What if Twilight Failed?

[Stardust Live 43]

Twilight almost didn't get the chance to study in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns at all before Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom suddenly startled her and her magic. Once she, uh, exploded with magic, Celestia accepted her into school and as her personal student.

But what if that hadn't happened? How do you think she would have reacted or grown up?

She's shown to be kinda groomed for success, has issues regarding failure and her parents seem to have games with her and her brother that result in incredibly fierce rivalry. The same brother that ended up being Captain of the Royal Guard and marrying a princess. The failure to get into the elite school would, in my opinion, cut her in half and set her down Moondancer territory

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,809]

I mean FIM would've gone a completely different direction if Twilight failed to get into the school...

[SharpWit 2,479]

The alternate time lines we've seen are all valid options. I kind of root for the King Sombra variant since it's one of the best fleshed out and most similar I think to what actually happened, though I'd argue that Nightmare Moon's is the most likely.

[Stardust Live 43]

I mean lets assume that the whole 'future is messed up' part wasnt a result, another Unicorn took the Element of Magic. What of Twilight then?

[HedonismBot 218]

It's highly unlikely that every incoming student was expected to hatch a dragon egg. Rather, that test was probably a special one given to kids whom Celestia thought might be future princess material.

 If Twilight failed that one, she would probably have been accepted as a regular student instead of getting private lessons from Celestia. She would ultimately become roughly the same book horse we all know and love, except going into magical research or something instead of meeting the rest of the Mane Six and later sprouting wings. She'd still have the life she thought she wanted - just not quite up to her true potential as we saw.

And maybe she'd also have maintained her relationship with Moondancer instead of forgetting about her after being shipped to Ponyville.

[They call me Loyalty 1,941]

I think she would have been a more interesting character for it. More relatable. And a more effective medium to deliver applicable life lessons.

[Props Valroa 26,093]

With these alternate timelines one has to think. Nightmare Moon returns the first. How did King Sombra, and Chrysalis return, with no Mane 6 to defeat Nightmare Moon?

[Tom Gallagher 33,521]

FiM never would’ve happened! 

[Goat-kun 2,500]

Those who do not rise in the face of adversity are unworthy of song and tale. The story would have been better.

[Winter Storm 207]

I would have loved to see a Twilight who did choose her own path rather than one who accepted their role as chosen by Celestia.

[Kadeda 178]

I would be interested in what she would decide to do. Twilight has always been guided by people who are honestly, less effective than she is. Princess of friendship? The girl who could barely stand people? How? How did Celestia decide Twilight was meant to do that? All she's seen u to the start of the show is a misanthrope/sociopath to the point she even worried about her making friends. How the hell do you see princess of friendship in that?

Edited December 17, 2020 by Kadeda

[Props Valroa 26,093]

Then she fails and becomes a dictator...like a certain someone in our history.