Crystal Quarry, a few minutes ago...

Sitting all alone in the depths of the abandoned mines beneath Canterlot was the real Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, who preferred the name Cadance. Some time before the wedding, she had been tricked by Queen Chrysalis who was disguised as a castle servant and was whisked away to this make-shift prison. The Changeling queen constantly taunted her about the fact that her fiance's love was all hers and there was nothing she could do.

Cadance did try to escape, but all attempts ended up either looping her back to the depths, or Chrysalis herself subjected her to some torture before resetting her progress to zero. The only mercy her captor afforded was water and small amounts of food. The Alicorn of Love was beginning to lose hope.

"Is anypony down here?"

A familiar voice rang out from the cave, one that Cadance recognized despite the years. "D-down here! I'm down here!"

A second later and a flash of purple light, Twilight Sparkle teleported to the location. "Cadance... is it really you..?"

Recognizing that the foal she once babysat had a bad run-in with Chrysalis disguised as her, she knew one way to prove it. "Oh, Twilight. What did we always do when you were younger?" That got a small smile out of Twilight.

Sunshine, sunshine
Ladybugs awake!
Clap your hooves
And do a little shake!

"It really is you! I'm so glad I finally found you!" Twilight embraced her old babysitter tearfully.

"I'm glad to see you hale and hearty after all these years. But... what possessed you to come down into these caves? Nopony has come down here for years!"

Twilight shows Cadance her feather. "Lieutenant Spiral found your feather during his rounds and entrusted it to me so I could track you! Him and some others recognized that the 'you' up there was doing some thing malicious to my brother! Right now, they're are working to capture your imposter right now, but you being there will be the most surefire way of proving that SHE'S the fake!"

"Shiny always had capable ponies under his command. Full glad to hear they were concerned enough to look into things on their own."

"I even got help from some of my friends! Rainbow Dash and Zephyr both realized something was off and believed me when I was trying to call the fake out!"

Hearing twilight now has good friends who has her back put a smile on Cadance's muzzle. "You've come a long way, Twilight. You always favored books and the company of me and your brother over making friends. Now look at you! I'm so proud!"

Twilight rolls her eyes in amusement. "We should save further catch-up for after we fix everything. Right now, we should get back to the castle asap!" Cadance nods with a determined look, thankful she'll finally be free from these caves.

Thanks to Twilight having ran the whole way down beforehoof and KOing a set of brainwashed bridesmaids, backtracking made the return trip much shorter. Many of the guards were shocked to see a disheveled Cadance once they entered the chapel where the wedding was to be but made no moves to stop her. As they made their way to where the rehearsal was supposed to take place, they were joined by Rainbow Dash. "Found her, did you? Great, now let's catch ourselves a fake!"

"You must be Rainbow Dash! Thank you for being a good friend to Twilight, it means the world to me!"

That made Rainbow realize something. "Zephyr was right about your 'impression'." Seeing puzzled looks she clarified. "He told me "though we met and talked for a short time before, the impression I got from Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was one of kindness and compassion. She felt like she was somepony you could spill your heart to without worry". I feel like we were able to do this BECAUSE he managed to meet the real you before you got swapped."

That got a giggle out of Cadance. "I'm glad I give that impression to ponies. Let's remove that imposter so we can properly enjoy the wedding!"

"You unworthy cretins won't take me!"

When the guards and Lieutenants tried to jump Chrysalis, Zephyr stayed put to let the experts make the arrest. Turns out it was what saved him when the Changeling Queen charged her horn and made a massive green explosion centered on her. It K.O.ed all the guards caught in it and the shock wave was strong enough to blow Zephyr backwards. What the-- what is this power?!

"What's going on?!" The rest of the Elements of Harmony managed to rejoin Twilight and Rainbow and were shocked by the scene.

Twilight grimaced. "That's a Changeling and she had disguised herself as Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! With her disguise no longer useful, she revealed herself and just blasted away the guards!" Her friends looked horrified while Rainbow dropped in front of Fluttershy to protect her.

"You..!" Celestia was already infuriated with Chrysalis for what she did to her niece, but now she was fully enraged. "You dare attack my little ponies?! You may have gotten away with your tricks up to this point, but no longer!" It was the first time anypony heard Celestia so angry.

Without letting the Chrysalis do or say anything, Celestia flew up and fired a beam of pure light magic at the Changeling queen. Not wanting to go down without a fight, Chrysalis fired back with her own beam back and entered a struggle with the angry Alicorn. Despite thinking she was losing, she managed to overwhelm Celestia's and caused her horn to explode.

"Your highness!" Zephyr managed to catch Celestia during the blow-back and helped brace her. While she collapsed after the two stopped moving, she was able to stay upright.

"Huh..? I... still had enough? Hehe..." Chrysalis started laughing maniacally with a savage grin. "Looks like the Captain's love for his bride gave me power beyond even the Alicorn of the Sun, even with my plan incomplete! And with him under my control, that barrier will soon follow suit as my minions work to shatter it!"

Cadance suddenly realized that Shining Armor was in the room with a bugged out, distant look. "Shiny!"

"Too bad, so sad! The only one capable of stopping me couldn't do it! None of you have the power to stop me!"

Celestia winced as she looks at Twilight and her friends, who gathered around her in concern. "She's... wrong! The Elements of Harmony can still help us! Go to them!" The bearers nod in unison as they turn to leave. "Zephyr, please protect them... I fear the Captain's barrier may not last much longer!"

"You really think I'll just let you go?!" Chrysalis, knowing she still had to be careful, decided to try and nip the potential problem in the bud by firing a beam at the Element Bearers, namely Fluttershy who was slightly lagging behind.

"NO!" Zephyr intercepted the shot, only to get blasted so viciously he bounced off the back wall and out the window in a state of catatonic unconsciousness.

"BIG BROTHER!!!" Fluttershy cried out in sheer despair at the sight. She wanted to go to him, but understood that doubling back for him would waste his sacrifice. With tears in her eyes, she continued to follow her friends to the tower containing the Elements.

Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof, was absolutely livid but knew she had to stick with her friends for now. I'm sorry, Zephyr... I want to help, but we need to get the Elements first!

"Hmph, I guess I'll have to take what I got for now. One pest down, I'll hunt down the rest after securing my prizes here!"

What... happened..? Am I dead?

You've survived, but only because of your armor. The next time you won't be so lucky.

Who are you?!

Unimportant. I have come to you with a deal. As it stands, you have no power to change the fate of those around you but I can change that.

What do you mean by that?! I'm sure my friends will be able to use the--

They won't, I can tell you that now. Changelings may be weak individually, but their swarming tactics and ability to cause confusion will ensure the Bearers will be too exhausted to reach their goal. Also, your involvement has effectively doomed them to a gruesome fate.

H-how?!

*An image of all his friends and family being encased in green cocoons appeared. All were kept in a state of perpetual drowsiness until they were successfully hypnotized, making them 'love' the Changelings and allowing the creatures to feed on them until they expired.*

You're joking... YOU'RE LYING!!!

What do I have to gain from lying to you? If you never got involved, their queen would have gotten overly cocky about her plan's success. Now she means to secure her prospects far more solidly to guarantee her victory. This includes your own demise.

And now you're here offering me 'power'? What's in it for you?

Your survival. What you use the power for after you gain it matters not to me, all I ask is that you survive. If you wish to protect those you love and care for, this... is your only option other than letting the fate I outlined come to pass.

I... I care too much for my friends... my family... my loved ones... to let that vision come to pass should it be true. I accept your offer.

Then let it be so! But remember, this power is not yours to permanently command nor was it ever meant to be used by you. Now, repeat after me...

"Souls bound to fate, thy future is unkind. With destruction I rend, fear my wind!"

Brought back to consciousness and bursting with power over wind, Zephyr came to as he chanted that incantation. His memory had blanked out as to how he got this sudden surge of power, but he didn't care. All that mattered was the protection of everypony important to him.

"P-Private Windstorm?" Flash Sentry had seen the green Pegasus get launched out the window and fall unconscious a few seconds ago. All of a sudden Zephyr recited that phrase and his body started bursting with wind magic as his secondary wing feathers had their patterns start glowing the same light-green as the wind he's surrounded by.

"Private Sentry, sound the alarm and tell all guards that Canterlot will soon be under attack. Captain Shining Armor is compromised and his barrier will fall in a matter of minutes. I must go and protect the Elements of Harmony!"

With those words, Zephyr shot upwards with a tornado left where he was standing, though it quickly faded. Not long after taking to the air, Shining Armor's barrier started to crumble as a whole army of Changelings began dive bombing the area. Dodging the ones aiming for him, Zephyr made his way to his friends and family.

The Bearers of the Elements were able to make their way through the city towards the castle where the Elements of Harmony were stored. However, long before they could even reach the tower, they were brought to a screeching halt by a literal army of Changelings blocking their way. Pinkie was exasperated. "How are we supposed to get to the Elements like this?!"

"Ah' dunno, but we have to try! We can't let Princess Celestia and Zephyr's efforts go to waste!" Applejack pawed the ground in preparation for a scrap.

"You will not keep them!" The mares gave a start with a green mass suddenly landed close to the front of the army in front of them, causing a massive light-green tornado that blew a good number of Changelings away.

It was Zephyr, who despite the viscous attack he took earlier, was conscious and letting off a soft glow. Fluttershy burst forward to hug her brother. "Big brother! I'm so glad you're okay~!"

"I had to protect you, Shy, so I have no regrets. But we should save the affectionate stuff for after this crisis is over."

The Changelings that were blown away quickly came back, causing Twilight to light up her horn. "You're right! There will be plenty of time to celebrate after we fix this issue!"

"Let me at 'em! They'll rue the day they DARED to attack my friends and family!" Rainbow Dash was fired up to take revenge-by-proxy on these drones.

"Just be careful with your newfound wind powers, Zephyr dear!" Rarity made sure to call out. "I have no idea how you happened upon them, but they can blow us around as much as these horrid creatures!"

Zephyr grimaced when he realized Rarity was right, but came up with an idea. "Take these! It should help you girls resist my wind!" Flaring his secondary wings with excessive force, exactly 6 feathers came off and floated in place. After enchanting them, he sent the feathers to tuck themselves right behind the ears of the mares. They all suddenly felt like their bodies were encased by a gentle breeze.

When some Changelings tried to attack them, Zephyr blew them away with a literal wind tunnel. The mares braced for the massive gust, only to realized they were unaffected. Twilight was stunned before she grinned. "You gave us wind immunity! Looks like you have free reign over the battlefield now!"

"I'll help keep the invaders under crowd-control! Push forward when you can, but try not to get surrounded!" Zephyr took to the air, ready to escort his friends and family.

The Changelings tried to disguise themselves as the mares and even as Zephyr, but the mimicry was too imperfect to be viable. The feather accessory on the fakes didn't glow like the real deals and Zephyr fakes didn't have a set of secondaries. Realizing that their main gimmick was useless, they opted for victory via overwhelming numbers.

Zephyr made sure the invaders couldn't properly organize thanks to how much he was tossing them around like rag-dolls with the wind. He conjured tornadoes for scattering, vortexes for clustering them when Twilight was in position to blast them, and even created powerful updrafts to launch them into Rainbow's speedy attacks. The scattering helped Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie keep a handle on the situation while Fluttershy, unable to bring herself to fight, kept close to her friends as moral support.

Zephyr noted that, while his wind magic was great for launching enemies everywhere or in specific directions, it couldn't directly harm anything. Guh, I definitely have power but my control over it is tenuous at best. The only way I can actually inflict harm is if I concentrate the wind more, but then I lose crowd-control and that's more important right now.

Chrysalis, having secured Celestia in a cocoon and glued Mi Amore Cadenza to the ground to keep her from her groom, had come to where her drones had been sending distressed signals to her and the others. When she saw her army getting thwarted by 7 ponies, one of which she thought was down and out, she became infuriated. "You worms dare make a mockery of MY hive?! I'll fix you right properly so you can never oppose us again!"

Zephyr heard the queen and looked just in time to see her launch a blast of magic at Twilight. He managed to redirect it to go down prematurely, but knew that he couldn't risk letting her close to everypony else. "You want to get at my friends and family? You'll have to go through me, first!" He quickly maneuvered around another blast and smashed into her to launch her back towards the chapel.

"You saw how I overpowered your precious Princess! What hope do you have to match ME?!"

"I don't need to. Let's see how well you fight when you have to constantly contend with the wind!"

To prove his point, Zephyr blows Chrysalis back further with another wind tunnel before creating two wind spheres on either side of his head. After dodging a few retaliatory blasts from the Changeling, he got back close enough to make said spheres start shooting Aerobullets with enough concentrated wind magic to actually hurt.

"SIT STILL! YOU'RE FLYING AROUND LIKE A GNAT!"

"I find it funny a creature that looks like a bug is calling ME a bug." Despite his witty comeback, Zephyr knew full well he wouldn't be able to take a single hit from Chrysalis' magic. While he can pelt her from afar with Aerobullets all day, his main source of damage will come from melee attacks with his hooves.

During the aerial combat, some drones tried to assist their queen but Zephyr blew them all away to ensure they couldn't blindside him. "Trying to weaken me with minions? Two can play at that game!" With a flick of his wings, feathers scattered everywhere. He caught 4 of them and infused enough wind magic in them to create Wind Sprites that looked like mini tornadoes.

Now Chrysalis was having none of it as she immediately blasted one with her magic, destroying it instantly and launching the one behind it away from the battle. The remaining 2 flew to the sides and started pelting her with Aerobullets as Zephyr renewed his assault. When Chrysalis destroyed the other wind sprites, she realized that she was using up her stored 'love' too much.

That was the opening Zephyr needed to ram into her, causing the both to crash back into the chapel through the roof. It dislodged the cocoon containing Celestia enough to wake her up, only to wonder just where Zephyr managed to get such power. Cadance, from her spot where she was rooted, smiled when she saw Zephyr had the upper hoof. "Sir Zephyr!"

"Your reign is over before it even began, Queen Chrysalis. Hope you made your peace."

Chrysalis snarled at the Pegasus before she realized who quickly entered the room. She switched to a smirk as Zephyr coated his forehooves in razor wind. "I would advise ceasing your assault if you want those who you hold dear to live!"

"What..?" When the Changeling pointed behind him, Zephyr saw that everypony he was supposed to protect was now a hostage as their changeling captors held knife-like objects near them. Rainbow and Fluttershy's wings were bound by green threads while Twilight and Rarity's horns were covered in gunk. "You... You dare?!"

"Oh I dare. Now I'll say this again: cease your attack on my life or your friends and family might lose theirs! Tell me, what's it going to be?" Zephyr looked at the ponies he cared for the most and, despairing he couldn't save them now, dissipated all wind from his body. "Good boy, you know when to quit while you're ahead."

"Z-Zephyr..." Rainbow so desperately wanted to tell him to keep fighting, but she couldn't forgive herself if doing so took the life of one of her friends. We... couldn't do anything once we were overwhelmed... I'm sorry...

Chrysalis approached the now motionless Pegasus with a sadistic smile. "My how the tables have turned. To think you're the one who derailed my plans so thoroughly and yet... it seems like such a waste to kill you now that I've gotten a good... 'feel' for you."

Cadance tried struggling against what kept her rooted, desperate to save Zephyr from what happened to Shining Armor. She knew exactly what the Changeling Queen was getting at with a statement like that.

While the cocoon trapping her was destabilized, Celestia still couldn't free herself due to being weakened by Chrysalis' machinations. Looking around for a potential way out, she noticed a tornado-esque magic construct slowly dropping down through the open roof to her side. Realizing she could control it, she focused what magic she could through the cocoon and took direct control of the sprite, who's core now showed her Cutie Mark.

Unaware of what was going on behind her, Chrysalis grins at her now-trapped prey. "I can 'taste' a lot of love in your heart. Familial love for that yellow pony and romantic love for the blue one. Not quite as powerful as the Captain's love for his bride, but still very potent and even had the potential to surpass it. Ah well, there's still the outstanding matter of your punishment!"

Suddenly Chrysalis viciously punched Zephyr into the wall on the side with a magically enhanced 'hoof'. Fluttershy let out a distressed cry. "No, please! Don't hurt him!"

Celestia grimaced at the action but did her best to remain focused. Guiding the wind sprite to Cadance, she managed to order it to hit the gunk rooting her niece down with Aerobullets. After the last shot, the sprite dissipated with only a green feather left over but Cadance was free. Uncertain as to what had happened, the Alicorn of Love quickly went over to her would-be husband to try and snap him out of his trance.

Rainbow saw what Cadance was trying to do and, in a bid to help the Alicorn of Love, recalled when she and Zephyr confessed to each other. The elation, the happiness, all the emotions of that day that culminated in the two becoming a couple. She recalled it all in hopes that her feelings would help empower the Alicorn.

"You know, I'm still surprised at who... or rather, WHAT you are. Not only are you capable of using wind magic in its purest form, but doing so as a Pegasus. Then again, you are a mutant one with two sets of wings." Chrysalis decided to taunt him a bit. "Oh, but there's something I just remembered! If you had been just a BIT more lucky or observant, you could've stopped me long before any of this happened!"

Bleeding from his forehead, Zephyr looked up at his tormentor with an eye closed in pain. "What... what are you-- wait... you couldn't have been..."

"That's right! That castle servant you ran into after investigating a 'disturbed window'? That was ME! Yet you never bothered investigating further once I told you nothing suspicious had crossed my path. You were so close and now? The subjugation of everyone you know and love is now YOUR fault!"

Now I remember where I saw that green aura the first time... that was Chrysalis the entire time?! How... how could I have known? Zephyr was about to give in further to despair, but something caught his eye that lifted his mood.

"Consider yourself lucky! Not only are you more valuable to me alive, but you also helped me secure my victory! You should be--" Chrysalis was cut off when Zephyr started laughing. "What's so funny?"

"You really enjoy hearing yourself speak, huh? For someone who's ecstatic over her victory... you sure are unobservant of your surroundings."

"What are you--" Chrysalis suddenly felt a powerful pulse of love from her side. Looking over, she saw that Shining Armor had recovered from his trance and both him and his fiance were now floating in the air surrounded by light. "No! I thought he was still under my control!"

Zephyr braced himself against the ground with a grin as he closes his eyes to the bright light. "I may have lost the battle, Chrysalis... but we won the war! And you know what they say: 'All's fair in love and war'!"

"NOOOOOOO!" Chrysalis couldn't do anything as she was launched through the roof and towards the Badlands with her drones.

Once the light faded from the two who were to be wed, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash rushed over to Zephyr, only to see he's been healed by the pulse. Both proceed to hug him at the same time, with Rainbow bearing a frustrated look. "I'm so glad you're okay! I just wish... we didn't tie your hooves like that! Seeing you get beat up like that was torture!"

"B-big brother~." Fluttershy was crying her eyes out at not only what had just happened, but over the fact he took a brutal blast in her stead.

"I'm just thankful you're both safe." Zephyr returns the hugs to his sister and his girlfriend as he nuzzles both. "And as long as you're safe, nothing else matters to me."

"I really should thank our fellow lovebirds." Breaking the hugs, Rainbow and Zephyr look at Cadance in surprise as she and Shining Armor approach. "I felt a powerful love coming from Rainbow Dash for Zephyr and that's what gave me the strength to finally reach Shiny!" That got a blush from Rainbow but smiled, grateful her feelings managed to reach the Alicorn.

Shining Armor smiles at Zephyr. "Even though I was out of it for most of the day, I just learned of everything you were trying to do for me and Cadance behind the scenes. I really am glad you came with Twily and her friends!"

"Captain~! it's been an honor to ensure the safety of both of you and the kingdom!"

Celestia wandered over with Twilight while giggling. "Now that we've prevented a possible disaster, shall we prepare for the real wedding?" Everypony cheered to that.

The time for the real wedding had arrived and everything now felt right. During the preparations, Zephyr made sure to help Rainbow Dash practice since he had cut into it to solve the conspiracy. Shining Armor mentioned wanting to make him his Best Stallion, but Cadance wanted Zephyr in the regular crowd to participate in something.

At the wedding itself, Zephyr was proud of Scootaloo being a Flower Filly for the bride. In addition, he couldn't help tearing up as the proceedings continued, feeling like he was watching his older brother get married off. What saved him was his amusement at Applejack putting her stetson back on after she realized Rarity was distracted with her own tears.

The last thing before the groom and bride did before going outside to finish their "I do's" and marrying kiss was a bouquet toss. Zephyr had learned from Rarity that race-specific attributes were frowned upon for catching it, so no flying up for Pegasi or using magic from Unicorns to catch it.

Imagine his surprise when, after the ponies in front of him kept fumbling their catch, he was the one who caught it. Remembering what it meant, his face turned red as he looked at Rainbow, who's face also turned red when she saw what her boyfriend had. Cadance had hoped it would happen and she was amused by the couple's expressions. My way of giving you two my blessing as Alicorn of Love!

As the proceedings lasted until the evening, Twilight started singing for the party as everypony began celebrating. At one point, a picture was taken of Rainbow leaping onto Zephyr with a big grin as he laughed at her antics. While she didn't say anything, Rainbow felt more confident about being more publicly affectionate with her boyfriend now.

One minor detail bothered Zephyr during the proceedings. Outside of certain details, that battle with Chrysalis feels... hazy to me. I know I was protecting my friends and family and I fought the Queen herself, but... how I was doing it is now slipping from my grasp... Deciding it wasn't worth spoiling the celebrations for, he managed to convince Rainbow to dance with him alongside the new husband and wife.

Despite what had happened beforehoof, it truly felt like glorious times.

And thus did a Queen's reign end before it began
But that interference furthered my own plan
Though I dare not attempt breaking my seal now
As my powers are too weak to allow

An opportunity I will wait for
Once Equinekind's 'weapon' is shown the door
The risk it poses, too great
It could seal even my own fate

For now hold the curtains- it is not yet time
To raise them for a show most sublime
So rest easy 'heroes', continue to depend
But on judgement day, I will bring about your end

Author's Note

I decided to make Chrysalis more of an active threat here since her plans got waylaid prematurely. This includes going out to try and stop the Mane 6 from getting at the Elements of Harmony.