It was dark and quiet in the baggage car. The train it was attached to was making its return to Canterlot, unknowingly carrying the sadistic Vast Minds, or as he now calls himself, Psych-Optic.

He sat in the center of the car, unmoving, his mind fixed on the moment that little wretch Candelle shot a searing jet of fire into his right eye, which he had later tore out, and then replaced with his new 'eye'. He hated that little wretch, even when he had his 'sessions' with her, though Vast relished her suffering as he poked and prodded her broken psyche. Such practice was the only thing that gave Vast pleasure after Truth's death...

Psych-Optic's robotic eye sparked as it sensed a new presence in the train car.

"What possible reason could the Herald of the Insanity have for intruding my solitude?" Psych-Optic smiled as he turned to face his visitor, who was a frightening green stallion with a darker green mane, with strange green triangles in his green eyes. They were not entertained by Psych-Optic's comment.

"You wonder how I know of you and your sister world, the Illogic? It's quite simple really," He rolled his hoof through his mane, "Many of your, how shall we say, 'lesser members' were sent to my facility, and a pony fitting your profile was who they described would kill them if they talked," Psych-Optic smiled again, "So I gave them a less.... gruesome death..."

"The fact that they were caught is more than enough to end their existence..." The green stallion growled.

"But of course...." Psych-Optic smirked as his synthetic eye looked through the triangular iris of the green stallion, though he later wished he didn't. His 'eye' was bombarded with image after image of gory fights, a deranged pony that defied all concept of logic, and himself as the green stallion stabbed a large spear though his robotic eye and out the back of his head.

Psych-Optic came to, finding the green stallion holding him above the ground with a single hoof, "If you value your meaningless life, you will not do that again..." The green stallion gritted his teeth.

Psych-Optic nodded and the green stallion released him from his grip, "I did not come to this pathetic version of the world to make idle chatter with your worthless being," The green stallion spat, "The Insanity is concerned with the status of one of our more effective members who resides here..."

"Would I know this crazed pony...?" Psych-Optic asked as he approached the green stallion, but was halted by a fierce glare from him.

"I would think so...." The green stallion turned, "She's the one who made you into what you are now..."

"Candelle?!?!" Psych-Optic jumped back, his robotic eye starting to spark, "That little wretch? She's a part of your group?"

"Indeed..." The green stallion sneered, "Pyre has been serving with us since her defeat by the Elements of Harmony...." He turned to Psych-Optic, "The Insanity has lost contact with her, some time ago, and is unable to pinpoint her location...., something is interfering..."

"Why waste time with such a wretch," Psych-Optic smirked, "When I'd be a much more useful ally...."

The green stallion barred his teeth, "I do not care for your allegiance, but since I care little for this world, you can locate Pyre for me..."

Psych-Optic smiled, "I was already doing that..., with my own plans..."

The green stallion snarled, "I don't care for your agenda...," He turned and walked away, "I only want you to locate her and determine how she is hiding from us... We don't like it when our members try to slip away...."

The green stallion tossed a small bag to Psych-Optic, "You will summon me with the item inside..."

Suddenly, a portal appeared inside the train car, large thorns crawling from the other side of it. Psych-Optic's synthetic eye began to spark from the energy emanating from it.

"May I know who it is I am serving...?" Psych-Optic gazed into the dark portal.

"The Sociopath." The green stallion said without turning, then departed through the portal which then vanished.

Psych-Optic smiled, "So Candelle, you've been busy since you left... Heh heh...." He returned to the spot he was sitting, and thought about how Candelle could escape the sight of such a powerful force.

"Very busy...."

Bright Ideas was pacing in her and Cold's apartment; she was anxious about her brother being in such an awful place.

"I just can't stop thinking about him," Bright sighed, "I hope he's okay..."

A knock on the door took Bright away from her pacing and she went to answer it.

"Hello?" She said as she opened the door, "Oh! Princess Celestia!!" She bowed, "Why are you here?"

"I've come to talk to you," The princess spoke, "May I come in?"

"Oh, Of course, your Majesty!" Bright opened the door and let the princess enter, "Sorry for the mess, but it's all of Cold's research he'd been doing."

"I see... Anyway, I need to talk to you about Candelle..."

"What is it, Princess?"

"If we ever are able to restrain her, I believe you are the one to reform her."

"Me?"

"Yes, I sense you have a great ability to communicate with ponies like her," Celestia smiled, "I know you'll be able to do this."

"Thank you, princess," Bright bowed, "Has there been any news from Cold?"

The princess shook her head.

Bright sighed, "I thought so...."

"He'll be fine, he's with one of the bravest ponies I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. But there is something else I'd like you to do..."

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"I'd like you to go to Ponyville and give Twilight Sparkle and her friends this," The Princess poofed up a scroll, "It's important that she gets this..."

Bright smiled, "Sure, I can do this, your Majesty."

"I've arranged a chariot to take you to Ponyville," Celestia went to the door, "It's very important...." The Princess then exited Bright's apartment leaving Bright to wonder what sort of message was in this scroll....

In a strange dimension, smoke and ash spread throughout, and flares burst from large lakes of fire. In the center of one of these lakes stood the Fire Alicorn, his body absorbing the lava into his body, making him grow larger and fiercer. A mouth began to form with teeth made from molten rock, and his wings became grew molten scales. Molten rock also began to cover his body, creating armor like shields.

He breathed out, coughing smoke out of his form, "I sense another familiar presence...., one that Pyre met when we were defeated...."[i/]

The Fire Alicorn levitated out of the lava pool, "So They are finally on to me...., not that it matters..., my power is already great enough to fight whatever They send at me..... And soon I'll be powerful enough to engulf this entire world!"

The Fire Alicorn vanished away in an explosion of fire and smoke, leaving a haunting laugh in the empty world....

Author's Note

The Sociopath is an original character belonging to Psychopath and was used with permission. The Insanity is also his concept.