Amore stretches her arms and rubs her eyes as she stares at the open sky above her. Scarlet Orange, Aqua Streak, Octavia and herself are driving down a long open road in Aqua's car. Octavia takes a deep breath and exhales sharply.

"Hmm the air here is good for you, I think." Octavia chimes happily.

"Yeah, great... Explain to me again why me and Scarlet are coming along?" Aqua Streak asks, looking in her wind mirror with a deadpan expression at Amore.

"Because your the only one who can drive... Plus it helps to have some company with where we are going." Amore replies yawning.

"Amore, we are only going to your family's estate out in the country, what is so bad about that?" Octavia asks, reaching over to hold Amore's hand.

"It's my family's estate? Do you see the problem? The family I didn't even know I had until a month or so ago when my mother happened to be there on our trip to Manehatten..." Amore states with some distress.

"Oh, yes. I seem to recall an event of that nature... Look, it'll be fine." Octavia tries to comfort Amore.

"Yeah, I'm more worried with the fact you're dragging along two ex fucking order of light goons! Any pony would think you're trying to get us fucking killed!" Aqua Streak points out, also with distress.

"There seems to be a lot of distress in these dialogue lines..." Scarlet Orange comments.

"I know, right? It's like somepony is trying to make a point..." Amore looks up at the sky biting her lip with a frustrated expression.

"You have been really moody the last day or two... It's not that time is it?" Aqua Streak asks, looking back at Amore.

"Fuck you, Streak." Amore states flatly.

"Now, now... Amore is currently going through her vampire change. The last two days have been extremely painful and we have hardly ventured from our room. Today is her last day, hence why Vinyl invited us to the Von Scratch family estate." Octavia informs Aqua Streak.

"She flew in our fucking window, forced me outta bed and said, 'Come on squirt! Your coming back home for your ritual! What the fuck you doing? Get outta the fucking bed!' She then went on to flip our bed upside down and fuck off out the window again..." Amore recites the event with dramatic flare and a pissed off tone.

"Okay... Maybe she wasn't the most subtle mare ever..." Octavia admits.

Octavia sighs and sits back against her seat before noticing that Amore seems to be fidgeting a lot. Undoing both their seat belts she suddenly preforms a manoeuvre which pulls Amore on top of her and slides her underneath Amore so they lay across the back seats.

"No funny business in the back, I'm not washing Amore and Octavia love juice outta ma seats!" Aqua Streak protests to Octavia's display, but is ignored.

Octavia rolls her eyes before cuddling Amore closely. "You have been unable to sit still since we passed that gas station leaving Ponyville. Also, seeing as your being extra squirmy as I cuddle you. I can only conclude that you are very very aroused."

"Well, yes... I'm also hungry... Kinda unable to have our morning session with my mother's rude awakening..." Amore sighs deeply as she nuzzles Octavia's neck.

Octavia adjusts her collar and allows Amore to sink her fangs into her neck and begin feeding. Octavia runs her fingers through Amore's mane softly as her blood is sucked and slowly creeps her other hand down between Amore's thighs to lightly stroke her nethers making the mare in question stop sucking and moan slightly.

"That was so unfair and such a cheap tactic..." Amore pouts as she licks her lips.

"Hmm, worked though didn't it..." Octavia stares at Amore with half lidded eyes.

The pair are suddenly sent flying into the foot wells of the back seats putting Octavia on top of Amore squishing them together in the tight space.

"Aqua you mother fucker! You totally just cock blocked me!" Amore protests from underneath Octavia.

"As much as I'm not sorry for that... You really need to take a look at this..." Aqua Streak states as the victim pair get up from the foot well.

Amore rubs her muzzle before looking forwards at two big heavy metal gates connected to a stone wall fence. Past the gates is a huge castle estate with a large garden and stature decorations. The gates slowly open allowing Aqua Streak to drive in and follow the driveway to the front of the castle. The gang get out of the car and see Vinyl standing at the top of the stairs, slowly making her way down with her arms outstretched, a massive smile on her face.

"Amore, my girl. I'm so happy you actually got out of your bed to come to the reunion party." Vinyl states, hugging Amore as they meet halfway up the stairs.

"You kinda didn't give me a choice this morning... You flipped us out of bed." Amore protests as they break apart and walk up the stairs to the castle doors.

"Yes, well... You needed to come here regardless. This is the third day in your transformation. After today you will have picked a side within you and will have the power to move on. I must warn you though, our family is somewhat an odd bunch." Vinyl explains as she opens the door and they enter the castle.

The main hallway of the castle is large and decorated in fairly medium tone purples and blues. A wide gilded black carpet stretched up the whole length of the hallway to the end. Either side of them on the walls are portraits of various ponies who have wild mane styles.

"These are all former members of the Von Scratch family. Also dotted around the castle are various trophy's and gold records that our family has achieved during our time in this world." Vinyl explains pointing to each of the portraits.

"Wow, this is so cool... I can't believe my family is so awesome." Amore stares all around them in awe.

Vinyl leads them to the end double doors and opens them with flare as they step into a very large gather hall which is set up for a party. There are countless ponies in attendance who have various mane styles mostly in abnormal colours like Vinyl and Amore. Octavia looks around the room before spotting a mare leaning against the wall with a decently sized group of Von Scratch family members. She has a pure white coat like Vinyl, but her mane is slicked back and in the same colours as Amore's only with more red than black. The mare wears a blood red waist coat which bares a dark red skull pattern on it, navy blue jeans with a black belt and a black leather armband around her right arm with a pair of dark blue pilot shades in contrast to Vinyl's signature purple shades.

"She an ex of yours?" Amore asks, teasing Octavia who sighs.

"Not exactly, I met her a while ago in Las Pegasus. She was apparently after a hunter who had me as a target. Needless to say she was a tad slow and I dealt with him myself. She was quite shy if I remember correctly." Octavia explains.

"Oh her? That's Hope Scratch, my sister and your aunt. She is a quiet mare mostly, but shares my love for music. You'll get to meet many members of our family soon enough, but first you should meet your grandparents. You might actually already know them." Vinyl states as they approach a mare and stallion who are sitting down on sofas by a large fireplace in the hall.

"T-that's... There is no bucking way!" Amore exclaims, her jaw dropped wide.

Sitting before her on the sofa is a light blue mare with a light grey mane and tail, she wears a medium length dress that reaches her thighs, the torso has downward black and white stripes while her skirt takes a more fashionable route. Around her neck is a dark pink scarf and on her face is a thick black framed pair of pink glasses that hide her eyes. Beside her sipping a wine glass of blood is a dark blueish grey stallion with a light sapphire blueish grey mane and tail that has light grey stripes in it. He wears a rather extravagant suit with gold cuff links on his sleeves. On his face is a pair of dark purple glasses which also hide his eyes.

"Photo Finish and Hoity Toity! Are you shitting with me?!" Amore finishes her shocked sentence.

"Nope, I assure you they are your legit grandparents. Well, go say hi." Vinyl shoves Amore towards the pair sitting down.

Photo Finish eagerly stands up and hugs Amore who is unsure quite how to react.

"No need to be so tense, darling! Although I can understand the awkwardness of this whole thing. You have been all alone up till now, so cruel of my own daughter to forbid us to see our one and only grandchild." Photo Finish states, looking dramatically at Vinyl who rolls her eyes.

"Precisely, we had to worry year in and out wondering how you were doing. Vinyl would write to tell us of your progress, but she left out so much..." Hoity Toity joins his wife's dramatic display.

"As head of the house it's my responsibility to keep her safe... You both knew what I did was to protect her." Vinyl states, folding her arms defiantly.

"Darling, you know we have never questioned how you handle yourself or the family. Amore should consider herself lucky she will not inherit the head position yet, that has many more years to come." Photo Finish explains, sitting back down.

"More importantly, what is a Von Melody doing here? The head of their house no less." Hoity Toity demands, looking at Octavia.

"She is with me and is my marefriend..." Amore informs in a flat tone.

"Ah... Forgive my rudeness. I didn't mean to upset anypony. As you know some members of our two houses have been at odds for a while now." Hoity Toity states while looking at Photo Finish who rolls her eyes behind her shades.

"That's down to a difference in musical opinion, I doubt anything will come from it." Octavia smiles.

Vinyl stretches and brings Amore to her, placing her arm over her neck.

"Well, squirt. It's nearly time for your ritual. Once it's complete, you wont feel any drastic change in mood or pain inside here." Vinyl pokes Amore's chest a few times.

"That'd be nice... When does this start?" Amore asks, looking at Vinyl who tilts her shades down.

"Very soon, for now I want you to go check out your room with Octavia. I'll send for you when everything is in order. Hey, Big C, get over here!" Vinyl calls out into the large hall and a stallion suddenly appears beside Amore.

The stallion is wearing a full butler outfit and bows to Amore. His coat is a dark grey, his mane and tail are a dark blood red and his eyes are a dim blood red.

"Hell, my lady. My name is John Charles Edward Nathaniel Adams, but you may call me whatever you wish." John states, removing the glove from his left hand and extending it to Amore.

"Umm... John is fine I guess. I'm Amore." Amore shakes John's hand while sighing deeply.

"Show Amore and Octy to her room for me." Vinyl asks, getting off of Amore and wearing a big smile.

John bows before whisking Amore and Octavia away through a nearby set of doors and out of the main hall.

John opens the doors to a seemingly large bedroom decorated in various forms of red and black furniture. An elegant sofa set up sits in front of a decorative fireplace, a large four poster bed sits directly opposite the door at the back of the room. Various posters of musical artists Amore knows she likes hang on the wall by her desk which has a DJ mixing table set up on it. Beside the mixing table is a large speaker set up which puts a wide smile on Amore's face.

"If nothing else, mother has good taste." Amore twirls around as she looks at her room and appears very happy.

"Lady Vinyl Von Scratch will be pleased to hear you like your room. She has tried to keep it updated as you have grown up and modify it to reflect your interests." John informs Amore who leaps onto her bed to lay on her back.

Octavia enters and looks around the room, smiling softly as she walks over to the bed. She sighs deeply before crawling onto it and cuddling up to Amore.

"Such a nice room you have, my dear." Octavia states with a smile.

"Thank you... I guess mother isn't so bad after all. It's going to take time to get used to all this new stuff." Amore sighs deeply.

"The ritual will commence in a few hours so you have time to rest and explore your room. I must attend to some preparations for the party that will follow your ritual, excuse me." John bows slightly and leaves, shutting the doors.

"Tavi, what would you say if I said I felt like giving up fighting..?" Amore asks turning on her side to face Octavia.

"Are you having one of your swings again? That is most unlike you to even consider such a thing." Octavia states, very surprised.

"I don't know... It just feels like fighting has become a chore rather than fun now... Before I picked countless fights growing up just to drown the pain. Then it became a habit, that evolved into a love. I found I was good at fighting, at winning. I lived to feel that rush during combat when you were so close to the edge, those narrow misses and close calls. I've never been so good with words or learning... So I stuck to what I knew." Amore explains looking sad.

"Which is fighting. What has you feeling so different about it?" Octavia asks, placing her hand on Amore's cheek.

"It just feels that since coming to Armonia a lot of responsibility has been dumped on it... That it's no longer something I do because I love it. That if I don't fight then those I love will get hurt... I don't want to fight if it's something I'm forced to do... I always had a choice, now it just seems like I don't have any..." Amore sighs as she cuddles up to Octavia.

"I understand the order is an annoying thing... I know they recently put you in a position which forced you to fight, but don't let them dictate who you should be... Our academy is built on the beliefs of so many individuals..." Octavia stands up and sighs. "You taught me so much when you came here... I used to think fighting was just another means to an end. A way to get what I want and make others obey me... Dominant power was all I cared about back when I landed in that courtyard... When we fought, you put up such a carefree fight. You didn't give a shit if you got hurt or damaged, you lived for the thrill of facing an equal opponent. You wanted a challenge... During the course of that fight I got so carried away, that I didn't care about the academy's honour or anything so trivial... I was really enjoying fighting somepony who wasn't taking life so seriously. That you gave off such a powerful aura, such confidence in yourself... That's the Amore I fell so madly in love with, the mare lying before me seems like such a lost version of her former self... It makes me sad..." Octavia states before quietly leaving.

Amore rolls over and stares at the ceiling, a million thoughts running through her head. Amore glances over to the mixing table before jumping up and walking over to inspect it. Looking it over she can see that it's the model she first played on back when she took an interest in music. Biting her lip she runs her hand along the right edge of the table, eventually running them over an engraving, she feels out the letters that make up 'AMR-3'. The engraving is crude and shabby, likely done with a pocket knife or other sharp instrument.

"I was wondering where you went..." Amore mutters to herself.

"You left it behind at the house after the attack... I decided to pick it up and keep it safe for you. I have done nothing to it, but dust it every now and then. It's still the same board I watched you come alive on." Vinyl walks over from the doorway.

"Knocking much? Thanks... For saving it... I really like the room, you actually were watching me all those years growing up." Amore sighs deeply.

"Yes, I didn't want to miss a single moment. I sent a few musical gifts and kept sending that old git support money for you... I was always there, just not physically... When you got into fights I wanted to help, but I remember a certain fire in your eyes. You never wanted saving, you loved to fight. You have come a long way, what are you afraid of?" Vinyl asks, looking at Amore.

"Changing... I don't want to change. It's not the sucking blood, Octavia actually tastes really good. It's not the wings, those are damn cool. I'm just afraid of me changing, like I don't want to change who I am..." Amore states, leaning into Vinyl's shoulder.

"Wait to figure things out during the ritual. Every member of our family undergoes it at some point in their life. It helps you decide which path you want to go down. Our curse isn't just that... It's a part of who we are. If we want to take that in or not it is our choice. You have every right to reject it, however, the ritual might change your mind." Vinyl begins walking towards the door.

"Will you come get me, instead of John, for the ritual?" Amore asks.

"Sure, just get some rest and relax." Vinyl states softly as she leaves and shuts the door.

Amore finds herself standing in front of a large highly decorated reinforced metal door that has vampiric engravings on it. Taking a deep breath she nods to Vinyl, who is standing beside, her and inputs a code into the number panel next to the door.

"I have to ask... Why is the door so heavily reinforced?" Amore asks, looking nervous.

"These rituals have been seen to get a bit... Violent at times." Vinyl smiles slightly.

Amore steps past the doors into the large hall which she can see has a long blood red carpet leading up the centre to an elevated platform which holds a pedestal and bowl on it. Amore walks along the red carpet up to the bowl and can see a sharp dagger sitting beside it.

"I hope you can hear me, it's been a while since we tested the speaker system installed in the chamber. You have to spill some of your blood into the bowl." Vinyl explains over an intercom system.

Taking a deep breath Amore picks up the dagger and cuts her right hand deeply to begin filling the bowl with her blood. Once quarter full she stops and the engraved runes below and around the pedestal light up blood red. They then begin to spark to life and the blood within the bowl ripples. Amore jumps backwards from the bowl and holds her head in pain as something tries to force it's way out of her. After dropping to her knees, some pitch black entity forces its way out through Amore's mouth and dives into the blood bowl making it explode in a blood cloud.

"Ah~ I was wondering when you would undergo this trial... You have become so boring and weak to listen to..." A very familiar and playful female voice states.

Amore looks towards the elevated platform once the cloud settles and her eyes widen at what stands before her. On the platform is the vampire armour clad version of Amore she met before she faced Shintaku a second time. The Amore in question stretches and flexes her fingers before using the surrounding blood to form normal Amore's reformed longsword.

"W-what the hell are you doing here? I thought I absorbed you and the others back when we defeated Shintaku." Amore stands back up.

"You see, here is the thing... Your cells remain in a constant flux during your three day rest period. During this time nothing is certain and there is still a chance to become normal. However, for those wishing to become a vampire you must undergo the ritual. This ancient rite determines where you belong in vampire society, what level your abilities are at and so forth... Least this is what I know from your vampire blood. So, the bottom line is you fight me and finally absorb the power you are meant to hold... Or I kill and absorb you, taking your place in this world and get to have some fun." The vampire Amore explains.

Amore's silver case is dropped from the ceiling and she opens it to find her longsword which is in its new form since fighting Shintaku. Picking it up Amore throws the silver case aside and sighs deeply.

"I don't want to fight..." Amore states, throwing her sword to the opposite side, away from her silver case.

"Then die!" Vampire Amore states as she flies towards Amore and punches her in the face.

The resulting impact sends Amore rolling across the floor and into a pillar.

"I don't understand you at all, Amore. Since when did the host I belong to get so weak? It'll be a release for you, I'm sure, when I take your place and let you get away from it all." Vampire Amore comments as she punches Amore through the pillar and across the floor again.

The glass windows of a viewing booth can be seen above the large metal door entrance. In this booth Vinyl, Octavia and Vinyl's parents, Aqua Streak and Scarlet Orange are sitting on chairs watching the fight.

"What is she doing? Why doesn't she fight back..?" Octavia asks, wearing a pained expression as she watches Amore.

"I don't believe she can... She feels so weighed down by everything that she doesn't have the spirit to fight. All this shit about the order and our war... Not being strong enough to protect the ones she loves or holds dear... I went through the same stage when I was her age, remember? Me and my marefriend went to my family home for a few days." Vinyl states to Octavia.

"I remember, you were very unwilling to do a lot of things during that time... Then after you came back it was like somepony lit the fire within you again. What did happen?." Octavia replies.

Vinyl smiles and looks back out into the chamber. "I beat the shit outta myself."

Amore is flung across the floor again, this time being brought next to her longsword.

"Things used to be so simple didn't they? No wings, no blood sucking, none of this Order of Light bullshit. Just picking fights across Equestria because you could. Finding the biggest and the strongest to take down. You didn't care much for safety either... You used to live a carefree life before you went to Armonia." Vampire Amore chuckles.

Amore closes her eyes and can see flashes of all the previous fights she had growing up. Moving from school to school, college to college bringing the hurt to anyone who claimed they were the strongest. She pictures the fun time she had at the place she went to before Armonia and flashes of her old sparring partner come to mind. Then she flicks herself onto the memories to do with Armonia. The intense fight with Octavia, the fun fight with Aqua Streak and Scarlet Orange, their band and the festival. Amore can see flashes of the student council and the bar.

"I should come up with a new name for myself... Hmm what about Midnight? Na too cliché... Oh, I know what about Amy? No, I don't feel in the mood to be pink... What about Serenity? It'll do for now... How about we clean up..?" Serenity looks confused at Amore who is laughing.

"I'm such a fucking idiot... Why didn't I see it before? Nothing has changed at all..." Amore slowly gets up and grabs her longsword. "I'm no different than I was when coming to Armonia. The wings and fangs? They were always there, I just had to awaken to my vampire powers and even that isn't new as it was always in me. As for the fight against Shintaku... How is she any different from the punks I used to beat down in school? For that matter how are the Order of Light any different? They aren't... That is what I've been so blind about. They are just a bunch of ponies looking to be the strongest against supernatural ponies... So what if Shintaku was a strong ass bitch, I got stronger and put her down... So what if the Order of Light has stronger ponies in it, I'll toughen up and beat them down too... My carefree life was no different at Armonia. I woke up and barely paid attention in class. I got into fights and went to sleep next to an amazing marefriend... My life never changed, it only got better... I'm still the same carefree Amore I was way back when." Amore holds up her finger for a second and clicks her tongue.

"What? What is it now?" Serenity asks, looking confused.

"There is one difference when I think about it..." Amore states as a playful grin finds its way across her face.

"What in the name of Celestia could that be-" Serenity is cut off by Amore preforming a two-step kick into her face, which sends her flying across the hall floor.

Amore makes her slightly bigger pitch black vampire wings sprout out her back and she lets her fangs show.

"I must be the sexiest looking mother fucker with wings in this entire castle, well... Octavia can come second, but I'm not sharing first." Amore cracks her neck.

Octavia sighs as she relaxes. Aqua Streak looks confused and turns to Vinyl.

"Can somepony explain how she came out of her 'down period'?" Aqua Streaks asks Vinyl.

"She just realised what had been staring her in the face since she came to this castle... Nothing had truly changed about her nor would it ever. As I said before, I beat the shit outta myself to get out of mine." Vinyl smiles as she flips a record onto the nearby DJ deck connected to the speaker system.

Serenity picks herself up as Amore flips her longsword around her hand and they both charge at each other to clash in the middle. Their blades clash with energetic fever and as Amore's signature grin can be seen again back where it belongs on her lips. Serenity attempts to preform a sweep kick, which is dodged by Amore who jumps over it and counters with a precise round house kick that is barely ducked under. Amore closes the gap again and unleashes a flurry of quick slashes and swipes which are matched by her scantily clad vampire version. Vinyl sits on the edge of her seat watching them both intently, excited for the outcome. Serenity preforms a strong upper cut which is blocked by Amore and sends her back a few meters.

"This sword is a little... Lacking in what I'm used to. Oh, I have the perfect idea..." Amore flips her longsword in her hand a few times.

"You're good... But we both know that if you defeat me then you can never be the same again. You will have to consume blood to survive and be in constant fear of the outside world, including the sun!" Serenity states to Amore.

Amore holds out her left hand and plunges her sword into it till half the blade is through. Vinyl stands up and goes to the window, crossing her arms and smiling as wide as ever.

"I figured it out after the battle with Shintaku when it reformed to the awakening of my true vampiric powers... That this full metal blood longsword was actually made from my own blood. Using this to my advantage... Would it not be possible to reforge this blade a second time... To better suit my new form and abilities." Amore explains as it's noticed no blood is dripping to the floor, but it is sliding down the blade to then sink into the blade.

After several seconds, Amore pulls her sword out of her hand and flicks it out to her right side while the wound on her hand heals. The longsword begins to bubble and slowly reform as Serenity charges towards Amore. Throwing her longsword into the air, Amore meets serenity mid charge and unleashes a flurry of lightning fast punches which the mare finds she is too slow to block. After the twelfth punch Amore throws in an upper cut which makes Serenity stumble backwards several steps. Amore takes a few steps backwards before holding up her hand and grabbing her newly reformed sword which falls down and into her grip.

Octavia stands up and goes to the window beside Vinyl. "What is that weapon?"

"That is the last form her longsword should be able to take. It's finally time for her to choose her path..." Vinyl grips her own arm as she can feel her blood pump around her body faster with the adrenaline from watching the fight.

The newly forged sword in Amore's hand appears to be one half of a giant pair of scissors. The sword keeps its full blood red colour only this time it's highly decorated with vampiric engravings all over the top of the handle and quarter way up the blade. Amore flips the sword around her hand and around her body with great ease and grace till she brings it back to her starting position and smiles widely.

"Hmm this is much more like it... Let's finish this Serenity!" Amore yells as she and Serenity clash once more.

Serenity is clearly struggling as Amore can be seen to be pulling off flurries and slashes much quicker than before. Using her new scissor blade she pushes Serenity back and preforms a two step kick making her full metal blood longsword fly out of her hand and into the air. Amore then begins a chain of thousands of slashes on Serenity which cannot be blocked. She then finishes with a diagonal upper slash causing Serenity to fall back onto the floor grunting in pain.

"It's over..." Amore states softly.

Serenity's full metal blood longsword suddenly comes down and pierces straight through her chest and into the ground below. Amore squats down beside serenity as she coughs up some blood.

"I knew this would be the outcome, you know... You had too much to live for and had too strong of a will. You just needed a kick up the ass to show you what was important." Serenity chuckles.

"I guess I forgot the principles for which I lived my life... I forgot what was important and that no matter what I'd never change who I was." Amore places her hand on Serenity's shoulder.

"Looks like my time is done... This is where I die, good luck." Serenity states as she closes her eyes and she begins to disintegrate into a dark blood red vampiric mist.

"Na, you don't die here. We still have an entire story to go through together. We aren't so easy to kill after all." Amore states which makes Serenity smile before she is made entirely into mist.

The mist is absorbed into Amore, but she grabs the pitch black entity from before and slams it against her scissor blade making it be absorbed into it. The fusion seems to go well as nothing changes or explodes, making Amore smile. She then stands up and walks over to her silver case. Putting away her new scissor blade she flexes her left hand a few times before swinging her silver case onto her back and heads for the exit to the ritual hall.

Upon leaving the ritual hall door Amore is met by a tight hug given to her by Octavia.

"You crazy mare, you could have been killed in that hall... I'm glad you finally know who you want to be." Octavia kisses Amore's lips deeply.

They stand there together embraced in a deep kiss before Amore pulls them apart to talk.

"I never wanted to be anypony else than me, I just forgot what being me meant and thought that I'd be changed so easily. I'm sorry for worrying you." Amore states before smiling.

"Just promise me you'll never go through this 'ritual' again..." Octavia lets go of Amore and steps aside for Vinyl who is with Scarlet Orange and Aqua Streak.

"That was amazing! I've seen you fight a lot of times, but this is the most recent fight I've been able to actually watch... You have improved so much from when you first fought. I'm beyond proud of you and am confident to entrust the name 'Von Scratch' to you." Vinyl hugs Amore.

"I'm happy you're proud of me. We spent too long apart and... I really want to make up for that. I know and understand why you had to be so distant. I forgive you and that's all that matters." Amore hugs Vinyl back as all of them leave the corridor and head back towards the main gathering hall.

Upon reaching the hall the group are welcomed by John opening the door and bowing respectfully.

"Seeing you here let's me know you survived your ritual, Lady Von Scratch. I hope to be able to serve you for several years." John states.

"John, you can call me Amore. I'm not used to being so formal, so it weirds me out a bit." Amore chuckles.

"Hmm... Might you humour me and I be allowed to call you Lady Amore?" John asks.

"I think that'll be fine. I look forward to seeing you a lot, John." Amore smiles patting John's shoulder.

They progress further into the hall and Amore can see there is a stage now set up with the various family members scattered around the room.

"You know the whole family heard about your band and, I especially, were wondering if you wanted to play for us." Vinyl asks Amore as they walk through the congratulating family members.

"Hmm... I could, but the song I have in mind requires an instrument none of my band know how to play." Amore admits.

"Well a mare found her way here and claims to be a friend of yours, maybe she knows." Vinyl informs Amore as they reach the stage.

Amore can see Veronica sitting on the stage steps looking annoyed and stands up upon seeing Amore.

"Where have you been? Nobody has seen you for the past two days since after the festival, then I learn you take a trip to your family home... It's bad to not know where your rival is at all times." Veronica crosses her arms and huffs.

"V, do you know how to play a piano?" Amore asks, ignoring Veronica's comment.

"What? Why do-"

"Do you?"

"I... Yes, I may have taken a few- Hey!" Veronica protests as Amore grabs her arm and drags her somewhere.

Amore stands on the stage in front of the gathered family members and takes a deep breath before tapping on the microphone stand to get their attention.

"Hello, for those of you who don't know... My name is Amore Sànge Von Scratch and I'm the daughter of Vinyl Von Scratch. I'd like to thank you all for requesting that me and my band preform for you, truth be told we haven't practised the song I have in mind. We are also welcomed by a new member who will be playing the piano for us." Amore points out Veronica who is on a piano behind her.

Octavia stands at the front of the stage smiling while Aqua Streak and Scarlet Orange are on the stage. Scarlet is on her normal drums while Aqua is holding a slightly different instrument along with Derpy, who arrived with Veronica.

"The reason I picked this song is because it's dedicated to the mare who is my soul reason for getting up in the morning and not 'cause she kicks me out of bed." The crowd give a small chuckle. "It's because she is the reason I started to want more out of life and enabled me to stop for a moment to see the beauty around me and more importantly, her beauty. This is to let her know exactly how much she means to me." Amore explains before starting the song. She provides the lyrics while Veronica is on the piano and her other band mates provide the appropriate instruments.

You and I,
We're like fireworks and symphonies exploding in the sky.
With you, I'm alive
Like all the missing pieces of my heart, they finally collide.

So stop time right here in the moonlight,
Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Without you, I feel broke.
Like I'm half of a whole.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold.
Without you, I feel torn.
Like a sail in a storm.
Without you, I'm just a sad song.
I'm just a sad song.

With you I fall. (Octavia smiles and gets up onto the stage and stands in front of Amore grabbing hold of her hands.)
It's like I'm leaving all my past in silhouettes up on the wall.
With you I'm a beautiful mess.
It's like we're standing hand in hand with all our fears up on the edge.

So stop time right here in the moonlight,
Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes.

Without you, I feel broke.
Like I'm half of a whole.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold.
Without you, I feel torn.
Like a sail in a storm.
Without you, I'm just a sad song.

You're the perfect melody,
The only harmony
I wanna hear.
You're my favourite part of me,
With you standing next to me,
I've got nothing to fear.

Without you, I feel broke.
Like I'm half of a whole.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold.
Without you, I feel torn.
Like a sail in a storm.
Without you, I'm just a sad song.

Without you, I feel broke.
Like I'm half of a whole.
Without you, I've got no hand to hold.
Without you, I feel torn.
Like a sail in a storm.
Without you, I'm just a sad song.
I'm just a sad song.

Amore and Octavia finish their song holding hands with their foreheads touching. Oblivious to the world around them and especially the applauding audience which is consisted of Von Scratch family members formulated into a sea of funky hair styles in various odd colour combinations. Vinyl is also applauding while leaning against the fireplace.

"Hmm mother dearest, when do you plan on telling her?" A playful voice asks from the direction of the nearby sofa.

Sighing deeply Vinyl glances towards the sofa where she can see an azure blue mare with an electric blue mane and tail that has black streaks, her eyes are an emerald green.

"Soon... She needs some time to settle into her new form like you did, but I promise soon she'll know. With luck she wont punch me again." Vinyl reassures the mare.

"Yay, I might finally have a sister to spar with. She can sing really well." The mare comments.

The mare wears an azure blue leather jacket with a black T-shirt and a pair of denim shorts that stop halfway down the top of her thigh.

"Maybe you should introduce yourself if you're so eager to meet her..." Vinyl sighs.

"Maybe I will... We shall see what I end up doing, mother dear~" The mare smirks before jumping off the sofa and sauntering away from Vinyl who sighs deeply before looking back at Amore and Octavia.

Author's Note

It's back for its turn on my fic roulette. After this month I'll be picking the fic I feel like writing and just running with it till it finishes. If you have a comment about or feel you'd like to see this fic run with, please leave it in a comment. Things can only get more interesting as Octavia gets her own chapter next. Look forward to next time.