The Heart's Promise: Timeline and Q&A

So here’s something fun I discovered. A few years ago, I’d started to put together a timeline for The Heart’s Promise Continuity. I hadn’t finished it, and honestly, even what you see now is nothing close to done, but I spent some time cleaning up.

It’s a neat way for me to collect major happenings in the series, keep my dates and ages straight, and generally make sure everything adds up to a logical progression.

But that’s not all. For your reading pleasure, I’ve added a few background notes to each entry, going in depth with things not spelled out within the story. Added character information, interlinking events, and whatever else comes to mind. Give it a gander, find your favorite story, and read away!

I’ll also take this opportunity to do a little Q&A. Since this’ll bring all the stories into focus, do you have any questions about the world of the Heart’s Promise? The technology and medicine? Wonder what a character’s up to when they’re not in focus? Have thoughts about just why I’ve spent half a million words telling this story already?

If you do have such questions, leave them in the comments below and I’ll see if I there are enough to make another blog post about them. If not, well, that’s what comment replies are for.

Without further ado...

2000 BCE (Before Celestial Era)

Critical Events
The Unseelie Court of Fae is formed
Destruction of the Garden of Elysium
Discord becomes the last Draconequus
The Unseelie Court rules the world

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I
(Many moons)
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1000 BCE

Critical Events
The First Bearers of the Elements of Harmony begin operation
The Unseelie Court is defeated
The Changeling Empire takes control
It subsequently falls within 500 years

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(Years and years)
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100 BCE

Critical Events
Three Tribes of Ponies Unite
First Hearth’s Warming Eve
Equestria is formed by the Founders

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74 BCE

Critical Events
Celestia is born

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73 BCE

Critical Events
Luna is born

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Approx. 50 BCE

Critical Events
Discord is turned to stone

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Approx. 20 BCE

Critical Events
King Sombra takes control of the Crystal Empire
Celestia and Luna lead an army to liberate the Crystal Ponies
Sombra is defeated, but the Crystal Empire is lost to time

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0 CE (Celestial Era)

Critical Events
The rise and fall of Nightmare Moon

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(Time and time again)
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1000 CE Celestial Era

Present-day—My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Critical Events
Basically, everything

Reoccurring Main Character Ages
Applejack: 18
Rarity: 18
Rainbow Dash: 16
Twilight Sparkle: 16
Fluttershy: 16
Pinkie Pie: 15

Apple Bloom: 9
Spike: 9
Sweetie Belle: 8
Scootaloo: 8
Rumble: 8
Button Mash: 8

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(Time skip!)
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1007 CE

Summer—Fahr Drill

Critical Events
Rainbow Dash’s house burns down
She uses the insurance money to rebuild it as a much more impressive mansion
Twilight Sparkle’s first kiss (Maybe)

Main Character Ages
Big Mac: 27
Featherweight: 16
Snips: 16
Snails: 16
Spike: 16
Rumble: 15
Pipsqueak: 15
Button Mash: 15

Background notes:
While Big Mac is not married to Cheerilee in this story, he is engaged. The marriage ceremony took place between this story and the next, thus Celestia’s comments at the beginning of LMA.

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1008 CE

Spring—Lord Mayor Applejack

Critical Events
First year of Applejack’s term as Mayor of Ponyville
A new Sapient Species is discovered
War is narrowly avoided
Beefland initiates the first meeting of all the leaders of the Allied Kingdoms

Main Character Ages
Celestia: 1,082 (Give or take)
Andean Ursagryph: 503
Shardscale: 103 (Give or take)
Zipporah: 70
President Mangle: 42
Aspen: 40
Seabreeze: 36
Za’Rapha: 30
Izod: 25

Applejack: 26
Megan: 12

Crisperfall: 7

Background notes:
Every time Celestia and Andean share a room, it tends to come to blows. Previous experiences have led to Andean realizing he cannot take her in a straight fight. Nowadays, they use ambassadors when they absolutely need to communicate.

As guessed by many readers, Megan William’s family is traveling along the Oregon Trail in a wagon train. They’re near the end of the that particular era, so it’s still up in the air whether they got ownership of the land they purchased.

The Antagonist was sent to Solitaire, the most secure prison in Equestria (save for Tartarus, which is reserved for immortal criminals with life sentences). Many leaders (*cough*Andean*cough*) do not appreciate that he was not imprisoned in his country of origin, but Celestia insisted.

Countries not represented include Saddle Arabia, Griffonstone, the Crystal Empire, and the Cauldron.

Saddle Arabia tends to keep to itself, seeing self-sufficiency as a point of pride. International relations tend to be polite yet terse. However, they do appreciate a good fireworks show.

Griffonstone has long been a protectorate of Equestria, ever since their kings faded into obscurity and myth. Anti-equine sentiments simmer, as they feel Equestria would coddle them if they allowed it. Recent events, kickstarted by one Gilda Wing, have brought a more friendly stance into the public eye.

The Crystal Empire is also an Equestrian Protectorate. The Crystal Empire is historically the origin point of the Founders, which they returned to once the windegos were defeated. In the modern day, it’s essentially an expanded Equestrian city-state, utilizing the same currency, language, and schooling system.

The Cauldron is the central seat of government for the Dragon Kingdom. While Shardscale was present to record events, she is not a government representative. It’s unknown if Dragon Lord Ember was unable to appoint a representative, gave Shard some minor authority, or just couldn’t be bothered with the dang thing.

Summer—The Unmitigated Disaster

Critical Events
Twilight Sparkle goes on her first date in, like, forever

Main Character Ages
Twilight Sparkle: 24
Spike: 17
Featherweight: 17
Rumble: 16

Background notes:
Rumble and Spike do not make enough to reimburse Silver Spoon until midway through Scootaloo Will Fly! This eats at their income something fierce.

Featherweight still carries a torch for Twilight Sparkle four years later.

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1009 CE

Summer—Scootaloo Will Fly!

Critical Events
Rainbow Dash begins her movie career
New surgery technique pioneered, utilizing a safer version of Discord’s magic

Main Character Ages
Discord: Approx. 3,000
Rainbow Dash: 25
Apple Bloom: 18
Spike: 18
Sweetie Belle: 17
Scootaloo: 17
Rumble: 17

Background notes:
Discord’s health issues are not resolved until If You Weren’t Afraid.

Pound Cake has a schoolyard crush on Scootaloo, which he won’t admit to himself, let alone anybody else.

Scootaloo’s mother, Roseluck, has suffered from high anxiety her entire life. Her job is uniquely suited for her, as the peaceful atmosphere and general beauty sooth her something fierce. She absolutely adores teaching Scootaloo to dance, and toys with the thought of offering dance lessons to the young people of Ponyville.

Scootaloo’s father, Davenport, is coy about just why he sells pens and sofas specifically. He treats it as his own private joke, one that he’s playing on the entire town. His life is, truly, one giant dad joke.

Rainbow Dash’s first film role is Daring Do, in the film adaptation of the first novel. Critics and audiences applaud her ability to bring equinity to a character who would be easy to play off as an unrealistic, over-the-top pulp stereotype. Everyone else appreciates the irony.

Late Summer—Nature in the Wild

Critical Events
Five campers manage to not drown

Main Character Ages
Twist: 19
Dinky: 18
Snips: 18
Pipsqueak: 17
Button Mash: 17

Background notes:
Pipsqueak asked Dinky to marry him when he was merely five and she was six. They’ve remained engaged throughout the ensuing years, making it official when they turned sixteen. There are no current plans for the wedding date, but Pipsqueak is personally hoping to be able to afford a horn ring (and, you know, a house) by the time they’re 22.

Autumn to Winter—DayBreak

Critical Events
An assassination is attempted on Celestia and Twilight Sparkle
The Cloudsdale incident leaves Cloudsdale in ruins and Canterlot in rubble
The Unseelie Court of Fae are revealed to have returned
Griffon/Pony relations improve

Main Character Ages
Celestia: 1,074 (Give or take)
Hurricane: 1,104 (Give or take)

Prince Blueblood: 28
Princess Fleur de Lis: 29
Viscount Hammer Dulcimer: 25
Scuttlebutt: Unknown, possibly N/A

Twilight Velvet: 56
Daring Do: 39
Time Turner: 35
Care Carrot: 24
Blankety Blank: 23 (Give or take)

Twilight Sparkle: 25
Spike: 18

Andean Ursagryph: 504
Corona Ursagryph: 14
Stella Ursagryph: 8

Background notes:
Stella Ursagryph is the most adorable thing in the known universe.

The surgical techniques used are the same, aheh, “pioneered” by Discord in Scootaloo Will Fly!

The Unseelie Court is made up of several different species of fairy creatures. Including, but not limited to: The Nightmare Forces, whose domain is the realm of dreams; the Windegos, who treat emotions as a playground; and the Princelings, the most powerful fairies, who control the fae within their Principalities (i.e. various regions across the globe).

According to Twilight Velvet, additional Knights of Harmony, aside from the main characters, include Sugar Drops and Donut Joe. Nobody talks about them much, so their stories are shrouded in secrecy. However, Twilight Sparkle suspects her mom is just messing with her.

Centurion Stonewall was Shining Armor’s successor as Captain of the Guard. Centurion is her military rank, while Captain of the Guard is a noble title. Many a joke is made about Captain Centurion, but never to her face.

Blankety Blank and Time Turner first met several years prior, though they were unaware of each other’s identity. It was Time Turner who allowed Blankety to break away from the Changeling Hive and Chrysalis the Tyrant’s rule, and it was Blankety who allowed Time to escape her clutches in turn.

Scuttlebutt first appeared in Lord Mayor Applejack, but wearing a much different skin...

Andean has toyed with magnets and their properties for several hundred years of his reign. They have been known to disrupt certain magic spells, but never with any real consistency. Their real contribution to industry is their use in generating electricity.

The volleygun prototypes are directly based on Captain Crested Barbary’s experiences with Megan and her family. The chemical compound was religiously studied by Fellacian scientists until it could be reproduced exactly.

1010 CE

Winter—Lightning Struck Home

Critical Events
Cloudsdale’s destruction results in weather going amuck
Pegasi work overtime to fight the storms, but often fall short
A new coffee shop opens in Ponyville

Main Character Ages
Apple Bloom: 19
Spike: 19

Background notes:
The weather is not paying the roads of Ponyville any favors.

Interspecies relationships are not unheard of, though exceedingly rare. Most species just aren’t attracted to those of another. For example:

One of the Founders of Equestria, Smart Cookie, married a griffon, Gregor. The union was accepted by ponies, but utterly rejected by his griffon brethren. They bore a son named Moshe The Hippogriff, who worked tirelessly, at times unsuccessfully, to unite griffons with ponies.

Rumor has it that chimeras are the product of strange, strange relationships.

Changelings are thought to be able to mate with anything, though no confirmations have been made. Some suspect the offspring to be various castes of changeling, while others fear a far more horrific result.

Spring—In the Absence of Sunset Shimmer

Critical Events
Sunset Shimmer returns to Equestria
She brings friends

Main Character Ages
Adagio Dazzle/Aria Blaze/Sonata Dusk: Approx. 3000

Twilight Sparkle (SciTwi): 26
Sunset Shimmer: 27
Big Spike: 18
Sunny: 2

Princess Twilight: 26
Little Spike: 19

Background notes:
Sunset Shimmer is only a few months into her job as math teacher at Canterlot High. She was first hired back in Lightning Struck Home, and it still getting her feet wet in regards to keeping her students under control.

EG Rarity is the Editor in Chief of the fashion magazine The Carousel Boutique. She utilizes the funds gained to support her hobby of designing and crafting outfits. She is Rainbow Dash’s roommate, both having joined together in an alliance of convenience.

Rainbow Dash is a meteorologist working at the YNOP news studio. It’s a studio local to Canterlot City, but they broadcast to dozens of cities. Her hobbies include biking, running, bouldering, swimming, hiking, and paragliding, and she is captain of a local soccer club.

Fluttershy works as a veterinarian. She owns a practice on the outskirts of Canterlot City, near Peoplesburg. She works hard to be as knowledgeable of as many different animals as she can—whether or not she’ll ever be required to treat them. She ran herself ragged during her college years, and some suppose the only reason she survived was due to her circle of friends. Bulk “Snowflake” Biceps and Sandalwood are in a constant competition for her attention, though she’s too unsure of herself to accept eithers’ advances.

Pinkie Pie married young. She and Cheese Sandwich met during the last year of high school, and wasted no time falling hopelessly in love. They live in Peoplesburg with their three kids (Cheese Danish, Cheerileena Persephone Pie, Cheese Cake), with one more on the way. Cheese works as a traveling salesman, while Pinkie keeps herself busy (and lines their pocketbook) as an event planner.

Applejack still lives at home, and never really intends to leave. She loves the farming life, and all the beauty the line of works brings into her life. She tends to leave the “buying and selling” portion of the job to the likes of Big Macintosh, since the people they work with tend to make her blood pressure rise something fierce. Regardless, her business acumen cannot be overstated, as she is constantly seeking improvements to their processes and techniques. Sweet Apple Acres moved awful slowly before Applejack got her hands on it.

Tirek Odolwa is a reprehensible human being, guilty of multiple acts of terror and hatred. The manhunt for him has gone on for several years, and finally ended with his capture at the hands of Flash Sentry and Shining Armor. He will stand trial for crimes committed in multiple countries, a hearing overseen by the Honorable Judge Harshwhinny.

Summer—An Equestrian Griffon

Critical Events
Andean reads a bedtime story

Main Character Ages
Andean Ursagryph: 505
Corona Ursagryph: 15
Stella Ursagryph: 9

Corvus Mellori Corvus: 31

(In story, 93 BCE)
Gregor: 16
Smart Cookie: 21

Background notes:
Corvus Mellori Corvus is an upstanding citizen, undoubtedly above reproach.

Grotesque sightings pervade to this day, though they have been confirmed extinct by the scientific community. It is thought that their crystalline body structure means that they do not live as most people understand life. Some consider them magic constructs, while other speculate that they are some lost tribe of Fae.

Smart Cookie and Gregor are the first recorded interspecies couple in history.

Andean Ursagryph has maintained his status as king through his incomparable strength and ferocity in combat. Many challengers have come, but only a few were left alive to crawl off with their tail tucked between their legs.

Corona’s fiery red feathers denote that her inborn magic is significantly different than most griffons. While it is considered natural for a griffon to control storms, she has a power within her that is yet to be truly awakened.

Midsummer—If You Weren’t Afraid

Critical Events
TBA

Main Character Ages
Princeling Jeuk: Dawn of the Universe
Discord: Approx. 3,000
Tirek: Unknown, First recorded activity 100 BCE
Fluttershy: 26
Pumpkin Cake: 10
Pound Cake: 10

Background notes:
TBA

Autumn—The Worst Kept Secret

Critical Events
Spike and Apple Bloom go on a date
Rainbow Dash stars in a new movie franchise: The Power Ponies.

Main Character Ages
Apple Bloom: 19
Spike: 19

Background notes:
The Power Ponies: The Rise of Mechanis is adapted from one of the more famous storylines in the Power Ponies comic serial, in which a villainous robot seeks to turn the population of the world into mechanical beings. He would have succeeded, had he not underestimated Humdrum. The final battle features Humdrum freeing the Power Ponies from Mechanis’ mind control spell, at which point they proceed to utterly annihilate the robot. It’s a notable story that progresses Humdrums character away from being the hapless sidekick everyone knows and tolerates.

Spike considered the adaptation to be subpar, but wasn’t willing to bad-talk the movie on his date. They focused too much on Rainbow Dash’s character, Zap, who never really had much of an effect on the story as it was originally told.

Still, he agrees that she was the best part of the movie.

1011 CE

Summer—Rhythm and Rhyme

Critical Events
TBA

Main Character Ages
Sweetie Belle: 19
Button Mash: 19

Spike: 20
Apple Bloom: 20
Rumble: 19
Scootaloo:19

Daring Do: 41
Martial Paw: 29
Care Carrot: 26
Blankety Blank (Mandible): 25

Twilight Velvet: 58
Shining Armor: 36
Mi Amore Cadenza: 36
Flurry Heart: 12
Twilight Amore: 11
Silver Lance: 9

Andean Ursagryph: 506
Corona Ursagryph: 16
Stella Ursagryph: 10

Ahuizotl: Unknown, first recorded activity 600 CE
Dissero: 91
Poni Caballeron: 57
Kiln Stovepipe: 54
Rhombus: 22

Queen Cicada: Unknown, Approx. 2,000
Queen Chrysalis II: Unknown, Assumed Late 20’s

Background notes:
TBA

1012 CE

Summer—In the Absence of Twilight Sparkle

Critical Events
TBA

Main Character Ages
Principal Celestia: 56
Shining Armor: 37
Big Mac: 32
Sunset Shimmer: 29
Twilight Sparkle (SciTwi): 28
Sunny: 4

Dr. Sombra: 59
Double Diamond: 30
Starlight Glimmer: 28
Dr. Twilight Sparkle: 28

Background notes:
TBA

Comments

[RadicalDishonesty]

This is cool.

I still think it's a little... unusual that the Main characters were all independent, living on their own or nearly so and world heroes at 16-17, and the next generation are still not independent at 19, and not yet adventurers.

Like, during the first fics, the next gen kids felt like teenagers, but the main 6 felt more like adults that had the MLP "are sometimes immature" thing in episode 1.

The latter is what I expect for modern society, but the former being what it is seems more unusual, really. I guess made in line with EQG.

Addendum: really, I expect Rhythm and Rhyme to correct the adventuring stuff for those involved. It'll probably be very clear they are heroic and capable by the end.

[Flynt Coal]

First let me just say, love the description for Nature in the Wild

Next, I think you forgot to mention that human Tirek is related to the boss of the Woodfall Temple

Joking aside, I'm really curious to see where pony Starlight Glimmer fits into this 'verse. I don't think she's ever been so much as mentioned, which in itself indicates to me that she never became Princess Twilight's apprentice (and not just a result of the fact this was all conceived before season 6 what are you talking about?). I'm also curious to know what Thorax is doing and why we haven't seen him yet (again, aside from the obvious "before season 6" thing). Lastly, has Trixie ever been mentioned? Can't remember if you ever alluded to what she's been up to or if she's just "Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Series"

Lastly lastly, have you really written half a million words for this thing overall? Jeez, the time just flies doesn't it?

[Dinode]

4498016 I think it was mentioned that Trixie has won the affection of Pony!Flash Sentry.

As for the timeline, I like it. For one thing, it's cool to know that the Windigos were Unseelie. Are there also multiple species of Seelie?

[howard035]

Most of these things I remember, and questions I have seem like they are about to be answered in ongoing fics. That said, one area I would recommend you work on filling in in detail is the time period between the birth of Celestia and the fall of Sombra, basically 73 BCE to 20 BCE. If you remember, I had a lot of trouble figuring out the timeline for the birth and childhood of the Regal Sisters, and the lives of the Founders during that time period.

Thanks for making this, I'll probably refer back to it in future points when I am pouring over the latest historical portion of one of your fics.