Ch.12. Theft or truth - part.2

Midnight - followed closely by Patrick and Griffin - silently ran through the forest until they stopped at a huge house.

Patrick: This the place?

Midnight: Do rabbits hop around yelling twenty seven until a fox falls down then start yelling twenty eight?

Griffin: ... maybe?

Midnight: That's your answer.

Patrick: So you don't even KNOW where we are?

Midnight: Hey! This is a big house! I would ASSUME this is the right place!

Patrick: Doesn't matter how big the house is! Never judge a treasure by its chest!

Griffin flies up into a window and enters the house. After a minute, Griffin unlocks and opens the door for Patrick and Midnight. They walk around for a while until Patrick stops.

Patrick: (whispering) Grab ANYTHING you can get your grubby little mittens on! As long as you can carry it...

Griffin silently flies over into another room and starts grabbing stuff to his liking. Patrick slowly follows him and out of sight. Midnight decides to head upstairs. Halfway up, he hears laughing and sees a bright light.

 Midnight: (thinking) If she's awake I'm going to have a hard time explaining to her...

 Midnight carefully tiptoes his way up the stairs until he sees Victoria and her cat.

Victoria: I feel like I have no one that's worthy to talk to me but you, my sweet Katrina!

Katrina ( pink cat): (Pet talk) I'm not sweet! But you do flatter me by saying that you have no one else to talk to!

Victoria: And I don't understand why that poor black cheetah would want to steal my two hundred dollar bracelet!

Katrina: (Pet talk) Because its made of gold, You fool! Why else would he want it?

Victoria: I won't miss that bracelet, but it's an insult to me when someone takes something that doesn't belong to them.. FROM ME!!! Do you know how I feel, kitty? Do you know who did this?

Katrina: (Pet talk) No, I don't know how you feel. And don't call me kitty!

Victoria suddenly looked up and saw Midnight trying to back away. She screamed so loud Midnight thought Ruby and Fang could hear it back at the training area! After a while she stopped screaming.

Midnight: Now that you have calmed down, let me explain.

Victoria: Don't harm me, angry zombie pirate! I promise I won't make fun of you ever again!!!

Midnight: What? Angry zombie pirates? No, no! You got it all wrong! I'm here to tell you something important!

Victoria: So you're NOT going to take away my sweet little kitty? Or eat her tail?

Midnight: Why would I do that?

Victoria: Because it might be tasty?

Midnight: ... Anyway... I'm here to tell you something important!

Victoria: Hey, weren't you the one who took my two hundred dollar bracelet?

Midnight: CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME EXPLAIN?!

Victoria: Well? Were you?

Midnight: Sigh... will you let me explain if I tell you the truth?

Victoria: Maybe.

Midnight: ... No. I didn't take your bracelet.

Victoria: Ok, now what is it that you want to tell me?

Midnight: Finally... Well, three guys are in your house and they are stealing some stuff that may or may not be valuable to you... And if you find out, they may...

Victoria: ... May what?

Midnight: They may... kill you... And that's not good! So I need you to stay here until dawn! Do you understand?

Victoria: ... Yes.

Midnight: Phew... I'm glad... If they come up here, pretend to be asleep or hide somewhere, ok?

Victoria: Ok.

Midnight silently tiptoed downstairs where he found Patrick and Griffin waiting for him.

Patrick: (whispering) Where did you go? What was that screaming?

Midnight: (whispering) Upstairs. Found the girl awake so I had to unalive her... and then I stole her bracelet! Looked like it costs about two hundred dollars.

Patrick: (whispering) Boys, our work is done for tonight! Let's head back to the club hideout and sell this stuff!

Patrick quickly exited the house, with Griffin and Midnight close behind.

Ch.12. Theft or truth - part.1

As the moon slowly rose in the dark night sky, Midnight swiftly weaved his way into allies and abandoned streets. Finally, Midnight stopped at a dead end where some stairs were. He made his way down them slowly, and stepped into a lively hideout.

Midnight: Griffin! Patrick! What's new with my partners in crime?

Patrick (dark grey leopard): Oh, you know how it is - Annoying UnMythics, pickpocketing, stuff like that. Just a normal day on the job for us!

Griffin (black eagle):  Haha, yeah! Bit of a CRASH BOOM BASH kinda day.

Patrick: You guys want a drink?

Griffin: Course I do! I'M PARCHED!!!

Midnight: No thanks. I'm good.

Patrick: STELLA!!! Give us something to drink!

An orange arctic wolf looked up from cleaning cups and sighed.

Stella (orange arctic wolf): Would you like some crab legs with that?

Griffin: NO WAY!!! Those make me crabby!

Everyone except Stella laughed.

Stella: Well, what DO you want with your drinks?

Patrick: I dunno... Maybe a fresh fire berry leaf and a hint of the good stuff!

Griffin: And maybe some of those frost gems to cool it down!

Stella: Two extra sour cloudy fizzy with fresh fire berry leafs, frost gems and a hint of snakes venom, coming right up...

Stella took a few bottles down from the shelf and started pouring them into the cups she'd been washing.

Midnight: You'll never guess what I found this afternoon!

Griffin: ... No, you're right. I can't guess! What is it?

Midnight: Only the location of one of the RICHEST girls in the world!

Patrick: And you know what we're going to do to that poor girl?

Midnight: We're going to rob EVERYTHING that's worth a penny to us from her! And maybe... Unalive her if she finds out.

Patrick: You bet, partner!

Stella: Your drinks are ready...

Patrick and Griffin snatched their drinks from Stella and gulped it down.

Griffin: Why are these cups so small? An ant couldn't even take a bath in there!

Stella: Until someone robs some bigger cups, that's all I've got.

Patrick: No wonder nobody wants to pay you!

Midnight: ...Who's the guy that stole the apples in the basket over there?

Stella: Bingo did. Says he stole them in front of the poor UnMythic who owned the trees.

Griffin: Show off.

Patrick and Griffin banged their cups on the counter and went over to look at the basket of apples. Midnight moved closer to Stella.

Midnight: Why do you even stay here, Stella?

Stella: I could ask you the same thing. Hanging out with those ruffians is dangerous, Midnight. And you should know that!

Midnight: I know, but they took me in when no one else would... I owe them my LIFE... Do you understand how it feels to be homeless?

Stella: More than you could ever imagine...

Stella looked away from Midnight and picked up a cup and started cleaning it.

Midnight: Well... we're going to rob the rich girl's house later tonight... You can still come, if you want.

Stella looked up from cleaning the cup and looked over at Patrick and Griffin.

Stella: ... Nah, I'm better off staying here where it's safer... I'm not built for stealth or strength, unlike you and your "friends"... Besides, I don't want to kill someone just because they weren't asleep.

Stella turned back to the cups and started cleaning the other cup. Midnight took some coins out of his pocket and put them on the counter. Stella looked up, surprised.

Midnight: For the drinks you gave to those "Ruffians".

Stella smiled at Midnight and took the coins.

Stella: Midnight... You're too...

Midnight: Too kind to be a thief?

Stella: Well... yeah.

Midnight grinned at Stella before walking over to where Patrick and Griffin were.

Griffin: These apples are half rotten! Not worth eating, unless you were starving!

Patrick: Does it matter? If it's stolen it tastes much better than if it was bought!

Midnight: Speaking of stealing, when should we raid the rich girl's house?

 Patrick: Right now.

And so saying so, Patrick walked out of the door. Griffin and Midnight followed close behind.

Ch.11. Do you know which end of the sword to hold on to? - part.2

Melody gives a sword to Ruby and Midnight.

Melody: Ok! So this will be your first sword fighting lesson! Do you know which end of the sword to hold on to?

Midnight: Was that meant to be funny?

Melody: Haha, sorry! Couldn't resist! In all seriousness, the swords are real. So I would be careful.

Ruby: Why would training swords be real?

Melody: Didn't you play with wooden swords when you were younger?

Ruby: My elder brothers wouldn't allow me to play with them. Never learned how to fight with swords, so I had to use my brains and swiftness instead!

Midnight: What did I say about a minute ago?

Melody: Sorry! We'll start with a basic parry attack. Watch this!

Melody grabs a sword on the ground and grips it in her claws. She dashes forward, then back. After repeating this a few times, she looks back at Ruby and Midnight.

Melody: A friendly reminder before you start practicing - Make sure you have enough room to fight in, or you could hurt someone by accident!

Ruby and Midnight copied Melody's example for a few minutes. After a while, Melody told them to stop.

Melody: Good parrys! Lets try a simple sword attack. Jack!

Jack slowly made his way over to where they were.

Jack: What is it now...?

Melody: I'm teaching them sword attacks and defenses. I need your help in the next lesson I'm about to show them!

Jack: What do I have to do...?

Melody: First, take my sword.

Melody chucked her sword to where Jack was standing, and then she borrowed Midnight's sword. Jack moved over to a different spot and faced Melody.

Melody: Make sure you take notes, you two! This is important!

Melody and Jack stared at each other for what seemed like a minute. Suddenly, Melody charged at Jack, slashing the sword down upon his sword. Melody and Jack did this for a few minutes before stopping.

Melody: Did you see any patterns?

Midnight: You guys always seemed to raise your swords down upon the others sword.

Melody: You'd be correct! Do you know why?

Ruby: Is it because you get to push your sword downwards, allowing you to get more of a advantage?

Melody: Yup! This may also make us a vulnerable in some places, but with the proper training, even THAT'S not much of a problem!

Midnight: Do you know what's the time?

Jack: Judging by how low the sun is, I would guess nearly sunset.

Midnight looked up at the sky for a few minutes - as if in deep thought. Finally, he looked back at Ruby.

Midnight: You can continue training without me... I need to... do something "important"...!

Jack: Not a good idea, mate. Slash is going to have your head if you leave in the middle of your daily training!

Midnight: I'm sure he won't notice. Even if he does, It's not as if he could really do anything to me.

Jack: You're fearless, and I like that about you. But if you do this more then once, you will get reckless. That's not a good thing.

Midnight: I'm sorry, but I got something important I must get to!

Without waiting for a answer, Midnight dashed off and out of the training grounds in a cloud of dust.

Ruby: ... Do you think Slash saw that?

Melody: With any luck he won't know he's gone. But just in case, I suggest we continue training - just like NOTHING happened!

Ruby continued sword fighting with Melody and Jack. And in the deeper part of the Vampire Village, Midnight sat waiting in the shadows.

Midnight: I hope they can forgive me one day...

Midnight quickly dashed further into the dark dark streets of the village.

Ch.11. Do you know which end of the sword to hold on to? - part.1

Ruby, Fang and Midnight entered the Vampire Lord's meeting room and began to wait for the Vampire Lord.

Fang: When do you think he'll show up?

Ruby: From experience, it doesn't take that long.

Just after Ruby finished her sentence, there was a crash of thunder and lightning and the Vampire Lord appeared in a puff of smoke. As usual.

Fang: Do you always make a entrance like that?

Ruby: Don't sound so disrespectful!

Vampire Lord: No, I don't always make a grand appearance... but it is the polite thing to do.

Fang: I guess.

Ruby: You might want to read this letter before we head off for some more training!

Midnight gives the letter to the Vampire Lord. After a few minutes, he looks up from the letter.

Vampire Lord: This is more serious than I thought. If this "Mayor Irontail" really wants to drive us out, we may have no choice...

Midnight: ... No choice in what?

Vampire Lord: It is nothing. You should hurry along to your next training session.

Ruby: Fang, go home.

Fang: But I want to come with you this time!

Ruby: Fang, you are hard to see and you could easily get stepped on. Besides, you would just whine all the time and keep on asking "When are we going to eat?"! So no.

Midnight: Do you think he'll find his way home?

Ruby: If he doesn't, we can always replace him.

Fang: I'm still here!

Ruby: Good. You can start going home now.

Ruby and Midnight headed towards the training grounds. After a few minutes of walking around, Captain Slash spots them and stomps towards them.

Slash: Just the two I'm looking for!

Midnight: Did we do something wrong?

Slash: Yes! You were meant to arrive an hour ago!

Midnight: This is our second time coming! Do you expect us to know who's who, what's what, and wheres where in about A DAY?!

Slash: ARE YOU TALKING BACK AT ME?!

Midnight: Well, yeah! That's how communication works!

Slash: Don't answer back, boy! You will train FOR AN HOUR longer than yesterday as punishment!

Captain Slash whistled and Melody came flying over and saluted to him. Captain Slash stormed off to see to something else.

Melody: What was that all about?

Ruby: Being a little late. We had to report something to the Vampire Lord, so we couldn't get here at lightning speed.

Melody: You got to see the Vampire Lord? And TALK with him?

Ruby: Yeah. Were both on a mission for him, so it's only right for us to report to him after we come back from spying!

Melody: You are so lucky! I tried to get into a mission, but I have a overprotective Father AND a younger sister stopping me from doing so. Do you guys have any siblings?

Ruby: Older twin brothers.

Midnight: Can we stop talking and start training?

Melody: Sorry if I'm just a curious bird - can't be helped!

Ruby: You seem a bit on edge Midnight. What's wrong with you?

Midnight: How do you know if I seem a bit on edge? I'M PERFECTLY NORMAL.

Ruby: Something tells me you don't always act like that.

Midnight: Can we PLEASE start training?

Melody: Come this way! I need to show you a some sword fighting techniques!

Ruby and Midnight follow Melody.

Ch.10. The Letter - part.4

After the last class was over, Ruby and Fang meet Midnight on the way to Grandma's house.

Ruby: Midnight... What did you do?

Midnight: What do you mean?

Ruby: Don't act the fool with me! You did something, so tell me what it is that you did!

Midnight: ... Well, you know the pink leopard you told me about yesterday?

Ruby: Yeah...What about her?

Midnight: She insulted me...

Ruby: ... Go on?

Midnight: She said I was a walking disaster - master of chaos and things like that.

Ruby: Shouldn't that be a compliment? Seeing that your a thief and all.

Midnight: Then she said I needed to take a bath.

Ruby: Ok, that makes all the difference.

Midnight: I HAVEN'T WASHED IN ABOUT A YEAR, AND I WEAR THAT AS A BADGE OF PRIDE!!!

Ruby: So you robbed from her?

Midnight: No... I robbed from her and all the other girls that agreed with her!

Ruby: You WILL give them back their things tomorrow, wont you?

Midnight: Who said ANYTHING about THAT?

Ruby: I did. If you don't give them their stuff back, this whole mission might fall down on top of us! We will NOT risk something like that JUST BECAUSE someone insulted you!

Midnight: But the M.O.S.T. Guild rules say that if you steal something you never give it back!

Fang pops out of Ruby's Backpack at that moment.

Fang: What's M.O.S.T.?

Midnight: Masters Of Silent Theft.

Ruby: Never heard of it before.

Midnight: Its a secret club for thieves. Don't tell ANYONE about it, ok?

Ruby: Cross my heart and hope to turn into a UnMythic.

Fang: Cross my heart and hope to diet!

Midnight: Good enough.

They arrive at Grandma's house a few minutes later. After a snack, they started talking.

Ruby: What's that letter you got there?

Midnight: Don't know. Sapphire gave it to me, so I didn't ask any questions!

Ruby: Read it aloud.

Midnight: "Mayor Irontail. We had a break in a few days ago, and it seems that something of importance has been taken! The plan will have to be delayed for a few days, but soon the Vampires will feel your rage and they will be driven out like the rest of the creatures! Eventually our scientists and researchers will find a way to decrypt the ancient language that the Dragons spoke. If we"...

Ruby: ... Is there more?

Midnight: There's nothing else written here!

Grandma walked in at that moment.

Grandma: Irontail... I believe that was the name of the captain in the War Journal you found!

Ruby: Maybe... But whoever this is, he or she could be dangerous to us.

Grandma: Meanwhile, you should probably give that to the Vampire Lord. I'm sure he'll want to know about that!

Ruby, Fang and Midnight headed onwards to the Vampire Lord's Mansion.

Ch.10. The Letter - part.3

Sapphire walked up and down the halls searching for Fang or Midnight.

Sapphire: (thinking) Well... I now know that Fang and Midnight could be in trouble. I wonder what they did with the War Journal...?

Just then, Mandy came running up to Sapphire.

Mandy: I've been looking all over for you! Where did you go?

Sapphire: I told you before I left - I was going to the library.

Mandy: Well, You never seem to read anything, so I thought you were somewhere else...!

Sapphire: I'll have you know I read!

Mandy: I've never seen you reading a book before.

Sapphire: You never seem to read any books yourself!

Mandy: Well... That's because I read them at home! And you would know that because I'm your best friend!

Sapphire: You're one of my ONLY friends.

Sapphire and Mandy kept on walking. After a while, Sapphire saw Midnight running at top speed.

Sapphire: Hey Mid...

Midnight: Sorry! Can't talk now - running for my life!

Midnight sped past Sapphire and Mandy like a slowish speeding bullet. A few seconds later, Sapphire and Mandy saw a group of girls running after him almost as quickly.

Mandy: Who's he?

Sapphire: A friend.

Mandy: He seems to be pretty popular.

Sapphire: He's only been here for a while... How could he have gained so many admirers in one day? Not many people seemed to know him yesterday...!

Mandy: Maybe he did something unthinkable?

Just then, Midnight dashed passed them again. And a few seconds later so did the girl mob. Sapphire grabbed the arm of one of the girls.

Sapphire: What's going on?

Juliet (a Tan Deer): That good-for-nothing black cat stole from us! WE WANT OUR ITEMS BACK!!!

Sapphire let go of the girl's arm and she ran after the rest of the girl mob.

Mandy: He STEALS?!

Sapphire: You were right, Mandy. He did something unthinkable!

Mandy: But stealing is wrong! What will happen to him if a teacher finds out?

Sapphire: Most likely the teachers won't find out. Even if they do, I doubt they can catch him. With speed like that, it seems like he can take care of himself!

Mandy: It isn't normal having speed like that! What if he's a Vampire?

Sapphire: A Vampire? You've been reading too many books!

Mandy: Perhaps I have...!

Midnight came rushing back again. This time he was too puffed out to go on and had to stop. Sapphire walked up to Midnight and gave him the letter she found in the R.O.O.S.T. meeting room. Midnight took a deep breath, then started running again.

Mandy: What did you give him?

Sapphire: Something important.

Mandy left it at that. The bell rang so they had to get to the next class.

Ch.10. The Letter - part.2

After Mrs. Fernstream's class, Sapphire wandered around the halls thinking.

Sapphire: (thinking) I'm pretty sure that was Ruby... What does she want with this school? She's obviously been sent here by her Vampire Lord...

Just then, Sapphire's friend Mandy ran up to her.

Mandy (white fox): Hi Sapphire! I heard you were picked to play as Princess Lucy in "Poisoned Love"! That must be a honour!

Sapphire: Yeah, I guess.

Mandy: I also heard there was a fight in Mrs. Fernstream's class as well! Did you see who it was?

Sapphire: Nah, not really. I saw a red kangaroo fighting Richard then running away, but that's about it.

Mandy: Should we report this to Mr. Stonecloud? He did say if we saw anything strange we should tell him!

Sapphire: When did he say this?

Mandy: Yesterday morning in Mrs. Redleaf's class.

Sapphire: ... No. Someone else will tell him.

Mandy: But it isn't right keeping important information from teachers! What if we get into trouble?

Sapphire: We WON'T get into trouble. And besides, all the teachers give us H.O.M.E.W.O.R.K.

Mandy: What?

Sapphire: Hours Of My Energy Wasted On Random Knowledge. They don't deserve to know.

Sapphire and Mandy walk for a while until they crash into Mr. Stonecloud.

Mr. Stonecloud: Watch where you're going!

Sapphire: My apologies, good sir...!

Mr. Stonecloud glared at them and continued walking. Sapphire watched him leave.

Sapphire: I'll see you later Mandy... And if anyone asks where I am, tell them I'm in the main library!

Before Mandy could reply, Sapphire started following Mr. Stonecloud from a distance. She followed him into the library until he stopped at the secure part of the library. He looks around before walking passed the destroyed door. Sapphire followed him down some stairs until she found herself in the R.O.O.S.T. meeting room.

Mr. Stonecloud: Rocket, when on earth will the door be fixed? ANYONE can walk in freely and find out we're in here!

Rocket (brown raccoon): Relax, Mr. Stonecloud! Anyone in their right mind knows not to disobey your order of staying out of this part of the library! Besides, I doubt many people like to read nowadays...!

Mr Stonecloud: Let's hope so...!

Rocket: ... Was there anything you wanted of me, or did you just want to come down here for the fun of it?

Mr. Stonecloud: Of course I came down here for a reason! I wanted to ask you if you have written the letter we needed to send to Mayor Irontail!

Sapphire: (thinking) Mayor Irontail?! I wonder if she's a descendant of Captain Irontail from Jerry Littlefeather's War Journal?!

Rocket: Almost. It will be posted tonight, I guarantee it! Now, would you like to see something interesting?

Mr. Stonecloud and Rocket walked into the next room. Meanwhile, Sapphire quickly went over to the table and grabbed the letter and hid it in her pocket. As quietly as she had gotten there, she hurried out of the room and out of the library. After a while, she ran into Richard and his gang.

Richard: What is it with you kangaroos? Always causing trouble wherever you go!

Sapphire: I cause half as much trouble in a year than you cause in one afternoon I'll have you know!

Richard: You got something to say to me?

Sapphire: Yeah. Stop being like the ocean!

Richard: What have I got in common with the ocean?!

Sapphire: Well, You're both full of salt, you crash about making a lot of noise, AND you could drown a person without realising it!

Sapphire stalked pass Richard and his gang in a stormy fashion. After a while, she decided to search for Fang or Midnight.

Ch.10. The Letter - part.1

The next day, Ruby, Fang and Midnight arrive at Golden Forests School.

Midnight: I wonder which class I should go to today...!

Ruby: I might also go to a different class today. I'm going to avoid Mrs. Redleafs class!

Midnight: What's wrong with her class?

Ruby: She's taking the class on a field trip today.

Midnight: To where?

Ruby: Rainbow Waterfalls...!

Midnight: You mean the place where the Deep Sea Creatures used to live before the UnMythics drove them out?

Ruby: That would be the place... Have you been there before? It gives me shivers thinking that our old water friends used to live there... even if we never knew them.

Midnight: Yeah. Fair enough. Maybe you could visit Mrs. Breeze's class? She teaches spelling, but the chairs are really comfy!

Ruby: Maybe... We'll wait and see!

Ruby and Midnight said goodbye to each other before going to different classes. After a while, Ruby enters a room. The Bunny drama teacher looks up from some books and smiles to Ruby.

Mrs. Fernstream: Welcome dear child! I haven't seen you before, if I'm not mistaken?

Ruby: Yup! First time setting foot in this class. I'm Ruby!

Mrs. Fernstream: And I'm Fernstream. Mrs. Fernstream.

Ruby leans against the wall and waits for other students to enter. After a while, the bell rings and students started rushing in. After a while, Mrs. Fernstream called for attention.

Mrs. Fernstream: Hello class! Today we shall be learning the play of "Poisoned Love"! I need a volunteer to play as the devious Vampire Ella, and I need someone to play as Prince Liam.

Many hands waved around to be picked. Ruby was mystified.

Mrs. Fernstream: Nicky will play as Ella, and Liam as... well, Prince Liam. Next, I need someone to play as the Lord of the Vampires, and someone to play as King George!

Ruby: (thinking) Lord of the Vampires? Isn't it just Vampire Lord? And what sort of class is this?

Mrs. Fernstream: I want Will to be the Lord of the Vampires and Mickey as King George. Then we need someone to play as Princess Lucy.

Many hands shot up and waved around like a sea of trees.

Mrs Fernstream: Hmm... Sapphire will play as Princess Lucy!

Ruby fearfully looked around for Sapphire. Ruby slowly then made her way to the door. Suddenly, Ruby's arm was grabbed - stopping her from leaving.

Richard: Why are you leaving so early?

Ruby: It isn't nice to grip on ones arm so tightly. Why don't you let me go?

Richard: So you can run off and miss the rest of the class? I don't think so...!

Ruby: You don't want to get into a fight with me...!

Richard: A girl like you couldn't even beat up a spider!

Ruby: Fine. But you're the one who asked for this!

Ruby quickly took hold of his arm and pushed him into the floor. She then pulled him back up and kicked him back down to the floor. She looked around, let go of his arm and ran right out of the room. After some time she slowed down to a walk. Fang popped out of her backpack.

Fang: Did he say "A girl like you couldn't even beat up a spider!"?

Ruby: Yeah. But I could beat you up a thousand times over and still feel good.

Fang: That's nice...!

Ruby: No point going back in that class. Better for us to wait until lunchtime, I guess.

Fang: Do you think Sapphire saw that?

Ruby: How could she miss it? It was practically in front of her face.

Ruby and Fang wait until the bell rang, so they could look for Midnight.

Ch.9. Sharpen Your Swords - part.2

Ruby and Midnight enter the Vampire Lord's Mansion to ask him for some training. Before they could get any further, the Vampire Lord appears in front of them in a puff of smoke and a flash of thunder and lightning.

Vampire Lord: I see you have returned for some training young Vampires... Please, come this way to the novice course.

Midnight: (whispering to Ruby) He always seems to make a grand entrance, doesn't he?

They follow the Vampire Lord until they find themselves in a large open area - perfect for training in all sorts of ways. A white tiger spots them and walks over to where they were.

Slash : Good evening, Vampire Lord... what is it that you wish me to do?

Vampire Lord: Good evening Captain Slash... I want you to start training these young Vampires for me.

Slash : With pleasure, Your Greatness...!

The Vampire Lord leaves Ruby and Midnight with Captain Slash .

Slash : Alright! Enough lazing around, you got some training to do! You, over there! Teach them the basics of fist to fist combat! I have to go and inspect the other youths.

A blue eagle flies over and salutes to Captain Slash . The Captain then walks away.

Melody: The names Melody. And you are...?

Ruby: I'm Ruby! And this is Midnight!

Melody: Very well... I guess I should start teaching you the basics... Let's start with some good old punching tricks!

Melody flew over to a punching stand and gestures with her wings for them to come over.

Melody: Ok! Start with a few punches to the side and one straight to the top! Here, I'll show you the best I can with my claws!

Melody started to claw at the punching stand, then looked backed at them.

Melody: Well, I can only show you so much with these talons of mine. Maybe one of you would like to give it a go?

Midnight stepped forward and started punching the stand. After a few punches to the side and a few coming up, he stopped and looked at Melody.

Melody: Your doing good! Would you like to try it now, Ruby?

Midnight took a few steps backwards to let Ruby have some space. Ruby started punching the stand and after a while she hit it with a satisfying sound.

Melody: That was great! Do you want to try out some other ways of punching or do you want to try hand to hand combat?

Midnight: I wouldn't mind trying out hand to hand combat - that is, if you think we're ready!

Melody: I think you're ready enough! Hey, Jack! Come over here! I want to teach the novices some hand to hand combat!

A grey raccoon  slowly walks over to where they were standing.

Jack: You do know I have a major advantage in fighting you in hand to hand combat... Are you sure you want to do this...?

Melody: Its not all about advantages, Jack!

Jack: Fine... If you say so...!

Melody starts to fly just above the ground. Then just like a flash of lightning, Jack quickly punches towards Melody's claws. Just as quickly as Jack, she grabs hold of Jack's arm and swings it around and pushes him towards the ground.

Melody: That's a simple defense trick you need to learn! Why not try it on each other?

After a few hours of attacking and defensing,  Ruby and Midnight waved goodbye to Melody as they headed back home.

Ch.9. Sharpen Your Swords - part.1

Ruby, Fang and Midnight find themselves at the Vampire Lord's meeting room. Just then, there was a crash of thunder and lightning and the Vampire Lord opened the doors with a loud bang.

Vampire Lord: Greetings, young Vampires... There have been whispers of your success in finding the Dragon Egg. And I see you have met the wise Fire Creature, Blaze!

Midnight: How did you know that we found the Dragon Egg? And how do you know that strange Creature?

Vampire Lord: The Nightingale told me. As of the Fire Creature, we have known each other for hundreds of years...!

Ruby: ... Where should we keep the Dragon Egg?

Vampire Lord: Do not worry about that. It is safe with you, as long as you stay true to the Vampires Call.

Fang: The Fire Creature... Blaze, as you call him... He told us that when the Egg has fully hatched, the true war would start... What does that mean? We have already been at war once! Does he mean we would have to fight all over again?

Vampire Lord: We don't know what he means by that, but maybe it is better to leave that for the future.

Midnight: Well... If there will be a war, shouldn't we at least start training for a fight? We would at least be prepared and ready to go to battle at a heartbeat!

Vampire Lord: Many Vampire youths have been training for years already. If you think you need training, just come and talk to me and I'll take care of the rest.

Ruby: If you think we would need training, we can start as soon as possible! Tonight, if we got time!

Vampire Lord: I'll see you when your ready. Right now I believe your Grandma is waiting for you!

Ruby, Fang and Midnight head back to Grandma's house. As they entered, they find Grandma reading the War Journal. Grandma looks up from the old book, and smiles a welcome to them.

Grandma: Hello! Glad to see that you're back from your quest to find the Dragon Egg!

Ruby: Hi Grandma. Yes, we're back from our little quest - and a quick visit to the Vampire Lord!

Midnight: You don't think it's strange that we were in that strange cave with the creature, and then we are at the Vampire Lord's Mansion?

Ruby: Just a little bit. But I'm sure there are stranger things!

Grandma: Where do you plan on keeping that Dragon Egg?

Ruby: I don't know... I was thinking your potion lab, where it could be a little warmer and safe!

Grandma: I can't see why you can't keep it there for a while.

Midnight: ... I feel like we should start our training for the war... Or at least do something to help!

Grandma: Well, no time like the present! Go tell the Vampire Lord you want to be trained!

Ruby: Well...

Midnight: How hard could it possibly be?

Fang: Very hard for all we know.

Ruby: Fine. Lets go and see the first lesson or so.

Ruby and Midnight head back to the Vampire Lord's Mansion for some training.

Ch.8. Dragon Egg - part.3

Ruby, Fang and Midnight walk silently down the cold dark tunnel until they were in the middle of a cave full of beautiful blue crystals that shone like stars.

Ruby: (Hushed whispering) These crystals... The riddle didn't mean actual ice, but something similar to ice!

Fang: (Normal voice) Pretty!

There was a blast of Fangs voice saying "Pretty!"'s as it bounced on the walls and came back in a deafening loud noise to the Vampires. They tried to block out the sound, but it was too painfully loud. Finally, dead silence fell in that cave. Ruby and Midnight glare at Fang and continued to walk silently.

Midnight: (hushed whispering) Now I understand why it said "In order to enter you must be mice!"

Ruby: (hushed whispering) Yeah! Make a sound louder than a whisper, and it'll all bounce back in a ear pounding noise!

They crept softly for what seemed like ages, until they came to a room full of lava. Suddenly, something jumped out of the lava and landed near Ruby.

Blaze (Fire Creature): Who are you? Why have you come here?

Midnight: We.. uhmm....

Ruby: We seek for the Dragon Egg!

Blaze: Really?

Ruby: Yes.

Blaze: Well... I cannot tell you where it is until you answer three riddles!

Midnight: (whispering to Ruby) The Dragons must have LOVED riddles...!

Ruby: Ok... What are the riddles?

Blaze: Sharp fangs with a attitude to match, cold blooded yet still hatched! What am I?

Midnight: Easy! A snake.

Blaze: Correct!

Fang: What's the second one?

Blaze: Eyes like a eagle and faster than deer, some of the animals speak of us in fear! What am I?

Ruby: Hawk!

Blaze: Correct!

Midnight: (whispering to Ruby) This is too easy!

Blaze: And the final question... Like tiny moons we shine so bright, you can sometimes see us in evening light! We race against each other in the night, until we fly right out of sight! What am I?

Ruby and Midnight look at each other in confusion, until Fang speaks up.

Fang: It's Stars.

Blaze: Correct! You have passed the test!

Ruby: How did YOU know that?!

Fang: The Dragons Royal symbol was a shooting star! And when they shoot across the sky, its like their racing each other!

Ruby:  Fang, you NEVER cease to surprise me!

Blaze: Now. Do you have some Hawk claws and some Snake scales I could use?

Midnight searched through his bag until he found some Hawk claws and Snake scales.

Midnight: Stole them during the week! Thought they may be useful...!

Midnight handed over the items to the Fire Creature.

Fang: ... Now what?

Blaze: Wait a minute.

So they waited for a minute. Finally, when the moon was just shining down into the room through a small astronomically designed hole in the roof, the Fire Creature tossed the Hawk claws and Snake scales into the lava. Only a few seconds later, there was a explosion and a once invisible egg showed itself to the Vampires. The Fire Creature gave the egg to Ruby.

Blaze: The time is drawing near. When the Egg has fully hatched, THEN the real war will start...!

Ruby: The real war?

The Fire Creature tossed a mysterious powder over the Vampires, and they vanished in the smoke. 

Ch.8. Dragon Egg - part.2

Ruby and Fang enter the Vampire Lord's mansion and into the library to search for the rest of the riddle.

Fang: When do you think Midnight will come back?

Ruby: I have no idea. He might come back in hours, or seconds.

Just then, a streak of black and white light shows and Midnight crashes into a bookshelf.

Ruby: Hey! We were just talking about you!

Midnight: Glad to hear. So, found anything R.O.O.S.T. worthy?

Fang: Actually, we're looking for a Dragon Egg!

Ruby: But we need to find the rest of the riddle before we can go. We will need your help, so you're coming along with us!

Fang: And before I forget to ask, how was your 'Game' with Manic?

Midnight: Interesting.

Ruby: ... Thats it?

Midnight: Hard to explain.

They kept searching for the rest of the riddle until Midnight found a history book about Dragons. They searched through the book until they found the riddle.

Ruby: May I?

Midnight: Be my guest!

Ruby: "In a sea of trees beyond the mills, a lake awaits on a smallish hill. In a cave full of hardened ice, in order to enter you must be mice! Claws of a hawk and scales of a snake, even the mountains quiver and shake! Unless you befriend one of fire...".

Ruby turns the page and looks confused.

Midnight: ... Is there any more?

Ruby: ... It seems as if... the rest of the page is torn out... I can't read the rest of the riddle!

Midnight: Well that's great! Who on earth would want to rip a page out of a book like this!?

Ruby: It looks like it was cut with a knife...

Fang: But we got most of the riddle! I'm sure we can figure the rest of it without the last part!

Ruby: Hmm... Maybe you're right... We can go head off and search for the Dragon Egg now, I guess.

Midnight: But... Where do we start?

Ruby: "In a sea of trees beyond the mills,". You know the place where the UnMythics built windmills and waterwheels?

Midnight: Yup!

Ruby: That's where were heading. Come on!

So Ruby, Fang and Midnight started dashing through the forests and into the grasslands where the windmills and waterfalls were.

Midnight: ... Now what?

Ruby: "a lake awaits on a smallish hill.".

Fang: ... Give me a second!

Fang scurries up a waterwheel looks out into the forest. Suddenly, he jumps down next to Ruby.

Fang: I saw a hill! Past the forest, leftish to the mountains! You can still see it easily from here!

Ruby: The trails hot and getting hotter!

Ruby, Fang and Midnight started speeding through the forest again to where the lake was.

Midnight: Theres nothing I love more than fresh twilight forest wood in the middle of the evening!

Fang: What's the next part?

Ruby: "In a cave full of hardened ice, in order to enter you must be mice!"...

Midnight: Cave full of hardened ice? Do they mean unburnable ice?

Ruby: (Mumbling) I don't think so...

Fang: I don't see any cave entrances anywhere!

Midnight: I don't see... Wait, right there!

Midnight points to a entrance covered in snow and ice. They look into the passageway and stare into dark blackness. Dramatic music starts to surround them. 

Fang: (to the narrator)  Oh stop it already.

After a while, Ruby takes a silent step in, and then Midnight with Fang follow.

Ch.8. Dragon Egg - part.1

Later that day, Ruby and Fang head back towards Grandma's house and to tell her about what they found. After a little while, they reach the front door and Grandma greets them.

Grandma: Good evening, Ruby! I see Fang hasn't gotten lost this time!

Ruby: Hello Grandma! Yup, Fang is still in one piece and in the right place this time. He even found a book for us to read!

Grandma: Would you like to come in, so I can read it with you?

Fang: Only if you make us sandwiches!

Ruby and Fang enter the house and place the old book on the table and started reading. After a short time, Grandma came in with a tray full of sandwiches for Fang, and sits down next to Ruby.

Grandma: What is that book?

Fang: (eating sandwiches) War Journal... Jerry Littlefeather... stuff and stuff.

Grandma: I see... So this was in the war between us and the UnMythics.

Ruby: Looks that way. The pages are so yellow and torn, it seems like it went through a peanut butter jam waterfall that was full of book eating fish.

Grandma: May I read it for a little while?

Ruby: Sure!

Ruby passes the book to Grandma, and she starts to read. Knowing this wasn't going to take long, Ruby got up and went outside for some evening air. After a while, she went back indoors to see what Grandma had learned.

Grandma: Ruby, You may be interested in this!

Ruby: Maybe, maybe not. What did you find out?

Grandma: "Day 274. We drove the Dragons out of their nesting grounds with regret. The only one who seemed to be enjoying himself, was Captain Irontail. But before the Dragons left, they told us of a prophecy. They said "You may have driven us out, but one day we WILL return. For one day, the egg will hatch, and our champion will arise!". Captain Irontail asked them where they could find it, but the Dragons laughed and said "It is hidden in plain sight. But you will never find it! Even if you do, you can never destroy it!". And with that said, they flew off into the morning skies - not to be seen again for a long, long time. All of us wondered what they meant when they said "Hidden in plain sight"..."

Grandma put down the book and looked at Ruby with a faint smile. A smile which knew something about what the dragons meant.

Grandma: Maybe the dragons meant that no UnMythic could find it, but...

Ruby: (Dramatic Music Sounds!) ...A Vampire!

Fang: (To Narrator:  will you stop doing that!) (To Grandma) But why Vampires? You're nothing more special than the Deep sea Creatures or the Ice Giants!

Narrator:  (To Fang) Sorry, slipped up.

Grandma: Ah, but the Dragons could see thousands of years into the future! Maybe they knew that everyone would have been driven out except Vampires!

Ruby: So... Only a Vampire could find the Dragon Egg?

Grandma: Not so fast! You need more then luck to find the egg. The Dragons gave us a riddle before they left, and we have kept it for nearly two thousand of years.

Ruby: What's the riddle?

Grandma: I only remember part of it. The rest of it is somewhere in the Vampire Lord's Library.

Fang: Well... What DO you remember?

Grandma: "In a sea of trees beyond the mills, a lake awaits on a smallish hill. In a cave full of harden ice, in order to enter you must be mice!".

Ruby: In a sea of trees beyond the mills... Didn't the UnMythics built windmills and waterwheels after they took over?

Fang: And there is a forest right next to them, right?

Grandma: Sounds like you're on the right track! But make sure to ask the Vampire Lord for the rest of the riddle before you scamper off!

Fang: So... R.O.O.S.T. can wait?

Ruby: R.O.O.S.T. can wait. We need to tell Midnight about this AFTER he gets back from his 'Gamer friend'. We'll need his help then.

Ruby and Fang thank Grandma for the help and headed off to the Vampire Lords Mansion. 

Ch.7. History comes alive - part.2

While Sapphire and Fang went to the library, Ruby and Midnight kept running. Eventually, Midnight stopped and looked around.

Midnight: Ruby! Do you know where on earth we are?

Ruby skidded to a halt and look back at Midnight.

Ruby: Course I do!

Midnight: Do you know how we get back to the staircase where we left Fang?

Ruby: Haven't the foggiest.

Midnight: But I thought you said you knew where we were!

Ruby: I do! At Golden Forests School! South-East from our village!

Midnight: I know that! But WHERE in Golden Forests School?!

Ruby: I don't know. Haven't been this deep into the school!

Midnight: So we're lost.

Ruby: Technically yes.

Midnight: Great. Lost in a place full of UnMythics. Just great.

Ruby: Let's keep running. No harm if we keep exploring the place for a while!

Midnight: What if we run into another teacher?

Ruby: If we're lucky, we won't.

Midnight: You do seem to get lucky whenever I'm around.

Ruby: Then that's settled!

Ruby and Midnight started running again. After some time, they stopped to have a bit of a rest.

Midnight: We're going to be stuck here forever!

Ruby: No we're not! We just need to keep running, and eventually we'll get to the place where we started!

Midnight: How do YOU know that?

Ruby: From experience, buildings are either square, rectangular, or round. No matter the shape, eventually you will end up in the same place where you started!

Midnight: When did you get so smart?

Ruby: Since I started reading picture books.

Midnight: Great... being schooled by a girl...

Ruby: If you're learning something, the appropriate place would have to be a school!

Ruby and Midnight stopped resting and starting running again. After five minutes, They find the place where Ruby threw Fang.

Ruby: See! What did I tell you?

Midnight: You told me if you're run in a building long enough, you will eventually end up where you started.

Ruby: My point has been made. So where is...

Ruby quickly grabbed hold of Midnight and pushed him into the back wall.

Midnight: (whispering) What now?!

Ruby: (whispering) It's Sapphire! Shes with Fang! And they seem to be talking...

Midnight: (whispering) Isn't that a good thing? Fang is still alive!

Ruby: (whispering) Fang may be alive. But for how long?...

Ruby looked at Sapphire and Fang for a few more seconds.

Ruby: (whispering) Midnight! She won't know you! Go out and try to get Fang back without her being alarmed!

Before Midnight could say anything, Ruby pushed him out of the corner where they were hiding.

Fang: Oh, Hi Midnight!

Midnight: Um... Hi, Fang!

Sapphire: So, dream spider. You seem to have a name and some secret friends you didn't tell me about! Introduce me to him.

Fang: Sapphire, this is Midnight! Midnight, this is Sapphire!

Midnight: Uh, hi!

Sapphire: G'day, Midnight. Pleased to meet you. I see you made it to this mission as well!

Midnight: Well... yeah. Why wouldn't I?

Fang: We found a War Journal the boss might be interested in! Show him, Sapphire!

Sapphire put down the old book for Midnight to see.

Midnight: A War Journal? We're trying to find out what R.O.O.S.T. Is planning! Not what happened in the war!

Fang: I know, but there might be some clues in here!

Sapphire tossed the book to Midnight.

Sapphire: Tell me if you find anything interesting! And let me read that book once in a while, Kay?

Sapphire walked away down the hall into the crowd, letting Ruby to come out of her Hiding place.

Ruby: Fang, I'm impressed! You didn't die AND you got us a book!

The bell rang again, so Ruby and Midnight dashed off to find different classes.