Morning Dew woke up feeling wonderful now that everything was right in her world. She was nestled between her two lovely herd mates Forest Breeze and Pear butter, the former her longtime companion, and her herd was finally whole after they had rescued their colt. There was one young mare that still needed help but that was for later today.

Stretching a bit Dew gave both her wives a kiss on the cheek before getting comfortable. None of them had work today so they planned on sleeping in. But plans never quite work out for their family.

“Get back here ya little varmint.” Dew sighed as she’d ears flicked from her newest, older daughter’s yelling while the younger daughter ran away giggling her head off. “Give me back my hat!” The sound of hooves filled the farmhouse and she smiled. As the alpha mare of their new herd she was debating intervening but she was too comfortable.

“Run Bloom.” She could hear Dawn encouraging the filly. She was glad he had accepted the merging of their families so well. She knew of stories where siblings didn’t even interact when two herds merged.

“Don’t you encourage her.” Applejack yelled then she herd an “ouch” from her colt as he was most likely hit in passing.

“Should we stop them?” Forest nuzzled her neck and gave her ear a lick before doing the same to Pear.

“Nah let them tire each other out. Us Apples always have a lot of energy.” Pear rolled over and started getting frisky with Forest.

“Ain’t that the truth.” They shared a deep kiss as Dew watched happily before getting in on the action.

Sadly the three were interrupted as a screaming, laughing Apple Bloom came rushing into the room and jumped onto the bed. “Mamas.” She said with delight before getting scooped up in Dew’s magic.

“Oh good. You caught the rascal.” A panting Applejack entered their parents bedroom and was met by a raspberry from her sister. Dawn and Big Mac came after looking amused and perfectly fine.

AJ noticed this and asked. “And why ain’t you two out of breath?” Dawn and Mac smiled at each other and shrugged. “Never mind. Bloom give me my hat.”

“Nuh huh.” She curled around the hat with all four hooves still floating in Dew’s magic. The three parents looked at each other in silent conversation before nodding.

“Bloom. Sweetie why did you take your sister’s hat?” Pear sweetly asked after her daughter was floated closer.

“Because she…” AJ was cut off by a look from the three adult mares telling her not to interfere.

Applebloom started to tear up. “Big sis said she would read to me last night but didn’t. So I took her hat. She loves it more than me.” She cried.

“No she doesn’t Sugarcube.” Pear grabbed her from the magic field and gave her a hug. “That hat is just special is all. It was a gift from your Father to your sister.” Everyone flinched a bit including Applejack.

“From papa?” She asked while looking at the hat in her hooves.

“That’s right. It’s a magic hat given to your big sister for doing a good job her fist time helping with the harvest just like your big brother’s yoke.” Pear smiled at her oldest daughter and motioned her over. Once AJ had joined her the three shared a hug.

“Sorry.” Bloom held out the hat towards Aj who happily returned it to her head. “But what about me?” She sniffed.

Pear butter pulled out a spool of iconic pink ribbon from the night stand, a section already cut and turned into a bow. Pear then affixed it into Apple Bloom’s mane and her face lit up immediately.

“Now don’t think we forgot about our colts.” Pear said before Mac and Dawn were both magically dragged into a family hug by Dew. Due to his age, Mac blushed a bit but Dawn just revealed in the love.

“You young’ins hungry? Breakfast is ready!” Granny yelled from the kitchen.

Once downstairs we found Granny Smith and Unfettered cooking breakfast and setting it out on the table.

“Smells great Granny, thanks for cooking.” Pear said while she sat down.

“Eeyup.” Mac said but got a look from his mother.

“Now Mac you thank ponies properly young colt.” She admonished.

“Thanks Granny.” He blushed with ears pinned back.

“‘Twasn’t nothing. You all need to thank Unfettered here though. She did most of the cooking while I supervised.” She pat the young mare on the withers. Unfettered didn’t know how to react towards the praise.

“Well ya gonna sit youngster?” After we all sat down, Unfettered joking last, and another round of thanks was given to the two cooks we all started to dig in.

“So, Unfettered will you be staying with us or moving on?” Morning Dew bluntly asked.

“Dam!” I shot her a surprised look.

“Am I not allowed to stay?” Unfettered looked upset but mostly shocked instead of sad.

“Oh sweetheart of course you can.” Pear also gave her wife a surprised look.

“Oh, that came out all wrong.” Morning Dew facehoofed. “I just meant that you don’t Have to stay. Once we get that collar off you, you won’t be bound to our family. I also figured seeking help might be good.” She finished a bit lackluster as Forest ran a wing down her back.

Unfettered’s ears perked up as she gained resolve. “I’ll stay, I’m free enough thanks to Dawn and Lyra.” Her ears pinned back again. “I also don’t have anywhere to go or any other skills.”

The family fell into an uncomfortable silence as we continued to eat.

“So do you think we can get it off her mom?” After breakfast my dam and I had gone outside with Unfettered to take a look at the collar closer. I had yet to learn anything about enchantments at school but Dam said she might need the extra help so I came along anyway.

“I’m not quite sure. Your grandparents definitely didn’t have the skill to make something like this so they probably hired an enchanter yet, it is blood tied so you and I should theoretically be able to take it off her.” Morning Dew had just finished her scan as Unfettered sat there watching. It still surprises me how good at magic dam is for working as an accountant.

“It’s ok if you leave it on. I’ve had it all my life.” Unfettered spoke up.

“Absolutely not. We will not have you be a slave in our house.” Dew stomped the ground. “Dawn step back and let me try something Sweetie.” She touched her lit horn to the collar but both of them immediately received a strong shock causing them to yell out and collapse.

“Mom, Unfettered are you two ok?” I ran over and shook my dam’s side. She stood back up then Unfettered stood up shaking her head and feathers while looking a bit electrified.

“Let’s not do that again shall we.” Morning Dew frowned as I couldn’t help but look relieved. “That dispelling magic should have worked.”

“It’s alright mam. You tried.” Unfettered gave a sad smile. I can’t let her give up so quickly maybe…

“Mom, can I try something.” I looked up at her.

“Sweetheart I don’t think…” she was cut off.

“Go ahead sir.” Unfettered sat down and lifted up her chin to expose the collar towards my angle.

I put my hooves on both sides and slowly channeled parts of Luna’s shadow spell along with part of our bloodline spell through them. At least these spells are good for something.

As my dam watched her eyes went wide as the collar turned to gold, sunk into the shadow between my hooves, and disappeared into my storage. “Colt what did you do!” I’ll destroy that later.

“I used a shadow spell along with the family gold spell.” I rubbed the back of my neck and bled off the excess magic while Dew looked at me slack jawed.

Suddenly I found myself encased in a winged hug of a happily crying pegasus before my mother could ask any further questions. “Thank you.”

She began rubbing her naked neck with both forehooves after ending the hug. Too bad that collar line in her fur will take longer.

“Colt.” My fur bristled when my mother spoke. “I won’t ask where you learned those spells since I assume your grandparents forced you to learn them. You just better not use them on anypony else.”

I nodded meekly and she smiled. “Good colt. Now go play while I talk with Unfettered here about her future.”

I nodded and ran off to find Applejack.

Morning Dew watched with concern as her colt ran off before turning back towards Unfettered. She knew her colt had used magic well beyond his age yet she couldn’t be more proud of how and why he had used it.

“So how do you feel?” Morning Dew smiled.

“I~It’s like a dream but I know I’m awake.” Tears of joy were still falling. She had never noticed how much the collar had muted her emotions.

“Now that it’s gone do you still want to stay?” Her ears splayed back. “I’m sure we could…”

“Of course I do!” Unfettered nodded enthusiastically.

Dew sighed, shook her head then smiled again. “Alright. If you ever want to leave or do anything else you just tell me.” She gave the younger mare a hug. “I also think you should talk to someone but I won’t force you. I know it helped me in the past.”

Unfettered nodded and hugged Morning Dew back who finished with a, “Welcome to the family.”

When I finally found AJ she and Bloom were feeding the chickens. Even on a day off there were always a few chores to be done.

“Hey need a hoof?” I walked up to the fence.

“Nah we’re about done. How did it go?” AJ asked as Bloom ran over to the fence asking for ‘ups’. I lifted her out of the pen with my magic and onto my back as she giggled.

“It went well. We managed to get the collar off her.” I said as Bloom got comfortable on my back. She soon burrowed her muzzle into my mane and began sleeping. Its a good thing pony TK fields keep stuff on our backs.

“That’s good.” AJ left the pen and walked over. Ruffling her sister’s mane who wined. “No pony should have to deal with what she has.”

The two of us walked in silence for a bit until we reached the house and I asked. “So any plans today? My Fall break is almost over so want to hang out? I think Mac had a date today.”

“Yeah.” She huffed. “Pinkie volunteered us to help out that prissy newcomer, Rarity, with her house. I promised her at yesterday’s party before she told me exactly what we were doing.” She set down the bucket of feed in its place on the porch while I laid Apple Bloom on the porch swing to continue her nap.

“Oh come on sis, she can’t be that bad. I mean I didn’t really get to talk to her but still.” She gave me a look as we made our way towards the barn so she could grab some tools.

“It’s because she’s a unicorn ain’t it?” She smirked then began loading her bags.

“No! I find wings just as attractive as horns.” I stuck my nose up and stomped my hoof. Thinking about horns though I should check up on Lyra soon too.

“Like that shy one you brought in last night?” She joked. “And what’s wrong with a good strong Earth Pony eh?” She flank bumped me on our way back out of the barn.

“Nothing at all.” I said flirtatiously then nipped her ear then ran off towards town.

“Get back here ya varmint.” She yelled, unable to run as fast with full saddle bags.

Author's Note

For those wondering about AJ and Dawn. Yes, they have a bit of an odd relationship since they’re not blood relatives. ‘Step’ siblings are not really a thing in this AU. It’s either you’re blood relatives and don’t mate OR you’re not blood relatives and it might happen.