History Main / PrimeTimeline

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun'': The universe in which the story takes place is dubbed the "root world". What differentiates it from {{Alternate Universe}}s is the presence of [[PlotCoupon the Holy Corpse]], mummified body parts of an important religious figure which grant special abilities. Funny Valentine can travel to alternate universes where the Holy Corpse doesn't exist and the characters are instead hunting for another MacGuffin. Since Valentine got this ability from the Holy Corpse, other versions of him can't use it (though Valentine can transfer the corpse part to them).

* ''Roleplay/WanyaKingdomVSAwoofyUnity takes place in [[AlternateUniverse Alternate Universes]] of the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}} franchise. The Kirby games themselves are treated as the prime timeline, being numbered Universe 0.

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* ''Series/Dark2017'': The final episode reveals that [[spoiler:the two parallel universes in which the most of series' plot is set are divergent, but interconnected branches of a single original timeline that was split when the scientist H. G. Tannhaus attempted to travel back in time to save his family from the accident that killed them. In order to break the StableTimeLoop that binds the two universes together and restore the natural course of time, Jonas and Martha have to travel to the original timeline (which can only be accessed in special circumstances) and prevent the split by saving Tannhaus' family. They succeed, but since neither of them exists in the original timeline, they are erased from existence along with their respective universes. However, the epilogue shows that the surviving characters are much better off in the restored original timeline than they ever were in either of the divergent parallel universes]].

* The Adult Timeline, debuting in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', is the original setting of the ''Zelda'' franchise, with the Child and Fallen Hero Timelines being created through time travel and one version of Link dying against Ganon, respectively. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'' establish [[spoiler: an entirely different timeline made distinct by the inclusion of the Zonai in Hyrule's history and the apparent nonexistence of Demise]].

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2'' is set in what is called the "Prime Dimension", from which alternate dimensions called "Fractured Dimensions" [[ForWantOfANail branch off from]], though Fractured Dimensions themselves can still create offshoots. However, [[TomatoInTheMirror all Fractured Dimensions believe that they're the Prime Dimension]], and the only way for them to know they aren't is if someone from the Prime Dimension (or even another Fractured Dimension) [[ExpendableAlternateUniverse enters their world to destroy it]], or if they fail to summon the Land of Canaan, which only exists in the Prime Dimension.

* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' as the "prime" Earth is destroyed at the end of the first season with StrawNihilist Rick teaching a horrified Morty to treat ''every'' reality as an ExpendableAlternateUniverse as they find a new Earth to call home. This has happened at least [[RuleOfThree three times]] now. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that the reason Rick could discard it so easily was because he ''wasn't'' the prime Rick. Prime Rick was his EvilDoppelganger, [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter the smartest]] and most sociopathic of all Ricks, with our Rick impersonating him to his family while spending his life tracking him down on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.]]

* ''Film/BackToTheFuture'': After the events of the first movie, the standard timeline is the one where the [=McFlys=] live in a comfortable upper middle-class lifestyle, while Biff runs a fledgling car detailing business. In ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'', Marty and the Doc go back to 1955 to fix Biff using "[[TimelineAlteringMacGuffin Grey's Sports Almanac]]" to become [[CorruptCorporateExecutive rich and powerful]].

** The universe followed by default is, like the comics, treated as just one timeline among many, identified as Earth-199999 [[AllThereInTheManual in a coffee-table Official Companion book released in 2008]]. Characters InUniverse -- [[UnreliableNarrator Quentin Beck]] of ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and Christine Palmer of ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' -- have referred to it as Earth-616... which Marvel already uses for its paper continuity, leading to fans viewing these as {{Easter Egg}}s and not the universe's true designation (especially since [[ArmedWithCanon non-MCU projects]] like ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'' call it Earth-199999). As the franchise continued, changes and developments in franchise ownership have allowed for the explicit referencing and incorporation of Creator/SamRaimi's ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' and Marc Webb's ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries'' into their multiverse, with ''Multiverse of Madness'' including a visit to Earth-838 which features {{cameo}}s of characters from franchises who have yet to be formally introduced.

* ''Fanfic/FeralnetteAUBigFatBreak'': Due to how TimeTravel works in this verse, there is only one Bunnyx. Unfortunately, she arrogantly believes that this makes her specific timeline the one ''true'' timeline, treating all others as {{Expendable Alternate Universe}}s. She is directly responsible for ''this'' universe's version of Marinette deciding to [[StoppedCaring stop caring]] about her social life after she dragged her into the BadFuture with Chat Blanc and [[TheScapegoat blamed her for everything that had gone wrong]], leaving her severely traumatized.

** The universe followed by default is, like the comics, an aversion treated as just one timeline among many. It was, [[AllThereInTheManual in a coffee-table Official Companion book released in 2008]], identified as Earth-199999. Characters InUniverse -- [[UnreliableNarrator Quentin Beck]] of ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and Christine Palmer of ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'' -- have referred to it as Earth-616... which Marvel already uses for its paper continuity. These were {{Easter Egg}}s and not the universe's true designation. Meanwhile, Recent developments in both storytelling and franchise ownership have allowed them to incorporate Creator/SamRaimi's ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' and Marc Webb's ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries'' into their multiverse, and ''Multiverse of Madness'', as implicated by its name, has included yet more still, including a visit to Earth-838 which features {{cameo}}s of characters from franchises who have yet to be formally introduced.
** But up until the events of ''Series/Loki2021'', the MCU ''was'' Prime in that it was the only one allowed to exist; as TimePolice cut off all others and prevented new ones from forming. It's not clear why this timeline was chosen to be what they called the "Sacred Timeline", or if there was one that was preeminent before the TimePolice started pruning.

* The Adult Timeline, debuting in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', is the original setting of the ''Zelda'' franchise, with the Child and Fallen Hero Timelines being created through time travel and one version of Link dying against Ganon, respectively. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' saw a new prime timeline created which [[MergedReality incorporated elements from all three]], with ShrugOfGod stating that it was the result of all of them.

* ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'': The protagonist, {{isekai}}ed into the DC Comics universe, refers to the universe he comes from, with no superheroes, magic, or known aliens (i.e. RealLife), as "Prime", to the mild annoyance of experts like Hinon Hee Hannanan who would prefer to use the standard numbering (eg they're currently in universe 16). Unfortunately, he doesn't actually know which number the "Prime" universe is.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': Played with.