Art of a Sun's Love Volume 1

Many people knew that Celestia liked children, but she had a very soft spot for babies.

In the past three years, apart from Flash, Sunset, Twilight, and Vincent being born, there had been a fair number of couples that had become parents. Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles had their first daughter Rarity Belle on November 5, 1994.

Granny Smith's branch of the Apple family gained a second child, a girl called Applejack, on March 13, 1996. In the same year not long after on April 15, Firefly and Rainbow Blitz had their second daughter Rainbow Dash. On September 8, Sweet Song and Flutter Butter had twins - Song Cue and Orange Sherbet - the younger siblings of a boy named Rocky Ripple.

On Flutter Butter's side of the family, his sister Posey and her husband Cloud Wisp recently had their daughter Fluttershy on March 24, 1997. Eight days earlier, a British couple had their seventh child, a boy named Comet Tail.

We'll catch up with all of them soon enough.

One day in mid-April, Celestia and Sombra were in the park enjoying the weather.

"Sombra?" said Celestia.

"Yes, my dear?" he replied.

"Wouldn't it be nice if we had a baby of our own?" asked Celestia. Sombra was rather surprised at this question.

"A... a baby?" he asked.

"Look at how many have been born in the past few years," said Celestia, "very soon, we might end up being one of the few couples without children. Wouldn't you want to have your own child?"

"W-well, it would be rather nice," Sombra admitted, "wasn't really something I considered myself, truthfully."

"Why not?" asked Celestia.

Sombra stayed silent.

"This doesn't have anything to do with your family, does it?"

"Yes," said Sombra quietly.

Not too many people knew about this, but Sombra came from a line of Russian crime bosses for the mafia, with some Italian from his mother Radiant Hope's side. His father, Sombra III, was one of the Top 10 Most Wanted Criminals in parts of Europe and North America.

As a preteen, the Sombra that Celestia would eventually marry, Sombra IV, hated his father's way of thinking and wanted nothing to do with hurting innocent people. In high school, he was feared by a number of students because of his family's reputation, but there was one person who looked beyond that - yes, it was Celestia Faust herself.

It took a lot of convincing, but soon enough, Sombra had been accepted for who he truly was, and when he and Celestia began dating, many have said they were like a modern-day Beauty and the Beast. Whilst Radiant Hope had taken the relationship kindly, with Sombra III... well, let's just say that by this point, Sombra had denounced him as his father.

"If we had a child," said Sombra, "I'm worried they would try to corrupt him or her."

Celestia put a comforting hand on her husband's shoulder.

"Everything will be okay, darling," she said. Sombra looked at his wife; her eyes made him feel like she was right.

"Alright," he said, "if you say so."

Celestia smiled and kissed Sombra on the cheek.

One morning later in the month, the couple woke up in bed with their hair messed up. Sombra was the first to awaken and he stroked his wife's face as she was still asleep.

"Morning, sunshine," he said softly.

"Mmm..." Celestia stirred a bit before opening a sleepy eye. "Morning, dear," she mumbled before letting out a big yawn.

"Have fun last night?" asked her husband.

"Oh, yes, I did," she replied, kissing him on the lips.

"How about I make us breakfast?" asked Sombra.

"I'd love that, dear."

The breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and French toast with butter and syrup. Celestia really enjoyed the feast.

"Delicious," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Thank you," said Sombra, "I got my cooking skills from my mother."

"Your mother is such a kind and wonderful person," said Celestia, "how did she and your father meet?"

"They met up as children," explained Sombra, "back then, he was a much nicer person. But sadly, grandfather didn't think Radiant Hope was a good enough influence for him. After they married, but before I was born, something changed in father... Apparently, he became colder to anybody but Hope."

"Why is that?" asked Celestia.

"Maybe he thought one of them would try to take her by force."

"One of what?"

"Members of a rivaling Mafia."

"That mustn't have sounded good," Celestia remarked.

"It sure wasn't," said Sombra, "they eventually married though."

"And then they had you," said Celestia.

"Very much," said Sombra, "but I hated what my father had done and wanted nothing to do with the family business."

"If my family was the same way," said Celestia, "I wouldn't want anything to do with them either."

"You're lucky to have a loving, caring family, Celestia," said Sombra.

"Save my sister, Luna," said Celestia, "I'd give anything for her and I to get along again."

"I'm sure you two will be together again soon," said Sombra, "you'll see."

MAY 1997

The next few weeks were rather uneventful. But one morning, Celestia felt rather ill.

"What did I eat last night?" she groaned.

"Are you alright, dear?" asked Sombra.

"I don-don't think so," said Celestia. Suddenly, she darted for the bathroom. Sombra winced as he heard the sounds of his wife throwing up.

"Should I call a doctor?" he asked.

"I think that would be best," said Celestia, "and could you get me some crackers and jello once I'm done?"

"...erm... okay?"

Eventually, Celestia was taken to a doctor for an examination. She sat in the office with Sombra, worried that something would be wrong.

"I'm sure everything will be fine," comforted Sombra.

"I'm glad for your support, but I don't want the news of a life-threatening disease..."

Sombra put a hand on Celestia's shoulder to calm her down. "You'll be alright, dear. I hope..."

Just then, the receptionist spoke up. "Mr. and Mrs. McCracken?"

"Yes?" asked Celestia.

"The doctor will see you now."

The couple walked through the door to the doctor's office.

"Afternoon, you two," he greeted.

"Hello, doctor," said Sombra.

"I hear someone's not been feeling well," said the doctor, "when did this first start?"

"This morning," explained Celestia.

"I see," said the doctor, "mind if I run a test or two?"

"Alright," said Celestia.

Eventually, when the tests were finished, Celestia and Sombra were waiting for the results; what were they? Would it actually bring good news? At last, the doctor came in.

"Well, doctor?" asked Celestia, "What's the verdict?"

The doctor had a big smile on his face.

"Congratulations," he said happily, "you're going to be parents."

Celestia and Sombra couldn't believe what they had heard.

"Wh-what?"

"You're pregnant," explained the doctor.

"Did you hear that, darling?" asked Celestia in an elated manner, "I'm going to have a baby!"

Sombra could hardly believe what he had heard. He was going to be a father.

"Oh, just wait until mother and father hear the news!" Celestia continued.

Word soon spread about the good news. Many of their friends came to congratulate them, including Sombra's mother Radiant Hope.

"Oh, bellissimo," she said, "I can't wait to see my little nipote."

"That's 'grandchild' in Italian," Sombra explained to Celestia.

"Thank you," said Celestia to Radiant Hope.

That evening, Sombra was at the local diner getting something to eat. It was very quiet inside as Sombra appeared to be one of the only few customers in. But the silence didn't last long...

"Hello, son."

Sombra looked up; he'd recognize that Russian accent anywhere.

"Hello... father," he frowned.

Out of the shadows walked a familiar figure to Sombra. A few differences were that his hair was purely jet black (Sombra had cobalt blue streaks in his hair), his clothes were a little more rugged, and his skin was paler.

"What are you doing here?" asked Sombra.

"Can't a man have the privilege to see his own son?" asked his father.

"Not if that father happens to be in charge of one of the biggest mafias in town," retorted Sombra.

"Oh, now that really breaks a heart," said Sombra III, acting hurt, "whatever happened to parental love?"

"Probably the same fate as Love Thy Neighbor," retorted his son, "Now why are you really here?"

"As I said, I came to see my son," said Sombra III, "and to bring you some news of my own. You see, I am planning to retire soon. You and I both know one cannot live forever. And to be honest, I don't want to try."

"Just get to the point," Sombra muttered bluntly.

"I want you to take over my company."

Sombra just stared in shock; he was about to become a father alongside Celestia and now his father turned up just to appoint him the task of being the new leader of the mafia?!

"I won't do it!" he snapped.

"You know it's your destiny!" argued his father.

"I'm not a heartless bully like you, father," said Sombra firmly, "I want nothing to do with you or the rest of the family!"

"I am your father!" snapped Sombra III, "I want what's best for you!"

"If by best you mean worst, then I want no part in this! This is just... evil!"

"It's that woman, isn't it?" asked Sombra III, "She's made you soft and weak."

"No! That's not true!" argued Sombra, "Love does not make one weak! Isn't that why you married mom?"

"I needed an heir!" protested Sombra III, "Your mother was just so beautiful and caring that eventually she had me wrapped around her finger."

Sombra just stared at his father in shock and disgust.

"I can't believe you!" he snapped, "Marrying my mother just to have someone take over for you when you retire?!"

"You are a Chernobog!" said Sombra III, "Feelings should not matter to you except your own."

"I am no longer a Chernobog!" said Sombra, "I am a McCracken, father!"

Sombra's surname at birth was Chernobog, but as he hated his father's way of thinking, and with his desire to avoid any relation with him, he later had his surname legally changed to McCracken prior to his marriage to Celestia.

"Changing your name doesn't change anything," objected Sombra III, "Chernobog is in your blood. It's your destiny! Embrace it!"

"I defy this destiny!" snapped Sombra, and he stormed off. His father just stayed where he was, his expression not changed.

"I suppose I'll have to teach you a lesson," he said quietly.

The next morning, Sombra and Celestia were eating breakfast. He was still feeling tense following his encounter with his father.

"I wouldn't worry about your father too much," said Celestia.

Suddenly, the television show they were watching was replaced with the news. On screen was a gentleman in his mid-thirties with dark gamboge hair, light cobalt blue eyes, and he wore a grayish amber suit with a teal green necktie. This was Timothy "Tim" Turner, leading news anchor for the Rainbow 7 weekday news.

"We interrupt this program to tell you of an attack down at 210 Prism Avenue," Tim Turner said.

"An attack?" asked Sombra.

"Oh dear," said Celestia, worried.

"The victims were a young couple and their three children," Tim Turner went on, "Rainbow Falls' finest in the police force stated that their house was assaulted with bullets before being lit on fire. Thankfully, no one had perished and the family has been taken to a hospital."

Celestia and Sombra were most relieved.

"This has my father written all over it," said Sombra quietly.

"How can you tell?" asked Celestia, confused as to why her husband was thinking that.

Sombra told Celestia what his father had said.

"That's awful!" she exclaimed.

"And I have a feeling that he won't stop until I do as he says," said Sombra.

Later that evening, the two were watching television again. Suddenly, the news came up of a second attack.

"Not again," said Celestia.

However, this attack was worse than the one earlier that morning.

"This time," said Tim Tuner, "the family was left in critical condition."

"Father's gone too far this time," said Sombra, "getting to me by attacking innocent families!" In his mind, he was wondering if he should leave town or not.

That night, Sombra took a stroll. A lot was on his mind; if he left town, there was a chance that there'd be no more terrorist attacks from his father, and families would be safe. But that would mean having to leave Celestia and their unborn child behind. If he stayed, whilst he would be with Celestia, more families could get hurt - or worse, killed - and some of them had children that weren't even a year old!

"This madness has to stop," he said to himself. As Sombra rounded a corner, he could see a figure under a street lamp.

"You're behind all of this, aren't you?" he told the figure.

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," said the figure, stepping into the light, revealing it to be Sombra III. Sombra glared at his father.

"Stop attacking innocent people," he demanded acidly.

"Why should I?" asked Sombra III, "They mean nothing."

"You... you... vile creature!" Sombra said furiously. Sombra was so angry, he grabbed his father by the collar and prepared to strike him with his fist. But before he could land a blow, he suddenly balked.

"Would you really attack your own flesh and blood?" asked Sombra III, "We're not so different, you and I."

The words soaked into Sombra's mind. Slowly, he released his father and lowered his fist.

"The only way we're alike is our DNA," he said firmly, "unlike you, I am not a cruel, murderous monster. I truly love Celestia and look forward to being a father." With that, Sombra turned to go.

"Where are you going?" asked his father.

"Somewhere you'll never find me..."

The next morning, Celestia yawned as she awoke. She was expecting her husband to be beside her, but to her surprise, she was alone in bed.

"Sombra?" she asked in confusion, "Where could he have gone?"

Oh, maybe he went downstairs early to make breakfast, she thought hopefully. But after Celestia showered, got dressed and went down stairs, there was no Sombra. There was no breakfast either. However, she did notice an envelope on the table reading "Celestia".

"What's this?" she asked as she picked it up and then opened it.

"My sweet Celestia, by the time you read this letter, you will notice that I have gone. I had to leave in order to avoid my father. I do not know where I will be going, and I don't know when I'll be back. But I never want you to blame yourself for this. And I will always love you.

Love, Sombra."

Well, Celestia felt her heart rip in half after reading that letter. She sat down on a chair and broke down sobbing.

"No! No!" she sobbed, "First I lose Luna, and now I lose Sombra. Why is this always happening to me?! It's not fair...!"

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