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Ultimate Furry Crossover: An Adult Choose Your Own Adventure

Background Information 3: The Realm of Magic

By Gideon Kalve Jarvis

The third of the Big Three galactic players in the politics and diplomacy of the Selected Universe (hitherto the SU), the Realm of Magic, or Magic Realm, is found to the galactic right of the Sol Imperium, forming the third part of this roughly triangular section of space shared by the three major factions. The Realm of Magic is also the smallest of the Big Three, though it is also perhaps the most stable politically.

As the name of the Realm suggests, the Realm of Magic is noteworthy for its one greatest feature: the presence of magic. Not only does magic permeate every planet in the Realm of Magic, it also permeates space itself, allowing those within the Realm to "breathe," even when no atmosphere is actually present, by absorbing the lifegiving qualities of the Realm's magic directly into the lungs in place of oxygen (or whatever atmosphere the being requires).

Magic is an unstable and almost unquantifiable quality, and so scientific observation of its abilities and effects is almost impossible. What is known about magic is that it can do almost anything, under the right set of circumstances. The precise rules and limitations of magic tends to vary greatly from planet to planet, and region to region within the Realm.

One unfortunate aspect of magic, and the reason the Magical Realm is not more powerful and widespread, is that it doesn't seem to extend very far into the rest of the SU. Devices of all shapes and sizes can be very specially prepared to carry magical qualities, or even raw magic itself, outside the boundaries of the Realm, but these items require special crafting in order to retain their magic. Normally, without such special treatment and crafting, any and all magical effects tend to come to a complete and total stop right at the edge of the Magic Realm's boundaries. Magical items treated to retain their qualities beyond the Realm's borders are among the most popular and profitable items exported from the Magic Realm.

This sudden cessation of magic at the border can be devastating to spacecraft made in the Realm of Magic, because most such ships are often not airtight, or are otherwise not structurally sound, relying wholly upon magic to make up their flaws. Thus, the Realm of Magic has the largest navy of spacecraft in the SU, since magic makes it quite easy to create large numbers of vehicles in a very short period of time and with minimal cost, but it also has the least functional space navy outside of its borders.

As for the government of the Realm of Magic, the various planets tend to defer to a few powerful individuals of royal bloodline, those who command the greatest degree of magic, and are benevolently inclined. Princess Rosalina, the princesses Zelda and Midna, and the goddesses of day and night, the princesses Celestia and Luna, are regarded as the de facto rulers of the Realm of Magic, dictating most galactic policy with both justice and mercy. Otherwise, each individual world mostly governs itself, only rallying behind the auspices of their princesses when great need makes its demands known. This system of government, amazingly enough, works far better than the governments of either the Sol Imperium or the Aniverse, for it has resulted in a far greater degree of stability and prosperity than is found in either of those two regions.

While the Realm of Magic generally does not maintain a standing space navy or other military force, it does have a number of important individuals known for protecting its borders in times of crisis.

Princesses Celestia and Luna: Perhaps the most dangerous of the powers ruling the Realm of Magic, these two non-anthropomorphic alicorns have demonstrated literally world-shaping powers in the past, being able to control the rotation of their homeworld with ease. Similarly, on a galaxy-wide scale, they can manipulate gravitic forces, hurling meteors and even small planets at those who sufficiently displease them. Apparently neither of these alicorns are fully grown, for they defer to an even higher power, whose exact nature they do not discuss. What abilities they might manifest once they are at their peak of maturity is unknown.

Princess Rosalina: Actually more of a diplomat than a military force, Princess Rosalina is the face of kindness and benevolence for the Realm of Magic. Though an accomplished sorceress in her own right, Princess Rosalina seldom makes full use of her magical abilities, except so that she can better communicate with others, or transport herself to where she is most needed.

Sora: Apparently a young pubescent boy wearing rather silly-looking shoes and bearing a strange key-shaped weapon that looks as though it would be quite awkward to wield, Sora is nevertheless one of the most powerful individual warriors in the Realm of Magic. Known for quelling dangerous forces of many sorts, Sora is regularly called upon to act as a freelance troubleshooter for different planets in the Realm.

The Realm of Magic is where all the series that make heavy use of magic, and in which humans are only one of many races, go; incidental use of magic, found in many settings, can be said either to be the result of proximity to the Realm, or derived from magical items exported from the Realm. Several borderline regions may indeed switch allegiance to the Realm of Magic in time.

Some examples of series found within the Magic Realm:

Breath of Fire series

Disney's Gummi Bears

Final Fantasy series

He-Man and She-Ra

Kingdom Hearts (on the border with the Sol Imperium)

Legend of Zelda series

My Little Pony

Super Mario Brothers

Please feel free to suggest additional series that you believe fit the criteria of the Realm of Magic, and want to see made a part, however incidental, of the Ultimate Furry Crossover.