Immortal Throne

“The Infernal Champion has fallen!” The ill news was relayed from the surviving Banished to their demonic cohorts. “Retreat! Back to Dis!”

The revenants and their allies did not let them go so easily. Equines and fliers ran down the slower hellions while archers and mages fired arrows and bolts into the fleeing horde. The rest joined the Erinyes in stalking the blood-soaked battlefield to either aid their fallen fellows or finish off wounded fiends. Grand Marshal Armor along with Fleabag and Steel Hands went about getting the troops organized back into proper ranks and taking stock of their losses.

"Da boyz took a bit of a krumpin' but ain't nothin' Da Dread Boss can't fix." The diamond dog, himself missing an arm, said approvingly. "I'd call dis a propah win."

"Agreed." The minotaur nodded. "We've gathered together those who are beyond repair just over there; mostly revs who were in the frontline and some skirmishers."

“If anyone asks, there were hundreds of them.” One of the fallen, a victim of a well-aimed fireball, whispered defensively. “With axes and spears.”

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, solider." Armor assured his troops. "None of you do. Once His Excellency returns, I am certain he will restore you to, uh, unlife."

"If he returns." A disembodied griffoness grumbled. "That centaur went up like a leaky fuel zeppelin. How do we know Darzalas didn't go with him?"

"Banish such heretical thoughts from your mind, bird." One of the four imposing praetorian Giganties said bluntly. "Behold, our Sovereign approaches."

The revenants looked to see the Dark Lord trudging toward them surrounded by a small throng of shades. Just as quickly as they were produced, rumors that the Necroarch had perished along with the Infernal Champion were quickly and promptly quashed. Shouts of celebration greeted the pale horse as he rejoined his stalwart servants.

“Hail the Silent King!” An equine Knight cheered the return of her patron. “Slayer of Titans!”

“Da Biggest an ‘Ardest Boss dere iz!” A diamond dog added excitedly.

“Bane of…” A former crystal unicorn trailed off when he saw the company the Overlord of the Underworld was traveling in. “Oh.”

The air of jubilation slowly evaporated as an awful tension fell over the army. The revenant crystal unicorns bristled with apprehension as they came face to face with the shades of those who had effectively exterminated them. With their memories restored, most of the souls were unable to look their fellow late imperials in the eye, particularly the Blackguards. One of them took the initiative and trotted forward.

“Prince-regent Shining Armor.” Diamond Cutter greeted his former superior with a humble bow.

“It’s 'Grand Marshal' now.” Armor corrected curtly. “You have something to say, traitor?”

“I do if you would hear it.” The late minion of Sombra flinched under the unicorn's glare. “We make no excuses for our actions and no amount of apologies will right what we have done.”

The non-equine Undying put some space between them and their crystal unicorn compatriots as their horns ignited in ill-contained anger. The pallid equine wisely trotted a few steps away from the group of shades less he be caught in the line of fire. His praetorians dutifully took up positions near him as if they had never left.

"I see you all have a few new trophies." He murmured to his bodyguards upon noticing a few dents and scratches in their armor. "I take it your own battles went well."

"As you commanded, my Lord." A praetorian answered simply.

“I know that none of us deserve it...” Attention returned to Cutter as he hesitated to find the right words. “…but we beg for your forgiveness.”

“A lot of good ponies died because of turncoats like you.” The Marshal took a threatening step closer to the late crystal pony. “But in retrospect, of all the equines that betrayed me that day, you are rather low on my shit list.”

“Does that mean…” Diamond looked hopeful for a moment until Armor cowed him with a withering glare.

“I can and will eventually.” The late captain said sternly. “But I do not speak for the rest of my troops.”

He waved an armored hoof over the crystal unicorns who still looked ready to decimate the shades at a moment’s notice. To their credit, the former imperials did not back down, ready to accept whatever form of retribution the unicorns warranted appropriate. A few moments passed before the heavy silence was broken by Fleabag.

“They did get wot was comin' to dem.” The one-armed gem hound pointed out. “Fed to dat centaur git, sufferin' for who knows 'ow long.”

“An eye for an eye then; same happened to us.” A unicorn depowered her horn but maintained her death glare at the mass of souls. “Would forgiving them change anything?”

“Beyond easing their consciences, no.” The Necroarch answered from the sidelines of the standoff. “None of them will leave these Pits.”

"The Judges made that very clear." One of the damned shades shrank back in shame.

“So justice has been served in all measures.” Another unicorn softened his glare. "I'm of a mind with Marshal Armor. In time, maybe..."

“Thank you.” Diamond bowed his head deeply at the unspoken and begrudging forgiveness. “I know nothing will make up for it but if there is anything we can do, please ask.”

“I have something in mind.” The Theoi said brightly. “Stand still.”

The Lord of Shades raised a bleeding hoof and pointed it at the damned host of souls. They all immediately snapped to attention as the authority of their Lord demanded. With a pained grunt, he lowered his hoof and the shades sunk into the stricken ground.

"You would have them join us?" Armor asked with some reservation. "I thought only the neutral could join."

"True." The pale horse said as he painted a more sinister rune than the one he had used to create the Undying in his ichor while muttering in Khthonic. "But I think it would be prudent to keep a standing army down here."

"Ah, so a penal legion sans the pardons." The Grand Marshal deduced. "That could work."

The fire of the Infernal Prison burned a little brighter as the Dark Lord finished his preparations. The sanguine glyph completed, the Theoi stood before it and reared back on his hind legs. He brought them down with a resonating boom that intermingled nether energy with immortal ichor.

“Souls of the damned bonded with the Ashes of Sin.” The Necroarch intoned. “Arise.”

Rather than exploding as the spectators expected, the rune glowed with white-hot intensity. The ground beneath roiled like boiling water as something moved beneath the molten surface. A cloven hoof emerged from the crucible in a plume of fire. One after the other, equine creatures as black as soot flecked with embers and manes of hellfire climbed out of the pit and onto solid ground. Before long, a host of demonic versions of the revenants stood before their kin and patron.

“W-what are we?” Diamond Cutter asked as he inspected his new form.

“You are makhai.” The monochrome monarch answered as he recovered from the ritual. “Engines of battle doomed to never know peace.”

“A fitting fate.” One of the unicorns said bluntly.

“If this is to be our penitence, so be it.” The de facto leader of the Makhai bowed his head in supplication. “We await your command, Grand Marshal.”

"For now, assist the Undying in mop-up duties." Armor ordered. "We'll see where we go after that."

The mass of fiery equines went about aiding the ashen revenants in their efforts. With the awkward meeting over, Armor and the daemons trotted and flew down to their Lord. As they got closer, they could see just how badly his duel with Tirek had affected him.

“By the Sunless Sky!” The Tisiphone recoiled in shock. “You-”

“I know.” The Theoi Anax cracked his bony neck. “It looks much worse than it feels.”

“It hurts just to look at you.” Armor unconsciously pawed at his chest as he looked over his pale friend. “Seriously, sir, you need medical attention.”

“Your concern is appreciated but unwarranted, Grand Marshal.” The Dark Lord tried to wave off their concern even as his black ichor pooled around his hooves. “A quick dip in the River Cocytus will heal the worst of this.”

“You're just skin and bones!” Armor insisted. "I can see your ribs!"

“Just a flesh wound.” The pale horse countered.

“At the very least, you should clothe yourself, Hidden One.” The middle Erinyes advised neutrally. “It is vitally important to keep up appearances until our victory is complete.”

"A fair point, Megaera." The nude Necroarch admitted after he gave himself a once over.

With a deft wave of a hoof, the stygian shadows once again coalesced around him in heavy, form concealing robes. He went further and added a hood that cast most of his ghastly face in shadow. It did nothing to heal his wounds, or course, but he looked less like a living corpse.

“Hmph. All you need is your staff thing and you’ll have the ‘dark wizard’ aesthetic down pat.” Armor commented with a short scoff.

“That is the idea.” The now suitably robed Theoi gestured to a lagging shade behind him. “Unfortunately, this cretin ate it before he burned my old robes.”

The hitherto silent soul of Tirek grumbled something intelligible as he came forward. Armor could not help but smile imperiously at the sight of one of Equestria's greatest enemies laid so low.

“Well, I guess your leeching days are over.” He said derisively. “Really didn’t learn your lesson from Twily, did you.”

“Shining Armor.” Tirek glared at the Grand Marshal. “I see you traded the gold of Equestria for the black of the Underworld. Good on you.”

The late captain was about to retort when the Theoi put a thin foreleg between them. Armor shot one last look at the defeated centaur before he returned his attention to his patron.

“Getting back on topic, you really should take it easy.” He said seriously. “I know you're immortal and all that but no healthy stallion should be leaking that much blood.”

"If anyone deserves respite, it is you." Alekto shared Armor's concern. "Slaying an Ixionian Shaggoth is worthy of a triumph alone, nevermind safeguarding the world."

“Do not expect those ungrateful whelps to so much as acknowledging the fact that we have spared their pitiful lives a horrid fate.” The Hand of Death spat as he flew over them and alighted on a rock nearby with something under one of his arms. “They never have before.”

“I imagine that you had a bountiful harvest, Hand of Death.” The Theoi deflected the subject away from his admittedly questionable wellbeing. “What is that you are carrying?”

“One of your minions ran afoul of the wandering shades of Tartarus.” The ancient daemon reported. “I assumed you would find a use for her corpse.”

The Reaper hefted his load and tossed it to the ground in front of his Lord. The cold and lifeless body of Lulamoon stared up at the stricken sky of the Fields. Her former travel partner wordlessly knelt down to inspect her body.

“Oh, poor mare.” Armor said genuinely as he looked on. “I was starting to like her, ego and all.”

“Hmm. Apart from singed fur and a broken leg, she appears unharmed.” The Dark Lord murmured aloud as he tapped the powerless dreamstone amulet around the azure unicorn’s neck. “The shades would have ripped her apart to get to her blood..."

The Khthonic King looked up at his longtime friend suspiciously. The Hand noticeably avoided eye contact and tried to act ignorant of the final fate of the mage’s shade. The Theoi was unconvinced.

“Hand it over.” He scolded like a parent to a naughty child.

“Aw, must I?” The hooded horror protested as he dropped down to their level. “If your plans require a narcissistic sorceress, I am certain there are thousands of them out there in the world of the living.”

“Perhaps.” The monochrome monarch conceded that possibility. “But believe me when I say that this one is one of a kind.”

“Oh, really?” The youngest Erinyes gave the corpse a sidelong glare. “Are you sure you are feeling well?”

The Dark Lord ignored the daemon as the Grim Reaper produced the compacted soul of Lulamoon in the form of a tiny sphere of magenta vital essence. He held the quivering soul tightly in a gauntleted hand and looked at the Theoi Anax. The pale horse extended a hoof and gestured for him to pass it on.

“I suppose her soul technically belongs to you, Lord of Shades.” The Hand reluctantly relented as he placed the soul in the stallion's hoof. "Her lifelines have been cut so she will have to serve as another revenant."

"Doing so would limit her to Khthonic magic which defeats the purpose of naming her Archmage." The Theoi said pointedly as he retrieved the amulet and hefted it in his free hoof. "There are alternatives."

The Reaper's wings twitched in agitation but he held his tongue as the Necroarch began muttering Khthonic mantras again. He gently pressed Lulamoon's soul against the dreamstone until it phased in with a spark of magic. The Necroarch then replaced the now glowing phylactery around the azure mare's neck as he finished his incantation. An aura of negative light spread over the mage and faded into her.

"Lulamoon?" The pale horse tapped the unicorn on her cheek a few times with a hoof. "Can you hear me?"

"zzz...give Trixie five minutes...zzz" She mumbled sleepily. "zzz...last night's show was a doozy...zzz"

"Wake up, Archmage!" The hooded horse gave her a much harder slap that had the desired result.

"Blah! Howda?! Huh?" Lulamoon sputtered as she bolted upright. "What happened? Where is Trixie?"

"You died." Megaera said in her usual blunt manner. "The Hand of Death collected your soul and the Hidden One has brought you back."

The azure mage stared at the Fury in disbelief. She then looked over herself and shakily got to all fours. After a few moments of silent contemplation, the mare approached the clearly unhappy Grim Reaper reverently.

"Now Trixie remembers. You came for her after she slew that dragon." The magician said in shaky but passible Khthonic. "Thank you."

"Do not expect me to do it again." The Hand grumbled but seemed placated by her genuine gratitude. "You would have joined the rest of my harvest but he deemed otherwise."

"Then you have saved the Humble and Grateful Trixie thrice now." Lulamoon turned her attention to the Theoi. "But she is curious as to what exactly you did. She feels...different."

"I would like to know that, too." Armor chimed in. "She's not a revenant but it looks like you did something similar."

"Do either of you know what a lich is?" The Necroarch prefaced to which both undead unicorns shook their heads. "I'm surprised. Well, in short, you're a magic super zombie now. I'll explain in full once we are done here."

"Ooh~ super magic, you say?" A devious smirk crossed the new lich's features. "Trixie likes the sound of that."

“That's good enough for me.” The Grand Marshal decided not to press for details. “If there is anything else, let's win this damn war already.”

With everyone accounted for and the revenants reorganized, the King and his minions went about planning their next course of action. The Grand Exodus had been broken but the insidious mastermind behind it was still very much alive. It was not beyond the realm of possibility that Corona could raise another army to threaten the world and the defenders could not claim total victory until the Archfiend was deposed or slain, preferably the latter.

“We may have to hunt her down to the depths of Pandemonium and beyond.” The Dark Lord mused aloud as they rejoined the main body of the army.

“You will not have to.” A changeling drone buzzed helpfully. “Our Queen says that the Alicorn is still within the floating tower. In a throne room near the top.”

“Dis, the capitol of the Woeful City and the Pinnacle of Wrath.” Alekto clarified for the uninformed troops. “What more does your matron have to say, insect?”

“Hold, please.” The shapeshifter focused as it listened to its Matriarch. “The Infernal Queen is massing what remains of her forces and preparing defenses.”

“It appears she is making a last stand.” Marshal Armor mused, his military mind running over strategies. “Is it possible for Chrysalis to assassinate her?”

“I'll ask.” The drone concentrated as it sent the request. “Not at this time. The tower is on high alert after the Queen and Princess cut off reinforcements and Corona is well protected. They are in the room with her but cannot act.”

“Perhaps we should just destroy the tower from outside.” Steel Hands suggested. “Bombard it until it is nothing but rubble.”

“You would be surprised what an Alicorn can live through.” The former prince-regent said knowingly. “Her death needs to be certain not presumed.”

“A simple solution then.” The Theoi said after a moment of thought. “Assault the tower and kill everything inside that's not a changeling.”

“Sometimes the simple answer is the best.” Armor nodded in agreement. “We’ll encircle the tower first; hold them in place before we strike.”

The Grand Marshal signaled his troops to move out. While the Undying and their allies marched for the center of the Fields of Punishment, the Theoi Anax had the two younger Erinyes escort the disembodied shades to the Brass Gates before something got its claws into them. Once they were done with that, they were to retrieve Grogar and Xi'vili and bring them to him. He wanted them present for the aftermath of Corona’s fall.

“I leave this one in your care, Alekto.” The Necroarch told the eldest daemon as he gestured toward Tirek. “As with your siblings, bring him back to me once this is over.”

“As you command, Hidden One.” The eldest Fury confirmed as she took custody of the spectral centaur. “Come along, wretch.”

“Wait!” The shade of Tirek turned to address the Theoi before the daemon could take him away. “A bit of advice for you, Kyl'menus.”

“Do you now?” Tisiphone sneered at him. "Why the change of heart, heretic?"

“If I am to never see the light of day again…” The late warlock growled darkly. “…then neither will she.”

“Speak then, Tirek.” The robed Necroarch gestured for his vanquished foe to continue.

“Corona is powerful, true, but she is no warrior.” The spectral centaur said seriously. “She will rely more on overwhelming magic than any actual tact. It’s a weakness and an easily exploitable one at that.”

“I see.” The pale horse said coolly. "Still, I expect her to fight like the cornered animal she is."

“Then make sure she dies like one.” The shade grunted as he let himself to be taken away by the winged daemon. “Good hunting.”

With the sisters and their new charges on their way, the Theoi and his ever-loyal praetorians followed after the marching army. After traveling through the scorched Fields of Punishment with only fleeting resistance from their demonic adversaries to waylay them, the revenants and their auxiliaries came to the massive crater at the center of the blasted plains. Across the crater floor and within Dis itself, the remnants of the Grand Exodus had gathered with weapons and defenses at the ready. Gone was the hopeful fervor that had galvanized them. In its place were desperation and a naked fear of the wrath of their foes and their dark patron. Armor wasted no time in ordering his troops to encircle the area using the rim of the crater as cover while the keres and Reaper ensured air superiority.

“They have nowhere to go but down.” The late prince-regent said as demons took potshots at his troops from the high ground offered by the tower. "But we can't launch a full assault yet with that tower providing overwatch."

"Oi! I know!" Fleabag shouted eagerly. "Give da gits sumthin' big n' scary to shoot at before ya breach! Worked for us at da Empire!"

"We don't have bomb carts but I like your thinking." Armor tapped his chin in thought. "Mech... Mack... what are they called again?"

"Makhai." The Theoi answered helpfully.

"Makhai! Time to prove your worth!" The Marshal shouted to the hell-shaded revenants. "Charge and stop for nothing!"

"Finally!" Cutter gave voice to the willingness of his repentant fellows to follow what would have normally been a suicidal order.

With a roar of fanatical zeal, the makhai crested the rim and stormed down the slope. The demons immediately opened fire on the newest additions to the Underworld's forces. While they lacked the thick armor of their allies, the damned equines proved they were as resilient as they were zealous. Limbs were severed and chunks of burning vessels were blow off but the makhai did not even slow. If anything, the damage they sustained only added to their horrific appearance as the demons were visibly unnerved by the horde of fiery horses rampaging toward them.

"RIP THEM IN HALF!!" Cutter, with half his face a distorted mass of ash and flame, bellowed as they reached the bottom of the crater. "TEAR THEM APART!!"

The makhai slammed into the demons' ranks in a fury of kicks, stomps, bucks and even bites. The charge had the desired effect as most of the fiends posted in Dis focused on the battle below.

"Wow. I've seen flagellants with more subtlety." Steel Hands commented with a wince. "What's next, sir?"

"We need a way into Dis." Armor said as he took a longer look at the tower without risk of his head being blown off. "We could try the front gate or fly up and under where the Hellevator was but no doubt they have those points fortified."

"There." The Dark Lord pointed toward a section of wall just above one of the dangling chains that appeared to have been crudely barricaded. "We can bypass the heaviest of their defenses through there if we can breach it."

"Allow Trixie." The azure magician said confidently as she trotted to a point in front of the weak spot.

The lich braced herself against the ground and ignited her horn in a blaze of magenta flecked with vivid crimson. The ground around the mare cracked and trembled as her spell manifested as a churning ball of magic. The closest revenants wisely backed away as Lulamoon took aim and fired like a cannon, the recoil of which knocked her on her back. The ball of power crashed into Dis and exploded, vaporizing the barricade along with most of the wall, sending the great chain clattering to the ground. There was a brief lull as all looked at the fresh and glowing hole in Dis and the unicorn who had created it.

"Hahahaha! Quake in fear you impotent fools!" Lulamoon cackled as she lept to her hooves and struck a triumphant pose. "None can match the Great and Powerful Trixie now!"

After a moment of confused silence, the revenants sent up an encouraging cheer as they returned their attention to the demons. With the way now opened, Armor gathered together a select few to assault the tower. They would be fighting in close quarters that negated any numerical advantage they had so he decided a smaller strike force would prove more effective.

"I take it you and your praetorians will be joining us?" The Marshal asked to which the Theoi nodded. "That should be enough then. Hands? Fleabag? I'm leaving you in charge again."

"We won't let ya down, boss." The gem hound barked.

"Just don't make a habit of leaving us to duel enemy leaders." The minotaur said half in jest.

"I think this will be the last one for a while." Armor assured him. "Ready when you are, Excellency."

"Lulamoon, give us a bridge." The Necroarch commanded.

"Don't you want Trixie to come with you?" The Archmage asked as she channeled the appropriate magic.

"Can you use combat spells without blowing up the tower with us in it?" Armor pointed out rhetorically.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie can..." The lich trailed off as she thought about it. "...not, yet. Very well, she shall remain out here and lend her talents to your soldiers."

With a spark of magic and a deft wave of her hooves, the magician created an arc of hard light that bridged the gap between the crater rim and the floating tower. The revenants gave the magical construct a few taps to test its integrity before they rushed across along with Armor and the Praetorians. The Theoi brought up the rear as he could only manage a brisk trot in his current state.

"Alright, shoota boyz, dis iz it!" Fleabag called out to the mages and archers. "If ya see a git poke 'iz head out, put an 'ole in it!"

“Undying!” Hands shouted for the non-ranged revenant's attention. “Advance and crush them!”

The armored and more disciplined Undying crested the rim to aid their makhai allies in destroying Exodus once and for all. The archers and mages stayed along the rim to both keep the demons in Dis pinned and fire into the throng of fiends below. This allowed the group assaulting the tower to cross the exposed expanse and into Dis without issue. Once within the capitol of the Infernal Pits, they expected to be set upon by demonic guards immediately. Instead, they were greeted by blasted stone, twisted metal and other debris created by the Archmage's breach.

"I think Lulamoon took out anything stationed here, sir." A revenant minotaur reported as he nudged a pile of gibs that were once a guard. "Where to from here?"

"Up." Armor answered. "If we run into resistance then we are going the right direction."

The small team proceeded through the ruined section of the tower, encountering little beyond wounded fiends and more rubble. It was not until they reached the intact areas that they ran into the demons taking potshots at the Undying outside as well as a patrol of guards. They barely had time to shout an alarm before the revenants and gigantes were upon them. To say the brief fight was one-sided would be an understatement.

"Well, if they didn't know we were here before, they do now." The Necroarch said as he stepped over a corpse to help the few injured knights patch themselves up. "Blaze is going to throw everything she has left at us."

"Brings back memories of the Empire, eh Grey?" The late prince-regent said as his ears picked up the sound of rushing guards on the floors above them. "Let's hope this one ends better."

Much like that fateful battle, the minions of a tower-bound tyrant did everything in their power to slow their advance. The demons fought desperately but futilely against the battle-tested skill of the revenants, the horrific might of the Praetorians and the power of the Theoi sustaining them. The already battered morale of the guards began to break with some throwing down their weapons and fleeing while others surrendered in favor of a quick kill. After fighting nearly every step of the way up the tower, the group finally reached a pair of warped bronze doors embossed with images of eternal wrath and ruin. There was no doubt in their minds that they had reached the pinnacle of Dis and the Hierarch of Hell lurked just beyond.

"Looks like this is it." Armor said as he looked over what passed for 'art' in Tartarus. "I swear I can feel the evil behind this eyesore."

"Not just behind that door, sir." A keen-eared revenant warned. "The demons that fled must have rallied all that remain in the tower for they come."

"Lockdown this hall!" The former captain ordered as the din of rustling arms and armor grew progressively louder. "Barricade those passages to funnel them into a crossfire."

"Armor, I suspect that Corona is trying to delay us by sending her minions after us." The stygian stallion said with a frown. "It may be best to leave the Undying and my Praetorians to deal with these dregs while you and I confront her."

"Buying time for one last trick, no doubt." The unicorn concurred. "This really is Sombra all over again."

"We can handle these losers, sirs." A griffoness reassured her superiors as she tore a statue off the wall to block a doorway. "You go kick that bitch's ass."

"Will do." Armor surveyed his troops' efforts to fortify their position until he was satisfied. "Ready when you are, sir."

The Dark Lord reared back and drove his fore hooves into the metal doors. The bronze buckled, tore free of its hinges and fell inward with a long metallic groan ending in a pair of resounding clangs as the pair of doors hit the stone and metal floor. The interlopers trotted cautiously into a short hallway that ended in an even shorter set of stairs that led up to the throne room proper.

"What's the plan here?" The Marshal whispered as they approached the ominous glow at the end of the hall. "You're still in no condition to fight so I'm fine with taking point."

"I'm wounded, not crippled." The Theoi said with a hint of annoyance. "Corona will most likely focus on me so you worry about any guards she has with her."

A few moments later and the pair stood in the pinnacle of Wrath. They found that, unsurprisingly, the throne room of Dis was a reflection of its infernal mistress. Tall windows of ruby glass allowed the hellfire of the Pits to illuminate the cavernous room in an infernal crimson hue. Banners of tanned demonic flesh hung from the walls by spiked chains, each branded with Corona’s cutie mark. Bits of ash and cinder drifted down from a wide portal in the ceiling where the spires of Dis could be seen reaching into the burning sky. The hide of some great beast formed a long carpet that led from the center of the room to the foot of the Throne of Hell on the opposite side. As if parodying the Solar Throne, the brass edifice sat upon a two-tier terrace of bleached skulls taken from all manner of mortal victims. In place of the water feature, a small fountain of burning blood broiled at the base. The Infernal Queen of Tartarus herself reclined easily in her throne, flanked by a pair of bruisers and a small cohort of well-armed and armored demons. The fiery maned Alicorn slowly and sardonically clapped her gold shod hooves together in applause.

“The Dreaded Silent King of the Underworld, we meet at last.” Corona’s voice dripped with malice. “Ah, and you brought a pet.”

"I hate this Celestia wannabe already." Armor muttered as he sized up the enemy.

"Corona Blaze." The Theoi Anax said flatly. "It's over. Not even the most deluded of your sycophants can deny your exodus had failed."

“Yes, you and your slaves have made quite a mess of things.” The Archfiend seethed as her minions began to fan out. "Hanging, mauling and cursing the Banished, obliterating my champion and now you're invading my home. I can see why some of the elder demons called you the Bringer of Pain."

The hellions took up positions around the perimeter of the room, surrounding the pair except for Corona’s bodyguards. Their eyes shone green and blue for the briefest moments but it was enough to tell the King and Marshal they were ready. Corona’s mane suddenly flaring up tore their attention away from the incognito changelings.

“Well, I've learned a thing or two about pain during my centuries down here.” The Hierarch said venomously as she stood up from her throne, murder in her glowing amethyst eyes. “I have the Alicorns to thank for that.”

"Not completely underserved." The hooded horse said neutrally.

“I had planned to make Celestia’s suffering the foundation of my new Equestria.” The Alicorn’s horn ignited in infernal magic. “But yours?”

The two “bodyguards” shared a knowing look and quickly put some distance between them and their charge. Corona’s mane and tail burst into a raging inferno that forced the stallions to shield their eyes from their incandescent brilliance. The Archfiend trotted down from the throne to the floor, the ground cracking beneath her burning hooves.

“IT WILL BURN A HOLE OUT OF THIS DAMNED WORLD!!!” The High Queen of Hell roared with unholy fury.

The malevolent mare rocketed toward the pair like a comet, trailing hellfire in her wake. The stallions barely had time to jump out of the way before the Archfiend landed in a burst of flame where they had been standing, creating a wall of fire in front of the doorway. Now effectively trapped in the throne room, the Necroarch kicked out at Corona’s side only for her to block it with her wing and counter with a blast to his chest that forced him back. The Alicorn tried to follow up with another blast only for Armor to blindside her and slam a hoof into her jaw.

“Gah!” The Infernal Queen stumbled but still had enough sense to use her wings to bat the unicorn away and put some distance between herself and the stallions where she had the advantage.

"Tirek was right." The Theoi observed. "She is no brawler."

"Perhaps but she still has the strength of an Alicorn to call upon." Armor warned as he noted the fresh dent in his chest plate. "Plus all this fire."

“Don’t just stand there gawking!” Corona shouted at her hesitant minions. “Kill them!”

The demons looked from their mistress to her foes and back before they rushed in. Having already slain the better part of Dis’ defenders, the pale pair had little difficulty dealing with the cohort. The real threat came from the Hierarch taking to the air and raining fire down on them, regardless if her minions were in the way. In the melee of claws, hooves, and plasma, the Theoi just barely noticed the 'bruisers' pass something small between them. The robed royal grimaced as he realized just what he would have to do to give the incognito insects an opening. He waited until a demon tried to stab him in the back and whirled around to face it.

“Oh shit!” The hellion withered under the baleful glare of the infamous Pol'ydegmon. "I wasn't- I mean- Fuck, please don't kill me!"

“Not me you have to worry about.” The pale stallion retorted as he braced for what he knew was coming. “This is going to hurt.”

Seeing her enemy distracted, Corona conjured up a massive ball of hellfire. With a wicked smile, she hurled the sphere down into the fray. It landed square on the King’s back, knocking him flat and reducing the surrounding demons to ash. While the surviving hellions futilely attempted to slap out the flames, the Archfiend folded her wings and dove on her stunned foe. She landed on him with enough force to crack the stone floor and more than a few of the Theoi’s bones. The Queen flipped him over and pinned his legs beneath her hooves. Armor braved the flames to assist his friend only for the Hierarch to blast him with a fireball that sent him flying into the far wall.

“This is the end, your mute majesty!” Corona sneered as she prepared to make good on her threat.

“It certainly appears that way.” The Dark Lord said coldly as he glanced over at the 'bodyguards'. “What say you, Swarm Queen?”

A look of confusion flashed across the fiendish Alicorn’s face until she heard heavy steps rushing up behind her. Chrysalis and Elytra leaped upon the Hierarch, their disguises disintegrating in the mare’s wrathful flames. The three of them stumbled off the Theoi and into the middle of the room. The matron wrapped her legs around Corona’s barrel, pinning her wings to her sides and keeping her off balance while the nymph clung to the Archfiend’s neck. The younger changeling produced the cold iron ring but with the Infernal Queen kicking and thrashed like a feral beast, she could not find purchase.

"Get off of me!" The Alicorn shouted as Elytra's hold slipped and she found herself on her back before the enraged Queen. "Annoying little gnat!"

Just as the Hierarch was about to vaporize the Swarm Princess, a lance of nether energy racked her knees. Corona screamed in pain as she was forced to kneel. A second blast caught her in the side of the head, stunning her.

"Don't you dare touch my daughter!" Armor shouted furiously.

Taking advantage of the Hierarch's temporary vulnerability, Elytra managed to get close enough to her burning horn to slam the runic cold iron ring over it.

“Got it!” The Swarm Princess cheered as the anti-magic began to take effect.

Corona shuddered as if ice water had been dumped on her as her fiery mane diminished in intensity. However, even with her magic impaired, she was still an Alicorn and the shock had cleared her stupor. She caught Elytra with one of her hooves and flung the changeling into her father. When Chrysalis tried to retaliate, the mare freed one of her wings and was able to roll the changeling matron off and brutally kick her away. By that point, the Khthonic Theoi had gotten back to all fours and was muttering a certain mantra as the inky miasma of his animus seeped out of his wounds and coalesced into familiar talons around a hoof. Corona reared back to stamp down on her enemy with her forehooves when the Lord of Shades thrust forward. Rather than the expected thud of a body blow, his lurker-esque talons phased into her as he invoked the powers granted by his station and nature.

“Your soul is mine!” The stygian stallion intoned coldly as he ensnared the Infernal Queen’s vital essence.

The Alicorn’s eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she felt her very soul being tore free of its moorings. She tried to fight back but could only manage to shoot off a few ineffective tongues of flame from her inhibited horn and her physical blows faltered as her immortal physiology was compromised. With a sickening tear and glass shattering scream, Corona’s soul was extracted from her body. The shock of the removal loosened the King’s hold on the soul and knocked both him and the Queen away.

"By the Sunless Sky!" The Necroarch gasped as he beheld what monstrosity now floated before him.

Unlike the spectral ectoplasmic green of most shades, the Infernal Queen’s soul was a black, seething mass of corrupted soul, darkness and fire. The abomination shuddered as something shifted within and began to bulge obscenely from the bottom. Like an overfilled sack, the bulge tore and shredded as its contents were forcefully ejected. The tainted shade of a unicorn fell to the floor along with a plume of cinders and smoke.

"Wha-?" Elytra stared slack-jawed at the confused shade and the now churning mass. "Why are their two?"

Without the soul of the unicorn, the entity began to take on the shape and form of an emaciated mare black as volcanic rock with gouts of brilliant flame emerging from glowing cracks in her head, spine, and hooves. The corrupted animus’ wings unfurled like ash in the wind as it touched down on the ground. It locked eyes with the Theoi Anax, slitted and malignant irises of gold on orbs of deep crimson that glowed with the merciless light of a cruel sun.

"Fine! You may keep this glorified cavern you dare call home, you sad excuse of a stallion!" The hellish aberration snarled. "I have sights on a far greater prize!"

With a powerful flap of her flame-flecked wings, the Alicorn animus took to the air. The Theoi Anax attempted to stop the fiend only to be bowled over as she circled the room a few times before blasting out the oculus in the ceiling. The pale horse could only watch as the burning fiend rocketed toward the fissure in the roof of Tartarus. A few keres and airborne revenants tried to intercept the animus but were kept at bay by the lashes of flame she sent their way. The corrupted shade reached the breach and disappeared within its depths with one last tongue of flame as if mocking her foes. A heavy silence fell over the throne room of Dis. The few remaining demons that had not been killed in the melee wisely dropped their weapons and fled. The Dread Lord paid them no heed as he continued to stare at the animus' egress with a mix of mounting dread and anger.

“Demons are a cowardly lot, aren’t they?” Chrysalis said with a smug smirk even as she nursed her bruised and burned body. “You alright? You’re bleeding.”

“I will be fine.” The Necroarch answered tensely as he finally regarded the changeling. “How is everyone else?”

“I'm probably going to need a patch up but we'll live.” Armor answered as he trotted over with a tired but smiling Elytra. "Well, they'll live at any rate."

"Speaking of living…” The Swarm Queen pointed toward their bested foe. "...shouldn't she not be?"

The four of them turned to see the unicorn shade crawl toward her soulless body and reenter it. Without the power of an Alicorn to sustain her, the once-mighty Hierarch was slowly withering. Feathers molted off her rapidly atrophying wings until the limbs decayed to dust, leaving only faint scars on the mare’s back. Her sunburnt complexion faded to a somewhat healthier light pink. The last bit of fire went out of her mane, leaving only an unkempt mess of blonde hair. The now impotent unicorn remained on the floor, shivering in shock.

“Meet the mare behind this madness.” The Dark Lord said as he approached the mare with Armor and the changelings in tow. "Former pupil of Celestia turned murderer and self-appointed Hierarch of Tartarus."

As their shadows fell over her, Corona looked up at them with sunken, sleep-deprived eyes. She shied away from them as the pale horse reached down and plucked the horned golden crown from her head.

“Show this to the Undying and demons below.” He instructed the shapeshifters. “Let them know that this war is over.”

“Gladly.” Chrysalis nodded as she took the crown. “Come along, Elytra.”

The nymph and matron buzzed out of the room to look for a balcony to proclaim their victory. Once they were out of sight, the Lord of Shades turned his attention back to Corona. The unicorn had found the strength to sit up but remained silent. Armor shook his head in pity.

"Yet another one of Celestia's mistakes that we have to clean up." The late prince-regent sighed.

"Would you like the honors?" The Theoi offered.

"I got the last one, sir." The Marshal refused politely. "This one is all yours."

With one last derisive snort aimed in Corona's direction, the revenant turned his back to her and departed to rejoin his troops in the lobby. The mare could only glare at him as the ring around her horn prevented her from doing much else. The monochrome monarch watched as his would-be usurper got to all fours and found her voice.

"You don't know what it's like." The unicorn said weakly but bitterly. "That have that... thing inside you. Constantly dripping 'kill Celestia, burn Equestria, conquer Equus' into your every waking thought."

"If you're trying to use the Nightmare Moon defense, save your breath." The Theoi said bluntly. "You're not Luna and that was not born of you."

"Yes, of course. She nearly splits the nation apart but all is forgiven." Corona snarled. "I try to save my country from tyranny and get banished to Tartarus! You tell me; how is that jus-!"

"I don't care." The pale horse cut her off. "Whatever you did and why you did it during your mortal span is inconsequential compared to your numerous sins against me."

"Sins?! The bleeding, crippled husk of a stallion is still trying to play god?" A twisted smiled played across the mare's face. "If anything came of this mess it's that I proved you are no diety; no omniscient being ruling over us lowly creatures from on high! You are just another petty tyrant who is just as deluded and self-righteous as Celestia!"

"Are you done?" The Theoi fought the urge to laugh at her diatribe.

"NEVER!" Corona shouted as she snatched up a dropped sword and charged the stygian stallion in a maddened fury.

The pale horse remained motionless as the unicorn jumped into the air and plunged the blade into his shoulder. A spurt of inky ichor rewarded her efforts and emboldened the crazed mare to force the blade ever deeper. Rather than collapse as she expected a mortal stallion to do, the larger equine wrapped his unobstructed foreleg around her back and held her fast against his chest.

"Did you honestly think a sword would work? After everything Tirek threw at me? It's not even enchanted." The Necroarch reinforced the futility of her actions by rolling his shoulder and dislodging the blade. "I would be insulted if you had not just declared your ignorance as to what I am. Or denial, rather."

"What?! No!" Corona struggled in vain against the Theoi's hold. "NO!! LET ME GO!!"

"Ah yes. That look of dawning realization." The pale horse said as he squeezed the mare a little tighter, cracking a few ribs in the process. "Confidence and bravado turning into dread and horror. Now do you understand?"

"Rrraaagh!!" Feral screaming was all the doomed unicorn could manage as she began wildly punching and kicking with her hooves.

"I'll take that as a yes." The Dark Lord sighed as Corona headbutted him only to break off her horn. "Well, I've indulged you long enough."

In a feat of balance few would associate with equines, the Theoi Anax reared back on his hindhooves and fully embrace the blonde mare. Her struggles turned to pained gasps as the air was squeezed from her lungs. Bones creaked and snapped as organs were crushed like ripe fruits in a vice. Through unfocused eyes nearly blinded by pain and tears, Corona Blaze saw past the equine veneer of the Silent King and saw a truth only afforded to the dead.

"What...are...you...?" Was the last coherent words of the Archfiend of the Nine Circles of Tartarus before a geyser of blood and bile erupted from her mouth.

With an agonizingly long crack and a sharp snap, the mare folded in two as her spine broke. The Theoi watched as the last twitches of life left the body of the pink pony before he dropped it to the floor and returned to all fours. He wiped a few errant traces of filth from his robes and picked up the sword still stained with his ichor.

"I am a lot of things." The Overlord of the Underworld answered with a shrug. "Now, I believe I promised you a flaying..."

The battle in the Hellmouth was in its closing maneuvers. The desperate demons had been pushed to the very edge of the gaping pit to the Circles. With revenants and makhai pressing in on all sides, many of them knew they were fighting just for a few more precious moments outside of the Infernal Pits. Some were working up the nerve for one final and perhaps suicidal push when a great scream followed by the shattering of glass was heard over the din of battle. Both sides paused to look up at Dis, a few having to shield their eyes from the hail of broken glass. After a few moments, Elytra and Chrysalis appeared on one of the balconies Corona used to address her subjects. The matron waved something gold over the armies before she threw it down to them.

*CLANG*

Corona’s horned crown landed between the two armies where it broke in two. A sense of hard-fought triumph spread through the Undying in contrast to the all-consuming dread that now flooded the last vestiges of the Grand Exodus. The armored knights and brutish berserkers turned their gaze back to the stunned demons. Steel Hands leveled his blade at the one closest to him.

“You are beaten.” He said firmly. “Surrender now or crawl back to whatever hell you crawled out of.”

The hellions did not need to be told twice. Some dropped their weapons and knelt down in the ash while others turned and jumped into the Hellmouth. It was finally over. Tartarus was now secure.

“Victory is ours!” Chrysalis proclaimed from above. “Hell trembles before us!”

“Word of our deeds will spread all across the Underworld!” Elytra added for effect. “We will be legends!”

A great cheer went up from the victorious Undying and their mortal and makhai allies that was heard throughout the Sunless Lands. From the shades of the Necropolis to the cyclopes in Barathrum to the blessed in Elysium to the souls awaiting passage in Erebos, a sense of relief washed over the hidden realm; they knew they were now safe. Another cheer erupted from the victors as their patron appeared on the balcony along with Armor and the rest of the group tasked with assaulting the tower.

“Want to wave to your adoring subjects?” Elytra asked him with a coy smile.

“Not right now.” The Silent King answered as he looked over the balcony to judge the drop. “We need to leave, now.”

“Why?” Chrysalis inquired just as Dis groaned like a wounded animal.

Bits of masonry fell to the ground behind them as the capitol lurched and shuddered. The Grand Marshal signaled for pegasi and griffons to extract himself, the Theoi and those unable to fly. The revenants and their auxiliaries below hurriedly climbed out of the crater to get away from the collapsing tower. Dis scraped along the edges of the Hellmouth as the last of the power that kept it airborne failed and the structure entered free fall. The group rejoined the main body of the army as the spires of the capitol of Tartarus vanished into the depths with a roar of wind.

“Figures.” The late regent rolled his eyes once the immediate danger had passed. “The villain dies and its lair collapses.”

“That tends to happen where dark magic is involved.” Lulamoon said knowingly. “Ah, Chrysalis. Trixie sees that you are useful after all even if you look like you've been mauled by an ursa major.”

“I try my best.” The matron gave the magician a cheeky smile. “What happened to your leg?”

“Trixie fought and slew a dragon.” The mage said boastfully. “Oh, and she is a lich now. Long story.”

While the mares chatted, the Theoi trotted over to Armor who was looking out over the Hellmouth. The former captain was basking in the light of their victory along with his troops, something he dearly missed since he was alive. His patron let him enjoy it for a few more moments before he approached him.

“Put down an uprising and saved two worlds. Not bad for my first try as Grand Marshal.” The late unicorn said with a joyful expression. “Where do we go from here, sir?”

“Pandemonium.” The Necroarch gestured toward the yawning abyss. “As much as I want to return to Barathrum, we need to manage this 'peace' properly or we risk a repeat of this heresy.”

“From warfare to politics. Some things never change.” Armor shook his head before something occurred to him. “I'm almost afraid to ask but what did you do with Corona?”

“I sent her on ahead with a message.” The Dark Lord said with a ghost of a smile on his thin lips.

Down in Pandemonium, the various demons and hellions milled about the bronze streets and squares waiting for news from the front. Ever since the Hellevator was cut off, they had no idea how the Grand Exodus was going. Rumors began to circulate that they had been left behind while the Banished made for the surface. Others claimed that the Exodus had run afoul of the Dread Lord and his minions. The lack of any concrete answers plus the occasional corpse that fell down to them did not sit well with the denizens of the wrathful Circle.

“There is too much waiting!” A fiend growled to no one in particular. “I need to kill!”

“We should send something with wings up there to-“ Another demon was cut off by a chunk of rubble crushing him flat.

The hellions cleared out of the square where Dis once floated as stone and iron rained down on them. The roar of rushing wind drowned out the shouts of the demons as Dis fell back into the Fifth Circle. The tower crashed into the center of the Woeful City like a bolt from the heavens, flattening the surrounding buildings and sending shock waves all throughout the Circle. Fissures opened up in the streets as the lower levels of the capitol sank into the catacombs below. The tower crumbled and partially collapsed in on itself but ultimately remained upright. As the dust and noise settled, the demons emerged from their shelters. A crowd gathered in front of the ruined capitol, unspoken questions running through their minds.

“Look!” An observant wrathful pointed to the top of the spires. “Up there!”

They all looked to the highest spires of Dis to find Corona’s bloody pelt flying in the ash choked air, a macabre banner to her failure and a clear warning to all those who would oppose the will of the Lord of the Underworld or his servants.