//------------------------------// // Boast Busters // Story: My Little Pony: FIM Alternate Universe // by Twilight Star //------------------------------// “Go, Sunset. You can do it”, said Garble.  “Fine. There it goes”, said Sunset Shimmer, before using her magic and making a black mustache appear on Garble.  “You did it!” exclaimed Garble happily, before checking a list. “Magic of growth. This is number twenty five. Twenty five trick numbers. And increasing ”  Sunset Shimmer blushed while smiling.  Garble went to a mirror, “and this one I found the best of all. Hi Sunny Flare. What is it? Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just my magnificent mustache”, laughed Garble.  “Sorry, Romeo. But as handsome as he is, it was just for practice and I’ll have to take it off now”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “Oh no!” exclaimed Garble, before his mustache disappeared, “damn it.”  Sunset Shimmer laughed.    “Twenty five, Sunset. Twenty five tricks and increasing, ”said Garble. Sunset Shimmer just smiled. She showed no sign of pride. She didn’t want to feel better than any unicorn.  “I thought the unicorns only had a little magic according to their special talents”, said Garble.  “It is true. For ponies whose talent is cooking, singing or math,” agreed Sunset Shimmer. “But what if his special talent is magic?”  “Like you. That knows a lot of magic”, said Garble.  “Ah, Garble. Stop. I’m sure we have several ponies here in Ponyville that know as much of magic as I do”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “Are you kidding?” asked Garble. “I doubt if have another Equestria unicorn with your abilities”  Sunset Shimmer smiled. But she didn’t know if she should accept this compliment. She didn’t like to think she was better than the other unicorns.  “Get out of the way! We’re passing!” exclaimed A greenish-colored foal with orange mane with large eyebrows with a cutie mark from white scissors. Beside him, was an orange-green unicorn foal with greenish mane with a snail’s Cutie Mark.  Sunset Shimmer and Garble were startled. Garble began to be pushed by the orange foal. Sunset Shimmer looked back.  “Snails! Snips! What’s going on?” Garble wanted to know.  Garble was pushed away, “Don’t you know? There’s a new unicorn in the area”, said Snails.  Snails started jumping with Joy, “so saying she has more powers than anypony!”  Sunset Shimmer approached the foals. When she heard what Snails said she let out a sigh of surprise, “really?” Sunset Shimmer wasn’t disappointed or sad about it.  “No way. This title is from Sunset here”, said Garble.  Sunset Shimmer blushed while smiling. She was curious, “Where is this unicorn?”  “He is there in the square! Let’s go!” replied Snips before running off.  “Yes! Comes. Let’s go!” Snails went after Snips.  Sunset Shimmer and Garble rushed to Ponyville Square.    In the square there were many ponies. And there was a purple house with a blue roof. There was a sign in the house with a purple star design, “Come on. Come and witness the extraordinary magic of the great mighty Starlight Glimmer!” The house opened to form a stage. A smoke appeared and when a unicorn with purple and turquoise mane disappeared. The cover he wore was blue in color. But it wasn’t a normal shade of blue. On her chest was a turquoise jewel. The cover had star and glitter designs. The ponies were amazed.  “Attention, while the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer performs the most spectacular magic in the world. Never witnessed by pony eyes!” Said Starlight Glimmer, before setting off several fireworks.  “So boring”, said Sunny Flare.  “Which is? No pony is as magical as Sun… Sun… ” When Garble saw Sunny Flare, he didn’t know what to say or do. “Sun… hey, Sunny Flare. Oh! My mustache!”  Garble ran off. Sunny Flare didn’t understand anything that happened. Sunset Shimmer approached Sunny Flare, “There’s nothing wrong with being talented, right?”  “Nothing at all,” replied Sugarcoat. “Unless somepony shows up as a child with new bow ties”, Sugarcoat was now looking at Starlight Glimmer. That made flowers appear.  “Just because somepony has magic skills doesn’t do better than us”, said Sunny Flare.  Sunset Shimmer was suddenly uncomfortable with this. She was always good at magic. Did that make her better than the others?  “Especially when you think I’m the best among us”, said Indigo Zap.  Sugarcoat went to Indigo Zap. She was’t happy at all. Indigo Zap tried to say something, “I mean, you silly magic. Buuh!” Indigo Zap looked back at Sugarcoat.  “Well well. Looks like we have some skeptics in the audience. Who is so foolish as to defy the magical abilities of the great mighty Starlight Glimmer?! ”said Starlight Glimmer. “Don’t you know you’re facing the most magical unicorn of all Equestria?”  Sunny Flare spat, “Who does she think she is?”  Garble stood between Sunset Shimmer and Sunny Flare, “Yeah! Especially when we know that Sun… ”  “Garble, shhh”, said Sunset Shimmer. She pushed Garble out of the audience.  “What’s it? What’s the matter?” asked Garble.  “Didn’t you see how they reacted to Starlight Glimmer? I don’t want them to think I’m better than them”, said Sunset Shimmer, before she and Garble heard a noise from the stage. Starlight Glimmer, again made fireworks appear.  Indigo Zap went to Starlight Glimmer, “so, oh great and powerful Starlight Glimmer, what makes it so amazing anyway?”  “Because only the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer has magic powerful enough to defeat the creepy Big Dipper!” replied Starlight Glimmer, before making an image of a larger bear appear in the sky. The ponies were impressed. But Snails and Snips were the most impressed.  “Not that one”, said Snips.  “When all hope had been lost, when Rofton’s ponies had no one to help them, the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer appeared. And with her powerful magic, she defeated the Big Dipper and sent it to her cave in the manicured forest!” explained Starlight Glimmer.  “Awesome!” exclaimed Snails and Snips in unison. “It’s the proof!”  Starlight Glimmer took a proud stance, “Starlight Glimmer is even Ponyville’s most talented, best magic and most amazing unicorn!” exclaimed Snips.  “No. She’s from all Equestria”, said Snails.  “How do you know? Didn’t you see that… ” Garble tried to speak, but Sunset Shimmer cast a spell to pop a zipper in Garble’s mouth.  Starlight Glimmer laughed, “yes. It is true my enthusiastic little fans. Starlight Glimmer is for sure the best in Ponyville”  An absolute silence. No pony said anything.  “Don’t you believe in the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer? Okay. I challenge you Ponyville residents, whatever you do I can do better,” said Starlight Glimmer. “Any challengers? Somepony? Or is Starlight Glimmer destined to be the best horse ever?” she made fireworks appear.  Garble opened her zippered mouth. He dropped to his knees at Sunset Shimmer, “oh please! She is unbearable! You have to show her! You need!”  “I won’t use my magic now, Garble. Especially after… ”  Starlight Glimmer tried to pick an opponent, “how about… you!” Starlight Glimmer pointed at Sunset Shimmer.    Starlight Glimmer approached Sunset Shimmer, “So? What about? Is there anything better you can do that the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer can’t?”  “I... I…”  “Huh, rosebush?” Starlight Glimmer asked Sugarcoat.  “RoseBush no! I can’t stand it anymore! Enough!” exclameid Sugarcoat before taking the stage.  “Show her!” exclaimed Garble.  “Can your magical powers do that?” asked Sugarcoat before grabbing a rope and doing tricks. The audience ponies were surprised. Sugarcoat took an apple from an apple tree with the rope and ate it. The ponies cheered.  “Did you like it, Mrs. Starlight Glimmer?” asked Sugarcoat, now looking at Starlight Glimmer.  “Just a little talent,” said Starlight Glimmer, before taking off her wizard hat. “Watch and be amazed at the magic of Starlight Glimmer!”  The rope made a snake move. Sugarcoat stared at the rope as if mesmerized. The other side of the rope picked up an apple from an apple tree. The other side of the rope grabbed Sugarcoat’s hooves, put it upside down, and put the apple in its mouth. The audience ponies laughed, “Once again, the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer prevails”, Sugarcoat leaped off the stage, still bound and still with the apple in her mouth.  Indigo Zap went to Starlight Glimmer, “It doesn’t have to be displayed and look like this”  “Oh”  “That’s my job”, said that, Indigo Zap went flying to a mill and rolled it, went to the sky, she left a hole in the clouds until she reached the moon. She went down through the cloud holes, spun in the mill and returned to the stage. There was a rainbow the color of Indigo Zap’s mane above her. “They don’t call me Indigo Zap by any chance!” said Indigo Zap. The ponies cheered.  “With Starlight Glimmer around, they’ll just call you ... Failed,” said Starlight Glimmer, before making the rainbow above Indigo Zap begin to swirl around Indigo Zap. When it stopped spinning, she was already offstage, “I think I’m… kinda sick…”  “It looks like any common sense pony will think twice about challenging me”, said Starlight Glimmer, before using her magic and making a storm cloud appear over Indigo Zap and lightning. Indigo Zap shouted. Starlight Glimmer and the other ponies laughed.  “What she needs is another unicorn to challenge her. Somepony with magic too”, said Garble.  “Yes. A unicorn to show that unicorn who is the boss”, agreed Indigo Zap.  “A unicorn for a unicorn dispute”, said Sugarcoat.  “Stop now! Stop all of you! I accept the challenge. But Sunny Flare is full of this nonsense. Indigo Zap and Sugarcoat can act like brutes. But I can handle it with beauty and elegance”, said Sunny Flare.  “Are you afraid of awakening a trickle of your rat’s nest of horsehair?” challenged Starlight Glimmer.  “Oh! That’s it now! ”exclaimed Sunny Flare.  Sunny Flare took the stage, “You may find yourself tough on these cool powers. But there is more to magic than brutality. A unicorn must be more than muscles”  Sunny Flare picked up a curtain, “a unicorn must have style”  When the curtain came out, Sunny Flare wore a red and silver dress, “a unicorn isn’t a unicorn without elegance and beauty”  Starlight Glimmer cast a spell, “Now Sunny Flare is going to show her the best. Because she’s strong, she’s beautiful, she’s… ” said Garble, before being interrupted by what he saw. The other ponies were surprised.  “Give me a mirror! Give me a mirror! What did she do with my hair? I know she did something terrible with my hair!” said Sunny Flare in a panic.  “Nothing ...” said Sunset Shimmer.  “It’s ok…” said Indigo Zap.  “Okay”, said Sugarcoat.  “It’s green”, said Garble. Sunset Shimmer, Sugarcoat, and Indigo Zap looked at Garble unhappy.  “What?” asked Garble.  “No… green hair? Green hair, no!” Sunny Flare stepped off the stage as she cried. “What a horrible color!”  “Well, I don’t think so”, said a mare with a Cutie Mark of three green-mane carrots and green mane.  “Yeah, sunset. It’s left for you”, said Garble. Sunset Shimmer was worried.  “Go there. Show her”, said Garble.  “What you mean? I’m nothing special”, lied Sunset Shimmer. The other ponies were looking at Sunset Shimmer.  “Yes. You have. You’re better than her”, said Garble.  “I’m no better than anyone”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “Ah. Do you think you’re better than the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer? Do you think you have more talent for magic? So come on. Show Starlight Glimmer what it can do. Show it”, said Starlight Glimmer.  “Who? Me? I’m just a simple resident of Ponyville. No magic powers here. I think… I need to wash my clothes. Sorry”, said Sunset Shimmer before rushing off. The others watched Sunset Shimmer run.  “Sunset…” said Garble.  “Once again, the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer proved to be the most fantastic unicorn in all of Equestria. Without a doubt”, said Starlight Glimmer.  The ponies left to do their evening activities again. Garble glared at Starlight Glimmer.    Starlight Glimmer had a mirror leaning against his travel car while brushing his mane with a blue brush. Snails gave a drink a plate, “Here’s the extra hay milkshake you ordered. As you like”, Snips was next to Snails.  “Hay…” said Snips.  Starlight Glimmer took the milkshake with her magic and took it. The two foals stared at her. Starlight Glimmer stopped drinking, “what?”  “Tell us another story, great and powerful Starlight Glimmer”, said Snails.  “Yes. Tell me how you beat Big Dipper”, agreed Snips.  “Starlight Glimmer is tired of performing magic all night long beyond her imagination,” said Starlight Glimmer. “Don’t show up until tomorrow”  “Sure, great and powerful Starlight Glimmer”, said Snips as he walked away.  “Whatever we say obeys and does”, said Snails as he walked away.  “What are you two doing?” asked Garble.  Snails and Snips looked at Garble, “just attending to…”  “What?” wanted to know Garble.  “The great and powerful Starlight Glimmer”, replied Snails.  Garble rolled his eyes.  “Just bringing a Milkshake”, finished Snails.  “How can you fall for her?” asked Garble. “She’s just a showmare. Unlike Sunset ... ”  “The great and powerful Starlight Glimmer defeated the Big Dipper,” said Snails, very close to Garble. “Can your sunset do better?”  “Really? Were you there? ”asked Garble.  “Not. But… ” Snails tried to speak but was interrupted by Garble.  “To know if it’s pudding you have to taste it”, said Garble.  “Hehehe. I like pudding”, said Snips.  “See, unless Big Dipper shows up on the street and Starlight Glimmer defeats her, I won’t believe what she says,” saiu Garble. “And neither should you”  “Big dipper walking around here ...” Snails had an idea. “Snips, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”  “Because kid’s foot is called that if it’s not done standing”, replied Snips.  “Let’s go!” said Snails.    “Sunset, could you keep this book and listen to me?” asked Garble.  “Didn’t you see how they hated Starlight Glimmer to brag? If I go there and show my magic, I may end up losing my friends”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “It isn’t the same thing, Sunset,” said Garble. “Would you use her magic to defend your friends”  “No, Garble. It’s exactly the same thing”, said Sunset Shimmer.  Garble was close to the list of spells Sunset Shimmer practiced earlier, “Come on, Sunset. Any of these would be enough to show her that… ”  “I don’t want to show off like Starlight Glimmer”, said Sunset Shimmer, before popping a red door and looking back.  Garble opened the door, “but you’re the best”  Sunset Shimmer looked at Garble, “please, Garble. I said no ”  “If that’s the way you want it ... All right”, Garble closed the red door. But it soon opened and left the Golden Oka’s Tree Library.    It was daylight, and Snips and Snails were walking on Everfree Florest. Until they find a cave and enter. But it was very dark, “How are we going to find the Big Dipper if I can’t even see my paws?” asked Snails.  “Wait”, said Snips, before using the magic of his horn to illuminate.  “That’s better”, said Snails.  The sleeping Big Dipper woke up. The foals looked scared. Snails and Snips screamed in fear as the Big Dipper roared.    Garble was walking near Everfree Florest. He kicked a lost stone. He saw Snails and Snips running, “Hey guys, where are you going?”  “I can’t talk now!” exclaimed Snails.  “We have a bigger problem!” exclaimed Snips.  “Big Dipper to be exact,” said Snails.  Garble heard a roar and looked back. He ran off. When the Big Dipper stepped where Garble was, she roared.  “Starlight Glimmer!” exclaimed the two foals in unison.  “Sunset!” exclaimed Garble.  The two unicorn foals went to where Starlight Glimmer was and hit the hooves, “Starlight Glimmer! Open it! You have to help!”  Starlight Glimmer appeared, “I think I said the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer didn’t want to be disturbed”  “It’s just that we have a little problem”, said Snails.  “Well, it’s actually a problem”, corrected Snips.  “What’s so important that you can’t wait until tomorrow?!” said Starlight Glimmer. She heard a roar and saw the Big Dipper. She got scared and ran off. The foals ran out too. The Big Dipper crumpled the Starlight Glimmer cart before roaring.    Sunset Shimmer was at the Golden Oka’s Tree Library reading the same book. Until Garble came running, “Sunset, you need to come fast!”  “I told you, Garble. I won’t challenge Starlight Glimmer”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “You don’t understand. It’s just… ”Garble tried to say, but was interrupted by a roar.  “Is that what I’m thinking?” asked Sunset Shimmer.  “Absolutely”, answered Garble.    “Great and powerful Starlight Glimmer you have to defeat the Dipper”, said Snails.  “Yes. Defeat her for us to see”, said Snips.  “It took a lot of work to bring her here”, said Snails.  “Wait a minute. Did you bring her here? Are you crazy in the head?” said Starlight Glimmer.  “But you are the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer”, said Snails.  “Have you forgotten? You beat Big Dipper”, said Snips.  The Big Dipper roared, “Alright. Get away”, said Starlight Glimmer, before using his magic and grabbing a rope from a vase and tying it onto the Big Dipper.  “Oh, how easy”, said Starlight Glimmer.  The Big Dipper took the rope from her paws.  “Ah. Come on, Starlight Glimmer”, said Snails.  “Stop kidding and defeat her soon”, said Snips.  Starlight Glimmer made a storm cloud appear.  “Well, it was a fiasco”, said Snips.  “Yes. Let’s go. Where are all those explosions and smoke and such as not before?” said Snails.  The storm cloud gave a lightning bolt to the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper opened its mouth roared. The three fled the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper roared and all the sleeping ponies woke up. A white-haired unicorn mare with pink mane opened the door. A few ponies were out of their homes, saw Big Dipper eat a piece of the roof and ran off. Sunset Shimmer, with Garble on her back, passed the ponies that were fleeing the Big Dipper. Sunset Shimmer went to the two unicorn foals, “what’s going on?”  “We brought dipper into town”, replied Snails.  “You what?!” exclaimed Sunset Shimmer startled.  “Calm down, the big powerful Starlight Glimmer will defeat her, right?” said Snips.  “I can’t”, said Starlight Glimmer.  “What?!”  “I never did it. No one can beat the Big Dipper. I made it all up to make it cool”, confessed Starlight Glimmer.  “Did you make it up ?!”  The Big Dipper was looking at the four ponies and the dragon. Sunset Shimmer was scared. The Big Dipper roared. All the ponies were scared. Garble poked Sunset Shimmer. He motioned for Sunset Shimmer to do something. Sunset Shimmer swallowed hard before going to the Big Dipper, and doing a magic to make it windy. A plant that was in the lake that which began to be blown by the wind, began to play a song. The Big Dipper heard, and calmed down, “Great. She used the sixteen”, said Garble.  Sunset Shimmer used her magic to pick up a bottle-like object and took the water out. She took it to a farm and filled it with milk, “awesome!”  “This is new”, said Garble.  Sunset Shimmer closed and led to the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper began to feel as if she were going to sleep. She lost her balance. Starlight Glimmer was afraid. But, Sunset Shimmer used her magic to hold the Big Dipper. Sunset Shimmer used her magic to raise the Big Dipper high and bring the bottle. The Big Dipper began to drink the milk. The ponies were surprised. Sunset Shimmer, with his magic, took Big Dipper to the cave where he lived. When it was over, she began to breathe tiredly. The ponies applauded, “That was amazing”, said Garble.  “Grandma’s pants. We knew you were skilled, but not so skilled”, said Sugarcoat.  “I’m sorry. Please, please don’t hate me”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “Hate you?”  “What do you mean, Sunset?” asked Sunny Flare.  “Well, I saw how much they hated Starlight Glimmer showing off with their powers, so I thought ...”  “Magic has nothing to do with it! Starlight Glimmer is just a cheat”, said Indigo Zap.  “Very unpleasant”, said Sunny Flare.  “Too much hat and too little head”, said Sugarcoat.  “So…. Don’t you care about my magic?” asked Sunset Shimmer.  “Your magic is part of who you are, Sunset,” said Sugarcoat. “We like you just the way you are. We are proud to have a talented unicorn like you”  “And after you sent that Big Dipper home, we’re even more so”, said Indigo Zap.  “Are you?” asked Sunset Shimmer with a smile.  Indigo Zap, Sugarcoat, and Sunny Flare all agreed, “Have you studied what to do with the Big Dipper?” asked Garble.  “That’s what I was doing when you called me. I was intrigued by Starlight Glimmer bragging and feeling obliged to do some research”, replied Sunset Shimmer.  “Ah. So is it possible to beat a Big Dipper alone?” asked Garble.  “It wasn’t a Big Dipper. It was a baby. Ursa Minor”, corrected Sunset Shimmer.  “Was that just a baby?” asked Starlight Glimmer, surprised.  “And she wasn’t violent. She was just nervous because somepony woke her up”, said Sunset Shimmer.  The ponies looked unhappy at Snails and Snips.  “But if that’s a Ursa Minor… So what is a Big Dipper ?!” said Garble.  Sunset Shimmer imagined a Ursa Minor drinking milk from the bottle she gave while she was on a Big Dipper’s lap. The Big Dipper was purple and had long claws and long teeth, “you better not even know”  “You may have defeated a Little Dipper, but you will never have the spectacular powers of the great and powerful Starlight Glimmer!” said Starlight Glimmer, before sending smoke out and running.  “Now I’ll catch you”, said Indigo Zap, before flying.  “Let her go,” said Sunset Shimmer. “Maybe one day she will learn the lesson”  Snails and Snips tried to sneak away, “now, as for both of you…”  “Sorry for waking Ursa Minor”, apologized Snails.  “We just wanted to see some fantastic magic”, confessed Snips.  “Yes. And when you beat Ursa Minor, it was awesome!” said Snails.  Sunset Shimmer didn’t change her expression, “we deserve any punishment you give us”, said Snips.  “For starters, you can clean up this mess,” said Sunset Shimmer, looking at Starlight Glimmer’s wrecked cart. “And… what do you think about Garble? Should we show them number twenty-five?”  “Ah, twenty-five. Yes. I think I deserve it too”, agreed Garble.  “There is?”  “I think you’re right”, said Sunset Shimmer, before using her magic and making mustache appear in Snails, Snips, and Garble.  “Cool”, the three said in unison.    “Dear Princess Luna, I have learned a valuable lesson about friendship. I was so afraid that they would consider me a show that I was hiding a part of who I really am. My friends have taught me that we can be proud of our talents and the right time to show off. And especially when it’s to defend your friends”  “So can you already admit that you’re Ponyville’s most talented unicorn?” asked Garble.  “Well… yes. But it’s not something to brag about. So, how did it go with Sunny Flare?” replied Sunset Shimmer.  “She doesn’t even care about my mustache”, answered Garble.  “You know, Garble. That mustache has nothing to do with who you really are. Maybe you should try to be yourself”, said Sunset Shimmer.  “Or… maybe the mustache wasn’t enough. Maybe if I had a mustache and a beard”, said Garble.  “Not again”, said Sunset Shimmer. She was’t angry.  “Right. But imagine a Chinese beard. Or maybe a goatee. No, some chops”, say Garble.