Germs and magic

[Discordian 6,015]

I was thinking today that unicorn magic could be a germiphobe's dream tool since they wouldn't have to touch anything but then it occurred to me:

 

Does magic come with it's own type of germs? Does it maybe cleanse since it's seemingly a type of energy? How many germs does it carry with an object picked up off the ground?

 

How do you think germs and magic interact?

[Lume WMj 228]

Well, I'd think that germs or any kind of organisms attached to the object being levitated wouldn't suffer any changes (although a cleansing spell does sound pretty cool~). That said, it would be rather interesting if whatever came in contact with the unicorn's magic could somewhat affect the user as well.

 

I've always thought of the magic as part of the unicorn's own vital energy they can control and morph into different things, so in theory their magic is part of their body and spirit. That's why they get exhausted if they use it too much or if they try to cast some exceptionally powerful spell - they not only tire their minds, but their body as well.

 

So if they levitate something full of bacteria, for instance, they could catch a cold from it and stuff like that. In contrast, if the user is already ill, whatever they use their magic on could also contract said illness. That's only my theory, though.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

Never mind levitation, unicorns can make health bubbles with magic, as we saw in Three's A Crowd. Although if there are magical germs, presumably that wouldn't stop them.

[Discordian 6,015]

Never mind levitation, unicorns can make health bubbles with magic, as we saw in Three's A Crowd. Although if there are magical germs, presumably that wouldn't stop them.

I had forgotten about that bubble. At the same time, though, Discord wasn't legitimately sick if I recall. It doesn't tell us if the bubble is fullproof or not. Maybe the strength of the unicorn determines the strength of the shield?

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

I had forgotten about that bubble. At the same time, though, Discord wasn't legitimately sick if I recall. It doesn't tell us if the bubble is fullproof or not. Maybe the strength of the unicorn determines the strength of the shield?

You're right that perhaps Discord wasn't really sick, but later, the worm sneezes on all three of them, and only Discord gets sick, so it does work.

He also managed to "infect" Rarity and Applejack earlier, but wasn't able to do it to them once Cadance cast her bubble. If anyone were to have magic germs, it'd be Discord. 

[Discordian 6,015]

You're right that perhaps Discord wasn't really sick, but later, the worm sneezes on all three of them, and only Discord gets sick, so it does work.

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He also managed to "infect" Rarity and Applejack earlier, but wasn't able to do it to them once Cadance cast her bubble. If anyone were to have magic germs, it'd be Discord. 

I really should rewatch that episode. Or that season in general. I remember almost nothing. I only watched it once.

[AlbaTross 1,586]

I'd love to be a unicorn if I lived in Equestria so I could have levitation magic. Hand sanitizer and even hand washing before meals wouldn't matter much since I would be using my hoofs to walk. I suppose I could pick up food with my mouth, but levitation would be more my style. As levitation magic is just levitation, it's doubtful any small organisms would be affected by it, but at least I wouldn't have to handle whatever I'm eating with my hoof. Then again, ponies eat apples off the ground without cleaning them, and RD ate dirt once to try to consume some spilt cider, so maybe ponies are more germ resistant. On the other hand, as we are talking about Equestria, I wouldn't be surprised if some microorganisms have magic properties to them. Heck, don't discount magic as a potential source of mutation. Yikes! That's a definite drawback to Equestria if I ever recognized one.