The premier of The Unveiled Tour is just days away! The stage is set, rehearsals have been going smoothly, and the Pegasi from Cloudsdale have promised a clear evening for the concert. This morning, a sound check was underway. Octavia Melody bowed and tuned the strings of her cello and DJ Pon-3 scratched records on her turntables. At the center of the stage, Coloratura sat at her piano. As she played a contemporary pop rock tune, she sang the lyrics of her new song, "A Beautiful Friendship." The rehearsals were momentarily put on hold when a small group of invited reporters from different newspapers across Equestria arrived for a behind-the-scenes look and the chance to interview Coloratura. After formerly introducing herself to her guests, Coloratura serenaded the reporters with one of her new songs. A question-and-answer session was opened right afterward.
"Coloratura, what made you decide to change your style of music?" asked a reporter from The Canterlot Chronicle.
"A very dear friend of mine helped me to see me for myself," Coloratura answered. "My new style is a reflection of my true self."
A reporter from Daily Horseshoe questioned, "How does your new style compare to your previous style?"
Coloratura responded, "My previous style was very much like Sapphire Shore's music. It was hip-hop, it had a lot of beats. My new style may not have as much glitz and glam, but it is more personal for me. I feel very comfortable sitting at my piano."
"Will you dance in your new concert?"
"No, I won't be dancing."
The Equestria Daily Inquirer reporter asked a question which caught Coloratura off guard, "I understand that you had a falling out with your previous manager, Svengallop. Could you explain what happened?"
"Well..." Coloratura almost didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected to be asked about Svengallop. She looked over at Show Biz who gave her a nod of encouragement. "Svengallop and I didn't see eye to eye," Coloratura replied. "Somepony really close to me helped me to see that he was just using me to get what he wanted. I told him I wasn't going to allow that, and then he walked out. It was just before showtime. I didn't know how I could go on without a manager, but my friends helped me, and it's them to whom I dedicate my new show."
A Ponyville Express reporter inquired, "Are you still going to do charity and benefit shows?"
"Absolutely!" Coloratura said smiling. "I always love helping others and getting to meet the little foals."
After the interview, it was time to resume rehearsals.
"Okay, fillies and gentlecolts, that's about all the time we have," Show Biz announced. "Thank you for coming."
Coloratura played one more new song for the reporters before they returned to their respective newsrooms to write the next day's columns.
The next morning, the headlines ran hot off the presses. The Canterlot Chronicle, the Daily Horseshoe, and the Ponyville Express had nothing but great things to say about Coloratura and The Unveiled Tour. The column in the Equestria Daily Inquirer, however, left Coloratura and company almost speechless.
Coloratura a Backstabbing Diva
The Coloratura you hear on record and see on stage is not the pony she appears to be. While she may seem sweet on stage, offstage she is anything but. She is a demanding diva who is only in the business for the fame and fortune. Though she may say that she loves performing charity shows, it is only a candy coating over her nefarious personality. Her former manager, Svengallop, put up with her demands as best he could as he helped make her the pop sensation she was. But did she ever thank him? Not even once. This reporter managed to sit down with Svengallop and this is what he had to say, "When I discovered Coloratura, I knew she had something special. I helped her to achieve her dreams. I worked my hooves to the bone. Out of the kindness of my heart, I did all this for her. She felt it wasn't enough. She became greedy, obsessed with her own glory. Then at the Helping Hooves Music Festival, she set me up to be the bad guy. She saw it as an excuse to fire me. Now she's found a new manager in Show Biz. I only wish him the best of luck. I tried to be Coloratura's friend, but she didn't want to be mine." Coloratura admitted it herself when I interviewed her yesterday. She confessed that she "wasn't going to allow" Svengallop's help and sent him on his way. What more need be said? Does somepony like Coloratura deserve to be a celebrity? This reporter says no. Do not buy her records. Do not even attend her new concert. You will only be supporting her corrupt and disreputable stardom.
"I don't believe this," said a distressed Coloratura. "These are all lies. That reporter took what I said completely out of context."
"Slandering yellow journalist," grumbled Show Biz. "This newspaper's based here in Canterlot. I oughta march down to that newsroom and give them a piece of my mind. How dare they publish such a despicable column."
Show Biz stormed for the door.
"Show Biz, hold on a second." Coloratura stopped him. "I really don't think this is a good idea."
"Miss Coloratura, I know what you're thinking. I'm not going to fight fire with fire. They've started the fire, but I've got the water to put it out."
Show Biz started out the door. Coloratura had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. As requested by her manager, she remained at Canterlor Suites.
"Who's in charge here?" Show Biz roared as he burst into the Equestria Daily Inquirer office.
Something wasn't right. The office was dark. Show Biz looked around. Where was everypony? His eyes surveyed the deserted office as he carefully maneuvered his way around the paper-littered floor. Things kept getting more curious. Two voices sounded from down the hall.
"I did what you said, now let me go," said one of the voices.
Show Biz recognized the voice as the reporter's from the previous day's Q&A with Coloratura.
"I don't need you any more," said the second voice.
"Then let me go!" exclaimed the reporter.
"I'm not letting you go. There can be no witnesses."
Show Biz listened carefully. He was certain he knew to whom the second voice belonged. Could it really be? He thought to himself. No. It couldn't be.
"No, please!" the reporter cried. "No! No-o-o!"
The reporter's voice faded away and all was silent.
Up ahead was a door with "Editor in Chief" inscribed on its window. Show Biz opened the door, and to his surprise, he found the reporter and the editor frozen in place. Both had been turned to stone.
"Dear Celestia!" the manager spoke out in astonishment.
Show Biz turned to hurry out, but halted before he could clear two inches of where he stood. Standing before him was a figure dressed in a black cloak.
"W-who are you?" Show Biz asked a little startled.
The Phantom said nothing. There were chittering sounds and a pair of glowing red eyes. Then, everything went dark.