(Hey It´s my birthday too! ^_^  Or was at the time of writing this)

Apple Bloom was tying her ribbon when she took a look at the mirror.

This won´t work.

The ribbon no longer fit her, it was too childish. Now that she was a grown pony, her mane must reflect that. After playing a little with different styles she finally settled for a style just like her sister. Apple Bloom smiled, she did looked like Applejack.

She grabbed her Crusaders cap and put it on. She was so tall now that it was useless as a cap more like a neckerchief. Sometimes she hated being so tall.

She rushed downstairs but before she could leave Applejack called her. "Woah partner, where´s the fire?"

"Scootaloo and Sweetie are waiting for me. I´m running late, sister."

"That could be the case but my sister escaping without getting a hug for her birthday." Applejack needed to stand in two feet to hug her. "Dang girl, why did you have to get Big Mac freakish genes? I can barely hug you."

"Heh, guess I finally am the big pony."

"Don´t get cocky, young lady. You´ll always be my tiny apple. Now, go have fun and remember dinner is at 7:00!"

"I´ll be there!" Apple Boom shouted and galloped towards the Crusaders clubhouse. Not that it was a long journey since the clubhouse was within the farm limits and with her new large legs she got there in just a few minutes.

"Woah nelly."

Apple Bloom didn´t expected to find so many ponies present. There were are at least fifteen ponies waiting in front of the clubhouse. Not just colt and fillies but their parents and some friends as well. Apple Bloom noticed some already have their Cutie Marks but they were still there for the new recruits.

As she made her way upstairs all the looks were on her, be it because she was one of the three founders or because she was as a tall as a stallion. She finally made it inside and found her friends waiting for her, alongside Princess Sparkle.

"Sorry I´m late," she whispered.

"Don´t worry. We haven´t started yet," Sweetie said while Apple Bloom hugged her cousin Babs.

"What is Twilight doing here?" she asked but before Sweetie could answer Twilight called her front.

"Now fillies and colts, future Cutie Mark Crusaders, now that your President and founder has arrived, let the ceremony begin!" all ponies cheered as Twilight let Apple Bloom take her place.

"Umh Twilight, what are you doing here?"

"Remember that as a Princess I must attend to every official event in the kingdom."

"This is an official event?"

"Well, I may have told the court I´m actually in a meeting with the Mayor but shh!" both mares giggled. "Are you nervous?"

"A little. I wasn´t expecting so many ponies..."

"You´ll be fine. They are even more nervous than you are. Trust me, I was in their position during my own ceremony."

"Twilight, you can´t compare being crowned a Princess to being given a raggedy cape." Apple Bloom said.

"For these fillies it is. Being Crusaders is the most important thing for them, it is an honor. They grew up with stories about you four, having adventures. They have dreamt with these moment for years and now, it has arrived. The time to pass the torch."

"Woah, you really are a Princess. I could never talk like that."

"You´ll be fine," Twilight patted her in the shoulder. "Also, happy birthday. I bet you couldn't ask for a better gift that those smiling faces."

Apple Bloom moved to the stand, looking at the new set of Crusaders. Especially the teal colored pegasus filly that was going to take her position as president. She took a good look at the clubhouse, no longer the small house where they played cards in a rainy sunday but a full building with desk and files and other stuff that showed how times have changed.

She took a final look at her cape, dirty and discolored over the years. She looked at her friends who smiled back, Scootaloo even adding a wink. She looked again at Twilight who nodded.

Apple Bloom took a deep breath, let all the memories of those years of crusading come back.

She was ready to give up the cape.