Aria stood frozen at the edge of the massive auditorium. Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it over the clapping. Thousands of eyes stared at her. Some curious. Some amused. A few annoyed.
Beyoncé smiled from the stage. It was warm. Kind. But powerful. Like the sun deciding to shine just on you.
"Aria," Beyoncé said again. Her voice wrapped around the name like a hug. "Step forward, child."
Nicki gave her a little push. "Go on. Queen don't like waiting."
Aria walked down the long aisle. Her fuzzy socks made no sound on the golden floor. Everyone watched. She spotted Taylor Swift looking up from her notebook with a small smile. Ariana Grande waved tiny fingers. Rihanna raised her diamond cup in a lazy toast.
She reached the front and stopped at the bottom of the stage steps. Up close, Beyoncé was even more unreal. Golden light pulsed from her skin. Her eyes saw everything.
"Welcome home," Beyoncé said softly. The words echoed in Aria's chest.
Home? This place? With these people?
"I... thank you," Aria managed. Her voice sounded small.
Beyoncé turned back to the crowd. "Every year, new talent finds us. Some born with the gift. Some called by it. All chosen." She looked at Aria again. "All equal here. Until proven otherwise."
A few laughs from the seats. Not nice ones.
Nicki slid into a spot nearby and crossed her arms. Her pink wig caught the light like cotton candy fire.
Beyoncé raised her hands. The room went dead quiet. "This is the Academy of Eternal Hits. Five houses. One purpose. To master your aura. To feed it. To become legends that never fade."
The walls lit up. Five huge symbols appeared in the air.
First, a golden lion roaring. Solar Dominion.
Second, a black moon eclipsed in pink. Eclipse Shadows.
Third, a silver phoenix wrapped in storm clouds. Tempest Reinvention.
Fourth, a blue crown on a skyscraper. Rhythmic Empire.
Fifth, a red stallion breaking waves. Savage Fury.
"Houses compete," Beyoncé continued. "They protect. They rise together or fall alone. Tomorrow, we test new arrivals. Your aura will choose your house. Or lack of it will send you home."
More whispers. Aria felt her stomach drop.
Lack of it?
Beyoncé's eyes softened. "Rest tonight. Classes start at dawn. Questions?"
No one spoke.
"Good." Beyoncé clapped once. The sound boomed like thunder. "Dismissed."
The room exploded into motion. People stood. Floated. Vanished in puffs of glitter or shadow. Music filled the air again. Everyone talking at once.
Aria stayed rooted. Too much. Too fast.
Nicki appeared beside her. "Come on, newbie. Let's get you settled before the vultures circle."
They left the auditorium through a side door. The hallway outside was different now. Moving staircases. Doors that whispered song lyrics when you passed.
"So many questions in those big eyes," Nicki said. She walked slow so Aria could keep up. "Ask."
"Where are we exactly?" Aria said. "Like... another planet?"
Nicki laughed. "Nah. Same world. Different layer. Think of it like backstage at the biggest show ever. Fans see the stage. We live behind it."
"And everyone here is... famous?"
"Was. Is. Will be." Nicki shrugged. "Time works funny here. Some of us been training decades. Some just dropped yesterday."
They turned a corner. Students rushed past. A boy band jogged by in perfect sync, glowing faintly. One Direction? No way. But maybe.
"What happens if I don't have an aura?" Aria asked quietly.
Nicki stopped walking. Turned to face her fully.
Shadows moved behind her eyes. Just for a second.
"Then you go back," Nicki said. "Portal spits you out like nothing happened. Memory wiped clean."
Aria's throat tightened. "I don't want to forget this."
Nicki studied her. "Most don't. That's why they fight."
A group of girls passed. Pretty. Perfect outfits...they looked famaliar...Aria swore she had seen the bunch somewhere....one of the girl's face was hugely covered in heavy white powder...she looked funny wait! Chapel Roan?They looked at Aria and giggled.
"Look at the fan girl in pajamas," one whispered. Loud enough to hear.
Nicki turned. The girls froze.
"Keep walking," Nicki said. Her voice low. Sweet. Scary.
They hurried away.
"Thanks," Aria mumbled.
"Don't thank me yet." Nicki started walking again. "Tomorrow changes everything."
They reached a huge common room. Fireplaces that burned different colors. Couches that floated. Students everywhere.
"New blood!" someone shouted.
Heads turned.
A girl with long dark hair floated down from the ceiling. Ariana Grande. She landed soft and smiled big.
"Hi! I'm Ariana. You're the portal girl?" Her voice was exactly like her songs. High and sweet.
"Yeah. Aria."
"Cute name. Cute socks." Ariana giggled. "Don't worry. Testing is scary but fun. I bombed my first one."
"You did?" Aria couldn't imagine that.
"Totally. Thought I'd get sent home. But look at me now." Ariana spun. Tiny moons orbited her head.
Taylor Swift walked over with a notebook tucked under her arm.
"Hey," Taylor said. Soft smile. "I'm Taylor. Welcome."
Aria stared. Words gone again.
Taylor laughed kindly. "It's okay. Happens to everyone first day."
Rihanna appeared next. Sipping from her diamond cup.
"Fresh meat," Rihanna said. But her eyes were warm. "Stick with the right people. You'll be fine."
Beyoncé's voice cut through the noise from somewhere far away. "Lights out in one hour. New arrivals to orientation hall."
The room started emptying.
Nicki grabbed Aria's wrist. "Come on. One more stop."
They slipped through a side door into a quiet garden. Stars above looked fake. Too bright. Too many.
"This place feeds on fame," Nicki said. Her voice different now. Serious. "Real world fans. Their love. Their screams. It turns into power here."
Aria hugged herself. "And if you run out?"
"You fade." Nicki looked up at the stars. "Become a ghost. Or worse."
The shadows around Nicki's feet moved again. Longer this time. Like they had a mind of their own.
Aria took a step back.
Nicki noticed. Her face went blank.
"Tomorrow," Nicki said. "Show them something. Anything. Or you're gone."
"I don't have anything to show."
Nicki stepped close. Too close.
"Everyone has something." Her eyes searched Aria's face. "Even if it's buried deep."
The garden went dark. Just for a heartbeat. When light came back, Nicki was smiling again.
"Sleep tight, Barbie."
She walked away. Shadows followed her like pets.
Aria stood alone in the garden. Heart racing.
Tomorrow.
Testing.
She looked up at the fake stars and whispered.
"Please let me stay."
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