Canterlot's Hydra

The singing of my other head filled the halls of the castle and all around, nobody acknowledged me. While usually I would be ecstatic, these are dire times. I can't go around with a second head, I'll never find peace then.

I was in the castle archives, in places I'm sure I shouldn't be. But I had no where else to turn to. I couldn't go to Celestia, she'd probably sic the elements on me, if not worse. I couldn't just chop the thing off, without likely going into shock from the pain or blood loss. There were few options to be had.

"A disguising spell, or... a transformation spell, Something to hide my other head and it's voice." I pleaded with the bookshelves as I levitated and skimmed through books.

Buried secrets lay, under shadows they grow

Well... I'll just have to go through all of them. Do we have time for that, though?

Anyone who knows me will realize that I've been missing for who knows how long once the singing stops. I can't just spend a year trying to fix this, then come back as if nothing happened.

"Unless... No... I couldn't...Or...Oh..."

What if I left? What if I just... ran away? This Prince nonsense, it had nothing to do with me, I'm no Prince. I could just leave.

No, that ain't right. There was still alcohol flowing through my system from the binge drinking I did earlier. Stupid...

The drinking is the only thing I can think of that made me grow an extra head, unless it was just... consumption? Drinking made me grow a humanoid head, of a cherry red color. The drinks were cherry flavored, maybe... I don't know.

I slapped myself as hard as I could to stop my panicking, but the wriggling of my second head made it harder to concentrate.

What I wouldn't give for another drink right about now.

Books on time travel led me only to paradox. Dimension hopping, I already knew. Divination, I already know that disaster is all there is in my future. Pyromancy, am I going to burn this head off of me? Studies on sorcery are useless, unless I plan to visit Limbo next. Theurgy, what's healing going to do?

One particular book however, caught my eye, 'Channeling and Projecting, the art of forcing passive magic into enchantments.'

I flipped through the book, "Channeling and projecting magic requires a strong unicorn, a steady supply of magic, and the item or creature you want to channel the magic into."

Strong unicorn, do I count?

Steady supply of magic, I've never stress tested my own quantity.

Item or creature, myself.

Good enough on such short notice.

"To channel one's magic, simply imagine a magical chain ensnaring your target, bind it tightly, and then perform the same spell on the unicorn's source."

Sounds easy enough.

I sat down on the ground and channeled magic into my vocal chords and my body, before I began to sing.

Hushnow sleep tight mind takes flight

Stronger the magic grew, as it invaded my being. The magic weaved through me, and I noticed that I couldn't see or hear the other head anymore. In no time at all, silence reigned, and I appeared one-headed.

I could feel it though, the nerves, musculature... wiggling about. I could feel it's mouth, biting it's own teeth as it sang.

I trudged back to my room, sore from my day so far. It wasn't even 6:00pm yet. I was supposed to train later, but I'm sure I could skip training for just one day, in light of what's happened.

Guards were looking at me, though none said anything. I was too worn out to care.

"Aurum, are you okay?!" A voice sounded from behind me, I turned and saw Gilded Spear again.

"Yeah... sorry about earlier." I responded quietly.

"Don't be, I was worried about you, you just up and disappeared without warning." He approached tentatively, "How are you feeling?"

Like I'm constantly burning a piece of myself to hide a second head.

"I feel fine. Just a bit tired, is all." I said with a lie.

He followed me back to my room and watched as I folded over onto my bed with a groan. Though, I was wondering something.

"Gilded. What happened exactly?" I asked.

"Back at the bar, you mean?" He asked in kind.

"When I teleported away, what happened from your perspective?"

"Well... we were... in the pool. You had just sung me a wonderful little song, and we were both really deep in our drinks," I didn't remember him drinking even one full glass, "And then, poof, you were gone." He was staring at me awkwardly again, like he was hiding something.

"You're hiding something, Gilded. You've been hiding something from me since this morning." I accused, pointing a golden hoof at him.

He backed away in fear or shame, "No, I... I-I wouldn't keep secrets from you." He looked at me with puppy dog eyes, but I didn't care for such things.

"Do you remember what we agreed too before I had to abruptly teleport away?"

"Nothing sexual?"

I nodded in response.

"You've still got some cherry bubbles in your system?"

I sighed, "Probably." I let a pause fill our conversation, "I could use a... cuddle-buddy, though..."

His eyes became sharp and rippled with affection, "I'd be honored, Aurum."

He wasted no time in taking off his armor and and joining me in bed. His hooves made contact with me, my chest under assault by his warm and tender touch. I grabbed him and held him desperately, in need of some love after today. I couldn't feel tired, but here, I felt peaceful.

His forehooves surrounded me and his head nuzzled into my chest, to my joy.

"Is this normal guard protocol?" I asked.

"No... Is inviting your guard to cuddle normal Prince protocol?"

"I suppose not." I rested my chin on his head, thankful that he didn't have a horn.

We would be laying in each other's hooves for, what was likely, the remainder of the day.

All the while, my second head kept singing silently.