Heart Of Fire: Regal Rebirth

CHAPTER TWO:

THE CRUSADER

   "Man, that was good, Blazing." Scootaloo said with a bright smile on her face as she finished her pancakes, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle nodded in agreement.

   "It sure was." Applebloom added as she took off her hat and placed on Cream's head, who giggled happily as she straitened it.

   "Look daddy!" Cream called. "I'm a cowpony!" She hopped from her seet at the table and ran around the room like she was gathering up a herd earning smiles and laughs from Blazing, Chocolate and the origional Cutie Mark Crusaders.

   Scootaloo waisted no time in joining her favourite halfling as Cream pulled out an invisible rope, twirling it in the air and throwing it at Scootaloo. Soon after, the other two joined in on the fun while Blazing and Chocolate sat watchng them, he wrapped his foreleg around her shoulders.

   Chocolate looked up into his eyes, he returned the gaze and they stared into each others eyes. 'You going to kiss me or what' her eyes told him, he smiled and leaned in and their lips met. "They're at it again!" Came Cream's cheery voice. Blazing and Chocolate pulled away from each other and turned to see the four smiling at them from the living room, Scootaloo held a hoof over Cream's eyes. After a fit of laughter from everypony, Chocolate began gathering up the dishes, Blazing placed a hoof on hers and she looked up.

   "I don't think so." He said.

   "What?" She asked.

   "I doing the kitchen work this morning." He replied. "You go and play with the girls, I'll getthe dishes done before we go." She smiled and placed a kiss on his lips then ran up like a little filly to play with her daughter as Blazing began washing the dishes.

   Blazing and Chocolate had been planning a month now for today. They scheduled to start the day with a simple flight around the town followed by lunch at the Dandelion Restaurant, then a simple walk in the park then a movie followed by dinner at the restaurant where Spark and Saphire went on their first date since she had returned from a two year training session.

   "Now, you're more then welcome to take Cream out if you like." Chocolate stated as she changed to her pony form. "... just make sure she's in bed by nine." She instructed sternly. The Crusaders nodded as Cream ran up and jumped into her mothers forelegs, hugging her tightly around the neck.

   "I love you, mommy." She said as Chocolate wrapped her forelegs around her daughter. Blazing came up, his mane neatly combed, his wings preened and all in all well cleaned for the day. Cream looked over and hopped from Chocolate's to Blazings forelegs to give him the same treatment. "I love you daddy."

   "We love you too, honey." Blazing said as his wife joined in the hug. Blazing and Chocolate both planted a kiss on their daughters cheek before letting her go and trotted out the door as the girls waved them goodbye. Sweetie Belle closed the door and turned back to facs the others.

   "Okay girls." She called. "We have the house to ourselves all day and we can go out if we want, so what are we going to do?"

   "I know!" Scootaloo cheered. "We should totally make Cream an official Cutie Mark Crusader!" She held Cream's hoof up as she called the tital of their club, Cream jumped with joy at the idea of becoming a crusader. Sweetie Belle also smiled at the idea until Applebloom spoke out.

   "Wait a second!" She said. The others looked at her in slight confusion, what was wrong with Cream becoming a crusader? "Can Cream even get a cutie mark? Ah mean, changelings don't have no cutie marks, don't they?"

   "She's only half changeling Applebloom." Scootaloo countered. "Full changelings don't have cutiebmarks."

   "She has a point." Sweetie Belle added.

   "Oh, Sweetie Belle can I be a Cutie Mark Crusader, please, please, please, please?!" Cream bounced in place as she pleaded to be a member.

   "I see no reason why not." Sweetie Belle answered earning a 'yay' from Cream as she bolted around the room, chanting 'I'm going to be a crusader!'

   Applebloom, Scootallo and Sweetie Belle stood side by side while Cream stood in front of them smiling proudly at the mares. "Step forward,Cream." Scootallo said, Cream did as she was told quite eagerly. "Cream Feathers, we gather here at this time to welcome you as a full member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Cream let out a squee as she fought with all of her strength not to jump from her spot until she was inducted. "Let it be known, in front of these witnesses," Scootaloo called out gesturing to the other two and the meny pictures stacked on the shelves and descks around them. "...that this filly before us, upon this day is made an official mamber as long as she strives everday from now on to find her special tallent and earn her cutie mark." Scootaloo looked down at Cream, a serious look on her face. "Do you escept this mission?"

   "Yes!" Cream answered without hesitation. Scootaloo smiled and nodded once.

   "Then, Cream Feathers, let me be the first to welcome you as our newest member to the Cutie Mark Crusaders." She lowered her head to Cream's on one side then the other then raised her head again. After few seconds, Cream could not hold it back any longer, she jumped into the air and flew circels around the young mares, then flew right into Scootaloo, nocking her to the floor on her back as she hugged her tightly.

   "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!" She screamed. She was now a Cutie Mark Crusader and she showed it by giving each of the young mares a tight, lung crushing hug.

   "Wow..." Applebloom huffed. "...she sure can hug."

   "You can say that again." Scootaloo replied.

   "Why don't we celebrate by going to get ice cream?" Sweetie Belle asked. Cream flew right up an inch from her face.

   "CAN WE?!" She pleaded. Cream loved ice cream just as much, if not more then her bubble baths.

   "Choco did say we can go out." Scootaloo said.

   "Yeah, we should go out and have fun." Applebloom said.

   "YAY!!!" Cream screamed as she flew for the door.

   "Wait Cream!" Scootaloo called as she dove between Cream and the door. "We're not going anywhere with you looking like that." Cream looked at herself for a second.

   "Oh, right!" She laughed and with a flash of orange light she became a yellow pegasus filly with a brown mane. "Is this better?" She asked with a smile.

   "Much better, now let's go!" Scootaloo opened the door and she and Cream flew out in a hurry.

   "Hey you two!" Applebloom called out. "Wait fer us!" She and Sweetie Belle both took off after the two, closing the door beind them.