Final day of the festival…

Amore took a deep breath, sighing lightly as it’s her turn to tend the candy floss machine while Scarlet Orange was baking the abnormal candy floss muffins. Aqua Streak sighs as she leans back in the chair, sighing deeply.

“Does anyone know where Veronica and Derpy are?” Amore asks putting the new tray of pink candy floss on the table.

“I’m not entirely sure; they haven’t shown up yet this morning. Hey, I don’t suppose you could get us some more supplies from the home ec room?” Scarlet Orange asks putting a tray into the oven next to her.

Amore nods and leaves the stand to head back towards the academy, the home ec classroom being on the right side of the second floor. Taking a small detour back in the direction of her room first.

Entering her dorm room, Amore stretches as she wanders over to the mini-fridge, grabbing a cherry flavoured soda. Popping the cap with a nearby bat styled bottle opener, Amore heads to the bathroom before a shooting pain prevents her from drinking. Leaning over to grab the sink, another pulse of a stronger pain flows up inside her, causing her to drop the soda bottle. The glass fell and smashed against the tiled floor, spilling its contents. Amore stumbles, holding her chest tightly as she works to stabilize her balance, the black shoes protecting her feet from the glass shards.

“Ngh… Fuck-“ Amore is hit by another wave, forcing her against the opposite wall as her body begins to heat up. “I didn’t think skipping breakfast would hurt like a bitch!”

Amore groans in pain, sliding over to fall into the shower. As she falls, Amore manages to turn on the cold water, allowing it to drench her heating body. Glancing towards the door, Amore’s vision begins to blur before she completely passes out.

“Amore?!” The voice of Sugar Fizz rings through Amore’s ears, making her blink open her eyes.

Amore’s vision is still blurry, but she can make out Sugar Fizz navigating the glass to squat down beside the shower entrance. Her expression is filled with worry for the downed mare before she is suddenly grabbed from behind by what looks like Shintaku.

“Poor thing. You’re not looking too good, are you?” Shintaku chuckles, “I’ll be taking her now. All you had to do was suffer more and destroy yourself, but even that seemed too complicated for a Von Scratch.”

Shintaku waves tauntingly before vanishing in a spell of coloured light. Amore stumbles forwards, only succeeding in planting herself face first into the floor. Blinking in distress, she outstretches her hand in the direction Sugar Fizz was standing, flopping down to pass out again.

“What the fuck happened in here?” Veronica’s voice is the next to grab Amore’s attention, making her groan, “Derpy, grab one of Amore’s sodas. They are the bright red bottles!”

The next thing she knows is the sensation of having liquid force fed to her as she tries to drink as much as possible. Amore coughs and slowly manages to blink open her eyes, as the blurriness fades.

“Where the fuck have you two been?” Amore asks bluntly, making Veronica sigh.

“That doesn’t matter, what does matter is this mess. What happened here?” Veronica asks as both her and Derpy help Amore to stand.

Amore gets her bearings and manages to lean up against the wall as her haze clears up and she can think straight again. “That damn seer or whatever she is took Sugar Fizz while I was in one of my episodes… Judging by this one, I’m only getting worse.” Amore sighs deeply as she rubs her eyes.

Veronica leans against the opposite wall while Derpy goes and tries to find a mop and broom. Taking a deep breath, Veronica looks at Amore.

“I can’t tell you what to pick and I don’t believe anyone can tell Amore Von Scratch how to live her life. Nor can I understand what you are going through or how it feels.” Veronica sighs, “What I can tell you, is as a friend, I want you to pick the choice that is right for you, that it’s what you want.”

Amore smiles at the support, pushing off the wall to stretch before moving into the bedroom. Getting undressed fully as Veronica steps through, she finds herself a set of fresh clothes and grabs her longsword from its case.

“Thank you… For more than just your support. Even back to the rooftop when we were enemies, I can trust you to be honest.” Amore puts the headphones around her neck and places the MP3 player in her blazer pocket, “I’m going to go kick some old ladies’ ass, then I’ll be back… One does not simply fuck with a Von Scratch.” Amore states and walks out the door.

Veronica smiles as she watches Amore leave the room with her sword, intent on causing trouble. Sighing deeply, she heads back towards the bathroom to start cleaning up the glass while she waits for Derpy to return.

Amore takes a couple of deep breathes, her sword stuck in the ground as she stands before Shintaku’s family crypt. Using the blade of her sword, she pops the top of a new soda bottle before starting to drink it. After downing the entire bottle, Amore throws said now empty bottle against the crypt to shatter it. She then picks up her longsword and heads inside and down the stairs.

The mare stops as she notices very disturbing changes since her last visit, such as the open coffins and off-centre tomb lids. “Oh, for fuck sake… Really?”

Amore groans as she prepares her longsword, the sounds of shuffling bones getting louder towards her. After several seconds throws of skeletons wielding cutlasses come up the stairs to spill onto Amore’s floor.

“Nice to see you recovered, saves me the pleasure of ending you myself.” Shintaku chuckles evilly.

“The fuck is your problem? I only met you a few days ago, the shit did I ever do to you?” Amore asks, assuming her stance, longsword angled towards the ground.

Ignoring Amore’s question, the horde of skeletons begin their assault by charging the mare. Their movements and attacks are erratic, coming from every direction and in a relentless rhythm that Amore can barely block. The undead army soon forces Amore into a corner, running out of crypt to defend from. Leaning back in surprise, the skeletons in front of Amore suddenly explode into fragments as their skulls are blown apart. Standing near the entrance of the crypt's entrance is Veronica wielding a Russian P-96m.

“I figured you could use a hand. Derpy had nearly finished cleaning up your mess.” Veronica states with a smile, unloading the remainder of her magazine to give them some breathing room, ejecting it once empty in favour of a new full magazine from a holster around her thigh.

Kicking a skeleton back, Amore cuts through a small group of four as she turns to Veronica. “Thanks for the rescue… I didn’t expect her to raise an entire crypt against me.” Amore states in frustration as she continues to push back the undead.

Battling for around half an hour, the duo finally pushes the house as far back as the stairs leading down to the second floor. Both mares are panting and feeling more than a little fatigued against the relentless defence.

“So… The Von Bone necromancers, huh?” Veronica chuckles while reloading yet another magazine. “I’d wager we’ve put down about sixty-six or so…”

Amore laughs lightly as she leans on the handle of her sword. “That’d leave about one hundred members left between us and Shintaku…”

Veronica gives Amore a blank look before drawing a silver short sword from under the back of her shirt. Adopting a new stance, the Hooviet mare cracks her neck slowly as she begins to walk down the stairs. The gunshots and grunts indicating she’s begun clearing out their obstacle.

Finally catching her breath, Amore kicks up the blade of her longsword, putting on the headphones as she takes out her MP3 to cycle through for a song. Finding one she likes, Amore charges down the stairs to join Veronica. Letting the beat guide her, Amore takes out a skeleton who’d snuck behind Veronica. Running along the wall, Amore manages to land in front, cutting down a swath of bones before Veronica leaps over her shoulder, shooting another group with key precision. The Hooviet rolls out of the way behind a tomb as she reloads, popping up to suppress the horde while Amore cuts them down one by one, blocking, dodging or deflecting cutlasses, longswords and spears. Pushing the crypt to its limit, the flow of undead trickles lower before fizzing out as they stop.

“There, that should be all of them. I’ll hang back here while you deal with the head bitch.” Veronica gives Amore an encouraging tap on the shoulder as she begins to search the second floor of the crypt.

Taking down the headphones, Amore mounts her longsword on her shoulder, reaching the double stone doors of Shintaku’s room. Coiling her leg back and using her new strength, she easily kicks open the doors, causing them to crack against the wall. Proceeding into the plain room, almost directly in front of her is a badly beaten and bloody Sugar Fizz. Gasping, Amore drops her sword and slides to her side, cradling the mare gently.

“Sugar Fizz! You alright?!” Amore asks, shaking her gently.

Sugar Fizz groans and slowly opens her eyes. “I held out as long as I could… She’s quite powerful for a hag…”

Sugar Fizz coughs harshly and spits blood out to the side. In front of the pair is Shintaku, flipping a pair of knives up in the air. “Nice of you to finally join us, half-breed…” Shintaku grins as she summons and plays with two more knives.

Amore grabs her longsword and charges at the seer, slashing in her direction. Shintaku blocks Amore’s blade with two floating knives, using the free pair to cut across Amore’s thighs. The afflicted mare unlocks her sword, attempting an X-shaped slash, but Shintaku leans backwards each time. Grinning widely, she spins around Amore, using all four knives to cut and slash her arms and torso, stopping back in front of Amore. Shintaku spins a final time to land a harsh kick in Amore’s stomach; the resulting impact sends her flying back across the floor, stopping just short of Sugar Fizz, her longsword only a few meters away.

Coughing loudly, Amore reaches for her longsword, only to have Shintaku throw a knife into her right hand. “Aah! What the fuck is your problem, bitch?!” Amore holds her hand in pain, kneeling up as she sits back.

“I suppose I should explain the agony you’re about to endure and eventually die by…” Shintaku throws a knife into Amore’s left upper arm, eliciting another scream. “Where to begin...? A very long time ago, your ancestor, Sempre Forte ‘The Devil’s Musician’, a pirate both feared and respected sailed under a certain flag. The Bloodmoon Pirates, led by Lula Bloodmoon… That undead witch ruined me, but it was your bitch ancestor who played the melody that haunted me for centuries…” Shintaku throws her last two knives into Amore’s thighs.

“Luna fucking damn it! Will you stop!” Amore groans as she shuffles back to Sugar Fizz, “Why punish me?! I’ve done nothing to you!”

“You. Don’t. Get. It!” Each word is accompanied by the harsh impact of four more summoned knives. Amore’s right shoulder, left lower arm, right leg, and finally her right chest, all four making her exclaim in pain.

Amore coughs hard, spitting blood out onto the stone floor. “No… I do. You’re a crazy old bitch…”

Shintaku laughs hard. “Even in your final moments, you’re defiant… How very Von Scratch of you. Though the fight you put up was rather short. Say goodbye to your roommate before I end you both.” Shintaku summons an army of floating knives.

Sugar Fizz reaches to hold Amore’s left hand very tightly. “Amore… It’s okay. We tried; nobody could ask for more…”

Amore shakes her head, “No! We’d barely begun! I finally found my mom… You helped me move past it. You made me pause, made me forget why I was running…” Amore starts to tear up, staring into Sugar Fizz’s eyes.

“10… 9… 8… 7…” Shintaku wears a big grin, opening her arms wide.

Amore looks at Shintaku as she counts down, turning her gaze back down at Sugar Fizz, frantically searching for an answer before stopping at her hand, seeing her blood. “Sugar… I need your permission… Please.” Amore pleads, making Sugar Fizz look confused.

“Amore… You need to be sure…” Sugar Fizz squeezes Amore’s hand tighter.

Amore nods, “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” Sugar Fizz smiles in reply and adjusts to expose her neck.

Amore takes a deep breath, spreading her wings and turning her eyes blood red before gently sinking her fangs into Sugar Fizz’s neck, drinking her blood deeply.

“Aww, that’s cute, but it’s a bit late now dear.” Shintaku chuckles and throws her arms forward.

The knives all begin flying towards Amore and Sugar Fizz, the mare’s Vampire wings seemingly growing in size at a gradual pace as she drinks slowly. Amore’s wings cover Sugar Fizz, taking numerous knives that don’t miss or hit her body instead. After being sure all the knives have been used, Amore spreads her wings, shaking out most of the blades, letting out a deep exhale as she lifts her head.

"How do you feel…?” Sugar Fizz asks, glancing up at Amore.

Amore flexes her wings and tries to settle on how to describe the sensation she feels.

“Odd? But in a good way? It’s hard to explain. How are you? You had already lost a lot of blood.”

Sugar Fizz chuckles and pulls herself up into a sitting position.

“I’ll be fine, just need some rest… I believe you need to deal with her…” Sugar Fizz states, pointing to Shintaku.

Nodding, Amore picks up Sugar Fizz and sits her on the left side of the door, leaning her up against the wall. She then walks back over and flips her sword up into the air using her foot, catching the handle.

“This is an unexpected outcome… However, it makes little difference, you’ll both die down here and my revenge will take a step closer…” Shintaku states, summoning a plethora of new knives.

Amore grits her teeth as she clenches both hands tightly, her right gripping the longsword handle. Inside she can feel herself channeling something new and powerful, almost magical in nature. Taking a deep breath, the growing crimson aura around her calms and flows more naturally making Shintaku frown.

“You’re so stupid… Holding onto a centuries-old grudge like it’s all that mattered… Then you attempt to try and take away my happiness, the first I’ve had in several years…” Amore’s aura grows even more.

“W-what do you think you’re doing?!” Shintaku sends a couple of knives towards Amore, only to have her deflect them with greater speed than before.

Amore steadies her breath, seemingly fighting with herself, the aura reflecting this struggle. “That’s the scary part, I don’t know… It feels like a raging fire inside, burning through my veins” Amore is brought to her knees in pain, her fangs full and her wings are slightly larger than a normal Vampire.

Shintaku scoffs as she combines three knives into a larger version, sending it towards Amore. The mare doesn’t dodge, letting it fly past her face, slicing across her cheek. The only indication Amore knew she was bleeding, came from the many droplets that landed on her sword blade.

Amore’s aura wraps around her longsword, engulfing it entirely. Suddenly the aura blinks and evolves into a brighter more vibrant red as the blood drops are absorbed by the sword. Standing up, Amore takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Holding out her sword, the aura begins to shift and change, morphing the longsword into an entirely new shape. The handle curves and extends to create a detailed oval with grooved design structure and ridges for grip. The blade follows suit curving before going straight, its back arching as it slides down again, curving into a point. Once finished and the aura died down, the final product resembles a detailed, elegant scissor blade. Amore swings it around, testing it as she does a couple of twirls while spinning her new blade around.

Shintaku’s eyes widen as she watches Amore, the mare’s figure shifting to a smiling black silhouette wearing what looks like a pirate hat and trench coat, wielding a similar scissor blade.

“Even after all this time, you still mess with me! Curse you Sempre Forte!” Shintaku sends as many knives as she can towards Amore in a fit of searing rage, constantly spawning more.

Amore’s gaze turns sharply, her attention focused on the hail of sharp knives heading in her direction. Slowly walking forwards, Amore adjusts her headphones while deflecting select knives, allowing her to slide, sidestep and spin around others while she sorts out the MP3 with a suitable song. Once found, Amore slips the device back into her blazer pocket before speeding forwards, deflecting many more knives as she cuts a path directly to the seer. Growling, Shintaku spawns a menacing curved blade with a skull as the hilt.

“You come into my life,” Amore spins as she slams her scissor blade against Shintaku’s sword, actually pushing her back slowly as the impact ripples throughout the room, “Try to ruin what I have,” Amore puts more force behind her blade, making Shintaku jump backwards, “I don’t care for your grudge… By fucking with my girlfriend, you made it personal!” Amore’s blood red eyes shift to match her aura as it still tempers inside her.

Shintaku grows in frustration as she summons another curved skull sword, charging back towards Amore. The pair collide, trading multiple slashes and deflects as Sugar Fizz is treated to a fast-paced spark show. Amore flips over Shintaku, spinning as she does. Upon landing, the mare manages to get in a strike across her back. Turning sharply with a fierce scowl, Shintaku constantly sees flashbacks of Sempre Forte during the time she knew her.

“Enough!” Shintaku lets out a burst of energy, forcing Amore to backflip away from her. “I’m sick of your games… This. Ends. Now!”

“I couldn’t agree more!” Amore flips her scissor blade backwards as she charges at Shintaku yet again.

When the two collide for the second time, Amore takes the offensive, managing to gain the upper hand in speed. Landing a few precise slashes, Amore sticks her blade into the floor performing a more powerful two-step kick to Shintaku’s chest and face, causing her to reel back. Spinning her scissor to gain momentum, Amore releases it in Shintaku’s direction, skewering her through the chest. Dropping her swords upon impact, she is carried to the opposite side of the room and pinned against the wall.

“Gah!” Shintaku exclaims in pain as she weakly attempts to pull the blade out of her chest.

Amore pulls down her headphones sharply, “Please just stop!” Amore exclaims loudly, emitting a flash from her aura. “Will you please just stop… Look at yourself, you used to be head of a vast necromancer coven till someone came along and ruined your life. I get it, I do… But what do you think you’re doing? What makes you any different? I’m not my ancestor!”

Shintaku gives pause, taking the time to properly look at Amore. Slowly the silhouette fades as the mare comes into focus, looking around her before down at the scissor blade.

“T-this isn’t over Amore Von Scratch!” Shintaku snaps her fingers, vanishing in a cloud of white dust.

Amore heaves a sigh of relief, turning back towards Sugar Fizz, who is standing just behind her. Amore wears a slight smile.

“That wasn’t so bad-“ Amore cuts out as she collapses into her lover’s arms.

Sugar Fizz gently cradles Amore in her arms, sighing deeply as she strokes a strand of hair out of the mare’s face.

“Welcome to the fold, my beloved Amy.” Sugar Fizz gives Amore a light kiss, draping her over her shoulder as she begins to shuffle out of the crypt.

Author's Note

Apologies for the delay, I hope this amp up in action helps make up for it and that you all continue to enjoy the story~