Over forty million. Over forty million likes and comments on Magenta's myStable post. The Crystal Empire was their biggest show yet. A staggering two thousand ponies that raved to the lights, fire, and bass drums from AJR, the group touring with them, the bass drums from Magenta's mixes and hardcore tracks, and Sea Creature's bassy wobbles. The show was held on a large stadium in the center of the city with a large background of a display screen. It displayed the guest band's name, the logo for Starfire, Songbird, Sea Creature, Bright Snow, and Magenta herself.
When they arrived in the Crystal Empire, they were greeted by Princess Cadance, Prince Consort Shining Armor, and their Daughter Flurry Heart. Who pretty much idolized Bright Snow for her dancing, and said she wanted to be a dancer. Then were given a tour in the crystal empire. Before everyone once more hit the stage there, Magenta decided to appease the press covering the story about her and that message. Ever since she released it, no one was able to get close enough to ask her about it, no matter how close she actually was. Well they did eventually get close, and they did ask. They asked if she was really going to take off the suit and reveal who she really was.
Magenta had smiled and answered, "Absolutely."
Ever since then, she became more than famous. Already, she could make out the thousands of ponies gathering in Ponyville she could see coming up underneath their cruise from the front of the deck. The stage was big. Really big. With sunlight glinting off the metal. And those were a lot of ponies. The stage was elevated and Magenta could spot lasers, lights, and more by the foot and the area overhead.
Bright Snow popped her head into Magenta's space on the deck and looked down with a grin. "Wow! Look at that! Pretty big stage, huh?"
Magenta grinned herself and nodded eagerly. "Oohh yeah!" She cheered. "This is going to be our biggest show ever. You're helping with the decks right?"
"Definitely," Bright responded. The two shared a quick smack of the hooves before the cruise began to lower by the stage, setting down an inch above the grass. Once they were down, Bright queried, "Are you singing?"
"Just a little. I'm more interested in testing my IDs. Especially Artificial Energy."
"I'm very interested in hearing that. Nopony has heard it yet."
"All ponies haven't heard any of them," Magenta deadpanned. The cruise touched down on the field by the stage. The fence surrounding the mobile complex had some security around it who abandoned their posts to help out with unloading.
Magenta turned around and faced Sea Creature, who nearly scared Magenta out of her hidden coat. She was just standing behind her with a grin. Creepy.
Sea Creature pointed towards the stage and said, "When you get on that stage down there. Make them ponies dizzy. Show 'em what you're made of."
Magenta chuckled and corrected, "I'm actually going to show them who I am." Then walked around Sea Creature to head for the lower deck with Bright. She had some practicing to do.
The Princesses, including Flurry Heart on Cadance's back all looked at the stage from the balcony of Twilight's castle, along with the large cruise that landed beside it. Twilight huffed and muttered, "That is a big stage."
"And those are a lot of newsponies." Cadance pointed to the town at the mass of ponies wearing suits covering the square in the midst of a report. "Technology sure progressed quickly. The mother of Net made sure of that." She teasingly poked Twilight's back.
Twilight scoffed and blushed, waving it off. "I-It's nothing, really."
"Stop being so humble," Luna playfully scolded. "You've made a new kind of magic, be proud of it."
Down below in the way-more-than-crowded-town, Bluebell quickly rejoined her friends from going to the restroom with Yellow Diamond, Lightning Dust, and Silver Swirl, all of which were hanging with Rainbow Dash, the other Element Bearers and the cutie mark crusaders. Mainly because Lightning Dust knew Rainbow Dash.
"So you all grew up around her?" Rarity asked in interest. "Must've been interesting."
Bluebell nodded and added, "We always knew she could sing. The instruments and DJ-ing came in later on."
Yellow Diamond chuckled and asked, "I wonder how hyper she's going to get on this stage. She and Bright really know how to throw a live show. So much so that everypony just calls them parties."
"And those are some parties!" Silver Swirl cheered. "I wonder how her parents will react. Nurse Goldhoof and whatever-his-name-is."
Lightning Dust pointed ahead and asked, "Why not ask them?"
Everyone followed her hoof towards the orange and golden pegasi looking at stuff in the square. The stallion had a wing draped over the mare's back, leading her towards the group while his wife smiled at everything. Once she recognized them, Goldhoof gasped and rushed forward to pull Bluebell into a tight hug, mushing her face and messing up her glasses. "Oooohhh, look at you~! All grown up! How's life in the techno industry?"
"It's fine, Mrs. Goldhoof," Bluebell responded into her chest.
"Ohh, and look at big ol' Lightning Dust!" She let go of Bluebell and trotted over to Lightning. "Whoo, you're a big strong mare now! Look at these muscles!" She lifted a hoof and poked at Lightning Dust's larger than average wings. "No wonder you got in the Wonderbolts so fast!"
"Hi, Mrs. Goldhoof," Lightning greeted. The two shared a hug, moaning in relief. "How's life with the Elite?"
Wait, Elite? Rarity looked over the pair of Pegasi. They didn't seem like Canterlot Elite. Max waved and chuckled, "Oh you know we're not all about that craziness. We adore humbleness. Hopefully, Magenta does too. This is our little filly's big night."
They turned and walked with the group towards the center of town, making idle conversation. Mostly about the performers tonight.
Magenta and Bright Snow stood in front of the setup DJ decks on the table in front of them, looking out at the field that would hold all the ponies attending tonight. The rail where multiple ponies would definitely be banging their heads on tonight was already set up. Large speakers hung down from the sides. There had to be fifty, including the ten on the stage. On the face of the table was a display screen that was currently displaying her name in an animation. While Bright was orchestrating where her dancers should be at, Magenta was loading up and adding cues to her songs. All of them had been unreleased and were definitely going to bring her some press and attention. Apart from her reveal tonight. She couldn't believe she was really doing this. Finally showing her bodily damage to the world. Only time would tell what kind of impact it would have.
"Magenta?" She looked over to her left at one of the stage technicians among all the action who was holding a radio out to her. "I was told you were revealing yourself tonight, but we still need to place this on you somewhere."
"Do you have a belt or something?" Magenta asked. The technician shook his head. "Then I'll have to head into town. Somepony get me some security. Bright! We're heading into Ponyville!"
***
Goldhoof and Max spent most of their time chatting with Equestria's finest from Ponyville. They talked about a lot of things, with the subject having moved on from Magenta to their friends. Max and Goldhoof remembered the Elements from the past with Lord Tirek. But that was pretty much it. Spike happened to show up and perch himself on Sweetie Belle's back in the middle of the conversation, cutting off their discussion.
He popped a gem in his mouth and then looked up at Lightning Dust. "So...do you guys know what Magenta Streak looks like?"
Bluebell chuckled and said, "I should hope so, we've been friends for eight years."
"You guys made it!" Everyone turned towards the voice. Magenta was standing nearby in front of a row of restaurants signing autographs for a crowd of ponies with Bright Snow. How did they miss her?
Bluebell got up first and made her way over grinning. It was about time. Magenta hoofed the item back over then pulled Bluebell into a hug, followed by her other four friends, all squealing in glee. After a few more seconds they pulled away and spoke. "Wow Dust, you can pummel Yellow into dust with only one hit!" Bright commented.
Lightning chuckled and playfully nudged Yellow Diamond. "Yep, she's softer than a diamond." Yellow rolled her eyes.
Magenta chuckled before she was pulled into a hug by her mother, nearly pushing back her hood. "Hey, dear!" Doctor Goldhoof greeted. Then pulled back and asked, "How are you enjoying Equestria?"
"I loved the Crystal Empire. It looks better in person than pictures. Right Bright?" She turned to Bright eating a chocolate brownie off a plate Pinkie was offering.
She raised an acknowledged hoof with a full mouth of chocolate and replied, "Huh? Oh, yeah! Go get your belt." Then stuffed her face with another. Whatever she put in these things were seriously delicious.
"Right." Magenta looked to the crowd in front of her and asked, "Does anypony know where I can get an elastic pre-made belt? I need it for tonight's show."
Before anyone could say a word, Rarity quickly zipped forward from the crowd with a giant grin. "I have plenty!" She proudly answered. "Follow along dear, I'll have you ready in no time!"
Magenta grabbed Bright's hoof before she could stuff a fourth brownie from Pinkie's plate and dragged her after Rarity. As much as Bright liked sugar, now was not the time to be getting comfortable with chocolate.
Goldhoof giggled and explained to the Element bearers, "Bright overloads herself on Sugar before every show. Her flexibility helps her out too, but behind it all, it's that sugar. This is the only time she really eats sugar though like that."
Twilight laughed and glanced at Pinkie Pie who calmly eating her own. "I think I can compare."
Rarity's Carousel Boutique was nice. As well as her designs. The shop was open but not many ponies were in it except one or two. But they quickly gasped and ran out when Magenta walked in.
Magenta gazed upon everything through her one-way hood. They took in all the furniture, colors, and smells. Fabric, perfume, and fur.
"Nice place you have," Magenta complimented. Her bodyguards and Bright were in the background by the door watching and finishing off those brownies Bright had with her.
Rarity walked to the side to open a closet and pull out a rack of accessories. "Thank you, darling. Been living here for nearly eighteen years when Sweetie Belle was a little foal."
"Oh! Are you her mother?" Magenta asked. If she was, then she could totally see it.
Rarity chuckled and grabbed a bunch of belts in her magic. "Oh, not the first time I've been called that. I'm her sister, but I pretty much raise her because mother and father stay out of town for maybe three fourths of each year."
"Oh... Sorry. I don't know what that's like."
Rarity spread a plethora of belts across the counter. "It's quite alright darling. Any belt catch your eye? I have each of these in different sizes."
Magenta walked forward and scanned the line of colorful belts. There were black ones, green ones, blue ones, white ones. Magenta pointed at the light orange one. "Can I have this in a thirty two please?"
"Yes you may!" Rarity turned around and walked into a much bigger closet. Then dug around in there for a while before she walked back out just as giddy with an orange belt floating behind her. She held it out in front of Magenta. "Here you are dear."
"Great, how much do I owe you?" Magenta reached in a chest pocket of her suit and pulled out a bag of bits.
"No worries, this is on me. It's the least I can do since your music gets my little sister out of her funk whenever she gets down."
Magenta stopped going through her bag and shook her head. "I can't just not pay you, Ms......" She glanced around, hoping to spot a tag or something with her name.
"Rarity," Rarity proudly clarified. "Dear, just take the belt. And if it makes you feel better, you're paying me back by giving my sister an awesome show tonight."
Magenta sighed but relented and nodded. "Alright. Is there a changing room somewhere?"
Rarity pointed to the left at two doors by the stairs. The one that said Changing Rooms. Magenta grabbed the belt in her mouth and walked towards the room when she turned to Bright and asked, "Would you like one as well?"
Bright smiled and shook her head. "No thank you. I already have what I need. Sweetie Belle's your sister?"
Once in the changing room and the door was shut and locked, Magenta carefully looked around before she pulled back her hood, revealing her light magenta mascara, magenta lipstick, and short magenta hair with the black streak. That lipstick does wonders for her look. Magenta unrolled the straps for her hooves and took off the cup that hid them. Then unzipped the suit and shrugged it off. Revealing the twenty eight scars covering her body.
The cutie marks on her flanks had scars going through them as if an animal had swiped them, replacing the overall purple color with red on the scar. As if the shield were cut in half and thirds. Where she got the shield from, she never knew. Maybe one day she'll find out, but not today.
Her rear hooves had around the same amount as her barrel. She stepped back and looked at herself in the mirror. The long scars where her wings used to be were the most prominent. They didn't have any fur on them. When she grew up, so did her wounds.
Sighing, Magenta sat down and grabbed the clickable belt. It wrapped around her waist perfectly and fit snugly. Then reached in the pocket of her suit and retrieved the radio. She looked it over for its magical supply amount. If it were at zero, she'd have to put it on at the stage. The changing room was much better.
Thankfully it was on full. So Magenta clipped it on her belt, placed the cord in her ear, then quickly donned her suit once more. It was going to feel great to wear all those designer clothes at the house back in public.
When she walked out, Bright and Rarity were in the middle of a conversation that involved a lot of pictures. Rarity was showing Bright pictures of her sister when she was younger.
"Awww, she's so adorable!" Bright fawned. Then asked, "You said she and Applebloom are lovers?"
"Yes, many years ago a tragic event that nearly took Sweetie's life—but did take six-sevenths of her voice—pushed Applebloom to declare her feelings. Sweetie Belle surprisingly greatly returned them and they have been dating ever since. A total of eight years today, actually."
"Wow. Magenta never had a boyfriend. She had a date in high school who stood her up at the dance—"
"Bright, you're not supposed to tell anypony!" Magenta interrupted. She quickly strode up to cease the next sentence from her loud mouth sister.
"But then I whooped his flank and dumped a water cooler on both his head and the mare that he went with. Then stuffed his face with chocolate. He no longer ate cake after that so I hear."
Magenta began pushing her sister towards the door with her covered head. "Enough out of you about my embarrassing moments. Thank you so much for the belt, Ms. Rarity!"
Bright pushed the door open so she can continue being pushed out of it. Rarity leaned over her counter and yelled before the door could close, "You're welcome dear and rock the stage tonight! We're all going to be back there with you!"
Luna's moon shone bright in the sky many hours after the tour group setup. Its light casting down onto the disorganized clouds that the pegasi from Cloudsdale were using to get a free seat and ear down to the large stadium below filled to the max with ponies. The stage was the center of attention, the large display that towered over all of those below it animating Magenta Streak's name right behind the performance table fitted with decks, a microphone, and water bottles still in the package. As well as a timer for the hour long show.
The stage was huge and lit up bright from the display with a white background, busy with technicians running back and forth across it to prepare for the show. Giving the VIPs a show themselves.
The ponies who paid for the backstage passes were actually spread out along the stage in front of the screen and behind the decks. Their eyes would be on all the ponies in the gallery watching the front, making conversation among each other.
The ponies on stage were as well, six of them being royalty. The Element Bearers on the left, and the crusaders on the right. Along with Magenta's friends and family who had the luxury of being up close to the stage directly in the center. Apparently this concert was all about her. There were other ponies there too, but backstage passes were really expensive and not many ponies bought them. Overall, there were thirty ponies on the backstage while thousands riddled the gallery.
Sweetie Belle looked down the stage at the cutaway where all the controls were for the special effects. The pony in the gray business suit was talking to one of the technicians about something with the artists. Magenta was up front and center listening to them talk, adjusting her suit and microphone. She had on the suit covering her body with a microphone hold strapped to the side. As well as a pair of headphones that she was jamming out to to get in the vibe.
"Intense?" Sweetie looked back at Applebloom who was sporting a grin her way. She rolled her eyes and leaned in to nuzzle her cheek. Then pulled back and made a sign.
"Happy Eighth Anniversary."
"Happy Eighth Anniversary to you too," Applebloom replied. Then leaned in and nuzzled her back. At that moment everything went dark, shadowing everyone in darkness. The pair looked up and around with everyone else, all wondering what happened.
"WHOA, LOOK AT THIS CROWD TONIGHT!!" Magenta's voice boomed through the speakers, pulling a jump out of all of them. The display screen, along with the lights that brightened the gallery and the stage all turned back on, bringing night to day. Magenta was standing on the empty spaces that were the standing platform next to the decks on her rear hooves with a microphone in her left, staring at them. The crowd immediately cheered, screamed and yelled in glee. Including some actually on the stage.
Her friends were cheering loud and proud with her parents. Magenta lifted the microphone up to her mouth and said, "Oh wow, I can already feel that you guys are going to be a great crowd tonight! Thank you so much for coming to our shows, this is amazing! I want to thank my partners in crime Songbird Serenade!" The crowd cheered when the pony spoken of landed on the other side of the decks while Magenta jumped down from her own side and trotted towards the mixer in between them. Then lifted the microphone back up to her mouth and added, "Sea Creature!" The mud colored pony with the thick dreads ran up from the corner of the stage amidst all the cheering and jumped on the side Magenta recently occupied, then began waving and blowing kisses to the crowd.
"And my SISTERRRRRR, BRIGHT SNOW!!!! Come here, girl!" A white blur zipped down from above and landed on the lower area in front of the magical table that the musicians were standing from. The quadruplets literally skipped in from the side and joined Bright Snow as she started waving, dancing, and blowing artificial snow far out over the crowd.
Bright grabbed her own microphone from off her waist while Magenta set up the decks. "How you feelin', Equestria?!!" The crowd and onlookers cheered. Including the Pegasi from Cloudsdale who decided to float down closer. "I want to hear you shout all the way to the Crystal Empire!!" They did. They shouted so loud that Rarity's ears rang from the sheer intensity.
Magenta observed the press get on the stage and take pictures from behind as the cheers continued. Snap, flash, and click. Magenta stepped from the first deck with one hoof on the Cue and Play button. Then lifted her microphone up to her mouth and yelled, "I think we've waited long enough, let's get this party started!!" Then pressed play.
As the beat played and the decks moved, so did the bodies of the ponies in the gallery and the stage. Rainbow leaned into Fluttershy's ear and whispered, "I like how she chopped up the vocals like that." The dancers in front of the stand began moving to the drum kick, that suddenly increased in tempo then took on a bass tone, vibrating the coats of everyone at the stadium. Those on the stage began to move, including Magenta's mother. Who proudly cheered, "That's my little foal!!" Bluebell had to hide a smirk.
Right when the vocals sped up, the lights in the area went crazy. As if there were camera flashes everywhere. Ponies began jumping and waving flags, cheering Magenta's name and shouting while Bright and the Quadruplets danced. A high-filtered acid was added to the mix when Magenta pressed play on another deck, and the dancers up front spread out along the stage, keeping Bright in the middle. Songbird and Sea Creature were cheering to the crowd as the music grew in velocity, the vocals cut up into an instrument. Meanwhile Magenta moved to another deck and pressed play, adding a high filtered supersynth. A few seconds later, the world went boom.
The beat dropped and a few cannons up front shot out confetti and snow that Bright began manipulating using her special talent. The ponies began to watch as Bright flapped her wings and jumped in the air. Then quickly began to flap them, sending the streams of snow around as if they were flying snakes, highlighted amongst the darkness of the night by the limelights trained on her. Using the talent that gave her her cutie mark.
Magenta picked up her microphone and cheered, "WHOOOO, GO BRIGHT!!!" The ponies below her cheered and began jumping before the beat rose. Then fell into a simple pad. The lights in the stadium once again fell, shrouding them all in darkness. Before the limelights trained on Magenta. All eyes and cameras were trained on Magenta as she stepped back from the decks with the microphone raised to her mouth. Then began to sing.
"Welcome to tomorrow, come and get deep....deep deep down with me.
Welcome to tomorrow where you can fly...high and just be free."
The crowd cheered her name and raised up signs while she repeated the verse. Then quickly set the mic back down and bolted back to the decks to watch the rise and play with them. They all listened to the vocals slowly grow to the front before the drop came back. Making conversation as they waited. Applebloom had to admit, she was pretty good. Even Vinyl Scratch who bought backstagers had to take off her headphones.
Then the beat dropped with the chopped vocals. The technicians set fire to the sky when fireworks popped off from in front of the stage and flew straight up, creating a wonderful light show that was mixed with the lasers that shot up to the sky then pivoted from the stage out over the crowd. The bright lights on the stage started flashing like cameras again, getting all the ponies out there to dance. The stage shook when even Applebloom started dancing, bouncing her head and body from side to side.
Magenta backed up and started jumping on her two rear hooves, pushing her forehooves out away from her. Then jumped over the decks to stand on the space in between Songbird and Sea Creature. She yelled into the microphone, "Come up here, Bright! And let's show these ponies what we're made of!" Bright flew back up on the stage with Magenta and stood on her own rear hooves. Then pressed her back to her sister's, both smiling with their eyes closed, cameras trained on their faces that were streaming to YouHoof.
Their bodies began lowering as Magenta raised her mic to her mouth, singing the same verses with Bright. After it ended, Magenta jumped back up with Bright and headed back to her decks while Bright got back down and continued dancing. Magenta cued them back to a rise point with the sound of a rising transition when it sounded right, then started playing her next song.
As the bass drums began kicking, so did the ponies heads start banging.
The drums and synths dropped once more, signaling the lazers, lights, and flames. Sweetie Belle was really getting into it now before the sound cut for a few long seconds and muffled vocals cut in, that grew more coherent. The only lights moving were the display screen's. They all listened to those rise with calm noise that were added with percussion before those cut out as well. Then the silent bass line kicked in.
Magenta picked up the mic again and tilted her head back. "I remember making a promise on myStable!!" She shouted. The crowd screamed before she walked away from the decks then back onto the walkway, center of attention. She faced the crowd and then shouted, "I remember being tired of hiding of who I am! Hiding the proof of my unfortunate accident!" The cameras and such were poised on her face as she continued to shout, the beat beginning to rise for the drop and the lights getting brighter. "Well tonight, I'm going to show you the real Magenta Streak! Tonight, you will see who I am! Tonight, I'm going to be brave! Tonight, I will make! My! MARK!!!"
The beat dropped and the stadium was lit up as if it were daytime. Magenta began pumping her hooves once again at the crowd as the flames, lazers, and camera flashes began again. Confetti and Snow rained down on those it could reach. Sea Creature raised her own mic through the dreads and yelled, "GIVE IT UP FOR MY GIRL MAGENTA!!"
The crowd began yelling and flying around, not to mention dancing as the party boosted full power. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom were headbanging with the others behind the performer when she jumped back down and grabbed a bottle of water from the pack. She took a swig of it and raised a hoof, face to the sky. If rain were falling, this would be an epic shot, she thought. The track continued playing for a few more minutes with a few more drops. Then it was time to move on. Now at the decks she moved on to another song at the next drop, hiding it with a muffled sound effect of an explosion that lasted for a few seconds.
S3RL - S.L.U.TAs the claps and bass kicked in, Magenta raised the mic and yelled, "Bright! Wanna mix this one?!" Bright stopped dancing from the front and flew onto the platform between Songbird and Sea Creature to peer down at Magenta. She shouted something, but Rainbow couldn't tell what because it was so loud. Magenta nodded and backed away so Bright could jump in, then pick up the headphones that Magenta didn't even bother to use, and place them on her head.
While Bright was messing with the different tracks and live-mixing them, Magenta jumped back up on the stage and started raising her hooves, coercing the crowd to start jumping in time with the fast paced drum, literally shaking the ground. "Come on ponies y'all can do better than that!" She walked over to Songbird and whispered something to her for a few seconds.
Songbird flew off into the sky for a moment right when the bassline kicked in while Magenta continued coercing the crowd. Everyone was cheering Bright on as she mixed the funky bass with the deep tones, then rose the synths up using a knob. "Whoooo!!!" Bright looked to the left with a bobbing head at her mother who was grinning way too hard. "YOU GO BRIGHTLIGHT!"
Bright blushed at her childhood nickname. But couldn't help but smirk. She messed with the three band equalizer, turning up the highs. After the percussion dropped and was left with the high hats and drums to prepare for the drop, as well as a sound effect, Songbird Serenade fluttered down from the sky with a small cloud amidst all the lights and action. Those backstage watched her place it in front of Magenta who surprisingly jumped on. Immediately, a bunch of technicians ran out with a cord that was clipped to a part of her suit. Then Songbird pushed her out to the crowd. Right when Bright mixed in vocals.
Those who've never seen that were beyond surprised. Rainbow turned to Lightning and asked, "She's a Pegasus?"
Lightning made a motion with her hoof without stopping her dancing and answered, "Ehh... technically, yeah." Bright reached over the decks and pressed a drum pad on a hidden launchpad, creating the drum drop.
Once Magenta was directly above them she yelled to her mic, "Bet you didn't know my sister could DJ too! Now I want to see all you ponies down there move! Let's go!" Once the beat dropped and the lazer lights went crazy, along with the ponies, Magenta began head banging from the cloud. It looked strange with a suit on. Everyone began cheering Bright Snow on when she began dancing right by the decks.
It lasted a few more minutes before Bright transitioned to the next song. Then lifted her hooves and waved for Magenta. Spotting this, Magenta tugged on the cable and was carefully pulled back to the stage.
"Whooo, yeah Bright!" Bluebell cheered as she took off the headphones and stepped back. This part was all Magenta. The transition was cut off as the boom sound effect took over. Then silence for a few seconds as a new song was filtered and then pushed to the front by a loop, igniting growing anticipation.
"ARTIFICIAL ENERGY!" The speakers boomed in a strange vocaloid before the drum kicked and an effect sounded. The crowd calmed down while the lights flashed with the drums. Magenta patted Bright on the back and gave her a tight hug before going back to the decks. Then retrieved the microphone from her waist and held it up in front of her mouth.
"Give it up for Bright for that awesome mix!!" The ponies cheered for Bright as she got back down to her spot to setup the dancing with the bass drums.
While she and the quadruplets were dancing, somepony tapped Goldhoof on the back. She turned around and gasped in surprise. "Director Diamonds! How are you?" Then pulled the snow white pegasus into a hug when the bass started playing again.
"I'm well, how are you dear?" She replied loudly. The two parted and looked each other over. "You look well!"
"I am, thank you! Max!" Max turned around and then walked over with a grin. "Look who decided to make it!"
"Director Diamonds, great to see you!" He greeted happily, then pulled her into a hug.
"Great to see you too!" She pulled back and looked towards the stage when Magenta cued the beat to drop. "And how is our little superstar? Am I too late?!"
Goldhoof motioned towards Magenta who had climbed back up on the platform and was leaning over it, playing with the controls. "I think we're at the semi-final!" Goldhoof replied.
Magenta raised the mic to her mouth when she used the knob to muffle the song briefly. "I think it's time we got to the two main events, don't you think?!" She yelled. Then turned the song back up. Right when the beat lowered down and was replaced with ghostly pads. The lights stopped flashing and all calmed. Magenta casually walked up onto the platform between Songbird and Sea Creature, and looked down at the ponies below with her group. Everyone was looking up at her, muttering and witnessing. The limelights trained on her slowly. Before she raised up the mic and started singing.
"Dreams of flying up above,
Induced by chemical love.
Loving life and living free,
Artificial energy."
The ponies around cheered when her face—still hidden—was displayed on the screen. Those who could see it quickly turned to it when she sung the lyrics a second time.
The beat began to build once more when Magenta laid down the microphone, reached up with one hoof and grabbed her hood. Everyone cheered and waited for the definite. The moment they've all been waiting for. Right at the vocals, she flipped it down, revealing to all of the world who she was.
The drop happened at the same time the ponies began cheering, yelling her name even louder than before. The limelights and cameras were focused on her purple and orange themed face while everything else went haywire. The main lights turned into camera flashes and flames, confetti, and snow poured out of the cannons.
Those involved in Scootaloo's case were grinning at the feed on the display screen behind the decks. But slowly lost it. Magenta had deep purple—or Magenta—hair, purple-gray eyes, Light purple eyeshadow, long eyelashes, and deep purple lipstick, as well as orange fur. But there was no mistaking it. Tears began leaking from Rainbow's eyes as she stared at her, who was staring right back through the camera with a near angry expression. "Scootaloo?" She whispered unheard.
"No...bucking...way," Babs and Applebloom said. Sweetie just made the sign but couldn't move her eyes away.
Magenta raised her hooves in the air with a hyped expression, complete with narrowed eyes and a huffing mouth. She moved her head around at everyone who were taking pictures. Then punched the air and yelled, "YEAAAHHH!!! YES!" Songbird Serenade wrapped a hoof around her shoulders at the same time the press swarmed in, taking photos and recording videos behind and in front of her. Bright zipped up with the other dancers and looked her over. Then began ruffling her mane when Scootaloo sang the verse again while walking around her platform.
"B...B-But how?!" Applebloom yelled. Those involved turned to her. "I thought she said Scoots was out of town! Touring....Equestria...Oh sweet Celestia, it all makes sense."
On the screen, Magenta shared a tight hug with her sister, then turned around towards the press to jump back on the stage. The others quickly turned to her when she landed. As if in slow motion, she landed on the stage on her rear hooves then tilted on her front ones with a grin. Then reached up and smoothened her magenta mane back like it were smooth before heading back to her decks.
While playing with one, Magenta grabbed the mic Bright hoofed to her and yelled, "Sea Creature supplied the drums for this one!!!" Then pressed the cue and play key. The second the bass drums began playing, Magenta placed one hoof on the table and started headbanging while her other was in the air like a rockstar, messing up her mane. Followed by everyone else in the group. Even the manager.
Her friends cheered from the sides. Including her mother, father, and her Orphanage Director. "You go, Magenta!!" Max cheered. In the middle of it, Magenta turned to her family and friends. Once she spotted Director Diamonds, she eagerly waved.
Magenta reached over the decks and tapped Bright's hoof for her eyes. Then pointed in the corner. "Look who decided to say hi!!" She yelled into the mic.
Bright looked over and gasped. Then quickly waved. Director Diamonds blew her a kiss then waved back. Their manager strode from the corner at the same time Magenta left the decks for another moment. He leaned in and ruffled her mane. "This is what you look like?!" He asked in happiness. "Why'd you always hide it?!"
Magenta pushed his hoof out of the way and yelled back, "You'll see! I need my Synthesizer! The purple one!" He nodded and turned back around while she did the same to make for her decks, which changed back to the vocals. Along the way she waved and saluted to the backstage fans screaming her name, singing into her mic the whole time. Artificial Energy continued playing in the background.
"We love you, Magenta!"
"Magenta Streak!"
"Streaker for life!!!"
Magenta stopped in front of Sweetie Belle and Applebloom to eagerly shake their hooves once the vocals stopped. Applebloom had to swallow that huge lump in her throat as she stared into Scootaloo's eyes. "Thank you so much for coming! Wait for part two!" Magenta yelled to her. Then turned and ran right back to her decks when Bright pressed a drum pad for the rise. Then another for the boom, ending the track.
Sweetie Belle's mouth began to move. Then she made a sign reading, "She's a bucking DJ?!!"
"AND A SINGER?!" Rainbow added. "AND A PRODUCER?!!!"
They watched Magenta—or Scootaloo—continue to play for ten more minutes, a total of forty eight so far. Then look over to the control room cutout while another one of her songs just began playing, where three ponies were lugging in a large piano with a lot of knobs, colored purple. It was sitting on a platform with wheels, allowing it to be rolled in past the backstagers who watched and pointed. Magenta clicked the play button for the next track and then ran towards it.
The three ponies stopped it directly in front of the family. Magenta slid underneath the platform like she practiced parkour then popped back up on the other side, all smiles. There was a plug underneath them that Magenta pointed to, and that the cord for the Synthesizer was swiftly plugged in to. Meanwhile the bass line that was going was beginning to speed up. Bright was currently over the deck it was playing from, looking at Magenta for the cue to stop the loop and go to the drop point.
Once prepared, Magenta nodded to Bright.
The track started at the vocals. Once the song reached its peak, Magenta began playing the keys on the synthesizer. Her observers from behind was beyond mind blown when they saw Magenta playing actual correct chords at good time, doing a live performance. Her hooves were flying across the keys as she played without flaw, her performance displayed on the screen behind her for all to see. Even the Pegasi were jamming out to it.
Magenta looked up, sweating rain, and motioned to one of the technicians holding her microphone. He held it in front of her mouth while she continued to play. Bright bent low while the vocals played on the decks to filter them so her sister could be heard, the finale. "They said I wasn't even supposed to be alive after I beached in Manehattan! Now I'm rocking this nation! I beached in Manehattan with no memories whatsoever! Died on my way to the hospital! Suffering from....what was it called again, Doctor Goldhoof? Also known as my mom?" The pony holding the microphone quickly teleported over there and held it in front of Kind Goldhoof. The cameras turned and trained on her, displaying her embarrassed face to the world.
She blushed, but leaned into the mic and said, "Dissociative Amnesia and Dissociative Fugue."
The technician teleported back over to Magenta and held the mic in front of her once more while she played and the song was unmuffled. "Technically, that means I couldn't and still can't remember anything before whatever-the-hay happened to me!" Magenta pressed a key on her Synthesizer then backed away, allowing it to play the recording of her riff she just live-performed. The cameras and eyes followed her as she ran back up to the stage with the mic, right when the drums stopped.
Magenta jumped onto the landing between her Sister and Songbird when the recorded vocals stopped. She leaned over the decks and set it for the song to reloop just like she prepared for it to do earlier. Then stood on two hooves and spread them out, eyes on the quiet crowd, yelling quickly, "I couldn't remember how to read, write, the basic understandings of where I was, who I am, where I came from, ABCs, One-Two-Threes! Died from blood loss because I was pierced by something that left me with twenty-eight cuts, gashes, and lacerations! I had to start my life all over again! Whatever life I had before disappeared right when I met Bright Snow, who was also in the Hospital, Nurse Goldhoof, Nurse Gold who's now my dad, Doctor Sore Health who I know is in the crowd tonight—there he is!!"
Magenta pointed down to the front row of the crowd where a light blue Unicorn was waving up to her amongst all the movement. Starlight and Fluttershy were staring at the display screen with everyone else, watching and listening to her testimony. Magenta waved to the doctor and continued calling out names. "Fuchsia Winds, Bluebell, Silver Swirl, Yellow Diamond, Lightning Dust, Director Platinum Diamonds, the Matrons at Quick Hooves, Sound Boost my awesome manager, Songbird Serenade who was my inspiration when I was a foal, and Sea Creature who can make the richest Dubstep! And you know what? I will never go back!! Nopony except the doctors have ever seen what was under this suit, not even my sister. But you know what? No more hiding! This is for family!"
Magenta reached up and grabbed the zipper for her suit right when the bass drums stopped bumping. Then tugged it down, showing orange fur matted from sweat. Then spread her hooves out once more. The dancers that were with Bright moved in and began unsnapping her suit, inch by inch. Once everything was cool and the beat rose to begin dropping, Magenta raised her hooves and swung them down behind her along with the suit, revealing her scarred top half.
The cameras trained on her moved in closer as they took photos. Magenta bent down and gripped the bottoms of her suit, then swung outwards, ripping them off and out into the crowd. Right when the beat dropped for the final time that night. The lights began flashing, flames sprouted, the dancers danced, and the ponies cheered.
But those involved didn’t move. They instead stared in shock. Not believing their eyes. Or ears.