~*{Chapter Twenty-Four}*~
Starbloom woke up slowly the next morning looking around seeing her mother was awake sitting on the couch writing on a scroll. She stayed quiet and watched as Twilight wrote listening to the soft sounds of the quill scratching across the scroll.
“Good morning Starbloom, did you sleep well?” Twilight asked lowering the scroll looking over at her.
“Yes mom… I did,” Starbloom, answered quietly not wanting to wake up Spike who was sleeping at the foot of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” Twilight asked putting the scroll and quill away getting off the couch walking over to the edge of the bed sitting next to it. “Are you still in pain or dizzy?”
“A little stiff, but not dizzy or anything,” Starbloom replied shifting softly on the bed.
“That’s good then I should be able to take you home today.” Twilight smiled at her before looking over at Spike then at the small clock on the wall. “School will be starting soon, Spike?” Twilight reached over nudging him awake.
Spike shifted a little before stirring awake sitting up on the bed rubbing his eyes yawning. “Mm… what is it Twilight?” He mumbled before seeing Starbloom was awake, “Oh your awake are you okay?”
“I’m okay Spike, good morning.” Starbloom answered smiling at him.
“Spike, I need a favor” Twilight started getting the scroll she was writing on earlier and looking it over before finishing it. “Take this to Ms. Cheerilee for me?”
“Sure thing Twilight,” Spike replied jumping off the bed taking the scroll and started walking to the school as quickly as she could.
Starbloom looked confused at Twilight, “What was that about?” she asked wondering what was written on the scroll.
“I wasn’t too sure how badly you got hurt, so that was just an update for Ms. Cheerilee letting her know you won’t be in class until your better.” Twilight answered bringing a hoof up to push her bangs back looking at the gray patch of fur on her forehead. “We also need to get you a new headband as well.” She added leaning over kissing her forehead.
Starbloom smiled looking up at Twilight, “How long… do you think I’ll be out of school?”
“Only a couple of days at most, you still need to rest and stay off your hooves as much as possible.” Twilight answered ruffling her mane lightly before sitting back.
Starbloom nodded then something struck her, “Oh no, I promised Sweetie I would go with her to the funeral for Rarity and her parents today. Can I still go?” Starbloom pleaded looking at Twilight.
Twilight blinked, with everything that happen yesterday and being worried over Starbloom she had forgotten the funeral was today. Seeing the look in Starbloom’s eye she found it hard to say no so she sighed softly smiling, “Yes you can go, I’ll go with you, but if you start to feel dizzy or start hurting let me know right away, promise?”
Starbloom nodded, “I promise mom, I will tell you if I start to feel bad.” Starbloom replied feeling more relieved she didn’t want to break her promise.
The nurse came in a few moments later and checked on Starbloom, everything looked good so the nurse said she was free to leave. She gave Twilight some pain relievers for Starbloom in case she started to hurt. She also got her the papers she needed to sign to discharge Starbloom.
By the time everything was filled out and Starbloom was ready Spike had returned from the school. Twilight carried Starbloom on her back and Spike carried her saddlebags as they left the hospital. Starbloom shifted on Twilight’s back a little.
“Can we go to Rarity’s first so I can get my new headband?” Starbloom asked.
Twilight considered for a few moments before nodding, “Alright dear, we can go to Rarity’s first. Just don’t expect to get a new one right away, the headband part is easy to make but the gem can be hard to find.”
Starbloom nodded faintly listening to her mother, “Alright mom, I’ll keep that in mind.”
The walk to Rarity’s place didn’t take too long, Spike decided to take Starbloom’s saddlebags home. He didn’t want to have to carry them there and back, and they were covered in dust and dirt. He knew Rarity wouldn’t like having them in the boutique like that.
“Twilight darling how lovely to see, and Starbloom, I am so sorry to hear what happen to you, it was simply dreadful.” Rarity greeted as they came inside smiling over at them. “What can I do for you two today?”
Twilight carefully lifted Starbloom of her back and sat her on a cushion to rest. “It’s nice to see you again Rarity, Starbloom needs a new headband her old one was destroyed yesterday.” Twilight explained settling onto a cushion next to Starbloom.
“Oh I see, that’s terrible let me see what I can do,” Rarity frowned getting out a tape measure and starts to take measurements for the new headband. “Twilight, be a dear and check that chest over there and see if I have any gems that might work for the headband.”
Twilight smiled, “Alright Rarity,” Twilight agreed getting to her hooves going over to the chest going through the different gems Rarity had stored. After a bit of searching she finds one that had the proper magical resonance needed and brought it over.
“Hmm, it’s a little bigger than the old one but I can work with it,” Rarity said taking some measurements of the crystal before taking out the fabric she needed, using a mix of gold and silver braiding woven into a dark blue fabric. “What do you think Twilight, will this do?” She asked holding up the finished product.
“That looks perfect Rarity, thank you so much for doing this.” Twilight smiled looking at the headband. Starbloom tilted her head looking at the new design.
“It looks a little heavy,” Starbloom mused, as she looked it over. “Will it slip down at all?”
“Don’t worry Starbloom darling, it won’t slip or anything.” Rarity reassured her while fitting the headband into place and making some minor adjustments for a proper fit.
Starbloom moved her head around; it didn’t feel as heavy as she thought it would. However, it did feel different from her old headband. The shape and size of the new crystal made it feel more like a horn, which after not having one for so long was an odd feeling for her.
“Well dear, what do you think do you like it?” Twilight asked as she and Rarity watched her move her head around some more.
“It feels, different from my old one but I like it. Reminds me of when I use to have a horn.” Starbloom answered looking up at the crystal before looking over at her mother and Rarity smiling at them settling back onto the cushion resting.
“Don’t worry darling, you’ll get used to it.” Rarity reassured her smiling, Twilight nodded in agreement stroking Starbloom’s mane softly. “Would you to like to stay for a late breakfast?”
Twilight smiled at Rarity, “That sound great Rarity, neither of us had anything since yesterday.” Twilight stated thinking for a moment, “Come to think of it we didn’t even have dinner yesterday.”
“You poor dears, I’ll be back shortly with something.” Rarity said getting up and going to the kitchen to get them something. Starbloom hadn’t even noticed how hungry she was until Twilight and Rarity brought it up, she barely had anything yesterday having also skipped lunch.
It wasn’t long and Rarity came out with some simple sandwiches and tea for them. With how she started to eat betrayed just how hungry she had been. “Oh my you must have been starving darling.” Rarity noted as she watched blinking.
Starbloom blinked and blushed softly looking up at Rarity and Twilight who was staring at her. “I… skipped lunch yesterday… I wasn’t that hungry then.” Starbloom admitted quietly.
Twilight smiled stroking her mane softly and Rarity nodded softly, “Well eat up, there is plenty more.” Rarity smiled taking a sip of her tea.
Starbloom smiled and ate her fill before nuzzling into the cushions and falling asleep, she was still feeling a little drained for the magical burst. “The poor thing must be exhausted.” Rarity whispered softly not wanting to wake her up.
“Yes she is, her magical powers work different now without a horn, pushing it out without a horn is like popping a balloon full of water. It all comes out at once leaving her physically and mentally drained.” Twilight replied just as quietly a wing tucked over Starbloom to keep her warm.
“How long is going to be this tired?” Rarity asked tilting her head before taking a sip of her tea.
“If she gets plenty of sleep, she should be fine by tomorrow. At least, magically she should be recovered.” Twilight answered taking a deep breath sighing, “But… she insists on keeping her promise to Sweetie Belle and going to the funeral today. As much as I would like to make her stay home and rest, I can’t force her to break her promise.”
Rarity nodded slowly at Twilight, “I understand your concern Twilight, and of course you know we’ll all be there to help keep an eye on her.” Rarity reassured Twilight.
Twilight smiled at Rarity but shook her head faintly. “Thank you Rarity, but I can’t ask you to do that. Today is a day for you and Sweetie Belle to get closer and say goodbye to your parents.” Twilight insisted, “Spike and I will make sure she’s fine.”
Rarity smiles at Twilight taking another drink of her tea. “If you’re sure darling, it won’t be a problem.”
“I’m sure Rarity, but thank you for the offer.” Twilight smiled moving to her hooves using her magic to gently lift Starbloom and rest her on her back without waking her. “I should get her home and to bed, thank you again for everything.”
“You’re welcome; if you need anything just let me know.” Rarity smiled rising to her hooves and walking with Twilight to the door opening it for her. “I’ll see you later today.”
Twilight smiles and left the boutique. “See you later Rarity.” Twilight replied before walking towards her home with Starbloom sleeping peacefully on her back.