Interesting Questionaire

Saw these in another guy's blog post and thought I'd give my own answers to them.

1. How old are Celestia and Luna?
I'd estimate that Celestia and Luna are at least several thousand years old.

2. How old is Cadance?
Likely of similar age to Shining Armor. Her mane and tail lack the flowing, ethereal nature of the Regal Sisters. Thus she is likely still coming into her power.

3. Were Celestia and Luna always alicorns, or did they ascend?
Unsure. Though I suspect they were born as alicorns, being veritable deities who control the sun and moon. Born as a matter of need when perhaps controlling the sun and moon became too much of a strain for the unicorns.

4. Are Cadance and Twilight immortal?
Yes. While Word of God is that Twilight won't outlive her friends, there are several ways to interpret that statement. Some take it as a claim that Twilight is still mortal. I however believe it means the rest of the Mane Six will ascend as well. Possibly transformed by the contents of that box they got from the Tree of Harmony.

5. Have there been other alicorns in the past?
Perhaps. Perhaps not. Can't say for sure either way without more data. Could have been more at some point, but were wiped out by Discord or some other calamity.

6. How much authority do Celestia and Luna have in Equestria?
Absolute authority. There has been no sign of a parliament or council, so they wield total power. Makes sense to rule as diarcy. One can check the other. Testament to Celestia's benevolence to wield such power alone for millennium without being corrupted.

7. Does Shining Armor rule The Crystal Empire along side of Cadance?
Most likely. He did marry her after all, and is recognized as royalty.

8. Other than Twilight, Luna, and Cadance, what relationships have been important to Celestia in her lifetime (students, close friends, lovers, family)?
Have little doubt that Celestia cultivated friendships throughout her life, fleeting as they were due to her immortality. Also don't doubt that she's had countless lovers and romantic partners. Likely has shrines to her late partners somewhere.

Ponies and Equestrian Culture:

9. Are there still cultural differences between earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns, or is the culture homogeneous by the time shown in canon? Are there cultural stereotypes (positive or negative)?

Of course. Cultural diversity a good thing. Stereotypes always present, not always bad.

Earth ponies tend toward farming due to connection with land. Not all farm though. Cakes, Cheerilee, Filthy Rich. Examples of earth ponies in non agriculture occupations. Due to lack of flight and active magic, earth ponies most likely to provide technological and scientific advancement to compensate for limitations.

Pegasi control weather, as is their niche. Still sometimes see pegasi not doing so. Wonderbolts act as entertainers, others still join Equestrian military. Fluttershy standout, living on ground and working with animals. Typically seen as earth pony traits.

Unicorns only subspecies to actively channel magic, thus having more options. From seamstress like Rarity, to artist like Facet, all the way to archmages like Twilight.

Each species unique, with own strengths and weaknesses. Divided has results seen in pre-Equestrian era. United tribes cover weaknesses of the others. Thus focus on harmony and friendship. Keeps ponies strong as both nation and species.

Always outliers. Genius, idiot. Bound to be racists and supremacists as well. Blueblood example of class oriented supremacist.

10. Are there foods or items native to Cloudsdale that are uncommon on the ground? Are there foods or items on the ground that are uncommon in Cloudsdale?
Perhaps in days prior to union of tribes. Not so in present day.

11. Can all unicorns learn all spells, given the time and effort spent practicing them, or is magical talent usually limited in some way?
Unlikely. Personally believe unicorns only able to learn spells related to talent. Twilight able to learn all spells due to talent being magic itself. More leeway for concept as talent. Facet's talent is art itself. Many things able to be interpreted as art. Useful for deciding role in stories.

12. Earth pony magic: Does it exist? What is it?
Yes. Manifests as preternatural talent for agriculture, and higher levels of physical strength.

13. Some pony families we’ve seen seem to have naming conventions (the Apples, Twilight’s family) and others don’t appear to (Rarity’s family, Pinkie’s family), which is more common? Are there reasons for one or the other?
Likely to be decided on case by case basis. Apple clan one of farmers. Specifically of apples. Makes sense to assume continuation in family business. Others lack this luxury. Personally believe pony's name not always birth name. Can guess means exist to assume new name upon discovery of talent and earning of cutie mark.

14. How much formal schooling is an average, middle class pony expected to complete?
Basic grade school education expected. Mathematics, language, literacy, basic skills needed to function on society. Afterward begin specialized training in field relevant to talent. Doubt you'll see high school level facilities in Equestria. Closest to university is Celestia's school, catering specifically to unicorns, however.

15. What’s the average lifespan for a pony? At what age is a pony expected to be independent of their parents?
Headcanon is that pony lifespans are similar to humans. Granny Smith in particular of advanced age, having aided in founding Ponyville, but has still living relatives that are older still. Magic aided healthcare likely allows ponies to live upwards of 200 years on average. Can only speculate, however.

Independence from parents likely occurs at equivalent of 16-18 years old. Will have had cutie mark long enough to receive training in chosen career path and able to strike out from nest, so to speak.

16. Are there roughly an equal number of male and female ponies?
Unlikely. Gender ratio seems to lean more in favor of mares. Speculate one stallion to every three mares at least. Not big enough difference to endanger species. Monogamous couples have been presented. Could be polygamous marriages as well. Gender ratio would allow it to be nearly, if not equally, as common as monogamy.

17. How informed are most ponies about things that happen in other parts of Equestria? What about other parts of the world?
News slow to travel outside local communities. Spike's dragon flame closest equivalent to e-mail, and even then, system appears to be strictly point to point. Unless affected universally by cataclysmic event, ponies unlikely to care much for events outside their own local communities, much less their borders.

The Main Characters:

18. How old are the Mane Six? Spike? The CMC?
Estimate that Mane Six are in early 20s, equivalent of young women. Spike likely around twelve years old, based on Twilight's age at his hatching. CMC... difficult to say. Estimate eight, at least.

19. Did Fluttershy remain on the ground after getting her cutie mark? Were she and Rainbow Dash friends all along, or did they drift apart for a while?
Likely returned to Cloudsdale to gather belongings before taking up permanent residence on ground. Given how loyal Rainbow Dash, likely kept in touch with Fluttershy even afterward, including lives in Ponyville.

20. Rarity and Applejack both seem to have grown up in Ponyville. What were their interactions like before the show?
Personally believe that prior to Twilight's arrival, Rarity and Applejack best described as more acquaintances than friends. Passing conversations here and there. Only become true friends after Twilight's arrival.

21. What do Twilight and Spike consider their relationship to be?
Difficult to say. Have heard all manner of speculation. Siblings, parent and child, potential lovers, best friends. Personally view relationship as platonic bond of caregiver and aide who live together as matter of course.

22. When did Pinkie move in with the Cakes? Is she a worker who rents a room, an apprentice, or is there some other relationship?
Likely after getting cutie mark. Rock farm not best place for her. Cakes likely to be either relatives or family friends. Either way, clearly share loving relationship with Pinkie. Almost like a daughter. Fully aware that Pinkie lacks malice. Cannot say same for Pinkamena...

23. Who among the Mane Six had the best parents growing up? The worst parents?
Likely Twilight. Would have needed and wanted their support to get into Celestia's school.

Worst would be Rarity's parents. Not bad ponies, just slightly too eager to leave younger daughter with her elder sister while traveling. Still. Displays great trust in Rarity.

24. Why didn’t the CMC hang out more/know each other before Call of the Cutie?
Likely felt no reason to. Probably first met at Nightmare Moon's return.

25. Is Scootaloo an orphan? Will she ever be able to fly?
Could be. At least has roof over head. Certainly underdeveloped in wing growth. Could be defect, could be simple late blooming. Impossible to know for sure.

26. Will Apple Bloom’s cutie mark involve an apple in some way, even if it’s unrelated to farming or baking?
Probably yes. Able help on farm, and is prodigious carpenter. Will likely have elements of both in cutie mark.

27. How is Sweetie Belle’s relationship with their parents different than Rarity’s was?
Speaking from experience, second born always has different relationship. Likely that Rarity had more time with them, owing to not being dumped on foalsitter.

Side and Background Characters:

28. Is Mr. Cake the father of the Cake twins or not?
Yes. Cakes love each other too much for her to be unfaithful.

29. Are Big Mac and Cheerilee an item, romantically?
Doubtful. Believe they were simply trolling CMC, and all appearances together afterward are as friends.

30. How did Prince Blueblood get his title?
Would prefer not to speak of that prick, but if required... -deep breath- Doubt he is actually a prince. More likely descended from ponies who held more power. Doubt he is actually related to Celestia. Unsure how she puts up with him.

31. Is Silver Spoon equally as bad as Diamond Tiara?
No. Simply a sycophant who will eventually grow a spine.

32. Is Zecora’s magic common among zebras?
At least believe Zecora to not be unique practitioner. Seems equivalent to a shaman.

33. Why does Daring Do publish her stories as fiction?
More interesting than autobiography. Also wouldn't help if such a creature as Ahuizotl was known to actually exist and routinely plot what he does. Would cause panic.

34. Do you have a strong headcanon for any non-speaking or one line background ponies that you want to share?
No. Reserve headcanons for major characters.

Other Species:

35. Does Equestria differentiate between speaking and non-speaking species, in terms of respect, rights and legal responsibilities? Is there some other line or scale used? (For example, how are cows classified? Diamond Dogs? A chimera?)
Non-sapient animals obviously not held to same standard. Likely that cows provide milk in exchange for room and board. Not sure of diamond dog status as anything other than pack oriented scavangers. Only one chimera has been seen. And it is predatory.

36. Do other speaking species form their own nations, or are all nations largely integrated, with some having larger populations of a species than others?
Yes. Buffalo have their own society. As griffons and minotaurs are likely to have as well.

37. Are minotaurs related to cows at all?
Would rather not think about that. Implications... unpleasant.

38. Do all zebras rhyme?
Probably not. Could be that only potion brewers like Zecora rhyme. Or could simply be preference of Zecora.

39. Do zebra cutie marks work the same way as pony cutie marks?
Perhaps operate on similar principle, but different at same time.

40. Do any species have types of magic, other than ponies and zebras?
Could be possible. Magic permeates world.

41. Is the lack of buffalo presence in Equestria cultural, or simply because most pony towns aren’t built to accommodate a full grown buffalo?
Likely just buffalo keeping to themselves.

42. Do you consider official sources other than the show (comics, card game text, movies, novels, etc.) to be canon?
All sources other than fanfiction given due consideration.

43. Do you have one headcanon that you always use, or do you switch depending on projects?
Tend to stick to one, but will alter for sake of project.

44. Can you easily accept the headcanons of different writers? Do you prefer when stories match your headcanon?
Yes. Different viewpoints essential part of healthy interaction. If all shared one viewpoint, would be boring and stagnant.

45. Is there a part of your headcanon that you wish was more popular among writers?
None off the top of my head. No shortage of Sparity writers.

46. Is there a popular piece of headcanon that other writers use that you dislike?
As stated earlier, accept all headcanons for healthy variation of viewpoints. If encountering disliked one, silently agree to disagree.

47. Have you ever written a story or blogpost just to explain some part of your headcanon (other than this one)?
No. Have seen no reason to.

48. Does your headcanon influence things like your favorite pony, ship, or episode?
Personally believe changelings were created by Discord from flutterponies.

49. Would it bother you if the show proved part of your headcanon wrong? Any specific piece that would really bother you to lose?
Not particularly. Will soon find out if major part of headcanon is true or not. Looking forward to finding out.

50. Is there something that wasn't asked about here, but you feel like you need to explain to everyone?
Sometimes channel Mordin Solus. Have for much of this post.