Crackpot theory: BFDIA 7 doesn't happen in the BFB/TPOT timeline
I'm too lazy to make a graphic for this so apologies for rambling in text
One of the currently remaining plot points of TPOT 19 is that Pencil was sent back to BFDI 1a by One in exchange for Four and (most of) Two's power. But some of Pencil's characterization post-return has always felt off to me, particularly BFDIA Pencil's more friendly attitude toward Needle. This is an entertaining plot point, but given what we later see from BFB, this doesn't seem like the same Pencil.
So - and hear me out here - what if it isn't?
My theory goes like this: BFDIA 6 happens, but receives no votes. Or BFDIA 7 is stopped in some way, such as FSB dying. The contestants stop competing and just reside in Yoyle City, leading to IDFB 1, BFB, and TPOT. This Pencil is sent back to BFDI 1a but has to be careful as she doesn't want to break the timeline by saying something she didn't initially. BFDI and BFDIA go like normal up until BFDIA 7. That's weird, BFDIA 7 didn't happen for this Pencil, but that's also relieving, as she doesn't have to keep to the original timeline's script. Let's just play for fun and maybe learn from some of the mistakes of the past? I mean, she did see what being mean did to her in BFB, after all. BFDIA 17 happens, Pencil is eliminated again, but it's not that big of a deal since the WTF is garbage and can't keep contestants stuck in it, and... Tennis Ball and Nickel go to the future with the Yoylite? Here's the main problem: There should only be one past or future... unless the Yoylite allows you to jump across timelines.
The cracks of instability are pretty clearly caused by One. She's stated directly that she can stop at any moment in exchange for signing her contract. In my eyes, they have nothing to do with the timeline breaking, even if the failed debuters messed things up. They manage to fix the problems in the timeline, everything goes back to normal, it all looks good for now. But Pencil is sent to the past, from their perspective, after this all happens. Her crack in the timeline is never repaired. And so, I absolutely believe that the return of BFDIA is not only intentional but also in a different timeline to TPOT.
If there's any flaws with this theory, let me know. I don't exactly know if this is rock solid, and I'd love to hear what other people think of it.
(For BFDIE and BFDI Mini, I don't think much is changed. At most, BFDIE happens only in the timeline where Pencil is sent to the past, as Rose's design in BFDIA Mini (Again) is downgraded despite happening after BFDIE. BFDI Mini in general would happen four years after BFDIA ends, given that 2020 is the time they travel to when BFDI Mini is messed with in TPOT 15.)
Posted Jan 11, 2026, 8:03 PM UTC