Linear Chronology of Alpha Timeline
Initial Temporal Disturbance – Critical Rupture

This is a helpful guide, since so many people have expressed their confusion.  The purpose is NOT to explain everything to you.  It is to HELP you.  It provides no information that you do not already have or cannot deduce, so it is not required reading.  As the title implies, this only covers the primary timeline and only up to a certain point.  (P) denotes present and refers to the instance of that character native to that point in time.  (#) provides only convenience and has no real meaning.  (?) means I’m still not giving you all the answers – deal with it.  Everything said here is 100% correct and these events happen in exactly this order.  That does not mean that this is 100% of everything that has happened or that other events cannot have happened in between these ones.  Twilight is not infallible.

1)  A large mass of energy arrives near Ponyville, carrying a unique magical signature.
2)  The energy is spent opening one half of a split wormhole.
3)  One Rainbow Dash (1) and one Applejack (1) come through the wormhole.
4)  Applejack (1) locates the present Rainbow Dash (P) and sets out for Hoofington with her.  Rainbow Dash (1) follows.
5)  Rainbow Dash (P) begins to understand her feelings for Applejack.
6)  Rainbow Dash (1) and Applejack (1) now have several months to themselves while they wait for the chance to be sent back to the future.
7)  Rainbow Dash (1) and Applejack (1) switch places with Rainbow Dash (2) above Sweet Apple Acres.
8)  Rainbow Dash (2) levels half the farm.
9)  Rainbow Dash (2) talks to Twilight Sparkle (P) and Applejack (P) before leaving with Twilight to discuss the invention of time travel.
10)  Rainbow Dash (P) arrives at Sweet Apple Acres and is oblivious as to why Applejack (P) is angry.
11)  Rainbow Dash (P) heads back to Ponyville and runs into Scootaloo (?), promising to hang out with her later before leaving.
12)  Rainbow Dash (2) runs into Scootaloo (?) and hangs out with her, vaguely remembering promising to do so.
13)  Rainbow Dash (3) waits in the clouds to start hinting at her feelings toward Applejack.
14)  Rainbow Dash (4) appears to stop Rainbow Dash (3).
15)  Rainbow Dash (5) appears to take Rainbow Dash (3) and (4) to go find Rainbow Dash (P).
16)  Rainbow Dash (6) arrives at Sweet Apple Acres and startles Applejack (P) with a sudden confession and kiss.
17)  Rainbow Dash (6) returns to Twilight Sparkle (P) and gives her the idea to keep charts.
18)  Rainbow Dash (7) goes to apologize to Applejack for wrecking the farm, giving the impression she is apologizing for event 16.
19)  Rainbow Dash (7) meets Scootaloo (?) for “something awesome.”
20)  Rainbow Dash (3) (4) and (5) watch Rainbow Dash (P).
21)  Rainbow Dash (8) interrupts Twilight’s research, but gives her fresh ideas.
22)  Rainbow Dash (7) switches places with Rainbow Dash (8) and Twilight Sparkle (1).
23)  Scootaloo (?) sees Rainbow Dash (7) flying by and Rainbow Dash (P) in the doorway, getting the idea that there is more than one Dash running around.
24)  Rainbow Dash (8) and Twilight Sparkle (1) show up at the library to tell Twilight Sparkle (P) that she will be going to the future.
25)  Rainbow Dash (6) and Rainbow Dash (9) rip reality a new one.