I had no idea how long I had been out after finally regaining consciousness. Buck my everything hurts. I thought to myself as my eyes watered from the pain as I lay on my side in what felt and smelled like a fresh pile of hay. At least I’m no longer stuffed in a sack even if I still can’t see.

The cellar turned prison I was in was pitch black, I tried to ignite my horn but only managed a few sparks before a headache set in. Feeling up towards my horn, Great they put a nullifier ring on me. I then tried to channel magic through my hoof and managed a small light, finding it more difficult than normal yet still manageable. Looking around I couldn't see much, Strange they didn't chain me up. Wait is that?

“Lyra, can you hear me?” I whispered. From what I could see of her, she wasn’t looking much better than I was. I tried scooting closer, unable to stand, but stopped immediately when I heard a door opening. Acting quickly, I put out my light and closed my eyes to act as if still passed out.

“You did what?!” My ear flicked at the almost familiar sounding mare's voice.

“What, YOU said bring the two targets alive and I did. It’s not my fault there were three of them putting up a fight.” The mare that attacked us said dismissively from just around a corner.

The two had stopped approaching for the first to continue speaking, "So let me get this straight," She huffed. "You beat up my nephew, who is the future of our house. You then beat up the only one of his friends with parents willing to sell their daughter to us. Someone we hope we can be used to keep him passive by making her his future broodmare. Finally to top it off you leave behind another young mare who was a witness?" She was practically yelling by the end. I only really focused on, Lyra's parents SOLD her?!?

"That about sums it up. Look, you got what you wanted and paid for, murder is extra. That other mare was tough enough and didn't leave me much time to get the goods on the train." The foalnapper said.

I heard a bag of bits tossed at her then my apparent aunt mumbled to herself once the folanapper had walked away, "Why is it so hard to find competent criminals."

I heard her walk from around the corner and she got close enough to smell, "buck she really did a number on these two, I best let mom fix them up."

Despite the situation I was relieved when lifted in the mare's magic and the pressure was taken off of my aching sides. As she carried us both up a flight of stairs I risked cracking an eye open and found myself inside a small home though the décor screamed noble family. Probably a summer home or whatever they call them.

"Ah there you are Frost is that them?" An older mare asked as we passed into a sitting room. I closed my eye before being set down on a rug. "Sweet Celestia she certainly didn't hold back did she."

"No," Frost huffed, "Can you heal them up a bit before we try the first introductions."

As the magic enveloped me I was once again knocked unconscious as some of the pain drifted away.

“Ug,” I couldn’t help but groan as I woke back up, no longer in as much pain, though not fully healed, resting on a comfortable mattress. Guess they couldn't or wouldn't heal everything. Wonder how long It’s been since Ponyville.

“Good morning Dawn,” I flinched and looked towards a pegasus maid sitting in the corner who had just spoke. “Your family will be glad to know you are awake.” She then silently walked out of the bedroom.

Looking towards my horn in a nearby mirror, I could still see the null ring upon it but was otherwise unrestrained. They probably think they’re dealing with an average foal, better act like it.

"Oh Dawn, I am so glad you are awake." An older mare rushed in and hugged me. "We were so worried after you were rescued from those foalnappers. So that's how they are playing it.

"What, What happened to me ms.?" I quivered my lower lip and splayed my ears back.

"Oh you poor colt. You and your friend were both captured when Ponyville was attacked. Your parents were killed and as family you were brought to us. Oh dear me I haven't even introduced myself. I am your granddam, Gilded Sunrise." She tried to smile comfortingly down at me yet it just came off as smug to me.

"Granddam, my parents died?" I faked my distress, Why would Dam's family foalnap me and lie to me?

She hugged me close, "Yes, I'm sorry sweetie. They did and now you will be living here with our herd." The buck I will, though I can't leave lyra behind.

"What do you mean you don't know where he is and that he was foalnapped?!?" Morning Dew yelled at the guard inside the station, one who was now regretting volunteering for front desk duty. It had been over three days since anyone had last seen her son and Morning Dew's emotions were at their peek.

"I'm sorry ma'am, the witness only just woke up last night to finally confirm it was your missing son and their friend Lyra who had been taken." The guard was trying not to shake while speaking to the, literally smoking, mare. "The guards are looking everywhere and even the princess has made this case a top priority." He was glad for the desk between them.

"Buck the guard, I'll go looking for him myself." Dew slammed her hoof down on the station floor and singed the area around it. She turned around and stormed outside where her wife was waiting.

"Any luck Dewy?" Forest Breeze asked while holding back her own emotions and failing.

Dew took a deep breath and began crying into her wife's withers, "he was foalnapped Breezy, our baby isn't just missing but was taken. I just wish I had followed my instincts that night. I knew something was wrong, I could feel it and now our colt is gone."

Breeze flinched then hugged her partner, "We'll get him back Dewy, even if we have to do it ourselves."

As the two left the front of the guard station they made their way back to the Apple's farm. The mood was much lower at the farm though, with it being the second tragedy this year. Nopony spoke, Instead only exchanging hugs and sticking close to each other for the rest of the day.

"Princess are you ok?" Twilight asked her. School may have been out for break but that didn't mean her lessons had stopped.

"Sorry for being distracted Twilight," Celestia debated telling her about her friends situation but thought better about it, "a couple of my little ponies have gone missing and we haven't yet found them."

Twilight's ears fell and she nuzzled her teacher, "Can I help?"

"Not this time my faithful student. This is something the guard must handle." She nuzzled Twilight's head. Though if they can't I'll be stepping in.

I took the stairs slowly down to the main level of the house with the maid leading the way. Gilded Sunrise had left me alone to grieve after she spun a tale about the death of our parents then subsequent foalnapping and rescue of myself and Lyra. Any average foal would have probably believed her story yet, on the other hoof, It just personally didn't make sense. Too bad for her even without my memories I had already overheard my aunt talking to our foalnapper.

I had yet to see Lyra and when I asked the maid about her. "Oh she was in much worse condition than you were and since she had no other family your aunt decided to adopt her. Sadly your aunt can't have foals of her own so it worked out. You will be meeting up with everypony except her downstairs actually."

Once downstairs I was introduced or re-introduced to a few Ponies by Sunrise. First was Onyx Star, my apparent Grandsire, he was more muscular than the average unicorn with a deep voice to match and an air of superiority I noticed when he dismissed the pegsus maid. Next were Gilded Sunrise and Gilded Moonrise, the two mares were twins. Both acted sweetly towards me and Sunrise was apparently my Granddam. It doesn't feel like they are lying about that but they are not fully honest either. Lastly was my aunt, Evening Frost who was the daughter of Evening Flare. Frost stuck to her name with her cold personality yet still tried to butter me up during introductions.

"And that's our herd. What do you think Dawn?" Sunrise gave her fake smile after the introductions.

"You all seem really nice," I matched her fake smile. "Why hasn't Dam introduced me before?" I tilted my head in innocent curiosity.

"Well you see," Sunrise hesitated and looked for support.

"Your mother and I had a falling out," Onyx grumble. "I'll admit I was not happy about her marrying your mother. Before finding a proper husband that is, not because she is a mare." He gave a hearty fake chuckle.

"Oh, okay. Can I see my friend Lyra now or at least get this ring off?" I tried to pivot the conversation to throw them off or slip up.

"Not yet sweetie Lyra needs to heal up and the doctor said you need to wear the ring till you are healed up as well. Why don't we all have dinner and keep getting to know each other." Sunrise countered with a fake smile and lead me into a dining room already getting prepared by the maid while we all sat down.

We spent the rest of the evening talking and acting out a happy family meal. I found It hard not to notice just how bad they were when speaking to the maid or giving her looks when they thought I wasn't paying attention. No wonder Dam left if that's how they treat others.

"Buck this brat is going to be harder to train than our daughter was." Onyx Star had just put up a silencing spell over the family bedroom. He and his wives were preparing for bed after a long evening.

"Why do you say that? I thought everything was going quite well." Evening flare asked as Sunrise and Moonrise listened in.

"He kept thanking that Featherbrained maid all through dinner as well as talking about his mother. It won't be easy to break him of those habits and recognize his place in the world let alone accept the family magic we need to have him pass down." Star hopped into the herd sized bed as Moonrise nuzzled in close.

"I wouldn't worry to much, He is still young and even if he won't accept our ways we still have his little fillyfriend as a hostage. He was asking about her well being for most of the night so at least we know she was a good purchase." Moonrise bit her husbands ear causing him to grunt.

"Star is probably correct though, We didn't handle my daughter correctly and look how she turned out," Sunrise joined in, "We will need to be more cautious with Dawn until he fully trusts us then we can educate him."

"What about our other problems?" Evening Flare asked while joining her herd in bed, "We have lose ends to tie up and if he learns of his parents being alive it won't make things easier. I already sent Frost to handle things back in Canterlot but we will probably need to do more."

Onyx broke from his wife's distracting ministrations, "well considering where we are it will take time for his family to find us and if he won't learn then we just have him and that filly pump out a foal for us next season and skip to the next generation. Since he is the last viable family member there are a few other families asking if we can loan him out to stud for them as well."

"Too bad we cant figure out what spell Morning Dew used to get around that particular family issue." Moonrise huffed.

Finally she is gone. The maid had just left after watching me fake sleep for most of the night. I slid out of bed and made my way out into the dimly lit hallway after checking if the coast was clear. Now to find Lyra. After Checking every door I could through the house, finding most of them locked and warded, I had to eventually give up and head back towards the bedroom. I really wish I had learned some dispelling magic or combat magic instead of daily life magic. I sighed, I probably could have brute forced a few of the locks, if I wanted to wake the whole house.

Once back at my assigned room I tried the window and found it just as secure as the front door. Getting out probably wouldn't help much yet, I have no idea where I am. I thought while staring out the window, I could see a small town with no helpful features, like a train station, in sight. Giving up I laid back down in bed and ran a hoof through my mane. At least they didn't find my bit bag. I started to fall asleep, I really hope you are okay Mom and Dam.

Author's Note

For those who want a spoiler about Dawn’s birth or just a clarification dm me and I’ll send one back. Just a heads up I do have an arc planned to explain it all better than just the hints.