Twidash in an AU Shadow Wars Story Verse · 1:43am Oct 12th, 2015
After reading Rainbow At Twilight, I actually thought a bit about how I would do an alternate Shadow Wars Story Verse in which Rainbow Dash and Twilight wound up falling in love.
It's possible, despite the Reincarnation Romance aspect of Luna's friendship with Twilight in those worldlines. Just because Luna was Moondreamer and Twilight was Dusk Skyshine, and they were very happily married four millennia ago, and that love was key to Luna's hesitation allowing the Mane Six to use the Elements on her, does not mean that they have to wind up as lovers again as Luna and Twilight. For that matter, Rainbow Dash was Dash Firehooves, the best friend of Dusk's and a good friend of Moondreamer's in those pre-Cataclysmic times, so Twidash or Luna-Dash is almost as plausible as Twiluna on that basis.
In the fanon Shadow Wars Storyverse, Luna's not certain if she can fall in love with Twilight, because she's normally straight (Twilight has similar trepidations, though Twilight doesn't actually have much if any romantic history at that point). It's quite possible that Luna instead decides to just be Twilight's friend, and Rainbow Dash goes for Twilight (especially on the rebound from Fluttershy after she discovers Fluttershy was half-Changeling).
By that point (YOH 1503) Twilight and Dashie have known one another for some three years, and each has a very high opinion of the other. Rainbow Dash is a confirmed bisexual, quite capable of romantic affect toward another mare (in fact, in this worldline, she probably never has sex with any male). We know from the mainline Shadow Wars Story Verse that Twilight can feel romantic love for a mare whom she sufficiently likes and respects. Dashie has a relatively weak sex drive -- but then, so does Twilight Sparkle.
They're actually fairly compatible, because they both have strong senses of honor and loyalty. And they each have things to teach the other -- Twilight in canon leads Rainbow Dash to have greater affinity for intellectual pursuits, and Dashie in canon trains Twilight in aerobatics and overall athletics. Also, each respects the other enough to learn from her.
So actually, love between the two is quite believable -- and would probably, given their mutual morals, ultimately lead to marriage. Possibly a very successful, happy and long one, given that both characters Ascend in the SWSV. They might well both still survive and be mates in the Poniternity.
It's plausible enough that it's probably on a good number of the worldlines Pinkie can view.
What I don't know is at exactly what point their affect would change from friendly to romantic. Their friendship, of course, deepens around the time of "Read It and Weep," but that's in August 1502, when Rainbow Dash is still in love with Fluttershy. What probably happens is that Dashie gets a little bit closer emotionally to Twilight at this time than in the main worldline; thus when she finds out that Fluttershy's half-Changeling, in April 1503, Dashie winds up spending more time with Twilight than in the main worldline, and coming to appreciate certain aspects of Twilight with which she is actually more compatible than she is with Fluttershy. After she discovers that Sky is all Changeling, she turns to Twilight as a friend for comfort. Things develop from there, slowly but naturally.
Does this sound like a natural plot line?
As disgustingly homophobic, heteronormative, and cisgendered as I am, in the bounds of your universes, I will admit that this seems rather plausible. Please continue.
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My Equestrians aren't at all "homophobic," but they are "heteronormative" in the sense that (of course) heterosexuality is far more common than homosexuality in Equestria, and over 99% of the population is cisgendered. For obvious evolutionary reasons.
3463768 Quite.
However, this does bring up a question of mine, and pardon me if you have mentioned it before and I have overlooked it, but why does Rainbow Dash settle her affectiona on Teilight Sparkle instead of Fluttershy Wind or Sky? Is there some form of racism and/or fear of Changelings for her there?
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In the main Shadow Wars Story Verse, actually, she winds up with Sky.
It's the circumstances in which she first found out Fluttershy was part Changeling. The circumstances were during the first Changeling invasion of Canterlot. Chrysalis revealed it. Rainbow Dash was understandably upset.
One deep irony is that Dashie then falls for Sky. Who turns out to be an amnesiac Changeling. No "part" about it.
The other deep irony is that in the long run Dashie winds up admired by the Changelings, for being the lifelong friend and chosen protector of High Queen Kindness. Aka Fluttershy Wind.
Another deep irony is that in the end Dashie finds that she actually likes Changelings. Mostly.
3463836 So, as far as Dashie is concerned, if the question Would It Matter were posed, then her answer would be Yes It Would?
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Tragically for Rainbow Dash, at the moment it was posed, it did matter to her. Very much. Because she saw Fluttershy as betraying her trust. And by the time she realized that she was wrong -- because Fluttershy had TRIED to tell her -- it was too late for her to regain her old romantic dream of being the Clan Warrior in love with her High Lady.
3463855 Ah, but could that dream (a laudable one, if I may be honest) not be fulfilled a bit later down the line with Twilight Sparkle?
Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle are very compatible characters, not only in how their strengths and weaknesses mesh, but also because they admire each other very much. Twilight appreciates (albeit sometimes grudgingly) Dash's brave and straightforward nature, and views her as an example to emulate. And while Rainbow had the habit of calling Sparkle “Egghead", she clearly respects her intelligence, and tends to trust Twilight's judgement over her own. So I can definitely see Rainbow going to Twilight because of her hurt trust and confused feelings over Fluttershy's, and later Sky's, changeling nature. Twilight would eventually convince her to make up with them, most likely by reminding Rainbow that being a changeling doesn't mean that Fluttershy is any less her oldest friend, or that Sky is a bad guy over something he didn't remember. The time Dash and Sparkle spent with each other would have brought the two closer together, but they might have started feeling strangely towards each other, as I imagine that Twilight and Rainbow began to connect in ways neither expected...
I realize that this is mostly just speculation, and that I might be missing some information, but I wanted to give your blog the proper response, so I kinda went overboard. I definitely believe that this idea is worth pursuing, so please keep up the great work!