Narrator's POV.
"There, it's closed."
After Soos and the children left, Stan decided to venture a little into the Gravity Falls forest.
Although he had the gnomes to bring him interesting objects, like the abnormal crystal that can modify size, Stan knows it's always good to sometimes go into the field.
This allows him to check the quality of his equipment in real situations but also to get used to his old body.
"Uh, Mr. Stan, there are still some undecided customers inside," Wendy pointed out.
Her voice betrayed her doubt about her boss's action, but Stan simply shrugged before grabbing his favorite cane and leaving.
He didn't have much equipment with him, apart from his mind-reading machine and a lightweight version of his electric metal gloves.
Of course, he had also brought a laser gun. These objects aren't really powerful, but effective enough to deal with supernatural creatures near the Mystery Shack.
"Don't worry about those idiots, they won't even notice we're gone, haha!" Stan replies without hiding his sly smile.
Surprisingly, Wendy also smiled with him after imagining the consequences of their foolishness.
Stan wasn't really afraid of theft thanks to the robots he had installed inside the Mystery Shack. He would literally have video evidence in case of illegal acts, and he would just have to file a complaint with the authorities.
Just because a person lives in a supernatural universe doesn't mean they can't use legal justice to solve some simple problems.
"You mentioned a monster earlier. Are you talking about the one Mabel and Dipper encountered at the lake?" Wendy asked.
Stan wasn't really surprised that Wendy was officially aware of this and not him. In the original story, Wendy had been informed of certain supernatural events before Stan.
She even started living adventures with the twins and Soos voluntarily.
"Sort of. Oh! Tracks!"
In front of them were footprints similar to those of a goat, but disproportionately large.
"We've probably entered their territory," Stan declared without hiding his serious tone.
He immediately activated his mind reader to pick up the brain waves of creatures around him. It's a somewhat crude way of using this invention as a radar and avoiding an ambush.
'What's that shiny chain around his neck?'
The first thought Stan detected was logically Wendy's.
'There are several voices around me besides Wendy's. I should really avoid activating this thing next to a slaughterhouse, at the risk of ending up vegan.'
Stan discreetly adjusted the device to select only a mind with a certain level of brain activity. This would allow him to listen to the thoughts of a sufficiently intelligent creature.
Stan and Wendy walked for about ten more minutes, following the information provided by the gnomes about the forest and the hoof prints. They eventually came across a strange cave.
"So, are you ready to use that axe and tackle the monster?"
"We'd need there to actually be a monster first. I don't think the tracks you showed prove anything," Wendy replied in a slightly skeptical tone, while tightening her grip on her axe.
'I'm sure it's just the tracks of a lost mountain goat, but it's still dangerous,' Wendy thought as she followed Stan.
Stan could read Wendy's thoughts. He knew she still had doubts, but that wasn't really important to him. He just wanted to relax a bit and do something productive.
He had thought about sleeping, but he finally preferred to enjoy Gravity Falls like the twins. Except that he wanted to explore the supernatural aspect.
Wendy's presence was just a bonus. He wanted to get this young girl used to the abnormal things that were going to happen.
He also intended to avoid absurd scenarios like the CD containing supernatural music or the incident with the ghosts.
To achieve these small objectives, Stan wanted Wendy to become aware of the seriousness of the anomalies earlier, unlike in season 1 of the original story.
"What do you want, humans?" a deep, virile voice resonated not far from the entrance of the cave.
In front of Stan and Wendy were two minotaur guards. Wendy was shocked by this sight, while Stan simulated a small shock before turning to her.
"I told you so, didn't I?" he said in a teasing tone despite the situation.
….
Stan Pines' POV
"If I understand correctly, you're here to prove that you're the manliest in Gravity Falls and that you deserve my place as chief?"
The creature speaking in an imposing voice in front of me was a black minotaur, the chief of minotaurs.
(Image)
"Exactly," I replied without flinching in fear.
Wendy is currently behind me, admiring the environment and the minotaurs' games. After the first contact with these creatures, she seemed to slowly gain confidence.
It seems that seeing me talk to them nonchalantly calmed her down.
I already knew they weren't really completely hostile to humans and other creatures, but there are exceptions.
Like for example the strange bear who loves listening to music deemed unmanly by the minotaurs.
"Hahaha," the creature's imposing voice shook the cave for a moment before it finally stopped.
"Many would say you're crazy or stupid, but I say you're very manly and courageous, old man."
At their chief's words, all the minotaurs in the cave looked at me with respect.
"So, how do I become the..."
I didn't have time to finish my sentence, as I quickly moved to the right.
*Bam* A blow shattered the ground.
If I hadn't read the minotaur chief's mind, I would probably have died from one blow.
"If you want to become the chief, you have to beat me. This will also give you the right to truly claim to be the manliest in Gravity Falls."
Although I wasn't really serious about being the manliest person in Gravity Falls, I didn't say no to the title of chief and that one.
"I accept the deal." I removed the old Stan's usual costume, staying in a white shirt, and put on my updated metal gloves.
(Image)
"So, what are you waiting for?" My words seemed to push the black minotaur to charge at me at high speed.
Despite his large size, he had a speed worthy of a bull's cousin.
"I'm the old one here, but why are you so slow?"
I had dodged the enormous minotaur's charge by moving to the side, a bit like a bullfighting expert.
*Boom* An explosion rang out.
This creature had managed to destroy the cave wall and even some trees in the forest. I had clearly underestimated his strength; it seems this minotaur is much more powerful than the others.
It's worth knowing that a normal minotaur can easily knock down a tree with one punch and smash a rock with a headbutt, but the damage observed here was far superior to that of the minotaur Dipper had encountered.
"You're still conscious after destroying all that?" I said, approaching him confidently. I knew very well that a single blow from this creature would be enough to defeat me.
Despite this, I was confident in my objectives.
The minotaur ignored my comments and rushed towards me again, this time without the clear intention of impaling me on his horns, but by throwing several punches.
The only reason I was able to dodge his first attacks and these blows now was my mind-reading machine.
I literally had several moves ahead of him but, I could barely dodge. This creature, despite its large size, could move extremely fast.
"You claim to want to become the chief, but you run away like a coward, haha!" mocked the minotaur chief.
"Me, run away?" I've never really had a serious fight since my reincarnation and, like Johan, I've never experienced a fight to the death.
The only memories I have of real fights are, surprisingly, those of Stan Pines. It seems that deceiving the wrong people sometimes forces you to fight.
I adopted an English boxing stance and carefully observed the immense creature in front of me. It was exhaling fire while staring at me with its red eyes.
'He always finds a way to dodge, I need to hinder his movements.'
I could hear the minotaur chief's thoughts. I couldn't help but smile as I saw the creature feint a charge before throwing a rock at me.
I rushed towards it and slid underneath the huge rock, it's a more terrifying experience than I thought.
I knew I could end this fight with a few well-placed laser gun shots, but I really wanted to beat this creature in hand-to-hand combat.
It seems I got caught up in the "manly" atmosphere of this place.
The minotaur was visibly surprised that I had rushed towards the rock to finally pass underneath it and end up right in front of him.
"Taste this!" I clenched my metal-covered fist and activated the electricity before chaining attacks on the minotaur.
He couldn't really react, paralyzed under my electric blows, and when he could finally move, I simply dodged his attack thanks to my mind-reading machine, thus continuing my relentless assault.
Despite the extra strength obtained thanks to the electric metal gloves, it took me a good ten minutes to bring this colossus down.
"Haaa haaa, I... I won." I was drenched in sweat, my shirt was sticking to my skin, but despite this, I raised my arm in the air while looking at the mountain of muscle at my feet.