After much debating about the best way to introduce Ponyville to this strange creature, they decided it would be best to just go out there and walk around with him in the middle of there group. Everypony in Ponyville knew Midnight's story by now and would not find it hard to believe that Jacob was his brother.

They got bombarded by questions by the towns ponies. They were asked about how he got here, why he wasn't turned into a pony like Midnight was, if more were coming. The last one was answered with a lie. Nopony was to know of the invasion if they didn't need to. Panic was the last thing needed right now.

Lucky for Jacob Ponyville was kind of use to weird things happening (he had the felling that Twilight and her friends were part of the reason for that) so he was accepted rather quick. After a few hours they went back to the library.

They talked for awhile when Rainbow Dash said, "Oh hey, I almost forgot we've got a show in Fillydelphia and Spitfire told me that I can invite all of you if you want to come."

There were shouts of joy form almost everypony in the room. Scootaloo and Jacob were both looking kind of depressed by the invitation.

"Hey you two what's wrong?" Twilight asked picking up on their moods.

"Well," Jacob looked at Scootaloo and back to the group, "it sounds great, but Scoots and I won't be able to enjoy it. I'd freak everyone out if I went and Scoots... well." he stopped and looked at the kid putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I know a polymorph spell." Twilight said, "I could change you into a pony for twelve hours, and renew it as needed."

Jacob smiled, "That's awesome! I would like to know what it's like being a pony."

"Unfortunately, I don't have anything to help Scootaloo." Twilight saw Scootaloo's expression fall, "If I could let you use my eyes I would."

Jacob suddenly jumped up, "THAT'S IT!!! You're a genius, sis. Applebloom, you and Scoots are good friends right?"

"Of course! She's mah best friend." she answered

"What if I told you that I could let her see whatever you see?" everypony in the room looked at his surprised.

Midnight spoke up first, "Are you talking about the 'Link Rune'?"

"That's right, Lil' Dee." Jacob answered using his old nick name for his little brother.

He explained what it was to the others, "Basically, I give the two of you runes that, whenever the two of you want, Scoots can see whatever Applebloom sees."

"Give us runes?" asked Applebloom.

"Kind of like the runes I use to power my golems," Midnight explained, "except these are bio-runes. They attach to people or in this case ponies and can have various effects. I can't make them myself but Jacob's good with them."

"I don't..." Scootaloo started but was interrupted by Applebloom.

"Let's do it. Ya may not be able ta get yer own sight back, but Ah'm fine lettin' ya barrow mine."

Scootaloo gave her a big smile and hugged her tightly, "Thanks Bloom."

"Ok, first Scoots," He held out his hand to her forehead as electricity arced between leaving a glowing symbol that faded after a few seconds. He did the same for Applebloom.

"Now let's give it a try. Concentrate on the warm spot on your forehead together." Jacob told the two fillies

As they did the symbols reappeared. When Applebloom opened her eyes Scootaloo gasped.

"I-I-I c-can see..." Scootaloo was trying to speak through her shock, "I CAN SEE!!! Hey, Bloom, I want to see your cutie mark." She complied, "Cool that's great, now look at me." Scootaloo took the wrap off her eyes.

"WOAH!" Midnight jumped in between them, "Are you sure you want to see, Scootaloo?"

"Yeah, I know it's probably bad, but I need to see for myself."

Midnight sighed and let Applebloom look closely. The scar was healing nicely but it was still bad, leaving a thick red line across her face at a slight angle. Her eyelids were sunken in as there was nothing behind them.

The little pegasus stood frozen for a while before speaking, "Wow..." she said quietly, "It actually looks kinda cool."

Midnight sighed then smiled, "Almost like you got into a fight with a Ripper and survived."

"Yeah, I guess I did, huh?" She said with a smile, "'Cause I rock."

She got a laugh out of everypony (and Jacob), which got harder as she tried to walk and immediately hit floor.

"Ow, that's disorienting." She sat up rubbing her forehead.

"Most ponies walk around using their eyes." Twilight explained, "Your brain got confused when you moved but your vision didn't."

Jacob helped the filly to her hooves, "It's best to stay put when using this. Oh, and to turn it off just focus on it again. I'll try making something that you can use yourself."

Jacob sat next to Twilight and smiled, "Now, let's see this spell."

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

Midnight was loving this. He remembered his first attempts at walking with four hooves instead of two feet. It took him several days to learn not to kick himself or trip over his hooves, and he was always a fast learner. Jacob on the other hoof was not as fast a learner and was falling on his face with a satisfying thud every few steps.

Jacob had crimson red fur and a yellow mane. He didn't have a star like Midnight but runes could be seen, slightly darker than his fur, covering his body. Midnight noticed the same on Scootaloo and Applebloom's foreheads. Must be a side effect ponies have from foreign magic. I hope it's the only one

What kind of upset Midnight was that he had a cutie mark of three runes. Twilight said that because he wasn't actually a pony she could make one for him. It was strange to him why this upset him, he use to not care about it.

I have to fight a dragon and almost die to get mine and he just gets one done as if it were a tattoo. At least I get to watch him make a fool of himself. He watched as his big brother stepped on his front hoof with his back and fall face first into the dirt... again.

After several hours of learning to be a pony Jacob was ready to call it a day, "My ankles are killing me. How long did it take you, Dee?" he asked his brother.

"I figured it out rather quickly." he said grinning.

"But mommy said you almost broke your ankles the first week you were here." Aurora said hopping on Jacobs back. he laughed, "Uncle Jacob, why do you have those funny marks all over you?"

Jacob looked at the runes covering himself, "Those are runes. They let me do cool things."

"Why doesn't daddy have any?"

"They fade eventually. He just need them renewed." Jacob turned to his brother, "Would you like me to?"

Midnight thought for a moment, "Maybe latter. Right now we need to think of a name for you. It will help you fit in."

Jacob scratched his chin with his hoof for a moment, "How about...Rune Smith? Simple and it describes me."

"If that's what you want." said Midnight, "Alright then, Rune, what do you want to do now?"

The fake pony gave his brother a terrifying grin

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

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Midnight asked his smug brother.

"Gave an egotist even more of a reason to be an egotist." Jacob replied back in his human form.

The brothers, five mares and four fillies were watching as Rainbow Dash flew at impossible speeds. She slowed down as she passed to showoff her new extra big, translucent, cyan, mage form wings and the glow of the runes set on her back between her wings for the spectators. She then flew up and began diving at the ground instantly creating a sonic rainboom followed a few seconds latter by a second prismatic shock wave.

"Whoa, a double rainboom!" said Applejack.

"What does it mean?" asked Fluttershy.

The others look at the shy pegasus with blank expressions.

"It means I'm going to kill a certain biped." said Twilight.

"Hey, what did I do?" Spike asked upset.

"No no, the other one." she corrected pointing a hoof at Jacob.

"If you do that than I can't make a rune for you too." He said sarcastically, "Oh, well I guess you just won't have the chance to use magic from an entirely different dimension."

Twilight's eyes grew and sparkled at the thought before she put on a serious expression, "Well, I guess I could postpone the execution until after you give ALL of us runes."

"Fine I was going to do that anyway, but now you get yours last." He replied, "I have energy for two more than I need food. Fluttershy, and AJ how about you two."

Dash landed when she realized nopony was watching her and saw what was getting ready to happen, "what are you going to give them?"

"You'll see. Lift your chin for me Fluttershy" she did as he asked and he held his hand to her chest and began inscribing the runes.

When he finished and making and inspecting he said, "Now just like before focus on the warmth."

As she did she felt a slight tingle as the air around her began to shimmer. When the shimmer steadied Jacob raised his hand again and shot a bolt of lightning at her. The crowd gasped as the death arc struck the shimmering air and dissipated in an instant.

"A shield of solidified air and energy. Few things can penetrate that. With you living by the Everfree Forest it'll good to know you can protect yourself." Jacob said to the gaping jaws around him, "Now AJ. Chin up."

She complied and a repeat of Fluttershy's experience but with a different set of runes. The cowpony, without needing to be told, focused on the warmth on her chest and... nothing. The rune was glowing but no other change could be seen.

"Um, Ah think mines broke." she said.

"Oh, darn." Jacob said with an exaggerated tone, "David, give a stone she can vent her anger on." Midnight gave a knowing grin and pulled a granite boulder up from underground (with Twilight's help).

"Ah'm not angry. You can always try again." she said.

"No, no, you're angry, I can tell. Vent your anger." he repeated.

"But Ah told ya Ah'm not..." Applejack was interrupted by a finger to her lips. Jacob pointed to the rock, "Fine, if it'll make ya happy." She walked up to the stone and gave it a nice buck, shattering it into gravel, "How the hey did Ah do that?"

"It's nice ain't it. You can do all kinds of your farm work by yourself that it would normally take you and Mac." Jacob said, "Y'all hungry?" he got a unanimous 'yes', "Great, cause I've been meaning to ask something. I know you're all vegetarians but is any way I could get meat without offending anyone?"

"Why would we get offended by that, you're an omnivore. I'm actually amazed you can go a month without an essential part of your diet." Twilight said.

"Did you go without just for us, that's so kind of you." said Rarity.

"I have some meat at my cottage. um... you know... just in case I have to care for a bear, or wolf or other carnivores. You can have some, if you want." Fluttershy offered.

"Huh, I thought you would have been against me eating meat, thanks. Where do you get it from Fluttershy, if you don't mind me asking?" Jacob said relieved.

"Sometimes when predators kill something bigger than they need, they let me have the leftovers. Contrary to popular belief they're usually quite nice." answered Fluttershy.

"Thanks, you're the best."

"That's ok, just eat it somewhere else, please..." Fluttershy quickly hid behind her hair, "If you don't mind, I mean."

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

The next morning Jacob gave Rarity an 'earth mover rune' on her right shoulder to help her excavate and shape gems. Pinkie got a 'phase rune' on her chest, since she likes pranking and popping through solid objects has its uses in that. Finally, Twilight, after much teasing, got a 'mage form rune' just beneath her horn, being the only rune that Jacob knew had no unicorn magic equivalent.

Midnight was helping the six mares learn to use there new abilities while Jacob rested under a tree talking to Aurora. His niece was asking all kinds of questions about Determis, what life there was like, and what her dad was like as a kid. Jacob loved getting to know the little filly and was happily answering her questions as long as they were appropriate.

After a while Midnight looked over at his brother and daughter when a thought hit him.

"Hey, Pink, why haven't you thrown Jacob a party yet." he said so Jacob couldn't hear.

"Um, won't he hit somepony?" the energetic pink mare asked.

"What!?" Midnight looked at her shocked by the assumption, " No. Why would you think that?"

"That's what you did at your first party. Isn't it a hammer-ma'am thing?" she said in all seriousness.

"uuhg, you had to remind me. It wasn't a HUMAN thing it was just a crazy-traumatized-human-who-woke-up-to-find-he-was-in-a-world-of-talking-candy-colored-ponies-and-was-himself-turned-into-a-pony-by-six-equally-crazy-mares thing."

"OOOHHHHH..." she thought for a moment, "In that case.,," she disappeared in a vaguely pony shaped blur.

"Where's she off to in such a hurry?" Jacob asked.

"She just has something she forgot to do." Twilight said with a smile.

"Oh well I'll tell her later." he said.

"Tell her what?" asked Rainbow Dash landing next to everypony else.

Jacob gave a little smile, "I put a little trigger rune on each of your runes. When I release them your runes will be more combat effective."

The girls looked at him confused.

"Let me demonstration." Jacob said standing up, "Dash, could you step forward and show us you big magic wings." she complied, "You see how her wings look like bigger see-trough versions of her natural wings. Dash, don't fight this."

She shot him a nervous look and started to ask for clarification but didn't get the chance. Jacob raised his hand and a flash of light covered it for a brief instant. When it faded the rune on Dash's back glowed brighter as another set appeared ringing the first.

Dash's wings which were raised up above her suddenly shot strait out as the blue energy of the wings grew and met across her back and spread over her body. She was trying not to panic but she was close to losing it. When the mage form covered her from head to tail her legs were pulled to her body. She held her breath for the impact on the ground but it never came. Instead she hovered as the energy continued changing shape. It extended off her outstretched tail and formed a set of smaller wings in the shape of a 'V'. Her head was similarly covered but left her face exposed. After the changed in shape the mage form became denser and was no longer translucent but solid blue of a darker shade than Dash's fur.

"Wow, Rainbow Dash, you look awesome." said Twilight

"It feels weird" said the pony/fighter jet, "What's so special about this, anyway?"

"Rarity, give us a boulder please." Jacob asked. She lifted a large rock and floated it at a respectable height.

"Now get some distance and fly at this letting your wing hit it. Give your new wings a stretch first though." Jacob continued.

Dash looked suspicious but decided to trust her friend. She took off at a crushing speed that caught her off guard. After a moment she realized her wings weren't flapping and the tail wings were moving with her. It confused her that she knew how to use this thing but decided it was just part of the magic.

After a few stunt she shot to the ground and leveled off at the height of the boulder. Still with doubt in her mind she braced for an impact expecting her wing to start hurting very soon. Her right wing struck the rock and passed through it as if it weren't even there.

She turned around and landed next to the boulder as the blue shell vanished and the runes glow faded. The boulder was laying in two pieces on the ground in front of her.

Jacob approached the split stone, "The enemy will have machines on the ground and in the air. Your wings will cut trough them like butter."

Midnight ran up to the boulder and yelled, "TOM NOOOOOOoooff!!!!" he fell as a stone rod shot up to his groin. Next Chapter: Chapter 6: Long Kept Secrets Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes