Art of a Sun's Love Volume 1

AUGUST 2, 2038

"I can't believe you'd actually say something like that after those meanies laughed at aunt Twilight," Dawn told her mother.

By now, Flash had joined the group and was now sitting next to Twilight, arm around her. Sunset rolled her eyes with dismay at the unpleasant memory, but she was quick to defend herself.

"I was much younger back then," she said, "I'd recently been through hell because of Icy Heart and I suppose seeing someone else getting bullied made me lose it completely."

"Well, maybe if I'd paid more attention to where I was walking," said Flash, "perhaps it wouldn't have happened, along with what Sunset had to endure in the future."

"Uncle Vincent," said Violet, "was daddy a dork back then?"

"Hey!" snapped Flash, but before he could continue, Vincent spoke up.

"Yes, he was," the younger brother smirked, "that, and he was rather clumsy and very awkward around girls as well."

"I was not!"

"Right. Then explain how you came home after the 2009 Fall Formal with cake all over your suit."

"Well, at least I had a better time than Rarity did with that Blueblood snob! Why he's even related to Celestia, I'll never know..."

Venus quickly interrupted the argument with a question for Song Cue.

"Hey, mom, there's something I don't get; why weren't you and dad at the same middle school?"

Song Cue sighed unhappily. Like Vincent, Comet could tell whenever his wife felt uncomfortable.

"Let's just say it was your uncle Rocky Ripple's fault," said Song Cue.

"Was he as bad to you as Icy Heart was to my mom?" asked Dawn.

"Not exactly," said Song Cue, "he was just very mean to everybody else. This gave our family a bad name and out of fear people would discriminate me and Orange Sherbet for his behavior, we had to go to a different school along with Fluttershy."

JULY 2008

It was around summer. Song Cue and Orange Sherbet had just finished fifth grade; she and Fluttershy were looking forward to seeing her friends at Canterlot Middle School, and he was anxious to meet them as well. Orange had light green hair and lime eyes.

"I can't wait until school starts," said Orange Sherbet.

"Nor can I, brother," said Song Cue, "as we're getting older, maybe one of us will find love."

"L-love?" asked Orange, sounding a little uneasy.

"Why not?" asked Song Cue, "Lots of people find love at a young age."

"I dunno, sis," said Orange, "it's kind of... well, weird."

"What do you mean?" asked Song Cue.

"For one," said Orange Sherbet, "sometimes people in love talk all mushy to each other."

"Oh, that isn't true," said Song Cue, "you're just stereotyping."

"For another," Orange went on, "sometimes I hear of people being in love with someone who loves bullying them. Why would they allow themselves to be hurt?"

"You're exaggerating," said Song Cue, "from what I've seen, it's genuine love."

"That's what they all say," muttered Orange Sherbet.

"Song Cue? Orange Sherbet?" a female voice called out to them, "Can you two come to the living room?"

"Coming, mom," called Song Cue, "I wonder what's the matter?"

Song Cue and Orange were soon in the living room with their parents. The mother, Sweet Song, had turquoise hair and light purple eyes whilst the father, Flutter Butter, had bluish-purple hair and, compared to his wife, his eyes were a darker shade of purple.

"You wanted us?" asked Orange nervously, "What did we do wrong?"

"Nothing," said Flutter Butter.

"Then why did you call us down?" asked Song Cue.

"It's more of what your brother Rocky Ripple has done," sighed their father.

"What's that got to do with him?" asked Orange, not fully understanding.

"You know how troublesome he is?" asked Sweet Song.

"All too well," groaned Song Cue.

"I remember when he scolded you when you were singing last week," Orange Sherbet muttered, "and he stole all the snacks from the cupboard before our parents or you and I could get any."

"Don't remind me."

"Yes, well, the point is," said Flutter Butter, "and I know this will disappoint you both - and eventually Heartsong - but it's for your own good, you will not be attending Canterlot Middle next month."

"What?!" the twins cried.

"But... our friends," Song Cue was close to tears, "Rainbow, Vincent, Flash, Soarin, Flutters..."

"We won't see them again..." Orange was trying to be strong for his sister, but he was equally as upset.

"Actually," said Sweet Song, "we've heard from Posey that Fluttershy will also be attending Rainbow Falls Middle, where you'll also be going."

"We know it's upsetting," said Flutter Butter, "but it's for your own good because we're afraid that you'll get a bad rap because of your older brother's attitude."

"I... I guess that makes sense, mum and dad." Song Cue took a deep breath and held her Cream plush toy close. "But how are we going to explain this to our friends?"

"I don't know, sis," said Orange Sherbet, "I really don't know..."

"You're not attending the same middle school as us?!" Rainbow Dash couldn't believe what she heard.

"Sorry, Dash," sighed Song Cue, "our parents made this choice, not us."

"Yeah, but it's still not fair!" protested Rainbow Dash, "You're nothing like that jerk!"

"I wish it were different, pal." Sherbet shook his head.

"I'm not going to the same school as you guys either..." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Why?" asked Vincent, "You're from a different branch, surely?"

"Well..." the pink haired girl trailed, "mom and dad think the same thing as my aunt and uncle. I'll be going to the same school as my cousins."

"We get you're sensitive, Flutters," said Flash, "but just because Rocky Ripple behaved like a jerk, that doesn't mean you ought to be sent to a different school."

"Flash is right," said Sunset, "Rocky's just the black sheep amongst a family of kind people."

"But he doesn't look black," said Soarin, scratching his head in confusion.

"It's an expression!" Flash, Vincent and Sunset all exclaimed at once.

"Oh, right..."

"Regardless," Song Cue hugged her Cream plush again, "that is the idea."

"But we'll still see you outside of school, right?" asked Vincent.

"We'll try to keep in touch, gang," Orange promised.

"I hope we never run into that jerk again," muttered Rainbow Dash.

Meanwhile, Rocky Ripple was being scolded by his parents. He was older than both Song Cue and Orange Sherbet by at least two or three years, and had pale green hair and dark orange eyes.

Rocky had since graduated from Canterlot Middle, and up to that point, his parents had considered transferring him to Canterlot High, but now it seemed unlikely.

"You can't send me away!" Rocky was yelling, "I'd done nothing to deserve it!"

"Yes, you did!" scolded Sweet Song, "You have been a big bully to the other students. Now we can't even send Song Cue and Orange Sherbet to Canterlot Middle School because we're worried the others will give them a difficult time because of you!"

"That's their problem," said Rocky with indifference, "if it's to teach them the dangers of the world, then I've done my part."

To say Sweet Song and Flutter Butter were angry would be an understatement; they were livid.

"That is quite enough out of you, young man!" snapped Flutter Butter.

Rocky quickly shut up and winced in fear.

"We are tired of you causing trouble and not caring about what it does to others!" added Sweet Song, "We are sending you to Canterlot Military Academy as punishment. Perhaps that should help you be a better person."

"Boot camp?!" cried Rocky, "You can't do that to me!"

"Wanna bet?"

Rocky grumbled in defeat. There was nothing he could do.

Song Cue, Orange Sherbet and Heartsong went to Fluttershy's house while their older brother was packing. They were taking turns playing on the PlayStation 2 game, Sonic Heroes, which Song Cue had brought up, currently playing the 'Grand Metropolis' level.

"Looks like Eggman has escaped into the city," Knuckles the Echidna told his two buddies, Tails and Sonic.

"Eggman's robots are taking control of everything!" Tails cried, the little fox was a bit worried, but his adoptive hedgehog brother had a determined look in his eye.

"Let's find Eggman and show him the real power of teamwork!" Sonic ushered his team on, and the triple threat took off.

"Which one is the 'jump' button again?" asked Fluttershy as the cutscene ended, and hit the wrong button, causing Sonic to kick an empty space. Luckily, Song Cue steered Sonic and his teammates away from the gap just in time.

"Remember cous," Song Cue said gently, "that is the attack button. This one," she pointed, "is the 'jump' button."

"Okay..."

Fluttershy was doing quite well in the level, and she had reached the first checkpoint. When she switched to Tails' flying ability ("Leave it to me"), to perform Thundershoot...

"SURPRISE!"

Fluttershy dropped the remote and Team Sonic fell down a cliff.

"Rocky, what are you doing here?" Orange growled. Song Cue paused the game once the characters were reset.

"Thought I'd see how my pathetic little siblings and equally pathetic cousins are getting on," smirked Rocky, "wait, where's that Zephyr shrimp?"

"He's sick in bed," Fluttershy explained.

"Of course he is..."

"Weren't you supposed to be packing?" Heartsong said curtly.

"Nobody asked for your opinion, little shrimp!"

"That's no way to treat your siblings or cousins!" Song Cue snapped, "We were having a great time before you showed up."

"It's a good thing Fluttershy managed to get to the checkpoint just then," added Orange.

"Ah, who cares about a stupid game?" growled Rocky, "Since I'll be leaving soon, I figured it was time to deal with some unfinished business."

"There is no 'unfinished business' here!" said a voice, and Posey came into the room, very cross. She was in her late thirties with moderate raspberry hair and moderate cerise eyes underneath dark turquoise glasses. She also had a yellow pearl necklace and yellow flower earrings. Posey bore a striking resemblance to Nancy Drew.

Rocky turned to face his aunt and gulped, sweating bullets. "Uh oh..." was all he could muster up to say.

"How dare you threaten your siblings and cousin!" Posey growled.

"And come in uninvited," added her husband, storming in next to her. This was Cloud Wisp; he appeared to be forty and had grayish turquoise eyes and light amaranthish gray hair and mustache. Both he and Posey were normally quiet like their daughter Fluttershy, but when a situation was serious, they knew to be stern, and this was one of them.

"Well, well," smirked Orange, "I guess this little game break is the perfect chance to see his butt get handed over."

"I was waiting for Team Sonic to beat up Egghead later," Song Cue smirked, "but this works too."

Rocky continued wincing in fear as his aunt and uncle continued to tell him off.

"You're going home right now!" Cloud Wisp angrily took Rocky to the car.

Posey then looked at her daughter, nieces and younger nephew.

"Is anyone hurt?"

"We're okay, aunt Posey," said Heartsong, "just... shaken is all." The others agreed.

"How about the four of you carry on with your game, while I get you some snacks?" asked Posey.

"Sounds good, mom," smiled Fluttershy. So, Song Cue resumed the game, and the three siblings and their cousin carried on like nothing happened.

Flutter Butter and Sweet Song were not happy when their eldest son got back.

"How did you get out when we weren't looking?" asked Flutter Butter sternly. Rocky grinned sheepishly, but the smile quickly wore off.

"Uh... I may have climbed out my bedroom window..."

Flutter Butter shook his head. "I need to barricade your windows," he said, "and until the day you're sent off to military school, you're not allowed to leave your bedroom! Have I made myself clear?"

"Y-yes, dad..." he whimpered and ran to his room.

Sweet Song turned to her husband. "I think Orange, Songs and Hearts should stay at Fluttershy's house until he's gone."

"You're right on that front, dear," said Flutter Butter, "might not be safe for them, especially if he somehow broke out again."

"I'll let Posey know." Sweet Song went to make a phone call, while Flutter Butter went to pack some bags for not only Rocky Road's trip to military school, but some overnight bags for the other three siblings at Fluttershy's house.

When the three siblings heard about what was going on, saying they were elated would be putting it mildly.

"Thank heavens for that," Orange Sherbet sighed.

"Won't have to deal with him again," Song Cue added.

"Unless he gets out, erm, which is unlikely," Fluttershy pointed out.

"Well, at least we get to stay with you, Fluttershy," smiled Heartsong. She gave her cousin a hug, and soon Orange and Song Cue joined in as well.

"Let's go back to the game!" cried Orange, "We haven't started Team Dark's story yet."

"Oh, this is when Rouge and Shadow reunite," Song Cue giggled, "after so long after Shadow crashed from space, Rouge finds him locked up in Eggman's base and rescues him!"

"And she may also trigger the lost memories too," Heartsong added.

"They are so cute together..." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Girls..." Orange Sherbet rolled his eyes and the four went back to playing.

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At last, the day came for Rocky Ripple to be sent off to military school. He wasn't happy at all, and to add insult to injury (in his mind, at least), his siblings' friends were there to see him off.

"Goodbye and good riddance," said Flash.

"If you don't last long, we'll be sure to send flowers for the funeral!" laughed Soarin.

Rocky was tempted to punch one of them to the ground, but with the presence of his parents, he at least at the intelligence to not do so.

"Be sure to send us a postcard beforehand," Rainbow Dash added cheekily.

"What would that even look like?" asked Orange Sherbet while stiffing his laughter.

"Probably wouldn't even be a nice one to start with," smirked Vincent. The others started laughing too.

Rocky groaned in annoyance, and then without another word, he left for military school.

"Thank goodness we don't have to deal with him for a while," said Sunset.

"Now we can play games and sing to music in peace," smiled Heartsong.

"I think your sister's already onto that," giggled Fluttershy, as Song Cue had already whipped her iPod out, listening to another Sonic song - We Can.

"Well, since we've still got quite a while before school starts," suggested Flash, "let's go get some pizza."

"Pizza sounds yummy!" Rainbow Dash grinned.

The group started moving off, but Song Cue didn't look up.

"Uh, cous?" Fluttershy tapped her on her shoulder.

"Oh!" Song Cue quickly put her iPod down and raced after her friends.