Chapter 8
Starbloom spent the the evening practicing various tricks with her magic. She quickly learned however that she couldn't remember how to preform all of her spells. Levitation was easy enough, but almost all unicorns could do that. However she couldn't teleport or do any of the other magic she had worked hard on learning. "It's odd I can't do some of these spells... I don't understand it," Starbloom said pacing around the main lobby of library.
Spike was watching Starbloom quietly as she paced and talked to herself. "Maybe the spells were tied to your cutie mark?" Spike suggested as he tried to be helpful. Starbloom paused for a minute to consider the idea, before she looked over at him and shook her head.
"I don't think so Spike. I know cutie marks is tied to a ponies special talent, but I really don't think spells are linked to it." She sighed and sat down to think. This situation was pretty unique so it was hard to say if what Spike suggested had merit or not. She considered what it meant if what he said was correct. "If loosing my cutie mark did cause me to loose the majority of my spells... what else did I loose?" She wondered out loud.
"Don't worry about it Starbloom, I'll help you learn some new spells," Twilight said to her as she came out of the kitchen after cleaning up the dinner dishes. "You went through something pretty traumatic and was cut off from your magic for a while. Besides your a filly now, the use of an age regression spell in this way has never been done before"
Starbloom sighed again but knew that Twilight was right about that. The trauma she went through and being cut off from her magic for as long as she had been was pretty hard on her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath thinking before she looked over at Twilight. "Your right Twilight, when I was this age all I knew was levitation that could be why it's all I can remember now," Starbloom said smiling yawning softly and shaking her head lightly.
Twilight smiled at her and giggled softly, "I think it's time for bed time," Twilight said urging Starbloom up stairs to her room. Starbloom didn't protest she was pretty worn out so she headed up stairs to her room. "Good night Starbloom, sleep well."
"Goodnight Twilight," Starbloom replied opening the door to her room and goes to bed, her lack of being able to remember spells still bothered her, but she was to tired to think about it and went to sleep quickly.
Spike looked up at Starbloom watching her quietly as she went to bed before looking over at Twilight before speaking, "Do you really believe it's her age limiting her magic and remembering her spells?" Spike asked, to which Twilight shook her head no to.
"I don't think so Spike, magic doesn't work that way. You don't get spells as you get older, you learn them much like you learn anything. Honestly her magic is different now, not just the fact it goes through a gem now," Twilight said taking a seat on a cushion and looking out the window. "It's weaker, maybe half of what it use to be. Part of that is her age, lack of a cutie mark and horn, but for the most part it's just been lost to her, since she isn't the element of magic any more."
Spike looked confused for a few minutes before looking at Twilight, "Are you saying your connection to the element of magic boosts your magic?" He asked her, it was hard to believe but it also made sense.
She looked over at Spike and nodded to him before starting to explain, "Yea, I believe so. It's a theory I came up with a while back shortly after beating Nightmare Moon. My magic had always been strong, but it increased a lot after I gained the element of magic. Like when I suddenly teleported with you to escape from the ponies chasing us for the Gala tickets. That's when I started to develop my theory."
Spike considered what she said for a few moments, "What your saying, is that each element boosts the holders natural element? Like Applejacks honesty, Pinkie's ability to make others laugh, Rainbow Dash's loyalty, Rarity's generosity, Fluttershy's kindness and your magic?" Twilight gave him a nod smiling, Spike continued. "So now that she has lost that connection she's back to how strong she was as a filly?" he asked still sounding a little unsure of the idea.
"I believe so Spike, her magic is still strong for a unicorn. But not as strong as it use to be. Honestly I don't think she'll be able to preform a lot of the old magic she learned." Twilight said with a sad look on her face, the prospect was a little depressing for her.
Spike could tell the idea was upsetting Twilight and he hugged her lightly. "Don't worry Twilight, I know she'll overcome this. She's just like you after all." He said looking up at her and smiles.
Twilight smiled at Spike and gave him a soft hug back nodding, "I know Spike, she'll be just fine." She moved to her hooves, "Come on, it's late we should get to bed as well." She said heading up the stairs to her room, she stopped to check in on Starbloom, using her magic to fix the covers before heading to her room. "Good night Spike."
Spike followed her to the room and got into his own bed getting under the covers. "Good night Twilight"
Morning
Starbloom awoke the next morning sitting up rubbing her eyes with her hooves looking around yawning. It was later then she expected she rolled off the bed and pulled her head band on adjusting it so the gem was over the gray patch on her forehead before she remembered today was Monday. "Oh horse apples! I'm late for school!" She quickly raced down stairs looking around using her magic to grab her saddle bags and slinging them across her back. Not taking the time she normally does to brush her mane.
"Starbloom! Don't swearing!" Twilight called to her from the kitchen, "What is all the ruckus about anyways?" She asked as she poked her head from the kitchen and looked at Starbloom as scrambled around the main hall of the library to get stuff ready.
"I over slept and I'm going to be late for school. Ms. Cheerilee already scolded me for that before," Starbloom said as she made sure she had everything ready quickly passing a brush through her mane and tail with her magic to at least make it present able. "Don't forget you need to be at my school 2 hours before it lets out for Family Apparition Day as well," Starbloom reminded Twilight.
Twilight nodded at Starbloom and smiles then almost choked, "Wait that's today? I totally forgot about that with everything that happen over the weekend. Hurry on to school Starbloom, I'll be sure to be there on time with something to tell the class," Twiligh told Starbloom.
Starbloom just sighed softly but nodded making her way outside quickly and galloped quickly through town on her way to the school hoping to make it there before the bell rung. She made it through the door and inside panting hard just as the finally bell rang.
"S.. sorry... Ms. Cheerilee, I overslept it wont happen again." Starbloom said trying to catch her breath as she made her way to her seat putting her saddle bags next to her and took her seat. She used her hooves instead of magic deciding to keep it a secret for now, at least until she told her friends about it.
"It's okay Starbloom, you made it inside before the bell so your not late. But do try to be more on time please," a few of the other kids in the class giggled but Ms. Cheerilee quieted them down before starting her lessons for the day. Starbloom did her best to pay attention but was finding it hard to concentrate.
She hadn't considered it before, but now she wondered if her friends would accept her now that she could preform magic again. As far as they knew she was just an earth pony who grew up in Canterlot. But now she was a unicorn who didn't have a horn and was augmenting magic power through an enchanted headband.
Afternoon
Afternoon rolled around class let out for lunch, the girls made there way outside and to the table they normally sat at. Since she had been in a hurry Starbloom didn't have a lunch so the three shared with her. Sweetie Belle spoke up first, "Hey Starbloom what's with the head band? Did you hurt yourself?"
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle first before looking at Starbloom and noticed the woven silver headband peeking under her bangs. Apple Bloom spoke next before Starbloom had a chance to say anything, "Sweetie Belle that aint a bandage that's a headband like for exercising an` stuff."
Starbloom held up her hooves to stop them before they could continue so she could speak. "Girls please, it's not an exercising headband or a bandage. It's a special headband that Rarity and Twilight made for me yesterday," she said and took a deep breath. "I have something important to tell you, so I need you to listen okay?" She asked them.
The three crusaders got quiet and looked at each other before looking back and Starbloom and nodded before Apple Bloom spoke, "Alright Starbloom, you got our attention we'll listen carefully to what you gotta tell us."
Starbloom wasn't sure if she was ready for this, but she didn't have much choice now. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath relaxing herself, she opened her eyes and looked at her friends. "I'm not really an earth pony. I'm sure you've noticed I'm not as strong as Apple Bloom is, or as fast as Scootaloo. I'm a unicorn, but I lost my horn in an accident. Which is part of the reason I'm here in Ponyville as well, the head band allows me to use my magic again." She said looking at the three trying to judge the reaction but just before any of them had time to react a familier voice chimed in from the right bringing glares from all of the crusaders at the table.
"Well isn't that a nice little story blank flank," it was Silver Spoon speaking this time. Diamond Tiara was there as well but she had been trying to avoid eye contact with Starbloom and acting more timid, "What would make it better is if you was really an Alicorn princess with no wings or horn!" Silver Spoon continued while giggling.
Starbloom growled loudly and the gem on her headband flared brightly chasing her mane to ripple around her head, the necklace around Silver Spoon's neck slipped off her head and floated over head just out of reach. "I am not a liar!" Starbloom said her eyes took a faint purple aura and a small hole opened in the space behind the necklace and she flung the necklace through the hole causing it to disappear along with the necklace. Her mane settled back down and the glow around her eyes and the gem disappeared. Though she seemed to be in a daze as she locked eyes with Silver Spoon making her freeze in place and a look of pure fear come over her.
"Starbloom!" Hearing her name get called snapped her out of the daze she shook her head and looked around seeing Ms Cheerilee standing next to her, Silver Spoon freed from the gaze ran quickly back into the school. The rest of the school fillies just stared at her with a mix of awe and fear, even the Cutie Mark Crusaders just stared. "I think you should head home, you and Twilight can do Family Appreciation Day tomorrow alright?"
"I... I... yes Ms. Cheerilee.... I'm so sorry Ms. Cheerilee," Starbloom said on the verge of tears, she looked at her friends before she quickly ran back home whimpering softly leaving her saddle bags in the class room. Once she reached the Library she used her magic to open the door and quickly ran upstairs ignoring Spike when she asked what happen and why she was home early. She went to her room tossed her headband across the room and flopped on her bed to cry.
Twilight opened the door and came into Starbloom's room, seeing the headband on the floor across the room and Starbloom sobbing into her pillow it didn't take her long to figure out something happen at school involving her magic. She trotted over to the bed and sat next to it. "Starbloom, tell me what happen, please. So I can help." Twilight said softly reaching over and rubbing the fillies back gently trying to sooth her.
Starbloom sniffled softly and looked over at Twilight rubbing her eyes with a hoof resting her head on her pillow. "I.. was telling Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle about being a unicorn and... Silver Spoon called me a liar..." she started and sniffled a bit more before continuing, "I attacked her with my magic before I knew what happen, I locked my gaze on her freezing her in place, took her necklace and threw it into my world. I don't know why... I just didn't like her calling me a liar... I'm scared my friends hate me now... or worse are scared of me. Ms. Cheerilee sent me home and said tomorrow we can do the family appreciation day."
Twilight sat quietly and listen to what Starbloom told her softly rubbing the fillies back with her hoof to keep her calm. "I'm sure your friends will understand and wont be scared of you or hate you. As for your outburst I think it'll be best if you apologize to Silver Spoon tomorrow." Twilight said leaning over and kissing her forehead. "Now I think a relaxing bath and some rest will do you good alright?"
Starbloom nods at Twilight softly and smiles feeling better moving she gets her headband and puts it on the hook near her bend before going to the bathroom to take a hot bath to help relax her body and sooth her mind. It had been a troubling day and she needed to relax. One thought did cross her mind, what happen to Silver Spoon's necklace when she threw it into her world.