Svengallop was not happy. It had been a month since his falling out with his former client, Countess Coloratura. Outraged that his client had the gall to challenge his managerial style, Svengallop had quit as her agent, and returned to Manehattan, fully prepared to find a new singer to take under his wing (and reap the benefits, of course).
Unfortunately for Svengallop, things hadn't worked out that way. He had been unable to get any new clients. Word of his breaking off from Coloratura had filtered through to Manehattan, leading many to keep their distance from him. And with every passing day, his bank account dwindled. This was reflected in his steadily more unkempt mane and suit. Without Coloratura to act as a meal ticket, Svengallop was denied all the perks and freebies he felt he deserved, as he had to ration what money he had until he could find somepony new to represent.
'I need a new client, and fast.' Svengallop thought, as he marched through the streets of Manehattan, bound for the talent agency. 'Otherwise, I'll never get any perks again. Worse, I'll have to get some menial job that pays practically nothing, and doesn't come with massages...'
He shuddered with distaste at the very thought. At that moment, a taxi carriage raced past, striking a puddle and splashing Svengallop.
"Watch where you're going!" Svengallop snarled, before attending to his soaked suit. "This is all I need right now... How can I get a new client when I look like this?"
As he continued walking, he passed a newstand. One of the newspapers, emblazoned with a picture of Coloratura, caught his eye. He grabbed the paper, and read the headline:
Fans go gaga for Rara!
For a good while now, the biggest name in the music industry was Countess Coloratura. Fans came from all over Equestria to hear her amazing voice, and witness the grand, glowing spectacle of her performances.
But when the Countess performed at the Helping Hooves Festival over in Ponyville last month, she did so in a way nopony could have expected. Gone were the glamorous costumes, bright lights, and grandiose lyrics. In their place was a simple outfit, and a simple piano piece, back up by a run-of-the-mill orchestra. Countess Coloratura (or "Rara" as she called herself) treated the crowd to a low-key, yet heartfelt song. It was unlike anything the audience was expecting, but they loved it all the same.
Since then, Rara has been continuing with her "simple" approach, and has become more popular than ever:
"Sure, I miss all the visual effects, but it hasn't changed the fact that the mare can sing." Tempo Bass, reviewer for Rolling Moss Stone, had to say.
"In stripping away all the glitz and glamor, Rara has left us with nothing but her extraordinary singing voice to focus on." Rockin' Robyn, editor of Equestrian Music Daily, remarked. "One wonders why she ever thought she needed anything else..."
Not long after this surprise switch, Rara confirmed the rumors that she had parted ways with her long-time manager, Svengallop.
"We just weren't on the same page anymore." Rara revealed. "Svengallop was making some decisions I didn't agree with, and he stormed off when I confronted him on them. Thankfully, I found a new manager, one who is far more open to my feelings, and the feelings of others."
Well, whatever issues were involved, Svengallop was clearly a fool to cut ties with Rara when he did. The singer is now more popular than ever, and her new single, "The Magic Inside", is practically flying off the shelves. I'll bet Svengallop is kicking himself right now-
"Grrrr!" Svengallop tore the newspaper apart in a fit of anger.
"Hey!" The vendor pony snarled. "You gonna pay for that, pal?"
"...Of course." Svengallop seethed. He pulled a Bit out of his pocket and passed it over.
Svengallop continued his path onwards, only to bump into the last pony he wanted to see: Coloratura herself.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I... Svengallop?" Coloratura frowned.
"Well, look who it is." Svengallop scowled. "Nice to see you again, 'Rara'. I trust your career is going well?"
"Actually, yes." Coloratura admitted.
"Good to know abandoning me worked out for you." Svengallop spat.
"Okay, for starters, you're the one who walked out." Coloratura frowned.
"Because you cared more about some brats and noponies than the pony who got you where you were, you ingrate!" Svengallop shot back.
"Like caring about others is such a terrible thing!" Coloratura retorted. "You treated everypony but me like dirt, and used my name to intimidate them into giving you all those perks!"
"Because I deserved them!" Svengallop insisted. "Do you think it was easy, making some mousy little mare over into a pop superstar?"
"I never asked you to make me over, Svengallop." Coloratura frowned. "You made me think I needed to look like some glamorous superstar, but I already had everything I needed."
"Oh, please!" Svengallop spat. "I made you into a mare actually worth something. Do you think ponies would have liked all that 'simple stuff' if you didn't have the reputation I gave you as a starting point?"
"I know they would." Coloratura declared.
"You keep thinking that." Svengallop retorted.
"Everything okay here, Rara?" A dark green Earth Pony stallion with lavender eyes and a contract Cutie Mark joined them. He was Coloratura's new manager, Scout Star.
"Everything's fine, Scout." Coloratura smiled. "Just catching up with my old manager."
Scout glanced at Svengallop.
"So this is the jerk who was taking advantage of you?" He sneered. "Buddy, you give managers a bad name."
"Who asked you?" Svengallop snarled.
"I'll thank you not to talk to my new manager like that." Coloratura declared.
"...Didn't take you long to replace me, did it?" Svengallop grimaced.
"At least Scout doesn't take advantage of my fame for his own needs." Coloratura said flatly. "Or thinks spending time with my fans isn't worth it."
"Speaking of, we'd better get moving, Rara." Scout declared. "Don't want to keep those poor kids at the hospital waiting."
"Still wasting your time with those little brats, I see?" Svengallop said derisively.
"Yes." Coloratura nodded. "It's called 'caring'. You should try it sometime."
"I don't need advice from an ungrateful turncoat like you." Svengallop growled.
"Look, you-!" Coloratura started.
"Easy there, Rara." Scout told her. "He's not worth it."
Svengallop glared coldly at Scout, while Coloratura took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Look, for what it's worth, you're right about how you gave me my start in this business." She admitted. "I owe you that much, at least."
"You got that right." Svengallop nodded contemptuously.
"Don't push it, pal." Scout growled.
"I heard that you haven't been... busy lately." Coloratura added, taking note of Svengallop's still-wet suit. "If you're looking for work, I always have some openings in my road crew..."
"Spare me your pity, and your charity." Svengallop spat. "I won't reduce myself to that kind of grunt work. I still have my dignity, you know."
"Suit yourself." Coloratura sighed. "But if you ever change your mind..."
"Don't hold your breath." Svengallop snorted. "I'll be just fine, just you wait and see. Old Svengallop's ..."
As Svengallop made to leave, another carriage raced by, splashing him again.
"Grr!" He groaned, before trotting off with as much dignity as he could muster.
"Nice try, kid." Scout told Coloratura. "But some ponies just won't be helped..."
"I know." Coloratura sighed. "Even so, Svengallop may have been greedy and cruel, but he was still a good manager. It's just too bad he wasn't a good pony..."
"It's his loss." Scout shrugged. "Now, let's get to that hospital. Seein' you really oughta raise those poor sick foals' spirits..."
"I'm sure it will." Coloratura smiled.
As they moved onwards to the hospital, Coloratura took one last glance at Svengallop's retreating form. She held some regret that things couldn't have turned out better between them. But in the end, it was Svengallop who had made that choice. All that was in the past now, and Coloratura had to move forward, and continue her career with her new manager.
'Sorry, Svengallop.' She thought. 'But the Countess Coloratura you created is no more. Like it or not, Rara's here to stay...'