because your husband was an idiot and wouldn't listen to reason doesn't mean you have to beat yourself up."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you're better off without him," said Icy Heart.

"Icy Heart," said Lullaby, "I'm sorry to disagree with you, but need I remind you that I'm pregnant with my second child? I'm a housewife and I can't handle two children by myself, especially when they're both under the age of three!"

"Why not send Flash to a foster couple?" suggested Icy Heart, "One's probably all you need."

"No! Out of the question!" snapped Lullaby, "I made myself a promise that I wouldn't let either of my children down and I'm going to stick by that promise!"

"Suit yourself," shrugged Icy Heart, "to each her own, I suppose, but don't say I didn't warn you."

AUGUST 1996

A couple of months later, as the evening sky shone, Lullaby Strings was making her way home.

"If I cut through the alleys," she said to herself, "I might get home quicker." Lullaby had left Flash at the Sparkle family's house and couldn't wait to get back. However, she was going to be in for an unexpected surprise...

"Going somewhere, good looking?" came a voice.

Lullaby gasped and turned around. "Who's there?"

Standing behind her was a rather shabby looking man. His clothes were dirty and one hand was in a paper bag, holding what looked like a gun. Lullaby was taken aback by his appearance.

"Well, well," the man snickered, "what have we got here?"

"D-don't you threaten me!" said Lullaby, trying to sound brave, "I've got pepper spray and..." She reached into her purse and realized she had forgotten to bring her can with her.

"Ooh, you're in trouble now, aren't ya, missy?" the man said in a devious tone, and he grabbed Lullaby by the wrist.

"Let me go!" she cried as he dragged her out into the alley.

"Relax, toots," said the man, "I'm not a monster. I'm just a bloke who's been kicked around by society and low on funds. Just hand over whatever cash you got and there won't be no trouble."

"You really think I'm that stupid, don't you?" Lullaby scowled.

The man shoved the bagged hand into her side. "Don't make me use this," he said.

"You let her go... or else!"

Both turned to find a girl at the age of seventeen in goth makeup and clothing facing the unknown man down. Realizing, he was face to face with a girl much younger than him, he laughed loudly, but the girl didn't flinch.

"Or else what, little lady?" he mocked.

Instead of answering, the girl charged at the man and tackled him to the ground, allowing Lullaby Strings to escape, the girl following her close behind.

"Son of a-!" the man spluttered, unable to accept that he'd been taken down by a minor. To avoid further embarrassment, he decided to leave them alone.

"Oh, thank you for saving my hide," gasped Lullaby, "as well as my baby. I never did catch your name, though."

"Just call me Nightmare Moon."

It was then that Lullaby realized who she was talking to.

"Luna? Is that really you?"

"I don't go by that name anymore," said the girl.

"Well... why not?"

"It's a long story," said Luna.

"It's got something to do with Celestia, doesn't it?"

"...how did you guess?"

"Sometimes siblings go through a phase like that when jealous of their older siblings," said Lullaby, "I don't have any siblings myself, but my uncle's younger than my mother, and he was envious of how many friends she got when they were younger."

"What did he do?" asked Luna.

"He told their school all of mum's embarrassing secrets," said Lullaby, before stifling a laugh, "she felt so embarrassed that she tried to leave town. My uncle was punished for it, of course. He was grounded for a month and was given detention."

"Ouch," said Luna.

"Yeah, well, he'd afterward been drafted to serve for Vietnam after he graduated high school and promised to write to mum every week," Lullaby continued, before she looked sad again, "but come 1972, we never heard from him again following Loc Ninh. It's a wonder as to whether he survived or not."

Lullaby then started to shed a tear. "And I wonder if he and my mother ever made up at all..."

Luna felt sorry for Lullaby. She knew that if she displayed any weakness in front of the cool kids, it'd tarnish her reputation as Nightmare Moon. However, she was alone with a soon-to-be second-time mother, so maybe, Luna thought, she could keep it to herself.

"I'm very sorry for your family's loss," she said.

"I'm glad someone's showing me sympathy," said Lullaby, reflecting on her conversation with Icy Heart a couple of months ago. "I do hope you and Celestia eventually patch things up," she added.

Luna quietly scoffed, but said, "So do I," in response.

With that, Lullaby made her way to the Sparkle residence. She looked back towards Luna.

"Did you want to walk with me so you don't feel so lonely?" she asked.

"I suppose it would be nice to have company," she said.

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Lullaby and Luna soon arrived at the Sparkle residence.

"Thanks for accompanying me," said Lullaby.

"It was the least I could do," said Luna.

Lullaby knocked on the door so someone would know she was there. It was Night Light who answered the door.

"Oh, hey there, Lullaby!"

"Hello, Night Light," said Lullaby, "I'm here to pick up Flash. Sorry I'm a little late; I ran into a bit of trouble in the alleys."

"But thankfully, I was there to help her," said Luna.

"Luna?" Night Light asked in surprise.

"She's called Nightmare Moon," Lullaby quickly corrected.

"Nightmare Moon?" asked Night Light in confusion.

"It's a long story."

"Well, thank you for protecting Lullaby anyway," said Night Light.

"Oh, it was nothing," said Luna.

"Is Flash still awake?" asked Lullaby.

"He's napping right now," said Night Light, "after your close call, maybe you and him could spend the night just in case more trouble comes for you."

"Oh, I'd love that," said Lullaby, and she and Luna followed Night Light into the house.

"Lovely decor," Luna mused to herself.

"Thank you," said Night Light. He led them into the living room. Twilight Velvet was on a rocking chair reading a book; by now, she was seven months into pregnancy and there was little Flash, fast asleep on the couch. Shining Armor was on the floor watching TV with the volume turned down so Flash wouldn't be disturbed. Flash suddenly woke up and saw his mother.

"There's mummy's little angel!" smiled Lullaby as she picked him up.

"Momma!" Flash squealed happily.

"You want to spend the night here, dear?" asked Lullaby, "Oh, yes you do, yes you do," she added, speaking in baby talk.

"Sweepover?" asked Flash.

"Yes, it's kind of like a sleepover," giggled Lullaby.

"Yay!" said Flash.

That night, Lullaby and Flash were asleep in one guest room while Luna was awake on a bed in another. She liked the night, and at times, would often stay awake just to look at the moon, but that wasn't the reason she was staying up. Tonight, she was doing some thinking.

"Am I weak for helping others and showing comfort?" she asked herself.

"You feel like it right now, you big softy!" a voice sneered.

"Who's there?" asked Luna.

"It's your devil conscience, you idiot."

At that moment, the devil conscience appeared.

"If you're there," said Luna, "then where's my angel conscience?"

"Right here," said a second voice. The angel conscience showed up next to the devil one.

"I couldn't help but sense there was something on your mind, Luna," said the angel conscience.

Luna explained about the incident with Lullaby and the robber.

"You could have just ignored them and walked along," said the devil conscience.

"But he was attacking her!" protested Luna, "Not to mention that she's pregnant!"

"You did the right thing to stop him from hurting that woman," said the angel conscience.

"Oh, please," the devil conscience scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Would you have rather allowed an innocent woman to be assaulted or worse?" asked the angel conscience, glaring at the devil conscience. That shut her rival up right here and then.

The angel conscience looked back at Luna.

"I'm proud that you're deciding to do better things instead of trying to act cool by hurting others," she said.

Luna was rather surprised. "Um, thank you," she said at last.

"Perhaps one day you'll be able to make peace with Celestia before it's too late."

"She's still alive?" Luna asked hopefully.

"Well, try contacting her to see if she is," suggested the angel conscience.

Luna took out her cell phone and started to dial Celestia's number. But after she pressed the third number, she became more hesitant and even when she pressed the final number, Luna wasn't so sure she wanted to speak with her sister.

What if she won't forgive me for how I acted? she thought to herself.

Luna's phone made a ringing noise to indicate that Celestia had not yet received her call, but after a few moments, she heard a voice she hadn't heard in months, but didn't blink.

"Hello?"

Luna made no response.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Celestia was in bed when she received the call. She was surprised when she recognized Luna's phone number and had eagerly awaited for her sister to respond... but she got nothing. Disappointed, Celestia hung up and sighed.

"Must have been a prank," she murmured to herself.

Back in her room, Luna flopped on her bed in disappointment.

"Why didn't I say anything?" she asked herself, "I'm so stupid."

She stared up at the ceiling and wondered if she could even come face to face with her sister again, if at all.