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Lopoddity β€” Notes on Horns

#pandoraverse #mlpmylittlepony #lopoddity #headcanon #mlpnextgeneration
Published: 2019-09-02 16:54:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 194998; Favourites: 6203; Downloads: 638
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Description

hey watch me try to cram way too many wurdz on some horse doodles

Magic is alive in every creature, but it cannot be utilized properly without a solid conductor. Non-ponies (especially griffons and hippogriffs) are very innovative in this regard, and use tools like wands, staffs, and crystals to channel and cast magic. Others, like zebras, cast spells in the form of potions. For ponies, spell-casting ability comes built in.

Earth ponies can conduct magic through their hooves, which lends itself to bouts of extreme strength, connection to the natural world, as well as influence over the harvest. Pegasi conduct magic through their wings, allowing them to generate enough lift to get their heavy bodies off the ground, as well as manipulate the elements. A unicorn's horn, however, offers an unrivaled means of precision spell-casting. Horns allow unicorns to draw on the well of magic within themselves and direct it outward in the form of commands (spells). Spells vary in complexity and are nearly infinite in possibility. A clever unicorn can "program" a new spell by issuing a directive in their mind. The bone core within a unicorn's horn acts as a lightning rod for their magic. Magic is drawn from their bodies into the core, charged and amplified via the conductive keratin sheath, then fired outward, to go do whatever the unicorn has "coded" the spell to do (or explode, as is sometimes the case with finicky new spells).

Unicorns are the fussiest and most fastidious of all ponies (though of course there are exceptions to the rule). While earth ponies woo mates via gifts of flowers and food, and pegasi through flashy displays of flight, unicorns are melodramatic romantics. They place great stock in lengthy, drawn-out courtships with lots of gift-giving (precious gems are a must), dancing, shows of poetry and song. Unicorns sometimes engage in (mostly) theatrical "fencing" to fight off rival suitors, and some courting pairs will fence horns and duel with magic to win the other's hoof in marriage. Rivalry in considered very romantic among unicorns, the weird little drama queens.

Unicorns are snobby lil snooty-patooties that take themselves very seriously, please don't tell them how dinky and cute their horns are (under risk of being gored)


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i drew inspiration from lovely artists like and JayRockin on tumblr


these notes are a kinda companion piece to my one on pegasus wings:

Related content
Comments: 275

DxC-95 [2019-09-05 05:07:50 +0000 UTC]

Do unicorns with curved horns produce stronger magic/are better at certain spells, or is it simply a trait that can be passed down and doesn't make a difference? I didn't see anything about them here, and I remember you have some characters with curved horns.

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FGLizz95 [2019-09-05 04:34:44 +0000 UTC]

I love this jahfsjadfaj

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pinocchioo65 [2019-09-04 21:15:35 +0000 UTC]

Kirin are more related to dragons... except maybe in your universe? which is fine by me.

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MugenSeiRyuu [2019-09-04 20:48:10 +0000 UTC]

So I guess removing the horns of dangerous criminals is probably not a thing then, despite it making them a lot safer.

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Lopoddity In reply to MugenSeiRyuu [2019-09-04 21:16:51 +0000 UTC]

It used to be done in the past, before things like fair trials came to be, and laws arose to protect ponies from cruel and unjust punishment. The tool to do so is often showcased in history museums, alongside ancient torture weapons. I imagine it would've looked something like a bottlecap opener, deceptively innocent, with the purpose of breaking or snapping a horn off at the base. This sort of injury would bleed a LOT and often led to death, as infection at the site could easily spread to the brain. Nowadays ponies consider the very notion of horn removal barbaric. Unicorns under arrest instead have enchanted metal "locks" placed on their horns to nullify any attempts at magic. The locks cannot be removed without a key and counter-enchantment.

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MugenSeiRyuu In reply to Lopoddity [2019-09-05 14:47:10 +0000 UTC]

Okay, I'll need to split that up a bit:

"It used to be done in the past, before things like fair trials came to be, and laws arose to protect ponies from cruel and unjust punishment."
So no one who got their horn removed got a fair trial?

Β "The tool to do so is often showcased in history museums, alongside ancient torture weapons. I imagine it would've looked something like a bottlecap opener, deceptively innocent, with the purpose of breaking or snapping a horn off at the base. "

Great, now I have the mental image of someone fighting evil unicorns with a bottlecap opener. Which is both, silly and kinda badass.

"This sort of injury would bleed a LOT and often led to death, as infection at the site could easily spread to the brain."

Back then that was probably considered less of a problem. They got rid of the the bad guys one way or another.Β  A modern version of course would be done surgically.

"Nowadays ponies consider the very notion of horn removal barbaric."
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home.
Well, I wonder if some ponies might rethink that with time-traveling evil cult leaders and soul sucking serial killers around.Β 
Bonus points if the time-traveling evil cult leader wants to do it to the soul sucking serial killer.
Β 

"Unicorns under arrest instead have enchanted metal "locks" placed on their horns to nullify any attempts at magic. The locks cannot be removed without a key and counter-enchantment."
Ah, one of those rings so common among fanartists. Safe...in theory.

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qeveren In reply to MugenSeiRyuu [2019-09-15 23:35:34 +0000 UTC]

"Ah, one of those rings so common among fanartists. Safe...in theory."


They're canon now, oddly enough. XD

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MugenSeiRyuu In reply to qeveren [2019-09-16 00:28:04 +0000 UTC]

They are? Who got nerfed?

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KittenPinkamations In reply to MugenSeiRyuu [2019-09-17 11:41:40 +0000 UTC]

It's in the season 9 episode where Rainbow Dash teaches the cheerleading squad. Celestia brought in students from her school of unicorns to play buckball, and to make it a fair game they gave some of them butterfly wings to play as pegasi and some of them were given the magic nullifier rings so they couldn't cheat using magic.

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MugenSeiRyuu In reply to KittenPinkamations [2019-09-18 20:48:23 +0000 UTC]

Well, this raises the question why that is not used on criminals in the show. Should at least have put one of these on Glimglam instead of letting her run around with access to all her magic back then...

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Neonshi [2019-09-04 19:28:05 +0000 UTC]

Magnolia looks so fucking cute right there

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kerokogeorashi [2019-09-04 18:23:41 +0000 UTC]

Dang, this and the pegasi page are good stuff to use as tidbits in writing. I can't wait for the earth pony version!

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Crydius [2019-09-04 09:07:12 +0000 UTC]

"This is also flirty, in certain contexts"
For example...? XD

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PegasusMare [2019-09-04 06:31:09 +0000 UTC]

Ohhh, io love the detail

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PrincessOfHopeTomboy [2019-09-04 03:12:40 +0000 UTC]

I enjoy seeing these.

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indigomist15 [2019-09-04 02:43:07 +0000 UTC]

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bunniball2867 In reply to ??? [2019-09-04 00:25:22 +0000 UTC]

LOVING your art <3 This was nice to read and can I just say I AM LIVING FOR THAT CHRYSALIS DESIGN Β 

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Marie-Scalereader In reply to ??? [2019-09-03 22:26:40 +0000 UTC]

Could you say Unicorns are always.....horny?

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GeneralPumpkin [2019-09-03 21:48:38 +0000 UTC]

I am really digging this historical info you gave to the species of FIM. It adds a lot more depth to them, it makes me want to know more about these creatures. This is something that I wish the writers would tackle more often as it would make FIM feel less.......lacking. They give bits and pieces of history, but it’s barebones compared to what the community theorizes. Very nice work as always Lopoddity!

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Evilhumour-Author [2019-09-03 21:35:47 +0000 UTC]

Love your work; can't wait to see the Earth Pony one!

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ArtOfCarlos In reply to ??? [2019-09-03 20:29:16 +0000 UTC]

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ZibeonZebra In reply to ??? [2019-09-03 20:05:18 +0000 UTC]

kinda want a edgy background story as to how Tempest lost her horn.. just me? :/

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Lopoddity In reply to ZibeonZebra [2019-09-03 20:45:22 +0000 UTC]

The movie shows how she lost it. She was a child when she encountered an Ursa Minor. It attacked and broke her horn.

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ZibeonZebra In reply to Lopoddity [2019-09-05 13:12:35 +0000 UTC]

Ahh okay, thanks for filling me in, I don't watch MLP just love your art ^^ goodluck for dorian

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meevins In reply to ZibeonZebra [2019-09-03 20:13:45 +0000 UTC]

Didn't the movie explain how she lost her horn? She had a whole song explaining her edgy backstory and how a magical bear broke her horn.Β 

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ZibeonZebra In reply to meevins [2019-09-05 13:13:56 +0000 UTC]

Ohh okay, thank you! Don't watch mlp so I don't know this stuff but thank you

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MissGrumpyPotato [2019-09-03 18:35:43 +0000 UTC]

Huh. I wonder how many ponies have dabbled in trying to create a suitable horn prosthetic.Β 

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WIPARTADDITION In reply to ??? [2019-09-03 18:20:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the info I always wanted to know how they do there spells

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MysticNightVA [2019-09-03 18:09:40 +0000 UTC]

YAY!!! I'll be so excited to see the Earth Ponies next.

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bornthiswayfox [2019-09-03 17:26:04 +0000 UTC]

So informative. I love shining armors beard

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luxidoptera [2019-09-03 16:59:08 +0000 UTC]

i'm Always a sucker for speculative biology

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Watermelonthecat [2019-09-03 16:56:04 +0000 UTC]

ahhh that's interesting!
Β 

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OXxDarkStarxXO [2019-09-03 16:28:41 +0000 UTC]

i wonder for earth ponies, wat so unique about them?

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Riggs-Eclipse [2019-09-03 16:23:11 +0000 UTC]

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MelancholyClockwork [2019-09-03 16:21:14 +0000 UTC]

"Rivalry in considered very romantic among unicorns" Hmm... Moondancer, wanna have a talk about your "rivalry" with Pandora? Perhaps some repressed emotions?

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Lopoddity In reply to MelancholyClockwork [2019-09-03 19:56:09 +0000 UTC]

hmmm gee i wonder

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MelancholyClockwork In reply to Lopoddity [2019-09-04 07:59:40 +0000 UTC]

Β 

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AmarisSparrow [2019-09-03 16:05:15 +0000 UTC]

I really love the tiny hearts in Cadence's coat

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shvique [2019-09-03 15:16:36 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful artwork & very thoughtful explication of the subject of unicorn horns!Β  Makes me glad my pony OC ("Nightscrawler") is a uni!

Β 

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OhBandera [2019-09-03 14:31:28 +0000 UTC]

asdfghjk IF ONLY THE ACTUAL SHOW WAS THIS IN-DEPTH GOOD LORD


Seriously though, this is all really interesting. I love how different types of ponies have their own ways of courtship and communication. Definitely adds a lot to the narrative of your AU!

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Meteor752 [2019-09-03 14:13:14 +0000 UTC]

So wait, say if an earth pony or something made a surgery and took out the wand core (Or simply ripped it out of their skull, depends on the pony), could it then channel their magic and work as a wand??

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FractiousLemon [2019-09-03 13:49:37 +0000 UTC]

Dat Chrysalis.

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Nadjaridraws [2019-09-03 13:12:53 +0000 UTC]

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rubimlp6 [2019-09-03 12:58:41 +0000 UTC]

YESSS I WAS WAITING FOR THIS OMG IT'S PERFECT

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tigreanpony [2019-09-03 12:47:40 +0000 UTC]

Very cool, love the notes.

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rabbithutch [2019-09-03 12:28:07 +0000 UTC]

nice idea

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SerenitySaturn In reply to rabbithutch [2019-09-03 13:22:41 +0000 UTC]

I love the doodle with Celestia and Chrysalis

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ShyLunaArt [2019-09-03 11:50:38 +0000 UTC]

Very creative and descriptive notes! I love your style on art too ^v^

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VoicelessPoint [2019-09-03 09:53:40 +0000 UTC]

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lynx318 [2019-09-03 09:50:51 +0000 UTC]

How to annoy a unicorn #42
"I need to pry open this can, hey Starlight, can I borrow the use of your horn a sec?"

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