Jeric was on a train once more. He brought his wetstone down the edge of his sword giving it a gleeming keen edge. Both Sonica and North had chosen seats next to him they chatted happily. Todays mission was far less tense than their first. This mission was a simple skirmish with changlings. Jeric was unworried he had faced shape-changers before they were tricky but each had tells. Princess Luna had decided to journey with and oversee the battle. This however made it so that Jeric could not enter battle as he was charged with her protection.
"So Jeric are you disappointed to not see battle this time?" Luna asked walking up to sit across from him. She gave him her best smile. She had taken a liking to the human.
"Begging your pardon but I do not seek to end lives war is a horrid thing. It is however necessary and as such must be prepared for. I simply am one who is prepared." Jeric answered hoping that he had gotten his point across.
"I see." Luna said thinking about what he had said. "Still I feel better that your here. We don't exactly know what the changlings are after." She said changing the subject.
"Does it really matter they're parasites feeding just to survive and propagate." Sonica offhandedly said with a slight snear. She didn't like changlings they stole emotions from thier victims, draining them till there was nothing left but a hungering void that turned them into just another changling. Their favorite food was love something she had just found.
They continued to talk as the train plumed black smoke as it moved toward the small border town. Jeric felt uncomfortable between the three girls as the talked. They talked about every thing including how to accessorize with their armor. 'I'm so glad your not like that.' He thought at Skully. 'Yeah I'm a tomboy.'she replied.
"Now before we arrive I want to do something to ensure we can tell each other apart." Jeric said standing. Hereached under his seat and pulled out a bag full of cloth. "I got us each a bandana what I'm going to do is magically place a mark on each of us then we'll cover it with the bandana. If the enemy can copy anything the see then it may be the safest way to tell each other apart." He said pulling out the first black bandana. Sonica was the first she wanted to show that she supported his idea. Jeric knelt and let her rest her right leg in his extended right hand. Using his left hand he drew a magical glowing rune from his world. Jeric figured the more unknown factors the less chance the changlings could copy it. The moment he had finished with Sonica Luna and North both looking more than a little happy to be under his care. "For you princess I'm changing the rune." He said marking her with a rune that represented her name. He tied her bandana around her arm. He continued to pass out bandanas and runes for the rest of the train ride. When they finally arrived and filed out every one had a bandana on their right leg. "Alright our first goal is to secure the town. Focus on finding a well defendable building we can house the princess and the towns people. The less buildings we need to defend the better." Jeric said walking back and forth inspecting his troops. This time he also had several pegasai for back up.
Without further delay they walked into town. A single smiling pony walked up to them. His blue mane and eyes he had a mottled blue red coat and his cutiemark was a quill. He greeted them friendly enough though jeric felt something was off. The lack of other ponies and general activity seemed completely out of place. 'Skully does this place seem strange to you?' He asked knowing she could see more than he could. Her eyes came to life, the blue flames acting as a true seeing spell allowing her to see through magical effects. 'Yep that's not a pony atleast not a normal one.' Skully said flatly. With little warning jeric cast dispell one the pony in front of him. Instead of the mottled blue red pony what stood befor the party was a black carapiced horned pony with solid blue eyes. It had holes in its legs and green membrane for mane, tail and wings. The changling opened its mouth to speak and froze as a simple growl came out. It looked truly shocked as it just stared at them blankly its white fangs showing in its mouth.
"Didn't know I could do that huh." Jeric said crossing his armes and looking down at the little creature. It wimpered as he toward over it letting his armor strike terror into the hapless interloper. The little changling suddenly burst into tears. "What the?" Jeric said turnig to luna who shrugged.
"I'm sorry!" The changling said still balling. "I lived here and hid when the others came they took almost every one." It said sniffling as it said that a little pink unicorn came running from one of the buildings.
"You leave Mister Change alone!" She shouted as she rand towards them her horn lowered as she charged.
"Well this is unexpected so which one of you sent the SOS?" Luna stepped forward giving the changling and its unicorn companion her sweetest smile. The changling raised it front hoof as it stayed staring at the ground.
"Well then sir I extend an apology for my earlier actions." Jeric spoke softly letting his demeanor of fury ebb into one of understanding. "Though next time be strait forward about what you are." He chided rising back to his full height. "However I would like to get the rescue underway as soon as possible." Jeric scanned the nearby buildings. He spotted a squat sqare building with few windows that he could see. "Hey what's thst building?" He pointed it out to the others.
"Oh that's actually city hall the mayor had it redesigned so as not to be easily destroyed." The unicorn filly said proudly.
"Can it fit every one in town?" Jeric asked as an idea formed in his head.
"Yes with extra room why do you ask?" It was the changling who spoke this time.
"Because we need a defensible position that can also work as a medical center." Jeric stated cooly as he walked towards the building in question. He circled the building taking stock of the thing. It had fairly thick walls small elevated windows that were barred and only one visible entry. Jeric tried the door and found them locked tight. 'Five gold says the mayor locked himself in.' Skully said with contempt. Jeric honestly hoped she was wrong but still delivered several strong hits to the door. As the sound of his knocking faded they heard some shuffling inside.
"Go away no business while the changlings are about." Avoice called out from inside.
"Its alright we were sent to help is anyone else in there with you?" Jeric called up. There came no reply which gave jeric his answer the coward had locked himself away and let the rest of the town suffer. He didn't want to wast any more time on this loser. Jeric pointed at the door and intoned his magic in a spell that unlocked it. As he heard the lock click open he kicked the door. He got the satisfaction of seeing the mayor scared form huddling in a corner. "This building is commandeered for use in the upcoming rescue effort!" He called striding into the building like he owned it. "Sonica take the princess and find her a safe hide away." He said starting to prepare. "Change I'm giving you a simple task help those four," he said pointing out four two pegasai, North, and Flare. "And show them where the changlings went. This is a simple scout mission guys no sense attacking without evac for the civs." He said as he turned towards the others. "Ok who here knows even the basics of medical care?" He asked surveying the room. Three ponies in all, including Luna raise their hooves. "Okay how are you not more popular than your sister?" Jeric asked while smiling.
"I'm less social." Luna deadpanned.
"Alright but enough levity you three are in charge of getting this place ready to receive patients." He was actually impressed with the progress so far. "Alright the rest of you will be split into three teams!" Jeric called out turning to the thirty or so ponies he had left. "Firstly is our breach team you'll be charged with entering whatever hole the enamy has dug for itself and neutralizing it. Then comes the defensive team you will be split between here and the enamy position your goal is to ensure that the civs and attack groups have a place to come back to. And finally we need a evac team for the civs and wounded." Overall Jeric let the teams form on their own that way the ponies could use their knowledge of each other to the fullest. He was genuinely surprised when he found that the rescue team had taken the initiative and grabbed several sky wagons so the could take more at once. As he made his round checking on the preparations he spotted the little unicorn filly running around trying to get the adults attention. Jeric walked over to her curious. "Excuse me little one but can I help you?" He said to the pink unicorn.
"Ah rattles, I want to help!" She said defiantly.
"Help with what?" Jeric asked bemused by the fearless filly.
"Well ah... uhm..." She hadn't thought that far ahead. "I'm Snuggles." She said unable to think of anything.
"Ok Miss Snuggles why don't you help the medics?" He said watching her get excited. "But you can only help if you promise to do everything they say, as it could save a ponies life." He had to hold back a laugh as her eyes grew wide with wonder. Then to his surprise she threw a pretty decent salute complete with a 'aye aye' and everything. "At ease nurse Snuggles." He said returning the salute. He then escorted her to Luna.
Luna watched as the little pink unicorn went to each of the finished emergency cots and made the look as comfortable as possible. Jeric had left her in Luna's care under the guise that she was to help while he debriefed the scout team that had arrived. 'So he's good with kids too.' She thought looking over at him while he reassigned the scouts. To her surpise jeric unleashed His skeleton armor and assigned it to a group. 'What is he upto?' She thought trotting over to eavesdrop.
"Ok now since I can't personally go into combat this time I'm sending Skully with you. As such stay behind her by atleast thirty steps." Jeric said in a hushed tone. "Skully is a living weapon almost every part of her is designed for that purpose. Besides that we need to ensure that the rescue team can work in peace."
Luna couldn't help but look at his figure without the construct. She had seen him this way several times in his dreams but the real thing nearly stole her breath. 'Get a hold on your self he has a mare.' She thought tearing her eyes away. 'Hes just a friend a, strong, handsome, herioc friend.' She glanced back towards Jeric. 'I might be introuble.' She sighed causing Snuggles to look over at her. With little else to do every one went about finishing their assignments and then rested for the upcoming opperation.