Amore rubs the back of her neck as she rests against the comfy limo seat, glancing out the tinted window at the passing countryside as they leave Ponyville.

"How do you feel?" Sugar Fizz asks from the seat beside her, very gently holding the mare's free hand.

"Hmm... Tender mostly, a bit achy. It doesn't hurt as much as last night when I woke up," Amore smiles lightly as she now looks at Sugar Fizz.

Sugar Fizz looks around their compartment before finding a fridge, from which she retrieves two red soda bottles.

"During the time you were making your choice and the transition, I realised that my recipe wasn't as efficient as I'd like to believe... Otherwise, I wouldn't have needed the alternative recipe from Daisy Chain which I had made especially for you." Sugar Fizz pops the top and takes a mouthful. "While they are nice and flavourful... They hold only enough content to be considered a snack. Not enough to even begin to replace blood packs or adequate feeding..."

Amore frowns as she does the same, tilting her head from side to side. "I guess, but then that wasn't even your original goal. They were a supplement, not a meal replacer, least from how I understand it. Could always do a line of 'dark' sodas with heavier flavour," Amore chuckles jokingly as Sugar Fizz stares at her, blinking.

"That's..." Sugar Fizz kisses Amore gently, smiling, "You are amazingly oblivious to your own partial genius, you realise this?"

"Uh..." Amore frowns and raises an eyebrow.

"Exactly," Sugar Fizz giggles and gives her another kiss.

Amore shrugs to herself and just decides to enjoy it before turning her attention to the driver who was behind a retractable pane of black glass. "Hey, you work for my mother, right? What exactly do I call you? I'm assuming it's not Alfred," Amore asks the driver, the black window being lowered slightly shortly after.

Amore is met with the mysteriously chilling yet oddly comforting glance from the blood-red eyes in the rear view mirror. "I think you'll find, M'lady, Alfred is a Von Melody butler."

Amore gives a slight chuckle as she looks at Sugar Fizz who nods, "Wait, you're not fucking with me? Symphony legit has a butler called Alfred?!"

"I'll do my best to answer any queries you may have." The stallion glances at her again, making her shiver.

"Uh... How long have you been a butler for my mother?" Amore asks, staring, unsettled, but not disturbed.

Sugar Fizz leans back, sipping her soda as she seems equally interested.

"My colleagues and I have been Von Scratch family butlers for the past sixteen years, M'lady. Though only one of us specifically is Lady Von Scratch's personal butler," He answers as they continue through the countryside.

Amore sips her soda before glancing out the window briefly. "So, who do you and the last butler belong too?"

Just before Amore is about to get an answer, they suddenly stop outside of a sizeable mansion, confusing both mares.

"Were we not just in the countryside? W-what? H-how?" Sugar Fizz opens the door and looks around, seeing the estate gates down the road from them.

As Amore tries to process the ever so sudden skip in the scenery, her door is opened and she is greeted by a tall, yet elegantly refined middle-aged grey Earth Pony stallion with a well-groomed, short black mane and tail. Bearing a chilling, yet oddly comforting smile which matched his eyes.

Accepting his help in getting out of the limo, Amore more clearly takes in their surroundings and swears she should have seen their family estate before ending up in the driveway, surely. "How... How did you get us here so fast..?"

"I am simply one hell of a butler," The stallion smiles as he bows slightly, giving her hand a light kiss, Sugar Fizz watching in amusement as Amore shivers.

Their attention is turned towards a loud chuckle from Vinyl, who is atop the mansion steps. "You're unsurprisingly early."

Amore and Sugar Fizz proceed up the stairs, followed by the butler as Vinyl leads them inside. Amore looks around in wonder at the oddly robust and refined decor, surprised that this is her family home. "Wow..." She notices the portraits on either side of the corridor they enter, most specifically, one titled 'Sempre Forte'.

"I see you've found an interest in our history," Vinyl states walking up beside Amore who glances at her, "She's one of our more renowned ancestors from the pirate era, or should I say the most notorious."

"She sailed under the Bloodmoon pirates, right?" Amore asks randomly, remembering what Shintaku said.

Vinyl smirked, "Yup. Also known as the 'Devil's Musician', misfortune befell all who were lulled in by her sombre melody. She's also the first of our house to become a Vampire, although she has no sire." Vinyl looks at Amore briefly, "Oh, right. That's typically what we refer someone as, who has turned another into a Vampire."

"Ah, I see, that makes sense," Amore stares at the portrait.

Vinyl leads Amore down the rest of the decorative hallway, opening a set of double doors, she takes her into a well-furnished sizeable living room. In the middle of the rectangle-shaped room, is a stone fireplace with two luxury sofas and an armchair in front of it, with a coffee table between them. Lifting herself out of the armchair, an azure Earth Pony mare flips her similarly coloured hair with black highlights to the side, smiling towards Vinyl and Amore before brandishing what looks like the other half to Amore's scissor blade from beside the chair. Suddenly growing a wide grin across her face, Amore flicks out her wrist to summon her scissor before moving so fast she seemingly appears in front of the mysterious mare, their blades slamming together. The resulting impact sends out a shockwave which shakes the room slightly.

"Been a few months since I've seen you, sis," The mare's smile grows.

"I had honestly no idea about any of this when we met, I wish I did..." Amore states before the pair break away, trading a few slashes before clashing hard again.

The mare chuckles, pushing Amore away to try and spin kick her, which is deflected. "By the time I learned of your true identity, you were leaving CEA and I didn't get the chance to tell you anything."

Dropping their swords, the two embrace instead of sparring, Amore wearing an extremely happy expression.

"I'm glad we got on well at that academy, I almost didn't walk because of you, but..." Amore flinches, remembering her ex.

The mare shakes her head, "No, it's okay. Your girlfriend was a bitch, I understand why you had to get away. Though..." She looks past Amore at Sugar Fizz, "I didn't anticipate such a delicious upgrade~"

Amore blushes, stroking her arm, "Sugar Fizz is amazing..."

Vinyl walks over, shaking her head before sighing deeply. "Well, that's one way to greet each other... Back Beat, this is your twin sister, Turn Table, or as you know her... Iluzie."

Iluzie waves her hand slightly before bowing with a wide smirk, "Also, trouble works most of the time too~" She comments, making Vinyl roll her eyes.

Amore giggles, "Fairly sure I gathered that from the time we spent together at CEA." She smiles as Sugar Fizz joins Amore's side.

"A pleasure to see you again, Iluzie. I haven't had the pleasure since our last Supernatural Games," she smiles, giving a slight bow.

"Aquatic sports, I think, was last years theme. You didn't look half bad if I recall~" Iluzie purrs making Amore blush and wave her hands.

Amore frantically shakes her head, "No, no no!" She pouts and frowns at Iluzie who can't help but laugh.

"Oh, yes, definitely siblings with similar taste." Sugar fizz giggles.

Suddenly the butler from before appears beside Amore and gently clears his throat to garner her attention, making her jump slightly.

"Where the devil did you come from?!" Amore exclaims which earns her an amused chuckle from the stallion in question.

"Pardon M'lady, your room has been prepared and a bath drawn should you desire refreshment before this afternoon's event," The stallion states with a slight bow.

Amore nods slowly, opting to slip away with Sugar Fizz to try and find her room as they exit through two sizeable doors at the opposite end of the room they entered from. Vinyl rubs the back of her neck, glancing at the stallion nervously while Iluzie heads back to sit down on the nearby armchair.

"Alexander, do you think I'm trying too hard by bringing her home this early?" Vinyl asks, sighing as she looks at the stallion.

Brushing his mane aside for the moment after having bowed, he takes a second to think before replying, "It's generally tradition for Vampires to celebrate transitions or the coming of age process for their offspring. Mistress, if I may, it's my observation you're simply doing what any other mother would do for their child. You'll have to excuse me, we have some preparations to complete before other members of the family arrive." Alexander bows as Vinyl nods, promptly vanishing when she looks away.

Vinyl heaves a heavy sigh as she approaches the window, pouring herself a glass of whiskey from the collection bottles set up on display. "Sweet Luna... I wish you were here to help me through this, you stupid orange bitch..." She downs the glass before pouring herself another.

Amore slowly creeps open a fancy engraved dark oak door, entering as Sugar Fizz follows close behind. Both of them walk further into the room, admiring the fairly large space, adorned with a queen-sized four-poster bed in the middle opposite the door, a Chester draws and bedside table next to it. To the right of the room were two wardrobes and a dressing table, while to the left, beside the bathroom door was an outfitted desk and chair. The carpet is soft and an appealing shade of steel grey while her walls were painted crimson.

"Nice to see even the Von Scratch family doesn't skimp when it comes to furnishing their rooms~" Sugar Fizz giggles and crawls across Amore's bed with a subtle purr, "Oh, yeah...That's what a real quilt feels like~"

Amore can't help but give a chuckle at her marefriend, walking over to the bathroom door to see it's not vastly different to their dorm room, except the bath is in more of a rounded square shape and is set a little further from the sink but shares an expanded alcove space with the shower beside it. Whistling slightly, she turns back around, still glancing at the bath.

"Yo, you have to see this... The bath is like two and a half what we have at the academy-" Her statement is cut short as she turns her head into the room, seeing a suddenly stripped Sugar Fizz that causes her heart rate to increase and her cheeks to feel warm. "D-did you want to join me?"

Sugar Fizz can't help but suppress a growl at the poor mare, slowly walking towards her as she only melts the closer Sugar Fizz gets. "Well, you weren't having it all to yourself~" She giggles and strokes Amore's cheek, delivering the final blow as her blush spreads fully.

Amore follows Sugar Fizz back into the bathroom, stripping her uniform as she watches the alabaster mare slowly descend into the bath with a deep pleasured sigh. Eventually free of clothing, Amore shuts the door before joining Sugar Fizz, eliciting the loudest most ecstatic moan she has ever heard even making her blush a little.

"Oh, sweet Luna every fibre of my being is screaming in bliss~" Amore sighs and sinks herself low enough the light blue water encompasses her chest just below her neck.

Sugar Fizz giggles as she coats herself with hot water, sinking her face and mane beneath the surface before slipping closer to cuddle up to Amore when she comes back up. Slowly stroking her nimble fingers up and down the mare's stomach lightly under the water.

"Feeling a little jealous of the water, you never moaned for me like that~" Sugar Fizz chuckles as she lays her head on Amore's shoulder, "I can only imagine this bath feels like such bliss given the raw beating your muscles went through for several days."

Amore nods and leans her head back, feeling Sugar Fizz give her neck some playful nips and licks. "This bath feels like euphoric ecstasy after all that searing pain. Speaking of which... The girls told me you never left my side, but I figured that as I felt your presence during my process which really helped," she states, stroking Sugar Fizz's mane gently.

Sugar Fizz nods and cuddles closer, happy to get a more peaceful moment with her marefriend as they relax in the soothing hot water that caresses their bodies. "I even went to Aurora because I felt so helpless... After speaking with her I was a little better, but it still didn't ease the pain of watching you writhe like that."

Amore pulls her marefriend closer tightly as she nuzzles her lovingly, stroking Sugar Fizz's sides as they embrace. "I'm sorry... I know it'd be silly of me to apologise for being selfish given it was going to happen eventually... I'm sorrier I wasn't strong enough to beat Shintaku without putting you through that so early and right after dealing with her too."

Sugar Fizz chuckles as she moves Amore so she can start washing their manes. After several more minutes of bathing, the two get out of the bath and dry off before entering the bedroom again, Amore raising an eyebrow as she notices two sets of clothes laid out on the bed. They look at each other before inspecting the beautifully tailored casual dresses with short skirts, complimented with lace underwear in their respective colours. Amore blushes deeply, glancing to the side away from Sugar Fizz, the mare in question giggles before stroking Amore's hips.

"Don't these look gorgeous~" Sugar Fizz smiles before letting go to slowly get dressed, teasing Amore. Gracing her soft skin with the finely tailored pair of pure white lace panties, gracefully sliding the beautiful dress over her head and adjusting it. Turning around to show her back to Amore, glancing at the mare over her shoulder.

"O-oh right..." Amore swallows a little, still naked as she steps forward to help zip up the back of Sugar Fizz's dress.

"Thank you, Amy. I'll go on ahead and let you get dressed. Please don't be long, I get lonely without your company," Sugar Fizz gives Amore a gentle kiss on her lips before leaving the room.

Amore takes a deep breath, falling back onto the bed before groaning with a deep sigh. Throwing a casual glance towards the garment laid out for her, picking up the red lace panties with a blushing face. "Damn it, mother..."

Amore walks down the main staircase to see Alexander at the bottom seemingly waiting for someone before turning to bow slightly at the mare throwing her off at the sudden action.

"M'lady, if you'll allow me to escort you, most of the others have already gathered in the hall." Alexander lends his arm, Amore hesitantly taking it as she is guided down the corridors of her family's home.

They eventually reach a pair of old oak doors, Alexander releasing himself from Amore as he reaches forward to open them wide. The flurry of lights inside let loose as she is treated to the most splendid sea of colours, manes of varying colour and vibrant hues littered the sizeable gathering hall. Amore's face left in awe as she stepped forward past the bowing Alexander, glancing around the room at all the new faces. Everyone took the time from their conversations to give the mare a proper look over, their expressions seemingly in acceptance at this new random mare who had entered into their family.

"Took you long enough, sis," Iluzie is heard before coming into view in front of Amore who blushes deeply, "Loving the dress."

Amore brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, taking the time to appreciate her sister's different styled navy blue dress, reaching her ankles in a streamlined fashion. "You look beautiful too, Turn Table?" Amore states in question.

Iluzie laughs softly before wiping her face a little, "Sounds a little weird calling each other by our proper names, but I'm happy to do whatever you'd like to."

Amore nods, blushing slightly. "Then, Iluzie. There are so many people here... Is our family really this big?" She asks, looking around in wonder.

Smirking, Iluzie takes her sister's hand, leading her further into the mass to get her a glass of punch from one of the buffet tables, making Amore drool.

"Heh, steady sister, you're drooling." Iluzie chuckles before getting a flask out of her hanging pouch, pouring a touch of whiskey into either glass.

"Mhmm, you're definitely my sister~" Amore seemingly relaxes as she takes several heavy sips of the mixed beverage.

Iluzie gives a slight bow before leaning on the mare, "So, to answer your question, they come from all across Equestria and beyond. Most corners of the world you can think of, someone here is from there. This event was planned in advance since your transition began after your condition was relayed to mother."

Amore's eyes widen, looking around in wonder before stopping on a pure white mare with a slicked-back red mane with black highlights. She wears a blood red waistcoat 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 while sporting a pair of dark blue pilot shades.

"Who is that? She looks strong." Amore states sipping her drink while staring at the mare in question.

Iluzie glances in the direction of Amore's gaze, "Oh, that's our aunt, Hope. She's part of the Lycan side of our family." Amore looks at Iluzie with a confused expression, "A more evolved Werewolf basically."

Amore nods slowly, more surprised they had both sides within the family. She continues to glance around before stopping on one particular view, Amore's breathing catching in her throat which piques Iuzie's interest. Sipping her drink, she glances in the same direction to witness the same treat of Sugar Fizz standing out through one of the window doors that lead to the garden balcony. The colours in her mane made to shine and illuminate the mysterious dark, causing Amore to blush and feel her chest tighten.

"W-wow..." Amore's eyes barely blink, feeling entranced as her breathing shallows, worried to spoil the moment.

"Shit, was that your heart? I think half the room just heard your chest skipping there," Iluzie smirks before giggling, "I bet even Sugar heard it."

Amore shakes her head with a deeper blush, "N-no, there's no way-" She catches Sugar Fizz sneak a subtle glance in her exact direction with a sly smirk, "... She definitely heard it..." Amore looks around the room to see several people looking at her making her blush deeper.

Iluzie smirks, giving Amore a nudge forward making her grasp her glass, looking back to see her give a thumbs up. Swallowing, Amore pressed forward in a timely fashion, wanting to get out of the hall quickly as she suddenly runs into someone dropping her drink. Before she can even process the encounter her glass is held in front of her still with every drop of its contents. Confused, Amore looks up slightly to see the smiling face of whom she bumped into. In front of her stands a tall white stallion with a burnt orange mane similar to Amore's with brown highlights, a pair of crimson shades just barely hiding his light blue eyes, wearing a loose suit of some description and a regular gold hoop in his left ear.

"Steady there, anyone would think you're in a rush," He states, handing Amore her drink back.

"Thank you... Umm... I'm Amore." She states, introducing herself.

"The fabled niece I only got to hold once, much like her sister;" he smiles, bowing his head slightly, "my name is Long Play, Viny's brother. I'd add the Von Scratch, but there's little point at a party like this." He stands up straight again as Amore seems in awe again.

"I-I've heard several things- You were the DJ playing that club in Manehattan when I got my mark!" Amore exclaims as her eyes widen.

Long Play waves his arm to bow slightly with a smirk, "I hope it's treated you well. I'd have been remiss if I didn't take the chance to see what kind of Von Scratch you were born to be. I was not disappointed in the slightest, not to mention you have your mother's eye for taste." He turns to look towards Sugar Fizz, who is playing with a strand of her bubblegum blue mane as she stares up at the moon.

Amore blushes as she shuffles, shifting her mane to cover part of her face making Long Play smile, "Y-yeah... I can't imagine anyone else as my marefriend." She tucks the strands out of the way behind her ear as he leans back with a wide smirk.

"Don't worry, I got you, kid." Long Play taps her shoulder before turning to walk off towards the band.

Amore takes a few deep breathes before walking out onto the terrace, where Sugar Fizz stood by the railing. Calming herself, she placed her drink down and coughed lightly, "Hey..."

Sugar Fizz turned to Amore, wearing an extremely smug grin. "Saw something you like, I take it?"

Biting her lip, Amore suddenly hears the music change inside as a piano makes itself known, altering the overall atmosphere drastically. Stepping closer to Sugar Fizz, Amore abandons her whisky laced punch to place one hand on her hip while the other slides up Sugar Fizz's arm to take her palm softly. "You could say something like that, Miss Fizz..."

It was Sugar Fizz's turn to feel her chest tighten and heartbeat in her throat, as the sudden action took her by surprise. Amore smiling gently as she begins to lead the mare back and forth on the terrace landing swiftly, making Sugar Fizz question her capabilities. "Well... The mighty and rebellious Amore knows how to dance like a refined mare... When in Equestria did you make time for this?" She asks, a distinct crimson blush across her muzzle.

Choosing to keep it a mystery for just a little bit longer, Amore glides Sugar Fizz around smoothly. The pair making their way back inside through the crowd who part upon seeing them as they join similar couples also dancing to her uncle's piano playing. Not caring for the large crowd in the hall, Amore's entire focus was on her marefriend. "When we got back from Manehattan, I had a lot going through my mind... Somewhere in all that, I wanted to learn something that would pleasantly surprise you if the opportunity ever came up. As you know, I also let things get away from me and neglected our time together..."

"Amy..." Sugar Fizz cannot help but pull them closer together, sighing softly. "You're by far the sweetest mare I know. I'm not simply talking taste... The first mare I've ever courted, yet-" She is about to stroke Amore's cheek when the sudden resounding crash of the hall doors bursting open abruptly halts the music.

Standing in the doorway of the hall entrance is an angry Shintaku, glaring as she looks around the room. Her eyes find and fix on Amore who is still holding Sugar Fizz. "Amore! How typical for a Von Scratch to run away from her responsibilities when we have unfinished business!" She points dramatically in the mare's direction.

"Indeed we do..." A chilling yet alluring sultry voice is heard gently throughout the hall, sending intense shivers all over Shintaku's body as her eyes widen.

The room grew deathly quiet as a prominent chill spread through the hall, followed by the harrowing pull of a violin string. As the crowd turns towards the sound, slowly parting, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness of the side corridor entrance to the hall. Amore looks confused as the entity begins singing, the stage band obliged to accompany while they stepped out of the shadows. The voice belonged to a finely dressed Unicorn mare, her silky looking alabaster fur complimented by the pirate era attire she is adorned with. The tight black pants and heeled boots accentuating her movements as she placed one leg close in front of the other, progressing into the hall. Jumping up onto a buffet table, gliding across it with simple ease while playing, spinning to show off her red-accented brown leather jacket that stopped halfway down her thighs which was open to view the black doublet she wore, a V let many eyes wander to her ample sized cleavage. Jumping off, her actions are followed by a trail of visible chill before she makes it a note to spend a little time near Amore seemingly eyeing the mare up before winking, tipping her brown pirate hat while her bow continued the song as it remained held in her magical grasp. Amore found interest in her blood-red mane and bright orange highlights before a sudden realisation hit her, making the mare feel a slight shiver in her stomach. Wearing a wide smirk, the mysterious Unicorn spun away heading towards Shintaku which seemed to fill her with fright as the song was slowly ended, drawing it out gently as she took hold of the bow once more.

"S-S-S... T-That's not possible, y-you died! T-They all died! Begone spectre, h-how dare you-" Shintaku rambles on before silencing herself as the mare's bow was pressed to her neck.

"Hath thou quite finished disturbing my little one's celebration, dear?" Her voice states, sending shivers once again through Shintaku.

Amore raises her eyebrow as she can clearly hear both their hearts beating rapidly, Shintaku's sounding exactly like Amore's did towards Sugar Fizz. Finding interest overwhelm her, Amore walks over to the pair, her partner unsure if she should follow.

"E-Excuse me..?" Amore swallows gently, the mysterious mare turning to face her.

"Ah, yes, I apologise for my beloved's abrupt and venomous behaviour..." She strokes Shintaku's cheek, causing her breath to catch in her throat as her eyes softened. "I had plans after tonight's party to finally finish some business I've put off for the past few centuries..." The mare glances back towards Shintaku.

"Y-You're the 'Devil's Musician', I saw your portrait in the hall... Sempre Forte, right?" Amore's eyes are alight with intrigue and awe making Sempre smile.

"Hmm, indeed, thou art quite the observant one." Sempre looks around, clapping her hands together. "You'll have to forgive my early intrusion. Please continue the party as normal, tis Back Beat's night after all." The rest of the house bows gently before going back to their business, "Come now, Long Play, I was quite enjoying thy piano playing, wouldst thou be kind enough to continue?"

Long Play nods as he adjusts his suit a little, going back to his piano. Sempre sighs gently as she takes the seer's hand, motioning for Amore to follow as she led them both towards and out onto the terrace balcony so they didn't disturb the party further.

Shintaku grips Sempre's hand as she chokes, "The paper said everyone perished! That there were no survivors in the navy skirmish... I thought that banshee led you all to the grave." Her face sours, feeling so angry, "I couldn't find you in either life... I looked so hard..."

Sempre sighs deeply, her expression gentle but her heart deeply pained. "I know... I saw. I took part in the final voyage, stood by my beloved captain's side till the end of my service whence she released me from my ties as she faced Gold alone." She looks up towards the crescent moon, taking a deep breath. "I still recall... The delightfully toxic stench of so much death filling my senses, the smell of burning wood and salty sea air. On my captain's final orders, I fought till my needs were filled, gorging myself on the blood of the arrogant whelps in the navy as they whittled us down." Sempre turns back to face Shintaku. "When the smoke settled and the sea grew still, I played my violin once more for my loved captain before departing home... I... I wanted... You had such obligations to your house and after how things were left... I didn't... I watched you search for me, felt your pain..."

"Why didn't you just come back to me? You know my feud was never with my beloved musician... I just felt so angry after searching for decades, building inside me as it hurt so much... I grew resentful. Of Lula, you for leaving with her... When I met Amore, hearing your last name again boiled it all up. I never got told 'why'..." Shintaku's soft eyes burn her more, making Sempre clench her chest.

"I made a promise... I swore myself to that magnificent bitch the day I met her, that all I am or could be belonged to her. Such passion for not only her dreams but the sea and all its values enthralled me." Sempre sighs, holding Shintaku's cheeks, "Then I met the most gorgeous necromancer I'd ever seen... Please, don't hate Lula either. I know that's extremely hard to hear and I seriously don't blame you when we took her there so you could revive our captain. She saw how I looked at you, even offered me freedom from the pirate life to be with you... I refused given the number of enemies we had, I never wanted them to find you. Even after the end I systematically went from place to place, town to town, ending the bloodlines of every single person who had wronged me while serving in the Bloodmoon pirates."

Amore struggles to find air but eventually manages to speak, "W-what kept you from Shintaku after you killed them all?" She questions as Sempre wears a comforting smile.

"You did little one... Or, perhaps, not exactly you per se, but I needed to ensure my legacy was passed on to a suitable heir of my house before I could indulge my own desires. Speaking of which, you can stop hiding Miss Fizz." Sempre states, glancing passed Amore at the mare in question, who was just beside the doorway.

Sighing a little, Sugar Fizz walks out to stand beside Amore, instinctively taking her hand tightly. "I didn't mean to impose..."

"Nonsense, you've taken good care of little Back Beat. For that, I am very grateful. As such, I wish to entrust this to you specifically." Sempre pulls a vial out of a hip pouch before cutting her hand using a fang, filling it with her luminescent red blood. The flow soon stopping as her healing kicks in, Sempre offering her hand to Shintaku, who blushes brightly as she gently licks it clean, nuzzling it lovingly once the blood is gone.

While Sempre corks the vial, Shintaku turns to the pair, "You two... I apologise for my behaviour up to this point. I took centuries worth of resentment out on you and dragged my house into my selfish tantrum. Your dedication to Amore, even after my childish attempts was beautiful." She states to Sugar Fizz who holds Amore's arm softly. "I didn't get to mention this before... But I am a seer as well as a talented necromancer, I took a glance into your future. Oh, Back Beat... Sweetie, there will come a moment where you'll be tested. What it will be or when it'll come, I cannot say for sure, only that you'll be forced to choose between what's expected of you and what burns in here." Shintaku gently taps Amore's heart.

Amore's expression drops, feeling troubled at the grime news, before Sempre lifts her chin gently. "Do not despair, child, thou art a Von Scratch and I know you'll charge headfirst towards that which rings true to you. Now, Sugar Fizz, I'd very much like you to safeguard this for Amore. Tis my legacy and what I have waited centuries to impart upon a suitable heir."

Sugar Fizz takes the vial to slip into her pouch purse for safety. "I-I'll do my best, but why me and wouldn't Vinyl need to pass it down?"

Sempre shakes her head, "Until now I've not found a worthy heir to inherit the true power of our family legacy. Even Vinyl, the poor dear, bears the deep scars from failing her trial... However, Back beat, I feel you are the one I've long-awaited to inherit this potential. I'm going to retire to my chambers now and hopefully catch up on what feels like a millennium apart from Shintaku." She takes the mare's arm, Sugar Fizz and Amore standing aside to let them pass.

As they walk back through the party, Shintaku gives Sempre an odd look who responds without looking, "Go on, don't be afraid to ask, dear."

"What makes you so sure about her?" Shintaku asks, glancing back at Amore who is taking comfort in Sugar Fizz's arms.

Sempre wears a soft expression, "In the crypt, I tasted the blood she left behind. So familiar, yet incomplete, missing something... I've met her before, sampled the cherry glazed flavour of her blood once upon a time, years before now. Yet, this party is the first time I've met Amore as she is right now."

Shintaku frowns, "You mean..." She looks back sharply, "That doesn't make sense..."

Sempre shakes her head, "It's not our place to understand. I simply feel my role in her story has been fulfilled and in return, I was rewarded." She lays her head against Shintaku's arm gently, "I wish thou luck... Back Beat Von Scratch."

Author's Note

Okay! Took a little bit but I finally finished this chapter. Having to juggle personal stuff and university, I feel quite happy to progress on this fic after so long.