So what WAS Starswirl's unfinished spell anyway?

[Koelath 445]

Upon rewatching Magical Mystery Cure (I've been re-running the whole series), it occurred to me that the actual purpose of the spell is never exactly explained...So I did some thinking on it.

 

From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled. - Starswirl's incomplete spell.

From all of us together, together we are friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end. - Twilight's revised spell.

 

 

The incomplete version just corrupted the elements and by extension the destinies of those connected to them. No real clue there about the spell's intended effect...

 

But judging by the revised words of the spell and its effect upon being completed, its intended purpose was to tap a limitless magical source. Understandable, given Starswirl's apparent affinity and love of magic.

 

However, judging from the spell Starswirl invented, he thought the key to his goal was to somehow alter his cutie mark (A mark of one's destiny. The spell he made was intended to let him alter his destiny. Reasonable enough. One is bound by destiny so if he could just rework his to grant him access to the source he sought...

 

But...We never hear of Starswirl having any sort of crisis involving a randomized cutie mark so the spell apparently did nothing. Why? Because as he wrote it (From one to another, another to one), the spell functioned via equivalent exchange: You can't just get a new mark, you have to trade. And he surely never got anyone to agree to a trade, if he ever even discovered this at all.

 

Of course, nobody agreed to trade cutie marks with Twilight either. Indeed, when she uses the incomplete spell, it doesn't affect anyone. It affects the Elements, which in turn affects anyone connected to those Elements: In this case, her friends.

 

The reason it affects the Elements themselves (and the ponies by extension) is due to Twilight's specific role. As the element of magic, the element binding all the rest together and giving the EoH their power, she is essentially a conduit for the Elements so when she cast the spell, it chained its effect from her to the rest of the element-holders.

 

So if his initial theory proved useless, why didn't Starswirl figure out how to tap this hypothetical infinite magical source later on? Simply put: He was ignorant, in exactly the same way as Twilight was when the series started. Indeed, Celestia probably noticed the personal similarities between the two from the very beginning which would explain how she determined that Twilight might have the potential to succeed where he had failed.

 

Celestia mentions that Twilight completed the spell thanks to understanding what Starswirl did not, something that Celestia pushed her toward understanding: Friendship is magic. Starswirl didn't have the friends that Twilight has so he could never figure this out and thus never completed the spell. He figured out the Elements were a key part of it as they contain such great magic but he never figured out the more important part: Friendship is the purest form of harmony and the thing that gives the Elements their magic in the first place, and thus would hold the potential for power even greater than the Elements themselves. Twilight discovers this, however, and successfully uses the spell to tap into that *endless magical source which provides the magic necessary to enable her transformation.

 

*The void she appears in after completing the spell. In the time since Starswirl's passing, Celestia has presumably learned how to access this space but lacks the magical potential to utilize its energies, unlike Twilight.

 

All speculation, of course, and probably way too much thought for a show about colorful ponies...

 

Also speculation: What would Starswirl have done if he succeeded? I'm thinking either a corrupted-by-power rise to villainy (he would look AWESOME as a villain) or a sort of benevolent figurehead deal (imagine if Discord used his powers to spread goodness and joy as opposed to psychopathic chaos).

[FNGRpony 658]

I've asked that to.

 

i mean the spell effects those who weild the elements right?  So did star swirl end up affecting luna and celestail?

[Scootalove 10,689]

From this very well explained speculation of yours, Starswirl's unfinished spell was to change his destiny, to trade his cutie mark and his destiny with someone else. Since he didn't have anyone to trade his cutie mark with, he had to leave the spell incomplete until he could find someone to trade with. He never had the friends to help him with his destiny or trade his destiny with, so he left it unfinished until Twilight revised it.

[FNGRpony 658]

From this very well explained speculation of yours, Starswirl's unfinished spell was to change his destiny, to trade his cutie mark and his destiny with someone else. Since he didn't have anyone to trade his cutie mark with, he had to leave the spell incomplete until he could find someone to trade with. He never had the friends to help him with his destiny or trade his destiny with, so he left it unfinished until Twilight revised it.

 

why did he want to?  It's a curious point.

[Scootalove 10,689]

why did he want to?  It's a curious point.

He was probably unhappy about his destiny. It's more explained in the OP.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

He was probably unhappy about his destiny. It's more explained in the OP.

 

It's an alright idea, but it's hard to say he did not like his destiny. If he hated it so much, why would he create so many different spells?

 

This is an idea I have. If we remember in, In Hearts warming eve, SS was still around during the arguing with Earth ponies, pegasus, and unicorns. What if wanted to make a spell that switched the destinies of the waring tribes. That way they could all see how hard it is to live in there lives.

 

It's just an idea.

[Scootalove 10,689]

It's an alright idea, but it's hard to say he did not like his destiny. If he hated it so much, why would he create so many different spells?

 

This is an idea I have. If we remember in, In Hearts warming eve, SS was still around during the arguing with Earth ponies, pegasus, and unicorns. What if wanted to make a spell that switched the destinies of the waring tribes. That way they could all see how hard it is to live in there lives.

 

It's just an idea.

That is a good idea. If he made a spell like that, we would be able to see their lives from their point of view and see why they had to fight to survive.

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's an alright idea, but it's hard to say he did not like his destiny. If he hated it so much, why would he create so many different spells?

 

This is an idea I have. If we remember in, In Hearts warming eve, SS was still around during the arguing with Earth ponies, pegasus, and unicorns. What if wanted to make a spell that switched the destinies of the waring tribes. That way they could all see how hard it is to live in there lives.

 

It's just an idea.

Interesting idea SS is shown as serving the unicorn King and being Clover's teacher. It makes him into a almost pony version of Merlin, which makes him more interesting than the way MMC seems to paint him as a failure unstable. The show needs to tighten up his back story. Edited December 19, 2013 by Nature's Spell

[Malinter 3,064]

Interesting idea SS is shown as serving the unicorn King and being Clover's teacher. It makes him into a almost pony version of Merlin, which makes him more interesting than the way MMC seems to paint him as a failure. The show needs to tighten up his back story.

 

SS has the creation of 200 spells to his name, he isn't a failure. What is apparent is that his knowledge of magic made him either hesitent or unable to have friends. Think about it. Twilight was afraid her magic would make people hate her if she showed off. Perhaps Starswirl was so powerful, some might have actual been afraid of him. And if they pushed him away, he would have done the same and just channelled his energies solely into magic having given up on friendship.

 

Who knows, maybe his unfinished spell was to give up his magic to someone else. 

Edited December 19, 2013 by Malinter

[Nature's Spell 526]

SS has the creation of 200 spells to his name, he isn't a failure. What is apparent is that his knowledge of magic made him either hesitent or unable to have friends. Think about it. Twilight was afraid her magic would make people hate her if she showed off. Perhaps Starswirl was so powerful, some might have actual been afraid of him. And he they pushed him away, he would have done the same and just channelled his energies solely into magic having given up on friendship.

 

Who knows, maybe his unfinished spell was to give up his magic to someone else.

Failure isn't the right word, I agree with you there. Perhaps unstable is a better one or as you said he wasn't able to make friends and wasn't able to connect with anybody. The funny and ironic thing about this, and others have pointed it out, is that Celestia herself seems have have few friends. Edited December 19, 2013 by Nature's Spell

[Malinter 3,064]

Failure isn't the right word, I agree with you there. Perhaps unstable is a better one or as you said he wasn't able to make friends and wasn't able to connect with anybody. The fun thing about this and others have pointed out is that Celestia herself seems have have few friends.

 

She's had a few though thats mostly simply due to having to watch them weither to the passage of time. A situation we see happen in the comics with one of her school's teachers, Inkwell.

[Nature's Spell 526]

She's had a few though thats mostly simply due to having to watch them weither to the passage of time. A situation we see happen in the comics with one of her school's teachers, Inkwell.

It's stuff like that which makes people upset about Twilight out living her friends too. I think it is a silly issue because the reality is most people do outlive their friends and loved ones.

[Malinter 3,064]

It's stuff like that which makes people upset about Twilight out living her friends too. I think it is a silly issue because the reality is most people do outlive their friends and loved ones.

 

My great-grandfather lived to be a 102. he outlived all his freinds and even his own sons. I wonder how he felt about that.

[Nature's Spell 526]

My great-grandfather lived to be a 102. he outlived all his freinds and even his own sons. I wonder how he felt about that.

God bless him, and how you view mortality is a very personal thing.

[FNGRpony 658]

thought i'd drop this off here,

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_2002048885&feature=iv&src_vid=4I94xw1Cc2A&v=NG17EGXvHiU

 

the theory about discord and star swirl spun,

and how celestial has been cycling through apprentices to bring her old friend back.

[ded 121]

thought i'd drop this off here,

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_2002048885&feature=iv&src_vid=4I94xw1Cc2A&v=NG17EGXvHiU

 

the theory about discord and star swirl spun,

and how celestial has been cycling through apprentices to bring her old friend back.

So, Celestia is using Twilight and her friends' friendship to pull Discord back to his original form, so she can bask in her friendship with Star Swirl? Celestia, god of Equestria betrayal.

Would Luna have any part in her plan at all? She'd probably be at the moon at that point.

[FNGRpony 658]

So, Celestia is using Twilight and her friends' friendship to pull Discord back to his original form, so she can bask in her friendship with Star Swirl? Celestia, god of Equestria betrayal.

Would Luna have any part in her plan at all? She'd probably be at the moon at that point.

 

No idea what celestail is up to LOL. She always seems to be siting on important facts.

I could either chalk that up to poor writing, or she's up to no good.

 

I like my way better.

[Koelath 445]

I've asked that to.

 

i mean the spell effects those who weild the elements right?  So did star swirl end up affecting luna and celestail?

 

Well, the way I saw it, it only affected the element-holders due to Twilight's role. Starswirl never wielded the Element of magic so it wouldn't have happened that way.

[Koelath 445]

It's an alright idea, but it's hard to say he did not like his destiny. If he hated it so much, why would he create so many different spells?

 

This is an idea I have. If we remember in, In Hearts warming eve, SS was still around during the arguing with Earth ponies, pegasus, and unicorns. What if wanted to make a spell that switched the destinies of the waring tribes. That way they could all see how hard it is to live in there lives.

 

It's just an idea.

 

Well, spell-making could still be a hobby. We never actually learn what his mark, and by extension his destiny, is...Presumably it was something magic-related that nonetheless wouldn't grant access to the source he was after.

 

And that is an intriguing idea...Except The Pilgrim Ponies (heh) weren't arguing about destiny. It was a racial thing, earth ponies versus unicorns versus pegasi.

 

Earth ponies grew the food, unicorns raised the sun/moon, pegasi handled weather...Each demanded tribute for their respective service and as a result each thought the others untrustworthy and uppity. Then when cooperation fell apart, each set out for new land only to end up all claiming the same land and going back at each other's throats...

 

Starswirl could swap their cutie marks until Spike died (dragons are traditionally immortal) but their races would remain the same, each specialized for certain tasks, each demanding payment for said task, and each refusing to pay.

[FNGRpony 658]

Well, the way I saw it, it only affected the element-holders due to Twilight's role. Starswirl never wielded the Element of magic so it wouldn't have happened that way.

 

Okay this is gonna cause a debate,

but suppose star swirl did wield the element of magic.

 

Would that be so unbelievable?

 

It could be one of the many facts princess Celestail has carefully decided to omit.

 

I know the argument against it is "friend ship is magic."

 

so would that imply star swirl was...oh i don't know

un harmonies?

[Malinter 3,064]

Starswirl probably was the previous element of magic, though that does mean there were the other bearers abound him, no doubt trying to help him but him pushing them away and trying to do things alone which Twilight herself has tried once or twice.

[Koelath 445]

Okay this is gonna cause a debate,

but suppose star swirl did wield the element of magic.

 

Would that be so unbelievable?

 

It could be one of the many facts princess Celestail has carefully decided to omit.

 

I know the argument against it is "friend ship is magic."

 

so would that imply star swirl was...oh i don't know

un harmonies?

 

If that were the case, he'd certainly qualify as unharmonious...Which lack of sync with the Element overall would also possibly prevent the conduit effect the spell causes via Twilight.

 

Though if he were the element of magic and unharmonious to boot, I'd imagine Discord would've loved toying with him...Mm, possibilities...