//------------------------------// // To Battle // Story: Knight of Bone // by nihilis3 //------------------------------// Seventeen heavily armed individuals sat in a train car. The bright pastel colors of the train didn't match the moods of the people who were mere hours away from a fight for thier very survival. As they sat and waited many adjusted their armor and weapons. Jeric sat as the rest taking a whet stone to his swords silver edge. His long practiced strokes betrayed no hints of malice or nervousness. He was there for one purpose combat. Sonica Rain walked the isle in between the car seats. She was nervous this was to be her first real combat experience. She looked over at the stranger who was acting so calm. She stared at his armored form its white ivory skeleton being it's most prominent feature. The dark brown coated bat pony used her wing to adjust her breast plate and stomped her hoof to adjust her claw shoes. 'Horse feathers this armor is uncomfortable.' She thought swishing her black tail. The whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth. Her eyes moved back to the new guy. ' Why in tartarous are we following this creature and its strange magic.' Suspicions gnawed at her mind. Still she had to admit the man looked impressive. He stood head and shoulders taller then any one else she had brought along. She watched and walked the stranger taking most of her attention. "Ma'am if you stare any longer he might notice." One of her soldiers said with a chuckle. She looked at the stallion with a glare that would normally make him wince. Her blushing face however made him want to laugh. "Midnight Flare you will not mention this to anypony is that clear!" She told him her blush fading. With a nod from Midnight Flare she continued. "The way I see it he knows too much about this threat and might be behind it." She whispered. This time it was Midnights turn to give the human an suspicious look. Jeric having overhead the conversation. Decided to put his two bits in. "Listen up everypony." He said standing up and sheathing his sword. "I understand that some of you may be suspicious of my intentions I know I would be. I'm a stranger to most of you. But know this what is about to happen the horror that one man is about to unleash upon you I have sworn to stop. Even at the cost of my life." He said trying to atleast gain thier cooperation. " If the attack hasn't started we will have about a day to try and set up defences." Jeric anounced trying to give atleast an ounce of hope. He sat back down to wiat for the train to reach its destination. He looked out the window the sun blazing as though it was noon. 'Guess I'll have to thank Celestia for leaving the sun up.' He thought with a grin. "I think our friend didn't like your badmouthing." Midnight laughed causing Sonica to blush once more. Though Jeric speech did seem to give her some confidence in his purpose. Jeric reached out his skeleton claw gloved hand to the bat pony next to him. For a hoofshake, the bat pony looked at him oddly. Then with a huge grin grabbed his hand and shook it. "Hi I'm North Star, maps and logistics specialist." She said still grinning. North had a white coat and black mane her cutiemark was a black field with one star. Jeric Smiled at least someone on this trip was friendly. "Jeric Boneknight." He said copying her introduction. She let out a little giggle. Jeric felt a sinking feeling as he realized just who he was bringing into battle. "Hey have you ever been in combat?" He asked pure concern in his voice. "Actually its my first time in active combat. Truth is I'm a little nervous." She said unable to keep her excitement over the prospect of her first fight out of her voice. Jeric pitied her she had no clue what was coming. Jeric made a quick motion to Sonica. When she saw his motion Sonica contemplated ignoring him but since Luna had put him incharge she had to. "Can I help you." She asked walking close. She looked him in the eyes and immediately regretted it. The moment her dark blue eyes met his violet ones she was entranced, the feeling shot through her like lightning and all her paltry concerns about him melted away. "I mean ah yes sir." She fumbled the words not coming out right. "Well I was wondering if any of these troops have seen combat?" Asked now concerned over her sudden demeanor change. "Are you alright? You seem distracted." "Oh no your fine.." Realisation crosses her features. "Uh, I mean no, your not distracting..." Again she trailed off hernwords flustered and confused. 'Horse feathers, we aren't even the same species.' She thought trying to regain her composure. "What I mean is no this our first combat mission and since our inception when Princess Luna returned." She said trying to look composed. She was fine till somepony laughed in the back. 'I'll have to court marshall the lot of them.' She thought trying to silence her embarrassment. "I see then make sure they know. Aim for the head and never stop attacking. The enamy is tireless the don't breath or sleep, and don't let them touch you." He stated coolly. 'There's nothing I can do now to prepare them. Heck was there any to do to begin with.' jeric was about to dismiss Sonica when he saw a question in her eyes, along with something else. "Sorry I just have to ask how old are you." She asked truly curious. "Oh, is that all I'm 25 been fighting undead for five years now." He said with a shrug. "Wait but that means you are as old as me... That means you have five years combat experience. " she said amazed. " show me your scars sometime." She said with a toss of her mane wchid had a single lock of purple. She sauntered off feeling as giddy as a filly. "What was that?" Jeric asked North Star. "Well I think you might have just gotten added to the rookery." She said giggling again with a blush. The other ponies that had seen the display were also laughing. 'I think Sonica just asked to see you naked.' Skully chimed in laughing. 'Well at least you finally have a girlfriend.' Skully said into the the comfusion in his mind. The train came to a stop about an hour later. The troops left the train car. They lined up right out side the station on the tarmac. Both Jeric and Sonica inspected the troops walking up and down the line. He found it quite disconcerting how she now stayed extremely close to him. She was within five steps but stayed within that bubble five steps. Sonica began to address her troops. It was the normal hooha that was meant to raise morale and inspire. She finished her little speech and they started thier march into town. As they approached the town the saw a sign reading, 'Hoofvill.' They marched I to a few gasps and wide eyed stares most of which were directed at the ivory covered knight. As they made their way to the center of town, the mayor of the town came bounding up with a worried look. " Can I help you ah guards." The mayor a pale coated blue haird stallion asked nervously. "I am Sonica Rain captain of the Lunar Guard we have reason to believe this town is in imminent danger of attack." She said not sugar coating a drop. "But there is no tactical advantage if they take this town. " They mayor said confuse. He'd normally be right. "Its not for tactical reasons the man behind the attack wants soldiers." Jeric said sweeping his hand to indicate the populace. The mayor's eyes went wide with shock. "Then how can I help." He said with a salute. They talked to the mayor whose name turned out to be Tax Bracket. The plan was simple Celestia would buy them time. During this time they would fortify the town. Sonica had some pegasie bring in clouds for archers to use. The mayor had several earth ponies fortifying the rest of the town they focused on a building that was large enough for the towns peoples and had strong enough walls to give the enemy pause. The rest of the town would also fortify the rest slightly to slow down any army that attempted to breach it. "Jeric found the village to be to his liking. It was nestled in the middle of a canyon preventing invasion from more the two vectors. He noticed a pegasus that had just finished moving a cloud into place. Using his mental link with his familiar he flared his wings. He heard gasps from the ponies around him as his fifteen foot wingspan sprung to life. He was up next to the poor frightened white pegasus in a flash. His speed seemed to surpise everyone. He ignored the distraction to talk to the pegasus. "Hey do you have any pegasai out scouting the area we need it for a fifty clicks down both sides of the canyon." He said as authoritative as possible. "Yes sir we'll get right on it." the white pegasus said zipping off. Then coming right back. "Uh sir what are we to look for?" The little guy asked confused. "Well it will be a mass of bodies probably decaying they might be moving they might not, or you'll see darkness moving like fog." Jeric said sending the pony off again. He then looked at the cloud. It just hung there where it had been placed. Looking around he saw any number of winged ponies perched on them. He waited a moment before climbing above the one he was next to. Taking a deep breath he cut his wing power and landed. "You can walk on clouds!" Sonic rain exclaimed in surpise. 'Well atleast it makes inviting him over easier.' She thought coily. Jeric smiled a little this was useful it gave him a good vantage point, but he had to see if it was himselfnor Skully that could walk on clouds. With a mental command he brought her to concieness. 'When I do this prepare to catch me.' He instructed hitting the sternum of his armor. Skully opened up her rib cage spreading apart and the rest of her detaching from his armor. Again he took a deep breath and stepped forward. Skully let out a surprised shriek as she plummeted beneath the cloud. Only to reappear flapping her wings for flight. The mystical red fire that made up her eyes an lit the insidesnof her rib cage flared in anger. 'Why is it your the only one benefiting from this venture?' She thought angrily. "What the horse apples did you do?" Sonica asked Jeric and pointing at Skullly. "Oh that's Skully she's my familiar and right now she's jealous of my new found cloud walking ability." He said with a smile. Skully huffed indignantly. 'what a stallion!' Sonica thought seeing what Jeric really looked like under his familiars protective embrace. 'Wait nows not the time for that.' She thought disdainfully. "Is she going to be a problem?" Sonica said eyeing the construct. 'This thing gets to embrace him all the time.' She thought angrily. "Oh she won't cause problems she's a construct and a familiar litteraly she is bound to me though more a sister than a servent." He said affectionately petting Skully on the head. 'I wish he'd... Sweet Celestia he's got me bad!' Sonica thought grimly. She landed on his cloud as the white pegasus he had sent out came back. Sonica cursed her luck under her breath. "I saw them coming from the west." The winded pony said sweet pooring off his brow. "There's got to be a rhousand troops out there and you.." He stopped thinking about it. "You were right some where half falling apart others were full skeletons." He wimpered The site truly disturbed him. "Only a thousand I feel insulted." Jeric said with a laugh. His joke seemed relieve the ponies fears. "Don't worry friend I've been doing this for five years there is no way I'll let them win." He promised. With a snap of his fingers Skully adhered to his armor. "Sonica I want to take five of the troops the rest should stay here incase some get through." Jeric said gravely. "Get the through what?" Sonica said dreading the answer. "Get through me." He said taking off from his cloud and heading west.