In the deepest, darkest part of space, inside a beetle-shaped spaceship, Emperor Sylak barked at his Weevil minions. The room was dim, lit only by the green glow of the consoles and the starlight outside. He was ordering them to properly adjust the satellites on his ship to watch the Kepler Sisters live.

  "I'm still getting static! A little to the left!"

  CREEEEEEEEEK. The giant radar dish groaned, and the sound echoed through the metal walls. The floor under Sylak’s boots vibrated as the dish moved to the left.

  "Ugh, It's fuzzy! A little to the right!"

  CREEEEEEEEEK! The ship shuddered. The dish groaned to the right.

  "Great, now I can't hear anything!" the Emperor pointed at the screen, which was covered in shaky gray lines.

  "Sire," a small engineer Weevil whimpered, wringing its tiny hands.

  "We've already adjusted the dish to the right and to the left. Its gargantuan size is unable to move as quickly as you can order us.

  The Emperor reached down, his claws clutching the little Weevil by the back of its neck

  SMASH!

  He smashed it into the control panel. Sparks flew everywhere, smelling like a fly zapper, as the screen suddenly came into focus.

  "Live at the Outrageous Theater, it's the Kepler Sisters' premium premier concert!"

  "EEEEEEEEEE!" The Emperor squealed, clicking his wrists together like an elementary school girl.

  "IT WORKED! I LOVE PIRATE TELEVISION!"

  Inside the Lyüber, Natalie stared out the window, wiping another tear away. The bright city lights didn't ease her pain, it just made everything more painful knowing she'll never escape her home life. Even with all the powers in the world she has nowhere to go.

  *I fucking hate my life. Why did I even agree to go to this fucking concert?* Natalie silently fumed.

  Harmony, who was sitting on Joan's lap, looked over at Natalie with worry. She reached over and placed a hand on Natalie's shoulder.

  "Natalie? Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine," Natalie mumbled.

  "Are you su—"

  "I SAID I'M FINE!" she hissed.

  Harmony withdrew her hand, her heart aching.

  "Lady Natalie, I prefer it if you didn't speak to milady that way," Joan spoke up, her arms firmly around Harmony's waist.

  "Joan, don't..." Harmony whispered.

  "Whatever... Sorry...." Natalie mumbled.

  Joan narrowed her eyes. If it wasn't so dark, Natalie would see Joan's knightly sneer.

  "Sooo!" Harmony tried to break the ice. "Is this your first concert, Natalie?"

  "Yeah..." Natalie sighed.

  "Oh yay! It's our first concert too!" Harmony squealed.

  "Good for you," Natalie mumbled.

  "Lady Natalie, honestly!" Before Joan could say anything further, Harmony shushed her.

  "Joan, please... Not tonight..." Harmony gave a gentle warning.

  "As you wish... milady..." Joan spoke through her clenched teeth, staring at Natalie vigorously.

  The sounds of heels and designer boots clicking across the smooth polished floors of the Outrageous Theater lobby caught the attention of everyone waiting in line. Courtney and her friends marched together, with Courtney up front like a queen leading her subjects into battle.

  “This is SO exciting! Hashtag blessed!” Chrissy grinned, holding her phone up high, filming her squad’s every step.

  “What are you gonna ask the Keplers?” Nancy asked Linda.

  “I want Maddy to sign the right side of my Smoochie bag and Bree to sign the left!” Linda bounced, unable to contain her happiness.

  Piper walked beside Courtney and slipped a baggie into her hand.

  “This is an extra thank you.”

  “Oooh, can it be?” Courtney reached into the baggie and pulled out small pills. “Oxies! Aww, you shouldn't have!” Courtney purred.

  “I'm just so happy to be besties with you, Courtney.” Piper’s eyes practically glowed against the bright fluorescent lights.

  “Courtney is just the absolute greatest!” Samantha added.

  The group finally approached the VIP booth, where the red velvet rope kept them from the excitement of the exclusive bar and private viewing of the concert on 8k TVs. The girls buzzed like honeybees.

  Courtney showed her badge and the large guard took off the rope, letting her through. When Piper tried to pass through, the guard latched the rope back in place.

  “Uhh, excuse me?! We're with her!”

  “VIP only,” the stone-faced, sunglasses-wearing guard replied.

  “Uhh, we ARE VIP! If you took off your shitty trash ass sunglasses you could see right here it says Vi—”

  Piper looked at her laminated ticket and froze mid-sentence. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach when she saw it wasn't a VIP ticket. It was a general ticket for row double Z, the worst seats in the house.

  “C-COURTNEY?!” Piper shouted.

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  Courtney was only a few steps up when she turned around and said, “You bitches wanted to go to the concert, right? Well here we are. Enjoy your seats, losers! Oh and Piper? Thanks for everything.” Courtney blew a kiss and winked.

  The crowd of teenage girls broke into a small riot. “YOU FUCKIN BITCH!” Samantha screamed.

  “YOU'RE DEAD, COURTNEY! On social media, BUT YOU'RE SO FUCKING DEAD!” Piper threatened.

  “Guards!” Courtney snapped her fingers. “I'll give you each a hundred dollars if you pepper spray them, two hundred if you tase them!”

  The guards did more than that. They tackled and restrained as many of the girls as they could. The hissing of pepper spray and the zapping of stun guns echoed up the stairway as Courtney cackled all the way up to the VIP lounge.

  When the Lyüber pulled up at the Outrageous Theater, Joan was the first one out of the car. She held the door for Harmony, but Harmony turned around and held her hand out to Natalie.

  "Come on, Natalie, we're here."

  Natalie opened the door from her side of the car, ignoring Harmony's hand, and slammed it shut.

  Harmony closed her own door and skipped over to the driver, handing him a ten dollar bill.

  "Thank you for everything, sir." Harmony closed her eyes and smiled.

  The driver couldn't help but grin. "And thank you, little lady! Y'all have a good time at your show."

  As the car drove away, Natalie scoffed. "Tipping is so stupid..."

  "Alright, Lady Celestia, Lady Natalie, stay close to me. I don't want either of you getting lost in the crowd," Joan warned, standing close to Harmony and locking her arm around hers.

  "Natalie, come on, it'll be fun!" Harmony once again held her hand out. Natalie shoved her hands into her hoodie and ignored her.

  "Good lord, what a scoundrel. You see that? This is exactly the kind of behavior I was talking about," Joan muttered.

  Harmony felt offended that Joan would think so lowly of Natalie. When the girls walked into the massive lobby, Natalie caught the scent of the concessions. Her stomach growled. She hadn't eaten before they left because her mother was throwing another fit.

  "Natalie, do you have to use the little girls' room?" Harmony smiled.

  "No... I'm fine."

  "Oh, goodie! I'll be right back. I'm totally sorry, please don't go anywhere!"

  "Whatever..."

  Joan naturally tagged along; she couldn't leave Harmony on her own. Her heart was racing as she thought about finally asking Harmony out. A bathroom wasn't very romantic, but they were at the concert and she hoped they would have a great time together.

  When they entered the bathroom, Harmony stopped at the sinks, her hands grasping the sides. Joan stopped behind her, her voice lowered with concern.

  "Milady, is something wrong?"

  "What is wrong with you?" Harmony spat out. She didn't even turn around.

  "Whatever do you mean?"

  "Natalie is our friend..."

  "You mean your friend..."

  Harmony gasped and turned around, her eyes filled with hurt.

  "How could you say that? I thought you shared my vision of friendship!"

  Joan sighed. She had had enough of this charade. The blood, the gore, the chaos; it all had to end.

  "Milady, to be quite frank with you, I've put up with these hooligans for far too long. I'll obey and follow every order you've given me, but enough is enough. Natalie and Courtney are not your friends. They are criminals! They destroyed the mall, Natalie murdered Jessica, they are a mockery to the Cutie Princess name!"

  "Well, Natalie did what she did to protect me!"

  "I SHOULD BE THE ONE PROTECTING YOU!"

  "BUT YOU WEREN'T THERE, WERE YOU, JOAN?!" Harmony's voice shook. Tears threatened to fall.

  Joan grabbed a fistful of her own hair, trying to hold back a scream. She composed herself and took a deep breath. "Lady Celestia..."

  "Oh, don't you 'Lady Celestia' me! You've never liked any of my friends. I thought we left the Celestial Kingdom to be free from my father's tyranny, and all you're doing is putting his rules back into my life!"

  Joan's eyes widened. Her hands trembled.

  "I didn't... You don't understand! Your life is of great importance! I'm only doing what I'm ordered to do!"

  "So is that it? Just orders? Our friendship is nothing but a proxy for my father?" Harmony began to weep, her mascara smearing her cheeks.

  "No! Lady Celestia, please come to your senses! Natalie and Courtney are tearing us apart!" Joan placed her hands on Harmony's shoulders. She wanted to scream the words. She wanted to tell Harmony how much she meant to her.

  Harmony looked down at the polished bathroom floor, staring at their reflection.

  "I want to save them... They're my friends... I just wish you respected that..."

  Harmony pulled Joan's hands off her shoulders and moved toward the exit. She placed her hand on the handle and stopped.

  "Joan?" she said firmly, her hand and voice shaky.

  "Yes, Lady Celestia..?" Joan whimpered.

  Harmony clenched the handle. Her tears fell on the floor.

  "There was something... something I wanted to tell you because I thought you were my best friend... But since you're going to judge me anyway... I like Natalie... I really like her... and... and you're not getting in the way of that!"

  Harmony threw the door open and ran out. The door slowly swung back and clicked shut. The silence was deafening. Joan stood there by herself.

  What did Harmony mean by "liked"? Platonic? Romantic? It was too much for Joan to bear.

  "AARRRGGGHH!"

  CRUNCH!

  Joan punched a nearby stall. The door snapped in half, breaking into pieces. Joan suppressed her tears. She bit down on her sleeve and sobbed hard, falling to her knees.

  "Why?!... Why??" Joan sputtered. Her heart was just like the door, shattered into pieces all over the bathroom floor.

  At the lobby, Natalie stared at the popcorn machine and rolling hotdogs. The smell was welcoming and warm. She looked at the prices and was immediately disgusted.

  "Eight fifty for a fucking hotdog?!" she hissed. "And it doesn't even come with a drink? Bro, fuck that."

  When Natalie turned around, she was startled by Harmony, who was standing right behind her.

  "Hi, Natty! So, let's go find our seats!"

  "Never ever call me Natty again, you bubblegum bit—" Natalie's stomach growled. She held her stomach in pain.

  "Oh no, are you hungry? Is there anything I can get you?" Harmony held Natalie's hand and took her closer to the concessions.

  "I don't need your fucking char—" Natalie's stomach grumbled louder.

  "Fuck! Okay, uhh... give me some nachos... and a hot dog... and a Coke. Not the lines, I quit that stuff a long time ago," Natalie muttered.

  Harmony was kind of shocked and didn't know what to say. In the corner of her eye, she saw Joan exiting the bathroom. The two locked eyes for a moment, and Harmony didn't want to prove Joan right. She wrapped her arm around Natalie's and said loudly:

  "Hahaha! Oh my gawd, Natalie! You are, like, soooo funny!"

  Natalie felt extremely uncomfortable by the arm hug and sighed in defeat. She was too hungry and exhausted to say anything else.

  Joan was furious. Her jealousy was driving her crazy. She had to remind herself not to make a scene.

  Harmony approached Joan while Natalie was munching on nachos.

  "Come on. Let's get to our seats," Harmony said flatly to Joan, treating her like a burden.

  Harmony rested her head on Natalie's left shoulder, which Natalie pushed away as she kept eating her nachos.

  "What does she see in that scoundrel anyway? What does she have that I don't?" Joan muttered, following Harmony and Natalie into the auditorium.

  Backstage, the Kepler Sisters were in the middle of some last-minute rehearsals when Maxwell Powers walked in.

  “Ladies, I came to wish you both the best of luck. And don't forget the ‘special announcement’ we have planned tonight.”

  “Yeah… about that…” Maddy began, but she was cut off by Maxwell, who held a silver briefcase and opened it in front of her. It was filled to the brim with hundred dollar bills!

  “Consider this an advance. Just go out there, sing your shitty songs, and then announce what we've written for you at the end of the show!” Maxwell grinned.

  “Oh, Maxy, you're the best!” Maddy squealed.

  “Umm, Maddy? I don't think this is a good ide—OOF!”

  Maddy elbowed Bree and took the large briefcase, handing it over to her assistant.

  “Well, on with the show, ladies. I'll be watching!”

  “Maddy, are you sure we're gonna be doing this?” Bree asked with worry.

  “Relax, we took all those training courses. I think the world is ready to meet Super Maddy and Super Bree!” Maddy’s mind filled with the millions she just made without even stepping out on the stage.

  Meanwhile, up at the VIP lounge, Courtney laid down on red leather recliner seats, her feet up while looking at the 8K OLED monitors.

  “This is the fuckin' life!” Courtney uncapped a Dick’s Hard Lemonade and took a swig of it. “Mmm! This is gonna feel awesome with the pills.”

  Down at the auditorium, the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Natalie sat between the feuding Harmony and Joan. The seats weren't recliners like in VIP, but they were pretty much three rows away from the stage.

  “Man, I wish I was at a Nekopocalypse concert… these seats are damn good, but I'm surrounded by all this pink glitter shit…” Natalie sighed.

  “Aww, I promise I'll make that happen for you someday, Natalie.” Harmony cuddled up on Natalie's shoulder.

  Joan turned red with fury and looked away.

  “Okay, what the hell is wrong with you?” Natalie gently pushed Harmony off her.

  “I'm sorry! I'm just so happy to finally spend time with you, Natalie! I'm just so excited to be here with you!”

  “Look, thanks for the grub. That was nice of you, but can you just please stop treating me like a pet? It's fucking weird.”

  “I'm so sorry if I made you feel that way… it's just... I really like you!”

  Joan literally grabbed someone's bag of peanuts, emptied it on the ground, and began breathing into it, trying to calm down her anxiety.

  “Hey, my peanuts!” the girl whined.

  Joan just gave her a death stare, and the girl sank into her seat and looked away.

  “You do? Why? You don't know shit about me. You don't know what the fuck I've been through?” Natalie hissed.

  Before Harmony could respond, the curtains lifted and the music began. It was a laser light show, and fans were screaming at the top of their lungs.

  The concert was two hours of all the greatest Kepler Sisters hits, from “Alimony’s a Bitch and So Am I” to “That’s What Men Are For.” Each song was an anthem on extreme femininity and how girls are so much better than men.

  The twins were finishing up their concert-exclusive song, “Love Guzzler.”

  “I'm down on my knees! I just wanna please! Give me a load of your love all over me!”

  The girls in the audience, minus Natalie and Joan, were all shrieking, loving the horrific-sounding song.

  “Jesus Christ, what the fuck is wrong with these women?” Natalie muttered.

  “I LOVE YOU, MADDY! I LOVE YOU, BREE!” Harmony screamed at the top of her lungs.

  Natalie placed her hands over her ears. The screaming was too much for her, and she felt like the entire auditorium would collapse on her.

  “WHAT THE FUCK!?” she yelled in horror.

  Up in the VIP lounge, Courtney was giggling like an idiot, completely high off her ass. She spilled her hard drinks all over the ground while trying to dance like the Keplers while lying on the recliner.

  When it was over, the stage dimmed into darkness.

  “Ladies and fans!” Maddy began.

  “For years, the world has been searching for a hero. Someone big and strong to take care of this delicate city,” Bree continued.

  “Well, it sure as shit isn't a man, and it's definitely not those loser princesses!”

  The lights flashed a bright blue and red. The crowd went crazy. The lasers were flying in every direction possible, moving rapidly until they stopped.

  BOOM!

  Sparks and fire flew up on the stage. Standing before them were Maddy and Bree, wearing their ruby and sapphire battle armors.

  The girls went absolutely apeshit! The shrieks of a thousand girls were more painful than a million scratched chalkboards.

  “We're here to fight for you!” Maddy held out her finger to the crowd.

  “I'm Ruby Roulette!” Maddy posed with refined precision, her armor sleek and powerful.

  “And I'm Sapphire Spears!” Bree posed next to her sister, looking both beautiful and deadly.

  “And together…”

  “WE'RE MAXIMUM CLIMAX!” both sisters shouted. Sparks went flying, and the stage shot pyrotechnics everywhere.

  The deafening roar of the audience vibrated through Natalie's ribcage and against her heart.

  “Maximum Climax? Are you fuckin' kidding me?” Bree said with disgust, speaking through their earpieces.

  “Just smile and wave, baby sister,” Maddy reassured her.

  Maximum Climax just made their debut! How will the girls feel about this corporate public stunt? What about Emperor Sylak who's watching from his pirate television? Will Joan ask out Harmony? Will Harmony ask out Natalie? And will someone wake Courtney up? She's missing all the action! Tune in next time for another exciting episode of Sailing Star Cutie Princess!

  つづく

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