//------------------------------// // The Chase [Action] // Story: Half-Hour Horses // by HoofAndQuill //------------------------------// (The prompt: The lion and the unicorn Were fighting for the crown; The lion beat the unicorn All around the town.) (He's half-lion and she's a former unicorn. Totally counts.) Twilight Sparkle ran through the doorway in a frenzied gallop, and nearly fell as her hooves skidded across the dusty floor of the ancient castle of the royal sisters. After a moment, her hooves found purchase on the old stone, and she managed to start moving again just in time to avoid the swipe of razor-sharp griffon talons through the air behind her. The griffon roared as loudly as he could, and shouted at her. "Get back here!" Twilight's eyes widened in panic as she turned another corner, flapping her wings to keep her balance and traction this time. She'd only been in this castle a few times and she didn't even know where she was. She dodged around fallen masonry and then jumped over an overturned table. The scratching of taloned feet behind her seemed to be getting closer by the moment. "My crown! He's after my crown!" "No one can hear you, Princess!" Twilight dodged left just in time to avoid the heavy stones that the griffon hefted after her. This was insanity! She focused her magic and teleported at speed, which was never really a good idea. The world disappeared, and a moment later came rushing back in, with a stone wall just in front of Twilight's full gallop. She saw flashing stars before her as she staggered back to her feet after the collision. Standing, she found herself in a dead end hallway, but at least one that was familiar. Turning to run away from the end of the corridor, she saw the griffon ambassador approaching at full speed, eyes blazing in the dark castle hallway. There was no time for a spell. Twilight threw herself into another full gallop towards him, and then ducked under him as he pounced at her. She tucked into a roll and then clambered back to standing and took off running again. The griffon, only a bit dirtier for his fall, quickly followed. Twilight tore quickly through the hallways, following the path she could only just recall. He was faster than her, definitely faster. She felt the wind from a missed swipe of claws, and turned around just long enough to fire a bolt of raw magic toward him, which was easily dodged. It did give her a half second to start running again, and she took off like a rocket. A moment later she turned the corner into the old library. Though now that she was here, she wasn't sure why. Her mind had just made her run for the library without any real reason. She used the half second she had left to teleport a few shelves away, hiding behind the columns of books. The griffon entered the room, and she heard his talons clicking on the stone floor as he stalked through the aisles. Twilight peered between books, past the long dead star spiders, at the approaching griffon. She was alone here, she couldn't teleport far enough to get away, and he was getting closer with every step. If only her friends-- That's it! Twilight's horn lit, and she focused as best she could. She couldn't teleport away, but maybe... The griffon peeked around the edge of the next aisle, and was met with six absolutely furious looking mares. They weren't supposed to be here! He grabbed the closest thing he could find and threw it at the nearest mare, an orange earth pony. The book just flew through the pony, and the aged binding failed on impact with the floor, scattering loose pages in all directions. "Hey! What are you doing?! Those books are irreplaceable!" A bolt of magic blazed through the air and splintered the stone wall behind him, leaving a glowing red mark of heat on the remaining stone. He took just a moment too long staring at the marred stone before turning back to his prey, and his vision was filled by the second bolt of magic, heading straight for his face. -- Garret the Guileless slowly pulled his wings away from his face, as the searing heat and instant death he expected didn't seem forthcoming. His beak felt odd, and a moment's inspection revealed he now sported a rather long and ludicrous mustache. He looked up, and the intimidating sight of the five absent elements of harmony flickered and faded, leaving only Princess Twilight Sparkle, smiling despite her heavy panting and sweat-shining coat. Garret forced himself to standing, as Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart. She spoke first, smiling just a bit. "So... hah... how did I do? I got away!" The griffon dusted off his wings and fussed with his mustache, lacking any tools to cut it away at the moment. "Barely. A real force of griffons wouldn't have been stopped by a few illusory ponies. Running for the library was a waste of time and ducking under a pounce like that is a risk, at best." Twilight deflated a bit, but then shook her head. "Still, I did alright. If that second shot had been a real one.... well. Nopony's going to be able to steal my element again." "Princess Twilight, I am in charge of personal security for the Equestrian royalty, and Princess Celestia has ordered me to make certain you are ready for any sort of enemy agent seeking to harm you or your crown. Escaping once, by the skin of your teeth mind you, does not show you are ready. Now, you have five minutes to hide. I will find you again, be ready this time." Garret flapped his wings and took off, flying quickly out of the room. Twilight looked forlornly towards the ruined book, but then took off in a gallop, looking for another place to hide. She knew that any trick would only work once against Garret, and that she'd have to be at her best to win a second time. Who knew being a princess could be so much fun?