@Applelight: My headcanon is basically that a unicorn horn functions as a natural focus point; sort of like a build-in biological wand. The reason other races can't cast spells is because they don't have a way to focus the energy efficiently. Pegasi have a sort of semi-focus; they can't cast spells, but whenever they do a physical action they subconsciously shove magic out. It's what allows them to fly and move clouds around; whenever they flap their wings their subconsciously manipulating the air via magic to keep themselves aloft. Same for moving clouds.

Earth ponies don't have any focus at all magic just flows through them and into their surroundings constantly, giving them increased physical abilities as well as giving them a connection to their surroundings which allows them to influence it more. I.e. due to the constant flow of magic from an EP they're better able to farm food or manipulate rocks to form geodes for gem mining, etc.

Or magically heightened senses?

What if a unicorn was born with a birth defect where she only has a little bump on her head where the horn should be, but it doesn't work as a unicorn horn at all?

I like that, JT

I'm making this my headcanon.

...and that's pretty much the extent of what I have to contribute to the current topic.

this is my headcanon now as well.

Today, we attach cannons to our heads and terrorize squirrels.

edited 7th May '13 9:30:54 AM by edvedd

Eeyep. Headcanoned.

pretty much matches my already existing headcannon

Terrorize squirrels? What?

The next person who says 'headcanon' gets a squirrel in the face. I'll do it. I have the technology.

Head—

OH GOD WHY

Headcanon!

And if I remember correctly, the dog pony was shot down as he was considered OP. Super sense of smell, digging powers and a bite that can destroy steel were considered OP.

You forced my hand.

POW!

edited 7th May '13 9:36:30 AM by edvedd

@Kyler: Not entirely sure. If they have something it might manifest as simply making it harder for them to do magic. If they lack the horn completely they'd probably just be an Earth Pony.

Which is really something I need to think of more, since I developed this whole headcanon as background to a fanfic idea I was thinking of, and that would be quite relevant.

Also, my system explains the "magic bursts" for foals as being a side effect of them developing their own distinct magical flow apart from their parents. E.g. unicorns have crazy magic power because there's residual energy that they absorbed from their mothers and basically just manifests randomly. As that magic dissipates over time they lose the ability to use it and have to relearn how to use their own magic, which is why CMC age fillies generally can't use it. In Scootaloo's case, it just means that her magic field is taking an unusually long time to resync with her.

Also also, a side effect is that after giving birth, a pony's own magical field is screwed up.

@Ed: I didn't say it.

edited 7th May '13 9:40:24 AM by JapaneseTeeth

Since you only said the next person, does this mean I can say headcanon with impunity now?

That must suck. I imagine it would be maybe a notch down from finding out you're adopted.

edited 7th May '13 9:39:08 AM by KylerThatch

Squirrels?

Squirrel to the face is the new Boot to the head.

OK, fine. No more squirrels. Headcanon at will.

i don't care how much it hurts, that is my new headcan—OH GAAAAHHH IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS GETITOFF GETITOFF GETITOFF ED YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE ONE IN THE CHAMBER

edited 7th May '13 9:41:33 AM by crimsonstorm15

Whoops.

Ah, Rabies medication is in the infirmary round back. And sorry for disrupting your very interesting discussion with small rodents.

edited 7th May '13 9:45:37 AM by edvedd

this just might explain Pinkie then. If E Ps have a current magical presence flowing through their bodies, then Pinkie's channeling her laughter around her. Either or because she seems to have a powerful presence even among unicorns, and being enough of a representation of her gift to wield her Element, then she must have an ungodly amount of power flowing around her. Which makes me curious about her smile song. If making other ponies happy makes her just as happy in return, then she's constantly fueling her power as a renewable resource.

Okay, but try to keep the pronking to a minimum.

I agree with JT's headcanon on that.

Also, seriously people, read my fic!

Also, I don't think that dog-pony was OP. Then again, I think ponies are a lot more powerful than most here do. And I'm a fan of Medaka Box.

And this has probably been considered before, but an alternate theory is that Pinkie's an anti-Changeling. Instead of feeding off love and only being voids, Pinkie can feed off love and reflect it back because she has empathy.