>through swamps and spooky caves, Rarity and Cocoa continued on their way
>their adventure had been going for a few weeks with seldom rest
>from each battle came new experience and rewards
>the only real problem seemed to be Cocoa's lack of a proper weapon
>the young stallion had fancied himself a lute and had quite the talent in expressing things vocally
>Rarity had managed to make her sword work for her instead of the other way around
>practice always made perfect, as she often pictured herself
>if it hadn't been for finding the small clearing, the two adventurers weren't sure how much longer they would last
>within the open area sat a giant, decrepit and rotting tree
>the lantern out front shone brightly while the door hung loosely from the hinges
>did a pony live there, or did so long ago?
>Cocoa did his best to save himself any embarrassment of whimpering before the beautiful Rarity
>the place was a little too spooky for the young stallion and he didn't exactly enjoy the idea of going inside
>the lack of any better option around had him lower his ears as he followed closely behind the stocking-clad, sword-wielding mare
>a few trips and stumbles here or there had the marshmallow unicorn sighing in frustration before she magically lifted her eye-patch
>it would be easier to see with both eyes, but it just looked so great and complimented her stockings
>Cocoa's adorable vest and shirt had managed to bring out that little stallion's true nature more
>he had been extremely grateful of the bandana that Rarity had given him early on and wore it proudly around his head
>as they neared the large tree house, the two of them crept slowly forward and took caution
>while Cocoa begin turning circles around to keep a wary eye, Rarity magically drew her sword from the sheath
>the cream colored stallion stopped his spinning, eyes doing their best to focus, while he staggered closer to his Miss Rarity
>the sword swinging mare nudged the front door open as she poked her muzzle in and lightly pushed the barrier away
>if it wasn't the loud groan and creaking from the old wood then something else would have certainly drawn out that squeal
>”Cocoa, darling, please do be a bit more quiet~” Rarity whispered to him
>”Sorry, Miss Rarity,” the sweet stallion replied, nearly ready to hug one of her hind legs
>as the two entered the old tree, every step of their hooves creaked or let out a little more noise than wanted
>what pony would ever want to live in such a place?
>the inside looked a bit more well-kept than what the outside of the place had given with its impression
>books lined most of the walls, plenty of them neatly organized
>stacks of literature were set along the floors at seemingly random points where they grew to larger piles the further they ventured in
>slowly and carefully, the two pony adventurers followed the stacks of books down stairs and around corners
>candles seem to light the way at key points to keep from stumbling around or losing the way
>the smell of the old parchment and leather bindings seemed oddly pleasant in the eerie setting
>it didn't seem to ease the tension of the little bard, though
>”I don't like this place, Miss Rarity,” Cocoa whispered, trying his hardest to not jump at nearly every sound
>”It could use a little sprucing up, couldn't it?” the sword-wielding mare mentioned, continuing their descent
>it wasn't long before the stairs came to a stop and the light from the doorway ahead beckoned them forward
>without hesitating, Rarity moved in and eased the door away while keeping her sword steady
>the little bard followed behind, peeking over her and taking in the sights of the underground chamber
>even more rows of books lined the walls with candles on racks and lanterns lighting the area up far more than any other part of the building
>a mountain of literature seemed to be stacked up on high near the back of the room
>atop the tall structure of parchment and leather sat a partially decayed and immobile pony, leaning back
>the wall offered support for the poor thing's body, keeping them upright as the candles let the detail come into focus much clearer
>Rarity had wished it didn't
>the decay looked to have happened over quite some time, but nothing to keep the pony in question unrecognizable by any means
>the broken horn, pale eyes, and faded, lavender coat were easy to make out
>it was highly unsettling how if felt as if the eyes seemed follow the two around as they explored the large room
>the longer they stayed, the more uneasy Cocoa began feeling as he looked up at the corpse-like mare on her throne of books
>”M-maybe we should head back,” the bard suggested, his tail lowering as he cowered down some
>”Don't be silly, dear. I'm sure this... pony doesn't mind us browsing,” Rarity said as she looked at a few nooks and crannies for anything hidden away
>”I don't mind,” came a surprisingly cheery voice from the back of the room
>”See? She doesn-” Rarity says before stopping in her tracks
>both of the traveling ponies slowly drew their eyes up and towards the pony at the top of the books
>the cloak shifted as the corpse-like pony leaned in and smiled lightly to her guests
>”Hi~” the zombie-looking mare greeted, raising a hoof
>the two ponies below stared in awe before stamping their hooves and squealing loudly
>the sword that Rarity had in tow seemed to swing wildly in the air as she held her eyes shut, even the one behind the eye-patch
>Cocoa seemed to be on the verge of crying as he spun circles in a single spot
>the pony on the books looked on in confusion
>”Uh, what's going on? Is this a new tradition I didn't read about yet?” the cloaked unicorn asked, using her green magic to begin flipping through several nearby texts
>within minutes, the purple unicorn gives up and stands on top of her makeshift throne before carefully spinning in circles
>three voices are suddenly screaming out as the undead pony smiled and closed her eyes, joining in
>the whole moment lasts a few minutes before they all calm down and look between one another
>”That was fun!” the lavender unicorn exclaimed, “Hi! I'm Twilight!”
>”Don't eat me, please!” Cocoa begged, kneeling down next to Rarity
>Twilight raised a brow, once again confused, before stepping down the pile of books and magically levitating a few as steps along the way
>”Why would I eat a pony?” Twilight asked, standing in front of her two guests
>”Well, darling... How do I put this nicely?” Rarity said, wincing with her uncovered eye, “You look dead.”
>the undead pony tilted her head and gave a soft laugh as she nodded
>”Oh, but I have been. It's part of the lich process,” the undead pony said, matter-of-factly
>the two more lively looking ponies look to each other before staring at the lich unicorn
>”I had to be bound to my phylactery. That's part of it,” Twilich explained as she looked to them
>”What's the other part?” Rarity asked, her eye looking over the other unicorn
>”It's mostly just time. I've spent so much of it reading and learning new spells that I hardly remember I need to stretch once in a while to keep from locking up!” the lich pony stated
>Cocoa seemed to still be defensive about what had happened just minutes ago from the pout he had
>”What are your names?” Twilich asked in a tone that contrasted her dead features
>”I'm Rarity and this is my lovely little bard, Cocoa Cantle,” the white unicorn introduced, her sword levitating at her side
>the purple pony looked over her newly acquainted fellow unicorn before tilting her head
>”What do you specialize in? I'm a lich, you say he's a bard, but what about you? Oh! Are you a knight?” the undead pony asked
>”Mm? No, dear. Sword~” Rarity said, looking over her weapon
>”Uh, just... sword? Nothing else?” the lavender unicorn inquired
>”Mhm~” the marshmallow coated mare answered, beginning to admire her own reflection in the blade
>the silence between them spoke volumes of confusion before those pale eyes moved to Cocoa
>”You could have said something... You scared me,” the stallion said quietly with his lute still attached to his back via a leather strap
>”Aw~ I'm so sorry!” Twilich apologized, leaning in and gently hugging the bard around his neck
>”Cold,” the cream colored earth pony commented as he felt the touch
>”Yeah... Not much I can do about that,” the lich said and lowered her ears
>Cocoa gave a soft 'oh' before he looked to Rarity
>the change in attention shifted Twilight's as well, noticing that the living unicorn was having a hard time looking away from her shiny weapon
>it wasn't until that eye-patch was magically lifted that the little stallion and the lich gave a startled gasp
>”...What?” Rarity asked, rubbing her previously covered eye
>”Nothing,” the other two answered in unison
>the white pony shrugged before she let the eye wear drop back in place and sheathed her sword
>it took a moment for it to set in before Twilich began looking around nervously
>her head ducked to look under bookcases or tilted to see between them
>once she started lifting away books and giving sad grunts, Cocoa and Rarity finally spoke up
>”What seems to be the problem, dear?” the sword swinging unicorn asked
>”You two haven't seen my phylactery around, have you?” the lich pony asked pathetically
>”I don't think so... What's it look like?” Cocoa asked, warily lifting his hooves to check under them
>the look on conflict in the lavender pony's eyes was still clear, despite their pale and unfocused gaze
>”Well, maybe it's not a good idea to say,” the undead mare mentioned, “No offense. I usually find it turning up somewhere anyway.”
>”It's alright. Something that important might be best to keep secret anyway,” Cocoa agreed, nodding
>Twilight smiled warmly, giving another contrast to her cold form
>”Well, since you ponies came out here all on your own, you're free to stay the night. I don't get many guests..,” said the purple unicorn
>the apprehensive look the two newcomers gave seemed to worry the lonely lich before they slowly nodded
>”Of course. It would be unkind to let you be here all on your own for so long,” Rarity told her while giving a soft smile
>the three ponies spent most of the night talking of their adventures and past, or still on-going, lives
>it wasn't until later on that Cocoa was eventually curled up and nestled comfortably against Rarity
>he had demonstrated his adorable skill at the lute, sending both mares into giggling fits over how precious he was before he passed out
>the little guy hadn't slept well for a while and only recently had a cozy place to rest his head
>Rarity thanked their new friend as she watched her look through various books and talk of healing spells and the like
>at some point, the mention of enchanting the white unicorn's sword came up
>the weapon was eventually imbued with a spell that made it easier to cleave through things
>”It's almost like a damage increase,” Twilich mentioned, her ears, despite being a little tattered at the tips, gave a few twitches
>”This should come in quite handy~ Thank you, dear,” Rarity said, giving a bow of her her towards her friend
>soon enough, the white mare fell asleep herself and left Twilight awake and stirring about her underground library
>time passed by as it usually did for the undead mare, letting morning come without taking much notice
>the lich hardly noticed what time it was until her two new friends had woken up and began moving about
>in lieu of the events that led up to meeting their very first lich, they had slept rather peacefully
>Cocoa did his best to make some breakfast for the three of them, Twilight splitting her plate between the two others that had an appetite
>once the sun was higher up, the two adventurers finally decided it was time to head out
>”Don't you want to come along?” Cocoa asked, already seeming to warm up to the corpse-like unicorn
>”I would, but I feel my place is here. For now, at least,” Twilich told him
>Rarity and her bard gave a farewell hug to the undead pony, both of them shivering some but smiling
>”If you run into trouble, use this and you can call upon me to aid you!” the lich pony said, magically tossing over a scroll
>”You sure you don't wish to travel with us?” Rarity asked, letting Cocoa tuck the parchment away
>”I'll be fine~ Five hundred years this far, I think I'm good. Though, I'll always help a friend in need,” the purple unicorn said
>the slightly frayed and unkempt mane of the lich mare blew with the wind as she saw them off
>with the sudden glow of green magic before the lavender pony's hooves, all attention was suddenly shifted
>from the ground, the glowing glyph shone brightly as a skeletal pony rose up
>in their hooves, they held a small object that neither Rarity nor Cocoa could make out
>”Oh! There it is!” Twilich called out happily, using her magic to move the item within the house as she lets the skeleton drift back into the earth
>the summon seemed only temporary
>”Told you it usually turns up somewhere!” the lavender mare said before heading inside her home again
>Rarity forgot to close her mouth in awe while Cocoa's eyes were as wide as could be
>it took a bit for them to continue on their way once again
>when the white unicorn used her magic to lift the eye-patch once again, her hoof came up to rub at her eye a little
>Cocoa let out a startled gasp and froze in place as he stared
>”...What?” Rarity asked, lowering the patch back down
>”Nothing,” Cocoa whispered, slowly starting to move and continue with his fair Miss Rarity onward, towards wherever their adventure would take them next