Heart Of Fire: Regal Rebirth

by Music Brush

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Romance
Length: 7241

Blazing and Chocolate live their live raising their daughter just outside of Canterlot when Queen Chrysalis comes to Chocolate one last time before her death and leaves the burden of a Queen on her shoulders.

Six years have past since Blazing and Chocolate got married and Queen Chrysalis attacked Ponyville. The happy couple raise their daughter Cream like any other pony just outside of Canterlot boundaries where they can freely walk around in their changling forms. But to Blazing and Chocolate's fear, the Queen once again enters into their lives.

What will become of Blazing's new happy family?

Fantastic art work was done by SpeedyandRose on deviantart. Thank you Speedy.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-07 00:24:26 UTC

Prologue: The Princess Lives

Heart of Fire

Book Three: Regal Rebirth

Writen by Music Brush, assisted by Mechafone.

PROLOGUE:

THE PRINCESS LIVES

Six Years Ago

   The wind rushed through Qeen Chrysalis' ears as she flew at top speed away from Ponyville, her foreleg screamed in pain from the fresh wing print burned on the black shell. The changelings followed far behind their Queen with panic, anger and worry all in their expressions, all of them were bruised and soaking wet from the rain the pegasi of Ponyville brought to the town for their confrontation. Tears streamed down Chrysalis' face as she thought about the seen that happened only the last fifteen minutes.

Chrysalis stood over the yellow and orange zebra striped pegasus, pure rage burning inside as she glared at him. "I was just thinking." He said with a smile on his face. "This is my first fight with my mother-in-law and I only just married your daughter this morning." Chrysalis blinked at his words.

"I am 'not' your mother-in-law and she is never going to be your wife!" She snapped. "She is the Princess of the Changelings and she shall soon take my place as Queen!" She charged at the pegasus, her horn glowing a menacing green as she blasted energy at her opponent. A single blast hit him in the chest making him fall on his back.

Chrysalis slowly approached the pegasus, her horn still glowing as she smiled menacingly at him. "I must admit, you have done better then any other pony who stood against me." He looked up at her, determination in his eyes. "But now... you must die." The green magic from her horn grew brighter as she charged for the final blow, her smile grew as she saw him close his eyes bracing himself for the inevitable.

"NO!!" A voice came as she fired a single blast of energy and the next thing she saw was a brown pegasus mare collapsing to the ground and with a flash of green light changed to a black changeling. Chrysalis heart sank as she saw her daughter's body laying limp on the ground before her, not moving as the yellow stallion came up to her. What happened next completely terrified her as the stallion stood glaring at her, his wings glowing bright as the rain evaporated into steam as each drop fell on them.

What have I done? She asked herselfe. Chrysalis' heart was filled with grief, she had just killed her daughter, the only one who could take her place as Queen of the Changelings. She was so lost in her grief that she did not notice the tree infront of her. A changeling called out to her but it was too late, she crashed into the trunk of he tree and slid down its base to the forest floor. She let her body weight fall to the ground and just lay there as her subjects landed, most of them kept their distance while a few braved to step closer.

   "Your majesty?" One said as he inched closer. In an instant, she blasted the changeling with her magic, sending him flying back to the rest of her subjects. She let her head fall back to the ground as she thought about her loss.

   "Unless any of you worthless, pathetic excuses for changelings can tell me my daughter is still alive, then I suggest you leave me!" She called from the ground. Her subjects did nothing untill her horn began to glow at wich point they all took off in different directions.

   One changeling remained in place for a minute before turning back toward Ponyville, changing her form to a green unicorn with a brown mane when she reached the edge of the forest. She acted shocked when she saw the town in the condition it was in, trees were nocked down, houses were splintered and the whole places was flooded. Dispite all the damage that was done, the whole town was filled with love, the strongest of this love seemed to be coming from the building with a large sighn that read 'Ponyville  Hospital'.

   Three young fillies were sitting on a bench on the side of the road, looks of joy and concern filled each of their faces as they talked. The changeling trotted up to the fillies with a smile on her face. "Excuse me girls, but would you mind telling me what happened here?" The unicorn changeling asked. The three fillies looked up at this new pony they had never seen before.

   "An army of changelings came here and attacked the town." The orange and purple filly said.

   "Blazing, Chocolate and their friend Spark got the whole town to fight back." The white and two shaded filly added.

   "And Blazin' took Chocolate to the Ponyville Hospital." The yellow and red filly finished.

   "Oh, my." The disguised changeling responded to the news she already knew. "Is gour friend going to be alright?" She asked. The fillies all frownd at the question, it was clear the love they had for their friend was strong, she could feel their love flowing from them.

   "We don't know." They answered. "We were told that Blazin' fought the Queen, and hen she used her magic to attack Blazin', Chocolate jumped in the way to save him." The yellow one explained. The changling knew then that this 'Chocolate' was the Princess.

   "Well, I hope your friend will be okay." The changeling said truthfully. Just then, a pink energetic earth pony mare came bouncing toward them.

   "Hey girls" She said in a cheery voice, this seamed to earn hope in the fillies faces. "...good news. Chocolate is going to be okay! She'll be up and flying angain in a few weeks!" The fillies let out cheers of joy while the changeling ran off back toward the forest. Once she was out of sight, she reverted back to changeling form and flew the rest of the way to find her Queen.

   Chrysalis lay on the ground at the ase of the tree she had hit earlier, the changeling landed a good distance away from Chrysalis and cautiously approached. Chrysalis glared at her subject, igniting her horn in a menacing green glow. The changeing stopped in her tracks as she cringed from her Queen's wordless threat.

   "Uh... m-my Queen?" She stammered

   "Speek now, or share the same punishment as your brother!" Chrysalis hissed.

   "I-it's about the Princess." She replied. "It appears that she is still alive."

Ch. 1: The Halfling

CHAPTER ONE:

THE HALFLING

   Blazing knocked on the door to his daughters bedroom with no reply. "Cream." He called as he knocked again. "Cream, it's time to get up, honey." Blazing always called Cream 'honey' much like Autumn always called him honey when he was a foal. She still did call him that sometimes, but not as often as she use to years ago. When Blazing received no reply, he opened the door and poked his head inside.

   "Cream?" He called as he looked on the bed, a lump covered by the yellow blankets on the bed showing Cream was still asleep. He smiled as he crept closer to the bed. No sleeping in today, honey. He thought. He reached the side of the bed, his forehooves raised over his head as he prepared to wake his daughter up by tickling her when all of a sudden.

   "Got'chya!" A little voice called out as something landed on his head nocking him to the ground on his belly, the two laughed as Blazing turned around on his back and wrapped his forelegs around the yellow halfling pulling her into a playfull hug. She nuzzled his neck as he held her against him, stroking her fin-like mane with his hoof.

   The hug was soon replaced with a fit of laughter as Blazing began to tickle Cream with raspberries as he once did with Dinky do. Just then, Chocolate, in her changeling form, came by the doorway and stopped to admire and laugh at the scene that was unfolding.

   "Okay you two." She called over their little battle. "Cream needs a bath before the girls get here." Cream perked right up at what her mother just said.

   "Are there bubbles?!" She asked. Blazing rubbed her brown mane with his hoof as he smiled at her enthusiasm.

   "Yes, honey." He answered. "There will be bubbles." Cream let out a squeek of joy as she dashed off of her father and past her mother and down the hall. Blazing and Chocolate looked at each laughing as he got to his hooves and made his way to his wife and kissed her on the lips, wich she returned affectionately.

   "Do you want to bath her while I cook breakfast?" She asked him.

   "No." He replied. "I'll slave over the hot stove this morning." She smiled at him. "Besides, I just got tackled by a hoofball! You gotta face the next pass." She smacked him on the shoulder as he laughed.

   "You're mean!" She stated before he pulled her into another kiss. "But I love you." She smirked before she went down the hall to the bathroom while he went the other way to the kitchen.

   Chocolate filled the tub with soap and water while Cream eagerly jumped in place waiting for her bath to be ready. When Chocolate shut the water off, Cream jump right in, splashing the water all over the place earning a laugh from her mother. Chocolate began scrubbing her daughter with a wash cloth and the soapy water, Cream happily playing in the water as she was being cleaned.

   Giving the little halfling a bath was not the problem, it was getting her out. Every time Chocolate pulled the plug to let the water drain, Cream would just plug it back up with a playful 'nnope' much like their friend, Big Mac did when they would see him in Ponyville. Chocolate finaly got the tub drained and pulled her daughter out, drying her off with a towel and then sending her off to see daddy.

   Cream ran into the kitchen to find her father standing by the stove as he flipped pancakes. He turned to look at Cream with a smile and crouched down low holding his forelegs open to her, she took the invitation without hesitation and ran up to him and jumped right into his embrace.

   "Are you all clean?" He asked. She nodded hapily. "I dunno, I think you still smell."

   "I do not, Daddy!" She pouted.

   "Yes you do, you smell sweet and beautiful just like your mother." She smiled and hugged him again. "Don't tell her I said that." He whispered in her ear.

   "I heard that!" Came Chocolate's voice from down the hall. They both looked up to see Chocolate staring at them, her forelegs folded, then Cream looked back at him with a smile on her face.

   "You're in trouble now." She said then hopped out of his forelegs and ran off to the table to wait for her breakfast. Blazing looked up at his wife with a 'please don't hurt me' look on his face. She stomped up closer to him and pulled him into a passionate kiss, Cream cried with joy from the level of love that came from her parents.

   Blazing pulled away from his wife and returned to his cooking before the pancakes burned and removed them from the stove onto a large plate, he had cooked enough so that each of them could start with two and two for four more as they were expecting the founders of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to arive at any minute. Then there was a knock at the door.

   "I'll get it." Chocolate said as she changed to her new pony form wich was a blue pegasus with a brown mane, the cutie mark she used as her first pony disguise was the same except it was brown and looked like chocolate. Cream also transformed into a yellow pegasus with a brown mane. Chocolate opened the door and was greeted with 'hello' from three young mares and smiled as she reverted back to her changeling form.

   "Hey Choco!" Sweetie Belle said as she gave her a hug, wich she returned happily. Chocolate was now called Choco because of that terrible day six years ago when everypony in Ponyville learned that Chocolate was a changeling, wich was a big reason why they decided to move away with a new look for her to avoid any unpleasant encounters from ponies who would know or figure it out. Chocolate gave each of the girls a hug as she invited them in, they all ran up to see Cream, who screamed with joy when she saw the Crusaders who came to look after her for the week end.

Ch. 2: The Crusader

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.

Ch. 3: Unwanted Revolation

CHAPTER THREE:

UNWANTED REVOLATION

   Blazing and Chocolate trotted out of the restaurant, smiles proudly stretched on their faces from the wonderful time they were having. They stopped just outside the door, turned to face each other and leaned in for a passionate kiss earning a few smiles from the croud walking by.

   "Ready for a good long trott in the park?" He asked. She smiled at him, a look in her eyes that told him 'as I'll ever be', he smiled and leaned in for another kiss before they both began to trott toward the park.

   The trott to the park was not long at all, they came to the opening as another couple were trotting out, they all waved their hooves at each other. Blazing and Chocolate proceeded their trott into the park, the trees providing shade from Celestia's sun in several spots.

   They straid off the path a few times to see some animals is the trees and to let Chocolate shift to her changeling for while nopony was around to see her. They picked a nice spot under a tree out of site to relax for a while, both leaning against the trunk of the tree as he wrapped his hoof around her while she leaned against his shoulder. He pulled her in and planted a kiss on her for head, she turned to look at his eyes.

   "I love you, sweethreat." He said.

   "I love you to, shmoopy." No matter how many times she called him that, it always made his cheeks flush red and she would laugh at it. She looked away into the distance, her mind trailing off to all the woodland creatures running around, collecting food and acorns for their young ones.

   "Blazing?" She called. He looked down at her thoughtfully.

   "Yes, sweethreat?" He relied. She looked up at him, a smile on her face.

   "We should have another foal." She stated. He smiled and pulled her in for another kiss on the forehead.

   "Why not?" He said. She looked at him, a hint of shock in her eyes.

   "Realy?" She asked.

   "Sure. I'd love to have another addition to our family. The girls would have no objections and I'm sure Cream would love to have a little brother or a sister." As he spoke, a smile grew on Chocolate's face and when he finished she pulled him into a good, long, passionate kiss. She leaned back pulling him over on top of her, he pulled away taking in a breath as he looked down at her.

   "Can we finish our date and get home first?" He asked. She gave him her best puppy dog eyes she could muster, he had to turn away to keep from breaking. "When we get home." He stated. She folded her forelegs as she pouted.

   "You're no fun." She huffed. He looked down at her and gave her his best, charming smile he had, she just sat there glaring at him as he smiled untile she cracked and laughed. "You're mean!" She said.

   "How am I mean?" He asked.

   "First, you said we can alhave another foal, then you say not now and now you're throwing your charm at me. You're mean!"

   "But I still love you." He stated as he leaned down and planted another kiss on her lips.

   "I hate you." She said with a smile.

   "No you don't." He countered.

   "Oh, shut up, you meany." She demanded. He let out a small laugh as he got to his hooves.

   "C'mon, let's go see a movie." He held out a hoof to her, she took it and he pulled her up to her feet then she changed to her pony form. At that moment, her body tenced, a rush ran through her and she gasped as she felt magic engulf her.

Chocolate found herself standing alone in a dark abyss, myst of heavy fog floated along the cold damp ground. She had been in this abyss before years ago when her mother, Queen Chrysalis, came to her through a contacting spell and this frightened her. If she was here in this place again that could only mean...

"It's been a long time, my daughter." A laboured voice said from behind. Chocolate whirled around to find the tall changeling Queen crounlched to the ground, she looked drained and out of energy and her breathing was long and heavy. Chocolate could not help but feel great sorrow for the one who nearly killed her husband those many years ago.

"What do you want?" Chocolate asked coldly. Chrysalis looked up to her daughter.

"Time has been kind to you, my daughter." She said. "But, as you can see, my life is coking to an end." Chocolate blinked at this statement. It was obvious that she was weak and drained from her strength, but Chocolate did not think she would be to the point of death, yet.

"What does that have to do with me?" Chocolate asked. "I renounced my throne long ago."

"My love" Chrysalis paused to take breaths as she spoke. "You know... very well... you are the only one... who can take my place."

"I don't want that, mother." She said quite calmly, sorrow in her voice. "I have a new family, a husband and a daughter whom I love. I won't leave them for you."

"You have no choice, Arcous." Chocolate blinked and took a step back. "Yes my daughter, that is your name. With it, you shall take yoru place as Queen of the Changelings."

"No!" Chocolate countered. Chrysalis only gave a weak smile.

"Goodbye, my darling daughter. May your rule be as fruitful as mine and beyond, Queen Acrous." Chrysalis fell to the ground and faded into the myst, Chrysalis let out a cry to her now gone mother as she felt the myst engulf her, pulling her away into the darkness. She tried to scream, but it was mo use, soon she was completely lost to the abyss.

   "Sweetheart, are you okay?"

   Chocolate looked around to find herself once again in the park being held by her husbands forelegs. She reached up and wrapped her forelegs around him tightly as though trying not to loose him.

   "Blazing, mother just came to me again." Blazing blinked and stared her in the eye. "She... she..."

   "What did she want?" He asked sharply. The last time he saw or heard of the Queen was six years ago when she and her minions attacked their home, she had nearly killed Chocolate trying to get to him and he chaced her away with his burning fury.

   "She told me my name." Chocolate said muzzling into his chest for comfort, tears staining both her face and his coat.

   "What does that mean?" He asked. She pulled away to look him in the eye, great fear and sadness in hers.

   "When the next inline fore the throne of the chanhelings is told their name, it begins the coronation process. I am now the Queen of the Changelings."

Ch. 4: Family Fear

CHAPTER FOUR:

FAMILY FEAR

   "Ready or not, here I come!" Applebloom called out as she pulled her head from the trunk of a tree to look for the others. She trotted around the playground, her eyes darting back and forth as they searched for Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and little Cream.

   She passed by a bush when she heard rustling from the other side. She slowly turned her eyes, smiling mischievously. She proceeded walking away from the bush until she heard the noise again, at that moment, she turned in the air with a 'hah!' and dashed toward a now exposed Scootaloo. Scootaloo tried to run, but it was too late, Applebloom had a hoof on her back.

   "Tag!" She called. "Yer frozen until the game's over."

   "Hourse feathers!" Scootaloo poutd.

   "Ah-ah. No talkin' either." Scootaloo huffed quietly as she stood in place while Applebloom ran off to look for the rest.

   Cream was hiding in a tree near the one Applebloom had counted by, she would wait untill Applebloom had found the other twoand came looking for her. She heard Applebloom's voice call out 'tag' only a few minutes after she left to find them, she smiled at that.

   Several minutes later, she heard yet another 'tag' wich told her she was all that was left. She opened her wings and jumped from her branch on the treeand effertlessly glided down to the ground with a soft, quiet landing. She had learned how to glid like that from both her parents and her daddy's old friend, Spark Storm when ever they got a chance to see him.

   She slipped into a nearby bush to keep her bright yellow colors hidden from others. She could have easily tranformed into a different colored pegasus, but her parents told her she was not to use her changeling ability in publick, unless she realy needed to and she was not about to disobey her mother and father for a simple game of freeze tag.

   She dashed from one bush to another untill she saw an orange pegasus mare standing almost perfectly still. She looked around to see if anypony else was around before making herself seen infron of Scootaloo. She ran out of her bush toward the other pegasus, lept into the air, her wings flapping and her forehooves out stretched. Then, she was blocked by a yellow mare that ran up between the two.

   "Not so fast!" Applebloom said, a victorious smile on her face. Cream started to bolt in the other direction, but stopped in place, not because Applebloom had tagged her, but because she felt something that terrified her. Mommy. She thought to herself. She felt... fear. Her mother was afraid, pure, undeniable fear. She also felt something else, something... strange, themthing changing in her mother.

   "Cream?" Scootaloo asked. Cream blinked and looked up at the girls in fear.

   "What's wrong, sweety?" Sweetie Belle asked. Cream broke away from their gaze and looked off into the distance of the park. She focused her gaze on one spot, the spot that feeling she just had was the strongest, then bolted for that direction.

   "Cream!" The Crusaders called out at once as they bolted after her.

   Cream flew around the trees, the Crusaders followed, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had the most difficult time as they did not have wings but Scootaloo was able to keep up easily. Cream came to a stop, looked left then right, and bolted off the path to the right.

   She stopped to see her parents embracing each other, her mother in her changeling form was sobbing in Blazing's forelegs as he tried to calm her down. "Mommy!" She called, Chocolate and Blazing looked up at their daughter, she motioned with a hoof for her daughter to come, wich she did without hesitation. She jumped up into her parebts embrace.

   "What's wrong mommy? I felt you afraid of something." At that point, the girls came up and stopped short as they saw the family in a group hug, all looking like something terrible had just happened. Blazing and Chocolate looked at each other, it was obvious they were both debating on if they wanted to tell her yet. After a minute, they looked back at Cream.

   "We'll tell you after we get home, sweetheart." Chocolate said. Blazing nodded in agreement, now was not the time, or the place, for them to tell their daughter that her grandmother just turned her mother into the Queen of the Changelings. Cream nodded in exceptance then nuzzled her mothers chest, Blazing pulled his grils into his forelegs.

   After several minutes, the three finaly broke from their family hug, Chocolate turned to her knew pony form and Blazing looked over to the Crusaders, who looked to the ground. "Girls." Blazing called. The three slowly looked up and slowly walked up to the zebra striped pegasus. "Thank you for looking after Cream for us, but we're going to cut our date short today." The three looked up in shock and disappointment.

   "You're not going to send us back home yet, are you?" Scootaloo asked.

   "Oh, no girls." Chocolate answered. " We invited you three to stay for the weekend." The girles perked up at this.

   "We just had something come up, is all." Blazing added. "We're going home and having a little family chat."

   "It's not serious, is it?" Sweetie Belle asked. Blazing looked up at Chocolate who had Cream on her back.

   "You don't need to worry yourselves about it, girls." Chocolate answered.

   "C'mon, I'll cook dinner for everpony." Blazing said, then they all trotted off back toward the Feathers' cottage, Blazing and Chocolate side by side with looks of worry in their expressions.

   Blazing, Chocolate, Cream and the Crusaders finnished their dinner, the girls played around the livingroom for a little bit before Blazing called for Cream. Cream ran up to her father and jumped up on his back. "You girls can look for something to watch if you'd like." Blazing told the Crusaders before carrying his daughter to her room, Chocolate followed.

   Blazing carried Cream to her bed while Chocolate closed the door behind her. Blazing placed his daughter on her bed, she happily climbed under her blankets as he tucked her in. When she was set, she looked up at her parents, her joy suddenly replaced by a hint of fear.

   "Mommy, Daddy? What's wrong?" Chocolate sag on the side of the bed while Blazing sat at the end by Cream's hind hooves.

   "Sweetheart." Chocolate began. "...what you felt earlier... mommy got a message from your grandmother."

   "You got a message from grandma Autumn?" Cream asked.

   "Not my mother, honey." Blazing answered. "Your mommy's mother."

   "Who's mommy's mommy?" She asked.

   "She's somepony like me,sweetheart." Chocolate answered. "She could change like you and me to other ponies. The onlh difference is..." She trailed off.

   "What?" Cream asked.

   "She is the Queen of the Changelings." Blazing filled in the rest of his wife's sentence. Cream perked up at this.

   "That means... mommy is a Princess? I'm a Princess?"

   "Yes, sweetheart. We are Princesses." Cream nearly jumped out of her spot befor Blazing held her in place with a hoof.

   "Honey, we're not done yet." He said.

   "But, I'm a Princess!" She said cheerfully.

   "Sweetheart, we have to tell you why I was afraid when my mother talked to me." Chocolate stated, the joy in her daughter vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Sweety, you grandmother..." She trailed off. "... she just died and named me Queen." The joy immediately returned at the news of her mother being a Queen.

   "Mommy's a Queen!" She screamed, Blazing and Chocolate both reached up to settle their daughter down.

   "Honey." Blazing called. "Calm down."

   "But, mommy's..."

   "I know, but you need to calm down for us." Cream now looked confused.

   "Sweety... mommy doesn't want to be Queen." Chocolate stated.

   "Why not?" Cream asked. Tears started to trail down her cheek as she looked at her duaghter.

   "Because, I never wanted to be Queen. My mommy alwasy told me how to be a Queen and whatI must do as a Queen." Chocolate explained.

   "Isn't that what mommies are suppose to do with their daughters?" Cream asked.

   "Yes, but I didn't like how my mommy wanted me to be Queen. I always wanted to be... different." Chocolate continued.

   "How?"

   "I never wanted to live, feeding off love in secret without one who would love me in returne. That's where you father came in, he found me in the forest and cared for me." Chocolate said.

   "And, that's why you to got married." Cream asked.

   "We got married because we loved each other and we didn't care what anypony thought about our love." Blazing said. "I didn't care that you mother was a changeling, even though the changelings and ponies... never liked each other."

   "Why don't they like each other?" Cream asked.

   "Ponies are just scarsd of changelings, sweety." Chocolate answered. Before Cream could ask the next Question, Chocolate already began to explain 'why'. "Because in order for us to survive, we need to feed off love. Ponies are just afraid of that." Cream gave a confused, yet satisfied nod. The three gathered in another family hug, saying their goodnights, then Blazing and Chocolate trotted out of the room, shutting the lights off and closing the door behind them.

Ch. 5: A Loyal Servant

CHAPTER FIVE:

A LOYAL SERVANT

   Silence filled the cottage in the night hours, everypony was fast asleep, the Crusaders shared a bet in the guest room, Cream slept in her own bed and Blazing and Chocolate were wrapped in each others hooves as they were both asleep.

   Chocolate stirred in her sleep and rolled over in her husbands forelegs, she opened her eyes and saw a pair of blank blue eyes staring at her. Wide eyed, she fought back the urgs to scream, stuffing a hoof in her mouth until she was calm.

   "What are you doing here?!" She hissed in a hushed tone. The changeling before her lowered his head in a respectful bow.

   "I am here to serve you my Queen." He said. Chocolate blinked.

   "What about my mother?" She asked. "What about Chrysalis?" She already knew the answere to her question, she just hoped against the odds.

   "My Queen, the former Queen passed away justa few hours ago." He explained. "Did she not present you with your name?" Chocolate's heart sank. Chrysalis had named her Queen Arcous only hours ago before fading into myst, and now she had a changeling claiming to be her servant? "Queen Arcous?"She changeling asked, this only confirmed Chocolate's fears hearing her subject call her changeling name. She had indeed been coronated as Queen.

   She slowly slipped out from under her husbands forelegs, off the bed and lead the other changeling away from the bed. She then met his gaze with a concerned look. "What about the other changelings?" She asked. "Where are they and what are they doing?"

   "They await not far from here in the forest for you to return and lead us, my Queen." He explained. She nodded once at this news, fearing the worst.

   "I am sorry child, but I've already told Chrysalis I'm not leaving this life." The changeling looked up in great disappointment. "But, what are we to do without your guidance, my Queen? The others will grow restless wihout you."

   "Please don't make this any more hard on me." She stated. "I have a husband and daughter, I can't just leave them."

   "S-should you comman, we will serve you, the King and the Princess." He stated, desperation in his tone. His words wormed her, hearing her husband being called a King. "Please, my Queen... we need you." Chocolate thought for a moment of what she wanted to say.

   "Do you wish to have a name, child?" The changeling arched a brow at this, then nodded his head unsurely. "Then I shall call you, Servus." Servus bowed his head in gratitude. "Now Servus, go to the others and explain to them my situation, have them go and maintain quiet lives for a while in order to feed while I decide on what to do."

   "I shall do as you command, Queen Arcous." He replied with a deep bow, then left the room quietly as to not disturbing the others in the house. Chocolate sighed as she let her head drop toward the floor.

   "And just what was he doing here?" Came Blazing's voice. Chocolate looked up at him, startled by his voice. He was sitting up on his side of the bed staring at her with a raised brow.

   "Baze, honey, h-he was just here t..." She started to explain before being cut off.

   "... to plead his loyalty to you and take you away from your family." He said flatly as he hopped of the bed and began walking toward her.

   "I'm the one in charge of them, not the other way around." She stated, her bottom lip trembling. "I thought I could buy us some time so we cou..." She was silenced by his hoof.

   "Sweetheart, I know you mean well." He said reasuringly. "We'll figure this out together. You, me and Cream, all as a family." Tears streamed down her cheeks. He pulled her into his forelegs and she wrapped hers around him, quite sobs escaping her throat. He guided her to the bed and helped he under the blanket hen trotted around and pulled himself under the coveres.

  Just then, the door opened, the two looked over and saw Cream standing in the doorframe, a look of high concern on her face. "I felt mommy scared and upset." She said. "Is she okay, daddy?" Chocolate sniffled as she whiped her tears from her face with a hoof.

   "Mommy's okay sweetheart." Chocolate answered as she held a hoof out to her daughter, she ran up and jumped onto the bed and squeezed her way in between her parents, who pulled the blanket over her and each planted a kiss on her forehead before laying theirs down on their pillows. Soon the trio were fast asleep in each others compony.

   The next day started out like any other day, the only thing different was Chocolate was les cheery then she usually was and the girls noticed. After asking a few times Blazing intervined telling the girls that Chocolate hard a rough night sleep and was just a little tired, the girls excepted this and continued he day playing games with their new member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

   It was well afternoon now and all was going fine until a nock came at the door. Chocolate and Cream transformed to the pony forms as Blazing trotted up to the door and opened it to find a grey unicorn with black mane and tail looking up at him.

   "Can I help you?" Blazing asked.

   "I am here to serve my Queen." He stated with a single nod of his head. Blazing blinked at this, he looked back to his wife, who showed an exprssion of fear, Cream hugging her legs with the same exprssion on her face. He looked back at the unicorn with a faked mile.

   "I think you have the wrong house, my friend." He said as he began to close the door only to have it stopped by a hoof.

   "No, there is now mistaking. My Queen is here." The unicorn pressed on.

   "Who are you?" Blazing asked.

   "I am Servus, Queen Arcous' loyal servant."