Amore groans as she lies her head against the cafeteria table, causing the neighbouring Aqua Streak and Scarlet Orange to worry about their friend.

"As two of your friends-"

"Two of your only friends." Aqua Streak interjects.

Scarlet Orange glares lightly at her sister, "-we couldn't help but notice that you've been a little down this afternoon."

Amore groans in reply, causing Scarlet Orange to sigh.

"We cannot help you if you don't tell us what's wrong." Scarlet Orange states firmly making the yellow mare sigh deeply.

"I... I had a fight with my roommate this morning..." Amore turns her head to the side, facing the girls.

Glancing at each other, the two sisters appear confused before turning back to Amore.

"How in the name of Celestia did you manage to do that?" Aqua Streak asks, folding her arms.

Amore pulls herself up to cross her arms on the table, propping her head upon it.

"I haven't been adjusting too well to my new transformation... Or rather, part transformation. It's kinda in a state between the two without fully switching to one or the other until I make my choice... It's been kinda a stressful learning curb since we returned from the trip and she thinks I've been ghosting her outside of our room..." Amore explains looking sadly at her friends.

"I'm sure you haven't been-"

"I have been, though!" Amore buries her face in her arms, sighing deeply.

"-oh..." Scarlet Orange grimaces.

Patting her friend lightly on the back, Aqua Streak looks to Scarlet Orange. 'What do I do?', Aqua Streak mouthes and gestures to Scarlet Orange who glares at her. 'I don't know, think of something!', Scarlet Orange mouthes back and points sharply to Amore.

"It's not exactly a normal thing for you to avoid the mare you like." Aqua Streak states suddenly, shrugging slightly.

"It's not... Between juggling all this half-breed shit, I've been trying to learn something which will help me treat her a little..." Amore lays her head on the side again.

"Da fuq have you actually been learning?" Aqua Streak asks, furrowing her brow at Amore.

The mare in question blushes and rubs the bridge of her nose before whispering something, "Dancing..."

The sisters look at each other confused before Scarlet Orange speaks up.

"Amore, we didn't hear you properly..." Scarlet Orange stands up and walks around to sit the opposite side of Amore.

"Luna, damn it, I said dancing!" Amore shouts, yelling into her arms.

Only a couple of faces turn around but don't stop long, knowing Amore antics on a normal basis. Aqua Streak snickers lightly which earns her a glare from Scarlet Orange.

"Drink, now." Scarlet Orange demands, making her sister raise her hands in defence before leaving for the vending machines, "Sorry about her... It's not abnormal for Vampires to indulge in more classic dancing for flirting with each other, 'some old traditions never lose taste', as my mother puts it."

"I know... I don't even know why I blew up at her this morning, it seems so fucking stupid now... She didn't even get breakfast or lunch now... This transition phase is pissing me off a bit and I haven't even been able to focus on learning what I want, which might cheer her up." Amore sighs before looking at her phone and standing up sharply, "Fuck! I'm now late for my lesson!"

Amore gets out from the bench table and starts running out of the cafeteria, which earns her a scolding by Fluttershy whom she passed quickly. Scarlet Orange sighs before waiting for her sister to get back so she can finally eat.

Amore rushes down the hallways before turning a sharp left through the medium sized double doors almost opposite the main building entrance, a note on the door saying, 'private lesson'. Taking her time to catch her breath, she can see Aurora waiting for her on a chair, reading a book.

"If I didn't know how stubborn your blood is, I would have expected you to stay missing." She states, not looking up.

"Sorry, I'm late... I lost track of time spilling my woes to Aqua and Scarlet..." Amore stands upright and walks over to Aurora.

Aurora closes the book, shaking her head lightly. "If you're going to request private lessons, the least you could do is make it on time."

"Sorry... It's this whole change choice thing, I've been more on edge then I should be and I blew up at Sugar this morning..." Amore rubs her right arm, looking depressed.

Aurora gets up and heads onto the stage. "Whilst I'm curious how that transpired, let's just set to learning how to make it up to her, shall we?"

"Yeah... Though I'm not sure if it'll help now." Amore joins Aurora on the stage.

"You say that, but remember who she chose." Aurora holds out her hand for Amore, "She'll forgive you. Especially if you're trying."

Amore takes Aurora's hand, placing her free one on her left hip while Aurora's goes on Amore's left shoulder, "I called her a pale bitch before storming out this morning... From what I understand, this is like the 'courting' stage? Essentially a slightly lengthy trial period where the two or more involved 'flirt' with each other. Least I think that's how Fluttershy explained it... My mind trailed a little."

"You called her... You realise you're also kind of a vampire, right? And I don't think that can be considered flirting." Aurora raises an eyebrow before sighing lightly.

"Obviously... I think it was mainly directed at her coat colour, oh..." Amore looks awkward as Aurora's coat is essentially nearly the same shade of white, "it was just stupid stuff... So many new things to think about or control and instead of asking for her help, because of how I am, I just fucking blew up at her when she wasn't even the one I'm frustrated with, it's myself..."

Amore sighs as she's lead into the beginning of a waltz, doing vaguely resembled one, two, three steps as instructed.

"Language. Cursing won't keep you calm. As for the frustration, while she would be a good option to help you, Shy is just as available as I am. Your mother will answer everything as well and as often as she can. And Luna is more approachable than you may think. You have options if you want to learn about that blood of yours and how to deal with it."

"That's just it though, knowing who my mother is, do you think it's so easy for me to ask for help?" Amore states, her ears falling flat.

"If you're alluding to her fame, I'm a little confused as to why not. If it's something else, depending on that something, I may understand."

"How often did my mother ask for help?" Amore asks, assuming Aurora knows the answer and how it relates.

"In my experience? Very, very occasionally, but to be fair, she rarely needed to." Aurora states as she directs Amore's steps.

The pair continues practising the waltz, Amore still no better as she is lead by Aurora, who appears to know the dance very well.

"I just... It's not so easy for me. I'm fairly stubborn, remember? I just end up suffering until shit like this morning happens, then I get depressed about it..." Amore sighs deeply.

"How is it easier for you to ask me about classical dancing than it is for you to ask your mother about your blood?" Aurora raised her eyebrow again.

Amore sighs, "I suppose it shouldn't be any different... I start to wonder how stupid I am sometimes..."

Amore tries harder to keep up, slowly but slightly, improving despite her mood.

"Shouldn't be different? For you, asking her should be easier. Your mother would not ask for something like this." Aurora smiles lightly.

"She never danced like this?" Amore asks, slightly looking better.

"She, you, comes from a vampire bloodline. Difference being she grew up with them. So, for that reason, she never had to ask, she already learned when she was young. But, should she have had never learned, it isn't one of the things she would have come to me with. At least... I don't think it is."

"I really should ask... I've been very grouchy since getting back too. Hearing heartbeats when I don't want to, takes its toll..." Amore sighs lightly.

"I can't even begin to understand that. That is definitely a thing to ask one of them." Aurora states, again correcting Amore's steps.

"I'll give my mom a call after we finish, with any luck I'll be decent enough to make it up to Sugar..." Amore states, the pair now dancing a bit better than before on Amore's part.

"If dancing is how you want to try to do that, I'd wait for at least another session or two. You're improving at a quicker pace than most would, but you aren't quite to the point I think you want to be at, yet." Aurora comments, smiling at the improvement.

"I could wait, but I'm not sure... I wanted to treat her tonight or tomorrow night as it's the middle of the week. I just want to explain everything to her and why I'm being so difficult..." Amore states, trying to seem hopeful.

"If you want to dance properly for it, you should probably wait. But, honestly, I don't think she'll care how you go about it." Aurora states bringing them to a stopping point.

"I could wait... I'd like to impress her a little..." Amore states sighing slightly, "I could still do something for her in the meantime. How much time is left for lunch?"

"It's just about over, actually." Aurora states, looking at the clock above the hall door.

Letting go of Aurora, Amore groans and gets out her phone, "Crap, that doesn't give me a lot of time... At most I have two more periods, then the evening, but I need the evening to set up."

Aurora shakes her head, "What exactly are you wanting to do? Fluttershy doesn't necessarily need me for today's lessons. I can get things set up in the meantime."

Searching through her phone, Amore stops to consider the offer. "Well... I need to find someone who knows the piano in order to get the full effect of the song I want to play for her. Before that I need to call Valentine and try to see if he can lend me the whole bar tonight, that'll cost me no doubt... So, unless you know a pony who plays the piano..."

"I do know a couple, actually. As far as getting the bar vacant, leave that to me as well. You just worry about getting your mare there. Okay?" Aurora states reassuringly.

Amore nods, taking a few deep breathes before leaving the hall.

Sugar Fizz sighs deeply as she checks her phone while standing outside of Valentine's bar. The time reads 12:30 Am, the late night obviously not being much of a problem for the Vampire. Taking a deep breath, she enters the bar the regular smell of alcohol and light smoke permeating the air, however, the room was fairly chilled compared to normal. Confused, Sugar Fizz looked over to the bar, seeing Valentine in his usual spot, cleaning glasses.

"Where is everpony? It's unnatural to see your bar so empty-" Sugar Fizz stops talking when Valentine places a finger upon his lips.

Pointing her in the direction of the stage to the right, the mare raises an eyebrow before obliging. Turning to her side, Sugar Fizz is treated to the sight of Amore with her guitar, who waves slightly. Appearing even more confused and now angry, the white mare begins walking towards the stage. Taking a deep breath and making Sugar Fizz stop in her tracks, Amore begins playing her guitar in the hopes music could convey what her words could not. As Amore begins to sing, her hands glide along her guitar with practised grace and determination. While the song progresses Sugar Fizz is taken by surprise at the seemingly heartfelt lyrics, which she can only imagine are meant to be about her. Amore's eyes remain fixed on her roommate, never needing to glance at her guitar or anywhere else in the room, her constant attention focused on Sugar Fizz and the message she wants to convey.

"Amore..." Sugar Fizz folds her arms, the mare's feelings now mixed between admiration, mild annoyance and a dwindling anger.

She is taken by surprise yet again as a piano enters the mix, bringing another level to the music as the two instruments blend and carry each other through the song. Sugar Fizz rubs her left arm, now unsure exactly why she was mad, but not forgetting the neglect her roommate has displayed during the week. The song begins to come to a close as Amore finishes up her lyrics, letting her guitar fade out. Taking deep breaths, she removes her guitar before leaving the stage and laying it on the table nearest to Sugar Fizz.

Slapping her roommate, Amore rubs her cheek at the point of impact, "Hi..."

"You silly, stupid mare..." Sugar Fizz sighs and cups her roommate's cheeks gently, "I can see why your mark is connected to music... What's so wrong that you'd be avoiding me since we got back and had to sing me a song to finally talk to me. It was a beautiful song by the way."

"I'm sorry... I should have, I know that... I've not been sleeping well since we got back Monday. I have trouble turning off the enhanced senses thing... I end up hearing the heartbeats of the entire dorm and it drives me nuts. Then I made you mad because most of the soda was gone and I didn't know how to tell you about it..." Amore sighs deeply, feeling very stupid she made the situation so difficult.

Laying her forehead against Amores, Sugar Fizz sighs lightly, still stroking her cheek.

"I'm not mad about the soda... I was just grumpy because, without you, I haven't been able to get my proper meals, I was just hungry. You could have come to me. I'm a Vampire hun. You didn't need to suffer in silence when I was literally just above you. While I don't believe vampires can live off each other, as you have still to make your final choice, I should still be able to feed off you. Failing that, your blood will still have flavour to it, as does mine, so we can still drink each other. It just doesn't give any nutritional benefits." Sugar Fizz explains as she lifts her head off Amore's.

"I'm sorry... I feel so stupid now that I realise how easy this would have been... I'm not used to having help or depending on anyone, so asking for help is still new for me." Amore sighs gently, holding Sugar's arms.

Nodding and taking a deep breath, Sugar Fizz pushed herself forward to softly place her lips on Amore's, taking the mare by surprise. Her eyes drifted close and she indulged herself in her new senses, only able to hear the heartbeat of her roommate, not even Valentine behind the bar could be heard. The air around them was permeated with the aroma of a strawberry scented body wash, coming from Sugar Fizz who showered prior to coming to the bar. Assaulting Amore's taste was a silky, yet sweet mixture which she could only imagine as being Sugar Fizz's saliva, the former mare encouraged by said taste, driving the kiss a little deeper.

"Hmm..." Sugar Fizz reluctantly breaks the kiss slowly as to savour every little taste and feeling, "That was about as amazing as I'd imagined my first kiss to be."

"You are a very conserved teen, I hope you know that... While not my first, it was my first as a Vampire so... I kinda feel that resets it." Amore chuckles a little nervously.

Laughing, Sugar Fizz can't help but give the adorable mare another couple light kisses, "I don't think it works like that, but if that's what makes you happy. Let's go home, Amore."

Nodding, the red-haired mare picks up her guitar, the pair walking closely as they head towards the bar exit.

Author's Note

The second chapter my proofreader was able to get done during his session. There are still two more complete after this one, but I'm trying to stagger their release a little while writing more. I hope you all continue to enjoy DMM's development and it's new direction. Until next time.