//------------------------------//
// 4: Letter, Dead things, and Screams 
// Story: Speaker for the Silent 
// by NekroPony 
//------------------------------//

After Twilight has finished listening to the cutie mark crusaders she heals her wounds and walks over to Spike to take a letter.



Dear Celestia

This isn't a letter about friendship, we were a little frightened tonight when a horde of skeletons. We've avoided them, and have gathered most of the town in the main hall while waiting for the crisis to be over.

Normally we wouldn't be worried, but while I've read about the undead rising and attacking before. These seemed to have a purpose and a master, several filly's told us that they were being controlled by a unicorn, using a form of magic I've never read about before. They manage to fight off the half of the elements of harmony while she controlled them, so we are more than a little worried.

I'm hoping you've heard something that I've yet to read in a book, the unicorn was called Serene Valley, and I swear as she fled I  saw wings, so I'm not sure if their is an Alicorn you just haven't mentioned running around.

Princess Twilight, your faithful student.



The paper dissipates, and moments later a reply appears in a puff of green smoke.



Do nothing, say nothing, do not leave the building until I have arrived, I will be six hours.

Celestia.



Is all the letter says Twilight's eyes open wide, not sure what to do with a response like this, already sure that this was the worst response she could have gotten.

It gets worse a second later when Applejack says "Where did Apple Bloom get to."





"Stupid adults, never listening when we tell them that we are fine." says Apple Bloom as they trot out of ponyville."We can take care of ourselves." her friend nods in agreement, "She didn't eat us or anything while we were alone with her, but why do you think she is still there." asks Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle speaks up, for the first time in an hour "She has to pack up, she had boxes and crates and a tent, gonna take a while, and she doesn't think anybody will have followed her."

It's not long before they find themselves at the campsite, sure enough as they peek out of the bushes they can see the skeletons shambling around in the dark, the fire having been extinguished for obvious reasons. Barely they can make out Serene sitting atop the wagon, sobbing even as she direct the skeletons to pack up. Slowly the creep out, ready to run, but the skeletons appear to ignore them. But as they get closer she screams at them "Foals, haven't you done enough to me!" Every skeleton freezes in place, their skulls staring at the foals barely visible in the moonlight.

The three look guilty and Sweetie Belle apologizes "We're sorry, we didn't mean to upset you, we just thought we could get our cutie marks making you happy." Serene snorts "Well I'm going to be on the run for probably a year, this is the worst birthday I have had. Cutie marks, always ruining my life in one way or another, give up on them, blank flanks are better, at least they won't ever cause you trouble."

"No, Cutie marks are the most important thing, they show you your special talent." says another shadow, landing in front of the children, "Run home, I'll take care of this." Twilight says igniting her horn, moments later her other friends land beside her, or trot out of the forest, until the Crusaders are surrounded by all six of the elements.

A hiss, and Serene dark purple glow creeps out, her eyes barely visible in, her body less so. "No they should stay, they should see this, this is what happens foal when you go searching for your Cutie marks." and with a spell the light illuminates her, lighting up her body, her armor sits in a pile beside her. Standing proudly, for once her cutie mark is visible, a grinning skull, cheerful, and somehow not intimidating, beneath it a scythe, the silver gleaming from the magical light. 
That is not the worst surprise, The elements and the crusaders grimace as they see the wings that had been hidden under clothes, not pegasus, nor alicorn wing, not even bat wings. No from her body stretches two skeletal bone wings, decaying flesh still clinging to them. Worse they extend from her body from a pair of decaying mounds, proving their unnatural origin, Fluttershy almost seems ready to run to the grey mare to try and help her, but her fear keeps her back.

"Don't let anyone fool you foals, I once spent years searching out my cutie mark, delving deeply into the library's of Canterlot. I was young and brash, not unlike you. So when I stumbled across the darker volumes of that library I was thrilled, sure enough I 'found'" she spits the word "My cutie mark, apparently my talent is death magic, or necromancy." every word manages to sound vile when it comes from her, she screams the next part "JUDGEMENT IS FOREVER PASSED ON THE NECROMANCER! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
With that she leaps into the air, those decayed wings flapping as they propel her out of sight her flying clumsy, her unicorn body never meant to fly. Just barely her voice can be heard as she cries "Curse all of you."

The six skeletons appear to have packed up the wagon and again take up escort position, they watch the four girls with ever staring eyeless sockets. When nobody makes a move to engage them they trot off into the night.

The crusaders recover first, and with the help of the rest of the elements they wave their hoofs in front of Twilight who seems almost stunned. "Let's get back to town before Celestia arrives, I think the threat has passed."