Dead in civilization

"So what do we do now?" Rarity asked as the group aimlessly wondered around Ponyville. "I don't have long and then I have to go clear the skies, it looks like we have nasty storm blowing in from Everfree." Rainbow said, pointing over to a large black cloud that was drifting over from the forest. "In fact... I might have to go clear it now." Rainbow frowned and sighed. "I really don't want to go..."

"That's fine Rainbow, I might go open the shop up for the day then." Rarity said, causing Rainbow to perk up slightly.

"Alright then you two, I'm going to go plan out Monday's lessons." Cherilee added.

"Alright then, I think I might go pick up Dinky, or at least check if I can get into Canterlot and say hi ." Ditzy added.

"Given that storm... I might go make sure my house is still standing. I have too much in it to lose it." Dead said sounding concerned. "I might go grab Twilight for that, magical static can be dangerous."

The group all gathered round and exchanged good-byes and kisses, just after Rainbow and Ditzy took off, Rarity and Cherilee left. This left Dead alone for a moment. She quickly glanced up at the cloud and then made her way over the library. It was a quick walk from where Dead was to the library, she could occasionally see Rainbow flying to and fro, clearing the skies of the clouds that were slowly making a move on the town.

Dead arrived outside the large oak library, she gently knocked on the door. Spike almost instantaneously answered it.

"Hiya Dead! Come over to see Twilight I take it?" Spike happily said as he backed away from the door. "HEY TWILIGHT ITS DEAD!" The young dragon shouted out.

"Coming!" Twilight called, a series a loud thumps could be heard before Twilight appeared at the door. "Hey Spike could you get those books for me?"

"Fine..." Spike huffed as went in the library to clear Twilight's mess.

"Hey Dead! What brings you over?" Twilight happily asked as she ushered Dead in. "Can I get you something to drink?" Twilight asked.

"I'm alright Twilight..." For once in her short time at Ponyville, Dead wasn't being rushed into or out of the library, she wasn't hibernating or having a crisis. Spike came down the stairway carrying some books. Dead immediately took note of their white and grey covers and what seemed to be bone spines. Twilight hurried Spike along and chucked nervously. Dead quickly put tow and two together. "Twilight are you studying necromancy?" Dead inquired.

"No!" Twilight nervously blurted out quickly. "I mean, I am reading some of the books about it, but I'm not really learning spells!"

"Those were spell books Twilight. History books don't have skeletal spines." Dead pointed out as Twilight's expression dropped. "Come on Twilight, just tell me. I won't judge."

"Alright, I admit it. I have been studying it since you came to Ponyville. I figured out quickly that a few of the books Cadance sent me were spell books that were encrypted. It didn't take me long to figure out the key to reading them..." Twilight said shamefully. "I took a few tomes and books out of the library when we left the academy..."

"A few? My records say that you borrowed over two hundred." Dead chuckled. "I take it you have only been reading them?"

"Well yes and no, I got the hang on bone-calling and singing. I was able to do some small stuff, little fishes and the odd mouse." Twilight sighed. "Please don't tell anyone Dead, I don't want anypony finding out about this."

"Your secret is safe with me, don't worry Twilight." Dead reassured. "By the way, I need to ask a favor. And given your current dilemma I believe that it could be beneficial for you." Dead looked up at Twilight waiting for a signal to go on. Twilight slowly nodded and Dead continued. "A storm has recently blown over Everfree, I need to go check up on my house to make sure static isn't clinging to the nearby area. I could go alone, but I would rather do it with a unicorn with stronger magical abilities."

Twilight froze up briefly before she unfroze. "You think I am stronger then you?"

"Very much, I have power... But beyond necromancy I'm pretty useless." Dead sighed. "However, at my house I have a few books that you might be interested in. So what do you say? Are you in?"

"Yep! But not for the books, you are a friend and you need a hoof!" Twilight said. "I take it we are leaving now?"

"Yep, lets go!"

Everfree was calm to say the least, Dead and Twilight walked happily along the worn forest path. As they passed Zecora's house Dead reminisced about her past slightly.

"So the Zebra didn't lock her door properly, then again I could easily teleport in. The amulet was on the counter next to some herbal remedies. It was a simple grab and go." Dead chuckled. "I don't feel proud for it, but that thing was leaking dark energy."

"I see, so you took it because you needed it to finish some war robes and because you didn't trust Zecora?" Twilight puzzled.

"No, I just didn't trust the living in general. Greed, power, wealth and corruption. It happened to me, it can happen to anypony." Dead sighed happily. "You know, in a few weeks time I plan on raiding Canterlot."

"What!?" Twilight exclaimed.

"Not for real, just to show Rarity that I can hold my own." Dead laughed slightly. "Honestly I would have bet it would have been Rainbow who called me out."

"Wow really? What did Rarity say?" Twilight curiously asked.

"She thinks that you, the other elements, Cadance, Celestia and Luna could mop the floor with me. Well not mop the floor, but beat me back." Dead said happily. "As I said, I might be useless at other magics, but when it comes to raising the dead... I'm your mare."

"You're being serious aren't you?" Twilight sighed. "Dead please don't do anything stupid."

"When have I ever been stupid? Trust me Twilight, I won't overdo it." Dead chuckled happily. "Much..." Dead muttered under her breath. The pair had walked quite far and were slowly nearing the clearing where Dead had lived. The signs of a heavy electrical storm were evident, a tree split in half with static jumping down the split. Patches of grass that had been charred black. A thick static tension made the hair on the two mares stand up. Dead's messy mane seemed to deify gravity and slowly drift upwards. Dead quickly pushed her hair down and sighed.

"Yep, you were right Dead..." Twilight said as she tried to keep her hair under control. "Do you think your house will be alright?"

"It should be, provided Skullworthy raised a shield. It doesn't hurt to check though." Dead said as the two approached a break in the treeline. Dead quickly ran ahead and Twilight followed her. Soon they were at the small cottage where Dead had once lived. Despite nopony living in the cottage, it was bustling with skeletons that were cleaning and tending the guardian.

"Wow, they are all still working?" Twilight exclaimed. "I didn't know they would still be running."

"Of course, how else would my house stay clean. These ones have been with me for so long, I hardly need any energy to keep them running." Dead said happily. "Well it seems like everything is in order, so I will go in and grab your books." Dead happily said as she ran towards the door. "Oh Twilight! Do come in!" Dead called out as she opened the door. Twilight slowly followed Dead.

"Its been a while since I have been in here Dead." Twilight said as she entered the hallway to the house. The doorway that lead to the bedroom was shit tightly and the rug was in its place. Twilight walked over to the stand that was at the halfway mark. She picked up the picture and looked at it. "Hey Dead is this..."

"My family? Yes it is, the only picture I have of them." Dead called out. Twilight looked closer at the picture. A young filly was being held up by an older mare and stallion. All three of them had beaming smiles.

"When was it taken?" Twilight asked.

"Just after magical photos became cheap." Dead called out. "It was when we briefly visited Canterlot." Dead came out from the bone door at the end of the hallway. "Alright Twilight, come on it. I just set the store room up." Dead motioned Twilight to follow her as she disappeared behind the doorway.

The storeroom was a dark red room that had a few torches hanging on the walls. Several bookcases stood against the back wall and various tomes were piled up around random parts of the room. A small desk with a mountain of scrolls was wedged into one of the corners of the room. Dead quickly went over to said desk and began flicking through the scrolls. "Nada, nope, never again, not on my life, not on her life..." Dead mumbled as she sorted through the scrolls. Finally she pulled out one from the bottom of the pile and held it up. "Got it!" Dead announced as the pile of scroll came tumbling down.

"Uh Dead?" Twilight asked, she tried to back up slightly however Dead had rooted her in place. "Dead?" Twilight said nervously.

"Uh-huh, just read this." Dead opened the scroll and held it in front Twilight. Marking and symbols shifted around on the scroll as Twilight's eyes became fixated on it. Twilight's jaw slid down slightly.

"Woah..." Twilight mumbled as her pupils expanded, her eyes grew massive as she examined the scroll. "It all makes sense now..."

"Alright Twilight, that's enough." Dead closed the scroll and Twilight snapped out of her trance.

"Wow... That really was something else..." Twilight slowly said, her mind was working at a slightly slow pace. "What did that even do?"

"Well... You should have no problem with bringing minor skeletons up from the ground now. I simply unlocked a part of your magical ability that was holding you back." Dead sighed happily. "It shouldn't take you so long to bone-call and it certainly shouldn't be so tiring."

"Thanks... I guess... That felt funny, I feel like I want more..." Twilight sighed as she heard herself.

"Nope, can't do that. Would make you evil." Dead chuckled. "Anyway I think I can fish out a few tomes for you... Some of my starter books will help you. They cover the basics, and they start on some of the more advance spells." Dead levitated a few chunky tomes into some saddle bags that were propped up against the wall. Dead quickly pulled the bags over her. "Lets go Twilight."

"Hey Dead, can I ask you something?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, ask away." Dead happily said.

"Well... Never mind..." Twilight sighed. "Come on lets get going!" Twilight said, rapidly perking back up.

"Alright then... I will pretend that didn't happen..." Dead muttered under her breath. Once Twilight was out of hearing range she sighed. "Urgh the living, why do I even try."