The sounds of hammering and drilling echoed throughout the Outrageous Theater, the largest arena in the city. Men were working countless hours setting up the stage for the live debut of the Kepler sisters' concert.

  Maddy, wearing a skin-tight jumpsuit, observed the men like a general preparing for war. Her orders were quick and precise.

  "I want that shit over there, and that shit over there! Oh, and that thing that makes my voice sound all echoey? I want that shit too!"

  Bree, her twin, was observing the lights and effects. In her heart, she still felt like a trashy trailer park girl; she couldn't believe she was standing on the same stage where all her favorite stars performed.

  Just then the door opened. It was Maxwell Powers and two technicians in lab coats rolling what appeared to be giant suitcases.

  "Ladies, I've brought you two a surprise!"

  "What the hell is in those cases?" Maddy snapped.

  "Oh my God, is it a robot?!" Bree's eyes widened.

  "Better than a robot! Gentlemen, let's show the twins their new battle armor!"

  The scientists each pressed a button on the side of the large silver cases. Smoke billowed out, making a loud hiss that startled Bree. When the smoke cleared, there were two pieces of shiny, powerful, advanced armor. They almost looked like crystals. On the left was the ruby battle armor, sleek, slender, and totally advanced. On the right was the sapphire armor, which was just as sleek and slender. Both suits sparkled under the fluorescent lights.

  "OH MY GOD! IT'S SO SPARKLY!" Bree gasped with awe.

  "Only the best for you, my dear," Maxwell grinned. "What do you think of it, Maddy?"

  "Looks like dweeb shit to me. What is this anime bullshit? The fucking thing makes my tits look huge. The plating, if you can even call it that, is no thicker than my arms and legs! Can this piece of shit even stop a bullet?"

  Maxwell was shocked. "How fucking dare you! After all that I've done for you!"

  Maddy quickly went into damage control and gently traced her perfectly manicured nail down Maxwell's tie.

  "Maxy, baby. I was just teasing," she purred. "It's just that, I don't wanna go on stage looking like a decoration on some overweight fat fuck's desk. I hope you understand." Maddy gave Maxwell her biggest puppy eyes.

  Maxwell, however, saw through Maddy's bullshit and gently held her hand, placing it back down.

  "Cute, but you both signed a legally binding contract... so I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. You're gonna put this shit on and you're gonna like it. And trust me, once you have it on, you're really gonna love it!"

  Maddy rolled her eyes and nodded.

  "Good. Now let's get to work, ladies! You two have a lot of 'rehearsals' to do!" Maxwell gave a vicious grin.

  Meanwhile, at the At-Risk Youth Group.

  "EEEEEEEEK!" Courtney shrieked at the top of her lungs. "THE KEPLER SISTERS ARE COMING TO THE OUTRAGEOUS THEATER THIS SATURDAY!"

  The girls in the classroom all shrieked together and jumped for joy.

  "Courtney, buy me a ticket, please!" Piper shouted.

  "Me too!" Samantha shrieked.

  “Haha, fuck no! You freeloaders aren't getting shit from me!” Courtney smirked.

  "PLEASE, COURTNEY! I HAVE TO SEE THE KEPLERS! I'LL DO ANYTHING!”

  “Anything?!” Courtney thought of all the favors and gifts she could get off these dumb bitches. "Let's talk outside! I want to be surrounded by my loyal fans!" Courtney giggled.

  The girls practically smashed the door down, glass shattering everywhere to the sound of thudding footsteps. Dave the custodian watched in horror as the hallway became flooded with an army of teenage girls. He tried to open the janitor's closet but fumbled with his keys. He was quickly trampled by the shrieking girls, his screams muffled underneath the human wave.

  "Jesus Christ, what the fuck is wrong with those bitches?" Natalie winced in disgust.

  "Well, class dismissed, I suppose. You all be good now, okay?" Harmony smiled at the boys, who didn't care about the concert, let alone the life lessons they were supposed to be learning.

  "I'll get started on cleaning. This time I won't take my eye off you, milady," Joan smiled.

  "Oh, Joan, you're so sweet and caring. I never felt so lucky to have a bestie like you!" Harmony hugged Joan.

  Joan turned red, her heart racing. She gently held Harmony in her arms. Her body felt so soft and warm. Her hair smelled of strawberries. It was intoxicating.

  "For fuck's sake, just ask her out already!" Natalie spat in frustration, storming out of the classroom. She couldn't bear to watch another moment of those two dumbasses unable to accept their feelings.

  Joan felt extremely embarrassed by Natalie's outburst.

  Outside, the double doors flew open and Courtney was riding the wave of girls carrying her over her shoulder.

  "Alright, put me down, but CAREFULLY! these baby hippo boots are sensitive to gravel"

  Courtney turned to her fans and began the auction.

  "Alright, girls, what do you got for me?"

  "I'll buy you weed!" Jennifer shouted.

  "Pass."

  "My daddy's a pharmacist, I can get you anything you want! ANYTHING!"

  "Ooh okay Piper you get a ticket!"

  The crowd of girls shrieked so loudly nearby windows shattered into pieces!

  "Okay who's next?" Courtney smiled.

  "I'll let you fuck my boyfriend!" Sarah shouted.

  "And catch whatever he gave Stacy?"

  Sarah's face went pale. "Who's Stacy?!"

  "The side-ho you didn't know about," Courtney chirped, smoothing her baby-hippo boots. "But don't worry, honey, everyone else knew. Better you heard it from me."

  Sarah turned and ran through the crowd in tears, Courtney didn't even blink. "Next! Who’s got something actually valuable?"

  "I'll do your homeworks for a month! NO, A YEAR!"

  "Alright! Samantha gets a ticket!"

  The ocean of girls are screaming frantically.

  Courtney gave a smug smile overlooking the crowd

  "There's plenty of tickets to go around, grovel for me, beg for it! There is no price your dignity can't buy!" She giggled.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Inside the classroom, Harmony and Joan were tidying up when Harmony looked over her shoulder and called out for Joan.

  "Joan?"

  "Yes, Lady Celestia?"

  "After that incident at the cafeteria, I thought punishing all those girls and bringing them to the At-Risk Youth Group would fix everything, but Natalie is still hurting..."

  Joan stopped sweeping. She thought about everything Natalie had endured, but she couldn't help the spike of frustration that Harmony’s focus was, once again, entirely on Natalie. Joan let her insecurities get the best of her.

  "H-how much does Lady Natalie mean to you?" Joan asked, her breath catching in her throat.

  "Like I feel about all my friends. She means the world to me," Harmony whimpered, tears threatening to fall.

  "You... really like her that much?" Joan’s eyes watered as her stomach twisted into knots.

  "I'm sorry, Joan. I just can't stop feeling like such a screw-up. We were meant to save the Earth, and yet I can't even save my friends!"

  "Don't doubt yourself, milady. You are a wise and perfect leader."

  "Am I? Because every time I try to help, Natalie pushes me away! I just want to be her friend... and Courtney too, but she's way too popular to even talk to us."

  "Or perhaps she doesn't like us at all," Joan muttered under her breath.

  "No, don't say that. She's just a diamond in the rough."

  Joan scoffed but held her tongue. If she had to pick the lesser of two evils, it was definitely Natalie, even if she couldn't help but feel a bitter pang of jealousy.

  "Joan, I have an idea. Let's do something nice for Natalie! It'll be fun!"

  Joan’s grip tightened on the broom handle. “...Like what?”

  “Like a surprise! Something that even a pouty-pants like Natalie would enjoy! A gift from the both of us!” Harmony grinned.

  Joan’s face went stiff. She forced her lips to curl upward into a strained, pained imitation of a smile.

  “You're so generous, Lady Celestia. Only you could be so kind as to think of others.”

  On Friday afternoon, the at-risk youths (especially the girls) were all eagerly waiting for Harmony to dismiss them. The room echoed with that God-awful clicky noise from the girls who didn't turn off the keyboard sounds on their phones. It was annoying as shit.

  “Thank you for the tickets, Courtney!” Piper smiled.

  “You really are the best!” Samantha added.

  “Anything for my friends!” Courtney smiled brightly.

  Dumb bitches, Courtney thought to herself. Wait until they find out they're not actually getting backstage passes! I love this school. I can make friends without lifting a finger and dispose of them like last year's clothes.

  Courtney looked over at Natalie, who was staring out the window. They hadn't spoken in days since the bathroom fight.

  “Alright everyone, I want you all to have a safe and wonderful weekend, and hopefully I'll see you at the concert!” Harmony’s cheeks flushed red.

  “And please, do not smash down the door. I understand the Keplers' concert is tomorrow, but this is a school and we wish to maintain it that way." Joan scanned the room, always on patrol for troublemakers.

  “Thank you for that, Joan. Alright everyone, class dismi—”

  Before Harmony could get the word out, the girls grabbed their desks and flung them at the window. Glass shattered everywhere, startling Natalie, who quickly dove under her desk, shielding her head with her arms.

  “YAAAAAAAAY!” All the girls shrieked at the top of their lungs.

  “AHHH, THESE BITCHES ARE FUCKING CRAZY!” Natalie panicked. She felt the vibration of footsteps and creaking wood as the stampede climbed over her desk, jumping out the window.

  “ORDER! I DEMAND OR—”

  SMASH!

  A wooden chair went flying over Joan's head, breaking into pieces against the wall.

  “Good heavens!” Harmony watched as the last of the girls tripped over the window frame, falling onto the lawn before scrambling back up to join the rest of the stampede.

  “Holy fucking shit, they're insane,” Natalie groaned. The boys all stood up and walked out through the already shattered window, leaving through the side of the building.

  Natalie grabbed her Jans backpack and was heading toward the door when Harmony called out.

  "Natalie! Umm, can you wait just a second?"

  "If it's about the fucking assignment, I already told you I didn't do it!"

  "No, not that." Harmony smiled and handed Natalie a white envelope with a heart on it.

  Joan felt the pit of her stomach drop. The sight of that envelope made her uneasy; her face burned with jealousy.

  "Uhh, it's a little early for Valentine's, don't you think?" Natalie held the envelope, examining it.

  Harmony giggled. "Noooo, it's not a Valentine's; it's a surprise!"

  Joan felt her heart thumping against her chest. She turned around and began sweeping the broken wooden pieces on the floor.

  "Is it a check? Because if this is another one of your fucking charity cases..." Natalie tore open the envelope and saw a very glittery ticket.

  "Surprise! You're going to the Kepler Sisters concert with us!" Harmony squealed.

  Natalie looked at the ticket and then back into Harmony's eyes. "Harmony, what the fuck?"

  "Well, what do you think?" Harmony leaned forward.

  Natalie couldn't believe it. A ticket to see those talentless fucks who humiliated her? She could probably flip it for cash, but they weren't even VIP seats. She sighed. "I know you mean well, but..."

  "I just wanted to spend more time with you, Natalie... You know? Get to know you better. I'm so sorry about the burden you're carrying. I don't know what your life is like, but you, me, Joan, and Courtney, we're Cutie Princesses. And that means we're family. If you don't want it, just... just tell me and I'll understand..."

  Harmony's eyes filled with hurt. The sight of the impending tears made Natalie feel a sharp pang of shame.

  "Ughhh... Fuck... fine, I'll go."

  "REALLY?!"

  "Just... why are you doing this? I never done shit for you."

  "Don't say that! After this, you and I will be getting along better, you'll see! Why, maybe... just maybe... we can be besties!" Harmony threw her arms around Natalie. She reeked of weed, but it didn't matter; Harmony was finally getting closer to Natalie.

  SNAP!

  Harmony and Natalie were startled by Joan, who had broken her wooden broomstick clean in half.

  "Apologies." She gritted her teeth, her knuckles white. "I'll go get another one..." Joan walked out of the room.

  "What's up with her?" Natalie asked.

  "She's just a big silly is all! Her super strength makes things like brooming difficult!" Harmony giggled.

  Saturday evening was approaching and our heroes were getting ready for the concert. Well, maybe "hero" isn’t the right word for Courtney.

  "GRANT!" Courtney screamed. "GRANT, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

  Grant, Courtney's caretaker and family butler, showed up to her room. "Yes, Miss Sinclair?"

  "Did you get me that dress I saw at the mall last week? The good one! Not that cheap shit, the one imported from France that customs had to be bribed to let in?"

  "Yes. I have it here for you." Grant held the dress on a coat hanger.

  "Great. Now, did you get my shoes?"

  "Yes ma'am. Miss Sanchez has picked out the best sparkling heels for you, Miss Sinclair."

  "Wow, really? Well, tell that toilet-scrubbing bitch I said thanks. And she's not fired."

  "Fired?" Grant was confused.

  "Yeah, I already mentally fired her, but she's not fired anymore. But she will be IF I DON'T GET MY FUCKING SHOES!"

  "Right away, Miss Sinclair." Grant closed the door on his way out, leaving Courtney alone to brush her hair in front of the mirror.

  "Honestly, it's so hard to get good help these days."

  She reached into her drawer and pulled out some Adderall.

  "I'm glad I got these babies for those tickets. Those bitches are gonna be soooo disappointed when they find out they're seated behind pillars!" Courtney giggled viciously.

  Over at Harmony's house, she and Joan were applying their finest glitter and makeup. Harmony was sitting in front of the mirror while Joan stood behind her.

  "I feel like a Princess!" Harmony giggled.

  "You are a princess, and you look absolutely beautiful, milady. Just simply gorgeous," Joan smiled.

  "Aww, thanks! Now come on, let's call a Lyüber and pick up Natalie!" Harmony pulled out her smartphone and began ordering their ride.

  Joan's smile turned into disgust. Natalie, Natalie, Natalie. It was all Harmony ever talked about. They used to be a duo. It was always about them, but now it was about her.

  "Milady? May I have a word?" Joan's voice trembled with worry.

  "What's up? Do you need more concealer?"

  "No. It's just that... I've been thinking about you and Lady Natalie. She doesn't like us very much."

  "That's because she needs to get to know us outside of the classroom and fighting Weevils."

  "I see. Do you... cherish Lady Natalie?"

  "With all my heart! And Courtney too, if she wasn't so busy with her own friends. But you know what I want? I want someday for all of us to be friends. You, me, Natalie, and Courtney. Laughing side by side, fighting evildoers... it's all I could ever ask for!" Harmony sighed wearily.

  "I too share that wish, milady. Anything to see you happy." Joan's voice dropped. Sadness clouded her heart.

  “Umm. Lady Celestia?” Joan’s lips quivered. Her body was trembling.

  “Yes, Joan?” Harmony looked into Joan's eyes with a bright smile.

  “I… I…” Joan took Harmony's hand and got down on one knee. “I… I lo—”

  BEEP BEEP!

  The car outside honked.

  "Come on, Joan! This is gonna be the best night of our lives!" Harmony grabbed Joan's hand, racing out the door.

  Joan firmly held Harmony's soft, delicate hand. She never wanted to let go, hoping that Harmony wouldn't stray away from what they had.

  In Natalie's room, her hands wouldn't stop trembling. She was feeling shame, regret, and overall anxiety. She really didn't want to go to that concert. She didn't apply any makeup. All she had on were her black hoodie and ripped jeans.

  Natalie's mother opened the door and shambled in.

  "Heeey, baby... where are you going?" she slurred. She was hitting the bottles again.

  "I told you. I'm going to that fucking concert," Natalie grumbled.

  "Aww, baby. You're growing up so fast..." Natalie's mom could barely form a sentence.

  "Don't talk to me about growing up. I've been growing up since before I even had my first period. I'm so fucking tired of having to watch over you."

  Natalie's mom gasped and immediately got defensive.

  "Now what the fuck is that supposed to mean? Honestly, you ungrateful shit, I'm the one who kept a roof over our heads!"

  "And I'm the one who hid your benefits so you didn't spend it all on fucking booze again!"

  "I… I do not..."

  "Save it. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead already. I needed a mom eighteen years ago. So stop pretending to be one!"

  Her mother's voice lowered and she hung her head. "You don't love me anymore..."

  "Oh, fuck off with that shit! You've been pulling that fucking move since I was ten. Well, I've had it! Just go back to the couch and pass out like you always do!"

  BEEP BEEP!

  The car outside honked.

  "I gotta go. Don't wait up." Natalie shoved aside her mom and walked toward the front door.

  "One day I'll be dead! You hear me? DEAD! And then what'll you do, huh? HUH? YOU'RE NOTHING WITHOUT ME, NATALIE! YOU'RE NOTHING!"

  Her mom threw a tantrum, flipping over furniture, crying, and smashing bottles. Natalie didn't give her the satisfaction. She slammed the door on her way out.

  She marched toward the car. The door opened with Harmony greeting her.

  "Hi, Natalie!"

  "Shut up and scooch!" Natalie shoved herself inside the car. Harmony was pushed practically onto Joan's lap—which Joan didn't mind at all.

  "Natalie, what's wrong?"

  "NOTHING! CAN WE JUST GO?!" Natalie shrieked, fighting back the tears in her eyes. The embarrassment was too much for her.

  “Okay… I'm sorry for asking…” Harmony sounded hurt.

  Joan wrapped her arms around Harmony’s waist, acting as a makeshift seatbelt. She held onto Harmony firmly as the car drove off into the darkness.

  This neighborhood had no street lights. It was dark and cold, perfect for hiding the tears Natalie wiped away with the sleeve of her hoodie.

  つづく

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