//------------------------------//
// Chapter 26 - Mall To Magenta 
// Story: The Scoota Finale 
// by thedarktome 
//------------------------------//

While the YouHoof Team went one way away from Rising Sun, Magenta and Bright went the over for a casual walk downtown, an understatement considering the fact that Magenta decided to change clothes.

She tossed her nearly transparent violet dress to the side and decided to go with one of her more bolder colors. Yellow shirt and a yellow skirt, complete with the yellow belt Rarity gave her, and a pair of gold rimmed glasses that were all the rage in Manehattan.

Bright decided to stay humble and stick to absolutely nothing, bearing only her white coat, silver mane and tail, and light blue eyes. Not to mention snowflake cutie mark. Humble beginnings were the best representations.

They walked through Manehattan, avoiding the eyes and comments. It were as if the sun itself were blinded by the influence of these shining stars.

Bright muttered, "You just had to make a statement, didn't you?"

Magenta stopped and adjusted her glasses as the sun beat down on her yellow outfit, bearing a title with thick golden Pegasus wings on the sides. Colr Arch. The skirt had golden feathers on it, but didn't contrast too greatly against the yellow on the shirt.

Magenta grinned and replied, "I'm feeling myself, what can I say? We worked hard for this, staying up late for a full week one time for one of your own tracks that you don't want to release."

Bright shushed her then looked around. Satisfied that nopony heard her sister's decree, she leaned in and whispered, "Nopony's ready to hear that yet so don't blurt it out."

"Fine," Magenta replied back. Then waved at a few ponies on the other side of the street taking pictures. Grinning, she nudged Bright and motioned with her eyes towards one of them. "Look at that cutie."

Bright followed her gaze towards a short haired stallion showing off a goatee. He was admirably handsome, but he wasn't her type.

"Ooooohhh~" Bright sang. "He's more your taste." Magenta scoffed and nudged Bright his way.

"Absolutely not, he's more your type. I have no type."

Bright snickered and replied, "Exactly. That's why he's more you." Before she could reply, a dark orange colored face with freckles popped into view.

Babs greeted, "Hey ladies." Magenta yelped and jumped back out of surprise while Sweetie, Gabby, and Applebloom came out of a shop chuckling. With a smirk, Babs added, "I saw you looking at that pony. What's up with that?"

Magenta's tail smacked Bright's flank when she answered, "Bright's crushing on him."

Bright stuttered, "I-I do not—I am not! Don't listen to her guys, I'm not."

"Bright, I'm your sister," Magenta deadpanned. "I can always tell when you're crushing on a pony. Especially when you start to flip your braid around without even realizing it." Everyone turned to Bright who was nervously twiddling with her braid, flipping it around and such.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Magenta sighed then shook her head at their friends. "She so does," she whispered. Then switched to her playful attitude and asked, "Did you guys enjoy the interview?"

Sweetie eagerly nodded, then made a bunch of hoof signs. "You guys must be really expensive for a feature," Applebloom translated.

Bright shrugged and replied, "Well actually, we hold a bunch of unseen opportunities to have features with YouHoof. Starfire actually handles different signed artists that want features. I don't have any yet. Although me and Sea Creature are actually working on a collaboration, that doesn't make it a feature. I'm the top performing artist in Equestria. So for me to actually give a signed somepony a feature on one of my tracks will be pretty legendary. We've done plenty of vlogs with other ponies and YouHoof stars, but never actually had a feature with any YouHoof artists, along with signed artists. They're probably scared of us or something. Hey, but me and Bright are pretty much open to the idea though. But we can't exactly hold a feature with an artist because we have to speak with Starfire about it. And they area really picky."

Babs wrapped a hoof around her neck and said, "You should totally try it out! Yeah, get like a feature in with somepony else besides just you and Bright! Everypony in Equestria knows you can sing by this point and the both of you are considered legends in the EDM race. You mares already won and the game is just beginning! Time to bring in some more players to get you even higher!"

Magenta pointed at her and whispered, "It sounds like a plan. But we'd still need to get that idea to Starfire and approved if we sell it through them. Their rights are really reserved and—to be honest—don't like to share royalties with anypony that isn't in the label. So we have to ask them. We'll do it tomorrow. In the meantime, you girls want to go shopping? Bright needs a new outfit for when we see that pony again."

After a slap on the flank from Bright, the girls took Magenta up on her offer and proceeded to walk towards the mall. Apparently all of their funds are in the bank which means they have access by card. In the more smaller parts of Equestria, there were no cards. You had to use real bits. Hopefully that stuff would begin rolling out soon to those areas. As they walked along the streets, many ponies stopped what they were doing and just took pictures, waved, and other things. Magenta's flashy outfit was apparently catching all the eyes in East Manehattan. They walked into a plaza and turned left, making their way through a bunch of restaurants and more that held a lot of ponies. Of course seeing two celebrities like this were much. But to see them walking with regular ponies was a shocker.

Magenta looked over her shoulder to Babs and stated, "Just stay close. You six have just become ponies and Griffin of interest."

Gabby poked in and whispered, "But I have never heard your music."

The two sisters chuckled then responded, "We know." Magenta whispered, "And that's what makes all of this even more fun."



Apple bucking. Bucking apples. The main activity of Applejack and Big Mac. Pretty much everyone in the Apple family besides those married in. Big Mac was off with his girlfriend, leaving Applejack to take care of the farm ever since Granny Smith passed away. Boy that was a depressing day. The funeral held even a bit of Royalty. Princess Celestia herself showed up to pay her respects. Applejack sighed and bucked another apple tree as the wind moved in to provide a cool atmosphere among the heat. Hopefully Applebloom was having fun catching up with her lost friend. Applejack did wonder what it was like inside that huge mansion though.

"Applejack." Applejack screeched and jumped up in the air from the sudden familiar feminine voice in her ear. Coloratura watched her get stuck in the branches of her tree, wondering how she actually managed to get up there in surprise. Strong hooves probably, she thought.

Applejack groaned from inside the branches and gazed down at her familiar friend smirking up at her. Still wearing that black and gray shirt design. Deep purple and teal twirly mane and tail. "C-Coloratura?" She asked. Then looked around. Nopony else in sight. Neither was Pinkie Pie, thankfully. She focused back on her friend with a calm smile. "Well howdy to see you. Whatcha' doin' around these parts?" Applejack shifted her hooves and broke a few branches to free herself, crashing down onto the ground in a heap.

Coloratura grimaced then reached down to help her up and brush her off. "Well besides actually having no one to talk to, I saw you and your friends backstage at the Magenta Streak Mega-show."

Applejack grinned and nodded. "Yep! Whoowee, that filly can certainly play! We all got to see her play. Sing, mix, and play live. She got some hooves and some skill, I tell ya'. Wanna have somethin' to eat? Comin' all the way down here from Manehattan you must be starvin'."

Coloratura nodded and followed as they made their way towards the farm. Applejack pushed the door open and gestured her to walk in. Thanking her, she did and was followed by Applejack. Moments later, Applejack slid a large slice of Apple Pie her way on one side of the table while she carried her own plate across. "Thank you, Applejack."

"You're welcome," Applejack responded. Then sat down and asked, "So how are ya'? It's strange seein' you around these parts and not performin'."

Coloratura took a bite and chewed before responding. "Well... I could be doing better I guess," she sighed.

Bad news, Applejack thought. She lowered her own pie to the plate and asked quietly, "What's goin' on?"

"It's... My status in the music world," Coloratura admitted. She sighed. "My sales, they've lowered. As a matter of fact, it's not just me. All of the Celebrities that aren't with Starfire Records have lowered. They're.... They're just too good now. Ever since Magenta Streak was signed with them, our sales continue to drop. Thing is... We just can't keep up. You know, I released a song the other day."

Applejack glanced left and right, knowing she was not going to enjoy this conversation. "I... Actually didn't know that."

Coloratura jabbed a hoof at her and exclaimed, "Exactly! Nopony knows! It was five minutes long and took two months to make, yet it only reached a shocking ten thousand views, giving me only five hundred bits off these streaming networks. Magenta Streak released a song on the same day and received over one hundred million! One... Hundred... Million views within a week."

"Well... Her music is really good," Applejack protested.

Coloratura began to protest herself. But paused and glanced up at the ceiling in thought. Shrugging, she admitted, "I'm not going to lie, yes it is. Especially her voice. But she's not the only artist in Manehattan. Did you see the interview with YouHoof? Do know how many Artists I have partnered with simply wish they could at least have a live interview with them? Magenta Streak and Bright Snow happen to just do a live show one night and are immediately selected to be main topics for the interview!"

Applejack lowered her pie and quickly asked, "Wait, there's a roster?"

Coloratura urgently nodded. "Yep. The list has all the artists up there in Equestria. From Songbird Serenade to Firestarter, my DJ friend from Cloudsdale. She is not a fan of Magenta. Like, at all. The reason why is because... Magenta's stolen all of our fans, and it's nearly impossible to get them all back."

Applejack grabbed her pie to continue eating and asked, "I'm not sure how the music world works, but... Can't you just do a collaboration I guess with her?"

"Impossible." Coloratura leaned forward and gripped Applejack's face. "Do you know how hard it is to even talk to her or Bright Snow for that matter? Exclusive access only. I'm not exclusive anymore, can you believe that? That's how bad my sales have gotten. She's stealing all of our fans. Half of those fans from her mega show were mine in the past. Now I bet all they do is listen to Magenta Streak. It's insane!"

"Is it really that bad?"

"It's worse!" Coloratura practically screamed. "I had to do a show at one of the clubs the other day in Manehattan. And most of the ponies were muttering things like, 'She's no Magenta Streak, but still pretty good.' Things like that. Do you know how that makes me feel? I've worked just as hard as her, yet somehow she's getting all the praise here! Yes, she knows how to create like all the sub genres in EDM, but still!"

Applejack pried her friend's hooves off her face and cooed, "Okay, simmer down, Ra Ra. I'm sure I can help you out. In case you didn't notice, I have actually met Magenta Streak in body, and my sister is more than likely still with her right now. Don't tell anypony, but Magenta had actually invited us to her mansion in Manehattan Unique. I never even heard of the neighborhood. Or even The Manehattan Elite for that matter. My sister and her friends actually got the chance to spend the night. They're probably hanging out right now."

"SERIOUSLY?!" Coloratura yelled. Then reached into her jacket and pulled out her Z4. Checking something out. Typing in Magenta Streak, more than a billion results appeared on myStable. Most of them of recent images of Magenta wearing a very expensive outfit walking with Bright through East Manehattan with a few more mares. And a Griffin?!

"Is her music expanding outside of Equestria?!" Rara shouted. "She has a Griffin with her!" Applejack raised a hoof to say something, but decided against it. "Hey, you're right! I see little Applebloom with her!" She pointed a hoof at Applebloom speaking with Sweetie Belle in the image.

Applejack nodded. Then stated, "It's not much but I'm sure Applebloom could probably set you up to meet with her or somethin'. It's a long shot, but believe it or not I'm positive Magenta wants to meet other ponies in this industry."

"That'd be great, Applejack!" Rara cheered.

"Unfortunately, Magenta can't leave Manehattan though. It's in her contract. She told us that."

"What?" Rara asked in disbelief. "That's ridiculous."

Applejack nodded and said, "We thought the same. But apparently Starfire has a reputation to uphold regardin' punctuality."

Rara calmed down in realization. "Ooohhh, okay. Yeah, everypony in Manehattan knows that all of Starfire's artists are never late. It's pretty amazing really. Not even a second late to a show. So you think Applebloom can get me in to speak with her about this issue?"

"Well since Magenta is actually open to talking to anypony right now, it shouldn't be an issue. But it's still fifty-fifty."

"How about I just post and ask? Nopony has ever done that." Applejack delivered her a glare. "...what?"



When Magenta said shopping, her crew and friends were thinking small places. Not Colr Arch, The Diamond Crown, and Mahlooho. Luxurious storea. A simple t-shirt costs at least five hundred bits in those stores! The mall they walked inside of was full of ponies from East Manehattan, and some from out of town. Sweetie Belle recognized a few from Ponyville too. The second they walked in, cameras started flashing and ponies began pointing, shouting, and pretty much begging for Bright and Magenta's attention.

Magenta looked to Diamond Tiara and announced, "We rarely come here." Babs poked in with a disbelieving look.

Bright chuckled and added, "No seriously. We only came here once last year because of the madness that follows when we walk in the door. So we usually arrange for security to come and help out when we're here." Bright waved before five ponies wearing yellow jackets approached to stand beside Magenta and Bright Snow, and behind their friends. Providing an escort.

Magenta gasped and yelled, "I need more glitter!" She turned to Babs and slung a hoof around her neck. "And Seeds here needs a suit. You'd look really cute if you wore one."

Babs smirked and asked, "As in a jacket with a tie?" Magenta nodded. "Suits aren't my thing."

Magenta shrugged and responded, "Eh, suit yourself. Or suit yourself in Suit Yourself Up!" Magenta motioned with her hoof towards a star they were coming up on.

Diamond Tiara asked, "Did you just make a pun?"

Gabby leaned in and added, "Did you just make two or three?"

Magenta shrugged again before beginning their shopping spree. Gabby didn't want anything, but that didn't stop Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Babs, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle from getting anything. After two hours of shopping and gift giving from the two super stars, they relaxed in a private corner of the food court, enjoying a simple lunch with their many bags of designer clothes. Magenta, Bright and Babs were sitting on one side of the table, eating while the other five were around. Successfully occupying the entire table.

Diamond Tiara set down her slushy and nodded to the two in appreciation. "Thanks so much for treating us, Magenta."

Magenta waved it off and replied, "No problem. Not many ponies get an opportunity to shop with us. And we have wayyy too many bits."

"Or really conversate with us because well..." Bright gestured with her head towards the other ponies eating and taking pictures. "We're just entertainers to them, not friends."

"Well you're pretty good entertainers and friends to us," Babs appeased.

Magenta smiled and pulled out her Z4, looking at a few things. Whenever she puts up a new post, she always bets against herself whether her phone would just shatter because of the vibrations that follow after. She looked at a bell on the top that held over three hundred million notifications and her messages that held over twenty-thousand. Check the messages, that little voice said in her head. Please don't, said the other.

Magenta shrugged and pressed on the icon. "So many fans," she muttered. She moved down the list of messages, making a mental note one day of actually reading them. She was tempted to pressed back, but one of these messages caught her eyes. A pony by the username Color Rara. What caught her eye was the fact that they had a star on the bottom right corner of the unrecognizable image. They were verified. There was another one from apparently... A school?! Their page had sent her a message!

Bright moved past the Color Rara one and read that one quickly. "They want me to what?" She asked herself after a few seconds. Bright looked her way, then at the phone when she placed it in front of her.

After reading it, Bright and Magenta shared a grin. Babs shook her head and asked, "Who dissed you?"

Magenta turned to her and replied, "What? No, I'm not a rapper. I just got a message from a school. Middle school. They're having a ball or something and want me to perform along with questions the day after. Three weeks."

Bright slapped her sister's shoulder with a wing and stated, "Just Maggy though. I have a recital the day before that event and have to practice."

Silver Spoon smiled and asked, "Are you going to take it?"

Magenta eagerly nodded and added, "And schools aren't included in Starfire's contract. This is a solo decision. Completely all me. It's in North Manehattan. I'll give them a call later. Hopefully this is no joke. I'm visiting a hospital this friday for the Make-A-Wish program to meet and greet foals who are bedridden. Both of those are free. I would never charge for those. Now I have to bring out my DJ equipment from me and Bright's storage. You know what I want to do some day?"

Sweetie shook her head. Magenta answered enthusiastically, "I want to tour the Castles in Equestria! I remember when I was a filly in the hospital, mom told me that Princess Luna barges her way into your dreams. What gave her that idea?"

Diamond Tiara glanced up in thought. Then answered, "That's... A good question."

Magenta nodded and started typing on her phone. She put up the post, but not without putting up PQ first, which meant Playful Question. Being a celebrity, you had to watch what you say online. And she was talking about a princess. Magenta and Bright never made that mistake like so many other celebrities. Setting down her phone, Magenta added, "I also got a message from a 'Color Rara'. Whoever that is. They're verified so I'm guessing important."

Sweetie set down her cup and signed, "You don't know who that is?" Magenta shook her head. "That's Coloratura, a famous EDM artist that makes Pop."

"Oh, okay. That pony. Well it says here that she wants to speak with Bright and I about something. You girls wanna head back to my penthouse?"


***


The Rising Sun's elevator dinged open, letting out the group of laughing mares onto Magenta's Penthouse floor with their bags. Magenta and Bright walked out first with the former staring at her phone, and slid their bags off their backs. "So I told Ms. Coloratura to meet with me tomorrow in front of this here penthouse. Wonder what she wants to talk about. Not many ponies actually get a chance to speak to moi. About anything. Except Babs."

Babs walked over to the glass wall and looked out over Manehattan. It was a beautiful view. She could see the boats and such going under the bridge that led to the mainland. Bright looked over to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle who were lovingly nuzzling each other. "Try not to copulate in here though, okay? Really expensive couches and beds." They stopped nuzzling and turned to Bright who winked at them.

Magenta feigned tripping and flopped down on the cubed white couch that Diamond Tiara was poking at, sighing in relief. "Oh, it feels good to rest these muscles. This is one of those grand rare moments when I can actually sit down and relax for an hour before popping back up again." Babs smirked. Then ran forward and jumped on Magenta's back, taking her by surprise. She shrugged and stated, "Not the first time this has happened."

Shrugging that strange revelation off, Applebloom asked, "Doesn't it get stressful?"

Bright nodded eagerly from the kitchen while rummaging through the fridge. "Oh yeah, definitely. I still have school so you can imagine. I'm only sixteen. Maggy's nineteen, so she's worried about life outside of those walls. Because she can't go back." Bright leaned her head back to drink out of her water bottle before quickly adding, "Unless somepony asks you to do a performance. I wonder why they didn't send a formal email or letter."

Magenta answered, "They probably did, haven't checked my email today yet. I usually do that at the end of the day—whoa, Babs. Getting comfy?" Babs stopped wiggling around on Magenta's back, realizing where she was. Right on Magenta's butt.

Her friends were stifling their giggles while Magenta was just relaxing. "Er.... Yeah, it's really... I'm just going to get off now." Babs slid off Magenta's giggling form so she could right herself. "So who was that pony Bright was crushing on?"

Bright set her water bottle down and answered, "No one!!"

Magenta answered, "Probably a senior from East Manehattan High. He looked the type."

Bright trotted over and denied it. "Nuh uh! He's just a pony in Manehattan!"

"Who visits smoke shops? Because it's a no if he likes you." Bright groaned and rolled her eyes. Magenta looked to everyone else and said, "Bright likes the bad boys. And sometimes the bad girls".



That afternoon, Coloratura ventured her way quickly off of Applejack's farm and towards the train station. She couldn't believe it. It finally happened. Rara reached in her jacket and pulled out her phone, dialing a friend in Cloudsdale. She'd want to hear this. Won't like it, but still. Coloratura walked onto the platform and stayed in the dark away from all the other ponies.

"Hello?" A throaty feminine voice on the other line greeted.

"Hey, Fire," she greeted. Looking around nervously, she asked, "How are you?"

"What do you think, I'm running out of money here."

"Well I have good news. It's about you-know-who."

"What did I tell you about talking to me about that carpet munching taint kisser?!!"

And that is why you're named Firestarter, Coloratura thought before responding. "You'll want to hear this. I got in."

"...huh?"

"I got a Private meeting with her this Friday at two in the afternoon at her Penthouse downtown." Coloratura could feel her friend's jaw dropping.

"What? You're joking."

"I spoke to her on myStable." Coloratura heard the train whistle coming down when she added, "She said 'meet me in the front of The Rising Sun tomorrow morning at ten. Bring your other ponies and tell no one.' We're going to talk to her tomorrow about this."

"Are you telling me all we had to do was message her on myStable??!! BUCK!!"

Coloratura rolled her eyes and replied, "My account's verified, that's probably why. I'll call you later, get Spit Rhymes on the phone, tell him to come to my Manehattan place Sunday. You follow along. We're talking to her about this." Coloratura hung up the phone at the same time the train pulled into the station. She stepped up towards it before the doors opened and a few shopping bags fell out.

Diamond Tiara, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle hopped out with Rarity and Pinkie Pie. Sweetie used her magic to grab the bags with Rarity and hopped off with the others, laughing and giggling. "That was so fun!!" Diamond Tiara cheered. Then turned to face the others as they made their way into town. "Are you guys going back tomorrow? She gave you access cards."

Sweetie shook her head and signed, "Can't. Business at the boutique's going to be booming and Rarity needs help."

Rarity nodded from behind and added, "When I got back this evening, there was a fifty foot line by my door! I told everypony that the best place to shop at for today is the one in Canterlot until I get my assistant back. Sassy called earlier and said that we had ran out of accessories! My sales topped the charts in less than a day."

Applebloom smiled and began to walk into town before she collided into another pony, nearly knocking them over. "Oh sorry... RaRa?"

Coloratura waved and greeted, "Hey, Applebloom! How are you?"

The others walked past while Applebloom sat down and had a discussion. "I'm alright. How are you?"

With a smile, Coloratura answered, "I'm dying here."

"Oh, well....that's...er..."

Coloratura leaned in and whispered, "Were you with Magenta Streak today?"

Applebloom smiled and whispered, "Yes I was. She told us you wanted to talk to her?"

"Yeah, it's very important. It's about every other celebrity in Equestria. That's all I can say. I'll see you some time, okay?" Before she responded, Coloratura hopped on the train before the doors shut and pulled off again. Leaving Applebloom with a strange vibe.