It was Galaxy who teleported herself and her mother to the future timeline. What greeted the two unicorns was a nightmarish scene -- Rarity's attempt to manipulate the weather had spun so badly out of control that many structures in Ponyville had suffered quite a bit of damage, with debris scattered about haphazardly. The sky was dark and ominous, the weather a combination of snow, sleet, hail, rain, and brimstone. The wind was howling at near-hurricane strength and anything which hadn't been nailed down was being blown about mercilessly.
"Maybe we should talk to Twilight," Amethyst shouted at her daughter above the wind. The medium purple mare nodded her head in agreement as they re-entered the library. Wind was blowing hard through the windows, books having tumbled to the floors. The two called for her, though Galaxy heard something sounding like whimpering coming from Twilight's bedroom. They quickly entered to find the lavender unicorn laying face-down on her bed, crying about having messed things up so badly.
"I've tried to help her, but she's been like this for more than four hours!" Spike exclaimed in exasperation. "Can you talk to her?"
"I'll see what I can do, Spike," Amethyst replied. Upon hearing her former housemate's voice, she turned over and gave the purple mare a confused look.
"I'm glad you came back, Ammy -- I need your help! I messed up the spell!"
"Let me guess -- the Elements switched colors or something," Amethyst responded flatly. "We need to find out whose got mixed up with whose and return each to their proper wielder. Real friends help each other in a time of desperate need."
"But where should we start?" asked Twilight.
"Probably be a good idea to get the weather back under control. We need to find Rainbow Dash and get her to take out some of the clouds. I can help her with that task," Amethyst offered.
"But where is she? Where should we look?"
"We'll need to check the whole town. Who's house is closest to yours?" the dark purple mare asked.
"I think Fluttershy's cottage is closest -- I suppose we can start there," Galaxy noted.
The lavender unicorn nodded in agreement. "That sounds good. Let's get going."
The three of them trotted quickly to the cottage, which was still pretty much intact, aside from various tree branches and leaves swept against it by the wind. Amethyst knocked on the door but got no answer, so she went in, followed by Galaxy and Twilight. A certain cyan pegasus was heard crying softly from a back room in the cottage and all three unicorns went to investigate, discovering Rainbow laying face down on a bed.
"I can't believe I lost them all! I'm a bad pony!" she wailed.
"Lost what?" asked Twilight.
"My animal friends! My destiny is to take care of animals, but they have all left me!" the pegasus sobbed.
"Rainbow Miriam Dash. Your destiny is weather control, not animal caretaker -- that's Fluttershy's job. We need your help, and so does Rarity. We need you to help get rid of these storm clouds -- I will help you with that -- then we need to find Rarity if we can," Amethyst stated firmly.
"What do you mean? I don't know what to do," she said through her tears.
"You're a pegasus -- you fly through the air and kick the clouds with your hind legs, causing them to dissipate. I can do some cloud-busting of my own with my magic," the dark purple mare grinned. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can save Ponyville. C'mon, Rainbow, let's do this!"
The cyan pegasus rose to her hooves shakily, her reticence plainly obvious, though she seemed to steel herself for the task. She nodded her head in agreement as she followed the three unicorns outside and headed towards town. After a few minutes' trotting, the pegasus took to the sky at Amethyst's insistence and began bucking clouds. The more she did this, the more confident she became, seemingly starting to enjoy herself. The dark purple mare wielded magic to cause the larger clouds to dissipate, though the odd checker-board pattern in the sky caught her attention. The aviatrix continued her task, practically giggling at the ease with which she was able to break the clouds as Twilight, Galaxy, and Amethyst progressed further into town to meet up with Rarity, who still seemed bent on controlling the weather. The alabaster unicorn seemed to be the eye of the storm.
"Rarity, shut it down," Amethyst stated. The fashionista turned to the dark purple mare, an expression of utter surprise on her face.
"Amethyst, darling! How long has it been?" she asked, flashing a smile. Her concentration broken, Rainbow was able to finish clearing the sky, causing the weather to return to a state of full calm. The cyan pegasus then flew to meet up with the four unicorns.
"Whew, that was a real work-out!" Rainbow exclaimed, letting a giggle escape her lips.
"Rarity, what are you doing trying to control the weather like that? That's not your job," the dark purple mare nearly exclaimed. "Rainbow, put this on, please." Amethyst hoofed the element to the cyan pegasus who examined it with great curiosity. "Trust me on this, Rainbow -- just put it on, please." She did so, and a feeling of comfort seemed to calm her.
"Amethyst, it's my destiny to control the weather! Don't you know that?" the alabaster mare asked, almost indignantly.
"Rarity, you're a fashionista, not a weather manipulator! Rainbow Dash is the weather pony around here!" the purple mare declared in her exasperation. "It seems as though everypony's previous talent was mixed up with everypony else's. Rarity, put this on, please," she said as she gave the mare her element. "Who's in your shop?"
The four unicorns trotted and the pegasus flew over to Carousel Boutique to see who was attempting to make fashions. They were shocked to see Applejack, of all ponies, trying to work the sewing machine with no success.
"Aren't you supposed to be bucking apple trees?" asked Twilight.
"Not now, Twi, I'm working on my latest creation," the earth pony muttered. She yanked the fabric out of the sewing machine and glared at it angrily, tossing it aside. "Consarn it, how'm Ah s'posed to make anythin' anypony might want?"
"Applejack, darling, let me give that a try -- maybe the others are right," Rarity mused as she sat at the sewing machine, using her magic to levitate patterns and fabric, humming softly to herself as what she was doing was second nature to her.
"Hey, AJ, put this on," Amethyst said, offering her element to her. "Let's head to your farm and see what's going on there. Rarity, I'd like for you to accompany us as well."
"But of course, darling! I can return to making my fashions later."
On the way to the farm, the group passed Sugarcube Corner and went inside to see if they could find Pinkie Pie, though they found Fluttershy instead. Amethyst convinced the yellow pegasus to accompany the growing entourage to see if they could find the pink earth pony. They trotted the distance to Sweet Apple Acres, chatting about what was going on when they discovered Pinkie trying her best to get apples to fall from seemingly barren trees, causing everypony to gasp in shock at the sight of so many trees devoid of fruit, looking more like trees in the dead of winter than the height of applebucking season.
"Pinkie, what are you doing?" asked Amethyst. Upon hearing her voice, the pink party pony turned around and gasped.
"Ammy! You made it back!" she cried happily, bounding up to the dark purple mare and hugging her very tightly.
"Nice to meet you, too, Pinkie. If you don't mind my asking, why are you bucking dead trees?"
"Um, well ... they did have apples on them this morning when I started ..." she said, letting her words trail off.
"Your destiny is making ponies laugh, Pinkie! Here, check this out," the dark purple mare said, hoofing her her element. "Put it on, it will feel right."
She placed the element around her neck, making her the final Element Bearer to do so. With all six ponies present, the diadems lit up and changed colors, as well as the cutie marks on each pony reverting to normal. This sight caused Galaxy and Amethyst to gasp in surprise.
"Just like old times, eh, girls?" Twilight asked, chuckling softly. "Amethyst, thanks for helping me on this! You too, Galaxy! I knew I could count on you!"
"So, Twilight, what was it about that spell Starswirl had been working on?" asked Amethyst.
"Oh, yeah, let me see here," the librarian mused, teleporting the book in front of her. "It looks like ... there are some words which need to be added to complete the spell."
"Hey, Twilight, may I copy the spell? I've dedicated most of my life to researching Starswirl's work, and this spell would complete my research!" Galaxy said, almost excitedly.
"Y'know, Twi, I think it might be a good idea if I had a copy of it as well, considering just how much time I've spent researching his work as well," Amethyst mused.
"Okay, Galaxy, Amethyst, here's some parchment and ink quills for you. I'll let you two copy the first part of the spell, then we can finish writing it together," the librarian offered, producing a couple of sheets of parchment and a pair of quills and bottles of ink for them. They both took a moment to write the spell, though Amethyst took longer as she hadn't had enough practice with ink quill and parchment. Twilight then recited the finishing words to the spell, writing it down as she spoke. Galaxy kept pace with Twilight, though Amethyst took longer again, finishing a few seconds after the two librarians.
The elements began glowing, surprising everypony present, including Galaxy and Amethyst. The rainbow-hued magic of harmony emanated from the diadems, surrounding Twilight, Galaxy, and Amethyst as well, levitating the three unicorns and bathing them in white light, blinding everypony. Suddenly, the three unicorns vanished from sight, causing the other five ponies to gasp in horror.
"Where did they go? What happened?" asked Pinkie.
"They just disappeared," Rainbow offered sullenly.
"Ah think they'll be back," Applejack mused.
"I just hope they're not hurt," Fluttershy added.
"I think you all worry too much about them," Rarity chided. "They're made of stronger stuff than you think!"
"Somepony told Trixie that Amethyst had returned," the show-mare mused softly. "Is she still here?"
"You just missed her," Rarity replied. "But I think she'll be back, along with Twilight and Galaxy."
-----------------------------------------
The three unicorns found themselves in a place without substance, without definition, though it wasn't dark. They were able to see each other and asked each other where they were, and responding that they didn't know. They weren't falling or floating -- able to seemingly stand on nothingness, unaware of the passing of time.
"What do you suppose this place is?" Amethyst asked.
"I have no idea, Ammy. That was really strange," Twilight replied.
"Oh, look! Princess Celestia!" Galaxy exclaimed upon seeing the Solar Princess. The Alicorn seemed to have a bewildered expression on her face.
"Twilight, I was hoping to meet you here -- but Galaxy? Amethyst? What brings you two here? Twilight, you must have succeeded in finishing Starswirl's spell -- so why are they here with you?"
"Princess, we all wrote the spell at the same time, finishing it together," the lavender unicorn offered. "I guess the Elements of Harmony worked for all three of us."
"Be that as it may, they were not supposed to accompany you, Twilight. Unfortunately, I cannot send them back to their previous state," the Alicorn said somewhat sullenly.
"Why is it unfortunate?" asked Amethyst.
"This is Twilight's destiny, Amethyst. You and your daughter were not supposed to be part of it. That having been said, I feel that perhaps it was fate itself that intervened in order to convert you into an Alicorn Princess."
The dark purple mare's jaw dropped as her train of thought suffered a total derailment. Words failed her.
"Princess Celestia? Does that mean ... that I am ... supposed to be one as well?" asked Galaxy.
"It would appear as such, Galaxy. I do not know whether or not you are prepared for your new life as an Alicorn Princess, however, I feel it best that I guide all three of you to your new station. Amethyst, I hope you are ready," Celestia smiled.
"Your Majesty! I do not deserve such an honor," the dark purple mare stated reverently. "I have too much blood on my hooves! I must atone for my past sins!"
"Then you will have plenty of time to do that," the Alicorn stated, smiling a little wider and trying to stifle a chuckle. She escorted the three along a path leading towards Ponyville, though as they traveled, they were transformed into Alicorns themselves before returning to their previous location at the farm so they could rejoin their friends, who gawped in surprise at the sight of them. Twilight and Galaxy were only slightly larger as Alicorns, just the wings being a new addition. Amethyst seemed to have gotten even taller, her wings and horn a bit larger than the others. The dark purple Alicorn now stood just half a head shorter than Celestia herself, who expressed surprise at yet another change to Amethyst.
"Your Majesty, why does this keep happening to me? I perhaps could understand Luna making me a little taller, but -- now I'm almost as tall as her," Amethyst puzzled.
"Amethyst, I have a special favor to ask of you. I suppose you are probably aware of the fact that my sister was killed about six years ago, yes?"
"And by making me as tall as her, you desire me as a substitute for her," the dark purple mare stated flatly.
Twilight and Galaxy both stood in stunned silence, mouths agape. "I'm sure you understand that I would like to return to my original timeline," Amethyst continued.
"I hate to say this, Amethyst, but you cannot go back there. If you interact with anypony in that previous timeline, you jeopardize your new status as an Alicorn Princess -- and if you interact with your daughter, your might inadvertently prevent her from becoming one as well."