Regenerator 228
Chapter 13
After Princess Celestia and the girls left, Fluttershy spent a few minutes showing 228 around her house. At first her animal friends were absolutely terrified, even Angel ran and hid under her couch.
“And this is my living room, the bunny under there the couch is Angel, the two bats on the ceiling are Bruce and Terry, the tarantula in the tank is Peter, the dog on the little bed is Ace and the cat that’s curled up on the chair is Kitty.”
228 waved to the animals and was pleasantly surprised to find that he didn’t feel the urge to eat any of them, Though that bunny looks kind of juicy…
Fluttershy sat him down, “Would you like something to drink?” she asked, 228 nodded and said “Would like….some water...p-please.”
Fluttershy nodded and went off, leaving the regenerator sitting on the couch, looking around the cozy living room. There was a large mirror opposite him and he was struck by how unbelievably off he looked, an ugly, drab monster in the midst of warm colors and happy animals.
Do I really look like that? he wondered, reaching out and flexing his talons. The beast in the mirror parrotted his actions. If 228 had possessed pony ears, he would had laid them tightly across his skull, I look like a monster.
He was so distracted that he didn’t notice the dog, Ace, coming up to him until he felt the cold nose brush his hand. 228 started and turned his attention to Ace, who had transitioned from sniffing to licking his hand. The odd sensation made 228 giggle and he reached out and petted the dog.
Ace whined happily and pushed his head against 228’s palm, relishing the attention. Ace was some kind of mutt, though 228 didn’t know what breeds made him up he did, however, know one thing: Ace was damn fluffy and damn cute.
A second later Kitty uncurled herself and sauntered over to 228 with a bored expression, she sniffed at his foot, then turned and left. At least she didn’t scratch me… he thought wryly, then he returned his attention to Ace, who was now laying on the floor with his little tail wagging in pure ecstasy.
You remind me of something… he thought as his mind began to wander back, back to his past.
He was back in his house, Tomas, his younger brother, had been gone for an hour and Mother was getting worried. So she had sent him out to retrieve his little brother, after giving him a flashlight, a blanket and a kiss on the cheek, she had sent him off.
He had combed the whole village and had even bothered Dr. Salvadore, who was notoriously foul-tempered.
After what felt like an eternity he finally found Tomas, sound asleep in a barn, with a very scrawny black dog curled up next to him. After all that time searching and here he was with some mangy mutt? He had scolded Tomas harshly, but Tomas had told him that he had freed the dog from a beartrap near Salvadore’s house.
But he hadn’t cared, he had just wanted to leave and get back to their warm house. He had tried to shoo the dog away, but the dumb beast wouldn’t respond. He had been so tired, he had kicked out…. and Tomas, his little brother who couldn’t even lift a plow, had punched him in the face… and broken his nose.
That had been the first true pain that he had ever felt and not just because of the break…
228 didn’t realize that he had been hugging Ace until he felt his tongue on his cheek and he didn’t realize that he was crying until Fluttershy came in and asked him what was wrong
“I….I was mean...to my b-brother...b-back in my… world…” he said, hugging Ace tighter.
Fluttershy gasped and ran to him, she wrapped her forehooves around him and hugged him tight. 228 let go of Ace and hugged her back, he even extended his arms and coiled them around her.
After a few minutes Fluttershy politely asked him to release her and he obeyed. Fluttershy retrieved the tea cup, which she had placed on the ground and the two sat in silence for what seemed like hours, though 228 had a difficult time keeping the tea in his maw, after a few spills he figured out that his venus flytrap-like teeth were suitable in keeping the liquid in.
“So” began Fluttershy, “do you want to go into town today? I bet the Mayor will want to meet you.”
228 shook his head, “Don’t want to…. meet others…. just want to stay here.”
Fluttershy frowned, “I know that you think that they’ll all run away from you or something like that, but the ponies in Ponyville are very accepting. I’m sure that you’ll fit right in.”
228 scrunched his face up before huffing, “Okay.”
Fluttershy smiled and patted him on the arm. She was just about to take the tea cups back to the kitchen when she heard a knock at the door, It must be one of the girls. she thought, “228, could you get the door?”
She knew that she had made a big mistake when she heard the scream of three, small voices.
“Ah’m tellin ya, Ah know this one will be the one. Ah can feel it.” said Applebloom confidently.
“I don’t know.” said Sweetie Belle, sounding unsure, “Are you sure that Cutie Mark Crusaders Veterinarians is a good idea, I mean, we haven’t had any training.”
“That’s why we’re going to go see Fluttershy.” said Scootaloo with an excited smile, “Isn’t that right, Applebloom?”
The farmpony filly nodded enthusiastically, “Eeyup, if’n there’s anypony who can teach us about carin’ for animals, it’s Fluttershy!”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders had begun their shenanigans only a month ago, after they met each other at Diamond Tiara’s cutecineara, but if one were to write out a list of their failed attempts to earn their cutie marks, the amount of parchment would have ran the length of Sugarcube Corner and beyond.
Now they were on their way to Fluttershy’s house, and they were about to arrive at the worst time possible.
They got to the door, with Sweetie Belle staying behind to try and coax one of the many groundhogs out from their holes so she could pet one. Scootaloo was the first to the door and the first to knock, and she was the one who got the closest look at the hideous beast that answered the door.
It towered over the orange filly, its red eyes stared down at her, seeming to pierce her very soul, its massive claws, which looked to her like spikes, scraped the ground. It opened its awful mouth and made a low hissing sound.
Scootaloo considered herself to be a brave pegasus, standing up for what was right and protecting her friends from bullies just like her idol Rainbow Dash, but the creature was bigger and had far more pointy parts than the average bullies.
And it’s in Fluttershy’s house…. Oh Sweet Celestia that monster ate her! thought Scootaloo in a panic. She screamed and ran, followed shortly by her friends, who had also seen the monster, but had reacted slower to to shock.
Or course, 228 had absolutely no clue what the little ponies had wanted, and all they had done was give him a heachache with their piercing screams. But he had known why they had screamed and, although it hurt to admit, they were right to be afraid; he certainly was not something that could be described as “beautiful” or even “cute”.
Sighing he closed the door and started to return to the living room just as Fluttershy ran to him. “Who was at the door?” she asked, though her tone and the panicked look in her eyes made it clear that she probably already knew the answer.
“Three…..little ponies….*Hnnngg*... One orange, one white and one yellow.” he said, “They saw me…. they screamed…. like you did.”
Fluttershy’s eyes widened and she ran for the door, whimpering about the severity of the situation. In a flash she was gone, leaving 228 alone once again.
Sighing, the regenerator decided to take a walk around the house to see if he could try his claw at clearing his cluttered mind.
The sky was as blue as fresh water, Celestia’s sun hung amidst the blue like a yellow island, the cool breeze and the warm grass relaxed his muscles, and the sounds of the wind through the tree branches was calming beyond belief.
Yes, I think that I can clear my head. thought 228 confidently as he began to organize the various issues that were plaguing him.
I need to figure out how to hunt better, I need to make sure that Fluttershy doesn’t have to watch me eat meat in front of her, because I doubt she’d like to see it. I have to teach myself to talk better and I need to learn more about this new world.
I have to test out my abilities more, maybe I can extend my legs or my neck? That would make hunting easier… I could catch those yummy-looking birds that I keep seeing. Maybe I’m faster, too? If I am, then I can catch anything that I want!
I have to find out if the other Plagas can talk, or if they’re plotting to leave me like Mr. Gut, though I don’t think Mr. Gut is a “Mister” anymore…. and I think that she’s picked out a name for herself.
The Leader, yeah, that’s her new name.
Should I get a new name? Like 229? O-or Smith? Maybe Chris? Leon? Jack? Ashley? No, no I think 228 will do fine. But what about my old name?
228 shook his head and growled, NO! I don’t want to remember my old name, I don’t need it anymore.
The truth in this thought surprised him…. and scared him a little.
Do I really mean that? I guess I do, because I don’t feel sad over losing my real name. Now, what else do I need to do? I need to get food, I need to learn to talk, I should try to write to see if I can… and I need to find Discord and the Leader.
228 hissed at the memory of those two monsters.Both were different in terms of appearance, power and goals, but they were the same in one way: they were both monsters, even more so than he was.
Fluttershy was close to a full-blown panic attack when she galloped into Ponyville.
I have to find the crusaders and explain about 228 before they cause a panic! she thought desperately, feeling the fast-paced drumbeat of her heart and the chill wetness of the sweat that was beginning to form on her forehead.
She rounded a corner and smiled when she saw the trio of fillies running for the Mayor’s office, “Girls!” she called, picking up speed.
The trio of fillies turned and gasped when they saw her. Fluttershy stopped a few feet from them and held up a hoof to silence any questions so she could catch her breath. When her breath had returned she said, “Don’t worry, girls, I’m fine.”
“F-fluttershy?!” asked Applebloom, stunned.
“Is that really you?” asked Sweetie Belle, approaching Fluttershy, who nodded.
“I’m fine girls, really, I am.” she said with a soft smile, ruffling their manes.
“B-but what about that freaky monster?” asked Applebloom.
“Oh, he’s not a monster…. well, okay he kinda is, but he’s a very nice monster.” said Fluttershy with a confident smile, “His name’s 228.”
“228?” asked Scootaloo, “What kinda name is 228?”
Fluttershy shrugged, “I guess it’s the name he goes by, and I certainly wouldn’t ask him to take another name.”
“But….why is he here and not in th’ Everfree?” asked Applebloom.
“Oh, it’s because he’s not an animal.” answered Fluttershy. The CMC all let out a collective “Ohhh.”
“Now…. why don’t you go back to your clubhouse and I’ll tell the Mayor about 228? Though I’m not sure if Twilight’s already told her.”
The CMC’s faces became downcast and they looked at each other before looking back at the yellow pegasus, “But we wanted to learn how to care for animals from you.” said Sweetie Belle. Fluttershy blinked at them before asking, “R-really, you three wanted to learn about animals… from me?”
Applebloom nodded, “Eeyup, everypony knows that you’re the best animal caretaker in all of Equestria!”
“And who better to learn from than the best?” added Sweetie Belle.
Fluttershy blushed and pawed at the ground bashfully, “Th-thank you girls, I didn’t know that some ponies thought I was the best, but I’m very flattered.”
“So does that mean that you’ll teach us how to take care of animals?” asked Scootaloo, hopefully.
Fluttershy held a hoof to her chin, “Maybe… I think you’ll have to ask your guardians, but I can probably help you, but you have to promise me that you won’t bother 228 while we’re there, I’m not too sure that he’d like company.”
The CMC nodded, though Scootaloo seemed a bit unsure, something which Fluttershy immediately noticed. “Don’t worry, Scootaloo, 228 will probably be in his room when you come to visit.”
That seemed to calm Scootaloo down and the orange pegasus filly gave Fluttershy a wide smile. The trio of troublemakers said their goodbyes and departed, leaving Fluttershy to go and ask Twilight if she contacted the Mayor.
Ah, memories. thought Discord as he floated past the statues in the Princesses Garden, all of whom had been former enemies of Celestia and Luna.
The draconequus paused by the statue of a large, hideously deformed creature that looked vaguely penguin-like if one were to see it in the right light. A plaque underneath the statue read: KING CHARLATAN: The Spirit of Greed and Corruption.
I wonder if either of them know how horrible this is. he thought sadly, Even I wouldn’t delve into that particular brand of cruelty…. though I might make an exception for Sun-Butt, though I doubt that her statue would look this dignified, I’d probably pose her to that it looked like she was on the loo…. or maybe I’d have her eating big honking slice of cake. I might even go for making her statue out of mac and cheese.
He smiled as he pictured all the ways that he could humiliate Celestia, but quickly sobered up when he remembered that he had work to do.
In a flash he had teleported out of the garden and into the darkest and most dreaded part of the castle: the Vault.
The Vault was a massive place dedicated to storing all of the most deadly and unnatural arcane tools and artifacts from around Equestria. Though Discord knew that it wasn’t the only one of its kind, he knew that it was by far the largest and it had the one thing that he was looking for.
Starswirl’s Mirror: a gateway to other worlds and one of the most heavily guarded relics of the bygone era when Starswirl was still in Equestria and Discord and the Princesses were still friends.
It’s almost too bad that those days had to end. thought Discord, feeling a rare twinge of nostalgic sadness for the days when he and Celly used to frolic in the tall grass and steal food from the kitchens. The sadness faded when he remembered how restrained he had felt when he was young.
They should have let me have my fun. he thought angrily, feeling the hate bubble up within him, They should have known that it’s in my race’s nature to cause chaos and bend reality…. why couldn’t they see that?
Discord shook his head to clear those pesky feelings away, he was here to have fun and fun is exactly what he was going to have.
It didn’t take him long to find the Mirror and it took him even less time to get around the various magical traps.
The Mirror was just as he remembered it, with its oval shape and multiple loopy offshoots that had no real purpose other than to look good.
Smirking, the draconequus reached out and tapped the surface of the mirror, his smirk widened when his eagle talon sank into the glass like a stone into water, causing ripples to spread outwards.
“Perfect.” said Discord, allowing himself a teeny evil chuckle before he withdrew his talon. He took a few steps backwards, conjured up a pair of swimming goggles and a polka-dotted bikini, and took a graceful swan dive into the mirror.