The neon haze of AuroraCon 2149 glowed across the massive halls of the New Los Angeles Expo Dome. Towering holograms of past celebrities flickered in the air—an echo of an era before interspectrum fame. Today, it was the cosplayer kingdom. Characters from hundreds of movies, anime series, and even obscure VR games roamed the maze-like convention floors in shimmering costumes, each vying for attention amid the kaleidoscopic chaos.
In the midst of it all stood Skylar “Stardust” Vega, a relative newcomer in the cosplay scene, but already a rising star. Her lean figure was adorned in a meticulously detailed replica of Captain Solaris—the legendary heroine of the universally beloved Holoview drama Aether Wars. The armor shimmered with faux-karinite plating, glowing faintly with pulsing lights powered by micro-reactors hidden in the seams. Her jet-black hair was swept into a high, gravity-defying ponytail, cascading down one shoulder in shimmering chrome highlights. The look was nearly flawless, and that was the problem. Perfection always attracted envy.
“Skylar, over here!” A paparazzi drone hovered nearby, its camera lens zooming in as it flashed a flood of bright lights. She smiled briefly, but there was tension under that trademark smile—the kind that comes from balancing on the knife’s edge of fame.
The Expo Dome was packed, ceiling panels designed to mimic a starfield, giving the illusion of floating in the vast reaches of space. Booths teemed with merchandise, demo stations of new holographic tech, and gamers testing unreleased VR titles. The air buzzed with the hum of drones, snippets of laughter, and the constant murmur of the masses. But despite the glittering spectacle, Skylar’s mind was elsewhere—fixated on the big moment. More specifically, the Cosplay Championship, where she was the favorite to win. And where her saboteurs were hiding in the crowd.
The Rivalry Brews
Skylar adjusted the Solaris bracer on her left wrist, the animatronic piece humming softly as it flexed with her movements. Almost a lifeform by itself—it was designed to mimic the outfit in the smallest details. Her best friend, Zahra, who trailed behind her in a humanoid alien cosplay with iridescent skin prosthetics and glowing, pupil-less eyes, raised an eyebrow.
“You alright, Star?” Zahra asked, using Skylar’s nickname while retrieving her holo-pad. “You’re zoning out. You’d think you’d be on top of the world right now.”
Skylar glanced at her, managing a smirk. Zahra’s alien “Elurian Warrior” design was staggering, towering over most of the crowd and featuring intricate spinal-like ridges on her costume. But she could never outshine Skylar, and she liked it that way. That’s why Zahra had always been Skylar’s rock in these moments, even as the stakes rose.
“It’s not about winning,” Skylar replied. “Not completely.”
“Bet it’s all about Kai,” Zahra joked, nudging her. She gestured toward the far end of the Dome, where Kai Lumis—a brunette, muscular heartthrob in his custom Captain Nerion costume—was mobbed by fans. His lazy smirk and confident posture screamed effortless charm.
Skylar rolled her eyes but softened immediately. “He stole my build designs last year for my ‘Frost Duchess’ concept. Doesn’t even deny it. Said, ‘Inspiration is symmetry.’” She frowned. “He’s up to something again.”
“Let him be dumb. You’ve got this,” Zahra said firmly. But Skylar wasn’t convinced. Something felt…off.
The Sabotage Unfolds
Moments before the championship entries began, Skylar moved backstage under the cavernous architecture of the main arena. Massive digital banners flickered, amplifying the competitors and their designs to the gathered crowd. Dozens of cosplayers were frantically making final touches to their outfits, some already practicing their walk-offs.
Skylar recognized the culprit instantly. Crowding a maintenance station podium was Kai, flanked by a group who whispered and gestured toward her area. He feigned disinterest but sent her a quick glance that could only be described as smug. Then came the sound—a small hiss of steam mixed with the pop of a cracked latch. Skylar’s arm bracer suddenly locked stiff, its hum sputtering off as lights faded.
She froze. A small blinking light indicated a hardware override. Sabotage.
Zahra, busy adjusting her costume nearby, caught the look of panic on Skylar’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“He planted a disruptor in my build!” Skylar hissed, voice trembling under her calm veneer. “I can’t move the arm plating. If it stays jammed, I’ll lose points for functionality.”
Zahra’s eyes flared with indignation. “That snake!”
Skylar clenched her teeth. There was no time for anger, only action. “I need to get under the plating. It has to be fixed, now.” But there were only minutes before she was supposed to walk out onto the stage.
The Comeback
Hands trembling, Skylar fumbled with the latch, trying to access the inner wiring. Zahra knelt beside her, pulling out a set of miniature tools from her alien warrior armor. The intricate complexity of the bracer made the work nearly impossible, but together they managed to uncover the disruptor—a black chip burning with unfamiliar, magnetic tech.
“It’s scrapping the microreactors,” Zahra murmured. “We’ve gotta disable it without frying the entire system.”
In the chaos, they didn’t see Kai sneering from across the prep area. He waltzed up, holding a mock-apologetic expression. “Trouble in cosplay paradise?” he asked, grinning.
Zahra looked like she was ready to attack, but Skylar stood. “You’re pathetic,” she said, her cold voice cutting across his smug demeanor. “But you made one mistake.”
“Oh? And what’s that?” Kai asked, voice dripping with mockery.
She smirked for real this time. “I learn fast.”
Before he could respond, Skylar adjusted the failsafe on her bracer, kicked into motion by Zahra’s quick rewiring. With a surge of light, the Solaris armor rebooted and began to radiate once again, capturing the attention of everyone backstage. Gasps erupted around them as Skylar, now glowing like a real solar warrior, stepped forward.
The Reveal
The audience roared as Skylar stepped onto the championship stage, the starfield backdrop searing behind her in a simulation of a collapsing supernova. Her armor thrummed with polished elegance, every piece moving with ease. Her head held steady, her body glowing with confidence and light.
As she struck her final pose under a rain of golden confetti, Kai glowered from the sidelines, his face twisted in disbelief. Zahra watched him from afar, grinning. “Inspiration is symmetry, huh?” she muttered.
The judges announced her victory seconds later. Her name, Stardust Vega, illuminated in digital letters across the main screens. Skylar didn’t look back at Kai. She didn’t need to. She had already won, where it mattered most.
The Source…check out the article that inspired this amazing short story: What not to do in cosplay?
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations and reviews are always independent and objective, aiming to provide you with the best information and resources.
Exclusive Stories, Photos, Art & Offers - Subscribe Today!
Post Comment