Umbra

“Mommy?” I nuzzle her head “Why don’t you get up mommy?”

I see one of the grumpy armored ponies take a step towards mommy and me. I flare my horn and send him flying back. ‘You know, if you let one of them get close to your mommy she would get up, right?’

“She would?!” I can’t help but smile. I look to the closest pony and grab them in my magic, dragging them closer.

‘Don’t! STOP! Umbra stop! Mommy would not like that if you did.’ the voice pauses ‘He isn’t strong enough anyway. If you reeeaally want to help your mommy, you need to find the toughest one here and drag them closer!' the voice giggled.

“Oh…” I release the pony from my magic and he takes a few steps back, his face twisted with worry and fear. “So… how do I find the strongest one?” I ask as I tilt my head to the side.

‘Kill them all?’

‘No, don’t kill them. They are weak and not worth the effort. No you wait untill one who is strong comes to you. Trust me, they will.’ the voice pauses again ‘Go ahead and keep these weaklings away though. That should draw the strong one out.’

I push another guard away, when the big white pony from earlier lands nearby. Before I can say anything the voices shout: ‘Her!’

“She is the strong one? She can make mommy wake up?” I ask the voices.

‘Yes! Draw her close and let you mother wake up!’

‘Yes! Fight her, she is worth of the challenge!’

I attempt to grab the big pony, but she fights off my magic, so I have to try again. ‘More power little one! Grab her!’

The big pony’s horn flashes gold with magic and I start feeling dizzy. I try to fight the dizziness, but I fall over. ‘Why do you have to be so weak! Do you not want your mommy back or something?!’ the voice angrily shouts. Everything starts to fade.

‘Jeez lay off the kid. She is doing all she can, no reason to shout, Warpath.’

‘Can it you insignificant Hellspawn!’
Nox

I glare at Celestia from where I float. ‘How dare she do that to MY FILLY! How irresponsible can you be?! knocking out a filly like that.’ I scowl. “Just another thing we shall have words about!” I shout at her, knowing full well she can’t hear me.

“Guardspony please take Umbra to Dr. Lecter, tell him to treat her for magical exhaustion and inform him she is to be given a horn ring.” Princess Celestia orders.

One of the guards scoops Umbra up and takes off toward the castle. I start to follow then stop myself, not sure if I should leave my corpse or not. “Sis...ter.. go.. “ grumbles the warbeast Umbra summoned.

I sigh “Thank you, Nina.” I say before floating off after the guard and Umbra. Unsure if Nina heard me.

It doesn’t take long for us to reach the castle infirmary. “Doctor, this filly is need of treatment for magical exhaustion and Celestia has ordered she be given a horn ring.” The guard states as he lays Umbra down on one of the many beds.

“Very well, off you go, shoo.” says a grey sheep, with short well shorn wool as he trys to shoo the guard out the door.

After the guard vacates the infirmary the sheep turns to the unconscious form of Umbra. “You now I haven’t had to treat magical exhaustion since little Twilight Sparkle was here. You should really watch out for this miss.” The sheep says as he begins to examine Umbra.

After a few minutes of testing the Doctor walks away from her and opens a wooden cabinet on the other side of the room. He pulls out a small circular ring made metal. After walking back to Umbra he places the ring on her horn, and it flashes.

“Poor dear, exhaustion and a ring? What did you do little one? To cause such a reaction from our kind Princess?” he asks as he pats her unconscious head.

Celestia

‘The beast can speak.’ I take a step towards the unmistakable form of Nox as the beast stands over it.

The beasts head snaps in my direction and it growls. “No… No.. Near… Sis.. ter.”

“I just want to insure she is unharmed.” I say as I take another step closer. I glance at Nox, she has no visible wounds, and the ground around her is barren of life. “Will you permit me to check on your sister?” I ask the beast.

“No… No.. Harm… You..” the beast gravelly says.

“If I try to reach her you will harm me?” I ask preparing to cast a spell to stop the beast should it try something.

“No… Stop… Sis.. ter ...From.. Harm… You..” it says.

“She will harm me?” I ask a bit surprised the beast thinks Nox could harm anypony in her current state.

“Yes.. Sis.. ter.. Drain.. Life… Hurt..” It grumbles.

“She is draining life? You are keeping us away to stop her from hurting anypony. The beast nods. “I see, do you know when it will be safe?” I ask, still worrying about Nox.

“Soon..” the beast replies.

“Guards insure nopony comes near Miss Nox or… “

“Ni.. Na…” the beast interrupts.

“Insure nopony comes near miss Nox or Miss Nina.” I order. The guards nod, though they look worried.

?????

I lift the communication gem out of my saddlebags. “Phase one is completed,please inform Head Paladin Heart that target one was successfully removed. Target two is still at large.”

A few moments pass and the gem buzzes “Agent, the Head Paladins are in agreement, phase two cannot commence while target two is still alive. You are authorized to remove target two at your discretion. Stay safe Paladin, May the Light always shine.”

“Target two shall be removed within three days, May the Light always shine on you brother.” I place the gem back in my saddlebag.

After a moment passes I head downstairs and address my fellow Paladins. “We have been ordered to eliminate target two, who here volunteers to take on this mission?” I ask the group of eight ponies.

They all raise a hoof in the air. “Paladin Light, Paladin Evergreen, you two shall infiltrate the castle. When you find target two, insure their elimination. Use your own discretion and do not fail the order.” They nod in affirmation “You are dismissed, May the Light always shine!”

“May the Light always shine!” the group yells back.

Author's Note

And Another chapter for your reading pleasure! Now to cover a few things:

1. Warpath and Hellspawn, encase you didn't realize they are VOICES in Umbra's head, no one else can hear them.

2. Nina is the beast the showed up in the last chapter, and yes her name and appearance is based on Fullmetal alchemist. I am sorry for making you momentarily relive that.

3. POV change, do you like it? Do You hate it? As of right now I'm not sure how often I will use Celestia's POV... or ????'s. However you will get more of Umbra's POV in the future.

If you have any questions: Ask. I will answer them if I can (no spoilers!)

On a side note: I may or may not be writing another story in the near future... this does not mean I'm abandoning Nox. Its more of giving me something to do when my mind can't focus here.