//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: A Mathematical Theory of ‬Hard Reset // by furrypony //------------------------------// “The life of every individual, viewed as a whole and in general, and when only its most significant features are emphasized, is really a tragedy; but gone through in detail it has the character of a comedy.” ― Arthur Schopenhauer, The World as Will and Representation, Vol 1 The story‭ ‬Hard Reset is about Twilight Sparkle accidentally using a time magic while studying in the Canterlot Royal Library,‭ ‬and finds that every time she dies,‭ ‬she returns to the moment just after the completion of the aforementioned time magic.‭ ‬In detail,‭ ‬each time immediately after she dies,‭ ‬she would hear‭ “‬Well that didn't work.‭” ‬spoken by Spike,‭ ‬and when she opens her eyes,‭ ‬she would see herself standing in the library. The reset time point is just hours before the changeling invasion of Canterlot,‭ ‬therefore she died a lot of times from all kinds of causes,‭ ‬mostly being mauled by changelings,‭ ‬but also including suicide by falling,‭ ‬hit by falling objects,‭ ‬mind-killed by Chrysalis. After going through the cycle many times,‭ ‬Twilight managed to learn enough of the details of the events immediately after the invasion to perform the exact sequence of actions to survive,‭ ‬and kill Chrysalis,‭ ‬and save her friends,‭ ‬and help Celestia repel the invasion with minimal casualty.‭ For some reason, Twilight thought this marked the end of the time-loop spell's effect. It's been five years since the changeling invasion of Canterlot.‭ ‬Twilight Sparkle was still living in Ponyville with her friends.‭ ‬Spike was still working as her assistant.‭ ‬Mostly things had been the same.‭ ‬This followup story would work even if things had been significantly different,‭ ‬but it simplifies matters to discuss the situation assuming things had stayed mostly the same.‭ ‬There is no loss of generality. One day,‭ ‬Twilight Sparkle died.‭ ‬The reasons are not really important,‭ ‬as it is inevitable,‭ ‬and it is crucial for this followup story to begin.‭ ‬Without loss of generality,‭ ‬we assume she died of poisoning while performing chemical experiments. The stage is set and the story can begin. ‭“Well that didn't work.” Twilight opened her eyes and see that she was in some library aisle.‭ ‬Spike was standing beside her,‭ ‬holding up some books.‭ ‬She blinked in confusion. ‭“Spike? How did... where am I?” “Oh no‭! ‬Did the spell mess with your brain‭?” ‬Spike threw down the books and looked around agitated,‭ “‬Should I go call a doctor‭?” “Where am I‭?” ‬Twilight demanded. ‭“The Canterlot Royal Library, Top Floor, Aisle B.” Twilight blinked again.‭ ‬Her best hypothesis seemed correct,‭ ‬but the implication filled her with dread.‭ “‬Spike‭?” “Yes‭?” “Don't call a doctor.‭ ‬The spell just‭ '‬bumped‭' ‬me a bit,‭ ‬but now I'm fine.‭” ‬she took Spike by the hoof,‭ “‬Let's take a break.‭” “Alright‭!” ‬Spike leaped on her back,‭ ‬happy to get out of the stuffy library.‭ ‬Soon they were outside in the royal gardens.‭ ‬Twilight noted in dismay that the shapes of the clouds seemed awfully familiar.‭ They settled down in the shade of a tree.‭ ‬Spike quickly falls into a light nap.‭ ‬Twilight stared at Spike and contemplated whether she should test the hypothesis straight on or wait just a few more hours.‭ ‬She decided to wait a few more hours. ‭“Spike!” The little dragon yawned.‭ “‬Yes‭?” “Come on now,‭ ‬let's not sleep away the afternoon.‭ ‬Let's go into the city.‭” “But have you finished your research yet‭?” ‬Spike poked Twilight's saddlebag,‭ ‬which was filled to the brim with scrolls,‭ “‬Don't go have fun today,‭ ‬and tomorrow shake me up at‭ ‬6‭ ‬am for some‭ '‬emergency‭' ‬research,‭ ‬again.‭” “No,‭ ‬but...‭ ‬there would be time enough for that.‭” ‬Twilight looked up to the piercing tops of the library tower. Twilight waited,‭ ‬staring at the sky to the east.‭ ‬Spike was eating his second tub of ice cream. Twilight saw black swarms gathering in the distance.‭ ‬She waited some more.‭ ‬She saw the black swarms come closer and resolve into individual changelings.‭ Spike dropped his ice cream and clinged onto Twilight's neck.‭ “‬What's that‭?” “It is true.‭” ‬Twilight embraced Spike.‭ “‬They are going to kill us all soon.‭” “You can't just give up like that‭! … ‬Go get Celestia‭! ‬Luna‭!” “There's no use.‭ ‬My friends are already dead and there's no life for me without them.‭” “What‭? ‬But they are on the train...‭?” “The train was attacked about fifteen minutes ago by a subdivision of the changelings and they were killed.‭” ‬Twilight shook her head,‭ “‬I remember.‭” Spike was sure Twilight has indeed gone mad,‭ ‬but the approaching black cloud was more concerning.‭ “‬Please,‭ ‬we got to get Celestia.‭ ‬She will fix things.‭” “There's nothing that needs fixing,‭ ‬and there's no fixing that lasts.‭” ‬Twilight swinged Spike onto her back,‭ “‬But since you insist,‭ ‬let's go anyway.‭” The gallop to the throne room was stopped short by three changelings hissing at the gate.‭ ‬Twilight could read them like a stop-motion movie,‭ ‬relying on her muscle memory to knock them out in minimal time.‭ ‬Five years and I still remember.‭ ‬Good job. On the throne sat Chrysalis,‭ ‬staring down at Twilight with a smirk.‭ “‬Your friends are already dead,‭ ‬and soon you'll be too.‭” “I know that,‭ ‬but soon you'll be too.‭” ‬With that,‭ ‬Twilight shot several magic missiles at Chrysalis as a token of aggression.‭ ‬She knew that she has already entered a dead end and there's no point in playing along seriously.‭ ‬She was simply putting up a show for Spike to give him some false hope,‭ ‬so that his last moments ‬would be less hard to swallow.