Hats off to Misfile. Archie comic text. And Pete's Dragon.
Shasta knew it was cold. Winter was coming. Summer and fall had run their course and the chilling darkness was now descending upon here. She should have been a poet. At least then she wouldn't be able to not make a living and not have any excuses.
Dammit stupid wind, she was not going to have her life turn into a scene from some poor lost girl TV mini-series, she refused to pull on her jacket, refused to show weakness.
How could this get any worse? Yea, yea, don't tempt fate. Shasta had been trying to get into the music biz for half a year. It was like someone was -putting- roadblocks in her way. She'd blame extra dimensional beings bent on controlling her life if she didn't know how corporate America worked.
The Fates would have had her miss her bus, not put 'Corporate Sponsor?' as mandatory on every fill in sheet she tried to send to a record publishing company. Heaven's Filing system would have had her appointment to Monday of that week on Tuesday, not have them say her songs weren't compatible with the current market.
ANY song was compatible with today's market, what they meant was; she wasn't one of their creations. She wasn't chosen due to her face and not a vocal recording, given a scripted personality and told to lip sync with an entirely different band's song. Likely one sent in by some people in the boondocks who didn't realize the abuse of the copyright system.
She was original. She was her own. Her songs were her own property. Her voice and style were hers. And thus, they couldn't market her with the safe knowledge they could pull the plug half way through production if the public grew bored with her and transferred them to another pretty face.
No one liked a product with it's own ideas.
Her boyfriend had suggested she enter into one of those countless 'American Pop Star' reality television shows that crept up on cable at least once a week. She had flat out refused. She wouldn't be molded; she wouldn't me turned into someone she wasn't.
While she knew the woman's movement was joke back then, and people lived in fear of getting blown up even worse than they did today, she wished she had been born before corporate America had infected the music business, and hadn't gone beyond it's kingdom of Steel Mills and meat packagers. Back when singing was enough. When getting recognition for being good at self-expression was enough for those with the right connections to give the chance to be a star.
They said stars weren't born they were made, but at least back in that prejudice and red scared era, they were -self- made.
That was when reality hit, and her would be male counter part dumped her, she wasn't his gravy train, so he jumped ship. She had said no to reality show, and he had told her see her later. Well, if that was his only reason in the first place better it happen soon than later. Jerk.
When she got home to her apartment after another day of asking if 'would you like fries with that?' (Yes, she really did want to jump off a bridge some days, she wished she could at least work at a place where her coworkers all spoke English!).
Sitting down at her computer she checked one of the few things that made her life bearable, the endless amount of free furry art on the net. Not mindless yiff mind you, but -art-! And she was on several mailing lists, she never added anything herself, but she was still semi-valued (and semi-hated) as a critic. One of her favorite character design was fan art of a furry yellow purple haired fully clothed Mongoose named Mina. She was apparently a character originally written for the comic book version of some video game.
She got some bits of info from the picture descriptions; she had fallen from the game/comic's main hero, only to ultimately in the story arch that he had fallen for someone else. She saved her rival's life almost at the cost of her own, and had ended up the semi-post apocalyptic' world's first new Idol Singer. Heh. Okay, maybe there was a bit of fantasy role-playing on her part there. But it was everyone right to dream right?
Checking out what was new, she then opened up her e-mail; she mindlessly deleted spam, and deleted one, blinked, then retrieved it from the trash file and checked the name and header again. She grabbed a letter off the desk next from her pile of junk mail "No way."
She wasn't surprised to get mail or e-mail, or that she didn't recognize the company name, what did you expect from spam mail? Except the company's name and address were the same, in both the e-mail and the letter. She had never heard of a spam company doing anything like -that- before!
Well, she had time to spare, and took the rest of opening up both. The message was the same. Sega Of America, Music Division, was looking for vocalists for their next few games. She double-checked the address on-line on different sites and on the information number. But checked out, it was legit. It even mentioned one of the bands that had already been accepted. Fluid Vibrations? With a name like that, it seemed Sega was looking for those desperate enough to take the jobs so they could pay what they could.
Shasta might have been insulted, but any exposure was -good- exposure as they said.
But she still wasn't sure if she wanted to set sail on this ship or not. But looking at the fine print, she spotted the last thing she thought she'd see. Instead of a disclaimer, it said that she'd be expected and encouraged to perform her own piece rather than be given one.
Well, it wasn't asking her to go to some place in Mexico, alone, at midnight, so she figured it might very well have been worth the rest.
She sent a reply, to both, and got a response from both three days later, giving her an appointment time. Taking her only emergency day off she was allowed; she bought the bus ticket, and made her way into the next city. (After being sure to tell her relatives where she was going to be of course.)
It was lit, it look legit, looked clean, was in the middle of the city's business section, didn't exactly -seem- like the place you'd put an evil kidnapping ring. Checking her watch and seeing her appointment time wasn't all that far away, she looked herself in the place's glass doors a couple times before entering (had to make a good impression after all).
She ended up sitting next to a teenage lad with body illustrations (it didn't seem right to call them tattoos since they lacked porn or profanity) on his arms like a second shirt. To pass the time, she thought about some of the furry art she had memorized along with her lines before coming. Heh, the guy could pass for a human version of the Mongoose Mina had hooked up with after her 'never was' with the hero, what was the Mongoose's name? Ash?
A Hispanic girl who spoke perfect English but had the mannerism of a Japanese maiden behind the welcoming desk told lad he could come in now. Leaving Shasta alone.
After waiting out the half hour till her appointment time with mental fantasy role playing, the Hispanic lass returned, she told Shasta that the producer would see her now. Shasta glade the wait was over walked with the teenage girl and read her nametag, Julan.
She knew the stereotypical music producer and this guy was no exception. Though he was more wild than most. Wild blue dyed hair, purple tinted sunglasses, red jack and blue jeans with fake gold trim: this guy went all out.
The guy talked more like a surfer dude than a producer for music for a game company, but hey, stereotypes were meant to be broken.
"So you're Shasta, I'll admit, we got pieces of your work from people who didn't want it, however, we do want it, and you're part of the package deal am I correct? Of course I am. The name's Zhane, Zhane Jones. Nice to meetcha, come on shake my hand, it's not a shark. Or is it because I'm just talking too fast?"
Shasta started and did shake his hand. "Oh no, none at all, I'm just a little surprised, don't you people get all your songs made in Japan or something?"
"Used to, but some of the higher ups thought it was worth an experiment to see if it made a better game to go with an American music source instead. But they were interested in spending a fortune on it to get some no face, or rather pasted face 'created group' so I had to find some solo gigs who'd be interested in some free publicity."
"Thank you . . . so you heard a recording of one of my songs?"
"Indeed I did, it was almost as if it was an angel had been reincarnated and was lending her voice to us."
"I bet you say that to all of them."
Zhane smirked. "Naw, I come up with a different shtick each time, gotta stay fresh to stay in the game!"
"You have no shame."
"I have plenty. I just feel no shame in showing my hand to part of the team."
"I'm not part of your team yet."
"Girl, if you wanted to say no, I doubt you would have come here, most people don't consider game music worth year old chilidogs! They don't realize the effort that goes into them."
"What if I said I do?"
"Then I'd say you're lying to get on my better side."
"Don't you mean good side?"
"Naw, do I look like I had a had side to you?" Zhane showed off both sides of his face. "But seriously, this interview isn't about us or me, it's about you miss Shasta."
Julan nudged in, reminding everyone the wallflower was still there. "Let me show you to the recording booth."
"Didn't you say you already had my songs?" Shasta smelled something fishy.
"Don't be paranoid, I swear to you Shasta, we are NOT going to steal anything you sing here. Our by laws prevent us from doing so. Until you sign up with us, everything remains yours, we're not part of the national record board you see."
Shasta could accept that answer.
Julan leading her into a sound proof booth Shasta replayed the song notes repeated in her head. She was expected to carry the tune on her own. Cruel maybe but you can't have everything in life.
Julan left back for her desk, which she had neglected for far too long, leaving her alone with herself and Zhane.
If this were a horror story this would be where Zhane would declare his lust for her and claim her. But that did not happen. Instead, the power turned on, and Zhane asked Shasta to begin at her leaser.
He did make one comment through. "Shasta, just so ya know, proving that you have the talent and the will, doesn't mean you havta go it alone. And we all ultimately have to give up part of who we are to reach our dreams." However there wasn't a trace of lust in his voice. Bizarre. Oh well, Shasta could figure out later. One, two, three start.
Shasta felt a chill go through her body at her own nervousness. This was it. No more hesitation or doubts make it or break it. Here she went.
Her voice traveled through her throat into the microphone. "Starlight, star bright, won't you hear my song tonight."
Zhane adjusted the time on his watch.
Another day is like a new beginning
And so today I know that it's a new start
I know the bad times are disappearing
Cause now I know that we'll never be apart
Shasta felt her fears slip away as she continued, her confidence building, she wouldn't let herself be scared. She was finally here. Ready. She brought her skirt legs together, her shorts suddenly not as loose as they had been a second ago. She arched her body as she sang, her blank t-shirt pulling out, her black tank top now showing her off her middle. The slightly tickling feeling at the base of her spine that had been bothering her was gone in a flash. She felt the air go against as she moved with the music.
You're the one that makes me feel so high
Just like the diamonds in the sky
I never want to hear you say goodbye
Cause you're my diamond in the sky
Zhane of course didn't say a word, not wanting to break Shasta's concentration, just smiling as she went with the flow. Fully entrancing it at the base of her mind.
Another road that we must travel
Another night for you to show me the way
And so today, I give up dreaming
Cause now I know, I need you everyday
Shasta ran her bare hands through her short brown hair, pulling it out of the way, still not breaking her concentration. It was being stubborn however but she was more stubborn, and the waterfall of violet she had always known as her head fur was perfectly flowing down her back. Her forearm gauntlets were not impeding her grip on the mike at all.
You're the one that makes me feel so high
Just like the diamonds in the sky
I never want to hear you say goodbye
Cause you're my diamond in the sky
She tapped her flat tops against the booth floor, keeping in rhythm with the song, reminding of all those time she had sung on the shower ironically, how the first person to believe in the 'little song bird' found out about her talent even she had not believed in at first.
Her boots and leg guards protected her lean frame against accidentally hitting any part of the both as she did her performance for the music rep.
Her hearing felt deaf for a few seconds and she almost panicked, but it went back to normal soon enough and she redoubled her pace.
Where do all the rainbows go?
To somewhere I don't know
Wherever it is, I want to go
She opened her eyes slightly, daring to jinx herself, her smooth yellow fur reflected perfectly in the glass booth, her great expressive eyes staring back at her were not of someone trying to get over someone she could never have, it was someone who was willing to take the reigns of her life and face the world head on. Her muzzle made a smirk.
She closed her eyes for the song's finale.
ohhh..
wherever it is I want to go
Feel so high...
Feel so high!
She imagined she was no longer in the booth, she imaged she was traveling a road of colors and songs, of music and expression. She was free, free! She felt her clip-on, her collection of ear piercings clink against each other as she moved in this colorful world that only existed in her mind.
She felt herself in her mental world hit a wave
euphoria wash over her, the world was getting bigger, but she and her attired remained the same. The one who said that drugs provided the ultimate high had never sung a note in their life.
You're the one that makes me feel so high
Just like the diamonds in the sky
I never want to hear you say goodbye
Cause you're my diamond in the sky!!!
She ended the dance with a twirl, no longer in her little dream world but back in her dressing room.
"Mina!" Ash. The male yellow Mongoose opened up the door slowly enough so she'd have time to hit him the face with something hard if she weren't decent (it wasn't like she was a male Mobian after all). "Mina, you're in a few minutes, you should save it for the show. I know you think you've fully recovered. But a bullet is a bullet is a bullet and-"
Mina hugged the lad and kissed him to silence him. "Ash, don't be such a worry wart, I'll be fine, besides, I know you'll be cheering for me, nothing can go wrong with that in mind."
"If you say so."
"I KNOW so."
"How do you know?"
"Because I BELIEVE!"
" . . . Then I'll believe in you . . . ever since Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Princess Sally, and so many of the other Freedom Fighters vanished, and so did you, everyone was so worried, I just don't want you to vanish again."
"I won't, I promise, if you promise not to vanish again either."
Ash nodded. "You have my word on -that. -"
"That's all I need." Mina smiled back.
"Go get'em song-goose!" Ash quipped.
"You got it!" Mina snapped her fingers and shoed Ash out, and slipped out of her normal attire and went into her singer's dress.
A minute later she was on stage. The old woman Rosie, her own mother, the Dragon Dulcy, and people who lived in Knotehole simply because it had become their home, all waiting for her, eager for her to begin. She didn't disappoint them.
"Knotehole Kingdom! You ready to rock?!"
They gave her their response.
"Then let's get started! Welcome for coming everyone to Mina Mongoose's welcome back concert! Then let's get started! A one! A two! A one two three!" And Mina sang. Happy where she was in the world, doing what she loved. That's what mattered in the end right?