//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: Starbloom Chronicles II // by L_Wolf //------------------------------// ~*{Chapter Twenty}*~         The evening was emotional for Starbloom, talking with Twilight and Spike about the accident that resulted in Spike’s death. The trial and judgment Celestia passed on her, the pain she experienced having her cutie mark and horn stripped from her.         Twilight knew most of what happen from her dreams seeing the events unfold, but a lot of the information was new to Spike. “Gosh Starbloom, I didn’t know you went through all of that.” Spike said going to her side stroking her mane softly trying to comfort her. “It must have been a horrible experience.”         Starbloom rubbed her eyes with a hoof softly. “It was… I lost a part of me… no I lost multiple parts of me that day… I lost my Spike, my horn, and my cutie mark. The one thing I can’t replace is my Spike though…” She whimpered softly looking over at Spike. “N… not that I don’t love you like a little brother Spike, because I do I just miss the one I raised.”         “We understand Starbloom, don’t we Spike?” Twilight asked looking over at him, to which Spike nodded in agreement, “You hatched him and raised him like I did. He was special to you like Spike is to me. Nothing in all of Equestria can take his place no matter what.”         Starbloom nodded at Twilight sighing softly looking at Twilight and Spike softly, “Yea, I hatched him and raised him… then I got him killed,” she muttered slumping against the floor, “Because of my ego and arrogance he died, it wasn’t his fault I was so stupid.”         Twilight sighed softly moving over and draping a wing over Starbloom, “Starbloom please you mustn’t blame yourself, it was an accident. You would have helped him if you could have.” Twilight offered softly trying to comfort Starbloom using her wing to pull the filly against her softly. “Even Celestia knew that it was an accident which is why she had Luna send you here instead of keeping you locked up in prison.”         Spike nodded in agreement moving closer and sitting front of the two ponies, “Look Starbloom, if you're Spike is anything like me… he wouldn’t blame you for what happened. His last thoughts would be worried about your safety and happiness and that’s the honest truth.” Spike stated confidently before adding, “I know it was mine when that happen with me and Twilight and I got hit with that book.”         Both Twilight and Starbloom look over at Spike smiling softly, Starbloom nuzzled against Twilight softly before speaking. “Thank you Spike, I just miss him but that makes me feel better.” She sighed softly resting her head on her mother’s fore hoof softly.         Twilight smiled at Spike again before tilting her head kissing the top of Starbloom’s head softly taking a deep breath. She looked up and noticed the time thinking for a moment, “Are you going to school tomorrow Starbloom?” Twilight asked looking down at Starbloom.         Starbloom thought about the question for a moment then nodded softly. “Yes mom I don’t want to miss school if I don’t have to,” Starbloom answered tilting her head to look up her mother.         “Then you may want to go to bed, it’s after your bedtime dear.” Twilight smiled down at Starbloom moving her wing off her back. Starbloom nodded getting to her hooves. “Sleep well.”         “Thank you mom, I will.” Starbloom smiled back looking over at Spike, “Good night Spike.”         “Good night Starbloom,” Spike said watching as Starbloom made her way upstairs to her room to go to bed. “Do you really think she’ll be alright Twilight?”         “I think so Spike, it’s some old wounds and they are bound to hurt… but it’s good that she’s dealing with them. Truthfully though, we should have dealt with this when she first arrived here.” Twilight sighed softly looking at the floor. “Do… you think I’m a bad mother for not taking care of this sooner?”         Spike blinked looking at Twilight, “Of course not Twilight, what kind of question is that?” Spike asked in genuine surprise, “You’re a great mother, granted she appeared out of nowhere and you didn’t know what to do but all things considered you did a wonderful job with her. She’s happy and healthy, smart to.”         Twilight watched Spike for a moment tilting her head, “She’s smart because she has my memories Spike, but thank you.” Twilight smiled at him, “I just worry I’m not doing a good job raising her. I try to make sure she eats right, has friends, and stays out of trouble.”         Spike rolls his eyes looking at Twilight, “Well… that’s what a parent does isn’t it? Other than that, I don’t think there is too much for you to do Twilight. If you’re that worried about it, you can ask Mrs. Cake,” Spike suggested.         Twilight got to her hooves smiling putting Spike on her back, “Sounds like a good idea Spike, thank you.” Twilight agreed heading up stairs after putting out the lanterns. She puts Spike in his bed before getting into her own.         The next morning, after getting Starbloom off to school, Twilight ready and headed to Sugar Cube Corner. Spike elected to stay and take of his choirs and the library while she was out. Twilight thought about dropping by to see how Rarity and Sweetie Belle was doing as well, but she decided not to, at least not yet.         She went into Sugar Cube Corner looking around. “Hello, Mrs. Cake are you here?” Twilight called out.         “Hey Twilight!” Pinkie answered bouncing out of the back. “Mrs. Cake is out right now but she should be back in a little while, can I get you anything?”         “Hello Pinkie Pie, I just had a few questions for her is all.” Twilight smiled at Pinkie watching her bounce in place. “How long do you think she will be out?”         “Oh, I’m not too sure an hour at most though. I can answer questions though.” Pinkie Pie smiled in reply.         “Oh I see, well I did have a question for you as well Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said remembering something Starbloom mentioned yesterday.         “Oh? What’s the question you got for me?” Pinkie asked with a grin bouncing even more wanting to be helpful.         “Well yesterday Starbloom said something about you being correct, in her never dealing in what happen to her I was wondering what she meant by that.” Twilight wondered and Pinkie stopped bouncing and walked over to Twilight.         “Oh that, well she was upset about something and had an argument with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom, she told me what happen to Sweetie Belle and Rarity brought back painful memories. I suggested maybe she just hasn’t dealt with them is all.” Pinkie Pie smiled at Twilight, though with a hint of serious to it. “Has she started?”         Twilight nodded at Pinkie Pie, “Yes she has Pinkie Pie, Starbloom has finally started to deal with those memories and emotions.” Twilight answered Pinkie with a soft sigh. “I’m glad she has as well. I just…”         Pinkie tilted her head looking at Twilight, “You just what Twilight?” Pinkie asked her motherly tone back.         “I just wish… I had talked to her about this sooner, it makes me feel like I failed as a mother for not noticing she needed to talk this out sooner.” Twilight admitted to Pinkie over up at her.         “Is that why you came to talk to Mrs. Cake, to ask her about being a good mother?” Pinkie asked moving with Twilight to sit at a table.         Twilight nodded, “Yes it is, being a mother herself I thought she might be a good person to ask.”         “I take care of the Pumpkin and Pound Cake all the time Twilight, I’m not their mother of course, but I help raise them and I’ll tell you what I’m positive Mrs. Cake will tell you, and what Applejack will tell you and any other mother will tell you. You’re doing an excellent job raising Starbloom under the circumstances.” Pinkie Pie proclaimed looking at Twilight with her arms crossed.         “Well… thank you for the vote of confidence Pinkie but… what do you mean under the circumstances?” Twilight asked tilting her head.         “Twilight, you were given a filly around the age of eight years old to take care of, you had no experience and yet you have done a marvelous job with her.” Pinkie Pie smiled at her, “You should be proud of what you’ve done with her, considering what she went through to get here.”         Twilight smiled at Pinkie Pie, “Thank you Pinkie, I never thought of it like that.”         “You’re welcome Twilight; try not to worry so much.” Pinkie said getting to her hooves Twilight arose as well. “I need to get back to work.”         “Alright Pinkie Pie, thank you again.” Twilight smiled, “I’ll talk with you later.”         Pinkie smiled waving a hoof as Twilight left before she went back to work behind the counter of Sugar Cube Corner. Twilight was feeling more confident in her role as Starbloom’s mother after her talk with Pinkie Pie.