~*{Chapter Twenty-Two}*~
The school day passed by slowly for Starbloom, the first lesson was a three-page essay on earth pony tradition in regards to farming and construction. It wasn’t that Starbloom was uninterested in the topic she just wasn’t feeling herself today.
Normally she would have had the paper finished and turned in before the lesson was half over, but she barely had a half the work done before it was time for class to move on. When Ms. Cheerilee came to get her essay, Starbloom sighed softly offering what she had finished to her. “I… I’m sorry Ms. Cheerilee I didn’t finish,” Starbloom muttered softly.
The rest of the class just stared in disbelief, even Ms. Cheerilee was surprised, “It’s alright Starbloom, but I would like to see you after school today alright?” Ms. Cheerilee spoke before moving on collecting the rest of the papers.
“Yes Ms. Cheerilee,” Starbloom replied sighing again her ears drooping, she couldn’t believe she didn’t get the work finished in it. The rest of the day didn’t go much better after that. By the time lunch rolled around she wasn’t that hungry. She followed her friends out to their table and sat down.
“What’s going on with ya Starbloom your normally on top of all this school work?” Apple Bloom asked tilting her head. The others looked over at her with worry.
“I don’t know Apple Bloom, just not feeling myself today. Just stress I guess,” Starbloom said sipping from a bottle of apple juice.
“Don’t suppose it has anything to do with your confrontation with Silver Spoon this morning do you?” Diamond Tiara asked offering the group some fudge.
“No, thank you though.” Starbloom politely declined the offered fudge, “It might, but I don’t know, I might just be having an off day.” She didn’t want to blame Silver Spoon, no matter how much she felt like it.
“Maybe you’re just sick?” Noi suggested taking a piece of the offered fudge, “When I had the flu last week I couldn’t concentrate on anything.”
Starbloom blinked a bit at Noi but shook her head, “I don’t feel sick or anything…” She sighed softly. “At least it doesn’t feel like the flu.”
Sweetie Belle considered an idea, but it wasn’t really anything she could bring up in front of the others. She smiled at Starbloom, “Maybe you’re just tired? Did you get enough sleep last night?”
Starbloom smiled back at her, “Yea, I did thank you… I did get to bed later than normal though.” Starbloom got the hint Sweetie Belle was trying to give bringing up last night, but she didn’t think she was depressed.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out Starbloom,” Scootaloo said getting up and stretching herself out flexing her wings. “You always do, I’m sure Ms. Cheerilee will understand that.”
The group got up with Scootaloo and cleared the table before heading back inside the classroom. The rest of the day after lunch went better than the first half, Starbloom wondered if maybe she was just a bit depressed and upset over what happen with Silver Spoon before class started.
School was soon over and the class started to gather up their belongings before leaving for the day. “Do you want us to wait for you Starbloom?” Apple Bloom asked when she and the rest of her friends where ready.
“No, that’s okay Apple Bloom, I’m not sure how long I’ll be, and I don’t want to keep you. But if you could, stop by the library and let my mother know I’ll be late getting home?” Starbloom requested smiling at Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom smiled back, “I will Starbloom, hope ya do’n get into much trouble,” Apple Bloom answered before turning to leave with the rest of her friends to head home.
Once the rest of the class was gone Ms. Cheerilee walked over to Starbloom’s desk, “How are you feeling Starbloom?” she asked sitting next to the desk looking concerned.
“I’m feeling alright Ms. Cheerilee, I was just… I was not feeling myself this morning.” Starbloom answered fidgeting a bit behind her desk.
“I understand Starbloom, you know if you’re having any trouble at all you can always come to me… we’ve had this talk before a couple of times when you’ve spaced out in class.” Ms. Cheerilee recalled looking at her still concerned.
“I know Ms. Cheerilee and I am sorry to keep worrying you like this. It’s just… with everything that happen brought up some bad memories of Canterlot… I’m working through them though with my mother.” Starbloom said doing her best not to lie about it. “And I will make up the work I didn’t finish today, I promise.” She added smiling up at Ms. Cheerilee.
Ms. Cheerilee sighed softly rising to her hooves nodding. “Well, alright Starbloom, but if this happens again I will have to talk to your mother about it okay?” Ms. Cheerilee warned ruffling Starbloom’s mane with her hoof. “I do worry about you like I do all my students.”
Starbloom smiled faintly at the ruffling, “I understand Ms. Cheerilee I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again I promise.” Starbloom said looking up at her teacher.
“Alright Starbloom, you can go. Have a safe walk home.” Ms. Cheerilee said moving to her desk to collect her own things so she can go home as well.
“Thank you Ms. Cheerilee, have a good evening.” Starbloom replied slipping from her seat and getting her stuff together.
She left the schoolhouse and started on her way home, Ms. Cheerilee didn’t keep her as late as she had expected but the other fillies and colts from school had already left so she was by herself on the way home.
She was about halfway home when she felt something hit her in the side and send her sprawling into an alley. She grumbled and quickly scrambled to her hooves when she felt something grab her headband and remove it. “Hey, give that back!” She shouted turning to find it when she spotted Silver Spoon. “I should have known it was you, give me back my headband now!”
“Not until I get my apology for what you did to my forehead.” Silver Spoon growled narrowing her eyes.
Starbloom huffed and narrowed her eyes before taking a deep breath to calm down; she turned to leave only to see Crimson Rain standing at the edge of the alley with her wings spread to block the exit. “You’re not getting past me so you may as well just tell her sorry.” Crimson Rain smirked making sure to cover as much of the alley as she could.
Starbloom sighed and turned back to Silver Spoon, narrowing her eyes before grumbling. “Fine, I’m sorry for cutting your forehead. Now can I have my headband back and go?” Starbloom muttered looking at Silver Spoon.
“Umm… nah, I’m not done with you yet.” Silver Spoon said dropping the headband on the ground and stamping it hard with a hoof crushing the crystal. “That’s for cutting me with that thing.”
Starbloom’s eyes went wide seeing the crystal get smashed under her hoof, even Crimson Rain was surprised. “Silver Spoon, you said you just wanted her to apologize!” Crimson Rain yelled at her.
“I changed my mind okay! Just make sure doesn’t leave and no one else comes down here!” Silver Spoon yelled at Crimson Rain before turning back to Starbloom who was still in shock. Without her headband not only could she not use magic she was in danger of magical build up.
“H… how could you do that Silver Spoon? I need that!” Starbloom cried tears welling up in her eyes looking over at Silver Spoon only to catch a full buck to chest sending her to the ground grunting. She struggled to get up with her saddlebags still on.
“Silver Spoon stop it!” Crimson yelled seeing what was going on.
“Shut up!” Silver Spoon yelled back charging at Starbloom who was just starting to get back up only to ram into her side knocking her back down and further into the alley.
Crimson Rain shifted a bit unsure of what to do, before she finally snapped her wings and took off away from the alley.
Silver Spoon snorted seeing Crimson Rain fly off, “Loser, was getting tired of her whining anyways.” She muttered before bucking Starbloom again as she struggled back to her feet.
Starbloom shuddered and groaned as she hit the ground again her saddlebags were taking most of the impact to her sides but her legs and shoulders were starting to get sore and she has hit her head a few times from being knocked to the ground.
Silver Spoon grinned as she walked over to her, “Feels nice, getting my revenge for you stealing my friends and making them abandon me.” Silver Spoon teased snapping her tail behind her. “I didn’t even want your stupid apology; I just wanted you to say you were sorry for once.”
Starbloom panted hard looking up at Silver Spoon before dropping her head back down. She bit her lip and tried to focus, she could pull off magic without her headband but it was hard and she needed to focus.
Silver Spoon tilted her head standing over Starbloom looking down at her. “What are you up to? Trying to use magic without your little headband?” Silver Spoon mocked as she watched; there was a crackle of energy before a wave of kinetic energy exploded of Starbloom violently. Silver Spoon was sent flying out of the alley but was caught in a purple aura of magic along with a dumpster. The windows of the nearby shops blew out from the force.
Twilight Sparkle held Silver Spoon in her magic grip and stared into her eyes. She was shaken up from being tossed so violently but otherwise unhurt. “What in the name of Equestria did you do to my daughter?!” Twilight demanded her eyes narrowed, Crimson Rain was standing nearby watching.
“N… nothing I swear princess!” Silver Spoon lied fear expressed all over her face.
“That’s not true; you beat her up I couldn’t stand for that anymore so I got her mother.” Crimson Rain admitted watching.
The explosion had altered the police ponies that arrived shortly after Twilight did. She turned to one. “Take her to her home; I will deal with her personally.” Twilight demanded before turning to Crimson Rain. “You, go home I will speak with you later as well.” Twilight added before turning to the alley and walked inside to find Starbloom.
Two of the police ponies escorted Silver Spoon home, while another took Crimson Rain home. The rest started to examine the scene checking for evidence of what happen. One of them followed Twilight into the alley.