//------------------------------// // Ch. 30: Gloss // Story: Sin // by MemoryLane //------------------------------// "Wow. What happened to you?" I said, looking at Cashmere. He blushed and looked away from me nervously. He ushered himself closer to the pony that was now nearest him that wasn't Covette. Which happened to be Rarity, who also began to blush slightly and look away. "Uh..." Covette surprisingly spoke up for him. "He had an accident. Anyways, get on with what you where saying." Covette sighed irritatingly. I wanted to question this, because I couldn't help but notice the few red dots covering her coats, or why Cashmere keeps squinting, like he had something in both of his eyes. But she was right, I had more important things at hand. "Right. First off, I want to ask. Has any pony been acting strange lately?" I asked the group, just to make sure. Half of the ponies in the room turned to Warble, to tried to make himself as small as possible. "I said I was sorry!" He cried, looking at Fluttershy, who have him a gentle smile. I noticed Aphrodite's lips curve unhappily as she tried to reminisce on what she had tried to do earlier. Something that I really wouldn't advise her to do. Strangely enough, Cashmere looked to be a little lightheaded. "Well I know the reason why, and how to prevent it and access it!" I boasted proudly. Everyone wasn't very amused, they just wanted answers. When I took a half-second longer to respond than Kindling had hoped, he spoke up impatiently. "Well!?" "Warble, tell me. What did you do?" I ignored Kindling for the most part. I was trying to make a point, and made sure that everypony was following along. He sighed guiltily. "I...I tried to eat C-Covette..." He mumbled. A few ponies like Vanity and Applejack gasped, while Covette, just sneered at the pony. "Exactly as I thought!" I was right! It all made sense. Now, how am I going to explain how I found out without telling the whole group that Aphrodite tried, and nearly succeeded, in raping me? "What are ya gettin' at Twi?" Applejack asked me, getting a little impatient as well. "Well you see, it's obvious that Warble simply gave into his sin." I told the group. I must say, I expected a better reaction from everyone, but no one seemed to understand what that had meant. "Huh?" Everyone said in semi-unison. I shook my head. "You know when Princess Celestia told you that you all have a part of her inside of you?" I asked the group. I didn't want to talk to them like they were stupid, but I don't think anyone knows exactly how important this is. This could save Equestria, for all we know. The sins looked at each other before all nodding. "Well, by giving into your sin, that's how you access it." "So...you mean, when I tried to eat her, I was really just accessing my powers?" Warble repeated. I nodded, even though that is EXACTLY what I had just said. "I can see that. The kid tried to run into Covette, almost broke her neck if he woulda hit her. I rammed the kid also, felt like I just ran into some kind of brick wall." Kindling smacked Warble's side, as if telling him "good job". Warble wasn't really expecting it, and yelped loudly before blushing at the sound he had made. "Don't worry Warble. You didn't have any control of yourself. Because, like I said, you gave into your sin. It almost took over you." I hated continuously using Warble as an example, but there's no way I'm bringing Aphrodite into this. A look of relief appeared on Warble's face, and he turned to Kindling, Covette, and Pinkie Pie. "I told you!" Kindling and Covette looked unimpressed, and Pinkie...well, she was still trying to grasp onto the situation at hand. I saw Cashmere let out a relieved sigh as well. Did something happen back there? I'm going to assume that's what took Covette so long. He's not good at hiding things, especially because he spends a lot of time showing off his piles of stuff. "So, does this mean we're all going to lose our minds!?" Ennui asked excitedly, making a loud "squee" noise. Applejack just buried her face in her hoof. "Well, yes and no." I said. I had a plan. Everyone snapped back to attention. "Sweet! This is going to be just like in 'Attack of the Psychonauts!', where you have to shoot all of these crazy ponies who have escaped from a mental asylum. Oh snap! It was the coolest thing ever! The graphics were amazing! I'm even on the high score list for that game! I'm a real-" "Anyways," Covette cut in on Ennui's small rant. I think Vanity might've rubbed off on her a little bit back in the Changeling nest. "What does 'yes and no' mean?" She questioned. And I was quiet glad she did. "Well, here's the deal. If you all can give into your sin at the same time, we can harness the total power, and with it, and the Elements of Harmony, we can silence the Changelings, for good." I concluded. "But...but I don't want to go crazy..." Vanity added nervously. "After listening to all your boasting earlier, I think you already have." Covette muttered. Not taking any time to receive Vanity's hate-filled glare, she turned back to me, as if nothing at all had happened. "How do we give into our sins?" Kindling asked, looking over at Warble. As if he expected him to give them a crash course. Warble just took a nervous step back. "Don't look at me! I did it on accident! I don't even remember!" He blabbed, and I believed him. That was a good question. How does one give into their sin? I didn't know. Warble was on the right track though. Everypony has sins that they can access. Most of them do it subconsciously, however. "Well...is it all psychological? Warble was pretty psychotic earlier, if you ask me." Kindling said. Warble wasn't very happy with this statement, but once again he chose to stay quiet. "It's definitely psychological." Cashmere added. I knew it. He did give in to his sin earlier. "I remember, before I...accessed my 'powers', just a short while ago. I was in deep thoughts. Thinking about my life. Am I really a greedy monster? What am I doing?" He sighed and looked at the ground. He looked like he wished he didn't even start talking in the first place. "Eventually, I just thought to myself: I am a greedy bastard. Then I blacked out. That's when I think I transformed." Well, there you have it. "So, I just have to call myself lazy, and I become some kind of super pony?" Ennui giggled. She slowly hopped in front of the whole crowd, cackling excitedly to herself. "I dibs first!" Ennui closed her eyes, and started to think to herself as everyone curiously peered at her. A few moments went by, but nothing happened. I started to get a little concerned. Eventually, five full minutes passed by, and she was still standing there with her eyes closed. Vanity, who simply let out a small sigh, walking over to her and poking her side repeatedly until she got a response. "Huh? Hm? What?" Her eyes suddenly shot open. Apparently, the mare had fallen asleep standing up. I feel like hitting my head on a wall. "Ennui!" I shouted at her, this was serious. "Okay, so anyways. I say we all try to access our sins one by one." Warble raised his hoof. "I'll go first, since I've already done it." He volunteered. Kindling almost grabbed him. "No!" Kindling and Covette simultaneously shouted. Warble's ears drooped and he gave them a small, dejected frown. "Yeah, that's not a good idea. We have the ponies that won't be mentally unstable if they transform first." I looked at the ground. Which sin would be the most ineffective and harmful to everyone? Aphrodite, Warble, and Cashmere were out of the question. I have a feeling that Covette will be pretty dangerous. Kindling will kill us all. He'll probably go last... "Either Ennui, or Vanity will go first." Ennui's hoof shot up into the air. Well, she just tried, and that didn't do any good. "Vanity will go first. Ennui, you stand aside and try some more." I glared at her. "Don't fall asleep." Ennui simply waved me off sarcastically. "Yeah, yeah, yeah." Vanity walked in front of everypony proudly. "Of course! The best and the prettiest mare will go first!" Rarity shot her a dirty glance before remembering what sin she represented, and backed down. "Uhm, what do I do?" "Just...think! Think about you!" I said. I honestly had no idea. I can't see inside of her mind. Not legally, however. Vanity sighed, and closed her eyes *** Think about...me? That should be easy! Uhm, well...my name is Vanity, I am from Fillydelphia. I am a mare who has been brought here because I represent Pride. Which is ridiculous. Haha. I'm not THAT full of myself. Everyone says I am. But hey? If you got it, flaunt it! Hm, maybe this is why Ennui is my only friend. Sure, yeah. I know that my constant bragging annoys ponies. But...that makes me wonder. Why don't I do anything about it? Why don't I try to stop talking about myself and calm down? Why can't I make friends?! Maybe! Maybe it's because their jealous! I know Covette is! Mrs. Envious! She wants this, but she can't have it! They all wish they were me! And I know why! It's because I am amazing! I am stunning! I am PRIDE! *** About a minute later, when Vanity opened her eyes, she looked...different. She was giggling happily to herself, almost as if she was in a deep state of bliss. She seemed to notice us, but surprisingly, she didn't attack? Isn't that what happened to ponies when they gave into their sin? They get increasingly hostile? Maybe it's just her? A pride thing? "Wow...what a gorgeous group of ponies!" She hissed to herself. Half of the group watched her in awe. "Too bad they aren't as good looking as ME!" She rested a hoof on her chest dramatically. Rarity was silently chuckling at the mare. "No one is as great as me! Haha!" She actually seemed quite normal, except once and a while she would violently twitch. And her eyes would stray apart from each other. She turned and stared at Covette, a sick grin on her face. "Especially YOU!" Covette's eye twitched angrily, almost as if she wanted to hit Vanity, who just stood there was a very smug grin. "You'll never be as pretty as ME! As successful as ME! You'll just be some lowlife loser!" She finished. Covette charged at Vanity, ready to take off her head, but luckily, Rarity and Cashmere held her back. She was grunting angrily at herself. To be safe, I used my magic to put a protective forcefield around Vanity, so no one could hear her talk anymore, and that she wouldn't hurt herself or anyone else. I plan on doing this for everyone else too. But theirs won't be soundproof. Covette was still growing increasingly angry...was she...? *** I can't believe her! Some stuck up, little knob telling me that I'm not as good as her. Who the Hell does she think she is? Ha! It sickens me. She sickens me. They ALL sicken me. I should destroy her for that! I can be successful! I can! Sure, I've had a tough life. Sure, I'm Envy. But that doesn't mean anything! I still hate Cashmere. For everything he's done to me. He's the reason why I'm like this. It's all because of HIM. It's disgusting. But...it would be nice to be like Vanity. To be successful as her. To be as gorgeous as Aphrodite. To have ALL of Cashmere's money. Who am I kidding? I want it! They don't deserve it! I DO! *** "LET GO OF ME!" Covette screamed at the top of her lungs as she used some sort of immense strength to break free of Rarity and Cashmere's grip. She charged at the square protective shield and repeatedly pounded on it angrily. "I WILL RIP YOUR BUCKING HEAD OFF!" She cried hysterically. Before this went any further, I put another square protective shield around her as well. She continued to try and break free of it, but to no luck. What was good was that I was able to contain them all. As long as they ALL haven't gave into their sins at the same time. Covette was tripping out. Her face was in a permanent scowl, and she only seemed to get more and more angrier. She definitely seemed to be different from the rest, to say the least. She wasn't going crazy in the way where she was laughing and giggling like Vanity. She was going insane just from anger and such itself. If this was Envy, I was very afraid of what Kindling would do. Definitely saving him for last. "So...who's next...?" Warble, once again, weakly raised his hand. And I sighed. "Alright." Warble happily jumped in front of everyone proudly. I had a feeling that this was going to be fairly quick. Warble closed his eyes... *** Heh heh. This is great! I have some sort of hidden power! Haha! I, Warble, will finally show everyone that I am not a "pansy". I will show everyone my true powers! If only I could accidentally do it again. Take a deep breath Warble. Focus. Think about your life, and connect it to your sin. Somehow. I spent my whole life being made fun of for my weight. School was Hell for me when I was younger, and it still was. My parents hated me. They called me names. Fat ass. Worthless. Good for nothing. Everything you can imagine. Just because of my appetite, and my weight. So...when I moved out, I began to do what I love. Eat. I made money through food eating contests. It was quite the income. But now, that I'm standing here. There's only one other thing on my mind. I'm so hungry... *** It only took about 20 seconds for Warble to give into his sin. When he opened his eyes, he gave everyone a large, and very creepy smile. What frightened me the most was that his teeth turned very predator-like. As if they were made to dig into flesh and bone. His eyes landed on Aphrodite, who looked around nervously. His eyes widened, and he began to drool on the floor. His eyes were lacking all remorse. "Aphrodite. Please. You have to help me..." He said kindly at first, even though he was still smiling insanely. Aphrodite was caught off guard for a moment. "Don't fall for it!" Kindling shouted, jumping in front of her. But Warble had no trouble pushing him aside. He did so as if Kindling was a leaf. "I'm so hungry. I need you to feed me..." He barred his teeth at her. Before he had time to take a bite out of one of the ponies that we really needed, I put a square forcefield around him. He hollered and scratched the forcefield in an attempt to break it. Not losing eye contact on his prey. "NO! NOT AGAIN!" Warble screamed. I had a feeling that he wasn't going to stop screaming, so I made his soundproof as well, like Vanity's. "I'm next." Cashmere stepped up. Jumping right where Warble once was. "This is only going to take a moment. So please get ready to encase me." He told me, and I gave him a confirmative nod. With that, he closed his eyes. *** This is it. This is the time. To access my inner power. I am Cashmere, and I am a greedy son of a bitch. I know that! And there's no denying it. I have tons upon tons of things. I have all the money in the world. But, that's not enough for me. I want more. I want more things. Things that I can have all to myself. I don't care about anyone else. JUST. ME. EVERYONE ELSE CAN BURN IN HELL. ALL THAT MATTERS IS ME AND MY THING! *** Cashmere turned almost instantaneously. His eyes opened, and he looked at me expectantly. His eyes...his pupils turned into dollar signs? How does he even do that? He was trembling uncontrollably, looking around the room at all the bright and shiny sculptures and things that have yet to get broken. I remembered what he had told me. And quickly encased him in another square forcefield. He didn't seem very happy about that, as he tried repeatedly to break out. He looked manic. Almost as if he wanted to kill me. But in a far worse way than Warble would. I looked back at the three remaining ponies. None of which looked very excited. Ennui looked quite nervous after seeing the other four transform. I think she was starting to have second thoughts. But there was no time. The Changeling attack wasn't letting up. It was only getting worse. They were going to have to get through this just like everyone else had. "Who's next?"