I remember the first time I met her, on that day twenty-two years ago. I was assigned a task by my mentor and teacher, Princess Celestia, to visit the town of Ponyville and study the magic of friendship. I could have cared less about making friends; that's what the old me would say at least. Upon meeting my friends: Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash, my views did not last, and I was soon drawn towards them: for what reasons... I really can't say.
From a young age, my life was dedicated to the study of magic: from the time I was young, I always adored the Pegasus race and their natural ability of flight. I wished one day, I could perfect a spell in which I would adorn myself with wings of my own. Upon reaching Ponyville and making friends for the first time in my life, I began to give up on my dream of having my own wings, and pursued learning about friendship, as per my teacher's request. This did not last long, as my interest was soon rediscovered after a successful spell, resulting with giving my friend Rarity, a set of temporary wings. Sure, they lasted only three days, but it confirmed outside of academics, that perhaps with some tweaking, a set of real Pegasus wings could be given to a Unicorn, and perhaps even an Earth pony.
Three short years passed in the blink of an eye. Outside of saving Equestria from a deranged Changeling Queen, a power hungry Unicorn, and the reform of a Draconequus, whom despite my view, has proven beneficial to the kingdom: I had plunged myself muzzle-first into my studies and soon had true visions of a future with wings for myself. However, despite my intentions, I was gifted with wings, in exchange for my mortality. Celestia failed to mention her plans in which I would become her successor after my transition into a member of the Alicorn Royal Family. Was I happy? Perhaps. Was I upset? Definitely: I dedicated the majority of my life to the study of Pegasi anatomy, and magical manipulation. But in the end, the emotion that overpowered me was the feeling of betrayal.
Why would I feel betrayed when I was finally gifted with what I longed for my entire life? To put it simply, I fell in love. The only thing I loved more than my gift of magic, was my love of reading. And what happened upon one of my closest of friends discovering her love for reading? I fell head over hooves in love with her, and sought to do anything within my power to pursue these feelings. Hearts and Hooves day was soon upon us, and I felt as if the time was right. Love was never my specialty, so I read a book about the history of the Holiday. I know... sounds exactly like what I would do right? However: I only managed to read the first few pages before I loaned it to Sweetie Belle and her friends. Soon after, I found the Pegasus I was searching for, napping on the outskirts of town. She wasn't exactly difficult to find, the sky was fairly clear that day, and it was quite unusual for a lone cloud to hang around so close to the ground. Looking up, I wished once more for wings, however I did my best at what I could do given my circumstance...
“Rainbow Dash!” I yelled towards the cloud. A few moments passed, and I proceeded to yell again. “Rainbow! I know you're up there!” I waited another minute, but never received an answer. To this day I still feel bad for what I did next, as I closed my eyes and with a quick dissaperating spell, I dematerialized the cloud, resulting in my best friend plummeting to the ground below. Freaking out, I ran to her side as she slowly sat up, rubbing her head with the frog of her hoof.
“Darn it egghead, what was that for?” she asked, and I could tell she weren't very happy at my antics. Sitting down next to her, I apologized for my previous actions, to which she forgave me... reluctantly. Furthermore, I endorsed my apology by inviting her to lunch. The small cafe on the corner by 'sofa and quills' was always her favorite go to eating establishment, and I must admit I was quite partial to their daisy and hay sandwich they served on Sundays. Our 'date' went well, at-least, as well as 'well' could be. Rainbow Dash however, discovered my feelings and although was not in the least pushed away by them, she did not pursue them either, so despite my new found depression, I continued on with my studies.
A year later however, my magical talents exceeded even those of Star-Swirl the Bearded. But upon this I was immediately forced into a life as an Alicorn, and recognized as the new Princess of Equestria. Years passed, and one by one my friends seemed to grow distant, yet my love for that Pegasus did not fade. It has been ten years since I last saw her and my newest spell has just been completed. Princess Celestia, does not approve of this, and for good reason too. Upon casting this spell, I will cease to exist in this time-line. I will not die, rather, I will change my destiny at an earlier point in my life, where that point is, I don't know.
Giving my scroll one last glance, I close my eyes and with a soft glow from my horn, a small glowing blue sphere appeared on the ground directly in front of me. Looking back and taking a deep breath, I walked into the sphere and closed my eyes. It took a moment, but the glow from the sphere intensified, and with it, the feeling as if all my cares in the world were slowly melting away, as my vision slowly went dark. “This is it” I thought, “my dream.”
Well, let's see how this goes (does this mean that Dashie will be a unicorn in this alt universe?)
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3371870 alternate reality tag?
3372523 This is a bit long, I ranted a bit.
Surely that then means that she would become a pegasus, therefore not having an obsession with pegasi, and not finding love with the one pegasus who love reading also? Henceforth more likely to have an obsession with unicorns, due to not being that race any more (or ever, in this new time-line). Pouring her life into changing once more. Yes she will still have the chance to change into an Alicorn, as it was a friendship thing rather than a purely magical experience, but still. Changing who you are completely changes your life goals too. In reality, if she goes back far enough, she won't even get into 'Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns' as she is no longer part of that race. She won't be sent off to Ponyville, and meeting up with the one she loves will never come to be. It could happen if pegasus Twilight admires Rainbow for her speed and prowess as a pegasus rather than her shared interest in reading and being the best at what she does. This whole thing is very dependent on what you choose as the focal points in the relationship between Twilight and Dash. Also as 3371652 said, if Dash is the unicorn, this could be very interesting. But if Dash is the unicorn, Twilight would either be the one who does the Sonic Rainboom and causes Dash to get into Celestia's School alongside bringing her future friends together. Or, Dash is prolific enough in her magical ability that she does it by herself and Twilight's efforts as a pegasus don't even do anything for the grand scheme of things. This then causing the bringing together of the Elements to fail. You can't really go back far enough in the time-line to warrant them having different parents, so their individual life goals and personality traits will be very alike their other race counterparts. Dash being rather lazy and Twilight pouring herself into study/flight (as a pegasus now). But Twilight and Dash will live in their normal towns/cities, Canterlot and Cloudsdale respectively, meaning the chance of Celestia finding Dash as a wielder of the Element of Magic is rather slim. Dash would still be loyal to who she cares about, whereas Twilight, while embodying many positive traits, cannot be the Element of Magic as she is a pegasus now.
There have been a few fics that have done this concept: What if Twilight was a pegasus? What happens to the Elements Of Harmony then?
Some other fics felt like the Elements were tacked onto Twilight like it was her destiny no matter what race she is. But this notion makes little sense, as the whole reason behind Twi throwing herself into her friends is that she has never had any before. She won't be pouring herself into books to practice more and more advanced spells, she will however (if she has the same desire for knowledge as the unicorn variant) be practising, a lot, maybe enough to not have friends? Not likely, she will be outside rather than inside, easier to meet people when you aren't sitting around in your room studying 24/7. As a unicorn, Twilight has Celestia's Protégée stamped on her very being, making social interaction very awkward for both Twilight and the other party. The other party doesn't want to invoke the wrath of Celestia by being mean or insensitive, but Twilight just wants to have a normal conversation without all the pretentious crap that gets tacked on to royalty.
So all in all I will track this, see where it goes and will decide later whether or not it will get my approval, it's way too early for any opinion to form and be a good representative of the story.
3373221 You sound like me when it's midnight and I've been stuffing myself with caffeine and sugar. Nevertheless, all that you've said are valid points, which is why altering events in the past is so intriguing, I could stay here and debate this stuff all day, but I have three books to read in as many days, and essays to write, so alas I cannot debate at length the nuisances of time. But I agree with all that you've stated.
3371870
Technically, that doesn't state that she is not immortal. All it states is that she won't outlive her friends. In other words, they could be planning on turning all of them into alacorns.
Okay, so I'm like super interested in this story! The chapters are kind of short, and that prologue was really abrupt, but it seems like a good premise.
The only thing I want to know is, why didn't Rainbow wish to pursue a relationship with Twi? I mean, all the prologue mentions is that Twilight and her had lunch, Rainbow discovered her feelings, and that's it.
Actually, that's another good point. In the prologue Twilight mentions that she fell in love with Rainbow Dash after Rainbow discovered her own love of reading. Is that really it? I mean, I can't really see Twilight falling in love simply because another pony shares a hobby. It's a way to start dating, not a basis for a relationship.
I guess I feel like, given what little we know, that suddenly wishing to rewrite history seems like a bit excessive. I mean, Rainbow's not dead yet, so the mortality thing isn't even an issue right now. Did Dash not want anything to do with Twilight romantically because she couldn't fly, or wasn't a pegasus? Is that what this is about?
I'm just having a hard time following the logic of Twilight's decision. It seems like it follows as such:
1. Twilight has always admired pegasi for their ability to fly/wishes she could fly
2. Rainbow Dash likes to read, apparently that makes Twilight fall in love with her instantly
3. Twilight has lunch with Rainbow, Rainbow discovers Twilight's feelings, and then nothing happens for unexplained reasons.
4. Twilight becomes an alicorn, gains the ability to fly at the cost of having immortality
5. Twilight decides ten or so years later that immortality is too high of a price (although nothing has happened to drive that decision), and instead decides to go to an alternate universe
Advice for the future: Watch the pacing. It seems weird for me of all people to give that advice, but it will certainly help this story. Give us more details. Like in the second chapter, it would have been nice to see what Twilight was like as a pegasus filly. Did she still love to read? Did she spend her time wishing she could do magic? Does Twilight remember her previous life?
Anyways, I'll be watching this. Hope it turns out to be a fun read!