“So you killed members of the Royal Guard and broke a vow to Princess Celestia because you didn’t want her to die? Wasn't that a little rash?” asked Twilight.
“Yes,” began Ombra, “but it is not a decision I regret. I feel that had I not separated myself from her service, she would have had me killed. I was a threat to her, and should I have decided to hunt her she would have died. She knew this well, and she has not held power for so long by allowing threats to live.”
The two were still walking down the small path, Ombra’s eyes continuously searching the trees and shrubs around them. Finally seeing what he was looking for, Ombra turned and walked in to the forest. Before long, the two were in front of a cliff. Ombra motioned for Twilight to stay silent, and with a powerful pump of his wings he leapt up to a ledge some twenty feet above the ground. Twilight watched as the pegasus stallion disappeared in to a well hidden cave, and a few moments later a body was propelled out of the opening to crash on the ground below.
Twilight jumped at the noise, making a face at the sound of bones snapping, before Ombra appeared again and motioned for her to join him. After a brief moment of preparation, the unicorn teleported up to the ledge only to find Ombra glaring at her, seeming very annoyed.
“Your teleportation spell makes a very loud noise. If any of our enemies are nearby, they now know where we are. You should have climbed, or motioned for me to help you if you could not. Pray that we remain undiscovered.”
Ombra’s tone was cold and measured as always, but his eyes were practically flaming. Unless Twilight missed her guess, her protector was now very angry at her.
“No louder than you throwing a body,” Twilight replied, forcing herself to sound calm.
Ombra sighed before he began speaking.
“A body hitting the ground is a much softer sound than your teleportation. Also, it was lower to the ground. Your spell sounds like an explosion, and it was raised above ground level so it will carry much farther. Now, it is best we enter the cave before we are seen.”
Ombra motioned for Twilight to go ahead of him, and so the unicorn stepped in to the small opening. After a short walk, she found herself in a surprisingly large cavern with a small pool of crystal clear water in the centre. Ombra stepped up to the pool and began to drink, and Twilight followed his lead. Being chased by a small army intent on killing you is very thirsty work. Twilight stopped when she noticed Ombra take out a small vial and fill it with water. It was too small to be a drink or for cleaning a wound, and so the unicorn found herself quite curious. Seeming to notice this, Ombra explained.
“This is for a simple trick that a pegasus can use in combat. I will demonstrate.”
Ombra took his hidden blade and splashed some water in to the air. Before it could fall back in to the pool, he began to swirl his hoof through it. Nearly instantly, it became a small cloud. Ombra continued to swirl his hoof in the new cloud, and it became nearly black. Drawing his hoof, he slashed the cloud with the blade. There was a small cracking sound, and the scent of ozone began to fill the air. Ombra showed Twilight the blade, and the unicorn was amazed at what she saw.
Arcs of electricity raced across the short length of steel, occasionally lashing out at the air with small cracks. The electricity also pumped through Ombra’s hoof, but the pegasus showed no signs of discomfort.
“All pegasi can control weather,” Ombra began, “including lightning. All I have done is create a small lightning strike and forced it to remain on my blade. It can be done with a sword as well, or crossbow bolts. It does not last long, but if I strike an earth pony or unicorn with this blade the electricity will stop their heart. It will not work on a pegasus however, which is why the electricity does not harm me.”
Ombra touched the blade to the pool of water, and the electricity flowed through the steel and in to the pool. When he raised his hoof again, the blade was no longer charged.
“This was taught to me by an old pegasus hermit in the Northern wastes...”
And so Ombra began his story again.
Authors Notes and Translations
Fulmine Lama = Lightning Blade
Sorry this hasn't updated much lately, I just can't find motivation to sit down and write when I have to rewrite everything Ombra says four or five times to make it sound right.