Chapter 24a: Harpy: You're on Stage. YOU'RE ON STAGE?! by kirbymanx/huskynator

It was the evening, and the relatives of several students gathered to see some kids perform. The singing contest was on this day. While not every student sings, word of mouth amongst students has convinced some guardians to listen to maybe bear witness to some upcoming talent.

People were spread all over inside the building and even outside, conversing, chatting, gossiping, getting annoyed standing next to their parents.

Harpy and Panotty were together as usual. Looking at the bulletin board.

F1 - Protrusion(/Entrance)

"Lessee… The contestants are:…" Harpy began reading off.

Primp High School Singing Contest 20XX Contestants:

- Amitie Rose

- Arle Nadja

- Draco Centauros

- Lady Rulue

- Lawrence Hasdrubal & "Friend"

- Merigu Shushō, Shosu Schmidt, & Emii Teikōdekinai

- Penglai Weredrake

- Peruvis Priestley

- Ringo Ando

"But still no Harpy…" The angel's wings deflated. Panotty held her the best way he could with his short stature. "I don't think they're going to add me…" Her heart sank. "And I prepared so much too…" She teared up a little. "But everyone loves me. I have to sing for them."

Her friend was a little dejected too. His sneaky way to have her on the list didn't work. But Panotty was, if nothing else, quickwitted. He looked around for a way to make Harpy sing on stage after all.

The elf spotted the purple-haired devil, Peruvis, entering the school and walking to the right. No doubt on her way to the backstage door on that side. Panotty snapped his fingers. "I got it! Wait here, Harp!"

"'Notty?"

"I'll be right back!" He said as he's going around the corner. Harpy didn't know what to make of this. But she waited here. Saying hi to the people walking by following the carpet to the auditorium. Those who know her had negative reactions to her which went over Harpy's head.

You can't spell Harpy without head-in-the-clouds and she waved back. She felt a little guilty she's letting everyone down by not singing again this year.

Poof "Ja-Ja Ja-Jaan!" Jaan appeared in a puff of smoke, it spooked the angel and surrounding people. "Heyo, Harpy. How's it going?"

"I feel a little sad. I won't be able to sing again this year." The canary-winged girl pointed at the list. Her half-genie acquaintance looked it over.

"Oh yeah. Sorry to hear that."

"My singing is way better than theirs." Harpy said without any irony. "Is my singing just that good that no one wants to hear it?"

Jaan wasn't sure how to answer that. "You really love singing, don't you?" She asked a rhetorical question.

"Of course, I doooooo" Harpy's voice made several people back off from her and Jaan. Being supernatural, Jaan didn't feel it that much. "See how taken aback they are, they love it too~"

Jaan wasn't blind. She saw it for what it really is. As she could hear it a little herself. Harpy singing is a horrible sound to experience.

The half-genie saw Sig walking past her by. Jaan and Harpy gave him some friendly waves. Sig gave a wave back, but his face became subtly, but notably, soured as he looked at Harpy.

'Maybe I make someone wish a better voice for her…' Jaan wasn't sure if that was within her ability.

"ATTENTION, EVERYONE!" A handsome, tall green-haired gent in a tracksuit spoke through a megaphone.

Coach Satan (Math/Gym)
Adamant Fitness Advocate

"THE CONTEST WILL SHORTLY BEGIN SHORTLY! PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE AUDITORIUM! REPEAT: PLEASE TAKE A SEAT IN THE AUDITORIUM!"

"I'm going in, are you gonna join me, Harpy?" Jaan offered pointing at the auditorium door.

"You go ahead, I'm still waiting on 'Notty."

"Okido, see y-" Jaan's text messages notification went off. She checked her phone. "Hm. Purple what? Wing mittens? Okay? Follow me, Harpy. Panotty wants to see you."

"Huh? Whoa!-" Harpy yelped being dragged by the wrist by Jaan.

F1 - Auditorium
F2 - Auditorium Boardwalk

"Wig on. Wing mittens on. There." Jaan helped put them on while she, Panotty, and Harpy hid above the current performance. "You look like Peruvis at a glance now."

Harpy looks herself over and she did agree, she looked less like an angel now and more like a devil. "Kinda. So I can sing on stage with the help of this? Isn't this wrong? Doesn't she wanna sing too?" Harpy asked about Peruvis.

Meanwhile, the janitor found Peruvis in the janitor's closet all tied up wearing Harpy's dress. She angrily flails about, shouting several colorful and exotic obscenities all muffled thanks to being gagged. The janitor put her palm on her head and sighed: "Of course…"

Back to Harpy and friends: "You wanna sing, right?"

"Of course~"

"She'll be fine." Panotty shrugged off.

Jaan had a nervous smile. "Um… If she (or anyone else) asks, I only helped because I'm a genie and I owed you a wish. And I didn't know what it was for."

"Of course." Panotty nodded. "I'll take the blame."

"Is that how genies work?" Harpy asked.

"Kinda?" Jaan shrugged. "I'm gonna join the audience, I hope you can sing happily, Harpy. Bye." Jaan fast floated to the nearest Floor 2 Auditorium exit.

"Seeya, Jaan!"

"Shhh Harp, they're almost done." The elf and the disguised angel looked down.

Lawrence & "Friend" both did a very elegant bow. Both are very proud of their performance.

Coach Satan laughed as he came onto stage, talking into the microphone. "And that was our Lawrence Hasdrubal and outside-school-talent; "Pierrot the Jester", the girl's got a beautiful voice but I do wonder about the getup."

The jester shrugged and people laughed.

"Well. The judges are impressed with you two. I wouldn't be surprised if you two end up taking first place." The coach said optimistically.

"I'll show them." Harpy said high up with a smile, very confident in her abilities.

The demon and the jester got off stage. "Now it's Peruvis Priestley's turn. But she seems to be M.I.A. I'm afraid."

Some of the audience, mainly those who know her, are a little confused by that. She was boasting about how she could be the lead vocalist in her band if she wanted to lead up to the contest.

Harpy grinned.

"Go Harp, Go!" Panotty whisper cheered as his friend gracefully glided down on stage. She threw off the Peruvis wig and wing mits, making Panotty gulp. "You should've kept those on, Harp..."

Everyone who knew of Harpy in the audience made those who didn't go into the same panic as them. Harpy hovered, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth.

To be continued.