SkunkyArt | Orin331

This version of kirins leans more into the idea that (eastern) dragons live in large bodies of water. They get longer and more robust tails, as well as fish-like scales. They're all capable of breathing and controlling fire, but stuff like water manipulation is unique to Mistmane (and much later down the line, Rain Shine).

Mistmane's legend mostly stays the same. Just for some added coolness, I like to think Sable Spirit's spell to turn herself beautiful was instead done out of envy for Mistmane's draconic heritage. The village was home to both kirins and eastern unicorns. Rather than disfiguring her, the spell turns her into an "artificial kirin" out of her desire to be like Mistmane, giving her draconic features but not the correct ones.

In this reimagining, Mistmane gave up her horn and her "unicorn magic", using it as a reagent to undo Sable Spirit's curse. Mistmane's coral horn is later planted to help heal the land, but it isn't instantaneous. Thanks to the joint effort of all the ponies in Mistmane's village, Mistmane's coral horn eventually grows into an awe-inspiring magical reef in the present day. Rarity takes a convenient, horn-sized cutting of it during the artifact hunt.

Kirin horns shed and regrow all the time. However, because she used her horn to break such a powerful dark magic spell, and then later planted it, Mistmane's horn never grew back. She left the village to meditate and rediscover herself.

While Mistmane lacks the precision that a horn grants for spellcasting, she is still capable of tapping into her innate draconic abilities as a kirin. She's hydrokinetic, and can channel her energy through the water she manipulates. Just imagine a very magical waterbender. She's more of a martial combatant this way, as more of the team's "monk" rather than a second spellcaster.

Beauty is transient, and things that won't last forever are the most beautiful. Mistmane is the Pillar of Sacrifice, and genuinely believes that selflessness is what gives ordinary objects true value.

Mistmane's teachings may have accidentally started a monastery somewhere in eastern Equestria.