EG: High School Chronicles - Story #15 - Part 3

It was a very early Saturday morning, and it was just starting to rain as the Rainbooms all made it to Hotel Luxury. They were a little soaked, but nothing too bad, and their musical instruments were just fine, thankfully.
I guess you could say that the “Rain” in “Rainbooms” was quite literal now, am I right?

Anyway, they had all made it to rehearsal at 8 A.M. on the dot, as they entered the hotel’s private ballroom together.

“Thank goodness we made it,” said Rarity, who was carrying with her a long assortment of different clothes on a clothing rail, “My practice outfits would've been ruined if we had stayed in that awful weather much longer!”

Rainbow Dash replied, “Is there ever a time when you’re NOT freaking out over clothes, Rare?”
“No. No, there is not,” Rarity answered, as if it was no big deal at all, “As for this private ballroom… it’s absolutely fabulous!”

“It does look impressive, doesn’t it?” Princess Twilight asked, looking at the private ballroom in all of its glory, and also noticing that Flash and his band, the Flash Drive ,were all just finishing in setting up their band equipment on the ballroom’s own stage. Flash was plugging his guitar into an amplifier-speaker, while his black-and-white haired bass player Ringo was doing the same with his electric bass. Flash’s light-blue haired and very well-fit drummer, Brawly Beats, was steadily hitting his drums and cymbals to make sure they were all both working perfectly and undamaged during the process of moving the drum-set from his house all the way to Hotel Luxury’s ballroom.

Seeing Flash and his band-mates onstage, Princess Twilight said to him, “Hey there, Flash!”
“Oh, hey Twilight,” said Flash with a bit of a delighted smile on his face, “Hey there, Rainbooms. Glad you all could make it, and right on time too. Karaoke Pop is going to like that about you girls being punctual.”

Sunset Shimmer replied, “The same could be said about you and your band.”

“Nice to see you all again,” said a familiar male voice from nearby.
“Totally,” said a younger male voice.

The Rainbooms looked to their left to see that the two guys who were talking to them right now were none other than the Flash Drive’s substitute band-mates, Arrow Swift and Drumbeat.

“Well, howdy boys, nice ta see y'all again,” greeted Applejack, before being hilariously knocked down and out of the way by Rarity, unintentionally of course, as the purple-haired fashionista girl quickly zoomed up to Arrow Swift.

“Here we go again...” said Rainbow Dash, folding her arms and rolling her eyes.

“~Oh Arrow, it's wonderful to see you again!” said Rarity, quickly holding onto his right arm.

This caught Arrow a little off-guard, but he simply blushed and smiled as he said, “Oh, uh, nice to see you again too, Rarity.”

There was then a female voice giggling saying, “Well, you two certainly look cute together.”

Everyone looked to see that it was none other than the one and only Karaoke Pop who was speaking, as she entered the ballroom with her black and red-pink-streaked hair tied up in twin hair-buns and wearing a lovely, frilly white and blue popstar dress with matching white heeled dress shoes.

Seeing Karaoke Pop in such a dynamite outfit made Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and even Sunset Shimmer look at her with a huge, anime-styled eyes, while all of the guys – except for Arrow Swift and Spike, apparently – just looked at the cute Korreinian popstar with gapped open mouths.

“Wow, you look great, Karaoke!” said Princess Twilight.
“Gomabseubnida, Twilight,” Karaoke Pop replied, as she then noticed the clothes rack that Rarity had brought with her, “~Oooh, and it looks like you girls brought some very nice costumes of your own.”

“Thank you, Karaoke, I made them myself,” said Rarity, getting a little ego boost as she ran her right hand through her long, lusciously thick purple hair.

Arrow Swift simply smiled and rolled his eyes saying, “Well, anyway, are we just about ready to get this first rehearsal started?”

“Almost,” said Karaoke Pop, “But with all due respect, uh… Arrow Swift and Drumbeat, was it? Why are you two substitutes here anyway? ”

Drumbeat replied shyly to the pretty, famous Korrenian popstar, “Oh, uh… w-well, Miss Karaoke… Flash asked both of us to join him and his band here today, so that we could b-become familiar w-w-with the songs the Flash Drive is going to play for this big concert in Canterlot Town, in case one of his own original band-mates can’t make it and the band n-needs an im-m-mediate replacement.”

“OH, I see,” said Karaoke Pop, “Way to think ahead, Flashy. ”

“Thank you ^_^ ” said Flash, “Nice to hear that, because for some weird reason… a LOT of people think I’m not smart… at all.”

Pinkie Pie replied, “Well, those people are just haters for stupid bullsnot reasons.”

“Yeah, but what are you going to do?” Sunset Shimmer asked, “Haters are always gonna hate for stupid, trivial reasons… I should know…”

“Well, haters or no haters, we're still gonna be playin' fer a big crowd soon, so let's get this rehearsal started, y'all!” said Applejack.

“Yeah!!” said everybody, raising their fists high in the air to show that they were pumped to rock and roll like there was no tomorrow.

“Hold it!” said another familiar male voice nearby, as everyone looked to see that the person who was talking was none other than one of the Rainbooms’ and Flash’s most recently new friends, Noble Wind… and he had just arrived along with both Crafty Arts and Sugar Sweet; Sugar Sweet was Sour Sweet’s blonde-haired twin sister, NOT to be confused with that look-alike, Baton Switch, from that C.H.S. Pep Rally song sung by Rainbow Dash in “Friendship Games”. I mean, don’t get us wrong, Baton Switch is definitely a cool girl, but still.

Anyway, Noble Wind was panting heavily as if he had just ran a marathon to get to Hotel Luxury’s private ballroom, as were both Crafty and Sugar Sweet.
“Noble Wind?” Rainbow Dash asked, “Crafty Arts and Sugar Sweet? What are you guys doing here? ”

“We wanted... to come... and support... you guys...” answered Crafty Arts, while catching her breath.
Noble Wind added, “We were invited by… Flash Sentry… so, you know… Oy, I think we need to work out more…”

“You're the one that started running, we were just trying to keep up with you!” said Sugar Sweet, a little bit angry with him.
“Oh… right… my bad… ” Noble Wind replied.

After Noble Wind, Crafty Arts, and Sugar Sweet met the one and only Karaoke Pop, much to their delight, AND took a few fun group photos with Karaoke on their smartphones’ Camera Apps, the Rainbooms got onstage and set up their own musical instruments right beside Flash Sentry’s band, the Flash Drive.

The young musicians and singers were all ready for rehearsal, so Karaoke Pop got up onstage with them. She went over some important things with both music bands on what they needed to do for the rehearsal, which would of course eventually carry on later to the actual performance, and then after 2 hours of practice and review…

“Okay…” Karaoke Pop said, “I think we’ve got everything down now, so let’s give the ENITRE performance our very best shot… Everyone ready?”
“Ready!” everyone replied.
Karaoke Pop asked Pinkie Pie, “Care to count it down for us, Pinkie? ”

“With gusto, Karao,” answered Pinkie Pie, as everyone else readied their musical instruments and microphones while Pinkie Pie struck her drumsticks together saying, “1, 2, 3, 4!”

It started off with Rainbow Dash strumming hard on one of her electric guitar’s chords, followed by Flash Sentry doing the same thing with his own guitar.
Followed by Pinkie Pie and Brawly Beats hitting their drums and cymbals in perfect sync, getting a nice rhythm going together.
Karaoke Pop then started singing into the microphone a little song that she and Flash Sentry had most recently written up lyrics for together, and the song was called “United, We’ll Always Be Winners”…

In this life, we all crave for something bigger than ourselves
So we wish to go out and find it, putting our doubts on the shelves

That burning desire in our hearts, we follow it through any weather
But it’s even better if we pursue our passions together

Princess Twilight then joined in…

Each of us has something to prove to ourselves and to each other
But we can’t forget one important thing: be there for one another

Sunset Shimmer added…

We all have things we want to accomplish, but that’s what makes us equals
We’re all connected, and together, we can stand against so many evils

Cue the following chorus with just about everyone singing it…

When we share our dreams with each other, we understand…
What each of our different purposes are, so we can band

We’ll show all when it comes to the power of friendship, we ain’t no beginners
Because united… we’ll always be winners


Liking what they were hearing, Arrow Swift and Drumbeat, along with Noble Wind, Crafty Arts, Sugar Sweet, and Spike all clapped their hands together to be in sync with the song’s rhythm and melody, especially when it was about to enter its second verse…

Flash Sentry started off singing…

Alone, there are limits to what we can do, but not if we combine…

Rainbow Dash continued for Flash…

…our hearts and minds, working as one, just about every time

Rarity added…

Sure, it may start off very rough, but true friendship’s always worth it

Applejack sung…

Together, we got the stuff ‘n’ the drive ta never quit

Fluttershy joined in…

No matter the obstacles, or hard they’ll be…

Pinkie Pie continued…

…I can count on you, and you can count on me…

Everybody sung now…

To seize the day and get the job done
And then we can party with everyone!

Cue the chorus again …

When we share our dreams with each other, we understand…
What each of our different purposes are, so we can band

We’ll show all when it comes to the power of friendship, we ain’t no beginners
Because united… we’ll always be winners


It was then that Sunset Shimmer played a solid guitar solo, followed by Flash, and then later by Rainbow Dash loudest of all!
However, it was at this time that all seven members of the Rainbooms… started to magically ‘Pony Up’ in front of everyone, with Karaoke Pop being the most surprised of all…

The Rainbooms then kind of stole the show as they finished the song with the final chorus…

When we share our dreams with each other, we understand…
What each of our different purposes are, so we can band

We’ll show all when it comes to the power of friendship, we ain’t no beginners
Because united… we’ll always be winners

Yeah, united… we’ll always be winners

United… WE’LL ALWAYS BE WINNERS!!!

The song ended epically, but the very second or two after the song completely ended, all seven Rainbooms realized that they had all Pony’d Up in front of Karaoke Pop.

Right then and there, Rainbow Dash said, “Uh, oh… we’re busted. O.o; ”

The Rainbooms then quickly got rid of their Pony’d Up forms, their Equestrian ears and pony-tailed hairstyles, and then Karaoke Pop said, “Uh… wow… I mean, just… WOW…”

“Okay, I know what you’re thinking,” said Princess Twilight, holding her hands up in front of Karaoke Pop, “But I promise you that it is NOT what you think it looks like!”

Karaoke Pop replied skeptically, “Really?? Because it looks to me that you seven teenage girls can somehow… TRASFORM into Heaven-knows-what-you-transform-into!”

The Rainbooms all looked at each other with shifting eyeballs, then they looked back at Karaoke Pop with Princess Twilight saying, “Uh… O-kay… so, maybe it DOES look like what you think it looks like. ”

Pinkie Pie added, “Before you say anything, Karaoke Pop… would you believe us if we told you that what just happened was… the magical power of really good 3D special effects generators? The kind of amazing, scientifically advanced technology that make special effects happen in real life and right in front of us? You know, like hologram projectors and stuff. * squee * ”

Karaoke put her hands on her hips simply saying, “No.”

Pinkie Pie then asked, “How about REALLY good smoke and mirrors?”

“No,” said Karaoke.

Pinkie Pie replied, “How about the power of J.J. Abrams?”

Karaoke opened her mouth to reply to that, but then she actually went and thought it over for a few seconds before saying, “…THAT actually would be impressive, interesting, and quite believable… but… I know that isn’t the case at all right now, so NO.”

The Rainbooms looked at each other again, not really sure what to say to Karaoke Pop now, nor if they should tell her the truth now that the cat was out of the bag… or in this case, the pure magic of friendship was out of its living vessels.

But before those very seven girls could say anything, there was a bit of a slow clap being done by someone who had been watching performance the the whole time… a grown man who seemed to be in his late 20s, and he had Caucasian skin, light blue eyes, short yet somewhat wavy green hair that actually looked a little dirty, and he wore a black and white business suit.

The mysterious man in question was clapping his hands slowly, before he started speaking with a big smirk on his face, “…well… whatever it is you ‘Rainbooms’ did just now… I flippin’ love it.”

“And who the heck are YOU supposed to be? ” Arrow Swift asked him.

Karaoke Pop sighed saying, “Everyone… meet my newest head publicity agent, Mantisio.”

The mysterious man, now identified as Mantisio, added charismatically, “I also go by the following nicknames… Manty, Mantis Man, Manny, Ti Time… but if you want, you can simply just call me… ‘M.T.’ ”

“I see…” said Princess Twilight, already getting a bad feeling about this ‘M.T.’ guy, and it wasn’t just the fact that he seemed like your typical sleaze-ball in the music business… there was something more ominous to this person… something about WHO and WHAT he appeared to be that just seemed… familiar to the Princess of Friendship.

Mantisio then said, “Well, I just saw everything and you kids were great! That concert at the Canterlot Galleria Mall is gonna be killer. I can already feel it!”

“Uh, thanks…” said Sunset Shimmer, already getting a bad vibe from Mantisio just as much as Twilight was.

Mantisio then put his hands together and said, “Now then, my little musicians, I think that’s enough band practice for today.”

“Already? ” Rainbow Dash asked, “But we practically just got started!”

“Maybe so,” said Mantisio, “But I know for a fact that you teenagers probably have weekend homework that you need to get to right away for your schools, don’t you? I don’t want to take up your whole day when you’ve all got studying to do. So, run along home now, and be back here first thing tomorrow morning… same time, same place.”

“Uh… o-kay, if you say so,” said Flash, as he and the other musicians started to pack up their instruments and equipment.

Mantisio held up a finger and started shaking it saying, “Uh-uh-uh-uh, hold on there, uh… Flash Sentry, was it? I would prefer it if YOU stayed for just a moment longer. I have some important business that I need to discuss with just you and Karaoke Pop… alone.”

Flash and the Rainbooms all looked at each other, then Flash said to them and his own band-mates, “…I’m sure it’ll be fine, guys, don’t worry.”

Everyone simply went with what Flash said and went on their ways back home… though, both Sunset Shimmer and Princess Twilight looked back at Flash. He gave them both a smile that clearly said, “No need to worry.”
But worrying was all Flash’s friends could do right now.

The Rainbooms wanted to stand outside the door to the private ballroom, just to be safe… uuunnnfortunately, hotel security – or rather, Karaoke Pop’s own personal security guards – blocked the young teens all out in a rather intimidating manner.

So, all that everyone could do was head back to their own homes and continue their Saturday without Flash.

Now the only people in the private ballroom of Hotel Luxury were Flash Sentry, Karaoke Pop, and the mysterious Mantisio character.

“So…” said Flash Sentry, “What exactly is it that you want to talk to me about, Mr. Mantisio?”

“Simple really,” said Mantisio, “I want to talk to you about those Rainboom girls.”
“What about them…?” Flash asked, starting to get very suspicious now.

“Well…” said Mantisio, “What they did near the end of that song you were all playing… that was some really impressive special effects, now weren’t they?”

“Yeah, I… guess they were…” Flash replied.

“There’s just one thing I can’t shake off about it, which naturally, I need to ask you about it,” said Mantisio, “Flash… do you by any chance know if what happened was the, uh… heh heh heh… ‘power of J.J. Abrams’… or… the power of something… much more interesting?”

Flash was starting to feel nervous, as he asked sheepishly, “Wha… w-what do you mean by that? ”

“Oh, nothing really,” said Mantisio, “It’s just… I took a good look around this ballroom when I first entered it while you kids were playing your song together… and quite frankly, my friend… I didn’t see anything that looked like a ‘3D special effects generator’ or ‘hologram projector’… I mean, I’ve heard of a 3D Printer, but a 3D special effects generator?? Heh heh heh… I seriously doubt that such a thing even exists. Heck, I seriously doubt that I would even find a picture of it if I were to Google it. And a hologram projector? Don’t know if those actually exist or not, but again, I didn’t see anything of the sort. So… do you mind telling me what it REALLY was?”

Flash looked at Mantisio a little fiercely, as the blue-haired young man replied, “With all due respect, sir… it isn’t really any of your business. BUT I can assure you that it is NOT anything dangerous or risky.”

“Oh, I’m sure it isn’t anything of the sort,” Mantisio replied nodding, “…or rather… I’m sure it WOULDN’T be a dangerous thing… to my own plans… if I wasn’t ‘something more’ myself… > : ) ”

When Mantisio grinned at Flash, Flash saw that the creepy guy’s teeth looked practically just like... fangs.

Flash then quickly looked at Karaoke Pop and said to her, “K-Pop, what does he mean by that? What is going on right now?!”

Karaoke Pop simply looked at Flash and didn’t say a word, though she was looking at him with a hint of guilt in her eyes.
Karaoke then looked a little bit away from Flash while holding her arms together and saying sadly, “…I’m so sorry about this, Flash…”

“And by THAT…” said Mantisio, as he pulled out from his white shirt’s neck collar something that looked like a turquoise-colored, square-shaped stone at the end of a black string necklace, “…what she means is simply… THIS…”

Mantisio’s stone necklace then glowed with a sky-blue light that first surrounded Flash in said light, then it started to apparently drain from Flash what looked like his own life-force, right into Mantisio’s stone necklace.

Flash wanted to scream in pain, but something about that bizarre necklace’s power was keeping him from screaming… and it immediately made him feel woozy.

“Karaoke…” Flash said to her, feeling really dizzy, “What have you…?”

Flash immediately collapsed to the floor, completely knocked out cold as Mantisio said, “Sad really… but the thing about young musicians like Flash Sentry here is this… when they’re talented music stars during their teenage years, they tend to crash and burn almost too easily… or in this case, just ‘CRASH’. Hahahahahahahahaha!”