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


CHAPTER 28
THE MEDIATOR


"Well...here goes nothing..."

Ponyville's marketplace was bustling with activity. Blues could hear each salespony as they chatted with their customers, some talking about how they were, others haggling for a cheaper price. "What a rather lively town..." Blues commented as he made his way through.

There were two ponies, one earth pony and one unicorn, chatting while they headed his way. "Excuse me for bothering you two," he said to both of them. "But I was wondering if you could help me with something."

Both ponies stopped and gazed at him curiously. "Sure." the earth pony said in a friendly manner. "Say, you're new here aren't you?"

"Yes, but I won't be staying long." Blues answered her. "I just happen to be looking for somepony, my brother to be exact. He left home unexpectedly yesterday, and I thought he'd be here."

"Wow that sucks." the unicorn replied. "If anybody in my family ever went missing, I wouldn't know what I'd do."

"I'm glad you share me concern." Blues continued. "I'm looking for a pony named Psych; have you come across somepony with that name?"

Hoping for a "yes" from either mare, Blues waited patiently as they thought. "Sorry; doesn't ring any bells. Bonnie?"

"Same with me." Blues felt his heart sink a little. "What does your brother look like? Maybe I've seen him somewhere."

Hope returned to Blues. "He's an earth pony. He has a maroon coat, dark rose eyes, a white and light grey mane..."

"Hey tell me...he wouldn't have an eye on a brain as his Cutie Mark would he?" the unicorn asked in a strangely nervous way.

Blues however cared only about what she said "You know him? You've seen a pony like that here in town?" he asked hurriedly.

"Yeah. I saw him yesterday standing in the middle of a street full of screaming ponies."

Once again, Blues heart sunk this time deeper than earlier. "R...Really?"

"Yeah. Scariest thing I ever saw. All those poor guys and girls screaming and thrashing..."

"I heard about that." the pony known a "Bonnie" added slightly fretful. "You came home so scared yesterday." She gave the other mare an affectionate nuzzle.

"Sweet Celestia Psych!" Blues muttered running a hoof through his mane, his marble eyes filled with concern. Psych had been gone one day, and he had already psychologically scarred several ponies.

"Seriously, that guy's your brother?" the unicorn asked. Her tone wasn't harsh or accusatory, just surprised.

"Yes." Blues replied firmly. "Look, I'm sorry for the things he has done. I know he has wronged the ponies here in Ponyville, but he is still my family. He has been missing for a day, and we are all worried sick about him. Please...I have to find him before he hurts anypony else..."

Once again, Blues waited tensely for their answer. He heard a sigh from one of them followed by an answer. "Well...last time I heard...He was taken away by Twilight."

"Twilight..." He had a feeling those six would be involved in this. "Where would I find her? I'll need specific directions."

"OK..." Bonnie sounded uneasy. "Just take a left on Trot Boulevard-"

"I'm sorry, but no street names please. I need a specific path to where she is." Blues said causing his companions to look at each other.

"If that's what you want..." the unicorn said with a shrug. "Just uh...head straight from here and make a right. Then take the third left intersection. Keep going forward until, and you'll end up right in front of it."

"Is there anything special about the building? Anything that sticks out?" Blues questioned.

"It's a giant tree. It shouldn't be too hard to find." Bonnie pointed out.

"A large tree...I understand." Blues nodded to both mares. "Thank you both for your help. I apologize once again for my brother's actions and wish you both a good day."

With that, he trotted away from the two mares remembering the instructions the unicorn gave him. As he did, he heard them continue to talk to each other about him. "That guy seemed a little weird don't you think?" the unicorn asked.

"Well he doesn't seem like a bad pony. I'm just surprised he's brother with the guy the did all those things. I saw Colgate a while ago, and she was still shaking and saying something about a claw."

"Now that's just freaky. First those three guys show up and chase Twilight around, then that fire, then that guy who showed up, and now him. Just what is going on in this town?"

If only you knew...If only you knew...Blues thought as he quickened away.



"M-More toast most beautiful one?" Spike offered clad in a blue apron, a plate of freshly toasted bread in his claws.

Grateful, Rarity levitated two slices and began spread it on the bread. "Why thank you Spike. You've been such a dear ever since you've woken up." She gave him an affectionate cheek rub that made him blush.

"If only he was this cheerful every morning." Twilight remarked taking a sip of orange juice. "You don't have any idea how much he grumbles while he's making breakfast."

"Twilight..." Spike said embarrassed while Rarity giggled. "I'm not really like that..."

"Excuse me? I believe your exact words earlier were: 'Hey Twilight, can't you write a letter to the princess about making the sun come up la-Oh! H-Hi there Rarity...Would you like me to make your breakfast?'"

Spike remained silent after than and went to pour himself a bowl of cereal. "I have you thank you as well Twilight." Rarity continued. "I'm certainly feeling much better now with a good night's sleep."

"Well it's nice to see you back to your old self." Twilight replied deciding not to mention the fact that the pony that almost drove her insane was locked up in her basement. "And it's nice to have company for breakfast. So how's business lately?"

Rarity was about to answer when she was interrupted by a knock on the library door. Spike opened it revealing one of the guards stationed yesterday. "Flash? Is there something you need?" Twilight asked him.

"No Ms. Twilight. I'm just here to report that there's been no disturbance of any kind in Ponyville so far." the guard reported setting his spear against the wall. "How are things here? Is the prisoner still secure?"

"Uh..." Twilight glanced towards Rarity who had an eyebrow raised. "He's still under heavy protection. He won't be hurting anypony anytime soon."

"I see. That's good to hear." Flash replied. "Still, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask." Twilight nodded in understanding.

"Prisoner? Twilight, is there somepony else here?" Rarity questioned.

The librarian's pupils quickly shrunk. "I...um...well...You see Rarity..."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Whoever you are, thank you! "Oh look, somepony's at the door." Twilight said quickly. Hopefully, who ever it was would stay long enough for Rarity to finish up and leave before find out about Psych.

"Allow me." Flash offered making his way to the door and opening it. "Can I help you?"

Blues raised an eyebrow. "Er...yes. I'm looking for Ms. Twilight Sparkle. Is she in today?"

Twilight craned her neck and got a glimpse of her beige visitor. "Does Ms. Twilight know you?" Flash asked.

Blues rolled his eyes. "Well she certainly knows my brothers..."

Twilight had heard his reply and reacted by yelping, knocking aside her glass of juice and jumping back. Flash reacted as well, hastily grabbing his spear and pointing it at his nose. Blues reacted by stepping back, his mane shifting for some strange reason.

"How many of you are there?!" Twilight cried out.

"I-I'm the last! I swear!" Blues cried out. "Please, I'm just here to talk; I swear I mean no harm to any of you!"

Rarity and Spike were at the sidelines, their gazes rapidly shifting from Twilight, to Flash and then to Blues. "Please...I know my brothers have done things that hurt you, but I'm here to make things right! Please believe me!"

Blues' pleas seemed sincere and truthful, but Twilight still felt a little uneasy. If this pony was anything like the others, he'd definitely have some strange powers of his own. "I...I don't wish to hurt anypony..."

Eventually, Twilight sighed. "Stand down Flash. Let him in." she said. Flash lowered his spear and stepped aside.

"Th-Thank you." Blues said to the guard as he passed him. He turned to the mare in front of him. "Twilight Sparkle I take it? I understand your uneasiness about dealing with somepony like me. My name is Blues, and I'm here to speak on behalf of our actions."

Twilight eyed him cautiously for a while. "I take it you're here for your brother?" Twilight asked him.

"Yes. He went missing yesterday leading my family to search frantically for him. We-"

Blues suddenly stopped and turned his head to the right facing the direction Rarity and Spike were at. He was gazing at the latter with a confused expression for a while before continuing. "We were all worried about him. I asked around Ponyville and learned he was being kept here."

Twilight calmed down a little. "In that case, then you should also be aware of what he did here in Ponyville."

"I'm well aware of his actions." Blues replied with a nod. "I feel absolutely dreadful that he hurt so many ponies."

"H-H-H-He's here?!" Rarity stammered as her eyes shrunk. She ducked her head under the table and started to shake.

"Are you one of the ponies he hurt?" Alarmed and worried, Blues turned to her placing a hoof on his chest as he did. "I'm so sorry about what he did. Believe me when I say that-"

"I-I couldn't get a good night's sleep because of him!" Rarity exclaimed much to Blues' dismay. "I almost went insane!"

"Your brother also hurt another one of my friends." Twilight added upset. "I don't even know how she's even coping with what she went through."

"Please..." Blues begged. "My brother...Psych...He...He's just..."

"Heartless? Unnecessarily cruel? Evil?" Rarity suggested. Blues gritted his teeth trying not to agree with her. "A psychopath who wishes nothing more than-"

"I know how it feels!" Blues exclaimed before Rarity could finish. "I was a victim of his powers as well. I know what it's like to have him in your head and rip you piece by piece while he just sits there laughing and rejoicing over your anguish! He has been doing that to me and my family for years!"

His outburst had silenced the two mares and left them staring at him a little stunned. Blues sighed and bowed his head towards Rarity, his heart burning with pain. "You should consider yourself lucky...At least..luckier than the rest of us..."

"Wh-what do you mean?" a confused Rarity asked; she could see pain filling those white eyes of his.

"He only hurt you physically...He didn't know you personally...He didn't grow up with you...He didn't live under the same roof with you...He didn't watch you grow up and mature into the pony you are today...He didn't take every decision you made, act that you did and word that you uttered and used them to find out what it is that makes you tick...He didn't use that information to tear your entire life apart...He didn't make you question why you do the things you love..."

Twilight's eyes softened upon hearing that, and so did Rarity's. Spike's shoulders were drooping a little. Even Flash, who was merely watching everything unfold looked was yet another victim of Psych's cruelty, a victim that was also his brother. What kind of pony would do such a thing to his own brother?

"I'm sorry." she quickly apologized. "I...I didn't know..."

"It's quite alright." Blues replied turning to her. "Now that we've calmed down, can we please have a pleasant discussion about everything."

Both Twilight and Rarity nodded. "Please have a seat." the former offered.

Blues thanked her and sat at the table along with the two other unicorns. "Your other brother, Ash...We got into an incident with him as well." Twilight mentioned.

"We knew the fire was his doing. I'm sorry again for the incident." Blues replied. "Ash and Psych...they were always distant from the rest of the family. They never got themselves involved with other family matters."

"Psych said something like that yesterday." Twilight said remembering that conversation. "If he and Ash kept to themselves most of the time, then that would explain why they were so violent when we encountered them. Solstice, Ironhead and Scar, they were much more gentle compared to the other two."

"Ah yes; I've come to discuss their actions as well." Blues said with a nod. " I assure you that none of them meant to harm any of you. I saw them return home, and they all feel terrible about they did."

"They...did huh..." Twilight's thoughts drifted to Solstice. "But, are you guys still after the Elements of Harmony?"

Blues closed his eyes and took a deep breath hoping that honesty would make them less upset. "Yes. Yes we are."

Instantly, her eyes widened in alarm; Flash gripped his spear tighter. "I also wish to add that we have no intention of stealing them away from you. We'd just like to know where they are."

"They're...here in Ponyville. I have reasons to why I can't say exactly where." Twilight answered firmly. "I'd like to ask something as well. If you're not here to hurt any of us, why did Solstice threaten Ponyville?"

"He-He did?" Blues asked surprised. That didn't sound like Solstice at all. "Perhaps it's just a misunderstanding. I assure you he regrets hurting you as well Twilight."

The latter stayed silent and rubbed her hoof with another. "He didn't seem like a bad pony when I first met him." Rarity added.

"Yeah. Twilight looked like she was gonna faint or something." Spike said chuckling a little.

"Spike!"

"What? You totally were." Spike pointed out. He then noticed Blues staring at him in a confused way. "Uh, why're you looking at me like that?"

The visitor cleared his throat. "I'm...just wondering something. I don't wish to be rude, but I must ask...Why are you bipedal?"

"Bi-what?" Now Spike was confused.

"Uh, Spike's dragon. They're usually bipedal." Twilight pointed out.

"Oh a dragon." Blues said with understanding. "That also explains the things jutting out of his back."

"You couldn't tell?" Spike asked. "You never see a dragon before?"

Blues coughed a little. "Well er...I suppose that's technically correct."

"Technically correct?" Rarity asked.

Blues rubbed the back of his. "Er yes. I don't usually go around telling ponies this...I'm er...I'm blind."

All three of them looked at him not expecting that. "A-Are you serious?" Rarity asked.

"Very. Long ago, I had the ability to see, but an...incident occurred when I was but a foal. Ever since that day, I've lost that ability..." Blues explained leaving some silence in his wake.

"Hey, what color is this?" Spike asked holding up a teacup.

"Spike!" Twilight reprimanded. "Wait, if you're blind, how did you find your way here?"

Blues nervously rubbed his hooves together. "Well, like my brothers, I have special powers...My power allows me to navigate my surrounding without using sight."

"You too? How come you guys all got special powers?" Spike asked.

Blues nervously placed a hoof on his chest. "I'm sorry, but I'm not here to discuss what it is I can do."

"You're right." Twilight said. "So...I take it Solstice is the head of your family?"

"No. Our father, Equinox, is." Blues corrected. "He-"

"Equinox!" The student's shout caused the others to stare. "Your father is the Equinox?!"

"Er...yes." Blues replied leaning back a little. "Do you know him?"

"Know him? Who hasn't heard of the famous alicorn scientist who dedicated his life to studying the balance between Light and Darkness? Who hasn't seen any of his papers on the nature of primordial forces? Who hasn't heard his theory on how the world was created?"

A long silence was her response. Then slowly, two hooves, one beige, the other white, and a purple claw was slowly raised. There was then a cough as Flash slowly raised his hoof as well. "You're his son, and you haven't done any of that?" Twilight asked.

"Yes; he has several works written in Braille." Blues muttered sarcastically. "I have to say no. Solstice takes more interest in our father's work than any of us."

Annoyed, Twilight sighed. "I didn't know he had children."

"Believe it or not, but one of his children in now sitting before you." Blues said. "And another one is being held by you."

Twilight's eyes turned to the basement door. "Ever since Psych vanished yesterday, my father had been beside himself with worry. I myself could not imagine what kind of trouble he could have been in."

Rarity took note of the worry in his expression. "M...May I speak with him?" he asked quietly.

Twilight scanned his face seeing a pony concerned for his brother. Sighing, she left the table and undid her magical locks on the basement door. Flash stepped forward ready in case he was needed, but Twilight shook her head. Blues thanked her and followed her down the stairs to where his brother was.



"Psych?" Blues asked once they reached the bottom. He immediately sensed a large void; his powers couldn't sense anything beyond that.

"Greed?" Psych replied. He was finishing up on a piece of toast while going through several schedules and check-lists. Annoyed, their owner picked teleported them to the other side of the barrier. "What the hell're you doing here?" Psych asked bored now that his source of entertainment had been lost.

Hearing his voice made Blues rush past Twilight, run up to the barrier and place his front hooves on it. His face broke into a relieve smile. "It truly is you...We've all been worried sick ever since you left."

"Yeah yeah. Sure." Psych replied rolling his eyes.

"We've been searching all over for you. How could you just sneak off without informing any of us?"

"C'mon, I leave home every day to practice my powers on the creatures around home. You didn't seem to be as concerned as you are now."

"Wait, what?!" Twilight exclaimed.

"None of that matters now Psych." Blues said. "I'm here...I've come to take you home."

"Hold up. You want me to let him lose again?" Twilight asked. "He tortured Rarity and several others; who's to say he won't do it again?"

"I kinda have to agree with Magic over there." Psych said surprising her. "But not for your reason of course. As exhilarating as going out and torturing everypony in sight to the brink of madness sounds, inflicting physical pain's really...boring lately. I'm mean, I'd still enjoy slowly pushing a pony head-first into a circular saw while hacking their legs off with an axe, but I miss the psychological aspect of the torturing. I can't do much of that with complete strangers, but with her and her friends, it's been real fun! Besides, I wanna stick around and see just how long it takes to break those damn Elements of Harmony to pieces."

Blues was speechless. "H-How can you even say such a thing?" Twilight asked in disbelief.

"What? As much as possible, I use my target's own fears and vulnerabilities to drive them insane instead of the usual physical torture. When it comes to brining the pain, my motto goes: 'why pulverize when you can traumatize?'." Psych ended with a cold laugh that sent chills up her spine.

"Take you for example Magic. I know you value your friends more than anything." Psych grinned evilly at her. "So, if I gotta choose between dropping you into vat of lava or having you watch me nailing Honesty to ground, cutting her open and ripping out her organs, I'd go with the latter."

The mental image Twilight got made her sick. "Psych!" Blues exclaimed.

"Give it up Greed. She's not gonna let me out." Psych said with a smile. "Now shut up while I tell her how I plan to have her watch Kindness have her flesh ripped apart by a pack of ravenous-"

Twilight covered her ears and shook her head several times making Psych laugh with glee. "She has to decide between letting me go and risk unleashing me upon her town or keeping me here and enduring my torturing herself. Her good nature's making her chose the former, and frankly, I don't really mind!"

At this rate, nothing could convince Twilight to let him out. Despite everything, Blues didn't want to see his brother locked up like this. Desperately, he thought up a way for everything to turn out good for all of them. Like his dad years ago, and idea struck him, and he didn't like it one bit.

He was going to make Psych want Twilight to let him out.

"We entered his room." Blues said over the earth pony's cackling.

The latter stopped and turned his attention to him. "What did you say?"

"We...When we learned of your disappearance, we became worried." Blues continued. "We thought Ash might know where you were, so we unlocked his door and…Everything was a mess."

"Wh…what?" Psych asked in a soft, strange way. Twilight stared at him confused by his sudden shift in expression.

"His entire room was in disarray. I was in there myself and witnessed the chaos myself." Blues continued painfully remembering those events. "Ash himself was…even more of a mess. Th-they told me about the bruises all over his body…How did those get there?!"

Stunned, Psych remained silent, his head bowed upon remembering just how much pain Ash was in the last time he saw him. Twilight on the other had and just stunned to see and hear what sounded like actually concern and care from Psych.

"I…I swear we didn't hurt Ash enough to give him bruises all over his body." Twilight told Blues.

"There's more." Blues added darkly. "We also found out his hoof was broken-"

"WHAT?!" Psych shouted in horror. His gaze once again turned downwards and his frame shook a little. "He…That wasn't there when I saw him…"

"I-It was a hairline fracture. Solstice managed to mend it, but…He's troubled." Blues' sorrow made his eyes water little. "He's troubled Psych and none of us know why. Whatever it is that is bothering him, he needs us Psych…He needs you…"

Upon hearing those last few words, Psych realized something. He then began to tremble as his rage built up. "H…How dare you…"

He reared up on his hind legs and slammed them against the barrier. "How dare you use him against me! How dare you use him to influence me!"

Blues looked away and bit his lip. He hated using his brother's one positive trait to manipulate him, but it was for his own good and Ash's. He drew a shaky breath. "I don't want to him to be in pain Psych, and I know you don't want it either. Please…Ash needs his brother…"

Psych growled and remained silent for a while. Finally, he raised his head and turned to Twilight. "Let me out." he ordered with a snarl.

"What? I'm not letting you-"

"Twilight please." Blues begged. "I have another troubled brother back home, and Psych is the only pony who could reach him. I despise how manipulative this sounds, but caring for Ash should also stop him from coming back and hurting anypony else."

"LET ME OUT!" Psych screamed at her pounding the barrier again. "I have to get to him! He's the only pony who doesn't hate me, who doesn't reject me, who accepted me! He needs me! He's my only brother! He is all I have! I have to help him!"

Beneath the anger in his eyes, Twilight could see Psych overwhelming love for his brother, something that she was surprised to see coming from a pony who despised the world with all his heart. Maybe his heart wasn't as dark as she thought it was; maybe, in a life where he hated everypony else, Psych had actually found someone to cherish, his brother.

And that brother was in deep trouble.

Coming to a decision, Twilight lit up her horn. The barrier surrounding Psych slowly shrunk until it became a floating sphere with him inside of it. She looked at him and earned a scowl. "Don't think I'll thank you. J-Just get me to my brother."

Twilight held his gaze for a while. "You love your brother don't you?" she told him. "I know how feels to worry about one. When you have a brother, and he's in any kind of danger or trouble…you just have to help him. If he's doing something wrong, if he's misguided or lost…you have to do something about it." She shifted her gaze to Blues. "That's why you're here right? You came because you love your brother too right?"

Blues slowly nodded. "Despite everything, I will always love him like any brother should." He heard Psych scoff and mutter something that sounded like "hypocrite".

Twilight managed to smile at Blues' response. She floated Psych in front of her and marched up the stairs with Blues trailing behind. She of all ponies knew that when anypony, especially a friend or family, is troubled, you do something about it out of love. She saw that kind of love in Blues and in Psych as well.

The earth pony believed himself to be hated by the world. Becoming a psycopath, he had found a flicker of hope in the form of his brother, the only pony to have ever accepted him. Even though it was just one pony, Psych had found somepony to love, to keep him from succumbing completely to despair.

In the midst of the darkness in his heart, Ash was Psych's light.