Art of a Sun's Love Volume 1

A couple of months had passed since Vincent and Flash's first day of school. In that time, Vincent got to know Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Song Cue better, and he began to feel more comfortable with their presence. Fluttershy even introduced him to Song Cue a couple of weeks after the first day! And so far, the three bullies had yet to cause him more grief since the first day.

"But how do you know those guys?" asked Vincent to Rainbow Dash.

"We met them during summer camp," explained Rainbow Dash, "they picked on Fluttershy, and sometimes Song Cue as well."

"They gave us nicknames just to mock us," added Fluttershy, "they called me Klutzershy among other names, called Song Cue names like Gone Cut, and they even called Dashie, of all insults, Rainbow Crash."

"That's just wrong!" exclaimed Sunset.

"I agree," said Vincent, "I just hope we don't run into them again."

"Easier said than done, guys," Song Cue said quietly.

NOVEMBER 8, 2002

It was recess. Vincent was playing tag with Flash, Sunset, Soarin and Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy was not playing with them as she was talking to one of her animal friends, a bird, nor was Song Cue since she was singing to one of her favorite Sonic the Hedgehog songs, "Follow Me", on her iPod.

As Flash was now it, the others were running from him. But Vincent wasn't watching where he was going. Then there was trouble!

"Oof!"

"Hey, watch it!"

Vincent had bumped right into Dumb-Bell.

"Uh-oh..."

"You again?! Grrr!"

"Yikes!"

Vincent raced away from the bullies as fast as he could.

"Vincent!" cried Sunset, "Watch out!"

Unfortunately, Vincent tripped and fell to the ground. He looked up fearfully as Dumb-Bell, Hoops and Score looked down on him, chuckling maliciously.

"Oh dear, shorty," snickered Hoops, "you didn't look where you were going."

"C-come on, guys," whimpered Vincent as he tried to back away, "i-i-it was an-an accident! It c-could have happened to a-anybody...!"

Suddenly, Hoops punched him in the stomach. Vincent groaned as he clutched where he'd been hit, but then he received a punch to the face from Score. Vincent moaned painfully as tears brimmed in his eyes.

Flash and Sunset both stared at the scene in shock; Sunset couldn't believe that the trio would be so heartless to torment an innocent boy like Vincent when he'd done nothing to deserve it. Flash, however, was angry. Just as Dumb-Bell was about to attack Vincent as well, Flash knocked the former to the ground.

"You leave my brother alone, you big bully!" yelled Flash as he grabbed Dumbbell by the hair and began punching him with his free hand.

Sunset ran over to Vincent, knowing that Hoops and Score were distracted by Flash beating on their ally.

"Vincent!" she cried, "Are you okay?"

Vincent looked at her. Sunset could see that there was a nasty bruise on his left cheek and his tears were now streaming down his face.

"I didn't mean to bump into them," sobbed Vincent. It broke Sunset's heart to see her friend in such a state, so she went and gave him a hug whilst he cried on her shoulder.

After Flash was done beating up Dumb-Bell, he went after Hoops and Score.

"H-hey man, t-take it easy!" said Score nervously.

"Y-yeah! We was just messin' with him!" added Hoops.

"Nobody beats up my little brother and gets away with it!" snapped Flash. He raised his fist, but before he could lay a finger on either of them...

"What is going on here?"

Flash stopped what he was about to do and noticed that Miss Hoover had come outside when she heard the commotion. Needless to say, she did not look happy.

"Oh! Miss Hoover!" cried Sunset, "Vincent's hurt!" She walked him over to their teacher, and she was shocked when she cast a look at Vincent's face. Clearly, there was more than what met the eye.

"All six of you," she said sternly, "inside. Right now."

The six students followed Miss Hoover into the school. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Song Cue, and Fluttershy had seen everything. The bird Fluttershy was talking with sat on her shoulder, and Song Cue had put her iPod away.

"Did you see Flash out there?" exclaimed Soarin, "I'd never known him to get mad like that."

"Can you blame him?" asked Rainbow Dash, "I hope those bullies get kicked outta school for attacking Vincent."

"I did say they should," muttered Song Cue, "and this all but proves my point."

"Oh, I hope nothing bad happens from this," said Fluttershy. The bird twittered nervously in reply.

"Now then," said Miss Hoover once everyone was inside, "I want to know everyone's side of the story."

"Those bullies beat up Vincent just because he bumped into them by accident," said Sunset pointing to the three bullies.

"I attacked at Dumb-Bell just before he could hurt him," said Flash, "I didn't want my brother to get hurt."

Miss Hoover looked sternly at Dumb-Bell.

"Well? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"So we may have attacked him," said Dumb-Bell, "but it was his own fault. He ran into us on purpose."

"Th-that's n-not t-true!" Vincent managed to say through his tears, "I was j-just playing t-tag with my f-friends and just d-didn't look w-where I was g-going!"

Sunset took Vincent's hand to calm him down whilst Miss Hoover turned to the three bullies.

"You hear that?" she said firmly, "He didn't look where he was going. It was an honest mistake anyone could have made. And we've told you three before that your bullying will not be tolerated yet you choose to ignore that warning yet again!"

Hoops, Dumb-Bell and Score looked at one another nervously.

"I'm sending you three to the principal's office where he'll decide on your punishment," continued Miss Hoover, "I'm not trying to be the bad guy here, but it is my job as teacher to make sure all students are safe."

Pouting, the three bullies walked away to the principal's office. Miss Hoover then turned to Flash.

"Flash, as I much as I appreciate you for caring your brother," she said, "attacking those for hurting Vincent was simply inexcusable."

"I'm sorry, Miss Hoover," said Flash.

Miss Hoover then looked at Vincent's bruises.

"Would you feel better going home early, Vincent?" she asked kindly.

Vincent sniffled, but he nodded to say yes.

"Flash, I'm sending you home early as well for your behavior," said Miss Hoover, "I trust that when you return, there won't be a repeat of today's incident?"

"Yes, Miss Hoover," sighed Flash.

"I'll inform your parents about this," said Miss Hoover.

"But what about me?" asked Sunset, "I'm not in trouble, am I?"

"Of course you're not," said Miss Hoover, "you did nothing wrong. From what I saw, you gave Vincent comfort after he got hurt."

"Anything to help a friend," said Sunset.

"Your parents must be proud of you," said Miss Hoover.

Speaking of parents, when Lullaby Strings heard about what had happened, she was not very happy to say the least.

"I am very disappointed in you, Flash," she scolded, "it was nice of you to defend Vincent from those bullies, but you should know better than to repay evil for evil."

"I know, mom. I'm sorry, mom," said Flash.

Lullaby was tending to Vincent's bruise.

"Oh, my poor baby," she said sympathetically.

"Moooom," whined Vincent, "I'm not the baby of the family anymore; Fictionary is!"

"I know, sweetie," said Lullaby, "but you'll always be my little boy."

Flash rolled his eyes. "I'm your little boy too..."

Lullaby petted Flash's head, knowing he was feeling jealous.

"Even though I'm disappointed with you for your behavior today," she assured him, "I still love you, Flash, with all of my heart; you, Vincent, and little Fictionary. I'd never pick one over the other."

"Thanks, mom," said Flash, feeling a bit better.

NOVEMBER 12, 2002

That Tuesday (since Monday was Veteran's Day so school was closed on then), Vincent and Flash returned to school. Vincent still had a bruise on his cheek, but it wasn't as bad as it had been a few days before.

"I don't really want to go back," said Vincent. He didn't want to encounter the bullies again.

"You have nothing to worry about, dear," said Lullaby, "from what Miss Hoover told me, they've been suspended for a week."

"Oh, good," sighed Vincent in relief.

Sunset Shimmer was at the doors with her father.

"Oh, hi there, Vincent! Flash," she called out, running up to them hugging Vincent.

"H-hi," blushed Vincent.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"A little bit."

"Sunset told me about your little bully incident," said Noble Shield, "that's one thing I can't stand in life; people bullying others."

With that, the kids went inside.

Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Song Cue, and Soarin were glad that Vincent was okay despite the bruise on his cheek, and even more relieved that when the bullies' suspension was lifted, they didn't bother harassing them.

"Probably cause they're afraid Flash will attack them again," smirked Rainbow Dash.

"Most likely," said Song Cue.

"Serves them right," agreed Fluttershy.

"Agreed," said Soarin.

JANUARY 16, 2003

The next two months of school went on like normal; the school holidays for Thanksgiving and Christmas (along with the New Year) came and went, but then one day in January, just before Vincent's sixth birthday, he didn't feel well. Flash noticed this.

"Are you alright, Vincent?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Vincent replied.

"Are you sure?" asked Flash, "You look a bit pale."

"Rubbish," said Vincent, "I've never been better."

Flash was still not convinced by his brother's words, but chose not to argue any further as it would go nowhere.

However, at school, Vincent's condition didn't improve; he felt dizzy and had a hard time keeping his eyes open. Even Miss Hoover noticed this.

"Are you alright, Vincent?" she asked in concern.

"I'm okay, Miss Hoover," he replied. Miss Hoover didn't seem convinced so she put her hand to Vincent's forehead.

"You're burning up!" she cried.

"N-no, I'm not," objected Vincent, "I'm f-fine..." Suddenly, before anyone could say anything else, Vincent collapsed to the floor.

"Vincent!" his friends cried.

When Vincent came to once again, he found himself in the nurse's office.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You're in the nurse's office, dear," said the school nurse, "you fainted and Miss Hoover brought you here."

She put a thermometer in Vincent's mouth.

"102 degrees," she remarked once she got the result.

"Is that bad?" asked Vincent.

"I'm afraid so," commented the nurse, "normal temperature for humans is 98.6. You should go home and be tended to."

So the school nurse called Lullaby and asked her to pick Vincent up. She was worried when she saw the state of her youngest son.

"Vincent!" she cried, hugging him, "My poor baby!"

"Hi, mommy," said Vincent quietly, "I don't feel well."

"I can see that, dear," said Lullaby, "but you should've told me before we left for school."

"I didn't want to miss seeing my friends," said Vincent, lowering his head in shame, "I'm sorry."

"I know you didn't want to miss seeing your friends," said Lullaby, "but if you go to school when you're ill and don't take care, you could risk spreading it to others and they might get sick too."

"I didn't think about that," said Vincent sheepishly.

When Vincent was taken home, Lullaby put him to bed and gave him a bowl of soup. Fictionary felt sorry for Vincent and wanted to cheer him up.

"I sowwy, big bwothow," she said.

"It's not your fault," sighed Vincent, "it just came to me, and just before my next birthday too!"

"It's best you stay away from him until he's better, sweetie," said Lullaby, picking up her daughter, "I don't want you to get sick too."

Fictionary whined with protest, even though her mother was right. Poor Vincent felt terrible.

"I do hope I feel better in the morning," he said to himself, "I'd hate to have to stay in bed all day on my birthday."

JANUARY 17, 2003

Vincent was fast asleep when Lullaby opened his bedroom door.

"Rise and shine, little one," she said.

Vincent groaned as he opened his eyes, and then broke out into a coughing fit.

"Morning," he groaned.

"Oh dear," sighed Lullaby, "you've still got a cold even on your birthday today."

"It's not fair," grumbled Vincent, "why did this have to happen?"

"Lots of things happen without rhyme or reason," said Lullaby, "you're not to blame. I'll inform the school that you can't attend today due to your illness."

Just then, Flash came into the room.

"Happy birthday, little brother!" he said cheerfully.

"Thanks, Flash," coughed Vincent. Flash winced at hearing his brother in pain.

"I hope you'll feel better before the day is out," he said.

"Me too," said Vincent unhappily.

"Mom, would it be okay if we invited our friends to see him?" asked Flash.

"That's a very nice idea, Flash," said Lullaby, "it'd be nice to know more about your friends."

"Alright," said Flash, "see you later."

With that, Flash headed to the car to be taken to school.

Later in the afternoon, Vincent was still in bed, tired and unhappy with nothing to do. He sniffled before letting out a big sneeze.

"Bless you," said Lullaby Strings as she came in, "how are you, sweetie?"

"I still feel a bit crummy," groaned Vincent.

"You poor dear," said Lullaby, placing an ice pack on his head, "oh, and you've got some visitors."

"I do?" asked Vincent.

Just then, the door opened and in came Flash followed by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Song Cue, Soarin, and Sunset Shimmer.

"Hey, buddy," said Soarin, "we're sorry you couldn't be in school to celebrate your birthday, but these things happen, I guess."

"Yeah, but with our parents' help," added Rainbow Dash, "we did pick out gifts for you based on your interests. Why don't you go first, Flash, since your his brother?"

"Oh, alright," said Flash, "this is from me and our dad, Vincent."

Flash handed Vincent his first present. Vincent unwrapped it to reveal a Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway "Ivo Hugh with Zoo Cars" value pack.

"Wow!" he cried happily, "Thanks Flash!"

Fluttershy gave Vincent a plush of Kermit the Frog, Rainbow Dash gave him Aladdin on DVD, Soarin gave him a Beatles poster, and Song Cue gave him 1962-1966 (a.k.a. The Red Album) on CD to match.

"What about you, Sunset?" asked Rainbow Dash, pointing to the yellow birthday bag in the redhead's hand, "What have you got for him?"

"Here you are, Vincent," said Sunset, walking up to the bedridden birthday boy and handing him the bag. Vincent accepted the bag, stuck his hand in it, and pulled out a black stuffed kitty cat.

"Oh! You got him a kitty cat!" exclaimed Fluttershy, "How cute!"

"You can't have too many soft toys," smiled Song Cue, "that's adorable!"

"Thanks, Sunset," smiled Vincent, "does it have a name?"

"It's your stuffed cat, so you name it," Sunset giggled.

"It looks a lot like that cat from Kiki's Delivery Service," said Lullaby, "remember the cat's name, Vincent?"

"Jiji!" exclaimed Vincent, "That should be his name."

"Cute," smiled Sunset, "oh! And there's something else in the bag!" She took the bag, turned it upside down and out came a handdrawn birthday card. On it was a marker drawing of a blue-haired boy and a red-and-yellow-haired girl in a field, playing and laughing together with the words "Best Friends 5ever" on top.

"Is that both you and Vincent?" asked Flash.

"Sure is," said Sunset, "and the 'five-ever' bit? That's greater than forever!"

"Wow," said Vincent, and he opened the card. It read:

Happy birthday, Vincent. Get well soon! -With love, Sunset.

Vincent giggled and blushed at the "with love" part.

"Aw, that's really sweet," said Soarin. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue; even back then, she wasn't into what she called "lovey-dovey mush".

"I couldn't spell 'sinc', erm, 'serio-'"

"'Sincerely'," corrected Lullaby.

"Eh, don't worry about it," said Song Cue, "my spelling isn't that good either."

"That's still really sweet of you, Sunset," said Lullaby.

"He's like a brother to me," said Sunset, "and Jiji? He's a sign of our friendship, Vincent. Promise me you'll never let him go?"

"I promise," said Vincent.

Flash and their five friends spent a bit more time with Vincent despite his illness and even got to meet little Fictionary. ("She reminds us of Heartsong," Fluttershy and Song Cue were reported to have said.) All too soon, they had to head home with their parents (barring Soarin, whose parents were busy a lot, so he was often with Rainbow and her family), but wished Vincent well.

"Goodnight, Vincent dear," said Lullaby, kissing her youngest son on the forehead, "sleep well, and you may get better by morning."

"I hope so too, mom," said Vincent, bringing Jiji close to him, "goodnight."

Lullaby then turned off the lights, closed the bedroom door, and Vincent fell into a deep sleep. Little did he or anyone realize that he'd eventually get a crush on one of his childhood friends, but that's a story for another time.

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