//------------------------------//
// Chapter 33 - YouHoof Bound 
// Story: The Scoota Finale 
// by thedarktome 
//------------------------------//

Sleeping was great. Sleeping was cool. Sleeping was fun. Sleeping was one of the things Magenta does when she's away from the mixers, microphones, synthesizers, equalizers. Away from the music. Well attempts to sleep anyway. Mom's cooking downstairs usually stops that a few hours after it starts. Magenta's eyes fluttered open and focused on the pillow her head was supposed to be on. Did she sleep without that pillow? That wondrous soft feather-filled pillow? "I'm going to have a crick in my neck today," she grumbled. Then yawned and sat up. She rubbed her eyes and looked around her room, clean and spotless, unlike usual. The office above her was clean too when she started cleaning yesterday evening.

Magenta sighed and hopped out the bed, landing on the hardwood floors to stretch. Just as she thought there was a crick in her neck. It was quickly rectified with a pop and a snap. Then a wiggled of the hooves before the most epic of journeys to the bathroom across from her bed. Once finished, she stepped out of her room opened her mouth and sang out, "Ohhhh, I'm awake~!!"

"MAGGY, SHUT IT!!" Magenta jumped and looked to the right into the face of Bright. Or what he thought was Bright's face. It was just a bunch of green cream with cucumbers. "I'm trying to enjoy my Friday before it's ruined."

Magenta chuckled and nudged her face. "What's this?" She asked.

"It's Spa cream, duh! It's going to replenish my looks."

"How can you see through those cucumbers? You know what, don't answer that. I have the plan all laid out. While you're at school I'm heading out to YouHoof to get this thing started. Nopony's going to want to see Starfire after this. The name of the COO is Prolifer Smile. I looked him up last night? He's a looker."

Bright didn't get it. Slowly shaking her head, she repeated, "Looker?"

"Handsome. Cute. Whatever you high school fillies call hot, he's that. Been with YouHoof for ten years and runs the YouHoof Select Program. The Program we're in. I want to be able to partner with them on a new contract."

Magenta walked back into her room for a moment, leaving Bright standing there with cucumbers on her face. "So how exactly are you going to do that?"

Magenta grunted inside her room and answered, "I'll be making suggestions. Simple as that. Now about the promotion and press teasing." Magenta walked out wearing a Mahlooho sports jacket with a golden pattern. Fitted with golden wings on the side. "I'm actually just going to make it obvious something between me and YouHoof is going on. You know how I like press."

"Yep, I always can tell. Now, I think it's time I washed this stuff off, I'm starting to feel cringy. You go and do your thing, I'll catch a ride or something."

"Bright just take the scooter."

Bright gasped and yelled, "What?! But you need the scooter. You can't fly, remember?"

"I should hope so. I've been wingless for as long as I could remember. Trying to fly is like telling an Apple Tree to grow faster. I'm out of here." Magenta turned and made her way towards the stairs, leaving her sister in the hallway with cream on her face.

"Wait. guide me to my room first... Maggy?.... Maggy." Bright lifted up one of the Cucumbers on her face at the spot where Magenta's voice was coming from, now vacant. She sighed and made her way way back to her room. She had a feeling this was going to be a long day.


~★~★~


The morning weather was great. The cool wind on this sunny friday tickled Magenta's fur as she walked the streets of Manehattan. East Manehattan. While she moved, she of course waved at the ponies walking past, cheering her name. Just another day in Manehattan. But unlike usual, this trek had some reason and goal. Not routine. Drop Bright off at School, go to Starfire and progress on a new project. No. This one was about YouHoof. So instead of walking straight ahead towards Bright's school, Magenta took a sharp right onto a street she rarely walks on. Just like any big business, YouHoof was located in the middle of East Manehattan. A tall skyscraper with the Logo on top. She glanced up to it and smiled. This was the start of a new future. Hopefully. If they approved, she'd drop Starfire. If they didn't, she be forced to drop YouHoof.



Diamond Tiara nearly spit out her milk when Babs, Sweetie, and Apple Bloom told her and Silver Spoon about what Magenta's plan was. Instead she held a hoof over her mouth and swallowed. Then yelled, "What?! Magenta's dro—" Apple Bloom plugged her mouth with a hoof and shushed her.

"Shhh! We don't want to reveal anything yet," she whispered. Then gestured to everyone else inside of Sugarcube Corner watching them in the corner of their eyes.

Tiara nodded after Apple Bloom removed her hoof. "So what's she going to do if they refuse her offer?"

Sweetie shrugged and made some hoof signs. "Not sure. But since she's... You know, it would be really stupid to."

Apple Bloom blinked and commented, "I'll say. Hey, we goin' to Manehattan later? Just to check on her?"

Silver Spoon shrugged and answered, "Why not? Nothing really happens in Ponyville anyway. Well not anymore."



The YouHoof building was tall. Not too tall, but around the same size as the building that housed Starfire. Magenta really couldn't stop to stare at it at the moment though. Just like usual, anyone who ever saw her would usually freak out. But this time was different. Magenta's been all over Manehattan. East, South, and West. West was where she and Bright used to live at. And she's traveled the entire area. As well as South. But East is much bigger. And expensive. The Headquarters of large corporations were housed here. But the only area in East Manehattan she's ever traveled was around East Manehattan Unique. The area she was in wasn't full of stores, fancy restaurants, and crazy fans. No, this area was full of corporate businesses with ponies in suits, casual wear, and briefcases. Past being millennials. And since Magenta was a superstar, in a corporate area of East Manehattan that made all the news outlets and ponies swarm her like flies, flashing cameras and taking notes with the obvious question:

"Is a deal coming between a corporation and Magenta Streak?"

"Is there a new program starring you and Bright Snow?"

"Is there a plan in place?"

Undeterred, Magenta continued pressing forward, followed by the Press who stopped when she walked up the steps to YouHoof. After opening the door she walked into a really friendly lobby. There were funny made chairs that made her start planning out a lounge in the mansion, holding ponies reading books, talking, and making noise. She ignored them and made her way towards the Customer Service desk in front of her. There were three ponies behind them wearing glasses—whether stylish or not, Magenta couldn't tell. She walked up to one free spot and placed her front hooves on the counter, clearing her throat.

The mare behind this one looked up and greeted, "Yes, how may I—hello, Ms. Streak! Oh, jeez, I was told you may be coming this morning. Give me a moment."

Jeez, didn't even have to say anything, Magenta thought. SHe dropped back down onto her hooves and looked around the lobby. Some of the fillies around here had their phones out recording her and waving. Smiling, she waved back and turned to the counter.

The mare leaned over it and hoofed her a card and a clipboard. "This is your visitor card. The pony you want to speak with is on the fourteenth floor. But before you go, please fill this out. It's just a simple survey."

Magenta nodded and looked the survey over. Just a simple questionnaire asking how she, the attendant did. Was she friendly? Yes. Knew what she was doing? Confident? Yes and yes. Have a smile? It was hurting her eyes. After she completed a few questions, she hoofed it back to the attendant then made her way over to the nearest elevator.

"Thank you very much," she called over her shoulder.

"Y-Yes, ma'am, have a wonderful day!" She responded. Magenta walked in front of even more customer Service desks, all eyes on her. Just like in the Starfire Building, Magenta pressed an up-arrow and sat down to wait. She didn't have to wait long. Or look behind her at all the eyes and whispers directed her way. That gets really old. Soon, he elevator opened up. The floor had red carpet and a reflective ceiling with lights. Magenta stepped inside and hovered her hoof over the buttons. Finding the number, she pressed fourteen and closed the doors.

Finally alone, Magenta tilted her head back and enjoyed the ride to the top floor. Her mind was coming up with questions they would ask and the answers she had for them. What do we get out of merging with you? More creators in your pool of vloggers, musicians, and a successful artist as a promotional tool. I can hook you up with so many more artists and we can start a music platform on YouHoof. I understand that YouHoof has a standard when it comes to videos and are based around interesting creators. I can find those creators in a few days with my influence on the industry. They just have to be with Color Flash. Not to mention you have the opportunity to gain more bits. But why would we need you to get that done? Because nopony else in Equestria has as much influence as I do.

The elevator doors parted onto a much more lonelier floor. Right across from the doors was another pony behind a desk, working on something. A stallion.

He glanced up and locked eyes with Magenta Streak, who was staring right down at him. "Hello, Ms. Streak. Mr. Smiles is waiting for you in room fourteen o'two. Right there." He pointed to a pair of double wooden doors on the right side of the elevator.

Magenta nodded and took a deep breath. Then made her way over and knocked on the door. "Come on in, Ms. Streak."