If You Don't Draw First

Seraphy dodged the spear easily; her movements were nimble and direct. Her combat training consisted on fighting one or more opponents who, although being skilled warriors, didn't represent a real challenge for the alicorn.

With almost incredible speed, Seraphy stood behind one of the dragons kicking him on his back sending him through the air. Another one charged against her with a spear on his claws and brandishing it menacingly.

Seraphy waited for the right moment and when she had him within the necessary distance, she drew her sword using it to stop the attack. Both weapons crashed releasing red sparks again and again until, using his tail, the dragon managed to hit the alicorn on one side making her lost the balance.

Using the advantage of the moment, the dragon sank the spear in her body but the blade went through her like thin air. Surprised, the dragon looked at his right only to end up Seraphy's the sword on his throat.

"Enough!"

Another dragon said and both opponents lowered their weapons, stood face to face and bowed their heads in respect. Moments later, both dragons that had fought against Seraphy left the room leaving the old master and the alicorn alone.

"You have learned well, my young student, I would also say that I can't teach you anything more." He told her with serene voice.

She didn't answer. Removing some hair from her face, she sighed and walked to a wall where she placed the sword on a shelf.

"Something's bothering you, Seraphy?"

The elder dragon asked, his deep green eyes reflected years of experience and wisdom, eyes that could decipher what others felt.

"It's just that... well, my father haven’t talked to me about what the council has decided about me and my wish of leaving the kingdom, I’ve asked him on more than one occasion these days and he just avoids the subject."

"You must not worry about it, sooner or later he will come to you without you having to look for him, remember what I have teached you."

"Be patient, things come to those that wait for them."

Seraphy closed her eyes and breathed deeply. His teacher nodded taking a small black sphere in his claw. He stood in front of her and ignited the sphere with his breath, it burned completely in seconds leaving in the air a faint shade of purple smoke, she breathed it and her energy returned instantly.

"You are special, my young apprentice, soon you will find your place in this world, I hope to be there when that happens."

"Thanks, Master."

Unknown to them, a pair of red eyes watched the scene from the darkness before disappearing into a scarlet flash. Ridley appeared inside his room moments later with some concern in his reptilian face.

"She becomes more powerful with each session, at this rate, I doubt that the chamber would be able to contain her, if that happens, all my plans will crumble."

Deep in thought, the dragon didn't notice the flash of green flames behind him which died leaving a visitor.

“Ridley.” Arklin called to him.

“What? Oh, it’s you; I thought that your queen would be the one to visit me."

"She sent me; I just came to tell you that the creature is in movement."

"So, he finally accepted the deal?” Arklin nodded and Ridley smiled. “Well done, your race is not as useless as I thought."

The changeling said nothing, deep inside she hated him, being near to the dragon wasn't something she could stand at all, something about him scared and bother her.

“Whatever, that's all I have to tell you, I'll be on my way now.”

"Why the hurry?"

"I have nothing else to do here."

"Oh c'mon, we have to celebrate. I bet your queen doesn't leave you alone even for a moment, please, take a drink with me, it will also help you to feel better."

Arklin looked at him with suspicion. The dragon poured a red liquid inside a couple of goblets and turned to face her. She took the cup and smelled its contain, there seemed to be nothing wrong with it.

Trying to leave that place as fast as she could, Arklin drank the wine in a swig; however, Ridley didn’t do the same and just spilled the liquid from his goblet. The changeling tried to speak but her body felt numb and slumped to the floor while Ridley gave her a wicked smile.

With horror, she felt his claw grab her by one hoof; he dragged her to the bed and soon he was moving his claw over her soft belly. Arklin couldn't move and soon understood the dragon’s intentions.

“You changelings have an exquisite anatomy.” Ridley told her while licking her cheek.

“No! Don’t do it!”

Arklin tried to scream but she couldn't. She silently begged that it was just a nightmare; however, in the moment she felt his claw starting to move down her body and go between her legs she fixed her eyes on the red ones of the dragon and the only thing she was able to feel was fear.

“I’m going to enjoy this.”

Ridley said and forced his tongue inside Arklin’s mouth while tears began to run down her face.

“This is not happening… this is not… Please!... Stop!... Stop!”

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

Three mares stood outside the wagon while a guard inspected it. Twilight and Trixie had a worried look on her faces disguised just by fake smiles that couldn't convince anypony. Meanwhile, Kriket stared at her hoof like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"Psst, Kriket." Twilight called her. "Do you think it will work?"

"What's the matter, Sparkle? Do you really think that these feather brains are that smart?"

One of the griffins that was walking outside the wagon came into view and the purple mare cringed a little never letting her smile fall down, the guard just looked at her with raised eyebrows but didn't said a thing.

"Watch your words, Kriket, we don't need more problems, it's already bad enough that we needed to pass through this revision." Said Trixie who was starting to sweat.

"Will you two calm down already. You are the ones acting strange here, stop it or they will really think that we're hiding something." Kriket demanded with hushed voice.

Some minutes later, the guard came out from the wagon, however, he was carrying something in his claw and Twilight and Trixie gasped, it was Booker's necklace.

"Okay, you're clear to pass into the city, just an advice, don’t get too close to the north side of the city, there has been suspicious activity and we're running raids, I don't think you would like to get caught on one." The guard told them.

"Yes, and thank you, we will have it on mind. You heard the officer, girls, let's go." Kriket replied.

She climbed to the wagon, but the other two mares didn’t follow her and they got close to the guard instead.

"E-excuse me, sir?" Said Trixie. "Please, can you give me my necklace?"

The guard looked at her and then to the collar. "Is this yours? Sorry, it was on the floor."

He placed it around her neck, but she felt her claw going inside her mane while the other rubbed her neck.

"Tell me, what are three beautiful mares doing here? We don't see many of your kind these days." His claw rested on Trixie's cheek making her feel uncomfortable.

"We're on a business trip," Twilight said attracting the griffin’s attention. "We're looking for new products to introduce into our market, do you have any hint of what can we found here?"

"Now that you mention it, you should look in the commercial district; I bet you could find some interesting things."

"That sounds great, thank you, we'll be on our way now."

The purple unicorn called to Trixie and both climbed into the wagon, moments later they got lost between the buildings.

"Phew, that was a close call, good that he got entranced with your charms." Kriket said nudging the showmare.

"Shut up… I didn't enjoy it… it felt… it felt wrong…"

"Trixie, are you okay?" Asked Twilight.

"Yes... I just... I need some water..." The blue mare stood up and went inside the cart.

"Ugh, what's the matter with her?" Kriket said with disdain.

"I don't know, let's give her some space." Said Twilight. "Okay where do we go now?"

Kriket smiled. "To the north side of the city."

"I should have guessed." Commented the unicorn with narrowed eyes.

Inside the cart, Trixie was on the bed with her face on the pillow when one of the walls of the cart moved and Booker came out through it. He breathed with relief when he saw buildings passing by in the window meaning that they were moving. He looked at the blue unicorn and walked to her side sitting on the bed.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked.

There was no answer. Booker put her hand on her shoulder and squeezed a little. Trixie reacted and looked at him.

"Oh, hi, Booker, I didn't hear you."

"I can see that. Are you okay? You look a little shaken up."

She smiled. "Don't worry, I'm fine, I just... needed some rest."

He didn't buy it. "C'mon, you're not yourself, what's the matter?"

She sighed. "Were you that good to understand the females on your world?"

He chuckled.

"I'll take that as "yes", anyway, a couple of years ago, I was on a city named Manehattan…"

"Wait, don't you mean, Manhattan?" He interrupted.

"Will you let me continue or what?"

"Sorry, go ahead."

"Well, as I was saying, I was on this city and... I was attacked by a stallion and a griffin." She said the last part with trembling voice while tears were falling from the magician's eyes. "They had me cornered on an alley and the griffin had me by the neck while his partner…”

"Oh...” Booker understood what she was talking about. “Did they? You know..."

“No, I was able to escape." She took a deep breath. "I still have nightmares about it and the way in which the guard at entrance touched and looked at me... it brought bad memories..."

“That son of a bitch!” He thought.

“Come here.”

Booker hugged her. Trixie felt safe in his arms and nuzzled his neck.

“Thanks, it helps.”

They remained like that for some minutes.

“Oh, I almost forgot it, here, take it.”

She tried to take off the necklace but he avoided it.

“No, please, keep it, it looks good on you.”

She blushed. “T-thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I know I shouldn’t keep talking about it, but I have a question, how did you escape?”

“Well, I remember… I saw a white light appear behind them and I distinguished the figure of a mare, her fur had soft brown tone that contrasted with her long black mane and she was dressed with a white blouse and a black skirt. They tried to attack her but she hit them with a metallic hook and in the moment I saw them hit the ground I ran from there."

While hearing her, his head started to hurt and his vision blurred, he knew something was wrong when he looked at her face and he felt something wet passing over his lips.

“Booker… your nose is bleeding…” She said.

“I know…” He placed his fingers under his nose, then looked at them covered with the red substance. “It’s a medical condition… nothing to worry about…” He lied.

“Here, let me clean it.”

Trixie took a handkerchief with her magic and softly she cleaned the blood from his face. She took her time to admired his factions; the green of his eyes lured her like a moth to a flame and unable to control herself, she locked her lips with Booker’s.

The contact was brief, just enough for him to be able to feel the softness and warmth of the lips of the unicorn. Trixie parted her lips from his and exhaled the breath she had inadvertently contained. She looked at the man who stood completely surprised by his actions and immediately she knew she had gone too far.

"Booker... I'm sorry! I do not know why..."

She couldn’t say more because the carriage door opened and Twilight came through it.

"We have arrived." She said. "Is everything all right?" She asked when noticed that Booker seemed to be lost in his thoughts and Trixie was on the verge of tears.

"Yes..." He said. "Everything is fine; we will go out in a moment."

"... Okay... I will see if Kriket needs something..." With that Twilight left them alone again.

He stood up, holstered his gun and walked towards the door.

“Booker, please, let me explain…”

"Trixie... we will never talk about what happened here..." The tone of his voice was cold and hard.

"I… I understand..." She said and hung her head.

He just nodded and left the wagon.