//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: Starbloom Chronicles II 
// by L_Wolf 
//------------------------------//


~*{Chapter Eight}*~


While Sweetie Belle rested in her bedroom Starbloom made her way around the library making everything was clean and put away. The library was already pretty clean since it was just her and Sweetie right now, but she wanted to make sure the library was in perfect condition when her mother and Spike returned.

After double checking to make sure everything was clean Starbloom got out a broom and started to sweep the floor quietly to keep herself busy and her mind distracted. As she was sweeping Sweetie Belle made her way from the bedroom, she looked better but still upset.

"Feeling any better Sweetie?" Starbloom asked looking up from sweeping. 

"Yea... I feel better." Sweetie said softly watching her quietly. "Can, I help?"

Starbloom thought for a moment then nods at Sweetie Belle. "Sure, if you want to." Starbloom answered smiling at her.

Sweetie smiled back at her lightly going over and takes another broom in her magic and start to help sweep the floor with Starbloom. Starbloom opened the door to the library and swept the dust and dirt outside. Once the floors of the library was swept clean Starbloom went around opening the window to let fresh morning air into library.

"Going to be a nice day," Starbloom said smiling at Sweetie Belle.

Sweetie Belle nodded at Starbloom going to the cushions and curled up on one smiling sadly. "Yea, seems like it will be." She said softly nuzzling herself down on the cushion.

Starbloom watched Sweetie Belle quietly as she lay on the cushion curled up. She felt bad for Sweetie Belle, wishing there was a way she could cheer her up, but she couldn't think of anything. She considered for a moment before speaking, "I'll be back in a few minutes Sweetie, if anyone comes in for a book or help let them know okay?"

Sweetie Belle tilted her head at Starbloom before nodding. "Alright," she answered.

Starbloom smiled before leaving the library and hurried quickly down the street leading to Sugar Cube Corner. The bakery was busy like normal but the line was moving pretty quick. She got into line and waited until she was at the front.

"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner! What can I get you today?" Pinkie Pie asked before seeing who it was, "Hello Starbloom!" Pinkie Pie smiled brightly.

'Hello Pinkie Pie, I would like a dozen chocolate chip cookies and four cupcakes, two strawberry and two chocolate," Starbloom said giving her order before added. "Also, have you seen Apple Bloom, Scootaloo or Diamond Tiara?"

"Coming right up." Pinkie Pie said smiling as she started to put the requested items into a bag putting the cookies in first before putting a small box with the cupcakes into the bag. "I believe I saw Scootaloo with Apple Bloom earlier going to the park. That'll be ten bits."

"Alright, thank you Pinkie Pie," Starbloom said paying for the treats and taking the bag in her magic leaving the bakery and heading to the park to find Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. It didn't take to much time before she found the two in the park. Scootaloo was practicing some tricks with her scooter and Apple Bloom was putting together a ramp for her. She even found Diamond Tiara who was sitting nearby watching.

Starbloom ran over to them, "Hey, Diamond Tiara, Apple Bloom." She said before calling over to Scootaloo, "Hey Scootaloo."

Scootaloo raced over on her scooter as Apple Bloom walked over to where Starbloom was near Diamond Tiara. "Hey Starbloom, how's it going?" Apple Bloom asked smiling at her. "Sweetie feeling any better?"

Starbloom smiled at the them but shook her head lightly. "Afraid not, that's why I came to find you three. Do you think you can come to the library and help me make her feel better?"

The three looked at each other before looking back at Starbloom, "Of course we can," Diamond Tiara said, smiling at her. "Should we bring anything?" she asked, as far as they knew Sweetie Belle was sick.

"No, I got that covered." She said nodding at the bag she got from Sugar Cube Corner. "I think you three being there will help her feel better."

The three nodded at Starbloom before following her to the library. "So what's the matter with her?" Scootaloo asked after a few moments. 

Starbloom considered for a few moments if she should tell or let Sweetie Belle fill them in. She finally decided to let them know, "I got a letter from my mother, she, Rarity and Spike are in Canterlot.... Sweetie's parents were in an accident, and passed away yesterday."

The three looked shocked, glancing at each other before looking at Starbloom, "I'm really sorry to hear that Starbloom, I can imagine she feels very depressed right now." Diamond Tiara said, she like most of the members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders had lost a parent. "We'll do everything we can to help her feel better."

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. Apple Bloom had been really little when her parents died so she didn't feel the loss as much as Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo, thought she still wondered about them and what had happen to them. "Ya, we'll get her feeling right as rain in no time." Apple Bloom said smiling.

It wasn't long before they went into the library, Sweetie Belle was still curled up on the cushion and looked over seeing the four enter. "Welcome back Starbloom, I see you brought our friends." She said giving them a smile. "Hello Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara."

The group went over and joined Sweetie Belle on the cushions smiling back at her. Starbloom sat the bag of treats down in the middle. "We heard what happen Sweetie Belle, Starbloom told us, and we wanted to come by and say we're sorry for what happen to your parents." Diamond Tiara said giving her a weak smile.

Sweetie lifted her head a from the cushion and looked at her Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara before looking over at Starbloom who gave her a smile. "We've, all had a loss in our life Sweetie, so we do understand how your feeling. But we don't have to talk about that, we're just here to make you feel better alright?"

Sweetie Belle looked at her friends again giving a soft sad smile nodding slowly. "A... Alright, thank you very much." She said softly resting her head back on the cushion taking slow deep breaths for a moment before looking back up. "H.. how do you make the pain stop?" she asked looking at the four fresh tears in her eyes.

The four looked at each other for a moment trying to come up with an answer before Diamond Tiara looked at Sweetie Belle. "It doesn't really ever stop.... but maybe if we tell you how we dealt with it it'll help?" she said smiling before taking a deep breath remembering the day her mother passed away.