Author's Note

As I already mentioned, this chapter isn't obligatory. You can skip this.
If you still read this and for some reason you didn't like it or you didn't understand the information in here, you are able to apply your own vision on the topic on hand... On hoof? Eh, whatever!

Outtake 1. How the magic works.

Preamble.

Magic. It is probably the most mysterious, arcane phenomenon in the nature. Even after millennia, there are still many more things to discover. As an example, we still do not know how it happen to appear or how exactly it cooperates with other natural phenomenon like energy or momentum.
So, what do we know of it at the moment?
We know that magic is actually kind of energy, pretty much like kinetical or potential energy. It exists everywhere and intertwine with almost everything that is happening in the world, beginning from the simple thinking and ending with the luminescence of the stars.
It could be find everywhere. Even earth ponies and pegasi possess a certain amount of magic, which allows them to fly and create weather or grow crops with maximal results. Actually, unlike unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies do not require concentration or specific trainings in order to use magic as they are planning.
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Chapter 2. Living beings and their magic.

Every sentient living being has magic of its own, be it a pony, a griffon or a dragon. I, Starswirl the Bearded, the greatest mage of whole ponykind, understood that after years of studying, researching and experimenting.
We, ponies, can do a lot of things with our magic. Earth ponies can grow any crops unbelievably fast and harvest an immense amount of said crops, due to their magic gained strength and stamina. Pegasi on the other hand use their magic so they can fly, since their wings, in normal circumstances, will not allow them to fly. They also use it in order to control the weather throughout the whole Equestria. The usage of unicorn’s magic can be seen every day, as it is our main and most wonderful art. Further, in the book, there will be a short introduction into that peculiar and arcane art of spellcrafting.
Now, though, I need to tell more about magic of every creature, since there are still many things to tell to all of you.
First of all, there are also many flying creatures like gryphons or dragons. Pretty much like pegasi, their magic allows them to fly. Gryphons, unlike pegasi, though, cannot use their magic to control the weather. They can be taught how to walk on the clouds, but that is their limit. Dragons, meanwhile, cannot be taught any weather controlling technique, but they are able to breathe fire, which is magical in its nature and can be enchanted into something else. However, only experienced unicorn enchanter can do this and it is an extremely rare occasion.
There are many more creatures, which possess specific magic. For example, there are zebras that live in the Zebrica. Their magic is very strange and for many it is connected to the vile necromancy. That, to our great disdain, is seemed to be truthful. Zebras obtain features and demeanor of the dead if they wear things that were with them. This includes the bones and coats. Zebras are also able to make some rituals that may connect them with the dead. Not to mention, that odd thing imitation of our cutie-marks. They barely represent their owners, since they do not show their talents. Besides, little zebras are born with them and they do not require achieving them via daily labor.
Our fellow brothers and sisters from Maretonia and Prance do not differ from us. To be fair, their magic is exactly the same that we use. Saddle arabians on the other hand… They might share looks with us, but not the magic. The magic of Saddle arabians is based on their voice and their speech. Their words are alluring while their battlecries strike hearts of their enemies with fear, making them tremble and shiver.
Now, there are much more creatures that are more magical than they seem. Snake people, creatures that live to the west of Zebrica on the continent of Austailia, despite their words that they were granted with power from their god, The Great Snake, have magic, which is actually similar to the magic of our unicorns. There is also a continent of Northnia. It is also to the west but now from our own continent of Equestria. Many inhabitants lives in these land and they belonged to many races that can be found there. What is peculiar about this is that all of the races has a similarity with some kind of an animal. For example, there are rabbits, mice, and different avian creatures. Each of them has their specific magic that is connected to the animals-predecessors. Rabbits are fast, mice are hard to notice and parrots are able to copy any voice and produce a lot of sounds.
There are many more creatures out there with magical powers like abyssinians or diamond dogs, but we need to move to the next topic.

Chapter 3. Magic of our cutie-marks.

Now, I would like to tell about something that is mundane, but yet something that very important and nevertheless magical. Our cutie-marks.
Sooner or later, every pony will eventually earn one. These little paintings on the backs of our palms shows to everyone your talent, be it magic or growing crops.
The nature of cutie-mark is indeed magical. It appears with a specific glow that emerge from the place of its appearance.
What is also worth to mention is that talents that are shown on cutie-marks are somewhat amplified. If someone do a thing, shown on his or her cutie-mark, they will do it better than anyone else will. They might create an art without any kind of preparations and experience.
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Chapter 4. Magic of our emotions.

As I mentioned before, magic is everywhere and even the thoughts are magical. What is also magical is our very emotions.
Unicorn that read this are probably remembering how it is easier to cast certain spells, when they are either angry or happy.
Well, emotions are a part of every conscious being. Certain emotion cause magical mishaps. Anger for instance can cause unicorn to use what he or she considers an attacking spell at the source of their anger. What is spectacular about this is that unicorns are using the spell subconsciously, without a portion of concentration. A similar phenomenon happens with little unicorn that may cast spells without even knowing the spell. I must say, though, that we will return to that topic later in this book.
Now, I would like to return to the topic of magic. There are certain spells that make any creature feel certain emotions, love for example. It is worth mentioning that such magic as well as potions is forbidden for certain scenarios, mentioned in several legends.
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Chapter 7. Spellcrafting.

Now, the part, which all of the unicorns reading this were waiting for. The basics of spellcrafting.
Every unicorn in Equestria and beyond probably knows them, but for others, we will begin from the very beginning.
Now, a spell is a magical energy that is gathered in the horn and is released in a specific way. The way spell is released is determined by special magical pattern, which is called a matrix.
A matrix is a complex shape that is formed from dots and lines. When a unicorn want to cast a spell, he or she remembers the correct matrix and starts filling the matrix with magic. Filling matrix with magic is not a difficult task, since one simply should circulate the magic in the direction of the horn. While casting a spell, unicorn also must keep in mind all the object that will be affected by the spell and how said objects must be affected.
Now, what is spellcrafting? Spellcrafting is a special form of science, which is aimed to make matrixes. There are still many spells to discover still, as spellcrafting is not an easy feat.
There are two ways of making matrixes. The complex one is to draw the matrix by oneself and fill it with magic. This method often fails, as the matrix requires correct details, even so little as the angle between lines and dots. It is important to know the right positions of lines and dots, in order to make a matrix. There is a trick though. Since all spells use the same patterns, you can come up with a spell that use pattern from other spells. For example, if you want a ray that lights candles, then you must cut the pattern that makes a ray and stick it to the spell that lights the candles. However, keep in mind that you need to stick them correctly, since the wrong angle, wrong position of the dots or the excess dots will ruin the spell.
There is another way and it is easier, but there is a certain issue with it. This way is called natural. In order to make a spell this way, unicorn must think of what he or she needs. The more you think of required action, the more likely you will receive a spell that will help.
Yes, this is how natural spellcrafting works. Just think of what you need. The right spell, or to be precise, the right matrix, will appear in the mind. To increase chances, one should get the maximum concentration. Meditation will help. In addition, the natural may take time, since a unicorn can be shown only a portion of a matrix.
Now, an issue. It is connected to the aforementioned problem with little foals that are able to cast spells. Newborn unicorn as well as newborn pegasi are able to use their magic, so newborn pegasi can fly and newborn unicorn can cast spell.
Since natural spellcrafting might seem to be easy, you might think that this is not much of an issue. Little foals just think of something and magic just work on itself. It is not how it is.
Firstly, the natural spellcrafting requires concentration, which in case of little foals lacks. Secondly, as it was mentioned, natural spellcrafting rarely gives the full matrix right away and unicorn must gather the matrix from the given parts. Thirdly and most importantly, unicorn foals as well as little pegasi do not keep these abilities for long and after a year or more, they lose them without a trace. They must be retrained to fly or to cast magic after they grew a little.
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From “Nature of Magic” written by Starswirl the Bearded.
Redacted by Mages Directorate of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.