Pausing at the path with one front hoof half lifted as the trees came into view I took in the rather foreboding sight.

As the path reached the edge of the forest it was covered with deep shadows, the trees seemingly leaning over it, the thick branches keeping the inside of the forest in a constant twilight.

The entire forest felt...

Dark. Predatory.

Like there were eyes somewhere between those trees watching us and licking its fangs.

“Do you feel that?” I asked as Skitter came to a halt next to me.

“You are nervous.” She agreed. “Not a fan of that kind of nervosity. The other kind tastes way better.”

I struggled not to roll my eyes. “Not me, the forest.”

Changelings.

Skitter buzzed her wings and then nodded. “I'm not certain this is a good idea, sir. There are dangerous creatures in that forest.”

“We just have to be careful.” I said as much for myself as for her.

I wanted to see the Castle.

Taking a deep breath, I started forward before I stopped a couple of steps later, looking at the trees. Wait, this is fucking stupid.

Why am I walking into a possibly monster-infested forest? I'm a unicorn. This is stupid. I have magic.

Skitter could just fly across the forest no problem. She might be able to carry me, but I wouldn't ask her to do that.

I did, however, have access to something even better.

It's about time I learn how to do that sodding wing spell.

“New plan, this is stupid.” I said and turned around, walking back the same way I came back towards the village.

Skitter buzzed her wings and turned around, jumping into the air for a second to catch up. “Sir?”

“Why go through the forest when we can go over it?”

What's the use of having imagination if you don't use it?

XXXXXXXXXXX

“I do have that spell.” Twilight said and moved into the stacks. “Where did I put that book... Spike! SPIKE!”

The dragon came walking down the stairs. “What?”

“The book with the wing spell I used on Rarity. Where is it?”

The small dragon frowned. “Uhm... Wasn't that Temuria's Transfigurations and Illusions? It should be either under T for Temurias, T for Transfigurations or S for strange spells.”

“Found it!”

“So... what are you two doing back already?” He asked as he scratched behind one of his head fins.

I grinned. “Finally figured out I was being stupid. Why walk through the forest when I can fly over it?”

“You know that this is a rather difficult spell, right?” Twilight said with a small frown, shifting her own wings as she exited the stacks while she flipped through the book. “I'll rate it about the difficulty of medium-distance teleports. Ah, there. Page twenty-seven.”

Ugh. Seriously?

I knew it was about at the level of teleports but... I thought it was the line of sight, close range ones. Well, that explains why you never see unicorns flying about.

I nodded. “Well, it wouldn't hurt to have a look, at least.” I said before I paused. “...Uhm... it won't hurt to miscast, will it?”

Twilight shook her head, stated: “No, this one is safe, it's just a pair of metaphysical manifestations. They are generally pretty safe. If you fail, they simply don't form.” and floated the book over for me to take in my magic.

It's funny, her magic feels completely different from Luna's. Luna's magic field feels like poprocks. Twilight's is like...

It's like sticking your hoof into a clear cool pool of water. Smooth and infinite. Element of Magic indeed.

Turning my eyes to the book I almost cringed. Bloody hell, that was a spell equation. Uhm, let's see now.

Luna taught me how to do this, start at the beginning and then slowly work through the steps. If you lose yourself, start over from the beginning. In theory, by this method you can cast any spell in existence if you have the physical power to do so. It's not fast and it's boring and impractical but you will be able to do it.

If you were physically able to.

Even so, this thing was so complex it made my eyes cross and there was like thirty steps to do it. This wasn't going to work. Maybe if I had a month or two to work on it and practice, but... yeah, no.

“Sorry, there is no way I will be able to do this.” I finally sighed and closed the book. “Not in time, anyway.”

Twilight frowned slightly. “Like I said, it is a rather difficult spell, but if you want I can help you work through it.”

I shook my head. “I would like that, I really want to learn this spell, but I just don't have the time. I'm expected back in Canterlot in a couple of weeks. I guess I'm going to need to walk through the Everfree after all.”

“I thought you were going to stick to the edges?” Twilight asked as she frowned. “The forest is dangerous.”

“I know, which is why I didn't want to walk through it. But I really want to see the the Castle of the Two Sisters.” I sighed, rubbing my forehead beneath my horn. Damn it, why couldn't I be less crap at magic. Well, most magic. Dream magic I actually had talent in.

“Why don't you borrow the balloon?” Spike asked as he jumped up and sat down on the table.

I looked over at him in surprise. “Balloon?”

“Twilight's hot air balloon.”

Twilight has a...

“Spike, that's brilliant!” Twilight exclaimed. “Yes, Page can use that and Skitter, you can guide it in the right direction if the winds don't cooperate!”

Skitter nodded, actually looking somewhat relived at that. “That is a good idea.”

Probably looking forward to having her charge not walking into a monster-infested forest. Honestly, so was I.

“Sure, let's roll with that.”