Retcon - Tumblr Posts

Terezi is NOT going to have Vriska’s death retconned

Yes, Terezi regrets killing her, but more significantly, she realizes she was cornered into that choice and wonders, had she been thinking clearly and known all the facts, had any thoughts or circumstances changed, would there have been more options? Would killing Vriska be the only way to stop her?

GC: 1 K33P WOND3R1NG 1F TH3R3 W4S 4NOTH3R W4Y GC: SOM3TH1NG OTH3R TH4N L3TT1NG H3R GO, OR K1LL1NG H3R

GC: WH3N 1 CONFRONT3D H3R, 4ND 1T W4S T1M3 TO M4K3 UP MY M1ND GC: 1 THOUGHT 1 H4D 1T 4LL F1GUR3D OUT, L1K3 TH1S W4S WH4T 1 H4D TO DO. NOT JUST TO S4V3 3V3RYBODY, BUT 4S SOM3 STUP1D R1T3 OF P4SS4G3 OR SOM3TH1NG? GC: TH3N 1T C4M3 T1M3 TO DO 1T, 4ND 1T W4S 4LL H4PP3N1NG SO F4ST... GC: 4ND 1 FORC3D MY OWN H4ND. 1 COULD 31TH3R L3T 3V3RYON3 D13 1N ON3 R34L1TY, OR K1LL 4 FR13ND 1N 4NOTH3R GC: 4ND 1 T3LL MYS3LF THOS3 W3R3 TH3 ONLY TWO VORT1C3S 1 S4W... GC: BUT TH3N, 1 W4S TH3 ON3 WHO M4D3 TH3 S3R13S OF D3C1S1ONS WH1CH L3D UP TO TH4T CHO1C3, 4ND COMPL3T3LY P41NT3D TH3 OPT1ONS 1NTO TH4T CORN3R

TEREZI: 4ND NOW 1T F33LS L1K3 TH3 ONLY "H3RO1C" TH1NG 1 3V3R D1D W1TH THOS3 POW3RS TEREZI: W4S US3 TH3M TO JUST1FY K1LL1NG MY FR13ND [...] TEREZI: 4ND WH4TS WORS3 1S TEREZI: TO TH1S D4Y, 1M ST1LL NOT 3V3N TOT4LLY SUR3 1F 1T W4S N3C3SS4RY [...] KARKAT: WELL, YEAH. OF COURSE IT WAS NECESSARY. KARKAT: EVEN IF IT WASN'T THE MORALLY RIGHT CHOICE OR WHATEVER, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT HAD TO HAPPEN. [...] KARKAT: IT'S SIMPLE. IF YOU HADN'T KILLED HER, YOU WOULD HAVE WITHERED AWAY IN A DOOMED TIMELINE.

Maybe, in the end, these retcons reinforce to Terezi that indeed, killing Vriska is the only viable option, and she makes that decision with a clear mind and of her own accord—not one limited by Rage. By knowing Vriska is responsible for Tavros' death and not all the others, as well as no longer viewing their confrontation as a JUST1C3 role-playing game of sorts, Terezi will no longer have lingering doubts and regrets, and instead embrace her role as a Seer of Mind.

If the retcons are geared toward this intent, they wouldn't so much undo events as undo Terezi's outlook and attitude—her depression,  self-hatred, and rejection of her role. Really, only events post-Cascade and events revolving around Terezi would change. And there weren't even that many of those during the meteor trip.

But here's the main reason nothing significant will change pre-Cascade: Doc Scratch's narration.

The Seer of Mind had challenged the Thief of Light to a simple game of chance. If the result was the undamaged side, the Thief would agree to stay. If not, she would "go." [...] The actual result was trivial; it was a constant across all timelines. [...] The Thief used her abilities to steal the fortune of her opponent, and forced the flip to yield what she regarded as the most favorable outcome. The Seer anticipated this move, correctly.

I've never much enjoyed navigating the vortices of alternative possibility. The path which alone has my absolute mastery is the alpha timeline, a continuum I define as that which boasts exclusive rights both to my birth and to my death, two circumstantially simultaneous events. Any divergence from this path to my knowing will taper into blackness like rotting roots.

(Bold emphasis mine.)

Why is this information significant? The Alpha Timeline seems to have already taken John's retcons into consideration. So far, all events as known from Caliborn's perspective, like John dying in an explosion and his "ghost" returning periodically to haunt him, seem to be accurate post-retcon information. (Of course, this is also assuming the Jade and Jane hanging out with Calliope are from the same and Alpha timeline.)

If retcons don't change or contradict Caliborn's knowledge, I would think this concept would extend to Doc Scratch, as well, considering his omniscience and influence. Undoing Vriska's death would dramatically change his story.

Not to mention, it would change this:

But it is the desecration of a priceless timepiece where I must draw the line. I'm afraid I must now insist that you take your beating quite personally.

Events that directly affect and influence Doc Scratch, Spades Slick, and the destruction of the universe leading to the creation of the Green Sun.

The one way events could change is if Doc Scratch is playing a rare prank. If that is the case, Terezi doesn't need to kill Vriska, but someone else does in order for the god tier clock-related events to occur. An escaped Gamzee would be the likely culprit.

Regardless, Vriska still has to die Justly, or too many crucial events change.

Doomed vs. Void Timelines

A doomed timeline is associated with time travel. It is an offshoot timeline, branching from the Alpha Timeline. It is destined for failure, for an ill fate. It can never succeed because, by itself, it cannot propagate reality's existence. A doomed timeline invariably ends when someone travels in time to undo its events.

So what happens when someone retcons events? Retconning is different from time travel. It doesn't create a doomed timeline because the timeline is the Alpha, not a branching offshoot. It doesn't create a stable time loop, either, because events are actually changed, as opposed to linked by causality. Doomed timelines and stable time loops are the results of time travel, not retcons. So what is the result of a retcon?

A retcon, instead, creates a void timeline. When the Alpha Timeline is changed, it renders previous Alpha (or canon) events null, void, ineffective, cancelled out.

The Alpha Timeline is the timeline of Light; it is the most important, significant, and relevant timeline, the path that successfully propagates reality and existence itself. Retcons turn the Alpha Timeline's Light to Void, making previously canon events unknown, irrelevant, ineffective, and as though they do not exist.

So, to clarify:

Doomed timeline = Offshoot timeline events undone via time travel.

Void timeline = Alpha timeline events undone via retcon.

Vriska's Return and the Alpha Timeline's Fate

There is something downright ominous about Vriska’s return. Something about it just seems so foreboding and …wrong.

It brings to mind John’s reaction to Caliborn’s retelling of events in “Homosuck”:

Her return is so ominous, evidence suggests that John will eventually retcon his retcon to restore the original Alpha Timeline.

But what makes Vriska’s return so foreboding? What significance will this new Alpha Timeline have upon reality? And why must John undo this change?

Overview of Topics:

Personal growth

Terezi’s inverted behavior

Characters’ meta-awareness

Retcons, void timelines, and semi-stable retcon loops

Caliborn’s statements

Doc Scratch’s omniscience

Alt!Calliope

Gamzee’s importance

Vriska’s Thief of Light and Page of Void roles

Horses: the Ultimate Bad Omen

Vriska’s return is disturbing because it undoes all the experiences and personal growth the heroes have undergone for the past three years on their journey through the Furthest Ring. The very notion contradicts something in story Hussie himself emphasized as important:

They have to face all those issues themselves, or they will never learn and grow as people. […] The journey itself is more important than the destination. The struggle is what builds character and teaches us about ourselves and about life.

He elaborates, comparing Trickster Mode shenanigans to Mario using a Star to overcome obstacles:

But the point is, [Mario] didn't really win. That magic star was actually devastating to his development as a human being. WHY. Because he skipped over many critical trials on his spiritual journey. Mario NEEDS to stomp on all those mushrooms. He NEEDS to bonk those bricks with his head, for the sake of his personal growth. By using the star, he is denying himself many powerful moments of catharsis.

This idea very much applies to John’s retcon powers and using them to change the Alpha Timeline, the events of the story. Like Trickster Mode and Mario's Star, retconning seems like an easy fix, a cheap, deus ex machina solution. It’s cheating. Dave even states, “messing with the alpha timeline [...] almost seems heretical.” Solving problems by retconning them out of existence is ineffectual and does not lead to growth.

By Terezi having John reset the timeline, undoing Vriska’s death, many of the characters will no longer face the challenges and hardships they previously would have. Terezi undoes the guilt that torments her, her abusive relationship with Gamzee, and the healing of her eyesight.

It is absolutely understandable that Terezi would want to do this! How many people wish they could undo something in their lives, especially mistakes they deeply regret making? How many people would change these mistakes if given the capability? However, in doing so, Terezi is denying herself the opportunity to grow and to heal from these experiences.

The events of our lives and the actions we take shape, define, and refine who we are as individuals. By having John retcon Vriska’s death, Terezi is essentially changing who she is and who she will become. Consequently, she’s changing who the other characters are, as well. Terezi is acting as a Witch of Heart, one who changes and controls the core identity of individuals.

The comic even visually hints at this role behavior when Terezi wears Jade’s Witch shoes:

Her Witch of Heart subrole should support her Seer of Mind role, not the other way around! Using the subrole, one’s inverse, as the lead role is not a healthy mode of operation! It spells disaster! This behavior foretells dire consequences.

There is something else foreboding about Vriska’s return. The characters all seem to intuitively KNOW these events are not supposed to happen. They KNOW things have been changed, that this is not how the story is supposed to go, that this is not the intended path of the Alpha Timeline. They have an almost meta-awareness of it.

JANE: But it wouldn't surprise me if the one who dealt my fatal blow was the leader of the raid [Vriska].

JANE: This was the unanticipated factor. JANE: Their leader was someone who was not expected to show up with them at all. […] JANE: You see, Callie, your historical documents make no mention of the leader of the raid, because originally, the curtains closed early on this plucky customer. JANE: But the hero was written back into our story by some inscrutable gambit of circumstance which we may never fully understand.

JOHN: i randomly appeared and knocked vriska out cold, just like the scarf told me to. […] TEREZI: YOU W3R3N'T SUPPOS3D TO DO TH1S! TEREZI: 1 W4S SUPPOS3D TO K1LL H3R! TEREZI: YOU JUST DOOM3D US 4LL!!!

Does Terezi’s reaction sound familiar? It should. Dave reacts the same way when John accidentally “zaps in,” interrupting his and Jade’s conversation and retconning events that originally occurred.

DAVE: you being here DAVE: thats not supposed to happen […] DAVE: its not supposed to go down like this i can feel it JOHN: i know! […] JADE: whatever dave and i were going to argue about JADE: i think the moment has passed JADE: the whole thing is kind of ruined to be honest

Dave has the same thoughts as Terezi: that John should not be there, these events are not supposed to happen, and John has doomed the timeline. John explains to each of them that this is not the case because it’s “not time travel,” yet Dave and Terezi remain skeptical and uneasy.

This meta-awareness and sense of a doomed timeline occurs elsewhere, too: when Aranea puts on the Ring of Life and invades the merged session.

MEENAH: you know all youre doing is making another doomed timeline where everyone dies right ARANEA: Of course I know that.

After the events of Game Over, Roxy and John sense the timeline is doomed, as well.

ROXY: this is starting to feel an awful lot like the end […] ROXY: maybe we should just ROXY: admit to ourselves this is probably what its like when you find yourself in a timeline where everything went wrong ROXY: and you know it means youre doomed

But here’s the thing. In each of those cases, the timeline isn’t "doomed" in the traditional sense, events undone because of time travel. In both cases, events are actually retconned by John, making the timeline not doomed, but void.

John voids the Game Over timeline by going back and retrieving the Ring of Life, preventing Aranea from obtaining it.

Regarding Dave and Jade’s confrontation, John purposefully retcons his retcon, setting events back to how they originally transpired, voiding his interference. He creates a semi-stable retcon loop.

In the new Alpha Timeline, because the characters have this same meta-awareness that these events are not supposed to happen—that Vriska is not supposed to be alive—and they sense that the timeline is doomed, I suspect John will retcon his retcon again, undoing the undoing of Vriska’s death, and creating another semi-stable retcon loop.

Why? Meta-narratively speaking, so events will play out how they originally were intended, how the characters KNOW and FEEL they are supposed to happen. So it won’t undo all the character growth the characters undergo. Besides,

It's also logical, since there is essentially nothing new in paradox space. Everything that can happen is either a visual or substantive reproduction of something which has already transpired on a timeline, offshoot or otherwise.

Another semi-stable retcon loop is bound to occur at some point. We were shown the first one for a reason.

Aside from all the parallels to events surrounding John's previous semi-stable retcon loop, more evidence supports a retcon of this new Alpha Timeline.

Caliborn points out the irony that Vriska “ACTUALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO BE RELEVANT” and tells her to “KEEP DREAMING,” which is visualized by a “PSYCHE-OUT!!!” watermark and Vriska losing her head.

In the current iteration of the Alpha Timeline, Vriska’s new life state gives her the opportunity to have greater relevance and importance than before, when she was dead. “Dreaming” can even be a euphemism for “dead,” as death in dream bubbles compares to the state of dreaming and never waking up.

Caliborn seems to know Vriska will not be as important as she thinks she will be, and by telling her to “KEEP DREAMING,” he’s effectively telling her to stay dead. If John retcons his retcon, and Vriska actually remains dead after all, not only will this fulfill Caliborn’s statement, but it would prove to be the ultimate “PSYCHE-OUT!!!” to everyone, particularly to us readers.

Doc Scratch provides another indication John will retcon his retcon. Doc Scratch claims to have “absolute mastery of the Alpha Timeline” alone, any deviations withering from his perception. If the Alpha Timeline remains on its present course, it would make Doc Scratch either a liar or incorrect about this mastery.

When John retcons Vriska’s death, it voids events of the original Alpha Timeline, events Doc Scratch explicitly shows us.

    John's retcon turns the original Alpha Timeline, the events Doc Scratch shows us, into a void timeline. If Doc Scratch’s knowledge only pertains to this pre-retcon Alpha Timeline, his mastery is not of the true Alpha, but a voided version of it.

Doc Scratch is omniscient and does not lie. Yet at the same time, he has difficulty with Void.

AG: Sure you know a lot, 8ut I know for a FACT there's stuff you don't know. That's true. But the gaps in my knowledge exist by design. They are the pillars of shadow on which my comprehensive vision is built. Necessary pockets of void meant to effectuate outcomes I've foreseen and which will require my influence. Each dark pocket, in time, will be filled.

Occasionally I discover there are things I have not always known. It gives me the opportunity to make deductions, which are practically always flawless. […] But sometimes that is the nature of these hollows in my perception. It feels a bit like dark water, sloshing about the cavity in my head.

Wouldn’t it make sense for the new, current Alpha Timeline to be eventually retconned back to how events originally transpired? It would make the present Alpha, wherein Vriska lives, a void timeline. Void, which can escape Doc Scratch’s perception.

Considering Vriska “occupied a blind spot” to the Condesce, Jane, and Jade with her return, it seems reasonable she could occupy one of Doc Scratch’s “dark pockets,” as well.

If John retcons his retcon and creates a semi-stable retcon loop, it would validate Doc Scratch's mastery of the final, true Alpha Timeline, and it would reinforce the notion of pockets of Void in his knowledge.

But all of this raises another question: If eventually John is going to retcon the new, current Alpha Timeline back to its original state, what importance does the present timeline have?

The answer is Calliope’s alternate reality self.

JADE: like i said, [Alt!Calliope] just finished telling me that she was able to beat her brother in this reality JADE: but apparently, that wasnt supposed to happen? JADE: so she lived out the rest of her life in a doomed timeline and eventually died

Now, granted, this Calliope could be any Calliope from any regular doomed timeline, but I don’t think this is the case. This Calliope seems too important and special to be a random doomed one. This Calliope indicates her story is tied somehow to our John, the same John with retcon abilities and unstuck in canon.

JADE: and then she did this kinda fancy transition [...] to a story about MY brother... who was stuck in a doomed timeline too […] JADE: almost all our friends had died JADE: and johns only hope was to return to his planet, and attempt to complete his personal quest

Jade’s wording about Calliope is suspiciously similar to descriptions of timelines John retcons: Her defeat over Caliborn isn’t “supposed to happen.” If this Calliope is one who retroactively embodies Paradox Space, it would make sense for her to have been a part of the Alpha Timeline at one point, even if that timeline is eventually retconned. A standard doomed Calliope likely would not have enough importance to have such drastic influence over all of reality itself.

The difference between this Calliope and all other doomed Calliopes, why she unprecedentedly dominated her brother, could be in how they were raised: without Gamzee’s influence. In the present Alpha Timeline, Gamzee is suspiciously absent at the end of the three-year journey.

  The meaning of Terezi’s ominous message, “you don’t need him,” has not yet been explained. Perhaps it refers to Gamzee. If removed from the picture, he cannot raise the cherubs, influencing their upbringing, personalities, resources, and knowledge.

    Remember, just as Calliope is “not supposed to” dominate, Gamzee is “not supposed to” die. Hussie even states he is “not aware of a single timeline in which [Gamzee] dies.” If Gamzee only ever dies in a void timeline, each time the Alpha retconned so his death never occurs, Hussie’s supposed lack of its awareness makes sense.

If John retcons his retcon, it will make the current Alpha Timeline, wherein Vriska lives, a void timeline in actuality. It seems fitting that a Thief of Light from a void timeline would steal the Alpha Timeline’s Light—its importance and relevance. Not to mention her Page of Void subrole, empowering others to exploit Void—a void timeline—maximizing its use.

However, everything the heroes have done so far has advanced Lord English’s machinations. What exactly will happen is unclear, but all the ominous foreshadowing surrounding Vriska's return hints that something disastrous will occur and force John to go back and retcon this timeline.

One clue is Jane’s phrasing of Vriska’s return and the raid she leads in the merged session:

JANE: The tilt between the friendly and felonious was a true horse race again. A real barn burner in the brewing.

Jane’s colorful wording metaphorically surrounds them with horses.

VRISKA: I think I've just decided that 8eing surrounded 8y horses might 8e the ultim8 8ad omen. Nothing good can ever follow or precede those circumstances.

The Ultimate Bad Omen. Vriska’s return is ominous indeed.

John <3< Terezi?

Well, it sounds like John might have a black crush on Terezi. But... does she feel the same way? (Or rather, will she at some point?)

Check out Terezi and Karkat’s conversation regarding her kismesissitude with Gamzee:

KARKAT: I'VE GOT TO SAY, I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING. IF YOU TOLD ME SWEEPS AGO YOU AND HE... KARKAT: I WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. LIKE IF THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL THERE, I SURE . . . DIDN'T READ IT.

    TEREZI: Y34H, 1T SNUCK UP ON M3 […] TEREZI: R1GHT UND3R MY NOS3 TOO TEREZI: SOM3HOW 1 D1DNT PUT TH3 P13C3S TOG3TH3R 4T TH3 T1M3 4ND L3T H1M G3T 4W4Y W1TH MURD3R

    TEREZI: 4ND GR4DU4LLY 1 ST4RT3D H4V1NG TH3S3 UNCONTROLL4BL3 THOUGHTS 4BOUT H1M TEREZI: D4RK THOUGHTS TEREZI: 4ND WH3N 1 WOULD C4TCH 4 WH1FF OF H1M 1N TH3 CORR1DORS, L1K3 H3 W4S T4UNT1NG M3, TH4T JUST F4NN3D TH3 FL4M3S

    Recall John’s prophecy:

With the scarf shenanigans, did Game Over!Terezi purposely orchestrate the beginnings of a caliginous relationship between John and her past self? Could THIS be the main purpose of those trivial changes to the timeline?

Remember when John said 'are you trying to fix your romance problems' while following Terezi's list maybe starting a blackrom with him is what was meant by that.

Heheheh, yep. I had the same thought.

In fact, if my double retcon theory holds any water, and eventually John lets Vriska die, it could be an interesting way to “fix” Terezi’s relationship problems with Gamzee (without Vriska being there). Her caliginous feelings could shift focus from Gamzee to John instead, thus not leaving her a total wreck by the end of the meteor trip.

Thanks!

Some related thoughts and speculation

Doc Scratch:

Doc Scratch does indeed make pranks on rare occasion. I’m not sure it’d be something quite so elaborate and involving blatant lies, though. But it’ll be interesting to see if/when he does play another prank.

Calliope and the Third Scratch:

The “doomed” God Tier Calliope likely dominated because perhaps Vriska raised the Cherubs instead of Gamzee. Paralleling Caliborn, Calliope dominated prematurely and forcibly by having Caliborn’s dream self killed. It's likely this Calliope embodies the current Paradox Space.

Post-Scratch Calliope, the one who plays, is one who dominates naturally rather than prematurely. She will fully integrate/absorb Caliborn into her being, as opposed to expelling him, thus eventually becoming Calmasis.

Post-Scratch, the Cherubs are raised by Davesprite.

The third Scratch will not only reset the Cherub’s universe, but it might reset all of Paradox Space, as well. If so, Calmasis might be the one to embody the rebooted version, which is probably the new reality the heroes must escape to.

Vriska and the Green Sun:

Like how Roxy tagged along with John when he retconned the Game Over timeline, Vriska might end up tagging along if/when John retcons the current timeline. If so, she'll be a part of the true Alpha Timeline while her original iteration, punk!Vriska, remains dead in the dream bubbles.

Alternatively, Vriska dies in this timeline, and somehow SHE obtains the Ring of Life, thus reviving. (I don’t think punk!Vriska will be the one to do that.)

In either case, the Vriska of the current timeline will be the one to steal the Green Sun’s light.

Re: Vriska's Return and the Alpha Timeline's Fate

A few things–

Doc Scratch doesn’t lie, but he does tell pranks – foreshadowing which has never been fulfilled up to this point. Even if he’s not there to give a “Hee Hee,” the Egbertpunch – placed at a critical moment in Scratch’s elaborate narrative – fulfills the requirements of a prank.

If Jade’s Calliope is from a void timeline, then what’s the point of a Third Scra… actually, hm. What if this supposedly “doomed” Calliope – the one with no friends and no frame of reference for understanding human emotions – becomes this reality, the cruel and harsh Paradox Space we’re familiar with, while pre-retcon Callie… actually, no, that still leaves another Scratch out of the picture. Sorry, just thinking aloud here.

It seems like this (retconned) Vriska is going to be the one who steals the Green Sun’s light. That can’t just not happen… maybe that will be what causes John to try to retcon his retcon, but it’s too cosmically important to undo?

Not saying this theory is wrong, I actually really like it.

1) If John ends up re-retconning Vriskas death and the meteor crew goes through the personal growth that they're supposed to go through, what does that mean for Jade? Wouldnt John and Davesprite still be dead? And John knows that he was responsible for for their deaths so would he try to do something about that? I dont think hed try to retcon their deaths since he'd be weaseling his way out of the deal he made with Typheus and thats sounds like a bad idea

2 fin) (Though John was the one who came up with the idea to zap everyone to where Caliborn was and look how THAT turned out) Do he think he might try bring Jade to where the meteor crew is? Though that will essentially rewrite all the character development the meteor crew went through on their original journey… man this is getting confusing!

I don’t think John is going to mess with the timeline in any drastic way relating to Jade. I’m sure he realizes there would be consequences for interfering, likely own death. So if John retcons the retcon, I think Jade will still be alone in the new timeline, too.

I could see John making small influences, though, such as writing a note of encouragement to her or appearing briefly to say he’s okay. But as far as undoing John and Davesprite’s death or bringing Jade to the meteor, no; that would be interfering too much.

Alone!Jade would really be the main difference between the “fixed” Game Over timeline (when John traveled to “R3UN1ON” to get the ring) and the final Alpha Timeline. Note how there are two Johns at “R3UN1ON”; that probably won’t be the case in the final Alpha.

Of course, it’s possible in the re-retconned timeline, Jade won’t be alone at all, and it’ll play out almost exactly as it did originally. But… eh, that doesn’t seem likely to me. Who knows, though?

Hmmm im just wondering did Davesprite really need to die in the Alone!Jade timeline? It kinda felt like he was collateral damage in the whole thing- Since Typheus was only aiming to wipe out John and LOWAS

Actually, Typheus may have been aiming for Davesprite, as well. I think the reason he needed to die is because the Davesprite from the Game Over timeline survived and will play a more important role.

Considering Jaspersprite tagged along when John brought LOWAS into the blank void yonder, I imagine Davesprite and possibly the other sprites came as well. I mean, they were all last seen together on LOTAK before that point.

If Davesprite did tag along, Paradox Space would need to balance his existence by dooming his alt!self, just as it did with the John and Roxy of the current timeline. 

Why one Davesprite over the other, though, I’m not sure. Maybe so John will be able to relate to him better? We’ll have to see. But yeah, I’m certain Davesprite is fine.

why would davesprite have to die to ensure there's only one of him of the same explicitly didn't happen to nanna or arquius?

my last ask mgiht have been confusing, so to clarify i’m referring to how you think jaspersprite’s presence means the other sprites that were on LOTAK came to the post-retcon timeline with john. though it seems like post-retcon jaspersprite is alive too, as he didn’t die when LOWAS exploded and i’m not sure what else on the battleship would have killed him.

At this point, we really don’t know what the deal is with the sprites. The only one we know for sure made it to LOWAS is Jaspersprite. But considering Jaspers was able to tag along, it seems reasonable that Davesprite would, as well.

As for any duplicate sprites (we at least know Jaspers is one), one instance is probably doomed, even if they’re still around for now. We haven’t heard anything about Alone!Jade’s Jaspersprite, but it’s probably safe to say Nannasprite kept Jade company. So if Nanna made it to LOWAS, there would be two of her, too. Again, if so, one is probably doomed.

As for ARquiusprite, if there are two of him, there may be an important reason for that. At least one is needed to be trapped in Lil Cal and become part of Lord English. A duplicate may serve another purpose.

It’d be interesting if Erisolsprite survived, though. If in the current timeline, Feferi and Nepeta each end up being prototyped individually, then all 12 trolls will be “alive” in some way. Of the 12, only Equius and Eridan would be…fusions.

Anyway, bottom line is, if Jaspersprite could survive, Davesprite could, as well. Exactly why one of him LOWASploded, we don’t know for sure; we can only speculate. But even if he’s dead in this timeline, some other version of him will be around. His story isn’t finished. He’ll be back.

The Retcon Timeline

Timeline includes events that actually happen, plus what I suspect will happen.

I am almost certain this is wrong, but it's a starting point.

Some notes:

Calliope must be from a non-LOWASplode timeline, where John is present on the golden ship. (MINISTRIFE is optional, since that happened in a dream bubble.) Her knowledge of events comes from this timeline, which she most likely learned through Skaia's vision clouds. Some events she could have learned from Rose's book, but it doesn't seem like John passing out on LOWAS would be something found in the book.

Caliborn is from a non-LOWASplode timeline, as well, because he rips that page out of Calliope's book.

Unless Caliborn's monitors can show events from any timeline, Caliborn must be witnessing events from a timeline where Erisolsprite is Jake's sprite, Arquiusprite is Dirk’s sprite, John is dead, and the kids get trapped in the house Juju and trap the Lord English fusion in Lil Cal. (Caliborn does seem to be aware of John’s ring going missing, though. Hmm. Yeah, it’s pretty likely he can view all timelines, what with being a Lord of Time and all.)

The Caliborn who becomes trapped in Lil Cal apparently has no idea who Arquiusprite is. The Alpha Kids, too, although that’s ambiguous enough that it’s open to interpretation. I’m not sure what to make of this. It’s possible the Caliborn who witnessed this event is making an assumption, but... I dunno.

I'm having difficulty placing both the Green Sun's destruction and the Third Scratch on the timeline.

Right now it seems like Vriska stealing the Green Sun's light will happen in a timeline where everyone's alive and well. I think the purpose of its destruction will be:

To destroy Paradox Space à la Big Crunch,

To hinder the Green Sun powers of Jack Noir (and presumably Lord English),

To create a breach for the heroes to escape both Paradox Space and also the Third Scratch (similar to the kids escaping through the hole in the Fourth Wall during their Scratch).

The kids need to be around if #3 is going to happen.

I have a feeling the Third Scratch is meant to happen in a timeline different from the one where Caliborn et al. are trapped in Lil Cal. Mostly because Dave and Caliborn both need to be around. (Remember the "whilst the pimp's in the crib" prophecy.) I suppose time travel is possible after Jujutrapped (retcons, probably not, since John's trapped), but that would mean these events happen in a doomed timeline, and that doesn't really make sense.

I get the impression the Third Scratch is meant to occur in Caliborn-who-made-Homosuck's timeline (or a branch), but I can't make sense of that either.

The answer to all of this is probably another retcon and timeline branch somewhere. But, just... no. My head already hurts from all this. I’ll sort it out another time.

John the Wizard

Remember after the Trickster arc (A6A5A2), how the story returns to A6A5A1? Caliborn yells at Hussie for going "BACKWARDS BY AN 'ACT'." He thinks the Trickster shenanigans were "erased," to which Hussie responds:

What are you talking about? I didn't erase it. It was still a thing that happened. Do you really think I have the power to make something unhappen?? I would have to be a wizard to do that.

Well, it turns out someone does have that power:

Which means John Egbert is a wizard.

John already has plenty of wizard allusions:

DISREGARD THE UNIMPORTANT MALE GHOST BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

An obvious reference to the Wizard of Oz saying, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."  

JOHN: let's all go see a big pompous wizard to solve all of our problems.

JOHN: we didn't realize it at the time, but there were still a bunch of problems waiting to happen. [...] JOHN: but don't worry, i'm working to overcome all those problems right now. JOHN: that's why i'm here!

  Frigglish bothered his beard, as if unkinking a hitch in a long silk windsock. [...] As a matter of fact, his cadre of fellow wizards were all putting similar moves on their beards as well.

Thanks to John's god tier hood (wind powers help, too), others (mostly Roxy) continually mention windsocks with reference to John.

ROXY: im all ears johnny windsock

Even the Magician's Hat John wears as part of his "Clever Disguise" and the Bunny Sassacre Fedora---one of the first items he alchemizes---are wizardly.

  One of the very first snippets of information we learn about John is that he's "an aspiring AMATEUR MAGICIAN." While it appears to mean a magician in the sense of an "entertainer who is skilled in producing illusion by sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.," a magician is also a "person who is skilled in magic" or a "sorcerer"---in other words, a wizard. Couldn't it mean both?

If Heir is indeed the passive counterpart to Witch, both classes who "change, manipulate, and control (with/through) their aspect"---which I like to call the Magician Classes---wouldn't that make the Heir of Breath a magician or wizard, anyway?

John and others continually refer to John and his abilities as "magic":

EB: everyone i know is turning magic, it's ridiculous. EB: including me! i'm magic now.

("Everyone" specifically alluding to Jade and Rose, an actual Witch and a Seer with the inclination toward Witch inversion.)

John calls his retcon abilities "weird retcon magic," and describes it as "some kind of surreal, history altering... reality hopping... magic power.” Roxy calls it “magic ‘fix literally everything' powers.”

Although John aspires to become a SKILLED MAGICIAN and a CUNNING PRANKSTER, he is “neither of these things” for most of the story.

At first, John has no control over his magic powers (first wind, then space-time jumping retcon abilities). However, eventually he learns and masters his powers, becoming a SKILLED MAGICIAN.

JOHN: i've noticed whenever i learn to do new things with my powers, it's usually in response to something. like something important that has to be done.

JOHN: i learned how to turn into wind and swoosh around about a year ago. [...] JOHN: i thought for sure i was a goner, when suddenly i poofed away from his tentacly grasp like houdini's slippery ghost. later i rematerialized to seize the tactical advantage!

JADE: he dispersed every drop throughout existence

JADE: leaving a little mark for anyone who might notice, signifying his final mastery over his confining reality

Thanks to his powers and Terezi's scarf instructions, John becomes a CUNNING PRANKSTER, as well.

JOHN: i am like the ultimate prankster now... nanna would be so proud!

Previously, John was neither a skilled magician nor a cunning prankster. Now he is both.

John, a magician, the wizard with the “power to make something unhappen."

Bonus points for shipping fodder: Roxy LOVES wizards.

John = Wizard. CONFIRMED.

7/3/15 Upd8

I knew it! I totally knew it!

TWO NANNASPRITES! Which means both Jaspers AND Nanna tagged along on LOWAS and survived the retcon. Which makes it even more likely that the other sprites---particularly Davesprite---did too.

Also, Nannasprite seems to be pre-retcon...

NANNASPRITE: Yes, I tended to him and his sister for several years, baked for them, lent a sympathetic ear when needed...

NANNASPRITE: It was quite freeing in a way! I had a wonderful three years on that ship with those lovely children. I thought little of what challenges were ahead.

So the other Nannasprite is post-retcon.

I'm wondering do u still think that john will retcon his retcon due to these recent event of upd8s?

I’m becoming increasingly doubtful of the double retcon theory as the comic has progressed. If only because we’re running out of time, and also it seems that a lot of character development has happened since then.

However, there’s so much foreshadowing for it that NEEDS to be cashed in somehow. Some of the evidence for a double retcon will need to be otherwise addressed if it ends up NOT happening, such as Doc Scratch’s mastery of the Alpha Timeline. So I’d still like to believe it will happen on some level? And it’s still possible that it could happen. But I really don’t know anymore. We’ll just have to see.

You know what? FUCK IT. OLD AMINO ART INVASION!!!

Shieeeet I used to be so good at art. A lot of things went sideways in my life and I couldn't practice as much, so it fell to the wayside. Hopefully I can get this good again.

Feel free to ask questions about the context of this stuff. Most, if not all of it, is non-canon to how I currently view the F&W universe.

You know what would be terrific? If in the remake of RPG, the Higher Authority that sends Geno is implied to be Rosalina. And you know what IS terrific? The fact it could actually happen! In the original, that entity was a no-name mystery for the players, but since we do have a divinity in the mario gallery now, such retconning is totally doable.

It wouldn't even be the first time Nintendo mixes stuff from newer games within remakes anyway, just think of Bowser Jr and the Koopalings' inclusion in the new version of Bowser's Inside Story.

Catching Up at the Reunion

I don’t know why I even came here.

The gym was packed. It isn’t exactly how I remembered it 10 years ago, but then again, there were decorations, and drinks, and adults here now, instead of the teenagers that graduated with me. I saw Miss Homecoming Julia, and she hadn’t lost her beauty. Mark, the football quarterback was pudgier now, but it just made him even more rugged looking. And there was Connor, my deep dark crush, whose dark hair and swimmer body had only become even more perfect since graduation ten years ago.

I took another slug of my drink as I felt my face growing red. I felt like I was the only one that hadn’t grown up eat all since high school, my wiry frame was still scrawny, and my face still lopsided. So I did what I did in high school nd jut stood and watched.

“Jake?”

Oh no.

‘Hi, oh, Melissa, right?” I said, mostly just seeking out the name on her chest.

“Yeah. Smooth reading.” She had caught me. “So, Jake, do you actually remember me, your only friend, or is the name tag the only thing helping you out?”

“Melissa, yeah I remember you.” Who could forget her, the spooky Wiccan girl who had been my only friend during high school.

“Yeah? How much do you remember?”

All of a sudden I wasn’t sure. I had id it with such immediate confidence. But as I racked my brains, I couldn’t think of a single memory. 

“Why about Chem lab?” 

What about chem lab, I thought? Nd then remembered sitting next to her, seeking glances and laughing when the teacher said something silly. How could I have forgotten that?

“Sorry, Mel. Yeah, Dr. Avery’s lab. What a time! You used to make those little doodles that you did in the corner of my pages that you always said would bring me luck. Guess that never turned out my way?” I said the last bit gesturing to my lanky body. A wistful glance across the room to Connor might have been too obvious.

“What? The muscle stud never got lucky? You must be kidding?”

“Muscle stud? I mean. Sure, I was strong, and good looking in the right light, but stud?”

“Oh, come on, you told me how you were trying to make yourself the strongest boy in the school. And clearly you never gave up on the bodybuilding.” She said poking me in by pecs. While her fingers prodded solid flesh, I paused. My clothes were tight. I definitely needed a new wardrobe, as clearly my latest clothes were already reaching their limit. I flexed a bit, and tore the sleeves.

“There they are. I was worried those guns of yours had gotten smaller. I used to admire them sitting next to you. Not as much as Julia obviously. I mean, you got her pregnant with what, triples on prom night?”

“Don’t remind me. But god look at her now” I admired the voluptuous form of Julia across the room. She had definitely filled out since high-school, my triple sons had stretched her out for sure. But she was prime MILF material now, and she clearly had several more on the way.

“What number are you on with her now? 23?”

“Something like that” I said, looking over at my fertility goddess of a wife. Her body was like something out of a kink blog, and her massive pregnant belly simply refused to give up the center of attention.

“She looks satisfied. Doesn’t she Jake?”

“Ooh, yeah, I keep her satisfied Mel.”

“But does she satisfy you? As much as the football team did?”

“Don’t I know it. I had those boys begging on their knees for me.” I looked across the room at Mark again. He was still looking at me enviously. When he saw me looking at him, he glanced away wiping his chin. Caught drooling, again. Somethings never change. The other boys around him I couldn’t remember all of their names. But they definitely looked familiar enough.

“Yeah, you must’ve made most of the football team your little cum-dumps by the end. What was their nickname at that last pep-rally?”

“Oh not the Beaumont Bitches, it was so crass”

“Yeah, always in heat for their stud breeder. His massive python couldn’t be satisfied”

“Yeah. I was a lot.” My cock twitched in reminiscence. My pants strained. To keep it contained. “Still am”

“But that’s just for Connor now, right?”

“Connor?”

“Your little cock-sleeve?”

“What?” Oh right. I looked down at the sexy man bound to my cock. His little whimpers as I filled him were hard to notice at this point. ‘Oh yeah. He’s great. Like I’d always had a thing for him. I’d always dreamed of having his bubble butt near me. Apparently all I needed to do was take it.” I grabbed Connor’s ass in my large palm.

“And your wife doesn’t mind?”

“Julia loves it. She calls Connor my sheathe, so that when I need my sword it’s ready at a moment’s notice. And Connor loves it, I mean just listen to him.”

Connor gave a brief excited noise from behind his gag.

“It must’ve taken some convincing to let him ride you like that here.”

“Mel, are you kidding? I’ve been the most desired guy since freshman year. They wanted a show. Hell they all wanted to be part of the show. Isn’t that right Connor?

“Mmmphhmmm!”

“Good boy.”

“Well, Jake. You look great. It’s been great catching up with you.” Mel said, rising to her feet. She barely reached my waist. “Connor, good to see you again.”

“Mmmhmmm”

“And Jake, don’t forget about what a god you were in highschool. Everyone still dreams of you every night” And with that, the witchy woman wandered off. I gave Connor a small squeeze, grinding into his toned butt, which made him rocket a brief orgasm off again.

“Come on, toy. Let’s go remind everyone what they’re missing.” I’m wouldn’t miss my high school’s reunion orgy for the world.

What if instead of retconning the doctor's origins and the history of the timelords every 5-10 years, Doctor Who went full Jack Harkness as the head of Torchwood retconning all of Wales, and just came up with all new lore that makes everything before uncanoned every single season.