When I refer to “what ifs,” I’m discussing alternate routes the story might have taken, and where it would have gone as a result. Twilight, for all it’s detractors, has many what ifs—there are several big decisions made throughout the saga, the most famous example being the question of whether Bella would become a vampire or not. Some of these alternative endings are quite tragic, while others may prompt readers to craft fanfiction for them. Whether sad or possibly even more interesting than what actually happened, these what ifs are almost enough to form the basis of new stories—either within the Twilight universe, or as brand new material.
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1) An Early Transformation
Bella’s easy adjustment to her vampire state in the final book is largely attributed to the mental preparedness she had for the lifestyle. She was intimate with how vampires functioned, what vampires gave up, and even with how thirst worked. Due to her immersion in such preparation, she even had a dream, whilst human, in which she was a vampire. In the dream, a growl hissed from between her teeth—a habit common to the species. When she finally was turned, half the battle had already been won in her mind. The sensation of being a vampire was disorienting…but not too different from what Bella had come to expect.
Though Bella, unlike the majority of others who were turned, still knew what vampires were the first time she was bitten, she hadn’t yet expressed a direct wish to become one. When James bit her, she hadn’t yet considered what it would be like to be a vampire, except in the context of wondering how much Edward sometimes suffered. She immediately rejected the pain of the venom, and seemed initially relieved when the burn was taken away.
If Bella had become a vampire through her first bite, would she have been prepared? She would have had no concept of how to act, or how she would feel. In all likelihood, she would have had to vanish from Charlie’s life without even the chance to say goodbye. While it’s true she would have gotten everything she would later want without argument, there’s a question around whether she would have wanted to be a vampire if the choice had never been given to her to begin with.
If she had been forced into the change, would she have been as bitter as the others? Would the grief of losing her old life, and not even having a chance to finish her teen years, have marred her outlook on the eternal life?
Even if she had adjusted (and with Edward to help, it’s likely she would have accepted her circumstances in time) much of what happened in the books wouldn’t have. There would have been no Renesmee; Bella wouldn’t have befriended the werewolves, which would have meant fighting Victoria and her army without their help; and Bella wouldn’t have had any friendship with Jacob. If Bella had been turned by James, there would have been no arguments over Team Edward and Team Jacob.
2) Edward’s Absence
Like Jacob, some fans likely wonder what would have happened if Edward hadn’t returned to Bella by the end of New Moon. Bella was considering giving in and dating Jacob before she learned Edward was in danger. If Edward had stayed away for another six months, he would have found them reasonably happy—happy enough for him to leave again, secretly, knowing Bella would have a decent (and human) life ahead of her.
This is a case where Jacob shot himself in the foot. Had he not made a snippy remark when Edward called, saying only that Charlie was attending a funeral, the whole misunderstanding would have been avoided. Edward wouldn’t have gone to Italy, Bella wouldn’t have needed to save him, and consequently she would have spent more time with Jacob. While Edward had been on the verge of returning, seeing her with Jacob, and somewhat content, might have been enough to send him away again.
The entire saga would have shifted to focus on the werewolves. Victoria would have hunted Bella, but it’s Jacob who would have acted as her primary protector. Given how natural their relationship was, seeing this version of events would have made Team Jacob quite happy.
3) A Tragic Birth
There were so many ways the birth of Renesmee could have gone wrong (the least of which were odd naming decisions). The pregnancy nearly kills Bella, and the delivery is even worse. Carlisle warns Bella that not all conditions can be overcome by venom. The implication is clear: she is unlikely to survive, even to become an immortal.
Edward, during the pregnancy’s most brutal phases, even shows disdain towards the child. Hearing Renesmee’s mind softens Edward towards her, but this connection wouldn’t have come without his abilities. If Edward hadn’t felt how pure his daughter’s mind was, he would have struggled to even “tolerate” her. With Bella on the edge of death, Renesmee’s future looked nearly as bleak—being born to a father who hated her would have made for an unpleasant childhood, even with the adoration of Rosalie.
If Bella had died, and Edward hadn’t possessed the ability to read minds, the story could have turned out much differently. No amount of love from Rosalie could have compensated for the death of her mother (along with the resulting guilt) and the hatred she received from a father who was both distant and mindlessly grieving. In the worst case scenario, Edward might have left Renesmee behind—likely to offer himself to the Volturi for execution.
4) The Imprinting Controversy
There was controversy around Jacob imprinting on Renesmee. While it was made clear that there would be nothing romantic about the relationship until she was an adult, some still felt Renesmee was being used in a process known as child grooming. This essentially means a child is married from birth to an adult, and “groomed” to be their partner when they come of age. Others, still, worried about the fact Renesmee had no say in the matter. When she wasn’t even an hour old, her destiny was decided.
In the wake of this controversial pairing, readers overlooked something even darker. If Jacob hadn’t imprinted on a baby, he would have killed one instead. Up to the point he imprints, Jacob views Renesmee as “monster spawn.” He was fully prepared to destroy her the moment Rosalie lifted her to a convenient angle.
If Jacob being the soul mate to a baby wasn’t enough to make readers uneasy, Jacob becoming a child killer would have been decidedly too dark for anybody. The fact he even considered it seems glossed over…but consider it he did.
5) On the Run
In the first book, Bella ends up pursued by James. Had he not tricked her into visiting the ballet studio, this game of cat and mouse might have gone on for some time. In fact, the tension inherent to the situation could have made for an interesting book on it’s own. Given the danger Bella was in, and the emotions which went with her situation, one almost wishes this conflict could have stretched into another story. The tale of a girl on the run, forced to give up her friends and family to survive, would have been equal parts tragic and conflict-driven. Yet James is defeated relatively quickly, and the years Bella could have spent on the run never happen.
Though Bella escapes James, her daughter nearly ends up in the same situation. Had the Cullen’s and their allies been defeated by the Volturi, Renesmee and Jacob would have spent their lives on the run. The situation would have been even more sad for the little girl, too: she would have had only one ally, Jacob, and she would have been reeling from the death of not only her aunts and uncles, but her parents as well.
If grief wasn’t enough for a little kid to deal with, there’s also the fact she would never have any semblance of a normal childhood. While her accelerated growth would have prevented her from attending public school, the love of her family wouldn’t have precluded her from being home schooled, having photos taken, or spending time with her grandfather. A photo album was being made to represent the phases of her childhood. She had her own little home, with a pretty bedroom, complete with toys and books. She had aunts and uncles who doted on her. She had a human grandfather. All things considered, her childhood does end up being pretty ordinary, but the Volturi could have swept all of that away.
The girl would have been forced to live her childhood in hotels. Even upon reaching maturity, this lifestyle wouldn’t have changed; she might have faced an eternity on the run and, Jacob or no Jacob, that doesn’t sound like a fun life. Jacob would have had to raise her on his own, but even he couldn’t have compensated for Renesmee’s parents and all of her extended relations. Plus, the fear for their lives would have kept him from teaching her as much as he would have liked; her time to learn math, science, or read books, would have been severely diminished. Making friends would have been out of the question, and the chance of normal things—like pursuing a career or getting married—would have been none existent.
In short, Renesmee’s childhood would have been marked by fear and uncertainty, while her life in adulthood would be an incomplete one. Such an outcome would have been depressing (though the idea of a whole series in which such events played out doesn’t sound boring)!
In Conclusion
Despite it’s flaws, Twilight had what every bestseller needs: there were big choices, and consequences if things didn’t go according to plan. There are many places in which the story could have taken a darker turn—considering them not only points to other directions the saga might have taken, but as ideas for new stories which could end quite differently, is intriguing.
Excuse me while I go and write these alternative tales.