Chapter 5: Mad Science

The gang keeps moving until they see the figure fighting more monsters of Discord and it was really one sided. After a bit there were no more bad guys left and it was speaking some more, "My big brother is here, I know it. I do not know why he took him here but it is a BIG mistake to have done that."

The figure rush off with Shining's group chasing her. The group enters the lab of Lord Chester, spotting their friend with his back turned to them. Shining frowns as he demands, "Lord Chester! Tell us, why are you doing this?!"

"And what are you doing to that alicorn?!" Twilight gasps in shock. Sure enough, there appears to be some sort of male brown alicorn with green/red mane and green/light brown tail with a gold heart cutie mark, wearing a golden plated chest armor, gold bracelets with green jewels and silver anklets with green jewels in a cage, getting zapped, with his power being used to powered up the machines.

The alicorn, cringing, looks up while saying, "Careful...he isn't himself..."

"Well, well, Shining, Twilight, glad to see that you all made it here." Lord Chester said sinisterly as he turns around in his wheelchair to face the group. "You all have been busy; I think it's time for you to rest."

Lord Chester opens his head to scratch his brain...except something is wrong: the brain is green with eyes in it!

"Eew, I think your brain needs some washing. Ha! Get it? 'Brainwashing'," Lorcan laughs a bit though the others shake their head. "Eh, I thought it was funny."

"Wait, of course! Lord Chester, they switched your brains!" Twilight gasps in realization. Of course, it makes sense now! The Diamond Dogs and/or Discord must've switched the alicorn scientist's brains! No wonder he has gone madder than usual!

Lord Chester closes his head as he then asks, "Well, shall we begin? You will like this device, Shining. I made it especially for you!"

Lord Chester turns the machine on, causing claw arms to open up with the guns in range of the targets. They then saw it: the alicorn's real brain on a table near the elevator...but where is that crazy figure that came in here a few seconds ago?

"We got to put Lord Chester's real brain in to save him." Shining said thoughtfully. "Okay then...if we were to open his head from behind, get in front of him and put his real brain in...of course! That should work!"

"Yes, perhaps that soup that Twilight has made could help." Rarity said thoughtfully.

Fluttershy got the idea: she held the soup and flies over to Lord Chester. The undead mare smiles while saying, "Excuse me. Lord Chester, sir? Before we fight, would you like some soup?"

Lord Chester's brain may have been switched but he still can't resist soup. The alicorn drank the thing...and as suspected the stallion fell asleep. Luna said quietly, "Okay, now we shall open his head and put his brain right back in."

The group nods as they head over to do the task. But while getting closer, Spike spots some gems on a table nearby and smiles eagerly. The ghost dragon prepares to grab the gems, unaware that he's about to knock down a stack of books.

Golden Heart, gasping, protests quietly, "Spike, no, no! Don't, no!"

But it's too late. As Spike pulls the gems off the table, he accidentally knocked the books off, causing a lot of stuff to fell. This woke Lord Chester from his sleep, who scowls angrily, "So try to get me, eh?! You got another thing coming!"

"Blast, looks like we will have to do this the hard way!" Shining groans a bit. The group begins to fight as Lord Chester blast them with his guns. During the fighting, the alicorn begins to sing.

Lord Chester: This town has changed, my boy
Since you went away
Without a Zombie Pony king
It's Discord's way!

Shining: Lord Chester Please!
Oh can't you see you're wrong?

Lord Chester: You were the king
But now you're nothing but prey
Discord is back
And he is planning to stay!

Luna: It's a crazy web you're weaving

Lorcan: Discord will soon be leaving!

Fluttershy: Lord Chester please!
It's not too late!

Lord Chester: All my machines will seal your fate!
My lasers will slice you
My knives will cut deep
And when it's all over
Cadance, she will weep!
Days of your good natured
Mayhem are through
I'll tear up this town
And I'm starting with you!

"Hang on; we will save you, Lord Chester!" Shining exclaims to Lord Chester as the fight continues.

"Please, stop this madness right now!" Rarity calls out to Lord Chester.

"Never, you dumb ponies!" Lord Chester exclaims. During the madness, a familiar figure is seen going over to Golden Heart, with plans to save him. The notes were gathered as another dance off begins.

Well now my boy
It seems you lost your crown!
In a few mere moments
You'll be six feet in the ground!

Spike: Stop at once!

Rainbow: Can't you see this is absurd?

Lord Chester: No more tricks!
Your friends are now your foes!
And now this dance is
Nearing its close!

Twilight: All these people that you're hurting

Lorcan: Oh, good doctor, it's disconcerting!

Fluttershy: Lord Chester please!
You're thinking is all wrong!

Lord Chester: In a moment finally
You'll be gone!

Shininmg: Your intentions are evil
Your thoughts are all bad

Rainbow: The "thing" that you work for
Is no more than a cad!

Luna: When finally we get that
Foul brain out of you

Shining's Group: You'll see no more foes
But friends that are true!

The gang fires out musical notes, hitting Lord Chester, causing him to grunt; the mad scientist ask, "Do you like my inventions, everyone?"

"You got to control yourself!" Twilight cries out to Lord Chester. "That brain of yours is disgusting."

"Yeah, and not in a good kind of way," Spike said in agreement. The fighting and note gathering continues as Lord Chester fails to see the figure opening the cage, much to Golden Heart's notice.

Lord Chester: This town has changed, my boy
Since you went away
Without a Zombie Pony king
It's Discord's way!

Shining: Lord Chester please!
Oh can't you see you're wrong?

Lord Chester: You were the king
But now, you're nothing but prey
Discord is back
And he's planning to stay!

Rarity: Some crazy web you're weaving

Fluttershy: Discord will soon be leaving

Rainbow: Lord Chester please!
It's not too late!

Lord Chester: All my machines will seal your fate!
My lasers will slice you
My knives will cut deep
And when it's all over
Cadance, she will weep!
Days of your good natured
Mayhem are through
I'll tear up this town
And I'm starting with you!

Soon the guns are wiped out as more notes are gathered. Shining calls out, "All right, we shall be done soon, Lord Chester."

"Blast you!" Lord Chester scowls angrily, unaware that Golden Heart is released to his cage. He nods and fly over to the alicorn's real brain while another dance off begins.

Well now my boy
It seems you lost your crown!
In a few mere moments
You'll be six feet in the ground!

Twilight: Stop at once!
Can't you see this is absurd?

Lord Chester: No more tricks!
Your friends are now your foes!
And now this dance is
Nearing its close!

Luna: All these people that you're hurting

Rainbow: Oh, good doctor, it's disconcerting!

Fluttershy: Lord Chester please!
Your thinking is all wrong!

Lord Chester: In a moment finally
You'll be gone!

Spike: You shoot and attack us

Lorcan: It rolls off our backs, you see!

Shining: I'm not your enemy
I'm the Zombie Pony King Shining!

Shining's Group: When this is all over
Good friends we will be!
You'll praise Discord no more!
You can take that from me!

Soon the notes hit Lord Chester causing him to yelp in pain. Suddenly the figure from before grabs the alicorn and put his head in a vise, trapping him. She yells out, "Now Big Bro, now!"

Golden Heart, using his magic to hold the alicorn's brain, quickly opens Lord Chester's head and blast the fake one out, destroying it then puts the real one in. Once the head is close, the figure lets go with everyone backing off.

Lord Chester groans as he held his head, "Oooooohhhhh...my aching head..." Looks like the alicorn scientist has regains control of himself.

Just then the group saw another door appearing, much to their surprise. This time its shape is that of a clover. Spike said, "That's the St. Patrick's Day door."

"Nice, but who are you two?" Twilight ask Golden Heart and the weird figure. It looks like Pinkie Pie, but her mane and tail is flat...and she is even more creepy.

"My name is Golden Heart; this is my sister Pinkamena Diane Pie." Golden Heart explains to the group. "I have gotten word of the disappearance of various holiday leaders and trace them to Halloween Town."

"But then alicorn scientist knocked us out and took off with Goldie." Pinkamena explains to the heroes. "I chased him here."

"He was using my power to charge up his machines."

"Is that what happened?" Lord Chester asks with a groan as he came over to the group. "Everyone, I am so sorry. I didn't imagine that my brain was replaced with the town deceived...and Lord Lesille, my poor wife! Golden Heart, Pinkamena, I'm so sorry about what I did to you two."

"It's okay." Pinkamena said with a smile. "At least I know you didn't mean to...and I'm sorry about your wife."

"Lord Chester, the St. Patrick's Day Door!" Shining exclaims as he takes the door.

"Yes, that is a holiday door." Lord Chester said while looking at the door curiously. "Very curious..."

"It must have something to do with the disappearance of the holiday leaders." Golden Heart said seriously. Lord Chester did some more thinking then came with a big realization.

"Shining; what is the day of today?"

"It is...December 24th!" Shining exclaims in realization. "Gah! It is almost Christmas!"

"Oh great, why does this have to happen right near the holiday that we almost destroyed," Lorcan ask with a groan of annoyance, "Just great!"

"I hope Oswald isn't in trouble!" Spike exclaims in concern.

"I wonder what's happening with the Christmas door." Lord Chester said in concern. "We better find it soon!"

"We should check the pumpkin patch but it won't easy." Rarity said to Lord Chester in worry. "Discord's monster has taken control of the pumpkins at the entrance. No one could get in."

"Lord Chester, if you want redeem yourself, can you find us a way to get us into the pumpkin patch?" Luna asks Lord Chester with a nod.

"Yes, perhaps...I know! We will scare those monsters out of the pumpkins! Give me a moment!" Lord Chester exclaims as he goes off in his wheelchair to make something.

Cadance chose that time to come in with a green present. The stitched pony asks hopefully, "Is Lord Chester himself again?"

"Your daddy got a headache the size of his brain!" Pinkamena exclaims to Cadance, making the alicorn look at her oddly.

"What my sister Pinkamena means is that he is okay." Golden Heart assures to Cadance with a smile. "Your father's brains were switched but we switched them back."

"How did you two now that Lord Chester is her father or creator?" Fluttershy ask Golden Heart curiously.

"We can tell the similarities between the two."

"Anyway, Cadance, Lord Chester is helping us make something to help us fight off Discord's army." Shining explains to Cadance with a smile.

"I see, Shining. Do you think this might be helpful too?" Cadance asks as she gave a present to Shining.

"What is this?"

Shining open the box and look inside it. The pony touches it...and is suddenly transformed into his Oswald costume, much to most of the others' surprise.

Twilight exclaims in surprise, "It's Oswald's Costume!"

"Ooooh," Most of the group exclaims in awe.

"Wow, cool." Spike said in approval.

"Yes, that again," Rarity said with a nod.

"Neat!" Pinkamena exclaims happily with a creepy smile.

"Ugh, don't do that again, please! It creep me out." Rainbow said to Pinkamena with a shiver.

"Come on, why not?"

Lord Chester came back with some sort of device, giving it to Shining while saying, "Yes, that outfit suits you, Shining! I have completed my scare device! Can't tell you what is in it. That would ruin the surprise. Go to the pumpkin patch and use this to stun Discord's monsters."

"As long as it isn't an elf costume; I won't stand for it again!" Lorcan complains as the group leaves the mansion to head off to their destination.

"Lordcan," Luna giggles to Lorcan in amusement.

"What? I won't."

Author's note
All right, Lord Chester is back to normal (or what's close to it anyway) and now the gang are on their way to the pumpkin patch with Golden Heart and Pinkamena joining them. In the next chapter, the heroes go through the patch itself and takes on the last Diamond Dog Spot. Read, review and suggest.