Dead in civilization

Dead crashed down, the voice in her head was yelling 'kill them' constantly and she was rather fed up. She threw the necklace on and the voice stopped, it was the quiet before the storm. "GAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Dead shouted as her hear reformed and started to beat. She gasped for breath as her lungs came back. She fell to the group and doubled over in pain. Dead flesh muscles and body systems quickly came back and her skin and fur regrew just as the amulet shattered.

Grim emerged for the tree and sat down by Dead, who was groaning in agony. The griffon chose to remain silent, as speaking would only cause Dead more discomfort. after a few minuets the other necromancers and Twilight group showed up. Dead got up slowly, every bone in her body clicking as the magic that was holding it together faded from her. She craned her neck back and a loud click caused everything in the nearby area to flinch. "Ahhhhhhhhhh! That's going to hurt in the morning!" Dead sighed as she started walking towards the mountain.

"Uh Dead?" Marcia said. Dead spun around and noticed that their group had grown in numbers.

"Oh yeah, sure. You know what they say..."

"Don't say it!" Nazz insisted. "Please, just don't." The changling sighed as the group started to slowly make their way to the mountain. After a while a small worn dirt path could be clearly seen. The air got thinner and the group started to tired. Nazz started to slow down and soon Cadance was walking beside him.

"So..." Cadance begun. "You're a changeling."

"Yes." Nazz stated bluntly, he didn't want to have this conversation. "Is that all?" Nazz hissed.

"Well not really, I mean your queen did try and ruin my wedding." Cadance rudely said. Nazz sighed.

"And your point is?" The changling scoffed. "I don't have time for the past. Only now."

"No need to get so uptight about it. Sheesh!" Cadance remarked as she pulled away from him. Just as Nazz started to think that he was going to enjoy a nice quiet walk Twilight bumped into him. Nazz sighed.

"Yes Twilight?" The changling had learned her name from hearing Dead go on about her.

"How did you become a necromancer?" Twilight asked.

"Born with it." The changling stated blankly. "Not everything is some adventure filled quest with heroes and villains."

"How long have you known Grim, Dead and Marcia?"

"Hm, about three thousand years for Dead, four thousand for Grim and Marcia." Nazz sighed. "Those were the days, back when Dead was a complete sociopath."

"You will have to come down to Ponyville sometime and tell me about it. Dead doesn't tell us much about her past." Twilight said as she left the changeling alone.

"Yeah... Sure, just get me a permit first..." The changeling chuckled as he sped up his walking to catch up with the group.

Not much talking took place as the group climbed the mountain path. At the top of the mountain two large wooden doors bared the group entrance to a bleak castle. Dead walked up to the door and pulled the skeletal key from he mane. Twilight puzzled about how Dead kept the key in her mane, as at one point Dead had no hair. However she dismissed it. The doors slowly opened and the dark depressing castle seemed to come to life.

Candles and chandeliers in the hallways sparked and lit. Skeletal attendants came out and greeted the guests.

A spectral attended appeared before the group. "Greetings..." It whispered into the minds of the ponies, griffon, dragon and changeling. "We have been expecting you..." The greeter murmured.

"Wow, some sort of ghost!" Cadance exclaimed, sounding a little too happy to be seeing a ghost.

"Yes..." The greeter hissed. "Now... Shall I escort you to your rooms?"

"Yes, please do." Dead paused. "May I have a word?"

"Of course..." The ghost hissed as it directed Dead through a door. "Please, your rooms." Before anyone in the room could question what the ghost meant a ominous light flash and the group found themselves in a corridor.

"Lady Dead, you required an audience?" The ghost turned and faced Dead.

"How long to we have before the ritual has to be preformed?" Dead asked.

"A few days. Three to be exact." The ghost replied.

"Great..." Dead sighed and looked around worrying.

"The guests?" The ghost responded.

"Yes, the guests. I don't trust them here..." Dead sighed. "This place has warped the minds of so many good unicorns and other magic users."

"Understood, library restrictions?" The ghost look Dead straight in the eyes.

"Only the archives, allow them free access to the rest of facility." Dead said calmly.

"Understood, should I tend to the guests?" The ghost asked.

"Yes, I will find my way to my quarters. Oh how I have missed them..." Dead sighed happily and slowly started to move down the dimly lit halls. After a while she passed a large bone door. The words 'Lady Dead, Head Bone-weaver' were printed on. While Dead earned her position at the academy long after ponies had stopped going to it, she still valued her place in it. Dead gently placed her hoof on the bone door.

"Dead? Is that you?" Rarity called out from behind the door

"Rarity? Isn't the tender showing you to your rooms?" Dead asked in dismay.

"I asked it if it would show me where you were. Next thing I knew, I was in here!" Rarity shouted beyond the door.

"Alright Rarity, back away from the door. I will open it." Dead slowly pushed the door open, the small office room had a well maintained desk on it. Files and paperwork drawers were kept tidily and four large candles and a chandelier kept the room well lit. Rarity walked forward and examined the text on the door.

"Was this a school of sorts?" Rarity asked.

"Yes, just like you have school for unicorns and flight camps for pegasus. I am a teacher, so to speak. But I have never taught in here. I was born long after necromancy was abolished, and its users died out."

"So what did you do here?" Rarity asked, she shifted her hoof through the paperwork. She picked a random one up read it.

"This was my lair, I planned all my raids from here. It was close enough the Canterlot for it to be suitable. However the spell meant that nopony found me." Dead laughed happily. "Yes those were jolly old times. Back when I a super-villain and relatively evil." Dead noticed that Rarity had froze up. "Is something  the matter Rarity?"

"No, I'm okay Dead." Rarity sighed.

"Come on Rarity, I know you well enough to tell that you aren't holding up so well." Dead walked behind the desk and sat down. As she did so a small bone chair came out and positioned itself in front of the desk. "Take a seat in my office Rarity, I believe this talk is long overdue..."