Talk:Magic/@comment-71.214.60.49-20121024040241

Probably should have discussed this before editing. My apolgies. Anyway...

Something that I think should be mentioned in the article is that the magic auras are non-diegetic effects. The characters can't actually see them, and they're added in for the benefit of the audience. When an object is being levitated, the characters can only see the object being levitated. When a unicorn casts a spell, the characters can't see their horn glowing. Only situations extreme exertion are visible to the character, but those are very rare exceptions.

I can't think of any occasion where the characters have reacted the horn or levitation auras, and a few where they should have responded if they were visible. It's like when comic books make the Invisible Woman's invisible forcefields visible or throw a colored outline around an object being levitated by telekinesis or magnetism.

Have there been any occasions of the characters reacting to those glowing auras? I don't mean stuff like Twilight having a breakdown or casting some super spell, she's giving off much more energy than normal in those. A crowd can't tell when Twilight is levitating Fluttershy, Applejack can't tell when Twilight casts a spell on her plow, Pinkie can't see the glow from Rarity's manipulating the train's blinds, no one notices that Deceptive!Cadance's magic is the wrong color.... You aren't supposed to prove a negative, so can anyone prove that the characters can see the auras?