//------------------------------//
// Argonauts by Europa 
// Story: Tainted Love: A Twysalis Prompt Tag Collab 
// by Foals Errand 
//------------------------------//

by Europa

The play was going smoothly. Jasclaw and his Argonauts - the griffons were all wearing garb perfectly for the time period, she'd helped ensure that - sailed on an illusory boat.

On the stage, rocks 'sailed' into view on the ocean. Atop them were three earth ponies in costume to appear like seaponies, red gems in their hearts.

"Jasclaw!" the orange one sang, her voice enchanting and lovely. "You and your crew are weary, tired and broken."

"Jasclaw!" the lavender one sang, the song just as alluring. "You will never succeed in your quest to find the Golden Claw! Not without taking a break..." she sang seductively.

The ship began to take a course for the rock, the griffons on it all playing hypnotized. "Jasclaw!" the blue one sang. The gems were glowing brightly now. "We'll help you on your quest, give you rest and relaxation, then send you on your way! For realsies!" That got a light chuckle out of the audience, Twilight included.

Then the cabin door of the ship opened and out trotted a tall mare, covered in black armor with a green shell, fake translucent wings, and a long, crooked horn glued to her forehead. Twilight's jaw dropped as the backstage lightning managers made it appear like the pony playing her workerfriend, Queen Chrysalis, lit up her horn and projected a bubble around the ship. The griffons came back to awareness, blinking.

"Do not be deceived!" the pony-as-changeling shouted. "They are sirens, wicked sea spirits who wish to lure you to them with their voices and feed upon the strife in your hearts, growing it and harvesting it like you were fields of wheat! Turn away now, Jasclaw!"

The griffon prince sprung into action and wrenched the boat away, the sirens' rocks fading out of vision despite their singing in protest. When they were out of view, the pony playing Chrysalis dropped the shield and the play continued.

Sitting up in a private, royal booth, Twilight looked over at the real Chrysalis. "You never told me you were the Green Temptress of the Argo!"

The changeling shrugged. "Honestly? I barely remembered. I was just a princess back then, it was so long ago."

Twilight rolled her eyes and smacked her carapaced flank with a wing. "Just a princess, hmm?"

"Oh you know what I mean! Really, it was three thousand years ago, you can't expect me to remember everything back then."

"Still, I'd think something like being one of Jasclaw's Argonauts would be something you'd remember!"

Chryssy waved a hoof. "Oh please, he's not that impressive. And he was such a bore! All business, no pleasure. Always blah blah Golden Claw, blah blah appease the gods, blah blah not attracted to chitin, blah blah get out of my bed."

She giggled. "I can only imagine. Not attracted to your carapace?" Twilight leaned her head onto Chryssy's barrel, feeling it rising and falling with each breath, the microscopic plates flexing against each other. "Mmm, ridiculous. So, what happened after that?"

"Why don't you keep watching and find out?" she asked.