//------------------------------//
// The Terror of Psych Part 2 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Brothers of Discord 
// by mr.myxsiple 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER 24
THE TERROR OF PSYCH PART 2


Rearing up in a display of courage, Applejack charged towards her fellow earth pony. What she displayed, Psych saw nothing but idiocy. Chuckling with glowing eyes, he watched as he made an iron spike shoot out of the ground. It impaled Applejack right in her stomach causing her to halt and cry out in pain.

Not finished with her yet, Psych concentrated and caused more spikes to shoot out of the ground, impaling Applejack until there was no room for them any more. The end result was seeing Applejack with over twenty spikes sticking right through her, her wounds bleeding profusely. Psych ended the assault by launching one last spike which struck the farmer right between the eyes.

The pain she was going through was indescribable; she didn't even know such an amount of pain existed. Psych was right, she was practically begging to die.

"Oh wait, before I completely destroy your mind, I gotta ask you something." Psych's eyes lost their glow. The spikes impaling Applejack disappeared as well as the the holes they left in her and pain they brought, but the memory of such a horrible thing caused Applejack to stumble and fall panting heavily and trembling slightly.

"I'll make it quick; where did you hide Generosity?"

She knew he was referring to Rarity. In the midst of the terror she was feeling, she felt a flash of anger. "Y-you can jump of a cliff; I ain't telling ya where she is!"

Thanks to Psych's kinetic vision, he saw her subconscious movements betray her. At the words "where she is", he saw her eyes move slightly to her left. "C'mon, tell me! I got plans for her, plans which involve me nailing her to the ground, driving a chainsaw through her abdomen and cutting her in half."

Hot anger forced Applejack to her hooves. "Yer a monster, that's what ya are..."

Psych sighed with a smile on his face. "I know." he responded simply.

"Do what ya want ta me! I ain't gonna tell ya!"

Bingo. "Oh so she's over there." Psych said grinning and turning to the building where Applejack deposited the frightened Rarity.

"What? No she ain't!" Applejack cried out.

Her words wiped the smile right off of his face. He blinked twice and looked as if he was surprised by something. "Whoa...OK, you truly are the Element of Honesty. You are by far the worst liar I've ever met. You set everything off; eye twitch, hoof shuffle, muscle spasms, everything!"

Applejack didn't know what he meant, and she didn't care either. "I ain't following ya, and I ain't gonna let you git to 'er either!"

She twirled her lasso around with her tail and launched it at him. Psych turned his head to avoid it and activated his powers unaware that the rope managed to get a hold of the crate Applejack was using earlier. Before he could call down a bolt of lightning to strike her, she yanked the roped back. The crate smacked into Psych distracting him long enough for her to run up and buck him right in the chest.

Applejack rushed towards him and reared on her hind legs. Psych saw this and jumped back just as she stomped the ground in front of him. He lit up his eyes, but Applejack ran up and gave him a good strike right across his muzzle; Psych anticipated the buck and jumped back and avoided it before using his powers to launch a fireball at her. The farm mare galloped and slid under the fireball before getting up and jumping giving him a good headbutt to the chest.

Psych was knocked back and fell on his side. He quickly rose and activated his powers once again. This time, five large daggers with jagged edges materialized in front of him. They launched themselves at Applejack who managed to dodge four of them. The fifth one cut right through her right flank leaving a deep gash which began to bleed.

As she winced in pain, the knives turned around and went back for her. Despite her deep wound, she managed to dodge all of them. She charged once again at Psych who, with a wave of his hoof, pulled all the knives back before driving them into the ground before him halting Applejack's advance.

"I'm serious y'know." Psych told her. "I doubt you can't lie to save your life. It's just not who you are isn't it?"

Ignoring the gash on her flank, Applejack humphed. "Huh...ya got that right."

An idea suddenly struck Psych making his eyes widen and his hooves tingle with excitement. "I see. But do you know who the greatest liar ever is?" She raised an eyebrow. "It's the pony whom you trusted, the pony you gave a job and your hospitality, the pony who's done nothing but lie to you since the day you met."

Psych grinned upon seeing what looked like irritation flash across the mare's face. "Ironhead..." she muttered.

"Indeed." Psych nodded. "If anypony could lie and conceal things, it's him. Did you know he was already prepared to lie to anypony he encountered if the situation required it? Think of how he deceived you, how he spoke nothing but filth to you. Think of how he lied to you."

Despite her anger towards Psych, she had to agree with him. "He...He lied to me..."

Upon detecting the sorrow in her voice, Psych's grin grew wider. "He was prepared to do so before he came here? He was prepared to give anypony nothing but lies. It's his nature; just as I am Grief itself, he is the very incarnation of Deceit itself."

"Wh-whaddya mean by that?"

"I mean that he was able to deceive you Element of Honesty." Psych said, his voice dripping with malice. A flash of light appeared in front of him and materialized into the pony they were talking about.

"I...Ironhead..."

"I lied to you." he told her with a face devoid of any emotion. "You gave me a job, you thought of me as a friend, you trusted me, and in return, I lied to you."

Applejack stared at him once again feeling the pain she felt two days earlier. "You weren't like anypony else...I thought you were special...I thought...you thought I was special..."

Psych's eyes and smile couldn't get any wider. Ironhead's expression didn't change upon hearing her words. "Did I? Did I really think you meant anything to me? I guess you'll never know..."

With that, his form vanished into nothingness. Applejack bowed her head feeling even worse than she already did. She didn't deny the fact that she had feelings for him, but what about him? When he asked her out on that date, was that just another attempt to get close to her and get the Elements or was it a display of his own feelings?

"OK!" Psych cheerful shout reminded her that he was present. "Now that bringing emotional pain is done, it's time to go back to the physical pain!"

Grinning like the psychopath he was, Psych raised a hoof. Immediately the sky darkened with storm clouds. Looking skywards with her jaw hanging, Applejack saw a dark tornado suddenly burst from the clouds. Upon closer inspection however, she saw that it wasn't made of wind but of millions of daggers similar to the ones currently embedded in the ground.

Terror paralyzed her as the tornado approached. Applejack suddenly found herself surrounded by the daggers which spun around her at dizzying speeds. The winds they created started to pick up and before she knew it, Applejack felt her hooves leave the ground. Her legs flailing about, she was lifted in the air. As she spun around several times, she noticed several of them stop and point right at her.

"You're in my world." Applejack was surprised to hear Psych's voice so high up in the air. Back on the ground, he slowly raised a hoof and pointed it at the sky. "I control everything you hear, everything you see...everything you feel..." He suddenly thrust his hoof forward. "Feel this."

Instantly, Applejack was thrust into a world of nothing but blind agony. The tornado of daggers closed in on her and the screaming began. First, two daggers came from behind and stabbed themselves into her back. As she screamed out, three daggers shot out and cut across her stomach several times while another pair flew in and dug themselves into her front right leg.

THIS AIN'T REAL! THIS AIN'T REAL! she screamed in her head as she felt the daggers cut her up mercilessly.

As the winds buffeted her around, several more daggers flew in and sliced across her sides while others stabbed themselves into her at various places. A cluster of them flew at her face and started desecrating it; one dagger came in and slashed her right across her left eyes while the others started cutting her face apart. Several more swarmed around her and sliced through her flesh with their unforgiving blades.

Her blood began to fall like rain. Hearing her cries of anguish, seeing the crimson blood staining the floor, feeling the wind tear the farmer to pieces...Psych never felt more alive. He stood up on his hind legs, spread his fore legs and started laughing his heart out. Through the agony she was being put through, she heard it. It was just cold, heartless and evil as it came from a demon from Tartarus itself.

An eternity of pain later, the hurricane vanished leaving Applejack to plummet to the ground and hit it with a sickening crunch. The mare was barely recognizable. Her belly, which was a beautiful shade of orange, was now covered in blood, daggers, wide gashes, chunks of flesh and several other wounds. Her neck had five daggers embedded in it allowing her to do nothing but whimper in agony. He face was just as desecrated as the rest of her was. Her left eye was reduced to just a bleeding socket, both her ears were cut off, her mouth was full of her own blood, and her one good eye was filled with tears and looking at Psych in fear.

Suddenly, the light in his eyes vanished taking the pain with it, but the memory of it made Applejack tremble with terror. A few seconds later, Psych used his powers again with Applejack looking as good as new ready for another round of pain. "Y'know Honesty, there's only so much a pony's mind can handle." he said approaching her slowly. "You've shown plenty of resilience until now, but even you have your limits."

Applejack tried to get up, but her legs were trembling so much that she couldn't stand. Psych went and planted a hoof on her, pinning her down. With nowhere left to go, AJ looked up in fear at the maniac grinning at her. "Y'know, I was saving this for Generosity." Her eyes widened as a chainsaw materialized in his hooves. "But I'm certain I'll think of something that'll top this."

Grinning evilly, he pulled the cord, and the chainsaw roared into life. He raised it over his head and quickly brought it down towards her. Thinking fast, Applejack grabbed her hat and brought it up to the chainsaw before it could touch her. Her precious Stetson was shredded to pieces, but those pieces got caught up in the chainsaw, causing it to sputter and stop working altogether.

"What the hell?!" Psych cried out bringing up his chainsaw for inspection. Seeing her chance, Applejack got her hooves on his chest and shoved him back. As Psych rose, Applejack managed to stand despite her legs feeling like Sugarcube Corner's apple gelatin. She charged at him a little clumsily, but managed to barrel right past him without him getting a chance to activate his powers.

Applejack halted and quickly turned around. Upon seeing the colt turn, she quickly looked around and spotted the crate she used earlier. Psych's eyes began to glow once again trusting her into the world of his illusions. In in, she saw a buzz saw materialize in front of him and launch itself at her. Panicking, she quickly jumped behind the crate and braced herself.

To her surprise, the buzz saw didn't come crashing into the crate and sawing her in half. Still, she didn't believe she was in the clear yet, that is until she heard hoof steps. She turned around and saw Psych run up in front of her and activate his powers creating the buzz saw once again. Applejack quickly jumped over the crate and hid behind it again. Again, the buzz saw didn't come at her. She heard Psych growl angrily before running up to face her.

Intrigued by this, she grabbed the crate and held it in front of her; somehow, it had protected her from his powers. Her view of Psych was blocked, but she heard him growl in annoyance before running to her right. Guided by the sound of his hooves, Applejack turned towards him still carrying the crate. Annoyed, Psych ran in circles around her looking for an opening, but his target managed to keep up with him.

"Dammit! Come out of there!" he roared as he continued to run. Applejack didn't respond and just kept hiding behind the crate.

Eventually, Applejack saw her chance when she heard him panting. As his galloping slowed down, Applejack ran forwards and rammed him with all her might. Psych was knocked back and struggled to get up, but Applejack, with adrenaline pushing her fear away, charged and emptied his lungs with a buck to his chest. Before Psych could get up, Applejack lassoed the crate and hurled it over him. Before he could bust out, she ran over and jumped on top of it just as the pounding started.

"Hey! Lemme out!" Psych roared hammering against the crate with his hooves. Luckily, Applejack's weight was enough to keep him in. Feeling satisfied with his entrapment, she sighed and slumped over the crate breathing heavily. The fight was over, but she doubted she would ever forget the things she saw and felt. She clutch herself and trembled a little remembering the pain he put him through.

"Jus' where th' hay do these guys come from?" she wondered out loud.



"Applejack." Said pony snapped into attention upon hearing her name. She saw Twilight approached looking worried. "I heard about what was going on and rushed here as fast as I could. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Twi', but I don't think Rarity an' I're gonna get any sleep fer th' next few days." she said still trembling a little.

"Rarity? Where is she?" Twilight looked around for her friend.

"Over there." The farm pony pointed at the building she his Rarity behind. "She might still be there. This feller over here got to 'er first." she added thumping the crate.

"I swear when I'm released, I'm gonna-"

"Save yer breath." Applejack told him. "He's one of 'em Twi' just like Ironhead and the rest of 'em." Her friends eyes widened. "He said he can do illusions, real nasty illusions in fact."

"Illusions?" Twilight asked.

"Yep. They feel real, but he can't hurt anypony now."

"This crate blocked his powers?"

"Uh huh. Don't exactly know why either."

Twilight looked at the crate with an intrigued expression. After doing some thinking, she turned to her friend. "Applejack, when I give the word, get rid of the crate."

"Ya sure about this?" the latter asked.

"Positive. If physical objects can block his powers, maybe other kinds can too."

Applejack just nodded trusting her. She slowly got down while keeping her hooves pressed on the crate. She locked eyes with Twilight who began counting. "One...Two...Three...Now!"

Applejack yanked the crate away and braced herself for whatever happened. Psych triumphantly rose to his hind legs and activated his powers. His eyes glowing, he readied himself to give the mares pain unlike anything else...only to be stopped by a magenta barrier surrounding him.

"Aw c'mon!" Psych cried out indignantly. He sat on his haunches and crossed his forelegs. Applejack finally let loose the breath she had been holding.

"So keeping him in here should protect us as well." Twilight concluded.

Psych took notice of her for the first time. "Oh hey, you're the other Magic. Just what d'you plan on doing to me?" he asked.

She tilted her head confused. "Magic? My name is Twilight Sparkle, and as for you, I'll think I'll keep you locked up somewhere you can't hurt anypony."

"Like what the city jail?" Psych asked sarcastically. "Good luck. Those jails have bars don't they? That's not enough to block my powers."

Understanding his point, Twilight's brow furrowed. "Well...I'll just have to keep you at home."

"What?!" Applejack exclaimed returning from fetching her hat whose destruction was just an illusion. "This pony here's a maniac! You just gonna leave him at yer place?!"

"Don't worry AJ; I'll keep him in the basement." Twilight reassured. "I'll even put a barrier around it so he can't get out."

AJ managed to relax a little. "OK, but y'all be careful OK? Trust me; you don't wanna mess with 'im"

Twilight nodded. "Now is Rarity alright?"

"Tremblin' like a leaf, but she' a-OK." Applejack led the way while Twilight, leaving Psych in his prison, followed here behind the building where she found Rarity crying.

"Oh my goodness." Twilight said dropping down to help her friend. Upon seeing her, the white unicorn rushed and held onto her for dear life. As she continued to cry, Twilight stroked her back in an effort to comfort her.

"I'll take o' her Twi'. You get 'im nice and locked up ya here?" Applejack told her gesturing her head towards Psych.

Twilight nodded and handed Rarity over to Applejack who carried her on her back as they walked away. As they did, Twilight returned to Psych who was still sitting grumpily and levitated him with her magic. She began to walk home wondering just what the hell was going on.



"Hey Twilight, you sure about keeping that guy in here? He give's me the creeps. Did you see his eyes? He looked at me like he was gonna eat me or something." Spike said wincing a little a few minutes after Twilight arrived home, placed a barrier around the inner half of the basement and magically locked the door.

"I know he seems scary Spike, but I have to keep him somewhere he can't hurt anypony." Twilight replied albeit feeling a little nervous. "Beside, since we couldn't get any information from Ash, maybe we could get some from him."

"Yeah, but what if he tries to escape?"

"Already thought of that." Twilight answered hopefully. "I moved all my scientific equipment to the other side of the room; the only things on his side are a bunch of file cabinets and outdated books. Trust me, he won't be breaking out of there."

Meanwhile in Twilight's basement...

Psych sighed as he tapped the shimmering lavender shield that confined him to half of the basement floor. It was sturdy enough to take several blows before finally breaking. He sighed again looking around for some means to escape so he can corner Twilight and her little dragon friend and drive them to insanity. Unfortunately, the only things with him were some dusty old books and a few file cabinets. Sighing once more, he got to work.

A few minutes after leafing through the books, he found nothing that could help him. Just for the heck of it, he picked up the biggest one among them and chucked it at the barrier. It shimmered briefly, but remained undamaged. Sighed , he went to the file cabinets and began going through them only finding things like old research notes, schedules, discarded check lists and records.

That all changed however, when he opened the bottom most drawer of the third file cabinet he was browsing. Instead of seeing more papers, Psych saw instead a large, thick purple binder with Twilight's Cutie Mark under it. Intrigued, he picked it up noticing golden words underneath the mark. it read: Friendship Reports. Curious, he opened the binder; on the first page, there was what looked like a letter written on fine parchment.

"I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the "magic of friendship". She must report to me her findings, from her new home... in Ponyville."

A wide, sadistic grin broke out of the earth pony's face, and excitement tingled in his hooves. Forget escaping, he had found something that would make his imprisonment much more enjoyable. Grinning like the mad pony he was, Psych opened the binder and began to read.

Let's see. Dear Princess Celestia...