What are the full effects of the Age Spell?

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

From the age spell, we could tell that Snips and Snails were completely turned into babies, physically.  But is the age spell also able to alter them mentally? Was their maturity (maturity as in abilities to communicate clearly, performing more rational decisions, the list goes on) just gone as Trixie morphed them into babies? As soon as Snips and Snails were transformed, they cried like a normal baby and, though their baby forms were only shown for but a few moments, they seemed to act like a baby rather than a normal Snips and Snails (mentally) just in a physical baby form.

 

This branches off into other questions about mental age reduction: Are all Snips and Snails' memories of their lives completely wiped away as they get their intelligence reduced down to that of an infant? If they were to leave Snips and Snails as a baby, would they remember any knowledge they had acquired (before the age spell was cast on them) as they grew up again? Or would they almost start life over? Also, when Snails was turned into an elder, did he have the same immature mindset as when he was in his normal age, or did he somehow acquire any knowledge when he was turned into an older pony?

 

Then of course there's the question that SBB64 asked in this topic, are the more powerful unicorns/alicorns able to take advantage of the age spell and make themselves immortal? Is the age spell a permanent affect or a temporary one?

 

Discuss.

Edited December 4, 2012 by Scootabelle

[Arcanel 3,041]

Hmmm...there's the thing that I don't know if the age spell could have been an illusion or not. But I'm supposing it is real. Then I'm ignoring whether it is temporary or not. I think the mind changes but retains the memories. This goes mostly to the physical part, and the ability of communication. Those change, but as for who they are and their memories, they probably remain the same. In fact, I could have almost imagined Snails saying something like "Wow...I look so old..." or something similar.

 

As for the temporary or permanent, I think that super powerful spells like age spells probably have something similar to what the time spell was. Useful, but probably limited so that others will not abuse of them.

[ToridAkbolto 170]

Celestia is centuries old and a very powerful alicorn. Age spells are among the most advanced magic. If one were to master them, one could theoretically be immortal, even if it were only temporary, as it is a sort of fountain of youth...

 

Just sayin', was there ever a princess before Celestia?

[Jammo 986]

It cruelly shaves years off their life for a short novelty effect.

There's a reason Celestia doesn't use it very often. Serious ethical implications.

Edited December 4, 2012 by Jammo

[Spring Storm 276]

I was just wondering this earlier. I think the age spell would have to be temporary, otherwise everypony would rely on the unicorns to keep from aging.

[Starshine 16,335]

My best bet is that the Age Spell only alters the body's composition, not actually manipulate the timeflow to regress or advance Snip and Snail's physical age. You can see that Snips remained as a dumbass even after the age regression, big possibility hat the brain is left untouched, which means that there is no personality change whatsoever.

 

Of course, if this is true, that also means that any Unicorn who tried to be pseudo-immortal by doing this will be mentally degraded because his/her brain couldn't keep up.

[Arcanel 3,041]

My best bet is that the Age Spell only alters the body's composition, not actually manipulate the timeflow to regress or advance Snip and Snail's physical age. You can see that Snips remained as a dumbass even after the age regression, big possibility hat the brain is left untouched, which means that there is no personality change whatsoever.

Wait, Snips? Don't you mean Snails when he turned old? If I understood though, The spell could trigger a change in the physical age, leaing out any parts that deal with memories and personality IMO, and then change back when the spell was undone.

[Princes Cadance 345]

Well when Snips and Snails were turned into babies they were babbling so I would say everything is changed into the state of being a baby, same as physical features since when Snips or Snails (forget which) were turned old their legs were wobbly so I would say you would both physically and mentally age

[Batbrony 16,056]

Hmmm, interesting theory.  Personally, I actually still don't think that it did alter them mentally; I do think that they retained their memories, both when they were turned younger and when Snails was turned into an elder, despite the fact that they could only communicate as babies through crying or gibberish sounds when they were turned into babies.

 

As for SBB64's question, IDK.  Unicorns may be able to use it to extend their lives, I could definitely see that, but I can't say for alicorns, largely because we don't know enough about their physical natures.  For all we know, alicorns could be naturally immortal, in the same way elves from Tolkien's Middle Earth are (i.e. born immortal, but can be killed).  But unicorns, that's a whole other story; I imagine if they could use age spells to extend their lives, it would take a great deal of magic, maybe even dark magic, and I get the feeling that most, unless they're as powerful as King Sombra or have a magical object like the Alicorn's Amulet amplifying their magical abilities, would be unable to cast age spells at all (as Twilight herself said), much less use them to extend their lives or even become immortal.  Even if a unicorn does have the power to cast age spells, I'm guessing most wouldn't, since frankly, it struck me as possibly being dark magic in and of itself; I don't know about you guys, but I for one found it to be a rather disturbing spell.  Think about it; Twilight herself tried to wilt a flower when attempting to cast an age spell, and based on what Trixie did to Snails, one could cast an age spell on a pony and put them on death's doorstep, even if they were just a filly.  Maybe age spells aren't dark magic in and of themselves, but they certainly have great potential for being easily abused and utilized for wicked and evil purposes.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

Hmmm, interesting theory.  Personally, I actually still don't think that it did alter them mentally; I do think that they retained their memories, both when they were turned younger and when Snails was turned into an elder, despite the fact that they could only communicate as babies through crying or gibberish sounds when they were turned into babies.

Knowing most people, I don't think I would start crying if I was suddenly turned into a baby and also have my memory retained. I would probably yell WHAT THE FUCK.

 

Speaking isn't something that is physically developed, it's a mental skill; something that you are taught. If you retained all your memory, surely you remember how to talk, and knowing Snips and Snails, I think they would talk if they saw themselves in baby form. So I don't think they still had their own memories.

[Starshine 16,335]

Wait, Snips? Don't you mean Snails when he turned old? If I understood though, The spell could trigger a change in the physical age, leaing out any parts that deal with memories and personality IMO, and then change back when the spell was undone.

No... I meant Snips. He's the one who turned into a baby, right? If the spell also affects brains, the transformation would had left his brain in a blank slate. But since he was still a jerk after it, the brain was left alone

 

 

[Arcanel 3,041]

No... I meant Snips. He's the one who turned into a baby, right? If the spell also affects brains, the transformation would had left his brain in a blank slate. But since he was still a jerk after it, the brain was left alone

 

Well, the problem with age spells is, we don't know if the brain is touched or not. For all we know, the spell HAD changed his brain, AKA leaving as just a simple foal and his brain turns back to normal only after the spell ends, maybe it's especific, as it might have left his personality and memories intact which would be used when he "grew up again" but is not able to speak due to "brain reggression", or like you said, it's just a physical change and not one of the brain.I would have to debate myself withing either the first or the second option.