Image imported from derpibooru 
Original Description:
 
A commission I got from Swift Sketch as a gift for a friend, whose OC Niilaavin is depicted.
 
Bit of a background: Blueblood found Niilaavin while on an archaelogical site visit in Saddle Arabia, and freed him from petrification. Thanks to this, and some demonstrations of trust and good faith, the sphinx now views Blue as a member of his pride. Hence, why he’s willing to help Bluey with keeping Equestria’s frontiers free of bandits. Doesn’t hurt that the Prince has a particular enjoyment of Niilaavin’s methods.