Head-canon Theory on Magic · 9:57pm Dec 5th, 2013
So, I was thinking about the nature of Equestrian magic and I came up with a theory. This is mostly head-canon, but I will reference the show when I can.
My theory is such: all ponies share one common type of magic, meaning all ponies can use all spells.
Now, it's more complicated than that, so just let me explain. Considering that any type of pony can be born from any other type (baby cakes), it makes sense that they all would share the basic "magic manipulation" gene.
Now, before I continue, I'm going to split the magic that all ponies can use into two 'schools,' so to speak. They are internal and external magic.
Let's start with internal magic. Internal magic is generally subconscious and only affects the objects that they touch. The most common example would be the "autokinesis" field, as I call it. This is the ability that lets pegasi fly and pull objects while letting all pony types grip objects in their hooves. However, I think that internal magic can be willingly controlled, creating spell-like effects on the caster himself. I believe that this is how pinkie does her thing: she is the Twilight Sparkle of internal magic.
This leads me to the other end of the spectrum: external magic and the unicorn horn. Here is where I get in the head canon. External magic is performed by applying your will to the magic and pushing the magic out of your body. Any pony can do this.
So why don't the pegasi and earth ponies do this? What is the point of the unicorn horn? I think that the horn acts as both a channeling medium and as a sensory organ.
I think that unicorns are sensitive to magic in a way that other ponies are not. Since humans have five senses, not six, I will use the analogy of sound to describe what unicorns perceive magic to be. Unicorns can hear magic coursing through their bodies and the world around them. Each spell could be considered a song, possibly even written down as such. A unicorn like Twilight could "listen" to a spell being performed and "sing" it back using their horn like we would use our vocal cords. Combined with her near perfect memory, she would only need to hear a spell once to use it, even if what the spell did was never explained.
Comparatively, teaching an earth pony/pegasus to use magic would be like teaching someone who was born 95% deaf and poorly functioning vocal cords to sing competitively. Possible, but insanely difficult.
Furthermore, assuming that magic in exercised like a muscle, unicorns would be at an advantage since they start exercising their magic from a young age and need a large reserve to use their more complicated spells.
I don't really understand why everyone thinks that magic are only one force. My head canon is that there are different kind of magics, with witch you can interface differently. Pegasus are good at "swimming" taught the background cloud, and earth ponies are good at metabolizing magic/transforming magic into strength/growth energy.
And unicorns have an antenna, with witch they can transmit magic. Feel it too with enough training, but they can only recreate as much, as the can "vibrate"(cast spells) their horn. All the spells ate just a way how to get on the right "beat" to preform the spell. (bit more complicate than that, but otherwise I have to list of what every kind of magic does).
So my head canon is that there is background magic "cloud", in witch there are base vibrations (kinda like wind in atmosphere), and that magical beings can interfere with it by flapping their "wings" or other organs. Also the "cloud" consists of multiple "gasses/gas mixtures", witch are types of magic, and one of them is really common (the telekinesis one), so its easy to find/manipulate. Its possible that alicorns/unicorns/exc emit some of it out of their bodies(by transforming the energy they get from food into it).
So unicorn magic is basically "blowing" on tings really hard, at proper times. Also some gems might emit some form of "gas", explaining the magical artifacts. Also, the magic "gas" can be compressed into liquid or solid, as long as it's in proper container for the type, making it possible for artifacts.
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So your theory is that the ponies manipulate background magic while my theory is that magic comes from within and is pushed out. Interesting.
1577808 Not really, it's more like that the magic inside pony is affecting the background magic. As ponies are part of background, and can intelligently-ish manipulate it with their organs. They have to expel/move some of it to affect the background. Otherwise any unicorn could manipulate the sun.