> The Trouble With Time Travel
>  by Mike the Red
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1. The Prelude to Adventure
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     "Hey, Twilight, are we going to check out the Archives today?" asked a tall dark purple unicorn.  The Library had a cozy feel to it, the two unicorns sitting at the kitchen table eating a breakfast of hay pancakes, shredded fried potatoes, apple juice for Amethyst and dark coffee for Twilight.  Amethyst had made the chair herself, having had to craft certain furnishings large enough to suit her size, as she stood considerably taller than most mares. The dark purple mare was quite excited to be paying the Archives a visit today, so much so that she was practically bouncing like Pinkie Pie.

"Yeah, Ammy, that's right!  I can't wait to see your reaction!  Starswirl the Bearded was the greatest unicorn in history -- smarter than ME, even!" Twilight giggled.  It had only been recently that she had been informed by a future version of herself that time travel was indeed possible -- and that the location of the spell was in the Starswirl the Bearded Wing of the Canterlot Royal Archives.  After some initial panic over an imagined terror to occur on the following Tuesday, an event which was ultimately trivial in its consequence, though the preparations for it were chaotic, to put it mildly, Twilight had promised her housemate that they were going to pay the Archives a visit.

Today was that day.

Amethyst's two foals, EJ and Stephanie were at school -- and in fact, today was Stephanie's second week of school -- and would be staying the night at Rarity's boutique.  This was in preparation for the trip to Canterlot by train for the lavender librarian and her assistant.  Amethyst had taken not only to living with Twilight, but working as an assistant librarian, in charge of acquisitions, circulation, imposing overdue fines and replacement book fees if needed, as well as assisting in the duties of housekeeping.  She also served as librarian in Twilight's absence when not accompanying her as she had previous library experience as a human, though such experience was more than 25 years in the past.  Amethyst had taken a liking to Owlowiscious, though sometimes the owl could be a little pesky.

The librarian and her unicorn assistant finished eating and worked in tandem to wash, dry, and put away the dishes and cooking utensils, silverware, and the griddle used to make the pancakes.

"I appreciate you making the pancakes, Ammy, they were delicious!"

"Sure thing, Twi.  With Spike teaching me how to make them, it's gotten pretty easy for me to cook them properly."

"Ammy, make a checklist -- I need to make sure we have everything we need for this trip," Twilight stated optimistically.

"You usually have Spike make checklists for you, Twilight," she protested.

"I prefer your hoofwriting skills to Spike's writing -- and anyway, he's over at Carousel Boutique helping Rarity with her needs.  When we leave, I will place a "closed for today" sign on the door.  This trip to Canterlot will also allow me to meet with our teacher as well.  You've been slacking with your studies, Ammy -- you should never stop learning magic!"

"Okay, Twi, go ahead with the checklist," the dark purple unicorn stated, boredom dripping from her words.  She readied a pen and a pad of paper with her telekinesis.

"Ammy, how many times must I tell you?  Use ink and parchment!  Why do you insist on using those human writing supplies?" the librarian asked in exasperation.

"Because this is easier for me to use, Twi.  Ink and parchment is so Dark Ages for me -- and to be honest, I still haven't learned the fine telekinetic control needed to use a quill with ink on parchment without puncturing the parchment nearly every time I have tried using it.  So I offered a compromise -- let me use human writing materials, it's what I've been accustomed to for more than four decades.  PLEASE."

The lavender unicorn sighed in resignation.  "Okay, fine, be that way.  First item on the checklist: make checklist."

"Twi, that's redundant!  First item ignored.  Okay, Twi, second item?" Amethyst grinned.  She had a tendency to enjoy frustrating her housemate and sometimes took it a little too far.

"Ammy!  Just write it down, okay?  You throw my thought process off every time you do that!" she exclaimed as her exasperation seemed to increase.  The dark purple unicorn made some scratching noises with the pen on the paper, though it wasn't the first item Twilight had stated.  "Second item: saddlebags.  Third item: sixty bits for two round-trip tickets to Canterlot."

"We're going to need more bits for food and lodging if we plan to stay the night in Canterlot," Amethyst offered.

"Tell me, Ammy -- do you have extra bits to cover those expenses?" asked Twilight, giving her housemate an accusatory look.  The dark purple unicorn offered a sheepish smile.  "So I guess that means you don't, do you.  You can't expect me to keep covering all the expenses, Ammy!" she exclaimed, her exasperation becoming even more evident.

"Okay, Twi, I guess I'll starve, and we'll sleep in the Castle.  Perhaps Princess Celestia will cover us for a night, and maybe give us some free food as well.  Surely your status as her favorite student will allow you to pull some strings with her for the both of us, n'est-ce pas?"

"Ammy, you test my patience!  I might just as well call off this trip if you're going to be like that!" the librarian nearly shouted.  Her exasperation had hit the breaking point.

"Okay, sorry, sorry, Twi!  Geez, I was only pulling your leg!" Amethyst giggled.  After having successfully derailed Twilight's train of thought, the idea of a checklist was discarded along with a little of her pride.

"Next time I'll have Spike make the checklist for me.  Honestly, Ammy, I can't understand why you have to be so difficult!"

"There are certain things I don't enjoy doing, Twilight, and making checklists of obvious needs is near the top of my list, along with your tendency to obsess over being late and your anxiety over failing easy tests," she said, almost dismissively.

"Those tests are NOT EASY!!" the lavender unicorn shouted, her exasperation returning full force.  Amethyst giggled almost uncontrollably at Twilight's outburst.

"Oh, come on, Twi, you've either aced or nearly aced every test you've ever taken!  And even if you failed, they're NOT gonna send you back to Magic Kindergarten!  They wouldn't DARE do that to YOU!" she exclaimed, laughing heartily.  The librarian started smiling now at her housemate's flattery, joining her in the laughter.

"Yeah, you're right about that, Ammy!  I suppose I shouldn't worry so much.  But we DO need to make our preparations for this trip -- you don't want to be late for the train, you know."

"You know, other than basic toiletries and a few books to occupy our time on the train, I can't really think of anything else we might need," observed Amethyst.

"I'll be taking some parchment, ink, and a few quills with me as well.  I suggest you do the same."

"If I take any writing materials, it's gonna be pens and my paper tablet," the dark purple unicorn responded.

"Whatever.  Princess Luna might accept such novelties, but I'm sure Celestia is less enthusiastic about your use of human supplies.  I still don't get why you hold onto certain human characteristics and not others, Ammy."

"Well, Twi, it's just that even though I've been a unicorn in one form or another for more than seven years, there are some ... things I might hold over from my time as a human as opposed to how ponies do those things.  I suppose I should practice more with an ink quill and parchment, but it's sooo much easier for me to use pen on paper."    After making the necessary preparations, Twilight and Amethyst loaded their saddlebags and left the Library.  The librarian hung a "closed" sign on the door and locked it up as they left, trotting at a leisurely pace to the train station.

"Ammy, you did pack some food in your saddlebags, I hope," Twilight mused.

"Yeah, I got bread, peanut butter, a dull knife, a couple of bananas, a few apples, some carrots..." the dark purple unicorn stated as her words trailed off.

"Okay, good.  That's enough for both of us, right?"

"Please tell me you packed food in your saddlebags as well, Twi," Amethyst said expectantly.

"That's why I told you to make a checklist, Ammy!" the flabbergasted librarian exclaimed.  Her housemate giggled at the outburst again.

"Yeah, Twi, I packed enough food for both of us!" she chuckled.  "Honestly, Twi, you can be so gullible at times."

"Stop doing that to me!  I hate it when you do that!"

"And I thought I was wound up too tight!" the dark purple mare said through her laughter.  "You need to loosen up, Twi!"

"Yeah, Twiley, you need to loosen up!" exclaimed a cyan pegasus who had spotted the two unicorns trotting along.  Rainbow Dash hovered and flew lazy circles around the pair.  "What'cha doing?"

"We're heading to Canterlot today, Rainbow -- Twilight's showing me the Archives today!" Amethyst said with a little excitement in her voice.

"Just a bunch of dumb books I'm not interested in," the pegasus grumbled.  "What's so exciting about that?"

"We're going to check out the Starswirl the Bearded Wing!  Twilight's future self told of a time-travel spell!  I want to see if I can perform that spell as well!" the purple mare exclaimed, her excitement barely contained.

"Well, good for you, Ammy.  Let me know how it turns out!" Rainbow grinned.  "By the way, if you're taking the train, you might wanna pick up the pace.  The train's gonna be here in about ten minutes."

"Oh my gosh!  We've got to hurry, Ammy!  We can't be late for the train!" the librarian exclaimed in her anxiety and started galloping as quickly as she could towards the train station.  Amethyst gave a quick shrug and a sheepish smile to the pegasus, who grinned broadly.

"Yeah, she's always been like that, hasn't she, Ammy?" Rainbow chuckled.

"I can't break her out of it, Rainbow -- Celestia knows I've tried," the unicorn said with some exasperation.  "Seeya later, I gotta run!  Bye!"

Amethyst's taller stature and longer legs allowed her to gallop considerably faster than Twilight so the dark purple unicorn caught up with her housemate in fairly short order as the train blew its whistle on approach to the station.  The two made it to the ticket counter and purchased their tickets, then boarded the train, taking seats in the first passenger coach.  Twilight was winded from the sprint.

"You know, Twi, I think you might need to get outside and run a bit more frequently.  You spend too much time studying!" her housemate chuckled.

"Ammy ... you're taller than ... me ... and ... YOU ... need to ... study MORE!" the librarian huffed as she slowly regained her normal breathing and heart rate.

"Whatever, Twi," she responded dismissively.

"What if they send YOU back to Magic Kindergarten?" Twilight asked, grinning.

"HAH!  They wouldn't DARE!" she nearly shouted, laughing heartily.  Twilight giggled softly.

"You never knoooow," she said in a sing-song voice.

"They'd better not!" Amethyst pouted, a look of worry coloring her features.  The librarian giggled a little more loudly.

"Gullibility is a double-edged sword, Ammy!" she chuckled.  "You have done almost as well as me on those magic tests, and to be honest, you've actually outscored me on some of them!  I still don't know how you do that!"

"If there's a subject I'm truly fascinated with, I do my best to understand it to the best of my knowledge -- and with magic, my fascination is boundless, so it is my wish to learn as much as I can.  Some of those tomes can be so dry, the technical details so boring that it dulls my excitement."

"Well, I'm not sure how well you know Starswirl's writings -- from what I've been able to gather, his work has a tendency to be extremely detail oriented.  There's a possibility that it might be too much for you to comprehend," the lavender mare explained.

"If it involves time travel, you can bet your last bit that I would be willing to learn everything there is to know on the subject -- you got so wrapped up in trying to get your future self to answer your questions that she ran out of time to warn you about --"

"Don't remind me, Ammy.  If I had known better, I would have kept my mouth shut when she was trying to explain the danger to me in full detail."  Amethyst giggled softly as Twilight wore a somewhat pained expression.

"Well, nothing too terribly bad came of it, so no harm, no foul."

"Yeah, but don't bring it up again, okay?  I'd rather forget about that event."

"Sure thing, Twi," Amethyst chuckled.  "I still like the outfit she wore, though.  I think you look pretty cool in latex," she said slyly.  Twilight blushed a bit at that.

"Ammy!  Please!  I don't want you thinking about me like that!" the lavender mare exclaimed, exasperation making a quick return once again as her blush deepened a little.

"I'm going to withhold my comment," the dark purple mare said, giving a big toothy grin.

"Whatever," Twilight said dismissively, taking a book from her saddlebags.  She started reading, silently mouthing the words to herself, a habit which annoyed her housemate to no end, which is why she did so.  The two of them seemed to take enjoyment in pestering each other.  Amethyst took a book from her saddlebags and sat in a different section of the coach so as not to be disturbed by Twilight's reading.  The lavender mare made her way over to the bench her housemate had taken and sat next to her, continuing to read her book and mouth the words she was reading.  Amethyst grimaced, scrunching her face in order to display her contempt for Twilight's very annoying behavior.  She chose another bench to get away from the librarian again, who promptly followed her again.

"Twi, you need to stop doing that -- I don't know how long the train ride is going to take this time, but if you keep doing that --"

"What are you going to do?" Twilight asked, giving her best big toothy grin.

"I will sing your least favorite of my human songs for you, one which will get stuck in your head for the rest of the day," she replied flatly.

"No!  Not the "Baby Monkey" song!" Twilight gasped.

"So stop mouthing the words you're reading, Twi, and stop following me when I'm trying to read by myself.  There's no reason why you should be so fascinated with my literary choices," the purple mare said, a little exasperation in her voice.

"Okay, Ammy," the librarian giggled, satisfied by her success in annoying her housemate.

The remainder of the train ride continued uneventfully as the two unicorns read in silence, only breaking for lunch and Twilight's attempts to get Amethyst to understand some of the finer points of casting multiple spells simultaneously.  The purple mare found the explanation to be a bit too technical.

"Speak Equish for once instead of talking shop, would ya please?" Amethyst asked in exasperation.

"How are you going to be able to cast those spells if you don't have a firm understanding of the basics?  That should be Equish enough for you, Ammy!  You have so much potential, it's a shame to see you squandering it like this!  Practical application of your knowledge is needed to fully realize the maximum potential of your gift!" the librarian exclaimed, nearly flabbergasted by her housemate's seeming lack of interest.

"Twi, the minutiae of those spells make my brain hurt.  It's going to take more time for me to fully comprehend it."

The train started slowing down as it approached Canterlot, the conductor blowing the whistle as it came to a full stop.  The two unicorns departed the train and made their way to the front gate of the Castle.  The Royal Guardsponies standing at the gate allowed them in upon recognizing Twilight and Amethyst, who saluted the guards.  One of them broke a smile upon seeing the dark purple mare salute him, the other guard returning a salute to her.

"Ammy, you don't need to do that," Twilight stated.

"Sorry, Twi, force of habit," her housemate responded.

The pair made their way into the Castle and eventually met up with Princess Celestia, who graciously welcomed them.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your surprising visit?" asked the Sun Goddess as she smiled warmly.  "Twilight, you usually give me advance notice of any trips you make, especially to visit me!  Amethyst, is there a particular reason you have chosen to accompany my most faithful student?"

"Twilight has offered to show me the Royal Archives, your Majesty," the purple mare stated, a hint of apprehension in her voice.  Over the past few years of living in Ponyville, Amethyst had made her share of mistakes which tested the patience of her housemate's mentor and was trying to work her way back into Celestia's good graces.  She had to be extra careful not to anger the Sun Goddess.

"The Royal Archives, then.  Twilight, I trust you will keep a close eye on Amethyst to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble.  She caused quite a bit of trouble the last time she discovered a new spell and tried it without considering the consequences of casting that spell."

"Your Majesty, I am truly sorry about that event -- I was trying to find a way of accelerating the heating of water to get it to boil faster.  I had no idea that it would result in concussive force of that magnitude," the purple mare offered.

"We took what you learned and used it as an offensive spell, so at the very least, you did something productive, even if it did result in considerable damage to Twilight's kitchen," stated Celestia.

"Nothing a little magic couldn't fix, Ammy," Twilight chuckled.  "I was going to try that spell, but you beat me to it!"

"It kinda blew up in my face, though," Amethyst sighed.

"I suspect there's another reason for you wanting to visit the Archives again, Amethyst?"

"Twilight was visited by a future version of herself, who told her something about Starswirl's work -- I wanted to visit that wing of the Archives to get a better understanding of his writings.  Perhaps I will develop the same level of admiration for him that Twilight has for him."

"I would think that should have happened by now -- if you had been going about your studies as diligently as Twilight.  It would appear you are trying to get caught up.  I certainly hope this tour of the Archives inspires you to redouble your efforts to study.  Keep in mind that you are still on thin ice with me, Amethyst, and I need to see some improvement, otherwise I will have to confine you to the Castle until such time as I feel you are worthy of returning to Ponyville.  I see within you great potential, every bit as great as Twilight's, and yet you disappoint me by engaging in frivolous activities and showing irresponsible behavior at times."

"I apologize, your Majesty," the dark purple unicorn stated with great reverence, bowing deeply before the regal Alicorn.

"Your apology is accepted, Amethyst.  Please try not to disappoint me further -- there is a specific reason I assigned you to stay with Twilight.  She has informed me of certain behavioral characteristics you display which displease her.  Please try to correct that behavior, as I find such treatment of my favorite student rather distasteful."

"I humbly apologize, your Majesty.  I will try to control myself better.  Twilight, I'm sorry for annoying you," she said, virtually prostrating herself before the Princess.

"Amethyst, please rise.  I accept your apology," Celestia stated.

"I accept your apology as well, Ammy," said Twilight.

"Amethyst, I would like to have some words with my student.  Please make your way to the dining hall, where some food will be brought to you."

"Thank you, your Majesty," the purple mare stated as she saluted the Princess and then left the throne room.  She was escorted to the dining hall by another guardspony.

"Twilight, I want you to make sure she doesn't try to cast a time travel spell -- things will end badly for her if she does."

"Yes, Princess.  I know that such a spell is beyond her capabilities, so even if she tries to cast it, it won't work for her," the unicorn grinned.

"I don't want to take any chances, Twilight.  For my sake, please keep her away from such a spell."

"Yes, Princess."

"So how are the foals doing?  Last I heard, EJ got his cutie mark!" Celestia grinned.

"That was about a month ago -- I was so worried for Pound Cake!  But EJ managed to save his life!"

"That sword-making talent of his has already proven useful.  He will be quite powerful in the future," Celestia mused.

"I'm just amazed he was able to defeat so many timber wolves!   Pound Cake told me about EJ using his magic to make lots of swords and chase off the timber wolves, but ended up turning them into firewood.  EJ was so happy to get his cutie mark!"

"His seventh birthday is coming up pretty soon -- I suspect Pinkie Pie is giving him a big party for the occasion?"

"Pinkie Pie has already thrown him an "I got my cutie mark" party, an "I found my lost baseball" party, an "I finally got my front teeth" party --"

"I keep forgetting that she has a tendency to throw parties for just about any reason," Celestia mused.  "I believe we have kept your housemate waiting long enough.  You should join her for dinner before heading down to the Archives."

"Yes, Princess.  I thank you for your hospitality and your generosity."

"It is my pleasure, Twilight.  When the two of you are finished touring the Archives, I would like for you to sleep with me in my bedchamber."

Twilight blushed very slightly, but nodded her head in response to her mentor's request.  The two nuzzled each other lightly before Twilight left the throne room to make her way to the dining hall where she met up with Amethyst.  The dark purple unicorn had a fairly large appetite and had become a little chubby over the three years or so she had been living with the librarian, though she was still able to gallop faster.  Twilight had chided her about weight, but had noticed some of the stallions eyeing the purple unicorn with a little more admiration than was necessary.

"So, did Princess Celestia tell you to watch me like a hawk?" Amethyst grinned.

"How did you know?" asked Twilight, a look of surprise on her face.

"She always tells you that, Twi.  Relax, I'm not gonna do anything," the purple mare said in an unconvincing attempt to reassure her housemate.

"You have told me SO many times about your fascination with time travel that I don't trust you!" exclaimed the lavender mare, exasperation oozing from her words.

"Okay, okay.  I promise you I won't do anything bad."

"You'd better not!"

The two unicorns finished eating and then Amethyst followed Twilight as she led the way to the Archives.  The extensive collections which comprised the Archives occupied a substantial portion of an entire floor of the castle, two levels below the throne room.  The collections were divided into certain sections, though the more famous scholars had entire wings devoted to their teachings.  Clover the Clever had a wing devoted to her writings, and that was the one the two unicorns had visited previously.  Today was Starswirl's turn.

"Wow, Twilight, I had no idea he was this prolific!" Amethyst exclaimed, her mouth agape at the vast collection.

"Well, it's not just his writings, but those of other scholars who devoted themselves to his teachings.  There's quite a lot of material here, Ammy -- not just tomes and scrolls, but certain memorabilia as well.  The hat and cape are not originals, but replicas of what he wore.  And here's a sculpture of him to give you an idea of what he looked like," the lavender mare said with great reverence, pointing a hoof at the statue.

"What, his statue is not out in the Royal Gardens?"

"Actually, yes -- Starswirl was so impressive he inspired sculptors to craft not one but two statues of him.  One for the Archives and one for the Gardens."

Amethyst used the distraction to pull a tome from one of the shelves and started telekinetically flipping through the pages.  As fate would have it, this particular book contained a time travel spell and Starswirl's observation regarding it.

"Corporeal temporal displacement is not dissimilar to standard teleportation, though the molecular dispersion required to transport a corporeal entity with regard to temporal stasis must be kept in a constant state of flux until the displacement has been completed.  Failure to do so may result in complete disintegration of the molecular structure of the corporeal entity, an event which could best be described as catastrophic."

Instructions on how to cast the spell were listed as well, despite the ominous warning which preceded it.

"Amethyst, which book did you take?  Let me see that," Twilight stated with great concern.  Amethyst lit her horn in preparation to cast the spell.

"Ammy?  What are you doing?" asked the lavender mare as her concern turned to exasperation.  The purple mare created a rune circle and recited the words to the spell, her horn glowing a bright pale blue.

"STOP!  AMMY!  STOP!!"

The dark purple unicorn vanished.

----------------------------------

Amethyst blinked a few times after the spell had been completed.  Twilight appeared to vanish, but other than that, the purple mare didn't notice any changes having occurred.

"Twi?  Where did you go?" Amethyst asked hesitantly.  She trotted around the Archives, searching for the librarian but was unable to locate her.  "If you're playing hide and seek, you'd better come out now -- I'm getting tired, it's getting late, and I need to get some sleep.  C'mon, Twi, this isn't funny anymore."

The purple mare continued to trot around the Archives, searching the stacks and each wing until she had covered virtually every square inch of the library, spending nearly two hours doing so before finally giving up and leaving.  As she headed up the stairs to find Princess Celestia in an attempt to locate her housemate, she was met by Shining Armor.

"Hey, Shiny, I thought you and your wife were in the Crystal Empire," the purple mare mused.

"Um ... who are you?  I'm not married," the Royal Guard Captain stated with some confusion.

"What are you talking about?  You married Princess Cadance more than three years ago!"

"Well, I am rather taken by her, and we have dated a few times, but I haven't married her ... at least, not yet anyway!  But you didn't answer my earlier question -- who are you?  I've never seen you before.  How did you get into the Castle?"

"My apologies, Shining.  My name is Amethyst Shadow, I am your sister's housemate at the Ponyville Library.  We came here earlier to check out the Royal Archives."

"My sister has a suite here at the Castle -- housemate?  Ponyville Library? How do you know about me?  I'd better take you to the Princess.  Follow me, please,"

The Royal Guard Captain led Amethyst toward the throne room, the two trotting relatively slowly.

"I lost track of Twilight while I was in the Archives -- you haven't seen her around, have you?"

"We just finished lunch a little while ago -- Twiley then went to meet with Celestia.  Can you tell me a little about yourself and how it is that you know my sister so well?"

The purple mare described in summary a little about her origin and how it came to be that she and the librarian became housemates and some of the events that had occurred since then.  Shining seemed to tune her out as they made their way to the throne room.

"Here we are.  Wait a moment, please."  The Royal Guard Captain had a word with one of the guardsponies at the massive double doors leading into the throne room.  The guard entered the room, announced Amethyst's presence to the Princess and returned to address the purple mare.

"You may enter, Amethyst Shadow," the guard stated flatly.  "Please be respectful of Her Majesty."

Upon entering the throne room, the purple mare spotted her housemate, standing close to the Sun Goddess.

"There you are!  You had me worried!  Next time you decide to take off like that, please let me know beforehoof, please."

"Umm ... Do I know you?" the librarian asked, mirroring her brother's confusion.

"Twi, are you playing a game with me?  Of course you know me!  I'm Ammy, your housemate!" she giggled.

"I've never seen you before," the librarian stated hesitantly.  "And please don't call me Twi -- my name is Twilight Sparkle, but you may call me Twilight if you want to keep it short.  Your name is Amethyst Shadow?  What do you mean you're my housemate?"

"Hmm.  We were in the Royal Archives in the Starswirl the Bearded Wing -- I remember taking a book off one of the shelves and casting a time travel spell.  Looks like it worked -- but I must have traveled further back in time than I thought," the purple mare mused.

"What were you doing in the archives?" the Princess asked, a hint of exasperation in her voice.  "Where did you come from?  Who are you?  Who let you into the archives in the first place?"

"You did, your Majesty -- but apparently, my time travel has taken me to a point before we ever met.  My apologies, your Majesty.  Would you like for me to give you my whole story?  I think you might find it rather fascinating."

"You mean time travel is possible?" asked Twilight very excitedly.  "Starswirl wrote about it, but I didn't think it was possible!  You're amazing!"

"Amethyst, you have surprised me with this magical ability of yours, though I am curious to know the circumstances which possessed you to cast the spell in the first place," Celestia mused.  "Since you have stated a willingness to explain your story, I would appreciate all the details, starting from the beginning."

"If I may have some water brought to me, your Majesty, I would appreciate it greatly.  My story is a very long one, and it starts like this -- originally, I was a human -- Homo sapiens -- but that was about eight years ago or so," the purple mare stated flatly.  She waited to see what reaction this would get from the Princess and her student.  The Princess raised an eyebrow at the mention, but Twilight was agog.

"You mean you came from another world?"

"Yes, I did -- it was Princess Celestia who teleported me from my home world to this one."  At this mention, the Alicorn nearly gasped in surprise.

"I find that hard to believe, Amethyst -- I have no idea why I would have done such a thing."

"You chose to help me as I had lost everything that had given my life meaning up to that point because I had nothing left of my identity as a human.  I was in a copy of Twilight's body at the time and you transformed me into the pony I am today, save for the fact that I am about 50 pounds heavier now than I was immediately after being transformed."

"I don't recall doing that," the Alicorn mused.

"That's because it occurred in the future, most likely in an alternate universe."

"You were in a copy of MY BODY?!" the lavender mare exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, Twilight -- one night before I went to bed as a human, I had made a wish to experience what it would be like to be Twilight Sparkle.  I woke up the following morning to find myself transformed into YOU!" Amethyst giggled.

"What was that like?  What was it like being a human?" asked Twilight.

"Well, being human had certain advantages -- namely, being able to walk upright on two legs, being able to grab, hold, and throw things with hands, being tall ... but being a unicorn allows me to do quite a few more things than I was able to do as a human, the ability to wield magic being the best advantage."

An awkward silence fell upon the room, so Amethyst resumed telling her story.  "Well, when I woke up as Twilight, I was initially thrilled, believe it or not.  It took a little while for me to adjust to my new stature, learning how to walk on all fours -- and it took awhile for my wife to adjust to my new form, although she did not like it at all.  I used my magic to fix certain things around the house that needed repairs or replacement and also used magic to repair and enchant my automobile."

"Wait -- you said -- your wife?" asked the lavender mare, expressing disbelief.  "What's an automobile?"

"Truthfully, as a human, I was in a male body.  An automobile is a sort of carriage which moves on it's own power, able to carry multiple passengers at a relatively high rate of speed across great distances.  My home country had an expansive network of highways, streets, and roads which spanned the length and width of the nation."

"Sounds fascinating," the Princess mused.  "Please proceed with your story, Amethyst."

"I can't believe you -- a mare -- were in a MALE body!"

"It's true.  But I haven't been in a male body for about eight years or so.  But I digress.  After fixing things around the house, I decided to have breakfast -- but something terrible happened.  My wife had a couple of grandchildren living with us, and the youngest one mistook me for a dog.  She climbed onto my back in an attempt to ride me like a horse, but lost her balance and snapped my horn off."  Twilight gasped as Celestia expressed surprise by opening her eyes real wide.  "So I had my wife grab the broken horn piece out of her granddaughter's hands and I urged her to place it on my head in the spot where it had broken off.  I concentrated as hard as I could to force magic into it to try to mend it, but it didn't work.  She tried to bond it back on with an epoxy resin, and even though the bond was strong enough to keep my horn in place, I was unable to focus magic through it because the natural molecular bond had been broken."

"So what happened then?" Twilight asked.

"For some reason or other, I decided that my magically enchanted vehicle might have been able to help me, though I wasn't sure how it could, but in an attempt to get the keys to the vehicle, I fell down the stairs and broke my right hind leg, fracturing in three places.  My wife had to help me out to the car, which healed my broken leg.  The inspiration to have the car restore my horn hit me, but when the car tried to do that, it went into safe mode and refused to cast any more magic.  The only way to reset the safe mode was to turn the car off and use magic on it from outside the vehicle, but since I had lost my ability to use magic, I couldn't reset the vehicle.  Worse still was the fact that I still owed money on the car to the dealership where I had bought it, and as a result of losing my human job, not being able to get money, I ended up losing the car."

"Who took it from you?" asked Twilight.  "How did you feel about it?"

"The dealership I had bought the car from send a repossession agent to take it away.  I felt as though a piece of me had died at that point."

"That's terrible!  I'm so sorry!"

"Well, that wasn't the worst of it, not by any stretch.  Eventually my wife got sick of me crying myself to sleep every night -- at one point making me sleep outside in the car when I still had it.  She lost her patience with me and took a new boyfriend, who took sadistic delight in causing me physical pain.  He would routinely hit me with his fists or kick me with his steel-toe boots.  I suppose he liked to hear me scream in pain whenever he did this.  I remember one night he kicked me down the stairs -- I was lucky I didn't break any bones when he did that.  A few days later I sternly told him to stop attacking me, which drove him into a rage.  He chased me around the house, cornering me in a small room, and kicked me and hit me until my muzzle started bleeding.  I ran to the back door of my house and told him to let me out, which he did.  I then galloped as fast as I could to the nearest railroad tracks and hopped aboard a freight train, which took me south to a large city called Memphis."

"How could anypony do something so evil?"

"I don't know.  Some people are so twisted in the head that they have no conscience.  Living on the streets in Memphis was very hard for me -- I had to scrounge for food  and water wherever I could find it, sometimes having to force out of my mind whether or not it was contaminated in some way or other.  Bathing was another matter, proving to be extremely difficult.  There is a river which flows on the west side of Memphis, and I tried to wash off in that river, but the current was so strong and swift that I had to swim as hard as I could to make it back to the riverbank.  I nearly drowned in my attempt to wash the dirt out of my coat, mane and tail.  I took to trying to wash off in water fountains in public parks, but would get chased off by animal control or other humans who couldn't stand the smell I was giving off.  Trying to get food and water in that state was really hard, and I found myself having to go days without food.  Finding shelter from the elements was also quite difficult as I would get chased out of apartment building vestbules, freeway overpasses, and any other place that might offer some shelter.  Sleep -- whenever I could get it -- was difficult as well."

"How long did you go around like that?  Why wouldn't anypony help you?"

"I wandered the streets of Memphis for ... I don't know, a year, maybe?  Time lost its meaning to me after a while, more so after I lost my cutie mark."  Twilight gasped again when the purple mare said that.  "Yeah, that was really depressing, but not as depressing when I lost my ability to talk."  Another gasp.  "I got so depressed I trotted to a bridge over the river, climbed onto the guardrail and peered over the edge.  I was seriously wondering if I should jump or not.  I hesitated, looking down at the river flowing swiftly.  It was a long way down, and jumping would most likely have resulted in my death."

"Was it really that bad?"

"Yeah, it was.  But even as I was considering jumping, something told me not to.  Even so, my health at this point had deteriorated to a point where I was not far from death anyway.  I continued to wander the streets until lack of nourishment and fatigue overwhelmed me.  I laid down and curled up into a ball in some apartment building entryway, not caring whether or not I lived or died at that point."

The two of them were shocked by this -- Twilight shed a couple of tears and Celestia wrapped a wing around the purple mare, who took a drink of water.  Her eyes were moist as well as she had reminded herself of just how bad the situation had become at that time.  She wiped away a tear with her right fore-hoof.

"I don't remember who rescued me, but I was taken to an animal hospital and nursed back to health, then transferred to a no-kill shelter.  One of the employees of that shelter adopted me, though it took about a month to get all the paperwork issues addressed.  Apparently, shelter employees were forbidden from adopting pets from the shelter they worked at, though the man's boss allowed him to take me to his apartment.  He and his girlfriend were quite thrilled to have me living with them, but they soon tired of my needs.  The man took me in his car to a cluster of casinos about a half hour's drive south of Memphis and dropped me off there.  He told me never to return to the city and not to speak a word of what happened to anyone."

"That's ridiculous!" Twilight exclaimed, expressing disgust at the behavior.

"I certainly hope not all humans are so selfish and display such a blatant lack of compassion," Celestia stated flatly.

"Well, too many of them are in my opinion.  As I was trotting toward one of the casinos, I bumped into Discord."  The two of them glanced at each other, then turned to stare in disbelief at the purple mare.  "Truthfully, if I had known then what I know now ..."

"What happened?"

"Discord restored my ability to use magic, though not after I had thoroughly berated him for destroying my life and my identity, Twilight."

"I can't believe he would do something of that sort, regardless of how remorseful he might feel.  Something tells me there is something he wanted from you in exchange for that action," the Princess mused.

"Indeed there was, your Majesty.  He asked me to work for him, though he also told me that if I performed well enough for him that I would be richly rewarded."

"I can only imagine," she chuckled.  "So what did he have you do for him?"

"He had me instigate a gang war in Los Angeles, a conflict between rival drug lords in Mexico, a civil war in Ghana, and exacerbate the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.  After I finished up in Ghana, I returned to Discord's lair to get a bite to eat and some sleep in one of the most comfortable beds I had ever slept in.  He came to me that night while I was trying to sleep -- I had made the mistake of offering the possibility of allowing him to have sex with me --"

"WHAAAT?!  How could you?  In MY body?!?" the lavender mare exclaimed.

"I'm afraid so, Twilight.  You need not worry -- all he did was rub against me for a couple of minutes before he spent himself.  I asked him if he was finished, and he sheepishly returned to his bed, though he told me that he occasionally got lonely.  Maybe I was supposed to feel sorry for him, though I don't know if I honestly could, given what happened to my home world as a result of doing these things for him.  The following day I teleported to Israel, more specifically the Palestinian side of this giant long wall separating Israeli territory from the Palestinian lands.  I used my magic to blow large holes in that wall from the Palestinian side, which made the Israeli government very angry.  They sent their military forces to attack a neighboring country.  That country was called Iran, and Russia was their strongest ally.  Russia attacked Israel, so Israel launched nuclear weapons at Russia, Iran and China.  The United States, my home country and Israel's strongest ally came to their aid and Russia and China launched nuclear weapons at various locations in the United States.  The resulting conflict put so much dirt and radiation into the sky that if nothing was done about it, all life on the planet would perish within a week."

The Princess and her student blanched, mouths agape.   Amethyst was surprised by the Princess' reaction.

"I had teleported back to Discord's lair after blowing holes in the wall and he told me my work for him was done and that I should go somewhere -- anywhere but his lair.  I went back to the house I used to live in, and the man my wife had taken as a boyfriend came out the door and chased me.  I used my telekinesis to lift him about 50 feet above the ground and when he yelled at me to let him down, I let him fall but caught him in my aura before he hit the ground.  I lifted him again to scare him further, but a police officer told me to put him down gently.  Before I did, I asked him about my wife and he confessed to having killed her and cut her body up into small pieces and scattered them around the state in various places."

"He killed your wife?" Twilight asked in shock.  "Why?"

"The man, whose name was Alonzo, was a very bad man -- but my wife -- she had a hot temper and a tendency to anger quickly.  I guess Alonzo got tired of her attitude and killed her out of frustration.  I set him down gently and allowed the police officer to arrest him and take him to jail.  I teleported back to mid-town Manhattan, specifically Times Square to watch the news on the giant view screen which hung on a tall building.  Discord showed up and congratulated me for a job well done and gave me a small pouch with ten gold coins in it.  Suddenly everything went deathly still -- you could hear a pin drop -- and everything electronic died.  I instinctively knew what was going to happen next, so I teleported to Ponyville, in front of the big tree which serves as Library and home for Twilight and me."

"I've never been to Ponyville!  And you've never lived with ME!"

"Just bear with me, please.  I was still in a copy of your body, but the pink streak in my mane and tail had turned blood red, though I didn't know it at the time.  My cutie mark still hadn't returned, but I knocked on the door and Spike answered it -- his reaction to seeing me was nearly priceless, yours upon seeing me truly was priceless!  You asked me what had happened to my cutie mark and my hair.  I told you that I had lost my cutie mark several months ago and that I, um, didn't know what had happened to my hair, even after I had conjured up a small mirror to examine my mane and tail.  You told me you thought I did know what happened, but before I could answer your questions of who I was and where I came from, Princess Celestia showed up at the front door of the library.  Her reaction to seeing two Twilights was not so amusing."

"And just what was my reaction, exactly?"

"You glowered at me and demanded to know who I was and where I came from -- I told you this information and also my involvement with Discord and that I was afraid I had sealed my planet's fate.  I remember asking you for asylum in Equestria, but as a different pony so I wouldn't be confused with Twilight.  You expressed some degree of compassion for me when I told you that I had spent a year or so wandering the streets of Memphis, nearly dying from neglect, but that compassion dissipated when I told you what I had done in the service of Discord."

"You need to stop mentioning his name so much," the Princess stated, showing a little apprehension.

"The Elements of Harmony transformed him into a statue," Amethyst stated flatly.

"No, Amethyst -- they can be used for that purpose, but they are not in my possession."

"What day is this?"

"The Summer Sun Celebration is to be held in two days' time," Celestia responded.

"Don't tell me this is the thousandth year since Nightmare Moon's banishment," Amethyst stated with deep concern.

"It is."

"That's just an Old Mare's Tale, nothing to worry about!" Twilight grinned.

"Twilight, I'm going to send you to Ponyville tomorrow to check on preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration."

"But why?"

"You've been in Canterlot your entire life -- I believe you should broaden your horizons and make some new friends," Celestia said, smiling warmly at her student.  "I would like to receive weekly reports from you on your friendship studies as well, Twilight."

"Yes, Princess."

"Your Majesty, may I accompany her, as I have been her housemate at the Library for the past three years or so?"

"Amethyst, I believe this is something Twilight must do on her own.  I request you remain at the Castle until such time as I feel she is ready for you to return to Ponyville.  You have knowledge of the future, and I cannot allow you to possibly change certain outcomes.  Indeed, your very presence represents an uncontrollable variable, one which concerns me deeply.  Even so, I find your story most fascinating and I would like to hear more from you -- I believe you are not finished with it yet."

"That's correct, your Majesty.  You thought about what I had told you and you came to the conclusion that I should return to my home world to try to clean up the mess I had made -- asylum was out of the question.  In fact, the choice you offered me was to be turned back into a human and sent to my home world to die within a week, or be returned there in Twilight's body to try to magically clean things up.  My response was that even if I were to be transformed into an Alicorn that I doubted I'd be able to clean up as big a mess I had made, even with all the power an Alicorn would have at her disposal.  Regardless of that fact, I took the latter choice and eventually chose Memphis as my landing point upon returning to my home world.  I used my magic to try to clean up the sky a little, but there was so much dust and radiation that my attempts proved to be fruitless.  Then Discord showed up again."

Something that sounded like a jacket being unzipped was heard as the God of Chaos made his entrance.

"Well, hello, ladies!  I heard someone mention my name ... quite a few times!" he chuckled.  Twilight recoiled in fear as the Princess adopted an aggressive stance towards the dragonequus.  Amethyst glowered at him.

"I was hoping I'd never have to see you again," the purple mare hissed as she gritted her teeth.

"My, my, such animosity!  I've been listening to this story of yours, and I find it quite amusing!  Since you haven't finished telling it yet and it involves ME, I would appreciate hearing the rest of it!" he laughed.

"I just hope you don't try any funny stuff," the purple mare said angrily, still talking through clenched teeth.

"Relax, I'm not going to do anything ... at least, not yet anyway!  I want to hear the whole story -- if I like it enough, I promise I won't bother you for a long time!"

"I hope it's for a thousand years," Amethyst hissed.

"Temper, temper, girl!  Don't push your luck."

"YOU MADE ME CARRY TWO FOALS FOR YOU!!" the purple mare screeched.

"WHAAT?" the dragonequus shouted.  "I've never seen you before in my life!  How could I have possibly sired two foals by YOU?"  His expression was truly frightening, but Amethyst stood her ground, even as the Sun Goddess recoiled from his outburst and Twilight shook like a leaf.

"Well, truth be told, it was somepony pretending to be you, but until that mystery had been unraveled, I could have sworn to Faust that YOU were the father!  EJ still asks about you, and Stephanie -- she's never seen you, so she wouldn't know who you are, even though I've told her about you," the purple mare explained.

"EJ?  Stephanie?  What are you talking about?  Who are you?" Discord asked, a very puzzled expression on his face.

"You must have missed the first part of my story then.  You know, the part where I started out as a human, woke up as Twilight Sparkle, lost my ability to use magic, wandered around Memphis for a year, ran into you, worked for you, nearly destroyed my home world, allowed you to have a son by me while I was still in Twilight's body, you giving me a nice house by the ocean, you disappearing for three and a half years, then coming back when you said EJ needed a playmate ..."

The dragonequus stood dumbfounded at first, then started chuckling, then fell to the floor laughing as hard as he could, tears streaming from his eyes.  "Stop it!  Stop it!  You're killing me!" he exclaimed through his raucous laughter.

"WHAT?  You gave birth to a colt -- while in -- MY BODY?!?" Twilight shrieked.  "And to HIM!!  I can't believe it!"

"Twilight, I also gave birth to Stephanie while in a copy of your body as well -- and yes, before you ask again, Discord is supposedly the father for her as well," the purple mare stated calmly.  The lavender mare was floored by this announcement.  She flopped her mouth open and closed in an attempt to find the words to express her disbelief.

"It would be funny if it weren't so serious, but the truth is that I love them both dearly -- and they love you as well, Twilight as they recognize you as their birth mother.  I wonder if I might be able to get back to the world I time traveled from," Amethyst mused somewhat sadly.  The librarian continued to open and close her mouth, this new revelation causing more disbelief.  The Princess was also stunned by the purple mare's explanation.  Discord just chuckled, but maintained a pensive mood, thoughtfully rubbing his chin with his eagle talon.  Amethyst returned her attention to the dragonequus.

"Nor did I mention the fact that because of you, I am ultimately responsible for the death of nearly five billion people on my home world -- though if it hadn't been for your help, all life on my home world would be dead, myself included."

"FIVE BILLION PEOPLE?!?!" all three of them asked simultaneously.

"I only make the bomb, I don't drop it," the purple mare stated flatly.  Discord laughed at that, but Celestia glared at her.  Twilight remained stunned, her mouth still open in a gasp.

"Wait.  I'm still curious about your home world -- how did you get here, if you had no way of leaving your home world?" asked Discord, regaining his composure.

"Princess Celestia brought me, though I had enough magic power as Twilight to come here -- but I was warned not to come without Celestia's express permission -- and it wasn't until she was willing to let me come on HER terms, not whenever it struck my fancy."

"You were in ... HER body?" he asked, pointing his lion paw in the librarian's direction.  She was still cowering behind the Alicorn.  "Ha, ha, hah!  That's rich!"

"She does have a very nice singing voice, if I do say so myself," Amethyst stated proudly.  "I actually enjoyed being her, once my magic ability had been restored."

"So why did I help you?  What was in it for me?"

"Because you stated that even though you live for chaos, wholesale destruction of an entire planet is too much chaos, even for you.  The price I paid for your help was giving you an heir -- in this case, my, I mean, our son, EJ."

"How many times do I have to say this?  I've NEVER SEEN YOU BEFORE IN MY LIFE!" he shouted.

"Because I told you that SOMEPONY WAS PRETENDING TO BE YOU!" the purple mare bellowed, using magic to amplify her voice.

"Oh.  Sorry about that," he said softly, staring at the ground.  "Tell me, girl, what does his name mean?  What does he look like?  Me, I hope," the dragonequus grinned.

"You wanted to name him 'Equanimity' and I wanted to name him 'Jeffrey' so I guess you took the initials and called him EJ.  He is a fine young unicorn colt, solid grey with a purple sheen if the light shines on his coat at the right angle.  His hooves are purple and his horn has a purple swirl mixed with the solid medium grey.  His mane and tail are glossy black with purple highlights.  He got his cutie mark of three swords about a month ago," the purple mare stated proudly, smiling broadly.

"So how old is he?"

"He'll be eight years old next month."

"If his cutie mark is three swords, that means he can use his magic like my big brother, who can make shields with his magic," Twilight surmised.  "So what does he think of me?  And my brother?"

Amethyst brightened considerably.  "He thinks the world of both you and your brother -- he regards your brother as an idol, looks up to him very highly.  I remember he went to Canterlot Castle with you and me to visit your brother about two years after he got married to Cadance.  Shiny gave him a tour of the barracks, which included the weapon racks.  EJ was so fascinated by the swords that he wanted one and was crestfallen when he was told he couldn't have one.  He obsessed over those swords, especially the really big ones to the point that he started using his magic to try to create one.  He got really good at making magic swords, and that was what led to him getting his cutie mark.  One day, he and his best friend Pound Cake were playing with a large rubber ball, kicking it back and forth in a field not far from the Everfree Forest.  Their laughter caught the attention of about five or six timber wolves that decided to investigate the noise.  The wolves advanced on the two colts and started chasing them.  The wolves were a lot faster than the colts and caught up to them, surrounding them.  EJ summoned his magic swords, lots of them, and used them against the wolves, reducing them to firewood.  That's how EJ got his cutie mark!"

"I'm so proud of him!" the dragonequus grinned.  "That makes me want to have a child of my own.   Say, Amethyst, would you be interested in making a deal with this old God of Chaos?"

The purple mare let out a scream so loud and primal that it virtually shook the room.  Discord was stunned by her outburst, and even the Princess showed a shocked expression.

"Sorry I asked," he grinned.  "Did you mention something about my lair?"

"You changed locations a few times, but I remember a penthouse suite on the top floor of a high rise in mid-town Manhattan.  Nice view, even if the decor was a bit Spartan."

"I have simple needs," he chuckled.  "I don't need extravagant flourishes."  He gave Celestia a wink and a grin.  She glowered at him in disapproval.

"I guess one thing you did to help me was speed up the gestation period to two months -- both times."  This shocked the Princess and her student.

"But what about the development of the foal?  Wasn't there a possibility of complications or defects?" asked the librarian.

"Heh.  The God of Chaos controlled those factors, along with selecting the gender of the foals -- although I was given my preference for Stephanie," the purple mare explained.

"Why did you give her that name?  Tell me a little about her, please!"

"I chose the name of Stephanie because I liked it -- but I have given her a pony name as well -- so her full name is Stephanie Galaxy Sparkle."  Discord started laughing hard again but Twilight was shocked, slack-jawed and wide-eyed.

"Why did you give her my family name?" she asked in exasperation.

"Because I was in a copy of your body when I gave birth to her.  She's getting close to four years old now, still the cutest little unicorn filly you could ever hope to lay eyes on.  Her coat is a nice shade of purple, about four shades lighter than mine and four shades darker than yours.  Her mane and tail are a silvery white, her eyes a pale blue.  Her idol is Princess Luna, but she has a very strong bond with you, Twi.  Luna showed her how she arranges the stars in the night sky, oftimes complaining about how nopony appreciates all the hard work and artistry she puts into placing the constellations in perfect order.  Many nights she will spend looking through your telescope at the night sky, sometimes staying up until dawn.  She is already starting to show a strong magical ability and a high level of intelligence.  I half-way wonder if she might someday become your successor as a bearer of the Element of Magic."

All three of them stood in stunned silence once again.  Celestia regained her composure first and glared daggers at the purple mare.

"Why couldn't you keep quiet?  Twilight was not supposed to know about that!"

"It is her destiny, your Majesty.  Honestly, she and I are like peas in a pod, we're that close.  Twi's like a sister to me."

"Element of Magic?  What's that?" asked a very puzzled Twilight.

"Hmm.  Sounds very interesting," Discord mused.

"It may be her destiny, Amethyst, but she has to discover that on her own.  What you know about her future is information you MUST keep to yourself!  Do NOT divulge any more of her future!" Celestia sharply admonished.  Discord chuckled and then resumed laughing.

"I don't have to do anything!  This is so amusing!  I swear I'm going to die laughing if this keeps up!"

"How did you get a number for your cutie mark?" asked Twilight.

"Ah.  Good question.  As a human, I had a fascination with numbers, bordering on obsession.  The number 17 is my favorite number, one which I attach special significance.  I consider it to be the luckiest of all numbers, the most sacred of all numbers.  I consider it an honor and a blessing that I carry that number as my cutie mark."

The dragonequus glanced at the purple mare and waved his lion paw at her.  The number changed from 17 to 18.  Twilight gasped at this and Celestia chuckled softly.  The purple mare followed Celestia's gaze and saw that her cutie mark had been changed.   She let out another primal scream and lit her horn, her expression one of apoplectic rage.

"CHANGE IT BACK!  NOW!!"

"Ha, ha, ha!  You should see the look on your face!" he laughed.  He waved his lion paw again, restoring the number.  "Wow, I got a good laugh from that!  Now I know how to push your buttons!  I'm going to keep you around for my amusement!"

"You ... you ... AAAAAGH!  Why do you have to torment me like this!?  Haven't you done enough damage?"

"You said it was somepony pretending to be me -- so who would be so foolish as to impersonate the God of Chaos?"

"Does the name Trollestia mean anything to you?  Any of you?"

The dragonequus and Sun Goddess started chuckling.  Twilight was mystified.

"I didn't find out about it until after I had spent time in a prison after I had turned myself in to the authorities for committing genocide and crimes against peace.  Discord had shown up at my oceanfront house, telling me EJ wanted a playmate.  I told him that a second foal was out of the question, but if he was willing to extend my lifespan to about 5000 years, give me a mountaintop castle the same size as Canterlot, provide me with enough gold coin to purchase anything I wanted over that extremely long lifespan and allow me to choose the gender of the foal and her name that I would be willing to provide him with a second foal."

Discord nearly fell out laughing.  "I would never give you all that, just for a second -- wait a minute.  That doesn't really sound like a bad deal to me!   Say, Amethyst?  You still willing to take me up on that offer?" he grinned.

"You ... you ..." the purple mare hissed, grinding her teeth audibly.  Celestia grinned, but Twilight was mortified.

"You were still in my body?" the lavender unicorn asked.

"Yes, Twi.  Anyway, I had found out at that point that I was being sought by the authorities for my crimes, so one of the things I mentioned to Discord was that I was perhaps a bit more concerned about my status as a fugitive from justice than my desire for material possessions.  Discord responded by changing my appearance from that of Twilight Sparkle to that of Beatrix Lulamoon, better known as 'The Great and Powerful Trixie'."

"Never heard of her," Twilight mused.

"You will, Twi -- my advice is to stay away from her -- but I digress.  I was not happy about that transformation -- what?"

Discord had waved his lion paw at the purple mare once again, who was now transformed into said azure unicorn, complete with the styled mane and tail and Trixie's cutie mark.  Amethyst saw this and screamed again.  Discord started laughing again, rolling on the floor, tears streaming from his eyes.

"This is what Beatrix Lulamoon looks like -- I told Discord that Trixie's magic is not as strong as Twilight's, and he gave me a small trinket -- a silver pendant with a red diamond in the center.  He said, 'If you don't think your magic is up to snuff, here, have this' as he tossed the Alicorn Amulet in my direction.  I asked him where he had obtained the talisman and he told me he was not at liberty to divulge that information.

"Now, I would like to state that I enjoy performing karaoke -- and as Twilight, I was able to sing magnificently.  But as Trixie, well, singing was ... painful to my ears.  I don't know if that was Discord's doing, or if Trixie really IS tone-deaf, but it did detract significantly from my happiness.  I found that as Trixie, I could not teleport, nor did I like the taste of my favorite foods, and I had to take another shower to clean myself up.  For some strange reason or other, I had developed a craving for pine cones while I was in Trixie's body -- I didn't actually go get any, of course, but the craving was intense.

"So I decided to write Princess Celestia a letter asking for advice, including a request for asylum once again -- but after having written the letter, I could not open a portal window through which to send the letter.  I decided to wear the Alicorn Amulet, despite the fact that it has a tendency to corrupt the soul of anypony who wears it, but I felt compelled to send the letter.  Apparently, I decided to teleport to Ponyville once again to meet up with Twilight."

"You were in -- Trixie's body?  What happened?"

"In that world, you and Spike were quite familiar with the show-mare and were not happy to see me, at least while I was in that body -- Discord, will you PLEASE change me back into my previous form?"

"Ha, ha, ha, give me a moment!" he continued laughing for another minute, then waved his lion paw at the azure unicorn who was then transformed back into her normal form.  She glowered at the dragonequus, who continued to chuckle.

"If you don't mind my asking, what exactly is karaoke?" asked the Sun Goddess.

"I would have to demonstrate it to give you a better understanding," Amethyst stated.  She lit her horn and conjured up a karaoke machine from air molecules.  Discord let out a low whistle when he saw this happen.  The purple mare turned the machine on and levitated the microphone in front of her.  The first song that started playing was "In and Out of Love" by The Supremes -- in her past, Amethyst had also collected quite a bit of old music, her favorite genre being that of the Girl Groups  and Wall of Sound era.  When she finished singing, she turned off the machine.

"I suppose I should have warned you about human music," the purple mare grinned.  All three of them stood in stunned silence once again.

"That was ... very interesting," Celestia mused.

"I kind of liked it," Twilight offered.

"I've heard better," Discord muttered.

"My singing voice in this body is not quite as good as Twilight's, but even so, I'm not upset over that fact.  But anyway, when I met up with Twilight while still in Trixie's body, she recognized me and the talisman I was wearing.  I told her I had a letter I wanted to send to Princess Celestia and wondered if Spike could send it.  When I told you who I really was, you remembered me from before when I was in your body, and your concern about Discord following me from my home world to Equestria was made evident when you told me to leave as soon as possible.  Despite that, you allowed Spike to send the letter I had written, but not before reading it aloud.  You found what I had written to be somewhat amusing, but Celestia's response showed no such amusement."

"So what did you write to me about?" Celestia asked.  Discord simply grinned.

"I simply asked for advice on what to do and also asked, once again, for you to allow me to stay in Equestria.  Your response was rather harsh, impugning my intelligence, telling me to leave immediately or face dire consequences, and a threat -- if I returned, my next visit would be my last."

The Sun Goddess expressed shock at this statement.  "I can't believe I would be that harsh, Amethyst.  What possessed me to write such a rebuke?"

"It was part of your plan to track down and bring to justice your ... evil side."

"Trollestia may be mischievous, but she is NOT evil!" Celestia protested.

"Thanks to her, five billion humans are dead," the purple mare stated flatly.

"Do NOT blame HER for your actions, Amethyst!  I've half a mind to --"

The dragonequus erupted into uproarious laughter.  "Do my work for me, Celestia!"

"Be quiet, Discord."

"I think the worst thing about it was that you took the foals out of my arms shortly after I had given birth to each of them, about three and a half years apart from each other.  Worse still was how you abandoned me after childbirth, not once, but twice.  I was never given an opportunity to develop the critical bond with my foals, though they still regard me and Twilight as their mothers.  Not long after I had given birth to Stephanie and the veterinarian had left my house, I shouted at the ceiling that there would not be a third foal for you, Discord.  Then my house started shaking like an earthquake was happening.  I determined that my house was being lifted, but I was terrified for two minutes while the changes were taking place to my house.  When it stopped, I made my way to a balcony overlooking the ocean -- about seventeen hundred feet down.  My house had been turned into a castle sitting atop a very high cliff.  I found out later that all this was just an elaborate illusion, though."

"I'm a dragonequus of my word!  If I promised something in return for a certain action, I would never go back on my word!  But then again, you did say it was an impostor pretending to be me.  You reap what you sow, girl!"

"Whatever.  After about a week of exploring and admiring my new home, I was struck by the stained glass windows depicting important events in my life.  It was the one of me in Twilight's body blasting holes in the wall that ultimately made me decide to turn myself in to the authorities.  Discord had changed me back into Twilight at my request and I rewarded him by singing one of my favorite songs -- apparently, he liked it quite a bit."

"Oh?  And what song was that?  You sang it while in Twilight's body?" he asked.

"Change me into Twilight and I will perform it for you," the purple mare offered.  Discord responded by waving his lion paw at Amethyst again, transforming her into the lavender librarian.  She turned on the karaoke machine and sang "Wake Up John" by Little Eva -- she involuntarily performed her movements while singing, grinning broadly.  It had been too long since she had last been able to replicate such a fine performance.  Celestia and Twilight smiled in approval.  The song was done in two minutes and Amethyst asked Discord to return her to her normal form, which he promptly did.

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" the dragonequus grinned.

"I suppose you could say that, yes.  Anyway, I turned myself in and was placed in a jail cell.  Amazingly enough, when I was being arraigned, you showed up in the courtroom and announced that you had made me instigate the nuclear war, then disappeared.  When I was asked how to plead, I responded with 'Not Guilty'."

"I find it difficult to believe I would have accepted your presence in Equestria, Amethyst.  You admitted to being responsible for the death of five billion people.  I believe I should send you back to your human home world," Celestia stated flatly.

"I'm not finished with my story, your Majesty.  While I was sitting in prison, Discord visited me yet again and transformed me back into my human form.  The prison guard asked me who I was and what I was doing sitting naked in the cell.  I told him that I had been watching television and found myself being stripped of my clothing, then being dumped off in the prison cell while Discord took Twilight with him.

"Oh, and I had written you a letter, giving you permission to use my mountaintop home as you saw fit, if you were interested in visiting my home world.  I was still in Twilight's body at that time, so opening a portal window to send you the letter was easy, so I did.  But when I was in my human body again, I had to answer lots of questions.  Ultimately, I was taken back to my home outside San Diego -- but at the street level.  I stared up at my house, way up high and wondered how I was supposed to get in there.

"So once again I called upon Discord for assistance -- he was getting fed up with my requests and told me this was the very last favor he was going to do for me -- and teleported me into my house.  He then warned me not to call on him again and left.  As I wandered through my house, I noticed some of the decor had been changed -- originally, all the decorations had Twilight's six-pointed star on them -- but they had been changed into a large sun.  I looked for my Alicorn Amulet, but was unable to find it.  I made my way to my throne room, and who should be sitting on my throne than none other than -- dun dun dunnn -- Princess Celestia!"

"Now why would I do such a thing?" Celestia grinned.

"It gets better -- you asked me to summon Discord again!" the purple mare chuckled.

"What?  After I had warned you NOT to?" he asked in surprise.

"I told Celestia I feared for my safety, but she told me not to worry.  I summoned you once again, and you were ... not happy, to say the least.  Then you saw the Princess, and decided that, um, you needed to be going somewhere -- but the Princess used her magic to hold you in place and your disguise fell away as Celestia told me you were actually Trollestia instead.  I was instructed to remove your horn, which I did.  Trollestia decided she wanted a couple of foals to raise on her own, though I have no idea why she wanted to.  I told her I wanted them back since I had given birth to them, but she refused to cooperate.  I asked the Princess for a feather so I could perform a tickle torture on her, but I didn't have to -- she told us where they were, and Celestia teleported them to my house.

"I was then shown that they had been ensorcelled with glamour, a kind of illusion, which Celestia dispelled.  She then showed me that my house was a glamour, my oceanfront view was a glamour, and that my house turned out to be a prison -- ironic, really, given the circumstances -- I had a glass wall overlooking the ocean, but it turned out that it was a missing wall of my house, giving me a beautiful view of an oil refinery complex -- and open to anypony or anything that wanted to enter and/or leave whenever they wished.

"Celestia then asked me if I wanted to stay on my home world or start a new life in Equestria, raising my foals among others of their species.  I told her that I was going to need help raising them, but was allowed to stay with Twilight at her Library.  I spent more than three years living with Twilight, getting to know her and all her friends and everypony in Ponyville very well -- but not too long ago, Twilight was visited by a future version of herself, warning of some danger of some sort or another which was going to happen about four days after her visit.  We were running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to danger-proof Ponyville."

"A future version of myself?  How did she travel through time?"

"She said the time travel spell was located in the Starswirl the Bearded Wing of the Canterlot Royal Archives -- in fact, you and I were there earlier today -- you were showing me around, but I found the book with the time travel spell in it and cast it, much to your consternation.  Now I find myself having landed a couple of days before the Summer Sun Celebration on the thousandth year of Nightmare Moon's banishment."

"A very entertaining story I must say!  Bravo, Amethyst!  I shall be taking my leave now, but I will be back ... sometime ... but I'm not going to tell you when!  Bye!" Discord chuckled and teleported away.
     
> 2. Facing the Nightmare
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    "Amethyst, I am truly disappointed in you," Celestia stated, a hint of sadness in her words.  "You have unwittingly abandoned your foals with your irresponsible behavior.  Worse still is the fact that you have given my faithful student information she would otherwise have had to learn on her own, or with the assistance of her friends.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to confine you to the Castle for three months.  In that time, you will be studying in the Archives in order to find a way back to your original timeline.  Be that as it may, I don't want you to be depressed -- I know Twilight is like a sister to you now, but you cannot spend time with my Twilight.  She is not of your timeline."

"Begging your pardon, your Majesty, but I'm feeling really hungry -- I would request some food, but I have no money to pay for it," the purple mare stated glumly.

"While you are a guest at my Castle, you will be given nourishment as necessary.  You will also be provided a room, but you will not be allowed to visit my student.  Twilight, I request you return to your suite now.  I have to go lower the Sun and raise the Moon."

"I thought your sister takes care of the Moon and the stars," Amethyst offered.  "Oh, sorry.  I forgot.  Different timeline," she said softly and hung her head.

"I do miss Luna, and I hope to see her again sometime soon," the Sun Goddess mused.

"I'm sure you will, your Majesty," the purple mare offered, barely above a whisper.

"What do you know about Princess Luna?" Twilight asked.

"Where I come from --"

"Amethyst!  Twilight, please go to your suite NOW.  Do not ask any more questions of Amethyst, for the sake of both of us."

"Yes, Princess."  The lavender mare nuzzled her mentor lightly on her neck and the gesture was returned, the Sun Goddess smiling warmly at her student.  Amethyst smiled at Twilight as well.

"I hope to see you again some time, Twi."

"I hope so too, Amethyst -- I want to know what the experience of time travel felt like!" the librarian exclaimed excitedly before leaving the Throne Room.

"It feels like a standard teleport, kind of," she stated nonchalantly as Twilight exited the room.

"AMETHYST!!" the Princess shouted at the purple unicorn, who crumpled to the floor upon hearing Celestia use her Royal Canterlot Voice.  A pained expression then came across the Alicorn's face as she trotted over to the unicorn to make sure no serious harm had befallen her.  "I apologize for my outburst, Amethyst.  Are you hurt?"

"Just my pride ... and my hearing," she responded flatly.  "I'm sorry, your Majesty, I keep forgetting I'm in a different timeline."

"So what exactly possessed you to travel to THIS particular timeline?"

"I merely cast the time travel spell to see if I could perform it, though I had no idea of exactly when I was going to end up.  There is a part of me that was curious to see Nightmare Moon for myself, having only heard legends of the dark princess."

Celestia glowered at the purple unicorn.  "One thing you must realize, Amethyst, is that Nightmare Moon is extremely powerful -- and your power is no match for hers.  I should warn you that any attempt by you to confront her will end disastrously for you."

"I'm sure you witnessed my interaction with Discord --" the purple mare began.

"You would be wise not to push your luck, Amethyst."

"I'm actually more concerned about the fate of my foals -- I only hope I can get back to them," she said glumly.

"I would like to express some sympathy for your plight, but given the fact that you have left your previous timeline, you seriously need to work on finding a way back to that specific timeline.  For the time being, I shall assign an escort for you, so that you may have access to a bedchamber, a bath, the dining hall and the archives.  It is my sincere hope that you will be able to find a spell to return you to your original timeline."

"Is it not possible for you to send me back to my original timeline, your Majesty?"

"I have many answers to many questions, as I'm sure you're aware, but some things are beyond even my considerable knowledge and power.  Starswirl crafted myriad spells, but never experimented with all of them.  Many of them are purely theoretical, and the most advanced ones are hypothetical."

Amethyst let out a low whistle.  "I see, your Majesty.  So I would basically be testing the spells without the benefit of prior experience from ANYpony."

"I'm sorry, Amethyst, but that's the way it is.  You made your bed, now you must lie in it."

"Well, nothing like a good challenge, I must say.  If you don't mind, I would like to get some food now, and some sleep after that.  Who shall be my escort, your Majesty?"

"I shall assign the Royal Guard named Right Face to you, Amethyst.  He is one of the guards on the other side of those doors over there," she said, pointing a hoof at the huge double-doors leading out of the Throne Room.  "You are dismissed, Amethyst."

"Yes, your Majesty.  Thank you," the purple mare stated reverently, bowing deeply before turning towards the doors, then left the room.

The Sun Goddess remained seated on her throne for a few moments longer before teleporting to her bedchambers.  She trotted to her balcony and lowered her Sun, then raised the Moon.  She took a few moments longer to stare into the night sky, her gaze lingering on the pale orb.

"Soon, my sister, soon you shall be free of that prison.  I only hope my faithful student and her new friends will be able to restore you," the Alicorn thought pensively before returning to her bed, closing the doors to her balcony behind her.

About an hour or so later, Twilight had made her way to the Alicorn's bedchamber and knocked on the door.

"Is that you, Twilight, my faithful student?  You may enter," the Princess stated softly.

With just a hint of hesitation, the lavender mare opened the door slowly, peeking from behind it.  Celestia smiled warmly at her protege, beckoning her to the bed with her right fore-hoof.  Twilight gave a big grin and hopped into the huge bed, giving her mentor a tight hug and nuzzled her on her neck.  Her gesture of affection was graciously returned by her mentor, who wrapped a wing around the unicorn.

"I need you to be well rested for tomorrow, Twilight, which is why I asked you to come to my bedchambers tonight.  I know you sleep quite soundly when you are with me," she stated softly, a genuine smile of affection on her face.

"I'm sure you're aware of how much I enjoy sleeping next to you, Princess," Twilight responded, a big smile on her face.  Within moments, the lavender mare had fallen asleep, snoring lightly.  Celestia chuckled softly and wrapped her wing tenderly over her.  Presently the Alicorn fell asleep as well.

---------------------------------

Amethyst paid little attention to her escort, a unicorn stallion who was just about her height, perhaps a shade shorter than her.  Apparently Right Face was quite taken with the mare and kept asking her questions.  His coat was a strong teal color, his mane and tail a mix of medium and dark brown, his eyes a sort of pale green.

"So, Amethyst Shadow, eh?  Nice name," he grinned as he trotted beside her, leading her to the dining hall.

"Thanks," she said tersely.  "I thought Royal Guards were supposed to remain silent," she thought.  She was frowning at the attention he was giving her.

"Where do you come from?" he pried.

"Baltimare," she lied.

"Oh, I have a brother there!  His name is About Face.  Perhaps you've heard of him?"

"Baltimare's a big city -- I've never heard of him," she stated flatly.  "I hope he doesn't ask me which neighborhood I came from ..."

"So, which part of Baltimare did you live in before you came to Canterlot?"

"I don't know -- I never paid attention to such things," she replied dismissively.

"Oh.  I thought Baltimarians were proud of their neighborhoods," he stated with some puzzlement.

The purple mare sighed heavily.  "I only lived in Baltimare for about half a year before coming here -- I traveled from Las Pegasus to Baltimare," she stated, trying to throw him off.

"Ah!  I have some cousins who live out there!"

Amethyst groaned audibly.  "Is there ANYplace you don't have family?"

"Well ... I don't think I have any family in Neigh Orleans," he said thoughtfully.

"But you know of somepony who lives or was born there, don't you?"

"Yes!  How did you know?" he asked, his grin growing larger.

"You're broadcasting it as loudly as if you were shouting it at the top of your lungs, Right Face.  Now if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you would stop asking so many questions.  You're supposed to be a Royal Guard, not a love-struck colt," she admonished him.  He expressed his disappointment by flashing her a hurt look on his face.  "I hope you don't cry, it would be very unbecoming a Royal Guard for you to do so.  Am I that attractive to you?"

"Well, yes, Amethyst.  You are extremely beautiful!  I can't take my eyes off you!"

"I thank you for the compliment.  I hate to burst your bubble, but you're not my type.  Sorry."

"I have been assigned to you as your escort, milady -- not your type?  What IS your type?  Am I not as handsome as you are beautiful?" he asked, almost with indignation.  "I am second in command of the Royal Guard!  Other mares would be throwing themselves at me!"

The purple mare chuckled.  "Then have one of them be your choice!  As for me -- I have very discriminating taste in stallions -- I'm honored that the Princess has seen fit to place her second highest ranking Royal Guard commander as my escort, but even so, you're still not my type.  Sorry."

The purple mare and her teal escort trotted in silence the rest of the way to the dining hall.  She was shown to a seat and her food request for pasta al dente with a spicy garlicky tomato-based sauce, a salad with a vinaigrette dressing, a few dinner rolls and a glass of white wine.  When her dinner entree was brought to her, she noticed what seemed like a small portion size, but considering she was receiving free food, she chose not to complain about it.  The wine, on the other hoof, was a perfect complement to the food.

Feeling somewhat satisfied with her dinner, she returned to the door of the dining hall to see her escort standing at attention.

"Please lead the way to my bedchamber, Right Face," she stated, trying to make her voice sound friendly.

The stallion nodded his head and silently turned to lead Amethyst to the room she'd be sleeping in when not somewhere else in the Castle.  It took nearly fifteen minutes of trotting through hallways and down a couple of staircases to make it to the guest accommodations and not a single word was exchanged between the two unicorns.  The stallion stopped in front of a particular door and nodded his head once again.

"I'm sorry about earlier, Right Face.  Thank you for your service," the purple mare stated softly, trying to sound upbeat.  The stallion simply nodded his head and turned to leave.  "You should have been nicer to him earlier, Ammy," she thought to herself as she entered the room.

The guest accommodation was quite small and relatively sparse.  There was a single bed, just large enough for her.  There was a dresser with a mirror at the opposite wall.  There was a window overlooking the Royal Gardens to the left of the bed, the entry door to the right.  There was another door next to the dresser, presumably leading to a bathroom.  Not bothering to take any more details into consideration, she pulled back the blanket on the bed and laid down to rest.  She used her telekinesis to turn off the light and fell asleep quite quickly in the comfortable bed.  Her dreams centered on EJ and Stephanie and how she could return to her original timeline to continue raising them.  Her conscience was starting to bother her and her sleep came fitfully.

------------------------------

Amethyst Shadow was awoken by a knocking at the door.  The sun was already up, but the dark purple unicorn was still sleepy.  The knocking became more insistent and she gave a loud enough groan to let the pony on the other side know she was getting up.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," she said impatiently.  The door was opened to reveal Right Face, the guardspony from last night.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia requests your immediate presence," he stated coldly.  He made his attempt to avoid eye contact with the mare extremely obvious.

"All right, all right.  Look, sir, I apologize, okay?  I'm sorry I was rude to you last night.  Let's try to make things a little smoother between us, all right?" she asked, a hint of exasperation in her voice.  Her attempt at contrition fell on deaf ears as her escort simply nodded his head and motioned for her to follow him.  It took about fifteen minutes of trotting through hallways and up three staircases to make it to the Throne Room.  The door was opened and the unicorn was announced.

"Amethyst Shadow.  I have been expecting you," the Alicorn stated flatly.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for my tardiness," she responded, bowing deeply.

"Truthfully, you are not tardy.  I would like to discuss certain matters further with you, but I would like to share breakfast with you."

"Where is my housemate?"

Celestia chuckled.  "She is not your housemate ... at least, not yet, anyway.  Worry not, Amethyst, you will be able to visit her soon enough."

"I suppose you've already sent her on her way to Ponyville?"

"Yes, that is correct, Amethyst.  I could not risk having you tell her any more of what you know.  Please follow me to the dining hall."

"As you command, your Majesty," the unicorn stated.  Celestia chuckled loudly at her statement.

"Please, Amethyst, I am not angry with you, and there is no need for such formality in my presence."

"Yes, your Majesty," she replied and followed the Sun Goddess to the dining hall.  As Celestia trotted relatively slowly, Amethyst had to trot a bit faster to maintain the Alicorn's pace.

"Princess, I have a favor to ask of you.  It appears I have gotten on the wrong hoof with the escort you assigned me -- I had no idea he was as high ranking as he is.  I rebuffed his early advances towards me and now he avoids eye contact with me and only speaks when necessary.  I was wanting to know if you could let him know I'm very sorry for upsetting him and let him know my contrition is sincere, if that's not too much trouble."

"I believe I may have a short discussion with him while you are in the Archives," she stated, a warm smile gracing her features.

"Thank you, your Majesty," Amethyst responded.

They entered the dining hall a few moments later and sat next to each other.  Breakfast was brought to them shortly and they discussed matters while eating.

"It would appear you would like for me to lose a little weight," Amethyst mused, examining her relatively small portion size.

"I noticed you were somewhat over-weight," the Sun Goddess observed, "which is why I insisted that your room be on the other side of the Castle from the dining hall.  You could stand to lose about 30 pounds."

"Your Majesty, it's just baby fat -- I picked it up after --"

"You told me you had your foals while in a copy of Twilight's body.  I seemed to recall you said Trollestia was pretending to be ... Him.  If what you said is true about your foals, then ... He is not the true father.  Do you know who is?"

"Your Majesty, I was told it was a Royal Guard unicorn stallion whose semen was used to artificially inseminate me -- though I was never told exactly who it was.  I'm pretty sure it was not Shining Armor, though."

"Even so, you said that over the course of the past few years, your extra weight was added after I had transformed you from Twilight into your current form," the Princess observed.

"Actually, your Majesty, you transformed me from a male human into the pony I am now," she clarified.

"Your story is quite convoluted, Amethyst -- does all this transformation confuse you sometimes?"

"Not really, your Majesty.  I believe I'm much happier as a unicorn mare than I ever was as a male human.  Once again, I thank you for your generosity and kindness."

"You are quite welcome, Amethyst.  I trust you are ready to get started in the Archives, then?"

"Yes, your Majesty," she responded as she finished the last of her breakfast and drained her glass of orange juice.  "Thank you very much, it was delicious!"

"You are very welcome, Amethyst."  She turned her attention to Right Face, still standing guard at the door to the dining hall.  "Right Face, a moment if you would, please?"

The teal stallion trotted in, a serious look on his face.  "Yes, your Highness?" he stated flatly.

"Amethyst Shadow would like to apologize to you for her ... behavior last night.  On my behalf, I would like for you to provide her with an opportunity to improve your opinion of her.  Please consider giving her another chance.  Please escort her to the Royal Archives as I believe she is ready to begin her search for a spell to return her to her original timeline."

"Yes, your Highness," he stated tersely.  He turned his attention to the dark purple mare and glared at her with narrowed eyes.  She offered a weak smile in response.  "Very well then, Amethyst, please follow me to the Archives."

She followed him as instructed and once they were out of earshot of the Princess, he nearly launched into a tirade.

"How dare you embarrass me in front of the Princess!  I am just doing my job, just as you requested.  Now you want me to accept an apology I feel is most insincere?  Weren't you the one who told me I'm not your type?  What, have you changed your mind?" he asked quite indignantly.  Much to his surprise, the dark purple mare quickly trotted around to face him and wrapped her fore-legs around his withers and pulled him into a deep kiss on the lips.  His eyes went very wide with surprise at this completely unexpected move on her part.

"Well, if you put it that way, Amethyst, I believe I accept your apology!" he chuckled after she broke off the kiss with him, returning to trot beside him.

"I didn't know what else to do to let you know I was sorry for pissing you off," she giggled.

"So, does this mean I might have a chance with you?" he asked her, almost hesitantly.

"That depends on how I'm feeling tonight, though I must admit I'm kind of tempted..." she stated in a bemused tone.  He started cantering a bit more sprightly upon hearing this from her.  "Let's not move too fast now, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, slowing down his cantering to a trot.

"I meant figuratively, not literally!" she giggled.

They reached the Archives at this point and Right Face stood at the entryway as Amethyst made her way back over to the desired wing of the library.  She started examining the books, looking for the particular one she had chosen the last time around.  She noticed an empty slot where a book had been.  "I hope that's not the one I needed," she thought as she read the titles on the spines.  Quite a few of the books in that wing didn't have titles, so she was forced to remove them and read either the cover or check the inside.  Quite a few times she had to skim through each book, looking for a spell of some sort or other.

Many of the time-related spells she read were ones designed to slow down the rate of time passage (which she chose to memorize), one to speed it up, one to warp it into a ball and use as an offensive weapon (another one worth memorizing, she thought), one to reverse it's flow, and the one for traveling backwards through it.  Part of the observation for that particular spell was that in order to travel forward through time, a different spell needed to be used.

"I must have jumped universes as well as traveling backward through time -- this is going to be harder than I thought," she thought.  She continued to search through more books, and found quite a few more useful spells.  "Hmm, let me get some ink and parchment to make personal copies of these -- I can't believe what I'm learning here!" she excitedly thought.

"This guy was a GENIUS!" she shouted, losing herself.  "Now I see why Twilight was so impressed by his works!"

"Something the matter, Miss Amethyst?" came a voice from behind a door.

"Please get me some ink and parchment, I need to write a bunch of stuff down!" she shouted at the door.  She trotted to the door to hear his anxious hoofsteps clattering down the hallway as he galloped quickly to fetch her desired supplies.

"Perfect, just the distraction I needed," she thought to herself, grinning broadly.  She teleported to the front gate of the Castle and trotted to the train station.

As Amethyst trotted to the ticket counter at the train station, the Royal Guardsponies were searching for the dark purple unicorn.  Right Face was deeply embarrassed that he had allowed himself to become so distracted as to allow her to escape the Castle.  The teal stallion was meeting with Princess Celestia, informing her of the escape.

"One way to Ponyville, please," the purple mare requested.

"That will be fifteen bits, please," the agent responded.

"Um, I don't ... uh ... have any ..." she hesitated.

"I can't give you a ticket for free," the agent said sternly.

"How soon before the train arrives?"

"Don't even think of trying to board without paying!"

"You didn't answer my question -- I am going to see if I can find the money before it arrives."

"You have thirty minutes before the arrival of the next Friendship Express to Ponyville," he stated flatly.  "Good luck."

Amethyst stated trotting around, looking for bits that might have been inadvertently dropped by ponies, and managed to find thirteen bits during those thirty minutes.  At the same time, Canterlot Castle's Royal Guards were expanding their search for her.  She caught sight of them in the distance and her search for bits became more frantic.  When she heard the whistle of the approaching train, she began panicking.  She needed only one more bit!  She carelessly bumped into a passing stallion.

"Oh, please excuse me sir, I'm sorry for bumping into you," she offered politely.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry, miss?"

"I'm trying to get to Ponyville -- the ticket is fifteen bits, but I'm one bit short of that."

"Well, if it's only one bit, here you go.  Take care, and next time be more careful of where you're galloping around!"

"Thank you, sir!" she said excitedly, galloping as quickly as she could to the ticket counter.  She placed her bits on the counter and the agent cut her ticket.

"I see you managed to accomplish your task!  Congratulations, one one-way ticket to Ponyville!" he chuckled as he hoofed her the ticket.  She hurried to the train as a few Royal Guardsponies started asking the ticket agent about a certain dark purple unicorn mare with a powder blue mane and tail and a cutie mark of the number 17.

"Nope, can't say I've seen such a pony come through here," he stated flatly.

"You'd better not be lying to us," Right Face warned the ticket agent.  Amethyst's former escort then turned to his fellow guards dejectedly.  "Looks like we've lost her.  Come on, guys, we're going to have to expand the search further."

-----------------------------------

Amethyst took a seat on the train in the last coach, fidgeting nervously as she impatiently waited for the train to make it to Ponyville, virtually wishing with the strength of her will to make the train go faster.  She regretted having left her saddlebags in the Castle as she had nothing to read to keep her mind occupied.  She chose to reflect upon the spells she had memorized while in the Archives.  Suddenly, a certain white Alicorn materialized in the seat next to her in a blinding flash of white light and a golden POP.

"Going somewhere, Amethyst?" Celestia asked, smiling warmly.  The purple mare jumped about four feet out of her seat at the sudden arrival.

"P-p-princess C-c-c-celes-st-stia!  W-w-what a p-p-pleasant s-s-sur-surpise!" she grinned sheepishly.

"I suppose I should be very upset with you for disobeying me.  I suppose I should be angry with you for having escaped your confinement.  I suppose I should be furious with you for humiliating your escort, a stallion who regarded his service to me very highly and now doubts his own abilities.  I am tempted to sentence you to six months in my dungeon without the use of your magic, however, I am going to allow you to travel to Ponyville anyway.  This is because I know you wish to help Twilight and her new friends and that your heart is kind.  I just have a couple of caveats for you, though.  First, do not give Twilight all the answers she seeks, especially about her future -- except in certain circumstances.  This will be subject to your judgement, of course, but I will need to be informed whenever such circumstances arise.  Secondly, I will need for you to try harder to find your way back to your original timeline."

"I am terribly sorry for disappointing you, your Majesty.  I will do my best to assist Twilight and her friends in any endeavors they may undertake, especially if they request my assistance.  Please give Right Face my sincerest apology for humiliating him like that -- it was wrong of me to take advantage of him like that.  I promise I will make it up to him in the future.  Thank you for your understanding and patience, your Majesty," the purple mare stated with great reverence, bowing deeply.  The Princess then teleported back to the Throne Room of her Castle and reconnoitered with her Royal Guard and called off the search and relayed the purple mare's apology to Right Face, though he was quite livid upon hearing it.

"You will have to learn your lessons the hard way, Amethyst Shadow," the Alicorn said softly to herself.

---------------------------------

The Royal Chariot carrying Twilight Sparkle and her assistant Spike finally landed in Ponyville.  The two of them discussed the Princess' suggested course of action for Twilight, though the mare was considerably less than enthusiastic over the simplicity of the tasks she had been assigned, and even annoyed that her studies would be interrupted by having to make new friends -- the possibility of a cataclysm loomed, and she considered such trivialities as bothersome, though after further discussion with her dragon assistant, she somewhat reluctantly agreed to carry out her teacher's assignment.  The two of them stepped off the chariot and the lavender mare then graciously thanked the pegasi who had flown her all the way to Ponyville from the Castle.

Though she didn't know it at the time, a certain dark purple unicorn was trailing her on the train and would be arriving in Ponyville about two hours later.

Twilight's first attempt to make a friend met with unexpected results as a certain pink earth pony appeared to leap five feet off the ground and gasped with all her breath upon being greeted by the lavender mare and proceeded to leave with great speed immediately after said gasp.  The lavender mare mused sarcastically to her assistant about how well the attempt went.  The two of them traveled further through town as Spike read the checklist -- though whether this checklist was of the lavender mare's creation or not was open to question.

Their next objective took them to Sweet Apple Acres to check on the status of food for the banquet.  Their attention was quickly grabbed by an orange earth pony mare who succeeded in making an entire tree's worth of apples fall into baskets with a single buck of her hind legs.  Twilight was then very enthusiastically greeted by the mare who introduced herself as Applejack, welcoming the unicorn to the farm and shook her fore-hoof with such vigor, speed, and length that her assistant had to physically intervene to stop the repetitive after-motion of her still shaking fore-hoof.  After being asked about food preparations, Applejack introduced the rest of the extended Apple family, who piled food onto a table as they were introduced.

Twilight appeared to be satisfied that the food situation was under control before a pale yellow filly with a big red bow tied in her mane asked her if she was going to stay for brunch, giving the lavender mare her very best sad eyes look.   Twilight tried to explain how busy she was and this was met with great disappointment by everypony present.  Not wanting to keep them disappointed, she relented, whereupon a great cheer went up.

Twilight and Spike left the farm and made their way back into town, the mare complaining about having eaten too much pie as her bulging belly complained in its own particular way.  The next item on the checklist was the weather and Spike mentioned a certain pegasus who was supposed to be in charge of the weather.  Twilight commented that whomever it was was not doing a very good job of it.  No sooner had the comment left her lips, she was bowled over by a sky-blue pegasus who crashed into her, knocking them both into a mud puddle.

The pegasus mare offered a half-hearted apology before fetching a dark cloud and jumped up and down on it repeatedly to unleash a torrent of rain upon the muddy mare.  The water rinsed off her mud, but she was now soaked, and not too happy about it, either.  The pegasus decided to fly around Twilight in a very tight circle at a high rate of speed, thus drying her off, though it left her mane and tail looking more like Pinkie Pie's.  Upon seeing this sight, the pegasus then fell over in raucous laughter, quickly joined by the baby dragon who also found Twilight's new look quite amusing.

The nonplussed mare questioned the pegasus about her name, whereupon she proclaimed herself as the one and only Rainbow Dash, who indicated she was practicing to join the Wonderbolts, who would be performing at the Summer Sun Celebration.  The unicorn doubted the pegasus' ability to clear the clouds from the sky and when the boastful mare proclaimed she could clear it in ten seconds flat, Twilight gave a mischievous grin and said, "Prove it."  Rainbow flew into action, very swiftly flying through the sky, bucking clouds left and right with her hind legs until all the clouds were gone.  She performed this feat so quickly that it left the unicorn stunned, her mouth agape.  The pegasus found this reaction quite amusing and expressed a desire to hang out with the unicorn.

After a slight amount of teasing about her poofy mane from her assistant, the two made their way to the town hall to meet with Rarity, who was finishing up the decorations.  The white unicorn mare was in the process of trying to decide which color of ribbons to place, ultimately deciding on sparkles.  Spike very quickly fell head over tail in love with the fashionista, who gasped in horror upon seeing Twilight's mane and tail.  The lavender mare simply explained that she was there to check on the status of the decorations and would be leaving soon enough, but Rarity felt compelled to improve Twilight's look, pushing her into a dressing room and trying several different outfits on her before temporarily settling on a very tight corset with an emerald on the chest.

Rarity asked Twilight where she was from and when the lavender mare stated she was from Canterlot, the white mare was aglow, expressing a strong desire to live in the capital city.  She then noticed that emeralds didn't suit Twilight all that well and left to fetch some rubies.  Twilight used the distraction to leave the boutique, though Spike was still smitten by the white mare's charms, even as they made their way towards Fluttershy's cottage to check on the music preparations.

-----------------------------------

The Friendship Express pulled into Ponyville Station and a very anxious dark purple unicorn mare got off the train to examine her surroundings.

"Ah, Ponyville.  Home sweet home," she thought.  "I can't wait to meet up with Twilight again -- I hope she won't be mad at me for doing this."

While Twilight and Spike were making their way towards Fluttershy's cottage, Amethyst was making her way towards the Library.  The purple mare was trying her best to stealthily make it to the library, but was intercepted by a certain pink earth pony.

"Hey, what'cha doing?" the pink mare asked her.

"I'm trying to get to the Library without being seen -- run along now, Pinkie," the purple mare replied.

"Hey!  I never told you my name!  How do you know who I am?  Are you a spy?  Is that why you're acting real sneaky?  I can tell you're a spy!  Hey, let me join you!  I always wanted to be a spy too!"

"You should know who I am, Pinkie -- oh, wait.  I keep forgetting -- I traveled back through time, so now nopony knows who I am.  Pinkie, my name is Amethyst Shadow and I am a housemate of Twilight Sparkle.  Princess Celestia has given me permission to meet up with her -- I suppose you haven't seen a lavender unicorn accompanied by a purple and green baby dragon, have you?  They should have arrived here a few hours ago."

"Yeah, I did!  She's new here -- wait!  You're new here too!  I'm throwing her a surprise party!  You wanna help me make some cupcakes?  You can join the party too!"

"Sure, why not," the purple mare offered and followed the pink party pony to Sugarcube Corner.  Pinkie Pie introduced Amethyst to Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and a few pleasantries were exchanged.  The two then went into the kitchen to bake cupcakes for the surprise party.

"Hey, Pinkie, if you're throwing a surprise welcome party for Twilight, how come you're not throwing one for me?"

"Well, Ammy, it's like this -- you already know me, and we've already met.  I have a feeling you're not really new here, are you?"

"True enough, Pinkie -- I've been here for the past three and half years, though traveling back through time, I now have to rebuild the friendships I had with you and all the others.  I know most of the ponies here in town, but now they don't know me.  I really need to find a way back to my original timeline so I can reunite with my babies."

"You have foals?  That is so wonderful!  I'll bet they're just the bestest little foals in all Equestria!  Would you like to tell me everything about them?  Do they like cupcakes?  I can make an extra batch for them!"

"Unless you can send them across a dimensional barrier and about seven years into the future, I don't think they'll be able to enjoy them very much," the purple mare offered sullenly.

"Don't be sad!  I'm sure Princess Celestia can find a way to send you back!"

"She told me she can't, and that I have to find a way on my own.  Looks like I'm gonna be here for awhile."

"Well, that just means we can be the bestest of best friends EVER!  You should be happy!"

"I miss EJ and Stephanie," the purple mare stated sadly.

"I'll bet they miss you too, Ammy -- but cheer up!  You'll get back to them!  I just know it!  My Pinkie Sense tells me you WILL!"

"Thanks for having so much confidence in me, Pinkie Pie."

Shortly the cupcakes were finished and Pinkie put the frosting on them.  Amethyst carried the boxes in her pale blue aura to the Library, which was still vacant as Twilight and Spike were on their way from Fluttershy's cottage, the butter yellow pegasus chatting amiably with the baby dragon as he regaled her with his life story.  Everypony Pinkie had invited to the surprise party had made it to the Library as she and the purple mare arrived about five minutes before Twilight and Spike.

Fluttershy was so taken with Spike that she wanted to care for him, though Twilight was impatient enough to push the yellow pegasus aside and closed the Library's front door in her face.  Once inside, they noticed how dark it was and when the lights were turned on a cheer of "SURPRISE!" went up.  Pinkie Pie introduced herself to Twilight with great enthusiasm and proceeded to explain in very rapid-fire fashion her reason for throwing the party and inviting every pony in Ponyville.  Amethyst quietly waited in a corner trying not to be seen by the lavender mare, who was more interested in pouring herself a drink and leaving the partygoers to their revelry.  Unbeknownst to her, she inadvertently poured hot sauce into her drink and discovered her error a moment too late.  She then decided to head upstairs and get some sleep, but was interrupted by Spike, who tried unsuccessfully to get Twilight to join in the fun.

Unable to sleep, Twilight peered out her bedroom window to watch a cluster of four stars inexorably work their way towards the moon.  She softly hoped aloud that the legend was nothing more than an Old Pony Tale, but was dreading the possibility of Nightmare Moon making her return.

A few hours later, but still before dawn, the ponies made their way to the town hall, the site of the Summer Sun Celebration.  Pinkie Pie was very excited, and repeatedly asked Twilight if she were as excited.  Fluttershy instructed her bird choir to chirp a fanfare as a spotlight trained towards Mayor Mare, who approached the crowd of ponies through a purple curtain.  The Mayor proudly announced the start of the celebration, though Twilight's attention was stolen by the four stars surrounding the moon go behind it and the mare's image on the surface of the moon flashed and was gone, causing the lavender mare to silently gasp in horror.   Amethyst trotted up to her housemate at this point.

"Did I miss anything, Twi?" the dark purple mare asked.

"Gaah!  You're ... you're supposed to be in the Castle!"

"Heh.  Can't keep me locked up in there!  Hey, what's going on?  I think the Mayor's a bit worried..."

"Um, Amethyst, it looks like ... the Princess ... is ... GONE!" Twilight cried as the crowd of ponies all gasped in unison.  A purplish dark blue mist coalesced on a balcony overlooking the crowd as Rarity stood dumbstruck, staring Nightmare Moon in the face.

"Ah, so that's what she looks like," Amethyst mused aloud.  Twilight and Pinkie Pie gave the purple mare a very quizzical look.

"Are you sure you really wanted to see her, Amethyst?" Twilight asked with exasperation.

"Just wanted to satisfy my curiosity, Twi," she replied nonchalantly.

"What have you done with our Princess?" Rainbow asked, very quickly taking to the air to charge at the black Alicorn.

"Whoa there, Nelly," Applejack admonished, grabbing the cyan pegasus' tail in her teeth.

"Do you not recall the legend?  Do you know who I am?" the evil Princess asked rhetorically.

"Ooh, ooh, more guessing games?" Pinkie asked excitedly, rattling off a bunch of names before Applejack shoved an apple into the pink earth pony's mouth.

"I remember the legend -- you're the Mare in the Moon -- Nightmare Moon!" Twilight stated, her words tinged with anger.  The crowd of ponies gasped at this mention.  Amethyst simply nodded her head, acknowledging confirmation of fact as she stood beside the lavender unicorn.

"Well, well -- it looks as though somepony HAS remembered the legend!" the dark Alicorn chuckled.  "And I see a companion to you -- is she somepony special to you?"

"If you must ask, your Majesty, I am Amethyst Shadow -- companion and confidante to the pony who just mentioned your name.  I have traveled just to see you in the flesh -- and having done so, it is my mission to defeat you!"

The Nightmare laughed heartily at the purple unicorn's statement.  "And how do you propose to do that?  You have no idea of just how powerful I am, do you?"

"I know your strengths, Nightmare Moon, and I am fully aware of how powerful you are.  I will not underestimate your power, though I am fairly certain you will come to regret having made your return."

"Amethyst!  Don't do this!" Twilight admonished.  "Let her go!  You can't defeat her by yourself!"

"The lavender one speaks truth, Amethyst Shadow!  You cannot hope to defeat me alone!"  And with that, the dark Alicorn returned to her mist form and flew away, leaving the crowd of ponies frightened, angry, and confused.

----------------------------

As the misty form of Nightmare Moon flew off, Rainbow Dash broke free of Applejack's hold on her tail and gave chase, only to lose sight of the misty form a few seconds later.

"Night-time?  Forever?" the cyan pegasus almost fearfully asked aloud.

Inside the town hall, confusion, anger, and fright gave way to determination and resolve.  Applejack trotted over to the dark purple unicorn.

"Ah know this might sound like a dumb question, but what did ya mean when ya told that Nightmare you had traveled just ta see her?  Would ya mind tellin' us who ya are?"

"You might have heard me announce my name and Nightmare Moon repeated it.  I am Amethyst Shadow and I have traveled backward through time.  Where I came from, you and all the others are good friends of mine, and Twilight and I live together in the Library."

"The Library!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly.  "The answers we need are in the Library!" she shouted and galloped out the door, going as quickly as her legs could carry her to her new home.

Outside, the cyan pegasus saw the lavender mare galloping towards the Library.

"Where's she heading off to?" Rainbow asked herself.  She then saw Amethyst give chase, quickly followed by the others and decided to follow as well.  She quickly overtook the others due to her speed and made it to the Library before anypony else as Twilight was frantically searching the shelves for the specific book regarding the Elements of Harmony.  The cyan pegasus pushed her muzzle against the lavender mare's and asked what exactly those elements were, and how she knew about Nightmare Moon, even going so far as to express suspicion of Twilight as a spy.

"Funny thing is that Pinkie Pie asked me the same question," the dark purple mare chuckled.  "If you're looking for the book on the Elements of Harmony, you might wanna try looking under "E" for Elements."

"You seemed ta know an awful lot about Nightmare Moon, too, Amethyst!  Tell us what ya know!" Applejack stated as she was joined by Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy as they and Rainbow as well approached the two librarians.

"The legend of Nightmare Moon has it that a thousand years ago, she was banished into the Moon by Princess Celestia, who used the Elements of Harmony to succeed in banishing her.  They are the only known artifacts capable of producing strong enough magic to banish Nightmare Moon.  The book has information on the location of those artifacts," Amethyst stated flatly.  "I don't know how much time we have left, though," she added with some apprehension.

"How do you know Twilight so well?  What about us?  Do you know us as well as you know Twilight?" asked Fluttershy.

"Like I said before, I traveled back through time, though I appear to have crossed into an alternate universe as well.  Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash -- I know you all quite well, as in the other universe I left behind, I had been living in Ponyville for more than three and a half years, staying with Twilight in the Library here, acting as an assistant librarian to her and helping around the house with chores as needed.  Applejack, I would like to give you a personal thanks to you and your family for being able to give me food whenever I was hungry, even when I didn't have the money to pay for it."

"Oh, it's nothin', Sugarcube, Ah'm glad we could be of service to ya!" the orange mare grinned.  "Looks like ya haven't missed many meals, either!  Yer about as big as mah big brother!"

The others giggled a little at this mention.  "Anyway, let's check that reference guide on the Elements before we waste too much more time," Amethyst suggested.  Pinkie Pie found the book and read the title aloud, immediately being pushed out of the way by the lavender mare.

Twilight started quoting from the book, describing the Elements by name and their location.  As she was doing this, the misty form of Nightmare Moon paused outside the window of the Library, taking note of the activity.  Amethyst saw this and commented on it.

"That witch is spying on us," the dark purple mare stated, almost angrily.  "She wants to toy with us!  If she thinks she can defeat us, she's got another think coming!"  She then started humming a certain song...

"Ammy, what are you doing?" Pinkie Pie asked.  "Are you trying to sing?  At a time like this?"

"Consider it a victory song of sorts," the purple mare offered sheepishly, giving a slight shrug.

"Anyway, it says here that the Elements are located in the Royal Castle of the Pony Sisters in ... the Everfree Forest?!" the lavender mare stated somewhat fearfully.

"That's right," Amethyst stated.  "The castle is rather deep in that forest -- I suggest we travel together so that if we encounter any problems, we'll be able to deal with them effectively."

"Um, Amethyst, I'd prefer to go alone --" Twilight began.

"If you told me I couldn't defeat Nightmare Moon by myself, then what makes you think you'll be able to do it yourself?  I think it would be a good idea if we ALL went -- I mean, there's a possibility that we will all be needed anyway," her housemate offered.  "And since I consider you my best friend anyway, I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you!   Same goes for the rest of you girls!"

"All right!  Let's do this!" Rainbow shouted as they all left the library and headed for the Everfree.  As they began their trek towards the castle, they chatted among themselves about journeying through the forest.  None save Amethyst had ventured into the Everfree, and she was expressing some trepidation regarding nocturnal activities of some of the more dangerous creatures that called the Everfree home.  This only served to make the others more fearful.

"Relax, Twilight and I are both very highly accomplished magic users.  We should be able to handle anything the big bad Everfree wishes to throw at us!" the purple mare chuckled, somewhat nervously.

"I wish I had your level of confidence, Amethyst," Twilight offered half-heartedly.

"That just comes with experience, Twi," she responded.   As the purple mare was talking, a dark mist flew by nearly unseen.  Twilight was standing a little too close to a rocky ledge that suddenly gave way and everypony lost their hoofing as the ledge crumbled away.  Everypony did their best to regain some traction, but Twilight slid all the way to the edge of a cliff, holding on only by her fore-legs.  Applejack slid down to hold onto her and Amethyst gave a silent curse as she slid to meet the two.

"Hold on," the orange mare said, trying to pull the lavender mare back to safety.  Amethyst peered over the edge and saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy hovering below the edge.

"Twilight, if you let go, you have Rainbow and Fluttershy to catch you," the purple mare offered.

"Are you sure about that, Amethyst?" Twilight asked quite fearfully.

"I can help you by using my telekinesis, though I think Rainbow and Fluttershy are strong enough to carry you."

"Twilight, Ah can see them!  Let go, you'll be okay," Applejack said as she tried to assuage the lavender mare's fear.

"Okay," she said and released her grip, emitting a scream as she fell.  The two pegasi caught her, but her weight was considerably more than Fluttershy was used to carrying.  The two pegasi gently lowered Twilight to the ground, where Rarity and Pinkie Pie were already waiting.  Applejack hopped down ledges to the lower level.  Amethyst was still at the top of the cliff edge.

"How are you going to get down here?" Twilight shouted up at the purple mare.

"Watch this," Amethyst stated proudly as she lit her horn.  She disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared with a pale blue POP next to the lavender mare.

"Wow!  I didn't know YOU could teleport as well!" Twilight said excitedly.

"How do you think I traveled back through time?  I don't have a machine capable of letting me do THAT," the purple mare chuckled loudly.

"Hey, what's that purple mist doing here?" Pinkie Pie asked as said mist flew swiftly away from them and disappeared again.

"It's that accursed Nightmare Moon -- she's still toying with us!" Amethyst shouted angrily.  "When I catch up to her ..."

"Easy there, sugarcube, no need ta be gettin' all worked up over it," Applejack offered calmly.

They continued their way deeper into the forest, Rainbow bragging about how she saved Twilight, who grumbled about being there.  A few steps further, they were confronted by a manticore.  Each of the ponies took their turn trying to subdue the creature, save for Amethyst who lit her horn.  Rarity fled from the creature after bucking it in the face, Applejack was flung off the creature's head, and Rainbow was smacked by its tail, causing Twilight to call her name in concern.  They were about to collectively charge at the manticore before Fluttershy yelled at everypony to stop.  The butter yellow pegasus nuzzled one of the beast's paws, expressing compassion for it.  The beast turned over it's paw to show a thorn stuck in it, which Fluttershy gently plucked out with her teeth, advising the beast that said action might hurt a little.  The beast roared in pain, blowing Fluttershy's mane in one direction, causing the group to call her name in apprehension before the manticore started purring and licking the yellow pegasus' face.  She cooed to the beast as it continued to lick her face, and the others made their way past the beast, Twilight stopping to look back.

"Amethyst, why didn't you try to fight the manticore?  Is there something you know that we don't?" Rainbow asked suspiciously.

"Well, I saw her acting all sneaky like, yesterday!  She said she was trying to get to the Library without being seen, but I saw her!  I think she's a spy, even though she told me she wasn't!  I want to be a spy, too!  C'mon, huh?  Huh?  Can I?  Huh?" asked Pinkie Pie excitedly.

"I hate to pop your bubble, Pinkie, but I'm not a spy.  Yeah, I know some things about stuff, but I promised the Princess not to give you all the answers.  You're gonna have to trust me on this, though I know that probably won't sit very well with you," the purple mare replied.

"Well, we'd like to see a little more action from you," Rainbow said with some concern.

"Don't worry, Rainbow, you'll get to see some soon enough.  Hey, Fluttershy, how did you know about that thorn?"

"I didn't -- sometimes you just need to show a little kindness," she offered softly.

Unseen by any of the group, the thorn in question transformed into purple mist and continued on it's way to the castle as well.  As they continued further, Rarity complained about her eyes needing a rest from all the icky muck, and her request was granted as they entered a very dark area of the forest where the canopy prevented any light from filtering to the floor.

"I didn't mean that literally," the alabaster mare complained.

"Nightmare Moon could be right in front of our faces and we wouldn't even know it," Twilight stated with great apprehension.  As if to emphasize her point, the dark mist slithered between them and flew to a tree, wrapping itself around the tree, transforming it into something terrifying.  Suddenly the trees around them had developed frightening features, causing the ponies to shriek in fear.  Amethyst glared at them, standing her ground.  Pinkie Pie found the images to be hilarious and started laughing at the site, mocking the frightening images and making funny faces and noises herself.

"Pinkie!  What are you doing?  RUN!" Twilight shouted at her.

Pinkie Pie launched into an impromptu singing of "Giggle at the Ghosties."

"Tell me she's not," the lavender mare said with a bit of contempt in her voice.  Her expression turned to one of surprise when she saw one of the evil faces on the trees disappear as the pink pony laughed at it.  Her example led the others to follow suit, and shortly all the trees were returned to their faceless state as they all laughed and giggled, Amethyst included.

"You know, that was actually quite fun!" the purple mare chuckled.  "Who knew?"

"I did, silly filly!" the pink pony giggled.

They continued further still and came across a raging river.

"How are we gonna get across that?" asked Pinkie.

"I suppose I could teleport each one of you across," Amethyst mused.  "Or Rainbow could carry each of you across, or Twilight could teleport one apiece, or Fluttershy --"

A splashing sound coming from the river interrupted Amethyst as she was trying to come up with a plan to cross the rapids.  A very disappointed serpent was cursing his luck, as a large piece of his mustache appeared to have been sheared off.  "What a world, what a world," he cried in frustration as he slammed his fists into the water.

"Excuse me, sir, why are you crying?" Twilight asked him.

He explained that a wispy cloud of purple smoke cut his mustache off and he fell body first into the river, drenching all the ponies.  Applejack and Rainbow complained a bit about it and Rarity chided them for their negativity.  Amethyst shook the water out of her coat and watched bemusedly.

"He seems a little on the flamboyant side," the purple mare softly giggled to Twilight as Rarity engaged the serpent in conversation, complimenting him on his mane and scales. the serpent enthusiastically agreeing with the compliments.

"I cannot allow such a crime against fabulosity go unpunished," the alabaster unicorn nearly exclaimed and yanked a scale from the serpent using her teeth.  This caused quite a bit of concern among the other ponies, but not as much as when she used the sharp end of the scale to slice off a good portion of her tail, causing the serpent to seemingly faint in disbelief.  She then used her telekinesis to attach her shorn tail to the remainder of the serpent's mustache.  Upon seeing his mustache repaired, he exclaimed his thanks to Rarity.

"If you don't mind, sir," Amethyst offered, "please allow me to color match it for you."  The purple mare lit her horn and enveloped Rarity's attached tail in her pale blue aura and changed the indigo piece of tail into an orange color, matching the  rest of the serpent's hair.

"Oh, thank you so much!" the serpent exclaimed with great enthusiasm.

"Amethyst, darling, I had no idea you were so talented!  I might request your assistance in my boutique some time," the fashionista said, beaming a smile.

Twilight expressed her concern over Rarity's tail, but the white mare reassured the librarian that short tails were in this year and that it would grow back eventually.

"Sooner than you might think," Amethyst thought, smiling softly.  Twilight noticed the raging river's water had calmed to the point where they could all cross and the serpent in his gratitude allowed everypony to cross without getting wet by having them use his body as a make-shift bridge.

After a bit more slogging through the forest, they came to a clearing where they could actually see the castle.  The light of the full moon cast an eerie glow to the castle, but Twilight paid it no heed as she galloped toward it.

"Twilight!  Mind the gap!" Amethyst called out to her.  The lavender mare continued galloping, slowing herself down a bit late as she nearly slid off the edge of the gorge where a rope bridge dangled from its posts.  Rainbow grabbed her by her tail and pulled her back from the edge, chiding her about cliffs.

"Now what?!" Pinkie asked in exasperation.

"Duh," Rainbow chuckled, flapping her wings as an illustration.  She flew into the gorge and pulled the other end of the bridge up to the other side and fastened it, but while she was doing this, the misty form of Nightmare Moon swirled between the cyan pegasus' legs.

"Who's there?  Show yourself!" the pegasus commanded.  "I ain't scared of ya!"

Nightmare Moon's voice could be heard as she complimented Rainbow on her flying ability.  Rainbow thanked her and asked her to put in a word to the Wonderbolts as she had been wanting to join that group forever, but was offered a position in the Shadowbolts instead.  The cyan pegasus was eager to join, but stated she had to fasten the bridge.  She was prevented from doing so by one of the three purple and black clad pegasi, whose eyes glowed a bright yellow to move clouds to obscure the view from the other side.

"What's taking so long?" Twilight asked as she saw Rainbow chatting with the Shadowbolts and then clouds obscured the view.

"She's been distracted," Amethyst said.  "I would teleport across, but the view's been obstructed.  My depth perception prevents me from getting a clear sight-line and I don't wanna teleport blind over there."

While this exchange between Twilight and her housemate was going on, Rainbow flew off and fastened the end of the rope bridge and flew back to the others.  The lead Shadowbolt pegasus expressed some anger at this and disappeared into a purple mist.  The cyan pegasus then escorted the rest of the group across the rope bridge, finally reaching their destination.  They entered the castle which had fallen into disuse over the centuries, eventually reaching the pedestal on which the crystal orbs representing the Elements of Harmony were situated.  The large orb on top of the pedestal appeared to have been broken, but the other five appeared to be intact.

"Twi, there's only five of them there -- I thought there were six," Amethyst mused.  Rainbow carefully plucked the orbs from the pedestal and placed them on the floor in what appeared to be a pentagonal shape.  Pinkie expressed a similar sentiment, and Twilight explained that when the five are present, a spark would allow the sixth to reveal itself, though she wasn't quite sure what that meant.  She decided to use her magic on the orbs to see if magic use could make the sixth appear.  Applejack persuaded everypony to leave and allow the lavender mare to concentrate, though Amethyst stood just outside the doorway to watch.

As the lavender mare screwed up her face in serious concentration, the misty form of Nightmare Moon swirled around her, becoming a whirlwind and whisking away the orbs as Twilight's concentration was broken and she cried out in surprise.  Everypony galloped back into the room to find Twilight and the orbs missing and began circling the room trying to find her.  Applejack called out for her and caught a flash of light from her periphery, noticing a tower across the way.

"She's probably over there," Amethyst mused.  "We'd better hurry, I think she might be in trouble."  Everypony then galloped toward the section of the castle Twilight had been teleported to.

The lavender mare coughed as she materialized on the floor of what was probably a throne room at one time.  At the far end of the room stood the dark Alicorn in all her glory, the orbs swirling around her in her aura as she laughed at Twilight.  Twilight gasped, but steeled herself in grim determination, dragging her right fore-hoof on the floor as she assumed a charging stance.  She stomped her right fore-hoof, determined to attack the Alicorn.

"You're kidding.  You're kidding, right?" Nightmare asked, a mix of amusement, contempt, and disbelief in her expression.  Without answering, the lavender mare stomped her right fore-hoof once again and lit her horn, starting her charge.  Amethyst POPped into the room, about ten feet to the left of the lavender mare.

"Well, well, it looks like somepony wants to be a hero," the dark Princess chuckled.  "You made a terrible mistake coming to the aid of your confidante, Amethyst Shadow!"  She cackled her evil laugh as lightning bolts flared around her.

"Amethyst, what are you doing?  You're ruining my plan!" Twilight admonished.

"I have a few tricks up my proverbial sleeve -- I picked up a few spells Starswirl had written down, and I'm going to use them on her to help you get the Elements back," the purple mare explained.

"Isn't this touching?  The two of you!  Together!" Nightmare Moon chortled.  She still held the orbs in her aura as Amethyst slowly trotted toward the Alicorn.  "What do you think you're doing?  I told you earlier!  You cannot defeat me by yourself!"

"Explaining myself is not exactly my strong suit," the purple mare stated coldly.  "So I let my actions speak for me."  She lit her horn, glowing a pale blue and readied the time-ball spell.  The spell in question was designed to affect the flow of time within the orb of effect, causing a full stop on whomever was hit with it.  She enlarged the orb so that it would completely engulf the Alicorn, who was still chuckling at what she perceived to be a simple attack spell.

"Well, I believe I should follow your example!" the Alicorn laughed, using her telekinesis on the purple mare, who used her telekinesis to propel the time-ball at the Alicorn.  The spell reached the Alicorn's body and activated, causing her to freeze as though time had come to a complete stop for her.  The Alicorn's telekinetic grip on the purple mare was released, at least momentarily.

"How did you do that!?!" Twilight asked in shock.

"I told you, I picked up a few spells Starswirl had written down," her housemate chuckled.  "Now get those Elements before the effect wears off, please.  It's taking nearly all I can to keep it up."

Twilight did not have to be told twice, and she used her telekinesis to retrieve the orbs and brought them over to the pair of unicorns.  "How is this supposed to work?" Twilight asked.

"We need the others to get here, Twi -- each of them represents one of these Elements, and you are the catalyst for them.  I am just facilitating the process a little, but they need to hurry -- my magic can't hold up much longer," the purple mare grunted, the strain of keeping up the stopped time effect taking its toll on her.

"I must admit, I am most impressed!" Nightmare Moon chuckled.  "I had no idea you were that powerful!  The last time I encountered a unicorn with that kind of spell casting ability was when Starswirl the Bearded was still trotting around Equestria -- that spell you used on me has his hoofwriting all over it!   Well, fun time's over!  Now it's MY turn!"  The Alicorn retrieved the orbs and shattered them.  "Now, the night time will last FOREVER!!" she cackled gleefully.  She levitated the dark purple unicorn with her telekinesis, who screamed in horror as she was bodily flung across the floor of the room, coming to a sliding stop about fifteen feet behind Twilight.

"Now as for you, who dared to think you could use the Elements by yourself, I have another plan in store for you!" the Alicorn addressed the lavender mare.

Amethyst rose to her hooves, dusting herself off.  She narrowed her eyes to slits and screamed with primal rage and fury, her expression of apoplexy startling the Alicorn for a moment.

"It appears the hero wants a second round," Nightmare chuckled.  "I am prepared for whatever it is you wish to assault me with!"

The purple mare's horn glowed a very bright pale blue, increasing in its luminescence until it became blindingly bright.  The Alicorn wore a look of concern, seemingly almost afraid of what spell was in store this time around.  A large nearly white ball of magic energy flew across the room at shockingly swift speed, impacting the Alicorn, who fell to the floor in a heap.  She let a cry of surprise escape her lips as the gravity ball spell was used against her.

"Uh, Amethyst, what spell did you use against her?" Twilight asked.

"I increased the pull of gravity on her by a factor of twenty," the purple mare stated flatly.

"Was that another of Starswirl's spells?"

"Ee-yup."

"You're going to have to take me to that wing of the Archives!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly.  Just then, the other ponies made it into the room to see the Alicorn still on the floor, struggling to rise to her hooves.

"Everypony, surround her.  I am going to release the spell on her," Amethyst stated flatly.

"What are we supposed to do?" Twilight asked.

"Each of you represents an Element -- you should be able to use a collective magic against her," the purple mare replied.  "Now hurry please, I can't hold it much longer."

The other ponies quickly surrounded the Alicorn, still struggling to rise, but making it quite clear that she wasn't playing around this time.  Suddenly, the other ponies began levitating, their bodies beginning to glow brightly.

"You thought you could destroy the Elements of Harmony by shattering those orbs, but you made a terrible miscalculation.  The Elements reside within each of us, uniting us as friends!  It took us overcoming the obstacles you placed before us which allowed each of our talents to be made obvious, and that's when I realized that the missing element is that which unites us all -- the Element of Magic!" Twilight shouted at the Alicorn, who was now frozen with fear, though the gravity ball spell had worn off.  Each of the levitating ponies was surrounded by the shattered fragments of the orbs, which then became the diadems each of them wore.  A rainbow seemed to form a double-helix shape, rising toward the sky before turning into a single wave of magic, crashing down upon the stunned Alicorn, surrounding her in a vortex.

"NO! NOO! NOOOO!!" she screamed as the rainbow-hued vortex encircled her, swirling faster and faster until she had appeared to vanish.  Twilight's eyes flashed pure white with magical enchantment as the Harmonic Magic spent itself, the once levitating ponies now laying on the floor.  Amethyst trotted over to them, nudging each of them with her muzzle to make sure they were okay.  Each of them noticed their diadems in the shape of their cutie marks and pranced around excitedly, comparing them to each other's, until their gaze fell upon the lavender mare, who was now wearing a tiara with an amethyst gemstone set atop the center of it.  The others expressed astonishment at Twilight's new adornment.

"I knew you girls could do it," Amethyst chuckled.

"What about you, Ammy?  Don't you have a cool necklace like us?" Rainbow asked.

"I'm not an Element Bearer, so I don't get one.  As I was telling Twilight earlier, I was just facilitating this process.  Congratulations, you all earned it!" the purple mare grinned.

At that moment, the Sun rose and a golden light illuminated the room as Princess Celestia made her return.  The Element Bearers bowed deeply before the regal white Alicorn.  Amethyst did so as well, but not all the way to the floor.

"Princess Celestia, I am pleased to see you have returned," the purple mare stated reverently.

"Amethyst Shadow, I would like to thank you for helping you friends and freeing me," she responded.

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed excitedly, cantering toward the Sun Goddess, nuzzling against her chest.

"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student!" she responded, returning the lavender mare's gesture of affection.  Amethyst smiled warmly at this exchange.

The Alicorn and her student had an exchange of words, though Twilight was told that to unleash her potential, she needed the help of friends.  Twilight turned toward the others and smiled, nodding her head.  The nodded back in return, Amethyst giving a knowing wink and turning the tip of her left fore-hoof up, clicking her tongue against her teeth as she nodded her head.  Princess Celestia chuckled softly at the purple mare's gesture, smiling warmly at all of them before a low groan came from where Nightmare Moon had once stood.

The white Alicorn announced the diminutive form of a dark blue Alicorn, still laying on the floor trying to recover some strength.  "Princess Luna, it has been a thousand years," she stated as she approached her sister.  "It is time for us to put our differences behind us -- we were meant to rule together, little sister."

This mention drew a gasp from the Element Bearers, but Amethyst continued smiling.

"Will you accept my friendship?" Celestia asked her sister.

"I'm so sorry!  I've missed you so much, big sister!" Luna exclaimed, a few tears falling from her cheek as she nuzzled her sister with deep affection.

"I've missed you too," Celestia stated softly.

Pinkie Pie was brought to tears by this touching display of affection and blew her nose loudly before crying rivers of tears in comedic fashion before stopping to realize something.  "Hey, you know what this calls for?  A PARTY!" she exclaimed with great excitement.

----------------------------------

Twilight was reunited with her dragon assistant as the Royal Sisters were taken by chariot to Ponyville.  The lavender mare was wearing a frown as she realized she would most likely be returning to Canterlot after having succeeded in her mission.

"I hope I can stay here with you, Twi," Amethyst said softly.

"I may have to go back, regardless," the librarian said glumly.

As the Alicorns stepped off the chariot, a garland of flowers was placed around Luna's neck.  The Sun Goddess turned toward her student, explaining how upon completion of her mission, she could return to Canterlot to continue her studies.  Twilight stated that as a result of having made new friends, she was extremely reluctant to return to the castle, whereupon Celestia instructed Spike to take a note.  She issued a royal decree giving Twilight a new mission -- to continue to study the magic of friendship and send periodic reports to her from her new home in Ponyville.  This elicited a very happy response not only from the lavender mare but from her new friends as well.

"Your Majesty," Amethyst stated, her voice nearly trembling as she said the words.  "Begging your pardon, your Majesty, but I would like to know if I could stay here with your student and her new friends as well."

"Spike, you may add Amethyst Shadow's name to that decree as well."  The baby dragon scribbled on the parchment.  "Amethyst, I would reiterate my earlier request that you at least try to find your way back to your original timeline.  Barring that, you may assist my faithful student with her needs.  Please ensure that you remain on your best behavior, as further displays of irresponsible actions on your part may prejudice my kindness toward you.  You may stay here in Ponyville with Twilight for as long as I am willing to allow it, and I must also request periodic reports from you as well."

"Amethyst Shadow?" Luna asked.

"Yes, Princess Luna?" the purple mare replied.

"Where do you come from?"

The purple mare laughed out loud.  "My apologies, your Majesty, but the story is long and complex.  Perhaps one day when I have some time, I will explain my story to you.  I would suggest you ask your big sister about it, as it would take a very long time for me to relate in full detail for you.  Princess Celestia, you have my sincerest thanks for your generosity.  I will do my best to assist Twilight and the others as I can, and I will do my best to ensure timely reports to you as well as behaving myself as best I can."

Luna turned to her sister.  "Why does she have a number for her cutie mark?"

The purple mare rolled her eyes and chuckled again.

"Luna, I promise I will tell you her story when we return to the Castle," Celestia said softly.

"I thank you as well, Princess," Twilight stated.  "She helped us quite a bit in the castle -- she knows some spells I want to learn!"

The Sun Goddess glowered at the dark purple unicorn, who gave a sheepish grin.  "How much did you tell them?"

"Only enough to facilitate them being able to wield the Elements," she replied.

"Then you have my thanks as well, Amethyst Shadow."  With that, the Royal Sisters returned to the chariot and were flown back to Canterlot Castle.

"I'm so excited we'll all be able to spend so much time together!  Aren't you excited, Ammy?  We're gonna be such great friends!" the pink party pony exclaimed.

"Hey, Twi, pretty exciting, wasn't it?" the purple mare asked.

"Yeah, it was.  I was astonished you were able to use those high level spells against Nightmare Moon!  Please teach me how to do them!"

"What, right now?  I don't have the spell books in front of me," the purple mare responded.

"Okay, I'll schedule an appointment for us to return to the Archives and you can show me!"

"Sounds like a plan, Twi.  All this activity has made me hungry, let's get something to eat."
> 3. Two Tickets to Paradise?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The next few days were full of activity for the dark purple unicorn.  She helped Twilight get situated in the library, helping with clean-up, reorganizing the bookshelves, and assisting with other matters.  Amethyst took the guest room in the living quarters, but noticed the bed was a snug fit for her.  She resolved to build a larger bed as time permitted, though she would still sleep in the slightly too-small bed, unable to stretch out completely without her hind legs dangling off the end.

Morning had come again, and Applejack showed up at the library, asking for help on the farm.  Both unicorns offered their assistance and Spike rode on Twilight's back.  Once they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, they helped gather apples in baskets as the orange mare bucked the trees.  Amethyst got into the act as well, but was not as efficient at tree-bucking as the earth pony.  Big Macintosh took a quick liking to the purple mare, as she was nearly as tall and as big as the red stallion.  The purple mare winked at him seductively, and he blushed furiously.

"C'mon, sugarcube, stop teasin' 'im!  We got work ta do!" Applejack chided her.  The purple mare giggled in response.

The three ponies made their way into the orchard, setting bushel baskets under trees.  Spike watched with mild bemusement, occasionally napping on Twilight's back.

"Ya wanna try yer hoof at buckin' trees, Ammy?  Show me what'cha can do!  Ah bet mah big brother we could get all these Golden Delicious in the barn before lunchtime -- he's gonna look real silly trotting down Stirrup Street in one o' Granny's girdles!" the orange mare giggled.

"I know how girl-shy he is -- why didn't you dare him to take me on a date?" the purple mare giggled.

"Ammy, yer terrible!" the orange earthy pony laughed.  She placed a few baskets under a tree and turned her back to it, giving it a strong kick to the trunk with her hind legs, causing all the apples to fall into the baskets.  The purple unicorn followed Applejack's example, placing baskets under a different tree.  Her attempt to buck the tree met with less than desirable results, as only about half the apples fell, some of them missing the baskets entirely.

"Yer kickin' too high, Ammy.  Lower yer legs when ya kick, like this!" Applejack explained, bucking another tree and making all the apples fall into the baskets again.  Twilight helped place the baskets and lined up Amethyst's legs to the right spot on that tree.  The purple mare kicked again, and this time almost all the apples fell into the baskets.

"That's pretty good, there.  A li'l more practice and ye'll get it in no time!"

The three of them working together made short work of collecting all the Golden Delicious apples, the trio making their way back to the barn well before noon.  As they trotted, Spike was picking apples out of one of the baskets Twilight was carrying at her sides, tossing the bad ones away dismissively.

"I'm glad the goal is lunchtime -- all this hard work is making me hungry," said Twilight.

"I know, right?" Spike asked, grinning sheepishly as one of the apples he tossed hit the librarian on her head.  She glowered at him disapprovingly.  Amethyst chuckled softly.

"Puh-lease, Spike, you've been lounging on my back while we worked all morning!" the lavender mare chided her assistant.

"You've been working so long, I missed snack-time!" the dragon exclaimed.  Twilight's belly grumbled in agreement.

"I guess we'd better get some food," she chuckled weakly as Spike continued to dismissively toss apples out of the basket.

"Spike, are you going to throw away ALL those apples?" Amethyst asked, exasperation tinging her words.

"You can't see them close up like I can -- quite a few of these have worms in them," he said, before coming across a beautiful bright red apple.  "A-HAH!" he cried, holding it up for every pony to see.

"Oh, Spike, that looks delicious!" Twilight exclaimed, smiling brightly.  The words weren't even out of her mouth for a second before the dragon ate the apple in one large bite.

"SPIKE!" Twilight shouted at him with contempt.

"What?" he asked, almost oblivious to his gluttonous act.  Suddenly he belched out a scroll in a burst of green flame.  The dragon cleared his throat and read the letter aloud, indicating that Twilight was cordially invited to the Grand Galloping Gala and was allowed to take one guest with her.  Amethyst watched in mild bemusement as Twilight and Applejack jumped around excitedly, shouting "The Grand Galloping Gala!"

"Ammy, aren't ya excited?" the orange mare asked, giving the dark purple mare a quizzical look.

"I've never been to the Grand Galloping Gala," Twilight said, still somewhat excited by the invitation.

"I have," the purple mare stated flatly.  "It's nothing special."  This drew gasps from the farmer and the librarian.

"NOTHING SPECIAL?!?" they practically shouted in unison.  Spike belched out two tickets during this exchange.

"Just a bunch of hoity-toity stuck-up ponies looking down their noses at the 'less worthy' ones who dared to intrude upon their perceived 'upper crust' event," Amethyst said, her words mixed with contempt and derision.

"I know of Hoity Toity," said Twilight.  "He's Canterlot's premier fashion designer."

"You mean to -- oh yeah.  I've run into him -- I almost forgot he has that ridiculous name," the purple mare chortled.

"You'd better not let Rarity hear you call him that, Amethyst -- she'll be quite offended if you do," her housemate chided.

"I'm with Ammy on the Gala," Spike stated almost dismissively.  "You can keep all that girly frilly frou-frou nonsense."

"Honestly, Twilight -- you've lived in the Castle all this time, and you've never gone to the Gala?  I find that hard to believe," said Amethyst.

"Well, most of the time I lived there, I was studying for classes or tests or just for my pleasure," she said, grinning sheepishly.  "Besides, I think a dance would be nice."

Applejack sidled up to Twilight at that point, explaining how she'd be thrilled to attend the gala, describing how she'd picture herself selling apples to the attendees, drumming up lots of business for the farm and making several improvements to the farmhouse, replacing the plow her brother pulls around and replacing Granny Smith's "saggy ol' hip."  It was just after she had expressed this desire that a certain sky-blue pegasus crashed into the two mares, as Amethyst had been standing far enough away to avoid being hit by the aviatrix.

"Are we talking about the Grand Galloping Gala?" Rainbow asked, grinning sheepishly at having knocked her two friends to the ground.

"Oh, Rainbow, you need to be more careful when you're flying around like that," Amethyst chided.

Applejack rose to her hooves, dusting herself off and glared at the pegasus.  "Rainbow Dash.  You told me you were too busy ta help me harvest apples!  What were ya busy doin'?  Spyin'?"

"No.  I was busy ... nappin'," the pegasus replied.  Glancing up to one of the trees, Amethyst spotted a pillow and a blanket and shook her head in disbelief, chuckling softly.  The pegasus then approached Twilight, dangling upside-down from the tree she had been napping in.  "And I just happened to hear that YOU have an extra ticket?"

"Well, yeah, but --" Twilight began to explain.

"This is gonna be so awesome!  The Wonderbolts perform at the Grand Galloping Gala every year!" she exclaimed excitedly, describing how she'd picture herself stunning the crowd and the Wonderbolts themselves with her stunts and performances, inspiring them to invite her to join their team and incorporate her moves into their program, the crowd cheering her on.  She insisted the she be given the ticket, but the farmer saw things differently, pulling the pegasus' tail sharply with her teeth.

"I asked for that ticket first," Applejack said sharply, pushing her muzzle against Rainbow's.

"I can see we're going to have a bit of a problem here," Amethyst observed.  "Twilight, I don't know if this is your teacher's idea of a joke, but she should have known that giving you just one extra ticket was going to strain your new friendships.  Perhaps it's her idea of seeing which of your friends is more important to you, though I suppose you could give Spike the extra ticket, or me, since I'm your housemate ..."

"OH NO YOU DIDN'T!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash shouted at the purple mare in unison.  "Besides, you said it's nothin' special," the farmer added angrily.

"Girls, the extra ticket is mine to give to whomever I feel has the best reason to go," Twilight interrupted.  Her grumbling belly chose to interrupt in its own particular way at that point.  "Let me think about this over lunch, if you don't mind," she said, grinning sheepishly.  Amethyst joined her housemate and started trotting beside her.

"Oh no ya don't, Ammy.  Yer gonna help me with these apples before ya join up with her again, okay?" the farmer asked her, then turned her attention to the pegasus, who was also trying to fly away.  "You too, Rainbow Dash!  Yer not too busy now!"  The unicorn and pegasus wore dejected expressions as they assisted the farmer with the task of collecting the spilled apples and returning them to the barn.  Upon finishing this task, Rainbow left in a hurry, determined not to be pressed into further service.  Amethyst said her good-bye and galloped to catch up with her housemate, who was trotting by Sugar Cube Corner with Spike still on her back.

"So where should we eat, Spike?" the lavender mare asked as she walked by the front door of the bakery.  The two were knocked down by a pink earth pony who crashed into them, the tickets landing on her muzzle.  Upon closer inspection, she practically squealed in delight at the prospect of attending the gala, bursting into song and singing the praises of the event, picturing herself at the biggest party in Equestria, and thanking Twilight for such a wonderful gift.  Amethyst caught up to her housemate at this point, nearly gasping for breath, until she saw the pink party pony.

"Twilight only has one extra ticket," the purple mare stated flatly.  "Applejack and Rainbow have already had a disagreement over it.  Don't tell me YOU want to go, too!"

"Well, duh, it's only the biggest, most super-colossal humongous event of the year!" Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing around excitedly.

Spike snatched the tickets off the ground, but then Rarity happened to trot by and noticed them, pushing her muzzle against Spike's claws in which the tickets were tightly held.

"Don't tell me those are tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala," the alabaster mare gasped in excitement, eyeing them very closely.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Pinkie exclaimed, still bounding around excitedly.  "Twilight's taking me to the Grand Galloping Gala!"

"Well, actually --" the lavender mare tried to explain, but was interrupted by Rarity interpreting her vision of how she'd be received at the Gala and introduced by the Sun Goddess to her nephew, Prince Blueblood.

"I've met that stallion you regard so highly," Amethyst stated coldly.  "He's no prize, believe you me.  All he cares about is his own selfish desires, and he couldn't possibly allow himself to be attracted to a mare as lovely as you.  All you would be to him is a pretty bauble, an ornament to add to his collection.  You shouldn't waste your time on him, unless you wish to be humiliated in front of everypony."

"Amethyst Shadow!" Rarity exclaimed in contempt.  "You have no business talking about royalty like that!  How do you know Prince Blueblood?"

"Perhaps you may have forgotten that I come from the future, Rarity.  In the timeline I left behind, I have helped you a great many times in your boutique, even learning how to master your designs.  I have had the pleasure to attend the Grand Galloping Gala twice so far, and I have visited the Castle more times than I care to count.  I have had the unfortunate displeasure to have met with this obnoxious, narcissistic, egotistical, pompous, bombastic, obsequious nebbish you have expressed a desire for."

"You've been to the Gala twice?!" Rarity, Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie Pie asked, nearly in unison.  Their mouths were agape at this mention, but then a little white rabbit dashed up to Spike and nabbed the tickets out of his claw, taking them to a certain butter yellow pegasus who smiled softly at her pet.

"Ooh, Angel, these are perfect!" she exclaimed softly, eyeing the tickets her bunny was still holding in his teeth.

"Uh, look guys, I still haven't decided who to give the extra ticket to," the lavender mare said with a mix of exasperation and resignation.

"You haven't?" Rarity and Pinkie asked in unison, the unicorn smiling as the pink pony frowned.

Fluttershy interrupted the two, meekly asking Twilight if she could go, but was herself interrupted by Rarity, who indignantly asked the pegasus if she really wanted to go to the gala.  Amethyst shook her head in disbelief, chuckling softly at the irony of the situation.

"Um, no --" the pegasus began, but was interrupted by her bunny tapping her leg.  "I mean, yes -- uh, kinda --" she said softly, then proceeded to explain that it was not so much the gala she wanted to attend, but the gardens she wanted to visit, experiencing the wonders which abounded therein, including the many different varieties of birds which made their homes there.

"It sounds ... beautiful," Twilight stated, somewhat confused by the situation until Rainbow Dash made her presence known once again.  Amethyst rolled her eyes and expressed her disbelief vocally.  As if the situation couldn't get any weirder, Applejack showed up as well.

"I can't believe the two of you were following me," Twilight stated, her exasperation becoming quite evident.

"I can't believe all of you want to go, yet the Princess only sent Twilight one extra ticket," Amethyst mused, chuckling softly.

"I can't believe you think this is funny," Rarity chided the purple mare.  Presently the disagreements with the ponies led all of them to confront Twilight, who laid on the ground and covered her head with her fore-hooves.  It appeared as though she was trying to make herself disappear or wished every pony to leave her alone.  Amethyst came to her side.

"It's not funny when all of you are arguing over who gets that extra ticket -- all of you should be ashamed of yourselves, claiming the ticket to be yours when Twilight has the right to be the ultimate arbiter here," the purple mare replied, a hint of anger in her voice.

"What she said," Twilight stated, pointing a hoof at her housemate.  "The Princess gave me these tickets, and arguing about it isn't going to do you any good.  The decision is mine to make, and I can't make it with all this noise -- not to mention, my hunger," she explained as her belly growled in protest.

"I told you you shouldn't have skipped breakfast," Amethyst chided her.

"Now go on -- shoo!  All of you!  I'll figure this out ... somehow," the librarian stated with some degree of uncertainty.  "Amethyst?  Do you have any suggestions?"

"I would suggest you go get something to eat -- such important decisions cannot be made on an empty stomach," her housemate grinned.  "I'm heading back to the library, Twi.  Seeya later."

The librarian and her dragon assistant made their way to a nearby restaurant to have lunch and discussed the matter upon receiving their requested orders.  Twilight was about to take a bite of her sandwich when all the other ponies eating stampeded their way indoors.  The waiter advised the two that it was about to rain.  No sooner had the words left his mouth than a torrential downpour issued from the dark sky.  Oddly enough, a small circle of sunlight beamed down upon the table Twilight and Spike were sitting at as a certain sky-blue pegasus poked her head through the hole in the clouds.

"Enjoying this sunny weather?" asked Rainbow.

"What are you doing?  If this is about the ticket, you can stop trying to curry favor with me," the librarian responded.  "Now close up that hole in the clouds."

"Fine," the pegasus said in her disappointment, zipping the hole closed behind her.  Twilight was about to take a bite of her sandwich when the rain reached their table, drenching the librarian, her assistant, and her food as well.  She groaned in frustration as Spike stifled his giggles.   Rarity slowly trotted toward the two, protected from the rain by a purple umbrella.

"Twilight, it's raining," the fashionista observed.

"No, really?" the librarian responded sarcastically.

"We must get you indoors before you catch cold," Rarity exclaimed, pulling the librarian away from her food and taking her to the boutique.  Once inside, Twilight shook the water from her coat, drenching Rarity in the process.  She apologized for this, but the fashionista dismissed it, proclaiming herself and Twilight the best of friends, and then proceeded to give the librarian a makeover, cladding her in a cute getup.  She also gave Spike an unwanted makeover as well.  He responded by ditching the outfit and dashing to the library as quickly as he could.  It was only when Rarity mentioned the Grand Galloping Gala that Twilight realized the ulterior motive behind the fashionista's actions, returning the outfit and practically storming out of the boutique, complaining about getting lunch.

"Did somepony say lunch?" asked Applejack, who promptly pulled the librarian out of the boutique.  Her attention was grabbed by a large cart filled to the top with various foodstuffs, courtesy of Sweet Apple Acres.  The farmer rattled off the names of the items, the librarian staring at the cart with her mouth slightly open.  Her stomach grumbled again.

"Is that a yes?" asked the farmer.

"NO!  You're not getting the ticket!  This is getting ridiculous!  I don't even know who to choose and I'm less sure now than this morning!" Twilight exclaimed in exasperation as she made her way back to the library.  She opened the door to see a butter yellow pegasus dusting the bookshelves.

"Amethyst!  What's SHE doing here?" her housemate asked, anger creeping into her voice.

"Sorry, Twi, she offered to help -- I tried to tell her no, but she was too insistent," the purple mare stated.

"Sounds to me like you wanted her to do some of the chores around here," she grumbled.  "So, Fluttershy, is this about the ticket?"

"Oh, no, I'm just doing this because you're my very best friend, right Angel?" the pegasus asked.  Her bunny was tossing a salad for them and smiled at her.

"Amethyst, you let them make the food, too?"

"Why turn down an offer of free help, Twi?" the purple mare grinned sheepishly.

"Can't you see?  She's only helping because she wants the extra ticket to the gala!" the librarian exclaimed in disgust.

"That's right!" Fluttershy stated.  "Um, you are going to give it to me, right?"

"NO!  I'm not accepting any more favors until I've made my final decision, so I must ask you to leave," the librarian stated firmly as she opened the front door.  She was immediately greeted by Pinkie throwing a surprise party just outside the door and pulled outside by said earth pony who proceeded to throw the librarian into the air, singing a song about how Twilight is her very best friend.  Twilight was repeatedly tossed into the air and caught by a group of ponies.  She had to shout Pinkie's name at the top of her lungs to get everypony to stop, but she landed on her back as they were startled by her outburst.

"Yes?" the pink party pony asked expectantly, batting her eyes furiously at the librarian.

"At least the other ponies were more subtle about their desire for the extra ticket," she replied.

"What ticket?" one of the group of ponies asked.

"Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!" Pinkie exclaimed.  This caught the attention of everypony around them, who proceeded to chase the librarian and her dragon assistant back and forth across Ponyville.  Amethyst stepped out of the library to watch the spectacle with bemused interest and chose not to intervene.  She turned around and re-entered the library, only to be startled by her housemate teleporting inside with Spike, who groggily shook off the after-effects of the jump.

"Help me lock all the doors and turn off all the lights, Amethyst," Twilight said nervously.  This was done quickly, only to have the main room light turned on by somepony.

"How did all of you get in here?" Amethyst asked the assembled group of the other five Element Bearers, who somehow had managed to sneak into the library.  "And how did it get dark all of a sudden?  I thought it was still late afternoon."

"The super let us in the back door, silly filly!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"I just can't decide!  I don't want any of you to be unhappy simply because I chose only one of you to go to the Gala!  All of you are my friends!"

Each of the ponies apologized to the librarian, with the lone exception of Rainbow, who gloated about getting the ticket.

"Rainbow Dash," Amethyst stated in disapproval as everypony else glared at her as she continued to hover lazily.

"Okay -- I still haven't perfected my moves for the Wonderbolts yet, anyway," the cyan pegasus stated remorsefully and also apologized to Twilight.

"I don't want to go if I can't have all of you there with me," the librarian explained.  "It wouldn't be fair to the rest of you, and I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself there without all of you.  Spike, take a letter."  The dragon readied parchment and quill.

"Twilight, may I?" Amethyst asked.

"That depends," her housemate stated with some degree of uncertainty.  The other Element Bearers keened interest.

"Dear Princess Celestia -- As Twilight's housemate, it has come to my attention that the invitation you extended to her and one guest was insufficient to allow for all her friends to attend.  It is my humble request that you send an additional six tickets so that all her friends, plus her assistant and I be allowed to attend this event as well.  Twilight has learned a valuable lesson in friendship -- that choosing one friend over the other five would be detrimental to the friendship of all.  Your loyal subject, Amethyst Shadow."

"Sounds pretty good, there, Amethyst," Twilight smiled.  "Okay, Spike, go ahead and send it."

The dragon opened the window and blew the letter with his green breath, the parchment vaporizing to ash.  Very shortly, he belched out the Princess' response, reading it aloud.

"Dear Amethyst Shadow.  It is my sincere hope that you will come see me personally at this event, as there are a few matters we need to discuss.  As for my faithful student, enclosed are an additional six tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala, as your housemate has requested.  I trust you will all enjoy yourselves at the event.  Sincerely, Princess Celestia."

Everypony cheered appreciatively at this turn of events, though Twilight approached her housemate.

"Thanks, Amethyst, though I probably would have worded the letter a bit differently.  I'm curious to know what the Princess wants to discuss with you."

"There are certain ... things.  I suppose she also wants me to peruse the Archives again in order to find the necessary spell to return to my original timeline."

Twilight's stomach growled again and the others pulled her along to treat her to dinner.

"I just hope she isn't mad at me," Amethyst thought to herself as she made her way upstairs to her room to get some sleep.
> 4. Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     A few more days had passed and Amethyst had introduced herself to more of the ponies, slowly rebuilding the friendships she had left behind.  She understood the difficulty of this task, but was eager to help out in just about any situation.

So it was early one fine morning when Applejack and her big brother MacIntosh ventured to a hilltop in the middle of the apple orchard, taking in the view of the large number of trees bearing ripe fruit.  MacIntosh had hurt himself and was bandaged up around his midsection, but his sister reassured him she'd be able to harvest all the apples by herself, though she questioned her resolve when the enormity of the orchard came into focus.  It was at that point that the dark purple unicorn happened to approach the two earth ponies.

"Morning, AJ, Mac.  How's it going?" she asked, flashing a smile, which faltered a little when she saw Mac's injury.

"Mornin', Ammy.  Ya know it's applebuck season 'round here, got lots o' trees to buck," the orange mare stated.

"You need any help?  That looks like at least a thousand trees out there," Amethyst stated as she surveyed the orchard.

"I don't need any help!  I'm gonna buck every last tree or my name ain't Applejack!"

"I know you'd be willing to help your sister, Mac, if you weren't hurt.  Have you tried talking to her about how long it'll take for her to do all that work by herself?"

"Ee-yup.  But when I told her that one pony plus hundreds of trees don't add up, she just told me not to muddy things up with my fancy mathematics," the red stallion replied.

"As long as I'm here, though, I wouldn't mind helping -- the Princess told me I should try to help wherever I can," the purple mare smiled.

"Have ya tried the bakery?  Pinkie could always use some extra help," Applejack suggested.

"Okay, AJ, I'll head over there.  But let me know if you want some help in the orchard -- this looks like too much work for just one pony," Amethyst said, a slight look of concern on her face.  She bade her good-byes to the farmers and trotted toward Sugarcube Corner to help Pinkie Pie.

"Ya know ya shouldn't refuse help when it's offered, sis," her brother offered.

"No can do!  Ah'm gonna do it, and ah'm gonna do it by myself!" she insisted.

As Amethyst trotted back into town, she heard a loud rumbling from off in the distance.  Rainbow Dash had leapt into the air to get a better view of the situation, shouting a single word to warn the residents.

"STAMPEDE!!" shouted the cyan pegasus as the townsponies scurried about, panicking over what could become a dangerous situation.  The pink party pony allowed the vibration of the ground to cause her to bounce oddly as she expressed her amusement by stating that it allowed her voice to sound silly.

"Pinkie Pie, run!" shouted Twilight as everypony else galloped for cover, closing doors and windows, and in once case, pulling in the welcome mat.  The Mayor was trying to calm everypony down, a sight which made a certain dark purple unicorn chuckle at the irony of the situation.  She watched as the stampeding herd of cattle approached the town, then witnessed Applejack and her dog Winona steer the herd clear, bringing them to a stop safely outside the edge of town, which elicited cheers of support and adulation for the farmer's success.

The pink party pony held -- what else -- a party to celebrate the event and Applejack was to be presented at the town hall with the Prized Pony of Ponyville Trophy, though every time Twilight tried to introduce the farmer, she was rudely interrupted by her other friends.  Ultimately, the librarian was forced to relinquish the podium to the Mayor, who formally introduced Applejack, though when the curtain she was supposed to be standing behind was empty, the gathered ponies wondered where she was.

"She's coming from another direction," Amethyst stated, pointing a hoof towards the approaching orange earth pony, who took the podium looking very tired, bags under her eyes.  She groggily addressed the crowd, but found her reflection in the trophy to be far more interesting, Pinkie Pie joining her in making funny faces as the two earth ponies giggled at their distorted reflections before Applejack addressed the throng of ponies, yawning a few times before she dragged the trophy back to her farm using her teeth.

"Something's wrong with her," Twilight mused.  "Did she look a little tired to you?"

"She's been in her orchard, bucking trees nonstop," her housemate stated flatly.  "I offered to help, but she refused, claiming she could harvest all the apples.  There's at least a thousand trees in that orchard -- she's never going to be able to get to all of them before the fruit goes bad."

"I'm going to pay her a visit on her farm, Amethyst.  Take care of the library for me, would you please?"

"AJ's pretty stubborn sometimes, Twi.  I wish you best of luck trying to persuade her to accept help on this one.  I think she's going to need to learn this lesson the hard way," the purple mare mused.

"AJ's supposed to help me with my new moves so I can impress the Wonderbolts," Rainbow stated.

"She's supposed to help me with my new muffin recipe," Pinkie mused.

"She promised to help me with the rabbits," Fluttershy added softly.

"She can't do all that and harvest the apples in her orchard at the same time -- that's a recipe for disaster," Amethyst deduced.  "Seeya later guys, I'm gonna head back to the library.  Spike?  You coming with?"

"Yeah, I'll head back with you, Ammy," he said flatly and hopped onto the purple mare's back as she trotted back home.

"Spike, I'm thinking about sending a letter to the Princess about this," the purple mare mused.

"Twilight's gonna take care of this, Ammy.  I've been her assistant longer than you, and you don't know her as well as I do.  Trust me, she's fully capable of handling this without your interference," the dragon responded, just a slight hint of anger in his voice.

"I suppose so, Spike, but I didn't like how AJ was acting -- yawning and spilling apples out of her baskets, then acting silly when she saw her reflection in the trophy.  Pinkie Pie I can understand, AJ not so much."

"Don't let it get to you, Ammy.  If you wanna send a letter to the Princess, I'm not gonna stop you," Spike stated as the two reached the library.

----------------------------------

Twilight watched Applejack as she bucked trees, yawning occasionally, then shaking her head to try to clear the cobwebs of fatigue.  At one point, her attempt to buck a tree met with empty air, then the following buck knocked over a bushel of apples, frustrating the farmer.  She slowly trotted around the spilled fruit, but dozed off as her fatigue had grown so great.  The lavender mare called to her friend, but was far enough away that her attempt to wake the dozing farmer failed.  She lit her horn and teleported directly in front of the earth pony and called her name loudly a couple of times, successfully waking the farmer, who shook the cobwebs loose again.

"What is all this?" the librarian asked, slightly confused by the sight of many trees and baskets overflowing with apples.

Applejack explained to her friend about the harvest and when asked why she was doing it alone, she explained that her brother had hurt himself.  A further inquiry as to where the farmer's other relatives the librarian had encountered on her first visit was met with a response that they were only present for a family reunion and that the various relatives lived all over Equestria and were busy with their own harvests.  The lavender mare teleported directly in front of the farmer, blocking her progress, further frustrating the farmer who insisted on returning to work and asking the librarian to step aside.

"Would you like some help?" Twilight asked, genuinely concerned for her friend's health.

Applejack shook the cobwebs loose again and persisted in her stubbornness, resoundingly refusing the librarian's assistance, causing her to bite her lower lip to prevent herself from saying something she might regret later.  Dejectedly, she turned and left the farm for the friendlier confines of her library.

"And tell yer housemate Ammy Ah don't need her help, either!" the famer called after her.

"I can't believe you'd be this stubborn, AJ -- you really need help with the harvest, but if you don't want it..." the librarian mused silently to herself as she continued on her way back home.  Her housemate was there to greet her when she returned.

"So how'd it go, Twi?" the purple mare asked.

"She's as stubborn as they come, Ammy.  Perhaps you could surreptitiously help her when she's not looking?" the librarian grinned.

"Even with MY help, there's still so many trees we'd need everypony in town to help with the harvest.  I suppose I could help her when she's not looking -- It's a shame to see her like this."

"I suggest you talk to her brother -- he can probably direct you to a section of the orchard she hasn't hit yet.  Have you tried using your telekinesis on the apples?  That might make the work go faster," Twilight mused.

"I'll give it a try, though if AJ spots me, she won't be very happy," the purple mare replied.  She left the library and started trotting to the back acres of the farm, trying not to be seen by the orange earth pony.  Pinkie Pie encountered her again.

"Hey, Ammy, what'cha doing?" the pink party pony asked, grinning broadly.  "Ooh, you're sneaking around again!  Who's it gonna be this time?  Hey, Ammy, can I be a spy with you?  Where ya going?"

"Applejack's got too many trees to buck by herself, so I'm trying to get to the back part of the orchard without her seeing me.  She doesn't want any help, though she's too stubborn to understand she can't do all the work by herself," the purple mare explained.

"She's supposed to help me with my new muffin recipe today!  Do you think she'll be okay with you helping her?"

"The idea is to help her without it being noticed.  If she sees me out in the orchard bucking the trees, she'll get mad at me."

"Hey, maybe I can help too!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly.

"What about the Cakes?  Aren't you supposed to be helping in the Bakery?"

"Oh, yeah!  That's right!  Thanks for reminding me!" the pink mare exclaimed and bounded off to the bakery.

The purple mare trotted further along and made it to the farm.  She caught sight of the orange mare slowly trudging her way toward town to help out Rainbow Dash with her flying moves.  She looked extremely tired, occasionally stopping to take a micro-nap, then shaking the cobwebs loose again as she remembered what she was supposed to be doing.  The cyan pegasus was perched on a fencepost, scanning the horizons for the orange mare who was trotting in her direction.

"Uh, what am I supposed ta do again?" the farm pony asked tiredly.

"You see that platform over there?" the aviatrix asked rhetorically.  "You climb to the top and jump onto the spot marked with an X below it while I'm standing on the other end.  That will launch me into the air much faster than I could on my own.  Once in the air, I will perform some amazing flips and spins that are sure to impress the Wonderbolts!"

"Looks kinda dangerous," Applejack mused.

"Not for a pony who can fly!" the pegasus grinned.

Reluctantly, the farm pony climbed the platform and slowly approached the edge.  Her state of fatigue was such that the large letter X appeared rather blurry.  She jumped and missed the platform, landing hard on her belly.  She tried jumping a few more times, each time missing the landing point and falling hard on the ground.

"What they hay is goin' on?" Rainbow asked in exasperation.  "You were supposed to land on the pad!" she chided, making a rather disparaging comment about her friend, who thought that by pulling the pad down she could impress with a feat of strength.  This only served to annoy the pegasus who glowered at the farm pony.  Upon releasing her grip on her end of the see-saw, gravity pulled the pegasus back down to the ground, leaving her in a daze.

"Okay, one more try," Applejack said sheepishly, then climbed the platform again.  "Here I go!" she shouted as she leaped off the platform, launching the still-dazed pegasus, who pleaded a bit late for the orange mare to wait, shouting her name as she was flung into the sky and unable to control her flight.  Twilight happened to be reading a book on an upper balcony of the library when the hapless cyan pegasus made an impromptu landing.

"Uh, can I help you?" the librarian asked.

"I think somepony else needs your help," the pegasus groaned.

"Let me guess -- Applejack, right?  I sent Amethyst over to help, but there are a lot of trees out there -- I guess I'd better have another chat with her," Twilight mused.

"Yep," Rainbow muttered, then slumped over the railing of the balcony.

The librarian made her way to the farm to have another talk with Applejack, noticing a dark purple unicorn off a ways, still bucking trees herself.  If she didn't succeed in getting all the apples to fall with her attempt at bucking a tree, she used her telekinesis to pull the rest of the apples off.  She was far enough away so as not to attract the attention of the farm pony, who was having considerably less success at bucking the trees.  The orange mare unfortunately gave herself a concussion when she raised her head after picking up an apple by its stem with her teeth and hit the low branch of a tree.  The ensuing ringing in her ears confused her hearing, making it quite difficult for her to clearly understand the words the librarian was saying when she finally met up with the farmer.  After an odd exchange which included yet another attempt from Twilight to get Applejack to accept some help, the farmer announced she was off to help Pinkie Pie.

Mrs. Cake asked Pinkie Pie if she was up to the challenge of baking the muffins and running the store for the afternoon as she and her husband prepared to leave.  The pink party pony assured them that she would as she had the Prized Pony of Ponyville to assist her, extolling her virtue as the best baker ever.  The farm pony was repeatedly trying to shake the cobwebs loose again as her fatigue was really getting to her at this point.  Mr. Cake was rather surprised by her action, wondering aloud if she was denying the pink pony's assertion.  Upon realizing her error, she effusively reassured the stallion she was able to bake anything from fritters to pies in the blink of an eye.   Somewhat satisfied the store was in capable hooves, the Cakes left the store at that point.

"Seeya later, girls!" Mrs. Cake said, perhaps a little nervous laughter creeping into her voice.

The farm pony tried to shake the cobwebs loose again, but the pink pony grabbed her head, holding it fast.

"Stop with the shaking, it's time to get baking!" Pinkie grinned.  The two entered the kitchen, but the farm pony's fatigue was now so severe that she dozed off as Pinkie opened the cookbook and started reading the list of ingredients for the muffins.  The farm pony misinterpreted the pink pony's requests, grabbing ingredients which had no business being used to make muffins.  Pinkie Pie wasn't paying attention to her friend's attempt to help her and when the finished product was removed from the oven, free samples were given to an assemblage of ponies who eagerly awaited what should have been a tasty treat.  Unfortunately, the result met with less than favorable results, the ponies who had sampled the muffins ending up in the hospital.

Word got back to Twilight about what had happened and she took Spike with her to see about the fate of the ponies at the hospital, Pinkie Pie declaring the muffins to be "baked bads" after having tasted one herself.  Spike found one of the partially eaten muffins and took a bite, seemingly pleased by the taste.  The lavender mare wasted no time in returning to the farm to have yet another discussion with the farm pony, who stridently refused the librarian's help.  The farmer had become almost delusional, as she bucked a dead tree trying to get apples to fall from it.

"Applejack, you're beating a dead ... tree," the librarian stated with a small amount of surprise.

"Uh, yeah ... I knew that," the orange mare said nonchalantly as she trotted over to a tree with fruit still on it.

Amethyst was still bucking trees, but her legs were getting tired and her horn was starting to ache.  She decided to return to the library and get some rest, but not before passing the two mares.  She caught sight of Applejack suspended upside down in mid-air, held in place by the yoke of her applecart, something that made her giggle.

"Hey, Twilight, Applejack.  Kicking those trees has taken quite a bit out of me, so I'm heading back to the library.  Catch ya later," the purple mare chuckled.

"What?  Ammy?  You were helping me?  Why?" the orange mare asked in exasperation.

"Because you need help, Applejack!" Twilight replied, matching the farmer's exasperation.

"It's harder than it looks," Amethyst stated flatly.  She then trotted off in the direction of the library.

"That doesn't matter -- I done told you I didn't want any help!" Applejack exclaimed as she stormed off in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage.

"Ugh!  That pony is stubborn as a mule!" the librarian stated in disgust before hearing a mule braying.  "No offense," she offered the mule, smiling sheepishly.

"None taken," the mule responded.

Applejack met up with Fluttershy, who graciously thanked the farmer for assisting in the annual rabbit round-up, but the farmer was none too pleased to be doing so, and expressed her curiosity with impatience.  The pegasus explained that lots of new baby bunnies had been born and that she was in charge of counting them.  She reminded the orange mare that these were bunnies, not cows, and were to be treated gently.  The farmer replied that she didn't need any advice on corralling critters, having brought her dog with her to assist with the detail as well.  The dog barked, alerting the bunnies to her presence.  The pegasus gently requested the bunnies to assemble for her, but the earth pony had a different idea, loudly commanding the bunnies to gather in the center.  The bunnies responded by scattering as they had been frightened by the imposing figure the farmer cast as she towered over them.

Fluttershy pleaded with Applejack and Winona to stop chasing the bunnies because they were scaring them so badly.  The farmer and her dog ignored the pleas of the pegasus, succeeding in corralling them into a pen, but as the two approached, the bunnies scattered again, this time stampeding en masse toward Ponyville.

Once again, Rainbow Dash took to the sky and shouted, "STAMPEDE!!" as the townsponies scurried about in fear, closing windows and doors, and retrieving a welcome mat as well.  A pony fainted as she was overwhelmed by the shock of seeing so many bunnies running together as a group.  They went around the mare and proceeded to destroy gardens, devour flowers and make a nuisance of themselves in the town.  Fluttershy was frantically trying to get them to stop as Twilight surveyed the scene.

The lavender mare was fed up with the farmer's stubbornness and stopped by the library to bring Amethyst along with her.  The two met up with the farm pony, still trying to buck one last tree.  The librarian admonished the farmer, giving her a rundown of what damage her applebucking had done to the town and concluded her chiding by repeating her assessment that Applejack needed help, a charge the farmer insisted was unnecessary as she showed the two a very large section of the orchard where all the trees were bare of fruit.

"How'd ya like them apples?" she asked confidently.

"How about them apples?" her brother asked, pointing his hoof at another section of the orchard where there were still quite a few trees left to buck.  The orange mare seemed to faint in shock at the sight of yet more apples to be harvested.

"Applejack?  Good, you're okay," the lavender mare stated, making sure the farmer was still able to comprehend what she was saying.

"Hey, AJ -- I know you wanted to do all of this by yourself, and I completely understand your desire to prove yourself, but sometimes you have to know when a challenge is too great to face on your own.  Please, allow us to help you," Amethyst stated softly.

"Okay, okay, ya made yer point.  I won't stop ya, in fact, I could really use yer help.  Thanks, Ammy, Twi."

"No problem, AJ -- I'm here to help, all you have to do is ask," the purple mare smiled.  Twilight heaved a sigh of relief and called on the rest of her friends to assist in finishing the apple harvest.  Later on, Twilight wrote a friendship report to Princess Celestia, informing her that Applejack is the best friend a pony could have, but sometimes her stubbornness and pride prevented her from accepting help when it was needed, and that friendship was not just about giving help, but knowing when to accept it as well.

As everypony was helping finish the harvest, Applejack provided them with apple juice and apologized humbly for her stubbornness, still trying to downplay the significance of her intransigence.

Rainbow commented that all that applebucking made her hungry and Spike appeared with a plate full of the muffins that had been made earlier.  Everypony was shocked to see them and Pinkie asked the dragon where he had gotten them.  He simply stated that he had pulled them out of the trash and offered them to the ponies.

"Come on, just one little bite?" he asked facetiously.

Everypony chuckled as they made their way back to town, having succeeded in helping the farmer with her harvest.  Amethyst and Twilight made it back to the library, Spike riding on the librarian's back.

"Hey Spike, what is it with those muffins?" the purple mare asked.

"Those are the ones that made everypony sick earlier," Twilight replied.  "Don't even think about tasting one, let alone eating it.  By the way, thanks for assisting with the harvest as well -- made the work go quite a bit faster."

"I hit about 50 trees before my legs started aching.  I'm gonna be sore in the morning," Amethyst offered.

"Okay, Amethyst, let's get back to studying," said Twilight.

"Is that all you do?  I swear you must spend at least half of each day doing nothing but studying."

"Knowledge is power, Amethyst, you know that, don't you?"

"Yeah, whatever," she replied flatly.
> 5. Getting Even With Gilda
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Several more days had passed in Ponyville and Amethyst's friendships were starting to blossom quite well.  Only a few of the townsponies would still whisper about the dark purple unicorn behind her back.  Twilight accompanied her housemate on the way to the boutique, as Amethyst was going to be helping Rarity this week.  The librarian chose to read a book in the park about halfway there.  The purple mare continued on her way to the boutique as Pinkie Pie started explaining something to the lavender librarian, who was trying to ignore her as she continued to read her book.  The pink party pony had fallen on her back in her attempt to impress the librarian with her story and then spotted a cyan pegasus flying overhead.  Pinkie decided to give chase, leaving Twilight to read on in peace.

"Rainbow Dash!" the pink pony shouted at the pegasus.

"Not now, Pinkie!  I'm in the middle of something!" Rainbow called to her friend, watching the pink pony chase her but not where she was headed.  She ended up flying into a cliff and slid down.

"I was going to tell you to watch out for that mountain," Pinkie said as she leaned forward.

The pegasus flew off and landed on a cloud in an attempt to get in a quick nap as the pink party pony bounded her way through town, humming a happy tune as she bounced along.  Rainbow stuffed a couple of hoof-fulls of cloud in her ears to try to drown out Pinkie's humming, but her attempt was a futile one as the pink pony inquired as to the whereabouts of the pegasus.  Twilight directed her attention upward to a cloud where Rainbow had attempted to hide from Pinkie.

Upon hearing her name called, the pegasus flew off swiftly, attempting to elude the baker.  She came to a stop behind the barn at Sweet Apple Acres and heaved a sigh of relief, only to be shocked by the sudden appearance of the pink pony.  Rainbow then flew off again, stopping to catch her breath in the upper branches of Twilight's tree.  Thinking that she had given the pink pony the slip, she was surprised when said pony called her name from right under her, as she had alighted upon the pink pony's head.   The pegasus flew away again, eventually coming to a stop by her favorite lake, though the baker rose from the water in snorkeling gear and asked a favor of her.  The pegasus finally relented and helped move a cloud in front of the town hall, though Pinkie had a tough time figuring out the exact location for the cloud, annoying Rainbow Dash, who shouted the baker's name in exasperation.

Spike was inside, gathering scrolls to be sent to the Princess.  As he exited, Pinkie gave a signal to Rainbow, who bucked the cloud into releasing a lightning bolt, the resulting clap of thunder startling the dragon into fits of hiccups as he dropped all the scrolls he was carrying.  The resulting hiccups caused Pinkie and Rainbow to giggle and inform Spike of their presence.  He laughed it off, but his attempts to gather the scrolls met with disaster as each time he grabbed one, he hiccuped and belched dragon flame, which reduced each scroll to ashes and sent them to the Solar Princess, who was shocked to be the recipient of an avalanche of scrolls.  Pinkie and Rainbow laughed heartily at the sight.

"Have you ever seen anything so hilarious?" asked Pinkie as she rolled on the ground laughing.

"I can think of one thing ..." Rainbow said, smiling mishcievously as she kicked the cloud into releasing another lightning bolt, the thunderclap startling the pink party pony into a fit of hiccups herself.  "I never figured you for a prankster, Pinkie."

"I love to pull pranks, it's lots of fun, and I just love to have fun!" the pink pony said through repeated hiccups.

"You're not as annoying as I thought, Pinkie.  You wanna hang out?"

The baker was trying to say, "I'd love to," but her hiccups had her flying about until she landed in front of the pegasus who extended a foreleg to stop her friend's momentum.  Pinkie got a hoof in her mouth for her effort.

"A simple nod will do," Rainbow stated flatly, whereupon the pink pony nodded eagerly.  The two of them bought some flowers and headed to Rarity's boutique.

Inside the boutique, Amethyst was modeling some designs for the fashionista and discussed the matter of a griffon who was coming to visit.

"Rarity, what's a griffon doing visiting Ponyville?" the purple mare asked in great surprise.  She had met a few griffons in the past, but their visits were few and very far between.  "The only one I know too much about is Rainbow's friend, Gilda."

"She told me she was expecting a visit," the fashionista mused.  "I had no idea it would be today."  Just then, the doorbell rang.  "I'll get it, darling," she stated as she trotted to the door and opened it.  "That's odd -- I thought there was somepony there," she mused.

"Oh, great, it's 'Ding Dong Ditch' again," the purple mare groaned.

"What do you mean by that, Amethyst?  I've never heard of that before," Rarity mused.

"It's when somepony rings your doorbell and leaves before you get a chance to see who did it."

"Wait, there's some flowers here," the alabaster mare stated.  She leaned forward to smell them, then sneezed uncontrollably a few times.  She looked off in the distance a short way and saw a pink pony giggle like mad, then accidentally spill some sneezing powder on her nose and sneezed so hard she flew back several yards.

"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity shouted in anger.

"Um, Rares, there's something on your nose," the purple mare stated softly.  She made a brushing motion with her right fore-hoof across the bridge of her muzzle to illustrate to the fashionista where it would be.  Mortified, the alabaster mare wiped her muzzle with her left fore-hoof, but not before sneezing once again.

"Ammy, darling, would you be kind enough to help me get a little revenge on her some time in the future?" Rarity asked as a mischievous grin crept across her face.  The purple mare returned the grin and agreed to help her as she continued to assist the fashionista with some more tasks.

---------------------------

Twilight had returned to the library and was conducting an experiment and wrote some notes on a sheet of parchment.  After writing a few notes down, she returned her attention to the experiment, the ink she had used disappearing from the parchment as soon as her head was turned.  She turned around to see a blank sheet of parchment greeting her, causing her to wonder what had happened to the notes she had just written down.  The distraction caused her experiment to explode behind her, but her attention was grabbed by a pair of ponies who laughed uproariously at her misfortune, her gaze landing upon a jar of disappearing ink the pegasus had held up for display.

The two pranksters then painted a substantial number of apples on some of the trees around the orchard with various colors, angering Applejack, who resorted to throwing the painted apples at them.  One apple landed in a water barrel, the paint washing off in the water, causing the farmer to chuckle softly at the prank.

Fluttershy was standing by a lake, her gentle demeanor attracting a few animals to approach her, including a rubber turtle, connected by a very long string to a pump Pinkie was holding in her mouth.  The cyan pegasus was looking through a telescope to see what was going on.  Pinkie asked who they were going to pull a prank on and when Rainbow informed her that it was Fluttershy, the pink party pony emphatically told the pegasus that they couldn't possibly pull a prank on the yellow pegasus as even the most harmless of pranks would hurt her feelings.  When Rainbow had pulled away from the telescope, she asked who the next victim was.

"I can think of someone -- the toughest around!" the pink party pony exclaimed, trotting over to the water to gaze her her reflection.  Rainbow trotted over to look at her reflection and saw an ink ring around her right eye.

"Good one, Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow chuckled, holding out her forehoof to hoofbump the baker, but pulling it back before Pinkie could succeed in the hoofbump a couple of times.

"That just leaves Ammy, that new pony -- what do you think we should do to pull a prank on her?" the pegasus asked.

"She told me she loves to eat -- how about we lace some food with lots of hot sauce?" the baker asked.

"Ooh, I love that idea!" Rainbow chuckled.

The two of them went to Sugarcube Corner and got a few cupcakes, lacing them with hot sauce, then proceeded to the library.  Pinkie knocked on the door and Spike answered it.

"What are you two pranksters up to now?" Spike asked, almost indignantly.

"I have a gift for your purple housemate, Ammy!" the pink party pony exclaimed excitedly.

"Hey, Pinkie, what's up?" the purple mare asked, smiling.

"I gotcha some cupcakes, want one?"

"Sure, I love cupcakes!" Amethyst smiled, taking one with her telekinesis.  She took a big healthy bite, then her face turned bright red.  She spat out the cupcake, flames coming out of her mouth in a comedic fashion.  "Water!  Somepony get me some water!  NOW!" she screeched as she ran for the kitchen.

"Ooh, ya got her good, Pinkie!" Rainbow laughed.

"Pinkie!  Next time you give me a hot sauce cupcake, you're gonna get it!" the purple mare shouted angrily from the kitchen.  The pink party pony giggled and left, but not before gobbling up the other cupcakes on the tray she brought with her.  The two pranksters bid each other a short good-bye and made their way back to their respective homes for the evening.

"Ammy, what are you gonna do about that?" Twilight asked her.

"I'll think of something," the purple mare mused.  "I can't make it too harmful, but I'll have to make sure they remember not to do something like that again."  She went to bed for the night and slept in the guest room.  Twilight had to conduct her earlier experiment again, this time making sure she did not use the disappearing ink, then returned to her room for the night a couple of hours later.

-----------------------

Pinkie Pie had woken early today, eagerly looking forward to doing some more pranks with Rainbow Dash.  She was bounding along her way to the pegasus' house, wearing a funny disguise.  Presently, she arrived at the cloud mansion Rainbow called her home.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, rise and shine!  It's a brand new day and we got lots of pranking to do --" Pinkie began but cut herself off mid-sentence when a griffon peered down at her from the foundation of the pegasus' house.

"Morning, Pinks!  Gilda, this is my galpal, Pinkie Pie.  Pinkie, this is my griffon friend, Gilda," the pegasus grinned.

"Hey, what's up," Gilda said in mild bemusement.

"Uh, what's a griffon?" the baker asked.

"She's half eagle, half lion, and ALL awesome!" the pegasus exclaimed.  The griffon and the pegasus exchanged a friendly hoof and talon bump.  "Gilda's my best friend from junior speedster flight camp!"  She turned her attention to the griffon.  "Remember the chant?"

"Sh-huh, they made us recite it every morning," Gilda stated with contempt, practically groaning as she spoke.  "I'll never get that lame thing out of my head."

"Sooooo," Rainbow suggested, sidling against the griffon, "you wouldn't mind reciting it?"

Gilda groaned audibly and sighed.  "Only for you, Dash."

The two of them recited the junior speedster chant, the pegasus with great enthusiasm, the griffon in utter disgust and contempt.  Upon finishing, Pinkie giggled and said that it gave her a great idea for a prank.  The pink party pony wanted to join Rainbow and Gilda, but the griffon stated that the pegasus had promised her a flying session.  Rainbow apologized to Pinkie and offered to catch up with her later.  The pink party pony agreed, but seemed to deflate as the pegasus and the griffon flew off into the clouds, dashing through the sky, barely above some houses in Ponyville, and racing each other, and having a good time while doing so.  The two rested on a cloud, congratulating each other, reminiscing about old times.

"So what next?" asked Rainbow.

Before the griffon could answer, a pink pony's head popped up through the cloud they were resting on.  "Hi, guys!" she said, before she disappeared below the cloud.  Apparently, she had placed a trampoline under the cloud and was bouncing high enough to talk to the the two.

"It's later," she said as she bounced up again.  "And I caught up," she added on her next bounce.  She continued to bounce and smiled at the pegasus.

"Pinkie Pie, you are so random!" Rainbow chuckled.  The griffon was considerably less than amused, and challenged the pegasus to race to the next cloud up, considerably higher than the pink party pony could bounce on a trampoline.  The two dashed as fast as they could to the cloud the griffon had pointed to, each declaring themselves the winner.  As they argued about who had won, a certain pink earth pony was floating up to meet them, having tied a large number of helium filled balloons to assist her in her attempt to meet up with her friend.

Pinkie stated that she believed Rainbow had beaten Gilda by a couple of feathers, which angered the griffon.  Rainbow was then challenged to race to another cloud, but Gilda stayed behind to poke a few balloons to cause the pink pony to slowly descend.  When Gilda reached the cloud a few seconds after Rainbow had, Pinkie returned to meet them, this time using her strength to pedal a gyrocopter.

"Whew, you guys almost got away from me that time," she giggled.

Gilda was incensed and distracted Rainbow long enough to tell Pinkie to get lost, and for good measure sent her gyrocopter spinning out of control.  Rainbow returned shortly after that, but expressed surprise at Pinkie's absence.

"Oh, she had to leave -- said something about being as busy as a bee," the griffon mused.

Amethyst happened to meet up with Pinkie at this point, who had crashed to the ground and looked quite disheveled.

"Um, Pinkie, you okay?  What happened?" the purple mare asked.

"Gimme a second, Ammy.  Rainbow Dash has a new friend -- a griffon -- but she's a big meanie!  She sent me spinning out of control!" the pink pony exclaimed almost angrily as she dusted herself off.

"Hmm.  I remember that friend of Dash's from my previous timeline.  Yeah, she's a menace, which is why I would try to avoid her."

"So how well did you two get along?" Pinkie asked.

"The problem I had with Gilda is that she's a really good friend of Rainbow's, and trying to interfere with that friendship got me into a bit of trouble with the Princess the last time around.  I'm going to to my best to stay out of the situation, as I don't want to get on Rainbow's bad side -- unless Gilda does something truly reprehensible," the purple mare replied.

"Like what?"

"That depends.  I remember being told about what happened to Fluttershy --"

"What?  Gilda did something to Flutters?  Was it really mean?"

"Yeah, it was.  But that was before I got to town.  What happened in my case was that Gilda had returned one time and chased after EJ.  My son had been practicing his magic and one of his spells went astray, accidentally hitting the griffon.  It was relatively harmless, but the net effect made Gilda look rather foolish.  In her anger, she chased after my son, scaring the daylights out of him.  I was so angered by this that I tracked Gilda down and used some magic of my own against her, causing a slight injury -- okay, I broke one of her wings -- but when word got back to Princess Celestia about this, I was punished by having to do chores around the Castle for two weeks as penitence for my actions," Amethyst stated flatly.  "It took quite a long time for Rainbow to forgive me for attacking her friend, which is why I have to be really careful this time."

"So what should I do?"

"You might want to bring the matter up with Twilight, but considering how busy she is, she might not be much help.  I understand you want to spend time with Rainbow, but you're going to have to let her have her fun with Gilda.  You can't expect to have your friends hang with you all the time.  I would suggest you keep an eye on Gilda -- she can be trouble."

"Okie dokie lokie," the pink party pony said and bounded on her way back to town.  Amethyst trotted towards Carousel Boutique to help Rarity again, but stopped by a cafe to get a sweet roll and orange juice for breakfast.  Pinkie Pie decided to join her and watched as Gilda used her tail to scare Granny Smith into thinking it was a rattlesnake, then used her tail to steal an apple.

Fluttershy was walking backwards, escorting a mama duck and her ducklings, unaware she was in Gilda's path.  The yellow pegasus bumped into the griffon's chest, and meekly excused herself.  Gilda exclaimed, "I'm walking here!" in disgust, then mocked the timid pegasus' apology.  Fluttershy continued to back away from the griffon, who decided to let loose her loudest roar, right in the yellow pegasus' face.  Fluttershy ran away, sobbing, then took to the air to return to her cottage as quickly as she could.

"GILDA!!" the purple mare bellowed.  Everypony turned their attention to Amethyst, who had just called out the griffon.  Pinkie gave a worried look to the purple mare.

"What do YOU want, dweeb?" the griffon asked in a very annoyed tone of voice.  "Don't tell me you're mad at me for roaring at that lame pegasus.  She was in my way."

The purple mare cracked her neck and glowered at the griffon, narrowing her eyes to slits.  "Don't you DARE do that again!  Fluttershy is one of MY friends, and you have no right to terrify her like that!  I know you happen to be Rainbow Dash's best friend, but THAT doesn't give you the right to do what you just did!"

"As if I care," the griffon said dismissively.  "You're a dweeb because you stuck up for her.  Stay outta my way, purple, if ya know what's good for ya.  And anyway, how do you know my name?  Oh, I see Pinkie there with you.  So she's told you about me, huh?  I gotta bolt, bye, dweebs!" she chuckled and flew off.

"Now I see why you broke one of her wings," Pinkie mused.  "Maybe you should teach her a lesson!"

"Pinkie, I exercised great restraint there.  Trust me, I would love nothing more than to use my strongest magic attacks against her, but I have to keep in mind that I'm only here as a blessing from Princess Celestia -- I cannot afford to make her any angrier with me than she already is," Amethyst stated flatly.

"Why is she so angry with you?"

"Because I used a time travel spell to get here, though I had not intended to do so, at least not deliberately.  Unfortunately, I left my foals behind and haven't gotten any closer to finding a way back to my original timeline," the purple mare replied sullenly.

"I know what will cheer you up -- and I can use this opportunity to get even with Gilda!  I'll throw a special welcome party for her, but I have some special surprises for that Meanie McMeaniepants!" the pink party pony chuckled.

"Oh, cool, Pinkie -- I love your parties, and I can't wait to see what you unleash on Gilda!" the purple mare giggled.

The two of them went to Sugarcube Corner, but Pinkie insisted that Amethyst round up everypony for the party.  The purple mare teleported around town to invite everypony, Gilda included, to the party.  Applejack asked Rarity about Gilda, the fashionista explaining that Gilda was an old friend of Rainbow's, a griffon at that.  Twilight asked Fluttershy about Gilda, but the pegasus stated that she would tell the librarian about the griffon later.  Fluttershy then asked Pinkie if inviting the griffon was such a good idea, but the baker profusely explained that she had everything under control.  The pegasus wasn't exactly thrilled by this response, but decided to go along with it, even though she was visibly upset about it.  Amethyst tried to reassure the yellow pegasus that Pinkie had a plan to avenge her, to which Fluttershy gave a mischievous smirk.

Eventually, Gilda made it to the party and was heartily greeted by Pinkie Pie, who extended a forehoof to the griffon.  Upon meeting the open hoof with her talon, Gilda received a vicious shock from a hoofbuzzer Pinkie had attached to her hoof.   It took a moment for the griffon to regain some composure, even chuckling a little at the joke, but as soon as she was close enough to talk to the pink party pony without too many others overhearing their conversation, she made a thinly veiled threat to the baker, letting her know she had her eye on her, a sentiment Pinkie returned cheerfully.  Amethyst had chuckled at Gilda's reaction to being shocked, but also glared at the griffon when she threatened Pinkie.

Pinkie then introduced Gilda to rest of the partygoers, calling for cheers.  Rainbow arrived at the party just in time to see Gilda fall for the hoofshake buzzer and when the griffon was introduced as an old dear friend of the aviatrix, the two friends smiled, though Gilda's smile faltered a little.  The griffon spotted a bowl of vanilla lemon drops, and helped herself to one, only to find out that the candies were extremely hot and burned her tongue and mouth.  She dashed to get some water, only to have the liquid fall on her chest, as the glass she had used was a dribble cup.  She dashed to another table and cooled her throat with liquid in a regular glass.  Everypony chuckled at the griffon's misfortune, but then her attention was drawn to a table of presents in a pile.  Gilda took one at random, opening it with her beak, only to be rewarded by a bunch of rubber snakes that sprang out of the can and startled her.

"Spittin' snakes!  Somepony pulled that prank on me last month," Applejack grinned.

"I'll bet I know just who," Gilda grumbled.

"Who?" Pinkie asked, giving her best innocent look.  She then wheeled a cake to the center of the room, complete with lit candles.  "Who wants to blow out the candles?" the pink party pony asked.

"How about me?" Spike asked.

"Why not let Gilda blow them out, since she's the guest of honor," Twilight said, giving a sly grin to her dragon assistant.  Amethyst grinned mischievously as she knew what was about to happen, but then glowered at the griffon, who dashed to the cake and knocked Spike away from it.  Gilda took a deep breath and blew out the candles, only to have them relight a second after she blew them out.  Everypony laughed at her as she repeatedly tried to blow out the candles and stand in stunned silence as they consistently relit after every try she made.  Spike burrowed his way into the cake, consuming quite a bit of it as he popped out of the top, encouraging the other ponies to try some.  Amethyst helped herself to a slice, commenting that it was indeed quite tasty.

"Looks like you've helped yourself to quite a bit of cake in the past," Gilda chuckled at the purple mare.

"So I like to eat -- so what.  At least I'm not rude to my friends, the way you are," came her retort.  The griffon grabbed the pink pony by the neck and growled at her, letting her know she was watching her like a hawk.

"Shouldn't you be watching me like a griffon?" Pinkie asked, grinning.

"Hey, y'all, it's pin the tail on the pony!  Let's play!" Applejack exclaimed with some enthusiasm.

"Oh, my favorite!  May I go first?" asked Rarity.  "May I have the purple tail?"

The griffon barged her way into the midst of the game, snatching the purple tail before anypony could act.

"I'll go first, since I'm the guest of honor, and I have the purple tail!" Gilda chuckled.

"Okay, you go first -- let's get you blindfolded," Pinkie stated.  Once blindfolded, the griffon was spun around so fast she was made quite dizzy.  Pinkie escorted her to the poster with the pony on it, but Gilda stated she wasn't going to fall for another prank and chose to walk in the opposite direction.  Unfortunately, she slipped on some cake which had fallen on the floor and slid out the door.  She reappeared with the tail draped across her beak, an expression of surprise on her face.

"Uh, Gilda, you pinned the tail on the wrong end," Pinkie said as everypony laughed at the griffon yet again.

"This is your idea of a good time?!" Gilda asked as she went into an apoplectic rage.  "I've never met a more pathetic bunch of dweebs in all my life!  Rainbow Dash and I have ten times the cool as the rest of you combined!  And YOU, Pinkie Pie!  You're Queen Lame-O with your pathetic little party pranks!  Come on, Rainbow Dash!  We're leaving!"

The cyan pegasus stood her ground, choosing to remain by her new friends.  "You know, Gilda, I was the one who set up all those pranks at this party -- I guess that makes ME Queen Lame-O, doesn't it?"

"Come on, Dash!  You've gotta be kidding me, right?  You wouldn't do something like that to me, would you?" the griffon asked incredulously.

"I didn't mean all those pranks for you, Gilda, it's just that you had bad luck and tripped them all," Rainbow explained.

"No way!  It was Pinkie Pie!  She set this party up with all those pranks so she could make a fool of me!" the griffon shouted.

"Me?  I set this party up to try to turn your frown upside-down, to try to improve your attitude!" the baker said indignantly.

"And you didn't need any help making a fool of yourself," the aviatrix added.  "I never expected my old friends to treat my new friends this way.  If being cool is all you care about, maybe you should make some cool friends somewhere else."

Gilda was completely flustered by this turn from the pegasus she thought was her friend, accusing her of being a flip-flop.  "When you decide to be cool, give me a call," the griffon stated contemptibly as she left the bakery, slamming the door behind her.

"Not cool," Rainbow muttered.  The other ponies started mumbling and tut-tutting amongst themselves.

"Talk about a party pooper," Spike stated with some exasperation.

"I told you she was bad news," Amethyst offered.  "Sorry about that, Rainbow.  Maybe she'll learn her lesson and be nice in the future."

"Tell me something, Ammy -- you came from the future, so what's she like there?" the cyan pegasus asked.

"Hate to say it, RD, but she's no better in the future than she is here -- but perhaps you might be able to talk some sense into her -- maybe."

"I'm sorry, everypony -- I had no idea Gilda would be so rude to all of you.  And Pinkie Pie, I'm really sorry she ruined this awesome party you set up for her."

"Hey, if you wanna hang out with party poopers, that's up to you," the pink pony giggled.

"I'd rather hang out with you, Pinkie -- no hard feelings?"

"No hard feelings," Pinkie stated as she extended a hoof to the pegasus, who returned the gesture.  As both hooves met, both ponies received a jolt of electricity as both were wearing hoof-shake buzzers and giggled as each of them showed the other their buzzer, causing everypony to giggle as well.

"Hey, Ammy, thanks for keeping your cool," Pinkie addressed the purple mare.

"I learned something today," Amethyst stated.  "I learned that controlling your emotions and keeping calm can have much more positive results than engaging in hostility as a result of being brought to anger.  I witnessed Pinkie crash to the ground in her gyrocopter as a result of Gilda's meanness and I also witnessed Fluttershy get terrified when Gilda roared at her.  Seeing this made me very angry, but with Pinkie's help, I was able to keep my emotions in check.  I believe I should inform Princess Celestia of my findings."

"That sounds like a good idea, Amethyst," Twilight mused.  "Spike, take a letter."

"Right on it, Twilight," he said cheerfully.  Twilight dictated a friendship letter to the Sun Goddess, but also enclosed a jar of disappearing ink along with it.

"Come on, everypony!  There's still a lot of party left to enjoy!" Pinkie exclaimed excitedly as everypony cheered and resumed partying.
> 6.  And Along Came Trixie
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Amethyst was helping her housemate in the Library today when Spike asked her to try some different magic spells.  The most amusing one the purple mare witnessed her housemate use on the little dragon was one to give him a mustache.

"C'mon, Twilight, you can do it!" Spike exclaimed, offering encouragement to the librarian.

"Okay, here goes," she said and concentrated, channeling magic through her horn.  Her dragon assistant leaned forward and closed his eyes, waiting for something to happen.  The lower part of his face glowed with Twilight's magic aura as a mustache suddenly appeared.   Amethyst saw this and started chuckling loudly at the sight.

"Spike, you look ridiculous like that!" the purple mare said through her laughter.

"Well, I like it!" the dragon exclaimed, admiring his accoutrement in the mirror.  "That makes 25 different tricks, and counting, Twilight!"

"Wow, I can only do about 17 of those," the purple mare mused as her housemate blushed at her dragon's compliment.

"I can teach you more if you'd like," Twilight offered.

"I'd appreciate that, though some of the magics you used seemed to be of little significance -- why would anypony want a mustache?"

"Hello, Rarity!" Spike exclaimed as he continued to admire his reflection in the mirror.

"Sorry, Romeo, that's just for practice and it's got to go," the librarian stated and removed her dragon's mustache despite his protestation to keep it.  "Ammy, you never know when being able to do something like that might be useful some time."

"I'll keep that in mind, Twi," the purple mare chuckled.  "So what's on the schedule for today?"

"I had planned on going to Sugarcube Corner to get some muffins," Twilight mused.  "I haven't had any in about a week and it will be a nice change of pace from the occasional cupcake.  Would you like to come along?"

"But of course.  Studying is hard on an empty stomach," her housemate grinned.  Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but held back on saying it.

"Your stomach is empty?" Spike asked, almost incredulously.  "Um, sorry," he grinned sheepishly as Amethyst glowered at him.  "Okay, um, let's get going!" the dragon exclaimed cheerfully, trying to bring a little levity to the situation.  The three of them left the Library and headed along the path towards the Bakery, chatting with each other as they went.

"Spike, you know I'm a little sensitive about my weight.  I wasn't always this big -- in fact, after Princess Celestia gave me this body, I was quite svelte."

"What does that mean?" asked the dragon.

"It means I was quite slender and shapely.  Over the past three years or so, I've gained about sixty pounds, so I'm not quite so shapely anymore.  Trust me, I'd like to get back to that slender form again, but I get so hungry!" the purple mare stated sullenly.

"Maybe if you helped out more at Sweet Apple Acres, you'd get enough exercise to work off some of that extra weight," Twilight offered.

"That sounds like a good idea, Twi.  I've helped you out here in the library for such a long time, it would be good for me to get in lots of exercise.  Might even tone me up a good bit as well, I'd like to see what I'd look like with some extra musculature," mused Amethyst.

"Don't overdo it, Ammy, you still need a little fat on you," her housemate chuckled.  "You don't want to look like Snowflake, do you?"

"Whoa, no I don't!  How does he even fly?"

"I have no idea, but I would be a bit reticent about asking him," the librarian replied.

"But Twilight!  25 different kinds of magic!  Other than Ammy here, I don't think there's anypony capable of doing as much magic as you!" Spike stated proudly.  The lavender mare blushed again at the compliment.

"Yeah, she's quite impressive in that regard.  I remember when I was in her body, I couldn't even do 25 different kinds of magic," the purple mare mused, causing her housemate's blush to deepen.

"What did you like most about being me?"

"I loved your singing voice -- I loved doing karaoke as you.  I also like just how pretty you are as well," the purple mare stated, causing Twilight's blush to color her entire face a bright rouge.

"Stop it, Ammy!  You don't really mean that, do you?"

"Of course I do!  Other than that year I spent in Memphis, I really enjoyed being you ... except maybe having to --" the purple mare's words were cut off as two unicorn colts came barreling through, the smaller teal colored one picking up and carrying the purple mare a good distance before stopping.  Amethyst fell off and landed roughly on the ground and dusted herself off before glowering at the two colts.

"What's going on here?" she asked gruffly.  "You two should be more careful where you're rushing about like that!"

"Sorry about that, ma'am!  There's a new unicorn in town!" the orange colt exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah, yeah!  And she claims to be the most magical unicorn ever!" shouted the teal one.

"I find that hard to believe -- Twilight's the most highly talented unicorn I know of," the purple mare stated proudly, causing her housemate to blush again.

"You flatter me, Ammy!"

"It's true, Twi," Spike added.

"So where is this unicorn?" Twilight asked.

"She's in the town square!  Come on!" the orange one said as he galloped off in that direction, quickly followed by the others.  In the middle of the town square a voice was heard which seemed to blare from loudspeakers.  A yellow wagon seemed to transform into a stage in front of the town hall as a group of ponies assembled in front of the stage.

"Come one!  Come all!  Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!!" the voice exclaimed as a fanfare and fireworks resounded through the town square, gaudy ornamentation popping out of the top of the wagon.

The audience oohed and aahed as an azure unicorn seemed to appear from behind a cloud of smoke that quickly dissipated.  Amethyst recognized her immediately and flashed a smile.

"What, you know her, Ammy?" Twilight asked.

"She's -- " her housemate began, but was cut off as Trixie spoke again.

"Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most amazing feats of magic ever witnessed by pony eyes!" she exclaimed boldly as showers of sparks swirled about as she ignited her pyrotechnics.

"Hmm.  I don't recall her being this obnoxious," the purple mare said to her housemate just above a whisper in her ears.

"Is she as powerful as she claims?" asked Twilight.

"She's all bark and no bite," Amethyst chuckled.

"My, my, what boasting," Rarity stated dismissively.

"Come on, nopony's more magical than Twilight," Spike said, perhaps a little too loudly as the alabaster mare glowered at him in disapproval.  "Uh, mustache!" he exclaimed and darted off.  Rarity gave him a quizzical glance as he bolted.

"There's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?" Twilight asked.

"No, but that doesn't mean ya should show it off like a schoolfilly with brand new ribbons," Applejack stated, contempt dripping from her words as the ponies watched the show-mare grin as she made a bouquet of flowers appear from seemingly nowhere.

"Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than another," Rarity added.  Twilight hung her head at this mention.

"Have you ever seen Twilight use her magic in a boastful fashion?  Me either?" asked Amethyst.  "I try to avoid showing off if I can at all help it, and Twi here likewise exercises great restraint with the use of her magic ... most of the time," she grinned.

"Well, you have me to be better than the rest of us!" Rainbow grinned.  Applejack glared at the cyan pegasus.  "Uh, yeah!  Magic, shmagic!  BOO!" the pegasus shouted at the show-mare.

"Well, well, well.  It seems we have some neigh-sayers in the audience!" the azure mare stated indignantly.  "Who dares challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie?  Do they not know they stand before the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria?"

"Just who does she think she is?" Rarity asked Twilight, dismissing the show-mare with a raspberry.

"Yeah!  Especially when we know Twilight here is --" Spike stated almost angrily as he barged between the librarian and the fashionista before he was pulled aside by the lavender mare who admonished him, letting him know she did not want to be seen as a show-off.  Before Spike could say anything in response, Trixie lit off some more pyrotechnics as she reared up on her hind legs and grinned broadly at her spectacle.

"I ought to put that boastful braggart in her place, that should teach her some humility," Amethyst thought to herself.  Before she took a step, the cyan pegasus flew up to the stage to challenge the show-mare.

"So, 'Great and Powerful Trixie,' what makes you think you're so awesome anyway?" Rainbow asked.

"Why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded Ursa Major!" she exclaimed boldly, her pyrotechnics illuminating the sky with an image of a large bear, astonishing the audience.  The teal and orange unicorn colts were dumbfounded by this and expressed their incredulity.

"When all hope was lost, the ponies of Hoofington turned to the Great and Powerful Trixie, whose magic was strong enough to vanquish the Ursa Major and sent him back to his cave deep in the Everfree Forest!" she exclaimed, an image of the unicorn facing off against the much larger bear and waving its wand causing the bear to disappear in a shower of sparks.

The teal and orange unicorn colts were so inspired and enamored with Trixie that they automatically proclaimed her to be the most talented unicorn in all of Equestria.  Trixie expressed her concurrence with their statements and challenged any Ponyvillian to do their best, proclaiming she could do anything better than anypony else.  Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash glared at the boastful show-mare.  Amethyst groaned audibly at this.

"Does anypony wish to challenge me?  Or is Trixie the greatest equine who ever lived?" she shouted as more pyrotechnics lit up the sky.  The purple mare strode forward angrily, her eyes narrowed to slits, her ears pinned back against her head.  She exhaled sharply through her nostrils as she approached the stage, only to be held back by her housemate.

"I don't care how angry she makes you, Ammy, don't do this!  You shouldn't show off your skills either, even though you want to put her in her place!  Don't set a bad example, please!"

The purple mare growled at her housemate, but restrained herself.  "Only for you, Twi, because you asked me nicely.  I shall respect your request.  I suppose if I showed off, word would get back to the Princess.  If only ..."

"You!  The purple one!  Trixie sees you wish to challenge her?" the show-mare asked haughtily.

"Don't do it, Ammy!" Twilight stated.  The purple mare cracked her neck and glowered at the azure unicorn.

"Let me put it like this, Trixie.  There are some who are far more powerful than you, but they wish to remain anonymous.  It is not their desire to go around showing off their talents just because they can -- true power respects restraint and control," the purple mare stated confidently.

"What does that mean?" the show-mare asked indignantly.  "Are you afraid to challenge the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

"There will come a time for that, Trixie -- but that time is not now, not here.  I do not wish to embarrass you in front of everypony here -- and I'm not even the most powerful among us,"  Amethyst replied.

"Then who is?  The Great and Powerful Trixie demands to challenge the strongest among you!" she shouted.  The purple mare glanced at Twilight for a split-second then turned her gaze toward Rarity, then Applejack, then back to Trixie.

"You!  The lavender one!" Trixie shouted.  Twilight seemed to shrink back from the show-mare's gaze and glanced at her housemate for a split-second.  Amethyst gave a big grin, one tinged with a hint of malice.

"Well, Twi?  Should I do it?  She deserves to be taken down a peg or two," the purple mare chuckled.

"Please, Twi?  Let Ammy do it?  She's unbearable!" Spike pleaded.

"Hold that thought, Ammy, let's see what she's capable of doing first."

"Well?  Trixie is waiting!  Perhaps you are afraid of the magical abilities of the Great and Powerful Trixie?  How about you, hayseed?" she asked as she turned her attention to the orange earth pony, who decided to step onto the stage at this point.

"That does it," Applejack stated angrily.  "Can your magical powers do this?" she asked, using her tail to spin her rope into a lasso, twirling it around her body in a most skillful fashion.  She then swung her lasso to an apple tree and pulled an apple to her with the lasso, the apple falling into her open mouth as she ate it.  The audience expressed their approval by cheering her with great enthusiasm.  "Top that, missy!"

"Oh ye of little talent," Trixie mused.  "Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!"  She telekinetically removed her cap, her pink aura glowing around it and her horn, then enveloping one end of the rope the farmer had used for her display.  Trixie then enchanted the rope to perform a snake dance, hypnotizing the farmer for a moment, then snatching another apple from the tree with one end of the rope, using the other end to hogtie the farmer and stuff the apple into her mouth, eliciting a cheer from the audience.

"Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails," she said dismissively as the hogtied Applejack hopped off the stage.  The cyan pegasus quickly flew up to the stage, hovering practically in the show-mare's face.

"There's no need to go struttin' around and showin' off like that!  That's MY job!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed indignantly.  The cyan pegasus then flew extremely fast towards a windmill, using it to propel her skyward through several clouds.  She then stopped mid-air, basking in the sun's light for a moment, then slashed her way through the same clouds as before, then used the windmill again to propel her to the stage, whereupon she flapped her wings allowing the moisture she had collected to form a rainbow before the stunned audience.  "They don't call me Rainbow and Dash for nothing!" she exclaimed proudly to the cheering audience.

"When I'm through with you, the only thing they're going to be calling you is 'loser'," the show-mare responded indignantly, using her magic to wrap the rainbow around the pegasus tightly, then spinning her out of control through the sky and depositing her a fair distance away, still spinning until she stopped.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," the pegasus stated flatly.

"Seems like anypony with a dash of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great and Powerful Trixie!" she exclaimed, using her magic to create a cloud above the hapless pegasus, striking her with a lightning bolt and causing the audience to laugh again.

"What we need is another unicorn to challenge her, somepony with some magic of her own," Spike stated, nudging the librarian with an elbow.

"Please, allow me," Rarity begain.  "Applejack and Rainbow Dash may behave like ruffians, but a unicorn conducts herself with grace, poise, and elegance, allowing not even a hair to get out of place."

"What's the matter?  Afraid you'll disturb that rat's nest you call a mane?" Trixie asked, stifling a giggle.

"OH. IT. IS. ON!" Rarity huffed as she took to the stage.  "There's more to magic than brute power," the alabaster mane explained, using her magic to remove a curtain from Trixie's stage, shaping it and her mane into something truly exquisite.  Trixie gave an evil grin and changed Rarity's mane into a greenish mess, eliciting a gasp from the audience.

"Quick!  I need a mirror!  Somepony get me a mirror NOW!" the fashionista screeched.  "What's wrong with my mane?  I know she did something horrible to my mane!"

"It's nothing," the librarian said calmly, trying to reassure the alabaster mare, though she tried to stifle a giggle as well.

"It's fine," said Applejack.

"There's nothing wrong with it," added Rainbow.

"It's green," said Spike, whereupon the others glared at him.  Upon hearing this, the fashionista was mortified to find out that her mane was indeed green, and she ran away crying over what had happened to it.

"Is there nopony left to challenge Trixie?" the show-mare asked triumphantly.  The dark purple unicorn mare took a step forward, glaring daggers at the show-mare.

"You know something, Trixie?  I traveled back in time several years -- in my original timeline, you had changed your ways, not acting like this.  You had actually settled down, performing your magic without challenging others.  You had an air of self-confidence that did not depend on boasting of abilities you did not have.  But here we are now, and this version of you is quite detestable," the purple mare stated.

"You?  Traveled back through time?  How is that possible?  Trixie says you lie!  So, purple one, what is your name?  Do you wish to challenge the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

"Come on, Ammy!  You can do it!" Spike exclaimed.

"Don't do it, Ammy, please!" Twilight pleaded stridently.

"What's this?  You have a fan club?  Ammy?" the show-mare asked.

"I am Amethyst Shadow, confidante and housemate to Twilight Sparkle.  I used a spell written by Starswirl the Bearded himself in order to travel through time.  I challenge you, Trixie, though it will cause me some trouble with Princess Celestia.  Prepare to be embarrassed."

"Ooh, the Great and Powerful Trixie is shaking in her hooves!  Bring it on!" she chuckled.  Twilight face-hoofed and galloped back to the Library.

"I tried to warn her, but did she listen?  Nooooo," the librarian thought to herself as she made her way back as quickly as she could.  Spike had stayed behind to watch the action.

"Do your worst!  Show me what you've got!" the show-mare chuckled, smiling confidently.

"Tell me, Trixie, what's the biggest object you can lift using your telekinesis?" the purple mare asked.

"Watch this, then!" Trixie stated, lifting a very large rock, though the strain caused the show-mare to sweat a bit.

"Is that it?  Watch me, and learn," the purple mare stated, lifting Trixie's entire stage and wagon and the two of them twenty feet into the air.  Trixie was shocked to see the audience twenty feet below them, oohing and aahing in wonderment.

"Put Trixie's stage down NOW!" she shouted.  Amethyst slowly lowered the stage and wagon back to the ground.

"That's pretty impressive, but can you do this?" the show-mare asked,   She lit off an impressive display of pyrotechnics, the largest one yet.

"Those are firecrackers compared to what I can show you," the purple mare stated, sending up a truly massive pyrotechnic display, at least five times larger than the ones Trixie had set off.  The show-mare's confidence was starting to falter as the crowd oohed at the size of the fireworks, though the purple mare had to hold back on creating her largest ones for the sake of public safety.

"Well, you can't do invisibility, can you?" she asked, making herself invisible.

"Yes," the purple mare replied tersely, making the stage and wagon disappear.

"Where did Trixie's stage go?" she asked as she reappeared, though her stage was still invisible.

"You're still standing on it," the purple mare replied, removing her invisibility spell, causing the stage and wagon to reappear.

"Anything else you'd like to try?" Amethyst grinned.

The show-mare summoned a dark cloud in order to shoot a bolt of lightning at the purple mare.  Amethyst saw this and countered with a much larger cloud.

"You think you've mastered weather control?  That was one of my specialties in my original timeline," the purple mare chuckled.  "I used to put on weather shows, creating mini-tornadoes for the foals to impress them with my knowledge."  As if to illustrate her point, she caused a small tornado to drop out of the dark cloud she had summoned, swirling dust around.

The show-mare exploded in fury.  "You dare try to show up the Great and Powerful Trixie?  You think your magic is something special?  I have been holding back, trying to gauge your power.  You are strong, but your magic is limited!  Now behold, the TRUE power of magic!" she exclaimed, using a combination of spells which dazzled and hypnotized the purple mare.  The display of sheer power was such that it caused the audience to retreat to a safer distance as the show-mare channeled more power through her horn, which was glowing a very bright pink.  Trixie's eyes went full white as even more power was channeled into her combination of spells.

Amethyst's expression was one of concern.  "Can you teleport?" asked the purple mare, as she took the opportunity to do so, materializing in front of the Library in a flash of light and a pale blue POP.  Amethyst then entered the library to find Twilight reading a book.

"So, did you show her up?" Twilight asked, contempt dripping from her words.

"She knows some strong stuff, so I left before things escalated out of control," the purple mare stated flatly.  "I remembered what you said and held off on using my strongest magic -- I wanted to show her what I'm really capable of doing, but -- I let her win, simply because I don't want to make Princess Celestia too angry with me."

"I told you not to challenge her, Ammy!  Where's Spike?"

"Ammy, couldn't you beat her?" the dragon asked as he walked in through the door.

"Well ... I could have -- but I didn't want to let the contest get out of control.  I let her win -- this time.  She will get what's coming to her soon enough," the purple mare replied.

Back in the town square, Trixie finished showing off her massive spell display.  "Where did that purple one go?  Did she not understand just how great and powerful Trixie truly is?"

"She teleported away from here," Applejack stated flatly.

"Oh, so she can teleport.  Good for her.  Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria!  Was there ever any doubt?" she chuckled.  At this point, the remainder of the audience departed and went back about their daily business.  Trixie folded up her stage and started brushing her mane as she gazed at her reflection in a mirror.  As she brushed her mane, the two unicorn colts from earlier brought the show-mare a smoothie with extra hay.  The two lingered in her presence a bit too long, the orange one staring at her dreamily.

"Yes?" she asked, showing her annoyance at the two colts.  The two begged her to retell the story of how she had vanquished the Ursa Major.  She condescendingly dismissed the two, stating that she was exhausted from her performance, telling them to begone until morning.  The two colts bowed and scraped as they backed away, informing the show-mare that they were at her beck and call.  They bumped into Applejack, who had stayed behind for a little bit.

"What in tarnation are you two doin'?" asked the farmer.

"Just bringing the Great and Powerful Trixie a smoothie," the teal one replied.

"And what would ya be doin' that fer?"

"Because she's the greatest magic user in all Equestria!" the orange one stated.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished an Ursa Major!" the teal one added.

"Were ya two there ta see it happen?"

"Well, uh ... no," they replied.

"Ya shouldn't believe ever'thin' she says -- if'n Ah weren't there ta see her do it, Ah wouldn't believe it mahself!  An' neither should you!  Not unless an Ursa Major comes walkin' up the street fer her ta vanquish," Applejack mused.

"An Ursa Major walking up the street?  Hey Snails, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" asked the teal colt.

"Why is it they call it a 'flea market' when they don't really sell fleas?" asked the orange colt.

"What?  Oh, come on," the teal colt replied with some disgust and took Snails with him.

"Ah wonder what those two are up to," the farm pony silently mused as she made her way back to the farm.

Back at the Library, Spike was fuming.  "Come on, Twi, if Ammy can't do it, I know you can!  Ammy, did you say you let her win?  Why?"

"Because the public safety is more important than my pride," the purple mare stated flatly.  "I could have won, but the cost would have been too high.  Discretion is the better part of valor, so I left and let her win."

"Ammy set a bad example -- she wasn't supposed to challenge her.  I'm not going to clean up your mess, Ammy!  I'm not going to show Trixie up, because I don't want my friends taking it the wrong way and start thinking that I'm a braggart!" the librarian exclaimed in exasperation.

"No, Twi, they won't!  They'll see you as standing up for them!" Spike responded, his exasperation matching hers.

"Spike's got a point there, Twi," Amethyst stated.

"I'm not going to take this from both of you!  My answer is NO!  What part of that do you not understand?"

"Well, Ammy tried to stand up for you ..." Spike said, somewhat sullenly.

"And look where it got her.  Spike, I know this makes you disappointed, but I'm not going to debase myself by bringing myself down to her level."

"Okay, fine," the dragon said flatly and went outside for a walk.

"Ammy, thanks for using some degree of restraint.  It must have hurt to let her win," the lavender mare offered.

"Yeah, it did, a little, but I can't let that bother me.  She'll get her comeuppance, mark my words," the purple mare replied.  "I'm going to bed, it's getting late."

"Okay, good night, Ammy," Twilight stated, returning to her book.

--------------------------

Elsewhere, in the Everfree Forest, Snips and Snails were making their way to a certain cave.  They glanced around nervously, clinging closely to each other for protection.  The two clueless unicorn colts trudged into the cave, quickly becoming disoriented by the dark.

"How are we supposed to find an Ursa Major when I can't even see my hoof in front of my face?" asked Snips.

"Hold on," Snails responded, taking a few tries lighting his horn before his illumination stayed on.  The light from his horn awoke a sleeping bear, which growled at them.  The two were scared witless and galloped for their lives, the Ursa chasing swiftly after them.

Spike was taking a late night walk when the two colts dashed past him.  "Uh, hey guys," he said quizzically.

"Can't stop, got a major problem," Snips blurted as he continued his gallop.

"Ursa Major is more like it," Snails added as he tried to keep pace with his friend.

"Trixie!" the two yelled in unison as the Ursa made his presence known, scaring the dragon back to the library.

"Twilight!" Spike called as he ran as quickly as his legs could carry him.

The two colts pounded furiously on Trixie's caravan, waking her from her slumber.

"Trixie thought she told you that the Great and Powerful Trixie did not want to be disturbed!" she glowered at the two, who were shaking in fear.

"Um, we've got a little problem," Snips stated.

"Actually, it's a big one," Snails corrected.

"What is so important that --" Trixie began before she heard the roar of the lumbering beast.  It cleared the trees and when the show-mare spotted it, she screamed in terror and fled as quickly as she could.  The beast smashed Trixie's wagon with a single stomp of its right front paw, glowering at the fleeing unicorns.

Back at the library, Spike quickly tried to get Twilight's attention.  She stated she did not want to show up Trixie, but then she heard the beast's roar.

"Uh, is that what I think it is?" the librarian asked fearfully.

"Yeah, majorly," the dragon replied.

--------------------------------

The three unicorns were trapped in a dead end as the Ursa approached.  The two colts encouraged Trixie to vanquish the beast, proclaiming that they had gone to quite a bit of trouble to bring the beast there.  The show-mare was flabbergasted by this information and asked them why they did such a foolish thing.

"You're the Great and Powerful Trixie!  You vanquished an Ursa Major!" Snails stated.

The beast roared in the show-mare's face, but she stood her ground.  Using her magic, she tied a rope around ... two of its fingers on a paw, which the beast easily snapped.

"Come on, Trixie, stop playing around and vanquish it!" the orange colt protested.

"Uh, right!" the show-mare grinned sheepishly.  She furrowed her brow and grimaced as she channeled magic through her horn, summoning a large thundercloud to zap the Ursa with a lightning bolt.  When the full scale of the beast was revealed, the cloud was less than a quarter of the size of the bear.  The cloud released a lightning bolt, which barely did anything more than to anger the beast, which roared again.

"Uh oh," Trixie stated, her fear growing.  The three unicorns then dashed away again, leaving the Ursa somewhat puzzled before it gave chase again, terrifying the townsponies as it gnawed on the roof of a less-fortunate house.  Twilight dashed to see what was going on and met up with the two colts.  Amethyst was following close behind, the dragon holding onto her neck.

"What's going on here?" the librarian asked.

"We brought an Ursa Major to town!" Snips stated proudly.

"You WHAT?!" Twilight exclaimed incredulously.

"You idiots!" Amethyst added.

"Don't worry, the Great and Powerful Trixie will vanquish it!" Snails stated proudly.

"I ... I can't," the show-mare stated dejectedly.

"What?!" the two colts exclaimed

'I can't -- I never could -- nopony could vanquish an Ursa Major, I just made the whole story up to make me look better," confessed the azure mare.

"Made it up?!" the two colts exclaimed, their incredulity becoming readily apparent.

"Amethyst?  You showed me you could control the weather -- you want to zap it with lightning?" Trixie asked.

"Bad idea, Trixie.  Lightning will only make it angrier.  You showed me some powerful magic, so why not do that again?" the purple mare asked.

"That was just illusion magic!  I don't have that kind of power for real!  How are you going to defeat it?" Trixie asked.

Spike nudged Twilight, who gulped as she saw the danger become more readily apparent, the Ursa rearing up onto its hind legs, blocking the moon's light with its massive size.  The librarian set her hooves and concentrated, channeling magic through her horn, summoning a gust of wind which snapped some reeds.  The broken reeds resonated with the wind, the music lulling the Ursa to a state of drowsiness.  She then used her telekinesis to remove the town's water tower, emptied it, then used the tank to milk the cows on the farm, filling the tank with milk.  The strain of all this was causing the librarian to sweat profusely and she grunted in exertion, her horn glowing with three levels of magic simultaneously.

The Ursa's drowsiness caused it to fall towards Trixie, who used her own telekinesis to push the beast away from her, but then Twilight's telekinesis took control of the Ursa, lifting it into the air and placing the makeshift milk bottle in the beast's paws.  The Ursa started sucking the milk from the tank as the librarian used her telekinesis to place the beast back in its cave, the strain of using so much magic making her grimace and screw her eyes shut.  Finally done, she powered down her horn and heaved a sigh of relief.

"I've seen you do some amazing things, Twilight, but that one takes the cake," the purple mare stated proudly.

"Unbelievable!" Spike exclaimed, the assemblage of ponies cheering in amazement.

"Heavens to Betsy!  We knew ya had magic ability, but not THAT much!" Applejack exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, please don't hate me," the lavender mare stated softly.

"Hate you?  Why would we?  Whatever do you mean, darling?" asked Rarity.

"It's just that -- I thought because Trixie showed off her magic ability that you would resent me for my abilities," replied Twilight.

"She's just a loudmouth," stated Rainbow.

"All hat and no cattle," added Applejack.

"Most unpleasant," offered Rarity.

"Egotistical, pompous, bombastic --" Amethyst began.

"We get the idea, Ammy!" the others stated in unison as they chuckled.

"Magic's a part of who ya are, Twilight!  We're proud to have such a talented unicorn as our friend!" the farmer stated proudly.

"How'd you know how to defeat the Ursa?" asked Spike.

"That's a very good question," added the purple mare.  "I'm curious to know this as well."

"That book you saw me reading earlier had the answers in it.  Trixie's boasting intrigued me, so I decided to do a little research on the matter," the librarian replied.

"So the book showed you how to defeat an Ursa Major all by yourself?" asked the dragon.

"That wasn't an Ursa Major -- it was a baby, an Ursa Minor," Twilight clarified.

"THAT was a BABY?" Trixie asked incredulously.

"And it wasn't rampaging, it was cranky because somepony woke it up!" the librarian stated as she glared at the two colts who had lured the beast into town, the two trying to make themselves as small as possible, expressing their remorse with a none-too-subtle, "Aww."

"If that was an Ursa Minor, what does an Ursa Major look like?" asked the dragon.

"It's about 20 times bigger," Amethyst answered flatly, causing the assembled townsponies to gasp in horror at the thought.

"You don't wanna know," Twilight added, musing thoughtfully about the size of such a beast.

"Hah!  You might have vanquished the Ursa Minor, but you will never have the amazing, show-stopping ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" she proclaimed indignantly before lighting a smoke bomb and galloping away from the town.

"What that little --" the cyan pegasus growled and took to the air to give chase.

"Just let her go -- perhaps someday she'll learn her lesson," the librarian stated.

"I was hoping she stay for at least a few more minutes -- I wanted to talk to her a bit longer," the purple mare mused.

"About what?" her housemate asked, shooting her an accusatory glare.

"She and I have ...  a bit of a history in my original timeline," Amethyst said wistfully, blushing ever so slightly.  The others gave her a quizzical look before Snips and Snails tried to leave, the librarian blocking their path.

"Now, as for you two ..." the librarian stated, glowering at the two hapless colts.

"We're sorry we woke up the Ursa Minor -- we just wanted to see some awesome magic!" Snails stated.

"We deserve whatever punishment you give us," Snips stated as the two bowed before her.

"What do you think, Spike?  Should I give them number 25?" the librarian grinned.

"Yeah, and do that for me, too!" the dragon chuckled.  The purple mare grinned and shook her head almost in disbelief as her housemate lit her horn again, causing mustaches to appear on the two colts' faces as well as Spike's.

"Sweet!" all three of them chimed in unison.

---------------------

The following day, Twilight wrote another friendship letter to the Princess, informing her that her fear of being perceived as a braggart prevented her from showing off her talents, but that there was a proper time and place for such displays, especially when standing up for your friends.  As she finished up the letter, Spike walked into the room, still wearing his mustache.

"So, how'd it go with Rarity?" the librarian asked, grinning.

"She didn't fall for the mustache," the dragon said, disappointedly.

"That mustache has nothing to do with who you really are -- I have learned that what's inside is more important than what's on the outside, Spike," Amethyst stated as she poked her head into the room.

"Maybe the mustache wasn't enough," the dragon mused.

"Please, Spike, you look ridiculous enough with that thing!  The last thing you need is more facial hair!" the purple mare chuckled.  "Why not try just being yourself?  That's a lesson I had to learn the hard way."

"Okay, Ammy, you got a point there.  Twi, go ahead and take it off, I guess I'll just have to try being myself then," the dragon stated, some disappointment still tinging his words.  "But please let me wear it from time to time!  I kinda like it!"

All three of them chuckled at the sentiment as they continued about their activities for the day.

    

> 7.  "I've Been Gone for How Long?"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     It was another beautiful day in Ponyville, as the birds chirped and a few lazy clouds drifted by in the early morning sky.  Fluttershy was feeding her animals and cautioned Angel Bunny not to eat his breakfast too quickly, but for some strange reason he stopped eating his carrot, defiantly refusing to eat any more of it, tossing it a fair distance.  The yellow pegasus picked up the half-eaten carrot and asked her little bunny to eat some more of it, but he kicked it away after being asked three times.  She noticed him start coughing, so she asked about several different possibilities, to which the bunny furiously shook his head, then finally pointed at the source, which was a black cloud of smoke emanating from a high mountain and billowed over Ponyville as it was carried by the wind current.  As the yellow pegasus turned to head towards town, a half-eaten carrot caromed off her head, causing her to glare at her bunny for a second.

Fluttershy dashed into town as quickly as she could and tried to get everypony's attention to warn them about the cloud of smoke headed their way, but nopony seemed willing to listen to her words, save for a dark purple unicorn mare, who relayed the information to her housemate.  A certain sky-blue pegasus was bouncing a ball on her head, counting each bounce.  The yellow pegasus tried to get Dash's attention but was failing miserably, then Pinkie Pie showed up and announced that there was cause for celebration, though Fluttershy expressed a different opinion.  As the ponies milled about, paying no attention to the concerns of the animal caretaker, a voice rang out from a different direction.

"Listen up!" Twilight shouted, using magic to amplify her voice a little.  Everypony turned their attention to the librarian who had her dragon assistant on her back, her housemate just a little bit behind her.  "Smoke is spreading across Equestria," she began in her normal voice.  She was interrupted momentarily by Fluttershy jumping up and down.

"That's what I've been trying to say," the pegasus stated with as much exasperation as she could muster.

"I have received a letter from Princess Celestia.  The smoke is not coming from a fire -- it's coming from a dragon."  These words elicited a collective gasp from everypony present, save for Amethyst, who simply nodded her head in agreement.  "Amethyst, I will need for you to bring the other Element Bearers to the library so we can formulate a plan to address this issue.  Fluttershy, please help Ammy with this task," Twilight stated and returned to the library.

It took about an hour, but when everypony had been gathered in the library, Applejack asked what a full-grown dragon was doing in Equestria, to which the librarian tersely responded that it was sleeping.  She then went on to explain that the dragon's snoring was the source of the smoke.  When asked what to do about it, the cyan pegasus suggested giving him the boot, illustrating her point by attacking a small sculpture, which the lavender mare had to stabilize with her magic.

"We need to encourage him to take a nap somewhere else," Twilight offered.  "Princess Celestia has given us this mission and we cannot afford to fail.  If we do, Equestria will be covered in smoke for the next one hundred years."

"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration there, Twi," Amethyst stated flatly.

"Regardless of that, darling, something needs to be done about it!  Talk about getting a beauty sleep," Rarity mused.

"All right, everypony, I need you to gather supplies for this mission.  Meet back here in an hour," said Twilight.  "Ammy, I have a letter from Princess Celestia for you.  You're not going on this mission with us."

"WHAT?  Why not?" the purple mare asked incredulously.

"Read the letter," her housemate stated almost dismissively.

Amethyst took the letter in her pale blue aura and levitated it in front of her so she could read it.  "Dear Amethyst Shadow.  Twilight has informed me of your recent actions with regard to a couple of visitors to Ponyville, namely Gilda and Trixie.  My student has told me that your actions bespoke of poor judgment, so I must ask you to return to the Castle at your earliest convenience.  I have enclosed a one-way ticket from Ponyville to Canterlot.  You have until the end of today to arrive at the Castle and meet with me, as there are certain matters we must discuss.  Do NOT be tardy, lest you provoke my ire.  Sincerely, your esteemed leader, Princess Celestia of Equestria," the purple mare stated as she read the letter aloud, then used her magic to wad the letter into a tight ball and almost angrily threw it against the wall.  "There is so much more I would like to do around here, Twilight.  If anypony asks, let them know I hope to return.  If not, please understand that I'm going to miss all of you.  I guess I'd better be off then.  I just hope this isn't a final good-bye, Twilight."

The librarian smiled softly.  "I'm going to miss you too, Ammy.  If this is not a final good-bye, I hope you return soon."

"Please let me get a hug from you -- I just want to thank you for everything you've done for me," her housemate sighed.  Twilight approached and both of them met in a warm embrace and shared a fairly long hug.  The librarian was the first to break from the embrace.

"I know you don't want to let me go, but you have to.  You don't want to keep the Princess waiting!" Twilight chided.

The purple mare wiped away a tear, turning to leave the library for what might be the last time.  Before she exited through the front door, she turned to give her housemate one last look.  "Okay, good-bye, or seeya later, Twi," she said as she turned once again and left the library.  The purple unicorn slowly trudged her way toward the train station, her head hung low, her ears drooping.  Ponies moved out of her way, but those who knew her asked her what was wrong.  Her curt response was a hurt-sounding, "Nothing," as she continued her slow trek to the train station.  Normally, the trot would take no more than half an hour, but for Amethyst, this trek took slightly longer than a whole hour.  On the way there, she inadvertently bumped into another pony who didn't see her coming, and Amethyst wasn't paying close enough attention to where she was headed as she was pretty much looking down at the ground as she trudged along.

"Hey, watch where you're -- hey!  You're -- Amethyst Shadow, right?" asked a certain great and powerful show-mare.

"I recognize that voice," the purple mare stated.  "Trixie?  What brings you back here?"

"Trixie has come to reclaim her property, or what's left of it," the azure mare stated flatly, examining the broken remains of her caravan.  She idly picked up a few pieces with her pink aura, then let them drop to the ground.  "That Ursa destroyed my home!  What is Trixie going to do now?"

"Here, let me help you," Amethyst offered.  She lit her horn, her pale blue aura enveloping all the broken pieces and levitating all of them.  She maneuvered them to try to fit them together.

"Trixie doesn't want your ..." the show-mare began, but watched in amazement as the purple unicorn's horn glowed with a second blue aura and then a third as she conjoined the broken pieces, then bonded them together as more of the pieces were fitted together like a random jigsaw puzzle.  Amethyst strained under the power of her magic, her eyes glowing white as she channeled more magic through her horn.  Another five minutes of putting the wagon back together and bonding the pieces together had it completed.  The purple mare then slowly lowered the fully rebuilt caravan to the ground, then powered down her horn.  Her body was dripping with sweat from the exertion, but she turned to the show-mare, her mouth still agape and smiled at her.

"Pleasure to have been of service to you, Trixie," the purple mare stated confidently, then trotted toward the train station feeling quite a bit better now than before.  The show-mare cantered to catch up to her.

"Trixie wants to thank you for what you did," she said softly.

"You're very welcome, Trixie," Amethyst stated softly as she continued her trek.

"Where did you learn how to do that kind of magic?"

"Twilight taught me a few things over the past few years," the purple mare stated flatly, not bothering to make eye contact with the show-mare, who had to canter to keep up with her.

"Trixie wants to learn how to wield that kind of magic," she almost pleaded.

"I would teach you if I had time, but I have to head to Canterlot as soon as possible," Amethyst stated sullenly, her pace slowing a little as she remembered her earlier feeling of regret.  "I'd offer you to join me, but I only have a one-way ticket and no money for anything else."

"Trixie doesn't think she'd be welcome in Canterlot," she mused.  "Trixie thanks you for repairing her wagon.  Trixie will see you again some time," she said and turned around to trot back to her wagon.

Amethyst arrived at the train station about ten minutes later and waited for the next train to arrive.  While she was waiting, a certain pink earth pony popped out from behind the bench she was sitting on.

"Hey, Ammy, what'cha doing?" asked the baker.

"I can't join you all on your mission to see about that dragon," the purple mare stated dejectedly.

"Why not?  You haven't done anything bad, have you?"

"Twilight showed me a letter from the Princess.  Apparently, I have been ordered to return to the Castle and meet with her Majesty.  I'd like to join you all on your journey, but the Princess doesn't want to be kept waiting."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ammy -- cheer up, you'll be back!  I know you're probably feeling sad about having to go away, but my Pinkie Sense tells me you'll be coming back to see us again!" she giggled and gave the purple mare a quick hug.

"Thanks for your vote of confidence, Pinkie.  I'm still somewhat worried about what might happen, though."  The train pulled up just as the words left her mouth.  "Seeya later, Pinkie -- that, or maybe it's good-bye.  Shouldn't you be at the library with Twilight and the others?"

"They know they can't go anywhere without me!" the pink pony giggled, then seemed to disappear.  The purple mare smiled, then frowned, then boarded the train, the conductor taking the ticket and tearing it in half, hoofing her the stub.  She then took a seat in the front coach and patiently waited for the train to take her to Canterlot.

----------------------------

Back at the library, everypony had gathered their supplies together and Twilight had told them she had mapped out the fastest route to make it up the mountain before nightfall, a prospect which made Fluttershy quite nervous, or at least considerably more nervous than she already was.  Applejack commented that the mountaintop appeared pretty cold, whereupon Rainbow Dash informed the farmer that the higher you went, the chillier it got.  The yellow pegasus gulped as she took in the sight of the mountaintop, shrouded in the large thick cloud of black smoke.  She was having second thoughts about accompanying her friends and tried to get the lavender unicorn's attention while she examined her map.

Fluttershy expressed her desire to stay behind and take care of her animals but was told Spike would look after them for her, though the pegasus doubted the dragon's ability to do so.  Rainbow pulled the librarian aside and asked if taking Fluttershy along was such a good idea, as the yellow pegasus was scared of her own shadow, which was quickly illustrated as she caught her shadow out of the corner of her eye and meeped, jumping into a bush to hide from it.

"She's just a little nervous -- once we get going, I'm sure she'll be fine," the librarian said to the cyan pegasus.  Her confidence faltered somewhat when she saw the yellow pegasus jump into the bush.  Undeterred, she called on everypony to move out, picking up and carrying the fearful pegasus with them.  As they approached the mountain, they heard the dragon snore once again, more smoke billowing into the sky.  The group looked up the mountain, contemplating the task ahead.  The cyan pegasus decided she was going to fly to the top without the others before having her tail yanked by Applejack again.

"We're all going together, Rainbow -- safety in numbers and all," the orange earth pony stated.

"Oh, all right," Rainbow stated dejectedly, folding her forelegs across her chest.

As they trekked up the mountainside, they chatted among themselves, Rarity expressing the idea of the dragon's nest being crafted of jewels, sparkling even brighter than their scales.  Twilight considered Fluttershy's ability to interact with animals and asked the timid pegasus her opinion on what the dragon would be like, only to find that she had stayed at the base of the mountain.  Rainbow encouraged her to flap her wings and fly up to meet them, but when she got to their level, the dragon snored again, frightening the yellow pegasus into folding her wings against her body, then falling to a bush near the base.  Applejack offered to take Fluttershy around the mountain to meet up with them, though Twilight expressed annoyance at how long it would take as the farmer slid down the mountain to meet up with the pegasus at the base, who promptly fainted when the dragon snored again, the noise causing the ground to tremble.

Twilight and the others waited impatiently on a ledge, their boredom causing Pinkie Pie and Rarity to play games of tic-tac-toe, the pink party pony winning 35 games in a row.  Twilight decided to get the team moving again as Applejack finally dragged the yellow pegasus to meet them.  They continued their trek to the dragon's cave at this point.

------------------------------------

The train pulled into the Canterlot station and a rather disgruntled Amethyst departed the train, slowly trudging toward the Castle.  The day was starting to get late, causing the purple mare to quicken her pace a little, arriving at the front gate with about half an hour til sunset.  Two Royal Guardsponies stood at the front gate.

"I am Amethyst Shadow, and her Majesty, Princess Celestia has demanded an audience with me," she stated flatly.  The guardsponies silently opened the gate for her, allowing her onto the grounds leading up to the actual Castle gates, guarded by two more Royal Guard Unicorns.  Right Face was one of the stallions standing guard.

"I am Amethyst Shadow --" she began.  Right Face glowered at her.

"I know who you are and why you're here.  I want you to know I still remember what you did to me, and I'm not going to forgive you for it," he stated angrily.

"Please let me through, her Majesty has requested my presence," the mare stated, attempting contrition.

"Not before you apologize to me," he replied.

"Look, I told Princess Celestia to relay my apology to you, Right Face.  I am terribly sorry for tricking you like that.  I have a feeling that this may be the last time you see me, though."

"What does that mean?" he asked, his anger still present.

"If the Princess has summoned me, maybe she's found a way to send me back to my original timeline.  I have traveled back in time to this universe, though I should have been more careful when attempting one of Starswirl's spells," she explained.

"You traveled back in time?  You cast a spell written by Starswirl the Bearded?  You impress me, Amethyst," he stated, his anger having left him.

"Please, Right Face, I cannot keep her Majesty waiting!" she implored.

"Very well then, Amethyst.  I shall allow you to pass.  We will have words tonight," he stated sternly.

"I hope we might have more than an exchange of words," she said softly, giving him an impish smile.  This brought a hint of a smile to his lips, though he did his level best to maintain his decorum.  He and his companion moved aside and opened the front gate of the Castle for her, allowing her to trot through the Great Hall which was the main entry point.  Right Face decided to escort the purple mare to the Royal Throne Room, where Celestia was wrapping up Solar Court for the day.

"Right Face?  You're escorting me?  Very well then," she stated flatly.

"If I had known you had that kind of magic at your disposal," he mused.

"I have lots of surprises, Right Face," she chortled.  "Let's not tarry, the Princess is waiting for me."

"Shall we double-time trot then?" he asked.

"Sounds like a good idea -- I could use a little exercise," she replied, offering a hint of a giggle.  The two unicorns then trotted at a brisk pace through the carpeted hallways, up four staircases, making the turns needed to arrive at the huge double-doors set with the Solar and Lunar sigils.

"Amethyst Shadow, to see her Majesty, Princess Celestia," her escort stated solemnly.  The two guardsponies stood aside and opened the doors for the purple unicorn, who was beckoned towards the throne by the Sun Goddess.

"Approach, Amethyst Shadow," the Alicorn stated sternly.  She complied with the order, bowing deeply before the throne, averting her eyes from the steely gaze that seemed to bore into her.  The purple mare seemed to sense the weight of that gaze upon her form.

"Your Majesty," she stated reverently.

"I assume you understand why I have summoned you here," the Alicorn stated flatly.

"Your Majesty, I wish to apologize for my ... poor judgment," she stated, her voice trembling slightly.

"I have also been informed you repaired Trixie's wagon, asking nothing in return.   I appreciate such gestures of kindness."

"Thank you, your Majesty -- I felt it was the least I could do," she offered.

"There is another reason why I have called you here.  You have a couple of visitors who have traveled a great distance to meet you," the Solar Princess smiled.  She raised her left fore-hoof and gestured to a far wall, magically opening a door.  Two unicorns entered the throne room through the opened door and Amethyst gasped in surprise at seeing them.  Upon seeing her, they galloped to her as quickly as they could.

"MAMA!!" they cried in unison.

"EJ?  Stephanie?  Oh ... my ... Celestia!  How ... did ..."

"Mama, if I may," Stephanie began.  "I go by the name of Galaxy now.  Please don't call me Stephanie any more," she pleaded.

"That was the name I gave you," the purple mare stated.  "You've grown so big!  How long has it been?"

"Twenty years, Mama," EJ stated sullenly.  "We never thought we'd EVER see you again!"

"How did you get here?" asked Amethyst.

"Galaxy used a time travel spell while I was holding her.  Twilight had been visited by a future version of herself and said that the time travel spell was in the Starswirl the Bearded Wing of the Canterlot Archives," her son stated flatly.

The purple mare shook her head sadly and chuckled softly.  "That's how I got here," she replied, her words tinged by a sad chuckling.  "So tell me, Steph -- I mean, Galaxy -- what has happened in those twenty years?  I see you got your cutie mark."  The cutie mark in question was a nearly white image of a four-armed spiral galaxy which nearly covered her entire flank area on both flanks.

"Yeah, Princess Luna was thrilled that I was so into stargazing, and she was quite proud to have me as her protege.  I have learned some very powerful magic and I practice every day.  I also research magic in the Canterlot Archives as well, but it was when I was visiting with Twilight that her future self stopped by.  Mama, why do you look so much like me?"

"I don't know if Twilight ever told you, but I was in a copy of her body when I gave birth to you.  I had actually been transformed into a human for a couple of weeks before I met up with Princess Celestia -- Galaxy, this is a long story, one which I will tell you when I have more time."

"Mama, it's time for you to come home," EJ stated firmly.

"But ... but ... I have developed friendships HERE!" Amethyst protested.  "Besides, how am I supposed to return to ... wherever it is YOU came from?  If twenty years have passed in that universe ..."

"I have mastered time travel," her daughter stated flatly.  "I have spent the past five years researching everything I possibly could on Starswirl's time travel spells, improving my efficiency and strength so I could find you, mama.  I can take all three of us back home!"

"Princess Celestia?  As much as I would like to stay here, I guess I can't.  Please give Twilight and the others my best wishes," Amethyst stated sadly, a tear trickling from her eye.

"Mama, it's time to come home.  We have missed you so much!" EJ said, his voice nearly cracking with his emotion.

"Fare well, Amethyst, EJ, Stephanie.  Give my counterpart my greetings," the Sun Goddess stated, smiling warmly.

The three unicorns gathered into a group hug and Stephanie cast her spell, enveloping all three of them in her dark purple aura.  Her horn glowed with four separate auras, each one paler than the first.  A rune circle appeared beneath them, glowing white with astonishing levels of magical energy as her eyes went full white, then the four auras around her horn turned a brilliant white.  Celestia had to shield her eyes from the brilliance as Stephanie completed her spell.  The three of them then blinked out, leaving the Alicorn seated on her throne, who smiled softly as they vanished.

-------------------------------

The three of them reappeared before the Golden Oaks Library.  The tree had grown a bit taller and larger over the years, but still served as the Ponyville Library.  Amethyst broke the hug and knocked on the door to the library.  A considerably larger dragon answered the door, standing about half a head taller than the purple mare.

"Spike!  You've grown up!" Amethyst smiled.  The dragon rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

"Twilight!  Twilight!  Come quick!  Amethyst is BACK!" he shouted up the stairs.  A slow tromping was heard as the librarian slowly made her way down the stairs.  She took a few moments to trot through the front door.  Upon seeing her old housemate, she broke into a grin and gave the purple mare a tight hug.  The hug was returned with her full intensity.

"Oh, my ... Twilight .. I'm so sorry!" the purple mare stated, another tear trickling from her eye.  "How old are you now?  I'm so sorry, please forgive me, Twi."

"Well, Ammy -- if my memory serves me correctly, I'll be celebrating my 47th birthday in about three months.  You've got a lot of catching up to do -- and while you've been away, your daughter has been in charge of the library.  I'm now an emeritus librarian, even though it's still my home as well," the lavender mare stated.  Her mane and tail had streaks of grey in them and her face had lines and creases associated with middle age.

"EJ?  What have you been doing?"

"Well, I have to get back to the Castle as soon as possible.  I was given leave for today, but the train takes a bit longer these days.  It's almost never on time, either.  Anyway, I've been promoted to second in command of the Royal Guard, and have my eyes on the Captain's position.  Shining Armor has been such a help to me, I'm deeply in his debt for his advice!"

"What about Pinkie Pie?"

"Well, why not head over to Sugarcube Corner and find out for yourself, Ammy?" asked Twilight.  "She's still over there, but she now manages the store and has ponies doing the baking and working the counters.  She's had to have the bakery enlarged a bit to handle the influx of new customers -- Ponyville's gotten quite a bit bigger since you left!"

--------------------------------

As the purple mare walked through Ponyville, she was astonished to see all the changes that had occurred over the past twenty years.  Her children were now about her age, and the former Cutie Mark Crusaders were now about four years older than her.  As she trotted through town, she was escorted by her children, who took the time to explain things to her.  Rainbow Dash had been accepted into the Wonderbolts, and several years later had been promoted into the lead trainer position,   She had risen through the ranks quickly and held a very high position, supervising training and promotions.  They passed by Sweet Apple Acres, the farm having expanded considerably as well.  There were a great many ponies now assisting the Apple family with their farm.  Presently, they reached the bakery.

The first change Amethyst noticed with the bakery was just how large the place had become.  Carrot and Cup Cake, as the owners of the bakery, had promoted Pinkie Pie to lead supervisor, in charge of making sure everything was done correctly, accounting and employment.  There were five counters, laden with baked goods along with quite a good number of tables with various ponies seated, enjoying their purchases.  Occasionally, a pony of one sort or another would enter from the kitchen and restock a particular item that had sold out.  Business was brisk, to say the least.  Pinkie Pie came out from the kitchen shortly after she had been told of a new visitor.

"Wow!  Ammy!  Is it really you?  It's been soooooo long!" the pink pony exclaimed, cantering over to meet the purple mare in a warm hug.  She had lost her bouncing quality and her mane and tail wasn't quite as poofy as the purple mare remembered, then spotted quite a few grey strands of hair in her mane and tail.  Her face showed some lines and creases as well.  Her coat had dulled a little, but this was only noticeable upon close inspection.

"Pinkie Pie.  It's good to see you again, though it has been -- wait a minute.  I just met you at the train station -- oh, that was the other timeline.  I am so sorry, Pinkie -- I never meant to be gone that long.  I was wanting to find a way back, but got sidetracked by Nightmare Moon," the purple mare stated sadly as she hung her head.

"Whoa!  What happened?"

"I met up with you and Twilight and the others -- you all used the Elements of Harmony on her to banish the Nightmare and restore Luna," Amethyst replied.

"I remember we faced her a looooooong time ago, but I don't remember you from that time -- you said -- another timeline?  Twilight has told me about time travel and alternate universes, but I never thought I'd meet a pony who did that!  But you're here now!  We need to throw you a welcome back party!"

"I would be honored, Pinkie," the purple mare said softly.  "But I need to catch up on lost time -- maybe later, okay?"

"Okie dokie lokie," she said somewhat sullenly.  "But don't make me wait too long!" she giggled and returned to the kitchen.

"How much for a cupcake?" the purple mare asked the pony behind a counter with many different cupcakes on display.

"Fifty bits, ma'am," came the response.

"Whoa, I remember them only costing three bits -- has inflation hit that hard?"

"Don't worry, mama, I've got it," EJ stated, placing a card on the counter.

"EJ!  We give a discount to the Royal Guard!  For you, it's only forty bits!" the pony behind the counter smiled, hoofing a chocolate cupcake and swiping the card through a reader on the side of the register.  EJ took the cupcake in his light grey aura and offered it to his mother, who took it in her light blue aura and lightly nibbled on it.

"Doesn't taste as good as I remember them," Amethyst mused.  "Needs a little more sugar."

"Mama, please!  Sugarcube Corner has the best cupcakes in Equestria!" her daughter said, some exasperation in her voice.  The three of them left the bakery and trotted a little further down the street, encountering more ponies on the way to Rarity's boutique -- except that it was no longer being run by the fashionista, who had relocated to Canterlot about a dozen years ago.  Carousel Boutique was now being run by Sweetie Belle, who had apprenticed under Rarity until she had become as practiced at fashion as her sister.  The purple mare rang the doorbell.

"Mama, Sweetie Belle might be too busy today," her daughter stated.  "If you're looking for Rarity, she's in Canterlot these days."

"Coming, coming, hold your horses!" came a female voice from inside the boutique.  An alabaster unicorn mare with green eyes and a bouncy light purple and pink mane and tail answered the door.  Her cutie mark was a symbol representing an eighth-note along with a silver-colored bell.  Upon seeing the dark purple mare along with her full-grown children, she gave a big smile and gave Amethyst a big hug.  "Ammy!  I was wondering when you were going to come back!  It's been so long!  What have you been doing?"

"Sweetie Belle -- I see you're running this shop now.  Believe it or not, I've only been gone for about four weeks -- time has a way of doing crazy things when you teleport through it willy-nilly," the purple mare stated.

"Four weeks?!  It's been twenty YEARS!" the alabaster mare exclaimed in exasperation.

"For you, yes -- for me, it's been four weeks.  Where I was, you were still a little filly without her cutie mark."

Sweetie involuntarily craned her neck around to double-check her flanks, making sure she still had her cutie mark, exhaling a little in relief.  "What do you mean?"

"I cast a time-travel spell -- that's how Galaxy managed to bring me back here.  I had no idea that THAT much time would pass in my absence.  I am so sorry, Sweetie -- I hope to travel to Canterlot to meet up with Princess Celestia tomorrow."

"My advice to you is to be careful," the alabaster mare said softly, casting her eyes nervously left and right.  "Celestia is not too keen on visitors any more."

"Doesn't Twilight visit her every once in awhile?"

"Yes, she does, but only once a year," EJ interrupted.  "I have to be going back later on today, so if you'd like, you may join me on the train, mama."

"That sounds like a good idea.  I just hope Princess Celestia isn't too upset with me for using one of Starswirl's spells," the purple mare mused.

"Mama, I have some experience with Celestia as well.  She was the one who allowed me to peruse Starswirl's works at great length, on the condition I find you and return you to this timeline.  I believe she might be happy to see you, though she might express some disappointment with your, um, hasty action some twenty years ago or thereabouts," Galaxy explained.

"That doesn't sound too reassuring," Amethyst stated, a worried expression on her face.  "But I suppose the Princess would eventually request my presence at some point anyway, so I guess we ought to head towards the train station."

"Mama, we still have at least four hours before the train leaves for Canterlot," her daughter stated.  "I am sure you would like to get a little more reacquainted with everypony here."

"Okay, Steph -- Galaxy, sorry.  I need to get used to your new name," the purple mare stated, her daughter giving her a stern look.  "Look, Galaxy, as I said before, it's only been four weeks for me, even though it's been twenty years for you.  You were still a little filly when I left you, and I'm very truly sorry for having abandoned you like that when you needed me to be there for you.  Please, please forgive me."

Mother and daughter hugged once again, a single tear trickling down the mother's left cheek.

"I promise you I will never leave you like that again," Amethyst stated softly.  Galaxy hugged her a little more tightly.

"Mama, how about one for me as well?" asked EJ.

"Of course, EJ, I can't forget about you!" she smiled and wrapped her fore-legs around his withers, holding him tightly.  "You'll always be my little baby, even if you're a little bigger than me," she giggled.  He blushed slightly at being called that.

"Come on, mama, how old are you?" he asked in a chiding tone.

"You know, I never asked Princess Celestia how old she started me off at -- I had been in a male human body immediately before she transformed me into my current form, and that was pretty close to four years ago -- if I had to guess, I'd say I'm probably close to 25 years old in this body.  Remind me to ask the Princess that question so I'll have a definitive answer," the purple mare explained.

"Mama, that would make me a couple years older than you!" he exclaimed incredulously.  Her daughter gave her a very quizzical look.

"Mama, what does a human look like?" she asked.

"I'm surprised Twilight hasn't told you, or the Princess for that matter.  Humans walk around on two legs, they are pretty much hairless except for what they have atop their heads -- Galaxy, I will explain my story to you when we're on that train ride later on -- it's very lengthy, but I'm sure you'd probably want to know your origin, wouldn't you?"

"Mama, you have twenty years of history to catch up on -- and yes, I would definitely like to know my origin!  There's so much I want to know that you would know about me!" her daughter exclaimed, almost excitedly.  "I want to know what you did while you were in that other timeline!"

"Those are stories which should also wait for our train ride," Amethyst stated.  "I had a pretty good time there and I was in the process of rebuilding the friendships I had made while here in this timeline.  Unfortunately, since it's been twenty years here, I'm afraid almost everypony will have forgotten about me, save for the ponies who knew me best.  So what about Fluttershy?"

"Um, mama -- what do you remember about her?" asked her daughter.

"I remember her living in a small cottage on the edge of the Everfree Forest, or about half-way between Ponyville and the forest.  She was very kind, gentle, and extremely shy -- even scared of her own shadow.  She had  a way with animals and allowed a great many of them to maintain residence inside her cottage," Amethyst mused.  "We never really talked that much, as I was usually quite busy in the Library helping out Twilight."

"Well, mama, it's just that -- Fluttershy became a recluse about twelve years ago after Angel Bunny passed.  That little bunny of hers was a very special friend to her.  After he died, she retreated inside herself, never seeming quite the same as before.  We tried to cheer her up as best we could, even going so far as to bring her another pet bunny, but it just wasn't the same.  I don't even know if Fluttershy wants anypony to stop by her cottage any more," Galaxy stated softly.

"Maybe I can cheer her up -- perhaps seeing me might make her happy once again," the purple mare mused.

"It's worth a try, mama -- let's go!"

The three of them trotted back through town, making their way towards Fluttershy's cottage, greeting ponies as they went.  The cobblestones had grown quite weathered over the years, and many of them needed replacing.  Amethyst commented on this and was informed that one of the previous mayors had embezzled funds from the coffers for personal use, leaving the town indebted to the tune of ten million bits, a sum which would have to be recovered through property taxes and municipal sales taxes.  When told who this crooked mayor was, the dark purple mare burst into laughter.

"You mean to tell me that the ponies in this town voted for Flim and Flam?!" she asked incredulously.  "I thought they'd have learned their lesson from the time those two tried peddling low-quality cider!"

"Sometimes memories are short," EJ stated, some contempt creeping into his voice upon recalling that unfortunate memory.

The three of them trotted out of town on the path leading towards the Everfree, chatting a little further on events that had happened during Amethyst's long absence.  Presently they arrived at Fluttershy's cottage.  Normally the timid pegasus would be tending to her animals, cooing to them, making them happy, which in turn made her happy.  The years had not been kind to the cottage, the flora growing wild around it and any animals that happened by the cottage ventured nowhere near it.  The roof appeared to sag in the center, causing the purple mare to wonder aloud how much longer it would be before it finally caved in.  She knocked on the door three times with her right fore-hoof.

"Go away," came a faint voice from inside.

"Fluttershy!  It's me, Amethyst Shadow!" the purple mare practically shouted at the door.  A furious flapping of wings could be heard from inside the cottage, then the front door burst open as the yellow pegasus hurried outside to greet her friend.

"Oh, Ammy!  It's been so long!" she cried, embracing the purple mare tightly and sobbing into her chest.  "I thought you were gone forever!  Why have you been gone so long?"

"Shh, Flutters, I'm here now -- I won't be leaving this timeline any more -- I've been told it's been twenty years since the day I left with Twilight for Canterlot Castle to visit the Archives.  I cast one of Starswirl's spells and found myself in a different timeline.  I was trying to find a way back, but Galaxy found me first."

"Ammy, you need to tell me everything that happened!" the pegasus exclaimed, almost excitedly.

"I don't know if I have enough time to tell you everything, but what I can tell you is that I was gone for only four weeks in that other timeline -- one where I got to see Nightmare Moon in the flesh and watched you and the others use the Elements of Harmony on her, as well as seeing Gilda roar in your face," explained Amethyst.

"Gilda.  Hmm.  Haven't seen her in a very long time.  I wonder whatever happened to her," mused the pegasus.

"Fluttershy, Gilda died in that war between the Griffons and Zebras about eight years ago," EJ stated flatly.  "I'm sorry."

"Oh.  I suppose I should get out more often -- things haven't been the same since my little Angel Bunny died," the pegasus said sadly, a tear trickling down her right cheek upon reminding herself of that tragedy.

"Is there anything I can do to help you, Fluttershy?" asked Amethyst.

"I'm glad to see you're back, Ammy -- but I would appreciate it if you would stop by more often and talk to me.  I get so lonely -- my animals left me a long time ago, and I just don't seem to have it in me anymore to take another pet."  The years had not been kind to the pegasus, either, as she appeared quite gaunt.

"Um, Flutters, it looks like you haven't been eating much -- if I had some money, I would buy you some food.  I'm supposed to be going to Canterlot to meet with the Princess, but I will return as soon as I can.  There is so much for me to catch up on, and I am so sorry for leaving all of you behind like that."

"Okay, Ammy, but please hurry!  I need somepony to keep me company, and Rainbow's been so busy in Cloudsdale -- it's like she doesn't even want to visit me anymore.

"I promise you I will return as soon as I can," the purple mare stated confidently.  "EJ, Galaxy?  Do we have enough time to stop by the farm and say hi to Applejack?"

"It'll have to be quick, mama -- the train will be here in a couple of hours," the grey stallion replied.  "I cannot miss that train, either.  I have only been given today on leave, and my duties are quite important."

"Okay, then, let's go!" the purple mare smiled.

The trek to the farm took about fifteen minutes, but Amethyst was struck by just how large the farm had become.  She saw a good number of ponies in the orchards, bucking trees.  She saw several more ponies plowing various fields.  She saw a large number of cows in another penned-off area.  She then spotted a red stallion with a dirty-blonde mane and tail, a stalk of wheat in his mouth.

"Big MacIntosh!  Hey!  Big Mac!" the purple mare shouted to him.  He turned his head to glance at the mare who called his name, and upon seeing her smiled and trotted slowly to meet the three unicorns.

"Howdy, there, Ammy!  Been a while," he stated flatly.  He had gained quite a bit of weight and the yoke he wore seemed to be weighing him down considerably.

"I know, Mac.  Crazy thing is, it's only been four weeks for me, even though it's been twenty years for you.  I'm sorry to have left without saying good-bye to all of you."

"That's okay, Ammy.  Ya wanna talk ta mah sis?"

"Yes, Mac, I'd like that very much!" the purple mare grinned.  The stallion entered the farmhouse and the three waited for a good ten minutes before the orange earth pony exited the front door.  Upon seeing the purple mare, she smiled very broadly and cantered to meet her in a warm hug.

"Oh, Ammy!  Ah've missed ya so much!  Why didn't ya tell me ya'd be gone fer so long?"

"AJ, I'm so sorry for leaving you like that.  I had no idea what was going to happen when I cast that spell.  Didn't Twilight tell you all what happened?"

"Yeah, she did -- but that was so long ago, it's a fuzzy memory at best.  Tell me yer not gonna leave us like that again, okay, sugarcube?"

"You have my word, AJ.  I'd like to stay and chat longer, but my son has to go back to Canterlot.  I've decided to accompany him so I may have an audience with the Princess.  I'm kind of curious to know how she'll react to seeing me for the first time in twenty years."

"Um, Ammy -- Ah'm not sure if that's such a good idea," the farmer stated apprehensively.  "She's not much fer visitors anymore."

"Yeah, I've heard that.  Even so, I feel compelled to meet her again and inform her of my travels," the purple mare stated.  "I'm sure she'll understand."

"Ah hope so, Ammy.  Be safe, fer mah sake, 'kay?"

"Sure thing, AJ.  Seeya later!"  The three unicorns then trotted back through Ponyville once again, stopping by the Bakery to pick up a few treats to take on the train ride to Canterlot, Amethyst exchanging some more pleasantries with Pinkie Pie.   The purple mare noticed the market had changed quite a bit as well, as there was a wide open area lined with storefronts where the market once stood.  Each shop had taken the place of a stall -- and Applejack's fruit stand was now occupied by a greengrocer's.  Trixie had settled down in Ponyville and was running a magic shop, dabbling in psychic readings, though this was probably a racket to help her with her finances.  The giveaway was the cutie mark sign above the door, which caught the purple mare's eye.  She decided to stop in for a moment, though EJ and Galaxy implored her that time was short.

"Welcome to Trixie's magic shop, how may I help you?" asked the azure unicorn.   The years hadn't been kind to her, either, as her aging showed a bit more prominently, her features appearing rather weathered, a scar on her left cheek.

"Trixie?  Is that you?" the purple mare asked.

"Amethyst?  Amethyst Shadow?" Trixie asked, her face breaking into a wide smile.  "Where have you been for the last twenty years?  I have missed you so much!"

"I cast a time-travel spell -- I ended up in a different universe as well.  I just wanted to stop and say hi, as we are headed to Canterlot so I can meet up with Princess Celestia."

"Um, Amethyst ... I don't want anything sad to happen to you -- Celestia's not --"

"Oh, come on, Trixie -- I've heard that from at least three ponies so far.  I think she might be happy to see me after so long, even though it's been just four weeks for me.  One of these days, I'm going to have everypony gather so I can regale them with my travels!"

"Just be careful, okay?  Be safe," she said softly.

"I will, Trixie.  Seeya later," the purple mare stated and left the shop.

"Okay, mama, no more distractions or diversions.  We have to get to the train station!" EJ stated firmly.
> 8.  Regret
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The three of them arrived at the train station with about fifteen minutes to spare.  EJ paid for the tickets, two round-trip, one one-way, and they patiently waited for the train to arrive, sitting on one of the several benches which had been provided.  Amethyst chose to sit in the fashion Lyra did, which annoyed both of her children.

"Mama, please don't sit like that!  It's ... not normal," her daughter implored, trying to avert her gaze from her mother's almost shameless display.

"Mama, there are certain things you should not do.  Sitting like that is one of them," EJ offered, shaking his head sadly.  When she failed to respond to his concern, he audibly groaned.

"Lyra used to sit like this all the time and she was never hassled about it.  Please don't forget that once upon a time, I used to be a human -- even so, I have sat like this most of the time I've been a pony," the purple mare stated flatly.  "I do what I'm comfortable with."  She tried to stare down her children, daring them to say something else.

"It's very unbecoming, mama," said EJ, glaring in disapproval.  Amethyst changed her position, but only reluctantly.  "I hope you don't sit like that on the train ride, mama," he added.

"Oy," she complained.  Fifteen minutes turned into an hour when the train finally showed up, blowing not a whistle, but a three chime air horn, which startled the purple mare.  "I haven't heard anything like that since I left Earth," she mused.

"Earth?  Is that the name of your original home world?" asked Galaxy.

"Yes, a world of humans -- I will tell you more about it while we're on the train," Amethyst replied.

The three of them boarded the train, taking seats in the front carriage.  Passenger rail traffic had decreased quite a bit over the course of twenty years, so there were only two daily trains between Ponyville and Canterlot, each with just two railcars.  The train ride actually took longer now than it did back then, which confused the dark purple mare.  During the several hours it took the train to reach Canterlot, EJ and Galaxy told Amethyst about the many other changes which had taken place and listened attentively as the purple mare told her children about her travels.

"I would have liked to have seen Nightmare Moon myself," Galaxy mused.  "I've heard terrifying stories about her."

"The only time I was worried was when she flung me across the floor of that old throne room -- that hurt -- but my adrenaline was so high, all she did was make me angry," Amethyst chuckled softly.  "Even so, I don't think I'd wanna face her again.  She was very powerful."  EJ and Galaxy nodded their heads in agreement with her statement.

"It must have taken a great deal of courage to face her down!  You got to see the Elements of Harmony work their magic for the first time in a millennium!  That must have been awesome!" EJ smiled.

"Indeed it was.  The memory is still fresh -- I also remember impressing Twilight with my use of a couple of Starswirl's special spells," the dark purple mare grinned.  "Nightmare Moon even complimented me on using one of them!"

"Whoa!  That must have been intense!" EJ exclaimed.

"Yeah, it was.  Even more so was to see Princess Luna restored after the Nightmare was banished."

The purple mare continued to regale her son and daughter with her further exploits in the other timeline, eventually announcing a serious desire to return to it.

"Not until you meet the Princess, at the very least," Galaxy implored.  "She has already instructed me to bring you to her upon your return, so you have to meet her!"

"Very well then.  I hope she isn't angry with me for what I've done," the purple mare stated somewhat dejectedly.

The rest of the train ride was uneventful, aside from the three of them having a late lunch before the train finally pulled into Canterlot's Central Station.  Amethyst was astonished to see relatively few ponies milling about waiting for this train, the once nearly-full station pretty close to empty, many of the ticket counters closed.  EJ informed his mother that the population of Canterlot had been in decline for some time, though a recent conflict had done some serious damage.

"Next stop, Vanhoover," the attendant called out.  "Boooooard!"

"Things sure have changed around here," Amethyst mused, taking in the rather bleak surroundings.  "I don't like it at all."

"Some things you'll just have to get used to, mama," EJ stated flatly.  "You don't have to like it."

"It doesn't look much like I remember it -- it's all dark and dirty now and there don't seem to be anywhere near as many ponies as I remember trotting around this city," the purple mare observed.  The three unicorns continued trotting towards the Castle, mindful of their steps.  The cobblestones looked like they had seen better days, crumbling edges of the stones making for some sharp edges and slippery surfaces making the trotting a little dangerous.  "I thought they had a maintenance group keeping up with repairs to broken stones."

"Falling tax revenue has forced cutbacks in certain areas of the budget -- street repairs have suffered as a result," EJ responded flatly.  "Equestria hasn't been free from conflict either over the past twenty years, mama."

"I'm sure the Princess will fill me in on the details, EJ.  I hope those budget cuts haven't adversely affected your paycheck."

EJ grumbled audibly.  "Mama, don't remind me, please.  I may be second in command, but even I have had to cut back on certain ... necessities."

The three reached the gates of the Castle, a lone guard standing watch.  He opened the gates upon seeing his superior and saluted sharply.  EJ returned the salute.  Upon seeing the dark purple mare, the guard did a double-take.

"Uh -- Amethyst?  Amethyst Shadow?" he asked hesitantly.  The purple mare took a moment to reflect upon seeing the teal unicorn stallion with the two-tone brown mane and tail.

"Right Face?  Really?  What has happened to you?  I am SO sorry!" she stated, smiling sadly at him.

"Twenty years is a long time, Amethyst," he replied sullenly.

"I don't know if there's anything I can do for you," she responded flatly.

"Smile for me one time, Amethyst.  Let me know you still care about me," he offered.  The dark purple mare gave him a soft smile as a single tear trickled down her right cheek.

"I am so very sorry, Right Face," she said softly.

"Come on, mama, we have to meet the Princess," Galaxy stated firmly.  "You will have time to meet with him later."

The dark purple mare followed her son and daughter as they trotted into the Castle, encountering a few Royal Guardsponies as they trotted along the corridors.  EJ split off and informed his sister and mother that he had to return to barracks and check in, giving the both of them a quick farewell, a gesture which was kindly returned as the grey stallion trotted away.  Their hoofsteps echoed loudly in the hallways and Amethyst wondered where the carpeting had gone, Galaxy explaining that it had suffered damage over the years, and that which wasn't damaged was either sold or salvaged for the Throne Room.  Mother and daughter wound their way through the Castle to the Throne Room, a single guard standing watch.

"Amethyst Shadow, to see her Majesty, Princess Celestia," the dark purple mare stated flatly.  The guard silently opened the doors for her, allowing her and her daughter into the large room.  Princess Celestia sat idly on her throne, a slightly bemused expression on her face.  The Throne Room seemed a lot darker than Amethyst remembered it and the carpeting looked soiled in certain spots.  The Alicorn seemed to be very tired as it appeared she had bags under her eyes and the colors in her mane and tail seemed to be considerably more dull and muted than she remembered.

"I've been expecting you, Amethyst.  You certainly took your time getting here," she chuckled softly.  "About twenty years, I think.  I'm disappointed in you," she stated bluntly, giving the dark purple mare a stern look, but still managed a slight smile.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply sorry for my actions," the purple mare stated effusively, bowing deeply and prostrating herself before the Alicorn.

"I did not say I was angry with you, Amethyst -- just disappointed.  So where have you been?  You have a story for me, do you not?" the Alicorn asked, giving her a small smile.

"Indeed I do, your Majesty," she stated reverently and began to tell her tale of her counterpart in the other timeline and her relatively short stay of about four weeks.  Celestia's jaw opened a bit in surprise at this news.

"I find it difficult to believe that only four weeks have passed for you -- though I suppose that anything is possible when it comes to time travel.  Now all of your friends are old, but you are still young -- younger even than your children.  How does that make you feel?"

"First of all, it makes me feel sorry for having abandoned my children the way I did.  I am disappointed in myself for acting so selfishly.  But I am also disturbed by what I have seen since my return here, and quite honestly, I would like to return to the previous timeline, if such a thing is possible," Amethyst replied.  "This is not the timeline I remember nor am I familiar with it."

"You cannot return to that other timeline, Amethyst -- although I believe you will be tempted to try, but I would strongly recommend against it.  I am certain that any attempt you make to return to that timeline will meet with disastrous results for you.  I am sorry to break the news to you like this, but you have to face the consequences of your actions -- so you must adapt to these new changes, even though you don't like them."

The purple mare lowered her head, her ears drooping to lay flat against the sides of her head.  "I am deeply sorry, your Majesty," she stated sullenly.

"There is no need to apologize to me, though I certainly hope you have learned a valuable lesson from your actions, Amethyst."

"Indeed I have, your Majesty.  If there is no further business you require of me, I believe it is time for my daughter and I to return to Ponyville."

"I would appreciate periodic updates from you, Amethyst.  Please stop by and see me sometime, it gets lonely here without my Sister," the Alicorn stated somewhat sadly.

"What has happened?  Where is Princess Luna?" asked the purple mare, stunned surprise registering on her face.

"I would rather not talk about that, Amethyst.  Please go, you have much to do.  If you need further assistance, I believe Twilight may still be able to help you -- I would recommend that be your next stop," the Alicorn stated flatly.

"EJ told me about a recent conflict here in Canterlot --" the purple mare began.

"The less said about that, the better.  I lost a significant number of my little ponies during that ... war ... and thinking about it leaves me feeling even further depressed than I already am.  I lost my Sister in that war and things have not been the same since.  Please go, I do not wish for you to see me like this," the Alicorn stated sadly.  "Please do not remind me of these matters -- I trust you to set them aside, for my sake.  We must focus on the future, not dwell on the past, though I must admit to some degree of regret and remorse for not being there with Luna."  A single tear trickled down her right cheek as her weariness seemed to have finally caught up with her.

"If there were some way I could help you, your Majesty ..." Amethyst stated, letting her words trail off as the Alicorn shook her head sadly, motioning for her to leave.

"Perhaps another time, Amethyst.  Give Twilight my warmest regards and please let her know I would appreciate a visit more frequently from her."

"Yes, Princess Celestia," she stated reverently, bowing once more before leaving the Throne Room with her daughter.

"Galaxy, please keep an eye on her for me," Celestia stated just before the doors were closed.

"Yes, Princess," came her reply behind the closed doors.  They trotted back through the Castle to take the next train back to Ponyville, though the next train wasn't due for several more hours.

"Galaxy, did she really tell you to spy on me for her?" asked Amethyst, a mix of incredulity and exasperation coloring her words.

"Celestia has always been like that, mama.  Just go with the flow, I'm not really going to spy on you, unless you do something really stupid," she giggled, eliciting a light giggle from her mother, which then turned into a questioning glare as she pondered the deeper ramifications of that statement.

"You realize, Galaxy, that I still wish to return to the timeline you took me from.  I just hope Twilight and the others managed to persuade that dragon to leave his cave," the purple mare mused.  "I don't feel comfortable here, either, and with Twilight and the others here having so many responsibilities, it means little time for me to spend with them."

"Mama, just give it a chance.  I've met with Celestia enough times to know she's telling the truth here.  I don't want to lose you a second time!"

"I understand your concern, Galaxy, but I wasn't there for you when you needed me.  I was supposed to develop a strong bond with you, and that was broken twice -- first, by Discord, who took you away from me shortly after you were born, and secondly when I selfishly cast that time-travel spell.  I want to make up for lost time, but this ... version of Equestria ... leaves me almost as depressed as the Princess.  I would like to return to the other timeline -- perhaps you might join me there?"

"Mama, my place is here!  It's what I've grown up with, it's what I'm familiar with!  I'm sorry if it doesn't meet with your approval, but you can't just run off again like you did twenty years ago!  That wouldn't be fair to me!"

"Okay, Galaxy.  I guess I'm going to have to accept what has happened and deal with it as best I can.  Can we get something to eat and perhaps stay the night here?  We have quite a bit of time before the next train for Ponyville shows up, right?"

"Mama, we don't get free food and lodging any more -- Equestria's tax revenue isn't what it once was.  Perhaps we can ask the Princess for her blessing, but I wouldn't press my luck."

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask Princess Celestia," Amethyst mused and turned around to head back to the Throne Room.

"Mama, we just came from there!  We can't go back in and ask her right after we just left!" Galaxy stated in exasperation before her mother talked with the guard pony who opened the door for her.  "Mama!  Wait!"

"Amethyst?  Was there something else?" asked the Sun Goddess, casting a quizzical glance at the purple mare.

"Yes, your Majesty.  It will be several hours before the next train to Ponyville arrives, and I was wanting to know if Galaxy and I could have dinner and sleep overnight in the Castle."

"You have my permission, Amethyst.  I'm sure you know where the Dining Hall and guest quarters are located.  You may have my blessing to have dinner and an overnight stay here.  Please make sure you leave first thing in the morning."

"Thank you, your Majesty!" the purple mare smiled, bowing deeply before turning around and leaving the Throne Room.  Galaxy stood in stunned silence, mouth agape.

"Mama, don't you think you ask too much of her Majesty?"

"There's a part of me that thinks she likes me somewhat," Amethyst grinned as the two of them trotted towards the dining hall.  The two of them passed just a few ponies on the way, exchanging quick pleasantries.  The dining hall had been changed a bit over the years, as the long table had been replaced by a much shorter one which seated only about sixteen ponies including the end chairs.  They had been given a menu, though the choices were very limited.  Amethyst settled on a salad and Galaxy chose a dandelion sandwich.  Water or tea were the only beverages to choose from.  Their food was brought to them and Amethyst was quite surprised at how small the portions were and commented rather dismissively about it.

"Mama, you should be thankful they gave you any food at all!  These are bad times now!" Galaxy responded in exasperation.

"In the timeline I left behind, the reason why I was given short portions was due to my being a little overweight," the dark purple mare mused.  "Now it's because of low tax revenue?  It's a crying shame if you ask me."

It didn't take long for them to finish eating and they were then escorted to a guest room with two twin beds.  Galaxy opted to read a book before drifting off to sleep, but her mother immediately went to bed and tried to doze off.  Sleep came fitfully to Amethyst, who dreamed about the previous timeline, wishing to return to it.

The two were woken fairly early in the morning and informed that the next Friendship Express to Ponyville would be arriving in about 30 minutes.  The two quickly took care of personal hygiene matters and cantered quickly to the train station, arriving at roughly the same time the train did.  They boarded and took seats at the front of the first carriage, with Amethyst once again sitting human-style and Galaxy glaring at her in disapproval, even going so far as to voice her displeasure with her mother for sitting in that fashion.  She relented and returned to a more pony-like posture on the bench seat.

Amethyst and Galaxy remained relatively silent for the seven hour ride back to Ponyville as the conversation they had yesterday covered pretty much everything they needed to know about what had transpired in each others' timelines.  They disembarked and headed toward the Library, meeting and greeting quite a few ponies on their way there.  Presently they reached the Library and Galaxy entered without knocking.

"Galaxy, shouldn't you knock?" her mother asked, a slight look of worry on her face.

"I'm the librarian here now, remember, mama?  Twilight's emeritus, but she covers for me in my absence.  She spends a lot of time doing research and experiments now," she explained in a matter-of-fact fashion.  Upon hearing her name, the lavender unicorn made her way down the stairs, beaming a smile upon seeing the two of them.

"So, how did it go?  Amethyst, I hope the Princess wasn't too angry with you," Twilight offered softly.

"No, she wasn't angry -- just disappointed, Twi.  What I have seen here makes me feel very depressed and I desperately want to return to the timeline I was taken from," the dark purple mare stated dejectedly.

"Mama!  I told you!  So did Princess Celestia!  You CAN'T go back!  Why do you want to?  Don't you want to be here with me?  What's wrong with this timeline?"

Amethyst hung her head sadly, a tear trickling down her right cheek.  "Galaxy, I wish I could adequately explain what is wrong with this timeline.  I do not wish to leave you behind, which is why I might ask you to accompany me to the previous timeline, but it seems to me that everything I know here is wrong.  Even Luna isn't here anymore and I find that hard to accept.  It makes me wonder if Discord succeeded in turning everypony against each other or something."

"No, that's not what happened, Ammy," Twilight said as she draped a foreleg over her former housemate's withers.  "You were gone for such a long time that events that have happened since you left have changed this place, and not for the better.  I tried to stop you from casting that spell, remember?  Yet you ignored me.  You see, that's the trouble with time travel -- you never know where or when you're going to end up, and such travel almost always ends up with the caster finding themselves in a worse place than the one they left behind.  If you try to return to your previous timeline, there are no guarantees you'll return exactly to the time you left."

"I don't think I'll ever get used to the changes here, Twi.  About the only thing I can do is merely express my regret at having cast the spell in the first place -- and perhaps hope that I might be able to make it back to the previous timeline.  I was supposed to find my own way back, not accompany my grown-up foals back to this timeline," the dark purple mare protested.  "Princess Celestia implored me to return to this timeline, even though it's not the same as the one I initially departed."

"Mama, I didn't know!  EJ and I were so happy to see you again!  We wanted you to come with us!  But now you're unhappy.  I don't know what to do about that, mama.  I'm so sorry!  I should have known better than to take you away," Galaxy said somewhat sullenly, lowering her head and ears in an apologetic gesture.

"If you could return me to the previous timeline, I would be deeply grateful.  I will make every effort to return to the timeline when you were still just a foal without her cutie mark, as close to the time Twilight and I went to the Royal Archives as possible," Amethyst declared, an expectant look on her face.

"But mama!  If I do that -- there are no guarantees I'll ever see you again!  I don't wanna lose you!  PLEASE!  Stay, just for me!" her daughter implored, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"I wish I could stay with you, Galaxy.  You know I would if I could, but this is not my timeline and you know it.  You will have to trust me on this -- I don't want to lose you either, but I absolutely must return to the previous timeline so I can get to the correct one.  If I am successful, you and I will get to spend a great many more years together than if I were simply to remain in THIS timeline.  I beg of you, Galaxy.  For me, please," Amethyst stated softly.

"Mama!  I can't do it!" she wailed, the tears starting to trickle down her cheeks.

"I think you can, Galaxy, but you don't want to.  Please, I ask that you trust me on this.  I know faith and trust can be ethereal at best, but deep down in your heart you know I'm right.  It isn't fair to me to take me from one place or time to another without giving me an opportunity to rectify my mistakes.  Galaxy, please, give me a chance to redeem myself."

Galaxy started sobbing softly and embraced her mother tightly, holding her with all her might as tears flowed freely down her cheeks, her emotions in deep disarray.  This display caused Twilight to shed a tear before she spoke up.

"Galaxy, Amethyst has a valid point.  I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if anything, you should know you still have me -- I have been like a mother to you all these years -- I even seem to recall Amethyst telling me many years ago that she was in a copy of my body when she gave birth to you.  You still call me mama, too, remember?   I believe Amethyst may actually succeed in her endeavor, so I am asking you to give her the benefit of the doubt.  Please do this for me as well," the lavender unicorn implored.

Galaxy heaved a heavy sigh of resignation and wiped the tears from her eyes.  She nuzzled her mother muzzle to muzzle as a gesture of affection before she straightened up and stood resolutely.  "Very well then.  Mama, I wish there were another way, but if I cannot change your mind about this, then I guess I have no choice.  Take my left fore-hoof, I guess we're going back," she said dejectedly as she lit her horn and concentrated her magic upon herself and her mother.   They disappeared in a blinding flash of white light before Galaxy returned alone just a few seconds later.

"It is done.  I hope she makes it back okay," she stated flatly.
> 9. Dragon Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     "Your Majesty, I have some unfortunate news," Right Face stated with a hint of trepidation.  He had galloped to the Throne Room as quickly as he could after having received the information.  Before the Solar Princess could ask him, Galaxy and Amethyst teleported into the room, turned to face the Alicorn, then Galaxy teleported away again, leaving a very baffled teal stallion and Alicorn facing an equally stunned dark purple unicorn mare.

"Amethyst Shadow.  I thought I instructed you to accompany your foals back to your original timeline," Celestia chided sharply, frowning at the mare.  Right Face glowered at her as well.

"That was the wrong timeline, your Majesty," Amethyst stated flatly.  "I have to return using my own magic, not that of my daughter."

"What happened?" Celestia asked.

"That timeline is twenty years in the future from when I left -- and that's why I have to go back by myself.  I must return to the Archives at once so I may find that spell quickly.  I apologize for the imposition, your Majesty," the mare stated reverently.  "Right Face?  I apologize for leaving you like that -- I'm really sorry."

"Don't do it again!  There will be consequences next time!" he nearly shouted at her.

"You have my word, for what it's worth," she said, lowering her head and her ears.

"What is this news, Right Face?"

"There was some trouble on that mountain near Ponyville."

"This is about that dragon, isn't it?" asked the purple mare.  "I probably should have gone with them to face it."

"And what do you think you could have done to persuade that dragon to leave its cave?" asked Celestia.

"I don't know -- I would have been there for moral support at the very least -- and if nothing else, I know a few of Starswirl's spells I could use against it.  I still think we'd better check it out to see what has happened, your Majesty."

"Right Face?  Do you bring news about the fate of my student and her new friends?"

"Yes, your Majesty.  They failed in their mission.  Do you wish to send a squadron of Royal Pony Forces to deal with it?"

"I shall address this matter personally, Right Face.  Amethyst, I must ask you to accompany me to Ponyville to ensure that Twilight and the others have not met untimely deaths."

"Yes, your Majesty," she said, bowing deeply before slowly approaching the Alicorn, who wrapped her wing around the purple mare, then teleported to the mountain cave area where Twilight and the others had attempted to persuade the dragon to leave.  The sight that greeted them was rather grim -- dried blood on the ground, bits of different colored fur, ripped saddlebags and various contents strewn on the ground.  As for the ponies themselves, there was not a trace.

"Do you suppose they might have made it back to their homes or perhaps the hospital?" Amethyst queried.  The dragon snored again, causing the mountain to shake violently.  Amethyst jumped as she had been startled by the sound and vibration.  Black smoke billowed from the cave.

"I am not certain of that, however, that will be our next stop after I have had some words with this dragon," the Alicorn stated firmly before she strode almost angrily into the cave.  A few moments passed while a conversation was taking place within the cave, the Alicorn raising her voice at the dragon's intransigence before a few brilliant flashes of white light emanated from the mouth of the cave, followed very shortly by a very frightened red dragon flying away as swiftly as he could.

"Let's check on the status of my student and her friends," she mused, wrapping a wing around the still stunned purple mare, teleporting to the Library.  The Alicorn knocked on the front door a few times before Spike finally answered.

"Princess Celestia?!  Um, can I help you, your Majesty?" the little dragon asked, bowing deeply before her.

"How is Twilight?" she asked, almost impatiently.

"I'll go get her for you, Princess," he said, running upstairs about as quickly as he could.  Twilight slowly made her way downstairs, favoring her left foreleg a bit.  Her left eye was swollen shut and a fair number of cuts and gashes were visible on her coat.  Her horn had been cracked, the top half of it missing.  Half of her teeth had been knocked out.

"Princess Celestia?  I'm sorry I failed you," the librarian stated softly.

"Twilight!" the Alicorn exclaimed as she rushed into the library to examine the lavender unicorn more closely.  "That dragon must have hurt you like this!  Perhaps I should have visited you first to ascertain the extent of the damage.  I got him to leave, but if I had known he'd done ... this to you, I wouldn't have been so lenient with him!"

"I'm more concerned for Applejack, Princess.  She was more seriously injured -- she's at the hospital.  Amethyst?  What are you doing here?  I thought you were supposed to go back to the Castle?"

"I did -- I met with my children, who are now grown -- or maybe not -- I need to return to the Archives and find the spell to travel back to my original timeline," the purple mare stated, then filled the librarian in on the rest of the details regarding her trip to the other timeline.

"What do I look like when I'm twenty years older?" asked Twilight.

"Not much different, Twi.  I kinda wish I had been there with the rest of you when this happened.  So what about Fluttershy?  She was supposed to help you, wasn't she?"

"She got scared and left us before Applejack got hurt.  We tried to get him to leave, but we failed," the lavender unicorn stated sadly as she hung her head, her ears drooping.

"I saw quite a bit of blood on the ground up there -- how bad was it?" asked Amethyst.

"That dragon thrashed us pretty good -- we were no match for him.  Princess?  Why did you send us on that mission?"

"Twilight, my faithful student, I am so very sorry for doing that.  I was under the impression that it would be another lesson in friendship, an attempt to further strengthen your bonds with the other Element Bearers.  The more all of you do together, the stronger those bonds of friendship will become.  I believe I may have miscalculated the danger this mission represented and I am very sorry for having sent you on such a dangerous mission," the Alicorn stated softly, lowering her head in an apologetic gesture.

"We were very nearly killed, Princess!  Applejack's not the only one in the hospital -- Rarity and Pinkie Pie are there as well, and Rainbow and Fluttershy are staying in their houses -- Spike has tried talking to Fluttershy, but she doesn't want to talk to anypony right now -- she's blaming herself for this accident," Twilight explained.

"I shall use some healing magic on you, Twilight -- and I will do so for the others.  Amethyst, I will take you to the Royal Archives -- and this time, you are not to leave the castle.  Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, your Majesty -- but I would appreciate being able to spend a little more time here, if possible --"

"You have done enough damage in this timeline, Amethyst.  You are confined to the Castle until further notice -- if you attempt to leave again, you will face severe punishment."
> 10. Luna Gets a Student
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Amethyst hung her head, hear ears drooping.  "Yes, your Majesty," she sighed in resignation.  She watched as the Alicorn healed Twilight's injuries and restored her horn as well.  "I would like to learn how to wield such powerful healing magic," she mused.

"I will instruct my sister to train you in these arts -- Luna will be happy to have a student under her tutelage.  I expect you to be on your best behavior around her, but I will also assign Right Face to be your chaperon.  He will accompany you wherever you go in order to ensure you try not to leave the Castle," Celestia stated firmly.

"I hope he's not going to be helping me shower," Amethyst tittered.

"He will respect your hygienic privacy -- but don't take advantage of that privacy, or he will accompany you during all times of the day and night!" the Alicorn admonished sharply.

"I don't see why I can't have a female escort," the purple mare mused.  "I would feel more comfortable --"

"Your comfort is immaterial to your requirement to return to your original timeline, Amethyst.  My patience with you wears thin and the sooner you get on your studies the better.  I shall send you back to the Castle, where you will meet up with Right Face."  The Solar Princess concentrated her magic, enveloping the dark purple mare with a golden aura, then teleported her to the Castle's main entryway.  Celestia then teleported Twilight and herself to Ponyville General Hospital in order to help the others who had been severely injured in their attempt to get the dragon to leave its cave.

------------------------------------------

The dark purple unicorn mare materialized in a flash of white light and a golden POP as Celestia's teleport spell finished, depositing her in the middle of the Great Hall entryway.  She spotted Right Face and trotted up to him, a look of determination on her face.

"So, she sent you back.  I was wondering when you'd return," the teal unicorn stallion stated flatly.

"I suspect the Princess informed you that you were to be my personal escort and that you are to accompany me during nearly all phases of my stay here in the Castle, with the exception of my personal hygiene and when I sleep," Amethyst stated firmly, maintaining a serious look on her face.

"Indeed I have, Amethyst, and it gives me no pleasure to be assigned this detail -- although I suppose it is partially my fault for allowing myself to be distracted by your charms.  Trust me when I tell you this: I will not allow you to distract me again," the teal stallion said with more than a little anger in his voice.

"Well then, let's head to the Archives.  No better time to get started than now," she replied flatly.  "I shall follow you."

"We shall trot side by side, Amethyst," he implored.  "If you need ink and parchment, we get those supplies first."  The two of them began trotting to a supply room to pick up the needed supplies before they were to wend their way to the Archives.

"Agreed," came her terse reply.  "By the way, it gives me no pleasure to have you as my chaperon."

Right Face gave a humorless chuckle.  "Now you see how I feel."

"I ran into an older version of you in the other timeline -- I still owe you an apology," she stated softly.

"Accepted," was his terse response.  She offered him a small smile as a response, which elicited a similar response from him.

"Perhaps there might be a way I can make it up to you," she offered.

"Perhaps," another curt response from the teal stallion.  They trotted a fair distance in silence before the stallion entered the supply room and returned with a bottle of ink, a few quills, and a sheaf of parchment.  They then started trotting towards the Archives.

"Thanks for your assistance, Right Face," she said, flashing another smile.  Her smiles seemed to soften his attitude towards her as he smiled back at her, then gave a short sigh.  "You know, perhaps I was wrong about you."

"In what way?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"About you not being my type," she said, a slight giggle escaping her lips.

"Don't get my hopes up," he admonished.

"I'm not trying to curry favor or ingratiate myself, I'm just offering an opinion, and I'm also genuinely trying to be nice to you, since I acted so poorly last time around.  I don't want to go through life making enemies when it's not needed," she said softly.

"Understood.  I want you to know that what you did to me last time around caused me a great deal of trouble and a demotion as well, so I am still a bit upset with you about it."

"I am truly sorry about that, Right Face.  I will try to make it up to you as best I can," she offered.

"It's going to take me a few years before I can return to my former station as second in command -- and as far as achieving the top rank, I can forget about that," he said sullenly.

"I will have a few words with Princess Celestia about that if or when the time comes -- perhaps she'll understand that your failure was my fault and she'll show some leniency.  Again, I am deeply sorry for causing you such humiliation," she stated, showing genuine contrition.

"Your words probably won't carry much weight unless you can find some way to truly impress her -- I'm not holding my breath on that, but thanks for your apology anyway," he said, his words dripping resignation.  They trotted a fair distance longer in relative silence, then entered the Archives.

"Last time I was here, I was unable to find the book I needed," Amethyst declared.

"I'll help you locate it," the stallion offered.  He stayed close beside the purple mare, matching her step stride for stride.  He was determined not to let her out of his sight.

"Thanks, but you don't have to be right up on me, you know!  You can keep your eyes on me from at least a little bit further away.  I promise you, I will not leave your sight!" she chuckled.  She scanned the shelves looking for a certain book, though its title seemed to escape her immediate knowledge.  She started at the top shelf, taking books one by one and scanning through them looking for the specific spell she needed in order to return to her original timeline.  She continued skimming books and scrolls while continuing the conversation.

"I just want to make absolute certain of that, Amethyst," he said flatly, though he continued to remain very close to the purple mare's right side, his body heat causing a little discomfort for her.

"What is it about me that you find so irresistible?" she asked, flashing another smile.

"Oh, uh ... well, it's just that ... you're so ... pretty, and all ..." he stammered.  He blushed deeply in embarrassment at having been put on the spot.  She giggled in response.

"I apologize if my beauty has you so flustered," she giggled again.  "Every time I look at my reflection in a mirror, I give thanks to Princess Celestia for blessing me with such beauty -- but at one time, I was quite slender and even more beautiful than I am now.  I'd like to lose about 50 pounds or so," she mused softly.

"Please, don't lose that extra weight!  It's part of what makes you look so sexy!" he blurted.  His face went totally red as he covered his mouth with both forehooves.  "Oops."

"Ah, so it comes out!" she laughed.  "You like mares with a little meat on their bones!  Well!"  He nodded his head dumbly at having given himself away like that.  "I notice the way a number of stallions seem to train their eyes on my flanks -- don't think I haven't noticed you stealing the occasional glance my way!"

"Well, uh ... perhaps I shouldn't be admitting that, but ... yeah, you're pretty shapely," he said just barely above a mumble.

"Thank you for the compliment, Right Face.  I haven't found the specific spell yet and I'm starting to get hungry again.  I hope the Princess is okay with me taking a dinner break," the purple mare mused.

"Oh, by all means, let's get something to eat," he stated almost eagerly.  "I'm feeling kind of hungry myself."

Amethyst left the writing supplies behind on a desk as the two trotted to the dining hall to get their dinner.  It was about this time that the Solar Princess returned to the Castle after having healed Twilight and the others.  She decided to get a bite to eat in the dining hall as well and met up with the two unicorns, who were already seated at the table.

"So, Amethyst, have you made any progress in your search?" the Alicorn asked, smiling gently.

"I've scanned through quite a few books and scrolls, your Majesty, but haven't had any success yet.  There are so many books in that section -- trying to find the correct spell is like trying to find a needle in a haystack," the purple mare stated in mock exasperation.

"Perhaps you aren't looking hard enough," the Alicorn scoffed, chuckling slightly.  "I'll instruct the chefs to provide you smaller food portions -- being overweight leads to health problems."

"Your Majesty, begging your pardon, but wouldn't it be prudent to allow her to maintain her present weight?  She doesn't appear to have any noticeable health problems," Right Face opined.

"Be that as it may, I would like for all my little ponies to be at the peak of physical health, if it can be helped," she chided gently.

"So when do I get to meet with Princess Luna?" asked Amethyst.

"Ah, eager to get started on your new studies?  I admire that quality in you, Amethyst," Celestia said warmly and widened her smile a little.  "In a way, I am happy to be providing my sister with some new duties -- ever since she returned, she has been pleading with me to provide her with something interesting to do.  I believe she will make a great teacher for you."

"I am interested in meeting her -- I kinda got off on the wrong hoof with her in the other timeline, and I would like an opportunity to, if nothing else, make things right in this timeline.  I can only apologize for my behavior towards your sister in the other timeline," the purple mare stated reverently, bowing her head again.

"I appreciate your contrition and humility -- perhaps I may have been a little hasty in allowing my prejudices to color my opinion of you, Amethyst.  Even so, it is imperative you try to return to your original timeline as expeditiously as possible."

"How long may I stay here under Princess Luna's tutelage?"

"For as long as it takes for you to perfect the spell needed for you to return to your original timeline.  Even though I can cast that spell, I do not know it well enough, nor do I have the exact coordinates of your timeline -- if I were to cast that spell on you, I'm afraid you might end up far in the future or far in the past in your timeline.  Therefore, I request you waste as little time here as possible."

"Yes, your Majesty," she stated sullenly.  Food was brought to the table for them and Amethyst noticed even smaller portions than last time.  "Your Majesty?  This is not going to be enough to sate my hunger."

"You will have to make adjustments, Amethyst.  I cannot allow you to continue to remain overweight like this."

"Yes, your Majesty.  I appreciate your concern for my health, though being hungry will hamper my efforts to find the spell I need," she stated flatly.

"I will also impose an exercise regimen for you to follow -- as you lose excess weight, your energy level will increase, and your need for an excessive amount of food will also be diminished," the Alicorn stated firmly.  "It is my desire to see you healthy, trim, and fit -- do you not remember how you felt when you were first transformed into your present body?  Do you remember how full of energy you must have been?  If I'm not mistaken, I wouldn't be surprised to discover that you were so full of energy you could barely contain your excitement, am I correct in this assumption?"

"Yes, your Majesty, you are quite correct.  Upon being transformed into this body, being tall, slender, lanky -- I was happier than at any other time in my life.  I felt as though I were supercharged, able to tackle the most difficult obstacles and make short work of them.  I felt more alive, more exuberant, more jubilant -- I still have to thank you, even if you're not the same Princess as the one who transformed me -- I would like to show my appreciation all the same," the purple mare beamed.

"If you don't mind my asking, Amethyst -- how did you get a number for your cutie mark?" asked Right Face.

"I don't know if Princess Celestia is responsible for that or not -- but the number 17 is my favorite number, one I attach great significance to -- I also regard it as the luckiest, holiest, and most sacred of all numbers.  I consider it an honor to carry that number as my cutie mark," she stated wistfully.

The Princess chuckled softly for a moment, recalling Discord's action regarding Amethyst's previous explanation of her cutie mark, and her subsequent outrage upon seeing what had been done.  Amethyst glanced in Celestia's direction and frowned ever so slightly, glaring in disapproval before the Princess regained her composure, her serene smile returning to her face.  The barest hint of a blush colored her cheeks when she noticed she had been caught.  "Sorry, Amethyst, but the memory is still somewhat fresh -- amusement comes rarely for me anymore."

"Accepted, your Majesty.  I am eager to meet with your sister to get started on my new studies," the purple mare offered.

"Please give me a few moments to lower my Sun and Luna to raise her Moon.  She will be here shortly for you."  The Alicorn finished her dinner and left to perform her daily evening duties.  Amethyst and Right Face waited patiently, though the mare finished her dinner as well.  Right Face offered her some of his food, which she graciously accepted.  The ambient light changed from light to dark, though the light from the moon graced the dining hall before the lights were turned on.

"Greetings and salutations, Amethyst Shadow!  We have been instructed to take thee on as our new student!" thundered the indigo Alicorn in her Royal Canterlot Voice.

The two unicorns flinched at the booming voice.  "Princess Luna?  It is a pleasure to meet you, but would you please mind speaking in a normal tone of voice?" asked the purple mare.

"As one of thy rulers, we are required to maintain this speaking volume!"

"It makes my ears bleed, your Majesty.  Please, for the sake of my hearing, may we continue this conversation in a normal tone?  My hearing is quite sensitive and I would like to prevent permanent hearing loss if I can help it."

"Very well then.  We shall respect thine request as best we can.  Please, thou may call us Luna.  Far too long has it been since we last had a student assigned to us," she smiled.

"Luna, I am eager to get started on new studies with you -- though I have been scouring the Starswirl Wing of the Archives in an attempt to find a spell which can return me to my original timeline.  I trust your sister has told you about me?"

"Verily, Amethyst, we haven't been told much, other than thou hast traveled through time to reach this world.  We are curious to know how thou were able to cast such an advanced spell," mused Luna.

The purple mare related her earlier story of visiting the Archives with Twilight and stumbled across the spell almost by accident, then cast the spell as an experiment.  Luna asked her about her origin and she began her tale.  The Alicorn expressed surprise at many of the details, though when the purple mare grew tired, she was only about half-way done telling her tale.  She informed the Lunar Princess that she needed some rest and would regale her with the rest of her story the following evening.  Luna gave her permission to leave, but also requested more time for them to be together for the sake of Amethyst's further studies.  Right Face escorted the purple mare to her bedchamber, a rather small appointment, but suitable to her needs.  She laid down to sleep, drifting off almost immediately.  The stallion stayed at her door for a few moments, then trotted to his quarters.
> 11. Amethyst Gets a Surprise Visit
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Celestia had decided to raise her Sun a bit early today and Right Face was promptly awoken by its rays.  There was a slight chill in the air, but nothing unbearably cold, though it was starting to get late enough in the year for the nights to get a little colder.  Amethyst was still asleep, and had been for a good ten hours, but was about to be awoken soon.  The Solar Princess called on Right Face and provided him with an itinerary for the dark purple mare and requested he bring her with him to the dining hall in about half an hour for breakfast.  He saluted the Alicorn and trotted quickly to her bedchamber, muttering under his breath about how far away her bedchamber was from the dining hall.  Upon reaching her bedchamber, he rapped sharply several times in order to wake her.

The dark purple unicorn groaned at the loud pounding at her door.  "Okay, okay, I'm coming!" she shouted.  "It's too early to be getting up!  I just laid down, what, about four hours ago?"

"That doesn't matter.  Her Majesty, Princess Celestia commands you to meet in the Royal Dining Hall," he stated firmly.  "Let us make haste, we have little time."

She rose to her hooves and slowly trotted to the door, opening it with her magic to reveal a rather irritated teal stallion who glowered at her.  "Let's go, Amethyst."

"I would like to freshen up first," she insisted.

"That can wait for later.  I have an itinerary for you today, and we are to adhere to it as much as possible.  Breakfast is first and we have about fifteen minutes to get to the dining hall -- just about enough time for us to make it there if we trot quickly.  We must leave NOW."

"Very well then, Right Face," she said almost glumly as she started down the corridor, leaving the stallion behind.  He quickly caught up to her and voiced his displeasure.

"There's no need for you to leave me behind, Amethyst.  We are supposed to travel together," he insisted, trotting alongside the mare and giving her a rather stern look.  She flashed a weary smile, which he did not return.  They trotted in relative silence to the dining hall and took seats near Celestia's end, the Alicorn already having taken her chair.  Her expression seemed to be unreadable, though she was smiling cryptically.

"Ah, good.  I have been expecting you, Amethyst.  Your daughter has returned once again," she said softly.  A medium purple unicorn mare with a silvery-white mane and tail trotted to meet the pair.

"Mama, I know you're probably going to be upset with me, but I couldn't bear to be without you," she offered, a warm smile on her face as she was once again reunited with her mother.

"Stephanie Galaxy Sparkle!  I thought you said you were going to stay behind -- what about the library?  What about your brother?" the dark purple mare asked in exasperation.

"Twilight can handle the library and EJ is still in the Castle -- he can take care of himself, he's not a little colt any more, you know?"

"Princess Celestia, are you okay with having my daughter stay here with me?" asked Amethyst.  "If I had known you were returning, I would have freshened up before coming here."

"Galaxy is welcome to stay here in the Castle with you, Amethyst -- she has informed me that she is willing to act as a surrogate chaperon for you.  Right Face, you are relieved of this detail and may return to barracks as second in command of the Royal Guard.  Thank you for addressing this matter," the Alicorn said, smiling warmly at the teal stallion.

"Yes, your Majesty.  Thank you, your Majesty.  I will have breakfast in barracks," he stated reverently before turning to leave the dining hall.

"Please, you may enjoy your breakfast here, Right Face," she insisted.

Mother and daughter sat side-by-side at the table to Celestia's right.  Right Face sat to Celestia's left.  Food was brought to them shortly, the meal already having been chosen for Amethyst, consisting of two hay pancakes, one strip of hay bacon, one slice of toast and a small glass of orange juice.  She was informed that she could have as much water as she wanted, though it would prove small consolation.  The stallion hoofed the day's itinerary to the ersatz librarian, who held it in her silver aura and read it silently.

"Mama, you're going to do some exercises?  That sounds like fun!"

"Yeah, lots of fun.  Great," she replied sarcastically.

"Amethyst, please remember what I told you last night," the Alicorn chided.

"And I'm sure you remember what I told you about returning to my original timeline, your Majesty.  Galaxy, you can't go with me when I perfect that spell -- but since you're here, why not teach me that spell?"

"Well, it's not that simple, mama.  I know how to cast it with precision, which is why I came back -- I wanted to see you again!  But you will have to work on perfecting it yourself -- which means some practice will be needed.  It took me three years to master the spell and I wouldn't be surprised if it takes you longer.  Twilight told me she was very impressed with my intelligence and oftentimes asked me for assistance on some matters requiring practical application of certain knowledge I had acquired."

"I knew you were going to be special, Galaxy, but I had no idea," her mother mused softly.

"Indeed, your daughter is quite impressive," Celestia stated warmly.  "By the way, Amethyst, my sister is quite intrigued by your personal history and her curiosity has been piqued.  She informed me you told her something about ... video games?  She is fascinated by that information."

"Mama, video games?  Really?  I'm curious to know about that, too!" she said, her words tinged with the barest hint of excitement.

"Well, it's a great way to waste time and they don't really serve much of a constructive purpose -- I wasted so much of my earlier years playing various games, whether it was pinball, arcade video games, console games, or computer games ..."

"This sounds very interesting and all, but I need to get back to barracks," the stallion declared.  He had finished eating his breakfast and had listened attentively to the conversation.  "Amethyst, I hope to see you again soon," he said warmly, smiling gently at her.

"You know which room I'm in, you're welcome to stop by and visit whenever you like," she offered, returning his smile.

"He is kinda cute," Galaxy said, just barely above a whisper in her mother's left ear.  Amethyst blushed ever so slightly at this mention, a very brief flash of pink on her cheeks, her smile widening just a smidgen.  "Right Face?  Pleasure to finally meet you," she said, acknowledging the stallion with a smile of her own and offering her left forehoof, which he bumped with his right forehoof.

"With your permission, your Majesty, I shall return to barracks now."

"Granted, Right Face."  He saluted the Alicorn, then turned sharply on his hooves and trotted out of the dining hall.

Celestia then addressed Galaxy, smiling warmly at the librarian.  "I'm pleased you returned, Galaxy -- I believe I can trust you to keep a closer eye on your mother.  I do not wish to impugn Right Face's abilities, but I believe his infatuation with Amethyst will hamper his efficiency, which is why I reassigned him.  He will make a fine Captain someday, but he will have to mature a bit more before he is ready to take that role, most especially when I have such a dependable, reliable, and competent stallion to perform those duties."

"You mean Shining Armor, Twilight's brother," Amethyst offered softly.  "I wonder why I haven't seen him yet."

"He's been very busy training instructors with their duties," the Alicorn responded flatly.  "He is not your concern, Amethyst, though I am sure you will most likely encounter him from time to time while you're here in my Castle.  I have established your particular itinerary to ensure you interact as little as possible with the stallions in my Castle, and should Twilight or her friends return, you are to refrain from interacting with them as well.  I can't run the risk of having you inform them of possible future events."

The dark purple mare lowered her head, her expression one of disappointment.  "Your Majesty, I was hoping I'd get an opportunity to meet up with my former housemate again -- I miss her so much --"

"Regardless of that fact, Amethyst, you must not interact with her any further.  I see you have finished your breakfast.  Galaxy, please escort your mother to the exercise area I have prepared."

"Yes, Princess Celestia," she replied, smiling warmly.  "Mama, follow me, I will lead you to the yard."  As a full-grown mare, Galaxy was still about half a head shorter than her mother, who trotted almost leisurely behind the librarian.  The two went down two flights of stairs, through seven long corridors, encountering quite a few ponies along the way, though none of them knew who either of the two unicorn mares were.  Presently they arrived in a courtyard, where a Royal Guard drill sergeant waited impatiently for them.  He tapped his left rear hoof until he saw the dark purple mare.

"Amethyst Shadow!" he shouted, his voice reverberating off the walls of the courtyard.  The mare in question froze upon hearing this tone of voice -- it brought back bad memories for her, reminding her of a time long past in a former life, when she was but a military recruit who had made a few too many mistakes.  She turned tail and started trotting back to the door leading into the castle but was stopped by her daughter.

"Amethyst Shadow!!" he bellowed, his voice magically amplified a little, the sound thundering around the yard causing the mare to turn around meekly and hide her face behind her pale blue mane.  "I am Ten Hut, your exercise instructor!  You are to follow my orders without question!  You got that, Ammy?"

A spark lit up within the dark purple mare, one which lit an angry fire of resentment.  "Yes, sir!" she shouted at him.  He'd better not piss me off too much, she thought as she glared at the stallion through eyes narrowed to slits and grit her teeth.  Damn you, Celestia, why'd you have to stick me with him?

"You stand at attention when you talk to me!  You got that!?"

The mare tried to do so, drawing a deep scowl from the stallion who approached her.  "What is your major malfunction, filly?  You don't know how to stand at attention?"

"I was told I would be doing exercises, not degrading myself in front of a washed-up drill sergeant," she growled, her horn flashing a red aura.

"Oh, we got a hard case here!  You think you're tough?  Do ya?"

"I faced down Nightmare Moon, sucker!  Think you can top that?" she asked, an evil smile tracing her features.  He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't give a flying fuck who you faced down, even if it was Nightmare Moon!  You're facing me now!  If you think you can take me down, just try me!"

The dark purple mare lit her horn with three magic auras, enveloping the stallion in an attempt to crush him.  Galaxy was shocked by this action and shouted at her.  "Mama!  Stop!  I don't care how mad he makes you, you don't have the right to do this!  Release him!  NOW!"

"He dared me," she growled, her face darkened by her use of such a vicious spell.  Suddenly her aura was dispelled and another voice was heard.

"Amethyst Shadow!  You will refrain from further action against your instructor!  You have one more chance, or you will lose use of your magic!" thundered the Solar Princess, who had teleported to the courtyard to supervise Amethyst's exercise.

"Your Majesty, I am truly sorry -- but I don't take too well to being treated like a grunt recruit," the mare stated stridently, bowing deeply before the Alicorn.  "He dared me to use my magic against him."

"That's immaterial, Amethyst.  I warn you thus -- you are on very thin ice with me and I will not tolerate any more intransigence on your part.  Do I make myself clear?  You are to obey anypony I task to act as your supervisor, regardless of your opinion of whomever that may be.  Insubordination will be dealt with severely, understood?"

The dark purple mare prostrated herself before the Sun Goddess and very meekly said, "Yes, your Majesty.  Please don't take away my magic -- I would be helpless without it."

"Your daughter is still here with you -- she would be able to assist you," the Alicorn replied coldly.  "Word of your action will be relayed to my sister.  Do not displease me further, Amethyst."  She then teleported back to the Throne Room to continue the daily proceedings of Solar Court.

"Amethyst Shadow!  Your exercises will be doubled!" the stallion shouted at her, demanding her immediate attention.  She meekly trotted over to him and followed his commands as best she could, though the exercises were quite grueling as she had not regularly exercised in a very long time.  Ten Hut grew exasperated at her lack of stamina and endurance and informed her that she would continue her exercises until he was satisfied with the results.  He had her run fifty laps around the perimeter wall of the courtyard, a hundred push-ups with her forelegs, then a hundred more with her hind legs, then had her use her telekinesis to exercise her magic skill.  He put her through more exercises, the sweat dripping profusely off her coat.

Galaxy seemed almost exasperated by the intensity of the workout before Celestia returned and informed them that lunch would be served shortly.  Amethyst was informed that her food portions would be reduced further as a result of her earlier actions and that she would not be receiving more normal portions until she had redeemed herself in the Diarch's eyes.  When her meal was placed before her, she was nearly brought to tears.  She was given half of a dandelion sandwich and a glass of water.  Perhaps I might be able to persuade Luna to provide me with a little something to help out -- they're trying to starve me! she thought as she silently munched on her sandwich, doing her best to savor every bite.  Her daughter seemed concerned by this treatment and offered her a little of her food, but the Alicorn told her not to do so.

"Your mother is on punishment until I deem her worthy of respect," the Sun Goddess stated flatly.  "Do not share your food with her, Galaxy."

"I'm sorry, your Majesty!  Please --"

"Do not further provoke my ire, Amethyst," Celestia stated almost sharply.  "I already acknowledged your contrition.  You must prove yourself worthy of my admiration before your food portions are restored."

"Yes, your Majesty," she replied sullenly, not bothering to make eye contact with the Alicorn.  "What's next, more exercising?"

"No, you're going to the Archives to do more research," came a terse reply.  "Be thankful I'm allowing you entry -- I'm still quite displeased with you."
> 12. The Breakdown
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Amethyst and Galaxy trotted down to the Royal Archives in yet another attempt for the dark purple mare to locate the specific spell needed for her to get home.  The librarian asked her mother about previous attempts which had proven fruitless, though she was so preoccupied with angry thoughts that she tried to tune her out despite repeated attempts to get her attention.  Galaxy expressed exasperation at her mother's attitude.

"Mama, I need you to talk to me!  You can't keep ignoring me -- I know you're probably quite angry with what happened earlier, but this is for your own good!  Princess Celestia wouldn't force you to do anything unless there was a definite purpose behind her commands.  You don't wanna make her angrier with you now, you know?"  Several seconds of silence ensued.  "Mama!  Please talk to me!"

"It's not fair!" she shouted, though not directly at her daughter.  "It's just not fair!  This sucks!"

"Maybe you should have stayed in my timeline," the librarian mused.

"Ugh!  As bad as this situation is ..." Amethyst saw her daughter give her a rather hurt looking expression.  "Sorry, Galaxy.  I know your timeline is what it is, but ... look, I'm sorry, I can't go there or stay there, as much as you want me to.  Why'd you come back anyway?  You want me to return to that timeline?  I told you already, I have to go on my own.  When I do, I'll be waiting for you in your timeline."

"I know you might find this hard to believe, mama, but I have decided to stay here in this timeline with you.  Being reunited with you has made me happy for the first time in many years.  According to the itinerary, we're supposed to meet with Luna later on!  I can hardly wait to meet her -- Celestia told you a little bit about a war we had about six years ago in my timeline, a war that claimed Luna's life.  You have no idea what it will mean to me to meet her again!" the librarian exclaimed almost excitedly.  "I can't believe she's been assigned as your tutor!  She was my tutor for more than ten years -- you are so lucky!"

"I can't study very well on an empty stomach, Galaxy --"

"Mama, we'll figure something out.  You should have obeyed the Princess, now you see what it's gotten you," she chided.

"Right Face told me he likes mares with a little extra weight on them," Amethyst said, offering a slight chuckle.  "Yet the Princess seems to think my weight is a health hazard.  Her counterpart in the other timeline had no issue with my weight."

"Then you must have traveled across a dimensional barrier and into another universe.  The spell you need is complicated enough without having to travel to an alternate universe as well," Galaxy mused.

"So how did you make it back here?"  A look of incredulity crept across the mare's face.

"I tracked your magic signature, mama!  Yours is unique, I must say!" she giggled.

"Twilight taught me how to track the magic signatures of magic users, be they unicorn or otherwise.  That means I could travel to your universe should I desire to do so, just as you have returned to this one.  If I had been thinking clearly, I could have traced my Twilight's signature and returned to my original timeline that way, though I wasn't thinking clearly when I cast the original time travel spell," Amethyst explained.

"I would like to meet your Twilight," Galaxy mused, expressing wistfulness.

"She should be the same as your Twilight, just twenty years younger.  I'm curious to know what she did for those twenty years -- I suppose she was a surrogate mother to you most of that time.  Again, I am so sorry for leaving you behind the way I did."

"Twilight did her best, but there were so many others to help her -- but when Luna first met me, she took a quick liking to me and showed me how she arranged the constellations in the sky.  I found it so fascinating, wondering if she might allow me to craft special designs for those constellations.  She took my suggestions into consideration -- and for my twelfth birthday, she placed my designs in the night sky!  I was so thrilled, I could barely contain my excitement!"

"I suppose that's how you got your spiral galaxy cutie mark?"

"Luna had been my mentor since I was five years old, mama!  She taught me so much, as did Twilight.  I would spend many nights watching the stars with Twilight, many other nights practicing magic with Luna, reading the books in the library -- but when I was about seven, Luna informed me that there were galaxies full of stars -- that her stellar arrangements took those into account.  I marveled at this concept, contemplating the possibility of other life out there in the universe.  My fascination with galaxies full of stars led to me using magic to create images of galaxies with displays of light.  There were many ponies who were impressed by my displays, a miniature form of Luna's arrangement of constellations.  It was during one of those displays that I received my cutie mark upon having magically created perhaps the most amazing light display up to that point, one which so impressed the gathered ponies that I was given a trophy by the mayor.  I was honored, but felt the trophy was unnecessary.  Even so, I still kept it and displayed it in the library."

"I was always wanting to know about that, Galaxy.  I suppose that's how you got your pony name as well?  Is that why you don't want to be called Stephanie, even though I gave you that name?"

"You wouldn't believe the teasing I got in school for that name!  I was always asked why I didn't have a pony name and never had an answer -- if anything, mama, that's what I would have asked you!  Why didn't you give me a pony name?"

Amethyst hung her head in shame.  "Galaxy -- I never considered the possibility of abandoning you like that, and trust me, I would have eventually given you a pony name -- but when I left you, I hadn't thought of a good pony name for you, figuring that there was enough time for me to do so.  Please forgive me, I am so sorry!"

"I forgive you, mama.  Let's look for that spell, we've wasted enough time as it is!"

"You've spent a lot of time in the Archives, haven't you?  I suppose you'd be able to find the needed book or scroll?"  Amethyst asked as she selected a book at random from a shelf and opened it.  She skimmed through the book, but this one did not have the spell she needed.  She continued to look through more books as her daughter did the same.

"Mama, this Archive is arranged far differently from the one I'm familiar with -- it seems to me -- mama, there's a book missing here!  Where is it?  I know enough about this section that there's supposed to be a particular book in this space!"

"Yeah, I noticed that as well, Galaxy.  I have no idea who might have removed it -- and the ponies I know who might have it would be Celestia, Luna, or Twilight.  I seriously doubt Blueblood would want that book."

The librarian chuckled loudly at that concept.  "Hah!  Blueblood wanting a Starswirl tome?  Perhaps only to pull a prank, but definitely NOT to read!  Perhaps we should ask Twilight if she has it at the Ponyville library.  I wonder what she'd think of meeting me," she mused.

"The Twilight in this universe is just nineteen years old, Galaxy.  That makes you a few years older than her," her mother replied.

"I think we'd get along very well then!  Can we meet up with her sometime, tomorrow perhaps?"

"I think Princess Celestia would let you meet her, but because you are from a future timeline, she might not.  She seems to have a more favorable opinion of you than me, so maybe she will," Amethyst opined.

They continued to search for a couple more hours before being called to the dining hall for dinner.  Amethyst was once again given a very sparse portion of food as the Solar Princess observed them.

"Princess Celestia, I'd be interested in meeting Twilight," Galaxy mused.  She had been given a decent sized vegetable salad.

"I shall see about facilitating a meeting between you both upon her next visit to my Castle.  She is due to visit in two days' time for her private lessons with me.  Amethyst, you are not permitted to meet with her, so don't bother asking me."

"Yes, your Majesty," the dark purple mare stated sullenly, refusing to make eye contact with the Alicorn as she nibbled at her half of a sandwich.  "I suppose I couldn't ask for a whole sandwich either," she uttered, just barely above a mumble.

"You should be thankful you're getting any food at all, Amethyst," she said almost icily.  The mare continued to eat in silence, sulking in her anger but refusing to openly express her contempt for fear of further angering the Alicorn.  "I didn't hear you, Amethyst," Celestia said impatiently.

"Yes, your Majesty," the mare responded quite glumly.  She'd better be careful not to make me much angrier, she thought darkly.  But how am I supposed to defeat an Alicorn?  I'm nowhere near THAT powerful!

"You shouldn't think so loudly, Amethyst," the Alicorn mused, chuckling softly.  "You should try a little harder to conceal your anger.  I find you amusing, in an odd sort of way."

"Princess Celestia, please be a little kinder to my mama -- that exercise instructor dared her to use her magic against him.  I know it was wrong of her to do that, but -- think about her past!  She told you her history, didn't she?"

"Yes she did, Galaxy, and I'm also fully aware of what she did while she was on her home world.  She has much to atone for and she should be extremely grateful I'm even allowing her to remain here!  Have you any idea of how much blood she has on her hooves?" the Alicorn asked, eliciting a look of surprise from the librarian.

"Mama, what were you telling me and EJ about your past?  You were working on behalf of Discord?  But what you did --"

"AAAUUGH!  Enough!  Please stop reminding me of that!" the dark purple mare wailed in anguish.  "I didn't have a choice!  It was either do that or die!  Do you know how much pain I endured for that year I was running around Memphis without the use of my magic?  Do you know what it's like to scrounge for food and water, not knowing whether or not you'd survive another day?  Can you imagine what would happen if you lost your cutie mark like I did?  Have you any idea of just what was going through my mind when I was standing on that bridge, staring at the river a hundred feet below?  Do you have any idea of just how close I was to dying?" she asked, her voice cracking as she sobbed openly, the flood of emotion unleashed like a dam bursting as her tears flowed freely down her cheeks.  More words momentarily failed her as her sobbing and wailing reverberated through the dining hall.

"I'm a bad pony!  I killed five billion people!  I don't deserve to live!" she wailed, her sobs wracking her body, her chest heaving with her sorrow.  "I still have nightmares about jumping off that bridge!  The screams of those souls crying out for justice!  Justice I denied them!  Maybe I should have jumped!  Those people would still be alive!" she exclaimed through her sobbing.  She pounded her head on the table several times as she continued to wallow in despair and self-pity.

"Mama!  Please don't say such things!  If you had jumped, I wouldn't even be here!" Galaxy exclaimed as tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Galaxy -- I'm sorry for saying that -- but -- but --" Amethyst began in an attempt to comfort her daughter.  The attempt failed as her sobs renewed with fresh vigor, the memories still so painful as they played out in her mind again.  A very uncomfortable silence ensued as the dark purple mare wept, trying to silence her sobs as best she could.

Celestia shifted uncomfortably in her chair and frowned, her expression changing from one of anger to one of concern as she rose to her hooves and trotted the few steps to Amethyst's side and wrapped a wing around her.

"Amethyst, I am so sorry.  I remember you telling me and Twilight about your story, but I had no idea the pain was so extensive.  I must apologize for my harsh treatment of you and I shall make amends for that.  In return, I request you treat my staff with as much respect as you treat me.  I shall assign a new exercise instructor for you and provide you with a more lenient schedule of exercises as well as restore a more normal portion size for your nutritional needs."  She then called on the serving pony to fetch more food for the dark purple mare.

"Thank you very much, your Majesty.  I am sorry for acting the way I did, and I promise I will do my best to behave properly for you," she said in appreciation as she dried her eyes.  She sniffled a few times as she tried to push aside her sadness, though the painful memories of those dark days continued to linger, a few more tears trickling down her cheeks.
> 13. Luna Discovers Video Games
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Amethyst was brought a salad and another sandwich, this one with daisy, daffodil and dandelion.  The purple mare smiled in approval at the taste.  She was brought a small glass of red wine and gave Celestia a humble thanks in response.  It was shortly after this that Luna entered the dining hall for her breakfast.

"Tia, who might this new unicorn be?  We recognize Amethyst, but not her companion."

"Luna, I would like to introduce Stephanie Galaxy Sparkle to you --"

"LUNA!!  It's been so long!" she cried as she nearly galloped to the Alicorn, hugging her very tightly.

"Stephanie Galaxy Sparkle?  As in Twilight Sparkle?  We request that thee refrain from such displays of affection upon our royal person," she stated, using her magic to extricate the unicorn from her vise-like grip.

"I'm sorry, Luna, but it's been about six years since I last saw you!"

"Verily, We hath never seen thee before, Stephanie Galaxy Sparkle."

"Princess Luna, Galaxy -- as she prefers to be called -- is my daughter.  She has traveled from her universe to this one, backwards through time, I might add.  She is from a timeline twenty years in the future from the one I left behind, one I'm hoping to return to before too much longer," Amethyst explained.

"Thou were telling us about thy foals -- we didst not expect to see them fully matured," Luna mused, a quizzical expression on her face.

"EJ is still in the other timeline -- I wanted to be with my mama, Luna.  It makes me so happy to see you again!  You were such a wonderful mentor to me!  You have no idea what I went through after you were killed!"

"Galaxy, please explain to us what thou means by these words," the night princess implored.

"About six years ago or so, the Griffon and Minotaur kingdoms united to attack Equestria.  We fought them back and won, but the price paid was very high in ponies' lives and money spent fighting.  You were killed by a sneak attack from a griffon -- I don't know how it happened, but he must have gotten a very lucky shot," the librarian stated sadly, a tear trickling down her cheek as she recalled the incident.  "I sometimes wake up screaming at the memory when it invades my dreams."

"Rest assured, Galaxy, we shall prevent thee from experiencing such horrors in thy dreams in future nights," she offered almost stoically, wrapping a wing around the mare.  "We are pleased to know thou were our student.  We shall be happy to accept thee along with thy mother as our students!"

"Luna, I believe it is time for us to perform our duties," the solar princess stated solemnly.  "Amethyst, Galaxy, Luna shall return shortly to assist you with your studies."  The Royal Sisters trotted from the dining hall, leaving mother and daughter alone for a short while.

"Mama, I know you told me some of your past -- but I had no idea it was that painful for you!  I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"Discord took both you and EJ out of my arms shortly after I gave birth to you.  The pain of that memory is still so fresh --" the purple mare began, tears starting to well up in her eyes again.

"Mama, please don't cry!  I'm still here and if you want EJ, I can bring him as well!  I'm sure he'd be welcome here as well!" the librarian said warmly, wrapping a foreleg around her mother's withers.  "I'll help you find your way back!  I promise!"

"I know, Galaxy.  There's a part of me that wishes to stay here in this timeline, though -- and I would like to return to Ponyville and meet up with Twilight and the others.  I would like to rebuild those friendships --"

"Amethyst Shadow, Stephanie Galaxy Sparkle!" Luna exclaimed as she returned to the dining hall.

"Luna, please call me Galaxy -- I don't like being called by my full name."  Her words were tinged with a hint of resentment.

"Our apologies, Galaxy -- we were unawares of this fact.  Amethyst, thou were not finished with thy story last night.  We wishes for thou to regale us with the rest of thine tale.  The fact that thou were a human at one time piques our curiosity and we would have thou tell us what life was like as a human."

"I'd like to know about that too, mama!  It sounds really fascinating!" Galaxy exclaimed almost excitedly.

"I spent more than 47 years as a human," she stated, then began to inform her daughter and new tutor as much as she could remember from those years.  She talked about her education, her work history, her favorite music, video games she enjoyed playing, and other pastimes with which she occupied her spare time.  She talked about relationships she had and regrets over mistakes she made.  Luna expressed an interest in the video games, distracting the purple mare from continuing her tale.

"Well, it's easier for me to show you rather than tell you about them," she explained.  Using her magic, she reached into a pocket dimension and brought forth a television, game console, the needed adapters and controllers, and a portable power source.  This display elicited stunned surprise from both Luna and Galaxy.  Using more magic, Amethyst connected everything together and turned it all on, having put Grand Theft Auto III into the console.  The game began playing the opening cut scene, which baffled the two spectators.  Amethyst then proceeded to play, using her telekinesis to manipulate the controller, which in turn guided the main character of Claude Speed around.

"What is the purpose of this game?" asked Luna.

"Well, there are these hidden packages scattered around the city -- picking them up gives you a small amount of money.  It's been a long time since I last played this game, so I don't remember exactly where all those packages are.  There are a lot of other tasks to perform in this game," she explained as she used Claude to drive a car into the showroom of EZ Credit Auto Sales and steal the Banshee which sat inside the showroom.

"What is he doing now?" asked Galaxy.

"This car, called a Banshee, is one of the fastest cars in the game.  If you're trying to get around the city quickly, this is the easiest of the fast cars to get, not to mention its great handling."

"Handling?"

"That's the term used to describe how well the car rides around turns," she said as she used the car to perform a unique stunt jump.

"Why does the screen go in slow-motion like that?"

"That's one of the unique stunt jumps -- any time you perform any of them, the screen goes into a slow-motion view until the jump is finished," she stated, giggling a little as the car flipped onto its roof.  She tried to push the exit button as quickly as she could, but Claude was unable to get out of the burning car quickly enough and was killed by the explosion, only to land at the hospital on his feet once again.  She cursed her luck.

"Mama!  Language!" her daughter chided.

"I hate it when that happens -- now I have to get his weapons back," the mare grumbled.  Luna was watching with very keen interest and expressed a desire to play the game.  Amethyst offered the Alicorn the controller so she could experiment with it.  "Okay, the top button of these four here -- the one with the triangle on it -- you push that for him to get into or out of a car.  It also allows him to jump when he's on foot," she explained.

"Verily, this is most unusual," she commented.
> 14. Guitar Hero?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The night ended with Luna so completely engrossed in the video game that she very politely asked Amethyst to allow her to keep the entire setup in her bedchamber, to which the dark purple mare humbly agreed, with the stipulation she be allowed to satisfy her hunger.  Luna commented that Celestia had nearly demanded she keep a close eye on Amethyst's diet to ensure she did not gain more weight, and that she maintain a regular schedule of exercise so she could return to her original weight.

"Verily, Amethyst, I can use magic to reduce thy state of largeness, thus," the Alicorn said softly and enveloped the dark purple mare with an indigo aura.  Seconds later, the mare was returned to her original sleek and slender form and her height increased a bit more, all four of her legs became longer and slightly more slender as well.  She now stood just half a head shorter than the Alicorn and a full head or so taller than her daughter.

"Thank you so much, Luna!  This is ... amazing!" she exclaimed in joy as she examined herself in a mirror.  Galaxy simply gawped in astonishment at the change as Amethyst proceeded to gallop around excitedly, just barely able to contain her euphoria.  "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" she shouted gleefully as she jumped around in a very animated fashion.

"Mama!  Please control yourself!" the librarian implored impatiently.

"I feel like a brand new mare!  This is fantastic!" she chirped.  "You have no idea, Galaxy!  I never thought I'd be like this again!"

"We are pleased to see thy happiness, Amethyst.  Pray tell, what other games dost thou have for this console?"

"Guitar Hero," she stated, a big grin plastered on her face.  "I think you'll really like that one!  It requires a different controller, though."  She then reached into her pocket dimension to summon a guitar controller and a copy of Guitar Hero 2, placing it into the console for the Alicorn's edification.

"What are all these buttons on it for?  There are different colors," mused Luna.

"Please allow me to demonstrate for you," the purple mare stated confidently.  "I used to be able to do quite well on the expert difficulty level."  The game started up and she used her telekinesis to press the green button on the neck of the controller to start the game.  She selected Pandora for her player character, the explorer guitar, then the difficulty level of hard, just to get warmed up.

"The songs in the first set are pretty easy, but as you progress through the game, they become increasingly more difficult," Amethyst explained as she began manipulating the strum button in time with the music, pushing the corresponding buttons with the colors on the screen.

"Thou makes it look so easy," Luna mused.  "We wouldst like a turn with that."

"I recommend you start on the easy level -- that's how I started out.  It takes a lot of practice to get good at it -- so if you fail a song, don't get too upset.  Go back and redo some easier ones to build your skill."  She proceeded to set the game up on the easy difficulty for Luna.  The Alicorn's first attempts at playing this game tested Amethyst's ability to control her amusement.

"Luna, you have to push and hold the colored buttons on the left and simultaneously push the white bar on the right while holding the colored buttons down, otherwise you will miss every note," she explained.

"Mama, can I give it a try too?"

"We can take turns, though it's getting rather late.  Luna, I will retire to my room now.  You're welcome to continue playing -- but please allow my daughter to take turns playing."

"Good-night, Amethyst.  We look forward to our meeting with thee the morrow's night," the Alicorn smiled softly.  She continued playing the guitar game, allowing Galaxy a turn every so often.  The night grew very late and Galaxy trudged her way through the hallways to the room assigned to Amethyst.  A certain teal stallion had made his way to the room and was curled up beside the purple mare.  She silently closed the door and returned to Luna's bedchamber, where the Alicorn was still practicing with the guitar controller.  She could hear the Lunar Princess complaining as she had trouble with some of the harder sequences of notes, then knocked on the door.

"We art busy, Tia!  Please returneth later!" the Alicorn nearly shouted at the closed door.

"Luna, it's me, Galaxy!  I need somewhere to sleep for the night, please!"

The Alicorn opened the door with her magic, still engrossed in the game.  "Verily, Galaxy, this game confounds us greatly!  We desire to become as proficient at it as thy mother!"

"Perhaps you should ask her how much practice she put in before she became good at it -- it seems to task the telekinesis quite a bit as well," the librarian mused.  "But Luna, please, I need a place to rest!  My mama's got somepony in the bed with her already."

Luna dropped the guitar controller as she whirled around to face the medium purple mare.  "We thought Amethyst would sleep alone.  Who is the insolent pony who would dare sleep with her?" the Alicorn asked in indignation.

"Looks like a stallion named Right Face, I think.  I was hoping to share the bed with my mama, but I guess we stayed up too late playing that game."

"Very well then, Galaxy -- thou may sleep in our bed, though we request that thou not speakest of that matter."

"How much longer are you going to continue playing that game?  I cannot sleep with lights and sounds."

"We shall dismiss our playing of this game until the morrow.  We shall join thee in thy quest for sleep, Galaxy."

"Luna, it is an honor to receive such a blessing!  Thank you!" she chirped.

-------------------------------------------------

The bright morning sunlight woke Amethyst from her slumber, though she couldn't clearly remember somepony joining her the previous night.  When she turned to see who had snuggled in the bed with her, she let out a scream.

"AAAAHH!!" she cried.  This woke the teal stallion who shot to his hooves with a start.

"AAAAAHH!!" he yelled as he noticed a big difference in the dark purple mare.  "Who are you?"

"What are you doing in my bed?!  Get out of my room!  Right Face!  I told you you could see me whenever you wanted -- but I didn't give you permission to sleep with me!"

"But ... but ... I thought ..." he stammered.

"You thought wrong!  Get out!  NOW!!" she screeched.  She used her telekinesis to grab a vase off the dresser and hurl it at the stallion, who made haste to leave her room.  The vase impacted the wall next to the door, shattering into hundreds of pieces as he hurriedly exited.  "And DON'T come back!  EVER!"

"Hmph.  Who does he think he is, sneaking in here in the middle of the night and cuddling with me?" she said aloud to herself.  She trotted to the bathroom to take care of some necessary business and shower off to get ready for the new day.  Galaxy trotted to her room to meet up with her and waited on her to finish her shower.

"Mama, did you let him in last night?  I wanted to sleep with you, but he had already snuggled up to you."

"Galaxy, I did not let him in.  He must have a key to the door since I locked it last night.  I will inform Celestia about this."

A bright flash of light and a POPping sound alerted the two unicorns to somepony teleporting into the room.  "I believe I already do, Amethyst.  He will be reassigned, you have my word on that."  She paused for a moment to see what changes had occurred.  "Amethyst, I didn't think diet and exercise worked that quickly," the Solar Princess mused, chuckling slightly.

"Your sister did this for me last night, your Majesty -- trust me, I did not ask her to do this for me."

"To be honest, I don't really mind what she chooses to do, especially when it has such a beneficial result.  Your restored figure is ... quite attractive, I must say.  Perhaps I could invite you to attend the private lessons I provide my student Twilight," she mused, grinning ever so slightly.

"Your Majesty, I would be honored to meet up with your student once again, and I appreciate your generous offer," she stated reverently, bowing deeply before the Sun Goddess.

"I will still request you refrain from offering her any knowledge of future events, though.  I might also remind you to behave yourself."

"Yes, your Majesty.  I would like to request Galaxy's presence when you give Twilight her private lessons -- perhaps all three of us may take part in this learning process," she mused thoughtfully.  "By the way, I believe we were off to get breakfast, weren't we, Galaxy?"

"Yes, mama -- that's why I came here in the first place, though I also wanted to know why Right Face was sleeping with you."

"You need not worry about him any further, Amethyst.  His mistake will cost him."

"Please don't be too hard on him, your Majesty."

"Did he do anything harmful to you last night?"

"No, he just snuggled against me, that's all.  I initially thought it was my daughter who had finally decided to join me, so I was quite stunned to see that it was him instead."

"Then I shall be ... somewhat lenient with him," she replied flatly.  "However, I would request you try to avoid him in future.  Please accompany me to the dining hall for breakfast."

It was more of a command than a request as she wrapped her wings around the two and teleported them and herself to the dining hall.  Amethyst was presented with a stack of four hay pancakes and a large glass of orange juice, for which she was quite grateful and gave a sincere thanks to the Alicorn for her generosity.  Galaxy was given a similar portion, though she could not eat all of it.  She offered one of her pancakes to her mama, but she refused it as well.

"Thank you for the offer, Galaxy, but I'm not that hungry.  Four pancakes seem to have filled me up," she noted.

"Amethyst!  We art pleased to see thee once again!  Thou must assist us in the practice of the guitar game!" Luna exclaimed.  The Solar Princess turned her head and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"What is this ... guitar game?" she asked.

"Here, let me show you," the purple mare replied, pulling another complete game setup from her pocket dimension and proceeding to play the game for their edification.

"How are you so talented with this game?" asked Celestia, who expressed astonishment at her proficiency.  Luna expressed similar astonishment, even though Amethyst simply shrugged it off.

"When I was a human, I played this game for ... I don't remember how long, just that I had played in on average ... perhaps two or three hours a night, five nights a week, for about two years or so, I think.  Once I got good enough on easy, I worked my way through medium, then hard, then expert.  I wasn't able to strum fast enough or move my fingers quickly enough to get really good on expert, though I was able to get through quite a few songs on that difficulty level."

She continued to play a few more songs as the Royal Sisters and her daughter watched with rapt attention.  Celestia seemed to object to some of the music choices, though she liked some of them as well.  Luna teleported the other setup and began playing hers as well.  She complained about the guitar controller not working properly.

"Here, let me switch them," Amethyst offered, unplugging her controller and Luna's and exchanging the controllers.  Upon plugging in Luna's guitar controller, she noticed it had been damaged.  "Did you drop this guitar or fling it in anger?"

"Verily, Amethyst, thy daughter informed us of thy night visitor, surprising us, which caused the accident," the Lunar Princess said softly, her head bowed a little.

"I believe I can fix it, though," the purple mare mused, enveloping the broken controller with a light purple aura, mending it and the electronic circuit board inside the controller.  She tried playing again, smiling confidently at having successfully repaired the broken controller.  "Galaxy, would you like to play for a little while?  I'll change the difficulty to easy for you."

The Solar Princess cleared her throat to get their attention.  "I believe you have other work to do, Luna.  You should not waste your time with such frivolities."

"Tia, we sincerely request that we be allowed to retain possession of this game so that we may play it in our spare time."

"You should ask Amethyst -- I believe it belongs to her."

"Your Majesty, I gave it to her last night -- it's quite all right with me if she keeps it," she offered.

"Very well then, Amethyst.  Luna, I don't mind you playing this game every once in awhile, though there are more important matters to attend to.  Are you following the itinerary I provided you for teaching Amethyst new magic?"

"Tia, it has only been two days since we were assigned the duties thou has requested of us.  We felt it necessary to discover more about our new students."

"So you are taking Galaxy as a student as well?  Excellent, Luna.  Just remember, their studies are more important than your proficiency with that game."

"We will keep this in mind, Tia."

"Please do so, Luna, for my sake.  Amethyst, Galaxy, I have to attend Solar Court.  I suggest you use this time to return to the Archives so you may continue your research."  She then teleported to the Throne Room to proceed with the day's business, though her weariness at having to carry out these obligations had become evident.

Luna teleported herself and both game set-ups to her bedchamber and resumed practicing as Amethyst and Galaxy trotted back down to the Archives for another attempt to find that elusive time travel spell.
> 15. Amethyst Starts Up a Business
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

   A few more days had passed, though Amethyst and Galaxy had still not found the needed spell.  Their days were a mix of study with Luna, research in the Archives, and some exercises between meals.  Luna continued practicing with the game, though only sparingly.  Twilight had visited with Celestia and was quite impressed to see Galaxy.  The resemblance between the two librarians was remarkable -- even causing the Solar Princess to blink in surprise a couple of times.

Twilight's "private lessons" were exactly that -- private.  Amethyst and Galaxy were escorted to the dining hall to wait until her lesson was finished, even though they had been promised instruction from the Alicorn.  After Twilight's lesson was finished, the two were escorted back to Celestia's bedchamber, where they were provided a lesson in magic.  They were quite impressed, as they were taught new magic they'd never learned before.  Galaxy expressed a degree of astonishment at the complexity of the magic involved, stating that even her efforts to study Starswirl's magic had not provided her with the purview under which this new magic was categorized.  Celestia explained that she was in the process of teaching what was once described as forbidden magic and that it was only to be used in dire circumstances.

The Solar Princess requested a progress report from Amethyst, who responded by hanging her head and explaining that there was a certain book in the Archives which had gone missing, and that there was a possibility that the missing book contained the spell needed to return.  Celestia then offered to allow the dark purple mare to search her private collection, though she expressed some reservation about doing so.

"There are certain tomes which contain very powerful spells -- some of which I don't want even Twilight to learn until the time she is ready.  I shall supervise your search through my collection," she had advised.

Amethyst offered sincere gratitude for her offer and the search began immediately.  The Solar Princess' private library was nearly as comprehensive as the Starswirl wing of the Archive, so this search was going to be time consuming.

"I can only offer you an hour per day to search my collection," Celestia stated.  "So during your stay here, you shall need to seek employment in order to repay the treasury for your room and board.  What do you propose?"

"Have you heard of a food called pizza?  I was thinking about starting up a pizza business," Amethyst mused.

"My chefs bake it every once in awhile, though I don't particularly care for it," the Alicorn said flatly.

"The pizza where I come from is not very good," Galaxy offered.

"They probably don't know how to make it right," Amethyst chuckled.  "I know of a few recipes for sauce and dough -- I need a good cheese to use as a base topping.  I recall a few certain recipes for meat toppings, though I know --"

"Mama!  Meat is forbidden!" Galaxy exclaimed in indignation.

"Please continue, Amethyst.  I am intrigued," the Alicorn offered.

"What I was going to say is that vegetable protein can be used as a meat substitute, and can be flavored in such a way as to simulate the specific spicy taste I can slightly recall from my time as a human.  I may not be able to accurately replicate the flavor, but I will give it my best try.  Other than that, if I may use your kitchen, your Majesty?" the dark purple mare asked, giving a quizzical glance at the Solar Princess.  She nodded her head and motioned for the two unicorns to follow her to the kitchen behind the dining hall.

Once there, Amethyst checked the cabinets and pantry for ingredients.  "Please have your best chef prepare a pizza so that I may taste the quality."

Celestia instructed her top chef to bake a pizza.  About 30 minutes later, it was brought out.  Amethyst was struck by the initial appearance, most notably the lack of cheese.

"This is not pizza," she stated contemptibly upon first glance.  She took a slice and bit into it, immediately spitting it out.  "This is definitely NOT pizza.  I don't know what your chefs have been taught about making pizza, but without cheese and a zesty sauce -- the dough isn't even fully cooked," she complained.  "Let me show you how this is done."

Amethyst then proceeded to add several spices to the sauce used, found some white cheese, and thinned out the dough used for the pizza.  Applying a layer of the new sauce formula and topping it with shredded cheese, she cooked it at a higher temperature for half as long.  She removed the finished product and sliced it, offering a slice to her daughter and the Sun Goddess, who gave it a tentative bite, then gobbled it up, along with the rest of the pizza.

"If you can provide us with food like this on a regular basis, Amethyst, I believe I can make special exceptions for your stay here," the Alicorn stated warmly, giving her a big smile.

"Mama!  This is -- where did you learn how to make food like this?  Please let me have some more!" Galaxy exclaimed in astonishment.

The dark purple mare found herself becoming very busy making and baking lots of pizza for the entire staff, teaching the chefs how to make it properly.  When the entire support staff of the castle was introduced to it, they too were astonished by the tastiness.  Luna herself demanded as much as she could get her hooves on as well!

"With your permission, your Majesty, I would like to open a business selling pizza to the ponies of Canterlot," Amethyst stated reverently.

"But of course, Amethyst!  I shall make arrangements for a storefront for you in a good location.  What name do you propose for your business?"

"I plan on calling it 'PD7 Pizza'," she replied solemnly.

"What does PD7 indicate?" the Alicorn asked, giving a slightly quizzical glance.

"The name I had originally intended to call myself in my new form was Purple Dix-Sept, with the nickname of PD7 -- but Twilight stated that that sounded like a dumb name.  Even so, I think it would make for a catchy business name."

"I shall approve the necessary funding, though I shall request a percentage of the profits for tax purposes as well as paying off the loan I am granting you for your initial start up.  I should also like to sample your product once you have established your business in earnest."

"Thank you very much, your Majesty!" the purple mare grinned.
> 16.  Nothing Succeeds Like Success
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The storefront for PD7 Pizza was located near the market section of Canterlot and not too far away from the train station.  Ponies trotting from one to the other were virtually guaranteed to pass the pizzeria -- and by extension, get a good whiff of the aroma emanating from it, thus causing their mouths to water every time they passed it by!  Amethyst was running out of food on a daily basis and was forced to enlarge her cooler so it could hold more cold product.  She had been forced to hire some ponies to help with preparation, oven tending, order taking, store cleaning, and the occasional delivery.

Within a month, the pizzeria was doing quite well, making a healthy profit daily.  A logo had been registered and boxes were now being printed with purple ink and a pizza-shaped logo bearing the company name.  The Solar Princess would stop by every day to check up on Amethyst to see how business was faring as well as taking a couple of pizzas back to the castle.

"Your Majesty, don't your chefs make enough pizza for you?" the purple mare queried.

"Your pizza tastes better," the Alicorn replied, smiling warmly.  "Consider these part of your repayment of the loan I gave you for your start-up.  By the way, your daughter is progressing quite nicely with her instruction -- she seems to be even more magically talented than Twilight, which amazes me."

"I never found out who her biological father was, your Majesty.  Is there a possibility you might be able to conduct a test on your royal guard unicorns to find out which one her father is?  I only know it was a guard, and nothing more than that."

"I shall do this favor for you, Amethyst, though it shall also serve to satisfy my curiosity pertaining to this matter as well.  Thank you for the pizza -- it appears as though your business is doing quite well!"

"Thank you for providing me with a prime location for it -- many other merchants are quite jealous of this spot, to the point where I have had to deal with thinly veiled threats against me," the purple mare stated flatly.

"Should you have an issue of this sort, please do not hesitate to bring it to my immediate attention.  I will not tolerate merchants committing acts of violence against another.  Please inform any would-be assailants of my decree."

"Yes, your Majesty.  With pleasure, your Majesty!" she smiled.

------------------------------

As time progressed, Amethyst had expanded her pizzeria to the limits of her property line -- her dining area would routinely be filled to capacity, and open-air seating in front of the establishment required another permit, one which was granted the same day of its request.  The purple mare had a staff of twelve ponies working under her, a combination of wait staff, cleaners, pizza makers, and a manager to supervise them.  Amethyst had relinquished control of the day to day operations to the manager and paid her employees quite well to keep them happy.

Within six months, the loan had been repaid in full, but a share of the profits was still being paid to the treasury for property and payroll taxes.  Despite this, Amethyst was extremely happy with the profits her pizzeria was making.  She had all but given up hope of finding the needed spell to return her to her original timeline, but considering how wealthy she was becoming, to her it didn't really matter that much.

During that time, Right Face had ventured to the pizzeria to sample the product for the first time.  Upon seeing the purple mare, he expressed surprise, but trotted up to her to offer an apology.

"Amethyst?  Amethyst Shadow?" he asked, his trepidation quite obvious.

"Right Face!  How nice to see you!  Have you come to try our pizza?" she asked him, smiling warmly.

"Um, I suppose I could, but I have come by to apologize to you for my behavior that night," he said, his head and ears lowered in an apologetic gesture.

"You are forgiven, Right Face.  I have some other news to tell you, though -- I'm sure you're familiar with my daughter, Galaxy, yes?"

"Of course!  She and I are to get married in a few days," he said, beaming happily.

The purple mare frowned.  "You may not want to hear this, then," she stated sullenly.

"What do you mean?  Is there something wrong?"

"A while back, I asked Princess Celestia to conduct a paternity test to find my daughter's biological father."  She stared directly into his eyes, her voice never faltering.  He took a few tentative steps back, his knees starting to tremble.

"You -- you -- don't mean --" he stammered, his face a mask of confusion and worry.

The purple mare sighed heavily.  "Yes, Right Face.  You are her biological father.  I hate to disappoint you like this -- I know you had your heart set on marrying my daughter -- but because you are her biological father, I doubt that it can go forward.  I was afraid you might --"

"NO!  NO!  NO!  NO!  NOOO!" he wailed as he galloped away as fast as he could.

--------------------------------------

Several more weeks passed by and Princess Celestia requested a delivery of 50 pizzas for the Grand Galloping Gala.  The purple mare had responded very graciously to the Solar Princess's request and assured her that the delivery would be on time.  The Gala was to be held in two days' time, giving her enough advance warning to prepare the dough for the order.  She enlisted the aid of her wait staff and cleaners to assist with the delivery.

In the early morning hours on the day of the Gala, Amethyst and her staff prepared and cooked the pizzas, placing them in purple boxes, then carting them to the castle's royal ball room.  It was while the purple mare was overseeing this operation that a dark skinned female human was seen in the company of six ponies.  Amethyst recognized her from her memory -- there seemed to be something very familiar about her, so she trotted up to meet her.

"Brenda?  Is it ... really you?  Brenda?" the purple mare asked, a tear of happiness trickling down her right cheek.

"Um, who might you be?  And how do you know who I am?" she asked.  She gave the tall dark purple mare a quizzical glance.

"In the world I came from, I was married to you at one time," she noted.  "But it has been so long!  How have you been?"

"I'm trying to get back to Earth, to my human husband," she replied flatly.  "Who are you?  You still haven't told me."

"I am Amethyst Shadow, but back when I was a human, my name was Michael Walker," she replied.  "But that was many years ago."

"How is that possible?  I've only been away from Mike for just about two weeks!  I've heard he's been searching for me, but he hasn't been able to find me!  I want to go back home!" she exclaimed in exasperation.

"Brenda -- for me it has been almost nine years since I last saw you.  I had left when you had taken some guy named Alonzo Wilson to be your new boyfriend, after I had lost use of my magic and had become nothing more than a liability to you.  He took great delight in physically assaulting me, even kicking me down the stairs -- but that was back when I was in a copy of Twilight's body."

"Nine years?  How is that possible?"

"I've been through a lot during those nine years, Brenda.  I cast a time-travel spell, which landed me in this universe -- technically, I'm still trying to get back to my original timeline, but I have failed in that effort -- so I am staying here, making money with my new business.  I run a pizza company, and we have been contracted for 50 pizzas for the Grand Galloping Gala," the purple mare explained.

"May I have some?"

"Certainly, Brenda.  Help yourself."

Brenda walked to the table where pizza boxes were being placed into warming bags and took one of the boxes.  The pony who saw this was stunned by her appearance and froze up.  Brenda took the box out of the pony's magic aura and opened it, taking a slice, then a bite from it.

"Wow!  This is the best pizza I've ever tasted!" she exclaimed.

"We use the finest ingredients," Amethyst replied, smiling at the compliment.  "Coming from you, that means quite a lot to me."

"Do you have any with sausage and pepperoni on them?"

"No, ponies can't eat meat, remember?" the purple mare chuckled.

"Okay, just thought I'd ask -- I haven't had meat in a couple of weeks and it's starting to get to me," she complained.  "But I need to know if you can send me back to Earth, where I can meet up with my human husband."

"Oh, you're from a different universe.  I can do that, but I will need to get Princess Celestia's permission first."  Amethyst noticed a certain lavender unicorn chatting with her friends and trotted over to her.

"Um, Twilight -- Brenda has asked me to send her back to her home world -- I told her I can do it, but I need your teacher's permission," the purple mare said softly.

"Okay, Amethyst, I'll ask her for you," she replied, offering a smile, then teleported to the throne room to meet up with the Solar Princess.

"Princess Celestia, Amethyst has requested I ask you on her behalf for permission to send Brenda back to her human home world," the librarian stated flatly.  "I would like for her to remain here, as there is much more information I would like her to provide me about her home world."

"Twilight, my faithful student -- Brenda is an anomaly here.  I have been willing to tolerate her presence, pending the arrival of her human husband.  Be that as it may, I request you bring Amethyst here so I may talk to her personally."

"Yes, Princess," she stated, then teleported back to the ball room to meet up with the purple mare.

"Princess Celestia wishes to talk to you personally," the librarian said.  "Take my hoof, I'll teleport us there."  In less than the blink of an eye, Amethyst and Twilight were in the throne room.  Upon seeing the two, the Solar Princess trotted over to them.

"Amethyst, I'm sure you have met with Brenda and heard her concern," the Alicorn mused.

"Yes, your Majesty.  She desires a return to her home," she replied flatly.

"Is this possible for you?"

"With all the new magic you and your sister have taught me, it should be quite easy for me, your Majesty."

"Very well then, Amethyst.  Please send her back, she has suffered long enough."

"Yes, your Majesty.  Thank you, Twilight."

"Princess, please!  I need Brenda to stay here a little while longer!" the lavender unicorn implored.

"Twilight, I can tell you a few things about the human home world if you're interested," the purple mare offered.  "I originally came from a human home world, in case you had forgotten."

"Oh.  In that case, I suppose Brenda should probably go back home then," she sighed.  "Amethyst, I would like to spend more time with you learning about the human home world and whatever you can tell me about it."

"With your permission, your Majesty?" the purple mare asked as she gave an expectant look towards the Alicorn.

"You have my conditional permission to discuss matters pertaining only to your human home world, Amethyst.  Do NOT answer questions pertaining to Twilight's future!" she admonished sharply.  "But for now, I request you return Brenda to her home world."

"Yes, your Majesty," the purple mare stated reverently.  "Twilight, we should probably return to the ball room now."

"Follow me, Amethyst -- it's a fairly short trot from here," the librarian announced.  The two unicorns bowed to the Diarch and then trotted the short distance to the ball room.

"Why did you teleport us first?  Why not teleport us back?"

"Time is not that urgent," Twilight responded flatly.  "I need to talk to you about a few things before you send Brenda back.  I heard you found out about your daughter's biological father, yes?"

"I did, and I'm rather disappointed that it turned out to be the stallion she was to marry," the purple mare said sullenly.

"Pinkie Pie had planned that wedding party two months ago, Amethyst -- and now it has all gone for naught," the librarian stated, her words tinged with a hint of anger.

"I suppose it might have been acceptable to you for a stallion to marry his biological daughter?"

"No, you're right.  I'm glad she found out before the wedding, but I'll have to admit to being very disappointed --"

"I think Pinkie's the one who's probably more disappointed -- or maybe Galaxy.  I wonder how she's taking the news," mused Amethyst.

"Not very well, I'm afraid," the librarian said softly.  "She refuses to leave him -- she's deeply in love with him."

"I suppose it's okay if she decides to stay with him, even if she can't marry him -- but if that secret ever got out to the general population, neither of them would ever live it down.  I'll have to talk to her, but that will have to wait."

The two entered the ball room and Amethyst trotted back to where Brenda was hanging some decorations on one of the columns at Rarity's instruction.

"Rarity, I thought you'd use your magic for that," Amethyst said, expressing some surprise.

"Amethyst, darling, I have to conserve my magic as much as possible!  I don't have the kind of reserves that you or Twilight have!"

"Very well then, Rarity.  Brenda, I have received the Princess' permission to send you back home," she announced.  The other ponies expressed some disappointment at the news.  "Ladies, she has been wanting to go home for awhile now."

"Mike, how are you able to do this for me?" asked Brenda.

"Heh.  Please don't call me Mike, Brenda -- I am Amethyst Shadow!  You can call me Ammy if you like," the purple mare responded.

"Well, that doesn't matter!  I need you to send me home!"

"Okay, Brenda, let's go over to a more open area.  I need a little room for this," she stated as she trotted over toward a corner of the ball room which had a fairly large clearing.  "I shall open a scrying window to Earth to see if your husband is in bed or something."

"How can you do that?" Brenda asked incredulously.

"I've learned a lot of new magic over the past several months, which allows me to do quite a bit more than I used to," she explained.  She lit her horn, glowing a pale purple to open a portal window to Earth, specifically the bedroom of Brenda's house.  "I shall check other universes to see if I can find the right one."  The image in the portal window flashed with each different universe, some showing Brenda and her husband sleeping in bed, some with her husband in a pony form of Twilight, one with her husband in a certain azure unicorn mare's body, and one with him by himself in the bed.

"I think this might be the one, Brenda.  What do you think?" the purple mare asked as she enlarged the portal window to show the entire bedroom -- her husband Michael was sleeping in the bed, a couple of chests of drawers, a bookcase with a television on top -- but Brenda was not there.

"Okay, Mike, send me there.  I think that's the right one," Brenda responded flatly.  "I'll miss these ponies -- they've been really nice to me -- but I need to go back home!"

"Very well then, Brenda.  It was nice to meet you again.  Take care, good luck -- and don't be so mean to your husband, please," the purple mare implored as she enveloped the dark skinned female in a bright purple aura and teleported her through the portal back to her bedroom.  She trotted over to Twilight.

"I'm sorry to do that, but she can be very insistent.  Seeing her brought back quite a few memories of the years she and I spent together -- truthfully, I never thought I'd see her again.  Where I came from, Alonzo Wilson killed her," the purple mare stated flatly.  This mention elicited a shocked reaction from the librarian.  "Oh, I thought I had informed you of that when I had related my tale to you and Princess Celestia."

Suddenly, the doors at the other end of the ball room were violently flung open so hard they made a very loud slamming noise when they impacted the walls behind them.

"MAMA!  Why did you ask Celestia to find out who my father was?" a certain purple unicorn nearly screamed.
> 17.  Amethyst Makes It Back Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     "Galaxy, I am deeply sorry --" her mother began.

"How could you?  Didn't you know how much I love him?  Didn't I tell you about --"

"Galaxy, I have been so busy with my pizzeria that I haven't had time to talk to you about certain things.  I am very sorry, but I needed to know -- do you think you'd be happy with him if you found this out after you had married him?"

The medium purple mare fell to her haunches and began sobbing disconsolately.  "Mama, I love him!  Now I find out he's my father?  You told me Discord was my father!"

"Galaxy, I didn't know until Princess Celestia told me herself.  I think I remember telling you that it wasn't really Discord, it was somepony pretending to be him -- and that while I was still in Twilight's body, sperm from a royal guard unicorn stallion had been used to impregnate me, not just with you, but with EJ as well.  I have reason to believe Right Face is the father to both of you.  I am really sorry, Stephanie."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!!  NEVER CALL ME BY THAT NAME AGAIN!" she wailed, her sobs wracking the air in the ball room.

"I am so sorry, Galaxy.  What do you want me to do?" asked Amethyst as she tried to soothe her daughter.

"I don't know, mama.  I want to be with him!  Please!"

The dark purple mare trotted over to Twilight.  "Can you fetch Right Face for me, for my daughter?"

"I don't know, Ammy.  I will see what I can do, but it looks like I'll have to see Princess Celestia again."  Twilight teleported away again as the purple mare trotted back over to her daughter, who was still sitting on her haunches and weeping silently.

"Galaxy, Twilight is going to bring Right Face here.  We are going to have a discussion about this," she said softly.

"Mama, please -- he's suffered through this ever since he found out!  Why can't you just leave us alone?  Why did you have to do this to us?"

"I am so sorry -- I needed to find out -- do you know how long I've had that uncertainty running through my mind?  Never knowing who your real father was -- I should have left the matter alone, Galaxy -- I am so sorry."

Twilight returned with a certain teal stallion who flew into a rage upon seeing the purple mare.  He galloped towards her, his face contorted in a grim scowl.

"How dare you!  How dare you show your face here!  How dare you summon me here, of all places!  Haven't you embarrassed me enough?  What have you done to your daughter?"

"Right Face.  I am terribly sorry for having done what I did -- I felt compelled to find out who her biological father was.  I had no idea it would be you!  For nearly the past eight years, the only knowledge I had was that Discord was the father to my two foals.  Only when Princess Celestia conducted the paternity test did I discover the truth.  It was never my intention to cause this rift between you and your love."

The stallion pushed his muzzle against hers, glaring angrily into her eyes.  "I will never forgive you for what you have done," he growled as he gritted his teeth.  "I am doing everything I can to keep from committing violence against you.  My hatred for you --"

The purple mare sighed very heavily.  "How many times must I say I'm sorry?  Princess Celestia also expressed curiosity about this matter -- now I wish I hadn't asked her that favor.  I am so sorry, Right Face.  I didn't know this would happen."

"That doesn't matter!  You destroyed our plans to marry!  Now ... we can never experience true happiness!  You should be ashamed of yourself!" he shouted at her.  She hung her head, her ears drooping.  A certain pink earth pony overheard this conversation and slowly trotted over.

"Ammy, you'd better tell me what's going on -- I've been planning the wedding party for these two for the past two months!" the pink pony said, a hint of anger in her voice.  As the purple mare related the tale once again, Pinkie sighed in disappointment.  She pulled a box of chocolate cupcakes from somewhere and shoved one into the stallion's mouth and another into the purple mare's mouth.  She immediately shoved another into Galaxy's mouth, noticing that she had trotted over to join the conversation.

"All three of you needed a cupcake break," she said, forcing a smile.  "I'm sure we can work something out about this."

"Galaxy, Right Face, it is not my business to interfere in your relationship.  If the two of you wish to live together, I will not stop you from doing so.  Perhaps you can travel somewhere else and get married, if that is what you want.  I shall not stop you," Amethyst stated softly.  "Right Face, I know you can never forgive me for trying to find the truth, but I sincerely hope that you might eventually do so, for my sake as well as yours."

"Come on, honey, we're going home," Galaxy said to her lover, taking him by his left forehoof.  He grinned sheepishly as he was led away, the mare muttering under her breath about how much she now hated her mother.

"Thanks, Pinkie, I needed that.  I'm sorry for having done what I did," the purple mare stated, her head and ears still lowered.

"Hey, silly billy!  You needed to know the truth -- and you found out.  They'll come around sooner or later, don't worry too much about them!  Hey, you still have some pizza left, don't you?"

"The Gala isn't supposed to start for another few hours -- but the pizza is for the guests.  I suppose I could let you have one, though," she mused.

"Amethyst, darling, would you please assist me with some more of these decorations, since you sent Brenda back to her home?" asked a certain alabaster unicorn mare.

"But of course, Rarity.  I apologize for taking her away from you."

"She needed to go back, darling, you did what you had to.  Even so, I shall miss her -- she was such an interesting creature!"

"She's a human and she used to be my wife, Rarity.  I will assist you with whatever you need, for now at least.  I believe the preparations for the pizzas are complete now."

The purple mare helped the other ponies with their tasks in preparation for the Gala, but when it began, she retreated to the Archives for yet another attempt to locate the missing book, though she went without an escort.  Princess Celestia was occupied with the task of overseeing the affair and did not notice the purple mare's absence.

"Hmm, let me see here," she said aloud to herself.  She scanned the shelves once again, going over familiar territory.  Upon locating the spot which once had been empty, she exclaimed in jubilant surprise upon finding the missing book.  With eager anticipation, she wrapped the book in her pale blue aura and lowered it to her eye level, opening it at random.  Amazingly enough, the open page showed the spell she needed.  Her eyes went as wide as saucers upon seeing this and a very broad smile etched itself onto her face.

"YES! YES! YES!  I found it!  YES!" she shouted in joy.  Without hesitation, she lit her horn with a pale orange aura and cast the spell, her body shimmering within the orange aura as a rune circle appeared, then glowed white with her magic.  Her eyes turned solid white with the magic she was channeling into the spell, then her horn lit up brilliant white as the spell completed.  Everything she could see turned a blinding white before she was able to adjust to the new light level.  She blinked out of existence for a split-second as she returned to her original timeline, still in the Archive.

-------------------------------------

"Ammy?  I had just about given up hope of finding you!" a lavender unicorn mare exclaimed happily.  "I've turned the Castle upside-down looking for you!  Where have you been?"

The dark purple mare hung her head and started laughing sardonically.  "Oh, Twi, if only you knew!" she exclaimed and cantered over to her housemate, giving her a very tight hug.

"What has happened to you, Ammy?  You're taller than I remember you being -- you've lost some weight, too!  How long have you been gone?" the librarian asked, exasperation tinging her words.

"Oh, the things I have seen!  It's been several months or so -- I met my fully-grown daughter and son -- and I met up with an older version of you and the others, as well as the younger version!  I faced Nightmare Moon, I received magic lessons from Luna --"

The lavender mare's face lit up in excitement.  "Ammy!  You've got to tell me EVERYTHING!!"

"I will, Twi, I will!" she said as tears of joy trickled down her face and she hugged the lavender mare even more tightly.

"Uh, Ammy, a little breathing room, please?"

"Oh, sorry, Twi.  Should we go meet the Princess to let her know I made it back?"

"That's a good idea, let's go!"
> 18.  Amethyst Gets Some Answers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The two wended their way through the castle to the throne room.  It had only been about four hours since Amethyst had cast the spell in her original timeline, though for her it had been nearly nine months spent in the earlier timeline.  The purple mare expressed some trepidation outside the doors leading to the chamber.

"Relax, Ammy, she'll be happy to see you've returned -- she's going to want to know everything that's happened.  How long has it been?  Do you know?" the librarian asked, giving a small grin.

"I don't know exactly -- I think it's been eight months or so.  I just hope she doesn't get too angry with me."

The doors were opened and a smiling Solar Princess warmly beckoned the two unicorns to her side.  Upon seeing Amethyst a bit taller, she raised an eyebrow, but smiled just a tiny bit wider.

"Amethyst, I would like to know what has happened -- Twilight says you disappeared on her when you cast that time travel spell.  I distinctly remember telling you not to do so -- but at the very least, you have returned.  Where did you go?"

The purple mare related her entire tale, though the three of them retired to the dining hall after Luna had raised her Moon.  When she discussed events in the future timeline, the teacher and her student were quite shocked to hear about Luna's death, expressing deep consternation over that matter.  The Alicorn then swore an oath to protect her sister at all costs to prevent such a tragedy from occurring.  The conversation continued over dinner and lasted almost until midnight as both Twilight and Celestia had many questions for Amethyst.

"I have some questions of my own, your Majesty," she stated.  "I had been searching for a particular book in the Archives for about a month before I started my pizza business -- then on a hunch, decided to revisit the Archives during the Gala and discovered the book had been replaced.  I would like to know who had it and why it was missing in the first place."

"Perhaps you should ask my counterpart in the other timeline -- is it possible for you to return to that timeline?" the Alicorn asked.

"I placed a trace on Twilight's magic signature in that timeline, as well as one on her future timeline," the purple mare grinned.  "Which means I can travel to either one to get information."

The librarian's face lit up brightly.  "Wow!  I'm curious to see what I look like in the future!  Princess, would it be possible for me to accompany Ammy when she returns there?" she asked, beaming a big smile.  The dark purple mare frowned at her housemate, shaking her head.

"Twilight, you would cause a paradox by doing so.  I forbid such a journey," the Alicorn replied rather tersely.

"Twi, I can cast a glamour on you to illustrate the aging process, if you're so inclined," Amethyst offered.

"Okay, but make sure it's not permanent, please!"

The purple mare lit her horn, glowing with a pale yellow aura as she cast the illusion spell on the librarian.  Upon finishing the spell, she conjured a small mirror so Twilight could see what changes might happen.

"Oh ... my ... Celestia!  I'm ... OLD!!  AUUGH!" she exclaimed in disbelief.  The purple mare removed the glamour and Twilight heaved a heavy sigh of relief upon seeing the aging removed.  "If that's what I look like in twenty years, I'm going to really hate getting old!"

"My dearest Twilight, I can prevent that from happening to you," Celestia offered, smiling warmly.  Initially, upon seeing the glamour, she had chuckled softly at her student's reaction to seeing herself aged 20 years older.

"How would you go about doing that, Princess?"

"There is a certain spell Starswirl was working on before he passed away, but never completed it, nor did he find out how to make it work properly.  If you use the Elements of Harmony in conjunction with that spell, you may receive a very special blessing if it's completed correctly," she explained.

"I'm very curious to know about this spell, Princess!" she exclaimed, just barely containing her excitement.

"Um, Twi, that spell might turn you into an Alicorn -- might wanna be careful about that," her housemate chided.  The Solar Princess glared daggers at the purple mare, her eyes flashing a bright red for a split-second.  "Just kidding!  Please, if you're curious about it, I'm sure Princess Celestia would be more than happy to give you the particulars on that spell.  Since I'm not an Element Bearer, I have no business interfering with the process or trying to learn it myself."  Turning to address the Alicorn, she bowed deeply before her once again.  "Your Majesty, I apologize for my ... carelessness."

"Accepted, Amethyst.  Please do not attempt to discourage my student from additional knowledge or lessons.  Her curiosity is something I admire."

"And mine has been proven to be counter-productive at times, and often serves as a further illustration of irresponsible behavior and poor judgment on my part.  Yes, I've heard it before, your Majesty, and once again, I'm sorry for disappointing you.  What is it you desire of me?  Shall I clean the bathrooms with a toothbrush for two weeks again?  Or am I to mop and wax the floors of the Dining Hall and Ball Room every night for the next month?  What is my punishment this time?"

"Amethyst Shadow.  I am not punishing you for your behavior or judgment.  Truthfully, from what you've told me about your travels in the other two timelines, you have suffered enough.  There is one thing, though -- I would like to taste your pizza recipe," the Alicorn mused, smiling softly.

"Yes, your Majesty.  I shall need to see if your kitchen has the necessary ingredients for me to make it."

The Alicorn smiled warmly and led Amethyst into the kitchen behind the dining hall.  Twilight followed as well in order to satisfy her curiosity.

"You've always told me about pizza, Ammy, but I've never tasted it -- at least, not the way you've described it!"

The purple mare chuckled as she rummaged through the cupboards and pantry to find what she needed.  She checked the refrigerated coolers for cheese.  After finding what she needed, she prepared a pizza in much the same fashion as she had in the previous timeline, cooking it the same way.  The Solar Princess and the librarian wanted to sample it immediately after it was done baking, but Amethyst stated that eating a pizza right out of the oven would burn their mouths.  Their impatience was exacerbated by the inviting aroma of the pizza, but they did their best to wait until it had cooled off a little.

Needless to say, they were quite impressed with the flavor.

"Now I see why your business was so good," Celestia chuckled.

"I didn't know you could make food this good!" Twilight added.

"All you need are the right ingredients," the purple mare stated nonchalantly.  "Thanks for the compliment, glad you like it."

"So, Princess, about that spell you were telling me?" the librarian asked, smiling widely.

"If it's not too much trouble, your Majesty, I would like to return to the previous timeline in order to get the answers to some questions which have been nagging at my mind since I returned.  I have taken the liberty of placing a trace on Twilight's magic signature in order to return to this timeline.  I won't be gone long, I promise."

"You have my blessing, Amethyst.  You may not have much time, though, so please be swift," the Alicorn admonished softly.

The purple mare lit her horn once again and disappeared in a brilliant flash of white light and and orange POP.  She reappeared in the kitchen, having returned to the previous timeline, though it was mid-day and quite a few ponies were going about the business of preparing food for the rush of ponies trying to get lunch.  Amethyst quickly excused herself and trotted towards the throne room, hoping to meet up with the Princess of the Day.

She reached the doors leading to the chamber fairly quickly and asked one of the guardsponies standing in front to let her in.  The doors were opened and the purple mare trotted directly to meet with the Alicorn, who gave her a puzzled look.

"Amethyst?  What brings you back?  Certainly you discovered the missing book -- I noticed this for myself," she stated with some puzzlement.

"Pardon my intrusion, your Majesty, but I had a few questions I would like for you to answer.  Was that book in your possession the whole time I had been searching for it?"

"Yes, Amethyst, and for that I apologize," the Alicorn replied, lowering her head and ears.

"Why?  Did you know about my human ex-wife returning?"

"Yes -- I had an inkling something serious would occur, though her arrival was ... unexpected.  I can't exactly predict the future, you know!" she chuckled.

"So what about the pizza?  Did you let me set up the business in an attempt to keep me occupied long enough for her to get here?"

"That is correct, Amethyst.  I deliberately had my chef mis-make the first pizza you tasted as an incentive for you to show me what you were capable of doing.  I must admit, your recipe is quite tasty," she offered, smiling warmly.

"I don't know whether to feel offended or appreciative.  I suppose you needed to keep me here, I guess.  So what about my pizzeria?  Is the manager I hired still running the place?  What about my daughter?  Is she still here in this timeline or has she returned to her original timeline?"

"So many questions, Amethyst!  Yes, your manager continues to run your pizzeria and is doing quite well.  Your daughter and her biological father have made a new home for themselves in Manehattan -- they are quite happy and do not wish to see you again, I'm sorry to say.  I must apologize for carrying through with your request, though once I again I must reiterate my desire to find that answer myself.  My question to you is this -- how did you manage to return to this timeline?"

"I placed a trace on Twilight's magic signature, using it as a temporal locus for this specific timeline -- I have likewise place a similar trace on her magic signature in my original timeline as well as Galaxy's original timeline.  I would like to apologize for having left without saying good-bye to you or Twilight or her friends, your Majesty."

"Truthfully, Amethyst, I admire your magic skill in being able to cast such a complex spell with such ease.  In a way, I am rather envious of this skill and would desire to learn it myself.  Perhaps in future I might be able to visit you in your timeline," she mused softly.

"I'm just curious to know why you used me in the fashion you did, your Majesty."

"I know you must return to your original timeline shortly, Amethyst, so I shall answer you truthfully.  No matter how many of me or my counterparts you may encounter, please remember this -- I have been alive for a very long time -- many centuries have passed before my eyes -- I have seen many ponies live and die as they age before my eyes -- there is very little I have not seen nor heard through my many years.  There are certain things I do to ease the burden I bear as the Solar Regent of Equestria, the Protector, Princess of the Day -- or whatever other title you wish to bestow upon me.  Let me answer your question with a question of my own: let us suppose you could live for fifty or sixty centuries -- what would you do to keep your mind occupied, to keep yourself from becoming so bored as to allow your power to corrupt your spirit, your soul?  What would you do in order to maintain some semblance of sanity?  Perhaps if you contemplate those questions and ponder their significance more deeply, you might find an answer to the question you have asked me.

"Please remember, Amethyst, that I do these things not out of spite nor boredom, but that I place the utmost importance on the safety and security of my little ponies.  I love them dearly, just as if they were my own children.  This is why I sometimes express disappointment in your actions, as you have a tendency to act without considering the consequences of those actions.  I do not expect you to be perfect, Amethyst -- I just request that you display a greater sense of responsibility before making hasty or irrational decisions.  I see within you great potential and it is my desire to see that you achieve it -- perhaps you may find my concerns to be troublesome, but please remember that even though you are not one of my little ponies, I love you as though you were.  Granted, I have witnessed even my faithful student display such behavior, but she has learned from her mistakes.  I would only hope that you do your best to follow her example of learning from your mistakes.  It is my sincere desire to see you reach your full potential, so please try to be more understanding of me."

The dark purple mare hung her head and ears.  "Yes, your Majesty.  I appreciate your honesty and kindness, though words cannot adequately express the level of respect and admiration I have for you.  I must admit that my resentment of your actions was based on ignorance, and for that I apologize.  Without further ado, your Majesty, I believe I must take my leave and return to my original timeline, as your counterpart in that timeline informed me that my time was short.  Thank you once again for your compassion."

The Alicorn smiled very warmly and embraced the purple mare with her right wing.  "You are forgiven, Amethyst.  Please, you are welcome to return whenever you wish.  I am pleased to know you have learned this lesson as quickly as you have.  Now, go, Amethyst, be happy and take care of yourself.  I look forward to meeting you once again."

Amethyst bowed to the Alicorn and lit her horn once again, disappearing as she had before as she cast the spell to return to her original timeline.  Now standing in the throne room, a great assemblage of ponies had gathered for a momentous occasion.  Many ponies stood with poles bearing banners with Twilight's cutie mark adorning them.
> 19.  Back to the Future ... Sort Of
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The dark purple mare sought out the Solar Princess but had great difficulty approaching her -- the ceremony was due to start momentarily as an entourage of ponies was making its way through the castle, though there was still enough time for a short conversation.  Amethyst raised her right hoof as high as she could in an attempt to get the Alicorn's attention and she was immediately rewarded with her presence.

"I see you made it back, Amethyst -- and just in time, too!  What you are about to witness is perhaps the most important event in your life.  Tell me, did you find the answers you sought?"

"In a way, yes, your Majesty.  Your counterpart gave me not just the answers I was after, but also some very important advice.  What she told me has given me a new perspective on life and considerably greater respect for you in everything you do and why you do it.  Therefore, I would like to humbly apologize to you, personally and in the strongest possible terms, for expressing a degree of resentment for your treatment of me.  I now understand exactly why you do what it is you do and why you choose to do those things.  Your Majesty, I am deeply humbled and extremely grateful to you for your generosity towards me."

Princess Celestia smiled very broadly at the purple mare.  "My dear Amethyst Shadow!  I am quite pleased to know you have finally come to realize precisely what I have been trying to do for you.  I suspect my counterpart in the other timeline saw within you the same potential I do -- if that is the case, then what I would say to you is essentially the same as what she told you.  I am also quite certain you understand fully, now, my reasons and motives for my actions.  I was wondering how long it was going to take before you finally acknowledged this set of circumstances.  I must admit, you have made me quite proud of you, Amethyst!  Please understand that you must continue with your studies -- it is my belief that one day, you too will follow in Twilight's hoofsteps, perhaps even becoming an Alicorn yourself!"

The dark purple mare bowed deeply before the Alicorn.  "Truly you humble me, your Majesty -- however, I must admit to no desire for that status.  I have done too many things in the past to merit such a wondrous gift.  Your counterpart asked me what I might do to keep my mind occupied for fifty or sixty centuries of life -- I can't even fathom living that long -- but if I were to live that long ... well ... I don't really know what I would do ..." she said as she let her words trail off softly.

"I see," she said somewhat tersely.  "Twilight's entourage is here, so I must return to my platform to conduct the ceremony.  You don't have to answer that question immediately, Amethyst -- I suspect my counterpart urged you to ponder the significance of such a long period of time.  Thinking about it causes me to ponder my own long years."  She then teleported to the dais to conduct the coronation ceremony for the newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle.

The lavender Alicorn was flanked by Royal Guardsponies, bearing flagpoles with banners adorned with the six-pointed purple star.  Each successive row of ponies had similar poles with banners.  Twilight was immediately followed by her brother and his wife, her parents, her friends from Ponyville, and numerous other ponies of notable status and relationship to the new Princess.  Her wings were spread wide, causing Amethyst to blush slightly -- she seemed to understand the state of excitement her housemate was currently experiencing.  Everypony was all smiles as this was one of the happiest moments in Equestrian history.

Normally, Amethyst would have been smiling as well -- but something was troubling her.  She wondered why her housemate in the timeline twenty years into the future had not become an Alicorn herself, and was curious to find out about it.  Without bothering to stay and watch the ceremony, the purple mare lit her horn once again with the pale orange aura, having tracked the future Twilight's magic signature.  She blinked out of existence just as Twilight spotted her glowing white, then disappearing.  The lavender Alicorn frowned upon seeing this.

--------------------------------------

Amethyst reappeared in the throne room, the Solar Princess sitting lazily on her throne.  Upon seeing the purple mare materialize before her, she raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Amethyst Shadow?  What brings you back here?  I thought -- wait, where is Galaxy?  She is not with you?" the Alicorn queried, a worried look on her face.

"My daughter has traveled to the previous timeline I was in, your Majesty.  She has taken a lover, who, as it turns out, is her biological father.  I apologize for causing both of them such pain -- they did not know this fact until recently," the purple mare stated, bowing before the Alicorn, who raised an eyebrow at the mention of Galaxy and Right Face.

"There is no need for such formality, Amethyst.  Is there a possibility of returning her to this timeline?"

"She has expressed a very strong desire to remain in the other timeline -- she has told me of very hard times in this timeline.  I have traveled here in order to see Twilight and ask her a few questions, if I may."

"Suit yourself, Amethyst.  I request you contact your daughter and have her return to me -- I have grown somewhat lonely in her absence."

"I thought she was in charge of the Library in Ponyville -- she wasn't staying here in the castle, was she?  What about EJ?  Is he here?"

"EJ is indeed in my castle, most likely in barracks right now.  Your daughter was not living in my castle, though I am close enough to her to visit Ponyville quite frequently.  I enjoy her companionship and desire her swift return."

"I will try to find her and relay that information, your Majesty.  I apologize for my intrusion."

"There is no need to apologize, Amethyst.  I would appreciate it if you would be kind enough to stay in this timeline," the Alicorn mused almost wistfully.

"I thought Twilight was your faithful student?"

"She was, Amethyst.  That changed after the war, though.  She seems so distant from me -- almost as though she no longer wishes to communicate with me," she replied, expressing a small degree of sadness.

"Perhaps I might be able to change her mind," the purple mare stated optimistically.  Celestia chuckled almost sadly.

"Good luck, Amethyst, I hope you succeed in that endeavor."

The purple mare saluted the Alicorn and teleported to the Library to meet up with her ersatz housemate.  She knocked on the door and was greeted by Spike once again.

"Whoa, Amethyst?  What brings you back?" he asked.

"Spike -- I keep forgetting how much bigger you are here than in the previous timeline.  I wish to speak to Twilight, if I may," she replied softly.

"She's upstairs, resting.  Sure, come on in!  What's been going on?"

"I've done quite a bit of traveling through time, Spike.  I finally managed to make it back to my original timeline, twenty years in the past from this one, where Twilight was about to celebrate her coronation as a new Princess -- and that is why I wish to talk to her."

The dragon's jaw dropped at this mention and it took him a moment to regain his composure.  "Twilight?  A Princess?!" he asked in astonishment.

"Princess Celestia mentioned something about a spell Starswirl had been working on shortly before he died -- one he wasn't able to finish or something.  I guess the younger Twilight managed to figure it out," the purple mare said, offering a smile.  Upon hearing her name mentioned, the lavender unicorn slowly made her way down the stairs to meet them.  A smile crossed her lips upon seeing the purple mare.

"Ammy!  Been awhile, hasn't it?" she asked, smiling broadly.

"C'mon, Twi, she didn't leave all that long ago," Spike chided.

"Actually, Twi, it's been about nine months, so yeah, you're correct.  I went back to the previous timeline, but Galaxy went back to meet me there, then she decided to stay.  I just wanted to ask you why it was you haven't become an Alicorn, though your younger self already has," she mused, a thoughtful expression on her face.

The librarian exhaled a very heavy sigh.  "Oh, Ammy.  When you left that first time, about twenty years or so ago, you left your children behind.  I tried to enlist the aid of some of my friends and other ponies to help me raise them, but with you gone, they became my responsibility.  So I had to set my studies aside in order to raise them.  I suppose I should be upset with you, but ... raising them has been satisfying for me.  I hope you might stay with me in this timeline, Ammy -- I miss your company."  Twilight's smile left her face and was replaced by a frown.  The light shining through a window illustrated how hard the years had been on her.

"I am so sorry for making you do that, Twi.  The reason why I need to stay in my original timeline is so I can raise EJ and Galaxy properly and be a good mother to them.  I am so sorry for abandoning them and disrupting your studies.  I think you deserve to be an Alicorn -- I think Princess Celestia said something about it being your destiny to become a Princess."

The lavender unicorn chuckled sadly.  "I know she tried to help -- I needed it -- but those ... Griffons and Minotaurs ..." she muttered, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"Perhaps you might ask the Princess about that spell Starswirl was working on -- perhaps it's not too late for you to become an Alicorn," the purple mare mused thoughtfully.

"You really think so?  I hope you're right, Ammy!  I'm going to ask her right now!" the librarian stated excitedly.  The prospect was one which delighted her -- and it seemed to make her appear younger for a brief moment.  "But ... what if something goes wrong?  I hope I can work that spell properly."

"I can take you back to the throne room to meet up with the Princess," offered Amethyst.  "If you succeed in this endeavor, you'll be able to keep her company for a very long time."

"Your offer sounds very tempting, Ammy -- okay, let's go!" the lavender mare chirped in happiness.  Amethyst offered her left forehoof, which Twilight accepted in her right.  The purple mare teleported the both of them to the throne room, the Solar Princess appearing somewhat bored, sitting with her hind legs draped across the right arm of her throne.

"I was wondering when you two were going to show up," she stated in mild bemusement.  "Took you long enough."

"Princess!  Where is that spell that Starswirl was working on before he died?" asked Twilight, excitement brimming in her eyes.

"Twilight, my faithful student --"

"I haven't been your student in the past eight years, Princess," the lavender unicorn stated flatly.

"I miss those days, Twilight.  I miss your companionship.  I shall fetch the spell for you immediately," the Alicorn stated, teleporting a book from her personal library to levitate just in front of the librarian.  "In this book, you shall find the spell.  I shall also provide you with the Elements of Harmony, though you will need to find your friends and have them assist you in this effort.  One word of caution, Twilight -- Starswirl was unable to finish this spell because it killed him."

Both unicorns expressed shock at this mention.

"Your Majesty -- I had no idea it was that dangerous," Amethyst said softly.

"Princess, I shall do my best -- I've lived long enough and seen enough to know that even if I die trying, I am determined to finish Starswirl's work!  You can count on me, Celestia!" the lavender unicorn exclaimed proudly.

Her excitement seemed to light a spark in the Alicorn, who smiled broadly for the first time in a very long time.  "Twilight, you have no idea of just how happy your statement makes me.  I look forward to seeing you when you succeed in this endeavor!"

"I do too, Princess!  I have work to do!  Ammy, please take me back to the Library!"

"But of course, Twi," the purple mare chuckled, teleporting them both back.

"Twilight, I have to go back to my timeline.  I wish you best of luck with this -- I have faith in you, Twi, make me proud!"

The lavender mare chuckled.  "Thanks, Ammy.  Keep in touch, come back some time and say hi again!"

"I'll be sure to do that, Twi."  The purple mare lit her horn again and cast the spell to travel back to her original timeline.  Reality seemed to blink a couple of times for her before she materialized in front of the library.  The town seemed to be deserted.

"Everypony's probably in Canterlot for Twilight's coronation," the purple mare thought to herself.  She entered the library and went to the kitchen to fix herself something to eat, then upstairs to her room to get some sleep, even though it was late afternoon.  She had been awake for nearly 24 hours, so sleep was beckoning her to its embrace.

-----------------------------------------

The purple mare was nudged awake by her grown daughter, who had teleported directly to her bedside.  She turned over onto her other side, pulling the cover over her.  Galaxy nudged her mother again, harder this time, the purple mare nearly falling out of her bed.

"What is it?  This had better be real important --" Amethyst muttered as she turned back over to see who had woken her.  "Galaxy?  What is so important you had to come here?"

"Mama -- in my timeline, Twilight sent me to fetch you.  She said something about a spell Starswirl had been working on, but she messed up -- and things have gotten really bad!  You need to help us!"

"Let me guess -- Rarity messed up the weather, didn't she?" the purple mare asked flatly.

"Um, yeah -- but she messed up real bad!"

"And Twilight panicked, didn't she?"

"Yes, and that's why she sent me!"

"Why did you go back to your timeline?  I thought you were happy in the other one -- speaking of which, how did you manage to get back to your original timeline?"

"I tracked Twilight's magic signature, duh!"

"I forgot you could do that, Galaxy.  I guess we'd better get going then," the purple mare said somewhat glumly.
> 20.  Getting It Right This Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     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."

     
> 21.  The End of a Long Journey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Amethyst sighed heavily.  "Your Majesty," she began.

The Solar Princess chuckled.  "Amethyst, there is no need for you to refer to me like that anymore.  We are equals now, so you may address me by name."

"If it is your wish that I serve as the new Princess of the Night, then I shall be honored to accept that request and fulfill that role to the best of my ability," the dark purple Alicorn stated sullenly.  "I only wish I had known that was going to happen when I wrote the finishing part of that spell.  I wouldn't have done it if I had known --"

"Amethyst Shadow!  I understand your regret, but you now have a new role ahead of you.  You must set aside your reservations, for my sake.  Truthfully, there was a part of me that knew you were capable of doing this -- I just wasn't sure if you'd be able to do so.  That having been said, I shall need you, Twilight, and Galaxy to accompany me back to my Castle.  There is much work to do to prepare you for your new roles as Alicorn Princesses."

"Princess, would it be possible for me to bring my friends along as well?  They are every bit as responsible for helping me become an Alicorn Princess just as Galaxy and Amethyst!  I cannot bear to leave them behind," said Twilight, expressing some degree of worry.

"You go on ahead, Sugarcube, we'll be fine without ya," Applejack stated.

"We can have a great big 'Ammy, Galaxy, and Twiley became Alicorn Princesses' party when ya get back!" Pinkie chirped.

"Or we can hold that party in the Castle," Amethyst mused.  "Celestia?  What say?"

"You know, it has been several years since we had happy occasions in my Castle.  Very well then, I shall allow for a big party in the Royal Ball Room.  It will be nice to hear the sounds of happy ponies once again," the Solar Princess mused.

-------------------------------------

There was a grand coronation ceremony for the three new Alicorn Princesses.  All three were beaming broad smiles, their wings fully extended as a display of their state of happy excitement.  Amethyst's smile was somewhat muted, as she was pondering her future as the new Princess of the Night for the future timeline.  She knew there was a lot of work ahead and getting accustomed to having wings would prove to be somewhat difficult.

The party after the coronation was a massive event, causing a little discomfort for the dark purple Alicorn who seemed to keep somewhat distant from everypony else.  She was approached several times by various ponies to engage in certain games, though she politely refused.  She found that her appetite seemed to have diminished as well, though she did drink her fill of punch, allowing the buzz of the alcohol to take the edge off her nerves.  Her daughter tried to get her a little more involved in the party, but once again she politely declined the request, informing Galaxy that she had quite a lot on her mind.  EJ was quite shocked to see what had happened to his mother and sister, though he was very happy to be reunited with them once again.

-------------------------------------

The next several weeks were spent teaching the new Alicorn Princesses on how to fly, certain new magicks they could perform as Alicorns, certain matters of state and how to deal with them, along with other duties and responsibilities they would be entrusted to undertake.  The three new Alicorns were trained in the art of raising and lowering the Sun and Moon, though Amethyst was given more opportunity to perform those tasks.  Galaxy expressed an interest in placing the constellations in the night sky, though seemed rather crestfallen when Celestia informed her that doing so was the responsibility of the Lunar Princess.  Amethyst asked Celestia if it would be possible to share those duties, allowing her daughter to engage in the proper placement of the constellations, a request Celestia begrudgingly accepted.

Twilight was allowed to return to Ponyville, being christened the Princess of Magic.  Being reunited with her friends made her extremely happy, and Spike was overjoyed to find out that he would not end up outliving his surrogate sister, though he would need a larger house as he continued to grow.  With the reunion, Twilight and her friends renewed their bonds of friendship, each of them pledging to help whenever help was needed.  A new renaissance of happiness had spread across Ponyville, and it showed as the residents, who seemed to be disappointed or depressed most of the time had once again returned to a state of cheerfulness with Twilight's presence.  It seemed as though the lavender Alicorn radiated confidence and even love, joyfulness seeming to permeate the entire town.

Amethyst had come to accept her role, though she wasn't too happy about it.  Even so, she did her best to keep herself mentally occupied as best she could.  Since she had accepted the title of Princess of the Night, she had to change her schedule.  She had even taken to using Luna's bedchamber for the purpose of sleeping during the day, noticing that the chamber had been redecorated for her.  She developed a close relationship with Celestia, generally trying to learn everything she could from the Sun Goddess.  She followed the advice given, doing what she could to atone for her past sins.

Galaxy had taken the title of Princess of the Stars, and spent a lot of her time researching everything in the Royal Archives, doing her level best to master every bit of magic she could learn.  As an Alicorn, her extended lifespan allowed her to fulfill that desire, along with quite a few more.  She had taken to designing eccentric patterns for the constellations, engaging in whimsy from time to time for her personal amusement.  She asked her mother for a copy of the video game system so she could play some of the games she had witnessed, a request Amethyst happily obliged.  Mother and daughter would engage in raucous guitar duels in the game, the two having practiced for such a long time that they had mastered the games, even in expert mode.  Amethyst took to programming her own songs into the game, making them as challenging as possible.

Celestia was happy once again -- and instead of having nopony her equal, she now had three new arrivals with whom she could have lengthy discussions.  She truly enjoyed their company and it seemed to remove a heavy load from her withers.  Amethyst introduced her to properly made pizza, which she couldn't get enough of.  The Solar Princess would even engage her junior Alicorns in playing the guitar game, though she didn't have the proficiency -- she resorted to cheating in order to win, sometimes breaking out into full laughter at her antics.  Amethyst chided the Solar Princess about cheating, stating that if she wanted to be as good, she needed to practice, whereupon Celestia complained about the fact that she was too busy with affairs of state to practice.  Amethyst simply chuckled at this response and allowed her to have her fun.

Amethyst had been worried about returning to a future timeline -- her reticence had proven to be unfounded, as the destiny of four Alicorns had come to pass, though not in the fashion Celestia had imagined.  Amethyst would occasionally visit with Twilight to catch up on events in Ponyville, or just because she wanted to see her former housemate.  Life had become good for her, and even though she wasn't in her original timeline, she had finally discovered that happiness comes from within.  She had made new friends and it was their friendship which eased her burden somewhat.  Eventually, the dark purple Alicorn came to accept her fate and never used a time travel spell again.












FIN