Author's Note

Sorry for the delay. Life and all that.

Ch26. Unwanted family reunion. Pt4

“This is going too slowly,” Onyx Star slammed down his glass. He and his herd were all sitting around the table late into the night discussing their next moves. "Tomorrow is already nightmare night and Morning dew was spotted only one town over by one of our spies."

“Not to mention that the guards are out looking for him and the filly. That bucking hitmare shouldn’t have left the spare alive.” Gilded Sunrise hissed. "It's a Liability we did not plan for!"

“So what do you think we should do then? Moving now will be more trouble than it’s worth. No other town is under our hoof like this one and while I loath staying here instead of Canterlot the princess is an issue.” Moonrise soothingly said while stroking her sister’s mane.

"It is time we push the colt, he may have gained his Cutie mark but is still young and malleable enough." Onyx wickedly grinned. "His trust in us should be enough by now for the next step."

Evening Flare smiled, "Finally, time to put our guest and newest acquisition to use."

Lyra was awoken by the sound of hooves on the hardwood floor entering the room. Surprised at the change of routine, Lyra cracked an eye and waited for the maid to speak, “follow me and nothing else.”

Getting up hesitantly, Lyra followed her quietly down the hallway. She could tell the pegasus was feeling guilty about the change in situation. Over the years Lyra had developed hyper fixation from watching out for her parents' emotional outbursts. Typically she could manage, her current situation however had only exacerbated it causing her to watch every twitch of the mare she followed.

“Are you okay?” Lyra innocently asked. A twitch of her wing and glance backwards at her was enough to know the next statement was a lie.

“Just fine,” they arrived at the bathroom. “Do your business. I’ll wait here.”

Once finished, Lyra rejoined the maid and instead of heading back towards the room, they continued further down the hall to parts unknown. “Where are we going?” she splayed her ears back, starting to worry about the change in routine.

“To meet your friend,” a guilty flick of the ear said that wasn't the full truth. Lyra tucked her tail between her legs and followed reluctantly.

I was once again being led into the basement, this time by Gilded Sunrise. When we arrived my eyes widened at the sight of a young earth pony mare. She was laying on her side with her tail flagged and wearing stockings. She was posing like a willing model yet tears stained her cheek fur and the smell of fear was lingering in the air. The rest of my ‘grandparents’ were standing around her with almost hungry, sinister looks as Sunrise joined them. When I finally took My eyes off her I also saw Lyra in the corner, I could tell she was just as scared and confused as I was when our eyes met.

“Ah Dawn, perfect timing.” Onyx star smiled at me, “today we have something new for you to test your magic on." He motioned towards the mare whimpering on the floor. "We also thought your filly friend might want to watch now that she is all better.” He flicked his tail towards Lyra and I knew the implication. I either turn the mare or something happens to Lyra.

“You want me,” I took a step back, “to turn HER to gold?!?”

“Why yes sweetheart. This... Mud Slinger’s parents owe us a lot of bits so she’s volunteering herself to pay off their herd's debt to us.” Sunrise said while still smiling darkly as the young mare wilted under the look yet kept her pose. “Now don’t be shy sweetheart she’s already prepared for it.” Sunrise set a hoof on my back.

I looked towards Lyra who was being held between the maid's forelegs. She waved towards me meekly, I waved back and took a deep breath and mentally cringed. Buck, this is wrong.

Channeling my magic I forced myself to begin constructing the spell. The mare looked scared, Lyra looked shocked, and my grandparents all smiled. Time slowed down as the beam fired from my horn and stuck the mare in the chest. First her fur then skin and the rest of her quickly turned to gold from the point of impact.

Once my spell finished and she was solid gold, "Excellent Dawn." Sunrise stood over me and held be between her forehooves. "Such a good colt." She nuzzled the top of my head while the other three visually inspected the freshly minted statue. "Now for your reward," She motioned towards Lyra who was magicked away from the maid and forced into our hug.

Sunrise let us go moments later to join her herd as the maid pushed us back upstairs with her wings. Once upstairs Lyra and I were both ushered into my room and she spoke at Lyra, "you will be sleeping here from now on." She then turned towards me, her eyes looking a bit forlorn. "She is now yours and your responsibility."

The pegasus left after that and Lyra's voice cracked as she took a step back from me, "Dawn what's going on? Why did she say 'I'm yours'? Why you turn that mare to gold and kill her?!?" With each question her voice raised and she ended with a strong stomp while glaring at me.

I couldn't hold back my emotions and broke down crying. "I'm sorry." I looked away from her splaying my ears back. "It was either her or you, and I couldn't let my friend get hurt." I choked out.

I felt a hoof on my withers then was pulled into a hug by the filly which I eagerly returned, "I shouldn't have yelled at you." As the filly Lyra knew she had to be the strong one, she stoked my mane whispering that everything would be ok as I buried my muzzle into her neck fur. How could Dam put up with such, Monsters? Did I just become one of them?

I pulled away from the hug and looked at my hooves. Lyra gave me a small smile and tilted her head asking more calmly, "So what's going on?" I began telling her everything including my theories and plan to escape.

"The colt really did it." Onyx Star beamed at the herds newest statue. One that was in a position plenty would want. "Is it solid gold just like his practice castings?"

Moonrise's almost couldn't speak after finishing her scan, "Yes and most impressive, she's still alive in there." She took a step back.

"What?" Evening flare asked as her and Sunrise preformed their own scans.

"My sister is right. Somehow the mud slinger is still alive in stasis. I can still feel her magical core." Sunrise began laughing. "Sweet Celestia can you imagine what we could charge our buyers for something like this all while getting rid of the trash in plain view."

Onyx star rubbed his chin, "Forget that, just Imagine what his foals will be able to do. The other houses will gladly accept herding proposals into our family line again."

They all nuzzled together grinning lustfully, tonight was a good night.

Morning Dew's ears perked up and began to swivel like radar. Soon the rest of her body followed from between her two herd mates.

"Something wrong sugar?" Pear Butter nuzzled her lead mare after being woken up. She had officially joined with the two while on the expedition to find their colt. Both Morning Dew and Forest Breeze had been impressed by her dedication and none of them wanted to wait any longer.

"I felt another pulse. It was different than the others, it felt... sad." She shuddered as her herd mates both gave her a hug.

"Any closer to tracking Dawn down then?" Forest Breeze asked.

Dew nodded, "Yep and by tomorrow afternoon we should finally be close enough for me to not have to wait on a pules."

"Princess everything alright?" The filly, Twilight Sparkle, asked her mentor as they both stopped in the hallway.

Celestia gave a warm smile then a nuzzle to her Faithful student and the baby dragon on her head. "Yes Twilight, I just thought I felt a pules of strange magic."

"Wasn't my big brother supposed to find out why that was happening?" She tilted her head almost causing spike to fall off his perch.

Celestia giggled at the site, "Yes, your brother is out searching still since I had to return to my duties.” She sighed. Though you should have stayed with him to hunt down the source.

The remainder of the Apple clan sat around the table inside Sweet Apple Acres farmhouse. They all ate dinner in silence as an evening shower fell outside to match their mood.

"Where mama?" The young Apple Bloom asked, staring at her big sister with her big eyes. She was currently squirming in her booster seat. It hadn’t been long since she had managed a few words.

Pony foals matured quickly but still lived long lives thanks to magic.

"She's out looking to find your big brother." Applejack responded, the room growing a bit more somber. They had all been missing their new and old family members alike.

"Big brother?" Apple Bloom pointed her tiny hoof at Big Mac who was sitting across the table.

"Yep that's your biggest brother Big Mac, she's out looking for you other one. Dawn." Applejack smiled. She hadn't know the colt long but his mom's were real nice to her and he wasn't bad, for a unicorn. She found herself a bit surprised she already considered them all family.

"Dawn?" Little Apple Bloom smiled and tilted her head but then got distracted by the applesauce in front of her as hunger took over.

The other three in the room all gave her a smile then went back to eating.

I could feel sleep overcoming me as Lyra and I laid in bed. She's surprisingly comfortable with cuddling.

"I see you got your filly friend back." Nightmare Moons voice rang out through my dream with just a touch of pride. "Will you make your escape now?"

"Yeah, I figure tomorrow would be perfect. Plenty of ponies should be out for your holiday."

She snorted yet gave me an approving nod after loafing in front of me. "A smart plan, though Its not my holiday." She narrowed her eyes and gave a fang filled grin. "Once you escape with her I hope you do not forget we will continue to visit more often as our power grows and we will expect payment in the form of information for that spell we gave you."

"Wait, payment?" I balked

"You really don't expect me to help for free do you?" She stroked my mane with her forehoof, "Such a precious young colt." She then disappeared into the ether and left me in a dreamless sleep.