Let's Talk Timelines! (Part 2) · 1:02am Feb 13th, 2018
Punk Rock Prom Queen brought up a good point in response to the first part of this timeline. Namely that, no matter how you massage it, Anon-A-Miss just doesn't work in the timeline of events of EG. The idea that after helping defeat the Sirens that the entire school would turn on Sunset that fast seems utterly ridiculous.
However, if you recall, most of us wrote off the comic when it first came out, rightly seeing it as both a thinly veiled reworking of "Ponyville Confidential" and writer Ted Anderson trying to Say Something Important about cyberbullying. The end result was a ridiculously preachy, dull story that killed the holiday mood I think IDW really wanted for the comic. Way to go, Ted.
Of course, Dainn's infamous take on the story started a glut of Anon-A-Miss stories on this site, bringing it back into the limelight, rather than being left forgotten in the dark where it should be. In any event, the novelization of the Rainbow Rocks prequel shorts indicates Rainbow decided to form a band sometime in spring, rather than in the fall. This is one of the perils I mentioned about expecting licensed comics to fit seamlessly with an ongoing show. Contradictions are inevitable, especially when we're talking show vs novel vs comics.
Since this timeline not only includes stuff that happens from the show, but also places my own stories into that timeline for reference, I have chosen to pick and choose what works and what doesn't for me from the novels and the comics. I indicated this is what I do with this kind of stuff in my Stances and Scheduled Stories blog post.
(The novels, in particular, massage the hell out of what happens in the show to make it all work as a cohesive narrative. For example, the book "Magic, Magic Everywhere," adapts the three TV specials from last year, and twists things so that Starlight comes through the mirror earlier and is present for all three stories.)
So, since it's only the novels which indicate Rainbow Rocks happened in the spring, I have elected to ignore that fact and have it happen in November. Likewise, because I made it a secondary plot element in "Repercussions," the Anon-A-Miss incident does happen during the Christmas season after Rainbow Rocks.
In short, my personal opinion is what happens in the show trumps anything in any other media created for this franchise.
Again, this is just my theoretical timeline and my headcanons for my stories. Nothing here that you don't like or think works should be taken as gospel. I'm just posting this to get it clear in my head and pre-emptively answer any questions readers of my stories may have. We're all friends here. I'm not looking to destroy anyone else's headcanon.
Okay? Okay. Back to the timeline!
Late December-Late January (1-2 Months after Rainbow Rocks): Sunset Shimmer gets closer to her friends following the Anon-A-Miss incident and begins gaining her confidence back, changing her usual style to reflect her changes within. ("Friendship Through The Ages" & "My Past Is Not Today"). The human world Twilight Sparkle begins her research into the odd energy readings she's been detecting in town.
Late February-Early March ( Three Months after Rainbow Rocks): The Friendship Games are announced. Tryouts for the teams happen. Rainbow Dash goes to spy on the Crystal Prep team. Not really concerned with all this, Sunset Shimmer decides to figure out how magic works in the human world. (Friendship Games prequel shorts.)
Friendship Games (Mid-March): The Friendship Games happen. The girls' magic becomes more powerful and is collected by Twilight. Principal Cinch convinces Twilight to release it, causing Twilight to become Midnight Sparkle and nearly destroy reality until Sunset manages to stop her.
Late March-Early April (Two to Three Weeks after Friendship Games): Twilight Sparkle transfers from Crystal Prep to Canterlot High.
Legend of Everfree (Late April-Early May) For Spring Break, Canterlot High arranges a school trip to Camp Everfree. The girls stop a magically overcharged Gloriosa Daisy from imprisoning the students at the camp forever. The girls receive their new magic powers and geode pendants.
At some point between these last two events Principal Cinch either retires or is forced out of her position at Crystal Prep, replaced by Dean Cadance. The details are sketchy, with most people assuming she retired. Additionally, the majority of the school set "Summertime Shorts" happen during this period, with Sunset occasionally wearing her old outfit from time to time, and acquiring her pet leopard gecko, Ray. ("Steps of Pep," "Mad Twience," "Monday Blues," "Pet Project," "Subs Rock," "The Art of Friendship," & "Epic Fails." "Make Up Shake Up," "A Photo Booth Story," and "Raise This Roof" naturally occur during the Fall Formal in EG1.)
Dance Magic (Mid May): With Camp Everfree needing additional funds to stay open, the girls enter the "Chance to Prance" music video contest, eventually teaming up with their Crystal Prep rivals. They win the contest and split the prize money for their various causes.
Movie Magic (Late May): As a thank you for helping save Camp Everfree, the girls get a chance to visit the set of the latest Daring Do movie and recover the props stolen by Juniper Montage and are given extras roles in the movie as a reward.
June: With school out for the summer the girls get part-time jobs ("Shake Things Up," "Good Vibes," "Coinky-Dink World") and manage to find the time to refurbish an old school bus into their new Rainbooms tour bus. ("Get the Show On the Road.")
Mirror Magic ( Early July): In defiance of all known logic when it comes to the time needed to edit a major motion picture, the Daring Do movie is scheduled to premiere. Juniper Montage encounters the magic infected mirror and uses it to get rid of anything that prevents her from staring into it and seeing the life she wants. Sunset runs out of pages in her journal to Princess Twilight, journeying back to Equestria to get a new one, and bringing Starlight Glimmer back with her. The magic corrupts Juniper and Starlight is able to talk her into giving up the magic.
Late July: The Canterlot Movie Club sees the Daring Do movie a ridiculous amount of times ("The Canterlot Movie Club") while Rainbow Dash loses herself in re-reading the series of books. ("Leaping Off the Page")
Late August-Early September: School is back in session.
Repercussions (Late September): After work one night, Sunset Shimmer is attacked by a magic wielding woman in a black overcoat and hat. The woman manages to put Sunset into a coma. The other girls investigate who it could be. Sunset has a revelation about how she feels about herself and reclaims her cutie mark after realizing that ever since Rainbow Rocks, she's been subconsciously denying part of herself. Eventually Sunset is revived and the girls manage to defeat the woman. Unfortunately, their adversary is killed by an out of control magical backlash.
In the Days That Followed (One week after Repercussions - an as yet unspecified time later): Sunset and her friends deal with the fallout from Repercussions.
Consequences (Following In the Days That Followed): The events of Repercussions bring the girls some unwanted official attention.
Equestria Girls Digital Series Season 1 ("Better Together"/CYOE/ Forgotten Friendship): These events happen after Consequences with A Matter of Credit happening later in the day after the events of "A Display of Affection."
So there's my basic timeline for my Equestria Girls stories and what I'm basing them on. Note that "The Green Room" and "Sunset Sexytimes" are not included in this timeline for what I hope are obvious reasons. I'll will continue to update this timeline as the new shorts and other stories that occur to me warrant.
Thanks for reading!
not turn that fast huh... it's secondary -human- school; sure they would.
Wrong. Anon-a-miss does fit perfectly into the Equestria Girls timeline.
Let see how.
Students are happy and confused when it is revealed that Sunset Shimmer help saved the day. This confusion causes doubt to grow. Few secrets are posted. This cause the doubt to grow and in turn cast doubts on the Rainbooms who are just characters of people in their own world. Sooner or later by time or peer pressure they will snap. Anon-a-miss pried at the doubt in the Rainbooms which caused them to betray Sunset. This event cause Sunset to lose trust in them. Enough to consider going back to Equestria and pony world. This is an unused B-plot of the friendship games which there is still evidence this was the first intended route.
Clue one the deleted version of What's more out there which was a full duet with sic-twilight and Sunset. Sunset's lyrics of one of the verse was:
This town is home, this school is safe. But how can I be home and still feel out of place?
Believe it or not there is evidence still in the movie. Everyone flinches when someone raises their voice a clear indication that they don't fully trust each other. And this is why Daydream Shimmer was born. It was because the elements were broken in friendship games. That's why it was so easy for human Twilight to collect the magic. The magic was fading only holding on because Sunset forgive them.
It's a hard magic system. If you want to know more just ask.
4796482
Since the subplot was not actually used in the finished film, it doesn't count for the purposes of this timeline. I am not interested in a debate.
4796492
Then would you explain Daydream Shimmer then? How is that possible without anon-a-miss? I like to hear theories explain different reasons. My idea is just a theory. I would like to hear others. So you you explain your theory?
It's just asking for more information not a debate.
I have a pet peeve when people say it's a debate when it is not. Some people like more information than a simplified version. Please understand this is only asking for more information so more theories can get out there in the fandom.
I find it fun to read theories.