Malignant

“WHAT!?” Vanity almost shouted, her mouth agape as we all explained to her what was going on. We told her about Malignant, the fact that she and the other sins simply vanished, and everything else that had happened. I honestly felt bad for her, almost immediately afterwards she began to ask about Ennui. Their friendship really impressed me sometimes. Vanity was practically kidnapped, but Ennui was the first thing on her mind.

We were in a rather big hurry, so we had to explain everything to Vanity as we left the fashion show. I’ll admit, part of me never wanted to leave. It was really nice in there, and the outfits were rather intriguing as well...

It had actually started to get dark outside. Apparently, we had been in there for a little longer than I originally thought. There was a crisp breeze that strode through the city, as Luna’s moon began to slowly rise in the distance. I felt a shiver run up my spine.

Speaking of Luna, she had managed to change out of her “unicorn” disguise back into her her royal self. She gave us a gleeful sigh upon doing so. I must admit, if I was a princess, I would've be excited too. I mean, it can’t be too fun when you’re so used to, you know, being a princess. I’ve always wondered what it was like to be a princess. Sometimes when I was younger I had dreamt of being one.

But that probably won’t happen in a million years, sadly.

“What do you remember before you disappeared?” I couldn't help but ask. Rarity’s ears peaked, and she looked as if she wanted to say something. However, she stayed rather silent. Ever since we found Vanity, she’s been acting extremely strange.

“Not much. I remember I was just getting out of the shower, looking in a hoof-mirror. When...” She paused as she lightly cringed. “I don’t know, but it really hurt...”

I couldn’t help but wonder if Vanity went through the same exact thing that Aphrodite did. I didn’t want to admit it, but Aphrodite seemed to be in a lot of pain before she disappeared. Well, now we’re one step closer to figuring this out.

“Princess!” A very familiar voice shouted from behind us. Immediately, our little group stopped and turned around. In the distance, a lime green stallion was chasing us, his armor clanking with every step he took. Even though he was as far as he was, he was sweating like a pig. Jeez, in a hurry much? Wait...he looks kind of familiar...

“Odysseus?” Luna asked as the stallion finally approached her. He took a few seconds to simply catch his breath. I felt a slight anger build up inside of me. I remember the last time we came in contact with him! Turned out he was a changeling, and proceeded to kidnap Ennui. "What are-?"

Suddenly, there was a rainbow blur, along with a yell, and Odysseus was gone. Or so it seemed. About ten feet away, Odysseus was on the ground with a fuming Rainbow Dash on top of him. “You’re not fooling me this time, changeling-scum!” She shouted as she began to pound on Odysseus’ armor with all of her might.  The armor of the royal guards were extremely durable and strong, but Rainbow had quite the punch.

“What the-*GUGH* Hey! *OUCH* KNOCK IT OFF OR I’LL HAVE YOU ARREST-*OOMPH*” Odysseus threatened, however, Rainbow did not appear to care. She continued to pound on his armor relentlessly.

“You’re not fooling me this time!” She shouted, before delivering her last punch straight to Odysseus’ groin, one of the only places that the armor did not cover. My friends and I let out a unanimous groan of discomfort upon witnessing the act take place. I'm, obviously, not a stallion, but even I had to cringe a little bit. I could also see a vein protruding from Luna’s forehead. Oh boy, Rainbow really did it now...

“RAINBOW DASH! STOP IT AT ONCE!” Luna shouted, using the famous "Royal Canterlot Voice" to get her tone across. Almost instantaneously, Rainbow Dash poked her head up. Odysseus, no longer needing his hooves to protect his face, brought them down to his crotch in order to soothe his aching genitalia. He let out a pained groan, and I think I saw tears in his eyes.

“But Princess!” Rainbow interjected. “He’s a changeling! Didn’t Celestia mention what happened last time?” Wow, Rainbow was actually QUESTIONING Luna now? Did she hit her head or something? What was going through her head!?

“Yes! She did!” Luna seethed. “We found the real Odysseus a little while after the changelings disappeared!”

Rainbow’s mouth was agape as she realized what she had just done. She turned from the princess, to Odysseus, and then to me, as if I would give her assistance. Sorry, Rainbow, you’ve dug your own grave on this one. “Uh...well, you see...eheh...”

“One more physical outburst, and I will be forced to detain you, Rainbow Dash!” Luna grunted, staring daggers at the pegasus. Rainbow blushed, before turning her gaze back to the guard writhing in agony on the ground, who still happened to be comforting his crotch.

“Eheh...sorry...” Rainbow said, kicking her hoof through the dirt. Instead of a proper response, Odysseus simply let out a guttural groan.

After a very lengthy scolding from Luna, Rainbow Dash decided to stay as far away from the princess as possible. As I helped Odysseus to his hooves, Rainbow Dash lingered in the back of the group, refusing to make eye contact.

Odysseus groaned, shaking his white mane to and fro. “Ugh.”

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy asked, peeking her head out from behind Rarity.

“Yes,” he said sullenly. “But I do not matter. Princess, I have news from the castle. Your sister, Princess Celestia, summons you and the Elements of Harmony. She says it’s very urgent,”

Luna’s eyes squinted as she appeared to be lost in thought. She let out a troubled sigh. “We must hold off on our search,” She said as she turned to us.

“But...but Ennui-” Vanity started, but was immediately cut off.

“But nothing!” Luna hollered, before enveloping her horn in a dark blue hue. I wonder what was getting to her. She seemed extremely on edge, or was it that Rainbow put her in a bad mood? “Let us go to the castle.”

Given that it’s only been around a week since the changeling invasion, the castle looked as good as new. The walls were as white and as shiny as ever, and the many previously shattered windows were now completely redone. It’s actually quite impressive. It totally looks like a changeling invasion didn’t happen less than a week ago, to be blunt.

“What do you think is going on, Twilight?” Rarity asked in a hushed tone. Luna was still nearby, and I don’t think she wanted the Princess of the Night to hear. I simply shook my head.

“No idea, but it must not be much of a laughing matter...” I replied, turning to look over at Pinkie Pie, who was quietly giggling to herself as she literally bounced through the castle to her own strange beat. I couldn’t keep myself from rolling my eyes.

The farther we walked, the more the sound of...something...became apparent.  The closer we got, I finally deciphered what it was. It was...arguing? It was strange, because both of the voices sounded extremely familiar. I just couldn't put my hoof on it.

“Gah! Why won’t you just leave me alone!?” A masculine voice asked, his voice practically screeching, as if his voice was beginning to wear out. Soon enough, every one of us opened the large purple door to the throne room. My mouth immediately dropped. It was my elder brother, practically backed up against a wall, as if he was a lab rat trapped in a cage with a snake. “I’m married, you know!”

Right infront of him, inching her way closer, was a pink mare.

“Oh, hun. No need to worry, she can join too!~” She purred, staring luciously into Shining Armor’s eyes. His eyes were practically ginormous at this point. He tried to use his magic to keep her at bay, but all that came out were small sparks, accompanied by a distressed groan. I squinted my eyes to get a better look at who the mare was at the end of the room, and gasped loudly upon realization.

...Aphrodite!?

Uhm, well, this is rather awkward.

We walk into the castle, and the first thing we see is Aphrodite practically on top of Twilight’s older brother. She was nonchalantly whispering sweet nothings in his ear. “Could someone give me a hoof?” he asked, looking over at us. Before I could even move my hoof, Twilight was by his side, practically throwing Aphrodite off of Shining Armor. For some reason, she used her hooves rather than her magic.

“What the hay are you doing!?” Twilight screamed at Aphrodite, who did not seem to be phased in the slightest.

Aphrodite suddenly turned her attention from Shining, to Twilight. “Ooh, you’re pretty cute too.” Twilight stood her ground as she continued to glare at the horny pony, although I’m pretty sure I saw her slightly blush. “Why don’t you join me and my friend here, if you know what I mean.”

Twilight and Shining both looked at each other horrifically, and then back at Aphrodite, before they both proceeded to dry heave. “No! Ugh! Gross!” Twilight shouted, as Shining could not seem to stop his incessant coughing.

Oh, right. Aphrodite doesn’t remember us.

Aphrodite was going to make another advancement towards Shining, but Applejack held her back. “Hey! Come on! What gives?” she whined, cutely sticking out her bottom lip as she stared at the farm pony in front of her.

“Just hold on, lil’ missy! Ya gotta be crazy if yer tryin’ to go after Twilight’s brother like that! He’s married!”  Applejack stated, taking a step back after Aphrodite had finished trying to get passed her. Aphrodite simply cocked her head, unable to comprehend or understand what we were trying to explain to her.

“Aphrodite, come on! We’re buds! Don’t ya remember that one night at your house when you and Twilight shared a-” Pinkie was suddenly interrupted when a lavender hoof was shoved in her mouth. Shining Armor stared at his sister, raising an eyebrow.

“Not the time, Pinkie!”

“Uhm, is there a problem here?” Aphrodite asked, looking directly as Luna, who had been shaking her head in frustration this whole time.

“Shining Armor, where is my beloved sister? She was the one who summoned us, no?” The princess asked, as she brought her irritated motions to a minimum. Shining Armor was not paying attention, as his focus was mainly on the horny mare who was only a farmer's distance away from him.

“Huh?” He asked, until the question clicked in his head. “Oh! Yes,” Shining Armor stood up, fixing his tone so that he would seem to speak with some sort of class that the Princess would appreciate. “Princess Celestia is dealing with other matters with the sun. Apparently she’s having issues rising it this morning, I believe.”

A few of us cocked our heads. Shining was going to explain, I could tell, although he was cut off when Aphrodite trailed a hoof down his neck. Slowly. I saw his left eye vigorously twitch. Huh, I guess that trait runs in the family. Meanwhile, Applejack was completely bewildered at the fact that Aphrodite had somehow snuck passed her.

“I’m good at rising things too. I’m especially looking forward to rising your di-”

“THAT’S IT!” Twilight shouted, throwing her hooves in the air. Luckily, Aphrodite was unable to finish her sentence, although I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what she was going to say. I’m, uh, pretty bad with that kind of stuff. Of course, I know about that kind of thing when it comes to animals, although I’ve never actually seen them do it...even still, I don’t know much. “We have to get her to snap out of it, NOW. Aphrodite, you’re coming with us!” Twilight stamped her hoof on the ground as she practically seethed at Aphrodite.

Aphrodite seemed to be extremely amused... or aroused... by Twilight’s ranting. She put a hoof up to her mouth and began to cutely giggle, like a schoolfilly.

What happened next will continue to scar me for the the rest of my life.

“She’s not going anywhere!” A loud voice screeched all around us, almost causing me to faint from the initial shock. Everyone else, minus Aphrodite and Luna, proceeded to jump as well. Although Rainbow Dash tried her absolute best to shake it off.

“What was that?!” Rarity asked, joining the rest of us in turning our heads left and right, desperate to figure out where the voice was coming from. The walls of the castle had begun to slowly shake, like an earthquake, but luckily, when we all fixed up the Castle after the Changeling invasion, we really reinforced it this time. Well, save for some of the pillars. Luckily, no one was hit as a few of them tumbled over.

“Be on your guard!” Luna hollared over the incessant rattling of the castle. I had no idea what to do. Everything was shaking, and…I’m so scared! I was actually beginning to lose my balance after a little bit.

I managed to turn my head, brushing away some of my pink mane, to get a look at Aphrodite. She was just as confused as everyone else, and she had managed to back herself into the corner of the room, nearest Celestia’s throne. Her eyes were wide with horror as she clung to the walls for dear life.

After a few minutes, the shaking abruptly stopped. Everyone was visibly panicked, including me. I…I don’t do well with these types of situations. I want to go home now. I wonder how my animals are doing? Maybe if I just…sneak away. Yeah! No one will even notice! I just need to...slowly...

My very selfish throughts were cut off as a new noise filled the room. It was…some sort of singing? The singing was very feminine, and it felt very divine when it penetrated my ears. To be honest, it was some of the best singing I have ever heard. It was a very whispery singing too, almost…eery.

“Look!” Twilight shouted, pointing behind us. For the second time in five minutes, I felt like fainting. Behind us stood some sort of hairless monkey. She was absolutely nude, although her long, brown hair managed to cover her breasts expertly. Her cerulean eyes stared at all of us willingly, as if her eyes were trying to convey something to us themselves. Her skin was very peachy and smooth, not one blemish to be found. She gave all of us a kind smile, one a mother would give her child.

She was the most gorgeous thing that I had ever seen.

Shining Armor and Twilight both backed away knowingly. The youngest put her hooves over her ears, while Shining purposefully waited. “Everyone! Cover your ears, now!” He bellowed, following his sisters example. I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

“What is that thing!?” Applejack screamed at Shining Armor, who had already clovered his mouth. Scared for my life, I followed everyone else’s example. Everyone quickly put their hooves over their ears, although I could still faintly hear the…things…song.

The song of the angels set fire by day,

Leaves a feeling inside, refuses to go away.

And when she returns that evening to pay,

She finds her past swallowed near-whole by decay.

The...creature, levitated into the air, opening her arms wide as she continued. I felt myself getting a little lightheaded, like something was swirling above me. I peeked my eyes open for a brief moment to reluctantly survey my surroundings.

Oh boy, I wish I didn’t.

No one was covering their ears anymore, except for a few ponies who I really couldn’t make out at this point. My head was throbbing like no other. All of my friends were standing at attention, as if they were puppets. Each and every one of their eyes were extensively bloodshot, and their mouths were twisted into lustful grins.

I let out a scream, or what I thought was one. What was going on!? What happened to my friends? Was…the singing creature doing this to them? Is it kind of like a spell? I felt a tear run down my cheek as I tried to process all of this brand new information. I cringed as the creature continued her song. Her voice was getting more and more titilating by the minute, and…I liked it. It was…attracting me, in a sense.

The sins of the broken, their never-ending cries.

Sends the pained struggling as life whisks on by.

“Fluttershy!” A heard a voice behind me shout. I let one of my hooves go of my ear and turned to look at whoever yelled towards me. “Get down!”

Get down? But…but I couldn’t! My entire being was frozen. I couldn’t move an inch, my legs refused to cooperate. I...I was stuck!

I let out a small squeal as I felt a sudden sensation on my side, like that of hooves, pull me behind a pillar that had managed to fall during the shaking. It was a white blur, what I had presumed to be Shining Armor. Wait, he wasn’t under the spell either? I know my friends had went under, I even think I saw Luna. I felt another presence on the other side of me.

I looked over to take note that it was, indeed, Vanity. Both her and Shining Armor kept their heads down, while I curiously peeked over the top of the pillar, attempting to make myself as small as physically possible.

She knelt down in sorrow, and let out a sigh,

I heard Shining yell something next to me, but I was rather mesmerized by the creature on the other side of the room.

I realized what he had said just a little too late.

When she realized it was her turn to *DIE*!

Upon the word “die” the creature went through the most disturbing transformation that I think I had ever witnessed. Her beautiful teeth shifted into that of a piranha, reminding me of Warble when he gave into his sin. Her head was thrown back and her neck contorted to a very disgusting angle. Her skin was no longer pure, it was now covered in various bruises and blemishes, kind of like a witch, and her hair was very much russled, now exposing her mammories fully.

As well as transforming during the last word, she let out the most painful, agonizing scream I have ever heard in my life. It struck in my ears like razor blades as I once again brought my hooves to my ears, desperately trying to block out the sound before I begin to bleed out of my ears. The creature didn’t even need to breathe. The sound just kept coming.

Vanity was screaming like crazy right next to me, and I’m pretty sure that my friends, and Luna, were still out there, spellbound, watching the creature.

“WHAT IS THAT THING!?” Vanity had to practically scream in our ears so that we were able to hear what she was saying. Somehow, Shining was able to understand.

“IT’S A SIREN!” Shining Armor explained over the roaring of the creature. An idea clicked in my head as I moved my mane out of the way of my face once again. I gingerly placed my mane over my ears. It may not seem like it, but my hair can also double as ear plugs, although they weren’t as effective as I’d like them to be. The screaming was still painfully vibrating my ears. “HER SONG PUTS YOU UNDER A SPELL.”

“HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?” Vanity shouted, causing Shining to shrug.

“BEDTIME STORIES.”

I knew that I wasn’t very loud, so I had to lean in just to make sure that they could hear me as I spoke. “What kind of spell is it?” I asked as loudly as I could. Somehow, they both managed to hear me. At that moment, the siren’s screaming began to dim as her voice slowly dropped down in volume. She hadn’t been able to see us, as her head had been tilted towards the ceiling the entire time. Shining Armor used this moment to his advantage.

“Stand up and pretend to be in a trance! We can take her by surprise.” He shouted. He quickly mimicked the rest of the ponies in the room, parting his mouth slightly and staring directly at the siren, who was quickly transforming back into her beautiful self. Her hair was combed and styled within seconds, and her body was blemish-free once again. Vanity and I quicly stood up and did our best “Under-A-Spell” impression.

Aphrodite, however, appeared to be going crazy. Her mane was visibly frazzled, and a little bit of blood was slithering down her left ear. I felt a little bad. She must have had a worse experience, since she was way closer to the beast than we were. “What the hell!? What was that for!?” She screamed as she tried to slowlyget to her hooves. She appeared to be very weak, as if she was on the verge of passing out. She fell back to the ground, painfully.

The siren gently set her feet on the ground and knelt down towards the pony. She brought a hand to Aphrodite’s cheek caringly, although the pony flinched upon being touched by it. “No need to be afraid, my dear. Soon, you’ll be safe. I’m here to protect you.”

“I…”

The siren’s lips parting in a loving smile, which quickly became crooked as she tilt her head. “It’s so strange…you didn’t surcumb to the song…is there somepony in your life that you’re not sharing with me?”

Aphrodite was shaking in fear at this point, as if she was a damsel in distress. Although she kind of was. I honestly felt very bad for her. “No…what are you talking abo-“ Aphrodite was cut off by a sharp slap to her left cheek. She let out a soft sob, while the siren’s loving grin refused to move.

“Do not lie to me. I’ve been watching you this whole time. You have a special somepony, do you not?” She asked. Something seemed to click in Vanity’s, Shining Armor’s, and my own head at the same time. I could tell in their case, as they both seemed to snap to attention

Love.

Love is what must be putting everypony under the spell. Shining Armor is married, and is already in love. I’m currently dating Warble, and I think it’s safe to say that I am in love with him. Although, I don’t know if I would admit it or not. But…Vanity? She’s in love? But with whom? I suppose that that does not really matter at this moment.

I saw Shining Armor struggle, desperately trying to use his magic while the siren’s back was turned. However, all that came out from his horn was a few blue sparks. Well, that doesn’t look good at all. In my mind, I was egging him on.

“No…I…I don’t recall…” Aphrodite whimpered, which brought another question in my mind. Aphrodite was in love with someone, but whom? If anything, it was probably Twilight. She’s been trying to get in my best friend’s bed since…I’ve known her, really. But with her memory gone, I assume she is telling the truth when she say she doesn’t know. If she did, the siren would most likely go after Twilight…I don’t really like to think things like that.

Shining leaned over to Vanity and I. “We need to destroy her.” He whispered, so low that I almost didn’t catch what he said.

“H-How are we going to do that?” I asked. I was completely against destroying the siren. It seemed a little mean in my eyes, but I really did not have any better ideas.

“If you two can distract her long enough, I might be able to kill her by toppling over a pillar.” Shining said, gesturing over to a very cracked and unstable pillar directly to the siren’s right. I had a bad feeling about this. I was terrible when it came to distractions. I mean, practically everypony knows that I’m not one for unnecessary attention. Even the thought of it makes my head spin.

“But…but I…I can’t!” I stuttered, a few tears coming to my eyes. Suddenly, the siren’s head twisted towards us, and we all snapped back to attention. The siren seethed, and my heart pounded at the thought of us being found out. She quickly turned back towards Aphrodite, who was still cowering in the corner.

“Who is it? Whom have you fallen for? You can tell me.” The siren cooed. Aphrodite gaze turned to the crowd of frozen ponies, including Shining, Vanity and I. Aphrodite’s gaze lasted for a brief second before she looked back at the siren, although she had already caught on.

“I see. So, is it one of these ponies that you are in love with?” The siren asked. Aphrodite shook her head.

“No! I have no idea who they are! Well, except for the princess,” Aphrodite mumbled that last part. The siren stood up and put her hands on her hips, pursing her lips impatiently. Her hair seemed to effortlessly flow. Sigh, I wish my mane was like that sometimes, most of the time it’s an absolute mess.

“I see.  Well, how about this, dear. For every sixty seconds that passes by, I’ll kill one of the ponies in this room,” Aphrodite gasped. “You don’t want to be responsible for the deaths of these presumably innocent ponies, correct?”

She…she was going to kill us? One by one? But…but that’s horrible! I didn’t want to die! There are so many things in life that I’ve never gotten to do! Part of me was hoping that she would kill me first. I’d much rather that then see my friends suffer. I tried to hold back my tears, as they would definitely give away the façade that I had been maintaining.

The next few seconds were filled with Aphrodite’s pleading, begging for mercy on all of us and swearing that she was not in love with anypony, which was technically a lie, although she didn’t know. While they were quarreling, Shining Armor leaned over to Vanity and I and muttered under his breath.

“Here’s the deal. Vanity and I will distract it, if you can’t do it. You’ll have to be the one to topple the pillar on top of her.” He stated, causing me to shiver just a little bit. I…I had to kill it? I don’t want to kill anything! That’s not me!

“Are…are you sure we can’t just try talking to it?” I asked.

“No way. We have about forty-three seconds until it starts killing us. We don’t have time.” Shining explained. I felt my shoulders droop just a little bit upon realizing that he was probably correct. Vanity leaned a little bit closer to us.

“You really think she, of all ponies, could knock over a pillar?” Vanity said. “No offense.”

“None taken.”

Shining Armor shook his head, having already explained this once before. “Yes, I do. It is very unstable, a sharp push should be able to topple it.” He was correct, like before, it was mere inches from falling over. I felt butterflies crawl into my stomach, and not the good kind either. Why me? “Fluttershy, go hide behind the fallen pillar behind us, and steadily make your way towards the other one. In ten seconds Vanity and I are going to begin phase two.”

With a small whimper, and a passing glance at Vanity, I slipped back under the fallen pillar of which we were hiding behind just a moment ago. To my misfortune, I accidently kicked a rock as I was getting into position, causing it to loudly echo throughout the throne room. I ducked down milliseconds before the siren turned her head.

The siren stared intently at all of us, before she floated back into the air, disregarding Aphrodite entirely. “We are missing one. Perhaps it is your lover, hm?”

I couldn’t help but shudder, although the siren’s reasoning made perfect sense.

Shining and Vanity both jumped forward, causing the siren to double back a little bit out of shock. “Stop this! We’re not under your spell evil, you witch! If you want us, then come and get it!” He threatened, which brought a sick smile to the siren’s face. Before Vanity or Shining Armor had any chance to move, three of the siren’s “puppets” turned towards them, grinning obliviously.

“Take care of them, my minions,” She spat.

Pinkie Pie stomped quickly towards Vanity, who was slowly beginning to panic. She backed up slightly, as Pinkie Pie’s happy smile was replaced with a grimace. Her mane and tail were extraordinarily sleek. As far as I can remember, that has only happened once to her, and that was when she was genuinely upset. Uh oh.

Meanwhile, Shining Armor was up a much bigger threat: Princess Luna. Luna was taking advantage of the fact that she still had her magic, while Shining Armor did not. She picked him up in a dark blue aura and slammed him into the wall behind him, causing a large hole to appear. “Are…are you kidding me!?” He said as he stood up, effortlessly. I was going to question how he could possibly stand up after that, but then I remembered that he was wearing the exact same, fairly durable, armor that we saw Odysseus wearing earlier. However, Rainbow Dash proved the armor to be rather faulty.

Behind me, Aphrodite was facing problems of her own. The last minion was slowly stepping up to her. The minion was facing away from me, but I knew exactly who it was after seeing the lavender coat. Aphrodite was not resisting as Twilight put a hoof to her chest, her horn slowly lighting up. “I…I…” Aphrodite bawled on the ground.

I had to end this, quickly! Things could get really bad if I don’t. I set my beliefs aside as I slowly made my way towards the teetering pillar. The siren was cackling madly, as well as insanely loud. I’m sure I would have passed out by now if it wasn’t for my mane in my ears. It also appeared that the sirens “puppets” were not affected one bit by the siren’s loud screaming and laughing.

Shining Armor was having a very tough time the next time I looked, although I don’t blame him. Being attacked by a princess would not be a very easy fight to win.  He was taking very many magical blasts to the chest, and it was apparent that his armor was beginning to fail him. He ducked a single beam, giving him just the opportunity he needed to grab a rather large, and sharp, rock. While Luna was recharging, Shining spun around with the rock in his hooves, and launched it like a discus towards her. I let out a small gasp. “Forgive me, Princess!” Shining hollered as the rock left his hooves. Luna did not have enough time to react before the discus flew right passed her, leaving a nasty cut on her right cheek. The Princess brought a hoof to her wound, and stared at the red liquid on it, before narrowing her eyes at him.

“Uh oh.” He said, seconds before he was yet again struck with another blast to the chest.

Vanity was having a very difficult time as well. What I didn’t know about her was that she was doing a very good job fighting. She was sending various punches as kicks towards Pinkie that were extremely impressive. Maybe she was a black belt or something, I wasn’t sure. Her body twisted and turned as she launched attack after attack at Pinkie, but somehow, she dodged EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Not one of Vanity’s expertly placed attacks hit her. Pinkie’s grin remained plastered on her face as she effortlessly dodged. I knew exactly how she was doing it too: Pinkie Sense. She could tell when and where each attack would be sent moments before Vanity could even get ready to launch it.

I wanted to desperately scream to her, to tell her how Pinkie was doing it. Maybe if Pinkie couldn’t sense what attack Vanity was going to do next, maybe Vanity would win, although I don’t condone violence in the slightest. If Vanity attacked instinctively rather than tactically, maybe she could...uhm...win.

Vanity was getting visibly tired, and her attacks were getting slower. At one point, she left too large of an opening for Pinkie, who utilized it by punching Vanity straight in the stomach, sending her flying back.

I wanted to help, I really did. I…I don’t like seeing my friends get hurt…why was this all happening?

When I turned back to Twilight and Aphrodite, they seemed to be…speaking? I could not exactly tell what they were saying, but Twilight was definitely hollering at her. Degrading her, as Aphrodite continued to sob into her hooves, not looking at Twilight in the least, trying to get all the sounds that were cascading around her out of her head.

She was praying for it all to stop.

And it was my job to do just that.

With a speed that I had not yet reached before, I trotted for the pillar roughly ten feet away; not caring in the slightest if the siren saw me. Unfortunately, she did. “You!” She shouted as she finally noticed me.

I jumped behind the pillar and pushed it with all of my might. “YOU WILL PERISH FOR THIS!” she screamed, causing Shining Armor and Vanity to stop their attacks and clutch their ears. Luna used this opportunity to blast Shining in the neck, while Pinkie socked Vanity under her chin.

“Not…on…my…WATCH!” I shouted, as I used every single ounce of my strength to push the pillar over. The siren let out a blood curling scream as she realized that she did not have enough time to move out of the way of the half ton piece of stone. With a loud crash, the pillar slammed into the siren, as she was inevitably crushed to death. Much to my undying happiness, the debris managed to miss Twilight and Aphrodite.

A few moments later, everypony in the room under the siren’s spell shook their heads knowingly. “W…What happened?” Applejack asked, rubbing her head and wincing at the sudden headache.

After making sure that everypony was okay, Vanity, Shining Armor and I all explained what the creature was, and what had happened. Needless to say, Luna and Twilight were not very pleased.

“I…I attacked you, Shining Armor?” Luna sighed sadly, looking  at the ground in disappointment as Shining Armor simply nodded. Twilight crestfallenly looked over at Aphrodite, who was still in the corner of the room. “I whole-heartedly apologize, Shining. And I plan on fully reimbursing you and your armor,” she declared. Little had I known, Shining Armor’s armor was completely destroyed, and it was very much burnt by Luna’s magical blasts. Once again, Shining simply nodded.

“Heh, sorry about hurting you…” Pinkie said sheepishly as she turned towards the prideful pony of which she fought. Vanity simply waved her hoof at her.

“No worries. You really expect a beautiful mare like me to not be able to protect herself? I’m a second degree black belt, you know,” She said, smugly. Shining Armor rolled his eyes, while the rest of us, minus Luna, giggled a little bit.

“That reminds me,” Twilight started. “The siren’s song only puts you under if you are not in love. Vanity, if you didn’t go under, who are you in love with?” She asked. Every single one of us turned towards the mare, who slowly started to back away, her cheeks flaring.

“Uh…nopony! I’m just as confused as you all are! Heh, heh…” She replied. Vanity was either a terrible liar, or a horrible truth-teller. Although I beckoned that we shouldn’t interrogate her because of this. If she has a thing for somepony, then it’s really none of our business to know. Vanity, who was eager to change to conversation, pointed over at Aphrodite.

“Oh heyyy! It’s Aphrodite!” she said, dramatically.

Oh, right. Aphrodite was the initial reason why we were here in the first place.

All seven of us walked over to the mare, while Luna and Shining Armor chatted for a bit. Luna was still excessively embarrassed about what she had done. Upon noticing of our presence, Aphrodite stood up, absolutely infuriated.

“Is this what you all do!? You come here and have some weird she-witch come and attack us!?” she screamed. I couldn’t help but flinch as I saw her ears, which were still leaking a little blood and tinting her mane a little red. To be honest, I was really surprised that we all still had our hearing, especially Aphrodite.

“Aphrodite, we came here for a reason. We’re your friends and you’re under Malignant’s spell!” Rainbow Dash interjected. Meanwhile, Pinkie seemed lost in thought next to me.

“Do you think that girl made any albums? Her voice was pretty!” She grinned.

Everyone shot her a glare, which she failed to notice. I sighed.

“What? Ugh! Go away! I have to go home and clean myself up! Everything’s a mess!” Aphrodite said uncooperatively. Well, this wasn’t working. But then, something else clicked in my mind.

“Remember how we used Ennui to snap Vanity out of it back at the show?” I said, causing everypony to turn to me. I shivered a little bit. Still don’t like attention. “Well, if Ennui is the most important pony to Vanity, then maybe the most important pony to Aphrodite can snap her out of it,” I explained. I couldn’t help but notice that Vanity was once again turning a little pink. I promptly shrugged it off.

“But, that leaves another question,” Twilight interjected. “who’s the most important pony to Aphrodite?” She asked. Every single one of us stared at Twilight knowingly until she got the message, to which her hopes suddenly dropped.

“Oh,”

“Twilight…I know you’re not into that, but you have to, for the sake of Aphrodite.” Rarity explained. Wait, do what? Am I missing something here? I thought Twilight was just going to talk to her or something?

“There has to be another way, girls. Come on, we just need to think,” Twilight said desperately. Rarity, Applejack and Vanity all shook their heads.

“Come ahn, Twi. Only a few seconds and it’ll be over with,” Applejack said, resting a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

Aphrodite was just as confused as I am. “Over with what? What are you all talking about!?” Aphrodite was quickly losing her patience again. I wouldn’t blame her either. She was indeed a hot mess.

Twilight sighed. “Fine,” she reluctantly walked over to Aphrodite, causing me to tilt my head in confusion. What was going to happen? I was completely lost at this point. “Ugh…I’m just going to get this over with…”

“What are-“ Aphrodite tried to asked, before Twilight leaned in, closed her eyes…

And…and KISSED her.

It wasn’t a short one either. It was one filled with love, passion, right from the heart. It honestly made me a little happy seeing it. Uh…I hope that doesn’t sound creepy. Aphrodite was completely caught off guard, before she closed her eyes as well, feeling the never-ending bliss course through her body like water.

I smiled at the scene, as I saw some sort of purple gas emit from her facial orifices, minus her mouth. It all floated into the air, and almost seemed to disippate. When the gas was completely gone, I was really wishing that Twilight had her eyes open to see it. Aphrodite opened her eyes, blushing slightly as she realized what was happening.

Twilight…open your eyes…

Aphrodite’s eyes were half-lidded, as a tiny smile graced her lips. Somehow, Twilight didn't feel Aphrodite's lip movements.

Come on, Twilight…

Aaaaand too late.

Aphrodite raised her hooves and grasped the sides of Twilight face, pulling them both into a very…heated, embrace. Their mouths locked together as Twilight realized what was actually going on. She tried as hard as she could, mumbling into Aphrodite’s mouth while doing so, to split their lips, although it was in vain.

It took the combined forces of Applejack and Rainbow Dash to actually break the two apart.

Aphrodite grinned at Twilight, who was almost hacking and coughing. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the fact that she just kissed a mare, or the fact that it must’ve been really difficult to breathe.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for that…” Aphrodite squee’d in a state of absolute bliss. Twilight stopped her coughing to wipe her lips with her hoof.

We all cheered as we hugged Aphrodite, happy to have her back. Twilight opted out of the group hug. “Oh come on, I could definitely tell that you enjoyed it too,” She purred as the hug quickly broke up.

“Ugh!” Twilight shouted, before she turned around, only to come face to face with her brother. She stopped dead in her tracks, as Shining Armor broke out into a mischievous- yet sly- grin.

“Uh…wow, Twiley. I uh, didn’t know you rolled like that,” He said, giving his kid sister a slight noogie. Twilight’s eye twitched. “Don’t worry. We don’t think of you any different!” Shining finished with a grin, standing up tall, as if he was proud of his joke. No one laughed, but I did find it funny.

Twilight fumed, as he stared her brother up and down. She broke out into a sick smile as a light bulb went off in her head as she stared at Shining's armor. Apparently, she remembered something.

*SMACK*

“AGH! MY CROTCH!”