Alternate Element Bearers?

[Soaring Symphony 372]

Let's get the elephant out of the room to start out with.  I know the Elements of Harmony haven't really been a thing for about three seasons now.  But for the sake of this thread, I think it's best to just ignore that fact.

 

With that out of the way, on to my idea.  What if, instead of the Mane Six being the six ponies we're all used to at this point, it was the Canterlot six instead?

 

I know it sounds crazy but hear me out.  It does make a surprising amount of sense when you really think about it.  Back in the series pilot, we were initially led to believe that the only reason Celestia sent Twilight to Ponyville in the first place was to make some friends.  Later on, in "Twilight's Kingdom", it was revealed that Celestia can have prophetic dreams and in turn, knows future events before they happen.  This leads me to believe that in the pilot, Celestia had ulterior motives for sending Twilight to Ponyville.  I believe that she knew Nightmare Moon would return so she was actually setting up chess pieces (so to speak) in order to make sure things worked out for the best.  

 

However, the whole idea of Twilight needing to make friends in the first place makes no sense.  She already had a group of five friends right there in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.  Sure, Twilight would still need to go to Ponyville because that's where Nightmare Moon showed up, but I see no reason why there couldn't be an alternate timeline in which Celestia sent Twilight to Ponyville along with the group of friends she already had and they became the element bearers instead of Pinkie, Flutters, etc. After all, who would you have a stronger emotional bond with?  Someone you had known since kindergarten or someone you had just met yesterday?  

 

The only real issue with this idea is figuring out who would hold which element.  Twilight would still be Magic of course but what about Lyra Heartstrings (best pony) or Minuet (Colgate cough cough)?  I'll let you guys be the judge of that.  

[sweetolebob18 728]

The best take on this is The Lunaverse.  An AU with Celestia becoming Corona & Luna banishing her.  Also the Stallionverse with Shining Armor, Blue Blood, Soarin, Big Mac, +ICR as the Elements

[EmeraldStar04 250]

Twilight was sent to ponyville because that group of friends wasn't strong enough or something.