I'm sorry for the month and a half of nothing, April was a crazy month and I was out on a much needed vacation for my cousin's college graduation... plus I had to work Mother's Day which was a nightmare and a half, but I spent the rest of the day with my mother ('cause I love my momma), and had a great time. I've started scheduling myself so I can be a bit more productive in putting out content. Now then, I will let you guys get back to this, the newest chapter in my Vampire AU. The explanation as to why Ruby is able to eat human food and not feel sick will be explained later in the plot, so stay tuned. Now, enough rambling. Here. We. GO!

Cypress' mind raced, a team trial against Ruby Rose, a one thousand fifteen year old vampire. He could not believe it. His nerves were wracked now, facing this creature that he'd only known for three days had come into his, well his sister's, apartment and chose him out of all the gamers present to be his opponent in the initiation. Ruby's face as she looked over her options for her partner, nearly everyone looked worried, stayed calm and focused on the body language of every person sitting around the table. Finally, she made her decision, "Winter Schnee," She said pointing in the white-haired blue-eyed bespectacled girl, "I choose you as my partner in this team trial."

Winter raised an eyebrow. She'd gone against Cypress before and barely made it through two rounds with him, going against him with a newcomer would be like a novice in chess taking on the super computer, Deep Blue. "Are you sure that I'm the best choice?" The rich girl asked.

"Definitely," Ruby said, "I'm good at noticing people's composure… for my age." For your age, really, Ruby? She cursed herself for having to hide her true age for the umpteen millionth time in her extended life, "And as far as calmness goes, you seemed like the greatest candidate."

Winter thought this over for a moment, "I suppose there's no flaw in that logic." She said, "But I will warn you, I can get a bit competitive."

Ruby smiled, "If what Luna said about Cypress loving puzzles and platformers is true, you'll have to lighten up on the competitive nature and think faster than ever."

Everyone in the room was surprised to hear Ruby speaking to Winter like a teacher. The girl may have been homeless, at least that's what they believed, but she had the spirit and speaking capabilities of a born leader. Winter adjusted her glasses, "Very well, Ruby," She said, "since it's your trial, you take the lead."

Ruby smiled again, "Only if you'll back me up, Winter."

Cypress smiled, "I guess it's a good thing I planted that book then." He muttered under his breath.

"What'd you say, Cy," Luna asked.

"Just that I'm glad to see them getting along before the trial starts." Cypress said lying through his teeth.

The party waited for Ruby to finish her refreshments, she loved every bit of it. Cypress started up his Nintendo Wii U system and opened his battlefield of choice, Super Mario Maker. Umbra saw this and laughed, "Oh, dudette, Cy's really not using kid gloves if he's choosing this title."

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"I'll explain," Nora suggested, "see, Cy's actually ruthless at solving puzzles and making them."

"And that explains things, because~" Ruby inquired.

Winter sighed at Nora's vague explanation, "The game he's chosen," She said, "is a very difficult platformer and, given the resources, a mid to long range combat game."

"It's only very difficult because you're going through levels that Cy's designed." Nora said.

Ruby looked nonchalantly over to Cy who was setting the game up on his Wii U tablet, "Let's see," Ruby heard the boy mumble, "for the first round, give her this one, second… and third can be~ these two~, and~ ch-ch-ch-ch-ch~, fourth is this level, and end the trial… with… this one… ri~ght here. Okay, ready to go."

Luna and Nora handed Winter the controllers. The bespectacled heiress handed the second controller to Ruby, "Since I'm a bit more experienced with this, I'll take be the point man." She said. Ruby cocked her head to one side, "Seriously, you're that inept?" Winter cursed under her breath, "I'll go first and explain how certain aspects work."

"So you're like a guide on a jungle exhibition?" Ruby asked.

Winter adjusted her glasses to pull herself out of a stupor of awe, "Actually yes."

"Okay," Ruby smiled, "I really appreciate that, Winter."

Winter smiled, "It's what teammates and friends do for each other." Hearing this made Ruby feel warm inside, Winter reminded her so much of someone from her past, someone now lost to her but so very dear to her unbeating heart. "Now then," Winter said, "Cy, I'll go first."

Cypress handed the girl the controller, "I'll warn you," He said, "The levels are lined up in such a way that they progressively get harder. In other words, it won't be very easy." He gave a wink in Ruby's direction as if to say, Let's see if your extended life has made your brain quick to learn.

Ruby felt her chest throb, Oh you're on, human, she growled in her head, "Talk is cheap, Cypress," She said defiantly eliciting a reaction from Cy that only she could detect. It was contraction of his pupil and iris that only came as one entered a state of being on the cusp of choosing between fight or flight. Ruby remembered back in the days when seeing this reaction would make her mouth water. It meant easy meat in a physical altercation to which she would savor every drop of the loser's life giving crimson nectar. But tonight, there was something off about this reaction, there was a steeling of resolve in Cypress eyes that halted Ruby's mental advance.

"Then let's see whose mind is sharper, Ruby," Cy retorted in a calm state of mind that sent a chill racing up the vampire girl's spine. She felt put off by this feeling, and yet, somewhere deep in her subconscious, part of her was salivating for more. Cypress walked to the open seat on the living room couch directly behind his partnered victims and asked, "Shall we begin?"

At that moment, Ruby felt her mouth go dry. But, she calmly inhaled and exhaled, "Ready to put him in his place, partner?" She asked Winter.

Winter snorted with confidence, "You really had to ask?" She chuckled at her uncharacteristic cockiness around Ruby. She hadn't felt this way before, I don't know where she's from, She said, and frankly, I really don't care. She's actually making me feel the most confident I've felt in years. I'd say this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

"Okay, dude and dudettes," Umbra said, "Rules are simple, each challenger gets five lives a piece. The goal is to make it from the starting point of each level to the finishing point of the level before the timer runs out. No outside interference is permitted. If the team effort falls short of beating three out of five stages, the final judgement falls upon the opinion of Cypress who will decide the fate of the newcomer." He raised an arm, "Ready, set…" The tension grew thick in the room rising to a fever pitch until, "…and GO!"

The television was switched to the game screen. The title of the four map run read I Triple Dog Dare You, Ruby. The vampire felt her cheeks heat up as a blush ran over her, What is it about this boy that makes me feel this way? She cursed, Why in God's name must his haughty attitude and perplexing mannerisms affect me so? It's too soon for me to think of such things, we've only just met.

Winter smiled, "I think he's going to give you heart palpitations before we start, partner." She giggled. This only made Ruby's blush deepen.

"Gonna start, or what," The vampire girl hear Cy whisper softly in her ear. The boy had a sly little smirk on his face that could put a fox to shame.

Ruby felt a chill race up her spine yet again. She didn't know why, but it felt wonderful to her. She shrugged it off for now and pressed proceeded to the game. Winter went first, as per the arrangement of the team that the two girls and their opponent had agreed upon. Ruby watched as her teammate progressed through the level first. It seemed fairly simple, make your way through a level that got progressively harder as the player went on, dodging enemies or racking up points by jumping on certain ones, and jump onto the flag pole at the end to collect points all while facing a countdown clock. "I'll say this, Ruby," Winter said, "levels that are designed by Cy aren't easy for beginners, even the simple looking ones have a level of difficulty to them."

Ruby looked at the controller in her hands. The alien device that would serve as her guide through the level was simple looking, all she needed were the left and right buttons on the direction pad, the "1" button to run faster which the vampire told herself not to use so she wouldn't run through her supply of lives, and the "2" button to jump over enemies or on them and to progress across gaps or ascend to higher parts of the level. "I'm pretty sure I can get through this by taking my time, Winter," she said taking a cleansing breath, "I'll be alright."

Winter grinned faintly, "Best wishes, Ruby," She said.

Ruby's conquest of the level was actually flawless, though she had a slow start with timing a moving platform just right. After that, however, she managed to get through to the flagpole at the end without losing a life. "Your turn now, partner," She said to Winter.

Winter put a hand on Ruby's shoulder, "You did well," she said, "You managed to make it through fairly quick in spite of this being your first time playing through. Ready for round two?" Ruby nodded, "Alright, no backing down."

That's the spirit, Ruby, Cy thought to himself.

"It only gets a bit more difficult from here," Nora said, "Cy's levels are designed to feed off the difficulty where the last level left off. Even Winter reaches the point where she needs to punch a pillow, or even scream into it."

Umbra snickered, "I usually make her a Shirley Temple to calm her down."

"I've got the ingredients for one in the fridge, Umbra." Ivy remarked.

"I might need one after the fourth level," Winter said, "so start mixing it up, please Umbra?"

Umbra laugh, "I figured you'd ask that eventually, Winter." He said as he got up and went toward the kitchen.

Azure got up and followed, "I'll get Winter's favorite glass."

Winter blushed, "That's very considerate, Azure, thank you."

Ruby looked to Azure and back to Winter. She got up on the couch next to Cy and whispered, "Is there something going on between those two?"

"Winter's got a pretty heavy crush on Azure," Cy replied, "Azure's got feelings for her too, but he's a little oblivious to her advances sometimes."

Ruby hummed and sat back down next to Winter, "If I were you, Winter," Ruby said in a low voice, "I'd be a bit more obvious about your advances to Azure."

Winter blushed a bright red, "I swear, Cypress Whitemane, I'm gonna make you the most sour pitcher of lemonade I can the next time I come over and watch you drink every drop." She said loud enough for the occupants of the living room to hear it.

"Oh, boy," Luna said, "now you've done it Cy."

"We're never gonna hear the end of this," Nora said.

"It's not like we're not all thinking it's been kept secret long enough," Ivy said.

Winter gave a harrumph and continued onto the second level, Terrific, Cy, She thought sarcarstically, you make it go from platformer to the an elevator parkour segment instantly. Only you would be this evil in a team trial against the likes of me, but to force such pixelated malignance on Ruby, oh I'm going to make that lemonade extra sour just to make sure you fully comprehend my displeasure at this unwarranted attempt to beat me. Winter could boast from dusk 'til dawn on how well she did with simple platforming games. But, Cy knew very well that the heiress was not very gifted when she was faced with moving platforms, and as such he did his ample best to capitalize upon this weakness in the girl's pool of gaming talents at every chance he could get.

Ruby had no choice but to admit it, Cy's skill at designing challenging environments like this. "Okay, Winter, knock 'em dead."

Winter steeled herself and took off through the moving gauntlet of platforms. It seemed easy until she got half way through the gauntlet, when black bullets started flying toward her. "What th… seriously, Cy, on the second level?"

"All's fair in the trial, Winter," Cy replied, "You know how I like to ramp the difficulty up half way through a level."

"I know," Winter growled, "but seriously, did you need to set loose a hail of Bullet Bills on me in a gauntlet of elevators?"

"You would rather I had used Lakitu and Spikies?" Cy asked, "Whoops, spoilers."

Winter huffed, "I hope this is almost…" She made it to the flag pole at the end, "…Ugh, that was brutal."

"And just in time," Azure replied as he handed Winter the glass, "One Shirley Temple for the lovely lady."

"Bless you, Azure Aquio," The heiress said, "J'adore." As she took a sip

"De nada, Princesa de Nieve," Azure replied raising a blush on the white haired girl's face.

Ruby smiled as she commenced her run of the gauntlet. Winter watched the girl jump effortlessly across the gaps between the platforms. The moment the Bullet Bills began flying toward her, she started playing not by immediate impulse, but by timing her jumps with not only the movement of the platforms, but also the approaching bullets. Take it one move at a time, Ruby, She said calmly in her head, just a few more of these platforms and I'm finished. Just gotta keep it together. She kept leaping through the gauntlet with relative ease, her eyes never leaving the screen. As the clock reached the twenty-five second mark, she jumped to the very top of the flag pole and completed the level, her completion was rewarded with the burst of three fireworks. "What was that all about?" She asked.

"When you finish the level, there's a slight chance of fireworks going off over the castle," Winter said.

"Each firework gives you bonus points." Luna added.

"Huh, nice," Ruby said with a grin.

Winter finished her drink, "Feel better, Winter," Azure asked.

Winter sighed in satisfaction, "Yes, Azure," She said, "Thank you, so much." She blushed a little. She felt a bit more relaxed. If only she knew what was in store for her. She started on a single block over lava in a three dimensional castle. This indicated to Winter that Cy was only testing his victims in the first two rounds, and now he was getting ready to unleash the reason why none of his fellow gamers ever challenged him. When he wanted to, Cypress Whitemane could be as evil as a criminal mastermind in a James Bond film. There was a long narrow corridor five block lengths ahead of Winter's starting position, but the heiress had known the boy with strawberry blonde hair since she was seven, and in that time she learned that when you play against a child with a love of puzzles and platformer games, and couple that with the fact that Cy took cues from different maps on YouTube play throughs of this particular game, and she started cursing her teammate for choosing Cy as their opponent. Knowing Cy, She groaned, that corridor is most likely peaceful for the first five blocks and then there'll be a timing puzzle with fireballs. She jumped across the gap and sure enough, a cascading wall of fireballs shot up from the lava below and immediately smashed Winter's hopes of getting through the level. She took a breath and began running through the gauntlet as fireballs arced on either side of her and as the hall ended, she jumped across a wide gap and landed on a moving platform.

Ugh, Cypress you're truly the worst. Winter growled as she jumped onto the next platform. From there, the movement puzzle made a comeback, in the form of fire sticks. I hate you, Cy, HATE YOU! Winter internally screamed in disgust as she made her way through the puzzle. She leaped from one platform and landed on a single floating block, and Winter immediately saw a fireball jump out of the lava pool below followed by two more fireballs following suit. A jump timing puzzle… why must this boy who's been my friend for years torture me with these variant tests?

Ruby watched intensely and memorized the patterns of the jumping puzzles and felt the rage in Winter's exhale once she made it to the end of the level. "You okay, Winter?" The brunette asked.

Winter huffed, "I'd feel better if I didn't think this series of levels was meant as some bit of revenge." She shout Cy a death glare.

"Winter, I promise, I'm not trying to get revenge on you for anything," Cypress replied, "I even told you that I didn't think anything bad about what happened."

"I'm just gonna start the level, if that's okay?" Ruby said hesitantly as she began her run. Winter looked in shock as the brunette maneuvered through the timing puzzles with relative ease. It was like the timings didn't even faze her a bit.

"How do you learn these patterns in such a brief amount of time?" Luna asked dumbfounded, "Even Winter has trouble running these courses, meanwhile you're breezing through them like they're a walk in the park."

Ruby shrugged, "I guess it comes with practice of memorizing patterns throughout the long nights."

"Long nights," Umbra asked, "Wait let me guess, extreme photosensitivity?"

"Yes," Ruby nodded, "Because of that, I'm pretty much limited to going out at night."

"Photo-wha-wha?" Nora asked, "I don't know what that is."

"It's an allergy to sunlight in which the afflicted person suffers severe burns when exposed to direct sunlight." Ivy said, "With that condition, it's no wonder you're out so late Ruby."

Ruby frowned, "I've managed to adjust to the conditions of that ailment, as well as the consequences."

"Like what for instance," Ivy asked.

"Like not being able to attend school," Ruby said, "That and not being able to enjoy a sunny day without searing pain all over my body."

Luna frowned, "I've heard that's a rare condition that's pretty hard to live with, but is accepted by some groups."

"Like who," Ruby perked up as she finished the level.

"Like us, duh," Nora said, "We're nice people who accept everyone, so long as they're nice and accepting toward others, regardless of differences."

"That's right," Winter smiled as she received the controller from her teammate, "Now then, onto that final level of this brief challenge." She said pressing the button to start the next level. To the Schnee heiress' dismay, it was a gauntlet of platforming, timing, and her least favorite enemy from the Mario franchise, Chain Chomps and saw blades on movement tracks. "I'm dead."

"If you forfeit," Azure said, "you've gotta confess the truth about anything the challenged wants to hear."

Winter blushed, "L-l-let's get on with it." She stammered. She began jumping up the platforms, avoiding the fireballs jumping out of the pixelated lava beneath her. She actually felt sweat dripping from her palms as she move toward a conveyer belt of Chain Chomps and saw blades. As she navigated her way to the finish line, she felt her body start to tremble, and then the whistle sounded to indicate her moment of triumph. She felt her body heat up instantaneously and sweat condensing on her brow. "There are times when I wonder why we became friends, Cypress Alexander Whitemane."

"Because our parents were best friends when they were kids," Cy replied.

"And because Cy and Azure poured a full garbage can on those jerky Malachite twins when they tried to ruin your seventh birthday party." Luna said.

"A full garbage can with scraps left over from the IHOP breakfast rush," Nora laughed, "Those two were covered from head to toe."

Cypress felt a little bad about that, "I think Mel may have forgiven us a little bit, though," He said.

Azure felt the same, "She did say she'd lighten up on us during Miss Nikos' Math class," he admitted.

"Say what?" Luna, Nora, and Winter all asked in unison.

"She just wants us to help her pass so she can get to high school," Cypress said.

"I can see why she did that," Azure said, "I mean, she's been there for three years, and Miltia's a bit too egotistical to ask for our help."

The five friends nodded in agreement. Ruby kept her focus on the screen as her fingers flew across the buttons of the Wii U pad. The group was impressed at the brunette's prowess, "I thought she said that she'd never played these types of games before." Winter said to Cy.

"She's probably a fast learner," Cy replied.

They were right. The victory fanfare played as Ruby crossed the finish line and heaved a heavy sigh. "How many more of those do I have to do?" Ruby asked.

"You've got one left, Ruby," Azure replied, "The bad news is that now that you're into the final round, you're going in blind. Winter isn't going to be going first."

Ruby simply gulped in fright, "I've come too far to back out now. So let's do it."

Those of you who are gonna bash me on the lack of description of the levels that Ruby and Winter had to play through, I'm not apologizing. I've truthfully never played Super Mario Maker, I'm more into watching people rage quit on the hard levels for amusement. I'm going to make the next chapter shorter because of the time constraint, but the July chapter will have a bit more length to it.

Also, special announcement, I've started doing an art vlog and a let's play series over on my YouTube channel. If you guys want to watch me draw in a timelapse while listening to relaxing, edgy, or upbeat music, or watch me play games on steam, look up bubba485 on YouTube, your likes, dislikes, and feedback on my videos really help out more than you know.

Well, that's all the time I have for you right now. If you liked this, let me know in a nice little review. If you want to follow me for more content, follow my account for updates on this and my other stories.

Until next time,

~Cluny