The Undying Order returned to Asphodel in triumph. The normally placid shades of the Necropolis greeted their return with as much joyous celebration as their dour nature allowed. Taking advantage of the rare festive atmosphere, the revenants and daemons enjoyed their victory in the only way that seemed appropriate. Thus feasts of food, strong drink from the wine cellars of Barathrum and other party necessities were brought out and the grateful dead celebrated their 'Victory Over Damnation'. In the courtyard of the palace, Grand Marshal Shining Armor downed some of the best wine he had ever tasted as Fleabag, of all revenants, led his fellows in a raucous, off-key variation of an old diamond dog battle song.

"♫Wez da best! I don't jest!/Got Steel n' Armor by my side!♪" The former vanguard more shouted than sang. "♪Ya lookin' fer champs? Get right here!/ Went ta Hell n' taught it fear!♫"

"Got to give the dog credit, it's catchy." Steel Hands said aside to Armor as Fleabag went through several rhyme schemes.

Besides the minotaur and gem hound, the table the unicorn was seated was conspicuously vacant. He had been told it was the officers' table but he was the only officially commissioned rank since the Undying had been mustered. That meant there were a lot of positions to fill but he had two candidates on either side of him.

"Hands, I got a question for you." Armor said once Fleabag had passed off the song to another dog and settled down to enjoy a pint.

"Sir?" The minotaur asked around a mouthful of food.

"You were a quartermaster before all this, yes?" The Marshal asked to which Hands nodded. "I would have you serve the Order in that capacity as Cheif Quartermaster if that pleases you."

"Oh, yes sir!" The minotaur said brightly. "Not going to lie, I am more at home in an armory than the battlefield."

"Could have fooled me!" Another bull shouted good-naturedly. "You suplexed a bruiser!"

"Congrats, Handz!" Fleabag toasted his friend. "Can't do a propah krumpin' without da right kit!"

"Can't do it without finding the enemy either." Armor added as he turned to the hound. "Something the Master of Scouts would do."

"Huh?" It took Fleabag a few moments before realized what the unicorn meant. "Oh! Ya mean me?"

"That's right." The Marshal confirmed. "I'm down here in part due to your actions as a legion vanguard, might as well turn those skills to my side."

"I-I am sorry 'bout that." The diamond dog shrank back guiltily. "So wot exactly would I be doin'?"

"As I understand it, you're primarily responsible for patrolling the caverns and caves that led down here." Armor informed the new scoutmaster. "You would also make occasional surface expeditions so we won't have to rely on just the word of shades to keep our maps updated."

"Ya just 'scribed da day-to-day of a 'tunnel boss'." Fleabag grinned. "I won't let ya down, boss."

A round of cheers greeted the two newest officers of the Order before the revenants resumed celebrations. After a few more drinks, Armor noticed that a few of their allies were absent from the party, not the least of which was their patron. Deciding that the illustrious individuals deserved a place of honor at the triumph, the unicorn excused himself and entered the palace complex in search of his friends.

Hive Queen Chrysalis reclined on a slab of stone as a group of her children attended to her wounds at the core of their new hive. The worker drones had been tireless in their efforts to turn the dilapidated conservatory into a proper changeling nest. A nursery had been constructed for the silk-swaddled newborns and a veritable chandelier of fluid-filled cocoons formed to contain any and all surplus food. Said cocoons were glowing with the excess joy and hope gathered by the shapeshifters, bathing the room in a luminous green light. The Matriarch let a toothy smile cross her face as the drones rubbed liquid joy across her cracked chitin, removed bits of her carapace that were beyond saving and carefully siphoned off any lingering hellish hate.

"Mmm, I needed this so badly." Chrysalis sighed deeply. "I should make spa drone a permanent role."

"Whatever makes you happy, your majesty." A drone chittered brightly as it worked the liquid love into its matron's back with its hooves. "We should be finished in a few more minutes... oh, we have a visitor."

The sound of the membranous curtain parting set an alert buzz through the hive. The lethargic Hive Queen lifted her head slightly to see the monochrome monarch enter her lair. The changelings relaxed and went back to their duties while the Theoi approached their matron. Chrysalis gave him a smile as she rested her head back on the slab.

"Knock on the doorframe in the future, your highness. Hate to have my guards jump you." She chittered lazily. "Care to join me? I don't know what distilled love and joy would do for you but you look like you could use some T and A, I mean, R and R."

"I have a bath of my own being drawn down below." The Dark Lord said as he glanced at his own battered form before switching subjects. "There used to be an ebony tree that grew here. Is it still around?"

"I actually incorporated my throne into it." Chrysalis hooked a hoof over her shoulder to her seat of power set in the trunk of a black hardwood. "Something I should know about it?"

"Very strong anti-magical properties." The pale horse answered as he trotted past her. "Just being near it might interfere with your abilities but I don't see that being an issue within your own hive."

"No, it wouldn't- OW!" The matron cried out as a chunk of her chitin came away in a drone's hooves. "Watch it! Some of that is still attached!"

"I heard what happened between you and the pervert." The Theoi said as he inspected the tree. "I think any parent would have done the same."

"Lite themselves on fire and eat the freak's face?" Chrysalis chittered lightly. "Yeah, maybe."

The pale horse eventually found what he was looking for in the form of a stout branch. The stallion struggled with the length of wood for a bit but he managed to eventually break it off. He doubled checked the length and heft just as the changeling matriarch finished her treatment. She still had a few cracks in her chitin and more than a few new holes but was otherwise whole once more.

"Feeling better?" The Theoi asked casually.

"Much." Chrysalis confirmed. "Not quite one hundred percent but a healthy dose of love should fix that."

"Armor's quarters are in the south wing of the palace, second floor." The pale horse gave the shapeshifted a knowing look. "If he's not at the triumph, he'll probably be there."

"Mmm~" The matron chittered deviously. "With Elytra checking on that feast you promised us, her father and I could use some... alone time."

"You two deserve it." The Necroarch said genuinely as he held the branch like a staff. "If you need anything else, feel free to ask."

"Oh, I will." Chrysalis nodded. "Good luck with... whatever you're doing."

With that, the two royals parted company with the Theoi brushing past the membranous curtain and into the halls leading to the Enscorcelled Tower. The matron gave a few tasks to her drones before she made her way to the south wing with an excited spring in her step.

“How much further is it?” Elytra asked as she flew alongside Megaera.

“Not much further now.” The daemon answered in her characteristic even-keel. “You should be able to see the lights soon.”

Not long after returning to Barathrum, Queen Chrysalis had tasked her with finding the paradisaical feast as per their arrangement with the Theoi Anax. To that end, the nymph had convinced one of the daemon sisters to take her to Elysium; the paradise to Tartarus' perdition. Thus did she find herself following another road through the Sunless Lands along with a long procession of joyous shades.

“There.” The Erinyes alighted on a rock and pointed into the distance. “Do you see it?”

The changeling Princess landed and followed the daemon’s hand. Indeed, there was a faint glow on the horizon. Unlike the infernal light that filled her and her kin with dread, this one filled her with a sense of ease and calm. She and her guide trotted and walked the last leg of their journey until they came to a mighty golden gateway guarded by a pair of giant silent sentinels armed with greatswords the glowed with a brilliant light. Both of the guardians looked down at the pair, specifically the changeling. They shifted their blades to block their progress along with those of the blessed shades.

“You need not smite her.” The middle Fury said flatly in Khthonic. “She has done right by the Hidden One and is here to claim her just reward: visitation to the Fields of Elysium.”

The guards said nothing but tapped their weapons on the ground once and returned to their original positions. Cautiously, Elytra and Megaera passed through the gateway into paradise. The nymph's jaw dropped open as she beheld the vista before her. What her mother had described paled in comparison to the reality of it. Gently rolling hills dotted by residences and forums dominated the sunless horizon. Creatures of all stripes from lowly earth ponies to looming dragons conversed as if they were the best of friends. Even without a sun or moon, the landscape was illuminated by the soft warm glow of torches staked along the path and pits of glowing stone where the shades gathered to socialize. Most noticeable to the changeling was the cool breeze that carried the unmistakable taste of pure joy and love without even the slightest hint of anger or sorrow. The shades behind them let out a collective sigh of peace as they dispersed throughout their new eternity.

"It's..." Elytra nearly collapsed in bliss. "...beautiful."

"The one true utopia." The Erinyes said as even her stoic attitude allowed a small smile.

"Greetings, newcomers!" A blessed shade waved them over to a nearby gazebo. "Come on in! There is plenty of room."

The nymph snapped out of her stupor and trotted toward the greeter along with Megaera. The shade was revealed to be a bespeckled unicorn surrounded by books and scrolls. Once he noticed the changeling, his eyes widened in surprise. Elytra braced herself for screaming only for the stallion to look her over curiously.

"Oh my, a Hive Princess!" The studious shade said as he levitated a quill and parchment over to take notes. "So changelings are indeed eusocial like honey bees. So has the old queen passed or are you on your nuptial flight? I'm sorry, I did not mean to imply you are insects."

"I used to it by now but thanks." The nymph buzzed. "I'm just here to feed, mister..."

"Dusty Tomes." The late researcher introduced himself as he extended a hoof. "If I may, I would like to study the feeding habits of changelings. The prevailing theory is that you have to feed through force or deception but I suspect there may be alternatives."

"Princess Elytra." The shapeshifter took his hoof and shook it. "This is only a quick visit but if you are willing to wait, I'll be back with my mother and siblings."

"That will be just fine." The unicorn adjusted his glasses as he smiled warmly. "Until then, perhaps I could give you a quick tour or is that what the Fury is for."

"I am just here to make sure she does not get lost." Megaera deadpanned. "If you want to play tour guide, be my guest."

"Give me some highlights." Elytra said brightly.

"Well, we are currently standing in the Aneslasia." Tomes said as he swept a spectral hoof across the landscape. "Over there is the Golden Abodes and if you squint you might be able to see the Isles of the Blessed..."

While most of Barathrum was steeped in Khthonic power and anti-magic, there was one place where the many magics of the world thrived. A lone tower connected by a single bridge to the rest of the complex had been ensorcelled so that the court mage could study the eclectic magic of the Overworld without interference from or endangering the rest of the Underworld. It was here that Lulamoon decided to dive straight into the new world of dark and forbidden lore that had been opened to her. Tomes and grimoires from the archives laid scattered about the main study as the air danced with energy courtesy of the Arcane Nexus that served as both a source of power for the unicorn and a window into the world above. Keeping her company was the benthic Telkhine, all too happy to aid the lich-mage in her ventures and impart his deep knowledge on the young mare.

"Do you want the hat to flop naturally or are you going to give it some support?" The robed toady asked.

"Support." The lich answered. "Trixie has a few ideas for that length of spine."

Their first project was one of fashion. Specifically, the repair and improvement of the former magician's scorched hat and cape. The alchemist demonstrated a rather steady hand with a needle and thread while Lulamoon called upon certain magics from the Nexus and channeled it into what would be new additions to her panoply; bones and scales taken from the corpse of the heretical dragon Rubric. So engrossed were they in their work that they failed to notice the Theoi trot in until he cleared his throat.

“Ah, the master returns.” Telkhine greeted happily. “How can we be of assistance?”

“I was just stopping by to see how my new Archmage was settling in.” The Dark Lord answered from the doorway, wary of entering further less he interfere with something important. “Also, I need a few things for a project of my own.”

“Ask and the Helpful and Accommodating Trixie shall provide.” The unicorn finally looked away from the Nexus but left her horn aglow.

“How are you feeling, Lulamoon?” The Necroarch asked with a trace of concern on his face. “How is your leg?”

“It still stings a bit but otherwise Trixie feels fantastic.” The unicorn answered cheerfully with a showy spark from her horn. "Why do you ask?"

"I've noticed your eyes glow now." The pale horse said as he gestured to his own. "Not an unusual occurrence down here but given what you've been through, I would be aware of any changes."

"Oh, that reminds Trixie." Lulamoon perked up as she remembered something. "She is a lich now?”

"Right. Your very soul currently resides in that amulet. I suggest you protect it." The Necroarch explained as he pointed to the dreamstone necklace around her neck. "The void in your body where your soul was has been filled with magic, effectively making you an unliving battery of power."

"So the Supreme and Almighty Trixie gains greater access to the Khthonic arts simply by being 'dead' while still making use of regular magic." The Archmage rubbed her hooves together in devilish delight. "Oohohoho, eat your heart out, Toilet Spackle."

"Consider yourself fortunate." The Theoi said sternly like a teacher to a mouthy student. "Mortals of old used to spend decades attempting to achieve lichdom. Most died in the most horrific ways while those who succeeded were already withered bags of bones when the immortality kicked in. To say nothing of the insanity, ostracization by polite society and earning my wrath for cheating the reapers."

"Whoa." Lulamoon deflated slightly. "Then the Lucky and Understanding Trixie will not squander this gift."

"I have no doubt that you won't." The monochrome monarch said genuinely. "Now then, I need the following."

The stygian sovereign listed off the alchemical items he needed; a vial of dragon blood, the horn of a draconequus, a bar of cold iron and other esoteric items. The azure mage repeated the list to herself as she collected the needed components. It took her a while to find where everything was in the unfamiliar tower but Lulamoon eventually returned with a satchel full of the stallion’s requests. He took the package out of her magic and did a quick check.

“Ah, many thanks, Archmage Lulamoon.” The Theoi said afterward.

“After all you have done for Trixie, it is the least she could do.” The former showmare beamed.

As the pallid pony slung the satchel over his shoulder, the azure mare averted her eyes and bit her lower lip as she considered doing something more. Before he could leave, Lulamoon suddenly wrapped her forehooves around his neck and pulled him down to her level. The mage whinnied happily as their muzzles met in a kiss, uncaring of the fact that his was caked in dried ichor. Telkhine let out a low whistle at the sight only to be sent flying by a blast of magic from the annoyed unicorn. After savoring the moment as long as she could, the mare pulled away with a breathy 'mwa~'.

“The Hot and Amorous Trixie has wanted to do that since you saved her from that changeling.” The azure mare cooed with flirty half-lidded eyes. “If you ever want to finish that honeymoon we started, just let Trixie know.”

“I...” The pale stallion said hesitantly as if he was still processing what just happened before his usual demeanor returned. "I will keep that in mind."

Lulamoon giggled at his reaction before releasing his neck and letting him return to his full height. Just to tease the stallion further, she added a bit more sway to her step and some swish to her tail as she returned to her project. Judging by the fact that the Theoi lingered for a few moments before he finally departed, she was sure her newfound magic was affecting more than just her eyes.

"You are as lucky as you are bold, Trixie." Telkhine said as he resumed his work. "Our Lord does not have the best record when it comes to lovers and consorts."

"They were not the Great and Powerful Trixie." The Archmage of Barathrum said with a smirk.

"Have you seen the Silent King?" Armor asked one of the stoic palace guards. "Or the Hidden One rather."

The guard wordlessly pointed down toward the undercroft. The Grand Marshal gave a quick nod of thanks before he followed the familiar hall down below. His search for his friends had proven frustratingly difficult. Chrysalis and Elytra were elsewhere, Lulamoon appeared more interested in whatever she was working on in her tower than celebrating and the patron of his Order was nowhere to be found.

"If he is not down here then I'll just head back to the party." The unicorn grumbled to himself. "This took way longer than it should have. At least Grey built his palace out rather than up; a lot of ground to cover but not a lot of damn stairs."

The revenant trotted down into the semi-natural caverns where the sound of industry and Khthonic voices greeted him. He rounded a corner to find a pair of cyclopes hard at work and the elusive Dark Lord submerged up to his neck in a stone pool over a roaring fire. If he did not know any better, the late prince-regent would have sworn the one-eyed beasts had captured the monarch and were now cooking him in a stew.

"Comfortable, sir?" Armor asked with a cheeky grin.

"Ah, Grand Marshal." The Theoi waved a hoof at him, revealing the cleaned and restored flesh and the fuzzy start of fur. "You will be pleased to know I am finally 'taking it easy', as you put it, and mending my wounds."

"In a hot tub?" The ashen stallion hazard a peek into the pool to see it was no ordinary boiling water.

"A hot tub made from cyclopean stone with water drawn from all five rivers and heated by deadwood taken from Erebos." The monarch listed off the features of his not-so-mundane bath. "Before you ask, you can't join me for I am sure you would melt."

"I did not plan to." The unicorn backed away in respect for his friend's privacy. "Just glad you're taking care of yourself. Hypocrite that I am, there are a few things I need to patch up myself."

"There should be some urns of blessed dust in your room you can use." The Necroarch said candidly. "Really, I'm not needed for anything less than the disintegration of limbs or outright obliteration."

"I discovered as much in Tartarus." Armor said as he unconsciously tapped his horn. "So what are these two up to?"

"You know all those powerful relics and artifacts that seem to be scattered all over the world?" The Theoi asked to which the late prince-regent nodded. "Well, you're about to see how one is made."

While his body mended, the monarch and Marshal watched as the cyclopes plied their craft. A woodturner worked over the ebony tree limb with a lathe and shaving knife as a blacksmith melted down the alchemical ingredients into a white-hot mixture. Once he was satisfied with the temperature, the smith pulled on a chain and lowered something from the ceiling. The broken shade of Sombra, hung on a hook like a slab of meat, did not even react as he was lowered into the smelter.

"Crystals..." The last tyrant of the Crystal Empire whispered faintly as he sank into the molten metal, turning it jet black and flecked with silvery fire.

"Good riddance." Armor nickered bitterly.

The smith poured the inky material into a series of molds and then placed them in icy water taken from the River of Lamentation. At that point, the woodworker finished the base shaft and held it up for his patron's approval. After the pale horse nodded, he moved to a workstation a began carving Khthonic runes into the ebony. The blacksmith reached the end of an internal countdown and fished out the cooled molds. With delicate care, he broke open the blocks to reveal a sheath, weighted pommel and twin prongs. The cyclops then set about clearing away excess metal from the still glowing parts. In time, the two ancient artificers combined their works and fitted metal to wood before quelching the staff in another trough of water, taken from the Styx this time. Armor had to admit he was impressed that the one-eyed beings were able to do in a few minutes that would have taken Equestrian smiths hours if not days.

“There is but one last step.” The smith said he and his partner retrieved the new bident and set it in a holder. "Sire, if you will."

"One moment." The Dark Lord said as he dunked his head beneath the churning waters.

A few moments later, the Theoi Anax emerged from the restorative pool as hale and healthy as the pale and seasoned stallion could get. He shook off the excess water from his still bald head down to his bare dock as his mane and tail would have to regrow on their own along with his beard. The restored regal trotted forward and took a blade offered by the smith in his fetlock. Balancing on his hind legs, he held out his other foreleg and cut deep. Armor grimaced as his friend's stygian ichor dripped down onto the runes carved and hammered into the bident. The Necroarch cleared his throat and began to recite one of the oldest and most potent of Khthonic mantras.

“A sacrifice of my blood to sate the thirst of those who are dead, who dwell below, who have entered the Hidden Realm never to return to the world above.”

As he spoke, his ichor was sucked into the runes and the cut on his limb closed.

“Blessed are they who have been freed from the cruel tyranny of life, freed from the strings of fate, freed from chaos.”

The undercroft grew dimmer as the shifting shadows moved across the floor and into the artifact.

“May they find peace in the shadow of the Immortal Throne, in the presence of those that shepherd them, in the cold harmonics of the grave.”

A hollow boom rang out across the palace as the Lord of Shades completed the mantra and took his bident in his hooves.

“Excellent work, both of you.” The restored and rearmed Necroarch said as he shifted his weight onto the symbol of his office. “It may be even better than the original.”

“Just try not to lose that one.” The woodcarver jested as he and the smith bowed and returned to their duties.

The monarch took his leave along with the Marshal, pausing only for a moment to cloth himself in his usual accouterments. As the two trotted back into the stone halls of Barathrum proper, Armor remembered why he was looking for the pale pony in the first place.

"Will you be joining us at the triumph?" He asked.

"I cannot." The Theoi shook his head. "There is still much, much for me to do now that the Underworld has been secured."

"Okay, Twilight used to be the same. You ought to slow down, you'll work yourself to death." Armor insisted before he realized what exactly he had said. "I swear I did not do that on purpose."

"Hmph, my brothers used to tell me that a lot, both in jest and genuinely." The pale horse allowed a thin smile. "Fine. I'll make time."

"Just looking out for a friend." The unicorn returned the smile. "I'll save you a cold one; the first one of the brewery I still owe you."

"I actually have a brewery on the grounds but..." The former Lurker trailed off as his expression fell. "You just reminded me of something... involving Cadenza."

"Yesh, I didn't mean to rain on the parade." Armor tried to keep the mood positive but he could tell he was not going to like what he was about to hear. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine but I did learn something during my brief stay in Canterlot." The monochrome monarch said seriously. "She is expecting a foal."

"Oh. That is... I mean... I guess... congratulations to her." The late husband of the Alicorn of Love stumbled over his words as mixed feelings fought for control. "That was fast. Did she find a new paramour before my ashes even settled?"

"Don't be dense, Shining." The Dark Lord said plainly. "You know who the sire is."

Armor did not even blink as the bombshell broke through his denial and exploded in his mind. Mi Amore Cadenza, the mare he loved, was carrying a foal by one of the vilest creatures he could imagine. Any pangs of sympathy he felt for her situation turned to outrage when everything he had discovered at the Crystal Empire refreshed itself in his memory.

"It was not her fault." The Theoi read his friend's darkening expression and tried to calm him.

"Wasn't it?!" The former prince-regent growled in barely contained anger. "From what we saw, that whore invited him to bed!"

"And as you said when we broke the slaver's hold over her, that 'whore' was not your wife." The pallid pony reminded him. "It was a corruption of the mare you married brought about by the tyrant."

"Then he got everything he deserved." Armor seethed as he glared at the Theoi's bident. "But it still feels like he's laughing at me; that he got one last thing over me with her help."

"I assure you, he has been silenced for all eternity." The Necroarch said firmly. "And I suspect Cadenza fully intends to raise the foal as if you were the father. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, it won't be his child but yours."

"And nopony's alive to say otherwise. How convenient." The unicorn spat bitterly. "Lying to me, charming me, cheating on me and now using me as a posthumous baby-daddy! What the fuck did I ever-!"

The revenant slapped a hoof over his mouth to stop himself from saying something he would regret. The full reality of the Alicorn of Love's situation was much more complicated and he knew that good and well. Armor sat down and performed the breathing exercise Cadence had shown him to reign in his still smoldering anger.

"I thought you deserved to know." The king put a friendly hoof on the Marshal's shoulder. "Will you be alright?"

"I still need to process this plus a lot of other things." Armor admitted. "Thank you for telling me, Grey."

"At the risk of sounding like your sister, it is good to have someone to talk to." The Dark Lord said plainly. "Particularly someone who knows you intimately."

"Like an ancient god who had been rooting around in my head?" The Marshal asked cheekily as his humor improved.

"Among others..." The pale horse trailed off with a knowing look.

The Theoi Anax gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder before the two parted company. The unicorn got up and trotted toward his quarters, his temper cooler but not fully settled. Inside his new room, his predecessor, a griffon judging from the Gryphondom memorabilia, had left behind a few things the former captain though would prove useful. A full map of the Sunless Lands with points of interest marked with pins, a trophy case that he would have to clean out, an armor stand that shifted from a feline-avian form to an equine one when he trotted in and other such items that a soldier could use. The stallion sat on the practical yet comfortable bed and pulled off his helm. It was covered in blood and more than a few gashes and claw marks; tokens of battle as his old drill instructor used to say.

“Feels like a lifetime ago.” The unicorn murmured as he placed the helm on the stand to be cleaned and repaired later. “I guess in a way it was.”

The Marshal stood back up to work on removing the rest of his baroque armor. He had just got the leg guards off when he heard something try to sneak into the room behind him. Thinking that some demon had trailed them from Tartarus to assassinate him, as had so often happened to victorious commanders, Armor conjured a blade of Khthonic energy and rounded on the intruder.

“Nice to see you too, Shining.” Chrysalis froze as the blade pressed under her chin threateningly.

“What do you want?” Armor asked with a frown.

“Is it wrong for me to want to speak with the sire of my children?” The Hive Matron chittered innocently. “I thought we were friends now.”

The stallion sighed heavily and dissipated his blade. Chrysalis visibly relaxed and kicked the door shut to give them some privacy. Armor leaned against the window sill granting a panoramic view of the Necropolis below the palace as well as the courtyard where the Undying party was being held.

“Did you come here just to pester me or was there another reason?” He asked with his back to the changeling.

“I wanted to clear the air between us, so to speak.” The Hive Queen buzzed as sweetly as she could. “We are both on the same side now so there is no reason for us to be enemies.”

"You did help save the world." Armor turned back to face his guest. "That is a good start, I guess."

"You are too kind." Chrysalis deadpanned as she noticed the state the stallion was in. "Wow! And I thought I was in rough shape."

“Ha! You should see the other guy.” The unicorn said with a short laugh. “It's not as bad as it looks; the suit just needs a smith.”

“Well, let’s get you out of it then.” The Matron cooed with a sly smirk as her jagged horn ignited.

“Want me to strip for you?” The Marshall gave her a cheeky smile of his own as her emerald magic worked on the straps and links of his plated armor.

“Maybe I do.” The Matriarch licked her lips as parts of his armor slid free. "I know there's a handsome stud under all that somewhere."

Armor shook his head but did not stop the shapeshifter as she stripped him down. After helping her with some of the more complicated straps, the thick plates and chainmail were completely removed and placed on the stand. The changeling placed a holey hoof against the stallion’s exposed chest and traced the many cuts and gashes in his ashen flesh.

"These look like they hurt." She said in genuine concern.

"They do but not as much as they look. I've learned a revenant's sense of pain is dulled but not absent." The unicorn explained as he gently brushed off her hoof. "I just need to slap on some dust from those urns over there and I'll be good."

"Allow me." Chrysalis trotted past him to the large jars before Armor could protest.

Deciding it would easier with an extra set of eyes and hooves, the Marshal sat on the end of his bed as the changeling matron pulled over one of the urns. She sat behind him on the bed while she popped the lid and scooped out its contents with her magic. Armor tensed as he felt her slather his back with the clay-like substance only to relax as she worked it in with her hooves.

"I didn't paint you as a masseuse." The stallion complimented as he took a bit out of the urn to work on his limbs and underbelly.

"One of the first places I infiltrated was a day spa. I learned quite a bit before I was exposed." The changeling Matron said as she moved up to his neck and shoulders. "Mmm~ his Excellency likes his troops built strong, I see."

"If he can raise us from dust and ash, I don't see why he wouldn't make his soldiers anything less than the best." Armor allowed a prideful smile. "I know I'm certainly taller and a lot stronger than before I, you know, died."

"In more ways than one..." Chrysalis whispered in his ears as she took a peek over his shoulder toward his legs where her ministrations were having an effect on the stallion. "Now why did he add that when he created new bodies for you?”

“Success and excellence are rewarded in ways of our choosing including some of the... carnal variety. So say the veteran Undying.” The increasingly aroused unicorn explained sheepishly. “ Rather than, uh, install plumbing on an individual basis he just added it for us all at once. Spare us both the awkwardness.”

"Does it need any attention?" The shapeshifter chittered as one of her dust-covered hooves traced down his barrel toward his thighs.

“One of your drones said that you ‘favored’ me.” Armor quickly deflected as he uncomfortably crossed his hindlegs over his groin. “What did he mean by that?”

“Gossiping little bug. Hmph! This is going to sound ridiculous.” The Matron buzzed irritably as she returned her hooves to his back. “I have taken…many mates over my life in order to sustain my race. Their love was enough to last us maybe a month or two after which my swarm would have to move on. Even sooner if we were discovered.”

"Sounds rough." The unicorn said simply yet sympathetically.

“I had thought we would be a swarm forever until I heard of your engagement to none other than the Princess of Love.” Chrysalis continued wistfully even as Armor tensed up suddenly. “When I first met you, the love between you two was the purest and most potent I had ever encountered. Hell, it even allowed me to overcome Celestia!”

The late captain only grunted as his earlier rancor returned. He could and had forgiven the unfaithfulness and he could even let the 'baby-daddy' nonsense go as he could not justifiably place all the blame on Cadenza for either but he was not about to forget. What still stung deeper than any demonic sword or griffon talon was the love charm. Even if her intentions were noble, that breach of trust will forever taint whatever relationship he had with the Princess of Love.

“But no longer.” The Hive Queen frowned as she tasted the bitterness coming off the stallion. “Something happened at the Crystal Empire, didn't it.”

“More than you could know.” The late prince-regent sighed. “Some part of me will always love her but there is... something bad with it now. Like a sour slice of lemon on a cake.”

“That is why I favor you.” Chrysalis said as she pressed against his back and rested her head on his shoulder. “I have seen love turn to hate in the face of tragedy and scandal but yours, while it is battered, endures even now. You have no idea how hard that is to come by.”

"And I thought Grey had a silver tongue." Armor said with a short laugh. "Still, there is a lot of baggage that got added to it and I'm tired of carrying it."

"Perhaps you should move on and find someone else." The changeling suggested as she nuzzled against his neck. "Like me."

The revenant froze as the idea trickled into his mind. He turned to face Chrysalis as she moved off his back and straightened up. The two former enemies, a shape-shifting parasite and a loyal captain of the Solar Guard, looked at each other face to face. The creature before him had brainwashed him, invaded his home and gave cause to the actions Cadenza would take later. Yet it was survival that motivated her more so than malice. She had also helped put a stop to Armaggedon and had proved to be a loving and devoted mother to her swarm. And then there was Elytra, their daughter. He had every intention of being a father to her, why not a partner for her mother as well? Armor would have been lying to himself if he claimed he did not feel something for the changeling queen but he as always wrote it off as curiosity for the exotic. Perhaps there was more to it than he let himself believe.

"Looks like there is some room in that small heart of yours after all." The Marshal said softly.

"I made room." The Matron whispered back. "And I want you to fill it."

The militant part of his mind screamed at him that it was all just a ruse to feed off of him as he cupped her cheek with a hoof. As he looked into her big green-blue eyes, he saw no trace of deceit or trickery only a genuine desire. The paranoid voice tried to argue that she may have already charmed him but he sincerely doubted that thanks to a revenant's anti-magical nature. Even if the changeling had originally come just to feed, he knew she wanted something more now.

“Chrysalis…” The stallion said huskily.

"Shining..." The changeling queen gasped.

The two embraced as their muzzles met. Passionate moans filled the room as Armor guided Chrysalis onto her back, knocking off her crown and upsetting the urn of revenant dust. Neither of them cared as the Hive Queen threw her forelegs around her love's neck and held him close as the Grand Marshal ran his hooves up and down her frame, committing every hole, ridge and curve to memory. Everything he was worried about seemed miles away in another lifetime. Now, he was at the start of another with friends and a family he could love and cherish for the rest of his unlife.

Outside the Grand Marshal's quarters, in the courtyard below, the Overlord of the Underworld smiled as he spotted a flurry of emerald hearts drift out the window along with the muffled notes of the squeaky spring symphony. Matchmaking may have been the domain of other Theoi but after spending time in Armor's mind and witnessing the affection Chrysalis had for the late regent, he suspected there was a spark there.

"All it took was a bit of fuel and some fans." The Dark Lord thought as he downed the last of a glass of wine. "I wish the two well. Power couples tend to thrive down here."

"Hidden One! I did not know you were here!" Tisiphone called out as she bounced over to the pale horse. "What are you smiling about? Usually, when you do, plague or war has broken out somewhere."

"Is it a crime for me to feel content?" The Theoi asked rhetorically. "No, I was just advised to take time to enjoy my immortality while I can. We will be very busy in the coming days."

"I am just happy you are back." The Fury sat down beside him and grabbed an unopened bottle. "You really have no idea what things were like while you were gone."

"I can imagine." The Necroarch as the Erinyes popped the cork and began chugging at an alarming rate. "Is it that good?"

"Oh, yeah!" The young daemon said after draining the bottle and grabbing another. "I have to get what I can before Meg knocks them all back."

"Never change, you three." The pale horse thought.

"I will have a cyclops bring a few barrels to your rooms." He offered as he set his glass down and prepared to leave. "Enjoy the rest of the party, Tisiphone. I have a few preparations to make."

"Mmph!" The Erinyes waved farewell as she gained an audience who wish to witness or challenge her ability to drink.

The Dark Lord exited the courtyard and entered Barathrum. He trotted through the halls with one destination in mind; his ultimate goal since he had escaped from the Void. After dealing with everything from marauders to demons, his final obstacle was a pair of heavy iron doors flanked by a pair of ever-watchful giganties.

“Surely, my greatest challenge yet.” The former Lurker thought sarcastically as he opened the doors into his throne room.

The very heart of Barathrum had received the most attention from the cyclopes’ restoration efforts and was in pristine condition. A long nave separated from two narrower aisles by rows of black marble columns and illuminated by braziers containing pale ghost lights led to a perpendicular transept where petitioners would prostrate themselves when the Dread Lord held court. At the foot of each column stood an armored giganties armed with their customary halberd and tower shield. Their Stygian Sovereign gave them quick nods of acknowledgement as he passed by. The nave ended in a curved apse adorned with stain glass windows depicting the Khthonic Pantheon in the center with the Cosmomachy and Titanomachy on the left and right respectively. Below these windows was the Immortal Throne itself; a masterpiece of carved black stone set in a raised base with a few steps leading up to it to ensure that even when sitting down, the Theoi was the tallest in the room. Beside it was a throne of iron wrought in designs invoking the harvest and bitter cold. While it appeared thinner compared to its blocky neighbor, one would notice that both were of equal heights. The four Praetorians stood resolutely around the thrones, two at the foot of the steps and two on either side of the seats of power. The Lord of Shades trotted up the terrace and stood before his prize. He gave the iron throne a long look before he eased himself into his rightful place with a contented sigh, the cold stone a familiar comfort to the ancient Theoi.

“It’s good to be king.” The Silent King upon his Immortal Throne thought with a ghost of a smile.