Art of a Sun's Love Volume 1

On October 10, 1996 at around 6:58 PM, Twilight Sparkle IV was born, the second child to Night Light and Twilight Velvet Sparkle III. It was a tradition in Twilight Velvet's side of the family that began by coincidence with her mother Twilight Raven Velvet, when she was born at twilight around early 1940 to her own mother, Twilight Raven.

Twilight Velvet's family was descended from Israeli immigrants to Rainbow Falls in 1901. Her husband's family, however, was descended from African slaves, and the 1850s, his great-great-great-grandfather escaped to Canterlot and married an African woman, living as a free person. With Shining Armor, his skin was closer in terms of his mother (with a slight tan to it) whilst with baby Twilight, her skin wasn't as dark as her father's, but it wasn't as light as her mother's either; it was tan in color.

The couple were very happy with their newborn daughter when they brought her home, as was Shining Armor; he was certain that he wouldn't like having a baby sibling, but when he first looked at Twilight, his viewpoint changed when he uttered the words, "Hello there, Twily," and he heard his baby sister giggle for the first time.

It wasn't a big celebration over Twilight's birth, but the Sparkle residence did have some guests like her grandparents from both African and Jewish sides of the family, and even Lullaby Strings and her new boyfriend Page Turner came to see her, as did little Flash and Page's niece Roseluck.

"Night Light and Twilight Velvet are made for each other," Lullaby told Page, "so what if they aren't of the same ethnicity? We live in Rainbow Falls, a crazy, beautiful, diverse town where we all celebrate our differences and embrace our heritage. Flame Barrier was from a Japanese family and I've ancestors who are Dutch and Portuguese."

"My mother's side of the family was Australian," said Page, "my father's side was also European."

"Really?" asked Lullaby, "What countries specifically?"

"They mostly come from Belgium with a hint of British."

"Interesting," said Lullaby, "you get to learn new things about people, don't you?"

"Yes, we do. Lullaby?" asked Page.

"Hmm?"

"We have been dating for quite a while now," said Page, "and it's clear that I have fallen in love with you."

"As have I fallen in love with you," said Lullaby.

Page smiled warmly. Then, pulling something out of his pocket, he knelt down on one knee.

"Lullaby Strings... will you marry me?" Page opened his hand to show a beautiful diamond ring. Lullaby looked at it in amazement.

"Yes, Page!" she cried in delight, "Of course I will marry you!" And she pulled him into a big hug. This was witnessed by many people who had heard Lullaby's cry of excitement. When she realized they were looking at them, Lullaby let go of her boyfriend and laughed nervously.

"Sorry," she said, "hormones."

DECEMBER 17, 1996

The wedding of Lullaby Strings and Page Turner was soon a reality. By this stage, Lullaby was now eight months into her pregnancy, so her wedding dress had to be modified to accommodate that.

"I look so fat in this," she said.

"Careful not to exhale yet," said a seamstress working on her dress, "that belly of yours could bust a few buttons. But look on the plus side; there's more of you for Page to love."

Lullaby blushed at the thought. "Well, until the baby comes, which won't be for at least three weeks."

"Aren't you excited to have another child?"

"Well, of course I am! Don't be silly."

"Well, I think this dress is ready," said the seamstress, "now get out there and go to your new husband-to-be."

"I will," said Lullaby, "thank you." This is it, Lullaby, she thought to herself, your second chance of having a husband; better make the most of it.

Soon enough, the wedding took place.

"Page Turner," said the minister, "do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you, Lullaby Strings, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"If anyone has any reasons why these two should not be together," said the minister, "speak out or forever hold your peace."

Nobody said a word.

"Then by the powers vested in me," said the minister, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Page Turner and Lullaby Strings then kissed, and everyone clapped and cheered for them.

"It's the start of a new life for the both of us, dear," said Page Turner.

"Yep, it really is," smiled Lullaby, "for both of us, Roseluck, Flash, and our unborn child - step-child, in your case - what could possibly happen?"

JANUARY 17, 1997 - 2:53 AM

Early one morning, the couple were fast asleep in their bed. Lullaby's stomach had gotten even bigger since the wedding and she found it even more challenging for her to bend over or sit properly. Suddenly, Lullaby awoke with a start as she felt something wet on her side of the bed.

"Oh no," she groaned, "Page! Wake up! Wake up! My water's just broke! The baby's coming!"

Page woke up when he heard his wife's cries.

"What, right now?!" he exclaimed.

"No, next Thursday at suppertime," said Lullaby sarcastically through the pain, "Of course right now!"

"Alright, alright, try and keep calm, dear," said Page, wincing as his wife was giving him the eye, "I'll call the doctor and drive you over to the hospital."

Page quickly picked up the phone and dialed 9-1-1.

"9-1-1, what service do you require?"

"The Emergency Medical Service! My wife has gone into labor!"

"Where are you and your wife currently?" asked the receptionist.

"We're at 66 Strawberry Avenue."

"Alright. We'll be there as soon as possible."

"Come on, dear," said Page, helping his wife onto her feet, "let's head to the front door."

"Ohh... okay," said Lullaby, still groaning in pain.

Unfortunately, as Page opened the front door, it seemed luck wasn't on their side.

"Oh, botheration! We're snowed in!"

"Well, isn't that just ducky?!" Lullaby snapped in a sarcastic tone, "I'm about to have my second baby very early in the morning and we're trapped in a snowstorm!"

Page went to Roseluck's room and turned on the light.

"Ughh... Uncle Page!" she whined, "It's not even 7:00!"

"Lullaby's having the baby and we're snowed in!" said her uncle, "You and I need to shovel out the driveway."

"I'm getting a new baby cousin?!" Roseluck wasn't sleepy anymore. Within a minute, she had her coat and boots on.

"So where are the shovels at?" she asked.

"In the supply closet," said Page.

Once Page was bundled up as well, they grabbed the shovels and headed outside. It took a while, but the two were successful in shoveling out the driveway. It was now around 4:30 in the morning, and Lullaby was still groaning as she felt her contractions.

"Where are they?!" she screamed. At least it wasn't so early in the morning when Flash came out! she thought with irritation. Lullaby had done what she could to stay calm, but being stuck in the snow and the lack of medical support simply added to her stress.

Eventually, by around 6:45, there was the sound medical sirens.

"Oh, thank goodness," sighed Page Turner. He'd been holding onto Lullaby's hand for over two hours and he felt pain as she put his hand in a tight grip. Then they heard the sound of knocking on the door.

"You can come in!" called Page, "The door's unlocked."

The door opened and in came Dr. Morrow and some medical assistants.

"Sorry we're late," said one of the assistants, "but this damned weather slowed us down, traffic making things worse."

"At least you're here now," groaned Lullaby, "now please get me to the hospital before I burst!"

"How long as she been enduring this?" asked Dr. Morrow to Page.

"Erm, about four hours," he replied.

"Four hours?" exclaimed Dr. Morrow, "Is she in active labor?"

"Yuh- yes!" gasped Lullaby, "That must mean I'm heading towards the second stage of labor, isn't it, doctor?"

"I'm afraid so, and it's too late to get her to hospital."

"Too late?!" exclaimed Page.

"We've got no choice but to perform the birth at home," said Dr. Morrow.

"You're joking!" protested Lullaby, "I can't give birth here!"

"There's no other option," said Dr. Morrow, "either that or both you and the baby could die!"

"Oh, please spare me the thought!" cried Page.

11:18 AM

Roseluck sat on a chair outside of the bedroom with Flash (now awake) in her lap. Page Turner was with them as he waited anxiously. He knew he should've been there for his wife as she gave birth, but he couldn't stand the sight of blood and almost felt like either fainting or throwing up... or both. He would've if Roseluck hadn't dragged him out of the bedroom.

"I don't think aunt Lullaby would be happy to clean up your own vomit," Roseluck had stated.

"I didn't need to be told that!" groaned Page, "I just can't stand anything that grosses me out."

"Will mama be fine?" Flash sounded sad as he said, almost looking distressed.

"She'll be fine, little guy," said Roseluck, stroking his hair, "your mother's a tough old lady; she'll survive."

"She's only twenty-five with her next birthday in two days," Page muttered.

Through the door, they could hear the sound of a baby crying.

"Congratulations, Lullaby," said Dr. Morrow, "you've given birth to a beautiful, healthy boy."

"Oh, thank goodness," Page sighed with relief.

"You hear that, little guy?" said Roseluck, "You've got a new baby brother."

"Hooway!" said Flash, clapping his hands in delight.

Page stood up and knocked on the door. "Doctor?" he called, "May we come in?"

"Yes," said Dr. Morrow, "we've gotten him cleaned up."

Lullaby's hair was ruffled and felt very exhausted, but nonetheless, she felt very happy as she held her second newborn son. He was wrapped in a yellow blanket and had a newborn cap on.

"Hello there, dear," she said as Page entered the room, "do you want to see your newborn stepson?"

"Oh, yes," smiled Page. Lullaby carefully turned the little bundle so Page could look at it. The little baby inside opened his eyes. They were green in color, very much like Flame Barrier's. He looked at Page in wonderment as if saying "are you my daddy?"

"Hello there, little one," said Page warmly, "I'm your daddy."

"I wanna see!" a little voice called out. Page looked down and saw Flash; he was tugging at his trouser leg.

"Alright, Flash," chuckled Page, "you can see your new brother."

Page carefully lowered so Flash could see the baby.

"Be careful, dear," warned Lullaby, "your brother has just been born, and I don't want you to scare him like you did with Sunset."

Flash looked as his newborn baby brother, and the baby stared back at him.

"Hi," said Flash, "I'm yow big bwothew." He held out his hand, stretching in hopes of the baby catching it. The little baby caught hold of it with his little hands, giggling.

"I think the baby likes you," smiled Lullaby.

"Are we gonna give him his name or keep calling him 'the baby'?" asked Roseluck.

While the couple thought about a new name for their baby, Dr. Morrow looked at a painting on the wall.

"Is that an original Vincent van Gogh?" he asked.

"That's a replica painting I bought at a flea market some years ago," said Page.

"Vincent van Gogh..." muttered Lullaby. Suddenly she had an idea. "Why don't we name him Vincent?"

"That sounds like a great name for him," said Page.

"Very well," said Dr, Morrow, "the baby shall be named Vincent."

"Vincent... van Colt Sentry," Lullaby added, looking at her two sons.

Later, Lullaby and the newborn Vincent had been taken to the hospital. They had to make sure the two were still in good health, and two days later, when Lullaby turned twenty-six, she and Vincent were released from hospital. When Page drove them home and opened the door, a crowd of people were there waiting for them.

"SURPRISE!"

"Hi, mommy! Hi, daddy! Hi, Ffincent!"

"Oh, hello, Flash," chuckled Lullaby as her older son ran up and hugged her leg, "what's everybody doing here?"

"I've invited all those people to see little Vincent," said Roseluck, "consider it almost like a birthday gift for you, aunt Lullaby.

"That was very considerate of you, Roseluck," said Page.

"Can we see the little one?" asked Celestia. She was with Sombra and Harmony; Artemus couldn't come as he was running some errands.

"Of course you can," said Lullaby, "but please be careful; when Flash came home, he cried when someone else was holding him."

"Don't worry about it, dear," said Page, "no two babies are the same; not even twins."

Lullaby carefully handed baby Vincent to Celestia.

"Hello, little one," said Celestia as she held the infant in her arms.

To Lullaby's surprise and relief, Vincent was silent. Well, mostly. He made a few grunting noises as he tried to extend his tiny arm, as if reaching out for Celestia. She then held out a finger and Vincent grabbed onto it, not letting go. Celestia gave the baby a warm smile.

"You're a strong one, aren't you?" she chuckled. Vincent looked at her in confusion, but then Celestia went and tickled his nose, making the baby smile and laugh. This made Lullaby and Celestia both smile along with their respective husbands.

"I think he likes you," Sombra told his wife.

"That's what I told Flash," said Lullaby.

Noble Shield then brought baby Sunset up in his arms.

"I think my daughter here would love to meet your newborn son, Lullaby," he said. Sunset reached out her little hands to Vincent. Vincent was curious at first as to why another baby, one that was slightly bigger than he was, was grabbing his hand. He made confused baby noises, but he stopped when he saw Sunset smiling in a cute way. Vincent couldn't help but smile and giggle as well. Everyone found this to be adorable.

"What going on?" asked Flash, "I can't see!"

"Little Vincent's made a new friend," said Lullaby.

"I wanna see," said Flash.

"You're such an attention hog, aren't you, Flash?" Lullaby chuckled as her new husband lifted him up.

"Too bad she not that nice to me," pouted Flash.

"Probably because you scared her when she was a few days old," her mother teased.

The two babies were then sat down on a large blanket on the floor. Sunset had a smaller blanket with her and put half of it on Vincent. He was surprised that she was sharing it with him, but then, he rubbed his eyes, yawned, and cuddled with her in a nap. Everybody went "aww" at such an adorable sight.

"Isn't that the most precious thing you've ever seen?" asked Twilight Velvet.

"What about me and Twily?" asked Shining Armor. The three-month-old infant was resting on his lap.

"Of course you're adorable too, sweetie," reassured their mother.

That evening, Lullaby was putting Vincent to bed in his new cradle. He was crying loudly and it broke her heart to see her baby raising such a fuss.

"Hush, little one," she said softly, "everything's alright."

She laid him down on the cradle and took out her guitar. She then sat down next to him and began to play before she started singing:

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"Good night, Vincent," Lullaby whispered, giving him a kiss, "see you in the morning - bright and early." Lullaby's singing was able to calm Vincent down and he drifted off to sleep. Lullaby quietly closed the door to Vincent's room and made her way to her's and Page's room.