//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12 
// Story: Starbloom Chronicles II 
// by L_Wolf 
//------------------------------//


~*{Chapter Twelve}*~


Starbloom woke up slowly the next morning, rolling over to lay on all fours yawning softly looking around. She felt Sweetie nestled up against her again and sighed softly smiling. She moved to her hooves carefully so not to wake her up and adjusted the blanket again. She figured Sweetie was having a hard time sleeping alone after what happen to her parents.

She made her way to the bathroom and started the shower while brushing her teeth. She knew her mother and Spike would be home today with Rarity, though she wasn't sure what time they would get back from Canterlot. She rinsed her mouth after she finished brushing and got into the shower and closed her eyes.

As she relaxed under the hot stream of water from the shower her thoughts drifted back to yesterday, and Sweetie Belle asking if she would go to the funeral with her. Her eyes snapped open and her cheeks flushed red. "Damn it Starbloom stop. She's your friend, and you're at least twenty years older than she is, even if you don't look it." She scolded herself sighing softly.

She couldn't help herself though, she and Sweetie Belle spent the most time together out of all her friends. It was natural they would be close, but she didn't think it was right for her to think herself and Sweetie as more than just friends, especially now. "Besides, it's probably not what I think." She mumbled to herself. "She's been through a traumatic event, it's natural she'd want her friends with her."

She finished her shower and shook herself dry before climbing out and her towel to dry herself off the rest of the way. Taking a deep breath to settle herself. "Just stop thinking about it, it's nothing." She told herself softly before hanging her towel to dry and opened the door leaving the bathroom.

Sweetie Belle was awake, sitting on the floor where she had curled up next to Starbloom to sleep. "Morning Starbloom," She said smiling at her softly rubbing her eyes with a hoof. "Do you know, when Rarity, Twilight and Spike will be home?" She asked.

Starbloom shook her head trying to hide the flushing in her cheek. "No, I don't know when they'll be home. Probably aro..." She squeaks feeling a brush going through her mane and blinked seeing the magic aura around Sweetie Belle's horn.

"You forgot to brush your mane after your shower." Sweetie said giggling softly at her surprise as she worked the brush through her mane. Sweetie Belle had improved a lot with her magic since Starbloom started teaching her, especially her levitation magic.

Starbloom did her best to keep from blushing as the brush worked its way through her mane. "Oh, yea I guess I did. Thank you Sweetie." She said giggling nervously. "As I was saying, they will most likely be home around noon."

Sweetie Belle nodded getting to her hooves and walking over to Starbloom, putting the brush away. "Thank you so much for your help Starbloom." She said putting her hooves around her in a hug. "I couldn't imagine going through this with out your help."

Starbloom smiled and hugged her back softly, "I'm glad I could help Sweetie, I know it's hard but you'll get through it." She said releasing the hug.

Sweetie smiled at her and nods softly as she let go of the hug as well, she moved around Starbloom to go into the bathroom to wash up. She paused before closing the door, "I know I will, thank you again." She said before closing the door.

Starbloom smiled before letting out a soft sigh as the door closed. She turned and made her way downstairs to the kitchen to make a quick breakfast for herself and Sweetie Belle. She was glad Sweetie seemed to be feeling better after everything that happen.

"Hmm, low on milk and flour." She said as she went through the kitchen getting the stuff together to make some pancakes. She wasn't the best cook, but she had learned how to make a few things. She got onto a stool and put her front hooves on the counter to steady herself as she stirred the batter.

By the time Sweetie had finished getting cleaned up she came downstairs to the smell of freshly cooked pancakes. "I didn't know you knew how to cook Starbloom, those smell great." She said smiling as she went over to the table sitting down.

"Thank you, Spike taught me how to make them." She said smiling at Sweetie as she fixed her a plate. "They're not as good as his though." She added looking at the pancakes, they were oddly shaped but none of them got burnt or was runny.

"Well, they smell good and," She paused to test one smiling, "They taste great."

Starbloom blushed softly at the compliment, she never cooked for anyone but herself, Spike and Twilight so she was happy that Sweetie Belle liked them. "Thank you Sweetie, I'm glad you like them." She said smiling at her.

"Rarity always criticizes my cooking, but mom an....." She paused mid-sentence and felt tears swell up in her eyes. She closed her eyes and wiped at them with a hoof settling herself.

"Hey... it's okay Sweetie," Starbloom said getting up and going over to rub her back. "It'll be alright"

Sweetie opens her eyes and looks at Starbloom smiling softly at her. "M.. mom and dad... they always liked my cooking, even if it was burnt most of the time." She said softly.

Starbloom smiled back at Sweetie softly rubbing her back softly. "Yea, I'm sure they enjoyed it, because you made it for them." She said moving her hoof from her back and going to sit back down.

"Yea, they were like that, mom and dad, so caring and polite." Sweetie said softly smiling tears still threatening as she remembered her parents. "I know my cooking was bad, but they still ate it."

Starbloom smiled at Sweetie watching her carefully. "Do you feel like going to the market after breakfast?" She asked, hoping to change the subject. "I need to get some flour, milk and a few other things."

Sweetie considered the question before smiling softly nodding. "Yea, I think some fresh air and sun would be nice. I'd like to come." Sweetie said after a moment.

Once they finished breakfast and got the kitchen cleaned up, Sweetie insisted on helping, Starbloom got her saddle bags and money pouch looking over at Sweetie. "Ready to go?" She asked smiling at her.

"Yea, I'm ready." Sweetie Belle said smiling, both leaving the library and headed to the marketplace. Sweetie enjoying the warm feeling of the sun on her back. She missed her parents, but being with Starbloom kept her from feeling lost and alone. She was determined to accept the lose and be strong for her friends and her sister when she got home.