HOME | DD
Lopoddity β Notes on Horns
#pandoraverse #mlpmylittlepony #lopoddity #headcanon #mlpnextgeneration
Published: 2019-09-02 16:54:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 195251; Favourites: 6203; Downloads: 639
Redirect to original
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)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
this is so fascinating and cool! back at again with the amazing headcanons.
π: 0 β©: 0
What are the differences between the horns on a unicorn(/alicorn) to those of a changeling?Β
π: 1 β©: 0
mistmane is a beautifull grandma and i want her beauty tips
π: 0 β©: 0
man i love this type of stuff
π: 0 β©: 1
Do you think youβll do another piece on earth ponies, to complete the trifecta?
π: 0 β©: 1
huh, wrong person mate lmao
π: 0 β©: 0
"Rivalry in considered very romantic among unicorns, the weird little drama queens."
Oh, biscuits!
π: 0 β©: 0
love these HCs and how they tie into unicorn culture. very interesting stuff!Β
π: 0 β©: 0
Most unicorns would rather lose a limb than their horn. Tempest gets by okay.
Except for the whole domestic terrorism thing, I guess.
π: 0 β©: 1
I meant she isn't limited by her injury. She's still remarkably competent, as far as domestic terrorists go
π: 0 β©: 0
lop stop making goddamn amazing headcanons.Β fuck yeah for horns not being able to grow back after a certain point of breaking B)
also hoping you're taking care of yourself since dorian hit cat 5! 
π: 0 β©: 1
Aw, thanks. 
π: 0 β©: 1
gosh that sounds... awful.... we get tornados in Wisconsin but I can't imagine just sitting and waiting for a hurricane to come.Β Hoping it just comes and go and doesn't linger >~<
π: 0 β©: 0
Makes me think.. Imagine the chronic nerve pain or even phantom pain Tempest must have..
π: 0 β©: 0
Not only are Kirins kinda related to Deer, but they are also somewhat related to Dragons (if going by our myths of them), making them very powerful creatures.
Thankfully, Kirins/Qilins are never evil as they represent Justice.
[EDIT]
As what GaySideofDimensions has said, a Unicorn shouldn't be able to battle with it's horn. I stated my reasoning for why with their reply, but here it is again:
"Horses in real life battle using their hooves and teeth, they don't ram heads because they aren't built for it. A Unicorn in the MLP universe is no exception.
Even real Unicorns (as in what they really are meant to look like) have deer bodies and lion tails, and a single horn that sorta represents a narwhal's tusk, which is a sensory organ.
So, there should be no way a Unicorn will be able to fight with it's horn."
It would be too painful for a super sensitiveΒ organ to be used in any aggressive way, unless it's to threaten a creature.
π: 0 β©: 1
no fun allowed huh
horses are also not meant to y'know....talk
π: 2 β©: 1
Sorry if I sounded rude, I didn't mean to ruin the fun.
I'm just passionate when it comes to Biology, but the whole sensitive to battling idea would be strange, unless Unicorns would be like Bucks and have their horns become solid during certain times.
Or emotions could come into play, if a Unicorn is aggressive, their horns could become solid and battle-worthy. But during relaxed times, it's sensitive.
π: 0 β©: 1
They are magical creatures who's magic is triggered by instinct and thoughts, they could absolutely have a natural hardening spell during high aggression, like how adrenaline is triggered in intense situations
π: 0 β©: 1
See, that would be a good explanation for it. I just feel it could of been explained more, because from what it just contradicted each other.
Intense emotions would cause instinctual reactions, like (for example) bucking for Earth, flying for Pegasus, and hardening of the horns for Unicorns.
π: 0 β©: 0
Look at Sun Lesbian and her tsundere wife playfighting
π: 0 β©: 0
When you notice the blemishes on cadence are hearts π
π: 0 β©: 0
So when's the anatomy test?
π: 0 β©: 0
Is this the first time you draw Autumn Blaze? Because she looks adorable and so fluffy!Β
π: 0 β©: 0
i mean its also rude to touch someones private without permissionΒ
π: 0 β©: 0
ooooohhh fucking love these!
π: 0 β©: 0
I'm intrigued by your interpretation of horses. In the series they only differed in height from ponies, but they should have some better differences. I would also like to see a horse's eye in your edition, and preferably a hybrid of a pony and a horse.
I love this chubby look of Magnolia May and the ears of Autumn Blaze.
π: 0 β©: 0
i think "their horns are very sensitive and covered in velvet" and then using them as weapons/butting heads/attacking with them are contradicting statements o3o a sensitive horn sounds painful to fight with. when deer antlers are in velvet, it is skin with blood vessels and it bleeds when damaged so deer avoid fighting during that season. i've never been able to get on board with people who put horns/antlers/stuff on a horse's head and then expect it to fight with its head because a horse's neck is not the same as a deer, ram, bull, rhino, etc or other animal that is designed to throw its weight onto its head without getting hurt ( they aren't even designed to carry a lot of weight on their head like those animals are ). those animals also don't have one horn directly between their eyes, they have at least two spread out to distribute the force of the impact and they're positioned back behind the ears/on top the head, away from the eyes/face, so usually when they ram their horns/the point of the impact is all in align with their spine like one big spear. i'm not terribly familiar with narwhals but i imagine fighting in the water is far different from fighting on land, and they're shaped even less like a horse than a deer/ram/bull is
anyways, touching horns to show affection and channeling magic and all that i think is neat, but unicorns stabbing/fighting with their precious "meticulous" horns sounds silly
-sora
π: 0 β©: 2
I agree.
Horses in real life battle using their hooves and teeth, they don't ram heads because they aren't built for it. A Unicorn in the MLP universe is no exception.
Even real Unicorns (as in what they really are meant to look like) have deer bodies and lion tails, and a single horn that sorta represents a narwhal's tusk, which is a sensory organ.
So, there should be no way a Unicorn will be able to fight with it's horn.
π: 0 β©: 1
maybe some of the reason i don't take "unicorns fighting with their horns" seriously is because i know too much about how bridles work on real horses and how sensitive their face is. they do bite and they can lift a lot of weight with their mouths and throw things, but the reason bridles, including bitless bridles and halters, are effective is because of the sensitive nerves all over a horse's face. their instinct is to pull their head back and up when threatened, which easily leads to rearing, with the front legs out to defend themselves. they wouldn't be deliberately banging their heads together.
-sora
π: 0 β©: 0
Our hands are also very sensitive, and we don't touch other people's hands without permission, but that doesn't stop us for using them to slap or punch. To get in any sort of fight is to invite pain onto yourself, but we do as we must, as do unicorns.
Unicorns don't ram into each other like bucks or sheep, they use their horns like sword-fighters. Horn fencing is more about pageantry and style than actual violence (like a classier kind of wrestling)- though in a real fight, a desperate unicorn will attempt to gore the opponent, as well as kick and bite.
π: 0 β©: 1
i actually thought about hands while writing the comment, but dismissed it because people use their fingertips to touch/sense things and use their knuckles to punch, but yeah there is slapping though that is kinda more with the palm than fingertips. i will buy the "fencing" theory though, that sounds plausible. i guess it depends on what "sensitive" means, because there's the sensitivity of a hand and then there's the sensitivity of say, the face/eyes. it hurts a lot more to be slapped in the face than it hurts to slap with your hand. the part of them having velvet made me think of a deer and how they bleed while in velvet so the thought of fighting with velvet horns just made my skin crawl, it would be so delicate and painful, just skin over bone with no padding or flesh or nothing, and then a bloody mess when they scratch each other up. but as far as the "meticulous" part goes, there are girls with fancy nails who still scratch in self-defense and yeah they break their nails and get mad afterward but they use whatever they got available at the time.
i still don't think a horse's neck is designed to be very good at stabbing with the top of their forehead but probably the biggest reason i think the idea of unicorns goring with their horns is just plain silly is because i still go by the old-fashioned "unicorns represent purity and innocence" thing rather than reducing them to ordinary beasts with primitive violent impulses ( especially since they can use their horns for magic, it's like a wizard stabbing with his wand, there's just no need ). but there are those dark/evil type unicorns and people wanting to prove they were real ( aka normal ) animals and honestly if we're talking about MLP specifically and not actual real horses, they don't have a normal horse's neck anyway and technically do look like a deer instead
-sora
π: 0 β©: 0
Love these! I would love to see an earth pony one from you as well. Perhaps they have uniquely strong hooves, thicker fur coats, more variety in sizes and breeds?Β
π: 0 β©: 0
These are beautiful studies! 
π: 0 β©: 0
I love these details!~ It's fun to go deep into study about each particular set of ponies, are you thinking about doing more into any other species, griffon/dragon/yak?Β
These types of studies always get me excited to do more work of my own for my characters. And, I love these melodramatic doofs so much gods bless you.
π: 0 β©: 0
I love your studies! Would you ever consider doing an Earth pony one? I love how you headcanon(?) their culture<3!!!
π: 0 β©: 0
These studies are some of my favorites of yours. I was hoping youβd do a horn one after the wings- theyβre so cool!
π: 0 β©: 0
This would perfectly explain everything, well done.
π: 0 β©: 0
Nice, you mind if I use that kirin thing for my kirin oc and how magic is channeled? I like this, it is really, really cool!!!!!
π: 0 β©: 0
This is everything I love and adore tbh,,, i LIVE for this shit. Please keep it up, i LOVE your headcanons!!
π: 0 β©: 0
i love these little tidbits on lore from fanfic writers, small but Good details like this makes the setting feel more alive
also ''this is also flirty, in certain contexts'' using Celestia and Chrysalis.....gee i wonder if she ships this pairing :3
π: 0 β©: 0
π: 0 β©: 0
Seeing as ponies have magic inside them, is there a limit on how many spells they can cast daily? How does it regenerate and can a pony overexert themselves?
Seeing as how Rarity can't cast the exact same spells as Twilight, how do unicorns learn their spells and is there anything in particular that prevents them from learning some of them?
Very good sketches, looks like you had a lot of fun
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you.
Spells vary in complexity, and the higher level ones require diligent study and practice to cast competently. Rarity can't cast Twilight's spells for the same reason I can knit a basic scarf, but not a rainbow pattern lace knit heirloom shawl. It's a whole new level of difficulty. Levitating and moving objects are simple spells, so simple a foal can do them. Rarity can do those quite well, and she has greater fine control over her magic than Twilight does, allowing her to thread needles, knit stitches, and tweeze her eyebrows. Twilight isn't so good at precision work like that, but she can perform incredibly complex and powerful spells at the drop of a hat. Like Shining Armor, she's got a knack for shield spells. Basically, every unicorn varies in the kinds of magic they're naturally inclined to, though all unicorns can improve their abilities with study and practice (unless you have a disability, like Sunburst or Tempest).
π: 0 β©: 2
Chocolate eh? No wonder Rarity's always eating ice cream
I'm curious, how do you think unicorns learn new spells? From the original description, it sounds more like spells are a certain feeling in a unicorn's mind. Or is it based on sentences you vocalize in your head?
π: 0 β©: 1
You can learn new spells by being explicitly taught, or reading one in a book, or even stumbling into performing it by accident. I'm kind of having a hard time explaining it......Magic is just energy, without a clear directive it won't do anything on its own. Casting a spell is like coding a script, you're basically telling the magic what to do. The more complicated the desired action, the more complicated the spell will be to perform. In theory, with enough study, any unicorn could learn any spell, though some require a lot of power, and every pony is limited in their personal supply of magic. A pony's magic reserves expand with age and careful training.
π: 0 β©: 1
<= Prev | | Next =>