Where does the magic come from?

TheFoolArcana515 · September 4, 2013

Hello everypony,

If there is already a topic that explains the answer to my question, I would like to read it. But I couldn't find one on the forums and I am not sure if this is the best place to post this topic, but I did the best of my ability to match it. So I thought about opening a new topic here about it.

Where exactly does the magic come from?

I know that unicorns can cast magic using their horns, and I believe other creatures in the show are capable of using magic as well. That got me thinking things like, are they born with it? Is the magic all around them? Or is it deeper than that?

I tried looking up some answers but I could not find anything that could help. So I am here asking you if you know of a viable source that explains the magic in Equestria in detail or if there is an episode I overlooked, please fill me in.

Thank you all very much for reading my post.

MichaelxXxTrixie · September 4, 2013

I'd assume this

Magic is all around them and is capable of use by anyone. The thing is that Unicorns horns act as a catalyst in order to conjure potent spells. Basically it's everywhere, it's just that Unicorns can pull it in and use it.

Scootalove · September 4, 2013

The magic in other creatures besides unicorns are born with it, because without magic they wouldn't be born with it in the first place.

Misty Shadow · September 4, 2013

Don't worry, you haven't missed anything. Even though Twilight "elaborates" on what magic is in Feeling Pinkie Keen, it's not fundamentally established what the source of magic is in the show. Even if an explanation is established, it doesn't really matter. Part of the magic of magic is that it doesn't have to be explained.

Edited September 4, 2013 by Matt Engarde

mehguy22 · September 4, 2013

In a sort of scientific approach,, I would think that:

A. Like MichaelxXxTrixie said, it's everywhere but Unicorns can manipulate it, or

B. They produce it from their body's energy (burning calories or something) to use it, or

C. A hybrid of A and B, they use the magic around them but they also have to produce some sort of 'control magic' to use it.

Kind of an odd look at it but it's just an opinion. Although really, it's magic, and magic is, well... magic... so it doesn't really need explanation.

Dusknight Haze · September 4, 2013

Hello everypony,

If there is already a topic that explains the answer to my question, I would like to read it. But I couldn't find one on the forums and I am not sure if this is the best place to post this topic, but I did the best of my ability to match it. So I thought about opening a new topic here about it.

Where exactly does the magic come from?

I know that unicorns can cast magic using their horns, and I believe other creatures in the show are capable of using magic as well. That got me thinking things like, are they born with it? Is the magic all around them? Or is it deeper than that?

I tried looking up some answers but I could not find anything that could help. So I am here asking you if you know of a viable source that explains the magic in Equestria in detail or if there is an episode I overlooked, please fill me in.

Thank you all very much for reading my post.

Hm, an interesting question, but the very nature and definition of "magic" is arbitrary.

Meaning that even if you gave some sort of explanation as to why it exists, you could ask why the explanation of that exists.

Example: Let's assume for argument's sake that all magic descends from the ruler of Equestria. Celestia, in this case. All magic power flows from her to all ponies. Why does it flow from her to begin with?

See what I mean? That's why empirical measurements of magic don't really exist because by its very nature there is no base cause.

If you really wanted to be pulling at straws and give a pseudo-scientific explanation, you could probably say that the essence of life that exists of its own accord (i.e. sentience) and its subsequent perception of a physical reality could be in a sense, a form of magic, since no other organism can experience another organism's perception directly, thus allowing one to "change" the fabric of reality from the singular viewpoint one possesses.

Okay. So back to MLP. If I had to guess I would propose two sources.

First, a generic "fantasy" sort of magic that comes from life, or crystals, or deities, or the sun, or something. In this case, it's a kid's show, so we don't need to get into details there.

Secondly, if we wanted to reach into epileptic trees territory, one could probably justify the theory that Equestria is a post-apocalyptic Earth tens of thousands of years after humanity (and thus the EqG portal is a time machine rather than a direct portal. Bam!), and the magic and anomalous effects we see (cutie marks et al.) are actually the results of biological nanomachines produced in the horns of the unicorn variety of ponies.

The ponies themselves are genetic mutations of animals. Because of the docile and friendly nature of horses and the lackadaisical and slacking nature of dragons, the ponies with their powers of flight, strength, and magic, outlasted most of the other forms of life, and because of their genetic mutations (read: genetically modified to have sentience) created their own society based around their in-borne genetic abilities.

You could explain the strength and communication-wth-animals abilities of the Earth ponies with basic biological engineering of muscles, and the signalling of pheromones to other animals in order to gain their trust.

The pegasi, despite their small wings, actually use nanomachines and arrays of millions of microscopic static air fans embedded in their wings to fly. They control the clouds via electromagnetism radiated from their static fans, and the clouds they lay on condense at points of contact because of the EM field.

The unicorns use massive amounts of nanomachines to lift objects, change their molecular structure, or mutate other living things by infusing them with nanomachines.

I really got carried away with this theory. I actually like it more than I thought I would as I was writing it.

Anyways, yeah, magic is kinda arbitrary and nanomachines are cool or something.

tl;dr MLP is fallout/mass effect/dune with ponies.

TheFoolArcana515 · September 4, 2013

Thanks everyone for your responses, I really appreciate the time you took into writing your thoughts on how magic works in MLP. I believe I have a more clear understanding about it now and I could not have done it without you guys

Fluttershutter · September 5, 2013

I assume they're able to tap into some energy source that science hasn't yet discovered, Maybe zero point energy. That's my standard explanation for magic in fiction.

I do think ponies other than unicorns can have some inate magical power. Pinkie has Pinkie Sense, Fluttershy has The Stare, and I think pegasi flying and walking on clouds requires some kind of gravity magic to begin with.

DaReaper · September 5, 2013

I like thinking through time unicorns are born with the ability to use magic due to their needs were they originaly came from and needed for survival

Or

They make their horns out of materia and are able to Manipulate it

Of course these are my opinions and have no basis in the show esspecialy the second one

True Rarity · September 5, 2013

Hmm. Well, when I was little, I always thought that the magic was inside the horn, but I now think that unicorns are born with the ability to produce magic - the horn just makes that possible.

Sylentmana · September 5, 2013

Twilight says that magic comes from within a pony and is able to be tapped as a power source. Because of their horn, unicorns are able to use the power in its rawest form. The other two types of ponies are able to tap into magic in more subtle ways. Pegasi use it to walk on clouds and manipulate the weather and earth ponies use it to help plants grow.

Zecora has been seen to be able to use magic in her own way without the use of a horn as a catalyst and probably uses the magical properties of certain plants in her potions. Gilda's ability to sit on clouds suggests that gryphons have innate magic similar to pegasi. The natural world also seems to be able to produce magic as evidenced by certain plants (poison joke, hearts desire, seeds of truth, etc) and by the presence of Timber Wolves which appeare to be naturally occuring magical constructs.

Considering all this, it is my opinion that magic is the life force of the world in which Equestria resides. All living creatures produce it and are sustained by it. Love appears to be a tangible magical force that can be siphoned off by creatures such as the changelings leaving the victim in a weakend state. I don't know if it's considered canon, but in the comics, Chrysilis states that she plans on draining all the magical power from Twilight Sparkle destroying her in the process. The resulting rush of emotions from her after seeing her die would provide a feast for her subjects. This would destroy the rest of the ponies connected to the Elements of Harmony and provide enouph power to mount a new assult on Canterlot. This provides evidence that emotions are also connected to a pony's life force and therefore is magic as well. If draining magical power from another being kills them, then it lends further credence to my theory that magic is the same as or is connected to a creature's life force.

I had more in mind, but I've suddenly forgot it so I'll just end with that. Just my head canon at least. :squee:

RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC · September 5, 2013

"If magic existed, we'd call it science."
I forget where I found this quote, but I love it. So, where does electricity come from? Sure, it comes from electrons, but how does that work? I mean, aren't electrons just tiny little balls? Why would they make electricity? Basically, it's just there. I'm not just saying that I don't know, I'm saying that it just exists. I really have no idea how it works.

Koelath · September 5, 2013

Well, you see, unicorns and alicorns can use magic because they are both a special subspecies of pony. They're born with a very high number of midichlorians an-*shot*

"If magic existed, we'd call it science."
I forget where I found this quote, but I love it. So, where does electricity come from? Sure, it comes from electrons, but how does that work? I mean, aren't electrons just tiny little balls? Why would they make electricity? Basically, it's just there. I'm not just saying that I don't know, I'm saying that it just exists. I really have no idea how it works.

Reminds me of another quote:

"Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Maybe they just have crazy advanced science.

September 6, 2013

Unicorns are born with the ability to use magic, it's unique to their race not including alicorns. The magic comes from the ponies individual inner energies, think of when Shining Armor had his magic drained and wasn't able to use any until he was snapped out of the spell, and had his magic replenished by whats her name Cadence.

Frith is Magick · September 9, 2013

My personal theory:

The power for magic comes from some unknown pool that unicorns and alicorns can tap into. The horn is the means by which they access magic, and the result of genetics. The magic is not created, but channeled and altered based on the nature of the spell. The power for the spell does not come from the caster, but channeling the power requires focus and can be physically tiring. When a unicorn studies magic, they are studying how to access and control the appropriate level of magic, as well as how to channel it in the proper form. There is a science to controlling magic, but magic itself is not understood.

This explains how baby unicorns can use magic, they are simply using the energy to accomplish their will, but this makes the magic unstable and unpredictable. It also explains how they can accomplish dramatic results that would require more energy than a pony's body could hold, but we know magic takes effort and focus(Twilight Sparkle tired after major spells, Snails struggling to create a light). It also explains how magic can be taught and learned from books. The size of the horn seems to matter as well, Celestia raises the sun and has a large horn, Pumpkin Cake has little ability, Twilight's horn was bigger after becoming an alicorn. The horn would grow with the pony, meaning magic is relative to size, not vice-versa.

That's my rambling idea, sorry it takes up so much space.

CT-1138 · September 9, 2013

For animals that aren't unicorns, I would say that it is a feature that is silly part of their genetic make up. It's a genetic trait, just like eye or fur color, and he type of magic is a determining factor in the subspecies of pony hat is born, based on dominating aleles in the parents.

But for unicorns, I always humored myself the possibility that on top of being a genetic trait, that their brains contain a specialized third lobe that is dedicated to magic alone. Other subspecies of ponies would have this lobe as well, but it is smaller and less developed than in unicorns.

~Silver Essence~ · September 9, 2013

You know how they say magic is everywhere? I'm assuming that's how it works.

That, and through the concentration and powers of the unicorn, they can make it happen.

hellocat · September 9, 2013

FRIENDSHIP!!!

Joking aside, I think it comes from within the magical creatures. Here is my evidence: from 'The Crystal Empire Part 1', "She can't go on like this forever, and if her magic were to fade" referring to Princess Cadance. Additionally, the magic is referred to as being possessed by the caster, so that implies that there is an innate tie to the individual, rather than an external source. But who knows, not really ever explained as far as I can remember.

Mr. Critical · September 9, 2013

I assume the same place as always. The magic energies come from the etherical plane. The unicorn horn acts as a conductor for using and focusing it.

Sylentmana · September 9, 2013

In my opinion, the thing that makes magic what it is, is a lack of understanding of how something works. People uses to think rocks with magnetic properties were magic, but now we call it science. In Equestria, they say the word "magic", but they seem to have an understanding of it on a seemingly scientific level. I think that the word "magic" is just a general term the ponies use for something that operates within the realm of science. Perhaps magic is just the name of a pervasive energy force that the ponies can tap into and manipulate with their minds. This is why Twilight speaks of magic in scientific terms and studies it on a scientific level much the same as she studies the world around her.

ASocialyAwkwardPony · September 9, 2013

The way I see it, friendship is literally magic in this universe (which may or may not be confirmed canon based on how you look at Celestia's speech in Magical Mystery Cure), and that is why Celestia would actually find it necessary to send her student out to make friends as a part of her training. When ponies and creatures get along, their friendship seem to generate some sort of magic power, which Unicorns can tap directly into and bend to their will, while Pegasi can use it to walk on clouds and Earth Ponies get extra strength and become better at work from it. This could also be an actual logical explanation for the cartoon physics in the series: they are all infused with magic that helps them to be extra resilient and bend their bodies in ways to help them without hurting themselves, and even for mean characters they might be able to get powers from others friendship.