I didn't want to make a new thread for it, but I've been thinking about how the 8UC (or 'original') timeline would turn out for the Ancients. The WoL is dead, Emet & Elidibus are still alive so Fandaniel can't carry through his plans, and Hydaelyn is further weakened. Let's assume the Ascians meet their rejoining goals. You think Hydaelyn would go for a round 2 sundering or finally concede that she needs to tell them the truth to deal with the still present danger of Meteion? Would they trust anything she says at that point?

Course, the WoL can still be reincarnated and the Ascians are unlikely to reach their goal before the WoL is in fighting shape to stand against them (assuming that the Source recovers from the 8UC and that Hydaelyn has the strength to make the WoL her champion again).

I also can't figure out how to reconcile the time loop with the original timeline. I started to think it could be delayed with a reincarnated WoL making the trip a few decades later, but there's no Crystal Tower in the 8UC anymore so it'd have to be a different method (if one exists).

Maybe I should just headcanon that the WoL's final act before death is to use the CT one last time to go to Amaurot, tell the trio (including themselves) everything, and hope for the best. :P I'll forever be annoyed that they couldn't have just had Elpis branch into an alternate timeline where everyone is saved and Venat remains charming instead of turning into Hermes 2.0.