Beneath the Surface (Adventure, slight Gore)

Arcane shrugs. "A lot. Why?"

"How much would you accept..." says the changeling slowly, "to fight for us?"

He laughed, hard. "Work for you? I don't work for changelings." He shrugged. "However, I could be convinced to leave."

"Fine." The changeling rolls her eyes. "What would that take, then?"

He shrugged again. "Around a million I reckon."

The changeling pauses for a long while. Finally, she says, "How will we ensure your departure?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I mean," the changeling raps her hoof on the ground impatiently, "what's to stop you from pocketing the bits and then going back to Ician's side? It's not unheard of for a mercenary."

"I do have one saving grace, and that is that when I am paid, I do what I'm paid to do... unless they pay me again."

"If they pay you again." The changeling snaps. "And if they do, you may assume that I have a higher price waiting for you." She sighs. "Look. I'm paying you to get out of here. That's all. Just... leave. Can you give me your word on that?"

Whatever it's worth.

"Of course. Though I will need the money now."

"Done." The changeling retrieves a piece of paper with numbers scrawled on it. "Go to these coordinates. They're on the other side of the forest, away from the Equestrian encampment. Ask the changelings there for the money. They'll give it to you."

He nodded, took the paper and left.

"Now..." The changeling turns away and strides off, ignoring the distinct sound of burning trees. "Time for the endgame."

Arcane chuckled to himself. He arrived at the location. "Hellllo~?"

The area is encircled by a layer of wooden stakes, forming a defensive line around a set of three black-green tents. A small group of changelings notices him, and one of them steps forward. "Yes?"

"I'm here to collect my money." He stated simply.

"Alright." He turns back to his group and says a few quiet words. They march off to the central tent. "How much did the Commander agree to give you?"

"A million. To leave this place." He smiled

The others re-emerge from the tent, rolling two dozen fat, bulging sacks of coins out into the open.

"There." The changeling says. "Your payment. Take it. Then get out."

He smiled and took the money. "Well actually, she never said when I should leave..."

"She did now." The changeling soldier snaps, and waves a slip of paper in his face. "See it? 'Mercenary leaves immediately. Give him a million bits and tell him to scram.'"

He shrugged and walked off, not weighed down by the cash at all.

"Finally." The changeling soldier mutters.

"Hey, wait." One final changeling emerges from the tent. "New orders."

"What are they?"

The second changeling leans in close and whispers in the first's ear.

"Oh." He straightens his stance. "Let's go. Commander Theria is waiting."

---

Ician looks out over the burning forest. "Hm." He turns to the amassed army of only fifty or so soldiers left. "Alright, we're moving out. Bring the mortars." He turns to Griff. "That means you, too."

He shouts, "Divine! Ruby! Stream! We leave for the forest, now!"

Divine and Ruby move to his side, kissing one cheek each. "We're ready~"