Ch.5. "Borrowing" from the Library - part.2

Midnight and Ruby are hiding outside the secret R.O.O.S.T. meeting, ready to 'borrow' the Ancient Scroll of Secrets.

Midnight:  (whispers) Can you give me the invisibility potion please?

Ruby gives Midnight the potion.

Ruby:  (whispers) I see what you're about to try - be careful!

Midnight:  (whispers) Hey, it's me - I never get caught.  I'm unstoppable!

Fang:  (from inside Ruby's pocket)  mmph drfmmph ftmm mnfcm!

Ruby:  (whispers) Stop mumbling Fang!

After gulping down the potion, Midnight creeps down the stairs into the meeting room, crosses the floor, and grabs the Scroll.

Mr Stonecloud: Am I seeing things? Or is the Ancient Scroll of Secrets floating in the air?

Professor Thunderclap: Nope - it's not just you.

They watch the scroll slowly float away. Then they heard a crash in the direction of the floating scroll.

Dr. Scar: WERE BEING ROBBED!!! Put the Library under Lockdown!

Alarms started to sound and the distant crash of big doors being closed and locked ringed in Ruby's  ears. Just then a floating scroll rushes up the stairs into Ruby, then Midnight reappears.

Midnight: (whispering) We need to get out of here before those clowns find out where we are!

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

Fang: (whispering) I thought you could do this in your sleep no problem!

Ruby: Stay down!

Ruby shoves Fang back down in her pocket, Then races back up the stairs and bangs into a now locked door into the main library.

Midnight: Use the Strength Potion!

Ruby: Exactly what I was thinking.

Ruby drinks all of the Strength Potion, then hits the door with all her might, and just in time she busts the door open. They rush past alarms and finally reach the exit of the library. Midnight tries to open the door, but it's locked.

Midnight: Perfect. Just perfect! We're trapped. Unless we can fly, we're never going to make it out in a million years!

Ruby: We still have one more potion up out sleeves! Everyone, take a sip!

Just as Dr. Scar rushes to the main exit, the only thing he sees is two small bats flying out an open window with the scroll, and a baseball bat lying on the floor of the exit. He curses and screams, but eventually walks away. Later that night, the Baseball bat turns into a very confused, small red spider.

Fang: If only Baseball bats had wings... but even Grandma can make homographic mistakes!

Fang climbs up the wall, and jumps out the window into the dark dark night.

Ch.5. "Borrowing" from the Library - part.1

Under the cover of darkness Ruby, Fang and Midnight slip back into the Golden Forests school library, and creep up to the locked door.

Ruby: (whispering) Midnight - can you unlock the door, or do we need to use the strength potion?

Midnight: (whispering) Let me see if I can bust it or not - just give me two minutes!

Midnight begins to use his claws as a lockpick, turning them back and forth.

Ruby: (whispering) Fang - better you stay here, it'll be easier for all of us if you don't get in our way!

Fang: (loudly) I'm not being left behind on this mission!

Ruby quickly stuffs into Fang into her pocket in the hope of keeping him quiet.  Just at that moment, the locked door opens.

Midnight: (whispering) Strike one for the good-looking Midnight!

Ruby: (whispering) One a scale of one to ten, what is the possibility of traps behind this door?

Midnight: (whispering) Eight and a half. If this book is as dangerous to the UnMythics as it seems, they wont just want any normal thief walking in!

Ruby and Midnight walk into the room silently.

Midnight: (whispering) I'll search for the book on this level, you go down the stairs on the left!

Ruby: (whispering) What if I get into trouble?

Midnight: (whispering) If you get into trouble, its every vampire for himself!

Ruby: (whispering) And if you get into trouble?

Midnight: (whispering) I wont GET into trouble! Even if I do, I can get out of trouble just as easily!

Ruby carefully makes her way down the stairs, until she see's a brightly lit room with a lot of people sitting in chairs.

Dr. Scar ( Rhino with green glasses): Greetings brothers and sister,welcome to this meeting of Project R.O.O.S.T!   Professor Thunderclap, have you brought the Ancient Scroll of Secrets?

Professor Thunderclap (Black seal with top hat):  Yes I have.  And it's even more helpful than I imagined!  ROOST - the planned Rescue Of Our Sun Temple in Everwinter Forest is on-track!

Mr Stonecloud:  When do we attack?

Dr Scar:  Settle down Stonecloud - don't run before you can walk!  We have a plan, and we will stick to it!

Midnight silently joins Ruby in the shadows.

Midnight: (whispering)  The book we seek is not upstairs.

Ruby:  (whispering)  I think the book is a scroll, and I think the scroll is on the table there...  and by the sound of it, the Vampire Lord will be very pleased with it!

Midnight:  (whispering)  I have an idea...

End of part 1.

Ch.4. Book of Legends - part.3

Ruby and Fang dash off to the local night markets to find Midnight.

Fang:  You forgot to ask Grandma about why Sapphire isn't a vampire!

Ruby:  I didn't forget.  Getting that book is far more important than some mere question!

They crash into a black cheetah eating some berries.

Fang:  Watch it cat!  Are you blind, or is it just your bad luck?

Midnight (Black Cheetah):  I'll have you know that I'm Midnight - the best Thief in town!

Ruby:  Are you really as good as they say?

Fang:  Can you really steal ANYTHING?

Midnight:  Nothing can be hidden from me - I've even stolen the Vampire Lord's false teeth!

Ruby: Brilliant!  The Vampire Lord has a job for you.

Midnight:  Do I have to return his teeth?

Fang:  No - you just have to steal a library book - do you think you are up to it?

Midnight:  I could do it in my sleep!

Ruby:  We leave in one hour.

Ruby and Fang run home to collect Grandma's potions.

Grandma:  Here you go - these should help!

Fang:  What do these potions do?

Grandma:  Potion of Invisibility - makes you invisible for a few minutes, Potion of Strength - Makes you as strong as a Ice Giant for ten seconds, and my Homemade Mystery Potion.

Fang: What does your "Homemade Mystery Potion" do?

Grandma: It's a very unstable potion that has different effects on different vampires.  It's always useful in a tight spot.

Ruby: Ok! We'll use that for a emergency instead!

Grandma: Perfect!  Did you find Midnight the thief?

Ruby:  He's leaving with us soon.

Fang:  Grandma? Can we ask you a question?

Grandma: Of course you can! Sandwiches are upstairs in the kitchen.

Fang runs off in the direction of the kitchen.

Grandma: Now, what was the real question?

Ruby: Why isn't my cousin Sapphire a vampire like the rest of us?

Grandma: We don't know if Sapphire is, or isn't a vampire. Maybe her UnMythic mother wanted her to believe she was normal, so she hasn't told her that she could be one. She has been taught to hate all vampires - it's not her fault.

Ruby: I'll try to avoid her so she doesn't have to betray us. Bye Grandma, thanks for the potions! We will return victorious with the book!

After collecting Fang, Ruby meets up with Midnight and they head to Golden Forests School.

Ch.4. Book of Legends - part.2

Ruby and Fang enter through the doors of the Vampire Lord's mansion.

Vampire Lord:  Greetings Ruby Deathdancer.  My spy returns! You have news from the world beyond the Forests?  What do the UnMythical people remember of us?

Fang: Nothing much at all.

Ruby:  He's right - they don't remember anything, but I've heard of a book that tells the stories of their past battles with us.

Vampire Lord:  We must have this book!  Do you know where it is?

Ruby:  Yes.  It's behind a locked door in the library, but it's looks too complicated for me to break into.

Vampire Lord:  Go talk to your Great-Grandmother - she is a great vampire with many talents.  She is one of the few left who is old enough to remember those last wars with the UnMythics.  Go little Deathdancer - I have faith that you will succeed.

A waning crescent moon hung coldly amongst the fog enshrouded branches as Ruby and Fang near their homely destination.

Fang: (talking to the Narrator) That was rather poetic - have you been reading lots of books again?

Narrator:  Sorry - won't happen again.

Ruby:  Who are you talking to Fang?

Fang: It's a long story.

Ruby follows the light up the stairway into her twin brothers' bedroom.

Ruby:  Where's Grandma?

Devin:  Brewing potions down in the basement.

Kevin:  Now get out of our room!

They head down into the basement to find Grandma.

Grandma:  Hello my dear child!  How was your day?

Ruby:  Interesting.  It's amazing what you can learn from mere mortals without bite.

Fang:  She also earned the trust of a koala!

Grandma:  That's nice.

Ruby:  I heard about a secret book.  The Vampire Lord wants me to steal it - but it's very secure behind a locked door.  He said I should ask you for help.

Grandma:  I can make your life easier by brewing potions for you, but I think you need a little more help than that! My old body has had many years of fighting, and I'm not made for stealth at this old age.

Fang: Maybe another spy can help us out? I've heard that some kid named "Midnight DarkMoon" has asked the Vampire Lord if he could join the other kids out in the unmythic schools, but he is currently on hold for joining a school mission yet. And I've also heard he has a reputation for burglary!

Ruby: Perfect! Stealing a book should be right up his alley!

Grandma: I have often seen him - he sometimes goes off to the local night-market to steal Dragonfire Berries!

Ruby: Then that's where we'll look first!

Ruby and Fang say goodbye and head off to the markets.

Ch.4. Book of Legends - part.1

Mr Stonecloud showed Ruby to the door of his classroom, then stomped off somewhere else.

Fang: Happy chap, isn't he?

Ruby:  Well, monkeys are rarely very cheerful.

Ruby and Fang walk in and take a seat next to an orange koala.

Ruby:  I wonder what Mr Stonecloud teaches?

Buttercup (an Orange Koala):  He teaches history.  Is that your pet spider?  It's so cute!

Ruby:  I wouldn't go so far as saying 'cute', but yes, he is my...'pet'.  Is that deadly little snake your pet?

Buttercup:  Yes - her name's Venom.

Ruby: Cool!

Buttercup:  By any chance are you the girl who jumped out of Mrs Redleaf's window this morning?

Fang: (whispers to Ruby) Wow - Fame travels fast around here!

Ruby:  You say that like it doesn't happen everyday...

Buttercup:  No - but I wish it would!

Fang: (to Venom in pet-talk) Do you know where a spider can get a reptile sandwich around here?

Venom: (in pet-talk)  No, sorry - but I can make you a lovely rodent pie!

Fang: (in pet-talk) I'll pass on that one.

Just then Mr Stonecloud enters the classroom

Mr Stonecloud:  Right you lot, listen up.  Last week we finished studying The Great Ocean Wars.  This week we will investigate The Great Mountain Conflicts our people have fought over the ages. We'll start with the Ice Giant battles - do any of you kids know how we conquered them?

Lily (a Purple Tiger):  Did we use flamethrowers?

Buttercup:  Flaming cannonballs of lava?

Mr Stonecloud:  No.  And no.

Ruby:  Mice with chickenpox?

Mr Stonecloud:  Correct Ruby - well done the new student.

Lily:  Poxy mice?  Really?  You're having us on!

Mr Stonecloud:  Absolutely not.  The Giants, although made mostly of ice and snow, have a deep fear of unhealthy mice, and usually ran off the nearest cliff to escape them.

Venom: (in pet-talk) What a waste of good food.

Fang: (in pet-talk) Could have been worse - it might have been crocodiles with the measles.

Ruby:  Sir - how did we defeat the creatures in the forests on the slopes of the mountains?

The teacher blinks twice, takes two steps backwards, and sits down.

Mr Stonecloud:  That's not a topic we can discuss.  If our people ever knew how to defeat the forest monsters, that information is no longer in living memory.  We just avoid those places.  The history books barely speak of them.

Ruby:  But there are books about that?

Mr Stonecloud:  Yes - but those books are locked away safely, and are too terrible for mere students to read.

Fang:  Is he calling us monsters?

Ruby: Hardly - you are just a 'cute' spider afterall...

Mr Stonecloud rambles on and on about various mountain battles.  At the end of the class Ruby and Buttercup say goodbye for the day.

Buttercup:  I'll see you tomorrow?

Ruby:  Yes - it was fun to meet you and Venom - bye!

Fang:  (in pet-talk) you really should try a lizard burger - much better than mouse pie.

Venom: (in pet-talk) I might just do that - bye!

Ruby:  We have to report this information back to the Vampire Lord straight away, and have a talk to Grandma about Sapphire.

Fang:  Grandma makes brilliant sandwiches.

Ruby and Fang head back towards their Everwinter forest home.

Ch.3. Family Issues - part.2

Ruby and Fang walk into a room containing a lot of books

Ruby:  This looks like the library.

Fang:  What's a library?

Ruby:  It's like a kingdom of knowledge!  You can learn anything and everything in here!

Fang:  So if you learnt everything in the library, could you become unstoppable?

Ruby:  Probably not.  You would likely die of boredom before you finished reading all the books.

(they explore for awhile between the rows and rows of books)

 Fang:  So... If Sapphire is your cousin, why isn't she a vampire too?

Ruby:  I'm not sure - I'll ask Grandma tonight.

Fang: Do you know where our next class is?

Ruby:  No clue.

Ruby and Fang turn a corner and find large, strong door.  It appeared to be locked.  On the door is written:

VAULT OF RESTRICTED BOOKS

The books contained herein are dangerous

and must be handled with extreme care

No Students Allowed!

Fang:  It's locked.

Ruby:  What gave it away?  The enormous chains, padlocks, traps, warning sign, skulls scattered about, or the lack of a doorbell?

Fang:  Are you being sarcastic?

(the sound of a deep growl comes from behind them)

Mr Stonecloud: (shouts) What Are You Two Doing Here?  I have the urge to throw you to the crocodiles!

Fang:  Great!  It's been ages since I had a crocodile sandwich! 

Mr Stonecloud:  What?

Ruby:  Nothing, nothing at all.  I was just exploring about - I'm new here!  My name is Ruby - what's your name?

Mr Stonecloud:  You may call me MISTER Stonecloud.  Now, I'm late for my class, you must leave this area of the library at once!

Ruby:  Yes Sir, Sire, Sir, I mean Mister Stonecloud.  I was looking for your class too - I'm your new student.

Mr Stonecloud:  Well, follow me, and don't lag behind.

Fang:  What about my sandwich?

Ruby:  Shut it.

They trail after the grumpy teacher towards his classroom.

Ch.3. Family Issues - part.1

Ruby and Fang wander about the school for awhile.  

Fang:  This place is weird on so many levels.

Ruby:  Yeah, all of the kids in that class are terrified of Everwinter Forest - my home!

Fang:  Why were you trying to bring the enemy into our village?

Ruby:  So we can scare the pants off them with a full-on Vampire attack!

Fang:  Do they even wear pants?

Just then, they return to the fountain where lots of the children had gathered in groups.

Ruby:  Probab...  HIDE!

Ruby grabs Fang and rushes off to a corner to hide.

Fang:  ?!?...

Ruby:  Be quiet for half a minute if you love being alive!

Fang:  (whispers) Why?

Ruby:  I spied someone.

Fang:  Well, you are a spy - that's the idea!

Ruby:  I spied a blue fourth cousin once removed...  named...  Sapphire!

Fang:  Not Sapphire!  Anyone but Sapphire!  Ummm, who's Sapphire?

Ruby:  I already told you - she's my cousin.  Fourth cousin actually - and we don't get on.  She hates me, and she hates all vampires!

Fang:  That's not good.  In fact, it's bad!

Ruby: Full marks for stating the blooming obvious.  We have to avoid meeting her at all costs or our mission for the Vampire Lord will FAIL!

(They watch Sapphire and her White Fox friend Mandy walk off to class)

Fang:  We have to find Mr Stonecloud's class.

Ruby:  Let's hope Sapphire isn't in that class!

Ruby and Fang quickly head in the opposite direction.

Ch.2. The School Infiltration - part.2

(with Ruby's backpack thrown out the window, the class commences)

Mrs Redleaf:  Now dear children, today we will be choosing the location for our science excursion.

Elizabeth: Yippee! Can we go to the Crystal Caves and study the beautiful gems and flowers?

(Ruby's backpack appears at the door of the classroom mysteriously)

Mrs Redleaf:  That's a nice idea Elizabeth, any other ideas class?

Victoria:  Ooh, I know - can we go to Rainbow Waterfalls and research the golden butterflies?

Mrs Redleaf:  That's another lovely idea - that's a very pretty place, and there's much to be learned of the creatures that live there!

Ruby: Oooh, ooh, ooh!

Mrs Redleaf:  Are you ill?  Speak, my child!

(the backpack moves slowly across the room)

Ruby:  Can we go to the Everwinter forest?  The creatures there are really interesting!

Victoria:  <screeeaaammm>

Elizabeth:  <Faints...>

Mrs Redleaf:  That's not a good idea Ruby.  Everwinter forest is a VERY dangerous place!

Rocky (a Black Arctic Wolf):  Nobody has ever returned from that place!  It's beyond scary - you'll get us all killed!

Ruby:  It's not that bad - the creatures are quite nice!  Probably.

Mrs Redleaf:  I've heard that monsters lurk in those woods at night.

(the backpack passes Mrs Redleaf)

Ruby:  Cool!  Let's do a day trip then!

Mrs Redleaf:  I've heard that monsters lurk in those woods in the day too!

Ruby: Could we try for a solar eclipse?  Maybe they'll be having a nap?  Anyway, you can show us how to protect ourselves from the vam...  I meant, the creatures there!

Mrs Redleaf:  I have no idea how to fight those creatures - Maybe Mr Stonecloud knows how to defeat such things.

(the backpack reaches Ruby)

Ruby:  Oooh, time to change classes!  Oh Hello, backpack and Fang!

(Ruby jumps up, grabs her backpack, and leaps out the window - Fang soon follows.) 

Ch.2. The School Infiltration - part.1

A few hours later, Ruby and Fang walk to the Golden Forests School.

Ruby: So...  this is a school...

Fang: Are pets allowed at school?

Ruby:  Only one way to find out!

They pass a sign that reads:  

NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS

Remember to clean up after your pets!

Ruby:  I guess that answers THAT question...

Fang:  I DO NOT leave messes behind!  I always hide the bodies...

(as Ruby enters through the school gates and into a courtyard, she bumps into some girls)

Ruby:  Hey!  Watch where you're going!  I'm walking here!

Victoria (a Pink Leopard): Are you blind?  I'll have you know that I was walking here!!!

Fang: We - I mean she, was walking here first!

Elizabeth (a Pink Lion): SPIDER!!!!

(the girls run away in terror)

Ruby:  Make a note Fang, Kids are scared of talking spiders!

Fang:  Let's keep exploring.

(they cross the courtyard and pass a fountain with strange helmet in it)

Ruby: I wonder if that's where they put bad students?

Fang:  Probably - at least it keeps them clean -  - lets go find our classroom.

Ruby:  Right-e-o,  let's try up these stairs...

(Ruby and Fang continuing exploring until they find a room full of desks - a teacher stops them)

Mrs Redleaf: Hello my dear child.  Are you new to this school?  I haven't met you before - what's your name?

Ruby:  I am Ruby, and yes - I am new here.

Mrs Redleaf:  Welcome to my classroom.  We're about to start for the day.  You can sit at the red desk over there in the left corner.

(Fang sticks his head out of Ruby's backpack to get a breath of fresh air)

Fang: Phew!!  It smells like dead...

Ruby: Be Quiet!  and Stay Down!

(Ruby shoves Fang back down into the backpack)

Mrs Redleaf:  Eeeek - there's a poisonous spider in your backpack!

(the teacher grabs the backpack and throws it out the window)

Ruby:  Hey - that was my bag!

(Ruby tries to head back to the door)

Mrs Redleaf: It's too dangerous - I won't allow you to go downstairs to fetch it back!

(end of part 1)

Ch.1. How It All Started - part.3

The Vampire Lord appears amid crashing lightning and rolling thunder!

Vampire Lord: Greetings, my subjects.  As you all know, I needed young, eager vampires to spy on the normal animals, and you've gratefully volunteered yourselves for your kind.

(several hours pass as the Vampire Lord waffles on and on...explaining ideas and strategies, and eventually gets to the point)

Vampire Lord: ...Pandora Nightsong - you will be sent undercover into the Silvercloud School.  Leeroy Blackfang - You will be sent undercover into the Sunset Waters School.  And Ruby Deathdancer, you will be sent undercover into the Golden Forests School.  You will all depart for your chosen school in six hours.  Student backpacks containing all the equipment you need will be supplied before you leave.  I wish you all the best of luck.

(a little later)

Pandora: What do you think our schools will be like?

Ruby:  Strange and big!  We need to target the younger kids in order to get the information we need.

Jett:  But if we target the teachers, we can get more information quicker!

Fang:  You've all been spread out over the six main schools in our area, so none of you will be in the same place at the same time.

Ruby:  Correction Fang - you're coming with me!

Fang:  What?! Why?!

Ruby:  Grandma's rules, remember?

Pandora: We'd better hurry home before the sun rises.

Jett:  You worry too much Pandora - we've got hours before sunrise.

(the friends sit and discuss their school strategies before heading home - Spy adventuring awaits!)

Ch.1. How It All Started - part.2

A few days later; on the full moon...

Ruby: Grandma, I'm going to the town center now!  It's the full moon tonight!

Grandma: Don't you dare go without Fang!

Ruby:  But why do I have to take him with me?

Grandma: You know very well why!  You wanted a pet, and I allowed you to have one on the condition that you look after it, and take it when and wherever you go!

Ruby:  Fine...  FANG! (calls Fang)  We're going to the town center!

Fang:  I think you're mad.

Ruby: Everyone says that.

(a little later at the town center hall, Ruby meets her friends Pandora (a red Leopard), and Jett (a black horse))

Ruby:  Hi Pandora!  Hi Jett!

Pandora: Hello Ruby, Fang.

Jett: Are you here for the announcement from the Vampire Lord?

Ruby:  Yup!  I want the job, and I'm going to get it!

Pandora:  Hear that?  the Vampire Lord is about to speak!

(end of part 2)

Ch.1. How It All Started -part.1

It had to start somewhere - perhaps it was here...

Grandma:  Ruby!  Devin!  Kevin!  (she yelled)

Ruby, Devin and Kevin: (in chorus) Yes, Grandma?

Grandma: Come here, we've just got some Bat-Mail!

(Ruby, Devin and Kevin go downstairs)

Ruby: This must be very important, because you're often not very excited about Bat-Mail!

(Ruby is joined by her pet spider, Fang)

Grandma: It's from the Vampire Lord, and he's requesting a young vampire to go under-cover and spy on the animals!

Fang:  But why would anyone risk their own life to spy on normal animals?

Grandma:  I don't know, But I do know a great-great-great-grand daughter who has wanted to risk her life for a little bit of adventure...!

Ruby:  Sign me up!  What do I have to do to get the job?

Grandma: It says "if you want to sign up, come to the town center at the time of the full moon"...


(end of part 1)