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Description
Being on the stage wasn't exactly what Erika expected. The crowd, though packed, was a studio audience, and thus actually smaller than some of the crowds she'd cosplayed for at a convention. It was the cameras that filmed that were the only real clues that the amount of people they'd be performing for was much more than just in front of them. That sent the shiver of unease through her again, and she could only assume her two friends shared that slight bit of butterflies. Catherine seemed unflappable almost all the time, and Annette was a hard one to read, even for Erika. The host-and-judges introduced and greeted them by name... another thing that made Erika a little worried: they never had a formal group name for what they should call themselves. Why should they, though? They weren't a band. They were just in it to win it. Some teasing remarks were made at their figures (of which they expected, and were well prepared for). They knew they didn't have super model bodies, so it was all down to putting on one hell of a show.

"Ready girls?" Erika said, counting them off, "One, two, THREE!"

"Tonight... I'm gonna have myself a real good time... I feel alive-hi-hi-hiiiiiive... and the wooooorld, it's turning inside out, Yeah.." Erika was center, taking the lead from the get go. "I'm floating around in ecstasy-"

"So don't- Stop- me- now... don't stop me" Annette joined her, while Catherine kept the music going on her keytar.

"'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time!"

This was their biggest gamble, choosing this song. In Erika's mind, Queen was almost untouchable. To anyone who heard them sing, they'd instantly know the words, and how it should sound. But that was also what she was relying on: a classic sound that rang true, one that could unite the audience with her and her friends. And as the words came out, and the music united her and all these people, Erika smiled wide. Even if they didn't win, they'd still have the memories of this moment. The hard work and dedication that allowed them to get here. Heck, she even got better at singing and playing the guitar. The thought dawned on her: even if she lost, it wouldn't matter.

"Don't stop me now!

"I'm having such a good time- I'm having a ball!

"Don't stop me now-

Lasers lit up the stage and the smoke machines puffed out dry ice air around them. Hawaii, though nice, was always a goal that could be had another time. But being on stage, performing one of her favorite songs for a huge crowd... no, the world? Alongside two of her of closest friends? This was a moment that was far more important than the prize. After all-

"I don't want to stop at all!"

They sang, sang, sang... expecting to be motioned to end it early, but the applause of the crowd and the observing judges wanted them to play to the end. And with a quiet fade and some la-las from Erika, the entire room was hit with deafening cheers and claps.

"Wow!" called out the MC as he shook Erika's hand, "it looks like we've found our winners tonight! Give it up for these girls, everyone!" More cheers. More applause. "Hey, you girls are so popular with the audience tonight, and we've got some extra time, can we ask for an encore? We'll put it on the DVD!"

Erika looked towards her friends. "What do you two think?" she asked with a smile. They smiled back. They didn't need to tell her, she already knew. Her fingers ran over her strings one more time.

"Curtain's up and I'm ready to go, my guitar is in my hand... there's nothing more that I'd rather do than play in a rock and roll band..."

-------------------------------------------------------
Artwork by, and posted with permission from,
The conclusion to the story. I was so pleased with this picture when I got it, I just HAD to write a story that went with it. I really love this image, words can't really convey it well.

A huge thanks to and who let would let me frequently use their characters for images and concepts. But please, people, don't think of this as an end! Think of this as a new beginning!

Read the first part of the story here!

Description
Being on the stage wasn't exactly what Erika expected. The crowd, though packed, was a studio audience, and thus actually smaller than some of the crowds she'd cosplayed for at a convention. It was the cameras that filmed that were the only real clues that the amount of people they'd be performing for was much more than just in front of them. That sent the shiver of unease through her again, and she could only assume her two friends shared that slight bit of butterflies. Catherine seemed unflappable almost all the time, and Annette was a hard one to read, even for Erika. The host-and-judges introduced and greeted them by name... another thing that made Erika a little worried: they never had a formal group name for what they should call themselves. Why should they, though? They weren't a band. They were just in it to win it. Some teasing remarks were made at their figures (of which they expected, and were well prepared for). They knew they didn't have super model bodies, so it was all down to putting on one hell of a show.

"Ready girls?" Erika said, counting them off, "One, two, THREE!"

"Tonight... I'm gonna have myself a real good time... I feel alive-hi-hi-hiiiiiive... and the wooooorld, it's turning inside out, Yeah.." Erika was center, taking the lead from the get go. "I'm floating around in ecstasy-"

"So don't- Stop- me- now... don't stop me" Annette joined her, while Catherine kept the music going on her keytar.

"'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time!"

This was their biggest gamble, choosing this song. In Erika's mind, Queen was almost untouchable. To anyone who heard them sing, they'd instantly know the words, and how it should sound. But that was also what she was relying on: a classic sound that rang true, one that could unite the audience with her and her friends. And as the words came out, and the music united her and all these people, Erika smiled wide. Even if they didn't win, they'd still have the memories of this moment. The hard work and dedication that allowed them to get here. Heck, she even got better at singing and playing the guitar. The thought dawned on her: even if she lost, it wouldn't matter.

"Don't stop me now!

"I'm having such a good time- I'm having a ball!

"Don't stop me now-

Lasers lit up the stage and the smoke machines puffed out dry ice air around them. Hawaii, though nice, was always a goal that could be had another time. But being on stage, performing one of her favorite songs for a huge crowd... no, the world? Alongside two of her of closest friends? This was a moment that was far more important than the prize. After all-

"I don't want to stop at all!"

They sang, sang, sang... expecting to be motioned to end it early, but the applause of the crowd and the observing judges wanted them to play to the end. And with a quiet fade and some la-las from Erika, the entire room was hit with deafening cheers and claps.

"Wow!" called out the MC as he shook Erika's hand, "it looks like we've found our winners tonight! Give it up for these girls, everyone!" More cheers. More applause. "Hey, you girls are so popular with the audience tonight, and we've got some extra time, can we ask for an encore? We'll put it on the DVD!"

Erika looked towards her friends. "What do you two think?" she asked with a smile. They smiled back. They didn't need to tell her, she already knew. Her fingers ran over her strings one more time.

"Curtain's up and I'm ready to go, my guitar is in my hand... there's nothing more that I'd rather do than play in a rock and roll band..."

-------------------------------------------------------
Artwork by, and posted with permission from,
The conclusion to the story. I was so pleased with this picture when I got it, I just HAD to write a story that went with it. I really love this image, words can't really convey it well.

A huge thanks to and who let would let me frequently use their characters for images and concepts. But please, people, don't think of this as an end! Think of this as a new beginning!

Read the first part of the story here!