Beasts and Burdens Chapter 11:
A Risk Worth Taking
Just as Rarity was within reach, the Chimera spun around on its paws and kicked at Rarity with its hooves. Seeing the maneuver, Rarity stopped short of the powerful kick, but was knocked to the side by the serpent head. Sweetie Belle gasped in horror as her sister was knocked to the ground.
"Ha! Jussssssst like old timesssssssssss," the serpent head said with a sneer. "You poniesssssssss never learn."
Slowly, Rarity got to her feet, a fierce fire still burning in her sapphire eyes.
"Case in point," said the lion head, sounding quite bored. "Well, no rest for the weary."
The serpent head drew a deep breath, ready to bathe Rarity in toxic flames. But before it could, several beams of light shot out from Rarity's horn, shining with the brilliance of a disco ball. Although the serpent head was unaffected, the other two heads recoiled from the flash, throwing the third head's aim off. It recovered just in time to see Rarity clock the lion head with her hoof. The Chimera staggered, brushing its cheek and snarling.
"You want some more?" Rarity snarled, standing on her hind legs and putting up her dukes. "Because I've got more."
The lion head looked up at Rarity with a gleam in its eyes. "As a matter of fact, so do we!" it roared, tackling Rarity to the ground with a mighty pounce. Sweetie Belle hid her eyes with her hooves, peeking over to see the creature snarl in Rarity's face.
"Ugh, pee-yew!" Rarity exclaimed, wrinkling her nose. "Haven't you ever heard of a breath mint? Honestly. And when's the last time you took a bath? Oh, let me guess. Never? Tch, simply unacceptable."
The Chimera stared at Rarity blankly. "You do realiiiiize that you're aaaaaat our mercy, riiiiiiight?" said the goat head.
"Now, whatever gave you that idea?" said Rarity, delivering another powerful punch to the lion head's jaw. As the Chimera recoiled from the hit, Rarity slipped free. "Know this, you crime against all that is gorgeous! I will never, I repeat, never be at the mercy of the likes of you!"
"Alright, Rarity!" cheered Sweetie Belle.
"You ssssssstay out of thissssssssss!" the Chimera's serpent head snarled as it shook itself. "You'll get your turn ssssssoon enough!"
"Not if I can help it!" shouted Rarity, charging at the beast once again. This time, the Chimera was ready. As Rarity got in close, the Chimera reared back on its hooves and raised its paw. Rarity's eyes went wide as her attack was parried, and she took the full brunt of the monster's counterattack. The blow of the Chimera's paw sent her tumbling across the wasteland.
"We muuuuuust give you creeeeeedit," said the goat head. "Not since Bellerophon haaaaaaas anypony laaaaaaasted this long agaaaaaaaaainst us. But now, it haaaaaaaas come to an eeeeeeend. And you loooooost."
Sweetie Belle shivered with fright. "C'mon, Rarity. Don't give up now," she said. "I-I know you can do it."
Slowly but surely, Rarity got to her feet, rubbing her cheek where the Chimera scratched her. The blow left her very battered and bruised, but the fire in her eyes would not die.
"You're not so tough!" she proclaimed. "My little Opal's scratches hurt worse than anything you can hope to dish out!"
"Falssssssse bravado will get you nowhere!" the serpent head shot back. It then shot a plume of poisonous fire in Rarity's direction. Rarity leapt out of the way and hit the ground running, her horn glowing with magic as she charged.
"Try as you might, the result will be the same!" roared the Chimera's lion head, ready to strike Rarity once again. But this time, its paw would not connect. Instead, it floated in the air, cloaked in a mystical blue light. Confused, the Chimera looked at Rarity, who simply stood there. Enraged, the Chimera tried to fight against her magic, which in turn caused Rarity to fight back twice as hard. Rarity's eyes narrowed with intensity as she poured every ounce of strength into her magic. Time itself seemed to stand still, and nothing else existed for her. That is, until a familiar voice called out to her.
"Rarity, look out!"
Rarity's concentration was broken by her sister's warning. She looked up just in time to see the Chimera's serpent head rear back. She leapt out of the way just in time, forcing the Chimera to singe its paw with its own flame. All three heads let loose a deafening howl of pain. When it recovered, it glared at Rarity with three pairs of hungry eyes.
"You insufferable unicorn!" the lion head bellowed. "You have crossed the line! Now you will suffer!"
"You crossed *huff* that line *puff* long ago when you *gasp* threatened my sister!" Rarity panted. She had never had to fight this fiercely before, and though she didn't want to admit it, the battle was beginning to take its toll. And to make matters worse, the Chimera knew it.
"It seems you haaaaaave reached your limit," the goat head gloated. "Faaaaace it, pony. You're finished."
"Don't listen to them!" squeaked Sweetie Belle. "You can do it, Rarity!"
The Chimera looked at Sweetie Belle, a sinister smile spreading over each of its faces. "You know what? We changed our mindssssss." said the serpent head. "Your turn will come firsssssst."
With that, it took in a deep breath. Rarity gasped in horror as it spewed another plume of poisonous flame. With a shriek, Sweetie Belle jumped out of the way and began running. As the Chimera pursued Sweetie Belle, so too did Rarity pursue the Chimera.
"You come back here!" she yelled as she ran at full gallop. "And leave her alone before I get really angry!"
But the Chimera ignored her threat as it continued spitting plume after plume of toxic fire at Sweetie Belle. Suddenly, it had her cornered against the edge of a cliff. The serpent head drew in a long, deep breath.
"NOOOOOOOOOO~!"
Rarity dove right in front of Sweetie Belle, shielding her with her own body as the Chimera's serpent head spat out its putrid inferno. She shut her eyes and braced herself for the impact.
When it didn't come, she became puzzled. Opening one eye, she noticed that the world suddenly had this odd magenta tint that wasn't there before. She knew that could only mean one thing.
"Twilight?"
She looked up, and sure enough, there was Twilight Sparkle, casting a protection spell that saved her from the Chimera's flames. But that wasn't all. Right behind her was a very angry-looking Cerberus. Not that the Chimera noticed, as it was too busy pawing at the protection spell.
"Quit hiding, coward!" the Chimera's lion head roared. "You can't stay like that forever!"
Seeing that the Chimera wasn't paying attention, Twilight cleared her throat. "Um, excuse me? Chimera?"
The Chimera turned angrily towards Twilight, only to find itself face-to-face with Cerberus. Before it could react to this new turn of events, the giant three-headed dog knocked the Chimera out with one blow of his paw. With the threat subdued, Twilight lowered her protection spell and rushed over to the two unicorn sisters.
"Are you two alright?" Spike asked nervously.
Rarity looked over Sweetie Belle, who was still shivering. Gently, she nudged her with her muzzle.
"It's alright now, Sweetie," she said softly. "It's all over."
Sweetie Belle looked up, and saw that her sister was incredibly dirty, bruised, and just looked like a complete mess. But, she was still alive and well. Sweetie Belle burst into tears, sobbing into Rarity's coat as she held her in her forelegs.
"I-I was so scared!" she blubbered. "I-I thought that I'd never see you again!"
"Ooh~! I was worried about you too, Sweetie," Rarity said, shedding tears of her own. "I was afraid I'd lose you forever. Everything is fine now, though. You're safe, and that's all that matters."
Twilight smirked a gentle smirk. "I think they're going to be fine," said she.