Dead in civilization

Cadance and Twilight ran up to the balcony, the purple shield that covered the empire had another blue shield added to it. Shining was looking out of the balcony. A large skeletal creature wearing tarnished robes was slamming a large bone scythe on the shield. Cadance gave Shining a boost however the blue shield was shattered by a heavy hit from the large lich. Twilight's friends came running up the stairs in a panic. A large commotion ensued with ponies shouting and trying to formulate a battler plan.

"We need to evacuate the city!"

"Maybe our forces could take it on?"

"Make another shield they seem to slow it down!"

"Everypony for themselves!"

"QUIET!" Twilight shouted and silence feel on the room. "Cadance, what do you know about the lich?" Twilight asked quickly.

"Normal magics have little to no effect on it. Either physical or necromatic magics can hurt it enough, but the lich is massive, who knows how much power it has..." Cadance sighed. "I don't know what to do..."

Woosh! Thump!

"Woah... Look at that!"

Just as the lich broke the last shield Dead and Skullworthy came into view of the empire. The dragon cut ahead of the lich and landed in front of it. The two large skeletons glared at each other, finally Skullworthy stretched his arm out, opened his palm which was facing upwards and brought his claws in and out twice, otherwise known as the international sign for 'come on then'. The large dragon stood strong as the lich yelled.

"FOOLS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MEDDLING WITH!" Dead cast a spell on herself that would make the lich not sound so loud. "I will wipe your pathetic excuses of a skeleton off the face of this world." The lich raised his scythe high in the air and attempted to bring it down on Skullworthy. Skullworthy caught the scythe as it fell and began pushing back.

The lich shot icy charges through its body and into the scythe. These caused ice to form of Skullworthy's bony hands. The ice shattered and weakened the bone. Dead quickly repaired the bone and Skullworthy started to win the power struggled. the skeletal dragon pushed the scythe high enough to move out of its imminent path. The dragon let go and punched the lich in the sternum. The lich flew back and the skeletal dragon walked to engage it. The lich charged at the skeletal dragon the scythe morphed into a sword pointed at the dragon.

Skullworthy sidestep around the lich and then tripped it up with a flick of his tail. The lich teleported up and locked into another power struggle. The lich dropped his weapon and had locked his hands onto Skullworthy's body. The lich picked the dragon up and attempted to siphon energy from it. Skullworthy flailed around and eventually spotted a weak spot. The lich loosened its grip briefly and Skullworthy broke free. The two locked arms and Skullworthy threw the lich back.

"So Cadance tell me what you know about the folly? It seems important." Twilight asked while the two giants fought outside the empire.

"The folly is one of the four relics that Dead and the other necromancers made. From what I have gathered from the books in the necro academy the folly can be used to aid Bone-weaving. Hence why there is a massive skeletal dragon fighting the lich." Cadance explained. "How Dead was able to make it I never may never know." Cadance sighed. "I don't think the relic itself is that strong, but when in the right or wrong hoofs it could be disastrous."

Thump, boom!

"Not to mention what is going on out there." Cadance sighed. "I hope that Dead can keep that lich away from the empire."

The lich jumped backwards and charged towards the skeletal dragon. Skullworthy sidestepped out of the way and connected a heavy blow to the back of the lich, launching it to the ground. Skullworthy quickly doubled back and began searching for the bone weapon the lich was using. Skullworthy quickly located the weapon and picked it up. The swords morphed back into a scythe, Skullworthy turned to face the lich. The lich had gotten up and was outstretching his arm. The lich tried to grappled the weapon out of Skullworthy's grip with its magic, however it failed to. Skullworthy lowered his skull and charged at the lich, scythe in claw and prepared to swing it viciously.

Dead quickly channeled a energy into the ground and a large bone claw sprung up and gripped the lich's leg, preventing it from moving out of the way. The lich struggled as Skullworthy swung the scythe into the rib cage of the lich. The claw that was holding the lich uprooted as the lich was launched backwards. The lich flew over the Crystal empire and landed on the other side. Skullworthy took to the skies and flew over the empire.

Rather then teleporting up, the lich rose to it's feet shakily. Once the lich was upright it froze for a moment. A red energy pulsated through the lich and it began to grow rapidly, it went from being the size of a two story house to the size of a small castle, then a regular castle and then it grew to the size of a fully grown dragon stood upright.

Dead quickly copied the spell and Skullworthy started glowing white as he grew to a similar size. During the growth the lich was able to steal it's scythe back. The lich grinned as it swung its scythe, a white energy beam discharged from the scythe and made its way to Skullworthy. Just as Skullworthy was about to jump, Dead gave the signal to remain put.

"We can't risk this lich destroying the Crystal empire!" Dead shouted. The skeletal dragon nodded as charged into the energy beam. The skeletal dragon screamed out as the last of the energy impacted on it. Dead quickly went about repairing the damage as the lich prepared for another attack. Skullworthy charged at the lich and connected a clean blow to its chest, the lich flew back and Skullworthy jumped into the air.

The dragon flew around the lich and landed on the other side of it. The dragon then charged at the lich jumped into the air...

Rainbow dash was speechless, what she had just witnessed could only be described as 'awesome' if anything the only reason she hadn't gone and told the others was because she stunned. Twilight came out onto the balcony. Skullworthy was currently pounding the lich's heads with his huge claws and the lich was lying on the ground.

"Rainbow!? What happened?" Twilight exclaimed as she tried to figure out what had happened in the two minutes she had left with the others for a snack. "Rainbow!" Twilight shouted as she shock the speechless mare. Twilight let Rainbow go and huffed. In the distance Skullworthy raised his claw high and slammed it into the skull of the lich.

Crack!

A painful crackling noise was heard as Skullworthy turned the lich's skull into fragments. Rainbow snapped out of her trance one the lich shrunk.

"Twilight, it drop kicked the lich. It looked awesome." Rainbow said as she held back her excitement, even thought she couldn't she really want to be onto of Skullworthy with Dead. "I think the lich will be needing a new a head..." Rainbow laughed. The sound of large wings flapping drew her attention. "I guess Dead is heading back to Ponyville, can't wait to see her when we get back. I wish she had come in..."

"We will be back there before your date with her, I promise." Twilight said happily as she took Rainbow back to the main group. "We just need to get a few decorations for the party. And Cadance said she will be able to make it."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Well partially forgot, its hard to remember things when a massive skeletal dragon is beat up another massive skeleton. I remember now of course!" Rainbow said confidently as the pair walked through the crystal hallways.

Ditzy was at home, after Cherilee left it had been relatively quiet. That was until Dead teleported into the middle of the room looking like a mess. "Dead! What happened to you?" Ditzy exclaimed.

"I Had to fight a lich on the head of a massive skeletal dragon. How was your day?" Dead chuckled. "I think I need a relaxing bath."

"Why don't we go to the spa? There is still enough time in the day left. It will be nice for it to be just me and you. I also need to talk to you about something." Ditzy said happily has she got up. "Come on Dead, its my 'welcome back I hope thing become normal' treat!" Ditzy didn't give Dead a chance to answer, within moments she had grabbed Dead and was dragging her out of the house.

Dead got up once they were outside. She looked even worse for wear after the dragging. Ditzy chuckled at the rather dirty Dead. "And whats so funny Ditzy?" Dead jokingly asked, despite what had happened during the day Dead had really perked up.

"Its just that you look..." Ditzy couldn't finish her sentence, her laughter overwhelmed her and she had stop herself from falling over. Ditzy stopped herself laughing. "You look like you decided to go explore Everfree on your belly."

"Its not my fault that somepony didn't give me a chance to say yes." Dead pouted. "I didn't ask for any of this!"

"Awww who's a grumpy little necromancer?" Ditzy teased. "Well I know what we can do with you!" Ditzy said as she started dragging Dead through the town.

"Please Ditzy, can I at least walk myself?" Dead pleaded as they reached the halfway mark however Ditzy's lack of words confirmed her fears. Dead crossed her forelegs and pouted as she was dragged in front of the spa.

"Was that so bad?" Ditzy joked when they arrived.

"That was humiliating, and my flank is sore." Dead said flatly. "I don't hey why I couldn't of just walked." Dead pouted as Ditzy opened the door.

"Well you were being grumpy and stressed. I couldn't have you complaining all the way through town." Ditzy laughed. "Now are you coming in or not?"

"Fine..." Dead grumbled as she walked into the spa. Ditzy cut ahead of her a quickly spoke to the spa ponies, within moments Dead had been thrown on her back on a deck chair and her hoofs were being filed. "Ahhhhh..." Dead sighed happily as she started to relax.

Dead was in a warm mud bath, her hair was wet and wrapped up in a towel that was neatly placed on her head. Two slices of cucumber rested on her eyes. Dead lifted one of the slices up with her magic and peered at Ditzy in the other bathtub. "This was nice Ditzy." Under her cucumber Dead rolled her eyes. "Thank you for dragging me here." She said flatly.

"No worries Dead, and if you ever need dragging elsewhere just give me a shout." Ditzy sighed. "You could have taken the horn filing a bit better though."

"Its not my fault my horn is sensitive, I normally do it myself and it felt strange." Dead crossed her forelegs and huffed a few long moments of silence passed. "So Ditzy, you had something you wanted to tell me?" Dead finally asked.

"Oh yeah, I nearly forgot!" Ditzy chuckled. "But first I need to ask you a few questions, and anything we disuses here will be talked about with Rainbow and Rarity."

"Hm alright. Ask away." Dead said as she sunk slightly in the mud bath.

"I take it you know Miss Cherilee?" Ditzy asked.

"The school teacher? Yeah I know her, she was in your house earlier." Dead replied. "And I have seen her a few times out and about."

"Uh huh, that's good to know. Saves some explaining." Ditzy chuckled slightly. "But what do you think of her?"

"She nice, but I guess she has to be. I mean its her job to deal with young foals, so she can't exactly be mean." Dead sighed. "I don't really know her personally though..."

"Alright, well can I ask you... Do you think that she is a nice pony?" Ditzy put extra sway into the word 'nice'. Ditzy blushed slightly, however Dead didn't see due to her eyesight being restricted.

"Nice or nice?" Dead chuckled. "Don't worry I know what you meant. So tell me, why is this important?" Dead innocently asked.

"Well you know when you were over earlier?" Ditzy started.

"Yes I do..." Dead replied.

"Well I don't know if you were aware of this, but she was clearly... How does Rainbow put it? 'Checking you out'? I think that is how she says it." Ditzy chuckled "I'm not saying anything is set in stone, but lets try and keep an open mind about it."

"I have heard of love triangles but this is getting ridiculous..." Dead laughed. "But I am more then happy to invite another into our group! You know what they say, the more the merrier! I just hope that applies for love and other things."

"Well I am glad you are so... Enthusiastic about it... I'm a little worried about that, but hey..." Ditzy chuckled lightly.

"If you want to move slower I can." Dead pulled herself out of the mud slightly."So Ditzy... Its your call."

"My call?" Ditzy stuttered.

"Well of course, I have always seen you as the mare in charge. Even if the obsession is with me. I have always seen you as the top mare..."

"Oh wow, I need to think about some stuff then..." Ditzy stammered. "Come on, lets get going!" Ditzy cheered as she hopped out the mud bath and made her way to the shower rooms.