They had returned to their little abode within the kingdom.  Finding my mother and Jack already whisked away into the dream world, I settle for curling up with my twin brother and drifting off as well.  There would be time in the morning to tell her of their encounter with the celestial mare.

---

My dreams tonight are of the night sky.  Their sparkling lights, the bluish black behind them and the sliver crescent of the moon hanging high above the world.  But I am not a passive observer this time.  Tonight I am soaring amongst the celestial bodies.  The flames of my body extending to create the swirling vortex of fire at my sides.  Their heat alone causing me to rise high above the Dale's landscape.

The orange glow of my form in the sky is undeniably misplaced.  Unlike Crucis, the mare we had met that evening, I do not blend into the skyscape.  It is rather fitting, I think, as I have never blended anywhere before in my life.

Eventually dawn approaches and I find myself blinking my eyes awake, staring out into a blanket of fresh white powder covering the land.  My red eyes widen in surprise, after all it is my first winter.  A huge smile tugs at my lips as I rise from the cavern floor excitedly.  Even Vic is still sleeping, which is odd.  "Vic!  Get up!  Look!"  I say before including my mother in my call, "Mother, is that... snow?"  I ask before I decide to venture into it.

My first step presses my hoof into the light snow cover, the flames sizzling as the frozen flakes melt away.  With face lowered I watch as tiny droplets of liquid replace the white frost.  My brows furrow in slight disappointment, taking another step to have the new phenomena give way to my flames.

I snort, the rush of warm air sending snowflakes air bound before they evaporated.

My head rises sharply as I see a dark figure that resembled the mare from the night before.  Suddenly my strife over the snow is gone and I am prancing further into the open.  I stop abruptly, only long enough to turn and shout to my family, "Come on you lazy bums!  You have to meet Crucis!"

There isn't much stillness in my pause as I prance in place before my legs are moving me forward again.  My flame laced face looks to the mare with a loud whinny, as if I needed to catch her attention.  "Crucis!  Over here!"  I yell, the distance between us coming to a close in no time.

I had not noticed the bare trail of moist earth left in my wake until I turn around to face where my family was slowly making their way out of their nightly shelter.

Now within speaking distance I excitedly greet her, "Good morning!  I can't believe you are still here!  Oooo today is going to be so much FUN!"  My excitement is uncontainable as my legs jig about, shifting my fiery form this way and that.  The flames to wax and wane with each movement, tiny orbs of flame escape and do their own dance separate from my body.

Each spot my hooves land the winter covering dissolved, leaving dark spots all over the area.  I laugh as I leap forwards and head back towards my family, "Come on!  Come meet my family!"  

I escort the ethereal mare towards them.  The look on Vic's face is one of curiosity, mixed with uncertainty.  I couldn't tell if it was because of the snow or the fact Crucis was still here.

"This is my mom," I motion towards the caramel mare with a long gown of iridescent feathers.  "And Jack," I look to the tall dark bay stallion who has been a part of their family since my birth.  My gaze casts up, looking to the usual places Amenadiel perched in the nights.  Spotting the winged stallion suddenly I shout, "Amen!  Come meet Crucis," I call out before adding, "That is Amenadiel. I flew on his back once!"  

I smile and look to the mare, "And of course you met Vic last night."  My mothers face tilts just the slightest, having heard of the encounter for the first time.  "Everyone this is Crucis!  Vic and I met her last night down by the lake.  She is new here!"  I exclaim as I look back to them.

My mother smiles kindly before welcoming the newcomer.  Vic's expression is still uncertain but as the adults begin to interact with the mare his demeanor changes.  A kind smile graces his handsome face.