//------------------------------//
// Seeds of Mistrust 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Brothers of Discord 
// by mr.myxsiple 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER 44
SEEDS OF MISTRUST


The trek to Ponyville from Fluttershy's cottage was rather uneventful for Psych. The maroon earth pony trotted on with a spring in his step happily anticipating his arrival in town. Truth be told, he missed that quaint little community filled with all those happy faces and cheerful laughs; he was going to have oh so much fun there.

Psych however had two particular ponies in mind. True, it would've been fun to pay everypony in town a visit and give them a little (or maybe a lot of) hell, but his plans for the day primarily revolved around two mares in particular. The first one would be easy to find but the second one was a different story. At least they live in the same town.

To his delight, Ponyville's bustling market district came into view. Ponies all around were busy chatting with each other initially unaware if the earth pony's presence. Smiling wickedly, Psych continued on knowing that they'd have to take notice of him eventually. True enough, an earth pony mare with a flower in her mane standing behind a flow stall spotted him and shrieked.

"It's him! The psycho pony!"

Her shout got the marketplace's attention. All eyes turned to where she was pointing. Grinning ever wider, Psych threw his head up and lit up his eyes.

"Everypony run!"

Five seconds later, Psych found himself in the middle of an empty street. As s small gust of wind blew a stray piece of paper around, he took a deep breath and reminisced about the frightened looks and panicked screams he had just witnessed. With a satisfied grin, he continued on; now that he thought about it, he probably should've held on or two of them down and asked them for directions, maybe torture them a little while he was at it.

"Huh...Now where the hay did everypony go?"

Hearing that voice made his ears perk up and his mouth curl into a smile. He rounded a corner and spotted a single pony standing next to an empty stand, a Stetson held in one hoof, a pair of bulging saddlebags on her back and two baskets of apples next to her. Like a predator stalking its prey, he crept forward. Her back was turned towards him as she scratched her head in confusion.

"Honesty, just the pony I'm looking for!"

Hearing that voice turned her blood to ice. For a split second, she found herself floating in midair while a whirlwind of knives desecrated her flesh. Taking a huge gulp, she turned around spotting the colt as he slowly came into view.

"Y-You!" Applejack cried out pointing at him.

"Yeah; it's me. Been a while hasn't it?" Psych asked casually.

"If ya mean a while since I kicked yer flank, then ya." she replied trying to sound braver than she actually was. "You still makin' trouble 'round here? Did everypony head for the hill 'cause of you?"

"Well yeah, but they're not my concern at the moment." Psych took a step forward and placed a hoof on his chest. "I don't expect you to believe me, but I wanna say that I'm merely hear to talk."

AJ took one look at him and snorted. "Yer right; I don' believe ya."

Psych chuckled at that. "Of course you don't; I'm a psychopathic maniac remember? If you wish to fight me, I wouldn't mind having another bout with you." he added making his eyes glow with that same light.

Applejack growled and humphed; win or lose, she didn't want a repeat of their last fight. "Fine. Do whatever ya gotta do an' get goin'. In case ya haven't noticed, yer scarin' away all mah customers."

Psych looked over his shoulder and spotted several ponies peering from the sides of buildings too frightened to approach. "Well I'm here aren't I?"

"Well yeah, but unless yer here to pay-"

Psych silenced her by pulling out a pouch and shaking it in his mouth, the bits insides jangling as he did so. "You sell apple products don't you? I wanna purchase some."

Still suspicious, Applejack lowered her saddlebags and unpacked her merchandise. That afternoon, she had brought her usual wares; in addition to the usual apples, she had a wide assortment of apple-based treats ranging from fritters and crumbles to pies and cakes. "Hmm, what to chose...what to chose..."

Applejack kept her eyes peeled for any sudden movements as he looked over her wares. "How much for those apples?" he asked pointing at a basket.

"Three bits fer five apples." she answered. "Fritters, crumbles and pies're two bits each. Whole cake's five bits."

"Hmm." Psych opened his bit pouch and counted his money. "Are all these still fresh?"

"Uh huh."

"Huh. I'd hate to have them go bad while I'm still here. Hang on; gimme a moment."

Applejack shuffled around, uncomfortable with talking so casually with a complete sadist. Then again, a customer was still a customer no matter how much pain he had caused her and Celestia knows how many other ponies. Pouting a little, she waited for him to make a choice still ready to act if he ever did something unexpected.

"I'll have a pie and some of those fritters." Psych said finally. "That's 10 bits yes?"

Applejack nodded while packing up the pie and the fritters while Psych counted his bits. As he handed over 10 shiny gold coins, Applejack set a large box and a paper bag on his back. "A pleasure doing business with you Honesty."

"Hmmph. Well ya got yer treats. Why don'cha go do what ya gotta do now?" Applejack said waving him off, but Psych stood completely still. "Go on. Git." Still no response. "Look, havin' ya around's bad business fer me. What is it ya gotta do anyway?"

"Actually Honesty, I came here to see you." Her eyes widened in panic as she took a step back. "Worry not; As I've said, I'm not here to torture you. I'm here only to talk."

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "If ya really wanna talk, then I gotta few words for ya mister."

"Yeah. I'm certain you do." Psych said rolling his eyes with a sadistic grin. "By all means, go. I'm certain things down at your farm are much more difficult now without that liar to help you."

He had to bring him up. Applejack thought as she unpacked the rest of her wares. "We're managin'. We worked pretty fine b'fore he showed up, and we can work fine without 'im."

"I can see that. So you aren't curious at all to why he's been absent for the past few days?" Psych asked. "In case you were wondering, all this time, he was at home busy playing hero."

Hearing that caught her attention. "Playin' hero?"

"Yes; he does that doesn't he?" Psych asked mischievously. "Always wanting to fight the villain, always rushing off to help those who require it, always ready to save the day...That's him in a nutshell wouldn't you say so?"

"I guess..." she admitted thinking about how he had helped saved the farm from that fire. "Wait a sec; what're you goin' at here?"

"Oh believe me when I say I'm not exactly as fond of him as you are at the moment." Psych answered. "After all, he did lie to your face and took advantage of your kindness and hospitality. He even went as far as making you think he liked you."

Grief flashed on the farmer's face as old wounds were reopened making Psych smile even wider. "I honestly anticipated he'd do such a thing; he is after all the incarnation of pure Deceit, of lies, trickery and falsehood, everything against everything you stand for correct?"

"He...He said he was sorry..." Applejack said remembering how distraught he looked when he did so.

"I could be another lie; you can never tell with him." Psych said with a sideways glance. "But you always mean what you say correct? You don't conceal things or fool others. You truly are good and honest to everypony right?"

"Y...Yeah...I guess." Applejack said with a shrug.

"And yet he's got the gall to call himself a hero." Psych said with contempt. "Can you believe that? What hero goes around lying to ponies right in their face? Heroes are supposed to be noble and stand for all things righteous. But what does he do huh?"

"He lies that's what." Applejack said bitterly. "I thought he was a hero though..."

"Believe me, he's anything but. He may act and think like he is one, but that doesn't change what he is. Or what he's done." Applejack looked aside for a moment. "Even after all he's done, does he seriously believed he's Super Mane or something? He deceived you Honesty, not very heroic at all. Of course, that's his nature. Do you know he has the ability to lie without detection?"

"You serious? Is that even possible?"

"If you couldn't tell, then that's a show of his power." Psych continued. "My special talent turns me into a living lie detector, but whenever I turn to him, I'm unable to tell. Even when he says the most obvious of lies, I still read him as telling the truth. I'm the only one there who can never tell whether he's being honest or not. *Sigh...* I guess I know how you feel."

Applejack glared at him. "Y'all don' know know how I feel..."

"Whatever you say. At least we can agree that he's undeserving of his title of hero." Psych said with a chuckle as he turned away. "I suppose I should get going and do my other business before this pie gets too cold. Until next time Honesty; I promise to make our next encounter much more enjoyable..."

He ended his sentence with a dark laugh as he thought about just how much he was going to enjoy it. Though he couldn't see Applejack's face as he left the market district, he didn't need to turn around to see it. He could picture it clearly in his head- downcast, eyes distraught, mouth in a frown, ears flat against her head, doubts in her heart.

And he was just getting started.



I probably should've asked her for directions. Then again, she wasn't in any condition to tell me. Psych thought chuckling as he scanned the sky. He knew that the other pony would be much more difficult to find, but he had to find her before the pie for Ash got cold.

Keeping his eyes peeled, he entered Ponyville's park which quickly emptied once the ponies in it spotted Psych. Grinning evilly, he made his way over to a nearby bench and sat down, dropping his bag off in the process. He peered inside and poked a hoof at the pie feeling its warmth. He gave it a sniff and couldn't help but admit that it smelled heavenly.

A whooshing sound from overhead caught his attention. Psych looked up and flinched as a blue blur shot right past his head ruffling his mane a bit. Looking to the side, he saw a rainbow trail lead up to a blue pegasus darting through the air. One look at her multicolored mane was enough for Psych to identify who it was. He grinned as he rose from his seat.

"Hey, I wanna word with you!" Rainbow did a barrel roll and twirled around a cloud. "Loyalty!" She flew in several loop making Psych dizzy a little. "Can't you hear me?!" She flew towards the ground and pulled up flying towards him. Psych jumped on her path and stared her down. "Alright, listen up; I-"

But Rainbow once again flew right above him generating winds that messed up his mane. Growling and stamping his hoof, he looked up again and saw her flying up again out of earshot, his eyes narrowing and his lips curling into a sneer. "Very well then; I know just how to get your attention..."

Chuckling darkly, his eyes glowed with dark rose light. Rainbow, oblivious to the earth pony's actions, flew through several clouds before flying towards the ground. Seeing her approach and enter his range, Psych concentrated, and a large machete materialized in front of him. Narrowing his eyes at the oncoming pony, Psych took aim and launched the weapon straight towards her.

By the time Rainbow registered the flying blade, it had already struck her right between her eyes with a loud thud and sunk half its length into her skull. Blinded by the pain, she spun out of control almost hitting Psych who ducked at the last second. Rainbow smacked into the ground face first, driving the machete deeper deeper into her head, and continued to bounce away sending the blade deeper and deeper until her until it finally burst from the back of her head.

By then, she had come to a halt and laid on her side gasping and shaking, her head in unbearable pain. She could feel blood oozing out from around the blade dripping onto the ground and down her face. The sick, metallic taste of her own blood almost made her vomit. Her breath in rapid gasps, she raised a hoof, which trembled so greatly she could barely control it, and gently touched handle of the blade.

"GRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Agony shot through her as the machete budged. She fell on her side trembling like crazy. Tears forming out of her eyes, she started hyperventilating, wondering why in the name of all things good and decent in the world wasn't she dead yet.

Through the agony, she heard hoof steps approach her. Her eyes swiveled up spotting Psych, a sinister look on his face. As much as he would love to continue, he needed to talk with her. The glow in his eyes vanished and, much to Rainbow's surprise, so did the pain. Shocked, she felt her head eyes widening at the lack of blood and blade.

"I'm glad I finally gained your attention Loyalty." he said drawing her attention away from what had just happened.

"Huh?...Wha...What the hay did you do to me?!" she cried out getting up in his face. Any other pony would've flinched at the display, but Psych wasn't a normal pony.

"I got your attention." Psych answered simply. "You are too busy flying around to notice me, so I brought you down. As to why, I wanna talk."

Rainbow drew back and, remembering the tears that had formed, quickly wiped them off. "Talk? You almost cut my head in two, and now to tell me you just wanna talk?!"

"Yeah. That's the whole reason to why I'm here. I just want to talk." Psych replied slowly.

She glowered at him and stood her ground. "Yeah right; I know you. You're one of those guys with the freaky powers. What's up with you; Twilight said you guys don't really wanna hurt us."

"She can't account for my actions; I tend to act separately from my so called 'brothers'." Psych explained. "I don't require their permission if I wanna do anything."

"Huh..." Rainbow said eyeing him from head to hoof. Probably could take him if it came to that. "So what's your deal? What d'you wanna talk about?"

That same evil grin crept across his face. "I've heard you and Treachery've had a recent falling out."

"Uh, me and who?" Rainbow asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Y'know, the pony that said he was your trusted friend? The pony that gained your trust? The pony that took said trust and smashed it to bits? The pony who took advantage of your friendship? The pony who betrayed you?"

"Scar..." Rainbow muttered with a frown.

"Yup, that's him." Psych replied cheerily. "I heard he tried to apologize to you and you turned shot him down. Smart move deciding not to trust him anymore."

"Hmmph." She crossed her arms and did a sidelong glance. "He...He said he was sorry...That jerk..."

But a memory stirred in her mind, that of an elated Scar cheering her name like he was her number one fan after doing a Sonic Rainboom. Hearing praise and cheering from anypony had always been music to her ears, but she couldn't help but think that that Scar was more like the Scar that she knew, the happy if not overly enthusiastic goofball who had her back. Not a traitor at all.

Maybe I was a little too hard on him...

Psych's grin grew even wider upon seeing her distant look. He was hoping for this, this momentarily display of connection with that pony. "Oh you don't have to worry about him at all. He's actually doing quite fine now."

"Huh?"

The earth pony chuckled; several overheard conversations had given him the information he needed. He had gotten the basics, but the finer details could easily be...exaggerated. "Yeah. You see, he's befriended sompony recently. Actually, the very same day he tried to make amends with you. Are you familiar with the name...Derpy Hooves?"

"D-Derpy?" Images of crossed eyes, bulging mailbags, misdelivered packages, muffins and a goofy grin crossed through her mind. "Derpy...and Scar?"

"Indeed." Psych said with a nod. "The very same day he attempted regaining you trust, he decided to go spend some time at a local bar around here. That's where he met with Derpy and hung out with her all night."

Rainbow looked away again and shrugged. Nothing really bothered her at that point. If Scar had indeed made a new friend, then that was good for him. It didn't really bother her that much...

"Then they got totally drunk and went to her house."

"Wha-huh?" Psych once again had her attention. Rainbow blinked twice, staring at him in disbelief wondering she he had misheard him.

"You heard me right Loyalty. His wings were also aching; after getting drunk out of their minds and being ejected from the bar, Derpy offered to give him a 'massage'." He raised his eyebrows suggestively. "At her home."

"S...Seriously?"

"According to Treachery, they had more to drink at her place. Then, he got on her bed and beckoned her to him." Rainbow's eyes were the size of plates at this moment. "She crawled on top of him and ran her hooves across his wings, and we both know just how...sensual...an act like that can be..."

Savoring her expression, Psych continued. "I'm no pegasus, but I believe you can imagine what sort sensations they were both going through at that moment. The gentle touch of her hooves running though his primaries, the sensation of stretching and massaging the spot that joins the wing and the body, the moaning...I bet he was moaning in absolute ecstasy. Especially when he flipped over and told her to massage his chest. I bet you could hear him egging her on, demanding more and more..."

"Alright alright! I get it! Sheesh; way too much information!" Rainbow cried out shaking her head repeatedly.

Psych grinned at her discomfort. "Alright fine. You don't want me to elaborate. I get it that you're quite uncomfortable about all this."

"What? Me? Uncomfortable?" She waved him off. "C'mon, if Scar wants to hook up with somepony, then he should go for it. It's not like I'm his boss or anything..."

"You do have a point." Psych replied with a nod. "I mean, if it were me, I'd be furious with him. He apologized and sounded so sincere about it, and when things went south, he was so quick to move on to somepony else and make a new friend." He shrugged and flashed a grin. "I'm surprised he tossed you aside for somepony else after all you've been through. A traitor through and through is he not?"

Rainbow had her jaw clenched as she took in his words. Psych turned around returned to the bench where he picked up the bag and placed it back on him. "I'd love to stay and chat some more, but Ash's pie's getting cold. I'll leave you to...ponder Treachery's latest actions. Until next time Loyalty..."

Like with Applejack, he never looked back as he trotted out of the park already knowing what he would see if he did. Psych grinned and fought to urge to let out a maniacal laugh, but he held his tongue; there would be plenty of time for that later. For now, there was a pie and some fritters on his back ready to be given to Ash. He briefly wondered how his brother was doing.

Things had gone better than expected. He was glad his trip to Ponyville hadn't been a total waste. He had delivered his message, and he needed was a little time before things got even more...interesting. The image of a single golden ticket flashed through his mind as he sped up his walk out of Ponyville, eventually reaching the path to Fluttershy's cottage.

The seeds have been planted; I can't wait for them to bloom...