Rum Raisin Brandy

Chapter 6

"Oh, shoot, what was I gonna do?" Midi stood in the middle of the street, staring blankly ahead. He racked his brain, trying to get his train of thought back on its rails. His mind snapped back and his eyes widened in realization. "Aha! I was going to the library!"

The unicorn trotted briskly to the tree he knew Twilight lived in. He was about to knock on the door when it suddenly burst open and sent him flying back.

"Spike! I'll be right back!" Twilight called, and then noticed the stallion lying on his back in the dirt.

Midi rubbed his forehead and groaned. I thought that door opened inward?

"Oh, dear! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there!" Twilight helped Midi back up to his hooves.

"Ah, no problem," said Midi, "Although I'm more used to things exploding in my face, not just outright smacking me."

"Yes, well, I needed to..." Twilight tilted her head. "Did you say explode?"

Midi chuckled and grinned, showing off his cutie mark. "Yuppers. Midi Waffle's my name, and explosions are my game. And you are?"

"Twilight Sparkle," the mare said, staring at Midi's flank. "What... what is that?"

The brown stallion blinked. "What? My cutie mark? It's an acorn bomb, obviously."

"Uh, right." Twilight said, and closed the door. "Anyway, I have a magical disturbance to investigate, so if you need a book, just ask Spike! Oh, he's my baby dragon, just so you don't freak out."

"No problem. I like dragons." Midi smiled and nodded, then quickly shook his head. "Wait a minute! Magical disturbance? What magical disurbance?"

"Yes, this morning, I sensed two strange magical signals coming from Whitetail Wood this morning. My books told me nothing that resembled what I sensed, so I decided to search fir residual energies instead."

Midi was astounded she detected him and Crescendo teleporting to Equestria, surprised that she'd taken this long to set up a search, and terrified of what signs his spell might have left behind.

"Really?" asked Midi, "That's funny, because I didn't feel anything there. Are you sure it didn't come from the Everfree? I mean, weird stuff happens there all the time."

Twilight shook her head. "No, I can tell the difference between the local forests. It was definitely Whitetail Wood."

"Uh, OK then..." Midi said nervously, heading for the door, "Just, if you happen to run into any wards, please don't tear them down. I don't want anyone stealing stuff from my camp."

The mare blinked. "Your camp? You're staying in the woods? How did you not feel that tremor?!"

Midi shrugged. "Maybe it happened before we got there, I dunno." He knew exactly what she meant, though. "Anyway, I need to get a few books, so, I'll see ya around?"

Twilight eyed him suspiciously for a moment as she passed him by. "Sure. I'll see you then." She trotted off, casting a quick glance back as she left.

Midi fidgeted uncomfortably and entered the library. He browsed the shelves and picked out Equestrian Economic and Etiquette Essentials and The Alicorn's Advanced  Alminac of All Things Alchemical. The unicorn figured this must be where Twilight got her alliterative rants from.

He flipped through a few pages of another book of advanced spell casting, and came to a shocking revelation. I have no idea how to read the Equestrian spell format. His eyes scanned from page to page, looking at unfamiliar symbols and circles that lacked the mathematical sequences he knew. It's like trying to read assembler after studying basic.

"Finding everything alright?" Spike asked, crunching on a sapphire.

"Uh..." Midi said blankly, "Huh? Oh, um, actually, do you have a book on spells for beginners?"

Spike raised an eyebrow. "You seem a bit old for that."

Midi chuckled. "Yeah, I know. To be honest, I've never had an formal training. Oh, my name's Midi." He held out a hoof.

"I'm Spike." Spike shook it, and then climbed the ladder to grab a book off the top shelf. "How's First Phantasmic Feats for Foals sound?"

"Sounds utterly humiliating," Midi said dejectedly, "But I'll take it."

Spike put a time stamp on the books and have them to Midi. "Cool cutie mark. What's it stand for?"

The unicorn grinned. "Oh, this? Means I'm good at making things go boom."

The baby dragon's eyes lit up. "Really?! That is so awesome! Can you show me?"

"Heh heh, not in town," Midi said with a smile, "But, maybe next time I visit the diamond fields, you'll get to see me fight some dogs."

Spike's eyes grew even wider. "Fighting diamond dogs? Then, those explosions earlier were you?!"

Midi rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I don't like to brag, but..."

If Midi didn't know Spike, he'd have thought the dragon was baring his fangs, when in fact he was grinning like a mad hatter. "That. Is. AWESOME!"

Midi blushed. "Naw, stop it. I doubt I'm half the unicorn Twilight is. I mean, I could almost taste the mana coming from her. And who's to say she isn't masking her real power?"

"Ha! Ya got that right!" Spike said, his grin turning to one of triumphant confidence, "Did you know Twilight can lift an ursa minor all on her own while playing music and controlling a water silo all at the same time?"

"And yet she can't break through a few changelings..." Midi muttered to himself.

Spike tilted his head. "What was that?"

"Oh, uh, I don't doubt that power. But how does she have such intricate control?"

"Well, magic is her special talent," said Spike, "I guess it just comes naturally to her."

"That's what her mark means?" Midi faked, "I thought it meant astronomy. You know, stars and all?"

"Nah, it's totally magic. But she's pretty good at astronomy and other nerdy stuff too."

Midi nodded. "I see. Well, thanks for the books. I'll let ya know next time I go out for gems."

"I'll totally be there!" Spike grinned again.

Midi tucked away two of the books and opened up the beginner spell book. He looked through the initial glossary of Equestrian runes and sighed. "I am so bucked."