Sparkle

"Bzzzt— Hello, Euphora! We have a song request from a listener in xx for the new hit single 'Gleaming City' from Dawn Entertainment Records! Enjoy the mu—!"

In a corner of the record store, Melissa sat on the floor where the noon sun shined through the window and illuminated the dust dancing through the air. She gave the radio a firm tap, ending the chatter.

"Melissa... Melissa..."

Mechanical voices with a strange hint of worry sounded from the two musical dolls standing at her sides.

"I'm fine..."

That was a lie.

Her failed audition at Dawn Entertainment had dealt a considerable blow to this proud young girl. Half a month ago, Melissa was performing her best songs and hitting every note with perfection during her audition. With Led and Zep at her side as always, she became the star of the show. Yet, half a month later, this star sat desolately in a corner of the record store with only empty dreams.

There was no way she was going to listen to a song from that record label.

No way in hell.

That's what she told herself, but deep down, she wanted to listen. She wanted to know what kind of "amazing sound" they would choose to produce after rejecting hers. And so, she begrudgingly turned the radio back on.

"—That melody ain't bad!"

The random and abrupt comment startled Melissa. As she peeked over the counter, she saw a pink-haired man grooving to the music. Just then, Melissa remembered her co-workers gossiping about a particular individual, and how the moment there was a new release, he would always show up and a record would go missing.

"You're the guy!"

Fredrinn had arrived at his favorite record store at noon like always, in search of inspiration from the latest releases. Why noon? Well, people were at work so the store was mostly empty; it was the perfect time to vibe to some music without any distractions.

"Me...?" Fredrinn pointed at himself, confused.

"Yes, you! You're the guy who keeps 'borrowing' records from the store! Give them back!" Melissa demanded, jumping up from the floor with her hand outstretched as if she expected him to pull a stack of records out of his pockets.

"Don't just go accusing innocent people! I've never taken any records from here!" Fredrinn rebutted while also jumping to attention. He couldn't believe the future king of the drums was being slandered like this.

"Listening to the records isn't a crime, is it? Anyway, it takes a lot of material to build up inspiration, don't ya know?"

Melissa, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on, snapped back with fury: "Of course I do!!! Those executives wouldn't know good music if it fell on their bloated heads! I, Melissa, will never let them stop me!"

That failed audition.

Fredrinn thought of all the times he had been rejected for being different and immediately understood her sudden outburst. He nodded in agreement. Since being kicked from his former band for having the "wrong vibes", Fredrinn has been on a "journey of discovery." There was no need to force something that wasn't meant to be, and Fredrinn had no intention of changing his style. He believed in his skills as a drummer and took pride in his unique style. Even when he was a baby, Fredrinn would naturally sway to the lullabies, rocking and waving his arms wildly, to the concern of his parents. Growing up, he would turn anything he could get his hands on into makeshift drums. And when he banged on those pots and pans with chopsticks and spoons, the beat resonated with his soul and his passion burned hotter and hotter.

That's something you won't find in today's boring, formulaic "hits."

Birds of a feather really do flock together. Fredrinn extended an olive branch to Melissa. This drummer needed a singer to start his band, and this singer was eager to prove herself again.

It was a match made in heaven. The path before Fredrinn was finally taking shape. That dream of starting a band and sharing his music with the world was no longer just a fantasy. It was real, and standing right in front of him.

"So our name... It's gotta have swagger! Hmmm... Spark... Sparkle?"

"Sparkle! That's it!"

—This was the first sound from Sparkle.

Fredrinn knew that this sound would definitely resonate on the stage of the ALLSTAR Rave.

For a long time afterward, Fredrinn and Melissa buried themselves in their music. When their talents collided, sparks flew. On their individual stages, Fredrinn also reached new levels of creativity in his music.

Fredrinn was jamming when he felt an imposing presence eclipse the stage. Lifting his head from the musical notes, he met a pair of piercing blue eyes.

This energy...

This bright spark.

It had been a long time since he had heard such a soulful melody.

It was a tiny stage, small enough for Estes's shadow to completely cover the whole set. He saw the drummer lift his head with a proud look on his face.

Passion, hopes, and dreams.

Estes finally found what he had been searching for. For years, the music scene had been stagnant. It was long past due for someone to rock the boat. He exchanged cards with the young drummer and glanced at Fredrinn's card—'Sparkle'.

Soon after, he encountered the band's other member, Melissa.

"No way! It's really you! The legendary—"

Legendary.

True, he once did make music that people have called legendary, but there was always an emptiness to it. Innovation and experimentation were deemed too risky for business, and the industry eventually became flooded with rigid and formulated music.

And so, Estes quit the scene.

The departure of the No. 1 music producer caused quite a stir, and many curious and probing eyes fell upon Estes, but he didn't look back. He could have followed the established order and continued to expand his fame and fortune, but Estes was after something more, something pure, like the untouched snow at the top of the highest mountain.

Fredrinn jumped up, catching Estes's attention, while Melissa's dolls ran over enthusiastically with two large stacks of sheet music, trying to show off the band's work.

At last, Estes was no longer alone on his journey to the top of the mountain.

One ordinary day.

As the trio finished the day's session and exited the studio, the still-amped Melissa and Fredrinn couldn't stop humming the song they had just written. Estes adjusted his hat and unlocked the car parked on the street.

No one noticed the thick black fog gathering in the sky behind them, as if it was alive, dreaming about overthrowing the world.

A cold wind blew past them, carrying their song to the heart of that ominous vortex.

"Don't give up on your dreams."

"I will prove to you that nothing is impossible."

"We're gonna play to our own beat."

"Let's show the world how loud our passion can be."

"This whole planet is our stage!"