All Magic is Neutral: A Theory

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,825]

Magic as we all know is found in every living creature in Equestria. This may not seem true, but it is all true. The problem is, creatures like ordinary birds, squirrels and bunnies don't have the capabilities of extracting and using that magic.

In fact, magic flows everywhere around Equestria as tiny little particles. These particles are grey, unless influenced by a user. A user can change the color of these particles by attracting them with their own power from inside them. There are only two colors these particles can change into: black and white. White particles are the result of magic that has a positive influence. Black particles are the result of magic that has a negative influence.

Think of a Venn Diagram...
Imagine one side being black, the other side white and the middle being grey. Now, imagine every single particle of magic, flowing through the middle of the diagram.

To put the particle theorem to the test, let's examine the conversion of Luna to Nightmare moon.

Princess Luna is known for her giggly and happy personality...

However, she can also be quite unpredictable, especially when there is chaos...we see her trying to resolve things the old fashion way...

However, on that one night, we see Luna's particles change from white back to the middle and enter a light shade of black as the jealousy toward her sister starts to build. Once the last string is pulled, all particles have become black as Luna transforms into her alternate ego: Nightmare Moon.

Because magic can always shift, the black particles can return to grey or even white. Purification items and reversing spells accomplish this task. The Elements of Harmony are an example of purification items. Once the purification process is complete, all particles have returned to white. In the case of Nightmare Moon, this caused her to revert to Luna. In the case of Tirek, since he had absorbed magic and became stronger, this reverted him back to his weakest form. Because the Mane 6 are the elements of harmony, they can dig deep within to completely restore all black particles to white. Sadly, some beings were entirely made from darkness and overexposure to purification items causes their bodies to go on overload and...either explode from the energy (like Sombra) or return to a neutral/frozen state (like Discord).

Now unicorns do have free access to dark magic. They can recite some via spell book or dig deep within (if and only if the unicorn has mastery over control). As noted in The Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle had to use dark magic to reveal a hidden stair case.

I know what you're thinking..."Wait! Didn't you say only black particles come about due to negative influence?" Well this is true. There is however a very small percent of dark magic that is used for positive purposes such as revealing hidden paths and uncovering deadly traps in a dark maze.

While in the realm of the Crystal empire, Crystal ponies are an excellent demonstration of this theory. When crystallized, a crystal pony's particles are all white. However, when in fear and/or sad, they dull out as their particles become a lighter shade of black. Remember, a lighter shade of black just means that there is either a lock, sap or a host feeding off of magic.

 

Love magic is considered the purest form of magic in my theory, as the particles are the brightest of white. Princess Cadence is the greatest example of this. When Queen Chrysalis pulls her trickery, she encases Shining Armor in an aura of dark magic. His white particles have turned to grayish black as Chrysalis is feeding off of his magic. Because Chrysalis doesn't have complete control over Shining Armor, his particles never go fully black. When Cadence uses her love spell on him, his particles return to white as he is freed from the dark sapping magic.

When Shining Armor and Cadence combine to create the ultimate love spell, the particles are the whitest of whites. This is a 100% pure and perfect spell.

Queen Chrysalis on the other hand has always had black particles. Because she never had a previous form, the white particles collided with her and pushed her away, rather than freezing her or reverting her to a weaker and good form.

Speaking of changelings...Thorax plays a major key in our discussion of my theory. Because he had separated from the bunch and decided to become good, his particles became grayish black as well, and slowly moved towards the gray and neutral zone. Nonetheless, due to his need to feed off of love, some darker particles still lurked. At the end of "The Times, They Are A Changeling" and in the middle of "To Where and Back Again" there is a noticeable difference in Thorax's appearance. His wings have changed into crystal. According to the show, this means he does not even need to feed off of love anymore.

 

In the final battle against Chrysalis, Thorax believes all the love is being taken away from him. However, when Starlight tells him to share all of his love, there is a massive change as Thorax's particles completely purify and become a bright white. Again, when the changelings perform this feat, Chrysalis is pushed away due to the absence of weaker forms.

To tie this in with my previous blog about the neutrality of magic, let's add the particle theory to it. Twilight's Crown and other items of the like carry grey neutral particles. When Twilight wears her crown, all particles change to white. Nonetheless, there is no magical effect due to the purity of Twilight Sparkle.

However, as stated in my previous blog, items such as crowns, gems and necklaces when worn by a pony with malicious intent will have a negative effect on said pony. The most popular effect is a dark transformation. The item feeds of the negative energy from the black particles within said being, thus triggering the transformation.

SciTwi's magic-sapping necklace is a very unique element. You see, when the Mane 6 transformed into their half-pony states, they were using an "awakening spell" meaning one that requires a user to be their true self to awaken the power within.

SciTwi's magic-sapping necklace could sap any magic and neutralize it, rendering all particles grey. When Principal Cinch finds out about this, she and her classmates beckon her to use the magic with a song. Now this presents a dilemma in the theory. However, it can be proved. SciTwi is very insecure and hesitant to do things. During the song "Unleash the Magic" the black particles from the auras of Principal Cinch and Twilight's fellow classmates were already influencing the magic. Therefore, when Twilight unleashed it all, she transformed into the evil Midnight Sparkle.

So...after all of this, the magic we all see and know is all around Equestria. Ponies of all species have the ability to tap in and utilize this magic. However, it is unicorns, alicorns and any other being who can directly interact with the magic all around them that have the greatest influence on magic.

Finally, it's not just about how a pony or being used magic, it is what their heart desires that ultimately defines the magic they use, whether light, dark or neutral.

Thoughts?

Edited March 3, 2017 by C. Thunder Dash

[Widdershins 9,964]

   Hmm, I do concur on most points you've brought up. AS that I have always thought of magic as being more or less emotional energy & derived from focus & willpower. Which is why one could say that Chaos magic is sort of like anti-magic as it is more wild & simply allows the magic to poof into being whatever it first finds. Case in point the two examples you brought up as negative magical beings. Sombra I see as an emperor long since turned into dark magic from whatever dark rituals he once delved into, becoming a wraith/specter with little trace of the mortal pony he once was. (Both those terms I use to describe purely magical apparitions.) While Discord is so dependent on his Chaos magic that purification leaves him essentially inert, but only temporary due to his species being defined by its inability to die.

 

  I can't however say that I feel I have seen these "particles" you have mentioned. It's effects however seem duly notable. Whether one can simply dismiss it as a repeated animation effect to show characters as magically under sway of another, that 'greying out' does indeed show a dependable magic effect.

   But... I feel I have to ask you to clarify what you mean by "positive" & "negative" influences. If its primarily based off of intent, then using "Dark" magic for something as simple as finding a staircase or doing so with the intent of saving or protecting others would immediately revert it into "White" magic, right? Now were this a realm of darker stories & intents Dark magic would seem more befitting. Way I see it in most other cases is that Dark magic derives from more blatant shows of inflicting harm on others, such as blood sacrifices or whatever truly bad juju went down in Silent Hill. (and no, never seen any of the actual content for that, nor will I ever!) As it stands, I feel that simply thinking bad thoughts as what I think has been the excuse in the show for initiating Dark magic, isn't enough as being Bad for the sake of doing Good would make the Bad Good... if you understand me.

 

   Oh, and if I can add to your theory as well. What further enhances the concept of magic being neutral is how deeply entrenched magic can be. Especially in a dimension/realm as inherently magical as Equestria. It's stated that every pony has their own mild, passive magic which is why I can feel its so centered around emotional states, and hence just as easily manipulated & chaotic. (then of course, there's whether rocks & gems are magical in Equestria, but maybe that's a topic for a different time) As shown from Tirek 'draining' even earth ponies & pegusai, magic isn't just restricted to the unicorns that can utilize it.

  I feel that unicorns evolved that horn to better channel magic. Its proximity to the brain & it leading to outside the body allows a sort of conductive rod to funnel emotional energy out to produce solid energy for the usage of levitating, teleportation, and etcetra.

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,825]

@@Widdershins,

 

The particle theory is more of a visualization. When you watch the show, you can visualize the particles of magic changing colors according to the situation.

 

In terms of Sombra, I've seen theories that Sombra was once a regular pony, perhaps corrupted by greed, which in turn changed his particles to all black giving him the looks and the evilness he has now.

 

In terms of "positive and negative influences", what I mean is what drives the pony/creature to use magic. What does he/she want to accomplish with the magic? Like, if Twilight used one of her restoration spells to fix a little filly's toy, that's a positive influence. On the other hand, say a pony wanted to rule over a certain region or the world or have all the power to themselves, that's a negative influence. In the explanation of the Friendship Games incident, I explained that wasn't SciTwi who influenced the magic. It was Principal Cinch and the students of Crystal Prep who did it. With their negative influence and goals, which were to win the friendship games and become more powerful, this influenced the magic and turned all its particles to black. 

 

Hope this helps you understand. 

[Biohazarddallas 221]

Interesting theory, never thought of it like that before.