//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 // Story: Starbloom Chronicles II // by L_Wolf //------------------------------// ~*{Chapter Twenty-One}*~         Starbloom slept deep after her talk with her mother and Spike last night, she didn’t remember dreaming much of anything though. She felt her mother nudging her and she opened her eyes slowly looking over seeing Twilight standing next to her bed. Starbloom yawned softly sitting up slowly.         “Good morning dear, sleep well?” Twilight asked smiling at Starbloom, thought she was worried for her as well, last night had been emotional for her.         “Good morning mom, I slept alright… I feel rested at least.” Starbloom said rubbing her eyes with a hoof getting out of bed. “I don’t remember having any bad dreams.”         “I see,” Twilight mused, perplexed by that. Nevertheless, Twilight figured that if she didn’t remember having them, it was for the best. “What do you want for breakfast Starbloom?”         “Do we have any raisin bread toast?” Starbloom asked walking towards the bathroom; Twilight followed her to the doorway.         “Mm, yes dear we have some of that left.” Twilight answered smiling at Starbloom.         “I’d like a slice of that please.” Starbloom smiled at Twilight before turning on the shower and getting in to wash up.         Twilight nodded, “Alright dear, toasted, or cold?” Twilight asked by the doorway.         “Toasted please, with just a little bit of butter.” Starbloom replied loud enough to be heard over the water.         “Alright, I’ll make sure it’s ready when you’re done.” Twilight called back before heading down to the kitchen. She got the toast out and ready but waited before starting it. She started the toast when she heard the shower stop.         By the time, Starbloom had dried off and downstairs, the toast was waiting on the table for her, still warm with a glass of orange juice. “Thank you mom,” Starbloom smiled at her sitting at the table and nibbled on her toast.         “You’re welcome Starbloom,” Twilight smiled sipping a glass of hot tea.         “Where is Spike?” Starbloom asked looking around the back towards Twilight.         “Right here Starbloom, good morning,” Spike greeted coming into the kitchen carrying a basket with milk bottles in it. “I was getting the milk delivery.”         “Good morning Spike,” Starbloom smiled at him sipping her juice watching as he took the basket of milk to the ice box and put them away before she noticed the time. “Oh! I need to go, see you when I get mom, Spike, love you both.”         “Have a good day at school dear, if you need to come home early Spike or I will be here.” Twilight smiled watching Starbloom get up; she picked up toasted bread and head out to the library main hall putting her saddlebags on.         “See you later Starbloom,” Spike smiled waving at her.         Starbloom hurried out of the house holding her toast in her mouth as scrambled out of the door, halfway down the street before she slowed down enough to eat. “Hey Starbloom, how are you feeling?” Sweetie asked trotting up next to her.         Starbloom looked over and smiled at Sweetie swallowing her toast, “Good morning Sweetie Belle, I’m feeling alright why do you ask?” Starbloom asked tilting her head.         “Rarity said you came by yesterday, and that you were upset about something. She wouldn’t go into detail about it though.” Sweetie Belle answered looking at Starbloom as they walked together.         “Oh… that yeah I was upset yesterday had a run in with Silver Spoon and I lost my temper with her.” Starbloom said evading the real issue. She felt Sweetie Belle had enough to deal with without adding her troubles on top of it. “I also… snapped at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo as well, I need to apologize to them.”         Sweetie Belle blinked looking at Starbloom, “Why did you snap at Scootaloo and Apple Bloom?” Sweetie wondered, Silver Spoon she understood since she had a habit of bullying and teasing. However, she had never known Starbloom to lose her temper with her friends.         Starbloom shook her head faintly, “It’s nothing really, and I was just having a bad day. More importantly how are you feeling Sweetie Belle?” Starbloom asked trying to shift the subject off herself.         “I’m doing well; me and Rarity talked and went through some old photo albums. I think I fell asleep though, I woke up in her bed.” Sweetie Belle answered smiling faintly. “Rarity is doing well to… the funeral is tomorrow if you still want to go with me.”         Starbloom nodded at Sweetie Belle smiling at her, “Yea, I do I told you I would do my best to help you through this and I will.” Starbloom reassured Sweetie Belle, just as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom caught up to them near the schoolhouse with Diamond Tiara and Noi.         “Hey girls,” Apple Bloom called to them, Sweetie Belle and Starbloom turning and smiled waving at the other four.         “Hello Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Diamond Tiara, and Noi.” Sweetie Belle greeted.         Starbloom smiled at them and waved. “Good morning girls.” She greeted before looking over at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, walking over to them. “Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, I want to apologize for losing my temper yesterday. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”         The two look at each other for a moment before looking back at Starbloom, “Its fine Starbloom, ya already apologized for that yesterday. So no worries alright?” Apple Bloom smiled at her.         Starbloom smiled at her and nodded, “Alright, thank you Apple Bloom, Scootaloo.”         “You going to apologize to me for you did?” Silver Spoon growled as she stomped over to the group, Crimson Rain following behind her though less than eager to face the larger group of ponies. She had a bandage on her forehead from where the crystal cut her. “Because of your stupid headband crystal thing I have to wear this thing!” She yelled pointing at the bandage.         Starbloom narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth turning around to face Silver Spoon folding her ears back. “No, I won’t apologize for that… what you said yesterday is unforgivable.” Starbloom growled glancing over towards Sweetie Belle who looked stunned and upset, all of Starbloom’s friends had a stunned look at Starbloom’s aggressive behavior. “If anyone should apologize it’s you.”         Silver Spoon stared at her for a moment before huffing, “Yeah well… you and your group of loser friends can go eat poison joke.” Silver Spoon huffed turning around quickly bringing her tail around to smack Starbloom across the muzzle with it for added insult.         Starbloom crystal started to shimmer before she felt the band slip off her; she glanced over seeing Sweetie holding it in her magic. “Thanks Sweetie…” Starbloom mumbled softly lowering her eyes to the ground ashamed of herself.         “You’re welcome; I didn’t want you getting in trouble again.” Sweetie Belle said walking over and putting a hoof on her shoulder.         The other girls in the group went over to Starbloom, “Come on let’s go inside, we don’t wanna be late.” Apple Bloom said, the rest agreeing and heading inside the schoolhouse. Sweetie Belle placed the headband back on Starbloom.