"Da dee da, dup dup dee da..."
There was nothing so annoying, so aggravating, as the lost tune. Ear worms, she could handle. Bad singing? Grin and bear it. Lyrical dissonance? She actually had a private fascination for it. But when a song rested on the edge of her mind, just out of reach, shadowed and hidden from her memories...
"Guh." Coloratura put her comb down. "Where have I heard that before?" The problem--well, one of the problems with being a pop star was that all the inspiration she soaked in sometimes got muddled, flowing together unlabeled. Normally she'd be able to go to Gillion and search it, but... This tune, she couldn't find a clue. "Maybe it was some kiddy thing."
She stared at the mirror, taking a breath. "Focus. The fans need you. Don't get distracted." She could figure out the song on her own time. Even if it had stumped her for months now. Right now, she just needed to prepare for the concert, and--
"Who are you?" blustered a voice outside her door. "You aren't allowed back here!"
~We came for the singer.~
~You are not the singer.~
~Let us see the singer.~
Coloratura sighed, glancing over her shoulder. "It's alright, Svengallop, let them in."
"Countess, surely you can't--"
"They came this far," she interrupted, pulling a bottle of pepper spray and a red-and-yellow sun symbol from her vanity's drawer. "I can handle it."
"If you insist," her manager groused. "But I don't think this is a good idea."
The pop star turned around and stood as the door swung open, her face schooled into a warm friendliness even as she hid the bottle of pepper spray in her hand. "Hey! Always good to meet a fan. Of course, you could have waited for the sign-and-greet after the show..."
She frowned at the three girls who entered. They moved in lockstep, a swishing five four beat, but beyond that they seemed barely cognizant of the world around them. Their unfocused eyes all locked onto her, and they started to slowly sway forward.
"Ooookay. You're all looking kind of high. What drugs are you on?"
~You are the singer,~ said the blue one.
~Your song is entrancing,~ said the purple one.
~Your song is our trance,~ said the yellow one.
"Riiiiiiight." Coloratura took a step back. "I'm going to ask you to stop right there."
Surprisingly enough, the three of them did so without complaint. They still swayed on their feet, an odd triple metronome that, she noticed faintly, happened to match the beating of her heart. She peered closer, trying to figure out what was happening. "Wait a minute.... I know you! You're those three from that magic news show, aren't you?"
~We have sung of magic.~
~We have sung of news.~
~We have sung of songs.~
Coloratura laughed, slumping into her chair. "I get it. You three want an interview, right?"
~We want what you want us to want.~
~We want to want what you want.~
~We want to want of your want.~
~You want us to want an interview,~ they intoned in eerie unison. ~We want an interview.~
Coloratura frowned. "...Um. Okay." She'd had a few run-ins with strange fans, but... no. Fans were fans. "Ask away, I guess..."
~We ask for your song.~
~We ask for your story.~
~We ask for your stone.~
"Uh... well, I've always had a talent for singing. Ever since I was a little girl. And, uh, I wanted... you know, to make something of that. So, I joined the song business, and... well, Svengallop," she nodded to her manager, whose hand was edging toward his phone, "he helped me make a name for myself. Of course, I never forgot what it was like to be young and... without much self confidence, so I try to appeal to the kids. And... I guess you noticed the stone, huh?"
She fingered the odd sky-blue sphere on her collarbone. "Yeah, this appeared after Sunset did... whatever she did. It's actually fused to my skin. I did have a minor freakout, but it seems to just give me better vocal control. But it's kind of creepy, you know? So I made a fake choker to go around it, put on false hoof-nails, claimed my ear fin things were hair decorations, and ever since then I've been pretending to be earth-aspect." She chuckled. "I know, I shouldn't be ashamed of it, if it is magic, but--"
"I think that is enough," Svengallop said. "Ladies, you've had your interview. If you don't get out now, I will call security."
The three girls continued to sway, not heeding his words.
"Um." Coloratura frowned. "Are you three okay?"
~We await the song.~
~We will join the song.~
~We shall become the song.~
"That's it," Svengallop growled, stepping forward. "An interview is bad enough, but trying to upstage the Countess--"
His hands clapped on their shoulders--and suddenly they were no longer docile. Coloratura jumped up with a squeak as the girls moved together, picking up her manager and throwing him against a wall. "WAIT! STOP!"
And... just as quickly, they stopped, even as Svengallop moaned.
"Why did you do that?!" Coloratura demanded. "What's wrong with you?"
~We will join the song.~
~He would stop the song.~
~The song must not be stopped.~
"You just want to sing on stage with me?! That's what this is all about?"
~You are the singer.~
~You make the song.~
~You entrance our self.~
"Yeah, well---" As Svengallop stood, she noticed the blood trailing down his face, and steeled herself. "I don't want you singing with me!"
For a moment, the three simply swayed. Then they started forward again.
"...What? What are you--Stay back!" She pulled up her pepper spray threateningly. "I'm armed!"
They did not respond, their unfocused eyes on her throat as the swished closer. Coloratura sprayed the purple one in the eyes--and dropped the can with gasp when she didn't even flinch. Desperately, she clutched her sun icon. "Sunset Shimmer, save me!" She wrenched her eyes shut, prepared for the end.
"Oh, for the love of Harmony!"
Coloratura cracked one eye open. Standing between her and the force field holding back the three maniacs was a well-known mop of red and yellow hair. "Oh my gosh."
"Ugh. These three again." Sunset Shimmer snapped her fingers in front of them. "Huh. They're really out of it. What is..."
She turned to look at the stunned popstar. "Oh. Oooooh. Yeah, that would do it."
"I... wow. I'm... it's such an honor--"
"Coloratura, right?"
"...Yes! Oh my gosh. You've heard of me?"
"Yeah, some of my friends are big fans." Sunset clasped her hands together. "Look, I have to go get somebody, okay? I promise I'll be right back, the field should keep them locked in place. Don't poke it." With a flash she was gone.
Svengallop blinked. "Huh. That was Sunset Shimmer."
Coloratura nodded, still in shock.
"I didn't think she was real."
The look Coloratura gave him was filled with such disbelief it could have countered the most devout of Harmonists.
Sunset suddenly appeared again, this time with an older man in tow. Even to Coloratura, whose work necessitated particularly unusual clothes, the strange jacket and shirt that the grey-skinned figure wore could not be called anything but eccentric.
"--and like I said, they're completely locked on her. I don't even think I'm going to count this as a strike against them." Sunset rolled her eyes. "Now, I could just snap them out myself, but I figured, you know--"
"Yes, considering the history you have with them that would be a touch awkward." The man nodded, producing a violin from... well, a violin. "Don't worry, I'll take it from here."
"Thanks. Oh!" Sunset snapped her fingers, pulling a notepad out of her pocket. "Before I forget, miss Coloratura, the girls would kill me if I didn't get your autograph. Could you do two? One general, one for the 'Destiny Mark Crusaders.' I think that'll make their week."
"Yeah. Sure." The pop star took the pen and pad--this, at least, was familiar ground. She gave the man a strange look. "Who's he?"
"This is mister Discord. He's... the Siren's handler, basically. I'm a little busy holding the universe together to handle every little thing, so..."
"Their handler, she says." Mister Discord twirled the violin. "As if I wasn't also the premier researcher of magic!"
"Yes, yes, you're very important." Sunset gave Coloratura a thankful nod as she took the pad back. "Smack him with a newspaper if he starts ranting. I have to attend to something in the asteroid belt." She dissappeared again, leaving her with the strange man.
Svengallop rubbed his head. "I think... I am hallucinating."
"I can personally assure you reality is simply that strange," Discord replied, bringing the violin to his chin with a flourish. "Now then, if nobody has any objections, I'm going to break the spell these three are under."
He brought the bow to the strings and proceeded to hack out a noise so dissonant that Coloratura swore she could see the air vibrating in disgust. She clapped her hands over her ears with a screech of pain; her actions were mirrored, though not identically, by the three girls behind the force field.
"OWIE-ZOWIE what is that?!"
"LEYBLR OCHRI! LEYBLR GLORFET OCHRI HIZHEE!"
"Discord if you ever do that again I WILL RIP YOUR THROAT OUT WITH MY TEETH!"
The man chuckled, dispelling the force field with a snap of his fingers. "Well, I had to break you out of your little trance somehow. Terribly sorry about that, miss Coloratura."
"That's... that's fine." Coloratura pulled her hands down. "Ouch. I'd really rather you didn't do it again, though. So... they're okay now?"
"Well..." The blue one blushed. "We haven't eaten in three days...."
"Leyblv ke ochri bi vzhee shepeyrriri," growled the purple one, her hands covering her eyes.
The yellow one snorted. "You got a face full of pepper spray, Aria, what did you expect?"
Svengallop finally seemed to pull himself together, tugging at his phone. "SECURITY! Security to the Countess's room!"
"What?!" the pop star cried, whipping her gaze to him.
"These three wandered where they weren't allowed, attacked a person, and threatened to---"
"They were under a spell!"
"That doesn't excuse their actions!"
"Actually," Discord interjected, "I believe it might. You see--"
"NOBODY MOVE!" A blue-garbed man burst into the room, tazer at the ready.
"Wait!" Coloratura held up her hand. "This is all one big misunderstanding!"
"These three," Svengallop said sternly, "entered the premises with intent to assault--"
The yellow one sighed. "I'm going to call my lawyer. Does anybody mind if I call my lawyer?"
"Adagio, I would rather I be the one calling lawyers," Discord replied.
"Excuse me," the blue one interjected, "but I think Aria wants to wash her eyes out. And I want, like, two or three whole pizzas. Or a few burgers. I'm really not picky."
The security guard frowned. "None of you should be here."
"I say!" Discord snapped. "Don't be so rude! Just because their parents never planned for them--"
"No, I mean none of you should be back HERE. In this dressing room." The guard reached for his radio.
"I asked them to come!" Coloratura shouted.
All eyes focused on her.
"They..." She glanced at the girl's finlike ears. "They were on my swim team, back in school. We bumped into each other earlier today, and I asked them over. Right, Adagio?"
Slowly, the yellow one nodded. "Yep. That's right." She grinned. "Course, I was always the best swimmer."
"WHAT?!" Svengallop shouted. "They were--you--they were attacking you! With the whole zombie gait, and, and you got Sunset Shimmer to come here--"
"Don't be ridiculous. You never gave me a chance to explain." The pop star rose an eyebrow. "And I thought you didn't believe in Sunset Shimmer."
"This is preposterous. You can't... why are you even defending them? They attacked me!"
"We thought you were one of those creepy groupies!" Sonata defended. "The ones that make the news? We're sorry, we didn't know you were Coloratura's gofer!"
"I'M HER MANAGER!" The man drew himself up. "And as I am her manager, I believe that MY regulations regarding visitation should be followed no matter what cockamamie lies you come up with."
Discord whipped out a checkbook. "I'll buy her contract from you."
"Excuse me?!"
"Bli re re ke gliim zhee," Aria pointed out. "Ru mmrouiish chv."
"I for one think this entire situation is getting blown far too much out of proportion. Honestly, the only way this could be more ridiculous is if our security fellow--" he nodded to the confused man standing in the door-- "had entered with a gun. Coloratura invited some old friends, there was a bit of confusion, and now you're trying to get them arrested and tried over a simple misunderstanding. Quite frankly, I can't stand for such an abuse of power."
"You--I--"
"Excuse me," the security guard interjected over Svengallop's sputtering, "but who exactly are you?"
"I'm Sonata's rich uncle," Discord explained. "I drove them over here."
"YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE SUNSET SHIMMER BROUGHT YOU HERE!"
"Whoa." The guard holstered his tazer. "If Shimmer brought him here, I ain't getting involved. That's way above my pay grade."
"THAT'S NOT--" Svengallop took a deep breath. "Ahem. Let me point out, there are four strangers here, my head is bleeding, and this one!" He pointed at Aria. "This one has been pepper sprayed!"
"They really should put better labels on those," Adagio mused.
"I totes thought it was breath spray!" Sonata objected. "I said I was sorry!"
"Blr zhu kv."
"Look, you're obviously confused," Coloratura said gently. "Why don't you go with the nice security man, and I'll handle my friends and Sonata's crazy uncle."
"You can't just--!"
"Honestly," the security guard said, "that seems to be the best option here."
"I--I will see you all in court!" Svengallop cried.
"That's fair," Discord replied with a shrug. "Fair warning, though, I have oodles of lawyers."
"...Hmph!" With a haughty wave, the man stormed out of the dressing room.
Coloratura coughed, nodding at the security guard. "Could you go after him and..."
"Right." The guard pulled up his radio. "False alarm. Friends came to visit." He walked after the wayward manager.
"I'm... going to take Aria down the road," Sonata offered. "I think I saw a Pizza Hutch on the way over, and we really do need to wash out her eyes."
"Don't get lost," Adagio deadpanned as they left.
Coloratura sighed. "I'm sorry about... spraying her."
"Whatever." The yellow girl waved it off. "We were being creepy, you tried to get us to back off, doesn't matter." She leaned in. "What does is that song."
"What?"
"Miss Dazzle is referring to your heartstone," Discord explained. "She and the other two used to have similar objects, intertwined with their magical physiology. From what I understand, when you sang with that heartstone it triggered a sympathetic resonance that overrode their higher brain functions."
"Your song... it used to be ours. It is ours. We can't help but join in when we hear it." Adagio tilted her head. "You can hear it, can't you? Underneath the songs you sing for others, there's... something. Something fundamental, waiting to be released..."
Coloratura frowned. "...I... well. I have been hearing this tune, in my head."
"Shoo be doo?"
"...shoo shoo be-- how did you--?"
"It is our song. It is our self--~
Discord bopped Adagio's nose with his violin bow. "None of that now!"
"Ugh! Right." She shook her head. "The point is, until we get heartstones of our own, we're going to be compelled to follow you until you sing our song. Even then, it'll... only put us off for a bit."
"...What, are you addicted to it or something?"
"Yes. No. Our heartstones were part of us. Our song is part of us. It's..." She waved her hands, and sighed. "Look, we came from Sunset's world over a thousand years ago. That song was our magic, it was... our survival. It's not... I'm not explaining this well."
"The point is," Discord intervened, "now that they've tasted it again, they can't survive without it. So, they're going to want you to sing it. With your heartstone," he clarified, "Apparently recordings don't do anything."
"Oh." Coloratura looked down at her neck. "I... didn't know."
"Yeah, well, now you do." Adagio shrugged. "Look, I'm willing to cut a deal, or something. I'm old, rich, have connections, whatever."
"I don't... I'd be happy to sing your song for free, but... it's just..." She threw out her arms. "I'm a pop star, not some... I mean, I don't... you were doing everything I say! I don't feel comfortable with that!"
"And Sunset doesn't feel comfortable with people worshipping her, but she doesn't whine about it."
Coloratura blinked. "I--um. Are you sure about that?"
Adagio nodded. "Pretty sure."
"...oh."
Discord snorted. "How about this: I'll give you my card, and we can talk this all out over the weekend. Sound good?"
"I can agree to that. I need some... time to think this over."
"Allrighty then." With a flourish, the man produced a slip of paper and handed it over.
Coloratura read the words printed on it, rasing an eyebrow. "...'The Company of Dreams?'"
"Why yes! Discordian Research, Experimentation, and Application of Magical Solutions, actually." Discord winked. "My portfolio is quite diverse. I was only partly joking when I suggested buying your contract."
Coloratura gave him a look. "...I'll think about it."
"That's all I ask! Come on, Adagio, let's get to the Hutch before Sonata eats all the thin crust."
The two of them exited, leaving Coloratura alone in her dressing room. She stared at the doorway for a minute or two, before turning back to her mirror.
Her fingers rapped against the Vanity surface. She glanced at the card in her hand.
"...Shoo shoo be do..."
