//------------------------------// // Boast Busters // Story: A New Hero // by Alex The Lone Wolf //------------------------------// Episode 6 – Boast Busters "Come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" I heard racket outside near my home, which woke me up. What's up with things outside always waking me up? I jumped off my bed and made the covers. Walking outside the door, I noticed a huge crowd gathered around a stage. There was a light blue pony, prancing around, wearing a magician hat and a magician cape held with a jewel in the center. She had light blue hair that almost matched her skin color. Her eyes looked to be light violet. "Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" Fireworks exploded around her… Are. You. Serious? I had to deal with Gilda, now I have to deal with this show off? As I grew closer to the stage, I could hear Rarity's voice. "My, my, my! What boasting!" "Come on, no pony's as magical as Twili- Twi- Twi- Oh!" I heard Spike say, then clearing his throat. "Hey, Rarity, I, uh- Moustache!" I tried squeezing in through the other ponies that blocking the way. "There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" I heard Twilight. "Nothin' at all, 'ceptin' when someone goes around showin' it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons." Applejack replied. "Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does NOT make one better than the rest of us." Rarity agreed. "Especially when ya got me around being better than the rest of us." Rainbow Dash's voice said, laughing for a moment. "Eh, I mean, yeah, uh, magic shmagic. Boo!" I had finally reached where the ponies were standing, which was at the front of the crowd and nearest to the stage. "Alex?" Twilight noticed me. "What's going on?" I asked. "Just some pony that thinks she is the better than the rest of us…" Rarity responded. I looked over at Trixie, who overheard our conversation. "Well, well, well, it seems we have some NIEGH sayers in the audience. Who is so IGNORANT as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie? Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?" Rarity blew a raspberry. "Just who does she think she is?" "Yeah!" Spike barged in. "Since we all know that Twilight here is— "Spike! Shhh!" Twilight tried to silence Spike, taking him to somewhere they could talk in private. "What makes YOU think you're so special?" I interrupted her boasting. "You dare challenge me, you pathetic average pony?" Trixie replied to my comment, using her magic to pick me up by the tail, dragging me upside-down towards her, facing her. "You do remember, as I said, I am the MOST MAGICAL unicorn in ALL of Equestria!" I could hear Applejack behind me say, "Hey! Let him go!" "Most magical?" I replied. "More like an ignorant show off who thinks she always has to be the center of attention." I could hear Rainbow Dash and the others laugh after I had told her. "Why, you!" Trixie steamed. She then used her magic to lift me up and fire me away from her. I was flying further from her, but before I could hit the ground, Rainbow Dash had caught up to me and caught me before I could get hurt. "Gotcha." Rainbow Dash said, smiling. "Thanks…" I responded. She took me back to where I was previously and flew up to Trixie's face. "Hey! What makes you think you can do that to my friend? Afraid of the truth?" Rainbow Dash questioned. Trixie laughed. "The truth? It is just a mere sign of jealousy of a common fool!" I started to go back to tell off Trixie, but Applejack held me back. "Easy there..." Applejack restrained. "So, Great and Powerful Trixie, what makes you think you're so awesome, anyway?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Heh, why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to VANQUISH THE DREADED URSA MAJOR!" Fanfare and fireworks followed. Her audience gasped at her "amazement". "When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington had no one to turn to, but the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic vanquished the Ursa Major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!" "Trixie truly is the most talented, the most magical, the most awesome unicorn in Ponyville." A kid walked up to the stage, encouraging her boasting. "No, in all of Equestria!" Another one added, increasing the encouragement. "How do you know? You didn't see it! And besides, Twi—Twilight zipped Spike's mouth shut, literally with her magic. "Mmph! M-mmph!" Spike continued to try to disprove her bragging. I could feel how angry he was getting from Trixie's boasting. Trixie laughed, "It's true, my enthusiastic little admirers. Trixie is most certainly the best in Ponyville." There was silence and crickets. "Don't believe the Great and Powerful Trixie?" She laughed. "Well then, I hereby challenge you, Ponyvillians - anything you can do, I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest equine who has ever lived!" Fireworks and fanfare followed again. Spike unzipped himself and begged Twilight, "Please! She's unbearable! Ya gotta show her! Ya just gotta!" Twilight began whispering to Spike, but she was interrupted by Trixie. "Hmm, how about - YOU!" She pointed at Twilight. "Well, how about it? Hm? Is there anything you can do that the Great and Powerful Trixie can't?" "I- I—Twilight stuttered. "Well, little hayseed?" Trixie pursued. "That's it! I can't stand for no more of this!" Applejack finally broke. "You show her, AJ!" Spike encouraged. "Can your magical powers do THIS?" Applejack began using a lasso to do a few tricks and then tossing it to grab an apple off the tree and bringing it back to her mouth to eat it. Every pony cheered. "Top that, missy." "Oh ye of little talent. Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!" Trixie began her turn, revealing the horn under her hat. She used her magic to grab the rope Applejack had used and hypnotize her with its Snake-like movements. She used the other end of the rope to grab an apple from a nearby tree. With the snake end, she tied Applejack's legs and placed the apple in her mouth. The audience laughed and cheered. "Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails." Trixie announced as I rushed over to help Applejack, untying the rope and getting rid of the apple in her mouth. "Thanks…" She sighed and gave Trixie a mean stare. "There's no need to go struttin' around and showin' off like that." Rainbow Dash challenged. "Oh?" Trixie replied, intrigued by Rainbow Dash's comment. "That's MY job!" Rainbow Dash immediately flew through a windmill, shot upwards like a rocket through clouds, puncturing them. She stopped in front of the sun and then dashed downwards through the punctured clouds, repeating her pathway. When she arrived back at the stage, a rainbow emerged on top of her from the water droplets she had carried. "They don't call me 'Rainbow' and 'Dash' for nothin'!" Rainbow Dash said. The crowd cheered. "When Trixie is through, the only thing they'll call you is loser." Trixie replied. She used her magic to use the rainbow Rainbow Dash made and wrap it around her. She spinned the rainbow, causing Rainbow Dash to form a tornado for a few seconds until she stopped outside the stage, dazed. "Seems like any pony with a DASH of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great Trixie." Applejack had helped Rainbow Dash up. However, she formed a dark cloud and caused lightning to strike Rainbow Dash. "OW!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Every pony laughed. "What we need is another unicorn to challenge her. Someone with some magic of her own." I heard Spike from behind me. "Yeah! A unicorn to show THIS unicorn who's boss." Rainbow Dash agreed. "A real unicorn to unicorn tussle." Applejack added. "Uh..." Twilight hesitated. "Enough. Enough, all of you." Rarity exclaimed. " I take your hint, but Rarity is above such nonsense. Rainbow Dash and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but Rarity conducts herself with beauty and grace." "Ooo, what's the matter? Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rat's nest you call a mane?" Trixie insulted Rarity. "Oh, it. Is. On! You may think you're tough with all your so-called powers, but there's more to magic than your brutish ways. A unicorn needs to be more than just muscle. A unicorn needs to have style." Rarity used her magic to grab the curtain Trixie was using and create an instant dress for herself. "A unicorn is not a unicorn without grace and beauty." Rarity said as the audience gave "Ooh"s. However, Trixie began using her magic as Spike backed up Rarity. "Rarity won't let Trixie get the best of her! She's strong, she's beautiful, she's— Trixie had changed Rarity, causing the audience to gasp. "QUICK! I NEED A MIRROR! GET ME A MIRROR! What did she do to my hair? I know she did something terrible to my hair!" Rarity squealed. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack tried to prevent Rarity from freaking out. "Nothing." "It's fine." "It's gorgeous." Spike ruined the chain. "It's green…" Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack looked over to Spike. "What?" He asked. "No. Green hair! Not green hair!" She cried. Her hair was indeed changed to a green color, that which looked as if it actually had been turned to grass. "Such an awful, awful color!" She continued crying, running away. A pony she passed, who had green hair, exclaimed, "Well, I never!" "Well, Twilight, guess it's up to you." Spike insisted. "Come on, show her what you're made of." Trixie blew on her hoof and rubbed it against her front leg. "What do you mean? I'm nothing special." Twilight replied. "Yes, you are! You're better than her!" "I'm not better than anyone." "Hah! You think you're better than the Great and Powerful Trixie? You think you have more magical talent? Well, come on, show Trixie what you've got. Show us all." Trixie provoked. "Who, me? I'm just your run of the mill citizen of Ponyville. No powerful magic here. I, uh... I think I hear my laundry calling. Sorry, gotta go." Twilight declined and ran off. She seriously didn't want to prove her skills… "Twilight?" Spike called. "Ha! Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing unicorn in all of Equestria. Was there ever any doubt?" "Trixie!" I called her. She did not turn, but looked over her shoulder instead. "You think you're so great? Why don't you bring a REAL Ursa Major and defeat it for us?" I said. Every pony, especially spike, began to agree with me. I could see Trixie get a little nervous, but she kept her cool and replied. "Nonsense! As much as I'd love to show every one of you ponies my true skill in magic, it would be MUCH too dangerous to bring an Ursa Major to town or near it. Of course, a fool like you would make that mistake." "Just you wait!" I shouted as she continued to walk. "Your fifteen minutes of fame won't last! Someone with true skill will stand out!" She acted like she ignored me, but I knew she was listening… After the crowd had died, I walked over to Twilight's house. I knocked on the front door and waited a few seconds. "Oh… hey Alex." Twilight said as she opened the door. "Can we talk?" I asked. "Um…sure." She invited me in. She seemed like she was reading a book when I came over. "What did you want to talk about?" She asked. "…What was up with you and Trixie? You acted like you had no special talent when you really did. Why were you hiding it?" She sighed and walked over to her book. "Didn't you see how they hated Trixie's bragging, Alex? Especially you. If I go out there and show off my magic, I run the risk of losing them as friends." "But that's different, Twilight. She was showing off her magic to gain the attention of a crowd. If you used your magic to shut her up, that would be just sticking up for your friends…" I kind of learned that from what Fluttershy had told me… "It's not different, Alex. I would still be showing off." "Twilight… trust me… you wouldn't be showing off… I know braggers… and they are completely different from you. You're good, Twilight. If you just show her some magic, I'm sure that would make her leave Ponyville…even though she'll probably just go somewhere else and repeat the process again…" "Alex…" She sighed. "I don't know… I mean… you do make a point… but…ugh… I just don't know. I'm sorry. I need some time to think about this…" "Alright…" I turned around to walk out the front door. I took one last glance at Twilight. She was sitting, reading the book. She turned the pages with her magic quietly. However… her silence said a thousand words… I spent some time walking around town. I had noticed ponies go up to Trixie, eager to see her powers. However, she always refused to, making excuses for each time. How odd… I know she's not the pony that everyone thinks she is…I KNOW she's hiding something… I sighed. Night began to fall. Maybe I should go tell Twilight that it's okay if she doesn't want to do anything. I felt like I put too much pressure on her… I began walking towards Twilight's house, but all of a sudden, I heard a loud roar. After, the ground began shaking. More loud roars boomed, making ponies all over town come out of their homes. All the ponies gasped. I looked up to see a humongous blue transparent creature climb on top of a home and smash it to pieces. All the ponies gathered in a group and ran towards where I was like a stampede. I tried to move out of the way, but they had prevented that. They all ran through, covering my eyesight with the dirt they spewed up with their hooves stomping on the ground. "ALEX!" I heard a voice call my name, but I could barely distinguish who it was from all the noise the other ponies made. Suddenly, I was pulled out of the crowd and over to somewhere clear. It was Twilight! She had used her magic to pull me out of the stampede. "Twilight!" I called her name. "Are you okay?" She asked. "Yeah, I'm fine but— "Twilight, look!" Spike pointed. We both ran to the area, seeing the two kids earlier from Trixie's performance. "What's going on?" Twilight asked. "We brought an ursa to town." One of them replied. "You WHAT?" Twilight exclaimed. "Don't worry, the Great and Powerful Trixie will vanquish it." "I can't…" Trixie finally admitted. "WHAT?" The two kids shouted. "Uh, I can't, I never have. No one can vanquish an Ursa Major. I just made the whole story up to make me look better." "Made it up!" The ursa growled. We turned around to see it right behind us. It let out terrible and ferocious roar. Spike tapped Twilight with his elbow and motioned for her to use her magic against it. Twilight gulped. She walked over to the ursa as the ursa stomped over to her. I couldn't let Twilight face that thing alone… but I didn't want to distract her… She began using her magic, which caused a gentle breeze to flow by. Due to the wind, a soft lullaby played. The ursa noticed this and changed its expression to a soothed one. Wait… Twilight must know what she's doing! "Nice use of number sixteen." Spike announced. Twilight then grabbed a water tower. She dumped the water inside and ran the empty tower through a barn filled with cows. When the tower came out, it was filled with milk. "That's new." Spike also announced. She screwed the top back on. The ursa was beginning to doze off. It almost fell on Trixie, but Twilight stopped it and instead carried it over to the bottle, which he began sucking on as a baby… Every pony came out to observe. I could see that Twilight was using a lot of strength to carry that ursa back where it came from… Twilight finally finished. She was panting as every pony was cheering for her. "Heavens to Betsy!" Applejack exclaimed. "We knew you had ability, but not that much!" "I'm sorry." Twilight immediately replied. "Please, please don't hate me." "Hate you?" Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack exclaimed. "Why, whatever do you mean, darling?" Rarity asked. "Well, I know how much you all hated Trixie's showing off with her magic tricks, and I just thought— "Whoa, whoa, whoa." Rainbow Dash cut off Twilight. "Magic's got nothing to do with it. Trixie's just a loudmouth." "MOST unpleasant." Rarity added. "All hat and no cattle." Applejack finished. "So - you don't mind my magic tricks?" Twilight asked. "Your magic is a part of who you are, sugar cube, and we like who you are. We're proud to have such a powerful, talented unicorn as our friend." Applejack explained. I nodded towards what she said. "And after whuppin' that ursa's hind quarters, we're even prouder." Rainbow Dash encouraged. "You are?" The ponies agreed. "Uh-huh." "Mm-hmm." "Mm-hmm." "Wow, Twilight, how'd you know what to do with that Ursa Major?" Spike wondered. "That's what I was doing when Alex came over to check up on me. I was so intrigued by Trixie's bragging that I was compelled to do a little reading up on them." "So it IS possible to vanquish an Ursa Major all by yourself?" "That wasn't an Ursa Major, that was a baby, an Ursa MINOR." "THAT was just a BABY?" Trixie immediately questioned. "And it wasn't rampaging; it was just cranky because SOMEONE woke it up." Twilight explained, directing the blame on the kids. Every pony stared angrily at them. "Well, if THAT was an Ursa Minor, then what's an Ursa Major like?" Spike asked. "You don't wanna know." Twilight responded after thinking for a moment. "Huh." Trixie walked over to Twilight. "You may have vanquished an Ursa Minor, but you will never have the amazing, show-stopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She popped out a screen of smoke, but once the smoke disappeared, every pony could see her retreating. "Why that little..." Rainbow Dash began to fly towards Trixie, but Twilight stopped her. "Just let her go. Maybe someday she'll learn her lesson. Now, about you two." Twilight noticed the two kids trying to sneak out. The small one laughed nervously. "Uh we're sorry that we woke up the Ursa Minor." The tall one spoke, "We just wanted to see some AWESOME MAGIC." "Yeah! And the way you vanquished that Ursa Minor was AWESOME!" Twilight looked at them, seriously. They bowed down before her and spoke sulkily. "We deserve whatever punishment you give us." "For starters, you can clean up this mess." She looked over at the broken stage where Trixie performed. " And..." She looked at Spike. "What do you think, Spike? Should I give them number twenty five?" "Oh, twenty five! Yes! And I think I deserve it, too." Spike agreed. The kids wondered what they were talking about. I had no idea what it was either… "I think you're right." Twilight casted her magic. The two kids were frightened, trembling at what their second punishment was going to be. However, Spike held out his face for some reason. Once, Twilight finished her spell, the three of them had mustaches on their face. "SWEET!" The three of them exclaimed. Twilight turned to me. "I guess I should have listened to you Alex…" "It's alright… Applejack's right; you shouldn't be afraid of your talents. Just don't use them for the wrong reasons like Trixie." Twilight smiled. "Well, another lesson learned. C'mon Alex, I want you to hear my letter." Despite how late it was, I followed her. When we were inside her home, she walked over to her table that contained a stack of books. Using her magic, she grabbed an empty scroll and placed it over the books. She grabbed her pen and dipped it in ink. I sat down as I began to listen to her letter. "Dear Princess Celestia, I have learned a very valuable lesson about friendship: I was so afraid of being thought of as a showoff, that I was hiding a part of who I am. My friends helped me realize that it's okay to be proud of your talents, and there are times when it's appropriate to show them off... Especially when you're standing up for your friends." Her speech gave me a kind of… heartwarming feeling, as if I had learned something too… "So, you finally admit that you're the most talented unicorn in all of Ponyville?" Spike had stepped in with his mustache. "Well… yeah, but it's nothing to brag about. So, uh, how did it go with Rarity?" Twilight replied. "Ah, she didn't go for the mustache…" Spike responded, disappointed. "You know, Spike, that mustache has nothing to do with who you really are. Maybe you should just try being yourself." "Or... Maybe the mustache wasn't enough. Maybe if I had a mustache AND a beard!" "Uh, not this again!" Twilight sighed. "Okay, imagine me with a nice, long, Fu Manchu type beard. Or maybe a goatee. Oh, no— "Spike, just go to bed!" Twilight exclaimed, annoyed. Luckily, he had already fallen asleep, snoring soundly. "Well…" I spoke. "I better get home, I'll see you later." "Bye, Alex." Twilight replied as she began to pick Spike up and take him to bed. I left the house and started home. As I walked, I thought about today. I didn't see Fluttershy at all today… it makes me kind of sad… I hope she's alright… I'll go check up on her tomorrow. I arrived at my home a little saddened from my thoughts. I crept through my bed and lay my head on my pillow. As I tossed and turned, I could only think about Fluttershy...