//------------------------------// // Ch. 14- Showdowns and Oddities // Story: The Monster Within // by Uberdeathninja //------------------------------// Boreas woke unusually happy, though his desire to talk seemed to have left him three nights ago. Now, he was just as quiet as before. However, Boreas didn't let that stop him from being joyous, for the memory of punching Celestia was still fresh in his mind, even after happening three days ago. And even so, the ponies saw him as a hero. In fact, many sent letters to him specifically, thanking him for defeating Discord, despite the display being so violent. There was a parade yesterday, celebrating his victory. There, he demonstrated his unique powers to his fans, though he did not like showing off. However, he didn't see any harm in it, and news quickly spread through the many pony settlements, as well as other races' territories, of "The Princesses' new weapon". However, many did not take this news well, especially the griffons and the changelings. In fact, among his piles of fan mail (which he never read, by the way) were several death threats, all from high-ranking officials from other lands. However, the sudden publicity wasn't the weird part of this week: It was Celestia. She had been silent since he popped her in the face three days ago, and now she generally ignored Boreas, even greeted him in the hall this morning! Seriously, what did he do to her to change her around so suddenly? He didn't hate this new Celestia, but it unnerved him a little. Still, he ignored it. If anything, this was an improvement. He broke from his thoughts, and decided to go for a walk. As he stepped outside, he walked down the street, hoping to reach the gates so he could safely change forms and run to the Everfree, so he could check on his wilderness. Suddenly, a blue pony in a ridiculous outfit bumped into him, causing him to stumble, but the pony was knocked on her rear. Suddenly, the offended pony got up, and shot him a look of anger, and spoke: "Hey, watch where you're going, you big Neanderthal!" The rude pony demanded, causing Boreas to glare at her. The pony returned the glare with one of her own, and the two were soon locked in a brutal glaring contest. The rude pony then glanced to Boreas staff, noticing the unicorn skulls on it. "What are you, anyway, some kind of magician? Well, Trixie thinks you need a wardrobe change and a bath before you can even match her talents!" The blue unicorn said arrogantly. Boreas didn't like showing off, but this arrogant little nothing needed to learn who she was speaking to. Boreas rattled his staff, then pointed it at the pony, who he assumed was Trixie, despite her confusing habit of speaking in the third person. As soon as he did, the little blue pony lifted into the air, and Boreas spun her around, faster and faster, until Trixie was a blue donut-shaped blur. Then, as a final measure of humiliation, he threw the little blue pony to the side, into some trashcans, causing everypony in the vicinity to laugh. Then, Boreas walked over to Trixie, picked her up by her tail, and glared at her. "Unhand Trixie, you great oaf! The great Trixie will not stand for this!" The unicorn demanded, struggling in his grasp. She annoyed Boreas, so he put his staff to her lips, casting a spell that sealed them shut. Then, he dropped the annoying blue pony unceremoniously, and continued on his way, leaving an embarrassed and frustrated unicorn behind. Trixie watched as the monster who cursed her stomped away, heading for the gates.She wanted to teach him a lesson, but first she needed to unseal her lips. Angrily, she stormed toward Ponyville, seeking the one she knew would help her. When she approached Twilight's house, she knocked at the door, and Twilight stepped out. "Oh, hello, Trixie. What are you doing here?" "Mmph mmph mmmph!!!!" Trixie frantically replied, pointing to her mouth. Twilight quickly got the message, and unsealed Trixie's lips, allowing her to speak. "Finally! When Trixie finds that big clod, I'm going to turn him into a newt!" Trixie ranted, confusing Twilight. "Trixie, who did you make enemies with this time?" Twilight asked tiredly. "Trixie does not know, but it was he that bumped into Trixie, then he embarrassed Trixie, then sealed Trixie's mouth shut, the ruffian!!!" Trixie replied angrily. "Look, what did this "ruffian" look like?" asked Twilight, annoyed. "Well, he was big, and wore a lot of fake skulls, which looked atrocious, by the way..." Trixie began. "Okay..."Twilight said, concerned. She had a sinking feeling she knew who this so-called "ruffian" was. "And he wore oversized animal pelts, and he walked on two legs." Trixie finished, and Twilight sighed. Trixie, in her arrogance, just made enemies with Boreas. Why did this not surprise her? "Trixie, I think you just made the wrong enemy today. That was Boreas, Princess Luna's new friend." Suddenly, Trixie looked very interested. "So, this creature is the friend of Princess Luna herself? Still, nopony makes a mockery of the Great and Powerful Trixie and gets away with it! NOPONY! I will make this "Boreas" rue the day he crossed me! Rue it!!!" Ranted Trixie, who stormed off before Twilight could convince her not to do anything stupid. Later, at the Castle Boreas sat on the couch, exhausted after a long day of hunting and playing with his pack-mates, who missed him very much. He missed them, too, and decided he should return to them soon. However, Luna interrupted his thoughts. "Letter for you, Boreas. Looks pretty important." She said, handing him a letter, written in the fanciest writing he'd ever seen from these ponies. As he read it, he quickly grew enraged. He was being challenged, by the very pony that bumped into him on the street. He didn't care for the pony, and would have just thrown the letter away, but it had been too long since he used any of his good spells. It was Mid-day when he arrived where they were to meet: The center of Ponyville. "Well, seems you had the guts to show up, Boreas. But be warned, The Great and Powerful Trixie goes easy on nopony! You will regret humiliating me in Canterlot, once I've humiliated you!" Ranted Trixie. Twilight walked up in an attempt to stop her. "Trixie, this is stupid. If you do this, there's a good chance he'll kill you. Just step down, and we'll talk about this." Twilight Pleaded. Trixie, however, paid her no mind, and began the duel. Minutes passed, and spells were everywhere, scorch marks and debris littered the duel zone. Trixie tried to peer around a corner, but Boreas got her in the face with a freezing spell, covering her head in ice. Enraged, Trixie broke the ice shell on her head, then cast a binding spell on Boreas, pinning him with magical ropes. "Ha! Some mage you are, unable to resist a simple binding spell!" Trixie exclaimed, then she put a hoof on Boreas's back to restrain him, but she pushed him too far. Trixie stepped back in horror as Boreas transformed, then roared his trademark bellow at her, then she dodged as Boreas lunged at her, missing by inches. "EEEAAARRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAGGH!!!!" Bellowed Boreas, as he stalked toward the great and cowering Trixie. "Told you he would kill you." Sighed Twilight. "I-I didn't know he'd do THAT!" Whimpered Trixie. Finally, Boreas pounced, but Trixie put up a shield in desperation, knocking him back. Then, grasping her opportunity, she ran while he was distracted. Boreas gave chase immediately, though, crashing through stalls as he chased his prey through the town. Finally, Trixie managed to get herself cornered in a cul-de-sac, and Boreas advanced. Trixie closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for the end, but Boreas only smiled, then walked off, back to the Castle. "I... I almost died..." Trixie said before fainting. As Boreas got back to the castle, he went through the hall to his/Luna's room, he bumped into Celestia, and the two tumbled into each other. As they got up, Boreas prepared himself for a chewing out, but got the exact opposite: "Oh, sorry, Boreas." Celestia said cheerfully before walking off. "What the..?" Wondered Boreas aloud. This was so vastly unlike Celestia, he was wondering if he was dreaming. Quickly, he pinched himself, then ruled out that this was a dream. However, something was amiss. Celestia was being waaaaay too nice, and she Called him Boreas, not Damien. Something was Definitely up, and he intended to find out what. Luna was taking care of business elsewhere for the time being, so getting into Celestia's room wasn't the hard part. Coping with what he saw inside, however, was.