"Breath, Mrs. Star, your ok." said nurse Redheart.

"Midnight, Where are you?" Twilight said frantically.

"I'm right here, Sweety." he said just before a hoof collided with his nose.

"Celestia damn you, I'm going to kill you for this!" she screamed.

"I'm sorry, honey." he said trying to comfort her. It may have been six years ago but he remembered what it was like to be with a woman giving birth to his child.

"DON'T YOU HONEY ME, YOU SHIT FUCKER!!!" she sounded like she was possessed. Midnight wouldn't have been surprised if her head started spinning around. "Come here so I can hit you again!!!"

He did as she asked. Every bit of pain she puts on me is that much less on her, he thought to himself as her front hoof struck him repeatedly on the head and body.

"Mrs. Star, please calm down, ok. we need you to concentration." the doctor said, "ok, give us a little push?"

Twilight let out a grunt and a yell.

"Good. Very good, I can see the head coming. One more big push."

The purple unicorn gritted her teeth, braced herself and gave a loud yell. Midnight was lifted into the air by a ring of violate light around his throat as his legs kicked wildly. Then he was suddenly dropped as the yelling subsided. He got to his hooves gasping until the sound of a small cry could be heard.

-----------

The doors to the delivery room almost exploded open startling the five mares that waited patiently.

"IT'S A FILLY!!!" Midnight shouted and was immediately tackled by a pink blur.

"I'm an auntie!!!" Pinkie Pie said hugging the blue stallion. He was too happy to care that he couldn't breath.

"Come on the doctor said you can all see her for a minute, as long as your quiet." he said looking right at Pinkie Pie who had let go of him.

"Okie-dokie-loki." she said with a smile and a zipper motion across her mouth.

The six ponies made their way back to Twilight's room, and quietly shuffled in.

"Oh, darling, she's beautiful." said Rarity as Twilight showed her best friends her new daughter. She was a slightly darker shade of purple than Twilight with a black and silver main like her father's. She even had a white star on her forehead like Midnight but unlike the dark blue pony she had a small lump of a horn coming out of the middle.

"What's her name?" came the tiny voice of Fluttershy.

Twilight looked at the foal and answered, "Aurora..." she looked at Midnight who smiled back, "Aurora Tiffany Star."

----------------------

"Blablablablablabla" Pinkie Pie was making faces and sounds that Aurora found absolutely hilarious. She was helping the two proud parents watch her so they could get more than three hours sleep. It had only been a week but already the two ponies inexperience with babies was showing. Luckily Pinkie was good with them.

Midnight had put his business on hold for awhile to help Twilight with parenting duties. Of course he finished the orders he already had but no others were accepted.

At the moment Midnight and Twilight were sleeping. Once again the same dream that he's had for the past year played out. He stood at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Everypony he knew was behind him scared but unable to move. In front of him was a shadow engulfing the forest, but the shadow was familiar to him as if he knew it his whole life. As the shadow approached he ran in fear, and the shadow swallowed up all he knew and loved. Suddenly the shadow lifted and he was presented with a terrible sight... Ponyville, as with all Equestria, was burning. It was then that he always woke up sweating, but thankfully not screaming.

Knowing he wouldn't get anymore sleep, he went down to see if Pinkie needed any help. They were still playing as Midnight expected. Seeing his daughter always lightened his mood especially when she's laughing.

The nightmare now far from his mind he said, "Is my little pretty filly having fun with aunty Pinkie Pie?"

"Hey Mid, What'cha doin' up?" Pinkie asked.

"Couldn't sleep." he answered simply, "Thanks again for watching her for us. Twilight really needed it."

"It's ok, we're having a great time, aren't we, Aurora, yahyahyahyahayh." another burst of laughter from Aurora at Pinkies face made Midnight laugh, too.

"You really are good with kids." stated Midnight.

"Well, duh. Kids like to laugh, I like to make ponies laugh. It's a given." replied Pinkie.

"When are you going to settle down and have a couple of your own?" he knew the answer, this was just too good a chance to tease. He was pleased with the results.

"Owww! eww may me bit mah thung." she was good with kids alright but anything longer than a few hours is too much for the pink party mare. Midnight just laughed. After a quick scowl Pinkie joined him.

"Well, I can take it from here, Pink." he said taking Aurora, "We're going to go for a walk."

"Oh, oh, I'll come with you." Pinkie said hopping around in circles as Midnight put the baby in her stroller and headed out the door.

It was a few hours after midday and a nice breeze was blowing, cooling the warm air. Pinkie was bouncing aimlessly humming her cupcakes song when a shadow passed by over head and a cyan pegasus with a colorful mane landed right in front of them.

"Hey, Midnight." Rainbow Dash said, "How about a race?"

"How's it going, Dash." Midnight replied, "Didn't we go through this about a dozen times already? Without somepony else channeling energy to me I can only fly like that for a few seconds. Seeing as the princess has my element, you'll have to find a unicorn willing to boost me."

"Well, darling, I didn't come all the way out here for nothing you know." Midnight and Pinkie turned and saw Rarity behind them. " And do hurry, I still have some work to do."

Midnight grinned, "You came prepared this time I see, Dash. Can you watch Aurora, Pink?"

"Okie-doki-loki."

Midnight and Rainbow Dash stood side by side, "Rarity, if you will, please."

The posh unicorn started concentrating as her horn lit up, and shot a beam of light at the blue earth pony. A blue aura enveloped the stallion as he focused the new power into Mage Form wings. Now he was ready to rock.

A small crowd was already forming to watch this unique spectacle, including Applejack.

"Hey, AJ, give us a signal, will ya'." said Dash

"Alright," said the farm pony, "on yer marks, get set, GO!"

They both took off in a blink of an eye. Rainbow Dash beating her powerful wings with all her might, while Midnight Steadily increases the thrust output of his blue translucent Mage Form wings. Both seemed to be equal off the starting line as they speed toward the first checkpoint, one of many ring shaped cloud Dash and a couple others set up. The first turn was were the difference was seen, Rainbow Dash's agility proved superior as she took the turn in a way that would cause the best combat pilot to pass out. Midnight wasn't far behind the multicolored streak and was determined to deflate her ego a little. Every turn she pulled a little farther ahead. Finally came the home stretch. a near vertical dive to turn a few yards off the ground. Midnight knew she set this up to show off her sonic rainboom, in fact he was counting on it.

Midnight let a smirk out when he saw the mach cone appear in front of his opponent. That's right, little Dashie, show off for the crowd, he thought to him self. he shifted the Mage form, shrinking the wings and splitting them into two pairs, while extending it into a nose cone in front of him. With a noise that made thunder sound like Fluttershy, the sky in front of him burst a ring of color and energy. Most importantly it was a vacuum, and it was this that Midnight aimed for. In a massive boost of energy he passed strait through the center of the ring while using a modified absorption spell. The crowd below gasped as the rainboom collapsed onto the blue stallion before he himself exploded with speed in blast of light. In less than one second he was passed the proud mare made the final turn and passed the finish, all while Rainbow Dash stared, mouth hanging, were he passed her.

His landing was about as graceful as a rock. He was exhausted, but luckily Twilight had woke up and came out to see what the commotion was in time to see most of the race. With a quick spell she restored a bit of his energy and glared at him.

"There's no half way with you, is there?" she asked Midnight as he got to his feet.

"You know you love it." he said with a grin.

"Yes, I do, but you apparently petrified Rainbow Dash with it." Twilight gestured toward the frozen pegasus.

The two walked over to where she was still absentmindedly hovering, "Hello, Equestria to Dashie, come in Dashie." Midnight said.

Slowly she turned toward him and dropped to the ground in a slump, "Wha... ha... di..." her brain was still booting back up, "How'd you do that?" the switch clicked on full, "How is it that you normally cant fly for more than six seconds at a third that speed, but you get a little energy from Rarity and you beat ME?! I mean, no offense Rare but your not the most powerful unicorn around."

"It's fine, I have all the magic I need. I must admit, I'm quite curious myself." Rarity said

"It's just the way my magic works. Trust me when I say Rarity has a LOT more magical energy than I do." Midnight answered.

"Ah don't see how that works." Applejack chimed in, "No offense Rarity, but ah can't see ya zippin' and zommin' like that."

"Remember, my magic works differently than pony magic." Midnight explained. When he saw faces become even more confused he tried to elaborate, "Unicorn magic directly affects the world around them. AJ would you care to help me." she agreed, "OK, let's say AJ here is unicorn magic. Applebloom," the little yellow filly was beside him without hesitation with a huge grin on her face, "Applebloom here is my magic, and yes folks my magic's smile IS that adorable." the looks of confusion gave way to laughter and smiles. "Now, let's say that Twilight and I both have to do the same task," he conjured two large weights from the ground, "moving these over to that post over there." he pointed to a lamp post. "Unicorn magic works directly to do this while my magic influences the natural magic in the world to do the work. So AJ, AB come over here please. We'll say this cart is the natural magic energy of the weight." he put the weight into the cart and strapped it to the little filly. "my magic interacts indirectly by influencing the object's own energy and altering it slightly." he put the other weight on AJ's back, "Unicorn magic is direct lifting the object itself. Now when i say go, race to the post. Ready, go."

The two sisters struggled with their burdens, but Applebloom was a bit faster, "You see even though AJ is faster and stronger Bloom won. There is a down fall to this though." he looked at the elder Apple sister, "You good to continue?"

"I can go all day." she responded.

"Good, as fast as you can," he stomped and five pillars rose up, "run through these." She had no trouble. "Easy right now do it again at the same speed but with the cart." he put the cart that Applebloom used on Applejack. she hit all but the first post, "See how clumsy it is. Indirect control can be more powerful but it lacks the finesse of direct control. That's why I can't use telekinesis to write letters and the such. So that's why even though, by comparison, my magic energy is pitiful to even the weakest filly, it appears to be strong. That little bit Rarity gave me was seven times my natural level of energy." he finished.

"uh,Twi, are you takin' notes over thar?" AJ cocked an eyebrow at the purple unicorn. Twilight looked up from her notebook and blushed before putting the notes and quill away.

"Hey, Midnight," Rainbow Dash spoke up, "you said once that humans are 'given' their magic. Is there a way to give a pony the same kind of magic."

"Not a seal, no. They're only compatible with a human, runes, though, are a possibility. I'm not exactly a runesmith, though, so I can't make Mod Runes." Midnight said, "Those are runes that attach to a living thing so that thing can use it at will."

"But, Midnight, you've used one on me before." said Twilight.

"That was a rune I controlled, those are easy. A Mod Rune is useable by the one it's attached to." he said, "My brother knew how to make them pretty good, but obviously that doesn't help us."

"But you're not a human anymore, you're a pony. If seals can only be used by humans how can you still use yours?" Dash asked.

"Yes, in body I am a pony, but my spirit is still human. That can't be changed." he explained, "Now if everypony will excuse me, I'm exhausted." With that he took Aurora's stroller in hoof and Twilight's tail in his and walked back to the library.

---------

"I'm glad ONE of us got to have some fun." Twilight said sarcastically from the kitchen as she made sandwiches.

"I'm glad ONE of us got some sleep." Midnight replied as he fed Aurora in the living room.

"I have to admit though, that was pretty amazing." Twilight floated the food out to the table. "Using Dashes rainboom against her was amazing."

"It was fun. Tiring, but fun." Midnight looked at the baby in one hoof and the bottle in the other, "Uh, Twi, babe, a little help, please." She rolled her eyes and smiled as the lifted his food for him to take a bite.

"Thanks, babe." he said trough a mouthful of spinach and tomato, "My favorite."

They sat quietly enjoying their food for a time. By the time they finished Aurora was asleep. He detached his 'ghost hands' so he could carry her upstairs as Twilight followed.

"Good night, beautiful." He kissed her on the forehead and went to lay down.

Twilight was waiting for him when he walked in the room, "Hope you aren't planing on sleeping just yet." She said in a sultry voice.

"Mmm, sleep can wait a bit." Midnight climbed beside her with a passionate kiss.

"WWWHHHAAAAAAA!!!!" they broke the kiss and sighed in unison.

"I'll get her." Twilight got up and left the room.

"WWHHAA, AHH AHH AHH WHAAAA."

"I'm here, honey, what's wrong?" she picked the baby up and was immediately assaulted by an odor that was spawned in hell itself. "OH, my!" she recoiled before taking her to the changing table.

After changing the foal and rocking her to sleep. she walked back into the room, "Alright, Midnight, you rea..." He was sound asleep, "Of course." she left the room and headed strait for her study.

After selecting a couple books she looked out the window for a moment. A storm was forming over the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash is going to have her work cut out for her in the morning if that comes any closer, and right after losing a race, too. she thought to herself. Next Chapter: Chapter 2: Pinkie's Ultimate Party Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 3 Minutes