A bright green flash occurred just outside the familiar changeling hut in the badlands, the flash erupted into a bigger fiery source of light, and out of it came three figures; Masai, Tesla and Lavo. The leading changeling stepped out the green fire, followed by the pony and the other changeling,
"Well, Nikola," Masai began as he turned to face Nikola, "Welcome to my humble abode."
"Well Masai, I didn't know you to expect what humble is," Tesla uttered, "Where are we?"
"If I told you that, I'd be putting me and my brothers in more risk. I'm not as dumb as you think, Nikola," Masai told him.
"You're still dumb. You're already at risk. You, your brothers and Ozymandias are currently the most wanted men in Equestria," Tesla told him.
"Did you get a letter from Ozymandias as well?" Masai questioned.
"Yes," Tesla replied, "He failed at killing Sombra."
"He's a failure at most things," Masai said.
Masai, Lavo and Tesla made it up to the door, Masai opened it and then pointed to the inside and then said,
"After you, gorgeous."
Nikola glared at Masai with a confused expression, then looked at Lavo,
"I'm pretty sure he was talking to you," Lavo told the inventor.
Nikola hesitantly stepped into the filthy pigsty of a hut. The roof looked like in had the texture of charred wood, and the smell from beneath them made Nikola's eyes water and his nose nip. Masai and Lavo went ahead of him, whilst the two other changelings, Mimic and Vaako, glared intensely at his arrival,
Once Masai made it up the same table where he made his arrangement with Discord, he said, "Take a seat."
Tesla, whilst remaining silent, quickly paced himself over to the chair that Masai directed him to and sat in it. Masai then sat across the table in front of Nikola,
"Where are the girls and Spike, Masai?" Nikola asked very forwardly.
"In good hands," Masai replied.
"Don't test me," Tesla stated.
Masai smirked, "How's the eye Nikola? Does it sting?"
"Yes," Nikola replied.
"Shame really, you didn't even put up a good fight," Masai told him.
"You cheated, you teleported behind me," Tesla explained.
Masai laughed, "If I didn't you still wouldn't be able to kick my ass, old man."
"Why did you bring me here? Are you still needing me?" Nikola asked.
"Needing you?" Masai asked, "No. I don't need you. I want you to do a series of tasks though."
"What do I get in return for these tasks, Masai?" Tesla questioned.
"Your friends," He replied, "Temporary safety, at least."
Tesla got puzzled. Why let them go? If you plan to kill them anyways?, he thought,
"Nikola. Each task you will do whilst I'm spreading my name across this wretched country will result in you gaining two of your friends back, and when you have only one friend left to get, you can just come here and get him or her," Masai explained, "Chances are it will be a her."
Tesla nodded, "Okay."
"They'll only be released from me so they can get ready for the real anarchy that will come."
"Alright," Tesla said.
"Do you have anything to ask?" Masai asked.
"Can I see them?" Tesla asked back.
"Who?" Masai questioned, "The ponies?"
"Yes."
Masai looked at Vaako and then asked him,
"Vaako, can you open the door to the basement?"
"Sure Masai," Vaako said.
Vaako trotted his way over to the basement door and opened it. Nikola got off of his chair and looked at Masai,
"Go ahead, Nikola," Masai told him, "Go see them."
Nikola went over to the open basement door and looked down the stairway to see Twilight and the others. Twilight turned her head to see him, the look on her face cried rejoice,
"Nikola..." She wept with happiness.
Everyone turned to look at him, as he smiled at them, he then approached them as they all spoke his name in relief,
"Nikola!" Some of them screamed.
Once Tesla made it down there, he greeted them all with hugs as they surrounded him, except from Spike, who was still clenching his finger,
"What are you doing here, Nikola?" Twilight asked.
"I'm making arrangements with Masai, he says you can be released if I'm able to do a series of certain tasks," He explained.
"Darling, it's wonderful to see you again," Rarity told him.
"Same with you, Rarity," He smiled gently, "Are you all okay?"
The smiles on the ponies quickly faded into sad expressions,
"Spike's finger was broken..." Pinkie began.
"...and Masai..." Fluttershy paused, "...he...used me..."
Nikola's face turned angry all of a sudden and grew concern for his friends and Masai came down the stairs along with Vaako, once he made to the bottom, Tesla stood up and turned to face him,
"What did you do to them?" He growled.
"Oh, I broke Spike's finger and I..." Masai paused as he smirked evilly at Fluttershy.
Tesla looked at Fluttershy, whose face cried worry and sadness, he looked back at Masai,
"HEY!" He shouted, "What did you do to her?"
Masai smiled at him, "Nothing she couldn't handle."
Nikola set up for a swipe to Masai's face and Vaako stood in his way,
"I wouldn't, old boy," Vaako told him.
"I'll hit you instead," Nikola replied.
Vaako's eyes widened as Nikola made a left hook to his face, before Masai shoved Vaako out of the way and blocked Nikola's attack,
"If you wanted to fight, Nikola. You should've just asked," Masai told him, "Doesn't mean you get to hit my brother."
Tesla grew more angry and then attempted to hit Masai again, Masai dodged,
"Come on, Nikola. Luna said she doesn't want to stitch your other eye."
Tesla stopped and stood his ground, Masai smirked again,
"Got any other questions you want to ask about the tasks?" Masai asked him.
"What's my first task?" Tesla questioned.
Masai glanced at the ponies, "Before we discuss that, we should go back upstairs."
Masai made his way up the stairs along with Vaako, Tesla looked at the girls and Spike,
"I'll get you all out of here. I promise you all," Nikola told them with a small reassuring smile.
"I know you will," Twilight replied with a similar smile.
Nikola turned back and made his way back up the stairs, the basement door closed behind him, and Mimic directed him but to his seat back at the table,
"Why didn't you just tell me in the basement, Masai?" Nikola asked as he placed himself on the rickety chair.
"I don't want to scare them," Masai explained, "You see, Nikola darling. I've got a big task for you."
Nikola sat forward, "I'm listening."
Masai chuckled, "How do you feel about slaying a dragon?"
Tesla froze as his eyes bulged open. What?, he thought. Masai didn't possibly mean that he had to slay one of the great dragons. Tesla looked around and saw that Masai's brother's expressions were just as surprised as his,
"You surely don't expect me to be able to take down who I think you're talking about, Masai?" Tesla asked him with worry.
"Why not?" Masai asked back, "There were ponies able to take down the great dragons before. Lyth and Umberoth are the only ones left because of them, why don't you think you can do it?"
"I don't know, maybe because they're huge!" Tesla sarcastically shouted at him.
Masai chuckled, "Nikola, I believe you can do it."
"That means a lot coming from someone as psychotic as you," Tesla said.
"Well then, that settles it. If you are able to kill Umberoth or Lyth, I will release two of the peeps who are down there. If you fail, well then, I guess you die and they're fucked," Masai explained.
"I won't do it," Nikola firmly told him.
"What else can you do, Nikola?" Masai questioned him, "You don't know where we are. You won't be able to take all of us out and take the ponies away with you. This is your only option, Nikola. It's fuck or walk, my friend."
Nikola realized Masai was right. What else could he do? Nikola sat there, knowing that this was his only option to save his friends. He couldn't do anything else,
"So, Nikola. Are you going to do it?" Masai asked.
Tesla sighed, "Yes."
"Good good, deary," Masai said.
Tesla shook his head in defeat,
"Why are you doing this?" Tesla asked him.
"This world has done nothing but betray us, we just want to mess around," Masai explained, "I have a vendetta against the Elements of Harmony downstairs, mainly because they're responsible for the death of my brother by blood."
"I'm sure they didn't mean it," Nikola defended his friends, "They were only protecting themselves."
Masai chuckled ignorantly, "Nikola, all changelings were raised to believe ponies are bad. I also see that changelings are just as bad."
"I know seven of them..." Tesla paused, "Oh wait... five."
Masai frowned and snorted, the rest of his brothers did so as well, "Don't you dare mention them, they died for the Brotherhood."
"They were killed by a brother, Masai," Nikola argued, "Discord died for your fucking dumb Brotherhood as well!"
Tesla then pointed at Lavo before taking a deep breath,
"He was killed by him..." Nikola added.
The pointed to Vaako,
"...and by him," He stated, "And you caused it."
"Don't blame me. Blame Chrysalis," Masai told him.
"Why would I blame her?" Nikola asked, puzzled, "I've never even met the woman."
"She's the reason you and I are sitting in this shitty little hut right now, Nikola."
"How come?" Nikola quizzed.
"Before we became the Brotherhood, we were a platoon in the Changeling army. And after the botched raid in Canterlot, Chrysalis went apeshit. Off her nut. She killed our families and most of our platoon before banishing us. Only us," Masai explained before blanking out in his own thoughts, "Only us..."
"Masai," Nikola tried getting his attention, but Masai's mind was elsewhere, "Masai!"
Masai snapped back into reality, "What?"
"Is that all you need to tell me, about my task?" He asked, "That I just need to kill one of the dragons?"
"Yes."
"Only one?" Nikola made sure.
Masai nodded, "You can't get help from anyone either unless you need it, and you can only ask one person for help."
"Alright," Tesla sighed.
"I'll see to Lavo's teleporting you home. I bid you luck, deary. You'll need it," Masai wished him.
Masai turned to look at Lavo and nodded at him as a sign of to take Tesla back to the treehouse. Tesla stood up from his chair as Lavo passed him by, and jerked his head forward to signal Tesla to come with him. Lavo opened the front door out into the cold dark wastes, and before Tesla was able to step outside, Masai stopped him for one last thing,
"Tesla. As a changeling I'll be true to my word," He told Tesla.
"If there is one thing I've learnt from changelings, Masai. It's that you're not true to your word. But this is the only option I have," Nikola replied.
Lavo proceeded to create a portal with his powerful magic, a black portal with green edges,
"Will this take me back to the same place?" Tesla asked Lavo.
"Probably," Lavo shrugged, "I'm not coming with you in case Luna attacks me."
"Fair point," said Nikola.
Nikola, without bidding farewell, stepped into the portal and the portal shut like a bear-trap. Lavo snorted and approached his home, and entered. As he passed by everyone, Mimic went over to Masai and asked,
"Think he'll actually beat one of the dragons?"
"Don't know, we'll just have to wait and see brother," Masai replied with a cheerful smile