She didn't have to use a damn crop Midnight thought to himself rubbing his bruised flank.

At least today should be better. His friends and he are going to watch Rainbow Dash's show in Fillydelphia.

Twilight was catching her breath from the polymorph spell while Jacob looked over his body.

“Pony magic always amazes me.” said Jacob, “You are truly talented, lil' sis.”

“Thank you... Rune... that's very...sweet.” she replied between breaths, “Alright let's go.”

As they walked to the train station Rune decided to start up the conversation, “Pinkie was telling me about the Elements of Harmony last night while we were making muffins for a friend of hers. When I asked her about yours though she said it was a different kind. What's up with that?”

“My element is one of the Elements of Order. The more...” Midnight paused thinking of the proper word, “forceful of the elements.

“Where the Elements of Harmony 'persuade' the target to change, or restrain them, the Elements of Order eliminate those who can't be changed.

“Harmony has six elements; laughter, honesty, generosity, kindness, loyalty, and magic. Magic being the one that ties the others together. Order has four; wisdom, strength, courage, and guardian. The guardian tying them together.

“And of course there is one other. The most powerful of the elements and the one that brings order and harmony together. The Element of Light.” Midnight finished his explanation as they made it to the platform.

“So there is a kind of elemental hierarchy.” Rune observed.

“That's right.” Twilight said.

“I'm gonna be the Element of Magic!” Aurora said looking over at her uncle from her usual perch on Midnight's head, “Well, after mommy's done with it.”

“And you'll be an awesome Element of Magic at that.” Rune said.

They arrived at the train station and found the others already waiting for them.

“Sorry we're late everypony.” appologized Twilight.

“Fashionably late, you mean.” Rarity said giving a look to Rune that kind of freaked him out. It reminded him of this one girl that had a... oh, hell no!

“Auntie Pinkie!” Aurora jumped off Midnight's head and into an attempted glomp of her favorite aunt, “Did ya' bring my a cookie?”

“Of course, what kind of auntie would I be if I didn't bring my favorite niece sweets.” replied the pink mare.

“And give her back to her parents to deal with the consequences.” Applejack finished for her.

“Well, duh. It's one of my favorite pranks. Give the filly sugar and watch her parents pull their manes out.” she gave an evil grin to Midnight and Twilight before hitting the floor laughing at the looks she was getting.

“ALL ABOARD!!!” the conductor called from the train.

“All right you ready, squirt?” Midnight said.

“Yay, I'm gonna get some pie from uncle Soarin.” The little purple filly was bouncing excitedly.

“And I'm going to get the bits he owes me.” Midnight said.

“Than ya can give me the bits ya owe ME.” Applejack said.

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

They arrived in Fillydelphia with about three hours until they had to be at the stadium. Midnight suggested they go to the mall.

“It's the best way to waste time in the city. Last time I was here my meeting was postponed for four hours so I just played games at the arcade the whole time.” Midnight laughed, “I probably spent about three hundred bits there alone.”

Twilight gave him a disappointed look and he quickly added, “I made a 30,000 bit deal that day.”

“It's only three hundred bits, Twilight.” Rarity came to Midnight's defense, “Thanks to him you're wealthier than my family four times over.”

“Oh, it's not the money.” Twilight explained, “It's him having so much fun while I had to stay home with a sick child. Aurora had a cold that weekend.”

“If it makes you feel better I'll let you abuse me later.” Midnight said.

“I was planning on doing that anyways.” Twilight gave him her sexy eyes.

“Uh-oh, daddy. Mommy's going to beat you up again.” Aurora said from Midnight's head. Rune busted out laughing.

Midnight smiled, “Hey Fluttershy, can y...”

She interrupted him, “Sorry, Midnight, Big Mac and I were going to have a romantic evening together.” the only time she's assertive is when it comes to her and the big guy.

“I'll take her” said Pinkie.

Midnight's and Twilight's eyes twitched in unison at the thought of there daughter spending a sugar-filled night with the most unnaturally hyper pony in the multiverse, “NO!!!” they said together.

Twilight continued, “Well, uh, ya know... you spend SOOO much time with Aurora that we should let somepony else spend time with her.” she gave the pink one a nervous smile hoping she would fall for it.

“Hey now, I'll watch her.” Rune interrupted, “I've spent the least amount of time with her and I'm her uncle.”

Twilight looked skeptical, “Are you sure, she can be a hoof full.”

“Ha, 'hoof full', I love the way ponies talk,” he said. Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, I can handle it.”

“Ok, we'll give you a chance.” Midnight said.

“If you need help don't be afraid to ask.” Rarity added, “Now where is this mall you spoke of?”

After about twenty minutes they arrived at the Fillydelphia Mall. The first stop was the food court.

“So now that I'm a pony what's good to eat?” Rune asked.

“You're not a pony, you just look like one.” Midnight corrected his older brother, “You're still human and eat what you've always eaten, even meat. Just eat vegetarian for now. Ponies would flip out if they saw you getting something from the carnivores' section.”

“There's a carnivores' section? Twi, why couldn't you turn me into a griffin or something?” Rune said. She just rolled her eye's in response.

They got their food and sat at a nearby table. After laughing at Rune for his inability to pick up a fork with his hooves, Midnight eventually reminded him that he had to use the 'ghost hands' spell that Midnight taught him.

“Stupid pony magic and being able to pick things up without fingers” he grumbled between bites, “How the hell do you do this, Dee? Concentrating on the spell and eating at the same time is a pain in the ass.”

“I've had seven years of practice, dumb ass.” Midnight said teasing him as he twirled the fork in his ethereal fingers mockingly, “Of course you won't need it much unless you decide to make this permanent.”

“Hell no, ass hat! I like fingers and feet just fine, thank you very much.” Rune shot back.

“I just don't understand how insulting each other can show affection.” Twilight said.

“Neither do we, it's just how humans are. We insult those we love and those we hate.” Midnight said.

“How do you know the difference?” asked Rarity.

“Tone.” Rune said plainly, “If it's said with a smile and a laugh it's good, if it's a growl and scowl tone it's bad.”

“Humans rely a lot an body language and the way they say a word I take it.” Twilight said.

“Eeyup.” The fake pony replied, “A human can say the exact same thing twenty times and mean something different every time.”

After a few moments of more idle gossip the group made their way to the arcade.

It was semi-modern with mostly games like pool and table hockey. There were some electronic games but not too many.

Pony technology was at it's best here, but with very little war to drive advancement, it was not as high tech as Rune would have liked. He was kind of board

Midnight on the other hoof was having the time of his life introducing the most awesome game in the multiverse to Pinkie Pie... foosball.

“Oh! My! Celestia! I need one of these for my parties. Could you imagine how mush more super-duper-amazing my parties would be with one of these” she said, her eye's filled with wonder an the wooden ponies spinning on metal rods.

“That's a good idea.” Midnight agreed, “I'll get you one.” The pink pony looked at him about to protest the overly generous offer but was interrupted, “Call it an early birthday present if you want. I'd like your parties to have one of these, too, so your getting one regardless of what you say.”

She latched onto him with the death grip she calls a 'hug', “THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU! You are the bestest best friend a pony could have.”

“Help... can't... breath...” He squeezed out the words. With a sheepish grin she released the suffocating stallion.

“Sorry.” she said.

After gasping for the life giving oxygen the blue pony said, “It's ok.” Midnight looked at the clock, “It's about time we start heading to the stadium. We'll want to be ahead of the crowds.”

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

The Fillydelphia Osprey's hoofball stadium was one of the largest in Equestria, second only to the Horston Steamer's. Although neither of them see much during the off season unless if something major is going on like, oh, maybe... a Wonderbolts show.

It was PACKED. Like 'every pony in the whole city' packed. Even though the group arrived an hour before the show it still took them fifteen minuets fighting through the crowd to get to the side VIP entrance.

A few fan-ponies watched jealously as they walked up to the security and right past him.

“Why do they get to go in? They didn't show any pass.” one Mare asked

“They're friends of the Bolts.” said the burly earth pony.

Midnight got a bit of satisfaction at that. It reminded him that here, in Equestria, he was somepony important.

When they found the locker room the security pony let them in.

“Uncle Soarin!” Aurora excitedly jumped off her father and hugged the stunt stallion.

“Hey, kid, how's it going.” he aid returning the hug, “Want some pie?”

She got a big grin as he put a quarter of a cherry pie in front of her. The filly attacked the pie with Pinkie like enthusiasm.

“You guys ready for the show?” asked Rainbow Dash already in her uniform, “We got a new trick  we've been practicing for months. It's gonna be awesome.”

“Well, we just wanted ta wish y'all good luck.” said Applejack

“Ha,” RD's bravado was cranked up to max, “Who needs luck when you're as awesome as us?”

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

The group watched in awe as the six pegasi looped, spun, and twirled through the air. Each trick was more spectacular and dangerous than the last.

Scootaloo jabbed Applebloom in the rib for the fourth time, “Come on, pay attention and stop staring at colts.”

This got a blush from the little yellow filly and a glare from AJ, "Ya, beter be payin' attention to the air show, little un'" she said to her little sister

“Ah am.” Applebloom leaned over and wispered to Scootaloo, "Don't make me turn the rune off."

“You wouldn't?” Scootaloo said taken back by her friends threat. Applebloom just laughed.

They watched the rest of the show with out incident (although Applebloom did on occasion glance at the colt a few rows ahead). The tricks getting more and more spectacular until the grand finale was about to be performed.

Five of the Wonderbolts began spinning rapidly, gathering a storm cloud.

“Where's Rainbow Dash?” asked Scootaloo.

As if that was her cue the cyan pegasus came plummeting out of the cloud cover. Her massive translucent blue wings beating against the wind as runes blazed on her back. Quickly she was enveloped in the familiar mach-cone as the other five bolted off.

The cone of condensed air sharpened into a point. Just as she entered the storm cloud she broke through the 'wall'. The resulting flash filled the sky as the entire crowd's jaws just about hit the floor. All, that is, except for two ponies.

When the shockwave reached them, Midnight and Rune hit the floor writhing in pain. Everypony else was too entranced by the show to notice until Rune let out a blood curdling scream. Midnight soon followed his brothers example.

“Oh my gosh, Midnight!,” Twilight reached down to hold her husband but pulled back when an arc of energy shot out from him.

The seal on his forehead was glowing brightly and seemed to be the source of the pain. Twilight quickly cast a spell to disable magic. Immediately Midnight stopped thrashing and laid there panting as Twilight quickly cast the same spell on Rune.

“Are you ok, Midnight?” She asked.

After a moment he looked up at her and gave her a mischievous grin as he caught his breath, “I... think... we have... a new... weapon.” Next Chapter: Chapter 8: Mage Guard Boot Camp Estimated time remaining: 58 Minutes