Is there another element within the element of magic?

[ManaMinori 4,143]

Twilight's element is magic, but magic in itself doesn't equate to friendship. There's dark magic, changeling magic, zebra magic, unicorn magic, earth pony magic, pegasus magic, alicorn magic, and Twilight is exceptionally skilled in magic...namely, unicorn magic, but only friendship magic (the kind that Sunbutt said, during Twilight's coronation, that Twi and her friends created) is the kind of magic that is contained in the element of “magic”.

 

I recall a scene during “Princess Twilight Sparkle” where the royal sisters had to get the elements from the Tree of Harmony. The middle section of the tree opened up to reveal the element of magic. What if that element also opens up to reveal something else; like the very core of “magic”, friendship? Oddly enough, the only time it appears that something other than the wall of rainbows was used from the elements was the time in Rainbow Rocks, when a seventh member- Sunset Shimmer- helped summon a giant rainbow colored alicorn of friendship to blow the villains to pieces- which could've been the central core inside the element of 'magic' (which again, is so broad) itself.

 

What do you guys think of the true element of friendship residing within “magic”? Is Sunset actually the "element within the element" of magic? (as it was with HER, that this alicorn- was summoned)

Edited February 23, 2017 by Nightmare Muffin

[Snowbound 17]

Well, her element is magic (all magic) because she is the strongest magic-wielder who happens to be a Unicorn. Obviously, as you said, magic doesn't equate to friendship, but all of the elements (kindness, loyalty, magic, etc) combined equate to friendship. I am quite intrigued with what you said, however, the core of magic could be friendship; which would make all of the other elements combine to make friendship and perhaps magic is a byproduct that, because friendship is at the core, requires friendship to be present in order to reach its potential. I think I'm over-thinking it... or, perhaps, under-thinking it. I need a life.

[cmarston1 5,951]

I don't really think there was another element within the element of magic, but if there was a hypothetical element it would have had to have been the element of empathy for Sunset Shimmer.

[FlareGun45 2,221]

If there is an Element of Empathy for Sunset Shimmer within the human world, then... could there be another element in Equestria too? I dunno who'll wield it, and even though they're two different stories, it makes ya wonder.

[Concerned Bystander 2,901]

Considering that the elements are intended to represent the various facets of friendship, having friendship itself as another element would be entirely redundant.  To my mind the whole point of magic being one of the elements is that it represents the undefinable quality that doesn't fit neatly into any other category, that certain 'Je ne sais pas' that makes a good friendship something greater than just the sum of its parts.

Edited February 23, 2017 by Concerned Bystander

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 40,239]

Friendship IS magic after all. So her being the element of magic itself probably doubles as an element of friendship, which makes sense given her title. All of the other elements represent very important aspects of friendship itself so I think the element of magic embodies the overall concept of friendship itself.

[Ganondorf8 11,118]

Since magic can exist in all kinds of forms, I'd say that the Element of Magic represents all magical forms with some having more of an influence over others. Friendship is a form of magic and arguably one of the most powerful magic forces in Equestria so it makes sense that the Element of Magic would be able to convey that. Also, Celestia once wielded it a long time ago indicating that she possessed knowledge of different forms of magic though the writers haven't explained how that works.