If You Don't Draw First

No one could deny that the changeling hive was a place capable of induce fear in the heart of those unfortunate souls that made a wrong turn and ended in the reigns of this creatures. Its green glowing walls, the almost infinite labyrinth of dark tunnels that formed the massive structure, all this combined with its residents made it look like a place taken out of a nightmare. At least a nightmare couldn't hurt you, but in this place, the reality was much more terrifying.

Since the failed invasion to Canterlot City and the subsequent hunt to which they were subjected, the Changeling Kingdom retreated southward in search of a remote place where they couldn’t be found. However, this brought with it hunger and death to the once proud kingdom.

The changelings needed to feed of emotions, they needed live victims to do so and that is something that was rare in the badlands. For their fortune, they found the small village on Skull Canyon right in the outskirts of The Land of Fire; however, the village wasn't enough to feed a whole hive and against all law, the changelings become the hunters and now and then, they killed a villager to eat him.

Things went like that for a couple of years and the hive started to grow almost at the same rate that the hate of the Changeling Queen against the ponies that ruined her plans and that almost doomed her race to extinction. Chrysalis never forgot, she never forgave and over all the things, she wanted revenge.

“Are you sure of what you seen?”

“Yes, my Queen, there is another like them… another alicorn”.

Chrysalis’s face showed no emotion after hearing his minion telling her about his encounter with the unknown being.

“Is there something else I need to know?”

“I think that’s all your highness, all happened so fast that I escaped barely alive. She blocked all our magic, I still don’t know how that was possible and then, this dragon came out of nowhere and…”

“Wait a moment, a dragon?” Chrysalis said somehow surprised after hearing that last part.

“Yes, he killed two more of us, but I can’t tell if the dragon fought against the alicorn, I ran away in fear, I’m sorry my queen”.

The changeling closed his eyes and bowed his head. He didn’t saw Chrysalis standing up from her throne to take a sword and walk towards him.

“I know, trust me; you will not have to worry for it for much more”.

She said. With a quick movement, the blade cut through the neck of the changeling, his limp body felt to the ground with green blood spreading over it. Chrysalis threw the stained sword to one side and remained in silence. After some moments, another changeling walked inside the room and flinched in the moment her eyes stared at the scene.

“Was this really necessary, your highness?”

“There can’t be any witnesses, is not like you knowing about this help either, but I know I can trust you, isn’t it, Arklin?”

Chrysalis said with her green draconic eyes fixed on her, Arklin shuddered and nodded frantically.

“Good girl, now, send a message to Ridley; tell him I need to speak with him”.

“Yes, your highness”. Arklin turned around but stopped. “Oh I almost forgot, it seems that one of our couriers have a message for you, she said is really important”.

“Who and from where is she communicating?”

“Is Kriket your highness, she’s in Ponyville”.

After hearing Arklin’s words, a devilish smile appeared on the queen's lips.

***---***---***

Half of the day had gone on Ponyville when the two unicorns and the human returned to the library. As they entered Booker took off the holster leaving it over the table. Taking a glance to the gun inside of it, memories came to his mind like a bad recount of his past life, but what scared him most was how easy was for him to take a life in this new world.

"It seems that nothing will change, wherever I am, troubles and death will follow me. No rest for the wicked, I guess".

He said with a grim tome. Trixie and Twilight looked at Booker not knowing what to say nor what to think about him. Sure he had told them about what he used to do back in his world, but seeing him go into a fight like he did, even if it was with a good cause, left them with fear and disconcert, he really was a killing machine.

“Booker, is there something bothering you?”

Trixie asked him almost in a whisper. Booker looked at her and then to Twilight who was looking at him with big eyes like pleading for an explanation.

“I…” He began, “I lied to you. I’ve done things… terrible things you can’t even imagine”.

“What do you mean?” Said Twilight, “does it have to see with what happened today?”

“Yes, what happened at the bank is just a reflection of what truly I am. You need to know everything”.

Both mares looked at each other and then at him before nodding. Booker took a deep breath and was ready to start talking again when a knock on the door startled the three of them. Twilight walked out of the room leaving Trixie and Booker in an awkward silence. She saw him sit on a chair and bury his face on his hands. Without a word, Trixie got closer to him and in an act beyond her control started to slowly nuzzle his arm.

“It’s okay Booker, we all make mistakes in our life, and even if what you will tell us is something as bad as you say it is, no one will judge you here”.

Booker lifted his head just to find himself staring into those deep purple eyes of Trixie. Shaking his head a small chuckle escaped his lips just before he reached to scratch behind her ear causing Trixie to laugh.

“Princesses!”

Came the excited voice of Twilight from the other room accompanied by another one that sounded almost maternal. Turning his gaze towards the arch of the door Booker sighed and stood up.

“Let’s finish with this”. He said and Trixie nodded.

The moment he came into view both rulers stared at him with different expressions. Luna tilted her head to one side, her big turquoise eyes showing interest and curiosity almost like a cat playing with a ball of yarn. By her part, Celestia's eyes showed surprise and horror as memories from her nightmare flashed before her, the black silhouette she saw looked just like the creature in front of her, both had same size and form.

No, take a deep breath and wait; you can’t have any conclusions so fast. Celestia said to herself. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt; after all, as Luna said, it was just a dream… just a bad and painful dream… this must be just causality…

Luna walked to Booker and lifted a hoof which he took with respect. “Greetings, my name is Luna, Princess of the Night and co-ruler of Equestria”.

“It’s an honor to meet you, your highness, my name is Booker DeWitt”.

He said bowing his head. Luna smiled and looked at her sister who seemed to be out of her mind. She tried to catch her attention with a nudge to her ribs but nothing happened.

“Princess? Is everything alright?” Asked Twilight somewhat worried by her mentor’s state.

“Tia, come on, you're making a fool of yourself here, snap out of it”. Luna said laughing nervously. Her sister’s words stopped Celestia’s train of thought and she finally realized that Booker was standing mere centimeters away from her.

Finally taking control of her mind, Celestia cleared her throat and extended one of her fore legs towards Booker, “Princess Celestia, and the honor is ours, Mr. DeWitt”. He grabbed her hoof shaking it a few times.

“I suppose that you have many questions about Booker”. Twilight said before any of the presents could say something else.

“Indeed,” Celestia replied never taking her eyes from him, “some of them regarding to what is him and how he got here… and others about what happened today at Ponyville’s bank”.

Booker’s eyes opened wide; here it was, the moment he never wanted to come and yet, the same he craved for, if he really wanted to gain their acceptance and confidence he needed to tell them the truth… all the truth.

“Your Majesties, today’s events were something that I never expected to live in a peaceful world like this, even when my whole life has been a fight for survival and redemption, what you will hear is the truth, a truth that even Twilight and Trixie ignore".

And Booker started to speak, never hiding a detail nor telling lies of the events that had brought him to this moment. And they heard him with interest and open minds, but overall, Celestia heard him in search of something that connected him to her nightmare and at the same time, wishing to not find it.

***---***---***

Ridley soared through the evening sky, his gaze staring into the distance like looking for something. It didn't take him too long to spot what he was looking for and with a powerful flap of his wings he launched towards a small hill. Moments later, standing on the top of the hill, Ridley took a glance to the land that extended in front of him. To his right he could see the remaining pillars of The Hall of The Patriarchs, the only signal of the existence of his colony. To the left, not so far from where he was standing, the lighthouse of the Skull Canyon and its eternal light beam seemed to be a silent vigilant of the Land of Fire, a growl escaped from his jaws and a small cloud of smoke from his nostrils.

Narrowing his eyes he was able to see something imperceptible to others. The beam of light from the lighthouse landed right in the middle of his colony encasing it inside a giant golden dome. Said dome was made of a powerful magic, and whoever that had created it, did it with just one goal in mind, lock up all the life forms inside of it to never let them leave.

“Have you had any luck with the search?” Ridley asked without turning around. Behind him, another figure was standing watching him with interest.

“Don’t you know that it’s rude not to look to the pony you’re talking to?”

“My dear, you’re not a pony”, he said finally turning around to look at the changeling queen, “you’re something much more powerful and valuable, never compare yourself with those low level beings”.

“Hmmm, you know how to please a mare, I like that”.

Chrysalis purred as Ridley caressed her face and brushed her mane with his claw, but just for a couple of seconds before he grabbed her by the neck.

“Care to explain the incident from a couple of days ago? Your minions almost screw up the plan”.

“I know, I already took care of it, there are no witnesses of her existence”.

“I hope so; rumors can ruin everything that we already have. But that must be the last of our worries for now".

“What do you mean?”

“Due to her little appearance beyond the frontier of the colony, Antares is planning to lock her up into the vault once more, if that happens, everything will go to Tartarus”.

“Hush now, don’t talk like that, why don’t you simply take her out by yourself? Or, are you telling me that you can’t take care of a filly? ” Chrysalis mocked him.

"Perhaps you don't understand it, even if I tried to take her out of here, I can't. Look above you, this damned dome is the only thing that keeps me here; I can't leave this cursed land. It is made of the only kind of magic in this world to which I'm not immune, all thanks to Antares and that white bitch".

Ridley let out a powerful roar. Chrysalis gave two steps back staring with fear and admiration at the beast. She knew perfectly that feeling; after all, he was talking of the same being that almost doomed her entire legacy.

"Five hundred years ago, my father and his followers attacked Canterlot and tried to kill Celestia and Luna, but one of them, Antares, betrayed him and showed them how to defeat him. He died thanks to him and not only that, Antares decided that our kind were too dangerous to live in their peaceful land and asked the sisters to put us here. And for us to never leave, Celestia created this force field linked to her own magic and vital energy".

"So that's why you need her?"

"Exactly, Seraphy is the key. I don't know where she came from, or where Antares found her, but when she was freed from the vault the first time, I could feel a powerful magic inside of her, I've seen her grow and became more powerful with the time, her magic is still something beyond mine or the sorcerer's comprehension".

“Then how do you know she’s what we need to break the spell?”

“One day, when she was younger, I opened a path for her to escape; she did and wandered the land for some hours. She reached a small canyon where two unicorns appeared to be stranded, even with the wall of rock between them, the unicorns started to feel dizzy, I saw them tried to use magic just to fail miserably, in order to prove my theory, I paid them a visit, I don't think I need to tell you what happened next, isn't it?"

Chrysalis licked her lips by just imagining what the dragon did to those poor souls.

“Anyway, that day I learned what she was capable of, and in return she knew that there was something more beyond the walls of the colony, and her story of failed attempts to scape began. But her last escapades had been nearly beyond the dome and that have put her father on alarm, no one knows of her existence, and he wants to keep it like that, even if that means to lock her inside the vault again, as I said time is running out, we need to find our scape goat, and we need to find him soon”.

"Well, if that's bothering you my dear Ridley”, Chrysalis smiled, “I think this will brighten up your day".

She tossed him a green glowing orb; Ridley grabbed it and looked at it with interest, his eyes growing wider each minute. The orb stopped glowing after some moments and the dragon smiled.

"Impressive, where did you find this creature? I've never heard or seen something like it".

"One of my couriers found it in Ponyville".

“Looks like this being is our best chance to succeed in our plans, whatever this creature asks for, I think we can reach a deal".

"Right now Kriket is trying to learn more about it in order to understand what would it want in order to help us, I'm sure we will have it working for us soon, the plan goes on".

Ridley looked at the changeling queen and then turning around, his gaze landed on the lighthouse. "You better found what this creature wants soon, I don't think I need to remind you what will happen if you fail me, isn't it Chrysalis?"

Chrysalis’s eyes showed fear. "O- Of course not… Ridley".

***---***---***

Four mares and a dragon stared silently at the human standing in front of them. Booker remained in silence, he had just finished with his story and waited for their reaction, Luna, Twilight and Trixie showed sadness and even the show mare still had tears on her eyes. On the other side, Celestia kept a stoic stance.

No one dare to even say a word and just saw him lifting his hand to look at the letters that he himself had engraved on its back. Luna stepped forward and grabbing his hand she also looked at the letters.

"A.D. Anna DeWitt?"

Booker nodded "A mark that will haunt me as a cold remembrance of my sins... of my past life."

"But you are free now," Trixie said and he saw traces of wetness running down her cheeks, "nothing of that had followed you here."

"Can you really say that? Even after what you witnessed at the bank?" This time it was Celestia who spoke bringing all the attention towards her.

"I suppose you may be right your highness, I had no motives to get into the battle, but it was instinct. For a moment I saw myself back at Columbia, I couldn't just sit idle and saw your subjects getting killed."

"He's telling the truth princess," Twilight intervened, "the guards suffered casualties due to the attack, had it not been for Booker, well; I don't want to even think about it."

Celestia looked at her student and then to the human. I can't believe it; do they all really think this “man” deserves another chance? All the evidence tells me the contrary, there's no doubt now, I need to stop this before it even start.

"May I have a word with you Mr. DeWitt, in private?"

Her tone was cold and filled with authority. "O-of course, your highness." This won't end well; he thought and then followed the white alicorn out of the library. For moment they remained in an uncomfortable silence.

"Mr. DeWitt," she began.

"Just call..."

"Your presence in our world," she cut his words, "sure is something strange, and yet, expected."

Celestia turned to see him and then started to walk around Booker while speaking. He eyed her, something ringing and alarm deep inside his mind, all of her right now seemed menacing, her tone, her stare, her posture.

"Your story of moments ago although touching, well, the mares inside the house may had been fool enough to ate it all, but I don't believe a single word, you're not what you swear to be, and your actions of today only give me the reason."

"Just hold on a minute." He tried to reply.

"I haven't finished Mr. DeWitt; I suggest you don't interrupt me." She said angrily. "Yes, you're not from this world, I give you that, but I know those of your kind, liars that seek only the corruption and destruction of the harmony and peace that rules this land, but I'll be damned if I let those like you to succeed."

Booker with eyes wide open stared at the alicorn, his own rage starting to boil inside of him.

"Are you fucking listening to yourself, why would I lie to you about something so painful for me?"

"Oh please, I've heard more elaborated stories from some of my most hated enemies; you're not different from them."

"Listen, Celestia." Now he was talking in a harsh tone. "I don't have problems with you, I just want to start again, and I can assure you this, you don't want me as an enemy."

"You're not in position to threaten me DeWitt; you better watch your words." Now they were face to face, eyes locked on each other.

"Right now you only have two options." Celestia continued. "One, you pass the rest of your days in the dungeons, or two, you remain here in Ponyville under strict vigilance and under Twilight's care."

"And what if I refuse both?"

"You have no right to discuss any of them, in both cases your weapons will be taken away from you. Also, in case that you choose the second one, if you ever dare to put a foot beyond the limits of Ponyville or Canterlot, you will be considered as an enemy of the crown and you will be hunted down like the animal you are."

That was the last straw. "And why don’t you put a chain on my neck you bitch?! I bet it would work better!"

Booker shouted, then something hard and cold hit against his face sending him to the ground with blood pouring from his mouth. Standing up with his hands turned into small fountains of fire, he saw Celestia with a hoof on the air, she had slapped him, and he was ready to return her the favor. He walked towards her and two guards stood on his way.

"Move or I will make a rug with you." He told them.

"Easy there pal, surrender now and no harm will be done." One of the guards said but it didn't work to stop the human that kept walking towards his target.

"Booker!" Trixie's voice brought him back to the reality.

"No Booker! Please, don't do something you will regret." Twilight pleaded.

The fire surrounding his hands disappeared. He didn't say a thing; he just turned around and walked away from that place. Behind him, he was able to hear Luna and Celestia arguing about what had happened, the voices of the guards calling him back and.... hoof steps?

"Trixie?"

"Booker, are you okay?"

He laughed. "This is not a good moment to be asking that, but yes, I'll be fine, I just need some time alone." And with that, he kept walking. Trixie stood there and saw him disappear in the distance.

***

Booker didn't know where he was. He just let that the loneliness of the field and the sound of the wind through the trees filled his senses. The sun was setting when he reached the outskirts of the small town, standing there, he let it all out.

"Goddammit!" He screamed. "Damn world! Damn ponies! Damn Celestia! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!" He kneeled on the grass, tears of anger running down his face. "I don't need this, I should have died. I should have remained dead."

That thought stood on his mind for some minutes. When all the frustration finally left him he stood up looking at the evening die.

"Celestia can really be a pain in the ass don't you think, Mr. DeWitt?"

Said a voice behind him. Booker looked over his shoulder finding a pegasus standing some meters away from him.

"And who the hell are you? How do you know my name?"

"I have many names, I choose them according to the occasion, and I know your name thanks to my mind reading powers, just one of the many characteristics of my kind." She said with a grin.

"I don't have time for this shit." He said and started to walk away.

"Mr. DeWitt, I have an important message for you." Booker stopped. "My superiors have their eyes on you and they think that you are the perfect "man" for the job."

"Yeah? Well, tell your "superiors" that I don't give a shit about the job, I have enough problems for a life."

"They told me that you would react like this. I was said to offer all that you asked for in order for you to accept the job."

"Listen, nothing of what you plan on offering me will make me accept your stupid job."

"Not even a way back to your world?"

With eyes as big as saucers he finally faced the mare.

"What... what did you said?"

"If you accept and finish the job, you'll be rewarded with a way back home, how does that sounds?"

Can it be possible? He thought. "And how can I know that it is true? They said that I am immune to magic, that there is no way for me to return to my world."

Smiling she closed her eyes. The body of the mare was engulfed by green flames, the soft fur being replaced by cold pieces of black shell. Stunned, Booker saw the mare revealing her true nature.

"They know nothing Mr. DeWitt. There are far more powerful forces on this world and many ways to use them."

"What the hell are you?"

"That doesn't matter right now, but you can call me Kriket. Now, the question is, will you accept the job?"

Booker said nothing for a couple of minutes. "This job... in what does it consists?"

"Now we're talking. Is really simple, there's a place at the south frontier of Equestria, a place called The Land of Fire, your first objective is to get there, once we reach it…"

"Hold on, did you say "we"?"

"But of course, I'll be your companion on this trip; I don't think you have a single idea of how to get there, am I right?" He just denied it. "Good. Now as I was saying, I will provide you with everything you will need for this job, and also serve you as a tourist guide."

"You're being really ambiguous about this whole issue, what exactly do they want me to do?" He asked.

"When we reach the land of fire, all your doubts will be clarified. I'll ask once more Mr. DeWitt, will you accept the job?"

“Promise me that you will never try to find a way back to me”.

“Anna… you know the answer”.

“If you ever dare to put a foot beyond the limits of Ponyville or Canterlot.”

“You will be hunted down like the animal you are."

“I should have remained dead."

“Remained dead.”

“Dead.”

“A way back home.”

Booker took a deep breath.

“Tell your superiors… that I'll do it.”