Applebloom:TaRO - Magic and the Pony Races · 2:18pm Oct 3rd, 2015
This blog can be seen as supplementary material to Applebloom: Transform and Roll Out! (as well as any proceeding stories set in the same universe). Some of my other stories that may or may not follow the same canon may also have these apply to them. Read on to get a sense of the inhabitants of Equestria in this universe and just what they can do! 
MAGIC, THE EQUINE RACES, AND YOU
Magic is real. Despite what skeptics on other worlds may say, there is magic in the universe, and they are stupid and wrong. The issue is that it is spread thin across the cosmos and is hard to access on worlds that a magical field has not gravitated to and accumulated around. Think of a magical field as a part of the atmosphere. Something that surrounds the planet, and perhaps also its outlying bodies such as moons and satellites. It is hard to measure or explain what the magical field is 'made' of beyond something akin to a form of energy that tends to gravitate towards specific planets. It has no mass or weight or density, but it is there.
There is seemingly no rhyme or reason for why magic accumulates around specific worlds, only that the worlds that it DOES tend to accumulate around tend to have naturally volatile environments (that often must be directly managed to live safely), often have anomalies about them that upend the laws of physics (for example, the sun orbits the earth, the planet is not spherical, the planet maintains a habitable temperature despite being too close or too far from its sun), and almost all of them have sapient life. Indeed, most magic-heavy planets tend to have more than one species of sapient life.
Ours is a planet utterly permeated by magic. There is magic in the air. There is magic in the water. There is magic in the earth. And there is magic in all the creatures that roam upon its surface. The magical field surrounds and binds and connects the creatures that walk upon the surface of the planet, swim its oceans, fly in its skies, and burrow in its depths. With the right mindset and with training, the creatures of the world can tap into the field as it flows through them and accumulates in their 'wells.'
The 'well' is much what it sounds like. It is a reservoir of potential magical energy housed inside of a living creature. As the creature goes about its life, magic will flow into them, like a river into a lake. This reservoir can then be tapped into by the being in question, and manifested into active magical energy in the form of magical action. For unicorns, this takes the form of spellwork. For pegasi, this is weather manipulation. For Earth ponies, this involves geomancy and arboreomancy. All sapient creatures have some way to use this magic, whether it be actively or passively. Indeed, most creatures have a passive effect of some kind, caused by the 'overflow' of their reservoir. Indeed, for just as the lake eventually fills up and overflows with water, so too does the well. For most creatures, this is not a problem. The magical overflow is expressed in passive manners, often in the form of increased durability, but it can sometimes manifest in other manners.
Other things besides living creatures can sometimes express a form of 'well.' Certain objects can also have something of a 'well' which the river of magic flows into and infuses with its power. This is how magical plants (such as poison joke), locations (such as the fabled 'Mirror Pool'), and stones (such as the mythical Crystal Heart) come to be. Crystals in particular tend to have incredibly deep wells, capable of storing a lot of magic. This makes crystals and gems ideal for use as batteries, as well as useful in the artificial process of 'enchanting.' Enchanting is the process by which a unicorn or other spellcaster might imbue an artifact with an artificial well of its own, and then pour, not only magic into that artifact, but a direction for the magic to follow.
Indeed, actively directing magic is known colloquially as 'spellcasting.' It is guiding the flow of magic within a creature's body, and giving it form and shape with ones will, and then releasing it into the world. Unicorns do this, appropriately enough, in the form of spellworking (A/N: casting spells from the horn. Know the difference between 'spellcasting' which can refer to all active forms of magic, and 'spellworking' which refers only to unicorns or other similar creatures casting shaped, directed spells. Many ponies use the terms interchangably, but they really really shouldn't). Pegasi do this in the form of aeromancy. Dragons do this through their fire.
Not only does magic tend to gravitate to planets, but it also tends to gravitate to specific regions UPON those planets. Usually, this will be because there is a large number of artifacts in the area that soak up the magic like a sponge, like the crystals in the vast, mazelike caverns under Canterlot. In some cases, though, especially in regions where great disturbances in the magical field might have formed (often the sites of great spellcasting battles), a magical 'storm' might form, causing the magic in the area to become more concentrated and wilder. A good example of this would be the Everfree Forest.
Creatures on highly magical planets tend to have adapted to the point where they need it, just as much as they need oxygen, water, and food. They cannot live without it, and will die if they run out of magic within their well. When a creature runs low on magic in their well, they experience what is known as 'magical exhaustion.' This is a serious health issue, as, in worst case scenarios, it can lead to a disruption of the flow of magic into the body and form what is known as a 'magical blockage.' Magical blockage is akin to building a dam in front of the river that flows into the reservoir. Medical treatment must be sought immediately to 'knock down the dam' or the creature is likely to die.
Magical exhaustion is akin to the water levels of the well being incredibly low. In such a case, spellcasting will be incredibly difficult and painful, passive effects will be diminished greatly, and the creature in question will feel weak and sickly. Normally, though, magical exhaustion will be treated with a few days of bed rest and letting the well fill back up. However, if a magical blockage forms, the creature is at risk of the magic slowly draining away as the reservoir continues to try and fuel the creature's passive magical 'overflow' effects (despite there not being enough magic in the body to safely allow any overflow. The body doesn't know that.) If left unchecked, this will lead to Magical Exigency, where the body has run so dry of magic that there will likely be long lasting or even permanent bodily effects, and eventually Magical Vacancy, when the body has run dry enough of magic that the creature will almost assuredly die.
Other magical afflictions pertaining to a creature's well are such things as 'Magical buildup.' Magical buildup is when the 'overflow' of the well is blocked from passively letting out excess magic as it should. In species that can actively spellcast, this is often not a problem, as the species can actively use their magic and let enough out until they can find proper medical treatment. A unicorn can levitate items or a pegasus can hover until the affliction has been treated. In species like Minotaurs and Diamond Dogs, who only use their magic passively, and in the case of Earth Ponies to whom the active spellcasting practices of Geomancy and Arboreomancy have been lost to time. Magical buildup can be a serious and sometimes explosively fatal issue if not treated immediately.
Another magical affliction is known as 'Magical turbulence.' This is when the 'waters of the well' become turbulent and troubled. While most passive magical output is unaffected, active magical use becomes harder to use and can sometimes have wild and unexpected effects. This is particularly nasty for unicorns, as they might lose control of their spellworking and begin accidentally unleashing magical chaos that a certain Draconequus might find incredibly amusing were he not trapped in stone. In the case of a pegasus, they might lose control every time they try to fly, flapping about uselessly like a newborn foal, and any attempt at aeromancy could have disastrous magical effects. Magical turbulence usually goes hand in hand with, and is often a symptom of, other more mundane illnesses such as colds and flus. Eventually, the waters will become still again with time, and if the creature in question refrains from spellcasting then chaos will be kept to a minimum.
A more serious (and far rarer) variant of Magical Turbulence, though is 'Magical Expulsion.' In such a scenario, the waters of the well are not only turbulent, but also being forcibly expunged or drained, not by overuse or by the active actions of another creature, but simply without control. This can manifest itself in ways just as chaotic as magical turbulence, but is far more dangerous, as it can quickly lead to magical exhaustion, and soon after, Exigency and Vacancy. Like Magical Turbulence, this is often paired with other forms of diseases, such as the dreaded 'Cutie Pox,' which not only has the chaotic magical effect of causing a pony to become inundated with cutie marks and forcibly attempts to express all of them (leading to the added unpleasantness bodily exhaustion), but also quickly leads to magical exhaustion as the pony is swiftly drained of their magic.
It is unlikely that a creature from a high-magic planet, such as Equestria, could survive for long on a low magic planet, such as Cybertron, before they eventually succumbed to magical exhaustion as their passive effects slowly drained their magic away. It is possible, though, that a spell or enchanted item may be fashioned, that could attract a greater flow of magic towards the creature in question, even in the lower magic sections of the universe. After all, it does exist everywhere in the universe, just in smaller amounts in planets that are low in magic. Thus, space travel may one day be possible, but only if this can be accounted for.
Nevertheless, it is plain for all visitors to see that magic is a component of everyday life in Equestria, and it permeates every aspect of its existence. It is simultaneously mundane and abnormal. Helpful and dangerous. Lifesaving and deadly. It is not to be trifled with, yet must be experimented with.
Ponies and other equine creatures are some of the most dominant species upon Equestria. Here are some of the ways they use magic, and the ways magic interacts with them.
Batponies:
Batponies are ponies with the wings of a bat, large tufted ears, fangs, slitted pupils, glowing irises, and generally come in darker shades of colors. Batponies are the masters of sound. Nearly all of their active magical capabilities focus upon the manipulation of sound in some manner. Whether it be the ability to hear whispers from a mile away, the ability to use echolocation, the ability to bring a crowded room to complete silence by force of will alone, the ability to scream so loud that it can shatter stone, the ability to bend sound around them so they cannot be detected by echolocation or sonar, or the ability to muffle their own footsteps and wingbeats so that they become completely silent, Batponies are the masters of all things sonic. They are also much like pegasi, in that they can channel their magic into flight, despite their wings being biologically too small to actually support them without the aid of magic. However, they cannot fly as fast as pegasi, as they cannot practice aeromancy, and they have no control over the weather. Passively, their magic manifests in the ability to walk on clouds and faintly-glowing eyes with the ability to see in perfect darkness.
At one point, at around 2 B.N.W. (Before Nightmare Wars), it was thought that Batponies had gone extinct. However, about five hundred years later, a sizable colony of them was found deep within the caves of the Foal mountains. Since then they have repopulated to sufficient and stable numbers.
And no, they don't drink blood. That's racist, you jerk.
Crystal Ponies:
Crystal Ponies resembled earth ponies, but with lustrous, reflective coats of fur and manes that refracted light and reflected their environments in a way that made them look to be made of crystal. Now extinct, the legendary Crystal Ponies were the masters of the mind. Crystal Ponies were capable of incredible telepathic and empathic deeds, capable of reading minds, and even, to a degree, imposing one's will upon another. Whether it be changing a pony's very personality or opinions through manipulation of their psyche, or just taking direct control. Furthermore, they were also skilled empaths, capable of making ponies feel emotions, or feel no emotion at any time. They could incite lust, anger, joy, sadness, and terror. They could also sense, pinpoint, and locate any creature who felt any emotion. This made the Crystal Ponies incredibly feared and other species were paranoid of them to the point where, in the distant past, ponies of other species would attack them on sight. The Crystal Ponies were a warlike, bloodthirsty, and vengeful race, until the teachings of the High Sorceress "Mi Amore Rhythmia," came to prominence. She eventually set the Crystal ponies on a pacifistic path of peace, love, friendship, and tolerance. The crystal ponies went through an extreme social reform and made Mi Amore Rhythmia their queen. This did not, however, abate the other tribes' mistrust, and the Crystal Ponies sequestered themselves in the city state known as the Crystal Empire, until it was lost and vanished under unknown circumstances in about 4 B.N.W. (Before Nightmare Wars).
Passively, Crystal Ponies were incredibly sturdy, strong, durable, and swift, though not as much as Earth Ponies. They also had minor empathic fields. If they felt an emotion strongly, others around them would feel similar emotions strongly.
Donkeys (and Mules):
Donkeys (and Mules) tend to be similar in appearance to earth ponies, but with slightly differently shaped muzzles, ears, hooves, and tails. They have no method by which they can spellcast or actively use their magic, making them particularly affected by afflictions such as Magical Buildup, but their passive abilities are truly extraordinary. They are just as strong and durable as Earth ponies, though they tend to be less agile and swift. They also have the same sorts of passive effects on plantlife that Earth Ponies do. What is truly extraordinary about Donkeys (and Mules), though, is their incredible long-livedness. Your average donkey will live to be well over 150 years old, and the oldest Donkey in recorded history surpassed 250 before she finally passed on.
Earth Ponies:
Most Earth Pony magic is expressed passively and not through spellcasting. Earth ponies are granted incredible strength, speed, agility, and durability by their magic. This allows them to dish out physical punishment greater than any other race of pony (save for Alicorns), and allows them to take beatings better than any other race of pony (again, save for Alicorns). They also have the passive ability to, with enough exposure to the plant life in question, encourage faster and better plant growth. This makes them ideal farmers and laborers, as they can perform the required tasks far more easily and efficiently than those of other races.
The arts of Geomancy (Earthbending) and Arboreomancy (Plantbending) are also open to Earth Ponies, but the particulars of these arts have been lost to time. Perhaps, one day, they shall be dug up.
Flutterponies/Changelings:
Flutterponies were ponies that had butterfly wings and fuzzy antennae poking out of their foreheads. They were masters of shapeshifting and generally had a carefree, pleasant attitude. During the time of the Tribes, before the Great Freeze and the exodus to Equestria, Flutterponies were perhaps the only ponies that were welcomed amongst each and every tribe. Though they were masters of shapeshifting, they rarely, if ever used these powers for deception. This was because, like Dragons (who must feed on Crystals to replenish their magic), they all suffered from a permanent case of partial Magical Blockage. This forced them to feed on positive emotions to replenish their magic properly (A/N: they could also probably have substituted magically infused plants to replenish their magic, though those are much rarer and are difficult to cultivate). This led to Flutterponies becoming the friendliest and most amiable of the pony species, using their shapeshifting powers to play jokes, pranks, and other stunts to spread good cheer and laughter. They became renowned as the greatest of actors, singers, and bards with the use of their shapeshifting.
In about the year 12 B.N.W., something happened that seemingly affected each and every Flutterpony on the planet. The entire race was corrupted by an unknown dark magical force. This caused the Flutterponies to reshape and transform into twisted mockeries of their former selves, with chitonous skin, frills upon their heads, twisted horns, pupilless eyes, horsefly wings, and holey, tattered legs. They became the Changelings, and a change in their brain chemistry brought about by a species-wide enlargement of their amygdalas forced the entire race to become paranoid, suspicious, and hostile. No longer did they go out and spread good cheer. Instead, they hid away in the shadows, skulking about and stealing emotions, rather than earning them. This was less effective than their previous methods, but the Changelings were compelled to act in this way by their irreversible shift in brain chemistry. Slaves to their own twisted instincts, the Changelings no longer knew empathy or kindness, only paranoia and survival.
Changelings retain all the abilities of Flutterponies. Actively, they can use magic to shapeshift themselves into many different forms, even those of different masses, weights, and densities (though the more far removed from their basic form, the harder it is to execute the shapeshift properly). Furthermore, under the right circumstances, if a changeling is in the proper position to, they can shapeshift OTHER creatures, either temporarily or permanently. This is an ability that is rarely used, as it draws attention to changeling presence, but when it is used, it is rarely pleasant. Flutterponies were much kinder with this ability. They can also focus spells through their antennae/horns, though rarely are they as well crafted as unicorn spells, and Changelings can dominate minds, though rarely as effectively as Crystal Ponies were reported to have done (A/N: It is unknown if Flutterponies had the ability to dominate minds. If they did, they never used the ability enough for it to make its way into recorded history). Passively, they can walk on clouds, are incredibly durable, and have the empathic ability to sense, pinpoint, and locate any creature in a certain radius that feels emotion.
Perhaps, someday, if whatever taint that corrupted the Flutterponies is removed and the species is cured, the Changelings will revert to the friendly and joyous creatures they once were.
Horses:
The Horses of Saddle Arabia are a mysterious and elusive race. Standing as tall as Alicorns with just as majestic a stature, shape, and presence, they are ironically the least magical of all the Equine races. Generally, their wells tend to be several times smaller than the wells of other Equine races. As a result, they have no way to actively spellcast without using tools in some manner. Passively, however, they are actually the swiftest of all the groundbound races, often described as running faster than the wind, even over rough or sandy terrain. They are also physically strong and durable, though not as much as an Earth Pony, Donkey, or Crystal Pony.
Kelpies:
The Kelpies might be seen as a cross between the Changelings and the Seaponies (see below). Otherwise known as Marshfolk, Kelpies are usually dark and earthy in color and have the same sort of body shape as seaponies, with the added distinction of having fangs, a twisted horn rather than a fluted one, and a fin-like frill instead of a mane. Kelpies are capable of shapeshifting, though to a much more limited degree than changelings. While a changeling is capable of shifting its mass, weight, and density around, Kelpies tend to be merely capable of shapeshifting into something of the same weight and mass. Furthermore, like how a Seapony is proficient at hydromancy and is capable of passively fostering plant and animal life under the water (see below), A Kelpie is capable of these things too, though to a much lesser degree.
The Kelpies' true strength lies in a mysterious ability that they call "Microbiomancy." This magic is a very specific form of shapeshifting and control spell. While a Kelpie is not capable of transforming other ponies and sapient creatures in the same way Changelings do, nor do they have the ability to control the minds of sapient beings like changelings do, they seem to have a similar sort of sway over any and all simple, single-celled life forms. Bacteria, Protists, and some forms of Fungi are completely under a Kelpie's magical control, and all microbial life within a certain radius of a Kelpie is affected. Even viruses, which can only questionably be called 'life' seem to be at least partially affected by a Kelpie's presence. A Kelpie has the ability to change Microbial life into other forms of microbial life, or into simple substances. This is how a Kelpie forms its trademark 'adhesive.' By breaking down mass amounts of microbial life into base components, they can form an incredibly strong adhesive. This adhesive is used by Kelpies to catch prey, as they are the only equine on this list that is strictly carnivorous.
Kelpies also have the ability to force the microbial life to do its bidding. This can be used to make bacteria or other microbes congregate and spread disease, or it can be used to force microbes out of a body and cure a creature of disease. Unfortunately, during the tribal era when distrust was at its highest, Kelpies became known as harbingers of plague and were hunted down and slain in the millions by other tribes. Of all the various tribes of ponies, they were the most reviled, even more so than the mind-dominating crystal ponies, and the few that escaped only managed to do so by using their limited shapeshifting abilities to sneak away. Even today, they are incredibly rare, and still highly distrustful of the other pony races.
Passively, Kelpies are empaths capable of sensing, pinpointing, and locating any creature that has emotion, helping them hunt for prey and hide from predators. They are capable of breathing both underwater and on land, and are completely immune to all diseases and most poisons.
If the rest of ponykind were to potentially befriend the last few remaining settlements of Kelpies deep in the marshes of the wildlands, it is likely that we could find a way to cure most if not all diseases. Kelpies would make remarkable doctors. Alas, their distrust for the other races is so intense, that few are willing to even speak to ponies, much less befriend them. The very few that do are seen as traitors to their kind and are cast out.
Kirin:
Appearing to be some sort of mix between pony, elk, and dragon, these elusive and xenophobic creatures are native to the island of Japony (a.k.a. Nippony). They have the body structure of a pony, the scales, tail, and wings of a dragon, small clawed toes upon their forelegs, and the antlers of an elk. Their abilities tend to reflect those of many races, including unicorns, as they are capable of spellworking, though to a lesser degree of effectiveness than most unicorns are capable of, rarely being able to advance to spells beyond simple telekinesis and concussive blasts. They are also capable of flight, though as they are incapable of aeromancy, they are less capable fliers than pegasi. Furthermore, unlike most other flying races, they do not have the ability to walk on clouds. They can breathe fire like dragons, and have limited hydromancy like seaponies, but they have a harder time channeling spells into their fire than dragons, and their hydromancy is limited to much smaller amounts of water than a seapony might be able to control. Passively, they are strong and sturdy, and tend to be long lived, though not as much as earth ponies or donkeys. One might say that they are the 'jacks of all trades' of magic.
...One would say that, were it not for the presence of 'Wish Magic,' of which the Kirin are apparently incredibly powerful practitioners of. What is Wish Magic? This humble scholar wishes she knew, for the Kirin tend to be so xenophobic and hostile to outsiders that no pony has ever actually witnessed these powers, only heard about them in whispers amidst the crowds and mobs that form when our ponies step upon their shores. It's generally uttered in the phrase, "They've come for it again. They've come for our wish magic." Our brief encounters with them in the past have demonstrated all the above listed abilities, but our explorers were always threatened off of their shores before they could get a proper demonstration of what 'Wish Magic' actually is. To this day, nopony knows.
Octoponies:
An offshoot of Seaponies (see below), of mysterious origin. Unlike their cousins whose hindquarters resemble fish tails, the hindquarters of the Octopony is made up of the eight suckered tentacles of an octopus. Like Seaponies, they are capable of fostering underwater life and advanced hydromancy. Unlike Seaponies, however, they are unable to cast spells. They make up for this, however, in their ability to breathe on both land and in water, whereas seaponies are bound to the ocean. An octopony can live indefinitely on dry land as long as they remain properly hydrated, though their movements would undoubtedly be ungainly and clumsy. It is far more convenient for them to live in the sea with their oceanbound cousins.
Passively, they are stronger, sturdier, and more durable than seaponies, though not nearly as swift. Furthermore, they also have the mysterious minor shapeshifting ability to transfigure the color and texture of their skin, fur, and mane. This allows them to be experts at camouflage.
Interestingly, for whatever reason, Octoponies are the only other equine race aside from Kirin that is allowed upon the shores of Japony (a.k.a. Nippony). Though they are made to swear an oath that they shall never divulge any information about Wish Magic to anypony under penalty of death, once they have done so, they are welcomed to the island with enthusiasm and great cheer. One wonders why, of all the various races, the Kirin are so open to accepting the Octoponies over everypony else. Strangely, no Octopony that has been to the island has felt inclined to say.
Pegasi:
Pegasi have the abilities of Aeromancy and powerful flight. Their Aeromantic abilities allow them to control the weather in incredibly precise manners. They can control storms, air currents, heat, and other such things with incredible ease. Their mastery over the air also allows them to bend air around them in such a manner that they are capable of incredible feats of agility and speed during their magic assisted flight. By bending the air around them to the point that wind resistance is almost nonexistent, they can create an almost frictionless field around them while still managing to accelerate. This allows pegasi to, if they are particularly skilled at aeromancy, reach speeds that are supersonic.
Passively, Pegasi are incredibly sturdy and durable, arguably moreso than Earth Ponies. They tend to suffer more injuries than Earth Ponies, though, due to their light and hollow bones. It is likely that, if a Pegasus were to somehow be born with the solid bones of an Earth Pony, they would be so durable as to be nigh-invincible from physical trauma (though such a case of pony would be a very weak flyer). Pegasi also have a level of increased resistance to cold and heat, and have the passive ability to walk upon clouds.
Seaponies:
Seaponies are a race of underwater equines, also known as Hippocampi (sing. Hippocampus). They have fluted horns like Unicorns and tend to have long, flowing manes. Their most distinctive feature, however, is that the usual equine hindquarters have been replaced by a long and elegant-looking fish tail.
Seaponies spellcast through the practice of Hydromancy, or the ability to control water. Seaponies are masters of the ebb and flow of the tides, the waves and ocean currents, and the weather over the ocean that they are considered by all to be the true masters of the ocean. Sailors of other species defer to seaponies judgment and directions when traveling, as it could be argued that they are traveling across their sovereign soil. Seaponies are also spellworkers of similar calibre to unicorns. Though not quite as proficient at shaping spells, they can certainly hold their own. Another ability Seaponies appear to have is the ability to mentally control sea life, calling fish, sharks, eels, and other creatures of the deep to their aid whenever they find it necessary, often from great distances.
Seaponies are not capable of breathing on land and are instead tied to the seas and oceans of the planet. With proper spellcasting, they can temporarily allow themselves to breathe on land, just as a unicorn might be able to cast a spell allowing them to walk on clouds, but the spell will inevitably wear off after a few days.
Passively, Seaponies are incredibly sturdy and durable, capable of surviving ocean pressures of extreme intensity and allowing them to explore depths that would be unfathomable to other races. They are also incredibly swift and agile in the water, though their strength leaves more to be desired. Furthermore, Seaponies, like Earth ponies, are capable of fostering life under the sea, especially plant life, with enough exposure. This allows them to easily farm underwater crops like kelp, seaweeds, algae, and even a few mysterious underwater fruit and vegetable crops magically developed specifically by the Seaponies so they could have a more varied diet.
The Seapony language is often thought by land ponies to be absurd, with long, complicated, and often silly sounding words. A prime example of a diplomatic incident that arose from this occurred in the year 987 A.N.W. (After Nightmare War) when the Seapony Grand Duchess, Airy Eel, dropped her fork at a dinner and did not know the proper Equestrian word for it. When she asked for a new "dinglehopper," Princess Celestia could not hold back her laughter. Airy Eel was quite offended.
They have since made up and become close friends.
Unicorns:
Unicorns are, by and large, the easiest of ponies to pin down when it comes to analyzing magical capability, as they are the ones that can spellcast most easily and visibly. Unicorns master the ebb and flow of their magic and express it through their horns, shaping it into spells which can have innumerable effects on their environment and themselves. Furthermore, by observing the ebb and flow of magic in other species, they can replicate the passive and active magics that other species use too. For example: The 'Quiet as a Mouse' spell I used in the Battle of Canterlot was likely adapted from Batponies. The Cloudwalking Spell was likely adapted from either Batponies or Pegasi, and the Flutterwing spell was likely adapted from Flutterponies before their corruption. Unicorns experience less magical overflow than other species of pony, and thus are more prone to magical buildup than other creatures. However, since they can spellcast so easily, they are more likely to hold out long enough to get proper medical treatment for such an affliction. What little 'overflow' occurs in unicorns is expressed in their magical aura, seen when spellcasting, and in some cases, when a unicorn has not cast a spell in a long time, is expressed by sparking and popping at the end of the horn.
Since they have less of a passive magical effect bolstering and boosting their bodies, they tend to be more frail than other types of equine.
Zebras:
From the far off continent of Zebrica, Zebras resemble ponies but with donkey-like tails and covered in black and white (or grey and white) striped coats of fur. Zebras are often described as 'the midpoint between Earth Pony and Unicorn,' as they tend to be powerful spellcasters, but the method by which they cast spells is linked to a more Earth Pony-like ability.
Passively, Zebras are almost as strong and durable as earth ponies and almost as long-lived as donkeys. More importantly, zebras are capable of fostering plant growth passively, but even more impressive than that, is their ability to enhance and amplify any and all natural or magical effects a plant might have, simply by being within close proximity to it. This effect is nearly instantaneous and is long lasting, even after the zebra has left the area. Aloe Vera will be more soothing to a sunburn after it has been 'blessed' by a zebra. Poison Joke will become even more powerful and tricky to ponies if a Zebra has been near. Even flavors in things like fruits and vegetables are enhanced when they have been in contact with a zebra whilst still on the tree or on the vine or in the earth. A local mare once baked a batch of banana nut muffins with a bunch of bananas gifted to her by a neighbor zebra shamaness. The transcendent flavor of the muffins was enough to make her weep in joy.
As if their passive abilities are an extension of their more active abilities, the zebras are incredibly skilled at enchanting. Though they cannot cast spells directly to affect their environment like a unicorn can, they are incredible at infusing magic within objects, and especially within potions. Their mastery of alchemy (potionmaking) is unmatched, and a zebra can make a potion to do just about anything that a unicorn can cast a spell to do.
What is perhaps most interesting, though, is the Zebra's method of enchanting. Most ponies who spellcast/actively use magic do so by meditation, specific thought exercises and patterns to affect the ebb and flow of magic within them, and mentally guiding their mana through the channels and chakras of their bodies in a particular manner. Zebras, on the other hand, take it a step further and use incantation and poetry, infusing their words with power, making it seem as though the enchantments spring into being simply because they command it. The process is still mysterious and poorly understood, but it has been demonstrated that a zebra who does not chant in the process of enchanting or potionmaking will end up with a poorer product than one who does. At the same time, unicorn enchanters and alchemists have attempted to try zebra chants while making potions and infusing artifacts and have come up with work no different than if they were not chanting. It is a mystery, but the bottom line is, for a zebra to produce their best work, they must chant.
To practice chanting and learning the proper rhythm and cadence and structure of their magical incantations, Zebra children are encouraged (read: required) by their elders to speak all words in rhyming couplets, as practice for their future magical endeavors (most magical zebra incantations rhyme and follow a similar rhythm). Having grown up for years rhyming their every word, many zebras continue to rhyme their every word well into their adulthood, often for their entire lives.
Do not try to trip up a zebra by trying to get them to rhyme orange, silver, or purple. They have heard it before. You will just get them annoyed with you and you will probably wake up the next morning with your coat turned a garish shade of eye-searing neon orange with purple polka dots, and your mane turned a bombastic silvery color.
Thank you for reading this guide on magic, and the magical equine races of our fair planet. Hopefully we have educated you on the wonders of the supernatural energies that permeate this planet's every aspect and entertained you with interesting facts about its inhabitants. We hope you enjoy your visit to our world, honored guest. And always remember: magic and those who practice it are not to be trifled with.
Have a nice day! 
Fascinating stuff, both generally and specifically, to say nothing of the future implications for the story. I'm especially intrigued by how active earth pony magic is at least theoretically acknowledged as extant in-universe. Thank you for this, Dusty.
This was very interesting. Especially the bits about new races. However, that's not what stuck out the most to me:
The implications here are amazing. Are you doing to have an indestructible Scootaloo help Applebloom fight in A:TRO later?
Ah, I see another person who thinks Maud chucking that hundred ton boulder miles was just as much "Earth-Bending," as it was physical strength.
Crybertron may not magicly low, lower then eguestria, but i've seen transformer spellcasters and i read in one of the comics it use to be commen but it fell out of use (it never said why) from few times i've seen they use a mix of potions and, word and hand movements so if Applebloom had one of the magic problems above she could train with Zacora.