//------------------------------// // Chapter 44: Outside in the Cold Distance // Story: The Original Mad Scientist in Equestria // by Br0nyb0y123 //------------------------------// All along the watchtower... Rouge and Tesla stared at the body of the fallen great dragon, Umberoth. His neck was split open, busted open, dried blood filled the inside of what was left of his neck, his glowing yellow eyes faded grey and lifeless. Rouge was overwhelmed, she glanced towards Tesla, who was looking oddly silent and calculative. Her deep blue eyes lingered on him, right before he sighed and walked towards the stairway. Rouge followed after him, "What happened to him, Nikola?" Rouge asked as they walked down the stairs. "I threw the capacitor bank into his mouth, the heat signatures from his breath overheated the bank, with the electrons within the bank and the enchanted polyester to keep the electrons at bay for at least a good while, they were too much for the dragon's fire, the enchanted material mixed with the electrons and fire caused an explosion in his neck, he bled out," Nikola explained. "You created a damn bomb?" Rouge asked, impressed, "You're a crafty stallion, Nikola." Nikola smiled as the two of them continued down the stairs, Rouge's soot covered appearance had gradually shed off her throughout all of the mayhem, "Where are we going now?" Rouge asked. "Back to Ponyville, Rouge," he replied. "You feeling okay?" Rouge asked, concerned. "Yeah, I'm... I'm fine... I just..." He paused. "I never expected we'd slay him..." "We?" She questioned, "Nikola, sweetie, that was all on you. I didn't do anything. I basically hid from him the entire time. I didn't slay a dragon, let alone a great one. Nikola, you've written history today. You did a great thing." "You helped me though, if you didn't turn on the machine..." Nikola began. "Stop being so humble. You're so nice that it's almost unbearable," Rouge interrupted, very happy with what's been achieved. "I'm only doing what's right." The two make it down the stairs, they enter the hall. Thin bights of dust fogging the room slightly, hazing away in the light gusts wind. Nikola stared at his machine, now powerless. He sighed and looked around and walked towards the exit of the throne room, "You seem remarkably calm about all of this," Rouge told him. "Trust me, I'm not. I'm stunned," Tesla replied, "I don't really know how to feel right now. I feel... kind of numb... I'm glad though that one problem has been taken care of, but I just defeated a giant monster. I don't know how to respond to that." "Let others respond for you." Tesla smiled, "I wonder how they will." Princess kept their view... Luna was shattered, her former lover had come back to her, dying, frail, a shadow of the stallion she once knew. Not to mention the daily political dealings, discussing refugee statuses with the Mayor. Writing letters to Manehattan, Appleloosa and Vanhoover for spaces for other refugees, only once she gets clearances for the railways to start running again. She was sleepy, she hadn't got a chance to sleep ever since Tesla left for Canterlot. I hope he's okay. she thought to herself as she stepped into Twilight's library. Twilight's library was colder than usual. She didn't know why she was still resting in Twilight's home even when Tesla was gone. She felt like she was intruding, but she left something important in Twilight's fridge, her old friend: Alcohol. She opened the fridge to feel a sharp gust of icy air hit her, a wave of goosebumps surged through her as she levitated the bottle of spiced cider in her magical vice. Shrink my liver all you like, old friend. You'll never kill me. She opened the bottle and sat at the kitchen table as cold air escaped the opened glass bottle. She took several big gulps, a strong aftertaste clouded her tongue and the back of her throat. She continued to drink her cider and felt a little bit sleepy, the more she drank, the more sleepier she felt. It felt comfortable for her to slowly drift off to sleep for the first time in a while and just relax... ... ... ... ... "Sweet Celestia! Look at the mountain!" A shrill female voice screeched from outside. Luna's eyes shot open. Damn it. She forced herself off of her seat and approached the front window, she looked out of it, a crowd of ponies looking towards her right, Luna grew confused and concerned, one face of a young foal and her mother struck out. Utter despair. Shock. Worry. She trotted to the front door and exited out of it, once outside she faced the direction to which her citizens were looking at. She saw her once proud kingdom, in smoke and ruins. A large scaled beast was approaching; crimson red scales, sharp teeth that can piece titanium, smoke escaping it's nostrils which was what was left of ember flames. Luna's eyes widened as she heard the rumbling roar echo through the air. She paused. Her fur stood on end. But inside, Luna had known she had to take action. She glanced at her soldiers, she saw that they were just as afraid as she was. With one gulp, she mustered whatever courage she had left to face against the dragon. She lifted herself from the ground, floating ever so elegantly, her starry mane caught surfing in the light wind. She felt the eyes of her people, her soldiers, her loyal subjects looking upon her. With another deep breath, she blared out, "Men! To arms!" She glanced behind her and saw her Pegasi clutch their spears close to their breasts, her Unicorn and Earth Pony soldiers would remain grounded however, magic at the ready, blades at the helm. "On my mark, soldiers!" Luna blared as her pulse thundered like a jungle drum, "One..." She heard the clattering of weapons behind her, spears at the ready, the beast flew forward. "Two..." She felt heavier. Her wings began to feel sore, she felt heavy with fear and worry, but she couldn't fall down, "THREE!" Just as she and her soldiers were about to fly and attack, Umberoth froze in his wake for a brief moment. Luna grew confused, and watched as Umberoth twisted around, a few seconds of fog in her mind cleared up as soon an idea in her head clicked together. Nikola, she thought. He was still alive, What did he do to anger him? She heard a roar from the distance; loud, sharp and piercing. Umberoth flew towards the high tower of the palace, Luna and her public watched keenly. She then saw Umberoth fly upwards, his neck lighting aflame, anguished pains and screeches escape his monstrous jaws, and he fell down. Luna lightly placed herself on the soil. She looked to the palace with her people. Silence. No wind, no birds, no trees. "THE DRAGON'S BEEN SLAIN!" A deep voice cheered from the crowd. Luna then heard the cheers of victory from the men, women and children in the whole of Ponyville, they hugged each other, whooping and hitting the air. Luna looked at the palace, a small smile curled her lips and from the duct of her left eye, a small tear slid down her cheek. "I knew you'd do it, Nikola," she said to herself. A sigh of relief escaped her. But she wouldn't know what was to come. Two riders were approaching... The scabby hut in the badlands where the Changelings lived, snow rained down on them, light froths of white snow lightly feathered the roof, Masai and Mimic stood outside. Masai was ever so calm and stoic, Mimic was itching his scars, "When do you think they'll be back?" Mimic asked. "Soon, Mimic. they need to be discrete from us if they're going to interact amongst ponies," Masai replied, "I told them to meet back here in six hours" It had been almost exactly six hours since Lavo and Vaako had went back to Ponyville undercover, holding the titles which Mimic and Incognito held previously. Masai and Mimic were both anxious to know of Tesla's current actions and whereabouts, Lavo and Vaako acted as Masai's spies. A small burst of purple aura fizzled on the ground as it morphed into flame, slowly transforming light green. Two bodies jump out of the flames; Lavo and Vaako, in their normal forms. Their faces rang with sadness and worry, a trait not common within their circle. Masai noticed this, "What's troubling you, brothers?" Lavo and Vaako looked at each other, then back at Masai and Mimic, then back at each other, "Should I tell him?" Lavo asked Vaako. "If you want." "What's wrong, boys?" Masai asked with cat-killing curiosity. "Masai," Lavo sighed, "Tesla done it." Mimic's eyes widened, Masai turned around and approached the inside of the hut, out of the snow. His comrades followed, "He killed Umberoth?" Masai asked. "Yes," Vaako replied. "Are you sure?" Masai quizzed. "Everyone saw Umberoth's body fall from the sky," Lavo confirmed, "I'm not sure how but Tesla done it." Masai stopped in his place as soon he made it to the middle of the hut. He thought to himself, closed his eyes and made a decision before opening them once more, "Get the keys to the chains, we need to make a decision of which two of our prisoners go home," Masai said. "No! Masai, we can't just give into Tesla like this!" Mimic retorted. "What else are we going to do, Mick?" Vaako asked, "You heard Lavo, the dragon's body fell from the fucking skies! Tesla busted open his fucking neck!" "Then we should come up with a new strategy!" Mimic said, "We should kill him." "Kill him?" Lavo questioned, "Mimic, he's a genius, he's probably got his own strategy if we come around." The three brothers of Masai continued to argue as he continued to think for a new plan, "Boys..." Masai was cut off by the others. "BOYS!" He blared, gaining their attention. Mimic, Vaako and Lavo looked at Masai, sighing out of breath with anger towards each other for that brief moment, "Mimic, we shouldn't kill him," Masai stated, "He could be used as our weapon, we have what he wants. We have his friends, he'd probably slaughter a storm of Wendigoes to get to his friends. I wasn't expecting him to slay Umberoth, but I was optimistic that he would. We need to follow up on our word with this own, brothers. Because even though he killed the dragon, we still have friends." Mimic, Lavo and Umberoth muttered in agreement, "What should do next then, Masai?" Mimic asked. "What next, Mimic?" Masai sighed, "We make the choice of who goes, Mimic, and then I've got a plan of what he can help us with next." "What's he gonna help us with?" Lavo asked. "Yeah?" Vaako added. "Well, all I know is that you boys are going to enjoy this one." The snow grew heavier, the storm was approaching, but all was calm now. The wind began to howl...