//------------------------------// // Round 3 // Story: Regenerator 228 // by Hopefullygoodgrammar //------------------------------// Regenerator 228 Chapter 10 The Everfree forest was unnaturally quiet. Usually the chaotic land was filled with animal cries and the the sound of the small storms that popped up from time to time, but today, at this hour, all was as quiet as a graveyard; it was almost as if every animal was in hiding and the sky itself was afraid. Afraid of the strange creatures that had entered the world through sheer, chaotic happenstance. Ever since it had arrived the more intelligent monsters had whispered to each other about the beast with limbs like rubber and claws that could cut through steel. 228 had become a legend in only 4 days, and that was before they sensed the stronger, more wicked presence within him.   Now the forest was waiting with baited breath, they had seen the Elements of Harmony enter and they knew their intent. They knew that there would be a battle and they were all waiting for it to begin. They didn’t have to wait very long. There was a sound like a thunderclap and the side of the mountain that the beast had taken residence in exploded outwards in a spray of rubble and magical discharge. The beast was among the rubble and, after the rocks had fallen a ways, the Element Bearers followed. Yes….. yes, more power…. I can feel it flowing through my being. thought the Leader as 228’s body was thrown to the ground amidst a rain of rock chunks.  She was so close… all she needed was one more blast like that and she could escape her fleshy prison. The dust settled and she saw the Elements of Harmony rushing down the steep slope of the mountain- which was the only part of the whole mountain that wasn’t as sheer and flat as glass. The Leader forced 228 back onto his feet, knowing that his body was quickly tiring, she could also feel him beginning to stir into wakefulness. It won’t matter.  thought the Leader dismissively. Even if he does wake up he won’t be strong enough to wrest control from me. She raised 228’s hands and prepared to strike. Something is very wrong here. thought Fluttershy as she watched 228 get to his feet and charge at Twilight, who had taken the lead in the fight. Why won’t he talk? Why are his eyes glowing and how come he doesn’t have any wounds?   She was snapped out of her revere when the creature extended his left arm and dealt Twilight a vicious blow to the side. Twilight gasped in pain and the magic around her horn faded as she lost concentration; the creature used this opportunity to rush her. Fluttershy felt herself move and was in the air before even she realized what she was doing, she flew towards the creature with the power of The Stare building behind her eyes. She flew over Twilight, who was still launching magic beams even as she was gritting her teeth in pain, Fluttershy felt a surge of pride at seeing her friend act so brave. She would congratulate her on her courage later, but first she had to deal with the creature. She looked down at the creature and, taking a deep breath, she dived down and hovered at face height with him. This time I’m not even going to make him apologize she thought as she unleashed the full effect of The Stare at him. The creature stopped short and its long limbs went slack. “Alright, Twilight, do what you need to do.” said Fluttershy, keeping eye contact with the creature. Twilight spoke, but Fluttershy couldn’t hear a word she said. There was a sudden stab of icy pain in her temple that forced a gasp out of her, all sound became distorted, like listening to other ponies talk underwater. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl, almost like everypony was moving through a sea of syrup. Then time stopped completely and a voice said, Hello, Fluttershy. It is so good to finally talk with the pony who corrupted my vessel. The voice was deep, yet feminine, and it reverberated through Fluttershy’s mind, making it seem like it was everywhere at once. Fluttershy winced in pain as each harsh syllable pulsed behind her eyes. Wh-who are you?  she asked after regaining some of her composure. I had no name before We came to this world, but, since then, I have taken the name: the Leader.  And I know who YOU are, Fluttershy. Fluttershy’s eyes widened, T-this world? D-do you mean that you’re-  An alien?  the voice chuckled, I suppose you could say that. If you’re an alien, then how do you know my name? I know many things, Fluttershy. I know that you and your little “friends” are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, I know that you yourself represent the element of Kindness. I know that this world is called “Equestria” and that it is a land of magic, of Unicorns and Pegasi, Griffons and Minotaurs, Dragons and Manticores and many things besides. I even know that your mother's name is Wing Flitter. But-but HOW?  asked Fluttershy, at a loss for any more profound questions.  The Leader chuckled, I have drank deeply of the chaotic power of the one called “Discord”, when my vessel met him the two made physical contact, I was brainless and reacted, out of instinct, by draining a good portion of his magic and with it I received independence and a bevy of new powers. And these powers let you find out my name? Once again the Leader chuckled, but it was far more intimidating than before. Oh, no, no, Silly Filly, I learned about you and your colorful friends because of your Stare. Fluttershy felt her blood run cold. You hold such incredible power in those pretty eyes of yours. cooed the leader, Did you never once wonder just what kind of repercussions your power might hold? Or was it just some tool to use when you deemed it necessary? Fluttershy winced at the sheer contempt that had bubbled up beneath the Leader’s kind tone. You are a foolish mule, Fluttershy. You have an ability that could lead you down a path to true power, you could rule everypony, make them your slaves, destroy their minds- I WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING SO HORRIBLE!!! she mentally roared, feeling tears trickling down her cheeks. I know.  said the Leader,  But it is disappointing nonetheless. Then time resumed and the creature’s fist collided with her side. The force throwing her to the ground. Fluttershy groaned in pain and started to rise. She was honestly surprised that the blow hadn’t broken any of her ribs, though she knew that she’d be sore for quite some time to come. “You mother bucker!” roared Rainbow Dash, swooping down and delivering a powerful kick to the creature’s jaw. There was a snapping noise, almost like somepony breaking a twig, and his jaw dislocated violently. Fluttershy couldn’t suppress a wince at the gruesome sight, but Rainbow was obviously unfazed, since she followed up her kick by dive-bombing the creature and ramming her head into his stomach with enough force to send him flying into a nearby tree, which was reduced to splinters under his weight and the force of Dash’s blow. Rainbow Dash smirked and turned around, dusting her hooves off and puffing her chest out.  She opened her mouth to brag, but the creature’s claw wrapped around her throat and silenced her. The creature threw the prismatic pegasus and then reset it’s jaw with disconcerting casualty before letting out an unnatural roar. The creature’s action caused a small spark of realization to go off in Fluttershy’s head, but she needed to see more evidence to confirm her newly acquired suspicion.   Her attention was drawn back to the fight as Applejack galloped at the creature and lashed out with her back hooves.  The creature avoided the blow and kicked at the farm pony, who shouldered the blow before bucking him in the sternum, which staggered him. Just as he was starting back to continue his attack, Pinkie Pie appeared on his back, carrying a massive present in one hoof. “Package for Mr. Monster!” she exclaimed as she dropped the present at his feet before disappearing.  The creature looked down and let out a gasp when it saw the rapidly burning fuse. he leaped back, but the blast of candies, streamers and confetti still caught him and sent him flying. Pinkie popped into existence next to Applejack and helped her to her hooves with a big, proud grin, “Now that was a flank kicking…. Pinkie Pie style!” Her smile faded when she saw the state that the others were in, “Woah…” was all she could say. Rainbow Dash flew up to them, smiling ruefully and rubbing her neck with one hoof, “Don’t worry, Pinkie, I’ll be fine, it just feels like a sore throat.” “Ummm…. Girls?” started Fluttershy, “I don’t think that you got him.” “Why d’you say that, sugarcube?” asked Applejack. “Because I think that he has… uhm… well…” “Spit it out, Shy!” snapped Applejack. “I think that he has super healing!” blurted Fluttershy. “Why would you think that?” asked Twilight, having finished healing herself. Fluttershy opened her mouth to respond, but a loud, guttural roar turned their attention to the crater that Pinkie’s Party Bomb had made; the creature was climbing out. “No. Bucking. Way.” said Rainbow Dash, sounding torn between being horrified and impressed. The creature limped towards them, one arm dangling limply by his side, black blood trickled down the slits that served as his nostrils and dribbled from his fanged maw. But that wasn’t the most telling sign of serious injury by far; his entire body was covered in deep scratches and small, bleeding holes. The hand that was clutching his mounted arm was missing several fingers and, when he removed his hand, they could all see the white bone poking through the gray skin. “There’s no way he can still fight.” said Rainbow Dash, sounding as confident as usual. Her confidence disappeared when the creature’s wounds began to heal.  The blood flow stopped completely, the holes and scrapes closed as the flesh knitted over and the protruded bone seemed to “unravel” and the arm snapped back into place. “So it’s true…” whispered Fluttershy, the others just looked on in stunned silence with their jaws on the ground. “What’s true?” asked Applejack, sounding dazed. “He can regenerate lost tissue, heal any wounds.” said Twilight, fascinated despite her fear. “Girls,” started Fluttershy, “I need to tell you about something.” “Can’t it wait?” asked Rainbow Dash, keeping her eyes on the creature. “Not really.” said Fluttershy, also keeping her eyes on the approaching monster, “Listen, there is a parasite inside of him, it’s controlling everything he does. We need to free him from that thing’s influence.” Twilight shot her a shocked look, “How do you know this?” Fluttershy held her gaze, “I know because it told me.” Twilight did a double take and gave her a searching look, trying to see if she was playing some kind of sick and ill-timed joke on her, but there was absolutely no lie in her eyes, nor was there any sign of dark magic.  Twilight nodded at her and turned back to the creature, who was now close enough for her to see the rivulets of frothy drool that was dangling from his teeth. Then the creature raised its claws and balled them into fists. Rainbow Dash immediately flew up into the air, Applejack got into a fighting stance, Pinkie Pie pulled out a polka-dotted Bo staff and began twirling it and both Rarity and Twilight charged their horns. The only one who didn’t ready herself physically was Fluttershy, but she was mentally preparing. Preparing to try and free him from the Leader’s control. But she wasn’t prepared for what happened next. The creature hissed at them, snapping his jaws and feigning a few lunges at them. His eyes glowed so brightly it looked like the eyes of a jack-o-lantern. Every one of its jerky movements made the girls tense up, the aura around Rarity’s horn intensified as she fed more energy into it while the one around Twilight’s narrowed as she focused her power. The creature lashed out with both arms at Rainbow Dash, who was expecting an attack of that nature, she avoided it as easily as she avoided lightning bolts during storms. “Is that the best you can do?” Dash crowed as she ascended higher, leaving a rainbow contrail behind her.  The creature bent his knees and leaped after her, but she was too far away and, even with his powers, he couldn’t catch her.   Rainbow Dash kept rising until she found a suitable cloud to use. It didn’t take long before she found a small nimbostratus, which, out of all of the types of clouds, was voted “Best Electrical Conductor” by the Wonderbolts.  Rainbow chuckled evilly as she molded the not-terrible-intimidating fluffy cloud into a dark, dripping storm cloud that was rife with electricity. By this point the creature had given up on catching her and had turned back to the others. Big mistake. “Hey, Freak!” she called, the creature stopped and turned just in time to get a bolt of 100% pure pegasus lightning in the face.  The creature howled and fell to his knees as his twisted body shook. Fluttershy cringed at the sight and turned to Dash, “Dash? Do you think that you could go just a teensy bit easier on him?” Rainbow raised both eyebrows, “Seriously?” she asked incredulously. “Didn’t you hear me? He’s not himself.” she pleaded. Then the creature roared and got back to his feet. “Oh, That. Is. It!” shouted Rarity, leveling her horn at his stomach, “I have had enough of this fight! You’ve hurt my friends, attacked me and had the audacity not to clean up your cave like a civilized…. whatever you are. If it means ending this horrid conflict, then have at you!” She fired and the bolt sliced through the air and slammed into the creature’s gut, toppling him like a very tall, very ugly, singular domino. Rarity turned her nose up at the sight and walked back to her friends, who were looking both impressed and more-than-slightly-shocked at her actions. As a result of their distraction they didn’t see the creature’s body start to twitch until they heard him gasping for air.  Then they all gave him their full attention. None of them knew what was going on, not even Fluttershy. The group looked at each other and then slowly came closer, each hoping that the creature wasn’t pulling a ruse or doing something else horrifying like splitting into mini versions of himself or growing tentacles. Fluttershy got the closest out of all of them, so she was the first to see it, and she screamed. There was something squirming underneath the skin of his stomach. The other girls saw it too and they each let out a disgusted exclamation.  “What’s wrong with it?” asked Applejack, her eyes wide with fear. “Is it gonna explode? Because I don’t think he’ll explode in the funny, streamers and confetti way.” said Pinkie, who had somehow changed into a rainslicker and was now carrying an umbrella. “Fluttershy, what’s happening?!” asked Twilight, sounding close to hysteria. Just as Fluttershy was about to reply the creature gave a single, piercing shriek and his stomach exploded outwards in a shower of black blood.  The girls all screamed in unison, then screamed again when they saw the dripping abomination inside of his stomach cavity haul itself out. The thing was long, roughly the same length as a foal, underneath the black blood its skin was smooth and hairless and as red as blood.  It reared up, several fronds and spines on its back unfolding and fanning out. Then an eye opened along its side, followed by another, then two more. Each eye was moving in a different direction, but all were the same glowing ember color. Fluttershy felt pure terror well up within her when the eyes landed on her and stopped. Then it spoke and its voice was the same voice that she had heard in her head: the voice of the Leader. Thank you for your magic, Rarity. she said in a smug and mirthful tone. I needed just a little bit more power to escape from this unworthy vessel and you gave me more than I thought you could.  Rarity’s eyes widened and she backed away; the Leader laughed cruelly.  Ahhh… there’s nothing like the feeling of cool air on one’s naked body. she said, allowing some of her fronds to flutter in the breeze. Twilight tried to speak, but all that came out of her mouth was stammered half questions. The Leader turned to her, revealing a fanged maw and several slimy suckers, Hello, Twilight Sparkle, I must say you look a bit… pudgier than Fluttershy’s memories would indicate, maybe she just sees you as more beautiful than the others, eh?  she laughed mockingly before raising herself up. It’s sad to say goodbye, but, alas, I must leave you now. But don’t worry, I’ll be back… sooner than you may think. A pair of translucent, membranous bat wings unfurled with a loud FWAPP!!   and the Leader  flew up into the air and disappeared from sight a moment later. All was silent, save for the groans of the creature. The girls looked at each other, then at the creature, whose wound was closing up, albeit slowly. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Rarity asked, “Did I do that?” Fluttershy shook her head wordlessly as she stared up at the clear sky, wondering how something so awful could happen on such a nice day.