Analyzing the Literary Potential of the Alternate Futures seen in the Season 5 Finale · 5:47am Nov 29th, 2015
My word, that is a wordy title isn't it?
So of course the SPECTACULAR Season 5 Finale focused almost entirely on a concept I absolutely adore; alternate futures. In that spirit, I decided to analyze the three major alternate futures we saw and the potential they have in future works of fanfiction.
Alternate Future #1: The War Against King Sombra
Favorite future? Favorite future.
Firstly, the idea of the normally peace-loving ponies being forced to do their part in a struggle against an evil empire is a concept not foreign to us writers. In the brief glimpses we saw of the Mane 6 doing their part for the Cause, I got strong flashbacks to one of my favorite fics ever; "Equestria: Total War." That story's strongest elements are watching the Mane 6's varied reactions to their different roles in the proverbial war machine.
Now that we have a canon alternate timeline where Equestria is mired in an endless war, the potential for further stories is limitless.
Other observations:
-King Sombra was not defeated by Twilight and her friends, but by Spike and Princess Cadance. Therefore this timeline pans out. No Spike, no stopping King Sombra.
-No sign of Granny Smith save her picture on the cans of apple sauce being sent to the front. An early casualty of the war?
-The only name Applejack remembers is Rarity. That's interesting since a major element of the first season was that not all of the Mane 5 were friends before Twilight showed up. Is it possible that in this timeline Applejack and Rarity became friends much earlier than in the normal timeline. Perhaps... more than friends? (The Princess Rarity already jumped on that boat.)
-Applejack also says that Rarity has been in Manehatten for years, meaning that not only did the Empire return much earlier than in the normal timeline but also that it has been far longer than a single year since the show started. It must have been at least three.
-Sombra's mind control helmets reminded me a great deal of Darkseid's weapons of mind manipulation back during DC Comic's Final Crisis event.
-How boss do the Wonderbolt's combat suits look?
-That little guitar riff when Dash is revealed? Badass.
-Let's dive right into Dash here, because HOLY HELL! Prosthetic wing, torn ear, and scars are all obvious signs of severe battle damage. Dash has clearly seen some stuff since the war began. The close cropped mane and tail are also small details that war writers often forget to include.
-The Sisters Pie have a huge moment! It's important to note a couple things here. One, Pinkie's mane and tail are still flat. This not only indicates she never learned to really smile but also draws a parallel with her older sister. And two, Pinkie and Maud are in the same unit. They clearly are doing their best to protect each other.
-Two things at the train station; the filly going to war (ground troops must be running low if Celestia has called for foal soldiers) and the propaganda poster on the wall (just a nice touch.)
All in all, the potential for stories in this timeline is limitless. I may have to dip my toe in...
Alternate Future #2: The Changeling Occupation
When you can't trust your friends and neighbors, where can you go? Where can you hide?
The idea of ponies building a resistance to a Changeling occupation is a juicy idea, particularly if they're forced to dabble in older and different sorts of magic to survive. While not as epic in scope as the Sombra timeline, this leads to a fairly spectacular riff on the 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' concept, particularly the 1970s remake. I see stories in this timeline being more horror related.
Other Observations:
-Damn Fluttershy. "The only good bug is a dead bug."
-Zecora as the leader is all kinds of genius (and goes back to that whole different kinds of magic thing.)
-Zecora says the Changelings took over "not long ago." That means that (presumably) Chrysalis successfully married Shining Armor and used her new position in the palace to build a coup and secure her power base. Remember; the wedding was years ago canonically.
-Chrysalis was not defeated by the Mane 6. It was Shining Armor and Cadance. Of course, if Twilight wasn't suspicious of the false Cadance, then the wedding would have gone off without a hitch.
-Evil Applejack is best Applejack.
More potential for a very different sort of story. I love it.
Alternate Future #3: The New Lunar Republic.
Heh. Heh heh. Ha. Ha. Haha. Hahahahaha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
WE HAVE A CANON TIMELINE, BOYS AND GIRLS! WOOOOOOOO!
Other observations;
-Lunar Rarity makes me feel things. Must be the bun.
-It makes sense that Nightmare Moon would prefer to live in a restored Castle of the Two Sisters. I wonder what became of Canterlot?
-I may have exploded from joy at Shadowbolt Rainbow Dash, who (minus the batwings) is exactly how I pictured her in my NLR stories.
-She also appears to be the only non-Thestral guard. Interesting.
-Celestia in the moon, getting a taste of her own medicine, is a concept I'm mad I didn't think of first.
-And again; Nightmare Moon explicitly states that Celestia has been there for years. It has for sure been several years since the show began, story-wise.
-Nightmare Moon just casually wasting Timberwolves was one of my favorite bits of the episode.
So there you have it. Thoughts? Your own ideas?
I think Sombra War Applejack recognized Rarity because it's very likely that they both grew up in Ponyville. AJ is absent from Rarity's cutie mark story because she went to Manehattan.
Yes, thank you very much. I now have ideas for a new story.
No mention of Zecora's redesign in the Changeling-Future? Shame.
THIS is a Zebra shaman in times of war.
Now I have to draw Swirling and family running from Zecora and her rebels. Well shoo.
I didn't think about this before, but since fillies are getting sent to war (in your theory and based on that scene) then maybe that's what happened to Applebloom, since I didn't see her on the farm. Probably Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo unless Sweetie Belle is helping Rarity.
Also this episode created a new ship for me: Fluttershy x Dumbbell. Just because of one line, "Come on Fluttershy. Maybe I can help you get through the course this time."
Also isn't it kinda funny how convincing three foals that equal is better lead to the Changelings? Since they copy what a pony looks like/sounds like.
Fun fact: Before I watched the episode I saw a thumbnail of Rainbow Dash in the first timeline with Pinkie Pie (I didn't notice Maud. I thought it was someone else) and I thought they were a rock band or something.
Also foal Dash has the cutest voice!
Kinda weird though how with no Sonic Rainboom the animals still have fun with Fluttershy but just leave. "Wellp since there's no giant explosion" (Oh dear gosh. Don't say it) "we don't have to be afraid and stay around you. See ya!"
Uhm, no. Rarity probably went to Manehattan before season 1 started in that timeline.
It was a year ago canonically. Ish. It took place sometime between Hearth's Warming Eve and the Summer Sun Celebration.
It has been two years, canonically; seasons 1-3 were one year, seasons 4-5 were a second year. We haven't gotten back to the Summer Sun Celebration yet, but technically speaking we could have passed it unremarked (I doubt it, though).