When a time traveler messes with your timeline, what would happen? A series of short stories revolving around the different timelines in warewolves' "A little loopy".
The sudden disappearance of countless lives. The birth of a new, clean holiday. The night that may actually last forever. Sweetie Belle has caused some trouble in various timelines. These are the results.
“Twilight, have you ever wondered what happens when I leave a loop?” Sweetie looked up from her book as Twilight scanned the notes that she had written in previous loops. The basement of Twilight’s castle was filled with various machines and devices that whirred, buzzed, and beeped every so often. Twilight was standing at a small table to the side, notes stacked high in an organized manner while Sweetie slumped into a pink beanbag chair that sat beside the table.
Putting the one she was reading down, Twilight turned to Sweetie and raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well, I saw a movie where the protagonist goes back in time in order to fix the present which was ruined by a bad guy from the future who went to the past with their time machine when they traveled from the present to the future so that…” Sweetie’s eyes became crossed as she spoke. Shaking her head, she continued. “Anyway, the scientist pony in the movie was explaining how there could be two different versions of the present. I was kinda confused as to how that worked.”
“Ah, you’re talking about alternate timelines.” Twilight nodded as she returned to her notes, eyes running across the papers as she spoke. “Well, in case you haven’t noticed, the exact physics of time travel are extremely difficult to determine. After all, how can you change something in the past if it somehow affects your ability to go there in the first place? That’s why you have all these different paradoxes that might occur when you time travel.”
Sweetie scratched her head in confusion. “So how is time travel even possible then?”
“Well, one theory that was developed in order to remove the problem with paradoxes states that whenever the past is changed, the timeline splits into separate timelines. These timelines are essentially alternate universes that are the result of a time traveler’s actions. So when a time traveler goes to the past and then returns to the present, she is really just going to a different universe. This allows for situations where, say, the time traveler prevents herself from ever being born. Instead of causing a paradox, she creates a universe where she never existed and that’s the universe she goes to when she returns to the present.” Twilight glanced over as dark mood came over Sweetie.
“So, what you’re saying is, whenever I leave a loop, the things I did still exist in that timeline?” Sweetie’s voice grew distant with every word as she stared into nothing.
Twilight quickly dropped her papers to embraced the young filly. “Like I said Sweetie, it’s just a theory. I’m sure whatever you do in each loop is returned to normal when you reset. So don’t worry about it.”
Sweetie looked up at the alicorn and smiled, hugging her back. “You really think so?”
Twilight looked down at Sweetie and gave a comforting smile in return. “I do.” Twilight lied.
[The following is an excerpt from an emergency news broadcast transmitted via radio to all homes in Equestria]
“Pandemonium has broken out all across Equestria in the fallout of what is being considered the single greatest catastrophe in all of Equestrian history. It all happened last Wednesday when at approximately 14:15 all living things that were caught outside spontaneously disappeared. Ponies, animals, even plants all up and vanished in the blink of an eye.”
“We broadcast this message to you now because, as many have noticed, the magical stream was disrupted at the same time the event occurred, causing widespread failure of various systems, including our broadcast equipment. It was with the utmost haste that we restored it in order to get this message out to all of you across Equestria.”
“We are getting reports from all over the world, from the Gryphon Kingdoms to the Dragon Mountains. All say the same thing: all manner of life caught outside on Wednesday had disappeared without a trace. What in the world could have caused something like this to happen?”
“Hold on a second folks, it looks like we’re receiving a message from scientists over at Canterlot University, hopefully they can explain what is… Dear Celestia, this can’t be…”
“I-I don’t know how to say this folks, but according to the data gathered by the scientists, it appears that—” [gulp] “—it appears that due to the removal of almost all photosynthetic lifeforms on the planet, in about one year the oxygen in the atmosphere will run out and… and life will no longer be sustainable…”
“Folks, I don’t know what to say… In all my years of broadcasting, never have I been presented with something like this. I just… just don’t know what to say…”
“Wait, we have a transmission coming in from Canterlot Palace. We’re saved! How could I ever forget about our wonderful, all-powerful-”
“Dear citizens of Equestria. I stand here with my sister Princess Luna and good friend Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire to address the disastrous event that has transpired no more than a week ago. To all who are listening, you are well aware of the gravity of the situation that we now find ourselves in. Life is on the brink of extinction and as Princesses of Equestria it is our duty to ensure that that does not happen. Even now many look up to us in hope that we may prevent this once thriving world from dying out.”
“I’ll take over from here, Sister. Alas, such a task is impossible, even for Princesses such as ourselves. While it is in our power to restore the world to what it once was, to do so would take many years, even with everypony contributing in the effort. Let us silence any doubts you may have in your head: this world is doomed. That is the harsh reality that we face.”
“But that doesn’t mean that this is the end. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and myself have a way to ensure the survival of life on this planet. Using the same spell that King Sombra had cast upon the Crystal Empire many years ago, we will suspend the lives of all the creatures we can in limbo while Princess Celestia and Princess Luna go about restoring the world.”
“It pains us to rely on magic that was once used for evil, but the dire crisis that we find ourselves in leaves us no other choice. Princess Luna and I are the only creatures—save dragons—who can survive an environment with no oxygen. We must take any and every measure to prevent the end of all life as we know it. And… it’s because of that, my dear, sweet little ponies, that we have decided to… to…” [sobbing]
“There, there Sister. There is no need to force yourself. I know how much each and every single one of your subjects means to you. I’ll finish up; you go have a rest.” [throat clearing, deep breath] “Dear citizens of Equestria, it is with heavy hearts that we must tell you that not everypony will be able to be taken into the spell. Because it is powered by the Crystal Heart, it can only affect the Crystal Kingdom and the immediate areas surrounding it, and as it is our duty to help any and all who come for help, we are offering space to the other races as well as whatever wildlife remains. We will try to place as many under the spell as we can, but know that we cannot save everyone. The three of us will deliberate on the method of choosing who will be taken and who will not. For those who must remain, all that we can offer is a quick and painless end. We are sorry.”
[static]
“Fillies and gentlecolts, you’ve… you’ve heard it here first. Our world is ending, and only a few will be able to survive. I-I’m sorry, this is just too much for me right now. But know that I’ll be back and covering this until the end… one way or another. This is… this is Big Scoop, signing off.”
“Once upon on a time there lived a young unicorn named Sweetie Belle. An sweet and pure filly, she wanted nothing more than to make the world shine for what it truly was. Every day she would go out and clean the house from top to bottom, never missing a spot. But Sweetie Belle had a problem. She wasn’t very good at cleaning! While her intentions were good, all she managed to do was make an even worse mess of things. This saddened Sweetie Belle, who only wanted to reveal the shining beauty that laid beneath the dirt and grime.
One day, when playing near the edge of the Everfree forest with her friends, Sweetie Belle heard a voice call out to her. ‘Come forth, my dear filly. Come forth and see just how clean the world can be…’ Now, Sweetie Belle had always been told to stay away from the Everfree forest, but the voice sounded friendly.
‘I’m not so sure…’ Sweetie said to the forest. ‘My sister says icky things live in the forest, and that I should never go in.’
‘Dear filly, one cannot know the true meaning cleanliness until one has traveled through the muck and mire. Come forth and see just how clean the world can be…’ Wanting to learn what the voice meant by those words, Sweetie Belle began to head into the forest when her frie-”
“Miss Rarity! We’ve heard this story, like, a bajillion times already! We’re not foals anymore, you know?” The little blue filly crossed her forelegs and pouted. “Sweetie and her friends go into the forest, they face a bunch of challenges that all relate to cleaning in some way, blah blah blah…”
“Hush, Sterling! It is rude to speak to your elders like that.” The pink mare who had interrupted the filly scowled at her before turning to the older pony sitting before them. “Please continue Rarity.”
“Thank you Diamond. Now, as I was saying…
Sweetie Belle began to head into the forest when she was stopped by her friends. ‘Where do ya think yer goin’?’ asked her Earth pony friend.
‘Into the forest.’ replied Sweetie Belle.
‘But we’re not supposed to go in there! It could be scary… for you, I mean.’ her pegasus friend protested.
‘Girls, if we’re ever going to get our cutie marks, then don’t you think we should take some risks? Besides, I just know we’ll find something worthwhile in th-’ ”
“Ya mean the Toothbrush of Prosperity?” A soft whap resounded as a hoof smacked the back of the orange colt’s head. “Ow! What was that fer?”
“Fer interruptin’.” The yellow mare ignored the protests from the colt as she continued. “The whole point of th’ story is ta teach ya’ll the meanin’ of harmony.”
“But I wanna play toothpaste tag!” the colt whined.
“Would ya prefer ta spend th’ rest of th’ day helpin’ Auntie Applejack with her chores?” The yellow mare raised an eyebrow as the colt furiously shook his head.
“No…” the colt sighed, defeated. “Sorry Miss Rarity…” The mare nodded to the older pony, who gave a small chuckle.
“That’s quite alright, Melrose. Before I continue, does anypony else have something they’d like to say?” The older pony looked over the myriad of fillies and colts seated around her.
A yellow pegasus filly raised her hoof. “Miss Rarity, Jetset stole my necklace!”
“It was mine and you know it, Jetstream!” The red unicorn filly that sat beside her gave a little shove. A necklace made from floss and small, colorful bars of soap hung around her neck.
“It’s not my fault you changed your mind! It’s mine and you stole it!
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
The orange pegasus in the back facehoofed and groaned. Flying over to the the two, she grabbed them both by the scruff of their backs and gave an embarrassed smile. “Sorry about that. These two just never seem to stop fighting.” She grimaced as the two little ponies struggled against her grip to get at the other.
The older pony smiled. “I think we can continue the story later on. Why don’t you young ones go out and have some fun?” A unified cheer erupted from her audience as they all got up and rushed out the door. Breaking free from their captor, the red and yellow fillies raced after the others.
The orange pegasus sighed. “Raising two fillies at once is a nightmare. No wonder Rainbow Dash doesn’t have any foals.”
The yellow mare patted her friend on the back. “Ya know she’s only holdin’ off ‘cause she’s got the Wonderbolt Academy ta look after. And some of ‘em cadets are even worse than those two.” The mare gave a knowing look to her friend, who blushed and looked away.
“Come on, those three stallions had it coming to them for calling the poor colt a chicken.”
“Well, chickens do gotta stick together.” The mare grinned as a playful hoof landed on her.
The pink mare turned to the older pony. “You know, you’re getting better every year at telling that story. I remember the first time you thought of it Princess Twilight almost died from the lack of narrative cohesion.”
The older pony shrugged. “Well, I’m no A.K. Yearling. But I do agree, it’s been getting much easier to tell. I’m sure she would have loved it…” The older pony smiled, but her eyes remained distant.
Trotting over and putting a hoof on the older pony’s shoulder, the yellow mare spoke gently. “She would love it, especially since ya made it up so ponies would always remember her.” The three mares then gathered around the older pony, giving her a hug.
“Thank you, all of you.” Tears rolled down the older pony’s face as she felt the warm embrace of the mares she had helped raise since they were fillies. Wiping the tears away, she stood up as the three let go. “Come on, let’s go enjoy the festivities ourselves. For Sweetie.” The ponies smiled as they left, heading out into the bright, sunny day that awaited them.
Historians have long debated the origin of Prosperity Day. Formed during the Second Era of the Two Sisters, very little was recorded as to why the holiday was formed, only detailing how it became so. The oldest source of information concerning Prosperity Day—or Toothpaste Day, as it was once known—is a fairy tale following the adventures of a young unicorn named Sweetie Belle. While most of the story has been dismissed as fiction, it has been agreed upon that some elements may have been based off of true events. It has also been recently discovered that a unicorn named Sweetie Belle had indeed lived during that time, although whether or not this is the same pony that is depicted in the fairy tale has yet to be determined.