Dead in civilization

Twilight met her small group of soon-to-be stalkers by Fluttershy's house. She once again sighed at what Rainbow had been able to achieve. Cadance was oddly ecstatic about following Dead, in the brief time she had been with Twilight she had constantly asked about what kind of magic Dead used. Twilight had been warned by her brother that Cadance was showing showing traits of an unhealthy obsession with the forbidden magic.

"So any news on Dead?" Twilight found herself asking the group as she arrived, Cadance smiled at her and they did their usually greeting, once that was over  Rainbow stepped forward.

"No, its just Dead and grim at the moment. All they have been talking about is what has happened in the past thousand years. Grim mentioned that two others will be arriving soon." Rainbow sighed. "I think I'm going to lose it if nothing happens." Just as Rainbow finished Cadance perked up and focused on the duo that were stood in the clearing.

"Look!" Cadance pointed to Dead, just as the others focused their attention a pony came in and joined the group. Cadance's ears perked. "That's a changling." She stated.

The pony became covered with purple flames and  changling with purple coloring stood in its place.

"Hey Nazz!" Dead said happily. The changling shot a smile forward and started to mouth words before forming them.

"Hel-low..." The changling shakily said. "How are you?" The changling started to speak more clearly. "Its been a while Dead and Grimnash."

"It has," The griffon stated. "How goes life in the hive?"

"Not so good, the failure to take control of Canterlot took its toll. Most of the changling that survived fled and became outcasts." The changling sighed. "Has Marcia showed up yet?"

"Not yet, she should be here soon. Then we can get going." Dead said, the changling then gave her a stern look.

"I see you found love!" The changling said happily. "May I?"

"Not too much... I need some of it for her." Dead chuckled, she felt a slight tugging sensation in her chest. The tugging stopped after a moment and the changling looked happy.

"Thank you Dead, its been a while since I have eaten steadily. Things have been... Hard, to say the least."

"Hm..." Cadance remarked. "I haven't seen a changling like that before. You see some with blue coloring rarely. But most of them have green. But purple?" Cadance paced back and forth.

"Well there are a lot of things we don't know about the changelings Cadance. It wouldn't surprise me if you get red ones..." Twilight stated. "Do you know what they were talking about?"

"No I couldn't hear properly, I think the spell timed out." Cadance sighed. Rainbow got up and looked around.

"Hey Twilight, Cadance. Look!" Rainbow said. Over in the clearing the griffons claw briefly glowed a dark grey. A small bone fragment formed in the claw and the griffon presented it. The changeling's horn the started to glow purple and a second fragment appeared. The changeling handed the fragment over to Grim. Dead's horn lit up in a bright white light and a third fragment appeared, she then gave the piece to Grim.

"How odd." Rarity remarked. "It looks like some sort of key..." Rarity placed her hoof on her chin. Dead mentioned three other necromancers... Do you think they are all meeting up?" Rarity asked.

"Like a great big party!?" Pinkie said happily. "Well a party with four things and a bunch of skeletons!"

"Hm, I don't know. Dead never said anything about other necromancers. They could be evilish..." Twilight sighed. "Hang on... When did that dragon get there?" The group turned their attention to the small group that had a new member. A teenage looking dragon that was decked out with a clock was stood upright, being the highest in the group by a small amount.

"Marcia!" Grim cheered. "Do you have your fragment?"

"Settle down Grim." The dragon hissed. "You don't know how long I have been in the air. I need a sit down at least."

"I see you're still as grouchy as ever..." Dead sighed.

"I have been a hormonal teenager for what? Five-thousand years now? Gezz..." The dragon pouted and turned away from the group and sat down.

"Well sooorrrrryyyyy!" Dead mocked. "Lets us know when you are ready, not like I'm worried half the town will start following us."

"I see you finally made some friends Dead!" The dragon mocked back. "Its about time you stopped living like a crazy skeleton mare."

"Yeah, well unlike your kingdom, ponies don't understand the fine art of necromancy. And because of that, they tend to make it illegal." Dead huffed. "That, and it helps if you don't try and overthrow the crown."

The dragon let out a hearty laugh and stood upright. "Oh Dead, I have missed you!" The dragon admitted.

"So have I Marcia. we should try and meet up outside of this sometime." Dead suggested.

"That would be a good plan. But I would have to pull myself away from the hive and get better at shape shifting." Nazz joined in. "But I wouldn't mind it."

"Now we have to figure out when we can do such a thing..." Grim joined in. "However I think we should head out. Marcia, do you have your fragment?"

"Of course!" Marcia pulled a fragment of bone out of her hood and gave it to Grim. "Alright Dead, its all up to you now."

"All up to me then? Heh..." Dead laughed. Grim held out a claw and displayed the four fragments. Dead's horn lit up with a white aura that picked up the fragments. Dead then carefully put the fragments together and locked them in place.

"Oh look, Dead made the loop of the key look like a skull... How original..." Marcia sighed. "Well then, who has are robes?"

"I do. Grim took his satchel off and opened it. All except Dead's." The bag contained three sets of matching robes. All with the familiar purple coloring and trim. "So Dead, you lead the way."

"Alright... And I think I will let that insult slide Marcia." Dead headed off into the forest, towards her house. "Just let me pick up my robes from my house."

Three hours and about ten miles into the Everfree forest

"Since when does this forest go on for so long!?" Rainbow half shouted. "I mean, I knew it was big... But this!" The group ahead had decided to take a quick rest, Rainbow almost unwillingly walked into them, however Cadance grabbed her and brought her back.

"At least they seem to tire, come on lets have a break here." Twilight said as the group ducked behind a bush. Applejack promptly opened her bulging saddlebags and a large variety of food poured out.

"Well, we all better eat up. No telling how far they are going for." Applejack said. The group started feasting on the baked goods and after a brief moment of rest the group ahead could be heard conversing.

"So Dead... How long will we be walking for?" A dragon spoke out. "I mean, we have been walking for hours. How much further is it."

"The view altering spell is still in effect, the old magi did a good job of hiding it. We should see the mountain in about five minuets." Dead spoke out.

Twilight's group giggled, they were nearly at the destination. However Twilight took a moment to think about what Dead said. "Hey girls, Dead said that mountain should be visible soon, but look around." Rainbow quietly flew up a tree and did a three-hundred and sixty degree turn. She came back down and shook her head.

"Unless they plan on getting to it by rainboom, its going to be a lot longer then five minuets. The ground is flat for miles." Rainbow informed the group.

"But!" Cadance joined in the discussion. "Dead mentioned a view altering spell. Maybe that is why we can't see it." Cadance smiled. "Wait can you hear that?" The sound of four lifeforms getting up could be heard, Twilight's party slowly got up and followed them.

"Walking, walking, walking, walking on the trail..." Nazz started to sing. "Walking on this dusty trail, trying to find my way back hooommmeeee." Nazz sang out.

"Nazz, not now." Marcia huffed.

"Don't be such a killjoy Marcia..." Dead said. "Nazz is just trying to pass the time."

"Yes, like the last time, and the time before that..."  Marcia went on reaping the phase. "And the time before that..."

"Quite! You are acting like foals, and hatch lings!" Grim snapped at the group. "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it!" Twilight's group that followed them heard the commotion.

"How many times have they argued like this?" Rarity asked.

"Five times..." Cadance stated. "I would do something, but that changeling would notice." Cadance sighed. "Hey look..." Cadance pointed out a large mountain that seemingly popped out of nowhere. "I guess that is where we are heading!" Cadance cheered. The group paused. A large skeletal beast was stood on the way of the group in front of them. A shout could be heard.

"DAMMIT DEAD YOU SAID IT WOULDN'T COME BACK!"