The Reality I Choose
Twilight and Spike tumbled back out of the time portal for the dozenth time. It could have been even more than that; Twilight was starting to lose track. She tried to open her wings in time, but still landed roughly on her side as she slammed into the hard table where the Cutie Map was laid out. Spike landed right next to her, his punctuated grunt becoming familiar.
Twilight raised her head, ready to take an obligatory glance around at this new timeline, assess how awful it was, and then charge back to the past to confront Starlight Glimmer. But as her eyes became used to the dim light, her expression changed from one of frustration and annoyance to one of open-mouthed amazement.
“Spike,” she whispered, her eyes wide and her breath catching in her throat. “We… we’re home.”
Spike stood, stretching his back as he grumbled. “Of course we are. We always come back to somewhere around Ponyvi--” He stopped as he raised his head and likewise took in the sight before him.
He saw the wooden, naturally curving walls; the shelves lined with old books and papers and Twilight’s scientific equipment covered in sheets; the familiar shape of the massive roots; the earthy scent of this cellar.
“The library… Spike, we’re in the Golden Oak Library!” Twilight exclaimed, raising her hooves to her face as a huge smile spread across her face. “It wasn’t destroyed in this timeline!”
Spike was still speechless, his mouth agape as he gawked at the cavernous basement below the library. At last, he managed to whisper, “If it wasn’t blown up… Tirek must have been stopped. But how?”
The sound of hoofsteps came and they both looked up the stairs that led to the door which in turn led to the main part of the library. Twilight wasn’t sure who was coming, but she intended to meet them head on and not be caught unprepared. She levitated Spike onto her back and flew up to land right before the door. She held her breath, lowering her head defensively, ready to defend herself and Spike or flee from whoever or whatever was coming.
“Who’s down there?!” came a familiar voice. The door burst open and the speaker jumped through the door, her horn lighting up and her eyes fierce.
Twilight and the newcomer’s eyes locked. Twilight’s opened her mouth to say something, but the one standing before her was the last pony she expected to see.
The pony’s yellow coat was easy to see in the light streaming through the door and from her glowing horn. Likewise, there were the familiar teal eyes and, most prominent, her shocking mane and tail of red and yellow.
“S...Sunset Shimmer?” Twilight managed to croak.
Sunset blinked for a moment, her mind still catching up to the sight before her. “Twilight Sparkle?” Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. “Well, Twilight, I didn’t expect that it was you making all that noise in my basement!” she laughed. “And Sir Spike is here! Come on in, I’ll go make us some tea! Oh, or some cocoa if you like!”
She nodded in the direction of the door and turned to go back through it. As she did so, Twilight let out another gasp, for when Sunset turned, she saw, plain as day, the large wings at her side.
Spike tapped Twilight’s neck when she remained frozen in place. “Um… Twilight, did I hit my head too hard on the map that last time, or is Sunset Shimmer an alicorn?”
Twilight closed her eyes, rubbing them with one hoof before finally taking a shaky step toward the door. “If it’s the first one, then I think I must have hit my head too.”
They walked through the doorway and again Twilight and Spike were greeted by familiar sights. The books, the wooden bust on the table, and the stairs leading to the alcoves above the library were all there, all in in place, and all exactly as she’d remembered them.
“This can’t be…”
“The water’s boiling,” Sunset said, trotting out from the kitchen cheerfully. “I hope you’re not too disappointed, but I’m almost out of tea, so you’ll have to settle for orange pekoOHHH SWEET CELESTIA, YOU HAVE WINGS!” she shouted, pointing a hoof at Twilight’s feathered appendages.
“I…” Twilight shook her head. “No, never mind that, you have wings!”
Sunset ignored that and went right over to Twilight and immediately took hold of her wing. “How did this happen?! What in the world happened in the Crystal Empire to make you become an alicorn?!”
Twilight seized Sunset by the shoulders, forcing Sunset to look at her. “Sunset!” she said firmly. “Never mind that right now. Why are you an alicorn?!”
Sunset blinked at her for a moment before bursting out laughing. “Oh, come on Twilight! I know you’ve always got your muzzle in a book, but even you aren’t so spaced out that you’d forget my coronation! You were there!”
Twilight’s legs turned to jelly. Feeling her start to topple, Spike jumped off her back and held her up before she lost her balance. As Sunset looked to the two of them, her eyebrow raising, Spike decided to take matters into his own claws.
“Uh, okay, Sunset, I know this might sound weird, but could you please just answer a few questions? We’re a little confused.”
Sunset bowed her head. “Of course, Sir Spike.”
Spike couldn’t keep the grin from his face. Sir Spike, eh? he thought. I like the sound of that!
Pushing onward, he asked, “Okay, so Twilight was at your coronation?”
“I’d think you would remember that too, Sir Spike. You were there along with Princess Cadance, Prince Shining Armor, Queen Celestia and King Sombra, as well as--”
“King Sombra?!” Twilight shrieked, launching herself into the air, Spike clinging to her in surprise. “Why was he there?!”
Sunset narrowed her eyes. “Um… hang on a second.”
She suddenly fired a beam from her horn and both Spike and Twilight felt energy surge through their bodies. They both fell roughly to the floor, their heads swimming and a tingling sensation running through their limbs.
“Oookay, guess you’re not changelings,” Sunset said, rubbing the back of her neck as she chuckled nervously. She then took Twilight’s hoof, helping her up. “Sorry for the ‘force reveal’ spell. But you really should know all this. I thought you were imposters! What in the hay is going on here?”
Spike and Twilight exchanged a glance. “Mmmaybe we should tell her what’s going on,” Spike suggested.
Twilight was less certain, but Sunset suddenly put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, sensing her resistance to the idea.
“Listen, Twilight. Something strange is obviously going on. But we’re friends.” She offered her a warm smile. “Let me help you. Maybe with two of us ‘eggheads’ on the case, we can figure something out.”
Twilight relaxed, seeing that warm smile that she’d seen on Sunset’s face before now on her more equine features.
“Okay,” Twilight said, nodding to her. “Let’s talk.”
Just then, a high whistling sound came from the kitchen.
“Oh, that’s the tea! Just a minute there, Twilight!” Sunset disappeared in a flash. A moment later, she reappeared, teleporting back into the room with a tray holding a tea kettle and three cups, one for each of them.
They all sat around the table in the library, and Sunset poured a cup for Twilight, then for Spike.
“Thank you,” Twilight said softly, taking a sip along with Spike.
“Now then,” Sunset said calmly, putting a hoof to her chest, “what can the Princess of Friendship do for you?”
Both of them spat their tea out, spraying it all over Sunset.
“Ooookay,” Sunset groaned, the tea dripping from her sopping wet mane, “gonna need a towel before we continue this conversation.”
***
Twilight was a little more steady on her feet as she made her way through the streets of Ponyville, but she and Spike still could hardly believe after all the awful timelines they’d witnessed that this one looked - for lack of a better word - normal.
The sun was shining overhead. The buildings, including the businesses and thatch-roof cottages all were in the right places. Ponies walked by with happy smiles on their faces and said hello to Sunset as they passed. Even Mayor Mare spotted them and waved as they passed by City Hall.
“I don’t understand this,” Twilight muttered. “This isn’t right!”
“It looks pretty right to me!” Spike said.
Sunset cleared her throat. “So, let me get this straight,” she said, once she had their attention. “You both come from another universe?”
“Well, actually,” Twilight said, holding out a hoof, “We’re from a different timeline, not a different universe.”
Sunset furrowed her brow. “And in this other uni-- timeline, you’re a princess?”
Spike and Twilight nodded.
“Specifically, you’re the Princess of Friendship... instead of me?”
Twilight winced. “Yyyeah.”
Sunset took a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Okay.”
Twilight blinked. “Okay?”
Sunset shrugged. “It makes sense. You’re not changelings. And Twilight was not an alicorn last time I checked. And Sir Spike is not your assistant, Twilight, he’s Celestia’s!”
Twilight and Spike exchanged a horrified glance.
“Y-you mean…” Spike stammered.
“...we’re not friends?!” Twilight finished.
Sunset sighed. “Of course you are. Well, I guess you’re more like ‘acquaintances’ than close friends after all the time you spent together in the castle, what with you being Celestia’s second student.” She chuckled and smiled at Twilight. “You really surprised everypony with how much magical talent you had during your second magic entry exam. Especially after the first time was such a dud!”
Twilight puffed out her cheeks. “It was not--!”
Spike tapped her on the shoulder and shook his head. “Different Twilight, Twilight.”
Twilight groaned, tossing her head back. “Fine, fine!” Mulling this over, another thought occurred to her. “So… since you’re the Princess of Friendship, you must have harnessed the Elements of Harmony, right?”
Sunset nodded.
“And that means all my-- er, our friends are all right!”
Sunset nodded. “Oh, sure! All six of us are right here in Ponyville. In fact,” she said with a smile, her eyes catching something over Twilight’s shoulder, “I see one of them coming right now!”
Twilight and Spike both turned and broke into beaming smiles as they saw Rarity trotting over to them.
“Good morning, Sunset!” Rarity said cheerfully. “And I see you are entertaining company! Grand Vizier Twilight and… oh!”
Rarity covered up her mouth and a blush came to her cheeks. “S-sir Spike!” She looked away, a nervous smile on her face. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?”
Spike felt his face flush and his mouth went dry. “Uh, heh heh, I’m… you know, just… visiting!”
“Well, as always, it is a pleasure to see you in our humble little hamlet--”
“Whoa whoa whoa,” Twilight said, interjecting herself between the two of them. “Grand Vizier?!”
Rarity crinkled her nose, cringing. “Why… yes! Oh, dear, did I make a mistake? Have you been promoted?” Then she caught sight of Twilight’s wings and immediately fell to her knees, bowing low. “Oh my goodness! Oh dear me, how could I have not known?! You’ve become an alicorn, Lady Twilight! Oh, but surely this means you are now Princess Twilight!”
“I--”
Rarity shot bolt upright. “You’ll want your clothes fitted for your new wings! No, you’ll want a whole new wardrobe! I see, and Queen Celestia has sent you her most trusted assistant to help you with the task!”
“Rarity, breathe!” Sunset exclaimed, going nose-to-nose with her.
“I… ah… yes, well…” She blushed again and took a breath, composing herself. “Well, should you require my help, please visit my boutique. I will not disappoint you if called upon.” She bowed to Twilight and then gave a smile and nod to Sunset. “I’ll be on my way then. Goodbye, Sunset, Grand-- Princess Twilight Sparkle, and…” her blush returned, deeper than before, “...Sir Spike. Please, do visit us more often.”
They watched her go and Spike felt his knees go weak, his heart practically jackhammering out of his chest.
“She… is it just me or…?”
Sunset raised an eyebrow. “Um, she’s had that unrequited crush on you ever since you defended her honor from that lout Blueblood at the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“Un...requited?” Spike said, still staring after Rarity.
Twilight bit her lip.
Sunset blinked. “Oh. Oh, in your timeline, it’s… oh.”
Twilight pulled Spike in close, hugging him. “Spike. We need to focus,” she whispered.
Spike heaved a sigh and nodded, managing a smile. “Right. Okay, what next?”
Twilight thought about this. “That’s a good question.”
Sunset cleared her throat. “Well, to be honest, while I want to help you, I also think one of my friends would be able to help us out with this even more than I could! Plus, I know he’ll want to know about this...”
***
The metal door opened and a brown earth pony stallion stuck his head out, his green bow tie fitting loosely and his mane disheveled.
“Hm, yes? Ah!” He smiled when he saw Sunset standing there. “Sunset, I’m glad you’re here! Please, come inside!” Then he turned and noticed Twilight and Spike. “Oh, and bring your guests.”
He led them back into the dome-shaped structure. His experiments and devices, machines and clocks and strange half-finished models of all types, littered every table and shelf and many were hung from the ceiling. “Derpy! Derpy, my dear, Sunset is here and she’s brought company!”
A voice from the back room called out “On it, Doc!”
Twilight and Spike exchanged glances as the brown pony - called “Doc” it seemed - went over to them with a device in his hooves.
“It’s the strangest thing, really,” he said, narrowing his eyes at the device’s display. “I am detecting a rather large flux in the chronotons in this local area. Certainly something major must have happened. The odd thing is that it’s been getting ever stronger. Now it seems to have reached it’s peak--” He was pacing and here he walked by Twilight and Spike and started to go away from them “--no, wait. Strange, now the readings are weaker.” He walked closer to them. “Wait, now they’re increasing.” He walked past them again. “Nnnno, wait, they’ve gone down. Is this some kind of natural fluctuation or…”
He looked up, seeing the reading peak right as he stood before Twilight and Spike. He frowned, backed away from them slightly, keeping his eyes on the device, and then approached them. His blue eyes lit up and began to laugh. “Ahaha! Oh, that’s absolutely brilliant! A localized time distortion centered right in these two! Fantastic!”
Sunset tapped the stallion on the shoulder. “Doc, listen, I already know that they’re from another timeline.”
“Ah... ha?” He frowned, his ears lowering. “I see. Seems I’m one step behind.”
Sunset shook her head. “No, no, Doctor, I actually need your help. In fact, you already helped by confirming their story. Up until you said something, I still wasn’t 100 percent sure that they were telling the truth!”
“Hey!” Twilight and Spike shouted in unison, glaring at her.
Sunset rolled her eyes. “Well, would you believe that kind of story if our roles were reversed?”
Twilight and Spike looked to each other, then back to Sunset.
“Probably not,” they said in unison again.
“Okay, everypony!” a cheerful, feminine voice said as its owner, a gray pegasus mare with a blonde mane came around the corner holding a tray of tea. The mare, Derpy, landed and walked over to them. Twilight thought she looked familiar, especially once she got sight of her wall-eyes. “Good to see you again, Sunset! I brought tea for you and your guests--”
Her left foreleg tripped over a large gear left on the floor and she pitched forward with a startled cry, the tray of tea upending and splashing all over Sunset Shimmer.
“Oops!” Derpy cried, getting to her hooves. “Oh my gosh, Sunset, I am so sorry!”
Sunset merely stood there, dripping wet again. “And I’m 0 for 2 on tea today,” she muttered.
The Doctor fetched a towel and began helping Derpy to clean her up.
“Dreadfully sorry, my dear, that was entirely my fault! If only I hadn’t left that gear there--”
“No, Doc!” Derpy exclaimed. “It was my fault for not looking where I was going!” She lowered her ears. “I mean, with these eyes…”
“No, I won’t hear of it!” the Doctor said, raising her chin with his hoof. “You wouldn’t have to look out for a blasted thing if I would only take some time to clean! Oh, my dear, can you ever forgive me?”
Derpy giggled and touched her nose to his, nuzzling him. “I always have, haven’t I?”
Twilight smiled as the Doctor nuzzled Derpy in return, their noses touching before they embraced each other while Sunset Shimmer still stood soaked in Ceylon. She felt a tug on her mane and looked down to Spike, who gestured for her to come closer.
“Um, Twilight,” Spike whispered, “I know these two. They’re friends and all, but they aren’t a couple in our timeline!”
Twilight raised her head. “Um, excuse me, but how long have you been dating, if you don’t mind my asking?”
The Doctor and Derpy glanced at each other before bursting out laughing.
“Dating?” Derpy managed to gasp.
“We haven’t been ‘dating’ in a while,” the Doctor added, putting his foreleg around her.
In unison, they both exclaimed, “We’re married!”
Spike and Twilight both wore tight, uncomfortable smiles. “Oh!” Twilight exclaimed. “That’s… fortunate!”
Spike glanced up at her, whispering through the clenched teeth of his smile. “Thish jusht got harder, didn’t it?” he managed to say.
“Yesh. Yesh it did,” Twilight whispered back.
Sunset finally took up the towel and began to dry herself off. “Ugh, well, there you go, Twilight. Two more of our friends right here. With me and Rarity and now these two, that’s four of the Elements of Harmony you’ve met.”
Twilight froze. “Wait… you mean these two are…?”
“Oh, you mean Sunset never told you?” Derpy asked, walking over to Twilight. “I guess we didn’t talk much at your brother’s wedding, Twilight! Sorry if I forgot to mention being an Element. Eheheheh…”
“Great whickering stallions, my little muffin, how could you leave out such a detail!”
“Well, I’m sorry, Doc!” she said, blushing. “I guess I was just too absorbed with being a bridesmaid and then Queen Chrysalis attacked--”
“That happened?!” Twilight exploded. “Oh my gosh, did we win?!”
“Of course we did!” Derpy laughed. “Oh, it was amazing! You should have been there!” She paused, furrowing her brow. “Heyyy wait a minute! You were there!”
Sunset let out an exasperated groan. “You just now said you remembered talking to her at Shining Armor’s wedding!”
Derpy blinked. “Oh yeah. Hey, why doesn’t she remember--”
“I’ll explain later,” Sunset said, waving a hoof dismissively. “Look the important thing is that we get some information going. So, let’s break the ice: Twilight, this is Time Turner and Muffins, but we all just call them the Doctor and Derpy and they’re the elements of Loyalty and Kindness, respectively. Doc, Derpy, these are Twilight and Spike from another timeline where she was the Princess of Friendship instead of me and he’s Twilight’s assistant instead of the Queen’s.”
The whole group went silent.
“Well!” The Doctor clapped his hooves together, breaking the uneasy silence. “Perhaps under the circumstances we should gather the rest of our little group and just answer each other’s questions. We’d best assemble the other Elements!”
“Ooh!” Derpy cooed. “We should all meet at Sugar Cube Corner! I’ll go get the others, Sunset!”
“Sugar Cube Corner?” Twilight asked. Her eyes lit up. “Oh, so is Pinkie there? Is she one of the Elements?!”
Derpy frowned and cocked her head to the side. “Who the hay is Pinkie? I just want to go there because they make the best muffins in town!”
***
Twilight and Spike sat with polite, if strained, smiles on their faces as they sat at the large table inside Sugar Cube Corner. The place certainly looked the same, what with the decor designed to look like confections, and Mr. and Mrs. Cake were both there as well. From the sound of the occasional crying upstairs, Pound and Pumpkin Cake were around too.
But that didn’t change the strangeness of the group sitting around the table. Sunset, Rarity, the Doctor, and Derpy were there, but that left the last two seats vacant. Twilight wasn’t sure if she wanted to ask or if she wanted to just wait it out. Her curiosity had almost gotten to her when the door to the little bakery burst open and a familiar face galloped over.
“I’m here, I’m here, sorry to keep ya waitin’!” Applejack cried, her familiar twang recognizable in an instant!
“Applejack!” Twilight exclaimed, rising to her hooves.
“Oh!” she gasped, skidding to a halt. “Well, howdy there! If it ain’t you, Starlight!”
“Where?!” Twilight and Spike both exclaimed, looking around in a panic.
“Her name is Twilight, AJ,” Sunset sighed.
“Oh. Whoops,” Applejack said, pulling down her hat to hide her face as she blushed. “Sorry ‘bout that.”
Twilight sank back into her seat, her ears drooping. She doesn’t even remember my name…
She felt a reassuring hoof on one shoulder and a claw on another and composed herself. “Sorry. Happy to see you, Applejack.”
“Right, right.” Applejack took a seat. “So, that just leaves one of us left, right? Where the hay is--”
There was a loud booming sound and a blast of confetti along with a vaguely pony-shaped object flew in through the window. The pony amid the confetti stood on his hind legs, spreading his forelegs wide. “Ta-daaa!” he exclaimed.
“Ugh. Well there ya are, Cheese Sandwich!” Applejack groaned. “I at least had to finish my chores at the farm! What’s your excuse for bein’ so late?!”
“Aw, come on AJ!” the poofy-haired stallion said, bounding over to the group and landing in his seat next to Applejack. “I’m not late! I’m fashionably late! I figured Rarity would appreciate it.” He elbowed Rarity at that, causing her to chuckle in spite of herself. “Besides, you know I love to make an entrance!”
Twilight looked to Spike, who just shrugged.
“Eh, it makes sense. If Pinkie isn’t here...”
Twilight turned back to them. “Um, thank you all for coming, everypony. I have an incredible story to tell, as you all no doubt do as well, but I think Sunset had better explain it so you don’t all think I’m crazy. Sunset?”
Sunset stood up. “Listen, everypony,” she began, levelling her gaze at all of them, “Twilight here isn’t the same Twilight we know. She’s from another timeline where she became the Princess of Friendship instead of me, where Spike is her assistant, and where different ponies are the Elements of Harmony. The Doctor can confirm that this is true.”
“Indeed so,” the Doctor said. “I’d go into details, but suffice it to say, they aren’t from our neck of the chronological woods, so to speak.”
The others sat in shocked silence, still absorbing this news before Rarity cleared her throat.
“So, you mean to say none of us bear the Elements?” she asked. “I simply can’t believe it could be anypony else but us!”
Twilight smiled. “Well, you’re partly right, Rarity. You and Applejack are the Elements of Generosity and Honesty in my timeline too!”
Applejack and Rarity exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of pride, and maybe a little bit of smugness as they bumped hooves.
“And if I’m not mistaken,” Twilight continued, rubbing her chin, “I already know the Doctor is Loyalty, Derpy is Kindness, and Cheese Sandwich must be Laughter.”
“You’d cheddar believe it!” Cheese Sandwich exclaimed, puffing out his chest as the others groaned. “If there’s a face without a smile in Ponyville, then I’m your pony!”
Twilight smiled. He really did remind her of Pinkie, in spite of their differences. “But I know that your world has some differences from mine other than who the Elements are. I’d like you to tell me more about what happened on your adventures. Spike, please take notes.”
Spike already had a quill and parchment ready and he held the quill up to show it.
“Well, sugarcube,” Applejack began, “if you want to start at the beginnin’, you best ask Sunset.”
Sunset tapped her chin. “I guess that does make sense. You see, it all began back when I was Celestia’s student. That was while she still bore the title ‘Princess.’ I was a great student, but I got too full of myself, and too impatient. I even demanded that she make me a princess too. She shut me down and I almost threw it all away right there to go off on my own, but she convinced me to be patient. In the end, I stayed, and I’m glad I did!”
Twilight was listening intently, but already there was a huge difference. In this timeline, it seemed, Sunset never left Equestria for Canterlot High.
“She told me I was only going to learn to use my power if I made some friends. Well, at first I thought it was a waste of time, but then she sent me to Ponyville. And that’s when I met all these guys!”
The rest of them all smiled.
“When Nightmare Moon appeared instead of Celestia at the Summer Sun Celebration, I knew from my research that she could only be stopped by the Elements of Harmony. We made our way to the Castle of the Two Sisters to find them, and along the way each of my new friends proved themselves. When we found the Elements and realized which ones we represented, we used their power to defeat Nightmare Moon.”
“So you brought back Princess Luna too, huh?” Twilight asked.
The table froze, their eyes downcast.
“Wait… wait, are you saying--”
“Poor Luna,” Derpy whispered, shaking her head. “We tried to get her to surrender, but she wouldn’t do it. So, we had to use the Elements and, well…”
Sunset bowed her head. “...we banished her back to the moon. We’re still trying to figure out a way to save her, but…” She stopped when she saw Twilight and Spike sitting there, mouths agape.
“Oh. Oh my gosh, are you telling me in your timeline that you saved Princess Luna?!”
Twilight nodded. “Yes. I… I can’t believe it. Poor Celestia. How did she take it?”
“She didn’t show in public how much it hurt,” Sunset said quietly. “But in private, I knew it broke her heart.”
Twilight swallowed. “I see. Please, go on. Tell me more. Like how King Sombra ended up at your coronation, for instance.”
Rarity chuckled. “Well, I suppose that will be a more cheerful subject. After all, once the Elements purified him of his dark powers, Cadance and Shining Armor took on their roles as leaders of the Empire, and Celestia took it upon herself to help Sombra rediscover his old self. They’ve grew ever closer and,” she heaved a sigh, starry-eyed, “the two of them were married last spring!”
Twilight and Spike froze again. “They… Celestia and Sombra are… they’re…” Twilight muttered, her voice shaking and distant.
Cheese Sandwich raised an eyebrow. “Whoa, looks like that one didn’t go over too well! Did they break up or something in your time?”
Spike turned to him. “In our timeline, we blew him up.”
Cheese Sandwich blinked. “Yeesh! I hope for the King’s sake they never get divorced!”
***
When they all walked outside, Twilight’s eyes unfocused and her steps off balance, nopony knew what else to say.
“Um, perhaps we should leave Alternate Timeline Twilight to herself,” the Doctor suggested. “I believe she’ll need some time to recover.”
“Good idea, Doc!” Derpy exclaimed before taking another bite of her blueberry muffin. “Mm! Should we all go home?”
The others seemed to think this was a good idea, though Twilight, still looking shell shocked, said nothing.
However, as Sunset approached Twilight, the Doctor lingered behind and beckoned to Sunset, whispering something in her ear. Keeping an eye on Twilight the whole time, her eyes went wide as the Doctor whispered to her, and she bit her lip.
When the Doctor was finished, Sunset turned back to him. “I see. Thank you for telling me that. I’ll do my best.”
He nodded and trotted off after Derpy. Sunset went over to Twilight. “Um, so, I guess that was a lot to take in, wasn’t it?”
Twilight swallowed. “Sunset, I… I need some time alone with Spike. Can I meet you back at the Cas-- at the Library in a little while?”
Sunset creased her brow, glancing back at the Doctor as he walked away, before turning back to Twilight. “Um… sure. I’ll see you when you get home.”
Twilight levitated Spike onto her back and flew up to the clouds, finding a perch as she left Sunset Shimmer behind.
***
“Ohhhh, what am I gonna do?!” Twilight cried, flinging herself onto a cloud.
“What do you mean, Twilight?” Spike asked, maintaining his balance on her back.
“What I mean, Spike, is that this timeline, unlike the other ones we visited, isn’t some terrible outcome where Equestria’s fallen to ruin!” Twilight exclaimed. She buried her face in the cloud, its pillowy depths muffling her groans. After a few minutes, she raised her head. “This world isn’t my home, but it is home to many other ponies. And it’s a nice one! Ponies with lives and friends and hopes and dreams! If we go back and change things, then this timeline will never happen!”
“But if we don’t go back, Twilight, then our timeline will never happen!”
“I know, I know, but is it really right for me to make a decision that benefits me at the cost of an entire timeline?”
“C’mon, Twilight, you didn’t make that decision in the first place! Starlight did!”
Twilight fell silent again. Spike wasn’t sure what else to say, so he did the only thing he could think of and wrapped his arms gently around her neck, embracing her. She smiled at the gesture, nuzzling him affectionately in return.
“Thanks, Spike. At least I know that, no matter what decision I make, I’ll have you with me.”
“You can count on it!” he said, thumping his chest.
“I guess… I guess that just leaves the question of what decision I should make. And how should I make it?” She took a deep breath. “Spike, do you have those notes you took?”
He took the notes out of his pack. “I sure do!”
“Then… let’s consider it from an objective point of view. We’ll evaluate this timeline’s pluses and minuses compared to our own. If it comes out on top, we’ll stay. If ours comes out ahead, then we’ll go back and try again.”
Spike cringed. “Is it really that simple?”
She turned to look at him forlornly. “Do you have any better ideas?”
Spike heaved a sigh and took out another piece of parchment. “Okay, two columns. Plus and Minus. Go.”
“Okay… in this timeline, Princess Luna was never saved.”
“Minus,” Spike said, noting it on the paper.
“But Celestia fell in love and got married.”
“Plus.”
“Scootaloo doesn’t have Rainbow Dash as a big sister figure, because Rainbow Dash never moved here.”
“Minus.”
“But that’s because she focused hard on achieving her dream and became a Wonderbolt!”
“Plus.”
“Nopony seems to know Fluttershy very well. Applejack barely knows her and says she’s practically a shut-in.”
“Minus.”
“But the Doctor and Derpy are married.”
“Plus.”
“I… I’m not the Princess of Friendship, but I am the Grand Vizier of the Crystal Empire with Shining Armor and Princess Cadance.”
“Minus.”
“Wait, is that… okay, yeah, that is a minus.” She heaved a sigh. “Much as I love Shining and Cadance, I have to admit that I am proud to be the Princess of Friendship. That’s the role I earned for myself. ‘Grand Vizier’ is a title this timeline’s Twilight earned.”
Spike scratched his head. “So… what about me? I mean, I’m not… I’m not your assistant anymore…”
“You mean you don’t want to count being ‘Sir Spike’ as a Plus?” Twilight asked, a smirk on her face.
He shook his head. “Not if it means I don’t get to be with you, Twilight.”
Twilight felt a lump in her throat. “Right. Then, that’s a Minus too,” she managed to say, holding back her tears.
“Although,” she added, “in this timeline, Rarity seems to have a crush on you instead.”
Spike was quiet for a moment. “That… might be worth two Pluses.”
“Spike--”
“Just kidding,” he chuckled, adding another Plus to the list.
“Well, another plus is that Sunset never had her falling out with Celestia and became the Princess of Friendship.”
“I… well, sure, but what about Canterlot High?”
Twilight pursed her lips, mulling that over. “If she never goes to the other world, then she never interferes with the other world’s versions of our friends, so they never drift apart. And without taking the crown there, the Sirens never show up looking for Equestrian magic either.”
“So… wait, how many pluses is that? Two? Three?”
Twilight swallowed. “I… no, that’s just one.”
Spike wrote it down.
“No, wait. Let’s be fair. T-two.”
Spike dutifully wrote it down.
“Um… Discord still got ‘reformed,’ but apparently he’s not on good terms with Sunset and the other Elements. He’s just having a truce with them. As much trouble as Discord causes, it is sad that he doesn’t have friends in this timeline like he does in ours.”
Spike nodded. “Right. Minus. What else?”
The two kept on like that, with Twilight going back over all the information they’d discussed, Spike adding his own commentary when asked, until the sun began to set and the temperature began to drop.
“Spike… we need to get back.” She shivered in the cold air. “What’s the tally?”
“It’s… let’s see…” He silently counted to himself, lightly tapping the parchment with the quill, even going over it twice just to make sure. “It’s a tie, Twilight.”
“Wait, what? Let me see that!” She used her magic to take it from his claws and counted the tally herself. Sure enough, the count came out dead even.
“Mmmaybe we should come up with a tiebreaker. There has to be--”
“Come on, Twilight, we’ve spent the last twenty minutes just trying to think of more examples!”
“Then we could do a longer term study! If we spent some time on this--”
“--then it’ll just be harder if we decide to go back! Twilight, please, we need to decide!”
Twilight was still for a moment. Then, silently, she stood and spread her wings, looking out over Ponyville below to see the Golden Oak Library, the place she once called her home, now in the hooves of another, as it seemed to glow in the radiant light of the sun setting behind it.
“What do you want, Spike?” Twilight asked quietly, not turning around to face him.
“Me? I…” He gulped. “Don’t be mad, Twilight, but I just want to go home. I know it’s selfish, but as far as I’m concerned, these ponies will never remember any of this if we change things, so it doesn’t really matter. But we’ll always remember what we left behind. I miss our friends, our home, our lives, and I don’t want to live the rest of my life in a place I know isn’t my home.”
Twilight took a deep breath. “Thank you, Spike.”
“For what?”
Twilight said nothing and launched herself off the cloud, soaring over Ponyville toward the library in the distance.
***
Sunset stood before the door to the cellar. She greeted Twilight with a smile, but Twilight could tell there wasn’t much joy in it.
“Have you made a decision, Twilight?” she asked.
Twilight nodded.
“Well, even so, I think I still ought to tell you what the Doctor told me.” She took a deep breath. “He said that even he’s not totally sure how this whole time travel thing works, but he says there are two possibilities. In one scenario, it might be that every time you go back and change the timeline, you really are creating a whole new universe. ‘Multiverse theory,’ he calls it. If that’s the case, then all those other universes you told me about are real. They still exist, which is why you remember them. And you might end up creating yet another one if you don’t fix things.”
Twilight felt something in her gut. Her eyes went wide and she took a step back, a shiver going down her spine as she remembered some of the horrible futures she’d witnessed and realizing she might not have prevented them.
“But, at the same time, Twilight, if that’s not the case and there really is only one timeline, then by going back you’re going to erase this one. For better or worse, this timeline that I’ve lived in, grown in, and become my own pony in with all its lessons and hardships and all the friends I’ve made will just… disappear.”
Twilight nodded. “Yeah. That’s possible too. I’d thought of that.”
Sunset nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.” She looked her dead in the eye. “So tell me, honestly: what is your decision?”
Twilight swallowed. Sunset’s eyes were hard, her expression stony and unmoving. She had no idea what Sunset’s reaction would be, but knew that she had to tell the truth.
“We’re going back. Spike and I must return to our own timeline.”
Sunset stood there, saying nothing. Only the slight flare of her nostrils gave any sign that she’d registered what Twilight had said. A long, pregnant pause filled the air.
“All right then.”
Twilight and Spike both looked to each other before turning back to Sunset.
“If that’s your decision, then I won’t stop you.” She stepped aside from the door and even opened it for Twilight.
Twilight glanced at the door, and then back to Sunset. “Sunset, I… why are you doing this? Why aren’t you trying to stop me?”
“I thought about it, Twilight, believe me.” She gave a wry laugh, rolling her eyes. “I really thought about how I could stop you and Spike and how I’d do everything I could to prevent even the chance of losing everything and everypony dear to me. And maybe I just want to believe that the Doctor’s first hypothesis is right and that this will all stay here no matter what. But honestly, what really convinced me is that, well, I know you must feel the same.”
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Twilight, if I’m so desperate to protect my home, then I know that you must feel the same way. I can’t believe that this all happened because somepony interfered with the way things were ‘supposed’ to happen, but it isn’t right to keep you from what she stole from you. But right from the start, I’ve believed in destiny, so I’m just going to trust that there’s a reason for you being here like this, and that there’s more to my destiny than to just disappear--”
She stopped, shutting her eyes as her voice cracked. “No. No, I won’t believe that it’s all going away! It can’t, it just… it just can’t!”
She opened her eyes as she suddenly felt the warm embrace from Twilight, followed by Spike holding her as well.
“Ah. Haha,” she said, chuckling to herself, blinking back tears. “I guess I’m not as sure as I’d like to convince myself. But, like I said, I can’t imagine how you must feel, losing everything and remembering it. At least, if I’m wrong, I’ll never know the difference.”
Twilight nodded, pulling back from Sunset. “Thank you, Princess Sunset. I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”
Sunset nodded and led them both down to the basement. She stopped before the large, crystalline table. “I guess this is your stop.”
They all laughed quietly at that. Spike held up the scroll and Twilight’s horn began to glow. She took one last look at Sunset, seeing the fear and hope in her eyes, and cast the spell. As the portal appeared once again, Twilight whispered, “Goodbye, Sunset.”
Sunset watched as Twilight and Spike flew up into the portal. It closed behind them, and there was a blinding flash...
I hope you enjoyed this story. I should also give credit where it's due: I actually got this story from a short review written by Brony community commentator Silver Quill (who is my favorite of the bunch), but in this short review, he made a comment that stuck with me about alternate timelines we didn't see, ones where victory was achieved at greater cost. I realized it was a neat idea and decided to try my hand at it. Thanks, Silver Quill! (Note: he doesn't usually do the plushy avatar thing - he only does that for short reviews after the episodes air, doing more in depth commentary later.)
Edit: Okay, so, this story got really popular, to my surprise. 
Since a lot of you have questions about things, I've written a blog post as an informative companion piece with some extra lore and such. You can read it here. 
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Amazing story :3
this was a truly heart warming nd yet a heart breaking story! kudos to you for writing such fine storiies like this and the iron horse! you are a master story writer and teller! thankyou for these fine stories!!
This was very good - Twilight was very in character in trying find an objective way to decide if she should try restore her original timeline or not... and of course failing to find one, since this was an reasonable timeline to live...
Twlight and Sunset's final talk was very well done, in special Sunset admitting that she would try correct the timeline if she was in Twilight's position
The detail that the Element bearers are a mixture of menbers of original Mane6 and some of background ones was a smart one.
P.S. I think that Sunset's timeline is safe - if the point of divergence was Sunset and Celestia making peace before Sunset would decide to jump into EG World, then it is a timeline that branched from EquestriaPrime before the Sonic Rainboom event, so it would not be affected by its correction...
lolz Season 5 Finally i love your possibilities so much and how you explain theories I'm about to let upon the internet
A nice story and an interesting moral dilemma, even if some things don't entirely make sense.
Anyway, have an upvote and a fave.
Some nice food for thought. JFalk pretty much summed up my feelings for this.
Too bad Sunset seems to be confined to the Equestria Girls universe and doesn't seem to be scheduled to make an appearance in the main show any time soon.
Makes me wonder what happened to the original six that didn't become elemental bearers like Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.
Nice job!
This sounds too good to be true. It should've happened in the series.
It is nice to see a pretty stable alternate present, though that only makes Twilight's choice harder- erasing all those bad futures is easy, undoing something like this one would be more ambiguous. It would have been nice to have seen Equestria still standing without Twilight and her exact group, but the show doesn't care about that kind of thing. Nice glimpse of a world slightly removed from canon with some intriguing differences.
I've never been a huge Sunset Shimmer fan, but this story made me like her a little more. She still just reminds me of a bratty high schooler, but at least in this alternate world, she's a bratty schoolgirl who's actually willing to learn and treat people as equals. Derpy being Kindness is awesome as well. Despite how much people make fun of her, she's still as kind as can be to them, and she KNOWS she's messed up, just like Fluttershy. Celestia should have had Derpy try and reform Discord in this universe. It would at least be hilarious, regardless of if it worked.
Discord/Derpy reminds me of a comic I saw on DevArt where Discord was trying to "discord" Derpy and even after it was done, he had no idea if it worked or not, because Derpy is Derpy. The alt version of that comic had Discord getting DERPED and becoming like Derpy. Funny ideas, putting those two together.
This kind of moral dilemma is always delicious to read, and you did a good job of writing it. Great work! The only thing I'd like little bit of is perhaps for Twilight to contemplate that she might inadvertently be generating more bad timelines by simply going back and trying again, for however long it is until she defeats Starlight.
Also, the whole line about Rainbow Dash becoming a Wonderbolt came out of nowhere. Sure, she could have found it out from somepony else, but there's a difference between it occurring off-screen and actually putting it into the text.
Oh, interesting-looking concept...
"It wasn’t destroyed in this timeline!"
Hm. You know, now that I think of it, it quite likely survived in the Nightmare Moon timeline, too.
I do wonder why the table moved from the edge of town to the library-- Ohhhh, unless this timeline already has a table. :)
Interesting. Looks like Cheese Sandwich may have gotten his cutie mark without Pinkie Pie here.
And also interesting. How was Sunset's departure determined by the rainboom? Or is that not actually the PoD at play here?
A good story, I think. One thing I noticed in the finale was when Zecora basically said "Oh, hm, these are real people, but the universe abhors all of us". In that timeline, maybe it's not surprising that that went over so easily; after all, the people who heard it appear to have seen the civilization destroyed and their species effectively destroyed, and they're fighting an increasingly hopeless-looking battle from a forest hideaway. Could have been nice to hear that none of that was supposed to happen, and I imagine that the Tirek timeline, and maybe the Discord timeline, would be the same way. About the Flim Flam timeline I don't know, since we don't see much of it. But in the Sombra or Nightmare Moon timelines? Sure, they both have their problems, and the Nightmare Moon one probably has more we didn't see. Life seems to be going on, though. The ponies there may have suffered, but are things really bad and hopeless enough for them to hear "You should not exist" and just nod?
6705287
re the postscript:
Oh! That's a nice point. :D
Though then I wonder how the spell got Twilight and Spike there.
I like it.
Awesome fic. I gotta say that I fully support Spike and Twilight's decision though, if for no other reason than my headcanon tells me their universe is simply better off. Luna definitely deserved to be saved more than Sombra, since we see that Equestria appeared to be far more stable and peaceful under her Nightmare persona's rule, than it was during an apocalyptic war against Sombra. Also, a "neutral" Discord sounds like a backslide waiting to happen, and without the Fluttershy and the others' friendship to rein him back in, that's a disaster in the making. Then there's the fact that we can be reasonably sure that the element bearers in this timeline still have decent lives in the primary timeline, whereas the same cannot be said for Fluttershy, or possibly even Pinkie Pie. The only positive difference that really matters in this version is alicorn Sunset, but given how awesomely she ponied up in the Friendship games, I feel like she could still become an alicorn sometime down the line. So yeah, a weighty decision for Twilight and Spike to be sure, but not a terribly difficult one by my reckoning.
This is an outstanding story!
It makes me wish that it was a part of the finale. Great job! Have a well-deserved like and fave.
Very nice; well-rounded and smoothly characterized!
s6.postimg.org/5pzpmopep/Pirate_Approved2.jpg
Also, I dropped the below (minus a few modifications) on a similar story, I figure it might work here as well:
Great alternate timeline story. I watched that review as well and you did a good job of using that idea. I liked the way you showed Twilight's struggle with her choice and (despite how I hate it) you did do a decent job by leaving the ending open ended like that. It was interesting to see how Rarity and AJ were still elements and still Generosity and Honesty but the others were different.
There is also the SunLight part of me that was happy to see that Sunset and Twilight were still friends, and seemingly good friends at that, even in this other timeline. I also liked how you gave Sombra redemption instead of Luna in this story. It was also nice how even when they counted up the positives and negatives of each timeline they ended up equal. I also loved how Sunset responded to the choice in the end. It shows she does deserve her title. It was a really good story
.
Three Mustaches and a yay.
This post need approval. Here it is:
pre09.deviantart.net/8864/th/pre/i/2015/038/6/9/100___sunset_shimmer_approved_by_haselwoelfchen-d8h0bxz.png
Hnnng, my heart can't take the sadness, of that timeline disappearing after she leaves, it is so cool.
One thing about time travel or multi-verse jumping...someone is always bound to get hurt
Untill we actually grasp the implications we live in this wierd time where we have no idea what would happen and that terrifys us.
We just have to do what our decendents did. Cross our fingers and hope everything will turn out all right
I'm glad that stories with this perspective exists. I honestly can't believe that every altered timeline that Twilight would go to would be bad, but I can understand that actually showing these might not fit into the show proper. But still, for a show that likes to harp about 'Destiny' so much, they didn't make use of the 'Destiny finds a way' theme. Overall, this was a good AU.
This was really good. You established a good timeline, you made the pros and cons even, and you gave a really good reason for Twilight and Spike going back and Twilight agreeing with them. I love the inclusion of Doc and Derpy as their own characters like from Slice of Life (I'm really growing to love them apart from the whole 'Doctor Whooves' fandom thing). And it's quite a realistic conundrum they face: either this reality goes away, or all of those terrible realities still exist. Personally, I hope that it's the first one; technically all of these ponies will still exist, just with different relationships and outcomes (most of them for the better, like Luna and Fluttershy and Discord), and it won't mean that millions of alternate ponies are suffering. But that can't really be determined. Either way, good job. This was a well-written piece and, while sad, felt worth the read. ^^
You know first thing I saw in the story description was the based on an idea from Silver Quill part and after that I didn't know wether to be very excited or extremely scared...
Kidding aside though this was an excellent story. Definitely getting a like and going on the favorites shelf.
I don't believe that by simply changing the past you eliminate a future. I see what happened with Twilight and Spike as simply walking back the road they've been on, and simply going down another path at the crossroads. Just because you went left instead of right doesn't mean the right path doesn't exist, it just means this version of you went a different direction.
Alternate realities can't necessarily be proven without a doubt, but they can't be proven that they don't exist without a doubt.
Nice story, I definitely enjoyed it!
Is it Pinkie sobbing in her room? Because that would be the minus that break the tie.
Wonder how Cheese got his cutie mark without Pinkie being Pinkie since he got his at a Pinkie Pie Party.
Gotta love when an author handles a 'Which is the lesser of two evils?' dilemma the right way.
6710631
You're would make an awesome sequel or something
I did not like this... I don't know why. But I don't.
I am saying this because I don't want to thumb down.
Ah yes. This is one of the stories that makes the whole situation even worse.
Let me explain: Before, it was just about stopping Starlight from making present Equestria worse and worse. Every timeline became subsequently more horrible than the last. Stopping them was a no-brainer.
This one? Isn't objectively worse than the one Twilight originated from. To return to her own version, she has to sacrifice the happiness of everypony who has a better life in Sunset's Equestria.
Starlight now basically forced her into making a Sadistic Choice: Who gets to be happy, who doesn't? It's literally about life and death, as Sombra showed.
Twilight has every reason in the world to want to strangle Starlight after this.
I'm glad to hear about what Alternate Twilight is up to in this timeline. She doesn't appear or even get a mention in the show's other timelines, it's like she vanished from the face of the earth!
This needs an AU sequel somehow, like What if we see that sunset is still a princess still existing moments after twilight left and ends up having the doc make a stable (no pun intended) portal to twilight's Equestria, all the shenanigans that can happen, Queen Celestia meets her sister again, ponies freak out at the alternate EOH and king Sombra. Not to mention the other alternate timelines that could appear and try taking over one or both ideal Equestrias, Sombra VS Sombra NMM VS Luna, Nightmare Star showing up because alternate realities! And so on, o many awesome possibilities for an entire saga. but I'm getting ahead of myself that would be if someone wanted to write it (I certainly couldn't) just lemmie know if my idea doesn't sound dumb or crazy
Nice, have a like and a
Nice. I presumed they didn't have any good timelines in the finale to avoid any moral ambiguity for the technical demographic. I must admit, now I'm picturing an unofficial epilogue where Time Turner wanders up to Twilight afterwards with a note in his lab that says 'We're okay, tell Princess Twilight. P.S: Keep hold of Muffins!'...
6714600 It might have been the sort of time loop where she and Spike replaced themselves by traveling back...
6714594
Honestly, Twilight ALREADY had every reason to throw Starlight in jail the moment they stopped traveling though time. Treason, several counts of Les majeste, trespassing and breaking and entering.... Starlight would be lucky to be merely hung for her crimes instead of being drawn and quartered, let alone receive a life sentence.
6714706 I can see why going tongue future would erase her from the timeline but why the past? After all we saw a young Starlight along with her present self...
I'm going to stop thinking about this before I drive myself nuts.
6714705 I would be quite okay with this.
A wonderful read
Nice comic reference with Celestia and Sombra!
Also, I think the multiverse theory makes the most sense in terms of fictional worlds that don't have God to predetermine things. Technically, every fanfic on this site is an alternate universe.
If this fanfic continued, I foresee and outcome like this:
6714811 Time travel always makes me think of Hawkin's (paraphrased) quote about quantum physics; if you think you understand it, you really don't...
FWIW, this scenario works into my feeling that Starlight's changes were affecting time back as well as forward of the moment of the first Rainboom. After all, Sunset's fall was probably before Twilight got her cutie mark for the position of 'Princess Celestia's Personal Student' to be free. Time was distorting and trying to heal itself. It is unlikely that any of the alternate time-lines would have been stable.
Ultimately, in the end, no matter now nice or horrible, they were all distorted time anomalies that would have disrupted in a dangerous manner sooner rather than later, possibly destroying everything.
Overall this is a good story, but there is something I find myself wondering. why exactly did the Elements of Harmony purify Luna in Twlight's timeline but not Sunsets. Samething with Sombra, why did he blow up in Twilight's Timeline but not here?
I mean I know the element bearers are different and all, but still shouldn't the elements still work the same. I mean it's not like they have a switch that says, Banish or Purify. Just saying it's something I would prefer explained.
That being said it is interesting to see this kind of timeline, which isn't perfect yet still pretty good. It has it's negatives with Fluttershy and Rainbow but has positives as well. A perfectly "grey" world that isn't worth destroying but isn't perfect either.
Overall good, but there are somethings I would like explained.
Well after reading this, my vote is that the alternate universes should keep existing... somehow. Serious credit to Sunset Shimmer for being willing to risk her entire existence on doing the right thing for someone who she doesn't, in that timeline, even know.
Of course, the drawback to these alternate timelines existing is that there are also a non-trivial number of hellscapes out there that nobody wants to exist in. Both options suck in their own way. Hence the value of this story!
I greatly enjoyed it, especially the reasonable AU setting, and the exploration of non-dystopic alternates that we didn't get to see. I hope to read more of your work!
The only thing that bugs me here is Cheese. If Pinkie Pie never became a party freak, then it's unlikely Cheese would have ended up one as well, right?
Other than that, brilliant story. I liked it a lot! And as far as I'm concerned, this timeline didn't cease to exist after Twilight returned to her own. It's too awesome for that to be allowed.
Just saying, though, if his theory is right and every new timeline is a separate universe, then do we really want this universe to still exist? That would mean that the war-torn worlds still exists, that the ponies fighting these wars have died. A universe is shrouded in darkness, with a dictator. A universe is barren. A universe is a living hell with a soul-sucking, fire-producing demon. A universe is the the play-toy of of a magical maniac. Remember AJ's "I hope you do." She doesn't want this to happen to any pony. And, for the betterment of other Equestrias, I hope that this one doesn't last. I know that we should be rooting for the option where it all stays because that's a happy ending, but it's not a happy ending for too many ponies.
Really great story, though. Nice character building and the 0 for 2 tea line was funny.
6715619
Ah, but if wiping away the bleak timelines means potentially losing some good ones along with them, I'd still have to hope against that scenario.
Besides, if there's one thing Twilight's time shenanigans proved to us, is that the possibilities for Equestria are near-limitless. The hard facts are fairly sparse. Whose to say that even the bleakest futures shown to us are devoid of any hope for a good outcome? One could never say for sure.
Got to admit, you made an interesting story here. A timeline that's both good and bad. Even if the titles would make you think it's suspect at first glance. Queen Celestia and Grand Vizer Twilight
6707243 Wild theory, but it might have effected the selection of the bearers. Sunset might have stayed as Celestia's student, but had the rainboom occurred, Twilight would have been taken on earlier than she was in this time line. In that sense, she might have been involved in the Nightmare Moon debacle and been one of the bears instead of the current set. Whether or not she or Sunset would have gain the princess status is up in the air though. It might have been the main timeline mane six with Sunset as a close friend.
6715101 Perhaps motivation? Twilight's research had exposed her to both the Mare in the Moon and Nightmare Moon myths. Also, Twilight has an older brother so might have a better subconscious understanding of Luna's original feelings, compared to Sunset who doesn't have that sort of relationship. On the flip side, she got over her potential turn to the dark side, so would sorta get Sombra more. Plus, no Spike to ferry the heart, so the whole situation would be different.
6715696 Fair point. Still, though, this universe isn't perfect and a few marriages don't seem to be worth keeping, if the others still exist. There could be other positives and the bad universes' problems could be resolved, but it seems unlikely. I suppose those with more optimism would believe that there were happier endings out there. Could be, but very scarce.
Ok, I loved literally everything about this.