James heard the explosion but was unable to see what was going on. He could hear the gasps of some mares and they sounded all too familiar. James tried to push those thoughts from his head hoping that they weren’t there. If anything were there let it be Chrysalis because he couldn’t look at himself the same way if his mares got hurt. James always believed in them but since they were carrying his children then they couldn’t fight. James could hear the charging of magic so he willed himself to look. His eyes slowly opened as he brought his head up. He noticed that the imposters were gone from his side and standing with the others. James lifted himself more and almost started to cry. He stared at his mares as they got ready for a fight.

Spitfire was filled with such rage that her mane and tail were now actual flames. Vinyl’s eyes turned a dark blood red along with her magical aura. Lightning was emitting electricity from her mane and tail that it scorched the rocks. Octavia was bleeding from her hands as she clenched her fists tightly. Rainbow’s eyes started to turn blood red just like Vinyl’s. Lyra’s once golden orbs became a dull gray as she let the anger take over her body. Rarity’s dress was ruined and covered in dirt but she could care less when she saw James. Pinkie’s mane and tail went flat but she donned a sinister grin. Twilight’s eyes glowed white as her magic flowed through her body. Rose, Aloe, Lotus, Flitter, Fluttershy, Fiddlesticks, Cloudchaser, Daisy, and Lily stayed back with Cadance to keep her safe.

James counted the best that he could but couldn’t find one of the mares. There was a quick flash as Trixie appeared next to him and grabbed him. She teleported back to the others and got behind the mares. Trixie flared her horn and hands as she looked over James’ body. He was worse on the inside than his outside looked. He had a few broken ribs, some internal bleeding, and he was just barely alive. Trixie got to work as the mares stared down at their clones. James watched as his mares got ready for a fight and he tried to stop them. James tried to get up but was stopped by Cadance as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

James tensed upon seeing the pink alicorn but that smile that she gave him helped to put his fears to rest. James was gently propped against a rock so Trixie could reach around better. James stared as his mares surrounded him blocking his view. He could hear their heavy breathing as they stared down the changelings. James could feel that his strength was coming back but Trixie was having a hard time. She was sweating and breathing very shallowly. James put his hands on the rock and tried to lift himself. He was stopped when Trixie and Cadance put their hands on him to keep him to the ground.

He stared at them annoyed but they looked back with their own stare. James noticed the necklace that Trixie was wearing and looked at the other mares. They turned around and smiled at James and noticed they were all wearing their necklace. James gave a huge sigh as he relented to their will. James would have only gotten in the way with his current condition and they knew that. James looked back at them as Spitfire continued to smile at him. All the mares gave him a thumbs up letting him know that they would be okay. James relaxed more against the rock and let Trixie continue her work.

There was a deathly ill silence that filled the cave. Everypony was staring each other down waiting for one of them to attack. The changelings took to their original forms hoping to intimidate their foes. This had the opposite effect as the mares became more enraged. James could feel the heat that Spitfire’s body gave off but it felt comforting. It was as if the heat from her body would burn her enemies but keep those that she cared about from being hurt. James could only watch with baited breath as the mares and changelings charged at each other. James watched as his mares fought with careful strikes. They would attack with kicks and punches but be precise so they wouldn’t leave themselves open. As an attack would come their way they would block it and keep their stomachs protected.

James was pulled from the fight as he saw Trixie starting to stumble. James lifted his hands to her hands and grabbed a hold of them. He stared into her eyes letting her know that she shouldn’t overdo it. Trixie could only shake her head as she kept pushing through the fatigue to keep healing James. In all her time as the Princess of love Cadance was actually surprised. She literally saw James radiate his love to Trixie. Thought it wasn’t just Trixie that it went to but also the other mares. She heard of stallions having love for mares but it there was always one mare that got more. James on the other hand gave equal amounts of love to them all.

Cadance understood a little more why these mares were so caring of James. She also knew why Chrysalis was so wanting of James when they met. Cadance walked over to Trixie and put her hand on her shoulder. Trixie looked at the princess and could see her smiling. She could feel the magic that Cadance was giving her so she could focus on James more. Trixie felt a little ashamed that she was getting help from the princess but was glad for the nice gesture. Cadance still didn’t have much in her magical power but she could give enough to help get James on his feet. James could feel his strength returning quicker than before as he looked back at the mares.

He could feel his heart slow down as he watched his mares take a serious beating. They beat back the first set of changelings but there were more heading down the way. James got anxious hoping that his power would come back to him so he could help. Cadance could see the worry in his eyes as she looked back over the mares. She could see that they were battered and bruised as they held off the changelings. Cadance looked down at James and placed a hand on his shoulder. She knew of James’ magical abilities from her aunts and wanted to see if she could help him enough so he could use them.

Cadance focused her magic and released it into James. Her aunts were a little vague about what James could do in the magic field but she felt that anything would be helpful. James felt the extra boost of magic course through his body from the princess. James looked at the pained expression on the princess’ face but was calmed as she smiled. James lifted his left hand and focused his magic. At first there was nothing but then his hand started to glow its red and black color. James then lifted his right hand up and it started to glow orange. With his magic at his fingertips James slapped his hands together and sent out a flash of light.

Everypony went blind from the light that went off. As the light died off everypony rubbed their eyes to get rid of the spots. When the spots were gone James was standing in between them with his elemental guardians at his side. James was still in his battered clothing but most of his wounds had healed. They saw the shields on his right arm but they were surprised with his left. The left arm contained a different design than it had before. There were now rings around his arms that looked like black flames. Cadance out of them all was utterly shocked to see this. She turned to Trixie to ask the dreaded question.

“I know James has magical abilities but how is he able to do that?”

“Well after everything that has happened we learned that James was adept in two fields of magic. The first being defensive magic hence the elementals. The second is a dark kind of magic called illusionary.” Cadance’s jaw dropped at the realization.

Cadance could only stare dumbfounded at James. She read on illusionary magic before but she had never seen it in action before. She remembered the toll that it took on a pony when they used it. She looked over the mares and saw that they weren’t entirely worried. They all seemed relieved and happy that James was standing with his guardians. Cadance looked back at Trixie to continue the conversation.

“Is this the first time that James has done this?”

“Not really no. This is the second time that he has summoned them.”

“He does realize the risks that come with using this magic right?”

“He knows all too well. We almost lost him the first time but he pulled through then. We have no doubt that he can do it again if he needs to.” Cadance could see that all the mares were hopeful for James. Cadance could only sigh since there was nothing that she could do.

James looked at the changelings as they cowered back. James slowly walked forward and with each step forward they took a step back. When the changeling’s backs were up against the wall James gave a loud boo and they scattered. All the changelings flew away in fear of James. Once all the changelings were gone James walked to his elementals and whispered to them. The elementals all bowed as the black ooze that made them up came out of them. The ooze went back into James’ arm as the elements broke into twenty different pieces and flew to the mares.

The pieces touched the mares and filled their bodies with magic. The magic that James gave them helped to reenergize them and heal their wounds. James smiled as he walked towards the exit of the cave with the mares and princess following behind. They exited the cave and saw that they weren’t too far from Canterlot. Still they were too far away to make it in time to warn the princesses. James walked over to Cadance and bowed respectfully before speaking.

“I know that this may be asking too much but I need you to teleport us all to my room in the castle. Before I finish this I need to grab a few things.” Cadance could only smile at the human.

“There is no need to be afraid to ask such a thing. I will gladly take us all there since you helped us all back there.” Her horn and hands glowed as everypony touched her or another.

There was a flash as they were all taken to James’ room. James walked over to his dresser and pulled out a change of clothes. He walked into the bathroom and changed quickly. James was dressed in a shirt that contained his mare’s cutie marks and a pair of faded blue jeans. James walked over to the closet and grabbed a light hoody that the princesses got him. James put it on as he looked at his daggers. James thought it over for a bit but decided against it. When James turned around the mares couldn’t help but look at his hoody. On the left side of the hoody was Celestia’s cutie mark and on the right was Luna’s cutie mark.

James remembered when they gave this to him. It showed that he was there to not guard the princesses but the citizens that experienced their sun and moon. James popped his neck as he shoved his doors open. He walked dwon the halls nearing the throne room. James made a big scene as she pushed the doors open. Everything went quiet as all the ponies looked over at James. Chrysalis couldn’t help but start to sweat as she saw James. James walked up to Chrysalis and started talking to her.

“You have two choices now. You can either leave now or face an overdue beating from me.” Chrysalis laughed as she went to her true form.

The ponies all ran out of the hall in fear of the changeling. Celestia flared her magic but was stopped by James. James summoned his elemental guardians as he heard the shield crack. He looked outside as he saw changelings break through the force field. James sighed as he looked back over everypony. James snapped his fingers and his elementals all looked at him waiting for his command.

“I want all six of you to keep everypony safe and from interfering in this fight.” The elemental guardians bowed as they spread across the room.” James turned and faced Chrysalis as she continued to laugh.

“You really do amuse me James you really do. Though the thing that really amuses me is those five mares that are with you. Why exactly are they with you? I felt your love for these others stronger with them than those five. You have misplaced your love on five hopeless ponies that could never find love. They are better off becoming whorses since they could never find true love. Even they know that it is true. They just deny it since they can’t accept the facts. You should just drop them as dead weight and go back to the ones that you truly love. If you let them go then I would gladly take them and make them my own. How does that-” James had enough of Chrysalis’ rambling.

During her rambling James looked over at Flitter, Cloudchaser, Daisy, Lily, and Fiddlesticks and saw that they were crying. It was true that his feelings may have been small but that was because they only started being together. When Chrysalis reached the point in her talking about taking them as her food source he had enough. James didn’t care that she was currently right because he was going to prove her wrong.

“Why don’t you just shut the fuck up. I will not lie that my feelings might be little but that doesn’t mean much. I am willing to give them a chance like the others. They have been giving a hundred percent in their love and I have been slacking. So thanks for the wake-up call so I can pay more attention to them.” The mares all smiled as James stood over Chrysalis.

Chrysalis’ eyes filled with rage and she swung out at James. James was sent back a couple feet but remained standing. He could feel the strength behind the hit and was glad that he put a shield on himself. Chrysalis grinned as she got ready for a fight. James sighed as he prepared for a fight with the changeling queen. They circled each other as they waited for the first move. Chrysalis charged at him with her fist raised. The fist was coming for his face but he easily grabbed it.

Once he had a hold of her fist he moved her arm out to the side as he grabbed her throat. Once he had a hold of her throat James lifted her up and brought her back down slamming her on the ground. Chrysalis gasped as the air left her lungs. She recovered as she wrapped her legs around James head and threw him across the room. James hit the wall with a loud crack. The wall became a spider web of cracks as James fell to the floor. James got up from the ground and dusted himself off.

James ran forward as he brought up his fist. Chrysalis was fast to bring up her arms to protect her face. She then saw that it was a fake-out as James brought up his right leg and it connected with her right side. She was sent flying back as she felt some of her chitin skin crack. She growled with rage at James for breaking through her armor. Chrysalis flared her magic as she sent magic blasts at James. James brought up an iron wall that took the hits. James then flicked the wall and sent it flying towards her. She dodged just in time but only for James to punch her in the face and make her face hit the ground.

Chrysalis could feel the blood drip from her head. Chrysalis was getting tired of playing games with James. She could see that he wasn’t going to give in to her choices so she went with killing him. She flashed her magic and this blinded James. When James was able to see he could feel pain along his abdomen. He looked down and saw Chrysalis’ hand had gone through him. James coughed up some blood as it filled his lungs. Chrysalis laughed as she removed her hand and he fell to the floor.

James was holding on as much as he could. James could feel his magic try and stop the bleeding but that was proving difficult. James looked up as Chrysalis grinned above him. Chrysalis picked him up by his collar and sent her hand through his chest. All the mares screamed as they saw the hand pierce his chest. Chrysalis dropped James’ lifeless body and laugh in victory. She turned around and started to ascend the steps when she heard laughing. She looked all around and couldn’t find the source. All the mares were busy looking around trying to find the laugher. They looked to their right and saw James emerge.

Chrysalis stared horrified as she looked at the dead James as he disappeared into a mist. As soon as Chrysalis turned to face the living James she got punched in the face. She was about to fly back before James grabbed her leg and sent a blow to her chest. She hit the ground creating a small crater. James looked down at her but instead of anger she saw pity. He had his hand raised to deliver the final blow but lowered it. James then held out a hand to her to help her to her feet.

“I know why you did all of this and I don’t wish to kill you.” Chrysalis could see that he was being sincere but she kept up her touch façade.

“What are you talking about? I want to kill the princesses and rule equestrian. What other motive could I have?”

“The only motive that a ruler needs to keep their citizens safe. I can tell that you and your changelings are suffering and you did the only thing possible. You needed a food source and this was the only way to get it. I feel your pain because I have seen it on the faces of many people. I offer you this hand in friendship and helpfulness if you just stop your attack. If you don’t then I can’t help you with what will happen next. You knew from the beginning that you couldn’t take on the princesses but you were desperate. If you give me a chance then I can help you.” Chrysalis remained quiet as tears formed in her eyes.

The mares all stared in anger but after hearing what James said they couldn’t help but cry. James kept his hand held out and then Chrysalis finally took it. James pulled her to her feet as she cried in his shoulder. James just stroked her back trying to calm her down. Chrysalis was finally able to get herself undercontrol as she looked at James. James called back his elementals so the mares could come over. Chrysalis stepped back as the mares huddled around James to keep him safe.

“You don’t need to worry. I think she has decided on the right choice to take.” James looked over and saw that Chrysalis was nodding.

“Princesses I know that it is asking for much but I would like her to stay at the castle for a while so she can talk to you about her problems.” The princesses stared at James in shock. They could see that when he was talking to Chrysalis that everything that he said was true.

The princesses gave huge sighs as they offered Chrysalis a place to sleep. Chryslalis gave a sheepish grin as she called to her drones to stop the attack. They all listened to their queen and flew back to the hive. James walked over to Chrysalis and gave her a friendly hug that she accepted. Once the hug was broken Chrysalis bowed to the princesses as they lead her to her chambers.

“How did you know that was going to work?” Cadance asked.

“When she captured me and after her beatings I could feel the hurt. She never wanted to destroy Canterlot but she was desperate. I think that if she talks to the princesses I think they can come to some sort of agreement.” James smiled at everypony glad that this didn’t have to end in bloodshed.

“Though tomorrow we are going to have to redo this whole entire wedding.” James couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes I guess that Shining and I are going to have to go through this again. But it seems like you have some conversations of your own with mares.” James looked over at his mares as they looked away like they were up to nothing. James continued to laugh as he spoke with the princess.

“Yeah I guess that I do. After all of this I still can’t believe that it worked out in the end. I am glad to have you all and your help.” The mares all hugged James as they cried a little for him. James smiled as he looked out at Canterlot happy that he was finally going to marry the loves of his life.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to ErikTheSoulReaper for the help on this chapter.