Blueblood had no idea how the mutated minotaur, Steel Blast, had gotten into the castle, but there he was. It was easy to see him through the hole he’d just created in the library wall.
Lying in a crumble of stone, plaster, and other building materials, Blueblood shook his head out of a daze. The globe of the world hadn’t hit him, but it was only a lucky spark of magic that had caught it before it caved in his face. He didn’t remember doing that, though.
Reflexes. You didn’t act, so I did.
Blueblood didn’t have time to think about it. He scrambled to get up before Steel Blast pancaked him. Facing down this particular foe was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment.
We don’t have a choice! He’s right here!
Blueblood cringed. “This is going to suck.”
At least it won’t blow?
“At least he hasn’t threatened buttsex.”
That too.
Blueblood had managed to stand up, and faced Steel Blast as the minotaur advanced through the hole he’d made in the library wall. Blueblood braced his legs and fired a bolt of magic at the minotaur’s face. It wasn’t his most powerful shot, but he would have liked to have done more than merely annoy his opponent.
Steel Blast blinked and shook his head. His steps paused for just a moment. That was all the effect Blueblood’s attack had.
“This is going to be bad,” Blueblood whined quietly.
Steel Blast glared at him. “When you hit me with your stupid magic, your life’s going to get real tragic!” He charged.
With a flip of his wings, Blueblood managed to dodge. Steel Blast caved in a section of the hallway where Blueblood had just been standing. Pulling his horns out of the plaster, he raised his head and stared down the hallway in the direction Blueblood had gone. There were now no walls behind Blueblood, nothing but a long straight hallway.
If he gets up a head of steam now, he’s not going to stop until he runs you down.
Trudy paused, then added, Better get going.
Blueblood took off like a shot. His wings helped a little, but the ceiling in this section of the castle wasn’t high enough for him to get very far off the floor. Not that it would have mattered with Steel Blast’s taller stature. And, oh yeah, he had wings too.
There was a strange sensation in Blueblood’s scalp. Trudy reported, He’s after us!
“Did you just…” Blueblood panted.
Literal eyes in the back of your head. I thought you’d at least like to know you were about to get chased down.
“It’s not a sure thing yet!”
At the speed he’s gaining, it’s only a matter of time. Unless...hmm, you know, your brain might be good for something after all. After living in this castle all your life, you know the place better than most anypony.
It was a good point. “So let’s get him lost.”
Blueblood cut the tightest corner he could into an adjoining hallway. Slamming open the door to a broom closet, he tucked his wings and shot into an air vent in the ceiling.
Unfortunately, it had been many years since his colthood, and Blueblood was somewhat too girthy to fit into the narrow vent.
Fixed.
Trudy pulled in his ribcage and Blueblood wiggled further into the ducting. Dropping down the other side, he came out a vent into a disused guest bedroom.
“Whew. That was close.” Blueblood paused. “Mind giving me my voice back?”
Sorry. Whether unconsciously or not, she had made his tone go up a few octaves when she sucked in his gut.
Blueblood looked around. “Okay, we lost him. Right now, he’s probably working out how to get around-“
The wall exploded and Steel Blast burst into the room.
Confusing him with the maze of corridors in the castle is one thing, but I guess it doesn’t matter when he just does bullshit like this.
“I don’t believe this!” Blueblood shouted. “It’s not fair! Not to mention why haven’t the guards not come to my royal aid?”
Instead of replying, Trudy advised, Duck!
Blueblood managed to tuck his head low enough to avoid most of Steel Blast’s fist, but the glancing blow he caught knocked him on his ass. He spun across the floor, conveniently ending up close to the door.
He scrambled to get up. Trudy decided, We’ll have to lead him to the older part of the castle, the one that still has stone walls for everything.
“Is that going to stop him?” Blueblood managed as he stood up and felt for the doorknob, not wanting to take his eyes off Steel Blast.
Move your hoof a little to the right, Trudy helped him. Also, gosh I sure hope he can’t break solid stone walls.
Blueblood didn’t like the sound of that. He wrenched the door open and promptly ran facefirst into Twilight.
She looked at Blueblood, who had bounced off and fallen to the floor. She looked at Steel Blast, who was pawing the floor and snorting. Calmly, she asked, “Which one of you trashed the library?”
Aw snap!
“He did!” Blueblood pointed a hoof.
“Who are you?” Twilight asked, focusing on Steel Blast.
“Steel Blast is my name, and fucking up ponies is my game.” He grinned.
“I’m afraid that I’ll have to punish you for the mess you caused,” Twilight said.
Steel Blast chuckled and extended a beefy forearm, gesturing Twilight forward to combat.
Twilight reared up on her hind legs, spine audibly popping as her body lengthened. Her hooves inexplicably grew digits and her skin bulged as muscles stood out like balloons.
And before Steel Blast could react, she stepped forward and punched him so hard in the face that he did a complete backflip before landing on the floor prone. Twilight kicked him over. His eyes rolled around for a few seconds before he went limp.
“Guess I beat you at your own game,” Twilight quipped. She turned, spotting Blueblood. Putting what were apparently her hands on what were apparently her hips, she said, “Now, what am I going to do with you?”