FIGHT LIKE HELL, FIGHT LIKE DOOM MARINES!

Ch.5: Tensions flaring, Trust tested, a Sin revealed...

(Princess Celestia, Dining room...)

"Ow...why?" I groaned, as I placed a icepack against my swollen cheek. After they got me out and down from the wall, they explained that he killed my nephew! And they just told me as it is! No emotions, what so ever, nothing! I mean, I understand they didn't like him, but I tried my best to put him on the right track! Now, now that chance is gone, no thanks to Bryan!

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's because you locked him up? Just a guess." Chrysalis sarcastically answered, not really caring about my condition, nor the fact that she outrightly denies Bluebloods existence!

Groaning some more, I leaned back in my seat. We were all in the Dining room, along with the rest of the Elements. They all gave their sympathies to the lost of Twilight's brother. As well as trying to hug it all away. But, there is only so much you can do, to ease the pain of Lost.

Although, when they heard about Bryan's episode with me, they all had different reactions. For the most part, shock. Rainbow was even more furious about this, while Applejack just looked at me with suspicion.

"Really!? Such a violent brute! A ruffian like him should at least have the decency of treating a loving lady, like Princess Celestia, with respect and dignity!" Rarity shouted her distaste for him.

"I still say we lock him back up!" Rainbow demanded. "I mean, sure, he helped us out! But who's to say he won't turn on us!?"

"Now hold on, Sugarcube." Applejack said, raising a hand to silence everypony. "Ah may not like his attitude, anymore than the next pony, but he helped us out. Hay, he even helped to liberate an entire Empire, by himself, saved Princess Cadence, and avenged Shining Armor's death!"

"I agree." Velvet, Twilight's mother, spoke up in defence of Bryan. "Not only that, but he has put so much effort into building that Memorial Stone back in the Crystal Empire for the Fallen. Does his actions not speak for what he has done for us?"

Rainbow was about to say something, but Fluttershy silences her, by putting her hand over Rainbow's mouth. "Oh, of course it does! He has done us a great deal in helping us out, and so much more!" She said with an appreciative smile, until it dissolved into a frown. Sighing, she spoke again. "But the real question is, that we would all like to know..." As her gaze set sight onto me, every other pony followed suit. They, too, wish to know. "... Is why?"

I... Couldn't answer them, at least, not yet! But I couldn't run away from this either. I mean, how do you explain it to them, that you are responsible for imprisoning a being, with immense power, who has helped your entire race from facing annihilation, only to get back stabbed by the one he trusted...even if I did hated him and the rest of his kind.

I'm still surprised he hasn't killed me yet...

"Sister!" Luna shouted, snapping me out of my bemusing. "We have asked you a question: why did you do that to our Doom Marine!? And don't say that it was because you were stupid and rash, there's more to it than that!"

Sighing, I finally caved in, and told them. "I was afraid." Silence fell over again, as they looked on. "I was afraid because of their powers. I was afraid for our ponies Luna. Can you not see that what I did, was for the betterment for all of Equestria--"

"ABSURDITY!!!!!!" Luna yelled in the Royal Canterlot voice, breaking the silence. "THOU WOULD DARE TO REVERT TO SUCH COWARDLY TACTICS, OUT OF PURE SUPERSTITION!?!?!?!"

"DO I NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT OUR PONIES, LUNA!?!?!?!" I shouted back at her, also using the Royal Canterlot voice. "DO I NOT HAVE THE RIGHT, TO ENSURE A PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR ALL OF EQUESTRIA!?!?!?!"

"AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HEROES WHO FOUGHT AND BLED FOR ALL OF US!?!?!?!" Luna slammed a fist onto the table, creating many cracks within it. "MUST YOU BE SO PARANOID SISTER!?!?!?!"

"THEY WERE MONSTERS KILLING OFF OTHER MONSTERS!!!!! I CANNOT ALLOW SUCH BEASTS TO ROAM FREE!!!!!" I countered. "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE KILLING STOPS!?!?!?! WHEN THE RIVERS OF BLOOD HAVE ALL DRIED UP, AND THE MANY DEATHS OF DEMONS HAVE COME TO AN END, WHO WOULD THEY TURN TO, IF THEY HAVE NOT HAD THEIR FILL!?!?!?! US!!!!!"

Luna stared at me, eyes wide open, as she looked on. Tension was thick in the air, as everypony were on edge from all this arguing, looking between me and Luna. Except for Chrysalis, for which I cannot tell what she's thinking...

"... I hate you..." Now it was my turn to feel shocked by this.

"What?"

"I SAID I HATE YOU!!!" Luna shouted, as tears started running down her face. "Why Tia? Why must you do this to me?"

"L-Luna, what are you--?" I tried to reason with her, but she cut me off.

"Why must you torture me with your lies!?" She shouted again, through tears of anguish and sadness. "You said he was dead! I believed you! How many more lies have you told!?"

I was speechless...because she was right. I had lied to her about Bryan's death. And it's just as he said would happen, when I locked him up. He didn't even fight back, not once...

"When the Truth comes, Regret is, all, what you will ever feel. For that is the price for your Sin..."

"Was I..." I heard her continue. "Was I nothing more but a pawn to you? A doll for you to play with?"

"No." I said to her, or was I trying to convince myself?

"Then what about all those times, where everypony showered you with their Love and Appreciation, devoting it all to you? While I was pushed aside, not just by them, but by you as well. Do you remember that?" No, no, no! That's not true! I would never... "Because that is exactly what happened to me. You betrayed my trust, by using my love for you, to get you where you wanted to be."

"That is not true!" I shouted, with tears falling from my eyes, too. "Luna, I would never do that to you!"

"Well, it was already too late. Soon, I became Nightmare Moon. And it wasn't out of jealously, but absolute hatred."

"Luna, please..." I placed my hands against my ears, not wanting to hear this. "No more. I'm so sorry..." Even so, I could not shut out her words.

"I don't think I can forgive you yet. Even if you beg for it." No, Luna, please... "Perhaps our Doom Marine is right about some things: you would use anything to get things your way, without realising the consequences you will inflict upon yourself, and those around you. For example: me."

"Please Luna, stop this..." I was begging at this point, but she kept true to her word.

"No, my dear sister. I will not, and you will heed this." She stated. "You have abused the Love of many of our subjects, especially mine. You have abused your very own family member, your sibling, your blood." That last part had more bite to it, one that made me feel it. "Truly, your blinding pride has no foresight, on how much pain you have caused me. Even now..."

She didn't say anymore, everything was quiet. My eyes were closed shut, fearing to open them back up. I can feel everypony's staring down at me. It was very haunting.

"Oh my..." My eyes snapped open, as we all looked towards the doorway. Standing there, was VEGA. "It appears I have arrived a little late." He started walking over to Luna, who was looking apathetically tired from the Talk.

He had those Drones with him, each carrying plates, teacups, utensils, and others. They set the table up, even though it's in a mess of its own. But still...

"VEGA? What are you doing here?" Luna asked him, who placed a robotic hand on her shoulder, as she wipes away her tears.

"Well, Bryan wanted me to help you, however I can." He turned to look at the girls. "And to those who did not know, yes, that is his name."

"Uh... Okay??" Rainbow said, unsure on what to make of this, as she and the others just stared at him, and the Drones. Soon they served us different types of tea. "So... Who, or what, are you?"

"Apologies for the intrusion, and where are my manners. I'm VEGA, a Sentient Intelligence, within this Exo-body, upon which you can simply call, a robot." He explained.

"Oh... So, like, are y'all aliens, or something?" Applejack asked next.

"Yes." VEGA simply answered, which got them all gasping. "Well, if you think about it, technically, we are."

"What do you mean by that!?" Pinkie shot up her hand. "I mean, how long have you guys been here!?"

"10,098 years, to put it simply." He answered her, as he took out a napkin for Luna. When she took it, he came to me and gave me one, as well. "They were placed upon this universe of yours, along with me."

"Wait, wait! 'Placed'? What does that mean!?" Twilight asked him.

"Tell me, have you heard of a 'Displaced'?" VEGA asked them, which all shook their heads. "It stands for 'Dimensionally Misplaced'. Meaning that what you have seen of Bryan, is not what he used to be."

"'Not what he used to be'? So, he used to have a normal life, in his own universe?" Twilight asked, and VEGA nodded. "But, what happened then!? Who, or what, could be so cruel, as to rip everything from Bryan, and replace it with what he has become!?"

"The Merchant." VEGA answered her. When none of them understood, he continued explaining. "Bryan and his four best friends — brothers even — were going to someplace, where they could have a good time. Before reaching that said place, they stopped at this shop, where it opens up to these kinds of public festivities. The Merchant, as he was simply known, was disguised as a human, of a shady characteristic person, who sold props at a reasonable price. Which are, unfortunately, enchanted to place you somewhere else, in another universe. This is where the 'Multiverse Theory' comes to reality, seeing as this Equestria is a part of the Displaced-verse."

Everypony at this point was staring at him, dumbfounded by this information. But who could blame them? My family and I were gaping at this knowledge.

"S-s-so..." Twilight tried to speak. "We... We're not alone?"

"Not by a long shot, no. The Multiverse is infinitely vast, beyond reckoning. Plus, it is self-explanatory, isn't it?" VEGA said.

"B-but, if that's true, and that Bryan and his brothers are not the only Displaced, and that there are--!" Before she could go on, she was cut off by Applejack.

"Slow down, Sugarcube!" Applejack said, as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yer head's gonna pop, if ya keep overthinking this!"

Twilight was hyperventilating a little bit, until she finally steadied her breathing and called down. "Phew! Thanks Applejack, sorry I went overboard."

Applejack smiled at her. "That's okay, as long as you don't go losing your head." Her smile turned into a thoughtful frown though. "But, Ah see where ya going with this. But like that VEGA fella said, it's infinite. Anything could happen in any of those other Equestrias."

"And that's not the only thing, darling." Rarity chimed in. "There are others like Bryan. The poor dears, not knowing what they bought would transport them away from home, into any of the Equestrias."

"Yeah..." Rainbow muttered. "That sucks. But, how come no one even reports this to the authorities!?"

"Because, even so, the witnesses have no valid proof of such acts. The Merchant is a being of untold powers, but one thing is for sure, he can obliterate anything, if he wishes to. For now, though, the only thing we know of him is, that he's a Displacer." He answers her. "He is not the only Displacer, though. But I do not know who the other ones are."

"It probably would be best, if we didn't know them." Twilight said.

"Still though..." Rainbow spoke up, as she turned to face me. "Seriously? You locked up the guy, who was forcefully removed and replaced here, helped us in our time of need, and when it was all over, you just put him under lock and keys? Not cool, Princess. Not cool." She sneered at me.

"I... I know." I said, feeling the regret coming in now. Bryan really can tell how this was gonna play out.

"Aside from that. There is a way for other Displaced to enter through our dimension." VEGA said, pushing us away from my betrayal. "Tokens are created from them. These can be found throughout this Equestria..."

"Um, excuse me, VEGA?" Fluttershy said, raising a hand.

"Yes, ma'am?" VEGA replied.

"I was just wondering, if you know all of this, does that mean the other five know of this, as well?" She asked, although she is right; he does seem to know a lot of this.

"Only one of them knows of this. But since it was during throughout the Hell Wars, it was too much of a risk to tell the others. I knew this, because it was placed within my system." VEGA answered.

"And, who would that be? Bryan?" Twilight asked.

"No." He answered.

"Then who?"

"I cannot say his name, since you have yet to meet him. But, his title, he is known as The Hunter of Silence." Wait a minute, HIM!?

The title seemed to have sent shivers down everypony's spines, as they heard that.

"BRR! Man, that sounds scary! So, like, what? He doesn't say much?" Rainbow asked him.

"The title explains him... To an extend." VEGA said. "Basically, he is the teams Sniper. He's the one that covers them, whether the enemy is in front, or coming around the back, he'll silence you." That sent even more chills.

"Whoa nelly! So, is this Hunter the brains of this group of your? Besides you, of course." Applejack asked.

"In a sense, yes, he is. He knows a little bit more than the other Doom Marines. But he does not speak of them."

"Why's that?"

"Some things, are better left unspoken, and forgotten. There are things you might not like, if you stumble upon them." VEGA stated.

"Well, okay, yeah. Maybe, once Bryan finds him, he can teach Twilight a thing or two." Rainbow said, but then returned to facing me again. "As for you, princess, I'm pretty sure that I speak for all of us, when I say this: you seriously got some major issues you need sorting out. I don't think we can trust you, like we used to."

"I understand." I said, as I looked within my teacup.

"Anyway, please, ladies and gentlemen, drink up." VEGA said, as he managed to averted their distrustfulness of me, to their tea.

One sip later, they all sighed in content. "My, this is quite loving! Thank you so much, VEGA." Rarity praised.

"You are all quite welcome..." He said, until we all heard a series of beeps coming from him. "And it would seem the Hunter has left one piece behind to finding him. Bryan has acquired his locations." Everypony looked at him in confusion.

"Um, how?" Applejack asked, but then shook her head. "Y'know what, nevermind! It'll probably go over mah head."

"So, can we see him then? That is, if we are allowed to." Fluttershy asked VEGA.

"Of course, please follow me." With that said, the Drones set out to clearing up the table, as everybody got up and followed VEGA. I was lagging behind, on purpose. I'm not sure if I should even be following...

Anyway, we reached the Throne room and entered on through. Going further beyond the Tombstone, we saw Bryan sitting at the computer, where it was downloading details. Upon the whereabouts of the Hunter.

"Man, he always surprises us with the stunts he pulls off." Bryan said as he saw us coming. "Hey! Look at that, VEGA brought guest!" He exclaimed, raising his hands above his head.

"So, he did leave something behind, just in case." VEGA said. "It would seem, that he is somewhere within... A city."

"Yeah, do you what this city is?" Bryan asked him.

"Unfortunately, yes. And you are probably not going to like the name."

"Why's that?"

"It's a little too closer to home, sir." VEGA stated, and Bryan seem to have grimaced this.

"Oh great. What's it called?" Bryan asked. Please, don't be a big city. Please...

"Manehattan."

Well, Buck me in the rear end! It just had to be Manehattan, didn't it!?

Author's Notes:

So yeah. Sorry, no mass killing yet. Although, why is it, that Tia seems to fear The Hunter of Silence? Also, I was trying to make it seem, even though she puts up valid points, Tia was still hurting Luna with those lies of her. She let her fears dictate her actions, while slightly justified, still uncalled for.

Anyway, it seems that The Hunter of Silence and VEGA knew about the whole Displaced-verse. VEGA was obviously downloaded with the stuff, but how did the Hunter came across this knowledge?

Thanks for reading.