Gathered (random) thoughts on the lore of Equus

I use this blog to write down some ideas for the worldbuilding of potential stories I might write.
In the unlikely event that someone reads this please leave some feedback and feel free to "steal" ideas if you want (but link the story I am always interested in more stuff to read).

Magic:

Everything in the universe has magic. In most cases inanimate materials have less magic then something living.

There are some materials that store/contain larger amounts of magic and a few of those are of organic origin (the sap of certain trees) while the most common ones are certain ores and crystals.

Any living organism uses its magic to strengthen itself. Possessing more magic means having a better constitution/vitality. The reason for an Alicorns indefinite lifespan is their massive amount of magic which makes them extremely resilient to harm fast to heal and basically ageless.

Magical capacity can be trained and improved.

For intelligent creatures that means that they can train their magic to live longer a pony that never really grows their magic lives to about 80 years the average pony between 200-300 while someone who really trains has theoretically no limit but one of the eldest living ponies is Granny Smith with 742 years (that explains how she has been there since the founding of Ponyville and why in her flashback the city of Canterlot looks a lot less developed and the rail-network has yet to be established).

Powerful magic from a single individual can develop a character and start acting on its own. For example, enchantments. If they are made by enchanters working together the different magical signatures clash and nothing can develop but if made by a single individual a character may form (of importance for the origin of Timberwolves). This also explains the elements of Harmony: 6 crystals each charged by one pony with the intent of maintaining Harmony. The crystal seeds grew and together formed the tree and each formed one element. The dominating characteristics of one creator influences their element. The magic has gained a level of awareness and thus chooses its wielder and more as shown later in the show.

Reproduction:

Magic is everywhere and influences everything including reproduction.

In order for anything to develop not just the DNA of the parents mixes but also their magic. Both sperm and egg-cell contain a charge of magic from the parent. The more powerful the parent the stronger the magic contained. When the DNA mixes after fertilization so does the magic of the parents. In the process the unique magical signature of the child is created. The parents need to be of more or less equal magical strength. If the magic of one parent dominates that of the other a harmonic mixing of signatures is impossible the child develops no own magical signature and the fertilization fails. That is also the reason why it is extremely difficult for an Alicorn to have a child. Cadence could have one because she is a comparatively weak Alicorn and Shining amor is magically very powerful.

Timberwolves:

Timberwolves are a mix of (especially) magical plant and sapient magic. While they can grow any type of organic material all of them are originally grown out of the same species of plant which is unique to their kind.

They manipulate and control the growth of any organic material (even flesh) with their magic and can freely bend and move any living plants (even wood). As such they could shape their body in any way they want and make it out of any material.
It is possible, but extremely difficult, that a Timberwolf with perfect understanding of the biology of a pony can grow its body into that of a pony even mimicking their magical pathways and converting a part of the magical flow outside to core into the type of magic of the subspecies of pony they changed into.

Timberwolves are natural hermaphrodites. Two Timberwolves come together to create a cluster of seeds (originated from the "Timberwolf-Plant") those seeds are then charged with magic by both parents with the intent of the magic merging together to form the unique signature of an individual.
They intend from the start the magic is to develop into independence and form its own character.
The seed is then planted into rich and fertile soil in the safest possible location. The parents usually grow their roots next to them and remain to protect the growing saplings.
The seed grows into a plant and as the plant grows so does its magical strength. Down between the roots it creates a special core that contains most of the magic it could be considered both heart and brain of a Timberwolf.
Only shortly before the sapling/pup first retracts its roots (at around a century old) to move to a better spot does it shape the recognizable body of a wolf.
At this point they cannot be considered intelligent and act purely on instincts. The parents are usually still there to protect them but won't interfere with anything.
In the following decades they grow stronger and smarter and begin to slowly approach first sentience (capability for emotion) then sapience (intelligence and planning) reaching the level of intelligence of an average adult pony by age 350-500 years. Parents usually move elsewhere as the pups approach sapience and the pups follow along.
There is no upper limit for their growth in magical power size and experience.
Timberwolves as living plants tend to spend the day rooted in the ground eating/sunbathing. They can be classified as scavengers. Rotting meat is a great fertilizer but they do not hunt unless in an emergency. They are more likely to go after a pony’s kitchen waste (and feces) than to hunt them.
However, centuries before the unification a magical necromantic disease appeared. While a Timberwolf can grow to be practically invulnerable to both physical and magical harm this malady somehow eats into the magic flowing through their bodies and devours its way to the core. While they can tear out afflicted parts and grow them back any contact with infected areas spreads it to whatever touches.
Once a it reaches the core to wolf dies as their magic is destroyed. The sickness then occupies the core and manipulates the dead body to attack anything living with a strong focus to spread to infection to other Timberwolves (essentially Zombies).
Those Rotwolves are contained in Everfree and Timberwolves are unknown to the ponies. They don't know about the disease and call the Rotwolves Timberwolves.

Diseases:
The world is strongly influenced by Harmony. As such bacteria are symbiotic and natural diseases only appear in extreme cases of imbalance as population control.
Actual diseases are the equivalent of biological weapons created by sapient creatures. For example, the Feather-flu was created by unicorn mages during the war of the three tribes as a weapon against the pegasi. Other diseases were the result of Necromancers (like Grogar) or were made by potions.
The stronger your magic the better you can resist diseases.