"We're finally here, folks! One month into the competition, the ten best bands from around the world have beat out hundreds of other contenders and made it to the final rounds!" The announcer stood in front of many cameras, recording the words that would broadcast to millions of viewers that night.
Richard couldn't help feeling a swell of pride hearing the words booming over the microphone on the giant stage in front of him. He didn't often allow himself to feel prideful, but to be included under that coveted label of "the ten best bands from around the world" really gave him a thrill. Looking at the woman at his side, he could tell by her faint blush and small smile she was feeling the same delicious way.
"Is this really happening?" Kahlan asked, slippin an arm around his waist. Richard wrapped her in a tender embrace and kissed the top of her head.
"Alright, alright, we still have a ways to go." A muscle-bound man set one of the two heavy bags of equipment he was carrying and held the other out towards Richard.
"Can you believe we made it this far, Chase?" Richard, vocalist and guitarist, asked his drummer. Chase grinned and shouldered his bag. "Of course."
The members o the acoustic band Seekers of Truth made their way toward the spot on the map indicating their trailers.
"The ten bands will be pitted against eachoter over the course of this week. Each night the viewers who tune in will get to vote online and over the phone for their favorite bands."
Every eye within range was on a group of leggy, scowling women carrying equipment easily with even stride. They each wore brown leather pants and tight, red leather tube tops. Their hair hung down their backs in a single braid. At the head of the group, electric guitar strapped to his back and a finger stroking his bottom lip, was a man named Darken Rahl. He was the lead guitarist and throat vocalist for the heavy metal band Skies Darken. A theatrical cloak hung down his back, and black lined his already dark eyes. Directly behind him and before the group of leather-clad women walked a beautiful women with shiny, straight blond hair and china-doll skin. She wore a simple black dress and chunky black boots. She was the singer for the band, named Nicci. Skies Darken had easily dominated the rest of the bands in their genre, and were metal fan favorites.
"We have several different genres represented here this week, but as yoiu know, only one band can win! The prizes include a record deal and a whopping $250,000! It's been a long road of top-grade performances and cutthroat competition for these ten lucky musical groups! And let's not forget our solo acts either, folks!"
Cara turned her back to the woman speaking in exclamation points and scanned the crowd. She was hyper-alert and focused as usual. She had breezed through the competition with her lyrical genius, bringing the man's game of hip-hop right into her capable hands. Her tongue was sharp, her mind quick, and her fingers always itching to write new rhymes. Few knew her as Cara Mason, however. Her stage name was Morbid Sis, denoting her sometimes dark and always fierce lyrics.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the only female rapper to make the top ten. The fans went wild for the rivalry between Morbid Sis and The Mistress, another blond rapper named Denna. The Mistress didn't write her own songs, and always seemed to rap about her looks. Morbid Sis knew she was the better rapper, and was going to make sure the world knew it too.
"And now folks, allow me to introduce one of the judges who sent these bands to the top. He will be mentoring each one this week, and giving you voters his two cents on who should win. You know him as the frontman for Wizards Rule, you've loved him for decades, hailed his music as as classic as classic rock gets, now please give it up for a true legend: Zeddicus Zorander!"
Everyone milling about, the television crews and bands just arriving, stopped to cheer as the man with the outrageous outit and long, disheveled gray hair strode onto the stage. Zedd was truly an icon, making a long career out of playing both genius rock and rll music and living an edgy and amusing personal life. He has many names, but The Wizard suits him best, as his touch seems to be magic in the studio and at his crazy live shows. In his heyday he fronted a band called Wizards Rule, now a household name. In middle-age he went solo, and now that he was decidedly "old" (but still young in spirit and full to the brim with energy) he's been involved with many projects like this one.
"How we doin' tonight, sycophants?" Zedd began. "Youth stands here with their slumped posture at the dawn of history being made. Never before have musicians this talented gathered together aiming for eachother's jugulars in such a way as this. Since Wizards Rule isn't together anymore, the time has come for a new band to bear the title of F***ing Awesome!"
The producers glared at the stage, feeling lucky the show wouldn't be going on lie until tomorrow.
"So, big bad world, I invite you to join me, The Wizard, in welcoming these ten bands to the almighty, glorious, bloody Battle!" He held up a closed fist high, as everyone involved in the competition clapped and cheered.
Richard felt the excitement of the moment wash over him. Zedd was one of his celebrity idols. At this point, he didn't een feel that driving, pressing need to win. Just to have made it this far made his beloved ban d and beautiful girlfriend champions in his eyes.
Darken Rahl folded his arms as he stared thoughtfully up at Zedd. His band's stony countenances remained frozen as the rest of the people cheered. Darken envied Zedd's power as a man who made music history and was therefore immortalized. He intended to usurp the Wizard's status as rock legend and steal the adoration of his fans.
Cara finally spotted the face she'd been searching for. She fixed a cold glare able to freeze magma on Denna, who clapped and smiled at Zedd unaware. Words danced in Cara's head, rhyming adjectives and disarming verbs finding eachother as if magnetized. She let her fair-haired competition inspire her, ready to bring her original brand of lyrical storm to rain on The Mistress and her fans.
Tomorrow would be the first day of the most important week of these ten band's lives. They would each bring different styles and talents to the table, but only one could claw its way to the top.