Power Stone Goals from now on: I always post a minimum of 5 chapters. Henceforth the following are the goals:
Every 150 powerstones, I upload an extra chapter.
If we hit top 30 in the 30-90 days power stone rankings, thats 1 more chapter
If we hit top 10 in the 30-90 days power stone rankings, thats 1 more chapter
If we are top 5...well lets get to that first. Happy readings!
Chapter 30: A Single by Beiber
Justin and I spent about an hour or two working on the song together, experimenting with different sounds, adjusting pacing, and refining the melody until we had what felt like a solid foundation. Though it wasn't the final version yet, Justin mentioned that with everything we had already mapped out, they could probably finish the production within five to six days. That was fast by industry standards—incredibly fast, especially for a song of this potential. I had no doubt in my mind that what we were building here had the makings of a global hit.
After wrapping up our session in the booth, I rejoined Ethan and Howard in the adjoining room, where the two agents had been locked in a quiet but steady stream of negotiations. I could tell from their body language and the occasional furrowed brows that they had been at it for a while.
Earlier, during our drive, I had already made my stance very clear to Ethan. I wasn't interested in an upfront payout in exchange for relinquishing all royalties. This wasn't just any track—this was going to be one of the biggest songs of the decade, and I couldn't afford to make the mistake of trading short-term money for long-term gains. Sure, the vocals would belong to Justin, and his delivery was a huge part of what would make the song iconic. But the foundation—the lyrics, the structure, the core melody—that was my contribution, and I needed that to be reflected in the terms.
They also needed to figure out who the collaboration would be with. In the original timeline, the featured artist was Ludacris, who was already quite well-known by this point. I casually suggested that to Justin earlier during our session. It just made sense to maintain that chemistry.
As I stepped back into the conversation, Howard gave a quick glance at Ethan and nodded. It looked like some kind of agreement had been reached.
"So," Howard said, adjusting his posture as he leaned forward, "here's what we've settled on. You'll receive full songwriting credit, listed as co-writer alongside Justin. For royalties, you'll get 20% of publishing, 25% of mechanical royalties, 20% of performance royalties, and 20% of sync licensing."
I took a moment to absorb that. Was it everything I wanted? No. But it was fair, especially considering I was still new to the industry and had little to no name recognition. They weren't going to hand over a dominant share, not when Justin was already signed to a major label. But they weren't lowballing me either. For someone just stepping into the world of professional songwriting, this was a strong entry point.
Ethan gave me a slight nod from across the table, his expression calm but satisfied. We had done well.
"Honestly," Howard continued, "we weren't sure what to expect when Ethan brought this up. But the producer thinks the track has serious legs, and so does our team. You've done good work here."
I noticed the music producer whispering something to both agents earlier. Whatever he said seemed to have left an impression. The energy in the room felt more serious, more focused. They knew what I already knew: this song was going to explode.
I leaned back in my seat slightly, nodded, and said, "All right. I'm good with those terms."
Papers were drawn up, and the initial agreement was typed and printed for signatures. Ethan took the lead on reviewing the language while I skimmed through key points. Everything looked as discussed. We each signed.
When it was done, I stood and exchanged another handshake with Justin.
"Looking forward to hearing the final version," I said.
"Same," he replied, smiling. "And hey, thanks for trusting me with this. It's a good one."
"Thanks for bringing it to life," I said.
The day had turned out better than I expected. I had taken a gamble by giving away one of the best songs from the future, but it had paid off. My name would be attached to it. I'd have royalty income trickling in for years. And, most importantly, doors were opening. Real, tangible doors.
Best part was, they forgot that I wanted to give Justin 3 songs...guess I could keep those to myself :)
…
As the car slowly pulled away from the studio lot, fading into the traffic of the late afternoon, the room where Justin, Howard, and the producer sat remained still. Justin leaned against the edge of the mixing console, arms loosely crossed, watching as Jace and Ethan disappeared from sight.
Howard looked over at Justin, then turned toward the producer. "So, how good was he? I mean, you guys were already working on the track almost as soon as he pitched it."
This time, the producer answered. "He's talented," he said simply. "His lyrics were clean, emotional, and commercial enough to actually connect. But what really surprised me was how clearly he knew what he wanted. He described the melody, the pacing, the kind of sound he envisioned—and it all made sense. He had a full structure in his head."
Howard nodded slowly. "So he had a vision, but not the voice to bring it to life?"
"Exactly. He knows his limits," the producer continued. "But instead of trying to force something that wouldn't land, he looked for someone who could make the song work. That's smart."
Justin added, "He definitely knows what he's doing. It's just a shame he hasn't worked on his singing, because with his writing and creative instincts, he could've delivered it himself if he had that part down."
Howard seemed to think for a moment. "Do you think he could actually get good at it? Singing, I mean."
Justin shrugged. "Yeah, if he puts in the time. Singing isn't some magical gift—it's mostly training and consistency. But what he already has—his sense of timing, how he hears the shape of a song—that's not something you teach."
The three of them sat in quiet thought for a few seconds, each processing how someone with no background, no representation, and no name could walk in and leave such a strong impression.
"Might be worth staying in touch with him," Howard said. "If he's got more songs in him like this one, we should be the first ones he calls."
The producer nodded in agreement. "He's definitely someone to keep on our radar."
Justin glanced back toward the door one last time. "Yeah. Keep his number."
…
As Ethan and I made our way back to the set of Teen Wolf, the car ride stretched out over the early evening, the city giving way to more open roads.
Neither of us were in much of a rush to fill the silence, though we did talk here and there. Mostly, it was about the song. How we felt it would go.
How long Justin's team might take to finish composing it.
There was a lot that still needed to happen—they had to coordinate the collaboration with the second artist, finalize production, plan the video shoot, and then come up with a rollout strategy.
If I had to guess, I figured they'd probably announce the release in a few weeks, maybe a month at most. That wasn't long. At least, not in the bigger picture.
And once the song was out, I'd finally get to see how the system responded.
Would I get a small bump in entertainment points? Or would it be a massive leap? It all depended on how the public reacted.
Until then, I had time. The kind of quiet time you don't always get when things start speeding up. So I decided to make the most of the ride. I pulled out my laptop and opened up the working manuscript of "Lord of the Mysteries."
We were pushing close to 70% of volume one. The pacing was holding steady, and I felt good about the direction it was taking.
If everything lined up right, I might even plan a mass release once we got closer to the 80% mark.
Between writing sessions, I glanced at my notes—not for the novel, but for something else. A growing list of artists. People I knew were going to become huge in the next few years.
Some were still underground.
Some were just beginning to get traction. But all of them had one thing in common: potential.
And I wasn't planning to sit around waiting for doors to open.
If my collaboration with Justin worked out—and all signs suggested it would—that relationship could become a stepping stone.
Not just for more songwriting gigs, but for real entry into the entertainment world. Reputation was everything.
If Justin and his team gave their stamp of approval, I could eventually reach out to names way beyond this state.
This was just the start.
It wasn't even about chasing fame.
It was about working with people who had talent. People who could push a vision forward. Who could help turn something good into something great.
As we pulled into the familiar lot near the Teen Wolf set, the sharp contrast between the quiet hum of our long drive and the hum of production life returned almost immediately.
Ethan checked his watch, gave me a quick nod, and stepped out with his usual calm efficiency.
"Catch you later," he said.
He was done for the day—at least, in theory. Knowing Ethan, he was the type to go home, make dinner, and then dive straight into emails or drafts until midnight. The man didn't seem to know how to stop.
I made my way back to my trailer, the usual buzz of crew activity faint in the background. When I stepped inside, I was met with the soft glow of a phone screen.
Crystal was there, leaning back against the cushioned seat, watching something on her phone with earbuds half-dangling from one ear.
"Hey, where've you been?" she asked.
It hit me then. I had completely forgotten to tell her or Dylan that I was stepping out for a meeting—let alone one with Justin Bieber.
Though, in fairness, Justin wasn't exactly a household name yet. Telling her I had gone to meet "Justin" might not have meant much.
"Sorry, it completely slipped my mind," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "There was a last-minute meeting in a nearby city. I had to go over."
She paused her video and set the phone aside, eyes meeting mine with a soft expression. "Oh? What was it about?"
Her tone was light, curious. And maybe it was the long hours on the road, or the pressure finally letting up, but seeing her, it made the whole day feel less exhausting.
"I wanted to apologize first," I added. "I should've said something. It's been a while since I've been in anything resembling a relationship, and I guess I forgot how to communicate properly."
She chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "No need to apologize. We've only just started… whatever this is. I get that it's a bit of a shift. Just give me a heads-up next time, that's all."
"Of course," I said, meaning it. "I will."
I moved to sit down beside her, stretching my legs slightly. "Anyway, I've been dabbling a bit in songwriting. Asked Ethan if he knew any up-and-coming artists. He had a contact, so I met with them. The song might actually get released."
Her brows lifted. "Really? That's… actually really cool."
"Thanks. I mean, we'll see. Justin's team still needs to finish the production and bring in another artist, and there's probably going to be a music video, some press. But yeah, it's moving forward."
Crystal smiled again, and this time it had a bit of teasing in it. "You know, you make the rest of us look bad."
"What do you mean?"
"You're filming a show, running a YouTube channel, writing a novel, and now you're writing songs too? That's ridiculous. You're basically doing four jobs at once."
I laughed, shaking my head. "If I had to explain it… let's just say it feels like a waste not to try. If I've got the means to create something, then why not?"
She narrowed her eyes at me, mock-serious. "So, are you going to let me hear the song?"
I smirked. "Nope. You'll have to wait like everyone else."
She tilted her head. "Everyone else? That's all I am to you?"
"Not even close," I whispered slightly.
She smiled again, this time holding my gaze for a little longer. And in that small, quiet moment, the rush of the day seemed to fade out around us.
(Authors note: Hi guys, please do leave (proper) reviews since it encourages more fans to read this, which means more power stones and thus more chapters :))))
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Authors note:
You can read some chapters ahead if you want to on my p#treon.com/Fat_Cultivator