Rarity was hard at work on another dress, when a loud thump jolted her out of work. The floor shook in rhythm, something big was moving through Ponyville!
She ran to the nearest window and shrieked at the sight that greeted her. Marching through Ponyville was an enormous crab, larger than her boutique! The crab scuttled through town, gurgling furious, its steps leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, while everypony screamed and ran. Rarity's legs wobbled at the sight, she thought she might faint, but she remained standing.
“Ahhh!” Rarity shrieked, unwittingly drawing the beasts attention. It gurgled as it moved around to face her, its mighty pincer held out towards her.
“Oh no, what have I done?!” Rarity ran, bolting down the stairs before it could get her.
It was fortunate the creature was not very nimble, by the time it smashed its claw through Rarity's workshop, Rarity was already gone. The crab gurgled in frustration, allowing Rarity time to sneak away.
She looked back, seeing it thrust its other pincer through the boutique. Rarity winced at the damage but gasped when she saw what the crab was holding.
“SWEETIE BELLE!” Rarity yelled. The young filly was held tight, and tried hitting her way out, but the crab did not budge.
Forgetting all fear, Rarity charged at it.
“Unhoof her you brute!”
Sweetie Belle shrieked.
“Help me Rarity!”
“Of course I will!”
The crab gurgled aggressively and brought down its free pincer on Rarity. She dodged it but realised the spot she was in.
I can't just leave Sweetie Belle to this monster... but how am I supposed to fight such a huge brute?
She looked around, catching sight of the rubble created by the crab's rampage.
Her horn lit up as she launched the rubble at the crab, though it merely bounced off the beast's armor like shell.
It gurgled again, in a tone Rarity assumed indicated annoyance, and tried to grab her again. She leapt out of the way once more, but this had been a closer call.
As she ran around, trying to make herself a harder target, while looking desperately for a weakpoint. She noticed one area the crab's plate did not cover.
“Ok so your skin is too tough... but what about this?”
Rarity lifted the rubble again, guiding it upwards. The crab tried to knock it out of the air, but she shifted it away, launching it higher and higher until it struck the beast in the eyes.
The creature growled, swinging erratically at Rarity. She tried it again, launching another pile of debris at it, hoping to get it before it could recover.
It growled again as it was hit, now trying to remove the grit with its claw. Rarity was pleased with her success, but soon realised she hadn't done any real damage to the crab and had no idea how she might free her sister.
I'll have to try another weakpoint.
She looked over the monster. What else was vulnerable? She had to act quickly! Her scanning grew desperate until her face lit up.
“Of course!”
Rarity's horn lit up again, but this time she wasn't launching debris, she was pulling at one of the crab's legs, attacking it directly!
The creature resisted, and Rarity gritted her teeth, her concentration and the light of her horn intensifying as she increased her magic. The crab moved slowly towards her, ready for another swing, but after several tense seconds, she pulled on its legs up! The crab wobbled, and staggered, vainly trying to balance itself.
Rarity intensified her concentration yet further, beads of sweat appearing on her brow, as she lifted another of its legs, then another! The crab staggered for seconds, before falling over, crushing another building. Its pincer opened up and now Sweetie Belle was falling through the air, flapping her arms to try and slow herself down.
“Rarityyyyyyyy” Sweetie Belle shrieked, tears in her eyes.
Rarity dashed over, hoping to be just below her sister.
“Hang on Sweetie Belle!”
Her horn lit again. Carrying an entire living pony was difficult, if not impossible for all but the most gifted ponies, so Rarity focused on slowing Sweetie Belle's fall, to the point where she hoped it wouldn't hurt her. As Rarity hoped, her fall slowed, becoming almost like a feather, however the beast was getting up again and she knew it would come after them!
Rarity leapt up, catching Sweetie Belle on her back, just before the monster could bear down on them.
She turned and ran, galloping away. Rarity briefly looked behind, unsurprised to see the monster was indeed pursuing her.
“Sweetie Belle, are you ok?”
The filly sniffled.
“Y-yes.”
Rarity forced a smile.
“I know this is scary, but hold on just a little longer, I promise you everything is going to be ok!”
Sweetie Belle's eyes widened as she saw the pursuing crab.
“But it's gaining on us!” She wailed.
“Sweetie Belle, I have a plan. Do you trust me?”
“Of course!”
“Then trust your big sister to handle the scary crab.”
“Ok....”
Rarity galloped away from Ponyville, peeking over her shoulder to see if the monster was following her. It never let up its pursuit, though despite its size, it wasn't able to match Rarity's speed, and she gained a large lead over it. She stood ready, waiting for it to clear Ponyville.
The second it did, Rarity's horn was alight once more. She lifted its leg up again, but this time did not stop until she heard it SNAP off. The crab waddled, but still advanced, its movements becoming more furious. Rarity backed away, giving herself more distance. Her horn lit up again and pulled off another leg, and another, until the monster fell with a ground shaking boom. Only when she was sure it could not get up did she relax.
Rarity smiled proudly.
“Wonderful! I defeated that brute, saved you and Ponyville!”
Sweetie Belle through her hooves around Rarity.
“Your the best big sister ever!”
“I know Sweetie Belle, I know.” Rarity inspected her work. “Hmmm.. how do you think Ponyville would feel about lots and lots of crab patties?”